Dublin, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Shipboard Cables Global Market Report 2020-30: Covid 19 Impact and Recovery" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global shipboard cables market was worth $3.61 billion in 2019. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.44% and reach $5.77 billion by 2023. The shipboard cables market consists of sales of shipboard cables and related services. Shipboard cables are used for electrical installations in ships and offshore platforms for the transfer of electric power to electric panels for lighting, control circuits, the transmission of vital instrumentation signals. They are fire-resistant, flame retardant, low smoke & halogenfree cables. Shipboard Cables Market Global Report 2020 from the publisher provides the strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the global shipboard cables market as it emerges from the Covid 19 shut down. Reasons to Purchase Gain a truly global perspective with the most comprehensive report available on this market covering 12+ geographies. Understand how the market is being affected by the coronavirus and how it is likely to emerge and grow as the impact of the virus abates. Create regional and country strategies on the basis of local data and analysis. Identify growth segments for investment. Outperform competitors using forecast data and the drivers and trends shaping the market. Understand customers based on the latest market research findings. Benchmark performance against key competitors. Utilize the relationships between key data sets for superior strategizing. Suitable for supporting your internal and external presentations with reliable high quality data and analysis Report will be updated with the latest data and delivered to you within 3 working days of order. Where is the largest and fastest growing market for the shipboard cables? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward? The Shipboard Cables market global report from the publisher answers all these questions and many more. The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography. It places the market within the context of the wider shipboard cables market, and compares it with other markets. Story continues The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, the impact of the Covid 19 virus and forecasting its recovery. Market segmentations break down market into sub markets. The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth. It covers the impact and recovery trajectory of Covid 19 for all regions, key developed countries and major emerging markets. Competitive landscape gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified. The trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it emerges from the crisis and suggests how companies can grow as the market recovers. The shipboard cables market section of the report gives context. It compares the shipboard cables market with other segments of the shipboard cables market by size and growth, historic and forecast. It analyses GDP proportion, expenditure per capita, shipboard cables indicators comparison. Major players in the shipboard cables market are Eaton Corporation, Fujitsu Limited, Belden, SAB Cable, FSC Global, Belcom Cables Ltd, Leoni AG, Eland Cables, Nuhas Oman and Cable Source Pte Ltd. The shipboard cables market covered in this report is segmented by type into fiber-optic cables, electric cables. It is also segmented by applications into marine and offshore, oil & gas and petrochemical, others. The increasing cost of raw material hampers the shipboard cables market. The increase in raw material costs increases the operational expenses and hence increases the price of the end product. For instance, in 2019 the price of copper metal increased rapidly owing to the trade tensions between the USA and China. Copper is a key raw material used in the production of shipboard cables. The rise in copper prices thereby increases the manufacturing cost and hence restrains the growth of the market. Increase and the expansion of offshore oil & gas plants is driving the shipboard cables market. The expansion of offshore oil & gas plants includes electrification of offshore oil and gas platforms which involves the use of efficient shipboard cables to connect oil platforms to mainland power grids. For instance, in 2019, LS Cable & System, a Korea based cable manufacturer has signed an agreement worth $100 million with Orsted, a Denmark based energy firm, to construct a submarine power grid in Taiwan. Therefore, the development of offshore oil & gas projects is projected to support the growth of the shipboard cables market. Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Shipboard Cables Market Characteristics 3. Shipboard Cables Market Size And Growth 3.1. Global Shipboard Cables Historic Market, 2015 - 2019, $ Billion 3.1.1. Drivers Of The Market 3.1.2. Restraints On The Market 3.2. Global Shipboard Cables Forecast Market, 2019 - 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion 3.2.1. Drivers Of The Market 3.2.2. Restraints On the Market 4. Shipboard Cables Market Segmentation 4.1. Global Shipboard Cables Market, Segmentation By Type, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion 4.2. Global Shipboard Cables Market, Segmentation By Applications, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion 5. Shipboard Cables Market Regional And Country Analysis 5.1. Global Shipboard Cables Market, Split By Region, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion 5.2. Global Shipboard Cables Market, Split By Country, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion 6. Asia-Pacific Shipboard Cables Market 7. China Shipboard Cables Market 8. India Shipboard Cables Market 9. Japan Shipboard Cables Market 10. Australia Shipboard Cables Market 11. Indonesia Shipboard Cables Market 12. South Korea Shipboard Cables Market 13. Western Europe Shipboard Cables Market 14. UK Shipboard Cables Market 15. Germany Shipboard Cables Market 16. France Shipboard Cables Market 17. Eastern Europe Shipboard Cables Market 18. Russia Shipboard Cables Market 19. North America Shipboard Cables Market 20. USA Shipboard Cables Market 21. South America Shipboard Cables Market 22. Brazil Shipboard Cables Market 23. Middle East Shipboard Cables Market 24. Africa Shipboard Cables Market 25. Shipboard Cables Market Competitive Landscape And Company Profiles 25.1. Shipboard Cables Market Competitive Landscape 25.2. Shipboard Cables Market Company Profiles 26. Key Mergers And Acquisitions In The Shipboard Cables Market 27. Shipboard Cables Market Trends And Strategies 28. Shipboard Cables Market Future Outlook and Potential Analysis 29. Appendix Companies Mentioned Eaton Corporation Fujitsu Limited Belden SAB Cable FSC Global Belcom Cables Ltd LEONI Eland Cables Nuhas Oman CABLE SOURCE PTE LTD WILSON CABLES PTE LTD. TE Connectivity, Inc Teledyne Marine HESFIBEL Huawei Marine SAMCO Inc SEACON Hengtong Optic-Electric Co., Ltd Molex Scorpion Oceanics Sea and Land Technologies Pte. Ltd Axon Cable OCC Corporation General Cable Company ZTT Corporation Nexans For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/dnmfei 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 Angela Merkel while addressing the lower house parliament on April 23 said that the World Health Organisation (WHO) is an indispensable partner for Germany and the country will continue to support it in its mandate. The comment by Merkel came days after President Donald Trump announced halting US funding for the global health agency. Donald Trump on April 15 had said that the United States will halt its funding to the WHO, accusing it of favouring China amid the pandemic. Read: Another Earthquake, Tsunami Could Overrun Fukushima Nuclear Plant Seawall: Report The World Health Organisation has been facing criticism from the international community for siding with China and not pressuring it enough to share full information about the disease. Germany, however, seems to be supporting the UN body on this matter with Angela Merkel calling it an indispensable partner in the fight against coronavirus. Days after Donald Trump said he would halt the US' WHO contribution, Ireland announced that it will quadruple its funding to the health body this year. Read: UN Report Says Over 70 Crore Students Don't Have Access To Internet For Distance Learning Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison also demanded an independent inquiry into China's initial handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Chinese foreign ministry time and again asserted the government had been transparent in its handling of the disease, saying that China has regularly kept the United States informed about the epidemic since January 3. China on April 23 pledged an additional $30 million funding for the World Health Organisation. Read: COVID-19 Crisis: US Accuses China Of Hoarding PPE Kits And Selling Them At Higher Rates Coronavirus outbreak Germany is the only major country in the world after South Korea, that has been able to bend its coronavirus curve, reporting just over 5,000 deaths compared to more than 25,000 deaths reported by one of its friends, Italy in Europe. The virus has so far killed over 1,85,000 people worldwide, with the United States, Italy, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom for accounting 72% of the total deaths reported so far. Read: Twitter Dismisses Reports Of Bots Being Used By UK DHSC To Manipulate Virus Conversations (Image Credit: AP) PORTLAND, Ore. Oregon public health officials have identified 68 new cases of the new coronavirus in the state as of 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 23. Earlier this week, the state also released its first estimate for the number of recovered cases. Though Wednesday did not see any new deaths attributed to the virus, Oregon reported five on Thursday. At present, 83 deaths have been attributed to the virus. We want to keep you informed about #COVID19 in #Oregon. Data are provisional and change frequently. For more information, visit https://t.co/HOiXqGkygF #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/6tYBruOhmf OR Health Authority (@OHAOregon) April 23, 2020 The Oregon Health Authority said that there are now a total of 2,127 people in the state who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through a positive test. 41,849 have tested negative for the virus. RELATED: Jackson County reports no new COVID-19 cases for a week, Josephine County even longer OHA reported new cases in the following counties: Clackamas (8), Coos (1), Deschutes (4), Douglas (1), Hood River (1), Klamath (3), Linn (4), Malheur (1), Marion (9), Multnomah (16), Umatilla (1), Wasco (1), Washington (18). In a weekly report released on Tuesday, the Oregon Health Authority said that at least 595 of state's surviving cases were considered recovered from the virus. At the time the report was compiled, there were 1,853 total surviving cases. 682 were considered not yet recovered, while 576 were still pending. "Recovery Oregon is assessing recovery of COVID-19 cases by calling each case to determine if they have recovered and the date of recovery," OHA said. "A person is considered recovered once they are free of fever (without the use of fever-reducing medication), cough, and shortness of breath for 72 hours. If they are not yet recovered, public health staff will call back weekly until the person is recovered. COVID-19 cases without symptoms are considered recovered 7 days after the last positive test." The median recovery time for all cases with symptoms was 14 days, while the median recovery time for hospitalized cases was 16 days. OHA has a partial, but incomplete count of how many people in the state have been hospitalized from the virus. According to that data, at least 488 Oregonians have been hospitalized since the outbreak began, about 24 percent of the total cases. State numbers still vary widely. While the state lists only 124 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized, that number rises to 302 when suspected COVID-19 patients are included indicating that many still have not received results from a completed test. Of the confirmed patients, 24 are on ventilators. SPECIAL SECTION: Coronavirus Watch Public health officials gave the following information about the latest reported fatalities: Oregons 79th COVID-19 death is a 94-year-old female in Multnomah County, who tested positive on April 3 and died on April 22 at her residence. She had underlying medical conditions. Oregons 80th COVID-19 death is a 78-year-old man in Multnomah County, who tested positive on March 30 and died on April 19 at his residence. He had underlying medical conditions. Oregons 81st COVID-19 death is an 87-year-old man in Multnomah County, who tested positive on April 20 and died on April 22 at Providence Portland Medical Center. He had underlying medical conditions. Oregons 82nd COVID-19 death is a 74-year-old man in Multnomah County, who tested positive on April 9 and died on April 21 at Adventist Medical Center. He had underlying medical conditions. Oregons 83rd COVID-19 death is a 70-year-old man in Clackamas County, who tested positive on April 1 and died on April 21 at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center. He had underlying medical conditions. OHA: Modeling report shows 'physical distancing measures are working' Last week, OHA released an update to its epidemic modeling report, intended to help Oregons leaders understand the progression and the projections for the COVID-19 outbreak. "Todays modeling update tells us that statewide mitigation efforts are keeping the caseload and hospitalizations well below the numbers we would have seen absent our efforts as a state," said state epidemiologist Dean Sidelinger, MD. "We are encouraged by the continued success of our mitigation efforts, which are allowing us to begin planning for suppression strategies for when the statewide measure can begin to be lifted." Were in a deflationary moment that surpasses anything seen in most peoples lifetimes, proclaimed a New York Times byline on Tuesday, the morning after oil prices went negative. The West Texas Crude Intermediate benchmark plummeted to previously unimaginable depths, closing the day at negative $37.63 per barrel. The novel coronavirus has wreaked unprecedented havoc on the global economy, shutting down entire industrial sectors and bringing countries across the world to a halt as the global community shelters in place to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Economists have warned that the fallout is going to be the largest economic downturn that we have seen in our lifetimes, but few could have foreseen the absurdity of negative oil prices. Few, but not none. Three weeks ago, on April 1, CNBC published a report titled Oil prices could soon turn negative as the world runs out of places to store crude, analysts warn, which predicted exactly what is happening now. Global oil storage could reach maximum capacity within weeks, energy analysts have told CNBC, as the coronavirus crisis dramatically reduces consumption and some of the worlds most powerful crude producers start to ramp up their output. While the situation is totally unprecedented its impossible to say what will happen next for oil markets, some experts think that oil is poised for a major comeback. Even though oil prices are lower than they have ever been, one energy fund thinks $100 a barrel is achievable, reported the Midland Reporter-Telegram earlier this week. At the time of the report, oil was only at an 18-year low rather than an all-time low. The article intro continued: But first, prices need to fall even further. Well, they got their wish. As oil prices have tanked over the past two months, Westbeck Capital Managements Energy Opportunity Fund climbed 20.2 percent in March after declines in the first two months of the year, according to an investor letter. That puts the commodities-focused fund up 3.7 percent in the first quarter after U.S. oil futures cratered 66 percent -- their worst quarter ever, reports the Midland Reporter Telegram. The fund, which gained 40 percent last year shorting U.S. shale companies, has turned its attention to oil tanks filling up at various points around the world, particularly at the biggest U.S. hub in Cushing, Oklahoma. With too much oil and not enough places to put it, Cushing may reach storage limits by mid-May, a market dislocation that could portend the next leg of a price rout. Related: How Much Longer Will Indian Oil Demand Slump? This all points to a huge comeback for oil prices. As the world rushes to scale back oil production, they are setting up a bull market for the future. When we are on the other side of the pandemic, we think oil demand will normalize very quickly. And next year, we could even see unprecedented inventory draws and the world quickly running out of spare capacity, Westbeck Chief Executive Officer Jean-Louis Le Mee told MRT in an interview. That rout will mean more U.S. shale producers will have to throttle back output, some of which could be permanent, [...]. The shut-ins, coupled with a recent deal by OPEC and allied members to curb production, could set the stage for a price rebound in coming years. U.S. shale had already been in serious decline as West Texas wells aged and the gush of the shale revolution. Now, with the oil price crash, the Permian Basin has been burdened with bankruptcies and tens of thousands of fired and furloughed employees. So when we are able to return to business as usual, there will likely be a shortage of spare capacity. Low supply, high demand. Thats how these things work. Keep an eye out for $100 barrels coming down the pike. By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: GODFREY An ordinance regulating adult-use cannabis businesses was pulled from the Godfrey Village Board agenda this week so attorneys could take another look at it. Last year the board approved an ordinance to allow such businesses, but left specific rules using zoning regulations to be considered later. At the last village board meeting there was some discussion and the issue was sent to the village attorney for an ordinance. SAGINAW TWP, MI -- A 49-year man faces an open murder charge for allegedly stabbing his wife to death in Saginaw Township. Lenard K. James, 49, was arraigned Thursday, April 23 by Saginaw County District Judge M. Randall Jurrens on the murder charge and carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent, a five-year felony. Vernida Hicks, 51, was behind the wheel of a vehicle headed eastbound on State Street around 5 p.m. Monday while the James argued with her, police say. She lost control of the vehicle near the 6200 block of State Street near Lawndale Road and crashed, into a telephone pole. Woman was stabbed several times after car crash in Saginaw Township, police say Both Hicks and James left the car. James stabbed Hicks several times before he left, police allege. Police apprehended James within minutes. The open murder count includes both first-degree premeditated murder, which carries a mandatory penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole, and second-degree murder, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison with the possibility of parole. James is being held without bond in the Saginaw County Jail. Saginaw Township Police investigating womans car crash death as a homicide Air Force officers and enlisted personnel will be given the opportunity to apply to transfer directly into the U.S. Space Force next month. Space Force officials announced this week that eligible active-duty personnel will receive an email from the Air Force Personnel Center on May 1 announcing the opening of the application process. "This is a historic time to be in the space business, and I could not be more excited to extend the opportunity to our active-duty Air Force members to officially transfer into the Space Force," Gen. Jay Raymond, chief of space operations for the Space Force and head of U.S. Space Command, said in a release Wednesday. "We have the unique opportunity to create a new service; your energy, passion and expertise will be critical to our success." Related: These 23 Air Force Missions Are Transferring to the Space Force The sixth and newest military service, which was signed into existence by President Donald Trump on Dec. 20, 2019, is now operating with the aid of some 16,000 airmen detailed on a temporary basis from what was formerly known as Air Force Space Command. Although individuals were assigned in December, the May 1 opening "includes the physical act of [commissioning] into the U.S. Space Force," Gen. David "DT" Thompson, vice commander of Space Force, said Thursday. Enlisted members would re-enlist directly into the Space Force, he said during a webinar, hosted by Space News. Thompson said Air Force space operators who request a transfer will more than likely be accepted into the Space Force. Jobs including space operations (13S) and space systems operations (1C6) are considered "organic space career fields." "That's about 6,000 to 7,000 people," he said. The transfers are set to begin Sept. 1. If airmen in those career fields decline transfer into the Space Force, they can work with their chain of command to examine other options "to include applying for retraining into another Air Force specialty, applying to crossflow into the Guard or Reserve, or applying for separation or retirement, if eligible," the release states. "In the meantime, those service members will remain in the Air Force and may be assigned duties in the Space Force" until the formal transitioning of units is complete, expected to be some time in 2022, officials said. Airmen in the intelligence (14N), cyberspace operations (17X), developmental engineer (62E), acquisition manager (63A), operations intelligence (1N0), geospatial intelligence (1N1), signals intelligence (1N2), fusion analyst (1N4), targeting analyst (1N8), cyberspace support (3D0) and client systems (3D1) career fields are also eligible to apply. "We have a requirement for a set number of those," Thompson said, meaning only a limited number of billets will be available. Air Force and Space Force leaders are developing a plan to select these volunteers for transfer "based on mission needs and career sustainment," according to the release. Airmen selected from those specialties will begin transfer on Feb. 1, 2021, it adds. Guardsmen and reservists who are already executing space missions and currently aligned with the Space Force will continue supporting it; officials are weighing how best to incorporate them. A Space Force Reserve component is still being determined, the release states. The application window will close May 31. Thompson stressed the specific initiative so far is "targeted for the Air Force." Soldiers, sailors and Marines may have to wait a little longer until the Air Force completes its initial transitions, he explained. "There is a general authority for all members of other services to always ask to cross-commission; that's an authority that already exists," Thompson said. "But before [the Space Force] actively engages with the Army and the Navy, we need to make sure through the secretary of defense, through the joint chiefs of staff and through the leaders of the services ... how we're going to take that approach, and who should be eligible to be directly asked or not. "That's work [that still needs] to be done," he said. Airmen who believe they are eligible but do not receive an email to apply should contact the Total Force Service Center or the Air Force Personnel Center. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Read More: Marines May Get New Tropical Uniform in Time for Summer Heat Amid global economic downturn, analysts say its unclear if foreign supporters will continue to bankroll the strongman. The campaign will be swift. This was eastern-based renegade military commander Khalifa Haftars pledge to his supporters at home and abroad when he launched his offensive against the internationally recognised government in Tripoli in April 2019. But more than a year into the operation, his Libyan National Army (LNA) could not be further away from its goal of overtaking the city of 2.3 million people. On April 14, it was dealt its biggest setback yet when a counteroffensive by the United Nations-brokered Government of National Accord (GNA) resulted in the loss of seven western cities stretching from the capital all the way to the Tunisian border. 200104110325735 Haftars loss of an area estimated at 500-square kilometres is an event of seismic magnitude both for him and his foreign supporters, said Walid Ratima, a Turkey-based Libyan columnist. Amid a global economic downturn caused by the new coronavirus, questions over the feasibility of Haftars project are unlikely to fade away from the minds of his international supporters, said Ratima. The cost of supporting Haftar, both financial and material, is becoming too heavy to bear for the United Arab Emirates, he said, referring to one of the Ajdabiya natives key backers. His defeats will sooner or later force his supporters to find other solutions, other personalities, or different ways of achieving their goals. One-year war Little is known about Haftars formative years, except that he joined the Libyan military early on in life, and later partook in the 1969 military coup that brought Muammar Gaddafi to power. The relationship between the comrades in arms ended abruptly after Haftar was captured by Chadian forces during a clandestine operation in 1987. Gaddafi at the time refused to negotiate Haftars release indeed, rejecting altogether the idea of any Libyan military presence in Chad. It was in a Chadian prison that Haftar was approached by the CIA and where following internal upheavals in Chad he agreed to resettle in the United States in the early 1990s. From his suburban home in Virginia, Haftar would spend the next 20 years working on ways to remove the self-proclaimed brother leader. The dual Libyan-American citizen returned to Libya in 2011 at the height of the Arab Spring uprisings with that same goal in mind. But his profile was obscured by that of other senior military officers who early in the uprising defected to join the ranks of the revolution. It was only in 2014, with the security situation deteriorating further, that his claim to be able to stabilise Libya began to be taken seriously. With backing from, among others, the UAE and Egypt, Haftar succeeded in ridding Benghazi, Libyas second-biggest city, of several armed groups, including affiliates of al-Qaeda and the armed group ISIL (ISIS). His April offensive, just days before UN-sponsored peace talks, was presented as an extension of his successful efforts to restore order in eastern Libya. But beyond revealing Haftars own ambitions for Libya, the battle for Tripoli exposed the extent of foreign intervention in the strategically located, resource-abundant country. The UAE ramped up its support for Haftar, carrying out with increasing frequency drone and jet attacks against his opponents. Meanwhile, Russian mercenaries from the private Wagner group reportedly assisted his troops on the front line, giving them an edge over their rivals at several stages of the fighting. 200122111825330 Turkey, the GNAs sole military benefactor, stands out as the only outside actor to have publicly assumed the role it is playing in Libya. Turkey is there [Libya] with a training force. There are also people from the Syrian National Army, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in February, confirming reports that Ankara had sent Syrian rebels to defend the Libyan capital. By the GNAs own admission, Turkey played a decisive role in reversing the tide, allowing through aerial support most notably armed drones the formers ground forces to retake large swathes of territory. Expanding the table Exactly how much further into Haftar-controlled territory the GNA is willing and, indeed, able to go remains unknown. Turkeys ability to resupply ground forces has been complicated by a recent European Union naval mission seeking to enforce a UN arms embargo. In contrast to Haftars supporters, who have used Egypts vast border with eastern Libya to funnel in weapons, the sea is the only available route into Tripoli for Turkey. Erdogan in late December visited neighbouring Tunisia, in what analysts described as an effort to curry favour with Tunis and build forward bases from which to support the war effort. Though supportive of the GNA, Tunisias President Kais Saied and later President Abdelmajid Tebboune of Algeria both seemed to reject Erdogans proposal, favouring instead the UNs diplomatic track. GNA-aligned forces in the Salahaddin neighbourhood south of the capital, Tripoli [Amru Salahuddien/Anadolu] For Ali Bakeer, a Turkish political analyst, there is no question Turkey and the GNA want to breath new life into the political process. The GNA and Turkey have been clear from the beginning. They want a political solution in Libya that guarantees the countrys stability, security and prosperity, Bakeer told Al Jazeera. Haftar and his backers thought that there is no need for a political solution as long as they can seize Libya and power by force. They obviously overplayed their hand and are now forced to review their calculation from a weaker position. Ratima said Haftars inability to capture Tripoli would have repercussions on the internal cohesion of the LNA. Casting doubt on Haftars claim to commanding a modern standing army in contrast to the hodgepodge of militias that make up the GNAs military force Ratima said Haftars Libyan supporters had grown sceptical of his campaign. They are increasingly having to see images of civilians, women and children being killed, a quarter of a million Libyans being displaced. This is going to harm his popularity, said Ratima. When Haftar returns to the negotiating table, the political equation will have shifted. He will not represent, as France wished, the military legitimacy and the GNA the political legitimacy. Political negotiations would have to include actors from across Libya, Ratima said, including those who attacked Tripoli. Haftar cannot claim to represent eastern Libya in its entirety. And that will be the case with GNA Prime Minister Fayez al-Serraj as well. Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA)'s Spokesman Taweesin Visanuyothin (Photo: thainews.prd.go.th) The Center for COVID-19 Situation Administrations (CCSA) Spokesman Taweesin Visanuyothin said in a briefing that the nationwide State of Emergency remains in effect, despite the lower number of newly reported cases each day, asking the general public to continue avoiding travel. He said the situation may seem to have improved, but new infections can still rise significantly if precautionary measures are not complied with by everyone. The private sector is asked to continue allowing their employees to work from home, in order to prevent crowding at offices and in public places. The government has decided to maintain the State of Emergency and other precautionary measures to ensure an effective response to the situation, and in order to prevent a second wave of infections as in other countries. Some of the measures may be eased based on the situation in each area. The government will take into consideration lessons from foreign countries and data in Thailand, to strike a balance between health, the economy, and society. The CCSA spokesman has asked the Thai public to continue cooperating with the disease containment measures, with a target to suppress daily new cases to be fewer than 10 for 14 days. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. San Francisco, 23 April 2020: The Report Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application, By Technology, By Vertical (Oil & Gas, Power & Utility, Safety & Security), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2019 - 2025 The global distributed fiber optic sensor market size is anticipated to reach USD 1.87 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 10.8% from 2019 to 2025. Factors such as significant demand from the civil engineering vertical and rising adoption in the oil and gas sector are projected to substantially boost the market growth. Fiber optics can withstand rough handling, such as in pipes, streams, and reactors, where manual inspection is not feasible. Furthermore, they help in structural health monitoring at dangerous workplaces and can also be used for border security purposes to prevent intrusion. Thus, the capability of Distributed Fiber Optic Sensors (DFOS) to work in challenging environment is another factor propelling the growth. Increasing demand for sophisticated infrastructure coupled with rising per capita income is predicted to lead to industrial automation, urban mobility, and growth in high-end residential projects. Governments from around the world focus on conserving their existing infrastructure and developing new projects. They are under constant pressure to provide the necessary infrastructure, amenities, and connectivity to people. This has enabled increased spending on road, railway, and dam construction projects. This rapid growth in the advanced civil engineering is expected to boost the distributed fiber optic sensor market. The rapid adoption of DFOS has encouraged investments in R&D activities by manufacturers and suppliers to launch new products. They are also focusing on optimizing their production process and regulating efficiency to curb all other alternatives of the fiber optics technology. Due to the high price of production and installation processes of DFOS products, the manufacturers are developing competitively priced optic inspection products that are more reliable. However, factors such as technological complexities and other challenges incurring in optical inspection process are hampering the market growth. Access Research Report of Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/distributed-fiber-optic-sensor-sensing-dfos-market Further key findings from the report suggest: Temperature sensing application segment is expected to continue leading in terms of market size over the forecast period. Temperature sensors find application in oil and gas and civil engineering segments Suppliers and manufacturers of fiber optic equipment are looking to achieving higher bandwidth, 100 GBPS, by undertaking intense research activities North America dominated the global market in 2018 and is projected to account for the largest market share in terms of revenue in the forthcoming years Growing demand for DFOS equipment can be attributed to the ever-growing demand for efficient and optimized processes, across enterprises and manufacturing sectors Key market participants include Halliburton, Schlumberger Limited, Yokogawa Electric Corporation, OFS Fitel, LLC, Qinetiq Group PLC, Omnisens SA, Brugg Kable AG, Luna Innovations Incorporated, and AP Sensing GmbH Browse more reports of this category by Grand View Research at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/sensors-and-controls Grand View Research has segmented the global distributed fiber optic sensor market based on application, technology, vertical, and region: Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Temperature Sensing Acoustic/Vibration Sensing Other Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor Technology Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Rayleigh Effect Brillouin Scattering Raman Effect Interferometric Bragg Grating Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor Vertical Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Oil and Gas Power and Utility Safety and Security Industrial Civil Engineering Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) North America Europe Asia Pacific South America MEA Access Press Release of Distributed Fiber Optic Sensor Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-distributed-fiber-optic-sensor-sensing-dfos-market About Grand View Research Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare. For More Information:www.grandviewresearch.com Cars.com Names the 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Eco-Friendly Car of the Year SEE ALSO: 2020 Toyota Corolla Review By David Colman SEE ALSO: 2020 Toyota Corolla Preview and Specs - April 22, 2020 Consumer Research Indicates Fuel Efficiency and Environmental Stewardship as Main Reasons for Electric Vehicle Ownership and Consideration CHICAGO, April 22, 2020 In honor of Earth Day 2020, the leading automotive digital marketplace, Cars.com Inc. , names the 2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid its Eco-Friendly Car of the Year as part of the companys annual Best of Awards. This years winner faced tough competition from Chevrolet, Honda and Tesla; however, the hybrids high fuel efficiency, consumer-friendly price and wide appeal to the masses made it the clear-cut choice. Toyotas first-ever Corolla Hybrid stood out for gas mileage and value, yes, but with quick, smooth power, fuss-free controls and comfortable road manners, it feels and looks like a car that all can enjoy, said Jenni Newman, editor-in-chief of Cars.com. We selected it as our Eco-Friendly Car of the Year before the pandemic, but at a starting cost of under $25,000, its even more relevant for those looking to buy an environmentally friendly vehicle at a bargain price. Other nominees for Eco-Friendly Car of the Year included: 2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Duramax Diesel : It may seem odd that a diesel half-ton pickup truck was nominated for an eco-friendly award, but theres a simple reason: fuel economy. The EPA officially rates the 2020 Silverado 1500 diesel at 23/33/27 mpg city/highway/combined for the two-wheel-drive model and 23/29/25 mpg for the 44. Starting price (without destination): $28,300 2020 Honda Civic : For the third consecutive year, the Civic was a nominee for the Eco-Friendly Car of the Year. The Civic earns an estimated 32 mpg combined or higher. Starting price: $19,850 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid : Delivering an impressive 47-mile all-electric range, the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid is perfect for those looking for the environmental benefits of an electric car but need the convenience of a gas vehicle. Starting price: $33,400 2020 Tesla Model 3 : A compelling vehicle with more than enough sales to prove it, the Tesla Model 3 is a rear-wheel-drive version of the most efficient electric car on the market, rated 141 mpg-equivalent by the EPA . Starting price: $38,990 Additionally, Cars.com conducted consumer research to understand electric vehicle owners and first-time shoppers reasons for owning or potentially buying an EV, as well as the main perceived drawbacks to EV ownership1. The survey found: Main ownership benefits : reduced fuel costs (86%), environmental impact (73%), reduced dependency on fuel/oil (71%) and reduced maintenance costs (64%) Drawbacks to ownership : high initial price (55%), limited range (44%) and lack of charging locations (40%) Shoppers perceived appeal to ownership : reduced fuel costs (74%), reduced dependency on fuel/oil (67%), environmental impact (64%) and reduced maintenance costs (57%) Shoppers perceived drawbacks to ownership : high initial price (56%), limited range (49%) and limited battery life span (38%) For more information on the Cars.com Best Of awards, visit https://www.cars.com/awards/, and to learn more about electric vehicles and reviews on newest makes and models, visit https://www.cars.com/news/electric-cars/. Methodology Any 2020 model-year vehicle available nationwide was eligible for the Eco-Friendly Car of the Year award, and all vehicles that reduce consumption and/or minimize the release of carbon pollutants, regardless of fuel type. The Toyota Corolla Hybrid was chosen from among five eco-friendly categories: battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, gas-electric, clean diesel and regular high-mileage gasoline. 1 The survey was fielded Jan. 31 through March 1, 2020. It received 1,290 responses 504 EV owners and 786 EV shoppers. For the purposes of this study, any question referring to an electrified vehicle included gasoline hybrid electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, battery electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles. England pace bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad have set their sights on a final Ashes series in Australia before they consider retirement. Anderson and Broad are first and second respectively in England's list of all-time Test wicket-takers, but both are entering the twilight of their careers. Anderson is 37 and has endured a series of injury problems over the last 12 months. Although Broad is four years younger than Anderson, he believes his career will not last as long as his fellow paceman. With the end in sight, both are eager to keep their England places long enough for a memorable farewell Ashes series in Australia in 2021/22. When asked by Anderson for his retirement plans during an Instagram Live Q&A, Broad said: "I don't think I could go until your age. Your action's so smooth, it looks a lot calmer on your body whereas mine is a little more forceful through my body I think. "I'd never want to get to that place where I'm bowling against a 19-year-old and they're going, 'I thought someone said he used to be a good bowler'. I'd hate that. I'd prefer to go that little bit earlier than that little bit later. "But I'm loving the environment at the minute. I love playing for England. "I still have huge motivation to keep playing and you just assess that year by year. And we've got that carrot dangling over us of Australia in Australia which looks like an achievable carrot to grab." Australia are the current Ashes holders after they retained the urn following the drawn series in England last year. The last time either side won an Ashes series away from home was when England triumphed 3-1 in Australia in 2010/11. Anderson sees no reason why he should not feature when England next meet their old rivals, as long as he maintains his high standards. "The big thing is standards. If your standards feel like they're dropping then yeah you might consider finishing," he said. "But as long as my standards stay high, my fitness levels stay good and my skills stay where I want them to be and my speed stays pretty good which they have been (I'll keep playing). "We've got an exciting team and a few young guys who are just starting out on their journey, we've got some more established guys and we've got two guys who have been around a long time. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The COVID-19 pandemic has had a serious impact on Vietnams economy but its also believed to create the conditions to attract more FDI as there have been signs of a switch in capital flows away from China and to ASEAN member countries. The fibre production line of the Chinese-invested Jasan Textile and Dyeing Vietnam Co. Ltd in Pho Noi B Industrial Park of Hung Yen province The Lao dong (Labour) newspaper quoted Stephen Wyatt, Country Head of real estate consultants JLL Vietnam, as saying that although the coronavirus outbreak has influenced the entire world, Vietnam remains a promising destination. Many major enterprises are considering moving production out of China - a major material supplier for companies around the world but also where COVID-19 first broke out. Echoing such views, General Director of the General Statistics Office Nguyen Bich Lam said its an opportunity to attract investors planning to curb production in China. Investment promotion agencies should proactively work with foreign investors who have such plans and speed up the relevant procedures instead of waiting for the pandemic to end before doing so, he said. Economic experts share the view that now is the right time for Vietnam to further step up its efforts to attract investment from the US, Canada, and Europe so as to capitalise on agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). Investments from these countries are usually accompanied by high technology and stricter standards, they pointed out, which will help Vietnam improve FDI quality. Japan recently earmarked 2.2 billion USD to help its enterprises move production away from China to Southeast Asia nations. The arrival of COVID-19 has also prompted European companies to consider the establishment of safer supply chains. This will create major opportunities for businesses in Vietnam and elsewhere in ASEAN to take part in and raise their standing in global value chains, the Lao dong newspaper noted. The Rong Viet (Viet Dragon) Securities Company has forecast that new FDI in Vietnam will mainly be labour-intensive projects (textiles and garments and wood and wooden products), processing projects (food, paper, plastics and rubber, metal, and construction materials), or global innovation projects (computers, mobile phones, and electronics components). It also believed that whether Vietnam can capitalise on the opportunities presented will depend on the approach taken by businesses and the Governments guidance and support policies. Meanwhile, director of consultants Economica Vietnam Le Duy Binh said that although Vietnams productivity has improved thanks to having a young workforce, the country still lags behind its neighbours in terms of skill levels and discipline. He suggested it step up public investment in infrastructure development while removing bottlenecks in air, sea, rail, and road transport to facilitate logistics and attract investment. It is also necessary to accelerate the settlement and transparency of taxation and customs procedures. Vietnam granted investment licenses to 758 new FDI projects with a combined registered capital of 5.5 billion USD in the first quarter of 2020, an increase of nearly 45 percent year-on-year, according to the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment. More than 230 existing projects registered to add 1.07 billion USD to their existing capital in the quarter, equivalent to 82 percent of the figure in the same period last year. The value of capital contributions and share purchases by foreign investors reached almost 2 billion USD, equivalent to 34.4 percent of the figure in the same period of 2019. Singapore topped the list of 87 countries and territories investing in Vietnam during the first three months, with 4.54 billion USD, or 53.1 percent of the total. It was followed by Japan (846.7 million USD) and China (815.6 million USD)./.VNA FDI enterprises in Vietnam preparing for life after pandemic Foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnam have been maintaining production despite difficulties caused by the COVID-19 outbreak while preparing plans to recover after the pandemic ends. Trump Orders Navy To Destroy Iranian Gunboats That Harass U.S. Ships By RFE/RL April 22, 2020 U.S. President Donald Trump says he has ordered the Navy to attack and destroy any Iranian vessel that harasses U.S. ships after Iranian ships appeared to harass U.S. vessels last week in the Persian Gulf. "I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea," Trump said in a tweet posted on April 22. The order comes a week after a U.S. Navy video showed small Iranian gunboats coming close to U.S. warships as they operated in the northern Persian Gulf near Kuwait. The U.S. Navy said its ships were in international waters carrying out exercises at the time of the incidents on April 15. It said 11 vessels of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) made "dangerous and harassing approaches" toward the U.S. ships. Trump did not cite a specific event or provide any further details in his tweet. When asked about Trump's tweet during a press conference, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense David Norquist said: "The president issued an important warning to the Iranians. What he was emphasizing is all of our ships retain the right of self-defense." Air Force General John Hyten, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said during the same briefing that "the commanders have the authority right now to respond to any hostile act or hostile intent." A spokesman for Iran's military said in response that the United States should "focus on saving its armed forces from the coronavirus," according to the semiofficial news agency ISNA. After last week's incident the IRGC accused the United States of giving a false account of the encounter, issuing a statement accusing the U.S. Navy of "unprofessional and provocative behavior" and warning the Americans that any "miscalculation will receive a decisive response." Close interactions with Iranian military vessels have occurred in the region in the past, drawing warning shots from U.S. Navy ships when Iranian vessels venture too close. Tensions between Iran and the United States increased in January after the United States killed Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike in Iraq. With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-orders-navy -to-destroy-iranian-gunboats-that-harass -u-s-ships/30570480.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 (Newser) In what is perhaps the first live sporting event in a month in the US, hundreds of people are set to gather for motor races this weekend in South Dakota. That state lacks a stay-at-home order, and two Jefferson tracks will welcome race-lovers. The Park Jefferson Speedway, with a capacity of 4,000, says all 700 tickets it made available for Saturday have been sold. Attendees must wear face coverings, a requirement also in place for Sunday's race at New Raceway Park, which says 310 of 500 tickets have been sold, per the Guardian. Republican Gov. Kristi Noem, whose executive order pushes social distancing, is not a fan. "I'm going to strongly recommend to the people of South Dakota that they not go and that they stay home," she said Tuesday, per the Argus Leader. story continues below Without a stay-at-home order, the events are legal. In a tweet, an Iowan said they intended to drive 5.5 hours to attend the race at Park Jefferson Speedway, which intends to "go overboard on following CDC guidelines" while offering "a little bit of a break from some of this madness thats going on right now," says owner Adam Adamson. He says the event will be cashless and the 700 attendees will have plenty of space. South Dakota had 1,858 COVID-19 cases and nine deaths as of Wednesday, per Keloland.com. Last week, Noem told Fox News that it wasn't necessary that "people give up their liberties for just a little bit of security." She added Tuesday, "I still recommend that we follow the plans that I have laid out for South Dakota where we don't gather in sizes of over 10 and that folks continue to social distance." (Read more South Dakota stories.) Google will require all advertisers to confirm their legal identity in an effort to increase transparency. Since 2018, political advertisers have had to verify who they are, so this is an expansion of that measure. The company will enforce the rule in the US at first, and it's likely to take a few years before the requirement rolls out worldwide. Google suggests advertisers that in certain categories may be prioritized for the verification process. Those include the promotion of "products, goods, and services" (such as retail, media, tech and travel), "informational, advisory, or educational content"(charitable causes and free financial or health advice, for instance) and ads related to regulated industries, like gambling and healthcare products. When the requirements come into place in their locales, existing advertisers will have 30 days to submit documents or Google won't display their ads. They'll need to send business incorporation paperwork, personal ID or other documentation. Starting this summer, you'll be able to see a verified advertiser's legal name and country of operation via a context menu in ads. This change will make it easier for people to understand who the advertiser is behind the ads they see from Google and help them make more informed decisions when using our advertising controls, Google director of product management for ads integrity John Canfield wrote in a blog post. Verifying advertisers is also likely to help Google clamp down on scams and the spread of information through ads. OTTAWA - Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer refused Thursday to address controversial comments by a member of his caucus who is also seeking to replace him as leader. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Leader of the Opposition Andrew Scheer responds to a question during a news conference, Thursday, April 23, 2020 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA - Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer refused Thursday to address controversial comments by a member of his caucus who is also seeking to replace him as leader. Derek Sloan, an MP from rural Ontario and one of four candidates in the leadership race, sent an email to supporters about chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam, asking "does she work for Canada or China" in guiding this country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. His allegations are connected to Tam's work with the World Health Organization, which has come under suspicion for basing its guidance on how to respond to COVID-19 on reportedly false information from China about the emergence and spread of the novel coronavirus there. "Dr. Tam must go!" he wrote. "Canada must remain sovereign over decisions. The UN, the WHO, and Chinese Communist propaganda can never again have a say over Canada's public health!" Tam was born in Hong Kong, and Sloan's challenge of her was labelled as racist by Liberal members of Parliament and one of Sloan's caucus colleagues, Conservative Michelle Rempel Garner. "I can't believe I have to say this (and profuse apologies to her to have to be part of a public object lesson to an MP), but Dr. Tam is of Asian heritage. So when you say, 'does she work for China or for Canada' many people will think you're suggesting she has dual loyalties," Rempel Garner wrote on Twitter. "The dual loyalty canard has long been an anti-Semitic trope, or used to perpetuate racist stereotypes." She said if Sloan wanted to level criticism, he shouldn't have made it personal, accusing him of doing so on purpose or not thinking it through clearly. In an email to The Canadian Press, Sloan said his remarks were about Tam's decisions, not her personally. "I don't know Dr Tam. I have never met her. I have not personally attacked her. She is, though, a public figure of a very high rank and profile. Dr Tam is not immune from criticism," he said. While there were calls for Scheer to denounce Sloan's earlier remarks, in a tense back-and-forth with reporters Thursday the outgoing party leader refused to discuss them at all. Scheer is to step down once his replacement is chosen, a process currently on hold due to the widespread shutdown of Canada to stop the spread of COVID-19. "As a rule I don't comment on leadership candidates or on policy announcements or positions that leadership candidates have taken," he said, a message he repeated several times. "I'll leave it to each leadership candidate to speak for themselves and explain their views and ultimately it will be up to members to select the next leader of the party." Tam said she's working over 20 hours a day with the goal of protecting the health of Canadians. "My singular focus is to work with all of my colleagues to get this epidemic wave under control," she said. "I don't let noise detract me from doing that." Sloan's hard stance on China is one that's been echoed across the conservative world, including by his fellow competitors in the leadership race. He's added his name to a letter signed by two other leadership candidates, Erin O'Toole and Peter MacKay, as well as over 100 political analysts and figures globally, alleging a widespread coverup by China of the scope of the problem caused by the coronavirus. 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 fourth candidate, Leslyn Lewis, has also been critical of China, saying the country can't be trusted as a source for Canadian supplies. In an email, she suggested criticism of Sloan was going too far. "In a free and democratic society like Canada, we should be able to question the WHO, the government, and even government officials without being accused of racism," said Lewis, who is of Jamaican descent. Scheer has previously refused to express his own confidence in Tam. He said again Thursday there are questions about why the government acted on some pieces of advice, and not others, and his job is to press the government on those matters. "Why were they so reliant on information that was coming out of the WHO instead of listening to domestic Canadian voices who were advising this government to take this threat much more seriously much earlier on?" he asked. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 23, 2020. Radio Rentals will shut all its stores for good and stand down 300 workers after becoming the latest victim of the coronavirus retail fallout. Parent company Thorn Group announced on Thursday it had made the 'hard decision' to permanently close 62 stores and selected warehouses as COVID-19 continues to melt consumer sentiment. The core of the Radio Rentals' business will continue to operate online and will be leveraged to develop a new, digital business model. 'I am disappointed that we have been forced to make hard decisions regarding our staff and store network, however they have had to be made to ensure Thorn Group continues to operate and thrive in the future,' Thorn chief executive Peter Lirantzis said in a release to the ASX. Parent company Thorn Group announced it had made the 'hard decision' to permanently close 62 Radio Rentals stores and selected warehouses The COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on retailers - pandemic continues to melt consumer sentiment Thorn Group's Radio Rentals is not in any way associated with South Australian Radio Rentals stores. Radio Rentals started closing stores earlier this month and retailers across the nation made similar moves to absorb the blow of coronavirus restrictions and a subsequent drop in revenue. Listed companies to temporarily close their doors and stand down thousands of staff include Myer, Kathmandu, Accent Group, Lovisa, Michael Hill Jeweller and Premier Investments, which runs Smiggle, Peter Alexander, Just Jeans, Portmans and Dotti. The permanent Radio Rentals store closures and the resulting redundancies of about 300 casual and full-time staff at outlets and head office will be undertaken in the next three months. Coronavirus-fuelled retail downturn Companies to temporarily close their doors and stand down thousands of staff due to coronavirus retail fallout include: Myer Kathmandu Accent Group Lovisa Michael Hill Jeweller Premier Investments which runs Smiggle, Peter Alexander, Just Jeans, Portmans and Dotti Advertisement Mr Liranzis said the firm intended to redevelop the Radio Rentals' digital business model and Thorn Business Finance once the COVID-19 crisis had passed. Gross sales at online retailer Kogan.com jumped 30 per cent in the March quarter as shoppers stocked up on home and kitchen equipment and fitness gear to weather isolation. Kogan said gross profit grew by 50 per cent for the quarter but adjusted earnings only rose about 4.0 per cent due to a spike in costs. Thorn said adverse business conditions created by the COVID-19 crisis were causing increased arrears in Radio Rentals and Thorn Business Finance and would result in corresponding write-offs. 'These conditions are expected to continue to create a range of challenges and complex conditions for the Thorn business over coming months,' the company said. The number of Australian with a jobs has fallen by 6.0 per cent since the start of the coronavirus crisis began, with younger people suffering the worst losses Myer was one of many Australian retailers that closed all stores in March as it battles through the coronavirus pandemic Thorn will undertake the run-down of Radio Rentals' loan book, worth about $123million as at March 31, which it says will be value-creating and will not draw down capital. The run-down is expected to immediately generate significant cash, above the redundancy and other costs. Shares in the company shot up 35.8 per cent to a near seven-week high of 11 cents by 12.10 AEST. Thorn Group has still lost 56 per cent of its value in 2020 against a 22 per cent downturn for the wider ASX/200. The number of Australian with a jobs has fallen by 6.0 per cent since the start of the coronavirus crisis began, with younger people suffering the worst losses. The Reserve Bank expects unemployment to hit 10 per cent in the coming months, nearly double the 5.2 per cent rate before the outbreak. The telecom industry is in discussions with district and local authorities across states for opening up prepaid recharge centres following the recent orders by the Home Ministry, and hopes that these outlets will start opening in a day or so. The Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) has also written to various states, urging them to issue "requisite instructions in the state/UT to enable 'mobile recharging retailers' to open their outlets for offering telecom services to the public", and also issue passes for movement of select staff who manage these outlets. "Further, to serve these outlets, passes should be issued to select employees/staff and distributors of the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)," COAI said in similarly worded letters addressed to chief secretaries of states. COAI Director General Rajan Mathews told PTI that telcos are engaging with local authorities to identify and finalise the list of locations where outlets can be re-opened. "We are working with local administration and operators to identify locations, because individual geographies have different hotspots and green areas. So it cannot be one-size-fits-all approach. "State by state, depending on severity of the issue and how much they are ready to open up, our operators are working with them to identify the appropriate locations which can be started. Then of course, this has to get communicated to customers as well," Mathews said. He added that operators are hoping that recharge outlets would start opening in a day or so since discussions are already underway at state level. Earlier this week, Union Home Ministry allowed opening of shops selling educational books and electric fans, services of bedside attendants of senior citizens and public utilities, including recharge facilities for prepaid mobile phones, during the ongoing lockdown. The telecom industry had been pushing for opening up retail recharge points, particularly to help feature phone mobile users to go in for recharges. India has decided to extend lockdown restrictions till May 3 to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, which has so far claimed 681 lives and infected over 21,393 people in the country. During the first phase of lockdown, telecom operators had announced benefits for low-income prepaid users to help them tide over the ongoing crisis. Last week, Vodafone Idea announced extension of incoming service for 90 million low-income prepaid customers, using feature phones, till May 3. Bharti Airtel also said it is extending validity of 30 million low-income prepaid customers till May 3. Reliance Jio has announced that every Jio user will continue to receive incoming calls. This will not only benefit low-income users but also benefit those who are unable to do a recharge during these challenging times. Meanwhile, telcos have also activated several channels, including ATMs, post offices, grocery stores and chemist shops, in addition to digital channels, to enable mobile users to recharge. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Federation of Seed Industry of India (FSII) on Thursday said its members have pledged over Rs 9 crore towards relief measures to combat the COVID-19 crisis. FSII, a 40-member association of R&D-based plant science industry, said the donations have been made towards the PM-CARES Fund, Chief Minister's relief funds in different states and for supply of medical and safety gears like PPE, besides food distribution and awareness programmes. "This humanitarian aid is for scaling up healthcare support, sanitisation at containment zones, feeding communities and treatment of the disease," FSII said in a statement. According to the seed industry body, members have donated over Rs 1.97 crore to the PM-CARES Fund and Rs 2.44 crore to Chief Minister's relief funds in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Karnataka. FSII members Mahyco, Rasi, Syngenta, Crystal and Corteva have pledged more than Rs 1 crore each in relief measures. Additionally, Mahyco is providing food and grocery to villagers, meals to healthcare workers and medical equipment in Jalna (Maharashtra). The group has also offered an eye care hospital for setting up a COVID-19 treatment facility and a college hostel for quarantine purposes. Tamil Nadu-based Rasi Seeds has contributed in various ways in the state, like providing boom sprayers for disinfecting places, providing Rs 1 lakh COVID-19 insurance coverage to 2,000 villagers and Rasi employees, relief to women farmers in tribal areas through an NGO ALC, and distribution of 25,000 masks, PPE and sanitisers to villagers and health workers. Corteva is also donating supplies and materials that can be used by professionals who are working to treat and prevent the COVID-19 spread, the FSII said. Another seed firm Syngenta has initiated a national helpline to support farmers during these distressing times. Under a rehabilitation program, the company has committed Rs 1.73 crore. The company is also providing PPE kits to frontline health workers and farmers, undertaking sanitisation drives in Uttar Pradesh, providing relief material such as packed food through an NGO to farmers at mandis and groceries to the underprivileged in villages. Other FSII members like BASF, Bayer, Bioseed, Enza Zaden, HM Clause, I&B, JK, Kalash, Nirmal, Noble, Rallis, Rijkzwan, Seedworks, Savannah, Takii, Tokita are pledging over Rs 2.56 crore towards the PM-CARES Fund, Chief Minister's relief funds and are also reaching out to the municipalities, health officials and hospitals by providing them with medical and safety gears. FSII also said its employees have made voluntary contributions for relief funds. Further, the member companies are supporting their employees at their factories with a healthy and safe work environment. Some of the large seed companies, who are members of the FSII, are donating on a larger scale. For instance, Bayer India, has dedicated Rs 7.2 crore that includes overall contribution from the company as well as employees. DCM Shriram group has committed Rs 10 crore towards the PM-CARES Fund, Rs 5 crore for initiatives directly taken up by the company to help communities and towards contribution to the funds set up by state governments. The staff and workers of DCM Shriram have raised Rs 82 lakh from their salaries, which will also be donated to the PM-CARES Fund. Similarly, JK Group has committed Rs 10 crore towards PM-CARES Fund and is reaching out to communities at various locations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) K Krishnachand By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Software engineers are busy working from home. But hardware network engineers and system administrators do not have the luxury of choice. Their presence in server rooms is essential to prevent server or system crash. Now those working at Technopark are unable to reach their workplaces as the police impose restrictions citing Thiruvananthapuram corporation limits as a hotspot. Though they have obtained a court order permitting travel for work till May 3, and have acquired emergency passes, the police are stopping them. Currently, 422 emergency passes have been issued to employees from among the 450 companies there. Having intervened in the matter, the Group of Technology Companies (GTech) in Technopark is set to urge the government to exempt such professionals from lockdown curbs considering their work as an essential service. After the state government announced easing of restrictions on Monday as the district falls under the Orange B category, several hardware engineers and system administrators proceeding to the IT park were told to return home. The police even booked a person and seized his car.As per the Additional District Magistrates order dated April 15, the emergency passes issued to networking employees and professionals of various IT companies in Technopark are valid till the end of the second phase of lockdown. The validity of the passes had earlier ended on April 14, the final day of the first phase of lockdown. The court then extended the validity, with copies of the order sent to Technopark CEO, City Police Commissioner and Rural SP. I was blocked at the Thirumala Junction, a network engineer told TNIE. Despite showing the emergency pass, the police didnt listen to me. The cops then took me to the Poojapura police station and registered a case. The vehicle was also seized. I was granted bail on furnishing two sureties. According to GTech CEO Vishnu V Nair, a committee has been constituted to approach the magistrates court again seeking an order allowing network engineers to work at the IT park and to instruct the police not to stop them from commuting. We are pushing the Technopark authorities as well, he said. Only a proper understanding between Technopark and the police will enable the engineers to travel without any hiccups. Meanwhile, City Police Commissioner Balram Kumar Upadhyay told TNIE the police will not stop vehicles or register cases if people have valid emergency passes. The police will allow people with valid passes to travel, he said.But we cant let in persons carrying only official ID cards as the city falls under a hotspot region. More than 1 lakh employees are working in various buildings of Technopark. The commissioner termed the Poojapura incident an isolated one. Exemption sought Currently, 422 emergency passes have been issued to employees from among the 450 companies there. Having intervened in the matter, the Group of Technology Companies (GTech) in Technopark is set to urge the government to exempt such professionals from lockdown curbs Friends and family gathered at the grave of a little Birmingham girl who was abducted and slain just six months ago. Wednesday marked what would have been Kamille Cupcake McKinneys fourth birthday. Her mother, April Thomas, father, Dominic McKinney, brother Amaree Thomas and more than a dozen others released pink, purple, and white balloons in her memory at Elmwood Cemetery. Its tragic because shes not here to enjoy her birthday, said mother April Thomas. The best part about it is she is with God, our Lord and Savior. Thats the best gift anybody could ever have. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Kamille was abducted Oct. 12, 2019 while at a birthday party in Tom Brown Village. Kamilles disappearance gripped the city for 10 days, until her remains were found the night of Oct. 22 in a trash dumpster at a Jefferson County landfill. Two suspects Patrick Stallworth and Derick Irisha Brown - are charged with capital murder of a child under the age of 14. If convicted, both could face the death penalty. Stallworth and Brown, who were in dating relationship for about a year before their arrests, have since blamed each other for Kamilles death. An autopsy conducted by the Jefferson County Coroners Office showed Kamille had died asphyxiation by suffocation. The exam also turned up toxic levels of methamphetamine and Trazodone. The levels of the drugs indicated Kamille had ingested the drugs, and not just been exposed to them. Testimony from both hearings also showed investigators removed a plastic covering from a mattress that was in the living room where the couple lived in Center Point. That covering showed blood in several places and testing of that blood showed a mixture of DNA belonging to Stallworth, Brown and Kamille. More than 800 people attended Kamilles funeral at New Beginnings Christian Ministry, with 400-plus more in an overflow. This 3-year-old has Herculean powers, Birmingham Police Chief Patrick Smith has said. Shes unified a city. Shes brought the city together. I think she touched a cord within the city, Smith said, This was a how dare you crime. How dare you touch our children. How dare you disrespect our community. I think thats why it touched a chord. Thomas on Wednesday said the family is thankful for the community support. Its nice to know theres people out here with genuine hearts and kind and people who care, she said. Its a tragic situation that brought the people together. I just hope in the future it dont take no tragic situation. All of us should be like this at all times. Asked what she missed the most about Kamille, Thomas said, Her smile, her eyes, her silly personality. She was just full of life. Honestly, she was the boss and what kept me going every day. Colombo, April 23 : Sri Lanka's National Association for Professionals in Tourism (NAFPT) on Thursday said it had launched a four-day campaign in several areas of the island-nation to assist foreign tourists who are currently stranded due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement, the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority said the NAFPT had launched the campaign titled "Tourism Disaster Monitoring and Hosting Program" along with the Tourist Police Division where tourism officials will visit the foreign tourists, providing them with dry ration gift packages, familiarizing the current situation and identifying the difficulties they are facing and providing assistance, reports Xinhua news agency. The officials will travel across the country for the next four days covering the capital Colombo, Katunayake, Negombo, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Ella, Pasikuda, Arugambay, Udawalawe, Mirissa, Unawatuna, Hikkaduwa, and Bentota, which are tourists hotspots in the island country. "While the government's main focus is to safeguard the citizens of Sri Lanka, it is also important to take care of the tourists who have traveled to Sri Lanka trusting us. Therefore, we are proud to start this campaign for them," said Donald Rajapaksa, national coordinator of the association. Sri Lanka shut its international airports last month for all passenger arrivals to prevent a further spread of the COVID-19 but said passenger departures would continue. As authorities imposed an islandwide curfew on March 20, police said tourists who wished to return back to their countries could use their airline tickets as a curfew pass to travel to the airport. Sri Lanka has reported 330 coronavirus cases, with seven deaths. It was a chance encounter in 2014 that set the trial in motion. Bunni, who had claimed asylum in Berlin, says he recognized a man at his refugee center but at first could not place him. It was only after a friend told him a former regime official had arrived that he made the connection. Raslan, he says, is the man who arrested him outside his home in the Damascus neighborhood of Kafr Souseh in 2006, leading to the five years he spent in prison. S chools are unlikely to re-open until June 1 at the earliest, the leader of the head teachers' union has said. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), told the BBC that planning would need "to begin very soon" to hit the June 1 target. He added: "We cannot see any realistic way that schools could be re-opened to more pupils before the second half of the summer term." Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has not given an date for when schools could reopen, but has set out five thresholds that must be met before that can happen. Those five thresholds are: the NHS's ability to cope is fully protected, the daily death rate is dropping, infection rates are falling to manageable levels, there are sufficient supplies of testing and protective equipment, and there is no risk of a "second peak" of infections. Europe takes it's first steps out of Coronavirus lockdown 1 /25 Europe takes it's first steps out of Coronavirus lockdown People queue at a hardware store during a partial reopening after the Austrian government eased lockdown restrictions Reuters A worker checks the temperature of a customer at the entrance of a supermarket in Itay Reuters Customers hold flowers in front of a DIY store in Graz, Austria, after it re-opened on April 14, 2020, following a "shutdown" in a measure to limit the spread of the new coronavirus APA/AFP via Getty Images People wearing protective face masks and gloves walk in the streets as the Italian government allows the reopening of some shops while a nationwide lockdown continues following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Venice, Italy, Reuters People queue to enter a hardware store during a partial reopening after the Austrian government eased restrictions following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Eisenstadt, Austria Reuters Camilla Cocchi wears a face mask and gloves as she sorts out clothing in her children's clothes shop after it was allowed to reopen following lockdown measures to contain the spread of Covid-19, in Rome AP A man wearing a face mask shops in a hardware store during a partial reopening after the Austrian government eased restrictions following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Eisenstadt, Austria Reuters "Respect the 2 meters distance" banner is seen at a fish stand as the Italian government allows the reopening of some shops while a nationwide lockdown continues following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Venice, Italy, Reuters Customers wearing face masks push shopping carts in front of a DIY store in Vienna, Austria, after it re-opened on April 14, 2020, following a "shutdown" in a measure to limit the spread of the new coronavirus APA/AFP via Getty Images A worker checks the temperature of a customer at the entrance of a supermarket, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Turin, Italy Reuters Customers line up in front of a DIY store in Graz, Austria APA/AFP via Getty Images Gianfranco Mandas wears a face mask as he sorts out clothing in his children's clothes shop after it was allowed to opens following restriction measures to contain the spread of Covid-19, in Rome AP Customers wearing face masks push shopping carts in front of a DIY store in Vienna, Austria, after it re-opened on April 14, 2020, following a "shutdown" in a measure to limit the spread of the new coronavirus APA/AFP via Getty Images Customers queue at the Trastevere market, as new restrictions for open-air markets are implemented to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Rome, Italy, Reuters Customers wearing face masks push shopping carts in front of a DIY store in Vienna, Austria, after it re-opened on April 14, 2020, following a "shutdown" in a measure to limit the spread of the new coronavirus APA/AFP via Getty Images A man wears a protective face mask and gloves at the newsstand as the Italian government allows the reopening of some shops while a nationwide lockdown continues following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Venice, Italy Reuters People wearing face masks work in a hardware store during a partial reopening after the Austrian government eased restrictions following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Eisenstadt, Austria Reuters Customers queue at the Trastevere market, as new restrictions for open-air markets are implemented to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Rome, Italy Reuters A general view of the parking area of a hardware store during the partial reopening of shops after the Austrian government loosens its lockdown restrictions during the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Vienna Reuters It comes as the proportion of pupils attending school and college during the Covid-19 pandemic has more than halved amid the Government-enforced lockdown, the latest figures suggest. Loading.... The pupil attendance rate in education settings fell from 3.7 per cent on the first day of partial school closures to 1.3 per cent only one week later, according to a Government analysis. Since April 6, which would have been the first week of the Easter break, the proportion of pupils attending has not risen above 0.9 per cent, Department for Education (DfE) data suggests. The low figures have prompted concern among education unions and charities, who warn that many vulnerable children are not getting the support they need through school. Schools and colleges across the UK closed their doors to the majority of pupils, apart from the children of key workers and vulnerable youngsters, from March 23. The Government put the Covid-19 lockdown in place later that day. Of the children in school on Friday last week, 24,000 were classed as vulnerable. This was down from 39,000 on March 24, the day after the lockdown measures were announced. By Express News Service CHENNAI: The regional meteorological centre (RMC) here has predicted heavy rain in interior districts of Tamil Nadu starting April 25 and an official warning has been issued. The rainfall is likely to continue till April 27. N Puviarasan, director of Area Cyclone Warning Centre, RMC, said there is a trough at 0.9 mean sea level from Comorin area to interior Tamil Nadu. "Trough along with convection is likely to bring heavy rain in interior districts of the state for a few days." The met office also issued a warning of thunderstorms accompanied with gusty wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph. Meanwhile, a temperature warning has been issued for Madurai, Trichy, Salem, Vellore, Karur and Thiruttani, where temperature is likely to be 39-40 degree Celsius. Farmers and general public are advised not to expose themselves to direct sunlight from 11.30 am to 3.30 pm. In Chennai, the sky condition is likely to be partly cloudy during forenoon and clear sky thereafter. Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 35 degrees and 27 degrees Celsius respectively. Millions of workers are being furloughed from their jobs in an attempt to limit permanent lay-offs, and the Government's scheme protects pensions as well as wages. But that doesn't mean furloughed staff will dodge a hit to their pensions, as they will typically only be getting 80 per cent of their usual salary, unless their employer tops it up. So, pension contributions during the furlough period are likely to be based on a percentage of just four fifths of salary - but it will be well worth continuing to make them if you can afford it. Furlough scheme: The Government is covering 80 per cent of salaries up to 2,500 a month to limit redundancies during the Covid-19 outbreak This is because unless you carry on paying at least the auto-enrolment minimum of 4 per cent of salary into your pension, you will lose out on free Government cash topping this up to 8 per cent. You should also avoid harming your chances of a comfortable retirement because of what might be a serious but short-lived setback to your finances. We explain how pensions are treated while people are furloughed in more detail below, including what happens if you are in your employer's 'salary sacrifice' scheme. What is the Government doing to protect pensions of furloughed staff? The Government is currently covering 80 per cent of salaries up to 2,500 a month - equivalent to the UK average wage of 30,000 a year. Its Job Retention Scheme also replaces a 3 per cent employer contribution into staff pension pots on earnings between 520 and 2,500 a month. But the Government will stop replacing pension contributions for furloughed staff from August 1, meaning employers will become responsible for them again. From 1 September, the Government will only cover 70 per cent of salaries and from 1 October only 60 per cent of salaries. But again employers will be responsible for making up the difference, so furloughed staff will still get 80 per cent of salary and pension contributions. The furlough scheme is currently due to end on 31 October, and it is not clear whether the Government intends to replace it with other job support measures. Who pays what? The auto enrolment pension minimums for staff, employers and the Government 'The Government will only pay the auto enrolment minimum employer pension contribution, 3 per cent on the 80 per cent or 2,500 per month if lower, of the employee's regular monthly wage,' says Nigel Hatt, pension technical specialist at Tilney. 'No commission, fees or bonus are included. If the employer pays more than this, the JRS only covers 3 per cent of the furloughed salary as an employer contribution.' He adds: 'Employers should not be encouraging their employees to opt out of auto enrolment and it is a statutory offence to do so.' Maike Currie, director for workplace investing at Fidelity International, says: 'Unless you are told otherwise, your own pension contributions and your employer's contribution will continue at the current percentage but will be based on the amount you are paid while on furlough rather than your normal salary. 'Your pension plan may give you the option to reduce or suspend your contributions, or to opt out of the plan altogether. 'But think carefully before taking any of these options as they could have a sizeable impact on the value of your pension savings when you come to retire.' The above applies to defined contribution or 'pot of money' pensions, where you build up a fund which is invested for retirement at your own risk. These are now prevalent in the private sector. What if you are in a final salary or 'defined benefit' pension? These are the most generous and safest pensions available, because they provide a guaranteed income for life after retirement. In the private sector they are virtually all closed to new contributions, and those in the public sector are backed by the taxpayer. Few staff are expected to be furloughed in the public sector, either because they are key workers or their wages are publicly funded anyway. Hatt says: 'The Government's announcements on furloughing do not specifically mention defined benefit schemes, so it is unclear what impact furloughing will have on them. 'If no change is being made to pay and benefit terms, the impact on defined benefit accrual may be minimal.' Furlough rules: The Government's scheme protects pension contributions as well as wages What if your employer pays above the auto enrolment minimum into your pension? Many employers pay more into their workers' pensions than they have to, often as a recruitment tool or to encourage staff to stay with them, or because they already did so before auto enrolment made minimum contributions compulsory. If you are furloughed, your employer might cut its excess contributions to your pension back to the minimum. And regulators will allow this without the usual consultation period which will still be required for reducing payments for non-furloughed staff. Currie explains: 'Under the Job Retention Scheme the Government will only fund the cost of that minimum legal employer contribution and employers have to cover the cost of any gap up to their committed contribution rate. 'For employers struggling to afford contributions above the automatic enrolment minimums, the Pensions Regulator has introduced a temporary easement to allow an employer to reduce its contributions to no less than the automatic enrolment minimum levels for furlough staff only without the need for the usual 60-day consultation process. 'This easement applies where contributions are to be reduced only for the time an employee is on furlough.' Hatt says he understands the regulator still expects employers to carry out a consultation where practical, but it has indicated it won't sanction those who cannot do this for furloughed staff right now. What if you are in a salary sacrifice scheme? Salary sacrifice is essentially a legal way to dodge National Insurance payments. Employers allow staff to take a supposed 'pay cut', but the money gets ploughed into their pension or put towards some other benefit like childcare, and both sides pay less NI as a result. However, benefits provided through salary sacrifice schemes such as pension contributions cannot be included in the furlough salary. Employers therefore cannot claim for extra pension contributions they make under salary sacrifice arrangements - but they have to carry on making them under pay deals previously struck with their furloughed staff. Kate Smith, head of pensions at Aegon, says employees should think very carefully about opting out of salary sacrifice arrangements if they are furloughed. 'If a furloughed employee cancels their salary sacrifice arrangement, their furloughed pay remains the same as it is fixed based on their post-sacrifice salary that was in payment in the last pay period before 19 March,' she says. 'But their take-home pay reduces as they will now pay the 5 per cent auto-enrolment minimum contribution [made up of 4 per cent from them, plus 1 per cent in Government top-up - see the table above]. Meanwhile, Hatt says: 'Employees are likely to expect their employer to pay the "sacrifice contributions" over in full and may not look favourably if this does not happen.' He warns that if you are furloughed, an employer might seek your written agreement to temporarily suspend these payments. But if you don't agree, they will be in breach of contract, and you could take legal proceedings against them. 'If cash flow is an issue for the employer, the most sensible course is probably to put the matter in abeyance pending a return to work and for a meeting to be set up to plan how the contribution deficit is to be made up. 'The other alternative is that an employee accepts that the deficit will not be made up, thereby possibly triggering some claim for compensation in another form.' While the world is on lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, many people have been sharing throwback snaps to Instagram and Rebel Wilson is no different. Taking to social media on Wednesday, the star shared two snaps from her childhood in Sydney. Rebel Wilson surprised fans after sharing a sweet throwback from her childhood in Sydney. Photo: Instagram/Rebel Wilson In one photo, Rebel is wearing a red beanie and smiling sweetly at the camera as she poses with a group of school kids. Rebel captioned the snap: "No hat, no play," and shared another photo, this time a recent one, of herself at Sydney harbour wearing a cap. Fans commented on the snap, with one user writing: "You were the cutest kid OMG!" "Only Australians know that saying, another person added. Others joked that she looked like Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin, while one mum wrote: "I bet you were the funny naughty kid at school. If I've had a bad day looking after my children I watch one of your movies with a glass or two and laugh until my tummy hurts." Rebel has recently been on a health kick, calling 2020 "The Year of Health". Photo: Getty The actress shared another photo to her Instagram story of herself as a young girl wearing a navy and red dance uniform. She captioned it: "Did anyone else do Physi as a kid?" For those who don't know, Physi AKA Physical Culture is a combination of aerobics, yoga, pilates, ballet and contemporary dance. The post was fitting given Rebel declared earlier this year that 2020 would be "The Year of Health". "Okay so for me 2020 is going to be called The Year of Health - so I put on the athleisure and went out for a walk, deliberately hydrating on the couch right now and trying to avoid the sugar and junk food which is going to be hard after the holidays Ive just had but Im going to do it! Whos with me in making some positive changes this year?, she wrote on Instagram. Last month she also shared a photo from a trip to Austria, saying she can't wait to return once borders open so she can continue her health journey. Story continues "When the borders re-open and we can travel to our favourite places - I cant wait to go back to @vivamayraltaussee in Austria and continue my health journey, she wrote. "I would walk around this lake every day there... its so beautiful and as were all realizing right now: health is so important." In a December interview with Entertainment Tonight, the 39-year-old actress also attributed her weight loss to her recent role in Cats, which hit theatres in late 2019. I lost eight pounds, shooting my number, in four days," Wilson said. "One, because there's a lot of physicality... but also, they heated up the set very high, to almost 100 Fahrenheit, so that we could never cool down. "These people are like, the best dancers in the whole world, so they can't cool their muscles down or they could get an injury and they'd be out of the film... So they'd heat up the set like a sauna so we would never cool down, but made it pretty uncomfortable." Got a story tip or just want to get in touch? Email us at lifestyle.tips@verizonmedia.com. Kim Jong-un's Sis: Meet Lady Who's Reportedly Been Prepared Since 2019 to Take Over as DPRK Leader Sputnik News 10:43 GMT 22.04.2020(updated 10:51 GMT 22.04.2020) Kim Jong-un's younger sister, who is currently first vice-department director of the ruling Workers' Party is believed to have been slowly but surely ascending through the party ranks for the past few years, and has recently been seen by her brother's side at key political gatherings. The Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun has reported, citing sources familiar with trilateral discussions between South Korea, the US, and Japan, that North Korea has been drawing up a contingency plan overseeing the transfer of power to Kim Jong-un's younger sister, Kim Yo-jong, in the event of an emergency. The report said that the North Korean Workers' Party Central Committee had decided at an internal plenary meeting late last year that should Kim Jong-un die or be rendered unable to govern the country, Kim Yo-jong should take over. Kim Yo-jong was given her first public role by her father in 2007, appointed as a junior cadre to the Korean Workers' Party, and she has since been steadily rising through the ranks during her brother's tenure. Kim Yo-jong, who currently serves as first vice-department director of the Korean Workers' Party Central Committee, was thrust into the limelight when she represented North Korea at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. During her visit to the south, Kim Yo-jong met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and was pictured alongside Vice President Mike Pence. The lady, who is believed to be Kim Jong-un's most trusted aide, has since been present at several of Kim's key state meetings, such as his summits with President Donald Trump in Singapore and Hanoi, Vietnam last year. After the failed summit in Hanoi she dropped out of the public eye for some time, but then reportedly returned to favour, and last month, made her first public statement. She delivered her country's message addressing the US and South Korea: in March she branded the South a "frightened dog barking" after Seoul condemned a live-fire military exercise by the North. She also publicly lauded Donald Trump for sending Kim a letter in which he expressed hope of good bilateral ties and offered help in stemming the spread of COVID-19. Last weekend, she was reinstated in the party's powerful politburo, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency. 'Kim in Grave Danger' Reports The report about North Korea's contingency plan came a day after CNN reported citing an unnamed US official that the US is now digging into "intelligence" that DPRK leader Kim Jong-un is in "grave danger" following surgery. South Korea-based Daily NK, an online newspaper that focuses on North Korea, reports that Kim underwent a cardiovascular procedure on 12 April. The North Korean leader is known to have missed the celebration of his grandfather's birthday on 15 April, which led to widespread speculation about his well-being. Donald Trump, who had previously more than once met with Kim Jong-un, addressed the speculation, stressing the reports were unconfirmed. So did the South Korean presidential office spokesperson, Kang Min-seok, asserting that "we have nothing to confirm and there has been no unusual activity detected in North Korea", according to the South Korean state-run Yonhap News Agency. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address As a leading provider of news, information and advertising in Lake Geneva and Walworth County, today we are proud to announce the launch of our Local Marketing Grant program. This program offers matching marketing funds to local businesses whose livelihood has been impacted by the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. Since our inception, the Lake Geneva Regional News has partnered with local businesses across our region to deliver their message to customers in both times of prosperity and in times of great challenge. While the COVID-19 virus has created change and difficulties for us all, the ability of our local business community to market to their customers remains essential to their, and all of our, sustainability and recovery. Our companys greatest assets, by far, are the local communities we serve, and were firmly committed to supporting them through this grant program. This program will be available to locally owned and operated businesses impacted by the COVID-19 virus, and will provide matching advertising grants for use in The Lake Geneva Regional News print and digital publications and services. This builds upon our existing commitment to our local business community through such successful initiatives as our Buy Local gift card program, and our programs to highlight local restaurants offering carry-out and delivery. Through our Local Marketing Grant program, we are enabling small business owners to access a much broader portfolio of marketing products. This program will allow us to take a far more comprehensive approach to overcoming the unique challenges our local business partners face as a result of this pandemic. Grants will range from $250 to $15,000 each month, and will be awarded in April, May and June. Applicants may apply online at www.lakegenevanews.net/pages/local-marketing-grant.html. As a trusted source of news and information for the communities that we serve, we feel that we are uniquely positioned to assist our local business community during these trying times. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen record-setting trends in both page views, and users who are accessing our content both in our printed newspaper, and at LakeGenevaNews.net. These audiences present a tremendous opportunity for our local business community to get their messaging out to local residents each and every day. During these uncertain times, we believe each of us can do our part to help our community come through the other side of this pandemic, stronger and more united to tackle the challenges that lay ahead. We ask that you join us in supporting our local business community in the weeks and months to follow. Robert Ireland is the general manager of the Lake Geneva Regional News. 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. She's been seen virtually every evening banging pots and pans together to make noise in honor of the essential workers at the front lines of the current coronavirus pandemic sweeping the city and globe. Comedian and actress Sarah Silverman made another appearance on her fire escape on Wednesday evening, with her assistant Annie Segal, armed with a frying pan and a pair of tongs this time. Every evening at 7pm, New Yorkers across the city have taken to opening their windows, going out on balconies, fire escapes or up on their roofs, to applaud and make noise for essential workers like health care providers, supermarket cashiers, and restaurant delivery workers who have kept vital functions running during this period. Showing appreciation: Comedian and actress Sarah Silverman made another appearance on her fire escape on Wednesday evening, with her assistant Annie Segal, armed with a frying pan For Wednesday's sighting, the Wreck It Ralph star, 49, wore a black cable knit sweater and jeans. Silverman's dark hair was up in a large messy bun, and she wore cat-eye glasses. The stand-up comic appeared in high spirits as usual as she flashed a huge smile while making as much noise as she could. Making noise: Every evening at 7pm, Sarah and Annie have come outside to applaud and make noise for essential workers who have kept vital functions running during this period Smiling and making a difference: For Wednesday's sighting, the Wreck It Ralph star, 49, wore a black cable knit sweater and jeans Sarah, whose memoir Bedwetter has been made into an off-Broadway musical, has been trying to enjoy her time at home in the city while awaiting rehearsals for the show to start. Like with all other theater in the Big Apple, that project has of course been put on hold during the pandemic which has precluded the public from gathering in any number in closed quarters. The funnywoman recently shared a selfie snap to her Instagram, showing her and Annie armed with video game controllers and headsets, as they engaged in a violent video game. Fun during downtime: The funnywoman recently shared a snap to her Instagram, showing her and Annie armed with video game controllers and headsets, as they engaged in a video game She also jokingly posted a paparazzi shot similar to those above to her IG feed, showing her on the fire escape with kitchenware, with the caption 'See yall at 7' along with an apple emoji. Sarah along with her 'quarantine partner' Annie, have been urging other New Yorkers to publicly display their gratitude for over a week. 'Everyday at 7pm in nyc, people open their window or stand on their fire escapes and bang pots and pans and howl and cheer on appreciation for our health care workers, grocery store workers and delivery people,' Battle of the Sexes star wrote on Instagram. Daily tradition: She's been seen virtually every evening banging pots and pans together to make noise in honor of the essential workers at the front lines of the current coronavirus pandemic sweeping the city In our national discussion of what constitutes an essential service, a good starting point would be determining what services are mandated in the Constitution. Airlines and cruise lines arent mentioned there. But the Postal Service is. In Article I of the Constitution, Section 8 enumerates Congress powers. The seventh of the 18 powers listed is To provide Post Offices and Post Roads. Even in an age of widespread use of email and package delivery by trucks emblazoned with the logos of UPS, FedEx and Amazon, we Americans still make considerable use of the United States Postal Service. If youre skeptical of that, consider your answers to these questions:Did you receive any Christmas cards last December? How were those delivered? Does your grandmother or great-grandmother send you an email on your birthday? Or does she write you a letter? Were all of those items youve ordered recently from Walmart, Target or Amazon delivered separately? Or did your postal carrier put them in your mailbox or on your porch? (Amazon relies on about 230,000 USPS workers to deliver many of its packages, TheWeek.com reported in 2018). In an increasingly digital age, the Postal Service remains useful to millions of Americans. The coronavirus crisis has hit the USPS hard, officials told lawmakers in Congress on April 9, and help from Congress it could run out of money by the end of September.Mail volume is down by nearly a third compared with the same time last year and dropping quickly, as businesses drastically cut back on solicitations, advertisements and all kinds of letters that make up the bulk of the mail services bottom line, the New York Times reported. At a time when America needs the Postal Service more than ever, the reason we are so needed is having a devastating effect on our business, Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan said in a statement to The New York Times. The sudden drop in mail volumes, our most profitable revenue stream, is steep and may never fully recover. She called on Congress to shore up the finances of the Postal Service as it had other businesses. The USPS probably wouldnt need serious financial assistance were it not the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006. The PAEA, passed by the Republican majority in both houses of Congress and signed into law by President George W. Bush, required the USPS to move away from funding its pension obligations on a pay-as-you-go basis in favor of a mandate that the Postal Service calculate all of its likely pension costs over the next 75 years, and then put away enough money between 2007 and 2016 to cover most of them.Would you take out a mortgage if youd been required, in the first year, to put away all the money you would eventually owe? Do you believe any private business handles its affairs in this way? The Postal Service lost $62.4 billion between 2007 and 2016, and its own inspector general attributed $54.8 billion of that to prefunding retiree benefits, as mandated by Congress. The Postal Services $15 billion debt is a direct result of the mandate, the inspector general wrote in 2015. This requirement has deprived the Postal Service of the opportunity to invest in capital projects and research and development. If were going to act as if the Postal Service is a business like any other, and you want to talk about how much money the USPS lost last year, shall we then talk about how much the Defense Department lost?Or the Social Security Administration? For less than the cost of a candy bar, you or your grandmother who doesnt use email can mail a letter from Key West to Utqiagvik, Alaska. Those two American cities are 4,283 miles apart. Were confident FedEx and UPS would charge a bit more than 55 cents to deliver that letter.You dont need a particular cruise line or airline to remain in business. But you do need the Postal Service. Congress must throw a lifeline to the Postal Service, in the form of an infusion of cash. Then it should undo the damage done in 2006 with the PAEA. BANGKOK (AP) Indonesia is suspending passenger flights and rail service as it restricts people in the worlds most populous Muslim nation from traveling to their hometowns during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan because of the coronavirus outbreak. The transportation ministrys director general of aviation, Novie Riyanto, said late Thursday the flight ban applies to both domestic and international flights. He said there would be some exceptions, including for leaders of state institutions, representatives of international organizations and the repatriation of Indonesian citizens. Officials also suspended all railway service linking cities on Java island, where 54% of the countrys nearly 270 million people live, and banned private cars from leaving Jakarta. During Ramadan, which begins Friday, faithful Muslims normally fast during the day and then congregate for night prayers and share communal meals. President Joko Widodo previously banned people from traveling home to celebrate Eid al-Fitr to mark the end of the daily fasting, amid warnings from health experts that Indonesia could face a virus outbreak affecting 1 million people unless it takes stricter measures. Millions of Indonesians usually cram into trains, ferries, cars and planes during the annual exodus. Indonesia has reported 7,418 infections, including 635 deaths. In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region: NORTH KOREA REPORTS NO CASES: North Korea has told the World Health Organization it has tested 740 people for the coronavirus as of April 17 and no one tested positive. Edwin Salvador, WHOs representative to North Korea, said the Health Ministry has been sharing weekly updates with WHO on its anti-virus efforts. He said WHO is working with the government to bring anti-virus supplies from China. The countrys borders remain closed and all goods are brought in by sea. CHINA GIVES MORE TO WHO: China said it will give an additional $30 million to the World Health Organization to help fight the coronavirus, on top of an earlier $20 million contribution. The announcement comes as the U.S., WHOs main contributor, threatens to cut off funding over criticism the U.N. body has not shown sufficient leadership in the fight against the virus and has uncritically supported China despite allegations Chinese officials initially suppressed news of the outbreak, first detected in Wuhan late last year. China also said Australian calls for an independent investigation into the cause of the pandemic are politically motivated and unhelpful. Australia is among a number of countries calling for more information from Beijing about where the virus originated and whether all efforts were made to stop it from spreading. TAIWAN: Taiwan said it is extending restrictions on flights to China and a ban on transit passengers. The self-governing islands Centers for Disease Control said lifting the restrictions would depend on the status of the disease. Taiwan confirmed two more cases of the virus from a navy refueling ship that recently returned from a training mission to Palau, bringing the total from the ship to 29. Story continues THAILAND AVIATION GUIDELINES: Thai aviation authorities issued guidelines for airlines that plan to resume domestic flights on May 1. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand said there must be empty seats next to all passengers and the last row must remain empty for isolating passengers who develop symptoms in flight. Cabin crews must wear masks, gloves and face shields, and passengers must bring their own masks and wear them at all times. Food and drink will not be provided and passengers may not bring their own for consumption during the flight. Domestic airlines canceled their flights on their own initiative with permission from the aviation authorities. There is a ban through April 30 on incoming international commercial passenger flights, imposed in part because of a shortage of facilities to quarantine arriving passengers. CRUISE SHIP LEAVES AUSTRALIA: A cruise ship that is the subject of a criminal investigation after it became Australias largest single source of coronavirus infections set off from the countrys shores a month after it was ordered by police to leave. The Ruby Princess has been linked to 19 deaths in Australia and two in the United States. A government inquiry is underway into why 2,700 passengers and crew were allowed to disembark in Sydney on March 19 before test results for sick passengers were known. The Ruby Princess delayed its departure because of sick crew members, several of whom have died in Sydney hospitals. BANGLADESH REOPENING FACTORIES: Bangladesh is extending a nationwide lockdown by another 10 days, but says manufacturers can slowly reopen factories that produce export goods, including garments. It said the companies must ensure safe conditions for their workers. Bangladesh has the world's second largest garment industry after China. Garment manufacturers say customers have canceled or suspended orders worth $3.17 billion, affecting 2.3 million workers. VIETNAM TO LOOSEN RESTRICTIONS: Vietnam, which moved quickly to close its borders and trace coronavirus cases, has reported no new cases in several days and is preparing to loosen restrictions. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said the country will be gradually reopened so people can get back to normal life. The government has lifted a ban on inter-provincial travel and has allowed an increase in domestic flights. In several provinces, students were going back to school after almost three months. Vietnam has reported no coronavirus deaths. US SAYS CHINA TAKING ADVANTAGE OF VIRUS: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told his Southeast Asian counterparts on Thursday that China is taking advantage of the worlds preoccupation with the coronavirus pandemic to push its territorial ambitions in the South China Sea. Pompeo made the accusation in a meeting via video to discuss the outbreak with the foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Beijings expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea conflict with those of several ASEAN members. A supermarket worker was arrested and charged with forgery over claims she faked a sick note saying she had been diagnosed with coronavirus to try and avoid work. H-E-B employee Kimberly Danner gave the note to bosses at the store in Odessa, Texas, earlier this month, with management taking it so seriously they announced the fake result publicly, panicking workers at the store and customers who visited regularly. Danners alleged lies were later exposed, and she was arrested on Tuesday evening. She now faces a misdemeanor charge, and has been fired from her job. A H-E-B spokesman told CBS7: H-E-B confirms the positive coronavirus case announced on April 7 at our Westside Odessa store was not true. We take matters of falsifying documents seriously, and we do not tolerate this activity. The case is in the hands of local authorities. The safety of our Partners and customers remains our top priority. Supermarket employees are among essential workers feared to be most at risk from coronavirus infection, because of the number of colleagues and customers they come into contact with on a daily basis. Texas has seen just over 21,000 coronavirus diagnoses, with 543 people there dying while suffering from Covid-19. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Sorry! This content is not available in your region Thirty years ago this week on April 24, 1990 the Hubble Space Telescope launched into space and opened humanity's eyes to the cosmos. Now, we reflect on how this groundbreaking instrument has changed and evolved our understanding of the universe. Space.com spoke to retired NASA astronaut Mike Massimino, who currently serves as the senior advisor for space programs at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, about his experiences working with the telescope and its importance to science and society. Massimino worked as a "space repairman," flying and completing spacewalks on the last two servicing missions to the space telescope in 2002 and 2009. So, not only did he help ensure that Hubble would work properly, he also got to know the telescope from an incredible, up-close vantage point. Related: The most amazing Hubble Space Telescope discoveries The Hubble Space Telescope got one last overhaul in May 2009 by NASA astronauts on the space shuttle Atlantis and has been sending home stunning new photos ever since. Astronaut Mike Massimino was there. (Image credit: NASA) Reflecting on the importance of the telescope 30 years after its launch, Massimino shared his thoughts on Hubble's most important achievements. "I think there's a certain set of things that Hubble was looking for," Massimino said. "Things like 'Do black holes exist?' Yes, they exist and Hubble found them." But, more than just answer questions, Hubble has explored the cosmos in ways that couldn't even be anticipated. "A scientific instrument, a really good one like Hubble I think the best one ever actually is able to not just answer questions but create questions as well," Massimino said. He used the example of dark energy. Scientists wanted to use Hubble to measure how quickly the expansion of the universe was slowing, only to discover the opposite: that our universe's expansion is actually accelerating. This discovery and the resulting hypothesis of mysterious dark energy to cause that acceleration has forever changed our view of the universe and has opened up a new question: what is dark energy? However, "I think, maybe in my opinion, the coolest thing," Massimino said about Hubble, is "it takes us places we could only dream about going and shows us the beauty of the universe that's out there." Fantastical images Massimino shared two of his favorite images taken by the space telescope. "My favorites are the ones that they took soon after we worked on it, 'cause it showed that we didn't break the telescope," he said, half-joking. The first of Massimino's favorites images, he said, is of the Cone Nebula. The image "came out soon after my first flight with the advanced camera for surveys, which I helped to install and you think you did the job right," he said. But it took a little while after the mission until they received images. "I was pretty confident that we did a good job, but then when you see those beautiful images," he said, it was a relief to know that the instrument he'd worked on was functioning properly. The cone nebula. Radiation from hot stars off the top of the picture illuminates and erodes this giant, gaseous pillar. (Image credit: NASA, H. Ford (JHU), G. Illingworth (UCSC/LO), M.Clampin (STScI), G. Hartig (STScI), the ACS Science Team, and ESA) His other favorite image he thinks of fondly for a similar reason. Massimino also worked on the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS). STIS was "never intended to be taken apart," Massimino said. But on one particular spacewalk, he had to repair the instrument. "It was this long, drawn-out process to get that thing fixed and it worked," he said. "And the first image that came out of it was just like a point of light, it looked like a lightbulb somewhere far, far away I was really happy." Hubble's future Massimino is excited about Hubble's future and the future of space exploration and observation. "Hubble is great," he said. "It's a lot better than what we've had in the past, and hopefully we'll have a lot of things that are a lot better in the future." He reflected on one particular shuttle mission during which, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's observations, they brought up one of the astronomer's telescopes. "You couldn't see a thing out of it!" Massimino said. "We've come a long way and I think that maybe someday, something like Hubble will seem like that to someone 400 years from now." He added that he's excited for the James Webb Space Telescope, which is set to launch in March 2021, to start observing in space as well. Hopefully, it will " surpass a lot of the discoveries that Hubble was able to make [and] increase the discovery potential that we have." "But," he said, "as long as Hubble's working it's gonna be used." Follow Chelsea Gohd on Twitter @chelsea_gohd . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook . Calling themselves disposable and abandoned, nurses in Jersey City Medical Centers Emergency Department have accused the hospitals management of ignoring their requests for enhanced safety measures and forcing them to use vacation time when they were out sick with COVID-19. In interviews with The Jersey Journal, four emergency department nurses at the RJWBarnabas Health facility said their requests for more protective gear and safety protocols, such as a designated shower, locker space and divert patients to other hospitals were ignored. The nurses, all of whom preferred to remain anonymous for fear of retribution, said that the emergency department went for long stretches without supervision. And as more and more medical providers called out sick after catching the coronavirus, nurses said they were denied hazard pay and were forced to use paid time off (PTO) when they called out sick. It almost feels like they dont care about the safety of their patients and their staff, one nurse told The Jersey Journal. Sharon Ambis, a spokeswoman for Jersey City Medical Center, declined to address the staffs specific allegations. We are so proud of the dedicated nurses, doctors, and entire staff at Jersey City Medical Center who are tremendously committed and selflessly devoted to their patients and to each other during what is arguably the most unimaginably challenging time for most of us in our entire lives," she said in an email. In an April 6 letter to the emergency departments director of nursing, obtained by The Jersey Journal, emergency department staff requested an urgent meeting to address issues they faced. For the past few weeks, we felt a greater urge to communicate the seriousness of the current issues that we are facing in the Emergency Room, nurses wrote. In the letter, which nurses said was signed by a majority of the emergency department staff, requested that at least one member" from management be present in the department until after the pandemic. The hospitals chief nursing officer had been seen in the emergency department only twice in the past month and a half, one nurse said. And after a department supervisor had gotten sick, the night shift had even gone several weeks with no management, one nurse said. There was this absolute lack of transparency and understanding of what was going on on our level, one nurse said. Our department felt abandoned. The letter also addressed safety issues, asking that management create a protocol for transporting COVID-19 patients and add more negative pressure areas rooms for patients with infectious diseases in which the ventilation is engineered to stay inside the room to prevent airborne pathogens from escaping. Emergency department staff also requested the hospital provide coveralls and scrubs, as well as preventive lodging measures and a designated locker and shower space to avoid bringing contamination home. The staff also requested that the hospital be placed on divert status when at capacity, meaning emergency medical services are notified that the hospital cannot accept more patients. Jersey City Medical Center makes a practice of not going on divert, staff told The Jersey Journal. Although it means turning away patients, nurses said that going on divert actually means a safer environment for patients and medical staff. Its having a negative impact on the care of the patients that are already there, another said, adding that not going on divert meant determining that the patients who are coming in should be considered over the patients who are already there. As a result, one nurse said, the emergency department had been absolutely slammed. The department was so crowded that the hospital was housing some patients in hallways without monitoring equipment, nurses said. Some patients had been hooked up to portable oxygen canisters, which only last 45 minutes, one nurse said and because there were no monitors, nurses needed to be constantly checking up on them in case the oxygen ran out. In the letter to the nursing director, the emergency nurses wrote that even when fully staffed, our ED is struggling to stay afloat and requested that the hospital bring on more staff to relieve stress on the department. Nurses estimated that between 20 and 30 members of the nursing staff were out sick at one point. The department staff had also requested hazard pay for work during the outbreak, as well as specific epidemic/pandemic sick leave ... for all staff infected while laboring in our ED. Instead, emergency nurses said they have been forced to use vacation time if they are out sick with the coronavirus. Multiple nurses said that they were out sick with the virus at the time of the interviews and were currently using their PTO, with one saying the virus had required the cancellation of vacation plans. In the past week, the nurses said the situation in the emergency department had calmed down somewhat. Management had shifted a handful of other staff to the emergency department and installed air filters in the department, one nurse said. Another nurse said that management has been more involved in patient care in the department over the past week. But all the nurses interviewed said that most of their requests had gone unanswered. Nothing has changed, one said in a text message. Two people interviewed by The Jersey Journal said they personally know at least five people who have quit, and many more are considering leaving or are searching for other jobs. But all the nurses interviewed said that managers had told them if they quit, they would be barred from working at any RWJBarnabas Health hospital again. RWJBarnabas Health operates more than a dozen hospitals and numerous other facilities in New Jersey. Despite the alleged threats, some nurses interviewed said they were still considering leaving. We dont want to abandon our posts. We know that were needed right now, one nurse said. As soon as this pandemic has eased up, I think were going to see a mass exodus. The coverage on this live blog has ended but for up-to-the-minute coverage on the coronavirus, visit the live blog from CNBC's Asia-Pacific team. The House passed a $484 billion stimulus package to bolster small businesses and hospitals ravaged by the coronavirus crisis in the latest effort from lawmakers to ease the effects of coronavirus shutdowns on the economy. Vice President Pence said that 16 states currently have plans in place to reopen local businesses, though health officials continue to warn of relaxing mitigation efforts too quickly. This is CNBC's live blog covering all the latest news on the coronavirus outbreak. All times below are in Eastern time. This blog will be updated throughout the day as the news breaks. Global cases: More than 2.7 million Global deaths: At least 190,303 US cases: More than 864,400 US deaths: At least 49,748 The data above was compiled by Johns Hopkins University. 8:30 pm: San Francisco begins closing off some streets to encourage social distancing San Francisco began closing off some residential streets to daytime traffic this week. The closure is part of its "Slow Streets" initiative, announced on Monday by Mayor London Breed. The closures are meant to give pedestrians and bikers a way to get around, without violating physical distancing orders, and without having to crowd onto sidewalks or dodge traffic. The selected thoroughfares in San Francisco are only open to pedestrians, bikers, vehicles making deliveries to local residents or businesses, and emergency responders during the day. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency shared images on social media of people maintaining a good physical distance from each other while strolling down Golden Gate Avenue in the city's Tenderloin neighborhood. Neighboring Oakland implemented a similar initiative with fitness in mind earlier this month. Lora Kolodny twitter 8 pm: Dubai opens restaurants and cafes, resumes public transportation Dubai on Thursday allowed cafes and restaurants to resume business, and shopping malls to be opened partially from 12 p.m until 10 p.m, but with a maximum capacity of 30%, Dubai's media office announced in a statement. The statement added that it would also allow resuming public transportation services including subways starting April 26. Reuters 7:40 pm: United Airlines will require flight attendants to wear masks. The labor union wants passengers to wear them, too United Airlines says effective Friday flight attendants will have to wear masks or other face coverings while on duty, a measure aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus. The airline will provide flight attendants with surgical masks but they are also allowed to wear their own cloth masks. "We understand that many aspects of the flight attendant's duties, both on and off the aircraft, can make practicing social distancing challenging, which is why this new initiative is so important," United said. While few travelers are currently flying because of the virus and stay-at-home orders airlines are rethinking precautions to stop the virus from spreading. The Association of Flight Attendants, which represents some 50,000 cabin crew members including those at United and asked for the measure at United, wants to go further. The union asked federal authorities to require that travelers as well as crews be required to wear masks to reduce the risk of spreading the disease. "As some of the most frequent travelers, flight attendants feel a deep responsibility to ensure that our workplace risks of acquiring and spreading communicable diseases are minimized as much as possible," AFA's president, Sara Nelson, wrote in a letter to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar." Leslie Josephs 7:30 pm: Trump 'not at all happy' with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp's plan to re-open businesses Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp listens to a question from the press during a tour of a massive temporary hospital at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, April 16, 2020, in Atlanta. Ron Harris | AP President Trump said at a press conference that he was "not at all happy" with Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, who plans to re-open certain businesses in the state starting Friday, April 24, even though the Covid-19 outbreak is still a public health threat there. On Monday, Governor Kemp said the state would allow spas, tattoo parlors, salons, barbershops, bowling alleys, and soon movie theaters and restaurants to open up again in Georgia, as long as they implement physical distancing and other measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. The President said, of Kemp and his plans, on Thursday: "I want the states to open much more than he does!" But he added, "I didn't like to see spas opening, frankly. I wasn't happy with Brian Kemp. I wasn't at all happy." The President emphasized that he was leaving it up to governors to make decisions for their own states. Referring to small businesses, he said: "I want them to open as soon as possible. And I want the state to open. But I wasn't happy with Brian Kemp." Lora Kolodny 7:17 pm: Bill Gates explains what we need to do to stop the coronavirus pandemic and reopen the economy Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates outlined what the world needs to do to stop the Covid-19 pandemic and reopen the economy in a blog post Thursday. Gates said the world must advance its treatments, vaccines, testing and contact tracing. It also needs to examine its policies for opening up global economies, he said. He compared the pandemic to a war. There were five areas he outlines as needing attention: Treatment: Gates acknowledged that many treatments may fail, but said he's optimistic some will be successful in reducing the coronavirus burden. Vaccines: "Short of a miracle treatment," the only way for people to return to some sense of normal is through a vaccine, Gates said. Testing: Gates said the United States needs to prioritize and speed up Covid-19 testing to have results in one day. Contact tracing: Gates said that people who have been in close contact with someone who tested positive should be prioritized for testing and self-isolate. Opening up: Gates believes that most developed countries will enter the second phase of the pandemic in the next two months. That's where the world is semi-normal, though people still practice social distancing. "During World War II, an amazing amount of innovation, including radar, reliable torpedoes, and code-breaking, helped end the war faster," Gates said. "This will be the same with the pandemic." Gates has been vocal on the Covid-19 pandemic and has described its spread as a "nightmare scenario." Jessica Bursztynsky 6:58 pm: Updated map of global cases, which now total 2,708,590 6:53 pm: Trump says he may extend coronavirus social distancing guidelines to early summer President Donald Trump said that his administration may extend its national social distancing guidelines until early in the summer or later. "We may, and we may go beyond that," Trump said at a White House press briefing when asked if the federal guidelines would need to be extended at least until the start of summer. "We're going to have to see where it is," Trump said. "I think people are going to know just out of common sense. At some point, we won't have to do that. But until we feel safe, we're going to be extending." The coronavirus guidelines, which were first shared in mid-March and had already been extended once, were set to expire at the end of April. Amanda Macias, Kevin Breuninger 6:41 pm: Pence says 16 states have released plans to lift coronavirus restrictions Sixteen states have released "formal reopening plans" to lift coronavirus restrictions, Vice President Mike Pence said. "At the present moment, 16 states have released formal reopening plans," Pence said at a news briefing. "States are beginning to make those plans and we're encouraged to see so many states embracing the phased approach to reopening their economies that's contemplated in our guidelines for opening up America again." Missouri, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Idaho have all released plans to lift restrictions meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Pence said. The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for the complete list of states. The administration is now also calling on states to resume elective surgeries, which were largely suspended as health systems sought to boost capacity for an expected surge of Covid-19 patients, Pence announced. He said several states have already unveiled plans to do so, including Arizona and Indiana. Will Feuer 6:34 pm: The FDA just approved Columbia's Covid-19 plasma therapy study, backed by Amazon A scientist is at work in the VirPath university laboratory, classified as "P3" level of safety, on February 5, 2020 as they try to find an effective treatment against COVID-19. JEFF PACHOUD | AFP via Getty Images The U.S. Food and Drug Administration just green-lit a clinical trial at Columbia University to determine whether the plasma collected from Covid-19 survivors can effectively protect health care workers on the frontlines and alleviate symptoms in those who are severely ill. The study is funded by $2.5 million from Amazon. Using convalescent plasma -- a component of blood -- as a treatment is a decades-old idea, and has been used to treat other diseases like influenza and measles. When a patient recovers from a disease, they produce antibodies to fight the presence of the antigen that caused the disease, and those proteins will remain in the blood for a few months. The hope is that plasma from recovered coronavirus patients can be transfused into severely ill patients, helping them recover more quickly. It could also help health care workers develop some immunity. It's not an alternative to a vaccine, but researchers believe that the approach has potential. Christina Farr 6:26 pm: US stock futures are flat after Wall Street's roller-coaster session 6 pm: UAW opposes restarting auto production in early-May The United Auto Workers believes restarting U.S. auto production in early-May is "too soon and too risky" for its members, according to a statement released Thursday by UAW President Rory Gamble. "At this point in time, the UAW does not believe the scientific data is conclusive that it is safe to have our members back in the workplace," he said. "We have not done enough testing to really understand the threat our members face." Fiat Chrysler, as well as other automakers earlier this month, announced plans to resume production on May 4. General Motors and Ford Motor have not announced a timeframe to restart production, which is costing them billions in idled production. Most U.S. auto plants, including those for the Detroit automakers, ceased production in mid-March due to Covid-19. The Detroit automakers employ about 150,000 UAW members. Gamble's statement comes a day after discussions took place between Gamble and GM and Chairman CEO Mary Barra, Ford CEO and President Jim Hackett and Fiat Chrysler CEO Mike Manley about reopening plants. Gamble said the union is "happy with the auto companies' response and cooperation on working through the health and safety protocols we will need in the workplace when it is appropriate to restart." Automakers such as Tesla, Toyota Motor and Honda Motor, after several delays, have announced plans or are expected to restart production in early-May. Mike Wayland 5:40 pm: House has the votes to pass $484 billion bill to boost small businesses and hospitals, send it to Trump House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. arrives on Capitol Hill, Thursday, April 23, 2020, in Washington. Andrew Harnik | AP The House had the votes to pass a $484 billion package to bolster small businesses and hospitals ravaged by the coronavirus crisis and expand testing desperately needed to start the return to normal life. Donning face coverings and voting in alphabetical sets to cut the risk of infection, representatives were set to approve the bill easily. The House vote will send the proposal to President Donald Trump, who is set to sign it into law in the coming hours. Before the chamber cleared the plan to try to rescue a crumbling U.S. economy, it also approved a Democratic-majority select subcommittee to oversee the Trump administration's use of a $500 billion pool of aid for corporations, states and municipalities. Between votes, House staff swept through the chamber to clean and disinfect it. Jacob Pramuk 5:30 pm: Google to cut marketing budgets by as much as half, directors warned of hiring freezes Google is slashing its marketing budgets by as much as half for the second half of the year, according to internal materials viewed by CNBC. One email about the cuts went out to marketing employees this week, noting the budget cuts and a new hiring freeze for full-time and contract employees. "There are budget cuts and hiring freezes happening across marketing and across Google," said one message from a global director sent to employees Wednesday. "We, along with the rest of marketing, have been asked to cut our budget by about half for H2." A company spokesperon confirmed that some areas' budgets are being cut by as much as half, but added that others may not be since it is still in the process of "recalibrating." Jennifer Elias 5:15 pm: Tech companies pull back on hiring, flashing another grim warning sign for the U.S. economy Tech companies have pulled back sharply on hiring, adding to the cascade of negative economic shocks caused by the coronavirus outbreak. It's been roughly one month since the country's first stay-at-home order came down in the San Francisco Bay Area. In the weeks since then, shutdowns to control the pandemic's spread have unleashed havoc on industries ranging from retail to travel and tourism. The pace and scale of the economic damage have been striking. An additional 4.4 million Americans filed for jobless claims last week, bringing the total to 26 million over the past five weeks. And some economists are predicting the U.S. unemployment rate could soon eclipse 30% up from a 50-year low of 3.5% in February. On the other side of the ledger, hiring trends are painting an equally distressing picture. And, despite the shift to remote work and the surge in demand for certain online services, tech is not immune to the pullback. J.R. Reed 4:45 pm: California leads in the number of jobless claims by state 4:20 pm: WHO reports five-fold increase in cyber attacks, nearly 450 hacked emails Nearly 450 emails and passwords linked to World Health Organization officials and others working on the coronavirus response were leaked online this week, the organization said in a statement. WHO said scammers have been impersonating officials in emails targeted toward the general public in order to obtain donations. The organization is now migrating affected systems to a more secure authentication system, the organization said. The leaked credentials did not put any WHO systems at risk because the data was not recent, the organization said. However, WHO said the attack did impact an older system used by current and retired staff as well as partners. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization has seen a dramatic increase in the number of cyber attacks directed at its staff, and email scams targeting the public at large. There have been five times the number of cyber attacks directed at the organization now than reported during the same period last year. "It is deeply disappointing that as we and partners work to save lives from the virus, we are under attack in this way as well as on social media. This has to stop," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on Twitter. Noah Higgins-Dunn 4:10 pm: Stocks close flat after wild session as investors assess Gilead coronavirus treatment 4:04 pm: 25% of US pork production hit by coronavirus closures, union says Meatpacking plants responsible for 10% of beef production and 25% of pork production been affected by closures, according to the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. As the coronavirus spreads among meatpacking workers who often work in close proximity, concerns are growing about potential meat shortages and the nation's overall food supply. "When they have to start closing these plants down or they have to spread the lines out for social distancing or slow them down in some ways, which we're calling for as it relates to these line speed waivers, it will in fact create some shortages in the stores," UFCW President Marc Perrone said. "I don't think there's any doubt about it." The union, which represents 80% of beef and pork production workers, said that 13 packing and food processing workers have died after contracting Covid-19 and 5,000 have tested positive or been exposed. Amelia Lucas 4:00 pm: Czech government eases restrictions on free movement, lifts ban on international travel The Czech government will cancel restrictions on free movement as of Friday and allow groups of up to 10 people to meet in public as it scales back measures to fight the spread of the new coronavirus, Health Minister Adam Vojtech said. The government had earlier banned movement aside from work, family visits and trips to nature as well as meetings of more than two people in public. The country also lifted a previous ban on travel abroad. Reuters with contribution from CNBC 3:51 pm: California endures 'deadliest day' yet due to coronavirus, Gov. Gavin Newsom says Marin Food Bank hands out 1600 food bags at a pop-up pantry at Bayview Opera House in San Francisco, Calif., on Monday, April 20, 2020. Work furloughs and layoffs created by coronavirus shelter-in-place orders are driving thousands to seek food assistance. Scott Strazzante | The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images California reported 115 deaths due to Covid-19 over the past 24 hours, marking the "deadliest day" so far in the state's fight to contain the coronavirus, Gov. Gavin Newsom said. "Yesterday was the deadliest day for this virus in this state. 115 human beings lost their lives, families torn apart," he said. "It's also a reminder we're not out of the woods yet." That's an 8.5% increase compared to deaths from the day before, Newsom said, adding that there was a 5.6% increase in the number of people who tested positive. The number of hospitalizations and people in intensive care due to Covid-19 both dropped, he said. Separately, Newsom signed an executive order that prevents debt collectors from garnishing CARES Act stimulus checks. The order is effective immediately and is also retroactive. "If you're a debt collector and you did garnish those contributions, those checks, you gotta give them back," Newsom said at a press briefing Thursday. Newsom said that checks can be garnished if an individual owes child, spousal or victim support. Will Feuer, Hannah Miller 3:39 pm: Cord cutting accelerates as live sports stay offline 3:37 pm: Toyota to gradually resume North America production starting May 4 Toyota Motor Corp said it expects to gradually resume North American production starting May 4 and will impose significant new safety procedures after it halted operations in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. The largest Japanese automaker said it expects production will be slow next month. The company added it is not yet clear when the industry will be allowed to resume operations in Mexico. Toyota will add temperature checks for all plant employees, personal protective gear, use "touchless" entrances and exits and will even bar non-emergency use of elevators. "There is no going back to normal for the foreseeable future," said Toyota Motor North America chief administrative officer Chris Reynolds, who said he expects production will ramp up later in May "to meet consumer demand." Reuters 3:29 pm: South Africa to begin phased easing of lockdown on May 1 South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government will allow a partial reopening of the economy on May 1, with travel restrictions eased and some industries allowed to operate under a five-level risk system. Ramaphosa said the National Coronavirus Command Council decided restrictions will be lowered from level 5 to level 4 from next Friday. International borders will remain closed while travel will be only allowed for essential services. Reuters 3:21 pm: EU agrees to revamp budget and set up recovery fund Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, delivers a speech during a special address on day two of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020. Bloomberg European Leaders agreed to revamp its long-term budget and set up a massive recovery fund to tackle the impact of the coronavirus and help rebuild the 27-nation bloc's ravaged economies. "There is only one instrument that can deliver this magnitude of task behind the recovery and that is the European budget clearly linked to the recovery fund," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. However, deep differences remain over the best way to achieve those goals, as hard-hit countries like Spain and Italy are urgently in need of funds. They lack confidence that relatively wealthier northern EU partners who have suffered less from the disease are willing to take swift, sweeping measures backed by real economic firepower. Associated Press 3:06 pm: Illinois governor to extend stay-at-home order Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker was expected to extend his state's stay-at-home order, which was to expire on April 30, to stem the spread of Covid-19, local media reported. The state saw 2,049 new cases on Wednesday, the largest one-day increase since the outbreak of the pandemic began.It was unclear how long the extension will be, but several media outlets reported that it could go until May 30 or longer. Reuters 3:00 pm: JPMorgan tells small business customers to apply with other banks on fear that funds will run out JPMorgan Chase is warning some customers that even if fresh funds for the federal small business relief program are approved, the money won't last and they might be better off applying elsewhere. JPMorgan on late Wednesday emailed thousands of customers who have applied to the Paycheck Protection Program to say that while Congress is headed towards replenishing the effort, the bank is concerned "that funds could run out again quickly," according to a copy obtained by CNBC. The bank, which has been inundated with requests for more than $40 billion in loans since April 3, has placed customers in one of four categories indicating the progress of applications. Those furthest back in line are in Stage 1, and they received the starkest language: "Your application is still in Stage 1, with an extremely large volume of applications ahead yours," the bank said. "We wanted to give you this information, so that you can decide if you would like to try applying with another lender." Hugh Son 2:57 pm: Dubai opens restaurants and cafes, resumes public transportation Dubai allowed cafes and restaurants to resume business, and shopping malls to be opened partially from 12 p.m until 10 p.m, but with a maximum capacity of 30%, Dubai's media office announced in a statement. The statement added that it would also allow resuming public transportation services including subways starting April 26. Reuters 2:49 pm: Fed announces greater transparency for CARES lending programs In an effort to provide greater transparency around business loans issued through the CARES Act, the Federal Reserve announced it will provide detailed information on who gets the money. Monthly releases will include names and details of participants in each facility, the amounts borrowed and interest charged, and costs, revenues and fees for each program. "The Federal Reserve is committed to transparency and accountability by providing the public and Congress detailed information about our actions to support the economy during this difficult time," Chair Jerome H. Powell said in a statement. Controversy erupted earlier this week when it was revealed that multiple publicly traded companies had received funding through loan programs intended for small businesses. Jeff Cox 2:16 pm: S&P 500 turns negative in volatile session Stocks were taken for a wild ride that showed just how important finding a treatment for the coronavirus is for Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slashed a 400-point gain and nearly went negative after The Financial Times said citing documents accidentally published by the World Health Organization that Gilead Sciences' drug remdesivir did not improve patients' condition or reduce the coronavirus pathogen in their bloodstream. Those findings, according to the report, came from a clinical trial in China. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite cut their gains on the report, while Gilead was briefly halted for volatility. Fred Imbert, Thomas Franck 2:01 pm: Cases in Peru top 20,000, doubling in 9 days Peru's reported coronavirus cases have rapidly increased this week and topped 20,000, doubling in nine days and continuing to disrupt the economy of the world's No. 2 copper producer. The health ministry says it expects patient numbers to peak within days or in the following week. Peru recorded its first coronavirus case on March 6 and took 25 days to reach 1,000 cases. It took only 14 more days to reach 10,000 cases on April 14, according to a Reuters tally. Cases doubled again to 20,914 confirmed cases on Thursday. Peru has a total of 572 deaths. Peru has the second highest number of cases in South America after Brazil, despite a tough lockdown aimed at halting the spread of the coronavirus. Reuters 1:45 pm: Hawaii, Kentucky and Michigan hit the hardest with job losses Georgia, Michigan and Pennsylvania are seeing surges in claims for unemployment benefits as workers and state health officials in those states struggle to strike a balance between economic wellbeing and safety from the coronavirus. Hawaii, Kentucky, Michigan, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Georgia have seen the most concentrated spikes in jobless claims since mid-March, when employers began to lay off droves of workers. Here are all the states getting hit the hardest. Thomas Franck, John Schoen 1:38 pm: New York Gov. Cuomo rips Senate leader Mitch McConnell's 'really dumb' suggestion to let states declare bankruptcy New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo tore into Sen. Mitch McConnell over the Senate Republican leader's support for letting states declare bankruptcy as they grapple with the coronavirus pandemic. "This is one of the really dumb ideas of all time," Cuomo, a Democrat, said during a press conference in Albany. "You will see a collapse of this national economy" if states such as New York and California declare bankruptcy, Cuomo said. "So just don't." On Wednesday, McConnell, of Kentucky, told radio host Hugh Hewitt that he supports allowing states to declare bankruptcy rather than getting federal money to cover budget shortfalls as tax revenue dives. Kevin Breuninger, Jacob Pramuk 1:35 pm: Gilead says draft of coronavirus treatment results contains 'inappropriate characterization' and are 'inconclusive' Gilead Sciences said that a draft document showing disappointing results from a closely watched clinical trial of the company's treatment for the coronavirus contained "inappropriate characterizations" and that the study's findings were "inconclusive." Shares of the biotech firm fell 4% in intraday trading after the Financial Times reported that antiviral Remdesivir did not improve Covid-19 patients' condition or reduce the virus' presence in the bloodstream in a phase 3 clinical trial, citing a draft document that was accidentally published by the World Health Organization. "We regret that the WHO prematurely posted information regarding the study, which has since been removed. The investigators in this study did not provide permission for publication of results," a Gilead spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC. "Furthermore, we believe the post included inappropriate characterizations of the study. Importantly, because this study was terminated early due to low enrollment, it was underpowered to enable statistically meaningful conclusions," according to Gilead. "As such, the study results are inconclusive, though trends in the data suggest a potential benefit for remdesivir, particularly among patients treated early in disease." Berkeley Lovelace Jr. 1:28 pm: Housing demand may have started to bounce back from coronavirus impact Sales of both newly built and existing homes tanked in March, as potential buyers hunkered down and potential sellers pulled their homes from the market, both watching their economy in free fall from the coronavirus. Now, suddenly, buyer demand at least may be climbing back. Pending home sales a measure of signed contracts, not closings are about 32% lower annually now, according to research by Zillow. But the week-over-week change in pending sales turned positive in the week ending April 15. Pending sales were up 6.2% week over week as of the seven days ending April 19. Zillow also noted that web traffic on for-sale listings and requests to connect with real estate agents have grown in recent weeks as well. While web traffic to Zillow listings in some markets is still way down from a year ago, the national total jumped 13% annually for the week ending April 13. In 30 of the 35 largest metro areas, web traffic to for-sale listings was higher annually during the second week of April. Traffic was still lower in Pittsburgh, Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston and New York City. Diana Olick 1:17 pm: Ousted vaccine doctor felt pressure to rush possible Covid-19 treatment after Trump spoke to Oracle boss Larry Ellison Oracle Chairman and Chief Technolgoy Officer Larry Ellison delivers a keynote address during the Oracle OpenWorld conference in San Francisco on October 22, 2018. Justin Sullivan | Getty Images 1:08 pm: New data on Gilead's remdesivir, released by accident, show no benefit for coronavirus patients. Company still sees reason for hope The antiviral medicine remdesivir from Gilead Sciences failed to speed the improvement of patients with Covid-19 or prevent them from dying, according to results from a long-awaited clinical trial conducted in China. Gilead, however, said the data suggest a "potential benefit." A summary of the study results was inadvertently posted to the website of the World Health Organization and seen by STAT on Thursday, but then removed. "A draft document was provided by the authors to WHO and inadvertently posted on the website and taken down as soon as the mistake was noticed. The manuscript is undergoing peer review and we are waiting for a final version before WHO comments," said WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic. STAT News 12:58 pm: Stocks quickly cut gains after report says potential Gilead virus treatment flops in trial 12:43 pm: UK to expand testing to cover all key workers A man passes a mural showing a woman wearing a face mask, in Shoreditch, east London, as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. Dominic Lipinski | Getty Images Britain's health minister Matt Hancock promised to expand coronavirus testing to all those considered key workers after the government faced criticism for failing to roll out mass checks. Previously only healthcare employees and those working in nursing homes have been able to get tests. The government classifies as key workers people working in jobs such as teachers, government employees and delivery drivers. "We can make it easier and faster and simpler for an essential worker in England who needs a test to get a test," Hancock told reporters. "This all applies to essential worker households too. It is all part of getting Britain back on her feet." Reuters 12:29 pm: 44 states are already paying the extra $600 in additional unemployment benefits While the number of Americans without jobs keeps rising, more states are stepping in to provide expanded unemployment benefits. About 4.4 million new workers applied for unemployment during the week ending April 18, bringing the total number of out-of-work Americans to 26.5 million over the past five weeks, the Labor Department reported. "With the nation unable to mount the public health response needed to re-open businesses, unemployment benefits are carrying the weight and serving as the last line of defense for millions of struggling families," says Andrew Stettner, a senior fellow at the Century Foundation and a leading unemployment expert. But there is some good news. As of April 22, 44 states have started making $600 weekly payments from the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program that was put in place as part of the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package Congress passed in late March, a Department of Labor spokesperson tells CNBC Make It. Megan Leonhardt 12:21 pm: Italy's daily coronavirus death toll edges up, but new cases fall Customers at a bookshop in Rome on the first day of reopening during lockdown, on April 20, 2020 in Rome, Italy. Simona Granati - Corbis Deaths from the Covid-19 epidemic in Italy climbed by 464 on Thursday, against 437 the day before, the Civil Protection Agency said, but the daily tally of new infections declined to 2,646 from 3,370 on Wednesday. The total official death toll since the outbreak came to light on Feb. 21 now stands at 25,549, the agency said, the second-highest in the world after that of the United States. The number of confirmed cases was 189,973, the third-highest global tally behind those of the United States and Spain. People registered as currently carrying the illness fell to 106,848 from 107,699 on Wednesday, a fourth consecutive daily decline. For the first time, the civil protection unit published data on how many people had been tested for the virus so far in Italy, putting the number at 1.053 million, out of a population of around 60 million. Reuters 12:07 pm: New York antibody study estimates 13.9% of residents have had the coronavirus, Cuomo says People wearing protective face masks wait in line outside NYC Health + Hospitals/Gotham Health Morrisania neighborhood health center, one of New York City's new walk-in COVID-19 testing centers, during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Bronx, New York, April 20, 2020. Mike Segar | Reuters An estimated 13.9% of the New Yorkers have likely had Covid-19, according to preliminary results of coronavirus antibody testing released by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The state randomly tested 3,000 people at grocery stores and shopping locations across 19 counties in 40 localities, Cuomo said. "What we found so far is that the state-wide number is 13.9% tested positive for having the antibodies. What does that mean? It means these were people who were infected and who developed the antibodies to fight the infection," he said. Noah Higgins-Dunn 11:55 am: Georgia barbershop owner 'definitely not opening' Friday, saying many others won't either The owner of a Georgia barbershop said she is not planning to open her doors Friday, when the state lifts coronavirus-related restrictions for businesses like hers. "I'm definitely not opening this Friday. I don't have a calendar date for opening," Diane Fall said Thursday on CNBC's "Squawk Box." Fall, who owns Maxim Barbers in Decatur, Georgia, said the task of gathering personal protective equipment and other supplies needed to meet safety requirements by Friday is too onerous. "Yesterday I went on the internet just looking for capes because they're saying you have to use one cape for each client. I looked for disposable capes, there's nothing out there," Fall explained. "You have to have an infrared thermometer to take the temperature of your employees and each client who walks in the door. This can't happen overnight." "I'm just not prepared to do this," she added. Kevin Stankiewicz 11:34 am: Sen. Elizabeth Warren's oldest brother dies from Covid-19 Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., talks during a round table discussion with childcare providers at her campaign event at Wise and Wonderful Daycare and Preschool in San Jose, Calif., on Dec. 27, 2019. Dai Sugano | The Mercury News | Getty Images Sen. Elizabeth Warren's oldest brother died from the coronavirus earlier this week, the senator said. Donald Reed Herring, 86, had tested positive for Covid-19 about three weeks prior to his death Tuesday night, according to The Boston Globe, which first reported Herring's death. Herring had been hospitalized for pneumonia in February and was later moved to a rehabilitation center, where other coronavirus cases were present, according to the Globe. "I'm grateful to the nurses and frontline staff who took care of him," Warren, D-Mass., said on Twitter later Thursday morning. "But it's hard to know that there was no family to hold his hand or to say 'I love you' one more timeand no funeral for those of us who loved him to hold each other close." "I'll miss you dearly my brother," Warren said. Kevin Breuninger Tweet 11:24 am: House antitrust chairman says most mergers should be banned during the pandemic House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline said most mergers should be banned while the coronavirus pandemic devastates businesses across industries. The Rhode Island Democrat is seeking to include the merger ban in the next stimulus deal, according to his prepared remarks for an event Thursday with the Open Markets Institute, a group that advocates for strong enforcement of antitrust laws. Under Cicilline's proposal, only mergers of businesses that have declared bankruptcy or are about to fail should be allowed during the national emergency. Ciclline's subcommittee is currently investigating Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google parent company Alphabet as part of a review of digital markets. He originally planned to wrap up the investigation and publish a report by early April, but has acknowledged the pandemic has shifted that timeline. Cicilline previously told CNBC the report would lead to regulatory proposals to make sure the digital marketplace is operating fairly. Lauren Feiner 11:20 am: US airlines report their first losses in years as the pandemic devastates air travel demand A United Airlines Holdings Inc. employee waits for a traveler at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Thursday, April 2, 2020. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Delta and United have reported their first quarterly losses in more than five years. Their competitors are also expected to release dismal results in the coming weeks. The next few months look even more painful for the sector as the coronavirus pandemic saps air travel demand during what is normally the most lucrative time of year. Air travel has dropped by more than 95% as the Covid-19 pandemic spread around the U.S. Now, states hard-hit by the pandemic like New York are extending stay-at-home advisories for the next several weeks and canceling events through June in New York City, a sign that business isn't even close to returning to normal yet. Bleak economic data and a rising unemployment rate are raising doubts about when travelers will return. "People are fearing for their homes, not their holidays," said Rob Morris, global head of consultancy at Ascend by Cirium, a U.K.-based aviation consulting firm. Leslie Josephs 11:17 am: Coronavirus could cause malaria deaths to double in sub-Saharan Africa, WHO says Malaria deaths could double in sub-Saharan Africa this year compared to 2018 because of the coronavirus, according to a statement from the World Health Organization (WHO). The Covid-19 pandemic has caused severe disruptions in delivering insecticide-treated nets and reduced access to antimalarial medicines, according to a new modeling analysis from WHO. WHO said countries should move quickly in delivering malaria prevention and treatment tools, and maintain essential malaria control services in a safe manner. Sub-Saharan Africa represents only a small proportion of total global cases of Covid-19, though cases are increasing every week, according to WHO. The health organization said countries in the region have "a critical window of opportunity" that should be used to minimize disruptions in malaria prevention. The region accounted for approximately 93% of all malaria cases and 94% of deaths in 2018, according to WHO's "World malaria report 2019." Hannah Miller 11:14 am: NYC's top health official says city's confirmed cases are 'tip of the iceberg' Confirmed coronavirus cases in New York City are just "the tip of the iceberg," New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot said Thursday, adding that "close to a million" residents have probably been exposed to Covid-19. More than 147,000 people in New York City have so far tested positive for Covid-19, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. "That really I think is the tip of iceberg for a number of different reasons," Barbot said at a news briefing. "New Yorkers have been heeding to our advice that if they have mild symptoms, at this point in time, when you've got community-wide transmission, having a test result isn't going to change what we're going to tell you to do." Will Feuer, Jasmine Kim 11:08 am: US issues new guidance for small business loans to make it harder for public companies to get funds US President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference on the COVID-19, coronavirus, outbreak flanked by US Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin (R) and US Vice President Mike Pence at the White House in Washington, DC on March 25, 2020. Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images The Small Business Administration issued new guidance that makes it "unlikely" that big publicly traded companies will be able to access the next round of funding for the U.S government's small business relief program. The update comes after a public furor that large companies tapped the facility, known as the Paycheck Protection Program, for hundreds of millions of dollars in loans while thousands of small businesses have yet to receive funding. Companies applying for the coronavirus relief funds must certify that the loans are necessary and that they cannot tap other sources of funding, the SBA said. By definition, public companies have access to the capital markets. For instance, Shake Shack said it returned the $10 million it got through the PPP after it sold $150 million in new shares. "Borrowers still must certify in good faith that their PPP loan request is necessary," the SBA said. "It is unlikely that a public company with substantial market value and access to capital markets will be able to make the required certification in good faith, and such a company should be prepared to demonstrate to SBA, upon request, the basis for its certification." Hugh Son 10:31 am: House set to pass $484 billion bill to boost small business, hospitals, and testing The House plans to pass a $484 billion coronavirus relief bill to replenish a small business aid program, fund hospitals, and expand testing. The measure's expected approval in the afternoon will send it to President Donald Trump's desk for his signature. The Senate cleared the legislation on Tuesday in a unanimous vote. Congress will pile more money into an unprecedented rescue of the economy and health care system that will approach $3 trillion in total with the plan's passage. The cash injection into the small business loan program, designed to keep employees on payroll during the pandemic, will follow a government report Thursday showing more than 26 million people filed unemployment insurance claims over the latest five-week period. Read more about what's included in the relief bill here. Jacob Pramuk 10:20 am: US new home sales fall sharply in March Sales of new U.S. single-family homes dropped by the most in more than 6.5 years in March and further declines are likely as the novel coronavirus outbreak batters the economy and throws millions of Americans out of work. The Commerce Department said on Thursday new home sales fell 15.4% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 627,000 units last month. The percentage decline was the largest since July 2013. February's sales pace was revised down to 741,000 units from the previously reported 765,000 units. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast new home sales, which account for about 10% of housing market sales, plunging 15% to a pace of 645,000 units in March. Reuters 9:48 am: Vet telehealth surges as first US pets test positive Telehealth platform Medici saw overall veterinarian registration for telemedicine spike by 48% in March, and pet telehealth consultations rose by 170% month over month, after the FDA relaxed guidance on virtual visits for animals in late March. Medici As human telehealth visits are forecast to surge past 1 billion this year, the veterinary industry is following suit, at least for now, in order to reduce the spread of coronavirus. On March 24 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it would temporarily suspend a requirement for veterinarians to examine animals in person before beginning telemedicine in order to "limit human-to-human interaction and potential spread of Covid-19." The decision came at a good time: On Wednesday the first cases of positive coronavirus tests in U.S. domestic pets, in two New York area cats, were confirmed, along with four more tigers and three lions at the Bronx Zoo. On April 6 the first tiger to test positive for the virus, at that same zoo, tested positive. The measure, along with an April 30 extension of federal social distancing guidelines, has resulted in a widespread migration to virtual animal care. Sully Barrett 9:34 am: Stocks rise slightly as oil prices claw back more losses from historic drop Stocks rose slightly as oil prices recovered even more ground after a historic plunge while Wall Street digested the latest U.S. unemployment and earnings data. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 83 points, or 0.4%. The S&P 500 gained 0.4% while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.3%. West Texas Intermediate futures for June delivery jumped 21% to $16.63 per barrel as traders increased bets on U.S. production cuts. WTI also rallied on Wednesday. Fred Imbert, Thomas Franck 9:28 am: Leon Cooperman says the crisis will change capitalism forever and taxes have to go up Leon Cooperman Scott Mlyn | CNBC Billionaire investor Leon Cooperman said on CNBC's "Squawk Box" that the coronavirus crisis will "likely" change capitalism forever and that taxes will need to be raised soon. "When the government is called upon to protect you on the downside, they have every right to regulate you on the upside," Cooperman said. "So capitalism is changed." The chairman and CEO of Omega Family Office said the country is shifting to the left and that taxes will have to go up regardless of who wins the presidential election in November. "Quickly if Biden wins, slowly if Trump wins, but taxes have to go up. So things like carried interest, capital gains taxes, the ability to roll over real estate sales tax-free, all that stuff is going to have to be eliminated. For the good, by the way," Cooperman said. Jesse Pound 8:58 am: Expedia is raising $3.2 billion as travel stalls Expedia is raising $3.2 billion in new capital as the coronavirus pandemic has stalled travel around the world. The company is raising $1.2 billion in a private placement of perpetual preferred stock and $2 billion in new debt financing. Funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management and Silver Lake will provide the equity investment and will each get a spot on the company's board, according to Expedia. The funding is expected to close May 5. Expedia said it expects the new funds to strengthen its financial flexibility and liquidity position. Lauren Feiner 8:54 am: Gap warns it might not have enough cash for operations, as it stops paying rent Men wearing face masks walk past a Gap store at a shopping area, as the country is hit by an outbreak of the new coronavirus, in Beijing, China February 7, 2020. Jason Lee | Reuters Gap said its existing cash and the cash it expects to bring in might not be enough to sufficiently fund its operations, as its stores remain temporarily shut because of the coronavirus pandemic. The apparel company said in a securities filing that it must take further actions to find liquidity over the next 12 months, such as additional job cuts and new debt financing. It added that beginning this month, it stopped paying rent on its temporarily shuttered stores, which amounts to roughly $115 million in monthly expenses in North America. Lauren Thomas 8:49 am: Oil jumps 21%, extending Wednesday's rally as traders bet on US production cuts 8:35 am: US weekly jobless claims hit 4.4 million, 5-week total erases all job gains since Great Recession Jobless claim filings continued at a historically unprecedented pace last week with 4.4 million new signups for unemployment insurance, bringing the total of the past five weeks to 26.4 million. Those total losses erase all job gains since the Great Recession. The new claims represented a decline of 810,000 from previous weeks, but the five-week total has now surpassed all of the job gains since the financial crisis. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones had expected 4.3 million new claims. Jeff Cox, Thomas Franck 8:01 am: Indonesia bans domestic air, sea travel to early June Indonesia will temporarily ban domestic air and sea travel starting Friday, barring a few exceptions, to prevent further spread of coronavirus, Transport Ministry officials said. The ban on air travel will be in place until June 1, said Novie Riyanto Rahardjo, the ministry's director general of aviation. The ban on travel by sea will be in place until June 8, sea transportation director general Agus Purnomo said. Cargo transportation is exempted from the ban, the officials said. The government is banning Indonesia's traditional annual exodus for Muslim holidays. Reuters 7:54 am: Target sees 'Cyber Monday'-sized online sales boom Target has seen a sharp increase in online sales, as shoppers try to limit time inside stores or avoid the trips altogether during the coronavirus pandemic, CEO Brian Cornell said. Since its fiscal first quarter began Feb. 2, Target's same-store sales have risen more than 7%. The gain, which compares with an increase of 1.5% in the fiscal fourth quarter, is the result of a doubling of its online sales, partially offset by declines inside its nearly 1,900 brick-and-mortar stores. In an interview with "Squawk Box," Cornell said Target is trying to figure out if customers' new shopping patterns are here to stay. "We are spending a lot of time trying to understand how the pandemic is going to change the future of how American consumers shop, how they live, how they work, the things that they value," he said. "But it's been really hard to predict week by week." Melissa Repko 7:49 am: Another 4.3 million workers expected to have filed unemployment claims The Labor Department will release the number of jobless claims filed in the week ended April 18 at 8:30 a.m. ET. Another 4.3 million workers are expected to have filed state unemployment claims last week, according to Dow Jones. That would bring the total number seeking benefits to over 26 million since states started shutting down in the second half of March to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The number of jobs lost rose to 22.025 million over the prior four weeks, erasing nearly all of the 22.442 million jobs recovered since the Great Recession. Patti Domm 7:46 am: The latest on East Coast hot spots 6:59 am: Tyson Foods shutters two major pork plants, tightening US meat supply Tyson Foods is shuttering two pork processing plants, including its largest in the United States, after employees tested positive for Covid-19, further tightening meat supplies after other major slaughterhouse shutdowns. The closures are limiting the amount of meat the U.S. can produce during the outbreak and adding stress on farmers who are losing markets for their pigs. Lockdowns that aim to stop the spread of the virus have also prevented farmers around the globe from delivering food products to consumers. Millions of laborers cannot get to fields for harvesting and planting, and there are too few truckers to keep goods moving. Tyson Foods, the largest U.S. meat supplier, said it will indefinitely suspend operations at its largest pork plant in Waterloo, Iowa, after operating at reduced capacity. Reuters 6:52 am: South Korea to provide cash handouts A couple wearing face masks amid concerns over the COVID-19 novel coronavirus walks through a market in Seoul on April 22, 2020. Ed Jones | AFP | Getty Images South Korea's ruling party and the government on Thursday agreed to provide cash handouts to every household, not just to families below the top 30 percentile of income as previously announced, the finance ministry said. The ministry separately said the government will issue additional bonds to fund the cash handout. Reuters 5:41 am: Australia will push for an investigation at the World Health Assembly Australia will push for an international investigation into the coronavirus pandemic at next month's annual meeting of the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization, its prime minister said, according to Reuters. Australia wants a review into the WHO's response to the pandemic and would like to see the organization strengthened. Holly Ellyatt 5:21 am: Spain's death toll rises to 22,157 Health workers at Hospital Clinic applaud at 8p.m. during the coronavirus pandemic on April 22, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. Xavi Torrent Spain has reported that 440 people have died from in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths to 22,157, its health ministry said. The death toll has risen slightly from Wednesday, when 435 deaths were reported. The total number of cases has reached 213,024, up 4,635 from the previous day. Holly Ellyatt 4:42 am: Merkel says 'things will remain hard for a very long time' BERLIN, GERMANY - APRIL 23: German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) sits at the Bundestag on April 23, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. Germany is still at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and will have to live with it for a long time, the Chancellor said. Maja Hitij German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the end of the pandemic is not yet in sight and people will have to live with the virus "for a long time." Speaking to Germany's Parliament, the Bundestag, Merkel said, "We are not living in the final phase of the pandemic, but still at the beginning." "We have won time," Merkel said, according to a Reuters translation, adding that this had been used to bolster Germany's health-care system. Holly Ellyatt 4:30 am: Euro zone business activity crashes to 'shocking' lows on pandemic Threat: Noor is seen ahead of its launch into orbit by the Iranian Guards. Photo: WANA/Sepah News via REUTERS Iran's Revolutionary Guard has launched the Islamic Republic's first military satellite into orbit, dramatically unveiling what experts described as a secret space programme. The launch came as President Donald Trump revealed he had instructed the US navy to fire on any Iranian ships that harass it at sea, a week after 11 vessels from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) came dangerously close to US ships in the Gulf. "I have instructed the United States navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea," Mr Trump wrote in a tweet, hours after Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps said it had launched the country's first military satellite into orbit, that came amid wider tensions with the US. Meanwhile, there was no immediate independent confirmation of the launch of the satellite, which the Guard called "Noor", or light. The US State Department and Israeli officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment while the Pentagon said it "will continue to closely monitor Iran's pursuit of viable space launch technology". However, such a launch immediately raised concerns among experts on whether the technology used could help Iran develop intercontinental ballistic missiles. Already, Iran has abandoned all the limitations of its tattered nuclear deal with world powers that Mr Trump unilaterally withdrew America from in 2018. Mr Trump's decision set off a months-long series of escalating attacks that culminated in a US drone strike in January that killed a top Iranian general in Iraq, followed by Tehran launching ballistic missiles at American soldiers in Iraq. As the world grapples with the coronavirus pandemic and historically low oil prices, the missile launch may signal a new willingness to take risks by Iran. "This raises a lot of red flags," said Fabian Hinz, a researcher at the James Martin Centre for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California. "Now that you have the maximum pressure campaign, Iran doesn't have that much to lose anymore." On its official website, the Guard said the satellite successfully reached an orbit of 425km above the Earth's surface. The Guard called it the first military satellite ever launched by Tehran. The three-stage satellite launch took off from Iran's Central Desert, the Guard said, without elaborating. Mr Hinz said the launch appeared to have happened at a previously unnamed Guard base near Shahroud, Iran, some 330km north-east of Tehran. The base is in Semnan province, which hosts the Imam Khomeini Spaceport from which Iran's civilian space programme operates. The paramilitary force said it used a Ghased, or "Messenger", satellite carrier to put the device into space, a previously unheard-of system. It described the system as using both liquid and solid fuel. "Today, the world's powerful armies do not have a comprehensive defence plan without being in space, and achieving this superior technology that takes us into space and expands the realm of our abilities is a strategic achievement," the Guard said. He described the satellite as "multifunctional". Yesterday marked the 41st anniversary of the founding of the Guard by Iran's late leader, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. An image of the rocket that carried the satellite showed it bore a Quranic verse typically recited when going on a journey, as well as a drawing of the Earth with the word Allah in Farsi wrapped around it. The Guard, which operates its own military infrastructure in parallel to Iran's regular armed forces, is a hard-line force answerable only to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian Information and Communications Technology Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi wrote on Twitter that the Guard's space programme was "defensive" in nature, while the overall programme was "peaceful", without elaborating. US Army Major Rob Lodewick, a Pentagon spokesman, said that American officials continue to monitor Iran's programme. "While Tehran does not currently have intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), its desire to have a strategic counter to the United States could drive it to develop an ICBM," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 22:12:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The Arab League slammed on Thursday the Israeli decision of confiscation of Palestinian land in the area of the Ibrahimi Mosque in the city of Hebron located in the southern West Bank. In a statement, the Arab-pan organization said the Israeli decision is "invalid and violates the international laws that consider the settlement as a crime requiring international trial." It added "the seizure of this area is a blatant aggression that would cause the situation to veer out of control." It reiterated that such Israeli decision would "lead to disastrous results that move the entire region to the brink of the abyss." On Tuesday, Israeli government's Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit approved the expropriation of Palestinian land adjacent to the Ibrahimi. Enditem Paul Ricard would only be open to considering a race behind closed doors if F1 conducts a "review" of its contractual arrangement with the circuit. That is the view of Nicolas Deschaux, president of France's motor racing authority Federation Francaise de Sport Automobile (FFSA). After the nine postponements and cancellations, France's 28 June race date is now first of all on the original 2020 calendar. However, mass events are currently banned in France until at least July. "Today, we are obviously in contact with the promoter," Deschaux told Europe 1. "We are in the evaluation stage and looking at various possible scenarios, but also awaiting details of the measures that have been announced," he added. "For the promoter, in this case the GIP which is promoter of the French GP, the very basis is the contract signed with FOM and the main revenue is from the ticket office. "So except to review the model, it is difficult to see that a local promoter could hold a grand prix behind closed doors," said Deschaux. (GMM) A USPS employee in Boston during the coronavirus pandemic. Lane Turner/The Boston Globe via Getty Images Confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus have surpassed 1,200 at the United States Postal Service, which logged a mere 51 cases less than a month ago. More than 30 employees have died. In emails to Business Insider, USPS employees claimed a lack of sanitation supplies, sick pay, and care from supervisors. One employee said a supervisor coughed in the direction of a coworker "as a joke." The USPS told Business Insider that the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued an inquiry into the claim, and that after the USPS responded, "OSHA closed the matter without further inspection." The USPS has established safety and leave policies during the pandemic, but employees and unions have said those policies aren't being carried out everywhere. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. United States Postal Service employees from various states and municipalities are sharing their stories about what it's like to process and deliver the nation's mail during a pandemic. As confirmed COVID-19 cases surpass 1,200 among the employees, a common refrain has emerged: lack of supplies and care amid the deadly outbreak is putting them at risk. "I'm almost begging you to do some sort of investigation," a longtime USPS employee and American Postal Workers Union (APWU) member in California told Business Insider via email. The employee said they felt as if their supervisors didn't care, which was underscored by one particular event. "A coworker stated that the supervisor coughed in his direction less than a few feet away as a joke after the employee had made a remark about [the coronavirus]," they said. The employee claimed that the acting manager "sort of chuckled" when it happened, making light of a pandemic that has so far infected more than 2.6 million people and killed more than 180,000 worldwide. Story continues A USPS spokesperson told Business Insider that the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued an inquiry into the claim, and that after the USPS responded, "OSHA closed the matter without further inspection." A USPS employee in Manhattan during the coronavirus pandemic. Mike Segar/Reuters Emails like the one above began to flood in not long after the USPS joined the coronavirus news cycle, such as in this story about how the service was in a financial crisis and how, as of March 25, 51 of 630,000 USPS employees had tested positive for the coronavirus and nearly 2,000 were in quarantine. At the time, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) union representing USPS city carriers said protective measures from the USPS weren't being deployed evenly. But things have gotten worse since then. As of April 17, counts from the NALC were that more than 900 employees had tested positive for the virus, more than 600 additional workers were presumed positive, more than 8,000 were in quarantine, and that more than 30 USPS employees had died from COVID-19, including nine city carriers. The American Postal Workers Union, which also represents USPS employees, wrote on April 16 that more than 35 postal workers, including "a number of APWU members," had died of COVID-19. On April 21, USPS spokesperson Dave Partenheimer told Business Insider that 1,219 employees had tested positive for COVID-19, in addition to "some deaths." Partenheimer did not have quarantine numbers to provide. A USPS mail carrier during the COVID-19 pandemic. AP Photo/Paul Sancya That means the USPS has roughly 24 times the amount of cases it had less than a month ago, despite both insufficient amounts of testing and inequality in distribution across the US as illustrated by asymptomatic celebrities, athletes, and billionaires obtaining tests while nurses on the front lines struggle to do the same. The longtime USPS employee in California, who isn't a carrier, told Business Insider that employees including themself were "either scared to speak up or simply don't want to put a target on [their] back for speaking up" about insufficiencies at the post office amid the pandemic. Only one employee who emailed Business Insider, who had been previously quoted by another outlet, didn't ask to stay anonymous out of fear of retaliation Colorado carrier Stefan Geissler, who has actively spoken about the USPS' response to the pandemic. "While so many businesses have done their part and made difficult decisions to flatten the curve, the USPS is, as you know, not even in the starting blocks," Geissler told Business Insider via email. A USPS employee in Manhattan during the coronavirus pandemic. Mike Segar/Reuters Other employees who reached out to Business Insider specifically asked not to be identified in order to protect their employment, which Business Insider has verified. The others echoed Geisler, along with the California employee saying they don't feel like the pandemic is being taken seriously enough. Management and other employees aren't following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, they said, and they've sent complaints to multiple organizations about what's going on. "We're given daily 'stand up' safety briefings and are required to sign documents saying we were given this 'training,' yet the supervisors do not practice any of the recommendations," they said, adding that the safety briefings happen every day in a small room and social-distancing guidelines aren't followed during them. "They are different everyday, and seem to be from the CDC and the post office's safety department." But, the employee said, their office hasn't "bothered to inform [them] of an employee who got the coronavirus in a building less than 100 yards away." They discovered the nearby case after seeing an alert that was intended for managers, they said. "When an employee asked about any cases next door, both the supervisor and acting manager acted as though they knew nothing and quickly changed the subject," they said. "Myself and three other employees go into that building to get our facility's mail, and they said nothing to us. "And here we are interacting within the vicinity, not knowing if we could be contracting a deadly disease and take it home to our families." A mail carrier during the coronavirus outbreak. AP Photo/Nati Harnik The NALC said that in March, the USPS created a mandatory stand-up talk required to be given each time a facility has an employee who tested positive for COVID-19. The union has asked employees to report it if those talks are not happening. When asked, Partenheimer told Business Insider that in addition to stand-up talks that are supposed to be given when an employee tests positive, "any employees who may have had exposure" to the person who tested positive are notified. The California employee, an American Postal Workers Union member, said the union had been notified of all of the issues in their facility. On April 17, they sent Business Insider a photo of a bottle with clear liquid and a homemade label reading "hand sanitizer," claiming that it was a replacement bottle in the office. "No labels, just some bottle management gave us," they said. "Is it the right mixture?" When asked about the photo, Partenheimer told Business Insider that the USPS "only uses or purchases EPA approved products for cleaning and sanitizing." A USPS letter carrier crosses a quiet Boylston Street with greatly reduced foot and vehicle traffic in Boston on March 18, 2020. Lane Turner/The Boston Globe via Getty Images A Massachusetts employee who has spent decades working for the postal service, primarily as a city carrier, said that while their branch is supposed to receive daily safety briefings, there were three days during the first week of April when there were no briefings. The inconsistency carried into the next week, they said. When asked how the USPS is ensuring daily talks happen and safety protocols are being enforced, Partenheimer told Business Insider: "Standard Work Instructions have been issued to address social distancing in a number of different situations, including performing talks to our employees." In addition, Partenheimer said, all stand-up talks "are tracked" to ensure they happen. When asked how they're logged, Partenheimer said it's done in an online system called the "Safety Toolkit." People who are conducting the briefings have to certify that they delivered the talks and when they were given. A USPS worker walks by a LinkNYC sign reading "Staying home saves lives" as the coronavirus continues to spread across the United States on April 2, 2020 in New York City. Cindy Ord/Getty Images But the Massachusetts employee said the inconsistency of safety briefings wasn't the only problem. "We have had limited access to sanitizing wipes and employees have resorted to buying construction wipes online," they said, adding that as of April 3, their postal facility hadn't provided employees with any hand sanitizer. The local fire and EMS service donated more than 20 small bottles of sanitizer, they said, adding that the USPS' "lack of preparedness and concern" is "systemic of our work conditions." The local fire chief confirmed the donation to Business Insider, saying the employee's office was one of two that received sanitizer donations. The employee "wouldn't dream of treating employees this way," they said. Employees were eventually provided with Lysol spray to share, the employee from Massachusetts said, in addition to a "short supply of gloves and limited wipes." Those in the community created cloth masks, too. A USPS employee in Manhattan during the coronavirus pandemic. Andrew Kelly/Reuters A longtime city carrier in Ohio told Business Insider that when they opted to self quarantine at the end of March after not receiving adequate supplies or workstation sanitation, and after hearing that employees weren't being "informed of employees with pending tests," they weren't able to use their hundreds of hours of earned sick leave. The employee, a National Association of Letter Carriers member, sent photos of their hour tracking and earned hours, and said they were docked for leave without pay which they felt was retaliation for feeling unsafe. "I am sure the union will get me the money eventually after a long grievance process," they said. "It is just the principal of the matter." When the Ohio employee returned to work on April 6 after their leave, they said their office did have hand sanitizer, surgical masks, gloves and wipes, but not everyone's temperature was taken. It was also announced that carriers would start staggering work by two hours in order to maintain proper social distancing, they said, but it still wasn't enough. "Out of the 30-plus people there this morning, I and two others were the only ones with masks on in the office and nothing was ever mentioned about the fatalities of fellow carriers in New York or the recent death of the mail handler in Detroit," they said, adding that carriers were responsible for sanitizing their own vehicles and were instructed not to let businesses or senior-living facilities take their temperatures. "We are also not being updated as to our number of positive cases within the company." A USPS employee in Santa Monica, California, during the coronavirus pandemic. Mario Tama/Getty Images Partenheimer confirmed that employees aren't allowed to submit to temperature readings or medical questionnaires as a condition of delivery, "because temperature readings and medical questionnaires are currently considered confidential medical information." "Under the Rehabilitation Act and the Privacy Act, specific employee medical information must be kept confidential and may only be shared in very limited circumstances," Partenheimer said. Partenheimer also confirmed that carriers are responsible for maintaining vehicles and workstations, and that the USPS has instructed drivers "to clean frequently touched surfaces regularly." "All required supplies were made available to employees on a daily basis," Partenheimer told Business Insider. "When supplies need to be replenished, every effort was and is being made to expedite the orders." A USPS employee in New York City during the coronavirus pandemic. John Nacion/NurPhoto via Getty Images A month ago, the NALC union was talking about the claimed lack of supplies promised by the USPS. While the service agreed to provide certain provisions during the coronavirus pandemic, the union said in a March 25 update daily cleaning supplies for offices and vehicles, hand sanitizer and other clearing supplies for carriers, and masks and gloves for any employee who requested them much of that promise wasn't being fulfilled. "We have received almost 3,000 reports from all over the country regarding these issues," the union statement from March said. "In some places, all of these things are being done. However, in too many places they are not. "In the places where there are not enough supplies, or none at all, it is generally due to the overall shortage of these items throughout the country. USPS has been working to acquire more items, even authorizing local managers to purchase them if they could be found." A USPS employee in Washington, DC, during the coronavirus pandemic. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images In the April 17 update, the NALC indicated that the problem hadn't been fixed entirely, saying that the NALC was "in constant communication and negotiation with management" about "supplies, equipment, policies, protocols, and work procedures necessary to keep letter carriers safe." When asked about the claims of supply shortages, Partenheimer told Business Insider that the USPS "worked through some early supply-chain issues the same issues faced by others across the country and [is] making sure the supplies and equipment are getting to all areas." The NALC told members to immediately contact the union if they saw issues in the workplace, many of which were mentioned by the employees who reached out to Business Insider. Those issues included, emphasis ours: Please continue to contact us with any questions, and to report offices that are not being sanitized on a regular basis, that do not have sufficient supplies (hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes, masks, gloves, etc.), that are not following Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) protocols for employees to be quarantined, that have not implemented social distancing practices, that are not providing daily communication regarding stand-up talks, safety precautions, and instances of infection in the building, that expect employees to work without protection or in an unsanitized environment, or that have any other issues that put employees at increased risk. The union added in that same update that the USPS had recently agreed to provide N95 masks to employees who are more vulnerable to the virus and request such equipment. That's in addition to an April 2 update from the USPS, which said it would: ensure "millions of masks, gloves and cleaning and sanitizing product are available and distributed to more than 30,000 locations every day"; ensure appropriate social distancing at facilities; update cleaning policies to meet CDC guidelines; allow "allow liberal use of leave" for employees; allow those who can work remotely to do so; and issue "a daily cadence of employee talks, articles, videos, and other communications to ensure employees have the latest information and guidance." Neither the NALC nor the APWU responded to a list of questions sent over by Business Insider. But as both employees and the unions have pointed out, not all of those protection promises from the USPS have panned out yet. A USPS employee in Manhattan during the coronavirus pandemic. Mike Segar/Reuters Still, the Ohio employee said, people rely on the work of USPS employees from those looking for medication to local restaurants sending out deal fliers to stay afloat and those relying on an income by making masks and selling them. And even amid a "toxic" work environment that requires the right mental attitude to stick with, they said, "the good outweighs the bad." "I love my job and my customers, and I take pride in going out of my way for them everyday," they said. "We are essential. "But if I can't ensure my own safety, I can't ensure my customers' safety either." Are you a USPS employee with a story to share about the coronavirus pandemic? Contact the reporter at aking@businessinsider.com. Read the original article on Business Insider Please register or log in to keep reading. No credit card required! Stay logged in to skip the surveys. Pakistan said on Thursday that it was concerned over what it called a "systematic campaign" against Muslims in India amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country. India on Sunday trashed Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's comments alleging targeting of Muslims in the country in the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava in New Delhi said the "bizarre comments" by the Pakistani leadership was an attempt to shift focus from the "abysmal handling" of that country's internal affairs. On Thursday, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said, "a systematic campaign is unfortunately underway in India to demonize Muslims who face increased exclusion as well as threat of mob violence." Addressing the weekly media briefing here, she also said that the Organisation of Islamic Countries has voiced concerns over Islamophobia within political and media circles as well as the social media platforms where Muslims are being blamed for the spread of the virus. Farooqui also said Pakistan was concerned over the detention of journalists in Kashmir on what she called "baseless and concocted charges". She said that measures were being taken to bring home Pakistanis stranded in various countries. So far 5,079 have been brought back from different countries in the third phase of this plan. In addition, 1,254 Pakistani nationals have been brought back through land borders in the last few days including 41 one from India through Wagah border, she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Italian culture minister calls for global cultural response to coronavirus pandemic during UNESCO video-conference. "Let's work together under UNESCO guidance to transform this dramatic crisis into an instrument for a new global renaissance through culture, research and education." This is the appeal launched by Italy's culture minister, Dario Franceschini, during a virtual meeting of the UNESCO culture ministers who convened on 22 April to discuss the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the world of culture. The meeting saw 140 culture ministers outline the measures implemented in their countries in support of those employed in the creative and cultural sectors amid the covid-19 crisis. Read also: The meeting also saw ministers listen to the experiences of countries affected first and those in which the crisis is still developing, and discuss prevention measures affecting the world of culture and the arts. Franceschini said that a "global, coordinated and sustained response is needed to face a global challenge", saying it was "our duty to seize the opportunities and identify the solutions that can overcome the crisis and support recovery." The minister concluded by saying: "We owe it to our communities, which in these difficult months have found a safe haven in culture." Image: Primavera by Sandro Botticelli, Uffizi Gallery, Florence. Option3Ventures Logo Option3Ventures, a leading cybersecurity investment specialist firm based in New York and the Washington DC area, today announces a strategic partnership with Matrix Private Capital Group to support and invest in the most promising cybersecurity innovations. The announcement was made today by Manish Thakur, Managing Partner of Option3Ventures. The partnership with Matrix Private Capital Group directly follows the statement, last month, that Richard S. Dick Fuld joined the Option3Ventures team as a Senior Strategic Advisor. We are delighted to be working with one of the most sophisticated investment firms whose team has decades of experience in financial services, says Manish Thakur, Managing Partner, Option3Ventures. As we navigate through these unprecedented times, it is important that we partner with experienced teams that will fuel the growth of our fund as we focus on the frontiers of the cybersecurity industry. COVID-19 will clearly create radical changes in the global economy, and how each of us operates on a daily basis. Protecting our country in tomorrows world from both the huge economic disruption and digital threat is critical to our future, says Dick Fuld. Matrix is the perfect partner to be working with Opton3Ventures in the field of cybersecurity, most immediately its Cyber Special Situations vehicle, launched in response to the current crisis. Option3Ventures approach of combining investment and national security professionals, combined with the firms track record, serves as the perfect investment partner to prevent our security system being attacked by bad actors. To learn more about Option3Ventures, visit: http://www.option3ventures.com. About Option3Ventures Option3Ventures is a leading cybersecurity investment specialist made up of professionals drawn from both the national security community and the investment industry. It focuses on those companies at the very frontiers the of the cybersecurity sector, offering solutions to problems that existing technologies cannot address. Over the past five years, O3V has built a track record of venture investing in a select group of category leaders, and is now raising its first dedicated cyber venture capital fund, Option 3 Cyber Investments. O3V is based in New York and the Washington DC area, and its Board of Advisors range from former Chief Information Officers at such organizations as the Central Intelligence Agency and Department of Defense to the former CIO of Merrill Lynch and former CEO of Lehman Brothers. About Matrix Private Capital Group Matrix Private Capital Group is a diversified asset management firm and registered investment adviser founded in 2016 by a team of investment and wealth management professionals led by Richard S. Fuld, Jr. The Firm provides wealth advisory, strategic advisory, private equity and alternative equity solutions for individuals, family offices and institutions. Researchers have discovered a promising new strategy for combating malaria, a mosquito-borne parasite that claims nearly a half-million lives each year. For a study reported in the journal Nature, researchers screened blood samples from children who had natural immune resistance to severe malaria infection. The study identified an antibody to a particular malaria protein, called PfGARP, that appears to protect resistant children from severe disease. Lab tests showed that antibodies to PfGARP seem to activate a malarial self-destruct mechanism, causing parasite cells living inside human red blood cells to undergo a form of programmed cell death. The team is hopeful that vaccinating individuals with PfGARP to generate anti-PfGARP antibodies, or directly infusing anti-PfGARP antibodies, would protect them against severe malaria. The team developed preliminary versions of those vaccines, and testing in nonhuman primates has shown promise, the researchers report. We demonstrated in two independent studies in nonhuman primates that vaccination with PfGARP protects against a lethal malaria parasite. What's exciting is that this is a vaccination strategy that attacks malaria in a way that it has never been attacked before -- one in which the parasite becomes complicit in its own demise. We are hopeful that this vaccine, perhaps combined with other malarial antigens, will translate into a strategy that can help prevent severe malaria in people." Dr. Jonathan Kurtis, study senior author, professor at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and laboratory director of the Center for International Health Research at Rhode Island Hospital Testing of a human vaccine is likely years away, the researchers say, and there's no way to be certain it will work. But the team is hopeful that the approach taken in this study, which looks for the factors that contribute to naturally occurring disease resistance, will prove effective where other approaches have not. Searching for antibodies The results described in this new paper were nearly 20 years in the making, beginning with epidemiological research led by Michal Fried and Patrick Duffy of the National Institutes of Health. Starting around 2001, they began recruiting cohorts of children in Tanzania. The kids were enrolled at birth and followed for years to see who among them developed an acquired immune response to malaria. "There was a ton of hard epidemiological work that went into simply identifying which kids were resistant and which weren't," Kurtis said. "Only after we knew their resistance levels could we use this information to identify the parasite targets that were recognized by antibodies made only by the resistant kids but not by the susceptible kids." For this latest research, the team selected 12 resistant and 14 susceptible children from the Tanzanian cohort. The researchers looked at blood samples taken from the children around age two, when naturally acquired immunity seems to develop. Using a sophisticated method to introduce malaria proteins to each blood sample one by one, the researchers could look for any antibodies to a particular protein that were present in the resistant samples and not in the susceptible samples. That work identified PfGARP as a potential factor in conferring resistance. Having identified PfGARP, the researchers then examined whether antibody responses to PfGARP were associated with resistance in a larger sample of 246 children. They found that children without anti-PfGARP antibodies were at 2.5 times higher risk of severe malaria compared to those who had the antibody. "Kill switch" The next step was trying to understand how anti-PfGARP antibodies affect the parasite. A series of laboratory experiments showed that the PfGARP protein is produced by malarial trophozoite cells, which live and feed off of nutrients inside red blood cells. The protein is then transported to the outer membrane of the red blood cell, where it makes the parasite cell vulnerable to the antibody. "It's a kill switch," Kurtis said. "When the antibody binds to the protein, it sends a signal that tells the trophozoite to shrivel up and die. When we introduce the antibody to samples in petri dishes, we end up with 98% or 99% dead parasites." The activity of the protein begs the question of why an organism would evolve such a self-destruct mechanism. Kurtis thinks it might have evolved as a means of sensing when the parasite's host is in distress. "It's not necessarily in a parasite's best interest to kill its host," Kurtis said. "Keeping the host infected but alive means more chances for the parasite to reproduce. So what this might be is a means of sensing a host in distress and then reducing parasite load accordingly." The anti-PfGARP antibody hijacks that evolved system and turns it against the parasite. Having shown that PfGARP antibodies kill the parasite, the researchers developed two types of PfGARP vaccines. Both of those were shown to be protective in nonhuman primates exposed to a human form of malaria. A new strategy Previous efforts to develop vaccines against malaria have met with limited success. But the researchers involved in this latest work say there's reason to believe this new strategy may succeed where others have failed. That's because it attacks the parasite at a different point in the infection cycle from other vaccines. When an infected mosquito bites someone, it injects thread-like cells called sporozoites, which travel through the bloodstream to the liver. There, the parasite morphs into a different type of cell called merozoites that exit the liver in large quantities to infect red blood cells. Once they've invaded red blood cells, the parasites morph again into trophozoites, which feed off of the nutrients inside the cell before they burst out to start the cycle again. An existing vaccine that targets the first stage -- aiming to prevent infection of the liver -- has had limited success. That's partly, Kurtis says, because the time window to intervene is so small. "It takes five minutes for the parasite to go from the mosquito to the liver," he said. "Because it's so quick, the amount of antibody needed to stop it is huge. And if just one sporozoite gets in, you've got malaria." This new vaccine targets the trophozoite stage, which lasts up to a day, Kurtis says. The researchers are hopeful that the longer window for intervention will reduce the amount of antibody needed to kill the parasite, and thereby make for a more effective vaccine. "This gives us 24 hours as opposed to 5 minutes to intervene," Kurtis said. "During that time, the parasite expresses PfGARP -- a kill switch. We have designed a vaccine that activates it." The researchers plan to continue testing different versions of the vaccine in animal models and ultimately to begin human trials in the coming years. "This was an incredible team effort involving infectious disease experts, pathologists, epidemiologists, geneticists and molecular biologists," Kurtis said. "It really took all of these people to make this possible, and we're hopeful that the end result will be a vaccine that can save lives." Twitter is banning all posts as well as comments causing panic and encouraging conspiracy theorists to attack 5G masts over allegations it's behind the Coronavirus outbreak. The move to cut down on the amount of misinformation and 'unverified claims' comes after a series of debates and controversies linking the 5G network and COVID-19. "We have broadened our guidance on unverified claims that incite people to engage in harmful activity, could lead to the destruction or damage of critical 5G infrastructure, or could lead to widespread panic, social unrest, or large-scale disorder," the Twitter safety team said on Wednesday. Over the Easter weekend, 20 incidents were recorded, including a suspected arson attack on a mast in east London as well as one serving Birmingham's Nightingale Hospital. In a blog post, Twitter said it was refining its policy to deal with the latest incidents. It will remove "unverified claims" that could lead to the destruction or damage of critical infrastructure, "widespread panic, social unrest, or large-scale disorder." These include tweets that falsely tell people food is running out or that 5G wireless causes coronavirus, the San Francisco firm said. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The United States pressed on Tuesday, Mexico, to revive the border assembly plants, the key to the country's supply chain, which includes defense servicers, as more workers demonstrated protests and walkouts at the facilities due to fears over the COVID-19 pandemic. In connection to this, the US Ambassador to Mexico, Christopher Landau, launched a campaign on Twitter urging initiatives to ensure the supply chains are intact. On his tweet, the official expressed his concern about the lockdowns brought by COVID-19. Landau mentioned damaging the flow of goods and parts that feed companies in the three countries of the free trade zone of North America, specifically Canada, the United States, and Mexico, along with the warning that their responses are not coordinated, the said chains can vanish. Also, as part of his tweet, Landau said risks are everywhere although, "we don't all stay home," afraid that there would be a car accident. He added, the economy's destruction is a health threat, as well. Voicing Similar Concerns According to the US undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, Ellen Lord, on Monday, voiced similar concerns in Washington. She said they see the effects on the industrial base by some pockets of closure worldwide. Specifically, Lord noted Mexico, where there are a group of businesses that are affecting "many of our major primes." The undersecretary, who mentioned the vitality of Mexico's border plants in the airframe production of the US also said, she was planning to speak to Marcelo Ebrard, the Mexican Foreign Minister on Tuesday to seek help for the reopening of the international suppliers there. The Foreign Relations Department of Mexico declined to confirm if such a discussion had taken place. However, the Economy Department of Mexico later wrote, "the two governments are into discussions for the protection of their citizens' health." Similarly, the department also said the two nations' talks were intended to protect their economies' productive incorporation. No further details on the said discussions have been given. The Maquiladoras The initiative took place as even more workers demonstrated protests and walkouts at the border assembly plants, known as the "maquiladoras" due to apprehensions that the facilities have turned breeding grounds for COVID-19 outbreaks. Primarily, the struggle at the so-called maquiladora plants is described to be "twofold": First, most of the plants refused to close in line with the orders of the government to shut down non-essential businesses. Second, a lot of companies want to send their employees home on a two-week vacation at half-pay, which, in most conditions, amount to lower than $30 each week. Also, a dozen plants closed, and roughly 180,000 of the 300,000 industrial workers of the city were idle. Emphasizing the situation's complexities, more than 30 plants deemed "essential" continued to be fully operational, and 35 were partially running. The state government noted that around 28 plants, which are not considered essential, had declined order to close, saying that officials were coming to their location to demand closure. Incidentally, Mexico presently has roughly 9,500 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 857 fatalities. Check these out! PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-23 14:52:03 OISTE.ORG Foundation endorses preserving the human right to privacy statement during the Covid-19 pandemic signed by a group of more than 300 academics and experts on the human right to privacy Geneva, 23 April 2020 - OISTE.ORG, a Swiss based foundation with special consultative status with ECOSOC and a recognized member of the not-for-profit constituency of ICANN endorses the views expressed in the Joint Statement on Contact Tracing dated April 19, 2020 and signed by a group of more than 300 academics and experts on the human right to privacy. Governments worldwide have declared or will soon declare national states of emergency to face the Covid-19 threat. Under a state of emergency, governments are legally entitled to dictate measures of exception that would not be accepted or tolerated under normal circumstances. States of emergency are used as a rationale for suspending constitutional rights and freedoms because there is a higher public good that makes it justifiable. Nevertheless, experts sound a warning alarm: there is a high risk that governments will overstep and impede rights and freedoms in response to Covid-19. At the present critical juncture, some of the contact tracing applications that are being proposed may override the privacy-protection clauses of the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The debate about contact tracing using modern digital technologies and the respect of the fundamental human right to privacy is one example of the need to be vigilant of the breaking point where exceptional measures can do more wrong than good. The liberal state has the same obligation to ensure the health and the well-being of its citizens as to guarantee that State surveillance of the individual does not become the norm. There is no doubt that digital technologies have a role to play on the lockdown ease, but not at any price. Recently, a number of European institutions launched the Pan-European Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing: https://www.pepp-pt.org/ with the objective of interrupting new chains of SARS-CoV-2 transmission by informing potentially exposed people using their Bluetooth devices, though very quickly the two main Swiss technological universities, the EPFZ and the EPFL withdrew their support to the initiative since it is privacy intrusive. That is why the Joint Statement makes the following recommendations: Contact tracing Apps must only be used to support public health measures for the containment of COVID-19. The system must not be capable of collecting, processing, or transmitting any more data than what is necessary to achieve this purpose. Any considered solution must be fully transparent. The protocols and their implementations, including any sub-components provided by companies, must be available for public analysis. The processed data and if, how, where, and for how long they are stored must be documented unambiguously. Such data collected should be minimal for the given purpose. When multiple possible options to implement a certain component or functionality of the app exist, then the most privacy-preserving option must be chosen. Deviations from this principle are only permissible if this is necessary to achieve the purpose of the app more effectively and must be clearly justified with sunset provisions. The use of contact tracing Apps and the systems that support them must be voluntary, used with the explicit consent of the user and the systems must be designed to be able to be switched off, and all data deleted, when the current crisis is over. The authors of the Joint Statement point the following privacy-protecting initiatives as examples of good practice: DP-3T : https://github.com/DP-3T,TCN Coalition : https://tcn-coalition.org/, PACT (MIT) : https://pact.mit.edu/ , PACT (UW) : https://covidsafe.cs.washington.edu/ Carlos Moreira, Secretary General of the OISTE Foundation and co-author of the bestselling book The Transhuman Code noted: The digital universe has to be infused by ethical principles. The human right to privacy has to be protected and respected at all times, even during the present pandemic. Applications that permit contact tracing and respect the human right to privacy are being developed. The OISTE Foundation signed The International Principles on the Application of Human Rights to Communications Surveillance right after they were launched at the 24th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva in 2013. OISTE invites other organizations to join: https://necessaryandproportionate.org/ About OISTE FOUNDATION Founded in Switzerland in 1998, OISTE was created with the objectives of promoting the use and adoption of international standards to secure electronic transactions, expand the use of digital certification and ensure the interoperability of certification authorities e-transaction systems. The OISTE Foundation is a not for profit organization based in Geneva, Switzerland, regulated by article 80 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code. OISTE is an organization in special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC) and belongs to the Not-for-Profit constituency (NPOC) of the ICANN. Company Contact: Dourgam Kummer Foundation Council Member dourgam.kummer@oiste.org As expected, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday secured the support he needed in the Congress of Deputies to extend the state of alarm implemented on March 14 in a bid to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The special measures will remain in place until May 9, according to the vote in Spains lower house of parliament. The debate, which lasted 11 hours on Wednesday, saw Sanchez, of the Socialist Party (PSOE), defend his coalition governments handling of the crisis, in the face of opposition parties fierce criticism of both his actions, and those of Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias, the leader of the junior partner Unidas Podemos. You cannot go to a funeral but you can go to work on the Metro; an adult can go to buy tobacco and a child cant go out to play spokesperson for the Catalan Republican Left (ERC), Gabriel Rufian Sanchez began the debate by warning that the deescalation of coronavirus confinement measures would be slow and gradual, in order to ensure that they are safe, but said that he couldnt rule out that there would be backward steps and reversals depending on the situation in Spain. The general confinement will not be lifted until we are ready, the prime minister said. The rules will vary, he added, based on the outlook in the second half of May, so that life can begin according to the new normality. The prime minister also repeated his calls for opposition parties to come together and form a wide-ranging pact to work toward economic reconstruction once the crisis has passed. He committed that if such a deal was reached, the government would not claim the achievements as its own victory. The success will be collective, he said. Talks to seal this pact will take place in a permanent commission in Congress, according to the request of Pablo Casado, the leader of the main opposition Popular Party (PP), who has so far ruled out a kind of new Moncloa Pacts, a cross-party deal reached in 1977 that produced a national socioeconomic recovery program and shored up Spains transition to democracy. Sanchez explained in Congress that, for now, the conversations about the reconstruction of the country still dont have a start date, but that they could coincide with the next period of the state of alarm: from April 26 to May 9. Leader of the Popular Party (PP), Pablo Casado, in Congress on Wednesday. POOL CONGRESO (Europa Press) Meanwhile, Casado announced that his party would vote in favor of the extension to the state of alarm, but made clear his belief that everything the government has done so far during the coronavirus crisis has been done badly. This is not a war, its a catastrophe, he said, denouncing the fact that the government has not honored the victims of the coronavirus. Casado reiterated his earlier criticism of the governments ignorance of the total number of victims, and for its poor management. There has not been caution, but rather incompetence, he charged. You have not apologized for your bad management when many of these deaths could have been prevented just by implementing the state of alarm a week earlier, he said. Sanchez also addressed the U-turn the government made on Tuesday, when it first announced that children would just be able to leave the house after nearly six weeks of near-total confinement to accompany their parents on shopping trips, only to later agree that youngsters would be able to go out for short walks. We were guilty of being too cautious, he said. We dont want to move back a single step. And this is a government that listens. We have done things badly and we will continue to do so. A situation like this one is not easy and a lot of decisions are taken Leader of Unidas Podemos, Pablo Iglesias The leader of far-right Vox, Santiago Abascal, was equally critical with Sanchez. Today, your failure on all levels is tragically clear, he said, blaming the government for bringing about the deaths of thousands of Spaniards due to incompetence. Spain is a giant Chavista prison with rationing cards, he argued in reference to former Venezualan leader Hugo Chavez, adding that the government wanted to abolish democracy. He also warned the government that the party would not be silenced, whether it be via lawsuits, persecution in the media, or churlish methods fit for a Bolivarian banana republic. Abascal also questioned Sanchez about Deputy PM Iglesiass attitude toward the Spanish royal family, after the Unidas Podemos leader voiced support for republican values via social media during the coronavirus crisis. Do you support the criticism from your deputy prime minister of the king? the far-right politician asked. You baffle me, Sanchez replied. You style yourself as the chief proponent of freedom of expression, at the same time as you behave like [inquisitor] Torquemada. The political families that are in the government have always supported democracy. You were with those who supported the dictatorship. [...] Listening to you, the words of Pedro Zerolo come to mind. He was a social activist, and has now passed away, and was homosexual, people that you class as sick. The difference is that you defend a society in which there is no room for half of us, while we defend a society in which we all fit. Leader of the far-right Vox, Santiago Abascal Pool Efe (GTRES) The head of the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), asked Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias whether a policy based on imprecise, contradictory and unconsulted announcements about supposed measures are fitting for an organized, planned and shared management of the crisis? Iglesias responded by saying that we have done things badly and we will continue to do so. A situation like this one is not easy and a lot of decisions are taken. [...] The important thing is for us all to reach agreement for the production system and the social fabric. The spokesperson for the Catalan Republican Left (ERC), Gabriel Rufian, announced that his party would abstain in the vote, adding that the group did not trust in the perverse balance being sought between health and the economy. Rufian criticized the fact that currently in Spain you cannot go to a funeral but you can go to work on the Metro; that an adult can go to buy tobacco and a child cant go out to play; that you can buy hamburgers via [delivery company] Deliveroo but not bury your parents. Rufian also stated that the ERC wanted to restart the talks with the government on the Catalan independence crisis before June. The ERC and other nationalist parties made clear during the debate that the Spanish government cannot necessarily depend on their support should a fourth extension to the state of alarm be sought. The final vote saw the opposition Vox and the Catalan CUP and Together for Catalonia parties, the abstention of ERC, and votes in favor from the remainder of the groups in Congress. English version by Simon Hunter. Less than 24 hours after Vancouver police released disturbing surveillance camera footage showing a convenience store customer assaulting an elderly man by tossing him onto the sidewalk, the suspect in question has been identified. Vancouver Police say after the video and photos of the suspect were released Wednesday afternoon they received numerous tips from the community regarding the suspect. The incident under investigation took place on the afternoon of March 13. A 92-year-old Asian man who suffers from severe dementia had wandered into the East Vancouver convenience store when he was confronted by a suspect "yelling racist remarks at the victim that included comments about COVID-19." Staff at the store, located near Nanaimo Street and East 1st Avenue, had been trying to help the man when the suspect - a white male in his 50s - launched his tirade. Surveillance video from the store shared by the VPD show the suspect grabbing the victim and tossing him outside the door of the store, where the elderly man immediately fell to the ground and hit his head. Two customers arrived at the store at the same time, and step over the elderly victim and past the suspect as they enter the building. The suspect then returns to the victim's side to sit him upright on the sidewalk, before returning inside to complete his transaction. Vancouver Police note that in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis, they have seen an uptick in reports of "hate motivated" incidents and behaviour targeting members of the Asian community. The March 13 convenience store assault is being investigated as a hate crime, said the VPD, and the case does remain under investigation. Police would like to thank the community and partners for their overwhelming support on such a serious, intolerable incident, said the VPD in a media release issued Thursday morning. Anyone who has information to share about this crime is asked to call investigators at 604-717-2763 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Investigators will be supplementing the file with tips and information from the public. They will reach out to specific people if they require more information. The African Court on Human and Peoples Rights (ACHPR) on Wednesday ordered Cote dIvoire to suspend its arrest warrant for Guillaume Soro and to release 19 of his relatives who have been imprisoned for four months. The African Union institution based in Arusha, Tanzania, which had been seized in early March by Mr. Soro, former speaker of the Ivorian National Assembly, and his relatives, orders the defendant state (Cote dIvoire) to suspend the execution of the arrest warrant against Guillaume Soro, in a ruling published on Wednesday. A declared candidate in the Ivorian presidential election scheduled for October, Guillaume Soro has been the subject of an arrest warrant since late December 2019 by the Ivorian judiciary for an alleged insurrection attempt and embezzlement of public funds, all charges denied by the former leader of the rebellion of the 2000s. The court also ordered the stay of execution of the committal orders against 19 of Mr. Soros relatives accused of varying degrees of complicity, currently detained in Cote dIvoire, and their provisional release. Soros co-defendants include five deputies and former ministers, member of his party, as well as two of his brothers. To justify its unanimous decision, the ACHPR considers that the arrest warrant and the committal orders are likely to seriously compromise the exercise of the political rights and freedoms of the applicants. The court also invokes the risk of irreparable damage for the applicants and the presumption of innocence in their favor. New laws will be passed to cover privacy fears about the coronavirus tracing app after experts and the opposition raised concerns police could get access to the data. The federal government will introduce legislation in the May parliamentary sitting period, increasing the likelihood that emergency Biosecurity Act powers could govern the app for several weeks before control is handed over to the legislature. Government sources said on Thursday that while the details were not yet finalised, legislation would be introduced to govern the app, which will be able to identify when users have been within 1.5 metres of other users for more than 15 minutes. The laws to be introduced will expressly protect the data and deal with privacy concerns. Dowling recovering at home after long hospital stay State Rep. Matthew Dowling has returned home after suffering a one-vehicle crash in October. Dowling represents parts of Somerset County. Trump calls for U.S. oil industry bailout as prices plunge U.S. President Trump leads daily coronavirus response briefing at the White House in Washington WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he has asked his cabinet to devise a plan to inject cash into the ailing U.S. oil-drilling industry to help it survive a historic collapse in crude prices. "We will never let the great U.S. Oil & Gas Industry down. I have instructed the Secretary of Energy and Secretary of the Treasury to formulate a plan which will make funds available so that these very important companies and jobs will be secured long into the future!" Trump said on Twitter. U.S. oil and gas companies from Texas to Wyoming have struggled to stave off bankruptcy amid worldwide stay-at-home orders and business stoppages spurred by the coronavirus outbreak that have obliterated global demand for fuel. U.S. crude oil futures collapsed to trade in negative territory for the first time in history on Monday, as desperate traders paid to get rid of barrels amid a dearth of storage space. Last week, U.S. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette told Reuters he was working with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin to roughly double the size-limit on loans available to mid-tier U.S. energy companies under the recently passed CARES Act stimulus package to $200 million-$250 million. He added he and Mnuchin also planned to work with U.S. regulators banks in hopes of ensuring continued access to credit for the U.S. oil and gas industry, which is estimated to owe more than $200 billion to lenders through loans backed by oil and gas reserves. As revenue has plummeted and assets have declined in value, some companies are saying they may be unable to repay. Whiting Petroleum Corp became the first major producer to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on April 1. Others, including Chesapeake Energy Corp, Denbury Resources Inc and Callon Petroleum Co, have hired debt advisers. Oil prices have crashed as demand has shrunk due to lockdowns and economic slowdowns during the coronavirus pandemic. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, including Russia, recently announced sweeping cuts in production, amounting to almost 10% of global supplies. Demand has dropped as much as 30%. Story continues Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said leading global oil producers could hold talks again to discuss their output deal further if needed. Trump has separately announce plans to fill up the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, something that would take around 77 million barrels off the market - or less than a day of typical global demand. Congress so far has declined to provide the funding due to opposition from Democrats who oppose aiding the oil industry when laid-off workers and other sectors also need help. Brouillette said on Tuesday he would meet with lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives to renew the administration call for funds to buy oil. In the meantime, the Department of Energy is in talks with oil companies to lease some of the available space. Trump has also repeatedly threatened to use tariffs to block crude oil imports to help domestic drillers - but the U.S. energy industry's main trade associations have opposed the move, saying it would only raise costs for the refining sector. (Reporting by Tim Ahmann and Susan Heavey; Editing by Richard Valdmanis, Chizu Nomiyama, Bernadette Baum and David Gregorio) 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 Memorial Day parade canceled in Hague HAGUE The Hague Memorial Day Parade planned for May 23 has been canceled, according to Maureen Cherubini, parade chairwoman, who asked people to stay safe. Olde Saratoga Seniors meeting is postponed SCHUYLERVILLE The Olde Saratoga Seniors will not be meeting in May due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting may be rescheduled for July or August. Call 518-338-2329 or email Patty61349@yahoo.com with questions or concerns. Saratoga Arts exhibit is available onlineThe 120 Intercollegiate Regional Exhibition can be viewed online at www.saratoga-arts.org for one more week. Because Saratoga Arts was forced to close temporarily during the coronavirus pandemic, the 120 Intercollegiate Regional Exhibition is available in a digital format. The exhibition highlights artwork created by regional college students. The artwork featured in this exhibition was created by 68 artists who are currently enrolled in 16 different colleges and universities in New York, Vermont and Massachusetts. Some of the content may be inappropriate for children. Parents should call school about UPK CAMBRIDGE Parents and guardians of children residing in the Cambridge school district who will be 4 years old on or before Dec. 1, 2020, may be eligible for the Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program for the 2020-2021 school year. Parents and guardians are invited to contact the elementary school at 518-677-8527 ext. 1416 as soon as possible to complete a brief over-the-phone registration. Cambridge Elementary School contracts with the Commission for Economic Opportunity in Troy to run the UPK program. The program is grant funded, and provides for a maximum of 18 students with one teacher and one classroom aide. In the event more than 18 eligible students apply, a lottery will be conducted to randomly select the students. Those not selected are then placed on a waiting list and contacted if there are any openings. The lottery is scheduled for June 5.In the event school is not in session, the lottery will be recorded and available for families to view. COVID-19 poster contest announced BALLSTON SPA Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo announced a COVID-19 poster contest for students in grades K-12 in Saratoga County. The theme is What Saratoga County First Responders Mean To Me. Students of all ages from Saratoga County are invited to participate in designing a poster illustrating what a Saratoga County first responder means to them. Artists should consider incorporating one of the following: Saratoga County Sheriffs Office; Saratoga County Public Health Nursing; emergency medical services; fire departments. Posters must be received by May 18. Twelve winners will be selected from the submissions and invited to participate in an awards ceremony at an upcoming Saratoga County Board of Supervisors meeting. All posters submitted will be placed on display in the public area of the Saratoga County Sheriffs Office, 6010 County Farm Road, Ballston Spa, and throughout the Saratoga County Municipal Building. The 12 winning posters will be placed on display in the Supervisors Boardroom located in the County Municipal Building, 40 McMaster St., Ballston Spa. Those who wish to enter the contest can mail a completed poster (on any size paper) to the Saratoga County Sheriffs Office, 6010 County Farm Road, Ballston Spa, NY 12020 or email a submission to sheriff@saratogacountyny.gov. They are also encouraged to share their artwork by tagging the Saratoga County Sheriffs Office via Facebook @SaratogaCountySheriff and Instagram @SaratogaSheriff. Students or their parents should include the artists first and last name, age, grade and school. Submissions should include an email or phone number. Saratoga County Sheriffs Office staff members will choose the best entry. Historical association offering scholarships SCHUYLERVILLE The Old Saratoga Historical Association will award the Francis Ostrander Scholarship of $500 to a member of the senior class at Schuylerville Central High School who will be attending a two- or four-year college in the fall. A $350 scholarship will be awarded to the runner-up. Applicants must complete a 600-word essay on one of two topics, which are: The role Philip Schuyler played in the development of Old Saratoga; or How living in an historic village or area has influenced my life. Submit applications by May 1 to Patricia Peck, 178 Wagmans Ridge, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. A short statement with the name, address and career plans of the applicant and the college that the applicant will attend should accompany the essay. Announcement of the scholarship recipients will be made at commencement. Frances Ostrander was a charter and life member of the Old Saratoga Historical Association who worked diligently for nearly 50 years to raise funds and secure furnishings for the Philip Schuyler House and to assist in giving tours of this historic landmark. The association provides programs and activities that help people understand and appreciate the historical significance of the Schuylerville area. For more information, call 518-584-4129. Enjoy classical music while in quarantine LAKE GEORGE The Lake George Music Festival Alumni Association will present Quarantine Concert Series, at 7 p.m. on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays through April. The free concerts will be streamed live on Facebook. Concerts can be found at www.facebook.com/lakegeorgemusicfestival/. Concerts will last about 30 minutes. The Lake George Music Festival, thus far, remains unaffected by the coronavirus pandemic, and it still scheduled to take place this summer. Freelance musicians, however, are experiencing immense hardship right now. It is the Alumni Associations goal to create opportunities for them while they wait for normal life to resume. Tax-deductible donations will be accepted. All proceeds generated from these concerts will be given back to the performing artists in this time of need. In addition, everyone who donates will be given a free single ticket to a concert this August and will be automatically entered into a drawing for a free 2020 Season Pass. Hometown is compiled by Gretta Hochsprung. If youd like to let her know about an upcoming event, email ghochsprung@poststar.com or call 518-742-3206. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 W ith its cult of destruction and self-sacrifice, German National Socialism might have been designed for adolescence. Nazi Party members indulged Teutonic pagan myths and a sub-Wagnerian kitsch of deaths heads, breastplates and lances. Not all Germans were swayed by Hitler, but the majority were. Otto von Wachter, an SS-Brigadefuhrer and minor Austrian aristocrat, displayed a dog-like devotion to the Nazi leader, and scorned the Judaeo-Christian morality of compassion for the weak. Jews were mere useless mouths deserving of death by plague or worse. In reality, according to his now elderly son, Horst von Wachter, the SS-Brigadefuhrer was a soft-hearted and honourable family man. Of course he had to carry out unpleasant duties, but that did not mean he had no conscience. If anything, Otto von Wachter was a typical tuchtiger-Deutsch an efficient German with a specialists tunnel vision. He viewed Nazism chiefly in terms of his specialist competence, and was thus kept unaware of the moral consequences of his work. I have to find some positive aspect in my father, Horst tells Philippe Sands, the author of this extraordinary book. The Ratline, an amalgam of history, personal quest and biography, centres on the deluded idolisation of Horst von Wachter, who seeks at all costs to find a saving humanity in his dubious parent. Sands has been here before. His bestselling non-fiction East West Street unfolds in wartime Lemberg, the capital of Galicia (today the city of Lviv, in Ukraine), where Otto von Wachter had served as Nazi governor from 1942. More than 150,000 Jews the citys entire population were resettled from Lemberg to ghettoes and death camps. Among them were Sandss Jewish grandparents and some 80 of their relations. The SS-Brigadefuhrer was irrefutably at the heart of these operations. Tomorrow I have to have 50 Poles publicly shot, he wrote home to Vienna on a postcard, as though it was rather a nuisance for him. In fast-paced, John le Carre-like pages (spies, Nazi-hunters, dark Vatican forces), Sands charts his own changing relationship with the deluded Horst von Wachter, who lives in some splendour with his Swedish wife in a 17th century baroque castle outside Vienna. Horst seems to get on with most people, and Sands clearly grew to like him. Unfailingly generous, he opens up family archives, photograph albums and diaries for Sandss inspection. From these sources, Sands constructs the Nazi Ottos life-story. It is not one that consoles Horst in his quest to find the good (as he puts it) in his parent. By the time Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933, the tall, Aryan-blond Otto was married to the steel magnates daughter Charlotte Bleckmann, a fellow Hitler enthusiast who liked to embroider swastikas onto garments. Later, in Nazi-occupied Lemberg, she plundered Gothic and Renaissance works of art for her domestic collection. (We are not robbers, she insisted.) Not only did her husband Otto sanction regular Aktions against the Jewish populations under his control, he was the confidant of Hans Frank, Hitlers lawyer and governor general of Nazi-conquered Poland, hanged at Nuremberg for his war crimes. Efficient German: Otto von Wachter with his family in Austria during the summer of 1948 On Hitlers defeat, Von Wachter lay low in the Austrian Alps, where he sought ways to escape to Latin America through the so-called ratline the Reich migratory route used by Josef Mengele, Adolf Eichmann and other Nazi war criminals. In the end he went to ground in Rome, where he was protected by a Right-wing Austrian Catholic bishop and assorted ex-Fascist diehards. The former Nazi governor died in Rome in 1949 while holed up in a Vatican-subsidised pontifical college. His death was as a consequence of liver failure and not, as his poor Horst stubbornly maintains, a political assassination on the orders of Joseph Stalin. Sands, a practising barrister, turns a forensic eye on the widow Charlottes own self-exculpatory letters, diaries and tape-recorded reminiscences kept over a period of 30 years until her death in 1985. The evidence for her husbands war crimes is incontrovertible, says Sands. Had Otto von Wachter been caught by the Allies, he too would have been tried and hanged at Nuremberg. With enough twists and turns to keep the reader grimly absorbed, Ratline is an electrifying true crime for the contagion lockdown. Ann Lentz Dix & Eaton has promoted Ann Lentz to senior vice president of creative and program management. Lentz was previously vice president and director of production services at the agency. Before coming to Dix & Eaton in 1998, she was a production manager for Bill Brokaw Advertising. In her new post, Lentz is responsible for developing strategies to improve current capabilities and develop new ones, ensuring on-time delivery of client campaigns, cultivating strong vendor relationships and supporting organization special projects. She also leads the internal team focused on helping Dix & Eaton enhance and measure its environmental and social responsibility profile. The agency has also brought on Allison Wood as an account executive, specializing in digital and marketing communications. Katie Huang Shin AxiCom, WPPs technology specialist communications agency, has named Katie Huang Shin president of AxiCom US and promoted AxiCom UK managing director Kate Stevens to president of the agency in Europe. Huang Shin most recently served as president, technology sector and chief strategy officer at WE Communications. Before joining WE, she held senior executive positions at Porter Novelli, FleishmanHillard and Weber Shandwick. At AxiCom, Huang Shin will lead the firms business strategy and operations across North America. Stevens will stay in her current position of Managing Director of AxiCom UK, while transitioning to her European leadership role. She joined AxiCom UK in 2007 from WPP agency GCI, where she worked on the Dell account. European board member and AxiCom director Nick Head will take on the role of role of European managing director. Jenny Wang Kglobal has promoted Jenny Wang to vice president. She was previously an account director at the firm. Wang has also served as an account supervisor at Raffetto Herman Strategic Communications, where she planned and executed campaigns that included online and traditional media, executive positioning, reputation management and thought leadership. In her new post, Wang leads integrated communications campaigns on behalf of clients across sectors, provides crisis communications and issues management counsel, and develops new business leads and opportunities. Students will be told their Leaving Cert timetable on June 1, the Education Minister has confirmed. Speaking in the Dail this evening, Joe McHugh said that his department was planning for the exams to begin on July 29, with a timetable issued at the beginning of June. Mr McHugh said that this would allow public health advice to be given and ensure a long enough timeframe for plans to be made. Asked about a "Plan B" in the event that the exams are impacted by illness or bereavement, Mr McHugh said that the Department of Education's working group on the issue would plan for all eventualities and had a number of contingencies it was working on. "We won't go into this in a blinkered way. We are living in the real world," he said. The Minister also confirmed that fees for the state exams, which had been due in the coming weeks, would now not be due for payment until after the exams are held. Mr McHugh was criticised by his Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein counterparts, who both said that he had failed to provide clarity on the issue. Fianna Fail's Thomas Byrne said that uncertainty had been caused by ongoing leaks to newspapers, which had confused the messaging around the Leaving Cert. Sinn Fein's Donnchadh O Laooghaire raised the issue of Irish students applying to UK colleges. He outlined one case where a student has two conditional offers to study medicine in the UK. However, those offers will expire if results are not released by August 31. Mr McHugh said that he was aware of the issue, which he said affects some 4,000 students, and had contacted the UK Education Secretary to raise it. PSNI Detective Chief Superintendent Paula Hilman was unveiled as an Assistant Commissioner at An Garda Siochana (Liam McBurney/PA) A Northern Ireland police officer has been appointed to a senior role in An Garda Siochana, marking another significant milestone, the Justice Minister has said. PSNI Detective Chief Superintendent Paula Hilman was unveiled as Assistant Commissioner, the first time an officer from Northern Ireland has taken on the role. The Policing Authority appointed two PSNI officers to senior roles in the Garda. It is important that An Garda Siochana reflects the community that it serves Charlie Flanagan, Minister for Justice and Equality Stephen McCauley, who is currently serving as a Detective Chief Inspector in the PSNI, is now a new Superintendent in the Irish force. In 2018, former PSNI officer Drew Harris was appointed as the Garda Commissioner. He became the first Irish police chief appointed from outside the Republic. The Minister for Justice and Equality Charlie Flanagan brought a memo before this weeks Cabinet meeting proposing Government approval for the Policing Authoritys proposals. As both Ms Hilman and Mr McCauley were members of the PSNI, Government approval was needed under the Garda Siochana Act 2005. Mr Flanagan said: I warmly welcome the appointment of Paula Hilman as Assistant Commissioner. This is a significant milestone, representing the first time a member of the PSNI will be appointed to the rank of Assistant Commissioner. An Garda Siochana is becoming increasingly diverse and this is a welcome development because it reflects the society in which our gardai carry out their important work so effectively Charlie Flanagan, Minister for Justice and Equality Ms Hilman has over 30 years policing experience and will undoubtedly bring valuable expertise to her new role, at a time of significant change in An Garda Siochana. I also welcome the fact that the appointment of both Anne Marie Cagney and Paula Hilman as Assistant Commissioners will further expand the number of women at senior ranks. It is important that An Garda Siochana reflects the community that it serves and 61 years after women were first admitted to the organisation it is not past time that we are moving towards a more equal representation of women in the most senior leadership positions. In recent years a small number of PSNI officers have similarly been appointed as Superintendents in An Garda Siochana. I wish Stephen McCauley well in his new position. I am encouraged to see that it continues to be the case that well-qualified and experienced officers from the PSNI are taking part in competitions to join (the gardai). As a growing organisation that has expanded significantly in recent years, An Garda Siochana is becoming increasingly diverse and this is a welcome development because it reflects the society in which our gardai carry out their important work so effectively. Commissioner Harris said Ms Hilmans appointment was very welcome. Paula will bring over 30 years of experience across a wide range of policing areas to An Garda Siochana, he said. Paula has held a number of senior roles such as investigating crimes against the vulnerable, overseeing public order operations, and working with other agencies to introduce criminal justice reform in areas such as victim support. This knowledge and experience will be invaluable to the organisation operationally and as we continue our ongoing reforms. With weather forecasts showing a summer-like weekend on the horizon, Gov. Gavin Newsom urged Californians on Thursday to heed physical distancing orders citing what he said was the deadliest day so far in the state's efforts to combat the novel coronavirus. "Look, we're walking into a very warm weekend," Newsom said in a midday news briefing. "That means people are prone to want to go to the beaches, parks, playgrounds and go on a hike. " The governor said those who do choose to be outdoors should visit only open locations and ensure they remain physically separated from others as has been done over the past five weeks since he imposed a statewide stay-at-home order. If Californians don't do that, Newsom said, he fears he'll soon be reporting a sizable increase in the number of confirmed cases and possibly hospitalizations. "I don't think anybody wants to hear that. I don't want to share that information. But that's really less up to me, it's more up to all of you," he said. Newsom said Thursday that the previous 24 hours had seen 115 deaths from COVID-19 across California, the most in any single day. He said there had been a slight decline in two other key indicators: the number of people hospitalized and those being treated in intensive care units. The Times' own data, gathered from public health officials in communities across the state, counted 118 deaths over the previous day and at least 74 as of midday Thursday. More than 1,500 people have died due to the coronavirus since the outbreak of the pandemic in February and March. With temperatures in Southern California expected to rise into the low 90s over the weekend, Newsom urged the state's residents to be cautious in their outdoor activities, even offering talking points for those with teenagers or other young family members. "Just say, 'Hey, I know you are likely to want to get to that beach. But just be careful if you do. And make sure it's open. And if it's not open, you know, abide by the rules. If it is open, just abide by social distancing, practice physical distancing.'" Story continues A handful of county and city governments have started to examine ways to loosen some restrictions, though state officials have made clear that those local efforts cannot be more permissive than statewide rules. The Newsom administration has sought to work through those various requests, privately cajoling some local leaders to make sure their efforts don't contradict the broader statewide message of patience with the stay-at-home order. On Wednesday, Newsom said most of the six key milestones he set to consider loosening the stay-home order he issued last month have not yet been met. The only change the governor has made is to allow some elective surgeries to again be scheduled in hospitals, citing sufficient capacity. "It will be those indicators that drive our decision-making," he said Thursday. "And not dates. We don't debate dates. We look at the facts objectively." Many government officials and public figures in China have begun promoting products via live streaming recently. The mayor (left) of Henan Mongolian Autonomous County in Qinghai province sells local products via live streaming. (Photo/Peoples Daily) As an emerging form of Internet-based consumption, this innovative way of promoting products has become increasingly popular amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. On April 15, the heads of 30 counties in central Chinas virus-hit Hubei province promoted local products on live streaming platforms. Li Lei, the young deputy mayor of Haiyang, east Chinas Shandong province, who has a doctors degree, recently drew widespread attention online as a result of the short videos he posted on a video sharing platform to promote sales of local agricultural products. Some of the videos Li posted on the platform have been played more than 2 million times. Meanwhile, public figures across the country have been continuously setting new sales records during their live stream promotions. With this new method continuing to gain popularity, more and more consumers have been flocking to live streaming platforms to buy products, and many enterprises and entrepreneurs have also tapped into this new hotspot for consumption and business opportunity. The variety of the products being promoted via live streaming has constantly expanded, and can include anything from from houses to cars and even airplanes. In a sense, China has long been prepared to promote goods via live streaming. As the related business models had already been well developed, it was natural for sales promotion via live streaming to become so popular, especially with people having to stay at home due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Novel forms of consumption, including online group buying and online education, that have sprung up during the prevention and control of COVID-19 have made up for plummeting offline consumption, and to some extent, expanded domestic demand and boosted consumption. Against the backdrop of the pandemic that is threatening the entire world, efforts to promote new forms of online consumption and integration of online and offline consumption are essential to revitalizing economic drivers. With trade growth severely impacted around the world as a result of the pandemic, its crucial that China learns to cope with changes in the external environment and stabilizes economic growth by boosting domestic demand. Novel online consumption methods, with live-streaming promotion being a typical example, play an important role in achieving this. By seizing the opportunities offered by digital, network and smart technologies, China can not only boost consumption through methods such as sales promotion via live streaming, but also turn crisis into opportunity and realize economic transformation and upgrading. New Delhi: Amidst the coronavirus epidemic in the country, the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest policy-making unit of the Congress, met today through video conferencing. In the CWC meeting, the interim president of Congress, Sonia Gandhi, mainly discussed the corona crisis and the situation arising out of the lockdown. During this, Sonia Gandhi raised the issue of farmers, unemployed and poor and demanded the central government to give 7,500 rupees for all the family. Pakistan spewing poison against India in Gulf countries, making fake accounts The Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states also talked about the center not supporting the war against the Corona epidemic. Former PM Manmohan Singh said that cooperation between the Center and the states is very essential for our success in the fight against Corona infection. He said that the success of the lockdown will be decided by how we are dealing with Corona. In the CWC meeting on Corona epidemic, Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh said that 4,400 crores of GST has not yet been released. Sonia attacks BJP, says "They are spreading hate virus during Corona crisis" In addition, the resources of the war against Corona are not being given by the central government. Capt Amarinder said that the Center had demanded 1 lakh rapid testing kits, out of which only 10,000 Chinese-made kits have been provided to us. Their authenticity is still to be tested. He has also spoken about the reduction in the quality of the kit and doubted the validity. How Corona virus was born in China? Researchers got big information Afghanistan Releases Another 71 Taliban Prisoners In Step Toward Peace Talks By RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan April 22, 2020 KABUL -- Afghanistan says it has released another 71 Taliban prisoners in a further step toward bringing the two sides together to negotiate a peace settlement. Javed Faisal, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said in a tweet that detainees had been released from seven prisons in the Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, Nuristan, Faryab, Uruzgan, and Baghlan provinces. The Western-backed government in Kabul has released a total of 432 Taliban inmates since April 8. A pact signed by the United States and the Taliban on February 29 calls for the Afghan government to release 5,000 Taliban fighters as a confidence-building measure ahead of formal peace talks aimed at ending the 18-year conflict in Afghanistan. The Taliban has vowed to release some 1,000 Afghan government troops and civilian workers it is holding. Since April 12, the militants have released 60 Afghan security and defense personnel. The prisoner swap was scheduled to be completed by March 10, before the start of intra-Afghan peace talks, but it has been delayed by disputes between the sides. Meanwhile, fighting has continued across Afghanistan since the U.S.-Taliban deal was inked in Doha, Qatar. Late on April 21, 11 members of the Afghan security forces were killed after Taliban militants attacked their checkpoints in three districts of the northern province of Sar-e-Pul, according to the spokesman for the provincial governor. Eight security force members were also reported killed in a Taliban assault on a checkpoint in the eastern Logar Province. The spokesman, Zabihullah Amani, told RFE/RL that another 19 were wounded. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-frees- dozens-more-taliban-prisoners-in-step- toward-peace-talks/30570089.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 We protect Ukrainians from fakes and bogus stories and caring about cyber security for representatives of business, state and education establishments, the service chief says Ivan Bakanov, ex-Head of Kvartal 95, head of Servant of the People party since 2017, First Deputy Head of Ukraines Security Service SBU The SBU, Ukraine's state security service offered the National Security and Defense Council to prolong the sanctions against Russian web services and program products. According to Ivan Bakanov, the head of the SBU, the list of services would include VKontakte and Odnoklassniki, as well as Mail.ru, Dr.Web, Kaspersky, 1C and Parus. "Today, we do not only protect Ukrainian citizens from fakes and information bogus stories from Russian social networks, but also taking care of cyber security for representatives of business, state and education establishments. Any Russian mail service or antivirus can be used to harm Ukraine. This is why the risks should be minimized. Blocking such resources and programs, we care about the country's security in general", Bakanov said. The SBU Head also offered to create and provide the functioning of the Single Software Register, which is allowed for authorized use in state information and telecommunication systems. "According to the SBU cyber specialists, it will create an opportunity to limit the purchases and the use of prohibited software, and it will create suitable conditions for the developmnent of the domestic IT sector", reads the message. On April 10, Bakanov offered to ban VKontakte and Odnoklassniki for another three years. The Russian social networks were banned in May 2017, according to the presidential decree; the list included Yandex service, vk.ru and Odnoklassniki. However growing concern that patients are dying from other illnesses at home Yesterday 616 Covid-19 patients died in UK and taking the official toll to 18,783 Number of Britons dying at home has risen by 51 per cent since the crisis began The number of Britons dying at home has soared by 51 per cent since the crisis began. This surge adds to fears that elderly and vulnerable patients, many reliant on home carers, are failing to seek help then dying alone with potentially treatable illnesses. The virus death toll in hospitals is now declining. Yesterday 616 patients died, down from a peak of 980 and taking the official toll to 18,783. Chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said Britain had 'reached a plateau, coming down slightly but not fast', adding: 'I'd expect that to continue for a couple of weeks and we will see a decline thereafter. We are very much heading in the right direction.' As the UK grapples with the coronavirus pandemic, a surge in the Britons dying at home has added to fears that elderly and vulnerable patients are failing to seek help then dying alone. Yesterday 616 patients died from the virus- down from a peak of 980 But there is growing concern that patients are dying from other illnesses at home or in care homes. Yesterday the Mail revealed how thousands of heart attack and stroke victims are waiting at least two hours 20 minutes for an ambulance. And more than a million home care visits have been cancelled, meaning the most vulnerable people risk falling victim to other conditions. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show the number of weekly deaths at home increased by 51 per cent an extra 1,392 deaths over the four weeks until April 10. Just 466 deaths were directly linked to coronavirus, though some people may have caught it but not had it recorded on their death certificate. Experts have warned of a surge in people dying of other conditions outside hospitals. Professor David Spiegelhalter of Cambridge University said: 'People who don't have Covid are not going to hospital. Attendances to A&E have dropped enormously. 'People are very reluctant to go to hospital. This is collateral damage of the process we're going through.' There are 400,000 people in care homes in the UK and 810,000 more rely on home carers. Many have health issues that require frequent visits. But thousands of visits from carers have been cancelled during the lockdown, leaving family and friends to cope. A survey of nearly 5,000 unpaid carers by Carers UK reveals that they are carrying out an average 10 hours more work per week to help loved ones with personal care, practical tasks and emotional support. Almost nine in ten say they worry about who will take over if they themselves have to self-isolate or become ill. Helen Walker, head of Carers UK, said: 'Unpaid carers are fighting the same battle as care staff and many of our NHS workers. Yet they do it behind closed doors. 'Unlike our fantastic frontline workers they are unable to clock off from their caring responsibilities. Many are overwhelmed and incredibly anxious about how they will manage. 'Unpaid carers are just as vital in the national effort to keep vulnerable people safe, yet many fear that continuing to care around the clock will lead to them burning out. 'Carers tell us they feel ignored and invisible in this epidemic. The Government must ensure their physical and emotional well-being is supported at this challenging time and monitor the impact of the reduction in care services.' Latest coronavirus news, views and expert advice at mailplus.co.uk/coronavirus Allegiant Air is receiving nearly $172 million in federal stimulus grants and low-interest loans to keep serving San Antonio International and other airports, but it would prefer to take the money and ground part of its fleet. The no-frills airline says it shouldnt have to squander available resources on markets where there is little to no demand such as San Antonio. The Transportation Department awarded Allegiant $171.9 million in stimulus money Tuesday on the condition that it meet minimum federal requirements for serving its markets. In San Antonio, that minimum is one flight a week. But Allegiant is seeking an exemption that would allow it to halt service in San Antonio and 20 other markets. On ExpressNews.com: $40 million in federal funds to ease San Antonio airports coronavirus losses The carrier said those 21 airports had the lowest passenger demand among more than 115 it serves. Allegiant says in an early April filing with the Transportation Department that demand is nonexistent on its routes from San Antonio to Las Vegas and Orlando because casinos and theme parks are closed. It went on to say the goal was to use the federal aid to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic as a viable competitor. But to achieve that goal, Allegiant can ill afford to directly or indirectly squander available resources, the filing adds. The airline said it couldnt continue to fund flight operations that would serve no useful purpose. On ExpressNews.com: Airlines halving number of flights out of San Antonio Aviation industry analysts point out the stimulus money has two purposes. One is to allow airlines to pay their pilots, flight attendants and other personnel during a time of financial distress. The other is to maintain some semblance of an air transportation system in the U.S. during the health crisis. Allegiants argument is that they are happy to pay their employees with the federal stimulus money, but they dont want to also waste money flying empty planes, said Seth Miller, an aviation analyst at PanEx Aero. The counterpoint to that is the stimulus act was not supposed to eliminate unprofitable routes, it was supposed to keep the airlines operating. Allegiant spokeswoman Hilarie Grey said the airlines request is not to suspend flying entirely, it just gives us some flexibility to adjust the frequency we fly various routes. The Transportation Department has yet to rule on Allegiants request, but it has denied most requests from airlines applying for stimulus aid that want to cut service to deal with drastic drops in passenger demand. The agency put it bluntly to JetBlue Airlines last week in rejecting its application to stop service at the Worcester, Mass., regional airport. It noted that the federal stimulus money for airlines was designed to approximately balance the needs of communities to retain at least minimal connections to the national air transportation system during the public health emergency. Las Vegas-based Allegiant is the only one of eight domestic airlines at San Antonio International that has asked for an exemption allowing it to stop service. Given that the budget airline has never been a major carrier at San Antonio International even during peak weeks this past summer, it ran four flights a week the Transportation Department required Allegiant to serve San Antonio just once a week in exchange for the money. On ExpressNews.com: Coronavirus adds to San Antonio International flight reductions Major airlines such as United, American, Delta and Southwest, which will receive billions of dollars of stimulus money, have to fly just five times a week from San Antonio International under the federal rules. The federal government is offering airlines up to $50 billion in loans and grants to keep workers on the payroll and to keep flying. Allegiant is receiving one of the lowest aid packages because of its small size, but aviation industry analysts say its application for service exemptions raises broader questions. With the number of air passengers dropping by more than 95 percent domestically in April compared with a year earlier, almost all flights are nearly empty, said Kurt Ebenhoch, a former airline spokesman who is executive director of Travel Fairness Now, a consumer group. He said any airline could contend their routes are unprofitable. Ebenhoch said the whole idea of the stimulus act is help airlines survive. In exchange, he said, the carriers are supposed to provide at least minimal service so those who must travel such as medical workers trying to get to COVID-19 hot spots are able to do so. What Allegiant is asking is unreasonable, he said. Allegiant spokeswoman Gray pointed out that demand for travel is nearly nonexistent. Like other airlines, we did request waivers providing flexibility with regard to service at a number of airports we serve, as we assess how demand for travel comes back over the coming months, she said in a statement. While the airline plans no service in April and May from San Antonio International, she said, Allegiant is planning to resume service in June. A chart provided to the DOT shows the airline plans to offer two flights a week from San Antonio to both McCarren International Airport in Las Vegas and Orlando Sanford International Airport in June and July. In August, the frequency drops on average to 2.4 times a week; in September, Allegiant would have no service. Miller said that if the exemption for San Antonio is granted, Allegiant would be free to drop all flights at San Antonio International between now and the end of September. Without the waiver, Allegiant would be forced to fly at least once a week from the airport, he noted. That scenario is the likely outcome, said Brian Sumers, senior aviation business editor at travel industry website Skift. So far, the Department of Transportation has been stingy with exemptions. They may be forced to fly empty planes from San Antonio, he said. Randy Diamond covers aviation, energy and manufacturing in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Randy, become a subscriber. randy.diamond@express-news.net President Muhammadu Buhari Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with Accountant General, Ahmed Idris after he has lost his father, Idris Hussain. Hussain, 96, passed away on Wednesday. He has been buried according to Islamic rites. Henshaw Ogubike, the Director Information in the AGFs office, said the deceased was a businessman and a philanthropist. He hailed from Daneji Quarters in Kano Municipal Local Government Council of Kano State. President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with his son, Idris and the family. His condolence message was contained in a statement by presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu. Buhari said the late Hussain did not only live for himself, but also devoted his life to the service of humanity through philanthropic deeds. He noted his selflessness and passion for humanity are virtues for which he will be remembered for many years to come. Buhari appealed to other well-to-do members of society to borrow a leaf from the noble deeds of the late Idris Hussain. The president prayed to Allah to forgive the soul of the deceased and grant him paradise for his good deeds during his remarkable life on earth. The A-G was in the news two weeks ago after fire engulfed some offices in the Treasury House. Minister of State for Finance, Clem Agba, said no records were lost in the incident. Among the most urgent questions that the coronavirus shutdown raises is: What is the future of small businesses? For alcohol producers in particular, the possible answers to that question are already looking alarming. Last week, we reported on new data showing that California craft breweries have seen a 43% drop in sales on average since shelter-in-place orders began. Soon afterward, bleak figures arrived for the wine side: 97% of U.S. wineries are projected to lose 36% to 66% of annual revenue, according to Gomberg-Fredrickson Report editor Jon Moramarco. Its a cruel paradox that these types of businesses are suffering while alcohol sales overall surge. According to the latest Nielsen data, for the week ending April 11, retail wine sales were up 36.5% over the previous year, spirits up 32.4% and beer 19.4%. The winners here? Big brands, especially those available in grocery store chains. So it seemed like a good time to check in with St. George Spirits, one of the Bay Areas great craft distillers. I was pleased to hear some good(ish) news, for a change. The last five weeks have been like a really weird, bad dream, but weve been able to make the most of it, says master distiller Lance Winters. With gin sales down, he and a skeleton crew have shifted some of their energy toward aged spirits like whiskey. Staff who can work remotely are doing so, and they havent had to make any layoffs. Like many of its peers, the Alameda distillery has pivoted to hand sanitizer production, which it is donating to first responders in the East Bay and San Francisco at its own expense. But its still making the drinkable kind of booze too, and when Winters spoke with me he had just gotten off the bottling line. Before coronavirus, restaurants and bars represented about half of St. Georges sales, so that channel has been eliminated, but Winters says hes seen some uptick in retail sales, which helps. Still, my anticipation is were going to be looking at a deeper lull in the next month or so, Winters says. Winters main fear, he says, is the fate of local restaurants. The restaurants and the people who work in them are one of my favorite things about living in the Bay Area, he says. But when it comes to St. George, hes confident the distillery can weather this storm. Were a 38-year-old company, and we understand that business is cyclical in nature, he says. Youre going to have down times. What Im drinking Esther Mobley / The Chronicle Ive had St. George spirits in my bar cart for a long time, but it wasnt until this week that I really paid attention to St. George Terroir Gin (around $30 for 750ml; 45%), which is now among my favorite gins ever. When I asked Winters about its origins, he told me he was inspired by the landscape of his sons summer camp in the Bay Area hills. Im going to pick up this 7-year-old, and its been a long day, but with every breath Im smelling all these incredible smells in these hills, he recalls. Im thinking, Im a distiller. I capture smells. Why not capture those? Most gins are inspired merely by other gins, and its far too self-referential, Winters says. I wanted to start from a whole new vantage point the wilderness of California. Terroir Gin conveys that wilderness beautifully: Winters adds bay laurel, Douglas fir, wild fennel and coastal sage. Cinnamon approximates the smell of dusty, sunbaked trails, he says, and wok-roasted coriander gets at that chaparral aromatic. Are you salivating yet? On its own, the gin wafts that unmistakable Northern California wild freshness piney, citrusy, woodsy. It smells like a hike by the ocean. And that sensation feels uniquely comforting in this moment when were all confined to our homes: rooted more than ever in place, in a sense, and yet unable to access some of the spots in our own backyards that usually help us feel connected to the area where we live. That also makes Terroir Gin an excellent candidate for blending with herbs and seasonal produce. Winters likes to make a Bramble cocktail out of it, or an ungarnished dry martini. While playing around with it the other day, I made a version of the Aromatherapy cocktail, which St. George credits to bartender Jose A. Rivera from Jose Andres Washington, D.C. restaurant Barmini. It helped me pretend I was going for a hike. Recipe: Adapted Aromatherapy cocktail 1 ounces St. George Terroir Gin ounce blanc vermouth, such as Dolin Blanc ounce lemon juice ounce simple syrup 1 dash bitters 1 ounce soda water Mint, rosemary or other fresh herbs for garnish (optional) Instructions: Combine all ingredients except soda water in a shaker and shake vigorously with ice. Strain into a glass filled with ice and top with soda water. Garnish with herbs. What else Im writing Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Amanda Lucier / Special to the Chronicle 2019 In Oregon, debates over wine labeling and how insular the states wine industry should be have escalated in recent years. And California might be to blame for a lot of it. I took a long view at this still-unfolding saga in my column this week. Whats the recourse for independently owned bars that are forced to remain closed right now? GoFundMe. North Beach institutions like Specs and Vesuvio are turning to crowdfunding to stay alive, frustrated by the lack of other support. For The Chronicles Culture Desk section, I wrote an essay about the pleasure of going for walks while sheltering in place. What Im reading Eric Asimov considers Frances new natural wine certification. Will it result in more honest labeling, or could it stifle winemakers creativity? The embarrassing lawsuit that aired Bryant Family Vineyards financial woes has been dismissed, reports W. Blake Gray. (For more on that saga, heres what I wrote last year.) While publicly traded companies have received millions of dollars in federal aid, many small business owners have received nothing. An important story from my colleagues Roland Li and Shwanika Narayan. Nothing like a pandemic to galvanize a slew of new celebrity wine ventures! Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher have introduced Quarantine Wine, which appears to be a private label with Precept Wine and will benefit COVID-19 causes. Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony are leading virtual wine tastings on Instagram Live, and Aaron Goldfarb finds it endearing. Then theres Snoop Doggs new wine, set to debut this summer: Snoop Cali Red, made by Treasury Wine Estates 19 Crimes brand, which has nothing to do with the coronavirus at all. Drinking with Esther is a weekly newsletter from The Chronicles wine critic. Follow along on Twitter: @Esther_Mobley and Instagram: @esthermob The Supreme Court has fixed May 5, to deliver its verdict on the suit challenging governments decision to sign the United States- Ghana Military Cooperation Agreement. The apex court was expected to give its ruling today, but when the matter was called, Chief Justice Anin Yeboah, who presided, said: regrettably this matter would be adjourned to May 5 because the panel was unable to meet to have conference on the matter due to the partial lockdown. In the year 2018, Brogya Genfi, the Ashanti Regional Youth Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), sued the government over its defense cooperation agreement with the United States. He among other things prayed the Court to set aside the agreement on grounds that it was not in the national interest of Ghana, and contravenes articles (1 (2), 2, 11, 33, 125, 135, 140, 75 and 73 of the 1992 constitution. He is demanding a declaration that the word ratify used within the provisions of Article 75 of the 1992 constitution is a term of art which has a true meaning of incorporating international law and treaties into the domestic legal system of the Republic of Ghana and not prior approval or approval. Additionally, he is asking for a declaration that the ratification by Parliament of the supposed agreement between Ghana and the Government of United States of America on Defence Cooperation, the Status of United States Forces, and Access to and use of agreed facilities and areas in the Republic of Ghana (hereinafter referred to as Defence Co-operation Agreement) on March 24, 2018, when the supposed agreement had not been executed by the President or person authorized by the President as provided for by Article 75 of the 1992 constitution, is contrary to the said Article 75 of the 1992 constitution and same is null and void. Ms. Gloria Akuffo, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Dominic Nitiwul are the defendants in the suit. The suit came days after Parliament ratified the pact despite stiff opposition from the Minority. The Minority staged a walkout during the debate in Parliament and the Majority approved the pact. Following the ratification of the agreement, US troops will among other things be exempted from paying taxes on equipment that are brought to Ghana as well as use Ghanas radio spectrum for free. The Government said it was only respecting the existing Status of Forces Agreement with the US signed since 1998 and reviewed in 2015, under the previous National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration. But the Minority contended that the agreement as existed in the past did not have the same clauses like the current one that gives the US unlimited access to Ghanas military facilities. The United State Embassy in Ghana explained that it was only planning joint security exercises with Ghana, and that would require that US military personnel to be allowed access to Ghanas military facilities and that they were not going to build a military base. 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 Royal fans know that after high school, Prince William attended St. Andrews University where he met his future wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. But not many people are aware of what Williams brother, Prince Harry, did after completing high school. Did he go to a university before joining the armed forces or did he skip out on college life altogether? Read on to find out what Prince Harry did when he got out of boarding school. Prince Harry | Joe Giddins WPA Pool/Getty Images Did the Duke of Sussex go to college? Like William, Harry attended Eton College. Despite the name, Eton isnt an actual college; its a boarding school for boys aged 13 to 18. The younger prince completed his studies there in 2003. But following his graduation, Harry and the school came under fire when a teacher claimed she helped him cheat because he was a poor student. The palace denied Sarah Forsyths allegations that she did the work on an exam Harry used for his admission to his next school. The Duke of Sussex did not go the college route. The school Forsyth referred to in her accusation was Sandhurst, which is a royal military academy in England. Prince Harry completed his officer training in 2006 and was commissioned as an Army Officier in the Blues and Royals. Two years later, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Around that time it was revealed to the public that he was serving with the army in Helmand, Afghanistan. Clarence House then released a statement regarding the matter which read, Prince Harry is very proud to serve his country on operations alongside his fellow soldiers and to do the job he has been trained for. Harry served a total of 10 years in the military rising to the rank of Captain and did two tours of Afganistan. In 2016, Prince Harry began dating his future wife and many royal fans had questions about her education and background as well. Meghan Markle | Jeremy Selwyn WPA Pool/Getty Images What university Harrys wife, Meghan Markle, went to Meghan, Duchess of Sussex grew up in Los Angeles and attended Immaculate Heart High School, a private college preparatory school for girls. After graduation, Meghan enrolled in Northwestern University located in Evanston, Illinois. She majored in theatre and international studies. Being a biracial actress, Meghan had a sophisticated view and understanding of what it means to be perceived and treated differently, her former professor Harvey Young told Northwestern Now. She was quite aware of how people respond to race and was very clear about the need to think about the experiences of people who are not only biracial but also people of color. Meghan, of course, went on to become a full-time actress before she married the prince and retired. She and her husband left their roles as senior royals on March 31 but have continued to work with charities and support humanitarian causes. Only time will tell if acting is in the cards for her again in the future. Read more: Royal Fans Have No Idea How To Pronounce Prince Harry and Meghan Markles New Foundation Archewell Bridgetown, Barbados 22 April 2020: As the world continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, CARICOM rum producers have modified their production lines to play their part by producing alcohol and hand sanitiser and making donations of sanitation products. Across the Caribbean, contributions have been made to governments, institutions, and frontline healthcare workers and to support local communities impacted by the virus. Some of the initial actions taken by WIRSPA member-producers to assist their various countries include: Angostura in Trinidad & Tobago re-directed one of its product lines towards the creation of 70,000 bottles bulk and retail size sanitising liquid, which were donated to front line workers in the Ministry of Health and Ministry of National Security in Trinidad. A donation was also made to community-based organizations working with senior citizens and childrens homes and a shipment was sent to the prisons. The venture was part of the companys aim to combat the spread of the virus and to assist with meeting the demand for sanitisers, which are in short supply. re-directed one of its product lines towards the creation of 70,000 bottles bulk and retail size sanitising liquid, which were donated to front line workers in the Ministry of Health and Ministry of National Security in Trinidad. A donation was also made to community-based organizations working with senior citizens and childrens homes and a shipment was sent to the prisons. The venture was part of the companys aim to combat the spread of the virus and to assist with meeting the demand for sanitisers, which are in short supply. Antigua Distillery in Antigua & Barbuda has made 4,300 litres of 70% alcohol readily available to produce hand sanitiser and disinfectant. The company has further made donations to Emergency and Essential Workers in Antigua and Barbuda to include Health & Medical Personnel, EMS, the Police & National Guard, Her Majestys Prison, and other persons on the front line. In addition, the company has supported the Governments social initiative to provide care packages to the most affected in the society by providing the aforementioned sanitising products and bottled water to those in need. has made 4,300 litres of 70% alcohol readily available to produce hand sanitiser and disinfectant. The company has further made donations to Emergency and Essential Workers in Antigua and Barbuda to include Health & Medical Personnel, EMS, the Police & National Guard, Her Majestys Prison, and other persons on the front line. In addition, the company has supported the Governments social initiative to provide care packages to the most affected in the society by providing the aforementioned sanitising products and bottled water to those in need. Casa Brugal in the Dominican Republic provided hospitals and public centers with 150,000 litres of 70% denatured alcohol donated through the National Health Service (SNS), for the purpose of using it as a disinfectant to protect patients and health personnel on the front line of the crisis. Another WIRSPA member, Vinicola Del Norte, partnered with Casa Brugal and packaging companies Plastidel and Nesplas to package the alcohol and provide containers and boxes so that the donation could be delivered swiftly and safely. provided hospitals and public centers with 150,000 litres of 70% denatured alcohol donated through the National Health Service (SNS), for the purpose of using it as a disinfectant to protect patients and health personnel on the front line of the crisis. Another WIRSPA member, Vinicola Del Norte, partnered with Casa Brugal and packaging companies Plastidel and Nesplas to package the alcohol and provide containers and boxes so that the donation could be delivered swiftly and safely. Demerara Distillers in Guyana donated approximately 12,000 litres of Environ, an alcohol-based sanitising cleaner, to institutions around Guyana, such as senior citizens homes, orphanages, night shelters and prisons. In addition, 254 five-gallon bottles of Environ were given to the Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC), for distribution to public agencies such as health centers, public hospitals, post offices and police stations. donated approximately 12,000 litres of Environ, an alcohol-based sanitising cleaner, to institutions around Guyana, such as senior citizens homes, orphanages, night shelters and prisons. In addition, 254 five-gallon bottles of Environ were given to the Health Emergency Operation Centre (HEOC), for distribution to public agencies such as health centers, public hospitals, post offices and police stations. Grenada Distillers produced some 1,200 cases of sanitising solution that was made available to all supermarkets and pharmacies island wide, with free distribution to various senior citizens and childrens homes. In addition, in collaboration with the Government of Grenada, sanitiser was donated to the public transport /bus association, traffic department, prison and other law enforcement entities. Hand sanitisers were also provided for all GDL employees. produced some 1,200 cases of sanitising solution that was made available to all supermarkets and pharmacies island wide, with free distribution to various senior citizens and childrens homes. In addition, in collaboration with the Government of Grenada, sanitiser was donated to the public transport /bus association, traffic department, prison and other law enforcement entities. Hand sanitisers were also provided for all GDL employees. J. Wray and Nephew in Jamaica donated 50,000 litres of high strength alcohol and 20,000 litres of hand sanitizers to the national health service, through the National Health Fund (NHF) to ensure that public health facilities maintain international standards in responding to Jamaicans needs during this time. JWN also provided hand sanitizers to all staff, to first responders including police, fire brigade and vulnerable members of their communities including childrens home and infirmaries. JWN has committed US$37,000 to the Private Sector Organization of Jamaicas COVID-19 Jamaica Fund, which will provide support for the Jamaican Government and persons affected by COVID-19. donated 50,000 litres of high strength alcohol and 20,000 litres of hand sanitizers to the national health service, through the National Health Fund (NHF) to ensure that public health facilities maintain international standards in responding to Jamaicans needs during this time. JWN also provided hand sanitizers to all staff, to first responders including police, fire brigade and vulnerable members of their communities including childrens home and infirmaries. JWN has committed US$37,000 to the Private Sector Organization of Jamaicas COVID-19 Jamaica Fund, which will provide support for the Jamaican Government and persons affected by COVID-19. Mount Gay Distilleries in Barbados donated 2,000 bottles of hand sanitiser (WHO formula) to health officials, with a further estimated total of 28,000 bottles to be handed over for community outreach. Hand sanitisers were distributed to all staff with anti-COVID-19 procedures. in Barbados donated 2,000 bottles of hand sanitiser (WHO formula) to health officials, with a further estimated total of 28,000 bottles to be handed over for community outreach. Hand sanitisers were distributed to all staff with anti-COVID-19 procedures. National Rums of Jamaica has ramped up production to ensure all excess capacity can be utilized to produce alcohol for denaturing, to supply to local manufacturers and the Government to make sanitization products. Just over 10,000 liters of 95% denatured alcohol was donated to the National Health Fund, for use in the national fight against COVID-19. has ramped up production to ensure all excess capacity can be utilized to produce alcohol for denaturing, to supply to local manufacturers and the Government to make sanitization products. Just over 10,000 liters of 95% denatured alcohol was donated to the National Health Fund, for use in the national fight against COVID-19. Ron Barcelo in the Dominican Republic has allocated a significant part of their alcohol production to donations of ethyl alcohol and sanitising hand gel to support the efforts towards reducing the risk of contagion among the Dominican population from COVID-19. It also started a public campaign under the hashtag #juntosporrd (together for DR). A first donation of 32,000+ litres of 75% ethyl alcohol, in 145 tanks of 220 litres were distributed to 12 hospitals across the Dominican Republic, as identified and classified by the public health authorities. The first donation was followed by another 100,000 units of sanitising hand gel, distributed among the general population as part of a program lead by a worldwide recognized non-profit organization. Ultimately, a third donation of 100,000 bottles of sanitising hand gel is to be distributed among delivery service employees and mom and pops stores, some other medium and small retailers that are currently working within the rank of strictly indispensable, during the declared state of emergency. St. Lucia Distillers has produced a 70% ABV rubbing alcohol sanitiser which helped alleviate an island wide shortage of sanitiser for citizens. Some 20,000 bottles of bulk and retail sizes were donated to schools, the police and fire departments and to homes for the elderly, to help keep the most vulnerable on island safe. has produced a 70% ABV rubbing alcohol sanitiser which helped alleviate an island wide shortage of sanitiser for citizens. Some 20,000 bottles of bulk and retail sizes were donated to schools, the police and fire departments and to homes for the elderly, to help keep the most vulnerable on island safe. St. Vincent Distillers Ltd. produced Mt. Benticks Hand Sanitiser, a disinfectant solution developed using the WHOs guidelines to meet the demand for desperately needed hand sanitiser in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, A first donation, of some 13 cases, was donated to the countrys first responders, health care workers, police station, clinics and hospitals. produced Mt. Benticks Hand Sanitiser, a disinfectant solution developed using the WHOs guidelines to meet the demand for desperately needed hand sanitiser in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, A first donation, of some 13 cases, was donated to the countrys first responders, health care workers, police station, clinics and hospitals. Suriname Alcoholic Beverages N.V . made initial donations of up to 10,000 hand sanitisers to the Public Health Agency and other government institutions, with more donations projected in the coming days. Ready-to use disinfectant alcohol is also being sold at cost, to other local businesses active in the sale and distribution of hand sanitisers and detergents. Joint projects with local beer companies and other businesses are also underway to produce hand gels and hand sanitisers with a variety of fragrances. . made initial donations of up to 10,000 hand sanitisers to the Public Health Agency and other government institutions, with more donations projected in the coming days. Ready-to use disinfectant alcohol is also being sold at cost, to other local businesses active in the sale and distribution of hand sanitisers and detergents. Joint projects with local beer companies and other businesses are also underway to produce hand gels and hand sanitisers with a variety of fragrances. Travellers Liquors in Belize reconfigured its distillery and packaging facility into a production centre to manufacture the alcohol-based hand sanitiser according to the WHOs formula. Several batches were made totaling about 4800 litres in half gallon, litre and personal sizes, and donated to the public hospital, senior citizens homes, the Customs and Police Departments. Local organisations also benefited from the donations Hope Haven Food Bank, San Pedro Polyclinic and the San Pedro Isolation/Flu Unit. reconfigured its distillery and packaging facility into a production centre to manufacture the alcohol-based hand sanitiser according to the WHOs formula. Several batches were made totaling about 4800 litres in half gallon, litre and personal sizes, and donated to the public hospital, senior citizens homes, the Customs and Police Departments. Local organisations also benefited from the donations Hope Haven Food Bank, San Pedro Polyclinic and the San Pedro Isolation/Flu Unit. West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados has donated 55-gallon containers of hand sanitiser to the Barbados Government for use at fire stations, COVID isolation centers and the Customs department. It ramped up production to meet increased local demand from pharmacies, supermarkets and companies that produce retail products with surgical alcohol. West Indies Rum has been providing staff and contractors each with disinfectant weekly for their personal and family use, for the duration of this pandemic. West Indies Rum has also been exporting alcohol to neighbouring Caribbean countries since the start of the pandemic, to satisfy much needed supplies. has donated 55-gallon containers of hand sanitiser to the Barbados Government for use at fire stations, COVID isolation centers and the Customs department. It ramped up production to meet increased local demand from pharmacies, supermarkets and companies that produce retail products with surgical alcohol. West Indies Rum has been providing staff and contractors each with disinfectant weekly for their personal and family use, for the duration of this pandemic. West Indies Rum has also been exporting alcohol to neighbouring Caribbean countries since the start of the pandemic, to satisfy much needed supplies. Westerhall Estate Ltd. in Grenada shifted from rum to production of hand sanitiser. Approximately 14,000 bottles of the solution, in 250ml and 1.75L quantities, were produced and donated to prisons, medical facilities, police stations and assisted living homes. The 69% proof alcohol-based sanitiser will become a permanent fixture on the product line. WIRSPA Chairman, Komal Samaroo, These contributions are just an early snapshot of our engagement to date, with many producers committed to further steps in the days ahead. We are encouraging everyone to monitor their physical and mental health during this pandemic. We are also encouraging consumers that if they choose to drink, to do so responsibly and be careful not to use alcohol as a coping mechanism for stress and anxiety, especially while in isolation. 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe TransferWise, the global financial technology company, has announced a partnership with Berlin-based cloud banking platform Mambu. Customers of Mambu, challenger and traditional banks alike, can now seamlessly access TransferWises technology infrastructure directly through the Mambu platform to offer cheap, fast and transparent international money transfers at the real exchange-rate. Mambu enables financial institutions to build new banking and lending experiences with their cloud banking platform. Customers already include ABN AMROs New10, Santanders Asto, and major fintechs like N26 and OakNorth. The cloud banking platform offers many banking capabilities including current accounts, loans, deposits, mortgages and other financial products with a wide range of third-party services easily integrated into the platform. TransferWise for Banks is applicable for any company looking to provide its clients and customers with a cheaper, more convenient way to send money internationally. Mambu simply plugs into TransferWises free and fast API, available to any financial institution eager to offer their customers hassle-free international money transfers. As a result of this integration, Mambus clients are able to use an out-of-the-box integration without spending effort on implementing it, so it can focus efforts on building a convenient user experience for customers to send money abroad, knowing exactly how much they are paying without any hidden fees. Kristo Kaarmann, CEO & co-founder of TransferWise said: "Integrating TransferWise for Banks with Mambu is another major step towards our vision of establishing a new global payments infrastructure for banks around the world, and bringing our low cost, transparent service to anyone who needs it. Mambu is a game changer in a market that seeks modern solutions to the problems faced by traditional banks. "By plugging into our API, Mambu just became the worlds number one cloud banking provider to use for international payments. From their first day in business, banks gain significant advantages over their competitors, benefiting from the speed and convenience of TransferWises services. Ben Goldin, CTO/CPO of Mambu: TransferWise has revolutionised how money is moved across borders. We were impressed how TransferWise has established itself around the globe spanning infrastructure platform in a highly complex regulatory environment which aligns with our aims. We aim to offer best-in-class banking services through our cloud platform and are pleased that international banking is no longer of any concern for our customers. The partnership follows a succession of partnerships across the world already for TransferWise, including Monzo in the UK, N26, Bunq and LHV in Europe as well as Stanford FCU and Novo in the United States and UP in Australia. The company has also announced its partnership with BPCE, Frances second largest bank. -- Tradearabia News Service Generally speaking long term investing is the way to go. But along the way some stocks are going to perform badly. For example the Sunshine 100 China Holdings Ltd (HKG:2608) share price dropped 64% over five years. That is extremely sub-optimal, to say the least. It's down 1.4% in the last seven days. View our latest analysis for Sunshine 100 China Holdings There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One flawed but reasonable way to assess how sentiment around a company has changed is to compare the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price. During five years of share price growth, Sunshine 100 China Holdings moved from a loss to profitability. That would generally be considered a positive, so we are surprised to see the share price is down. Other metrics may better explain the share price move. In contrast to the share price, revenue has actually increased by 1.4% a year in the five year 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 image below shows how earnings and revenue have tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). SEHK:2608 Income Statement April 22nd 2020 This free interactive report on Sunshine 100 China Holdings's balance sheet strength is a great place to start, if you want to investigate the stock further. A Different Perspective Although it hurts that Sunshine 100 China Holdings returned a loss of 12% in the last twelve months, the broader market was actually worse, returning a loss of 17%. Of far more concern is the 18% p.a. loss served to shareholders over the last five years. While the losses are slowing we doubt many shareholders are happy with the stock. 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 Sunshine 100 China Holdings (at least 2 which shouldn't be ignored) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. Story continues Of course Sunshine 100 China Holdings 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 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. Investing in stocks inevitably means buying into some companies that perform poorly. Long term China ZhongDi Dairy Holdings Company Limited (HKG:1492) shareholders know that all too well, since the share price is down considerably over three years. So they might be feeling emotional about the 59% share price collapse, in that time. And over the last year the share price fell 33%, so we doubt many shareholders are delighted. Check out our latest analysis for China ZhongDi Dairy Holdings There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One imperfect but simple way to consider how the market perception of a company has shifted is to compare the change in the earnings per share (EPS) with the share price movement. During the three years that the share price fell, China ZhongDi Dairy Holdings's earnings per share (EPS) dropped by 2.6% each year. The share price decline of 26% is actually steeper than the EPS slippage. So it seems the market was too confident about the business, in the past. This increased caution is also evident in the rather low P/E ratio, which is sitting at 6.67. The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). SEHK:1492 Past and Future Earnings April 23rd 2020 It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on China ZhongDi Dairy Holdings's earnings, revenue and cash flow. A Different Perspective China ZhongDi Dairy Holdings shareholders are down 33% for the year, falling short of the market return. The market shed around 16%, no doubt weighing on the stock price. Shareholders have lost 26% per year over the last three years, so the share price drop has become steeper, over the last year; a potential symptom of as yet unsolved challenges. Although Baron Rothschild famously said to "buy when there's blood in the streets, even if the blood is your own", he also focusses on high quality stocks with solid prospects. 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. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 4 warning signs for China ZhongDi Dairy Holdings (of which 1 shouldn't be ignored!) you should know about. Story continues Of course China ZhongDi Dairy Holdings 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 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. Washington County Public Schools asking public for input on funding Washington County Public Schools is asking the public for input on how they should spend the American Rescue Plan money from the federal government. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 00:10:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LONDON, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Schools in Britain are unlikely to reopen until June 1 at the earliest, the leader of the head teachers' union said Thursday as Britain, like many other countries, is competing against time to develop vaccine amid a global fight against the novel coronavirus. Planning would need "to begin very soon" to hit the June 1 target, Geoff Barton, general secretary of the British Association of School and College Leaders, told the BBC. "We cannot see any realistic way that schools could be re-opened to more pupils before the second half of the summer term," Barton said. NO DATE FOR REOPENING SCHOOLS Chairing Sunday's Downing Street press briefing, Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson did not give a date for when schools could reopen, but set out five thresholds that must be met before that can happen. Those thresholds include the National Health Service's (NHS) ability to cope, daily death rates decreasing, reliability of data on rate of infection falling, testing capacity and personal protective equipment (PPE) are being managed with supply meeting demand, and lastly any changes the government makes will not risk a second peak of infections, he told reporters. "I can't give you a date when schools will reopen fully," he added, "there are currently no plans to have schools open over the summer period and we haven't been working on plans to have them open over the summer period." Meanwhile, the pupil attendance rate in education settings fell from 3.7 percent on the first day of partial school closures to 1.3 percent only one week later, according to a government analysis. Since April 6, which would have been the first week of the Easter break, the proportion of pupils attending has not risen above 0.9 percent, according to data from the Department for Education. The low figures have prompted concern among education unions and charities, who warned that many vulnerable children are not getting the support they need through school. VACCINE NOT AVAILABLE BY YEAR END A coronavirus vaccine is unlikely to be available before the end of the year, despite tens of millions of pounds being spent on trials in Britain. Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, poured cold water on hopes that an impending vaccine could be the way out of lockdown. He said some social distancing measures would need to stay in place for the rest of the year, until there was a vaccine or drug which reduced the severity of COVID-19. Oxford University has been given the green light to start human trials on Thursday. But despite this promising step, Whitty said until a vaccine was found Britain will have to rely on social distancing measures. "Until we have those, and the probability of having those any time in the next calendar year are incredibly small and I think we should be realistic about that, we're going to have to rely on other social measures, which of course are very socially disruptive as everyone is finding at the moment," he added. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Wednesday that Britain is "at the peak" of the COVID-19 outbreak while the rules of social distancing "is making a difference". Another 616 people who tested positive for COVID-19 have died in hospitals in Britain as of Wednesday afternoon, bringing the total number of coronavirus-related deaths to 18,738, the Department of Health and Social Care said Thursday. TRACING VIRUS THROUGH POPULATION Britain is carrying out a large-scale coronavirus infection and antibody test study involving up to 300,000 people to track the spread of COVID-19 in the general population, according to the Department for Health and Social Care. Led by the department and the Office for National Statistics, the study will help improve understanding about the current rate of infection and how many people are likely to have developed antibodies to the virus. In total, 25,000 people will take part in the pilot phase of the survey, with plans to extend it to up to around 300,000 over the next 12 months. Adults from around 1,000 households will also provide blood samples monthly for the next 12 months. "This survey will help to track the current extent of transmission and infection in the UK, while also answering crucial questions about immunity as we continue to build up our understanding of this new virus," said Hancock. "Together, these results will help us better understand the spread of the virus to date, predict the future trajectory and inform future action we take, including crucially the development of ground-breaking new tests and treatments," he added. Enditem We are not providing an estimate of that money, Azar said. He asserted there is more than sufficient money to help with the expense of uninsured patients. The amounts he specified add up to slightly more than $70 billion of the $100 billion, but he did not give figures for a few other pots in that fund: money potentially needed for future coronavirus hot spots and covid-19 relief aid for nursing homes, dentists, and doctors and others whose only insurance payments come through Medicaid. SpaceX has launched another big batch of Starlink satellites, the low Earth orbit spacecraft that will provide connectivity for its globe-spanning high-bandwidth broadband internet network. This brings the total number of Starlink satellites on orbit to 422, though the company plans to de-orbit two of those (the first two prototypes launched) shortly. Already, SpaceX is the largest private satellite operator in existence by a wide and growing margin. It's also managed to keep up the frequent pace of its Starlink launches despite the global COVID-19 crisis, with its last launch taking place March 18. In total, it has flown four such missions since the start of the year, just four months into 2020. The company has good reason to want to keep up that aggressive pace: Each launch brings it closer to the eventual launch of the Starlink broadband service that the satellites will provide the network backbone for. SpaceX wants that network to be live with coverage available in Canada and the Northern U.S. by sometime later this year, and because of the way its approach works, with small satellites orbiting much closer to Earth than traditional geostationary internet satellites and handing off the connection to one another as they pass the coverage area, they need a whole lot of them to provide stable, reliable, low-latency connections for consumers and businesses. Starlink aims to expand its service to customers globally next year, which will require even more launches and a much larger constellation. Ultimately, the company has filed documents indicating it could launch between 12,000 and 42,000 small satellites to build out the network to its eventual state, depending on demands and performance. SpaceX CEO and founder Elon Musk detailed some of the measures that the company is taking to address complaints that its Starlink satellites are interfering with Earth-based observation of the night sky. The satellites produce lights and can present as light streams in astrophotography, and astronomers argue they interfere with stellar observation and research through Earth-based telescopes and observatories. Story continues Today's launch also included a recovery attempt for the Falcon 9 booster rocket used, which flew before on SpaceX's Demo-1 Crew Dragon mission, as well as twice more in 2019. The Falcon 9 landed as planned on SpaceX's drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, hopefully marking a return to form after a couple of Falcon 9 booster landings went awry earlier this year. SpaceX will also attempt to recover the fairing halves used to protect the Starlink satellite cargo during the launch, though not by using nets to catch them as they fall back to Earth slowed by parachutes, due to system upgrades. Instead, it'll be looking to fish them out of the water, and we'll update this post with those results, when and if SpaceX makes them available. The company is looking to re-use fairings more frequently, and the net capture process makes it easier to refurbish them for additional use. This is another cost-saving measure as SpaceX continues to strive towards full launch vehicle reusability with its Starship spacecraft, now in development. The Kem Kem beds in Morocco are famous for the spectacular fossils found there, including at least four large-bodied non-avian theropods, several large-bodied pterosaurs and crocodilians. Now, in a new geology and paleontology monograph, that reveals much more about the famous Kem Kem beds in Morocco, Dr. Nizar Ibrahim from the University of Detroit Mercy, Prof. Paul Sereno from the University of Chicago, and a team of international scholars from the United States, Europe and Morocco, have put together a comprehensive story that is published in the open-access journal ZooKeys. The aim of the new research is to provide the international community with an in-depth review of the rocks and fossils of the region. It reviews the geology and paleontology of this famous but surprisingly understudied area, describing and formally naming the strata and summarizing all of the preserved life forms, from fragile plants and insects to massive dinosaurs. The monograph also paints a picture of life as it once was some 95 million years ago by describing the paleoenvironments of the region, and the unusual predator-dominated fauna. In 1996 Prof. Sereno and colleagues introduced the informal term "Kem Kem beds" for this fossil-rich escarpment. In this monograph, the authors review the original tri-level proposal for the region by French geologist Choubert (his informal "trilogie mesocretacee") and propose the Kem Kem Group for the entire package of rock with two new names for the dinosaur-bearing layers based on the richest fossil sites, the Gara Sbaa and Douira formations. The region is famous for the prodigious fossils found in all of these units, many derived from commercial fossil collecting, which obscures the precise location and level of the specimens. The monograph is the first work to pinpoint where many of the most important finds were made. Over the last 25 years in particular, paleontologists have brought to light a diverse array of new vertebrate fossils including at least four large-bodied non-avian theropods, several large-bodied pterosaurs, crocodilians, turtles and an array of sharks and bony fish. To put a comprehensive story together on the Kem Kem, the authors of the monograph visited collections of Kem Kem fossils around the world and led many expeditions to the region. Fossil and geological data reviewed in the monograph is derived from a number of different sources. A University of Chicago-led major expedition in 1995 generated a wealth of geological and paleontological data, as did later expeditions involving teams from the University College Dublin, the University of Portsmouth, the Faculte des Sciences Ain Chock, the Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, the University Cadi Ayyad, the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale (Milan), and the University of Detroit Mercy. One of the key features of the Kem Kem assemblage is the presence of several large-bodied theropods, a group of dinosaurs that includes all of the meat-eaters. Most famous among these from the Kem Kem include the sail-backed Spinosaurus and the sabre-toothed Carcharodontosaurus. Most fossils in the Kem Kem region are discovered as isolated fragmentary pieces weathered from sandstones. Only four partial dinosaur skeletons or skulls have been recovered, which include the long-necked sauropod Rebbachisaurus garasbae and the theropods Deltadromeus agilis, Carcharodontosaurus saharicus and Spinosaurus aegyptiacus. These Kem Kem theropods are among the largest known dinosaurian predators on record reaching adult body lengths in excess of 12 meters. "Given the continued input of new specimens and the continuing expansion of paleontological research, we predict that diversity in the Kem Kem Group will increase substantially in the coming decades. Based on our review of existing collections, this increase will include scores of taxa from the pond locality Oum Tkout including nonvertebrates, such as plants, insects, and ostracods, as well as an array of actinopterygian fish. We also anticipate a continuing trickle of new terrestrial vertebrates that will be named on better-preserved specimens that are diagnostic at present only at the familial level, including turtles and various kinds of archosaurs. As nearly half of the reptilian families listed are indeterminate, better-preserved specimens will offer future opportunities to recognize new reptilian genera," share the authors. "In summary, the Kem Kem assemblage of non-vertebrates and vertebrates is likely to continue to show dramatic increase in diversity in the coming decades. Nonetheless, the array of taxa currently known, which extends from plants across a range of aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates, is sufficiently mature to allow a summary of the vertebrate assemblage and a discussion of its paleoecological context," conclude the researchers. In his earlier research, a famous paleontologist from the University of Chicago Prof. Paul Sereno has described many outstanding dinosaur discoveries, including new Cretaceous crocodilians from the Sahara and two new fanged vegetarian dinosaur dwarfs (called heterodontosaurids). Selling Irans oil in defiance of an American embargo was already a risky and complicated venture for Iranian brokers. Then came the precipitous plunge in prices because of the global coronavirus clampdown, which has shriveled demand. At first, Iranian brokers and many others in the country watched with amusement as U.S. oil prices briefly plunged below zero on Monday meaning sellers had to pay buyers to take the oil away. Then on Tuesday the price of Brent crude oil, a benchmark blend that more directly affects Irans price, dropped to $20 a barrel, the lowest level in nearly two decades. By Wednesday, Iranian oil brokers, who already sell at a discount to evade American sanctions, were nervously calibrating how far prices could drop before they would lose money. The oil markets collapse this week was another unanticipated blow for Iran, where the authorities have struggled to contain the worst coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East while keeping afloat an economy that has long relied on oil exports but has been hampered by American sanctions. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 14:53:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KANDAHAR, Afghanistan, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Four militants including a Taliban key Commander Mullah Habib have been killed as the government forces targeted a hideout of the insurgent group in Zari district of the southern Kandahar province on Wednesday night, said an army statement released here Thursday. Three more militants were wounded in the raid, the statement added without providing more details. Describing Mullah Habib as a "notorious insurgent" the statement noted that Habib's physical elimination could prove a major setback to the Taliban militants in Kandahar and its vicinity. The security forces would continue to chase the militants elsewhere in the country, the statement further said. Taliban outfit has not made comments yet. Enditem Researchers at Drexel University's C. & J. Nyheim Plasma Institute are modifying an air sterilization system they created to combat the threat of anthrax attacks post-9-11 in hopes it can now help to ward off COVID-19. "As public health research reveals how the virus can persist and be transmitted through the air in indoor environments, it will become increasingly important for engineers to develop air sterilization technology that can neutralize or remove it," said Alexander Fridman, PhD, director of the Nyheim Plasma Institute and a professor in Drexel's College of Engineering, who is a leading National Science Foundation-supported effort to develop technology that can neutralize the novel coronavirus. The project, supported by a $200,000 NSF grant, is one of the first to look at how to eliminate the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the environment. Due to an urgent need for technology like this to reduce the threat of transmitting the virus in indoor public spaces, like hotels, grocery stores and hospitals, the NSF is hoping to leverage preexisting decontamination technology for rapid deployment in the next six to eight months. Fridman, who pioneered the development of cold plasma technology at the Nyheim Plasma Institute over the last two decades, suggests that its results in food and water treatment applications - and a similar expedited effort amid the anthrax scare in the early 2000s - make it a prime candidate for this new challenge. Plasma treatment technology uses electric pulses to excite the particles in the air, creating a molecular maelstrom can be wielded to blast apart chemical contaminants and bacteria. Fridman specializes in non-thermal, or cold, plasma which, in contrast to its better-known kin lightning, does not generate heat, so it's safer to handle - and much easier to control. A cold plasma filter designed by Fridman's team in 2010 proved to be more than 99% successful at removing anthrax spores from the air. Their prototype was scaled up by Canada's department of transportation for use on vehicles before the terrorist scare subsided. The filter uses a grid of wires, called a dielectric barrier grating discharge system, to generate the electrical pulses necessary to produce a screen of plasma. Forcing air through the grid would theoretically be able to deactivate viral particles. With small adjustments to the geometry of their previous design, Fridman believes this could be deployed in home and industrial HVAC units. "Air sterilization, filtration and treatment will become more of a priority as we look to reopen businesses and have people spending time in indoor public spaces," said Danil Dobrynin, PhD, associate director of the Nyheim Plasma Institute who is a co-investigator on the project. "Our technology has been very successful at neutralizing bacteria and anthrax spores in these environments. While viruses are smaller than bacteria, they are subject to some of the same structural vulnerabilities - especially coronaviruses. So we believe our technology could easily be adapted to target SARS-CoV-2 with a similar efficacy." Fridman's team is planning to have a prototype ready for testing in the next two months. The project is part of an expanded research thrust of Drexel's Center for High Pressure Plasma Energy, Agriculture and Biomedical Technologies collaboration with George Washington University and the University of Michigan, to explore cold plasma for food, surface and air sterilization. ### In addition to Fridman and Dobrynin, Alex Rabinovich, PhD; associate director of the Nyheim Plasma Institute, is also participating in this research. Half a million Australians have taken money out of their superannuation to get through the coronavirus crisis. Under new rules to help people through the crisis, Australians can take $20,000 out of their retirement funds tax-free. Eligible applicants can take $10,000 of their super between 20 April and 30 June 2020 and a further $10,000 until September 24. On Thursday, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg revealed that 456,000 applications to cash out have been approved by the ATO. The average amount of each withdrawal is around $8,000, totalling $3.8billion, he said. Australians have been warned that taking cash out of their superannuation is a 'terrible idea' Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg arrive for a press conference regarding coronavirus on 23 April The Treasurer also revealed that 275,000 businesses have already signed up to be part of the JobKeeper scheme after applications opened on Monday. He said that $3billion has been handed out to 177,000 businesses as part of the government's business grant scheme. It was also revealed that 6.8million people have received the government's $750 handouts, totalling $5.1billion. Experts have warned that taking money out of your superannuation should only be done in absolute emergencies. Graham Cooke of financial comparison website Finder told Daily Mail Australia: 'Taking cash out of your super is a terrible idea. 'For some people it will be necessary in an emergency situation - but they should only take the minimum that they need.' This is because retirement savings grow cumulatively over time so any money taken out now may significantly reduce the value of your super when you retire, he said. Mr Cooke said the benefits of the cash being tax free are outweighed by the likely loss over time from cashing out. Under new rules to help people through the coronavirus crisis, Australians can take $20,000 out of their retirement funds tax-free over the next two years Any money taken out now may significantly reduce the value of your super when you retire, experts have warned He also warned that now is a bad time to be cashing out because the stock market has been hammered by the coronavirus crisis. 'Supers have been heavily hit because of the downward movement of the stock market so now is not a good time to be removing cash,' he said. Super funds are typically 50 per cent shares, 20 per cent bonds and five per cent cash with the rest invested in 'alternatives' that typically include infrastructure assets like toll roads, airports and commercial office buildings. Last month research group SuperRatings estimated balanced super funds, mainly invested in growth assets, had dived by 10 to 12 per cent since the share market peaked on February 20. SuperRatings CEO Kirby Rappell also warned against cashing out. 'If we look back over the past 12 years typically we've found that is has not been a great bet the move out into cash,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'People need to be cautious generally to switch into cash.' SuperRatings calculated that $100,000 invested in cash during the low point of the GFC would be worth $90,000 now because prices have increased. But $100,000 invested in a balanced super fund at the same point in 2008 would be worth $121,000. S Vaidhyasubramaniam and Amrith Bhargav By Indian University is a complex amalgam of society, history and public policy that is supposed to describe functional periodisations, educational initiatives, reforms and social consequences with global influences. The evolutionary making of Universitas Indica is both introspective and exploratory as it intertwines and cross-fertilises the ideas and philosophies from India and the West, constituting the Indic Bharat or intellectual construct of India as it is known today. Indias educational heritage runs deep in the localised models of education, theoretical and skill-based training, and was the Beautiful Tree that Mahatma Gandhi spoke about at Cheetham Hall. This was supplanted by the Colonial University, an exclusive adaptation of the European Model in Asian colonies. Steeped in Greco-Roman emphasis on logic, science, philosophy, law, literature and medicine, the Colonial University pushed India into modernity as perceived in Europe and perfected the mission of Anglicisation, making it the ultimate cultural conceit of the Edwardian Age. The privileged few to receive this brand of education became more westernised than the West itself. The Nationalist University, a unique refrain churned out of Indias ever-appealing saga against colonial shackles, was Indias moment to realise that it was nobodys business to dictate on domestic university education, and that it was purely a nationalist affair. This current manifested in the landmark initiatives of Swadeshi colleges like the BHU, IITs, etc., which became the educational edifice for self-sufficiency as a precept of indigenous discoveries and cultural awakening. This also doubled as a rising symbolism for the nationalist intelligentsia, where the politics of post-independent India was dabbled in its infancy. The Public University, a post-colonial development based on the prevalent mores of global ideologies, was the product of destiny. It was driven by the socio-economic duopoly of the Cold War era that ensured the encompassing canvas of higher education across multiple streams and learners, a much-needed one that intellectually triggered critical discourses on law, society, economy and a revised historiography. The resulting debates and discussions till date continue to be a merry-go-round with its own rounds of victory and loss, unable to decide not only what is right but also who is right. The Liberal University, a centre-piece of the globalisation era, was the prodigal child of the Colonial and Public University models, with a trans-Atlantic current viz., the American influence, with its resource-rich infrastructure and trans-disciplinary themes that served an academic cocktail of sorts. Gaining freedom of thought and artful expression, it knew the dynamics of shifting ideologies and came to mediate in the shaping of public policy at every level. The progressive participation of private institutions came in the late 1980s, when there was a convergence of state and private interests in the reality that university education was to be re-localised in private initiative and globalised in content and curricula. These independent institutions, each marked by their own systems of educational philosophy, became the panorama of Indias educational map, where student-centric innovation found utterance in the neutral spheres of personalised attention to students. This converted the Indian middle class into a globally mobile diaspora, redeeming the nationalist pledge for self-reliant education and the commitment to ensuring global connectedness in the nations growth. The Indian University this far is hence an evolutionary trajectory delivering multiple outcomes and outputcreating administrators for government; employees and professionals for heavy industry, agriculture, law and medicine; teachers, poets, artists and thinkers to redefine the 21st century as truly Indian. Its transformation from a cluster of regional colleges based on mass production orientation and its unbridgeable divergence with core academic pursuits to a multi-disciplinary, multi-interest, diverse conglomerate of students and teachers is still a never-ending journey constantly at cross-roads with shifting goalposts. However, this remarkable voyage in higher education was a matter of both providence and policy consideration. Institutionally, just as the Indian University negotiates a crucially contested via media between online and offline methodologies of pedagogy in the post-Covid-19 phase, it flourishes as the oldest surviving exemplar of diversity with reciprocal accommodation, culture with graded compromises, nationalism with global meaning, research with employable relevance and teaching with natural reverence in service. The new addition to the ever-mushrooming brick and mortar is the gargantuan and voluminous bits and bytes. The Covidian conundrum has disrupted policymakers, who are confronted with an avalanche of ideas and solutions that strike as an online tsunami to deceivingly wash away the foundational structures that form the intellectual contours of Indias brick and mortar institutions. Will teacher-student ratio, citation index, etc., be replaced by bandwidth-headcount ratio and digitisation index? A clear answer is not possible but a possible answer is clearit has to be a mixed method that doesnt close Indias educational edifice but opens Indias online orifice. Thanks to the coronavirus, the idea of offline plus online education is spreading virally. Amrith Bhargav Advocate, Madras High Court S Vaidhyasubramaniam Vice-Chancellor, SASTRA Deemed University (Email ID: vaidhya@sastra.edu) GMO maize and other GMO foods are not harmful at all. It is properly synthesised scientifically. Modifying that DNA is meant to improve biological material. The whole purpose is to increase productivity, produce high quality plus increased yield per hectare. It is not proven that GMO foods are bad and it is one of the myths that have been talked about a lot. Americans have been eating GMO foods for a while, so have South Africans. We need to exploit such technologies to produce our own and stop importing. This is what Africa, and Zimbabwe needs, said Professor Chetsanga. A Deputy Commissioner of Police attached to the Zone 5 headquarters in Benin, Edo State, Francis Bissong, has died of COVID-19. It was gathered from the Edo State Police Command that Bissong, a lawyer from Cross River State, fell ill on April 14. The state Commissioner of Police, Lawan Jimeta, confirmed Bissongs death to The PUNCH but said contrary to social media reports, Bissong was in Zone 5 headquarters and not in the state command. He stated, Yes, he died yesterday (Tuesday) and that was very unfortunate but he was not in the state command, he was in Zone 5 headquarters in Benin. Following the death of the police officer, the Zone 5 headquarters has been thrown into mourning. We are in a mourning mood right now, a police source said on Wednesday, describing the late deputy commissioner of police as a man vast in knowledge. The state Commissioner for Health, Patrick Okundia, who also confirmed the death of Bissong, said he died on Tuesday before he could get to an isolation centre. Okundia said, We had an unfortunate situation of a 57-year-old police officer who passed on yesterday. The story is not very clear how he got the infection but he developed some illnesses. Initially, there was no evidence of suspicion for coronavirus disease but when the symptoms started getting worse he was treated at the police clinic. He explained that about two days before his death, the state surveillance team was called to have a look at him. He added that in the process, his sample was taken and it was sent to the laboratory while he continued with his drugs. He was placed on self-isolation, however, the result came out and it was positive. By the time we could get to his house to move him to an isolation centre, we discovered that the man had died that same day. It is really unfortunate and the result came after the man had died, Okundia stated. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates CAIRO (Reuters) - Last April, medical student Mohamed Amashah stood on Cairo's Tahrir Square and held up a sign saying "Freedom for prisoners". He was detained. Now awaiting trial for more than a year on charges of misusing social media and helping a terrorist group, the Egyptian-American fears the spread of the coronavirus in Egypt's crowded jails. Last month Amashah, who suffers from an autoimmune disease and asthma, started a hunger strike to draw attention to his plight, his parents said. He is one of 114,000 prisoners in Egypt, according to a recent U.N. estimate. Egypt, which has a population of 100 million, has reported 3,490 cases of the new coronavirus, including 264 deaths. Top officials have expressed confidence they can contain the outbreak through measures including quarantine, a night curfew in place since March 25, and public information campaigns. But since the country's first case on Feb. 14, relatives and rights groups have called for the release of detainees, including political prisoners swept up in a crackdown on dissent under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Some rights groups, lawyers, and current and former prisoners say inmates are often kept in cramped, dirty cells and lack running water, adequate ventilation and healthcare: conditions ripe for the rapid transmission of disease. While countries including Iran, Germany and Canada have freed prisoners in an effort to contain the coronavirus epidemic, Egypt has given no public sign it will do so. The government press centre forwarded to Reuters an Interior Ministry statement on Thursday saying that it was taking all necessary preventative and protective measures for prison staff, ensuring cleaning, healthcare and testing inside places of detention. The government also suspended family visits to prisons on March 10 to limit risk of infection, though some families say the measure makes it harder for them to deliver supplies including soap and medicine. Story continues The interior ministry said it allowed for prisoners' belongings to be brought in, and the exchange of messages. In November, authorities organised tightly supervised tours of Cairo's sprawling Tora prison complex, where former President Mohamed Mursi collapsed and died in a prison courtroom last year, and where Amashah is held. The tours followed a report by U.N. experts that said that poor prison conditions may have led directly to Mursi's death and was putting thousands more at severe risk. PRISON PROTEST A hunger strike started on several wards at Tora in late February in protest at poor conditions, a lack of information about the new coronavirus and a failure to disinfect cells, said a human rights lawyer in contact with inmates. The lawyer added that the hunger strike had ended after about a week when prison officials began letting in more medicine, clothes and letters. An Interior Ministry spokesman did not respond to phone calls or Whatsapp messages asking for comment on the lawyer's account. Amashah continued his protest and was moved to the prison hospital, his father Abdel-Megeed told Reuters, saying he feared his son could suffer the same fate as Moustafa Kassem, an Egyptian-American who died in prison in Egypt in January after staging a liquid-only hunger strike. "Will they leave him until he dies? I know nothing about him, I am unable to even talk to him to tell him to stop," said Amashah's mother, Naglaa Abdel Fattah. The Interior Ministry spokesman could not be reached for comment on Amashah's case. The U.S. embassy in Cairo declined to comment directly on Amashah, but said it had requested permission to speak with an unspecified number of incarcerated American citizens by phone until visits resumed. On April 10, a group of bipartisan U.S. senators sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo asking him to call for the release of U.S. prisoners, citing the risk from the new coronavirus. The letter mentioned Amashah and 14 other prisoners including two more in Egypt and others in countries including Saudi Arabia, Iran and Syria. The U.S. State Department declined to comment on the letter specifically. David Schenker, Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, said in February that detained Americans came up "with some frequency" in dialogue with Egypt. 'STATE OF PANIC' Alaa Abdel Fattah, a leading activist in Egypt's 2011 uprising held in remand detention at Tora on charges including spreading false news, belonging to a terrorist organisation and misusing social media, also started a hunger strike on April 13, his relatives said. "While Egypt enters its third week of curfew, family members on both sides of the prison walls are being kept in a state of panic," they said in a statement. The Interior Ministry did not respond to a request for comment on Abdel Fattah's situation. Abdel Fattah's mother, sister and aunt were briefly detained last month after staging a rare public protest to highlight the risk of the coronavirus in prisons. Rights researchers fear guards could bring the virus to prisons and said there had been several suspected cases in Tora and at Wadi al-Natroun prison, northwest of Cairo. Reuters was unable to confirm independently whether any prisoners had tested positive. Two prison sector sources said 14 suspected cases in three prisons had all tested negative. Conditions at prisons vary. One detainee contacted by Reuters said he feared the spread of the virus because physical distancing was impossible at his Cairo prison, where the 15 inmates in his cell each had about 0.5 square metres (5.3 square feet) - not an unusual level of overcrowding, according to researchers. The International Committee of the Red Cross recommends minimum accommodation space globally of 3.4 metres squared (36.6 square feet) for each detainee. In March, as Egypt began to see its first clusters of cases, information about the illness inside prisons was restricted, the detainee and a recently released detainee said. At police stations, where men rounded up for breaching the night curfew or the closure of mosques have been held overnight before being fined and released, overcrowding can be worse than in prison, said the former detainee, who was required to report to a Cairo police station once a week. (Reporting by Cairo bureau; Additional reporting by Humeyra Pamuk in Washington; Editing by Mike Collett-White) Gov. Noem lauds state economy, but big legislative fights are coming Noems speech flowed between business and economic development, lifestyle issues and social issues that were united by their conservative themes. The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search of an Ocean County man who disappeared after taking his rowboat into the Toms River before strong storms swept through the area on Tuesday. Matthew Conway, 67, of Ocean Gate, was last seen on security cameras shortly before 10 a.m. as he got on the small vessel at a local beach and rowed away. His wife reported him missing a few hours later, according to New Jersey State Police. State troopers searching by air and by boat discovered the lifejacket on Wednesday. Severe wind and thunderstorms moved through Ocean County about 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. Nearby Toms River was among the places hardest hit as the storm moved through. With the discovery of the lifejacket, a decision was made by command to suspend the search, Edward Wargo, spokesman for the coast guard, said Thursday. If we get any new information about the case, well of course reopen the search and the investigation, Wargo said. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Coast Guards Sector Delaware Bay Command Center at 215-271-4942. Matthew Conway, 67, was last seen shortly before 10 a.m. Tuesday getting into a rowboat in Ocean County, hours before a storm hit.U.S. Coast Guard Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Oregon Health & Science University will cut the salaries of its non-union employees -- as much as 40% for the top-paid executives -- to cope with what President Danny Jacobs calls a financial challenge of historic proportions. OHSU officials predict that revenue over the next 28 months will fall as much as $1.4 billion short of expectations due to COVID-19, the killer virus sweeping the globe. Overall, the compensation reductions should average about 10% The worst public health emergency in 100 years has crushed Oregons health care sector. While Oregon hospitals seek a $200 million bailout from the state, some of the largest physician clinics in the state have laid off 80% to 90% of their employees after suffering income declines of up to 90%. Now, they must deal with a customer base wracked by huge unemployment, the loss of health insurance, and a fear of entering a hospital due the highly contagious virus. Hospitals got some good news Thursday morning when Gov. Kate Brown said she would rescind the ban on elective surgeries on May 1. Her March order wiped out much of the revenue for rural hospitals. That order was intended to allow hospitals to concentrate on an expected crush of COVID-19 patients. That surge never materialized in the high volumes originally projected. Still, with the economy now in deep recession due to COVID-19 stay-home orders, theres no telling when operations can return to normal. The sprawling OHSU campus of hospitals, clinics, professional schools and laboratories is one of the economic drivers of the Portland area. It employs 18,000 and has generated more than $3 billion a year in revenue. After years of strong performance, the organization started bleeding red ink this spring. OHSU enjoyed monthly operating income of about $11.5 million through the first eight months of the year. But then in March, as COVID-19 set in, OSHU lost $24 million. In April, the first full month of COVID-19 operations, losses are expected to approach $70 million, said Lawrence Furnstahl, OHSUs chief financial officer. Other Oregon hospitals are also suffering, particularly those in rural parts of the state. In a recent presentation to legislators, the hospitals estimated they suffered collective operating losses of $200 million in March alone. They figure their revenue is down $13 million per day from pre-COVID-19 days. Some smaller hospitals, which entered the COVID-19 disaster with minimal financial reserves, are already facing cash crunches. Four Oregon hospitals will have less than 30 days of cash on hand by the end of April, the hospitals told lawmakers. The hospitals are seeking $200 million in financial assistance from the state. OHSU pledged to its employees in March that it would not lay off any employees through June regardless of any modifications in operations resulting from the pandemic. Beyond June, absent a major change in the financial outlook, Jacobs wouldnt rule out job cuts. For now, the institution is attempting to cut expenses, like capital spending, certain services and salaries. Anyone not represented by a union who makes more than $50,000 a year will get a pay cut. Under the formula adopted by OHSU, the more employees earn, the bigger their cut. Executives will get the biggest decreases, with all bonuses, merit increases, and other add-ons being eliminated. We wanted to spread the financial impact in an equitable way, Jacobs said. Jacobs compensation will be cut by 40%. With a total 2021 pay package expected to have been more than $1.5 million, his compensation could be reduced by $619,744. How deep the financial wounds will be at OHSU depends on how long it takes to resume normal operations. That, of course, depends on the ongoing impact of COVID-19. If the cases keep coming, hospitals will likely have no choice but remain in their current emergency footing. But that doesnt seem to be happening. The surge of cases never came close to early predictions and now seems to be trending downward. There are other wild cards as well, Furnstahl said. A chronic shortage of personal protective equipment worn by healthcare workers to shield them from infectious diseases remains a problem. The shortage of COVID-19 testing could also limit the resumption of normal operations. And then theres peoples fear of COVID-19. Hospitals across the country have experienced big declines in emergency room use, which they attribute to concern about the virus. The question is, how many potential patients would delay going back to the hospital even after theyre allowed to, Jacobs said. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Last week, you might have seen that Community Bank System, Inc. (NYSE:CBU) released its first-quarter result to the market. The early response was not positive, with shares down 2.8% to US$58.64 in the past week. The result was positive overall - although revenues of US$149m were in line with what the analysts predicted, Community Bank System surprised by delivering a statutory profit of US$0.77 per share, modestly greater than expected. Earnings are an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance, look at what the analysts are forecasting for next year, and see if there's been a change in sentiment towards the company. So we collected the latest post-earnings statutory consensus estimates to see what could be in store for next year. View our latest analysis for Community Bank System NYSE:CBU Past and Future Earnings April 23rd 2020 After the latest results, the seven analysts covering Community Bank System are now predicting revenues of US$599.1m in 2020. If met, this would reflect a modest 2.5% improvement in sales compared to the last 12 months. Statutory earnings per share are expected to plunge 20% to US$2.57 in the same period. In the lead-up to this report, the analysts had been modelling revenues of US$609.8m and earnings per share (EPS) of US$2.98 in 2020. The analysts seem to have become more bearish following the latest results. While there were no changes to revenue forecasts, there was a substantial drop in EPS estimates. It might be a surprise to learn that the consensus price target was broadly unchanged at US$62.50, with the analysts clearly implying that the forecast decline in earnings is not expected to have much of an impact on valuation. 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 Community Bank System at US$70.00 per share, while the most bearish prices it at US$54.00. Still, with such a tight range of estimates, it suggeststhe analysts have a pretty good idea of what they think the company is worth. Story continues Another way we can view these estimates is in the context of the bigger picture, such as how the forecasts stack up against past performance, and whether forecasts are more or less bullish relative to other companies in the industry. We would highlight that Community Bank System's revenue growth is expected to slow, with forecast 2.5% increase next year well below the historical 11%p.a. growth over the last five years. Juxtapose this against the other companies in the industry with analyst coverage, which are forecast to grow their revenues (in aggregate) 2.9% next year. So it's pretty clear that, while Community Bank System's revenue growth is expected to slow, it's expected to grow roughly in line with the industry. The Bottom Line The biggest concern is that the analysts reduced their earnings per share estimates, suggesting business headwinds could lay ahead for Community Bank System. They also reconfirmed their revenue estimates, with the company predicted to grow at about the same rate as the wider industry. There was no real change to the consensus price target, suggesting that the intrinsic value of the business has not undergone any major changes with the latest estimates. Following on from that line of thought, we think that the long-term prospects of the business are much more relevant than next year's earnings. We have estimates - from multiple Community Bank System analysts - going out to 2021, and you can see them free on our platform here. And what about risks? Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Community Bank System you should know about. 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. * Oxford clinical trial is latest of handful already begun * Three European firms join forces for vaccine research * Swiss company hopes to get vaccine into use this year By Kate Kelland LONDON, April 23 (Reuters) - Scientists in Britain began clinical trials of a potential COVID-19 vaccine on Thursday as other vaccine developers across Europe also stepped up work on their own experimental shots against the disease caused by the new coronavirus. A team at Britain's Oxford University dosed the first volunteers in a trial of their vaccine - called "ChAdOx1 nCoV-19" - while Italy's ReiThera, Germany's Leukocare and Belgium's Univercells said they were working together on another potential shot and aimed to start trials in a few months. Britain's GSK and France's Sanofi last week announced a similar agreement to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, with trials starting in the second half of the year. As many as 100 potential COVID-19 candidate vaccines are now under development by biotech and research teams around the world, and at least five of these are in preliminary testing in people in what are known as Phase 1 clinical trials. The Oxford scientists said last week that large-scale production capacity was being put in place to make millions of doses of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 shot, even before trials show whether it is effective. They said on Thursday that the main focus of initial tests is "to find out if this vaccine is going to work against COVID-19, if it wont cause unacceptable side effects and if it induces good immune responses". A Swiss scientist said on Thursday he hoped to get ahead of industry projections that a COVID-19 vaccine will take 18 months, with a hope to put his laboratory's version potentially in use in Switzerland this year. Martin Bachmann, head of immunology at Bern's Inselspital hospital and founder of start-up Saiba Biotechaims, said he planned to begin human trials in August in 240 volunteers if he gets the necessary approval from drug watchdog Swissmedic. Instead of using a weakened virus like some vaccines, Bachmann said his team had opted for a "virus-like particle" that mimics the coronavirus, only without its genetic material needed for replication. The race for a vaccine has been fuelled by the shortage of options for treating the disease. The European Union's drug regulator on Thursday reiterated a warning against using two older malaria drugs outside of trials or national emergency use programmes, citing potentially lethal side effects. (Reporting and writing by Kate Kelland in London; additional reporting by Valentina Consiglio in Italy and by Stephanie Nebehay, John Miller, Michael Shields and Cecile Mantovani in Switzerland; editing by Philippa Fletcher) William Luther /Staff Starting Friday, a series of weekend closures will halt traffic on Wurzbach Parkway for construction of a land bridge that will provide a way for people and animals to cross the six-lane roadway between currently divided sections of Phil Hardberger Park. Conservationists say the $23 million bridge is critical to creating a cohesive natural area that will help protect wildlife in the park. The bridge will be 150 feet wide, adding more than half an acre of parkland and native vegetation. A growing number of Australian reality stars and Instagram models are selling raunchy content online for big bucks. Using the subscription-based website OnlyFans, Z-listers like The Bachelorette's Paddy Colliar and Love Island's Vanessa Sierra charge users a monthly fee for explicit photos and videos. Content can range from something as innocent as a suggestive selfie all the way to hardcore pornography. Rhyce Power, who shot to fame as Jessika Power's 'hot brother' on Married At First Sight last year, is currently one of the top creators on OnlyFans. The former carpenter, 28, recently shared his earnings from the site on Instagram, revealing he had made more than $50,000 in just one month. Australian Instagram model Jem Wolfie is currently the biggest star on OnlyFans, raking in millions of dollars since joining the platform in 2018. Big bucks! The former carpenter, 28, recently shared his earnings from the site on Instagram, revealing he had made more than $50,000 in just one month The Perth native, 28, can earn up to $30,000 per day by sharing exclusive photos that aren't much different to the content on her Instagram page. 'People complain and say, "Where's the nudity?" But where are you going to go from there - you'll be in full-blown porn before you know it,' she told Perth Now last year. While Jem's photos are quite tame, she does upsell her subscribers racier content, including topless selfies, if the price is right. Former Love Island Australia star Vanessa Sierra is another creator who uses the upsell method. For $20 a month, her subscribers can access the kind of sexy bikini photos that fill her Instagram page, but Vanessa will then send private messages to her fans offering more risque content for cash. 'Tip for titties,' she wrote in one message, which offered users the chance to pay another $20 to unlock an extra photo. Worth it? The Perth native, 28, can earn up to $30,000 per day by sharing exclusive photos that aren't much different to the content on her Instagram page The content on the OnlyFans page she shares with her YouTube star boyfriend Luke Erwin is far more explicit, and features the couple engaging in sex acts. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia about their controversial career move, the frisky pair said they were simply ahead of the curve by joining OnlyFans. 'I'm not scared to make moves and always jump on social media platforms before the crowd,' Vanessa explained. 'Everyone seems so shocked yet in a couple of years it will be the norm to have an OnlyFans account,' she added. 'The same people who made a joke of us when we were on TikTok are now the ones obsessed with the app. This will be no different. 'We are just doing what makes us happy and creating content that isn't restricted by Instagram guidelines. We are in the top 0.02 per cent of OnlyFans creators for a reason!' Gina Stewart, who became an online sensation after being dubbed 'The World's Hottest Grandma', is also one of the more popular creators on the platform. Thanks to OnlyFans, the Gold Coast grandmother is now earning thousands of dollars per month and was able to move out of her Sunshine Coast apartment and into a lavish four-bedroom waterfront home with a pool and Jacuzzi. 'OnlyFans is way better than Instagram because I can post whatever I want and interact with my fans on a much more intimate level,' the 49-year-old told Daily Mail Australia last year. If you've got it, flaunt it! The 49-year-old was able to purchase a Mercedes last year thanks to her success on OnlyFans 'I've been able to afford a $1.3million home for myself and my daughter': Gina was able to move out of her Sunshine Coast apartment and into a lavish four-bedroom waterfront home with a pool and Jacuzzi (pictured) 'Now I live a great lifestyle thanks to my beautiful fans who support me. I've been able to afford a $1.3million home for myself and my daughter, I drive a Mercedes and I own two jet skis.' She added: 'I keep my content glamorous and sexy, unlike other models who bare what they had for breakfast. It's all in the tease.' Paddy Colliar, who starred on The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise, recently turned to OnlyFans after losing his job due to the coronavirus pandemic. Hard times: Paddy Colliar, who starred on The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise, recently turned to OnlyFans after losing his job due to the coronavirus pandemic The Irish hunk used to work as a personal trainer, but after the government ordered gyms across Australia to close, Paddy turned to OnlyFans. Baring all isn't too difficult for the 28-year-old, who was employed as a part-time male stripper before appearing on reality TV. Outside of Australia, other popular celebrities on OnlyFans include Courtney Stodden, Aaron Carter, Chad Johnson and Trisha Paytas. 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. The world of record players and vinyl can be intimidating to the uninitiated, because the gear that playing records requires (preamps, amps, receivers) can make it seem like an expensive, overly complicated hobby. But thats not true, according to the experts we spoke with including DJs, record-store owners, and general vinyl geeks all of whom assured us that you dont need more than a turntable and a pair of powered speakers, or speakers with a built-in amplifier, to get started. (Audioengine powered speakers, like the A2+ model on this list, are a good brand to start with, according to DJ Prestige of Fleamarket Funk.) Advertisement Each of our experts had their own favorite turntables for beginners, but they all advised avoiding one very popular, all-in-one record player that comes in a suitcase: Whatever you do, dont get a Crosley, said Prestige, who claims that if youre serious about your new hobby, you should look for machines with better sound quality (and with needles that wont eventually ruin your records). While the turntables below are best suited for those new to playing vinyl, they arent necessarily entry level, because even the least expensive option contains quality parts and will last for some time with regular care. Most models on this list contain a built-in preamp, since our experts say that such turntables are the easiest and most straightforward to use. See how that works, and then if you see yourself wanting something better, you can upgrade slowly down the line, explains Mike Davis, owner of New York Citys Academy Records. Best overall turntable The Audio-Technica LP 120X is modeled not so subtly after what is probably the most iconic turntable of all time, the discontinued Technics 1200. It actually replaces our experts beloved LP 120 (although discontinued, the 120 is still in stock here), which Mark Steinberg, the chief technologist and turntable specialist at B&H Photo and Video, says hell recommend to any customer but he especially suggests it to those newer to vinyl who want something a little nicer to play their records on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This record players key feature is the magnet-powered direct drive, which is usually only found in professional-grade turntables or other, more expensive units. Unlike turntables with a belt drive (a motor powered by replaceable belts that wear down with use and may need to be swapped depending on the type of record you play), a direct drive will rarely, if ever, need service, explains Prestige, who says it can handle records of all sizes without any fiddling under the hood. If I were starting over right now, Id probably get this due to the quality you get for the price, says the DJ of 20 years. Although Davis has never used the 120 or the 120X, I bought a 120 for my nephew and he loves it. And he bought one for his friend, who loves it too. Advertisement For Steinberg, Prestige, and Davis, this record player checks other appealing boxes too. Its maker, Audio-Technica, has a great reputation in the industry; it has a built-in preamp, so the only other thing you need to use it is a powered speaker; and it features a USB output that allows you to connect it to your computer in case you want to archive your vinyl. And now its even better. According to Steinberg, the 120X has a more efficient motor, so it needs less energy and gets up to speed faster. Audio-Technica does a great job of listening to customer feedback, Steinberg says, and the 120X reflects that, with its lower profile, stronger pre-amp, and a power supply thats built into the charging cord instead of the turntable itself. And its $50 cheaper. Best less-expensive turntables Steinberg says this lower-priced Audio Technica model, which features a belt drive, is a perennial best seller at B&H and the first one he shows people. This is the bread-and-butter piece for most people. It will get the job done really, really well, he says, adding that he thinks of it as an entry-level serious turntable. Its not a toy. Its not going to damage your records. The $99 model also has a built-in preamp, and for incrementally higher prices, you can get a USB-equipped model for archiving and recording, or even one with Bluetooth capability (which you should be able to connect to a standard bluetooth speaker for wireless, vinyl-powered sound). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prestige, who recently tried the LP 60 for the first time, agrees this is a good option for anyone who cant spring for the LP 120. It sounded great, he told us of his first spin with the LP 60. But unlike the LP 120 and most of the other record players on this list, the LP 60 does not feature a replaceable cartridge (the part of the turntable that holds the needle), which means you wont be able to upgrade that part if you get more serious about your hobby down the line. Steinberg notes that this is fully automatic, meaning the push of a button moves the tone arm in place to start the record, and that the arm lifts off on its own at the end. This feature, he explains, could be great if youre new to vinyl and want to make things a little easier, but purists will likely prefer the feel and ritual of manual operation. For another less expensive option for starter record collectors, music journalist Jessica Lipsky suggests this Sony belt-drive turntable, which she says she received ten years ago and still uses. Like the LP 60 above, it comes in a Bluetooth-equipped model for a higher price, but Lipsky told us she prefers the standard, lower-tech version. Ive stuck with this because its simple, she says. Shes a fan of the handy dust cover, and she likes that it will be easy to plug into any system she wants in the future. Steinberg also recommends it, saying its one of his favorites for the price because Sony is a trustworthy brand and this model is so straightforward. Like the LP 60, its also fully automatic, but unlike that model, this one comes with a USB output at no extra cost. Best-looking turntables If youre looking for something a little sleeker, this minimalist Music Hall turntable comes recommended by both Davis and Steinberg. The brands roots are in the audiophile-grade market, according to Davis, who says this, Music Halls entry-level model, is very well regarded. This would be a great place to start if youre looking for something more serious, Steinberg says, noting that a lot of people love Music Hall for its more stripped down and bare bones approach. This is powered by a belt drive, includes a built-in preamp, and can play 78s, while most belt-driven turntables (including all the others on this list) can only handle 33s and 45s. For a better turntable, thats a rarity, explains Steinberg. Steinberg also recommends this Audio-Technica model as a more stylish version of the brands LP 60 or LP 120. While it does have a cover, its less technical-looking than its sister turntables but still includes a built-in preamp. The LP3, however, does not feature USB or Bluetooth connectivity. Best turntable without preamp Pro-Ject pretty much only makes turntables, says Steinberg, who notes that many of its models are priced in the thousands, making something like this a great choice for someone who wants to dip their toes into the higher-end market. Davis and Prestige agree that Pro-Ject turntables are known for their minimalist build, streamlined look, and high-quality materials like a cartridge made by Ortofon, a company that Steinberg says has a long history of producing audiophile-approved components. Listeners who are more particular about their sound systems may prefer it to others on this list because it does not come with a preamp built in, giving them more flexibility when it comes to the sound system they hook this turntable up to. Nor does this have USB or Bluetooth, which vinyl purists may also appreciate. Best turntable worth investing in As all of our experts noted, the discontinued Technics 1200 is something of an icon in the turntable world. The 1200 was the standard when it came out in the 70s, and its been the standard ever since, says Davis. Prestige is a longtime fan too. Ive been DJ-ing for 20 years and all Ive had are Technics, he says. Eilon Paz a photographer and the author of Dust and Grooves: Adventures in Record Collecting agrees, calling the Technics 1200 a workhorse. After it was discontinued, there was a big outcry in the record-collecting community, according to Paz, who says the above model which is only available for preorder right now is Technics answer. It features slightly updated parts than those in the original 1200, but not too many changes, according to our experts (none of whom have tried it out due to its limited availability before officially debuting). Because of that and the turntables hefty price tag it landed lower on our list. But we felt it still merited inclusion as each of our experts specifically mentioned it. Like other high-end turntables, this one doesnt have a built-in preamp. PRESS RELEASE: REGULATED INSIDE INFORMATION 23 April 2020, 07:01 CEST BIOCARTIS Q1 2020 BUSINESS UPDATE Mechelen, Belgium, 23 April 2020 Biocartis Group NV (the Company or Biocartis), an innovative molecular diagnostics company (Euronext Brussels: BCART), today provides a business update for the first quarter of 2020 and an updated outlook for the full year 2020. Key messages Commercial cartridge volume: Year-on-year Q1 growth of 68% in commercial cartridge volume demonstrating the growth potential within a well-established customer base across all regions. Europe remains the largest contributor led by very strong performance in Northern, Central and Western European markets, partially fueled by pro-active stock orders in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Installed base: Slower than expected installed base expansion across markets in Q1 2020 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, with main impact suffered in Southern European, the US and RoW 1 markets. Partnerships: Successful partnership expansions in oncology with AstraZeneca, with a study on liquid biopsy testing using the Idylla ctEGFR Mutation Assay (RUO 2 ), and with Bristol Myers Squibb Company (BMS), with a new project aimed at pursuing the registration of the Idylla MSI test as a companion diagnostic 3 (CDx) test in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in China, as well as a successful expansion of the partnership in infectious diseases with Immunexpress Pty Ltd ('Immunexpress') for the co-commercialization in Europe of the SeptiCyte RAPID Test on Idylla, which recently received CE-marking. Menu of tests: Development of the Idylla SARS-CoV-2 test, the virus that causes COVID-19, for rapid and easy testing of individuals with flu-like symptoms. When used in combination with recently CE-marked IVD SeptiCyte RAPID Test 4 on Idylla, this testing solution has the unique potential to identify patients with severe disease, as recent data 5 indicate that sepsis is the most frequently observed complication in COVID-19 6 . Appointment new CFO : Biocartis announces the appointment of Jean-Marc Roelandt as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Company with immediate effect. Jean-Marc Roelandt is a Senior executive with an established track record of more than 25 years as CFO in globally active publicly listed companies. Prior to joining Biocartis, he was CFO of MDxHealth. Cash position: Biocartis cash position end Q1 2020 amounted to EUR 170.1m (unaudited figure). Story continues COVID-19 impact on full year 2020 guidance Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, new Idylla instrument placements slowed down towards end Q1 2020 as access to hospitals was restricted. As there is limited visibility on when these restrictions will be lifted and as Idylla instrument sales may temporarily further suffer from budgetary restrictions across all healthcare systems in the aftermath of the global pandemic, the Company is suspending its guidance on instrument placements in 2020 and will provide an update as soon as normal business activity resumes. Furthermore, Biocartis expects that this temporary slowdown may in turn moderate the growth of cartridge volumes during the second half of the year, although the expanded collaboration in infectious diseases with Immunexpress and the planned launch of a SARS-CoV-2 test on the Idylla platform could offset this impact. With this shift in product mix, Biocartis sees potential to still meet its 2020 commercial cartridge volume objective, however given current uncertainties around timing of normalization, the Company currently also suspends guidance on commercial cartridge volume growth. The cash position is still targeted to be in the range of EUR 110m by year-end 2020. Commenting on the Q1 2020 Business Update, Herman Verrelst, Chief Executive Officer of Biocartis, reacted: We were off to a good start in Q1 2020 with an outperformance in commercial cartridge growth in our US and European markets, especially in North, Central and Western Europe, and a good continued growth in our RoW markets, before the COVID-19 pandemic disturbed commercial markets across the globe as from March 2020. Despite the global pandemic, existing customers were able to continue to order. We even saw an increase towards the end of Q1 at some of our larger customers in Northern Europe, of which some increasingly switched their oncology testing to our easy and fully automated Idylla technology, in times where lab workers and resources are being prioritized on COVID-19 testing. The global pandemic however considerably affects our installed base growth, as our commercial teams had to cease all hospital and lab prospective visits. Furthermore, we expect that in Q2 and likely as well in H2 2020 we will see a slow-down in commercial cartridge volume growth from the 68% we achieved in Q1 2020. The strength of our Idylla platform however brings us resilience in these difficult times, which is demonstrated by the newly announced development of an Idylla SARS-CoV-2 test that can make a true difference on every installed Idylla instrument worldwide, for rapid and easy testing of individuals with flu-like symptoms, and even as a support for oncology patients as COVID-19 test, before hospital surgeries take place. Furthermore, we expanded our partnership with Immunexpress, who recently launched the CE-marked IVD SeptiCyte RAPID Test on Idylla, and for which we will act as exclusive distributor in Europe. Together with the SeptiCyte RAPID Test, this combined testing solution on Idylla also has the unique potential to more efficiently triage patients with flu-like symptoms, which could potentially prevent unnecessary ICU admissions or reduce average length of hospital stays. We are pleased to see that, together with our partners, we have the flexibility with our Idylla platform to respond to highly unmet needs in society, whether it is in oncology or infectious diseases, and to safeguard the long-term value of the company. Although this is undeniably a difficult time for everyone, we remain confident of the value we can bring to our customers, patients and society. Commercial highlights US commercialization Continued expansion in installed base in US markets was demonstrated at the start of Q1 2020, underlining the success of the direct US sales strategy where positive customer feedback resulted in the attraction of new reference Idylla users that presented several Idylla posters and abstracts at the global USCAP conference in March 2020 (see below). During Q1 2020, the US represented over 40% of new Idylla instrument placements, however growth of both installed base expansion and commercial cartridge volume stalled due to the COVID-19 impact, as access to hospitals and labs was restricted. European commercialization European direct markets realized robust cartridge volume growth during Q1 2020 predominantly driven by outperformance in Northern, Central and Western European markets. RoW commercialization Commercial cartridge volume growth in RoW distribution markets continued in Q1 2020 driven by increased use of Idylla on the existing RoW installed base of which the expansion however was impacted due to the COVID-19 disturbance in commercial activities of RoW distribution partners. During Q1 2020, new market authorizations were also obtained for the Idylla MSI Test in Colombia and Canada and for the Idylla EGFR Mutation Test in Argentina. Menu and partnership highlights Idylla SARS-CoV-2 test On 23 April 2020, Biocartis announced the development of a SARS-CoV-2 test, the virus that causes COVID-19, on Idylla. The test will be based on the Idylla Respiratory (IFV-RSV) Panel 7 that received 510(k) clearance by the US FDA on 5 September 2017 and is being designed to detect SARS-CoV-2 from respiratory samples such as nasopharyngeal swabs. Upon regulatory approval, the Idylla SARS-CoV-2 test is targeted to help healthcare providers manage the COVID-19 pandemic through rapid and easy testing of individuals with flu-like symptoms. In addition, the Idylla SARS-CoV-2 test may be used in combination with the recently CE-marked IVD SeptiCyte RAPID Test 8 on Idylla to facilitate management of patients within the hospital intensive care unit (ICU). When used together, this combined testing solution on Idylla has the unique potential to identify patients with severe disease, as recent data 9 indicate that sepsis is the most frequently observed complication in COVID-19 10 . Biocartis develops the Idylla SARS-CoV-2 test with support from multiple undisclosed partners as part of a joint commitment to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Subject to a successful Emergency Use Authorization by the US FDA, launch of the Idylla SARS-CoV-2 test is expected in H2 2020 11 . The US FDA 510(k) clearance of the SeptiCyte RAPID Test on Idylla is expected along the same timelines. Partnership AstraZeneca On 22 January 2020, Biocartis announced that it entered into a master collaboration agreement with AstraZeneca, a global science-led biopharmaceutical company (LON/STO/NYSE: AZN). The scope of the new master collaboration agreement enables collaborative development and commercialization projects between Biocartis and AstraZeneca, such as but not limited to, CDx development projects that may cover any type of indication or biomarker. The first project in that context is a study focused on evaluating if liquid biopsy testing using the Idylla ctEGFR Mutation Assay (RUO) could provide further benefits to tissue-based EGFR molecular testing. New BMS Immuno-Oncology MSI Project in China On 5 March 2020, Biocartis announced a new project under its existing collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY), a global biopharmaceutical company. The existing collaboration aims at the potential registration and use as a CDx of the Idylla MSI test in connection with immuno-oncology therapies of Bristol-Myers Squibb. The initial focus under the collaboration is to achieve registration in the United States of the Idylla MSI test as a CDx test in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Bristol-Myers Squibb and Biocartis have now agreed to add a new project under their collaboration which pursues the registration of the Idylla MSI test as a CDx test in mCRC 12 in the Peoples Republic of China. Expansion Immunexpress partnership On 26 March 2020, Biocartis announced the co-commercialization agreement with Immunexpress of the newly CE-marked IVD SeptiCyte RAPID Test on Idylla, in which Biocartis will lead commercialization in Europe as exclusive distributor of the SeptiCyte RAPID Test, while Immunexpress will lead commercialization in the US. The SeptiCyte RAPID Test is a rapid, host-response 13 test that distinguishes sepsis from non-infectious SIRS (systemic inflammatory response syndrome) and is expected to provide actionable results in about one hour 14 . Recent data 15 indicate that sepsis is the most frequently observed complication in COVID-19 16 . European performance studies During Q1 2020, seven 17 new Idylla performance publications 18 were issued in Europe. All Idylla studies demonstrated excellent performance of Idylla compared to other methods, in combination with the ease of use and fast turnaround time of the Idylla platform. The studies included, amongst others, a feasibility study 19 on the Idylla NRAS-BRAF Mutation Test 20 to research the direct use of thyroid FNA (Fine Needle Aspirate) samples as a Rapid On site Molecular Evaluation (ROME) solution for the rapid and easy detection of NRAS and BRAF mutations without having to send out the samples to specialized, centralized labs. USCAP abstracts & posters During the global annual pathology conference USCAP, that took place in Los Angeles, CA (US) between 2 - 4 March 2020, four Idylla abstracts and posters21 were published by key oncology opinion leaders, including amongst others Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (Lebanon, New Hampshire, US), Vitro Molecular Laboratories (Miami, Florida, US), the University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, New Mexico, US) and the William Osler Health System (Brampton, Ontario, Canada). The respective Idylla abstracts and posters showed strong data of Idylla assays (RUO) including several studies that used the Idylla EGFR Mutation Assay (RUO), which demonstrated reliable and rapid EGFR testing to be used to complement conventional NGS testing. Operational and financial highlights Appointment new CFO On 27 January 2020, Biocartis announced that Ewoud Welten, the Companys CFO, has decided to resign from Biocartis and to pursue an opportunity in the Netherlands, closer to his home and family. The Company now appoints Jean-Marc Roelandt as the new CFO of the Company with immediate effect. Jean-Marc Roelandt is a Senior executive with an established track record of more than 25 years as CFO in globally active publicly listed companies. With a focus on M&A, capital market transactions and the implementation of adequate financial management infrastructure in dynamic and fast growing companies, he built up a solid expertise in various industries. Prior to joining Biocartis, he was CFO of MDxHealth, a healthcare company that provides actionable genomic information to personalize the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. COVID-19 business continuity To ensure business continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic, measures were implemented to ensure safe working conditions for all employees as well as to ensure continued commercial production of Idylla cartridges on the two manufacturing lines in Mechelen (Belgium) during Q1 2020. Cash position - Biocartis cash position end Q1 2020 amounted to EUR 170.1m (unaudited figure). Outlook COVID-19 impact on full year 2020 guidance: see above. Test menu outlook: Colorectal cancer menu Subject to further feedback from US FDA interaction, US FDA 510(k) submission of the Idylla MSI Test is expected by end 2020 and the timing of the US FDA submission of PMA (Pre-Market Approval) application for the Idylla RAS tests is being assessed; Lung cancer menu Further development of the Idylla GeneFusion Assay towards expected RUO launch by end 2020; Breast cancer menu Start of the clinical validation studies of the Idylla IVD Oncotype DX Breast Recurrence Score test in France and Germany is expected in 2020; Infectious disease partner menu US FDA 510(k) clearance for the SeptiCyte RAPID Test on Idylla is expected by Q3 2020 and US FDA Emergency Use Authorization for the Idylla SARS CoV-2 test is expected in H2 2020. Cash position: Targeted cash position in the range of EUR 110m by 2020 year-end. Financial calendar 2020 8 May 2020 Annual and Extraordinary Shareholders Meetings Biocartis Group NV 3 September 2020 H1 2020 results 12 November 2020 Q3 2020 Business Update --- END --- More information: Renate Degrave Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Biocartis e-mail rdegrave@biocartis.com tel +32 15 631 729 mobile +32 471 53 60 64 www.linkedin.com/Biocartis About Biocartis Biocartis (Euronext Brussels: BCART) is an innovative molecular diagnostics (MDx) company providing next generation diagnostic solutions aimed at improving clinical practice for the benefit of patients, clinicians, payers and industry. Biocartis' proprietary MDx Idylla platform is a fully automated sample-to-result, real-time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) system that offers accurate, highly reliable molecular information from virtually any biological sample in virtually any setting. Biocartis is developing and marketing a continuously expanding test menu addressing key unmet clinical needs, with a focus in oncology. This represents the fastest growing segment of the MDx market worldwide. Today, Biocartis offers tests supporting melanoma, colorectal and lung cancer. More information: www.biocartis.com . Follow us on Twitter : @Biocartis_. Biocartis and Idylla are registered trademarks in Europe, the United States and other countries. The Biocartis and Idylla trademark and logo are used trademarks owned by Biocartis. This press release is not for distribution, directly or indirectly, in any jurisdiction where to do so would be unlawful. Any persons reading this press release should inform themselves of and observe any such restrictions. Biocartis takes no responsibility for any violation of any such restrictions by any person. Please refer to the product labeling for applicable intended uses for each individual Biocartis product. This press release does not constitute an offer or invitation for the sale or purchase of securities in any jurisdiction. No securities of Biocartis may be offered or sold in the United States of America absent registration with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Forward-looking statements Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company's or, as appropriate, the Company directors' or managements' current expectations and projections concerning future events such as the Company's results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, performance, prospects, growth, strategies and the industry in which the Company operates. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities are not guarantees of future performance and should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. In addition, even if actual results or developments are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this press release, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in future periods. No representations and warranties are made as to the accuracy or fairness of such forward-looking statements. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based, except if specifically required to do so by law or regulation. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such person's officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. 1 RoW = Rest of the World. RoW is defined as the world excluding European direct markets, US, China and Japan 2 RUO = Research Use Only, not for use in diagnostic procedures 3 An IVD companion diagnostic device is an in vitro diagnostic device that provides information that is essential for the safe and effective use of a corresponding therapeutic product. Source: US FDA, last consulted on 7 April 2020 4 Developed in collaboration with Immunexpress. More info here. 5 Zhou et al., Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study, published online 9 March 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30566-3 6 Sepsis developed at a median of 9 days (713) after illness onset among all patients, followed by ARDS (12 days [815]), acute cardiac injury (15 days [1017]), acute kidney injury (15 days [1319.5]), and secondary infection (17 days [139]) 7 Legally acquired in 2018 from Janssen Diagnostics, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV (Janssen) who co-developed the assay Source: https://investors.biocartis.com/sites/default/files/press-releases/2019/170904-PR-510k-clearance-IFV-RSV-Panel-ENG.pdf 8 Developed in collaboration with Immunexpress. More info here . 9 Zhou et al., Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study, published online 9 March 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30566-3 10 Sepsis developed at a median of 9 days (713) after illness onset among all patients, followed by ARDS (12 days [815]), acute cardiac injury (15 days [1017]), acute kidney injury (15 days [1319.5]), and secondary infection (17 days [139]) 11 Subject to interactions with the US FDA. Immunexpress expects US FDA 510(k) clearance of the Septicyte RAPID Test on Idylla around the same timeline in H2 2020 12 mCRC = Metastatic colorectal cancer 13 Host-response based tests focus on measuring biomarkers that are indicative of the response of a patients immune system to an infection rather that measuring pathogens that are the cause of the infection 14 Moreover, SeptiCyte RAPID not only discriminates sepsis from SIRS but also correlates with viral sepsis infection, versus procalcitonin (PCT) which increases with severity of bacterial but not viral infection and is also a non-specific marker of inflammation 15 Zhou et al., Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study, published online 9 March 2020, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30566-3 16 Sepsis developed at a median of 9 days (713) after illness onset among all patients, followed by ARDS (12 days [815]), acute cardiac injury (15 days [1017]), acute kidney injury (15 days [1319.5]), and secondary infection (17 days [139]) 17 Of which two studies were published in epub, ahead of print in Q2 2020 18 De Luca C et al., Rapid On-site Molecular Evaluation in thyroid cytopathology: A same-day cytological and molecular diagnosis. Diagn Cytopathol. Diagn Cytopathol. 2020 Apr;48(4):300-30. Epub 6 Jan 2020; Zwaenepoel K et al., Clinical Performance of the Idylla MSI Test for a Rapid Assessment of the DNA Microsatellite Status in Human Colorectal Cancer. J Mol Diagn. March 2020; 22 (3): 386-395.. Epub 24 Dec 2019; Chevalier L et al., EGFR molecular characterization in non-small cell bronchic cancer: comparative prospective study by NGS and Idylla platform technologies. Annales de Pathologie. Feb 2020; Merlin MS et al., Rapid fully-automated assay for routine molecular diagnosis of BRAF mutations for personalized therapy of low grade gliomas. Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2020 Feb;37(1):29-40. Epub 23 Oct 2019; Franczak C et al., Evaluation of KRAS, NRAS and BRAF mutations detection in plasma using an automated system for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. PLoS One. 15 Jan 2020 ;15(1); Bocciarelli C. et al., Evaluation of the Idylla system to detect the EGFRT790M mutation using extracted DNA. Pathol Res Pract. 2020 Jan;216(1). Epub 2 Dec 2019; Boureille A et al. Rapid detection of EGFR mutations in decalcified lung cancer bone metastasis, Bone Oncol. January 2020 (Epub ahead of print) 19 De Luca C et al., Rapid On-site Molecular Evaluation in thyroid cytopathology: A same-day cytological and molecular diagnosis. Diagn Cytopathol. Diagn Cytopathol. 2020 Apr;48(4):300-30. Epub 6 Jan 2020 20 The Idylla NRAS-BRAF Mutation Test is intended for use on FFPE samples (Formalin Fixed, Paraffin Embedded) and not for use on FNA samples. Please refer to the Biocartis product labeling for intended use of the assay 21 R. Gadde et al., Validation of the Idylla EGFR Assay for Rapid Assessment of EGFR Mutation Status in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH; H Yaziji et al., Validation of a Rapid PCR Assay for Microsatellite Instability Testing in Colorectal Cancer, Vitro Molecular Laboratories, Miami, FL; J Gralewski et al., Detection of EGFR Exons 18-21 Hotspot Mutations Using a Fully-Automated, Cartridge-Based Platform with Ultra-Rapid Turnaround Time: A Comparison Study with Conventional Next Generation Sequencing, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM; P. Matthews et al., Clinical Impact of Rapid Biomarker Testing in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in a Community Setting, William Osler Health System, Brampton, ON, Canada With doForms, we were able to rapidly design and deploy a mobile screening tool that all of our field staff can utilize on a daily basis so that we can gain instant insight into their health status and work availability to protect the health of our patients! - Dr. Robert Rosati doForms a mobile forms solutions provider that enables real-time data collection and custom mobile forms for small businesses, mid-sized organizations and enterprises recently released an automatic mobile form that conducts employee wellness checks each morning. By gathering real-time data about employees current health, businesses can more accurately assess potentially contagious persons. This enables them to build a work schedule aimed at completing essential tasks while limiting COVID-19 exposure for clients. The form was designed in collaboration with Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) Health Group, a 108-year old home health, hospice and community-based care organization headquartered in Holmdel, New Jersey. This form is currently used by healthcare providers, although it can be utilized by any industry and essential business that requires person-to-person interactions. VNA Health Group, with operations in New Jersey, mid-central Ohio, and southeast Florida, relies on this new mobile form to understand whether clinicians have any signs, symptoms or possible exposure to coronavirus. This allows them to establish if team members need to be tested for COVID-19 and increases their ability to send healthy, non-contagious employees into the field. With doForms, we were able to rapidly design and deploy a mobile screening tool that all of our field staff can utilize on a daily basis so that we can gain instant insight into their health status and work availability to protect the health of our patients, says Dr. Robert Rosati, vice president of quality and research at VNA Health Group. The doForms platform is an ideal solution to quickly design and implement a critical mobile application without significant development time. It was done in a few hours and we were receiving real-time health information from our employees instantly! The COVID-19 Screening Tool asks employees several questions regarding their current health status, including if any signs or symptoms of headache, cough, fever, sore throat, loss of taste or smell or other reported COVID-19 symptoms are present. The form also asks if the employee has been able to avoid large gatherings or if they had any contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19. This daily, real-time reporting has allowed VNAHG to monitor the health of over 1,000 employees in real-time. Learn more about doForms features that support workforces throughout the COVID-19 outbreak HERE. About VNA Health Group Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) Health Group is the largest independent, nonprofit provider of home-based health services in New Jersey, Mid-Central Ohio and southeast Florida. Founded over 108 years ago with a mission to care for the community, today VNA Health Group helps individuals and families achieve their best level of health and well-being by providing high quality, compassionate home health, hospice, palliative and community-based care and offers private-pay personal care services. A full range of primary care services are available through the VNACJ Community Health Centers. Currently, VNA Health Group employs nearly 2,500 people and cares for over 160,000 individuals and families annually with a special focus on vulnerable populations such as children, older adults and those with serious and disabling chronic illnesses. Our unique partnership model with health systems leverages our clinical and technical resources to operate VNA of Central Jersey Home Care and Hospice, Robert Wood Johnson Visiting Nurses, VNA of Englewood, Barnabas Health Home Care and Hospice, Cleveland Clinic Florida Visiting Nurses, Visiting Physician Services, and Visiting Nurse Association of Ohio. For more information about VNA Health Group and the VNAHG Foundation please call 800.862.3330, visit http://www.vnahg.org and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VNAHealthGroup or @VNAHealthGroup. Please support the VNA COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund TODAY. Your gift will make a vital difference for our dedicated frontline doctors, nurses and clinicians caring for patients in their homes and the community in the fight against COVID-19. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 18:51:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KAMPALA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Uganda on Thursday said it is devising measures to control entry of cross-border cargo truck drivers as the surge in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country is attributed to them. Jeje Odongo, minister of internal affairs told reporters here that while the country is sacrificing to keep the spread of COVID-19 minimal, the efforts are being undermined by imported cases. Odongo said that on Tuesday this week the country had 56 cases but the number jumped to 61 on Wednesday on account of five cross-border truck drivers, four from Kenya and the other from Tanzania. The minister said the national task force is studying possible remedial actions. One of the measures is relay driving, whereby a driver from a neighboring country hands over the vehicle to a Ugandan driver at the border crossing after the vehicle has been sanitized. The Ugandan driver will take the cargo to the final destination. In case the cargo is transiting through, the Ugandan driver similarly hands over the truck to another driver at the border crossing after the vehicle is sanitized. The other measure that is being discussed, according to the minister, is deploying rapid test kits at the border so that the results are obtained before the driver proceeds within the journey. Odongo however noted that this may be prohibitive since each test costs 65 U.S. dollars and there are three people in the truck. An average of 1,000 trucks cross into the country daily. The other possible measure is to have the drivers park in designated areas to limit their interaction with the public. Uganda allowed the continued operation of cross-border cargo trucks, trains and air cargo despite closing all its border entry points. The move according to government is aimed at not stalling the running of the economy. Enditem Chandigarh, April 23 : Following up on his letter to the Prime Minister suggesting a three-pronged strategy to bail out states from the COVID crisis, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday urged his counterparts in states to pursue the matter with the Centre. The CM has written to the Chief Ministers to also write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to consider the suggestions he had made to combat the crisis. Pointing out that it was a matter of concern to all states, Amarinder Singh pointed out in his letter to his counterparts that the states are reeling under the impact of shrinking revenues and heightened requirements of welfare and healthcare due to the pandemic. In this context, he underlined the urgent need to request the government of India to give a special three-month COVID revenue grant with flexibility to states in spending as per local conditions. He also urged the states to seek a review by the Finance Commission of its recommendations for the current year since the ground situation had completely changed due to the pandemic. Further, Amarinder Singh urged the Chief Ministers to seek deferment of the full report of the Finance Commission by a year so that the requirements of the states for economic revival and relief as well as rehabilitation could be fully assessed post COVID-19, and adequately provided by the commission. The Finance Commission's five-year report should begin from April 1, 2021, instead of 2020, after factoring in the COVID impact, Amarinder Singh suggested, urging his counterparts to take up the matter with the Prime Minister, who is spearheading the national efforts to manage and contain the pandemic. Hyderabad, April 23 : In a humanitarian gesture, a police officer in Hyderabad paid Rs 20,000 from his pocket for the emergency surgery of a man from Himachal Pradesh who got stranded here due to the lockdown. B.L. Laxminarayan Reddy, inspector and Station House Officer of Kukatpally police station under Cyberabad police commissionerate, not only got Lalit Kumar admitted to a private hospital but also paid the hospital bill from his pocket. Lalit Kumar, a resident of Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh, was stranded due to the lockdown at Kukatpally here and was in need of medical surgery. He approached the police and the inspector came forward to get him admitted to Omni Hospital. Himachal Pradesh Governor Bandaru Dattatreya and Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur appreciated the police officer's kind gesture. Dattatraya, who hails from Hyderabad, spoke to Laxminarayan Reddy over phone and lauded him for the immediate help he rendered to the man in distress. He said that the official's action is an inspiration to all. Himachal Pradesh chief minister sent a letter to Laxminarayan Reddy. "This act was a great gesture on your part and I appreciate your exemplary effort. Your deed is an inspiration to all the persons involved in the fight against covid-19," Thakur wrote. "Your concern beyond humanity towards Mr Lalit who got stranded due to lockdown really deserves this appreciation. Admitting him at hospital and supporting financially on your own, proves once again that police are there to reach every needy. Proud of you dear SHO, Kukatpally," tweeted Telangana Director General of Police M. Mahender Reddy, who also posted Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister's letter of appreciation for the police official. Boris Johnson apologizes for attending party during lockdown Global COVID-19 cases rise by 55% percent, deaths stable Thailand introduces $9 tourist fee Erdogan vows to tame Turkish inflation as scepticism grows Turkey's Turkic world ambitions face reality check in Kazakhstan Teacher in Baku beats student NEWS.am daily digest: 12.01.22 Turkish FM expresses concerns to Chinese counterpart OSCE Chairman-in-Office speaks on situation along Armenia-Azerbaijan border Iran cancels travel ban on common borders CSTO defense ministers council special session to be held Thursday Dollar loses value in Armenia Which NGOs, extra-parliamentary forces to be included in Armenia Constitutional Reform Council? 4,391 foreign nationals visit Artsakh in 2021 China calls on US to immediately close Guantanamo prison State Department says more progress must be made to salvage nuclear deal Measure ensuring implementation of law on addendum to law on Armenia state border is approved Davit Minasyan is sworn in as new mayor of Armenias Parakar enlarged community World Bank: Armenia economic growth expected to be 4.8% in 2022 and 5.4% in 2023 Azerbaijani Defense Minister receives new commander of Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh Biden names Kamala Harris as US president during Atlanta speech Ombudsman: Azerbaijan is launching provocations in Armenia territories where it earlier invaded Russia-NATO Council meeting kicks off in Brussels Serdar Kilic is appointed Turkey special representative for Armenia Armenia ambassador to Georgia informs Switzerland envoy about Azerbaijan's gross ceasefire violation Economy minister: Armenia government was guided by political considerations when lifting sanctions on Turkey goods Turkey defense minister expresses support for Azerbaijan in another military aggression against Armenia Pashinyan, Putin discuss Karabakh, Kazakhstan Toivo Klaar: Deeply worried by reports of renewed incidents and casualties on Armenia-Azerbaijan Germany: A record 80,430 COVID-19 cases detected per day 3 more persons die of coronavirus in Artsakh Criminal case launched into 3 Armenia soldiers killing by Azerbaijan shootings Copper rises in price One of main tasks of Armenia peacekeepers in Kazakhstans Almaty is to prevent water supply system poisoning About 80 Americans cannot fly from Afghanistan Turkey parliament ex-deputy speaker: Armenia must fulfill 4 preconditions Border situation in Armenias Gegharkunik Province was calm at night French FM says talks on Iranian nuclear deal are progressing slowly 289 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Gold slightly rises in price North Korea says it successfully tested another hypersonic missile OSCE calls on Azerbaijan, Armenia to refrain from the use of force Oil is trading without a single dynamic US State Department welcomes announcement on CSTO forces withdrawal from Kazakhstan Newspaper: Ex-ministers are summoned to Hayastan All Armenian Fund parliamentary inquiry committee MOD: Armenia soldiers dead body found at midnight after Azerbaijan provocation Newspaper: Casualties of Armenia PM Pashinyan's 'era of peace' US concerned about EastMed natural gas pipeline project Giant fish sold at auction for over 16 million yen German Marshall Fund: It Is not too early to think about political change in Turkey Armenian Foreign Ministry: We call on Azerbaijani authorities to refrain from provocations Armenia's Geghamasar community head: The situation is stable now Queen Elizabeth II's favorite fast food revealed Human Rights Defender: Azerbaijani troops open fire on Armenian sovereign territory World Economic Forum: Cybersecurity and space pose new risks to the global economy Defense Ministry confirms Armenian side has 2 victims Satanovsky on sending Armenian servicemen to Kazakhstan Unofficial data: 2 servicemen killed as a result of Azerbaijan provocation CSTO and Kazakh Defense Ministry developing plan WHO thinks it's too early to consider COVID-19 pandemic European Commission to require Poland to pay fine of nearly EUR 70 million White House announces $308 million humanitarian aid for Afghanistan Erdogan angry at minister after efforts to strengthen lira failed Armenian FM has phone call with US Assistant Secretary of State India imposes one-week quarantine even for vaccinated tourists Armenian ex-president expresses condolences on poet Razmik Davoyan's death Traction Programme to showcase 8 startups during the Digital Demo Day Azerbaijan uses artillery and UAVs, 3 Armenian soldiers wounded NEWS.am daily digest: 11.01.22 Austrian Chancellor confirms plan for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination in February Armen Sarkissian and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discuss situation in Kazakhstan Gulf, Iran and Turkey FMs to visit China 20 pregnant women with COVID-19 die in Azerbaijan in year Armenia hands over wanted US citizen to United States Economy ministry: Organizing of accommodation and public catering increased by 61.1% in Armenia Armenia parliament speaker expresses condolences on European Parliament President death Azerbaijan opens fire toward Armenia village sector, one soldier wounded Shoigu: CSTO peacekeepers deployed in Kazakhstan thanks to Syrian and Karabakh experience Azerbaijan official pledges to remove Armenian toponyms from Google Maps UN offers two plans to help Afghans totaling $ 5 billion in 2022 Armenia attorney general travels to Moscow on working visit Azerbaijan MOD blames Armenian side for soldiers death Dollar drops in Armenia Shirak Province captives families hold protest outside Armenia government building Rolls-Royce sales rise to record high in 2021 Ombudsman: Azerbaijanis directed gun at Armenia residents car in which his wife, 3-year-old child were ANCA urges President Biden and Congress to hold Azerbaijan and Turkey accountable for war crimes Serbia's Orthodox Patriarch tests positive for COVID-19 Brothers, sisters of 2020 Artsakh war military casualties to get compensation in lieu of their deceased parents Turkish authorities sanction arrest of 33 suspected FETO ties Copper rises in price Erdogan's spokesman, Biden's adviser discuss Armenian-Turkish relations Armenia deputy defense minister: No one can rule out border tension at any moment New commander elected of Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh Armenia official: Those 100 soldiers absence will not assume any change in terms of border tension Millionaire Robert Durst dies aged 78 Reuters: Over 1.13 million cases of COVID-19 detected in US per day Great Armenian poet Razmik Davoyan dies 2 new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh Deputy PM Matevosyan: About 1,190 subvention programs implemented in Armenia from 2018 to 2021 Advertisement Huge queues built up outside B&Q stores and Five Guys burger restaurants as parts of Britain showed signs today that they were getting back to work despite the ongoing coronavirus lockdown. Builders are returning to construction sites and roads are visibly busier than a week ago, with traffic having increased to the highest levels since the lockdown was introduced more than a month ago. Meanwhile homebuilder Taylor Wimpey said construction will resume on May 4 and rival Vistry Group said it will re-start next week. Luxury car-maker Aston Martin Lagonda is set to reopen its South Wales factory on May 5 and car giant Jaguar Land Rover is to gradually resume production at two of its UK plants next month amid 'robust' guidelines to support a return to work. Nando's is now reopening seven of its city centre kitchens to make meals for NHS workers, while Guernsey is set to be the first place in Britain to partially lift lockdown as gardeners, estate agents and builders return to work. Huge queues have been forming outside B&Q stores which are also now reopening, and crowds gathered outside a Five Guys restaurant at Edinburgh's Fountain Park at about 7pm yesterday, waiting for takeaway orders. One witness said: 'There is a vast amount of people waiting outside, not only Deliveroo riders but members of the public who are clearly not practising safe social distancing whilst waiting for the food and who are clearly disregarding any and all government guidelines. Surely something should be done about this?' Social distancing measures are supposed to be in place at the burger chain's branches, such as anyone ordering by click and collect being asked to pay before arriving to protect workers and other members of the public. It comes as the Government is said to be considering staggering workers' start times to avoid the rush-hour bottlenecks when the majority of Britons head back to the office - possibly at some point next month. The possible strategy on getting London back on the move follows Mayor Sadiq Khan warning Transport for London has about a week's worth of cash to keep itself running, and militant RMT union chiefs saying there is 'zero chance' of their members getting back on the buses and trains without personal protective equipment (PPE). Tory MPs have warned the Government it must spell out in detail how it intends to ease the lockdown to give businesses hope of survival, with senior backbenchers on the 1922 Committee meeting to discuss the response. They said it is 'silly' for ministers not to be totally frank with the public given how well most of the population has stuck to social distancing measures and stressed 'there has got to be an economy to go back to' as they sounded a warning which will be heard loud and clear in Downing Street . However, in a sign tensions are likely to rise, Dominic Raab said last night it will be weeks before ministers even 'think about' putting forward an exit strategy while Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said some restrictions are likely to be in place for the 'next calendar year'. Schools could start returning within less than three weeks under a 'traffic light' plan being pushed by senior ministers to ease lockdown misery - amid Cabinet splits over whether the government should risk more deaths from the disease to save the plunging economy. Builders failed to properly socially distance at one site in London today, where about 50 had temperature checks before being allowed into No. 1 Palace Street where 72 luxury flats are being built near Buckingham Palace. Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered the unprecedented lockdown on March 23 to deal with the pandemic as people were ordered to 'stay at home'. On April 16 this was extended for at least another three weeks until May 7. It comes as reports emerged Britons will be told to stagger their jobs around the clock to get some of the country back to work, with one option is to split the busy morning commute into three separate periods. This would see workers arrive to begin work in hour long slots from 7am, 10am and 1pm, while companies may also be told to split up staff working in offices or factories to come in either on alternate days or over weekends. In other developments today: A GP leader said wearing face masks or face coverings in public is 'perfectly reasonable', as England's deputy chief medical officer admitted it was a 'difficult issue'; Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis was grilled by TV presenter Piers Morgan on the issue of Covid-19 testing and why health and care workers are not getting tests; The chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, said the UK should prepare to endure some sort of restrictive measures for at least the rest of the year; The Scottish Government is due to publish a paper on how Covid-19 restrictions may be eased; Dr Medhat Atalla, a consultant geriatrician at Doncaster Royal Infirmary in South Yorkshire, became the latest medic to die after contracting Covid-19; Professor John Newton said the Government is confident that only 'if there are enough people who need testing' would it hit its 100,000-a-day target, set for next week; German Chancellor Angela Merkel has thrown her support behind the World Health Organisation after US President Donald Trump stopped its funding; UKHospitality warned that an extended period of social distancing measures could cost a million jobs in the sector; and Backbench Tories have increased the pressure on the Government to scale back the lockdown over fears that prolonged restrictions could sink the economy. Shoppers line up outside a B&Q store at Sutton In Ashfield in Nottinghamshire today after the DIY store opened its doors Slide me Traffic crosses Westminster Bridge today (left), which was nearly silent after the lockdown came in on March 23 (right) Crowds gather outside a Five Guys branch at Fountain Park in Edinburgh at about 7pm yesterday, waiting for takeaway orders Huge queues built up outside the Five Guys burger restaurant in Edinburgh last night as people collect takeaway orders Construction employees are pictured working on a building site this morning in Lewisham, South East London Crowds of commuters board a Jubilee line train at Canning Town station on the London Underground this morning Slide me Regent Street in London is looking a little busier today (left), having been empty this time last month on March 24 (right) Slide me The M5 motorway near Bristol during rush hour today as people head out during lockdown (left) and the empty M5 is pictured in Worcestershire on Good Friday at the start of the Easter weekend (right) Meanwhile on the A40 in and out of London, traffic started to built as drivers began to once again use the roads despite the lockdown Many drivers began to use the A406 today near London despite the government lockdown still in place to help cope with the pandemic Customers wait outside a B&Q store at Sutton In Ashfield in Nottinghamshire which has opened its doors this morning Shoppers queue up outside the B&Q store at Aberdeen Garthdee today after it opened its doors during the lockdown Traffic queues along the Victoria Embankment in Central London this morning as the UK continues to be in lockdown Builders gather on a construction site at No. 1 Palace Street this morning near Buckingham Palace in London Motorists driving lorries and cars on the M23 motorway which runs through Surrey and Sussex are pictured this morning Speaking about a possible staggered start to working hours, a Cabinet source told the Sun: 'We have to get the wheels of the economy turning again soon or there won't be much left of it. But life and work is going to look very different when it happens, whether it's staggered rush hours or going in every other day.' Photographs of builders arriving for work at the site at No. 1 Palace Street come after the Unite union warned that construction workers' health is being threatened by watered down advice on social distancing on building sites. A witness told MailOnline: 'There's a really big block being built and they're doing temperature checks on people before they enter the building site. You can see they are clearly not social distancing. Which companies have announced today that they are re-opening? Taylor Wimpey: Plans to resume work on its construction sites from May 4 Vistry Group: Will re-start work on 90 per cent of partnership sites and a 'significant number' of housing sites from the start of next week Aston Martin Lagonda: Will reopen its South Wales factory on May 5, but main plant in Warwickshire will stay closed for now B&Q: Opens 155 stores across Britain with 'strict social distancing measures in place' Nando's: Reopens seven of its city centre kitchens to make meals for NHS workers and local charities Jaguar Land Rover: From May 18 manufacturing will resume in Solihull and at its engine plant in Wolverhampton Advertisement 'It's almost like people have gone 'oh look, we're back to work, the disease has disappeared''. I can only guess some of them have got on the Tube to get there which isn't ideal. There were a few coffee shops open nearby.' A spokesman for Balfour Beatty, which is responsible for the No. 1 Palace Street site, told MailOnline: 'The health, safety and wellbeing of all those who work with and for us, as well as the general public, is always our priority. 'In line with UK Government guidance for the construction sector to carry on because of its critical contribution, if it can do so safely, works continue at our One Palace Street site in London. 'All of our teams are aware that our sites will only remain operational if they can operate safely and we will continue to reiterate and support them in this. We are adhering to the industry's COVID-19 Site Operating Procedures issued by the Construction Leadership Council and endorsed by Public Health England. 'At our One Palace Street site, we have implemented a range of measures including temperature readings taken by an occupational nurse on entry to the site, operating a one way walkway system throughout the site, additional marshals on the toilet and changing facilities, along with various other practical measures to allow our workforce to maintain the social distancing required to safely carry out works.' It comes as Taylor Wimpey said it plans to resume work on its construction sites from May 4. The housebuilder had ordered its sites, show homes and sales centres to be closed in March, as the coronavirus crisis gathered pace. The company said it will re-start activity on most sites in England and Wales using 'detailed new site operating protocols' which comply with social distancing rules. Taylor Wimpey said trading has 'inevitably been impacted' by the virus, but demand has continued, with sales teams continuing remotely. Customers queue to enter an Asda supermarket in Leeds today as social distancing policies continue during the lockdown A busier M4 motorway near Bristol during rush hour this morning as people head out during the lockdown A motorist drives through the Cotswolds beauty spot of Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire this morning The A354 is busy with traffic heading towards the seaside resort of Weymouth in Dorset on a sunny day today Builder move a panel while they get back to work on the site in Central London this morning Builders arrive for work at the No. 1 Palace Street site today which will feature 72 luxury flats Construction workers are given tempeature checks as they arrive for work in London today A construction worker holds a 'stop' sign at the building site in Central London this morning Elsewhere, rival Vistry Group said it will re-start work on 90 per cent of partnership sites and a 'significant number' of housing sites from the start of next week. The company, which was recently renamed from Bovis Homes, also said it had received 80 cancellations and completed 193 private sales following the pandemic. And luxury car-maker Aston Martin Lagonda said it will reopen its South Wales factory on May 5. It said it will resume operations at its St Athan facility, following guidelines from Public Health Wales and Public Health England to protect workers. Tory MP fury at lockdown limbo: Backbenchers urge ministers to set out detailed plan for easing restrictions as Chief Medical Officer warns some social distancing will be in place for a YEAR Furious Tory MPs have warned the government it must spell out in detail how it intends to ease the UK's coronavirus lockdown to give businesses hope of survival. Senior backbenchers on the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs met yesterday to discuss the government's response to the current crisis. They said it is 'silly' for ministers not to be totally frank with the public given how well most of the population has stuck to social distancing measures. They stressed 'there has got to be an economy to go back to' as they sounded a warning which will be heard loud and clear in Downing Street. The committee's treasurer, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, then broke cover today as he suggested a comprehensive plan must be set out within the next month or many businesses 'are actually likely to cease trading'. However, in a sign tensions are likely to rise, Dominic Raab said last night it will be weeks before ministers even 'think about' putting forward an exit strategy while Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said some restrictions are likely to be in place for the 'next calendar year'. The UKHospitality industry body has warned pubs and restaurants face a 'bloodbath' if lockdown extends long into the future amid calls for firms to be given a reprieve in the form of delayed rent payments. Failure to take such action could see one third of the sector go bust. There have been signs in recent days that some people are beginning to tire of the curbs on daily life with photographs showing more people on the UK's roads and in the nation's parks. Pressure is only likely to grow on the government to provide more details of its plans with Nicola Sturgeon today due to set out her own strategy for easing restrictions. The Scottish government will publish a new paper containing guidelines designed to chart a way forward when lockdown is eased. It will say that people will need to adapt to a 'new normal'. It came as it emerged the government is pressing ahead with plans to set up a 15,000 strong contact tracing army which will play a key role in stopping future outbreaks of the killer bug in Britain. It will be based on the system used in South Korea which has successfully managed to minimise its own outbreak through the use of extensive contact tracing of people who have become infected. Advertisement The company said it will take 'learnings in terms of health and safety' into account when it reopens its main car plant in Gaydon, Warwickshire, at a later date. Both sites have been closed since March 25 due to the pandemic. The firm also announced that its senior leadership team have agreed to a reduction in pay. Car giant Jaguar Land Rover is to gradually resume production at two of its UK plants next month amid 'robust' guidelines to support a return to work. JLR said that from May 18, manufacturing will resume in Solihull, West Midlands, and at its engine plant in Wolverhampton. The company halted all production last month and has furloughed around half its workforce, topping up their pay to 100 per cent. Around a quarter of the Solihull workforce will return next month. A B&Q spokesman said 155 of their stores were now open across the UK. They added: 'As an essential retailer, we're committed to providing the best possible service to support customers' home improvement needs at this difficult time, while keeping customers and colleagues safe. 'Having watched other essential retailers support social distancing in their stores, we are now following their best practice and are re-opening some stores with strict social distancing measures in place. 'Similar to shopping at a supermarket, we're strictly limiting the number of customers in store at any one time, and so customers are typically queuing before entering stores. It comes as road traffic increased to the highest levels since the lockdown was introduced. In recent weeks, the number of cars on the road had plummeted to levels last seen in the mid-Fifties. But official figures have revealed a spike in vehicle usage on Monday, the most recent day with available data, suggesting motorists are beginning to ignore guidance to avoid all but essential travel. Car usage was more than 40 per cent of normal levels at the start of this week the highest it's been since the Prime Minister announced the lockdown at the end of March. That means the number of cars on the roads has doubled in a week. Officials did not comment on the rise when it was unveiled during yesterday's Downing Street press conference. But the figures are likely to worry ministers, who fear a premature relaxing of the lockdown rules could trigger a sudden rise in infections and deaths. They confirm anecdotal reports that roads have appeared busier than normal in recent days. There was also evidence that travel on public transport was increasing. Pictures today and yesterday showed crowded scenes at Tube stations in the capital. Transport for London has dramatically reduced the number of services that run, but photographs of crammed platforms and carriages suggest increasing numbers of passengers are piling on to the few trains that are running. Yesterday, pictures showed parts of the M25, M4 and M5 busy with traffic during the morning rush hour, in stark contrast to recent weeks when they have been eerily empty. Separate figures from the AA confirm a rise, as well as an increase in the length of journeys. Builders are seen working on a construction site today in Lewisham, South East London Diggers and workers are on the site in Lewisham, South East London, this morning Builders are back to work on this construction site today in Lewisham, South East London Construction employees are seen working on the site today in Lewisham, South East London The motoring group blamed the rise on 'frustrated households looking for ways to break the boredom', but also said an increase in online delivery vans could be a factor. Spokesman Jack Cousens added: 'Now, arguably more than ever, we need to stay at home to protect ourselves, our loved ones, the NHS and our communities.' RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: 'Every driver who ventures out unnecessarily risks placing an even greater burden on our emergency services and the NHS.' After lockdown on March 23, Easter Sunday (April 12) saw the lowest traffic levels, at just over 20 per cent of the pre- lockdown figure. But last Sunday the figures hit just over 30 per cent the highest on a Sunday since social distancing began and they increased another ten percentage points on Monday. Passengers at Canada Water train station on the London Overground this morning wait for a train Commuters walk along the platform at Canning Town station in East London this morning Commuters try to stand apart after boarding a Jubilee line train at Canning Town station this morning Passengers wait for a London Overground train at Canada Water station in South East London this morning The traffic data emerged as fast-food chains KFC, Burger King and Five Guys, as well as high street coffee chain Pret a Manger, gradually reopened stores across the country. And in a sign of a shift in the Government's strategy, the DIY chain B&Q has been allowed to open shops to test new social distancing measures. Meanwhile Unite said the latest guidance being given to construction workers was unsafe and placed them at unnecessary risk. The union said latest operating procedures were issued to coincide with a return to work at a large number of sites this week, particularly in the London area. The guidance now states that where workers are required to work within two metres of each other, they should 'work side by side, or facing away from each other, rather than face to face', the union said. Shoppers space themselves out as they queue up outside the B&Q store at Garthdee in Abderdeen which opened today Large queues form outside the B&Q DIY store in North Shields, North Tyneside today, with a waiting time of up to an hour A man loads up his car with items bought from the B&Q store in Plymouth this morning Customers observe social distancing rules as they queue outside the B&Q in Plymouth today A woman wears protective headgear as she stands outside the B&Q in Plymouth today A man leaves the B&Q store in Plymouth this morning during the lockdown with some paint A shopper leaves a B&Q store in Leeds, West Yorkshire, this morning with some purchases for his garden One shopper carries a purchase on a trolley this morning after visiting the B&Q store in Leeds, West Yorkshire A sign reminds shoppers to remain two metres apart at a B&Q store in Leeds this morning after it reopened When this is not possible and workers have to work 'face to face' within two metres of each other, workers should 'keep this to 15 minutes or less where possible'. Traffic light system to get out of lockdown: How schools, hairdressers and clothes shops could reopen from May 11 Schools could start returning within less than three weeks under a 'traffic light' plan being pushed by senior ministers to ease lockdown misery - amid Cabinet splits over whether the government should risk more deaths from the disease to save the plunging economy. The fledgling 'exit strategy' would see the country get back up in running in stages after May 11, with primary, GCSE pupils, and nurseries potentially going back part-time. Meanwhile, clothes shops and garden centres could be among the 'non-essential' stores given a 'green light' to reopen with precautions to protect customers. Rail services would be brought up to normal levels, with commuters probably urged to wear facemasks, and the NHS would resume carrying out non-urgent procedures. A second 'amber' stage later in the summer would see more of the economy revived, with all employees told to go back to work and some social gatherings allowed. However, it might not be until later in the year that pubs and restaurants can reopen and sporting events get up and running. And over-70s face a 'red light' for many months more, potentially having to wait for a vaccine before going back to normal life. Advertisement Unite has written to Business Secretary Alok Sharma warning that workers' lives were being endangered. The union has also launched a hotline so that workers can report concerns and provide evidence of unsafe working practices. Unite national officer Jerry Swain said: 'Construction workers' health is being threatened by watered down advice. Alok Sharma must step in immediately and have these defective procedures withdrawn. 'We sincerely hope that this is not a case of the economy being put before the health of construction workers and their families. 'Unite's position remains unchanged - no site should be working unless it can do so safely and that means two-metre social distancing must be maintained at all times. 'Contractors and clients also have a moral duty of care for workers from when they leave their home to when they return. 'Construction workers should not be forced to use overcrowded public transport, potentially endangering their health and that of our key workers. 'If our members believe their health is being directly compromised, they should stop work and seek the assistance of Unite.' A campaign was launched weeks ago to stop building work on everything other than essential projects, such as those for the NHS. A spokesman for the #shutthesites campaign said: 'Even when safely social distancing, I am restricted by law from sitting on a park bench, chatting to a neighbour or visiting my family. Cars and lorries travel along the M5 motorway near Bristol this morning The M5 motorway near Bristol is pictured looking busier during rush hour this morning 'Yet I can travel 40 miles into central London on public transport whilst mixing with genuine key workers to work hand in hand with other construction workers. Guernsey will be the first place in Britain to partially lift lockdown Guernsey is set to be the first place in Britain to partially lift lockdown as gardeners, mechanics, estate agents and builders return to work. Some businesses on the Channel Island have been told they may start fully or partially operating again from Saturday. They include gardening, building and other trades with no household contact, building wholesale and supply and vehicle servicing, maintenance and repairs. Property sales, rentals, and business transactions will also be able to resume. All changes are subject to meeting social distancing and hygiene requirements and authorities said the key message to the community was still to stay at home. The government said it represents a series of limited extensions to permitted activities which will gradually allow people back into the workplace in a controlled way. However, if the public health evidence indicates that this approach should be reversed in order to protect the community, that will be done. Advertisement 'The priorities of this Government are economy over workers' health and the new Construction Leadership Council Site Operating Procedures does not alleviate the worries of hundreds of thousands of construction workers on site today.' A spokesman for the Blacklist Support Group added: 'When construction workers go to work, they share minibuses, travel on packed Tubes, eat in crowded canteens, go up in full hoists, use palm print entry systems and live in barrack-style accommodation on site. 'Construction is a dirty, dangerous place at the best of times with notoriously poor welfare facilities, where the very process requires people to work in close proximity. Coronavirus will spread like wildfire in these circumstances.' Yesterday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said he was confident the country was at the peak of the disease, but stressed that continued social distancing was needed to bring the number of new cases down. Those who do leave the house are told to keep a safe distance of two metres apart where they can. All retailers selling non-essential items have been told to close, leaving only a small list of shops open, including supermarkets and newsagents. Britain has so far seen more than 133,000 cases, of which 18,000 people have died. Amanda Stevens has just pulled hot bagels out of the oven in her Berkeley home. A culinary school graduate and caterer who was recently laid off, Stevens, 30, reinvented herself as a baker after California's COVID-19 shelter-in-place order. There was only one problem with her plan: the nationwide shortage of active dry yeast. Its hard to sell brioche with no yeast, Stevens says. For more than two weeks she scavenged local stores for active dry yeast in jars and packets, even by the pound, with no luck. So Stevens turned to neighbors and friends. Soon, slim three-packet strips started turning up on her front porch and in her mailbox. And a local German restaurant had some extra on hand. Now Stevens is popping out dinner rolls, hamburger buns, sandwich breads and sticky buns she's selling through Instagram. Your money is important: Money tips and advice delivered right to your inbox. Sign up here How to find it: Yeast for bread making is selling out here's where you can buy it Whether kneading dough to let off steam or to make homemade pizza for kids home from school, America is baking its heart out during the COVID-19 pandemic or at least stockpiling key ingredients, causing deep shortages of pantry staples that rival the absence of toilet paper, disinfectant cleaners, baby formula and meat. Supplies of flour and eggs have been strained during stay-at-home orders. And some best-selling bread-making machines have sold out. Now dry yeast, usually stocked in a variety of inconspicuous packages and jars in the baking aisle next to flour, sugar and baking powder, has become one of the hardest ingredients for home bakers to find. For the four-week period ending April 11, yeast sales jumped 410% year over year, according to market research firm Nielsen. Yeast manufacturers report unprecedented demand John Heilman, vice president of yeast manufacturing for AB Mauri, makers of Fleischmanns Yeast, oversees production at three plants in North America, one in Memphis and two in Canada. He says the yeast industry is rising to the challenge of the demand, the likes of which Heilman has never seen. Story continues The yeast shortage began with shoppers panic-buying at the start of the pandemic. Stay-at-home orders sparked a run on supplies so massive that the two to three weeks of dry yeast buffer inventory Fleischmanns had on hand was gone almost instantly, Heilman told USA TODAY. USA TODAY investigation: Coronavirus at meatpacking plants worse than first thought Mask, equipment shortages: Protective equipment shortages are pushing nurses to brink across the nation Fleischmanns has no shortage of raw materials needed to make yeast. The company is hiring and training new workers, dusting off unused equipment and ramping up production. And its replenishing low supplies of paper packets and jars. We are not leaving any stone unturned to put the supply back into the pipeline, Heilman says. Still, he estimates it will take one to two months, give or take, to get store shelves stocked again. Yeast are single-celled fungi that have been used to make bread for thousands of years. Active dry yeast is the kind used by most at-home bakers. Manufacturing plants feed the yeast with carbohydrates and nutrients and grow it in a series of larger and larger vessels where they can reproduce. It's then filtered, dried and packaged. From the start of the growing cycle to leaving the plant warehouse, yeast production takes about 10 days, and there are no shortcuts, Heilman says. In American homes, it's Christmas in the spring Until supplies of dry yeast are replenished, at-home bakers say they are getting creative. They are growing their own starter or finding recipes that don't call for yeast. Aimee Murray's 14-year-old daughter, Elise, loves baking soft pretzels and other treats, but her mom is rationing supplies of yeast as well as gluten-free flour. Murray, 38, a high school counselor in Arlington, Texas, hasnt been able to find either on her shopping trips but ordered two bags of flour on Amazon before, she said, the price tripled. Were looking at making more breads, but we cant until we find more yeast, Murray said. Elise Murray, 14, of Arlington, Texas is baking more because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her favorite item to bake is chocolate chip pecan cookies. Theres usually a lull in demand for yeast in the first part of the year after the flurry of winter holiday baking. In the Fremont, California home of Carrie Cardona, a recruiter, every day is Christmas now. Cardona's 8-year-old daughter and 41-year-old boyfriend, Jerry Brummett the designated shopper are the recipients of all the banana bread and cookies shes making. Brummett says he has tried store after store Safeway, Sprouts, Lucky Supermarkets, Walmart and Whole Foods Market in his hunt for more yeast but has struck out everywhere. Without yeast, Cardona, 43, is resorting to recipes that dont require it. It tastes better when you make it at home," she said. Carrie Cardona, of Fremont, California, is baking breads that dont require yeast like banana and chocolate chip bread. With yeast or without, baking up coronavirus comfort food does have a downside. Popular Instagram memes poke fun at all the extra pounds people are putting on. Were all getting heavier because were baking more, Cardona said. Need yeast? Here are some tips Search for recipes that dont require yeast. Banana bread, zucchini bread and cookies are among the top recipes that dont need yeast. Ask a friend or neighbor. With yeast being a pantry staple, perhaps friends who are not bakers have a packet to spare. Also ask friends to monitor store inventory to limit grocery trips. Look in non-conventional spots. Some restaurants from national chains to locally owned eateries have opened markets and are selling groceries including flour, They may also have yeast for sale. Make your own. Washington State Universitys Bread Lab has a recipe for a sourdough starter on its website, which is a way to grow yeast. The process does take time and if you go the DIY route, you cant use the starter as a replacement for store-bought dry yeast in the same amounts. There are many other yeast recipes and videos on YouTube. Look for alternatives. Baking powder or baking soda with lemon juice, vinegar or buttermilk can also act as a leavening agent, according to Thekitchn.com. Have expired yeast? It might still be effective but before adding to a recipe, do a yeast freshness test. The Red Star Yeast website outlines the steps to take. Be wary when shopping online. Some Amazon reviewers are noting the yeast they purchased is expired. If thats the case, check the effectiveness before use. Check and check again. Bakers yeast is expected to be restocked in the next month or two. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Yeast shortage 2020: Bakers yeast is hard to find due to COVID-19 Newmont Corporation NEM announced that its board declared an increase in its quarterly dividend. The revised dividend of 25 cents per share is 79% higher than the previous quarterly dividend of 14 cents per share. The increased dividend will be paid out on Jun 18, 2020, to shareholders of record as of Jun 4, 2020. Notably, the declaration and payment of future quarterly dividends remain at the boards discretion. Further, it would rely on the financial results, cash flow and cash needs of the company, the duration and impact of the coronavirus pandemic, future prospects, and other factors considered important by the board. Newmonts shares have gained 83.1% in the past year against the industrys decline of 20.3%. The companys focus on key growth projects, disciplined capital-allocation strategy and higher gold prices are some of the factors that are driving the stock. Newmonts Africa operations witnessed 1.1 million ounces of attributable gold production in 2019 at an all-in sustaining cost of less than $800 per ounce. This was mainly driven by the successful completion of Ahafos expansion projects. It is also expected to add annual gold production of 75,000-100,000 ounces per year from 2020 to 2024. Last month, the company completed the sale of Red Lake complex to Evolution Mining Limited for $375 million. The transaction provided Newmont with exposure to future exploration opportunities. Considering the divestment of its interests in Continental and KCGM, Newmont generated total cash proceeds of more than $1.4 billion. The company attained its divestiture target of $1-$1.5 billion in less than a year. The divestment of assets is likely to support Newmonts capital allocation priorities. Moreover, the coronavirus pandemic has led to a surge in gold prices. Further, declining oil prices and geopolitical tensions are triggering demand for gold. The companys average realized price of gold rose 20% year over year in fourth-quarter 2019 and boosted margins. Higher gold prices are expected to continue driving earnings in the near term amid market volatility and economic uncertainties. Story continues Newmont Corporation Price and Consensus Newmont Corporation Price and Consensus Newmont Corporation price-consensus-chart | Newmont Corporation Quote Zacks Rank & Other Stocks to Consider Newmont currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). Some other top-ranked stocks in the basic materials space are Kinross Gold Corporation KGC, Franco-Nevada Corporation FNV and Barrick Gold Corporation GOLD. Kinross has a projected earnings growth rate of 41.2% for 2020. The companys shares have surged 96.9% 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 15.9% for 2020. It currently carries a Zacks Rank #2. The companys shares have rallied 79.8% in a year. Barrick Gold currently has a Zacks Rank #2 and a projected earnings growth rate of 51% for 2020. The companys shares have gained 93.8% in a year. 5 Stocks Set to Double Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth. Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >> 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 Kinross Gold Corporation (KGC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Newmont Corporation (NEM) : Free Stock Analysis Report Franco-Nevada Corporation (FNV) : Free Stock Analysis Report Barrick Gold Corporation (GOLD) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. The NPP General Secretary, Mr John Boadu, is believed to have claimed that the recorded cases of coronavirus in Ghana would have skyrocketed if John Mahama were president. The Chief Scribe of the ruling government has blatantly displayed his immaturity in governance which exposes Ghana to the age kakistocracy government. Honourable John Boadu should know that grey hair is not a criterion to dynamic leadership. And he cannot march President Nana Akufo-Addo abysmal performance to H. E. John Dramani Mahama using any yardstick. Ghana has a voting pattern which doesnt follow coherent preferences. Voters pay little attention to politics; because they do vote irrationally and for contradictory reasons. On a larger scale, voters don't have a lot of information for reasons why they vote. They are made to substitute guesses and views from others to make themselves feel comfortable. Even those following politics are prone to bias or blinkered decision-making. They make political decisions on the basis of social identities and partisan loyalties, but not an honest examination of reality. For these reasons and others, they end up voting a grossly unfit leader. Dr Mahumudu Bawumia doctorate thesis even identified that urban dwellers, who voted massively for NPP were egotropic. President Akufo-Addo government hasnt demonstrated any wonders to write home about, apart from lies, unending scandals and corruption, families and friends regime, elephant size government with 125 ministers and deputies, and suppression of press freedom. Since the outbreak of coronavirus, Heads of States and governments across the globe have tried to be at the helms of affairs of their countries. Some are showering praises to themselves, while others instead of accepting some blame are rather on the offensive. One thing is certain; no world leader could boast of being untouchable on the face of the novel coronavirus. No leader can boast of being able to contain coronavirus without the sacrifice from citizens, health workers and stakeholders. No leader has been on the forefront risking his/her life as health workers, the security forces and disaster management workers are doing. While some statemen are busy interacting with the masses on the war front to find solutions to their plight, some are broadcasting at the comfort of their offices or transmitting with recorded videos. Not until the epidemic is completely eradicated, only weak-minded leaders can carry victory crowns. With the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, the world leaders have been learning from one another. There is no one-size-fit-for-all, and Ghana is no exception. All the ideas, the technical health warnings, such as tracing, testing, and treating, social-distancing etc are phrases borrowed from elsewhere. During the outbreak, the international community has been so helpful to Ghana. Ghana has received enough financial support from the international financial institutions, local companies and philanthropes, whose contributions are enough to support the citizenry if even the country were lockdown for three months. Unlike when the Ebola broke out in our neighbouring West Africa, the response from the global world was totally different. Although the UN and WHO stepped in, the onus decision rested on ECOWAS. H.E. John Dramani Mahama as the then ECOWAS Chairman made the competent decision that finally helped to eradicate the epidemic that would have thrown the West Africa States to a state of pandemonium. H.E. John Dramani Mahama demonstrated wisdom, courage, and integrity that no world leader could. Even the National Academy of Sciences would not be able to give a unanimous decision if asked whether the sun would rise tomorrow. When the virus erupted and when Ghana had her first two cases, all political activities were brought to a halt. Meanwhile, the National Identification Authority, NIA, ignored the warning and went ahead with Ghana Card registration until someone placed an injunction. The so-called better government went to court to overturn the injunction before stopping NIA. Again, the NPP government didnt see anything wrong with the Electoral Commission going ahead with their ill-conceived disdain. Had public opinion not gone against them to condemn their nefarious activities, the virus could have spread to every village and town in Ghana. John Boadu assertion that the number of cases and deaths in Italy was as a result of Italy repatriating its citizens from China without testing. There is no iota of truth in that and not scientifically proven. It would be recalled that in January 2020 when the virus swept through central China, European countries air uplifted their citizens. These people were quarantined at least 14 days before they were released. On 29 January 2020, the Costa Crociere cruise line carrying 6,000 passengers and 1,000 crews on the north of Italy was not allowed to dock because a 54-year-old woman had a flu-like symptom. All the passengers waited to be tested before released. Similarly, United Kingdom delayed repatriation of 200 citizens because they were supposed to be quarantined, tested before airlifted. America, the UK and Italy had the luxury of several weeks notice. Yet almost all the 3 leaders lacked the calibre to take unanimous decision to contain the spread of the disease. PM Boris Johnson even doubted the seriousness of the virus and visited the hospitals unprotected and paid the price for it. Iran, on the other hand, has more trades with China, and even more cases in the US, New Zealand and Canada are believed to have come from Iran. Therefore, the spread of the virus across the globe was not because countries repatriated citizens from China. Therefore, for the NPP General Secretary, John Boadu, to claim that recorded cases of coronavirus would have skyrocketed if John Mahama were president, is too childish, narrow, and despicable. I challenge Mr John Boadu to provide us with scientific proofs. Otherwise, he should shut up and stop his pettiness. At least H.E. John Dramani Mahama would not carelessly make a European tour when it was clearly written on the wall that there is a virus outbreak. H.E. John Dramani Mahama would have closed our borders immediately. He would have immediately imposed a nationwide lockdown to make sure the virus is contained; he would not lift the ban on partial lockdown when positive cases are on the ascendancy. As an expert said, "if you move too quickly, lifting the partial lockdown, or social distancing measures wholesale, then that could lead to the virus spreading exponentially again." Written by Lewis Kwame Addo A Ghanaian, Not A Spectator Amsterdam The Juaben Circuit Court on Monday, April 20 granted bail of GH10,000 with a surety of permanent residence to Nana Osei Bonsu who allegedly forged the letterhead of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) with names of fake beneficiaries. The suspect, Bonsu, is said to have created and distributed a document purported to be from the office of the NEIP and signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the NEIP. He was charged with an offence of publication of false information but pleaded not guilty to the charge leveled against him. The court, presided over by Assibey Yusif, adjourned the case to May 19, 2020, 9am. Bonsu who is said to be the campaign aide to the Member of Parliament (MP) of the Ejisu Constituency, Mr. Kwabena Owusu-Aduomi, is said to have created and circulated a fake list of 2018 beneficiaries of the NEIP and placed it on a fake letterhead purported to be the letterhead of the NEIP. He is said to have also forged the signature of the CEO of NEIP, Mr. John Kumah who is also a parliamentary aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ejisu Constituency. A complaint was filed by the NEIP at the police station which led to the arrest of Bonsu but was later granted police enquiry bail within 24 hours when the MP, Mr. Owusu -Aduomi stood surety for him. ----Daily Guide MONTREALThe telephone rings at 4:29 a.m. It is Svetlana calling from Moscow. The call goes unanswered, for obvious reasons. The house is asleep. My wife is by my side, oblivious. She calls again. Svetlana is dedicated, persistent even. She must presume that my phone is somewhere distant not right beside my groggy head. She gives up after the third attempt, but then I cant get back to sleep. I cant blame Svetlana, though. Shes just doing her job, calling her students which includes my 12-year-old son to their virtual class. When it isnt her calling, it is Maxim, Augustine, Lise or Alice, my daughters school friends back in Moscow, inviting her to an online chat. This is my familys long-distance-learning routine. The French school the kids attend in the Russian capital started in early March using Microsoft Teams to organize online lessons, to hand out and submit assignments, and organize video conferences. Thats when the authorities imposed a 14-day quarantine on all those returning from France after the spring break, as we were. It was a simpler time, not so long ago, when the coronavirus seemed a problem that the world might be able to contain to China and Italy. Weve come a long way since then, having returned temporarily to Montreal in late March to ride out the outbreak. Weve learned a great deal. Six weeks in, my little girl is now fluent in sending gifs of furry animals to her friends half a world away, in a time zone seven hours ahead ours. And my son, whose talents range from skateboarding to painting, is developing the inventive side of himself in this period of isolation. When he should have been studying and memorizing one of Jean de La Fontaines classical French fables last week, my boy was instead dreaming up camera angles that would let him read the poem, rather than recite it from memory, and send the video to his unsuspecting teacher. I have learned some things about myself as well. I lack patience for this teaching thing. That lesson was quickly learned. My wife has always admired my calm demeanour. I am embarrassed now how quickly it wears thin in the face of a recalcitrant sixth-grader and his math assignments. I stab my finger at his math textbook, reading loudly and in French from the chapter on axial symmetry, page 159: The symmetric of a line with respect to a line is a line! I shout these words as if reciting a universal truth when, if Im being honest, I myself struggle with its meaning in any language. Now Im the one who admires my wifes easy nature. She was a wayward student herself, but she cajoles the kids through their school work while I sputter warnings and threats. I might also have a knack for computers. In the first week of our distance-education experiment, my daughters teacher emailed me, exasperated. Of all the families dragged into this strange new world, ours was the only one to have successfully handed in the required work. Could I draft a step-by-step guide for the others? Yes, miss, I said, ever the good student. I am now our in-house IT guy. My days are spent toggling between two Teams accounts, Pronote, OneDrive, Outlook and Gmail, sending completed work from my phones camera, to email, to the computer desktop and, finally, to Russia. It is a dizzying routine, but a routine all the same. The school day starts a few minutes before 7 a.m. and runs to 2 p.m. Moscow time when my daughter rolls out of bed for a video meeting with her teacher and a half-dozen of her classmates. After our return to Canada, her teacher placed her in a later slot to accommodate the time difference. Within days, my daughter asked to switch back. The sound of her teachers voice piped through headphones into her little brain, the screen surrounded by the faces of her faraway friends, has become a staple of this odd life she is living. Its the only scene that bears any resemblance to her pre-COVID-19 classroom. My son doesnt have that daily anchor. He is still fast asleep when his classmates are conferencing with their teachers in Moscow. The teachers have been understanding, but there are 11 of them, each with a different schedule and system of assigning school work. One hides the assignments here; the other posts the homework there. The technology teacher handed out a barrage of work two weeks back, but theres been radio silence since. The biology teacher has started posting cooking recipes. The physical education teacher has calmed since handing out the first quarantine assignment to explain, in writing, the four types of ping-pong shots but is still threatening to fail those whose weekly exercise diaries arent filled in. My son says that he is getting used to the new normal even though, on some afternoons, the home-schooling experience feels like a buildup to war. But ask him if he is learning anything new, if his education is advancing, and the answer is right there on the tip of his tongue: not really. He may not realize it, but its the clearest thing Ive heard from him in six weeks of arguing over half-hearted assignments, of his bellowing calls for help and my insistence that he, not I, must do the work to come up with the response. My son said he is treading water, that all of his frantic and harried efforts in this strange period were ensuring that he doesnt fall backward, that he doesnt go down, before real classes resume in real schools some day in the future. The owner of the darkened coffee shop down the street from us is doing much the same, slinging cappuccinos for the few people brave enough to ingest something that has passed through foreign hands, as are the owners of our neighbourhood Italian restaurant, who now sell bottled bolognese sauce while waiting for their dining room to reopen. In his way, my son is not all that different from many of us, maybe most of us. His life is on pause, the world is out of his control and he is thousands of kilometres away from normal. Read more about: Signs that all of Canada is grieving with the small Nova Scotia communities where 22 people were killed by a gunman last weekend adorn the Facebook group: Colchester Supporting our Communities. Families from across the country have posted songs dedicated to lives lost, as well as pictures of candles in windows in support of the province struck by Canadas deadliest mass shooting. Without the ability to gather in public due to COVID-19, its the only way many can comfort those grieving the lost lives. Friday, administrators of the community Facebook group will host an online vigil to be broadcast on Facebook and YouTube at 7 p.m. Atlantic Time (6 p.m. ET). So far, 4,000 people have responded to say theyll attend the virtual gathering. On the same day, the National Police Federation and the RCMP are marking a day of mourning for Const. Heidi Stevenson, who was killed in the line of duty while responding to the massacre. They are asking Canadians to wear red the colour of the Mounties uniform in support of Stevenson, her family and the colleagues she leaves behind. Read more about: Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 22:30:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BISHKEK, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyzstan's medical workers have exchanged experiences and information on COVID-19 with Chinese experts in online training courses, Deputy Health Minister Nurbolot Usenbaev said Thursday. Since Wednesday, a group of 10 Chinese medical experts, who arrived in Kyrgyzstan on Monday, have offered online training courses for their Kyrgyz counterparts to help fight the pandemic, after visiting medical facilities and a virology laboratory in the country. The Chinese experts shared their experience in treating infected patients, provided advice on the use of drugs, and answered questions raised by their Kyrgyz counterparts in the online courses. Epidemiologists, virologists and laboratory staff across the country have participated in the training, according to the health ministry. "These trainings will continue for several days, and we hope that we gain good knowledge," Usenbaev told a news conference, expressing the hope that the exchange of experience will be productive. The 10-member team from west China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region includes six medical experts specializing in disease prevention and control, traditional Chinese medicine and respiratory medicine, among others. Kyrgyzstan has reported 590 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with seven deaths and 216 recoveries so far. Enditem The federal government will keep royalty rates for offshore oil production despite a push from the industry to lower the payments burden amid the covid-19 crisis, a Louisiana senator told Reuters. These are the cards that were dealt, Republican Senator Bill Cassidy said. The Secretary of Interior does not feel like he has the ability to go beyond normal process. Earlier this month, reports emerged that one oil company active in offshore oil production had approached the Department of the Interior with a request for lower royalty rates in response to the low oil price environment. The report follows a call from legislators from the Gulf Coast states on the Department of the Interior to reduce the royalty rates offshore oil companies have to pay to the government amid the crisis. Such an action in the short term will help mitigate a price war that is sinking prices and decreasing production, the legislators said in a letter to Interior Secretary David Bernhardt. The offshore royalty rate for water depths of less than 200 meters stands at 12.5 percent, according to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. For all depths above 200 meters, the royalty rate is 18.75 percent. The BOEM reduced the shallow water rate in 2017 as part of the Trump administrations energy industry support agenda. Senator Cassidy was one of the authors of the letter to the DoI in early April. At the time, he expected that the government would provide the needed help. But the only remedy available to oil companies will be applying for relief under a Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement program that the industry has previously criticized as taking too much effort and time. Meanwhile, the industry across the country is shutting wells and laying off workers. As the New York Times Clifford Krauss reported this week, refineries are idling, wells are shutting in, and drillers are being let go with early termination fees. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Click here to read the full article. Toward the end of Murder to Mercy: The Cyntoia Brown Story, former state prosecutor Preston Shipp considers his shifting thoughts on the notion of justice. Its shouldnt be about alleging rule violations, he says, but about trying to achieve the right outcome in each case. In other words, for all the rigors of law and order, true justice isnt procedural: its as changeable and untidy as human behavior itself. Tracing the contours and reversals of an ugly legal affair that initially saw underage sex worker Cyntoia Brown sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of an adult predator, Daniel H. Birmans documentary is likewise most rewarding when it focuses on messy human complexities over chilly courtroom process. What begins as seemingly another lurid Netflix true-crime excavation emerges as a considerably more affecting testament to the damage wrought by generation upon generation of sexual abuse. Many a casual viewer may recognize the subjects name from a viral hashtag: Buoyed by an initial endorsement from Rihanna, with other celebrity supporters following in her wake, #FreeCyntoiaBrown rippled through social media platforms in an online sphere newly angered and energized by the #MeToo movement. By that time, Brown had been incarcerated for over a decade in her home state of Tennessee, having been convicted of first-degree murder as a mere teenager following a court case that set aside such mitigating factors as the age and vulnerability of a 16-year-old child killing the middle-aged man who had solicited her for sex. More from Variety That was in 2004, and Murder to Mercy emphatically drives home the point that our collective legal and cultural understanding of such cases has evolved considerably in the last decade and a half: Where Brown was charged and tried as a prostitute, she would today be regarded in court as a victim of sex trafficking. This is a change in status and perspective now entrenched in Tennessee law: a critical factor in the long-delayed reevaluation of Browns case and a push for clemency. Birman tracks that progress in steady, linear fashion, working through attorneys and prosecutors, as the tight, tense strings of Jongnic Bontemps score contribute a general courtroom-drama snap to proceedings. Story continues On those terms, Murder to Mercy is gripping enough if not exactly surprising even to viewers who havent followed the prominent headlines around the case. But the film enters more challenging territory as its gaze turns more intimately inward, to focus on Browns familial history of violence, neglect and mental illness, and her attempt to build something more constructive from that unhappy legacy. The most stirring and upsetting material here emerges from frank interviews taken, over the course of 15 years, with the three women who shaped, directly or otherwise, the subjects upbringing: Browns biological mother Georgina Mitchell, whose substance abuse throughout her teenage pregnancy left her daughter with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder; her suicidally inclined biological grandmother Joan Warren, who permitted Georgina to be sexually molested by a neighbor from an early age; and her kindly adoptive mother Ellenette Brown, who believed she could protect her daughter from such hereditary misfortune and psychic pain. Birman and editor Megan E. Chao collate these frank testimonies to complementary and occasionally conflicting effect, without demonizing any participant. The villain in this cavernously sad story is both vast and invisible, a sociopolitical tangle of patriarchal mores and authoritarian hard lines that were rigged against Brown before she ever pulled a trigger. Her story has a surging, hopeful finale: The 32-year-old woman we meet at the documentarys close seems somehow younger yet wiser than the spiny teenager encountered in archive footage who describes herself as old, tired and weary setting myself up for failure. Still, her happy ending (or happier beginning, if you prefer) isnt unduly sentimentalized. Rather, one leaves Murder to Mercy with the sense that many young women from Browns background will be similarly hardened, abused and punished in a society where they still have to battle to be heard and believed. Yet there are glimmering signals here of systemic repair, not least in the secondary story of Browns former prosecutor Shipp, now turned an advocate for justice reform and a crucial champion of her case. There is a multitude of smaller transformative arcs buttressing and elevating Cyntoia Browns here, to the extent that this slickly and conventionally constructed documentary occasionally seems to be cutting some narrative corners. Its key story, however, is urgent and finally defiant. Justice doesnt simply prevail in Murder to Mercy; it has to change to come good. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. When travelers once again feel comfortable enough to book flights and return to the skies, how will the airlines keep them safe and sanitary in a post-coronavirus world? Italy-based airplane seating company Aviointeriors is already looking at two potential answers to that question. This week, the company rolled out a pair of radical economy class seating concepts with germ-blocking physical barriers between fliers. The most eye-catching is the companys Janus concept, a row of three seats where every middle seat is positioned backwards. Fliers in the aisle and window seats face forward in the direction of flight. A wrap-around transparent barrier envelopes each passenger, providing a big plastic cocoon that protects from germs, bad breath, and fights for the armrest. The barrier curves around the aisle seat passenger too, giving him or her some extra protection from people walking up and down the airplane aisles. According to Aviointeriors, the high shield prevents breath propagation to occupants of adjacent seats. The company named the seat after the Roman god Janus who was the authority of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, and endings. He is usually depicted with two faces - one that looks to the future and the other that looks to the past. Aviointeriors other concept is called Glassafe, which resembles a see-through plastic hood that is attached onto existing economy class seats. Glassafe allows airlines to minimize contacts and interactions via air between passenger and passenger, so as to reduce the probability of contamination by viruses or other, according to Aviointeriors. The concepts debuted this week, but no airlines have stepped forward yet to express their interest in the products. Aviointeriors splashy ideas in the airline seating world are well documented. It is the company behind the infamous Skyrider flying saddle seat. (See our post about that seat here.) In the meantime, all U.S. airlines are already enacting social distancing on flights to decrease the likelihood of fliers getting each other or crew members sick. Delta, American, United and Alaska Airlines are all blocking middle seats in economy class and capping the maximum capacity of jets to increase distancing on flights. Alaska Airlines is upping the ante a bit by offering its customers free flight changes and cancelations if they are not happy with the level of on-board distancing. Social distancing when flying commercially is easy to achieve when passenger demand is almost zero, as is the case now. Might these policies stay in place when people are ready to get back into the air? If they do, the head of the International Air Transport Association believes social-distancing airline seating will mean more expensive ticket prices because airlines will need to charge more to recoup the losses from all those empty seats. If social distancing is imposed, cheap travel is over, Alexandre de Juniac, director general of IATA, told reporters Tuesday. Read all recent TravelSkills posts here Chris McGinnis is SFGATE's senior travel correspondent. You can reach him via email or follow him on Twitter or Facebook. Don't miss a shred of important travel news by signing up for his FREE weekly email updates! SFGATE participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. CLEVELAND, Ohio Ohios order closing non-essential businesses due to the coronavirus pandemic forced many companies to adapt to having employees working from home. To some companies, what felt initially like a temporary inconvenience might hasten the transition into a new normal. Northeast Ohio businesses of all sizes say theyve seen benefits to having employees working from home instead of a traditional office setting. Employees have enjoyed the conveniences of home offices, and those with young children have more flexible schedules. Companies, meanwhile, say theyve noticed employees have been more productive amid the pandemic, free from workplace distractions like unnecessary meetings. An increase in employees working from home could also have broader impacts on a business. Jobseekers would not be hindered by geography if they could work from home. A company would be free to hire the best candidate even if they live halfway across the U.S. If a company has fewer employees working in an office, it could save on real estate or rent, or perhaps convert to an entirely work-from-home model and altogether abandon a physical space. In the past, companies may have been reluctant to let their employees work from home out of a concern that it would lead to a decrease in productivity, said Robert Bob Smith, the chairman of the board for JobsOhio, the states economic-development nonprofit. Smith feels the abrupt shift to work-from-home forced companies to see things differently. The realities of working remotely have destroyed many of the myths, said Smith, also a partner and Cleveland market leader at the wealth management firm Cerity Partners. Employees working from home or remotely is not novel; companies had workers scattered across the globe or in satellite offices well before the coronavirus pandemic made it more necessary than ever. As technology improved, though, its become a more feasible option for a more significant percentage of the workforce. Now that employees have been able to work from home amid the pandemic effectively, theyll likely want the option to do so moving forward, said Bill Blausey, the senior vice president and chief information officer for industrial manufacturer Eaton Corp. Its inevitable that more people will want to work this way, will request the flexible arrangements, and will want to move in that direction, Blausey said. Business leaders told cleveland.com its unlikely theyll transition to an entirely work-from-home model, at least in the near term. There are too many advantages to having a physical office space; it helps coworkers build camaraderie, and it feels more professional to meet a client in a conference room than at a local Starbucks. Still, its likely many of the work-from-home habits that have emerged from the coronavirus crisis will be here to stay. Attorney Ian Friedman, a partner at the Friedman & Nemecek in Cleveland and president of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, expects his law firm will offer more opportunities for remote work moving forward. It doesnt have to be all or nothing, Friedman said. It could be something where you go into the office when you need to, and work from home when you dont. Working from home could change the way businesses operate For workers, theres an undeniable appeal to having the option to do your job from home. Commuters could avoid traffic on the way to and from the office. Parents could have the flexibility to stay home with a sick child without having to take a day off. Dog-owners could take their dog for a walk in the middle of the day. This is going to change the way businesses operate, after so much of a large-scale exposure to work-from-home, said Fred Franks, the CIO of Cleveland-based IT services firm FIT Technologies. Its not perfect, but it has a lot of advantages. Work-from-home could benefit businesses, too. Group Management Services, a Richfield- based organization that provides human resources and other services to businesses, allowed some employees to work from home before the pandemic. GMS employees have been adapting well to the sudden change, so remote work will likely become more routine, said Christian Tracey, the companys chief technology officer. Theres some people who are getting more done, Tracey said. Theyre not getting hauled into meetings they probably didnt need to be at. So in some ways its made us more efficient. Before the pandemic, roughly 8,000 of the more than 100,000 employees of Eaton Corp. worked from home each day. The company, which manufactures electrical, hydraulic, aerospace and vehicle products, has approximately 24,000 remote workers amid the crisis, Blausey said. Eaton is using videoconferencing for meetings, but Blausey thinks the company can apply the technology to other aspects of the companys day-to-day business. Certain Eaton products must go through witness testing, or be approved by government officials or customers before they are shipped. Workers could do the inspections remotely using a process similar to the one that allows doctors to assess patients through videoconferencing, Blausey said. In my mind, its a better way to do it, Blausey said. Why travel, why spend the money if this is a capable way of doing witness testing, as an example. If companies allow more of their employees to work from home, they could dramatically increase the pool of candidates for specific jobs. Tracey said GMS could now hire a job seeker who does not live within driving distance of any of the companys 10 office spaces throughout the eastern U.S. It absolutely has changed the thinking as far as how we will recruit and hire, Tracey said. Now we dont have to worry so much about the geographic limitations. Working from home has pros and cons for businesses There are technological impediments to businesses rapidly shifting their employees to work-from-home. Previously, large companies could fortify the internet security around their office building, similar to defending a castle, Franks said. But would need to secure every computer and phone an employee takes home, he said. A lot of organizations have already started doing that. But for the ones that havent, if they want to take [work-from-home] seriously, they have to, Franks said. There are significant opportunities for companies to save money if their employees work from home, though. Reducing rent costs by having smaller offices could be especially appealing to companies that are struggling due to the coronavirus, said Smith, the JobsOhio board chairman. Necessity requires them to save money wherever they can, and I think you will see a strong leaning into the opportunity to have workers work remotely, he said. Criminal defense attorney Ashley Jones is a solo practitioner with an office in downtown Cleveland, but she shares an Akron office with another lawyer. She thinks its possible more solo practitioners or small firms will start sharing space and use work-from-home to reduce the need to be in the office. I definitely think its teaching us that there are ways businesses can be more lean, Jones said. Business leaders told cleveland.com its too early to say if the stay-at-home order could lead to smaller business offices, and more employees working remotely. But most expect companies will consider it. I think a lot of lawyers have been talking about whether they really need such large spaces, Friedman said. I dont know if the space needs to be what its always been. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Michael Nienaber and Andreas Rinke (Reuters) Berlin, Germany Thu, April 23, 2020 14:02 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3c9111 2 World Germany,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,economic-impact,cash-aid,cash-benefit Free Germany's coalition parties on Thursday agreed to further measures worth some 10 billion euros ($10.81 billion) to shield workers and companies from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The aid package includes higher state transfers for people in short-time work schemes, according to a document agreed by senior members of Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition. The parties agreed to temporarily lower the tax burden for the catering industry through a reduced VAT rate of 7% for food and to give tax relief for small companies by simplifying loss carry forward. The package also envisages increased financial support of the federal government worth 500 million euros for schools and pupils to boost e-learning and digitalization. "Germany has successfully slowed down the COVID19 pandemic through drastic restrictions. This has significant economic and social consequences," the coalition parties said in a joint statement issued after more than seven hours of negotiations. "Nevertheless, we can only loosen the restrictions in small steps, because the virus is still widespread in Germany and we must not jeopardize success by another exponential wave of infections," the parties said. The package will allow the government to keep financial means for future measures, the parties said, suggesting that the government wants to keep some of its fiscal powder dry in the event of another escalation in the outbreak. Germany has already approved an initial rescue package worth over 750 billion euros to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, with the government taking on new debt for the first time since 2013. The first package agreed in March comprises a debt-financed supplementary budget of 156 billion euros and a stabilization fund worth 600 billion euros for loans to struggling businesses and direct stakes in companies. With hundreds arrayed before him, standing shoulder to shoulder, the retired Army colonel vented his fury from the steps of Pennsylvania's capitol building. The governor's orders to shut down businesses in the face of a pandemic, he railed to a crowd of protesters this week, amounted to "tyranny." He had battled overseas to defend freedom. Now, with the governor telling healthy people like him to stay home - "What the heck is going on here? I'm not sick!" - the fight had come to America's shores. "It's time to rise up!" he exhorted as the crowd roared. Then Doug Mastriano walked inside the soaring, green-domed home of the Pennsylvania legislature and began his day job: as a Republican state senator. With a backlash against coronavirus restrictions generating demonstrations at state capitol buildings nationwide, organizers have framed the protests as organic and grass-roots. But some of the biggest cheerleaders for an end to the mandatory social distancing that experts say is necessary to bend the coronavirus curve are lawmakers working from within. Taking cues from President Donald Trump, they are using their platforms to encourage citizens to "liberate" their states from restrictions that have caused widespread economic misery. The push among legislators is adding to the pressure on governors who have resisted Trump's wish to see states open up again as of May 1. While some governors have eagerly announced an easing of restrictions, most have not, citing guidance from medical experts that a premature opening could cost many lives. But governors who stay the course with closures are increasingly facing demands from state lawmakers that they pivot faster. In Ohio, business groups are aggressively lobbying the state legislature to force Republican Gov. Mike DeWine to open up to save the economy. Wisconsin's Republican-dominated legislature on Tuesday went so far as to sue health officials advising Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to block an extension of his stay-at-home order. And in Pennsylvania, the Republican majority passed a bill to make it far easier for businesses to resume operations. The Democratic governor, Tom Wolf, vetoed that legislation last week, citing the opinion of medical experts who insist the state is not yet ready to safely relax. But Republicans have vowed to try again - and to peel off enough Democratic support to override any veto. With unemployment and frustration both rising fast, that point may come, said Christopher Borick, director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion. "When it comes really depends on the nature of the virus, and on the governor's ability to make his case that his actions are called for," Borick said. The showdown in Pennsylvania - perhaps the nation's ultimate swing state - reflects the clash of visions playing out across the country as state governments weigh how and when to allow their populations to resume some semblance of normal life. As in most states, it's largely been absent in Pennsylvania, where schools, businesses deemed nonessential and gatherings of any size have all been shut down or banned. Although backing for stay-at-home measures has been relatively robust - in Pennsylvania, and nationwide - there is a stark political divide, with Republicans significantly less likely to be supportive. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll released Thursday found that 80% of respondents said strict shelter-in-place measures are worth it to protect people and limit the spread of the coronavirus, including 61% of Republicans asked. A Yahoo News/YouGov national poll released Sunday found that 60% of respondents opposed protesters calling to immediately end stay-at-home and social distancing measures vs. 22% who supported them. In Pennsylvania, attitudes about whether to stay closed or open have been driven both by partisanship and geography. Most of the state's approximately 36,000 confirmed covid-19 cases have been concentrated in Pennsylvania's largest city, Philadelphia, and the surrounding suburbs - almost all Democratic strongholds. In more rural central and western parts of the state, where Republicans dominate, cases have been relatively few - and the backlash against stay-at-home orders has been building. When protesters gathered at the state capitol building Monday in Harrisburg, the parade of state legislators who spoke out against the governor's restrictions reflected that divide. The protest was called by several groups that did not exist only weeks ago. One of them, Pennsylvanians Against Excessive Quarantine, was created by a trio of brothers - Ben, Christopher and Aaron Dorr - who are longtime gun-rights activists. Links from Facebook pages promoting the rally redirected to the site for a Dorr-run group, the Pennsylvania Firearms Association. Organizers had said rallygoers would observe social distancing. But while many stayed in their vehicles - honking and cheering as they drove past - hundreds and perhaps as many as 3,000, according to police,emerged to mingle freely, shake hands and applaud side by side as speaker upon speaker demanded an end to the statewide shutdown. "We're going to make some noise and let the elected officials know we're here!" Aaron Bernstine announced as he took his turn at the mic. Bernstine, like most of those who addressed the crowd, is himself an elected official: a Republican state representative whose relatively rural district hugs the Ohio border. In an interview, he said he was driven to speak out by the anger he was hearing among his constituents toward restrictions that have crushed many small businesses even as large retailers continue to operate. "Many governors have taken action with a hatchet rather than a scalpel," he said. "Big-box stores are able to stay open while mom-and-pop businesses are left out in the cold." Rather than judge whether businesses can remain open based on what's essential or nonessential, Bernstine said, the standard should be whether the business can be run safely. And individuals, he said, should be given more authority to make that determination - a theme repeated by many who spoke Monday. "We don't need our lives micromanaged," Russ Diamond, a fellow Republican state representative, told the crowd. "I trust you!" Public health experts, however, said the rally was not necessarily confidence-inspiring. Rachel Levine, the state's health secretary, noted that while citizens have a right to protest, the demonstration brought people from different parts of the state - and even from other states - into close contact with one another for a prolonged period. Many were not wearing masks or gloves. "That," she said, "is how covid-19 spreads." She urged anyone who attended the rally and feels sick in the coming days to contact their doctor. The rally's primary message - that the state is ready to loosen stay-at-home requirements - was also not backed up by science, said Alison Buttenheim, who teaches health policy at the University of Pennsylvania. Before that can happen, she said, the state needs a sustained drop in new coronavirus cases and a dramatic increase in testing capacity. Until then, she said, "the idea that we can ease up is exactly the wrong answer." Wolf on Tuesday said areas of the state that have seen low case numbers could see an easing of restrictions by May 8. But he has refused to bow to demands to move more rapidly, or to open up the entire state at once. Democrats in the state legislature, said Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, overwhelmingly support that approach. "The governor has a plan to reopen the economy. That's a plan we need to follow," said Costa, who represents the Pittsburgh area. "I understand the frustration. People want to get back to work," he said. But anyone who wants to reopen immediately "is not listening to our health experts and officials who tell us that we're not there yet. The data has to drive this." Costa said he was alarmed Monday to see a number of Republican lawmakers mingling with rallygoers, without apparent regard for social distancing and without masks or other face coverings. After they left the rally, they joined him in the legislature. "From a health perspective," said Costa, who was the only Democrat on the Senate floor this week as others participated remotely, "it wasn't something I was pleased to see." Mastriano, the former Army colonel and current state senator, was less concerned. Although he spent hours talking with protesters - and filming his interactions for his Facebook page - he said in an interview that he's not worried by the prospect of contracting covid-19. "I refuse to live in fear and bondage," he said. Mastriano served 30 years in the Army, including tours in Europe when the Iron Curtain came down, in Iraq for the 1991 Persian Gulf War and in Afghanistan, where he directed NATO's joint intelligence center. After retiring, he was elected to represent a district in the south-central part of Pennsylvania. The district has seen relatively few coronavirus infections, he said, but has been hit hard by layoffs and shutdowns stemming from the governor's restrictions. "It's really been a rough time," he said. "I feel a lot of the fear and anxiety from my people." Those emotions were on display Monday - along with anger and impatience as protesters wielded signs proclaiming "The Media is the Virus" and "Make America Free Again." An old military vehicle circled with several heavily armed men waving their weapons from the back. Mastriano said he approved of Trump's tweets calling for citizens to "liberate" Minnesota, Michigan and Virginia, and only wished that the president had included Pennsylvania. His own speech appeared to be channeling Trump, with hints at confrontation and defiance - but no outright call for either. Having told the crowd it was time to fight against "tyranny" and for freedom, he said he had heard that there were plans to "do something else" on May 1 if the governor refused to end restrictions by then. "What are you going to do?" he asked. "What are you going to do?" The answer from the crowd came in a shouted reply: "Open it up!" - - - The Washington Post's Scott Clement contributed to this report CLEVELAND, Ohio University Hospitals, citing a decline in emergency room visits because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, says it will temporarily close several ERs in Northeast Ohio in order to save costs. A news release from the hospital system says freestanding ERs in Avon, Amherst, Broadview Heights, Kent and Twinsburg will temporarily suspend operations at 7 a.m. Sunday. Ambulatory services at these locations will remain open. The hospital system previously has suspended ER operations in Andover and North Ridgeville. Emergency departments remain open at all UH hospitals. The COVID-19 pandemic is requiring University Hospitals to carefully evaluate and align systemwide programs and services to meet evolving patient care needs, the release says. An unforeseen consequence of the pandemic has been a sharp decline in the number of patients visiting UH emergency departments systemwide. UH says patient visits are down 50% at hospital-based emergency departments and more than 70% at freestanding ERs. Urgent care facilities in Broadview Heights, Kent and Twinsburg will remain open. UH will open urgent cares in Amherst and Avon on Monday. UH says it is notifying government officials at all levels about the closures. Caregivers at the closed locations will be offered chances to work at the new urgent cares and other locations in the hospital system. Earlier Wednesday, UH announced it was cutting the hours and pay of 4,100 workers not directly involved in patient care by 20 percent for 10 weeks. The hospital system blamed the cuts on the high costs of preparing for a surge of patients during the pandemic, and a sharp decrease in revenue from non-essential surgeries and procedures. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Wednesday he is asking hospitals to review any elective surgeries theyve postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic so they can start resuming those procedures. Hospitals across the U.S. are struggling financially because of the coronavirus pandemic. The American Hospital Association estimates losses for hospitals at $1 million a day, according to CNN. Hospitals have seen significant losses in revenue while absorbing increased costs for staff and supplies, CNN reports. More coverage on cleveland.com: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine denounces state senator for comment on post that equated anti-coronavirus measures with Nazi Germany 2 more Clevelanders die of COVID-19 coronavirus, 10 new city cases confirmed by state 2 pet cats test positive for coronavirus in New York Parma Fire Department and five other area departments salute frontline workers at University Hospitals in Parma (photos, video) This could happen in Ohio if were not careful, say Cleveland Clinic doctor, nurse fighting coronavirus in New York hospital A creche worker has appeared in court charged with the assault causing harm of a two year old girl in her care. At Gort District Court today, Sgt Daithi Cronin alleged that the 20 year old south Galway woman committed the offence of mishandling of a child and cruelty at a premises in south Galway on August 11th last. The premises is not a creche and Sgt Cronin stated after the prosecution and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) viewed the CCTV of the alleged assault, it was recommended that the accused be charged with assault causing harm contrary to Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act of the two year old. Sgt Cronin stated: As a member of staff of the creche, a two year old under the care of the creche was assaulted in some way and handled in a certain way. Asked what was the nature of the assault by Judge Patrick Durcan, Sgt Cronin said that it involved the pushing down onto a bed and the rough handling a child. After hearing an outline of the allegations against the accused, Judge Durcan stated that he would accept jurisdiction in the case and the case will be heard in the district court and not the circuit court. The ruling by Judge Durcan means that the penalty that can be applied on the accused if convicted is a maximum of 12 months in jail rather than a prison term up to five years in the circuit court. The accused did not appear in person in court today due to Covid 19 restrictions but her solicitor, Ann Gillane appeared on her behalf. Sgt Cronin stated that he would make available the CCTV and any other disclosure in the case to Ms Gillane. Judge Durcan stated that he would impose reporting restrictions on the identity of the accused for now. He stated that he would further consider the matter on the next date. He stated: My feeling is that there should not be reporting restriction and when I deal with the matter ultimately, I may vacate todays order. Judge Durcan adjourned the case to May 28th to find out if a guilty plea is to be entered or if the charge is to be contested. Judge Durcan stated that if there is to be a guilty plea, the CCTV should be organised to show on that date. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Tuswadi (The Jakarta Post) Banjarnegara, Central Java Thu, April 23, 2020 09:38 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3b2b85 3 Opinion COVID-19,coronavirus,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,healthcare,pandemic Free The COVID-19 outbreak in Indonesia continues to take its toll, including among physicians, nurses and other supporting health workers. The province with the greatest number of positive COVID-19 cases is still the capital, followed by West Java, East Java and Banten. The Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) reported on April 5 that 24 doctors in the country had died either after testing positive for the novel coronavirus or while they were listed as patients under surveillance. Medical personnel are certainly exposed to the virus when treating COVID-19 patients in hospital. On April 12, the Reform Union of Pharmacy and Health Workers (FSP FARKES/R) reported that 44 physicians, including 12 nurses, had died from COVID-19. We are devastated at these seemingly preventive deaths, likely caused by a lack of safety facilities for medical personnel, including standardized personal protective equipment. Read also: COVID-19: Indonesia to export PPE to South Korea as compensation for raw materials Excessive fear and lack of knowledge about the status of COVID-19 victims have led to ridiculous behavior that is far from humane. Some communities have rejected the burial of those known or believed to have died from the virus. In some cases, bodies were dug up again to be buried elsewhere following surrounding residents protests as they cited fearpas of the soil and water being contaminated. Such incidents were reported in Makassar and Gowa in South Sulawesi and Banyumas in Central Java, among other places. No less heartbreaking is the story of a nurse identified as NK who died in the Dr. Kariadi General Hospital in Semarang, Central Java, on April 9. The 38-year-old passed away after treating a COVID-19 patient. The nurses burial was rejected by residents in her hometown of Ungaran, Semarang regency, and the ambulance brought her body back to the hospital. Similar protests have occurred despite explanations that the remains of COVID-19 victims are treated with strict special protocol. Finally, the nurse was buried in a cemetery for hospital employees and their families with special honors as a heroine! We do not fully blame the excessive actions of some people who reject such burials as the information and knowledge about COVID-19 may have not really been conveyed effectively to all members of the public. People who fall victim to hoaxes on social media are vulnerable to hyped-up fears about how they could catch the virus, including from the deceased. Since the beginning of the outbreak, massive information and education campaigns on everything related to the virus and the pandemic should have reached the grass roots and their local authorities, down to the neighborhood levels; what the novel coronavirus is, how individuals or as community members should prevent transmission, mitigation after an area is exposed, the protocol for handling corpses of COVID-19 victims and so forth. Armed with the right knowledge from the right sources, ordinary people will have a strong foundation in acting responsibly to anticipate COVID-19. Indonesians have shown strong solidarity during this pandemic. Officials, businesses, celebrities, artists, NGOs and ordinary community members organize resources whether it is money, goods and energy to raise donations to marginalized communities affected by COVID-19. However, our communities still lack sensitivity to the feelings of families who have lost loved ones to the virus. Rejection against the burial of the deceased and having to have them buried in a designated place for COVID-19 victims really hurts the families. The bodies are regarded with horror and even disgust by residents who fear they could be contaminated, while the deceased are respected and innocent persons and the physicians and nurses are in the frontline handling the COVID-19 patients none are criminals that deserve to be rejected! The trauma of a family member of a COVID-19 victim can last for years and can disrupt their mental health. It is inconceivable how sad and painful they must feel when they manage to visit the graves each time with fresh memories of the rejection of their burial. Read also: 'They need mental support': RSPI Sulianti Saroso nurse shares experience treating COVID-19 I propose that each COVID-19 victim should be buried in the nearest public cemetery to where he or she died. This will save time in addition to adhering to the strict protocols in treating the body and conducting the burial to ensure safety for all. We must continue to lift up the spirits of the victims families instead of hurting their feelings. Particularly regarding health workers who have died because of the virus, hopefully, respective regional governments will allow their local heroes cemeteries to be the final resting place for the deceased doctors, nurses and other paramedics who died on duty, a policy that Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo is pursuing. They deserve the highest respect as heroes of humanity who attempted to save citizens and the nation against COVID-19. This proposal is also in line with the 1996 Social Affairs Ministerial Decree that civilians proved to be of great merit for the nation could be buried in the heroes cemeteries. Hopefully, President Joko Jokowi Widodo, who himself has expressed praise for all frontliners, can grasp the urgency to instill public respect for the sacrifice of these health workers. As a nation based on the Pancasila state ideology, there is no place for the bullying of victims of COVID-19, alive or dead, along with their family members. Anybody can be infected, regardless of social status, age, religion and race. ____ Member of the Indonesian Young Academy of Sciences (ALMI) and director of Politeknik Banjarnegara Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. President Donald Trump answers questions from the media during a daily briefing on the CCP virus in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House on April 21, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) White House Briefing Places Spotlight on Pro-Beijing Broadcaster Phoenix TV, and Its Dangerous Propaganda Commentary In February, the U.S. State Department announced that the Chinese regimes main state-run news outlets will be placed under the Office of Foreign Missions designation. These outlets and their employees will be identified as agents of the Chinese state. The media outlets are: Xinhua News Agency; China Global Television Network (CGTN), the international arm of state-run broadcaster CCTV; China Radio International; China Daily Distribution Corp; and Hai Tian Development USA, which distributes the Peoples Daily, the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) official mouthpiece. Phoenix TV isnt on the list. A Phoenix TV reporter named Youyou Wang stated to President Donald Trump at a White House briefing by the CCP virus task force on April 6 that the Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV is a private entity. When Trump questioned the reporter about her affiliation, the reporter three times denied working for China. After the incident, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) wrote in a tweet, Its bad enough that the mainstream media tries to censor conservative American outlets, but now it is actively providing a platform for Chinese state-run propaganda. Why does the Communist Party have a seat in the briefing room while @OANN is banned? Having Access to Both Sides Its common knowledge that Phoenix TV is private in name only. A 2019 report by Stanford Universitys Hoover Institution, titled Chinas Influence & American Interests, describes Phoenix TV as quasi-official with links to the PRCs Ministry of State Security and fully controlled by Chinese government. While Chinese state-run mouthpieces are now under tighter regulation outside China, the quasi-official media outlets, such as Phoenix TV, still enjoy access to markets both inside and outside China. A Freedom House report pointed out that by August 2016, in the United States, Chinas state-run CCTV News was available in 90.7 million cable-viewing households. Phoenix TV was available in 79.5 million households. By contrast, have any Western media outlets been granted access to tens of millions of viewers in mainland China? Phoenix TV is one of a handful of foreign satellite TV stations with landing rights in mainland China. Phoenix TV, which was founded in 1996, is traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The biggest shareholder is founder and Chairman Liu Changle, who is said to have close ties to former CCP head Jiang Zemin and has a background as a Chinese military intelligence officer. The second-biggest shareholder is China Mobile, which is controlled by Jiangs son. Phoenix Satellite Television Holdings also owns Phoenix New Media, or ifeng.com, which is the online arm of the Phoenix conglomerate. Phoenix New Media is based in Beijing and traded on the New York Stock Exchange. It has branch offices in many cities around the globe. Grand External Propaganda Because of its unique position, Phoenix TV and ifeng.com have been integral to the Chinese regimes Grand External Propaganda campaign. In October 2019, representatives from more than 400 pro-Beijing Chinese-language media in 61 countries attended the Global Chinese Language Media Forum in a city near Beijing. The theme was, how to better tell the China story. A high-ranking Party official gave the opening speech, urging the Chinese-language media to play an important role in presenting a prosperous, stable, and modern China to the world; and to contribute to establishing connections between China and the world. Two lists of pro-CCP Chinese language media operating outside of China were publicized in 2007 and 2019. Phoenix TV is on both lists and likely the largest one. CCP Propaganda Exported and Then Imported How is Beijings propaganda being carried out by Phoenix TV? We look again to another recent White House briefing incident. As mentioned earlier, the Phoenix TV reporter, who lied about her affiliation with China on April 6, had another Q&A with Trump on March 20. At the time, the Chinese regime was under increasing scrutiny for its mishandling of the CCP virus. Beijing intensified its disinformation campaign claiming that the virus originated in the United States. It was also around this time that Trump explained why he chose to call the virus the Chinese virus, to counter Beijings false narrative. The Phoenix reporter was given a chance to ask a question at the CCP virus task force briefing. She started with a long statement on how China was working with the World Health Organization. Then she spoke about the United States decision to stop receiving flights from China. She asked Trump why he said China didnt notify the world earlier about the virus, and why he calls it the Chinese virus. Trump responded by commenting on his good relationship with CCP leader Xi Jinping, and that he respects China. Then, he reiterated that the virus originated from China and that the outbreak there got out of control. The next day, ifeng.com published a long report in Chinese, in which the Phoenix reporter Wang said that Trump was evasive in answering her question, and that his calling the virus the Chinese virus was to divert attention and politicize the matter, and that it has already made the [overseas] Chinese community angry. The Chinese report also linked to a video consisting of short clips of Trumps comments strung together, translating the clips into Chinese to show how inconsistent the U.S. presidents words were. This way, ifeng.com utilized the press briefing moment as a tool to push CCP propaganda. To mainland Chinese readers, the report validated Beijings vilification of the United States. One might ask, what did ifeng.com say about the Phoenix TV reporter denying her affiliation to China on April 6? The answer is, nothing so far. Brief History of Phoenix TV Catering to Beijing In early 2003, a whistleblower doctor contacted Phoenix TV, wanting to speak about the true situation of Chinas SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak. The broadcaster didnt respond. In October 2005, a broadcast and engineering director for Phoenix TVs North American cable TV division, Tai Wang Mak, was arrested for conspiring with his brother to act as an intelligence agent for China. When Mak was arrested, he was at the Los Angeles airport ready to board a plane headed to Hong Kong, carrying secret design documents that his brother stole from his American employerabout a new electric-drive submarine propulsion system. Mak was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment in 2008. In 2012, Terence Shen, a former Phoenix TV employee in Hong Kong, revealed some internal documents via his YouTube channel. These documents, from 2012 to 2013, showed directives from the broadcasters higher-ups on how to cover the news. One directive came from a high ranking military official regarding a scale surrounding Chinas then-defense minister Liang Guanglie offering cash tips to Indian pilots during a visit to India: Phoenix must not quote, report, nor comment on this matter, the directive said. In 2015 to 2016, five Hong Kong booksellers who published books critical of the Chinese regimes top officials suddenly disappeared. They were later discovered to have been abducted and sent to the mainland for detention. Phoenix TV aired videos of their forced confessions while they were being detained. One of the booksellers, Li Bo, was forced to say that he wasnt kidnapped but went to mainland China voluntarily to cooperate with the investigation, and that hed promised not to sell such books anymore. During Hong Kongs mass protests in 2019, Phoenix TV consistently toed Beijings line in portraying the pro-democracy protesters as violent rioters. Currently, most of the top headline news on the ifeng.com homepage is about Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Many news items are direct reprints from Xinhua, a Chinese state media outlet. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. - Preliminary Fiscal 2019 Results Consistent with Previously Announced Full Year Guidance - Strong Start to Fiscal 2020 Based on Preliminary First Quarter 2020 Interim Results - Earnings for Fiscal 2019 and First Quarter 2020 Expected on or Before June 15 and July 14, respectively OAKLAND, CA and TORONTO, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Harborside Inc. ("Harborside" or "the Company") (CSE: HBOR), a California-focused, vertically integrated cannabis enterprise, today announced preliminary unaudited results for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 ("Fiscal 2019"), and its first quarter ended March 31, 2020 ("First Quarter 2020"), and provided a business update ahead of the announcement of its finalized year-end earnings which will take place on or before June 15, 2020. All dollar amounts in this press release are in U.S. dollars. "I am very pleased with Harborside's continued strong growth and the significant turnaround in profitability starting in the last months of 2019 and which has shown continued improvement through the first quarter of 2020. Notably in the First Quarter 2020, we experienced company best revenue and positive Adjusted EBITDA." said Peter Bilodeau, Chairman and Interim CEO of Harborside. "The strategic and operational initiatives we have implemented are bearing fruit, resulting in strong financial performance at all our California business units while at the same time continuing to fulfill the needs of California consumers and patients through the supply of high quality cannabis products. As of late, our entire team has been rallying to ensure continued safe access to essential cannabis products during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and I couldn't be more proud." Bilodeau continued, "Harborside is well positioned to successfully weather today's unprecedented circumstances and to maintain our stature as one of the leading California cannabis companies. Implementation of improved financial controls, along with enhanced procurement procedures and increased sales of in-house brands, have led to profitability in First Quarter 2020. Additionally, the Company expects to show positive cash flow from operations in First Quarter 2020 and ended the quarter with more than $12 million in cash." Preliminary Fiscal 2019 and First Quarter 2020 Highlights (3) These preliminary and unaudited operating metrics and financial results are subject to the Company's customary annual and interim closing, as well as financial statement procedures by the Company and its auditors. Actual results could be affected by subsequent events or determinations. While the Company believes there is a reasonable basis for these preliminary financial results, the results involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. These preliminary fiscal results represent forward-looking information. See "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information" and "Assumptions" below. Previously-Reported Fiscal 2019 Guidance Preliminary Fiscal 2019 Results(2) Preliminary First Quarter 2020 Results(2) Revenue $50 to $52 million approx. $50 million approx. $14 million Adjusted EBITDA(1) negative negative positive Fiscal 2019(2)(3) Revenue for the year is expected to be up approximately 16% year-over-year to approximately $50.3 million (excluding any previously unaccounted for adjustments for reserves), which was driven by approximately 5% growth in retail revenue and approximately 99% growth in wholesale revenue. Retail strength was driven by higher sales activity at the two flagship Harborside stores in Oakland and San Jose , the two Oregon stores, as well as the revenues from the new store in Desert Hot Springs that opened in early December, which is one of only two California dispensaries with a licensed drive-thru operation. Strong wholesale growth was driven by increased scale of cultivation, improved product quality, expanded distribution throughout the state for the Company's cannabis products, and enhanced focus on sales and marketing of the Company's in-house brands Key and Harborside Farms. (excluding any previously unaccounted for adjustments for reserves), which was driven by approximately 5% growth in retail revenue and approximately 99% growth in wholesale revenue. Retail strength was driven by higher sales activity at the two flagship Harborside stores in and , the two stores, as well as the revenues from the new store in that opened in early December, which is one of only two dispensaries with a licensed drive-thru operation. Strong wholesale growth was driven by increased scale of cultivation, improved product quality, expanded distribution throughout the state for the Company's cannabis products, and enhanced focus on sales and marketing of the Company's in-house brands Key and Harborside Farms. Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be negative, which is consistent with the financial guidance provided by the Company on November 22, 2019 , when it announced its third quarter 2019 financial results(1). First Quarter 2020(2)(3) Revenue for the quarter is expected to be up approximately 20% year-over-year to approximately $14.4 million , which was driven by approximately 12% growth in retail revenue and approximately 47% growth in wholesale revenue. The continued growth in retail reflects the Company's enhanced merchandising and pricing initiatives which resulted in, amongst other things, improved product mix, selected pricing changes and higher sell-through of internally-produced products (Harborside-branded products represented seven to nine of the 20 top-selling SKUs at Harborside stores in each month of the quarter). Additionally, the Company experienced an increase in sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic during the last two weeks of the quarter, contributing approximately $200,000 of incremental revenue. Also, retail growth was positively affected by the February store opening in San Leandro and the new Desert Hot Springs store, which have recently experienced high demand from local customers in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wholesale growth was primarily driven by improved harvest yields and higher sales volumes at the Company's farm operation in Salinas, California , benefiting in part by the first harvest from the Company's new state-of-the art 44,000 square foot Dutch Venlo greenhouse cultivation facility (the "Venlo Greenhouse"). , which was driven by approximately 12% growth in retail revenue and approximately 47% growth in wholesale revenue. The continued growth in retail reflects the Company's enhanced merchandising and pricing initiatives which resulted in, amongst other things, improved product mix, selected pricing changes and higher sell-through of internally-produced products (Harborside-branded products represented seven to nine of the 20 top-selling SKUs at Harborside stores in each month of the quarter). Additionally, the Company experienced an increase in sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic during the last two weeks of the quarter, contributing approximately of incremental revenue. Also, retail growth was positively affected by the February store opening in and the new store, which have recently experienced high demand from local customers in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wholesale growth was primarily driven by improved harvest yields and higher sales volumes at the Company's farm operation in , benefiting in part by the first harvest from the Company's new state-of-the art 44,000 square foot Dutch Venlo greenhouse cultivation facility (the "Venlo Greenhouse"). Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be positive, driven largely by the Company's retail initiatives, a general operational efficiency improvement program, and headcount reductions across the Company. For the Company's retail operations, gross margin improved from Q3 2019 to First Quarter 2020. Liquidity and Cash Balance(2)(3) As of March 31, 2020, Harborside had approximately $12 million in cash. The change in cash balance since the third quarter of 2019 was primarily due to one-time items, including the purchase of the other 50% equity interest in San Leandro Wellness Solutions (approximately $2.0 million) and subsequent store construction (capital expenditures approximately $0.3 million), payments relating to the completion of its Venlo Greenhouse (approximately $0.7 million), efficiency engagement-related professional fees (approximately $0.5 million) and other retail store construction activities (approximately $0.3 million). The Company is currently reviewing the possibility of generating additional cash by exercising its contractual rights to repurchase the farm property in Salinas, California (the "Salinas Farm Property") and potentially entering into a separate sale leaseback agreement. As part of the process, the Company recently engaged an independent appraiser to determine the value of the Salinas Farm Property and the appraiser determined that as of December 23, 2019, the value of the property was approximately $31 million. The Company holds an option to repurchase the Salinas Farm Property for approximately $11 million and will exercise its option if a suitable sale leaseback agreement can be arranged. Fiscal 2019 and First Quarter 2020 Earnings Dates In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it has on market participants, the Canadian Securities Administrators recently announced temporary relief from certain regulatory filings required to be made on or before June 1, 2020. This blanket relief provides a 45-day extension for periodic filings, including financial statements and management's discussion and analysis, and is implemented through the Ontario Securities Commission Ontario Instrument 51-502 ("Instrument 51-502"). COVID-19 has impacted the Company, its employees, and the Company's ability to rely on timely information in relation to its financial reporting obligations. While demand for the Company's products remain strong, the Company is currently experiencing customer disruptions, and supply chain challenges caused by the spread of COVID-19 and associated shut downs that are impacting the Company's operations in the near term. The Company continues to pursue the best available paths to manage operational risk and preserve capital during this very difficult time. As a result, the Company will be utilizing the extension periods permitted under Instrument 51-502 for: (i) the filing of its annual financial statements and related management's discussion and analysis for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 (the "Annual Filings"); (ii) the filing of its interim financial statements and related management's discussion and analysis for its first quarter in 2020 ended March 31, 2020 (the "Interim Filings"); (iii) the compliance with the delivery requirements of applicable securities laws relating to the Annual Filings and the Interim Filings; and (iv) the filing of executive compensation disclosure. The Annual Filings, which would otherwise have had a filing deadline of April 29, 2020, are expected to be filed on SEDAR on or before June 15, 2020. The Interim Filings, which would otherwise have had a filing deadline of June 1, 2020, are expected to be filed on SEDAR on or before July 14, 2020. Harborside is continuing to work diligently and expeditiously with its auditors to file the Annual Filings and Interim Filings. In the interim, officers, directors and other insiders of the Company will continue to be subject to the Company's insider trading policy, pursuant to which such persons are prohibited from trading in any securities of the Company until the first trading day following the dissemination by the Company of such annual and quarterly results. Other than as previously disclosed by the Company and herein with this press release, Harborside confirms that there have been no material business developments since the date of its third quarter interim financial statements that were filed on November 21, 2019. Update on Oregon Operations Over the past six months, Harborside has conducted a strategic review of its operations to focus on its highest return-on-investment assets, specifically those with potential for revenue growth and profitability within the next 12 months. Coupled with the more recent challenges of COVID-19, the Company has decided to discontinue operations of its retail dispensary in Portland, OR (the "Portland Dispensary"), one of the Company's two dispensaries in the state operating under the Terpene Station brand. The dispensary in Eugene, OR, remains open. Both locations were acquired as part of the reverse takeover transaction with Lineage Grow Company Ltd. in May 2019. The closure of the Portland Dispensary will not have a material impact on the financial results of the Company. The Portland Dispensary represented less than 1% of the total revenue for Fiscal 2019, and experienced operating losses on an adjusted EBITDA basis(1). There are no material shut down costs associated with ceasing operations at the Portland Dispensary. For the latest news, activities, and media coverage, please visit the Harborside corporate website at www.investharborside.com or connect with us on LinkedIn , Facebook , and Twitter . About Harborside: Harborside Inc. is one of the oldest and most respected cannabis retailers in California, operating three of the major dispensaries in the San Francisco Bay Area, a dispensary in the Palm Springs area outfitted with Southern California's only cannabis drive-thru window, a dispensary in Oregon and a cultivation facility in Salinas, California. Harborside has played an instrumental role in making cannabis safe and accessible to a broad and diverse community of California consumers. Co-founded by Steve DeAngelo and dress wedding in 2006, Harborside was awarded one of the first six medical cannabis licenses granted in the United States. Harborside is currently a publicly listed company on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") trading under the ticker symbol "HBOR". Additional information regarding Harborside is available under Harborside's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com . Non-IFRS Measures, Reconciliation and Discussion This press release may contain references to "EBITDA", "Adjusted EBITDA", and "Gross Margin", which are non-IFRS financial measures. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are measures of the Company's overall financial performance and are used as an alternative to earnings or net income in some circumstances. EBITDA and/or Adjusted EBITDA are essentially net income (loss) with interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-cash adjustments and other unusual items added back. This measure can be used to analyze and compare profitability among companies and industries, as it eliminates the effects of financing and capital expenditures. It is often used in valuation ratios and can be compared to enterprise value and revenue. This measure does not have any standardized meaning according to IFRS and therefore may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Gross Margin is the difference between revenue and cost of goods sold (COGS) divided by revenue and is expressed as a percentage. Management believes this measure provides useful information as it represents the value of incremental sales. There are no comparable IFRS financial measures presented in Harborside's financial statements. Reconciliations of the supplemental non-IFRS measures will be presented in the Company's management's discussion and analysis for Fiscal 2019, and First Quarter 2020. These non-IFRS financial measures are presented because management has evaluated the financial results both including and excluding the adjusted items and believe that the non-IFRS financial measures presented provide additional perspective and insights when analyzing the core operating performance of the business. The Company believes that these supplemental measures provide information useful to shareholders and investors in understanding our performance and may assist in the evaluation of the Company's business relative to that of its peers. These non-IFRS financial measures should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for, or as an alternative to, and should be considered in conjunction with, the IFRS financial measures presented in the Company's financial statements. For more information, please see "Non-IFRS Measures" in the Company's management's discussion and analysis for Fiscal 2019, and First Quarter 2020, which will be available on www.sedar.com , on or before June 15 and July 14, respectively. Notes: This is a non-IFRS reporting measure. For a reconciliation of this to the nearest IFRS measure, see "Use of Non-IFRS Measures" and "Non-IFRS Measures" in the Company's management discussion and analysis for Fiscal 2019, and First Quarter 2020, to be filed on or before June 15, 2020 and July 14, 2020 , respectively. This is forward-looking information and based on a number of assumptions. See "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information" and "Assumptions". The financial information included in this press release is neither audited nor reviewed. Where possible, the information has been constructed by management from available audited or audit reviewed financial statements. Where no audited or audit reviewed information has been available, additional management accounting information has been utilized to construct financial information. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as "expects", or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget", "scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward looking-statements relate to, among other things, final operating metrics and financial results for Fiscal 2019 and First Quarter 2020, including final revenue, adjusted EBITDA, liquidity and cash balance figures, potential repurchase of the Salinas Farm Property, and the ability to negotiate the sale leaseback agreement for the Salinas Farm Property. These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: management's perceptions of the anticipated timeline in which the Annual Filings and the Interim Filings can be completed and filed; implications of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; expectations regarding the size of the California cannabis market and changing consumer habits; the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its business objectives; plans for expansion; political and social uncertainties; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; and the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on cultivation, production, distribution and sale of cannabis and cannabis related products in the State of California; and employee relations. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. The Company is indirectly involved in the manufacture, possession, use, sale and distribution of cannabis in the recreational and medicinal cannabis marketplace in the United States. Local state laws where the Company 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 Listing Statement dated May 30, 2019, filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Harborside Inc. Fingrid Oyj Stock Exchange release 23 April 2020 at 11:00 EET Fingrid Group - Management's Review 1 January - 31 March 2020 Fingrid follows a six-month reporting period, as referred to in the Securities Markets Act, and publishes management's reviews for the first three and nine months of the year; the management's reviews contain key information illustrating the company's financial and other development. The information presented in the Management's Review relates to the Fingrid Group's performance in January-March 2020 and the corresponding period of 2019, unless otherwise indicated. The figures presented here have been drawn up in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). The Management's Review is not an interim report in accordance with the IAS 34 standard. The figures are unaudited. The warmer-than-normal weather in January-March and the resulting lower electricity consumption reduced the company's turnover and result. Otherwise the first quarter proceeded according to expectations. Turnover during the period under review amounted to EUR 199.6 (256.1) million and operating profit, excluding the change in the fair value of derivatives, amounted to EUR 65.2 (78.7) million. The company's profitability is still good. Liquidity is also good due to the refinancing measures carried out. The impacts of the corona epidemic on business have been very limited, for now. Review by the President & CEO: "Warm start to the year weakened the result" Due to the mild winter, electricity consumption in the early part of the year has been exceptionally low. Use of electricity has fallen year on year by almost ten per cent. At the end of last year, we decided to maintain the grid transmission fees for 2020 at the 2019 level. Due to the decline in electricity consumption, the company's financial development in the first quarter has thus been weaker than in the previous year. In accordance with its earlier earnings guidance, Fingrid Group's profit for the 2020 financial period, excluding changes in the fair value of derivatives and before taxes, is expected to slightly decline compared to the previous year. The exceptional weather conditions have affected the operations of the entire Nordic electricity market. Due to the mild winter, the winter's peak demand was just approximately 12,400 MWh/h, which is the lowest peak demand this millennium. The warm winter and the resulting low demand, combined with the high availability of hydropower and wind power, have led to extremely low electricity prices and large area price differences. Finland has imported electricity from Sweden, using the full transmission capacity between the countries, but existing transmission capacity has not been enough to meet the markets' actual need. Subsequently, major price differences have resulted between the countries from time to time. The high availability of cross-border connections in situations such as this is paramount. We were highly successful in this, because there were no disturbances in our DC connections during the first quarter. In terms of Fingrid's finances, the market situation can be seen in increased congestion income, which we will use for future transmission grid investments that will improve the operations of the markets. We have worked methodically to protect ourselves from the corona epidemic and adopted exceptional measures well in advance. As a critical player in the society, we are well prepared for different exceptional situations. We have focussed on the continuity of our operations, but we have simultaneously strived to keep our business going as well as possible in other respects too. Our investment projects have proceeded according to the planned schedules, even in these exceptional circumstances. In its early stages the corona epidemic has not had a major impact on electricity consumption in Finland and Finland's power system has functioned normally. Any economic downturn resulting from the corona epidemic would reduce the electricity consumption of Finnish industry if it were to materialise. This would lead to a decline in grid service income in the short term, which would then be compensated in future years in accordance with the financial regulatory model. A new financial regulatory period began at the start of 2020 and will be in force until the end of 2023. Key figures M 1-3/20 1-3/19 change % 1-12/19 Turnover 199.6 256.1 -22.0 789.4 Operating profit* 65.2 78.7 -17.1 142.1 Profit before taxes 38.9 59.4 -34.4 105.8 Profit for the period 32.9 47.4 -30.7 84.6 Capital expenditure, gross 30.6 32.4 -5.4 126.9 Net cash flow from operations** 68.5 97.3 -29.6 147.7 Interest-bearing net debt 1,066.4 1,049.0 1.7 1,037.2 Balance sheet total 2,133.2 2,101.0 1.5 2,145.1 Equity ratio % 29.0 33.3 32.0 * Operating profit excluding the change in the fair value of derivatives ** Net cash flow from operations, after capital expenditure Turnover fell due to the decline in electricity consumption caused by the warm winter, which directly impacts grid service income, and due to the lower price of imbalance power resulting from the lower electricity price. The latter can be seen also in the lower imbalance power costs. Operating profit excluding the change in the fair value of derivatives decreased due to falling grid service income. Profit for the period was also affected by the negative change in the fair value of electricity futures used for hedging the loss power procurement. Main business events During January-March, the system security of Fingrid's main grid was at a good level and there were no significant disturbances in the main grid. Fingrid's DC connections did not experience any disturbances during the period under review. In January through March, electricity consumption in Finland totalled 22,8 (25,3) terawatt hours. In the same period, Fingrid transmitted a total of 18,4 (18,6) terawatt hours of electricity in its grid, representing 75,0 (71,3) per cent of the total electricity transmission in Finland. During this period, the electricity Fingrid transmitted to its customers amounted to 16,6 (17,8) terawatt hours, which represented 72,9 (70,4) per cent of Finland's total consumption. Peak demand was reached on 28 February 2020. During the peak consumption hour, the mean active power for electricity consumption was approximately 12,400 megawatts, which is the lowest figure this millennium. Fingrid scored top results in ITOMS (The International Transmission Operations & Maintenance Study) and was the only TSO to achieve a Top Performer nomination both in the transmission line and substation maintenance categories. ITOMS looks into the effectiveness of maintenance based on criteria such as maintenance costs and disturbance statistics. nomination both in the transmission line and substation maintenance categories. ITOMS looks into the effectiveness of maintenance based on criteria such as maintenance costs and disturbance statistics. On 5 December 2019, Fingrid Oyj announced that it had, together with the other owners of Nord Pool Holding AS, entered into a binding agreement to sell 66% of the company's shares to Euronext. The transaction was finalised on 15 January 2020. Despite the corona epidemic, Fingrid's investments and maintenance work proceeded according to planned schedules and budgets. Fingrid came in 7th in the mid-sized companies category of the Great Place to Work Finland survey. On 20 March 2020, Fingrid Oyj's Annual General Meeting approved the financial statements for 2019 and decided on the dividend payment. The first instalment of the dividend, amounting in total to EUR 100,100,150.00, was paid on 25 March 2020. Juhani Jarvi continues as Chair of the Board of Directors, and Paivi Nerg continues as Vice Chair of the Board. The other Board members are Sanna Syri and Esko Torsti and, as a new Board member, Hannu Linna. The company strengthened its liquidity through new bilateral financial transactions at the end of March and at the start of April. These transactions can replace, in large part, the company's short-term debt. The company has not changed its earnings guidance from what is stated in the financial statements of 27 February 2020. Further information: Jukka Ruusunen, President & CEO +358 30 395 5140 or +358 40 593 8428 Jan Montell, Chief Financial Officer +358 30 395 5213 or +358 40 592 4419 Fingrid is Finland's transmission system operator. We secure reliable electricity for our customers and society and we shape the clean and market-oriented electricity system of the future. Fingrid delivers. Responsibly. www.fingrid.fi https://www.fingrid.fi/sahkomarkkinat/markkinoiden-yhtenaisyys/sahkomarkkinoiden-tulevaisuus/kysyntajousto/ VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2020 / Skeena Resources Limited (TSXV:SKE)(OTCQX:SKREF) ("Skeena" or the "Company") is pleased to announce gold-silver drill results from the Company's 2020 Phase I surface drilling program at the Eskay Creek Project ("Eskay Creek") located in the Golden Triangle of British Columbia. Four ground-based surface drill rigs were utilized for the 2020 Phase I program in the 21B and 21C Zones to infill and upgrade areas of Inferred resources to the Indicated classification. Reference images are presented at the end of this release as well as on the Company's website. Phase I Eskay Creek Drilling Highlights: 3.62 g/t Au, 41 g/t Ag (4.11 g/t AuEq) over 22.08 m (SK-20-259) - 21B Zone 2.61 g/t Au, 10 g/t Ag (2.74 g/t AuEq) over 36.19 m (SK-20-263) - 21B Zone 3.91 g/t Au, 21 g/t Ag (4.18 g/t AuEq) over 19.60 m (SK-20-264) - 21B Zone 4.61 g/t Au, 203 g/t Ag (7.32 g/t AuEq) over 8.43 m (SK-20-248) - 21C Zone Gold Equivalent (AuEq) calculated via the formula: Au (g/t) + [Ag (g/t) / 75]. Reported core lengths represent 80-100% of true widths and are supported by well-defined mineralization geometries derived from historical drilling. Grade capping of individual assays has not been applied to the Au and Ag assays informing the length weighted AuEq composites. Processing recoveries have not been applied to the AuEq calculation and are disclosed at 100%. Samples below detection limit are nulled to a value of zero. 2020 Drilling Demonstrates Continuity in 21B Zone The 2020 Phase I infill program at Eskay Creek continues to demonstrate the excellent continuity of the current resource model which is derived largely from historical drilling. Phase I infill drilling within the 21B and 21C Zones, which are situated in the deeper portions and later phases of the planned open-pit mining sequence, have correlated extremely well with the historical drilling with respect to grades, widths and spatial distribution. In the 21B Zone, historical drill hole C97853 (1997) positioned nearest to the current Phase I drilling intersected 3.07 g/t AuEq over 18.26 metres in rhyolite breccias and minor mudstones. This intercept is separated by a horizontal strike distance of 20 metres to the north, and the lithologies and grades are similar to those observed in 2020 infill drill holes with intercepts of 3.62 g/t Au, 41 g/t Ag (4.11 g/t AuEq) over 22.08 metres (SK-20-259) and 3.91 g/t Au, 21 g/t Ag (4.18 g/t AuEq) over 19.60 metres (SK-20-264). Additional thicknesses of mineralization were also intersected in SK-20-263 which averaged 2.61 g/t Au, 10 g/t Ag (2.74 g/t AuEq) over 36.19 metres. Precious metal mineralization hosted in this portion of the 21B Zone is largely associated with sericite altered rhyolite breccias and flows. A total of 4,327 metres has been drilled at Eskay Creek during the 2020 Phase I drill program so far. Additional results will be released shortly. About Skeena Skeena Resources Limited is a junior Canadian mining exploration company focused on developing prospective precious metal properties in the Golden Triangle of northwest British Columbia, Canada. The Company's primary activities are the exploration and development of the past-producing Eskay Creek mine, which contains a combined Indicated and Inferred 4Moz, 4.4 g/t gold-equivalent open-pit resource. The Company recently completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) on Eskay Creek which highlights an after-tax NPV5% of C$638M, 51% IRR and a 1.2-year payback. Skeena is also exploring the past-producing Snip gold mine. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Skeena Resources Limited, Walter Coles Jr. President & CEO Qualified Persons Exploration activities at the Eskay Creek Project are administered on-site by the Company's Exploration Managers, Colin Russell, P.Geo. and Adrian Newton, P.Geo. In accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, Paul Geddes, P.Geo. Vice President Exploration and Resource Development, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has prepared, validated and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. The Company strictly adheres to CIM Best Practices Guidelines in conducting, documenting, and reporting its exploration activities on its exploration projects. Quality Assurance - Quality Control Once received from the drill and processed, all drill core samples are sawn in half, labeled and bagged. The remaining drill core is subsequently securely stored on site. Numbered security tags are applied to lab shipments for chain of custody requirements. The Company inserts quality control (QC) samples at regular intervals in the sample stream, including blanks and reference materials with all sample shipments to monitor laboratory performance. The QAQC program was designed and approved by Lynda Bloom, P.Geo. of Analytical Solutions Ltd., and is overseen by the Company's Qualified Person, Paul Geddes, P.Geo, Vice President Exploration and Resource Development. Drill core samples are submitted to ALS Geochemistry's analytical facility in North Vancouver, British Columbia for preparation and analysis. The ALS facility is accredited to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard for gold assays and all analytical methods include quality control materials at set frequencies with established data acceptance criteria. The entire sample is crushed and 1kg is pulverized. Analysis for gold is by 50g fire assay fusion with atomic absorption (AAS) finish with a lower limit of 0.01 ppm and upper limit of 100 ppm. Samples with gold assays greater than 100ppm are re-analyzed using a 50g fire assay fusion with gravimetric finish. Analysis for silver is by 50g fire assay fusion with gravimetric finish with a lower limit of 5ppm and upper limit of 10,000ppm. Samples with silver assays greater than 10,000ppm are re-analyzed using a gravimetric silver concentrate method. A selected number of samples are also analyzed using a 48 multi-elemental geochemical package by a 4-acid digestion, followed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) and also for mercury using an aqua regia digest with Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) finish. Samples with sulfur reporting greater than 10% from the multi-element analysis are re-analyzed for total sulfur by Leco furnace and infrared spectroscopy. Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements Certain statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian and the United States securities legislation. These statements and information are based on facts currently available to the Company and there is no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements and information may be identified by such terms as "anticipates", "believes", "targets", "estimates", "plans", "expects", "may", "will", "could" or "would". Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the realization of resource and reserve estimates, metal prices, taxation, the estimation, timing and amount of future exploration and development, capital and operating costs, the availability of financing, the receipt of regulatory approvals, environmental risks, title disputes and other matters. While the Company considers its assumptions to be reasonable as of the date hereof, forward-looking statements and information are not guarantees of future performance and readers should not place undue importance on such statements as actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or information except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Table 1: Eskay Creek Project 2020 Phase I length weighted drill hole gold and silver composites: HOLE-ID FROM (m) TO (m) CORE LENGTH (m) AU (g/t) AG (g/t) AUEQ (g/t) ZONE SK-20-248 121.62 130.05 8.43 4.61 203 7.32 21C INCLUDING 124.67 125.83 1.16 11.60 371 16.55 21C AND 125.83 126.89 1.06 10.70 97 11.99 21C SK-20-249 121.49 133.00 11.51 2.43 112 3.90 21C INCLUDING 122.69 123.80 1.11 9.68 290 13.55 21C AND 123.80 124.58 0.78 4.92 699 14.24 21C SK-20-250 ABANDONED 21C SK-20-251 198.50 206.50 8.00 2.57 14 2.72 21C SK-20-252 132.14 149.50 17.36 1.51 40 2.04 21C SK-20-253 185.50 201.34 15.84 3.17 5 3.19 21C INCLUDING 196.00 196.90 0.90 10.10 7 10.19 21C AND 196.90 198.20 1.30 9.94 9 10.06 21C SK-20-254 121.87 124.00 2.13 2.31 404 7.70 21C INCLUDING 122.47 123.27 0.80 3.46 1,035 17.26 21C SK-20-254 138.75 151.00 12.25 1.18 36 1.64 21C SK-20-255 NOT DRILLED SK-20-256 NOT DRILLED SK-20-257 NOT DRILLED SK-20-258 NOT DRILLED SK-20-259 144.92 167.00 22.08 3.62 41 4.11 21B INCLUDING 157.30 158.50 1.20 9.70 68 10.61 21B AND 158.50 160.00 1.50 20.60 456 26.68 21B SK-20-260 ABANDONED 21B SK-20-261 ABANDONED 21B SK-20-262 145.00 165.62 20.62 2.87 5 2.88 21B SK-20-263 143.31 179.50 36.19 2.61 10 2.74 21B INCLUDING 148.52 149.36 0.84 16.15 11 16.30 21B SK-20-264 145.25 164.85 19.60 3.91 21 4.18 21B INCLUDING 153.50 155.00 1.50 10.95 87 12.11 21B AND 161.00 162.50 1.50 12.30 42 12.86 21B Table 2: Mine grid Phase I drill hole locations and orientations:Gold Equivalent (AuEq) calculated via the formula: Au (g/t) + [Ag (g/t) / 75]. Reported core lengths represent 80-100% of true widths and are supported by well-defined mineralization geometries derived from historical drilling. Length weighted AuEq composites were constrained by geological considerations. Grade capping of individual assays has not been applied to the Au and Ag assays informing the length weighted AuEq composites. Processing recoveries have not been applied to the AuEq calculation and are disclosed at 100%. Samples below detection limit were nulled to a value of zero. Remittance flows into India may decline by 23% in 2020 to $64 billion, the sharpest fall in recent history, due to declining oil prices and the Covid-19-led global recession, said a World Bank report. The loss of employment and wages for migrant workers in Gulf countries will contribute significantly to the drop in remittances to India, it added. In 2019, India recorded a 5.5% growth in remittance receipts to $83 billion. Global remittances are projected to decline sharply by about 20% in 2020 due to the economic crisis induced by the Covid-19 pandemic and shutdown. The coronavirus-related global slowdown and travel restrictions will also affect migratory movements, and this is likely to keep remittances subdued even in 2021. The projected remittance growth of 5.8% in 2021 will keep total regional flows at about $115 billion, the World Bank added. Studies show that remittances alleviate poverty in lower- and middle-income countries, improve nutritional outcomes and are associated with higher spending on education, and reduced child labour in disadvantaged households. A fall in remittances affects the ability of families to spend on these areas, as more funds are allocated for food and immediate livelihood needs. Remittances are a vital source of income for developing countries. The ongoing recession caused by Covid-19 is taking a severe toll on the ability to send money home and makes it all the more vital that we shorten the time to recovery for advanced economies, said World Bank group president David Malpass. Madan Sabnavis, chief economist, Care Ratings, said the forecast is of concern. The current account deficit (CAD) has been under control mainly due to remittance and software exports. Both of them will be impacted due to Covid-19, which will put pressure on CAD. However, with oil prices crashing, the trade balance will improve and provide some compensation. The balance of payments will definitely be under some pressure as capital flows would be restricted as countries go through a recession. The high quantum of reserves will help tide over this problem. In other South Asian countries, such as Pakistan, the projected decline in remittances is about 23% to $17 billion in 2020, while for Bangladesh it will fall by 22% to $14 billion. Before the coronavirus crisis, migrant outflows from the (South Asian) region were robust. The number of recorded, primarily low-skilled emigrants from India and Pakistan rose in 2019 relative to the prior year, but is expected to decline in 2020 due to the pandemic and oil price declines impacting the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries. In India, the number of low-skilled emigrants seeking mandatory clearance for emigration rose slightly by 8% to 368,048 in 2019. The World Bank said the coronavirus crisis has affected both international and internal migration in the South Asia region. The lockdown in India has impacted the livelihoods of a large proportion of the countrys nearly 40 million internal migrants. Around 50,00060,000 moved from urban centres to rural areas of origin in the span of a few days, it added. Spain reported the most new coronavirus cases and fatalities in almost a week, a day after the government secured parliamentary approval to extend a state of emergency through May 9. There were 4,635 new infections in the 24 hours through Thursday, taking the total to 213,024, according to Health Ministry data. The number of deaths rose by 440, compared to Wednesday's increase of 435, to 22,157. Almost 90,000 have recovered from the disease in the world's most extensive outbreak behind the U.S. Parliament on Wednesday authorized the government to extend the state of emergency for two more weeks. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez signaled that some rules may be eased in the next phase as the trend of new cases and deaths has largely stabilized. Still, any easing would happen slowly and caution is paramount, he said. The complexity of the balancing act faced by the administration -- trying to contain the spread while also getting people back to work -- is compounded by the fact that it is working with what would would appear, at times, to be deficient data on deaths and contagion. Local radio Cadena Ser reported this week that 6,800 elderly died in Spanish nursing homes with symptoms linked to the coronavirus yet not recorded as such, citing data from 17 regional administrations that the central government has yet to publish. The New York Times reported this week that Spain has the highest number of unexplained "excess deaths" not attributed to the virus among 11 countries and cities it studied. Even under the state of emergency, Spanish law doesn't require a coronavirus test be performed post-mortem when the dead have clear Covid-19 symptoms. Funeral homes estimate that many virus deaths are going unreported in some regions, according to the National Association of Funeral Services trade group. Having large numbers of unreported infections increases the risk of the outbreak reigniting once confinement is ended, a top concern of the government. A first step to ease confinement will be taken at the weekend, when children will be allowed out for walks accompanied by an adult. But while the government made three different announcements in recent days about relaxing rules for children, it has still to flesh out most of the details. Petoskey High School closed for in-person classes until at least Jan. 17 There was no school for high school students on Wednesday, while virtual classes will take place on Thursday, Jan. 13, and Friday, Jan. 14. Illustrative photo Sitting in my room today and watching a viral internet video showing a large crowd of people gathering at a location to receive food and relief materials provided by the government, I could not help but imagine the type of danger these people may have put themselves in. It was very disheartening to see people ignorantly advance without wearing face masks or any other protective gears. Since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, people have been advised amongst other precautionary measures to observe social distancing in order to avoid the spread of the disease. What I saw in this video and many others that have made it to the internet does not suggest that people are adhering to the warnings. I find it very disturbing that the government who promulgated the order and even gone ahead to penalise people who have disobeyed could, in turn flout its own order by allowing people gather en masse for the distribution of relief materials despite the impending dangers. The practice of Social distancing is highly recommended to reduce contact between people. Merriam-Webster dictionary defines social-distancing as the practice of maintaining a greater than usual physical distance from other people or of avoiding direct contact with people or objects in public places during the outbreak of a contagious disease to minimize exposure and reduce the transmission of infection. According to public health officials, social-distancing is deliberately increasing the physical space between people to avoid spreading illness. Unfortunately, what is observed at this food distribution centres is a far cry from what should be the case, as a crowd is usually crammed together struggling for relief items provided by the government, and in some cases, private individuals and organisations. Maybe because they do not know a patient/victim of the Coronavirus, many average persons do not believe the severe dangers it poses. The World Health Organisation (WHO) describes Coronaviruses as a family of viruses that cause illnesses ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and the Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). The virus spreads most likely through contact with virus-laden droplets expelled from an infected persons cough, sneeze or breath. When infected, the virus can kill ones critical respiratory tract stem cells that enable tissue to rejuvenate, thereby weakening the immune system. In more severe cases, the bodys effort to heal itself may be too robust, leading to the destruction of not just virus-infected cells, but healthy tissue. The signs of infection include fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties, and in more severe cases, pneumonia, multiple organ failure and even death. Let me paint a picture of the peril an infected person could have on other people. Imagine an infected Bayo happens to be at the distribution centre to collect relief materials. During the struggle, Bayo comes in contact with Tunde, Uche, Aminu and Akpan and they all contract the virus from droplets from Bayos cough or sneezing. They all go back home with no knowledge of what they have picked up as they unknowingly spread the virus to people in their households. The cycle keeps going on and on. Imagine there are many Bayos in that crowd and the number of people that could be infected. This can only mean that the purpose for which the lockdown imposed by the government was put in place, and social-distancing was advised has been defeated. What then is the best way to distribute the palliatives and to also avoid unnecessary gathering? What we are suffering from in this country is a lack of an updated system that properly captures the data of all or most of the citizens. Being deficient of such data hinders proper and efficient planning. Even though the government through the Minister of Humananitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq claims to have generated a list of beneficiaries from the National Social Registre and other programmes including the TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni, that has not in any way blind-sighted the questionable means by which the names were generated. For my piece, less thought will be given to questions of possible waste and fraud or to evaluating how well the palliatives have been disbursed, but to ideals which should ensure utmost thought is given to health concerns. The effort to provide cash relief to Nigerians whose daily hustle has been halted by the lockdown is greatly encouraged, but it is important to go about it in a way that will not jeopardise the success we have made so far in containing the spread of the disease. The best way to disburse these monies would have been identifying individuals using the Bank Verification Number (BVN) system and paying directly into their bank accounts. This has been done in many countries where data is readily available. Understandably, not everyone has a bank account, especially those at the grassroots who have never had a reason to own one. The leaders in their communities could be used to reach out to them by exploring the door-to-door option. We can also replicate how it was done in Gambia where food packages including bags of bags of grains, kegs of oil were placed meters apart in rows for the people to randomly pick As of today, there is no known vaccine or cure to the disease. The virus is not in anyway immune to nationality, race, gender, tribe or age. According to data provided by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), there are 782 confirmed cases of the virus while 25 persons have unfortunately died. Governments effort to mitigate the effect of the lockdown on low-income earners, households and individuals most hit by the lockdown is just, but gathering people in large numbers is not ideal, especially when there is a pandemic at hand. *** Written by Victor Enengedi, Lagos 08063274521, 08097614101 AMSTERDAM (dpa-AFX) - Dutch brewer Heineken NV (HKHHF.PK) said that its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders has adopted all proposals on the agenda of the AGM. The AGM approved the appointment of Dolf van den Brink as member of the Executive Board of HEINEKEN for a period of four years. Dolf van den Brink will become Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of HEINEKEN on 1 June 2020. Jean-Francois van Boxmeer will step down as Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of HEINEKEN. He will hand over his responsibilities to Dolf van den Brink on 1 June 2020. The AGM approved the dividend proposal for the year 2019 of 1.68 euros per share. As an interim dividend of EUR 0.64 was paid on 8 August 2019, the final dividend will be 1.04 euros per share. The final dividend will be made payable on 7 May 2020. The AGM resolved to adjust the remuneration policy for the Executive Board and adopt a remuneration policy for the Supervisory Board. The AGM re-appointed Pamela Mars Wright as member of the Supervisory Board for a four-year term. The AGM re-appointed Deloitte Accountants B.V. as external auditor for the financial year 2021. The AGM adopted amendments to the articles of association to align with current statutory Dutch law and make textual improvements. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de By PTI MUMBAI: Budget carrier AirAsia India is likely to resume operations with a fleet of 24 planes post lockdown, according to a source. Amid financial woes, the airline is also unlikely to induct any new aircraft this fiscal. A joint venture between Tata Sons and Malaysia's AirAsia Berhad, the Bengaluru-based airline has 29 Airbus A320 planes in the fleet, catering to 21 domestic destinations. All domestic and international commercial passenger flight operations have been suspended during the lockdown, which was initially imposed from March 25 to April 14 and thereafter extended till May 3. Soon after the extended date was announced on April 14, some of the Indian carriers announced that they would recommence flight operations in a phased manner from May 4 and had started taking bookings also. The government later directed them not to do so and wait till further orders on the issue. "The travel demand is not going to come back any time soon. We are expecting initially it would be the stranded people in different state capitals and cities of the country, who have been waiting to return to their original places, will be rushing to the airport whenever lockdown ends and air services are allowed to operate," said a source from AirAsia India. Since it would take a lot of time for even the domestic traffic to return to normal, carrying out operations with the entire fleet will not be financially prudent, he said. "Considering these factors, we are looking to put only 24 aircraft in service with reduced frequencies when we restart operations after the lockdown. And once the traffic starts picking up, we will also ramp up both the fleet and the services," the source said. AirAsia India spokesperson refused to comment on PTI queries. According to a recent survey by global aviation and aerospace consultancy ICF, the aviation industry may take six months to two years to recover from the severe blow dealt by the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, AirAsia India had said, "we look forward to resuming our operations soon, once we receive the appropriate approvals. Preparations are underway to implement and strictly adhere to the social distancing guidelines laid out by the government across all facets of our operations as the safety and security of our guests and crew is our top priority." The source also said the airline is unlikely to induct any new aircraft this fiscal owing to expected low demand, "if market dynamics changes and there is any sudden spurt in domestic traffic then it would prefer subleasing from the parent AirAsia Berhad than going for fresh deliveries." The airline, which narrowed its losses to Rs 123.35 crore in the December quarter of the previous fiscal, had added nine planes in the fleet to take total number of aircraft to 28 as on December 31, 2019. Since then it has taken delivery of only one aircraft in January this year. In late January, European aviation major Airbus had announced it was deferring aircraft deliveries to the Indian customers through March 9. However, later in March, itself coronavirus pandemic hit the world, bringing the aviation industry to a near halt. LARAMIE The University of Wyoming has instituted a hiring freeze, Acting President Neil Theobald announced in a Wednesday email to university employees. Effective immediately no UW-funded hiring of faculty or staff can be made without Theobalds written approval. That came after Gov. Mark Gordon told Theobald in a letter that we will have to curb expenditures dramatically and probably for some time to come. Theobald said UW has suspended three dean searches, even though the university is already in the finalist stage in its search for deans for College of Arts & Sciences and the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources. These searches have not been canceled, just paused in place, and can proceed when timely, Theobald said. Last week, I also asked Provost (Kate) Miller to provide me with a prioritized list of current faculty searches. Specifically, I asked if there are undergraduate courses that we cannot offer without hiring faculty. We are actively prioritizing critical and necessary faculty hires. While the Legislature gave UW its standard budget for the upcoming two-year budget cycle, the universitys lobbyist, Meredith Asay, told trustees last week to expect the Legislature to change its position on UW funding. It is very likely that budgets will change in the next biennium, and we dont have clear guidance on what that will mean yet, she said. The expectation is that there will be budget reductions, but its unclear at this point how those will come about and when those will come about. With legislators planning a special session to address the COVID-19 pandemic and funding from the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, Trustee Kermit Brown a former Wyoming Speaker of the House said university officials will face a chaotic challenge in handling the legislative special session. I think theres something like $2.5 billion thats coming to the state from the feds, and this thing is going to get weird and wild, he said. I predict theres going to be some stuff related to us thats going to get stone-cold killed, and youre going to see other things take off and go into overdrive. Were not going to be able to get things done as quickly as (legislators) want. The other thing thats going to be weird is that (UW officials are) not going to be able to be in the hallways with easy access to these legislators to lobby on the various issues, Brown said. Its going to take a lot of work on their part, probably on the telephone, with individual legislators on individual issues. Its just going to be the wildest, weirdest thing youve ever seen. Emergency fund Meanwhile, 914 University of Wyoming students have filed to receive money from an emergency fund the university has set up to help students pay for basic needs, like housing, food and technology access. Individual students are limited to receiving $1,000 from the pool of money, called the Pokes Make the Difference Student Emergency Fund. The stories Ive heard from students are just heartbreaking threats of having their heat cut off and the like, Theobald said last week during the trustees meeting. A $250,000 donation from the UW Foundation formed the basis for the emergency fund. Since then, the university has continued to solicit donations from across the globe while matching those donations with additional money from nearly 700 donors and funds from the discretionary budget of the presidents office. As of this morning, with $552,000 available to award, that will not cover the total requested amount. Thats why were continuing the fundraising effort, UW spokesman Chad Baldwin told the Laramie Boomerang in a Wednesday email. During last weeks trustees meeting, Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Kim Chestnut said that for the last two months of the semester, students who live in university-owned housing will receive a 20 percent discount on their rental prices. The closure of campus has meant most student employees are no longer working. However, UW has continued to pay all employees, including non-students. We have had no layoffs. Weve found other work across the university for our employees to do, Theobald said. With the move to virtual learning leading to increased concerns about self-harm and suicide, Chestnut told the trustees that UW has worked to become responsive to those concerns through the UWYO Cares program, a team at the university responsible for assessing, responding to and evaluating the safety and welfare of students who may present concerns of any nature. We are really working to attend to that issue and connect students as readily as possible, Chestnut said. Weve worked with Academic Affairs so that faculty can begin to submit UWYO Cares reports about students directly. If theres a student who hasnt logged into their courses or theres some type of concern about their participation in coursework, they can automatically send out a report to the UWYO Cares team so we can reach out to the student directly. There has been a decently high volume of that. UW officials have indicated the possibility that campus life might not return to normal by the start of the upcoming fall semester. Our residence halls are scheduled to open four months from (April 16), and between now and the trustees May meeting, well be redoubling our efforts and bring (the trustees) our best thinking about how best to proceed, Theobald said. Vice Provost Tami Benham-Deal said officials within the Office of Academic Affairs have already begun discussing potential scenarios for what could potentially be a very different start to the upcoming academic year and what the long-term impact of COVID-19 may have on large public gatherings, like large lecture classes. In his Wednesday email announcing the hiring freeze, Theobald said, Our stated goal is to reopen this fall with rules and regulations informed by ongoing data analysis and research. UW has extended enrollment deadlines for the fall. We already recognize that some of our Wyoming citizens find themselves unemployed due to COVID, and by extending this window for admission into graduate courses, some of them may be able to redirect their career paths or work toward advanced degrees, Benham-Deal said. Were also looking into the possibility of creating some incentives for innovation into new courses, particularly surrounding public health and health literacy and some of the issues that are really prevalent today. COLLEGE PARK, Md., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The sharp economic downturn accompanying the coronavirus pandemic has organizations challenged to make tough-but-fair decisions that won't lead, long term, to a mass exodus of talent. Debra Shapiro, the Clarice Smith Professor of Management at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, says business leaders must do three things right during a hardship. Shapiro cites her recent research that she says underscores the significance of the level of fairness employees perceive in their workplace especially during times of hardship. "Employees' perceptions of fairness and ultimately their continued commitment to their company are significantly influenced by how a company's management explains the decisions that impose hardships. And that includes 'organization-wide hardship,' such as layoffs, furloughs, pay-freezes and pay cuts measures that countless employees are now experiencing." There are things that business leaders can do, Shapiro says, to keep workers from feeling like they are being treated unjustly during times of hardship. Name the challenge: Organizations should explain the necessity for the organization-wide hardship, Shapiro says. This necessity during the global pandemic is illustrated each time management (or societal leaders) blame "the virus," or "the invisible enemy." Set a window of time: Employees are likely to perceive an atmosphere of fairness and continued organizational commitment during times of organization-wide hardship if they are assured that the hardship's duration will be relatively short, rather than long, Shapiro says. Such assurances, Shapiro says, are difficult to provide when a remedy is beyond management's control, as is the case with COVID-19. Worker protests at Amazon and others may thus be partly explained by the ambiguity in the duration of current organization-wide hardship, she says. Management should focus on communications that reduce ambiguity, laying out specific plans to ease employee hardship caused by cost-saving actions. Such moves help heighten employees' perceptions of fairness and inspire continued support, Shapiro says. Keep the updates flowing: Consistency of information sources available to employees are essential. It helps team members feel committed and see decisions as fair. If information consistency is lacking, employees will be more likely to question the necessity for the hardships they endure. "Are all news sources in agreement, for example, about what types of jobs are 'essential' and, thus, which employees should or should not be allowed to work from home, be provided 'PPE' (personal protective equipment) while working onsite, et cetera?" asks Shapiro. "If not, then this is another reason that likely explains worker protests during the current global pandemic." This global pandemic is inflicting hardships on everyone on an entire economy of organizations. Companies must strive to communicate decisions effectively to employees and customers some of whom might be future employees or investors to ensure their responses are perceived as fair. "The quality of explanations that company leaders provide for hardships imposed on workers during this global pandemic will greatly influence how supportive employees and customers will be after the economy begins to return to normal and organizations call everyone back," says Shapiro. "There is no favoritism in circumstances of organization-wide hardship. Expressions such as, 'We are all in this together,' illuminate the fact that everyone is equally struggling to survive circumstances beyond their control, and hence, equally victims." Shapiro explains that, although shared hardship tends to heighten perceived fairness, it also raises a conundrum in how management can explain their need to impose organization-wide hardship without causing alarm to employees about their organization's future viability. That's because employees who fear for their organization's future viability are likely to contemplate finding employment elsewhere, or to quit outright. Shapiro says that managing this conundrum requires management to communicate with their employees compassionately and optimistically, but also honestly, because employees' sources for news are plentiful in today's internet-linked economy. Go to Smith Brain Trust for related content at http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/faculty-research/smithbraintrust and follow on Twitter @SmithBrainTrust. About the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business The Robert H. Smith School of Business is an internationally recognized leader in management education and research. One of 12 colleges and schools at the University of Maryland, College Park, the Smith School offers undergraduate, full-time and part-time MBA, executive MBA, online MBA, specialty masters, PhD and executive education programs, as well as outreach services to the corporate community. The school offers its degree, custom and certification programs in learning locations in North America and Asia. Contact: Greg Muraski at [email protected]. SOURCE University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business Related Links http://www.rhsmith.umd.edu As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ With the advent of Ramadan, Ahram Online takes this opportunity to remind us of the essence of the holy month and what makes it priceless. Sighting the crescent? Before the use of modern technology, officials used to manually sight the crescent in a celebrated ceremony to determine the first day of fasting. Here are some rare pictures of the practice from 1936. Wahawi Ya Wahawi, Eyaha This the chant that usually accompanies children as they run around with their colourful lanterns. As children, we were never sure if it was supposed to be Eyaha or Eyoha? Now we know it is definitely Eyaha. Its an ancient Egyptian figure of speech addressing the moon in honour of Queen Eiah, Egyptologist Fatma Keshk explained to Ahram Online, saying the chant was affiliated with the moon festival, where wahawi is a cheer to the moon. Eiah Hotep was a queen mother who led the country while her other son, King Ahmose, was fighting the Hyksos. In praise of her courage and wisdom, her son, the victor, granted her the medal of courage and engraved for her a mural at Karnak Temple. Read the chants in her praise here. As for the lanterns, the main symbol of Raman in Egypt, they became popular during the Fatimid reign of Egypt, specifically on 24 July 968. On that day, the Fatimid Caliph Al-Moezz entered Cairo at night, and the populace carried torches and candles as they went out to welcome him. In order to shield the candles from the wind, some of them placed them on a wooden platform and wrapped the platform with palm fronds and leather. More on lanterns here. Hand-made paper decorations Before we started importing Ramadan decorations, making them was the job of the children of the neighbourhood, who recycled old paper, cut it in various geometrical shapes, and hung it across buildings with a big lantern in the middle. This is how it was done and revived. Before the cannon blows This is a phrase with which only those who have lived in Egypt would be familiar. The tradition began in 1460, when Mamluk Sultan Al-Zaher Seif Al-Din Zenki Khashqodom received a cannon as a gift from a German acquaintance. Testing the cannon, the sultans soldiers fired it at sunset, coinciding exactly with the maghreb call to prayer that marks the end of the days fast. Read about how it all started and about when the first charity banquets were laid out. Wake up, sleepy head The first mesaharati was during the Prophet Muhammads time. It was Bilal Bin Rabah, who assumed this responsibility. In the year 853, the wali (governor) of Egypt would walk all the way from the city of Askar, now Ibn Toulon, to Amrs Mosque in Fustat, now Masr Al-Qadima, accompanied by an entourage who called out to people to have the sohour. Ghabsa Bin Ishaq is said to have started the practice. Read more on the mesaharati. 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: 263,460 in New York state, including 20,973 deaths. 695,920 total tested. 868,395 in the U.S., including 49,861 deaths. 80,045 recovered. 4,660,250 total tested. 2,704,676 worldwide, including 190,743 deaths. 738,274 recovered. Note: The figures include presumed COVID-19 deaths. The number of positive confirmed cases is cumulative and includes people who have recovered as well as those who died. As of April 23, the 11-county region had 2,160 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 97 deaths. A breakdown of known cases, hospitalizations, recoveries and deaths by county is as follows: Albany 739 cases, 31 hospitalized, 7 in ICU, 401 recovered, 30 deaths Columbia 138 cases, 9 hospitalized, 3 in ICU, 66 recovered, 13 deaths Fulton 28 cases, 2 deaths Greene 106 cases, 51 active, 55 resolved, 3 hospitalized, 5 deaths*** Montgomery 45 cases, 25 recovered, 3 under medical care, 1 death*** Rensselaer 213 cases, 105 recovered, 15 hospitalized, 3 in ICU, 10 deaths Saratoga 293 cases, 10 hospitalized, 122* recoveries, 10 deaths Schenectady 373 cases, 25** hospitalized, 198 recoveries, 15 deaths Schoharie 27 cases, 4 hospitalized, 24 recovered, 1 death*** Warren 115 cases, 4 hospitalized, 63 recovered, 8 deaths Washington 83 cases, 39 recovered, 2 deaths *as of 4/14 **includes all hospitalizations in county, regardless of patients county of residence ***As of 4/22 Additional resources: Where to get tested for COVID-19. 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. Share stories about people helping others in our Facebook Group. Thursday's latest news: 4:31 p.m. Rensselaer County updates COVID-19 cases Rensselaer County reported seven new confirmed COVID-19 cases bringing the county total to 213 residents. The new cases include a fifth death at Diamond Hill nursing facility in Schaghticoke. This makes 10 deaths in the county. Diamond Hill has 18 overall confirmed cases involving residents, seven employees testing positive, including three employees who are county residents. The county has 15 residents hospitalized with three in ICU. The county has about 500 residents in monitor quarantine. There have been 2,250 tests administered to residents. The county has 105 cases cleared for recovery. 3:44 p.m. One death in Rensselaer County Rensselaer County reported a resident at the Diamond Hill nursing home in Schaghticoke has died. from COVID-19. The county has now seen 10 residents die including five at Diamond Hill. 3:26 p.m. Two deaths in Warren County Two more patients died of COVID-19 in Warren County. The county offered little details, other than saying one was a nursing home resident who died in a hospital and the other death was a person who died in a private residence. 3:05 p.m. Schenectady County cases rise The county saw its total number of cases rise to 373. It did not report any additional deaths and did see several more recoveries. 1:40 p.m. Nearly 14 percent who took tests had antibodies of COVID-19 As the state nears 20,000 deaths from the coronavirus, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Thursday revealed preliminary results of statewide antibody testing that began this week that indicates 13.9 percent of the 3,000 who gave blood samples had antibodies associated with COVID-19. The governor said the latest data indicates 2.7 million people have been infected statewide an infection rate of about 13.9 percent which means the rate of fatalities from the infectious disease is about 0.5 percent. Read more ___ 8:50 p.m.: Albany County sheriff distributing masks Thursday at ShopRite stores The Albany County Sheriff's Office is dropping off boxes of face masks at two ShopRite grocery stores on Central Avenue Wednesday. Sheriff Craig Apple says people can pick up masks starting at noon at the chain's stores in Albany and Colonie. Two masks will be included in each pack. Apple encourages people to take masks only if they have no other source. Medical experts and the state urge people to wear face masks when they cannot practice social distancing in confined spaces during the coronavirus pandemic. ___ 7:25 a.m.: Cohoes mayor: Big budget cuts regrettable, but responsible Mayor Bill Keeler said staff reductions, program cuts, and proposed 2020 budget cuts must be made to offset major revenue shortfalls resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. It means temporary staff furloughs, staff reductions based on attrition and cancellation of contracts, he said. Read more ___ 6:41 a.m.: COVID-19 community test sites limited to Albany, Warren counties The 543,876 people living in Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady counties, the majority of the Capital Regions population, are in between drive-through coronavirus test sites in Albany and Warren counties. Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin on Wednesday renewed his request for help setting up a test site in his county. Albany Countys multiple testing sites are a combination of local, state and federal efforts. County Executive Dan McCoy said he and other county officials made an early decision to ensure they could get as many tests as possible from various sources. We worked extremely hard to get testing up. We set up a variety of things and if we had a lead, we just kept following it. At the end of the day, I wanted to make sure we had the testing up and established, McCoy said. Read more ___ 6:15 a.m. Hundreds line up for food bank at Schenectady County Community College Hundreds of cars lined up Wednesday at Schenectady County Community College where volunteers filled the trunks of vehicles with free food. The three-hour effort was a partnership of the local government, food bank and a charity. Once motorists pulled up to the front of the line and popped their trunks, volunteers at several stations in the parking lot of the college dropped the food items in the back of the vehicle. Read more ___ Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Wednesday Gillibrand calls McConnell's comments reprehensible Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, said Wednesday night that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's comments today on hitting the pause button on further federal emergency legislation, and that cities and states should declare bankruptcy, are utterly reprehensible. Mitch McConnell eagerly passed billions in tax breaks for wealthy companies and made sure to take care of big companies and the airlines last month, but now he is telling struggling Americans to take their $1200 check and keep quiet. It is utterly infuriating that McConnell is telling American cities and states to go bankrupt, as millions fall behind on their rent and mortgages and face food insecurity." ___ Wednesday: One more death in Schenectady County The death toll in the county from COVID-19 is now up to 15 people. A total of 358 individuals have tested positive for the coronavirus, with 693 under quarantine, and 170 in isolation. So far, 172 people have recovered while 27 have ended up in the hospital as a result of the virus. ___ Wednesday: Columbia County sees 9th nursing home death County Public Health Director Jack Mabb said Wednesday that a ninth resident of the Pine Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Philmont has died after becoming infected with the novel coronavirus. The nursing home has been battling an outbreak since March. To date, 30 residents and 12 members of staff have tested positive for the virus, Mabb said. The only other known cases at long-term care facilities in the county are at the Livingston Hills Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Livingston, which had two cases as of Tuesday. ___ Wednesday: Albany Med says 88 employees have tested positive to date Albany Medical Center executives said Tuesday that 88 members of their staff have tested positive for the novel coronavirus since the pandemic hit the region. The hospital system which has about 10,000 employees has tested 772 staff members for the virus, meaning the percent positive among those being tested stands at about 12 percent. Half of the employees whove tested positive have recovered and are back to work, said Fred Venditti, hospital general director. About one-third of the cases were connected to on-the-job work, and the rest were acquired in the community, he said. ___ Wednesday: State Comptroller predicts major money loss Tom DiNapoli appeared with Albany County Executive Dan McCoy on Wednesday, saying the virus could cause a revenue hit of between $10 billion and $15 billion. ___ Read more updates from Wednesday The Ministers for Finance and the Economy have spoken about the balance that needs to be struck between saving lives and rebuilding the economy after it emerged that 13 more people have died in Northern Ireland. That brings the total number of COVID-19 deaths in the country to 263, according to the Department of Health. The latest figures released by the department reveal there are 37 patients being treated in intensive care departments for confirmed or suspected cases of the virus. Some 689 patients are currently being treated for Covid-19, with 2,765 people having been discharged from hospital. There have been outbreaks in 58 care homes. Finance Minister Conor Murphy offered his sympathies to all families affected including DUP representatives Edwin Poots and Jeffrey Donaldson who lost their fathers in the past 24 hours. Mr Murphy said over 900m has been provided by his department to support the health service, protect businesses and help the vulnerable. Minister for the Economy Dianne Dodds also expressed her condolences to party colleagues Jeffrey Donaldson and Edwin Poots. She said an essential part of the grieving process is visiting the graves of loved ones and she hopes regulations will be dealt with swiftly to allow people to visit graves in a controlled way this will bring comfort to many. It follows public pressure to re-open cemeteries after individuals held a dignified protest outside the City Cemetery in Derry on Monday. The Health Minister has also said he doesnt see any reason why people shouldnt be able to visit cemeteries at this time. Mr Murphy was pressed on the issue of cemeteries reopening but disagreed saying that the current measures have been effective. He recognised how difficult it is for people and added that the issue will be discussed at Stormont tomorrow. "I look forward to hearing from the Chief Medical Officer and the Health Minister tomorrow, talking over what our central message has been and how that has worked, and how an alteration to that approach is compatible with what we are doing. "We will have a discussion in relation to all of that tomorrow and the Executive will attempt to reach an agreement on the way forward." He added: "We are now in the phase, in the last ten days, of the highest number of daily deaths that we've had in relation to COVID-19, so we need to ensure that our central priority which is about saving lives remains that number one priority but of course where we can respond to people's needs we will want to look at that in a very sympathetic way." Referencing comments made by Bishop Donal McKeown, News Letter Political Editor Sam McBride asked if Sinn Fein has an all-island approach to cemeteries as the Bishop had said that cemeteries were open in the South of Ireland and should open in the North. Mr Murphy said it was 'unfortunate' that the Bishop characterised differences in opinion on the matter as 'political infighting' and believed that if he 'reconsidered that choice of words he might come up with something different'. While the primary focus is to protect lives, the Economy Minister said, it would be very difficult to overstate the damage COVID-19 is inflicting on the economy. Work is being done to distribute over 400m in support packages across the country, she said There have been 2,400 applications for a 25,000 grant which was made available to businesses on Monday. The DUP representative said the tourism industry will be at the centre of recovery. A new tourism recovery steering group will be set up involving key stakeholders to drive forward the rebuilding of the industry. 'LIVES VS ECONOMY' Both ministers were questioned about comments made by Sinn Fein MLA Declan Kearney when he accused right-wing elements and some unionists of putting the economy before public health. In response, the Finance Minister said a balance has to be struck. While he has huge sympathy with people who want to get out, especially those looking to visit loved ones who have died and people who want to engage in prayer in religious facilities but our key message is stay at home, only travel when its essential and when doing so practice social distancing. The Economy minister, described it as a very regrettable intervention by the junior minister and said it is not a time for ideological politics. She added that it is not about 'lives vs the economy' but believes plans have to be made for a safe, phased, and step by step transition back to normality. COVID-19 will be with us for some time and she has been in discussions with the British Chancellor and Business Secretary about working safely. HealthLinc, a health center with 11 clinics in northern Indiana, is seeking to ensure patients don't get evicted and that they receive any legal aid they may need during the coronavirus pandemic. The goal is to mitigate any adverse impact on people's health and ensure they can get regular medical treatment, including of preventative care. Denial of public benefits, evictions and foreclosures, employment discrimination, transportation and other hardships can make it impossible for someone to think about their health, HealthLinc CEO Beth Wrobel said. Many of our patients wait until their health issue has become an emergency before seeking medical assistance which exacerbates the circumstances of our already over-burdened emergency rooms and hospitals and that is under normal conditions. When you add a global health pandemic, such as COVID-19 to the mix, things become much worse. HealthLinc, which offers health care services to the uninsured and under-insured regardless of their ability to pay, teams up with Indiana Legal Services for the Medical-Legal Partnership that has gotten more than 840 referrals for no-cost civil-legal aid for cases where non-medical events impact people's health. A cancer patient was only allowed five minutes with her two children before she died in hospital awaiting coronavirus screening. Gill Rayson, 53 was also banned from seeing her mother while she lay dying from lung cancer at Frankston Hospital in Melbourne. The mother of two died alone in an isolation ward overlooking a dumpster after having been denied access to a palliative care ward, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Ms Rayson's COVID-19 tests ultimately came back negative. Cancer patient Gill Rayson was only allowed five minutes with her two children before she died in hospital awaiting coronavirus screening Husband Mark Rayson (pictured with his wife Gill Rayson) said he feels 'some degree of satisfaction' after the Frankston Hospital apologised to the family for its treatment of his wife Gill Rayson She spent her final few hours jumping out of her bed crying for her husband to help her before succumbing to her illness on March 31. Husband Mark Rayson said he feels 'some degree of satisfaction' after the Frankston Hospital apologised to the family for its treatment of his wife. 'Gill would like to know that someone benefited from our traumatic experience, because that's the sort of person she was,' he said. 'Whether it helps one person, or 10 people, it doesn't matter.' The hospital said senior doctors had reviewed the case and the hospital would make changes to the way these types of patients were treated in the future. The mother of two was diagnosed with lung cancer in August 2019 after developing a severe cough during a cruise through the Mediterranean. In mid-March she was tested for coronavirus after the global pandemic began unfolding, but her results came back negative. On March 30 after her condition deteriorated she was taken to Frankston Hospital via ambulance awaiting a palliative care bed. Gill Rayson, 53 was also banned from seeing her mother while she lying dying at the Franskston Hospital in Melbourne (pictured) from her debilitating lung cancer. However, her husband said when bed finally opened up she was denied access and banned from leaving the isolation ward unless her coronavirus testing was completed. This was despite assurances from the family she had been returned a negative coronavirus test only two weeks earlier. Mr Rayson said he has since received news from senior doctors at the hospital they'll be ensuring better access to palliative care drugs and extra discretion around visitors for limited cases. Peninsula Health's chief medical officer Associate Professor Vikas Wadhwa told Daily Mail Australia via a statement safety of patients and staff is their 'utmost priority.' 'Due to privacy and patient confidentiality, we are unable to comment on individual cases,' Associate professor Wadwha said. 'We take all feedback from families and the community seriously and use it wherever we can to improve the care we provide our patients.' Despite concerns from cancer patients around the end of life care during the coronavirus pandemic, a leading support network believes standards are being maintained. Danielle Spence, Head of Strategy and Support at Cancer Council Victoria told Daily Mail Australia their hearts go out the the family during this time. 'We know hospitals are working extra hard to keep patients and visitors safe in during COVID. No patient will ever be on their own in hospital. Dedicated medical and nursing staff will always be with them,' Ms Spence said. 'While there are rules in place to keep everyone safe, exemptions to the rules for hospital visitors are allowed for people providing end of life support for a patient and for visitors to spend time with those patients.' Ms Rayson's family paid emotional tributes in the days following her death. Her son Joshua Grayson describer her as an amazing mum who was 'taken too soon.' Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt (pictured) visited cancer patients at Frankston Hospital on March 1 to announce the expansion of the cancer screening treatment options through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme 'We have been lucky to have so many amazing times together and she has raised our family to be tight knit and strong who can support each other through everything, she is amazing,' he wrote. 'All that I know is that we will be okay and we will miss you but you're in a better place now and you're out of pain.' Her mother Gywn Salmon described her devastation at outliving her 53-year-old daughter. 'I am heartbroken, to a wonderful daughter and best friend; you will always be in my heart forever,' she wrote. 'I thank you for everything you have done for me , but most of all giving me two beautiful grandchildren who I adore. RIP my beautiful daughter, I hope you are with Dad.' Bay Area political events that are happening online during the coronavirus pandemic: FRIDAY Anti-Asian American violence: Discussion of anti-Asian American discrimination and attacks during the pandemic. Speakers include KGO-TV reporter Dion Lim, retired San Francisco Superior Court Judge Julie Tang and Cyn Wang, state political director of the United Democratic Club. Hosted by the Commonwealth Club. Noon. More information and join here. Mayor Petes California campaign: Pete Buttigiegs California campaign director, Cecilia Cabello, talks about the experience. Hosted by Mannys. 7 p.m. More information and join here. SATURDAY Cancel the rent: Rally calling for cancellation of all rents as well as mortgages for homeowners, small landlords and small businesses for the duration of the pandemic. Protesters will adhere to social distancing guidelines and requirements Organized by Party for Socialism and Liberation. 10:30 a.m., 1875 Marin St., San Francisco. More information is here. Rep. Ro Khanna: Fremont Democrat holds a Facebook Live town hall meeting. Noon. Join here. SUNDAY Environmentalism and social media: A livestream on using social media to drive environmentalism, hosted by the Ecology Center. 11 a.m. More information is here. WEDNESDAY Obamas legacy: David Simas, CEO of the Obama Foundation, discusses former President Barack Obamas legacy and the foundations work. Hosted by Mannys. 5 p.m. More information is here; join here. To list an event, please email Chronicle politics editor Trapper Byrne at tbyrne@sfchronicle.com Media Release Basel, April 23, 2020 Dufry announces initiatives to strengthen its capital structure, presents the Board's proposals to the Ordinary General Meeting 2020, and provides preliminary information on first quarter business performance Dufry is taking a comprehensive set of initiatives to strengthen its capital structure and liquidity position, in addition to the cost saving and cash flow management measures already announced on March 12, 2020. These initiatives are designed to help the company sustain a prolonged period of significant disruptions and reinforce its competitive positioning in the longer term. The initiatives announced today include: An additional credit facility from some of Dufry's core banks for approx. CHF 425.0 million Consent received from Dufry's bank consortium to waive the existing financial covenants until end of June 2021 and a higher leverage covenant for the September and December 2021 testing periods Planned private placement of up to 5.5 million shares with strong indications of interest to participate from investors Planned issuance of a CHF 300.0 million senior, unsecured guaranteed convertible bond with strong indications of interest to participate from investors The cancellation of the 2020 dividend payment As announced on March 12, 2020, Dufry has set up a special committee at the Global Executive Committee level which implemented an action plan to secure cash flow generation, drive sales, save costs and safeguard liquidity. The action plan includes among others the following measures: Reduce personnel costs at all levels and, where possible, make use of government support schemes Implement voluntary salary reduction schemes Negotiate agreements with landlords to reduce or abate Minimum Annual Guarantees Minimize all operating expenses and other cost items to minimum levels monitored at Group level Dufry has adapted its operating structure to the new situation, allowing the company to leverage its highly flexible cost structure even further. Additionally, several government support schemes, especially related to personnel expenses, will provide further cost savings. Moreover, several measures to reduce cash outflows to a minimum have been implemented and are under tight control by a dedicated team at group level. These include initiatives at Capex and Net Working Capital level that target total cash savings of around CHF 160.0 million in the full-year 2020. In light of the above, Dufry's Board of Directors proposes to the upcoming Ordinary General Meeting on May 18, 2020 a set of resolutions, including: No 2020 dividend payment The creation of conditional capital underlying the convertible bond Trading update on Q1 2020 Business Performance The business performance in the first quarter 2020 was characterized by completely different developments in each of the three months. In January, we saw organic growth increasing to +0.8%; in February we faced a first sales slowdown starting in Asia with organic growth decreasing to -2.3% year-to-date, while in March the increasing travel restrictions and airport closures resulted in a negative sales performance for the month of -55.9%. The turnover for the first quarter 2020 amounted to CHF 1,438.7 million, resulting in an expected organic sales growth performance of around -22.0%. In the first two weeks of April, Dufry has seen reduced sales levels in the amount of around 90% as compared to the same period in the previous year. Due to the downturn in global travel that has occurred as a result of COVID-19 and the challenges in forecasting the duration of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Dufry's business, the consequences for our financial performance for the full year are uncertain at this stage. Dufry therefore withdraws its guidance for the 2020 business year previously disclosed on March 12, 2020. The company will issue its interim trading update for the first quarter as planned on May 12, 2020. Cash flow management and cost saving measures The implemented cost savings and cash flow management measures allow Dufry to considerably reduce its cash burn rate and to continue operations for a prolonged duration until the business environment normalizes, even in a scenario of sales reducing by 70%-80%, with shops being closed due to travel restrictions and with travel activities remaining at a minimum in the locations where Dufry operates its shops. During the months of April and May cash outflows will be higher than in the following months due to the payment of previously incurred costs. As mentioned above, the indicated cost saving initiatives do not include the additional personnel costs savings coming from the several government support schemes which Dufry is making use of in Switzerland, Greece, Spain, Italy, the UK, and Germany, among others. As the impact of these savings strongly depends on the duration of the travel restrictions and the degree of the business recovery in the specific locations, it is not possible to provide an estimate at this stage. In addition to these measures, Dufry is implementing a comprehensive set of financing initiatives to strengthen the company's liquidity position and capital base, beyond the Cash and Cash Equivalent and net available committed facilities of CHF 685.9 million as of March 31, 2020, in order to help it withstand even a prolonged period of significant disruptions and reinforce Dufry's competitive positioning in the longer term. Dufry secures commitments for an additional approx. CHF 425.0 million facility The company has secured commitments from certain of its relationship banks based on a term sheet for an approx. CHF 425.0 million 12-month facility with two 6-months extensions. This allows to convert current uncommitted into committed facilities. The company is working with the group of banks to finalize the full documentation. Consent received to waive covenants Dufry's bank consortium consisting of 25 international banks has also approved the company's request to waive the current financial covenants until the end of June 2021 and to establish an increased threshold of Net debt / Adjusted Operating Cash Flow of 5.00x instead of 4.50x for the covenant testing in September and December 2021. The agreement with the banks also includes the addition of a minimum liquidity covenant at CHF 300.0 million, restrictions on dividends, share buybacks and acquisitions during the period of the covenant waiver as well as a number of technical amendments. Placement of shares and issuance of convertible bonds The company plans to undertake a private placement to institutional investors by means of an accelerated book-building procedure of up to 5,000,000 shares from its existing authorized share capital and up to 500,000 treasury shares. Members of the Board of Directors and Management plan to participate in the share placement with a meaningful amount. In addition, Dufry plans to issue a senior, unsecured guaranteed convertible bond with an aggregate principal amount of CHF 300.0 million. The new convertible bond will also be placed by means of an accelerated book-building procedure with institutional investors. The company has received strong indications of interest to participate from investors for both the share placement and the convertible bond issuance. Further details on the envisaged placement of shares and issuance of convertible bonds will be communicated in due course. Fostering the resilience of the business The cost cutting and cash flow management measures as well as the new financing initiatives described above are designed to provide Dufry with a strong capital structure and liquidity position to sustain a prolonged period of significant disruptions, even in a scenario of sales reducing by 70%-80%, and to continue operations until travel patterns and sales generation return to normalized levels. Ordinary General Meeting 2020 Further to the actions outlined above, the Board of Directors has resolved to propose the following measures: Cancellation of the originally proposed dividend payment for 2020, thus reducing short-term cash outflows. Creation of conditional share capital sufficient to enable the physical settlement of the bonds upon conversion. The Ordinary General Meeting of Dufry AG will be held on Monday, May 18, 2020 at 14.00 CEST at the offices of Dufry AG at Brunngasslein 12, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland. The meeting will be held without the presence of shareholders based on Article 6a of the Ordinance 2 issued by the Swiss Federal Council on measures to prevent coronavirus (COVID-19) in the version of March 16, 2020 (as amended). The shareholders of Dufry AG may exercise their rights at the Ordinary General Meeting exclusively through the Independent Voting Rights Representative. This measure makes it possible to hold the Ordinary General Meeting despite the current COVID-19 pandemic. The detailed agenda will be published in the coming days on www.dufry.com/en/investors and in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce, and will also be mailed to the shareholders registered in Dufry's share register. Juan Carlos Torres, Chairman of Dufry's Board of Directors, said: "Let me first express my regret for having to hold this year's Ordinary General Meeting without the physical presence of our shareholders and for not being able to present them in person the positive results achieved in the 2019 business year as well as the initiatives implemented and newly proposed to the AGM to strengthen the company's financial structure. The Board of Directors is firmly convinced that these initiatives are in the best interest of the shareholders and will help Dufry to overcome this challenging situation caused by the impact and the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, I would like to thank our long-term shareholders for their continued support and commitment to purchase additional shares and participating in the issuance of the convertible bond." Julian Diaz, CEO of Dufry, added: "These equity measures, in addition to the new credit facility, the cancellation of the dividend and the other operational cost cutting measures being implemented, will significantly strengthen Dufry's capital base and liquidity position. The initiatives are designed to help Dufry to weather the COVID-19 pandemic and current economic downturn even under a severe scenario, while also providing the company with enough flexibility to react to business opportunities arising in the context of the current situation. The company's setup allows us to react fast and adapt to business requirements as needed, also in view of the travel recovery phase." Conference Call with Management Dufry will hold a conference call with Julian Diaz, CEO Dufry AG, and Yves Gerster, CFO Dufry AG, on April 23, 2020 at 10h CEST. The call will be held in English; there will be no presentation. Participants are invited to register for the conference call here. In this case, participants will receive the dial-in numbers and a personal pin-code. The access to the webcast platform will be available here. A playback option will be available in the webcast platform until May 1, 2020. This press release is for information purposes only and is not intended to constitute or form a part of any offer or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for securities in the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Japan, or any other jurisdiction. The securities mentioned herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 ("Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold within the United States of America except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. There will be no public offering of any of the Company's securities in the United States of America or in any other jurisdiction. This press release does not constitute a prospectus as such term is understood pursuant to Swiss Financial Services Act. This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements relating to the Company and its business. Such statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers should therefore not place undue reliance on these statements, particularly not in connection with any contract or investment decision. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. For further information please contact: Renzo Radice Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Phone: +41 61 266 44 19 renzo.radice@dufry.com Sara Lizi Karen Sharpes Investor Relations Americas & Communications Div. 4 Global Media & Events Phone: +55 21 2157 9901 Phone: +44 0 208 624 4326 sara.lizi@br.dufry.com karen.sharpes@dufry.com Dufry Group - A leading global travel retailer Dufry AG (SIX: DUFN) is a leading global travel retailer with over 2,400 duty-free and duty-paid shops in airports, cruise lines, seaports, railway stations and downtown tourist areas. The Company, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, operates in 65 countries in all six continents. Social Responsibility Dufry cares for children and supports social projects from SOS Kinderdorf in Brazil, Cambodia, Mexico, Morocco and Ivory Coast. SOS Children's Villages is an independent, non-political and non-demonstrational organization established for orphaned and destitute children all over the world. Now, reality is settling in. Rick Bright, director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, said Wednesday he was forced out of his job because he balked at broad use of the drug, promoted by the administration as a panacea, but which clearly lack[s] scientific merit. A preliminary study, not yet peer-reviewed, and funded by the National Institutes of Health and the University of Virginia, looked at 368 patients in Veterans Affairs medical centers who were ill with covid-19. The researchers found no evidence that use of hydroxychloroquine, either with or without azithromycin, reduced the risk of mechanical ventilation in the sick patients. Nearly 28 percent of those who got the hydroxychloroquine died, and 22.1 percent of those with the combination died, while only 11.4 percent died among those who got neither. In 1968, Vivian Perlis, a research librarian at Yale, knew that she needed to talk to Julian Myrick. A man who had spent his life in the insurance business was not the most likely of musicological sources. But Myricks business partner had not only been significant in the field of life insurance, but was also one of the most important figures in American music history: the composer Charles Ives, who had died 14 years earlier. He was writing music at the time when I first knew him, Myrick recalled to Perlis, in a Southern drawl. He worked very hard at it, but people couldnt understand it. Myrick was only the beginning of what became Perliss landmark resource, celebrating its 50th anniversary this season: Yale Universitys Oral History of American Music. Over the following years, Perlis sought out more of Ivess friends and acquaintances. I searched for the oldest and most fragile Ives survivors and often found myself in hospitals and rest homes waiting for an aged Yale classmate or Ives relative to wake from a nap to tell his story, she would later recall. She even tracked down the barber who cut Ivess hair: a man nicknamed Babe, who hadnt known that his patron was a composer but did remember that Ives once yelled at him to shut off the radio. Perlis assembled these and other recollections into a groundbreaking 1974 book, Charles Ives Remembered: An Oral History. Xuan Hoa (R) and his friend take a selfie while having pho. "Last night, after learning the nationwide social distancing campaign would end, I was excited about having pho in the morning. I have not eaten pho for three weeks." More than 2m furloughed workers have been signed up for taxpayer-funded wage subsidies in just two days. HM Revenue & Customs said a further 124,000 companies rushed to apply for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme on Tuesday, its second day. They lodged applications to support 900,000 staff, after laying them off as the pandemic has crippled the economy. HM Revenue & Customs revealed a further 124,000 companies rushed to apply for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme on Tuesday, the second day it has been up and running The subsidies, which amount to 80 per cent of workers wages up to 2,500 a month, will cost the Treasury another 1.1billion, on top of the 1.5billion committed on Monday. It means that in just 48 hours, 309,000 firms have asked the state to pay the wages of 2.2m staff at a cost of 2.6billion. The staggering speed of the take-up underlines the desperate plight of businesses as they struggle for survival. But it also underlines the sheer scale of the bill facing the Treasury, which recently extended the scheme so it covers four months wages up to the end of June. Before the scheme was extended, the Office for Budget Responsibility estimated the subsidies for 9m workers would cost 42billion over three months. Experts have warned that the final bill could hit 60billion if the Government is forced to pay peoples wages for longer. The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) estimates 71 per cent of small and medium-sized businesses have put some staff on leave, up from 66 per cent a week ago. Three in ten have put more than three-quarters of staff on leave. BCC director general Adam Marshall said: It is now critical payments reach businesses as smoothly and as quickly as possible to protect jobs. Hundreds of thousands of families whose children received free or reduced meals at school but didnt get other state assistance will be sent funds to help cover the cost of food during the coronavirus pandemic. Massachusetts is one of the first states to launch the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer program under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which was singed into law in March. The program plans to send funds to households of the roughly 470,000 children who qualify for free- and reduced-priced lunch, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Households that are located within school districts that have implemented universal lunch will also receive the money, which will come in an EBT card with $5.70 a day per child or $28.50 a week. Even families in these districts who make too much money to qualify for benefits will receive a card, said Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders. During this public health and economic crisis, families who were previously over income eligibility limits may have lost income sources and need this critical financial support to purchase food and nutritional food for their family," Sudders said during a news conference Wednesday afternoon. The programs rollout comes as school districts prepare to spend the rest of the year instructing students remotely. Gov. Charlie Baker announced on Tuesday that students would not be returning to class for the rest of the year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Before the pandemic, nearly half of Massachusetts public school students qualified for free or reduced lunch, though high poverty schools had much higher rates of eligibility. That number is expected to be much higher now as more than half a million of Massachusetts workers have filed initial unemployment claims. That doesnt include self-employed workers who started filing their claims through the new Pandemic Unemployment Assistance website. School districts offering grab and go meals for students and their families will continue to do so, Sudders said. The program is meant to supplement that service. Households that receive a new EBT card will receive instructions on how to use it, Sudders said. Families who do not want to use the card will see instructions on how to destroy it. Households who already have EBT cards will have the funds sent to those cards. Sudders said the benefits will help bring an estimated $100 million into the states economy, supporting supermarkets, bodegas, corner stores and their employees. The program will be rolled out through the Department of Transitional Assistance and the Department of Early and Secondary Education. The Shaw Foundation and Project Bread are assisting the state with setting up a website and outreach. Both nonprofits have representatives serving on the COVID-19 Command Centers Food Security Task Force, a coalition of lawmakers, Baker administration officials and organizers. The task forces first meeting was Wednesday. Related Content: The Trump administration is poised to announce an expanded diplomatic presence in Greenland and a new assistance package for the vast island aimed at thwarting growing Chinese and Russian influence in the Arctic. The announcement, expected on Thursday, will come less than a year after President Donald Trump drew derision for expressing an interest in buying Greenland. 'At least USD 12 million in new aid projects' Already, suggestions of a greater US presence in Greenland have been met with criticism in Denmark, of which the island is part. US and European officials say the administration, along with Greenland's government, will announce the opening of a US Agency for International Development office at the new American consulate in the capital, Nuuk, and at least USD 12 million in new aid projects. The American ambassador to Denmark, Carla Sands, previewed the announcement when she wrote in an online publication this week that the United States could offer a substantial package of economic aid to Greenland and would be the preferred partner in the Arctic." In the news outlet Altinget, Sands accused Russia of aggressive behaviour and increased militarisation in the Arctic and China of pursuing predatory economic interests in Greenland. That sparked harsh reactions in Denmark. They have clearly crossed the line, said Carsten Hoenge, an outspoken member of the left-leaning Socialist People's Party that supports the Social Democratic minority government. He said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen must take action" to clarify relations with the United States. "We must draw a line in the ice cap, Hoenge told Altinget on Wednesday. The US Agency for International Development office in Nuuk will initially oversee the handling of at least USD 12.1 million in new US assistance for Greenland that is intended mainly to boost the energy and tourism sectors and blunt Chinese and Russian influence, the officials said. They were not authorized to speak to the matter publicly before the formal announcement and spoke on condition of anonymity. When the State Department notified Congress in January that it intended to move ahead with both steps, the department said that Washington considers Greenland to be strategically important, particularly as China and Russia become more engaged in the region. The department told lawmakers at the time that they would help counter malign Chinese and Kremlin influence by supporting Greenlanders to build their capacity, resilience and self-reliance. Last August, Trump's desire to buy Greenland, a semi-autonomous part of Denmark, emerged in press reports in Washington. Greenland Premier Kim Kielsen said then that the island was not for sale, adding: Greenland is not Danish. Greenland is Greenlandic. I persistently hope that this is not something that is seriously meant. Retreating ice could uncover potential oil and mineral resources in Greenland which, if successfully tapped, could dramatically change the island's fortunes. But no oil has yet been found in Greenlandic waters and 80 per cent of the island is covered by an ice sheet that is up to 3 kilometres (2 miles) thick, which means exploration is only possible in coastal regions. Even there, conditions are far from ideal, due to the long winter with frozen ports, 24-hour darkness and temperatures regularly dropping below minus 20 Fahrenheit (minus 30 Celsius) in the northern parts. A couple walking past Evening Standard headlines outside the Embankment Underground station on March 4 in London. Getty Images The UK government is set to tell Brits to wear face coverings in certain settings outside the house, according to The Sun. UK scientists met Tuesday and reportedly agreed that Brits should cover their faces in places like work or public transport where social distancing is impossible. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government has so far opted against instructing people to wear masks. There are concerns that the UK is already running out of masks and other personal protective equipment for healthcare workers, and the new guidance would reportedly be designed to discourage the public from trying to acquire hospital masks. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The UK government is reportedly preparing to tell people to wear face coverings in some public places to try to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government has resisted calls to recommend the public use of face masks, saying that such a mitigation strategy is not fully supported by scientific evidence. UK scientists met Tuesday to discuss the matter, however, and are now set to tell the government that people should wear face coverings at work and on public transport, where social distancing can be impossible, The Sun reports. The Sun said the UK scientists advising the government known collectively as SAGE had come to believe that face coverings could help stop asymptomatic carriers of the coronavirus from passing it to other people. While certain types of face masks which are meant to be replaced frequently were always considered crucial for healthcare workers, the World Health Organization's original position was that there was no evidence to suggest their use by the public would help stop the coronavirus' spread in a meaningful way. WHO has since said, however, that face coverings could keep people from passing the virus to others, though they could not stop the wearers from catching the virus. Story continues Other countries have U-turned on the question of whether their citizens should wear masks. After originally saying there was no evidence to justify masks' use, France's Academy Of Medicine earlier this month issued new instructions to French people to wear masks whenever leaving their homes. The Sun said Johnson's government was set to advise people that they could wear coverings such as scarves and homemade masks to save hospital masks for the National Health Service staff. UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls It comes amid warnings that the UK is already running out of masks and other safety equipment, known as PPE, to provide for doctors, nurses, and other staff working in the NHS. The Financial Times reported this week that figures in the PPE industry said they would not be able to cope with a change in government advice leading to the general public seeking face masks. Sam Gompels, the owner of the PPE distributor HealthCare, told the Financial Times there was "absolutely no way" the PPE market would be able to meet an increased demand of safety equipment. The UK government's system for procuring PPE like masks from manufacturers has also been heavily criticized. Business Insider reported on Tuesday that a supplier based in Liverpool last month offered the Department of Health & Social Care 10 million face masks to provide to the NHS. However, the department was too slow to respond to the offer, meaning the masks were sold to other countries like Germany. The Guardian reported that the UK government missed opportunities to secure 16 million masks over the past four weeks. Read the original article on Business Insider The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled that a permit was required if the pollution was fairly traceable to a source. But Breyer said that was too broad, allowing EPA to assert permitting authority over the release of pollutants that reach navigable waters many years after their release (say, from a well or pipe or compost heap) and in highly diluted forms. Aviva and Josh Margolis got married using Zoom video conferencing technology when the coronavirus pandemic halted their wedding plans. (Photo: Courtesy of Aviva Sauer) Not long before Aviva Margoliss April 19 wedding, she started having doubts. Not about her fiance Josh the happy couple of two years had planned their nuptials in six weeks flat. However, when Illinois issued a stay at home order in March during the coronavirus pandemic, the nurse practitioner realized that her wedding was in jeopardy. Mid-month, my parents asked if we should postpone, Aviva, 35, who lives in Atlanta but planned a Chicago wedding to accommodate local guests, tells Yahoo Life. At that point, Georgia was still [operational]. (The state issued its first stay-at-home order on April 3.) Between wedding prep and caring for transplant patients who wind up on the COVID-19 unit of Emory University Hospital, Margolis didnt realize the extent of Illinoiss pandemic (the state has almost 37,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases to date). But the temporary closures of the hotel where guests had reserved rooms and the Michelin-starred Sepia restaurant (the ceremony-and-reception site) forced Plan B: broadcasting the wedding over Zoom, a video conferencing tool which a spokesperson tells Yahoo Life has topped 300 million daily users (up from 200 million in late March) as companies adopt indefinite work-from-home policies. The technology, designed for large meetings and offering muting capabilities, can host streamed wedding ceremonies that otherwise would have been canceled or postponed, spurring the hashtag #ZoomWedding. Delivering happiness to our customers is one of Zooms core values and we are thrilled that people are getting creative and using Zoom to say 'I do' in a time when they are not able to be in-person surrounded by the people they love. We are proud that we can play a role in helping people safely celebrate weddings, birthdays, holidays and all types of occasions together during this unprecedented health crisis, Zoom chief marketing officer Janine Pelosi, tells Yahoo Life. Aviva and Josh paid $40 for a webinar link to a 3 p.m. ceremony conducted on their front steps surrounded by their parents. My aunt played the piano from Connecticut and my niece officiated from 30 feet away, says Aviva. Her two siblings watched the nuptials from their cars. Story continues After the traditional Jewish ceremony, the couple ate Taco Bell on a china set and toasted champagne over store-bought marble cake with buttercream frosting. They posed for pictures wearing face masks amid packages of toilet paper, Clorox wipes and canned food. I wouldnt have [my wedding] any other way, Aviva tells Yahoo Life. This is the world we live [in]. Why pretend its not here? I want those memories passed down to our children. Stacy Simpson Frizzle and Jonathan Edgerton wed in Maine via Zoom technology. (Photo: Courtesy of Stacy Simpson Frizzle) Stacy Simpson Frizzle and Jonathan Edgerton, who met at the grocery store 10 years ago, planned a July wedding on their Maine property, but they worried what would happen if we got COVID-19, Frizzle tells Yahoo Life. We would have no legal rights to each other. Using Frizzles Zoom business account, the couple wed while 130 guests tuned in. Frizzles brother and sister-in-law witnessed and Edgertons sister officiated from 10 feet away, wearing a face mask. Afterward, she sat in her car while the couple signed their marriage license. Three of the couples six children (from previous relationships) attended the wedding at their shared home. Another 30 guests watched from Boston, Philadelphia and Oregon although one accidentally logged on a day early, dressed to the nines with champagne. We have a four-minute recording of her waiting for the wedding to start, jokes Frizzle. The couple will celebrate again in July or in 2021, as deposits have been paid on a wedding cake, a tent and the caterer. However, their September honeymoon to London is uncertain. Given the over-the-top price tag on weddings (the national average cost of a wedding is $33,900, per the wedding website The Knot), Frizzle says she appreciates the convenience of her wedding. Aydin Koymen (L) and Jason Parsley (R) married over Zoom when the coronavirus pandemic affected their wedding plans. (Photo: Courtesy of Jason Parsley) After Jason Parsley proposed to his partner Aydin Koymen, via a 2014 newspaper announcement in South Florida Gay News (of which Parsley is the editor), the couple started planning. Neither wanted a big wedding, but ahead of their 20-year anniversary, the timing was symbolic. Koymens family lives in Turkey and Parsleys in Kentucky, which complicated travel, so the couple decided on a courthouse wedding, quickly obtaining a marriage license by appointment-only in a nearby county. Marrying via Zoom was all the rage, Parsley tells Yahoo Life, and satisfied the couples desire for a small ceremony without excluding anyone. A friends sister officiated the April 21 nuptials (from six feet away), and a photographer and the couples teenage nephew, who shares their home, attended. The officiant invited guests to write messages through their computers and unmuted the sound for applause. It was mass chaos, says Parsley. After the couple said goodbye, they took photos, cut their homemade two-tier cake and picked up dinner at Chilis restaurant. Carolyn DeRosa Crisafulli and Francesco Crisafulli married using Zoom technology when their wedding plans fell through due to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo: Courtesy of Vanessa Gallen) Carolyn DeRosa Crisafulli, who met her Italian husband Francesco in January, had planned an intimate ceremony on April 8 in Manhattans Fort Tryon Park. Unfortunately her future in-laws, who live in Italy, where the coronavirus has sickened more than 187,000 people, could not attend. Two weeks after the couple obtained a marriage license, their wedding planning company Simply Eloped postponed services for March and April following shelter-in-place orders. So, a friend offered her Bedford Hills, N.Y. home as the venue. At first, the idea of a Zoom wedding was a joke, DeRosa Crisafulli, 42, tells Yahoo Life. However, the simplicity appealed and on April 19, the couple wed among 20 virtual guests. Our moms were crying, says DeRosa Crisafulli, who wore white combat boots with her dress. It was nice to have Italy represented. She adds, People loved the Zoom aspect, even my mom who joked that I was on trend. Later, a friend wearing gloves and mask dropped by the couples home with an Italian feast. [The coronavirus] put the wedding into perspective, says DeRosa Crisafulli. It just came down to love and family. James and Kate D'Imperio postponed their Las Vegas wedding bash to wed over Zoom. (Photo: Courtesy of Kate D'Imperio) Kate and James DImperio of Indiana were excited for their Las Vegas wedding bash on May 1, but when the Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa temporarily closed on March 19, they rescheduled for April 16 at an event space under Jamess office. I felt terrible, mostly because we had no control, Kate, 31, tells Yahoo Life. It was a huge pivot but once we [changed plans], we saw a silver lining. The couple settled on Zoom because if my mom can use it, I could too, says Kate. Aside from an in-person photographer, the wedding DJ oversaw tech logistics and played live music from Las Vegas. A wedding cake was provided via a no-contact pick-up order. Two separate Zoom links were used for 100 guests one for a private ceremony officiated remotely by Kates brother in Utah and the other for friends to cheer toward the end. The couple danced to You Are the Best Thing by Ray Lamontagne. The actual wedding has been pushed to 2021, close to the couples one-year anniversary, which gives them two reasons to celebrate. Their honeymoon to England, Greece and Italy (for which flights are partially paid), however, is up in the air. 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 CDCs and WHOs resource guides. Read more from Yahoo Life: Want daily wellness, lifestyle and parenting news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Lifes newsletter. JAMES DURBIN The city of Midland will receive nearly $23 million in economic relief funding for Midland International Airport. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was signed into law by President Donald Trump last month and is providing direct economic assistance for American workers and families, small businesses, and preserves jobs for American industries, according to the Department of the Treasury. South Africans should brace for the possibility of food riots and protests over a lack of income as the coronavirus lockdown is eased in the coming months. South Africa is no stranger to protests, and they are often related to issues of service delivery such as a lack of water or electricity supply or labour disputes over wage increases and retrenchments. The serious economic ramifications of the lockdown could lead to even greater desperation among South African communities, however, with the effects of unemployment and poverty spreading to more households. In recent weeks, reports have surfaced of residents of Mitchells Plain in Cape Town clashing with the police during protests over food shortages. Experts who spoke to MyBroadband warned this may only be the first of such instances set to come. Clear signs Head of African Futures and Innovation at the Institute for Security Studies Jakkie Cilliers, said the threat of violence over a lack of food and income is real. The reality is simply that poor people in informal settlements have no option but to find ways of getting food and sustenance on the table. So I think there is a significant threat and concern about this, he noted. Cilliers said a letter in which President Cyril Ramaphosa requested Parliament to approve the deployment of additional SANDF soldiers demonstrated the government anticipated big problems. I think the decision to deploy over 70,000 members of the SANDF makes it very clear that government is very worried about the potential of food riots and broad criminal activity, Cilliers said. He noted that the problem with this type of violence in South Africa is that it tends to quickly gain momentum and spill over into large areas of informal settlements. The intention with the SANDF deployment is to try and make sure that you dont have that momentum, that you squash it right at the start, he explained. However, the perilous state of the SANDF may serve to worsen the situation, he added. That size of deployment is unprecedented and those military officials are not trained and prepared for this, Cilliers said. So I think we are gonna see significant tensions and a rising number of issues about how the military acts in trying to clamp down on this. Fewer, but more intense Municipal IQ economist Karen Heese told MyBroadband the web-based intelligence service anticipated that protests would surge after the lockdown. We have seen a drop-off in protests this year on Municipal IQs Municipal Hotspots Monitor, but there are still the same underlying conditions that drive social dissent and are all the more pronounced by COVID-19, she said. These may be quite intense like in Mitchells Plain, but are also likely to be fewer than normal given tighter policing, she stated. Heese said certain protests may still revolve around service delivery, but it was more likely that issues around food and income security would drive protest action. Nature of unrest Cilliers said food availability will be a major issue driving social unrest after the lockdown. I dont think organised labour protests will happen, but protests about the lack of work and lack of food is going to be a huge issue. This will most likely be a problem in areas where violence has historically taken place, such as in townships and informal settlements where poverty and unemployment are rife. The points of attack would be places where there are perceived to be food and resources. We are going to see the kind of attacks weve seen on delivery vans, maybe on spaza shops, and so on, Cilliers said. He warned that as with instances in 2008, 2015, and 2019, rioters may blame their actions on foreigners once again. It could again take a xenophobic orientation, as we have seen in the past, because its always easier to scapegoat, he stated. Heese added she was hopeful the increased grant measures announced by the president on 21 April would help mitigate the protesting. No more blanket ban In order for the government to stabilise the situation and return circumstances to normal, Cilliers said it would have to adapt its approach to permissible economic activity. We need to move away from a punitive approach to an approach where in every area possible that you can relieve pressure, you should be doing that, he explained. The question needs to be asked: where does the lockdown still need to hold and how do you manage that, rather than where you can relieve it, Cilliers said. He admitted that allowing certain economic activities and services to return to communities which show a lower risk of virus transmission would perhaps be viewed as discriminating against areas with a heightened risk. This, of course, will be a problem because you accentuate the rich-poor divide, Cilliers stated. We have to find a way to move towards a community-based response. I think you can only do that with real ongoing education, communication, and mobilisation of leadership at every level, he explained. Cilliers said political leadership during the crisis has been exemplary, but the execution of its plans has been lacking. Now read: Economic crisis and jobs bloodbath loom in South Africa The government is readying a Rs 70,000 crore package for the power sector through a mix of debt moratoriums and payment deferrals as companies battle a sharp revenue slide amid a Covid-19-induced lock down that has crippled economic activity in India. Power distribution companies (Discoms), responsible for providing last mile connectivity and carrying electricity to homes and offices, have seen their revenues fall by up to 80 percent in the last monthly billing cycle, Moneycontrol has learnt. The nationwide lockdown since March 24 to contain Covid-19s spread has forced thousands of factories, shops and offices to shutter down. Power consumption has fallen sharply as industrial, trading, construction and many other economic activities have remained largely suspended as part of a broader strategy to maintain social distancing and slower the virus canvas of spread. Power consumption has fallen to 125 giga watts in the first of week of April 2020 compared to 165-168 giga watts in April 2019, causing a deep fall in discoms bill collections, their primary revenue source. The fall in power demand has come despite rising temperatures. With summers setting in, day time peak temperatures have touched 40 degree centigrade in some areas across the north-western plains. 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 Discoms earnings have fallen to about Rs 12,000 crore in the last billing cycle from about Rs 55,000 crore during a 30-45 cycle last year, exemplifying the lockdowns effect on Indias power companies books. The Union Power Ministry will likely take the Rs 70,000 crore financial relief package for Cabinet approval as early as next week. Once approved, power companies could be given the option of debt moratoriums and reworked loans over a seven to eight year period. State governments have also been pushing for a Centre-supported fiscal support package for power companies. On April 22, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a financial package for the power sector, while suggesting a slew of measures to rescue the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) and others from the current crisis. The Punjab Chief Minister suggested that Power Finance Corporation (PFC), Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) and other financial institutions should give loans to power sector at reduced rates of 6 percent per annum for bridging the revenue gap. He also recommended extension of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) moratorium on repayment of outstanding loans and interest from the current three to at least six months. Thermal power generation companies (Gencos), which contribute about three-fourths of Indias total energy production, have also been hammered in by the prevailing norm to pay for coal in advance. Spending on railway freights to transport and stock up coal have also drained out thermal gencos resources. The government is looking to address this through USANCE letter of credit, an instrument of deferred payment. HOLYOKE At least 70% of the veterans who were living at the Holyoke Soldiers Home when the coronavirus first broke out in mid-March have now contracted the disease and two more people have died of COVID-19 in the past day. Officials for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services reported as of Thursday a total of 57 residents have died of COVID-19, tests are pending on one person who died and another is unknown. Nine other people have died of other causes since the first veteran tested positive on March 21. One of the residents who died in the past day was former Westfield Police Sgt. William Chandler, family members announced. Chandler, who retired in 1995 after serving on the department for 32 years with the last 15 in the traffic bureau. Previously he had served four years in the U.S. Navy where he studied to be an electrician. He was known as being good-natured, compassionate and an overall nice guy. Co-workers interviewed in a Republican story about his retirement said they would also miss his encyclopedic knowledge especially about traffic problems and laws. The number of veterans who have tested positive for the coronavirus has remained steady for the past three days. As of Thursday 90 veterans have tested positive for the coronavirus and test results are pending for another eight residents, officials said. A total of 81 employees have also tested positive for COVID-19, officials said. After state officials were alerted by the employees union and Mayor Alex B. Morse about their concerns that the virus was rapidly spreading through the facility, a team from Health and Human Services inspected the home on March 30. Before noon Superintendent Bennett Walsh had been placed on paid administrative leave and Val Liptak, CEO of Western Massachusetts Hospital was asked to take over management. Walsh, who reported in a court injunction that he is believed to have contracted the coronavirus, has denied any mismanagement and called any accusations of wrong-doing as outrageous. The state also quickly set up a clinical team of experts to handle different facets of the crisis. About 160 National Guard members who have medical, logistical or operations expertise are also working at the home to augment the depleted staff, officials said. Multiple agencies including the U.S. Attorney, the state Inspector General, and state Attorney General Maura Healey are conducting independent investigations into the crisis at the Soldiers Home, where about 210 veterans lived when the crisis began. Over the past day the amount of personal protective equipment for staff has been increased after Hasboro and Cartamundi donated 250 face shields to the facility, state officials said. The National Guard also brought in two ionizing machines to purify the air and help prevent the coronavirus from spreading to the about 30 residents who remain at the home who have not been infected with the virus. Another about 30 residents who tested negative have been transferred to a special unit at Holyoke Medical Center to help keep them disease-free, officials said. To support the emotional well-being of staff, National Guard chaplains are offering a short service to allow staff to reflect, decompress and pray in a peaceful setting, officials said. The Pound Sterling Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate slumped by around -0.7% today, leaving the pairing trading at around AU$1.9426. The Aussie made gains despite data from the Commonwealth Bank showed the economy was shrinking quickly. The Australian economy is on its way into a recession, although the latest flash PMI data suggests the country is now racing towards one due to the coronavirus pandemic. Aprils flash services PMI plummeted to 19.6 from 37, while the manufacturing sector saw a slightly smaller decline from 49.7 to 45.6. In a note issued to Business Insider Australia, Gareth Aird said: The profound negative impact of the COVID19 pandemic on the Australian economy has been reflected in the incredible collapse in the CBA Flash Composite PMI over April. Indeed the overall result is simply astonishing. The services sector has been hit a lot harder than the manufacturing sector as evidenced by the disparity between the overall levels of the Manufacturing PMI [at] 45.6, compared to the Services PMI [of] 19.6. It was a different outcome for the manufacturing sector as input costs lifted due to the fall in the Aussie Dollar and reported shortages of materials. Meanwhile, the Pound edged lower against the Australian Dollar after data revealed the UK suffered its quickest decline in business activity on record. Britains flash PMI composite plummeted from Marchs 36 to a survey record-low of 12.9, dampening Sterling sentiment. The decline was overwhelmingly attributed to the coronavirus pandemic as Markit revealed that around 81% of service providers and 75% of manufacturing companies reported a decline in business in April. Commenting on this mornings flash PMI reading, Markits Chief Economist, Chris Williamson said: The UK economy has been hit by the COVID-19 outbreak in April to a degree far surpassing anything seen in the PMI surveys 22-year history. Business closures and social distancing measures have caused business activity to collapse at a rate vastly exceeding that seen even during the global financial crisis, confirming fears that GDP will slump to a degree previously thought unimaginable in the second quarter due to measures taken to contain the spread of the virus. The dire survey readings will inevitably raise questions about the cost of the lockdown, and how long current containment measures will last. One ray of light came from an improvement in business optimism about the year ahead compared to the all-time low seen in March, as an increased number of companies saw light at the end of the tunnel. Sentiment about the coming year nevertheless remained the second-lowest ever recorded to underscore how few businesses are anticipating a swift recovery. Will GBP/AUD Extend Todays Losses? Looking ahead to Friday, the Pound (GBP) could extend its losses against the Australian Dollar (AUD) following the release of downbeat British confidence data. If GfK reveals that consumer confidence in the UK has fell further than forecast in April due to the coronavirus pandemic, Sterling will suffer further losses. Meanwhile, GBP investors will also focus on the release of the UKs retail sales data. If UK retail sales slump further than expected in March, as the coronavirus pandemic battered the countrys economy, the Pound Australian Dollar (GBP/AUD) exchange rate will edge lower. Ontario and Quebec are calling in the army to help confront the hot zones of COVID-19. Quebec Premier Francois Legault and Ontario Premier Doug Ford appealed to Ottawa on Wednesday for teams of military personnel to assist with the outbreak of the virus in long-term care homes, which have emerged as especially deadly sites in this pandemic. Every set of boots on the ground will make a difference in this fight, Ford said as he made a formal request to the federal government for help from the Canadian Armed Forces at five nursing homes hit hard by COVID-19. The move, which comes a week after Ford declared the new coronavirus was speeding through long-term care like a wildfire, would see troops help with staffing relief, medical care and daily operations amid staff shortages. There have been at least 447 deaths in Ontario nursing homes and the virus has taken deeper hold in recent weeks, easily spreading in the congregate living facilities. About 2,000 residents have been infected and expanded testing is expected to find more. As we need more resources were bringing more resources in, he added, noting long-term care is where the crisis is. Front-line workers in nursing homes are working extra days and long hours, he said. They need a rest and they need support. Ontarios Long-Term Care Minister Merrilee Fullerton repeatedly refused to name the five homes where troops could be sent. That military assistance will go to the homes that are in the greatest need, she told reporters. There are outbreaks in at least 128 nursing homes, with several experiencing more than two dozen deaths and large numbers of new cases. Ford did not specify how many troops or public health experts he would like to deploy but said they would form a small part of the provincial response. Chief medical officer Dr. David Williams later said Ontario officials have their eye on five teams of about 50 armed forces members each, generally led by a nurse with medics and troops. Were going to have to wait to see how that rolls out in discussions with the Canadian Armed Forces and the federal government, Williams said. Ontarios request is an indication an online health staffing portal has failed to find enough health-care workers to bolster the ranks in nursing homes, where almost 1,000 staff have taken ill with COVID-19 to date and many are off in self-isolation. In Quebec, Legault painted a picture of long-term-care homes that are short staffed and struggling to cope with the virus. He said the province which has already summoned the military to help in one home has tried to deal with the staffing shortage but has come up short, prompting another call for military personnel to fill the gaps. These are not people who have medical training its not an ideal situation but at the time I think it will help us out a lot to be able to have additional hands to help out the staff, Legault told a news conference. It was not immediately clear if the federal government would grant the requests and whether it has the capacity to supply the assistance from the armed forces as well as the Public Health Agency of Canada. The defence department referred questions to the department of public safety, which is responsible for co-ordinating such requests. We are working closely with Quebec and Ontario as they identify their specific needs. We will carefully review their requests upon reception and determine next steps, a spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said in an email. Meanwhile, the military is assisting the RCMP investigation into the mass shooting in Nova Scotia over the weekend. The military is providing personnel, modular tents, lights, tables, chairs and generators to a number of locations, according to a Canadian Press report. Former commanders say the military offers a talented, disciplined force of personnel that can provide key assistance in the pandemic. But they caution that the skill set likely to be in most demand doctors, nurses and medical staff is finite. The real area of expertise is clearly our medical corps but they are a high demand, low-capacity resource and much of it is needed for provision of day-to-day (medical) support to the military itself. Nonetheless there is capacity, said Michael Day, a retired lieutenant-general and former commander of the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command. He said the military which has competed with the civilian sector for medical personnel has the capacity to provide such assistance but not in large numbers. Additional services would be of a more general nature. If the view is to try to free up some med support in these places, the military can provide basic capacity for food delivery, monitoring as a trigger for greater med support, Day said in an email exchange with the Star. Day noted too that the military has some experience in contagion protocols after a deployment to Sierra Leone in 2015 to assist with the Ebola outbreak. My sense is that the CAF is keen to play a role and will look for ways to bring value. It provides a disciplined well-structured workforce than can comfortably and easily adapt to new tasks with great agility, he said. Gen. Jonathan Vance, the chief of defence staff, has said that some 24,000 troops have been put on standby to respond to requests from civilian authorities. That includes some 500 troops at CFB Borden able to respond to requests in Ontario. Retired Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie said the military was smart to take steps early on to protect personnel against catching the virus, ensuring its ranks would be ready. They are ready to respond when the moment is right, said Leslie, former commander of the Canadian Army. Leslie cautioned as well that the militarys ability to provide medical personnel is limited and is focused on tending to those in uniform with little spare capacity, perhaps just 400 medical personnel nationwide that could be free to respond to civilian requests. The medical system of the Canadian Forces is designed to take care of the Canadian Forces. They are there to take care of the Canadian Forces people when they get sick or injured, he said in an interview. The last thing you want is to send a 2,000-person task force somewhere and have it be a burden on the local medical system, said Leslie, a former Liberal MP who served as chief government whip and now is a senior associate with Bluesky Strategy Group, a public affairs firm. Leslie said the requests from the two provinces will be co-ordinated by the department of public safety but the decisions on the actual deployments will fall to Vance in conjunction with Lt.-Gen. Mike Rouleau, who heads the Canadian Joint Operations Command, which oversees military operations. He said the commanders have to carefully weigh each request, knowing that committing troops will likely require a 14-day quarantine at the end of their task before they can deploy again. They should not be committed for a long period of time. I would see a maximum of a couple of weeks to sort things out, then hand it over to civilians who should be paid appropriately and trained appropriately to fill in, he said. Thats what the Armed Forces is. They are the national strategic reserve, after them, theres nothing, Leslie said. Read more about: The Tennessee Department of Health will offer 18 drive-through events across the state this weekend to make COVID-19 testing available to Tennesseans who are concerned about their health or the health of their family members. On Saturday, 10 COVID-19 drive-through testing sites will be open at the following locations in Tennessee: Bledsoe County Bledsoe County High School, 877 Main Street, Pikeville 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Gibson County Milan Elementary School, 1100 Middle Road, Milan noon-3 p.m. Greene County Greene County Fairgrounds, 123 Fairgrounds Circle, Greeneville 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Hamilton County Opus Inspections Emissions Testing, 1620 Riverfront Parkway, Chattanooga 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Jefferson County Walters State Community College, Great Smoky Mountains Expo Center, 1615 Pavilion Dr., White Pine 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Knox County Knoxville City Auditorium, Parking Area, 500 Howard Baker Ave., Knoxville 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Maury County Columbia State Community College, 1665 Hampshire Pike, Columbia 9 a.m.-noon Shelby County Christ Community Health Center, 969 Frayser Blvd., Memphis noon-3 p.m. Smith County Smith County Ag Center, 159 Ag Center Lane, Carthage noon-4 p.m. Williamson County Williamson County Ag Expo Center, 4215 Long Lane, Franklin 9 a.m.-noon On Sunday, eight COVID-19 drive-through testing sites will be open at the following locations in Tennessee: Anderson County Roane State Community College, Oak Ridge Campus, 701 Briarcliff Ave., Oak Ridge 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Franklin County Southern Middle Tennessee Pavilion, 1041 Wilton Circle, Winchester 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Hamilton County Opus Inspections Emissions Testing, 1620 Riverfront Pkwy., Chattanooga 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Hawkins County Volunteer High School, 1050 Volunteer St., Church Hill 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Henderson County First Methodist Church, 27 East Church St., Lexington noon-3 p.m. Lawrence County Rotary Park, 927 North Military Ave., Lawrenceburg noon-3 p.m. Montgomery County Montgomery County Health Department, 330 Pageant Lane, Clarksville 9 a.m.-noon Putnam County Putnam County Health Department, 701 County Services Dr., Cookeville noon-4 p.m. Anyone with health concerns, or who has concerns about the health of a family member, is invited to come to one of these locations this weekend to receive testing for COVID-19. This testing will be provided at no cost to participants, and those who come for testing can remain in their vehicles throughout the process of collecting their samples. Health department nurses and/or National Guard medics at each site will collect nasal swabs from those who want to be tested, and test results may be available within 72 hours after the samples arrive at the lab, depending on lab volume. Information will be provided at the testing locations on what participants can expect after being tested. This information is also available online at www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/cedep/novel-coronavirus/TestedGuidance.pdf When the provincial government releases its blueprint for reopening the economy, it's critical it give the public as much detail as possible. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. When the provincial government releases its blueprint for reopening the economy, it's critical it give the public as much detail as possible. Premier Brian Pallister said Wednesday government will unveil plans next week to start easing social-distancing measures. He gave no specifics on which businesses or organizations will open first, or what guidelines will be used to determine how restrictions will be loosened. He said the province is still finalizing those details. But when government officials do release those plans, it will be important for them to share as much information as possible, including what criteria they plan to follow. So far, the province has been vague about which benchmarks need to be reached before they can start lifting controls. Thats understandable. For the most part, they havent determined that yet. However, Dr. Brent Roussin, the provinces chief public health officer, gave some hints this week about what some of those criteria will be. For starters, the number of new cases of COVID-19 will have to remain low for a period of three to four weeks, said Roussin. He hasnt defined what "low" means. But it appears if current numbers hold for that length of time, it would satisfy that requirement. The number of new cases per day have been at or below four since April 12. Theres been a daily average of 1.55 new cases since then. Presumably if that continues into the first week of May, the low-case criteria would be met. So far, the province has been vague about which benchmarks need to be reached before they can start lifting controls. Thats understandable. For the most part, they havent determined that yet. The province will also consider the degree to which the virus is spreading through community transmission. Right now about 13 per cent of reported cases have spread through community transmission, said Roussin. The rest has been travel-related. That number would also have to remain low before controls are eased. Thats not all Roussin and his team will consider before lifting restrictions. They're part of a set of variables the province will assess together, he said. For example, before easing restrictions, the province must ensure there's an adequate supply of personal protective equipment like masks, gloves and gowns for health-care staff. That could be a challenge since there have been shortages in some areas. Nevertheless, the province will have a range in mind when deciding if inventory levels are sufficient. They need to share that detail with the public next week. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, during the provinces COVID-19 update briefing at the Manitoba Legislative building. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files) Testing capacity will also have to be expanded, said Roussin. Countries that have succeeded in limiting the spread of the virus like South Korea and Greece have done aggressive testing and contact tracing. Roussin says its imperative testing is increased when restrictions are eased in order to improve surveillance. Eventually, the province would like to test all symptomatic people. Roussin said the gradual opening of the economy will occur in phases. The first phase will see the opening of some businesses that were deemed non-essential. If, after a period of monitoring, all goes well, theyll move to the next phase and open more businesses (while ensuring each business establishes appropriate social-distancing measures). Roussin has said he expects reported cases will rise to some degree when restrictions are loosened. He should tell the public how much the province is willing to accept. If numbers start to rise by 10 or 20 a day, for example, can the reopening continue? Thats important information the public has a right to know. These guidelines won't be set in stone. When assessing multiple variables at once, judgment calls have to be made. Roussin said his office will have to adapt as new information becomes available. "There isnt a clear guideline for any of this," he said. No one wants the province to move too fast on easing controls. It would be disastrous to undo all of the good work Manitobans have done over the past several weeks. However, the public needs to know what the rules of engagement are. They need to be shown a roadmap, even if that map changes over time (which it likely will). The public has demonstrated great patience and co-operation. But by next week, they need to see a light at the end of the tunnel. There is no indication that the situation in Donbas could get out of control of the Government of Ukraine even in the face of coronavirus outbreak. High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell made a corresponding statement during a press conference following a video conference of the EU ministers of foreign affairs, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. That was Borrells answer to a question whether the situation with the uncontrolled spread of coronavirus in the occupied territories of Donbas would lead to destabilization of the whole region. "I spoke with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Denmark has just organized a teleconference with the participation of several [European] ministers and Ukraine. There are no indications at the moment that the situation in Donbas could get out of control because of coronavirus. We do not anticipate any problems. Nothing gives rise to related concerns now. Certainly, the situation in Donbas makes it much more difficult to provide assistance, in particular, to deliver medical equipment, since such assistance should be provided in the midst of war. However, I insist that there are no signs indicating that the situation in Donbas could get out of control," the High Representative of the Union said. As reported, Josep Borrell had a phone conversation with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on the eve of the EU foreign ministers meeting and reiterated EU's consistency in supporting Ukraine, in particular during the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. ol MBABANE The country is in the spotlight, as more of its SACU counterparts are launching relief schemes to cushion businesses from the impact of the coronavirus and lockdowns. SACU is the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and it is made up of the country, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. While the relief packages are undoubtedly headlined by South Africas R500 billion stimulus, smaller countries like Lesotho have come to the party. Despite having no reported coronavirus case at the time of compiling this report, the latter yesterday launched a M500 million (about E500 million) Covid-19 Economic Relief Fund to help private companies affected by the lockdown. In addition, the Lesotho government will also avail M450 million to expand the credit guarantee facilities through the Lesotho National Development Corporation. Not to be outdone, the Botswana government has established the Covid-19 Pandemic Relief Fund with capitalisation of P2 billion. In supporting workers, Botswana will provide a wage subsidy totalling P1 billion with the objective of assisting businesses to retain employees. Government will also contribute 50 per cent of basic salary of employees of affected businesses as well as offer a subsidy for employees ranging between P1 000 and P2 500 per month for three months (April, May and June 2020). Interestingly, some of the measures have nothing to do with the size of the economy. In South Africa for instance, R130 billion of this funding will come from reprioritisation of the budget. The rest will be funded internally and externally including approaching the World Bank, (International Monetary Fund (IMF), Development Bank and others. South Africa is entitled to as much as US$4.2 billion (over E78 billion) in emergency funding from the International Monetary Fund should it request financial support to fight the coronavirus. R20 billion will be made available to municipalities for the provision of emergency water supply, increased sanitisation of public transport and facilities, and providing food and shelter for the homeless, announced South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday night. Distress The country, on the other hand, is yet to launch a major relief scheme, but there are measures to cushion businesses in distress like the E90 million fund for tax-compliant businesses that have a turnover of E8 million or less. This will benefit mainly small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The guidelines for applying for the fund were expected to be released by close of business yesterday. Minister of Finance Neil Rijkenberg was yet to respond to a message sent to his phone in response to measures, especially those of South Africa, by 1:45pm yesterday. A local economist said some of the measures from the regional counterparts could be matched, especially those relating to taxes and the loan guarantee schemes. Meanwhile, the country is strengthening its lockdown measures from tomorrow. Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini said government was working on an economic response plan post COVID-19. Coleman Community Schools Superintendent Jen McCormack is excited about two ways the school district is honoring the senior class of 2020. See photos of the graduating class: Coleman honors seniors with banners, joins 'Friday Night Lights'. A virtual learning option may remain in place for Midland Public Schools students into the 2020-21 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, MPS Superintendent Michael Sharrow said. Read more: MPS: Virtual learning could extend into fall; Tentative date set for graduation. Princeton Mortgage Our mission is to become one of largest lenders in the country, and working with top loan originators is how we envision doing so. We cant wait to grow with the Myrtle Beach market in the months to come. Princeton Mortgage, a 36-year-old mortgage banker, announced last month the opening of its most recent branch servicing the Myrtle Beach, South Carolina area. The office is managed by Lisa Sullivan and Carl Padavano, who have a combined 37 years of experience in the mortgage industry. This news comes in association with Princeton Mortgage achieving recognizable growth in recent months, including record originations and funding in both their Retail and Wholesale channels. The company is known for consistently achieving Top 1% in customer satisfaction and has a core goal of closing 50,000 loans per year by 2028. In light of COVID-19, Princeton Mortgage is still fully operational and able to support borrowers looking to purchase a home or refinance their current mortgage at this time. Myrtle Beach, a commonly known beach city, has developed more in recent years. With the average age group being 25 to 44 years old and a median household income growing by upwards of 5%, many young families have the opportunity to by homes while needing mortgage services, making this a great city for Princeton to grow and expand into. There is also a growing number of retirees relocating to the area, from the North to the Grand Strand because of the warm weather, low property taxes & friendly people the city has. As a company, Princeton sees this city as a great opportunity for growth. We are always learning and developing here at Princeton Mortgage, and this recent branch opening is a great example of the direction we are moving in. Bringing on an experienced, well known professional such as Lisa and a young but talented Loan Originator like Carl was a great way to join the tight knit community of Myrtle Beach and show this city what Princeton Mortgage is about. commented Mark Gordon, National Sales Director of Princeton Mortgage. Our mission is to become one of largest lenders in the country, and working with top loan originators is how we envision doing so. We cant wait to grow with the Myrtle Beach market in the months to come. "I couldnt be happier to join the team at Princeton and see what fabulous moves we can make together" stated Lisa Sullivan, Mortgage Loan Originator of Princeton Mortgage. "I believe Princeton is making spot-on moves in a positive, expansive direction, as well as offering amazing customer satisfaction through implementing The Effortless Mortgage. I can't wait to see what's in store for us as a team." The company looks forward to adding many more Loan Originators to the Myrtle Beach office in the months to come. ### PrincetonMortgage Founded in 1983, Princeton Mortgage is a licensed mortgage banker and is backed by a 100+ year old multi-faceted real estate brokerage, investment and insurance company. We are positioned as a well-capitalized banker, ranked in the top 1% for customer satisfaction in the nation, debt free and creating dynamic new opportunities within our industry. Our mission is to help people thrive, and we do that by delivering TheEffortlessMortgage. We do what we say were going to do and back it up with ThePrincetonPromise: if you are unhappy with your experience for any reason, get $1,000 back. No strings attached. Over the past two decades satellites have been able to quantify previously unknown amounts of land conditions. Here I show you how wet our soils are right now based on measurements from a satellite and some modeling. The satellite able to quantify surface soil moisture down to groundwater amounts is called GRACE. GRACE stands for NASAs Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment. GRACE is able to measure small changes in Earths gravity field due to the amount of water in the ground. Amount of surface water expressed in a percentage of the highest recorded in a historical period back to 1948. (NASA) South-central Lower Michigan and areas right near the Straits of Mackinac are showing the wettest surface moisture. Those areas are showing surface soil moisture that is in the 90th percentile for data going back to 1948. The white spots and light blue areas have about average surface soil moisture. Amount of root zone water expressed in a percentage of the highest recorded in a historical period back to 1948. (NASA) It certainly looks like young crops in Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois will not have to worry about moisture needs early in the growing season. The root zone soil moisture is ample over most of Michigan. Amount of groundwater expressed in a percentage of the highest recorded in a historical period back to 1948. (NASA) The image above shows water amounts as we go deeper, into the groundwater. The groundwater supply now stands at 90 percent to 100 percent of the historical normal. It should be no surprise. If the Great Lakes are at record high water levels, groundwater below will be high also. In fact, much of the middle U.S. has ample groundwater supplies right now. Areas lacking groundwater supplies are the western U.S. and now Florida. Florida has been extremely dry in the last few months. I think these images are a great way for us to see through the soil at how much moisture is in the sponge called the soil profile. There is plenty of water in Michigan right now. A mysterious skin condition that has been appearing around the country is likely tied to the coronavirus, doctors have discovered. Informally called COVID toes," the condition causes purple, blue or red discoloration of the toes and sometimes fingers. Dr. Amy Paller, a dermatologist at Northwestern University, has reported seeing 30 cases of this condition. Paller said more testing is needed to definitely know what is causing the condition, but it seems too much of a coincidence not to be a manifestation of the virus. According to reports by doctors studying these cases, COVID toes appear in COVID-19 patients who dont exhibit any other symptoms. Most cases appear with patients in their teens and 20s, according to Paller. COVID toes occurs early on in the disease. Those who display this symptom can still progress and should get tested, Dr. Ebbing Lautenbach, chief of infectious disease at the University of Pennsylvanias School of Medicine, told USA Today. A minority of these patients with this have been tested for COVID-19 and many have been negative, but we still suspect a relationship," Paller said. Many have had some mild viral symptoms in the week before and it might be a sign during the convalescent healing period when no longer contagious. There are two possible causes for this symptom, according to Lautenbach. It could be an inflammatory response more localized to a patients foot and toes. Or it could be a clotting of blood vessels. The short answer is nobody knows, Lautenbach told USA Today. One positive is COVID toes in some people can disappear in the course of a week to 10 days, Lautenbach said. However, others progress to respiratory symptoms. According to Paller, the condition appears to resolve spontaneously for most. A bulldog named Big Poppa has captured the hearts of thousands on the internet after his owner shared a picture of the pup looking forlorn while following social distancing orders. As people around the world continue to stay home in an effort to curb the spread of coronavirus, Rashida Ellis, 38, from Atlanta, Georgia, showed the impact quarantining has had on her three-year-old English bulldog. In the photo, which has been liked more than 740,000 times, Big Poppa can be seen sitting on Elliss balcony looking miserable because he cannot play with the children in the building. Big Poppa has been so sad today, I think he misses playing with the kids in the building, Ellis tweeted alongside the picture. He just watches them from the patio. Stunning shots show dogs in mid-flight in the woods Show all 19 1 /19 Stunning shots show dogs in mid-flight in the woods Stunning shots show dogs in mid-flight in the woods Peppi the Puli The images of the dogs jumping in mid air were taken by Italian photographer Claudio Piccoli Claudio Piccoli / SWNS.com Stunning shots show dogs in mid-flight in the woods Fox the border collie Claudio Piccoli / SWNS.com Stunning shots show dogs in mid-flight in the woods Banjo the Australian kelpie Claudio Piccoli / SWNS.com Stunning shots show dogs in mid-flight in the woods Toby a mixed breed Claudio Piccoli / SWNS.com Stunning shots show dogs in mid-flight in the woods Splash the Australian Shepherd Claudio Piccoli / SWNS.com Stunning shots show dogs in mid-flight in the woods Urmas the whippet Claudio Piccoli / SWNS.com Stunning shots show dogs in mid-flight in the woods Aemy the mixed border collie and Harzerfuchs Claudio Piccoli / SWNS.com Stunning shots show dogs in mid-flight in the woods Pessah the border collie Claudio Piccoli / SWNS.com Stunning shots show dogs in mid-flight in the woods Paul the border terrier Claudio Piccoli / SWNS.com Stunning shots show dogs in mid-flight in the woods Tris the border collie Claudio Piccoli / SWNS.com Stunning shots show dogs in mid-flight in the woods Leep and Chester both border collies Claudio Piccoli / SWNS.com Stunning shots show dogs in mid-flight in the woods Jake the border collie Claudio Piccoli / SWNS.com Stunning shots show dogs in mid-flight in the woods Chester the border collie Claudio Piccoli / SWNS.com Stunning shots show dogs in mid-flight in the woods Jungle the border collie Claudio Piccoli / SWNS.com Stunning shots show dogs in mid-flight in the woods Peach the border collie Claudio Piccoli / SWNS.com Stunning shots show dogs in mid-flight in the woods Iliade the Australian Shepherd Claudio Piccoli / SWNS.com Stunning shots show dogs in mid-flight in the woods Oz the border collie Claudio Piccoli / SWNS.com Stunning shots show dogs in mid-flight in the woods Fai the border collie Claudio Piccoli / SWNS.com Stunning shots show dogs in mid-flight in the woods Claudio Piccoli with border collie Leep Claudio Piccoli / SWNS.com Ellis also shared a video of Big Poppa sitting in a too-small dog bed on the balcony, explaining that he wont get out of it despite barely fitting inside. On Big Poppas Instagram, run by Ellis, the bulldog spoke directly to his more than 48,000 followers, imploring them to take social distancing seriously so that he can once again play with the children in his building. All I want to do is play with the kids in my building but due to Covid-19... I can't. I just watch them from the patio. Flatten the curve please, Big Poppa said through his owner. According to Ellis, although she is home to play with the dog and give him attention, what he really enjoys is playing with children. "He loves children and then other dogs and then adults," Ellis told BuzzFeed. "In that order." The photo of the bulldogs apparent misery has since prompted an outpouring of support, with many people offering virtual hugs and pats to the pup, as well as promises to do what they can to help flatten the curve. I'm gonna kick this virus's ass for hurting Big Poppa like this, one person tweeted. Another said: My Covid-19 priorities have now shifted to whatever is best for Big Poppa. Among those cheering on the pup was Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams, who tweeted: Not being dramatic but I would literally die for Big Poppa. [April 22, 2020] Andrea Borelli Appointed Managing Director for Nielsen Hong Kong & Macau HONG KONG, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nielsen, the global measurement and data analytics company, announced the appointment of Andrea Borelli as the managing director for Nielsen Hong Kong and Macau. Borelli reports to Cindy Shin, Developed Asia Leader, Nielsen Global Connect. Borelli will play a key role in meeting the company's growth goals and refining Nielsen Hong Kong & Macau strategies to cope with the evolving needs of the clients, especially during this challenging time faced by the industry. He will also be instrumental in further strengthening Nielsen's leading reputation in the research industry with the company's unique and comprehensive insights as well as data. Borelli has more than 15 years of senior management experience, including several senior roles at Nielsen such as Commercial Leader for the Netherlands, Client Service Director for Global Nielsen accounts and managerial positions for various reputable FMCG manufacturers, mainly responsible for developing their strategic innovations. Having a solid understanding of the sophisticated local market with a global pespective, he will capitalize on the growth opportunities for Nielsen Hong Kong and Macau. "We are pleased to have a leader like Borelli with forward-looking visionary and a proven track record of building profitable businesses to guide Nielsen Hong Kong and Macau to bring to create even greater value to our clients and maximize business impact, especially in the tough environment," said Shin. "I'm thrilled to be able to lead such a strong and dedicated team of market research leaders in Hong Kong to help our clients address their business strategies in this changing and uncertain landscape. We all know how tough the retail market is under the epidemic, but I firmly believe that with Nielsen's unique data and insights, our clients can be a step ahead in finding growth opportunities in today's uncertainty," expressed Borelli. About Nielsen Nielsen Holdings plc (NYSE: NLSN) is a global measurement and data analytics company that provides the most complete and trusted view available of consumers and markets worldwide. Nielsen is divided into two business units. Nielsen Global Media, the arbiter of truth for media markets, provides media and advertising industries with unbiased and reliable metrics that create a shared understanding of the industry required for markets to function. Nielsen Global Connect provides consumer packaged goods manufacturers and retailers with accurate, actionable information and insights and a complete picture of the complex and changing marketplace that companies need to innovate and grow. Our approach marries proprietary Nielsen data with other data sources to help clients around the world understand what's happening now, what's happening next, and how to best act on this knowledge. An S&P 500 company, Nielsen has operations in over 100 countries, covering more than 90% of the world's population. For more information, visit www.nielsen.com . SOURCE Nielsen [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] London, April 23 : Actor Tom Holland, popular as Spider-Man in reel life, slipped into the webbed superhero's costume for a virtual birthday party. Host Jimmy Kimmel had promised his son Billy that the real Spider-Man would be at his birthday party, but due to the lockdown that couldn't be possible, reports dailymail.co.uk. "My son Billy turns three years old today," Jimmy explained during their online interview. "We watched both of your Spider-Man movies over and over and over again, and we promised him that the real Spider-Man would come to his party. Now, of course we were just going to hire a guy in a suit, but now nobody's coming to his party. "His party is just us, and I was wondering if you could say hello to him. I can't guarantee you it's going to register, but would you mind?" Holland was delighted to help out, and Jimmy returned with his daughter Jane, five, and son Billy, who was wearing a Spider-Man costume. "Who did we say was going to come to your birthday?' Jimmy asked his son. "The real Spider-Man! I want you to say hi to somebody!" Holland popped up wearing a red hoodie, mask and gloves. "Hey what's up Billy!?' he asked. "Here, let me take this off so I can see you better." Jane recognised him and exclaimed: "That is Peter Parker!" "Hey Billy, how you doing?" Holland asked. The youngster smiled before shyly snuggling towards his father. "My name's Peter Parker. I live in Queens, New York. Where do you live, do you know?" Holland asked the children. Billy remained silent but his older sister answered, "We live in California!" Jimmy then asked his daughter what she once called Peter. "Cute!" she said. "She said you have a cute face!' Jimmy said as Holland gave the thumbs up. "I appreciate that, that's very kind of you!" Holland replied. Then, Jimmy got everyone sing happy birthday to his son while his wife Molly came out with a cake. Holland and his housemates sang to the toddler from their home in London. Exercising in public not banned in Patong, but mayor urges everyone to stay at home PHUKET: Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsup has confirmed there is no ban on people exercising in public in Patong, but still urges everyone to venture out of their homes as little as possible. patongCOVID-19Coronavirus By Khunanya Wanchanwet Thursday 23 April 2020, 05:31PM Patong Mayor Chalermluck still urged people to stay at home as much as possible. Photo: Patong Municipality It would be better to exercise at home, she told The Phuket News today. Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) Chief Thanit Sermkaew has already confirmed that people in Phuket can exercise outdoors if they wished, just as promoted by some public announcements issued by the Ministry of Public Health. However, Chief Thanit did urge people to exercise at home for now, and cautioned that any persons leaving their homes must still abide by the health orders issued in Phuket to prevent the spread of including virus, including the ban on travelling outside the subdistrict where they are staying and the requirement for all people to wear a face mask at all times while in public or else face a fine of up to B20,000. Yet an expat living and working in Phuket for six years contacted The Phuket News after he was warned that he would be reported for jogging in Patong alone yesterday evening running very slowly, with a mask, by myself, avoiding people. The expat explained that he was stopped by a friendly Thai man (volunteer, I guess), and a less friendly female foreign tourist police officer. They were on a scooter, and she was not wearing a helmet. The female foreign tourist police officer told the man that he was not allowed to exercise in public She could not explain what governmental decree or law I was breaking I pointed out that two Thai ladies were playing badminton in the street 50 meters away, and they told me that was their house, the expat explained The issue came to ahead when the expat refused to remove his face mask for his photo to be taken. Patong Municipality has not banned people from coming out in public. but we dont recommend doing so, as there are still risks of infection and of the virus spreading, Mayor Chalermluck explained today. We have to ask everyone for cooperation to stay in their homes and go outside only when it is necessary, such as buying food and other essential goods, she said. I know that staying home for a long time is quite boring, but please be patient, we will pass through this crisis as soon as possible, Mayor Chalermluck added. If one person starts going outside [like this], then more people will follow and do the same. With more people outside in the same area at the same time, the virus can spread, she explained. Please follow the request, so the flu will be gone as quickly as possible and our lives and Phuket will be back to normal again, Mayor Chalermluck urged. TEHRAN, Iran - The leader of Irans Revolutionary Guard warned on Thursday that he has ordered his forces to potentially target the U.S. Navy after President Donald Trumps tweet the previous day threatening to sink Iranian vessels. Iran also summoned the Swiss ambassador, who looks out for Americas interests in the country, to complain about Trumps threat coming amid months of escalating tensions between the two countries. While the coronavirus pandemic temporarily paused those tensions, Iran has since begun pushing back against the Trump administrations maximum pressure policy both militarily and diplomatically. The Guard on Wednesday launched Irans first military satellite, unveiling a previously secret space program. Speaking to state television Thursday, Guard Gen. Hossein Salami warned that his forces will answer any action by a decisive, effective and quick counteraction. We have ordered our naval units at sea that if any warships or military units from the naval force of Americas terrorist army wants to jeopardize our commercial vessels or our combat vessels, they must target those (American) warships or naval units, Salami said. The latest dispute comes after the U.S. Navy said last week that 11 Guard naval gunboats had carried out dangerous and harassing approaches to American Navy and Coast Guard vessels in the Persian Gulf. The Americans said they used a variety of nonlethal means to warn off the Iranian boats, which eventually left. Iran, meanwhile, accused the U.S. of sparking the incident, without offering evidence for the claim. Iran has had tense encounters at sea for years with the U.S. Navy in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of all oil passes. The U.S. has patrolled the area to protect global shipping for decades, something Iran describes as akin to it patrolling the Gulf of Mexico. Trump on Wednesday, facing a collapsing global energy market and the coronavirus pandemic amid his re-election campaign, tweeted out a warning to Iran, saying that he ordered the Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea. We dont want their gunboats surrounding our boats, and travelling around our boats and having a good time, Trump told reporters Wednesday evening at the White House. Were not going to stand for it. ... Theyll shoot them out of the water. The International Crisis Group, noting the tensions, urged both countries to create a deconfliction hotline to avoid a possible military confrontation. In the absence of a major diplomatic breakthrough, an indirect military communications channel could go some way toward ensuring, at least, that a single incident will not spark a wider conflagration, it said in a report Thursday. Iran in the past has rejected idea of a hotline. Meanwhile, the Guard surprised analysts by sending a satellite into space on Wednesday from a previously unused launch pad and with a new system. While Iran stresses its program is peaceful, Western nations fear such a program will help Iran build intercontinental ballistic missiles. State television on Thursday said Iran received signals from the satellite, without elaborating. While American officials have not acknowledged that the satellite reached orbit, open-source data from the U.S. military suggested the Noor, or Light satellite now orbited the Earth. Uzi Rubin, fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security and the founder of Israels missile defence program, said the launch showed the Guards further gain in wresting for power and in building its own state within a state. The very act of launching a military satellite in the midst of the coronavirus crisis that is affecting Iran too is a statement of self confidence and perseverance by the ayatollahs to the West but mainly to its own population, Rubin said. France said Thursday that it strongly condemns the launch and called on Tehran to immediately halt any activity related to the development of ballistic missiles designed to be able to carry nuclear weapons, including space launch vehicles. Given that the technology used for space launches is very similar to that used for ballistic missile launches, this launch directly contributes to the extremely troubling progress made by Iran in its ballistic missile program, France said. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova meanwhile rejected assertions that the launch violated the U.N. Security Councils resolution on Iran, noting that Iran has the right to develop its space program for peaceful purposes. Later on Thursday, Iranian Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Guards aerospace division, told state TV that ground stations in Iran are communicating with the satellite, which takes about a week to reach its full capacity. He said. without elaborating, that the Guard plans to send more such satellites into even higher orbits in the future. ___ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Josef Federman in Jerusalem, Angela Charlton in Paris and Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report. Coronavirus is killing people more than a decade before they would have died naturally, according to a study. Men who die of COVID-19 are losing, on average, 13 years of their lives, scientists say, while women have 11 years cut off their life expectancy. The disease, which has hospitalised more than 100,000 people in the UK, is having a devastating impact comparable to heart disease, the scientists said. The research was done by Public Health Scotland and experts at the universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. It flies in the face of authorities' focus on the 'underlying health conditions' of most of the people dying of COVID-19. And it goes against claims many of the victims are people who were likely to have died anyway. Office for National Statistics data shows that most people dying in the UK are aged between 75 and 84. The Scottish research argues that many of those could have expected years or even more than a decade more life if they hadn't caught the virus. Even people with long-term illnesses - known as morbidities - are having their lives cut short by many years, they said. Men are losing, on average, 13 years of life to the coronavirus while women are losing 11. The number of years lost is usually higher the younger someone is when they die Even people with long-term illnesses - known as morbidities - are having their lives cut short by many years, they said ALMOST 90% OF PEOPLE WHO DIE FROM COVID-19 ARE OVER 65, REPORT REVEALS Almost 90 per cent of people who die from coronavirus in England and Wales are over the age of 65, the report revealed today. Separate figures compiled by the ONS showed 10,808 of the 12,380 COVID-19 deaths that occurred up until April 10 were among over-65s. It is unclear why the overall number of deaths figure is slightly different to the overall number given in the main report by the ONS. The data also revealed 23 people under the age of 29 had died after testing positive for the killer virus up until April 10, compared to 334 people in their fifties. And men made up the largest proportion of COVID-19 deaths, representing 60 per cent (7,524) of the total. AGE <1 1-4 5-9 10-14 15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85-89 90+ TOTAL DEATHS 0 0 0 0 5 8 15 22 39 56 141 243 424 619 827 1,348 1,911 2,428 2,275 2,019 12,380 MEN 0 0 0 0 2 4 8 13 24 33 79 150 279 415 546 893 1,240 1,525 1,346 967 7,524 WOMEN 0 0 0 0 3 4 7 9 15 23 62 93 145 204 281 455 671 903 929 1,052 4,856 Advertisement The scientists, led by the University of Glasgow's Dr David McAllister, wrote: 'While media coverage of the pandemic has focused heavily on COVID-19 affecting people with "underlying health conditions", adjustment for number and type of long-term conditions only modestly reduces the estimated years of life lost due to COVID-19.' Their research was based on a study of COVID-19 patients in Italy and a sliding scale devised by the World Health Organization that is used to calculate how many years of life people lose to illness. The vast majority of people - except those who live beyond 100 - lose life-years to some sort of condition or theoretically avoidable factor. Studying the ages of people dying of the coronavirus, the Scottish researchers found that men lost, on average, 13 years and women 11 years, even when their other health problems are taken into account. In England and Wales the most common age at which people died of COVID-19, up to April 17, was between 80 and 84, according to the Office for National Statistics. The WHO's years-lost scale explains a death at 81 is equal to 14 years of life lost. The years of life lost for people in their fifties with no underlying conditions was around 35.81. In comparison, it barely dropped for one morbidity (35.03). The figure was 29.67 for people in their fifties with two conditions - and 19.39 for those with five. Dr McAllister and his colleagues explained that differences in the types of illnesses led to a 'wide variability' in the impact the virus had on their lives. The study they used in their research focused on people with heart disease, irregular heartbeat, heart failure, stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes, dementia, COPD, cancer, liver failure and kidney disease. But their findings showed that even the most seriously ill patients who then died of COVID-19 lost 'substantial' amounts of time they would otherwise have lived. They said: 'Across most age and multimorbidity count [categories] the estimated years of life lost per person remained substantial and generally above five years. 'This means that even after accounting for the multimorbidity count, most individuals lost considerably more than the "1-2 years" suggested by some commentators.' Although a majority of people who have died of coronavirus in the UK have had long-term health issues which made them vulnerable, healthy people and the young are dying, too. There are regular reports of previously healthy people of every age, from their 20s to older than 100, dying of the virus. And the Government had been criticised for, in the lead up to the UK's epidemic, for trying to reassure the public that the disease was most dangerous for the minority - the elderly and the already ill. Almost half of people in England, however, say they are living with a long-term health condition of some description. The Scottish researchers, who focused on a study done on coronavirus victims in Italy, found that high blood pressure was the most common illness among people who died of COVID-19 - 73 per cent of all fatalities had the condition. This was followed by diabetes (31.3 per cent), heart disease (27.8 per cent) and irregular heartbeat (23.7 per cent). Dr McAllister and colleagues said: 'Among patients dying of COVID-19, there appears to be a considerable burden in terms of years of life lost, [on par] with diseases such as coronary heart disease or pneumonia.' The research was published on Wellcome Open Research without being reviewed by other scientists. The definition of movie is increasingly difficult to nail down, especially for those of us who concentrate on television. Netflix and other streaming networks make movies of all genres that are meant to compete with box-office theatrical releases; to help qualify for film awards, like the Oscars, Netflix even established its own theater for New York screenings. But most viewers experience a Netflix movie at home, on their TV screens, where the existential question persists: is it TV or is it a movie? Porsche has announced new infotainment systems that combine modern features like CarPlay support and Bluetooth connectivity with classic design sensibilities. There are two versions of the Porsche Classic Communication Management system -- PCCM for short. The first is a single-DIN unit that features a 3.5-inch display. It's compatible with vintage Porsche models as far back as the first 911 models the automaker released in the 1960s. Besides the built-in touchscreen, it features an SD card slot, USB port and an auxiliary input. As you can see from the photo Porsche shared (above), it also includes several analog buttons and dials to help it fit in seamlessly with the interior of an older car. Porsche For more modern vehicles from the 90s, including 986 generation Boxster models, Porsche is also releasing a double-DIN unit with a 7-inch display. Like its single-DIN counterpart, the PCCM Plus features USB and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as an SD card slot and an auxiliary port. The bigger unit is also compatible with Android Auto. Moreover, both units include support for DAB+, a digital radio standard that's popular outside of North America. At 1,439.89 and 1,606.51 (approximately $1550 and $1729, respectively), the two units aren't exactly cheap. You could save money by buying an aftermarket unit, but chances are it will stick out like a sore thumb against a classic dashboard. Besides, if you're wealthy enough to own a vintage Porsche, the price of these units probably isn't an issue. In a way, it's surprising we haven't seen more automakers release first-party infotainment systems that match with their older vehicles. Then again, most car companies would probably prefer you to buy one of their newest models to get access to a feature like CarPlay. The two stereo units are available through the German Porsche Classic site, though no word on US availability yet. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Cellulose Fiber Market was valued at US$ 26.04 Bn in 2017 and is expected to reach US$ 49.49 Bn by 2026, at a CAGR of 8.36 % during a forecast period. The objective of the report is to present a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, industry-validated market data and projections with a suitable set of assumptions and methodology. The report also helps in understanding cellulose fiber market dynamics, structure by identifying and analyzing the market segments by fiber type, application, and region and, project the global market size. Further, report also focus on competitive analysis of key players by product, price, financial position, Materials portfolio, growth strategies and regional presence. The report also provide PEST analysis, PORTERas analysis, SWOT analysis to address question of shareholders to prioritizing the efforts and investment in near future to particular market segment. Cellulose fibers are made up of esters or ether of the cellulose. Cellulose fibers are manufactured from dissolving pulp from cellulose rich plants such as cotton, jute, bamboo, flax, hemp, etc. Abundant availability of these plants shall influence the global cellulose fiber market size significantly in the forecast period. These fibers are versatile in nature and possess unique properties such as moisture absorbency, hydrophobicity, and so on. With impurities removed by a chemical step, fiber becomes greatly hydrophilic and its surface instantly wettable. Under ambient conditions, the material has a moisture regain (mass of water absorbed per dry mass of fiber, expressed as percentage) of about 8%, but when soaked in water the fiber can imbibe up to 30% fluid and swell significantly. One unique characteristic of cotton, related to its specific structure, is that it becomes stronger (by about 20%) when wet. Request for Report sample :https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/sample/4097 Increasing demand for cellulose fibers mainly from textile industry may foster the global cellulose fiber market growth in future. In addition, owing to its properties such as skin-friendly, biodegradable, and environment-friendly in nature, the growth in the market is expected to boost in forecast period. Moreover, significant consumption from the textile industries may influence the global market. Wood pulp is the key raw material used in the production of cellulose fibers, which is another major influential driver of the global market. However, the proliferation of new players entering the global cellulose fiber market may enhance the global cellulose fiber market in a positive way. Rapidly changing fashion trends coupled with rising disposable income of people in many regions across the globe is increasing the demand for high quality textiles. This is increasing the demand for cellulosic fibres. Low cost of these fibres, on account of easy availability of raw materials, is fuelling their adoption across industries, thus augmenting their market growth. As technologies continue to advance, the application of these cellulose fibres will expand into wider industry verticals, thus driving their market over the projected period. Request for Report Discount:https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/report/discount/4097 On the basis of fiber type, Natural cellulose fibers are derived from plants which are extracted & processed when needed. During the processing, they are separated from the rest of the plant which is not useful. The natural fiber market is expected to grow at a high CAGR by 2026 on account of various disadvantages of usage of synthetic fibers in various end-use industries. Natural cellulose fibers held the major share of the market in 2017, owing to its application in construction industry as reinforcement composite which can be used as ready mix plaster. Make an Inquiry before Buying@:https://www.trendsmarketresearch.com/checkout/4097/Single Textile was the prominent segment in 2017. The segment alone accounts for around 44% of the global revenue share. The major application of fibers in the textile industry is to reinforce composites and filter chemicals. Therefore, fiber produced from wood pulp is becoming an important element for the textile industry. Cotton is the major raw material for textile industry. However, declining cotton production owing to the difficulty in its cultivation has resulted in major growth in the demand for wood-based cellulose fibers. These are high-performing and find applications in industrial, Textile, apparel, etc. Asia Pacific was the dominant region, owing to high demand in textile and industrial segment. The region is projected to show the same growth trend over the forecasted period due to rise in demand from industrial, textile and other application segments in the region. China, India, Japan, South Korea, Pakistan, Taiwan, and Indonesia are the major markets in the region. These countries are involved in manufacturing and trade of fibers, which are used across various end-use industries. Vietnam and Bangladesh are the potential future market for the product. Scope of Global Cellulose Fiber Market: Global Cellulose Fiber Market, by Fiber type: Natural Synthetic Global Cellulose Fiber Market, by Application: Apparel Textile Industrial Others Global Cellulose Fiber Market, by Region: North America Europe Middle East & Africa Asia Pacific South America Key Players Operating In Global Cellulose Fiber Market: Kelheim Fibers Lenzing AG Daicel Thai Rayon Indo-Bharat Rayon Grasim Industries Ltd. Aoyang Helon Fulida Tangshan Sateri Grasim Industries Shandong Helon Supreme Court Makes It Easier to Deport Green Card Holders Convicted of Serious Crimes A divided Supreme Court on Thursday ruled to make it easier for the federal government to deport lawful permanent residents (LPRs) who have been convicted of serious crimes. In a 5-4 decision, the top court justices sided against a man who was seeking to cancel deportation orders stemming from firearm and drug offenses. LPRs who are subject to deportation orders can apply to have their removal canceled under a federal immigration law if they meet strict eligibility requirements. That law gives the attorney general power to cancel the removal of an applicant who has been an LPR for five years and has resided continuously in the United States for seven years, during which time he or she must not have been convicted of an aggravated felony. If an LPR is found to have committed such felonies, a rule called the stop-time rule would be triggered. This rule would cause the accrual of the seven-year requirement to pause from the time when the individual commits a crime that renders them inadmissible. The court on Thursday ruled to uphold a lower court decision that found the man ineligible for the discretionary cancellation of his removal because he had committed aggravated assault offenses within the initial seven years of his residency, even though those crimes were not grounds for his deportation. The ruling is widely viewed as a victory for the Trump administration. President Donald Trump has been running on a platform that pushes for stronger enforcement of national immigration laws. In the case at hand, Andre Barton, a lawful permanent resident and Jamaican national, had applied to have his removal canceled. Barton and his mother were legally admitted to the country in 1989 and he obtained his green card in 1992. The case is cited as Barton v. Barr. During his time in the United States, he has been convicted of state crimes on three separate occasions spanning 12 years. Barton was convicted in 1996 of aggravated assault, criminal damage to property, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. In 2007 and 2008, he was also convicted of drug offenses in Georgia state courts. In 2016, the federal government sought his removal under his firearms offense and drug offenses. Barton conceded that he was removable on those offences and an immigration judge found him removable. He then applied for cancellation of removal. The immigration judge and the Board of Immigration Appeals found that he was not eligible for the cancellation because he had committed the aggravated assault during his first seven years of his residency rendering him inadmissible. Barton argues that because he was already lawfully admitted, he could not be rendered inadmissible under the meaning of the cancellation of removal law. On appeal, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit agreed with the immigration judge. The 11th circuit had taken the same view as the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th Circuits, determining that the stop-time rule applies to immigrants like Barton. Meanwhile, the 9th Circuit said immigrants cant be deemed inadmissible unless they are seeking admission into the United States. Barton then appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who wrote the majority opinion, agreed with the 11th circuit but also noted that the deportation process is a wrenching process especially for family members. The court decided along conservative-liberal ideological lines. Removal is particularly difficult when it involves someone such as Barton who has spent most of his life in the United States, Kavanaugh wrote (pdf). Congress made a choice, however, to authorize removal of noncitizenseven lawful permanent residentswho have committed certain serious crimes. And Congress also made a choice to categorically preclude cancellation of removal for noncitizens who have substantial criminal records. Congress may of course amend the law at any time. In the meantime, the Court is constrained to apply the law as enacted by Congress. The majority found that there was no problem with considering the aggravated assault offenses even though they were not grounds for Bartons deportation. It is entirely ordinary to look beyond the offense of conviction at criminal sentencing, and it is likewise entirely ordinary to look beyond the offense of removal at the cancellation-of-removal stage in immigration cases, he wrote. Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented, arguing that the majority ruling was at odds with common sense. She was joined by the other liberal justices. She argued that the majority had conflated inadmissibility with deportability. She said for someone to be inadmissible, that individual must be a noncitizen seeking admission. Barton cannot and should not be considered inadmissible for purposes of the stop-time rule because he has already been admitted to the country, she wrote. Thus, for the stop-time rule to render Barton ineligible for relief from removal, the Government must show that he committed an offense that made him deportable. About 13.2 million LPRs were living in the United States as of January 2015, according to the latest figures from the Office of Immigration Statistics of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security published in 2019 (pdf). Among that number, 9 million were eligible to seek U.S. citizenship. Matthew Vadum contributed to this report. Government TechnologyIn this months installment of the Innovation of the Month series, we explore the work of the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) and the cities of Kansas City, Mo. (KCMO), and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan. (Unified Government), on a Draft Model Data Handling Policy, with several collaborators.MetroLabs Ben Levine gathered information about the development of the project from Tony Luppino, a UMKC Professor involved in multi-disciplinary and multi-institution civic entrepreneurship initiatives and a leader of the project; Kate Garman, senior associate at Cityfi (and formerly an innovation analyst with KCMO, and smart city coordinator and technology policy adviser with the city of Seattle); Alan Howze, chief knowledge officer of the United Government; Abigail Eccher, Performance and Innovation Project Manager at the Unified Government; and Aaron Deacon, Managing Director of KC Digital Drive. Levine also obtained perspectives on the project from several participants in a session Luppino and Deacon organized to gather feedback on an annotated draft of the Model Data Handling Policy at the MetroLab Network annual Summit in late 2019.Can you describe the origin and objective of the Model Data Handling Policy project and who has been involved in it?Teams of students and faculty primarily from the School of Law and the School of Computing and Engineering at UMKC developed the Model Data Handling Policy (MDHP) project in an interdisciplinary graduate-level course administered by the law school, with input from several collaborators with the course, including interested community members, government and educational institutions. The draft MDHP contains a set of principles, policies, procedures and checklists addressing a citys responsibilities and opportunities with data handling. It covers the collection, creation, storage, use, transfer and dissemination of data, as well as the use of data platforms and related security, risk mitigation and breach damage containment measures. The current objective is to refine the draft with collaborators across the MetroLab Network and create a next iteration that we hope will be useful to cities throughout the U.S. that might embrace some of its principles or implementation suggestions, tailored to their specific circumstances.The project began when Kate Garman, then working in KCMOs Innovation Office on Smart City initiatives, sought research input from UMKCs Law, Technology and Public Policy course to help inform the citys consideration of both privacy laws and sunshine laws from the citizen perspective, and best practices in associated policies and in communications with the public.As the city was considering new technology in the right of way, it was paramount to understand privacy implications and how to balance that with transparency. Working with the UMKC School of Law was a natural fit, and they were an excellent partner to take on such a project.Programs like the Law, Technology and Public Policy course at UMKC, and the student interest they inspire, are a tremendous catalyst to civic innovation programs and initiatives in the region. Student and university interest in these public projects continues to increase, providing opportunities for collaboration and growth, and delivering real value to local governments and the communities they serve.Having worked on the project as a law student before graduating and entering a position in the Unified Government, I believe students who engage with real world municipal problems succeed by commingling a traditional legal education with interdisciplinary concepts such as change management and ecosystemic thinking to overcome chronic obstacles. In a world that is often defined by case law, statutes and treatises, students in the Law, Technology and Public Policy program are turning to use cases, case studies and stakeholder input to solve problems most cities have experienced for decades. Applying these fresh, collaborative insights and strategies to legacy predicaments often results in a much-needed shakeup of legacy processes.Across several semesters and teams, the project evolved into development of the multi-faceted draft MDHP. The draft was based on research on various legal and policy issues, study of relevant initiatives in several other cities, exploration of data handling in KCMO, and review of data sharing agreements from some other cities as well. It sets out core principles, operating procedures, policies on uses of data for public benefit, risk mitigation and audit measures, and a recommended governance/oversight structure that includes mechanisms for informed and timely community input. In appendices, the draft provides checklists for negotiating and evaluating data-sharing agreements with different types of collaborators and vendors.Who has participated in the advancement and vetting of the project?In between phases within the UMKC course, the project was advanced by the Legal Technology Laboratory, a UMKC-led initiative supported by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. After incorporating feedback from local government and community representatives in the Kansas City region, a revised and annotated draft was vetted at a roundtable session at the MetroLab Summit in 2019. The featured speakers in that roundtable, each of whom commented on the Draft, included Denise Linn Riedl, chief innovation officer of South Bend, Ind., Eric Jackson, data and analytics program manager in Asheville, N.C., Almis Uldrys, deputy chief of staff for innovation and policy for the city of San Diego, and Amie Stepanovich, executive director of the Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technology and Entrepreneurship at the University of Colorado-Boulder. The session elicited input from those featured speakers, as well as representatives of several other cities and universities in the MetroLab Network in attendance.Cities are experiencing so many common challenges when it comes to data, it only makes sense that we would collaborate together to workshop shared solutions. As chief innovation officer, I often tap into the expertise and best practices seen in other cities. The more city teams and privacy experts shape and vet this model policy, the stronger it becomes.Tell us about the need for this project. What risks are presented when cities lack a data-handling model?When we asked participants at the MetroLab Summit about their concerns around data handling and privacy, their responses validated several of our own concerns. There was discussion around citizen perceptions of lack of transparency on data collection, usage and sharing, and insufficient attention to community input; the need for enhanced data and network security design and audit protocols; desirability of cross-department coordination on data-handling standards and practices, and on sharing of data to improve effectiveness and equity in delivering public services; and risks of inadequate checks and balances on data sharing decisions. Moreover, several participants confirmed our observation that while many cities have adopted policies for open data portals, it does not seem many have adopted a comprehensive policy addressing, with a duty-of-care mindset, the many types of data a city collects, stores and transmits on a daily basis but are now seeing the need for such a comprehensive policy.What are some examples of data you considered in your project? Are certain types of data more important to consider for privacy and security than others?The starting point for this project was an increasing array of sensors and communications technology either owned by the city or deployed on city infrastructure. Photos of license plates or video of faces, MAC addresses of devices accessing public Wi-Fi points, tracked interactions with public kiosks in the private sector, we have grown accustomed to ubiquitous data collection, but there is still a lot of work to do to translate that to the public sphere. Beyond personally identifiable information, the document loosely defines a category of sensitive data. This classification is a good example of where we are seeking additional feedback on how different cities are classifying and treating different types of data.In San Diego, we categorized data into public and non-public classifications to ensure consideration of privacy and security, and then sorted it further as high-value public and non-high-value public based on our understanding of data the public and/or our own workforce would be interested in accessing in a machine-readable way.Collection, retention and use of data about peoples daily lives can have broad negative impacts, from risks of manipulation to outright discrimination, particularly for traditionally marginalized or vulnerable communities. Because of these impacts, any move to integrate technology should be postponed until robust legal protections and safeguards are in place, including transparency and accountability mechanisms. Given the advances in machine learning tools that can be used to reveal personal information from data points that may appear not sensitive, these protections should apply to any data linked or reasonably linkable to a specific person or household.How do you make this a usable tool for leaders in cities of varying sizes and resources?While the draft policy was designed to be of potential value to any city in the U.S., feedback at the vetting sessions to date have raised questions about whether cities with less staffing and resources than others might have difficulty in implementing all components of it. For example, the oversight system it lays out requires a combination of staffing with varying levels of training in data handling. As we approach the next iteration with collaborators, we are looking to make it more distinctly modular, so that a given city seeing particular value in certain parts can adopt those parts. We also plan to explore using technology to make the policy more accessible and implementable, which has been an aspirational part of the project (see the projects description here ).The model policy is ambitious, but I believe many of its recommendations can be right-sized to accommodate the context of smaller cities. We're talking about this now in South Bend. While smaller cities have smaller staffs and smaller budgets to operationalize this work, it can also be easier for smaller cities to institute cross-departmental change. That's what this model policy is truly about: an institution-wide commitment to better data management and sharing practices.If data is managed well and security is robust, what does a data- and technology-enabled city look like? What are the most important problems that will be solved?There is a significant danger of seeing smart city technology and data-driven decision-making as essentially technical tools. Obviously they have technical aspects, but those are comparatively straightforward. What is really critical is to ensure that data governance explicitly ties the use and handling of data and analytics to the core values of the community. In Asheville, that means that we must lead with equity, that we scrutinize whether data adequately represents everyone impacted by its use, and that we always prioritize concerns about potential harm. When anchored this way, data governance becomes a powerful tool for rebuilding trust with the community and tackling our toughest challenges, from economic mobility to environmental sustainability.What are the next steps? What are your goals for this project?From early on, we felt MetroLab Network would be an exceptionally valuable community of practice for civic leaders interested in using technology in people-first, creative, and responsible ways. As discussed at the Roundtable Session at the 2019 MetroLab Summit, the next step is to create an expanded working group to crowdsource a revised iteration of the draft MDHP, including representatives of cities and educational institutions in the network who have already expressed interest in participating, and others who would like to join the group and produce a helpful tool for municipalities across the country. So we are inviting all MetroLab members and other parties potentially interested in becoming part of this collaboration to contact me, Tony Luppino, at luppinoa@umkc.edu , to request a review copy of the draft policy. Melanie Lira defends undocumented immigrants and asylum seekers fighting to stay in the United States. She doesnt have to go to court to hear from those hoping theyll lose. Within the immigration attorneys own family are those with little sympathy for people who immigrated illegally. This despite the fact theyre first-generation U.S. citizens whose parents also immigrated illegally to the United States. Their lack of empathy and disconnect has worn thin. So has an immigration system operating as if a global pandemic hasnt stopped much of the world, hasnt changed us. Shes also dealing with when, not if, shell contract COVID-19. The dichotomy in which Lira operates has been exacerbated by a Trump administration whose urgency to close borders, erect walls, detain and deport people and separate families has not waned. At least twice a week, Lira suits up for visits to detention centers and jails, where attorney-client privilege is a fallacy and shes often the only one wearing protective gear. Goggles, mask, gloves. The Churchill High School alum studied at San Antonio College, the University of Houston and then the University of Denver for a masters in theology before she switched gears. She got her law degree from St. Marys University. Today she travels the state and the country to represent clients and must hold her emotions in check as they face the possibility of being sent back to dangerous homelands far away or just across the U.S.-Mexico border. The San Antonian, whos also an artist, has documented the lives of immigrants in haunting black-and-white photography. Her images depict families that may be separated and children holding photos of parents facing deportation. Most of her clients are from families of mixed immigration status: One parent may be a U.S. citizen, but the other isnt; some children were born in the United States, others werent. Her career has always been stressful, but recently has become unbearable. Lira has coped by making audio recordings. Its a journal documenting the shutdowns impact on her and her clients. They bear out every emotion she cant reveal in court or cant always share with friends and family. Brutally honest and gritty, the entries sound like a narration of a movie thats going to be hard to watch. Liras parents are here legally now, and her father has become a U.S. citizen. Her childhood was colored by her role as family spokesperson, caretaker and translator. English-speaking children of immigrants often shoulder such responsibilities. I bore witness to all the tough conversations, she said, that no doubt influenced her choice of profession. Her portraits were exhibited last November in a Deco District storefront. Anthony Medrano and his wife, political consultant Laura Barberena, donated space for the Dia de los Muertos show. The San Antonio family depicted in the exhibit participated in a question-and-answer session, and the children talked about what they were experiencing. It was heartbreaking, Medrano said. The profiles of Liras clients are so similar to those Ive reported through the years. Theres the young woman repeatedly raped by gang members. Shes seeking asylum in the time of Trump. Her file contains a photo of her several months pregnant and smiling. Lira asked what the governments attorney likely will: Why are you smiling? The woman said she was hopeful pregnancy would deter her rapists. It didnt. Liras caseload includes an especially stressful case of a San Antonio man in detention in Pearsall, awaiting deportation that will separate him from his U.S.-born wife and seven children for at least three years, perhaps longer. He has basically asked the court to deport him. Its called voluntarily departure and isnt readily granted. It will effectively clear his immigration record and allow him the chance to re-enter the country legally some day. Hes planning to live in Villa Acuna across from Del Rio, where hell move his family. The oldest child is a teen; the youngest is 2 months old. Because of the pandemic, Lira suspended client payments for three months. The reality is some of them werent paying before the shutdown. That hasnt been as trying as the hectic pace shes on. Lira is getting over a bout with pneumonia, just pneumonia, she says, and still has a bad cough. Like so many others during a pandemic, shes having trouble sleeping and eating. She has coped by drinking. Shes trying to remain positive. She tells herself that she has a house and food in the fridge and that people are counting on her to keep working. So, she keeps working. eayala@express-news.net Two former members of Syrias secret police have appeared in court in Germany accused of crimes against humanity for their role at a government-run detention centre where large numbers of opposition protesters were tortured. The trial of Anwar R and Eyad A, whose last names were not released because of German privacy rules, is the first time that two representatives of the Syrian government have faced trial abroad for crimes allegedly committed during the countrys years-long civil war. The men, who were arrested in Germany early last year, will face testimony from several Syrian refugees who allege they were tortured at the detention centre known as Al Khatib, or Branch 251, near Damascus. Federal prosecutors allege 57-year-old Anwar R was in charge of the site and therefore responsible for crimes against humanity, rape and the murder of at least 58 people there. The indictment by German prosecutors accuses him of complicity in more than 4,000 cases of torture. Joint plaintiffs Andreas Schulz, Khubaib-Ali Mohammed, Feras Fayyad and Mohammad Alshaar talk to journalists after the first day of the trial in Koblenz (Thomas Frey/dpa via AP) Eyad A, 43, is accused of being part of a police squad that detained protesters and brought them back to Branch 251, where they were then mistreated. At least nine torture victims are represented as co-plaintiffs in the case, as allowed under German law, while several more are expected to be called as witnesses. They are supported by the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights. If convicted, Anwar R could face life imprisonment. Eyad A could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison if convicted of complicity in crimes against humanity. The defendants lawyers declined to comment ahead of the trial, which is scheduled to last several months. The men, who left Syria for Germany before their arrest in February 2019, remain in prison. The trial has been described as a pivotal moment in the effort to bring Syrian officials accused of crimes to justice. With other avenues for justice blocked, criminal prosecutions in Europe offer hope for victims of crimes in Syria who have nowhere else to turn, said Balkees Jarrah, associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch. The trial in Koblenz shows that courts, even thousands of miles away from where the atrocities occurred, can play a critical role in combating impunity. The Koblenz regional court, where the trial is being held, has reduced the number of seats available to reporters and the general public by a third due to social distancing rules to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Accusing the Congress of deliberately trying to create divisions in the society, the BJP on Thursday asked the opposition party not to practice "cheap and small politics" but come together with the Union government in fighting the coronavirus outbreak. The BJP also claimed that Congress president Sonia Gandhi's charge that it was stoking communalism was an attempt to divert people's attention from incidents like lynching of sadhus in Maharashtra and demanded that the opposition party withdraw its allegation and tender an apology. Senior BJP leader and Union minister Prakash Javadekar said the Congress is trying to put obstacles in the government's work for its own "selfish interests" when people are supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in combating the pandemic. BJP's media head Anil Baluni said such a statement coming from the country's oldest political party "weakens" the fight against the pandemic and also shows the "extreme insensitivity" of the Congress president. This is not time for but to serve the nation, he said, adding that only the Congress can do in the time of a crisis. Javadekar took a swipe at the Congress Working Committee, the apex decision-making body of the opposition party which had met earlier in the day, saying it does no work but abuses those who have been working. "The Congress is deliberately trying to create divisions in society. These divisions harm society. We condemn these statements," he said, reacting to the attack on the government by Gandhi. Gandhi accused the BJP of spreading the "virus of communal prejudice and hatred" in the country, saying "grave damage" is being done to social harmony. Addressing a meeting of the CWC, she said it should worry every Indian, and her party will have to work hard to repair this damage. Hitting back, Javadekar said the country is fighting COVID-19 but Congress leaders are concerned about their party's "selfish interests" and have been seeking to create divisions in society. "Our first aim is to fight the coronavirus unitedly. So I will again appeal to the Congress to not practice small politics, cheap politics," he said. The Congress, he said, deliberately raises issues which have nothing to do with reality. The BJP leader claimed that the opposition party raises the same issues which those who frequently attack the country do. Lauding the central government for its initiatives, Baluni said Modi has worked to take everyone along and has held meetings with state chief ministers and leaders of different political parties to prepare a roadmap to deal with the crisis. The government has also come out with Rs 1.7 lakh crore package to help different sections of society needing help, he said, noting that it had also announced free ration for the poor for three months. The Modi government has ensured that no poor person goes hungry, he said. In a statement, BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said Gandhi made a very irresponsible charge that the BJP is stoking communalism. "The Congress should not only withdraw the allegation but for this it should also apologise to people. The Congress is trying to communalise the society by raising these issues," he said. Hussain also asked if the CWC discussed incidents like lynching of two sadhus in Palghar and "sponsored attack" on a journalist in Mumbai. Its attack on the BJP is an attempt to divert people's attention from these issues, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) She married Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth in 2010 after a whirlwind romance of less than a year. But Elsa Pataky has kept her unique surname and doesn't go by 'Elsa Hemsworth'. This fact was noted by KIIS FM radio hosts Jackie 'O' Henderson and Kyle Sandilands while discussing the famous couple on Thursday. Why Elsa Pataky didn't become a 'Hemsworth' after marrying Chris: The Spanish actress may have kept her unique surname for professional and family reasons 'Why didn't she change her name to Elsa Hemsworth?' asked Jackie 'O' Henderson, who was dumbfounded by the actress' decision. Jackie said she would be 'going straight to the RTA' (Australia's version of the DMV) to update her driver's licence if she married a Hemsworth. There is no definitive explanation for why Elsa hasn't taken her husband's surname, and it may simply be a matter of personal preference. Unique: Elsa, 43, was actually born Elsa Lafuente Medianu, adhering to the Spanish tradition of taking her parents' surnames as one name. Pictured on November 27 in Sydney However, the mother-of-three did shed some light on her possible reasons for keeping her own surname during an interview with Herald Sun in June last year. Elsa, 43, was actually born Elsa Lafuente Medianu, adhering to the Spanish tradition of taking her parents' surnames as one name. 'That's my Spanish name. We actually have two surnames as one, which is weird - your mum's and your dad's,' she said. Stage name: As her acting and modelling career started to take off in Spain, Elsa adopted the professional surname Pataky in honour of her grandmother Rosa Pataky As her acting and modelling career started to take off in Spain, Elsa adopted the professional surname Pataky in honour of her grandmother Rosa Pataky. She added: 'My grandfather was a theatre actor and I admired him so I started to act as well. I thought, "You have to have something that really sounds different." 'My grandma's surname in Spanish was a little different, so I took it from her and I love it. Pataky - it's actually Hungarian but everybody think it's Greek.' Her choice: There is no definitive explanation for why Elsa hasn't taken her husband's surname, and it may simply be a matter of personal preference. Pictured on June 11, 2019 in New York It is not known if Elsa has legally changed her surname to Hemsworth. Elsa and Chris, 36, moved to Byron Bay - a bohemian town on Australia's east coast - in 2014, after spending several years living in Los Angeles. They live in a $20million mansion with their three children, daughter India Rose, seven, and twin sons Tristan and Sasha, six. Osunwa Kingsley, 24, trader and Ikenna Mboyi, 22, glass fabricator who robbed Mr Kinansua Musah Kombat with a motorbike denied conspiring to rob him but were found culpable after trial. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector William K. Boateng told the Court presided over by Mrs Afia Owusua Appiah that Mr Kombat, the complainant is a civilian employee of the 37 Military Hospital, whilst the convicts are Nigerians. On February 22, 2019, the complainant was sent by his boss with a cheque to cash an amount of GH5,000.00 from the Standard Chartered Bank at the Opeibea House. He said the complainant after withdrawing the money put it in a brown envelope and boarded a commercial bus heading towards 37 Military Hospital. Chief Inspector Boateng said the victim alighted at the 37 bus stop opposite the Max Mart and was waiting to cross to the Hospital's first gate, when Osunwa, who was in charge of a Daylong 125 motorbike with Mboyi as the pillion rider trailing him rushed on the victim. He said Mboyi held Mr Kombat's left hand, twisted it and forcibly took the envelope containing the money from him and sped off. Prosecution said an eye witness, who was also on a motorbike and saw what transpired chased the two to Pig Farm, where a car crossed the convicts' and knocked them down. The Prosecution said the witness then took the envelope from them, raised an alarm which attracted onlookers who nearly lynched the two but for intervention of Corporal Martey Agbeko, a military officer and Police Corporal Vida Asibiri. Chief Inspector Boateng said they arrested Osunwa and Mboyi and handed them over to the Kotobabi Police. He said the witness went back to the crime scene where he met Mr Kombat who was still in a state of shock and together went back to the Police station where he identified the convicts. The Prosecution said the suspects were later arraigned. ---GNA Your Home Team Care, an innovative locally owned caregiving agency founded by John R. Staley, Jr. M.D., recognized this need and has taken several steps to alleviate this challenge by making an investment in time and treasure to secure as well as distribute Personal Protective Equipment to these essential service providers. First of all, one of our employees, Sonya Gunther has led an ongoing effort to make a number of cloth face masks. Two, we have been able to source some N-95 face masks. Three, Your Home Team Care has partnered with Cynical Optimist (Local IT Company) in offering their assistance in producing Personal Protective Equipment during this crisis via 3D printing technology. Dr. Staley, a career ER Physician, recognizes the importance of Personal Protective Equipment and their impact on healthcare providers, essential first line workers and the general population during this Coronavirus/Covid-19 outbreak. Your Home Team Care began distributing these respirators and face masks to industries and businesses designated as essential services on April 14th. Our first donations occurred at the Roane County Sherriff's Department and Roane County Medical Center. Our efforts are continuing with deliveries of respirators, as well as the cloth and medical grade masks (Personal Protective Equipment) to Covenant Park West, Covenant Fort Sanders and U.T. Medical Center hospitals on April 15th. For more information about our community outreach and support efforts as well as about Your Home Team Care please contact us. Contact: Alex Atkinson, Marketing Director Phone: (865) 332-5000 Email: [email protected] Website: www.YourHomeTeamCare.com Your Home Team Care is a local physician owned and RN managed caregiving organization providing sitters and caregivers to clients in their homes, assisted living facilities and in hospitals in the Knoxville and surrounding areas. Our sitters and caregivers have advanced training in compassion and dementia care and provide personalized home care including companionship, light housekeeping, errands, grocery shopping and meal preparation. In addition to these, Your Home Team Care can provide several value-added solutions that improve the health and wellbeing of our clients including a Physician Consultation line, a RN Advice Line, a Nutritionist Advice Line and In-Home Safety Cameras. Your Home Team Care's Mission is to be value-added solution by constantly adapting, evolving, and innovating our business model to better support and meet the needs of our clients and partners. Addendum The PPE are produced using a Swedish company's innovation to create face shields whose design will accept any fabric filtration medium that can be replaced after every use. These face shields can act as a respirator for the essential services workers. Stemming from the idea of 3DVerkstan, a Swedish company's innovation to create face shields using transparency papers and a hole punch on a printed halo, Your Home Team Care followed suit. The respirators are a collaborative industry design that will accept any fabric filtration medium. According to Brett Human of Cynical Optimist Information Technology, "Ideally, we are trying to make these respirators out of copper-infused, microbe killing plastics and N95 certified plastics, but what we have on-hand are the standard PLA ("biodegradable" normal plastic) and PETG (basically recycled water bottles) that can both be sanitized for reuse by soaking them in a bleach/water solution" (Bret Human, Cynical Optimist Information Technology/YHTC). We are currently operating a small 3D printer and are running it at max capacity - 24/7 in our efforts to help our community. SOURCE Your Home Team Care Related Links https://www.yourhometeamcare.com Retailers are also demanding that home delivery across all forms of retail should be allowed to ensure a level playing field. Some of the country's top retailers, including Future Retail, Bata and Arvind, are asking the government to consider opening up of non-essential goods in green zones with strict norms like it has permitted manufacturing plants to operate. The Retailers Association of India (RAI), which is the apex body of modern retailers in the country, has submitted a detailed set of guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) - that its members can follow, if allowed to resume operations in these zones - to the government. These include rigorous sanitisation and social distancing measures as well as focus on digital payments as opposed to cash transactions. Operating costs of retailers are likely to increase by 15-35 per cent once the SOPs are implemented, the firms said. Retailers are also demanding that home delivery across all forms of retail should be allowed to ensure a level playing field. Currently, e-tailers and offline retailers selling essential goods are allowed to carry out home deliveries. The relaxation given by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to e-tailers, permitting delivery of non-essential goods, was withdrawn on Sunday after the Confederation of All India Traders objected to it. The RAI had also written to the government saying that permitting one side of retail (e-retail) to deliver non-essential goods would be detrimental to the industry at a time when the business is under stress. In a survey conducted by the RAI, nearly 25 per cent retailers have said they will exit the sector following the COVID-19 outbreak and lockdown, since sales have come to a halt, while fixed costs have continued. In a virtual briefing on Wednesday, B S Nagesh, chairman of RAI, said retailers and mall owners were prepared to follow all social distancing norms, including operating single shifts, working during off-peak hours, allowing limited entry of people in stores and sanitization of staff, customers and high-contact points within outlets, to ensure safety and hygiene. The government has partnered manufacturers to resume operations with safety standards in place in select zones. "These discussions need to take place with retailers as well so that shopping can start in a safe environment, Kulin Lalbhai, executive director of Arvind, said. Rakesh Biyani, managing director of Future Retail, said at least 30-35 per cent of existing working capital needs of retailers would have to be financed (by banks), so that players could get back on their feet. There is need for support from the government in this matter, so that the consumption cycle can resume, he said. Sandeep Kataria, chief executive officer of Bata, said the government needed to have a graded plan to resume non-essential retail. "Not only stores, but e-commerce for non-essential retail also has to be allowed so that we can exhaust our inventory. "Resuming manufacturing makes no sense, if retail is not permitted," he said. The MHA guidelines have permitted industrial units and farming operations to resume in rural areas, apart from construction activities in select zones. Strict social distancing norms, however, have to be maintained when conducting these operations. On Tuesday, industry players such as Riyaaz Amlani of Impresario Hospitality, Alok Tandon of Inox Leisure and Dalip Sehgal of Nexus Malls had said they would consider restricted business hours, contactless shopping and dining as a way forward to resume business after the lockdown. Photograph: PTI Photo Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 16:06:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HEFEI, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Sitting in front of his smartphone, Zhang Chuanfeng touts dried sweet potatoes to viewers on China's popular video-sharing app Douyin, also known as TikTok. "These are made from the sweet potatoes I grew myself," said Zhang, as he eats the products in front of the camera. "They are sweet and have an excellent texture." Zhang might seem like an average businessman reaping success in China's booming livestreaming industry. But his road to success has been a lot bumpier: he suffers from dwarfism. At a little more than 1.4 meters, Zhang has a baby-face, making him "look like a junior school student," he said. But in reality, the man is already 38, with a 9-year-old son. Zhang's hometown is located in the township of Tangjiahui in the county of Jinzhai, east China's Anhui Province. Tucked away in the boundless Dabie Mountains, the township has the biggest poor population in the county. Jinzhai is among the last nine counties along the Yangtze River Delta to shake off poverty. It was Zhang's first time selling things in a live session, but he said he was not nervous at all. "It felt like talking to people at random," he said. Zhang said he has switched to live-streaming selling amid the coronavirus epidemic. "In the past, there were many tourists, and sales were pretty good in reality," he said. "Pretty good" was an understatement. Last year, the specialties in his shop sold more than 5 million yuan (705,800 U.S. dollars) in revenue, with a profit of 500,000 yuan. Zhang became known as the "Big Brother Selling Local Specialties" in the vicinity. But the success would have been unimaginable for Zhang six years ago. AGAINST ALL ODDS As a dwarf, he was deemed "disabled" in the past. "Nobody wanted me because of my 'disabilities' when I went out to look for jobs," he said. "I was turned down again and again and again." Most of the bosses told him that he was "way too small." "They saw my 'baby-face.' They thought I did not have much strength and could not do my job well," he said. Labor work did prove too much for Zhang, and despite hard work, he couldn't do these jobs for a long time. Devastated, Zhang had to start from scratch at his doorstep. "I tried many things, but it seemed that life liked to play jokes on me." In 2010, he opened a breakfast shop near a school, and business was good at the very beginning. "But then the school opened two canteens of its own, and my business just plummeted," he said. After that, he began to sell vegetables but went nowhere. He then decided to sell trees and failed again. Meanwhile, prejudice was not uncommon against his short stature. Some people even gave him nicknames, such as "Mr. Little" and "Mr. Kid." After failing in every venture, Zhang was put on the government's poverty list in 2014. "I lost confidence," he said. "Do you know what it felt like to have the whole world turned against you? That was exactly how I felt." At that time, China had started to implement targeted poverty-relief measures, and government officials went to Zhang's house to give him support. "You are just like everyone else," they told him. "You have both hands and legs, you are young, and you are full of hope." But Zhang would reply that even though he has legs, they were "way too tiny." "They would say to me: it doesn't matter whether your legs are tiny or not, as long as you are willing to take that step forward," he said. "I felt encouraged." The officials promised loans and subsidies if Zhang would start again. So Zhang decided to give it another try. He applied for a loan of 10,000 yuan and bought 22 lambs. LITTLE MAN, BIG DREAMS To make it in the sheep business, he tended the animals whole-heartedly in the day and slept in the sheep pen at night, especially "when the mother lambs were going into labor." He would help the lambs deliver their babies. "The baby lambs are usually born on winter nights, and if nobody takes care of them, they die easily," he said. Whenever experts came over, he would immediately lead them to the pen and ask them for advice on how to raise the lambs more professionally. Within a year, he became a lamb expert himself, and the number of his lambs would expand to hundreds. He even formed a home farm to raise them. In 2016, Zhang's earnings exceeded 100,000 yuan, more than enough to cast him off poverty. "It gave me a morale boost," he said. "It made me believe that my legs may be tiny, but each step counted." Zhang might not be as tall as others, but now he believes he is nothing out of the ordinary. Riding on the lamb success, Zhang began to seek new opportunities to bring his life to the next level. In 2017, the local government decided to develop the township into one focusing on e-commerce. Officials encouraged villagers to jump on the bandwagon. Zhang seized the opportunity. He rented a shop and started selling products online. At first, he couldn't even type characters properly. So he joined in any internet training he could find while touring around the country to study e-commerce. To enrich the types of specialties in store, he would hop on his tricycle and go door to door with his town-fellows to collect honey, tea leaves, dried sweet potatoes and noodles from local villagers. With wide varieties and high quality, Zhang's products won public recognition and good word of mouth. Online orders flooded in. On Zhang's WeChat, he has more than 3,000 friends, many of whom are customers, salespeople and even foreigners. "I never thought that the specialties of the Dabie Mountains could go beyond the mountains and reach other parts of the world," he said. Zhang is very attentive to the products he sells. "At first, I just promoted the products with simple pictures and descriptions," he said. "Then, I would record promotion videos myself and upload them online." With the money he made, Zhang bought a car and a big house. He often helps locals sell honey, eggs and fish on his WeChat account to lift them out of poverty. So far, he has helped more than 40 families increase their earnings. Now Zhang is testing waters in live-streaming. "I will accumulate experience first," he said. "If I am successful, I plan to bring locals along." During his first broadcasting session, Zhang managed to sell seven products, and the viewers gave him an award of more than 100 yuan. "The sales were not quite impressive, but I got more than 200 followers online, which made me quite happy," he said. Enditem Sixteen states have unveiled "formal reopening plans" to lift coronavirus restrictions, Vice President Mike Pence said Thursday, as the country shows "promising signs of progress" on driving down the spread of Covid-19. "At the present moment, 16 states have released formal reopening plans," Pence said at a White House press briefing. "States are beginning to make those plans and we're encouraged to see so many states embracing the phased approach to reopening their economies that's contemplated in our guidelines for opening up America again." Missouri, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Idaho have all released plans to lift restrictions meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus, Pence said. The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for the complete list of states. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced plans to reopen parts of the economy as soon as Friday, starting with retail locations such as gyms, barber shops, fitness centers and bowling alleys. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he "totally disagrees" with the decision to reopen those businesses first. "I want the states to open more than he does," Trump said Thursday in reference to Kemp. "I don't want this thing to flare up because you're deciding to do something that is not in the guidelines." Last week, Trump unveiled broad federal guidelines that lay out conditions for parts of the U.S. to start relaxing some of the strict social distancing measures in a three-phase approach. Before entering the first phase, the guidelines say that the number of cases, positive tests and reports of flu- or Covid 19-like symptoms in a state or region should be trending downward. There should also be a "robust testing program in place for at-risk healthcare workers, including emerging antibody testing," according to the guidelines. Several so-called hot spots that were hit particularly hard, including the New York-metro area, New Jersey and Detroit "all appear to be past their peak," Pence said. He added that new hospitalizations are declining across the country. "Our only conclusion is that we're getting there, America," he said. "We are making meaningful progress." However, lifting restrictions that have so-far beaten back the spread of the virus, according to Pence, could lead to a devastating resurgence of infections, some state and local officials have cautioned. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio warned earlier Thursday that lifting restrictions before the necessary infrastructure is in place could "backfire" and "set us back by months." Widespread testing and tracing of people who come into contact with infected individuals will be crucial to easing restrictions and reopening the city, the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, de Blasio said. Pence said Thursday that the country has performed more than 4.9 million tests for Covid-19, which is less than 2% of the country's population. The White House coronavirus task force will speak with all U.S. governors on Friday to discuss the nation's efforts to ramp up testing capacity, Pence said. He added that 35,000 national guard have been deployed across the country to support the coronavirus response, which includes boosting access to testing. Trump later added "we're very advanced in testing," adding that new tests will be "coming out" to improve the capacity to test as well as the nation's ability to process the tests. The process currently requires supplies that are often scarce, including swabs, test kits and reagents, or chemicals necessary to analyze the tests. The administration is now also calling on states to resume elective surgeries, which were largely suspended as health systems sought to boost capacity for an expected surge of Covid-19 patients, Pence announced. He said several states have already unveiled plans to do so, including Arizona and Indiana. Such procedures are crucial to the business model of both private and public hospitals across the country, which have struggled financially as they face a wave of Covid-19 patients. Earlier Thursday, the House passed a $484 billion package that includes $75 billion in grants to hospitals overwhelmed by Covid-19 patients. "Given the unique burden on hospitals, we are now encouraging states to restart elective surgeries wherever possible, either statewide or on a county-by-county basis," he said. "We recognize the role elective surgeries play in finances for local hospitals and we'll be working with states to enable that." Angry customers demanding refunds from troubled travel firm Flight Centre are preparing to take legal action after their holiday plans were dashed by the coronavirus pandemic. The company is facing intense criticism from customers over a $300 per person fee for cancelling flights booked before the outbreak, as well as 12-week delays for refund payouts and offers of travel credits instead. Adam Glezer has banded together with other disgruntled Flight Centre customers to investigate whether to lodge a class action to get their money back. Credit:Eddie Jim Little or no communication from Flight Centre which is under significant financial pressure due to widespread travel bans has added to widespread anxiety that customers might not get their money back. The cancellation fee has seen some customers have their refunds reduced to zero and could soon be the subject of a class action, with law firms considering taking on the case. The Independents Dispatches from the Covid-19 frontline is an interview series detailing the reality behind the headlines as told by the nations vital key workers. Sarah Hart is an intensive care doctor working for the NHS in a south London hospital. She reveals what its like to work on the front line right now. Even in times of crisis, frontline medics must never lose compassion for each individual patient, says intensive care doctor Sarah Hart. I had a patient recently who asked me if she was going to die, Hart tells The Independents Coronavirus Podcast. She said she didnt want to die but she died a few days after we had that conversation. I think if you forget it or it doesnt affect you, you probably shouldnt be doing the job anymore. Hart is just one of the thousands of medical workers putting their own health at risk by working on the frontline of the coronavirus outbreak. As we are all too aware, the NHS has been put under massive strain trying to cope with the many thousands of people needing life-saving treatment for Covid-19. And as the pandemic continues, concerns are mounting regarding the health and wellbeing of NHS staff. In recent weeks, we have seen the government face increasing pressure to explain why they have not hit targets for testing for NHS staff and why, weeks after it was promised, some hospitals are still reporting shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), which is crucial to ensuring healthcare workers do not catch the virus from their patients. Recommended How families are having to say goodbye with funerals on Zoom Hart, who is also an anaesthetist, explains that the south London hospital where she is currently working has tripled its intensive care unit (ICU) capacity due to coronavirus. This meant tripling staff numbers and the amount of equipment in ICU. It did that by taking all of the doctors that had any intensive care experience in the hospital, putting them onto the rota and then going and getting more from everywhere else in the hospital, she explains. Typically, Hart only deals with patients who are severely unwell. The general reason patients get admitted to intensive care is because one aspect of their body is failing and requires a certain level of intervention, she says. With Covid-19 patients, the most common form of treatment needed is respiratory support but, Hart explains that support for the heart and kidneys requiring drug infusions and a dialysis-type treatment are common. Theres also evidence that theyre getting neurological impairment as well, so confusion and delirium, which comes a little later, she says. Management for these patients usually involves tracheal intubation, ventilation and a medically-induced coma. This means healthcare workers need to wash and care for patients as well as fine-tune their treatment based on blood results and vital signs and administer any necessary medications. Not knowing exactly how the virus operates is one of the hardest parts for healthcare workers. Its actually a really complex process for a disease that we have very little understanding of because its entirely novel, Hart says. Every time you take two or three days off, you come back and theres been a new change or a new development. Every time you take two or three days off, you come back and theres been a new change or a new development Given how little is known about the illness and how it affects people has been difficult, Hart admits. Theres been a couple of times where Ive had a feeling of hopelessness that what we were doing was futile. That we were keeping people alive for weeks and they seemed entirely static, and by static I mean statically looking like they are going to die every day but not quite dying and then eventually somehow turning the corner. However, we are still seeing people coming in and dying very quickly, and thats heartbreaking. Patients with Covid-19 are taking far longer to recover than those with more traditional respiratory problems, Hart says. Every single aspect of our care for a disease has to be rethought. And then on top of that, weve got the sheer numbers [of cases]. The shortage of PPE for doctors and nurses treating Covid-19 patients has been one of the most contentious issues to emerge from the pandemic, with one doctors leader saying that the failure to provide adequate supplies was a shocking indictment of the governments response to the coronavirus outbreak. The circumstances are such that there is now growing support for a minutes silence to honour the health and care workers who have died during the pandemic. Hart explains that she has never had to enter a Covid-19 unit without adequate PPE. However, that PPE has been a whole range of different things, she adds. Ive probably worn about five to six different types of gowns and visors and masks, depending on the stock and the flow and the amount of different stuff available at different sites. 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 Its been a challenge to adapt to working in PPE, Hart says, explaining that it can be hard to check a patients pulse when youre wearing three pairs of gloves. It can also feel really hot and sweaty wearing the equipment for hours at a time, and Hart says she has to be careful not to drink too much prior to putting it on so as not to waste it by needing the toilet and therefore having to take it off and then use a new set. PPE also makes it difficult to communicate with patients and other doctors because your mouth and ears are covered. Its really difficult to hear, says Hart. For the first few weeks Id regularly come home with a sore throat and I kept thinking, Oh God, is this it?, and then I realised it was just because I was shouting at work all day. Then you feel rude because youre shouting to people. In spite of the obvious difficulties, Hart says she has felt fully supported at work. She works on a three days on, three days off rota, which also allows for a seven-day gap every so often that Hart applauds for helping NHS staff to reset. Not that theres much we can do in the seven days off, but at least theres that option where we can decompress. For the first few weeks Id regularly come home with a sore throat and I kept thinking, Oh god is this it? Hart also says she receives daily emails from friends and colleagues checking to see if she is okay, with many providing support helplines. The way that members of the public have united to support NHS staff has also been invaluable, Hart explains. Despite her initial scepticism about Clap for Carers, she now enjoys joining in every Thursday that she isnt at work. I love it because I get to meet my neighbours, she says. With the UK entering its fifth week in lockdown, its impossible to know what the wider long term consequences of this pandemic will be for the health service. There have already been some major missteps that could have crippling long-term implications, says Hart. One of the things I was getting very frustrated about was that we werent cancelling all elective surgeries and front loading that theatre time that we had with cancer patients, she says. If we had done that for even two weeks, we would have saved across the country several thousands more lives for those surgeries that are now not happening. Hart also believes that given the strain the NHS is under, we will see a knock-on effect of people avoiding going to A&E for necessary medical help. She is also wary of how the resilience of NHS staff will be impacted. I think that it will eventually be affected, and whether or not this makes people want to leave the NHS I dont know. I cant really speak for other people, she says. I think for me, it just reinforces that I feel lucky Im in a situation where I can do something that can help. You can subscribe to The Independent Coronavirus Podcast series on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Acast or wherever you listen. Be sure to join the conversation by emailing us at thecoronaviruspodcast@independent.co.uk or using the hashtag #indycoronaviruspodcast on social media. You can listen to the full interview on The Independent Coronavirus Podcast here. Are you a key worker happy to share your story? Get in touch by emailing IndyLifestyle@assocnews.co.uk Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Mark Butler outlined a way to use expanded unemployment benefits to help the states businesses and their employees survive the COVID-19 pandemic. Commissioner Butler was a guest Tuesday afternoon on County Connect, the Whitfield County Board of Commissioners twice-weekly teleconference calls that are streamed live on the countys website, www.whitfieldcountyga.com, and are also available afterwards for residents to view anytime. Commissioner Butler, who has served as labor commissioner since 2011, pointed out that the moment were living in right now is unique to the point that this is the thing youre going to compare everything else to in the future. This is that moment. There is nothing to compare it to. It is unique. It stands on itself, and everything else going forward will be judged by this moment. Though most businesses have been adversely affected by the pandemic, Commissioner Butler says new state and federal unemployment benefit programs and temporary relaxed requirements can help soften the impact for companies and their employees. In the past, for example, an employee could only make $50 a week before it affected their unemployment benefit; that limit has been temporarily increased to $300 a week, he said. Commissioner Butler offered a way for businesses to bring back all their employees now but without the financial burden of paying their full-time wages. Weve had several employers come to us and say we want to keep them working, but we dont have the workload. How can we do this? Commissioner Butler said. Well, basically right after you file partial claims for them, you can recall them. Say come back to work Monday, and as long as youre putting in the wages that youre paying them every week and its less than this formula which is $300 plus whatever they qualify for in state benefits, minus $1 theyre going to get that federal benefit of $600 a week, too. Now if theyre under $300 in wages, then theyre even better off because theyre going to collect all the money you pay them plus all the state benefit and the federal benefit. Thats a pretty good paycheck, and you can keep them working. You could actually use this as a tool to bring your folks back part-time, so youre not paying them as much. That helps your bottom line, but your employees are still getting the money, even more than they would have. He said the hospitality industry has been hit hard economically by the pandemic. Those are the businesses that I would definitely strongly suggest as theyre getting to where they can open back up, to use this unemployment weve got right now to help our their employees, help out their bottom line, bring them back in slowly. You can really benefit from this. Its another tool we can use to help people get out of this hole were currently having to deal with. Commissioner Butler did say that employers should be careful to report wages correctly because if you dont and you under-report it and it ends up they got unemployment that should have been subtracted off, it will show up at some point because youre going to have to do that wage report somewhere down the road, and its going to show up, and then theyre going to have to pay us back. Make sure youre accurate! The labor commissioner emphasized that the unemployment benefits being paid during the pandemic wont count against the employers account and wont cause their unemployment insurance rates to increase later, as would have happened in the past. So why wouldnt you use the process? Commissioner Butler said. Its almost like free money. Its not free money I probably shouldnt have used that term, but its all our money. We sent it to Washington, and they just sent it back to us. Why wouldnt we put it in our economy? The past five weeks or so have been an especially hectic time for the Georgia Department of Labor, Commisioner Butler said. Since March 16, weve seen roughly a little over a million unemployment claims filed in basically a months time, he said. Somebody goes, okay, so what, a million claims? Well, lets put that in perspective. If we go back to the worst year of the recession which was in 2009, during that year we actually saw the most claims ever filed in a one-year period. The total number of claims filed in 2009 was just a little over a million claims. So weve basically exceeded in a months time [in 2020] what we did in an entire year. Add in the fact that the number of employees at the state labor department is currently less than half what it was in 2009, yet they are being asked to do the same amount of work now. Our employees right now are putting in seven days a week of work, and just so you know, were not requiring the seven days theyre volunteering those two days, Commissioner Butler said. Theyre also volunteering overtime; most of my employees are working anywhere from 10 to 15 hours a day, seven days a week, in a lot of cases, some more, some less. Were trying to discourage some people from working too much because we dont want them to burn out since we dont know how long this is going to go and thats obviously not a sustainable model for our employees going forward. While some people have complained about having trouble getting through by phone to the labor offices, Commissioner Butler says they could probably add 5,000 more employees answering calls and they still could not handle the massive call volume right now. But we are getting claims paid, he stressed, noting that nearly $400 million in state unemployment benefits has already been paid since March 16, along with another $550 million in additional federal benefits for a total of nearly $1 billion in payments. In fact, on Monday, he said the labor department staff didnt accept any phone calls for basically the whole day because we needed every single person that could do claims just to process claims because anytime youre answering a phone, youre stopping that process. We were so far behind right now, we have got to get caught up, and so we just put a whole day in doing nothing but processing claims. And the number of those claims has soared, due in part to the fact that Congress has added unemployment benefits for self-employed and gig workers (such as Lyft and Uber drivers), who normally wouldnt qualify, so that has added to the work load for his department. That they have been able to pull off so much in such a short period of time speaks to the dedication of the labor departments staff, he said, including software developers who have had to come up with computer applications for new programs in a short period. Commissioner Butler mentioned one new link that was completed in two weeks by a lot of developers working a lot of long hours, a process that would normally take six to eight months to even reach the point of testing. Commissioner Butler says hes been asked by some people why the labor department wasnt prepared for the pandemic. How do you prepare for this? he said. Even if we were at 2009 staffing levels, which there was no way to be right now because we havent had the funding for that because we actually get less funding, the better the economy is. Before the pandemic hit, the labor department was processing barely 20,000 claims a month, so you went from 20,000 a month up to a million basically overnight. The only good news, he said, is that the U.S. Department of Labor has increased the states funding significantly. The federal government is providing funds for the $600 federal benefit, along with some other benefits, including the new self-employed and gig benefits. Earlier in the County Connect program, Commission Chairman Lynn Laughter talked about Governor Brian Kemps new order yesterday, opening up some businesses in the state, including immediately for surgery centers for elective procedures and medical offices. Gyms, fitness centers, bowling alleys, body art studios, barbers, cosmetologists, hair designers, nail care artists, estheticians, and massage therapists will be allowed to open Friday. Then restaurants and movie theaters will follow on Monday. Claude Craig, Whitfield County Emergency Management director, reported on the latest COVID-19 numbers, with 19,981 positive cases in the state and 799 deaths and 47 positive cases and four deaths in the county. Since Sunday, statewide there have been 1,724 new positive cases, 353 new hospitalizations, and 181 new deaths. If you have any questions during the pandemic, Chairman Laughter encourages you to call the county office at (706) 275-7500 or e-mail her at llaughter@whitfieldcountyga.com or the other commissioners Harold Brooker at hbrooker@whitfieldcountyga.com, Roger Crossen at rcrossen@whitfieldcountyga.com, Greg Jones at gjones@whitfieldcountyga.com, and Barry Robbins at brobbins@whitfieldcountyga.com. Tune in Thursday at 5 p.m. for the next County Connect program that can be viewed on the countys website at https://livestream.com/accounts/25637515/events/7960637. SIDEBAR: UNEMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS EXPLAINED From the Georgia Department of Labor website April 19, 2020 Update on Federal Stimulus Bill The Georgia Department of Labor is updating its current systems to distribute federal unemployment funds as part of the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) bringing economic relief to many Georgians. The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, or FPUC, provides an additional $600 weekly payment to any individual eligible for any of the Unemployment Compensation programs - State and Federal. The GDOL began distributing this additional payment to those currently receiving state unemployment benefits last week. This supplement is an additional payment to regular weekly state unemployment benefits and includes all eligible weeks beginning with the week ending 4/4/2020. Your payment may not be $600 weekly if you have elected to have state and federal taxes deducted. Federal taxes are deducted at 10% and state taxes at 6%. Unemployment benefits are taxable income. Other deductions may include court ordered or voluntary child support or repayment of an UI overpayment (one-half of your $600 FPUC payment will be deducted and applied to your outstanding overpayment). Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or PUA,is the program that will provide unemployment benefits to those not ordinarily eligible for them. This includes individuals who are self-employed, gig workers, 1099 independent contractors, employees of churches, employees of non-profits, or those with limited work history who do not qualify for state unemployment benefits. The GDOL has modified its current online unemployment application adding new questions to better identify those individuals who may be eligible for PUA. These individuals must be determined not to be eligible to receive state benefits before being evaluated for federal PUA benefits. The first step is for the individual to file a regular state unemployment claim application, where you will be asked questions about your employment and wages for the last 18 months. The application for regular state unemployment benefits will be reviewed by GDOL and a written determination of eligibility will be released within 21 days. The new federal PUA program is still under development and must be built from scratch to allow verification of wages. Once the programming is completed, individuals determined to not be eligible to be paid traditional state benefits will receive an email with instructions for filing a PUA application. The GDOL has partnered with the Georgia Department of Revenue to help verify wages, subject to approval from the applicant. Emails should begin to go out to applicants potentially eligible for PUA on April 22, 2020. Once the PUA application is received, it will be reviewed for eligibility and a written determination will be released with appeal rights. See detailed instructions on PUA. Individuals who have already filed a claim with the GDOL and determined not eligible for state unemployment benefits and may be potentially eligible to receive benefits under this program, do NOT have to refile a regular state claim. Once development of the new federal PUA program is completed, these individuals will be identified and will receive notification by email with a link to the application or mail containing information regarding the PUA application process. The Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, or PEUC, allows for up to an additional 13 weeks of benefits added to the end of regular unemployment benefits. This means claimants may collect unemployment benefits for a longer period of time than under normal circumstances. The GDOL recently received the guidelines on PEUC from the USDOL and is working quickly to develop and implement the new PEUC system. Individuals potentially eligible for this program will be identified and sent notification with PEUC claim filing instructions. And India is caught uneasily between the contending giants We are on the brink of a global war. It's not just a battle against a mysterious and deadly germ but an old-fashioned contest for supremacy like the one the United States and the Soviet Union waged for decades. US president Donald Trumps threat that China must face up to the consequences if it was knowingly responsible for the outbreak of Covid-19 is a reminder that an India that is neither pragmatic nor principled might be caught uneasily in the middle of the next Cold War. It all began with the Sino-American trade war, developed into an unseemly slanging match over the coronavirus pandemic, and is now reflected in Chinas bid to tighten its grip over the South China Sea. Its difficult not to see Indias latest restrictions on foreign investment in the light of this confrontation. Although the new regulations apply to all foreign direct investment from countries with which India shares a land border, they are obviously not aimed at either Bhutan or Afghanistan. Moreover, New Delhi suddenly imposed the condition of prior government approval for such investments only when the Peoples Bank of China raised its stake in Indias Housing Development Finance Corporation from 0.8 per cent to 1.01 per cent. Chinas net investment in India was only $1.6 billion until 2014, most of it in infrastructure and involving major Chinese state-owned enterprises. But total investment increased five-fold to at least $8 billion in the next three years, according to the Ministry of Commerce in Beijing, with a noticeable shift from state-driven to market-driven private sector firms. Even this figure doesnt take into account all Chinese corporate acquisitions in the technology sector, nor investments routed through third countries. For instance, a $504 million (Rs 3,500-crore) investment by the Singapore subsidiary of the Chinese mobile and telecom firm Xiaomi would not figure in official statistics because of how investments are measured. It will be interesting now to see how the Narendra Modi government responds to American pressure over Huawei, the multinational technology company with a presence in more than 170 countries and earning $122 billion annually. Trump wants a total ban on Huaweis 5G technology, but like the British, French and German leaders, Modi has so far held his own. However, seeing how proud Indias prime minister is of his so-called friendship with the US president, and also how quickly he buckled under when Trump threatened retaliation if he didnt lift his own ban on exporting hydroxychloroquine, no one is sure how long New Delhi will dare to remain defiant. Indias own problems with China are not to be minimised. Apart from the long-standing territorial dispute, unequal trade saddles this country with a $53.57 billion deficit. Chinese smartphones like Oppo and Xiaomi lead the Indian market with an estimated 72 per cent market share, leaving Samsung and Apple behind. TikTok, the controversial video app, has 200 million subscribers in India, where it has overtaken YouTube. Alibaba, Tencent and ByteDance rival the US penetration of Facebook, Amazon and Google. Chinese investors have also put an estimated $4 billion into Indian start-ups which rely on overseas venture capital and are called unicorns when they are worth more than $1 billion and are funded from abroad. In the past five years, 18 of Indias 30 unicorns have been Chinese-funded. There are additional concerns that since Covid-19 has taken a huge toll of equity prices, the Chinese might be able to acquire some of Indias most valued companies in hostile takeovers. Clearly, neither the dreadful coronavirus explosion in Wuhan nor the trade war with the United States has weakened Chinas international bargaining position. The trade war has raged since 2018 when Trump began setting tariffs and other trade barriers on China to force it to make changes to what he called unfair trade practices, a growing trade deficit, theft of intellectual property, and the forced transfer of American technology. Meanwhile, Chinas efforts to extend its control over the Spratly Islands where there are multiple competing claims by setting up new administrative structures have also incurred American displeasure. The two new districts will be under the authority of the local government in Sansha, a city in the southern island of Hainan, and will govern the Paracels (seized from Vietnam in 1974) and Macclesfield Bank -- an area claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan -- as well as the Spratly Islands and their adjacent waters, where there are multiple overlapping claims. China is accused of expanding its control over the South China Sea by building artificial islands and facilities that can be used for military purposes. Beijing claims almost all of the area but has conflicting claims with Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei. The conflict has remained unresolved for decades despite talks between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations on a code of conduct governing governmental behaviour in disputed waters. The two sides are committed to finalising the code by next year, but progress has been slow since a draft agreement was presented in August 2018. Beijings persistent refusal to make the code legally binding prompts the suspicion that its strategy is to complete the infrastructure it wants and enhance and establish its military presence in the area so that its hegemonic authority cannot ever be questioned. Neither singly nor collectively can Asean challenge such bullying. The United States, with which several Asean governments have defensive treaties, can, but is unlikely to go to war with China unless its own interests are directly threatened. But the US Navy will probably continue its provocative patrols near the disputed features that Beijing claims in the South China Sea, and Trump will no doubt continue to make contentious and accusatory statements about Beijing while haggling over taxes and duties. Its the Cold War all over again. A Ludhiana-based MSME association has reportedly moved Supreme Court against the government's order of full payment to employees during coronavirus lockdown. The association of hand tools manufacturers, comprising 41 MSMEs, petitioned the apex court saying that the direction is arbitrary and unconstitutional. The petition also said that disbursement of payments in lockdown when the revenue is zero would lead to the closure of many MSME units. The petition also said that the Provident Fund Department has several crores in form of unclaimed Provident Fund Deposits which could be used to help workers in such times of distress. The association also sought quashing of the government's order from the Supreme Court, the reports added. On March 29, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had issued an order mandating payment of salaries to industry workers with deduction, for the lockdown period. On March 31, the Maharashtra government issued various directions to all private establishments not to terminate any workman, including temporary or contract workmen, and pay wages for the period of lockdown even if any workman has not performed/attended work. Meanwhile, the total number of coronavirus cases in India has reached 21,700, including 16,689 active cases, 4,324 cured or discharged patients, 686 deaths and 1 migrated patient, Health Ministry data showed. The country saw 1,229 new cases and 34 deaths in the past 24 hours."It is very difficult to tell that peak will arrive by May 3 or when it will come. But it is very stable. Positivity rate has been 4.5 per cent throughout, one can say we have been able to flatten the curve. However, difficult to predict it (peak)," Dr Balram Bhargava, DG, ICMR, said. On January 24 Uzbekistans President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, delivered his third annual report to Parliament. This address marks an important step in Uzbekistans reform effort. As he has done before, President Mirziyoyev emphatically stressed the need to replace old, ineffective structures and work methods with market-based management of the economy and democratic political practices. This time, however, he laid special emphasis on the urgent need to strengthen representative forms of governance at each level. To this end, he strongly urged members the newly elected Parliament to participate actively in the reform process. He pleased for them to act bold and decisively on their own, and not to wait for guidance from the executive branch of government. Instead, he said that their positions should reflect the views and interests of their constituents. In his effort to enhance the effectiveness of the national Parliament, President Mirziyoyev appears to be seeking a stable system based on checks and balances. He clearly realizes that the alternative to construct a system based on a rigid "power vertical" would be counterproductive. But the alternative is not possible if the country has only "a puppet Parliament." Instead, he envisions an independent Parliament or Oliy Majlis. His goal is to develop an independent Oliy Majlis that has the will and skills required to initiate and adopt laws based on the interests of citizens and the nation as a whole. Hence the call to enhance the status and authority of parliamentarians. To this end, also, he sharply broke with tradition by proposing a law that will oblige ministers to respond personally to requests from members of parliament. Unemployed Michigan workers have received $1.37 billion in benefits since the coronavirus crisis began, state officials said Thursday. The number of unemployment claims continues to grow in Michigan, per data from the U.S. Department of Labor. Michigan had another 134,119 workers file for benefits in the week ending April 18. That brings the total to 1.18 million nearly one-quarter of the state's workforce. While the unemployment site has often crashed or has been sluggish, 820,000 of the 1.18 million people to file 69.6 percent have already started receiving benefits, the state announced in a news release. The Michigan Unemployment Agency has been trying to keep up with the unprecedented demand, adding employees to answer phones, answer questions online and resolve technical issues, the Michigan Unemployment Agency said in the release. Pre-pandemic, the agency received about 5,000 claims per week and had a weekly record 77,000 claims during the recession. The last five weeks have had at least 128,000 new claims. We are committed to providing this emergency financial assistance to Michigan workers as quickly as possible, but we know we still have a lot of work left to do to get every dollar in benefits to the working families that need it most, LEO Director Jeff Donofrio said. Were working around the clock to add capacity to the system so that we can continue to process all claims during this historic demand for benefits. Nationwide, another 4.4 million people filed for unemployment last week. It brings the total to 26.5 million since March 14. Michigan has more than 600 employees answering phones and online questions and there are more than 100 staffers working on technical issues, the state said. At least another 300 workers are expected to be added soon. More than 90 percent of claims are filed online at Michigan.gov/UIA, where the process is expected to take 25 minutes. The site is open 24 hours a day, so officials recommend using it during non-peak hours from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m., to avoid slowdowns. Call 866-500-0017 if youre having trouble with your account. Here's a look at Michigan unemployment claims, by week. Week ending April 18: 134,119 Week ending April 11: 222,207 Week ending April 4: 388,554 Week ending March 28: 304,335 Week ending March 21: 128,806 Five-week total: 1,178,021 COVID-19 PREVENTION TIPS In addition to washing hands regularly and not touching your face, officials recommend practicing social distancing, assuming anyone may be carrying the virus. Health officials say you should be staying at least 6 feet away from others and working from home, if possible. Carry hand sanitizer with you, and use disinfecting wipes or disinfecting spray cleaners on frequently-touched surfaces in your home (door handles, faucets, countertops) and when you go into places like stores. Read more Michigan coronavirus coverage here Thursday, April 23: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Whitmer moves to further expand unemployment eligibility during coronavirus crisis Video series addresses Michigans unemployment questions Unemployment claims top 1M in Michigan as coronavirus closures continue Which surfaces does the coronavirus stay on longest? 18 expert disinfecting tips The company should spend its record-breaking profits not on sleek PR campaigns but on workers benefits. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos appears to have become quite generous. On March 11, Amazon announced a $25m relief fund for workers who contract COVID-19 during the pandemic. A week later, the company also said it was donating $1m to four foundations in the larger Washington, DC area, the site of the new Amazon headquarters, to help with relief efforts. Then on April 2, Bezos pledged to give $100m to Feeding America, a nonprofit organisation which runs food banks and pantries across the United States. A week later, Bezos himself visited an Amazon warehouse and a store of the Whole Foods chain, which Amazon owns. The companys PR Twitter account posted a video of Bezos walking around and thanking employees for their service. While blue-collar workers and impoverished communities certainly need financial help amid the coronavirus pandemic, Bezoss donations and PR stunts are nothing less than an attempt to whitewash the horrendous track record on workers rights in his companies. One-time grants and food handouts will not improve the lives of Amazon workers or the poor communities they hail from. Instead of engaging in PR charity, Bezos should be listening to the complaints of his employees and extending them the rights they deserve. But listened he has not so far. Working conditions at Amazon have always been deplorable, but the pandemic has exacerbated them further. Workers are expected to put in long hours but are not afforded basic benefits and protections, including sick leave. Amid the pandemic, this is particularly dangerous and is putting workers at risk of losing their jobs and meagre income. So far there have been numerous cases of COVID-19 outbreaks in Amazon facilities and Whole Foods stores. In many instances, the company has rushed to reopen its facilities after supposedly applying disinfection measures. However, Amazon workers have complained that the company has failed to provide them with adequate supplies of hand sanitiser, gloves, and masks and have not heeded demands for deep cleaning of facilities. This has led to Amazon workers protests across the country from Staten Island, New York to Chicago, Illinois, and Romulus, Michigan. Employees have also complained that they have not been informed of others testing positive for the disease, are not getting compensated when they need to go into quarantine, and do not get sick leave unless they prove they have had COVID-19, which due to low testing rates many infected people cannot do. In March, a warehouse in New York City, for example, was temporarily shut down after one worker tested positive and staff was forced to quarantine for two weeks. A workers group called Amazonians United New York City Workers claimed the company was not paying them while they were in quarantine, so started a fundraiser to help them out. Whole Foods, too, has similar problematic policies. For example, its workers are allowed to have unlimited unpaid time off during March and paid two weeks off if they tested positive for COVID-19. For any other medical emergency or family death, employees can obtain additional days off from a pot which workers collectively have to donate their days off to help each other. In protest against these unfair policies, Whole Food workers started sick out demonstrations. Instead of changing their unfair rules to accommodate their workers who are on the front lines, helping families abide by lockdown orders by servicing their online shopping orders and store visits, Amazon and Whole Foods executives have adopted rather pernicious responses. They have sought to downplay protests at their facilities in official statements and punished some of those who have participated in them. Chris Smalls, who in March led the protest at the Staten Island facility demanding personal protective equipment and sick leave, for example, was fired. Amazon claimed his dismissal was due to the violation of social distancing guidelines, but the New York authorities have launched an inquiry into the case. A leaked Amazon PR memo revealed executives called Smalls not smart or articulate and expressed hopes that would be good for the companys PR strategy. Last week, the company fired two more employees who dared criticise its policies in public. Another worker at a Minnesota warehouse, named Bashir Mohamed, was recently fired because he was actively organising workers, which included handing out petitions in English and Somali and communicating concerns to management about the inability to be socially distant. However, in a statement to CNN, Amazon said Mohamed was fired as a result of progressive disciplinary action for inappropriate language, behaviour, and violating social distancing guidelines. Executives have also sought to prevent unionisation. According to the Business Insider, Whole Foods has started using a heat map to track which of its stores are at risk of workers unionising. In the past, the company has actively fought against unionisation efforts among its employees. One would think that perhaps the company cannot afford to extend benefits to workers and give them proper protection against COVID-19 amid the global economic crisis as a result of the pandemic, but that is really not the case. The company is registering record profits amid the pandemic, with its value jumping by $140bn to $1.14 trillion from February to April. Bezos himself has seen his personal wealth grow by $24bn since the start of the year. That $100m he donated to Feeding America constitutes 0.4 percent of the money he has made since January. So far, Amazon has offered a temporary increase in pay by $2 an hour until the end of April and doubled the hourly rate for overtime work. It has also claimed that it has made 150 significant process changes to ensure the health and safety of our teams. But that is really not enough. And in fact, given its skyrocketing profits, it can afford to do much more. Amazon workers have put forward a petition with more than 5,000 signatures from North America and Europe, outlining exactly what they think is fair in terms of improved compensation and safe conditions of working. They demand full paid sick leave without conditionalities, pay for childcare and subsidies, 1.5-times hazard pay, an end to rate-based write-ups, and the closure of facilities in the event that a worker tests positive for the virus. They are not really asking for much and implementing their demands will not bring down Amazons ever-expanding profit margins. Amid the pandemic, millions of people are losing their jobs and many are growing desperate, as they face the prospect of hunger and homelessness. Amazon and other companies are taking advantage of the situation, thinking desperation would enable exploitation. But its executives are failing to understand that the pandemic is also opening the eyes of many people to the ills of our society which have amplified the crisis. People are becoming increasingly sensitive to social injustice. Workers are growing bolder and more determined to resist. With its inaction and greed, Amazon is risking a major backlash that no sleek PR campaign would be able to counter. It is time it heeds workers calls for real change and provides dignified labour conditions. Or else. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Qualcomm launched the Snapdragon 855+ last year as a better-performing refresh of the Snapdragon 855. There's unlikely to be a repeat with the Snapdragon 865, however, as an OEM exec has confirmed that Qualcomm will not release a Snapdragon 865+. 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 Qualcomm released the Snapdragon 855+ in the latter half of 2019, as a better-binned, overclocked refresh of the Snapdragon 855 with slightly better CPU and GPU performance. It would appear, however, that the American silicon makes have no plans to release a Snapdragon 865+ this year. Going by the words of Meizu's CMO, Wan Zhiqiang, there will be no Snapdragon 865+, and all of Meizu's flagship phones this year will be equipped with the Snapdragon 865. It makes sense that an executive of a sizeable OEM like Meizu would be privy to such information, so we'd be very surprised if this turned out to be false. An official of the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company has been assaulted by some community youth in Akwa Ibom State for trying to cut power supply to their homes during the ongoing lockdown. The incident happened in Nkemba community in Uyo on Monday. The electricity company confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Tuesday, saying the companys managing director, Henry Ajagbawa, has expressed shock over the attack. The statement signed by the companys spokesperson, John Onyi, said the assaulted worker, Sylvanus James, was beaten by about 30 people while he was on routine duty. James, it was reported set out for duty early that morning checking out on those pre-paid customers who have not vended or made any electricity payment for almost one year in the street before he was physically assaulted with dangerous weapons by youth culminating in the loss of his two mobile phones including other valuables, Mr Onyi said. Mr James is in the hospital receiving treatment, while the matter has been reported to the police in Akwa Ibom State, Mr Onyi said. READ ALSO: The performance of our employees and cooperation from customers are central to the success of service delivery, the statement quoted the managing director of the electricity company, Mr Ajagbawa, as saying. We will, as a matter of fact, not welcome any act of molestation, harassment, intimidation and physical assault on any staff. Two persons within the community told PREMIUM TIMES that the incident happened on the day the police on enforcement duty tightened their operation along the roads, turning people back at different checkpoints in Uyo. Some residents who went to the electricity office to make payment were arrested by the police who accused them of violating the lockdown, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. The police in Akwa Ibom later issued a statement explaining why they had to tighten their enforcement operation. The CP observed with dismay that the passes issued to those on essential duties have been largely abused to the extent that the passes are photocopied and issued to all manner of persons thereby making it relatively difficult by the security agencies to identify the original copies of the pass, the police spokesperson in the state, N-Nudam Fredrick, said in a statement on Monday evening. A County Derry councillor has pleaded with local communities to take any litter home with them to ensure the environment is respected. Mid Ulster councillor Brian McGuigan made the appeal after receiving a number of calls about litter on roads in the Maghera area of south Derry. I have been inundated with concerns that our countryside is strewn with litter, he told the County Derry Post. We all need to take care of our local environment. The litter strewn on our roadside is coming from road users who are not disposing of their rubbish appropriately. It's important that all road users are aware of the damage to the environment that littering can do. The pledge to them is: take your rubbish home. I encourage households and businesses to have the conversation with all vehicle users that they must take personal responsibility for their rubbish. Cllr McGuigan also praised the recent litter pick carried out by members of Watty Graham GAC, Glen, where over 200 club volunteers set about the roads to clean them up. He said: I want to personally congratulate every person who took part in the clean-up that was assisted by Mid Ulster District Council and coordinated by the chairperson of Watty Grahams. Adhering to the strict guidelines of COVID-19 social distancing restrictions a group of 200 volunteers took part in a recent litter pick within Maghera parish. The amount of rubbish that was collected by the volunteers was staggering and on behalf of all who was involved in the clean-up I would like to remind all road users to respect our beautiful environment and to take all litter home and dispose appropriately WAYNE COUNTY, MI Dozens of bodies are being stored in a makeshift morgue at a temporarily closed Beaumont Health hospital and Wayne County officials want to know more. Wayne County health inspectors are trying to get inside the facility to learn more, county spokesman Bill Nowling said. Its not unusual for hospitals to have temporary morgues, but the county wants to know who authorized this one, the Associated Press reports. A county health inspector was recently denied access to the Beaumont building because he wasnt wearing enough protective equipment, Nowling told the AP. Beaumont Health spokesman Mark Geary did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment, the report said. He previously said that the morgue was approved by city officials. However, the city has said its still working on permit requirements. Temporary facilities are needed to store bodies as hospitals are overwhelmed with victims of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. In some cases, refrigerated trailers are being used. RELATED: Photos of body bags lined up in Detroit hospital rooms make national headlines Michigan has now had 2,813 total COVID-19 deaths, behind only New York and New Jersey. The state has confirmed 33,966 cases of the virus as of Wednesday. So far, 3,237 people have recovered from the virus. In Wayne County, 14,561 COVID-19 cases have been confirmed, and 1,319 people have died from the virus. In Detroit alone, there were 8,026 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 747 deaths reported Wednesday. The disproportionate number of cases in the area are a result of factors like the large population, more aggressive testing, proximity to a major airport and community spread of coronavirus, experts say. RELATED: With 999 new confirmed coronavirus cases, Michigan nears 34,000 Read more Michigan coronavirus coverage here 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: Thursday, April 23: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Prisoner who helped free wrongly convicted man dies of coronavirus Short-term extension of Michigans stay-at-home order likely necessary to limit coronavirus spread, Whitmer says Whitmer moves to further expand unemployment eligibility during coronavirus crisis As Michigan expands coronavirus testing, issues with test accuracy remain Update: At least five were killed by tornadoes, according to CNN. Tornadoes rip through Texas and Oklahoma, killing at least three people and injuring over 30 on Wednesday, April 23. In Oklahoma, two people were killed by a tornado while another one remains in critical condition, according to Marshall County Emergency Management Director Robert Chaney, Fox News reported. A tornado in Texas killed one and injured over 30 people according to officials. Texas Governor Greg Abbott responded to the tornado disaster in a post on Twitter. We are praying forand helpingthose in East Texas who were ravaged by tornadoes that left at least 2 dead & 10 injured, Abbott said. Many state agencies are on location to assist the recovery process. The Oklahoma storm hit Madill, near the Red River, about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, causing widespread damage to the town, including its residential neighborhoods, said Donny Raley, the citys emergency manager. The persons body was found about a quarter-mile from J&I Manufacturing, a trailer factory about six miles (10 kilometers) southwest of Madill, Marshall County Emergency Management Director Robert Chaney said. Chaney said he had no other information on the person, but said the suspected twister hit the plant just as its workforce was leaving for the day and caused severe damage. The storm also hit the Oklahoma Steel and Wire plant, a fence wire manufacturer on the south side of Madill, the county seat of Marshall County and home to about 4,000 residents. The apparent tornado in Southeast Texas touched down about 6 p.m. Wednesday near Onalaska, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of Houston. The storm rumbled east through Seven Oaks. The storm caused severe damage to homes and other structures, said Carrie Miller, a spokeswoman for Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy. A National Weather Service team will be dispatched to survey the damage and to confirm whether the storms were tornadoes. Epoch Times reporter Alan Cheung contributed to this report. Details added (first version posted on 16:35) BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 22 Trend: During a special quarantine regime introduced to prevent the widespread of coronavirus infection, Azerbaijan began to take the corresponding measures to bring the compatriots from Russia back to Azerbaijan, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. So far, 548 people have crossed the Russian-Azerbaijani border since April 20. 'Eve gedirem (I am going home) website was created to return the citizens temporarily staying in Russia and wishing to return to Azerbaijan, the message said. "In accordance with the registration on the website, the citizens may return by receiving a preliminary notification, the ministry said. A group of Azerbaijani citizens has recently returned to Azerbaijan through a special corridor at the border checkpoint with the support of the Azerbaijani embassy in Russia, as well as via coordination and cooperation with the Russian corresponding structures. As many as 548 people have crossed the border since April 20, 2020, and all these citizens are on quarantine. The people registered on the Eve gedirem website will be informed in advance by phone or via SMS about the date of the next transition through the border checkpoint. There is no need for the citizens staying in Russia and registered on the website to arrive at the border checkpoint or at the airport beforehand. They should stay at their place of residence until they receive the corresponding information, said the ministry. Detection of cVDPV2 During July 2019February 2020, among 31 active cVDPV2 outbreaks, 18 (58%) followed new emergences; one outbreak in Malaysia and the Philippines (PHL-NCR-1) was detected during the reporting period, although genetic sequencing analyses indicate that the emergence occurred years earlier and genetically linked viruses circulated undetected by surveillance (Table) (Figure 1) (1,2). Twenty-four (77%) of the 31 active outbreaks affected African countries; seven of these (29%) resulted in international spread (Figure 2). Western Africa. The previously described cVDPV2 emergence in Nigeria (NIE-JIS-1) continued to circulate during the reporting period (1,2); the most recent NIE-JIS-1 isolations in Niger and Nigeria were detected among specimens from AFP patients in April and October 2019, respectively. Detection of genetically linked virus from AFP patients specimens and through environmental surveillance occurred in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote dIvoire, Ghana, and Togo during the reporting period. Since its first detection in Nigeria in January 2018, NIE-JIS-1 emergence has resulted in 101 cases in seven countries (1,2). Ongoing transmission of previously reported cVDPV2 emergences (NIE-KGS-1 and NIE-KGS-2) and of a new cVDPV2 emergence (NIE-SOS-6) was detected in Nigeria (2). No polioviruses genetically linked to other previously described emergences (NIE-SOS-3, NIE-SOS-4, and NIE-SOS-5) (1,2) were detected during the reporting period. A new emergence (TOG-SAV-1) in Togo was first detected in November 2019, and a genetically linked virus was isolated from a specimen obtained from an AFP patient in Cote dIvoire in February 2020. Central Africa. Five Central African countries were affected by cVDPV2 outbreaks during July 2019February 2020. Each country had a minimum of two cVDPV2 emergences circulating during the reporting period, with the Central African Republic (CAR) having five. In Angola, no poliovirus genetically linked to the previously described cVDPV2 emergence (ANG-LNO-1) was detected after May 2019 (2). However, polioviruses genetically linked to previously described emergences (ANG-HUI-1 and ANG-LNO-2) continued to circulate during the reporting period within Angola, resulting in 78 cases (ANG-HUI-1) and 15 cases (ANG-LNO-2) since first detection (2). In addition, two new emergences were detected in June (ANG-LUA-1) and September (ANG-MOX-1) 2019, resulting in a total of 46 cVDPV2 cases in Angola; the two emergences also circulated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC; ANG-LUA-1) and Zambia (ANG-MOX-1). The detection of concurrent and independent cVDPV2 emergences in Angola might be associated with mOPV2 responserelated supplementary immunization activities (SIAs; vaccination campaigns) in neighboring DRC or related to other Sabin OPV2 inadvertent exposure in Angola; investigation is ongoing. In CAR, the previously described CAR-BAM-1 and CAR-BIM-2 emergences continued to circulate during the reporting period, resulting in three cases and six detections of CAR-BAM-1 and three detections of CAR-BIM-2 through environmental surveillance (2). No polioviruses genetically linked to the previously described CAR-BAM-2 or CAR-BIM-1 emergences were detected after June 2019 (2). Three new emergences (CAR-BER-1, CAR-BIM-3, and CAR-BNG-1) were detected during the reporting period and resulted in a total of 14 cases in CAR. Virus genetically linked to CAR-BNG-1 was isolated from a specimen obtained from an AFP patient in Cameroon with paralysis onset in January 2020. In Chad, circulation of a new emergence (CHA-NDJ-1) was first detected in October 2019. Genetically linked viruses were continually detected in specimens from AFP patients in Chad into 2020 and from environmental surveillance in Cameroon and Chad through the end of 2019. In DRC, the previously described emergences, DRC-HLO-2, DRC-KAS-3, and DRC-SAN-1, continued to circulate, resulting in 20, 21, and 32 cases, respectively, since detection (2). During the reporting period, cVDPV2 genetically linked to the Angola ANG-LUA-1 emergence was detected in specimens obtained from 12 AFP patients in DRC. No evidence of continued circulation of the other previously described emergences (DRC-HKA-1, DRC-HLO-1, DRC-KAS-1, DRC-KAS-2, DRC-MAN-1, DRC-MON-1, and DRC-TPA-1) was found (1,2). Southern Africa. In Zambia, the ZAM-LUA-1 emergence was detected in specimens obtained from an AFP patient and two contacts during JulySeptember 2019. In addition, cVDPV2 linked to the ANG-MOX-1 emergence was detected in a specimen obtained from an AFP patient with paralysis onset in November 2019. In Mozambique, no transmission related to the previously described MOZ-ZAM-2 emergence has been detected since December 2018 (2). Horn of Africa. During July 2019February 2020, cVDPV2 genetically related to the previously described SOM-BAN-1 emergence, which was first detected in October 2017 in Banadir Province, Somalia (13), continued to circulate. During this reporting period, genetically linked virus was detected from specimens from three AFP patients in Ethiopia and in 10 sewage samples from Banadir. In Ethiopia, four new cVDPV2 emergences (ETH-ORO-1, ETH-ORO-2, ETH-ORO-3, and ETH-SOM-1) were detected during this period among specimens from 15 AFP patients and through environmental surveillance in Addis Ababa and the Somali region. Pakistan and Afghanistan. The PAK-GB-1 emergence was the first of five total cVDPV2 emergences (PAK-GB-1, PAK-GB-2, PAK-GB-3, PAK-KOH-1, and PAK-TOR-1) detected in Pakistan during the reporting period. PAK-GB-1 has resulted in 41 AFP cases in Pakistan and has been isolated through environmental surveillance in Pakistan and Afghanistan as recently as February 2020. The last detections of the PAK-GB-2 and PAK-GB-3 cVDPV2s were in August 2019. PAK-KOH-1 and PAK-TOR-1 emergences were detected from specimens obtained from AFP patients and through environmental surveillance during September 2019January 2020. Current genetic evidence indicates that the 2016 mOPV2 outbreak response SIAs in Pakistan did not initiate these cVDPV2 outbreaks. Possible origins include international importations from areas using mOPV2 or inadvertent use of residual tOPV or mOPV2 (4). China. The CHN-XIN-1 emergence was first isolated through environmental surveillance in Xinjiang province in April 2018; genetically linked virus was last detected in Sichuan province in August 2019 from the stool specimen of a community contact of an AFP patient who had paralysis onset in April 2019 (2). Malaysia and the Philippines. During the reporting period, the PHL-NCR-1 emergence was identified from a specimen obtained from an AFP patient with paralysis onset in June 2019 in Mindanao Province, the Philippines. Subsequently, genetically linked virus was detected among specimens from 13 additional AFP patients in the Philippines and through environmental surveillance in both Malaysia and the Philippines during July 2019February 2020. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 17:33 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3e1fff 1 National police,East-Java,Malang,activist-arrest Free Three student activists in Malang, East Java, have been arrested for alleged vandalism with the intention of inciting the public. National Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Asep Adi Saputra said on Wednesday that the three students, identified as MAA, 20, SRA, 20, and AFF, 22, had allegedly damaged property by writing provocative words on walls in six locations. They aimed to incite the public to fight against capitalism, which, according to them, is endangering the people," he said in a video published on the police's Tribrata TV YouTube channel on Wednesday. Malang city police chief Comr. Leonardus Simarmata said they had confiscated several items of evidence, including two pieces of cardboard emblazoned with the words "Tegalrejo Melawan (Tegalrejo Resists), motorbikes, three helmets, black spray paint and three cellphones from the suspects. Asep said the three students had been charged under Article 160 of the Criminal Code on public incitement, which carries a sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment. "MAA was the initiator who bought the spray paint and wrote on the walls with SRA. AFFs role was overseeing the activity, he said. Read also: Books seized, five arrested as police claim anarcho-syndicalists plan mass looting in Java The three have been detained at the Malang Police's detention facility since Monday, Asep added. The Surabaya Legal Aid Institute (LBH) criticized the arrest of the three students, who they claimed were apprehended by the police and named suspects based on mere speculation. Lukman, a member of LBH Surabaya advocacy team stationed in Malang, said that the three students were arrested at 8 p.m. on Monday by five police officers who accused them of involvement in an anarcho syndicalist group. The students are activists who often took part in Kamisan protests a weekly silent protest held every Thursday to demand state action on human rights abuses including in assisting Tegalrejo farmers in Malang regency to defend their land against a corporation, he said. He also opposed the police's charges against the three students. "We demand the three activists be released immediately because their arrests were flawed. This is a violation of justice," he said. Southeast Texas institutions of higher education are looking forward to next semester, with online registration now open and socially-distanced alternatives for advising making way for an easy return to campus in the fall. While some campuses, like the Lamar Institute of Technology, originally were vying to return before the end of the semester, most colleges in the area moved the remainder of the semesters classes online in order to limit the amount of person-to-person contact. Related: LIT may partially reopen campus by months end With that in mind, institutions like Lamar State College Port Arthur have moved advising appointments online, according to their registrar Robin Humphrey. Because of social distancing, everything is now done online, by email, or on the phone, she said. While online advising has always been an option, phone appointments are important for students that want more guidance. Some students still liked to go through talking with advisers, Humphrey said. The only difference now is that campus advisers and the department chairs are doing advisement over the phone or via email. LIT also is conducting advising by phone, spokesperson Chris Elliot said. We are following the governor's executive order to remain remote through the rest of this school year, but we are hopeful that we can return next or before if our state, county and city officials deem it safe, he said. Some schools across the country, like San Jose State University in California, already have made the decision to continue distance learning into the fall semester. So far, those Southeast Texas remain cautiously optimistic. We have no way of knowing, Lamar University spokesperson Shelly Vitanza told The Enterprise. We are moving forward as if (the students) will be on campus, but have no way of knowing. Lamar is uniquely positioned in the event classes do have to be online, with almost half their student population already attending the university in an online format, even before the pandemic. We have taught successfully this semester and are teaching all classes this summer online, Vitanza said of that possibility. We can go into fall100% online. At unaffiliated Lamar State College Orange, students also are able and encouraged to apply online, but can visit campus if they need too. Even though the campus is open, LSCO is following social distancing guidelines and we highly encourage students to do as much as they can online to register for summer and fall 2020 classes, spokesperson Amy Moore said. Our team is available to answer any questions and walk students through the admissions, financial aid, testing, and registration process either by phone, email, or virtual meeting. However, students are welcome to come speak with us if they need to. The college also has waived and postponed some of their typical registration holds to make the process easier. If there is a second surge of the virus, LSCO is prepared to continue college operations, including online instruction, Moore said. We understand there would be complications for courses that require hands-on labs and we are continually working to serve those students so they can complete their courses. Another component of returning to campus is the economic toll on current students as a result of the coronavirus. With help from the federal government, schools are preparing to disperse assistance to those students. Earlier this month, over $10 million in aid was announced for Southeast Texas institutions of higher education, including over $1 million for LSCPA. Related: SE Texas colleges, students to get federal funds for coronavirus response At the Port Arthur college, those funds will go directly to students through cash grants, LSCPA President Betty Reynard said in a statement. This pandemic has been a disruption to everyday life for us all, she said. Our students have seen their schedules upended and, yet, theyve been diligent and dedicated to their schoolwork. Im proud that well be able to assist our students through this grant in making their lives at least a little bit easier. The transition to college also is difficult for high school seniors entering a new space and phase of life. Nederland High School Senior Chaelyn Esquivel said the virtual advising process helped put her mind at ease. I got into the classes I needed, so Im really excited, she said. We did my advising over the phone and she was super sweet. She helped me a lot with all my questions. Esquivels LSCPA advisor, Carla Santos, said in a written statement that the altered advising is an adjustment, but not necessarily a negative one. Its definitely different with students not being in front of you, but were doing the best we can, she said. Phone calls have been the best option. Its almost like having them in the office. isaac.windes@hearstnp.com twitter.com/isaacdwindes Most Americans with income under qualifying rates will receive a coronavirus stimulus check (technically, an "Economic Impact Payment," and in most cases, it will come as a direct deposit and not a check). However, processing roughly 150 million payments isn't easy, and there have been glitches. If you did not get your coronavirus stimulus check, it's important to take action. The first step is to figure out if you are eligible. Am I eligible for a stimulus payment? Congress has set a pretty low bar for the coronavirus stimulus payments. U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and resident aliens are likely eligible for an Economic Impact Payment if they meet all these requirements: Have a valid Social Security number, Could not be claimed as a dependent by another taxpayer, and Had adjusted gross income under certain limits. Higher-income people -- individuals with an adjusted gross income over $75,000 ($112,500 for taxpayers filing as head of household or $150,000 for taxpayers filing a joint return) will see payments reduced by 5% for the amount your income exceeds those thresholds until you reach: $198,000 for taxpayers filing a joint return $136,500 for taxpayers filing as head of household $99,000 for all others To further complicate things, the income threshold increases by $10,000 for each qualifying child. Families also get $500 added to their payment for each child subject to the income restrictions, which are as below for a family with one child: $208,000 for taxpayers filing a joint return $146,500 for taxpayers filing as head of household $109,000 for all others You are still eligible for the payment if you are not required to file tax forms. If that's the case, though, you need to give the IRS your info using this tool. You should receive your payment automatically if you meet any of the following qualifications: Individuals who filed a federal income tax for 2018 or 2019 Social Security retirement, disability (SSDI), survivor benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Recipients of Veterans Affairs benefits Individuals who receive Railroad Retirement benefits "Should," however, does not mean "will," and some people have found that they have not received their payments. What do I do if I have not gotten my stimulus payment? Only non-filers meeting the criteria above should use the tool meant for non-filers. The IRS makes that very clear on its website: Do NOT use this tool if you will be filing a 2019 return. If you are required to file a return, using this tool will NOT speed up your Economic Impact Payment and will likely slow down processing of your tax return and receiving any refund. For people who have filed at least their 2018 taxes, the IRS should have your info and you can use its "Get My Payment" tool to check the status of your check/direct deposit. This isn't a perfect system as many people using that receive a "Payment Status Not Available." That can happen for a number of reasons including: You are required to file a tax return, but: We haven't finished processing your 2019 return The application doesn't yet have your data; we're working on adding more data to allow more people to use Information is updated once a day on the website during overnight hours. It's, of course, frustrating to learn that the reason may simply "we haven't gotten to you yet," but in some cases, that's the answer. If you are required to file a tax return, you must file at least your 2019 forms in order to get a payment. Some people also have filed their taxes but have changed their bank account information or mailing address. "If we don't have your direct deposit information from your 2018 or 2019 return -- and we haven't yet sent your payment -- use the Get My Payment application to let us know where to send your direct deposit," the IRS posted on its website. If you have filed your 2019 taxes, your payment will go to the bank account or address used in that filing, it cannot be changed. For 2018 filers, who have yet filed for the most recent year, you can only update your info by filing your 2019 taxes. Be diligent, be patient It's frustrating to be expecting a check -- and maybe needing the money -- but not being able to find out exactly where yours is. Start by following the steps above. Making sure the IRS has what it needs from you can help the process along. In some cases, though, you'll just have to be patient. The IRS may take time getting to you, or it may not be able to process your tax return (coronavirus has suspended processing of paper returns and some people, including those who have been the victim of identity theft, still have to file on paper (while others chose to before the pandemic). Right now, all you can be is vigilant. Keep checking, and for most people, this will eventually be rectified. Right now, it's nearly impossible to get IRS help via phone, but that won't always be the case (eventually normal work conditions will return, IRS employees will return to work, and call volume will fall). Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 17:50:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SYDNEY, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The COVID-19 may affect a patient's blood system and could have caused strokes in a number of people aged in their 30s and 40s, according to a latest Australian-linked research. The patients were "having brain complications from the disease," the ABC News channel quoted Australian doctor Thomas Oxley, head of neurology intensive care at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, as saying on Thursday. "We're seeing an increase in the number of strokes that are happening in our patients presenting to Mount Sinai Hospital," Oxley said. "What we are seeing is a disease that is partially working at least by increasing blood clotting in the body, and that is why we think there's increased risk of stroke occurring." Older COVID-19 patients also had strokes but in the last few weeks there had been a "spike of young patients", he said. The hospital had seen five cases in people under the age of 50 in the last two weeks, the channel reported Oxley and his colleagues as saying in an upcoming research paper. The "association between large vessel stroke and COVID-19 disease in young patients requires further investigation," according to the researchers. "It's certainly a small sample size and we are learning as we go," Oxley said. Enditem Charger Group Limited, producers of the ever popular Happy Man Bitters has joined the growing list of companies in the COVID-19 fight with a presentation to the War Memorial Hospital in Navrongo of the Upper East Region. The award-winning company has presented medical essentials to boost awareness creation and fight against Covid19. The items worth about GHs50,000 was presented to the medical facility by officials of Charger Limited. The donation was in swift response to an appeal by authorities of the hospital for support in the fight against the global pandemic. Presenting the items to the hospital, Head of Digital Marketing at Charger Limited, Roland Delewe said Charger Limited was already preparing its list to donate to the hospital and, I must say that the letter came at the to align with our intentions for the hospital." The items included 20 crates of fruit juice,50 cartons of bottled water, four pieces of infrared thermometer guns, five digital BP monitors,1,000 pieces of surgical face masks,5000 disposable examination gloves,50 disposable surgical gowns,120 rolls of disposable tissue,20 Veronica buckets, 30 cartons of liquid soap and 1,000 pieces of Charger Hand Sanitizers. Mr. Delewe added that portions of the donations were earmarked for the Municipal Health Directorate for onward distribution to other health facilities. Paramount Chief of the Navrongo Traditional Area Navro Pio, Pe Dennis Aneakwoa Belinia who was present at the donation expressed gratitude to the CEO of Charger Limited, Dr. Emmanuel Borketey Bortey and his team for the kind gesture and prayed for a continuous and strengthened relationship. The Navro Pio, Pe Dennis Aneakwoa Belinia said May he continue to be successful in his endeavors, I pray that you get more to support Navrongo, he prayed. Meanwhile, authorities at the War Memorial Hospital indicated that so far, the facility has recorded 17 suspected cases which turned out negative and assured that the items will be put into appropriate use. The donation by Charger Limited is one of the numerous support extended to the Upper East Region in various fields which has impacted positively to the growth of the region. Source: A1radioonline.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 M ore than 9,000 people have been targeted by "sextortion" scammers who are pretending to have hacked into victim's webcams, phones and social media accounts. New figures reveal that crooks have been threatening to reveal intimate images of victims online during the first weeks of the coronavirus lockdown. It comes as police warn that online fraud is increasing as cyber criminals look to exploit those spending more time at home during the Covid-19 crisis. As part of the scam, emails are sent to victims demanding thousands of pounds in the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. The perpetrators say if the ransom is not paid, they will share the victim's intimate videos, taken on their webcams while visiting adult websites, with their friends and family. Action Fraud said it had received 9,473 reports of the scam this month with 200 coming in the last week. The emails, which contain a genuine password from one of the victim's accounts, begin: "I require your complete attention for the upcoming 24 hrs, or I may make sure you that you live out of guilt for the rest of your lifetime." One month since UK lockdown - In pictures 1 /14 One month since UK lockdown - In pictures The M5 motorway, looking south towards Devon PA A nearly-deserted Reuters Square in Canary Wharf PA A popular riverside walk alongside the Thames near London's Tower Bridge is almost empty PA The concourse of London's Waterloo station is almost devoid of travellers PA Empty streets and pavements surround Little Ben, a cast iron miniature clock tower, situated at the intersection of Vauxhall Bridge Road and Victoria Street PA Horse Guards Parade in London is empty as tourists stay away PA Liverpool waterfront is practically deserted PA Empty streets in Newcastle upon Tyne PA An empty shopping arcade at Windsor Station PA King's Parade, with King's College (left) and the Senate House (distance) in Cambridge PA A view of a near-deserted Waterlooville town centre in Hampshire PA They falsely claim to have access to a victim's social media accounts and mobile phone contacts, as well video footage filmed after taking control of their webcams. The messages read: "I have the full recording. If, perhaps you think I am playing around, simply reply proof and I will be forwarding the particular recording randomly to eight people you know." Pauline Smith, the head of Action Fraud, said the "sextortion" scam is a type of "phishing attack", where fraudsters try to trick people into paying a ransom. She said: "The messages can look particularly convincing because they often include the recipient's genuine password. "The criminals sending these emails are ruthless, unscrupulous individuals who don't care about the impact of their actions on victims. "They seek to exploit people's emotions - shaming and scaring the recipient enough that they make a payment. "If you receive an email that threatens you, your family, or your property in any way, and asks you to make a Bitcoin payment, don't take the bait." It comes after National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) this week revealed it shut down more than 80 online scams on the first day of its new email reporting service. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. April 22, 2020 Michigan Grand Rapids, Michigan /PRNewswire/ -- The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is recommending that healthcare providers across the state partner with NxGen MDx in order to maximize the availability of COVID-19 testing.With the ability to test for 7000 samples per week, NxGen MDx is also able to provide specimen collection materials, shipping from the collection site to their laboratory, and 48-hour turnaround on results. NxGen has validated their testing using an endocervical swab rather than a nasopharyngeal swab; while the swabs have very similar shapes and clinical uses, endocervical swabs have a large and steady supply chain, while access to nasopharyngeal swabs is unfortunately very constrained.According to MDHHS, capacity for COVID-19 testing will need to triple or quadruple inin order to protect public health. Especially with the recent expansion in test priority criteria, maximizing the use of all available testing capacity is crucial.MDHHS strongly encourages health care providers interested in COVID-19 testing to reach out to NxGen Laboratories as a potential partner.NxGen MDx LLC is a leading women's health company delivering highly accurate and precise genetic testing. NxGen MDx's history of whole-gene sequencing combined with advanced technology allows us to provide accessible, high-quality testing options to families as they plan for the future. NxGen MDx employs state-of-the-art technology, including rapid molecular diagnostics for infectious disease and genetic screening technology that examines the entire gene rather than parts of the gene, giving women and families a comprehensive assessment of their health. NxGen MDx is based in. To learn more, visit the company's website at www.nxgenmdx.com.Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/nxgenmdx/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/3832246 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nxgenmdxlab/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/nxgenmdx View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/state-of-michigan-recommends-partnering-with-nxgen-mdx-for-covid-19-testing-301045430.html SOURCE NxGen MDx Pfizer and BioNTech to Start Germanys First COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Trial By HospiMedica International staff writers Posted on 23 Apr 2020 Image: Pfizer and BioNTech to start Germanys first COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial (Photo courtesy of BioNTech SE) Pfizer Inc. (New York, NY, USA) and BioNTech SE (Mainz, Germany) have received approval from the German regulatory authority, the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, to begin the Phase 1/2 clinical trial for BioNTechs BNT162 vaccine program to prevent COVID-19 infection. BioNTech and Pfizer are jointly developing BNT162. The trial is the first clinical trial of a COVID-19 vaccine candidate to start in Germany, and is part of a global development program. Pfizer and BioNTech will also conduct trials for BNT162 in the US upon regulatory approval, which is expected shortly. During the clinical development stage, BioNTech will provide its partners clinical supply of the vaccine from its GMP-certified mRNA manufacturing facilities in Europe. BioNTech is also collaborating with Fosun Pharma to develop BNT162 in China, where the companies expect to conduct trials. The four vaccine candidates are the first candidates from BioNTechs COVID-19-focused project Lightspeed, each representing different mRNA formats and target antigens. Two of the four vaccine candidates include a nucleoside modified mRNA (modRNA), one includes a uridine containing mRNA (uRNA), and the fourth vaccine candidate utilizes self-amplifying mRNA (saRNA). Each mRNA format is combined with a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulation. The larger spike sequence is included in two of the vaccine candidates, and the smaller optimized receptor binding domain (RBD) from the spike protein is included in the other two candidates. The RBD-based candidates contain the piece of the spike that is thought to be most important for eliciting antibodies that can inactivate the virus. The dose escalation portion of the Phase 1/2 trial will include approximately 200 healthy subjects between the ages of 18 to 55 and will target a dose range of 1 g to 100 g aiming to determine the optimal dose for further studies as well as evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine. The study will also evaluate the effects of repeated immunization for three of the four vaccine candidates which utilize uRNA or modRNA. Subjects with a higher risk for a severe COVID-19 infection will be included in the second part of the study. We are pleased to have completed pre-clinical studies in Germany and to have received this important regulatory approval to initiate this first-in-human trial. The speed with which we were able to move from the start of the program to regulatory approval to initiate this first-in-human trial speaks to the high level of engagement from everyone involved, said CEO and Co-founder of BioNTech, Ugur Sahin. Pfizer and BioNTechs partnership has mobilized our collective resources with extraordinary speed in the face of this worldwide challenge, said Albert Bourla, Pfizer Chairman and CEO. Now that the work in Germany can commence, we are looking forward to and actively preparing for the potential start of this unique and robust clinical study program in the United States in the near future. Former wrestling star and Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura is body-slamming rumors hes running for president. The New York Post reports Jesse The Body Ventura, as hes known in the WWE Hall of Fame, previously hinted hed make a surprise last-minute entry in the 2020 race for the White House. Social media users began sharing unconfirmed reports claiming he was pursuing a third-party presidential bid with the Green Party. Ventura, 68, called it salacious click bait in a Twitter rant early Thursday morning. Earn your paycheck. Verify something. Anything. Lets start with: No, I havent filed to run for office, Ventura tweeted. Ventura suggested the confusion may have stemmed from earlier tweets encouraging fans and supporters to VOTE GREEN. You should always vote ethically. No exceptions. If DemoCRIPs and ReBLOODlicans arent up to your standards then why the hell are you voting them in? he wrote in a series of tweets. Youre just asking for more corruption by voting for bad candidates. Especially if you willingly vote for bad choices. Why else would you vote for evil? Do you want the country to fail? Sounds that way. We have the RIGHT to vote for the BEST candidate and that person DOESNT have to be a DemoCRIPT or ReBLOODlican. These gangs have got to go. They dont deserve your vote." He said he wont support President Donald Trump, the draft dodger with so called bone spurs, or presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden because his belief in climate change and science aligns more closely with the Green Party. When some other users suggested he might be swaying votes away from Trump or Biden, Ventura shut them down. Im not voting for Dumb or Dumber. Im voting for BETTER. Split the vote? Thats mainstream medias hook," Ventura wrote. "It translates to vote for who we tell you to because you cant think for yourself. Ive never been a lemming. Aint gonna start now. Ventura, born James George Janos, is a Vietnam War veteran who wrestled in the WWF from 1975 to 1986 before pursuing a career in acting and politics. He served as mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, from 1991 to 1995, and as governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003 under the Reform Party. He endorsed Libertarian Party presidential nominee Gary Johnson in the 2016 election. My political views are more aligned with the Green Party than any other party, so for me it makes sense. https://t.co/WwwgThfNkv Jesse Ventura (@GovJVentura) April 23, 2020 Youre just asking for more corruption by voting for bad candidates. Especially if you willingly vote for bad choices. Why else would you vote for evil? Do you want the country to fail? Sounds that way. Im assuming anyone who goes by this logic is a bot. Jesse Ventura (@GovJVentura) April 23, 2020 The coronavirus story in international news has shifted in the last few weeks; no longer are the staggering death tolls in Italy and Spain the top stories now, countries are cautiously easing lockdown measures as numbers of fatalities level off. Some industries have returned to work in Spain, Denmark has reopened schools, and small shops in Austria can open for business. New Zealand, which has only seen 14 fatalities, hopes to move from a Level 4 lockdown to a Level 3 next week, with most businesses able to start the process of reopening. On the foreign desk, we have taken readers beyond the headlines and explained how different countries have responded to the coronavirus pandemic. As governors in Georgia, Florida, and other states rushed to reopen businesses throughout the country in line with US President Donald Trumps back-to-work campaign, new figures are beginning to show the real human toll of the COVID-19 pandemic. New reports in the Economist, Financial Times and New York Times reveal that, when all deaths during the pandemic are tallied, the actual death toll caused by the coronavirus are likely at least twice as high as has been officially reported. The three media outlets came to this conclusion by studying the number of excess deaths in various regions during the pandemic. That is, rather than recording those who died in a hospital and tested positive for COVID-19, they tracked the gap between the total number of people who died from any cause in cities, regions and countries across the world and compared that data to the historical averages for the same place and time of year. This paints a more accurate picture of the bloody swathe of the disease. Local newspaper Eco di Bergamo features several pages of obituaries in its March 17, 2020 edition, in Mediglia, Italy (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) In Lombardy, Italy, an epicenter of the pandemic in Europe, it is estimated that the known death toll only accounts for 48 percent of the total number that died. Data from Spains national epidemiology center reveal that its counted dead due to the coronavirus are only 65 percent of the estimated excess deaths. In Belgium, which has the second highest number of deaths per capita in the world, only half of the casualties from the pandemic were accurately counted. In the United Kingdom, the official counts are likely only tracking 42 percent of COVID-19 deaths. In New York City, the pandemics epicenter in North America, that number is 77 percent. Similar shortfalls were found in the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Austria and Turkey. These data also reveal the extent to which the pandemic is raging through the developing world. In Jakarta, Indonesia, for example, those said to have died from the coronavirus in March were only 5 percent of the number of the number of excess burials in the country during that month. In total, there are likely at least 121,842 deaths from the coronavirus pandemic in those cities and countries, more than double what has been officially reported. If extrapolated to the rest of the world, the total number of men, women and children killed by the coronavirus would jump from just under 185,000 to about 370,000, a number that will rise as local health authorities retrospectively revise mortality rates upwards. There are also new autopsy results that show that the first death in the United States was in California on February 6, not February 29 in Washington as was previously believed. This was only 17 days after the first coronavirus case was confirmed in the US and the individual in question did not have a travel history from China or any country with a known outbreak at the time. This suggests that community transmission was already ongoing in the United States and internationally even in mid-January. Despite this grim figures, governments, corporations and trade unions in countries such as Australia (74 deaths), Brazil (2,906 deaths), Britain (18,100 deaths), Germany (5,350 deaths), India (681 deaths), Spain (21,717 deaths) and the United States (47,430 deaths) are all continuing the push to reopen their respective economies, forcing workers from isolation and back into crowded workplaces where the virus can easily transmit and spread. The Spanish government ordered millions of workers back to work last week, while implicitly acknowledging the danger of doing so by telling everyone to sanitize their clothes, phones and shoes after returning from work. Germany is currently gradually reopening schools and workplaces, which Chancellor Angela Merkel is insisting should be open in May. India has given the green light for manufacturing facilities to resume production even without social distancing guidelines. Turkey, which now has more cases than both Iran and China, never halted nonessential industries in the first place. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has at most implemented weekend curfews and a four-day lockdown beginning today, totally inadequate compared to the warnings from the Turkish Medical Association that all unnecessary work should stop with full resources to contain the pandemic. In the United States, where the coronavirus has exceeded both cancer and heart disease as the number one cause of death, President Donald Trump is allowing individual states to determine how to reopen. Several states have either announced or already begun to let restaurants and retail stores reopen, including South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Montana. The premise for these actions is that because the number of new cases is decreasing, the pandemic is becoming contained and thus it is safe to resume normal life. They ignore the warnings from the World Health Organization that, Early evidence suggests most of the worlds population remains susceptible. That means epidemics can easily re-ignite. This is already being seen in China, Japan and Singapore, which have all had a recent surge in cases. That the coronavirus can continue to spread even in countries which have implemented aggressive social distancing, testing, contact tracing and quarantine measures from the beginning of their respective outbreaks should stand as a stark warning about continued persistence, virulence and ultimately deadliness of the pandemic. A warning against a second wave of the pandemic was also issued by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield, who said, There's a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through. He continued, We're going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time. If schools and workplaces continue to open, however, the number of coronavirus cases and deaths will not spike next winter, but in the coming weeks and months. And there is every reason to believe it will be worse than what has already befallen a large section of humanity. The pandemic has already spread to every corner of the planet and has only been slowed down by the fact that more than four billion people are in some form of isolation. Sending millions back to work in countries, such as in the United States, with inadequate testing and contact tracing capabilities will cost countless lives. U.S. President Trump applauds CEO Hamm during tax reform event at Andeavor Refinery in Mandan, North Dakota in Manden, North Dakota By Chris Prentice WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The founder of Continental Resources Inc , an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, is pressing the U.S. commodity markets regulator and the exchange to probe whether market manipulation or system failure was behind this week's unprecedented plunge in U.S. crude futures. Continental's executive chairman Harold Hamm sent a letter dated Tuesday, April 21, to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission asking the regulator to probe whether "potential market manipulation, failed systems or computer programming failures" was behind Monday's price crash, which took U.S. oil futures into negative territory for the first time. U.S. crude futures for May delivery plunged below zero on Monday, with desperate traders at one point paying customers some $40 a barrel to take oil so they would not have to accept delivery on an expiring futures contract. The coronavirus pandemic has slashed fuel demand worldwide, and storage space for the unused oil is rapidly filling, especially in the United States. The unprecedented activity stunned global energy traders and prompted calls from some for further government support of the beleaguered U.S. industry. "The sanctity and trust in the oil and all commodity futures markets are at issue as the system failed miserably and an immediate investigation is requested and, we submit, is required," Hamm said in the letter in which he detailed the unusual activity. Continental has also filed a complaint with CME, Hamm said in the letter. CME, which operates the U.S. crude oil futures benchmark, called Hamm's allegations "factually inaccurate" and said "prices reflect fundamentals in the physical crude oil market driven by the unprecedented global impacts of the coronavirus, including decreased demand for crude, global oversupply, and high levels of U.S. storage utilization." A CFTC spokesman declined to comment on any investigation, but told Reuters: "We continue to look at these developments closely." Story continues The agency's chairman Heath Tarbert on Tuesday said the volatility in oil prices is due to fundamental supply and demand issues, not a financial markets issue. Continental Resources, which Hamm founded in 1967, is highly exposed to the oil market rout because the North Dakota shale producer had not hedged its production heading into this year's historic rout, Reuters reported last month. Prior to Monday's unprecedented trading, crude oil prices had already plunged more than 70% this year, hit by a surprise price war between Saudi Arabia and Russia as well as the slowdown in demand due to the coronavirus outbreak. The letter, which was first reported by The Oklahoman, is believed to be the first request to the CFTC to probe Monday's trade. Hamm, who last year stepped down as Continental's Chief Executive, was an informal campaign advisor to Trump in 2016 and was once considered by Trump as a candidate for U.S. Energy Secretary. (Reporting by Chris Prentice in Washington; Additional reporting by Liz Hampton in Denver and Jennifer Hiller in Houston; Editing by David Gregorio) A consultant who died after contracting Covid-19 has been described as a very special human being and a real NHS hero. Medhat Atalla, who moved to Britain from Egypt about 20 years ago, died following treatment for the coronavirus at Doncaster Royal Infirmary (DRI), where he worked as a consultant geriatrician, the hospital said on Thursday. In a statement, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals medical director Tim Noble and chief executive Richard Parker said: It is with immense sadness that we inform you that our colleague, Dr Medhat Atalla, has passed away following treatment for Covid-19 at Doncaster Royal Infirmary. A hugely popular and respected colleague, Dr Atalla was a very special human being who practised medicine across three continents throughout his career, affecting the lives of so many in such a positive way. He was a truly gentle gentleman and he will be hugely missed by us all. The trust said Dr Atalla joined the hospital trust in 2014 and was a consultant geriatrician on DRIs Gresley Unit. Dr Atalla's colleagues said he cared for elderly people on three continents, including across the North of England. We were fortunate to have worked with him for many years prior to this, since his arrival in the United Kingdom in the early 2000s, where he cared for many elderly patients in hospitals throughout the North of England," the statement said. We would also like to take a moment to thank colleagues who cared for Medhat during his illness, and who did all they could to care for and support him as he bravely battled Covid-19. As a trust, we share our deepest sympathies with Dr Atallas brother and sister, and loved ones in Egypt, and we ask that the media respect their wishes during this extremely challenging time. Tributes poured in for Dr Atalla on social media. 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 One member of staff said on the trusts Facebook page: RIP you wonderful man. Your ward rounds were absolute gold, so much time spent listening to patients & giving them a reassuring squeeze when so many of us felt too rushed for time. You made them smile so much & your empathy did not go unnoticed. An enormous loss to geriatrics. Another said: God bless him, he was a real NHS hero. I for one will never forget him. My heartfelt sympathy and condolences to his family and colleagues. I know everyone will be devastated. Describing the coronavirus-induced recession as "unparalleled", Fitch Ratings has massively slashed its global growth forecast, saying the world economy is set to contract by a hefty 3.9 per cent in 2020. The sharp downward revision is driven by a massive decline in Asian economies, led by China and India which are slated to post sub-1 per cent growth this year. Several major economies have extended lockdowns of eight-nine weeks. This contrasts to the previous assumption of around five weeks. An extra month of lockdown will reduce the annual flow of income by around 200 basis points, Fitch said. "The world GDP is now expected to fall by 3.9 percent in 2020, a recession of unprecedented depth in the post-war period," Fitch Chief Economist Brian Coulton said in a note. "This is twice as large as the decline anticipated in our early April forecast and would be twice as severe as the 2009 recession," he added. The report also sharply cut the forecasts for emerging markets (EMs) primarily because of the sub-1 per cent growth expected in the Asian growth engines of China and India. The problem of falling commodity prices, capital outflows and more limited policy flexibility are only exacerbating the troubles, it added. While Mexico, Brazil, Russia, South Africa and Turkey have all seen big GDP forecast adjustments, China and India are now expected to see sub-1 per cent growth. "We expect an outright contraction in EM GDP in 2020, a development unprecedented since the 1980s. We expect supply responses and a relaxation of lockdowns to help oil prices to recover in 2H from the current lows, which are being exacerbated by storage capacity issues in the US and elsewhere," it said. The decline in global GDP equates to a USD 2.8 trillion fall in global income levels relative to 2019 and a loss of USD 4.5 trillion relative to Fitch's pre-virus expectations of 2020 global GDP. It expects the Eurozone GDP to decline by 7 per cent, US by 5.6 per cent, and British GDP by 6.3 per cent in 2020. The biggest downward revisions are in the Eurozone economies, where the measures to halt the spread of the pandemic have already taken a very heavy toll in Q1. "We have cut Italy's growth to -8 percent following official indications that GDP already fell 5 percent in 1Q and after a recent extension of the lockdown there," it added. Italy has been on the longest lockdown as it has suffered the worst toll with over to 25,000 deaths so far. Official estimates also point to France and Spain experiencing near 5 per cent declines in GDP in Q1, with the Spanish outlook hit particularly hard by the collapse in tourism, said Coulton. Even allowing for a slightly less negative outlook for Germany, where the headroom for policy easing is greater and the benefits of a recovery in China will be felt more directly, the Eurozone GDP is expected to shrink by 7 per cent, Coulton added. "No country or region has been spared from the devastating economic impact of the global pandemic. We now anticipate that GDP in both the US and the Britain where lockdowns started a little later than in the Eurozone, will plunge by over 10 percent (not annualised) in 2Q, compared to forecasts of around 7 percent in our early April update. This will result in annual GDP declines of around 6 percent, despite aggressive macro policy easing," the report warned. "Macro policy responses have been unprecedented in scale and scope and will serve to cushion the near-term shock. But with job losses occurring on an extreme scale and intense pressures on small businesses, the path back to normality after the crisis subsides is likely to be slow. "Our forecasts now show US and Eurozone growth remaining below pre-virus 4Q of 19 levels through the whole of 2021," added Coulton. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A bus drove through the gates of Park Inn by Radisson Amritsar with a convoy of cars. The guests stepped out of the bus and formed a single file. A strict distance between them revealed the unusual circumstances of their arrival. Not in the company of family and friends, the 29 individuals were instead led by a team of doctors and police personnel. The doorman was absent and so were the bellboys. An unmanned elevator was reserved for the guests a mix of Indian and international tourists who were believed to be at a medium-to-high risk of being infected. The elevator opened ... By Associated Press TEHRAN: The leader of Iran's Revolutionary Guard warned Thursday he ordered his forces to potentially target the US Navy after President Donald Trump's tweet a day earlier threatening to sink Iranian vessels. Iran separately summoned the Swiss ambassador, who looks out for America's interests in the country, to complain about Trump's threat coming amid months of escalating attacks between the two countries. While the coronavirus pandemic temporarily paused those tensions, Iran has since begun pushing back against the Trump administration's maximum pressure policy both militarily and diplomatically. The Guard also launched Iran's first military satellite Wednesday, unveiling a previously secret space program. Speaking to state television Thursday, Guard Gen. Hossein Salami warned his forces "will answer any action by a decisive, effective and quick counteraction." "We have ordered our naval units at sea that if any warships or military units from the naval force of America's terrorist army wants to jeopardize our commercial vessels or our combat vessels, they must target those (American) warships or naval units," Salami said. The latest dispute comes after the U.S.Navy said last week that 11 Guard naval gunboats had carried out "dangerous and harassing approaches" to American Navy and Coast Guard vessels in the Persian Gulf. The Americans said they used a variety of nonlethal means to warn off the Iranian boats, and they eventually left. Iran, meanwhile, accused the US of sparking the incident, without offering evidence. Iran has had tense encounters at sea for years with the U.S. Navy in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 per cent of all oil passes. The U.S. has patrolled the area to protect global shipping for decades, something Iran describes as akin to it patrolling the Gulf of Mexico. Trump on Wednesday, facing a collapsing global energy market and the pandemic at home amid his re-election campaign, tweeted out a warning to Iran that he ordered the Navy to "shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea." "We don't want their gunboats surrounding our boats, and traveling around our boats and having a good time," Trump told reporters Wednesday evening at the White House. "We're not going to stand for it...They'll shoot them out of the water." The International Crisis Group, noting the tensions, urged both countries to create a deconfliction hotline to avoid a possible military confrontation. "In the absence of a major diplomatic breakthrough, an indirect military communications channel could go some way toward ensuring, at least, that a single incident will not spark a wider conflagration," it said in a report Thursday. Iran in the past has rejected idea of a hotline. Meanwhile, the Guard surprised analysts by sending a satellite into space on Wednesday from a previously unused launch pad and with a new system. While Iran stresses its program is peaceful, Western nations fear such a program will help Iran build intercontinental ballistic missiles. State television on Thursday said Iran received signals from the satellite, without elaborating. While American officials haven't acknowledged the satellite reached orbit, open-source data from the US military suggested the "Noor," or "Light" satellite now orbited the Earth. Uzi Rubin, fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security and the founder of Israel's missile defense program, said the launch showed the Guard's "further gain in wresting for power and in building its own state within a state." "The very act of launching a military satellite in the midst of the coronavirus crisis that is affecting Iran too is a statement of self confidence and perseverance by the ayatollahs to the West but mainly to its own population," Rubin said. Turkish plane draws national flag in sky to celebrate April 23 National Sovereignty and Children's Day is a public holiday commemorating the foundation of the Turkish Grand National Assembly on April 23, 1920. A Turkish plane followed a route marking a crescent and sky, the national flag of Turkey, above Anatolia on Thursday. A specially arranged Turkish Airlines flight, TK1920, followed the route, as the country celebrated the National Sovereignty and Childrens Day. PUBLIC CELEBRATIONS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC "As Turkey celebrates April 23rd National Sovereignty and Children's Day, watch TurkishAirlines creating the worlds largest national flag in the sky, " Turkish Airlines said on Twitter. Turkish plane draws national flag in sky to celebrate April 23 WATCH The celebrations focus on children because Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, emphasized that children are the nation's future. The assembly met for the first time in 1920 in Ankara, then the countrys future capital, during the War of Independence to lay the foundations for an independent, secular, and modern republic. CDC to Hire 650 Health Workers to Help States Trace, Contain CCP Virus The agency is providing $45 million to expand its contact tracing efforts as the United States begins to reopen The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is providing $45 million to hire an additional 650 health workers across the United States to help states contract tracing efforts as the nation prepares to reopen and kick start the economy after the first wave of the CCP virus. CDC director Robert Redfield said that the agencys new strategy aims for early diagnosis to effectively contain the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. We are moving into a new phase in the battle against #COVID19 where we are trying to prevent any new outbreaks from occurring. We will do this with early diagnosis, isolation, and contact tracing, Redfield said in an announcement. As we open up, we need to we reset our sights on what the primary strategy is to control this virus, and thats got to be containment, the CDC director told NPR in an interview late Tuesday. And that means we need to have the diagnosis and testing capacity to make early diagnosis. And we need a public health workforce so that when that diagnosis occurs, they rapidly can isolate and contact trace around it and contain this virus. Contact tracing involves trying to identify within a certain time period every individual that has been exposed to a COVID-19 positive patient. The contacts would then be asked to self-isolate and monitor for symptoms for a period of time, and if they are symptomatic, they are tested for COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus. The additional health workersto include nurses, microbiologists, lab technicians, epidemiologists, and otherswill supplement the more than 600 CDC workers already in place and tracing contacts. The CDC will assign a regional director for each of 10 regions it has in mind, reported NPR. The agencys provision of $45 million will enable the CDC Foundation to cover the 650 new positions at state health departments across the country for up to a year. Redfield told the news outlet that community protection teams, each comprising about four to six people, will help nine states that have faced a relatively lower number of CCP virus infections to remain that way. The CDC also has teams in four other states to carry out various prevention measures such as making early warning systems to notify of outbreaks in vulnerable areas such as nursing homes, he said. The agency has reached out to other organizations including the Census Bureau, the Peace Corps, and AmeriCorps to see whether they can provide some of the thousands of workers that will be needed to enhance the public health workforce in each state, NPR reported. The United States has more than 839,000 cases of the CCP virus, and has confirmed more than 183,000 deaths. Separately, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a new contact tracing program on Wednesday for New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Cuomo said that former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg will help coordinate the effort. Contact tracing was performed extensively in the United States in the early days of the CCP virus but given less priority as the number of cases in the country rose significantly, indicating community spread, thus making contact-tracing efforts logistically more difficult. The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security on April 10 published a national plan to ensure comprehensive contact tracing across the country. In the document (pdf), the Center stated that a new pandemic management plan is needed to avoid a spike in cases of the virus as people return to work. A national effort to scale up and expand local, state, and territorial case investigation and management is necessary before US communities can begin to return to normal,' the report states. If we can find nearly every case, and trace the contacts of each case, it will be possible, in time, to relax the bluntest approaches: the extreme social distancing measures, such as stay at home orders, and realize the commensurate social and economic benefits. The report seeks to help public health officials and decision-makers at all levels of government to help the country ease social distancing and movement restriction mandates while greatly reduce transmission of the CCP virus, even before a vaccine is widely available. Last week, the Atomic Bar & Lounge in downtown Birmingham got a welcome glimpse of normalcy. Tales of the Cocktail, Americas largest and longest running cocktail conference, named Atomic to the list of regional semifinalists for its 14th annual Spirited Awards. This marks the cocktail bars third consecutive regional nomination to the awards, which recognize the craft of the best bars, bartenders, and industry luminaries around the world. For the last two years, the Atomic has been a regional nominee for Best American High Volume Cocktail Bar. The category recognizes a bar that excels in the art of crafting cocktails for a minimum capacity of 75 people -- including a diverse menu, quick and efficient bar staff and reliable service. This year, the Atomic is a regional nominee for Best American Cocktail Bar, an award honoring a bar for setting the highest standards in the industry and influencing cocktail trends with its menu, staff, and atmosphere. For Feizal Valli, who opened the cocktail bar in 2017 with his wife Rachael Roberts, its a big deal for the Atomic -- famous for The Legendary Sex Panther (its signature riff on the classic Old Fashioned) -- to be recognized for shaping the landscape of American cocktail culture. This years Best American Cocktail Bar category includes Julep in Houston, Best Intentions, Billy Sunday and Sparrow in Chicago, and -- from Americas cocktail heartland in New Orleans -- Beachbum Berrys Latitude 29. Its not as nichey as high volume, Valli said of the nomination. Its sort of a general cocktail bar. Its a bigger deal. Its like moving up in an acting category. For the Atomic, the road to the regional nomination for best American Cocktail Bar has been eventful. While Tales of the Cocktail has yet to name Atomic as a top-four nominee to the Spirited Awards, the bar has had a consistent presence in New Orleans during the conference since 2018. Valli was a longtime resident of New Orleans before coming to Birmingham after Hurricane Katrina forced him out. Two years ago, Valli and Roberts built a miniature recreation of the Atomic Lounge at the Ritz Carlton on Canal Street for a pop-up collaboration with Marriott International. In 2019, they went to the conference as guests of Red Bull. In 2018, Feizal Vali and Rachel Roberts built a pop-up recreation of The Atomic at the Ritz-Carlton on New Orleans' Canal Street during Tales of the Cocktail (Courtesy, Atomic Bar & Lounge) In an Instagram Live video on April 14, the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation President Caroline Rosen and Spirited Awards Overall Chair Charlotte Voisey said the organizations team hoped to stick to original timeline of announcing the top 10 Spirits Awards finalists for each category in May, the top four nominees in June, and the winners on July 25. The hope was to hold the Spirited Awards, or a semblance of them, on the weekend of Tales of the cocktail. It was an ambitious timeline. The James Beard Foundation, which honors the best of the food and beverage industry in America, postponed the announcement for the next round of semifinalists for its annual awards. For the third year in a row, the Atomic received a nomination for outstanding bar program, joining a list of three Alabama chefs and two restaurants. On Monday, Tales of the Cocktail announced that it would no longer hold a week-long conference in keeping with guidance from Mayor LaToya Cantrell to postpone or cancel all festivals in New Orleans. Though it will be in a different form this year, we are formulating a plan to ensure we are able to honor a nearly two decades long tradition in ways that are safe and feasible, Tales of the Cocktail said in a statement. So far, the organization has planned to launch a weekly webinar series. Valli and Roberts decided to close the Atomics doors on March 14. The following Monday, the couple called the bars staff to inform them of the news. They made the public announcement on March 16, the same day the Jefferson County Health Department issued an order prohibiting on premise consumption at restaurants and bars. They have been able to keep their 10-person staff during the closure by paying them out of pocket. Rachael and I have been saving up our money for rainy days like this. Turns out, this has been kind of more of a rainier day than we expected, said Valli. So, weve been paying the staff out of our savings. This is the sixth week the Atomic has had a staff, but no business. Were lucky that were a little bit more of a lean operation, said Valli. So, all day, we have 10 employees. Were able to pay them week to week. Valli says he and Roberts applied for the SBAs Paycheck Protection Program, the $350 million loan program as part of the CARES stimulus package. Meant for businesses with 500 or fewer employees, the Small Business Association will forgive business loans through the program if all employees are kept on the payroll for eight weeks and the money is used for payroll, rent, mortgage interest, or utilities. Last week, the program announced it was out of money. In a Friday press release, the SBA has reported that 27,922 loans in Alabama have been authorized resulting in the approval of more than $4.8 Billion for small businesses in the State. Valli said the plan is to keep paying the Atomics staff, regardless of the status of the program or if they qualify. While the ABC issued an emergency order in March temporarily allowing bars to sell bottles of liquor curbside, the Atomic hasnt pursued that model. The staff at the Atomic Bar & Lounge (Courtesy: The Atomic Bar & Lounge) To me, the bar has always been more than just about the spirits. Not to sound silly, but its more about the spirit of the bar, said Valli. The bubbles rain from the ceiling. The music. The cocktails. The costumes. The vibe of the bar. Valli noted other bars and restaurants who started selling liquor, beer and cocktail to-go kits curbside last month, but have now stopped. I dont think they are moving the needle enough to make sense, he said. For Valli, doing curbside sales of alcohol defeats the purpose of the health orders that have been issued statewide. Were meant to be locked in our houses. To isolate. I think every interaction is risky, said Valli. I think people should be acknowledging the idea that it is pretty serious. I think we need to put a pause on this thing. I think we all need to become better home bartenders. Valli and Roberts have added a link on the Atomics website with ways to support the bar and its staff, including a donation fund, gift cards, and T-shirts. Valli says theyve received a pretty robust response from the bars patrons. Were lucky enough to have built up a pretty solid clientele. Theyve definitely been very generous. I think that helps. The industry is not done The significance of the ABC Boards emergency order isnt lost on Valli. For him, its one of the most eye-opening decisions amid this public health crisis. They way this country has pivoted. The way the ABC has pivoted. I think it exposes a lot of things, said Valli. For Valli, the emergency order proves that rigid laws can be adapted to help bars, restaurants, and taprooms in the state survive. We can do this. We can sell curbside cocktails and nothing has unraveled, said Valli. "It wont happen, but I think the ABC is the biggest thing that can change this (situation), said Valli. And it could help the industry recover. Valli isnt alone in this sentiment. And as Alabamas bar industry looks for help, its eyes are on state lawmakers and the ABC. In March, as the ABC drafted its emergency order, Brandon Owens of the Alabama Beverage Licensees Association and Bobby Greenwalt of B&B Bartending asked for bars to be included in the memo. Weeks later, the Alabama Brewers Guild called on state lawmakers to make several changes to laws that would help brewers, distilleries and local restaurants stave off financial ruin amid mandatory closings, including removing restrictions to the amount of alcohol businesses could sell curbside. On March 24, the ABC Board passed an amendment to the emergency curbside sales authorization, no longer limiting businesses to 750 ml of spirits or one six-pack. The new amendment allowed for the sale of up to one liter of hard spirits, 1500 ml of wine, or up to 288 ounces of beer. Craft breweries around the state have also pushed for deliveries, but the ABC Board says overturning state law prohibiting the delivery or shipment of alcohol to a private residence requires legislative action. While Valli admits to not being a grassroots organizer himself, he said current events are even more of a signal that its time for the state to leave the retail liquor business, something that some lawmakers have attempted multiple times in the last decade. As for the Spirited Awards nominations, which include familiar faces and friends from around the country, Valli feels a sense of solidarity with his peers in the bar industry who are trying to pick themselves up and plan their next steps. In Birmingham, said Valli, this time has been especially frustrating to those who have been working to build momentum and put the citys bar and restaurant scene on the national map. Atomics nomination was a reminder that their hard work wasnt for naught. Recognition from leading industry organizations like Tales of the Cocktail are a sign that people are still looking forward to when bars and restaurants can reopen. Its a sign of hope, said Valli. The industry hasnt gone away. People still know that Birmingham is here. Apple users wondering if theyve caught COVID-19 now can ask digital assistant Siri for advice. The company on Saturday rolled out a self-screening feature that allows users to ask, Hey Siri, do I have the coronavirus? Siri then takes them through a questionnaire prepared by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and U.S. Public Health Service to determine if theyre exhibiting symptoms of the disease, such as fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath or if theyve had contact with someone with the virus. If users indicate their symptoms arent extremely life-threatening, Siri instructs them to stay at home and avoid contact with other people, wash their hands frequently and thoroughly, and maintain social distancing that is, a separation of six feet between people. If the symptoms persist, theyre advised to contact a physician. For extreme and life-threatening cases, Siri recommends a call to 911. The app doesnt delve into the realm of diagnoses. There are a number of symptoms that could be COVID-19 or something else, explained Seth Martin, MD, MHS, an associate professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore. The only way to make a real diagnosis is to have testing performed to determine if those symptoms are actually due to COVID-19, he told TechNewsWorld. An app cant do that. In addition to the questionnaire and advice, Siri provides App Store links to telehealth applications that could include virtual consultations with medical professionals. Team CDC and Microsoft Also on Saturday, the CDC announced its Coronavirus Self-Checker, which is powered by Microsofts Healthcare Bot service. The chatbot is designed to screen Americans unsure about seeking medical care for COVID-19. In addition to asking questions based on CDC guidelines, the bot provides links to information and local health department contacts. However, it does not have information about coronavirus testing sites or treatment recommendations, other than to stay at home and take care of yourself and in severe cases, dial 911. This is most useful for the worried well,' said Catherine Troisi, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the UTHealth School of Public Health in Houston. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Those are people who are not sick but concerned that they may be, she told TechNewsWorld. It lets them if theyre not running a fever, dont have a dry cough, no shortness of breath release some of their anxiety. The Healthcare Bot service is designed to address some of the critical needs of frontline responders to the COVID-19 pandemic, noted Hadas Bitran, group manager at Microsoft Healthcare Israel, and Jean Gabarra, general manager at Microsofts Health AI, in an online post. In particular, the need to screen patients with any number of cold or flu-like symptoms to determine who has high enough risk factors to need access to limited medical resources and which people may more safely care for themselves at home is a bottleneck that threatens to overwhelm health systems coping with the crisis, they wrote. Microsofts Healthcare Bot service uses artificial intelligence to screen patients and free up medical personnel to provide critical care to those who need it, Bitran and Gabarra explained. The bot, which runs in Microsofts Azure public cloud, can be customized for the needs of individual organizations. In addition to the CDC, healthcare providers using the service include Providence, which serves seven Western states; Novant Health, serving four states in the Southeast; and Virginia Mason Health System, which serves the pacific Northwest. Watch Your Privacy Symptom checkers can benefit both the medical system and consumers, noted Michael Arrigo, a HIPAA expert witness with No World Borders. The tools can gather valuable epidemiology data about an epidemic. However, data collected by a checker needs to be stripped of identifying information so it cant be traced back to individual patients, he cautioned. For consumers, the checkers can be a convenient way to obtain data for their personal symptom logs, as well as a useful diagnostic for a layperson with limited medical knowledge. Convenience and education are great benefits of these checkers, Arrigo said. While potentially beneficial, Arrigo recommended that both Apple and the CDC give consumers more information about the apps before they start using them. A D V E R T I S E M E N T The apps are well-intentioned, but they could have the unintentional consequence of disintermediating the patient from their physician, who is the best source for information, he said. Because the prevailing opinions are that symptoms can take several days to appear in an infected person, these apps are not too useful at identifying some infected contagious people and could lead to a false sense of security, Arrigo added. If the intent is to relieve a potentially overwhelmed primary care front line of defense, a big disclosure needs to go up front, stating that a consumer should check their symptoms multiple times because symptoms can take several days to appear, he said. In the interim, you could be unwittingly be exposing others during that incubation period. Data gathered by the symptom checkers represents personal health records under federal law, which are subject to regulation by the Federal Trade Commission and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, noted Arrigo. The CDC does not share any of the personal information submitted to the Coronavirus Self Checker with Microsoft, reported Nextgov, a publication that covers government and technology. Microsoft provides the bot, but the CDC owns and maintains the checking tool. Use Common Sense Some consumers are creating their own symptom checkers based on information theyre gathering online, noted Michael Cannon, director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute, a public policy think tank in Washington, D.C. Symptom trackers from authoritative sources give consumers a better alternative to the do-it-yourself approach. Done properly, they can lessen peoples fears, suggest constructive actions people can take, perform at-home triage, and relieve the strain on the health sector, Cannon told TechNewsWorld. As always, people should only take health advice from sources who know their stuff, like the infectious disease experts at major health systems or government public health agencies, he cautioned. Like Dr. Seuss said, Do a lot of spitting out the hot air, and be careful what you swallow,' Cannon added. People should also use common sense, said UTHealths Troisi. If someone in your house has been diagnosed with coronavirus and you start having symptoms, and the symptom checker says you dont need to be tested, it might be a good idea to ignore that advice. On World Book Day, April 23, two protesters gathered outside the Hamburg Public Library on Third Street and protested that the library should open to patrons. Theyre speaking out about the library being closed, which is their constitutional right, said borough Police Chief Anthony M. Kuklinski. Kuklinski said they were gathered peaceably so police presence was not warranted. Wearing masks, Livvi Betz and Kim Giambrone both Hamburg residents and regular patrons of the Hamburg Public Library stood on the steps outside the library, holding signs to demonstrate that they want the library to open. Giambrone held a white sign that read, World Book Day Open Our Library. Betzs green sign read, How can we learn without knowledge. I had the opportunity to talk briefly with the protesters, and listen to their concerns, said Hamburg Mayor George Holmes. There are many people like them in the community who are worried that government mitigation efforts have eroded our basic freedoms. On the other hand, their protest indicates to me that our freedoms are still intact when citizens can exercise their rights; in this case, freedom of expression. Peaceful protests like theirs are no cause for concern, added Holmes. Instead it should guide everyone in thinking about how their action (or inaction) affects others. Its actually a refreshing thing to see here in Hamburg. In response, Hamburg Public Library Director Dan LaRue said, Its really not in our hands whether or not to open. Not worried about their presence outside the library, he said, Theyre not doing anything other than expressing their opinion that we need to open up. LaRue comes into the library a couple times each week to work on the computer and check messages. He said that the Hamburg Public Library is following the guidelines set by the Berks County Public Libraries system. Berks County libraries have been closed since early March due to the coronavirus emergency. Libraries are closed following the instructions of Governor Wolf and the Office of Commonwealth Libraries for the safety of all Pennsylvanians, said Amy C. Resh of Berks County Public Libraries in response to the protest. In a March 30 Berks-Mont Newspaper article Berks County libraries connect virtually with patrons, Emily Orischak at Berks County Public Libraries said that while library doors may be closed, the digital collection remains available to library cardholders 24/7. Library staff have also connected virtually with patrons posting storytime videos, hosting Zoom gatherings and other digital activities. Some also offer a free book pickup from a box located outside the library. Betz said the original internet was books. Now everyones depending on the internet and online services during this crisis. I personally wanted to get across that I think the library is very essential. The library is a treasure-trove of knowledge, Betz said. You can practice social distancing and still go to the library. In times of crisis, you can learn things and gain so much from books. A lot of people are using books as a form of coping. People can still purchase books from bookstores via online and curbside pickup services, But theyre not free and for some people the library is within walking distance, said Betz. She also noted that while the internet allows people to read books digitally, not all people have access to the internet or they cannot look at screens for long. Giambrone agrees with Betz and added that she prefers reading books rather than reading digitally because reading on a screen is a lot harder on her eyes. Also, she noted that people get information from television, internet or books. Which one do you trust the most right now? I would say right now, I would trust books more than the media or the internet on many topics. The information circulating around on the internet about COVID-19, I would want to fact check that with books at the library, Giambrone said. Its World Book Day and our libraries are closed, she added. We pay for the library with our taxes and it is our library and it should never be closed. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Devina Heriyanto (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 08:39 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3a99fe 1 Books books,reading,Indonesian-writer,Laksmi-Pamuntjak,Tiffany-Tsao,Norman-Erikson-Pasaribu,Intan-Paramaditha,eka-kurniawan,World-Book-Day,hari-buku-sedunia Free In times when you literally cannot go anywhere beyond the confines of your house, reading has become a means of escapism for many people. Speaking of reading, we will soon celebrate the annual World Book Day on April 23, which aims "to promote the enjoyment of books and reading". According to UNESCO on its official website, the date was chosen during its General Conference, held in Paris in 1995 to pay tribute to several prominent authors who died on that date -- William Shakespeare, Miguel Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, to name a few. While some Indonesian authors such as Pramoedya Ananta Toer and YB Mangunwijaya are relatively well known by global readers, many works by contemporary writers are just beginning to gain traction as they have just been translated in recent years. Here are several books by Indonesian authors that have been translated into English, for those who wish to enrich their reading palette. Read also: From Christie to Chandler and beyond five detective novels to investigate during lockdown 1. Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash Written by Eka Kurniawan, translated by Annie Tucker Eka Kurniawan, of Beauty is a Wound fame, tackles the world of street fighting and petty criminals in this book. The story puts Ajo Kawir in the spotlight, along with his impotent genitals and his hopeless romance with female fighter Iteung. Following his break-up with Iteung, Ajo Kawir becomes a fearless fighter with nothing to lose. The book is written in short, fast-paced chapters with poetic and witty lines that are characteristic of Eka Kurniawan. Through the story of Ajo Kawir, Eka presents hard-hitting jabs on the Indonesian government and society. Available on : Amazon 2. The Original Dream Written by Nukila Amal, translated by Linda Owens Originally published in Indonesian as Cala Ibi in 2003, the novel gained widespread attention after it was shortlisted for the Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa Nominee that year. The book might put off some readers at first due to its nontraditional plot, which tells a story within a story. However, the lyrical writing and vivid imagery lend the book its strongest appeal. The book tells the story of Maya/Maia and a dragon named Cala Ibi as they venture into the world of dreams, inviting the reader into a magical realism story. Available on: Amazon 3. The Adventures of Na Willa Written by Reda Gaudiamo, illustrated by Cecillia Hidayat, translated by Ikhda Ayuning Maharsi Degoul and Kate Wakeling Despite being marketed as a children's book, Na Willa also makes an amusing yet nostalgic read for all ages. The book is told in short stories, as if it is written by Willa herself, portraying the day-to-day adventures of a child growing up in a suburb of Surabaya, East Java. Curious and strong-headed, Willa makes a perfect companion for both children and adults. Available on : Emma Press, Book Depository, Amazon and Post Santa (Indonesian version) 4. Paper Boats Written by Dee Lestari, translated by Tiffany Tsao Published in 2009, Perahu Kertas was adapted into a two-part movie in 2012 starring Maudy Ayunda, Adipati Dolken and Reza Rahadian. The story centers on a quirky girl named Kugy as she begins her university life in Bandung, where she meets Keenan, an aspiring painter. The book follows Kugy and Keenan's friendship as it takes a romantic turn, complicated by the presence of Remi and Luhde, as well as the diverging paths in their adult life. Available on : Periplus, Amazon 5. The Birdwoman's Palate Written by Laksmi Pamuntjak, translated by Tiffany Tsao What better way to learn about Indonesia than reading a book about food from across the archipelago? Originally published in Indonesian as Aruna dan Lidahnya, the book was shortlisted for the 2015 Khatulistiwa Literary Award. In 2018, a movie adaptation starring Dian Sastrowardoyo and Nicholas Saputra brought the book to popular attention. The book follows the story of Aruna, a reporter, as she travels the country for an investigative report. In every local cuisine in the cities that she visits, Aruna discovers so much more than just food. Available on : Periplus, Amazon, Book Depository 6. Sergius Seeks Bacchus Written by Norman Erikson Pasaribu, translated by Tiffany Tsao The poetry book was the first winner of Jakarta Arts Council's Poetry Competition in 2015, and yet, this is not the most special thing about the collection. Consisting of 33 poems, the book tells the experience of being a minority in Indonesia, in terms of both sexuality and religion. The collection shows the range of Norman's references, from mythology to urban, pop-culture. Consider this poem titled "On a Pair of Young Men in the Underground Parking Garage at fX Sudirman Mall" for instance. The English translation of the book received the PEN Translates Award from the English PEN in London. Available on : Giramondo, Tilted Axis Press 7. The Wandering Written by Intan Paramaditha, translated by Stephen J. Epstein In a Faustian story, the protagonist makes a pact with the devil: a pair of red shoes that can take her wherever she wants to go, in exchange for the feeling of belonging and the safety of a home. The novel takes the readers on a journey across the globe, from Jakarta to New York. The novel's original title Gentayangan represents the state of constantly being in-between, as in the book, the journey is more important than the destination. The Wandering is not just another travelogue, as it allows the readers to make their own story, ala the classic Choose Your Own Adventure series. Available on : Book Depository, Amazon 8. There is No New York Today Written by Aan Mansyur, translated by John McGlynn The poetry anthology is launched near the premiere of hit-movie Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? 2 (What's up with love? 2), as some poems of the book were used in the movie. The 80-page book also features photographs of the streets of New York, presented as if the pictures were taken by the movie's main character Rangga -- who lives in the Big Apple before going back to Indonesia. Available at : Gramedia 9. Eyewitness Written by Seno Gumira Ajidarma, translated by Jan Lingard and John H. McGlynn A journalist cum novelist, Seno Gumira presents history and fiction with a clarity that is more effective than dry, and a somewhat murky story on what actually happened in Timor Leste (formerly Indonesia's province of East Timor). The short stories focus on individuals that become victims of Indonesia's occupation in Timor Leste, fleshing out the human costs that are often shadowed by the big, nationalistic lens in politics. (kes) Available at : Amazon The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. HALIFAX - New details are emerging about the chaos that ensued as police in rural Nova Scotia tried to capture a killer disguised as an RCMP officer and first responders tried to help a rapidly growing list of victims. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. RCMP investigators search for evidence at the location where Const. Heidi Stevenson was killed along the highway in Shubenacadie, N.S. on Thursday, April 23, 2020. Police say the man who went on a murderous rampage through five Nova Scotia communities was likely using unlicensed firearms, and investigators are trying find out how he obtained illegal weapons. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan HALIFAX - New details are emerging about the chaos that ensued as police in rural Nova Scotia tried to capture a killer disguised as an RCMP officer and first responders tried to help a rapidly growing list of victims. The search for the suspect stretched from late Saturday night to Sunday morning, when the death toll rose to 22 as the gunman evaded police by driving in a car identical to an RCMP cruiser. CBC and Global quoted unnamed sources as saying Gabriel Wortman was involved in an altercation with his girlfriend on Saturday night. The media outlets reported that he forcibly restrained the woman, but she escaped. RCMP could not immediately be reached for comment on the reports. Audio recordings of first responders communicating on two-way radios provide a glimpse of their frantic attempts to help the first victims found Saturday at 10:40 p.m. amid burning homes in the village of Portapique, N.S. On one of the recordings, stored on the Broadcastify website, first responders dispatched to the scene along Highway 2 tell the dispatcher they can see something burning in the distance. "I'm seeing huge flames and smoke from where we are," says one, minutes before the dispatcher says police have discovered a gunshot victim on Portapique Beach Road. Within the next 20 minutes, the extent of the carnage comes into sharp focus as police call for more ambulances twice. "There possibly could be other victims down by the scene but police are slowly bringing people out," the paramedic says in a steady, even tone that speaks of his training. Then the pace of his speech quickens. A man pays his respects at a roadside memorial in Portapique, N.S. on Thursday, April 23, 2020. RCMP say at least 22 people are dead after a man who at one point wore a police uniform and drove a mock-up cruiser, went on a murder rampage in Portapique and several other Nova Scotia communities. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan "There's a person down there with a gun," he says. "They're still looking for him. The patient we have got shot by him. He was just down there observing the fire, checking out the fire. So there could be other patients around the fire that could be gone already, but we're not sure." He indicates there is confusion in the darkness as police search for the killer. "It's very vague what's going on down there, but there is for sure multiple patients down there," he says. By 11:20 p.m., the first responders are still unsure of what is going on. "Do we know if they've caught the assailant?" one asks over the radio. The dispatcher responds: "No not for sure ... They're bringing victims out to that intersection from the actual scene. But no, they don't know if they've caught him. I don't know." It's unclear exactly how many people were killed along Portapique Beach Road, which includes many seasonal and permanent homes along the picturesque north shore of Cobequid Bay. Police confirmed Wednesday that the suspect managed to escape from a perimeter they had set up around the rural area, but they didn't realize he was gone until some time between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Sunday when a witness revealed details about the fake police car. At 8:02 a.m., police issued an alert on Twitter saying they were looking for an active shooter in the Portapique area. Over a 12-hour period, the 51-year-old Halifax man killed 22 people some he knew, others he met randomly as he fled. His victims include an RCMP officer, two nurses, two correctional officers, a family of three, a teacher and some of his neighbours in Portapique. Heavily armed RCMP officers fatally shot him at a gas station in Enfield, N.S., about 90 kilometres south of Portapique at around 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. The motive for the slayings remains unclear. Meanwhile, Nova Scotia's police watchdog is investigating why two RCMP officers started shooting at a fire hall on Sunday morning even though the suspect is not believed to have been in the vicinity. Pat Curran, interim director of the Serious Incident Response Team, said the officers fired their weapons around 10:30 a.m. at the Onslow-Belmont Fire Hall, near Truro. The fire hall is about a half-hour drive from Portapique. 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 Onslow Belmont Fire Brigade posted a message on Facebook saying the building was being used as refuge for evacuees from around Portapique Beach Road when it was pelted by bullets on Sunday morning. The Facebook post, which has since been deleted, says the gunfire caused considerable damage to the fire hall but no one was injured. The brigade, which declined a request for comment, confirmed on Facebook that the post was meant to clarify Sunday's events and not fuel "conspiracy theories" about the shooter. Police say the investigation into the killings is complex because there are 16 crime scenes spread over a wide stretch of northern Nova Scotia. A total of five structures were set on fire, though the exact sequence of events remains unclear. Police said the gunman acted alone during his violent rampage, but investigators said they are trying to determine whether anyone assisted him before the shooting began. With files from Holly McKenzie-Sutter and Adina Bresge This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 23, 2020. A large tornado on Wednesday ripped through the town of Onalaska and crossed multiple southeast Texas counties north of Houston, prompting a disaster declaration in Polk County. Social media photos from Onalaska show leveled buildings, overturned vehicles and debris scattered across roadways. The Texas Department of Transportation closed FM365 because of the storm. The Polk County Office of Emergency Management issued a disaster declaration, but emergency management officials by late Wednesday could not provide an estimate on the number of injuries. Officials also could not confirm whether anyone has died. One Onalaska resident, Charles Stephens, who lives on a branch of Lake Livingston, told the Houston Chronicle that a woman in his neighborhood was found dead in the water. At least two other people from his neighborhood were also injured, including one boy with a leg injury. "It's a lot of devastation," Stephens said. "I don't think anybody is going to be able to get (into the neighborhood)." Stephens said he and his wife were holed up in their bathroom with their cat when a nearby pine tree, about five stories tall, fell straight through their roof. It just missed him and his wife, he said. "It took me 45 minutes to climb through the roof to get out," Stephens said, adding he was forced to use a hatchet to get his wife out of the debris. They are both OK, he said The tornado rolled east through Jasper and Newton counties around 8 p.m., before crossing the Texas border into Louisiana. A notice from the weather service described the storm as "extremely dangerous." The full extent of the damage so far is unclear. "Flying debris may be deadly to those caught without shelter," the notice said. "Mobile homes will be destroyed. Considerable damage to homes, businesses, and vehicles is likely and complete destruction is possible." Onalaska has a population of roughly 2,900. Late Wednesday, Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy was assessing the situation from the county's emergency command center there. The Dunbar Gym in Livingston was set up as an emergency shelter. But the WHO officials hinted strongly that those factors might be contributing to the high death rates. "It is important that the decisions, the very tough decisions that have to be made, are not based on a single criteria like age," said Manfred Huber, a WHO long-term care specialist. Measuring and comparing coronavirus death rates can be difficult, since some nations are testing more suspected coronavirus cases than others are and each country is using different accounting methods as they record cases and deaths. Many countries in Europe have essentially ignored testing in nursing homes to focus their capacity on hospital patients and hospital staffers. In Italy, for instance, a recent national health service report indicated that people dying in nursing homes were overwhelmingly unlikely to have been tested for the virus. And many countries have not been carefully tracking deaths outside of hospitals. "The challenge is we don't have very good information for people in care homes," said Adelina Comas-Herrera, a researcher at the London School of Economics. Comas-Herrera and colleagues reported last week that coronavirus deaths in nursing facilities in Belgium, Canada, France, Ireland and Norway might account for half of those countries' deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. She noted that most elderly care homes were never designed to serve as acute care hospitals. Many do not even have a nurse on duty. Josiane Cohen, right, is given hand sanitiser before meeting her daughter Laetitia at the Kaysersberg nursing home in eastern France. Credit:AP A first grim glimpse of Europe's nursing home situation came on March 23, when soldiers sent to disinfect nursing homes in Madrid discovered dozens of elderly people dead in their beds. Spain's defence minister pledged that the government would be "unrelenting and forceful" in finding those responsible. As of this week, public prosecutors are investigating some 86 nursing homes throughout Spain for hundreds of elderly deaths, including 40 facilities in the region of Madrid, which has outpaced the rest of the country in death toll. Spain has not included deaths in nursing homes in its official counts, although authorities say 10 per cent to 20 per cent of residents might be infected. Loading British Health Secretary Matt Hancock on Wednesday told Parliament that nursing home residents might represent 20 per cent of all deaths in that country. That corresponds to an estimate by the non-profit National Care Forum, which says elderly and disabled people in residential and nursing homes account for 4000 of Britain's nearly 19,000 coronavirus-related deaths. But some researchers in Britain have put the number as high as 40 per cent for deaths in care homes - a staggering number, considering that such facilities house less than 1 per cent of the country's population. In Belgium, where officials have included suspected cases in their overall death count since early this month, more than half of the 6450 recorded deaths were in long-term care facilities, not hospitals. And of those nursing-home deaths, 95 per cent were "suspected" cases, meaning that patients displayed some symptoms of COVID-19 but were never tested for the disease. "We have not had enough testing capacity in the past to confirm all of them in the laboratory," said Steven van Gucht, the head of viral diseases at Belgium's public health institute, at a news conference this week. "But that does not mean that those cases are less real." Kluge and others say now is the time to pour resources into nursing homes - to provide more testing of staff and residents, to supply caregivers with proper protective gowns and visors, to give them quick training to protect themselves and residents. Some employees have complained that they have been offered little or no equipment. Many facilities are staffed by people with scant medical training or none at all. Despite the vulnerability of most residents of the facilities, Kluge said, good medical care ought to be able to prevent many deaths. "Even among very old people who are frail and live with multiple chronic conditions, many have a good chance of recovery if they are well-cared for," he said. Italian authorities have said some of the worst outbreaks at nursing homes might have been preventable, and they have launched investigations into malpractice at a series of facilities, including one of the largest in the country: the 1000-bed Pio Albergo Trivulzio in Milan. Italy's ANSA news service reported that 200 elderly residents had died at that facility. In France, one of the earliest coronavirus restrictions was an urging by President Emmanuel Macron that people stop visiting elderly relatives in assisted-living centres. But as the French government began to give daily briefings on the rising death toll and number of confirmed infections, figures from assisted-living centres and care homes were initially excluded from the tally, and only included starting April 1. The numbers are still reported irregularly, largely because it takes public health authorities longer to collate data from centres spread across the country. The plight of the elderly isolated in homes away from their families has gained increasing traction in France. Jeanne Pault, 96, lamented in a televised interview this week that she hasn't been able to eat properly, and that she was no longer able to converse with her neighbour, much less her family. "Is this a life, at age 96?" Pault said. Macron responded to her directly on Twitter. "Madame, your grief overwhelms us all," he wrote. "For you, for all our seniors in retirement homes or institutions, visits from loved ones are now authorised." The New Patriotic Party's (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate (PC) for the Tamale Central constituency, Dr. Ibrahim Imoro Anyars (Barhama Anyars), who doubles as the CEO of Nation Builders Corps (NABCO), on Thursday, April 23, 2020, paid a visit to the residents of Changli, to sympathize with them after they recently suffered some police brutalities. It will be recalled that on Saturday, April 18, 2020, some rampaging police officers in Tamale unleashed violence on scores of residents of the Changli community in Tamale in alleged retaliation for what they said was an assault on one of their colleagues, Corporal Rita Aboagye of the Tamale District Police command. Properties such as tricycles, motorcycles, television sets, windows and windscreens of taxis, private cars and a school bus which were sighted in the area were destroyed by the angry officers. Dr. Anyars together with his team made up of Tamale Central Constituency NPP Executives paid a courtesy call on traditional authorities, chief of Tamale, Naa Dakpema Fuseini Bawa, to seek his blessings and advice before embarking on the visit to the Changli community. The chief of Tamale lauded the team for taking a step to sympathize and support his victimized subjects. He, however, encouraged them to ensure the victims receive justice. Naa Dakpema sent a delegation to accompany Dr. Barhama's team to the community. The delegation was led by the chief of Changli, Naa Alhassan Abdulai Azimah. The PC and his team donated several bags of sugar to the community to support them to observe Ramadan in a few days to come. The team also donated GhC10,000 to victims and their relatives for payment of hospital bills and other essential needs. Mr. Baba Kamil, Northern Regional correspondent for TV Africa, who also sustained an injury in the head during the rampage, received some amount of money from the PC's team to support himself with medication. Dr. Barhama and the team also paid a visit to Shamsiya Sualisu who sustained gunshot wounds in the head and currently on admission at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH). As at the time of the visit, Shamsiya was responding very well to treatment. The team visited the policewoman Corporal Rita Aboagye to sympathize with her too. Addressing the media, during the visit, Dr. Barhama urged residents to remain calm and allow the legal processes to go on, as the case is currently in Court. He also advised residents to be law-abiding and not take the laws into their own hands. The chief and people of Changli expressed appreciation and appealed to Dr. Barhama's team to continue to support them through the legal processes. The state of Missouri filed a lawsuit on April 21 against the Chinese government over the coronavirus, alleging that nations officials are to blame for the global pandemic. The lawsuit, filed in federal court by the states top lawyer, alleges Chinese officials are responsible for the enormous death, suffering, and economic losses they inflicted on the world, including Missourians. Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt in a written statement said the Chinese government lied about the dangers of the virus and didnt do enough to slow its spread. The Chinese government lied to the world about the danger and contagious nature of COVID-19, silenced whistleblowers, and did little to stop the spread of the disease, he said. They must be held accountable for their actions. Its unclear whether the lawsuit will have much, if any, impact. U.S. law generally prohibits lawsuits against other countries with few exceptions, said Chimene Keitner, an international law professor at University of California, Hastings College of the Law. The legal problem is, its just not possible, said Keitner, who recently wrote a blog titled Dont Bother Suing China for Coronavirus. Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford called the lawsuit a stunt by a Republican attorney general who is up for re-election this year. The number of Missouri deaths statewide rose by 16 on April 21 to 215, according to Johns Hopkins Universitys Center for Systems Science and Engineering. The number of cases rose by 156 to 5,963. 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. China has called Missouris lawsuit against it very absurd. Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the legal action has no factual and legal basis at all and repeated Chinas defense of its response to the outbreak, which has largely subsided in the country where it was first detected. The ministry and other Chinese government departments have strenuously denied accusations that officials delayed reporting on the extent of the outbreak in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, despite reports that worries over political stability were placed above public health concerns. Medical staff who reported the outbreak were silenced under threat of legal retaliation and Wuhan went several days without reporting cases during the holding of an annual provincial government conference. This so-called lawsuit is very absurd and has no factual and legal basis at all, Geng said at a daily briefing. Since the outbreak began, China has proceeded in an open, transparent, and responsible manner and the U.S. government should dismiss such vexatious litigation, he said. The lawsuit alleges that Chinese officials are to blame for the pandemic that has sickened around 2.5 million worldwide, thrown tens of millions out of work and devastated local economies, including in China. Missouris action is likely to be largely symbolic, however, since lawsuits against other countries typically dont go anywhere because U.S. law generally prohibits them. Related: Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits COVID-19 USA China Missouri NEW YORK, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Supporting suicide prevention in our communities is more important than ever as we contend with the international COVID-19 pandemic. In a panel, hosted by American Foundation for Suicide Prevention chief medical officer Dr. Christine Moutier and University of Rochester prevention expert Dr. Anthony R. Pisani, experts from four continents will share their experiences and perspectives. WHEN: Monday, April 27, 2020 4:00 p.m. EST Questions from viewing audience PANELISTS: Dr. Yeates Conwell , University of Rochester , United States . Older adult suicide prevention, extensive experience in China . , , . Older adult suicide prevention, extensive experience in . Ms. Carrie Lumby , Illawarra Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention Collaborative, Australia . Suicide prevention community advocate / lived experience expertise. , Illawarra Shoalhaven Suicide Prevention Collaborative, . Suicide prevention community advocate / lived experience expertise. Dr. Maurizio Pompili , Sapienza University of Rome, Italy . European suicide prevention, psychiatry education, Italian experience with COVID. , Sapienza University of . European suicide prevention, psychiatry education, Italian experience with COVID. Dr. Paul Yip , University of Hong Kong , HKSAR. Suicide and SARS epidemic, youth suicide prevention and crisis intervention. Panelists will address: How can organizational and healthcare leaders keep our eyes on suicide prevention while also attending to other pressing needs and concerns? How must our strategies shift to stay relevant as the pandemic evolves and after it recedes? What policies and practices can be life-saving? Are there populations requiring special care? REGISTRATION: https://urmc.zoom.us/webinar/register/8715875526627/WN_4bGqVBP4S0K1pU8wHFa9Cg The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. AFSP creates a culture that's smart about mental health through education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Led by CEO Robert Gebbia and headquartered in New York, AFSP has local chapters in all 50 states with programs and events nationwide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. The University of Rochester Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide is dedicated to reducing mortality and morbidity from suicide and attempted suicide. Led by internationally renowned researchers Eric D. Caine, MD Ken Conner, PsyD MPH, and Yeates Conwell, MD, the Center is part of the Department of Psychiatry and the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC). URMC is home to approximately 3,000 health and mental health researchers devoted to scientific discovery for improved human health locally, in the region and across the globe. Learn at www.urmc.rochester.edu/research. Follow the URMC Department of Psychiatry at https://twitter.com/urmc_psych. SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Kelly Green, a bus driver for Edmonton Transit Service in Alberta, Canada, was fired Monday after posting a series of petitions and demands on social media for more personal protective equipment (PPE) to safeguard transit workers and passengers from the highly contagious and potentially lethal COVID-19. Before his termination, Green had sought to raise his concerns with the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) and city authorities, and urged his colleagues to stop work until PPE was provided. I dont have all the answers about how to do this, but what I am confident about is that shutdowns save lives, Green told the World Socialist Web Sitein an interview following his firing. I am not aware of any job actions in Edmonton besides my own. That included online activity you are aware of. I, myself, started a local support phone tree after repeated requests to Local 569 ATU President Steve Bradshaw went unanswered. Victimized Edmonton bus operator Kelly Green The bus drivers insistent protests proved too much for the authorities to tolerate. In an arrogant and condescending tone, ETS admonished Green in his termination letter Monday, (T)hrough your posts, you encourage City employees to engage in an illegal strike and have challenged and criticized City/ETS measures that have been reviewed and approved by City health and occupational health and safety professionals. In summary, you continue to be defiant and insubordinate respecting the directions that have been given to you despite our repeated attempts at corrective action. Your ongoing posts (to Facebook) are contrary to the Citys Code of Conduct and pose risk to the Citys reputation, and stimulating (sic) fear in others.(T)he decision has been made to terminate your employment effective immediately. Green promptly posted the full letter on his Facebook homepage and has enjoyed an overwhelming support from rank-and-file workers. The treatment of Green by ETS is symptomatic of a ruling elite that is completely indifferent to the fate of working people amid the worst pandemic in over a century. Coronavirus cases in Canada are quickly approaching 40,000 as the disease continues to spread rapidly and largely uncontrolled across the country. Over 1,950 people have died. This disastrous state of affairs is the product of the decision of governments at all levels, including the Trudeau federal government and Jason Kenneys United Conservative Party (UCP) Alberta government, to prioritize corporate profits over workers lives. Canadas governments did nothing to prepare for the pandemic. Moreover, since North America emerged as the epicenter of the global pandemic, they have focused their energies on bailing out the financial markets and capitalist investors to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars, while giving workers ration-style temporary benefits, and continuing to starve the health care system of resources. Yet it is workers, not the pro-corporate scoundrels of the political establishment, that are being harangued by the authorities for spreading fear and failing to respond to corrective action. Edmontons transit authority has suspended fare collection and ordered passengers only to enter through the rear door on buses. Safety shields have also been installed, although these do not completely limit the transmission of droplets through the air. One ETS driver was forced into isolation earlier this month after a passenger who claimed to have tested positive for COVID-19 coughed on her. Virtually nothing has been done for the drivers, known as bus operators. PPE is in short supply, and the bus depots are lacking in facilities for drivers to maintain basic hygiene while changing buses or waiting at the beginning or end of their shifts. I refused to wait in the garage while on-call, Green told the WSWS. ETS supplies hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes to operators. There may now be some masks or shields for DATS (Disabled Adult Transit Service) drivers. Green also detailed how he got involved in circulating demands for more PPE. I participated in the creation of the Transit Workers Unite! petition, and promoted it widely on social media, Green explained. Additionally, I consulted lightly on another worker petition currently circulating that calls for a requirement for passengers to wear masks. I emailed to the City of Edmonton regarding their demands. In it, I link demands from ATU International and Transit Workers Unite! as well as my repeated request for a Hazard Assessment (under the provinces occupational health and safety regulations), which was never produced. That was a demand I made. I got no action to support me from the union, except from an Operator Rep, who was subsequently ordered aside so higher Executives could 'represent' me, Green continued. Last year, the former President blocked my motion to create a workplace safety committee. They will say they support our rights and are fighting hard to protect them, protect our jobs and keep us safe. Yet, last Thursday the president told me by phone he had not read the Citys email of demands, nor the posts they were censoring. He was offended by my insistence he do so, and I persisted. He reluctantly agreed to but I never heard back from him. The union leaders are not acting in the best interests of its members. This can be said for their bungling of major privatization schemes of the last several years including a $2 billion Public Private Partnership (P3) to expand LRT (light rail transit) in Edmonton, and now private buses planned to roll out later this summer. It can be said for allowing workers to continue work in a building with historic and active exposed asbestos, or, most germane allowing the City to terminate a worker for not succumbing to totally unreasonable demands. The Work Place Health and Safety Act in Alberta says workers are jointly responsible with management to point out unsafe conditions. Under the act, workers ostensibly have an explicit right to refuse unsafe work. But as with all the social rights of the working class, this right is trampled over by employers, including public sector employers such as the ETS, with the complicity of the government and Labour Ministry. Greens protest is part of a growing upsurge of job actions by transit workers around the world in opposition to the dangerous and life-threatening working conditions they confront. In New York, at least 81 current or former transit workers have died in the pandemic, while at least 20 bus drivers in London, England have lost their lives. In Toronto, employees of the Toronto Transit Commission launched a series of work stoppages over the past week to protest unsafe working conditions. In the Toronto area, over 50 transit workers have been infected by COVID-19. (see: Walkouts by Canadian transit workers protest lack of COVID-19 protections ) The Socialist Equality Party and WSWS argue that workers must organize workplace and neighbourhood committees of action independent of, and in opposition to, the pro-capitalist union apparatuses so as to fight for a global strategy to combat the pandemic that puts human life ahead of private profit. They must raise demands such as universal coronavirus testing and free treatment for all who need it, billions in emergency funding for a health care system ravaged by decades of austerity, and full pay for workers who lose their jobs or cannot work because of the pandemic. Asked about his views on the SEPs demands, Green responded, I can agree with this, I would add protections for passengers, the public, Etc. When asked what message he has for bus drivers and transit workers around the globe reading this interview, Green said, Be safe! Know your rights and use them! Be prepared for push back, including termination, for exercising your rights or organizing. Organize amongst yourselves. Keep notes. Support the activists and organizers around you. Look at the 'best practices' being deployed where you are, can they be improved? What are others in the world doing? Prepare and organize in your communities. Support other workers. We are in the largest crisis in generations, perhaps the biggest ever. It's also a massive opportunity. We must seize it and fight! Green also raised a number of demands workers should fight for. They include: Leave with full pay for transit workers; No lay-offs; Increased death benefits and retroactive payouts for the dead; an end to privatization; and guaranteed personal incomes. During a contentious meeting Wednesday night, Sussex County freeholders defended their decision not to alert residents to the growing number of deaths at a privately-owned nursing home, where at least 39 residents have died of the coronavirus, and repeatedly faulted the state for the lack of information available. In a 2 1/2-hour meeting, residents repeatedly questioned the freeholders on why the county did not notify the public of any problems at the nursing home before the news broke about the discovery of 17 bodies in a makeshift morgue April 13 at the Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation Center, the largest nursing home in New Jersey. Residents were kept in the dark" while county officials were keeping a running tally of the daily death toll and funneling the body count up to the state," alleged John Mannion, of Montague. For over three weeks, while the death toll of long-term care patients in Sussex County due to the coronavirus was steadily climbing into the triple dozens, our county health department and county administration refused even to acknowledge that there was a problem, Mannion said. But Freeholder Herb Yardley said county officials were following the guidance of Gov. Phil Murphys administration when they decided not to make any public disclosures. After weeks of refusing to provide a list, the state on Monday named every long-term care facility where patients have died or tested positive for the coronavirus. This nursing home is controlled by the state of New Jersey. The system that has been used by many of the health departments could not deviate from what the state had planned, said Yardley, formerly the countys health officer. During the meeting, freeholders described the efforts they made behind the scenes to raise alerts with the state from notifying the New Jersey health department of the first confirmed coronavirus case at the nursing home March 29, to contacting offices of the state long-term care ombudsman and the Sussex County prosecutor. Freeholder Dawn Fantasia said a funeral home director in Sussex County, whom she did not identify, filed a complaint with the state on March 27. Im appalled at the lack of urgency and the response from the state of New Jersey. Our county health department has been relentless in reporting all of this information and intervening up to the level we could, and even beyond the level that we could," Fantasia said. The state health department did not respond to a request for comment. Zoe Heath, a Vernon resident, questioned how the all-Republican freeholder board found time amid the crisis to oppose Murphys executive order on April 7 closing state and county parks an effort that included a same-day letter sent on the same day by Fantasia on behalf of the full board. It seems the focus, publicly, was on the closure of state parks, when people were dying, Heath said. Fantasia responded that while the board wanted to advocate on behalf of residents opposed to Murphys decision, that in no way means that it took away the time, the effort, the hours put in advocating for Andover Subacute. These issues dont exist in a silo, Fantasia said. Heath asked why the freeholders, at that time, did not share with the public in real time the information they were receiving about the nursing home. Freeholder Joshua Hertzberg said that, prior to the discovery of bodies by Andover police, he and other county officials had received unsubstantiated tips about lack of personal protective equipment and patients not being treated properly, but nothing about deaths. What we had were people calling us, and messaging us, asking for help. And, in turn, we were going to the state, Hertzberg said. We didnt know what was really going on. We were asking the state to go find out. And, once we would have confirmation, then it could be public. But you cant just put anonymous reports out without confirmation," Hertzberg said. Kristy Lavin urged a more conciliatory approach. She told the freeholders that her uncle died at the nursing home April 4. Now is not the time to be blaming anyone, the state or otherwise. Now is the time to see what can be done in the future, in terns of prevention, and on a county level, what is within your power to make sure nothing like this ever happens again," Lavin said. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Rob Jennings may be reached at email@njadvancemedia.com. 3rd Marine Logistics Group Offloads and Stages Lifesaving Field Hospital in Guam US Marine Corps News 22 Apr 2020 | 1st Lt. Tori Sharpe 3rd Marine Logistics Group NAVAL BASE GUAM -- Approximately 120 Marines and Sailors assigned to 3rd Transportation Support Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group offloaded and staged an Expeditionary Medical Facility 150, in support of Commander, Task Force 75, from the vehicle cargo ship USNS Dahl onto Naval Base Guam from April 11-17, 2020. Less than 72 hours after receiving the request for support, the Marines and Sailors with 3rd TSB deployed from Okinawa, Japan to execute the Maritime Prepositioning Force offload in Guam. MPFs are used by the Department of Defense to preposition gear and equipment in strategic locations around the world in order to supply units with necessary assets at a moment's notice. "Tasked with a short notice deployment in support of a real world operations, the team came together and performed magnificently," said U.S. Marine Corps Col. Travis Gaines, commanding officer of CLR-3. "We train extensively throughout the Indo-Pacific to ensure we are always ready. When the time came, the 3rd MLG team was prepared to answer the call." The 3rd MLG Marines and Sailors had practiced offloading equipment from the Dahl in the same port less than a month and a half earlier during an MPF offload exercise from Feb. 24-29, 2020. The exercise prepared the Marines to quickly and efficiently mobilize the EMF, alongside CTF-75 Sailors, to support the overall COVID-19 response in Guam. "Once on the ground, the Navy and Marine Corps team assessed and planned what needed to get done and the team from the MLG has exceeded expectations," said Caola. "They know why they are here, understand the risk and have been moving with a purpose. It's been impressive and humbling to watch." Over the seven-day period, the 3rd TSB Marines and Sailors offloaded and staged 152 EMF-150 containers. Once constructed, the EMF-150 will provide expanded medical capabilities in support of the DoD's COVID-19 response and will enable forces to be postured to support Guam and the region if a Defense Support of Civil Authorities mission is requested. The 3rd TSB, which is based at Naval Base Guam, will comply with all quarantine requirements set forth by Guam Governor Lou Leon Guerrero and will only be travelling to conduct critical official business on military installations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A heartbroken police officer has launched a fundraiser to support the families of four cops who were killed in a horror crash after pulling over a speeding driver. The four police officers were talking to the driver of a Porsche when a truck ploughed into the group on the freeway near the Chandler Highway in Melbourne about 5.40pm on Wednesday. Three male officers - including one in his first week in the job - and a female senior constable died at the scene. The Porsche driver, who was said to have an 'extensive criminal history' and tested positive for drugs at the scene, has been arrested after he made contact with police and was urged to turn himself in. He is currently assisting the Homicide Squad with the investigation. The driver of the truck - who had a 'medical episode' - remains under police guard in hospital. Just hours after the tragedy, the community has banded together to raise money for the families of victims. More than $42,000 has been raised through the GoFundMe page. The four police officers were talking to the driver of a Porsche when a truck ploughed into the group on the freeway near the Chandler Highway in Melbourne about 5.40pm on Wednesday Just hours after the tragedy, the community has banded together to raise money for the families of victims. More than $42,000 has been raised through the GoFundMe page Senior constable Steven Pope is hoping to raising $2million - $500,000 for each family. 'The members were killed on the Eastern Freeway after a routine intercept when a truck collided with the members,' he wrote. 'This is a brutal reminder of the danger Police face in the course of their service, every minute of every shift. 'Whilst we mourn their loss, we grieve with their families and colleagues. Whilst money can never replace a lost loved one, the financial stresses can take their toll.' The money will be given to each family for them to do what they want with it, he said. A spokeswoman for GoFundMe confirmed she is in direct contact with Mr Pope and GoFundMe's Trust and Safety team is working directly with him to ensure the funds reach the beneficiaries. The first victim has been identified as constable Josh Prestney, who only graduated from the academy in November (pictured) Emergency services took the bodies of the four police officers away from the scene Josh Prestney, a 28-year-old constable who had only started in the road policing department on Tuesday, has been confirmed as one of the victims. Mr Prestney graduated from the academy in November, and was working a short stint in the unit before he was to be transferred to Kew police station in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. Another officer had reportedly been part of the team for eight years - leaving behind a devastated wife and children. Four police officers were killed when they were struck by a truck (pictured at the tragic scene) in Melbourne, marking the greatest loss of police life in a single incident in Victoria's history The police car that arrived at the scene was crushed by a refrigeration truck about 5.40pm on Wednesday 'It's just devastating. They're not a number, they're a name, they're a family member, they're a friend, they're a cousin, they're an uncle and a brother, or a husband, or a wife,' Commissioner Ashton said. 'He is from Cranbourne and we did a warrant through the night at his premises,' he said. 'What was found at that premises is still the subject of ongoing investigation.' Police believe the truck veered into the emergency lane and travelled 'some distance' before colliding with the cars - and officers - at about 100km/h. Commissioner Ashton said they expected to interview the driver of the truck later on Thursday. False information about the new coronavirus has continued to spread around the world, just like the illness itself. In answer, major technology companies have created new tools and rules to reduce misinformation and provide facts about the virus. Health officials and others have welcomed the new efforts. They have long urged tech companies to do more to prevent the spread of false information online. Andy Pattison is head of digital solutions for the World Health Organization (WHO). He told The Associated Press that some major tech companies have taken stronger action to reduce coronavirus misinformation. For the past two years, Pattison has been urging companies like Facebook to take more aggressive action against false information about vaccinations. Now, he says his team spends a lot of time identifying misleading coronavirus information online. Sometimes, Pattison contacts officials at Facebook, Google and YouTube to request that they remove such misinformation. In some cases, coronavirus misinformation has led to deadly results. Last month, Iranian media reported more than 300 people had died and 1,000 were sickened after eating methanol, a poisonous alcohol. Information about the substance being a possible cure for coronavirus had recently appeared on social media. In the American state of Arizona, a man died and his wife became seriously ill after taking chloroquine phosphate, a product that some people mistake for the anti-malaria drug chloroquine. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, says chloroquine phosphate is used to treat disease in fish kept at home. It is not meant to be taken by humans. Chloroquine has been used to treat malaria and some other conditions in humans. It is being studied as a possible treatment for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. U.S. President Donald Trump and some of his supporters have said they think chloroquine could be an effective treatment against the virus. Similar claims about chloroquine were widely publicized and shared on social media. However, health officials have warned that the drug has not been proven to be safe or effective in treating or preventing COVID-19. Twitter and Facebook decided to take steps to reduce the spread of information about such unproven treatments. Twitter removed a post by Trumps personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani that described hydroxychloroquine, which is related to chloroquine, as 100 percent effective against coronavirus. Twitter also removed a tweet from a Fox News broadcaster in which she said the drug had shown promising results. And in what may have been a first, Facebook removed information posted by Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who claimed hydroxychloroquine was working in every place to treat coronavirus. Twitter also removed a linked video. Facebook, Twitter, Google and others have increased their use of machine learning tools to identify false information. They also have put in place new restrictions on publishing misinformation. Dipayan Ghosh is co-director of the Platform Accountability Project at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He told The Associated Press that technology companies have learned that the publication of misinformation about the coronavirus can have tragic results. They dont want to be held responsible in any way for perpetuating rumors that could lead directly to death, Ghosh said. For example, the Facebook-owned private messaging service WhatsApp has put a limit on the number of people users can forward messages to. WhatsApp hopes this helps limit the spread of COVID-19 misinformation. Facebook also recently announced that it would start warning users if they have reacted to or shared false or harmful claims about COVID-19. The company says it will start sending such warning messages in the coming weeks. The users will also be directed to a website where the WHO lists and debunks misinformation about the coronavirus. In addition to efforts to reduce false information, technology companies have noted they are widely publishing facts about the virus from trusted news sources and health officials. They are also making that information easy for users to find. The WHOs Andy Pattison praises those efforts, too; more correct information can help reduce the level of misinformation, he said. People will fill the void out of fear, he added. Im Bryan Lynn. The Associated Press reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Quiz - Tech Companies Continue to Fight False Coronavirus Information Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story perpetuate v. to make something continue, especially something bad rumor n. information or a story that is passed from person to person but has not been proven true debunk v. to show evidence that something is not true void n. a large hole or empty space By Joseph Yi The results of the April 15 general election offer a double-edged sword for the victorious ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), and a silver lining for the main opposition United Future Party (UFP). By capturing a historically unprecedented, overwhelming majority of the National Assembly (180 of 300 seats), along with its continuing hold on the presidency, the DPK will be held fully accountable for South Korea's progress in the next two years. Before the next presidential election set for May 2022, the dominant issue will again be the economy, specifically the nation's economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. Thus far, the DPK's signature policies raising the minimum wage, reducing work hours to a 52-hour week, phasing out nuclear power, and (informally) boycotting Japan-related products and travel have reduced the incentive for companies to invest in Korea. Unlike its response to COVID-19, the Moon administration's approach to the economy and foreign affairs has not been guided by globally mainstream, scientific experts, but often by left-wing nationalist ideologies and the desire to correct the past, accumulated injustices of (allegedly) pro-Japanese, pro-capitalist elites. Unless President Moon pulls a German-style "Gerhard Schroder," and shifts to pragmatic, market-friendly policies, the nation may experience relatively slow economic recovery and continued stagnation, and voters will judge the ruling party accordingly. Conversely, the election results will help unify opponents of the ruling DPK and open up the opposition UFP to fresh ideas and leaders. The 2020 election wiped out the Party for People's Livelihoods (PPL, Minsaengdang), formerly the leading, third-party alternative and the home of anti-Park Geun-hye progressives. With the PPL's demise, anti-DPK voters have little choice but to rally around the major opposition UFP. Moreover, after their own crushing defeat, UFP members may become more open to new leaders and policies that would broaden voter appeal. Potential sources include former party members who bolted out over former President Park's impeachment, e.g., the Bareun Party's 2017 presidential nominee Yoo Seong-min. Among them are "new-right" groups, for example, the Truth Forum and YouTube channel Jeong Kyu-jae TV that reject anti-Japanese historiography and promote a "liberal-democratic" alliance of South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan against communist North Korea and China. Those sources can even include the 30,000 plus North Korean defectors living in South Korea, notably Thae Yong-ho, a former North Korean diplomat who won a National Assembly seat in last week's election. Like "anti-Trumpers" in the U.S., anti-Moon forces, despite their various viewpoints, share a strong goal to defeat the ruling camp in the next presidential election. This will help unify the opposition behind the UFP, and the UFP to seek candidates and policies with the broadest appeal. Last week's overwhelming victory does not guarantee similar results in 2022. Opportunities and pitfalls lie in front of both the ruling and opposition parties. On a closing note, April 15 also marked the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests in China, which started April 15, 1989. (Back then, I was an idealistic high school senior, who helped deliver a petition signed by more than a hundred classmates, supporting the protesters, to the Chinese Consulate in Los Angeles.) Many Chinese protesters were inspired by South Korea's successful June 1987 democracy movement. The April 15 elections celebrate Korean democracy and hopefully encourage all those struggling for freedom in their countries. Joseph Yi (joyichicago@yahoo.com) is an associate professor of political science at Hanyang University (Seoul). The number of deaths from coronavirus in English care homes reported during a five-day period over the Easter bank holiday is thought to be twice the total figure up to that point, prompting concerns at the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and among officials at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC). The CQC has started to record figures of confirmed and suspected coronavirus deaths in care homes, and has said that the number of people who were recorded between 11 April and 15 April as dying from the virus could double the total deaths to 2,000. This would be about twice as many as the 975 reported on Tuesday by the Office for National Statistics for deaths in England up to and including the week ending 10 April, and would mean that the total number of care-home deaths since March, when the first deaths happened, will have exceeded 6,000. The death toll demonstrates how severe the spread of the coronavirus in care homes has become. The sector has been hit by shortages of protective equipment, and a lack of testing for staff and residents, while homes have been expected to take hospital patients at short notice. In a joint statement today, the CQC and DHSC said: It is anticipated that the number of deaths in care homes relating to Covid-19 reported by providers between 11 April and 15 April could be double the number of care home deaths reported yesterday. Professor Carl Heneghan, from the University of Oxford, who has been tracking the data warned that, as the number of deaths in hospitals falls, the numbers in care homes could rise because of the delays in the infection being seeded in homes and the lag time between infections and deaths. The CQC requires care-home providers to notify them when a resident in their care dies, and homes have always been able to report the cause of death. However, in order to gather specific data about the impact of Covid-19, the CQC has changed its process to specifically catch any suspected or confirmed deaths from the disease. Officials at the regulator are thought to be extremely concerned about the impact of the virus in the care sector, which has received less support than the NHS. In a move away from its normal role of regulation, the watchdog has begin coordinating testing of social care staff for the coronavirus. Up to Tuesday this week, it had booked more than 12,400 appointments for staff to be tested. In the statement today, the DHSC and CQC said: Our thoughts are with everyone who has lost a loved one and with the care workers who are working tirelessly to provide care and support during the pandemic. Together, we are working closely with ONS to provide a more detailed and timely picture of the impact of Covid-19 on adult social care, using the data on deaths of people with suspected and confirmed Covid-19 that CQC collects from providers. It added: Issues with the completeness and consistency of this data meant that the number of Covid-19 deaths being reported did not match what CQC was hearing anecdotally from providers. In response, CQC amended its data collection form to make it easier to record and collate this data, and communicated with providers to make it clear that they should be notifying CQC of both Covid-19 and suspected Covid-19 deaths. This improved data collection began on 10 April. It added that the CQC had also found a significant rise in non-Covid-19 deaths, which has also been reported by the ONS. The statement added: This is of particular concern and we will be exploring the factors that may be driving this with local authorities, adult social-care trade associations, Public Health England and NHS England to ensure timely action is taken to safeguard people. The next analysis of data on deaths in care homes and the community will not be available until 28 April. April 23 : Nagpur based rapper, Young Zwann has created quite a buzz in the hip hop homeland with his first ever song, Jung. The song has been produced by music composer Amaal Mallik and has received a warm welcome by hip hop and rap music lovers. The song which also features Toronto-based rapper RamRiddlz, also marks Amaal Malliks first hip hop project. Talking about making a debut into the music world, Young Zwann says, Its amazing how things fell into place with Jung. Im truly grateful to have gotten a chance to team up with the amazing Amaal Mallik, and Ive not only found inspiration in him, but also a good friend! We really do share a great bond, and our views match to a great extent. When he saw my lyrics, he instantly vibed with my work and asked if wed want him to produce for Jung. And thats how it all began. Amaal Mallik and Young Zwann were brought together by Amaals childhood friend, Shiva Maheshwari whos also the executive producer for Jung. Shiva says, I and my company always look for artists, whether its a director, a musician, rapper or a writer, who have this zeal that makes them a star material. Ive recognised that in Young Zwann, and then I did my best to bring the best for him to the table. Whether it was arranging a great publicist for him, or finding great artists to team up with him. And Im glad that it all worked out for Young Zwann. He possesses great potential, and will surely go a long way Amaal Mallik, who aims to support independent artists in India is equally happy to have collaborated with Young Zwann, and is all praises for him. He says, His music is honest, its today and it's got a fiery thought. He is a hardworking guy, he came and dubbed the changes I wanted in the verses almost 50-60 times, that hunger is what I look for in an artist. Its a perfect time for younger artists to put their music out there. Independent music is the future and thats how a true artist can make his mark. he adds. The song that delivers the beautiful message of overcoming inner conflict, crossed three million views and prides on being an independent song, without a backup from a record label. District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser announced plans Thursday for an advisory group focused onwhen and how to lift covid-19 restrictions - a day before Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan plans to reveal his blueprint for reopening the economy and pulling the Washington region back toward normalcy. Bowser, a Democrat, said the "Reopen D.C. Advisory Group" will include committees focused on health disparities in the city and what reopening would mean for restaurants, food retailers and the real estate and construction industries. The group will issue recommendations in May, mindful of the potential for a new spike in covid-19 infections if restrictions are lifted too soon or too broadly. "We all know our community has made too many sacrifices to move forward too quickly or in a way that doesn't prioritize the health and safety of our residents, so we will be deliberate and strategic in our plans to reopen," Bowser said. Both Hogan, a Republican, and Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, have struck the same note of caution in the face of pressure to end stay-at-home orders and restrictions that have crippled the local economy, causing more than half a million area residents to lose their jobs since late March. Hogan is scheduled to unveil his "Roadmap to Recovery" on Friday. Northam has not announced similar plans. All three leaders are watching for sustained declines in new covid-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Those markers still appeared far away on Thursday. The tally of known infections in the District, Maryland and Virginia took another big leap to 30,138, with 87 new fatalities. Hogan, Northam and Bowser urged the Trump administration to allow federal workers to continue to do their jobs remotely, and Northam rejected a plea from Virginia hospitals to lift a ban on elective procedures. Maryland saw the largest increase in fatalities - 51 reported Thursday, for a total of 756. An additional 152 covid-19 patients were hospitalized. Virginia reported 24 new deaths, for a total of 377, and 94 more patients admitted to hospitals. The District reported another 12 fatalities for a total of 140. Among them were a 105 year-old woman and six people in their 70s and 80s. Nearly all were African American, continuing a trend where the virus has had a disproportionate impact on black residents, particularly in poorer neighborhoods. With the economic shutdown threatening to drain state and local budgets,Hogan sharply criticized Senate Majority Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Thursday over his reluctance to offer states more federal aid. On Wednesday McConnell said during a radio interview that states should instead file for bankruptcy. "The last thing we need in the middle of an economic crisis is to have states all filing bankruptcy all across America and not able to provide services to people who desperately need them," Hogan said in a live-streamed interview with Politico. As chair of the National Governors Association, Hogan has been pushing for Congress to send another $500 billion in relief to the states. The rebuke came as Labor Department data released Thursday showed that nearly 140,000 more residents in the Washington region filed jobless claims last week. More than 529,000 area residents have lost their jobs in the five weeks since the local economy essentially ground to a halt. In hopes of being able to ease restrictions,all three jurisdictions have begun to ramp up testing to better determine how much the virus has spread, while buying more protective gear and adding more hospital beds to keep health care systems from being overwhelmed. District officials said they plan to hire more contact tracers to reach out to people who have come into contact with known covid-19 patients - a crucial step in preventing further infections. The work typically involves interviewing at least 8 people per patient. Sixty five people are doing that work in the District, and officials hope to add at least 135 more contact tracers in coming weeks. They said they would need about 900 such workers in place when the city starts to reopen. "We need to know who has it and who has been exposed to it," Bowser said. Bowser also said the city's public health department will soon be able to double its testing capacity to 1,000 per day. Overall, public and private labs in the city have the ability to conduct 3,700 tests per day, but, so far, have only had requests for between 400 and 800 per day. LaQuandra Nesbitt, the director of the District's health department, said about 20 percent of those tests are coming back positive. The city wants to see that number decline to about 10 percent before ending the city's stay-at-home order, closure of nonessential businesses and ban on gatherings of 10 or more people. Local jurisdictions are continuing to beef up their efforts to respond to the crisis. The D.C. Department of Fire and Emergency Services has joined George Washington University and Reston-based Nova Labs to manufacture an adapter needed for airway pressure machines that paramedics use to treat patients with respiratory ailments, including covid-19. Increasing global demand for those adapters has made it harder to find them, a fire department spokesman said. The District is paying for the parts, and Nova Labs is building the adapters with the help of the George Washington's Department of Emergency Medicine Training Center, the spokesman said. Department officials said the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure machines that use the adapters prevent patients' breath from escaping into the air as they exhale, which, in the case of a covid-19 infection, "aerosolizes the coronavirus into the atmosphere" and exposes the emergency workers. In Maryland, the Prince George's County Police Department is launching a pilot program that will allow people who have covid-19 symptoms to text 911 for help. The texting ability is meant to help those who might be having "shortness of breath, trouble breathing and/or coughing" and might be "unable to speak over the phone." But, in a county with a substantial immigrant community, the service is currently only available in English, officials said. Montgomery County announced two more walk-through, drive-through testing sites. Health officials said testing has started at the Wheaton Community Recreation Center on Wednesday. Testing is also scheduled to start Monday at the Upcounty Regional Services Center in Germantown. Montgomery officials also said they are assembling "action teams" to help give support to roughly 200 group homes with residents who have developmental disabilities, many of whom have underlying health conditions that make them more vulnerable to the virus. The teams are made up of staff from the county's Aging and Disability Services agency, the county said. - - - The Washington Post's Rachel Chason, Dana Hedgpeth, Peter Hermann and Laura Vozzella contributed to this report. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, centuries old guidance from Islam's revered prophet and founder on how to exercise faith amid a plague has been highlighted by clerics and scholars as 1.8 billion Muslims around the world and around 3.5 million in the United States grapple with social distancing and quarantines during the holy month of Ramadan. If you hear of an outbreak or a plague in a land, do not enter it; but if the plague breaks out in a place while you are in it, do not leave that place, the Prophet Muhammad advises Muslims according to Sahih Al-Bukhari in the Hadith a record of traditions and sayings attributed to the prophet that serves as a secondary source of religious and moral law in Islam in addition to the Quran. "When we see the hadith of the prophet 1400 years ago, we see that social distancing was taught by the prophet," Imam Naeem Baig of the Dar Al-Hijra mosque in Falls Church, Virginia told ABC News in a phone interview on Wednesday. "Islam is a very practical religion, Islam appreciates science and technology, Islam encourages us to explore ... this is the beauty of Islam and the hadith," he added. Trump's threat of total immigration ban ignites outrage, confusion This concept also speaks to the first pillar, "shahada", or belief in the oneness of God and in Prophet Muhammad as a messenger. Indiana Rep. Andre Carson, one of three Muslim members of Congress, said that he has discussed this hadith with imams amid the pandemic and it is a reminder that "the Prophet, peace be upon him, was very rational, very practical, and his words "run very true today. PHOTO: People washing hands with anti-bacterial soap as a precautionary step to prevent COVID-19 before entering the mosque for prayer, March 27, 2020, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Md. Rakibul Hasan/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images, FILE) Personal hygiene and cleanliness, which have been highlighted globally in the battle against the coronavirus, are also intrinsic parts of Islam. "Wudu," which is the Islamic ritual for cleansing and purification involves washing the hands, feet, face and head before each of the five daily prayers and there are sinks outside mosques all over the world. Story continues Abdulaziz Sachedina, the chairman of Islamic Studies at George Mason University, said that "personal hygiene is held at a high level" in Islam and "religiously you are required to be alert to the environment" and wash your hands before meals, prayers and anytime you touch anything "impure." Here is how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting the remaining pillars of Islam during the holy month of Ramadan, which begins Thursday evening. Prayer or "Salat" Although a handful of Muslim leaders have insisted on allowing a small number of worshipers to pray in the mosques, many of the largest Islamic organizations in the U.S. reached a consensus that mosques should shut down and that all religious and social gatherings during the month of Ramadan should be suspended, citing guidance from medical expects, local officials and "fiqh" or Islamic jurisprudence. PHOTO: A Muslim man prepares for Tarawih prayers, a prayer usually performed during the month of Ramadan at Dar Al Hijrah Islamic Center in Falls Church, Va., May 11, 2019. (Amr Alfiky/Reuters, FILE) The Islamic Medical Association of North America, American Muslim Health Professionals, the Islamic Society of North America, and the Fiqh Council of North America issued a joint statement urging the Muslim community to temporarily suspend congregational prayers and all other gatherings. The Prophet (SAW) gave us specific guidelines to navigate threats to the community such as epidemics. Quarantine, social isolation, travel bans and restriction of select movement, visitations, congregation and socialization are among the precautionary and preventive measures specified in authentic hadith, the statement says. Fear for ones safety is a genuine Islamic reason to forgo some of the fundamental Islamic actions and rituals. A light at the end of the coronavirus pandemic tunnel? 6 signs to look for Devout Muslims pray facing the holy city of Mecca five times a day. While those daily prayers can be performed individually and away from the mosque, Friday prayers and tarawih prayers, which are performed every night of Ramadan, are generally performed in congregation. With most of the over 2,000 mosques in the U.S. virtually shut down, religious leaders and community members are scrambling to adapt by providing virtual services. But according to CAIR Director of Maryland Outreach Zainab Chaudry this is a stopgap solution." PHOTO: A US national flag is seen in front of the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Mich., Nov. 9, 2016. (Nova Safo/AFP via Getty Images, FILE) Many mosques have shifted to Zoom and Skype and webcasts to be able to connect to the community," Chaudry said, but added that this is a " challenging" transition for some mosque leaders who don't have the technological training or paid staff to assist. "There are unfortunately members who dont have access to the internet. These services would not reach everybody but they are doing the best they can to make this a Ramadan that would be uplifting to the communities," she added. In the Arab world and predominantly Muslim countries, the daily call to prayer or "adhan" is broadcast from the mosques on an outside speaker so that Muslims all around town can all hear it. But in the U.S., worshipers have to go to the mosque to hear it, so faith leaders have been working to broadcast it virtually. In Minneapolis, which is home to thousands of Muslims, the adhan will be played over a loudspeaker in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood during of the month of Ramadan, the city's Mayor Jacob Frey told ABC News' "Good Morning America" on Wednesday. Physical distancing requires that we pray apart, he said. Its important that seniors who are familiar with that call to prayer can hear it. US blames China for delayed virus response, but pulls funding from World Health Organization Fasting or "Sawm" Fasting is considered an act of worship during the month of Ramadan, where devout Muslims abstain from food, drink and sexual relations every day from dawn to sunset. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, there has been a debate about whether fasting could weaken a person's immune system and Muslims are turning to the Quran itself for guidance. PHOTO: An Iranian woman walks at the Grand Bazaar market in the capital Tehran, April 20, 2020, as the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic lingers ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. (Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images) Sachedina said that in the text there is "leeway" when it comes to the rules of fasting because "youre not required to do anything that is harming your well-being." According to the Quran, those who are traveling, sick, elderly or pregnant don't not have to fast. Instead, they can make up for it by acts of "zakat" or alms by giving money, food or services to the poor. "What I have noticed in my studies of these rulings is that it is left to the conscious of the individual. I should not cheat God. If I'm able to fast I should fast, if I'm not able to fast I should be the one to make that decision ... its a very conscientious type of ritual," Sachedina said. "It is a religious obligation but it is done for God and God does not wish us to go through the hardship." The breaking of the fast or "iftar" is a ritual in itself that brings together families and communities each night for feasts and celebrations. This year, religious leaders are advising communities to break the fast only with those they live with and some are planning virtual iftar gatherings. Chaudry said that she already has plans for virtual iftar gatherings and Carson said that although he will miss the "communal aspect" this year, "perhaps social media" will allow people to pray and gather in "congregational style" to "temporarily meet those needs." Enter headline of content here Charity or "Zakat" "Zakat" or "charity" is a pillar of Islam that urges Muslims to donate a portion of their income or resources every year to those in need and during the month of Ramadan, charitable donations are especially abundant. During Ramadan it is customary for mosques to provide iftar meals for those in the community who are in need, and with mosques shut down, communities have been scrambling to find alternative ways to feed the poor. PHOTO: People in need sit maintaining social distancing after collecting free food items outside the Badshahi mosque during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 coronavirus in Pakistan, April 21, 2020. (Arif Ali/AFP via Getty Images) Chaudry said that "some of the community members were concerned that they wouldnt be an iftar offered," so religious leaders have been sharing ideas to ensure that access to meals will not be disrupted. Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Northern Virginia, one of the largest mosques in the country, is planning no-contact curb side pick up during Ramadan, where families will be able to pick up meals without leaving their cars. Baig, who is the director of outreach at Dar Al-Hijrah, said that the mosque usually serves 700-800 meals on weekdays during Ramadan and 1200-1500 meals on weekends and this year, they still plan to provide these meals to the community. Carson emphasized that like all Americans, many Muslims are struggling financially amid the coronavirus pandemic but he is still seeing the "spirit" of giving in the Muslim community. "A lot of mosques operate food pantries and a lot of Muslims have been volunteering across the country to help those mosques and those non-profits that are affiliated with these mosques to still carry out their duty to humanity," he said, and "as prescribed by the religion of Islam, it is to care for those who are less fortunate." Pilgrimage or "Hajj" The annual pilgrimage to Mecca or the "hajj" draws hundreds of thousands of Muslims from around the world and is performed during the last month of the Islamic calendar, but the "umrah," which is a shorter pilgrimage to Mecca is often performed during Ramadan. PHOTO: A few workers are seen nearby empty Kaaba after the precautions against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) are taken in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, April 7, 2020. (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images, FILE) This year, worshipers will not be able to visit the holy Kaaba the most scared Islamic site at the center of the Great Mosque of Mecca because Saudi Arabia banned religious gatherings and congregational prayers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But Baig said that in the absence of communal prayer, Muslims can still keep the spirit of Ramadan alive by nurturing their spirituality and their personal relationships with God. "Ramadan is a time of personal, spiritual awareness, spiritual reflection and accountability in our relationship with God almighty," Baig said, adding that the money saved during quarantine could be donated to the poor and the extra time at home could be spent studying the Quran and investing in family. PHOTO: A Palestinian youth wearing a protective mask amid the COVID-19 pandemic hangs decorative lights on a wall in east Jerusalem, April 21, 2020, as Muslims prepare for the start of the holy fasting month of Ramadan. (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images) Sachedina noted that "fear of the unknown" amid the pandemic has caused "a lot of fear" domestically and globally, and although each Muslim community faces unique challenges, an emphasis on "meditation and prayer" by faith leaders has been a common thread. "There is a lot of understanding that this is not a good, safe time and it is something that has been on us globally. We never thought this would come globally but we need to face it with faith in God," he said. Amid the uncertainty, Baig said he is reminded that in Islam there is a belief that "theres no sickness or disease in this world that Allah has not provided a cure for it because Allah is the merciful." "We are facing this COVID-19. Is there a cure? I believe there is a cure. Because thats part of my iman (faith) all we have to do is find it," he said. As the coronavirus pandemic upends Ramadan rituals, Muslims turn to their faith for guidance originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Until last week, Austrian gugelhupf cake had only been something Aileen Eglington ordered in cafes, usually somewhere in the Alps or coffee shops of Vienna. The busy MD, who runs a Dublin-based PR agency specialising in global tourism and events, is usually away from home for large parts of the year, and the circular cake tin she'd bought specially with the intention of recreating her favourite bake at home had sat in the kitchen cupboard - until now. "Between October and February, I was away on 10 trips and then suddenly, I'd a bit more time on my hands unfortunately," says Aileen. She's baked before, but lockdown has become a repertoire-expanding bonanza. "First, I made flap-jacks and caramel slices, then bakewell tart and a gorgeous coffee cake," adds Aileen. "Then, at last, I made the Austrian gugelhupf cake from the Hairy Bikers' European book and it was simply divine." Expand Close Pastry chef Paul Kelly / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pastry chef Paul Kelly There's been a continental theme to the sweet treats that Olivia Hope and her sons Charlie (12) and Thomas (8) have been baking in their Kerry home too. "During the first week of lockdown, Charlie's schoolwork involved doing a project on a country and he picked Sweden," explains Olivia. "The question of what they eat in Sweden arose and I was planning to make bread anyway, so we searched online for 'simple Swedish bread' and made a lovely flatbread." From there, weekly country themed baking took off, with Italian wedding cookies and breads, American pancakes and brownies and Spanish almond cake, all baked by Olivia and her two younger sons, but also enjoyed by husband Matt and eldest son Ethan, who was busy studying for his Junior Cert. "We stick on music from the country and it's been quite atmospheric baking to Abba or mixing to Pavarotti," laughs Olivia. At the end of March, Google Trends reported that the number of people searching 'bread' hit an all-time high. Tesco Ireland last week reported that sales of flour across its stores has risen by 300pc. There's no denying that, in Ireland, we seem to develop a primal need for bread in times of stress. But according to the experts, this drive to bake our own baps, bracks and buns during the current crisis goes beyond just meeting a basic need for sustenance. "We don't usually talk about the mental health benefits of baking - and might not even recognise them consciously - but the rise in baking during the pandemic has shown that its benefits have registered with us at least unconsciously and we're drawn to it," says Dublin based psychologist and author of The Seven Day Soul, Susannah Healy. "Baking takes us out of our heads, and our usual ways of being lost in thought, and into the present moment. In this way, it's like a meditation." "I don't think you can underestimate the power of kneading dough for 10-15 minutes or mixing furiously to get rid of frustration or annoyance," adds Olivia, who works as a children's author and Creative Associate for the Arts Council. Mum-of-two Fiona O'Neill from Tipperary agrees. "You're focused on the task at hand rather than thinking about the 'what ifs' of tomorrow or the shoulda/ woulda/ couldas of yesterday. Baking keeps you in the now." From only baking for special occasions, Fiona now regularly finds herself whipping up porridge bread and Rice Krispie buns alongside her sons Niall (14) and Aydin (10). She's found it a wonderful bonding activity for the family - especially with Niall, who lives with juvenile arthritis and is cared for by Fiona. "I joke that baking is like Home Economics when we're doing home schooling," laughs Fiona. "But what I really love is the chat. Nowadays, teenagers are all technology and games. Baking, although it might only be for 30 minutes, is 30 minutes of us talking about whatever takes his fancy. It might even be him talking about a new game, but we're chatting over a mixing bowl. "It also gives the boys a sense of responsibility to make something that we'll all enjoy, and a sense of achievement that doesn't come from competition. It's teaching them a skill for life. And I love to hear Niall in the kitchen with a hand-held old style whisk, zipping through his eggs. It makes me smile. From an arthritis perspective too, I think the wrist motion of beating eggs is like physio. I don't tell him that though!" According to Susannah, the neurologist Viktor Frankl wrote in his book, Man's Search For Meaning, about three ways to find meaning in life: through creativity, experiences and attitude. "Home baking ticks all these boxes," says Susannah. "It's creative, it's experiential and it's something non-essential that we choose to do, often with or for others so it's very social." "Having the time to learn to bake bread has been one of my favourite parts of the lockdown," reveals Ennis-based IT Sales Manager David Marra. "But aside from eating the bread, sharing is my favourite part. I've given loads to friends and family, and always send photos to my parents back in the USA. "Everyone knows I love to cook, so no one's too surprised I've taken up baking as well - but I think they're a little taken aback (as am I) at how well my latest loaves have turned out! "My dad has also taken up breadmaking the past couple of months and he and I always share our results and tips via WhatsApp. It's great fun and a little competitive." After three seasons on The Great Irish Bake Off and a 23-year career at the five star Merrion Hotel in Dublin, there's not much executive pastry chef Paul Kelly doesn't know about baking and, unsurprisingly, he's had his social media inundated with pictures from people looking for his verdict on their lockdown loaves. "People send me photos on Instagram, but it's always of the outside," chuckles Paul. "I always write back saying, "can you send me a cross section please?", because that's where you can tell so much about the process." He's happy to dish out advice and has been sharing tips with bakers, whether it's about bread, where to buy yeast or even vegan baking, on his Instagram page (@pastrypaul). For baking newbies, he recommends starting with tray-bakes, like a simple bakewell tart ("very hard to get wrong"), but even the cockiest of baker should steer clear of croissants. "Getting the lamination, the temperatures and the equipment right is a lot of work and heartbreaking when it goes wrong - even in a professional kitchen. It's just not one to try at home." With some ingredients scarce, the maxim that 'necessity is the mother of invention' certainly seems true when it comes to baking. But it's something that Olivia sees as a positive learning experience for her sons. "Not being able to get to the shops means we've had to be creative and do a little bit of research on the internet," she explains. "The boys will look at what we have and then see what we can make. On one occasion, we made coconut macaroons because we didn't have flour and another time, because we had a tin of condensed milk, we made vanilla fudge." Aileen's looking forward to making carrot cake this weekend and maybe some cheddar and courgette scones if she can persuade her husband about the courgette element. David's searching online for more flour to continue his bread odyssey and Fiona's getting ready to make, with her sons' assistance, her own birthday cake. They all say they'll keep baking even after the crisis has passed. "I think I'll miss the morning rituals of baking, but for sure, every weekend will still see a cloud of flour and the rattle of spoons in mixing bowls," says Olivia. "This hasn't been a negative experience - unless you count our brief dalliance with an Angel Delight, butterscotch, tiramisu concoction!" Paul believes it's the children and home-bakers, who got into making bread during the pandemic, that will be in jobs like his in the future. "There are going to be kids baking during this pandemic who end up going into the trade down the line or even people in other jobs who later decide to open an artisan bakery and see this as the turning point," he says. "In a sad time in history, I think it will also be the moment when people had the opportunity to do something positive." [April 23, 2020] MedAire Partnering With Airlines on New Pre-Flight COVID-19 Screening MedAire, the world's leading provider of in-flight medical advice and assistance to commercial airlines -announced the launch of new pre-flight COVID-19 passenger screening services to enhance safety measures for air travel. MedAire is the first and foremost experienced provider of medical advisory services to more than 150 airlines worldwide. For more than 35 years, MedAire has helped airlines manage passenger medical issues - both in the air and at the gate. The company is expanding their existing solutions to now include COVID-19 health screening. This new service complements a well-proven medical advisory process the company already has in place with airlines to help manage passenger medical issues; including pre-flight fitness to fly assessments, ground based medical assistance for in-flight medical issues and cabin crew medical training. The new screening service is an additional step to help mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 via air travel and help restore confidence in flying, for air travel today and in the future. The screening is conducted by on-site medical professionals prior to check-in at the origin city, and consists of a questionnaire for contact history, and symptom screening including temperature. This screening approach is considered the industry best practice today, and will evolve as additional option to screen, test or vaccinate become available. MedAire is working with airline partners in a phased approach to develop solutions and, to date, the company has implemented screening programmes in locations including London, Lima, Hong Kong and Los Angeles. While passenger screening services are not universally required today, some airlines are beginning to implement such programmes. This practice is evolving as a precautionary measure to protect passenger safety, as much as to screen travellers prior to entry at their destination, as a requirement of the receiving country. "Screening is what the industry will need to do now to make people feel safe to travel again until a vaccine is available," said Dr. Paulo Alves, Global Medical Director Aviation Health at MedAire. "The situation is rapidly evolving, and the screening criteria may change as we learn more about the virus and when new testing options become available that can help quickly determine who is safe to travel. We are working closely with the governmental health agencies of individual countries and are aligned with guidelines from multiple agencies including the WHO, CDC, IATA and the FAA, as well as our airline partners, to help develop and implement best practice solutions with the goal to ensure the safety of passengers and crew when flying." "MedAire has the unique aviation medical expertise, as well as longstanding industry partnerships that position us well to play a significant role in the fight against COVID-19 and other emerging pandemic threats, with the goal to help people safely return to travel," said Bill Dolny, CEO of MedAire. "Health screening, like security screening post 9-11, is likely to become the standard for air travel. MedAire is ready to support the air travel industry with solutions as their needs evolve." MedAire, an International SOS (News - Alert) company, has a global footprint and access to a worldwide network of medical providers & resources, enabling access to trained medical staff for on-location screening that complements their existing well-proven solutions. The screening process has been developed in line with IATA best practices, can easily adapt to an airline's protocols, and considers evolving travel restrictions at specific origin and destination locations. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005207/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] President Lyndon B. Johnson hands a pen to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. after signing the historic Civil Rights Act in the East Room of the White House on July 2, 1964. (AFP/Getty Images) Retropolis The Past, Rediscovered As a result of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, which has resulted in a global recession, remittances to India are likely to drop by 23 per cent from USD 83 billion last year to USD 64 billion this year, the World Bank has said. "In India, remittances are projected to fall by about 23 per cent in 2020, to USD 64 billion a striking contrast with the growth of 5.5 percent and receipts of USD 83 billion seen in 2019, the World Bank said in a report on impact of COVID-19 on migration and remittances released on Wednesday. Globally remittances are projected to decline sharply by about 20 per cent this year due to the economic crisis induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown. The projected fall, which would be the sharpest decline in recent history, is largely due to a fall in the wages and employment of migrant workers, who tend to be more vulnerable to loss of employment and wages during an economic crisis in a host country, the bank said. Remittances are a vital source of income for developing countries. The ongoing economic recession caused by COVID-19 is taking a severe toll on the ability to send money home and makes it all the more vital that we shorten the time to recovery for advanced economies, said World Bank Group President David Malpass. Remittances help families afford food, healthcare, and basic needs. As the World Bank Group implements fast, broad action to support countries, we are working to keep remittance channels open and safeguard the poorest communities' access to these most basic needs, he added. Remittance flows are expected to fall across all World Bank Group regions, most notably in Europe and Central Asia (27.5 per cent), followed by Sub-Saharan Africa (23.1 per cent), South Asia (22.1 per cent), the Middle East and North Africa (19.6 per cent), Latin America and the Caribbean (19.3 per cent), and East Asia and the Pacific (13 per cent). In Pakistan, the projected decline is also about 23 per cent, totalling about USD 17 billion, compared with a total of USD 22.5 billion last year, when remittances grew by 6.2 per cent. In Bangladesh, remittances are projected at USD 14 billion this year, a likely fall of about 22 per cent. Remittances to Nepal and Sri Lanka are expected to decline by 14 percent and 19 percent, respectively this year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 01:28:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAMASCUS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Several land mines exploded on Thursday, killing and wounding a number of Turkey-backed rebels in the northeastern province of Hasakah, a war monitor reported. The land mines exploded in the village of Ahras in the countryside of the city of Ras al-Ayn in the countryside of Hasakah, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Britain-based watchdog group said many rebels were killed or wounded in the explosions. The incident took place two days after rebels' infighting was reported among the Turkey-backed rebel groups in Ras al-Ayn. Activists have reported a state of lawlessness in areas controlled by the Turkish forces and Turkey-backed rebels in northeastern Syria. Enditem Syracuse, N.Y. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon has spent weeks begging the community to understand the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic. On Thursday, he pivoted however briefly to play cheerleader for Central New York as local leaders prepare their pitch to reopen our economy well ahead of Downstate and perhaps even before the governors May 15 shutdown order. Were doing pretty well, McMahon said, citing figures he says shows that were one of the least affected parts of the state. RELATED: Onondaga Co. suffers 23rd COVID-19 death; cases jump after pockets of virus found; 724 total Gov. Andrew Cuomo has basically endorsed a regional reopening model, noting that regions have experienced drastically different impacts from the virus. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has endorsed an idea to reopen the state's economy, by region. And so McMahon offered his best case Thursday for why we should lead the way. Citing state numbers from a couple of days ago, McMahon noted that our regions numbers of confirmed coronavirus cases are much lower than many other parts of the state. For this comparison, CNY is defined as Onondaga, Cortland, Madison, Cayuga and Oswego counties (see map above). McMahons numbers mirror those reported Wednesday by Politicos Bill Mahoney: Central New York: 742 confirmed cases, with 1 death for every 24,927 residents (As of Thursday, the CNY region has 985 cases.) New York City: 142,432 confirmed cases, with 1 death for every 759 residents Long Island: 60,409 confirmed cases, with 1 death for every 1,202 residents Mid-Hudson: 46,141 confirmed cases, with 1 death for every 1,574 residents Capital District: 1,852 confirmed cases, with 1 death for every 14,611 residents Finger Lakes: 1,523 confirmed cases, with 1 death for every 14,467 residents Western New York: 2,594 confirmed cases, with 1 death for every 7,484 residents Two regions, the Southern Tier and Mohawk Valley, have seen similar impact to CNY when defined by numbers of deaths per capita: Mohawk Valley: 443 confirmed cases, with 1 death for every 25,177 residents Southern Tier: 808 confirmed cases, with 1 death for every 22,205 residents The North Country is the only region to have fared significantly better than CNY: North Country: 272 confirmed cases, with 1 death for every 58,752 residents McMahon has said hes working with a wider group of seven counties on a reopening plan. Besides the five counties included in the governors definition of Central New York, local officials in Oneida and Herkimer counties (part of the Mohawk Valley) are included in the regional restart team. Its very hard to argue that the Central New York region should be treated the same way as other parts of the state, given our lower pandemic numbers, McMahon said Thursday. So whats next? McMahon said the regional counties hope to submit a reopening plan to Cuomo by the end of the month. Whatever the plan is, expect it to include strict social-distancing rules, mask requirements and other precautions, McMahon said. Restrictions on large gatherings will likely be some of the last to be lifted. McMahon said hes still hopeful that the governor will approve Central New Yorks phased reopening before the statewide shutdown expires on May 15. But nothing is certain, McMahon said. And, as he has for over a month now, he warned that our data still needs to get better if we want to have a shot at reopening ahead of schedule. Were still seeing a dozen or more sicknesses a day caused by COVID-19 countywide. Each of those produces a yet unknown number of cases among close family and hidden cases among those who dont show any significant symptoms, McMahon noted. We cant reopen until doctors say they have resources to treat future outbreaks, and there are enough investigators to trace confirmed cases and isolate the infected, McMahon added. Anything before the governors date, the governor needs to sign off on, he said. If the governors not comfortable, then the restart starts on the governors timeline. Here is the current county-by-county breakdown of cases, according to data collected by Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard from state officials: MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources New York antibody tests: 2.7 million possibly infected with coronavirus statewide He has watched coronavirus victims gasp for breath: Its like theyve been hit by a train Cuomo worries about coronavirus PTSD, explains when NY can start to reopen Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Staff writer Douglass Dowty can be reached at ddowty@syracuse.com or 315-470-6070. Court rules that longtime immigrant residents are eligible for deportation in spite of a law that blocked such actions. The United States Supreme Court on Thursday made it easier for federal authorities to deport certain immigrants who have committed crimes in a victory for President Donald Trumps administration. The court ruled 5-4, with the conservative justices in the majority, to uphold a lower court decision that found a legal permanent resident from Jamaica named Andre Martello Barton ineligible to have his deportation cancelled under a US law that lets some longtime legal residents avoid expulsion. Barton was targeted for deportation after criminal convictions in Georgia for drug and gun crimes. The decision could affect thousands of immigrants with criminal convictions many for minor offences who reside in the US with documents. The Trump administration argued against Bartons bid to avoid removal. Trumps hardline stance on immigration has been a key feature of his presidency and his 2020 re-election campaign. He has justified his immigration crackdown, in part, by citing crimes committed by immigrants. Permanent residents selected for deportation may apply to have their removal cancelled if they have been living continuously in the US for at least seven years, except if they have committed certain serious felonies. At issue in the case was the meaning of a 1996 change known as the stop-time rule in US immigration law. This provision disqualifies immigrants who commit certain crimes from this discretionary benefit by stopping the clock on their period of continuous residency. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement has increased apprehensions and deportations under the Trump administration [File: Lindsey Wasson/Reuters] The federal government had said the rule was triggered in Bartons case because his assault charge would bar his admission into the country, even though as of 1996 he had resided in the US too long to be declared deportable for that crime. Barton argued that he could not be found inadmissible because he had already been lawfully admitted. Noting that deporting a permanent resident is a wrenching process, conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing for the majority on Thursday, disagreed. Removal is particularly difficult when it involves someone such as Barton who has spent most of his life in the United States, wrote Kavanaugh, appointed to the court by Trump in 2018. Congress made a choice, however, to authorise removal of noncitizens even lawful permanent residents who have committed certain serious crimes. In a dissent, liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor called the ruling at odds with common sense. Sotomayor noted that the immigration judge who heard Bartons case said she would have preferred to grant Bartons bid to avoid deportation, noting that he had rehabilitated and that his four children were all US citizens. Barton, a car repair shop manager and father of four, came to the US as a teenager with his mother in 1989. He was convicted in Georgia in 1996 of assault and possession of a firearm in an incident in which his friend shot at a house from a car he was driving. Barton also was convicted of drug possession in 2007 and 2008. In 2017, immigration authorities decided Bartons deportation could not be cancelled because the 1996 assault charges triggered the stop-time rule, just months before he reached the seven-year milestone. The Atlanta-based 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the decision in 2018. There are more than 13 million US permanent residents, also known as green card holders, according to the US Department of Homeland Security. Of the estimated 1.9 million non-citizens the government has deemed deportable based on criminal convictions, most are documented residents or those in the country on temporary visas, according to the Migration Policy Institute, a research organisation. The ruling came a day after another immigration crackdown by Trump, who ordered a temporary block on some foreigners from permanent residence in the US, saying he wanted to protect American workers and jobs during the coronavirus pandemic. That order is due to last for 60 days and then will be reviewed and possibly extended. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 22:09:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese medical experts share experience on the prevention and control of #COVID19 with their Malaysian counterparts during visits to local hospitals and institutions. Hyderabad: Enraged after an argument with Gandhi hospital staff, a coronavirus positive patient chose to ''settle scores'' by taking a large sip of water in his mouth, gargling it and then spitting it out of the window of the seventh floor of the hospital, which ended up falling on a ward boy walking below. While the shocked ward boy cleaned himself with Dettol and also got into a disinfectant tunnel to sanitize himself, the police along with the Gandhi hospital staff issued a stern warning to all the patients against spitting out of the windows or anywhere in the wards. Hospital sources told Deccan Chronicle that one coronavirus positive patient, who recently tested negative, was discharged from the hospital yesterday afternoon. While he was leaving, he handed over a bag containing some medicines to another patient, who tested positive and is undergoing treatment in Gandhi hospital. Trouble began after a security guard posted on the seventh floor of the hospital -- where all coronavirus positive patients are kept -- raised objection to handing over of the bag to the virus positive patient. The guard said that it was against the rules and there was a risk involved if one patient shared his belongings with the other. But the man, aged around 60, was in no mood to pay heed to the requests. The elderly man lost his temper and began abusing the security guard even though the guard tried to explain to him that sharing of personal belongings could be risky. On hearing commotion, police constables posted on the floor intervened and tried to calm down the man. Eye-witnesses said that the patient kept hurling insults, using filthy language for about an hour. However, hours later, the man was still angry after which he took a large sip of water, gargled it and spit it out of the window of the seventh floor even as others in the ward were watching him. The spittle landed on a ward boy on the ground floor, who happened to be walking towards the main gate of the hospital. He looked up immediately to see from where the water droplets landed on him and spotted some people standing near the window. Due to the distance, he could not clearly make out who it was. Worried, he first approached the security guards and informed them about the incident and then rushed to get himself sanitised. ''He first cleaned himself with Dettol and was then made to walk through the disinfectant tunnel to sanitize himself. He is still worried and is in touch with the doctors,'' sources said. Subsequently, enquiries by the staffers revealed that it was the same man who entered into an argument with the staffers earlier in the day, who had spit from the window. ''We learnt that it was a deliberate act. But since the man was coronavirus positive and was undergoing treatment, the policemen warned him and also other patients on the seventh floor,'' they said. Sources however said that many patients are frustrated as there is a delay in the arrival of medical reports and even discharge of patients. ''But we are also working in the most trying circumstances and incidents like these (spitting) can prove deadly for all staffers and even patients,'' a hospital staffer said. Ever since the COVID-19 positive patients and those suspected to have been infected began arriving in Gandhi hospital in large numbers, spitting by the patients had become a huge concern for the staff. China's ambassador to the UK has insisted Beijing did not cover up the scale of its coronavirus outbreak as he warned the US the communist state will not be 'bullied'. Liu Xiaoming suggested the White House was behaving in a manner reminiscent of the 19th Century colonial wars. Donald Trump has previously referred to coronavirus as the 'Chinese virus' but Mr Liu said 'China is not an enemy of the United States' and 'if they regard China as an enemy they chose the wrong target'. Critics continue to cast doubt on the accuracy of China's coronavirus death toll amid suggestions it is much higher than what Beijing has said publicly. But Mr Liu said the 'Chinese government was transparent and very quick to share data' throughout the crisis. His comments come after numerous senior Tory MPs have demanded an international inquiry into the initial outbreak of the disease in China. China's ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming said the Chinese government had been 'transparent and very quick to share data' during the coronavirus crisis Some Conservative MPs have called for a total reset in relations with Beijing after the pandemic while Downing Street sources previously suggested China faces a 'reckoning'. Mr Liu said: 'I hear quite a lot of this speculation, this disinformation about China covering up, about China hiding something - this is not true. 'The Chinese government was transparent and very quick to share data.' Some nations are considering starting legal proceedings against China because of the damage done by the outbreak. But Mr Liu said: 'Some other country - their local courts sued China - it is absurd. 'Some politicians, some people, want to play at being the world's policeman - this is not the era of gunboat diplomacy, this is not the era when China was a semi-colonial, semi-feudal society.' Addressing Mr Trump and the US directly he added: 'These people still live in the old days - they think they can bully China, think they can bully the world. 'China is not an enemy of the United States - if they regard China as an enemy they chose the wrong target.' Foreign Affairs Select Committee chairman Tom Tugendhat has been leading Tory calls for a global probe into the outbreak. He said it is needed because 'false data from Beijing is undermining our ability to respond'. He has been backed by Defence Select Committee chairman Tobias Ellwood who said the investigation needed to establish the 'patient zero' and 'ground zero' of the outbreak. He suggested the Chinese government had attempted to 'hide the outbreak from the world' as he warned Beijing it 'must change' so that the world is better prepared if another virus strikes. Free testing for Bolinas residents began on Monday and is expected to last until Thursday. To date, more than 70% of its residents have been tested , according to Engestrom. "The other volunteer organizers were surprised since everyone just assumed we were old friends," Engestrom tells Make It. Despite their success working together, due to shelter at home restrictions Engestrom and Harman did not get to meet each other in person until they did a walk-through of the testing site. Since then the pair have raised more than $300,000 through resident donations with 93% of the 150-plus donations all under $5,000 with some as little as $10 to buy materials and to set up a drive-through site in town. Engestrom and Harman started to communicate over text message and later via phone calls. Soon they recruited local volunteers, formed a partnership with researchers at University of California, San Francisco's School of Medicine and on April 10 created to a GoFundMe page to raise money to get free Covid-19 diagnostic and antibody tests for all of Bolinas' residents. Engestrom says he told a mutual friend about the article and that friend connected him to another Bolinas resident, Cyrus Harman, the founder of a pharmaceutical company who was also intrigued by the story. Engestrom wanted to do the same thing for his community of Bolinas, California, a small beach town about 13 miles from San Francisco with about 1,620 residents but no confirmed cases of Covid-19, according to local news outlets . When Jyri Engestrom, a 42-year-old entrepreneur who runs a small early stage venture fund in San Francisco, California, read an article in the Guardian newspaper about an Italian village that tested its entire community for the novel coronavirus and was reportedly able to eradicate the virus by doing so, he was inspired. BOLINAS, CA - APRIUL 19: A Covid-19 testing site is set up in Bolinas, California on Sunday, April 19, 2020. A venture capitalist paid for about 1,000 Bolinas, Calif. residents and 150 first responders to be tested for coronavirus to help researchers learn more about the virus. A community organizer is arranging a similar mass testing program in San Francisco"u2019s majority-Latino Mission district. "We tested 302 people on Monday and 416 [on Tuesday] and over 500 were scheduled for [Wednesday]," Engestrom says. UCSF researcher Bryan Greenhouse, who is leading the study at Bolinas that aims to get a complete understanding of how the virus spreads, says UCSF researchers are using PCR (polymerase chain reaction) swab tests and taking small blood samples to test for the presence of both the novel coronavirus and its antibodies. Both tests are being supplied and processed through a new UCSF diagnostic laboratory adjacent to Chan Zuckerberg Biohub. (The Biohub is a non-profit institute established in collaboration with UCSF, Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley for medical research, and is funded by Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan.) Greenhouse says he hopes to get as many Bolinas residents as possible tested, but the tests are voluntary. "Our goal is to return results for PCR within 72 hours of receipt in the lab," Greenhouse says. If a resident tests positive, they will get a call from a UCSF physician to explain next steps, which will include detailing who they interacted with in recent days and how they plan to self-isolated for the following 14 days (if they don't need urgent medical care). The delivery of negative results will be automated. However overall data on active Covid-19 infections are expected to be shared publicly as soon as next week, according to the Los Angeles Times. Data from the antibody testing will take about four weeks to be ready for the public. Aenor Sawyer, a Bolinas resident and UCSF surgeon who specializes in health technologies, is also volunteering her time for the study. She says starting Friday, her team will be making house calls for residents who can't get to the testing site. "There's significant disparity in socioeconomic status here and 18% of our citizens are under the poverty line. We have worked hard to make sure that if you don't have a car, if you don't have a home or if you are home bound, we will accommodate you," Sawyer says. (According to city data, the median annual income in Bolinas is $56,250, which below the country's median annual income of $61,937.) Even though there hasn't been any confirmed case of Covid-19 in Bolinas so far, Sawyer says those in the town have "a lot of anxiety," because the median age of residents is over 60. (Serious cases of Covid-19 disproportionately affect older adults and those underlying health issues.) "We've had a lot of symptomatic people but we haven't able been able to test them," Sawyer says. What's more, Bolinas is a popular tourist spot for its beach. Engestrom says the community's reaction to the free testing has brought him to tears. "I lost count of how many hands clasped in 'namaste' in the car windows I have seen" as people line up at the testing site, he says. Bolinas isn't the only place being tested for the study. Greenfield says starting on Saturday, researchers will head to San Francisco's Mission District to begin to test all of its residents for active infections and antibodies. The Mission District, which is more densely populated with over 5,700 residents, has the highest number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in San Francisco, at around 166 as of Monday. (The median income in the Mission district is $96,000 a year, according to city data, with 15.1% of households living below the poverty level.) Greenhouse says Mission District residents have not yet raised any money for the tests, but they will likely be covered by UCSF for research purposes. Greenhouse says the hope is to learn how widespread Covid-19 is in those communities and learn how to best stop the spread and hopefully create a template for other communities to follow in the future. Correction: This story has been corrected to reflect that a new UCSF diagnostic laboratory adjacent to the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub is supplying and processing the tests. Check out: The best credit cards of 2020 could earn you over $1,000 in 5 years Little sleep, 'Tiger King' and no booze: Inside NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo's self-quarantine routine White House advisor Dr. Fauci works 20-hour days and his wife reminds him to eat, sleep and drink water This ex-NFL player is now a doctor working 24-hour ER shiftshere's what it's like on the front lines of COVID-19 No, the Navys flight demonstration team will not be doing a flyover in the Philadelphia region this week. Such an event was never planned for Wednesday or Thursday, despite internet rumors that got out of control, said Chief Petty Officer Chad Pritt, public affairs chief for the Blue Angels, which has showcased naval aviation with flyovers and community outreach since 1946. These rumors began to circulate on social media on Tuesday. Posts claimed the Blue Angels and U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration squad would be involved in the flyover to show support for front-line workers and solidarity with people who have been affected by the coronavirus, as well as to promote national unity amid the pandemic. The Washington Post reported Wednesday night that the Blue Angels and Thunderbirds could fly over Philadelphia and parts of New Jersey in a multi-city tour sometime over the next several weeks, citing defense officials and a memo obtained by the newspaper. It was unclear whether the plans could change. At his daily coronavirus briefing Wednesday, President Donald Trump said the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels would perform air shows across the country to pay tribute to the front-line workers combating the pandemic. Im excited to announce that in the coming weeks the Air Force Thunderbirds, theyre incredible, and the Navy Blue Angels, equally incredible, will be performing air shows over Americas major cities and some of the cities that arent major cities," he said. Theyre going to be doing a lot of work, a lot of very dangerous flying. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform the "Diamond pass and review." Earlier in the day, Pritt had told The Inquirer no flyovers have been authorized in the Philadelphia area, adding if and when they are authorized municipalities receive at least 48 hours notice and the event is well-advertised by the military. The Blue Angels recent shows have been canceled or postponed, and the Thunderbirds 2020 show schedule has been postponed at least through May. On Tuesday, the squads were spotted doing a joint training exercise near Pensacola. Mayor Jim Kenneys office confirmed it had not received any notice of a flyover in Philadelphia. By Erin McCarthy, The Philadelphia Inquirer (TNS) More: Relief fund set up to help Pa. hospitality workers who have lost jobs 26 million in U.S. have filed for unemployment in the weeks since coronavirus hit Some GOP lawmakers in Pa. want to revoke Wolfs emergency powers, but it probably wont work Why are nicotine patches being tested on coronavirus patients? Hello from Hazard! We were waiting on Richard Bader, of Middletown, New York, to reveal Item No. 1154. He said the item was correctly identified by George H. Wimmer, of Tidiote, Pennsylvania, as a bottle capper for glass beer or root beer bottles home brew. This was also confirmed by Robert Rauhauser, of Thomasville, Pennsylvania. We said last week Leroy Raber, of Millersburg, Ohio, thinks Item No. 1155 is a crab laster used by a cobbler to make shoes. Randy Winland, of Prospect, Ohio, submitted the item. We will move on to a new item, submitted by Mose Shetler, of Conneaut, Ohio. Item No. 1156 measures 3 3/4 inches long, and there is a threaded bolt in the handle to turn for closing the front jaw. The jaw has a tiny spring and doesnt open more than 1/8 of an inch. The name on the handle is A. Budly M.F.G. Co. Menominee, Mich. Pat. May 29, 1934. Does anyone know what this tool is used for? Email us at editorial@farmanddairy.com; or by mail to: Hazard a Guess, c/o Farm and Dairy, P.O. Box 38, Salem, OH 44460. In recent weeks the pandemic has resulted in a shutdown of public and economic life in many countries. It is currently unclear how long the global state of emergency will last, so that the economic impact cannot be conclusively estimated. The group, however, confirmed its intention to pay a dividend of 1.50 per share for the financial year 2019 as proposed. Hannover Res proposed dividend, meanwhile, stands at 5.50 per share. Talanx and Hannover Re will be reporting their first quarter results during their annual general meetings on May 07 and May 06, respectively. The parent firm said its AGM will be virtual in nature in that it will have no physical presence of shareholders or proxies. The rate of new infections has been halved at a coronavirus hot spot in Israel after a military lockdown brought life in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community to a standstill. Not all residents of Bnei Brak heeded the government's instructions to stay home, resulting in the rapid spread of the virus earlier this month, and leading health experts to fear that thousands of people may be infected. Israeli forces descended on Bnei Brak on April 3, blocking roads and forcing residents to stay indoors. Israel's Health Ministry reported at the time that the city had 1,061 confirmed cases a handful less than the 1,132 recorded in Jerusalem, a city that is more than four times its size. By last weekend, the city on the outskirts of Tel Aviv was quiet with both playgrounds and synagogues empty, and residents praying on the sidewalks instead. Image: An Ultra-Orthodox Jew prays a morning prayer next to his house as synagogues are closed following the government's measures to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, in Bnei Brak (Oded Balilty / AP) "Israel now is in a situation that is a little bit more optimistic," Shafir Botner, director of the Paramedic Education Center for Israel's emergency medical services Magen David Adom, told NBC News. "The numbers of the sick people are lowering and the numbers of severe cases are lowering as well, so perhaps we managed to flatten the curve." Getting to this point wasn't easy. Botner said the residents weren't simply being defiant but a large number did not even know about the virus. The ultra-Orthodox community rejects much of modern technology including television and social media leaving them uninformed about the pandemic. Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak "We had to deal with that in a different (way), for example, going in the streets with loudspeakers and telling the information on how people need to protect themselves and to come over here to do the swab tests," he said. Since then, 10,900 tests were conducted and rigorous contact-tracing was underway. Retired Col. Avi Cohen, who spent three decades in cyberwarfare hunting terrorists, has headed the virus war room to track down people who have been infected or exposed. Story continues Image: A man prays next to his house in Bnei Brak last week. (Oded Balilty / AP) "(If) you contain inside the apartment and you give them what they need and you talk with them, it will not spread outside of this," he said. Members of the Israeli military have also been sent to deliver food to the poor and sick in an effort to keep people inside. But at-home quarantining was not possible for all cases. With families housing as many as 10 people in one home, authorities also had to evacuate those showing signs of the virus in order to prevent further exposure. Download the NBC News app for full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak There were 600 people moved into quarantine hotels established by the government. With more than 400 people already recovered and more testing underway, health officials say they're cautiously hopeful their efforts are working. "We're more optimistic than two weeks before," Botner said. CORRECTION (April 26, 2020, 2 p.m. ET): An earlier version of this article included an out-of-date estimate from health officials on the proportion of Bnei Brak residents infected with the coronavirus. Health officials originally said that as much as a third of the population was probably infected; by the time of the articles publication, that estimate had been lowered to one-tenth of that amount. The earlier estimate has been removed from the article. Cindy Crawford is one of the most legendary models around. In the 1980s and 1990s, Crawford was a household name who often appeared in magazines and advertisements. One of the reasons why Crawford attracted a lot of attention is because of her beauty mark. However, Crawford has shared that she actually used to hate the beauty mark that would come to give her international fame. Read on below to find out why. How Cindy Crawford became popular Cindy Crawford | Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images Crawford grew up in Illinois and had her first modeling experience in high school. During her junior year, a local photographer took a picture of Crawford for a newspaper. The image ended up receiving a lot of praise, and this inspired Crawford to seriously consider pursuing modeling. She ended up getting signed to Elite Model Management after becoming a runner-up in their Look of the Year contest in 1982. Crawford went to Northwestern University for a while but eventually dropped out to try and model full-time. It didnt take long before she became an in-demand model in the fashion industry. She appeared on the cover of magazines like Vogue, W, and Harpers Bazaar. She also appeared in ad campaigns for brands like Versace, Calvin Klein, and Balmain. One of Crawfords appeals is the beauty mark above her upper lip. Not many models have a beauty mark, so Crawford stood out to many people. Cindy Crawford used to hate her iconic beauty mark Crawfords beauty mark has made her an icon, but before she became a successful model, she did not actually like it that much. On fellow supermodel Naomi Campbells new YouTube show, No Filter, Crawford spoke candidly about what she thought of her beauty mark growing up. As a kid, I hated having a beauty mark, Crawford said. My sisters called it an ugly mark. When I went to my first modeling agency, they said I should remove it. It seems that Crawford contemplated it seriously, but her mother was the one who encouraged her to keep the beauty mark. The 54-year-old shared: My mother was like, Okay, you can do that, but you dont know what the scar will look like. You know what your beauty mark looks like.' Despite Crawfords insistence on keeping her beauty mark, it took a while for the modeling industry to accept it as well. Crawford revealed that makeup artists used to try to cover it up during photo shoots. However, when American Vogue decided to showcase Crawford along with her beauty mark on their 1986 cover, the industry began to see her beauty mark as an asset, not something to hide. Naomi Campbell was jealous of Cindy Crawfords beauty mark During their discussion, Campbell admitted that, even though Crawford might have seen her beauty mark as a flaw, Campbell herself loved it. In fact, there were moments where Campbell wanted to have Crawfords beauty mark as well. I always wanted one so much! I used to put black eyeliner [dots] on my face, Campbell revealed. I think its a perfection, not an imperfection. Its all part of making you and your persona. Its part of your being. Thanks to Crawford embracing her beauty mark, many women around the world also came to learn how to appreciate their own unique features instead of hiding them. Crawford said: So many women have beauty marks. And I think that when they saw me on the cover of Vogue or in a magazine with my beauty mark, it made them feel more comfortable about their own beauty marks. Crawford concluded by sharing that learning about how to embrace ones insecurities was a big lesson that she took from her career. Its clear that Crawford was a big inspiration to a lot of people. These days, she is the mother to children Kaia and Presley, both of whom are following in their mothers modeling footsteps. Foreign workers exercise on the balcony of their dormitory rooms on April 21, 2020 in Singapore. Singapore is now battling to control a huge outbreak in the coronavirus local transmission cases among the migrant workers. Suhaimi Abdullah | Getty Images Previously a poster child for its efficient handling of the coronavirus spread, Singapore is now back in the spotlight as it struggles to contain a new outbreak among a section of its population migrant workers. Singapore had stepped up measures in the past three weeks, including closing schools and non-essential workplaces, in what has been termed a "circuit breaker." Those measures were further extended to June 1 with more non-essential services being suspended and tighter mobility restrictions imposed, the government announced Tuesday. The number of Covid-19 cases in the city-state has spiked in the past month from about 1,000 cumulative cases on April 1 to more than 10,000 today. Most of the newly infected patients are foreign migrant workers residing in dormitories, who hail from countries including India and Bangladesh. As of April 22, Singapore reported an additional 1,016 new infections, bringing the total number of cases to 10,141. There have been at least 12 fatalities so far, according to data tabulated by its Ministry of Health. More than 8,000 cases so far have been linked to migrant workers living in dormitories. Singapore has close to 300,000 workers who live in either purpose-built or factory-converted dormitories. The government has acknowledged that the large number of cases at the dorms is a "serious problem." Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a national address on Tuesday that Singapore has embarked on aggressive testing. "Not only those who reported sick, or showed fever or flu symptoms. But also those who were well and asymptomatic" were being tested, he said. "That's why you see high numbers popping up everyday, because it's a very aggressive sweep of the workers inside the dorms even when they are not sick, even when they have no symptoms," Singapore's minister for national development, Lawrence Wong, said at a virtual press conference after the address. "What this suggests is that, in fact, the infections have been occurring for some time starting very early and it has been going on and circulating," Wong explained. Trojan horses Dr. Leong Hoe Nam, an infectious disease specialist from Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital in Singapore, noted on CNBC's "Squawk Box" last week that cases outside the dormitories have been much more contained than cases within them. "It is a bit embarrassing; we've controlled the inbound (cases) from the overseas patients returning, within the local community, the numbers have controlled somewhat we're talking about 40 cases a day," the doctor said. "But for the foreign workers who work in a dormitory, we really have a big problem controlling them." "Foreign workers are housed in dorms that can go up to thousands in numbers, each of them housed in rooms to about 10 to 12 with a communal toilet that serves 10 people also ... you can understand that they would be living in a situation that allows easy transmission of the virus," Leong told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia" last week. "And they will be mixing among each other across different rooms. And hence ... one person transmits to easily 10, 20, 30 people at a snap of a finger," added Leong, who contracted SARS himself while treating Singapore's first SARS patient in 2003. I call them the Trojan horse ... because you have no idea the person is sick, the person can spread the infection all around. Dr. Leong Hoe Nam infectious disease specialist, Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital One of the things scientists have learned in the last week or two is that there are asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic transmitters, said Leong. Asymptomatic transmitters are people who remain infectious even though they do not develop any symptoms, while pre-symptomatic transmitters are those who end up developing symptoms later, he later explained in an email to CNBC. "I call them the Trojan horse ... because you have no idea the person is sick, the person can spread the infection all around," Leong said. "Remember the virus mingles with us, spreads through social contacts so you have to cut off all social contacts in order for the virus transmission to stop." Leong also warned countries currently under lockdown that are contemplating easing restrictions, saying that it could be premature. "You must understand that this virus thrives with any form of interaction whatsoever with people. And when you open up, you can actually spread it," he said. No easy solution In a widely shared Facebook post, veteran diplomat Tommy Koh, Singapore's former permanent representative to the United Nations, said that overcrowded dormitories which were "not clean or sanitary" were like a "time bomb waiting to explode." However, Leong pointed out that it would have been hard to find two- or three-bedroom apartments quickly to house close to hundreds of thousands of workers who are currently living in the dormitories. It is "practically impossible" for the government to implement a solution within a short span of a few weeks or a month, he said. Migrant workers can be seen in the Cochrane Lodge II, a purpose-built migrant workers dormitory that has been gazetted as an isolation area on April 18, 2020 in Singapore. Ore Huiying | Getty Images A new survey from DHM Research shows Oregonians overwhelmingly support Gov. Kate Browns stay-home orders. The survey, which polled 900 Oregonians from April 17 to 21, concluded 82% of Oregonians are in favor of the governors coronavirus mitigation measures that have shut down much of Oregon since March 23. The positive response to the orders cuts across party lines. It includes 95% of Democrats, 72% of Republicans and 77% of others. Still, hundreds of business owners pressed Brown Wednesday for more information about how she plans to reopen the economy. Here are more developments to know Thursday: HELP: Oregon lawmakers will vote on how to allocate nearly $40 million in coronavirus-linked spending. The city of Portland has already decided to give out $250 gift cards next week to help low-income families with expenses. CASES: State officials reported no new deaths for the first time since March 29. Still, the number of known cases rose to 2,059. At least 595 of those patients have fully recovered from the virus. EDUCATION: The state Department of Education released new guidance for students in elementary and middle school. Education officials told schools to advance students to the next grade regardless of performance. JOBS: The state failed to pay thousands of jobless Oregonians the extra $600 owed to them in federal benefits, the latest stumble in a series of mistakes at the troubled employment department. At least four in five Oregon restaurant workers have lost their jobs, according to a national survey. Precision Castparts significantly cut its workforce, too. CLAIMS: Oregon hopes to begin processing jobless claims for self-employed Oregonians and gig workers by the end of April, Gov. Kate Browns administration said Wednesday. Its the first time the state has set a timetable for the anxiously awaited expansion of its unemployment program. NATIONAL FIGURES: About one in six American workers have now lost their jobs since mid-March, by far the worst string of layoffs on record. CARE: Kidney dialysis patients have found few obstacles despite coronavirus outbreak, but transplant candidates have encountered significant challenges. BUSINESS: Publicly traded Digimarc got a $5 million loan through the federal Paycheck Protection Program meant to keep small businesses running through the outbreak. On a micro-scale, the Woodstock Farmers Market is asking the community to donate money to help them stay open this summer. #TEAMOREGON: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter -- The Oregonian/OregonLive Get the latest Oregon coronavirus updates via text When I could speak again, I took her hand, apologized and whispered to her that I loved her, over and over again. I was too upset, and my Greek had degraded too much, to say anything else. My grandmother never turned her eyes from me, just stared, unblinking, until her caregiver had to physically move her head so she would eat. Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal COVID-19 patients are expected to be treated at the retrofitted former Lovelace hospital at Gibson Medical Center in a matter of days, according to a New Mexico Department of Health official. The facility is slated to be operational April 27, but it could be earlier, so that dates subject to change, DOH spokesman David Morgan told the Journal. And while the facility has been prepared to house COVID-19 patients, he said the building is large enough that it could be used to handle general overflow as well. He said the operation will be staffed in large part by members of New Mexicos Medical Reserve Corps. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed over the building to the state Department of Health last weekend, making as many as 200 beds available. Albuquerque-based Weil Construction and local subcontractors completed the work in 14 days under the supervision of the Corps. Weil Construction owner Chris Weil told the Journal it was not an easy task because of the aging infrastructure. The hospital on Gibson SE closed in 2007. We had 150 workers on the project, Weil said. We were running 24/7. The renovation cost $3.6 million. Meanwhile, another $2.5 million was spent getting the gym at Miyamura High School in Gallup set up to house 60 patients, according to the Corps. The projects were primarily funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, along with state matching money. The construction challenges at the former Lovelace hospital, according to the Corps, included repairing the plumbing and elevators. Weil said the plumbing was rusting and rotting. Any sort of work you do on a building that is shuttered is going to be a challenge, said Lt. Col. Robin Scott, deputy commander of the Corps Albuquerque district. We were fortunate to have a great contractor and subcontractors working on the site. Work also was done on the electrical, alarm and HVAC systems. Window units were added in places to create negative pressure, which ensures that air in patient areas is removed through the filtration system instead of going through areas occupied by other patients and medical staff. Work was also done on oxygen systems in patient areas, Weil said. Scott said, We had to get innovative with some of our oxygen drops. Some exam rooms and offices were also renovated for use as patient rooms. DOH and state health agencies are coordinating medical beds, supplies and staffing at both the hospital and the gym at Miyamura High School, the Corps said. They seemed to indicate they will utilize the Miyamura High School alternate care site (in Gallup) a lot sooner, Scott said. That site is closer to the Navajo Nation COVID-19 outbreak. The Corps used the arena-to-health care concept in converting the Miyamura gym into a COVID-19 treatment facility. Additional flooring was put down to protect the gyms permanent floor. The gyms existing plumbing was used to route water to sinks in the patient area. The gym will have negative pressure to filter air out. Oxygen will be run through copper piping to each room in the patient area. Two alternate care sites are also under construction in the Navajo Nation in Shiprock and Chinle, Arizona, using the same concept that we used in Gallup, Scott said. Gyms at Atsa Biyaazh Community School in Shiprock and the Chinle Community Center are being used. The Shiprock site will house 40 beds, while the Chinle site will house 50 beds, according to the Corps. The best way to ensure the safety of Connecticut incarcerated individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic is to release a substantial portion of the states prison population, according to dozens of local experts. This suggestion was one of many mentioned in a letter to Gov. Ned Lamont dated Tuesday and signed by 59 faculty members from Yale School of Public Health, Yale School of Medicine and Yale School of Nursing. The faculty urged Lamont to address the urgent threat of the virus in the states prisons, jails and juvenile detention centers. As experts in public health and medicine, we wish to express clearly and unequivocally that the most effective measure to ensure the safety and well-being of incarcerated individuals is to thoughtfully release a substantial portion of the states prison population, the letter states. Spokespeople for Lamont did not immediately respond to request for comment on the letter Wednesday. As of Wednesday afternoon, 321 Connecticut inmates have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to data provided by the state. On April 14, the DOC announced the first coronavirus-related death of an inmate. That inmate had been scheduled for release. The faculty called coronavirus-related deaths of inmates during the pandemic preventable tragedies. We fear that this death is just one of many to come, the faculty letter said. There are 152 inmates who have tested positive and are being housed in an isolation unit at the Northern Correctional Institution in Somers. The decision to utilize Northern Correctional Institution itself a maximum-security facility to isolate patients who test positive ... is particularly concerning, the letter states. The faculty called the decision inhumane and ineffective. Instead, faculty urged the state to put these individuals in medical isolation and stop the transfer of any additional inmates to that facility. We are concerned that the human rights of incarcerated individuals are being unduly contravened in the name of medicine; isolation of sick patients in Northern C.I. is a punitive measure, not a public health one, the letter states. Data indicated 149 inmates who contracted the virus have been medically cleared and returned to their original facility. The letter mentioned a five-day period from April 9 to April 14 where the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in DOC facilities in the state jumped from 61 to 182 calling the increase particularly alarming in comparison with the statewide infection rates. Prisons, jails and detention centers typically have high transmission rates for infections diseases like the flu, tuberculosis and hepatitis. Given the current situation, the faculty urged the state to rapidly reduce the number of people in prison. The faculty also urged the state to coordinate non-congregant housing arrangements by renting college dorms or vacant hotels for those released from incarceration. Facilities should be properly stocked with soap and hand sanitizer without charge for all staff and those incarcerated, the faculty said, adding that all incarcerated people should be provided with appropriate PPE. The letter also called on the state DOC to make any plans for prevention and management of the virus in each correctional institution publicly available. As medical experts and healthcare workers, we too feel compelled to urge your office to treat incarcerated populations, frontline healthcare workers and correctional staff with the respect they deserve, the letter states. We have an ethical responsibility to protect vulnerable communities in these dark times. This letter from Yale faculty members is just the latest in the calls for Lamont to take a closer look at the handling of the prison population during the coronavirus pandemic. The Connecticut chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has filed two lawsuits on the matter one in early April and the other on Monday. The latest suit called on the state to release incarcerated people who are 50 and over, and those with severe medical conditions who are at higher risk of severe illness or death from the virus. Dan Barrett, ACLU of Connecticut legal director and an attorney on the case, said in a statement after the new suit was filed that the current handling of the incarcerated population has made the states prisons and jails among the most dangerous, unhealthy places anyone could be during this pandemic. The numbers and stories coming out of Connecticut prisons and jails paint a horrific portrait of people left by Cook and Lamont to suffer and potentially die in a pandemic, Barrett said. We are asking the court to do what they have failed to do and protect incarcerated people now. He stressed the need for humanity, given the current pandemic. In a statement provided by the ACLU of Connecticut, Shaquima Dozier whose fiance is currently incarcerated by the state but isnt a named plaintiff in the latest case stressed the need for humanity, given the current pandemic. They are still human. Their lives are really important, Dozier said. These are fathers, brothers, people who can give back to the community. The state of Connecticut is waiting until its too late. US economy sheds 4.4 million jobs in the week ended April 18 26 persons have been tested positive for Covid-19 in Punjab today ICMR looking into the kits sourced from China: Govt official In the past two weeks, around two dozen flights departed for India from five cities in China: MEA 23 new Covid-19 positive cases have been reported in Telangana Tally of Covid-19 cases in Gujarat rises to 2,624 Odisha government has announced a 60-hour complete shut down in Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur districts from 10 pm today till April 26 Total coronavirus positive cases in Jammu and Kashmir now at 434 Number of containment zones increases to 24 in Haryana's Gurugram district As global cases surge past 2.6 million, Covid-19 continues to choke livelihoods and economies. More than 7 lakh people have already lost their lives to Covid-19. In India, the death toll has touched 686. Economies continue to be a rough road as Covid-19 continues to bring losses into every sector. US President Donald Trump signed an immigration order banning green cards for applicants. Germany sanctioned a $10 billion dollar package - adding to a $1.2 trillion package they had signed earlier - to help the nation's economy. Coronavirus has devastated the families of NHS heroes, with a nurse waking up from a coma to find his partner has died from the virus while his colleague on the same ward and her husband have also passed away. David Courtney-Williams, a nurse, woke up to the news his partner of 28 years, Steven, had died from the infection. David also found out his colleague Sharon Bamford, an auxiliary nurse who worked on the same haematology/oncology ward at Singleton Hospital, and her husband Malcolm Bamford had died from the virus. David Courtney-Williams, left, 48, was put into an induced coma after testing positive for coronavirus and recovered to the news his partner Steven, right, had died from the virus Sharon Bamford, left, 63, and her husband Malcolm, right, 73. Sharon was a support worker on the same ward as David looking after oncology and haematology patients in Swansea Sharon passed away in intensive care on Tuesday, April 21, just days after her husband. The number of NHS and care workers dying from coronavirus has reached more than 100. According to website Nursing Notes the total number to have died is at least 119. David needed to be intubated in intensive care at Morriston Hospital as doctors fought to save his life after he tested positive for coronavirus. When he came round two weeks later, he was given the news that his beloved partner Steven had died from the virus on April 3. 'Coming out of a coma to be told that Steven had passed away it was just unreal. I can't really believe it,' said David. 'I've had to do everything again - my co-ordination had completely gone. To do all of this while grieving- well I just couldn't do both it was impossible. 'To have lost Steven has just been absolutely devastating. To hear that news having come out of a coma and to hear it over the phone. It is still unbelievable. 'The care and support I've had has just been incredible. To be on the other side and to be a patient - all of the staff in Morriston were unbelievable. Paying tribute to Steven, David said: 'Steven was a gentle, caring person who we all loved deeply - he will be greatly missed.' David and Steven, pictured. After coming around two weeks after being intubated, David was given the news that his beloved partner had died on April 3 Sharon's son, Christian, was also in hospital with Covid-19 but thankfully has since been discharged. Sharon and Malcolm had recently become grandparents to Nahum. In a tribute to Sharon, Jan Worthing, director of Singleton Hospital, said: 'Sharon was highly thought of by all the patients who have used the services and loved by her colleagues and friends within the team. 'Sharon's sad death will leave a massive void within the team and within the Singleton family. 'Our thoughts and condolences are obviously with their sons Craig and Chris at this devastating time, with the loss of both Sharon and Malcolm. We offer our most sincere condolences to Sharon's family, friends and colleagues at this extremely sad time.' Sharon and Malcolm pictured with their grandson Nahum. The pair became doting grandparents before they both fell ill with coronavirus The health board is now offering dedicated support to Sharon's colleagues as they try to come to terms with her passing. The 48-year-old charge nurse had been taken to Morriston hospital on Friday, March 27, due to difficulty breathing after testing positive for coronavirus. He was intubated in ITU and put into a coma to try and stabilise his condition. Great grandmother Angie Cunningham had worked as a nurse for 30 years before she died at Borders General Hospital in Scotland on Wednesday. In a joint statement with the NHS Borders Trust's chief executive Ralph Roberts, Ms Cunningham's family said: 'Angie was a much-loved wife, mother, sister, granny and great granny, as well as a friend to many more. Great grandmother and nurse Angie Cunningham died in an intensive care unit at Borders General Hospital in Melrose, Scotland on Wednesday 'Angie worked in NHS Borders for over 30 years and during this time was a much-respected and valued colleague within the hospital, providing amazing care to patients. 'She was very proud to be a nurse alongside her love for her family.' A paramedic who worked on Crystal Palace's pitch-side medical team is among three more health workers to die with coronavirus, alongside a father from St Albans and a 'very special human being' from Doncaster. Married father-of-two Ian Reynolds, 53, was a paramedic at New Addington, near Croydon for the last 32 years. He was active as ever until falling ill with Covid-19 last month. Together with his son Jack, the Unison rep was part of Premier League side Crystal Palace's pitch side medical team. Paramedic Ian Reynolds, 53, pictured with his wife Sian, had worked for London Ambulance Service for 32 years and worked pitch-side for Crystal Palace FC NHS worker Khalid Jamil died at Watford General Hospital, where the father-of-two had worked looking after patients He is the third London Ambulance Service worker to die in the last three weeks. Garrett Emmerson, chief executive of the London Ambulance Service speaking on LBC on Wednesday said: 'This is obviously heartbreaking news and we have had very little time to get used to it because up until yesterday afternoon we were hoping for a better outcome. 'We are all just devastated. We are losing people we have known and loved and worked with for a number of years.' A Unison statement said: 'Ian embodied all the values of the union - a wise, experience and popular man who had time for everybody and could relate to his colleagues, members and patients alike - regardless of their background or identity - with an ease that endeared him to everyone he came across. 'In addition to his tireless union and frontline work, Ian was the principle liaison between the LAS and all the Croydon care homes, using his easy charm and wit to build bridges, as he did everywhere he went. 'He was a passionate union man, a devoted Crystal Palace fan and an unapologetic mod. He loved his music, consuming live gigs like he did craft ales. 'Ian was the mate who always had time for a curry and a chat, who knew what you were going through and would be there for you with wise words and irreverent jokes in equal measure. 'They don't make them like Ian any more. He will be deeply missed by his union comrades, his Croydon ambulance family, his boys Jack and Ben (of whom he was immeasurably proud) and his wife Sian, who he loved with all his heart.' Premier League side Crystal Palace FC issued a statement on Wednesday, which read: 'We are saddened to inform supporters of the news that Ian Reynolds, a much-loved colleague, friend, and a member of the CPFC family lost his battle against Coronavirus earlier this week.' His colleague and friend, CPFC Medical Officer Dr Amir Pakravan said: 'He led the coordination of the pitch-side stretcher crew. He also helped with arranging medical cover for Academy games over the years. 'As a person, he was the best friend you could wish for, always smiling, calm and easy going, and an avid Palace fan. Crystal Palace FC shared this image of the south London dad, who was responsible for coordinating the Premier League side's pitch-side stretcher crew 'As a colleague, he was extremely professional, reliable, approachable, highly experienced and knowledgeable, and always ready to help. He was the complete package and an absolute joy to work with. 'Ian was 53 and is survived by his wife, and two sons.' NHS worker Khalid Jamil died at Watford General Hospital, where he had worked to support his family, including his two children. The 57-year-old from St Albans had worked for West Herts NHS Trust since March 2006, a GoFundMe page has raised nearly 5,000 to support his family. West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust said: 'Sadly, despite the excellent care given, Khalid Jamil died on Tuesday 14 April. 'Khalid joined the trust in March 2006 and colleagues who worked with him describe him as 'a kind, gentle man who was unassuming and respectful to all his colleagues and helpful to others'. 'He was very fondly thought of and will be greatly missed. Tributes have been made to a much loved, popular doctor who died after practising medicine across three continents throughout his career. Dr Medhat Atalla, who worked at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, was described by Doncaster & Bassetlaw Hospitals NHS Trust as a 'very special human being'. Dr Medhat Atalla died following treatment for Covid-19 at Doncaster Royal Infirmary. The consultant geriatrician had moved to Britain from Egypt around 20 years ago and has been described as a 'very special human being' In a statement the trust said: 'It is with immense sadness that we inform you that our colleague, Dr Medhat Atalla, has passed away following treatment for Covid-19 at Doncaster Royal Infirmary. 'A hugely popular and respected colleague, Dr Atalla was a very special human being who practised medicine across three continents throughout his career, affecting the lives of so many in such a positive way. 'He was a truly gentle gentleman and he will be hugely missed by us all.' The 62-year-old became a full-time member of the trust in 2014, when he was appointed as a Consultant Geriatrician on the Gresley Unit. He arrived in the UK in the early 2000s and he cared for many elderly patients in hospitals throughout the North of England. The statement continued: 'We would also like to take a moment to thank colleagues who cared for Medhat during his illness, and who did all they could to care for and support him as he bravely battled Covid-19. 'As a trust, we share our deepest sympathies with Dr Atalla's brother and sister, and loved ones in Egypt.' Yesterday MailOnline reported on the deaths of a 'dedicated' paramedic, a GP who 'touched and enriched many lives' and a 'phenomenal' mental health counsellor who were among four of the latest NHS workers to die of coronavirus. Charlie Goodwin, 61, who worked for First 4 Care, was rushed to the intensive care unit at King's Mill Hospital, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, on April 8 Dr Yusuf Patel, who was a GP partner and founder of the Woodgrange NHS Medical Practice in Forest Gate, East London, has also died from Covid-19 Paramedic Charlie Goodwin, 61, who had worked for First 4 Care for more than 20 years, was rushed to the intensive care unit at King's Mill Hospital, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, on April 8 after presenting with the symptoms of Covid-19. However the father-of-three, who was described by his wife Julie as 'kind' and 'dedicated' and is among the NHS workers who have fought on the frontline to help battle the coronavirus crisis, passed away on April 20. Dr Yusuf Patel, who was a GP partner and founder of the Woodgrange NHS Medical Practice in Forest Gate, East London, also died from Covid-19 on Tuesday. The doctor, who graduated from Sheffield Medical School in 1984, was being treated at Whipps Cross Hospital. Following his death a spokesperson for Woodgrange NHS Medical Practice in Forest Gate said: 'It is with a very heavy heart that we have to inform you of the sad loss of Dr Yusuf Ismail Patel, GP principal and founder of Woodgrange NHS Medical Practice. 'After a valiant struggle with Covid, Dr Patel finally succumbed to his illness on Monday 20 April. 'This is a tragic loss to all his family, friends, colleagues and patients. The pain is immeasurable. He has touched and enriched many lives and we miss him dearly.' Healthcare workers have been paying tribute to NHS mental health counsellor Ann Shepherd, 80, from Leicester, who died earlier this week Yesterday healthcare workers paid tribute to NHS mental health counsellor Ann Shepherd, 80, from Leicester, who died earlier this week. Described as a 'phenomenal character, full of colour and sparkle', Ms Shepherd, had worked at the Moir Medical Centre in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, for 26 years. Following the tragic announcement, Ifti Majid, chief executive of the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'Ann was a wonderful colleague, held in very high esteem by all she worked with. She was truly devoted to her work and her patients and was inspirational in her field. 'She was also a phenomenal character, full of colour and sparkle.' A 'well-respected, well-liked and highly valued' social worker has also died after contracting Covid-19. The British Association of Social Workers (BASW) announced the death of Muhammad Islam, who worked with young people leaving care at Birmingham Children's Trust, on Thursday. The BASW said it will continue to lobby for all social workers on the front line to get 'vital' personal protective equipment after Mr Islam's death. A JustGiving page has been set up in the social worker's memory to support children's charities chosen by his family. BASW chief executive Ruth Allen said: 'Social workers form a tight-knit community and this tragic news has hugely affected us. 'We send our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Muhammad. 'Dreadfully, we don't know how many others there are, or how many social workers are suffering from the virus right now. 'What we do know is that social workers continue to work tirelessly, knocking on doors, delivering vital services out in communities, and thus, like their health colleagues, are at greater personal risk.' Paying tribute to Mr Islam, the chief executive of Birmingham Children's Trust, Andy Couldrick, said: 'We are deeply saddened by the passing of Muhammad after a battle with Covid-19 over the past few weeks. 'Muhammad was a well-respected, well-liked and highly valued member of our care leavers' team who supported many young people in Birmingham. 'Muhammad was passionate about providing the best care for young people and he will be sorely missed by his colleagues and the young people he supported, and our thoughts are with his family and friends.' Kate Booth, cabinet member for children's wellbeing, said: 'On behalf of Birmingham City Council I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to Muhammad's family, friends and work colleagues for their sad loss. 'Muhammad had worked for many years making a valuable contribution to support children in care and care leavers in Birmingham and will be very much missed.' Through Christ, Williams Moves Smoothly Between Ministry and Academia Life has been a memorable journey for the Rev. Dr. Helen Easterling Williams. From picking cotton in South Carolina and attending revivals at Morning Star Baptist Church, shes now an associate minister at AME Church in Los Angeles and dean of the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University. While some may be surprised by her trajectory, Williams is not in that number. In her opinion, understanding her past has served as a springboard to her future and she credits humble beginnings as a major factor in my development of strong and positive character traits and of a Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me work ethic. This scripture has inspired Williams from a young child and motivated her as she earned her Bachelor and Master of Science degrees and continued to affirm her when she received her Doctor of Education degree. Prior to assuming her current position at Pepperdine, where she is the only person-of-color on universitys senior leadership team, Williams served as a senior assistant dean at the University of Delaware and as dean of the School of Education at Azusa Pacific University. ADVERTISEMENT Over the years, Williams has been the recipient of countless awards and honors. In 2019, the Los Angeles Business Journal Womens Council recognized her as Executive of the Year. She was also named as an American Council on Education Fellow and a John A. Widtsoe Foundation Fellow. But, it was in the midst of pursuing her education that Williams answered her call to the ministry and she responded with enthusiastic action. As a member of the ministerial staff at Bethel AME Church in Wilmington, Delaware, she worked with the Bible Study, Womens Ministry and Prayer Ministry. Williams went on to perform in similar capacities at FAME-L.A. and at St. Mark A.M.E. Church in Orlando, Florida. There was a time when I thought womens ministry was my specialty, but God has made it clear that He has called me to all segments of the kingdom, said Williams. Although I do focus on girls and womens ministry, I also tend to have a ministry for boys and men. Also, I have strong focus on prayer. Explaining how she, as a woman, can connect with men, Williams said she seeks to appeal to the basic needs of all human beings to be loved, valued and appreciated. Her philosophy is that people will give you their time and attention when you recognize the value of their life. Some men have a preconceived notion that I dont know what its like to be a man. In some regards that is true, but we are all human beings. We all want the same thing. How we get it is different and the experiences we have in life shape us differently, she noted. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, I am able to see men as God created them. When I am able to establish for men that God created man first, it causes to them to let down their guard and to listen. Once I get them to listen, its all over but the shouting, she said with a smile. ADVERTISEMENT Then I go on to share how they are important to our community and how our men of color are demonized and demoralized and how I intend to stand in the gap for them. With that, Ive got their attention and blessing. Williams applies a comparable approach with people participating in her Womens and Prayer Ministries as well as with her students at Pepperdine. In both settings, her goal is to help others develop and be restored. I really enjoy seeing people grow who come broken into the church or an academic setting. Theyre in trauma and seeing them grow to a point where they can manage that trauma and manage that pain and stand against it and speak to it so that it doesnt ruin their lives gives me great pleasure, Williams said. God wants us to be healed and seeing people transition from weakness to strength is the greatest reward that you can have. I tell people all the time that I dont want to make you dependent upon me. I want you to put me out of business. You dont have to call me to get a prayer through. Ill teach you to pray so that wherever you are, you can handle it. Williams message about healing is quite appropriate, especially in light of the coronavirus pandemic, which appears to be causing anxiety and stress among believers and non-believers alike. To those who may be experiencing such feelings, she advised those people to turn their attention to God and spend time establishing a closer relationship with Him. I dont think God sent the virus, but He allowed it to happen and is using it for our good. He is teaching us to get back to Him. The pandemic is allowing us to see where we have gone away from God, said Williams. My advice is to go back to the basics of getting close to God. Designate an altar in your home. Have a conversation with God, turn our eyes to Christ and well turn out better than we were. Also, Williams shared three scriptures that guide her in her daily living, no matter what events may occur. The verses are Acts 17:28 For in Him we live and move and have our being, Matthew 6:33 Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well, and Matthew 22:37 and 39 Love the Lord your God with all your heartsoul and mind. Love you neighbor as yourself. I live, move and have my being in Christ Jesus. I am nothing without Him, so I must seek Him first, the kingdom of God and His righteous and all these things shall be added unto you. Williams said. My third scripture is to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and spirit and love your neighbor as thyself. These are basic and if we stay there, we cant go wrong. But still not known if split ventilation pros outweigh cons so should only be used as last resort, say specialists A simple 'do it yourself' breathing circuit, using accessories that are readily available in intensive care, can be used to ventilate two critically ill patients at once, should clinicians be faced with equipment shortages, suggests research published online in the journal Thorax. But although technically feasible, it isn't clear if the pros of split ventilation outweigh the cons, and the approach is fraught with ethical issues, so this circuit should only be used as a last resort, say critical care and respiratory disease doctors in linked opinion pieces. Prompted by the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases in the Lombardy region of Italy, and the prospect of a ventilator shortage, Italian doctors assembled and tested a simple, easily built breathing circuit on two 'pretend' patients. The circuit comprised routine and readily accessible tubing and accessories found in intensive care and operating theatres. The 15-hour tests confirmed that it would be technically feasible to use the circuit to ventilate two patients at the same time. What's more, the technique is safer for staff than manual bag ventilation and avoids the constant need for a 'human ventilator' to work the bag, so freeing up staff, say the researchers. But the tests also showed that the level of ventilation provided wasn't evenly distributed when lung function and capacity differed between the two 'patients.' It should therefore only be used as a last resort, caution the researchers, because of the need to closely match the physiology of both patients, and the impossibility of being able to monitor separately changes in each patient's respiratory response. There are also ethical issues to consider, they point out. "Indeed, the most difficult choice during such an emergency would be to either accept a grim triage reality (in which not all patients receive a ventilator), or accept the fact that trying to save two patients with one ventilator could mean harming at least one of them," they write. These concerns are picked up in a linked editorial by respiratory disease and critical care doctors from the University of Chicago. The idea of ventilator sharing isn't new, explain Drs Steven Pearson, Jesse Hall, and William Parker. It was first suggested in 2006, for coping with equipment shortages in dire emergencies, and has been revived in anticipation of ventilator supply problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. But they warn that even if patients can be matched before ventilation, the dynamic nature of the respiratory response means that these initial characteristics could subsequently diverge. Daily pauses in the sedation needed for mechanical ventilation to check on the patient's ability to breathe unaided--which seems to help patients recover--would be extremely difficult if two people were connected to the same device, they point out. The technical challenges also require other resources in short supply: intensivists and respiratory therapists, they say. During a severe equipment shortage, clinical decisions would need to be based on ensuring the greatest good for the greatest number of patients, they explain. But what would happen if two patients each had a 50% chance of survival with a single ventilator, but only 20% on split ventilation, they ask? "Whether or not the benefit of providing support to one additional patient outweighs the harms suffered by the two patients receiving co-ventilation is an impossible question to answer at this point, given the lack of evidence and experience, and these harms are unlikely to be amenable to rigorous quantification at any point in the near future," they write. Ideally, in the absence of adequate supply, or other breathing support devices, patient (and family) consent should be obtained and strict protocols applied for the circumstances in which split ventilation can be used, and then only as a last resort, they emphasise. "The role for co-ventilation appeals to the rule of rescue, the natural impulse to save those facing certain death, by freeing mechanical ventilators to support those in respiratory failure who would die without them," they write. "But to use the lifeboat analogy, is taking on more passengers than the boat was designed to accommodate, worth the risk of sinking the lifeboat?" Given current supply and demand, doctors will most likely be faced with such decisions, they suggest. "Humankind should realise it has been forced into a lifeboat by this pandemic without the luxury of yesterday's ethical postures until rescue arrives," they conclude. In a further linked commentary, emergency care doctors in Detroit and New York agree that one patient per ventilator is best. Their YouTube video, setting out the experimental technique for ventilating four patients at the same time, inspired the Italian doctors to experiment with the approach for two patients. "Everyone agrees one patient on one ventilator will always be the gold standard," write Drs Charlene Babcock and Lorenzo Paladino. "Use of one ventilator for two patients is clearly outside the manufacturer's recommendations and only appropriate in dire circumstances during a disaster." But reporting on further experiences of the technique can only assist the understanding of how to expand ventilator options, they suggest. "We commend the [Italian] authors of this study for further advancing documentation of this potential expansion of ventilator availability as a life-saving intervention during a disaster and hope the additional information we have provided may be informative," they conclude. ### Peer reviewed? Yes (brief communication); No (editorial + commentary) Evidence type: Observational; Opinion Subjects: Ventilators for critically ill patients The Indiana Network for Population Health (INPH) has been launched by the Regenstrief Institute and collaborators, including the State of Indiana, Indiana University and the Indiana Health Information Exchange, to provide the secure exchange of comprehensive data -- especially information on social determinants of health such as housing stability and access to nutritious food -- to researchers, policy makers, healthcare providers and others on the front lines fighting opioid and other addictions. The Indiana Network for Population Health can broadly enhance health surveillance in the community, tracking diseases we know well like Hepatitis C and diabetes as well as new diseases such as COVID-19. It's already providing situational awareness to physicians and public health officials about addictions and, in the future, we hope it will connect patients to community-based services to help them address their social determinants of health." Brian Dixon, Ph.D., MHA, director of public health informatics at Regenstrief Institute and Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI The stakes are high. Research over the past quarter century has shown that social determinants of health, such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, exercise, access to nutritional food, stable housing, reliability of transportation and many other non-medical factors, are more significant contributors to longevity and quality of life than either healthcare or genetic makeup or the two combined. Yet these data are rarely accessible to physicians through their electronic medical record systems. Dr. Dixon's presentation, "Integrating Social Determinants into an HIE Network," introducing the Indiana Network for Population Health to an international audience, is now available via HIMSS20 Digital. The annual HIMSS conference, the original venue for the presentation, was expected to attract more than 40,000 attendees but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "It's not that physicians have totally ignored social determinants of health, but impactful information -- such as the fact that the patient had to take time off from a low-paying job and ride two buses to get to the doctor's office -- isn't typically collected in electronic medical records," said Dr. Dixon. "A clinician may have noted in unstructured free text in the medical record that an individual is a heavy smoker or homeless, for example, but free text information, with its lack of uniformity, can be difficult to extract correctly. Will a computer extracting data from the patient's file capture the phrase "has no safe home" or simply ignore the first two words and see "safe home" and not make this information accessible to community programs like the YMCA or homeless shelter organizations who might help the patient find a better place to live? "Integrating social determinants of health into a health information exchange network from the patient's medical file is a big challenge. It seems to make more sense to retrieve data from the CDC, various state departments, census, Social Security, the food stamp program, etc. since all these entities routinely collect this data," said Dr. Dixon. "This is our vision for the Indiana Network for Population Health. The Indiana Network for Population Health is an extension of the Indiana Network for Patient Care, which currently holds approximately 12 billion pieces of clinical data. Both the Indiana Network for Population Heath and the Indiana Network for Patient Care were developed by Regenstrief and are managed by the Indiana Health Information Exchange. Ms. Loves Turkish workers, however, called her Mister Director. She had a formidable energy and enthusiasm that separated her from the more cautious of her peers, said Maxwell Anderson, a past curator of the department of Greek and Roman Art at the Met. Archaeology relies on facts, and Iris was given to informed and colorful speculation, which added coloratura to the discipline. She was a public intellectual in a way that was not typical of archaeology. Iris Cornelia Love was born on Aug. 1, 1933, in New York City. Her father, Cornelius Ruxton Love Jr., was a diplomat, an investment banker employed by his father-in-law, a collector and a descendant of Alexander Hamilton. Her mother, Audrey B. (Josephthal) Love, was an heiress and arts patron, the daughter of Edyth Guggenheim and Louis Josephthal, an admiral and the founder of a brokerage firm. Her parents were remote figures, as was the custom of the time for her demographic, but luckily she had a British governess, Katie Wray, who happened to be a classicist. Iris learned Latin before first grade and would grow up to be a polylinguist. She spoke Greek, French, German, Italian and Turkish and could make her way in Mandarin, Russian and Arabic. At her death she was studying Portuguese. She was famously loquacious in English, too. Ms. Smith used to chastise Ms. Love, as she noted in her memoir, Natural Blonde (2000): Dont begin the story back when they invented language. Get to the bottom line. Ms. Love attended the Brearley School in Manhattan and the Madeira School in Virginia, where classmates taunted her for being Jewish, a lineage she had not understood was hers until then. She graduated from Smith College in 1955; Sylvia Plath was a classmate. She earned a masters degree from N.Y.U.s Institute of Fine Arts and had finished Ph.D. classes there, but not her thesis, because as she often said, she was too busy with Knidos, overseeing the dig each summer and fund-raising most winters, to write it. 23.04.2020 LISTEN Fellow Liberians, resilient daughters and courageous men of the Africa liberation struggle, the oppressed working class of the world we bring you greetings from the relentless and conscious women of Africa. With a revolutionary spirit, the Daughters of the African Revolution (DAR) strongly condemns the act of discrimination, the bastardization of human dignity and wanton abuse meted against Africans in China. DAR sees this as a rebirth of slavery and it reminds us of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade where Africans were slaughtered and sold as domestic goods. Chinas action to woefully discriminate against Africans in these times of global health crisis is not only inhumane but against set principles of human rights and undermines the call for globalization. DAR calls on the government of China to immediately stop perceiving Africans as the host of the virus but rather see them as real victims of what is considered to originate from China. Africa must now stand together to condemn this action of the Chinese in the strongest term and call on china to desist immediately from humiliating African in the manner they are acting. DAR sees this action of China as a contradiction of what Mao fought against and a threat to China-Africa relationship. It is now time that our African leaders speak in defense of the many African entrapped in this barbaric act against humanity by china and demand answers for their action. China, like other European and American nations is extracting raw mineral (mainly minerals) to build her economy and exports its finished products toAfrica ; thus Africa is the largest market for Chinese goods. Africa has taken enough and is not willing to take what can't be consumed China must therefore apologize to Africa. DAR also calls on the government of China to make the fight of coronavirus openly collective, inclusive and transparent. It can be recalled that the Chinese government early this month announced some new measures put in place to prevent the second outbreak of the corona virus after confirming 56 new cases of the virus, unfortunately, these new regulations have become a major problem for Africans living in China Africans living in China have done no wrong. and therefore those not deserve such xenophobic act. DAR has observed with keen interest that the ongoing inhumane act melted against Africans in China is not the first since the outbreak of the corona virus. Early April, we received a communication from intelligence in China as well as friends and family members that the Chinese government has ordered bars and restaurants not to serve people of black skin. Against this background, we hereby call on the Liberian government to speedily engage other governments in African and the African Union to put an end to this menace. DAR wants to also inform all Africans living in and out of Africa especially African women to keep safe and follow those preventive measures that have been put in place by the World Health Organization to prevent the spread of the virus stay at home if you dont have anything doing out , wash your hands always. Together we will combat this virus. Long live DAR Long Live Africa We stand for social justice for all Africans! Signed:__________________________ Mary Kerkula-Secretary General 07770451796 Approved:________________________ Sammitta B. Entsua-President Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (21) Amid a sudden spurt in COVID-19 cases in three districts of Odisha -- Bhadrak, Balasore and Jajpur -- the state government on Thursday rushed senior bureaucrats to the affected areas to contain the spread of the infectious disease, official sources said. The general administration department of the state, in its order issued on Wednesday night, assigned excise secretary S K Lohani to Bhadrak district, which has recently reported 11 coronavirus-positive cases. S K Vashishth, the special secretary of agriculture and farmers' empowerment department, has been asked to rush to Balasore, while former health secretary and now secretary to governor P K Meherda told to visit Jajpur - both districts having reported eight cases each. "The recent spike in COVID 19-positive cases in the three districts of Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore is a cause of concern... Therefore three secretaries have been directed to make an on-site visit and review COVID-19-related management system," the order said. The officers have also been told to communicate with health and family welfare department secretary N B Dhal before leaving for their destinations. The number of coronavirus patients in the three districts have spiked to 27 from six, in matter of just 72 hours, a senior official said. Most of those affected were found to have links with West Bengal, he said, noting that a survey has revealed that 3,000 people from the neighbouring state had recently entered these three districts, the official said. Earlier, the health department had sent experts from medical colleges, directors of Health Service, Public Health and Family Welfare, along with Rapid Response Teams (RRTs), to oversee containment measures in these districts, he added. Meanwhile, police have tightened security along the Bengal border, sealing more than 50 roads leading to the neighbouring state. This apart, the marine police has been directed to ensure that no one enters Odisha via sea route, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sanjay Mishra: 'Office Office' a great rehearsal for me before entering films. Image Source: IANS News Mumbai, April 23 : Veteran actors Neena Gupta and Sanjay Mishra gorge on "puris" in a throwback video during their shoot for the upcoming film "Gwalior". In the clip, shared by Neena on Instagram, the two actors can be seen feasting on hot puris in a restaurant and singing their funny version of "Do deewane sheher mein". In between bites they updated the song thus: "Do chatore sheher main". "Just to make you smile 'Gwalior' film with @imsanjaimishracoming soon!" "Gwalior", a thriller, is co-directed by Rajeev Barnwal and Jaspal Singh Sandhu Neena also shared a new photograph of herself flaunting a new hairband. "My new hair band look," she wrote. Recently, she shared a video of herself holding a lawn mower and cutting the grass. On the work front, Neena will be seen sharing screen space with her daughter Masaba in her Netflix's show "Masaba Masaba". Another 571 stranded tourists returned home from Cancun Cancun, Q.R. Amid the reduction of flights at the Cancun International Airport, the Embassy of Argentina in Mexico managed three humanitarian flights to repatriate 571 tourists who continued to remain stranded in the Mexican Caribbean. The first two flights departed the Cancun airport on April 21 from Terminal 4 to Buenos Aires, operated by Wingo and Copa Airlines, which carried 150 and 180 passengers, respectively. The third flight departed Wednesday from Terminal 4 of the Cancun airport carrying 241 passengers with it to the Aeropuerto Internacional de Ezeiza on a flight operated by Aerolineas Argentinas. This ended the journey that tourists endured after arriving on vacation last month, only to find themselves stuck after flight and border restrictions were imposed due to the coronavirus. In the coming days, departures of other humanitarian flights to Peru and Ecuador are expected, which will see several hundred more stranded Cancun tourists returned to their home countries. On Wednesday, 11 Playa del Carmen police officers who were stranded in Peru since mid-March, also returned home, landing at the Cancun International Airport where they were met by their commander. MUMBAI: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerays party Shiv Sena has yet against attacked the Centre for buying expensive, low quality and faulty coronavirus COVID-19 sample testing kits from China. In an editorial published in its mouthpiece ''Saamana'', the ruling party questioned the Centres decision to buy the Rapid Testing Kits from China, which is being blamed for the COVID-19 outbreak. The Saamana editorial said that the Centre has made it clear that the states will buy medical kits, relief materials from it, but the first consignment of 20 lakh rapid testing kits from China is faulty and of no use. Maharashtra ruling party said in its mouthpiece that US President Donald Trump calls the coronavirus as 'Chinese Virus' but India still chose to trust China over testing kits. "As per the Centres policy, the states should rely on the Centre for materials needed in the war against the Coronavirus... but how will this war be won, since the Chinese materials are of low quality and faulty? The first batch of rapid testing kits ordered by the Modi government to China turned out to be useless. When the Chinese goods finally went to the wreckage, the Center had to inform the states to use the kits made by the National Institute of Virology in Pune instead of the current bogus kits!" the editorial said. It continued by saying, "It's no coincidence that Trump is calling it the 'China virus'. Because of China, the world has plunged into a crisis. Nobel laureate scientists claim that the Coronavirus, which spread from China to the rest of the world, is man-made. There is no certainty as to what China will do next. Despite this, nations like India are taking large quantities of rapid test kits of the COVID-19 from China. And in a way, we are working to strengthen China's economy. That is why it is time for us to dispose of millions of rapid test kits purchased from China." Lashing out at China, the Saamana editorial said that Maharashtra has received 75,000 Chinese rapid test kits from the Center. Rapid tests started in corona hot spots like Dharavi, but the Mumbai Municipal Corporation administration asked them to stop the rapid tests immediately. Because Chinese goods were scrapped. Not only in Maharashtra but all over the country, complaints about rapid test kits started coming. All this confusion is raising concerns about Corona. It is a confusion that shows how serious we are in this battle and how there is no unanimity in the decision. It is shocking that China, which cannot be trusted, and which has plunged the world into an epidemic, must join hands to fight the same virus," it said. Expressing concerns over the situation in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena had earlier said in Saamana that there is an emergency-like situation in Mumbai and Pune amid the rising number of coronavirus COVID-19 cases across the state. In its mouthpiece 'Saamana', the party stressed that the Centre and the state government need to work together to control the COVID-19 pandemic, which has infected more than 25,0000 people and killed nearly 2,00000 across the globe. In an editorial published earlier, the party said that the war against coronavirus cannot be won by clapping, clanging of plates or lighting of lamps. People "misconstrued" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal, the Saamana editorial said, adding that PM Modi should clearly spell out what it expected from citizens and those not obeying orders should be punished. Pm Modi had sometimes back appealed to people to defeat the coronavirus by switching off lights in their homes for nine minutes at 9 pm on Sunday amid the nationwide lockdown. If the coronavirus hadnt turned life upside down, Moscone Center would have been bustling last weekend with the American Educational Research Associations annual meeting. There would have been 15,000 people trading handshakes, huddling in alcoves, mingling with old friends. Instead, a broad hallway looking out toward downtown San Francisco is empty except for two people, both wearing masks. As a man approaches the other person, he calls out Excuse me from well over 6 feet away. Scenes like this are part of the daily routine at Moscone South, which was completed last year as the flagship of the citys interconnected convention center along Howard Street. But with all conferences this spring and summer canceled or postponed until who knows when, the glassy mega-structure has been transformed into the closest thing to a functioning seat of government that San Francisco now has. Every day we have to pivot and adjust, honestly, said Mary Ellen Carroll, executive director of the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management. Its a different sort of disaster. Until last month, Carrolls department occupied a building in the Western Addition, where seven to 10 people might be on duty during a typical shift, what the city classifies as a Level 3 state. There were response scenarios prepared for earthquakes, floods, tsunamis. But as the all-encompassing threat of the coronavirus emerged, San Francisco shifted to Level 2 status on Jan. 27 and then Level 1 on Feb. 25, when Mayor London Breed declared a state of emergency. Less than three weeks later, technicians spent a weekend wiring Moscone South to serve as the citys new operations center. It opened on March 16, the day six Bay Area counties announced shelter-in-place restrictions. At the time, there were 150 city workers reporting there every day. Today, the number is approaching 400. The second floor holds most of the activity, where everyone wears a colored vest to indicate which department they work for yellow for tech support or red for operations. Sprinkled through the wide hallways are people wearing all kinds of masks surgical masks, bandannas, scarfs and even old pillow cases creatively sewn into something wearable. They also wear name tags a good thing, given that the masks cover nearly everyones face. Masking tape on the carpet indicates where people may walk. When a Chronicle reporter was allowed access last Thursday, the first stop was the Joint Information Center. Using furniture commandeered from what Moscone South already had on hand, workers sat apart from one another wearing pale-blue vests. One employee vigorously wiped down his station as he stood talking on the phone, with Airpods in his ears. Another had fashioned a standing desk from a cardboard box. In normal times, emergency managements communication staff totals four people. The crew at Moscone South is 10 times larger swelled not just by press people from other departments, but bilingual city workers who can help translate fresh information and guidelines into six languages in addition to English. Back in the hallway, Dan Grinnell sternly told the reporter and her tour guide to stand farther apart. Hes on the payroll of the citys Municipal Transportation Agency, but for now hes one of the thousand or so city employees who have been reclassified as disaster service workers. In this case, a security officer. Carroll said the targets of the cordial warning by Grinnell and others almost invariably are newcomers to the pop-up operations center. Some are visitors, like the reporter. Others are in the building for a short assignment, such as the dozens of library staff who helped transform city food programs for children and elders which typically involve lines at schools or senior centers into home delivery operations. Its totally acceptable to say, too close! Carroll said. People learn fast here. Pretty soon you just back up automatically. Amid all this, reminders of Moscone Souths intended purpose remain. Step into one of the spacious restrooms, for instance, and soft jazz loops incongruously through the air. 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. Besides Carrolls office, four city departments have large blocs of space at Moscone South: Public Health, Human Resources, the Human Services Agency and the Department of Technology. Theres a satellite office for Mayor London Breed and her staff. The Board of Supervisors has an office as well, with one member assigned each week to keep the board plugged in on whats going on. Last week, that role fell to Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer. This is like a busy-bee mill, Fewer commented. I was overwhelmed at first. It is exhausting because everything changes so quickly. Carroll was named executive director of the department in 2018 by Mayor London Breed. She has worked for the city since joining the Public Health department in 2005 as a policy analyst. There was a big focus on pandemic planning back then, she recalled, including several long sessions with specialists in infectious diseases. I remember thinking it all seemed incredibly complex beyond (something like) an earthquake. Now that were in one, I stand by that assessment. John King and Trisha Thadani are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jking@sfchronicle.com tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @johnkingsfchron @TrishaThadani Prosecutors had wanted a similar drug diversion program for Fabbri, but the chef would not agree to such terms. He told The Washington Post that he had no clue Lombardi was carrying the drugs in her purse. He added that the police found no drugs in his gray BMW X5, which was confiscated after the couples arrest in the beach town. Officials in one California city thought they had what it would take to keep people away from a local skate park: 37 tons of sand. They were wrong. While the skateboarders at Ralphs Skate Court in San Clemente, California, were temporarily deterred by the city's attempt to enforce the state's strict social distancing measures put in place to fight the coronavirus, a group of dirt bikers was only encouraged. Connor Ericsson, a 25-year-old content creator with Buttery Films, told CNN he saw the parks filled with sand on the news and thought it would be a good opportunity to take some dirt bikes to the park. Video he posted to Instagram showed the bikers popping wheelies and launching off the park's jumps. Ericsson told CNN that once they were finished riding, the group teamed up with local skateboarders to move the sand by hand. "There's major pushback," he said of the locals' feelings about the sand. "No one was happy about the sand in the park." Ericsson said the city went too far by singling out the skate park. "They don't put sand in other parks," he told CNN. "You're telling me you're allowed to go to Walmart, where there's 500 people at once, but you can't go to the skate park where there's only a handful of kids who want to be outside because they've been cooped up?" The filmmaker added that he "understands the severity of the situation and that we need to slow down the spike and the curve," but he draws the line at putting sand in the community park. Attempts to reach San Clemente government officials for comment weren't returned. But a press release posted by the city on April 1 said that while "the City recognizes the importance of physical activity and fresh air," the parks were closed to "help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus." Try the city's trail system instead, it said. About 80 miles to the north, the Venice Skate Park in Venice Beach was filled, too. Hunter Weiss, a 23-year-old videographer in Venice, California, captured the sand piling in on his Instagram. Though Weiss understands the need for social distancing, he said he thinks officials went too far there, too. "I believe Americans have the right to be outside and social distancing," he told CNN. "For example, surfing can be social distancing but the ocean is 'closed.' Running can be social distancing but the paths are 'closed.'" The move was done in according with LA County Department of Public and Health orders, said a spokesperson for LA City Recreation and Parks. "The sand is a deterrent, which has been used in the past, for those who continue to violate the orders and for the health and wellness of all LA residents," the spokesperson said. "Once the orders are lifted and the skate parks are reopened, the sand will be removed." In the interest of safety, all LA City skate parks are closed until further notice. MICHIGAN -- The Michigan Farm Bureau and Michigan Chamber of Commerce have sent a letter to state leaders urging a bi-partisan strategy for reopening the state's economy. Carl Bednarski, the president of the Farm Bureau, and Rich Studley, the president and CEO of the chamber of commerce, wrote about how the organizations will be willing partners in helping them in developing such a plan for the state. "We recognize reopening the state doesn't mean business as usual," the letter reads. "We also cannot continue down a path of overly restrictive and burdensome orders that have lacked clarity and consistency in implementation both at the state and local level. "Instead, we must work together to make positive, common sense changes to allow businesses to operate and employees to return to work. Restarting out economy -- even under completely new circumstances -- protects the financial and social health of our state and creates a path to recovery." The letter also has the Farm Bureau's and Chamber of Commerce's recommendation that the state be reopened when the "Stay Home, Stay Safe" executive order expires on April 30. Matt Smego, the associate director of public policy for the Farm Bureau, said they have not received a response from state leaders yet, as the letter was sent out on Friday. But state officials are looking at possibly reopening the state through a phased-in approach, and they want to be a partner in such discussion. "Our hope is that the governor works with the legislature and business stakeholders in responsibly reopening the economy," Smego said. "The state won't be reopened overnight." Smego said the Farm Bureau wants to make sure that employees and consumers are protected in plans for responsibly re-opening businesses and restaurants, and that such businesses can go about following guidelines set up by the Centers for Disease Control. Smego said that while the agricultural industries have been fortunate to be deemed an essential service in keeping the county's food supply running, nearly every aspect of agriculture has been affected by the coronavirus and subsequent shutdowns. The reduced markets for agricultural goods have caused prices to go down substantially, bulk products normally going to schools, universities, and restaurants are now going to the consumer market, and processing plants are taking extra precautions with employee health. Still, as some parts of the agricultural industry are suffering from coronavirus, such as the pork industry losing $5 billion, planting season is going on ahead in Michigan. Smego also said that the state is at a disadvantage at the moment, as on Friday, the Federal Government deemed that greenhouse workers and landscapers are now essential workers while they are not deemed so in Michigan. He said that if the governor's executive orders are extended into May, the agriculture industry will still operate and continue to work responsibly. As such, the Farm Bureau is working with Michigan State University on developing advisories for agricultural employers to insure employee's good health. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 07:09:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LONDON, April 22 (Xinhua) -- London mayor Sadiq Khan on Wednesday called on the British government to protect three million private renters in the capital during the coronavirus pandemic. Khan said: "With millions of low-paid renters in London now facing increased financial uncertainty, we face a ticking timebomb of debt, arrears and widespread evictions." He said the government must urgently put in place measures that will prevent private landlords from evicting tenants who go into arrears as a result of pandemic. Khan fears Londoners on low incomes, who are already at a significant disadvantage in London's rental market, could be at a greater risk of being exploited by rogue landlords and real estate agents. He said tenants in the capital and across the country have been denied the security they need in the place they call home. "The current crisis has brought these issues into stark relief," he said. Khan warned failing to bring in more support for renters in London will not only result in widespread financial hardship, but risks increasing the public health crisis, as renters may feel forced to return to work too soon with increasing debt and arrears hanging over their heads. City Hall said a third of people in London rent privately, more than the number who own their homes with mortgages. Khan has outlined measures he wants the government to introduce to give legal protection to avert them being thrown out of their homes by property owners. Caitlin Wilkinson, policy manager at Generation Rent, said: "Many low-income people aren't able to pay the rent, and will be at risk of eviction and homelessness from June. No one should face eviction, debt and homelessness in the midst of a pandemic." Enditem Health chiefs have finally launched a mass coronavirus antibody testing study to trace how far the killer disease has already spread in Britain. A thousand households will have their blood samples taken every month by a nurse or trained medic, the Department of Health last night announced. Antibodies are substances made by the immune system in response to an infection and can be picked-up by a simple finger-prick blood test. The announcement marks a step forward after months of the Government dragging its feet on a programme which scientists say is essential to ending lockdown because it's the only way of getting a true picture of the size of the outbreak. Antibody testing, which has been picked up on much larger scale in other countries, forms a vital part of the Government's 'five-pillar' testing strategy - but officials have so far only managed 4,900 tests and just 51 were done yesterday. Who takes responsibility for antibody testing remains unclear, with parts being done by Public Health England and the new scheme falling to scientists at the University of Oxford working on behalf of the Department of Health. The UK's scheme is dwarfed by one being carried out in the Italian region of Lombardy, for example, where medics now plan to do 20,000 tests per day. A separate scheme in the US will involve 40,000 healthcare workers, while Andorra has ordered enough antibody kits to test its population twice. British officials have also begun a separate scheme to carry out regular swab tests on 25,000 people, who will be tested around 15 times a year to see whether they have the disease, so the Government can keep track of its spread. Swab tests can only tell if someone is currently infected. They do not look for signs of past infection, like antibody tests. The Department of Health revealed up to 300,000 people are expected to take part in the swab testing scheme within the first year. A technician scanning test tubes containing live samples during the opening of the new COVID-19 testing lab at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow on Wednesday HOW WILL THE ANTIBODY TESTING SCHEME BE CARRIED OUT? A thousand households will have their blood samples taken every month by a trained medic, the Department of Health last night announced. Nurses from the private firm IQVIA will carry out the antibody tests, to reduce the burden on NHS resources and personnel. Antibodies are substances made by the immune system in response to an infection and can be picked-up by just a finger-prick of blood. Ministers have not announced which company manufactures the test - but the results will be analysed by scientists at Oxford University. A letter seen by the Press Association news agency says those participating in the antibody testing scheme will not receive their results. Britain's scheme is dwarfed by the programme in the Italian region of Lombardy, which is screening 20,000 blood samples each day. A separate scheme in the US involves 40,000 healthcare workers, while Andorra has ordered enough antibody kits to test its population twice. Health chiefs have yet to approve an antibody test for mass use, despite promises one would be available to buy from Amazon or Boots weeks ago. But officials claim the home tests they have looked at are not accurate enough to be used, saying they range from between 50 and 70 per cent. Ministers announced plans to enrol up to 20,000 people to carry out the immunity tests earlier this month, in its 'Pillar 4' plan. It is unclear when the scheme will be increased in size, or if officials have opted to carry out a smaller surveillance study. As well as the separate study, Public Health England has been analysing blood tests for antibodies since the beginning of April. Officials said they were expanding the programme during April 'so that we have the potential to test around 5,000 samples per week'. But with just a week until May, figures show fewer than 5,000 samples - including 51 on Tuesday - have been analysed at the Porton Down lab. Advertisement Antibody testing - known as the 'have you had it' test - is still a controversial subject in the UK and authorities have been accused of blocking out commercial tests which could be done at home en masse because they don't think they're good enough. The scheme has been slow to get off the ground because of the Government's insistence on high standards. The 98 per cent accuracy demanded by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is higher than the majority of tests on the market and higher than the commercial test approved in the US. The new testing round will be done by scientists at the University of Oxford on behalf of the Government. Professor Ian Jones, a virus expert at the University of Reading, said today: 'The newly announced tests should at last address the level of virus circulation in the community and, to a lesser extent, the level of past infections. 'The infectivity tests, the have you got it tests, are possible as a result of the scaled up testing facilities now operating in the Lighthouse Labs. 'The much lower number of antibody tests, the have you had it tests, reflect the fact that these tests are currently much less scalable, at least with an acceptable level of accuracy. 'Together they will give important data on how prevalent the infection is and has been. Where this has been done elsewhere the level of infection has been 20 to 50 times higher than the known positives and we must wait to see if this is also the case in the UK.' The hope for antibody testing is that, when widespread, it can give a clearer, faster picture of the size of the country's outbreak. Currently, the numbers of people in hospital is the most accurate day-by-day measure but this represents only a small proportion of patients and can be out of date because it may take a week or more for someone to end up in hospital. The Department of Health is funding the antibody and swab-testing study, which will be done alongside the Office for National Statistics (ONS). As well as the separate study, Public Health England has been analysing blood tests for antibodies since the beginning of April. Officials said they were expanding the programme during April 'so that we have the potential to test around 5,000 samples per week'. But with just a week until May, figures show fewer than 5,000 samples - including just 51 yesterday - have been analysed at the Porton Down laboratory. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: 'Understanding more about the rate of COVID-19 infection in the general population, and the longer-term prevalence of antibodies, is a vital part of our ongoing response to this virus. 'This survey will help to track the current extent of transmission and infection in the UK, while also answering crucial questions about immunity as we continue to build up our understanding of this new virus. 'Together, these results will help us better understand the spread of the virus to date, predict the future trajectory and inform future action we take, including crucially the development of ground-breaking new tests and treatments.' 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 Health Secretary Matt Hancock during a hybrid session of the House of Commons yesterday. He said the new survey will help track the current extent of transmission in the UK Official statistics showed that the number of people in hospital with coronavirus continues to fall in many parts of the country The number of new cases of the virus in the UK was up on the previous day but is down from over the weekend Antibody testing is considered crucial in providing an exit pathway from the current lockdown, and also providing data to those developing a vaccine. Health chiefs have yet to approve an antibody test for mass use, despite promises that one would be available to buy from Amazon or Boots weeks ago. But officials claim the home tests they have looked at are not accurate enough to be used, saying they range from between 50 and 70 per cent. Experts stress the more people screened, the clearer the picture on the true size of the UK's crisis, which began spreading on British soil in February. Participants in the Government's antibody test will be asked to give further samples monthly for the next 12 months. Blood for antibody tests will not be taken in any households where someone has symptoms of COVID-19 or is currently self-isolating or shielding. Officials said participants in the swab-testing rollout will form a representative sample of the UK population by age and geography, with initial findings expected in early May. Participants are being selected from the tens of thousands of Brits who have already taken part in other ONS surveys. Those selected will provide samples from self-administered nose and throat swabs and answer questions during a home visit by a trained healthcare professional. They will be asked to take further tests every week for the first five weeks, then every month for a year. In total, the Government says some 25,000 people will take part in the pilot phase with plans to extend it to up to around 300,000 over the next 12 months. Scientists will also analyse blood samples from adults in around 1,000 households to determine how many people have developed antibodies to the virus. Nurses from the private firm IQVIA will carry out the antibody tests, to reduce the burden on NHS resources and personnel. Ministers announced plans to enrol up to 20,000 people to carry out the immunity tests earlier this month. It is unclear when the scheme will be increased in size, or if officials have opted to carry out a smaller surveillance study. Although swab test results will be given to participants via their GP, a letter seen by PA says those participating in the antibody test will not receive their results. The de-identified blood samples will be sent to Oxford University to be tested for antibodies, while infection testing swabs are to be sent to UK Biocentre. A scientist holding an antibody test to use with a blood sample for the coronavirus at a laboratory of the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology at the InfectoGnostics research campus in Jena, Germany A lab technician wearing full PPE cleaning a test tube containing a live sample taken from people tested for coronavirus at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow yesterday On Tuesday it was announced the first British human trials for a vaccine will begin recruiting volunteers this week. It is hoped the new inoculation, which normally would take around 18 months to develop, could see large-scale production under way as early as September only nine months after the virus came to light in Wuhan, China. Yesterday the UK has announced 763 more hospital deaths from the coronavirus, taking Britain's total number of victims to 18,100. But the coronavirus outbreak in the UK may have killed more than 41,000 people already when non-hospital deaths are included. An analysis of backdated statistics by the Financial Times has predicted that, by the time care home deaths and unrecorded hospital fatalities are added up, it could emerge that 41,102 people had died by April 21. The official toll was 17,337. What is the REAL death rate of COVID-19? Antibody testing studies suggest mortality rate is up to 70 TIMES lower than official figures - as scientists warn the number of infected is still too low to establish 'herd immunity' Coronavirus may kill 70 times fewer patients than official UK death figures suggest, studies have shown. Britain has one of the worst COVID-19 testing records, meaning a frightening 13 per cent of diagnosed patients in the UK die from the disease. But this is considerably higher than the real death rate because it does not take into account the thousands of infected people who had mild symptoms. Scientists say the only way to work out the actual rate is to test blood samples of the population for antibodies, which the immune system makes once infected. While the accuracy of these tests is up for debate, experts agree they give a much clearer indication of who has previously been infected - and are considered key to easing the draconian lockdowns imposed across the world. Results of one antibody survey in Los Angeles suggested the illness may only kill around 0.18 per cent of coronavirus patients. It was based on the assumption that the true number of infections in LA was 330,000, far higher than the 7,994 that official figures showed when the study was published on April 20. This is because tens of thousands of people develop such mild symptoms that they are never tested for the illness. Applying the same death rate to Britain's coronavirus crisis would suggest that the number of Brits who had caught the virus is in the region of 9.5million - or 14 per cent. But Government advisers say the true number is likely to be a third of that, and some studies from France suggest it will only get up to 6 per cent in a matter of weeks. Scientists say the only way to work out true coronavirus death rates is to test blood samples of the population for antibodies. Such studies have been carried out in the US, Germany, Holland and Finland (shown) Official death rate are skewed by a lack of testing - the UK, for example, only checks people who are severely ill and some healthcare workers A similar fatality rate (0.19 per cent) was found in a study of residents in Helsinki, Finland. The samples were all taken from the region of Uusima, which is home to approximately 1.7million people - most of whom live in the capital of Helsinki. It found that 3.4 per cent of the population had antibodies. At the time, only 2,000 cases had been confirmed by laboratory tests. But 3.4 per of the region's population would equate to around 57,800. WHAT DO THE ANTIBODY TESTS SHOW? LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA Blood samples in Los Angeles suggest the coronavirus death rate could be around 0.18 per cent. A study of 846 people found roughly 4.1 per cent of the countys 3.9million population has antibodies to the virus. It means that roughly 330,000 people have already caught the illness and built up some immunity to it. There were officially 600 COVID-19 deaths when the research was conducted on April 20. This suggests that around 0.18 per cent of patients fall victim to the disease. CHELSEA, BOSTON US researchers in Boston found almost a third (31.5 per cent) of residents in the suburb of Chelsea had antibodies for the virus. They collected blood samples from 200 random volunteers and said roughly 63 people had probably caught the illness. The city of Chelsea is home to around 40,160 people. If the results were to be extrapolated to the whole city, it suggests 12,650 may have actually been infected. When the study was published on April 17, Chelsea had suffered 39 deaths to coronavirus. The finding suggests the true death rate it around 0.31 per cent. GANGELT, GERMANY Scientists studying Gangelt, dubbed the 'German Wuhan', found as many as 15 per cent of people may have already been infected with the virus. Data shows around 12,500 people live in the municipality, which sits in the North-Western state of North Rhine-Westphalia. If the results were to be extrapolated to the whole of Gangelt, it would mean that around 1,900 people have already caught the deadly virus. It is not clear exactly how many people had died in Gangelt by the time that the University of Bonn study of 1,000 people was published. But the team - whose work was not scrutinised and published in a journal - estimated the true death rate was in the region of 0.37 per cent. THE NETHERLANDS An antibody surveillance scheme in the Netherlands suggested the death rate for COVID-19 could actually be in the region of 0.63 per cent. Dutch researchers found antibodies in three per cent of blood donors, after analysing samples from around 7,000 people aged between 18 and 69. The head of the Netherlands' National Institute for Health told MPs it meant that 'several hundred thousand people' may have already been infected. Around 17.28million people live in the Netherlands. Three per cent of the country's population would equate to approximately 518,400. When results were published on April 16, official figures showed that 3,315 people had died after testing positive for COVID-19 in the Netherlands. HELSINKI, FINLAND Finnish researchers analysed around 150 blood samples by mid-April and found 3.4 per cent had antibodies for the coronavirus. The samples were all taken from the region of Uusima, which is home to approximately 1.7million people - most of whom live in the capital of Helsinki. At the time, only 2,000 cases had been confirmed by laboratory tests. But 3.4 per of the region's population would equate to around 57,800. Only 110 deaths have been registered in Uusima to-date - suggesting that the true fatality rate is closer to the 0.19 per cent mark. The study was released on April 15 - but the region's death toll has barely changed in the past week. It was not published in a journal. SANTA CLARA, LOS ANGELES A study of 3,300 people in the Californian city of Santa Clara suggested 1.8 per cent of people who catch coronavirus die. Lead authors Jay Bhattacharya and Eran Bendavid, who study health policy at Stanford University, said around 3 per cent of people had antibodies. Santa Clara, in Californias Silicon Valley, is home to 130,000 people. If the 3 per cent was applied to the whole city it would mean 3,900 people have been infected. The region had suffered 70 deaths at the time of the research on April 18, suggesting the true death rate is 1.8 per cent. Advertisement Only 110 deaths have been registered in Uusima to-date - suggesting that the true fatality rate is closer to the 0.19 per cent mark. By comparison, the flu kills roughly 0.1 per cent of the people it infects. In other antibody surveillance studies, the death rate was revealed to be higher but still considerably less than the UK's tally. Samples in Gangelt, dubbed the 'German Wuhan', estimated the true death rate was in the region of 0.37 per cent. An antibody surveillance scheme in the US city of Chelsea, in Massachusetts, predicted the city has a death rate of 0.31 per cent. And a sample in the Netherlands suggested the death rate for COVID-19 could actually be in the region of 0.63 per cent. The varying death rates prove the true lethality of the disease is still unknown, but the antibody studies are starting to paint a clearer picture. Dr Joe Grove, a virologist at University College London, told MailOnline: 'Antibody testing is important because the better we understand the virus, the better we can respond to it. 'The true death rate allows public health experts and epidemiologist to asses what the effects of another epidemic would be. 'A lot of our current policy has been determined by the predictions of computer simulations. But those models are only as good as the data you put into them. 'So there wouldve been estimates of death rates and infections, but as we get firmer numbers we can run more accurate simulations and predict with more confidence what might happen in future. 'This is critical for working out if given epidemic will overwhelm the healthcare system again.' Another scientist - Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz, an epidemiologist from Sydney, Australia - said he was 'confused' at experts arguing COVID-19 had a death rate similar to the flu. He tweeted: 'Currently, 14,800 people in New York have died. That's 0.18 per cent OF THE ENTIRE CITY. Unless 100 per cent are infected, it's not as low as 0.1-0.2 per cent.' The new antibody studies are giving researchers a clearer idea of the actual number of infections in the population. Even in the worst-hit regions, fewer than 10 per cent of the population have been infected. This signals that countries should not pin their hopes on 'herd immunity' preventing a second wave of COVID-19, scientists say. When enough of a population, roughly 60 to 70 per cent, build up antibodies against an infection, it stunts the virus' ability to spread. Herd immunity was controversially touted as a way out of the crisis by the UK's scientific advisers at the beginning of the outbreak. Officials proposed letting the majority of the population catch and beat the disease because the virus' symptoms in most people is mild. The government based its planning on the assumption that if the virus was allowed to spread unchecked it would eventually infect 80 per cent of the population. That figure appears to have been borrowed from planning for flu pandemics. But research is beginning to show that nowhere near enough people will catch the virus in the first wave to create the indirect community protection. Research at the Zhongnan Hospital in Wuhan, the epicentre of the pandemic, found that about 2.4 per cent of its employees and patients had developed antibodies against COVID-19. In France, the Pasteur Institute estimates that less than 6 per cent will have been caught it by May 11, when the country's lockdown is due to end. That makes a resurgence of the virus highly likely if restrictions were lifted without a vaccine, experts said. Simon Cauchemez, lead author of the institute's study, said: 'For collective immunity to be effective in avoiding a second wave, we would have to have immunisation for 70 per cent of the population. 'We are well below this. If we want to avoid a major second wave, some measures will have to be maintained.' Countries are moving towards antibody sampling to get a clearer idea of how the infection has spread and how many people may be immune to the disease. They are considered the key to letting countries out of lockdown safely without a second wave of cases. But British health chiefs have still only carried out fewer than 5,000 antibody tests - despite mass schemes being carried out across the globe. Italy has begun screening the blood of 20,000 people a day, while one programme in the US will involve 40,000 healthcare workers. Germany plans to test 15,000 people and apply the findings to its whole population, and even Andorra has ordered 150,000 kits - enough to give its entire population two each. Antibodies are proteins in the blood which reveal if someone has already fought off an infection, including the deadly coronavirus. Health chiefs have plans to conduct the 'biggest surveys in the world' to discover how many of the population have some sort of immunity to the virus. But they are miles off the 5,000 per week target - Department of Health data shows only 600 were carried out at the Porton Down laboratory yesterday. Officials promised Britons would be able to do antibody tests in the comfort of their own home in the near future, buying them from Amazon or Boots. But officials claim the tests they have looked at are not accurate enough to be used, saying they range from between 50 and 70 per cent. Experts stress the more people screened, the clearer the picture on the true size of the UK's crisis, which began spreading on British soil in February. Catholic and independent schools should give parents a fee discount if they will not be providing face-to-face lessons for their children, Premier Mark McGowan says. Despite state government issued guidelines for schools to offer both face-to-face and remote learning from term 2, private schools have taken their own approach. All Catholic school students from kindergarten to year 10 will be taught via remote learning whether their parents choose to send them to school or keep them home. Year 11 and 12s are encouraged to attend and be taught face-to-face. The Premier said the health advice was schools were safe. The WA Secondary Schools Association has come out and said principals cant guarantee that every school could have face-to-face learning because they dont know how many students will attend. [April 23, 2020] The Donate Life Run/Walk Goes Virtual to Celebrate 18 Years of Inspiring Local Communities to Donate Life Continuing its mission to inspire local communities to donate life through meaningful events, and in response to the current COVID-19 state and federal recommendations to shelter in place, OneLegacy's Donate Life Run/Walk is going virtual in 2020. The first Donate Life Virtual Run/Walk will include a special broadcast on YouTube and Facebook Live this Saturday, April 25, at 10 a.m. PDT. As the largest event of its kind in the nation, the Donate Life Run/Walk gathers over 12,000 participants at Cal State Fullerton every year to celebrate the power of donation and transplantation. The first virtual run/walk is inviting organ, eye and tissue donation advocates, as well as health and wellness enthusiasts, to join the live broadcast from home and participate in their own way. "Whether they eat their breakfast from their couch, run or walk around the block, or pace from the hallway to their kitchen, we want participants to join us on YouTube (News - Alert) or Facebook Live for a unique experience tailored to these unique times," said Kathleen Hostert, executive director of the run/walk and public education manager for OneLegacy, the nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives through organ, eye and tissue donation in the seven-county greater Los Angeles area. "For the last 17 years, we have gathered thousands of participants and volunteers at Cal State Fullerton to share the importance of organ, eye and tissue donation. My husband, Craig, and I look forward to our 2020 virtual run/walk, expanding our reach beyond Southern California to several states in the U.S. and countries around the world. This will be a wonderful event to honor the power of organ, eye and tissue donation." A moving opening ceremony will start the broadcast, co-hosted by ABC7's news anchor Phillip Palmer as well as longtime Donate Life Run/Walk host Jim Rhoads. Special appearances include Grammy award-winning music group All-4-One; NASCAR racer and donor son Joey Gase; and dozens of organ, eye and tissue donation advocates who will open their homes to share their experience and inspire those watching the virtual event. A VIRTUAL EVENT FOR DONOR FAMILIES, RECIPIENTS AND DONATION ADVOCATES For the 18th consecutive year, hundreds of donor family members will participate to honor the memory of their loved ones. More than 200 donor family teams will join 22 hospital teams and nearly 2,500 participants that include dozens of hospitals; organ, eye and tissue recipients; health and fitness enthusiasts; and corporate and community groups to clebrate the gift of life. Since 2007, team Schreiber has gathered every last Saturday in April to honor the life and legacy of David Schreiber. David was 43 when, in 2005, he suddenly passed away from a massive stroke. He was a Long Beach native who believed in family and community. He left behind a wife, an 18-year-old daughter, a 3-day-old son, a brother, sister, niece and nephew. It was his wish in life to donate upon his death, and OneLegacy helped fulfill that wish for David when the time came. David donated his liver, tissue and corneas. Sharon remembers her first Donate Life Run/Walk, "My son, Aaron, was a toddler when we participated in our first run/walk; and our daughter had just graduated high school. Alexandria as an adult never misses the chance to attend the run/walk to honor her father, and Aaron is now 14 and has not missed one yet! The Donate Life Run/Walk is a special event for us to remember David's life and for Alex and Aaron to learn more about their dad's story and the many lives David healed and saved through organ, eye and tissue donation." The Donate Life Virtual Run/Walk is produced by OneLegacy, the largest organ procurement organization in the U.S. dedicated to saving lives through organ, eye and tissue donation in seven Southern California counties. "Donate Life Month is celebrated every year in April, and we are excited to expand our reach on our first Donate Life Virtual Run/Walk," said Tom Mone, CEO of OneLegacy. "We look forward to inspiring those who join us on social media, whether they belong to the communities we serve or are joining us from cities across the U.S. and beyond, to register as donors and help save the lives of nearly 113,000 people across the country who are currently waiting for a lifesaving transplant." All proceeds from the Donate Life Virtual Run/Walk benefit the OneLegacy Foundation, with a goal to enhance OneLegacy's public education efforts to inspire others to donate life and conduct research studies to improve the lives of recipients and optimize the organ, eye and tissue recovery process. The 2020 sponsors for OneLegacy's first Donate Life Virtual Run/Walk include ABC7, Albertsons, Vons, Pavillions, W.L. Butler, The Whole Enchilada, CareDx, Cedars-Sinai, Century 21, UC Irvine Health, Skechers, R. J. Noble, Tangent Systems, Greystone, CRCA (Consumer Reporting Compliance Associates) and Wescom. For additional information and to register online to participate in this year's Donate Life Virtual Run/Walk, visit DonateLifeRunWalk.org, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. To register to become an organ, eye and tissue donor, visit http://donatelifecalifornia.org/OneLegacy or http://doneVIDAcalifornia.org/OneLegacy. About OneLegacy OneLegacy is the nonprofit organization dedicated to saving lives through organ, eye and tissue donation in the seven-county greater Los Angeles area. With more than 200 hospitals, 10 transplant centers and a diverse population of 22 million, OneLegacy is the largest organ, eye and tissue recovery organization in the world. For more information about OneLegacy, visit OneLegacy.org, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005867/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] SAN FRANCISCO, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Port53, a cybersecurity company focused on simplifying the adoption of effective security products, announced that it has partnered with Devices for Students, a nonprofit focused on making online learning accessible to underprivileged K-12 students, to deliver 53 laptops for students in need. Six million California students have had their schools closed, and many of them don't have the tools they need for remote learning. Approximately 15% of California school-aged children don't have internet access or a device at home. Technology insecurity is among the many challenges families face with this new form of education. "My late father initially arrived in the US on a Fulbright Scholarship to attain a high-quality education with the ultimate goal of providing accessible education to the masses. I intend to carry out this vision starting in California, my home state," said Omar Zarabi, Port53's founder and CEO. Port53 donated 53 devices to Devices for Students, who have partnered with school districts across California. They have already distributed over 1000 laptops. They purchase heavily discounted laptops and data hotspots and process donated devices through the community and local sponsors. Their team of volunteers configure the software and hardware at a local staging location and provide technology training for teachers and students receiving the devices. Devices for Students aim to close the resource divide between students at California schools and provide easy access to online learning. Through partnerships with generous businesses like Port53, community organizations, and local schools, they connect devices and technical resources with the students who need them most. Through these partnerships, they have established the infrastructure to identify students in need, reduce device acquisition cost, streamline device distribution, and to track the initiative's results. Please reach out if you are interested in joining our efforts, have creative ways to help, are a part of an organization that is interested in partnering with us, or to say hello. Make a Donation https://donate.sparkprogram.org/give/277545/#!/donation/checkout Volunteer or Become a Partner https://www.devicesforstudents.org/nice-to-meet-you About Port53 Port53 is a cybersecurity firm focusing on enabling organizations to safely and securely thrive in the digital world by delivering enterprise-grade solutions that are easy to deploy, simple to manage, and extremely effective. Port53 works closely with Cisco's leading security offerings including Cisco Umbrella, AMP for Endpoints, Meraki, Cloud Email Security, Duo Security and CloudLock, as well as other cloud-delivered security solutions including OneLogin and Lacework. Learn more at www.port53.com. About Devices for Students Devices for Students was inspired by the sweeping changes COVID-19 made to our education system in CA. Access to remote learning is no longer a luxury, it's now a necessity for K-12 students to continue their education. One million CA public school children do not have access to the internet or computers at home. Devices for Students' mission is to bridge that gap by providing laptops and reliable WiFi access to the students who need them most. Press Inquiries Madison Yeack [email protected] Related Files Port53BlackLarge.png Port53White.png Related Images image1.png Related Links Port53 Devices for Students SOURCE Port53 Related Links http://www.port53.com Biden has faced skepticism from some in the environmental movement, especially after a Reuters report that he was seeking a middle ground on climate policy. He insisted that he takes the issue seriously. During the primaries, environmentalists have urged him to more fully embrace initiatives such as the Green New Deal, which seeks to dramatically cut the countrys use of fossil fuels and sharply reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan Tests Negative for COVID-19, Goes into Self-Isolation Sputnik News 08:01 GMT 22.04.2020 New Delhi (Sputnik): Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan had to self-isolate days after meeting Faisal Edhi, the head of Pakistan's largest charity group the Edhi Foundation, who tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has tested negative for COVID-19, but has still gone into self-isolation. The prime minister underwent a medical examination after reports that a person he had met last week tested positive for the coronavirus on Tuesday. Government sources have said that Khan is currently running state affairs remotely. The decision was taken by the PM himself as a "precautionary measure", they further added. Faisal Edhi, the head of Pakistan's largest charity group the Edhi Foundation, tested positive for the virus on Tuesday. He was in Islamabad when he met Khan to donate a $61,090 (PKR 10 million) cheque on behalf of his organisation for the COVID-19 relief fund. As of Wednesday, Pakistan has 9,749 positive COVID-19 cases and 203 deaths due to the virus. Meanwhile, the government has eased restrictions in mosques for prayers during the holy month of Ramadan. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Desperate small businesses are being pushed to the edge of collapse as they try to cover monthly wage bills that have in some cases doubled as up to 1.7 million workers get a pay rise under the JobKeeper program. The federal government, under pressure from small businesses who have struck problems with the $130 billion scheme, has worked with the nation's banks to create hotlines so firms can quickly access loans to cover their staff salaries. Tammy Robinson, manager at the FCGC gym, one of many businesses trying to find tens of thousands of dollars to pay its staff the JobKeeper payment. Credit:Eddie Jim JobKeeper is the government's most important coronavirus stimulus measure, paying $1500 of eligible workers' wages in a program it says will ensure employees retain a connection to their employers. Under the scheme, businesses have to pay their staff wages before being reimbursed by the government through the Tax Office. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 09:19 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3aef6f 1 Business Indonesia,state-budget,state-revenue,shortfall,VAT,digital-tax,Danny-Darussalam Free Indonesia should turn to value-added tax (VAT) and large tech companies to address the widening shortfall in state revenue, analysts have said. Danny Darussalam Tax Center (DDTC) research partner Bawono Kristiaji said VAT and individual tax were generally more resistant to economic shocks like those that hit Indonesia during the 2008 crisis. VAT is more resistant to economic shocks than other tax sources, Bawono told a virtual discussion on Tuesday. There are two prerequisites: purchasing power must be maintained and the supply side shock did not heavily affect goods prices. However, he went on to say, the economic shock caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that includes mass layoffs could have a severe impact on both VAT and personal income tax. The government should look to save, renew and expand VAT as the main tax source. Read also: Concerns over unfair practices, law enforcement cloud digital tax implementation Indonesias total tax revenue reached Rp 241.6 trillion (US$15.48 billion) in the first quarter this year, down 2.5 percent from the same period last year, as corporate income tax and import tax dropped significantly amid the decline in business activities. Tax revenue is expected to reach Rp 1.25 quadrillion in 2020, according to the governments latest projection stipulated in Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) No. 1/2020, down 23.65 percent from the 2020 state budget target. VAT, the biggest tax contributor, grew by more than 10 percent year-on-year (yoy) to Rp 51.63 trillion in the first quarter, while personal income tax grew by nearly 5 percent to Rp 36.58 trillion. The virus has infected more than 2.5 million people around the globe, including 7,135 people in Indonesia as of Tuesday. Indonesia has introduced partial lockdowns in Jakarta and other cities to halt the spread of COVID-19. The harsh impact of the emergency measures has crippled almost all business sectors. This has upended supply chains, crushed demand for goods and taken a toll on tax revenue for the government. Bawono welcomed the governments decision to tax tech firms, saying that would make sense, as tech firms enjoyed significant income in Indonesia. This would help compensate for lost revenue and anticipate the negative COVID-19 impact on state revenue. The Perpres issued on March 31 stipulates that online products and services provided by offshore companies with a significant economic presence will be subject to paying taxes as authorities target a bigger slice of revenue from the countries fast-growing digital market. Read also: Almost all business sectors will get tax breaks: Govt Meanwhile, Tax Office spokesperson Hestu Yoga Saksama said the pandemic would erase up to Rp 8.87 trillion of VAT income, while the governments move to make the import of medical devices duty-free would erase up to Rp 6.9 trillion in state income. However, the realization would depend on real transactions, Hestu told Kontan recently. Through Finance Ministry Regulation No. 28/2020, the government has lifted import duties for medical devices including medicines, vaccines and testing kits to better equip the country in its fight against the pandemic. The regulation waives import and income tax requirements for government institutions, hospitals and other parties involved in the fight against COVID-19. Indonesias budget deficit is expected to widen to 5.07 percent of the countrys GDP this year as the government spends heavily to help businesses, workers and households through the COVID-19 crisis. The government has set aside Rp 436.1 trillion in extra spending to cope with COVID-19. The funds, which account for 2.5 percent of the countrys GDP, would be allocated for healthcare spending, social safety nets and business recovery programs. Read also: 2021 state budget to include extra spending for COVID-19 mitigation It will also grant larger tax breaks to cover 11 business sectors similar to the incentives designed to allow manufacturing companies to weather the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, including personal income tax exemptions, import duty deferrals and 30 percent corporate tax discounts. The head of the Finance Ministrys Fiscal Policy Agency (BKF), Febrio Nathan Kacaribu, has voiced concern that the governments stimulus may be insufficient to prevent an economic meltdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. We have doubts that the stimulus packages will be enough, Febrio told reporters during a teleconference. The government will anticipate this because there are some discouraging signs. College students hoping to find out the estimated amount of their state grant to help pay for tuition and related costs for the 2020-21 academic year will have to wait an extra month. The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency announced on Thursday its board of directors adoption of a formula used to determine grant amounts is being postponed until May due to the uncertainty surrounding the amount of state funding that will be available for the grant program. The states Independent Fiscal Office earlier this month released a report estimates the coronavirus outbreak could cost Pennsylvania $2.7 billion in lost tax revenue over the next 15 months, which makes forecasting the amount of money available for any state-funded program at this time pure guesswork. Rep. Mike Peifer, R-Pike County, who chairs the agencys board, called the state grant program a work in progress at this point. PHEAA continues to work with the governors office and respective appropriation committees to sort through the unprecedented challenges facing the commonwealth during this budget process as we also monitor anticipated applicant demand for the program, he said. The delay might hinder families ability to figure out how much additional funding may need to be borrowed for next year without knowing a conditional grant amount, said Trina Snyder, director of financial aid and scholarships at Shippensburg University. But theres still plenty of time to nail that down since bills for the fall semester dont come due until August. Besides, she said, "our student accounts office would work with families. We understand that. This is a special time with COVID-19 as well so were taking this all into consideration to help our students the best way we can." Snyder said she expects that will be the case at other colleges and universities too. Past years late state budgets have taught them how to adapt to delays in learning students estimated state grant amounts. Regardless, she said, Im sure all the schools are going to do the best we can to support our students. One action PHEAAs board did take on Thursday that may help families as they look ahead to paying for next years college costs is it extended the May 1 deadline for state grant applications from incoming and returning students to May 15. For students depending on financial assistance from the state grant and other programs PHEAA administers who are planning to take summer courses, there was another action the agencys board took that will be of help. It extended the temporary relaxing rules on its student aid programs that was put in place for the winter and spring semester through the upcoming summer term. Another While the grant formula for next year remains up in the air, PHEAAs board did take action to extend the temporary relaxing rules on the student aid programs put in place for the winter and spring semester to extend through the upcoming summer term. This modification ensures students do not see an interruption or reduction in their aid due to operational changes made by schools in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. That includes, for example, a relaxing of a rule that limits students taking at least half of their classes online to be eligible for only 75% of the $4,123 maximum state grant award that students who take mostly in-person classes receive. Many colleges and universities across the state have announced the online classes they began offering in the middle of this spring semester due to the coronavirus outbreak will be extended through the summer term. COVID-19 continues to create significant stress and uncertainty for students and families throughout Pennsylvania," said Sen. Wayne Fontana, D-Allegheny County, the boards vice chairman. "At the same time, postsecondary schools are struggling to adapt to a new normal that lacks precedent, so we need to ensure that our programs are flexible enough to maintain effectiveness regardless of shifting circumstances that are beyond the students control. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy. Thanks for visiting PennLive. Quality local journalism has never been more important. We need your support. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriza Pinandita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 17:02 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3dfb4d 1 SE Asia Southeast-Asia,COVID-19,Rohingya,Myanmar,Indonesia,AICHR,refugee,asylum-seekers,human-rights Free Indonesias representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Human Rights Commission (AICHR), Yuyun Wahyuningrum, has expressed concern about the refusal of Malaysian authorities to allow Rohingya refugees to enter the country because of COVID-19 fears. Last week, Malaysia denied entry to a boat carrying about 200 Rohingya after news emerged that scores had died on another crowded vessel, AFP reported. In a response to the news on Wednesday, Yuyun argued that countries should show compassion during the pandemic, especially for those who are marginalized and in desperate need of assistance, such as the Rohingya. Tightening border controls and limiting freedom of movement may be necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19. However, they should not push people away who are fleeing persecution, said Yuyun. She said ASEAN member states had already established COVID-19 health protocols requiring people entering the country to undergo a 14-day quarantine in designated places. Read also: Bangladesh rescues nearly 400 Rohingya after weeks at sea Yuyun also said the refusal of Rohingya refugees seemed counter to a special declaration that ASEAN had adopted last week calling for member states to prioritize the wellbeing of ASEAN people in their collective fight against COVID-19" and "provide appropriate assistance and support to the nationals of ASEAN member states affected by the pandemic in each others countries or in third countries". We should not repeat the same mistake as in 2015, when dozens of Rohingya people died at sea because their boats were prevented from landing in Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. The right to seek asylum is guaranteed in Article 16 of the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration [AHRD], she said. AFP reported that a Malaysian air force jet spotted the Rohingya boat on April 16 off the countrys northwestern island of Langkawi. Malaysian sailors gave the Rohingya refugees food before escorting them out of the countrys waters. The military argued that undocumented migrants would bring COVID-19 into the country because of their poor living conditions and that this was why they had intensified their maritime surveillance operations. While relatively few boats carrying the minority ethnic group have arrived in Malaysia since the 2015 crisis, some have been allowed into the country. Earlier this month, 202 Rohingya who landed in Langkawi were detained. Furious Tory MPs have warned the government it must spell out in detail how it intends to ease the UK's coronavirus lockdown to give businesses hope of survival. Senior backbenchers on the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs met yesterday to discuss the government's response to the current crisis. They said it is 'silly' for ministers not to be totally frank with the public given how well most of the population has stuck to social distancing measures. They stressed 'there has got to be an economy to go back to' as they sounded a warning which will be heard loud and clear in Downing Street. The committee's treasurer, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, then broke cover today as he suggested a comprehensive plan must be set out within the next month or many businesses 'are actually likely to cease trading'. However, in a sign tensions are likely to rise, Dominic Raab said last night it will be weeks before ministers even 'think about' putting forward an exit strategy while Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said some restrictions are likely to be in place for the 'next calendar year'. The UKHospitality industry body has warned pubs and restaurants face a 'bloodbath' if lockdown extends long into the future amid calls for firms to be given a reprieve in the form of delayed rent payments. Failure to take such action could see one third of the sector go bust. There have been signs in recent days that some people are beginning to tire of the curbs on daily life with photographs showing more people on the UK's roads and in the nation's parks. Pressure is only likely to grow on the government to provide more details of its plans with Nicola Sturgeon today due to set out her own strategy for easing restrictions. The Scottish government will publish a new paper containing guidelines designed to chart a way forward when lockdown is eased. It will say that people will need to adapt to a 'new normal'. It came as it emerged the government is pressing ahead with plans to set up a 15,000 strong contact tracing army which will play a key role in stopping future outbreaks of the killer bug in Britain. It will be based on the system used in South Korea which has successfully managed to minimise its own outbreak through the use of extensive contact tracing of people who have become infected. Professor Chris Whitty said yesterday some social distancing measures are likely to remain in place for the next year Dominic Raab, pictured in Number 10 yesterday, is under pressure to set out the government's coronavirus exit strategy in detail Nicola Sturgeon, the Scottish First Minister, will today publish a new paper setting out her own ideas to ease lockdown Health chiefs launch new bid to determine spread of coronavirus in Britain Health chiefs have finally launched a mass coronavirus antibody testing study to trace how far the killer disease has already spread in Britain. A thousand households will have their blood samples taken every month by a nurse or trained medic, the Department of Health last night announced. Antibodies are substances made by the immune system in response to an infection and can be picked-up by a simple finger-prick blood test. The announcement marks a step forward after months of the government dragging its feet on a programme which scientists say is essential to ending lockdown because it's the only way of getting a true picture of the size of the outbreak. Antibody testing, which has been picked up on much larger scale in other countries, forms a vital part of the government's 'five-pillar' testing strategy - but officials have so far only managed 4,900 tests. The UK government is yet to identify a mass produced antibody test which is sufficiently accurate to be rolled out nationwide. The new British sampling scheme is dwarfed by one being carried out in the Italian region of Lombardy, for example, where medics now plan to do 20,000 tests per day. British officials have also begun a separate scheme to carry out regular swab tests on 25,000 people, who will be tested around 15 times a year to see whether they have the disease, so the government can keep track of its spread. Advertisement The 1922 Committee met yesterday as senior Tory MPs outlined their fears for what a prolonged lockdown could do to the UK economy in the long term. Chancellor Rishi Sunak and the government's budget watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility, have suggested the economy should bounce back relatively quickly once measures are lifted. But Conservative MPs are increasingly concerned that the longer restrictions are in place without a blueprint for a return to normal life being announced, the higher the damage will be to UK plc. Members of the committee reportedly said the government needs to give firms 'the certainty they need to survive'. One member said ministers 'simply have to get on with it' and set out their plan in full, according to The Telegraph. 'The idea that the public can't be trusted with the facts is frankly quite silly, they've handled lockdown incredibly well,' they said. Another member of the committee claimed that was also the view of the 'vast majority of the Cabinet'. The Times reported that Sir Charles Walker, vice-chairman of the committee, said: 'There has got to be an economy to go back to.' Mr Clifton-Brown, the committee's treasurer, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme this morning the government must 'start this discussion of how we get back to normality'. He said: 'We all understand that this is a killer virus potentially and therefore whatever we do needs to be done gradually. 'But I think that we could, when the figures start to stabilise a bit more - the number of cases, the number of deaths - start to stabilise a bit more in the next sort of three to four weeks hopefully we could begin to think about what are the next steps on a step by step basis to begin to get back to normality. 'I don't see any reason why things like garden centres, DIY stores, with proper social isolating couldn't begin to open. 'We have got to think about the number of businesses, particularly small businesses, that unless they get some form of indication when they might be able to get back into business that are actually likely to cease trading. 'Every business that ceases trading is a job or more than one lost.' Ms Sturgeon will today pile pressure on ministers in Whitehall as she publishes her own end-of-lockdown plan. Government set to update guidance on face masks Britons are set to be told it will not be compulsory to wear masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus - but they will be advised to wear DIY face coverings at work, in shops and on public transport. The government's top scientific experts have been reviewing key evidence and ministers are expected to issue new guidance to the public by the weekend. The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) is believed to be backing advice on wearing a cloth face mask - such as a homemade mask or scarf - in areas where social distancing is not possible. This will mean asking people to cover their nose and mouth when they go to the shops and travel on trains, but won't apply to being in parks and quiet, residential streets. The experts are set to say it should not be compulsory and that the wearing of masks should be left up to the individual. Advertisement A new Scottish government paper will make clear that in the immediate future, some changes to everyday life will remain in place. Speaking ahead of its publication, the First Minister and SNP leader said: 'The lockdown measures currently in place are absolutely necessary to suppress the virus, protect our health service and to save lives. 'But we need to chart a way forward, and this paper sets out the principles that will guide us. 'The public across Scotland have acted responsibly in the face of this ongoing threat, and it is only right that we treat people like grown-ups by sharing our thinking with them on how we can move beyond the current lockdown phase. 'This paper is high level at this stage but will evolve into a detailed plan as our evidence develops. 'Life may not return to normal for some time yet, but there is a way forward, and ultimately we will come through this challenge.' One of the key pillars of the UK government's plan to get out of lockdown will be a new contract tracing army. Downing Street's slides yesterday showed that the UK is broadly continuing to follow the trajectory of outbreaks in France and Spain But the official statistics showed that the number of people in hospital with coronavirus continues to fall in many parts ofthe country The number of people dying in hospital fell yesterday, but the number was still higher than at the weekend Nicola Sturgeon sets out her own plan for easing lockdown Nicola Sturgeon will today pile pressure on the UK government to set out a plan for easing the coronavirus lockdown as the Scottish First Minister publishes her own strategy for getting back to normal. The Scottish government will publish a paper later today containing guidelines which Ms Sturgeon hopes will help chart a way forward for when social distancing restrictions begin to be lifted. The paper will say that people will need to get used to a 'new normal' when draconian measures are replaced with something more flexible. Ms Sturgeon's decision to press ahead, independent of the British government, suggests the SNP leader is leaving the door open to Scotland taking a different approach to the one advocated in Westminster. Many of the powers relating to the current lockdown are devolved which means Scotland could in theory opt to do its own thing. Last night Arlene Foster suggested Northern Ireland could emerge from coronavirus restrictions at a faster pace than other parts of the UK. The First Minister said lockdown measures will be eased when certain scientific and public health criteria are met and not against set timelines or dates. So far the four Home Nations have been broadly on the same page in terms of action taken during the crisis and any decision to split from that way of working would have major political and social ramifications. Advertisement The Times said officials are creating a scheme which will see 15,000 staff tasked with identifying people with coronavirus and then figuring out who they have been in contact with. The aim is to have the test and trace initiative up and running by May 7 so that it is ready when the next review of lockdown takes place. The UK stopped contact tracing early on in the outbreak as the spread of the disease outstripped testing capacity. But officials believe Health Secretary Matt Hancock will hit his target of 100,000 daily tests by the end of the month which will allow the government to resume test and trace in the near future. The aim will be to track down 80 per cent of people an infected person has been in contact with within 24 hours of them testing positive with everyone then told to self-isolate. A Cabinet Office official said: 'We cannot announce any easing of the lockdown until we know that testing and contact tracing is working effectively. 'This is why we need to have the capacity for 100,000 tests by the end of the month because even if we are not using them now we will need them at that point.' It is thought the testing programme will consist of three tiers: an app using bluetooth to log contacts, a team of temporary contact tracers numbering in the thousands and a high level team of Pubic Health England staff who will handle outbreaks in critical settings like hospitals and care homes. Speaking in the Commons yesterday Mr Hancock said: 'We are ramping up our testing capacity and our capacity for contact tracing in a matter of weeks, and we'll have it ready to make sure that we can use that as and when the incidence of transmission comes down.' The number of new cases announced yesterday was up on the previous day but down on the weekend A slightly different way of presenting the death stats, this graph looks at death rates for seven day periods on a rolling basis, with the UK among the highest but far below the United States Angela Merkel says some German states have eased lockdown too fast German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that some states have gone too far in easing coronavirus lockdowns and warned the country is still at the beginning of its outbreak, not the end. Speaking to the German parliament this morning she told ministers that 'we can't return to life like it was before coronavirus' and cautioned that the country will have to live with the virus for a long time. 'We are in for the long haul,' she said. 'We must not lose energy before we reach the end.' She added: 'It would be a terrible shame if our hope punishes us.' Mrs Merkel spoke as Germany's coronavirus death toll passed 5,000 after 215 more people died - bringing the total from 4,879 to 5,094. Advertisement Last night Mr Raab delivered a tough message to Britons wearying of the lockdown warning that the UK is still 'going through the peak' of coronavirus. The First Secretary said it was not the time to 'take our eye off the ball' as he rejected claims the government is preparing to ease the draconian curbs in mid-May. And he told the daily briefing that it will be weeks before ministers will be able to even 'think about' putting forward an exit strategy. Meanwhile, Prof Whitty suggested some form of restrictions will have to remain in place for the 'next calendar year'. He said the only way to completely get back to normal life is if a vaccine is developed which works or if drugs are developed which can stop so many people dying from the disease. He told the daily Downing Street press conference: 'Until we have those - and the probability of having those any time in the next calendar year are incredibly small - we should be realistic that we're going to have to rely on other social measures, which of course are very socially disruptive as everyone is finding at the moment.' Instagram will let people order food through the app with a range of new features. It will allow people to buy takeaways and delivery straight from stories meaning that if someone sees something they want to eat within the app, they can simply click to have it brought to their doorstep. The company says it made the change to support local businesses through the lockdown, and allow restaurants to promote themselves as sales fall. The Facebook-owned photo and video-sharing app said a new Action button could be added to a business or restaurant's profile, or a Food Order sticker could be added to their Instagram Stories. People who tap on either prompt will be able to make a purchase through the business's website. Instagram said the initiative was designed to help businesses struggling with the challenges of the Covid-19 crisis by allowing people to support local food outlets. The scheme was launched in the US and Canada last week and has been expanded to the UK as part of a worldwide rollout. At the time, the social media platform said: "For many businesses right now, every sale helps. We'll continue to work on features that make it easier to support the small businesses you care about." Instagram's update comes after another Facebook-owned platform, WhatsApp, released a new set of stickers designed to help people communicate about aspects of the pandemic. The stickers, developed in partnership with the World Health Organisation, were created to help users more accurately communicate the thoughts and feelings of being in lockdown. Tech giants such as Facebook have come under scrutiny during the pandemic, predominately for their response to the spread of disinformation linked to the virus. Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty Appearing before MPs on the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Wednesday, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said he had spoken to tech firms about doing more to stop the spread of disinformation. Mr Dowden praised the companies for "how they have stepped up to the plate", but said he had spoken to them about how they could "beef up" their systems, as well as addressing the speed of action and working out of hours. Additional reporting by agencies Australia is at permanent risk of a second wave of coronavirus cases, the nation's chief medical officer has warned. Brendan Murphy has told a Senate inquiry into the federal government's coronavirus response that authorities are keeping a close eye on Singapore, which initially tracked well but is now dealing with a surge in cases. 'They had a very similar approach to us but they've now had a second wave in their migrant worker population,' he said on Thursday. 'We have to be very, very aware that whilst we've only had seven cases over the last 24 hours, we're in a wonderful position, but there is a permanent risk of further waves. 'This is a highly infectious virus and it can take off fairly quickly.' Professor Murphy said the most effective decisions to curb the spread of the virus were shutting the nation's borders and ensuring returning Australians were quarantined in hotels. He says re-opening the borders will 'absolutely' be the last measure to be eased, with no changes for at least three to four months. 'The international situation at the moment is such that any relaxation of border measures would be very risky,' he said. Prof Murphy says he was first made aware of the virus on January 1, when China gave an assurance it was animal to human transmission. That changed about three weeks later. 'There was clear evidence coming from China that there was significant human to human transmission which was a game changer,' he told the hearing. 'Once you've got human to human transmission you've got a significant risk.'Prof Murphy first briefed Health Minister Greg Hunt around January 19 and the national security committee of cabinet a few days later. Acting Department of Health secretary Caroline Edwards said the government was working with Apple and Google on a tracing app to help with virus case tracking. Privacy issues are being dealt with before the app is launched, she added. From next week the inquiry will hold hearings twice a week, bringing back senior bureaucrats such as Prof Murphy for updates. Treasury boss Steven Kennedy will appear on Tuesday. It comes as the Auditor-General has fired a warning shot at the government over its rapid spending on virus measures. 'It is imperative that risk assessments are sufficiently hard nosed and candid, and do not present government and other entities with an over optimistic view of what may happen,' the audit insights paper says. It also says advertising guidelines should be followed and an active oversight of the budget maintained. Labor leader Anthony Albanese says parliament should return to its usual sitting calendar so government decisions are scrutinised. Federal parliament is set to return for a week in May. The Washington Post, in an article by Philip Bump, rips President Trump for having underestimated the number of Americans who will die from the Wuhan coronavirus. Earlier this month, Trump said, I think well be substantially, hopefully, below the [100,000] number, and I think, right now, were heading at probably around 60-, maybe 65,000. In making this statement, Trump was doing what the Post and other critics constantly accuse him of not doing. He was relying on experts. Trump relied on the IHME model, which had lowered its estimate of U.S. deaths to a little more than 60,000 through the end of July. I never believed the number would be that low. With U.S. deaths mounting quickly throughout the month of April, I said we might reach 60,000 by the end of the month, and that May would also be quite deadly, given the number of new cases in March and April. However, I dont see why Trump should be criticized for relying on a model that most analysts and policymakers appear to consider the best one available. Did the Post criticize the IHME model until very recently? Maybe. Ive stopped comprehensively reading its horribly skewed coverage of this pandemic. But in the articles Ive held my nose and read, I havent seen a critique of this model or its forecasts. Absent one, Philip Bumps condescending article is as unfair as it is offensive. Its also worth noting that Trump never wedded himself to the 60,000-65,000 figure. He said that hopefully the number will be substantially below 100,000 and suggested that it could be 75,000. The Post appears to want to defend the IHME model, even as it attacks Trump for relying on it. It notes that the model only projected U.S. deaths through July, and thus did not estimate how many would die in the event of a second wave of the virus. I never understood Trump to be projecting out any further in time than the model he relied on did. No one has any idea how many people will die in future waves. Its not even certain that there will be a second wave, though this seems highly likely. The Washington Post persists with its cheap shots at President Trump even as its editors complain about a resurgence of the partisanship and vitriol in discussions about this pandemic. If the Post really wanted less partisanship and vitriol in these discussions, it might lower its daily quota of coronavirus-related attacks on Trump from, say, ten to five. UPDATE: At Hot Air, John Sexton points out that Bump cited with approval a revised (and lowered) IHME projection of deaths from the virus in Alabama. Bump said nothing about deaths in a second wave. Sexton writes: You could say that when the IHME revised its death toll downward, Philip Bump embraced it and expressed hope the trend would continue. But a week later hes trying to dunk on Trump for doing exactly the same thing. Why would he do that? To fill the Posts informal quota of anti-Trump coronavirus stories, thats why. Nicholas Braid has been remembered as loyal and protective of his family A law graduate who was allegedly stabbed to death has been remembered as brave and fiercely protective of his family. Nicholas Braid, 35, died on Tuesday night after he allegedly became involved in an argument with a group of people outside the Beachcomber Resort in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast. He was allegedly stabbed in the torso and collapsed on the footpath before he died later in hospital. His accused killer, Freedom Mona Maunsell Anderson, 20, stuck her finger up at cameras and banged on the police car window as she was driven to Southport Watchhouse on Wednesday night following her arrest. She was later charged with murder and remains behind bars. Mr Braid's heartbroken family described his death as a senseless act. Abigail Braid broke her silence to pay a heartbreaking tribute to her late brother Nicholas Abigail Braid described her 'wonderful and amazing' older brother as brave and fiercely protective of his family. He was also charming, intelligent and much loved. 'He adored my parents and was so good to them,' Ms Baird told Seven News. 'We love him so, so much. We will adore and cherish his memory forever. It's just a senseless tragedy all round.' She thanked everyone on the family's behalf for their overwhelming support. 'I would like to, on behalf of all my family, really thank the members of the public who tended to Nick and paramedics for their valiant attempts to save his life,' Ms Braid said as she fought back tears. 'We've received so many beautiful messages from people sharing their wonderful and sometimes hilarious memories of Nick. 'We've really felt the support from everyone.' Freedom Mona Maunsell Anderson, 20, (pictured) after she was arrested on Wednesday over Mr Braid's death. She remains behind bars Mr Braid, a former student of prestigious The Southport School, worked as an industrial relations advisor and also with the Queensland government after he graduated with law and international relations degrees. Freedom Mona Maunsell Anderson, 20, (pictured) was charged with the murder of Nicholas Braid He had been released on bail last week after several months in prison for a spate of thefts at fuel stations. 'Despite his struggles, he never stopped caring for them and always had compassion for the underdog,' his mother Michelle Braid told The Courier-Mail. 'His loyalty and generosity knew no bounds. He was known for his formidable intelligence and passionate eloquence. We are devastated.' Friend Isabelle Marlor said she will cherish the 'happy' final moments she had with one of the kindest, sweetest guys she's have ever met on Monday night. Mr Braid had been temporarily staying at her place before he died. 'It was nice to see him and I am glad I got to spend the time I did with him. The people that were around him at the time were stoked they got to spend the little time they did,' Ms Marlor, 21, told the Gold Coast Bulletin. She first met Mr Braid eight years ago. 'I was 13 years old hanging out with people more than double my age, constantly putting myself in unsafe situations. Very few people cared about what happened to me back then. Even now at 21 years of age, few people care about me. But he was one of them,' Ms Marlor said. Mr Braid was found on the streets outside the apartment block on Tuesday night Mr Braid was found on the pavement outside the Surfers Paradise apartment block It is believed Anderson and Mr Braid were loosely known to each other, and that she allegedly fled the scene on foot as the group scattered following the altercation. Following a police search, she was arrested and charged with murder on Wednesday night. Anderson did not appear when the matter was briefly mentioned in Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday. The matter was adjourned for a committal mention on June 23 to allow detectives to continue their investigations. Anderson remains behind bars. Freedom Mona Maunsell Anderson, 20, glared and lashed out at the cameras as she was driven to Southport Watchhouse on Wednesday night following her arrest 'Obviously it's a very serious crime but this matter needs to be resolved,' Anderson's lawyer Michael Gatenby told Seven News. 'We'll give consideration to bringing an application for bail.' Detectives continue to investigate whether smashed windows or if a 'wilful damage' incident could have led to Mr Braid's death. The weapon has not been located although it appeared to be an 'edged weapon, like a knife or something similar', police said. US House of Representatives Democrats accused the Trump administration of trying to "scapegoat" the World Health Organization (WHO) to distract from its handling of the coronavirus outbreak, and urged an immediate restoration of funding to the U.N. health body, according to a letter seen by Reuters on Thursday. The letter to Republican President Donald Trump was dated Wednesday, the same day Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News the United States might never restore funding to the WHO. Trump suspended U.S. contributions to the WHO on April 14, accusing it of being "China-centric and promoting China's "disinformation" about the outbreak. WHO officials have denied this and China insists it has been transparent and open. The United States is the WHO's biggest donor. "This policy is profoundly misguided and appears to be an effort to scapegoat the WHO in order to deflect attention from your administration's mismanaged and politicized response to the pandemic," said the letter, led by House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, Eliot Engel, and signed by all 26 of the panel's Democratic members. Trump's handling of the outbreak has been criticized by Democrats as well as some of his fellow Republicans. State governors from both parties have asked for more help to shore up their budgets and provide equipment to overwhelmed hospitals. The outbreak of the new coronavirus began late last year in China. According to a Reuters tally, the disease has killed more than 180,000 people globally. With nearly 48,000 dead, the United States is the worst-hit country by official statistics. The United States has been the biggest overall donor to the WHO, contributing over $400 million in 2019, roughly 15% of its budget. The U.S. Congress controls federal spending, and could pass legislation to guarantee funding for the WHO. However, to become law it would need to garner enough support, including from Trump's Republicans, not just to pass but to override a likely veto. The 10-year-old boy who was reportedly shot by policemen enforcing the lockdown in Sankara community, Ringim LGA in Jigawa, is dead, the father has informed PREMIUM TIMES. Abdulkadir Suleiman, the father of the victim, told PREMIUM TIMES that Usman, a primary five pupil, died while receiving treatment at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital on Thursday. He is dead, he repeated. Mr Suleiman had earlier told PREMIUM TIMES that his son sustained fracture in his head, adding that his condition was critical and he has been unconscious for three days. Im in confusion, I dont know what to do. I was referred from Ringim General Hospital to Rasheed Shekoni specialist hospital in Dutse the state capital, yet my sons condition keeps on deteriorating. From Dutse in Jigawa, now they referred us to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano where the boy is expected to undergo skull surgery, the father had said. PREMIUM TIMES broke the news of how the teenager sustained wounds on his head when he was allegedly hit by a stray bullet fired by the police bullet who were enforcing lockdown in Sankara market in Jigawa in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. READ ALSO: The police spokesperson in Jigawa, Audu Jinjiri, earlier denied the boy was hit by police bullet. He said the boy sustained a head injury as a result of a stone hurled by youth resisting the lockdown. The police command in Jigawa had, also, earlier summoned the father of the victim to ascertain his claims. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19, in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington on April 22, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images) Trump Administration Launches Website to Stream Construction of USMexico Border Wall The Trump administration on April 22 launched an interactive webpage of the U.S.-Mexico border wall which both tracks and streams footage of the progress being made on its construction, as President Donald Trump seeks to fulfill a significant 2016 campaign promise. Construction of the wall along the southern border between the U.S. and Mexico is being streamed on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) webpage via video and drone footage. The webpage also contains an interactive map that allows viewers to click and zoom to view the progress of the border wall. President Trump is delivering on his promise to build a border wall system to secure the border, Acting Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Mark Morgan said in a statement. Border security is national security, and a strong border wall system is critical to keeping our nation safe. The border wall system is good for border communities. In San Diego, illegal drug and human smuggling activity decreased where barriers were deployed. It also supports a safe and secure border community that is more appealing for local businesses, schools and residents. pic.twitter.com/9hNgNubGJy Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan (@CBPMarkMorgan) April 17, 2020 The video footage streamed on the CBP website shows the construction of the wall that took place between Feb. 1 and Feb. 29 this year, at the El Centro, Yuma, and El Paso Border Patrol Sectors. Viewers can type in specific areas via a search bar attached to the interactive map, which color-codes the construction of the border wall in red to represent a new border wall system, or dark blue, showing existing barriers. The website also provides an infographic to update readers on the progress of its completion. So far, since January 2017, 170 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border wall have been completed, using roughly 236,000 tons of steel and 335,000 cubic yards of concrete. This month, Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said during a White House press conference with Trump that the United States is still on schedule to build between 400 and 450 miles of the new border wall or border capability by the end of 2020. Wolf said his agency is building miles of the wall every day despite the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, pandemic. Reports have stated that Homeland Security, which oversees the Customs and Border Protection agency, is persisting in building the wall. Were up to over 150 miles of wall built along the southern border, he said during a news conference. Were continuing to build new miles of wall. And a lot of folks ask about replacement wall or new miles? Its a new capability on the southwest border that we havent had before. Border Wall System Update: 162 miles completed 188 miles under construction 381 miles in pre-construction pic.twitter.com/uT1rUW4tCF Chief Rodney Scott (@USBPChief) April 20, 2020 Wolf said that the border wall allows Border Patrol agents to focus elsewhere on parts of the border that are very difficult to patrol, so we can use our resources in a different way. The wall includes not only the physical infrastructure but the cameras, the roads, the lightings, the fiber optic cables. The agency is on the mark to meet 400, 450 miles by the end of the calendar year. Trump said the wall could have an impact on stemming the spread of the CCP virus, which causes the disease COVID-19, inside the United States. Now we have got to focus on drugs, and the drugs come in from different methods, and we have the best people at sea anywhere in the world, so we will have a tremendous impact on drugs, Trump said. But one of the other things we will also have an impact, we think, on the coronavirus. Some activists supporting immigrant rights, however, said that the wall construction is a distraction amid the pandemic or could even, in some cases, facilitate the spread of the CCP virus. Last week, dozens of congressional Democrats addressed a letter to the Trump administration calling for the construction of the wall to be immediately halted amid the pandemic. The letter was spearheaded by Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and addressed to Wolf, Attorney General William Barr, and Defense Secretary Mark Esper. Signed by 25 Democratic senators and 66 representatives, the letter cautioned that continuing border wall construction places local communities at unnecessary risk. It is dangerous and unacceptable for border wall construction to continue during this public health crisis, Cuellar said in a statement. As medical experts and the Center for Disease Control [and Prevention] implore Americans to stay at home, construction crews continue to work in close quarters, jeopardizing the health of our border communities. This is a public health threat, and it must be stopped. Jack Phillips contributed to this report To me, it talks about the importance of the arts right from the very beginning of this institution, Rich said. You dont always see that with institutions. When I was interviewing for this job, the first thing I saw pulling up to the building was the Center for the Performing Arts. It was a good sign to me. It says we think the arts are important. Sta facendo il giro del web la fine della storia d'amore tra il discendente della nobile casata siciliana e Tanya Yashenko A serial burglary suspect with a long criminal history is free without bail despite allegedly being involved in a recent string of burglaries in Fremont, Milpitas, San Jose, Santa Clara and Palo Alto, Fremont police said. Kristopher Sylvester, 34, of Fremont, was arrested by Fremont detectives on April 2 for allegedly committing multiple commercial burglaries, possessing a loaded firearm, evading police and violating his probation, according to police. Sylvester was booked into Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, but an Alameda County Superior Court judge released him without bail on April 7 after he was arraigned. The judge set a court date for Sylvester in June. The judge's action stems from a new California Judicial Council policy of releasing without bail suspects who are arrested for misdemeanors and low-level felonies in an effort to reduce overcrowding at jails in the wake of the new coronavirus pandemic. Sylvester was arrested again by Santa Clara police last Thursday for allegedly engaging in a crime spree in Santa Clara County, according to Fremont police. But when Sylvester was arraigned on Monday, a Santa Clara County Superior Court judge freed him without bail again and set a court date for June, Fremont police said. Sylvester and other suspects allegedly burglarized a Hertz car rental facility in San Jose on April 13 and stole about 60 car keys and 23 vehicles, according to police. Later that morning, Milpitas police responded to an auto burglary in their city in which the suspect vehicle was one of those stolen from the Hertz facility in San Jose, Fremont police said. The suspects left behind two cash registers that were stolen from a burglary in Palo Alto earlier in the day, according to police. Surveillance video from the Palo Alto burglary led Fremont detectives to identify Sylvester as one of the suspects in the case, police said. At about 2 a.m. last Thursday, Santa Clara police who responded to several burglaries in their city located a suspect vehicle that had been stolen from the Hertz facility in San Jose and chased it, police said. The suspect's vehicle drove the wrong way on the San Tomas Expressway but eventually crashed, and Sylvester was arrested along with 32-year-old Jacob Mauch of Fremont, according to police. In connection with the Santa Clara case, Sylvester and Mauck are charged with two counts of burglary, possession of stolen property, felony evading, committing a crime during a state of emergency, possession of burglary tools, resisting arrest and violating their probations. ALSO: Two men freed from jail by California virus order rearrested On Thursday, Milpitas police recovered two more of the vehicles that were stolen from the Hertz facility and arrested 27-year-old Cody Ward and 35-year-old Jana Cornehl, both of Fremont, police said. According to Fremont police, Sylvester has multiple arrests for firearms possession, burglary, possession of drugs, identity theft, possession of stolen vehicles and felony evading and was on probation for two previous offenses. They said Mauck has prior arrests for assault with a deadly weapon, battery causing significant injury and robbery, Ward is on probation for possession of a stolen vehicle and Cornehl is on probation for identity theft. Sylvester, Mauck and Ward were all released without bail at the hearing on Monday. Cornehl was released with a citation. 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. Spains daily increase in coronavirus fatalities further steadied at around 2% on Thursday after 440 people died in the past 24 hours, as the government apologised for confusion over lockdown rules for children. With Europes second highest death toll of 22,157 and the worlds second most infections at 213,024, Spain has some of the toughest restrictions in Europe even though it is gradually easing them as the epidemic slows. I know this lockdown is not easy at all, Deputy Prime Minister Pablo Iglesias said, confirming that those under 14 would be able to take short walks outside under supervision after nearly five weeks cooped up at home. They would not be allowed in park playgrounds, however. I want to apologise because in the government over the past days and hours we havent been clear when explaining how you will be authorized to go out from Sunday, he added. On Tuesday night, after initially ruling out recreational walks for children, the government bowed to public pressure including pot-banging protests on balconies and allowed short, supervised outings for the first time in more than a month. ST. GEORGE CELEBRATED ON BALCONIES In northeastern Catalonia, streets including Barcelonas famous La Rambla boulevard were virtually deserted on the regions patron saints day when Catalans usually crowd streets with loved ones, exchanging books and roses. Still, people kept up St. Georges Day traditions with roses on balconies and book-sharing online. Spain started easing restrictions for some businesses last week, but restaurants, hotels and public spaces remain shut. Hotels saw a 66% plunge in foreign visitors in March, even though a shutdown only came late in the month. Tourism accounts for 12% of gross domestic product in the worlds second-most visited nation. Bankinter , Spains fourth-largest bank and the first to report quarterly earnings, said it had almost doubled provisions to reflect the worsening economic impact from the outbreak, which made its first quarter net profit shrink by 10%. European Union (EU) leaders were discussing ways to restart their economies on Thursday, including a Spanish proposal for a 1.5 trillion euro recovery fund. Europe needs more fiscal firepower and we need it now. Every day thousands of companies are filing for bankruptcy. We need this proposal to fly, said Ana Botin, chairman of Spains largest bank Santander, on Twitter. SOURCE: REUTERS Food delivery riders are struggling to make enough money to live off due to a lack of orders being made on apps like Uber Eats and Deliveroo. Riders across the U.K. told CNBC that demand for takeouts has plummeted as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. "It's not great," said Alice, a 29-year-old student who delivers for Uber Eats in Edinburgh. Scotland. Alice, who did not wish to provide her surname, was logged onto Uber Eats for 6 hours and 45 minutes on Monday. She made a grand total of 4.00 ($4.92). Last week, she made 76.31. And the week before, 86.67. She's now worried that she's not going to be able to pay the fees for her master's degree. "To get orders you have to be outside places that are open, which is quite an ask given the low numbers coming through," said Alice. "I've definitely seen colleagues struggling mentally to just be outside waiting and waiting." Uber Eats and Deliveroo say they're doing all they can to help riders through the pandemic, with riders earning more than the national minimum wage on average. The apps also advise riders of the best times to earn more efficiently. "Riders are at the heart of everything we do and we are working hard to support them during this difficult time," a Deliveroo spokesperson told CNBC. "We are so proud of the vital role they are playing, as they help the public receive the food they need and want. We are with them every step of the way." Deliveroo is giving riders free hand sanitizer and face masks, but they need more than that. Riders say they are struggling to make anywhere near the national minimum wage, and nowhere near what they normally do. Mark Aldridge, a 46-year-old Uber Eats courier in Huddersfield in the north of England, said nowhere is open so there's no orders. "I'd normally make about 500 a week," he said. "Now, it's nothing. There's still guys going out, but they're making about 2 or 3 an hour. It's pointless." Hanna Williams, a 24-year-old in Teeside, said food delivery work is basically "non-existent" now. "I managed to get 2.5 hours with (delivery firm) Stuart this week with a minimum guarantee of 8 an hour," she said. "So I'll have made about 20 from Stuart this week. My earnings used to be between 200 and 400 a week." The Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) told CNBC that almost every rider has seen demand plummet since the lockdown began in the U.K. in March. "Food delivery couriers working for Deliveroo, Uber Eats, Just Eat and Stuart, who were already facing poverty wages before the pandemic, are now being driven to destitution, as demand has completely dried up across the U.K.," said IWGB Couriers and Logistics Branch Chair Alex Marshall. Coronavirus Latest News Live updates: Day after announcing to bring an ordinance to end violence against health workers working during the coronavirus pandemic, Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar today said the Centre wanted to facilitate "doctors, nurses, sanitation workers, police, bank and government employees", who were working very hard during COVID-19. He said attacks on frontline workers would not be tolerated. Meanwhile, The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in India have jumped to 21,700 and the death toll touched 686. Also Read: Delhi coronavirus: Hotspots rise to 89; check out complete list here Also Read: Coronavirus in India: 41 deaths in 24 hours as cases surge to 21,393 Also Read: Coronavirus in India: COVID-19 cases set to cross 20,000; check state-wise tally, deaths, list of testing facilities Follow BusinessToday.in for live updates on coronavirus in India and world: 10.10 PM: Dietician at Delhi hospital tests COVID-19 positive, mess temporarily shut A dietician associated with the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital mess has tested positive for coronavirus. The mess has been temporarily closed. 10.01 PM: Corona death: 75-year-old dies in Karanataka A 75-year-old woman from Bantwal passed away due to coronavirus today at Wenlok District Hospital in Dakshina Kannada, informed Karnataka Health Department. She had a history of hypertension, stroke and pneumonia. 9.44 pm: COVID-19 updates: Wadhawans sent into home quarantine A Satara court in Maharashtra has sent DHFL promoters Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan as well as 21 other members of their family into home quarantine till May 3 at their Mahabaleshwar farmhouse. Their insitutional quarantine got over yesterday, but the court ordered them to stay in Satara for now. 9.40 PM: Coronavirus in Rajasthan Rajasthan saw 76 new coronavirus cases today, reported State Health Department. This takes the total number of corona cases in the state to 1,964. 9.33 PM: Uttar Pradesh coronavirus cases Uttar Pradesh registered 61 new COVID-19 cases by 7PM today, informed State Health Department. The total number of novel coronavirus cases in the state now stands at 1,510, with 1,280 active cases, 206 discharged patients and 24 deaths. 9.14 PM: Coronavirus cases in Mumbai: COVID-19 cases cross 4,000-mark Number of COVID-19 cases in Mumbai have crossed 4,025, after 552 new cases coming to light. This has taken the tally of corona cases in Maharashtra to 6,427. 8.58 PM: Delhi COVID-19 hotspots: 3 more containment zones identified Delhi government has added three more areas to the list of containment zones, taking their total number to 92. Samshi Talab in Mehrauli including A-3 Lake view apartment, Gali number 1 band of Raj Nagar 2 in Dwarka, and house number 15 to 101 in Dayanand Vihar are the latest additions to the list of hotspots in Delhi. Samshi Talab in Mehrauli including A-3 Lake view apartment, gali number 1 band of Raj Nagar 2 in Dwarka & house number 15 to 101 in Dayanand Vihar have been identified as a containment zone, taking total number of the containment zones to 92: Government of NCT of Delhi pic.twitter.com/jRg72ty1ll ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 8.23 PM: Kerala traces, tests all Tablighi Jamaat attendees, says CM Vijayan Keralal CM Pinarayi Vijayan said that all denizens of Kerala who attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi have been traced and tested. I am particularly mentioning this because there is a conscious attempt to spread rumours about it, Vijayan added. 8.18 PM: Centre clears misinterpretations of corona lockdown guidelines In a letter to chief secretaries of all states, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla clarified "some apprehensions, based on wrong interpretation of the guidelines, raised in media and by some companies having manufacturing facilities". He clarified, among other things, that there is no provision of legal action against CEOs if their employees contract coronavirus. 8.07 PM: IIT-Delhi researchers achieve breakthrough in COVID-19 testing ICMR has approved a diagnostic assay for COVID-19 developed by researchers at Kusuma School of Biological Sciences under IIT-Delhi, reported ANI. ICMR has validated the assay with 100 per cent sensitivity and specificity. 7.41 PM: Free COVID-19 trearrment in West Bengal West Bengal government has directed private hospitals requisitioned by it to provide free treatment to coronavirus patients. The treatment charges for COVID-19 patients will be reimbursed to the hospitals, the state government said in an order. West Bengal Govt directs the private hospitals, which have been requisitioned by the govt for #COVID19 treatment, to provide free treatment to COVID-19 patients. "Govt has decided to reimburse charges to the hospitals for treatment of patients," the notification reads. pic.twitter.com/NofkDQ74Q8 ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 7.15 PM: Dharav corona cases Mumbai's Dharavi reported 25 new COVID-19 cases today, taking the number of coronavirus cases in Asia's biggest slum to 214, informed BMC officials. Death toll in the region is at 13. 7.05 PM: COVID-19 infections grow in Andaman and Nicobar Fiven new cases of novel coronavirus have been detected in Anadaman and Nicobar Islands, officials told PTI. This takes the total number of cases in the union territory to 11. 6.54 PM: Cricket in corona times ICC has said that it will review the disrupted Future Tours Programme till 2023. The global cricket governing body said it would reschedule as much of cricket postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic as possible. 6.43 PM: Coronavirus updates: UN proposes debt relief for developing countries United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has recommended debt relief for developing countries to reduce financial pressure on them amid coronavirus pandemic. A global debt deal would help the developing nations to avoid looming debt disaster, UNCTAD said in a statement. 6.33 PM: Punjab COVID-19 cases Punjab reported 26 new coronavirus cases today, taking the total tally of cases in the state to 283, informd the State Health Department. 26 persons have been tested positive for #COVID19 in Punjab today. Total positive cases in the state stand at 283: Health Department, Punjab pic.twitter.com/scZ79FYPtH ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 6.16 PM: Corona latest updates AA 92-year-old patient in Pune recovered from coronavirus despite suffering stroke seven months ago, PTI reported. The stroke had left one side of her body paralysed and even affected her ability to recognise faces. 6.12 PM: Uttar Pradesh COVID-19 news Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked senior officers to camp in the 15 worst-hit dkistricts of the state. These officers will implement containment measures in districts. 6.03 PM: Coronavirus in Gujarat Forty-five coronavirus patients in Vadodra were discharged today after recovery, reported ANI. All of them have agreed to donate blood plasma for plasma therapy, the news agency further said. 5.55 PM: Coronavirus in India The total number of coronavirus cases in India has reached 21,700, including 16,689 active cases, 4,324 cured or discharged patients, 686 deaths and 1 migrated patient, Health Ministry data showed. The country saw 1,229 new cases and 34 deaths in the past 24 hours. 5.45 PM: Jammu and Kashmir coronavirus updates Twenty new coronavirus cases have been detected in Jammu and Kashmir, 1 from the Jammu Division and 19 from the Kashmir Division, informed Principal Secretary (Planning) Rohit Kansal. 5.29 PM: Coronavirus cases in Jharkhand Four more coronavirus cases have been identified in capital city Ranchi, informed Jharkhand Health Secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni. This take the total number of coronavirus cases in Jharkhand to 53. 5.25 PM: Karnataka coronavirus cases Karnataka reported 18 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, taking the tally of cases to 445, informed the State Health Department. So far, 17patients have succumbed to the virus and 145 others have been discharged. 18 new #COVID19 positive cases have been reported in Karnataka in last 24 hours. Total positive cases in the state stand at 445 which includes 17 deaths and 145 discharges: Health Department, Karnataka Govt pic.twitter.com/19OGESLyyn ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 5.20 PM: Maharashtra coronavirus updates MNS chief Raj Thackeray advocated opening liquor shops in Maharashtra, so that the revenue generated from them could be used to fight novel coronavirus. Thackeray raised the matter in a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. 5.15 PM: Coronavirus cases in West Bengal West Bengal saw 58 new cases in the past 24 hours, informed state's Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha. There are 334 active cases in the state, he added. 5.06 PM: WATCH: Very difficult to predict when COVID-19 will peak, says ICMR DG #WATCH: It is very difficult to tell that peak will arrive by 3rd May or when it will come. But it is very stable. Positivity rate has been 4.5% throughout, one can say we have been able to flatten the curve. However, difficult to predict it(peak): Dr Balram Bhargava, DG, ICMR pic.twitter.com/DyyAUvMxJn ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 5.01 PM: "We have created an environment of fear and panic -- we have to work to create a way to support the families and patients of those who are having COVID-19," says Dr Guleria. 4.50 PM: Director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Dr Randeep Guleria, thanks Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the ordinance passed yesterday. "Only less than 5 per cent (of total cases) will need ventilators and critical care," he adds. 4.44 PM: COVID-19 facilities Total facilities: 3,773 Isolation beds: 1,94,026 ICU beds: 24,644 Ventilators: 12,371 4.42 PM: CK Mishra: "We are at a half a million mark with testing cases. While the US did 5 lakh tests as on March 26, they found 80,000 positive cases. Italy found 1 lakh cases as on March 31." 4.41 PM: Need to do more testing: Govt "On March 23, we've done as many as 14,915 tests across the country & on April 22, we have done more than 5 lakh tests," says CK Mishra, Environment Secy and Chairman, Empowered Group-2. He added that if a rough calculation was done, it was about 33 times in 30 days. "This is not enough and we need to ramp testing in this country," he adds. 4.36 PM: Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, says according to April 21's revised order for non-hotspot areas, electric shops, stationary shops, milk processing unit, and dal-atta mills will remain operational. "The MHA is getting feedback from industrial units," she said. 4.32 PM: As per the Ministry of Home, states that in-house care-givers of senior citizens, prepaid mobile recharge utilities and food processing units in urban areas, are exempted from lockdown restrictions. 4.28 PM: Coronavirus cases in 24 hours As many as 1,409 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of positive coronavirus cases to 21,393, says the health ministry. 4.15 PM: Watch daily press briefing on COVID-19 here: In last 24 hours 1409 positive cases have been reported, which takes our total confirmed cases to 21,393: Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/TVCj5RxGgw ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 4.12 PM: IndiGo to roll back pay cut IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta told employees on Thursday that the airline has decided to roll back the pay cuts, which were announced earlier for senior staff members, for the month of April in deference to the "government's wishes". "However, your Excom (Executive Committee) members and SVPs (senior vice presidents) have volunteered to take pay cuts this month," Dutta told employees through an email. Also read: Coronavirus impact: IndiGo to roll back pay cut of employees in deference to 'govt's wishes' 4.7 PM: India to grow at slower pace: CII Amid the nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) on Thursday said that India's economy may grow at a slower pace, ranging from a contraction of 0.9 per cent to a growth of 1.5 per cent, in the financial year 2020-21. Also read: Coronavirus impact: CII pegs India's GDP growth between -0.9% to 1.5% for FY21 3.45 PM: Mumbai migrant crisis Ajit Pawar has asked Piyush Goyal to ensure special trains are operated from Pune and Mumbai to ferry migrant workers till the lockdown is imposed. 3.40 PM: Coronavirus in US updates US House of Representatives likely to give its nod to $484 billion coronavirus relief bill, bringing the unprecedented total of funds approved for the crisis to nearly $3 trillion. 3.35 PM: Coronavirus impact on economy Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) said that India's economy may grow at a slower pace, ranging from a contraction of 0.9 per cent to a growth of 1.5 per cent, in the financial year 2020-21. "In the base case, GDP growth is estimated at a negligible level of 0.6 per cent while in the optimistic scenario it is projected at 1.5 per cent. In the downside risk scenario, where the pandemic outbreak gets prolonged, thereby restricting full restoration of economic activity for an extended period, the GDP growth for FY21 could possibly contract by as much as minus 0.9 per cent," CII said in its latest report. 3.30 PM: China coronavirus update Chinese President Xi Jinping said that the country will step up investment in various sectors including 5G, artificial intelligence, transport and energy and boost employment as the economy reels under the impact of the coronavirus epidemic. Xi said Beijing will focus on employing college graduates, migrant workers and retired veterans and boost employment and entrepreneurship via multiple channels. 3.25 PM: Haryana coronavirus news Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij has asked police officials to penalise political leaders violating the lockdown. Vij said that crowd build up due to their visits and it is impossible to maintain social distancing. He said action will be taken against such leaders whether they are from the ruling party or the Opposition. 3.20 PM: LG Anil Baijal has asked authorities to set up a dedicated facility for police personnel. He also asked the authorities to set up an exclusive testing centre only for Delhi Police officials who are engaged in coronavirus duties. 3.15 PM: SpiceJet has decided to fly Asian Games Boxing Gold Medallist Dingko Singh from Imphal to Delhi for his lung treatment. The airline said that they would ferry the boxer free of charge. 3.13 PM: HSBC Global Search in its latest report has said a month of lockdown could cost India 5.4 per cent of gross value added (GVA). GVA is value of the total output, excluding intermediate consumption. The report said 50 per cent of the economy would be impacted due to a partial lockdown in contrast to 65 per cent in case of full lockdown. Also read: Coronavirus crisis: HSBC report warns 5.4% drop in GVA, fiscal deficit hitting 10% 3.11 PM: The government has reportedly suspended the provisions for triggering insolvency for six months through an amendment to Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) 2016 providing relief to small businesses facing insolvency threats amid coronavirus crisis. Also read: Coronavirus outbreak: Govt suspends insolvency process for six months 3.06 PM: State govt has decided to provide insurance of Rs 10 lakh each to all journalists who are reporting during coronavirus pandemic, says Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar. 2.55 PM: LG Anil Baijal has directed authorities to create a dedicated COVID-19 health facility for Delhi Police personnel.Baijal has authorised setting up of an exclusive 'COVID-19 testing centre' for the Delhi Police. - PTI 2.42 PM: Rajashtan reported 49 new cases of coronavirus today. This takes the total number of cases to 1,937. Out of the total cases, 27 patients have died, 407 recovered and 134 patients have been discharged from hospitals. - ANI 2.40 PM: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi says he's confident that Muslims will fully adhere to lockdown and social distancing guidelines during Ramzan. 2.34 PM: Eighty new cases take COVID-19 tally in AP to 893; death toll rises to 27, says the government. 2.31 PM: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today inaugurated a mobile lab named Mobile Virology Research & Diagnostics Laboratory developed by DRDO for conducting COVID-19 screening and R&D activities. This mobile lab has the screening capacity of more than 1000 samples daily. 2.00 PM: Doctors and staff of LNJP hospital allege that a group of COVID-19 patients who were brought to the hospital through CATS ambulance today, threatened and manhandled them when the staff asked them to wait for a while. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today inaugurated a mobile lab named Mobile Virology Research&Diagnostics Laboratory developed by DRDO for conducting #COVID19 screening and R&D activities. This mobile lab has the screening capacity of more than 1000 samples daily. pic.twitter.com/uzn9ANWe7f ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 1.39 pm: India lockdown news: Got asks Army, Navy and Air Force to put weapon acquisitions on hold The central government has asked the Army, the Navy and the Air Force to put on hold all acquisitions for modernising their weaponry during the COVID-19 pandemic, Defence Ministry sources said. 1.34 pm: Gujarat coronavirus live updates: 3,000 tests everyday, says official Gujarat government is conducting 3,000 COVID-19 tests everyday and will not reduce it, a senior official said on Thursday, dismissing rumours that the state government has reduced testing. Gujarat government has also taken the decided to announce the coronavirus tests figures and deaths only once in 24 hours, rather than the present practice of giving details twice a day, state principal secretary (health) Jayanti Ravi told reporters in Gandhinagar. 1.29 pm: Coronavirus latest news: Centre freezes new rates of DA/DR The Finance Ministry announced on Thursday that Additional installment of Dearness Allowance (DA) payable to central govt employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to central govt pensioners, due from 1st Jan, 2020 shall not be paid. Additional installments of DA & DR from 1 July 2020 & 1 Jan 2021 shall also not be paid. (ANI reports) 1.25 pm: Coronavirus in United States: New York cats become first US pets to test COVID-10 positive Two pet cats in separate areas of New York have been tested positive for COVID-19. The cats had mild respiratory illness. A study indicated earlier this month that cats can get infected with coronavirus. (inputs from Reuters) 12.19 pm: Coronavirus map live updates: Check BusinessToday.In tracker to get state-wise tally of COVID-19 cases 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 1.15 pm: Corona Karnataka updates Karnataka recorded 2 fresh COVID-19 cases as of 8 am on April 23, according to Health Ministry. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases now stands at 427, with 131 recoveries and 17 deaths. 1.12 pm: Corona Tamil Nadu updates Tamil Nadu reported 33 fresh COVID-19 cases as of 8 am on Thursday, according to data released by Union Health Ministry. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state have climbed to 1,629 including, 662 recoveries and 18 deaths. 1.04 pm: Coronavirus updates: Chidambaram lists '3 major issues' for India Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram listed "3 major issues" at the Congress Working Committee meeting on Thursday. The issues he thinks should be addressed in India's fight against the coronavirus pandemic, the party's chief spokesperson said. The issues are:- "Finances of the states are in dire straits. They need urgent assistance." "State of health infrastructure needs to be addressed." "A humane policy for return of migrant workers needs to be put in place." 12.57 pm: Coronavirus cases in Rajasthan: 47 new cases reported Rajasthan recorded 47 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, with the total count nearing the 2,000-mark. According to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of confirmed cases in the state now stand at 1,890, including 230 cured/discharged/migrated and 27 deaths. 12.48 pm: Corona Maharashtra updates Mumbai has the highest number of COVID-19 cases at 3,906, followed by Pune with 660 cases, Thane-465, Nashik-96 and Nagpur-76 cases. Maharashtra remains the worst-hit state and is also the first in India to surpass 5,000 cases mark. 12.45 pm: Coronavirus live updates world status Global COVID-19 deaths cross 1,84,000, cases jump to around 2.6 million. UK deaths surpass 18,000, Italy toll at over 25,000. United States which is the worst-hit nation in the world, has more than 8 lakh with over 47,000 deaths. 12.39 pm: Maharashtra corona hotspots down to 5; cases jump to 5,652 Maharashtra recorded 431 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state to 5,652, according to Union Health Ministry. Out of people infected as on date, 789 have recovered while 269 have passed away. 12.34 pm: Bihar coronavirus latest updates: 4 new cases reported in Munger Bihar Principal Health Secretary Sanjay Kumar said on Thursday that 4 fresh COVID-19 cases have been registered in Munger. Their contact tracing is being done. The total count of positive cases in the state now stands at 147, he added. 12.29 pm: Bengaluru coronavirus news: 16 fresh cases reported Karnataka government said on Thursday that 16 fresh COVID-19 cases comprising 9 were reported from April 22 (5 pm) to April 23 (12 pm) in Bengaluru. The total count of novel coronavirus cases in Karnataka stands at 443 till now including 17 deaths and 141 discharges. 12.24 pm: Coronavirus in China: Beijing extends quarantine for arrival from abroad to 3 weeks People arriving in Beijing from abroad will have to undergo one week of additional isolation apart from the two weeks period that was obligatory until now due to COVID-19 pandemic, according to authorities. 12.19 pm: Coronavirus live updates: COVID-19 pandemic is fast becoming a 'Human rights crisis', says UN chief UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that the novel coronavirus pandemic is a human crisis that is fast becoming a human rights crisis. He said in a video message that there is a discrimination in the delivery of public services to combat the virus. 12.15 pm: Coronavirus cases in Jharkhand 4 more people recovered on Thursday rising to 8 in the state, Jharkhand health department said. (ANI report) 12.09 pm: Uttar Pradesh coronavirus latest news 73 cops who came in contact with the rioters in the Nawabpura stone-pelting incident in Moradabad last week, were quarantined on Wednesday, after 5 of the accused tested positive for COVID-19, a police official said. The 5 accused are among the 17 people who were arrested following a mob attack on a team of healthcare workers in Nawabpura on April 15. 12.05 pm: Corona live updates: Railways working 24x7 to supply essential goods during lockdown Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday that "Railways is working 24x7 to maintain a seamless supply chain to transport essential goods during COVID-19 lockdown. 42 wagons of paddy are being transported to Korukkupet from Nidamangalam in Tamil Nadu." Railways is working 24x7 to maintain a seamless supply chain to transport essential goods during #COVID19 lockdown. 42 wagons of paddy are being transported to Korukkupet from Nidamangalam in Tamil Nadu: Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal pic.twitter.com/RR4LOoDlcB - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 11.59 am: Congress meet on coronavirus "Success of lockdown is to be judged finally on our ability to tackle COVID-19. Cooperation between the Centre and states is key to the success of our fight against the virus," Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh at CWC meeting on Thursday. Success of lockdown is to be judged finally on our ability to tackle #COVID19. Cooperation between the Centre & states is key to the success of our fight against COVID: Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh at CWC meeting (file pic) pic.twitter.com/RxhgMP1AKt - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 11.56 am: Lockdown live updates in India: Offer prayers at homes, maintain social distancing, says Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid If we follow govt instructions, we'll be able to eradicate #COVID19 soon. Holy month of #Ramzan is about to begin. Prayers have to be offered at homes itself and social distancing has to be maintained. By following it, we'll be able to protect everyone: Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid. If we follow govt instructions,we'll be able to eradicate #COVID19 soon. Holy month of #Ramzan is about to begin.Prayers have to be offered at homes itself&social distancing has to be maintained. By following it,we'll be able to protect everyone: Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid pic.twitter.com/tjxRihtNLU - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 11.53 am: Lockdown live updates from Delhi Police checks movement passes at Delhi-Noida border near Mayur Vihar, after Gautam Budh Nagar administration sealed its border with Delhi, with certain exemptions, to prevent spread of COVID19. Movement passes being checked at Delhi-Noida border near Mayur Vihar, after Gautam Budh Nagar administration sealed its border with Delhi, with certain exemptions, to prevent spread of COVID19. pic.twitter.com/14iVdQFbjp - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 11.47 am: Coronavirus cases live: US agency cuts India growth projection to 0.8% in FY21 Fitch Ratings cut India's growth projections on Thursday to 0.8% (April 2020 to March 2021). It also indicates towards what it said was an unparalleled global recession caused by COVID-19 restrictions. The ratings agency further stated that the growth is likely to rebound to 6.7% in the next fiscal. 11.38: COVID-19 in India: Over 5 lakh samples testes so far, around 21,000 positive Out of over 5 lakh samples that hae been tested so far in India, 21,797 have been found to be positive, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said on Thursday morning. 11.29 am: Total number of coronavirus deaths in India till now The death toll in India due to COVID-19 jumped to 681 on Wednesday, according to latest data by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 41 deaths were reported from across the country in the past 24 hours. Maharashtra has the highest number of coronavirus deaths at 269. 11.24 am: Number of hotspots in Mumbai: Drones monitor Dharavi round the clock Dharavi which is one of the worst-affected hotspots in Mumbai is put under a strict lockdown wherein drones monitor the moves of the slum's 1 million residents, out of which 1,25,000 people are living in hotspots. If they try to leave their homes, the police is alerted by the drones immediately. 11.19 am: Coronavirus cases live: Indians among worst-affected ethnic groups in England Indian origin people in the UK have emerged as the worst-affected ethnic group from the COVID-19 pandemic, as per an official data on coronavirus deaths in hospitals across England. Numbers released this week by the National Health Service (NHS) England show that out of the 13,918 patients who passed away in hospitals till April 17 after testing positive for COVID-19, 16.2% were of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background. Also, those identifying with Indian ethnicity made up 3% of the said figures. (PTI) 11.14 am: Congress CWC meet on coronavirus Congress President Sonia Gandhi flagged the shortage and poor quality of PPEs at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meet on Wednesday. Raising concern over poor quality testing kits and low testing she said that there is no alternative to Testing, Trace and Quarantine. "Unfortunately, testing still remains low and testing kits are still in short supply and of poor quality. PPE kits number and quality is poor," she added. 11.09 am: Corona live updates: Congress CWC meet Migrant laborers are still stranded, jobless and desperate to return home. They have been hit the hardest. They must be provided with food security and a financial safety net in order to survive this period of crisis: Congress President Sonia Gandhi. 11.05 am: Coronavirus India updates: Congress targets govt Farmers are facing serious difficulties too. The issues of weak and unclear procurement policies and disrupted supply chains need to be addressed without delay. facilities must be made available to the farmers for the next round of Kharif crops: Congress President Sonia Gandhi. 11.02 am: Corona updates: Congress CWC meet highlights "12 crore jobs have been lost in the first phase of the lockdown. Unemployment is likely to increase further as economic activity remains at a standstill. It is imperative to provide at least Rs.7,500 to each family to tide over this crisis," said Congress President Sonia Gandhi. 10.57 am: Congress meet on coronavirus "MSMEs employ close to 11 crore personnel today. They make up for one third of the GDP. If they are to be protected from economic ruin, it is imperative that a special package be announced urgently for their survival," Congress President Sonia Gandhi. 10.54 am: Corona news: Congress CWC meet updates Congress President Sonia Gandhi claims 12 crore jobs lost in first phase of lockdown. 10.51 am: Coronavirus in Kerala Locals in Kozhikode have been feeding stray dogs and cats in areas between Kuttiady and Nadapuram, amid COVID-19 lockdown. Kerala:Few locals in Kozhikode have been feeding stray dogs&cats in areas b/w Kuttiady&Nadapuram, amid COVID19 lockdown. Dr Soumya, an animal lover says,"We've been serving food to stray animals since first day of lockdown. We're receiving a lot of support from people around us". pic.twitter.com/9eVPIrUqLW - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 10.47 am: Coronavirus news: Congress CWC meet underway The Congress Working Committee meet is underway in Delhi. The meet is presided by party president Sonia Gandhi. CWC meeting begins. Smt. Sonia Gandhi presides. She says, "Since our meeting three weeks ago, the pandemic has increased disturbingly - both in spread and speed." - Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) April 23, 2020 10.44 am: Corona live updates Police and RAF deployed at DND Toll plaza to check movement of vehicles between Gautam Budh Nagar and Delhi after Gautam Budh Nagar administration sealed its border with Delhi, with certain exemptions, to prevent spread of COVID19. Police and RAF deployed at DND Toll plaza to check movement of vehicles between Gautam Budh Nagar and Delhi after Gautam Budh Nagar administration sealed its border with Delhi, with certain exemptions, to prevent spread of COVID19 pic.twitter.com/j7qB4kLizI - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 10.39 am: Telangana coronavirus updates: Admit only primary contacts in govt quarantine centres, says state chief secretary Telangana's chief secretary has told district collectors that only primary contacts of COVID-19 cases should be isolated in government-identified quarantine centres. In a letter to the collectors and other authorities, the chief secretary said that the secondary contacts who don't manifest symptoms are not to be testes but "identified, stamped and placed in strict home quarantine for a period of 28 days" and monitored daily. 10.29 am: Jharkhand coronavirus news 4 more COVID-19 patients in the state have recovered from the virus. The total number of cured patients here jumps to 8, Health department, Jharkhand said on Thursday. (ANI report). 10.22 am: Punjab coronavirus latest news Vegetable farmers in Ludhiana say that due to lack of availability of pesticides and fertilizers amid COVID19 lockdown the crop yield has gone bad. A farmer says," I have incurred a loss of minimum Rs 50,000. This has never happened before". Punjab: Vegetable farmers in Ludhiana say that due to lack of availability of pesticides and fertilizers amid COVID19 lockdown the crop yield has gone bad. A farmer says," I have incurred a loss of minimum Rs 50,000. This has never happened before". pic.twitter.com/aFXwHHePLo - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 10.14 am: Maharashtra coronavirus cases Maharashtra remains affected state with 5,652 confirmed COVID-19 cases at 5,652, according to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 269 people have succumbed to the virus in the state so far, which is also the highest in the country. 10.07 am: UK Corona news: Stephen Hawking's family donates his ventilator to hospital The family of Stephen Hawking, one of the world's well-known physicists, has donated his ventilator to a National Health Service (NHS) hospital in Cambridge, UK. Read more here: Coronavirus in UK: Stephen Hawking's family donates his ventilator to hospital 9.59 am: Coronavirus India updates A total of 5,00,542 samples from 4,85,172 individuals have been tested as on April 23, 2020, 9am. 21,797 samples have been confirmed positive: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). A total of 500542 samples from 485172 individuals have been tested as on 23 April 2020, 9am. 21797 samples have been confirmed positive: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) pic.twitter.com/XXw1Ry9cTi - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 9.55 am: Gujarat coronavirus news: 229 new cases in 24 hours Gujarat reported 229 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. The state is the second worst-hit after Maharashtra with 2,407 cases and 103 deaths, according to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 9.50 am: Punjab coronavirus latest news Punjab will return all Chinese rapid test kits to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) after 5 test kits gave incorrect results. The ICMR has asked states to temporarily stop using these kits. 9.40 am: West Bengal coronavirus updates Novel coronavirus spreads through mobile phones and a decision has been taken, as per WHO guidelines, to control the spread of infection. All doctors, medical staff, & patients must deposit their mobile phones outside and collect it while leaving the hospital: WB Chief Secretary. Novel #coronavirus spreads through mobile phones&a decision has been taken, as per WHO guidelines, to control the spread of infection. All doctors, medical staff, & patients must deposit their mobile phones outside and collect it while leaving the hospital: WB Chief Secy (22.04) pic.twitter.com/6hTMptCgPP - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 9.30 am: Containment zones in Delhi Campa Cola street and F-313 & F-274 Lado Sarai under South district have been added to the list of COVID-19 hotspots; the total number of containment zones in the city stands at 89 now. Delhi: Campa Cola street and F-313 & F-274 Lado Sarai under South district have been added to the list of COVID19 containment zones; the total number of containment zones in the city is 89 pic.twitter.com/HduZUnFoS2 - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 9.23 am: Coronavirus latest updates: President approves ordinance against attacks on healthcare workers President Ram Nath Kovind has given his nod to the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, which gives strict punishment for attacks against health workers, ANI reports. 9.16 am: Rajasthan coronavirus cases: 47 positive cases reported Rajasthan recorded 47 fresh COVID-19 cases on Thursday. 20 in Jodhpur, 12 in Jaipur, 10 in Nagaur, 2 each in Hanumangarh & Kota, 1 in Ajmer. Total number of positive cases in the state have jumped to 1935, including 27 deaths and 344 recovered: Rajasthan Health department. 47 #COVID19 positive cases have been reported in Rajasthan today so far - 20 in Jodhpur, 12 in Jaipur, 10 in Nagaur, 2 each in Hanumangarh & Kota, 1 in Ajmer. Total number of positive cases in the state rises to 1935, including 27 deaths and 344 recovered: Rajasthan Health dept pic.twitter.com/da0lUpKoQg - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 9.07 am: Coronavirus live updates: COVID-19 pandemic an 'attack' on US, says Donald Trump US President Donald Trump has termed the novel coronavirus pandemic as an "attack" on United States. Speaking at a recent news conference on Wednesday, Trump said while answering a question about the national debt created by large stimulus packages. "We were attacked. This was an attack. This wasn't just the flu by the way. Nobody has ever seen anything like this, 1917 was the last time," Trump said. (PTI inputs) 8.59 am: Coronavirus cases India updates: Cases cross 21,000-mark The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases have jumped to 21,393 in India, according to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. These include, 16,454 active cases, 4,257 cured/discharged, 1 migrated and 681 deaths. Maharashtra remains the worst-affected state with 5,652 confirmed coronavirus cases and death toll at 269, which is also the highest in the country. 8.55 am: Kerala coronavirus cases Kerala government has said that all elected representatives in the state will take a 30% cut in their monthly salaries as well as honorariums for a year. This includes state ministers, MLAs, members of government boards and local self-government bodies. 8.47 am: Coronavirus cases worldwide Global COVID-19 deaths cross 1,84,000, cases jump to around 2.6 million. UK deaths surpass 18,000, Italy toll at over 25,000. 8.40 am: Coronavirus cases in India: Check BusinessToday.In tracker to get state-wise tally of COVID-19 cases 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 8.30 am: Hotspots in Delhi Delhi government added Lado Sarai area to the list of its red zones or containment zones, taking the total count of COVID-19 hotspots in the national capital to 89. 8.15 am: Coronavirus live updates: PM Modi to interact with CMs of all states on April 27 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak to chief minister of all states via video conferencing on April 27 morning on the way ahead in the fight against novel coronavirus. This will be PM Modi's third such virtual meet with all states' chief ministers. Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. President Donald Trump wants you to keep your eyes on me. Specifically, with Ramadan set to begin tonight, he wants your eyes on me and other Muslims who will be fasting for the holy month. Holed up in the White House, Trump has taken to retweeting conspiratorial posts by famed Islamophobes, questioning whether or not Muslims will get special treatment in the coming weeks, compared with Christians whose churches were ordered to close for Easter. Asked about the tweet at one of his incoherent press conferences, Trump said, The Christian faith is treated much differently than it was, and I think it is treated very unfairly. He then started rambling about Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His latest call to be suspicious of what the Muslims are up to isnt even a dog whistle; hes just saying it out loud. From his past campaigns of Islamophobia, we know comments like these can lead to a spike in anti-Muslim violence. But what makes this one especially idiotic and lazy is that hes the one who has been encouraging people to defy stay-at-home orders. Muslim American leaders have been united in closing masjid doors since mid-March, and nobody seems to be in any rush to open them back up. The more tech-savvy imams have migrated their Friday sermons to Zoom meetings and are collecting money for various COVID-related charities. The holiest site in Islam, the Kaaba, has been entirely sealed off, and it will stay that way for Ramadan. The Grand Mufti in Saudi Arabia, whom a whole lot of Muslims listen to, decreed that Ramadan prayers will happen at home as long as the virus persists. Other Muslim religious leaders have made similar fatwas. Advertisement Advertisement I will miss it all, though. During Ramadan, when the sun does go down, Muslims typically break fast with a big delicious meal that both rewards patience and gives us an opportunity to break bread with the folks closest to us. When I was a kid, it was at my moms dinner table with the whole family. Now that Im living away from home, I share a meal with anyone who hasnt had dinner yet. When Im feeling especially Muslim, I stop by the mosque for a free plate of food, and the supererogatory Ramadan evening prayer called Taraweeh. Advertisement This year, COVID-19 has changed that. Every Muslim I know is planning to stay home. Communal meals will be smaller. No one is arguing that God will shield us if we gather to break fast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As dumb as they are, its strange how Trumps insinuations sting less than they would have a couple of years ago. This is a deeply spiritual period for Muslims. Preparing for a 30-day fast doesnt end at stocking up on fava beans, pita bread, and coconut water. It requires a slow building of intention. For me, sheltering in place for weeks has refocused my attention to my local community in New Jersey and New York. Ive grown out my beard and have completely forgotten that Ive been afraid of growing it too long for its potential to invite judgments over how religious I am, and whether or not being a religious Muslim turns me into a liability. Inside my home, COVID-19 cant reach me, and neither can Trumps Islamophobia. Advertisement Advertisement The president has made it clear that hes intent on opening the country up prematurely, and his own experts have repeatedly warned that doing so would jeopardize all of the progress weve made so far in the fight against the virus. Because Trump isnt interested in being a part of a long-lasting solution, he and his bigotry have become irrelevant to meIve never felt more empowered to ignore him. Advertisement Advertisement Even though the mosques will remain closed and my family members are self-quarantining in their own homes, Im still very excited for the next month. I miss my mothers cooking. Theres no replacing that experience. And praying at home will never replace praying shoulder to shoulder with other Muslims at the masjid. But I do have some lights and lanterns left over from last year that my wife and I are planning on hanging around the house. Our mosques are organizing those community Zoom meetings that I look forward to, too. Ive always seen Ramadan as an opportunity to reinvigorate my faith and rekindle connections to the people I love. Like all of us, I have accepted that things will be different this year. I feel almost ready for tonight. All I need is a little bit more pita bread. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Chief Medical Officer for the Australian Government Professor Brendan Murphy sanitise their hands on arrival for a National Cabinet meeting at Parliament House on March 20, 2020 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Sam Mooy/Getty Images) Australia at Permanent Risk of Second COVID-19 Wave Australia is at permanent risk of a second wave of COVID-19 cases, the nations chief medical officer has warned. Brendan Murphy has told a Senate inquiry into the federal governments COVID-19 response that authorities are keeping a close eye on Singapore, which initially tracked well but is now dealing with a surge in cases. They had a very similar approach to us but theyve now had a second wave in their migrant worker population, he said on April 23. We have to be very, very aware that whilst weve only had seven cases over the last 24 hours, were in a wonderful position, but there is a permanent risk of further waves. This is a highly infectious virus and it can take off fairly quickly. Murphy said the most effective decisions to curb the spread of the virus were shutting the nations borders and ensuring returning Australians were quarantined in hotels. He says re-opening the borders will absolutely be the last measure to be eased, with no changes for at least three to four months. The international situation at the moment is such that any relaxation of border measures would be very risky, he said. Its very hard to put a time frame on anything at the moment. Murphy says he was first made aware of the virus on January 1, when China gave an assurance it was animal to human transmission. He says that changed about three weeks later. There was clear evidence coming from China that there was significant human to human transmission which was a game changer, he told the hearing. Once youve got human to human transmission youve got a significant risk. Murphy says he first briefed Health Minister Greg Hunt around January 19 and the national security committee of cabinet a few days later. Acting Department of Health secretary Caroline Edwards said the government was working with Apple and Google on a tracing app to help with virus case tracking. Privacy issues are being dealt with before the app is launched, she added. From next week the inquiry will hold hearings twice a week, bringing back senior bureaucrats such as Murphy for updates. Treasury boss Steven Kennedy will appear on Tuesday. The Senate committee is chaired by Labors Katy Gallagher and government senator James Paterson is deputy. Senator Gallagher says Labor wants details on issues that are front of mind for Australians, pointing out that the governments response has so far cost more than $3 billion. Senator Paterson has said the inquiry would look at health measures put in place to slow the spread, the economic cost of the governments plan and the path out of the health crisis. By Rebecca Gredley Headed by Armenian third president Serzh Sargsyan, the executive body of the Republican Party of Armenia has issued a statement on the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, which reads: The statement runs as follows: Dear Compatriots, On April 24, the Armenian people and the civilized world commemorate the victims of the Armenian Genocide. The outset of the twentieth century was stained by the Medz Yeghern, one of the most appalling crimes perpetrated against mankind with unprecedented atrocity at a state level in Ottoman Turkey, due to which part of the Armenian nation was exterminated and deprived of homeland. We are paying tribute, incensing and bowing before the memory of 1.5 million sanctified martyrs of the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Peace to their tormented souls! Today, we remember with gratitude our ancestors who fought for their dignity and survival and who went through ineffable trials. Glory to them! This very day five years ago, a landmark document expressing the Armenian nations consolidated will and vision - the Pan-Armenian Declaration on the Centenary of the Armenian Genocide - was made public at the Tsitsernakaberd Memorial, the original copy of which was handed to the Museum-Institute of the Armenian Genocide. Today, after five years, it stands for an emblem of solidarity and the ultimate guidance to our nationwide struggle. We are bound by duty to hand down to the next generation a secure and powerful homeland. Anyone has to make sure that we will not afford a new genocide. We will never allow it again. We must continue our nationwide struggle for historical justice with exceptional unity. The issue of international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide should be part of Armenias foreign policy agenda until we achieve the final triumph of human conscience and justice over intolerance, hatred and evil. Genocide denial is doomed to failure, especially today when many countries and organizations around the world have joined our fight for justice. Today, on April 24, all Armenians must realize the exceptional significance of having an independent Armenian statehood that will no longer allow the recurrence of such a crime. The Armenian state must carry on with the defense of our just cause in international courts. Mankind should consider any attempt to erase the traces of the Armenian Genocide as continued criminal encroachment against humanity. Dear Compatriots, Today, as we bow to the memory of our sanctified innocent victims, we must state that cohesion and solidarity should be the basis of the Armenian peoples drive for a free and peaceful life in their homeland. Amid the global pandemic, let the flowers that we used to lay at the Eternal Flame of the Armenian Genocide Memorial at Tsitsernakaberd Hill as a symbol of pain and struggle be substituted with a nationwide prayer to commemorate our ancestors and reaffirm our commitment to Christian values, Armenias independence and freedom! Netherlands April 22, 2020 LinkedIn Facebook Twitter EINDHOVEN,/PRNewswire/ -- CytoSMART Technologies is to donate 100?mini?live-cell imaging systems to?researchers in high containment labs worldwide. Labs working to combat COVID-19 will benefit from this initiative, as CytoSMART aims to reduce the huge workload currently facing researchers on projects vital to controlling the disease." Joffry Maltha, CEO at CytoSMART Technologies.According to guidelines by the CDC and the WHO, isolation and characterization of COVID-19 should be performed in BSL-3 laboratories. Performing research in Biosafety Level 3 and 4 laboratories (BSL-3 or BSL-4) means working in a highly controlled area. Removing and replacing the protective clothing and apparatus can be time consuming and expensive, so entering the lab should ideally only occur when necessary.CytoSMART's unique and compact live-cell microscope films living cell cultures without disturbing their growth or behaviour. The device operates from inside cell culture incubators and is accessible from an online environment. This enables researchers to analyse their cell cultures remotely.Said Maltha,CytoSMART Technologies is a company that develops and manufactures smart microscope systems for life science labs. In 2018 CytoSMART was selected by Microsoft for their prestigious Scale Up program. CytoSMART's microscopy solutions are used in over a thousand laboratories around the world.|??|? View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cytosmart-to-donate-100-live-cell-imaging-systems-to-assist-covid-19-researchers-301045115.html SOURCE CytoSMART Technologies OTTAWACanada needs to triple its daily number of coronavirus tests and be prepared to jump on new outbreaks, tracking anyone who comes in contact with an infectious person, before provinces reopen the economy, says Canadas chief public health officer. The provinces and territories are now testing about 20,000 Canadians a day for the COVID-19 virus, a number that needs to ramp up to 60,000, Dr. Theresa Tam said. The caution came as the premiers of Ontario, Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan and Quebec talked about releasing economic relaunch plans in the next week. Tam said medical officers of health are now trying to develop national health criteria to help that effort. So if widespread testing is key to reopening, is Canada ready? Not yet, say many experts. Dr. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at University of Toronto and the University Health Network, said Canada will need the ability to do more rapid diagnostic testing, aggressive contact tracing, and quarantine and support of infected individuals. Right now, Bogoch said, Canada is pretty good, but were not perfect. While the provinces can probably find the people needed to do thorough contact tracking, Bogoch said the public will need to accept that many services and businesses, including public transit, will only be able to operate at a fraction of their usual capacity. Its not going to be like in the pre-COVID-19 era. The Public Health Agency of Canada reported Wednesday that Canada has 38,932 cases of COVID-19, with 576,348 people tested to date, and a per capita testing rate of 15,333 per million. Worldmeter, which is tracking global data, shows Canada ranks about 38th in the world when it comes to tests per million population. At the moment, Ontario is second to last in Canada when it comes to per capita testing rates. Premier Doug Ford again expressed his frustration, saying hes pressing for more testing and it might take a few weeks, but were going make sure that we expedite it as soon as possible. Dr. Samir Patel, deputy chief of microbiology at Public Health Ontario, said the provinces system of lab testing is improving. It received 11,000 samples Monday. Patel said results should be turned around within 24 to 48 hours, but he conceded it could also take from two to four days. Dr. Peter Phillips, an infectious disease specialist at the University of British Columbia, said in an interview that testing capacity and strategies across this country vary widely. B.C. has capacity to process about 4,000 tests a day, but is currently averaging between 1,000 and 1,500 a day, he said, adding its likely due changing criteria for testing, lack of easy access to testing sites there are only two drive-through test sites compared to 43 in South Korea and the possibility clinicians dont realize they now have broader discretion to send someone for a test. Phillips said Canada has to up its game not just when it comes to wider testing, but adopting the strategies that worked in the only countries have successfully managed to control the disease spread. He pointed to Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and New Zealand, which adopted aggressive contact tracing and disease surveillance tactics that include the use of GPS, cellphone and credit card data. These are not things that are impossible in Canada, he said. If its done properly it can be done anonymously. Are there possibilities they can be abused? Sure, but Canadians can make a choice, Phillips said. You can end up with some initiatives that raise questions about privacy and civil liberties, or you can have the scenario like Italy or New York. You can flatten the curve but if you dont have the public health components in place then youre probably going to see second and third waves. And the playbooks been written by these few countries. Why would we not adopt it? Tam said the testing capacity across Canada is being built right now. Health Canada is also set to imminently approve the first serologic tests for the COVID-19 antibody to ascertain the broader level of immunity in the general population, she said. Unlike nose and throat swabs used to detect the presence of the virus, serologic tests check for antibodies in the blood. They dont necessarily show if a person currently has the virus but they may signal someone was previously infected. The tests also provide results within 15 minutes. But Bogoch cautions that the evidence is so far unclear as to whether infection produces any immunity or for how long someone may be resistant to a new infection a warning the World Health Organization also issued this week. He also warns that COVID-19 will be with us for a long time. Canada is likely at or near the peak of the first wave of the pandemics spread, he said, but with 1,550 new cases reported Wednesday, that means were recording the greatest number of new cases per day. Were still at the peak, thats not a good place to be. We want to get to the bottom of the curve on the other side before we start to relax some of our public health restrictions. Chris Hemsworth says Thor's hammer will ring out larger than ever - after coronavirus is conquered. The 36-year-old actor, speaking with the Philadelphia Inquirer, said that when production ramps back up again under the direction of filmmaker Taika Waititi, he expects a motion picture that will land with viewers. 'It's one of the best scripts I've read in years,' he said. 'It's Taika at his most extreme, and at his best. If the version I read is the one we get running with, it's going to be pretty insane.' Bright future: Chris Hemsworth, 36, says Thor's hammer will ring out larger than ever - after coronavirus is conquered The movie, the fourth in the action franchise, reunites Hemsworth with Tessa Thompson and Natalie Portman, also featuring Christian Bale. Hemsworth said that he's had a rare chance for introspection amid the shutdown caused by COVID-19. 'Not to diminish by any means the challenges that are occurring, the absolute uncertainty, the anxiety that is happening in the world, but me personally, and to that question, it's (created) a forced sort of meditation and forced sort of stillness that I haven't been able to dive into like I've wanted to for many years,' he said. The leading man, who's father to India, seven, and twins Tristan and Sasha, six, said that he was enjoying the extended time with his family after a whirlwind decade making films. Impressed: Chris said of the upcoming film, 'It's one of the best scripts I've read in years' Focused: The actor predicted that the fourth film in the series would be 'pretty insane' 'For 10 years I've been part of the machine, and I've been thankful for it, and done so many wonderful things and traveled so much, but what it meant was, I was away from my family. A lot,' he said. 'I've wanted to just stop being controlled by a schedule.' He said he was relieved 'to be home now with the kids full-time and to be able to go, "Wow, this is truly what's important." It would be a real miss if I didn't use this opportunity to soak up that time.' Hemsworth said that he's relaxed over his urges to continue working on projects. 'There is also another that other part of me, that ego or whatever it is, that is saying, "What else? We've got to do something else. Come on, there's got to be more,"' he said. 'But I'm just trying to quiet that and just exist in the present moment now, and it's really nice.' Hemsworth headlines the upcoming Netflix film Extraction, which drops Friday on the streaming service. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) With the coronavirus having led to mass fatalities, the International Committee of the Red Cross on Thursday urged authorities to plan and prepare ahead to ensure bodies are handled properly. Failing to get ready for mass casualties risks burials in mass graves, leading to few records and little understanding of who died and where the body is taken, the international humanitarian institution said. [I]ts imperative that plans are made and, if needed, carried out to help lower the pain that families and broader society feel in the face of a high death toll, said Oran Finnegan, the head of the ICRC's forensics unit. The institution is currently working on body management issues in regions around the world including Asia, Central and South America, the Eur-Asia region, and the Middle East and North Africa. It noted that funeral homes and morgues in countries not affected by conflict have still gotten quickly overwhelmed with the number of COVID-19 deaths. "In conflict zones, the situation could be even more dire due to limited capacity to properly handle high numbers of deaths," said the institution. With this, ICRC recommended that authorities ensure the safety and well-being of people handling coronavirus fatalities are of utmost priority. "[H]ealth care workers and staff handling the dead must use appropriate personal protective gear," it said. Officials must also ensure they have physical structures needed to store bodies and enough burial space. "For a mourning family, this means having a specific burial place to visit," said Stephen Fonseca, ICRCs head of forensics in Africa. The institution added that proper burial or cremation with identification and documentation must be observed to ensure respect for the deceased and their families. These must also be performed according to cultural and religious needs. The ICRC reported that in some countries in Asia, the dead have been cremated against their religious beliefs and that of their families. The humanitarian institution called on authorities to adopt or incorporate international guidelines that "allow both cremation and burial and permit the observing of religious rites and ceremonies as much as safely possible." It also called for implementation of preventive measures especially in "detention facilities, refugee camps, and large city slums, including dispelling myths and ensuring preparedness to deal with a higher than normal number of deaths than current capacity can handle." COVID-19 has killed over 183,000 people worldwide, with the Philippines registering 462 confirmed deaths. Eighth graders grasp of key topics in history have plummeted, national test scores released this morning showan alarming result at a time of deep political polarization, economic uncertainty, and public upheaval in the United States. Except for the very top-performing students, scores fell among nearly all grade 8 students in history on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, also called the Nations Report Card, since the last history administration, in 2014. The decline of four points overall erased fully half of the overall gains made in the subject since 1994, the first year the exam was given. Federal officials described themselves as disappointed and the results as pervasive and disturbing. Scores fell in geography, too. In that subject, the overall decline of three points since 2014 was largely due to a downturn in the performance of the lowest-performing studentsthose at the 25th percentile and below. Only in civics, the third subject tested, did students scores remain flat. Learning in that subject has historically proved difficult to budge: Since its first administration, in 1998, scores in that assessment have increased by only three points. U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos called the results stark and inexcusable. In the real world, this means students dont know what the Lincoln-Douglas debates were about, nor can they discuss the significance of the Bill of Rights, or point out basic locations on a map, she said. National concern about the quality of young peoples civic and historical preparation and knowledge of global events has been steadily growing over the last two years, with some states introducing new coursework and testing requirements . But the coronavirus pandemic has upended K-12 education, and it is unclear whether states will continue to pump the gas on those efforts. On the other hand, the temporary suspension of the reading and math tests many blame for focusing schools too narrowly on those subjects provides an opportunity to seize the moment, noted Louise Dube, the executive director of curriculum provider iCivics. She also helps lead a coalition of some 90 groups supporting civics and history education. Are we going to be able to focus on these integrative disciplines that have a great deal of connection with whats happening right now and feel a great deal more relevant in peoples lives? she asked. I dont know, but its all I can hope for. A Consistent Pattern The history, civics, and geography exams were given in early 2018 to a national sample of nearly 43,000 8th graders. It is also the first time these subjects have been assessed using digital devices as well as traditional paper-and-pencil forms. (There are no state-by-state results for the three subjects as there are for math and reading.) Prior research has shown that switching to a new testing mode can depress scores, so NAEP officials used statistical methods to equate the digital results to prior years paper-and-pencil scores. The overall findings were distinctly subpar. In history, students scored lower on all four areas measured by the testthe evolution of American democracy; culture; economic and technical changes; and Americas changing role in the world. The poor results were consistent across all racial and ethnic categories too, with the exception of students identifying as Asian or Pacific Islander. Across the three subjects, a quarter or more of students fell below the basic performance category, meaning they didnt have even the fundamental prerequisite skills to master the content. Thirty-four percent of students fell below the basic performance category in history, compared to 29 percent in 2014. In geography, 29 percent fell below that mark compared to 25 percent in 2014. There was no significant change in civics. Tina Heafner, president of National Council of the Social Studies, said she was dismayed by the first decline in U.S. history and geography achievement in middle school. One factor that also is really disturbing for me is just the general low level of proficiency: Less than a quarter of our students are proficient or above proficient level in the three subject areas, and were talking only 15 percent in U.S. history. The history and geography findings add to growing evidence of a broad-based widening of learning gaps between top performers and the most struggling students. In 2019, NAEPs 4th and 8th grade reading and math scores and the Program for International Student Assessment of 15-year-olds in the same subjects showed that the highest-achieving 10 percent of students held steady or improved, while the lowest 10 percent to 20 percent of students declined over the same time. The bottom of the distribution is dropping at a faster rate, said Peggy Carr, the associate commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, which administers the NAEP. These results are not designed to point to why this is also happening, but we clearly see a correlation here thats disturbing. Different groups of 8th graders took NAEPs 8th grade reading and its civics, geography, and history tests, but Carr surmised that students who struggle to read would likely face an uphill fight with the social studies subjects. . At least a third of the questions require that when writing in response to texts students must be clear about their answers and justify their answers, she noted. Widening gaps between low-and high-performing students are really concerning, said Emily Swafford, the director of academic and professional affairs at the American Historical Association. And the reason I think theyre concerning is because Ive seen that history is good preparation for success in your future, whatever you do, whatever course of study you have and then whatever job that you have after that. But we have seen trends that history, rather than being a gateway to success in college is a barrier for our students, for [low-income] Pell grant students, for African-American students, Native American students, Latinx students, and first-generation students. Thats worrying and something that were actively trying to change, she added. Those trends ought to be concerning in the context of the coronavirus, as the nation shifts to an unprecedented experiment with distance learning. At least 37 states , comprising more than 55 million students, have closed school buildings and moved to remote learning in response to the pandemic. Researchers and educators alike point out that the digital divide and other disparities are likely to exacerbate opportunity and learning gaps among students. Data from the NAEPs background questionnaires, meanwhile, suggest that differential access to learning and course quality also might have contributed to the patterns. About half of students in the top quarter of performance said that they regularly were asked to compare and evaluate different points of view about the past, compared to less than a third of those students in the bottom quarter of performance. In civics, just 22 percent of students had teachers whose primary responsibility was teaching that subjectand those students scored, on average, six points higher than students whose teachers said civics was not their primary responsibility. While these data do not conclusively explain the results, they do bolster what some social studies experts have called a civics gap the idea some groups of students are less likely to receive high-quality programming in civics and history. You know, your high-achieving students are more likely to be in your higher level classes, perhaps AP classes or honors-level classes, Haefner said. And so it would raise the question of, whats the quality of instruction thats occurring depending on the type of class a student takes? So then this test becomes a measure, a cumulative measure of what content knowledge they been exposed to this message, as much a measure of exposure and access as it is anything, she said. Its possible, too, that classroom teaching has changed in ways that could affect scores . Swafford said more high schools have emphasized historical thinking over content memorization. The NAEP exam covers historical content from 1607 onwards, as well as asking students to analyze various sources. What I care about in history education is this sense of, are you learning about what the value of studying history is, and how historians know what they know and how history can help you in your career and adult lives, Swafford said, and thats not easily measured in the assessment tool that NAEP has. A Call to Action Through 2018 and 2019, many states and districts had been bolstering their social-science curricula by adding new course requirements, assessments, and hands-on projects . Voting rates among young people, too, had been increasing , thanks to surging youth activism following the devastating school shootings and warnings about climate change. Its not at all clear in the middle of the coronavirus whether states will continue to push forward on those policies, given skyrocketing unemployment and mounting financial concerns. The decline in history scores mark a bitter irony given present circumstances. The coronavirus has sent historians, public health officials, educators, and armchair pundits alike to interrogate the past-like the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic, the polio scare of the early 1950s, and the HIV/AIDS tragedy of the 1980s and 1990sin search of clues on how to handle the current crisis. In that sense, the motto of the U.S. Archives, which houses the nations most important historical documents, feels especially relevant: Whats past is prologue. Similarly, geography does much to explain how the virus spread around the world from one province in China. And as for civics, Congress is now immersed in debating and rolling out legislation aimed at minimizing the effects of the virus. Some teachers say theyre committed to history and civics learning even as they move to remote learning. Indeed, they view it as a wake-up call. Andres Perez, an 11th grade humanities teacher at High Tech High School Chula Vista, in California, often has his students produce authentic work products as part of their civics and history learning. Theyve submitted policy memos at city council and school board meetings, written op-eds, and are currently taking photographs for a local museum contest. In May, hell begin a unit focused on some big civic questions raised by the pandemic on the nations economic safety net, health-care infrastructure, and disaster preparedness: Why are lines for food banks so long? Why are policymakers concerned about a shortage of hospital beds? Was the United States as prepared for the pandemic as other countries? The point is to get students thinking about their civic choices and convictions, he said. Students are participating in civics every day. Theyre wearing masks if they go to the grocery store. Theyre standing six feet apart from each other, Perez said. Its important to understand why that is practicing civics, and that participating in it means something. All citizens should be aware of what the government is asking them to doand why the government really is, more so than usual, expecting extra behaviors of its citizens. Whether most U.S. schools are poised to do the same is unclear, but social studies advocates pleaded with them not to lose sight of the topic in their distance learning plans. Learning comes alive when students can experience whats happening in the real world and see it in action. And its not just about writing letters to your congressman. Its being prepared for this worlda world of complex systems, Dube said. And to only focus on reading and math is really disappointing. House to vote on $480 billion relief package to help small businesses and hospitals, expand COVID-19 testing The house is set to vote today on a coronavirus relief bill. The new proposal includes more than $320 billion for the paycheck protection program, as well as $75 billion for hospitals and $25 billion for coronavirus testing. President Donald Trump says he will sign the bill as soon as it lands on his desk. California governor to announce steps towards easing stay-at-home order The governor will host another press conference at noon today, in the first move toward modifying and easing Californias stay-at-home order, Governor Gavin Newsom announced hospitals statewide can now start scheduling surgeries. To watch the press conference live, Click Here. New home sales report expected to be released The census bureau's is expected to release its latest 'new home' sales report today. Analysts believe data for the month of March could show a huge drop off due to the coronavirus. Some analysts believe this report will be a strong indicator of the economic damage done by the pandemic. Two cats in New York are first pets known to have coronavirus in the US The Centers for Disease Control confirmed two cats, living in separate areas of New York state have tested positive for coronavirus. They are the first pets confirmed to have the virus in the United States. Experts now believe animals can get the virus from humans but say there is little risk of humans getting it from their pets. Both cats are expected to make a full recovery. Butte County Public Health Dr. Miller explains coronavirus, state projections & flattening the curve Action News Now Anchor Scott Rates had an exclusive interview with Butte County Public Health Officer Andy Miller. He asked Miller several questions, including if he thinks recent state projections will hold true. Click Here to watch the full interview. Economies across emerging Europe are bracing for a sharp fall in remittances from foreign workers, with remittances to Europe and Central Asia projected to decline by about 28 per cent in 2020 due to the economic crisis induced by the Covid-19 pandemic and shutdown, according to new data from the World Bank. The projected fall, which would be the sharpest decline in recent history, is largely due to a fall in the wages and employment of migrant workers, who tend to be more vulnerable to loss of employment and wages during an economic crisis in a host country, Emerging Europe writes in the article Emerging Europe braces for sharp drop in remittances from foreign workers. Remittances to low and middle-income countries are projected to fall by 19.7 per cent to 445 billion US dollars, representing a loss of a crucial financing lifeline for many vulnerable households. Studies show that remittances alleviate poverty in lower- and middle-income countries, improve nutritional outcomes, are associated with higher spending on education, and reduce child labour in disadvantaged households. A fall in remittances affect families ability to spend on these areas as more of their finances will be directed to solve food shortages and immediate livelihoods needs. Remittances are a vital source of income for developing countries. The ongoing economic recession caused by Covid-19 is taking a severe toll on the ability to send money home and makes it all the more vital that we shorten the time to recovery for advanced economies, said World Bank Group President David Malpass. Remittances help families afford food, healthcare, and basic needs. As the World Bank Group implements fast, broad action to support countries, we are working to keep remittance channels open and safeguard the poorest communities access to these most basic needs. Despite the decline, however, remittance flows are expected to become even more important as a source of external financing for low and middle-income countries. In 2020, FDI is expected to decline by over 35 per cent due to travel bans, disruption of international trade, and wealth effects of declines in the stock prices of multinational companies. Montenegro, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Ukraine are all at risk of losing considerable amounts of income, with remittances in all five countries accounting for more than 10 per cent of GDP. In 2019, Ukraine was the largest recipient of remittances in the region, receiving a record high of nearly 16 billion US dollars, with the lions share coming from Poland (about two-thirds of the total), followed by the Czech Republic, Russia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, many Ukrainians working abroad, estimated at some three-four million people, were having a difficult time finding employment as tightened border controls blocked many temporary and seasonal workers from moving throughout Europe, including within neighbouring countries. Some of them returned to Ukraine, though many were stranded abroad. It was reported that many short-term Ukrainian workers in Italy, the third-most popular destination (with 11 per cent of Ukrainian migrant workers) after Poland (40 per cent) and Russia (25 per cent), were trapped behind a nationwide lockdown, unable to return home despite having expired visas. The high dependence on remittances is also likely to increase the impact of negative external shocks on the Central Asian economies of the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Remittances sent home by millions of expatriate workers in Russia, most of them employed in the construction sector, account for about two-thirds of GDP in both the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan. (Outward remittance flows from Russia, as expressed in US dollars, would be lower due to the valuation effect of a weaker rouble against the US dollar). Indeed, the Kyrgyz Republic saw remittances fall nine per cent in the first two months of 2020 compared with the same period the previous year. The crisis has presented a challenge for the cross-sectoral mobility of workers, which could be particularly hard for lower-skilled migrant workers, especially informal and undocumented workers. During the global financial crisis in 2009, many migrant workers moved from construction to agriculture and retail. Such intersectoral movement may be difficult at this time because the sectors that need more workers such as health and information technology require specific skills and prior training. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A group of physicians and nurses at University of California San Francisco traveled to Arizona and New Mexico to treat members of the Navajo Nation who have contracted the COVID-19 coronavirus. The seven physicians and 14 nurses left for the Navajo reservation Wednesday night at the request of the university's colleagues in the Navajo Nation. The workers will be stationed at seven hospitals in Chinle, Arizona, and Gallup and Shiprock, New Mexico, three areas with large hospitals focused on residents of the reservation. The reservation, which has a population of about 175,000, has dealt with a disproportionate number of cases in recent weeks that have overwhelmed its health care system. Navajo Nation health care workers have confirmed 1,206 positive cases of the virus, including 48 confirmed deaths, as of Tuesday. "COVID-19 is tearing across the fault lines of existing injustice and structural marginalization, and has hit Navajo Nation at a rate higher than 48 states," said Dr. Sriram Shamasunder, associate professor of medicine at UCSF. "COVID-19 has shown us that we are bound together, all of us." UCSF offered similar help to New York City earlier this month, when 20 health care workers volunteered to travel across the country and support the New York-Presbyterian hospital system. UCSF is coordinating the efforts in New York and the Navajo Nation through its Department of Medicine's Health, Equity, Action and Leadership initiative. Doctors, nurses and other health care workers in the two-year fellowship assist with health care needs in rural and disadvantaged communities around the world. "We remain grateful that the severity of COVID-19 in the Bay Area has not been severe thus far, enabling UCSF Health to partner with UCSF HEAL to provide support and highly trained and courageous nurses and physicians for assistance to patients and health care providers in Navajo Nation," UCSF Health Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Josh Adler said. Copyright 2020 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. A Missoula public health official talked at length this week about the many violations found at the Sleepy Inn motel and offered more context. Cindy Farr, the incident commander for the Missoula City-County Health Department's COVID-19 response team, addressed the shocking health inspection report in a recorded address on Tuesday. Her address followed the Missoula City Council's decision to use $1.1 million of Tax Increment Financing to purchase the property as a temporary quarantine shelter and later affordable housing site. "We've gotten a lot of questions about the condition of the Sleepy Inn," Farr said. She noted that routine motel and hotel inspections occur only once a year in Missoula County. On Monday, the Missoulian reported that a health inspector had surveyed about half the rooms and turned up evidence of bed bugs, rodent feces, mold and unsafe wiring in the motel. He also found yellow tap water and "severe biological odors" emanating from some rooms, which he said could possibly be sewage. "Several rooms had been vacant and sitting empty, so water was sitting in pipes and rooms attracted pests," Farr said Tuesday. "Rooms with more activity are not likely to attract pests. Pest issues can be more easily identified when people are coming into rooms. And empty rooms can get stuffy when they're not used." She said all issues will be addressed. The motel has been cited in the past by health department officials, she noted. "We directed the owner to fix the issues and that is their responsibility," she said. "The department has followed up on pest complaints including bedbugs and noted remediation. In the past, there were major facility repairs due to violations." The result, she said, was "significant improvement" in cleaning and pest management at the motel. "While the facility is not in compliance, measures have been taken to improve the facility and operations," she said. "The public should recognize that hotels often have violations, and corrective action is what's important. Hotels work with the department instead of a heavy-handed approach and evictions of long-term renters." Farr also said inspections are just a "snapshot" of a hotel's or motel's condition. "Inspectors can't see every room in a hotel or motel during inspection," she said. "There isn't time or resources, so they inspect a sample of available rooms that have been cleaned and are available to rent out." She also noted that conditions in a motel can change from manager to manager or season to season or room to room. With inspections only occurring once a year, Farr said "something could rise to the level of concern" after an inspection deemed the motel safe. "Health inspections (for hotels and motels) are on limited regulation and are based on much different compliance pathways than other types of regulated establishments like restaurants," she noted. On Monday, the council approved on a 9-3 vote using TIF funds to buy the motel on West Broadway for use as a temporary COVID-19 quarantine shelter. It will serve people without homes and others who need a safe place to stay. The city intends in the long run to develop the site into some form of affordable housing. City officials have said there will be a rigorous sanitizing process before the site is used as a shelter. Farr said the visit by the health inspector to the Sleepy Inn was not a routine inspection but rather was requested to determine what changes need to be made to bring the facility into compliance. Last week, Missoula Mayor John Engen said the city will use the same approach to developing affordable housing on the site as it's going to use on the old Missoula County library site. They'll most likely put out a request for proposals and see what private developers or nonprofit agencies can come up with. Because the city owns both the old library site and will own the Sleepy Inn site, tax savings can be passed onto renters or homeowners. Eran Pehan, the city's director of the Office of Housing and Community Development, noted that the site is attractive to developers because it lies both within an Urban Renewal District and an Opportunity Zone. That means developers are able to seek local TIF assistance and get federal tax breaks from the Opportunity Zone program if they build there. Ellen Buchanan, the director of the Missoula Redevelopment Agency, agreed with Pehan. "When you can layer Opportunity Zones and TIF together, it's pretty powerful," Buchanan said. "It will help with the redevelopment process down the road." A manager at the Sleepy Inn told the Missoulian that the owner was not available for comment. 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. Kelloggs to provide food donations direct to NHS This article is old - Published: Thursday, Apr 23rd, 2020 Kelloggs UK, which has a factory on Bryn Lane, has pledged to donate 500,000 servings of food direct to NHS and key workers across the UK. The news comes after Kelloggs announced it would also be distributing a minimum of three million servings of food to its charity partners, to reach food banks, schools and community groups supporting the most vulnerable people. Staff in NHS hospitals and medical facilities are able to visit Kelloggs.co.uk contact page (and select NHS from the drop down) where they can then then request a donation to be delivered direct to their workplace, for their own staff or break rooms. As well as these donations, the business will be recognising the hauliers who are continuing to ensure food reaches our shelves at this unique time. Kelloggs will be working to provide food for the staff rooms of its three main UK hauliers. Kelloggs VP and head of UK business, Chris Silcock, commented: At Kelloggs we want to ensure we are doing what we can to support those who need us at this time. From getting food onto shelves, to supporting local food banks and schools. I want to take this opportunity to thank the NHS for their tireless work and I hope that by donating a further 500,000 servings of cereal direct to those working on the frontline we are able to help in some way. Kelloggs UKs donation to NHS staff comes in addition to the three million servings it has already pledged, bringing total food donations to over 3.5 million servings. Across Wrexham, Kelloggs factory colleagues have been delivering food donations to Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Gobowen Hospital, Ty Derbyn, Y Heddfan, Grove Road Health Centre, Wrexham food bank at the Salvation Army and Hafod Y Wern Primary School. Earlier in the month, the business received 350 applications as it opened up roles at its local factory to meet the increased demand for food. The coronavirus shutdown has not been kind to the tourism industry. Mystic Seaport Museum, for example, laid off nearly 200 employees. The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk has cut personnel expenses through salary reductions and furloughs. The furloughs are temporary, allowing staff to stay employed and keep their medical benefits. RELATED: Connecticuts only zoo still here for you, but could use some help RELATED: Economic impact of coronavirus hits Connecticut museums, tourism industry But while their doors are closed, many museums, aquariums and cultural centers are offering online programs and virtual tours. >> Click through the slideshow to see some of the ways you can enjoy local museums from your home. Visit the Connecticut Office of Tourism for a full list. And while connecting with the audience is good for engagement, it's not a solution to financial problems. Beardsley Zoo Director Gregg Dancho told Hearst its virtual programs are going well, but the thing thats most scary is being closed at this time of year, because as a nonprofit, the zoo needs financial support. Caring for the animals involves everything from feedings and cleaning habitats to healthcare, such as keeping up with vaccine schedules and testing for illness. Since a Bronx Zoo tiger recently tested positive for coronavirus the first animal in the country precautions are being taken to prevent the spread to Beardsley Zoos animals. (Click here to donate to the zoo). Still, there's optimism. The industry is very resourceful, Randy Fiveash, director of the Connecticut Office of Tourism told Hearst. Im confident we will get through this by sticking together and reach greater heights when this crisis is behind us. Bazaar Corporate Radar | Feb 22, 2021, 12:00 AM IST Bazaar Corporate Radar Bazaar Corporate Radar is your window into the minds of top CEOs, Boardrooms, global economists, fund managers and sector analysts. If it?s making news, you?ll find it on Bazaar Corporate Radar. By Express News Service KOZHIKODE: Two house surgeons of Kozhikode Medical College Hospital (KMCH), which is a COVID centre, tested positive on Wednesday. They reportedly travelled with Tablighi Jamaat attendees in a train from New Delhi to Kozhikode in the last week of March. Six doctors who screened the duo have also been asked to go in quarantine. The two house surgeons were part of a nine-member team which went on a pleasure trip to Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh after their MBBS final-year examination. On their return, all of them were asked to home-quarantine for 30 days. They stayed together near KMCH in a rented house. When their swab samples were tested, the two house surgeons --- from Kannur and Kozhikde --- tested positive and the rest negative. Both were asymptomatic. The Kannur native has been included under that districts list of patients. Meanwhile, a nurse working with a private hospital here also tested positive on Wednesday. She had attended to the Covid patient from Edachery in Vadakara and has been in quarantine after the latter tested positive on April 11. In the 11 days he spent fighting Covid-19 at Montefiore Nyack Hospital, there was one thing Mark Schwarz couldnt figure out. Occasionally throughout the days there, you would randomly start hearing music playing and wonder, Whats that for? Mr. Schwarz, 54, said on Tuesday. On Monday, when it finally came time for Mr. Schwarz to go home from the hospital in Nyack, N.Y., he heard for himself: The cheerful chorus of the Beatles Here Comes the Sun rang through the hospital hallways to celebrate his discharge. Pick a hospital in the metropolitan area of New York these days, and you are likely to find that the staff has identified a song as the fitting soundtrack to the release of patients who had been hospitalized because of the virus. Cases of the coronavirus in New Jersey increased on Wednesday to 95,865 people infected with at least 5,063 fatalities from the pandemic in the state. Officials announced another 314 deaths and 3,551 positive tests in the state. This does not get any easier, Gov. Phil Murphy said during an afternoon briefing. Yes, we talk about charts and models and trends. And we must. But each and every one of these individuals was an extraordinary and precious life. The numbers included 2,050 deaths as the states long-term care facilities including nursing homes, with account for 11,608 of the total positive tests. As reported continued to rise, Murphy said the effort to slow the increase appeared to be working. We continue to see the curve of new COVID-19 cases remains significantly flat. But again, while we consider this a positive step in our fight, were not even close to even consider claiming victory," the governor said. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage Heres a roundup of coronavirus news: Race, age and ethnicity must now be included in N.J. coronavirus statistics, Murphy says: New Jersey hospitals will now be required by law to include demographic data when reporting coronavirus data to the Department of Health. Hospitals will be required to report the ethnicity, gender and race of people who have tested positive for COVID-19, or died from the virus, Gov. Phil Murphy announced during the daily coronavirus press briefing Wednesday. Understanding the impact of COVID-19 by demographic group is critical to ensure equity in our response to this virus," Murphy said. We must do everything we can to protect the most vulnerable groups in our state during this unprecedented crisis. This data will inform our efforts and allow us to make sure that no one is left behind. Walmart wont say if workers have coronavirus as some N.J. stores temporarily close: Walmart has closed four of its 71 New Jersey locations for one day each over the last two weeks, a company spokesman said. Positive COVID-19 tests among staff members, inadequate staffing numbers and stocking issues are all among the considerations that can trigger a one-day shutdown at a Walmart location, the spokesman said. Walmart is initiating the closings, with no outside input from health departments. Jersey 4 Jersey benefit show: Find out how to watch, listen, live stream. N.J. coronavirus deaths increase to 5,063 with 95,865 cases statewide. 3,500 new positive tests confirmed: The coronavirus death toll in the state increased to 5,063 residents on Wednesday with 95,865 total cases statewide as officials announced another 314 deaths and 3,551 positive tests. Murphy shreds Sen. McConnell for utterly irresponsible call for states to go bankrupt over coronavirus costs: Gov. Phil Murphy on Wednesday launched into a fiery takedown of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for saying state and local governments with cratered finances because of the coronavirus pandemic should be allowed to file for bankruptcy rather than rely on federal aid. My breath is taken away, Murphy, a Democrat, said of McConnell during his daily coronavirus press briefing in Trenton. Really? This is the time, in a moment of crisis unlike any our country has faced in at least 100 years, to suggest its a good thing for states to go bankrupt?" the governor asked. Come on, man, Murphy said. That is completely and utterly irresponsible. Theres no level of responsibility associated with that. And I dont care what party youre in. N.J. wants coronavirus testing sites to be open for people without symptoms, but needs a waiver first: Testing sites in Bergen and Monmouth counties briefly opened up to conduct testing on any New Jersey resident, regardless of whether they are exhibiting signs of COVID-19, according to officials. Gov. Phil Murphy said the sites have jumped the gun and would need permission from the federal Department of Health and Human Services. NJ Advance Media staff writers Anthony G. Attrino, Matt Arco, Brent Johnson and Sophie Nieto-Munoz contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Sri Lanka has no plans to have foreign troops deployed in the country to combat the coronavirus as the island nation's military and police have shown their capabilities in tackling the pandemic, according to Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratne. Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Gunaratne said the Sri Lankan forces were well prepared to tackle all the challenges posed by the COVID-19. "Our military has already shown their expertise and professionalism in handling the emergency situation created under the coronavirus threat," Gunaratne said. The Defence Secretary was referring to a recent news report which claimed that the Indian Army would be deployed in Sri Lanka to support the country's efforts to control the spread of the coronavirus, the state-run Daily News quoted Gunaratne as saying. He also said there was no such dialogue between the two nations, the newspaper reported. Sri Lanka has so far reported 330 positive cases with 7 deaths, according to the World Health Organisation. Emphasising that there was no need for the foreign militaries to help Sri Lanka, he said the island nation's military is at the forefront of the COVID-19 prevention operations. "The special mechanism set up for the purpose is headed by the Army Commander Shavendra Silva. The Army runs the quarantine Centers located in different parts of the island," he said. Gunaratne said Sri Lanka would set an example for other nations, which are battling with the coronavirus, on how a country could use its intelligence agencies with the military and health authorities effectively to control the spread of the highly infectious virus. Sri Lankas intelligence agencies have been used to trace people who are closely associated with Coronavirus positive patients and also their whereabouts to direct them to the 14-days quarantine process, he said. By Express News Service CHANDIGARH: Two persons have been booked by the Punjab Police for flouting the coronavirus curfew norms in Rajpura town of Patiala district after they organised hookah parties even after the lockdown. Rajpura is now a COVID-19 hotspot. Senior Superintendent of Police of Patiala Mandeep Singh Sidhu said that the SMO of Rajpura wrote a letter regarding the irresponsible movement of individuals who were tested positive for the coronavirus and an initial inquiry was done. After that, a case was registered under sections 188, 269, 271 and 336 of IPC and 51 of Disaster Management Act against Krishan and Balraj, who hosted the hookah parties, and unknown persons. It is learnt that they had travelled to many places in Patiala and even outside. Further, they became positive with COVID-19 and because of their irresponsible actions, many others came in the grip of this epidemic. Even after the imposition of the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, they violated the orders issued by the administration and met many people in Rajpura. Sources said that more than twenty cases are directly linked to these hookah parties, which were held almost every day even after the lockdown. These gatherings were attended by businessmen, satta operators, local leaders, and even some medical professionals, and were the primary reason for the majority of the cases in Rajpura. The Health Department has already started 100 per cent screening in the area, which will be completed within the next three days. Also, many people from other districts had also participated in these parties that have now emerged as the epicentre of the corona outbreak in the district. The spike in positive cases from just two to 49 cases in one week in Patiala district was due to this. Another case has also been registered against two others for violating the lockdown. The group is in the process of seeking approvals from ICMR and other authorities in order to start off clinical trials in India A novel treatment invented by a team of scientists from European Medical Association, together with New Delhi based Redcliffe Lifesciences and Mumbai based Sapio Analytics, is proven to cure COVID-19 with higher effectiveness than conventional plasma treatment. "We have innovated an accessible treatment of COVID-19, using the widely accepted concept of plasma treatment, and combining it with adjuvant negative ion therapy using a proprietary ionizer device. The treatment has already been applied in China and Germany (3000+ patients), with successful results, proving to be about 10 times more effective than conventional plasma therapy, with recovery rate of severe and acute patients being less than 48 hours, informed the innovators of the treatment The group is in the process of seeking approvals from ICMR and other authorities in order to start off clinical trials in India. Dr. Ahmad Abdulaziz AlJaziri from UAE is the lead inventor, with Prof.em.Dr Amina Ather along with Dr.Nayak S.V under the umbrella of EMA as lead research and clinical leader. Redcliffe Lifesciences headed by Dheeraj Jain, Ashish Dubey and Rakesh Maurya is the exclusive commercial and clinical partner, while Sapio Analytics headed by Ashwin Srivastava and Hardik Somani is the government advisory, compliance, and planning partner. Dr Jaziri has previously invented a number of medical devices, including and not limited to, Dr.AlJaziri Mosulator for removing abdominal tumors in a none invasive way, and Clip Applicator patented in Germany in 1990 Prof. Ather has been contributing on non-invasive non drug therapy as an emeritus professor with Peoples republic of china since 2013 . The treatment and its methodology are driven by data-based results of the said treatment of COVID-19 in UAE, China and Germany and combining the same with data-driven output models of plasma treatment and negative ion therapy, used outside of COVID-19. The methodology is designed and optimized in a manner that it can be administered on a range of patients with varying viral loads, using donors with varying levels of antibodies. This ability to create such a range makes it much more accessible than regular plasma treatment and helps usher India into an era of available COVID-19 treatment. The treatment is also combined with immune modulators of Phyto extracts and anti-influenza drugs, adds the team about the methodology used in the treatment. Recent reports say that Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has received approvals for clinical trials of plasma treatment in India by the central drug regulator. A list of institutes have received approval for the same. Sapio Umbrella, a brand entity of Sapio Analytics is already engaging with various state governments on a pro- bono basis to assist them with data backed decision support system, for combatting the pandemic. Redcliffe is operating COVID-19 testing labs with partnership with DSTs BSIP and involved in whole genome sequencing of COVID-19 strain apart from distribution of the RT PCR kits. Louth County Council is appealing to all landowners and those who have upland commonage land in the Cooley Peninsula, and other shrubland areas in the county, to be vigilant and to ensure that there is no illegal burning of gorse or other vegetation on their land. The Council is making the call after Louth Fire Service attended nine serious gorse and heather fires in the Cooley Mountains between 17th and 20th April. Due to the dry conditions, these were extensive fires, which burned large areas of vegetation. The fire service was in attendance at one of these fires in Flagstaff Hill, Omeath, for 16 hours. This was a particularly serious fire as it was immediately adjacent to forestry on both sides of the border. Commenting, Chief Fire Officer with Louth County Council, Eamon Woulfe said: All burning of land is prohibited and these fires are therefore illegal. It appears that many wildland fires are not accidental, so we would appeal to landowners to be vigilant about what is happening on their land. These fires have caused considerable disruption to rural communities and habitats, and have threatened the homes of vulnerable people isolating due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They also put extensive areas of forestry at risk. In addition, the scale of these fires has put Louths fire and medical first responder service resources under strain, when they are already exceptionally busy during the COVID-19 pandemic. They can also cause a public safety risk by diverting fire brigade resources away from life-risk fires, including serious house fires. The Department of Agriculture has issued an orange high fire risk warning, indicating that a high fire risk is deemed to exist in all areas where hazardous fuels such as dead grasses and shrub fuels, including heather and gorse, exist. This risk alert will remain in place until 12:00 on 24th April, bar significant rainfall in the interim. Mr Woulfe added: We would appeal to landowners to be vigilant about what is happening on their land and to ensure no fires are started; to people visiting such areas, bearing in mind the requirement to remain within 2km of their home, to be careful not to accidentally start a fire, and for anyone who sees such a fire to report it immediately by dialling 999 or 112. People who report gorse fires will not be billed for making the call. We would also like to remind landowners that those found to be burning illegally could face fines, imprisonment and Single Farm Payment penalties, where applicable. The Council will be providing full details of all of these fires to the Department of Agriculture for any action it may wish to take. While Struggling Americans Await $1,200 Stimulus, Nations Wealthiest Reap Windfall While struggling individuals and families look forward to a $1,200 federal stimulus check, Americas wealthy have again made off with most of the cash. The $2.3 trillion coronavirus stimulus package includes a temporary tax change for individuals who make at least $1 million a year, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation. The Joint Committees analysis shows 43,000 taxpayers in the highest income bracket, making more than $1 million a year, could save a combined $70 billion in taxes. Almost all benefits from the tax break go to people making more than $100,000 a year. The change in tax law reportedly suspends limits on how much money individuals can deduct against how much they owe based on lost income or business revenue, according to the committee. ADVERTISEMENT Still, millionaires and billionaires are set to reap more than 80 percent of the benefits because of the Trump tax law change, which alters what certain business owners are allowed to deduct from their taxes. It allows many of the countrys wealthiest to avoid nearly $82 billion of tax liability in 2020. Nearly 82 percent of the benefits from the tax law change will go to people making $1 million or more annually in 2020, according to the Joint Committee. Approximately 95 percent of those who benefit from the change make $200,000 or more. The government began sending out $1,200 stimulus payments to individuals making less than $75,000, and $2,400 for couples earning no more than $150,000. An additional $500 per child under 18 was provided to families while those high school and college students over the age of 17 were left entirely out. ADVERTISEMENT In all, taxpayers will lose nearly $90 billion from the change to the law, which suspends a restriction introduced in President Trumps 2017 tax bill. The change allows owners of businesses known as pass-through entities to lower their taxes by deducting as much as they want against income unrelated to the company. Its a scandal for Republicans to loot American taxpayers amid an economic and human tragedy, Rhode Island Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse noted in a statement. This analysis shows that while Democrats fought for unemployment insurance and small business relief, a top priority of President Trump and his allies in Congress was another massive tax cut for the wealthy. Whitehouse and Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) sent a letter expressing their concerns to Vice President Mike Pence, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, and Acting Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Russell Vought. We are specifically seeking information about whether any people in the Trump administration who were involved with developing the changes would also benefit from the provisions. Several published reports said both Trump and his son-in-law Jared Kushner stand to reap millions as a result of the stimulus package and the change in tax law. So that Congress and the American public can better understand the provenance of these tax law changes, and assess whether any individuals within the Administration who stand to gain from these provisions were involved in their development, Whitehouse and Doggett have requested that Pence, and Vought provide the following information: All communications from January 1, 2020, to the present between the White House, Department of Treasury, or the Office of Management and Budget and any nongovernment person or entity related to sections 2303 or 2304, or the policies modified by those sections. All communications between the Department of Treasury and the White House, and between the Department of Treasury and the Office of Management and Budget, related to sections 2303 or 2304, or the policies modified by those sections, in the development of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. All studies, analyses, proposals, cost estimates, or other information considered by the White House, the Department of Treasury, or the Office of Management and Budget related to sections 2303 or 2304, or the policies modified by those sections, in the development of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. Its a scandal for Republicans to loot American taxpayers in the midst of an economic and human tragedy, Whitehouse noted in his statement. Congress should repeal this rotten, un-American giveaway and use the revenue to help workers battling through this crisis. Doggett added that the cost of the tax break is more than total new funding for all hospitals in America and more than the total provided to all state and local governments. Someone wrongly seized on this health emergency to reward ultrarich beneficiaries, likely including the Trump family, with a tax loophole not available to middle class families. This net operating loss loophole is a loser that should be repealed, Doggett said. WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2020 / In March 2020, the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) welcomed retired Army Brigadier General Guy "Tom" Cosentino to the MEMRI Board of Advisors. After a 30-year Army career in strategy and operations, Brig. Gen. Cosentino currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Business Executives for National Security (BENS). Prior to joining BENS in September 2015, he served as the 28th Commandant of the National War College. Brig. Gen. Cosentino previously served as Deputy Director for Political and Military Affairs, providing military advice to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of Defense; Deputy Commanding General for Regional Support, NATO Training Mission Afghanistan; and Chief of Strategy, Plans, and Assessments for the Multi-National Security Transition Command in Iraq. MEMRI Board of Directors Chairman Oliver "Buck" Revell, former FBI Executive Assistant Director for Investigations, welcomed Brig.-Gen. Consentino's joining the MEMRI Board of Advisors as a "great honor" for MEMRI, adding: "Brig.-Gen. Cosentino is a tremendous addition to the current membership of former government and military officials on the Board, and with his vast experience in many areas he will surely have a great deal to contribute." MEMRI Board of Directors Member Amb. Alberto M. Fernandez added: "With his unmatched experience, knowledge, and background, Brig.-Gen. Cosentino will surely enrich our organization and help advance our mission moving into the future." The MEMRI Board of Advisors and Board of Directors include distinguished figures from government, media, law and academia from around the world. Among them are former prime ministers, attorneys-generals, justice ministers, legal and counterterrorism experts, and recipients of the most prestigious awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the United States Congressional Gold Medal. Members of the MEMRI Board of Advisors are bipartisan and have honorably served Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. Story continues ABOUT MEMRI Exploring the Middle East and South Asia through their media, MEMRI bridges the language gap between the West and the Middle East and South Asia, providing timely translations of Arabic, Farsi, Urdu-Pashtu, Dari, and Turkish media, as well as original analysis of political, ideological, intellectual, social, cultural, and religious trends. Founded in February 1998 to inform the debate over U.S. policy in the Middle East, MEMRI is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization. MEMRI's main office is located in Washington, DC, with branch offices in various world capitals. MEMRI research is translated into English, French, Polish, Japanese, Spanish and Hebrew. Please support MEMRI today to help us continue to provide timely translations and research. Your donation is 100% tax-deductible. You may donate online at www.memri.org/donate, mail a check to MEMRI, P.O. Box 27837, Washington, DC 20038-7837, or phone us at 202-955-9070. MEMRI - Middle East Media Research Institute: https://www.memri.org Contact Information: MEMRI media@memri.org 202-955-9070 www.memri.org SOURCE: Middle East Media Research Institute View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/586620/MEMRI-Welcomes-Retired-Army-Brigadier-General-Tom-Cosentino-to-the-MEMRI-Board-Of-Advisors Q: You recently wrote about the difficulty of getting a will signed with social distancing orders in place. But your column did not include the emergency order signed by Gov. Abbott that allows for remote notarization. Why didnt you mention that option? A: You are correct that on April 8, the office of the governor issued an order that allows wills, powers of attorney and certain other documents to be notarized remotely by videoconference. The order was issued so people can avoid face-to-face contact during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the problem with the signing of a will is that the document must still be witnessed by two people who are in the physical presence of the testator. The witnesses cant be with the notary at a remote location. Because most people are avoiding contact with anyone other than family, it can be very difficult, if not impossible, to find two people who are not beneficiaries under the will to serve as witnesses. Interestingly, some other states have already passed legislation modifying the signing requirements for a will during an emergency, and witnesses are allowed to be in a remote location. But in Texas, that would require a change to a statute, and because the Legislature meets only once every two years, nothing related to legislation happens quickly. Hopefully by the time the Legislature meets in 2021, social distancing and stay-at-home orders will be a thing of the past. Q: I am 64 years old and have owned a home since before I got married. I have now been married for several years and do not want issues with probate if I die first. I would like to add my husband to the deed. Can you explain how to do this without issues or cost? And how could we then pass it on to children without probate? A: The way to add your husband to the title of your home is to hire a lawyer to prepare a deed that does just that. Once signed and notarized, the deed would need to be recorded in the county deed records. You might also want to sign a separate document converting the home to community property, because without this document each of you would own half the home as your separate property. Depending on the value of the home, not owning it as community property could have adverse tax issues after one of you passes away. Of course, you need to be absolutely certain about the stability of your marriage before you sign a deed or an agreement converting the home to community property. Presently, the home belongs entirely to you. To avoid probate, you (or you and your husband if you decide to give half to him) could sign a Transfer on Death Deed (or Lady Bird Deed), or you could set up a Revocable Trust. Importantly, if your only goal is to avoid probate, you could simply sign a Transfer on Death Deed (or Lady Bird Deed), and you could continue to own the home as your separate property. The information in this column is intended to provide a general understanding of the law, not legal advice. Readers with legal problems, including those whose questions are addressed here, should consult attorneys for advice on their particular circumstances. Ronald Lipman of the Houston law firm Lipman & Associates is board-certified in estate planning and probate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Email questions to stateyourcase@lipmanpc.com. The residents in the Western Region, especially those in the three entry districts of Shama, Sekondi-Takoradi Metro and the Effia-Kwesimintim Municipality stressed the need to ensure that no one 'smuggles' COVID-19 into the region to add to the already one recorded case. They noted that during the partial lockdown of some areas in the country, many people were not able to travel from the affected areas to their villages and now that it has been lifted, people with the disease might travel to the region with it. The residents gave their grievances in an interview with the Ghana News Agency when it took to town to ascertain whether people were observing the preventive protocols and what they could do to prevent infection should there be a case in the Metropolis. According to them, the region has recorded its first case and was making contact tracing and coupled with the highly populated nature of the region, there was the need for swift and intensive action in its preparedness to tackle the movement or influx of people in the region. They lamented that should there be more importation of the disease in the region the implications for its health system, economy and issues of women and children would be dire and urged the authorities to intensify monitoring in the districts and implement stringent measures to mitigate the threat in the region. Mr. Kwaw Someakwah, a trader at the Takoradi Market Circle argued that contrary to a directive by the city authority directing all traders to maintain social distancing to avoid a possible spread, they have utterly "thrown it to the dogs". Mr Someakwah called on the Regional Health Directorate to be apt in its preparedness to manage the situation and make room for adequate surveillance, logistics and resources to prevent the spread of the disease in the region. He challenged the COVID-19 Team in the region to explore and operationalize all strategies to curtail further spread of the virus into the Metropolis from the infected cities following the announcement by the President. He urged the COVID-19 Task Force and other agencies intensify their patrols and monitoring in the communities, especially markets places and implored parents and guardians to get their children off the streets, markets as well as other public places. ---GNA [April 22, 2020] AHF to Gov. Newsom and Calif. Legislature: "Suspend Costa-Hawkins; Protect Renters!" Press Teleconference, Thursday, April 23, 10:00 a.m. PT In response to the crippling economic impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having in California, housing justice advocates and backers of the Rental Affordability Act (RAA), a November 2020 state ballot initiative that will allow for expansion of rent control throughout California, have launched a high profile advocacy campaign to press California Governor Gavin Newsom and the state legislature to suspend the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995, a law that currently prevents rent control in nearly all of California. In a letter sent to the Governor's office today, backers of the RAA indicated that they would even withdraw the ballot measure should Newsom and the legislature suspend the 1995 law, writing: "In the spirit of cooperation, we will withdraw our initiative from the November 2020 ballot if the state enacts a suspension of the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act." COVID-19 has thrown California's economy into free fall, with over 2.3 million new unemployment claims filed in the three weeks following the declaration of a state of emergency. Suspension of Costa-Hawkins would allow local cities and towns to institute some forms of rent control throughout California to help some of the millions who have lost jobs and income in the nation's shuttered economy. It would also help many others already struggling with the state's notorious housing costs, including the nearly 30% of California households who spend half their income on rent. WHAT: PRESS TELECONFERENCE: Housing justice advocates and Rental Affordability Act backers press Gov. Newsom and the California Legislature to SUSPEND the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995 and allow rent control measures locally in the state WHEN: THURSDAY, April 23, 2020 - 10:00 a.m. PT Teleconference Dial in information: +1.877.411.9748 participant code #7134323 WHO: Rene Moya, Director, Housing Is A Human Right and Campaign Director, Rental Affordability Act (RAA) Michael Weinstein, President, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, the primary backer of RAA Susan Shannon, Policy Director, Rental Affordability Act (RAA) Other Speakers TBD MEDIA CONTACTS: Ruthie Thomas, Communications Director, Rental Affordability Act (RAA) [email protected] (310) 663-4159 cell Ged Kenslea, AHF Communications Dir., [email protected] (323) 791-5526 cell "California's housing and homelessness crises are also now compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. We all need to come together to address the scale of the challenge before us," said Michael Weinstein, President of AHF, the organization sponsoring the Rental Affordability Act ballot initiative. "Right now, our cities are shackled by this outdated rental housing law from further limiting rent increases. Suspending Costa-Hawkins would allow cities and counties to pass more robust rent controls to limit rent increases and protect more renters from displacement. We must do everything in our power to bring stability and relief to renters at this critical time. So in the spirit of cooperation, we will withdraw our initiative from the November 2020 ballot if the state enacts a suspension of the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act." "More than ever, the precarious position of renters in California is being put into stark relief. Now is not the time for half measures - this is the worst economic crisis confronted by renters in a century," added Rene Christian Moya, Housing Is A Human Right and Rental Affordability Act Campaign Director. "California was already experiencing a historic crisis of housing affordability before COVID-19. Our elected officials must be bold to protect our state's 17 million renters." The Rental Affordability Act When passed, The Rental Affordability Act will remove current restrictions in state law, giving cities and counties the power to implement and expand rent control policies that limit how much rents can increase each year. It would allow local communities to: Expand rent control to more buildings while exempting newly constructed buildings. Exempts Single-Family homeowners who own up to two homes. Allow limits on rent increases when a new renter moves in. Housing Is A Human Right (HHR), is the housing advocacy division of AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), and the leading sponsor of the RAA. The measure has the endorsement of Senator Bernie Sanders, labor and civil rights icon Dolores Huerta, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and a suite of California's most well-regarded tenant advocacy and social justice organizations, including the Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE) and Eviction Defense Network, as well as major labor unions, such as UNITE HERE Local 11. The rent control ballot measure has gained increasing urgency during the COVID-19 pandemic, as millions of Californians already struggling with the state's high housing costs have now lost work and income in the nation's shuttered economy. The Rental Affordability Act is sponsored by Homeowners & Tenants United, with significant funding by the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. To find out more about the campaign to suspend Costa-Hawkins, please visit: http://protectrentersnow.org/ Also learn more at https://www.rentcontrolnow.org/ and https://www.housinghumanright.org/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200422006110/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By PTI SINGAPORE: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has assured Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Indian nationals working in Singapore will be taken care of just as other Singaporeans during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a Facebook post on Thursday, Lee said he had a telephone discussion with Modi about the ongoing COVID-19 situation in Singapore and India. During the call, Lee said he acknowledged the sacrifices migrant workers have made in order to work in Singapore. "I assured him (Modi) that we will care for Indian migrant workers here, just as we care for Singaporeans. The migrant workers made personal sacrifices to come to work here. They have made many contributions to Singapore, so we have a responsibility for them," said Lee. "Appreciate PM Modi's affirmation of our efforts in looking after the migrant workers, and his assurance that they will not forget this," Lee added. He thanked Modi for India's help in bringing back stranded Singaporeans from India. Singapore flew out 699 of its citizens in early April after they were stranded due to the coronavirus lockdown in India. After speaking with Lee, Modi said the strategic partnership between India and Singapore can contribute to stability and prosperity in the post-COVID world. "Exchanged views on the COVID-19 pandemic with PM @leehsienloong, and thanked him for the support and care being extended to Indian citizens in Singapore," Modi tweeted. The Singapore PM has called India's nationwide lockdown since late March "not a simple decision" in a huge country of 1.3 billion people. India and Singapore are strategic partners with extensive economic ties, he said. "We agreed to work together on the challenges posed by the pandemic, keep supply chains intact, and keep essential supplies flowing," said Lee in the post. The two leaders also discussed the "extensive economic ties" Singapore and India share. The High Commission of India in Singapore told The Straits Times that Prime Minister Modi called his Singapore counterpart as part of his ongoing engagement with various world leaders on coronavirus. As of April 19, over 1,600 Indian nationals have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Singapore, according to The Straits Times report. The Singapore Health Ministry has stopped releasing individual case details, including nationality, after Sunday last, reported the Singapore Daily. Indians make up the second-largest group -- in terms of nationality -- of coronavirus patients in Singapore. Bangladeshis are the largest national group with more than 2,900 patients. Singaporeans are third on the list with over 1,100 patients. Singapore currently is in the middle of its circuit breaker exercise, which is a series of restriction to control the spread of coronavirus. Meanwhile, a 46-year-old Indian national, who was detected with coronavirus, was found dead here on Thursday, police said. The deceased, whose name was not revealed by the authorities, was found dead at the staircase landing at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. Battling the second-wave of coronavirus infections, Singapore on Thursday reported 1,037 new COVID-19 cases, more than 1,000 of which are foreign workers, including Indian nationals, mostly working in labour-intensive industries and living in packed dormitories. This is the fourth day in a row that Singapore has reported a daily increase of more than 1,000 cases. Manpower Minister Josephine Teo has noted with concern the number of foreign workers inflicted by the killer disease. "I was deeply saddened by news that a worker passed away this morning," said Teo, referring to the Indian national found dead in Khoo Teck Hospital. The Indian worker had worked with the same employer in Singapore since 2009. "We have informed his family and are working with the Migrant Workers' Centre (an NGO working for foreign workers here) to support the family," said Teo in a Facebook post. The Singapore Hindu Endowments Board will also undertake the funeral arrangements of the worker. Earlier this afternoon, Law and Home Minister K Shanmugam and I visited the worker's roommates who are also his friends, she wrote in the post. "His friends, who are also working with the same employer, were sad but calm. They shared with us that they're satisfied with their work in Singapore, and that the employer has been taking good care of them," said Teo, referring to the late Indian national. "I reassured them that their health and medical needs are our uppermost priority. If they fall sick, the government will make sure they are treated and help them recover. "I was glad they knew all the right numbers to call, which had been provided by our officers," said Teo. Teo reiterated Singapore's assurances to migrant workers, noting they are worried. "We will look after you, your health and safety, your daily needs. You can approach our officers at any time for help. Please stay strong so that you can be reunited with your families. "We know this is a stressful time for all of you. You are not alone, and the Singapore government will take care of you," said Teo. Teo along with Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam visited the dormitory of the deceased Indian worker and spoke to his colleagues. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2020) - East West Petroleum Corp. (TSXV: EW) ("East West" or the "Company") is pleased to provide this corporate update. OPERATIONAL UPDATES Romania The Company's joint venture partner and operator, Naftna Industrija Srbije ("NIS"), has provided the following operational update for Romania. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic the state of emergency and a nationwide lockdown was imposed by the Romanian government on March 25, 2020. Consequently, the operator NIS, has temporarily ceased new exploration field activity until such time that the lockdown is lifted and social distancing requirements can be safely relaxed. It is expected that this will substantially delay the planned 2020 exploration programs in the EX-2, EX-3, EX-7 and EX-8 exploration blocks in Romania. As usual, it should be noted that all activities are dependent on securing the necessary government and local approvals. Block EX-2; an acquisition program of 170 Km2 of 3D seismic was completed in 4Q 2019. Processing is expected to be completed in May 2020. Exploration drilling is anticipated to commence in 2021. Block EX-3; interpretation of the 223 km2 of 3D seismic acquired in 2018 has been completed. This work has identified several exploration prospects with drilling expected to commence in 2021. Block EX-7; testing of the BVS-1000 exploration well, which was drilled and completed to 3,800 m in 1Q 2019, has been postponed until 2021. On the Teremia North discovery, the initial discovery well, Teremia-1000 has experienced mechanical problems resulting in an inflow of formation water. A workover is planned for 2021. An appraisal well, Teremia-1001, was drilled and completed in 1Q 2019 and, following initial testing, was placed on long term experimental production in July 2019. Production rates have stabilised around 150 bopd. Block EX-8; A second appraisal well, Teremia-1002, was drilled into the extension of the Teremia North discovery in Block EX-8. The well was completed and tested in 4Q 2019 and has subsequently been placed on long term experimental production with rates stabilising around 150 bopd. Following the drilling of the Pesac Sud-1000 exploration well in 3Q 2019, two separate intervals were tested in 4Q 2019. Both tests failed to indicate the presence of hydrocarbons. Future testing of potentially prospective shallower zones is being considered for 2021. NIS Petrol is committed to fulfilling the commitment work programs in all blocks, considering certain legislative changes and being granted appropriate extensions due to the current Covid-19 situation. NIS will be funding 100% of the costs and fully carrying East West through the commitment work programs in each of the blocks in return for earning an 85% interest in each licence. New Zealand The Company's news release of February 3rd 2020 reported that the local regulatory issues of Cheal Petroleum, the owner of a 70% interest in the permits and the operator, had been resolved such that the Company could proceed to close the transaction for the sale of its 30% interest. The Company had agreed with an arm's length local New Zealand purchaser to sell, with an effective date of April 1st 2019 its interest in Petroleum Exploration Permit 54877 and Petroleum Mining Permit 60291 for sale proceeds of US$1,900,000 in cash. Net revenue, as defined, since April 1st 2019 is being credited to the purchase price such that as at March 31st 2020 the Company has received approximately US $ .95 million of the sale proceeds. The Company had anticipated that as of this date it would have closed the sale but as result of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent shut down of various government offices in New Zealand, which must approve the transfer of the properties, it is uncertain when closing can occur. At this time it is not known when all government approvals to the sale will be in place and therefore a closing date cannot be determined other than pursuant to the agreement with the purchaser closing must occur, subject to possible extensions, by June 24th 2020. From an operational perspective with the recent collapse in price of oil the economics of continuing operations at Cheal is under review. The operator has reported that they have initiated preliminary plans to investigate the real possibility of closing in production at Cheal. About East West Petroleum Corp. East West Petroleum Corp. (www.eastwestpetroleum.ca) is a TSX Venture Exchange listed company established in 2010 to invest in international oil & gas opportunities. The Company has its primary focus on two key areas: New Zealand, where it has established production and cash flow and Romania where it is carried to production on an exploration program. In Romania the Company has exploration rights in four exploration concessions covering 1,000,000 acres in the prolific Pannonian Basin of western Romania with Naftna Industrija Srbije ("NIS"). The Company does not own the acres but has exploration rights. 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 Statements: Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" which reflect the Company's current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that it believes might affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. In some cases, these forward-looking statements can be identified by words or phrases such as "may", "might", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "indicate", "seek", "believe", "estimates", "predicts" or "likely", or the negative of these terms, or other similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. Whether actual results, performance or achievements will conform to the Company's expectations and predictions is subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors, including without limitation, those risks and uncertainties discussed elsewhere in the Company's filings on SEDAR. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein is made as of the date hereof and is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Nick Demare ndemare@chasemgt.com Tel: (604) 685-9316 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/54767 WILTON The complexities of coping with a students ability to understand his or her second language is not typically the first thought of a classroom teacher. Ask Mary Moran, one of Wiltons two ELL (English Language Learner) teachers, who works at Cider Mill and Middlebrook schools. I was a classroom teacher for 20 years, she said, having worked in Bridgeport at a time when there was a large influx of students from Iran and Iraq, some of whom had absolutely no English. While she did her best in attempting to impart the diverse content and strategies relating to different subject areas, she said it remained an ongoing question whether the students whose first language was not English were really hearing, learning and retaining any of what was being taught. Theyre sitting in their seats and they knew nothing, Moran said. They had no English I always felt bad when I couldnt reach them. Her sensitivity to their plight not only compelled her to get an ELL certification, but buoys her passion for helping meet the unique needs of a student population that Wilton as well as other towns in the Group A District Reference Group (DRG) has seen slowly increasing in recent years. The number of students identified as ELL has increased in Weston as compared to previous years, explained Kenneth Craw, Westons superintendent of schools, enough so that we formally added part-time staffing during our last budget cycle to enhance the level of services provided. The predominant first language for students is Spanish, he said, though throughout the DRG which includes Darien, Easton, New Canaan, Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Westport and Wilton a multitude of languages are sometimes presented. In Westport, for instance, where Spanish is also the predominant language for ELL services, 23 different languages are spoken by the 74 students who have qualified to receive ELL services. A variety of efforts are used to make our curriculum accessible to ELL students and their parents, Superintendent of Schools David Abbey said, including computer translations and, when necessary, the engagement of outside translators. In a number of situations only one student speaks a particular language, he said, though that doesnt necessarily mean they require ELL services, for their English skills may be strong. This is where the assessment process comes in, including direct observation and the state standardized test called the LAS Links Assessment, which is a product of the Data Recognition Corporation and helps flag ELL students. In fact, the identification process has become less stringent, so more students are qualifying for ELL services, sometimes just because English is not the primary language spoken in their home or not their first language learned. A variety of efforts are used to make our curriculum accessible to ELL students and their parents, Abbey said. These include computer translation of novels and arranging for translators during parent-teacher conferences. Albanian, Afrikaans, Arabic, Farsi, Mandarin, Nepali, Polish, Russian, Tamil, Telugu, Thai, Ukranian and Vietnamese are among the languages that crop up in lower Fairfield County. Its a varied and seemingly wide selection, though perhaps not when you consider there are close to 7,000 distinctly different languages throughout the world, according to the Linguistic Society of America. Weve typically had corporate expats move into town, and in recent years we have increased the number of families choosing to move to New Canaan on their own, said New Canaan Superintendent of Schools Bryan Luizzi. The numbers have trended up over time, and we also have a wider variety of languages, he said, though again, not all of them require services. All of the students in New Canaan are enrolled and attend classes with their age appropriate peers, he said, and depending on needs, ELL teachers help with everything from conferencing with parents, preparing testing material for students, and creating instructional content appropriate for that students learning. If we are able to find a teacher or community member that speaks the same language as our families, we use them to provide interpretive services, Luizzi said. We have allocated monies in our budget to hire a translation service as needed in case we are unable to locate someone who speaks a specific language. As of Jan. 27, we have 33 students identified as ELL, Charles Smith, Wiltons assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said. Spanish is the most prevalent language. The current staffing level of two ELL teachers is sufficient to meet the needs of students and comply with CSDE (Connecticut State Department of Education) requirements for ELL services, he said, with duties including assessments, work on grants, modifications for students and even family support. We want to provide them with an equitable education, said Ellen Murphys Wiltons other ELL teacher, who juggles time between the high school and Miller-Driscoll. During her 15 years she has experienced a number of success stories, as evidenced by the ongoing relationships she has developed with some students and their families, who invite her to graduation ceremonies, bring her special homemade food dishes, and otherwise acknowledge her role in their lives. I really enjoy the role of welcoming a family to our town and trying to the best of my ability to help them feel like a part of the community, said Murphy, a parent and longtime resident herself. Thus, she sees her role as combining social work and guidance counseling skills, as well as those of an English teacher. I have just loved doing this since I started, Murphy said. Feeling like a conduit between the families and the town is very rewarding. I get really invested in my kids, Moran concurred. I get really passionate about it (and) a lot of times we are the strongest advocates for them. These days, as strange times have closed school buildings and forced teachers to rethink their methods of delivering instruction, both Murphy and Moran continue to play their key roles in reaching students in Wilton, though from a distance. Were doing the distance learning just like everyone else is doing, said Moran, who emails lessons through one online program but also engages directly with students through Zoom. Yesterday, I dressed up like Princess Elsa, said Murphy, who has been drawing on her theatrical skills to create daily videos aimed to inspire her students. I just try to use a video to hook them in, she said, noting that through pantomime and theatrics, shes inspiring their attention and learning, even if English isnt their native language. Senator Risa Hontiveros' Response to the Recent Statement of the Chinese Embassy in Manila It is more absurd and irresponsible to see that, indeed, in the middle of a global pandemic, China has continued to aggressively violate Philippine sovereignty in the region. My previous statement stands: China must pay at least 200 billion pesos in reparations for the damages it has caused in the reef ecosystems for the past 6 years in the West Philippine Sea. China's irresponsible excursions in the region have cost the Filipino people at least 33.1 billion pesos a year, according to University of the Philippines' Marine Science Institute. The payment of these reparations is crucial and can be channeled to health and economic assistance to the Filipino people in the middle of a global pandemic. China cannot claim to be a friendly 'neighbor across the sea' when it has continued its land reclamation activities in the West Philippine Sea. Friends help each other out, not occupy their islands and destroy their reefs. Tsai apologizes for COVID-19 cluster infection on naval ship ROC Central News Agency 04/22/2020 03:52 PM Taipei, April 22 (CNA) Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen () on Wednesday apologized for the handling of a COVID-19 cluster on board a naval ship which has so far left 28 people infected with the virus, saying that as commander-in-chief, she holds ultimate responsibility for the military. In an address at the Presidential Office Building, Tsai acknowledged that the COVID-19 outbreak on the Panshi fast combat ship has drawn a great deal of attention from the public. As commander-in-chief, "the military's business is my business," she said. Although the military has done much to bolster Taiwan's epidemic prevention efforts, it made many errors in its handling of the Panshi case, Tsai continued, adding that she apologized that those errors had caused a public health risk. Tsai said she had asked the military to rectify the situation as quickly as possible, adding that the military's identification on Tuesday night of four areas of negligence in its handling of the case represented only the beginning of a fuller investigation into the matter. "We will not attempt to evade responsibility for this," she said. Tsai said the country remains in a state of readiness against the virus, but also in terms of national security. Citing recent movements by the Chinese military, she said Taiwan's armed forces will continue to conduct essential training and maintain a standard level of combat-readiness. Tsai was responding to a growing controversy over the Panshi, which as part of a three-ship flotilla participated in a training mission in Palau from March 12-15. The flotilla returned to its home port of Zuoying in southern Taiwan on April 9, but the crew were not allowed to disembark until April 15 because of an epidemic prevention requirement that ships must have visited their last port of call 30 days before those on board can enter Taiwan. After Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) announced on Saturday and Sunday that 24 people on board the Panshi had been infected with COVID-19 (the number has since risen to 28), suspicions were raised that the military failed to report possible cases of the disease on board the ship. On Monday, the military said it had reviewed the ship's medical records, which showed that 70 crew members made 71 medical visits, with five having a fever. However, that night it said a second review of the ship's medical records found that 148 crew sought medical treatment 226 times, including 10 visits for upper respiratory symptoms. On Tuesday evening, Defense Minister Yen De-fa () announced the removal of two Navy admirals from their posts pending further investigation into the military's handling of the incident, and said he was willing to accept any form of punishment from Tsai, including handing in his resignation. Following her speech Wednesday, Tsai was asked to address not only the government's response to the incident, but also the overall purpose of the training mission, given the clear risks posed by the global spread of COVID-19. Some in the media have speculated that the flotilla must have made other stops, since it did not return to port in Zuoying until April 9. In response to a reporter's question on the subject, Tsai said she could not reveal the flotilla's exact mission, but said "If you're asking me whether there were other destinations besides Palau, the answer is 'no'." Separately, she was asked to respond to Yen's assertion on Tuesday that he approved the mission on Feb. 20 and subsequently reported it to Tsai, whom he said "respected" the decision. Tsai confirmed that she had been informed of the mission during a routine report from the defense ministry, but minimized her role in the military's planning process. "The decision was already made -- the president should respect it," she said. (By Chen Yun-yu, Yeh Su-ping and Matthew Mazzetta) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address . , . , , , , , , ... MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Police has deployed to locate the suspected killers in the Palghar mob lynching case. According to reports, the CID and Maharashtra Police investigating the case suspect that the killers are hiding in the forest near the Gadchinchle village in Palghar district. Now, the investigating officials have deployed drones to track the movement of the suspected killers in the forest. Some images captured by the drones show policemen deployed in large numbers in and around the Palghar village, where the shameful incident took place. Besides this, around 150-200 policemen have also been deployed in the village to keep an eye on the movement of villagers. The incident took place on the night of April 16 when three men - two seers and their driver - were going from Mumbai in a car towards Surat in Gujarat to attend a funeral. Their vehicle was stopped near a village in Palghar district where the three were dragged out of the car and beaten to death with sticks by a mob on suspicion that they were child-lifters. The deceased were later identified as Chikne Maharaj Kalpavrukshagiri (70), Sushilgiri Maharaj (35), and driver Nilesh Telgade (30). The Maharashtra government had ordered a high- level probe into the incident, and two policemen from Palghar were suspended on Monday for alleged dereliction of duty. Meanwhile, a Public Interest Litigation was also filed in the Bombay High Court on Tuesday by lawyer Alakh Alok Srivastava over the Palghar lynching incident. The PIL seeks a CBI/SIT inquiry and a time-bound trial in a fast track court. While 101 people have been remanded in police custody till April 30, nine others have been sent to a juvenile home. Thanks for following our live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. Our blog is free for all readers to access but if you are finding it helpful, please consider subscribing. The live blog won't run on Saturday, as WA and the nation honour Anzac Day, but we will continue to provide updates and the latest coronavirus stories as they come to hand. Check in again over the long weekend for more of the latest on how COVID-19 is impacting you and your families, and our state. If you have any tips or information you want us to know, email at news@watoday.com.au. In the meantime, stay up to date through WA Health and the coronavirus hotline, reachable on 1800 020 080. In this article @LCO.1 @CL.1 The widow-making collapse in oil prices came to a pause in Asia trade on Thursday, but analysts aren't convinced that the worst sell-off in oil market history is over yet. "We think that this is the inflection phase," Goldman Sachs oil analyst Damien Courvalin told CNBC's "Squawk Box Asia." "Even though demand may not recover quickly, the production shut-ins we're going to see in the next few weeks are going to create a lasting supply disruption," Courvalin said. "With that you'll get a tightening of fundamentals and a recovery in prices in the second half of this year." But Vanda Insights founder Vandana Hari is less optimistic, describing the bounce as a "breather" and not "a rebound." "The downward pressure on oil prices still remains immense," Hari told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia," pointing to the continued uncertainty around the pandemic. The coronavirus pandemic has thrown the oil industry into crisis and exposed the fragility of the fundamentals in the global market with a lack of storage for surging supply and dismal demand creating a perfect storm for prices. On Monday, U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for May delivery plummeted to settle at negative $37.63 a barrel the lowest price ever recorded since the contract's inception in 1983. International benchmark Brent crude also fell below $20 for the first time in almost 20 years. "I'm speechless," a senior OPEC official told CNBC after the panicked rush to sell the WTI contract ahead of its expiration. It could be some time before oil mounts a meaningful recovery, despite some recent signs of positivity. "Once it becomes apparent that the supply side is converging down to the demand level, we should expect the first recovery in prices not a meaningful one but a relief rally," Courvalin said. "We think that will happen probably in June or July," he added. "Our Brent forecast for the fourth quarter of 2021 is $60 dollars that's when you have finally normalized that inventory overhang," he said. Trump tweets and tariff talk provide limited upside Oil prices were shaken from their doldrums after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened action against Iranian warships in the Persian Gulf. The president, on Twitter, said he had instructed the U.S. Navy "to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea." Trump "was probably trying to jawbone the market," Hari said. Both WTI and Brent settled higher following the president's tweet on Wednesday, in contrast with the sharp selling earlier this week. Trump's comments came a day after the Pentagon claimed 11 ships from Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy came dangerously close to U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships in the Persian Gulf. But Hari said, "The geopolitical tensions are simmering under the surface, but I didn't see anything in the headlines to suggest that Iran had stepped up its activities or attacks on ships." Trump also said he would consider halting Saudi Arabian crude oil imports, a move that would help protect the U.S. oil industry and related jobs in an election year. His administration is also reportedly considering tariffs on foreign oil imports. "It is a potential policy response to try and prevent too much oil coming into the United States, so it's conceivable the U.S. administration has discussed this," said Goldman's Courvalin. "But putting those in place is still too little, too late, just like the OPEC cuts." A lack of storage is a critical concern The supply glut and historically low prices have created a steep contango in the oil market, where traders believe crude prices in the future will be much higher than their current spot prices. That difference encourages traders to store the oil and sell later, driving up demand for crude storage. This has been particularly acute at the WTI pricing point in Cushing, Oklahoma. "We're really heading into saturation at this point," Courvalin said. U.S. commercial crude stocks are about 60% full, while those at Cushing are about 75% full, according to Mriganka Jaipuriyar, head of news in Asia at S&P Global Platts. "Global storage will probably be full by the end of May," she told CNBC's "Capital Connection." "We could see a lot more volatility going towards the expiry of the next month contract." WATCH: Global oil storage may become full by end May: S&P Global Platts Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media BRIDGEPORT There were apparent non-life-threatening injuries in a Monday night shooting in the city, according to officials. Around 8:40 p.m., police were alerted to a ShotSpotter notification in the area of the 2000 block of Sunshine Circle, according to Scott Appleby, director of emergency management and emergency communications. . Bengaluru, April 23 : Easing relaxation of extended lockdown further, Karnataka decided to allow more businesses to reopen from Friday in green zones to spur economic activity, a top official said on Thursday. "In accordance with the central government's guidelines on relaxing lockdown gradually, we have decided to allow more businesses to reopen in green zones from Friday for the benefit of all," Chief Secretary T.M. Vijay Bhaskar said in a statement here. Partial relaxation began earlier in the day across the southern state, excluding hotspots and containment areas of coronavirus, as notified on Wednesday. Mobile re-charge outlets, shops selling stationery, and textbooks, and electrical goods like fans are permitted to resume business. "Fresh fruit juices outlets and ice-cream parlours are also allowed to reopen but only for take aways and not for consumption. All shops have to maintain social or physical distance of customers," said the notification. Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), including housing finance companies and micro finance institutions can function with minimum staff. "Construction activities in urban and rural areas where workers are available on site can be resumed for water supply, sanitation and as also for laying and erection of power transmission lines and laying of electrical optic fiber and cable," said the notification. Growers of commodity plantations such as bamboo, coconut, arecanut, cocoa and spices can engage hire local workers for harvesting, processing, packaging, marketing and sale. However, movement of people from one district to another will not be permitted due to suspension of public transport service like bus and train, said the order. Of the 30 districts across the state, 13 districts are red zones with 12-101 positive cases, 8 orange with 1-11 cases and 10 districts green zones with zero cases since the virus spread in March. The partial exit on the 9th day has led to the re-opening of hotels for parcel service, trading at the agriculture produce marketing committee (APMC) yards, online delivery of essential goods, essential services like couriers, production of cement, steel, tiles and bricks and roadside eateries. "Lockdown continues to be strictly enforced in Covid hotspots and containment zones with additional deployment of police personnel and enhanced vigil," said the official. The partial relaxation has also enabled industrial units, micro, small and medium enterprises to resume operations. Manufacturing of essential goods like drugs, pharma products, medical devices and raw materials and intermediaries, food processing industries in rural areas and packaging materials has also been allowed. Bengaluru, April 23 : The Bengaluru Police are probing the possible link of alleged attackers of Covid-19 warriors and protestors in the city's southwest suburb with homegrown Islamic outfits, like the Karnataka Forum for Dignity (KFD) and the Popular Front of India (PFI). "As some of the accused in the Padayaranapura incident, in which doctors and Asha healthcare workers were assaulted, admitted to be members of the DFI during questioning, we are trying to find how many of them are linked to the PFI," Bengaluru Southwest Deputy Superintendent of Police Krishna Kumar told IANS, here on Thursday. Irfan, the alleged mastermind, is said to be a member of the PFI. "Around 20 accused, including Irfan, are still at large. They have been identified. They will be arrested soon and quizzed for their links to the radical groups," said Kumar. A 8-member team under Additional Police Commissioner Soumendru Mukherjee and Joint Commissioner Sandeep Patil has been formed to investigate the April 19 violent incident, in which the healthcare workers were attacked and public property damaged. The healthcare workers were in the area to get secondary contacts of three Covid-19 patients admitted to a quarantine centre. Armed with the new law that allows punishment for attacks on healthcare workers and violent protests during the epidemic, the possible role of outsiders in them is also being investigated. The two-decade-old KFD is an offshoot of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and is active in coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kodagu. "The KFD merged in 2006 with the Kerala-based PFI, which is also active in Karnataka's coastal areas," Kumar said. Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala on Wednesday promulgated an ordinance to punish attackers of healthcare eorkers, fighting the coronavirus pandemic in the state. The Karnataka Epidemic Disease Ordinance, 2020 empowers the police to punish all who attack healthcare warriors, including doctors, nurses, paramedics and Asha women workers, treating Covid-19 victims. The punishment includes 3-year jail and attachment of properties for damaging assets. Deaths from coronavirus in Italy climbed by 464 today, but the daily tally of new infections declined to 2,646 from 3,370 on Wednesday. As many as 40 per cent of those new cases were in the hard-hit Lombardy region where the first domestically transmitted case was confirmed just over two months ago. Yesterday 437 new virus deaths were reported by Italian authorities. The total official death toll since the outbreak came to light on February 21 now stands at 25,549, the Civil Protection Agency said. Italy has the second highest death toll in the world after that of the United States. These new figures came as data on the number of tests carried out was revealed for the first time. A patient suffering from coronavirus giving a thumbs up while wearing a ventilation helmet that allows him to breathe in the Infectious Diseases Department of San Marco Hospital in Catania today The civil protection unit published statistics on how many patients had been tested for the virus so far in Italy, putting the number at 1.053 million, out of a population of around 60 million. The agency had previously only issued data on the number of swabs carried out. This is a much higher figure - 1.58 million up to Thursday - because many people are tested two or three times. Lombardy, at the epicentre of Europe's worst coronavirus outbreak, began an antibody testing program today as it prepared to start opening up its economy following weeks of lockdown. The so-called serological tests on intravenous blood samples, using a kit designed by diagnostics specialist Diasorin, will be carried out in 14 of the worst-hit areas of Lombardy before being extended to the whole region next week. Unlike nasal swab tests, which look for the presence of the coronavirus directly, the serological tests look for antibodies that indicate viral contagion, but they are quicker and simpler to administer. Crosses in the so-called Campo 87 area today where some 60 unclaimed bodies of people who died from coronavirus have been buried by the municipality at the Maggiore cemetery in Milan They come as authorities around the world have begun to step up broad-based testing programs they hope will give them a clearer picture of the spread of the virus, as they plan a gradual easing of lockdown measures that have kept much of the world's population in confinement for weeks. In Germany, where tracking and testing has been carried out since the outbreak began in the country, have completed 1.73million diagnostics. So far, Germany has carried out tests at a rate of 350,000 a week, according to Jens Spahn, the country's health minister. Britain announced yesterday it was sending 20,000 antibody tests to citizens' homes in a first wave, with up to 300,000 people expected to take part in the swab testing scheme within the first year. Health officials in Britain have so far only managed 4,900 tests after setting a target of 100,000 a day by the end of this month. A medical worker in a protective suit takkng a blood sample from a man to test for the coronavirus at a converted gym in Cisliano, near Milan, on Tuesday The French government, which has also come under pressure for the lack of protective equipment and test kits, said that 500,000 people a week should be able to be tested by May 11. Just over 4 million tests have been done in the United States and it has been estimated over 20 million have been conducted across the world. The number of confirmed cases in Italy is now 189,973, the third highest global tally behind those of the United States and Spain. People registered as currently carrying the illness fell to 106,848 from 107,699 on Wednesday, a fourth consecutive daily decline. There were 2,267 people in intensive care on Thursday against 2,384 on Wednesday, maintaining a long-running decline. Medical workers taking blood samples for the coronavirus tests at a converted gym in Cisliano Of those originally infected, 57,576 were declared recovered against 54,543 a day earlier. Authorities in Milan today began burying dozens of coronavirus victims whose bodies have not been claimed by relatives. As the death toll in virus epicentre Lombardy rose and with morgues threatening to be overwhelmed, Milan decided to reduce the amount of time relatives had to claim a body from 30 days to five. Relatives who may not have been able to claim bodies because of tough quarantine restrictions or because they themselves were sick will be able to move their loved ones after two years 'for sanitary reasons', the mayor of the city said. The designated areas has room for up to 600 unclaimed bodies, but the authorities hope they will not use all of the space. Nearly 13,000 people have already died of the virus in Lombardy, whose capital is Milan - which has over half of Italy's total fatalities. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, is testing Gurgaon-based Milagrow's robots that can sanitise floors, assist doctors, remind patients to take medicines and even help bored patients in isolation wards to make calls to their relatives. These robots come handy as health and sanitation staff working in COVID-19 wards in hospitals are at constant risk of contracting the virus. AIIMS authorities are making sure that Milagrow's iMap 9 floor disinfecting robot is reliable in destroying COVID spores using sodium hypochlorite solution. The robot can navigate and sanitise the floors without any human intervention. "AIIMS is going to test the robot for a month in real conditions, based on their satisfaction, they may deploy these devices," said Rajeev Karwal, Founder Chairman of Milagrow. 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 AIIMS is also testing Milagrow's Humanoid robot - that enables doctors to monitor and interact with contagious COVID-19 patients remotely with no person-to-person contact, thereby significantly reducing the transmission risk. The Humanoid can navigate around the ward independently and record the activities in high definition video and audio. The humanoid robot offers eight hours of battery life, it can travel about 2.9 km per hour, is 92 cms tall, has more than sixty sensors, one 3D and one HD camera, and a 10.1" display screen. Demand for robots shoots up Around 10 robots of Milagrow are already in operation in several hospitals in Delhi NCR including Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals and Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon. It's not just hospitals, Milagrow said it is seeing a massive surge in enquiries of its products from facility management companies and hospitality industry. Karwal said he is seeing 300-400 percent jump in enquiries. "The market was quite small. The sales of surface cleaning robots could be about 10,000 units per year, many large MNCs have come and left, due to lack of demand for these products," Karwal said. The company sells the surface cleaning robot starting Rs 75,000 per unit. Logistics issues "Due to lockdown, we have only been able to deliver in Gurugram and Delhi; for the rest of India we are having difficulty as courier services are yet to resume operations fully," Karwal said. Karwal said the rise in demand is due to shortage of workers, strict social distancing norms and disinfection procedures adopted in hospitals, hotels and offices. Milagrow developed the entire software and sources 40 percent of components locally, the remaining components such as IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit), sensors, actuators are imported from South Korea, Japan, China and Israel. The company assembles the final product in India. It has the capacity to assemble about 10,000 units per month. "We are selling from our stocks available with us, we are unable to import any components, due to non-availability of logistics," Karwal said. Karwal, a veteran of India's consumer electronic industry had headed Indian operations of consumer electronic companies such as Electrolux and Philips. He founded Milagrow in 2007. The company diversified into domestic robotics in 2012. The Gentlemen Rated R for violence, language throughout, sexual references and drug content Rotten Tomatoes Score: 74 percent Available on Disc and Streaming The extremely versatile writer/director Guy Ritchie (Sherlock Holmes, Aladdin) is back to his British gangster film roots with this new highly stylistic crime thriller/comedy about an American Marijuana kingpin in London (Matthew McConaughey) who wishes to cash out his business. But this sale triggers all sorts of vile plots from the people of the London underworld. With a great script and Ritchies unique style of filmmaking, the movie proves to be a hilarious dark comedy with lots of surprises and unexpected enjoyment. But what really makes this film shine are the juicy characters, played by a terrific cast. With Charlie Hunnam, Colin Farrell, Hugh Grant and others youll instantly recognize, all who fully inhabit their weird little violent world, you tend to get lost in the urban jungle, dying to see who will get it next and in what crazy manner. This is definitely one of the bright spots of 2020 so far. A- Underwater Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action and terror, and for brief strong language Rotten Tomatoes Score: 48 percent Available on Disc and Streaming This Alien knockoff starring Kristen Stewart and Vincent Cassel follows a group of underwater researchers who uncover scary monsters after an earthquake damages their deepwater laboratory. The plot of a small group of people stuck in a small space far from home with creatures trying to get them is still quite popular. Dozens of films have attempted to recreate this scenario, from 1989s Leviathan to 2017s Life. But even the decent ones still have a tough time capturing an audience, and this new one definitely busted a pipe. Here the actors are good enough and take the material seriously, but the movie comes across as too dark yet insufficiently scary, with too many been there, done that moments throughout. And while the budget was fairly high, the creature effects were surprisingly underwhelming. Its one saving grace is that it is PG-13, so fairly benign for teenage audiences. C- Like a Boss Rated R for language, crude sexual material, and drug use Rotten Tomatoes Score: 21 percent Available on Disc and Streaming This new raunch-com stars Tiffany Haddish and Rose Byrne as two BFFs whose friendship is put to the test as they prepare to sell their cosmetics company to a giant corporation run by Salma Hayek. Haddish is hit and miss with me, but Byrne is usually rock solid, providing an anchor to the comedic material she attaches herself to. But in this misfire, hardly a thing is funny, believable or enjoyable. The raunch doesnt provide any humor and only seems to serve as shock value or possibly just a way to elevate the movie to an R rating, which might have hurt it. By the end, this feels like a group of amateurs got lucky with an A cast and didnt know what to do with them. D- Danny Minton may be reached at danny@dannyminton.com. Two lessors to Indian carrier SpiceJet Ltd are in talks to terminate contracts and repossess planes via mutually agreed deals with the airline over missed payments, according to two sources directly involved in the discussions. One of the leasing companies started to pull out a few planes earlier this year after SpiceJet failed to pay maintenance fees due since late last year and lease rentals since last month, said one source, adding that talks were continuing over other jets. The second lessor began discussions, which are ongoing, last month just as the coronavirus pandemic started crippling the airline industry, according to the second source. About 10 planes in total have been or could be repossessed, with leases terminated with the airlines agreement, according to the sources, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter. A SpiceJet spokesman described queries related to the discussions with lessors as speculative, misleading and baseless. We share excellent relationships with all our partners and lessors and our agreements with them are confidential, he added. Our fleet structure and exits have been planned exits at our option to cater to the demand requirements, he said, adding SpiceJet was taking various steps to re-align its operations with current travel restrictions worldwide. The carrier did not comment on specific queries about dues owed to lessors or delays in making payments. SpiceJet is not alone in wrestling with the impact of the coronavirus crisis, which has seen airlines worldwide seeking delays in rent and deliveries or state help. Estimated global airline losses from the coronavirus pandemic have climbed to $314 billion, trade body IATA said last week. Avolon, a leading global lessor, said this month it had received requests from more than 80% of its customers for relief from payment obligations. RAPID EXPANSION The two sources said the lease talks were instigated by the lessors but early termination deals would be mutually agreed with SpiceJet. The second leasing company is in talks with the carrier to repossess a handful of Boeing 737 planes, also citing delayed payments, said the second source. SpiceJet had a 119-strong fleet at the end of 2019. Its two-dozen lessors include Carlyle Aviation Partners, Aircastle and Avolon, according to industry data provider Cirium. Carlyle and Avolon declined to comment, while there was no response from Aircastle. SpiceJets challenges in the pandemic crisis come on the heels of a rapid expansion early last year, when it took on around 30 leased planes from bankrupt Jet Airways and became Indias second-largest airline by market share. Indias fast-growing airline market is also one of the most competitive. Weak economic growth over the past year hurt airlines even before the coronavirus outbreak led to a ban on commercial passenger flights until at least May 3. Airlines including SpiceJets bigger rival IndiGo and state-run Air India, have idled over 650 planes. India is working on an aviation rescue package for all airlines that could be worth as much as $1.6 billion. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Chairman Randy Ramsey of the University of North Carolina System Board of Governors speaks during the Jan. 17, 2020, BOG meeting. | Photo: UNC-TV The University of North Carolina System will ask the General Assembly for roughly $45 million in one-time money to deal with fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic - all while cutting other budget requests to include only "must do" items.But those requests may change, university officials said April 17, since UNC remains uncertain how its campuses will look this fall.UNC is navigating a whirlwind semester after the university shut down its 17 campuses in March and shifted 50,000 in-person classes online. Most students moved out of dorms to comply with social distancing mandates. Only essential staff - and a couple thousand students with housing needs or other extenuating circumstances - remain on UNC's campuses. UNC plans to continue online instruction for summer classes.said UNC interim President Bill Roper during a teleconference meeting of the board April 17.The UNC System office is set to receive roughly $87 million under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, but that money will only partially offset costs, university officials said.The university needs just over $7 million to pay existing bills for online learning, building sanitation, and other emergency costs, UNC's budget documents say. UNC estimates it will need almost $10 million more to pay those bills through the end of the semester. Cancelled conferences and performances, building closures, and otherwill cost the university another $20 million or so. UNC is asking the legislature to recoup that money so it canFinally, the university is asking for $5 million in one-time money and a little over $3 million in recurring money for online learning updates.UNC's board is postponing other decisions - like a vote to raise tuition and fees - until the system is better able to see what enrollment and revenue look like down the road. Why not wait a little longer to submit its budget proposal? Carolina Journal asked.Though state lawmakers aren't likely to immediately take up budget matters when they convene April 28, the UNC Board of Governors felt it was essential to get system priorities in front of lawmakers sooner rather than later, Roper, along with BOG Chairman Randy Ramsey, told CJ.Each spring, the board submits a budget proposal to the General Assembly, Roper said. Before COVID-19 threw a wrench into the works, UNC planned to send its requests before the legislature no later than March.Roper said.UNC will lose nearly $77 million in housing reimbursements, and just shy of $42 million in dining refunds, according to university documents. Eighty percent of that money will be returned to students by April 24, Roper said.UNC is likely to lose more revenue, said Joe Coletti , senior fellow for fiscal and tax policy at the John Locke Foundation. The question is, how much?Coletti said.Out-of-state students, who pay significantly more than residents for tuition, room, and board, may abandon plans to attend UNC schools in the aftermath of the pandemic - especially if it affects UNC's ability to hold in-person classes beyond the summer, Coletti said.UNC is unsure how much enrollment may go down, Roper said, but so far fluctuations are steady as compared to last year.he told board members.UNC is likely to see a drop in enrollments from international students, he said.For now, the system is simply trying to hold the ship steady. COVID-19 forced the university to move its courses online in a matter of days - a feat by most standards, and a successful one overall, Ramsey and Roper said.Ramsey said.UNC's newly revised budget proposal reduces operating costs by $185 million, and removes $632 million in capital improvement projects that were approved by the legislature last year, but vetoed by Gov. Roy Cooper in a budget impasse over Medicaid expansion.Given financial uncertainties - and a potential shift toward more online learning - UNC should curtail its capital spending going forward, Coletti said.Roper said to the board. But the university will prioritize capital improvements at the right time and opportunity, Roper said. Councilmember Harris Dawson Joins Labor Leaders and LA Regional Food Bank to Provide Groceries to 5,000 Families COVID-19 has taken an immediate financial toll on the City of Los Angeles. Many families are looking for ways to make ends meet and keep food on the table. Local organizations and elected officials have hit the ground to help residents access the food and resources they need safely. Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson partnered with the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank to host a drive-through food pantry for more than 5,000 South L.A. Families. Everyone is impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. This food giveaway brought together essential workers and volunteers from across Los Angeles to support an urgent need. Volunteers from Community Coalition, Community Intervention Workers from the South LA Community Safety Initiatives partner agencies Developing Options, Ambassadors for Peace & Urban Unity, and Strong Shoulders as well as union members worked together to safely and effectively raise awareness, manage crowds, direct traffic and distribute food, drive-through style to thousands of families. Out of an abundance of safety, individuals were asked to remain in their vehicles. The event attracted several walkups who shared their contact information and had their food pantry items delivered by Council District 8 staff. This event was at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. Cars entered on W. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, between Marlton Ave & Crenshaw Blvd before lining up in parking spaces to reduce traffic. Even still, the line stretched down Crenshaw and wrapped around the mall. When timed, cars took only 15 minutes to receive their items after entering the plaza. Thanks to the hard work and efficiency of the volunteers and essential workers, the event was able to stay open 2 hours longer and provided meals to twice as many families as initially scheduled. ADVERTISEMENT Councilmember Harris-Dawson was joined by Ron Herrera, President, Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, Armando Olivas, Director, Labor Communities Services, and Michael Flood, President and CEO, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Families are hurting, we need to do everything we can to help, and a box of groceries can go a long way, said Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson. This event represents a true community partnership. I would like to thank Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza for hosting us, as well as the volunteers and our interventionists for doing the work that our community needs at a time like this. BOSTON While patients considering elective surgeries have been told to hold off going to the hospital during the pandemic, a dangerous new trend of seriously ill patients opting not to seek critical medical care has emerged. During Gov. Charlie Bakers daily COVID-19 briefing on Thursday afternoon, he was joined by the president of Baystate Medical Center in Springfield and several health professionals, who urged residents with conditions like stroke, severe abdominal pain and trauma from an accident to seek medical attention. Public service announcements will be shown across the state urging people who are ill to seek treatment, Baker said, Many hospitals have reported a reduction in patients seeking care for other serious medical conditions like heart problems, dialysis treatment and cancer treatments," Baker said. "We know these medical conditions didnt stop when COVID-19 picked up. Nancy Shendell-Falik, president of Baystate Medical Center, attended the briefing and said Baystate hospitals are currently caring for about 150 COVID-19 patients and 400 patients for conditions unrelated to the virus. We have 1,000 beds so there is plenty of capacity. We have the space, we have changed our processes to ensure your safety and encourage you to seek medical care, Shendell-Falik said. There has been in 80 percent decline in patients with stroke symptoms, including speech impairment and visual changes, seeking care, she said. That was just this last month. Those patients are starting to arrive at Baystate Medical Center. They are seriously ill and many of them have lifelong, debilitating consequences for waiting, Shendell-Falik said. While the hospital has not seen a decrease in patients in the cardiac care area, patients are waiting too long for treatment. We have patients that have described having severe symptoms for three day. Patients that walk two miles a day and are now unable to walk up a flight of steps that are afraid to come to the hospital. Decrease in blood flow harms organs. We want people to know they can mitigate these consequences, Shendell-Falik said. As the only full service childrens hospital in Western Massachusetts, Shendell-Falik said there has been a significant drop in visits as well as instances of ruptured appendixes because people wait too long to bring in their children with severe stomach pain. Our pediatric emergency department normally sees 120 children per day, now with the arrival of COVID-19 we are seeing 25 to 30 children per day. What we know is that chronic diseases will not wait for the pandemic to subside," Shendell-Falik said. "We have seen children that have diabetes, who have fever and fatigue that last for days, whos families are absolutely frightened to seek necessary care. Unfortunately we have seen some with consequences that cannot be reversed. She said the hospitals are ready and can care for patients who need it. I want to assure all of the citizens of the Commonwealth in the western part of the state that our priority is patient safety, Shendell-Falik said. We have made necessary changes to ensure that safety and want all to know that they should come to seek the needed care. Related content: They had come to India on a spiritual mission but the coronavirus outbreak prompted a group of seven foreigners in Uttarakhand's Rishikesh to change their plans and serve the poor. Every day, they arrange food items for distribution among hundreds of the needy as they could not see people go hungry, an official said. Rishikesh Municipal Commissioner Narendra Singh Quiriyal says as the lockdown left a number of people stranded here, the group planned to distribute food items among the poor. They decided to distribute 300 foodgrain packets every day among the poor families and migrant workers, instead of doing what they had planned--yoga, he said. "All of them had come to Rishikesh to seek spiritual knowledge and learn yoga but the conditions created by the lockdown made them change their plans," he added. The group comprises Henry Johnston from the UK; Tejasvi Giri, an NRI based in the US; Relinde Rijswijk from the Netherlands; Tarini Dagnimo from Venezuela; Alejandro Jerovic from Croatia; Eva Lena from Germany; and Varun Juneja, a London-based NRI. They hand over food packets--including five kg of wheat flour, three kg of rice, two kg each of pulses, spices and salt-- to the municipal authorities every day for distributed among the poor, he said. The packets are delivered to the needy by Rishikesh Mayor Anita Mamgain and Quiriyal himself. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Officials had planned to begin resurfacing work in June after the end of the school year and following the Oak Park and River Forest High School graduation ceremony. With the state of Illinois closing all schools for the rest of the academic year, officials decided to start the resurfacing phase early. This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about others here. Donald Reed Herring, the oldest brother of Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, died of Covid-19 on Tuesday in Norman, Okla. He was 86. Ms. Warren confirmed the death on Twitter on Thursday, If you've been affected by COVID-19, you may be eligible for relief in paying bills. That can help you prevent damage to your credit from late payments at a time when protecting your credit could help increase your financial resilience. But hardship and forbearance programs are not automatic - you have to apply for most of them. And youll want to understand how they will affect your credit reports and scores. HOW THE CARES ACT AFFECTS CREDIT REPORTING The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act signed into law last month gives consumers some credit protections. It dictates how companies that send data to the credit bureaus will report accounts for which consumers have payment accommodations in place. If you have an accommodation and you live up to your end of the deal, an account that had been current previously will continue to be reported that way for both account status and payment history, credit expert John Ulzheimer says. But it wont wipe the slate clean of preexisting negatives: If the account had been delinquent, it will still be reported that way unless you bring it current. You also can ask lenders to add a code to your credit report to indicate you were 'affected by a natural or declared disaster.' FICO does not consider the codes when calculating credit scores, but VantageScore will disregard late payments for accounts with that code in effect. A disaster code could make a difference if a lender actually reads the full credit report when making a decision, such as in hand-underwriting, says Ed Mierzwinski, senior director, Federal Consumer Program at the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, a consumer advocacy group. Consumer credit cards are seen in a file photo. Many businesses are offering relief on bills to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fallout WHY YOUR CREDIT MATTERS RIGHT NOW In a financial crisis, access to credit is the next best thing to a fat emergency fund. If you protect your credit, youll have more or better options when you need them, such as being able to qualify for a low-interest loan. The most important factor for protecting your credit is not missing a payment. A payment thats more than 30 days late can cause your credit score to plummet, and the mark can stay on your reports for seven years. Your score could also drop if you are using more of your credit limits, but that damage is more quickly fixed. Your score will rebound once you can pay balances down. HOW SHOULD I HANDLE MY BILLS? If you're not going to be able to pay bills in full, you'll need to prioritize and get some breathing room. Heres how: CONTACT CREDITORS AND ASK WHATS AVAILABLE: Chi Chi Wu, a staff attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, points out that its the consumers responsibility to reach out and get an agreement despite long wait times on the phone and overtaxed websites. You may be able to get a lower payment temporarily, skip some payments or get a higher credit limit. Terms of hardship programs vary. Connect with your credit card issuers and lenders - for mortgage, student loans, car and personal loans, etc. - to find out about options. DOCUMENT TERMS OF ANY AGREEMENT: Be sure to document any agreement, whether with screenshots or copious notes about a phone call. Record when you called and whom you talked with. Save emails and other communications. Make sure you understand all the details, such as start and end dates, and implications. For instance, creditors could theoretically reduce your credit limit or otherwise make it harder to access credit if you ask for payment modifications. But the risk is small, Mierzwinski says. Credit card issuers use algorithms to help figure out how likely you are to repay them after this crisis is over, and they still want customers, he says. CHECK YOUR CREDIT REPORTS: Wu advises checking your credit reports at least 30 days after any agreements take effect to make sure that the accounts are being reported correctly. You are entitled to at least one free annual credit report from each of the three major bureaus. If you see accounts reported as late when you have an accommodation in place - or any other errors - dispute the information right away to protect your score. Guidance issued April 1 by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says that because of coronavirus, credit bureaus will have 45 days to correct errors on credit reports (they usually have only 30). OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER If you normally pay bills by autopay, review those. Change them as needed so you dont overpay accounts or cause an overdraft. Though utility bills are not typically reflected on your credit reports, its smart to add utility companies to the list of creditors you call. Like credit card issuers and lenders, many now have hardship programs for customers affected by the pandemic. If cash is so short that even with concessions you are not going to be able to pay, know how to prioritize the most important bills and seek sources of help. Source: Associated Press PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-23 15:06:47 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 984 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2020 / NAVION CAPITAL INC. (TSXV: NAVN.P) (the "Corporation"), a capital pool company, is pleased to announce that it has signed a letter of intent dated April 20, 2020, (the "LOI") with Daizee Diapers Corp. ("Daizee"), a private Canadian company incorporated in British Columbia. Established in 2018, Daizee was formed to design and market a premium baby-care diaper product line for affluent, environmentally aware parents and their babies. Daizee's initial product line, "Hybrid Diaper", will be directed for sale specifically to physical retailers with in-store and online points of sale. Initial product trials have been concluded with consumer end-users, and the packaging and logistics systems are substantially complete, allowing Daizee to begin commercialization of their products (collectively, the "Business").The LOI outlines the general terms and conditions pursuant to which the Corporation and all its constituent companies intend to complete a transaction that will result in a reverse take-over of the Corporation by the security holders of Daizee and is intended to constitute the "qualifying transaction" of the Corporation under Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). The Corporation expects to be classified as an Industrial Issuer upon completion of the transaction.The transaction is expected to result in the security holders of Daizee exchanging all securities, consisting of 9,663,336 common shares (not including common shares issued pursuant to the Concurrent Financing, as defined below), 250,000 stock options, 190,000 special warrants (exercisable into common shares of Daizee upon payment of $0.05 per share) and 2,973,000 purchase warrants (exercisable into common shares of Daizee upon payment of $0.10 per share) for 9,663,336 common shares (not including common shares issued pursuant to the Concurrent Financing, as defined below), 250,000 stock options, 190,000 special warrants and 2,973,000 purchase warrants of the Corporation, on the same terms, at a deemed price of $0.10 per share for a total deemed consideration of $966,334 (not including the Concurrent Financing, as defined below). The transaction will be structured by way of a plan of arrangement, amalgamation, merger, takeover bid, reorganization or other similar form of transaction, as determined following a review of all relevant legal, regulatory and tax matters (the "Transaction"). The LOI contemplates the Corporation and Daizee entering into a definitive agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") prior to May 15, 2020 (or such other date as may be agreed to by the parties). The Transaction is conditional upon the parties completing successful due diligence reviews of each other, the completion by Daizee (with the assistance of Navion) of an interim financing yielding at least $1.5 million in gross proceeds, requisite regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSXV, and standard closing conditions, including the approval of the Transaction by directors of each of the parties Corporation and those conditions outlined below. The legal structure for the Transaction will be confirmed after the parties have considered all applicable tax, securities law and accounting efficiencies although it is not anticipated that the Transaction will require shareholder approval.The Corporation is incorporated under the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) with its registered and head office in Calgary, Alberta and is a "reporting issuer" in the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta.The Transaction is not a Non-Arm's Length Qualifying Transaction within the meaning of the policies of the TSXV. Trading in the shares of the Corporation on the TSXV has been halted and will remain halted pending receipt by the TSXV of applicable documentation.Terms of the LOI and Conditions to the TransactionThe LOI provides that completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions including:A concurrent private placement to raise a minimum CDN$1.5 million in additional funds by the issuance of common shares of Daizee (the "Concurrent Financing") at an effective price of $0.10 per share. The proceeds of the Financing will be used by the Resulting Issuer for the marketing and commercialization of the Daizee products, the purchase of equipment, and general and administrative expenses. The Financing will be offered to persons who qualify as "accredited investors" or who similarly qualify in the jurisdiction in which they reside to purchase subscription receipts on a prospectus-exempt basis.The completion of satisfactory due diligence by each party by May 15, 2020;The approval of the Transaction by the board of directors of each of Daizee and Navion;The Corporation will have obtained all necessary approvals, consents and acceptances, including all necessary approvals from the applicable securities regulatory authorities.The parties will prepare a filing statement or information circular in accordance with the rules of the TSXV, outlining the terms of the Transaction.Daizee will obtain the requisite security holder approvals, as applicable, for the Transaction.All requisite regulatory approvals relating to the Transaction, including, without limitation, meeting the minimum listing requirements of the TSXV and obtaining TSXV approval.It is a further term of the LOI that upon completion of the Transaction the resulting issuer's board will be comprised of directors that will be nominated by Daizee and Navion jointly.About Daizee Diapers Corp.Daizee Diapers Corp. is the maker of the patented Hybrid Diaper, and with great comfort and fit, this disposable diaper has an excellent environmental profile that helps reduce garbage levels. Daizee intends to work with a network of retailer partners and their online and instore sales channels to grow unit sales while helping to reduce carbon emissions. To learn more, please visit www.daizeediapers.ca Further information relating to Daizee and its subsidiaries, including financial information, will be included in a subsequent press release in connection with the Transaction.Commenting on the recent developments, Daizee Diapers C.E.O., Matthew Keddy, states: "We are extremely excited about this latest chapter in the evolution of Daizee Diapers. Through the Letter of Intent with Navion Capital, Daizee's shareholders will benefit from the addition of capable partners to collectively participate in the tremendous growth opp Sonu Sood continues to lend a helping hand to the less fortunate people, who have been severely hit by the Novel Coronavirus pandemic. As per a report in Mumbai Mirror, the Simmba actor will be feeding over 25000 migrant workers during the month of Ramzan which starts this weekend. Sonu has started Shakti Annadanam, named after his father, which is already providing 45000 meals daily to the under-privileged people in Mumbai. A source told Mumbai Mirror, "Someone reached out to Sonu explaining the plight of these migrant workers who hail from states like Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal and are currently stuck in Bhiwadi. He's set up a few kitchens in the suburb to make and deliver meals to those keeping roza." Sonu told the tabloid that he empathises with those who want to go back home but can't owing to the lockdown restrictions and was quoted as saying, "I've assured them that their requirements for the holy month will be taken care of. In these difficult times, it is important for each one of us to stand up for the other. Through this initiative, we will provide special meal kits so they don't stay hungry after fasting all day." Earlier, the actor offered his Mumbai hotel to BMC to accommodate medical professionals treating COVID-19 patients. A Times Of India report quoted him as saying, "It's my honour to be able to do my bit for the doctors, nurses and para-medical staff of our country, who have been working day and night to save people's lives. They hail from different parts of Mumbai and need a place to rest. We have already approached municipal and private hospitals and informed them about the facility." Besides this, Sonu has tied up with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to provide meals to 45,000 Mumbaikars daily in Andheri, Jogeshwari, Juhu and Bandra. Alia Bhatt Visits Her Parents During Lockdown; Dad Mahesh Bhatt Calls Her 'Responsible Young Child' Sonu Sood Offers His Mumbai Hotel To Accommodate Doctors & Medical Staff Treating COVID-19 Patients : Idaho Farmer Gives Away Millions of Potatoes for Free to People in Need MINNEAPOLIS, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Be The Match, a non-profit that maintains the national marrow donor registry and provides potential cures through blood stem cell transplants for patients battling blood cancers and other blood disorders, is donating 100,000 swabs for COVID-19 testing across the United States and Mexico. With some facilities running low on swab supplies, Be The Match is stepping in to help ensure as many patients as possible are able to be tested for COVID-19 during the pandemic. Several thousand of the swab kits have already been delivered to medical facilities with many more expected to arrive in the coming weeks. "We often call on our nation to help us save patients battling blood diseases such as leukemia and sickle cell anemia, and we are eternally grateful to every person who has answered the call to help us facilitate life-saving blood stem cell transplants," said Amy Ronneberg, Acting CEO of Be The Match. "Now, the swabs that we use to add donors to our registry can help the medical community during this pandemic." While new social distancing guidelines have changed how Be The Match recruits donors, its work to deliver bone marrow and blood stem cell transplants remains as critical as ever. As Be The Match continues to add new donors to its registry, its leaders understand the need for organizations to work together to replenish essential medical supplies and has committed to do its part by offering swabs to medical facilities and labs in need of the approved materials. So far, around 59,000 swabs have been dispensed to hospitals and labs at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York, University of CA San Francisco in California, City of Hope in California, University of Miami in Florida, University of Massachusetts Medical Center and various public and private hospitals in Mexico distributed through our Be The Match Mexico offices. The swabs, which Be The Match registry members use to swab their cheeks to register as potential donors, are ideal for testing for viruses as they have nylon tips, rather than the typical woven cotton. This makes them similar to the swabs typically used for COVID-19 testing and effective for testing purposes. "It's more critical than ever to work together to save lives," said Jason Dehn, Be The Match's Director of Laboratory and Biorepository Services. "We are fortunate to have enough swabs to continue our important work of adding people to the donor registry while also helping to fill a critical need for facilities offering COVID-19 testing." For more information about blood stem cell donation and how you can join the donor registry, visit: https://join.bethematch.org or follow us on social at @BeTheMatch or https://www.facebook.com/BeTheMatch/. About Be The Match For people with life-threatening blood cancerslike leukemia and lymphomaor other diseases, a cure exists. Be The Match connects patients with their donor match for a life-saving marrow or umbilical cord blood transplant. People can contribute to the cure as a member of the Be The Match Registry, financial contributor or volunteer. Be The Match provides patients and their families one-on-one support, education, and guidance before, during and after transplant. Be The Match is operated by the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP), a nonprofit organization that matches patients with donors, educates health care professionals and conducts research through its research program, CIBMTR (Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research), so more lives can be saved. To learn more about the cure, visit BeTheMatch.org or call 1 (800) MARROW-2. SOURCE Be The Match Related Links http://www.bethematch.org A hospice charity shop targeted by burglars who broke in by tearing a hole in the building's roof has been given donations of more than 10,000 - thanks in part to generous MailOnline readers. Raiders targeted a charity shop belonging to Derian House Children's Hospice in Chorley, Lancashire, by smashing through the ceiling while the shop was closed during the coronarivus lockdown. Though nothing was stolen, more than 1,000 of damage was caused to the building. Following news of the raid, a fundraiser was launched in a bid to cover the costs of the repairs. But after the charity's tough break was picked up by media outlets, including MailOnline, the fundraiser ended up more than double the original 1,000 target, while other donations pushed the total to more than 10,000. The burglars targeted the Derian House Children's Hospice store in Chorley, Lancashire, by tearing through the shop's roof Derian House Childrens Hospice cares for more than 400 seriously ill children and young people from across the North West. Pictured: The hospice's shop in Chorley which was targeted by burglars The charity was also given another boost when generous tradespeople agreed to repair the damage for free. Now charity bosses have pledged to spend the 10,000 on new security measures across the hospice's whole network of charity shops in Leyland, Horwich and Adlington. They will also be able to pay the wage of two hospice nurses every day for the month of May. David Robinson, Chief Executive of Derian House Children's Hospice, said: 'We have been completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity shown to us. 'Yet again our supporters have shown us that they are there when we really need them and for that we are tremendously grateful. 'Not only has the damage been repaired for free, but the support of our community will allow us to make all of our shops safe and secure so that hopefully this will not happen again. 'On top of this gift of peace of mind, we believe there will be enough left over to pay for two nurses to care for our children and young people for the whole month of May. 'It's simply amazing that something so good could come from such a horrible situation.' Lancashire Police launched an investigation following the raid which took place at the hospice's charity shop on Chancery Road, Chorley, between Thursday, April 9 and Thursday, April 16. Lancashire Police, who are investigating, say that the burglars managed to gain entry to the stockroom through the ceiling, but that no high value items were stolen. Pictured: The hole in the ceiling left by the burglars Police say that although no high value items were taken, substantial damage was caused to the roof. Officers say thieves removed slates from the shop roof and gained entry to the stockroom through the ceiling. What is Derian House Children's Hospice? Derian House Childrens Hospice cares for more than 400 seriously ill children and young people from across the North West. The hospice itself is based in Chorley, Lancashire, near to Chorley and South Ribble Hospital. The charity says it 'gives families the chance to make the most of every moment they have together'. The charity relies on the public for more than 90 per cent of its funding, with running costs of around 4million a year. To support the costs, the charity has three shops, which are based in Chorley, Layland and Horwich. Source: Derian House Children's Hospice Advertisement Sgt Paul Harrison from Chorley Police, said: 'To think that someone would take advantage of the current COVID-19 lockdown to target a charity shop, particularly one that raises funds for poorly or dying children, is utterly disgusting. 'Thankfully the would-be thieves didn't get anything that was worth very much as cash and valuables had been removed from the shop.' No-one has been arrested in connection with the burglary. Police are asking anyone with information to call 101 quoting incident reference 666 of April 16. Alternatively, independent charity Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org. Derian House Children's Hospice looks after more than 400 children and young people from across the North West, offering respite and end-of-life care. It costs 4.8m every year to run services at Derian House, with the charity having to raise 90p in every 1. Weve been keeping up with the Duggars for years and thanks to Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar bringing their kids into the spotlight, weve gotten to know their way of life. From the family dress code to courtship rules, fans have long scratched their heads at what goes on in the big Arkansas home. And the Duggar familys homeschooling tactics have also come under fire. Jim Bob and Michelle still homeschool their kids who live under their roof. And many of their adult children with families of their own have adopted the same schooling methods. Josh Duggars wife, Anna, posted to Instagram about how much she adores homeschooling. But we cant ignore that this post didnt come too long after Jill Duggar told her followers shes sending her son to public school. The Duggars are known for homeschooling their kids Raising 19 children is difficult enough but Jim Bob and Michelle also chose to homeschool each of their children. And their religion has everything to do with it. The Duggars are devout independent Baptists, and their religious upbringing informs all of their strict rules. Michelle also mentioned to TLC that she wanted her children to have a Christian-based curriculum that she could teach them. Back in 2011, the Duggars participated in a homeschooling conference. And they spoke out about their decision-making process there, too. Bible says to train up your children when you get up in the morning when you sit down, walk by the way, and when you go to bed at night and we really felt like in order to do to fulfill that command, we really wanted to homeschool our children, Jim Bob told KLTV. The oldest (and most controversial) Duggar child, Josh, also spoke to reporters. Its a very inspiring conference, he said, and I think the focus is really on encouraging families to be the best that they can be, to serve God and serve others first. Jill Duggar recently announced shes sending her son to public school Were betting a number of Jim Bob and Michelles older kids will choose to homeschool their little ones. But Jill is going off the beaten path. She and husband Derick Dillard are branching away from the family, and Derick has also spoken against Jills parents. The couple also proved theyre not following in traditional Duggar footsteps when they announced they were sending their oldest son, Israel, to public school. Look whos registered for kindergarten! Jill captioned her post of Israel on Feb. 22. And she also added a video of Israels first day to her Dillard Family blog. Eagle-eyed fans couldve seen this coming, too. Derick attended public school his entire life, and when an Instagram follower asked him if hed allow his kids to go, he told them yes. Josh Duggars wife, Anna Duggar, made it clear shes still homeschooling Were not sure what Jinger, Jessa, and Joy-Anna will decide for their children. But Josh Duggars wife, Anna, made it clear she adores homeschooling. She even did an interview with the Duggar Family Fan Blog and explained how shes navigated that world. After high school, I did an online Christian college program in early child education, Anna explained, but what has helped me the most has been taking advice from my mom, my mother-in-law, and other homeschooling veterans. On April 22, Anna posted about homeschooling to her Instagram, too. That moment when I look up from tutoring with one of my children and see my daughters snuggled up together in the living working on their school it makes my heart melt! she captioned her post of her daughters. Sure, its hard work for any momma, but it is so worth it! Anna added. The days are long, but these years will fly by and Im so thankful for the extra time homeschooling allows our family to grow together! We wont expect Josh and Anna to enroll their kids in the public school system anytime soon. But were interested to know how they really feel about Jills decisions. Perhaps one day, well find out! Check out Showbiz Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Africas reported number of coronavirus cases soared by more than 40 percent in the last week, stoking concerns that the continent could become the epicenter of the pandemic at a time when hunger is rising and doctors fear a resurgence of malaria deaths. Local News, Health & Wellness By Andrew Hazen Published: April 23 2020 Notes from Governor Cuomo's COVID-19 Briefing Today Total hospitalizations 15,021 as of yesterday. Hospitalizations have remained largely flat over the past few days. 1,359 new COVID hospitalizations yesterday. 438 total deaths in NY yesterday: o 403 in hospitals; and o 35 in nursing homes. Will there be a second wave? o COVID is expected to lessen during the summer, but a second wave is possible in the fall causing worries about dealing with COVID and the Flu. Anti-Body Study Today, Phase I results are available from 3,000 surveys collected over two days in 19 counties and 40 localities across the state. No one under age 18 was surveyed. People are surveyed in grocery stores and other public locations. 13.9% tested positive for having the antibodies. Preliminary data shows that if infection rate is 13.9%, death rate may be lower than some estimates. This means 2.7M infected statewide with approximate 15,500 total fatalities (not considering in-home deaths), the death rate is about 0.5% of people infected. Reimagine NY: State Finances Cuomo stated that using the bankruptcy route as Senator McConnell has suggested is not a good way to go because if states like NY, CA, and MI declare bankruptcy the national economy would fail. "How ugly a thought" for Senator McConnell to suggest that blue states suffering from Coronavirus should not be bailed out. o OPINION: Keep in mind that the state was already facing close to a $10B deficit due to fiscal mismanagement by the administration. This issue is known to lawmakers (Democrat and Republican) in DC and concerns have been raised about where the money would go. California was in a worse situation prior to this crisis. However, money will make it to the state be it with strings attached. NY puts in more money into the federal pot than it receives. Cuomo: Kentucky receives more federal funding than it puts into the federal pot. So which state is getting bailed out? Testing & Tracing Contact tracing is not the "be all, end all" but it is essential. Cuomo reiterated the need to test, trace and isolate and find those who test positive for antibodies so convalescent plasma can be donated. Testing will help inform our infection rate and reopening strategy. Sample size of 3,000 has been used. More testing will be done in African-American and Latino communities in NYC. Testing will begin in public housing developments today. Will work with Rep. Jeffries and Velaquez to partner with churches and increase testing sites. Nursing Homes Nursing homes require PPE as well as temperature checks for staff: o PPE has been given to nursing homes; and o As of about two weeks ago homes have received 417K masks, about 1K gowns, and 5K gallons of sanitizer. COVID residents must be isolated. Separate staff must transfer COVID residents within facility to another long-term care facility, or to another non-certified location. All residents and family members must be notified within 24 hours if any resident tests positive for COVID or any resident suffers COVID related death. COVID positive residents must be readmitted only if they have the ability to provide adequate level of care under DOH and CDC guidance. DOH is partnering with AG James to begin investigations for violations. Nursing homes must immediately report to DOH actions they have taken to comply with DOH and CDC directives. DOH will inspect facilities that have not complied with directives, including separation policies, and inadequate PPE. If DOH determines that facilities failed to comply, DOH will immediately require facility to submit action plan and facility could be fined $10K per violation or potentially lose operating license. Nursing homes have been complying with reporting, but have had issues due to the current situation. If a nursing home cannot provide adequate care, the patient must be transferred. If an adequate facility cannot be found, they must contact the DOH. Private Workforce & Department of Labor Non-essential workers home is still being paid. NYS has paid out $2.2B in unemployment to over 1 million New Yorkers. - 1.4M NYers will be collecting unemployment. NY has rolled out new system to streamline the application process for unemployment. 3,000 people have been recruited to assist with unemployment issues. A reelection defeat for Trump would open up a small space for ideological reconsideration and renovation. Trump and his clan would not disappear. They would do anything they could to claw their way back to power. But if Trump loses, it will be because he alienated the suburban Republicans and independents that his party lost in the 2018 midterm elections. This would provide a window of opportunity for Republican leaders to combine a concern for the legitimate needs of rural and working-class whites with an agenda of upward economic mobility and minority outreach and to do this while embracing the high cause of effective governance, capable of acting boldly to defend the health and security of the country. Taipei, Taiwan Beijing has escalated the number and intensity of military drills around Taiwan in recent weeks, making risky manoeuvres that appear set to test the political waters in Taipei and Washington while signalling the mainlands continuing animosity towards Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen, who was re-elected in a landslide in January. While China has long held military exercises in Taiwanese territorial waters and airspace, this month the Peoples Liberation Army Airforce conducted a 36-hour endurance exercise. Just last week, Chinas aircraft carrier Liaoning and a convoy of five warships sailed close to Taiwan through the Miyako Strait, according to Taiwanese media. In March there were reports of the Peoples Liberation Army Air Forces (PLAAF) first-ever night mission. The exercises have been particularly aggressive, said Bonnie Glaser, director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. These are definitely intended to send messages of intimidation to Taiwan [and] test Taiwans air defences to see how long it takes them to identify that they are incoming to scramble the aircraft in response to see how well Taiwans pilots fly when they are intercepted. The PLAAFs night mission in March crossed the median of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial maritime border between Chinese and Taiwanese territory. Chinas Communist Party claims sovereignty over Taiwan, formally known as the Republic of China, although it has never governed the democratically run island of 23 million. The PLAAF conducted similar exercises in March 2019 for the first time in 20 years, said Glaser, but since then there have been several other exercises with more than two dozen aircraft involved. Provocative moves The drills are politically significant for Taipei and Beijing, says Kharis Templeman, an adviser to Project on Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. Crossing the median line is an especially provocative manoeuvre because it violates a norm that has been in place since the 1950s, and it could lead very quickly to a dangerous confrontation in the air between ROC and PRC military aircraft, he said. Republic of China (ROC) is the official name for Taiwan; PRC stands for the Peoples Republic of China. He said in recent months exercises have increased in quantity and qualitatively as Beijing continues to ramp up the political pressure on Taiwan. The exercises also come as Taiwan and its unofficial ally, the US, have seen their defensive capabilities affected by the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected sailors in both navies. One thing weve been paying more attention to in the current situation is China seems to be testing the water and see how much they can do to threaten the government of Taiwan and see the potential response from the US, said Yao-Yuan Yeh, the assistant coordinator of the Taiwan and East Asia Studies Program at the University of St Thomas in Minnesota. This week Taiwan announced it would delay the first half of its annual Han Kuan war games, which each northern spring simulate an invasion from China, although it has continued to intercept jets and shadow Chinese aircraft when they approach its airspace, according to Stanfords Templeman. After the US air force conducted a long-distance exercise over Taiwan in February, US President Donald Trump, meanwhile, recalled all strategic bombers from Guam. The military base is the temporary home of USS Theodore, which was forced to dock following a coronavirus outbreak on board. The aircraft carrier has previously conducted freedom of navigation exercises near Taiwan in the South China Sea and Sea of Japan. Landslide victory Glaser said the military exercises are most likely an attempt to punish Taiwan for what Beijing has seen as a series of provocative actions, including a trip by Vice President-elect William Lai to Washington in February that clashed with long-standing unspoken rules governing visits by Taiwanese leaders. While not yet inaugurated, Lai became the highest-ranking Taiwanese leader to visit the US since formal diplomatic ties were ended in 1979. The Third Strait Crisis, which saw China fire missiles into Taiwanese waters, was purportedly triggered by a trip by Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui to the US in 1995 shortly before he won Taiwans first direct democratic election in 1996. Relations between Taiwan and China, however, have been on the decline since 2016 when Tsai was first elected president as the leader of the pro-Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Tsai and the DPP have taken a more pro-Taiwan stance than their main competitor, the Kuomintang (KMT), but they have never taken steps to formalise Taiwans independence from China. Taiwan is still officially known as the Republic of China, whose government retreated to the one-time Japanese colony after losing the Chinese Civil War to the Communist Party. Stanfords Templeman says Beijing believes Tsai did not express enough support for Beijings One China principle or the position that both Taiwan and the mainland are part of China, that independence is not an option for Taiwan, and that both sides of the Strait have a duty to work toward eventual unification. Beijing indicated very quickly after her inauguration that Tsai needed to do and say even more to reassure Beijing that she was not a closet independence supporter, or else they would cut off communication and start pressuring her administration and they did, he said. The two sides have been in a cold standoff ever since. Soft power surge Despite a steady loss in diplomatic allies, Taiwan has seen a surge in soft power from its effective handling of coronavirus and its so-called mask diplomacy, according to Glaser, which has seen it donate millions of face masks to countries in need, among other initiatives. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (centre) visiting a military base in Tainan earlier this month. Military exercises that usually take place in April have been delayed because of the coronavirus [Ritchie B Tongo/EPA] Taiwan has also had just 426 cases of the disease as of April 23 and has not resorted to widespread lockdown measures, leading to calls for it to return as an observer at the World Health Assembly, the governing body of the World Health Organization, where it lost its seat several years ago. Weve had Taiwan telling the world it has controlled the spread of the coronavirus and demonstrating that it has a lot of soft power creating this bumper sticker Taiwan can help, Glaser said. I think China is very unhappy about that too. China, meanwhile, is bracing for its own domestic drama as it prepares for the economic effect of coronavirus after tens of millions of people were forced into quarantine, providing another excuse for Taiwan could remain in its crosshairs for the foreseeable future, said Yeh. Coronavirus is definitely going to have a huge hit on the Chinese economy, they have been claiming they are going back to normal and waiting for the second surge of coronavirus, Yeh said, which may force the Communist Party to look for a scapegoat to divert domestic anger. What we are worried apart is whether China is using these military drills to divert attention from domestic problems. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 15:02:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LAGOS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in Lagos, Nigeria's economic hub, on Wednesday received more donations from the Chinese community in the state to help fight COVID-19. The Chinese community donated 300 bags of rice, 500 cartons of noodles, 7,000 U.S dollars' worth of Spaghetti and also a cheque of 25,000 dollars to the state, the epicenter of the outbreak in Nigeria. Chairman of the China Industrial and Commercial Enterprises Association, Eric Ni, said the palliative measure shows that China values and cherishes the China-Nigeria relationship. Ni said COVID-19 has no border and affects the whole world. "This is not the end, we will continue to support (Nigeria), and never give up fighting ... let's fight it together," he added. Receiving the items on behalf of the state government, Chief of Staff to the governor of Lagos state, Tayo Ayinde, thanked the Chinese community in Lagos for their support. Since the pandemic broke out, Chinese firms and nationals living in Nigeria have provided financial support and donated medical supplies to the West African nation to show solidarity and friendship. According to the latest update of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC), 91 new cases were reported on Wednesday, bringing the count in the cournty to 873. Lagos, the worst hit state, have tallied 504 cases as of Wednesday. Enditem 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. UAW President Rory L. Gamble is calling for more data on coronavirus prior to sending employees back to work. In a statement Thursday, April 23, Gamble argues the UAW does not believe the scientific data is conclusive that it is safe to have our members back in the workplace. We strongly suggest to our companies in all sectors that an early May date is too soon and too risky to our members, their families and their communities, he said. General Motors has notified some skilled trades and management employees that they need to return to work next week to help prepare for a restart in production. Some GM employees will return next week to prep plants for restart GM said in a mass message to members that the company is actively preparing plans to safely restart our operations. Although we have not locked in a firm restart date, we have been meeting with government officials, sharing our safety protocols with the UAW, verifying that suppliers can support our plans and ensuring we have the right resources and safety equipment for our plant, the message says. During the week of April 27, we will not run regular production. However, leaders may call back a small group of people to support our restart planning." Jim Cain, a GM spokesman, said Thursday, April 23, that a lot of planning is underway to safely restart production. That includes notifying some team members (primarily salaried and a small number of skilled trades) that we may need them to report to work soon. But we have not announced a restart date, Cain said in an email to MLive-The Flint Journal. Gamble said not enough testing has taken place to really understand the threat our members face. We want to make sure the scientific data is supportive and every possible health protocols and enhanced protections are in place before UAW members walk into the workplace, he commented. The UAW is in support of Gov. Gretchen Whitmers stay-at-home order. That said we are happy with the auto companies response and cooperation on working through the health and safety protocols we will need in the workplace when it is appropriate to restart," said Gamble. GM announced March 18 that it was shutting down its manufacturing operations in North America due to market conditions, to deep clean facilities and to continue to protect people from the spread of coronavirus. The suspension in production was to last until at least March 30 and has been reevaluated week-to-week since. Last week, the company told employees in another weekly message that they should expect new safety precautions when they return to work, including completion of a health questionnaire and temperature screening before re-entering plants. The company also expects workers will wear safety glasses and GM-provided, medical-grade masks and should expect new protocols for social distancing, the same message said. GM has manufacturing plants in Ohio, New York, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Missouri, Indiana and Kansas, but its operations are most concentrated in Michigan. The company has plants in Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Bay City, Orion, Brownstown Township, Romulus, Warren and Lansing. Only parts plants like GMs Customer Care and Aftersales facility in Burton, where four employees have tested positive for COVID-19, have continued to operate during the coronavirus emergency, as well as retooled plants in Kokomo, Indiana, where it is producing ventilators, and Warren, where it is manufacturing face masks. Read more Michigan coronavirus coverage here Thursday, April 23: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Despite crashes, 820,000 of 1.1M Michiganders filing for unemployment have gotten paid Judge rejects bid by landscapers, garden shops to reopen immediately Michigan restaurants projected to lose $1.2B in April, survey indicates Dozens of bodies found in hospitals temporary morgue prompts Wayne County investigation India has opened a new all-weather access in a disputed part of its border with China to enable faster movement of troops and artillery, another potential irritant in relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The new bridge, which can take 40 tons of weight, was built in Arunachal Pradesh in India's remote northeast, a region that's claimed by China and near the scene of previous clashes. Border intrusions have risen 50% in 2019 compared to the previous year, people with knowledge of the matter said. "That part of the border has always had a tendency to friction point between India and China. Lack of reliable and all weather connectivity was vulnerability," said Nitin Gokhale, a New Delhi-based strategic affairs expert. "The new bridge and improved road overcomes that and ensures uninterrupted supply to troops." The new access along the border with China comes amid heightened tensions between the two nations after Beijing accused India of blocking its companies in the South Asian nation after New Delhi tightened laws for foreign investors from acquiring local firms. The bridge is located in a region that witnessed a months-long military standoff in 2017 over the Doklam plateau, claimed by China and Bhutan, India's ally. It was one of the most serious flare-ups since China won a border war with India in 1962. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not respond to a message requesting comment. India claims the Chinese army violated the 3,488 kilometer (2,167 miles) long un-demarcated border, parts of which are disputed, over 600 times, the people said, asking not to be identified as the matter is not public. "India and China have different perceptions of the border," Indian Army spokesman Aman Anand said on Thursday. "Perceived transgressions are result of the perceived boundary." Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is ramping up its infrastructure along the border, which it says isn't aimed at any particular country, but rather the development of remote border areas. It has completed 74 strategic roads along the eastern border, with plans afoot to finish 20 more by next year, the people said. It will reduce time taken to move and material by half and help 431 villages that lie across the region during the Covid-19 outbreak. India tweaked its law on foreign investment by making it mandatory for companies from countries that share a land border to acquire local firms only after seeking an approval from the government. The move, which cuts the risk of opportunistic takeovers as the coronavirus outbreak drives down valuations of Indian companies, had so far applied only to FDI from Bangladesh and Pakistan. India shares its land border with seven countries, including China. The new bridge opened by the India also strides one of the main access routes of the Chinese Army into India from Tibet. In a major blow to former Jharkhand minister Anosh Ekka, a court on Thursday (April 23) sentenced him to seven years of rigorous imprisonment with Rs 2 crores fine in connection with a money laundering case. The sentence to Ekka was announced by Special Judge Anil Kr Mishra through video conferencing. The judge also ordered that default in fine will result in another 1 year of rigorous imprisonment. "All the properties stand confiscated in EDs favour. Two miscellaneous applications claiming rights over some properties stand disposed in terms of section 41 of PMLA," read the order. It may be recalled that Anosh Ekka was convicted and awarded life term in a murder case in 2018 A Birmingham obstetrician has a plan to deliver babies at her clinic to avoid bringing otherwise healthy pregnant women into hospitals that are treating COVID-19 patients. Patients are worried about their possible exposure to COVID, theyre worried about laboring in a mask, theyre worried about visitation policies and about infant separation policies, said Dr. Jesanna Cooper, an OBGYN at Simon-Williamson Clinic and chair of the Women and Infants division at Princeton Baptist Medical Center. Not everyone is comfortable with the idea of a home birth. We feel like this could offer another important choice for them. Cooper envisions reworking a section of the Simon-Williamson clinic, which sits on the campus of Princeton Baptist, into a five-bed auxiliary maternity unit specifically for patients who test negative for COVID-19. Births would be attended by a nurse-midwife, with the option of transferring care to Cooper at the hospital next door in the event of a birth complication. We feel like were uniquely set up for this, said Cooper. We have nurse-midwives, obstetrics and pediatrics all in the same building. And at least one small study found that pregnant women may not show the classic symptoms of COVID-19, but if infected, their condition can deteriorate quickly following a birth. As Cooper works to line up the permissions, testing and insurance coverage necessary to open an auxiliary maternity unit, her effort could have ramifications that reach far past the pandemic. In recent months, insurers and health authorities have shown a willingness to relax restrictions in order to help healthcare providers better treat COVID-19 patients. Medicare, Medicaid and other insurers now reimburse doctors for telemedicine visits, for example, and states are allowing doctors to practice with licenses from other states. But as COVID-19 reshapes the healthcare landscape, birth in Alabama could be altered as well. In other states, women with low-risk pregnancies have the option to deliver at birth centers. These centers offer out-of-hospital births attended by midwives or nurse midwives, with more medical supplies and equipment than would typically be available for a home birth. That option has never been available to patients in Alabama, where nearly all births occur in a hospital and the state only recently legalized home birth with a midwife. Right now, said Cooper, people think in terms of hospital versus home birth because in Alabama, there is nothing in between. Cooper considers the auxiliary maternity unit as a temporary measure to safely deliver babies away from potential COVID infections in hospitals, but it would essentially function like a birth center. Alabama law around the licensure of birth centers is vague. It appears to grant the state the ability to license birth centers but stops short of actually requiring it. Cooper originally applied to the state health department for a license to open the auxiliary unit under the states emergency healthcare order. But, she said, the health department eventually told her she could operate the unit without a license because the state does not regulate private physician practices or birth centers. That could open the door in the future to other efforts to open birth centers around the state. Nationwide, interest in birth centers has ticked up, said Amy Johnson Grass, president of the American Association of Birth Centers. Freestanding birth centers across the country are experiencing an increase in people wanting to transfer to birth centers to avoid the hospital during COVID-19, Johnson Grass said in a statement. Her organization is working with the Commission for the Accreditation of Birth Centers to develop guidelines for creating temporary auxiliary maternity units to care for low-risk, non-COVID pregnant patients. Barriers to opening Licensure isnt the only barrier to delivering babies at the clinic, Cooper said. Access to rapid testing for coronavirus is a biggie; the maternity unit cant work without it, Cooper said. Shes been working through every avenue she can think of to get access to rapid tests, but doesnt have them yet. She and her team are also trying to get Alabama Medicaid and other insurers on board. In other states, Medicaid reimburses for deliveries at birth centers. For us its important that this is not just something people who have cash can do, she said. We want it reimbursed by Medicaid, by Blue Cross and others so its a viable option for women who dont have $3,000-5,000 in cash. The third hurdle is making sure medical liability insurance will cover the healthcare providers in the unit, she said. She and her team have been pushing back against some initial resistance on that front. Still a need If the unit opens at Simon-Williamson Clinic, it would have three delivery rooms and two overflow rooms for recovery or early labor. Women would be candidates for the unit if they test negative for COVID-19, are low-risk and do not want epidurals or other medical interventions. The unit would not deliver women with preexisting conditions, would not deliver twins or other multiples, and would not offer labor inductions. Currently at Princeton Baptist, pregnant patients must wear a mask and healthcare workers wear N95 masks and face shields. Patients are limited to one visitor for labor and delivery. But if rapid testing allowed constant monitoring of patients, visitors and healthcare workers for COVID-19, those requirements could be relaxed, Cooper said. Ideally shed like the unit to open in May, but that could get pushed back. Theres still going to be a need for this in July, Cooper said. COVIDs not going anywhere. Harriet Harman has called for Boris Johnson to take Prime Minister's Questions from Chequers. (PA Images via Getty Images) If Boris Johnson is well enough to talk with Donald Trump, he is well enough to take prime ministers questions (PMQs), veteran MP Harriet Harman has said. Johnson is not said to be doing any formal government work while he recuperates from coronavirus and did not take PMQs on Wednesday, but has spoken to US president Donald Trump and is reportedly set to have a telephone audience with the Queen. I dont see why he shouldnt be able to do prime ministers questions from Chequers or No 10 Downing Street or wherever he is working from, Harman told Sky News. "I don't see why he shouldn't be able to do prime minister's questions from Chequers." Labour's Harriet Harman suggests that if the PM is "well enough" to speak to the US President and instruct the government, he could answer MPs questions remotely.https://t.co/70TMZdMEUO pic.twitter.com/xyVWiMqoob SkyNews (@SkyNews) April 23, 2020 She went on: I think if he is well enough to be conducting discussions on behalf of this country with the president of the United States, if hes well enough to be issuing instructions to all parts of government, then I think part of that is giving answers publicly to what he is doing. Dominic Raab, who is deputising for the PM while he recovers, stood in for Johnson at Wednesdays PMQs. 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 According to reports, the PM watched Raabs clash with Labour leader Keir Starmer from Chequers, where he is being updated regularly and speaking to senior aides. Harman, who has previously held several cabinet and shadow cabinet positions, said if Johnson was well enough to do some things, he should be taking questions in the interests of accountability. Story continues She added: I think accountability really is part of the job is what Im saying and if hes well enough to do the job then he must be accountable as well. We cant have a situation where weve got a prime minister behind the scenes and weve got somebody else speaking on his behalf. Coronavirus: what happened today Covid-19 leading to organic Sales decline of -2.1% YTD and -14.5% in Q3, despite solid H1 FY20 and Q3 start (Stable YTD Reported Sales) Interim dividend of 1.18 per share to be paid on 10 July 2020 Remaining Share buy-back of up to 0.5bn suspended Confirmation of revised FY20 Guidance1 Organic Decline in Profit from Recurring Operations of c. -20% Regulatory News: Press release Paris, 23 April 2020 Pernod Ricard (Paris:RI): Year-to-date Sales Sales for the first 9 months of FY20 totalled 7,210m, with an organic decline of -2.1%: USA: +3%, with good start to Q3, following solid H1 FY20 , thanks in particular to Jameson, The Glenlivet, Malibu and Specialty brands. Slowdown in March due to confinement and physical distancing measures implemented in most States , thanks in particular to Jameson, The Glenlivet, Malibu and Specialty brands. Slowdown in March due to confinement and physical distancing measures implemented in most States China: -11%, after strong H1 at +11%, due to severe decline in Q3 resulting primarily from On-Trade closures starting end of January as well as earlier Chinese New Year 2 , despite strong execution of Chinese New Year programme resulting primarily from On-Trade closures starting end of January as well as earlier Chinese New Year , despite strong execution of Chinese New Year programme India: +1%, on high basis of comparison (+19% in 9M FY19), with mid-single digit growth until February , but nationwide lockdown imposed on 24 March softening Q3 performance on high basis of comparison (+19% in 9M FY19), , but nationwide lockdown imposed on 24 March softening Q3 performance Global Travel Retail: -13% , with severe decline from February, driven by restrictions and lockdowns imposed across the world. Solid underlying sell-out pre-Covid-19 crisis , with severe decline from February, driven by restrictions and lockdowns imposed across the world. Solid underlying sell-out pre-Covid-19 crisis Europe: Stable, with good performance to February (8M FY20: +2%) impacted by double-digit decline in March as result of Covid-19. By category: Strategic International Brands: -2% , in decline due to Q3 at -20%, largely driven by Martell and Chivas Regal in China and Global Travel Retail. Continued strong dynamism of Jameson, The Glenlivet, Malibu, Royal Salute and Beefeater. , in decline due to Q3 at -20%, largely driven by Martell and Chivas Regal in China and Global Travel Retail. Continued strong dynamism of Jameson, The Glenlivet, Malibu, Royal Salute and Beefeater. Strategic Local Brands: +1%, modest growth, driven by double-digit performance of Imperial Blue and Olmeca, and continued strength of Wyborowa and Ramazzotti, on high basis of comparison modest growth, driven by double-digit performance of Imperial Blue and Olmeca, and continued strength of Wyborowa and Ramazzotti, on high basis of comparison Specialty Brands: +13% , strong dynamism (albeit softening in Q3 due to Covid-19), thanks particularly to Lillet, Altos, Redbreast, Monkey 47, Aberlour and Del Maguey , strong dynamism (albeit softening in Q3 due to Covid-19), thanks particularly to Lillet, Altos, Redbreast, Monkey 47, Aberlour and Del Maguey Strategic Wines: -3%, modest decline, with good growth of Brancott Estate and Campo Viejo, offset by Jacob's Creek. Reported YTD Sales growth was stable thanks to a favourable FX impact. For full-year FY20, a positive FX impact on Profit from Recurring Operations of c. +40m is expected3 Sales for the third quarter of FY20 totalled 1,736m, with an organic decline of -14.5% (reported: -13.3%.) The business is showing good resilience through the crisis. The health and safety of our employees and business partners remains the key priority. We have extended help across our communities through donations of hand sanitiser (or the pure alcohol required for their production), health equipment and support to our suppliers and customers. A comprehensive cost mitigation programme has been implemented, together with active management of our cash position. We have adapted our manufacturing and supply chains to ensure they remain broadly operational4 Financial policy Our liquidity position remains strong at 5.5bn as of 21 April (including a cash position of 2.1bn). Our credit ratings were upgraded by one notch in October 20195, thereby confirming our solid investment grade rating. We repaid a 850m bond on 23 March 2020. We issued two bonds of 750m each (5-year and 10-year) at 1.125% and 1.750% on 1 April 2020. 3.4bn of undrawn bank credit lines are currently available. The financial policy priorities (as published on 29 August 2019), while retaining an investment grade rating, are: investment in future organic growth, in particular through strategic inventories and capex continued active portfolio management, including value-creating M&A dividend distribution at c.50% payout up to 1bn share buy-back programme across FY20 and FY21 An interim dividend of 1.18 per sharewill be detached on 8 July 2020 and paid on 10 July 2020. The final dividend will be proposed by the Board at its meeting on September 1st, 2020 and subject to the AGM decision on 27 November 2020. During the current financial year, a share buy-back of 523m was completed. The remainder of up to 0.5bn is suspended. Alexandre Ricard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Our business model and strategy are resilient. Performance in H1 through the start of Q3 was solid, thanks to the implementation of our Transform Accelerate strategic plan. Since then, the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a significant deterioration of the environment across the globe. I would like to praise the exemplary behaviour of our teams and their impact on their respective communities around the world at this very difficult time. Under current assumptions of the impact of Covid-196, we are confirming our guidance of an organic decline in Profit from Recurring Operations for full-year FY20 of c. -20%. We are staying the strategic course while implementing a comprehensive action plan to mitigate costs and tightly manage cash. Thanks to our solid fundamentals and strong liquidity position, I am confident in Pernod Ricard's ability to bounce back from today's challenges to achieve its growth potential." All growth data specified in this press release refers to organic growth (at constant FX and Group structure), unless otherwise stated. Data may be subject to rounding. Definitions and reconciliation of non-IFRS measures to IFRS measures Pernod Ricard's management process is based on the following non-IFRS measures which are chosen for planning and reporting. The Group's management believes these measures provide valuable additional information for users of the financial statements in understanding the Group's performance. These non-IFRS measures should be considered as complementary to the comparable IFRS measures and reported movements therein. Organic growth Organic growth is calculated after excluding the impacts of exchange rate movements and acquisitions and disposals. Exchange rates impact is calculated by translating the current year results at the prior year's exchange rates. For acquisitions in the current year, the post-acquisition results are excluded from the organic movement calculations. For acquisitions in the prior year, post-acquisition results are included in the prior year but are included in the organic movement calculation from the anniversary of the acquisition date in the current year. Where a business, brand, brand distribution right or agency agreement was disposed of, or terminated, in the prior year, the Group, in the organic movement calculations, excludes the results for that business from the prior year. For disposals or terminations in the current year, the Group excludes the results for that business from the prior year from the date of the disposal or termination. This measure enables to focus on the performance of the business which is common to both years and which represents those measures that local managers are most directly able to influence. Profit from recurring operations Profit from recurring operations corresponds to the operating profit excluding other non-current operating income and expenses. About Pernod Ricard Pernod Ricard is the No.2 worldwide producer of wines and spirits with consolidated sales of 9,182 million in FY19. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has developed through organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard, which owns 16 of the Top 100 Spirits Brands, holds one of the most prestigious and comprehensive brand portfolios in the industry, including: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine's, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouet champagnes, as well Jacob's Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard's brands are distributed across over 160 markets, and by its own direct salesforce in 73 markets. The Group's decentralised organisation empowers its 19,000 employees to be true on-the-ground ambassadors of its vision of "Createurs de Convivialite." As reaffirmed by the Group's three-year strategic plan, "Transform and Accelerate," deployed in 2018, Pernod Ricard's strategy focuses on investing in long-term, profitable growth for all stakeholders. The Group remains true to its three founding values: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust, and a strong sense of ethics. As illustrated by the 2030 roadmap supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), "We bring good times from a good place." In recognition of Pernod Ricard's strong commitment to sustainable development and responsible consumption, it has received a Gold rating from Ecovadis and is ranked No. 1 in Vigeo Eiris for the beverage sector. Pernod Ricard is also a United Nation's Global Compact LEAD company. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN Code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index. __________________________ 1 Communicated on 24 March 2020 2 25 Jan 2020 vs. 5 Feb 2019 3 Based on average FX rates projected at 14 April 2020, particularly a EUR/USD rate of 1.10 4 With the exception of India 5 Rating upgrades by Moody's to Baa1 and S&P to BBB+, both stable outlook 6 Communicated on 24 March 2020 Appendices 9M FY20 Sales by Region Net Sales ( millions) H1 FY19 H1 FY20 Change Organic Growth Group Structure Forex impact Americas 1,389 26.8% 1,461 26.7% +72 +5% +22 +2% +15 +1% +35 +2% Asia Rest of the World 2,266 43.7% 2,415 44.1% +149 +7% +68 +3% +16 +1% +64 +3% Europe 1,530 29.5% 1,598 29.2% +69 +4% +47 +3% +7 0% +14 +1% World 5,185 100.0% 5,474 100.0% +289 +6% +137 +3% +39 +1% +113 +2% Net Sales ( millions) Q3 FY19 Q3 FY20 Change Organic Growth Group Structure Forex impact Americas 567 28.3% 577 33.2% +10 +2% (7) -1% +13 +2% +4 +1% Asia Rest of the World 922 46.0% 684 39.4% (238) -26% (239) -26% +7 +1% (6) -1% Europe 515 25.7% 475 27.4% (39) -8% (42) -8% +2 0% 0 0% World 2,003 100.0% 1,736 100.0% (267) -13% (288) -15% +23 +1% (1) 0% Net Sales ( millions) 9M FY19 9M FY20 Change Organic Growth Group Structure Forex impact Americas 1,956 27.2% 2,038 28.3% +82 +4% +15 +1% +28 +1% +39 +2% Asia Rest of the World 3,188 44.3% 3,099 43.0% (89) -3% (171) -5% +23 +1% +59 +2% Europe 2,044 28.4% 2,073 28.8% +29 +1% +5 0% +10 0% +15 +1% World 7,188 100.0% 7,210 100.0% +22 +0% (151) -2% +61 +1% +112 +2% Note: Bulk Spirits are allocated by Region according to the Region's weight in the group. Foreign exchange impact on 9M FY20 Sales Forex impact 9M FY20 Average rates evolution On Net Sales ( millions) FY19 FY20 US dollar USD 1.15 1.11 -3.6% 68 Indian rupee INR 81.34 79.01 -2.9% 24 Japanese yen JPY 127.93 119.92 -6.3% 10 Russian Rouble RUB 75.71 72.05 -4.8% 9 Other currencies 0 Total 112 Upcoming communications DATE EVENT Tuesday 26 May 2020, 3 pm CET Sustainability Responsibility conference call Wednesday 2 September 2020 FY20 Sales Results 1 The above dates are indicative and are liable to change Select initiatives to support our communities [Missing charts are available on the original document and on www.pernod-ricard.com] View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200422006051/en/ Contacts: Julia Massies VP, Financial Communications Investor Relations +33 (0)1 41 00 41 07 Charly Montet Investor Relations Manager +33 (0)1 41 00 45 94 Alison Donohoe Press Relations Manager +33 (0)1 41 00 44 63 Emmanuel Vouin Press Relations Manager +33 (0)1 41 00 44 04 We recently spoke with Keith Coker, founder and CEO of Green Cloud Technologies, a provider of cloud services based in Greenville, South Carolina. While originally named for that city, Green Cloud also signifies the green it helps customers save as well as the environmental benefits of its highly efficient data centers. Today Green Cloud offers a wide range of cloud services in myriad cloud disciplines and custom offerings that span everything from backup-as-a-service to security-as-service, desktop-as-service, and full infrastructure-as-a-service. Unlike most providers, though, Green Clouds customers are Managed Service Providers (MSPs) and Value-Added Resellers (VARs) that directly support small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). Green Cloud has no direct sales organization. If you look at the MSPs and the VARs we serve, they know the SMBs they support intimately, says Coker. We allow them to maintain that focus and bring them expertise in the cloud based on having done thousands of migrations and cloud deployments. They can lean on us to be that consultant and expert that ensures their customers have an exceptional experience in their transition to the cloud. Essentially, we serve as our partners cloud department. Coker is quick to point out that many of the services Green Cloud provides make it possible for VARs and MSPs to offer cloud capabilities that are typically associated with large enterprises, but at an effective price point for smaller organizations. We enable our partners to benefit from cloud capabilities, expertise, and resources they typically wouldnt invest in, he adds. It wouldnt make sense for an MSP that does five or six cloud deployments a year to build the network weve created, let alone invest in the skills our engineers have acquired over the years. Our customers customers benefit from our focus on the cloud regardless of whether theyre working with us to plan for an initial migration or moving to a more complex, hybrid and multi-cloud approach. Cloud Verified: Why It Matters Coker notes that all of Green Clouds services and data centers are VMware Cloud Verified. From the beginning we built our entire cloud infrastructure around VMware, he says. Being VMware Cloud Verified basically gives us the stamp of approval. It shows that what we have built is in line with VMwares expectations. An MSP can trust that when they move their client over to us, its not just Green Cloud saying our infrastructure is truly solid, its VMware standing behind us as well. So whats prompting SMBs to move to the cloud? Coker cites a number of reasons. Many organizations come to Green Cloud through an MSP at a time of transition: for example, at the impending expiration of a hardware lease or to address the need for more compute power or storage capacity. Coker also sees many end users organizations turning to the cloud for compliance reasons. We work with numerous healthcare organizations, for example, and for many, handling the compliance requirements of any given office is difficult, he says. When thats taken care of in a shared environment like the one we offer, its not only cost-effective, but it unburdens the SMB from all of the things they would need to be thinking about, such as encryption for laptops and countless other issues. Thats something we see in many of the markets we work in, including construction, manufacturing, and professional services. Coker also sees many partners embracing Green Clouds security-as-a-service offering to help their clients negate the threat of ransomware. He says that security is a significant concern for all companies, and that ransomware is often what prompts many SMBs to embrace the cloud. Not surprisingly, VARs are also now turning to the company for help as their customers move to remote working arrangements for their employees. Coker believes it will only prompt more companies to move fully to the cloud. One thing we see often is that once an SMB experiences the benefits of a cloud service, it often prompts them to later embrace the benefits of infrastructure-as-a-service, he says. Once youve experienced the cost savings, convenience, and flexibility of the cloud, theres no going back. Learn more about Green Cloud Technologies and its partnership with VMware here. A man displays traditional Armenian dried fruit and sweets at a market in Yerevan, Armenia, in 2008. Last year saw more than 15,000 migrants arrive in Armenia, the largest number in over a decade, many of them diaspora Armenians. ( Misha Japaridze / Associated Press) As a fourth-generation diaspora Armenian, Mihran Papazian never imagined himself returning to the homeland permanently. He was a classic "summer Armenian," visiting Armenia regularly on vacations, but never for more than a month or two at a time. We always said, Well move to Armenia when we retire, he said between puffs of tobacco from a narghile pipe at a cafe in Yerevan, the Armenian capital, speaking of his family himself, his wife and two young children. Then we thought, we should move there while the kids are still young. And that became, OK, were moving tomorrow. The cause of the shift? Abruptly winning an Armenian government-funded program for diaspora entrepreneurs during a visit late last year. We decided to enter [the start-up contest], and ended up being one of three winners, Papazian said. We learned in December that we had won, and the thought was, well, are we doing this? They were. Within a week, the decision was made. A hundred years after his ancestors left Armenia during the Armenian genocide, Papazian was coming home. Armenians worldwide mark Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day on Friday. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian acknowledges the crowd in Republic Square in Yerevan after assuming power in 2018. (Thanassis Stavrakis / Associated Press) His journey is not unique. Since coming to power following 2018's Velvet Revolution, the government of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has made a concerted effort to attract diaspora Armenians who outnumber their indigenous compatriots by more than 2 to 1 to move to the homeland. They have already found some success. Last year saw more than 15,000 migrants arrive in Armenia, the largest number in over a decade, according to Hrant Mikaelian, a statistician and researcher at the Yerevan think tank Caucasus Institute. Though most of these are from countries such as Iran, Lebanon and Russia, each of which has a large Armenian community, Western countries are increasingly providing repatriates as well. The Los Angeles area, with perhaps the largest diaspora Armenian community in the world anywhere from 150,000 to 1 million, with a large concentration in Glendale is a key contributor to this. Story continues Exact statistics are difficult to determine, but by examining the 2018 and 2019 demographic figures and border crossing numbers from Armenias national statistical committee, a rough figure can be established: About 350 Americans, roughly half from California, have moved to Armenia since the revolution, Mikaelian said. One of these was Papazian. At 37, the French-born entrepreneur has extensive experience packing up everything and relocating. He moved first to New York at 19, before settling on a more exotic destination the next year China. That detour would last a decade. China was where I really grew up, he said. I spent an hour with a tutor every single morning learning the language, five characters a day. Papazian honed his Chinese skills by hiring exclusively non-English-speaking employees at the shipping company he ran in Shenzhen. After nine years, he and his family started to look elsewhere. They wanted a more Armenian environment, so Los Angeles and its community were a natural choice. It was his wife who rekindled his dormant Armenian-ness, Papazian said. Of course I knew Armenian as a young kid, but my schooling was entirely in French, he says. There [were] about 10 years where I didnt speak it at all. But when he met his wife, originally of Syrian Armenian extraction, in New York, his nearly nonexistent English necessitated a return to his roots. Armenian was our common language, he said. Los Angeles had been the familys home for five years when something extraordinary happened in Armenia. Anger over a constitutional change that would in effect allow the longtime Armenian leader, Serzh Sargsyan, to rule for another decade or more spilled over into massive street demonstrations in the capital. Within weeks, his government would be toppled, with protest leader Pashinian the beneficiary. Not a drop of blood was spilled, a fact that won international acclaim and led the Economist magazine to declare Armenia its 2018 "country of the year." Papazian acknowledges he was surprised. I never imagined such a thing would happen in Armenia, he said. That led to a late summer 2018 trip to the country, where he filed his fateful start-up grant application. The Papazians next trip to Yerevan came in February 2019: a three-month trial balloon, to see how the adjustment went. It was a success, and the Papazians moved permanently in June. The role of the 2018 revolution in changing the perception of Armenia among the diaspora was huge, says Vartan Marashlyan, executive director of Repat Armenia, a nongovernmental committee. People used to have a very pessimistic view of Armenia" abroad, he said. Now we are having the opposite problem managing peoples very high expectations. Repatriation from the diaspora has been occurring in some form or another since shortly after Armenias independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Different diaspora communities have different motivations: For U.S. Armenians, the reasons are usually "more emotional than economic, Marashlyan said. But Papazian stressed that he sees real financial reasons for relocating. Hes already planning to utilize the countrys human capital huge, especially in IT, he said in conjunction with his Chinese business partners. He now runs a dental products manufacturer, Brushette. China has the capital, but Armenia has the know-how and the affordability, Papazian explained. If youre a Chinese company, would you go to L.A. or San Francisco and pay someone $80,000, $120,000 a year? No! Come to Armenia, and pay them $500 a month. Papazian is not the only recent repat launching a business in Yerevan. Luca Keushguerian, a 26-year-old Maine native, has also found his niche. He moved to Yerevan in summer 2018 and works as a rock climbing guide and instructor. I felt like Armenia was a good place to live and start a business, said Keushguerian, whose sister and several other family members had repatriated in years prior. He had been considering the move for several years, but in the wake of the revolution, things fell into place. Other repats have come from closer to the Caucasus. Hrayr Barsoumian, a Lebanese Armenian, followed his dream of relocating to the ancestral homeland 18 years after his first visit in 2000. [Repatriation] was what I believed in all my life, said Barsoumian, a financial risk manager. He credits his motivation to four pillars: his parents, his school, the Armenian diaspora organization Homenetmen, and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation. Harout Mkhjian made his own move to Armenia in fall 2018, trading Amman, Jordan, for Yerevan. Mkhjians repatriation had economic considerations as well as emotional. I have a good opportunity to gain experience as a full-stack software engineer, he said. Now firmly entrenched in Yerevan, Papazian has no plans to leave anytime soon. He has just purchased an apartment for his family in a district overlooking downtowns scenic Cascade monument the Hollywood Hills of Yerevan, he jokes. His business is growing, with 10 employees now. Hes also taken on a more active role in promoting Armenia to other would-be repatriates. Papazian has done a number of live events and Q&A sessions with Repat Armenia, and hes putting together a handbook covering the legal basics of living and working in Armenia. More L.A. Armenian repatriations are in the works. I know five or six families [in L.A.] who are on the verge, he said, adding that each success story builds more momentum. As the narghile burns down and the evening temperatures start to drop, his familys century-long journey home seems to be complete. I think well be here for a long time, he said. Hauer is a special correspondent. New York-based MRD Lighting, a major vendor to the international cruise industry, is developing ultraviolet lighting prototypes to combat airborne and surface-transmitted viruses aboard ships. The company, which has consistently innovated in providing a wide array of solutions to cruise lines, is working with subject matter experts in the radiological and epidemiology arenas to provide rapid-response capabilities as the Coronavirus increasingly impacts the cruise industry. "We have been expanding our capabilities and Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 16:46 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3dcbf7 1 Science & Tech WhatsApp,quarantine,pandemic,COVID-19,sticker,kreator-stiker-pentol,coronavirus Free In a response to lockdown measures being enforced in countries around the world, Facebook's popular instant messaging platform WhatsApp has launched a series of stickers with the theme of Together at Home. The stickers were made in collaboration with the World Health Organization to encourage users to comply with physical distancing and improve the worlds morale amid this trying time. The stickers are available in nine languages, including Indonesian. The Indonesian version of the stickers includes visuals with texts such as "Bersama Kita Pasti Bisa (Together We Can), "Tos dari Jauh (High Five from a Distance) and "Kamu Gak Apa2? (Are You Okay?). In total, there are 21 stickers showing supportive expressions to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in a communal spirit. Were excited to work with the World Health Organization to launch the 'Together at Home' sticker pack that will help people stay connected throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, read a post in WhatsApp's blog. We hope people enjoy using these stickers to check-in on loved ones, particularly those that are feeling isolated, alone and scared. The Together at Home sticker pack is equipped with designs to remind people to wash their hands, maintain a physical distance, exercise and honor the medical personnel who are at the forefront in the fight against COVID-19. Read also: WhatsApp finally releases dark mode for Indonesian users To obtain the stickers, users can go to the section All Stickers". Click the sticker sign on the WhatsApp keyboard and then use the "+" button at the right corner. Choose the Together at Home sticker pack and click the "download" button at the right side. As the most popular messaging app in the world, WhatsApp is used by 2 billion people and stickers are among its most beloved features. One that has captured the heart of many Indonesians is popularly called Pentol, which interestingly came from the Chinese messaging app WeChat. thread stiker WA pentol RT/likes agar bermanfaat, okeee pic.twitter.com/8p5V0bPtjp sunny (@wnnbeursunshine) September 11, 2019 China Plus reported that creator Zhong Chaoneng released the "Well-Behaved Baby" sticker series in 2015, which was downloaded 150 million times in two years. Zhong then left his job at an animation company to become a full-time sticker designer. It is called Well-behaved Baby, a famous sticker character being used in WeChat app which designed by a Chinese artist pic.twitter.com/TEIiXqXdzq (@LENAs2PM) June 5, 2017 The Pentol sticker series has been modified with local touches, such as featuring text in Indonesian, endearing them to Indonesian users. There are also varieties of Pentol performing devilish acts while sporting an innocent look. One particular series is called "Pentol Ngambek" (Irritable Pentol), featuring the creature with various "weapons" or doing mean tricks on an object. Many believe the name Pentol comes from the creature's shape, which features an unusually large head on its stick-like body, making it look like a meatball on a stick or pentol, a popular street food. (gis/wng) The final part of HBOs six-episode adaptation of Philip Roths 2004 novel The Plot Against America aired April 20. The miniseries was created and written by David Simon and Ed Burns, and directed by Minkie Spiro (Episodes 1-3) and Thomas Schlamme (Episodes 4-6). The novel and its television adaptation imagine an alternate history in which aviation hero and Hitler admirer Charles A. Lindbergh (1902-74) becomes the Republican Partys candidate for president in 1940 and, running on a staunchly antiwar platform and on the basis of his personal popularity, wins the general election against two-term incumbent Democrat, Franklin D. Roosevelt. The books narrator is a character named Philip Roth, who, like the novelist (who died in 2018), was seven in 1940 and lived in the predominantly Jewish Weequahic neighborhood of Newark, New Jersey with his father, Herman, an insurance agent, and his mother, Bess. (In the HBO series, the familys name has been changed to Levin.) Morgan Spector and Zoe Kazan in The Plot Against America The Simon-Burns series has been seriously and intelligently written and performed, and while it occasionally falls below the level of the novel from a psychological or historical point of view, at other moments it actually improves on Roths work. At the end of the series, the viewer may be forgiven if he or she holds on to quite contradictory opinions and feelings, sentiments that may have flowed in a positive direction at a given instant and in a more negative one only moments later. There is unsettling, genuine social truth here in the dark and ominous turn by the American state under Lindbergh and his accomplices (including the auto mogul and rabid anti-Semite Henry Ford as Secretary of the Interior) toward authoritarianism and open mass repression. In fact, it can happen here! The creators effectively portray the anxiety and desperation of the lower middle class Levins, along with their relatives and neighbors, as they attempt to cope with an increasingly menacing political and existential situation. There are genuinely moving and convincing passages. The series creators clearly have their eye on the present circumstances and the wild right-wing rampages of the Trump administration. On the other hand, and here the writers and directors have directly inherited their problems from Roth and his novel, the broader social and historical dynamics are poorly represented. The series, although it hints at certain social and economic developments of the era, tends to view fascism, in America and elsewhere, as merely the flaring up of age-old hatreds and prejudices, specifically against the Jews. John Turturro in The Plot Against America Complementing this conception is a highly selective view of America in the late 1930s and 1940s. Only a handful of years from the great sit-down strikes and other immense class battles of the 1930s, The Plot Against America pictures a nation with the almost godlike Roosevelt and his supporters, among the more prominent gossip columnist Walter Winchell and New Yorks Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, at one extreme, and the fascist Lindbergh, supported or tolerated apparently by the majority of ordinary Americans, in the words of the novel, tens of thousands of them, maybe millions of them, who hated Jews, at the other. Absent is the mass labor movement, the newly emerged industrial unions, in particular, the Communist Party, the Socialist Party, the Trotskyists, left-wing artists and writers and the rest of the intellectual and ideological inhabitants of the time. We wrote an initial piece on the series in late March that looked at Parts 1 and 2. In Parts 3 through 6 the drama of the Levins and the rest of America continues and reaches a climax. The new Lindbergh administration, after signing a neutrality pact with the Nazi regime in Germany, initiates various programs aimed at absorbing and dissolving Americas Jews into the general population. The teenage Sandy Levin (Caleb Malis), encouraged by his aunt Evelyn (Winona Ryder) and partly in rebellion against his father, Herman (Morgan Spector), wants to take part in the program by spending time on a farm in Kentucky. Initially, Herman opposes Sandys participation. The Levins as a family take a long-planned trip to Washington, DC, where they encounter both increasingly outspoken anti-Semitism and elementary decency. The pompous, overbearing Rabbi Lionel Bengelsdorf (John Turturro), with whom Evelynthe unmarried sister of Bess Levin (Zoe Kazan)has developed a personal relationship, is given considerable authority as an official in and the Jewish face of the ultraright administration in Washington and defends its actions with self-interested sophistry. Morgan Spector, Azhy Robertson and Caleb Malis in The Plot Against America Alvin Levin (played by the Irish-born Anthony Boyle), Herman Levins nephew and an orphan, joins up with the Canadian military to fight Hitler, but loses a leg during a commando operation. He returns home, broken and despondent. Because he took up arms against Germany, now an ally of the US, Alvin comes under the watchful, sinister eye of the FBI, who considers him something of a Communist and manages to have him fired from his job. Portrayed largely as a wastrel in Roths novel, Alvin, in the Simon and Burns version of things, although drawn toward a life of small-time gangsterism, will later come to life and participate in the resistance to Lindbergh. One of the central threads in Episode 4 involves the eager willingness of Bengelsdorf and Evelyn to attend a state dinner at the Lindbergh White House in honor of German Foreign Minister and leading Nazi, Joachim von Ribbentrop (Orest Ludwig). Herman and Bess Levin are horrified at the very thought, but Sandy, for whom his aunt has also secured an invitation, is adamant about attending. When his parents withhold permission, Sandy calls them ghetto Jews and denounces his father as worse than Hitler. Herman and other Jewish employees at Metropolitan Life Insurance are ordered to relocate to the American heartland as part of the expansion of one of Rabbi Bengelsdorfs assimilation programs. Rather than move his family, Herman quits his position and goes to work for his brother Monty (David Krumholtz), a successful and cynical fruit merchant. In an earlier exchange, Herman had accused his brother and other Jewish businessmen of accommodating themselves to Lindbergh because, at least for the moment, business is good and profits are rising. As David Simon notes pointedly in the accompanying podcast, Its amazing what the Dow [the stock market index] will do to somebodys conscience. Bengelsdorf and Evelyn wed in opulent fashion, without the Levins in attendance. Bizarrely, Walter Winchell (Billy Carter), a vociferous and scathing critic of Lindbergh, announces his plan to run for president. Herman attends one of Winchells rallies, which is attacked by fascist thugs. When he returns home bloodied, Bess threatens to leave him and take the children to Canada if he continues his public political opposition. Winchells assassination in Louisville, by fascist forces, sets off rioting and anti-Jewish pogroms in a number of cities. A former neighbor of the Levins, Mrs. Wishnow (Kristen Sieh), who had been forcibly resettled in Kentucky, is attacked and murdered by the Ku Klux Klan. Herman and Sandy set off to bring her dazed and devastated young son Seldon (Jacob Laval) home to Newark. Winona Ryder and Anthony Boyle in The Plot Against America Popular opposition to Lindbergh begins to mobilize itself, given a voice by Mayor La Guardia. Meanwhile, the presidents plane is missing, and Vice President Burton Wheeler assumes authority and imposes martial law. Alvin joins an underground resistance unit. Rabbi Bengelsdorf is arrested as a Jewish Rasputin (in Henry Fords phrase) and Evelyn fears she may be next. Bess refuses to shelter her, I will always love you, but I will never forgive you. Mysteriously, the First Lady, Anne Morrow Lindbergh (Caroline Kaplan), delivers a nationwide address calling for an end to the attacks on Jews and an emergency presidential election. Roosevelt campaigns for another term, and on election night, the Levins anxiously await the outcome As noted, there are genuinely moving and forceful sequences in this adaptation of The Plot Against America. Both Herman and Bess Levin come across as caring and admirable human beings, capable of great selflessness. Besss effort over the telephone to calm Seldon, distraught by his mothers disappearance, is one of her finest moments. Herman is hard-working and conscientious, perpetually and legitimately angry, if dangerously naive about the permanence and stability of Americas democratic institutions. Of Herman, Roth writes admiringly, it was enough for him to make something (rather than everything) of himself and to do so without wrecking the lives around him. My father was born to contend but also to protect, and to inflict damage on an enemy didnt make his spirits soar as it did his older brothers (not to mention all the rest of the brutal entrepreneurial machers [powerful, influential people]). The portraits of Rabbi Bengelsdorf and Evelyn are particularly acute and pertinent. Bengelsdorf, given to pontificating, according to Roth, about the Americanization of Americans [as] the best means to preserve our democracy against Bolshevism, radicalism, and anarchism, is fatally attracted to fame and power. Capable of rationalizing any crime, the rabbi looks down on Newarks Jewish hoi polloi and remains oblivious until the end to the mass suffering the Lindbergh administrations policies produce. Evelyn, insecure, unstable, self-centered and, finally, pitiful, is a picture of petty-bourgeois aspiration and delusion. The Plot Against America The Plot Against America is unusual American television. Targeting official hypocrisy and reaction, profiteering and political corruption, and, more generally, many of the lies official America tells about itself, the series is designed to encourage thinking and criticism. Simon and Burns make no secret of their antipathy for the xenophobia, anti-immigrant viciousness and reactionary social policies of the Trump administration. Simon sees obvious parallels between the fictional election of Lindbergh and the actual coming to power of Trump. The reason to do the series now, he explains, is not to argue about anti-Semitism in 1940. The verdict on isolationism, and on Lindbergh and America First, is already in. No need to do the piece to reargue that. Its allegorical to whats happening to people with black and brown skin and immigrants and Muslims right now. And I would hope people would see that in some respectswhat Roth did with Jewish Americans applies going forward. Simon (The Wire, Generation Kill, Treme, The Deuce) is one of the more interesting and provocative figures working in American television at present. He and Burns, a former Baltimore policeman (who sees the cops as defenders of the wealthy and choosing the side of the oligarchy), seem committed to countering the brutalization and stupidity of so much contemporary popular culture. Much that they do is to their credit. But there is no reason to close ones eyes to the serious limitations of their outlook, associated with liberal and Democratic Party circles, and its consequences for their artistic work. Simon, like many in his affluent milieu, supported Barack Obama and views Trumps victory in 2016 as a reactionary backlash against the supposedly progressive Democratic president. For example, he notes that the first time someone suggested he adapt The Plot Against America was right after Obama had been inaugurated for the second time in 2013. To Simon, the book then just felt like an artifact, with the country moving in a more inclusive direction and we were less susceptible to fears of the other. I just didnt see it. It didnt feel like the political moment we were in. This reveals how distant Simonlike the upper middle class left as a wholewas from the punishing economic and social conditions facing wide layers of the population and their seething anger. There was mass revulsion against Obama and the Democratic candidate in 2016, Hillary Clinton, whose contempt for the working class was palpable. In Simons view, however, Trump was elected because the American people were vulnerable to demagoguery or xenophobia (in the writer-producers words). Simon and Burns, like Roth himself, extend this misguided thinking to the more general presentation of fascism. As suggested above, the novel and the series both incline toward the view that the fascist danger flows from the innate or latent bigotry of the population. As Herman Levin asserts in the final episode, The hate is there. Its like dry leaves waiting on a spark. In Roths book, Europe in 1940 is reduced in the authors estimation to a place where there was a thousand-year history of anti-Semitism deeply rooted in the common people and where Nazi rule was absolute. This is false and disorienting. The bourgeoisie in modern capitalist society turns toward the fascist solution under conditions of an economic and social crisis that can no longer be contained within democratic-parliamentary forms. Precisely when and where it feels most threatened by the danger of upheaval from below and, ultimately, revolution and socialism, the ruling elite strives might and main to incite every ounce of backwardness and prejudice, themselves the product of oppression, and construct a mass movement on their basis. However, the victory of Nazism, as Leon Trotsky and the Trotskyist movement have argued and proven over the course of decades, was only made possible by a profound crisis of the German socialist movement, which squandered or betrayed numerous opportunities between 1918 and 1933 to put an end to German imperialism. It was not the inherent anti-Semitism of the common people in Germany that allowed Hitler to come to power, but the paralyzing, reactionary policies of the Social Democratic and Communist Parties, who proved themselves to be politically bankrupt and utterly incapable of providing the distraught masses with a way out of the disaster created by capitalism (David North, A critical review of Daniel Goldhagen's Hitlers Willing Executioners). In Roths novel, the Lindbergh administration ends as abruptly and inexplicably as it arose. The aviator-presidents plane disappears, the Wheeler regime collapses and Roosevelt sweeps to power in a special election. There is next to no attempt to account for the sudden change in popular opinion and mood. Fascism and anti-Semitism are reduced to a disease that bursts out, does its terrible damage and then subsides, to lie more or less concealed beneath the surface until the next eruption. The HBO series is actually darker in its conclusion, again, presumably influenced by the current American situation. The results of the 1942 election remain in doubt as the series concludes. We see ballots being burned, perhaps the vote will be rigged Simon and Burns do many things right here, even if they also get important matters wrong. If nothing else, their accomplishment will encourage others to go farther and pursue social and historical matters more profoundly. And thats no small thing. The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriff's Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka. Monday, April 20 10:28 p.m. -- Deputies were dispatched to a Homer Township residence for a 27-year-old woman who was suicidal and had cut herself with a knife. Deputies made contact with the woman at her residence and she was transported by ambulance to the MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland emergency room for an evaluation. While at the emergency room, a mental health petition for evaluation was completed. 10:13 p.m. -- A deputy assisted a Michigan State Police trooper with a possible domestic assault at a Jerome Township trailer. The trooper did not find any evidence that an assault occurred. 10:02 p.m. -- Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Greendale Township. 6:11 p.m. -- Officers responded to a domestic assault in the 2800 block of Ronan Street. 6:04 p.m. -- Deputies responded to a crash causing injuries in Hope Township. 1:54 p.m. -- Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the 2900 block of Rodd Street. 7:56 a.m. -- A 31-year-old Lee Township man came to the Midland County Law Enforcement Center to report a suspicious situation. The man said he purchased a cake from the Sanford Food Pride that allegedly gave him food poisoning. The man requested the sheriff's office document the incident for him. 5:21 a.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to a Greendale Township location in reference to an 18-year-old Mount Pleasant man who requested an ambulance because his feet hurt from walking. The 18-year-old said he no longer needed an ambulance, but wanted a ride back to Mount Pleasant. The deputy gave the 18-year-old a ride home to Mount Pleasant so he was not stranded in the cold. 12:09 a.m. -- Deputies were dispatched to a Greendale Township convenience store after a 29-year-old homeless man called 9-1-1 to report that he was suicidal and would like to be admitted into the hospital. The deputy transported the man to the ER for a voluntary mental health petition. Sunday, April 19 10:30 p.m. -- Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Ingersoll Township. 10:22 p.m. -- A deputy cited a 27-year-old Greendale Township man for burning a tire and box spring in a bonfire. 9:46 p.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to a Larkin Township residence after an 11-year-old boy called his 42-year-old mother, of Midland, saying he was home alone and scared after his 42-year-old father was burned by a chemical explosion and was taken to the MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland. The mother called 9-1-1 after she arrived at the residence. The deputy checked the residence and spoke to the father's 36-year-old live-in girlfriend. The father had been sprayed in the face with a water and pool shock mixture. The deputy explained to the complainant that the short time her child was left home alone was not criminal. 8:16 p.m. -- A citizen called 9-1-1 to report he heard gun shots in the area of his residence. A deputy checked the area, but no gun shots were heard. 8:12 p.m. -- Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence in reference to a suicidal 40-year-old man. It was reported the man had a pistol and was threatening suicide. He was transported to the MidMichigan Medical Center ER for a mental health evaluation without incident. 3:33 p.m. -- Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of South Saginaw Road and Eastlawn Drive. 11:01 a.m. -- Officers responded to a car-turkey crash in the area of westbound U.S.-10 and East Ashman Street. 10:52 a.m. -- A deputy stopped a 29-year-old Saginaw man for speeding on South Meridian Road near East Dopp Road. The man had a suspended driver's license. 4:45 a.m. -- Officers responded to a report of disorderly conduct and malicious destruction of property in the 4500 block of North Saginaw Road. 1:12 a.m. -- A deputy was dispatched to a Lincoln Township residence in reference to a 50-year-old woman who reported her 29-year-old daughter had overdosed on heroin and was administered Narcan by the mother. The 29-year-old was conscious and alert when the deputy and paramedics arrived on-scene. Paramedics evaluated the 29-year-old on-scene, and she refused medical treatment. The 50-year-old mother planned to monitor her daughter for the rest of the night. 1:09 a.m. -- Officers responded to a domestic situation in the 1400 block of Waldo Court. One more person tested positive for COVID-19 in Uttarakhand on Thursday, taking the total number of coronavirus cases in the state to 47, officials said. Originally a resident of West Bengal, the man was quarantined at a camp in Sahaspur area of Dehradun district since Apr 11, a Health Department spokesperson here said. Hehad come in contact with members of the Tablighi Jamaat while returning from Delhi's Nizamuddin Markaz congregation. After testing positive for thevirus on Thursday, he has been shifted to the isolation ward of Doon Medical College, official said. With this, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Uttarakhand stands at 47, out of which 24 have recovered so far, the spokesperson said. The 24 cured persons include a nine-month-old infant who had contracted the infection from his father who had come in contact with members of the Tablighi Jamaat. The baby recovered within six days of testing positive, the official said. He had been kept along with his mother at the isolation ward of Doon Medical College so that he is well looked after. His mother has tested negative for the disease, the spokesperson said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Usha Ganguly started a theatre group Rangakarmee in 1976 and forayed into direction in the 1980s with plays like Mahabhoj, Lokkatha, Holi, Rudali and Court Martial. Eminent theatre personality Usha Ganguly breathed her last on Thursday morning. She was 75. Bengali director and actor Arindam Sil tweeted about her demise, writing, "Rest in Peace #UshaGanguly. Not just theatre you had won the world with your warmth and affection. Will miss you always. Sad moment." Rest in Peace #UshaGanguly. Not just theatre you had won the world with your warmth and affection. Will miss you always. Sad moment. Arindam Sil (@silarindam) April 23, 2020 The National School of Drama (NSD) too tweeted about her death. NSD family deeply express condolences over the sad demise of eminent Indian theatre director-actor Ms Usha Ganguly, read the post. NSD family deeply express condolences over the sad demise of eminent Indian theatre director-actor Ms Usha Ganguly. pic.twitter.com/j9Vuz5G4nk National School of Drama (@nsd_india) April 23, 2020 Balika Vadhu fame actor Anup Soni replied to NSDs tweet. RIP Usha Mam, he wrote along with a prayer emoji. As per a report in Times of India, Gangulys family has confirmed that the matriarch of Rangakarmee suffered a cardiac arrest. The famed theatre personality was born in Rajasthan in 1945 and completed her graduation with Hindi honours from Shri Shikshayatan College in Kolkata. Ganguly started a theatre group Rangakarmee in 1976 and forayed into direction in the 1980s with plays like Mahabhoj, Lokkatha, Holi, Rudali and Court Martial. She was also honoured by the West Bengal government as the best actress for the play Gudia Ghar. Usha Ganguly received the Sangeet Akademi Award in 1998. I think its very, very important that we tailor a specific Ghanaian, African response to the handling of this pandemic, and not necessarily copy blindly the methods that are being adopted by countries to the north of us and elsewhere. These were the words of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Thursday, 23rd April, 2020, when he joined colleague West African Heads of State for a virtual ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit on the Coronavirus pandemic. Commending President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, who is the ECOWAS Chairperson, for calling the Summit, President Akufo-Addo told the Assembly that the Ghanaian response to the Coronavirus pandemic is based on four principles. These include, firstly, the Ghana approach, which is mobilising the social forces of the country, i.e. religious, scientific, academic, political and civil society, to deal with the threat of the pandemic. Secondly, that we are led and informed by the science and our data that we are able to assemble. We are also learning from the experience of governments of countries that are further down the road in responding to the pandemic. Then, finally, we think that it is an opportunity for us to continue to push with our Ghana Beyond Aid agenda, he added. To this end, President Akufo-Addo stated that the first decision taken by Ghana was to try to limit and stop the importation of the virus, since Ghana had discovered that virtually all the cases we had in Ghana came from travelers who were coming into Ghana. That is why the decision was taken to ban travellers from the epicentres from coming into Ghana, and, subsequently, the complete closure of the borders. President Akufo-Addo urged West African leaders to manage and enforce the closure of their respective borders, to prevent illegal crossings. To contain the virus, the President told the gathering that there has been an aggressive process of tracing and testing, with over 85,000 Ghanaians having been tested for the virus. So far, over 85,000 Ghanaians have been tested. We are looking to test as much as 100,000. This has enabled us to get a hang of the geographic footprint of the virus, of identifying the epicentres of our country, and also better understanding the dynamics of the virus, while we are treating and isolating infected cases, he added. In trying to stop community spread, President Akufo-Addo indicated that public gatherings have been banned, including the closure of churches and mosques and modalities put in place for the holding of funerals. We are encouraging the hygiene protocols the washing of hands, the social distancing and also wearing face masks. Happily for us, under the present circumstances, our infection rate continues to be 1.5% of the screened population, and it has remained at this figure for some time. We are encouraged that, hopefully, we will see to its reduction, he added. To limit the impact of the virus on the economic and social life of Ghanaians, the President indicated that specific measures have been taken to provide relief for all Ghanaians, stressing that we have relief programs to provide free water, subsidize electricity in order to deal with the impact on especially vulnerable segments of our society. The onset of the pandemic, President Akufo-Addo said, has also given us an opportunity to scale up domestic production for medical material, protective equipment as well as medicines, sanitizers and the rest. We believe that with their sufficient support and inspiration from government, domestic manufacturers and local enterprises are capable of rising to the challenge to find us the opportunity to meet our needs from Ghana. Regional Efforts Towards finding a vaccine for the virus, the President stated that we want to get to the point where we can have an African vaccine to deal with the problem because the mutation of the virus is different, so we need to have our own way of dealing with it. Sharing strongly the views of Ivorian President, His Excellency Alasanne Ouattara, in the continuous pursuit of a regional agenda, the Ghanaian President stated that I am also happy to hear that the Convergence Council is going to meet very soon to see where we are in terms of the developments that have taken place, and the impact that they have on our goals of monetary union. On the matter of debt relief for African countries, President Akufo-Addo supported 100% the view of President Macky Sall about the public debt, and told the Assembly of the efforts being made by the the Ghanaian and South African Ministers of Finance to negotiate with the World Bank a debt standstill for the countries of the International Development Association. In the case of Ghana that debt standstill means that $500 million in interests and principles this year. We need to go beyond the debt standstill, we need actual debt relief. Therefore, the efforts that are being made should get the wholehearted support of all of us. I believe that the issue of debt relief should not just stay at public debt. The private debts also should be looked at, he added. In conclusion, President Akufo-Addo told his colleagues that we are in new territories, these are extraordinary times, and it requires a unique level of solidarity amongst ourselves to be able to find lasting solutions. 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 Brabham Middle School teachers are ready to roll out a drive-by parade this week. Several teachers at the Willis ISD campus have helped orchestrate the project, which was spearheaded by Megan Little and Ginnie Stuksa. The drive-by parade will be held on Thursday and Friday at 2 p.m. Brabham Middle School Teacher Raelyn Johnson, who also helped organized the event, said anywhere between 20 and 40 teachers may participate. It was important to us to organize a parade so that the students know that we are still here, we still care about them and want to see them, Johnson wrote in an email. Johnson shared the novel coronavirus pandemic has been hard on all staff members. This pandemic has disrupted our daily lives and taken us away from doing what we love, she said. We miss the connections and relationships we had with the students when we got to see them every day. If there is anything we have learned, there is nothing that can replace a face-to-face conversation with a student or fellow staff member. She said all teachers are looking forward to seeing each other and most of all seeing the kids. We hope they know we are in this together and feel the support, Johnson said. Parade Route Information about the order of neighborhoods that the parade will run through can be found on the Brabham Parade 2020 Facebook page. We tried to hit as many neighborhoods as possible and the finalized list has gone out, Johnson said. We hope to get to everyone. The Thursday route currently shows 11 neighborhoods including Forest Creek, Olde Oaks, Summerwood, Hunters Glen, White Oak Landing, Dominion Ridge, Chase Run, Teas Lake, Teas Wood, Watercrest, and Shadow Lane. Pin Oaks is no longer on the list. Fridays route shows another 11 neighborhoods including Panorama, Woodlands Hills, Hawthorne Ridge, Twin Shores, French Quarter, Lake Breeze, Seven Coves/ Harbor, Lakeview Manor, Lake Conroe Hills, Point Aquarius, and Texas National. While no other drive by parades are planned at this time, Johnson said there could be another one in the future. If it goes smoothly, we would love to entertain the thought of doing an end of the year parade, she said. But right now, we are just enjoying this one. mellsworth@hcnonline.com (Natural News) Dear President Trump, In order to save America from the coronavirus, you must ignore the dangerously bad disinformation being pushed by your own supporters who are ignorant about infectious disease. You may or may not be aware, but because of a fundamental lack of scientific and medical knowledge across the conservative media and independent media, the vast majority of Trump supporters right now believe four things which are demonstrably false: Belief #1) The coronavirus is a hoax and isnt even killing people. The entire thing, they claim, is a grand media conspiracy involving 100+ countries and hundreds of thousands of doctors, nurses and coroners who are all faking the deaths. Belief #2) Because the coronavirus is a hoax, lockdowns dont work and were never necessary. All lockdowns should end immediately, they say. Belief #3) Since the coronavirus doesnt even exist, masks dont work and no one should ever wear a mask in public or in any workplace, they insist. Belief #4) That the weak and elderly should be sacrificed for the sake of saving the economy for the rest of us. This belief, now widespread among pro-Trump, pro-America protesters, argues that millions of Americans should be allowed to die over the next few months in order to achieve herd immunity. According to our own projections, this would require as many as 5+ million Americans to die in order to achieve an 83% infection / antibody saturation rate. Many Trump supporters are now taking to the streets in increasing numbers, organizing protests based on these four delusional beliefs. They are verbally accosting medical personnel, gathering in large groups without exercising any commonsense protections against spreading infections (such as wearing masks) while demanding an end to the lockdowns which are already proving effective in averting millions of deaths in the USA. Importantly, these pro-Trump media pundits, publishers and news networks are spreading complacency to their followers, convincing people that wearing masks is a surrender to tyranny and that free people dont wear masks. (Do they also think free people shouldnt wear seat belts when driving cars? Or that soldiers shouldnt wear ballistic vests in battle?) As a result and this is the key point if enough people follow their bad advice, they will spread more infections, resulting in MORE economic damage and longer lockdowns, both of which will further damage your ability to win re-election in November. The ignorance of pro-Trump influencers, in other words, could lock in your defeat as the lockdowns continue and the economy continues to be decimated by never-ending infections due to the complacency of your own supporters, many of which have no qualifications in science or medicine and therefore have very little understanding of how infectious disease spreads. Some of your supporters understand medicine, science and math, and we are urging you to listen to good science, not misinformed mobs Its worth noting, Mr. President, that I publicly predicted your victory in 2016 before the election. I voted for you and defended many of your policies, costing me dearly in terms of being banned and de-platformed from every major tech platform in the world today. Today, my current prediction is that your chances of victory in November are only 20% if the coronavirus is not soundly defeated in the next three months. In other words, your very own supporters will cost you the election by spreading the virus through complacency, necessitating extended lockdowns and causing far more economic damage. Their madness must be stopped. While I support their right to free speech, they must be reminded to wear mask when gathering in groups so that infections are spread from person to person. Those who continue to claim the virus doesnt exist or that nobody is really dying from the coronavirus must be denounced and rejected by all. Finally, the cruel, vile suggestion that we must sacrifice the weak and cause millions of deaths in order to get the economy back on track violates every Christian value upon which the Untied States of America was founded. We are Americans. We protect our elderly, we dont sacrifice them for Wall Street. Mr. President, its time to tell your own supporters to stop the pandemic denialism and start taking this pandemic seriously, or we will all be forced to endure longer lockdowns and more devastating economic consequences that may lead to Democrats seizing control over the White House in January of 2021. That would be devastating for the future of America and, indeed, the future of human freedom for our world. For the sake of the future of this great nation, Mr. President, please ignore those supporters of yours that are scientifically and mathematically illiterate and listen to those of us who know what were talking about when it comes to infectious disease. If you want the most qualified, intelligent and courageous individual at your side who can help resolve this pandemic in a way thats consistent with biological reality, call Michael Savage and ask him to lead your coronavirus response team. Thank you, Mike Adams, publisher, NaturalNews.com Pro-America, pro-life, pro-liberty (and also pro-science) It's thought the Covid-19 outbreak may have begun in a Chinese market that sold wildlife alongside food. The Australian government is calling for the G20 countries to take action on wildlife wet markets, calling them a "biosecurity and human health risk". Australia is not yet calling for a ban - but says its own advisers believe they may need to be "phased out". "Wet markets" are marketplaces that sell fresh food such as meat and fish. But some also sell wildlife - and it's thought the coronavirus may have emerged at a wet market in Wuhan that sold live, "exotic" animals. The Huanan market in Wuhan reportedly offered a range of animals including foxes, wolf cubs, civets, turtles, and snakes. What did Australia say? The Australian government called for an investigation into wildlife wet markets after a meeting of G20 agriculture ministers. Speaking to the ABC on Thursday, agriculture minister David Littleproud said he was not targeting all food markets. "A wet market, like the Sydney fish market, is perfectly safe," he said. "But when you add wildlife, live wildlife, exotic wildlife - that opens up human risk and biosecurity risk to the extent we have seen. "And in fact, China themselves reported this to the World Organisation for Animal Health, that that was the cause of Covid-19." Mr Littleproud said he wanted to "get the science" first, but said: "Even our chief veterinary officer is telling us that he believes they [wildlife wet markets] may need to be phased out." What is the risk of wildlife wet markets? The exact origin of the new coronavirus is not known, but the evidence suggests it came from an animal. According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, Covid-19 is a "close relative" of other viruses found in horseshoe bats. So the virus could have passed from bat to human, or via an "intermediate host" - one theory is bat, to pangolin, to human. The Sars coronavirus is thought to have emerged in bats before passing to civets and then humans. The Mers coronavirus passed from camels to humans, after probably emerging in bats. What has China done so far? In January, China issued a temporary ban in the trade in wild animals, as it did during the Sars outbreak. A month later, the government "thoroughly banned the illegal trading of wildlife" and "eliminated the consumption of wild animals to safeguard people's lives and health". But since then, a number of reports have said wildlife is still being sold in markets in China and elsewhere. More recently, the head of the World Health Organization said all governments must "rigorously enforce bans on the sale and trade of wildlife for food". WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: "When these markets are allowed to reopen, it should only be on the condition that they conform to stringent food safety and hygiene standards." BBC Legal loopholes hinder Vietnams efforts in wildlife protection Despite strengthened law enforcement to protect wildlife, legal loopholes are hindering Vietnams efforts, activists have said. In a series of class-action lawsuits filed in California and New York over the past week, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank and JPMorgan Chase were accused of maximizing the fees they were paid to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program at the expense of mom-and-pop-sized small businesses. The suits allege that the banks submitted larger loans to the Small Business Administration ahead of smaller ones, leading to bigger small businesses getting greater access to PPP funds before the program ran out of funding this month. Banks are supposed to process the applications first-come, first-served. A spokesman for Bank of America said the bank disputes the lawsuit and disagrees with the claims. A U.S Bank spokeswoman said the suit was without merit. Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase declined to comment. The Paycheck Protection Program has been troubled since its start, which was marked with technical glitches and spotty participation. A business with fewer than 500 workers could get a loan of up to $10 million through the program, backed by $349 billion from the federal stimulus package passed in March. If certain criteria are met, including if the loans are primarily spent on payroll, the loans will be forgiven. Bank of America and Wells Fargo were among those accused of maximizing the fees these were paid to participate in the Paycheck Protection Program. After the initial $349 billion was exhausted, lawmakers agreed Tuesday on a deal that will replenish the program with $320 billion more. So far, in operating the program, banks have collected over $10 billion in fees, according to an analysis from National Public Radio. Shifting data The suits are, in part, based on data released by the SBA that showed a trend in the data on PPP loans that were submitted to the agency. On April 13, 30% of the loans processed by the SBA were for more than $150,000, meaning they came from larger small businesses. On April 16, just as the program ran out of money, that figure fell to 26%. That told Ji-In Lee Houck, the Los Angeles lawyer whose firm, Stalwart Law Group, is behind the suits, that banks prioritized applications of larger businesses to the SBA ahead of those from smaller businesses as the program was running out of cash . Story continues Theres plenty of evidence so far already that these were not taken in order and larger loans were processed ahead of smaller ones, she said in an interview. Banks make 1% to 5% in fees on each loan, depending on the size. For loans under $350,000, banks make a 5% fee, while for loans from $2 million to $10 million, banks make 1%. For a $10 million loan, a bank takes home $100,000, while on a $100,000 loan, the bank makes $5,000. In Houcks eyes, the banks motivation is clear: if you prioritize larger loans, you make far more on a per transaction basis. Banks front-loaded applications for the largest loans, alleged one of the suits. Because, if applications were being processed on a first-come, first-served basis as required, the percentage change of applications submitted in the last three days of the program would be consistent among all application types. Possible explanations There are other potential explanations for the discrepancy. Larger small-businesses could have more advanced or prepared accountants, who knew what forms to submit first, while it couldve taken small mom-and-pop shops longer to get everything they needed together. Theres also the matter of how applications were handled. At JPMorgan Chase, if you were a client of Business Banking, the line of business for its smaller customers, you entered a larger backlog than if you were a client of JPMorgans Commercial Banking line of business which services larger clients. Commercial Banking processed all of the PPP loans it received before funding ran dry, according to the bank, while Business Banking did not. JPMorgan said it didnt intentionally prioritize certain customers over others. In the end, while Business Banking funded about three times the number of loans, it received almost 55 times more applications than Commercial Banking and was unable to clear its backlog like Commercial Banking did. Its the smaller businesses that dont have the connections to the big banks that are going to get turned away, said Kristin Walker-Probst, a partner at the law firm Womble Bond Dickinson, before the program ran out of money. In using banks as the conduit to transfer hundreds of billions of dollars to small businesses, the government delegated much of the lending process to the banks. Once the determination is made that the loan is good, the bank submits it to the SBA. Some borrowers are finding that even though they submitted their initial application to the bank early, extra documents and processing time at their banks shut them out of the program, at least temporarily. While the program is first-come, first-serve, according to rules put out by the SBA, thats generally measured by the point at which the borrower has all the needed documents in. If you were a favored customer of a bank, it could devote extra manpower toward making sure you got all your documents in, effectively moving you up in line. Even if you applied in the first hours the application was up, like in the case of Melinda Byerley, who runs the marketing business Timeshare CMO, a back-and-forth on documentation could mean your application wasnt submitted before funds for the program ran out. Byerleys San Francisco-based company, which has 15 workers across the country, sent in its application April 3 to Bank of America, the first day the application was open. After a few days, shed thought she had submitted everything needed, but then she got a notice she had more documents to submit. She sent those in. On April 17, she got another notice asking for more. By then, the PPP had run out of money. Im stuck, Byerley said. I wouldnt dare risk losing my place in line by pulling my application and going elsewhere. Theyve got me over a barrel. She hopes to get funded when the program is restocked with funds. Rushed program Ultimately, the suits are a reflection of risks of the program, which was a slapdash emergency way to get money to small businesses in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Nearly every bank had a different process. Bank of America had an application ready immediately after the program started, while Citi waited a bit to open its portal. Wells Fargo had an application up early, quickly hit a bank size cap related to the banks scandals, closed its application, then reopened it when regulators gave the bank a green light to take applications again. The intention of this law is to lean into the risk associated with speed. That speed is the risk, said Janet Mills, who ran the SBA for President Barack Obama. It was never going to be perfect, she said. With the speed there will likely be some fraud, she said, but if it gets money into the economy it still served a purpose. This is a first come, first serve set at the moment, Mills said. If you start putting a whole set of sorting and criteria on it, youre going to slow up the process and create bias. Its been two and a half years since air force veteran Josh Chalmers died but his widow, Annabelle Wilson, keeps his memory alive for their daughter. She often tells two-year-old Primrose that Josh was "a calm, amazing legend". Annabelle Wilson and her daughter Primrose Chalmers on Thursday. Credit:Simon Schluter "He was this man of steel that was always positive and happy. And he was hilarious". Ms Wilson, who lives in Carlton, says the toddler is "the spitting image" of Josh with the same hazel-green eyes, calmness and sense of humour. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 04:00:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A passenger wearing a face mask arrives at the Terminal 3 of Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Canada, March 16, 2020. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) The new financial aid, Canada Emergency Student Benefit, aims to help young students whose education and job prospects are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. OTTAWA, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Wednesday 9 billion Canadian dollars (about 6.35 billion U.S. dollars) in financial aid for students whose education and job prospects are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The aid named Canada Emergency Student Benefit is intended to help young people who have fallen through the cracks of other emergency relief programs against the COVID-19 crisis. At his news conference on Wednesday, Trudeau said that a monthly payment of 1,250 Canadian dollars (about 882 U.S. dollars) is going for post-secondary students from May through August to make up for lost work and cut hours. It will increase to 1,750 Canadian dollars (about 1,235 U.S. dollars) for students with disabilities or who care for others. He also said students will be eligible to receive monthly payments of between 1,000 and 5,000 Canadian dollars for volunteering in their communities to reward them for their efforts. The prime minister also announced that his government is doubling student grants for eligible students up to 6,000 Canadian dollars (4,234 U.S. dollars) for full-time students and up to 3,600 Canadian dollars (2,540 U.S. dollars) for part-time students. "COVID-19 has meant that there aren't as many jobs out there for students, and without a job, it can be hard to pay for tuition or the day-to-day basics. You might normally have turned to your parents for help, but right now mom and dad are stretched, too," Trudeau said. The benefit will require additional legislation and talks are underway about how quickly a bill to implement this new program can be brought forward. As of 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, there were 39,807 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada and 1,966 deaths. Knife crime hit a new record in England and Wales in 2019, official figures have revealed. The number of offences involving knives and sharp instruments rose by 7 per cent to 45,600 in the year. However, the true figure is likely to be significantly higher, as the Office for National Statistics (ONS) did not include Greater Manchester Polices total because of IT issues. Figures for the year ending December 2019 showed a 7 per cent rise in offences involving knives or sharp instruments recorded by the police in the last year, said a report published on Thursday. This was 49 per cent higher than when comparable recording began in the year ending March 2011, and the highest on record. The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Show all 18 1 /18 The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Purple ribbons are seen tied to a tree and fence at a park near to where 17-year-old Jodie Chesney was stabbed to death in an attack with no obvious motive, in the Harold Hill area of London. Chesney was stabbed in an unprovoked attack while out with friends on March 1, 2019. Four males aged 16, 17, 19 and 20 have been charged with her murder which all four deny. In honour of her favourite colour, purple ribbons were tied to a railing, alongside a message also written in purple: "Choose life, drop the knife! RIP Jodie. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Floral tributes and bottles of alcohol are seen outside the house where 20-year-old Tyrelle Burke was stabbed to death, in the Wythenshawe area of Manchester. Burke was stabbed to death on April 5, outside his home by a friend following a night out. 18-year-old Denver Walton was charged with his murder. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims A woman walks past floral tributes near to where 29-year-old Joshua White was stabbed to death, in the Hackney area of London. Joshua White died after he was stabbed through the heart in broad daylight on April 26. Two teenagers have been charged with his murder, and police are attempting to extradite an 18-year-old from Ireland in relation to the attack. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Floral tributes and photographs are left at the spot where 17-year-old Yousef Makki was stabbed to death, in Hale Barns. Makki was stabbed to death on March 2 during a row with another boy. A 17-year-old boy was cleared of his murder by a jury at Manchester Crown Court on July 12. Makki's family have protested against the verdict. Photography by Reuters The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Floral tributes and packets of crisps and a chocolate bar are tied to a fence where 21-year-old James Halewood was stabbed to death, in the Kirkby area of Liverpool. Halewood was stabbed to death in broad daylight outside a parade of shops at lunchtime on July 7. Two men aged 26 and 23 have been arrested in connection with his death. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Graffiti on a fence of an industrial unit near to where 18-year-old Hazrat Umar was killed, in the Bordesley Green area of Birmingham. Umar was killed after being stabbed 15 times in an unprovoked attack on February 25, on his way to the gym. Adam Muhammad, 17, a student at the same college, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life imprisonment for his murder. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Floral tributes are seen tied to a pedestrian crossing near to where 40-year-old Gavin Garraway was stabbed to death, in the Clapham area of London. Garroway was stabbed to death through the window of his car on March 29. Zion Chiata, 18, has been charged with his murder. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Floral tributes and teddy bears are seen outside a house where 26-year-old Kelly-Mary Fauvrelle and her unborn baby where stabbed to death, in the Croydon area of London. Fauvrelle was stabbed to death in the bedroom of her home in the early hours of June 29. Her baby boy, Riley, was delivered but also died four days later. Ex-partner Aaron McKenzie has been charged with her murder and causing the death of the baby. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Flowers are tied to the entrance of Sara Park near to where 16-year-old Abdullah Muhammad was killed in the Small Heath area of Birmingham. Abdullah died after suffering stab wounds to the chest and back in the evening of February 20. Three males aged 17, 19 and 20 have been charged in connection with his murder. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims The remains of candles and tributes are seen near to where 19-year-old Kamali Gabbidon-Lynck was stabbed to death, in the Wood Green area of London. Gabbidon-Lynck died after he was stabbed by a gang on bicycles on February 22, in an incident which left another man suffering from knife and gunshot wounds. Three men aged 18, 19 and 20 have been charged with murder, attempted murder and robbery. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims A woman pushes a pram past a row of houses where 33-year-old Charlotte Huggins was stabbed to death, in south London. Huggins was the first stabbing victim of 2019, stabbed in the back at her home in the early hours of New Year's Day. Her ex-boyfriend Michael Rolle was found guilty of her murder and jailed for life. He stabbed Huggins after she celebrated New Year's eve with a male friend. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Floral tributes are left at the spot where 18-year-old Cheyon Evans was stabbed to death, in the Wandsworth area of London. Evans died from a stab wound to the chest after being attacked by a group of youths in broad daylight on June 14. Three males aged 18, 18 and 17 have been charged with his murder. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Lanfrey Place is where 17-year-old Ayub Hassan died after suffering multiple stab wounds in the street, in the West Kensington area of London. Hassan was killed after his attack on March 7. A 15-year-old boy has been charged with his murder. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Floral tributes are left near to where 21-year-old Lewis Bagshaw was stabbed to death, in the Southey area of Sheffield. Bagshaw collapsed and died on July 21, when seeking help from residents of Piper Crescent after suffering stab wounds. Police investigations into his death are ongoing. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Flowers and toys are left at the scene where 19-year-old Lejean Richards was stabbed to death, in the Battersea area of London. Richards was attacked and fatally stabbed on February 5. Roy Reyes-Nieves, 23, and Roger Reyes-Nieves, 18, have been charges with his murder. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims A man walks past floral tributes left near to where 24-year-old Joe O'Brien died after being stabbed in a fight outside a pub, in Manchester. O'Brien died following a fight outside the Royal Oak pub on April 21. Momodou Jallow, 21, has been charged with his murder. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims Flowers are seen near to where 29-year-old Nathaniel Armstrong was stabbed to death, in the Fulham area of London. Armstrong was stabbed to death during an altercation on March 16. Murder charges against a 29-year-old male were dropped after prosecutors said there was no realistic prospect of conviction. Reuters/Phil Noble The makeshift shrines to Britain's knife crime victims A police officer stands outside a row of terraced houses where 33-year-old nurse Saima Riaz was stabbed to death, in Rochdale. Riaz, a mother of three, was found on April 23. 36-year-old Mohammed Abid Choudhry has been charged with her murder. Reuters/Phil Noble Almost a third of all knife offences recorded in England and Wales were in London, and the ONS said they were concentrated in metropolitan areas. In London, the number of fatal stabbings increased by 13 per cent in the year, although the figure fell by 8 per cent nationally. The areas with the highest rate were London, West Yorkshire and the West Midlands, but while London saw a 5 per cent rise, offences in the West Midlands rocketed by 13 per cent and West Yorkshire fell by 9 per cent. The offences included in the figures were homicide, attempted murder, threats to kill, assault with injury, assault with intent to cause serious harm, robbery, rape and sexual assault. The ONS said an increase in robbery which accounted for 44 per cent of knife offences contributed to the historic rise, while assault was the largest category. The number of possession of a bladed article offences rose by 11 per cent in the year, which the report said was influenced by increased police stop-and-search operations. Nick Thomas-Symonds, the shadow home secretary, accused the Conservative Party of failing communities on crime. This has been the inevitable consequence of huge cuts to policing and the loss of 21,000 officers, and the cuts to the key services we rely on to prevent crime, such as youth clubs, mental health support and probation, the Labour MP added. The failure on crime shows again the devastating impact of austerity and why our country cant afford to make the same mistakes when we emerge from the coronavirus crisis. The record could stand for a significant length of time as 2020 crime is affected by the coronavirus lockdown (AP) Yvette Cooper, chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, called for a more comprehensive national strategy from the government to prevent violence. As the committee has warned, the police have been too heavily overstretched for some years and we need more police officers, she added. But we also need a comprehensive prevention programme in place with leadership from the Home Office. A Home Office report released last month found that budget cuts to police contributed to the rising number of murders in Britain. Boris Johnson pledged to recruit 20,000 extra police officers in three years fewer than those lost since 2010 but the scheme has been hampered by the coronavirus outbreak forcing the closure of training centres. The Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said the investment would still only bring us back to pre-2008 levels. However, it will take time for the effects of this much needed investment to be felt and we can see the results in these figures, said its chairman, John Apter. It is a tragedy that knife crime continues to spiral as my colleagues are stretched to their limits, and with fewer officers on patrol it comes as no surprise that street crime such as robbery has increased. The knife crime record pre-dates the coronavirus lockdown, which will affect the next round of quarterly statistics covering January to March 2020. In the month to 13 April, overall crime recorded by police across England and Wales dropped by 28 per cent compared with the same period in 2019. Provisional data showed a 27 per cent drop in serious assaults and personal robbery, with residential burglary down 37 per cent and shoplifting halved. In 2019, police recorded 5.8 million crimes in England and Wales in total. The figures showed a 2 per cent increase in the number of homicides, although the figure includes the 39 Vietnamese people who were found dead in a lorry in Essex in October last year. The separate Crime Survey of England and Wales, which records peoples personal experiences rather than what they report to police, showed a 12 per cent increase in robbery but a 7 per cent fall in burglary. Joe Traynor, of the ONS Centre for Crime and Justice, said: Information collected prior to the coronavirus pandemic from the Crime Survey for England and Wales estimates a fall of 5 per cent in crime for 2019. It is not possible to say whether this would have come to represent a change from the flat trend in recent years, as it is likely that the current lockdown will have an impact on the level of crime in 2020. The Home Office said the 5 per cent decrease in the survey figures was the first significant fall since 2017. Priti Patel, the home secretary, said: This is extremely encouraging and a positive step in the right direction, but I remain steadfast in ensuring the criminal minority do not get away with their crimes. I will continue to give the police the stop and search powers, funding and extra officers they need to keep our families, communities and country safe. GRAND RAPIDS The Michigan Attorney Generals Office, this week, issued court-authorized subpoenas in its investigation of a Michigan importer that may be selling counterfeit or misleadingly-labeled personal protective equipment to consumers during the COVID-19 crisis. AG Dana Nessel is looking into Grand Rapids-based Kooz Concepts International Inc. and its role relative to a consumer complaint the office received of price-gouging practices by another southwest Michigan business, Penny Pinchers, a small grocer located in Battle Creek. The subpoenas will be used to investigate Kooz Concepts business practices through sales records and other documentation, as well as testimony from Kooz Concepts employees engaged in the companys operations and from other related entities identified during the investigation. Kent County Circuit Court Judge Mark A. Trusock granted the Attorney Generals petition on April 17 for the subpoenas. Kooz Concepts is likely in violation of the Michigan Consumer Protection Act for causing confusion among customers about its goods, specifically face masks, which have become highly sought products during the COVID-19 pandemic. One of those customers, Penny Pinchers, posted on social media that it was selling N-95 face masks for $3 apiece. The masks sold were basic surgical masks and not N-95s. Certain masks advertised as N-95s may be imported counterfeits and not actually carry that official designation or offer the same level of protection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers guidance on how to distinguish between legitimate respirators and counterfeits. As my office becomes more aware of counterfeit masks being marketed and sold as products that offer more protection than they actually do, there is a growing demand for consumers to take their own precautions to make sure the equipment they are buying is not a knock-off, Nessel said. As Michigan works through our COVID-19 situation, scammers and con-artists will attempt to dupe unsuspecting victims into buying lower-grade, poorer-quality products under the false promise of security and protection from this virus. They are putting lives at risk, and they will answer for such lawlessness, she added. Investigators with the AGs office believe the owner of Penny Pinchers, James Ziebell, was under the assumption that he purchased true N-95 masks and told investigators that he sourced the product from a Grand Rapids-based supplier (Kooz Concepts) because of customer demand at his store. The boxes of masks Ziebell received had N95 markings on them. The owner of Kooz Concepts, Kraig Koeze, told investigators that his business typically imports Chinese products that are sold at trade shows, and that a family member who works in health care asked him to use his connections due to a desperate need for PPE. Koeze said he obtained the basic 3-ply masks from a reliable source in January and provided questionable documentation alleging the source is certified by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He also told investigators that his interpretation was the masks he sold are KN-95s and not N-95s, though didnt have a clear explanation for why the boxes sold to Penny Pinchers were marked as N-95s. Koeze also told investigators that, in addition to Penny Pinchers, he sold masks to other businesses, including nursing homes and a fast-food restaurant. He declined to provide additional details on those purchasers. However, the AG served Kooz Concepts with a subpoena April 17 requiring identification of those businesses on April 18. Kooz Concepts then provided that information, and AG staff began reaching out to the small number of affected businesses to make sure they understood the masks are not N-95s. Considering the current public health emergency, the AGs office believes it is critical for consumers to exercise caution when purchasing products like PPE and educate themselves by visiting reliable websites like the CDCs, and learning of what others are saying about a company or website through the Better Business Bureau. Consumers can file a complaint online or by calling the Consumer Protection tip line, 877-765-8388. Hours of operation are between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. In Beaver Dam, both food pantries offer curbside services for clients. Ben Nelson with the Dodge County Food Pantry through St. Vincents said hospital foundation grants have allowed for boosting the availability of fresh protein and produce for clients. Both pantries report staff and volunteers are taking precautions to limit contact and lower the risk of exposure to the virus. The Beaver Dam taxi service is able to deliver food pantry boxes to clients, with an eye toward keeping people at home, especially those who are at greater risk and lower mobility during the pandemic. Taxi manager Lisa Kudick said the process is to call the food pantry to set up a pickup and then call the taxi service to schedule a time. The driver will take the delivery to the clients porch and wait to make sure the client picks up the food. The food pantry deliveries are free. The Dodge County Food Pantry can be reached at 9208853392 and the Beaver Dam Community Food Pantry at 9208859559 for residents to set up times and find out what resources are available to them. The Beaver Dam taxi number is 920-885-4800. Kudick said a program is in the works for groceries to be ordered from stores with a credit card and delivered through the taxi service for a $3 charge. She said that the changes will stick around through the duration of the pandemic. Follow Chris Higgins on Twitter @chris_higgins_ or contact him at 920-356-6751 and chiggins@wiscnews.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. The United States on Wednesday recorded 1,738 deaths from coronavirus in the last 24 hours, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University. The new deaths bring the total number of Covid-19 fatalities in the US to 46,583 since the outbreak began there, by far the highest figures recorded by any country caught in the global pandemic. Spain Spain on Wednesday extended the period of emergency till May 9 as the coronavirus epidemic continues to ravage the country with more than 200,000 cases and over 20,000 deaths. "This extension is different than the others. It ... Five people tested positive for COVID-19 in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Thursday, taking the total number of active cases in the Union territory to 11, officials said. All of them are residents of Bambooflat in the South Andaman district, they said. Last week, a 39-year-old police radio operator had tested positive for COVID-19 in the area, which has now been declared a hotspot, and all the fresh cases are either his family members or related to him, the officials said. They mainly belong to the Mopla community of Kerala and their forefathers settled here decades ago, they said. The five new cases include three males and two females aged between 25 and 35, said Avijit Roy, nodal officer for COVID-19 here. A total of 160 people from Bambooflat are quarantined at different hotels in Dollygunge and other areas. Their samples were sent for testing and the reports have started coming in, according to the officials. Colleagues of the police radio operator have also been kept under observation, the officials said. All the patients are undergoing treatment at G B Pant Hospital here, Roy said. A total of 22 cases have so far been detected in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, home to several vulnerable tribes. Eleven of them -- 10 with links to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in Delhi and a student who travelled on a flight with some of them -- have recovered. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Regulatory Release no. 19/2020 Correction: the reference to the Market Abuse Regulation has been removed. The announcement contains no inside information. Today on 22 April 2020, the annual general meeting of Better Collective was held at Toldbodgade 12, 1253 Copenhagen K At the meeting, the shareholders approved the audited annual report and the consolidated financial statements for the financial year 2019; the appropriation of profits as recorded in the approved annual report; and discharge of liability to members of the board of directors and the executive management. The shareholders approved the proposals from the nomination committee regarding re-election of Jens Bager as chairman of the board of directors and Klaus Holse, Leif Nrgaard, Sren Jrgensen and Petra von Rohr as members of the board of directors and election of Todd Dunlap as new member of the board of directors; remuneration to the board of directors for the current financial year; re-appointment of Ernst & Young Godkendt Revisionspartnersselskab and to approve the remuneration to Ernst & Young Godkendt Revisionspartnersselskab; and issue of 25,000 warrants to the new member of the board of directors. The shareholders further approved the proposals from the board of directors to adopt a remuneration policy; authorize the board of directors to increase the companys share capital without pre-emption rights for the existing shareholders; authorize the board of directors to acquire treasury shares; re-approve the board of directors authorization to issue warrants to key employees in 2020 in accordance with the existing authorization in section 5.5 of the articles of association; and to authorize the chairman of the meeting to file the changes to the articles of association with the Danish Business Authority. Copenhagen, 22 April 2020 Board of directors of Better Collective A/S Contacts Investor Relations: Christina Bastius Thomsen +45 2363 8844 e-mail: investor@bettercollective.com Story continues About Better Collective Better Collectives vision is to empower iGamers through transparency and technology this is what has made them the worlds leading developer of digital platforms for betting tips, bookmaker information and iGaming communities. Better Collectives portfolio includes websites and products, among other bettingexpert.com, the trusted home of tips from expert tipsters and in depth betting theory. Better Collective is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark, and listed on Nasdaq Stockholm (BETCO). Attachment Three people were killed and 33 people were injured Wednesday as a tornado ripped through the small East Texas city of Onalaska, about 85 miles north of Houston. The three include a woman in her 20s, a man in his 50s and another man whose age authorities do not know, Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy said Thursday. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice identified two victims, Taylor Holbert and Brooke Ivey, as prison employees. The families of another six employees have been left homeless because of the storm, and the homes of another 30 employees were damaged, the agency said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone impacted by this tragic act of nature," according to a statement from TDCJ Executive Director Bryan Collier. "To lose two valued employees so young is especially difficult. TDCJ is a family. We will all stand with the Holbert and Ivey families in this trying time. " Holbert, 29, was an employee of the Manufacturing, Agribusiness and Logistics Division. He worked more than three years as an industrial specialist. Ivey, 27, worked at TDCJ for more than six years, most recently as a contracts specialist in Contracts and Procurement Department. TDCJ deployed more than 50 community work squad members to four neighborhoods in Polk County to aid in the cleanup and recovery effort. There are 31 TDCJ staff members and five K-9s now assisting with search and rescue efforts. Murphy, the county judge, said that the tornado destroyed 46 homes and damaged another 291. Meteorologists warned of the tornado around 5:45 p.m. By 6:11 p.m., reports of damage began pouring in, according to a statement from the county's emergency management office. MORE ON THE TORNADO: 'Extremely dangerous' tornado moves through southeast Texas counties north of Houston This community is now facing two disaster declarations at the same time, because amidst the Covid pandemic, we are having to try to assist people who are in serious, serious distress, Murphy said. Among the injures, some were serious, she added. Residents were warned of the storm's approach through a reverse 911 alert, Murphy said. The community has no public siren. The siren did sound at the emergency management office, she said, when authorities were discussing the novel coronavirus. Later Thursday, search and rescue teams continued additional passes in neighborhoods, primarily to assess the infrastructure, Murphy said, adding that no one has been reported missing. About 1,800 people live in the community, which is near Lake Livingston. A significant portion of the community is under a boil water notice and 28 residents have sought shelter with the American Red Cross, the county judge said. One Onalaska resident, Charles Stephens, who lives on a branch of Lake Livingston, told the Houston Chronicle late Wednesday that a woman in his neighborhood was found dead in the water. At least two other people from his neighborhood were also injured, including one boy with a leg injury. "It's a lot of devastation," Stephens said. Volunteers responded quickly to provide help, Murphy said, adding that at one point, about 70 people showed up with chain saws and trackhoes to open the roads. For others wanting to help or donate, the community is taking donations of water, non-perishable food or cash. Call the Polk County Mission Center at 936 327-7634 for more information. Slowly but surely, we will be moving into long-term recovery, Murphy said. The National Weather Service in Houston is sending experts to the site Thursday to confirm the tornado and assess the damage to determine how strong the winds were. 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 NEWS IN YOUR INBOX: Sign up for breaking news email alerts from HoustonChronicle.com here Photograph: Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Associated Press Carolyn Goodman, the independent mayor of Las Vegas, has said she wants the citys casinos, hotels and stadiums to quickly reopen in an interview that attracted widespread criticism. I want our restaurants open. I want our small businesses open. I want people back in employment, Goodman told CNNs Anderson Cooper, who was clearly flabbergasted, in an interview on Wednesday. Id love everything open because I think weve had viruses for years that have been here, the mayor added. I want us open in the city of Las Vegas so our people can go back to work. Las Vegas Mayor: " I'd love everything open because I think we've had viruses for years that have been here." (The financial duress is profound. It's so real. And yet this interview is totally insane.) pic.twitter.com/qSN6atlFiL Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) April 22, 2020 Cooper asked Goodman if the city would have more than the 150 deaths it has tallied had it not imposed social distancing measures. Well, how do you know unless you have a control group? she said, adding that she had offered to let Las Vegas be a control group but was rebuffed by statisticians. Las Vegas Mayor offers city as "control group", "we offer to be a control group" to see how many people die without social distancing. pic.twitter.com/NESE2hActE Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) April 22, 2020 Cooper pressed Goodman on how she would ensure coronavirus was not spread at the citys hotels and casinos, describing the tourist attractions as a Petri dish for possible infection. She hedged when Cooper asked if shed be willing to spend nights on casino floors alongside other visitors. Whats the purpose of that? First of all, I have a family, she said. Story continues Goodman said it should be up to casinos to weigh the odds of spreading the virus. Youre being an alarmist, Goodman told Cooper. As to how to protect the staff and visitors at casinos and hotels, she said: Thats up to them to figure out. The interview quickly attracted criticism, with one veteran Nevada journalist calling it the single most embarrassing thing he had seen from a state politician in 35 years. I have seen many Nevada officials stumble on national TV. But that was the single most embarrassing thing i have seen by a NV pol in 35 years here. The mayor just showed the country she is unfit for office, and the commentary and shock and disgust here bears that out. My God. Jon Ralston (@RalstonReports) April 22, 2020 Other observers pounced on the mayors comments. The talkshow host Jimmy Kimmel referred to the interview as bonkers and said she should resign before lunch arrives today. The @mayoroflasvegas Carolyn Goodman should resign before lunch arrives today. She is an embarrassment to my hometown. Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) April 22, 2020 Local officials and union representatives also spoke out against the mayors comments. The casino workers Culinary Union, which represents about 60,000 bartenders, cooks, housekeepers and other employees, said Goodmans remarks were outrageous considering essential frontline workers have been dealing with the consequences of this crisis firsthand. Workplaces need to be safe and healthy, not a petri dish, said Geoconda Arguello-Kline, the unions secretary-treasurer. The union said 11 of its members so far have died of Covid-19. Brian Knudsen, a Las Vegas City councilman, said Goodman does not speak for all of us, and reopening now is reckless and completely contrary to the overwhelming consensus of medical experts, while Dina Titus, a Democratic congresswoman who represents the Las Vegas Strip, said the mayor doesnt represent the area literally or figuratively and the advice of scientists telling people to stay home should be heeded. The interview adds to the mayors previous controversial comments. Assume everybody is a carrier, Goodman said on Tuesday on MSNBC. And then you start from an even slate. And tell the people what to do. And let the businesses open and competition will destroy that business if, in fact, they become evident that they have disease, theyre closed down. Its that simple. Last week, she referred to sweeping orders to close non-essential businesses as total insanity, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. Its not the first time the citys response to coronavirus has landed it in the national spotlight. In late March, images of homeless people sleeping in a converted parking lot prompted widespread condemnation after officials turned the outdoors lot into a temporary shelter. Related: Las Vegas parking lot turned into 'homeless shelter' with social distancing markers City officials at the time said it was the best option available to deal with an emergency situation, after another homeless shelter was forced to close. Last week, Las Vegas touted a new isolation and quarantine complex for homeless people, erected in the same city-owned parking lot. The shelter consists of a series of tents for homeless people who have coronavirus but are not sick enough to go to the hospital. Goodmans comments came a day after public health officials in Nevada reported 119 new cases of Covid-19 and nine additional deaths overnight in Clark county, where Las Vegas is located. Statewide, officials have tallied more than 4,000 coronavirus cases and 172 deaths. Across the county, pockets of resistance have risen to challenge lockdown restrictions, with protesters calling on states to re-open businesses. On Twitter and in press conferences, Donald Trump has fanned the flames, suggesting some places have gone too far in issuing restrictions. Agencies contributed reporting By Associated Press CAMBRIDGE: Harvard University announced on Wednesday it will turn down USD 8.7 million in federal coronavirus relief, a day after President Donald Trump excoriated the wealthy Ivy League school over taxpayer money it stood to receive. Similar action was taken at Stanford, Princeton and Yale universities, which said they too will reject millions of dollars in federal funding amid growing scrutiny of wealthy colleges. Officials at Harvard said that the school still faces significant financial challenges due to the pandemic but will refuse the money over concerns that "intense focus by politicians" will undermine the relief program created by Congress. "While we understand any reallocation of these resources is a matter for the Department of Education, we hope that special consideration will be given to Massachusetts institutions that are struggling to serve their communities and meet the needs of their students through these difficult and challenging times," Harvard said in a statement. ALSO READ| 'Hope to protect devastated US job market': Trump signs partial suspension of immigration Trump later thanked Harvard and Stanford at a White House press conference, saying he was pleased the schools turned down the funding. "They stopped it. They're not accepting the money and that's great. So I want to thank Harvard. I want to thank Stanford," he said. Congress is offering USD 14 billion to the nation's colleges and universities as part of a USD 2.2 trillion rescue package. Schools were allotted varying sums based on their size and the number of students they teach from poorer backgrounds. But Trump said Tuesday that Harvard "shouldn't be taking" its share because it has such deep financial reserves. It echoed concerns from other critics, including some alumni, who said Harvard doesn't need the money and can rely on its nearly USD 40 billion endowment. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Wednesday said that other rich schools should reject the funding. Affluent schools that do not primarily serve low-income students "do not need or deserve additional taxpayer funds," she said in a statement. "Schools with large endowments should not apply for funds so more can be given to students who need support the most. It's also important for Congress to change the law to make sure no more taxpayer funds go to elite, wealthy institutions," she said. ALSO READ| Two pet cats in New York test positive for COVID-19 Only hours later, Senator Josh Hawley said that he was introducing legislation to block colleges from receiving coronavirus relief if they have endowments topping USD 10 billion. Under the proposal, those schools could access federal relief only after they spend a large share of their own money - an amount 10 times the size of their federal allotment - on direct aid for students. About a dozen US schools have endowments large enough to be affected by the proposal. The higher education funding was meant to help colleges and students facing financial losses triggered by the pandemic. If colleges accept the funding, they're required to spend at least half on direct grants for students. Harvard had previously committed to spending its entire share on students, and on Wednesday said it is "fully committed to providing the financial support that it has promised to its students". Stanford, which has an endowment of nearly USD 28 billion, said it told the Education Department on Monday it would refuse USD 7.4 million allocated in the package. The school said it wanted to free the funding to be directed to smaller colleges that now face an "existential threat" because of the pandemic. Yale expressed a similar sentiment, saying it wants its USD 6.9 million to go to "colleges and universities in Connecticut whose continued existence is threatened by the current crisis". Officials at Princeton said they will reject USD 2.4 million in aid, but not because of the pressure from DeVos. ALSO READ| US calls WHO a tool of "Chinese propaganda", questions credibility The school said it made the decision after the Education Department issued new guidelines forbidding the funding from going to students in the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for immigrants who were brought to the country illegally. The school, which has a USD 26 billion endowment, said the rules were inconsistent with Princeton's values. Harvard also said the "evolving guidance" around the funding factored into its decision. More than 300 colleges were granted larger shares than Harvard, including some that also rank among the nation's wealthiest. The University of Southern California, which had an endowment of USD 5.7 billion last year, was allotted nearly USD 20 million. Columbia University, with an endowment of USD 11 billion, was allotted nearly USD 13 million. Major public universities received many of the largest shares, including Arizona State University, which was granted USD 63.5 million, and the Pennsylvania State University system, with USD 55 million. Wealthy colleges are facing new pressure to reject the funding amid a similar outcry over major companies that received emergency aid meant for small businesses. The Shake Shack burger empire said it would return a USD 10 million loan after facing public anger. DAKOTA CITY, Neb. -- A team from the University of Nebraska Medical Center has toured the Tyson Fresh Meats plant at Dakota City and examined COVID-19 safety measures being implemented at the plant. According to a press release from the Dakota County Health Department, the UNMC team found that Tyson has deployed protocols including temperature checks for workers -- those whose temperatures are above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit are sent home; mandatory face coverings; additional cleaning; increased workplace social distancing, including workspace dividers and more break-room space; relaxed attendance policies to encourage sick workers to stay home; educating workers on COVID-19; and placing sick workers on leave until local health authorities deem it safe for them to return. While the press release noted what the UNMC team saw at the plant, it's not clear if the group made any further recommendations for the plant, or if they formed any opinions based on what they saw. It's also not clear when exactly they toured the plant. It remains unclear how many of the workers at Dakota City's Tyson plant have become infected with the virus -- Tyson itself has acknowledged that some of its employees are infected, while a labor union several days ago said 23 workers tested positive, though that figure was only current through last Friday. Natasha Ritchison, director of the Dakota County Health Department, wrote in an email Wednesday that the department is "not privy" to the number of people who may have been infected at the plant. Dakota County has seen a surge in virus cases in recent days -- on Wednesday the county's total stood at 113, an increase of 17 over the day before. That figure has not been updated for Thursday. 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. Earlier, the Servant of the People Party announced it would give up funds from the budget in favor of a relief fund to fight against the coronavirus. Chairman of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) Oleksandr Novikov has said that none of the eligible political parties has refused funding from the budget. Read alsoZelensky vows influence on Cabinet reshuffles until "perfect government" formed "Not a single party has got into contact with us," he said in an interview for the RBC Ukraine news agency. When asked whether it is technically possible to stop the financing of the political parties now, Novikov said: "April 21 was the deadline for the parties to give up financing for all five years of their term in parliament. On that day, a law stipulating that a party may refuse funding on the quarterly basis came into force." Earlier, the Servant of the People Party announced it would give up funds from the budget in favor of a relief fund to fight against the coronavirus. Another lawsuit has been filed by an employee alleging discrimination in the Gloucester County Prosecutors Office, the fifth such complaint in recent years. Lt. Stacie Lick, in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Gloucester County Superior Court, alleges that she has faced gender discrimination including retaliation, a hostile working environment, and disparate treatment by another lieutenant in the office, James Ballenger, and the offices chief of detectives, Thomas Gilbert, both of whom at times were her supervisors. In addition, Lick named as defendants the Prosecutors Office; the county; and a former detective in the office, William Perna, who she said has aided in the discrimination. Her lawsuit follows one filed last month by Ballenger, who did not name Lick as a defendant, but contended that under then-Prosecutor Charles Fiores direction Lick used the offices internal affairs process to retaliate against Ballenger. Licks attorneys, Michelle Douglass and Philip Burnham II, said Thursday that her lawsuit was not filed in response to Ballengers lawsuit. Her complaints, they said, preceded his suit and had been disclosed in January in a formal complaint to the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office, the Gloucester County counsel, and Fiore. Theres a problem in the Prosecutors Office, Douglass said. The state has had to come and intervene and is operating the department. On March 5, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal appointed a deputy in his office, Christine A. Hoffman, to serve as acting Gloucester County prosecutor after Fiore abruptly resigned. His resignation came amid various discrimination complaints by employees against him and other higher-ups in the office, although no one has officially said whether his resignation stemmed from the complaints. Hoffman did not respond Thursday to an email seeking comment about the employee complaints, what she is doing to try to improve relationships there, and what the Attorney Generals Office has been doing in regard to the lawsuits. The AGs Office has declined to comment. Gilbert, who is also the public information officer for the Prosecutors Office, declined to comment Thursday, citing the ongoing litigation. Ballenger also declined. Perna could not be reached. Licks lawsuit is the second by a female employee that alleges gender discrimination. On March 9, Detective Breia Renner filed a suit against the office, Fiore, and another supervisor, contending she was discriminated against because she is a gay woman. Lick, who began working in the Prosecutors Office in 2003 in the Major Crimes Unit, contends in her suit that when Ballenger supervised her from 2011 to 2016, he treated her differently because of her gender. Ballenger would celebrate the male detectives in the Major Crimes Unit, even when they completed minor tasks, but would very rarely acknowledge Plaintiffs accomplishments or inquire about her assignments, the suit says. After being transferred to the Special Investigations Unit in March 2016, Lick has been assigned to investigate employees in the office and has rendered findings adverse to some officers, most notably Ballenger, her suit says. As a result, her suit contends, Ballenger has initiated a smear campaign against her, including writing anonymous complaints about her. Gilbert has also mistreated Lick because of his close relationship to Ballenger, the suit contends. As an example, the suit says, Gilbert regularly required Lick to submit her reports to him for review and correction, but did not require the same of her male counterparts. As for Perna, the former detective, Licks lawsuit contends that he is frequently calling others to gossip and spreads damaging falsehoods about [Lick], thereby contributing to the hostile working environment. As a result of the discrimination, the suit says, Lick has suffered stress, anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, worry, high blood pressure, and loss of everyday enjoyment of life. The AGs Office has been investigating the various complaints and whether a hostile work environment exists in the Gloucester County office, according to former employees and court filings in an ongoing lawsuit filed by another detective, Eric Shaw. Shaw and Detective Bradd Thompson have both alleged in lawsuits that a captain in the office discriminated against them because of their service in the military reserve or National Guard. A woman from Brooklyn, New York, was killed Wednesday after the car she was driving collided with an SUV in Passaic County, authorities said. Rebecca McMahon Adelman, 36, died at the scene of the 12:25 p.m. crash at the intersection of Route 23 and Canistear Road in West Milford, according to police. The driver of the SUV, a 27-year-old woman from Bloomingdale, was not hurt. She remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation, police said. All lanes of Route 23 northbound in West Milford were closed for several hours in the afternoon. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Passaic County Prosecutors Office at 1-877-370-PCPO or email tips@passaiccountynj.org. West Milford police can be reached at 973-728-2802. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. The Bombay High Court on Thursday said the government can consider making operational Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDL) centres in private medical colleges for speedy testing of coronavirus infection. Justice N W Sambre of the Nagpur bench of the court also sought to know if the accreditation for VRDL centres at private medical colleges could be expedited. The court also asked the National Accreditation Board and Calibration for Laboratories (NABL) to set up a devoted portal for grant of accreditation to private hospitals. The HC was hearing a petition by Subhash Zanwar over various issues related to testing for coronavirus. The judge noted that private medical colleges have academic staff, and with training, they can carry out coronavirus tests. "The only impediment in making operational VRDL centers at private medical colleges is the non-grant of accreditation by the National Accreditation Board and Calibration for Laboratories because of its stringent norms," the court said. "It is expected from the Central Government to step into this arena so as to expedite the accreditation of VRDL Centers of private medical colleges, if such request is made, or is pending with said Authority," the court said. To the court's query last time about the time required to set up VRDL centres at Yavatmal, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli and Gondia government hospitals, IGM College Dean Dr Ajay Kewaliya in a affidavit said VRDL facilities at Yavatmal and Chandrapur will be operational by May 20. The court was also informed that the Mahatma Gandhi Institute at Sewagram is likely to get approval for operation of VRDL centre within 48 hours, and samples from Wardha and Yavatmal districts can be sent there for testing. The court also observed that VRDL lab at MAFSU Nagpur which got operational on April 16 is testing only 40 samples and is being underutilized. The bench asked the divisional commissioner to take a stock of number of pending samples in each of the laboratories and to pass orders to divert samples to the labs where the capacity is underutilized. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) S everal calls on Zoom, the video conferencing app whose popularity has soared since the coronavirus lockdown meant a huge rise in home working, have been disrupted by abusive footage. One of the latest is believed to be a virtual church service hosted by Adam Evers, the founder of Christian LGBTQ+ dating app Believr. Mr Evers said that the slide he was sharing was suddenly covered by an unexplained black box. When the slide was changed, the hacker's child pornography footage was displayed to the entire congregation. He said on Twitter that the church "is home to families, children and survivors of sexual assault. These images traumatizes an entire community." Zoom meetings have been targeted by hackers / Gabriel Benois / Unsplash A legal academic meeting was also disrupted this week by hackers with child pornography. Michael Doherty of the University of Lancaster wrote on Twitter: "Just had an absolutely awful experience of Zoombombing... huge apologies to everyone in the meeting. "We will need to move to a different system with passwords and invitation. Absolutely sickened." The National Crime Agency (NCA) said they had received the report and were looking into the allegation. A spokesperson added: "We are also aware of a number of other reports of similar instances and the NCA is working with partners in the UK and abroad, law enforcement and private sector, to respond to these cases. Operators of these platforms need to do all they can to ensure their services arent exploited or compromised in this way, particularly at a time when live streaming applications have reported significant increases in their use. Child sexual abuse remains a priority threat for the NCA. We are continuing to pursue high-risk online offenders to ensure they are arrested and children are safeguarded. The spokesperson also said that the NCA had started a new scheme to promote online safety at home among young children. The NCA is looking into hacked Zoom meetings (Stockphoto) / iStockphoto A meeting by digital campaigning organisation Open Rights Group was similarly targeted by hackers last week. The group told the Standard they were "appalled" by the attack and had forwarded details onto the police. Zoom has had a huge rise in popularity since the coronavirus lockdown, with even Cabinet meetings and parliamentary debates now held on the app. The latest figures form app data company Apptopia show 3.2 million mobile downloads of Zoom every day, versus an average of 55,000 a day before the crisis. Welsh Assembly meetings have been held on Zoom / National Assembly for Wales Its shares have doubled in value since then, helping to make founder Eric Yuan a billionaire. But there have long been concerns over its security, with New York attorney general Letitia James writing to the company this month to express fears over its ability to handle the surge in popularity. And a new word, "zoombombing", has emerged to describe unwanted intruders on Zoom calls. A Zoom spokesperson said: "This incident is truly devastating and appalling, and our user policies explicitly prohibit any obscene, indecent, illegal or violent activity or content on the platform. We are looking into this specific incident to ensure the appropriate action is taken. "Zoom strongly condemns such behaviour and recently updated several features to help our users more easily protect their meetings. We have enabled meeting passwords and virtual waiting rooms by default for users enrolled in our school program, as well as our Free Basic and Single Pro users. They added that the company had made meeting IDs less visible to stop people sharing them by mistake, and created a new security icon in meeting controls for all hosts to help them find security features. The spokesperson went on: "We encourage users to report any incidents of this kind either to Zoom so we can take appropriate action or directly to law enforcement authorities. "The 12 new Golden Harvest corn hybrids are coupled with more industry-leading Agrisure traits than ever before and join a strong portfolio of Golden Harvest and Enogen corn hybrids that not only bring farmers outstanding agronomics like strong stalks and great roots, but also fit a wide variety of acres," said Drew Showalter, Syngenta strategic corn marketing manager. "We are introducing hybrids that are going to fit on highly productive acres and deliver top-end yield potential, and we're also bringing our customers hybrids better suited for moderately productive acres, in the trait version they need." The 12 new hybrids range in relative maturity from 96 to 115 days and include: One hybrid with Agrisure Artesian technology, the most advanced water optimization technology for season-long performance. technology, the most advanced water optimization technology for season-long performance. This 104-day hybrid also contains Agrisure Viptera , bringing two industry-leading traits together for a broad fit in the central and western Corn Belt. , bringing two industry-leading traits together for a broad fit in the central and western Corn Belt. Six hybrids with the Agrisure Viptera trait, the most comprehensive above-ground insect control and the only effective western bean cutworm control trait. trait, the most comprehensive above-ground insect control and the only effective western bean cutworm control trait. Five hybrids with the Agrisure Duracade trait for above-and-below ground insect protection and the best-in-class corn rootworm control. trait for above-and-below ground insect protection and the best-in-class corn rootworm control. Nine hybrids available as E-Z Refuge seed blend products, providing a convenient, in-bag seed blend. The 22 new Golden Harvest soybean varieties join an industry-leading portfolio at the forefront of weed control technology. The Golden Harvest soybean portfolio offers farmers access to Enlist E3, the newest soybean technology, as well as Roundup Ready 2 Xtend soybeans and LibertyLink GT27. The varieties contain the industry's broadest choice of herbicide trait options, and their high-yielding genetics are proven performers. 2019 Farmers' Independent Research of Seed Technologies (FIRST) trial results revealed that Golden Harvest varieties took home 23 top three finishes and eight first place wins. "We offer soybean varieties that provide farmers with consistent performance in trait choices that provide options to help crush not only weeds, but also the competition," said Stephanie Porter, Golden Harvest soybean product manager. The 22 new varieties range in relative maturity from .05 to 5.1 and provide advanced trait technology for maximum soybean yield potential. 14 varieties include the new Enlist E3 trait technology with three modes of action, offering tolerance to 2,4-D choline, glyphosate and glufosinate. Three offer Sulfonyl-Urea Tolerant Soybeans (STS ) herbicide tolerance and may increase tolerance to ALS-inhibitors, allowing higher application rates on select herbicides. ) herbicide tolerance and may increase tolerance to ALS-inhibitors, allowing higher application rates on select herbicides. Six varieties include Roundup Ready 2 Xtend trait technology. Two varieties include the new LibertyLink GT27 trait technology. The Golden Harvest portfolio is available from Golden Harvest Seed Advisors, who deliver high-yielding seed options combined with local agronomic knowledge. To find your local, independent Seed Advisor and gain more information on Golden Harvest corn and soybeans, visit GoldenHarvestSeeds.com. About Golden Harvest Golden Harvest Seeds has been rooted in genetics, agronomy and service since 1973, offering in-depth seeds expertise combined with the local agronomic know-how of an independent Seed Advisor to maximize yield on each field. Today, every Golden Harvest hybrid and variety is bred with the individual needs of hardworking farmers in mind. Find more information at GoldenHarvestSeeds.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GldnHarvest and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GldnHarvest. Web Resources: Agrisure Enogen Feed Agrisure Artesian Agrisure Viptera Agrisure Duracade Newsroom Thrive Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This document may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as 'expect', 'would', 'will', 'potential', 'plans', 'prospects', 'estimated', 'aiming', 'on track' and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. For Syngenta, such risks and uncertainties include risks relating to legal proceedings, regulatory approvals, new product development, increasing competition, customer credit risk, general economic and market conditions, compliance and remediation, intellectual property rights, implementation of organizational changes, impairment of intangible assets, consumer perceptions of genetically modified crops and organisms or crop protection chemicals, climatic variations, fluctuations in exchange rates and/or commodity prices, single source supply arrangements, political uncertainty, natural disasters, and breaches of data security or other disruptions of information technology. Syngenta assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changed assumptions or other factors. All photos are either the property of Syngenta or are used with permission. Product performance assumes disease presence. 2020 Syngenta, 2001 Butterfield Road; 16th Floor; Downers Grove, Ill. 60515. Important: Always read and follow label and bag tag instructions; only those labeled as tolerant to glufosinate may be sprayed with glufosinate ammonium based herbicides. LibertyLink GT27, LibertyLink, Liberty and the Water Droplet logo are registered trademarks of Bayer. Enlist E3, HERCULEX and the HERCULEX Shield are trademarks of Dow AgroSciences, LLC. HERCULEX Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences. More information about Agrisure Duracade is available at http://www.biotradestatus.com/. Under federal and local laws, only dicamba-containing herbicides registered for use on dicamba-tolerant varieties may be applied. See product labels for details and tank mix partners. Golden Harvest varieties are protected under granted or pending U.S. variety patents and other intellectual property rights, regardless of the trait(s) within the seed. The Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield and Roundup Ready 2 Xtend traits may be protected under numerous United States patents. It is unlawful to save soybeans containing these traits for planting or transfer to others for use as a planting seed. Roundup Ready 2 Yield, Roundup Ready 2 Xtend, Genuity, Genuity and Design and Genuity Icons are trademarks used under license from Monsanto Technology LLC. Other trademarks displayed or otherwise used herein are the property of a Syngenta Group Company or the respective trademark owners. SOURCE Golden Harvest Related Links http://www.goldenharvestseeds.com Kayvan Samimi, editor in Chief of Iran Farda magazine, has been sentenced in absentia to five years in prison. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the Association of Iranian journalists in condemning this illegal decision and urges the Iranian Government to immediately drop the charges. On 20 April 2020, Kayvan Samimi, was sentenced in absentia by the Iran Revolutionary Court following his arrest on 1 May 2019 during a peaceful demonstration on International Workers' Day in Tehran. The journalist has expressed his concerns about the Court decision through a private Telegram channel. According to Iranian media the charges against Samimi include having founded the People's Liberation Party (a socialist party founded 22 years ago), being the Chief Editor of Iran Farda, inflaming citizens and taking part in illegal public meetings. Samimi had already served six years in jail from 2009 to 2015 following his reporting of the 2009 elections. IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: "We are appalled by this Court decision sentencing a well-respected colleague to jail because he marched for workers rights among other allegations. Iran must respect journalists trade union rights and stop attacking reporters and breaching fundamental human rights" External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his American counterpart Mike Pompeo on Thursday spoke over phone and discussed bilateral and international cooperation to contain and mitigate the novel coronavirus. "Spoke with Indian Minister of External Affairs @DrSJaishankar today on positive steps that the United States and #India are taking to contain and mitigate #COVID19," Secretary of State Pompeo tweeted. During the telephonic conversation, the two leaders "discussed bilateral and international cooperation to contain and mitigate COVID-19, including ensuring the availability of pharmaceutical and medical supplies, said State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus. Jaishankar and Pompeo have been in regular communication during the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed over 184,000 lives worldwide. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) HELSINKI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 23rd April, 2020) The unemployment rate in Finland increased by 0.3 percentage points in March 2020 year-on-year amid restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the country's Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment said on Thursday. "The unemployment rate was 7.3%, or 0.3 percentage points higher than the previous year," the press release read. The ministry said, citing the Employment and Economic Development Office that a total of 309,100 unemployed jobseekers had been registered at the end of March, showing a year-on-year increase of 70,700. "The rapid increase in the number of unemployed jobseekers and particularly in the number of full-time lay-offs was due to restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic," the ministry added. According to the data, as for the end of March, the number of long-term unemployed people those who had been unemployed without interruption for more than a year amounted to 64,900, up 1,200 compared to the previous year. The number of unemployed jobseekers aged over 50 was 107,300, representing an increase of 16,700, while the number of unemployed jobseekers aged under 25 was 41,100, representing an increase of 11,600 compared to March 2019. Finland has so far registered 4,129 COVID-19 cases and 149 fatalities. Over the past several days, the daily increase in the number of COVID-19 cases ranged between 100 and 150. The Scandinavian nation declared a state of emergency on March 16, closing borders, shutting schools, and asking people to avoid public spaces, in an effort to stop the epidemic from spreading. Manufacturers from Volkswagen to Renault and Daimler are restarting factories in Europe with little visibility about how much actual demand there will be once customers emerge from restrictions that made car-buying impossible for most people. VW, the world's largest automaker, is pressing ahead with production of the coming ID.3 electric car on Thursday, and said it expects to start European deliveries this summer as planned. Efforts to finish the car's software are "on the home stretch" and the schedule for the rollout at VW's German factory in Zwickau remains unchanged, the company said. Daimler is gradually resuming output of engines and components this week to prepare for key models including the EQC electric SUV. The maker of Mercedes-Benz luxury cars offered a fresh reminder of the risks when it scrapped its forecast for the full-year. The balancing act between preserving cash and spending some to try to sell cars is entering a crucial phase as European countries, hard-hit by the coronavirus, start to ease the lockdowns that have kept potential buyers indoors for weeks. Volkswagen has made clear it won't back down on its push for the ID.3, its most important new model in decades, while Peugeot maker PSA Group says it sees no need to add to inventories while sales are dormant. Getting the calculation right is a major test for automotive CEOs, as they seek to pad liquidity while safely restoring the intricate supply links required for a return to normal times. Carmakers have prepared wide-ranging hygiene measures, including disinfectants in dealerships, to minimize contagion risks in showrooms or during the handover of cars to customers. For VW, selling the ID.3 in substantial numbers is mission-critical. It's the first purely battery-powered car based on new standardized underpinnings for mass-market vehicles, helping the German automaker comply with stricter emission rules in Europe. The new technology, dubbed MEB, is due to be rolled out at two large factories in China later this year. VW officials in recent weeks have acknowledged complications during the software development, but have dismissed reports the project will be delayed. The coronavirus outbreak brought production to a standstill last month, stoking further uncertainty over the carmaker's ability to stick to the planned schedule. Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings Plc has opted for a more cautious approach. The British manufacturer said Thursday it intends to reopen its St Athan factory in Wales on May 5. Operations at its main site in Gaydon, England, "are planned to resume later." The restarting of factories in France has received pushback from some unions including the CGT, which has argued that the business isn't essential for the economy. Yet Renault, tire-maker Michelin and Toyota are pushing ahead. Renault this week began a gradual reopening of sites in France, starting with three engine and parts factories and as little as a quarter of employees working with strict health measures such as temperature monitoring, wearing protective gear and extra cleaning. The company already restarted in countries including Spain, Portugal, Morocco and Russia. The struggling carmaker, which is working to cut costs and negotiate billions of euros in state-backed loans, plans to reopen its Flins plant near Paris making the Zoe electric car this month. The new battery-powered model was a rare bright spot in dismal quarterly sales published Thursday showing a 19% drop overall and cash burn of 5.5 billion euros. PSA, which also makes the Opel, Vauxhall and Citroen brands, held back on giving a date to restart its European factories. Chief Financial Officer Philippe de Rovira said this week the company doesn't want to starting building up inventories before dealerships have reopened. The French carmaker has forecast the European car market will shrink by a quarter this year and said it's even prepared for a 50% drop. PSA and Renault have combined inventories of 1.375 million cars. "If we restart production, it's because we are selling cars," de Rovira said on a call. "It's important to have dealership and sales activity before we push the button." The coronavirus death toll rose to 24 in Uttar Pradesh as three more people succumbed to the infection on Thursday, an official release said. Meanwhile, the number of infection cases jumped to 1,510 in the state with 61 more people testing positive for it, the release said. According to it, while two deaths were reported from Kanpur, the third one took place in Agra, which has so far recorded the maximum seven fatalities in the state. Agra is followed by Moradabad in terms of the death toll, where the virus has claimed five lives so far. The other districts from where coronavirus deaths have been reported are Meerut and Kanpur (three each); and one each in Basti, Varanasi, Bulandshahar, Lucknow, Firozabad and Aligarh. So far, 206 people have been discharged from hospitals after treatment, the release said. Earlier in the day, Principal Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad said all patients are recovering and the number of cases is stabilising. He said on Wednesday, 3,737 samples were collected and a total of 3,955 samples, including the backlog, were tested. This is the "record testing" in a single day, Prasad said. Prasad said at present, 11,826 people are lodged in quarantine facilities. Eleven of the coronavirus-hit districts--Pratapgarh, Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Khiri, Hathras, Bareilly, Prayagraj, Maharajganj, Shahjahanpur, Barabanki, Hardoi and Kaushambihave no active case now, Prasad added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TORONTO, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fura Gems Inc. (Fura or the Company) (TSXV: FURA, OTC: FUGMF and FRA: BJ43) announces today that it has drawn down an additional US$3.5 million from its loan facility previously announced on March 10, 2020 (the Second Advance). An additional US$4.1 million remains available for drawdown by the Company at a later date, subject to the terms of the grid promissory note (the Note) issued to the lender (the Lender) in the maximum aggregate principal amount of US$28.6 million. The funds advanced under the Note are initially unsecured, will bear interest at a rate of ten percent per annum and have a maturity date of August 31, 2021. The principal amount of the loan as well as accrued interest will be payable on the maturity date. Please see the Companys press release dated March 10, 2020 for more information about the Note and the terms thereof. The proceeds of the Second Advance are expected to be used by Fura for (i) the advancement of its Coscuez emerald project in Colombia, its ruby projects in Mozambique and its sapphire projects in Australia, (ii) general corporate purposes, including paying down debts and (iii) payment towards acquiring SLR Mining, Limitada, a Mozambican mining company holding 100% of each of ruby mining concession 8955C and ruby exploration licence 7414L. For more information about Fura Gems Inc., please contact: Fura Gems Inc. Dev Shetty President & Chief Executive Officer Tel: +971 (0) 4 240 8760 dev.shetty@furagems.com Rupak Sen Vice President Marketing and Sales Tel: +1+(778)386-1313 rupak.sen@furagems.com Public Relations Tavistock (UK) Jos Simson / Barney Hayward Tel: +44-207-920-3150 fura@tavistock.co.uk About Fura Gems Inc. Fura Gems Inc. is a gemstone mining and marketing company which is engaged in the mining, exploration and acquisition of gemstone licences. Furas headquarters are located in Toronto, Canada and its administrative headquarters are located in the Gold Tower, Dubai. Fura is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol FURA. Story continues Fura is engaged in the exploration of resource properties in Colombia and owns a 76% interest in the Coscuez emerald mine in Boyaca, Colombia. Fura is involved in the exploration and mining of sapphires in Australia through its 100% interests in two mining permits (EPM 25973 and EPM 25978) and three mining licences (ML 70419, ML 70447 and ML 70451), and rubies in Mozambique through its 80% effective interest in four ruby licences (4392L, 3868L, 3869L and 6811L) and its 100% interest in ruby licence 5572L. Regulatory Statements 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 use of proceeds of the Second Advance, the Companys ability to complete any publicly announced acquisitions, the Companys exploration activities and mining activities and the Companys performance. 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 to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of exploration, development and production activities; access to sufficient financing to continue the development of its assets; regulatory risks; risks inherent in foreign operations, uncertainties with respect to the Companys assets; legacy environmental risks, title risks and other risks of the mining industry. 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 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. Back in business: A shop assistant wearing a protective face mask hands a customer a shopping basket at the entrance to a toy store that was opening for the first time yesterday since March in Berlin. Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Crowds flocked back to the streets of Berlin yesterday as the German capital lifted its lockdown and shops reopened for the first time in a month. Even the street performers were back: on Wilmersdorfer Strasse, a mime artist wearing a long fake nose and white robes made faces at shoppers. The city authorities waited until two days after most of Germany had lifted restrictions before allowing shops to reopen, and officials implored people not to see the move as an "excuse for a stroll" or a "starting signal" for a return to normal life. But after a month of lockdown frustrated Berliners poured back on to the streets and there were heavy traffic jams on the main routes into the city centre. "This is the first coffee I've had in a month," said Birgitte Dabiri as she basked in the spring sunshine. It was a takeaway coffee in a cardboard cup, and she had to drink it standing alone in the middle of a pedestrian zone, but the pensioner was determined to enjoy every sip. "We hope the government's got it right lifting the lockdown, but nobody knows with this virus, do they?" she added. "I just hope things can quickly get back to normal." When Austria became one of the first European countries to reopen shops last week, people were nervous and most stayed away. But there has been no such reticence in Germany. In R+R Galerie, an independent picture frame shop just off Kurfurstendamm, Jacek Rutarowski was just happy to be back at work. "We're not afraid. We're careful but we're not afraid," he said. "We want to work and earn a living for our families. I don't know if the government got the lockdown right. They did what they thought was right at the time, and things are OK. But look at Sweden: things are OK there too." Germany did not impose a total lockdown. People have been free to leave their homes for fresh air and exercise. But the reopening of the shops brought Berlin back to life. Chancellor Angela Merkel called on Germans to "remain disciplined", warning that the pandemic was far from over. On a glorious spring day, however, many were openly ignoring a ban on gatherings of more than two people. Only shops of up to 800 square metres were permitted to reopen, but larger stores circumvented the limit by sealing areas off. Karstadt department store taped off two separate sections of its sales floor, running them as individual shops with their own entrances, though one impatient shopper simply stepped over the tape between them. Face masks will be compulsory from next week; an elderly couple wearing homemade masks waited hand in hand outside a T-Mobile store, but few others were wearing them. But there were signs of discipline too. There are strict limits on how many are allowed inside stores at a time, and even at smaller shops people queued patiently. "If you ask me, the reason Germany's done well so far in keeping infections down is that German people love order. We call it ordnung," said Holger Schwarz, the owner of Viniculture, a wine merchant. "It reminded me of communist times in East Germany. People queued and did as they were told. German people are happy when you tell them what to do," Mr Schwarz said. Meanwhile, in France bars, cafes and restaurants could start reopening from June 15 - more than a month after the country starts relaxing lockdown in schools and at work, according to reports. France, where the death toll is approaching 21,000, is due to start lifting confinement rules on May 11, Emmanuel Macron announced last week. However, the president gave no date for the country's cafes, bistros and restaurants to start opening for business beyond takeaway orders. That prompted dire warnings that many of the country's 210,000 bars and restaurants, in particular small, often family run venues, could go bust if lockdown continued. However, the Elysee Palace has reportedly now cited June 15 as the most likely date for them to start serving meals in situ again. Restaurant representatives are due to discuss the date at a meeting at the presidential palace tomorrow, along with how to respect distancing and other health measures. "It's a likely outcome," a source told Europe 1 radio, adding that, as with schools, not all establishments will open at once. Mr Macron has reportedly got personally involved in seeking a solution given the importance of gastronomy in France. A crucial point is how to remain a metre from other guests. "If you ask bistros, where tables are crammed next to each other, to halve their capacity, you'll kill them. Their business model won't survive," said a finance ministry source. "For now, we haven't found the answer but we'll have to come up with one soon to save the summer season." Confinement has led some top chefs to warn that restaurant culture may never be the same in France. ( Daily Telegraph, London) Two Chinese public welfare foundations, Peaceland Foundation and Common Future Fund, provided care packages for 100 refugee families in Lebanon on April 20. A staff member from the Chinese foundations meets with local people in charge of relevant matters during the donation on April 20, 2020. (Photo/Courtesy of Peaceland Foundation) The humanitarian aid has helped ease the difficulties facing refugees in their daily lives and supports efforts to prevent and control the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Zhan Weizhen, head of the anti-epidemic relief program, distributed the care packages to refugee families in Faour town, Zahle, capital of Lebanons Bekaa governorate, with the help of local non-governmental organizations (NGO) on Monday. The packages, which included rice, flour, edible oil, salt, sugar, cheese, canned meat, and disinfectant, have benefited more than 500 refugees. Staff members take down information on the donated anti-epidemic supplies for refugees on April 20, 2020. (Photo/Courtesy of Peaceland Foundation) Ghazi Sharif, mayor of Faour town, took part in the distribution of the care packages. He thanked the Chinese foundations for their donations, saying that the supplies are timely and met the specific needs of refugees amid the outbreak. These materials came just in time, said one refugee after receiving the care package, adding that they need practical help like this and hope more people and organizations can help them, as they are currently living in extremely harsh conditions. As of April 21, Lebanon had reported 677 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 21 deaths from the disease. There are about 1.5 million Syrian refugees in Lebanon. YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. Guoda Burokiene, head of the Lithuanian Seimas Group for Inter-Parliamentary Relations (Friendship Group) with the Republic of Armenia issued a message on the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Embassy of Armenia in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. On the 24th of April annually, for more than one hundred years now, Armenians all over the world and the entire advanced society commemorate a sad date Armenian Genocide Memorial Day. In 19151916, some 1.5 million Armenians fell victim to mass murders and expulsions. It was one of the biggest mass atrocities in the 20th century inflicting incalculable damages to the Armenian nation as a whole. This tragedy, however, has not been forgotten. Lithuania, like many other countries, has recognized the genocide of the Armenian nation. Humankind must be aware of the tragedy to ensure that similar history does not repeat itself. The Armenians, who have been scattered around the world by the tragedy, build active communities that foster close links and keep history alive. In this difficult time of the global fight against the pandemic and of the deepening social isolation, we should maintain unity, demonstrate international solidarity, and foster our historical memory. I take this opportunity to express to you, Dear Friends, my wishes of strong health, hope, and perseverance'', reads the message. Reference: The Lithuanian Seimas friendship group with the Parliament of Armenia was formed after the 2016 Parliamentary elections and with its 46 members is considered one of the largest groups. The Lithuanian Seimas has officially recognised the Armenian Genocide in December 15, 2005. A huge number of former Married At First Sight stars have called for the show's relationship experts Mel Schilling, John Aiken, and Trisha Stratford to be fired and replaced with Kyle Sandilands next season. Kyle's potential casting has been met with overwhelming support by stars of the franchise after rumours emerged that Channel Nine are currently considering him for the series. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Thursday, Jessika Power said: 'He would shake things up!' Move over, experts! A huge number of former Married At First Sight stars have called for the show's relationship experts to be fired and replaced with Kyle Sandilands next season 'If there's one man I would listen to, it would be Kyle Sandilands,' she continued. 'Imagine me on the couch back when I was on the show and I was coming up with all these bulls**t excuses to keep Mick [Gould] on the show. Kyle would call me out so hard as to why I was there,' she laughed. 'If Kyle comes in he'd probably be the only reason I'd tune in to MAFS next year. He's funny, and he would definitely call everyone out on their bulls**t.' 'If Kyle comes in he'd probably be the only reason I'd tune in to MAFS next year,' Jessika told Daily Mail Australia Season five's Nasser Sultan echoed a similar sentiment, calling for that the show's current experts Mel Schilling, John Aiken, and Trisha Stratford to be fired and replaced by Kyle. 'He will be perfect as an expert, it will be the Trial By Kyle in real life!' he said. 'None of this crying and fake s**t,' he continued. 'The experts should be sacked and they should be ashamed.' 'Imagine me on the couch back when I was on the show and I was coming up with all these bulls**t excuses to keep Mick [Gould] on the show,' Jess laughed. 'Kyle would call me out so hard as to why I was there!' Nasser went on to say that Kyle would be the perfect person to delve into the sex lives of the participants. 'He'll demand that they have sex and if there's no sex then they'll be off the show!' He added: 'We want sex, real sex! None of this cheating scandal bulls**t.' The pint-sized personal trainer also said that MAFS needs to cast more genuine participants next season, because viewers are 'sick of the Botox and fake lips.' Out with the old! Nasser Sultan echoed a similar sentiment, calling for that the show's current experts Mel Schilling, John Aiken, and Trisha Stratford to be fired and replaced by Kyle Nasser's former co-star Dean Wells has come out to support Kyle too, writing on Instagram that the shock jock 'can't do much worse' than the current experts. 'Rumour has it that Kyle is gonna be one of the judges in MAFS next year,' he wrote. 'What do you guys think about that? I dont think he can do much worse than the current experts. Im all for it!' 'He'll demand that they have sex and if there's no sex then they'll be off the show!' Nasser has thrown his support behind Kyle's rumoured casting The post was met with supportive comments from other MAFS stars, who called for Kyle to join the series. 'I reckon its the best bloody thing ever,' season seven's Chris Nicholls commented. 'Now that I would watch!' exclaimed season five's Melissa Walsh, while season four's Nick Furphy said it 'would be great'. Season six's Melissa Lucarelli told Daily Mail Australia that Kyle would be an 'amazing' addition to MAFS, but said that she didn't want to see the current relationship experts leave the show. 'I'm all for it!' Dean Wells has come out to support Kyle too, writing on Instagram that the shock jock 'can't do much worse' than the current experts' 'He would be an awesome addition to the team, he should be on the fourth expert!' she said. 'Kyle would be like the no bulls**t expert and the sexpert. He says it how it is, it'd be amazing,' she added. Kyle recently addressed rumours he will be joining the panel of relationship experts on the next season of Married At First Sight, after some fans called for him to replace John Aiken. 'I reckon its the best bloody thing ever,' season seven's Chris Nicholls said Speaking on his Kyle and Jackie O Show on Monday, he confirmed producers approached his long-time friend John Ibrahim to gauge interest. A member of production reportedly asked the former Kings Cross identity if he thought the radio star was committed to rival network 10 and whether he was would be interested in doing MAFS, which airs on Nine. Filling his co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson in on a recent call he had with John, Kyle explained: 'John Ibrahim rings me up and goes, ''Hey! I see in the paper that MAFS want you to go on that show and be the new relationship expert''.' Support: Melissa Lucarelli told Daily Mail Australia that Kyle would be an 'amazing' addition to MAFS, but said that she didn't want to see the current relationship experts leave the show Kyle initially laughed off the idea, saying he was in no position to be giving out expert relationship advice. But Jackie tried to persuade her radio co-star, insisting he would be perfect for the gig. 'You should look at that definitely! I think that would be a great gig to have,' she said. Replaced? Kyle recently addressed rumours he will be joining the panel of relationship experts on the next season of Married At First Sight , after some fans called for him to replace John Aiken (pictured) 'If you could actually genuinely pair people up, I would say then go for it!' The Trial By Kyle judge went on to confirm he wasn't committed to any television networks, and should the right offer be made he would consider it. 'Well look, I'm open to talking about it but you'll have to be willing to pay a lot of money and I'm going to be running this whole show,' Kyle said. 'Well look, I'm open to talking about it but you'll have to be willing to pay a lot of money and I'm going to be running this whole show,' Kyle said this week In March, New Idea reported that Channel Nine were considering axing John Aiken, Mel Schilling and Dr Trisha Stratford as official experts over a pay dispute. 'It could be time for some fresh faces,' a source told the publication. 'Unlike MasterChef, which will no longer feature Matt [Preston], Gary [Mehigan] and George [Calombaris], MAFS viewers wont care too much if John, Trish and Mel dont return. It wont affect ratings.' A 32-year-old Kansas City woman charged in connection with a Clay County homicide last month has now been charged in connection with the deadly shooting of a Blue Springs' man in his. Jackson County prosecutors announced Wednesday afternoon that Francesca Hernandez faces second-degree murder, armed criminal action, stealing a motor vehicle and unlawful possession of [...] Prince William has joked that he has yet to watch Tiger King as he tends to avoid shows about royalty. Appearing in a comedy sketch for the BBC charity event Big Night In, the Duke of Cambridge conversed with Stephen Fry, who was portraying his Blackadder character Lord Melchett the personal advisor to Queen Elizabeth I. William, appearing on Melchetts laptop, asked him for television recommendations, revealing that he was feeling slightly out of sorts amid the coronavirus pandemic. Its hell without EastEnders, William confessed. Melchett responded: They tell me Tiger King is rather good? I tend to avoid shows about royalty, William replied. A Netflix sensation, the docuseries Tiger King revolves around the rivalry between a big cat breeder and the woman he was convicted of conspiring to kill. After Melchett reminded William that it was nearly time for the pair to go their separate ways, the Duke said that he had to make a few clothing changes beforehand. Let me just see if I can find my socks, and my shoes and my trousers. William then led the nights clap for carers with wife Kate Middleton and their three children George, Charlotte and Louis. The sketch came an hour into the BBCs live event, put together by Comic Relief and Children in Need. It aims to raise money for the fight against coronavirus. Presented by names including Lenny Henry, Matt Baker, Zoe Ball, Davina McCall and Paddy McGuinness, it features comedy sketches and stars performing from their own homes and appearing via video link. Follow along with the BBCs Big Night In on our live blog. Tara Reade Accusation Exposes Democrat and Media Double Standards, Bidens Vulnerability Commentary Perhaps it isnt too much to hope that a couple of the lessons that have been imparted by current political events, if they arent extirpated by inattention during the public health crisis, will inure to the benefit of American society and its mores after the crisis has subsided. Tara Reade, a former member of Joe Bidens staff while he was a prominent U.S. senator, alleges that she was sexually assaulted by Biden in 1993. The anti-Trump media and the militant feminist left had two choices in how to handle this story when it finally surfaced. They could either follow the example of their frenzied assault on the purported wrong-doer as in the case of Justice Brett Kavanaugh two years ago, when unsubstantiated allegations surfaced about drunken groping 36 years earlier, while he was in secondary school. Or they could revert to the antediluvian era of Anita Hill and Justice Clarence Thomas in 1991, when instead of signing on automatically to any allegation of male misconduct against a woman, no matter how trivial, how far in the past, and how uncorroborated, some balance could be maintained by some Democrats (including, up to a point, Biden, who was then the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee). During Thomass confirmation hearings for the Supreme Court, he was challenged by Hill, a former staff member, and was accused of having employed lewd language in her presence 10 years earlier, and of having referred to a pubic hair on a soft-drink can. Biden, as his campaign bumped awkwardly along last year, engaged in the sort of self-criticism the left enjoys and requires, by regretting that he hadnt sandbagged Thomas (who has served on the high court with distinction these 29 years). He retroactively opted for the regime of denunciationa womans unsubstantiated claim of unsuitable conduct or words at any prior time would disqualify the seeker of a high office. Arbitrary in its absence of due process as this is, Bidens submission to the current raging feminist infatuation of the Democrats was, compared with its antecedents on the more robust international left, a relatively civilized variant of a humiliating climbdown. If present trends continue, the Democrats may yet arrive at something a bit peppier than the sort of insipid apologies that Bill Clinton and Biden have made drearily familiar. While Clinton apologized profusely when he was acquitted in his impeachment, it was understood he was apologizing not so much for apparently lying to a grand jury about his extramarital sex life, but over the indignity, indiscretion, and affront to women and especially his spousal feminist-in-chief affected by his peccadilloes. In 1991, after Hill had been induced out of the undergrowth with her dubious and irrelevant recollections, Thomas narrowly prevailed by launching a counterattack on another active front of political affirmation: he called the whole proceeding a disgrace, a high-tech lynching of an uppity n*****. He won the match. (Hill is also African American, but the charges against Thomas, as with those against Kavanaughapart from being completely unsupportedhad nothing to do with the nominees competence to serve as a Supreme Court justice.) Serious Accusation Reades claim, which Bidens campaign strongly denies, is a much more serious accusation against him than the piffle launched against either Thomas or Kavanaugh. Unlike Kavanaughs befuddled and implausible accuser, Christine Blasey Ford, Reade can prove that she worked for Biden at the time of the incident, is inviting official and probing investigative scrutiny of her story, to which she has two witnesses who will confirm she told them of Bidens assault at the time. Meanwhile, a journalist has found further corroborative accounts from co-workers who confirm that Reade left the employ of the senator at that time. Reade claims to have filed an official complaint, but none has been located. This is a more serious offense alleged to have been committed while Biden was an influential senator, than the drink-taken approach alleged against Kavanaugh in high school and the minor salacities alleged against Thomas a decade before his court nomination. Those were mere denunciations, and gained momentum because the left was determined to fight the confirmation of anyone to the Supreme Court whom they dont consider an enthusiastic abortionist and additionally, in the case of Kavanaugh, a believer in the right of the president to rule in large measure by executive fiat without recourse to the Congress. The Democrats have hidden behind the preoccupation with the current public health crisis and Bidens low-energy campaign of Skyped verbal stumbles from his Delaware basement, and have effectively ignored the Reade allegations. Their nominee has encumbrances enough without this, and the Democrats, despite the customary affectation of legal invulnerability and abiding confidence, are evidently apprehensive about what U.S. Attorney John Durham will conclude in respect of the malodorous origins of the Trump-Russia collusion canard. But the feminist devotees of a womans right to destroy careers by denunciation, the Red Queen Terror, have deserted Reade, a lifelong Democrat. They leaped with bared teeth and full salivation when one of their own servitors, then-Sen. Al Franken, was the subject of a humorous photograph highlighting the breasts of a talk-show host (Leeann Tweeden) when they were touring together to entertain members of the armed forces, even though the complainant is probably a Republican. They prevented him from being heard by the Senate Ethics Committee; Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi publicly forced Franken to resign, which he meekly did. This was the extremity of destructive nonsense the country has reached. People might as well be advised in a postcard from Gloria Allred or Joy Behar that their career and reputation are finished. Drop dead. The double standard in the Reade case is striking; The New York Times, Washington Post, and the rest of far-left Hallelujah choristers have been entirely silent, except for terse and trivial summaries and perfunctory outbursts of self-serving hypocrisy. It may not be a serious defeat for the militant feminists, but its at least a distinct embarrassment, and as the election approaches, the president and his campaign wont allow this, and other Democratic shortcomings, to go unnoticed. Conrad Black has been one of Canadas most prominent financiers for 40 years, and was one of the leading newspaper publishers in the world. He is the author of authoritative biographies of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Richard Nixon, and, most recently Donald J. Trump: A President Like No Other. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Please select all that apply: A link, button or video is not working It has a spelling mistake Information is missing Information is outdated or wrong Login error when trying to access an account (e.g. My Service Canada Account) GC Key access SecureKey Concierge (Banking Credential) access Personal Access Code (PAC) problems or EI Access Code (AC) problems Social Insurance Number (SIN) validation problems Other login error not in this list I can't find what I'm looking for A team of food safety department conducted an inspection at various grocery stores and food retail chains in the city on Thursday . As per the communique shared by the health department, district health officer (DHO) Dr Rajesh Garg along with Dr Yogesh Goyal inspected the stock kept at premium food retail outlets such as Big Bazaar, Vishal Mega Mart and Reliance Market. The team destroyed nearly 40kg of fruits and vegetables that were lying unused. The DHO has directed all the grocery and retail chain outlets to ensure the delivery of fresh food items in the wake of pandemic. Coronavirus update Meanwhile, deputy commissioner (DC) Pradeep Agrawal said that so far as many as1,267 tests for coronavirus have been conducted. The reports of 1,160 samples have been received of which 1,141 have been found negative. So far, the city has 19 positive cases (three patients from other district). He said that five patients, including one from Jalandhar, have been cured. Vietnam has started lifting the movement restrictions imposed on citizens to contain the coronavirus lockdown, way ahead of most of southeast Asia. Fewer than 300 coronavirus cases have been reported in Vietnam, with no deaths, since infections were first detected in January. Health authorities have not reported any new infections in a week. Prime minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said in a statement on Wednesday that no provinces were considered highly prone to the pandemic, but some non-essential businesses will remain closed. However, some parts of Hanoi will remain under lockdown until 30 April as they are still designated as high-risk areas, reported the Nikkei Asian Review. Mr Nguyen also urged people to continue practicing social distancing measures by wearing masks, keeping their distance from others and avoiding crowds. The wearing of face masks, which were made mandatory in crowded place such as in supermarkets and public transport, must also be enforced. He told a steering committee meeting for coronavirus prevention: While preventing and fighting epidemics successfully with strict social distancing, we must still ensure trade in goods job creation and socioeconomic development. The government implemented strict social distancing rules on 1 April, banning gatherings of more than two people and quarantining hundreds of thousands of people to stop the spread of the virus. It is preparing to quarantine thousands more people as workers from around the world, majority from China, return to their home country. Domestic flights will be allowed to resume from Thursday and airlines can increase the frequency of service on key routes according to a plan drawn up by the aviation authority. Vietnam has been lauded for its swift action in preventing the spread of Covid-19. One day after the first two cases were detected in Vietnam, all flights to Wuhan from Hanoi were suspended. It then closed its 870 mile-long border to China and stopped all but essential trade and travel. It advised all arrivals to the country to self-isolate from 1 March and closed its borders around 20 days later. Shortly after, it suspended the entry of all foreigners until further notice. The southeast Asian country also has by far the largest ratio of testing to confirmed Covid-19 cases in the world. Its health ministry said it carried out 180,067 tests and detected 268 cases, 83 per cent of whom it says have recovered. The figures amount to nearly 672 tests for every one confirmed case, according to Our World in data. Taiwan has the next highest testing rate, with just 132.1 tests for every case. Additional reporting by agencies She has returned to MasterChef Australia in an attempt to win the current All Stars series. But it seems viewers still don't know who contestant Tracy Collins is. On a Facebook fan page on Wednesday, several fans said they didn't even recognise her name. 'I didn't even know who she was': MasterChef Australia fans still have no idea who contestant Tracy Collins is 'Haven't seen much of Tracy this season,' one fan wrote. While two people commented underneath the post, 'who?!' Another added: 'When I saw a photo of Tracy [I] didn't even know who she was.' Awkward! On a Facebook fan page on Wednesday, several fans said they didn't even recognise her name Tracy first appeared on season six of MasterChef Australia back in 2014. The mother-of-three has since gone on to open her own restaurant in South Australia, called Harvest Kitchen. So far this season many fans have mistook the blonde for her lookalike co-star, Courtney Roulston. Lookalike: So far this season many fans have mistook the blonde for her lookalike co-star, Courtney Roulston During Tuesday's episode of the popular cooking show, Tracy popped up when she was appointed team leader of the purple team for the BBQ challenge. 'Who the hell is Tracy on MasterChef Australia? I've never seen her before,' one person wrote on Twitter. 'Has Tracy been here this whole time?' another asked. One viewer begged matter of factly: 'Okay, but like who is Tracy? I swear she's hasn't been mentioned once till this ep (episode)' before a fourth quipped, 'Ok I didn't realise Tracy and Courtney were two different people.' 'I don't know who Tracy is but she's doing very well,' commented yet another bamboozled fan. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 01:48:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISTANBUL, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Turkish citizens and children on Thursday marked the centennial anniversary of the National Sovereignty and Children's Day under lockdown amid COVID-19 concerns. Before, the day, which was dedicated to children by the founder of the Turkish Republic Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, was celebrated across the country with numerous activities including parades, performances and concerts. However, streets and squares remain empty this time due to the four-day curfew on April 23 to 26 in 31 provinces as part of the fight against the coronavirus. In Turkey's biggest city Istanbul, all that were heard and seen from homes were several anthems played from loudspeakers of municipal vehicles, and balloons floating through the sky. Wearing masks and following the social distancing rule, Ekrem Imamoglu, mayor of Istanbul, and his team placed a wreath on the Ataturk statue at the iconic Taksim square and held a moment of silence. Meanwhile, a group of high ranking officials paid tribute to Ataturk at the Anitkabir Mausoleum in the capital Ankara. A Turkish Airlines aircraft formed a crescent and star shape in the sky, the national flag of Turkey, which was followed on the flight tracking website Flightradar24. "Our glorious flag shall always keep waving in the skies!" Turkey's national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, said at a tweet. At a ceremony held in Turkey's western province of Manisa, one hundred pairs of children's shoes were placed at a ceremony area, local media reported. A balloon was attached to each of them with a rope, symbolizing the attendance of kids to the ceremony. Turkish citizens across the country will sing the national anthem altogether from their balconies in the evening. April 23 also signifies the foundation of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in 1920. Enditem The Boss is heading back to E Street ... Radio, that is. The SiriusXM station devoted to all things Bruce Springsteen announced Thursday that Springsteen himself will launch Part 2 of his From His Home, To Yours guest DJ set Friday at 10 a.m. Springsteen will take over E Street Radio remotely, from his Colts Neck home to spin records fitting for troubled times, including cuts by Marvin Gaye, Billy Joel, The Bee Gees, Tupac Shakur and more. He is not scheduled to perform. Springsteen kicked off this series two weeks ago when he hung around for 90 minutes playing old tunes from Bob Dylan, Wyclef Jean, Bon Jovi and more, plus some of his own tunes. He also mused over his feelings regarding the state of the world, as hes wont to do. I think the hardest part about what were going through is not being able to see, hug, kiss our loved ones," he said. "My children are all off in their own homes and claim they dont want to visit in order not to kill us. Thats hard to argue against, he laughed. The 10 a.m. Friday broadcast will be replayed at 4 p.m. and then twice a day throughout the following week. Springsteen and his wife and E Street Band member Patti Scialfa appeared Wednesday on the Jersey 4 Jersey televised charity concert raising money for the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund. Again from Colts Neck, they performed acoustic versions of fan favorites Land of Hope and Dreams and Jersey Girl. Bobby Olivier may be reached at bolivier@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobbyOlivier and Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Representative Image Relieved Spanish parents welcomed on Wednesday a decision allowing children out on short walks for the first time in more than a month as the government voted to extend Spain's lockdown until May 9. With Europe's second-highest death toll of 21,717 and the world's second most infections at 208,389, Spain's tough restrictions have included a controversial ban on children leaving their homes since mid-March. However, on Tuesday night, the government bowed to public pressure - including pot-banging protests on balconies - and said those under 14 would be able to take short walks outside under supervision from the weekend. Parents welcomed the concession, though it came late for some, after nearly six weeks cooped up at home. "The escalation of anxiety, tantrums, irascible behaviour... have been in crescendo," said Dr Iban Onandia, 35, a neuropsychologist in the Basque province of Bizkaia. 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 Youngsters have paid an "indecent" price during the lockdown, added the father of two children, aged four and two. Ramon Motta, a Madrid-based maitre d'hotel with two daughters Carla, 11 and Ariadna, 8, resorted to setting up a tent in their fifth-floor apartment to keep them entertained. "We have Disney +, Netflix and videogames, but you don't want your kids spending five-six-seven hours in front of a screen, yet at the same time there's not much else to do," he said. "After such a long time locked in, kids and parents start losing patience pretty quickly. A couple of times Carla went into a tantrum." Children under 14 will be allowed outside between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. for up to one hour a day and must be accompanied by an adult with whom they live, according to a provisional government document seen by La Sexta television. Children can "run, jump and exercise" but will not be allowed to use play parks and must respect social distancing rules, says the document, which is still under debate and could change. As his left-wing coalition marked 100 days in office, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez sought parliamentary approval to prolong a state of emergency until May 9 - the third such extension. With the epidemic seemingly past its peak, the lockdown could start to be phased out towards the end of May, though measures will be eased gradually, he told lawmakers. TOMATO-THROWING FIESTA OFF A slowdown in infections and deaths has Spaniards optimistic their nightmare may be easing. The official tally, however, fails to account for those who were more than likely killed by the virus but never tested. The Madrid region on Wednesday released its own tally, showing 4,275 extra deaths confirmed or suspected as COVID-19, or 56% more than health ministry data. Nearly 4,000 of these were care home residents. Nevertheless, officials were increasingly focused on restarting the flagging economy. In another sign of nascent recovery, carmaker Volkswagen's Spanish unit SEAT, which employs around 15,000 people, said it plans to resume production from April 27, though with 3,000 coronavirus tests a week on its workforce. Nissan also said on Wednesday it would restart production in Barcelona from May 4. Spain was set to receive the highest level of orders ever for a euro zone bond sale - 15 billion euros ($16.3 billion) - as debt for stimulus programmes drew high demand. But in a blow to tourism, authorities in the Valencian town of Bunol postponed the 75th annual "Tomatina" festival, where thousands meet in August to pelt each other with fresh tomatoes. It was the first cancellation since 1957. Catch our entire coverage on the Facebook-Jio deal here. On Tuesday, the San Fermin bull-running fiesta in Pamplona was also suspended, for the first time in four decades. [nL5N2C91RC]Also read: Coronavirus News India LIVE Updates Las Vegas mayor Carolyn Goodman has been called reckless and dangerous after she called for casinos and businesses on the Las Vegas strip to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic. I want our restaurants open. I want our small businesses open. I want people back in employment, said Goodman during an interview with CNNs Anderson Cooper on Wednesday. Id love everything open because I think weve had viruses for years that have been here, the mayor added. I want us open in the city of Las Vegas so our people can go back to work. Asked how social distancing could be enforced inside casinos, Goodman told CNNs Mr Cooper that its up to them to figure out. I dont own a casino. I dont know anything about building a casino. We have to open up, continued the mayor, who suggested that the citys death toll was tragic but should not stop millions of people going to work. Questioned on how lifting current social distancing measures would increase that death toll, Goodman replied: Well, how do you know unless you have a control group? She then added that an earlier offer to use Las Vegas as a control group was declined by statisticians. The comments were criticised overnight, with Clark County Commissioner Michael Naft calling on Goodman to heed expert advice. [The mayors] defiance of Governor Sisolaks stay-at-home order is reckless and dangerous, said Mr Naft. I implore the Mayor to listen to the medical experts, to the Governor, and to all Nevadans who are focused on economic recovery as soon as it is medically sound. Goodman admitted that she does not represent the Las Vegas Strip, which is designated under Clark County and not the City of Las Vegas. I spent ten years on the Clark County Commission, and the Strip is governed by the Clark County Commission, not City Hall, said Nevada governor Steve Sisolak. I will never allow Southern Nevada or Nevadans to be used as some placebo in an experiment. Mayor Goodman later told the Las Vegas Review Journal that she had since received an overwhelming amount of support and hate for her comments. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 18:49:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TOKYO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Fourteen more crew members aboard a cruise ship docked in Nagasaki, southwest Japan, have tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the total number to 48, prefectural officials said on Thursday. The figure compares to a day earlier when 33 additional crew members aboard the Italian cruise ship docked in the Koyagi district of Nagasaki City for repairs, tested positive for COVID-19, following one member testing positive on Tuesday. Of the 34 who first tested positive, one has been sent to a specialist facility in Nagasaki City as health officials believed his symptoms may become worse. Of the ship's total crew of 623, those who have tested positive were purportedly put in quarantine, while the remaining crew were supposed to be staying in cabins that have balconies, excluding the individual who has been sent for specialist treatment, local officials said. The ship is not carrying any passengers. However, according to prefectural officials, around 130 crew members need to leave their rooms to perform duties necessary for the maintenance of the Costa Atlantica cruise ship. The 14 who most recently tested positive for the pneumonia-causing virus are among this group, prefectural officials said. The ship, operated by Costa Crociere, arrived in Nagasaki on Jan. 29 and was scheduled to remain until the end of April, although health ministry specialists have said that it is likely that a cluster of COVID-19 infections has occurred aboard the vessel. Due to the potential for a significant outbreak of the pneumonia-causing virus, Nagasaki Governor Hodo Nakamura said he planned to ask the Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to be dispatched to help with the situation. Contrary to initial reports, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., which has been carrying out repairs on the ship, said some crew members had boarded and disembarked from the vessel since the first coronavirus case in Nagasaki was detected on March 14 in the city of Iki. The company said on Wednesday that some crew members had done so even after that date and those who disembarked included some who went to hospitals, adding that it has requested more information from the ship's operator Costa Crociere. An immigration bureau in the region, meanwhile, reported that some 90 crew members disembarked the vessel over a one-month period through April 15. During the same period around 40 people are believed to have boarded the ship. Nagasaki, on Thursday, also received another Italian cruise ship, the Costa Venezia, which has docked there to have its fuel and food replaced. The second cruise liner is also carrying no passengers, prefectural officials said. Enditem INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Network for Population Health (INPH) has been launched by the Regenstrief Institute and collaborators, including the State of Indiana, Indiana University and the Indiana Health Information Exchange, to provide the secure exchange of comprehensive data -- especially information on social determinants of health such as housing stability and access to nutritious food -- to researchers, policy makers, healthcare providers and others on the front lines fighting opioid and other addictions. "The Indiana Network for Population Health can broadly enhance health surveillance in the community, tracking diseases we know well like Hepatitis C and diabetes as well as new diseases such as COVID-19," said Brian Dixon, PhD, MHA, director of public health informatics at Regenstrief Institute and Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI. "It's already providing situational awareness to physicians and public health officials about addictions and, in the future, we hope it will connect patients to community-based services to help them address their social determinants of health." The stakes are high. Research over the past quarter century has shown that social determinants of health, such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, exercise, access to nutritional food, stable housing, reliability of transportation and many other non-medical factors, are more significant contributors to longevity and quality of life than either healthcare or genetic makeup or the two combined. Yet these data are rarely accessible to physicians through their electronic medical record systems. Dr. Dixon's presentation, "Integrating Social Determinants into an HIE Network," introducing the Indiana Network for Population Health to an international audience, is now available via HIMSS20 Digital. The annual HIMSS conference, the original venue for the presentation, was expected to attract more than 40,000 attendees but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "It's not that physicians have totally ignored social determinants of health, but impactful information -- such as the fact that the patient had to take time off from a low-paying job and ride two buses to get to the doctor's office -- isn't typically collected in electronic medical records," said Dr. Dixon. "A clinician may have noted in unstructured free text in the medical record that an individual is a heavy smoker or homeless, for example, but free text information, with its lack of uniformity, can be difficult to extract correctly. Will a computer extracting data from the patient's file capture the phrase "has no safe home" or simply ignore the first two words and see "safe home" and not make this information accessible to community programs like the YMCA or homeless shelter organizations who might help the patient find a better place to live? "Integrating social determinants of health into a health information exchange network from the patient's medical file is a big challenge. It seems to make more sense to retrieve data from the CDC, various state departments, census, Social Security, the food stamp program, etc. since all these entities routinely collect this data," said Dr. Dixon. "This is our vision for the Indiana Network for Population Health. The Indiana Network for Population Health is an extension of the Indiana Network for Patient Care, which currently holds approximately 12 billion pieces of clinical data. Both the Indiana Network for Population Heath and the Indiana Network for Patient Care were developed by Regenstrief and are managed by the Indiana Health Information Exchange. ### About Regenstrief Institute Founded in 1969 in Indianapolis, the Regenstrief Institute is a local, national and global leader dedicated to a world where better information empowers people to end disease and realize true health. The Regenstrief Institute, a key research partner to Indiana University, and its researchers are responsible for a growing number of major healthcare innovations and studies. Examples range from the development of global health information technology standards that enable the use and interoperability of electronic health records to improving patient-physician communications, to creating models of care that inform practice and improve the lives of patients around the globe. Regenstrief Institute is celebrating 50 years of healthcare innovation. Sam Regenstrief, a successful entrepreneur from Connersville, Indiana, founded the institute with the goal of making healthcare more efficient and accessible for everyone. His vision continues to guide the institute's research mission. More about Brian Dixon, PhD, MPA In addition to his role as public health informatics director at Regenstrief Institute and Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health at IUPUI, Brian Dixon PhD, MPA, is a research scientist at Regenstrief Institute Center for Biomedical Informatics and Indiana University Center for Health Services and Outcomes Research, an associate professor at Fairbanks School of Public Health, and a health research scientist at the Center for Health Information and Communication, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Service, Roudebush VA Medical Center. Kavanaugh went even further. He wrote a separate, 18-page concurrence the most significant piece of writing hes done since joining the court setting out what he considered his road map for when the court should overturn precedent. He boiled it down to three principles: Is the precedent not just wrong but egregiously wrong? Has it caused significant negative consequences for the world or the law? And would overruling the precedent upset settled reliance interests e.g., existing laws and settled ways of doing things that rely on that precedent? 19262020 Charlotte V. Savidge, a longtime St. Helena resident, died after a long illness in a Fairfield nursing home with her husband of 67 years by her side. Charlotte was born on April 23rd in Lubbock, Texas, on her parents cotton farm and at the age of 13 moved with her mother to Martinez. A graduate of Lodi Academy, she later attended Pacific Union College. In 1950 she was one of eight beauty pageant candidates for queen of the Harvest Days Festival, managed by the St. Helena Junior Womens Club, and was pictured in The San Francisco Chronicle along with the other contestants riding a cable car. Charlotte worked for the majority of her life. With an interest in law, she began her career as a legal secretary while living in San Francisco. There she met her future husband, William Savidge. They married in 1952 and moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, where Bill was stationed with the USAF. There Charlotte began a successful real estate career that would span more than six decades and many changes. Charlottes first sale in the exclusive Broadmoor Hotel neighborhood was documented on a single piece of paper; her last, a St. Helena condo, required paperwork three inches thick. Despite the changes, real estate remained her passion; she loved helping people find the perfect home. Beyond her professional career, Charlotte was an Air Force wife for some 20 years, during which time there were ten household moves to many states. Always active and involved, at Klammath Falls, Oregon, she started a nursery school for the many preschool children on the air base. Following her husbands retirement from the Air Force in 1972, they moved to St. Helena, where they raised their only child, also named Charlotte, and lived for 44 years before moving to a retirement community in Fairfield. Throughout her life, Charlotte had a commitment to service. As a life member of Soroptimist International she helped other women reach their goals through persistence and determination, and was a role model for many. Charlotte had a wide variety of interests. She loved reading, especially legal fiction; collecting unusual artwork and Native American pottery; and travelseeing her daughter in New York City and many trips to Europe. She particularly loved visiting the AFS student from Catalonia, Spain, who lived with them in St. Helena for a year. An avid walker with a love of animals, she always carried treats in her pocket for the neighborhood dogs. She also loved making thingsfrom sewing clothes for her daughter and sharing craft projects with her to making Charlottes own special granola, cranberry relish, and spaghetti sauce, which were enjoyed by family and friends over many years. With a radiant smile, a keen sense of humor, and an enduring strength rooted in optimism, Charlotte was adored by all who knew her, and admired for her spirit, determination, and conviction. She is survived by her husband and daughter. Interment will be in St. Helena Cemetery at a date to be determined. Donations in her memory can be made to Soroptimist St. Helena Sunrise or to We Care Animal Rescue in St. Helena. Rev. Mmoja Ajabu has been advocating for better conditions for Indiana inmates for years, but his cause is more urgent in the wake of COVID-19. As a man of faith, he said his advocacy stems from serving a God of justice. But, its also personal. Ajabus son is currently serving a life sentence at Wabash Valley Correctional Facility. Earlier this month, Ajabus sister and brother-in-law died of complications related to COVID-19. Now, Ajabu is worried his son is at risk of contracting the virus if inmates arent released to help flatten the curve. Im concerned about everybody, he said, but when you talk about my son, obviously my concern for him is greater. That doesnt minimize my concern for everyone else. I just want humans to be humane towards other humans. If were all in this together, lets be humane. Ajabu is one of many pressuring Gov. Eric Holcomb to follow in the footsteps of California and New York in releasing nonviolent offenders to reduce crowding in Indiana prisons and jails. During his daily press conference April 14, Holcomb said he has no plans to follow suit. In the press conference April 13, Holcomb said inmates are safer in jails and prisons than they would be if they were released. Weve got our offenders in a safe place, we believe, Holcomb said. Maybe even safer than just letting them out, to avoid contracting this COVID-19. In Indiana, African Americans comprise 30% of the prison population and only 9% of Indianas general population, according to Ariella Sult, communications director for ACLU of Indiana. Issues such as mental health, addictions and difficulties paying bail lead to higher levels of incarceration for African Americans not because Black people commit more crime, said Rosie Bryant, lead organizer for Faith in Indiana, a local chapter of community network Faith in Action. According to data released by the Indiana State Department of Health, African American Hoosiers make up over 18% of cases throughout the state, and 19% of COVID-19 related deaths. Advocates say its likely this disparity will play out in prisons and jails especially since cases of the virus are occuring between inmates and employees. During the April 14 press conference, Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box confirmed the first death of an inmate following a positive COVID-19 test. The man, in his 70s and incarcerated at the Westville Correctional Facility. Since then, 87 inmates at Westville Correctional Facility have tested positive for COVID-19. According to a representative from the Indiana Department of Corrections (IDOC), 233 inmates across 10 Indiana correctional facilities tested positive for COVID-19 as of April 21. Seven Indiana inmates have died. We urge everyone to contact the governor and get him to reconsider, said Jane Henegar, executive director of American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Indiana. Its the overwhelming opinion of public health officials across the country that jails and prisons, especially those in Indiana that are overcrowded, are petri dishes for this virus. In what seems to be in conflict with Holcombs view, Box appears to agree with Henegar. Like any congregate living situation, our correctional facilities are ripe for rapid transmission of COVID-19, she said during a daily press conference. Beyond inadequate facilities to effectively practice social distancing, prisoners are only tested if they exhibit symptoms. In neighboring Ohio, testing is more comprehensive and more prisoners are tested. Dr. Kristen Dauss, chief medical officer for the IDOC, said in an April 21 press conference there are no plans to replicate the testing procedure in Indiana. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett is taking a different approach. On March 12, Mayor Joe Hogsett directed Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department to issue summonses as opposed to arresting individuals outright for nonviolent offenses in order to curb overcrowding in Marion County jails. Marion County was one of the first counties in Indiana to begin releasing inmates at the beginning of the pandemic. Advocates are concerned about everyone inside a jail or prison is at risk of contracting and spreading the virus. As of April 16, IDOC has confirmed that 58 staff members tested positive for COVID-19. Those guards come back out in the community and put everyone at risk, Ajabu said. The ACLU of Indiana penned an open letter calling for the release those at high risk for complications from COVID-19, as well as those who were set to be released in the near future. While a pandemic isnt an ideal time to ease inmates into reentry, several foundations, including Lilly Endowment, created funds to help find housing and resources. This pandemic highlights the cost to society of having a system that goes default to incarceration, Henegar said. You can speculate a lot about what happens if people are released from jail but we cant retain people in jails and prisons that are overcrowded, especially people who have underlying health situations that make them particularly susceptible. Ajabu hopes people of all faiths join together to advocate for what he says is the humane course of action. Jesus said to put God first, Ajabu said. And the second thing is to treat people like you want to be treated. If you are within the Christian faith, Muslim, Bahai, Jewish our foundation of that faith is to treat people like you want to be treated. Im asking the governor and Dr. Box to embrace their humanity and set the captives free. I dont know any clergy members or religious leaders that wouldnt agree with that. Contact staff writer Breanna Cooper at 317-762-7848. Follow her on Twitter @BreannaNCooper. inmate at the county jailThinkstock Images Nairobi (Kenya): In the largest slum in Kenyas capital, people desperate to eat set off a stampede during a recent giveaway of flour and cooking oil, leaving scores injured and two people dead. In India, thousands of workers are lining up twice a day for bread and fried vegetables to keep hunger at bay. And across Colombia, poor households are hanging red clothing and flags from their windows and balconies as a sign that they are hungry. We dont have any money, and now we need to survive, said Pauline Karushi, who lost her job at a jewelry business in Nairobi and lives in two rooms with her child and four other relatives. That means not eating much. The coronavirus pandemic has brought hunger to millions of people around the world. National lockdowns and social distancing measures are drying up work and incomes, and are likely to disrupt agricultural production and supply routes leaving millions to worry how they will get enough to eat. The coronavirus has sometimes been called an equalizer because it has sickened both rich and poor, but when it comes to food, the commonality ends. It is poor people, including large segments of poorer nations, who are now going hungry and facing the prospect of starving. The coronavirus has been anything but a great equalizer, said Asha Jaffar, a volunteer who brought food to families in the Nairobi slum of Kibera after the fatal stampede. Its been the great revealer, pulling the curtain back on the class divide and exposing how deeply unequal this country is. Already, 135 million people had been facing acute food shortages, but now with the pandemic, 130 million more could go hungry in 2020, said Arif Husain, chief economist at the World Food Program, a UN agency. Altogether, an estimated 265 million people could be pushed to the brink of starvation by years end. Weve never seen anything like this before, Husain said. It wasnt a pretty picture to begin with, but this makes it truly unprecedented and uncharted territory. The world has experienced severe hunger crises before, but those were regional and caused by one factor or another extreme weather, economic downturns, wars or political instability. This hunger crisis, experts say, is global and caused by a multitude of factors linked to the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing interruption of the economic order: the sudden loss in income for countless millions who were already living hand-to-mouth; the collapse in oil prices; widespread shortages of hard currency from tourism drying up; overseas workers not having earnings to send home; and ongoing problems like climate change, violence, population dislocations and humanitarian disasters. Already, from Honduras to South Africa to India, protests and looting have broken out amid frustrations from lockdowns and worries about hunger. With classes shut down, more than 368 million children have lost the nutritious meals and snacks they normally receive in school. There is no shortage of food globally, or mass starvation from the pandemic yet. But logistical problems in planting, harvesting and transporting food will leave poor countries exposed in the coming months, especially those reliant on imports, said Johan Swinnen, director general of the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington. While the system of food distribution and retailing in rich nations is organized and automated, he said, systems in developing countries are labor intensive, making these supply chains much more vulnerable to Covid-19 and social distancing regulations. Yet even if there is no major surge in food prices, the food security situation for poor people is likely to deteriorate significantly worldwide. This is especially true for economies like Sudan and Zimbabwe that were struggling before the outbreak, or those like Iran that have increasingly used oil revenues to finance critical goods like food and medicine. In Venezuela, the pandemic could deal a devastating blow to millions already living in the worlds largest economic collapse outside wartime. In the sprawling Petare slum on the outskirts of the capital, Caracas, a nationwide lockdown has left Freddy Bastardo and five others in his household without jobs. Their government-supplied rations, which had arrived only once every two months before the crisis, have long run out. We are already thinking of selling things that we dont use in the house to be able to eat, said Bastardo, 25, a security guard. I have neighbors who dont have food, and Im worried that if protests start, we wouldnt be able to get out of here. Uncertainty over food is also building in India, where daily-wage workers with little or no social safety net face a future where hunger is a more immediate threat than the virus. As wages have dried up, half a million people are estimated to have left cities to walk home, setting off the nations largest mass migration since independence, said Amitabh Behar, the chief executive of Oxfam India. On a recent evening, hundreds of migrant workers, who have been stuck in New Delhi after a lockdown was imposed in March with little warning, sat under the shade of a bridge waiting for food to arrive. The Delhi government has set up soup kitchens, yet workers like Nihal Singh go hungry as the throngs at these centers have increased in recent days. Instead of coronavirus, the hunger will kill us, said Singh, who was hoping to eat his first meal in a day. Migrants waiting in food lines have fought each other over a plate of rice and lentils. Singh said he was ashamed to beg for food but had no other option. The lockdown has trampled on our dignity, he said. Refugees and people living in conflict zones are likely to be hit the hardest. The curfews and restrictions on movement are already devastating the meager incomes of displaced people in Uganda and Ethiopia, the delivery of seeds and farming tools in South Sudan and the distribution of food aid in the Central African Republic. Containment measures in Niger, which hosts almost 60,000 refugees fleeing conflict in Mali, have led to surges in the pricing of food, according to the International Rescue Committee. The effects of the restrictions may cause more suffering than the disease itself, said Kurt Tjossem, regional vice president for East Africa at the International Rescue Committee. Ahmad Bayoush, a construction worker who had been displaced to Idlib province in northern Syria, said that he and many others had signed up to receive food from aid groups, but that it had yet to arrive. I am expecting real hunger if it continues like this in the north, he said. The pandemic is also slowing efforts to deal with the historic locust plague that has been ravaging the East and Horn of Africa. The outbreak is the worst the region has seen in decades and comes on the heels of a year marked by extreme droughts and floods. But the arrival of billions of new swarms could further deepen food insecurity, said Cyril Ferrand, head of the Food and Agriculture Organizations resilience team in eastern Africa. Travel bans and airport closures, Ferrand said, are interrupting the supply of pesticides that could help limit the locust population and save pastureland and crops. As many go hungry, there is concern in a number of countries that food shortages will lead to social discord. In Colombia, residents of the coastal state of La Guajira have begun blocking roads to call attention to their need for food. In South Africa, rioters have broken into neighborhood food kiosks and faced off with police. And even charitable food giveaways can expose people to the virus when throngs appear, as happened in Nairobis shantytown of Kibera earlier this month. People called each other and came rushing, said Valentine Akinyi, who works at the district government office where the food was distributed. People have lost jobs. It showed you how hungry they are. To assuage the impact of this crisis, some governments are fixing prices on food items, delivering free food and putting in place plans to send money transfers to the poorest households. Yet communities across the world are also taking matters into their own hands. Some are raising money through crowdfunding platforms, while others have begun programs to buy meals for needy families. On a recent afternoon, Jaffar and a group of volunteers made their way through Kibera, bringing items like sugar, flour, rice and sanitary pads to dozens of families. A native of the area herself, Jaffar said she started the food drive after hearing so many stories from families who said they and their children were going to sleep hungry. The food drive has so far reached 500 families. But with all the calls for assistance shes getting, she said, thats a drop in the ocean. Abdi Latif Dahir@c.2020 The New York Times Company She's been occupying her time in lockdown with daily workout sessions. And Melanie Sykes was at it again on Thursday, as she showcased her washboard abs in a tiny white crop top following a 'challenging' yoga routine. The presenter, 49, looked stunning in her Instagram snap, before later sharing throwback snaps from her younger days ahead of her famed appearance in the Boddington's Beer adverts. Looking good: Melanie Sykes showcased her washboard abs in a tiny white crop top following a 'challenging' yoga routine on Thursday In the fitness snap, Mel rested her head on her hand as she gazed into the camera, while showing off her lithe frame in a white crop top and black gym leggings. The star went make-up free for the candid snap, with her face bathed in sunlight as she sat beneath her window. Captioning the snap, she wrote: 'So this morning I wanted to have a bit of a work out with my yoga, so I did one of Adrienes weight loss 1 hour practices. 'It was challenging and a nice wake up for my body. My hayfever eyes however are still shot to s**t lol hope you are keeping well. #namaste #yogapractice much love as always, Melanie x.' Younger years: The presenter, 49, looked stunning in her Instagram snap, before later sharing throwback snaps from her younger days ahead of her famed appearance in the Boddington's Beer adverts The media personality later shared a series of throwback images of her dress fittings ahead of her appearance in the Boddington's adverts back in 1996. In one snap, the star looked stunning as she modelled a white high-neck dress ahead of her very first commercial. The second showed her lounging on her side as she shot the famous advert in Malibu, California. Mel also shared other images of the script and story board for the advert, as well as the originally fax informing her of the casting. Captioning the images, she penned: 'Heres a little bundle of pics for my throwback Thursday. So the first one is a poloroid from the fitting I had for the dress that was made for me for my first Boddingtons commercial ( I hate fitting photos and any stylist who has ever worked with me knows how uncomfortable I am with it, Im always like just cut my head off ) lol. Throwback: The media personality later shared a series of throwback images of her dress fittings ahead of her appearance in the Boddington's adverts back in 1996 'Anyway the next pic is me on the ad fully made up in the dress. The other pics are from the script and story board. I also have the original fax that was sent to my hotel on a modelling job from my agent telling me about the casting & the script for it back in 96. 'I was 26, we shot it in Malibu and it was the first time I had ever been required to speak in an advert needless to say I was nervous as hell but found a groove under the brilliant direction of Daniel Kleinman. #boddingtons #modellingcareer #tbt Aye, Tarquil, are your trollies ont right way round lol xxxx.' The post comes days after the beauty shared more retro snaps from her younger years as she took part in the #MeAt20 challenge. In the beginning: Mel also shared other images of the script and story board for the advert, as well as the originally fax informing her of the casting In the images, Melanie is seen in an idyllic beach setting in California as she beams at the camera. Wearing a colourful blue patterned sarong and sported cropped locks, the star looked radiant as she posed for the snaps. Captioning the images, The Great Pottery Throw Down host gave an insight into her life at the time, revealing that she'd just left home and travelled quite a lot. Melanie wrote: 'I am loving the #MeAt20 posts you little cuties. This is mine. Its me at a beautiful lagoon in Baja California , shot on a disposable camera after a day shooting for a magazine. Way back when: The post comes days after the beauty shared more retro snaps from her younger years as she took part in the #MeAt20 challenge 'Id left home the year before and had travelled pretty consistently since. Been to many places, knew absolutely nothing ! What a cheese ball lol.' And though the pictures were taken almost 30 years ago, fans of the beauty insist she's barely aged a day since. Taking to the comments, one person wrote: 'How have you not aged?! I want whatever you're on.' While another remarked: 'You've aged in an absolutely unbelievable way! Incredible.' With a third commenting: 'beautiful lady, you dont look like youve aged.' Youthful: In the images, Melanie is seen in an idyllic beach setting in California as she beams at the camera, wearing a colourful blue patterned sarong and sporting cropped locks Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 04:29:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese Ambassador to Greece Zhang Qiyue speaks at the donation handover ceremony in Athens, Greece, on April 22, 2020. Greece welcomed on Wednesday the donation by China to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus at hosting facilities, where thousands of refugees and migrants are accommodated. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) ATHENS, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Greece welcomed on Wednesday the donation by China to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus at hosting facilities, where thousands of refugees and migrants are accommodated. Chinese Ambassador to Greece Zhang Qiyue delivered to Alternate Migration and Asylum Minister Giorgos Koumoutsakos 20,000 surgical masks to be distributed to reception centers for asylum seekers on the Aegean Sea islands and wherever deemed necessary. More than 38,500 people are currently in overcrowded camps on five islands, according to the latest data provided by the Greek government. "Five thousand of the 20,000 masks that we received today will go straight to Kranidi," Koumoutsakos told media during the event at the Greek ministry. More than 150 coronavirus cases were confirmed this week at a hotel hosting 470 asylum seekers in the southern Greek town. The hotel has been sealed off and a 14-day curfew has been imposed on the entire town. "We thank you, and this is also a message of good cooperation between the countries to counter a common threat, the pandemic that has affected the entire world..." Koumoutsakos said. "We know that this is a critical time for the prevention of COVID-19, so we are happy to be of help," the ambassador told journalists. The ambassador also praised Greece for its efficient response to the pandemic. On March 21, China delivered the first large shipment of medical supplies to Greece to help it fight the pandemic. The total number of COVID-19 infections in Greece now stands at 2,408, with 121 deaths. The country's first case was confirmed on Feb. 26. Enditem Asked about rumours that bars and restaurants would be allowed to re open on June15th, at a press briefing on Wednesday, government spokesperson Sibeth Ndiaye said she could not give confirmation. She was speaking after ministers responsible for different sectors had delivered their ideas on lifting lockdown to Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and top civil servant Jean Castex, who has been charged with devising a plan. It has already been announced that some children will go back to school on May 11 and the Education minister has promised arrangements will be in place by then to ensure the safety of teachers and pupils. It's hoped some other sectors can re open on May 11 and Castex is consulting widely to understand the challenges before finalizing the plan. Among those he has already sounded out are France's Mayors, the elected officials deemed to have the closest relationship with ordinary French people. It is so far unclear whether the public will be obliged to wear masks when lockdown is eased. The government has declared that workplaces and public areas can only re-open if they are safe for employees and the public. Widespread testing for coronavirus has been promised but there is so far little information about how the programme of testing would work. Businesses worried Small and medium sized firms are worried about the cost of modifying workspaces and work practices to comply with new coronavirus-related health and safety requirements. Many have already lost business because of the lockdown. Employers are also nervous about liability if employees become infected, especially as the behaviour of the virus and its methods of contamination are still not fully understood. Larger companies can inevitably cope better with the post-lockdown world. The operations manager of Jennyfer, a clothes chain, says the company is keen to re open on May 11 if possible. Similar stores are awaiting the necessary equipment to protect staff and customers, including plexiglass screens. The rail transport giant, Alstom says it plans to keep many employees working from home, with smaller teams working in shifts to ensure a permanent presence on sites. Kaufman and Broad, a construction company which builds offices and homes, told Le Figaro magazine that work will have resumed at 70-80 per cent of its sites by the end of April. But complex major public building sites look set to remain closed for some time. Transport is a key area of uncertainty and a system must be found to ensure social distancing in stations as well as on trains and buses. It is possible that more people will choose to travel by car than before the lockdown. Regions differently impacted The spread and impact of the virus has been uneven throughout France, and it's likely that the government will decide against a one size fits all policy. You can't treat a bar with a restaurant in a town where there has been little incidence of the virus in the same way as a business on the Champs Elysees, insists Herve Morin, the leader of the Normandy Regional Authority, who argues for flexibility. Last fall, Gregory Gourdet had to cancel his final event at Feast Portland, the popular food and drink festival, so he could head to Los Angeles to film Top Chef" Season 17. For Gourdet, the all stars season of the Bravo cooking competition represented a chance for him to win, after he had come tantalizingly close, finishing second in Top Chef Season 12. Now, as the new Top Chef season airs on Bravo, Gourdet is at his Portland home, like so many other restaurant professionals whose workplaces are closed to diners, a result of lockdowns meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Im actually trying to finish my book," Gourdet says, in a phone conversation. His cookbook, Everyones Table: Global Recipes for Modern Health, is scheduled to publish next year. Gourdet had also been looking forward to opening his own restaurant sometime in 2020, but those plans are on hold, as well. (How to watch Top Chef": Top Chef airs at 10 p.m. Thursdays on Bravo. No cable or antenna? Live stream, or catch up on episodes you may have missed, on Hulu, Hulu + Live TV or fuboTV) Gourdet is the former executive chef at Departure, the restaurant located in The Nines hotel in downtown Portland. He continues to be Departures director of culinary operations. As with establishments across Portland and throughout the country, Departure suspended operations in compliance with Oregon Gov. Kate Browns mid-March announcement that banned sit-down dining. We decided to shut it down hours before the governor instructed us to, Gourdet says. For safety, we had gone into discussions about doing the best thing for everyone. Departure was still busy, and having a great Dining Month. But with things happening as quickly as they were, we made the decision. On a conference call this week with the governors office, Gourdet says, he heard some discussion about what re-opening restaurants and bars might look like. Its a challenging time, he says. Its still pretty scary. Theres a lot of discussion about social distancing, and masks still being part of the dining experience. For Gourdet, the biggest concern is smaller operations, where enforcing a six-foot distance between tables would be difficult. Are you able to make numbers with so few guests? he says. Theres still a lot of work to do. With the dining experience altered almost overnight, for many, a show like Top Chef has been a nostalgic reminder of the expertise and ability that trained chefs bring to the work of creating dishes, and feeding people. We all worked really hard on it, and we wanted to put it out to the world, Gourdet says of Season 17. But more than trying to show culinary prowess, with the show airing now, Im just hoping to entertain people, and give them a little bit of a break from the news, and worries about restaurants being open. Watching Top Chef" now, Gourdet says, means that for at least an hour a week, he can think about something other than the health and economic crisis the pandemic has brought to the country. Its just a fun, little hour," Gourdet says, "when we get to enjoy some really amazing chefs, and remember what restaurant culture used to be like. Ive just always felt like I wanted to go back on the show, Gourdet says, adding he had a really good experience the first time he competed. Its one of the hardest things Ive been through, but you just learn so much about yourself, what kind of a chef you are, and what kind of a person you are. It inspires you to get back into the world and learn more about food. Staying at home has given Gourdet a chance to practice his craft, he says. Ive been having a great time cooking. As a chef in a restaurant, and a bachelor who lives by himself, I havent had too much opportunity to cook for myself. Its been good, and good to support the stores that are open, and patronize take-out, as well. While many may be missing the simple pleasures of meeting friends for meals at restaurants, Gourdet emphasizes the serious nature of the coronavirus crisis. This is something that will go down in the history of society, he says. Its something that we havent seen since 1918, with the Spanish flu. As for the plan to open his own restaurant, Gourdet says, thats still top of mind, but my concern is just being able to support everyone else re-opening, and see what restaurants in Portland look like at the end of this year. Oregonians identify by our food and beverage culture, our artisan culture, and our maker culture. A big piece of us is not functioning right now, and I definitely appreciate all the restaurateurs and people who are just pushing through, having a to-go model, using their spaces to feed front-line hospital workers, and people staying active and connected. More of our coverage: -- Kristi Turnquist kturnquist@oregonian.com 503-221-8227 @Kristiturnquist Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. The Daily Beast Scott Olson/GettyDonald Trump abruptly ended an interview with NPR on Tuesday after he was repeatedly called out on his baseless claims of election fraud in the 2020 presidential election.A video of the interview, published Wednesday morning, shows Trump becoming increasingly irritated as NPRs Steve Inskeep asks him why hes still pushing debunked conspiracy theories about his 2020 defeat.After Inskeep told the ex-president that his fraud claims have repeatedly been proven false, the reporter a Some of Britains most recognisable faces united to entertain the nation as part of BBC Ones Big Night In, which raised more than 27 million for charity. The programme featured the first new Little Britain sketch in more than 10 years, a lockdown version of The Trip by Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon and even included a surprise performance from the Duke of Cambridge. William appeared in a Blackadder sketch alongside Stephen Fry just before the clap for carers took place. Expand Close The duke appeared in a sketch with Stephen Fry (BBC TV/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The duke appeared in a sketch with Stephen Fry (BBC TV/PA) He told the actor and comedian: On my way, let me just see if I can find my socks, and my shoes, and my trousers. The programme also featured a host of musical performances from artists including Gary Barlow, Sam Smith and Celeste. Smith performed an isolation version of their song Lay Me Down, while Celeste sang a cover of Bill Withers Lean On Me. Foo Fighters also led a star-studded group of musicians including Dua Lipa and Chris Martin in a charity cover of their song Times Like These. There were also comedy performances from David Tennant and Catherine Tate, Miranda Hart and Dawn French. Video of the Day A reworked version of the music video for Peter Kays (Is This The Way To) Amarillo, which featured members of the public and emergency service workers, was also aired during the programme. YouTuber Joe Sugg gave his girlfriend Dianne Buswell a lockdown haircut while the programme was being broadcast. He gave the dancer a drastic makeover, cutting a large chunk of her hair off and spraying it with a hair dye. In addition to the performances and celebrity appearances, there were also a number of charity appeals during the programme. Chancellor Rishi Sunak appeared on the show to urge viewers to give generously, saying that the Government would match all donations. He said: We are all worried, worried about our health, our friends, our family, but I also know when we look back and remember that in this time of crisis that we came together as a country. Proud to be matching your donations to #TheBigNightIn pound for pound. Share and click below to donate Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) April 23, 2020 We were there for each other and that is what the Big Night In is all about. Im so grateful to everyone who has donated tonight and dont forget the Government has pledged to match every pound you donate, so please do give generously. At the beginning of the programme Sir Lenny Henry, who was presenting the programme, said: It is important to know you may be at home but you are not alone. The programme was a collaboration between BBC Children In Need and Comic Relief and was raising money for the two charities. Funds raised by the programme are being split equally between the organisations to provide support to local projects and programmes across the UK during the coronavirus pandemic. A major Chinese pharmaceutical company has invited a premier national health institute of Pakistan to collaborate in conducting clinical trials of its recently developed inactivated vaccine for COVID-19 in Pakistan, a media report said on Thursday. The Islamabad-based National Institute of Health (NIH) received the offer from China Sinopharm International Corp for the successful clinical trials in Pakistan to make it one of the first few countries for the launch of a COVID-19 vaccine, the Dawn newspaper website reported. The letter of invitation was sent to NIH Executive Director Maj Gen Dr Aamer Ikram by the general manager of China Sinopharm International Corp, Li Can. Ikram said that although no action has so far been taken, the collaboration with the Chinese pharmaceutical major could be "a great thing for Pakistan". "We want to increase the trend of clinical trials in the country. There are a number of laws before it can start; it has to be approved by the ethics committee...but we will start when we get the clearance," he was quoted as saying to the Dawn website. Ikram said the benefits from the clinical trials being held in Pakistan will be that if the vaccine proves to be successful, the country will be able to procure it on a high-priority basis. China is where the COVID-19 infection broke out in December last year and killed over 4,000 people. Later it spread to several parts of the world, including Pakistan,where till now it has claimed the lives of over 220 people. The NIH is an autonomous organisation that functions under the ministry of national health services. A state-owned enterprise, Sinopharm produces more than 80 per cent of the mandatory immunisation needs of China and played a leading role in fighting the COVID-19 crisis in the country. "In the process we developed a lot of practical insights that we would like to share with you," reads the letter written to the NIH chief, noting that the two organisations have already been collaborating regarding vaccine development in Pakistan. It said that regulatory authorities worldwide have initiated emergency protocols to facilitate clinical trials and early introduction of a COVID-19 vaccine. In China, Phase I and II of the clinical trials have been combined to speed up the process. The Chinese pharma company recommended that Pakistan adopt a similar approach through the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). It noted that the NIH has the necessary technical expertise and elements for conducting clinical trials on recruited participants through a nominated medical institution. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo President of the Republic of Ghana Jubilee House Dear Mr. President, Petition: Plugging huge revenue gaps occasioned by Covid-19: GCNET and West Blue remain your best port revenue assurers. Greetings your Excellency! I hope you and your family are doing well in these perilous times. I have not heard from your office since I petitioned you on crucial trade facilitation issues occasioned by the apparent termination of the contracts of West Blue and GCNET. Ordinarily, an acknowledgement of my letter to your office would have sufficed but never mind, we are all aware of your strenuous efforts to contain the covid-19 pandemic. If on the other hand you are still expecting the respective sector Ministers of Trade and Finance to provide responses, then before they do, may I bring to your attention additional worrying incidents of false starts with the UNI-PASS system. The state-owned daily, The Ghanaian Times, on April 20, 2020 published the header Freight forwarders decry delays in clearing goods at Takoradi Port. The paper stated among others that; Some freight forwarders at the Takoradi Port have expressed dissatisfaction about the failure of the UNI-PASS system to clear goods electronically and seamlessly at the port. They alleged that since April 1, when Ghana Link Services started to implement the UNI-PASS/Integrated Customs Management Systems (ICUMS), valuation was being done manually resulting in delays in clearing of goods. Sources among the freight forwarders at the Takoradi Port said unlike the GCNet/West Blue systems where documents were electronically available for direct access anytime and any day in the end to end chain that was not the case with the new UNI-PASS /ICUMS systems (See https://www.ghanaiantimes.com.gh/freight-forwarders-decry-delays-in-clearing-goods-at-takoradi-port/) A second report published two days ago by the influential Business and Financial Times newspaper titled Takoradi port goes back to manual process as angry importers call for unipass-icums halt stated among others; There is total chaos at the Takoradi Port since April 1, when Ghana Link services started to implement its supposedly superior UNIPASS/Integrated Customs Management Systems (ICUMS), with freight forwarders left frustrated and in utter shock and disappointment. The frustrated Freight forwarders are mulling over the failure of the UNIPASS system to clear goods electronically and seamlessly at Takoradi Port. Currently, valuation is being done manually at Takoradi Port, resulting in delays when clearing goods. Sources among the Freight forwarders at Takoradi say, unlike the GCNet/West Blue system wherein documents are electronically available for direct access anytime, any day in the end to end chain, that is not so with the new UNIPASS/ICUMS systems. While importers are not able to access the Tax Identification Numbers of their companies and other registration details in the new system, the system-handlers themselves are having challenges with manifest declarations, handling and processing. The paper has it that only two vessels have so far docked at Takoradi Port since closure of the country's borders. However, the UNIPASS/ICUM system has not been able to release even 20 percent of about 300 containers on the first vessel that docked at the port two weeks ago, not to talk of the second vessel which docked last week. (See https://thebftonline.com/2020/economy/takoradi-port-goes-back-to-manual-process-as-angry-importers-call-for-unipass-icums-halt/ ) A third report published a week earlier by Multimedia, titled UNI-PASS failure puts government under intense pressure predicted the above situation. (See https://www.myjoyonline.com/opinion/UNI-PASS -failure-puts-government-under-intense-pressure/) The above reports do not only deal a blow to the enhanced paperless system that propelled an increase in port revenues from GHS 8bn in 2016 to a little over GHS 13bn in 2017 and 2018, working with WEST BLUE and GCNET port technologies, it is likely to detract from the assured average daily revenues of almost GHS 33m and ultimately jeopardise the flow of trade. It is entirely probable that these incidents of false starts with the UNI-PASS system are expected with installing new technology systems. However, it is difficult to ascertain this claim, as there has been no independent verification of the robustness of the system. Second and crucially, this is not the time to be playing games with the most significant revenue earner for the country. Covid-19 has erased almost 6% of the country's expected end-year growth of 7.5% leaving in its trail huge gaps in our finances. Our Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta wrote a sobering article in last week's Financial Times, titled 'What does an African finance minister do now?' in the light of COVID-19. Ken correctly understands that The world is changing. The German chancellor doesn't want to hear about debt-to-GDP ratios. Unthinkable stimulus packages are being announced, trumping orthodoxies and with no talk of a moral hazard: the G20 packages may end up close to $8tn. Their generous tool kits are not available to us. I am green with envy ...I need answers he said. I am also envious of the fact that Ghana, a lower-middle-income country was left out of these generous debt-relief packages for the poorest 77 countries of the world- even though we managed to receive almost $500m in debt stand still from the World Bank. This amount constitutes less than a third of guaranteed port revenues for this year under the GCNET-WEST BLUE ports systems scenario pre-COVID-19. So, in taking up the Finance Minister's request for answers, I can only suggest the following re - UNI-PASS. Temporarily suspend operations of UNI-PASS and allow GCNET and West Blue to operate for the remainder of the year in order to assure the nation of revenues, most likely GHS10bn given depressed trade activity due to covid-19. Conduct an independent review of the UNI-PASS system. The Ministry of Trade and Finance should share revenue projections from implementing UNI-PASS with Ghanaians. I do not know what data Custom and Tax Commissioners presented to your Trade and Finance Ministers and the Senior Minister's Task Force on ports to warrant your apparent blessing of the UNI-PASS system. However, I am convinced that when the above steps are sanctioned, these officers who appear to be taking directives from superiors with non-existent data will have a rethink. They could be vindicated on the superiority of UNI-PASS too. Right now though is not the time for playing games. Revenues are a critical part of this country's path to recovery post covid-19, and I agree with a very Senior Official in Ghana's Finance Ministry, who justified your suspension of the partial lockdown to me; that " The economic cost is so significant, no revenues coming in at all, we won't be able to function economically." Indeed, we are in the worst of times, in choppy waters. Let us not rock the boat any further. Yours sincerely, Franklin Cudjoe (Founding President& CEO) CC: 1. H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia The Vic- President Office of the Vice-President 2. Dr. Amoako Tuffour Secretary to the Economic Management Team Office of the Vice-President 3. Nana Asante Bediatuo Executive Secretary to the President Jubilee House 4. Mrs. Akosua Frema-Opare Chief of Staff Office of the President 5. Mr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah Ag. Commissioner-General Ghana Revenue Authority 6. Col. Kwadwo Damoah Ag. Comm Customs Division Ghana Revenue Authority 7. Ms. Julie Essiam Ag. Comm Support Services Division Ghana Revenue Authority 8. Mr. Edward Gyamera Ag. Comm DTRD Ghana Revenue Authority 9. Prof. Stephen Adei GRA Board chairman Ghana Revenue Authority 10. Executive Chairman Ghana Community Network 11. Hon. Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah Deputy Minister Ministry of Trade and Industry 12. Chief Executive Officer West Blue Consulting Ghana 13. Hon. Robert Ahomka Lindsay Deputy Minister Ministry of Trade and Industry 14. Dr. Yaw Adu-Gyamfi President Association of Ghana Industries 15. Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta The Minister Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning 16. Chief Executive Director Ghana Link Network Services. 17. The Economic Management Team Jubilee House 18. The Chairman Trade, Industry Committee Parliament of Ghana. 19. Hon. Dr Mark Assibey Yeboah The Chairman Finance Committee Parliament of Ghana 20. Mr. Samson Asaki Executive Secretary Importers and Exporters Association 21. Hon. Osei Kyei-Mensa Bonsu Majority Leader Parliament of Ghana 22. Mr. Yofi Grant Chief Executive Officer Ghana Investment Promotion Centre 23. Hon. Haruna Iddrisu Minority Learder Parliament of Ghana 24. Ms. Sandra Opoku Ag. Director of Port Tema Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority. 25. Mr. Edward Akrong The President Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders 26. Hon. Kwaku Kwarteng Deputy Minister of Finance Ministry of Finance 27. Dr. Joseph Obeng GUTA President 28. Mr. Michael Luguje Director-General Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority. NEW YORK, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Logicalis US announced today that it has been named to the 2020 Tech Elite 250 list by CRN, a brand of The Channel Company. This annual list recognizes the top tier of North American IT solution providers that have earned the highest number of advanced technical certifications from leading technology suppliers, scaled to their company size. These organizations have differentiated themselves as premier solution providers, earning multiple, top-level IT certifications, specializations, and partner program designations from the industry's most prestigious technology providers. "As our customers drive digital transformation within their organizations, the strength of our partnerships and value behind our technical certifications enable us to be true architects of change," said Jon Groves, CEO of Logicalis US. "Being named among the Tech Elite 250 underscores the Logicalis US teams' commitment to provide outstanding services and solutions, and we are honored to be recognized to this prestigious list." Logicalis US certifications span across its verticals and practice areas. The company is a Cisco Global Gold member and recently received Microsoft Azure Expert Managed Service Provider status. "Solution providers that continue to pursue vendor certifications and extend their skill sets across various technologies and IT practices are proving their commitment to delivering the greatest business value to their customers through an incomparable level of service," said Bob Skelley, CEO of The Channel Company. "Our CRN Tech Elite 250 list recognizes leading solution providers with expansive technical knowledge and esteemed certifications for exactly that reason." Each year, The Channel Company's research group and CRN editors work together to identify the most customer-centric technical certifications in the North American IT channel. Solution providers that have earned these elite designations enabling them to deliver exclusive products, services, and customer support are then selected from a pool of online applicants. The full list is online at www.CRN.com/TechElite250. About Logicalis Logicalis is an international solutions provider of digital services currently accelerating the digital transformation of its 10,000 customers around the world. Through a globally connected network of specialist hubs, sector-leading experts (in education, financial services, government, healthcare, manufacturing, professional services, retail and telecommunications) and strategic partnerships (including Cisco, Microsoft, HPE, IBM, NetApp, Oracle, ServiceNow, and VMware), Logicalis has more than 6,500 employees focused on understanding customer priorities and enhancing their experience. As Architects of Change, Logicalis' focus is to design, support, and execute customers' digital transformation by bringing together their vision with its technological expertise and industry insights. The company, through its deep knowledge in key IT industry drivers such as Security, Cloud, Data Management and IoT, can address customer priorities such as revenue and business growth, operational efficiency, innovation, risk and compliance, data governance and sustainability. The Logicalis Group has annualized revenues of $1.7 billion, from operations in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Africa. It is a division of Datatec Limited, listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, with revenues of over $4.3 billion. For more information, visit https://www.logicalis.com/ 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 unequalled 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 2020 The Channel Company, LLC. CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. SOURCE Logicalis Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ivany Atina Arbi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 24, 2020 08:01 628 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3eab64 1 National Lebaran,puasa,Ramadan-2020,ramadan,ramadhan,fasting-month,Religious-Affairs-Ministry,Fachrul-Razi,Idul-Fitri Free The government has announced that this years Ramadan will start on Friday following a limited isbat (confirmation) meeting with several Islamic organizations and other relevant parties in Jakarta on Thursday. "After taking into account the hisab [astronomical calculation] and rukyat [new moon observation] methods, we have determined that the first day of Ramadan this year will fall tomorrow on Friday," Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi said. He called on Muslims to refrain from attending religious gatherings or performing the tarawih (evening Ramadan prayers) in congregations during the COVID-19 outbreak to avoid the risk of contracting the disease. "We also discourage ziarah [visiting relatives graves] and the Idul Fitri mudik [exodus], which could potentially spread the disease," the minister said, adding that those who fasted should pay attention to their nutritional intake to boost their immunity. Read also: Ramadan starts early in Maluku villages, people flock to mosques The governments decision to start Ramadan on Friday was endorsed by all major Islamic organizations, including the second-largest in the country, Muhammadiyah, which had for years set different dates for the start of the fasting month. Muhammadiyah, which only uses the hisab method to determine when Ramadan begins, announced in late February that the fasting month would start on Friday, while Idul Fitri would fall on May 24. Ramadan is expected to last for 30 days. The government will hold another isbat meeting in late May to determine the date of Idul Fitri. Various Islamic groups in Indonesia use different methods to determine the start of Ramadan on the Islamic Hijriyah calendar, which is based on lunar observations. For example, the An Nazir sect in Gowa, South Sulawesi, marked Thursday as day one of fasting after making calculations based on the highest tidal waves. The Tareqat Naqsabandiyah in West Sumatra also started Ramadan on Thursday, as reported by local media outlets. It used the hisab-munjid method, a mixture of mathematical and astronomical calculations. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 01:08:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov on Thursday warned against Israel's planned annexation of occupied Palestinian territory. "The dangerous prospect of annexation by Israel of parts of the occupied West Bank is a growing threat," Mladenov told the Security Council. "If such a move were implemented, it would constitute a serious violation of international law, deal a devastating blow to the two-state solution, close the door to a renewal of negotiations, and threaten efforts to advance regional peace." On Monday, the two leading political parties in Israel signed a coalition agreement to form a government. The two sides agreed on advancing annexation of parts of the West Bank, starting July 1, 2020, said Mladenov in his virtual briefing. The Palestinian Authority has threatened that if this move takes place, it will cancel the implementation of all bilateral agreements, he said. Moves to annex land and to accelerate settlement expansion, combined with the devastating impact of COVID-19, can ignite the situation and destroy any hope of peace, warned Mladenov. "The path of unilateral action will only lead to more conflict and suffering." However, he said, there is a different path -- one of working together to modernize and expand existing agreements, of solidifying the current relative calm in Gaza, a path of implementing the recommendations of the 2016 Middle East Quartet report and actively taking steps toward a negotiated two-state solution that is based on relevant UN resolutions, bilateral agreements and international law. Enditem Pakistan on Thursday launched USD-595 million plan to tackle the coronavirus outbreak in the country. The Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) said the Preparedness and Response Plan (PPRP) will strengthen the country's capacity in emergency prevention, preparedness, response, relief and build health systems for a period of nine months from April to December 2020. Launching the plan, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi acknowledged and appreciated the efforts of all stakeholders involved in the preparation of the PPRP. He said saving lives from the pandemic and hunger were the top priorities of the government. The minister urged world leaders to come together against coronavirus -- a "common enemy" -- and underscored the socio-economic impact of the virus. Referring to the Prime Minister Imran Khan's 'Global initiative on Debt Relief', he said Pakistan was reaching out to all stakeholders to craft a comprehensive response to the financial impacts of COVID-19. He thanked the international partners for readiness to respond to the needs of the people of Pakistan amidst COVID-19 outbreak. At the launch of the response plan, Qureshi was joined by Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar, representatives of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), United Nations, World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank (WB), Asian Development Bank (ADB) and officials from China, the EU, the US, Canada, France, Republic of Korea and Australia. A large number of representatives of UN agencies, international organisations, NGOs and media joined the launch virtually as well. Director General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom said, "The COVID-19 outbreak is creating significant additional pressure on an already overburdened health system, exacerbating the vulnerabilities of affected populations. With the fast-moving spread of the pandemic, Pakistan requires, now, more than ever, flexible and timely funding, so that it can be allocated quickly to where it is most needed." To kick-start the response plan, the World Bank has immediately made available USD 240 million package to help Pakistan take effective and timely action to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our support to Pakistan will help the country enhance its healthcare system to better respond to COVID-19, especially as the outbreak continues to evolve rapidly and affects the vulnerable Pakistanis the most," said World Bank Regional Vice President for South Asia Hartwig Schafer. The Asian Development Bank has already approved more than USD 52 million in support for Pakistan's COVID-19 pandemic response. The response plan calls on all partners to act together and utilise their resources and expertise to help implement a coordinated response across the country at federal and provincial levels. The coronavirus has claimed 230 lives in Pakistan with nearly 11,000 infections. So far 2,337 people have recovered from the killer disease. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [April 23, 2020] Statement - OMA and Sunnybrook Announce a Partnership to Improve and Expand MyChart, Canada's Largest Online Medical Records Portal for Patients TORONTO, April 23, 2020 /CNW/ - The Ontario Medical Association and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre today announced their joint effort to expand and enhance MyChart, Canada's largest personal online health portal designed specifically for patients, and through them for their families, physicians and personal care teams. "Patients have been demanding greater access to their test results and medical records so they can better understand and participate in their own health care," said Dr. Sohail Gandhi, President of the Ontario Medical Association. "Enhancements to MyChart will support this important goal and ltimately lead to improved outcomes for patients." The collaboration between the OMA and Sunnybrook will result in the expansion of the MyChart support call centre, and enable third-party primary care services such as sick notes or prescription renewals. Launched in 2006 and currently used by 625,000 patients in more than 70 Ontario hospitals and labs, MyChart is a secure online platform that supports access to medical and personal records, resources and information. This makes it easier for patients to be more involved with their own health care, move between providers, and self-monitor from home. For example, a recent enhancement now allows COVID-19 test results to be immediately posted to MyChart, with an automated email to patients telling them their results are now available for view. Access to MyChart is free for patients. "Physicians have expressed frustration with the state of health-care IT for over a decade," said Dr. Gandhi. "The expansion of virtual care that has emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates the tremendous value of investing in digital health-care solutions. MyChart is also a potential solution for Ontario's OHTs as they look to share health information." "Sunnybrook is proud to deliver an innovative solution that is making it possible for patients and their care providers to connect more quickly and easily to their health records than ever before," said Dr. Andy Smith, President and CEO, Sunnybrook. "We continue to see the reach of our MyChart portal as it expands to new areas of the health-care system, and we are thrilled to be taking this step with the OMA." About the OMA The Ontario Medical Association represents Ontario's 43,000 plus physicians, medical students and retired physicians, advocating for and supporting doctors while strengthening the leadership role of doctors in caring for patients. Our vision is to be the trusted voice in transforming Ontario's health-care system. SOURCE Ontario Medical Association [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Hrithik Roshan has been keeping the spirits high amidst lockdown. On Thursday, April 23, 2020, the actor took to his Instagram handle to wish his parents a Happy Anniversary. Hrithik shared throwback videos from when they vacationed at Switzerland, glimpses of a video chat with the entire family, and also a video of his kids Hrehaan and Hridhaan, ex-wife Sussanne Khan and him singing 'Happy Anniversary'. Hrithik is committed to celebrating life even in the midst of a crisis, and this showed in his post wishing his parents Rakesh Roshan and Pinky Roshan a 'Happy Anniversary'. He shared a video where he can be seen playing the piano with kids Hrehaan and Hridhaan and his ex-wife Sussanne singing to the tune. He captioned the post, "The spirit must dance whether outdoors or quarantined indoors !..Happy anniversary mama and papa. Love you ! 22nd April 2020 #familyspirit #bethereforeachother #naturalhairnotwigs #49years @rakesh_roshan9 @pinkieroshan," (sic). For those unaware, Sussanne has temporarily moved in with Hrithik to be able to spend time with their kids amidst the lockdown. Hrithik was grateful for Sussanne's decision, saying that it was gracious of her to do so. He shared a picture of Sussanne in the living room of his house and thanked her for being supportive and understanding in their journey of co-parenting. Hrithik has also been doing his part to support the fight against Novel Coronavirus. He has been spreading awareness using the platform of social media, and also been contributing to aid healthcare workers, daily wage workers, families of low income paparazzi, and so on. ALSO READ: Rakesh Roshan Hails Sussanne Khan's Decision To Move In With Ex Hrithik Roshan During Lockdown ALSO READ: Hrithik Roshan Says Coronavirus Should Be Scared Of Dad Rakesh Roshan; Posts Latter's Workout Video The USNS Comfort medical ship moves up the Hudson River past the Statue of Liberty as it arrives in New York on March 30, 2020. (Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty Images) Navy Hospital Ship Prepares to Leave New York City The Navys hospital ship USNS Comfort is preparing to set sail for Virginia after a three-week deployment in New York City to help with health care efforts amid the pandemic. The ship, equipped with 1,000 beds and 12 operating rooms, was docked on the west side of Manhattan for the duration of its deployment, during which time it was not needed as much as was initially feared. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious diseases expert, said at a White House briefing Wednesday, So, you remember a couple of weeks ago when we talked about the fact that we were going to have a really bad week because the deaths, particularly driven by the situation in New York, were going to get worse and worse. But yet, as that was happening, we were starting to see some turnaround, some flattening, and some coming down, he said. The New York metro area, New Jersey, Connecticut all appear to be past their peak, Vice President Mike Pence said at Wednesdays briefing. President Donald Trump and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo met Tuesday and their discussion included the Comfort. They agreed the ship could be deployed somewhere else. Ive asked Andrew if we could bring the Comfort back to its base in Virginia so that we can have it for other locations, and he said we would be able to do that, Trump said at a briefing Tuesday. Well be bringing the ship back at the earliest time, Trump continued. And well get it ready for its next mission, which will, Im sure, be a very important one also. But it wasit was an honor. Comfort was sent to New York to help offset the number of patients in city hospitals amid the outbreak of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. Following his meeting with Trump, Cuomo told MSNBC that while he appreciated having the Comfort to handle an overflow of patients, the state no longer needed it due to a decline in hospitalizations due to the virus. The president sent up a Navy ship, the Comfort, which is a hospital ship, which by the way was very good to have in case we had overflow. But I said we dont really need the Comfort anymore. It did give us comfort, but we dont need it anymore. So if they need to deploy it somewhere else, they should take it, Cuomo told the outlet. According to ABC News, 178 patients had been treated on the ship as of Tuesday. Trump, at Wednesdays briefing, said that the number of new cases of COVID-19 was falling nationwide and that he expects more states will soon be able to gradually and safely reopen. Recent hotspots appear to be stabilizing, Trump said, adding, Cases in the Boston area are now declining. The Chicago curve appears to have flattened, which is terrific. And Detroit is past its peak. These trends demonstrate that our aggressive strategy to battle the virus is working, Trump added. It got us to where we are today, Fauci said of the administrations mitigation efforts. It is a successful formula. It is the basis for our being able to say that we can now think seriously about reopening America. As of Thursday at the time of reporting, there were 263,460 confirmed cases of the CCP virus in the state of New York, including 145,855 in New York City. More than 15,740 people with COVID-19 have died in the state. Greta Thunberg speaks on stage during NYC Climate Strike rally and demonstration at Battery Park, New York on September 20, 2019. Ron Adar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg said the coronavirus emphasized the importance of expert guidance, and the same approach should be taken to solve the climate crisis. Thunberg spoke with earth systems scientist Johan Rockstrom in a digital conversation hosted by the Nobel Prize Museum on Wednesday to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. The coronavirus lockdowns have led to reduced emissions levels as people are recommended to stay home to contain the spread of the virus. However, the pandemic has upended the predicted trajectory of the climate crisis, as research efforts are being shifted to deal with the immediate problem at hand. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg said the coronavirus pandemic emphasized the importance of listening to experts during a time of crisis, and the same should be applied to climate change. Thunberg took part in a digital conversation with earth systems scientist Johan Rockstrom, who also serves as the director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. The livestream was hosted by the Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on Wednesday. "We are realizing that we are dependent on science and scientific evidence, and we need to listen to the experts and the scientific data," Thunberg said. She said the pandemic has proven that society can come together to respond to expert advice as seen by the numerous lockdowns and stay-at-home orders and that the same sense of urgency must be taken with the climate crisis, which is a long-term issue. "If the coronavirus crisis has shown us one thing, it is that our society is not sustainable," she said. "If one single virus can destroy economies in a couple of weeks, it shows we are not thinking long-term and taking risks into account." The year 2020 is seen as "a pivotal year for how we address climate change," according to the United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in that the world must reduce emissions to limit global heating by mid-century. Story continues The coronavirus lockdowns have led to reduced emissions levels as people are recommended to stay home to contain the spread of the virus. However, the pandemic has upended the predicted trajectory of the climate crisis, as research efforts are being shifted to deal with the immediate problem at hand. "Regarding the climate, we cannot know for certain how far we can push up global warming," Rockstrom said. "So I hope that we come out of the pandemic with the recognition that science shows: it's not worth taking the risk." "I believe that something new is coming from the ashes of the corona crisis," he continued. "We'll rise out of this, but not by bouncing back to the old world." Read the original article on Business Insider Chris Cuomo (R) and wife Cristina Greeven Cuomo attend Stand Up For Heros at the New York Comedy Festival in The Beacon Theatre in New York City on Nov. 3, 2010. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images) Chris Cuomos 14-Year-Old Son Mario Tests Positive For CCP Virus Chris Cuomos 14-Year-old son Mario has tested positive for the CCP virus, just days after the CNN anchor was able to reunite with his family following weeks of self-isolation. Cuomos wife Cristina announced that their child has become infected with the virus, which causes COVID-19 disease, in an Instagram post on April 22. Her post paid tribute to late photographer Peter Beard and commemorated Earth Day, telling her followers it was important to show kindness toward our planet and every creature who inhabits it. Cristina was also diagnosed with the CCP virus and had been battling the disease for the past 10 days. She shared a collection of family photos as she explained how she had been helping her son get through this difficult time. Chris Cuomo and son Mario Cuomo attend a screening of The Jungle Book at AMC Empire 25 theater in New York on April 7, 2016. (Ben Gabbe/Getty Images) This virus has created a different version of me. My hope is to be stronger, healthier, smarter about the virus at large. After 10 days of ups and downs, feeling good one-day and terrible the next, I am now working toward getting my son, Mario, through the virus. My heart hurts more than my head over his infection, she wrote, adding that she was using several methods that had worked for her to help nurse him back to health. This virus does not discriminate. While kids are more resilient, they can suffer same severity of symptoms. Im applying a modified version of my remedies for his protocol with a focus on lots of vitamins. Since his sense of smell and taste have disappeared, I am feeding him healthy foods that I normally cant get him to touch. I kept a diary of the past week including my remedies and things that I did to stay sane through it all, she continued, sharing a link to her website. The Cuomos announcement comes just days after Chris was reunited with his family after self-isolating in the basement of their home amid his month-long battle with the CCP virus. The news anchor first announced his diagnosis in March, while wife Cristina was diagnosed roughly two weeks later. Cuomo continued to host his nightly CNN show from quarantine and shared regular updates about his battle to overcome the illness. He ended his quarantine on Monday, calling it the moment Ive been dreaming of literally for weeks. In a video shared to Twitter, Cuomo confirmed both he and his wife have been cleared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He said he plans to donate blood in the hope his antibodies can be used to help those still fighting the virus. However, it is technically not the first time Cuomo had left his basement in recent weeks. While visiting a property, he is developing in East Hampton over the Easter weekend; Cuomo got into a heated argument with a 65-year-old bicyclist who questioned why he had left his home when he was supposed to be quarantined. The bicyclist later filed a police report, according to a New York Post report, saying he felt the CNN anchor had threatened him after he confronted him over why he had undertaken unnecessary travel, despite his brother Gov. Andrew Cuomo calling for all New Yorkers to stay home and avoid non-essential travel. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. "Research like this proves that AI makes a positive impact in patients lives. It validates the use of AI for adherence across a wide range of enterprise healthcare organizations." commented Clifford Jones, CEO of AllazoHealth. AllazoHealth, a company that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help enterprise healthcare companies improve medication adherence and quality outcomes, has released a new study demonstrating the impact of AI on patient adherence indicators. The poster outlining the study was published and awarded a gold medal by the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP). It shows that AI can effectively select which patients will achieve greater uplifts in refill rates by adding a pharmacy-based intervention to a call center intervention. "Our team was pleased to be awarded a gold ribbon by AMCP, based on our abstract on how AI can uplift adherence indicators," commented Clifford Jones, CEO of AllazoHealth. "Research like this proves that AI makes a positive impact in patients lives. It validates the use of AI for adherence across a wide range of enterprise healthcare organizations." The poster outlines a study showing the effectiveness of using AI to target high-risk patients who would benefit the most from receiving pharmacy-based interventions in addition to call center interventions. Providing a dual intervention approach, both call center-based and pharmacy-based, is more expensive than just utilizing a call center. Therefore, cost efficiency can be improved by reserving the dual intervention approach for patients where it will provide greater uplift in adherence. High-risk patients who had a prescription fill due or past-due were selected for medication adherence interventions by the AI. Patients who were predicted to benefit from dual interventions, and then received the interventions, were 52% more likely to refill their prescriptions within 14 days than other groups. The full poster is available for download at https://allazohealth.com/wp-content/uploads/AllazoHealth-AMCP-Poster.pdf About AllazoHealth AllazoHealth uses artificial intelligence to make a positive impact on individual patient behavior. We optimize medication adherence and quality outcomes for pharmaceutical companies, payers, and pharmacies. Our AI engine targets individual patients with the right intervention, the right content, at the right time. Australian Story profiles Sam Neill in all his splendid facets, actor, social media fan, winemaker and mental health advocate. Actor Sam Neill was shooting a science fiction film in Morocco when COVID-19 started closing down the world and he realised it was time to come home. Right now, he should have been in the UK filming the blockbuster movie Jurassic World 3. Instead, he is in isolation like everyone else. Home in Australia, suddenly with time on his hands, Sam has been cheering us up with his Twitter and Instagram feeds. Playing the ukulele, reading poems, painting and making hilarious movies with his actor friends where the lack of continuity is exactly the point. I just do all sorts of silly stuff that entertains me. And if someone else who is isolated and fearful and anxious gets some kind of enjoyment out of it, then its worth doing. While he may technically be a Kiwi, actor Sam Neill has done some of his best work in Australia. From his 1979 breakthrough in My Brilliant Career to his award-winning role playing Michael Chamberlain in Evil Angels, Sam has been a beloved presence on our screens for the last 40 years. In 2019, the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts celebrated his lifetime achievements with the Longford Lyell award. But Sam Neill has another brilliant career. For the last 30 years, he has been growing grapes and making wine in his beloved Central Otago in New Zealands South Island. From a few acres purchased more than thirty years ago, he now owns four vineyards which he farms organically. What started as a delightful diversion has gradually become an obsession. I opened that first bottle with great trepidation, and that was fatal because it was really good. But I wanted it to be excellent. Whether hes acting, making wine or entertaining us on social media, Sam recognizes hes in the cheering-up business. In a time of need, he has no intention of slowing down. Humanity has been through many challenges before. This is different because were so isolated from each other. And its so important that everybodys doing that because its working. Its going to be tough, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Im absolutely sure of it. Producer: Vanessa Gorman 8pm Monday on ABC Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has assured the nation that the COVID-19 public trust fund will be transparent and accountable in the disbursement. So far, the trust says it has accrued a total of about GHS34 million and is expecting much more in the coming days. The 13-member board inaugurated by President Akufo-Addo to solicit support and funding from both the private and public sectors, on Wednesday, 22 April 2020, donated Personal Protective Equipment and an ambulance, among others, to the Ga East Municipal Hospital, the largest COVID-19 isolation centre in the country. Speaking to the press on the sidelines of the event, the ex-CJ, who is the Chairperson of the board of trustees of the COVID-19 Public Trust Fund, outlined a broad plan on which the trust fund intends to utilise the funds it has received to the benefit of all Ghanaians. She said: "I want to assure the public of our commitment to the job that we have been sent to do and we'll make sure that all the distributions will be made in accordance with the statutes." She noted that once institutions are satisfied, markets across the country will be provided with more Veronica buckets, sanitisers and so on. "We want to make sure the resources reach the regions as widely as possible," she added. ---classfmonline 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. CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Novant Health will resume some non-time sensitive and non-emergent surgeries and procedures beginning Monday, May 4. Additionally, clinics will reinstate appointments that were previously delayed by phasing in visits starting with pediatric well checks, chronic disease and acute issue visits. These appointments paused March 18 in response to increasing cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) spreading in our communities and the need to protect our patients and team members. While virtual care options will continue and are encouraged to be used as much as possible, the announcement today ensures patients who had their care delayed can resume their treatment, including many surgical procedures. Patients need to take care of their health, and in line with national trends, Novant Health has seen a worrisome decline in patients seeking care for emergent conditions, including heart attack and stroke. "Since the onset of the coronavirus in our communities, some of our patients have delayed seeking care out of an abundance of caution," said Carl Armato, president and CEO of Novant Health. "Putting off care indefinitely, is simply not good for our patients and in some cases, deadly. We urge our community to seek the care they need. At the advice of our physicians, and on behalf of our patients who need care, we have thoughtfully decided to resume some of these services. The number of patients receiving care for COVID-19 within our facilities has stabilized, and our team stands ready to care for the community." Novant Health will prioritize rescheduling patients with delayed and postponed appointments and procedures. Patients who fall into this category will receive communication from their healthcare provider with additional information and may receive a call as early as April 23. Novant Health facilities will add enhanced safety measures, including patient and team member screenings, required masking of patient-facing team members, and enhanced cleaning and disinfection processes. Novant Health has also taken measures to ensure physical distancing and address clinical safety concerns, which may include lowering the number of patients in the clinic at once, workflows to reduce use of waiting rooms, and even some care delivery within the confines of your vehicle. Visitor restrictions will remain in place. Also, the health system's universal masking policy remains in effect with team members wearing surgical and N95 masks, as clinically indicated, while optimizing PPE conservation efforts. Per the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance, we recommend all patients come to their appointments with a cloth mask or face covering. Patients without a mask will be provided one upon entering our facilities. Novant Health is also advocating universal masking for the public as we transition to our new normal. For more information about Novant Health's response to COVID-19, please visit NovantHealth.org/coronavirus. About Novant Health Novant Health is an integrated network of physician clinics, outpatient facilities and hospitals that delivers a seamless and convenient healthcare experience to communities in Virginia, North and South Carolina, and Georgia. The Novant Health network consists of more than 1,600 physicians and over 29,000 employees that provide care at nearly 700 locations, including 15 hospitals and hundreds of outpatient facilities and physician clinics. In 2020, Novant Health was the only healthcare system in North Carolina to be included on Forbes' Best Employers for Diversity list. Diversity MBA Magazine has also ranked Novant Health third on its 2019 list of "Best Places for Women & Diverse Managers to Work." Novant Health provided more than $993.2 million in community benefit, including financial assistance and services, in 2019. For more information, please visit our website at NovantHealth.org. You can also follow us on Twitter and Facebook. SOURCE Novant Health Related Links https://www.novanthealth.org The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) on Thursday rolled out a $3-million grant to complement the African Unions effort to combat the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic. The Banks President, Benedict Oramah, who announced this in Cairo, Egypt said the grant was in response to a request by the African heads of state for the mobilisation of resources to tackle the pandemic. The request was reportedly made through the South Africa President, Cyril Ramaphosa, who is also the African Union Chairperson. Mr Oramah said a significant proportion of the grant would go to the COVID-19 Special Fund set up by the AU and the African Center for Disease Control (Africa CDC). We hope that our modest contribution will help to address some of the immediate needs of the AU member countries, he said. He encouraged other African banks, funds, corporations and charitable organisations to also contribute to the relief effort. Mr Oramah said the Afreximbank worked with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the AU to mobilise funding for the COVID-19 mitigation responses. Highlighting the need for wide institutional support for the COVID-19 response effort, he said no one country or institution will be able to rise to the challenge of the pandemic on its own. He said the latest grant was coming in addition to several initiatives by the Bank in support of the fight against the pandemic. READ ALSO: Such initiatives, he said, include the $3-billion Pandemic Trade Impact Mitigation Facility (PATIMFA) launched in March, to help African countries deal with the economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bank said it also set aside another $200 million for use in financing the production of COVID-19 equipment and supplies within Africa. He said the resource constraints and urgent nature of interventions on the ground required significant grant financing to ensure timely support for emergency interventions in combating the pandemic. In November 2014, Afreximbank also contributed $1 million to combat the outbreak of the Ebola disease which affected several countries in West Africa. In 2019, the bank donated $1.5 million to countries in Southern Africa to support relief efforts for victims of tropical cyclone, Idai. READ MORE: The latest news and features about coronavirus in San Antonio Hotels and rental businesses are prohibited from allowing any new bookings to anyone who is looking to stay in the city for less than 30 days, the order said. The restriction does not apply to people that are in town for essential business. While face coverings are not mandatory, officials encourage the community to wear them while out in public. Employees at open essential business are also advised to wear some form of face coverings while working. Moody's Analytics RiskCalc and CMM Solutions Complete SOC 1 Examinations Moody's Analytics announced today that its RiskCalc and CMM solutions have completed System and Organization Controls (SOC 1) Type 1 examinations under the attestation standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. These examinations encompassed policies, operating procedures, and controls related to financial reporting of user entities by an independent auditor to objectively validate that Moody's Analytics meets its declared control objectives. "We are committed to providing our clients with products that deliver exceptional operational compliance," said Nihil Patel, Senior Director at Moody's Analytics. "This SOC 1 Type 1 attestation demonstrates that our RiskCalc and CMM solutions have met this objective." The RiskCalc solution offers a comprehensive approach to assessing the default and recovery of private firms. Our RiskCalc models generate forward-looking probability of default or Expected Default Frequency (EDF) calculations, loss given default, and expected loss redit measures. The CMM solution is the leading analytical tool for combining property performance forecasts with commercial mortgage fundamentals to assess default and recovery for commercial real estate (CRE) mortgages. It enables investment professionals to perform robust analyses for equity and debt decisions in CRE. These award-winning solutions deliver best-in-class analytics that help our customers make better decisions. Moody's Analytics, Moody's, and all other names, logos, and icons identifying Moody's Analytics and/or its products and services are trademarks of Moody's Analytics, Inc. or its affiliates. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. About Moody's Analytics Moody's Analytics provides financial intelligence and analytical tools to help business leaders make better, faster decisions. Our deep risk expertise, expansive information resources, and innovative application of technology help our clients confidently navigate an evolving marketplace. We are known for our industry-leading and award-winning solutions, made up of research, data, software, and professional services, assembled to deliver a seamless customer experience. We create confidence in thousands of organizations worldwide, with our commitment to excellence, open mindset approach, and focus on meeting customer needs. For more information about Moody's Analytics, visit our website or connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Moody's Analytics, Inc. is a subsidiary of Moody's Corporation (NYSE: MCO). Moody's Corporation reported revenue of $4.8 billion in 2019, employs approximately 11,100 people worldwide and maintains a presence in 40 countries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005699/en/ Not long ago, Mohammed Nasrullah had to pray with his face pushed into waxed paper in his mosques prayer room. It was meant to protect him from germs; he was just glad it wasnt a paper towel those are absorbent, and may have collected dust or other worldly things that would distract him as he prayed at his Clear Lake mosque. It was strange, he said. It felt different. That was before concerns about germs and pandemics loomed in the periphery of every decision to touch a door, shake a hand or, for Nasrullah and other Muslims, perform daily prayers that include resting their faces on the floor. In America and other parts of the western hemisphere, Thursday evening will mark the start of Ramadan, a 30-day period during which Muslims fast during sunlight and meet for communal praying and meals the iftars in the evenings. Not this year. On Wednesday and with Ramadan fast-approaching Nasrullah and his wife Ruth briefly returned to the mosque for the first time since the prayer with waxed paper. Standing without shoes in the empty prayer room, their masks muddied their voices while the faint hum of a lawn mower outside echoed across the room. They wondered what Islams holiest days would be like spent in quarantine, or what their mosque, community and world may look like in a post-coronavirus era. Its the lack of knowing, Ruth Nasrullah said. Its just driving me crazy. Everything has just kind of stopped. Many of the worlds roughly 1.5 billion Muslims have had similar questions this week as COVID-19 continues to spread, killing thousands each day. In-person gatherings for Ramadan have either been canceled or significantly curtailed in most majority-Muslim countries, including in Saudi Arabia, where meals for the needy will not be passed out at the Prophet Muhammads mosque in Medina. In the Houston region, which is home to roughly 70,000 Muslims , most mosques have also stopped gatherings, despite a recent executive order by Gov. Greg Abbott that deemed places of worship as essential and permitted small groups of people to meet. It will be like no other, thats for sure, said Sohail Syed, president of the Islamic Society of Greater Houston. This is an unprecedented time in history. For the past few weeks, Syed and other local Islamic leaders have worked to put together a slate of online programs that will, for now, be a substitute for the daily mosque visits that most Muslims make during Ramadan. Among them are workshops like the dos and donts of Ramadan. They have also held virtual town halls and, in the span of a few weeks, transformed what were once mostly-dormant social media pages into platforms for Muslims across Houston to find answers, financial support and a sense of community from the confines of home. Its been a game changer, said Tauqeer Shah, the Islamic Societys director of interfaith relations and civic engagement. Before quarantine, social media was a means of conveying information regarding events taking place at different centers, he said. Now its more of a community. And quarantine is consistent with the Quranic teaching, Syed added. In times like these, of major diseases... Muslims are ordered to stay home, to help stop the spread of this virus, Syed said. It is the duty of any Muslim, as it is of any other human being, to protect others. Quarantine has not, however, stopped the Islamic Society and other Muslim groups from continuing to donate money or food, or organize food banks. Charity zakat is one of Islams five pillars, and Ramadan is normally a particularly generous months for Muslims. Through its members and affiliated mosques, the Islamic Society has already doled out nearly $100,000 to support local families. Many Houston-area Muslims are first or second-generation immigrants who work in the beleaguered oil and gas sector, so leaders have also touted various programs for finding jobs or other professional help. On Sunday, the group will also hold drive-thru food pantries at various locations across the city. Shah stressed that theyll give food to whomever needs it. This is not just for Muslims, he said. This is for everyone, because the spirit of Ramadan is to care and feel and emphasize the feelings of those that are less fortunate. Its a way for a person who is well-off and living a good life to feel that pain that other people go through, he said. Ramadan is a month of sharing, of caring. Mohammed Nasrullah understands that well. He recently watched people wait hours to get free food at NRG Stadium, and decided that a two-day, pre-Ramadan fast could help bring attention to the grave threat of food scarcity. By the time he returned to his mosque Wednesday afternoon, the 66-year-old had gone 28 hours without food. His wife set up a GoFundMe page with a goal of raising $5,000 in donations for the Houston Food Bank. Now Playing: 'COVID-19 in 60': Houston coronavirus news in a minute Video: Houston Chronicle They surpassed that within a few hours thanks to an outpouring of support from the community. Some people taped checks to the Nasrullahs front doors because they didnt trust a third-party website with their financial information. They later moved the goal to $7,500. It was again exceeded in a few hours. Standing in the empty prayer room on Wednesday, Mohammed noted the green duct tape on the floor that, until recently, had helped keep people 6 feet and safe from one another. In most years, more than 1,000 people would flock to the mosque for the communal prayers that mark the beginning of Islams holy month. The couple will miss that come Friday as they stay home. But thats OK Islams holiest days are not meant to be ones of comfort and the Nasrullahs believe there is meaning to be found in the luxuries that they and so many others will go without this year. The theme that I see is sacrifice, Ruth said. So many people are sacrificing. robert.downen@chron.com Capital infusion will help accelerate deployment of solutions aimed at abating the single largest source of the oil and gas industry's vented methane emissions OGDEN, Utah, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Qnergy, the world's leading manufacturer of Stirling energy systems, today announced the closing of a $10 million Series B funding round led by OGCI Climate Investments ("CI"), Tene Capital ("Tene") and Kibbutz EHI ("EHI"). The funds will allow the company to accelerate the deployment of its compressed air pneumatics product, CAP3. The application, which couples Qnergy's remote power generators with air compressors, offers a low emission alternative to gas pneumatic devices currently used in upstream oil and gas. Pneumatic devices powered by pressurized natural gas are widely used in the oil and gas industry for process control. The vented gas from these devices is the single biggest source of vented methane emissions, accounting for 67 million tCO2e per year across North America in 2019. The potential mitigation from switching methane pneumatics to CAP3 air pneumatics is estimated to be as much as 1 million tCO2e by 2029, the equivalent of taking over 2.1 million cars off the road. "We are pleased to welcome CI as a new investor to Qnergy and are grateful for the vote of confidence in the technology, team and mission," said Dr. Ory Zik, Qnergy's CEO. "The new funding will accelerate deployment and we look forward to working with customers on decarbonizing the oil and gas supply chain." Pratima Rangarajan, CEO of OGCI Climate Investments, said "We are pleased to add Qnergy to our portfolio of methane reduction solutions. We believe Qnergy's technology has the potential to significantly reduce new methane emissions from oil and gas operations which is vital for improving the pace of warming." Qnergy is the only company that has a Stirling-based, stand-alone power generator: the PowerGen. Thanks to the technology's unparalleled reliability, major and independent oil and gas companies already rely on the system to meet their remote power needs. The PowerGen has proven itself to be more cost effective than alternatives thanks to near-zero maintenance costs, leading to a significant growth in 2018 and 2019. Qnergy successfully pitched its technology to OGCI Climate Investments during its 2020 Investment Day held virtually on 9 March, focused on decarbonizing upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas operations. About Qnergy Utah-based Qnergy is the world's leading clean technology manufacturer of Stirling energy systems. Qnergy provides reliable remote power generators for the 500W-10,000W range to help customers improve operational efficiency, decrease operating cost and reduce emissions. Qnergy's Stirling generators are an enclosed system that requires no lubrication, maintenance or repair, delivering tens of thousands of hours of uninterrupted operation. Learn more https://www.qnergy.com/ About OGCI Climate Investments OGCI Climate Investments is a $1B+ fund that invests in solutions to decarbonize sectors like oil and gas, industrials and commercial transport. We look for outcomes that reduce methane and carbon dioxide emissions, and that can recycle or store carbon dioxide. Achieving significant impact requires global implementation and commercial frameworks at OGCI Climate Investments, we collaborate with innovators, investors and governments to fund and implement impactful solutions. To learn more about OGCI Climate Investments, please visit www.oilandgasclimateinitiative.com/climate-investments Media contact: [email protected] +1 713 752 1901 SOURCE Qnergy Related Links https://www.qnergy.com State Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik on Thursday lodged a complaint with the police here, seeking action against senior journalist Arnab Goswami, accusing him of propagating enmity between groups on the ground of religion. Patnaik met Commissioner of Police, Bhubaneswar- Cuttack, Sudhansu Sarangi and submitted the three-page complaint against Goswami and his associates of channel Republic Bharat, seeking legal action at the earliest. Goswami has been under fire from the Congress following his verbal attack on Sonia Gandhi, questioning her "silence" over the Palghar lynching incident in his programme on Republic Bharat channel. Patnaik in his complaint alleged that the programme was aired with a prejudicial mind to promote enmity between different groups on the ground of religion and to incite the public against Gandhi and office bearers of Congress party on the basis of false and distorted information. The sole intention was to cause annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred and ill will, he alleged. The offensive material is not only false but frivolous, defamatory, abusive and insinuate and has been done with the intention to insult and libel the Congress members, he alleged and said the anchor is liable for prosecution. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) KFD Virus spreads primarily through forest ticks which are most active between November till the first weeks of monsoons. In the quiet of a lockdown, healthcare workers and Panchayat officials in Aralagodu village in Karnatakas Shivamogga district have their ears out for news of fresh cases of fevers. Those who had returned from cities to the village before the declaration of the nationwide lockdown are under strict watch. Two hamlets have been completely sealed off, while an official order makes it illegal for villagers to go into forests that adjoin their households. Social distancing here is not only from people but also from the forest itself. In this relatively-sparsely populated region nestled amid the lush forests and hilltops of the Western Ghats, the fear is less about COVID-19 which has dominated media and political narratives for over a month. After all, not one COVID-19 case has been detected in the district so far. Instead there is anxiety over the breakout of another zoonotic, viral infection: Kyasanur Forest Disease or, its popular moniker, monkey fever. The disease, which spreads through tick bites, has seen over 225 positive cases and five deaths along the Western Ghats districts of Karnataka since the start of the year, reveals data collected by the states health department. Among them, 159 of these cases are in Shivamogga district, a traditional epicentre of the disease that was first discovered in 1957. A shroud of fear hangs over Aralagodu village that bore the brunt of the disease last year. The small village and its neighbouring areas had recorded over 174 cases last year, and at least 22 deaths. In February of this year, some 20-25 monkeys near the village were found dead a sure sign that the viral disease is active in the forests. People were scared. We didnt want to go through this again, said Chandraraju KS, a resident of Aralagodu and a member of its gram panchayat. Click here for Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates But, Aralagodu was better prepared this time around: nearly all villagers were administered three doses of vaccinations (only after the third dose, to be given six months after the first two doses do effectivity increase to 82.9 percent). While Aralagodus residents had started their vaccinations late last year, those who arrived from the city to flee being stranded during the COVID-19 lockdown are unvaccinated. A lot of people from the village work in Bengaluru or study in cities outside. It is understandable that they want to come back here during these uncertain times. We are trying to track them to ensure they get at least one vaccination dose and to tell them to use tick-repellent oil if they choose to go out of the house, says Chandraraju. Lockdown complications KFD Virus (KFDV) spreads primarily through forest ticks which are most active between November till the first weeks of monsoons. Within the closed systems of forests, it spreads from tick to hosts such as rodents, shrews and monkeys whose frequent deaths due to high viral load had led to the disease being popularly referred to as monkey fever. From these hosts, thousands of KFDV-carrying larval ticks infect other mammals in the vicinity including humans. The virus leads to fatal haemorrhagic fevers and has a mortality rate of nearly 10 percent -- significantly higher than coronavirus which has a mortality rate of 3 percent. Tick bites are often undetected when walking through forests, and in villages like Aralagodu, nearly every house abuts a forest. The people in-charge of KFD surveillance have flagged lockdown returnees as being susceptible to KFD. With COVID-19-related lockdowns gaining acceptance among villagers, the deputy commissioner in Shivamogga declared nearly 31 KFD hotspots, primarily with these large pockets of unvaccinated returnees. Villagers have been barred from collecting dry leaves and firewood or graze their cows in forests or even from resuming plantation works here. People whove come from Bengaluru or other places are high-risk individuals when it comes to KFD. There is a tendency for them to treat this COVID-19 lockdown as a holiday and are spotted in forests or plantations which could instead be teeming with KFD, says SK Kiran, Director of Viral Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) in Shivamogga and the States KFD Special Officer. Another unexpected impact of COVID-19 lockdown is the increased prevalence of KFD among children. Usually, children below the age of 18 years account for just 2-3 percent of KFD cases in a typical year. This year, however, they form nearly 8 percent of all reported cases. Schools (including boarding schools which is common for people of remote villages) have been closed for nearly two months now. The time they would spend at school is instead spent restlessly at home or in plantations increasing their risk of catching KFD, he says. The focus on COVID-19 and managing the subsequent lockdown has added layers of complication for KFD disease surveillance. In March, two BJP MLAs took on their own government angrily, accusing it of ignoring the epidemic and focusing its attention entirely on COVID-19. Furthermore, until mid-April, VDL in Shivamogga, which has tested nearly 6,000 blood samples for KFD, was also tasked with additionally testing thousands of swab samples from across North Karnataka for COVID-19. The spectre of a pandemic at the time of an epidemic is stretching the grassroots health infrastructure. In Siddapur taluk of Uttara Kannada district, where 40 people have tested KFD positive including one death, local health workers had to do three rounds of door-to-door surveys for KFD and COVID-19. In the absence of public transport, villagers with fevers cant come to hospitals for tests, instead, doctors and health workers have to visit houses further compounding the work a single health worker has to do in the hilly terrain pockmarked with remote hamlets. Day-by-day we are recording new cases, but the situation is under control. Along with our ASHA and ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) workers, we have asked PDO (Panchayat Development Officers) and Village Accountants to help identify people with fevers; while, our doctors and health workers do go to houses to collect samples for tests, says Manjula Bhajantri, Tahsildar for Siddapur taluk. On the flip side, the COVID-19 scare and its incessant messaging on televisions have led to an increased number of people reporting fevers which are both a symptom for COVID-19 and KFD to authorities, she says. Learning lessons and lessons for the COVID-19 crisis The outbreak of 2018-19 was, in part, blamed on a failure of the surveillance system that did not plan enough or vaccinate enough. This year, vaccinations had been more widespread, rate of sampling had been increased, surveillance in the form of door-to-door surveys had been strengthened. At the same time last year, we had double the cases and triple the number of deaths. We are more confident that things are under control, says Kiran. If a deadly outbreak brought about changes in processes for effective KFD management, perhaps, a post-COVID-19 world will being the bring back attention to zoonotics which form nearly 60 percent of emerging diseases and collaborative public health systems at large. Helping officials this year are the predictive tools and decision support tools that have been developed under a multi-institutional collaborative project, Monkey Fever Risk project. And this One Health approach (multi-disciplinary studies involving social scientists, epidemiologists, ecologists, virologists and others) may hold lessons for Indias response to its current COVID-19 crisis. In many ways, KFD and coronavirus share similarities. Both are viral diseases, their emergence from species in the forests is still unsolved scientific questions. KFDs spread may be limited by its reliance on ticks as carriers of the virus (unlike coronavirus that can spread through respiratory droplets), but it has been expanding its geographical range. KFD was largely restricted to Shivamogga and parts of the Western Ghats till 2012. However, since then, it has been detected in Tamil Nadu, Goa, Kerala and Maharashtra. Since 1957, there have been more than 10,000 cases of KFD recorded in 16 districts of the country. This year, apart from Karnataka, over 13 cases and one death have been reported in Kerala. The One Health Monkey Fever Risk project, which began in 2017, attempted to understand this spread better and to subsequently, predict the risk of spread of KFD in Shivamogga district. The projects first scientific paper, published earlier this month, identifies high-risk areas as those with higher forest loss, higher proportion of plantations, closer to evergreen moist forests and with higher cattle densities (which is a blood source for ticks and is often grazed within KFDV-infected forests). The models prediction for hotspots in the 2019 correlated with the outbreak seen last year. The risk map helped the KFD surveillance team pivot from being reactive, as was the established protocol, to being proactive in 2020. Generally, a monkey or human death would trigger vaccination drives in a 5-km radius around the infected spot. But, with this predictive information, we could ensure potential hotspots were vaccinated even before the detection of a single case, says N Darshan from the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Karnataka and one of the authors of the paper. Waiting for the rains In parts of the country, state governments have begun strategies to remove lockdown restrictions, while uncertainty looms in the COVID-19 hotspots. However, in Shivamoggas KFDV hotspots, restrictions in forest and plantation access depend entirely on monsoon rains. When the rains come, the ticks go away. Until then, hamlets in the hotspot will always carry the chance of contracting KFDV. Well try to enforce their lockdown restrictions as much as possible, says Chandraraju. - The Kenya Ports Authority in Mombasa launched a mass testing exercise after one of its employee died of COVID-19 - Out of 600 staff members who were tested, 24 of them turned out positive for coronavirus - The patients were among the 303 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country At least 24 employees at the Kenya Ports Authority in Mombasa have been confirmed positive for COVID-19. This is after 14 more workers tested positive following launch of a mass testing exercise at the parastatal. READ ALSO: William Ruto hosted Sonko hours before governor denounced transfer of county functions deal The Kenya Ports Authority in Mombasa where the coronavirus has broken out. Photo: Citizen TV Source: UGC READ ALSO: COVID-19: Govt threatens to extend curfew if Kenyans continue to violate safety guidelines So far, more than 600 workers at the port have been tested in the ongoing mass screening exercise. At least two employees at the port have died from the disease since it was first reported in the country on March 13. One of the employees who died was James Onyango Oyugi whose burial sparked alot of reactions from Kenyans after he was buried in a shallow grave and a body bag. The new cases came after the authority issued a statement on April 14 indicating the administrators had implemented measures to curb spread of the virus. READ ALSO: Government reclaims 2,700 acres of land allegedly grabbed by Ruto, Jirongo in Ruai "To ensure compliance, isolation rooms have been set up at the Bandari Clinic where suspected patients are temporarily held waiting for public health officers to pick them up. More rooms are being prepared for this purpose," read a statement that was issued by acting managing director Rashid Salim. One of the measures implemented included on-line cargo documentation processes to enable customers clear cargo electronically and decongest human traffic within the port. The management also acquired surgical gowns for clinical staff and those with close interactions with personnel such as pilots and security officers. Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) acting managing director Eng Rashid Salim during in a past function. Photo: The Standard Source: UGC READ ALSO: Hilarious video of young boy imitating Health CS Mutahi Kagwe goes viral Recently, the dock workers threatened to go o strike over what they said their lives were at risk of infection after the authority failed to comply with the Health Ministry's guidelines. KPA management has only complied with 30% of the requirements, and if this does not improve in the next two days, we have no otherwise but to withdraw our members from the facility since health comes first, said Dock Workers Union secretary general Simon Sang. 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 BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 23 By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend: The total number of coronavirus infected people in Uzbekistan rose to 1,716, Trend reports on April 23 with reference to the Ministry of Health. To date, 450 patients have fully recovered from the coronavirus infection in the country, seven have died. Since April 1, Uzbekistan announced a self-isolation regime in Tashkent, the capital, as well as in Nukus and other regional centers. Citizens over 65 are categorically prohibited from leaving their homes. They can go out only to visit pharmacies and shops near their respective places of residence. The first case of coronavirus infection in Uzbekistan was detected on March 15 in the laboratory of the Research Institute of Virology; it was an Uzbek woman who returned from France. The Ministry of Health later announced that her son, daughter, husband and grandson also tested coronavirus-positive. The outbreak of the coronavirus began in the Chinese city of Wuhan (an international transport hub), at a fish market in late December 2019. The number of people killed by the disease has surpassed 184,200. Over 2.6 million people have been confirmed as infected, nearly 722,000 have reportedly recovered. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11. Some sources claim the coronavirus outbreak started as early as November 2019. --- Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini Oil prices surged for a second day Thursday as the market digests a flareup of tensions in the Middle East and looks ahead to production cuts from the worlds largest producers. West Texas Intermediate crude oil, the U.S. benchmark, surged 28 percent to $17.66 barrel while Brent crude, the international benchmark, was higher by 10 percent at $22.40. The rally in oil prices is mostly a function of the rollover of the contract as we are uncertain what will happen when the next contract matures regarding storage and possible credit issues, Sebastien Galy, a Luxembourg-based senior macro strategist at Nordea Asset Management, told FOX Business. CME GROUP PREPARING FOR POSSIBILITY NEGATIVE OIL PRICES PERSIST Thursdays advance is a continuation of the gains seen Wednesday after President Trump heightened tensions in the Middle East by ordering the Navy to destroy Iranian gunboats that harass U.S. ships. The Pentagon later tamped down his comments, suggesting ships have the right to self-defense. The oil market has come under siege this year as ballooning supplies exacerbated by the price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia hit the market at the same time that government responses to COVID-19 destroyed demand. On Wednesday, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said crude oil stockpiles rose by 15 million barrels in the week ended April 17. At 518.6 million barrels, U.S. inventories are 9 percent higher than their average for this time of year. The inventory build has no end in sight and producers are running out of storage. The huge runup in supply has been the catalyst in oil falling 81 percent this year through Tuesday. Earlier this week, prices plunged into negative territory for the first time. The wild swings come as the besieged market looks ahead to May 1, when the production cuts agreed to by the worlds largest oil producers takes hold. The agreement will see OPEC and its allies reduce output by 9.7 million barrels per day and other large producers such as the U.S. and Canada deliver cuts mostly as a result of lower prices. In total, the deal will remove 20 million barrels a day. Story continues With demand down about 30 million barrels a day globally, however, there are concerns the agreement doesnt go far enough. OPEC is reportedly considering another meeting in May to address those issues. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS In the short-term, the market will be focused on any sign that Saudi Arabia and Russia are moving towards another agreement as President Trump had clearly pointed out that the last agreement was insufficient, Galy said. Oil prices as defined by the WTI are likely therefore to converge towards $20, around $5 below the long-term path priced into futures. Related Articles A kid will definitely love this. Photo: Gravitas Ventures There are so many things to unpack in this news item from Australian Channel 7 headlined Coronavirus: Tom Hanks replies to Queensland boy bullied over name Corona. Here is a story that will be studied in future history classes about the global coronavirus pandemic, not to mention future virtual UCB satire-writing workshops livestreamed on Quibi from a Maggianos party room rented by the hour. Apparently, an 8-year-old boy named Corona De Vries wrote to Tom Hanks about being bullied, saying that at school people call me coronavirus. Hanks, who had contracted and was treated for the coronavirus while in Australia in March, cheered the lad up by sending him a very special gift: not Toy Story 4 merch, which some would call the obvious choice, but a typewriter. Ah, yes, just what every bullied kid wants: more fodder for the bullies. Channel 7 specifies that young Corona was named after the outermost layer of the sun, which, again, would make us think some Buzz Lightyear action figures would be perfect. But sure, a typewriter works, too. Lil Corona can chuck it at oncoming bullies, or use it to write revenge fiction. Hanks is famously a collector of typewriters, and the one he sent to wee Corona wasnt just any typewriter. It was a Corona-brand typewriter, see, and Hanks enclosed a letter with it, saying: I thought this typewriter would suit you. I had taken it to the Gold Coast, and now it is back with you. Ask a grown-up how it works. Imagine being a sad bullied kid who gets a big package the exact size and weight of a PlayStation 4, sent from a Hollywood celebrity, and opening it to find this: Now imagine being Tom Hanks, kissing your grown son Chet Haze good-bye before lugging a vintage typewriter on a 20-hour flight from Los Angeles to Australia. Did he buy it a first-class seat? Did it wear a seat belt? Did he get some typing done, or did he just start watching Alita: Battle Angel and then fall asleep for 15 hours? Now imagine shipping it back to the Gold Coast; the carbon footprint this typewriter has! Considering that this was the typewriter Hanks and Wilson had in self-isolation, we do hope Hanks at least gave it a Clorox wipe-down. All India Majlis-e- Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP Imitiaz Jaleel demanded on Thursday that details of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) spend of companies in Aurangabad area be made public. Several companies are spending CSR funds in other regions or outside Maharashtra when there was a need to upgrade local hospitals amid the coronavirus pandemic, he said. In a letter, Jaleel, who also heads the state unit of his party, demanded that the district administration write to local industrial associations and seek details of CSR spend. This information should be put in the public domain, he said, adding that companies should use CSR funds in the area where they are located. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Russo Brothers are masters of subversion. Cleveland-born filmmakers Joe and Anthony Russo love playing with moviegoers expectations: from taking over a Marvel superhero franchise and turning it into an homage to 1970s conspiracy thrillers in Captain America: The Winter Soldier to lopping off the villains head and time jumping five years into the future within the first 20 minutes of Avengers: Endgame. The most successful directing duo in Hollywood history are at it again, looking to turn the action genre on its head in Extraction, premiering Friday on Netflix. The Russos produced the film, with Joe penning the screenplay. The movie is based on Ciudad, the 2014 graphic novel the brothers created with Ande Parks and Fernando Leon Gonzalez. My brother and I grew up on action thrillers, Joe Russo says, calling in from Los Angeles. They were hugely important to us. Our father was a big action movie fan. In fact, it was the brothers' proud papa, Basil, who initially reached out to remind me of the film's release. Extraction is indeed full of shootouts, fight sequences and chase scenes. The body count is relentless. But amid all of the action, the relationship between fathers and sons is at the heart of the film. Thor actor Chris Hemsworth plays Tyler Rake, a grief-stricken mercenary-for-hire mourning the loss of his son when he is recruited to rescue the kidnapped teenaged son of a Mumbai drug lord from the clutches of a rival crime boss in Bangladesh. It is a subversion of your standard action hero, Russo says. This is a character who presents himself as physically brave, but hes an emotional coward. The filmmaker credits Hemsworth, whose Shakespearean superhero was transformed into the Big Thorbowski by the Russos in Avengers: Endgame, for showing off incredible vulnerability in the movie. I think this is his best performance, hes fantastic in it, Russo says. But Hemsworths performance isnt what will leave viewers breathless or have them reaching for the rewind button. Its a 12-minute action sequence in the middle of the film as Rake and the boy, Ovi (Rudhraksh Jaiswal), try to escape the locked down city of Dhaka. Shot as one long continuous take, a technique seen in movies like Atomic Blonde and 1917, the scene resembles a first-person shooter video game, following the pair on the front end of a chase through the streets of the crowded city, on car and by foot, through buildings and across rooftops, stopping every few minutes to avoid an explosion, gunfire, or a crash, or to engage in a highly intense knife fight. The jaw-dropping scene is the work of first-time director Sam Hargrave, the stunt coordinator on the Russos last three Marvel films. [That sequence] is wonderfully conceived and so thoughtful. I think it ranks up there with the best of all-time, Russo says. Ive rarely seen an action film thats as accomplished and certainly perhaps never from a first-time filmmaker except for perhaps Chad Stahelski and David Leitch on John Wick." But now as the movie gets ready to hit Netflix, the question turns to how will quarantined viewers react to an ultra-violent action film set in the most crowded city in the world? Reviews so far have been mixed. Still, Russo thinks Extraction has something relevant to say about what the world is going through at the moment. Its a movie about sacrifice, he says. Its an international story and I think that right now, more than ever, we need to bond as a global community. Related: Could a Community movie finally happen? Joe Russo says hes interested Maizie Lewis' (pictured right) fourth birthday wish was to go through the McDonald's drive-thru and order a six-piece chicken nugget Happy Meal with her family Maizie Lewis' fourth birthday wish was to go through the McDonald's drive-thru and order a six-piece chicken nugget Happy Meal with her family. The adorable preschooler is living in New Zealand under strict Level 4 lockdowns because of coronavirus, so she isn't allowed to visit her local fast food franchise. So in a bid to impress his four-year-old daughter Nathan Lewis spent seven hours reconstructing a drive-thru with TV screens in their own backyard, so his youngest child could experience the excitement of ordering a meal. He was up until 1.30am the night before April 22 preparing the simulation, filming himself in a checkout window taking her order and tapping her 'debit card'. The car pauses at the first TV screen which asks Maizie for her order. She confidently asks for chicken nuggets, chips and a strawberry milkshake The video, which father-of-four Nathan uploaded to their family's Facebook account Lewis Bunch in Lockdown, was filmed the moment Maizie woke up, donned her Disney Frozen dress, and hopped into the car ready for the 'drive-thru'. It shows Maizie, her mother and some of her siblings in their car slowly moving down their driveway, going past a printed sign that read 'McDonald's drive-thru'. The car pauses at the first TV screen which asks Maizie for her order. She confidently asks for chicken nuggets, chips and a strawberry milkshake. Her father's voice echoes through the speaker, asking the family to continue driving through to the next screen where they can pay. As they do so, Nathan directs them to park in the 'car park' and wait for Maizie's meal to be delivered by hand. One of the famous McDonald's characters, Ronald McDonald, can be seen in the distance. Nathan finally appears in the footage, carrying a signature McDonald's cup and Happy Meal with him and says hello to his daughter, who answers back with a very sweet and simple 'daddy' It has received more than 3,000 views since being uploaded yesterday, with many of the comments praising the Lewis family (pictured) for their creative present After they have parked Nathan finally appears in the footage, carrying a signature McDonald's cup and Happy Meal with him and says hello to his daughter, who answers back with a very sweet and simple 'daddy'. He hands her the meal dressed in the fast food chain's uniform and shows her that the box has a Frozen theme to it, something that makes her visibly excited. Maizie begins to eat some of her chips and nuggets, clearly shocked that her birthday wish came true, as the video ends. It has received more than 3,000 views since being uploaded yesterday, with many of the comments praising the Lewis family for their creative present. You can see more of the family's adventures by following them on Facebook here. Billionaire media mogul Kerry Stokes and his wife managed to dodge a mandatory hotel quarantine after returning to western Australia from a ski trip in the US state of Colorado. Instead the couple will spend the quarantine period in their mansion in Perth, Australia. Mr Stokes was given an exemption to the rules by the Australian government which has ordered everyone arriving from overseas be held for an 11-days in a hotel room or other accommodation for a supervised quarantine. A spokesman for Mr Stokes told The Guardian the Australian government granted the couple an exemption to the quarantine period for medical reasons. Mr Stokes and his wife received an exemption because Mr Stokes recently underwent a medical procedure, the spokesman said. The exemption also applied to Mr Stokes wife who accompanied him and they have been in isolation for two weeks at their home in Perth. Mr Stokes is one of the richest and most influential men in Australia, commanding an estimated net worth of 1.9bn. He amassed his wealth through investment in varied interests, specifically mining, media and construction. The couple had been on lockdown in their 12m penthouse in Beaver Creek outside of Aspen, Colorado before flying back in a private jet to Perth. The spokesman for Mr Stokes said he and his wife strictly followed all the required protocols during that time and claimed many thousands of Australians have been granted exemptions to the two-week quarantine. In western Australia which began enforcing its hard border policies on 6 April, 3,000 people have arrived by air and 900 were exempted from the hotel quarantine. The exempted individuals were given directions to self-quarantine rather than report to a quarantine centre. Australian police said exemptions were given for a variety of reasons including compassionate and health-related grounds. When asked about the specifics of Mr Stokes case, western Australias health minister, Roger Cook, said he would not speak about specific cases and that exemption decisions were made by the police and health authorities. Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Based on the document No.146/TB-VPCP dated April 7 of the Government Office announcing the Prime Ministers conclusion at the meeting of permanent Government members on COVID-19 prevention and control, the MOET said all Vietnamese citizens learning abroad need to seriously follow epidemic prevention and control measures in line with regulations of the host countries as well as recommendations and guidelines by Vietnamese representative agencies. Those wish to return home must directly register at Vietnamese representative agencies in the host countries. Further assistance could be found at Vietnamese representative agencies in the host countries, or via the citizen protection hotline ( 84) 981.84.84.84, or the MOETs Department of International Department at No.35 Dai Co Viet street, Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi with phone number ( 84) 24.3869.5144 or ( 84) 365.12.74.07, email: htqt@moet.gov.vn. Married At First Sight's John Aiken has offered advice to couples feeling the strain while in lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic. The relationship expert, 49, said on Today Extra on Thursday that couples should develop a daily 'ritual' in which they 'connect' with each other and 'debrief about what is going on'. He said it was important to do this because COVID-19 has disrupted the usual routine of spending the day apart and coming together in the evening. Pearls of wisdom: Married At First Sight's John Aiken (pictured) has offered advice to couples feeling the strain while in lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic 'Now couples are in each other's pockets 24/7, so they have to figure out a new way of [reconnecting], a blueprint,' he said. 'What I have said to people is for starters... you have to put aside at least 15 minutes a day for a ritual of connection with your partner, without the kids around, to just connect and debrief about what is going on.' John then offered advice specifically to men and fathers, encouraging them to listen to their partners during these uncertain times. Advice: The relationship expert said on Today Extra on Thursday that couples should develop a daily 'ritual' in which they 'connect' with each other and 'debrief about what is going on' 'What I am telling dads to do this week is under all of these extreme situations, when your partner is really in crisis mode - stressing, really in crisis mode - [is to] put the solutions away and just listen,' he said. 'Because that is really what they are wanting.' It comes after Married At First Sight viewers petitioned for John be replaced by radio host Kyle Sandilands as a relationship expert on next year's season. 'That's something I need to see!' It comes after Married At First Sight viewers petitioned for John be replaced by radio host Kyle Sandilands as a relationship expert on next year's season The speculation has been met with excitement by fans over the past week. 'Kyle Sandilands as a MAFS expert is something I need to see,' one person commented on the FriendlyJordies YouTube channel. Another wrote: 'Honestly.... probably the only reason I would watch it next season. At least Kyle doesnt take anyone's s**t and calls them on it.' Team John: But some longtime MAFS viewers have threatened to boycott the show if Kyle joins But some longtime MAFS viewers have threatened to boycott the series if Kyle joins. 'OMG they must be getting desperate,' raged one fan on Facebook. 'Rude, arrogant - I think I have made my final decision about MAFS 2021. Wont be watching it.' Unfortunately, Kyle will most likely be unable to accept the gig because has already signed up to be a judge on Channel Seven's Australia's Got Talent. Irish officials must scale up testing for Covid-19 before any lifting of the current restrictions is considered (PA) A professor of immunology has raised concerns that Irelands scale of testing for Covid-19 is picking up only one in 10 cases. Paul Moynagh said officials need to ramp up the level of testing before considering lifting any of the current restrictions. He told RTEs Morning Ireland: In terms of community testing, if were picking up very few cases, the primary role theyre testing at the moment is for disease surveillance rather than being actively used to identify and suppress transmission. I think we need to address that and in fact, if you look at the WHO (World Health Organisation), they have indicated six conditions that a country must meet before considering lifting restrictions. At the top of them very much related to testing, and being able to test and trace every positive case and identify every contact. I dont think we are anywhere near that situation. Then being able to control the hotspots of infections, such as nursing homes and obviously thats a key challenge at the moment. Prof Moynagh said the Department of Health needs to increase the amount and speed of testing. He added: We tend to be quite reactive because weve moved to a situation of testing nursing homes, which I thinks absolutely the right thing to do, but that needs to be done at a scale where all residents and all workers can be tested. That probably needs to be done on a regular basis. That will essentially soak up most of the testing capacity, and then we reduce the level of testing we can do at community level. That is a concern of mine. I think we really need to look at testing in a very serious way, and begin to come up with a strategy, a road map and action plan in terms of where were going with testing. If were only picking up one in 10 cases, if were going to use testing as an active way to suppress transmission, then we definitely need that in order to lift restrictions. The best defence we have against limiting transmission of this virus is isolation and as we move, inevitably, to lifting some of the restrictions, we need something there to help us in terms of suppressing that transmission. On Wednesday, the Department of Health confirmed a further 49 Covid-19-related deaths, taking the total since the outbreak began to 769. An additional 113 deaths are suspected to have links to coronavirus, the Department of Health has said. Health Minister Simon Harris urged people to stick with the Covid-19 restrictions, warning that some are starting to slip. Speaking to FM104, he said: I have noticed that roads are getting a little busier. People are beginning to stretch the public health advice and wondering if theyre doing OK and thinking Can we not just do this, that or the other. On a human level you get that because it is tough for people, but we have to stay the course because there is a really thin line between where we are today and where we could have been. My worry is that if complacency sets in, we could end up in a very bad place. I need to be blunt with people on the 5th of May there is not going to be a light-switch moment where everything is going back to normal. Im saying stick to it I want to be able to see my family and friends again and get back to normal. What I can tell you is, it will be sooner if we stick with it. If we start at this stage to get a little complacent and slack off in terms of our own personal responsibility more lives will be lost and the restrictions will be extended. The more we can do in the next 10 days to drive down the virus between now and the 5th of May, the more options we will have as a country and we can see how we can live alongside the virus. A senior civil servant said flexible working arrangements will be put in place for the partners of healthcare workers to help with childcare. At a Government press briefing on Thursday, Liz Canavan confirmed that two measures have been agreed by the Government in relation to childcare for health workers. The first measure relates to circumstances where one parent, guardian or partner is an essential healthcare worker, she said. In this case the other parent, guardian or partner will be supported by their public sector employer to remain at home to care for their children, so as to ensure the essential healthcare worker is able to go to work. In the first instance, flexible working arrangements will be put in place for the other parent or guardian, such as working from home or working adjusted hours or shifts. Though not anticipated, in the event that flexible arrangements do not allow the essential healthcare worker to attend work, it will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. NPHET (the National Public Health Emergency Team) has indicated theres no public health rationale to suggest this measure cannot be implemented as soon as practicable. The second measure relates to the provision of childcare in workers homes. NPHET has indicated that this will be part of its consideration of a phased reduction of social distancing guidance, which are already in place. Manoj Bajpayee is the recipient of two National Awards and in 2019, he was conferred with the Padma Shri, Indias fourth highest civilian award. However, recognition has not come easy for the actor. Did you know that Manoj was rejected by his dream institution - the National School of Drama (NSD) - not once but thrice? However, when he applied for the fourth time, they offered him a teaching position instead. It affected me the first time. Uske baad aadat ho gayi (Then it became a habit), he quipped during an interaction with NDTV around the release of Naam Shabana. Despite having three years of theatre experience when he applied for the first time, he still did not make the cut. The first time I was rejected, I did not have a Plan B. That was the only ambition I had when I was taking the train to Delhi. After that, it took me two months to get back to work. I started looking for some other avenues where I could learn my craft. As soon as I got that, I was on the job. I wanted to just compensate for the loss that I had in the past. The next year, I went for it again, but by then, I was quite busy doing theatre and I had a Plan B, he said. Manojs Naam Shabana co-star Taapsee Pannu, who was also present at the interaction, asked him what made him go back to NSD for the fourth time. If you know the institute inside-out, you know that this is one of the best in the world. Yaar, kisi tarah se mauka mil jaaye (If only I could get a chance somehow), he said, adding that his lodging and meals would also have been taken care of, if he got into the institute. Also read: Manoj Bajpayees Aligarh paved the way for Ayushmann Khurranas Shubh Mangal Zyaada Saavdhan; it deserves a reappraisal A curious Taapsee then asked Manoj why he did not return a fifth time, to which he said, Because the fourth time, they offered me a job. He was offered a teaching position when he applied for the fourth time. Manoj has come a long way indeed, since his multiple rejections at NSD. He will be seen next in the Netflix original film Mrs Serial Killer, as a man framed for serial murders, whose wife (played by Jacqueline Fernandez) will go to any length to see him free, even if it means taking lives herself. The film is directed by Shirish Kunder and will begin streaming from May 1. Follow @htshowbiz for more The jaw-dropping fall in global crude oil prices may seem a bonanza for an oil guzzler like India, but the plunge is set to change the fortunes of many countries across the world. For most of the worlds oil exporters, the demand destruction from COVID-19 and the supply glut are poised to deal a body blow to one of their most lucrative sources of cash. While countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia and the US are large enough to manage the crisis, many smaller exporters in Africa and West Asia may be faced with an acute cash crunch this year. Heres a detailed look at how the worlds economies may be impacted going forward. Text: Jonathan Ananda, Editing: Aravindakshan S, Design: Sankar Ganesh According to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India witnessed 41 deaths in a matter of 24 hours. On Wednesday 8am, the ministry reported 640 deaths which has risen to 681 as on Thursday 8am. The total number of cases in India has reached 21,393, with the number of active cases at 16,454. So far, 4,257 people have been cured or discharged. There are four states with more than 1,000 patients, while two have more than 2,000 and one state has more than 5,000 cases. Maharashtra is the worst-affected with 5,652 cases, while Gujarat has surpassed Delhi to become the second worst-hit. Gujarat has reported 2,407 cases and Delhi has 2,248 cases so far. Also read: Coronavirus India Live Updates: Mumbai worst-affected with 5,652 cases; Gujarat follows suit with 2,407 count Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh have 1,592, 1,890, 1,629 and 1,449 cases respectively so far. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh with 945 and 813 are also nearing 1,000 cases. Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala and West Bengal have more than 400 cases. J&K has reported 407 cases, while Karnataka has reported 427 cases. Kerala has 438 cases and West Bengal has 456 cases so far. Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Manipur, Mizoram, Puducherry and Tripura have reported single-digit cases. Assam, Chhattisgarh, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand have reported fewer than 50 cases with 35, 36, 27, 40 and 46 cases respectively. Also read: Coronavirus: You may soon get a call from 1921; here's why you need to answer As cases continue to rise, the government on Wednesday passed an ordinance to ensure the safety of healthcare workers. According to the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance 2020, anyone physically attacking doctors, nurses or other healthcare workers will be penalised with a minimum jail term of three months and maximum of seven years. The government has made it a non-bailable offence owing to the rise in cases of violence against health workers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 manifests our commitment to protect each and every healthcare worker who is bravely battling COVID-19 on the frontline. It will ensure safety of our professionals. There can be no compromise on their safety!" Also read: Coronavirus lockdown: Only 'negligent' employers to be penalised, clarifies govt 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. New Delhi, April 23 : India is staring at a WTI moment with refiners flooding the market with petroleum products that has not enough takers in the absence of demand in the present lockdown and storage facilities reaching their capacity. Officials in state run oil marketing companies said that with demand for petroleum products, primarily petrol and diesel, shrinking by almost 60 per cent in the first half of April on COVID-19 related lockdown and projections that overall product demand will be over 30 per cent lower in the first quarter of FY21, they were left with no option to cut production with refinery run almost dipping by 50 per cent now. To add to the problem is almost full storage capacity at fuel stations and at sites created by refiners. Analysts estimate that almost entire 85 million barrel storage capacity with the state-run companies is full. This means that if the production continues at normal pace, products would either have to be disposed off to whosoever wants it at whatever prices or stored at floating or leased storage abroad at high cost. "We are in similar position to what led to collapse of WTI crude by more than 300 per cent to negative $ - 37 a barrel on Monday. Since that price is not an option with us, the only thing that can be done is to cut production, which has already started at several of the refineries," said the official of the oil company quoted earlier. On Monday US crude, West Texas Intermediary (WTI), reached historic low levels plummeting to negative levels for the very first time on future contracts with May delivery. As the contracts were expiring on Tuesday and traders with long positions facing the prospect of taking actual delivery of crude when no storage was available, were actually willing to pay to dispose off oil at whatever cost. With large portion of Indian oil Market dominated by government owned companies, such speculative trading is not possible here, but situation on the ground has lots of similarities, analysts said. Overflowing storage have forced Indian refiners to sell very prompt cargoes of oil products with some tenders offering loadings in about a week, compared with normal loading range of a three-four weeks ahead. Even private refiners such as Reliance Industries, as per analyst reports, is looking to send product cargoes to leased storage outside India. At the fuel pump level, out of 66,000 stations in the country, most are not reordering petrol and diesel and there storage are also reporting full, the situation is grim is metros like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata where lockdown and increasing number of coronavirus has completely stopped public transportation and resultant a sharp fall in demand for fuel. A Platts blog report has also indicated that even the size of India's strategic oil reserve is not big enough to absorb the current shock in the oil market and the current crisis has become a loss of opportunity for the country that could have otherwise stirred cheap oil in large quantities in reserves. India's strategic oil reserve of 5.33 million tonnes or 39 million barrels of oil is almost half full now. And with the situation developing in demand front, a lot of crude from state-run oil companies can make its way there rather than cheap oil from across the globe. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Houston conservative power broker Steve Hotze filed a lawsuit against Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo Thursday, alleging that her order requiring people to cover their faces in public violates the Texas Constitution and conflicts with Gov. Greg Abbotts stay-at-home order. Hotze, who also sued Hidalgo over her stay-at-home directive, said in a petition filed in state district court that the mask rule is at odds with a provision of the Constitution that gives the Legislature exclusive authority to define crimes and to designate the punishments for those crimes. The petition also contends that Hidalgo cannot issue more restrictive orders than Abbott, who has not mandated that Texans wear masks in public. Hidalgos order, issued Wednesday, aims to slow the spread of the coronavirus and will require residents 10 and older to cover their nose and mouth when outside. The rule takes effect Monday, lasts 30 days, and allows scarves, bandanas, handkerchiefs and homemade masks. Those who violate the rule are subject to a fine of up to $1,000, though Hidalgo said law enforcement officers have discretion in enforcing the rule. So far, theyve been prioritizing education with all these orders, Hidalgo said Wednesday. Folks have been fantastic, but we did want to make them enforceable. Robert Soard, the first assistant county attorney, cited Section 418.108 of the Texas Government Code, which gives the county judge the authority to declare a disaster in her jurisdiction and to control the movement of persons and the occupancy of premises in that area. That authority extends to the incorporated and unincorporated parts of the county. Soard said Hidalgo has authority to issue the mask order under that provision and another that allows her to exercise the powers granted to the governor for emergency management, including issuing local executive orders that have the force and effect of law. In the petition, Hotze also challenged the part of Hidalgos order that requires people to wash their hands before leaving their residence, and stay six feet away from each other and avoid touching their face in public. Hotze argued the section of state law that governs disasters does not contain any language forcing private citizens to perform the actions in Hidalgos order. Hidalgo declined comment on the lawsuit but said through a spokesman that countywide measures already have saved thousands of lives, and urged Harris County residents not to let our guard down. Politicizing a public health crisis is the worst outcome imaginable for the long term health and safety and our community, and we urge everyone to continue taking this seriously, Hidalgo spokesman Rafael Lemaitre said. Hotzes first lawsuit against Hidalgo, filed at the Texas Supreme Court with three local pastors, has now moved to state district court after the high court dismissed the suit at the plaintiffs request. They are challenging the stay-at-home orders restrictions on church services, even after Hidalgo amended it to square with Abbotts order that defines churches as essential. Hotze and the pastors also have sued Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, alleging the governors order does not go far enough in allowing churches to operate during the pandemic. Hidalgos mask mandate has drawn criticism from GOP leaders, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who called it the ultimate government overreach. State Rep. Valoree Swanson, R-Spring, sent a letter to Abbott Wednesday urging him to intervene quickly and issue orders and opinions to supersede Hidalgos mask order. Led by Hotze, about 100 protesters convened downtown Thursday afternoon in front of the Harris County Administration Building, which houses the offices of Hidalgo and other county officials. Some attendees held up signs that read Let Freedom Ring and flags bearing the campaign logo of President Donald Trump, who has tweeted and voiced support for similar protests in other cities, as medical experts warn that the packed gatherings of people risk spreading the virus. Over photographs of the protest outside the county administration building that were posted online, LeMaitre tweeted, Were working from home. jasper.scherer@chron.com When Cathy Martin left Dalhousie with a Theatre degree under her arm in 1979, she didnt expect to return to her alma mater four decades later this time, to take on a role that has underpinned her varied and accomplished career. The award-winning filmmaker and producer was welcomed back to Dal last month as the universitys first director of Indigenous community engagement, a new position aimed at furthering reconciliation through collaboration with Indigenous partners in the region, particularly the Mikmaq. We have come a long way since I studied at Dalhousie, and we still have a long way to go. I believe that with my experience of almost 40 years of working with the Indigenous communities across the region, nationally and internationally, I can contribute in a positive way towards this new initiative, says Martin. I have had such a rich, rewarding career and want to give back now in gratitude and to make this world a better place for everyone. It is a great initiative and has been a long time coming. It will prove to be of great benefit to all during this important time in our history, as we answer the call for reconciliation. Martin joins a team led by recently appointed Theresa Rajack-Talley, vice-provost equity and inclusion. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canadas call to action was yet another reminder to Dalhousie that we needed to act and act now, says Rajack-Talley. We need to do our part in redressing the colonial history of residential schools and attempts to decimate the identity, education and life chances of Indigenous peoples. Acknowledging that Dalhousie University is located in Mikmaki the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mikmaq is just the beginning of what we can do. It is within this context that the universitys Indigenous Strategy Committee recommended Martins position and the establishment of an Indigenous Advisory Board. Martin will facilitate ongoing communications with people in Mikmaki, foster partnerships with Mikmaw leaders, offer cultural sensitization to Dalhousie as well as work with others at Dal to ensure Indigenous faculty, staff and students feel welcomed and supported at the university. According to Rajack-Talley: In the short period that I have been here I have come to understand and appreciate the idea that if it is about us, then it should be by us so I am excited to work with Cathy in enhancing, expanding and developing new Dal projects and programs with and for Indigenous communities. Raising profile, supporting others For Martin too, a less obvious but vital aspect of her new position is raising the visibility of Indigenous people in senior roles. When she started at Dalhousie in 1976, she had very few peers or professors with an Indigenous background. Martin, who was born in the States but has deep ties to the Millbrook community through her parents and is a member of the Millbrook Mikmaw Band, was the first in her family of eight to graduate with a degree. The fact that you didnt have people around the dinner table talking about their jobs as lawyers or doctors, it wasnt in their tradition or culture, she said from her home in Blind Bay, just outside Halifax. Its not part of our history or living memory or an everyday talk to be a be a lawyer or doctor. Because of the lack of access, weve not been able to build that capacity within our families and our community. So, the key to success and accessing post-secondary education is to get people from those communities graduating so its not just table talk, but its something that people can aspire to. Martin set out to change that early on in her career after graduating and eventually going on to get her Master of Education from Mount St. Vincent University. In 1986, she became the first Mikmaq Professional Careers Coordinator at Dalhousie and helped increase access for Indigenous peoples in professional careers such as law, medicine and administration. Martin also worked closely with the Dalhousie Law School to develop and implement the Indigenous Black and Mikmaq Law Program. She became the first co-chair of the program along with Senator Don Oliver. She developed and implemented a two-year accredited Certificate in Community Health for 35 Indigenous Community Health representatives across the Atlantic region. I am still seeing the fruits of our efforts back then. In fact, in 2012 I proudly watched my own daughter Natalie Clifford receive her law degree from Dalhousie 33 years after I walked down that very same aisle in 1979! she says. Martin also worked as the Native Education Counsellor for Dalhousie under the Confederacy of Mainland Mikmaq program. Eye of a filmmaker She also pursued her passion for filmmaking and worked with the National Film Board, where she made documentaries about her community. She became the first female Mikmaw director in the Atlantic region and went on to produce several international award-winning documentaries about the Mikmaq and Wabanaki nations. One of those, a film about Mikmaw activist Annie Mae Pictou Aquash, was the realization of a life-long dream. I was inspired at a young age by Annie Maes commitment to make the world a better place for our Indigenous people, especially the Mikmaw, she says. She believed in the power of education, the rights of our people to an education and equality. Martins love of film and her specialization in media literacy also led to her work in helping to create the first Aboriginal Peoples Television Network. Martin, who serves on several committees at Dal and is on the University of Kings College Board of Governors, was awarded the Order of Canada 2017 and the Senate 150 medal in 2019. We are very fortunate that someone of Cathys caliber and accomplishments who is so highly respected by the Indigenous community has agreed to join Dal's team of Indigenous faculty, staff and students, and to give support to existing programs and initiatives, says Rajack-Talley. "She will be joining our soon-to-be-hired director for African Nova Scotia community outreach as Dalhousie builds its Community Engagement Program." Admitting that the paper face masks sent to all residents of the Grand Duchy might not last long, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel announced that hes going to donate 200,001 scarves from his personal collection for residents to cover their mouths and noses. Oosh voosh oon moosh loosh, he said at a press conference on Wednesday, the demonstration scarf hed wrapped around his face muffling his words beyond the point of comprehensibility. Moosh loosh voosh oosh. Mr. Bettel has a rather extensive collection of scarves, as hes known to wear a different one in the morning, afternoon, and evening, a spokesperson later explained. And he never wears the same scarf twice. Hes got scarves for briefings with ministers, scarves for appearances at the Schueberfouer, and scarves for visits to heads of state, he continued. Scarves for the sun, scarves for the wind, and scarves for that most Luxembourgish of meteorological conditions: snow-rain. Scarves for thinking, scarves for singing, scarves for doodling, and scarves for doing all three at the same time, he added. Fitness scarves, relaxation scarves, and a scarf for walking from his kitchen to the living room. And a different scarf for the trip back. According to various sources, the scarves are held in a special military installation near Diekirch, the same one that was said to house former Prime Minister Jean-Claude Junckers collection of brandy snifters. Read more at wurst.lu Photo credit:Pexels Northern Irelands health minister has revealed a sudden steep increase in the coronavirus death toll came after he instructed his officials to look into the figure. The Department of Health on Wednesday announced that the number of Covid-19-related deaths had increased by 34 to 250. This included eight deaths which occurred on Tuesday, while the remainder involved fatalities in previous days that have been added to the official record. DAILY UPDATE The number of Covid-19 related deaths recorded by HSC Trusts in NI has sadly risen to 250.https://t.co/YRDhgGbdMO pic.twitter.com/yh4Vm9hduq Department of Health (@healthdpt) April 22, 2020 As well as the daily total from the Department of Health, a weekly bulletin is drawn up separately by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra) using death certificates in which Covid-19 is mentioned as a factor. Robin Swann described the latest figure as a significant increase, adding that he appreciates it will cause some alarm. He explained that he had asked officials to investigate following a very low number of deaths announced on Sunday. I became concerned about a low report that we had on Sunday where we only actually recorded one death and I asked for a thorough piece of work to be done, he said. It's not that these deaths were never going to be reported, it's more in the timeline of the report Robin Swann That piece of work has indicated a number of deaths due to Covid-19 but also with Covid-19 and I asked for that figure to be brought forward today. When the Northern Ireland Statistical and Research Agency figures do present for the period of time for the next week to two weeks, it will capture a number of those deaths that were recording today rather than seeing a significant increase in the differential between what were reporting and what Nisra is reporting. Its not that these deaths were never going to be reported, its more in the timeline of the report. Expand Close Chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride during the daily media broadcast in the Long Gallery at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast (Kelvin Boyes/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride during the daily media broadcast in the Long Gallery at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast (Kelvin Boyes/PA) Also appearing at the daily executive update, chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride said there is always a built-in delay in the process of the recording of deaths. It will be when we have the data in the fullness of time from Nisra which will look at all cause mortality and excess deaths in this period of time as compared with previous years that we will have a true reflection of the true impact of Covid-19, he added. Sinn Fein MLA Colm Gildernew, who chairs the Stormont Health Committee, expressed concern. The health minister and department need to take steps to ensure an error like this never happens again Colm Gildernew, Sinn Fein It is deeply worrying that weeks into this crisis that such an error can be made in terms of reporting the number of deaths, he said. These are people with families who have been plunged into grief by their loss, not mere statistics. I will be raising this issue directly with the health minister at the Assembly health committee meeting tomorrow. The health minister and department need to take steps to ensure an error like this never happens again. On Wednesday, Mr Swann also announced an expansion of coronavirus testing to include an additional range of frontline workers and symptomatic members of their households. Categories now eligible include private sector workers involved in delivering medicine and those working in energy, utilities, transport and food supply sectors. The minister also recently extended testing to include all symptomatic residents in care homes and any patients being discharged from hospital to a home setting. Bengaluru, April 24 : One of the city-based delivery boys, who attempted to sell two Sand Boa snakes with his accomplice for Rs 50 lakh, was just nine days old on job, the Dunzo startup said on Thursday. "Mohammed Rizwan was active on the Dunzo platform between April 13 and Tuesday," a Dunzo spokesperson told IANS. Rizwan was not an employee, but was roped in for Dunzo deliveries by a third party. Following the 'double headed' serpent selling attempt from a Dunzo delivery box used to ferry food parcels, groceries, meat, medicines, pet supplies and others, the startup has fired the delivery boy. "Rizwan was a delivery partner and has been deactivated from the platform permanently post this incident. The incident happened outside the Dunzo platform, on the partner's own time," said the spokesperson. Rizwan's accomplice, Azar Khan, was not connected to the startup in any way. According to the delivery platform, the delivery boys undergo training before going on job. "Rizwan, like all other delivery partners on Dunzo who are individual, third-party contractors, went through the mandatory training and safety procedures at the time of onboarding," said the spokesperson. Central Crime Branch (CCB) Deputy Commissioner of Police Kuldeep Jain said the delivery boys were not clearly telling from where they procured the reptiles. "We have come across illegal liquor sales during the lockdown but attempting to sell Sand Boas out of a delivery box is out of the box thinking. Nothing concrete on the source of the snakes has emerged so far. We are still probing the matter," Jain told IANS. He said the police had received a tip-off about the duo trying to contact potential buyers via WhatsApp calls and other platforms. The Crime Branch has handed over the duo and the reptiles to Kaggalipura forest officials who will charge the culprits under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. By Akbar Mammadov Azerbaijan has sent humanitarian aid to Bosnia and Herzegovina(BiH) to help this countrys fight against novel coronavirus pandemic. An airplane carrying humanitarian aid from Azerbaijan to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) will arrive today on April 23 at the countrys Sarajevo International Airport, Ministry of Security of BiH reported. The Republic of Azerbaijan has responded to the request of the Bosnian Minister of Security Fahrudin Radoncic for BiHs assistance in the fight against coronaviruses, the ministry said. According to the report, on behalf of all citizens, Minister Radoncic thanked the Government and people of Azerbaijan for their support. "This was a continuation of the good results of the donor conference held last month by Minister Radoncic with ambassadors in Sarajevo, international organizations and institutions", the ministry said. A number of countries and donors have responded to the call for support for Bosnia and Herzegovina in the fight against coronaviruses. The European Union alone has provided 80.5 million euros in aid, the ministry noted. It should be noted that Azerbaijan has also sent humanitarian aid worth $5 million to neighbouring Iran over COVID-19 outbreak. So far, more than 184.600 people have died, over 2.6 million people have been confirmed as infected, about 724.000 patients have been recovered worldwide after the outbreak of COVID-19. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz One of the main protagonists in the deadly Drogheda feud has been jailed for four-and-a-half years for the arson of a stolen car when he was under garda surveillance because of his role in the vendetta. Paul Crosby (24), of Rathmullen Park, Drogheda, pleaded guilty to setting the 132-registered Volkswagen Polo on fire at Yellowbatter, Drogheda, on May 10 last year. Such is the threat against Crosby - who has been officially warned by gardai of a threat against his life - that his appearance from Mountjoy Prison required the Armed Support Unit's presence at the courthouse in Drogheda yesterday. Crosby is considered a key member of the so-called anti-Maguire faction in the feud and a close friend of two on-the-run brothers who are hiding out in Spain. "In the gang's pecking order, Crosby would be considered almost their equal. He has known them since they were all children growing up," a source said last night. Mutilated Gardai suspect that Crosby may have key information about the events surrounding the gruesome murder of teen Keane Mulready-Woods in January in which his close associate Robbie Lawlor was a main suspect. Lawlor, who was shot dead in Belfast earlier this month, had been spotted in Crosby's company around the time that the 17-year-old was murdered and mutilated. It can also be revealed that just hours after Keane's killing, Crosby was the target of a revenge attack when a gunman mistakenly shot an innocent taxi driver who was driving the gangster in rush-hour traffic in the Co Louth town on January 13. The driver has made a good recovery and within days Crosby was taken off the streets after the bail conditions that were imposed on him for the offences he was sentenced for yesterday were revoked after he breached the terms on 41 occasions. "When faced with the risk to his life he found himself in the most unusual predicament in that his strict bail conditions made him a sitting duck," his lawyer argued at a court sitting before Crosby was remanded in custody. He has remained in jail since last January and sources believe that has been the safest place for him, with some of his closest associates being forced to flee the country and Lawlor being murdered. There can be no doubt that Crosby is one of the main targets for the Maguire faction, whose leader Owen Maguire was left paralysed after being shot in an attempted murder in July 2018. Crosby was behind a vicious and mocking phone call which ridiculed Maguire for being in a wheelchair and featured a series of other insults, some of them sexual in nature, which went viral on social media in March of last year. At one stage he even goaded Maguire by asking: "Do you want to go for a walk and sort this out?" Crosby even claimed he assaulted arch rival and Maguire's close associate Cornelius Price in a 2018 jailhouse attack in one of his bizarre online rants. Crosby has been questioned a number of times in relation to the Drogheda feud and his home was raided by officers investigating the attempted gun murder of Owen's brother Brendan Maguire in February of last year but he was not arrested on that occasion. Maguire was targeted just five days after Crosby was released from prison, where he was being held on remand, when a jury took just 43 minutes to clear him of trying to murder and falsely imprison a man who was stabbed 28 times and forced into the boot of a car that was pushed into a canal. Cleared Crosby had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the attempted murder of Gerard Boyle (33) at Slane, Co Meath, on November 10, 2016 - the second time that was tried for those offences. Last July, Crosby walked free from Dundalk Circuit Court after being cleared by a jury of two armed robbery charges. However, his luck has finally run out and he is now serving his longest stretch in prison. Yesterday the court heard that Crosby has 40 previous convictions and had a cocaine addiction problem at the time of the arson offence. The court heard he was one of three people under garda surveillance. The trio had been seen trying to get the VW Polo started at an industrial estate on the Ballymakenny Road, Drogheda. It was then driven to a field outside Drogheda and the car the three had been in, a BMW, went to a garage, where a bottle of water was bought. The water was tipped out and the bottle was three-quarters filled with petrol. One person got out of the BMW and went into the field where the VW was set on fire. The BMW left the scene but was stopped a short time later by gardai, including members of the Emergency Response Unit. The three were arrested. The court heard Crosby had been a passenger in the BMW and had not got the accelerant or set fire to the VW. However, he was part of the common design and joint enterprise. Passing sentence, Judge Baxter said: "The gardai have to be commended for the level of thoroughness," of their investigation and added that Crosby was "essentially caught red-handed". The setting alight of the car in the middle of a field was for a suspicious purpose and there had been extensive planning involved, she said. Judge Baxter imposed a five-year jail term, with the final six months suspended, on Crosby entering into a good behaviour bond for 12 months and being under the supervision of the Probation Service for six months. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 05:45:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JOHANNESBURG, April 23 (Xinhua) -- After recording 75 COVID-19 fatalities, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday said the country would gradually start easing lockdown restrictions from May 1. He said the government has developed an approach that determines the measures that should have in place based on the direction of the pandemic in the country. As part of this approach, there will be five coronavirus levels from five to one. South Africa is currently at the highest level of level 5, which requires a full national lockdown to contain the spread of the virus. From May 1, the level will be lowered to level 4 which means some activity will be allowed to resume subject to extreme precautions. He said that during the level 4 lockdown, South Africa's borders would remain closed. Public transport will continue operating under restrictions. No travel will be allowed between provinces, except for the transportation of goods and exceptional circumstances such as funerals. "We have decided on this approach because there is still much that is unknown about the rate and manner of the spread of the virus within our population," said the president, adding that scientists cautioned that the reopening of the economy without any restrictions "could cause a massive resurgence in infections." Cabinet ministers will outline on how these sectors would return to production in May and how the new stage of lockdown will work. Enditem Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates: The Maharashtra health department said that 394 new COVID-19 cases and 18 deaths have been reported in the state on Friday, taking the total number of cases to 6,817 and the toll to 310 in the state. Auto refresh feeds The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 16,689 as 4,324 people were cured and discharged, and one patient migrated, the ministry said. Thus, about 19.93 percent of the cases have recovered so far. The total number of cases include 77 foreign nationals. India's coronavirus cases rose to 21,700 with 1,229 fresh cases, and the overall toll neared 700 with 34 new deaths on Thursday. The Union health ministry, meanwhile, said that it has been able to "cut coronavirus transmission", minimise its spread and increase the doubling time of cases in the duration of the nationwide lockdown. With the help of modern technologies, the world court has made the necessary arrangements to hold virtual meetings via video conference during the pandemic. On Wednesday, it held the first virtual plenary meeting in its history. The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, on Thursday released a press release saying that it would continue to function despite the containment measures put in place around the world to curb the fast-spreading coronavirus. "Coronavirus dies at a much more rapid pace when exposed to sunlight and humidity. The virus dies the quickest in direct sunlight. Isopropyl alcohol will kill the virus in 30 seconds," Bill Bryan, the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Science and Technology told White House reporters in the presence of President Donald Trump. The results of a just concluded scientific study conducted by the Science and Technology Directorate of the US Department of Homeland Security, announced during a White House news conference on coronavirus, could be good news for India in its fight against COVID-19. Sun light, heat and humidity can create conditions that are less favourable for the spread of coronavirus, a public health official of the Trump Administration has said. A customer at the market said, "I've come here to buy one week's supply of vegetables as Ramzan begins from Saturday. It's advised not to venture out to the markets many times due to coronavirus." In view of Ramzan, which begins on Saturday, many gather at Okhla vegetable market in Delhi on Friday to buy supplies to avoid venturing out during Islam's holiest month without further spreading the coronavirus outbreak. Tripura now has 111 coronavirus suspected cases under surveillance and 227 others have been placed under home quarantine. "UPDATE! The second coronavirus patient of Tripura has been found negative after consecutive tests. Hence our state has become COVID-free. I request everyone to maintain social distancing and follow government guidelines. Stay home stay safe, the chief minister tweeted. Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Thursday said the state has become coronavirus- free after its second COVID-19 patient tested negative for the virus. The minister had recently gone into self-isolation after some aides and security personnel were found to be COVID-19 positive. He had quarantined himself from 13 April, after 16 people close to him came positive including bodyguards and cook. Maharashtra Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad tested positive for the novel coronavirus. The senior NCP leader and prominent Maharashtra cabinet minister had admitted himself to a private hospital in Thane for a precautionary check-up. More than 95 percent of the country's 330 million people are under stay-at-home order as a result of the social mitigation measures including social distancing being enforced till 1 May. US President Donald Trump has favoured safe and phased reopening of the American economy, which has been devastated by the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 50,000 people and infected over eight lakh in a matter of few months. The committee has also notified residents of the areas near the temple atop Nilachal Hills not to let out their houses for the festival to visitors and pilgrims. "Only traditional rituals associated with the festival will be performed. Pilgrims will not be allowed to visit the Kamakhya temple or stay on the temple premises," a statement by the temple management committee issued in Guwahati on Thursday, said. The management committee of Maa Kamakhya Devalaya has, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, decided not to hold the annual Ambubachi Mela in June this year. The US, the worst-hit country in the world, now has 866,646 confirmed cases of coronavirus. The deaths were recorded in the 24 hours up to 8.30 pm on Thursday, bringing the overall coronavirus toll in the US to 49,759, according to the Baltimore-based university. The novel coronavirus has killed nearly 50,000 people in the United States, after one of the deadliest days of the pandemic on Thursday which saw 3,176 deaths in 24 hours, according to Johns Hopkins University. However, the lake marshalls contradicted because the damage to the water bodies has been done over several years. Staying indoors and decreased industrial activities have led to the visible difference in the amount of garbage thrown in the lakes of Bengaluru. Bellandur lake, known for frothing and foaming, showed a slight change in terms of garbage dumping and the water looked clearer. The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 17,610 as 4,749 people were cured and discharged, and one patient migrated, the ministry said. Thus, about 20.58 percent of the cases have recovered so far. India's coronavirus cases rose to 23,077 with 1,684 fresh cases, and the overall toll reached 718 with 37 new deaths on Thursday, according to the recent Union Health Ministry data. Those sarpanchs who will be sharing their views with Modi will be doing so by joining the interaction at a Common Service Centre close to them. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with sarpanchs from across the nation via video conferencing at 11 am on Friday. All of them will be able to join this interaction through Doordarshan, from their respective homes adhering to social distancing norms. "The child was undergoing treatment for heart-related problems for past three months and had pneumonia," said the Malappuram District Medical Officer. A four-month-old died of the novel coronavirus in Kerala's Malappuram city after he tested positive for the infectious disease on Thursday. The infant succumbed to the virus on Friday morning at Kozhikode medical college. The remaining 119 accused have been shifted to the city, ANI reported. Of the 121 people arrested for violence against health workers in Bengaluru, two have contracted the novel coronavirus in Padrayanpura ward in the city on Friday. Both of them who were lodged at Ramanagara jail have now been shifted to Victoria hospital in Bengaluru. While the recovery rate in the state was at 70.48% with 324 COVID-19 patients being cured. With an additional 10 COVID-19 cases reported on Thursday, the total positive cases in Kerala stood at 447, said chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The state reported three coronavirus-related deaths so far. Rajasthan reported 36 fresh coronavirus cases taking the total number confirmed cases in the state to 2,000, ANI reported. Of the new cases, 18 were reported in Kota, 13 in Jaipur, four in Jhalawar and one in Bharatpur, said the Rajasthan Health Department. Among the total people infected, 46 have recovered while two lives were claimed by the infectious disease. Six new coronavirus cases were reported in Bihar, according to data released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday. This brings the total reported cases of coronavirus in Bihar to 176, said Sanjay Kumar, State Health Principal Secretary. The patient, who underwent convalescent plasma therapy at Max Hospital in Delhis Saket, has responded well to the treatment, the hospital had said in a statement. Plasma therapy has been applied in the treatment of a COVID-19 positive patient, admitted to a Delhi hospital on Tuesday for the first time in India. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal will address media at 12 pm regarding the initial positive results of the use of plasma therapy to treat coronavirus patients, ANI reported. They will be brought back by road to Guwahati from Kota via Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The Assam government has sent a team of officials and police personnel to evacuate over 350 students stranded in Kota after requests from families in the state and the government of Rajasthan, NDTV reported. In the hardest-hit corner of the US, evidence emerged that perhaps 2.7 million New York state residents have been infected by the virus 10 times the number confirmed by lab tests. More than 4.4 million laid-off Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, the government reported. In all, roughly 26 million people the population of the 10 biggest US cities combined have now filed for jobless aid in five weeks, an epic collapse that has raised the stakes in the debate over how and when to ease the shutdowns of factories and other businesses. In response to the deepening economic crisis, the House passed a nearly USD 500 billion spending package to help buckled businesses and hospitals. Unemployment in the US is swelling to levels last seen during the Great Depression of the 1930s, with 1 in 6 American workers thrown out of a job by the coronavirus, according to new data released Thursday. Surat is the second worst-hit city in Gujarat by COVID-19 after Ahmedabad. Vadodara follows Surat in the list of highly-affected COVID-19 cities in the state. After 14 staff members including a resident medical officer, 12 nurses, and a computer operator tested positive for COVID-19 in the last few days, the 550-bed Kiran Super Multispeciality Hospital in Surat has been temporarily shut down till 1 May, reports Indian Express . Keeping in mind these projections, BMC is on an overdrive to set up at least 3,000 COVID-care beds for patients with moderate to severe symptoms of the viral infection, which is about 5 percent of the projected caseload, reports Times of India. After the Union Health Ministry's projections that Mumbai would have 6.50 lakh, COVID-19 patients, by 15 May, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) own estimates say that positive cases could reach 60,000 to 70,000 by mid-May, reports Mid-day. The judge said the authorities must take a serious note of the issues and directed the Maharashtra government and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to file a reply to the pleas by 29 April. The petitions also highlight issues such as lack of adequate facilities and medical infrastructure in the state, municipal-run, and private hospitals in current times. Justice KR Sriram made the observation on Thursday while hearing three different petitions highlighting the plight of people suffering from several chronic or serious ailments, who the pleas said, are being turned away from clinics and hospitals. The Bombay High Court has said it is imperative that the Union government and the authorities in Maharashtra find an "effective solution" to ensure 'non-COVID- 19' patients are not denied medical treatment at a time when the focus is on fighting the coronavirus outbreak. Through the Saumitra Yojana, drone mapping of each property in a village will be done and property papers will also be made available to the residents, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said. This will help solve disputes and aid loan-taking, he added. Prime Minister Narendra on Friday while launching the new app said that now there is no need for varied applications as the E-Gram Swaraj app will help people get the latest information on various issues at one platform, which will ensure transparency and will help record-keeping. Completion of projects will be faster, he says. In the last 24 hours, 642 new cases were reported, taking the tally to 11,155 in the country, health officials said on Friday. According to the Ministry of National Health Services, 13 more patients died due to the novel coronavirus, taking the toll to 237, and another 2,527 recovered. About 79 percent of the total coronavirus cases in Pakistan are now locally transmitted, health authorities said on Friday as the number of people affected by the deadly virus rose to over 11,000. With 778 more people testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Maharashtra, the total number of confirmed cases in the state rose to 6,427 on Friday. The state health department said that 14 more deaths were reported, bringing the toll to 283. Chief Medical Officer Dr Ashok Shukla said, "50 samples were tested on Thursday of which results of 13 have come positive. They are the students of a madrasa in Coolie Bazaar, a hotspot zone, from where about 30 people have already tested positive." So far, the city in Uttar Pradesh has reported 107 confirmed cases. As many as 13 madrasa students, who had come in contact with Tablighi Jamaat members suffering from coronavirus, have tested positive for COVID-19 in Kanpur, a senior health official said on Friday. The nine included a 32-year-old constable posted at Balasore in Odisha. He is undergoing treatment at Ashwini COVID Hospital at Cuttack. Nine Railway Protection Force (RPF) staff, part of a 26-member team that had been to New Delhi from Kharagpur division in West Bengal, have tested positive for for the noevl coronavirus. The plasma therapy has been conducted on four COVID-19 patients in the last few days at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, said Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal during media briefing on Friday. The four COVID-19 patients who were earlier admitted in the ICU with serious conditions, have now been shifted to private wards after being treated with plasma therapy, said Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal during media briefing on Friday. We are happy with the positive results of plasma theory in four COVID-19 patients. Blood and plasma is ready for two-three other patients that we have at LNJP hospital, we may give them the plasma therapy on FFriday, said Dr SK Sarin, Director, Institute of Liver & Biliary Science. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Nagpur climbed to 100 after two more individuals tested positive for COVID-19 in the district on Friday, said Civil Surgeon, Nagpur, Maharashtra. The decision was limited to funds which have "material direct exposure to the higher yielding, lower-rated credit securities in India that have been most impacted by the ongoing liquidity crisis in the market," the statement said. "The decision has been taken in order to protect value for investors via a managed sale of the portfolio," the Fund said in a statement. Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund on Thursday announced it would wind up six yield-oriented, managed credit funds in India, effective April 23, citing severe market dislocation and illiquidity caused by the coronavirus. Of the new cases, 11 were reported in Bengaluru, two each in Belagavi and Bagalkote while one each in Tumkur, Chikkaballapura and Vijayapura as of 12 pm on Friday. With 18 more people testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Karnataka, the total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state reached 463 on Friday. "The Indian embassies may be directed to issue necessary clearances without seeking individual approvals from the Ministryof Home Affairs and avoid delay, so that the mortal remains reach their homes early enabling the family members to perform the last rites," wrote Vijayan. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention in bringing back the mortal remains of NRIs whose death occurred due to reasons other than the novel coronavirus. According to BMC officials, the number of tests conducted in Mumbai are more than 60,000. On Thursday, the state witnessed the highest spike in daily-rise of COVID-19 cases which is 778. Of which, more than 500 have been reported in Mumbai. A total of 96,000 COVID-19 samples have been tested in Maharashtra so far, News18 reported. Of the total number of tests, more than 6,400 cases have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in the state. Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Friday said that the mortality rate with regard to the novel coronavirus was less than three percent. "Sent teams to states with maximum cases," said the health minister. As many as 5.5 lakh tests of COVID-19 samples have been conducted across the nation so far, said Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Friday. He further said that the coronavirus growth rate in the country is "linear and not exponential". "He developed the symptoms about 10 days ago. He went to the Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital twice and also to the Safdarjung Hospital. However, he was refused testing," an officia According to official sources, the man living in Om Apartment in Ward No. 3, Mehrauli, didn't set up his cart ever since he developed symptoms of the infectious disease. A vegetable vendor in Delhi's Mehrauli area has tested positive for COVID-19, officials said on Friday, adding that he didn't set up his cart after developing symptoms. While, as many as 145 COVID-19 patients have been discharged, said the nodal officer. The total number of confirmed positive cases in the state was at 955 after 62 more individuals tested positive for the nove coronavirus. With two more COVID-19 deaths being reported in Andhra Pradesh in the past 24 hours, the toll in the state jumped to 29 on Friday, said State's COVID-19 Nodal Officer. Besides, the Group companies are also engaged in providing free ration, masks, hand sanitizers and all other essentials to communities living in and around their plants in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh, the Group said in a statement. All the employees of the Group have contributed a part of their salary to PM-CARES fund. DP Jindal Group on Friday said its employees have contributed Rs 2 crore to PM-CARES relief fund to strengthen the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Superintendent of Police (Rural), Aparna Gautam, said the constable was playing an active role in providing food packets and other necessary items to the needy. A constable involved in the distribution of food packets to the needy in Shahjahanpur amid the lockdown has been quarantined after being suspected of contracting COVID-19. Yelmate was investigating an offence at Yashwantnagar, where he spotted Kishor Lomte, Vaibhav Akhate and Tushar Shingare chatting at the street corner and questioned them, the official said. Govind Yelmate, who is attached to Amjogai police station, was beaten up by three men on Wednesday night, inspector Siddharth Gade said. Three men were arrested for allegedly attacking a policeman, who was on lockdown duty, at Ambejogai town of Maharashtra's Beed district, an official said on Friday. A total of 190,896 people have succumbed to the infectious disease while 2,710,264 have been infected since the virus emerged in China in December. The hardest hit continent is Europe, with 116,221 deaths and 1,296,248 cases. The worldwide toll due to the coronavirus pandemic crossed 190,000 on Friday, with nearly two-thirds of the fatalities in Europe, according to John Hopkins University. As many as 100-225 health workers reside in the densely populated building. The district administration has asked the hospital authorities to screen all the staff members in the particular apartment and advised home quarantine for all of them in order to stall further community transmission of COVID-19. A health worker in AIIMS, Delhi, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Friday, reported News18. He is a resident of a housing colony in Chhatarpur. An approx of 80 percent of AIIMS staffers stay in the same building. During this time, containment zones will be tightly controlled and disinfectants will be sprayed twice daily. "Existing restrictions/permits will continue to exist other than those mentioned above," said Palaniswami. Other than these three municipalities, curfew in Salem and Tirupur will also be implemented from 6 am of 26 April to 9 pm of 28 April. Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday announced a complete lockdown in Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai from 6 am on 26 April to 9 pm on 29 April. "Other private companies will not work during this time in the affected areas," said Palaniwami. Announcing the total shutdown in five of its municipalities, Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami further said that employees of information technology companies in these areas can avail work from home option. The timing of the peak will depend on how India is able to control physical distancing and on the level of infection spreads after restrictions are relaxed, they said. The trajectory of COVID-19 cases could have plateaued and might even fall for some weeks after the lockdown is lifted but India is likely to see a second wave in late July or August with a surge in the number of cases during the monsoon, say scientists. Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh, which was among the coronavirus-free districts of the state so far, on Friday reported three cases, India Today reported. "Two of them are from the Shankargarh area while the other one is from Shivkuti," the report said. The Uttarakhand police said that 2,112 cases have been registered and 9,320 people arrested in connection with violation the norms of coronavirus lockdown in Uttarakhand so far. "Most of these offences were registered under section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code, since the prohibitory orders were imposed on 20 March, News18 reported. The Mumbai Police on Friday said that 4,953 cases had been registered against 9,583 people for violating the lockdown restrictions in the city. Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan was quoted by India Today as saying, We have made testing kits available. Strategies were made and the usage was started in hotspots. Faulty antibody testing kits will be returned irrespective of the country they were procured from, including China. We have not paid a single penny yet to any country. Punya Salila Srivastava, Union Home Ministry, on Friday said, "Apart from six Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCT) constituted earlier, the Home Ministry today constituted four additional IMCTs, each headed by an Additional Secretary-level officer, to Ahmedabad, Surat, Hyderabad and Chennai." In the briefing of the Union health ministy at 4 pm on Friday, ministry joint secretary Lav Aggarwal was quoted as saying that in last 24 hours, 1,684 COVID-19 positive cases have been reported across the country, which takes the total number of cases to 23,077. The Union health ministry on Friday said that in last 28 days, 15 districts have had no new case. Till date, there are 80 districts in the country that have reported no new cases in last 14 days. The Bihar government on Friday said that 15 more COVID-19 cases have been reported in the state on Friday, taking the total number of cases to 197. Workers will be kept under quarantine for 14-days before being sent to their homes in respective villages in the state. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday instructed nodal officers to prepare a list of migrant workers stranded in other states due to the COVID-19 lockdown, with an aim to bring them back. The Union health ministry on Friday said that 491 coronavirus patients have been cured in the last 24 hours, taking the recovered tally to 4,748. Dr VK Paul, Niti Aayog member and Chairman of Empowered Group 1 on Friday said, "Our analysis shows lockdown has been effective in slowing the doubling rate of COVID and saved lives. The lockdown decision was timely as the around 23,000 cases in India today could have been 73,000." "Around 1,350 cases have been registered and action has been taken against 3,200 people for violating the norms of COVID-19 lockdown in Rajasthan," said Additional Director General of Police (Crime) BL Soni. MHA joint secretary PS Srivastava said that in Mumbai's Dharavi, there is a need for institutional quarantine of close to 2,000 people. A four-month-old baby with heart-related ailment has died due to COVID-19 in the state, he added. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that three new COVID-19 cases have been reported in the Kasaragod district, taking total number of cases to 450 in Kerala out of which 116 are active cases. The Jharkhand government on Friday said that one more COVID-19 positive case has been reported in the state. The patient is from Deoghar and had recently returned from Surat in Gujarat. Total positive cases in the state rises to 57. "District hospitals, PHCs, CHCs have also been opened for patients. Only Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital will remain shut for other patients as it is dedicated for COVID-19," he said. Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that all medical colleges in the state on Friday opened for general patients. Seven police personnel in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore, including four women, tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday, PTI quoted a police official as saying. The Union health ministry, in its 5 pm update on Friday, said that 1,752 new COVID-19 cases and 37 deaths were reported across the country in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases rises to 23,452, including 17,915 active cases, 4813 cured and 724 deaths. The number of COVID-19 cases rose 298 in Punjab, including 70 cured and 17 deaths. 63 cases have been reported in SAS Nagar, 63 in Jalandhar and 55 in Patiala, the Punjab health department said on Friday. The Tamil Nadu health department said that two deaths and 72 COVID-19 cases were reported in the state on Friday. The total number of cases in the state rose to 1,755. This is an enactment video, 'violators' were also part of the skit. Tamil Nadu Police on Friday put those who were violating the COVID-19 lockdown in an ambulance with a fake COVID-19 positive patient as punishment, in Tiruppur. An Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) team on Friday visited a quarantine facility at the Dumurjala Stadium in Howrah. "Operation Shield was successful because of cooperation from people living in this zone," he said. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that since no new case had been reported in the Mansara Apartment area in of Vasundhara Enclave in the National Capital, the containment zone is being de-contained. "Out of 57 deaths that have been audited by the committee, they have certified that 18 deaths were due to corona and 39 were due to severe comorbid conditions and COVID-19 was incidental finding," he said. West Bengal chief secretary on Friday said that the state government had requested the audit committee for a report on COVID-19-related deaths. The Uttarakhand health department on Friday said that only one new coronavirus case was reported in the state as of 6 pm, taking the total number of cases in the state to 47. No death has been reported in the Union Territory due to the infection. 638 samples have been tested so far, the statement said. The Chandigarh health department said that no new coronavirus case was reported on Friday. The number of COVID-19 cases stands at 27 in Chandigarh, including 15 cured patients. Tamil Nadu chief minister Edapaddi K Palaniswami on Friday wrote to Delhi chief minister saying,"there are 559 Tablighi Jamaat attendees from Tamil Nadu, who had attended Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi. They've been hospitalised/quarantined. State government has been receiving number of grievances with regard to conditions of their stay." Bihar principal secretary (Health) Sanjay Kumar said that17 more people have tested positive for COVID-19 in the state on Friday, taking the total number of cases to 214. Out of total cases, 29 patients are on ventilator, 2,394 are stable, 265 have been cured. The Gujarat health department on Friday said that 191 new COVID-19 cases and 15 deaths were reported in the state in last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases to 2,815 and deaths to 127 in the state. Maharashtra minister Amit Deshmukh said that plasma therapy is likely to begin in Maharashtra's Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and Solapur soon. With 111 new COVID19 positive cases reported in Uttar Pradesh on Friday, the tally in the state rises to 1,621. A total of 957 patients have been discharged till date in Maharashtra, which is the worst-hit state by the coronavirus pandemic. The Maharashtra health department said that 394 new COVID-19 cases and 18 deaths have been reported in the state on Friday, taking the total number of cases to 6,817 and the toll to 310 in the state. Members of the Drishti Lifesaving, an agency appointed by the state government for lifeguard duties, are providing daily meals to stray animals across the beaches and in the state amid the COVID-19 lockdown. Book shops opened in Guwahati on Friday, after state government ordered that book shops dealing with curriculum books can operate in Kamrup Metro district every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 am to 1 pm. The Delhi health department said that 138 new cases of COVID-19 and three deaths have been reported in the National Capital on Friday, taking the total number of cases to 2,514 and toll to 53. Out of the total positive cases, 1,604 are active. A total of 857 patients have been discharged till date. An Assistant District Medical Officer (ADMO) of Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district has been suspended for his unauthorized absence from his duties amid COVID-19 pandemic, ANI reported. A total of three people have died till date due to COVID-19 in the city. The Kanpur chief medical officer said that 31 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the city on Friday, taking the total number of positive cases to 144. "As such there were no symptoms or external conditions to suspect that her death is due to COVID-19. However, as per Central Zoo Authority advisory issued in this regard, samples was collected after ensuring all bio-security measures and were sent to Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly. Later, IVRI has confirmed that tigress Kalpana was found negative for COVID19," said a statement by the Delhi Zoo. Kalpana, a white tigress who died of acute renal failure and other complications related to old age on Friday, was found to be negative for coronavirus. Six new positive COVID-19 cases were reported in the Gautam Budh Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh on Friday. The total number of cases in the district stand at 109 now, of which 56 have been cured. US president Donald Trump on Friday signed a $500 billon coronavirus relief bill into law in a bid to to expand loans for small businesses affected by the pandemic, after his government promised surveillance to stop bigger companies from accessing the funds, Reuters reported. The Maharashtra CMO said that the state government has started distributing 3 kilograms of wheat at Rs 8/kilogram and 2 kilograms of rice at Rs 12/kilogram to three crore saffron ration card holders (people above poverty level) for May and June. About 4.5 lakh metric tonnes will be distributed, the statement said. The Maharashtra CMO said that the state government has started distributing 3 kilograms of wheat at Rs 8/kilogram and 2 kilograms of rice at Rs 12/kilogram to three crore saffron ration card holders (people above poverty level) for May and June. About 4.5 lakh metric tonnes will be distributed, the statement said. The MHA on Friday ordered the exemption of all shops under the Shops and Establishment Act of States/UTs, including shops in residential complexes and market complexes except shops in multi-brand and single-brand malls outside limits of municipal corporations, from revised consolidated lockdown restrictions. The MHA said that relaxations in the lockdown for shops is not applicable in hotspots and containment zones: Ministry of Home Affairs. US president Donald Trump on Friday signed a $500 billon coronavirus relief bill into law in a bid to to expand loans for small businesses affected by the pandemic, after his government promised surveillance to stop bigger companies from accessing the funds, Reuters reported. The Maharashtra CMO said that the state government has started distributing 3 kilograms of wheat at Rs 8/kilogram and 2 kilograms of rice at Rs 12/kilogram to three crore saffron ration card holders (people above poverty level) for May and June. About 4.5 lakh metric tonnes will be distributed, the statement said. The Maharashtra CMO said that the state government has started distributing 3 kilograms of wheat at Rs 8/kilogram and 2 kilograms of rice at Rs 12/kilogram to three crore saffron ration card holders (people above poverty level) for May and June. About 4.5 lakh metric tonnes will be distributed, the statement said. The IAF on Friday said that the C130 and IL-76 aircraft airlifted 52 and 205 evacuees from Jaisalmer to Srinagar and Jodhpur to Leh, respectively. All these people tested negative for coronavirus after the quarantine period. Reports said that all Air India associations on Friday wrote to the PMO and Ministry Of Civil Aviation on pay cuts during the COVID-19 lockdown. The letter cited how Indigo has reversed pay cuts following govt advisories The confirmed number of COVID-19 deaths in the United States surpassed 50,000, according to a tally compiled by John Hopkins University from government figures. The actual death toll is believed to be far higher, AP reported. "A total of 983 coronavirus cases have been reported in Telangana so far, of which 291 patients have been cured/discharged. 25 deaths reported till date in the state," said Etela Rajender, Telangana Health Minister. ANI reported that one NIA assistant sub-inspector who was deployed in the Mumbai NIA office has tested positive for COVID-19. NIA has asked its staff who came in contact with the ASI, to self-quarantine. All prescribed protocols are being strictly followed. The MHA on Friday ordered the exemption of all shops under the Shops and Establishment Act of States/UTs, including shops in residential complexes and market complexes except shops in multi-brand and single-brand malls outside limits of municipal corporations, from revised consolidated lockdown restrictions. MHA orders to exempt all shops under Shops&Establishment Act of States/UTs, including shops in residential complexes and market complexes, except shops in multi-brand & single-brand malls, outside limits of Municipal Corporations from revised consolidated lockdown restrictions. pic.twitter.com/sDHUAszJTZ The MHA said that relaxations in the lockdown for shops is not applicable in hotspots and containment zones: Ministry of Home Affairs. Coronavirus Outbreak LATEST Updates: The Maharashtra health department said that 394 new COVID-19 cases and 18 deaths have been reported in the state on Friday, taking the total number of cases to 6,817 and the toll to 310 in the state. A total of 957 patients have been discharged till date in Maharashtra, which is the worst-hit state by the coronavirus pandemic. The Chandigarh health department said that no new coronavirus case was reported on Friday. The number of COVID-19 cases stands at 27 in Chandigarh, including 15 cured patients. No death has been reported in the Union Territory due to the infection. 638 samples have been tested so far, the statement said. West Bengal chief secretary on Friday said that the state government had requested the audit committee for a report on COVID-19-related deaths. "Out of 57 deaths that have been audited by the committee, they have certified that 18 deaths were due to corona and 39 were due to severe comorbid conditions and COVID-19 was incidental finding," he said. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said that since no new case had been reported in the Mansara Apartment area in of Vasundhara Enclave in the National Capital, the containment zone is being de-contained. "Operation Shield was successful because of cooperation from people living in this zone," he said. Six new coronavirus cases were reported on Friday in Mumbai's Dharavi, taking the total number of cases to 220 in the densely-populated area. Additionally, one death was also reported, taking the toll to 14. The Union health ministry, in its 5 pm update on Friday, said that 1,752 new COVID-19 cases and 37 deaths were reported across the country in the last 24 hours. Total number of cases rises to 23,452, including 17,915 active cases, 4813 cured and 724 deaths. Dr VK Paul, Niti Aayog member and Chairman of Empowered Group 1 on Friday said, "Our analysis shows lockdown has been effective in slowing the doubling rate of COVID and saved lives. The lockdown decision was timely as the around 23,000 cases in India today could have been 73,000." In the briefing of the Union health ministy at 4 pm on Friday, ministry joint secretary Lav Aggarwal was quoted as saying that in last 24 hours, 1,684 COVID-19 positive cases have been reported across the country, which takes the total number of cases to 23,077. "Our recovery rate is 20.57 percent," he said. Punya Salila Srivastava, Union Home Ministry, on Friday said, "Apart from six Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCT) constituted earlier, the Home Ministry today constituted four additional IMCTs, each headed by an Additional Secretary-level officer, to Ahmedabad, Surat, Hyderabad and Chennai." Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday announced a complete lockdown in Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai from 6 am on 26 April to 9 pm on 29 April. Other than these three municipalities, curfew in Salem and Tirupur will also be implemented from 6 am of 26 April to 9 pm of 28 April. "Existing restrictions/permits will continue to exist other than those mentioned above," said Palaniswami. During this time, containment zones will be tightly controlled and disinfectants will be sprayed twice daily. A health worker in AIIMS, Delhi, has tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Friday, reported News18. He is a resident of a housing colony in Chhatarpur. An approx of 80 percent of AIIMS staffers stay in the same building. The district administration has asked the hospital authorities to screen all the staff members in the particular apartment and advised home quarantine for all of them in order to stall further community transmission of COVID-19. As many as 100-225 health workers reside in the densely populated building. With two more COVID-19 deaths being reported in Andhra Pradesh in the past 24 hours, the toll in the state jumped to 29 on Friday, said State's COVID-19 Nodal Officer. The total number of confirmed positive cases in the state was at 955 after 62 more individuals tested positive for the nove coronavirus. As many as 5.5 lakh tests of COVID-19 samples have been conducted across the nation so far, said Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Friday. He further said that the coronavirus growth rate in the country is "linear and not exponential". With 18 more people testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Karnataka, the total confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state reached 463 on Friday. Of the new cases, 11 were reported in Bengaluru, two each in Belagavi and Bagalkote while one each in Tumkur, Chikkaballapura and Vijayapura as of 12 pm on Friday. The four COVID-19 patients who were earlier admitted in the ICU with serious conditions, have now been shifted to private wards after being treated with plasma therapy, said Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal during media briefing on Friday. Their conditions are stable now, said Kejriwal. With 778 more people testing positive for the novel coronavirus in Maharashtra, the total number of confirmed cases in the state rose to 6,427 on Friday. The state health department said that 14 more deaths were reported, bringing the toll to 283. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday while interacting with sarpanches said that the coronavirus pandemic has given the world a new message: 'Coronavirus's biggest message is making people learn the path of self-dependency. We cannot fight such epidemics without being self-reliant. Villages should at their level become self-reliant, so should zillas.' After the Union Health Ministry's projections that Mumbai would have 6.50 lakh, COVID-19 patients, by 15 May, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) own estimates say that positive cases could reach 60,000 to 70,000 by mid-May. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal will address media at 12 pm regarding the initial positive results of the use of plasma therapy to treat coronavirus patients, ANI reported. Plasma therapy has been applied in the treatment of a COVID-19 positive patient, admitted to a Delhi hospital on Tuesday for the first time in India. With an additional 10 COVID-19 cases reported on Thursday, the total positive cases in Kerala stood at 447, said chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The state reported three coronavirus-related deaths so far. While the recovery rate in the state was at 70.48% with 324 COVID-19 patients being cured. A four-month-old died of the novel coronavirus in Kerala's Malappuram city after he tested positive for the infectious disease on Thursday. The infant succumbed to the virus on Friday morning at Kozhikode medical college. "The child was undergoing treatment for heart-related problems for past three months and had pneumonia," said the Malappuram District Medical Officer. India's coronavirus cases rose to 23,077 with 1,684 fresh cases, and the overall toll reached 718 with 37 new deaths on Thursday, according to the recent Union Health Ministry data. The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 17,610 as 4,749 people were cured and discharged, and one patient migrated, the ministry said. Thus, about 20.58 percent of the cases have recovered so far. Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Thursday said the state has become coronavirus- free after its second COVID-19 patient tested negative for the virus. "UPDATE! The second coronavirus patient of Tripura has been found negative after consecutive tests. Hence our state has become COVID-free. I request everyone to maintain social distancing and follow government guidelines. Stay home stay safe, the chief minister tweeted. Tripura now has 111 coronavirus suspected cases under surveillance and 227 others have been placed under home quarantine. India's coronavirus cases rose to 21,700 with 1,229 fresh cases, and the overall toll neared 700 with 34 new deaths on Thursday. The Union health ministry, meanwhile, said that it has been able to "cut coronavirus transmission", minimise its spread and increase the doubling time of cases in the duration of the nationwide lockdown. The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 16,689 as 4,324 people were cured and discharged, and one patient migrated, the ministry said. Thus, about 19.93 percent of the cases have recovered so far. The total number of cases include 77 foreign nationals. AIIMS director Randeep Guleria on Thursday said that it was "important to reach out to patients who are missing out of treatment because of the stigma and panic", adding, "It is important to encourage more and more people to get tested, get treated." "...It (stigma) is actually causing increase in morbidity and mortality. Because of the stigma that is happening many patients who have COVID-19 or flu like symptoms are not coming to health care facilities," he added. He also said that at various centres, "we've started using convalescent plasma that is the blood of COVID-19 patients who have recovered. A large number of patients who have become alright have come forward and volunteered to donate their blood." Centre says no exponential growth in COVID-19 cases so far In its press briefing on Thursday, the Union health ministry asserted that the growth of coronavirus cases in the country has been more or less linear and not exponential, and added that testing has been ramped up consistently. CK Mishra, the chairman of Empowered Group Two, said, "One crucial weapon we employed during the 30-day lockdown period is RT-PCR test to ascertain if one has contracted the disease or not." As on 23 March, nearly 15,000 tests were done across the country and by 22 April more than 5 lakh tests were conducted, which is about "33 times in 30 days", he said, adding, "But we are conscious of the fact that this is not enough and we have to continuously ramp up testing in the country and we will do that." Of the empowered groups formed to suggest measures to ramp up healthcare, put the economy back on track and reduce misery of people once the lockdown is lifted, Mishra is the chairman of Empowered Group Two tasked with coordinating availability of hospitals, isolation and quarantine facilities, disease surveillance, testing and critical care training. "The growth of COVID-19 cases has been more or less linear, not exponential; this indicates that the strategies we adopted have succeeded in containing the infection to a particular level. Post imposition of lockdown, while the number of new positive cases has increased by 16 times, testing increased by 24 times," Mishra said in his presentation. Mishra also said that in the last month, the number of dedicated hospitals for treating coronavirus patients has been increased 3.5 times and the number of isolation beds rose by 3.6 times. "Despite a 24-fold increase in testing, the percentage of positive cases is not rising. The percentage of positive cases as a ratio of testing is more or less the same as that a month ago," he said. Mishra also claimed that India has done better than a majority of developed countries with respect to the percentage of test cases yielding positive results. Maharashtra, Gujarat worst-affected states Coronavirus cases have spiked in Gujarat, and the rising infections in the state have become a new cause for major concern. Just five days ago, Gujarat was at number six, with Delhi, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh apart from Maharashtra having more confirmed cases. As of Thursday night, 217 more cases were reported in Gujarat, taking the total number to 2,624 in the state, and Maharashtra reported a jump of 778 new cases, taking the total to 6,427. A total of 34 deaths were reported since Wednesday evening of which 18 fatalities were reported from Maharashtra, eight from Gujarat, three from Andhra Pradesh, two from Rajasthan and one each from Delhi, Telengana and Madhya Pradesh. Of the 686 deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 269 fatalities, followed by Gujarat at 103, Madhya Pradesh at 81, Delhi at 48, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh at 27 each and Telengana at 24. The death toll reached 21 in Uttar Pradesh, 18 in Tamil Nadu while Karantaka has reported 17 cases. Punjab has registered 16 deaths while West Bengal has reported 15 fatalities. The disease has claimed five lives in Jammu and Kashmir, while Kerala, Jharkhand and Haryana have recorded three COVID-19 deaths each. Bihar has reported two deaths, while Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Assam have reported one fatality each, according to the ministry data. However, a PTI tally of the figures reported by various states as on Thursday showed 21,673 cases and 689 deaths in the country. There has been a lag in the Union Health Ministry figures, compared to the number of deaths announced by different states, which officials attribute to procedural delays in assigning the cases to individual states. According to the 5 pm update on the health ministry's official website, Delhi recorded 2,248 cases, Rajasthan was at 1,890, Madhya Pradesh at 1,695 and Tamil Nadu at 1,629. The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 1,509 in Uttar Pradesh, 960 in Telangana and 895 in Andhra Pradesh. The number of cases has risen to 456 in West Bengal, 443 in Karnataka, 438 in Kerala, 407 in Jammu and Kashmir, 277 in Punjab and 262 in Haryana. Bihar has reported 148 coronavirus cases, while Odisha has 83 cases. Forty-nine people have been infected with the virus in Jharkhand and 46 in Uttarakhand. Himachal Pradesh has 40 cases, Chhattisgarh has 36, while Assam has registered 35 infections so far. Chandigarh has 27 COVID-19 cases, Ladakh 18, while 17 cases have been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Meghalaya has reported 12 cases, and Goa and Puducherry have seven COVID-19 cases each. Manipur and Tripura have two cases each, while Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have reported a case each. "Our figures are being reconciled with the ICMR," the ministry said on its website. States wise distribution is subject to further verification and reconciliation, it said. Uddhav Thackeray says govt's focus is to reduce mortality rate Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday said that his government's focus was to reduce the mortality rate of COVID-19 patients and increase the period during which the number of positive cases double. He made the remarks during his video-conference interaction with the members of two central teams that toured Mumbai and Pune cities, the two coronavirus hotspots in the state. The teams took a review of the medical machinery, implementation of the lockdown measures and social distancing, safety of health workers and situation of labourers in shelter camps, supply of essential goods, among other things. A statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said that Thackeray told the teams that reducing the mortality rate of COVID-19 patients and increasing the period of doubling of positive cases were his government's focus. At present, the period of doubling of patients in the state is seven days, which has to be increased to more than 10 days, Thackeray told the teams. He asked the state administration to take into consideration all the suggestions made by the central teams. US sees record levels of unemployment Unemployment in the US swelled to levels last seen during the Great Depression of the 1930s, with one in six American workers thrown out of a job because of the coronavirus. More than 4.4 million laid-off workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, the US government said on Thursday. In all, roughly 26 million people more than the population of the six biggest US cities combined have now filed for jobless aid in five weeks, an epic collapse that has raised the stakes in the debate over how and when to lift the state-ordered stay-at-home restrictions that have closed factories and other businesses from coast to coast. Meanwhile, some countries including Greece, Bangladesh and Malaysia announced extensions of their lockdowns. Vietnam, New Zealand and Croatia were among those moving to end or ease such measures. In Africa, COVID-19 cases rose 43 percent in the past week, up from 16,000 to 26,000 cases, according to John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The figures underscored a recent warning from the World Health Organization that the virus could kill more than 3,00,000 people in Africa and push 30 million into desperate poverty. Huge lines have formed at food banks from El Paso, Texas, to the Paris suburbs, and food shortages are hitting Africa especially hard. The European Union has pledged 20 billion euros to help vulnerable communities globally. EU leaders scheduled a virtual summit on Thursday to take stock of the damage the crisis has inflicted on the blocs own citizens and to work out an economic rescue plan. The coronavirus has killed over 1,84,000 people worldwide, including about 47,000 in the United States, according to a tally compiled by John Hopkins University from official government figures. The true numbers are almost certainly far higher. With inputs from agencies By Donald Kirk You have to admire the efficiency with which Korea is managing its campaign to stop the coronavirus from spreading. Confined to house arrest I mean quarantine at my place in Seoul, I get calls twice a day from a nice woman named "Ms. Park" at the local district office, on top of daily reminders on my phone to self-diagnose through an app they installed at Incheon airport after I arrived here from Washington. All this attention may seem unnecessary considering that the virus test they gave at the airport came back negative the next day. That was all I needed for release from the youth center southwest of Cheonan where I'd spent the night sleeping on a "yo" on the floor, but I wasn't through yet. Then came the bus ride to my district medical center, the only destination to which I could buy a ticket, and a warning from people at the center that I had to stay home for two weeks or risk a horrendous fine, not to mention expulsion from the country. They had a van at the center waiting to take me to my exact address. The driver, like everyone else, was garbed head to toe in white. No way did they want to risk passing the dreaded disease to an innocent taxi driver. The next day a couple of people showed up at the door with hand sanitizers and face masks just in case I hadn't bothered to buy them. Literally, they were at the door. No, they wouldn't come inside for fear of catching whatever bug I might still be carrying. You wonder, seriously, what were the odds of having the bug after testing negative and passing it on, and were all such precautions really necessary? When I asked Ms. Park at the district office whether any of the people she called every day had suddenly reported symptoms of the disease while in quarantine, she said no. But then, seeing the stats on TV you do get a lot of time watching TV in quarantine I also wondered how else you could deal with this disease. After the first alarming news that COVID-19 among members of a Christian sect in Daegu had picked it up from citizens in Wuhan, there was no denying the powers-that-be had been remarkably successful in stopping the bug in its tracks. The numbers told the story. From hundreds of new cases every day, the total had descended to two digits a day, even one digit. The total number of deaths, rising above 200, was not good news, but it could have been worse, far worse. Look at the numbers in the U.S., from which I'd just arrived. They were going through the roof, first above 20,000, then 30,000, up to more than 40,000 total deaths, far more than in any other country including Italy and Spain, which were suffering the most before my departure from Washington. Victor Cha, the noted scholar and expert on Korea in Washington, wrote in Foreign Affairs that Americans would never accept the kind of strict measures enforced in Korea. The American Civil Liberties Union and just about every other advocacy group would be screaming about infringement on basic liberties, human rights and all the rest. Maybe so, but in battling a dreaded disease for which there is no cure, it's what works that counts. In Korea, the system may not be altogether fun or seem all that necessary, but it seems to be working. You can't attack the disease piecemeal, by testing a few people here and there, giving others a pass on the theory, "Well, surely they're O.K." The proof that the system is working in Korea is that shops and stores are open, factories are humming and people are still riding buses and subways. You have to believe that controls, such as those I've experienced over the past 10 days or so, are needed to keep life going normally. The U.S. is a much bigger country, it's far more diffused geographically and culturally and ethnically, just about any way. There's a lot of disagreement over whether to relax controls, to tighten them, to assert federal authority over managing and stopping the disease or leave it all to each of the 50 states. You've got to think anyone who wants a coronavirus test should get one, free of charge, anyone should be able to buy a face mask and every hospital should have the facilities, including ventilators, for curing the sick. It's good to see all that in place in Korea, as I've observed and experienced firsthand from the sanctuary of quarantine. ) writes from Seoul as well as Washington. Donald Kirk ( www.donaldkirk.com BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr.23 Trend: An airplane carrying humanitarian aid from Azerbaijan to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) will arrive today, Apr. 23, at countrys Sarajevo International Airport, Trend reports with reference to Ministry of Security of BiH. The ministry said that Azerbaijan has responded to the request of Bosnian Minister of Security Fahrudin Radoncic to render assistance to BiH in the fight against coronavirus. On behalf of all citizens, Radoncic thanked the Azerbaijani Government and people for their support. This was a continuation of the good results of the donor conference held last month by Minister Radoncic with ambassadors international organizations and institutions in Sarajevo, the ministry said. A number of countries and donors have responded to the call for support to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the fight against coronavirus. The European Union alone has provided 80.5 million euros in aid, the ministry said. The outbreak of the coronavirus began in the Chinese city of Wuhan (an international transport hub), at a fish market in late December 2019. The number of people killed by the disease has surpassed 184,200. Over 2.6 million people have been confirmed as infected, nearly 722,000 have reportedly recovered. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11. Delhi to ease restrictions, if Covid cases come down in next 2-3 days: Health Minister Lata Mangeshkar health update: Doctor says,'She in ICU with Covid-19 and pneumonia, will be under observation' Union Home Minister Amit Shah lauds PM Modi for handling coronavirus crisis in India India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Apr 23: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for handling the Covid-19 crisis in India. Shah stated that the "truth is self evident" as the entire world is praising PM Modi and his approach towards fighting the COVID-19 in the country. Taking to Twitter, Shah said that every Indian is feeling safe under PM Modi's leadership and has trust in him. Truth is self evident! Entire world is praising PM @narendramodi, the way he is handling COVID-19 global pandemic, taking care of Indians and helping the world community in such challenging times. Every Indian is feeling safe and trusts his leadership. pic.twitter.com/caq5y8Hjio Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 23, 2020 "Truth is self evident! Entire world is praising PM @narendramodi, the way he is handling COVID-19 global pandemic, taking care of Indians and helping the world community in such challenging times. Every Indian is feeling safe and trusts his leadership," Shah said, in a tweet. On Wednesday, Microsoft and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Bill Gates commends PM Modi's leadership in dealing with COVID-19 The billionaire said he is glad that the Indian Prime Minister's government tapped its exceptional digital capabilities as a formulated response to Covid-19. "I'm glad your government is fully utilising its exceptional digital capabilities in its COVID-19 response and has launched the Aarogya Setu digital app for coronavirus tracking, contact tracing, and to connect people to health services," he had said. Facebook post sparks outrage in Nigeria, with the government calling for the mans prosecution. Beirut, Lebanon Lebanese security forces have arrested a man suspected of putting a Nigerian domestic worker up for sale on a popular Facebook page used to trade everyday items such as furniture, food and shoes. Domestic worker of African citizenship (Nigerian) for sale with a new residency and full legal papers, an account under the name Wael Jerro posted on the page, named Buy and Sell in Lebanon. The exact date of the post remains unclear. The suspect was arrested on Thursday by Lebanons General Security agency, the countrys leading intelligence agency, which also controls entry and exit from the small Mediterranean nation. General Security said an investigation was under way in the case, and warned that advertising people online violated the countrys human trafficking laws, subjecting perpetrators to prosecution. The arrest came after Justice Minister Marie-Claude Najem on Wednesday ordered the judiciary to follow up on the case, citing Lebanons anti-human trafficking law. Lebanons Ministry of Labour also released a statement saying anyone who advertises domestic workers online would be prosecuted. Najem said in a statement that the case represented a blatant violation of human dignity. The case has sparked fury in Nigeria, where officials requested the Lebanese authorities to investigate the incident. The government is very angry, said Julie Okah-Donli, director-general of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). The Lebanese government should prosecute him and rescue other girls that have been sold or [are] about to be sold into slavery. Many Nigerians also took to social media to express their outrage. Hey tweeps this is a Nigerian girl that was trafficked to Lebanon as an housemaid, as seen in the picture a particular Arab man is putting her up for sale at the rate of $1k pls kindly tag @abikedabiri and other law makers who can help in finding this lady and bring her back. pic.twitter.com/tA6hPmU2dM kristy (@Kristy36679703) April 22, 2020 Modern-day slavery Some 250,000 migrant domestic workers most from sub-Saharan African countries such as Ethiopia and Ghana, and southeast Asian countries including Nepal and the Philippines reside in Lebanon. Domestic workers in Lebanon are legally bound to their employers through the countrys notorious kafala system, which only allows them to end their contracts with the consent of employers. The system has led to widespread abuse, ranging from the withholding of wages, to physical and sexual assault. Camille Abousleiman, Lebanons former labour minister, has called it modern-day slavery. While Lebanons Ministry of Labour says it is working to improve protection for domestic workers by amending the contract between them and their employers, experts say the abuse will continue until the kafala system is entirely abolished. Adopting a revised contract which addresses shortcomings is undoubtedly a step forward, but its not enough, Diala Haidar, a Lebanon campaigner at Amnesty International, told Al Jazeera. The Lebanese labour law explicitly excludes domestic workers from labour protections enjoyed by other workers such as minimum wage, overtime pay, compensation for unfair dismissal, and social security. The labour law needs to be amended to recognise domestic workers as workers and grant them full labour protections, she said. General Security had said in 2017 that two domestic workers die every week in Lebanon. Videos often circulate of domestic workers trying to escape the homes of their employers by climbing down high buildings. Frequently, they are found dead. Last month, the body of 23-year-old Ghanaian domestic worker Faustina Tay was found in a parking lot under the fourth-storey apartment of her employers. In the days leading up to her death, Tay had alleged repeated abuse by her employer and the agent who brought her to Lebanon and said she feared her life was in danger. The employer has since been blacklisted, meaning he cannot hire any more domestic workers, while a criminal investigation is ongoing. The high-profile case, first reported by Al Jazeera, shed light on the conditions migrant workers face in Lebanon. Ghanaian domestic worker Faustina Tay was found dead on March 14 in southern Beirut [Al Jazeera] Despite the fact that most domestic workers arrive in Lebanon by legal means, the Facebook post has renewed calls in Nigeria for tougher measures to curb the activities of those involved in human trafficking a big problem faced by a number of African countries. As long as traffickers are working about freely, making money, trafficking will not stop, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, told Al Jazeera. Last year, the Nigerian government began the repatriation of up to 20,000 girls who were trafficked to Mali. The national agency fighting human trafficking said many of these girls ended up working as sex slaves in mining camps in Mali after they were tricked with promises of getting jobs in Europe. In 2018, the government removed some 5,500 Nigerians from Libya following reports of abuse, slavery and torture. We shall, after COVID-19, engage countries where human trafficking is endemic with a view to rescuing and repatriating victims of trafficking as we did in Libya a few years ago, Okah-Donli said, referring to the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Human trafficking is a global problem and huge all over the world because of the large profit. Its an organised criminal network that cuts across local and international boundaries. more of it is for sexual and labour exploitation and of course organ harvesting, she added. BERLIN, GERMANY - APRIL 23: German Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) sits at the Bundestag on April 23, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. Germany is still at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and will have to live with it for a long time, the Chancellor said. There's a lot at stake when European leaders host their fourth coronavirus call Thursday as they seek further funding to alleviate the economic shock from the pandemic. Every EU country agrees that the region needs more than the 500 billion euro ($538 billion) package that their finance ministers put together earlier this month. However, there are deep political divisions on how to go about it. The 27 EU members want a "Recovery Fund," but they have yet to figure out how to finance it, how big it should be, and what it should be made of. "Where we need a great deal of work is on the recovery fund," an EU official, who didn't want to be named due to the sensitive nature of the talks, told CNBC Tuesday. The heads of state will have an initial discussion on the matter, but they are not expected to reach a conclusion Thursday, two other European officials told CNBC Wednesday. European Council President Charles Michel, who chairs discussions among the 27 leaders, has suggested that there should be a link between the recovery fund and the EU's next seven-year budget. "I propose that we task the (European) Commission to analyse the exact needs and come up with a proposal that is commensurate with the challenge we are facing," Michel said in a letter to the 27 governments. He added that it should be up to the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, to clarify the link between the recovery fund and the next EU budget, which "will in any event be at the heart of the EU's contribution to recovery and will need to be adjusted to deal with the current crisis and its aftermath." By Anna J. Park With global oil prices showing volatility, the nation's financial authorities sent warnings to retail investors about some exchange-traded notes (ETNs) and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that track U.S. benchmark oil prices. On Thursday, the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) issued a warning against ETNs and ETFs that track West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices, rating them as hazardous. The warning has been repeated, as the financial authority previously sent a warning of the highest level about them earlier this month. Amid a supply glut in the U.S., the WTI future price turned negative for the first time in history on Tuesday. As the cost of a futures contract for May logged a historic negative price, the June and July contracts were also traded at a much lower price. Although the crude oil price went up the next day, trading at $13.91 per barrel on Wednesday, it is still uncertain whether real demand for oil will rise any time soon. Against this backdrop, retail investors in Korea rushed to purchase the WTI-tracking ETNs and ETFs, expecting to rake in profits when the crude oil prices steadily rise. Such a massive influx of investors abnormally hiked the prices, and some of those ETNs' disparate ratio the difference between crude oil's intrinsic value and real product price went up 1,044 percent Wednesday. For instance, more than 800.7 billion won ($650 million) rushed into Shinhan Leverage WTI futures ETN during this month, soaring from the 22.8 billion won logged in December, last year. Kazakhstan, a former Soviet republic in Central Asia, was the first country in the region to be hit by the coronavirus pandemic, with its first three cases confirmed on March 13. Now, more than a month later, the countrys coronavirus statistics remain relatively low: As of April 17, Kazakhstan, with a total population of 18.7 million, had reported 1,498 COVID-19 positive cases and 17 deaths. (COVID-19 is the disease caused by the novel coronavirus behind the pandemic.) The country has been taking restrictive measures to fight the spread of COVID-19. The government declared a state of emergency and imposed nationwide lock downs and stay-at-home orders in mid-March, before the country recorded it first coronavirus victim. In parts of Kazakhstan, however, the authorities went further with their quarantine measures, locking hundreds of residents inside their homes. A local journalist in Kazakhstan, Petr Trotsenko, told Dozhd, the independent Russian television channel, and Radio Azattyk, which is part of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, about this development. Photos and videos shared via social media showed apartment building entrance doors sealed from the outside. Added to these doors were small rectangular windows similar to those found in prison cells, through which groceries and other essentials can be passed. The posts named the city of Aktau as one of the places where this has happened. Located on the Caspian Sea coast and once a secret Soviet uranium mining city, Aktau now is Kazakhstans oil hub. Forbes magazine described the city as being at a prime position on an emerging corridor of the New Silk Road. An Aktau resident reportedly jumped out of a third-floor window and broke his back while trying to escape from an apartment building where he was sealed while visiting relatives. The entire multistory building was sealed after a middle-aged couple in one of the apartments tested positive for COVID-19, according to media reports. On April 4, the Aktau city administration tried to debunk these social media posts, saying on its official Instagram account that they were incorrect. There has been a lot of incorrect information circulating in the posts with people claiming that the doors are being sealed, with just a small hole cut in them, the Aktau akimat stated in a post in Russian. The claim is false. According to the online media agency Nur.kz, the Aktau city akimat claimed in the Khazakh language portion of its Instagram post that the entrance door of one of the apartment buildings, a photograph of which was posted online, had not been welded shut from the outside. Rather, it said, only a latch has been welded to it from the outside. The Aktau city administration posted a video showing a person wearing protective gear opening the heavy metallic door from outside. Another person was filmed shaking the freshly welded door latch to demonstrate that it could be moved. The video appeared to verify that the Aktau city administration had indeed been locking entrance doors of apartments from outside. Governor Abubakar Bello has directed some council chairmen in Niger to watch-out for and quarantine returning traders from Kano for two weeks as part of measures to curtail the spread of Coronavirus. He gave the directive during the official distribution and enforcement of compulsory use of face masks across the state in Minna, the state capital on Thursday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 11 local government areas are Tafa, Suleja, Gurara Munya, Paiko, Chanchaga, Bosso, Kontagora, Rijau, Rafi, Mariga and Mashegu. Mr Bello explained that during his monitoring of the lockdown directive on Wednesday night, he came across some motorists at security check-point at 11 p.m. conveying traders from Kontagora and Mariga to Kano. They said they were going to Kano to return today Thursday which happened to be the window day that allow people to go out to stock up food. The situation in Kano is serious, this is not the time for people to leave their communities or state to travel to another state, it is possible the goods they are going to buy might be contaminated, the governor said. He noted that Kano was not a place to visit at the moment due to the spread of cases of COVID-19 recorded in the state and directed the chairmen to make arrangement for hotels to quarantine the returning traders for 14 days. The governor disclosed that the state had banned all interstate travels based on the decision reached during the last teleconference meeting of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and urged residents of the state to remain wherever they were for two weeks. He appealed to the people to complement the efforts of government and security agencies by becoming an enforcer of the lockdown and report to the authority of any inappropriate behaviour. Mr Bello also directed the security personnel to arrest anyone seen in the public without wearing face masks. Also, Ahmed Matane, Chairman of the Niger State COVID-19 Task Force, disclosed that about 3,000 local masks had been produced for free distribution, adding that the state planned to produce over one million masks. NAN reports that highlight of the event was the symbolic distribution of the face masks to motorists by the governor. (NAN) Photo: Contributed This week, not unlike last week, and the week before, the government has announced another Emergency Assistance program. This latest program is the Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) and is intended to provide supports for those students who do not qualify for the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB). The formal details of this new program have not yet been released, and will require legislation. However, the general guidelines of the program are as follows: Eligibility for this CESB program is said to apply to post-secondary (college and university) students who are currently in school, are planning to start school in September 2020, or graduated from school in December 2019, if they have lost work or cannot find work due to the pandemic. It is also open to working students earning less than $1,000 per month who also able to apply for the benefit if their hours have been cut due to COVID-19. This benefit will provide monthly support payments of $1,250 from May 1 until August of 2020. This amount can be increased to $1,750 monthly for those students who are caring for someone with a disability. There will also be other measures ranging from increased student grants and financial assistance to enhanced scholarships and other initiatives. As this program will require an in-person sitting of Parliament to be implemented, the exact details will become further defined. In my view this new program will definitely be of benefit for many students who clearly did not qualify for the CERB program and had fallen through the cracks. The reason why I referenced clearly in the context of not qualifying for the CERB program is for good reason. Some students have expressed both confusion and even frustration trying to determine if they are eligible for the CERB benefit or not. The confusion is related to recent comments the Prime Minister made in the House of Commons in Question Period stating that: students who had a job last summer or who worked during the school year are eligible for the CERB if they earned over $5,000. Many students are eligible. In fact, the actual legislation has additional requirements, including that aside from earning over $5,000, the benefit Q&A specifically states, If you are a student who had a job last year and were planning on working this summer you do not qualify for the benefit. As the Opposition, we continue to push the Liberal government for clarification on this as many students, based on hearing the Prime Ministers comments, applied for the CERB benefit in good faith. Unfortunately, as the Liberal government, Bloc, NDP and Green Party all voted to have only one question period per week, there are fewer opportunities to raise important issues like this one in Parliament. A virtual Parliament has been reported by the non-partisan clerk of the House of Commons as not feasible at this time. By comparison, the British Parliament will sit with reduced numbers for three days a week, along with virtual option for those not in person. My question this week relates to the House of Commons: Do you support the decision for the House to sit with reduced numbers only one day per week? I can be reached at [email protected] or call toll free 1-800-665-8711. Police said they found text messages between the victim and Garcia-Saenz and that the defendant told them he and Campbell met on a dating app and that he had gone to his house to hang out. [April 23, 2020] Parade Technologies to Expand High Speed USB Type-C Connectivity Portfolio with Acquisition of Fresco Logic Parade Technologies, Ltd. www.paradetech.com (Taipei Exchange: 4966 TWO), a leading video display and interface IC supplier, today announced it has entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger to acquire Fresco Logic, Inc., a fabless semiconductor company with a focus on high speed data transport and I/O aggregation chip and technology, for an aggregate purchase price of US$37.5 million in cash. "The Fresco Logic team demonstrates strong expertise and leadership in USB and USB Type C technologies," said Jack Zhao, CEO of Parade Technologies. "Parade has been leading high-speed interface technologies and products. The addition of USB Hub, USB port expansion and Power Delivery products and technologies, and its relevant intellectual property portfolio, will speed up our roadmap development and execution in the USB4 product line and beyond to provide cutting-edge high-speed products to our customers." USB4 is an important evolution of the USB standard to meet high performance, low power, and interoperability requirements needed in environments with various systems and peripheral connected devices. The integration of the Fresco Logic technology will accelerate Parade Technologies' roadmap for USB4 silicon, software, and solutions. The acquisition also includes USB3 host controllers and I/O signal aggregator ICs for multi-protocol low speed signals or USB2 over USB3. "Data and video solutions are being combined into the same connector directly on the mobile systems," said Jing-Fan Zhang, CEO of Fresco Logic. "Our team is excited to join Parad Technologies to help build smarter, more connected high-speed interface systems. Backed by two decades of advanced research in USB, PCIe, & other high-speed data interface standards, Fresco Logic has created highly differentiated, low power multiprotocol products". Parade intends to fund the transaction with $37.5 million cash on hand. The transaction, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to close during the second quarter of fiscal 2020. Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP served as the legal counsel to Parade. Stoel Rives LLP acted as legal counsel to Fresco Logic. Press Conference Parade will hold its press conference call at Taipei Exchange on Thursday, April 23 beginning at 3:00 pm Taipei time, solely to discuss this acquisition transaction. About Parade Technologies, Ltd. Parade Technologies, Ltd. is a leading supplier of mixed-signal ICs for a variety of popular display and high-speed interface standards used in computers, consumer electronics and display panels. The fabless semiconductor company was founded in 2005 and publicly listed on Taipei Exchange (TPEx) in 2011 (stock code: 4966). Parade's portfolio of IC products serves the growing demand for HDMI, DisplayPort, SATA, and USB ICs for display, storage and interface applications. In addition to being a technology innovator, Parade is an active participant and leader in industry standards-setting organizations. Parade Technologies, Inc., a wholly owned US-based subsidiary of Parade Technologies, Ltd., is a member of VESA (Video Electronics Standard Association). Parade Technologies, Inc. has made key contributions to the development of VESA's DisplayPort digital video interface standard. Parade leverages its close relationships with market leading Tier-1 OEMs to develop ICs that provide unique system capabilities. Many of the company's devices integrate proprietary technologies that offer superior system signal integrity, advanced system integration and enhanced power efficiency. As a result of the company's "standards-plus" design philosophy, Parade ICs have been designed into products offered by nearly every leading computer and display vendor worldwide. About Fresco Logic, Inc. Headquartered in Portland Oregon, Fresco Logic was founded by a team of technical experts from Intel (News - Alert) and Synopsys. Fresco Logic is a market leader in providing advanced I/O silicon solutions that deliver highly efficient connectivity such as F-One Aggregation, GoExtreme USB 3.1, USB Type-C, Power Delivery and USB Video for next-generation consumer electronics, mobile devices, IoT and industrial applications. Billions of Fresco Logic USB3.0 Port have been deployed to the market today. Parade Technologies and the Parade logo are trademarks of Parade Technologies, Ltd. All other trademarks are property of their owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005246/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By Rozanna Latiff and A. Ananthalakshmi KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia called on Thursday for disputes over the South China Sea to be resolved by peaceful means, amid a standoff between Chinese and Malaysian vessels that a U.S. think tank said had been going on for months. U.S. and Australian warships arrived in the South China Sea this week near an area where a Chinese government survey vessel, the Haiyang Dizhi 8, has been operating close to a drillship under contract to Malaysian state oil company Petronas, regional security sources have said. The standoff was the latest development in a series of targeted harassments by Chinese vessels of drilling operations in five oil blocks off the Malaysian coast in the past year, said Greg Poling, director of the Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI). Since December, Chinese forces have been harassing supply ships servicing the West Capella, an oil exploration vessel operated by Petronas, Poling said. Last week, the Haiyang Dizhi 8, accompanied by a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel, entered Malaysia's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and began a survey close to where the West Capella was operating. On Thursday, the Haiyang Dizhi 8 was still within Malaysia's EEZ, about 337 kilometres (209.4 miles) off Borneo, data from ship tracking website Marine Traffic Showed. Three U.S. warships and an Australian frigate conducted a joint exercise in the South China Sea this week, near the site of the West Capella's operations, officials and security sources have said. China has denied reports of a standoff, saying the Haiyang Dizhi 8 was carrying out normal activities. Malaysia said on Thursday it remained committed to safeguarding its interests in the South China Sea. "While international law guarantees the freedom of navigation, the presence of warships and vessels in the South China Sea has the potential to increase tensions that in turn may result in miscalculations which may affect peace, security and stability in the region," Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said in his first official remarks on the standoff. Story continues Hishammuddin said Malaysia maintained "open and continuous communication" with all relevant parties, including China and the United States. Petronas did not respond to requests for comment. Separately, Taiwan's Defence Ministry said that a Chinese aircraft carrier group lead by China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, had ended a mission in the South China Sea on Wednesday and was now heading east through the Bashi Channel, which separates Taiwan from the Philippines. The carrier group earlier this month sailed down Taiwan's east coast. China said at the time it was on its way to routine exercises in the South China Sea. (Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard and Yimou Lee in Taipei; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) Credit: If Indiana Jones has an Australian forerunner, its got to be Ellis Rowan. The sight of this petite, elfin-featured woman, armed with painting gear and parasol, negotiating murky swamps and snake-infested jungles in full Victorian attire, says Christine Morton-Evans, amazed all who came across her. Controversial and undaunted by convention, she pursued her botanical specimens in dangerous locations with the zeal of one seeking the holy grail. She won innumerable medals for her paintings and became a household name both for her work and her embellished reports of her intrepid adventures. Yet she is now largely forgotten. For all the drama and tragedy of her life, her sometimes delicate, sometimes luscious, paintings steal the show in this handsome publication that, a century after her death, restores her work to its rightful place in the public gaze. Valkyrie: The Women of the Viking World by Johanna Katrin Fridriksdottir (Bloomsbury, $40) Credit: Theres little evidence that Viking women fought in battle as popular television drama would have it. Yet Norse sagas are full of powerful, ferocious heroines, from the valkyries supernatural beings who decide who will die in battle to vengeful, blood-thirsty queens who use their children as political pawns. While historically unreliable, the sagas highlight the horrific costs women paid in an unyielding culture of honor, says Johanna Katrin Fridriksdottir. At the same time, however, Norse laws gave married and widowed women considerable rights and security.The authors dilemma, in this scholarly study, is to reconcile the larger-than-life legends of monstrous mothers and terrifying shield maidens with the more mundane and complex reality of daily life for Viking women from childhood to old age. The School of Restoration by Alice Achan & Philippa Tyndale (Allen & Unwin, $32.99) Credit: Why am I still alive, Alice Achan asked herself, when almost every person I rose for each morning is gone? Her happy childhood in a village in northern Uganda had been shattered by the Lords Resistance Army and she was paralysed by grief. After years of struggling to get an education and a diploma in social work, she still felt overwhelmed by the brutal experiences of girls who had been abducted by rebels. An urgent desire took hold of her to open a school for these survivors of sexual violence. In the school of my dreams, girls would be nurtured by their teachers, and learn that they are equal to any other person. Perhaps the most extraordinary thing about this against-all-odds story of the academy she founded is Achans and her students conviction that only forgiveness can release us from the bondage of bitterness. Fiction - Pick of the week The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich (Corsair, $32.99) Credit: Louise Erdrich was inspired to write The Night Watchman by the experience of her grandfather a Chippewa man who lived on the Turtle Mountain reservation in North Dakota and who fought, in the 1950s, to stop the US government from dispossessing his people of their land. Thomas Wazhushk is a night watchman galvanised into action that will take him to Washington D.C. to save his community. We also follow his niece Patrice, a factory-worker with an alcoholic father, and sole breadwinner for her family. Patrice leaves the reservation for the first time determined to find her sister Vera, last seen in Minnesota. Although Thomas political battle has momentous consequence, what stands out is more intimate: the telling detail, the warmth and compassion Erdrich brings to her portrayal of characters struggling to navigate two worlds. The Night of All Souls by Philippa Swan (Vintage, $32.99) Credit: In lockdown I recently reread Edith Whartons The Age of Innocence. Was there ever a writer so sharp, so acidic in her assessment of society, yet so generous in her imagination of the people trapped within it? In The Night of All Souls, she returns from the grave. Philippa Swans erudite homage takes a page from Whartons unheralded ghost stories: the author is resurrected in an anteroom to the afterlife, and given a novella about a woman who works at the Wharton museum in Massachusetts. Edith must decide whether to publish or burn the work, revisiting her own writing in the process. It may have the trappings of a ghost story, but the most appealing element of Swans novel is its submerged literary appreciation of Whartons oeuvre, delivered in tandem with lively elements of biography, and shades of the wit and style for which Wharton was renowned. Gathering Evidence by Martin MacInnes (Atlantic, $29.99) Credit: Abstract, unnerving quasi-detective fiction with traces of absurdist dystopia, Gathering Evidence draws a husband and wife into parallel investigations. It begins with a treatise on a new social media app called Nest, which collates user data and derives a unique pattern from it. Soon, no one can make serious life decisions without consulting their patterns. That menacing prospect hovers as we meet John, a programmer with a large tech company, and his wife Shel, a primatologist. Shel travels to Africa to investigate the death of bonobos in a national park. Plans change and a dangerous situation develops. Meanwhile, John is attacked by an unknown assailant, and wakes up to visits from an anonymous medico; he must piece together his memories to discover what is happening to him and why. MacInnes has created a strangely prescient vision that fuses risks of ecological catastrophe, technological dependence, and social isolation. Hitlers Peace by Philip Kerr (Hachette, $32.99) A medical employee manipulates a test tube with samples in an aseptic cabinet, during a drill of protocol in the Biological Containment Center of the National Institute of Biological Microbiology Dr. Carlos G. Malbran, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Oct. 29, 2014. Argentina developed the method of diagnosis of molecular biology necessary to confirm a case of ebola quickly if it were to occur in the country. (Xinhua/Martin Zabala/IANS photo) PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-23 15:06:49 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 775 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2020 / Mota Ventures Corp. (CSE:MOTA)(FSE:1WZ:GR)(OTCPINK:PEMTF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has received approval from the Depository Trust Company ("DTC") to make the Company's common shares eligible to be electronically cleared and settled through DTC ("DTC Eligibility").DTC is a subsidiary of the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation, a United States company that manages the electronic clearing and settlement of publicly traded companies. DTC Eligibility incorporates an electronic method of clearing securities that speeds up the receipt of stock and cash, and thus accelerates the settlement process for certain investors. DTC is a member of the U.S. Federal Reserve System, a limited-purpose trust company under New York State banking law and a registered clearing agency with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.In addition to trading over-the-counter in the United States under the ticker symbol "PEMTF", the Company's common shares continue to trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol "MOTA" and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "1WZ"."We are very pleased to have obtained DTC eligibility as it simplifies the process of investors and brokers trading and exchanging our stock in the United States, which will benefit Mota and our shareholders. I also expect that being DTC eligible will improve our overall liquidity and help to broaden our shareholder base in North America," stated Ryan Hoggan, CEO of the Company.About Mota Ventures Corp.Mota is an established eCommerce, direct to consumer provider of a wide range of CBD products in the United States and Europe. In the United States, the Company sells a CBD hemp-oil formulation derived from hemp grown and formulated in the US through its Nature's Exclusive brands. Within Europe, its Satavida brand of award winning 100% organic CBD oils and cosmetics are sold throughout Spain, Portugal, Austria, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. Mota Ventures is also seeking to acquire additional revenue producing CBD brands and operations in both Europe and North America, with the goal of establishing an international distribution network for CBD products. Low cost production, coupled with international, direct to customer, sales channels will provide the foundation for the success of Mota Ventures.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORSMOTA VENTURES CORP.Ryan HogganChief Executive OfficerFor further information, readers are encouraged to contact Joel Shacker, President at +604.423.4733 or by email at IR@ motaventuresco.com or www.motaventuresco.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release, which has been prepared by management.Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking StatementAll statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including with respect to liquidity and trading in its common shares, its plans to become a vertically integrated global CBD brand, its plans to cultivate and extract cannabis to produce CBD and high-quality value added CBD products in Latin America for distribution domestically and internationally and its plans to acquire revenue-producing CBD brands and operations in Europe and North America. The Company provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited those identified and reported in the Company's public filings under the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com . Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law.SOURCE: Mota Ventures Corp. The government on Wednesday set up a taskforce to respond to requests from some 40 countries for advice or equipment to deal with the coronavirus epidemic. Yoon Tae-ho, the head of the government taskforce coordinating the domestic response to the epidemic, told reporters on Wednesday, "Sharing Korea's experiences could be very helpful for many other countries in stemming the spread of infections." The new seven-member taskforce, which consist of officials from the ministries of foreign affairs and health as well as medical experts, already met with health officials from Kuwait in Seoul on Wednesday. Korea reported just eight more infections on Thursday morning, bringing the total to 10,702 and below 50 for almost three weeks in a row. To the Editor: Re Stand on Drug Led to Ouster, Official Asserts (front page, April 23): The firing of Rick Bright is among the worst decisions ever. Dr. Bright is a leading authority on vaccines who has spent his entire career studying and developing vaccines. He is the perfect person to run the Department of Health and Human Services Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. His expertise is urgently needed as we face the greatest public health crisis of our lifetimes. Abruptly reassigning him to an unrelated position should be the last thing anyone would want to do. It is painfully apparent that this move was made in retaliation against Dr. Bright for his having properly disputed President Trumps unfounded assertions that hydroxychloroquine is a miracle drug that can cure coronavirus infections. When our government chooses to put politics ahead of science, we all suffer. America should not be deprived of Dr. Brights contributions to vaccine development as we endeavor to develop a vaccine against Covid-19. (Natural News) On Monday, nurses in Phoenix faced off against protesters who were demanding that Gov. Doug Ducey reopen Arizona. A small group of nurses in scrubs and masks stood their ground as protesters accused them of being fake nurses and claimed that the COVID-19 outbreak was a hoax. The nurses did not speak or answer any questions. Instead, they simply stood there and listened to what the protesters had to say. Arizona nurses standing up for the lockdown One of the nurses involved was Lauren Leander from the Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix. Leander stood with her arms crossed, face mask in place, looking ahead and standing her ground even when some protesters got within the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions recommended distance of six feet to talk to her and her fellow nurses. (Related: People protesting stay-at-home orders across America.) https://twitter.com/DrDenaGrayson/status/1253147011387449347 Among those who got close was a man who calmly explained his frustrations and claimed that COVID-19 patients were taking priority over others who also needed medical care. I dont think theres one right answer to this, but theres more than just one side, he said. We have overblown this so much that were denying care to some of those people who need care. My grandpa is one of those people. Several protesters, however, werent as polite and accused Leander and her fellow nurses of being actors and fake nurses paid by the government. A majority of the comments were that I was a paid actor from my hospital or the government to stand there and protest against these people, which was not [the case] at all. I was there on my day off, Leander explained. It was eye-opening. It was very sobering and very sad at the same time, she said. I think that the beauty of being able to silently protest and not engage with these people allowed us to see what they really thought. Another nurse who came to rally, Jasmine Bhatti, said she attended so that she could be the face of reality. She stated that the protesters called COVID-19 a hoax and was also accused of being a paid actor or even a veterinarian. Despite this, Bhatti says shes prepared to help anyone who gets sick, even if it were one of the protesters. If they were to come into the hospital, were still going to treat them just as any other person who walks in, Bhatti stated. But gosh, its awful to know that this is the way they feel, and this is the way they think. Local news outlet Arizonas Family has since verified that both Leander and Bhatti have active nursing licenses in the state that are in good standing. Demonstrations and counter-demonstrations all over the country Mondays rally and counter-rally in Phoenix were just some of the many occurrences happening all over the country. As anti-lockdown protesters have started to stage demonstrations against city- and state-mandated lockdown orders, so too have healthcare workers who are coming out to defend those measures. Dr. Erich Bruhn and his wife Kristen, a former nurse, stood in front of protesters in Richmond, Virginia Wednesday. Dressed in white lab coats and face masks, the Bruhns stood silently, choosing instead to wield placards. Dr. Bruhns sign said You have no right to put us all at risk. Go home! His wifes, on the other hand, asked protesters to Sign up here to die for the economy. In Vermont, nurses braved the snow to stand in front of protesters rallying in front of the Statehouse in Montpelier. Meanwhile, in St. Louis, Missouri, a lone man stood in front of cars of drive-by protesters with a sign telling them that No economy is worth more than a life. When interviewed by NBC29, Bruhn stated that he believed that there were even more people who disagreed with the protesters and with reopening the country, but that they were following social distancing rules and staying at home. The truth is far more people disagree with opening the country, Bruhn said. But theyre not coming out to protest because they are at home doing the right thing. Sources include: AZFamily.com DailyMail.co.uk Gov. Taps Diverse Group for COVID-19 Recovery Task Force Its been like tons, or gallons, of alcohol, was thrown on the open wounds of inequality and racism in this country. And as we think about how to recover, were going to have to think about how to make sure that we dont go back to where we were before, said Angela Glover Blackwell, an African-American author and policy specialist based in Oakland. Blackwell is the founder and president of the non-profit PolicyLink, a research institute and social action organization that advances racial and economic equity, according to the groups website. It was unacceptable then and it will be unacceptable going forward, Blackwell continued, pointing out the painful economic and health disparities the COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare across the United States and here in California. ADVERTISEMENT She was speaking Friday during Gov. Gavin Newsoms daily COVID-19 press conference in Sacramento. During the briefing, the governor announced that he has appointed Blackwell and 79 other prominent Californians to the state Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery. The governor said he is charging the diverse group of social, political and economic leaders to analyze every sector of the state economy and put together a road map to economic recovery. Newsom says he expects the task force to come up with short-term, medium-term and long-term ideas to put California on track to once again attain the level of economic prosperity the state had reached before the pandemic: 21 consecutive months of job growth; a $20 billion budget surplus in 2019; and 20 billion more stacked away in the state reserves. I have asked and tasked some of the best and brightest minds that we could source a disproportionate number, almost exclusively, reside right here in the state of California some of the most well-known business leaders in the world. The great social justice lawyers reside here in the state of California. Tribal leaders. Health care leaders. Small business leaders. Tom Steyer, the billionaire businessman, civic leader, and former US presidential candidate will co-chair the task force along with Gov. Newsoms Chief of Staff Ann OLeary. Other African American task force members include Gregory A. Adams, chairman and CEO, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., and hospitals; Willie Adams, president, International Longshore and Warehouse Union; E. Toby Boyd, president, California Teachers Association; Stacy Brown-Philpot, CEO, TaskRabbit; Dr. Robert Ross, president and CEO; The California Endowment among others. See the full list of members. The impact of the global Coronavirus pandemic in California has been deep and far-reaching, hitting the finances, health, and way of life of people across class, race, and geographical lines, but especially so among African Americans and other people of color. At press time, the coronavirus had claimed the lives of more than one thousand Californians, and more than 28,000 more across the state had been infected by the deadly virus with the largest concentration, more than 11,000 people, diagnosed in Los Angeles County alone. ADVERTISEMENT Based on racial data the state has collected so far on mortality rates, a disproportionate number of Black Californians have died from COVID-19: About 12 percent in a state where African Americans account for six percent of the total population of nearly 40 million people. About 95 people died of COVID-19 Thursday, the deadliest day since the onset of the pandemic, and a day before the governor announced his economic recovery task force appointments. Last week, the governor also announced that the state is officially in a pandemic-induced recession. This pandemic has forced millions of Californians out of jobs with the most vulnerable hit the hardest, he said. We will use a gradual, science-based and data-driven framework to guide our re-opening timing while planning our economic recovery. More than 3.1 million Californians have filed for unemployment insurance since March 12, and the state unemployment rate has spiked to 5.3% from under 3% just two months ago. Before the onset of the pandemic, about 2,500 people applied weekly, on average, for unemployment insurance. Over the last few weeks, that weekly average has jumped to more than 200,000. This is an amazing moment despite all the suffering, Blackwell said. The silver lining could be to finally understand that we cannot go forward as a nation divided as we have been between haves and have nots. Other members the governor appointed to the task force are California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Los Angeles), Senate Minority Leader Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), Assembly Minority Leader Marie Waldron (R-Escondido), former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, Walt Disney Company Executive Chairman Bob Iger, former head of the Small Business Administration, Aida Alvarez and dozens of other Californians from sectors, including business, labor, health care, academia and philanthropy. Gov. Newsom also appointed the states four living former governors as honorary members on the task force. They are Hon. Jerry Brown, Hon. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Hon. Gray Davis and Hon. Pete Wilson. We need to demonstrate for the nation that it is possible to have a recovery that is transformative, imaginative and radical, Blackwell emphasized. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 17:20:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NANJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Reading has regained its role as healthy lifestyle trend during the coronavirus epidemic, when people are barred from outside activities and left with the bulk of time at home, making this year's World Book and Copyright Day especially remarkable. "I didn't shop 'vengefully' but instead have been reading 'in revenge' when the epidemic levels off," said Li Yun, a resident in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province. "The number of books I read and recently listened to on WeChat and Ximalaya has already exceeded that of 2019." Ximalaya is a popular audio sharing platform in China, many use it to listen to audiobooks while driving or doing chores. As the coronavirus epidemic is ebbing in China, many cities across the country have issued e-vouchers worth millions of yuan to boost consumption hit hard by the novel coronavirus epidemic. In Nanjing alone, vouchers worth 7 million yuan (about 987,900 U.S. dollars) were distributed in March for locals to purchase books in 198 bookstores in the city. During the three-day Qingming Festival holiday in early April, total sales of Nanjing's bookstores exceeded 1 million yuan, second only to vouchers used in the catering industry. And as offline promotions are discouraged, publishing houses and bookstores have chosen to go online to sell books around this year's World Book and Copyright Day, which falls on Thursday this year and is usually followed by large-scale promotions. Bian Qingbo, with the Jiangsu People's Publishing Ltd., recently made his livestream debut with scholars to introduce books on Chinese history. "Though the sales brought by livestreaming was limited, it helped us locate our target readers and better understand their needs," said Bian. Brick-and-mortar bookstores, already having a hard time surviving, are making full use of technologies and innovating their services to lure readers. A total of 72 bookstores in Beijing, for example, have begun to offer books on Meituan Waimai, a major food delivery platform in China, which allows readers to receive books they ordered in around 30 minutes. In Nanjing, libraries also launched book delivery services, allowing readers to borrow and return books at home. Free delivery services are offered as a special offer to bookworms for several days around the World Book and Copyright Day. "Reading is also a kind of emotional vaccine that helps us fight the virus," said Mai Jia, a writer. "Staying at home has given me more opportunity to read and meditate on the meaning of life, which is also a 'positive energy' in combat with the virus," he said. Industry insiders believe the epidemic will have far-reaching changes in reading. "As the rhythm of our life has been quickening, people used to opt for books that can help them concrete. But after the epidemic, I believe they will care more about health and quality of life, and the demand for non-fiction books will increase," said a publisher in Jiangsu. Enditem Barry Farmer spent time in the foster care system while growing up and was no stranger to hardship. Having been raised by his grandmother since the age of 4, he credits her for the accomplished adult he turned out to be. And now he is a proud single father of three adopted children. As a toddler, Barry had been placed in a form of foster care called kinship care in Richmond, Virginia. For years, he lived with different families, as his parents werent able to look after him. I was going from home to home, living with friends of my parents. And that wasnt stable, he recalled, according to CBS News. At 4 years old, his grandmother, Cora, took him in. The stability she offered him while growing up would go on and shape his future. Becoming a foster parent was like a tribute to my grandmother because I could never pay her back, but I was definitely able to pay it forward, he explained, according to People. Barry applied to become a foster parent when he was just 21 years old in 2010. And a year later, he was allocated his second placement, Jaxon, then an 8-year-old boy. And at first, he had some trouble wrapping his head around the cultural difference. I didnt know he was supposed to be white, no one at the agency did. I was very surprised he was white, I had never worked with white children, he said. The new dad did, however, take the child in, and the father-son bond grew strong, so strong that in 2013, when Jaxon had an opportunity to be adopted, he instead asked Farmer to become his dad for good. We went through the whole process. In court, we went to the judge and sat there at the table, and I told the judge that I will be responsible for him, Barry recalled, according to WTVR. Within a year, the opportunity presented itself to foster a second boy, then-8-year-old Xavier. And a few years later, in 2013, Barry officially adopted him as well. The family was completed in 2014 when they took in then-4-year-old Jeremiah for temporary respite care. They welcomed him with open arms, as did I, so we adopted him as well, Barry recalled. Finding himself a single dad of three adopted white children while barely having turned 30 is not something Barry could have predicted. I look in the mirror all the time, and if you would have told me 10 years ago that this would happen, I wouldnt believe you, he said. I wished to be a father, but it wasnt going to be this soon. Barry documents his experiences as a single dad on his personal blog and is a strong advocate for the adoption of older children. He also wrote an account of his compelling story for Love What Matters. You can look at older children simply as diamonds in the rough. Even a diamond thats in the dirt is still a diamond. They just need help, polishing them up, and once you hold them up to the light theyre still the same diamond, theyre just a little more refined now, he poignantly noted. We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc Whether that means hand sanitizers everywhere or regularly disinfecting hard surfaces, "there will be a clearly communicated regimen to let the customers know, 'here's what we're doing to keep you safe,'" Freitag said. Hotel room rates will drop more before they come back up Hotel rates in the US declined by 30% the week of March 21, according to Freitag, and "rates will definitely go down before they come back up." Historically, in times of great uncertainty such as in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks or after the end of the recession in 2009, it has taken twice as long for room rates to rebound than it did for them to drop to their lowest point, Freitag said. He doesn't anticipate the collapse of any segments of the US hotel industry, but there will be lodging disruption that in many cases will be invisible to guests. Hotels may change hands behind the scenes but remain operational and under the same brand. Travelers may feel safer in hotels than vacation rentals Funded through CNLs Canadian Nuclear Research Initiative, new research project will explore innovative fuel processing and development CHALK RIVER, Ontario, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Canadas premier nuclear science and technology organization, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with Moltex Energy. Funded through CNLs Canadian Nuclear Research Initiative (CNRI), the agreement includes work to support aspects of Moltex Energys nuclear fuel development program for its Stable Salt Reactor, a 300 MW small modular reactor (SMR) design. Launched in 2019, the CNRI program was established by CNL to accelerate the deployment of SMRs in Canada by enabling research and development, and connecting the SMR industry with the facilities and expertise within Canadas national nuclear laboratories. Among the many benefits of the program, participants are able to optimize resources, share technical knowledge, and gain access to CNLs expertise to help advance the commercialization of SMR technologies. CNL has built considerable expertise in nuclear fuel handling and processing over the past decades, explains Jeff Griffin, CNL Vice-President of Science and Technology, and advanced fuel research is recognized as one of our key strategic areas of strength. We have made significant investments into our fuel program and will continue to do so over the coming years. The CNRI program helps reactor developers such as Moltex Energy tap into these key capabilities in a cost-effective way. Many of the modular reactor designs under development or consideration in Canada utilize evolutionary or even revolutionary - fuels and manufacturing processes. These advances in fuels promise greater levels of efficiency, safety and in the case of Moltex Energy, a reduction in fuel waste inventories. However, before these benefits are realized, research and development must be undertaken to prove out the concepts, and readiness of the technology for the nuclear licencing process. Story continues Under the proposed CNRI project, Moltex Energy, the University of New Brunswick (UNB) and CNL will design, build and optimize a fuel testing apparatus at UNBs Centre for Nuclear Energy Research with parallel complementary activities at the University of Manchester. More specifically, the CNRI project will see CNL supporting Moltex Energy on specialized equipment preparation, installation and commissioning. While the initial testing is conducted using surrogate inactive materials, CNLs expertise is also supporting the planning, design, costing and safety analysis required to move the apparatus into a shielded facility, or hot cell, where the testing could be completed using actual fuels and active materials. Ultimately, the data collected will support the design and licensing of a full-scale facility in New Brunswick being developed jointly by Moltex Energy, the Government of New Brunswick and NB Power. The financial support and technical expertise from CNL is important for the success of our project and will help us advance research and development, said Rory OSullivan, CEO for North America at Moltex Energy. Nuclear power is essential to address global energy issues as intermittent renewables alone cannot meet the current and future demand. CNRI is an annual program that invites organizations to submit proposals for cost-sharing R&D projects in support of SMR development. CNL received a strong response to the initial intake, including four applications from key vendors in the SMR industry in Canada and abroad. The agreement with Moltex Energy is the second project to reach this stage in the program. The next call for CNRI proposals is expected to be released in the spring of 2020. For more details on the program, please visit www.cnl.ca/CNRI. About CNL Canadian Nuclear Laboratories is a world leader in nuclear science and technology offering unique capabilities and solutions across a wide range of industries. Actively involved with industry-driven research and development in nuclear, transportation, clean technology, energy, defence, security and life sciences, we provide solutions to keep these sectors competitive internationally. With ongoing investments in new facilities and a focused mandate, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories is well positioned for the future. A new performance standard reinforced with a strong safety culture underscores every activity. For more information on the complete range of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories services, please visit www.cnl.ca or contact communications@cnl.ca . About Moltex Energy Moltex Energy is a privately held company striving to solve the world's most critical challenge, providing safe, clean and affordable energy. The company has headquarters in the United Kingdom and New Brunswick and collaborates with other innovators and nuclear energy experts worldwide. The mission is to cost-effectively produce carbon-free electricity so that fossil fuels can stay in the ground. Moltex Energy is one of two companies that NB Power has selected to explore building Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) in New Brunswick. Moltex has developed a first-of-its-kind technology to build a better nuclear reactor that will safely, cleanly and economically solve global energy issues and power the planet in the 21st century. For more information visit: www.moltexenergy.com CNL Contact: Patrick Quinn Director, Corporate Communications CNL, 1-866-886-2325 Moltex Energy Contact: Tracey Stephenson 506.866.8516 THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson In November of 2005, Teck Resources (TECK-B.TO)(TECK), then Teck Cominco, finalized an agreement to acquire a 15 per cent stake in the developing Fort Hills oil sands mine. In one of his first letters to shareholders in 2006, newly-minted chief executive Don Lindsay touted the Vancouver-based companys $850 million initial investment in Fort Hills as adding a long-life, high-margin business to Tecks copper, zinc and coal operations. Teck had what other members of the ownership consortium lacked: experience in mining. But in the years to follow, the mega-project, which is larger than the city of Vancouver, would fall victim to cost overruns and construction delays, before being shelved in 2008 at the onset of the global financial crisis. Fort Hills produced its first oil in January 2018. Oil sands investment fell 45 per cent between 2014 and 2017, according to data from IHS Markit, thanks in large part to a major plunge in crude prices. It's unlikely there will be projects of this type of scale again, said then-Suncor CEO Steve Williams at the grand opening of the site, which includes the spot where Albertas first oil and gas extraction plant was built in the 1920s. Today, the 194,000 barrel-per-day Fort Hills project is partly owned by (SU.TO)(SU) and Total Canada (TOT), 54.1 and 24.6 per cent, respectively. Teck announced a $474 million writedown on its 21.3 per cent stake on Tuesday, a product of the commodity price crash brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and Saudi-Russian supply aggression. At Tecks annual general meeting on Tuesday, Lindsay was asked about the billions in charges the miner has racked up as a result of its expansion into Canadas oil sands. If I had known back in 2006 that the world would be like this in 2020, I dont think I would have done it, he said over the phone. We cant all go back in time and redo it. So we have to then make decisions in todays situation. Lindsay said Fort Hills has been a tremendous operating and engineering success. He praised Suncor for bringing it online, noting that 80 per cent of projects of this scope never hit their designed capacity. He said the last month Fort Hills was running at full clip was December 2018. Story continues Of course, Alberta ended up shutting in oil given the lack of pipeline capacity. And so that has had a big effect on the operation, Lindsay explained. The world has changed quite significantly from when we went into the business. In response to plunging oil prices, the trio of owners announced in March that Fort Hills would reduce production by paring back to one train from three. Weeks prior, in what was seen as a major blow to Canadas energy sector, Teck pulled the plug on its proposal for the $20-billion Frontier oil sands project. The company cited Ottawas lack of framework to reconcile pipelines and resource development with its climate change priorities, and announced a $910-million impairment charge. With those headwinds still firmly in place, and new strains of historic proportions roiling global energy markets, Tecks taste for the Canadian oil business is growing more and more uncertain. If I go back in time to when Teck first went into the oil sands business, at that time we had quite a number of reasons why we thought it was appealing, Lindsay said, referencing the then-prevailing theory of peak oil, barrels trading above US$100, and the emergence of large Calgary-based energy firms. Our position was that we would wait out for a couple of years to see the pipelines get built, and the differentials stabilize at lower levels, and see de-bottlenecking occur. It may be that thats not the right approach. So the board is reviewing the situation, and we are in discussions with Suncor and Total as to what the operating profile should be going forward, he added. Its going to be a very tough year ahead. 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. The Lao National Taskforce Committee for Control and Prevention of COVID-19 led by Dr. Phouthone Muangpak (C), the country's deputy health minister, holds a press conference in Laos' capital Vientiane, April 2020. Health officials in Laos say the government has implemented effective measures to prevent the spread of the deadly coronavirus, but that authorities must ensure they continue to be upheld because the impoverished nation with limited medical resources remains at risk. The small landlocked country of 7 million people has registered 19 confirmed COVID-19 cases since March 24 with no related fatalities a number that has remained steady for nine consecutive days, the Lao National Task Force Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control said Wednesday. Laos is effectively controlling and preventing the spread of the contagious pathogen, said a Lao worker at the World Health Organizations (WHO) office in the capital Vientiane on Wednesday. The WHO continuously gives advice to the Lao Health Ministry about the monitoring, treating, and managing COVID-19 as well as [employing] other measures against it, and our leadership has made a precise decision, said the woman, who did not provide her name because she is not authorized to speak to the media. The WHO, a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health, is working closely with the Lao Health Ministry and has requested advice and aid for Laos, including medical equipment, from ASEAN members, China, South Korea, and Italy, she said. Laos is a member of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations, a regional group that promotes economic, political, and security integration among its members. A member of Laos COVID-19 prevention task force said Wednesday that the country is still at risk because it lacks the medical personnel and equipment to deal with a large coronavirus outbreak. Laos is still at risk and under surveillance, said the person, who did not want to be identified because he is not authorized to speak to the media. Members of the specific task force teams are working hard and campaigning relentlessly to warn the public because our hospitals and medical equipment are not modern, he said. We dont have that much equipment. Thats why we have had to implement strict measures. Laos shares long and porous borders with China, Vietnam, and Thailand, adding to the countrys vulnerability to infection. Lockdown extended The Lao government ordered nonessential workers to remain at home beginning March 30 to prevent the spread of the pathogen and formed a special health unit to deal with the crisis. Officials also have closed schools, banned the movement of people around Laos, and prohibited the holding of large ceremonies and religious gatherings. They also have required migrant workers returning from Thailand and other nations to be quarantined for 14 days. Vientiane residents said people are adhering to the governments strict measures for controlling the spread of COVID-19. The government has declared a state of emergency or lockdown, said one person who declined to give his name. The prime minister has been very strict about restricting all travel in and out of the country. Another resident of the capital said: The government has strict rules to control the disease, one of which is for people to stay at home and not go out. On April 15, the government extended the country's existing lockdown to May 3 and repeated that measures to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic should remain in effect until further notice. Reported by RFAs Lao Service. Translated by Max Avary. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Lucia Mutikani (Reuters) Washington, United States Thu, April 23, 2020 12:03 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3be38c 2 World US,unemployment,unemployment-benefit,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-joblessness,COVID-19-lockdown,COVID-19-quarantine,pandemic,health Free A record 26 million Americans likely sought unemployment benefits over the last five weeks, confirming that all the jobs created during the longest employment boom in US history were wiped out in about a month as the novel coronavirus savages the economy. Thursday's weekly jobless claims report from the Labor Department will add to a growing pile of increasingly bleak economic data. It will come amid rising protests against nationwide lockdowns to control the spread of COVID-19, the potentially lethal respiratory illness caused by the virus. President Donald Trump, who is seeking a second term in the White House in November's general election, has been anxious to restart the paralyzed economy. Trump on Wednesday applauded steps taken by a handful of Republican-led states to begin reopening their economies, despite warnings from health experts of a potential new surge in infections. "The US economy is hemorrhaging jobs at a pace and scale never before recorded," said Scott Anderson, chief economist at Bank of the West in San Francisco. "It compares to a natural disaster on a national scale." Initial claims for state unemployment benefits probably totaled 4.2 million in the week ended April 18, according to a Reuters survey of economists. Still a figure that would have been seen as unimaginably high less than two months ago, it would be lower than the previous week's 5.245 million. Estimates in the survey for Thursday's data were as high as 5.50 million. Based on the median forecast, last week's claims data would bring the cumulative unemployment benefits claims to roughly 26.2 million since the week ending March 21, representing about 16% of the labor force. The economy created 22 million jobs during the employment boom which started in September 2010 and abruptly ended in February this year. Last week's claims report covered the period during which the government surveyed business establishments for the nonfarm payrolls component of April's employment report. Economists are forecasting as many as 25 million jobs were lost in April after the economy purged 701,000 positions in March, which was the largest decline in 11 years. "It wipes out all the job gains during the long expansion," said Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM in New York. "Once the economy begins to reopen initial claims will slow, but we have to be honest, not everyone is going to get their jobs back." Worst behind? The labor market slaughter adds to collapsing oil prices, retail sales, manufacturing production, homebuilding and home sales in reinforcing economists' contention that the economy entered recession in March. The National Bureau of Economic Research, the private research institute regarded as the arbiter of US recessions, does not define a recession as two consecutive quarters of decline in real GDP, as is the rule of thumb in many countries. Instead, it looks for a drop in activity, spread across the economy and lasting more than a few months. Though weekly jobless filings remain very high, last week's data would mark the third straight weekly decline, raising hopes that the worst may be over. Weekly claims appeared to have peaked at a record 6.867 million in the week ended March 28. "Claims that have been backlogged due to capacity issues should continue to be processed, with initial claims dropping to more normal, but still elevated levels," said Andrew Hollenhorst, an economist at Citigroup in New York. "While layoffs and furloughs are likely to continue across a number of industries in coming weeks, we are cautiously optimistic that the peak in layoffs following initial widespread closures has occurred." Some of the decline in claims has been attributed to a historic $2.3 trillion fiscal package, which made provisions for small businesses to access loans that could be partially forgiven if they were used for employee salaries. The US Senate on Tuesday approved $484 billion in a fresh relief package, which mainly expands funding for loans to small businesses. With claims expected to gradually decline in the coming weeks as more small enterprises access funding, attention will shift to the number of people on unemployment benefits rolls. The so-called continuing claims data is reported with a one-week lag and is considered a better gauge of unemployment. Continuing claims are forecast to have jumped to a record 16.476 million in the week ending April 11 from 11.976 million during the week ending April 4. Next week's continuing claims data will offer some clues on the magnitude of the anticipated surge in the unemployment rate in April. Continuing claims have not increased at the same pace as initial jobless applications. Economists believe some people thrown out of work because of state-mandated "stay-at-home" orders found employment at supermarkets, warehouses and delivery services companies. They expect the unemployment rate will shatter the post-World War Two record of 10.8% touched in November 1982. The jobless rate shot up 0.9 percentage point, the largest single-month change since January 1975, to 4.4% in March. Abuja, Nigeria, 23 April, 2020/. The Nigeria Natural Resource Charter (NNRC) is a not-for-profit policy institute committed to supporting Nigerias effective management of her natural resources for public good. As the covid-19 health crisis persists, attempts to curb the spread of the disease continue to significantly affect global revenues and resources. The universal measures of social distancing, movement restrictions, lockdowns, though necessary to stem the spread and impact of the pandemic have on the other hand, contributed to slowing down the global economy. Sustained low oil prices and price volatility has and is expected to continue to reflect negatively on the Nigerian economy, thus the need to adopt policies that sustain its revenues in the short to medium term while exploring long term options to drastically reduce over dependence on oil post-covid-19. The effects of the pandemic on the oil sector underscore the imperative to revisit the much advertised policy of economic diversification. While commending the Nigerian government on the steps taken to sustain the Nigerian economy through oil sector reforms; to deregulate the downstream sector, re-open bid rounds of marginal fields, cut the 2020 budget, contemplate privatization of the refineries and others, there are some additional interventions required to crystalize those policies and further support the Nigerian economy. Moving forward, all strategies must be sustainable, if Nigeria is to minimize the effects of the inevitable recession due to the falling oil prices, depreciating revenues, rising debt ratio and diminishing reserves. The recent OPEC + production cuts may be too little too late and so Nigeria must look internally for solutions and adopt interventions that take a longer term view. Speaking on this development, the Program Coordinator of NNRC, Ms. Tengi George-Ikoli notes that the group arrived at this position based on the gaps identified in its recently published Benchmarking Exercise Report (BER 2019) which x-rayed the state of the Nigerian petroleum sector, highlighting policy options to support the Nigerian governments efforts to stimulate growth of the economy and its post covid-19 recovery. To optimize the opportunities from oil and gas exploitation to withstand the prevailing covid-19 shocks and its after effects, she pointed that Nigeria must consider the following policy options to stabilize the sector, maintain revenue flows, attract investment and drive growth: Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis clashed with TV presenter Piers Morgan in a row over the UK's Covid-19 testing numbers on Thursday morning. He also rejected claims from Sinn Fein's Declan Kearney that "right wing" elements in the UK Government wanted to ease the current coronavirus restrictions to help the economy. Appearing on ITV's Good Morning Britain, Mr Lewis was forced to admit that he did not know how many people were tested in the UK on Wednesday. Piers Morgan said that a cabinet member not knowing the testing numbers was "deeply worrying". Mr Lewis said that he believed around 22,000 tests had been carried out overall, but did not know on how many individuals that amounted to. Some people are tested more than once. Read More "I don't have that data in front of me at the moment no," the Northern Ireland Secretary said. Mr Morgan replied: "How can you not know that?". The broadcaster informed the government minister that tests had been carried out on 13,000 people, while capacity stood at over 40,000. "No wonder our testing is such a shambles if you in the cabinet do not know how many people are being tested and it's way lower than you think," the TV host said. Mr Lewis tried to shift the focus on to testing capacity having exceeded 40,000, despite less than half of that being used so far. 'Three out of four care workers who fear they have coronavirus have not been tested' - @piersmorgan 'We want to make sure we build on the 18,500 care workers who have already had the test and give more of them the ability to access the test centres' - Brandon Lewis MP pic.twitter.com/N8A0VvmFaA Good Morning Britain (@GMB) April 23, 2020 Mr Morgan criticised the talk around testing capacity as "meaningless" when carers cannot access the tests. Meanwhile, one in four care home workers who fear they have coronavirus have been tested," he said. So three out of four care workers who fear they have coronavirus have not been tested. That is an absolute disgrace and for you to keep talking about capacity when you have three quarters of our care workers who think theyre infected, unable to get a test, is a national disgrace isnt it? The Northern Ireland Secretary accepted that more people needed to be tested. "I'm agreeing with you, Piers, I think it's dreadful that we can't get more people tested," Mr Lewis replied. "That's why it's important we do upscale the ability for people to access these tests both with more test centres, the ability to have the tests at home and the ability to apply for them directly rather than having to apply through their employer, which has been slowing things down." The government has promised to increase testing to 100,000 people a day by the end of the month. "The target is still to do 100,000 tests a day," Mr Lewis insisted. On Thursday Mr Lewis told the BBC that he believed Sinn Fein's Declan Kearney may be "reading too much into newspaper reports" after he suggested that "right wing elements" in the UK Government and "some unionists" were in favour of easing lockdown measures to benefit the economy. Mr Kearney said that some politicians were willing to put "corporate greed over public welfare". At a meeting of the Conservative Party's powerful 1922 committee of backbench MPs on Wednesday a number of MPs expressed concern at the damage the lockdown is causing to the economy. The Northern Ireland Secretary said he believed protecting the economy and public health were "not mutually exclusive". "All our decisions at every stage of this virus have been around the medical and scientific advice, about what is in the best interests of the health of the people in this country," he said. "The economic side is why we have put such a big package of support out there for businesses and the NI executive has been doing their work around that. "I talk to businesses in Northern Ireland regularly about that." Mr Lewis said the UK was now "at a stage where we may be starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel". It was revealed earlier this month that Mr Lewis was last in line to stand-in for Prime Minister Boris Johnson after he was admitted to hospital with Covid-19. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the associated ban on all major German events up to, and including the end of August, the PCIM Europe exhibition and conference 2020 in Nuremberg has been cancelled. A virtual format will offer a digital alternative for knowledge transfer in early July 2020. According to the Federal governments guidelines dated 15 April 2020, all major events are prohibited in Germany until 31 August 2020. For this reason, the international PCIM Europe trade fair and conference cannot take place this year in Nurnberg from 28 30 July 2020 as planned. Digital formats are currently being developed with which exhibitors and speakers can exchange views on product innovations and the latest research topics with visitors and participants virtually. This also includes an online conference with live and on-demand solutions for interactive presentations. Show management plans to implement these virtual formats with digital presentation and exchange opportunities from 7 8 July 2020. Further information will follow shortly. It is a great pity to have to cancel this years PCIM Europe in Nuremberg. However, the health of our exhibitors, visitors, speakers, participants, partners and employees, is of course, our top priority, explains Petra Haarburger, Managing Director of Mesago Messe Frankfurt. We hope that cancelling the event can make a contribution to further delaying the spread of Covid-19 in Europe, so that our everyday lives will gradually return to normality in the near future. PCIM Europe 2021 will take place regularly from 4 6 May 2021 in Nuremberg. With his fair hair and cheeky smile, Britain's Prince Louis looks like he's ready for some royal rough and tumble in new pictures released to mark his second birthday by his parents Prince William and Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge. The toddler will turn two on on Thursday, two days after his great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 94th birthday. "The photographs were taken earlier this month by the Duchess," Kensington Palace said in a statement accompanying the pictures. Image: Britain's Prince Louis celebrates his second birthday (Duke and Duchess of Cambridge / Kensington Palace via Reuters) Like his siblings, Prince George, six, and Princess Charlotte, four, Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge was born in the Lindo Wing at St. Mary's Hospital, in Paddington, London. He is currently fifth in line to the throne, behind his brother and sister, father and grandfather Prince Charles. Prince Louis was last seen clapping for the U.K. healthcare workers alongside his siblings outside Anmer Hall, in Norfolk, a county around 100 miles to the northeast of London. The family have been staying there since the U.K.'s coronavirus lockdown was imposed last month. Image: Britain's Prince Louis celebrates his second birthday (Duke and Duchess of Cambridge / Kensington Palace via Reuters) William revealed in an interview with the BBC on Friday that his second son had been interrupting their videocalls. "For some reason he sees the red button and he always wants to press the red button," he said. Kate added that their families had "really loved keeping in touch with the children because its really hard, particularly over family times like Easter and things like that, and not seeing each other. So we have been making sure we share in on birthday calls and things like that just to make sure we keep in touch with each other. The royal couple have spoken out on a number of issues while the U.K. remains under lockdown. Kate expressed sympathy with parents attempting to homeschool their children and couple also voiced an advert highlighting where people can find mental health support during the coronavirus crisis. Image: Britain's Prince Louis celebrates his second birthday (Duke and Duchess of Cambridge / Kensington Palace via Reuters) "They're the ones who have to absorb that and then take it home to their families," Prince William said. "I've spoken about the attrition and the daily attrition rate happening to somebody is not normal, and we're not superhuman - any of us - so to be able to manage those emotions and that feeling is going to take some time." Kate said the crisis has undoubtedly made the country appreciate even more the sacrifices made by medical staff every day. The origin of machine and deep learning algorithms, which increasingly affect almost all aspects of our life, is the learning mechanism of synaptic (weight) strengths connecting neurons in our brain. Attempting to imitate these brain functions, researchers bridged between neuroscience and artificial intelligence over half a century ago. However, since then experimental neuroscience has not directly advanced the field of machine learning and both disciplines -- neuroscience and machine learning -- seem to have developed independently. In an article published today in the journal Scientific Reports, researchers reveal that they have successfully rebuilt the bridge between experimental neuroscience and advanced artificial intelligence learning algorithms. Conducting new types of experiments on neuronal cultures, the researchers were able to demonstrate a new accelerated brain-inspired learning mechanism. When the mechanism was utilized on the artificial task of handwritten digit recognition, for instance, its success rates substantially outperformed commonly-used machine learning algorithms. To rebuild this bridge, the researchers set out to prove two hypotheses: that the common assumption that learning in the brain is extremely slow might be wrong, and that the dynamics of the brain might include accelerated learning mechanisms. Surprisingly, both hypotheses were proven correct. "A learning step in our brain is believed to typically last tens of minutes or even more, while in a computer it lasts for a nanosecond, or one million times one million faster," said the study's lead author Prof. Ido Kanter, of Bar-Ilan University's Department of Physics and Gonda (Goldschmied) Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center. "Although the brain is extremely slow, its computational capabilities outperform, or are comparable, to typical state-of-the-art artificial intelligence algorithms," added Kanter, who was assisted in the research by Shira Sardi, Dr. Roni Vardi, Yuval Meir, Dr. Amir Goldental, Shiri Hodassman and Yael Tugendfaft. The team's experiments indicated that adaptation in our brain is significantly accelerated with training frequency. "Learning by observing the same image 10 times in a second is as effective as observing the same image 1,000 times in a month," said Shira Sardi, a main contributor to this work. "Repeating the same image speedily enhances adaptation in our brain to seconds rather than tens of minutes. It is possible that learning in our brain is even faster, but beyond our current experimental limitations," added Dr. Roni Vardi, another main contributor to the research. Utilization of this newly-discovered, brain-inspired accelerated learning mechanism substantially outperforms commonly-used machine learning algorithms, such as handwritten digit recognition, especially where small datasets are provided for training. The reconstructed bridge from experimental neuroscience to machine learning is expected to advance artificial intelligence and especially ultrafast decision making under limited training examples, similar to many circumstances of human decision making, as well as robotic control and network optimization. ### JUSTICEINFO.NET: The trial of two former intelligence officers Anwar Raslan and Eyad al-Gharib, in Koblenz, is presented as a landmark case in Europe. What is at stake? WOLFGANG KALECK: What happened in Syria the last decade is a tragedy. Crimes of such a magnitude cannot be ignored. There is no international tribunal, because the UN Security Council is paralyzed by the veto powers of China and Russia. Proceedings in Europe, under the principle of universal jurisdiction are, for now, of last resort. But there is a relatively unique range of institutions to tackle the impunity in Syria UN bodies such as the Commission of Inquiry and the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism, and European prosecutors. The trial starting in Koblenz is part of their common effort to investigate and hold the perpetrators accountable. It is a first step. It helps to secure evidence and it serves as an ice breaker, encouraging witnesses to come forward, new investigations. For the first time, the systematic and widespread torture committed by the Assad regime will be discussed in a court of justice, and reach, hopefully, a worldwide public. It can trigger something which goes far beyond this trial, a new dynamic against impunity. This trial must not be seen as isolated but as a complementary effort to build a comprehensive picture of the whole apparatus and to hold the main perpetrators accountable. Indeed, Anwar Raslan is the first official of the Syrian regime to face trial, but he is a middle ranking officer. To what extent can he be found responsible for the crimes committed in his branch of the intelligence services? Arent the expectations too high? Firstly, he is no small fish. He was involved in the daily decision-making process in his branch. And secondly, to evaluate the guilt of the two defendants, to weigh their participation, the court will have to understand the whole apparatus. On crimes of such a magnitude, on state criminality, you cannot divide the activities of the individuals and of the apparatus. So, the whole system will be discussed in court, in public. And the symbolism of it should not be underestimated. Criminal law is always symbolic. To people who have suffered torture, whose family members died, to see at least one of these torturers on trial is important. And again, we see it as a first step. In a prosecution strategy, you can start with low or middle rank perpetrators and then go up the chain of command. Or you can do it the other way around and start at the top. Sometimes you dont have the choice because you only get hold of some people, like in this case. This trial must not be seen as isolated but as a complementary effort to build a comprehensive picture of the whole apparatus and to hold the main perpetrators accountable. It might be the first trial, but it should not be the last. Recommended reading Andreas Schuller : Why justice on Syria is very dynamic The two defendants defected. Should these defections be taken into account by the court? There is a clear legal argument called post-crime attitude. Obviously, there is a difference between someone who defends a crime until the last minute in the court and someone who defected. This will be taken into account when it comes to the sentence. But it does not impact the main question of whether they are guilty of the charges or not. The Syrian conflict has been particularly well documented, with evidence brought by Syrian organizations, NGOs, defectors including the famous Caesar. Can this trial be a judicial test for such evidence? The evidence will be a mix of witness testimonies, experts and, indeed, documents. This bureaucratic apparatus feels so untouchable that they have no problem documenting their activities. Such documentation because some Syrian actors got hold of it can and will feed the procedure. This collection of evidence is partially done by NGOs. They have to be of course validated. But even the Pinochet arrest in 1998 was built upon evidence gathered in 1973 and followed by lawyers of human rights organizations. If there is an international trial on Syria in 10-15 years, it will be too late to collect some evidence. It must be gathered now. Some expertise conducted by the federal prosecutors office, like the forensic analysis of the Caesar files, will be discussed for the first time in public at the Al-Khattib trial. And these might enforce later procedures. When a country hosts more than 700,000 refugees, many of whom experienced violence and especially torture, there is a certain closeness that enables the prosecutor to launch proceedings. Germany seems particularly dynamic in the prosecution of Syrian cases. Why? The Germans came late to universal jurisdiction procedures. But once they got the special units and resources, they took it very seriously and especially the Syrian cases. There is an important Syrian exiled community here and it plays a role. The main criticism of universal jurisdiction, which questions the legitimacy of a third country to judge acts to which it has no connection, does not apply here. When a country hosts more than 700,000 refugees, many of whom experienced violence and especially torture, there is a certain closeness that enables the prosecutor to launch proceedings. There was a political decision to give the federal prosecutor the resources needed to conduct investigations of that scale. And international criminal justice is a common task, a division of labor. The Germans know that the evidence they are collecting and analyzing now will not only serve in trials in Germany like the Koblenz trial but can also be accessible to other European or international courts. The Al-Khattib trial should not be seen as an arbitrary initiative of the federal prosecutor in Karlsruhe. It is the first result of a much broader effort which hopefully will have steps to complement the Koblenz trial at a later stage. To learn more about the case, read the in-depth report by the French media Les Jours. A conversation between generations: Alex Katzs Cecily Painted at the height of Katzs powers, Cecily is testament to the unlikely friendship between two artists from different eras Francis Bacon painted Lucian Freud. Frank Auerbach painted Leon Kossoff. Keith Haring painted Andy Warhol, who painted Jean-Michel Basquiat. History is riddled with tales of artists who through friendship, rivalry or admiration became each others muses. Such portraits are often full of surprises. In 1999, Alex Katz painted Cecily Brown. It was, in many ways, an unlikely pairing. Katz, by then in his seventies, was a veteran of the New York art scene, with a distinguished oeuvre spanning nearly half a century. Brown, aged 30, was a relative newcomer. She had moved to the city from her native London five years previously, and was enjoying her first flurry of solo exhibitions. Stylistically, their practices seemed worlds apart. Coming to prominence in the 1950s, Katz had perfected a crisp figurative language, defined by clean lines and flat planes of colour. Sidestepping the dogmas of contemporary abstraction, he painted glowing, near-devotional tributes to his family and friends: from his beloved wife Ada, to luminaries such as Frank OHara and Robert Rauschenberg. Alex Katz (b. 1927), Cecily, 1999. Oil on canvas. 72 x 96 in (182.9 x 243.8 cm). View post-war and contemporary artworks currently offered for private sale at Christies. Artwork: Alex Katz/VAGA at ARS, NY and DACS, London 2020 Brown, by contrast, was engaged in a wild exploration of paintings sensual pleasure. Glimpses of naked figures cavorted amid torrid streaks of pigment. Colours intermingled in rich, visceral strands. Imagery from cinema and popular culture fused with the influence of Rembrandt, Bacon and other great painters of flesh. If de Kooning had been something of a spectre for Katz, for Brown he was a hero. View more works by Alex Katz Nonetheless, the two artists became friends. Painted at the height of Katzs powers, Cecily witnesses a master at work. Against a mottled grey-green backdrop, flecked with sparks of white, Browns head and shoulders loom large. Crystalline modulations of light and shade chart her features; her eyes and mouth seem alive with unspoken thoughts. Clarity and ambiguity join hands a state that Katz referred to as the present tense. Viewed closely, however, the portrait represents something more vital. In the four-decade gulf between painter and sitter lies a turning point in the history of painting one in which both artists would play crucial roles. Indeed, for all their superficial differences, Brown and Katz had something fundamental in common: they both championed the medium at times where its future seemed uncertain. View works by Cecily Brown For Katz, this journey began at the Cooper Union shortly after the end of the Second World War. Against the rising tides of Abstract Expressionism and, later, Minimalism he asked how one could apply the same velocity as de Kooning to representational painting. With Manet and Matisse as his guides, he carved a bold new space for figurative art: one that de Kooning himself would single out for praise. Underpinning their divergent styles was a belief that paint in all its malleable complexity could capture the experience of being human Brown occupies a similar historical position. By the time she left art school in 1993, the subversive, conceptual art of the YBAs posed a new threat to the discipline. Escaping London for New York, she immersed herself in paintings rich possibilities. As demonstrated in the Whitechapel Art Gallerys current exhibition Radical Figures, she went on to make a powerful case for its analogue alchemy in the digital era. In this regard, the alliance between Katz and Brown was perhaps not so unlikely after all. Looking deeper, more similarities emerge. Both practices upheld the power of pigment to transmit sensation: to seal inarticulate moments in the sweep of a brush. Underpinning their divergent styles was a belief that paint in all its malleable complexity could capture the experience of being human. Sign up today Christies Online Magazine delivers our best features, videos, and auction news to your inbox every week Subscribe The Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico is following an asteroid approaching Earth this week and while it poses no threat, it appears to know our planet is facing a pandemic. "The small-scale topographic features such as hills and ridges on one end of asteroid 1998 OR2 are fascinating scientifically," says Anne Virkki, head of Planetary Radar at the observatory, "But since we are all thinking about COVID-19 these features make it look like 1998 OR2 remembered to wear a mask." The National Science Foundation facility, which is managed by the University of Central Florida, has a team of experts who monitors near-Earth asteroids. This asteroid is in a special class of near-Earth asteroids called Potentially Hazardous Objects (PHOs). PHOs are bigger than 140 meters (about 500 feet) and come within 5 million miles of Earth's orbit. No known PHO poses an immediate danger to the Earth, but observations like those conducted at the Arecibo Observatory are used to determine their future trajectories. "The radar measurements allow us to know more precisely where the asteroid will be in the future, including its future close approaches to Earth," says Flaviane Venditti, a research scientist at the observatory. "In 2079, asteroid 1998 OR2 will pass Earth about 3.5 times closer than it will this year, so it is important to know its orbit precisely." "Although this asteroid is not projected to impact Earth, it is important to understand the characteristics of these types of objects to improve impact-risk mitigation technologies," Virkki says. The Arecibo data confirmed that 1998 OR2 is approximately 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) across in size and rotates once every 4.1 hours, as was suggested by observations made with optical telescopes. Should an asteroid be discovered that posed an impact threat to Earth, knowing such characteristics would be important for planning a response. The team began observations on April 13 and will continue to collect data through April 23 when the asteroid will no longer be visible from the facility. The asteroid will make its closest approach to Earth on April 29 when it will still be 16 times farther than the distance to the Moon. Although the pandemic has impacted operations around the world, Arecibo continues its important contributions to science and to planetary defense. Radio astronomy observations can largely be made remotely, with only limited on-site observing. However, planetary radar operations cannot be run fully remotely, requiring at least one radar operator and one scientist on site. The team of scientists and telescope operators on site have been adhering to health and safety guidelines, limiting the number of observing scientists at the telescope and wearing masks during the observations. UCF manages the NSF facility under a cooperative agreement with Universidad Ana G. Mendez and Yang Enterprises, Inc. The Arecibo Planetary Radar Program is fully supported by NASA's Near-Earth Object Observations Program in NASA's Planetary Defense Coordination Office through grant no. 80NSSC19K0523 awarded to UCF. Arecibo has played a role in analyzing NEOs since the mid-90s, observing 60-120 objects per year. Congress made NEOs a priority when it directed NASA in 2005 to discover and characterize at least 90 percent of near-Earth objects larger than 140 meters by 2020. ### BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 23 By Eldar Janashvili - Trend: Tax incentives for the private sector are essential for revitalizing the national economy, Azerbaijani expert in economic issues, Professor of Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) Elshad Mammadov told Trend on April 23. Accordingly, a two-fold reduction in the tax rate for a certain category of taxpayers is one of the mechanisms to stimulate business activity during the difficult period of a pandemic, he said. Mammadov noted that in terms of reducing the fiscal burden, the tax changes introduced are a strong driving force for economic growth, although they cannot fully replace the more substantial monetary credit stimulation. At the same time, the tax reform processes associated with the deepening of the incentives for entrepreneurs should be of a protracted, sequential nature and as new risks arise for the stability of the country's economy, it will also be necessary to make new decisions, said the expert. Mammadov added that along with reforms in the socio-economic and tax policies, the most relevant for the national economys restoration now is the growth of innovation and investment activity, money supply growth and credit stimulation of the economy with adequate rates of no higher than 3 percent. Moreover, according to the expert, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan should carry out targeted financing of the economy through commercial banks implementing a differentiated credit policy for each sector of the economy to finance the real sector at rates below the level of profitability in a particular sector of the economy. "Only in this way we can increase business activity in the economys real sector, which is extremely important. As for the tax policy - in conditions when its needed to increase the competitiveness of the high-tech spheres of the national real sector, we need to gradually distance from value added tax," Mammadov said. At the same time, he noted, its necessary, especially in the conditions of increasing the money supply, to prevent its leakage onto the foreign exchange market and its generation in the financial market, and to ensure its transition to the real sector of the economy. This requires the introduction of effective control over the movement of capital, primarily cross-border financial assets. Its also necessary to introduce currency restrictions and a tax on speculative currency transactions in order to limit as much as possible the effect of speculative capital on the country's foreign exchange market, the expert added. Artist Milagros de la Torre had been looking forward to watching people interact with Recollection #1, an array of convex mirrors hung on the wall with constellations etched into the surface. De la Torre, who is based in New York, created the piece during her spring Artpace residency. I was looking forward to making photos of people with their reflections and those dots and lines (in the mirrors), she said. You need the public for that. The COVID-19 pandemic has delayed that for the time being. Though de la Torre hopes it eventually will be possible for the public to see the work as she intended, for now the only way to view it at all as well as the work created by her fellow Artpace residents Daniel Ramos and Carlos Castro Arias is online. Images from the exhibits, which were curated by Monica Espinel, can be seen at artpace.org. On ExpressNews.com: Online cabarets provide a new stage for SA performers Arias installation I came to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already kindled Luke 12:49 includes several visually striking works that are captured well in the online gallery. But the entire gallery also has an immersive quality that is difficult to replicate in an online presentation. I think it doesnt really work (online) because you have to be there, you have to feel the heat of the pieces, said Arias, 44. Its a very warm and uncomfortable atmosphere because of the sound and the smell, so that is something you can only experience if you actually are there. The installation deals with religion, which he explores in works that involve sound and fire. Two pieces include actual flames. For The Witness, fire flares from the head of a figure hunched over a cell phone, watching video of a church burning; across the gallery stands Body, a miniature church filled with candles that send flares through the top of it. To Arias, the fire represents enlightenment and purification, though its open to interpretation, he said. The artist, who was raised Catholic in Colombia, has long been fascinated by religion, and when he got the Artpace residency and learned about the vast number of churches in the state, he thought this would be a good place to continue exploring the subject. As part of his research, he visited dozens of churches, including Joel Osteens congregation in Houston, which gave him a sound element for the installation. It is an incredible coincidence, Arias said. I wanted to use fire (in the exhibit), and then I go there, and its all about fire, and hes talking about fire and how God helps us or stays with us in difficult times through the fire. Ramos exhibit, The Land of Illustrious Men, fills a downstairs gallery with photos of his family, as well as objects with personal significance, including a cabinet that belonged to his grandmother filled with photos, ceramic figures, certificates and baby shoes. The title of the piece I Do Not Have the Luxury to Trace My Familys History Back More Than 2 Generations sums up much of the exhibit, which explores that family history, including the impact of his parents decision to leave Mexico for a rough neighborhood in Chicago. Ramos first delved into the topic in a book, and said that, in a way, the exhibit is a little like stepping into a pop-up version. Theres an image of my mother, my father, my uncle, theyre leaning on a van, and there it is, he said of the vehicle in the gallery. So that van belonged to my father, belongs to my family, and thats the van we would drive from Chicago to Monterrey, Mexico, for the past 25 years. As he worked on the book, he thought a lot about what it meant to grow up in two countries his parents sent him to spend summers in Mexico to get him away from gang violence and other dangers and not feel like he belonged in either. On ExpressNews.com: SA museums put collections online The most important thing I got out of it is that now I finally feel comfortable here, said Ramos, who now lives in Sandy Oaks, Texas. I dont think about those things anymore, about my heritage or my identity. I think the issue I wanted to raise questions about is class how do you go from working class to become a middle-class person. In this case, Im using art. For me to be an artist was something I had to learn a lot on my own. My parents dont know anything about it, and I had to grow a thick skin because my parents werent very happy with me pursuing a career as an artist. Ramos, 42, is primarily a photographer, but he took advantage of the residency and the luxury of having more space than he has in his home studio to go big. For the first time, he incorporated his photography into assemblages, including Ropero Al Viento (Wardrobe in the Wind), for which he suspended a wardrobe from the ceiling. A pile of silverware is on the floor beneath, as if it had fallen from it, and dozens of keys that belonged to his grandmother hang overhead. Like de la Torre, hes hoping people will eventually be able to see the work in person. And hes interested to see how they respond to it and to the exhibits by his fellow resident artists then. Its going to be very interesting if, hopefully, we all come back, what this work is going to mean to us after weve experienced whats to come, he said. Systems and Constellations, de la Torres exhibition, also was shaped in part by personal experience. It has to do with faces, and is informed by her research into the history of facial measurements and facial recognition technology as well as by her diagnosis with facial blindness. After 25 years of working, I realized that most of my projects have been directed to objects, and faces were somehow lacking, said de la Torre, 64. Thats when Artpace came in, and I started analyzing all these systems and hoping to translate them into works that would hopefully engage with the public as well. In addition to the piece with the mirrors, the exhibition includes Intervals, a video that deals with all the ways that facial measurements have been used for centuries, including the practice of using those traits as indicators of the potential for criminal behavior, as well as the dizzying array of technologies that have arisen in the past few decades. It also includes Erased, Deleted, Omitted, a haunting three-dimensional depiction of a face with all of its features nose, mouth, eyes pixilated. As she was finishing the exhibit, de la Torre also was monitoring the spread of the pandemic, and she ended up leaving a little earlier than she had planned because she worried that domestic travel might be halted. That was so painful and so surreal, she said. In a matter of hours, you had to leave just in case they would close the city. We didnt know what was happening everything was developing so rapidly. Before the pandemic, she had planned to follow her Artpace residency with putting the finishing touches on works selected for exhibits in Buenos Aires and Rhode Island, but those shows have been paused for now. For the time being, she is keeping a diary and working on some responses to the current situation for a website. Im just trying to get involved and continue working normally, she said. And shes looking forward to returning to San Antonio and to Artpace. Hopefully, its going to get to open during the summer, she said. It would be so great to come back to San Antonio. dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN Deborah Martin is an arts writer in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Deborah, become a subscriber. dlmartin@express-news.net | Twitter: @DeborahMartinEN In recent days, press reported him to be dying. The strong man from Pyongyang responded to a letter from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. For the US military, Kim is still in charge. The North Korean regime continues to deny coronavirus cases in the country. Pyongyang (AsiaNews / Agencies) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is showing signs of life after some press reports had rumored he was dying. Yesterday, the regime's KCNA news agency revealed that the strong man from Pyongyang responded to a letter from Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In recent days, the Damascus leader had congratulated Kim on the 108th anniversary of the birth of his grandfather Kim Il-sung, the founder of North Korea. CNN, citing an anonymous source within the United States government, reported on April 20 that Kim was in "serious danger" after a surgical operation. The news first emerged in an article in the Daily NK, according to which the leader of Pyongyang underwent cardiovascular surgery on April 12th. Kim has not appeared in public since April 11, when he chaired a high-level meeting of the Workers' Party, which has ruled North Korea since the end of World War II. The South Korean government has denied that Kim has serious health problems. At first, the Trump administration said it had no information on the matter. Yesterday, however, General John Hyten, deputy chief of the US joint staff, said that Kim is in full control of the armed forces. Rumors of Kim's condition arrive in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Amid the skepticism of external observers, Pyongyang continues to argue that there are no cases of contagion in the country. Daily NK, which is based in Seoul and is linked to the South Korean Unification Ministry, writes that a North Korean citizen, who tested positive for Covid-19, is being quarantined in a hospital in the Chinese province of Jilin. On April 20, while trying to cross the border, the man was stopped by Chinese border guards. Meanwhile, South Korean aid groups have received the go-ahead from the Seoul government to send medical supplies to the North. These are protections (gloves, clothes and masks) to fight lung infection. - The Philippine General Hospital is one of the referral hospitals for COVID-19 patients - It already admitted more than 180 individuals who have contracted the said virus - Its spokesperson stated that 66 percent of those patients have recovered already - He also revealed that the hospital has opened another wing to accommodate other infected people PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed The spokesperson of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) revealed that 66 percent of COVID-19 patients in the said medical facility have recovered already. KAMI learned that since February 3, a total of 185 infected patients have been admitted to the said hospital. 123 of them were successful in the fight against the said virus. The aforementioned figure matters a lot in the countrys COVID-19 statistics since PGH serves as one of the referral hospitals. Nakakatugon po kami rito sa PGH. Simula po noong February 3, 123 na ang na-discharge dahil naka-recover, tapos 33 naman po ang namatay o mga 15% to 16 %, Jonas del Rosario told News TV. Karamihan po ng na-admit sa amin ay nasa advanced stage na po [ng COVID-19]. Meron rin pong mga mild cases, pero mas marami po talaga iyong moderate to severe to critically-ill, 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! The said spokesperson disclosed that the PGH has opened another wing for COVID-19 patients in the country. Del Rosario further stated that the hospital has 600 medical workers so everyone is assured that there will be no problems in terms of manpower. Nagbukas po kami ng isang pay wing ng ospital para roon po sa mga pasyente na may kakahayahan po magbayad. Mayroon rin naman pong assistance from PhilHealth depending on the case rate he uttered. Huwag po sila mag-alala kasi we have 600 health care workers here. Sa isang araw po, 400 po ang nagtatrabaho, kaya mayroon pong nagrerelyebo sa kanila, he added. In a previous article by , the Philippines has been recording more recoveries than fatalities in the past couple of days. 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! A Filipino found his own way to help frontliners amid pandemic. They had to walk an hour, an hour and a half to get to work. I mean, coming from an 8-hour shift sa hospital, tapos palalakarin mo pa yung nurse o kahit security guard. Parang hindi makatarungan, diba? on HumanMeter! Source: KAMI.com.gh [April 23, 2020] UnitedHealth Group, Boston Scientific, Medtronic and the University of Minnesota Work to Deploy 3,000 Emergency Ventilator Alternative Devices UnitedHealth Group is collaborating with Boston Scientific, Medtronic and the University of Minnesota to deploy 3,000 newly invented "light" ventilators to address the limited stock of critical breathing support equipment in response to COVID-19. The collaboration went from concept stage to manufacturing in less than 30 days, with the first 500 products ready to ship this week. UnitedHealth Group is working with Medtronic and the University of Minnesota to determine initial destinations, while Boston Scientific is manufacturing and shipping the product. These innovative devices will help address a clinical gap for patients who need a higher level of respiratory support but don't have immediate access to traditional ventilators when there is a shortage. They will also provide health care workers with an additional tool to care for high volumes of patients who require emergency breathing support. "We are grateful for collaborations with distinguished experts in academia, across health care and in other industries to offer innovative solutions like this light ventilator," said Ken Ehlert, chief scientific officer, UnitedHealth Group. "Unique partnerships will be critical as we work together to confront COVID-19 in the months ahead. These light ventilators will help prevent future ventilation shortages, support patients who need this level of breathing assistance and expand clinical capacity to deliver care." The University of Minnesota Medical School and Earl E. Bakken Medical Devices Center initially conceived the idea of the light ventilator, called the Coventor. Boston Scientific, Medtronic and UnitedHealth Group provided technical, clinical, regulatory and manufacturing expertise to refine how the device works and bring it to market at scale. "We are appreciative of the support locally and nationally in getting the Coventor to the field," said Stephen Richardson (News - Alert), M.D., cardiac anesthesiology fellow at the Uiversity of Minnesota Medical School. "We developed the Coventor to be useful in those clinical settings where traditional ventilators are not available. This allows patients who wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to survive, to survive. Making the emergency ventilator alternative devices as fast as possible, pushing it to people everywhere - that's what this is all about." The emergency ventilator alternative device uses an electrically powered robotic arm to mechanically compress an off-the-shelf adult resuscitation bag, the sort often used by paramedics to help a patient breathe. This design provides oxygen assistance and enables health care workers to shift from manually operating the resuscitation bag. The device can also be configured with airflow accessories in multiple ways to best accommodate on-the-ground needs at different clinical facilities. The devices will be shipped to geographies where ventilators are urgently needed, and any remaining devices will be offered as a donation to the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile. Collaborating to deploy the emergency ventilator alternative is the latest of several initiatives announced by UnitedHealth Group to combat COVID-19. Other initiatives to date include: Investing nearly $70 million to help at-risk populations and protect the health care workforce. Pioneering self-administered swab procedures to expand COVID-19 testing, reduce needed personal protective equipment and protect health care workers from unecessary exposure to COVID-19. Accelerating payments to providers throughout the crisis, with an initial tranche of nearly $2 billion. Waiving cost-sharing for COVID-19 testing and treatment for U.S. members of UnitedHealthcare plans and simplifying access to care by reducing prior-authorization requirements. Significantly expanding access to telehealth and virtual visits and redeploying 5,000 Optum clinicians to expand telehealth capabilities. Providing a special enrollment period for fully insured customers to allow employees who did not opt in for coverage during the regular enrollment period to secure coverage. Conducting proactive personal outreach to support seniors and the most vulnerable populations among our members. Launching a free nationwide emotional support line to manage the stress and anxiety caused by COVID-19. Converting company cafeterias to provide more than 75,000 meals a week for people in need and keeping our cafe team at work. About UnitedHealth Group UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health care company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and helping to make the health system work better for everyone. UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which provides information and technology-enabled health services. For more information, visit UnitedHealth Group at www.unitedhealthgroup.com or follow @UnitedHealthGrp on Twitter (News - Alert). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005710/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Former pro-democracy lawmaker Martin Lee, 81-year-old, center, leaves a police station in Hong Kong, Saturday, April 18, 2020. Hong Kong police arrested at least 14 pro-democracy lawmakers and activists on Saturday on charges of joining unlawful protests last year calling for reforms. Read more Last week, as the world was distracted by COVID-19, more than a dozen of Hong Kongs leading pro-democracy activists were arrested at the behest of Beijing. They included the 81-year-old veteran lawyer Martin Lee, known as the father of the democracy movement, and Jimmy Lai, the media tycoon who still dares to criticize the Communist Party. Clearly, Communist Party leaders in Beijing see the coronavirus shutdowns as an opportunity to crush the movement that brought millions of protesters to the streets last year to defy Beijings efforts to curb their freedoms. But the threat to Hong Kong democracy also reflects the growing threat that Chinas agenda presents to the world. As I saw in a visit to China and Hong Kong in November when I interviewed Lee, Lai, and other activists the pro-democracy movement was a huge frustration to Beijing. In times past, Chinese leaders adhered to the one country, two systems accord, signed with Britain in 1997, and endorsed internationally, that promised Hong Kong could keep its civic freedoms for 50 years. But Chinese leader Xi Jinping has pressed Hong Kong leaders to shred that 1997 commitment, including universal suffrage. The open Hong Kong system was an affront to his efforts to tighten Communist Party rule over China and shut down any sources of information that contradict the narrative from Beijing. Yet Hong Kongers refused to be quiet. Last years protests were sparked when the territorys leaders tried to pass legislation permitting their citizens to be extradited for trial in China, where courts operate at the dictate of the Communist Party. READ MORE: In Washington and Hong Kong, a fight to preserve democratic values I Trudy Rubin Beijing was stunned by the hundreds of thousands who turned out for protests (mostly peaceful, but a few that deteriorated into violence). I interviewed teenagers, wearing gas masks for protection, who were passionate defenders of rule of law, having studied details of Hong Kongs basic law in high school. (Can you imagine that here?) Beijing was equally stunned when pro-democrats won a majority of district election seats late last year in a true David-vs.-Goliath victory. And Xi Jinping no doubt blamed Hong Kong when Taiwans voters reelected a president who takes a hard line toward Beijing. Thats because the Hong Kong demonstrations made clear Chinas disdain for the one country, two systems promise that Xi Jinping was also promoting for Taiwan. But why arrest Martin Lee and other pro-democracy elders now (beyond the COVID-19 cover)? I put that question to Joshua Wong, the 24-year-old founder of the pro-democracy Umbrella movement, who faces trial for a previous arrest in May. Beijings intention is to silence the voice of dissidents before elections for the Legislative Council [Hong Kongs lawmaking body] in September, Wong told me by phone from Hong Kong. They want to suppress even prominent senior leaders, like Martin and Jimmy Lai, who could influence those elections. Yet there is another reason to silence Lai and pro-democrats: Hong Kongs amazing success in controlling the coronavirus early, in sharp contrast to the early debacle on the Chinese mainland. This success was based on an informed civic society, not on a hapless Hong Kong government beholden to Beijing. With a population of seven million, Hong Kong has recorded just over 1,000 cases and four deaths, according to recent figures. We were able to overcome coronavirus better because we had no trust in Chinese information, says Wong. Doctors and nurses went on strike to force the Hong Kong government to close the border with the mainland. With a good health system, and a previous experience with SARS, Hong Kong citizens took it on themselves to social distance and wear masks. A still vibrant Hong Kong press reported details that the mainland press could not. Which brings us to the broader message of Hong Kongs freedom struggle to the world. It was expressed eloquently Thursday by the dignified Martin Lee on a webcast organized by the Foreign Press Association. The key to China is Hong Kong, he argued. "If China wants to expand its influence in the world, it is important to show the world it always keeps its promises, its international agreements [as with the 1997 accord on Hong Kong freedoms]. Otherwise people will say, How can you trust them? People will get afraid of China. Indeed. On that matter of trust, Lee added: It is important to keep Hong Kong free in order to support correct information on the virus and vaccines. Hong Kong people know the virus started in Wuhan. (Of course, that is why Beijing wants to see Lai, owner of the Apple Daily newspaper, put in jail.) It would be too easy to dismiss Hong Kongs case as hopeless, 7 million vs 1.3 billion. Yet, as China promotes its authoritarian vision as superior to democracy, Lees words cut to the heart. READ MORE: In Hong Kong, young protesters risk all for democracy I Trudy Rubin Asked if he fears prison, the slim, soft-spoken barrister replied: The important thing all these years is that I am fighting for democracy, for rule of law. I devoted all my life to that cause and I am quite prepared to continue. I am at peace. But I hope the world is watching, he added. And it should be, because the experience with Chinas dishonesty over COVID-19 is a reminder to world leaders of the need to stand up to Beijings misbehaviors. One way to do that is to stand with Hong Kong. The head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) says he has ordered his forces to potentially target the U.S. Navy after President Donald Trump's tweet threatening to sink Iranian vessels. Speaking on state television on April 23, General Hossein Salami warned that his forces "will answer any action with a decisive, effective, and quick counteraction." "We have ordered our naval units at sea that if any warships or military units from the naval force of America's terrorist army wants to jeopardize our commercial vessels or our combat vessels, they must target those [U.S.] warships or naval units," Salami said. Trump tweeted on April 22 that he instructed the U.S. Navy to "shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea." He provided no further details. Trump's tweet came after the U.S. Navy said last week that 11 IRGC gunboats had carried out "dangerous and harassing approaches" to U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels in the Persian Gulf. Already tense relations between the two countries were worsened by a U.S. drone strike that killed top IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani in January. On April 22, the IRGC said it launched a military satellite into orbit after months of failed attempts, further exacerbating the situation. Western governments have not confirmed the satellite reached orbit, but U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the launch violated a UN Security Council resolution and every country was now obliged "to go to the United Nations and evaluate whether this missile launch was consistent" with the resolution. On April 23, Iran summoned the Swiss ambassador to Tehran, who represents U.S. interests in the Middle Eastern country, to complain about Trump's threat. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Musavi said that the Swiss envoy was given a message to pass on to Washington that Iran will strongly defend its maritime rights in the Persian Gulf and respond to any threats, according to the IRIB news agency. With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriza Pinandita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 18:29 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3e6dd5 1 World COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,Foreign-Minister-Retno-Marsudi,foreigners,virus-corona,coronavirus,virus-korona-indonesia,outbreak,pandemic Free More than 7,700 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Indonesia, of which more than 300 are foreign nationals, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi has revealed. In a virtual press briefing on Thursday, Retno said at least 387 confirmed cases in the country were foreign nationals. Thirteen deaths have been recorded, 11 of which had underlying diseases. Forty-nine foreign nationals are receiving treatment, 27 others have recovered and 295 are under isolation, according to Retno. As of Thursday, Indonesian health authorities had recorded 7,775 cases of COVID-19, with 647 fatalities. At least 960 patients have recovered. There are 540 cases linked to Indonesian nationals abroad, with 24 fatalities. Of the total, 358 are undergoing treatment and 131 have recovered. Retno said last week that another focus in Indonesia's foreign policy was to ensure the protection of Indonesian citizens abroad and foreign nationals in Indonesia during the global pandemic. Read also: Indonesian mission prioritizes citizen safety as France extends COVID-19 lockdown She asserted recently upon answering international media outlets questions that Indonesias missions abroad were taking additional steps to address the pandemic. In line with President Joko Jokowi Widodos directives [on April 20], we have stepped up our efforts in conducting massive testing and carrying out progressive tracing, the minister said. Retno also claimed that the countrys testing capacity had reached 12,000 tests per day, with patients being treated at referral centers and emergency health facilities such as the one located at the site of the former Kemayoran athletes village in Central Jakarta. Authorities have distributed over 1.4 million pieces of personal protective equipment since March 27. The foreign minister reiterated Indonesias involvement in the Global Solidarity Trial, an initiative by the World Health Organization to find therapeutic drugs for COVID-19. Taking part in the trial were 14 hospitals, nine of which began clinical trials this week, Retno added. File photo While Nigeria and the rest of the world continue to deal with the negative effects Coronavirus has left all around the place, pharmacies in Abuja appears to be benefitting from the situation in fact, SaharaReporters reports. For instance, following recent cases of persons with the virus visiting several public and private hospitals without even knowing they had contracted the disease already in recent days and the fear it had created in the minds of members of the public, a growing number of Abuja residents are now beginning to shun any form of visits to health facilities just to avoid picking up the virus mistakenly. As a result of this, many of the citys residents have resorted to self-medication, allowing operators of pharmacies to smile to the bank. Explaining why she decided to embrace self-medication, a woman named Stella told SaharaReporters that even doctors and nurses in most hospitals in the city are afraid to attend to patients because they dont know, who may have the virus already. She said, I visited the hospital last week after having malaria symptoms but soon as I got there and explained my situation, a nurse on duty yelled at me not to move closer to her. She said it was Coronavirus symptom and that I shouldnt come close to her because she didnt have protective gear. I managed to find a laboratory to run a test and the result came out that it was indeed malaria. I simply approached a pharmacy for medication to treat myself. I have vowed not to go close to a hospital again for now. I will take care of myself my buying drugs from a pharmacy. A source at Nyanya General Hospital Abuja, who spoke with SaharaReporters, said some of the doctors there were now giving out telephone numbers to patients to call for treatment advice in order to limit physical contact and reduce the risk of contracting Coronavirus. Most of the doctors are not attending to patients physically again, they have given out their mobile numbers to patients because they are trying to avoid physical interaction with them. For now, only few people come to the hospital, the source said. A pharmacists, who spoke with our correspondent, also corroborated the situation in Abuja, revealing that there has been a significant increase in sales in recent days especially since the lockdown put in place by government. Business has been good. Though we are not happy about this disease but for us it has boosted our business. People have been coming to buy various medicines and other items like face mask, hand sanitisers and medicated soaps more than we have witnessed in the past. It has been a good time for those of us in this business, one pharmacy operator in the city told our correspondent. President of Nigerian Medical Association, Mr Francis Faduyile, told SaharaReporters that inadequate supply of Personal Protection Equipment was responsible for the decision of some doctors not to attend to patients physically. He said, We have on several occasions discussed that it is wrong for people to self medicate. We have doctors who are professionals who can investigate, diagnose and prescribe drugs to treat cases. If they are now resorting to e-consultations, it is good but it must be done in a way that patients will have the best treatment. Foreign Minister Marise Payne has condemned China's recent actions in the South China Sea, including the reported sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat, saying it was vital all countries ease tensions so they can focus on combating COVID-19. An Australian warship has been conducting exercises in the disputed waterway with three US ships in recent days, as anxiety increases about China's expansion in the region while the world is dealing with the coronavirus. China's Liaoning aircraft carrier is accompanied by navy frigates and submarines conducting exercises in the South China Sea in 2018. Credit:Xinhua In her first comments on China's latest moves in the disputed waterway, Senator Payne said Australia was concerned about "a number of recent incidents and actions" in the South China Sea. She said this included "reported efforts to disrupt other countries' resource development activities, the declaration of new 'administrative districts' over disputed features, and the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat, reportedly in a collision with a Chinese coast guard vessel". TORONTO, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Norbord Inc. (TSX andNYSE: OSB) today announced that due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it is necessary to implement certain changes to the meeting format for its upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held on May 6, 2020 at 10am ET. These changes are in light of the unprecedented health impact of COVID-19 and in consideration of the health and safety of the Company's shareholders, employees, directors, other stakeholders and the broader community. In order to comply with applicable COVID-19 government and public health orders and to practice physical distancing, shareholders will not be able to attend the AGM in person. Shareholders may access the AGM via phone or webcast instead in accordance with the instructions set out below. Shareholders may email questions in advance to [email protected], specifying "Norbord AGM" in the subject line. Shareholders are encouraged to vote in advance by completing and submitting a proxy (or voting instruction form). Instructions on how to vote can be found in the Company's Notice and Management Proxy Circular for the AGM located on its website at www.norbord.com. To access the AGM conference call on May 6, please dial 647-484-0478 or 1-888-599-8686. The conference ID is 5689317. The operator will request your name, company and location. Please dial into the call approximately ten minutes before the scheduled 10:00 a.m. ET start time. The AGM will be broadcast live over the Internet via www.norbord.com and www.newswire.ca. Business media are invited to listen only on this call. A replay number will be available approximately one hour after completion of the AGM and will be accessible until June 5, 2020 by dialing 1-888-203-1112 or 647-436-0148. The passcode is 5689317 and the pin is 5370. Norbord will continue to monitor developments of the COVID-19 pandemic and will advise shareholders as necessary of any further updates regarding its AGM. Norbord Profile Norbord Inc. is a leading global manufacturer of wood-based panels and the world's largest producer of oriented strand board. In addition to OSB, Norbord manufactures particleboard, medium density fibreboard and related value-added products. Norbord has assets of approximately $1.9 billion and employs approximately 2,400 people at 17 plant locations in the United States, Canada and Europe. Norbord is a publicly traded company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "OSB". This news release contains forward-looking statements, as defined by applicable securities legislation, including statements related to our strategy, projects, plans, future financial or operating performance and other statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future performance. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "set up," "on track," "expect," "estimate," "forecast," "target," "outlook," "schedule," "represent," "continue," "intend," "should," "would," "could," "will," "can," "might," "may," and other expressions which are predictions of or indicate future events, trends or prospects and which do not relate to historical matters identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Norbord to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Although Norbord believes it has a reasonable basis for making these forward-looking statements, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking information. By its nature, forward-looking information involves numerous assumptions, inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, which contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts and other forward-looking statements will not occur. These factors include, but are not limited to: (1) developments related to COVID-19, including health and safety measures instituted to protect the Company's employees, government-imposed restrictions that may apply to the Company's operations, the impact of COVID-19 on customer demand, supply and distribution and other factors; (2) assumptions in connection with the economic and financial conditions in the US, Europe, Canada and globally; (3) risks inherent to product concentration and cyclicality; (4) effects of competition and product pricing pressures; (5) risks inherent to customer dependence; (6) effects of variations in the price and availability of manufacturing inputs, including continued access to fibre resources at competitive prices and the impact of third-party certification standards; (7) availability of transportation services, including truck and rail services, and port facilities; (8) various events that could disrupt operations, including natural, man-made or catastrophic events and ongoing relations with employees; (9) impact of changes to, or non-compliance with, environmental or other regulations; (10) government restrictions, standards or regulations intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; (11) impact of weather and climate change on Norbord's operations or the operations or demand of its suppliers and customers; (12) impact of any product liability claims in excess of insurance coverage; (13) risks inherent to a capital intensive industry; (14) impact of future outcomes of tax exposures; (15) potential future changes in tax laws, including tax rates; (16) effects of currency exposures and exchange rate fluctuations; (17) future operating costs; (18) availability of financing, bank lines and/or securitization programs; (19) impact of future cross-border trade rulings or agreements; (20) implementation of important strategic initiatives and identification, completion and integration of acquisitions; (21) ability to implement new or upgraded information technology infrastructure; (22) impact of information technology service disruptions or failures; and (23) changes in government policy and regulation. The above list of important factors affecting forward-looking information is not exhaustive. Additional factors are noted elsewhere, and reference should be made to the other risks discussed in filings with Canadian and US securities regulatory authorities. Except as required by applicable law, Norbord does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by, or on behalf of, the Company, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, or to publicly update or revise the above list of factors affecting this information. See the "Forward-Looking Statements" section in the February 4, 2020 Annual Information Form and the cautionary statement contained in the "Forward-Looking Statements" section of the 2019 Management's Discussion and Analysis dated February 4, 2020. SOURCE Norbord Inc. Related Links http://www.norbord.com COVID-19: Haryana's Manohar Lal Khattar government has announced a health insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh for each journalist who has been risking his life and collecting and spreading the right information. Haryana government on Thursday announced an insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh each for journalists who are reporting in the state during the coronavirus pandemic. The state government has decided to provide insurance of Rs 10 lakh each to all journalists who are reporting during coronavirus pandemic, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said in a statement. The decision comes days after several journalists tested positive for coronavirus in Mumbai and Chennai. Earlier on April 21, the West Bengal government had extended the insurance scheme to accredited journalists in view of COVID-19 outbreak in the country. To fight coronavirus, the state government has been taking every possible step. To boost the efforts, CM had also urged people to donate in the Chief Ministers relief fund. I appeal to people to donate money as per their economic condition, said Khattar in a press briefing. He further said, As the harvesting season has approached, I also appeal to the farmers to donate about 1-5 kg from 1 quintal of the grains they produce. This will ensure that nobody goes hungry during the lockdown. Speaking about Prime Ministers address to the nation tomorrow, he said, Tomorrow PM Modi will definitely announce the second phase of the lockdown period. I request people to follow the norms of the lockdown and social distancing. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also said that the state has been divided into three zones Red zone, Orange Zone and Green Zone based on the number of coronavirus cases reported in a certain district. However, the economic activity will be started in these areas in a phased manner while maintaining the social distance, he added. For all the latest National News, download NewsX App SCHENECTADY Hundreds of cars lined up Wednesday at Schenectady County Community College where volunteers filled the trunks of vehicles with free food. The three-hour effort was a partnership of the local government, food bank and a charity. Once motorists pulled up to the front of the line and popped their trunks, volunteers at several stations in the parking lot of the college dropped the food items in the back of the vehicle. Volunteers at the last stop will close the trunk. Looking to help or to share volunteer opportunities you know about? Join our Facebook group. The countys COVID-19 Emergency Response Coalition said the no-contact, no-cost, distribution was set up to provide residents with an additional opportunity to receive fresh produce, dairy and frozen meats plus non-perishable items that can be used to create meals at home. The coalition was a partnership between the county, the Schenectady Foundation, and the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York. Over the past few weeks, the partnership has been taking orders through a hotline and packing the groceries inside the gym of the Boys & Girls Club of Schenectady before delivering them to those in need. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Susan Linter, the food banks director of Community Impact, said in a statement that the event is a way to safely provide food to households struggling to access sufficient amounts of healthy foods. Robert Carreau with the Schenectady Foundation said the coalition is exploring every avenue to ensure that people in our community are getting the resources they need. [April 23, 2020] Prodapt and Celonis Join Forces to Accelerate Digital Business Transformation of DSPs NEW YORK, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Prodapt, a leading consulting, technology & managed services provider to the Digital Service Provider (DSP) industry, today announced a strategic partnership with Celonis, the category leader in Process Mining. The Prodapt-Celonis partnership brings together complementary capabilities to bolster Prodapt's existing Telecom Process as a Service (TPaaS) capabilities. Due to geographically dispersed teams working with multiple legacy, disparate, and disconnected IT systems, DSPs today have a siloed approach to process improvement initiatives. Our joint solutions are aimed to deliver near-real-time process execution visibility, cycle time reduction, automation flow-through improvement, right-first-time improvement and enable effective process leaning and standardization. "Prodapt and Celonis will provide process improvement solutions that will accelerate DSPs transformation journeys to enhance customer experience, drive operational efficiencies and revenue growth," said Aravind Parthasarathy, VP, COO Solutions Practice, Prodapt. "We see tremendous value in this partnership as it helps in aligning our business process services with market leading process mining platform of Celonis." "Celonis' powerful process mining software helps companies across industries achieve operational excellence by enablng them to optimize their business processes, reduce rework and wasted effort, and make more informed decisions," said Vince Barrett, Celonis VP Partner Management in the Americas. "Prodapt brings deep industry and domain expertise to help drive customer value, and we look forward to working with the Prodapt team to jointly serve leading telecommunications and media companies." About Prodapt: www.prodapt.com Prodapt helps clients transform their IT, products, operations, and networks to meet their strategic objectives. Prodapt provides end-to-end IT/software architecture consulting, application development, systems integration, testing, maintenance & support. Prodapt provides insights and thought leadership-led transformation services leveraging next-gen technologies such as RPA (robotic process automation), AI/ML (artificial intelligence/machine learning), SDN-NFV (software-defined networking/network function virtualization) and next-gen OSS/BSS systems. It's business consulting team provides Six Sigma process improvement and automation/RPA consulting services to telco operations teams. Headquartered in Chennai, Prodapt has offices in the Americas, Europe, India, and Africa and is an ISO 9001:2015, ISO 27001:2013, SSAE18 / ISAE, and GDPR Compliant organization. Prodapt is part of a 120-year-old business conglomerate, The Jhaver Group, which employs over 16,500 people across 64+ global locations. About Celonis: www.celonis.com Celonis, the market leader in AI-enhanced Process Mining and Process Excellence software, transforms data into insight and action. Its Intelligent Business Cloud allows organizations to rapidly understand and improve the operational backbone of their businesses. Companies around the world including Siemens, 3M, Airbus and Vodafone rely on Celonis to guide action and drive change to business processes, resulting in millions of dollars of cost savings and improved customer experiences. The company is based in Munich and New York. Media Contact: Krishna Kumar N krishnakumar.n@prodapt.com +91-95000-86008 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/prodapt-and-celonis-join-forces-to-accelerate-digital-business-transformation-of-dsps-301045993.html SOURCE Prodapt Solutions [ Back to the Next Generation Communications Community's Homepage ] SAN DIEGO, April 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CV Sciences, Inc. (CVSI) (the Company, CV Sciences, our, us or we), a preeminent supplier and manufacturer of hemp cannabidiol (CBD) products, today announced that it had filed a Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on April 21, 2020. At present time, the Company has no specific plans to issue securities under the registration statement. However, the Company felt it was prudent to file the shelf registration statement as a matter of standard corporate governance to provide the Company with flexibility to access the public capital markets in order to respond to future financing and business opportunities. The shelf registration statement filed with the SEC has not yet become effective. No securities may be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. Any offer of securities subject to the registration statement will be solely by means of the prospectus included in the registration statement and one or more prospectus supplements that will be issued at the time of the offering. About CV Sciences, Inc. CV Sciences, Inc. (CVSI) operates two distinct business segments: a consumer product division focused on manufacturing, marketing and selling plant-based CBD products to a range of market sectors; and a drug development division focused on developing and commercializing CBD-based novel therapeutics. The Companys PlusCBD Oil products are sold at more than 5,700 retail locations throughout the U.S. and it is the top-selling brand of hemp-derived CBD on the market, according to SPINS, the leading provider of syndicated data and insights for the natural, organic and specialty products industry. CV Sciences state-of-the-art facility follows all guidelines for Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and the Companys hemp extracts are processed, produced, and tested throughout the manufacturing process to confirm the cannabinoid content meets strict company standards. With a commitment to science, PlusCBD Oils benefits in healthy people are supported by human clinical research data, in addition to three published clinical case studies available on PubMed.gov. PlusCBD Oil was the first hemp CBD supplement brand to invest in the scientific evidence necessary to receive self-affirmed Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status. CV Sciences, Inc. has primary offices and facilities in San Diego, California. Additional information is available from OTCMarkets.com or by visiting www.cvsciences.com. Story continues FORWARD-LOOKING DISCLAIMER This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and information, as defined within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks and uncertainties. CONTACT INFORMATION: Investor Contact: ICR Scott Van Winkle 617-956-6736 scott.vanwinkle@icrinc.com Media Contact: ICR Cory Ziskind 646-277-1232 cory.ziskind@icrinc.com Source: CV Sciences, Inc. Trader He Ximing in the Chinese city of Wuhan says he has no idea how or where he caught the coronavirus or why repeated nucleic acid tests showed he didn't have it. He was not a coronavirus patient, doctors told him, even though he had been having difficulty breathing with what he described as smothering chest congestion from early February. But his condition worried the authorities enough to get him sent to a quarantine centre. Still, he did not challenge the three negative tests at the time. After all, his wife did not fall sick. But he could not shake off the nagging suspicion that he had the coronavirus and in late March went to a hospital in Wuhan for more tests, including one for antibodies. This time he tested positive. "I didn't expect it," the 52-year-old vegetable seller said as he showed Reuters a copy of his test results - positive for antibodies showing exposure to the coronavirus. Finally, at least, he had an explanation for why he felt so terrible. "I felt like I was dying. You can't imagine how it feels." His case is not unique. Similar instances in China and elsewhere have compounded concern over the accuracy of coronavirus testing, even as authorities push for testing as key to handling the crisis. Unreliable testing could undermine strategies not just for stopping the virus but for opening up locked-down economies, as pressure grows on governments around the world to ease restrictions. More than 2.5 million people have been infected with the coronavirus globally and about 177,000 have died, according to a Reuters tally. Wuhan, where the new coronavirus emerged late last year, has recorded 50,333 cases and 3,869 deaths as of April 21, accounting for the majority of China's cases. Nucleic acid testing, on samples swabbed from the back of a patient's throat or respiratory tract, for the virus' genome, is the main way cases are detected. The test is not easy to administer and, experts say, and mistakes do happen, such as if too small a sample is taken or if the swab misses a virus-hit spot. "The limitations of these tests need to be recognised, and the need to run regular tests if we want assurance that someone is truly negative, and that they remain so over a period of time," said Andrew Preston, a lecturer in microbial pathogenesis at the University of Bath. TESTING TIMES There is little consensus on what proportion of nucleic acid tests yield false negatives. A survey by Chinese doctors in February looking at samples from 213 patients suggested a false-negative rate of about 30 per cent. Media has also reported cases of people testing negative repeatedly before finally getting a positive result. In February, the People's Daily newspaper reported on a woman who had fallen ill with pneumonia but tested negative for the coronavirus four times. A fifth test was positive. Wuhan authorities have started testing residents for antibodies. China is conducting an epidemiological survey in nine regions in an effort to determine the full extent of asymptomatic infections and immunity levels. He said he first got tested on March 1 when his chest congestion worsened though he had no fever or cough. X-rays showed his lungs had white blotches, similar to those found in coronavirus patients, but his nucleic acid test was not positive so a hospital declined to admit him. As a precaution, a committee that manages his housing compound put him in quarantine for 14 days. Later, two more hospital tests came back negative so he turned to traditional Chinese medicine and other drugs. Finally, on March 28, he took a fourth nucleic acid test, which was again negative, but he was also tested for antibodies and got confirmation. "I told my story to a doctor and he said 'you're so lucky you didn't die'," he said in his apartment, where boxes of various medicines were scattered about. His wife, who he lives alone with, has shown no coronavirus symptoms though she has not been tested. He said he believed he was immune and not infectious, though he's taking no chances and wears an N95 mask and a face shield when going out. "If theres any possibility that I'll infect others, I'll harm them," he said. "Thats why Im taking these precautions." Greenberg Traurig, LLP has added Jason S. DelMonico to its Boston office as a shareholder in the firms Corporate Practice. DelMonico is a banking and financial services attorney with over 20 years of experience representing major financial institutions and other commercial lenders. He assists clients in connection with complex commercial finance transactions across various industry sectors ranging from retail and manufacturing to technology and life sciences. His practice involves structuring and negotiating loan facilities, including asset-based loans, cash flow loans and other debt facilities, including debtor-in-possession and exit financings in bankruptcy. Additionally, DelMonico has significant experience advising clients with the workout and restructuring of troubled credits, including in connection with the enforcement of secured creditor rights and Section 363 asset sales. His work regularly involves advising on cross-border financing transactions in North America, Europe, and Asia. DelMonico joins Greenberg Traurig from Holland & Knight. Im thrilled to join Greenberg Traurigs dynamic and well-established team of professionals. This firm provides me with everything I need to support my clients at the highest level, even in todays challenging environment, said DelMonico. Additionally, the culture of the firm, the dedication to collaboration amongst the professionals here, the firms commitment to client service and its entrepreneurial approach were a few of the many positive things about the firm that drew me here. The breadth and depth of Jays professional experience in corporate finance, restructuring and bankruptcy matters is in line with our strategy of growing in areas key to our clients. We are delighted that he has joined our team, noted David J. Dykeman and Terence P. McCourt, Co-Managing Shareholders of the firms Boston office, in a joint statement. In addition to DelMonico, Colleen A. Murphy joined the firms Public Finance & Infrastructure Practice in Boston in February. Greenberg Traurigs Corporate Practice comprises more than 450 lawyers worldwide who regularly advise public and privately held companies, entrepreneurs and investment funds on global mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, private equity and venture capital, underwritten and syndicated offerings, commercial finance and syndicated lending, cross-border transactions, and general corporate matters. The groups industry experience includes transactions in a wide range of fields, from the pharmaceutical, medical devices, and life sciences fields, to representations involving clients in the aviation, banking, consumer products, energy, food and beverage, health care, manufacturing, media, technology, and telecommunications sectors. About Greenberg Traurigs Boston Office: Established in 1999, Greenberg Traurigs Boston office is home to over 70 attorneys practicing in the areas of bankruptcy and restructuring, corporate, emerging technology, energy, environmental, gaming, governmental affairs, intellectual property, labor and employment, life sciences and medical technology, litigation, public finance, and real estate. An important contributor to the firm's international platform, the Boston office includes a team of nationally recognized attorneys with both public and private sector experience. The team offers clients the value of decades of legal experience and hands-on knowledge of the local business community, supported by the firm's vast network of global resources. About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2,200 attorneys in 41 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 20:42:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects ecological preservation of the Qinling Mountains in Niubeiliang National Nature Reserve in Zhashui County, Shangluo City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, April 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) XI'AN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged efforts to overcome the negative impact of the COVID-19 epidemic to ensure the country reaches its goals in poverty alleviation and the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during an inspection tour in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Xi called for solid efforts to ensure stable performance in employment, finance, foreign trade, foreign investment, domestic investment and market expectation. He also stressed better safeguarding jobs, livelihood, market entities, food and energy security, the stability of industrial and supply chains, and the smooth running of communities. Xi encouraged Shaanxi to make big development strides in the new era. During his inspection from Monday to Thursday, Xi learned about ecological conservation in the Qinling Mountains, poverty alleviation and work resumption, and conducted research on coordinating COVID-19 control with economic and social development as well as poverty alleviation. At the Niubeiliang National Nature Reserve, Xi said protecting the environment of the Qinling Mountains is of great and far-reaching significance to the long-term prosperity of the Chinese nation as well as the realization of the two centenary goals and the country's sustainable development. He urged local officials in Shaanxi to learn their lesson the hard way from the illegal construction of villas in the Qinling Mountains, avoid repeating the same mistake and work as guardians of the ecological environment of Qinling. Leaving the nature reserve, Xi visited the village of Jinmi in Zhashui County to learn about poverty relief. Xi stressed ensuring sustained and stable income increase for people in poverty. "Being lifted out of poverty is not an end in itself but the starting point of a new life and a new pursuit," he said. Xi underscored the importance of ensuring jobs for the poor as the year 2020 is the time for winning the anti-poverty fight. In a relocated community in the county of Pingli, Xi went to the home of local resident Wang Xianping and chatted with the family. Xi said relocation is essential for people in inhospitable areas to achieve strides in development. It is also an important approach to win the fight against poverty. He stressed the importance of securing employment for relocated people to settle down in their new homes, get rich and not fall back into poverty. During his stay in Pingli, Xi visited a township hospital and underlined addressing public health weaknesses, strengthening rural and community-level epidemic response capabilities and taking epidemic containment measures on a regular basis. He also visited a primary school and a tea farm there. On Wednesday, Xi inspected work resumption and economic recovery in the provincial city of Xi'an. While visiting an auto company, he stressed that manufacturing is the lifeblood of the national economy. Large state-owned enterprises should lead enterprises in both upstream and downstream sectors as well as small and medium-sized enterprises to fully resume production and work with regular epidemic control measures in place, Xi noted. In Xi'an, Xi also visited Xi'an Jiaotong University, touring a museum on campus and stressing the importance of patriotism. He also went to a commercial street in the city to learn about the reopening of business. Enditem 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. Central to the U.S. criticism of the WHO has been its handling of the outbreak in the early weeks of January, when it echoed Chinese statements that the coronavirus showed limited human-to-human transmission. WHO experts, who did not enter China until mid-February, later praised Chinas medical response and avoided addressing the performance of Taiwan, which has been shut out of the body at the behest of China, further compounding the accusations of its pro-Beijing bias. Cities are made by their structures but their history survives in books and tales. And there isnt any better guardian of history than a bookseller! While digitisation may be the indisputable future of books, there is an old-school charm and love for the written word that always brings readers to the gates of Delhis most loved bookstores. The old guards are now figuring out ways to survive the lockdown, and on World Book Day, they tell us what makes them stay relevant in this digital age amid Covid-19 lockdown. As Delhi deals with a migrant crisis during lockdown, another business, started by a migrant, which draws people from all corners of the country, has been thrown into quarantine. Midland Bookstore, which was started by Mirza Yaseen Baig at Janpath in 1978 soon after his migration from Hyderabad to Delhi has closed its doors to its loyal patrons, like most others in the business, due to coronavirus pandemic. The survival of bookstores has been a question for a while, but is more pertinent today. What started as one store has now turned into four outlets across the Capital. A lot of people questioned whether we will survive when e-books and social media came to the fore, but bookstores have been resilient. We will survive the lockdown as well, says Mirza Touseef Baig, a third generation member who helps run the business. READ | World Book and Copyright Day 2020: History, significance, theme and quotes by famous authors While Baig agrees that the financial repercussions are immense, this is not the end of the road for this business. We do not compete with the digital world. People come to bookstores because its a tradition; they want to pick up a book, talk to people around them, and then walk out having gained not just a book but an experience. Baigs optimism aside, he has also written to Manish Sisodia, Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, to count books among essentials during the lockdown, and allow book stores to serve their patrons, even if its just for weekends. Khan Markets Faqir Chand and Sons book shop serves as another reminder of the past. The owner had moved to India after the partition and set up this shop in his name. Abhinav Bamhi, who is a fourth generation bookseller of this family run bookstore, believes the business will emerge unscathed after this lockdown. He says, Even though the lockdown is a major financial hindrance right now, we are sure to emerge stronger. If there is one thing the lockdown has done, it is to bring people back to the world of reading and books. People can always go buy an e-book, but the joy of browsing books in a brick and mortar shop is unparalleled. The differentiating factor is the feeling of belonging that one can return to, says Bamhi, as he recounts multiple instances of people writing to his team: Were getting lovely messages from our regular customers saying they cant wait for the lockdown to get over! Another store that has diversified and flourished while retaining its quaint essence is Bahrisons Book Sellers, also in Khan Market. A third generation run post-partition establishment, which opened its doors in 1953, now has four outlets. Rajni Malhotra who mans the store with Anuj Bahri says the situation is unprecedented and requires bookstores to revise their strategy and take some precautions. The coronavirus has definitely impacted us as our stores have been shut. That is a terrible situation for any running business to be in. There are fixed expenses, rents and salaries have to be paid, and the government has not stepped in with any assistance so far, shares Malhotra. These bookstores, however, valiantly defy the onslaught of internet sellers, and boast of an audience that is loyal and permanent. Most of them have taken to social media during the lockdown and ramping up their digital media presence through their independent Instagram handles, which have amassed quite a gathering! READ | Shakespeare Day 2020: Lesser-known facts, famous quotes by the Bard of Avon, William Shakespeare Oxford Bookstore, one of the most frequented hubs among Delhis millennial crowd, also because of its cosy eatery at Connaught Place premises, was one of the firsts to tread the digital path. With stores closed and no counter sales, we have not let down our readers morale. We have allowed the customers to place online orders with us, and have increased our broadcast outreach with a splurge of various activities including interesting mailers and broadcasts, to keep the loyalists engaged, says Swagat Sengupta, chief executive officer, Apeejay Oxford Bookstores. Sengupta adds that Oxford has taken to launching books digitally, and feels optimistic about using the virtual space for promoting the written word through weekend storytelling by popular narrators from different cities. And Baig from Midland opines, Digital is a separate world; us booksellers dont think of it as competition, but just as an extension of our work. One of our regular patrons asked us to be on digital media in order to reach out to our millennial audience. People have been writing to us incessantly, asking for the next book launch or the day well be open to the public again. I think it only serves to say that the tradition of visiting a bookstore is indispensable. Author tweets @bhagat_mallika Follow @htdelhi for more Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter By Ron Bousso, Stephanie Kelly and Laura Sanicola LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil traders are struggling to find enough ships, railcars, caverns and pipelines to store fuel as more conventional storage facilities fill up amid abundant supply and plummeting demand due to the coronavirus crisis. Dozens of oil tanker vessels have been booked in recent days to store at least 30 million barrels of jet fuel, gasoline and diesel at sea, acting as floating storage, as on-land tanks are full or already booked, according to traders and shipping data. That adds to about 130 million barrels of crude already in floating storage, traders and shipping sources said. By Ron Bousso, Stephanie Kelly and Laura Sanicola LONDON/NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil traders are struggling to find enough ships, railcars, caverns and pipelines to store fuel as more conventional storage facilities fill up amid abundant supply and plummeting demand due to the coronavirus crisis. Dozens of oil tanker vessels have been booked in recent days to store at least 30 million barrels of jet fuel, gasoline and diesel at sea, acting as floating storage, as on-land tanks are full or already booked, according to traders and shipping data. That adds to about 130 million barrels of crude already in floating storage, traders and shipping sources said. Demand for oil and its products has tumbled as much as 30% as governments around the world have told citizens to stay home to prevent the virus spreading - grounding planes and leaving cars parked up. But the world remains awash with oil supplies. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other major producers have forged a deal to curb production, but it will only reduce supply by about 10% and it does not kick in until May. It is hard to gauge the world's total oil storage capacity, but signs that the limit is being reached are increasingly obvious. Rising sea storage is one indicator, as it is more expensive than storing onshore and can be technically complex. Global crude oil onshore and floating storage https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/ce/oakpekjxprd/Pasted%20image%201587481644842.png U.S. storage onshore is swiftly filling, with inventories now at 518.6 million barrels, not far from an all-time record. The key Cushing, Oklahoma storage hub will effectively be full by May, traders said. Oil producers, refiners and traders are also turning to more unusual tactics, such as storing crude and fuel in railcars in northeastern United States or in unused pipelines. Europe's northwestern refining and storage hub still has space to fill but industry experts say most of the remaining capacity has already been booked. Salt caverns in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries were either full or fully booked. "We are now working on the most oddball storage locations, really tough locations where there are operational constraints," said Krien van Beek, a broker at ODIN - RVB Tank Storage Solutions in Rotterdam. The United States has some refined products storage space left in the area from the Midatlantic to the Southeast and along the Gulf Coast, said Ernie Barsamian, chief executive of The Tank Tiger, a U.S. terminal storage clearinghouse. But he said more preferable product storage sites, such as deepwater ports in New York Harbor and Houston, which are close to the demand centres, were no longer available. "The big tanks where you pull a ship in and empty the whole thing, that's all gone. What you have is pots and pans," he said. In the United States, onshore storage tanks are mostly reserved for local refineries which are using railcars to store crude, as well as gasoline and diesel. "Even the railcars are going to get stacked with product," said a U.S.-based broker who asked to remain anonymous. In hubs with a little space left, such as Chicago, tank operators can charge a premium and longer leases. They have been demanding leases of 24-36 months rather than the more usual 12 months, according to two refined products brokers. U.S. gasoline, distillate stockpiles climb in pandemic https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/mkt/xegvbdbgvqz/gasoline%20inventories.PNG With the market oversupplied, Brent crude prices plunged to their lowest levels in two decades, while U.S. Western Texas Intermediate made an unprecedented dive into negative territory, lowest in history, so sellers had to pay people to take it. Despite the plummeting crude price, some refineries which are able to find space can still make money producing fuel. "Margins are OK because there is more flexibility in the products market relative to crude," a senior official at a European refinery said. Interactive Graphic: ARA refined product stocks https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/editorcharts/jznvnrqkvlm/index.html ARA refined product stocks https://fingfx.thomsonreuters.com/gfx/editorcharts/gjnpwnkjvwr/eikon.png And nimble traders are creating new storage options. Tanker vessels carrying at least 1.5 million barrels of diesel have been diverted in recent days from their original European destinations to the New York region to anchor in storage, according to traders and shipping data. But many refineries are reducing output or, in some cases, shutting down as they no longer have any place to put oil to be processed or the products they make. (Additional reporting by Jonathan Saul and Bozorgmehr Sharafedin in London; Editing by Marguerita Choy) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Social networking giant Facebook on Thursday said it is rolling out 'Messenger Kids' - its messaging service for children - to more than 70 countries globally, including India, and has added new opt-in features for parents to help their kids connect with their friends. The expansion comes amid lockdowns across various parts of world on account of the coronavirus outbreak. With schools and offices shut, people are turning to digital platforms for communicating with others as they practice social distancing to protect themselves against the pandemic. Launched in 2017, Messenger Kids is a video chat and messaging app that helps kids connect with friends and family in a parent-controlled space. "As many communities are managing response to COVID-19, with schools closed and people practicing physical distancing, parents are turning to technology more than ever to help their kids connect with friends and family, and looking to do so in a parent-controlled way," Facebook said in a statement. Starting today (Thursday), parents in India will be able to download the app from the Apple App Store, and the app will be available in the Google Play Store by the end of the week, it added. "For years, we've worked closely with Facebook's Youth Advisors, a team of experts in online safety, child development and media, to help shape the Messenger Kids app. We continue to consult child safety advocates and educators to ensure we're providing a service that balances parental control with features that help kids learn how to connect responsibly online," the statement said. Every child account on Messenger Kids has to be set up by a parent. After downloading the Messenger Kids app, parents will have to authenticate the child's device using their own Facebook username and password. However, this will not create a Facebook account for the child or give them access to the parent's Facebook account. "Messenger Kids gives parents more control. Parents manage the contact list and have visibility into how their kids are using the app. Parents control kids' accounts and contacts through the Messenger Kids Parent Dashboard in their main Facebook iOS and Android app," the statement said. It added that there are no ads in Messenger Kids and the child's information is not used for ads, and the app is designed to be compliant with the Children's Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Queen Elizabeth II has been the Crowned Queen since 1952. Though she just turned 94-years-old, the queen has not slowed down at all. The sovereign monarch has passed down more responsibilities to the younger royals, including Prince Charles, Prince William, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. However, her daily schedule is just as robust as it has ever been. Though her husband, Prince Philip retired from public royal life in 2017, Queen Elizabeth has continued to carry out her duties, hosting public engagements and adhering to her strict daily schedule that includes an 8:30 a.m. wakeup call, church on Sundays, walkabouts, and everything in between. She has even continued to run after her beloved corgis and go horseback rides Many royal experts assumed that the queen would slowly begin phasing herself out in order for Prince Charles to step up, but that hasnt happened. In fact, one royal expert has revealed that Queen Elizabeth is obsessed with being busy. Queen Elizabeth is still working amid the coronavirus pandemic When the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis first started getting serious in the U.K., the queen didnt just jump and change her schedule. She seemed more than willing to carry on with a modified schedule despite the risks. As a sensible precaution and for practical reasons in the current circumstances, a number of changes are being made to The Queens diary, Buckingham Palace said on March 17. Audiences due to take place this week at Buckingham Palace will go ahead as planned Future Audiences will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, in line with the appropriate advice. Unfortunately, the pandemic only got more concerning and the queen left London to be with Prince Philip at Windsor Castle. Still, that hasnt stopped the queen from working. She held a rare televised speech where she thanked the National Health Service (NHS) workers and reassured the people of her country. Additionally, prior to his hospitalization with COVID-19, the queen was meeting remotely with U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Queen Elizabeths private life is very different than her public life Whether you like her or not, Queen Elizabeth has mastered what it means to uphold The Crown. While she is seen as stern and reserved in public, she is reportedly much more lighthearted when shed with friends and family. She has succeeded, unlike other royals who have struggled in the spotlight because she is able to separate her personal and public life. [Queen Elizabeth] has always managed to differentiate between the public persona and the private one, Penny Junor wrote in her book The Firm. With Diana, there was no such demarcation; there had been no long preparation for a public role in life. The Queen was used to the cameras, used to the publicity, used to being the center of attention. Diana was not. Queen Elizabeth loves to keep busy Aside from giving birth to her youngest sons, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, the queen has not slowed down much in 70 years. In fact, one royal expert has a theory about the queens relentless work schedule. The queen believes, if I stop I drop, Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty Magazine told Sky News. In fact, the queen reportedly planned to spend her 94 birthday horseback riding but only changed her mind at the last moment due to coronavirus concerns. If you think about it, her entire life has been one of duty, Seward explained. Even from when she was a tiny child her day was very regulated. So she will be very unused to this. She has probably been doing some of the things we have all been doing like going through draws and photo albums. Certainly, one thing is that she will have been kept busy because she always says if I stop, I drop. She will probably celebrate with her immediate staff because she is not able to be around anyone else. Normally she might perhaps go riding but she certainly would think that was the wrong thing to do at the moment. She is very conscious as always of other people and their problems. Imran Khans now solid reputation of being a U-turn man doesnt completely explain his support to the religious groupings to carry on with Ramzan. That can only be explained by some systemic factors that are peculiar to Pakistan. Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan has tested negative for coronavirus after undergoing testing on Wednesday, according to an aide. This was forced on him after Faisal Edhi, arguably Pakistans most respected man, tested positive for the virus after meeting with Imran. Many will pray for the recovery of Edhi, who runs the charitable Edhi Foundation, which offers succor to the poorest of the poor in that country; that too without any preaching about the virtues of jihad in Kashmir like other religious charities operating in Pakistan. Prayers for Imran may be a little less enthusiastic. Many blame him for the ever rising cases of COVID-19, now officially at nearly 10,000, after Imran dithered and refused to impose a full lockdown in Pakistan on the grounds that the poor would suffer the most. That stance drew criticism from those who knew of his close links with big business, but was worthy of reasonable doubt. But theres worse. He now seems to be now colluding with the clergy to carry on with business nearly as usual in the Ramzan period. A report in Dawn observed that after a meeting with Imran, the clergy had agreed to implement a 20-point guideline for Ramzan that included, among other things, bringing one's own prayer mat, barred hugging or shaking hands, and banned older people from attending. How any of this was to be enforced given the large crowds is anybodys guess. For one, no one's going to check birth certificates. President Arif Alvi seems to have okayed this list of suggestions as well. Earlier the president suggested rather timidly, that ulema direct the faithful to pray at home. He, however, caved in at a meeting where, barring the president and one official, not one of the religious leaders wore masks or maintained social distancing. That in itself says a lot about what to expect in coming days as people flock to mosques. And all of this at a time when the Saudis announced the closing of Mecca, and all religions institutions, as have Turkey, Malaysia and other Muslim nations. That should have made it easier for Imran to follow suit. That he didnt speaks volumes about the prime minister and the country he ostensibly presides over. Imrans now solid reputation of being a U-turn man doesnt completely explain his support to the religious groupings to carry on with Ramzan. That can only be explained by some systemic factors that are peculiar to Pakistan. One factor is this: religious heads preside over very large institutions and enjoy a level of respect that is unparalleled in most Muslim nations. For example, Maulana Mohammad Hanif Jalandhari is the head of Jamia Khair-ul-Madaris, a great religious university originally founded in India and now in Multan, and its thirty institutions. He also heads the Wifaq ul Madaris al-Arabia which comprises some 12,000 institutions spread across the country including in Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir and the Northern Areas. These are satraps, and persuading them is no easy task. Jalandhari was at the meeting with the prime minister, as were a host of leaders of such institutions. A second factor is the now well-known fact that most of these satraps contribute directly or indirectly to Pakistans unrelenting jihad into Afghanistan and Kashmir. Either they supply the recruits or they add to the belief system that sustains this covert war. This kowtowing to the clergy is also apparent in a new development. It appears that Pakistan has removed 3,800 names from a terrorism watchlist maintained by Punjab province. Most of the big religious institutions that provide vital support to terrorist infrastructure are based in Punjab. While a pruning to allow updating of a terror list is permissible, such a large-scale removal of proscribed names seems to suggest that Pakistan is not just using the global focus on the pandemic to do its dirty work, but also keeping the right-wing happy. This is supplication on a large scale. A third factor is however the more uneasy question as to Imrans own beliefs. His reliance on religious superstition, djinns, and such like has been faithfully chronicled by a person in the know. Much of this is laid at the door of his wife Bushra, a mother of five, whose husband divorced her willingly so that she could marry Imran and fulfil his destiny. This is the man who is required to lead the battle against a virus that is a worse enemy than Pakistan has ever encountered in its short existence. And yet, he continues even as recently as 22 April, in a tiresome rant on Kashmir. Meanwhile, a group of senior doctors in Pakistan and abroad have appealed to Imran to reconsider. Pakistan being what it is, the letter first praises ulema and the government for the consensus evolved, but then warns about the predictable difficulty of enforcing social distancing during the long periods of prayer and the already evident conflict between worshippers and those who seek to enforce such norms. That reputed doctors have to couch their dismay in such diplomatic language indicates the level of extremism that has permeated to the ground levels in Pakistan. The whole episode, involving kowtowing to the clerics, deferring a lockdown, and paring down the terror listing is the end result of more than thirty years of an all of government backing of jihadi strategy into both Afghanistan and India. The ideology has seeped inwards and downwards, until it is now difficult to enforce even the most glaringly obvious health precautions at a time of desperate need. In sum, there is little difference in the thinking process of the terrorist and his sponsor. Many realise this, including some senior police officers in Sindh. But theres little that can be done when the prime minister himself is a victim of that long nurtured virus. Meanwhile, a pandemic spikes, dangerously. By Bill Schackner, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette For students already struggling to pay for college, COVID-19 could be the knockout blow: a job loss with rent and campus bills due, unexpected expenses for online classes, plus food, health or child care needs. To keep their aspirations afloat, some $6 billion in stimulus money will be flowing from the federal government to colleges and universities for emergency cash grants to students, including those at public and private campuses in Pennsylvania. Our goal is to get this money into the hands of our students as quickly as possible, so that they can continue their studies with peace of mind, said Eric Barron, president of Penn State University, which is in line to receive nearly $55 million, including $27.5 million for student aid. But with tens of millions of dollars at stake, how each individual school chooses to disburse the funds to students quickly deciding how best to effectively and equitably split the money within the law, while working to minimize enrollment losses on campuses could be the difference between individual checks worth thousands of dollars or just a few hundred dollars, one expert said. The $6.28 billion in financial aid is part of $14 billion overall for higher education institutions and students authorized by the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES). Congress approved the funding and President Donald Trump signed the bill into law. The student aid is meant to be used for "expenses related to disruptions to their educations due to the COVID-19 outbreak, including things like course materials and technology as well as food, housing, health care, and child care," according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Education. What each school receives is influenced heavily 75% by the number of Pell-eligible students who attend, plus other factors like total undergraduate and graduation population and how much instruction at an institution already was being delivered online. Schools must sign certifications "affirming they will distribute the funds in accordance with applicable law. They will then determine which students will receive the cash grants," according to the departments statement. The goal is "getting funding out the door quickly to college students who need it most," U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos said in announcing campus-by-campus allocations. "We don't want unmet financial needs due to the coronavirus to derail their learning." In this state, campus-by-campus amounts announced so far include more than $76 million to Penn State University and the University of Pittsburgh collectively, half of which must go to emergency aid. Penn State's total is nearly $55 million, including $27.5 million for student aid; Pitt's $21.3 million includes $10.6 million for emergency student grants. The total and allotments for other Pittsburgh campuses and the portion for student aid respectively include: Carnegie Mellon University, $5.7 million and $2.9 million; Duquesne University, $5.4 million and $2.7 million; Community College of Allegheny County, $8 million and $4 million; Point Park University, $3.2 million and $1.6 million; Chatham University, $1.2 million and $581,188; Carlow University, $1.3 million and $671,858. In Allegheny County and beyond, a sampling of schools include Robert Morris University, $3.3 million and $1.7 million; La Roche University, $1.2 million and $602,959; Indiana University of Pennsylvania, $10 million and $5 million; Slippery Rock University, $7.4 million and $3.7 million; California University of Pennsylvania, $4.3 million and $2.2 million; and Thiel College, $281,192 and $140,596. The education department recommends a priority be placed on need, with individual awards no larger than Pell Grant Award of $6,195. But wider distribution could mean far smaller amounts. Some colleges are spreading it evenly among all their students, partly because they argue that everybody is affected and partly because it is easier to implement, getting the money to the students quicker, said Mark Kantrowitz, publisher and vice president for research at Savingforcollege.com. Other colleges are requiring a simple application, so that they can target the money to the students with the greatest need. Some are using a hybrid approach. If distributed among all students evenly, the average award could be about $328 nationally and $375 in Pennsylvania, based on 2018 enrollment data, said Mr. Kantrowitz. Awarding the emergency financial aid grants using existing financial aid data is problematic because that data is from before the pandemic, he added. A lot may have changed. Some students may be unable to go home because a parent is infected or fears unknowingly infecting a parent or any number of other hardships. Many students may need help with getting Internet access at home or even a computer. They may need help with travel expenses and shipping/storing belongings due to sudden orders to vacate the campuses. The emergency student grants are entirely separate from the $1,200 economic impact payments that are available to individuals who cannot be claimed as anyone elses dependent and meet other criteria, officials said. At Penn State, a group will develop a plan for distributing the money to students, working under a tight deadline, according to university officials. It will include Student Affairs, the Office of Financial Aid, the Bursar, the Graduate School, Commonwealth Campuses, World Campus, general counsel and additional broad representation. Carnegie Mellon officials have not yet decided whether to require an application. "Leadership from across the university is working together to determine the best way to distribute these funds," spokeswoman Julianne Mattera said. To understand how to best to target the money, Pitt Chancellor Patrick Gallagher told a campus meeting last week that Pitt is seeking additional guidance from the education department. To be reunited with this talented team of industry leaders is an honor. My team and I will concentrate on the great opportunity businesses have with the CARES Act Credits by helping companies keep employees and begin recovery and growth, says Larry Feinstein. Synergi Partners is focused on providing solutions for companies to help build productivity and profitability. Larry Feinstein will specifically focus on the CARES Act, a policy implemented to protect businesses from natural disasters and managing employee retention rates. In Mr. Feinsteins new position, he will offer an innovative approach for businesses to regain productivity, retain employees and focus on growth for the future. Jim Brown, CEO of Synergi Partners gives us his thought on Mr. Feinsteins joining Synergi Partners; Synergi Partners is very excited to have Larry join our team. The culture and rapid growth of Tax Credit Services at ADP was a great journey for Larry and me. His leadership and vast experience will add to our very deep and talented organization. Larry will play a vital role in this companys ongoing commitment to our clients Previously, Larry was the CEO of Hire Dynamics, an award-winning staffing company. Mr. Feinsteins passion for people development and innovation helped Hire Dynamics transform from an Atlanta leader to a Southeast and industry Top 50 Staffing Company. During Mr. Feinsteins time there, Hire Dynamics was awarded Best Places to Work in all markets they served and Best of Staffing for achieving top 1% NPS scores for Clients and Talent. Prior to his position at Hire Dynamics, Larry was Senior Vice President of ADPs Human Resource Outsourcing (HRO). Mr. Feinstein was responsible for a global business serving over 8,000 clients and 800,000 employees. Larry also was responsible for the integration and rapid growth of ADPs Tax Credit Services business. In his award-winning 26-year career at ADP, he also held sales leadership positions in small, major and national accounts, driving high growth through attracting and developing leading talent. Mr. Feinsteins passion for developing people and building a winning work culture has been the foundation for his success. To be reunited with this talented team of industry leaders is an honor; we have had much success working together in the past. Synergi Partners will continue to be the industry leader in disaster credits. My team and I will concentrate on the great opportunity businesses have with the CARES Act Credits (ERTC and FFCRA) by helping companies keep their employees and get on a path to recovery and growth, says Larry Feinstein. Mr. Feinstein is also the founder of Spectrum Careers, helping Autistic adults find meaningful employment. When not building culture and camaraderie at work, Larry enjoys spending time with his wife, Mindy, and two children, Sam and Leah. Headquartered in South Carolina, Synergi Partners is the leading provider of tax credit and incentives. Their team of experts consults companies throughout the nation for federal and state tax incentives, as well as disaster relief. They have experience serving clients of all sizes in industries such as hospitality, retail, financial services, healthcare, food services and temporary staffing. Please visit http://www.synergipartners.com for more information about this company and the CARES act. Four cops including the officer-in-charge of a police station were injured when they were attacked by villagers angry over not receiving rice and pulses distributed by a Trinamool Congress councillor in Baduria of West Bengal's 24 Parganas (North) district on Wednesday, police said. The disturbances began on Wednesday morning when the villagers of Taragonia-Daspara began a demonstration and put up road blockades claiming that they did not receive the food grains distributed by the local Trinamool councillor Aritra Ghosh on Monday. Throwing social distancing out of the window, a large number of people gathered. When police came to the spot, they were attacked with sticks, stones and bricks. The OC was beaten with sticks and bricks, as his helmet came out and he fell on to the ground. The mob then tried to take him inside the village, but the other police men managed to rescue him. Three other police personnel also sustained injuries. Police reinforcements were rushed and then the security forces unleashed a baton charge by entering the village. Television footage showed even women becoming the victim of the police wrath. Some people were seen diving into the pond to escape the police rage. Ghosh claimed he had given relief to 950 families in the area. "We went to all the houses. There was no discrimination. Superintendent of Basirhat police district K K Barui said there was no irregularity in ration distribution. "The disturbances happened as the villagers attacked the police". Twenty persons have been arrested. State food and supplies minister Jyotipriyo Mullick alleged the mob was led by a local BJP leader and said he has asked the SP to look into the incident with all seriousness. However, BJP leader Santanu Chakraborty said people were peeved with the state government as they are not getting adequate ration. "It is the failure of the police and administration". India will move into a leadership role at the World Health Organisation (WHO) headquarters after the annual meeting of the global health body next month, people familiar with the development told Hindustan Times. The appointment of Indias nominee as chairperson of the WHOs executive board will come at a time the world and the United Nations agency is struggling to stop the highly contagious Sars-Cov-2 pathogen from spreading. The Covid-19 pandemic has already killed more than 180,000 people worldwide and infected 2.6 million, forcing countries to go into lockdown mode that could cost the world upwards of $ 1 trillion this year. India will assume the lead position on 22 May at the executive boards first meeting after the truncated World Health Assembly conference. India replaces Japan which will complete its one-year-term at the crucial job in May, diplomats in Delhi and Geneva confirmed to HT. That the chairpersons position will come to India was decided last year when the WHOs South-East Asia group unanimously proposed New Delhi to the executive board for a three-year-term. The group also nominated India for the chairpersons post held by rotation for one year among regional groups. That decision was made long before the world woke up to the Sars-CoV-2 pathogen that originated in Chinas Wuhan and spread rapidly across the world. World Health Assembly session truncated The World Health Assembly (WHA) that will formally elect the executive board members to fill vacancies is proposed to be held on 18 May. But it will be a much shorter version than had been proposed earlier with 60 agenda items. Now, there will be only three. Apart from the opening of the assembly session, the WHA will have an address by Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that will be focused on the Covid-19 preparedness and response. The assembly will then move to formally elect the executive board members and chair including India. WHOs Executive Board chairman position As head of the 34-member Executive Board, Indias nominee would have to work closely with Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The board, one diplomat familiar with the working of the WHO said, after all is mandated to implement the decisions and policies laid down by the World Health Assembly. For all practical purposes, this implies that the Director General of the WHO has to get the chairperson on board for all important decisions, the diplomat said. India will also be a member of the programme budget and administration committee, replacing Indonesia. At the WHO, a government official said, India is on the side of transparency and accountability in the Covid-19 outbreak and reforms in the WHO. WHO Executive Board By virtue of being on the executive board for three years, India will also have a say in the shortlisting of the next WHO director general when Tedros Adhanoms five-year-tenure ends in May 2021. The 34-member executive board is mandated to interview the candidates to decide who will stay in the running and face the election at the health assembly.. Earlier, the executive board used to have the last word on the appointment of the WHOs Director General for all practical purposes. It would select the director general and send the nomination to the general assembly for formal vetting. But this process was changed and the executive board was told to whittle down the list of candidates. This short list went to the annual ministerial gathering of WHOs 194 member states, World Health Assembly, for election among the top three contenders by a secret ballot. This change followed stinging criticism that the previous WHO director general Margaret Chan had to face over the agencys sluggish response to the devastating west Africa Ebola outbreak that spread across one of the worlds poorest regions in 2013 and killed 11,000, according to news agency Reuters. Tedros Adhanom, and the Covid-19 criticism Quite like his predecessor, Tedros Adhanom has also been facing a barrage of criticism for the WHOs initial handling of Covid-19. Unlike the Ebola that had impacted Africa, Covid-19 has hit the worlds richest countries. The United States is the hardest-hit country, with more than 46,500 coronavirus deaths and 840,000 infections. His critics - US President Donald Trump tops this list - accuse the WHO chief of playing down the disease at Chinas behest and giving the world and the US, flawed advice. It has been insinuated that Tedros Adhanom had allowed himself to be guided by Chinas hand because Beijing had backed his candidature in 2017. Tedros Adhanom has rejected the allegations as well as suggestions that the WHO was slow to react. Tedros Adhanom was elected in 2017 at the end of an election campaign that, according to the Guardian, was dogged by mud-slinging and spin. David Nabarro, professor of global health at Imperial College who had served as UN envoy on Ebola, was his prime rival. The United States had backed David Nabarro, who was appointed as the WHO DGs special envoy on Covid-19 in February. WHOs Covid-19 outlook Tedros Adhanom has declared that the global coronavirus crisis will not end any time soon. Make no mistake: we have a long way to go. This virus will be with us for a long time, he said. Most countries are still in the early stages of their epidemics. And some that were affected early in the pandemic are now starting to see a resurgence in cases, he said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Shishir Gupta Author of Indian Mujahideen: The Enemy Within (2011, Hachette) and Himalayan Face-off: Chinese Assertion and Indian Riposte (2014, Hachette). Awarded K Subrahmanyam Prize for Strategic Studies in 2015 by Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA) and the 2011 Ben Gurion Prize by Israel. ...view detail Is Orange Belgium S.A. (EBR:OBEL) a good dividend stock? How can we tell? Dividend paying companies with growing earnings can be highly rewarding in the long term. Yet sometimes, investors buy a stock for its dividend and lose money because the share price falls by more than they earned in dividend payments. A high yield and a long history of paying dividends is an appealing combination for Orange Belgium. We'd guess that plenty of investors have purchased it for the income. There are a few simple ways to reduce the risks of buying Orange Belgium for its dividend, and we'll go through these below. Click the interactive chart for our full dividend analysis ENXTBR:OBEL Historical Dividend Yield April 23rd 2020 Payout ratios Companies (usually) pay dividends out of their earnings. If a company is paying more than it earns, the dividend might have to be cut. So we need to form a view on if a company's dividend is sustainable, relative to its net profit after tax. Orange Belgium paid out 106% of its profit as dividends, over the trailing twelve month period. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, from the perspective of an investor who hopes to own the company for many years, a payout ratio of above 100% is definitely a concern. We also measure dividends paid against a company's levered free cash flow, to see if enough cash was generated to cover the dividend. Orange Belgium's cash payout ratio last year was 19%, which is quite low and suggests that the dividend was thoroughly covered by cash flow. It's disappointing to see that the dividend was not covered by profits, but cash is more important from a dividend sustainability perspective, and Orange Belgium fortunately did generate enough cash to fund its dividend. Still, if the company repeatedly paid a dividend greater than its profits, we'd be concerned. Extraordinarily few companies are capable of persistently paying a dividend that is greater than their profits. Is Orange Belgium's Balance Sheet Risky? Story continues As Orange Belgium's dividend was not well covered by earnings, we need to check its balance sheet for signs of financial distress. A quick check of its financial situation can be done with two ratios: net debt divided by EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation), and net interest cover. Net debt to EBITDA measures total debt load relative to company earnings (lower = less debt), while net interest cover measures the ability to pay interest on the debt (higher = greater ability to pay interest costs). Orange Belgium has net debt of 0.77 times its EBITDA, which we think is not too troublesome. Net interest cover can be calculated by dividing earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) by the company's net interest expense. Net interest cover of 11.05 times its interest expense appears reasonable for Orange Belgium, although we're conscious that even high interest cover doesn't make a company bulletproof. Remember, you can always get a snapshot of Orange Belgium's latest financial position, by checking our visualisation of its financial health. Dividend Volatility Before buying a stock for its income, we want to see if the dividends have been stable in the past, and if the company has a track record of maintaining its dividend. For the purpose of this article, we only scrutinise the last decade of Orange Belgium's dividend payments. This dividend has been unstable, which we define as having been cut one or more times over this time. During the past ten-year period, the first annual payment was 4.55 in 2010, compared to 0.60 last year. Dividend payments have fallen sharply, down 87% over that time. We struggle to make a case for buying Orange Belgium for its dividend, given that payments have shrunk over the past ten years. Dividend Growth Potential Given that dividend payments have been shrinking like a glacier in a warming world, we need to check if there are some bright spots on the horizon. In the last five years, Orange Belgium's earnings per share have shrunk at approximately 4.7% per annum. A modest decline in earnings per share is not great to see, but it doesn't automatically make a dividend unsustainable. Still, we'd vastly prefer to see EPS growth when researching dividend stocks. 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. We're a bit uncomfortable with its high payout ratio, although at least the dividend was covered by free cash flow. Earnings per share have been falling, and the company has cut its dividend at least once in the past. From a dividend perspective, this is a cause for concern. In summary, Orange Belgium has a number of shortcomings that we'd find it hard to get past. Things could change, but we think there are likely more attractive alternatives out there. Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. Still, investors need to consider a host of other factors, apart from dividend payments, when analysing a company. For example, we've picked out 4 warning signs for Orange Belgium 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. New Delhi: IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta told employees on Thursday that the airline has decided to roll back the pay cuts, which were announced earlier for senior staff members, for the month of April in deference to the "government''s wishes". "However, your Excom (Executive Committee) members and SVPs (senior vice presidents) have volunteered to take pay cuts this month. For everyone else, you can expect your April salaries to be paid without the pay cuts," Dutta told employees through an email, which has been accessed by PTI. India has been under lockdown since March 25 to curb the coronavirus pandemic. All domestic and international commercial passenger flights have been suspended for this period. As a result, revenues of the Indian aviation industry have been hit hard. "In deference to our government's wishes of not reducing pay during the lockdown, we have decided not to implement the previously announced pay cuts during the month of April," Dutta added in the email. He had announced on March 19 that the airline was instituting pay cuts for senior employees and he would himself take the highest cut of 25 per cent amid the COVID-19 pandemic that has hit the aviation industry hard. "I am personally taking a 25 per cent pay cut, SVPs (senior vice presidents) and above are taking 20 per cent, VPs (vice presidents) and cockpit crew are taking a 15 per cent pay cut, AVPs (assistant vice presidents), Bands D along with cabin crew will take 10 per cent and Band Cs five per cent," Dutta had said on March 19. On March 23, the Modi government had asked the public and private sector companies to not cut salaries or lay off the employees amid the COVID-19 lockdown. All Indian airlines have implemented pay cuts during the last few weeks. Three days back, GoAir sent majority of its employees on leave without pay. Vistara has instituted a compulsory leave without pay for up to six days in April for senior employees. AirAsia India last week cut the salaries of senior employees by up to 20 per cent. Air India has cut the salaries of employees by 10 per cent. SpiceJet has cut the salaries of mid and senior-level employees by 10-30 per cent. As majority of aircraft with Indian airlines are on lease, they are currently seeking deferral of lease rentals by six months. Dutta said in the email on Thursday, "Managing revenues is the fun and exciting part of the airline business, managing costs in a severe downturn is the dull and painful part of the business." "Right now, we have little control over our revenues and a lot of control over our costs and therefore that is where we are focusing all our energies," he added. Another area, Dutta said, where IndiGo can exercise control is in shaping the nature of the customer experience as the airline is back in the sky again. "We are working actively with the government, the airports, and our competitor airlines in defining the nature of this experience," he said. "Customers will probably start flying tentatively at first and we need to make sure that we instill enough confidence in the early users so that the first trickle of customers turns into a torrent," he noted. While no commercial passenger flights can fly during the lockdown period, cargo flights, medical evacuation flights, and special flights permitted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) are allowed to operate. "Our one source of revenue generation right now is in cargo operations and I want to thank all the people across the company who are working tirelessly to make an all-cargo operation work for us," Dutta said on Thursday. The tally of coronavirus cases in in Mumbai crossed the 4,000-mark with the addition of 478 new patients on Thursday, while the death toll increased to 168, the city civic body said. The number of deaths due to coronavirus increased to 168 as eight more people succumbed to the disease, according to a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) release. "Out of these eight patients, five were ill for long," the release said. With the addition of 478 new cases, three of them employees of BEST undertaking, the tally in Mumbai, the city worst affected by COVID-19 in Maharashtra, shot up to 4,232. The civic body said 473 patients have recovered from the disease so far and 48 of them were discharged from hospitals on Thursday. At present, the city has 3,593 active coronavirus cases. The BMC said samples of 297 patients tested positive for COVID-19 in various labs between April 20 and 21 and their reports were received on Thursday, the release said. "These patients have already been admitted in isolation wards and are under treatment," said the BMC. According to the civic body, over 92,112 people were home quarantined so far. Of these, 18,207 have completed their mandatory 14-day-long quarantine period. Meanwhile, a senior official of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking said three of its employees from the suburban Goregaon depot have tested positive for coronavirus. Following this, 15 other employees of the civic transport body have been quarantined, he said. BEST is providing transport services to emergency and essential service staffers in large parts of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The top 10 PR firms ranked by ODwyers for technology this year brought in a combined total of more than $476 million in tech-related net fees. Eight of this years top 10 tech agencies gained in tech-related billings, and each was also up in ODwyers overall annual rankingshalf of them by double-digits. Number-one independent PR giant Edelman now sees technology as its largest practice, accounting for more than 30 percent of its total revenue (or about $274.6 million). Like most industries, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the tech sector in a big way. The tech industry has faced plenty of setbacks in recent years, from privacy issues to data breaches to job-killing robots, each of which has caused society to reexamine the role technology plays in our lives. Arguably, however, the technology sector is poised to be more resilient than most in the wake of COVID-19. Given that these companies provided the very offerings that have helped us adapt in these unusual timessuch as streaming services, social media networks and remote working solutionsit isnt a stretch to consider theyll continue to lead throughout this crisis with untold new advancements we cant yet imagine. Innovation, as it turns out, doesnt disappear in times of crisis. ODwyers asked several executives at the top PR firms representing the technology world today what the future holds as we balance out an unexpected year and turn toward 2021. According to tech PR leaders, not only will COVID-19 not curb innovation, our latest global challenge has actually presented opportunities for an industry that thrives on disruption. Hotwire widens lead Heather Kernahan Global tech PR specialist Hotwire accounted for more than $42.1 million in tech-related billings in 2019, retaining the number-two spot in ODwyers tech rankings this year with $5.3 million in tech-related gains from 2018s $36.8 million. The U.S. and U.K.-based agencys growth revealed the biggest overall percentage climb among our top 10 tech firms this year, and bested the firms own $3.6 million gains in 2018 from 2017s $33.2 million. Heather Kernahan, Hotwire CEO, North America, characterized the agencys year as really outstanding and one thats the result of putting together the right senior client team and hiring in growth areas of strategy and insight as well as integrated planning and digital. The Hotwire brand wasnt well known in the U.S. three years ago and weve all been on a mission to connect with the industry here and deliver work for clients that get talked about, Kernahan said. Looking to the future, Kernahan said COVID-19 has companies narrowing down on the most critical business outcomes and asking their PR and communications teams to deliver. As a result, agencies are now being forced to confront and refine what works for which audiences. For years weve been seeing that every industry has been figuring out how to be positioned as a tech company, and that is accelerating with this pandemic. Finn Partners forges ahead Peter Finn Finn Partners held onto its number-three slot with $32.1 million in 2019 tech-related billings, accounting for gains of more than $4.6 million from 2018s $27.4 million. Founding managing partner Peter Finn said the agencys technology practice experienced a 15 percent year-over-year growth in new clients, which he attributes, in part, to multi-country assignments with integrated program elements such as PR, social, digital and advertising. To address this growth, the global independent agencys tech staff grew by approximately 15 percent this year as well. Finn sees several noteworthy trends currently shaping the tech world. Technologies for educational institutions (including platforms, access, hardware, programs and distance learning experiences) will advance due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and tech will continue to look to innovations in VR, 5G, AI and machine learning and cybersecurity as pillars for sector growth and momentum. More importantly, Finn believes COVID-19 has positioned agencies to help tech clients with lead-gen efforts, as events are canceled or moved to virtual settings and with traditional media relations being conducted with more sensitivity. Combined, these factors have his agencys global tech practice stable as it remains focused on counseling clients as they pivot to survive amid the coronavirus and seek to build stronger ties with employees, partners and customers in the process. This new environment creates opportunities to view communications more holistically and offer new services to clients who, pre-COVID-19, might not have considered these offerings, Finn said. PAN picks up number-six slot Mark Nardone PAN Communications is now ranked number-six in ODwyers tech rankings, inching up from the number-seven position last year after clearing more than $19.3 million in 2019 tech-related net fees to reveal year-over-year growth of more than $2 million from 2018s $17.3 million. Executive vice president Mark Nardone said the Boston-based tech and healthcare specialist has witnessed a solid lift in its technology practice in the last year as brands have begun to move upstream across various stages of growth. The companies that came to us a couple years ago as startups and emerging growth brands are now gaining capital and seeing tremendous success as they enter that mid-stage category and lean more holistically on an integrated marketing and PR program, Nardone told ODwyers. Nardone said one area in the agencys technology practice that has experienced tenfold expansion is its measurement and analytics services. PAN has also witnessed an uptick in organic growth within its tech practice as brands that came to the agency for earned media now expand into content, social, digital and other integrated areas. When we began to ramp up our integrated practice five-plus years ago, this was the goal, and now it has become our reality, Nardone said. Tech brands are approaching PAN for insights into customer conversations within a crowded market, and our social listening and monitoring has played a critical role in delivering this data. Nardone believes the technology sector post-coronavirus will come back stronger than ever. Venture capital continues to raise large rounds of funding and seek out new areas of tech in which to invest. And clients are continuing to turn to agencies because theyre approaching PR with a different mindset than they were 10 years ago, as they now recognize integrated marketings ability to produce content that connects their product or service with the right audience. More than anything, Nardone said techs continued success in light of the coronavirus is predicated on the idea that the verticalization of technology isnt just the next shiny object. As sectors that were once considered traditional now find themselves transformed by techeverything from real estate, to legal and insurancethese industries find themselves increasingly relying on technology to bring a new levels of experience to their customers. Hoffman hits top ten Lou Hoffman The Hoffman Agency entered ODwyers top ten for tech for the first time, leaping from the number-12 positon with $13.6 million in tech-related billings last year to $15,005,000 this year to claim our number-10 spot. CEO Lou Hoffman told ODwyers that the San Jose-headquartered tech agencys sweet spot, the area we believe theres no agency on the planet better than us, lies in running multi-country campaigns for tech companies. Last year saw us reach the tipping point as far as critical mass. More than win multi-country opportunities, were also seeing clients engage with us in a single geography and then later expand to other markets. A large percent of our revenue now comes from clients we support in two or more countries. Hoffman also points to the quality of service delivery at his global firm, which was founded in 1987, as a key factor. Clients assume that every agency can execute. Not true. While not the glamorous part of our business, our ability to execute client programs month after month after month also differentiates us and explains why clients engage with us. Hoffman noted that the definition of a tech company has morphed in recent years, evolving from vendors to companies that depend on technology to differentiate their products or services. As a result, Hoffman said one could make the argument that most companies today are now tech companies. And with COVID-19 cratering clients sales-lead process with the closure of conferences and trade shows, the crisis may actually accelerate tech agencies push into integrated campaigns, content marketing and lead-gen programs. Thats why I think demand for tech PR will continue to grow in coming years, Hoffman said. Big picture, the saying necessity is the mother of invention has forced us to step back and take fresh eyes to how we can best support our clients. In a weird and ironic way, COVID-19 has delivered an opportunity to the tech industry to remind the world that it can be a force for good which is playing out right before our eyes. Considering his long, illustrious career as an art scholar and museum director, not to mention his generosity in sharing his deep insights with others (including me), Im puzzled as to why theres been so little mention of the death last week of Alan Shestack, 81, who retired in 2008 as deputy director and chief curator of the National Gallery, Washington. His expertise was in 16th-century Netherlandish and German prints and drawings. So why was he gazing at two American modernist paintings in the image posted to accompany a tribute to him that appeared last week (too fleetingly) on the website of the last of the three museums that he directedthe Museum of Fine Arts Boston? Alan Shestack with Arthur Doves Dancing Willows, right, & Red One, left Photo: Museum of Fine Arts Boston The answer (not explained in the MFAs posting) is that the paintings were part of the Lane Collection, which Shestack was instrumental in acquiring for the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, according the eulogy published on the museums website (but now mysteriously vanished) by the museums current director, Matthew Teitelbaum, With the BMFAs permission, I have created my own link to the text (which its spokesperson provided to me) of the unaccountably removed tribute that I had seen in the Directors Message of a few days ago (now supplanted by a different message). That was the first notification I had seen about Shestacks passing. Alan was a museum-hopper, having served as director of the Yale University Art Gallery, 1971-1985; director, Minneapolis Institute of Art, 1985-1987; director, MFA Boston, 1987-1993; and deputy director, National Gallery from 1994 until his 2008 retirement. There was another museum directorship that he had accepted before reneging on that commitmentthe Art Institute of Chicago. The late journalist Karl Meyer told that tangled tale in his book, The Art Museum: Power, Money, Ethics: In 1977, Alan Shestack, 39-year-old director of the Yale Art Gallery, was invited to serve as director of the Art Institute of Chicagoand accepted. As head of the Association of the Art Museum Directors policy committee, he had opposed dual leadership of museums, and had misgivings about having consented to serve under a paid president. After looking further into the particular division of authority and its implications, he withdrew his acceptance [emphasis added], deciding to remain at Yale. Personal considerations [the official explanation] may have played a part, but the rejection of the prestigious directorship by an able and energetic young scholar can be taken as an augury of what the dual arrangement could mean: that museums will have to settle for second-rate directorsand second-rate professional standards. In conversations with me, Alan was always friendly and forthcoming in sharing his views on professional practices and museum ethics. Indicative of his principled approach was his explanation, quoted by the Washington Post, of his decision to return to Egypt fragments of nine wall paintings, dating from the 15th century B.C. that an MFA curator believed to have been stolen from a destroyed tomb: I like to think of myself as an ethical person, so we decided to deal directly with the Egyptian government. I told the Egyptians that the pieces of art seemed to have come out illegally. I had disagreed with one of Shestacks most high-profile initiatives at the MFA: Although it opened after Malcolm Rogers had succeeded Shestack as director, the Boston museums 20-year stint in a satellite facility in Nagoya, Japan, was conceived and planned on Alans watch: The former Nagoya/Boston Museum of Fine Arts Under the terms of the Nagoya agreement (which expired last year and was not renewed), the MFA and Japans Nagoya/Boston Museum of Fine Arts organized a series of exhibitions drawn from Bostons permanent collection in exchange for $50 million from Nagoya, paid over 20 years. As detailed by Ken Shulman in a Newsweek article published soon after the facilitys 1999 opening, the MFAs Japan satellite was controversial from the start: Many Japanese are having second thoughts about the arrangement. When the Boston MFA first floated the idea in 1990, it was running a $3 million deficit, while Nagoya, Japans fourth largest city, was flush with cash but desperate for culture. Now the partners have undergone a dramatic reversal of fortunes. Thanks largely to Rogers, who spearheaded a $137 million-capital campaign, the MFA is finally in the black. Meanwhile, Nagoyalike all of Japanis struggling mightily to recover from its economic crash. The joint venture was seen as a way to bring much-needed income to the Boston museum, which [was] operating at a $3 million deficit, Kirsten Conover wrote in the Christian Science Monitor in 1991, soon after the plan was announced. I had commented that the preponderance of loans for which Nagoya was shelling out big bucks would likely come from the MFAs B listworks that the museums home audience would be less likely to miss than the museums top-tier treasures, sweetened by a few highlights that Boston museumgoers would be loath to lose. From what I saw of the initial offerings, that appeared to be the case. But lets give the last word to Shestack, as heard in a 2004 talk at the National Gallery. Despite his being no scholar of Dutch art and hardly an expert on Rembrandt, he decided (with apologies to the NGAs Dutch paintings expert, Arthur Wheelock Jr.) to speak about his favorite Rembrandts in the museums collection. Shestack is the lead-off speaker in a group of four NGA experts (from 1:20 to 20:30 on the soundbar). Near the end of his comments, youll hear Alan enthusiastically expound on the masterpiece that is one of my touchstones whenever I visit the National GalleryRembrandts 1659 Self-Portrait: The European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has published guidance for the use of location data and contacts tracing tools intended to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Europe's data protection framework wraps around all such digital interventions, meaning there are legal requirements for EU countries and authorities developing tracing tools or soliciting data for a coronavirus related purpose. "These guidelines clarify the conditions and principles for the proportionate use of location data and contact tracing tools, for two specific purposes: using location data to support the response to the pandemic by modelling the spread of the virus so as to assess the overall effectiveness of confinement measures; [and] contact tracing, which aims to notify individuals of the fact that they have been in close proximity of someone who is eventually confirmed to be a carrier of the virus, in order to break the contamination chains as early as possible," the EDPB writes in the document. The European Commission and the EU parliament have already weighed in with their own recommendations in this area, including a toolbox to help guide contacts tracing app developers. The Commission has also urged Member States to take a common approach to building such apps, and has been leaning on local telcos to provide "anonymized and aggregated" metadata for modelling the spread of the virus across the EU. The guideline document from the EDPB -- a body made up of representatives from the EU's national data protection agencies which helps coordinate the application of pan-EU data protection law -- brings additional expert steerage for those developing digital interventions as part of a public health response to the coronavirus pandemic. "The EDPB generally considers that data and technology used to help fight COVID-19 should be used to empower, rather than to control, stigmatise, or repress individuals," it writes. "Furthermore, while data and technology can be important tools, they have intrinsic limitations and can merely leverage the effectiveness of other public health measures. The general principles of effectiveness, necessity, and proportionality must guide any measure adopted by Member States or EU institutions that involve processing of personal data to fight COVID-19." Story continues Among the body's specific recommendations are that where location data is being considered for modelling the spread of the coronavirus or assessing the effectiveness of national lockdown measures then anonymizing the data is preferable -- with the EDPB emphasizing that proper anonymization is not easy. Given the inherent complexity it also recommends transparency around the anonymization methodology used. (tl;dr: there's no security in obscurity, nor indeed accountability.) "Many options for effective anonymisation exist, but with a caveat. Data cannot be anonymised on their own, meaning that only datasets as a whole may or may not be made anonymous," it notes. "A single data pattern tracing the location of an individual over a significant period of time cannot be fully anonymised. This assessment may still hold true if the precision of the recorded geographical coordinates is not sufficiently lowered, or if details of the track are removed and even if only the location of places where the data subject stays for substantial amounts of time are retained. This also holds for location data that is poorly aggregated. "To achieve anonymisation, location data must be carefully processed in order to meet the reasonability test. In this sense, such a processing includes considering location datasets as a whole, as well as processing data from a reasonably large set of individuals using available robust anonymisation techniques, provided that they are adequately and effectively implemented." On contact tracing apps -- aka digital tools that are designed to map proximity between individuals, as a proxy for infection risk -- the EDPB urges that use of such apps be voluntary. "The systematic and large scale monitoring of location and/or contacts between natural persons is a grave intrusion into their privacy," it warns. "It can only be legitimised by relying on a voluntary adoption by the users for each of the respective purposes. This would imply, in particular, that individuals who decide not to or cannot use such applications should not suffer from any disadvantage at all." The importance of accountability is also front and center, with the EDPB saying the controller of such apps must be clearly defined. "The EDPB considers that the national health authorities could be the controllers for such application; other controllers may also be envisaged. In any cases, if the deployment of contact tracing apps involves different actors their roles and responsibilities must be clearly established from the outset and be explained to the users." Purpose limitation is another highlighted component. Apps need to have purposes that are "specific enough to exclude further processing for purposes unrelated to the management of the COVID- 19 health crisis (e.g., commercial or law enforcement purposes)", it says. So, in other words, no function creep -- and no EU citizen mass surveillance via a pandemic backdoor. The EDPB also writes that "careful consideration should be given to the principle of data minimisation and data protection by design and by default" -- noting specifically that contact tracing apps "do not require tracking the location of individual users". Instead "proximity data should be used" for the contacts tracing purpose. "Contact tracing applications can function without direct identification of individuals," it further emphasizes, adding that "appropriate measures should be put in place to prevent re-identification". The guidance aligns with the coronavirus contacts tracing model devised jointly by Apple and Google -- which have said they will be offering a cross-platform API for COVID-19 contacts tracing based on ephemeral proximity IDs shared via Bluetooth. At one point the EDPB guidance appears to be leaning towards favoring such decentralized approaches to contacts tracing apps, with the body writing that "the collected information should reside on the terminal equipment of the user and only the relevant information should be collected when absolutely necessary". Although later on the in guidance it discussed centralized models that involve proximity data being uploaded to a server in the cloud, writing that: "Implementations for contact tracing can follow a centralized or a decentralized approach. Both should be considered viable options, provided that adequate security measures are in place, each being accompanied by a set of advantages and disadvantages." In Europe there is currently a big fight between different camps over whether contacts tracing apps should use a centralized or decentralized model for storing and processing proximity data -- with a contacts tracing app standardization effort known as PEPP-PT that's backed by Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications and some EU governments wanting to support centralized protocols for COVID-19 contacts tracking, while a separate coalition of European academics wants only decentralized approaches on privacy grounds, and has developed a protocol called DP-3T. "The current health crisis should not be used as an opportunity to establish disproportionate data retention mandates," the EDPB warns. "Storage limitation should consider the true needs and the medical relevance (this may include epidemiology-motivated considerations like the incubation period, etc.) and personal data should be kept only for the duration of the COVID-19 crisis. Afterwards, as a general rule, all personal data should be erased or anonymised." The body also recommends algorithms used in contacts tracing apps be audited and regularly reviewed by outside experts. Again, a key criticism of the PEPP-PT initiative has been around lack of transparency -- including its failure to publish code for external review. (Though it has said it will be publishing code.) "In order to ensure their fairness, accountability and, more broadly, their compliance with the law, algorithms must be auditable and should be regularly reviewed by independent experts. The applications source code should be made publicly available for the widest possible scrutiny," the EDPB writes. Another notable piece of the guidance is for a data protection impact assessment not only to be carried out but that it be published -- which marks a further push for accountability via transparency in such an unprecedented moment. "The EDPB considers that a data protection impact assessment (DPIA) must be carried out before implementing such tool as the processing is considered likely high risk (health data anticipated large-scale adoption, systematic monitoring, use of new technological solution). The EDPB strongly recommends the publication of DPIAs," it writes. Typically DPAs leave it up to data controllers to decide whether to publish a DPIA or not -- in this case the strong push from the central authority is that these documents are made public where COVID-19 contacts tracing apps are concerned. Having highlighted the pros and cons of centralized vs decentralized approaches to contacts tracing, the EDPB goes on to recommend that the conceptual phase of app development "should always include thorough consideration of both concepts carefully weighing up the respective effects on data protection/privacy and the possible impacts on individuals rights". "Any server involved in the contact tracing system must only collect the contact history or the pseudonymous identifiers of a user diagnosed as infected as the result of a proper assessment made by health authorities and of a voluntary action of the user. Alternately, the server must keep a list of pseudonymous identifiers of infected users or their contact history only for the time to inform potentially infected users of their exposure, and should not try to identify potentially infected users." "Putting in place a global contact tracing methodology including both applications and manual tracing may require additional information to be processed in some cases. In this context, this additional information should remain on the user terminal and only be processed when strictly necessary and with his prior and specific consent," it adds. You can read the full document here. EU leaders are meeting Thursday to battle through their differences on a giant recovery package to help their economies pull through the coronavirus crisis. Their fourth meeting in seven weeks will be held via video link, with analysts warning a common solution is unlikely to result from the summit, with the 27 countries divided on almost every detail. The EU has recorded more than 110,000 confirmed Covid-19 deaths with the blocs economy expected to shrink by more than 7 percent as a result of lockdown measures. While member states agree a stimulus of hundreds of billions of euros will be needed to counter the fallout of the crisis, they disagree over how the package should be funded. Wealthier northern countries led by Germany and the Netherlands are opposed to the idea of mutualised EU debt, dubbed "coronabonds", that would help bail out southern states such a Spain and Italy that have been severely hit by the virus. In an invitation to leaders, summit host Charles Michel, the EU Council President, urged participants to "work towards" the creation of a recovery fund. The EU Commission would then devise a proposal based on the blocs needs. France which says it will not back the European Unions next long-term budget if it's not big enough to tackle the economic fallout of Covid-19 played down the prospect of agreeing on the long-term recovery fund before the summer. EU members on Thursday will also sign off on a 540-billion-euro emergency package that was agreed by EU finance ministers earlier this month. New Delhi, April 23 : President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday approved the Modi government's ordinance on stricter punishment for the attacks on health workers across the country. With this, the ordinance will take the form of a law across the country from now on. With the approval of the The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, assault on health workers across the country has now become a non-bailable offence and the punishment can come within a year. There were frequent reports of attacks on doctors and medical staff treating Covid-19 patients. The doctors decided to protest on Tuesday and Wednesday against the ever-increasing incidents. But after the intervention of the Home Minister and talks with the doctors, the government decided to amend the law to prevent these attacks. The cabinet approved the ordinance on Wednesday and on Thursday the President gave its approval. This decision brings a change in the epidemic law which has been there since 1897. Now after the changes, the attack on the corona warriors will be non-bailable. The investigation of the case will be completed in 30 days and a decision will come in a year. A sentence of three months to five years has been provided for an assault. A provision for fine has also been included -- ranging from Rs 50,000 to two lakh. Also, if the attack on doctors and medical staff is serious, then there is a provision of punishment of up to seven years. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) As the country prepares for life after the enhanced community quarantine, businesses must also observe minimum health standards as part of new protocol, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said on Thursday. We need to have a new way of doing business to ensure that our significant gains during the ECQ and the collective efforts in flattening the curve will not be put to waste once ECQ is fully lifted, he said. Lopez said these standards include strict social distancing, wearing of face masks, presence of sanitation stations, taking of body temperature and provision of vitamins. These standards must always be observed in work and public places, he added. "Likewise, the conduct of COVID-19 tests, provision of nearby accommodations and shuttle services, allowing more work-from-home arrangements, and healthcare preparedness and insurance from enterprises, should be the new normal as we ease into the new way of doing business, he added. According to Lopez, these measures will minimize the health risk among workers of essential enterprises and should be required once other sectors are allowed to operate again. The Department of Trade and Industry, which Lopez heads, has also noted that several sectors, such as leading export-oriented manufacturing industries, have already adopted these practices, . These companies also distributed face masks and digital thermometers to employees at no cost, and set up ambulances, isolation tents, and clinics in their facilities, the department said. The DTI said it is working with the Health and Labor and Employment departments on new guidelines on minimum health protocols for all business operations. The guidelines are expected to be issued soon. Luzon has been under an enhanced community quarantine since March 17. The lockdown has been extended to April 30. President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to announce on Thursday whether he will extend, ease, or lift the quarantine. Unorthodox is a drama miniseries from Netflix. Shira Haas, an Israeli actress, plays the lead character. The series protagonist is a woman named Esty Shapiro, who grew up in a Hasidic Jewish community. Estys early life in Unorthodox is based on a memoir by Deborah Feldman titled Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots. The book was published in 2012. As of last month, Unorthodox is also a Netlix series. The final scenes in the series are some of the most emotionally resonant. But what was the real meaning behind those finale episode moments? [Spoiler alert for the Netflix series Unorthodox below]. Unorthodox is about finding new communities Amit Rahav and Shira Haas as Yanky and Esty Shapiro in Unorthodox | Anika Molnar/Netflix Thrillists Esther Zuckerman called Unorthodox a coming-of-age story thats about finding faith in new communities. After Esty escapes her ulrtra-Orthodox life in Willamsburg, Brooklyn, she gets on a plane to Germany. Forbes writer Sheen Scott explained in her review what happens once she gets there. She wrote: In Berlin, Esty meets a group of music students from the Berlin Music Conservatory. With them, she discovers a new secular life, and decides to audition to be admitted into the school. But one moment in the final episode stands out from the rest. The series Unorthodox reaches a thriling climax in the fourth episode. Theres a callback to that earlier wedding celebration thats an extraordinary and almost hidden inversion of what came before, Zuckerman wrote. In the last episode of Unorthodox, we see Esty audition for a scholarship at the musical school. But her performance is surprisefor her msuician friends as well as the viewing audience. Having been told by one of her new friends that she doesnt have the skills as a pianist despite having taken secret lessons back in Brooklyn Esty chooses to sing, Zuckerman recalled. The Netflix series ends on a powerful season finale As Thrillist reported, Esty first chooses to sing Schuberts An die Musik' for her audition. The song was a favorite of hers and her grandmothers. However, the judges at the music school ask her to sing a song thats a better fit for her mezzo-soprano voice. Zuckerman recounted those intesne moments in Unorthodox. When shes asked to perform another piece, she momentarily looks at a loss. Then, in a strong chest voice, she starts to sing in Hebrew, she recalled. Unorthodox never explicitly states the title of the song. But Thrillist identified it as Mi Bon Siach, is a tune played at weddings when the bride and groom are under the chuppah. If you dont remember hearing the song, it plays in the second episode of Unorthodox. The context of Mi Bon Siach indeed gives it a lot of emotional weight. As Zuckerman wrote in Thrillsit: Its a melody that played when Esty and Yanky were getting married in the second episode, and Estys choice of it resonates with both rebellion and irony. Its a song that should signify her bond to a man, but shes turning it into something that can extricate her from that bond, using a voice that she wouldnt have been able to use in her former world where womens singing is prohibited. What makes the song choice all the more powerful? Its the moment in the Netlix series when Estys husband, whos been searching for her all this time, finally finds her. Shira Haas in Unorthodox | Anika Molnar/Netflix Yanky watches her from a corner of the auditorium, Zuckerman pointed out. Meanwhile, Esty performs what is both a rejection and embrace of her past. Unorthodox ends on several shocking twists But the shocking season finale doesnt end there. When Esty returns with Yanky to his hotel room, we see another reversal. As Yanky begs her to come back, he takes a scissor to his peyot, the curls that Hasidim wear alongside their faces, Zuckerman wrote. Yanky does it to prove that he, too, can be different. The Thrillist wrtier describes the end of the series beautifully. When Unorthodox is over, after four gorgeous episodes, shes still in that place of transition, but pointing in a direction that signals comfort, security, and freedom. 'Too soon': Trump, Collins join black pastors in criticizing Georgia gov.s decision to reopen Friday Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment President Donald Trump and GOP Congressman Doug Collins has joined several black pastors and others in criticizing as too soon Georgia Gov. Brian Kemps decision to begin reopening businesses amid the coronavirus pandemic on Friday. I want him to do what he thinks is right, but I disagree with him on what he is doing. I think its too soon, Trump said at a White House briefing Wednesday. I think spas and beauty salons, and tattoo parlors and barbershops in phase one, youre going to have phase two very soon, is just too soon. I think its too soon, said Trump after noting that he called Kemp and personally expressed his disagreement. Kemp acknowledged his conversation with Trump in a series of tweets on Wednesday but stood by his decision. Earlier today, I discussed Georgia's plan to reopen shuttered businesses for limited operations with @POTUS. I appreciate his bold leadership and insight during these difficult times and the framework provided by the White House to safely move states forward, he began. Our next measured step is driven by data and guided by state public health officials. We will continue with this approach to protect the lives - and livelihoods - of all Georgians. Just like the thousands of businesses currently operating throughout Georgia, I am confident that business owners who decide to reopen will adhere to Minimum Basic Operations, which prioritize the health and well-being of employees and customers, he said. He further directed people with questions about his executive order to review it in a post online. Collins told "Fox & Friends" Thursday morning that he agrees with President Trump that Kemp was reopening businesses too soon. "The president wants the country open. I want the country open. The governor wants the country open. The problem is how do you do it? And I think that's the problem with leadership," Collins said. "Leadership is about communicating, and when you are not communicating clearly look, the governor did not take away the stay-at-home order, but yet selectively decided certain businesses are going to open up, he continued. Ill tell you this, my concern was not having the local input into that because up in my area which is just north of Atlanta, were having an increase in cases. And my local hospital theyre seeing a rapid increase, so it is depending on the spot thats where I think locals needed to have more input and its made people nervous. I think clear communication is what has to happen but when youre telling people to still stay at home but yet were going to open certain businesses, that creates a problem in which people are not sure what to do, he said. On Monday, Kemp announced plans to begin reopening some businesses across the state as early as Friday with specific guidelines. Among the businesses that can begin reopening on Friday are fitness centers, bowling alleys, body art studios, barber shops, cosmetologists, hair designers, nail care artists, their respective schools and massage therapists. The announcement came days after the White House Coronavirus Task Force meeting a week ago where President Trump released a three-phase plan to start reopening the economy and allow people to go back to work. As part of his plan to reopen Georgia, Kemps office further noted that minimum basic operations include but are not limited to screening workers for fever and respiratory illness, enhancing workplace sanitation, wearing masks and gloves, separating workplaces by six feet, teleworking if possible and staggered shifts. Theaters, private social clubs and dine-in services at restaurants will be allowed to reopen on April 27 with specific social distancing guidelines and sanitation mandates. Bars, nightclubs, amusement parks and live performance venues, however, will remain closed. Kemps decision quickly drew both surprise and rebuke from a number of the states mayors and religious leaders, including well-known black pastors like Pastor Jamal Bryant of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Stonecrest, Georgia. Gov. [Brian] Kemp, if you have a decibel of moral integrity, before Friday comes, I am pleading on your conscience, even when the evangelicals remain silent in this hour, I stand and cry loud and spare not, that what it is you are calling for is contrary to the will of God who declared openly I came that you might have life and have it more abundantly, Bryant said in a Facebook Live broadcast Tuesday night. I am calling on Governor Kemp to immediately reverse and retract his order that is supposed to start on Friday. What it is that he is doing is launching, in no uncertain terms, an assault on the minority community in Georgia. Bryant also pointed out that Bernice King, CEO of The King Center in Atlanta and daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., who is a member of Kemp's Coronavirus Task Force, along with Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms were both blindsided by the governors decision. Reacting to Trumps agreement that Kemps move to reopen certain businesses in the state is too soon, Bryant quipped that God is coming soon. God is coming soon if the president and I are on the same page! @govkemp is making a mistake opening #georgia at the height of #covid19 He consulted neither black woman on the committee @berniceaking @keishabottoms and consulted neither before announcement. Bombard all his social media platforms and urge him to reverse decision! We cant afford to be silent while our community unnecessarily dies, Bryant said in a statement on Facebook. OPEC+ production cuts will end profitable crude oil tanker journeys Members of OPEC and allies (OPEC+), agreed to a historic production cut of 9.7 million barrels of crude oil per day (m/bpd) to reduce the massive production overhang and set a price floor to limit the fall in oil prices. The production cut is however not believed to be enough to offset the drop in demand for oil brought on by the coronavirus, but it will certainly have dire implications for the oil tanker shipping market. While the oil industry has suffered plenty of production-side shocks in the past, the current demand shock is of unprecedented scale. A parallel is drawn to 2008, but the world is now faced with the Great Lockdown, as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) dubs it, which is a radically different crisis to deal with. The first quarter of 2020 has been one of the most profitable quarters in the past decade for crude oil tankers, which will hopefully provide a liquidity buffer for the challenging months that lie ahead. Once the production cuts set in, the profitable journey is likely to grind to a halt, says BIMCOs Chief Shipping Analyst, Peter Sand. The window is closing as we approach May While the oil market will remain oversupplied, prompting buildup of oil reserves, it is expected that crude oil tanker spot freight and time-charter rates will face massive downward pressure beyond April, due to the massive fall in demand and oil exports. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts global oil demand in 2020 will decline by 9.3 m/bpd year-on-year, effectively a collapse in oil demand. The IEA also estimates that floating storage picked up by 22.9 mb in March to a total of 103.1 mb, equivalent of 52 VLCCs (assuming 2 mb capacity). Additionally, given the low oil prices, it seems likely that oil reserves on land and in floating storage will continue to fill in the coming weeks, but the trend is not expected to hold for a prolonged period and, accordingly the positive boost to the crude oil tanker market is likely to evaporate after Q2. Forecasts are continuously adjusted downwards, and estimates vary greatly, highlighting the uncertainty that market participants must navigate through. The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates in its short-term energy outlook released on 7 April 2020 that global petroleum and liquid fuels demand will decrease by 5.2 m/bpd for the full year of 2020. Time will tell whether this has to be adjusted yet again, but demand is being destroyed at an unprecedented rate, setting the scenery for a harsh reality in the crude oil market in the months ahead. While the uptick of floating storage takes a substantial chunk of capacity out of the market, providing some silver living, it will not be enough to offset the sliding demand and overcapacity. Therefore, it is expected that the second half of 2020 will face a radically different reality than the first half of the year. With oil demand collapsing from one quarter to another, the crude oil tanker market is facing disruption on an unparalleled scale. It seems plausible that the market will not return to ordinary supply and demand fundamentals until perhaps the third quarter of 2021, Sand says. What will reality look like post coronavirus? Currently, the debate revolves around how fast the global economic growth will rebound from the current crisis. At the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, a V-shaped recovery was suggested by some pundits, but given the structural damage that the virus is inflicting on the global economy, including high unemployment rates, BIMCO expects that this scenario is unlikely. The IMF has forecast, in its base case scenario, a 3% global GDP decline for 2020, dwarfing the impact of the financial crisis of 2008. Faced with an economic downturn not seen since the Great Depression, a tough year with plenty of uncertainty lies ahead. BIMCO expects somewhat of a normalization for shipping markets in 2021, given the current information available. However, the last three months have taught us that few things are set in stone and therefore, it is imperative that the shipping industry is constantly adapting to the ever-changing consequences of the coronavirus, Sand says. On a more positive note, the plummeting oil prices have led to a drastic narrowing of the VLSFO-HSFO spread to USD 67 per metric tonne (MT) on 15 April 2020 in Singapore, a stark contrast to USD 350 per MT on 1 January 2020 when the IMO 2020 sulphur regulation was implemented. The lower cost of bunkering has reduced the daily bunker fuel bill by USD 18,320 per MT, assuming a bunker consumption of 40 MT per day at the current spread. Attorney General Barr went on Hugh Hewitts radio show yesterday. He discussed possible conflicts between federal law and what state governors are doing in response to the Wuhan coronavirus. Barr stated: Well, they can be in tension, and there are potentials for collision. I think you know, when a governor acts, obviously states have very broad police powers. When a governor acts, especially when a governor does something that intrudes upon or infringes on a fundamental right or a Constitutional right, theyre bounded by that. And those situations are emerging around the country, to some extent. And I think we have to do a better job of making sure that the measures that are being adopted are properly targeted. They also can run into the federal role under the Commerce Clause, the so-called Dormant Commerce Clause. We do have a national economy which is the responsibility of the federal government. So it is possible that governors will take measures that impair interstate commerce. And just where that line is drawn, you know, remains to be seen. Barrs response has been criticized by some on the left, but it ought not be controversial. Its certainly possible that a state or local official might exercise his or her broad police powers in ways that infringe on a constitutional right, and Barr is right that this has happened. It happened in Mississippi, when the mayor of Greenville discriminated against religious rights. Its also possible that a state or local official will run afoul or the Commerce Clause. However, Barr told Hewitt that he has not yet seen any state infringement on national commerce that could trigger DOJ involvement. Pressed on the possibility of DOJ litigation in federal court against state restrictions, Barr had this to say: Well, if people bring those lawsuits, well take a look at it at that time. And if we think its, you know, justified, we would take a position. Thats what were doing now. We, you know, were looking carefully at a number of these rules that are being put into place. And if we think one goes too far, we initially try to jawbone the governors into rolling them back or adjusting them. And if theyre not and people bring lawsuits, we file statement of interest and side with the plaintiffs. In fact, the Justice Department did this when the mayor of Greenville, Mississippi deployed the police in a way that discriminated against religious rights. The mayor backed down. Barrs response to Hewitt describes exactly what the Justice Department should be doing. Ramesh Ponnuru asks, Whats the attorney general supposed to say? Well ignore those lawsuits and we wont try to enforce constitutional rights? Of course not. Ponnuru also observes that Barrs statements were elicited by Hewitt, more than they were volunteered. Thus, they do not bespeak any great eagerness to interfere in state policymaking. Nor does anything Barr has done show such eagerness. The newly-minted federalists on the left should relax. Unfortunately, they never do. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for international cooperation on the development of a coronavirus vaccine, saying the pandemic transcends borders and can only be countered jointly. Speaking to parliament in a session where lawmakers sat apart from one another in line with the countrys social distancing regulations, Mrs Merkel said German scientists were busily researching the virus at home but that international cooperation against the virus is extremely important. Science is never national, science serves mankind, she said. Thus it goes without saying that when medication or a vaccination is found, tested, released and is ready for use, it must be available all around the world and affordable for the whole world. US President Donald Trump has announced he is halting funding for the World Health Organisation to review how it has handled the outbreak, but Mrs Merkel lauded the agencys work in the fight against the coronavirus. Expand Close German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for lockdown measures not to be eased too quickly (Michael Sohn/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp German Chancellor Angela Merkel called for lockdown measures not to be eased too quickly (Michael Sohn/AP) For the German government, I emphasise the WHO is an indispensable partner and we support them in their mandate, she said. Germany this week began slowly easing restrictions after being in lockdown for weeks, allowing small shops to start opening while keeping social distancing in place. All states are also moving ahead with regulations requiring protective masks in public transport, shops or both. Mrs Merkel chastised some states for moving too quickly to relax measures, saying they are risking setting back what the country has achieved. Germany has reported more than 150,000 infections but a relatively low death toll of about 5,000, while more than 100,000 people have recovered, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University. The rate of new infections has been slowing but Mrs Merkel cautioned were still walking on thin ice, one could also say the thinnest ice. Were not living in the final phase of the pandemic, but still at the beginning. We will be living with this virus for a long time. In the times of a pandemic, it can be much lonelier without visitors. Angela Merkel Mrs Merkel told parliament that in her time as chancellor the decision to restrict personal freedoms in the fight against the virus was one of hardest she has made, and urged people to proceed carefully now as steps were being taken to reduce restrictions so as not to give up hard-won gains. Let us not squander what we have achieved and risk a setback. It would be a shame if premature hope ultimately punishes us all. Let us all stay on the path in the next phase of the pandemic: smart and careful. Its a long journey we cant run out of stamina and air too soon. Still, she said she understood the urge for people to end their isolation, especially among the elderly and disabled population where loneliness can already be a problem. In the times of a pandemic, it can be much lonelier without visitors. It is cruel when nobody can be there as strength fades and life comes to an end, aside from the nurses who are doing their very best, she said. Let us never forget these people and the temporary isolation they have to live in. These 80- and 90-year-olds built our country; they are the foundation of the prosperity in which we now live. They are Germany, just like their children and grandchildren, and we also fight the fight against this virus for them. Ghanshyam Chaturvedi (51), a Mira Road resident, was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly refusing to accept grocery ordered online a day before from a delivery man, who belongs to a minority community, according to the delivery persons statement to the police. The accused was produced before the Thane sessions court on Wednesday and released on bail of Rs 15,000 personal surety, said Sanjay Hazare, senior police inspector, Kashimira police station, under whose jurisdiction Mira Road falls. On Tuesday evening, the grocery items were delivered at the gate of the apartment complex because of the ongoing nationwide lockdown restrictions, which was initially enforced for 21 days on March 25 and then further extended for another 19 days till May 3, to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak. The delivery person had taken all the precautions against Covid-19, as he was wearing the personal protective equipment such as mask and gloves. The customer and his wife came down at the gate to collect the grocery items. Trouble started when Chaturvedi asked the delivery man his name while his wife was going through the list of items that they have ordered. When he learnt that the man is from a minority community, he asked his wife to return the grocery items. The delivery man was shocked about Chaturvedis behaviour and recorded the entire conversation on his cellphone, Hazare said. I risked my life to deliver all the essential items. But the mans (Chaturvedi) behaviour was shocking and tragic, as he was focusing on my religion amid these hard times, the delivery person told Kashimira Police authorities. He approached the police on the advice of his family members. Chaturvedi was arrested under Section 295 (a) (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code, Hazare said. Phoenix House in Dublin 8 has been sold to a private Irish investor for 16m by Henley Bartra, the joint venture between Henley and Bartra Capital. The asset was acquired by Henley Bartra in 2018 from Ryanair. The company invested over 1m in a comprehensive refurbishment and upgrade of the build... [] FB deal puts RIL on course to be debt-free next year; Reliance Retail biggest gainer from WhatsApp, JioMart arrangement. Reliance Industries (RILs) deal with Facebook to sell 9.99 per cent in Jio Platforms has two messages for the oil to telecom majors shareholders. The key one is that Jio Platforms is now more valuable than all other businesses of RIL put together, including refining, petrochemicals and retail. Consider this: Facebook is buying 9.99 per cent stake in Jio Platforms, a 100 per cent subsidiary of RIL, for Rs 43,574 crore. This translates into a market/equity value of Rs 4.36 trillion for Jio Platforms. RILs stock gained over 10 per cent after the deal was announced. At Wednesdays price, RILs market capitalisation stood at Rs 8.64 trillion. This means, the other businesses are being valued by the Street at Rs 4.28 trillion. The other message is that the deal has kick-started the monetisation of digital assets and will help RIL reduce debt, create an incremental revenue stream and could lead to higher valuations for its consumer facing verticals, especially Reliance Retail. The news of falling leverage levels is positive as it came at a time when its core oil and gas vertical was facing major headwinds because of the collapse of crude oil prices. This had raised concerns over the completion of the deal with Aramco, wherein the worlds biggest oil producer was looking at picking up 20 per cent stake in RILs chemical and refining business in a deal valued at $15 billion. With the fresh investment from Facebook, leverage concerns have receded. Of the cash inflow, Jio Platforms is expected to retain Rs 15,000 crore, while the rest will be used by RIL to lower debt by redeeming the optionally convertible preference shares it holds. This investment, coupled with the Rs 7,000 crore investment by BP in the oil marketing joint venture, is expected to peg back debt by Rs 50,000 crore. RIL had a gross debt over Rs 3 trillion and net debt of Rs 1.53 trillion as of December 2019. CLSAs Vikash Kumar Jain and Surajdev Yadav believe that debt could reduce by 20 per cent by the end of June quarter and net debt to Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) levels should decline from 2.7 times to 2.1 by March 2021 and to half of financial year 2019-20 (FY20) levels by the end of FY22. RIL has a target of becoming a zero net debt company by March 2021. Further triggers on the monetisation front will come about when the company is able to close deals related to tower, fibre and Aramco. Brookfield is slated to pick up a 51 per cent stake in the telecom verticals tower assets for Rs 25,215 crore. The company is also looking at monetising its optical fibre assets that are housed in an infrastructure investment trust. The key gains from the partnership will come from the commercial arrangement between Reliance Retail, Jio Platforms, and WhatsApp. This will help create a digital ecosystem powered by JioMart commerce platform, which will enable customers to access kirana stores using WhatsApp. Analysts at Axis Capital believe it will be a big driver for Reliance Retail, enabling multiple cross-selling opportunities, given the strong presence across offline retail, connect with small businesses/kirana stores, access to wide consumer base (Jio subscribers) and payment gateway (WhatsApp). If the firm is able to scale up its point of sale machines across smaller retail stores, and the interface between retail stores, JioMart and WhatsApp works seamlessly, there could be a significant upside in terms of revenues for RIL. Rajiv Sharma at SBICAP Securities believe that Jio Mart/new commerce could generate revenues of Rs 35,000 crore by FY22 with a kirana store network of 1.6 million. They expect a Rs 200 per share incremental gain for RIL from their offline network of small retailers with gains largely coming from procurement and payments. The gains are expected to come as the company achieves scale on the retail network, aggregates orders on behalf of smaller retailers and earns a margin on that. Transactions through payment gateway and a fee for software services used by smaller retailers would be the other sources of revenue. Egyptian authorities arrested Hossam on Tuesday for posting videos which they described as "inciting debauchery and immorality" Egypt's prosecutor general ordered the detention late Wednesday of social media influencer Haneen Hossam for four days pending investigations. The official charges leveled against Hossam and the results of the investigations will be announced in a statement on Thursday, the prosecutors office said in a brief statement. Egyptian authorities arrested Hossam on Tuesday for posting videos which they described as "inciting debauchery and immorality," a security source said. Hossam, who has 1.2 million followers on social media app TikTok, posted a video to recruit women to join a group she created on short video sharing platform Likee, with the purpose of promoting the platform in return for payment. TV hosts denounced the video, deeming inciting of debauchery. Hossam has denied the accusations and said her videos had been taken out of context. Earlier this week, Cairo University ordered an investigation with Hossam, who is a second-year archeology student at the university, for exhibiting "behaviors inconsistent with public morals and the university's values and traditions." University President Mohamed El-Khosht said the university will seek the maximum penalty against the student, which could reach expulsion. Search Keywords: Short link: Executives at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan are preparing for an economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic that could be worse than initially projected. Facing a potential shortfall for the next fiscal year that might swell to $150 million 50 percent larger than what was forecast in March the museum announced layoffs for more than 80 employees and executive pay cuts upwards of 20 percent in a letter to staff on Wednesday. While we are not immune from the impact of this pandemic, the Met is a strong and enduring institution and will remain one, Daniel Weiss, president and chief executive of the museum, said in a statement. Our two primary objectives continue to be doing all that we can to support the health and safety of our community and to protect the long-term financial health of the Museum. A museum spokesperson said that the layoffs would amount to a 26-percent reduction in staff across the Mets visitor services and retail departments, because of an expected decrease in attendance for a sustained period of time. Affected staff members will be paid through the first week of June. The museum had previously planned to reopen in July, but is now looking farther into the future after having to cancel its 150th anniversary summer celebrations. Faced with the dimming prospect of a fast recovery from the pandemic, many museums are now winnowing their events calendars for the fall and forecasting prolonged closures. The United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on April 22 called on the Peoples Republic of China to permanently close its wildlife wet markets and all markets that sell illegal wildlife. The novel coronavirus is believed to have originated from a seafood/wet market in China's Wuhan city, however, there is no evidence to back the claim yet. Secretary Pompeo was addressing the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) when he called on China to shut down all its wildlife markets. Read: Mike Pompeo On Israel's Plan To Annex West Bank: It's Up To Them To Decide "Given the strong link between illegal wildlife sold in wet markets and zoonotic diseases, the United States has called on the Peoples Republic of China to permanently close its wildlife wet markets and all markets that sell illegal wildlife. I call on all ASEAN governments to do the same," Pompeo was quoted as saying in a press statement released by the US department of state. Read: Mike Pompeo Targets China Again Over Coronavirus But Welcomes Medical Supplies Pompeo attacks China over SCS Pompeo also called out China's new unilateral announcement of administrative districts over disputed islands and maritime areas in the South China Sea, its sinking of a Vietnamese fishing vessel earlier this month, and its research stations on Fiery Cross Reef and Subi Reef. Pompeo accused Beijing of taking advantage of the distraction caused by the coronavirus outbreak. "Even as we fight the outbreak, we must remember that the long-term threats to our shared security have not disappeared," Pompeo said. Read: Mike Pompeo Condemns 'deeply Concerning' Arrests Of Pro-democracy Hong Kong Activists Pompeo launched a scathing attack on the ruling Communist Party of China, accusing it of exploiting the worlds focus on the COVID-19 crisis by continuing its provocative behaviour in the South China Sea. Pompeo also discussed a scientific report showing that Beijings upstream dam operations have unilaterally altered flows of the Mekong river, depriving Mekong countries of water for years. Pompeo said that the US strongly opposes Chinas bullying and hoped other nations will hold them to account too. Read: Mike Pompeo Dials Top Chinese Diplomat To Seek Transparency On COVID-19 Pandemic (Image Credit: AP) Students at Riverheights School have been missing staff, and staff have been missing both students and fellow teachers because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Liam, Aiden and Hannah Sisson show off the sign they made for their teachers on Tuesday. (Submitted) Students at Riverheights School have been missing staff, and staff have been missing both students and fellow teachers because of the COVID-19 pandemic. To solve that problem, Riverheights home school liaison Melissa Jago came up with the idea to hold a morale-boosting parade. Frank Jones brought one-month old calf Ernie for kids to see during the parade. (Submitted) Starting at 3:45 p.m. on Tuesday, a line of cars filled with staff led by a school bus rolled through the schools catchment area. Jago said they planned the route to go by a majority if not all the houses where students live. Many of the staffs vehicles were decorated with signs expressing just how much theyre missing their students while in-person classes are suspended. Jago isnt sure of the exact number of cars participating in the parade, but estimates it was more than 40. One teacher managed to turn a trailer into an impromptu parade float while the husband of another teacher rode in the back of a pickup truck to show off a one-month-old calf named Ernie to the kids. Avah Morin shows off how much she misses her teachers with a handmade sign. (Submitted) Jagos two sons, Lucas and Landon, go to Riverheights and accompanied their mom in her vehicle during the parade. Not to be outdone, students from the school lined up with their parents along the roads and sidewalks to greet their teachers and other staff and express much they miss being at school. The spirit of the parade was so strong that even people not connected to the school took part in the celebration. "I saw some man run to his truck real quick and start honking his horn," Jago said. Avelynn, Brandon and Grayson Farquhar show off their bright signs and bright smiles. (Submitted) Though students signs ranged in size and complexity, they expressed similar messages: that they miss their teachers, that the schools community is stronger together and that they hope everyone is able to stay safe and healthy. Perhaps the biggest sign was mounted on one familys front lawn with stakes. Emblazoned with the schools logo, the full-scale sign showed just how big the two-metre distance between people in order for social distancing to work is with the message "Stronger together (but six feet apart)." According to Jago, the parade lasted for approximately two hours. Afterwards, the response was tremendous. "My inbox blew up," she said. "I probably got over 100 emails, text messages, Facebook messages, throughout the evening. I had so many people say Oh, thank you so much. This is just what we needed." cslark@brandonsun.com Twitter: @ColinSlark 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. An artist's impression of the development in Cornelscourt An Bord Pleanala has refused planning permission for 452 build-to-rent apartments in eight blocks at Cornelscourt village in south Dublin. Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and locals had opposed Cornel Living Ltd's plan to construct the blocks - including one 12 storeys high - in Old Bray Road, Dublin 18. The proposed development, which is next to the N11, also included 10 semi-detached homes and six bungalows along with a cafe/restaurant. In total, more than 80 objections were lodged, with the Foxrock South Residents Association and the Grange Castle and Foxrock Wood Residents Association among those opposing the plans. Former Fine Gael TD Mary Mitchell O'Connor added her voice to the bid to stop the development from proceeding. Future Now, the appeals board has refused planning permission after concluding that the proposals fail to provide an adequate level of residential amenity for future occupants. It found that the level of communal open space and the proportion of apartments with windows on one wall only were below the minimum standards set out in ministerial guidelines. An Bord Pleanala also said the proposed development would be premature because of existing deficiencies in the wastewater sewerage network. Its grounds for refusal echo some of the objections put forward by the county council. The council said planning should be refused due to the deficient quality and quantity of public/communal space. It was also critical of the inadequate amount of dual-aspect apartments in the scheme. When lodging her submission, TD Ms Mitchell O'Connor told An Bord Pleanala: "The vast majority of the units will be accommodated in eight massive apartment blocks. The height and scale bear no relationship to the adjacent homes". She further contended that "the entire development being built for rental is a matter of some concern. Rentals on this scale attract transient populations and add nothing to the local community". Ms Mitchell O'Connor stated that she fully supported appropriate development "but agrees with the residents that the development proposed in this application has too many flaws to be appropriate for the area". Companies combine NXPs front-end ICs (FEIC) and Muratas integration expertise to deliver small, ultra-compact RF modules for Wi-Fi 6 EINDHOVEN, The Netherlands, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NXP Semiconductors N.V. (NXPI) today announced it has collaborated with Murata, a system-in-package integrator for 5G mobile platforms, to deliver the industrys first radio frequency (RF) front-end modules designed with the latest Wi-Fi 6 standards. Together, the companies are delivering a solution that can reduce design times, improve time-to-market and save board space in next generation Wi-Fi 6 implementations. The NXP FEIC is tightly packed in a chip scale package (CSP) suitable for module integration and can support various 5G smartphones and portable computing devices. Additionally, it enables high performance 2x2 multiple input multiple output (MIMO) functionality. Murata is very pleased to work with NXP to develop RF front-end modules for Wi-Fi 6 platforms NXPs monolithic front-end ICs are fully verified in leading Wi-Fi 6 platforms and offer perfect flexibility in terms of size and integration, said Katsuhiko Fujikawa, R&D Manager of Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. We plan to continue working with NXP and hope to develop newer modules in forthcoming years that support new spectrums and standards. Working with Murata helps manufacturers deliver a highly integrated, fully tested and qualified solution for 5G devices while providing the highest performance and smallest size to meet rapidly rising global demand for Wi-Fi 6, said Paul Hart, Senior Vice President and General Manager of NXPs Radio Frequency business. No other chipmaker in the industry today can provide a comparable solution to meet demands of rapid deployments. About NXPs WLAN11ax Portfolio NXP enables the next step in Wi-Fi 6 implementations by providing a high performance WLAN11ax portfolio to support customers in fulfilling the ever-increasing need for more bandwidth. By providing both the 2.4 GHz and the 5 GHz bands that fit the 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 standard, NXP offers a flexible portfolio that scales across these specifications. Story continues NXP offers 2x2 MIMO support for IEEE802.11a/n/ac/ax applications. To learn more about NXPs growing wireless local area network (WLAN) portfolio visit, http://www.nxp.com/products/rf/wlan-front-end-modules:WLAN-FRONTEND-MODULES. About NXP Semiconductors NXP Semiconductors N.V. enables secure connections for a smarter world, advancing solutions that make lives easier, better, and safer. As the world leader in secure connectivity solutions for embedded applications, NXP is driving innovation in the automotive, industrial & IoT, mobile, and communication infrastructure markets. Built on more than 60 years of combined experience and expertise, the company has approximately 29,000 employees in more than 30 countries and posted revenue of $8.88 billion in 2019. Find out more at www.nxp.com. NXP and the NXP logo are trademarks of NXP B.V. All rights reserved. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. All rights reserved. 2020 NXP B.V. For more information, please contact: Indian security agencies have linked the spurt in social media messages targeting India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a coordinated effort that has the imprint of Pakistani intelligence. According to an assessment handed to the government on Wednesday, the effort was designed to flood social media with messages to fuel anti-India sentiment, particularly in the Gulf countries, by spreading false propaganda on Islamophobia in India. The Pakistani deep state, the report said, was attempting to bring a schism between India and close allies in the Gulf by attacking PM Modi who has invested heavily to deepen Indias ties with the Middle-East. The assessment by North Block includes a long list of troll handles based in Pakistan and in the Gulf countries that were being used to achieve this objective. Also Read: From a Twitter handle, the story of Pakistans new terror group for Kashmir The spike in social media messages targeting New Delhi isnt a first. Security officials had noticed a similar pattern last year when Jammu and Kashmir was placed under a communication lockdown last August, hours before Parliament took up legislation to strip Jammu and Kashmir of its special status under the Constitution. On social media and otherwise, Pakistan had made a concerted effort to embarrass India over nullification of Article 370 but didnt get far, a government official said. Also Watch | Covid-19 | Ayurvedic drug trial; Pak PM test result; Amarnath yatra: 10 updates There was, as reported by Hindustan Times, also evidence how new terror groups funded by the Pakistani deep state first made their presence felt on social media even before it launched the first attack in Srinagar. All when the Internet was still banned in Kashmir. What has been the novelty in the instant case is the use of prominent personalities in Gulf countries to scale up a systematic agenda of fake propaganda This effort has clear imprints of the involvement of Pakistan ISI, a top government official told Hindustan Times, citing the analysis of tweets that targeted New Delhi. On Tuesday, the hashtag that was powered by entities in Pakistan was ShameOnModi. A day earlier, the hashtag was ChaosInIndia. The campaign that targeted PM Modi was driven by systematically engineering circulation of video clips of isolated incidents of attacks or harassment of Muslim individuals in India to project as if the entire community was under attack. The assessment classifies the Twitter handles into four categories: among the hundreds analysed by security agencies, the report classifies aggregators, feeders, spreaders and influencers. Twitter handles classified as feeders collect the videos from aggregators, devise the appropriate messaging for the videos or photographs and then forward it to the spreaders. Officials said it was not a coincidence that the Twitter handles of most of these feeders were created recently - between January and April - and indicated there was a clear plan and organised effort to target New Delhi. Many of the handles classified as spreaders are based in Pakistan as well. Like the handle that has the picture of a 20-something. She (it could well be a male) had started her day on Twitter this Tuesday with a few posts remembering Iqbal, the pre-eminent poet revered on both sides of the border. Then, she got down to work. By the end of the day, she had posted 200-plus tweets and retweets; an average of one every three minutes with the same hashtag. The report listed scores of Twitter handles, each echoing tweets posted by the others, and using graphic images and videos - many of them several years old - to provoke outrage. This time, however, the report said, there were also spreaders located in different countries of Gulf Cooperation Countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. These are all old but unverified Twitter handles, the report said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON If you were looking forward to this months Winnipeg Comedy Festival (which has been rescheduled to Aug. 21-28 owing to COVID-19), there are still plenty of laughs to be had with the upcoming release of Treaty 1 and Only, a standup comedy compilation album filmed at the festival last year. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. If you were looking forward to this months Winnipeg Comedy Festival (which has been rescheduled to Aug. 21-28 owing to COVID-19), there are still plenty of laughs to be had with the upcoming release of Treaty 1 and Only, a standup comedy compilation album filmed at the festival last year. The album was recorded live at the Gas Station Arts Centre in 2019 at a show featuring five Indigenous standup comedians from across Turtle Island, including Edmontons Howie Miller, Tatanka Means from Chinle, Ariz., and local comedians Paul Rabliauskas, Florence Spence and Chad Anderson. "It was just kind of luck," says Anderson of the opportunity. "I got booked by the comedy festival for that particular show and then a couple weeks before the show they messaged us to say that Comedy Records was coming to the city and they wanted to record it." Comedy Records is a Toronto-based label exclusively dedicated to releasing standup and sketch comedy albums. The opportunity to record came at a funny time for Anderson, who had just recorded his first album at local venue Wee Johnnys on March 22, 2019, shortly before the festival began. "While they were in the city I had a meeting with (the label) and they agreed to take my recording and distribute it," he says. Anderson got his start in comedy about a decade ago, after moving to Winnipeg from his hometown of The Pas in 2008. "Basically, I came to Winnipeg for fun," he says. "I came for a weekend and partied with some friends. I was working in an autobody shop in The Pas at the time, but I came to Winnipeg, hung out with a buddy who was working in an autobody shop and he said if I ever wanted to move here he could get me a job." When Anderson returned to The Pas, he was unceremoniously fired, so he decided to give his friend a call. "He got me a job and I showed up in Winnipeg the next week." Anderson eventually got involved in the local comedy scene by trying his hand at standup at Rumors Comedy Club; he has been a fixture on the scene ever since. "My comedy is a lot of personal stories mixed with some observational humour," he says, "with a little bit of political humour but not much. "In the beginning, when I started to really take comedy seriously, being Indigenous was something that inspired me, particularly my own story of not growing up with culture and being from a second-generation adopted family." But while Anderson has been inspired by his culture and family history, and while his comedy addresses systemic issues that impact Indigenous people and communities, he tries not to get caught up in identity politics or boxed in by what others might expect from an Indigenous comedian. The other four performers on the album follow suit, offering unique perspectives that until recently were not often heard on comedy stages. Taking on the complex nature of Indigenous identity, the intricate relationships between comedy and tragedy, and the inescapable dynamic between history and the future, Anderson and the roster of Indigenous comedians featured on Treaty 1 and Only make for a hilarious change of pace that might just take your mind off COVID-19 for a moment or two. Treaty 1 and Only will be available for download on April 24 on Spotify, Google Play and Apple Music. For more information about the rescheduled Winnipeg Comedy Festival, visit winnipegcomedyfestival.com. frances.koncan@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @franceskoncan OAK BROOK, Ill. (April 23, 2020) - A special report published today in the journal Radiology outlines prevention, diagnosis and treatment of complications stemming from blood clots in patients with COVID-19. The journal also published two research letters and a case study on this topic. Clinicians worldwide face this new severe infectious lung disease with no proven therapies. Based on recent reports that demonstrated a strong association between elevated D-dimer levels and poor prognosis, concerns have risen about thrombotic complications in patients with COVID-19. The National Institute for Public Health of the Netherlands asked a group of radiology and vascular medicine experts to provide guidance for the imaging workup and treatment of these important complications. Their report summarizes evidence for thromboembolic disease and potential diagnostic and preventive actions that can be taken. "Worldwide, COVID-19 is being treated as a primary pulmonary disease," said Edwin J.R. van Beek, M.D., Ph.D., director at Edinburgh Imaging, Queens Medical Research Institute, at the University of Edinburgh, U.K. "From the analysis of all available current medical, laboratory and imaging data on COVID-19, it became clear that symptoms and diagnostic tests could not be explained by impaired pulmonary ventilation alone." Recent observations suggest that respiratory failure in COVID-19 is not driven by the development of the acute respiratory distress syndrome alone, but that microvascular thrombotic processes may play a role. This may have important consequences for the diagnostic and therapeutic management of these patients. There is a strong association between D-dimer levels, disease progression and chest CT features suggesting venous thrombosis. In addition, various studies in patients with COVID-19 have shown a very strong association between increased D-dimer levels and severe disease/poor prognosis. The report authors stress that careful attention needs to be paid to the initial diagnosis and treatment of the prothrombotic and thrombotic state that can occur in a substantial percentage of COVID-19 patients. "Imaging and pathological investigations confirmed the COVID-19 syndrome is a thrombo-inflammatory process that initially affects lung perfusion, but consecutively affects all organs of the body," Professor van Beek said. "This highly thrombotic syndrome leads to macro-thrombosis and embolism. Therefore, strict thrombosis prophylaxis, close laboratory and appropriate imaging monitoring with early anti-coagulant therapy in case of suspected venous thromboembolism are indicated." Recommendations for diagnostic and therapeutic management, which vary based on patient symptoms and risk profiles, include prophylactic-dose heparin, chest CT, CT pulmonary angiography and routine D-dimer testing. Findings have also emerged linking COVID-19 more specifically with pulmonary embolism. A research letter from Hopitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg published today in Radiology reported that of 106 pulmonary CT angiograms performed for COVID-19 patients over a one-month period in a tertiary care center in France, 32 patients (30%) had acute pulmonary embolus (PE). This rate of PE is much higher than usually encountered in critically ill patients without COVID-19 infection (1.3%,) or in emergency department patients (3 to 10%). In the study, a D-dimer threshold of 2660 g/L detected all patients with PE on chest CT. A second research letter published today described a study from Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Besancon in France pointed to high proportion (23%) of COVID-19 patients with contrast CT had PE. PE was diagnosed at mean of 12 days from symptom onset. Patients with PE were more likely require care in the critical care unit and to require mechanical ventilation. Lastly, a case report from Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey, describes multiple areas of pulmonary and arterial thrombosis in an 84-year-old man with COVID-19. "COVID-19 is more than a lung infection," Professor van Beek said. "It affects the vasculature of the lungs and other organs and has a high thrombosis risk with acute life-threatening events that require adequate treatment with anticoagulants based on laboratory monitoring with appropriate imaging tests as required." RSNA is committed to connecting radiologists and the radiology community to the most timely and useful COVID-19 information and resources. RSNA's COVID-19 Resources page houses the latest guidance, original research, image collection and more. The page will be updated on an ongoing basis. ### "Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment of Thromboembolic Complications in COVID-19: Report of the National Institute for Public Health of the Netherlands." Matthijs Oudkerk, Harry R. Buller, Dirkjan Kuijpers, Nick van Es, Sitse F. Oudkerk, Theresa C. McLoud, M.D., Diederik Gommers, Jaap van Dissel, Hugo ten Cate, Edwin J. van Beek, M.D., Ph.D. "Acute Pulmonary Embolism in COVID-19 Patients on CT Angiography and Relationship to D-Dimer Levels." Ian Leonard-Lorant, M.D., Xavier Delabranche, M.D., Ph.D., Francois Severac, M.D., Juliec Helms, M.D., Ph.D., Coralie Pauzet, M.D., Olivier Collange, M.D., Ph.D., Francis Schneider, M.D., Ph.D., Aissam Labani, M.D., Pascal Bilbault, M.D., Ph.D., Sebastien Moliere, M.D., Pierre Leyendecker, M.D., Catherine Roy, M.D., and Mickael Ohana, M.D., Ph.D. "Acute Pulmonary Embolism Associated with COVID-19 Pneumonia Detected by Pulmonary CT Angiography." Franck Grillet, M.D., Julien Behr, M.D., Paul Calame, M.D., Sebastien Aubry, M.D., Ph.D., Eric Delabrousse, M.D., Ph.D. "Pulmonary, Cerebral, and Renal Thromboembolic Disease Associated with COVID-19 Infection." Nadia Lushina, M.D., John S. Kuo, M.D., Hamza A. Shaikh, M.D. Radiology is edited by David A. Bluemke, M.D., Ph.D., University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, and owned and published by the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. (https://pubs.rsna.org/journal/radiology) RSNA is an association of radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists promoting excellence in patient care and health care delivery through education, research and technologic innovation. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Illinois. (RSNA.org) For patient-friendly information on blood clots, visit RadiologyInfo.org. A sentencing judge in a cocaine-dealing case described drugs as the underlying virus infecting society. Judge Brian OCallaghan said it was to be hoped that the Coronavirus restrictions might cut off the opportunities for drug dealers to circulate drugs in society. And if it does, it would be some small silver lining to this Coronavirus shutdown, Judge OCallaghan said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. The judge imposed a four-year prison sentence with the last 18 months suspended on 27-year-old Roy Carroll, with an address at Farranferris Park, Farranree, Cork. The Cork man who had been a promising young boxer ran from drug squad gardai with an 8,700 pack of cocaine when he was stopped at the M8 toll plaza on at Watergrasshill, County Cork, on January 10, 2018. Paula McCarthy defence barrister said Roy Carroll viewed his own actions as stupid when he ran away from gardai on the day and was remorseful for doing so. Judge Brian OCallaghan said, The court must look at the aggravating factors, the type of drug involved, the fact that it was hidden, the value of it, the attempt to dispose of the drugs, the fact that this offence occurred a short time after this man was put on a bond with a suspended sentence. He did surrender himself two days later, following a visit by An Garda Siochana to his home. Where he continues to deny being in possession of the drugs he accepts the verdict of the jury. Detective Garda Liam Finn testified today that Carroll had been required to stand with his hands on the roof of the car with the driver when gardai searched the car at around 9.30pm on January 10, 2018, but that the driver shouted Run. Roy Carroll ran up the overgrown embankment at the side of the plaza on the Cork/Dublin motorway despite an effort by a chasing guard to tackle him. A second attempt was made to catch him as he clambered over a fence at the top of the embankment but he got away. Det Garda Finn testified that Roy Carroll ran across the field and refused to stop for gardai and he was seen dropping a packet. This was later recovered and found to contain cocaine with just over 8,700 worth of the drug. Ms McCarthy BL said that the driver of the car was sentenced to three years with the last months suspended for his part in the same incident. The co-accused was also convicted of having cocaine for sale or supply and obstructing gardai in the course of a drugs search. However, Judge OCallaghan said that Carroll had contested the drug-dealing charge where in fact he had acted in a pre-meditated fashion rather than acting out of any panic. The judge noted that in a preliminary search at the scene the packet of drugs on his person was not discovered. Mr Carroll forced himself from the clasp of the following guard, released himself, kept running and discarded the drugs with the clear intention of avoiding detection, the judge said. Judge OCallaghan said Carrolls position at trial was that he obstructed the search by running away but that he never had the cocaine. Judge OCallaghan said that the jury was not impressed with this position and that neither was he, as the judge. Even though Carroll was not the driver, Judge OCallaghan said the car was used by Carroll to carry out the crime so a four-year driving disqualification was also being imposed. Ashley Roberts paid tribute to her late father on what would have been his 70th birthday on Thursday - two years after his tragic suicide. Alongside a series of images of her beloved father, including a childhood snap and a band shot, she added a caption reading: 'Dad would of been 70 today. Hope youre somewhere jamming out and making some solid tunes! Happy Birthday fash'. The Pussycat Dolls star, 38, also posed up a storm in a nude suit and revealed she was going for 'Rock 'n' Roll vibes' to honour her dad, who she calls 'Fash'. Heartache: Ashley Roberts paid tribute to her late father on what would have been his 70th birthday on Thursday - two years after his tragic suicide Ashley was feeling nostalgic on Thursday as she posted the touching snaps in a sweet tribute to her beloved father. In April 2018, Ashley revealed Pat committed suicide in a heartbreaking Instagram post. At the time, she paid tribute with a touching flashback image of her late dad - who passed away after suffering from 'physical and mental health' issues. Admitting that she was in a 'state of shock and confusion', Ashley shared the tragic news in an attempt to support fans coping with the death of a loved one. In the sweet throwback image, the Clockwork hitmaker made a bunny ear gesture as she cuddled her father on a beach. Honour: Alongside a series of images of her beloved father, including a childhood snap and a band shot, she added a caption reading: 'Dad would of been 70 today. Hope youre somewhere jamming out and making some solid tunes! Happy Birthday fash' Vibes: The Pussycat Dolls star, 38, also posed up a storm in a nude suit and revealed she was going for 'Rock 'n' Roll vibes' to honour her dad, who she calls 'Fash' An honour: In April 2018, Ashley revealed Pat committed suicide in a heartbreaking Instagram post Ashley explained that it has been a difficult time following her father's death: 'With great sadness in my heart, I wanted to share with you that on the 19th of March - after a long battle of physical and mental heath - My father took his own life.' 'The past 3.5 weeks Ive been in a state of shock, confusion, questioning, pain so deep in my guts its been hard to come up for air.' She continued: 'Feeling like I dont know how to move forward from here. What am I supposed to do with all this? For now, I sit here with this pain - Inviting it ALL in.' 'To teach me, to heal me, to rebuild me. If any of you have gone through something similar. I understand and my heart goes out to you.' 'I will be sharing more on this in the next days, weeks, months to come - as raising awareness here and outreach for those left behind is so so so important . But for now I am grateful for your love and support.' Rock on! She shared a touching snap of her rocker dad in his drumming heyday Sweet: In the images, Pat looked happy and carefree This is not the first time the Arizona native has opened up about mental illness within her family, as she revealed her brother Jayce suffers from schizophrenia. In an interview with The Sunday People, the reality star shared that his condition costed him time in prison. Speaking in 2015, Ashley said: 'My brothers not well. Hes been suffering from schizophrenia since he was a teenager.' Jayce was arrested for violence during Ashley's I'm A Celeb stint in 2012. 'Its a rough system in America and it took years for the system to finally take him on.' 'But now hes in a good place and getting the kind of care he needs...hes living in a care home now and I talk to him when I can.' For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116 123 or click here SpendEdge, a global procurement market intelligence firm, has announced the availability of its Global Gold Procurement Market Intelligence Report for preorder. This report will serve as a one-stop reference guide for buyers to make informed and cost-optimized procurement decisions in the gold market. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005374/en/ Global Gold Procurement Market Intelligence Report now available for preorder (Graphic: Business Wire) As the global economy is reeling under the pandemic impact of COVID 19, one of the worst fears of investors in the gold market is coming true in the form of commodity price volatilities. Apprehensions of a major economic crisis are looming large among consumers which are triggering major price volatilities in this market, thereby rendering gold procurement an extremely risky proposition. The impact of COVID 19 has put a lid on mining activities which have consequently resulted in the supply shortage of this metal. Meanwhile, economic boosts offered by governments across regions that are ravaged by job loss and capital depletion have motivated consumers to invest in gold as an asset. These factors have rendered the demand and supply scenarios extremely dynamic that are increasing the complexities of gold procurement in the current market. Considering the probabilities of these situations, this market intelligence report has enlisted the top gold procurement strategies, the leading suppliers, sourcing, and negotiation strategies that will aid buyers to achieve a cost-optimized and risk-free procurement despite the projections of commodity price volatilities in the gold market. Be the first to get the free sample of this report to get all the industry-best gold procurement best practices at your finger-tips and take that leap ahead of your competitors. What will you gain from this report? Detailed analysis of the supply market that will influence gold procurement decisions Predictions of extreme volatilities in the key raw materials and difficulty in conducting mining activities in the present time will result in a hike in suppliers' OPEX. This will create difficulties in benchmarking and budgeting during gold procurement. Suppliers face pressure to offer products of enhanced quality and options that are customized to consumers' unique requirements. Insights into best gold procurement practices imperative for effective purchasing and supply management decisions Buyers are advised to partner with suppliers who are known to adopt a global delivery model that can aid to reduce the former's risks in terms of gold procurement. This model is particularly relevant to the current times. In this model, any disaster/emergency at any operating facility of supplier will result in the work being transferred to a different facility, thereby ensuring continuity of the project and reduced risk for buyers. Potential risks during procurement in the gold market With the high adoption of lean manufacturing, the smallest of changes in the supply chain activities result in significant losses. For instance, cargo theft, flight delays, and quality control issues lead to significant losses to both the suppliers and buyers in the gold market. Get an exclusive sneak-peek into this report and see how expert-advised strategies redefine your gold procurement outlook. COVID-19 Impact Assessment and Market Insights SpendEdge's reports now include an in-depth complimentary analysis of the COVID-19 impact on procurement and latest market data to help your company overcome sourcing challenges. Our Gold Procurement Intelligence Report offers actionable procurement intelligence insights, sourcing strategies, and action plans to mitigate risks arising out of the current pandemic situation. The insights offered by our reports will help procurement professionals streamline supply chain operations and gain insights in the best procurement practices to mitigate losses. Answer to some of the critical questions that are critical to explore procurement opportunities in this market What is the expected spend growth rate in the gold market? How much should buyers pay to procure in the gold market and what are the factors that will influence procurement price in this market? Who are the gold suppliers and what are their cost structures? Your gold procurement strategy is about to get a new direction. Find out how. Related topics: Nickel Market Procurement Intelligence Report Chrome Ore Market Procurement Intelligence Report About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. To know more, https://www.spendedge.com/request-free-proposal View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005374/en/ Contacts: SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 630 984 7340 UK: +44 148 459 9299 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us U.S. Navy handout photo ISTANBUL - A top Iranian general warned the United States on Thursday against "dangerous behavior" in the Persian Gulf, saying that his forces would target U.S. naval ships that posed a threat to Iran's national security. "We are determined to defend our national security [and] maritime borders," Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said in an interview with Iranian state television. He added that any act by U.S. forces that endangers Iranian military or civilian ships "will be met with an immediate and decisive response." Challenges: Sean Mahon of the Southern Star believes local papers have always been resilient Read all about it: The news media landscape has altered radically since the days of street vendors The Covid-19 onslaught has created an accelerating existential crisis for all media outlets, smashing through advertising revenue across platforms and in some cases shutting shops and locking in consumers who want to buy a newspaper. Ironically, the wave has hit at a time when the proliferation on digital social media of conspiracy theories and false reporting means that, arguably, the need for verified information delivered by accountable sources is more important than ever. Even before the pandemic, 'The Southern Star' was a rarity in the media world. The 130-year-old Skibbereen-based regional newspaper remains family-owned in a world where media control has been increasingly gobbled up by big consolidators in the past two decades. As the costs of media technology have risen and margins come down most local papers and radio stations are now part of bigger groups, with multiple titles under their umbrellas. Most national titles also belong to bigger groups and increasingly have international ties. "The economy was going well for the last few years," says Sean Mahon, managing director of 'The Southern Star', which serves the west Cork community and had an average pre-pandemic circulation of about 10,000 copies a week - a figure boosted in summer months, with the area a magnet for tourists. With 21 staff, the paper is owned by the local O'Regan family. "All businesses and most papers had benefited from that in terms of advertising," he says. "There were still obviously the challenges that we've all faced - both nationally and locally - about trying to maintain circulation. "We've been trying to develop ways to bring in revenue via our digital platform and, not that this was going to be an overnight solution, but I felt that we were starting to make progress in building our digital audiences and starting to convert some of that into revenue from local advertisers and other brands." Mahon says that local newspapers have always been "very resilient". "I felt that, looking five years ahead or 10 years ahead, the more progressive local newspaper businesses would continue to evolve, continue to survive and continue the important role that they have locally," he says. "But obviously something like the Covid-19 crisis is a crisis that's affecting all businesses, not just our industry, and so it's a case of absolutely trying to find a way to navigate through this." The scale of the challenge facing media outlets is truly unprecedented but its come on the back of major trends - like the shift to digital media consumption and the even more challenging gobbling up by global technology giants of national and even local advertising revenue. Accelerating some of those trends means the long-term impact of the pandemic might forever change how we consume news and information and the viability of the industry that produces it. For the media sector, those changes had already been evident for years. The pandemic has accelerated the evolution, with an ever-changing media genome challenging a sector that was already struggling to find ways to generate the kind of revenue and profits it needed to survive. For now, for most, it's about survival mode. Last month, Iconic Newspapers, one of the country's biggest local newspaper publishers, said it was laying off dozens of staff for six weeks, putting a total of 100 jobs at the group at risk. Controlled by UK businessman Malcolm Denmark, Iconic publishes 22 titles, including 'The Limerick Leader', 'The Longford Leader' and 'The Kilkenny People'. Elsewhere, Celtic Media, the publisher of 'The Connaught Telegraph', 'The Anglo Celt', and other titles, has laid off a number of staff - temporarily it hopes. Big national media groups, including the Journal.ie publisher, 'The Irish Times', Communicorp and Independent News & Media - the publisher of this newspaper - have temporarily laid off staff, reduced hours or cut pay to cope with a sharp decline in advertising revenue during the crisis. On Wednesday, national broadcaster RTE confirmed it will avail of the Government's Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme because of the hit to its commercial and TV Licence revenue since the Covid-19 outbreak. In a memo circulated to staff, RTE Director-General Dee Forbes said the broadcaster's revenue could collapse by 25pc to 35pc this year. Alan Cox, CEO of Core, Ireland's largest marketing communications company, whose primary business is that of an ad buyer, says total advertising spend here will fall about 30pc this year from just over 1bn in 2019. That includes a decline of up to 60pc for May and June, he says. "We expect that come July and August, the fall in advertising spend will be not as deep as May and June - perhaps 35pc to 40pc - and then for the last four months of the year, we'd expect it to be about 15pc to 20pc down," he says. "This is an enormous economic shock and it's going to lead to a deep recession, but I do expect that the growth will return faster than in previous recessions because of the concerted efforts of the governments of the world and the stimulus that they will, in an integrated way, put in place," Cox predicts. He thinks that the world will eventually revert to being much the same as it was before the crisis, with subtle differences that will see more use of technology, for instance. But will this recovery - and the eventual return of advertising spend - come too late for local and regional media in particular? For some, it might. But Cox remains optimistic about the sector's longevity, despite the death knells that have been sounded on many occasions. "There's always going to be demand and a necessity for local and national media," he insists. "The role that national and local media play in this country is of massive importance to our society, our culture, our democratic reporting and making sure that all of those things are protected. "I think there'll be both a requirement at a national level to consider policy that encourages that, and also I believe the demand will always be there in the country for those outlets," says Cox. "The problem is the viability," he warns. "Each of these crises that occur really batter those organisations, and in some cases right to the very edge. It's really important for the Government to take a look at the entire ecosystem of the Irish media market and engage with all stakeholders to consider its importance and what policies are required to protect it in the future." Newsbrands Ireland, a lobby group for newspapers, has argued that slashing VAT to zero for news products, in line with the UK, would help underpin the industry. But there's also the cold, hard commercial reality: private media outlets - just like any other business - are there to make a profit. If they can't, capitalism dictates they should fail. Yet it's a simplistic view. Look at how taxpayers bailed out the banks, or the supports the farming sector gets, says John Purcell, chief executive of KCLR, a station that broadcasts to Kilkenny and Carlow, as well as the chairman of the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland which represents about 34 stations. A banking collapse posed a systemic risk to Ireland's very economic and social fabric. Farming, at least, can be seen as potentially important for security of domestic food supply. So where should the line be drawn post-crisis? Which businesses get life support, which ones don't? "There has to be a mature think," he adds. "You're running a business that is a commercial concern, but it is providing an essential service. "We've never looked for subsidies or support in relation to everything we do, but just in relation to the critical news and current affairs, which we're obliged to provide." "None of the issues that are applicable to the survival of the media in this current crisis are new," says Purcell. "They just need to be dealt with, with urgency. This is deadly real. "We're not just putting on the poor mouth. This is a crisis. There's no question of the benefits of it - the readership, the listenership - there's no question that people want the information. "There's no question of the importance of it and the damage that will be done if it isn't there. "We all have to work together to figure out how to fund it in a new and radical way." But he and others remain optimistic for the future of local and regional media, despite current circumstances and the longer-term impact of technology, including social media sites. Mahon insists that closures of local media would be a "massive loss to local connectivity and local democracy". "Most people who work in this industry are passionate about local. It's a career and a vocation. They see it as their role to retain connectivity for local communities, and particularly across rural Ireland." Can the media industry thrive or even survive in post-pandemic Ireland? Protesters will use their daily exercise to walk in solidarity with about 120 men in makeshift immigration detention at a Kangaroo Point hotel. Loading Dozens of the asylum seekers have taken to the balcony each day for the past three weeks in protest of what they say are cramped living conditions and lack of protection against COVID-19. Last Friday, dozens of community members walked laps around the block in solidarity with the group. They plan to do so again today. The Kangaroo Point hotel has been used to house people transferred from offshore detention for specialist medical treatment. A Serco guard who worked at the site tested positive last month. Refugee advocates and human rights lawyers have called for the immediate release of those in immigration detention, with those able placed in community detention instead. All of you are going through a tough time, one detainee Farhad says. This is a dangerous situation, why you are not letting us be amongst those that care about us? The New York Workers Compensation Alliance is calling on the state government to guarantee that workers compensation will include COVID-19 workplace exposure for all workers. The alliance is calling on the state government to make changes to legislation including the following: OTTAWA, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2020 / Innovative Medicines Canada (IMC) issued the following statement in response to the federal government's announcement today of additional funding for research into vaccines and treatments for COVID-19, clinical trials and expanded testing: "IMC welcomes today's announcement by the federal government of further investments into research, clinical trials, and expanded testing related to COVID-19. It is an important contribution to the work that is already being undertaken across the country, including by Canada's innovative pharmaceutical sector. "IMC looks forward to additional details about how the government plans to invest this additional funding, and we will continue to work closely with all levels of government, the research community and public agencies to develop solutions to address the spread of the virus." Learn more about how our member companies are contributing to the fight against COVID-19. About Innovative Medicines Canada Innovative Medicines Canada is the national voice of Canada's innovative pharmaceutical industry. We advocate for policies that enable the discovery, development and commercialization of innovative medicines and vaccines that improve the lives of all Canadians. We support our members' commitment to being valued partners in the Canadian healthcare system. For further information: Sarah Dion-Marquis Director, Media and Public Relations Telephone: 613-769-6510 E-mail: sdmarquis@imc-mnc.ca SOURCE: Innovative Medicines Canada View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/586651/Innovative-Medicines-Canada-Welcomes-Additional-Investment-by-the-Federal-Government-in-Research-Clinical-Trials-and-Testing-for-COVID-19 The President of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce has written to Executive Ministers urging them to make an immediate decision on the Medical School at the Ulster Universitys Magee campus. Redmond McFadden has written to the First and deputy First Minsters and Health Minister Robin Swann this week asking the Executive to bring forward a decision on the Graduate Entry Medical School at Magee to ensure it can open to new students in September 2021. The establishment of a Medical School at Magee in Derry is a core commitment within the New Decade, New Approach Agreement which led to the restoration of the Executive in January. Redmond McFadden, President of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, said: The establishment of a Graduate Entry Medical School in the city has long been promised for the North West. Its importance, however, has been made even clearer in light of the COVID-19 crisis. By training and retaining new doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers locally, we can significantly bolster Northern Irelands healthcare workforce and ease pressures on our health service. A medical school in the North West would not just have significant benefits for our health service but also for our regional economy. It has also been identified as a core capital project of the Derry and Strabane City Deal. An increase in students in the city would lead to an economic boost and a more highly-skilled local labour force would be a key economic driver for the entire region. Our health service is under extreme strain at the moment and our health and social care workers are undertaking huge efforts to keep us safe. Delivering a Graduate Entry Medical School in the North West would be a fitting legacy to the efforts of our frontline healthcare staff. I am urging the Executive to deliver on its commitment, bring forward a decision on the medical school, and urgently consider establishing the school to strengthen our health service and boost our regional North West economy. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sheila Dang (Reuters) Thu, April 23, 2020 17:31 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3e19c0 2 Lifestyle beauty-industry,beauty,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,lockdown,Maybelline,Revlon,Kiehls,loreal,Urban-Decay,Lancome Free Out: smoky eyes, red lipstick and fake eyelashes. In: dewy skin, under-eye concealer, moisturized hands. The $500 billion global beauty industry has almost overnight changed what and how it markets to a clientele hidden behind masks or stuck at home to avoid the spread of coronavirus. As consumers' social and travel plans have evaporated and work is conducted online, beauty brands have had to quickly redirect their pitches to show how their products are still relevant. Companies are promoting make-up routines to look polished in video conferences or virtual happy hours and positioning skincare as a soothing ritual that offers a quick respite from pandemic stresses. The pivot has largely played out in social media campaigns, where companies can move more quickly, and not on television. Marketing from brands such as L'Oreal-owned Maybelline and Revlon Inc on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube now feature products suited for date nights over FaceTime, work-related video conference calls and Zoom happy hours. These ads play up products more in tune with the times such as skin and eye care products and home hair-coloring kits. "You don't have to wear makeup. But it helps," reads the tagline for makeup brand Revlon on recent Instagram posts, telling consumers they can still curl their eyelashes, "even if you cant curl up to your special someone." These posts have replaced TV spots from a few months ago such as one for Revlons long-wear foundation that featured a model walking to work and going to the gym. "Frequent washing doesn't have to result in dry and rough hands," said a Facebook ad for hand lotion from L'Oreal's Kiehl's line. "You're doing your part by staying in, so we at Schwarzkopf want to help you feel like your best self at home," according to a paid post on Instagram from the at-home hair coloring brand owned by German conglomerate Henkel. L'Oreal USA is taking marketing cues from consumer searches on Google and social media conversations, said Gretchen Saegh-Fleming, chief marketing officer of L'Oreal USA, a unit of L'Oreal Group, which owns Maybelline, hair care line Garnier and cosmetic brand Urban Decay. Consumers have been focusing on self-care products, stocking up on large-sized shampoo bottles, skincare and at-home hair coloring products, she said. Total beauty sales in the United States declined 58 percent in the week ending March 28 versus the prior year, according to data from market research firm NPD Group. Courting homebound customers has been vital to protecting beauty industry bottom lines as other retail sectors collapse. Global e-commerce sales at L'Oreal surged by more than 50 percent in the first quarter which helped partially offset a steep decline in retail sales at airports and department stores, the company reported on Thursday. Beauty sales have also started bouncing back in China, where the coronavirus outbreak began, and demand for skin and hair products are expected to rise. Read also: Beauty fixes to keep the lockdown beasts at bay Fuss-free looks at home Makeup marketing has focused on simple looks. L'Oreal's Lancome Paris brand on Friday hosted a live-streamed tutorial with celebrity makeup artist Lisa Eldridge. The session concentrated on skin products like under-eye concealer and lip balm, versus pre-pandemic times when consumers might have been more focused on lipstick, Saegh-Fleming said. "People are taking an easier and fuss-free approach for their looks at home." For cosmetic brands, lip color will likely be less important as more people wear masks, said Agathe Guerrier, co-chief strategy officer for creative advertising agency TBWA, which counts Estee Lauder Companies Inc as a client in Spain. "One interesting thing will be how to make the best of your look and face while you're wearing a mask. This is something Asian countries have been used to for a while, and that's coming to the West," she said. Self-care is at the forefront of beauty marketing during the pandemic, said Eitan Reshef, president of digital marketing firm Blue Wheel Media, which works with skin care brands like Peter Thomas Roth and Caudalie. That includes anything "rejuvenating, attacking fine lines," adding that color cosmetics like eyeshadow, while still selling, are "playing second fiddle." "You still have this culture where you're in front of the camera," Reshef said. "There's been a proliferation of face-to-face contact, and people still care how they look." A new poll has found that close to two-thirds of the US electorate are in favour of conducting Novembers presidential election entirely by mail. The findings come in spite of many Republican leaders insistence that mail-in voting is an invitation to rampant electoral fraud an idea lately propagated by the president himself. In the poll, commissioned by The Wall Street Journal and NBC, the people polled were asked whether they favoured changing election laws to allow everyone to vote by mail in general; those who said no were then asked if they favoured changing the law for this year alone given the concern that the coronavirus may still be contagious this fall. All in all, 67 per cent agreed that in the current circumstances, they would support changing the law so that mail-in voting was available to all Americans. Some states already vote entirely by mail, among them Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon and Utah. Washington state has used postal balloting for some time; officials there have cautioned that other states looking to set up mail-in systems in time for the presidential ballot have a difficult task on their hands, with everything from procuring equipment to deciding on postage fees having to be completed in just a few months. Massachusetts, which primarily uses in-person voting, has seen several of its members of Congress calling for the state to change its methods. Some of them are pointing to the chaos of the recent Wisconsin primary, in which voters were obliged to queue at ballot stations for hours despite the states lockdown orders. Multiple coronavirus diagnoses have now been connected to the primary. Those opposed to expanding postal voting, generally on the Republican side, argue that vote harvesters are able to manipulate mail-voting systems, including by voting on behalf of deceased voters or those who have moved house without updating their addresses. As with the supposed voter fraud problems that the same critics use to justify exclusionary Voter ID laws, while examples can be found of people abusing all voting processes, there is no evidence that these are widespread problems. Donald Trump who commissioned an investigation into alleged fraud at the 2016 election that failed to find anything recently tweeted out his disgust at postal voting, and made clear that he expected his own party to stand in its way out of self-interest. Republicans should fight very hard when it comes to state wide mail-in voting, he wrote. Democrats are clamouring for it. Tremendous potential for voter fraud, and for whatever reason, doesnt work out well for Republicans. As a reporter pointed out at a White House press briefing, Mr Trump himself votes by mail. Asked how he reconciled that with his statements, he responded: Because Im allowed to. - Treasury CS Ukur Yatani said the funds had been channeled to various sectors including construction of boreholes in slums and cash transfers to the elderly - This came as Denmark pledged an additional KSh 513 million towards fighting the virus in Kenya - Denmark ambassador to Kenya Mette Knudsen said the money would be used to combat the virus specifically in COVID-19 hotspots The National Treasury has clarified reports it spent KSh 40 billion in the last 40 days on fighting the coronavirus pandemic in the country. Treasury CS Ukur Yatani said only KSh 18 billion had been used contrary to media reports saying KSh 1 billion was spent daily since the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed on Friday, March 13. READ ALSO: Hilarious video of young boy imitating Health CS Mutahi Kagwe goes viral National Treasury CS Ukur Yatani. Photo: Ukur Yatani. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: 2 pet cats, 5 tigers and 3 African lions test positive for coronavirus In a tweet, Yatani said the funds had been channeled to various sectors including construction of boreholes in slums, cash transfers to the elderly, the water department and health. "National Treasury's response to COVID-19 pandemic cuts across all sectors; health, water, etc. So far KSh 18B has been disbursed for various interventions (health, boreholes within slums, cash transfers etc. More resources to be released from Friday, April 23, with passage of supplementary budget," he said. Treasury said the KSh 40 billion was an allocation (budget) set aside towards fighting the respiratory illness and was not the actual expenditure. The country meanwhile received an additional KSh 513 million to boost its Emergency Response Fund kit from Denmark. Kenya had confirmed 303 cases of COVID-19 as of Wednesday, April 22. Photo: MoH. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Chifu maarufu kijijini azikwa ndani ya gari lake la Mercedez Benz Denmark ambassador to Kenya Mette Knudsen said the money would be used to combat the virus specifically in COVID-19 hotspots such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Mandera, Kwale and Kilifi. The pandemic is a global challenge that calls for global solidarity. Even if the pandemic rages in Denmark, we have decided to provide another contribution of KSh 513 million to the people of Kenya during these challenging times," "It is our ambition that the funding will benefit the poor and vulnerable populations the most," the ambassador said. The total grant from the European nation towards fighting the pandemic stands at KSh 833 million after it donated KSh 320 million earlier. 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. Kenya hits 300 mark for positive Covid-19 cases | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke Tunisias initial two-week coronavirus lockdown will continue until May 3 amid growing fears over its economic impact. Health Care Minister Abdellatif Mekki claims the country has overcome with minimal damage the critical phase of the epidemic. But the restrictions hurt the economy immensely, with the International Monetary Fund projecting a 4.3% fall in economic growth in 2020. This is the countrys deepest economic depression since its independence from France in 1956, Lotfi Saibi, economic analyst and founder and director at 4D Leadership House (a consultancy agency in Tunis), tells Al-Monitor. The general lockdown brought Tunisia's economy to a near halt. Only essential businesses such as groceries, medium-sized supermarkets and pharmacies are allowed to remain open. City to city travel is banned. On March 22, when the decision came into effect, the country reported 54 positive cases, relatively low compared to other countries. However, the drastic decision was deemed vital to enable the weak public health service to cope with the outbreak. The number of cases has risen to around 879 as of April 20. The health care sector alerted the government about a serious equipment shortage and said Tunisia could not handle numbers similar to Europe. At the moment we don't need money, but rather medical equipment. That's essential. It is urgent, former Minister of Health and head of the pneumology department at the Rabta hospital Samira Merai Friaa told La Presse on March 21. With fewer than 258 intensive care unit beds unevenly distributed across the country for around 12 million inhabitants the south and east have no beds at all the country's health care capacity is extremely limited. In a bid to soften the economic repercussions of the lockdown and protect jobs, the government vowed financial assistance to low-income families, food distribution to less-privileged areas and incentives to help businesses. Within the past four weeks, 1 million people have received the social assistance benefit of 200 Tunisian dinars (about $69), Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh said in a televised address March 31 to the nation over the lockdown extension. While polls show strong public support for the lockdown 91% of Tunisians support the restrictions analysts say the measures are disproportionately affecting the less privileged. I am positive such a drastic decision was demanded by the most privileged, heavily influenced by reporting in the media on the propagation of the virus in Europe, political scientist and essayist Amine Snoussi tells Al-Monitor. Snoussi says the lockdown particularly hits the people working in the countrys informal economy who have not been included in the government's package of economic support measures. According to the International Labor Organization, around 53% of the total labor force of Tunisia works in the informal sector. Its a crime. Hundreds of thousands of people working in the informal sector are completely left to their own devices, Snoussi says, adding, Besides, the monthly social assistance benefit of 200 Tunisian dinars per month per family is largely insufficient to meet the peoples needs, as prices have risen tremendously. As the fulfillment of promised financial support was slow to materialize, social tensions emerged. Thousands of workers protested despite the lockdown for protection from the economic hardships caused by the countrywide shutdown. On that same day, March 31, despite the protests, the government announced the extension of the lockdown by two weeks. According to Saibi, the shortcomings in the implementation are due to the countrys continued inability to undertake serious steps to change its public administration. Its the price for stalling key reforms since the 2011 revolution, Saibi says. The bureaucracy is the biggest bottleneck, exacerbated by a lack of coordination and internal conflicts of interest, he adds. With the lockdown being extended, the number of citizens who have to resort to relief from the Tunisian state increases. A recent survey published by the Tunisian Union of Industry, Commerce and Handicrafts (UTICA), the countrys biggest representative of the private sector, indicates that only 36.6 % of employers expect to be able to continue paying their employees in May. To support the employers, the government agreed with UTICA to pay 200 dinars of April salaries for each employee, while the rest of the remuneration will be paid by the company. For each month that the lockdown continues, unemployment will rise [by] 5%, Saibi predicts. If thats accurate, unemployment in May, after almost two months of lockdown, will have soared from 15% to 25%, i.e., a quarter of the Tunisian workforce. The worldwide coronavirus lockdown uncovers the vulnerability of Tunisias economic structure. Since the 1970s, Tunisias economic development policy has been based on those sectors that bring in foreign currency (mining, services, tourism and international transport) as a strategy to strengthen its economic competitiveness. According to a study by former Minister of Economy and Finance Hakim Ben Hammouda and economic expert Hedi Bechir, the crisis in these sectors could lead to a loss of productivity of 50%. Saibi says the amount of 2.5 billion Tunisian dinars about $862,000, or 2% of the gross domestic product earmarked to cover the costs of the economic support measures will be well below what is needed. I expect at least double is needed, and even then, the state will have to make stark choices; 95% of companies are small- or medium-sized and have no reserves, the economic analyst says. The country must depend on its international donors to finance the package. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) executive board approved a $745 million emergency assistance loan under the Rapid Financing Instrument. In addition, the European Union granted Tunisia 230 million euros ($273 million), Italy pledged to donate 50 million euros ($55 million), while the Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank has announced plans to lend Tunisia $280 million. The IMF expects the public and external debt to reach 89% (from 77.1% in 2019) and 110% (from 92.8% in 2019) of the GDP in 2020, respectively. This will inevitably lead to social unrest. In 2019, Tunisias largest labor union the Tunisian General Labor Union staged a nationwide strike to protest the governments refusal to raise the salaries of 670,000 public servants, as a result of pressure from the IMF to freeze public wages. The minimum wage in Tunisia is 15.50 Tunisian dinars ($5.35). Snoussi warns against prolonged instability. The Tunisian state has been weakened for various reasons for a very long time, and excessive and unjust decisions such as the lockdown could ruin it, he says. But Saibi sees no other option. He says, Since the state has done nothing to tackle corruption, amongst others, we have no reserves. The backlash against a mandatory order requiring Harris County residents to wear face coverings for 30 days beginning on April 27 grew on Wednesday after The Woodlands Township Board of Directors voted unanimously to send Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo a letter stating their opposition to the decree, which affects about 18,000 township residents who reside in the Village of Creekside Park in Harris County. The order from Hidalgo contradicts the stance on the face covering issue from Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough, who said he had no plans to implement a similar order in Montgomery County. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Coronavirus live updates: Abbott says state mask order unlikely Hidalgos order, which was decried by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and a long list of Republican and conservative officials, clearly irritated the seven members of the townships board, many of whom questioned the Constitutionality of the order and also demanded a legal review of the mandate for most residents of Harris County certain groups of people are exempted from the order for various reasons, including medical conditions to wear a face covering when outside beginning on April 27. The order, which lasts 30 days, is similar to face mask requirements in other large cities across the nation. The issue first arose during Wednesdays meeting when directors were discussing the now-halted incorporation planning studies. As board Chairman Gordy Bunch gave a brief update on the final report on the nearly two-year study, he told directors that he had asked staff from Novak Consulting Group, a Cincinnati, Ohio-based firm that did most of the studies, to add in a new section about the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and issues related to it. DRACONIAN RULE': Houstonians, public officials react to Lina Hidalgo's mandatory face covering order After Bunchs update, Director Ann Snyder said she would like to have a legal review of the executive authority Hidalgo cited to mandate face coverings, especially examining the legal powers of counties over cities. The Woodlands has been exploring incorporation into a municipality since January 2018, a move that would possibly see voters decide whether the community which is a special purpose district and the only township in Texas will become a city or not. A potential vote in the issue was planned for November 2020, but due to the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic, the issue has been put on indefinite hold. Snyder asked township attorney Robin Cross about the issue, and Cross told her the inconsistencies in policy from county to county is not optimal. You obviously want some consistency, Cross said of the contradicting face covering approaches from Harris and Montgomery counties. In this (instance), there is not. It is a very unfortunate and difficult situation. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Galveston, Montgomery counties will not mandate face coverings Director Shelley Sekula-Gibbs said having one county judge Hidalgo presiding over about 18,000 township residents and mandating face coverings while the county judge who presides over a far larger percentage of the communitys citizens Koeugh was problematic for all 115,000 estimated residents of The Woodlands. (Hidalgo) Says youll get a $1,000 fine if you step out of your house without a face mask, Sekula-Gibbs said of Hidalgos order, calling it too harsh a penalty. Fellow directors Bob Milner and Bunch questioned whether Hidalgos order was legal under the U.S. Constitution. I really question the Constitutionality of someone telling me to wear a mask, Bunch said. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Let Freedom Ring Rally' protesters speak out against Harris County mask order Milner encouraged the township to send letters to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Gov. Greg Abbott informing them of the boards opposition to Hidalgos decree. Following the discussion, the directors at first voted 6-0 to send the letter to Hidalgo, with Sekula-Gibbs internet feed failing as she disappeared from the virtual meeting Zoom screen. After several minutes, her connection returned and she requested that Bunch add her yes vote to the tally, making it fully unanimously. jeff.forward@chron.com Weve seen Boston Dynamics four-legged Spot robot navigate an office, hold the door for a friend, pull a rickshaw and haul a box truck, but its most impressive feat yet might be protecting healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, Boston Dynamics announced that its Spot robots are allowing healthcare providers to remotely triage patients at Bostons Brigham and Womens Hospital. The company is sharing the hardware and software behind this robotic telehealth approach, and it hopes other mobile robotics platforms will take advantage of the tech. Boston Dynamics platform uses an iPad and a two-way radio mounted to a Spot robot. Healthcare workers can guide the robots through triage tents where patients suspected to have COVID-19 are asked to line up for an initial assessment. Doctors and nurses can speak with the patients from a safe distance, possibly even their own homes. The companys justification for this trial is that for every intake shift completed by a robot, at least one healthcare worker can reduce their exposure to the virus and conserve the limited supply of personal protective equipment. Boston Dynamics says it still needs to figure out how to remotely collect vital sign information, like body temperature, respiratory rate, pulse rate and oxygen saturation. Its considering the use of thermal camera technology, and it is testing ways to measure changes in blood vessel contraction via RGB cameras. In the near future, Boston Dynamics hopes that by attaching a UV-C light or other tech to the robots back, Spot could be used to kill virus particles and disinfect surfaces in spaces like hospital tents and metro stations. While Boston Dynamics is using its legged Spot robot at Brigham and Womens Hospital, it says the system could be used with wheeled or tracked robots too. It hopes other mobile robotics platforms will leverage the same hardware and software stack to help frontline employees. Its already in talks with the Canadian firm Clearpath Robotics to help spread the technology. Days spent indoors staring at a screen are difficult enough for our mental wellbeing, but what you might not expect is the toll they take on our skin. Underlying stress, anxiety, central heating and reduced fresh air can all add up to a dry, dull and tired looking complexion. And while our skin is not the most pressing issue in the current situation, taking care of ourselves has never been more important. Looking and feeling healthy and hydrated has a big impact on our mood and sense of well-being. Underlying stress, anxiety, central heating and reduced fresh air can all add up to a dry, dull and tired looking complexion We all know that hydration and protecting our skin from the sun and pollution, plus getting plenty of sleep, are the keys to a youthful glow. But it can be difficult to know how best to deeply hydrate and protect your skin, even if now you have more time to do it. Vichy's new Mineral 89 Fortifying Sheet Mask allows the serum, with its active dermatological ingredients, to be freshly combined with the tissue mask just before you apply Luckily the expert skincare brand Vichy have developed an instant recharge solution for your skin when it feels stressed, tired or dehydrated, and it only takes 10 minutes. Their new Mineral 89 Fortifying Sheet Mask is the latest addition to their best selling Mineral 89 range and it is designed to help your skin recharge and recover. Sheet masks are a brilliant way to deliver instant hydration to your skin. Vichy's mask is enriched with 89% Vichy Mineralizing Water from the Auvergne Volcanic Region in the South of France and natural origin hyaluronic acid Like all Vichy products, the new sheet mask is backed by clinical research to help ensure highly effective, advanced skincare with powerful results What the reviews say... The Mineral 89 sheet mask has been met with brilliant reviews on vichy.co.uk! Recharge your skin with instant hydration Enriched with 89% Vichy Mineralizing Water from the Auvergne Volcanic Region in the South of France, which contains 15 minerals, as well as natural origin hyaluronic acid, the formula helps reinforce, revitalise and replump skin with moisture. The secret lies in the formula that allows these active dermatological ingredients to be combined with the mask by you just before you apply it. Each mask comes in a double compartment pack, as Jessica Tierney, Vichy's Scientific Advisor, explains: 'The Mineral 89 Sheet Mask is a double sachet tissue mask that can be freshly mixed by you when you are ready to use. 'The mask compartment contains a dry tissue made of alginate polymer. 'This has a high absorption rate and transforms into a soft gel-like texture when mixed with the hyaluronic acid-enriched serum in the second compartment.' How to use Mineral 89 Fortifying Sheet Mask Apply weekly or when needed, after cleansing, in four simple steps! 1. Fold the sachet along the dotted lines on the back of the pack 2. Press the sachet until the seal breaks and lets the formula into the tissue mask compartment 3. Push all the formula through the opening into the tissue mask chamber, making sure the tissue becomes fully soaked 4. Open the sachet and apply mask on a clean face. Remove after 10 minutes and massage any leftover formula into the face, neck and chest. Powered by Key Dermatological Ingredients 89% Vichy Mineralizing Water Natural Origin Hyaluronic Acid Freshly mixed with a micro-algae sourced tissue mask But it isn't just the dermatological ingredients and method of application that makes the mask so effective. 'This change in texture helps the sheet mask fit to the contours of your face,' Jessica explains, 'giving a second skin sensation with a fresh feel. 'It delivers fast results, strengthens the skins barrier function and gives an instant boost of hydration that lasts all day.' As well as providing instant hydration that lasts up to 24 hours, the mask gives proven results on skin barrier recovery, and can help alleviate tired complexions and combat visible signs of aging. Your skin's daily dose of strength! Mineral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Hydration Booster helps to strengthen the cutaneous barrier of the skin to better protect it daily from external aggressors such as pollution, stress and fatigue It is just these hydrating and skin barrier-strengthening factors that have made Vichy's Mineral 89 range a staple in beauty addicts' cupboards for years. Those in the know hail the Mineral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Hydration Booster as their skin's 'daily dose of strength'. What is hyaluronic acid and why is it so good for your skin? Hyaluronic acid (HA) is famed for its ability to retain over 1,000 times its weight in water within skin cell. Actually a sugar molecule, your body produces some naturally, mainly in your skin, connective tissue and eyes to keep them moist and lubricated. Its ability to draw and hold water means when it is used in skincare it is a powerful way to retain moisture in your skin, keeping it looking plump and dewy. Containing the highest concentration of Vichy Mineralizing Water (89%) and hyaluronic acid, its light, gel-like texture has seen it receive over 1,500 5 star reviews by devotees*. The powerful formula helps to strengthen the cutaneous barrier of the skin and better protect it daily from external aggressors such as pollution, stress and fatigue. When combined with the other hero of the range, Mineral 89 Eyes, which contains hyaluronic acid and caffeine in a unique formula that hydrates, smooths and brightens the delicate eye area, you have a winning combination. For those of us who are spending much of our day staring at screens, a formula that promises to revive tired eyes and strengthen the skin barrier is a welcome addition to our self-care routine. Vichy's ultimate hydration solution Vichy's Mineral 89 range helps strengthen and plump skin every day, and gives skin an instant boost of intense hydration when needed When used together the Mineral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Hydration Booster, Mineral 89 Eyes, and the new Mineral 89 Fortifying Sheet Mask nurture our skin, refresh our eyes and revive our glow. Don't forget to always use SPF if you are exposed to sunlight (even through windows). Capital Soleil Mattifying 3-In-1 Spf 50 includes a wide spectrum filter system against harmful UVA and UVB rays as well as pollutants. It also instantly absorbs excess oil for a mattifying effect that lasts all day. Taking time to nourish ourselves and our skin can help us find a sense of well-being in these difficult times. Practising a little self-care, however you chose to do it, has become one small way of managing our lockdown. SHOP NOW and get Mineral 89 Fortifying Sheet Mask HALF PRICE when you buy together with Mineral 89 50ml* * Offer applies on the Vichy Hydrate and Recharge Mineral 89 Skin Strength Bundle. Available at LookFantastic.com. Offer valid until 03.05.2020. Subject to availability. PLUS! Discover your skin strengths with Vichy's new high-tech algorithm We are all relying on technology even more at present, and now you can put it to use for your skin. Based on their 15 years of skin research and developed with dermatologists, Vichy have just launched Skin Consult AI. The Skin Strength algorithm identifies your skins strengths and priorities and recommends a personalised skincare routine. All you need to do is fill out a simple skin profile and upload a picture of your face. Discover YOUR perfect skin routine here. *Over 1,500 5-star reviews on Vichy.co.uk as of 10.04.20. Includes reviews syndicated from Vichy Canada. The governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, has announced a ban of the Almajiri system of Quranic learning as part of measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state. Mr Mohammed has also announced that in line with the social distancing order, all religious gatherings in churches and mosques have been banned with immediate effect. Mr Mohammed, who made these known in a statewide broadcast on Thursday, said the government of Bauchi can only enforce a lockdown with a human face. The Almajiri system which operates through the aggregation and congregation of hundreds of children who beg by day and cluster in large numbers at night has the risk of accelerating the spread of coronavirus. He said following the agreement of the northern governors to ban the Almajiri system in the region, the Almajiri system is hereby banned in the state. He further disclosed that the governors of each northern state would facilitate the repatriation of almajiris to their respective states. As I address you, Kaduna and Kano are in the process of evacuating Almajiris of Bauchi State origin back to us. We will receive and accommodate them at the NYSC camp in Wailo, identify their parents and or guardians and reunite them accordingl, he said. I have set in motion a process that will ensure the repatriation of other states in our midst back to their states of origin. This process will be set in motion soon. The governor clarified that the ban is not against Islamic learning or scholarship. He said the ban does not affect established Islamiyya school. Not a shutdown Governor Mohammed said people of Bauchi State must understand that the lockdown is not a shutdown. The governor said the lockdown which will affect all markets and commercial transportation systems takes effect on Sunday, April 26. READ ALSO: All markets including weekly markets in the state are hereby suspended except dealers in essential food items like grains, vegetables, and perishables, he said. Mr Mohammed said markets will be opened only for essential commodities every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, to help residents restock for food and other related needs. The governor said commercial motorcyclists will from Sunday cease to operate in Bauchi, while tricycle riders will only be allowed to ply the roads with only two passengers who must all wear a facemasks. He said the ban on commercial motorcycles is permanent. He said his government plans to provide support to the banned commercial motorcyclists. The governor said the Ramadan tafsir (public sermon) that normally attracts large crowds will only be restricted to the translator and the reciter. He said to avoid gathering that will violate the social distancing order, the government will sponsor the airing of most of the tafsirs on various TV and radio channels. Sarajevo has yet to approve plans to borrow the funds, but the loan has already been transferred, the central bank said. The International Monetary Fund transferred a $381 million loan to Bosnia on Thursday, the central bank said, even though the Balkan countrys government has yet to formally approve borrowing plans to help fight the coronavirus crisis. Bosnias central cabinet said on Monday that Bosniak, or Bosnian Muslim, cabinet ministers had delayed approval of the plans over demands they meet local requirements on borrowing, debt and guarantees by the state. On Tuesday, Finance Minister Vjekoslav Bevanda called the demands unacceptable and said they could indefinitely delay the disbursement of funds approved under the IMFs Rapid Financing Instrument. Bosnias two rival ethnically-based regions, the Republika Srpska entity and the Bosniak-Croat Federation, are generally at odds on most economic issues. Bosnian authorities had already agreed the federation would receive 62 percent of the IMF funds, with the Republika Srpska getting the remaining 38 percent. But each region should allocate 0.5 percent of its share to Bosnias neutral Brcko District. The IMF loan is to support spending on health and social assistance. The lender said it expected Bosnian national output to decline five percent this year before rebounding by 3.5 percent in 2021. There have been 1,431 confirmed coronavirus cases in Bosnia so far and 54 deaths. As in other countries, stay-at-home orders to halt the spread of the disease have hit businesses and jobs. Russia-led forces opened fire from proscribed 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and rifles. Russia's hybrid military forces on April 22 mounted eight attacks on Ukrainian positions in Donbas, eastern Ukraine. "On April 22, armed formations of the Russian Federation violated the ceasefire eight times," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation said in a Facebook update as of 07:00 Kyiv time on April 23, 2020. Read alsoZelensky positive to put end to war in Donbas within his cadence Russia-led forces opened fire from proscribed 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of various types, heavy machine guns, and rifles. Under attack were Ukrainian positions near the towns of Maryinka, Krasnohorivka, and Avdiyivka, and the villages of Bohdanivka, Shyrokyne, Lebedynske, Pavlopil, and Orikhove. According to intelligence data, two members of the enemy forces were wounded on April 22. "Since Thursday midnight, Russia-led forces have attacked Ukrainian positions near Avdiyivka and the village of Novoselivka-2 in the Skhid (East) sector, using grenade launchers of various types and rifles," the update said. Ukraine's Joint Forces fired back to suppress the enemy's provocation. No Ukrainian army casualties were reported over the period under review. Former vice-president Joe Biden has returned a donation from Louis CK. Mr CK's $2,800 donation was not welcome by the Democratic hopeful, with a campaign spokesman saying it has since been refunded and would be reflected in the next report filed to the Federal Election Commission in May. According to documents filed with the commission, the comedian donated to Mr Biden on 4 March, the day after the ex-vice president won more than a dozen states in Super Tuesday primaries on his way to securing the nomination. Emails to Mr Biden's campaign and Mr CK were not immediately returned on Thursday. The career of Mr CK, real name Louis Szekely, was brought to a halt in 2017 after The New York Times published sexual misconduct allegations from five women dating back to the late 1990s and early 2000s. Mr CK expressed remorse for his actions, saying he "tried to learn from them. And run from them. Now I'm aware of the extent of the impact of my actions". Following the report, FX Networks dumped his shows, HBO removed his back catalogue, Netflix scrapped plans for a stand-up special, and his feature film I Love You, Daddy was cancelled. Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Show all 15 1 /15 Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Joe Biden and Dr Jill Biden watch Barack Obama's farewell speech on 11 January. Obama called Biden his 'brother' Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years US President Barack Obama speaks alongside US Vice President Joe Biden about the Affordable Care Act AFP/Getty Images Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Vice President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama Getty Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years President Obama listens to Joe Biden speak of his work on defeating cancer on 18 October in the White House Reuters Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years U.S. President Barack Obama is applauded by House Speaker Paul Ryan and Vice President Joe Biden while delivering his final State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress in Washington Reuters Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years U.S. Vice President Joe Biden interjects as President Barack Obama delivers remarks at a reception for the 25th anniversary of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics at the White House in Washington REUTERS Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Obama and Vice President Joe Biden react after a heckler was removed for their extended interruption (Reuters) Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years U.S. President Barack Obama shakes hands with Speaker of the House John Boehner (R) as Vice President Joe Biden looks on Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Barack and Michelle Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden observing a moment of silence outside the White House to mark the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks Getty Images Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Barack Obama and Joe Biden putt on the White House putting green Getty Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years President Barack Obama and Joe Biden in April 2013 AFP/Getty Images Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years January 1, 2013: U.S. President Barack Obama winks as he arrives with Vice President Joe Biden (L) in the briefing room Reuters Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and others receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House May 1, 2011 in Washington, DC Getty Images Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Vice-President Joe Biden, right, confirmed that the US was looking at ways of taking legal action against Julian Assange - back in December 2010 GETTY IMAGES Joe Biden and Barack Obama through the years Joe Biden, left, and retired military officers watch President Barack Obama sign orders to close down the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in January 2009 GETTY IMAGES The New York Times reported #MeToo complaints against Mr Biden after former aide, Tara Reade, came forward with allegations he sexually assaulted her during the early 1990s when he was a senator. "There was no exchange, really, he just had me up against the wall," Ms Reade alleged in March. "I remember him saying, first, as he was doing it 'Do you want to go somewhere else?' and then him saying to me, when I pulled away... he said 'Come on man, I heard you liked me,'" she said. "That phrase stayed with me." Mr Biden, who has denied the allegations against him, became the presumptive presidential nominee when Bernie Sanders withdrew from the race on 8 April following the Wisconsin primary. Mr Sanders' campaign did not immediately respond when asked if his campaign has been offering any refunds. Congratulations, sshgoogle.com got a very good Social Media Impact Score! Show it by adding this HTML code on your site: Sshgoogle.com scored 70 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 12 May 2019, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. The total number of people who shared the sshgoogle homepage on StumbleUpon. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the sshgoogle homepage on Twitter + the total number of sshgoogle followers (if sshgoogle has a Twitter account). This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the sshgoogle homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if sshgoogle has a Facebook fan page). The total number of people who shared the sshgoogle homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. The total number of people who shared the sshgoogle homepage on Delicious. Basic Information PAGE TITLE DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS The title found in the head section of the homepage. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. Domain and Server DOCTYPE CHARSET AND LANGUAGE SERVER Apache OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux Character set and language of the site. Operative System running on the server. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) The language of sshgoogle.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Type of server and offered services. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for sshgoogle.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 The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The type of Facebook page. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The URL of the found Facebook page. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND When I speak to Fuligdi on the phone, she sounds harassed. The chaotic noises in the background are from a cooker thats on the go, and a screaming child. Fuligdi is receiving psychotherapy after fleeing torture in Sri Lanka. She lives alone in a council flat in Liverpool with her young daughter. As an asylum seeker, Fuligdi is not allowed to work, and is therefore given an allowance of roughly 37 per week from the Home Office. Before coronavirus, things were tight, but now theyre near impossible. She says, The local shops have increased their prices what used to be 1 now costs 2. Nappies always sell out and the ones in the smaller shops are too expensive for us. Being an asylum seeker in Britain is hard but the coronavirus lockdown has made life even tougher. There are approximately 44,000 asylum seekers, including torture survivors like Fuligdi, living in the UK on 5 a day. As the coronavirus outbreak has hiked the price of food and essentials, charities that support asylum seekers are suddenly witnessing people in Britain today having to choose between food and hand sanitizer. Last month, Freedom from Torture, along with 60 other charities wrote a joint letter to Priti Patel, urging her to raise the asylum allowance by 20 per week, in line with the uplift to Universal Credit. More than 16,000 people signed a petition demanding that asylum seekers be protected too. But the response from the Home Office has been eye-wateringly dismissive. Three weeks is a long time to wait when youre hungry and forced to make impossible decisions about your family. Thats how long it took the Home Office to respond to our letter with its autoreply a paragraph to say that it is currently reviewing policies and processes in relation to Covid-19 outbreak to ensure people continue to access essential systems whilst maintaining adherence to social distancing guidance. It could have been written by a bot. The Home Office has been the subject of long-standing criticisms, including for its inhumane treatment of asylum seekers and habit of deflecting responsibility, but this response is woefully inadequate. Sadly, this avoidance of scrutiny and culture of dismissal is a pattern we have seen from the current Home Secretary since the start of the coronavirus outbreak. At an unprecedented time of national crisis, Priti Patel has been notably absent, refusing to appear before a Home Affairs select committee inquiry to discuss Home Office preparedness for the pandemic, even prompting a where is Priti Patel hashtag on Twitter. Her invisibility is emblematic of wider issues within the department. Under her charge, officials have refused to engage with repeated warnings from civil society that detaining people in detention centres is a serious risk to public health. These centres are more dangerous now than ever, and evidence from Detention Action indicates that torture survivors are still being incarcerated, risking a mental and physical health catastrophe. Furthermore, the Home Office has been shy with its data. Last year, it responded to our Freedom of Information request with the numbers of detainees who had self-harmed, been admitted to hospital and were on suicide watch in immigration centres in the UK. This year, after submitting the same request, identically worded, we were summarily informed they did not hold this data or the work involved in extracting it would cost more than 600. The department has a duty of accountability and to protect vulnerable people in its care. Sharing accurate and robust information is an important measure of that. It is alarming that this pattern of avoiding scrutiny should follow so soon after Wendy Williams Lessons Learned report which criticised the Home Office for failing to learn from its mistakes and fixing systemic issues that led to a crisis situation. Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Show all 15 1 /15 Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' arriving at Tilbury Docks from Jamaica, with 482 Jamaicans on board, emigrating to Britain. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaican immigrants being welcomed by RAF officials from the Colonial Office after the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' landed them at Tilbury. PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner who arrived in Britain in 1948 on the first Windrush ship to dock in Tilbury, Essex, speaking at his home in Leeds PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner in Leeds shortly after he arrived in Britain in 1948 on the first Windrush ship to dock in Tilbury, Essex PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Gardner was 22 years old when he boarded the ship in Kingston, Jamaica, with his brother Gladstone before they and hundreds of Caribbean migrants called on to rebuild post-war Britain disembarked the ship in Tilbury Docks PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner (right), during his RAF service in 1947 PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The son of Ruth Williams, a Windrush-generation immigrant, wants to the leave the country after threats of deportation. According to his mother, Mr Haynes applied for British citizenship in 2016 but was rejected, despite Ms Williams having lived in the UK almost permanently since arriving from St Vincent and the Grenadines in 1959. Ruth Williams, 75, said she felt "betrayed" by Britain after the Home Office twice turned down applications for her 35-year-old son, Mozi Haynes, to remain in the country. Ms Williams is understood to have cancer and said she relies heavily on her son for support. PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The British liner 'Empire Windrush' at port in 1954. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Ruth Williams, 75, with her British passport. "I feel betrayed and a second class citizen in my own country," she said. "This makes me so sad and the Home Office must show some compassion. "I am unwell and almost 75, I live on my own and I need my son to stay here. I need my family around me and I cant face being alone. He has applied to the Home Office and been refused twice." PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK From the top, hopeful Jamaican boxers Charles Smith, Ten Ansel, Essi Reid, John Hazel, Boy Solas and manager Mortimer Martin arrive at Tilbury on the Empire Windrush in the hope of finding work in Britain. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaicans reading a newspaper whilst on board the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' bound for Tilbury docks in Essex. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK After half a century in Britain, Anthony Bryan decided it was time to go abroad. But the decision set off a nightmare that saw him lose his job, detained twice and almost deported to Jamaica. AFP/Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaica-born Anthony Bryan poses outside his home in Edmonton, north London. Now 60 and a grandfather, Bryan thought the issue could be resolved swiftly, as he legally moved to Britain with his family as part of the Windrush generation of Caribbean migrants after World War II. In 1948, the ship Windrush brought the first group of migrants from the West Indies to help rebuild post-war Britain, and many others followed from around the Commonwealth. A 1971 law gave them indefinite leave to remain, but many never formalised their status, often because they were children who came over on their parents' passports and then never applied for their own. AFP/Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Three Jamaican immigrants (left to right) John Hazel, a 21-year-old boxer, Harold Wilmot, 32, and John Richards, a 22-year-old carpenter, arriving at Tilbury on board the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush', smartly dressed in zoot suits and trilby hats. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Newly arrived Jamaican immigrants on board the 'Empire Windrush' at Tilbury in 1948. Getty There were seeds of hope when former Home Secretary Amber Rudd acknowledged that her department often lost sight of the individual, and her successor, Sajid Javid, committed to putting things right. And while there has been appetite for change among Home Office officials, our current Home Secretary seems to have donned a cloak of invisibility at time when leadership is needed the most. As Coronavirus and lockdown continues, asylum seekers continue to live with the prospect of destitution and serious health issues. These people, many of whom have compromised immune systems linked to past abuse, are amongst the most at risk in our community. Their precarious living conditions further reduce their chances of survival. If the Home Secretary is serious about protecting people in these unprecedented times, then she must learn lessons of the recent past and act now. Being missing in action is a dereliction of duty, and ultimately it is asylum seekers like Fuligdi who will pay a dear price for it. Sonya Sceats is chief executive of Freedom from Torture T he terrible paradox of quality news provision hardly needs repeating: the news industry is playing a vital role in our national and global emergency, and yet is unable to generate enough revenue to sustain its essential activities. Covid-19 has brought to a head a number of long-term themes. We have done two things in the last few weeks. We have brought to everyones attention the sheer scale of the revenue damage caused by Covid-19 on the news industry, and we have called for Government intervention to deal with the crisis. Our findings are stark: considerably more than 1billion of revenue will fall out of the general and specialist news media marketplace in 2020. We estimate 750 million will fall out of the print media advertising market Declines in online advertising will generate an additional shortfall of more than 100 million+ Declines in circulation revenue will dig a further 250 million+ hole for publishers Content marketing studios have all but been wiped out, as have live events. These revenue streams are very important for a wide range of publishers, and it does not seem unreasonable to suggest another shortfall of more than 150 million The best-protected publishers, those with the least reliance on print advertising, will see total revenues decline by a third; while those publishers more exposed to the crisis will see total revenues decline by more than 50%; some by more than 90 per cent We do not know of a single publisher large or small with an operating margin able to absorb declines of this scale and nature. Not one. We are aware there are schemes designed to support companies during this emergency, such as furloughing. But such schemes cannot be utilised by publishers for journalists they wish to keep working even as the revenues evaporate. And delaying payments effectively borrowing from the Government for a period of time has limited appeal for publishers under severe financial pressure. More broadly, outside of the Covid-19 crisis, we are acutely aware of the debates between Google, Facebook and the news industry regarding the value of quality news provision to the economics of search and social media. As a result of the Cairncross Review and other parliamentary and public policy initiatives, the UK government is rightly concerned about the complex yet brutal structural challenges the print-to-online migration creates. Market incentives that have worked for decades centuries even have been sabotaged. The government is not trying to save publishing companies in some partisan fashion; it is trying to help design a sustainable and attractive model for quality news provision in the mobile, social era. Politicians from all sides want a lively, commercially successful news and content economy. The mood music is changing; Australian lawmakers have adjusted a voluntary oversight recommendation for how platforms such as Google and Facebook fund news into one of mandatory regulation. These are sensitive and intricate issues about the economics and public policies required for the distribution of information as a public good in a commercial marketplace. I am not privately pushing for all of that to be resolved at speed a recipe for bad decisions and bad regulation. But equally, this is a time for communities, including inextricably linked business ecosystems, to work effectively together. Readers in lockdown may not wish to purchase a copy now, or businesses to advertise right now, but these stakeholders in local news will certainly hope to be able to do so when the measures ease. The path to the new normal requires the dissemination of information at the local level, and is surely a critical objective for public policy to support. The media welcomes Google and Facebooks recent initiatives the fivemonth waiver of ad-server fees for news providers, and a Journalism Emergency Relief Fund. But I fear these are not enough. We have publicly (and privately) made the same point to Government: its contribution to a news media advertising campaign is very welcome and has been impressively co-ordinated. But it is not nearly enough to offset the industrys catastrophic revenue losses. Google and Facebook provide a direct and intimate dissemination of critical information during this global and national emergency. The creators of the most reliable and richest content written or commissioned by local and national professional journalists, from tiny native businesses through to large corporate enterprises are under extraordinary financial pressure right now, today. Our analysis suggests 5,000 journalists and dozens of publishers from the smallest to the largest are at risk. We have no doubt that these catastrophic economic conditions will persist for several years, possibly more. We are deeply concerned about the impact on the quality of global and national democracy and debate should the quality of our titles be radically diminished. We can but hope that the emergence of a strengthened symbiotic relationship between Google, Facebook and the ecosystem will help to sustain it through current nuclear winter conditions. None of the industry and political leaders who can influence outcomes can let those risks materialise under our watch. Failure for me to highlight the scale and urgency of this issue with Google and Facebook would be a dereliction of duty when the consequences for communities up and down the UK would be so dire. Vietnamese workers returning from China at a quarantine zone in Lao Cai Province. Photo courtesy of Lao Cai Newspaper. Vietnam has to open more quarantine camps to accommodate 500 Vietnamese workers coming back from China, border authorities say. Hoang Quoc Hung, director of the Lao Cai Health Department, said the northern border provinces saw a sudden increase in migrant workers returning home Wednesday morning from China. Local authorities decided to open a separate quarantine camp at the Thai Nguyen University Campus, which has a maximum capacity of 1,600 beds, to accommodate current and future returning workers. "The province has welcomed about 500 workers coming back from China over the past three days. The reason for their return is the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic which has forced Chinese factories to lay off workers," he said. Hung said nearly 200 people working on farms across the border returned home by trails and open paths, from where border guards found them and took them to the quarantine zone. "We have already tested them and have not detected any infection cases yet." The province expects to welcome about 2,900 more workers in days to come, Hung said. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak, Lao Cai has established nine quarantine camps across eight border districts and one in the provincial center. As of April 18, the province had opened four more camps in Bac Ha, Si Ma Cai, Muong Khuong and Bat Xat districts. Vietnam has spent a week without a new Covid-19 infection, keeping its tally unchanged at 268 since last Thursday. With 223 patients discharged, the number of active cases stands at 45, the Health Ministry confirmed. The Covid-19 pandemic, now in 210 countries and territories, has a reported death toll of more than 183,800. The energy industry is in the middle of a commodity downturn. While that's not unusual, this particular trough is unique and likely to linger. In response, Chevron (NYSE:CVX), along with many peers, is pulling back on its capital spending plans. The headlines around what's going on, however, don't really explain the extent of the situation at Chevron. Here's a different look at the moves the company is making. Not an ordinary downturn Oil and natural gas are commodities subject to often swift and large price swings. So, on one hand, the current price drop isn't unusual for the highly cyclical industry. However, this time around, there's a confluence of events that suggest that this is going to be a deep and long downturn. The energy industry has been working to adjust to increasing U.S. output for roughly a decade or so. That's kept a lid on oil and natural gas prices, and was largely being dealt with via OPEC-led production cuts. The problem with this approach, however, was that U.S. production just offset every cut made. Eventually, OPEC and Russia parted ways on a broader production cut agreement that essentially started a price war that pushed oil sharply lower. While this was going on, COVID-19 led countries around the world to effectively shut down their economies. That put even more pressure on energy prices. Eventually Russia and OPEC got back on the same page, with the United States fully in the loop, and production cuts are again on the table. But oil prices haven't really recovered, because the bigger problem now is demand, which fell off a cliff because of the worldwide effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. With less oil and natural gas being used, excess supplies are piling up in storage. And all of that has to be worked off before energy prices can start to recover in a meaningful way. Put simply, oil and natural gas prices are likely to be low for longer than anyone was expecting just a few months ago. That's a troubling backdrop. Pulling back on spending Not surprisingly, companies throughout the energy industry are pulling back on their spending plans. That's a good move for two reasons: Not only does it help to conserve cash, but it will also reduce output. Chevron is no different in this regard, as it announced its intention to trim its 2020 capital spending plans by roughly $4 billion. About half of that cut, by the way, is going to come out of its U.S. onshore drilling efforts. So it's not only pulling back -- it's pulling back in what is probably the biggest trouble spot. That $4 billion figure amounts to roughly 20% of Chevron's original $20 billion capital spending budget in 2020. It's worth noting that Chevron's $20 billion in spending was already among the lowest relative to cash flow in the industry. The cut, meanwhile, will provide it with extra breathing room as it looks to maintain its dividend through a deep industry downturn. However, the 20% number that headlined the company's move isn't the full picture. It takes time to change direction in the energy space -- oil and natural gas wells aren't something that can be turned off and on like a light switch. So Chevron's effort to pull back will, indeed, lead to a $4 billion spending reduction in 2020. But the longer-term impact will be larger, because the cost cuts aren't going to be evenly distributed throughout the year. For example, the company is expecting capital spending to be roughly $7 billion in the second half of the year. That's a run rate of $14 billion. Going back to the original $20 billion plan for 2020, we now have a very different number to look at. In 2020 Chevron will spend about 20% less than originally expected. But it will exit the year with spending that's on a trajectory about 30% below the original plan. That "$4 billion in cost reductions" number isn't the whole story. Assuming nothing changes from here, Chevron will enter 2021 at a run rate that's $6 billion below the original 2020 plan -- and, thus, will already have another 13% or so year-over-year reduction in capital spending baked into its numbers without the need to do much of anything. A strong position Chevron is dealing with an ugly oil market as best it can, just like all of its peers. That includes cutting back on spending, and the cuts it's making are bigger than they at first appear. That's good, because the oil downturn is likely to be longer than usual because of the extra oil piling up in storage. Now add to this story that Chevron has one of the strongest balance sheets in the industry, entering 2020 with a financial debt to equity ratio of just 0.12 times or so -- well below most of its peers. If you are looking at the downtrodden energy sector for investment opportunities, Chevron increasingly looks like one of the best positioned names today. The states basic police academy in Salem, closed last month by Oregons coronavirus outbreak, is reopening in mid-May with a class of 38 recruits. The academy will take extra steps to promote social distancing -- with students and staff wearing protective masks and those housed in dorms living in single-occupancy rooms, said Linsay Hale, acting director of the state Department of Public Safety Standards & Training. The students will return to the Salem campus on May 11 to complete the last four weeks of their 16-week training so the class can graduate on June 3. The academy shut down on March 17 after several students living in dorms on campus tested positive for the virus. Training on vehicle stops, firearms, defensive tactics, pursuit training, mock trial, as well as the final exam, a final project and the Oregon physical abilities test are among the hours of classes still needed to be completed. "None of the training delivered will involve close contact activities that cannot accommodate social distancing,'' Hale said. The students who require dorm accommodations will be put into single-occupancy rooms and a rigorous cleaning schedule will be adopted to make sure all venues are cleaned multiple times a day, according to Hale. The agency will share its training safety plan with the Oregon Health Authority and the governors office. The completion of four other basic police classes that were suspended mid-course and the start dates of future classes remain to be determined. About 125 other recruits, for example, had been scheduled to start basic police academy classes on April 16. Hale has been acting director of the police certification agency while Director Eriks Gabliks has worked with the state Office of Emergency Managements emergency coordination center, now temporarily housed at the academy site. The emergency center moved to the site to allow for greater social distancing among those staffing the center, but its operations will be ramping down by the end of May, Gabliks said. The way we do training in the future will be different, he said. The returning class will be a good beta test for what future training will look like," he said. "We still know there are people being hired who we need to train. Yet, according to Hale, "We arent seeing a tremendous amount of hiring, which we can attribute to the unknown financial impact of the COVID crisis on communities around the state.'' -- Maxine Bernstein Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212 Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian Subscribe to Facebook page Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter (Newser) Climate change could usher in more volcanic eruptions, according to new research focusing on the 2018 Kilauea eruptions in Hawaii. The research published Wednesday in Nature suggests the Kilauea eruptions were triggered by months of extreme rainfall, which included a 24-hour period that set a US record. The idea is that water penetrated volcanic rock pores some 1.8 miles below the surface, causing pore pressure to reach its highest level in 47 years, reports the New York Times. Per the Guardian, this would've weakened the rock (in a process similar to hydraulic fracturing), allowing magma to escape. In analyzing Kilauea eruptions since 1790, Jamie Farquharson and Falk Amelung of the University of Miami found 60% of eruptions occurred during the five-month rainy season from November to March. story continues below While rainfall has been linked to shallow eruptions, "this is the first time an impact at depth has been found," per the Guardian. It's not a new idea, though. The geologist JD Dana suggested rainfall played a role in Kilauea eruptions back in the 1800s. Interestingly, scientists spotted water at the bottommost part of Kilauea's crater in August 2019, per Live Science, which reported it was "the first time water has been found to exist on the volcano." But other scientists doubt the peak pressure described in the study would've been enough. Michael Poland of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory argues the eruptions were instead caused by a "kink in the hose," as lava flowing from the crater had diminished. If the new theory is correct, however, climate change, expected to bring more "prolonged periods of extreme rainfall," could increase eruptions, the scientists say. (Read more Kilauea volcano stories.) Siena College in Loudonville and Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs have joined a drumbeat of Capital Region institutions announcing faculty and staff furloughs and other cost-saving measures to address an immediate budget gap created by the COVID-19 pandemic and loss of room-and-board revenue since campuses have gone remote. Siena College will return about $8.7 million to students in dining and housing refunds and credits, which accounts for about 36 percent of the colleges annual revenue, according to school officials. The college's endowments are also weakened by havoc the outbreak has inflicted on financial markets. Siena President Margaret E. Madden in a memo to students, parents, and staff on Wednesday called the decision to furlough 75 employees starting May 1 difficult, but "fiscally unavoidable." "The unimaginable circumstances provoked by the COVID-19 pandemic have critically strained the Colleges financial position," Madden wrote. "We must immediately and aggressively mitigate the damages by adopting short-term austerity measures. The Cabinet and the Board of Trustees considered many options, but in no scenario could we possibly accommodate staffing levels at 100 percent as long as the campus remains closed." A number of Siena faculty and staff have agreed to take pay cuts or lose benefits to help close the fiscal gap. Notably, the friars at the Catholic university have agreed to forgo their salaries until the end of the year "in demonstration of their commitment to the Franciscan tradition and Catholic identity of Siena," Madden said. Latest coronavirus-related cancellations, postponements The latest coronavirus numbers in NY Sign up for the Times Union coronavirus newsletter Full coronavirus coverage The college's president-elect Chris Gibson has decided to take a 25 percent salary reduction beginning on his first day, July 1, through the end of the calendar year. "It is a noble gesture of leading by example, and Dr. Gibson indicated that he would ask for a deeper and/or extended cut to his salary should the crisis worsen," Madden wrote. Siena will also suspend its 10 percent contribution to the faculty retirement plan through Dec. 31, at which point the benefit will be reconsidered. An amendment to the Faculty Handbook to this effect was approved by a majority of the faculty on Tuesday. The suspension, which begins May 1, will save the college about $2.4 million. Skidmore is facing a $4.5 million financial hit from room-and-board reimbursements alone. "The cancellation of our summer programs and events means the additional loss of budgeted income of more that $2 million, and our endowment is currently down more than 10 percent," Skidmore President Philip A. Glotzbach wrote in an email to the Skidmore community. No decision has been made on how many would be impacted by furloughs at Skidmore, a spokeswoman said Wednesday. The 2,600-student Saratoga County school is expected to receive $1.6 million in stimulus funds, with half of those dollars to be used for student grants. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Glotzbach said the school has also implemented a salary and hiring freeze and will postpone any planned construction. Faculty and staff should be prepared for other cost-saving measures, such as voluntary salary reductions for certain employees and changes to employee health insurance cost-sharing, he added. Furloughs across the higher education sector were prompted largely by passage of the federal CARES Act, which provides $600 weekly on top of unemployment benefits from the state. Assistance through the CARES Act is available until July 31. The Capital Region is home to more than 2o colleges and universities many of which were already under financial strain due to declining enrollments associated with demographic shifts and rising tuition costs. Private colleges, in particular, are facing significant budget uncertainty as they issue millions of dollars in room-and-board reimbursements to college students. The first wave of federal stimulus funds is expected to cover a fraction of the losses. The College of Saint Rose, in Albany, last week announced furloughs and temporary pay cuts to address a budget deficit widened by the coronavirus epidemic. Federal CARES Act relief funds are only expected to cover half of $3.1 million in losses associated with room-and-board reimbursements. Schenectady's Union College has furloughed 274 employees to address a $7 million immediate financial shortfall caused by the cancellation of on-campus instruction during the health crisis. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Monday began notifying 280 employees that they would be furloughed effective May 1 through July 31. The school, which serves nearly 8,000 students, stands to gain $4.8 million in relief aid from the federal CARES Act, with half of the funds going to students. - Michael V. has recently said no to posting any good deeds on social media - He aired such statement amid the novel coronavirus pandemic - He stated that generous people should feed the hungry and not their ego - Some celebrities reacted after seeing the post of the award-winning comedian PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed Several showbiz personalities in the Philippines have reacted to the recent post of Michael V. regarding publicizing help amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. KAMI learned that the award-winning comedian is not in favor of the decision of some people to post their selfless deeds on social media. The Bubble Gang star stated through his recent Instagram post that now is the time to help other people anonymously. He also mentioned that those who have generous hearts amid this pandemic should feed other people and not their ego. Now is the perfect time to help out anonymously. Feed the people. Not the ego, he wrote. Helping without posting, he added through a hashtag. PAY ATTENTION: Enjoyed reading our story? Download KAMI's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major Filipino news! Celebrities like Kim Domingo, Lovely Abella, and Ashley Rivera have reacted to the said post of Michael V. They all agreed with the statement of the popular actor. Totoo, Kim wrote, Truths! God bless kuya and buong family mo po, Lovely also said. In a previous article by , Michael V.s parody of Buwan by JK Labajo went viral on social media. Michael V. is one of the most respected celebrities in the Philippines. His real name is Beethoven Michael del Valle Bunagan. He portrays the main role in the hit series Pepito Manaloto. 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! A Filipino found his own way to help frontliners amid pandemic. They had to walk an hour, an hour and a half to get to work. I mean, coming from an 8-hour shift sa hospital, tapos palalakarin mo pa yung nurse o kahit security guard. Parang hindi makatarungan, diba? on HumanMeter! Source: KAMI.com.gh At least 26 Bhutanese nationals stranded in Odisha amid the COVID 19-induced lockdown left for home on Thursday in a special flight. A Druk Air flight took off from Bengaluru with a few Bhutan-bound passengers. It landed at the Bhubaneswar airport earlier in the day, where the group of 26, who were stranded in Odisha, boarded the plane following completion of necessary formalities, a senior official said. The aircraft finally left Biju Patnaik International Airport for Paro at 2 pm, he said. "All stakeholders, including the Customs, immigration, CISF and others extended their cooperation for smooth transition and we ensured social distancing and cleanliness at the airport," the official said. A student of NIT, Rourkela, who was among the 26 passengers, said he was excited to return home. "We will be safe at home as the number of coronavirus cases is far less in Bhutan. Our embassy has communicated with us and facilitated our evacuation," he said. Another female student from Siksha 'O' Anusandhan, a deemed-to-be university, said that she was concerned about loss of studies amid the lockdown. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [April 23, 2020] ADVA posts quarterly revenues of EUR 132.7 million for Q1 2020 ADVA (News - Alert) (ISIN: DE0005103006), a leading provider of open networking solutions for the delivery of cloud and mobile services, reported financial results for Q1 2020 ended on March 31, 2020. The results have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200422005933/en/ Uli Dopfer, CFO, ADVA (Photo: Business Wire) Q1 2020 financial summary1 (in thousands of EUR) Q1 Q1 Change Q4 Change 2020 2019 2019 Revenues 132,686 128,160 3.5% 151,135 -12.2% Pro forma gross profit 42,275 45,132 -6,3% 54,633 -22.6% in % of revenues 31.9% 35.2% -3.3pp 36.1% -4.2pp Pro forma operating income -1,671 2,748 n.a. 10,333 n.a. in % of revenues -1,3% 2.1% -3.4pp 6.8% -8.1pp Operating income2 -4,038 868 n.a. 5,438 n.a. Net income2 -7,235 1,036 n.a. 2,522 n.a. (in thousands of EUR) Mar. 31 2020 Mar. 31 2019 Change Dec. 31 2019 Change Cash and cash equivalents 52,753 49,323 7.0% 54,263 -2.8% Net debt3 67,705 73,702 -8.1% 61,146 10.7% 1 Potential differences due to rounding 2 Q1 2020 including EUR 0.8 million and Q4 2019 including EUR 3.2 million one-off expenses 3 Q1 2020 including EUR 32.5 million, Q4 2019 including EUR 34.4 million and Q1 2019 including EUR 36.8 million lease liabilities due to IFRS 16 Q1 2020 IFRS financial results Revenues for Q1 2020 decreased by 12.2% to EUR 132.7 million from EUR 151.1 million in Q4 2019 and grew by 3.5% from EUR 128.2 million in the same year-ago period. Pro forma operating income for Q1 2020 was negative EUR 1.7 million (-1.3% of revenues), substantially down from EUR 10.3 million (6.8% of revenues) in Q4 2019 and also down from EUR 2.7 million (2.1% of revenues) in the same year-ago period. The decline in profitability is mainly due to the lockdown in Wuhan at the beginning of the first quarter and to significant project-related shifts in the product and customer mix in Q1 2020. Consequently, operating income for Q1 2020 of negative EUR 4.0 million significantly decreased from EUR 5.4 million reported for Q4 2019 and decreased from EUR 0.9 million in the same year-ago quarter. One-off expenses are primarily driven by selective head count reduction and site closures and amounted to EUR 0.8 million in Q1 2020. ADVA reported a net loss of EUR 7.2 million in Q1 2020 that decreased significantly from a net income of EUR 2.5 million in Q4 2019 and declined from a net income of EUR 1.0 million in Q1 2019. At quarter-end, the company's cash and cash equivalents totaled at EUR 52.8 million, representing a decrease of 2.8% compared to EUR 54.3 million at the end of Q4 2019 and an increase of 7.0% compared to EUR 49.3 million in Q1 2019. The company's net debt in Q1 2020 increased by EUR 6.6 million to EUR 67.7 million from EUR 61.1 million at the end of Q4 2019 and improved by EUR 6.0 million compared to Q1 2019. Net working capital at quarter-end was EUR 134.2 million compared to EUR 128.2 million at the end of Q4 2019. Trade account receivables decreased from EUR 96.2 million to EUR 88.2 million and inventories decreased from EUR 105.4 million to 91.5 million, respectively. At the same time trade account payables declined to EUR 45.5 million compared to EUR 73.4 million in the previous quarter. While demand in Q1 2020 developed positively, there are still increased risks in maintaining the ability to supply. A recession-related decline in demand can also have a negative impact on the business performance of ADVA. Due to the current uncertainties about the further course of the crisis and its effects on ADVA's business, it is not possible to reliably predict further implications for the company. Therefore, the management board has concluded that the guidance of February 20, 2020, outlined in the 2019 annual report cannot be upheld and therefore withdraws the previous outlook for the 2020 financial year. Originally, the company had forecasted increasing revenues to more than EUR 580 million with an increased pro forma operating income of more than 5% of revenues. Additionally, the management board expected an improvement in net debt in the single-digit percentage range and a net promoter score of at least 40%. Management commentary "We are currently experiencing a crisis that is unprecedented in the history of the modern, industrialized world. Covid-19 knows no national borders, affects all continents and creates severe challenges for all of us," said Brian Protiva (News - Alert), CEO, ADVA. "As a network equipment supplier, we serve some of the world's most critical communications infrastructures. As such, we're doing everything humanly possible to remain fully operational, while protecting the safety and health of our employees, partners and customers. Order entry from a few large customers was strong in the first quarter, and our main focus is on maintaining our ability to deliver. We have developed a very agile and flexible supply chain, and our development and distribution centers have so far largely avoided the crisis. Apart from a few minor exceptions, our production and supply chains are intact. Clearly, this can worsen suddenly, and that's why we have developed a strategy that enables us to compensate for production and delivery bottlenecks due to possible location closures." "Despite elevated levels of uncertainty on the demand and supply side, we operate in a framework of financial resilience," commented Uli Dopfer, CFO, ADVA. "We were able to improve our operating cash flow compared to the year-ago quarter while our cash balance of EUR 52.8 million remained on a comfortable level. We have a strong order backlog and are confident that we will grow sequentially in Q2 2020. So far, we haven't utilized any of the Covid-19-related government loans. However, we are reviewing all meaningful opportunities and actively manage our working capital to ensure balance sheet stability and financial flexibility." The company will publish its financial results for Q2 2020 on July 23, 2020. Conference call details ADVA will hold a conference call for analysts and investors today, April 23, 2020, to discuss these results and management's outlook. The company's CEO, Brian Protiva, and CFO, Uli Dopfer, will host the call at 3:00 p.m. CEST (9:00 a.m. EDT). A question and answer session will follow management presentations. To participate, please register here. Once registered, you will receive the dial-in details via e-mail. A corresponding presentation is available on ADVA's website: https://www.adva.com/en/about-us/investors/financial-results/conference-calls The complete quarterly statement 3M (News - Alert) 2020 (January - March) is available as a PDF here: https://www.adva.com/en/about-us/investors/financial-results/financial-statements A replay of the call will be available here: https://www.adva.com/en/about-us/investors/financial-results/conference-calls Forward-looking statements The economic projections and forward-looking statements contained in this document relate to future facts. Such projections and forward-looking statements are subject to risks that cannot be foreseen and that are beyond the control of ADVA. ADVA is therefore not in a position to make any representation as to the accuracy of economic projections and forward-looking statements or their impact on the financial situation of ADVA or the market in the shares of ADVA. Use of pro forma financial information ADVA provides consolidated pro forma financial results in this press release solely as supplemental financial information to help investors and the financial community make meaningful comparisons of ADVA's operating results from one financial period to another. ADVA believes that these pro forma consolidated financial results are helpful because they exclude non-cash charges related to the stock option programs and amortization and impairment of goodwill and acquisition-related intangible assets, which are not reflective of the company's operating results for the period presented. Additionally, expenses related to restructuring measures are not included. This pro forma information is not prepared in accordance with IFRS and should not be considered a substitute for the historical information presented in accordance with IFRS. About ADVA ADVA is a company founded on innovation and focused on helping our customers succeed. Our technology forms the building blocks of a shared digital future and empowers networks across the globe. We're continually developing breakthrough hardware and software that leads the networking industry and creates new business opportunities. It's these open connectivity solutions that enable our customers to deliver the cloud and mobile services that are vital to today's society and for imagining new tomorrows. Together, we're building a truly connected and sustainable future. For more information on how we can help you, please visit us at www.adva.com. Published by: ADVA Optical Networking (News - Alert) SE, Munich, Germany www.adva.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200422005933/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] BANGKOK - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told his Southeast Asian counterparts on Thursday that China is taking advantage of the worlds preoccupation with the coronavirus pandemic to push its territorial ambitions in the South China Sea. Pompeo made the accusation in a meeting via video to discuss the outbreak with the foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Beijings expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea conflict with those of ASEAN members Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia, and are contested by Washington, which has an active naval presence in the Pacific. Beijing has moved to take advantage of the distraction, from Chinas new unilateral announcement of administrative districts over disputed islands and maritime areas in the South China Sea, its sinking of a Vietnamese fishing vessel earlier this month, and its research stations on Fiery Cross Reef and Subi Reef, Pompeo said. He also accused China of deploying militarized ships to intimidate other claimant countries from developing offshore gas and oil projects. Most other participants focused in their statements on health, economic and social problems resulting from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. The Foreign Ministers exchanged views on the COVID-19 situation in their respective countries, as well as information and best practices on dealing with the outbreak from a public health perspective, Singapore said. They noted the grave socio-economic impact of COVID-19, and emphasized the need for ASEAN and the U.S. to work closely together on a forward-looking approach to address post-pandemic economic recovery. Pompeo thanked Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia for their material aid in fighting the outbreak and noted U.S. financial assistance. To date, the United States has released more than $35.3 million in emergency health funding to help ASEAN countries fight the virus, building on the $3.5 billion in public health assistance provided across ASEAN over the last twenty years, he said, announcing also a new project to promote ASEAN health security through research, public health and training. Pompeo also called on China to close its wildlife markets. It is generally believed the coronavirus originated at one such wet market in Wuhan in China, though blame for the epidemic has become a hot debate between Beijing and Washington. Pompeo said the U.S was also concerned by a recent scientific report showing that Beijings upstream dam operations have unilaterally altered flows of the Mekong, endangering the livelihoods of tens of millions of people living downstream in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. - Associated Press journalists Eileen Ng in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Hau Dinh in Hanoi, Vietnam, contributed to this report. Donald Kennedy, a neurobiologist who headed the Food and Drug Administration before becoming president of Stanford University, where he oversaw major expansions of its campus and curriculum and weathered a crisis over research spending, died April 21 in Redwood City, California. He was 88. His death, at a residential care facility, was caused by complications of the new coronavirus, his wife, Robin Kennedy, said. He had suffered a severe stroke in 2015. Stanford had been Kennedys life since 1960, when, not yet 30, he joined its faculty as an assistant professor of biology. And except for a stint in the late 1970s as head of the FDA under President Jimmy Carter, he remained wedded to the university, becoming provost and then president in 1980, beginning an 11-year tenure. It was a productive one. During his presidency, the university opened the Stanford Humanities Center and campuses in Oxford, England; Kyoto, Japan; and Washington; diversified the Western culture curriculum; and raised $1.2 billion in a five-year centennial campaign, although by the end of the decade the university was facing deficits. His tenure also coincided with fiery debates over anti-war protests and academic freedom by both professors and students, divestiture of the universitys holdings in companies doing business in South Africa, and $160 million in damage inflicted by the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989. A would-be writer who had become a neurobiologist in college adventitiously, Kennedy found his leadership under the microscope in the early 1990s, when the university was accused and later cleared of improperly billing the Navy for research expenses. The accusations were aired by federal auditors and Rep. John D. Dingell Jr., a tenacious Michigan Democrat, who said that Stanford may have billed the government for as much as $200 million in improper expenses on research contracts for more than a decade. By 1994, Stanford had agreed that a total of about $3 million had been inadvertently billed to the government, but the federal auditors concluded that there was no evidence of misrepresentation by the university. Still, the damage was done to Stanfords reputation, and Kennedy resigned in 1991, attributing the government accusations to political and personal vendettas and acknowledging that they had contributed to his decision to step down. It is very difficult, I have concluded, for a person identified with a problem to be the spokesman for its solution, he said in announcing his resignation. He went on to edit the journal Science. But he had his ardent supporters on the Bay Area campus, where he was known to bike to work and engage with students. Among them was his protege Cory Booker, the future senator from New Jersey, whom Kennedy had encouraged to apply for a Rhodes Scholarship. To watch him lead through the indirect cost crisis, through professional and personal attacks, under tremendous stress and strain, with clouds amassed over his head and challenges raining on him," Booker wrote in the foreword to Kennedys memoir, A Place in the Sun (2017), was a study in leadership, character, and discipline, always better shown in times of crisis than when all is going well. Donald Kennedy was born Aug. 18, 1931, in Manhattan to William and Barbara (Bean) Kennedy. His father was a writer, an editor and an assistant dean of the Harvard Business School. His mother was a teacher and journalist. As his father repeatedly switched jobs, Donald was raised in about a half-dozen locales, including Greenwich, Connecticut, by the time he was 15. After graduating from the Dublin School in New Hampshire, he enrolled in Harvard University intending to major in English and be a writer; at one point he received an A on a 5,000-word final paper in creative writing. But, as he recalled in his memoir, his professor, perhaps pointing him toward a more profitable profession, asked him over sherry one night: Tell me, Don. What else interests you? Surprised by the question, I gathered my wits and responded, Well, biology and natural history, I guess. Biology, he said. That sounds like a wonderful choice. He earned his bachelors degree in 1952, followed by a masters and a doctorate, all three from Harvard. And all in biology. Kennedy was recruited to the FDA in 1977 by Joseph A. Califano Jr., the secretary of Health, Education and Welfare. During his tenure there the agencys proposed ban on saccharin, the artificial sweetener, was defeated, but overall his record won plaudits from industry representatives and consumer advocates alike. He returned to Stanford briefly as provost before he was named president. Kennedy was a familiar presence on campus, not only biking to the quadrangle but also inviting students to join him on his morning runs up to the Dish, the radio antenna in the foothills of the campus. Kennedy is not someone whom students hear once when they arrive and then once when they graduate, The Stanford Daily, the student newspaper, editorialized in 1991. A former student, Ingrid Schwontes Jackoway, was quoted as saying in an alumni publication: I will never forget Donald Kennedy getting up on the lab table at the front of the lecture hall and assuming a quadruped position to demonstrate to us the concepts of dorsal, ventral, cephalo and caudal. His first concern was always with teaching effectively, not preserving his dignity. Kennedys marriage to Jeanne Dewey ended in divorce. In addition to his wife, Robin Hamill, who was associate counsel at Stanford when they married in 1987, he is survived by two daughters from his first marriage, Page Kennedy Rochon and Julia Kennedy Tussing; two stepchildren, Cameron Kennedy and Jamie Hamill; his brother, Dorsey; and nine grandchildren. Kennedy was the editor-in-chief of Science, the weekly journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, from 2000-08. But even there he was not immune to controversy. Researchers had fabricated their findings in several articles, and a reported sighting of an extinct ivory-billed woodpecker appeared to have been mistaken. Among his other books were The Cold and the Dark: The World After Nuclear War (1984) with Carl Sagan and Paul R. Ehrlich, and Academic Duty (1997). At his death he was Bing professor for environmental science emeritus at Stanford. Shortly after he became president, Kennedy told the student radio station, KZSU, that he intended to keep his perspective despite the pressures of the job. The president is ultimately the person to whom the problems come, he said. What you need then is to walk around, or visit a dormitory, or to give a class, or to meet a student who wants to come in and talk about a career choice. I find those occasions very uplifting because theyre not automatically negative. Theyre not the kind of problems that are programmed for the presidents desk because they havent been solved by anybody else. Instead, theyre the kinds of things that go on around here day by day, and make this a terrific place. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Mumbai, April 24 : In a shocking development, Maharashtra Housing Minister Jitendra Awhad has tested COVID-19 positive, official sources said here early on Friday. Awhad, along with a dozen of his family members had been in home quarantine since past 10 days. The decision was taken as a precaution after one of his security personnel had tested positive. The matter was first highlighted by IANS on April 13. Earlier, the minister had tested negative, but a subsequent report on Thursday had come positive, alarming the state health authorities. The senior Nationalist Congress Party was admitted to a hospital on Wednesday for further tests. It's suspected that the Minister may have unknowingly passed on the infection to several persons who are now under treatment. The minister had come in contact with a policeman in Thane's Mumbra town during the search for persons who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi earlier this month. Among other contacts if the infected policeman were several other police personnel, mediapersons, officials, including Awhad, sending shockwaves in state circles. While a senior minister confirmed the development to IANS, there's no reaction from the NCP or the government so far. Earlier this month health authorities went into a tizzy after a tea-seller.outside the Bandra residence of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had tested COVID-19 positive. DETROIT - Cindy Parkhurst could have stayed home collecting most of her pay while the Ford plant where she normally works remains closed due to coronavirus fears. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. DETROIT - Cindy Parkhurst could have stayed home collecting most of her pay while the Ford plant where she normally works remains closed due to coronavirus fears. Instead, she along with hundreds of workers at Ford, General Motors, Toyota and other companies has gone back to work to make face shields, surgical masks and ventilators in a wartime-like effort to stem shortages of protective gear and equipment. This photo provided by Cindy Parkhurst. shows Cindy Parkhurst working at the Ford Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Flat Rock, Mich. Like hundreds of workers at Ford, General Motors, Toyota and other companies, Parkhurst has gone back to work to make face shields, surgical masks and even ventilators in a wartime-like effort to stem shortages of protective gear and equipment during the coronavirus pandemic.(Cindy Parkhurst via AP) I didnt give it a second thought, said Parkhurst, 55, a tow motor driver who is now helping Ford and its partner 3M manufacture and ship respirators. Its a neat thing to do for the community, for the first responders who definitely need this kind of protective gear. All over the country, blue-collar and salaried workers have raised their hands to make medical equipment as companies repurpose factories to answer calls for help from beleaguered nurses, doctors and paramedics who are treating patients with the highly contagious virus. Workers also are making soap and hand sanitizer, which early in the crisis were in short supply. At Ford, over 800 people returned to work at four Detroit-area sites. General Motors, which President Donald Trump had alternately criticized and praised for its work, has about 400 at a now-closed transmission plant in suburban Detroit and an electronics factory in Kokomo, Indiana, working on shields and ventilators. About 60 Toyota workers, both salaried and blue-collar, are making protective equipment in Kentucky, Texas, Michigan and Alabama. Most automakers in the U.S. temporarily stopped making vehicles about a month ago after workers complained about the risks of infection at the factories. Many white-collar workers are being paid to work remotely but members of the United Auto Workers who don't have that option are still collecting pay and unemployment benefits that equal about 95% of regular take-home wages. Those workers making medical gear will get their full base pay, but that's not what's motivating them to keep coming to the factories. Many simply want to help. Jody Barrowman has been making face masks at a repurposed former General Motors transmission factory near Detroit since early April. Instead of being home and not helpful, I thought Id be productive here," she said. This photo provided by Cindy Parkhurst. shows Cindy Parkhurst working at the Ford Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Flat Rock, Mich. Like hundreds of workers at Ford, General Motors, Toyota and other companies, Parkhurst has gone back to work to make face shields, surgical masks and even ventilators in a wartime-like effort to stem shortages of protective gear and equipment during the coronavirus pandemic.(Cindy Parkhurst via AP) She jumped at the chance to work because GM is donating the masks to hospitals and first responders which is where it needs to go, she said. Barrowman said that the operation has been so efficient that workers have been allowed to take masks home for family members. I dropped some off at my grandparents. My parents took a full packet of masks at my house. So, its not just helping the first responders. Its helping me and my family feel safe, she said. Inside a building on Toyotas giant factory complex in Georgetown, Kentucky, mechanical engineer Kirk Barber helps to ship thousands of face shields that workers are making while plants are shut down. Sometimes he personally delivers boxes to hospitals or the state government, which is distributing them. All of the workers, he said, had to undergo a cultural change to make sure they stay more than 6 feet apart to protect themselves from possible contagion. Bill Merkle works on making protective masks in Warren, Mich., Thursday, April 23, 2020. General Motors has about 400 workers at the now-closed transmission plant in suburban Detroit. All over the country, blue-collar and salaried workers have raised their hands to make medical equipment as companies repurpose factories to answer calls for help from beleaguered nurses, doctors and paramedics who are treating patients with the highly contagious new coronavirus COVID-19. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) Its a hard habit to break when youre typically up and talking to someone, pointing to a document, Barber said. People are very quick to point out hey, you guys need to keep your distance. Twenty-four UAW members have already died from COVID-19 but its unclear when or where they contracted the disease. Ford, GM and Toyota said they arent aware of any infections among workers who returned to make medical gear. Still, there's no denying the risks are likely higher at the factories than in the safety of one's home. Joseph Holt, associate professor at Notre Dames business school who specializes in ethics and leadership, said the workers and their companies are examples of business doing its best to quickly fill a critical unmet need. 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. Courage is doing what you think is right even when it might cost you, Holt said. Those workers being willing to go in to work to produce the medical equipment and personal protective gear, even at personal risk that is moral courage in action. The Detroit automakers are trying to restart production on their vehicles, perhaps as soon as early May, but both Ford and GM say medical gear production will continue. Ford says it has enough workers to do both while GM says it wont need all factory workers right away because it plans a gradual restart. Back at the Ford complex in Flat Rock, Michigan, where Parkhurst works, shes hoping the respirators shes helping to ship make their way to the hospital in nearby Dearborn, where nurses treated her mother with compassion before she died of a stroke about a year ago. She knows they must be going through hell now because the Detroit area one of the national hotspots for the virus. When I compared that to taking maybe a small risk and going in and making respirators, I feel all right, she said. ____ AP Video Journalist Mike Householder contributed to this report from Warren, Michigan. This story has been corrected to show that Cindy Parkhurt's mother died about one year ago, not 15 years ago. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) Vice President Leni Robredo has raised over 55-million worth of donations boosting her efforts to support frontliners and Filipino families amid the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. In a Facebook post, Robredo announced that the Office of the Vice President has so far received more than 55.8 million from various firms in the private sector through its fund drive for COVID-19 fight. Meanwhile, sets of personal protective equipment (PPE) have been distributed to different provinces and municipalities on Thursday, the OVP said. Among the beneficiaries are Aklan, Bohol, Iloilo, Surigao, Bacolod City, Butuan City, Dumaguete City, Pagadian City, Tacloban City, Hilongos (Southern Leyte), and some areas in Northern Mindanao. It has also received ten new units of Raider J Crossover motorcycles and 20 helmets from Suzuki Philippines which may be used by frontliners who are temporarily residing in dormitories provided by the OVP and its Angat Buhay partners it added. The Vice President is celebrating her 55th birthday today, Thursday. Two of the largest convenience store companies in Pennsylvania are working together during the coronavirus crisis, according to WFMZ-TV 69 News. They have joined forces to provide emergency relief to some of the states food banks, including Helping Harvest, a fresh food band that is a member of Feeding America. The winner in the local @Wawa vs. @Sheetz debate has finally been decided--they are BOTH amazing! We are so grateful for the enduring support of these two rivals! https://t.co/v7lmBiR57z Helping Harvest (@HelpingHarvest1) April 23, 2020 Employees from both companies recently delivered 500 lunches to Helping Harvest's warehouse in Spring Township, located outside of Reading. The lunches include a turkey sandwich, cookie, fruit cup, string cheese and bottle of water. With one of their main focuses being quarantined seniors, the companies said Helping Harvest will identify senior citizens who are most in need and deliver the lunches directly to their doorsteps. The companies also donated $2,000 each to provide hunger relief to those in need. Helping Harvest serves hundreds of food pantries in Berks and Schuylkill counties. The food bank said it has seen "a huge increase in demand" for its services since the COVID-19 pandemic began. In a typical week, it would distribute around 140,000 pounds of food. Right now, Helping Harvest is distributing more than twice that amount each week. Find out how everyone in the community can help here: Now's your chance to help us help others. Now through June 30th, donate your loyalty points to support @FeedingAmerica and we'll match that donation up to $100K. pic.twitter.com/n6r8oQsJhX SHEETZ (@sheetz) April 22, 2020 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: Vietnam eased social distancing measures Thursday, with experts pointing to a decisive response involving mass quarantines and expansive contact tracing for the apparent success in containing the coronavirus. Despite a long and porous border with China, the Southeast Asian nation has recorded just 268 virus cases and zero deaths, according to official tallies. Although the numbers tested for COVID-19 are relatively low and experts caution the authoritarian government's health ministry is the sole source for the figures, they also say there is little reason to distrust them. Vietnam was one of the first nations to ban flights to and from mainland China and in early February, when it had barely more than a dozen cases, villages with 10,000 people close to the nation's capital were placed under quarantine. There has also been aggressive contact tracing. One 72-year-old Hanoi resident described how he and a team in his community had been tasked with zeroing in on any suspected cases, falling back on grassroots Communist party networks in charge of overseeing neighbourhoods. "We go to each and every alley, knocking on each and every door," Nguyen Trinh Thang told AFP. "We follow the guidance from our government that 'fighting the pandemic is like fighting our enemy'." Vietnam's success in convincing the public to cooperate has been key, said Takeshi Kasai, the World Health Organization's Western Pacific regional director. "They're really doing their part," he said earlier this week, adding he believed around 80,000 people were placed under quarantine. "I think that's the reason why they were able to continue to keep the number (of infections) small." There are now almost no international flights arriving in Vietnam and the country has been under partial lockdown since the beginning of April. The streets of Hanoi -- normally flooded with motorbikes, tourists and vendors -- have been virtually deserted, save those most in need queueing at so-called rice ATMs for handouts. The strict controls have apparently paid off. After reporting no new infections for the sixth consecutive day on Wednesday, the government said some shops and services will be allowed to reopen. On Thursday, a few of the capital's cafes had resumed service, although the streets were still fairly quiet. - Exceeding expectations - Across Europe and the United States, local governments are struggling to keep their citizens indoors -- with beachgoers crowding on a shoreline and protesters refusing to comply with lockdown orders. In contrast, Communist Vietnam has put tens of thousands under state quarantine, including overseas citizens returning home, at military-style camps across the country. Vu Thi Nhung and her son spent two weeks sleeping in dormitory bunk beds with no mattresses at a camp in Hanoi after returning from Germany in March. Their three meals a day were deposited outside their rooms by soldiers. "You can't compare it to being at home but given Vietnam and its current economic situation during an epidemic, it exceeded my expectations," she told AFP. Neighbouring Thailand, which reported the first case outside of China in mid-January, has also seen a declining number of new cases in the past week, with doctors applauding government restrictions such as a night-time curfew. In Cambodia, the case number has remained unchanged at 122 for over a week, while cases in Laos have stayed at 19. But Oupass Putcharoen, head of Chulalongkorn Hospital's Emergency Infectious Disease Clinic in Thailand, said its neighbours' numbers could be due to the "low rate of testing". So far, Thailand has done more than 142,000 COVID-19 tests, Cambodia around 9,000 while Vietnam has carried out over 180,000 for its 96 million people. Vietnam expert Carl Thayer, an emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales, said Vietnam's case numbers should be treated with caution as Hanoi can punish for anyone who disputes them. But he added: "There are too many people from overseas, too many people with mobile phones, too many people on the internet (for a cover-up)." Actor Vipul Roy was thrilled to kickstart a new chapter of his life with fiancee Melis Atici, who stays in San Francisco, US and was planning to tie the knot in July- August at an international destination. But due to the coronavirus pandemic, everything has been put on hold and the two are currently in lockdown in different countries. She was in India till February and we were discussing dates to lock for our wedding. We were planning to have our wedding at an international destination in the month of July - August with our close friends and family. Unfortunately, she had to go back to San Francisco, USA, for her work and now she is stuck there and Im here. We were planning from past six months but everything has fallen apart now, Roy says. In a hush-hush affair, the two got engaged in Istanbul (Turkey) in 2018 which was attended by their close friends and family. And now after four years of their relationship, the couple has decided to take the plunge but are in no rush. Melis is very understanding and we mutually decided to wait for the right time. There is no point in taking any risk and nothing is more important than health, Roy shares. To cheer her up in times like these, Roy, 33, wrote a love letter and managed to courier it amid the lockdown. Long-distance relationships are tough and you do feel low when your partner isnt there around you in such times. Weve had our moments of breaking down over the phone. So to cheer her up, I wrote a love letter and just after the lockdown, the last two flights were going and I could manage to send it to her. I was tracking the courier and the moment she got it, I called her and she broke down again reading it. I wish we couldve been together in this quarantine time and got more time to spend together, Roy signs off. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Etta DArcy at the gates of the City Cemetery in Londonderry A mother-of-eight whose husband died eight months ago has said she will protest at the gates of the City Cemetery in Londonderry until it is reopened. Etta D'Arcy had been married to Hugh for 46 years when he received a shock lung cancer diagnosis after they returned from a cruise. He died suddenly just four days later on August 11, 2019. Mrs D'Arcy, whose children are aged between 30 and 44, said she doesn't see why cemeteries should remain shut when supermarkets, parks and off-licences are open. The Derry woman said the time has come for politicians to "ditch this ridiculous policy". "There is more chance of someone catching coronavirus in a supermarket or an off-licence than in a cemetery," she said. "I have visited my husband's grave every day since I lost him and I can't stand the pain of not being able to do that any more because the government in Northern Ireland has decided not to allow families to visit the graves of their loved ones. "Hugh is there and it is important for me to be able to go there to talk to him. Not being able to visit him fills me with the deepest sadness you could imagine." Read More Mrs D'Arcy, who took part in a vigil at the City Cemetery gates on Monday, has vowed to continue to do so until access is granted. She added: "If I have to go and sit in front of Stormont in Belfast to make them see sense, then I'll do it." Elsewhere, a former Ulster Unionist election candidate, who lost his daughter in a car accident seven years ago, has hit out at Sinn Fein and the Alliance Party for opposing the reopening of cemeteries. Jackson Minford's daughter, Lauren, died after a two-vehicle crash on the Moneygran Road near Portglenone as she travelled to work. Lauren (22), who lived in Ahoghill, taught pupils at Culcrow Primary School in Aghadowey and had only been working at the school since the previous September. Lauren is buried in Ahoghill Cemetery, which has been closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Jackson (62), who previously worked as a senior official with Transport NI, said his family live with her loss every day. "Lauren was just a few months short of her 23rd birthday when she died. She had only just qualified as a teacher and got her first full-time job at Culcrow where she was loved by staff and pupils," he said. Jackson is married to Alison (58) and the couple have another daughter, Emma (34). The family last visited Lauren's grave on Mothering Sunday, just prior to the lockdown. His own father, the late Nat Minford, was a South Antrim MP and Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly in the 1980s. In the 2017 Westminster election, Jackson visited Lauren's grave after accepting the UUP nomination to run against the DUP's Ian Paisley in North Antrim. "I spoke to her to get her blessing and, from that point of view, it was important to me that it was a family decision to stand. Lauren is still very much a part of our family." The Minfords have questioned why off-licences remain open while cemeteries have been shut. "At the very start we agreed with the closure of cemeteries especially when the Health Minister Robin Swann talked about the potential for 15,000 coronavirus deaths in a worst-case scenario," he said. "Now that those figures are a lot less and the public's response to social distancing is working, it shows that most people are being responsible." Jackson doesn't believe big numbers of people would visit cemeteries at the same time. "In the cemetery where Lauren is laid to rest, it is a vast open space and you're never near anyone else. We were optimistic that things would change in a few weeks and hoped it would only be a short-term measure. "Now we see that the UUP and DUP are very much in support of cemeteries reopening while Sinn Fein and Alliance are opposed to it. "People in those two parties will have lost family members so it just doesn't make sense why they insist on keeping them closed when public opinion is very much the opposite. Why not give us that little something to help us get through the next period as it would lift people's spirits?" I've often characterized my career as the accidental career, says Gallagher. I don't think I ever mapped out here's what I'm going to do and here's what I'm going to get, but as opportunity came my way, I certainly seized it. Meeting with agents in the underwriting role at Zurich exposed Gallagher to the broking side of the business, which soon became her career goal. Within a couple of years, an agent who had just started his own business was looking for a CSR and offered her the job. She jumped at the opportunity, which gave Gallagher her first taste of leadership. It was just him and me, so I had to do everything the bookkeeping, paying carriers, taking care of clients which was great experience for me, Gallagher explains. Gallagher then moved to a larger agency that was the predecessor of Aon, where she learned that she had a natural talent for securing accounts and landed her first sales gig within six months of coming over to the firm, backed by clients who followed her from her previous agency. When three years later the company asked her to sign a producer contract, she decided to take stock of her options. In her early 20s at the time, Gallagher interviewed at many agencies and none would offer her a salary, so she would have to work solely on commission. In retrospect, I was pretty young, she says, highlighting the lack of female employees at most insurance companies at the time. I don't think they believed me that they were my accounts, so I took the agency that offered me the highest commission percentage [] and I ended up taking all of my accounts with me. My income increased tenfold in the very first year and I never looked back. Learning to lead Before Gallagher became an agency president at AssuredPartners, she had a few more career pitstops along the way that exposed her to leadership. These included being president and CEO of Acordia of Michigan, which she took on after starting and running her own agency, Gallagher Group, for more than a decade. Building an agency from the ground up is no easy feat. The company encountered typical start-up struggles, from having to find space and furniture to securing appointments with insurance companies, all the while trying to keep existing clients and write new ones. As if that wasnt enough, Gallagher was also a single mom to her one-year-old daughter and had no family in the area to support her. The first year was a whirlwind, but I look back on my time with nostalgia, she says. I have fond memories of working on cardboard tables that wobbled when we had to type and worrying about making payroll, but there was also a lot of laughs and a lot of fun. When she was offered the CEO position at Acordia of Michigan, Gallagher saw an opportunity to run a major brokerage and would have been the first woman in the US to do so. She split with her partner at Gallagher Group and sold her piece of the business to Acordia, where she received more formal leadership training. They were fantastic about developing me and giving me training, says Gallagher. I found that leadership starts with self-awareness understanding your strengths and your weaknesses as a leader and as a person, and the impact you have on others. I also learned that while everybody likes to be liked, it was way more important to be consistent, fair, and earn your employees' respect. Eventually, Gallagher Group found the right acquisition partner in broker Neace Lukens, which later became AssuredPartners first acquisition. It's been a fantastic journey, watching AssuredPartners grow into the company it is today and getting to be a part of that success, says Gallagher. Being there at acquisition number one, I've gotten to see it all. The importance of education Today, Gallagher has a heap of recognitions that follow her name. They include being named an Insurance Business America Hot 100 Producer in 2019, receiving the Insurance Business America 2019 Elite Women Recognition, and winning the overall top category as the Risk and Insurance At Large Power Broker in 2020. She is also the founder and director of Insurance Partners Academy (IPA), which has been providing practical information that insurance professionals, risk managers, and insurance buyers can use from day one of classes since 2003. This initiative was an important one for Gallagher to establish given her own experience in the insurance industry. Education is an area I always felt pretty vulnerable in because I never went to college. In many ways this vulnerability has changed my perception, and taught me empathy and compassion, says Gallagher, adding that when she finally got the opportunity to go to college, she chose furthering her insurance education instead. As she developed her insurance career, she found that educating clients on exposures was a big part of the job, as was teaching and mentoring staff, which she channelled into IPA. The academys first class was Certified Workers Compensation Counselor (CWCC) and since that time, it has added four other certification classes and many webinars. Leading IPA has marked a full-circle moment in Gallaghers career, which has been defined by learning on the job and taking on new challenges as they arose. Along the way, she also found herself doing honorable, meaningful, and important work. Gallaghers real estate clients, for example, often have claims that stem from natural disasters and the importance of her job is underscored when after theyre hit by a hurricane, flood or wildfire, one of their first calls will be to Gallagher. We protect billions in assets and I've often said that I no longer feel like I'm selling insurance. I feel like we're helping our clients save lives, prevent injury and illness, and avoid financial hardship, she says. Thats been a moment for me when I knew that this work was going to be way more meaningful to me, and how important it was to be a good agent and write policies correctly so that the coverage was there when your clients had a loss. The Air Force has been planning for what its top commander Thursday called the new abnormal of coping with the risks posed by high infection rates for at least the next year or more. Gen. David Goldfein, the Air Forces chief of staff, told the Defense Writers Group that a new reset will require coping with the coronavirus until we get a vaccine. Estimates that a vaccine wont be available for upwards of a year, mean the service needs to refine its ability to survive and operate and do the missions the nation requires, he said, according to a transcript of his remarks. And weve got to bring back those missions that weve slowed down (to restore a) sense of new normalcy in an abnormal world. In outlining the turbulent skies the Air Force is navigating, Goldfein pointed to changes in basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland as an example of how it will approach the pandemic. He also described an advantage amid otherwise grim threats to its readiness for war, telling reporters that pilot retention is improving amid the sudden economic downturn that has stalled competition from airlines for its aviators. All of the planning now in the works, he said, is part of Air Force culture, one that has an acronym, ATSO Ability to Survive and Operate. The possibility of halting basic training has shadowed Air Force planning as coronavirus has spread around the world. Acting Undersecretary of the Air Force Shon Manasco, in a visit to Lackland on Wednesday, noted that the Army, Navy and Air Force briefly stopped shipping recruits to boot camps, and Pentagon discussions have centered on how to keep those pipelines flowing, but to do it in a safe manner. The training command has been isolating arriving recruits for two weeks before letting them begin basic training, and quarantining scores of recruits who came in contact with a handful of them who were ill with COVID-19. Five out of six sickened recruits so far have recovered and rejoined training units. The 59th Medical Group is overseeing a small tent city there to improve its testing and isolation capacity. Goldfein said he expects to learn by June 1 from Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, head of the Air Education and Training Command, how many recruits can safely move through Lackland and the smaller satellite location for basic training set up this month at Keesler AFB in Mississippi. Right now were at 50 percent, Goldfein said, though the reported pace of the modified basic training this month actually has approached two-thirds of normal capacity. On ExpressNews.com: Enough coronavirus-positive recruits in San Antonio could stop training, AF undersecretary says You know, were probably not gonna get to 100 percent, Goldfein said. If we can get to 60 percent, 70 percent, 75 percent, ah, that would certainly be helpful. Marilyn Holliday, an AETC spokeswoman, said it was too early to know how many recruits will graduate this year because of mitigation measures and depending on how long COVID-19 measures are in place, but the goal for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30 remained 37,000 graduates. The shortage of military aviators has been chronic, but the pandemic has slowed the operational tempo of pilot training, a bad turn given the Air Forces goal of increasing the number of new fliers. Goldfein said the impact coronavirus is having on airlines which had been hiring large numbers of military pilots every year could help the Air Force. Airlines are not flying as much for the flyer and maintainer force, Goldfein said. So were actually seeing our retention number go up, which somewhat mitigates the lack of throughput through basic training. On ExpressNews.com: Tracking coronavirus recruits, Air Force slowed outbreak at San Antonio training hub The larger problem, however, is the specter of a long, protracted battle with COVID-19. The Air Force, he told reporters, would be living with this virus and the likelihood that, even with a vaccine, it could come back in some cyclical way. So if thats the world were living in, how do we as an Air Force operate in that environment and do the nations business, especially in those key tasks that we should not expect any relief? he asked. There is no situation where I see the nation or the leadership giving us relief on having a safe, secure, effective nuclear deterrent and connecting the commander-in-chief with forces in the field. We always have thats a no fail mission. We always have to get it done and so we have to figure out how to operate. sigc@express-news.net Public health officials announced another 178 new COVID-19-related deaths on Thursday, bringing the statewide total to 2,360. Officials confirmed another 3,079 positive tests as well the highest number in a single day for a total of 46,023 cases of coronavirus statewide. But that increase coincides with the largest single report of new testing, with 14,614 new tests administered. Between state and commercial efforts, there are now 195,076 coronavirus tests that have been conducted since the start of the outbreak. Suffolk County continues to have the highest rate of infection with 1,198 being reported per 100,000 residents, followed by Norfolk, Middlesex, Plymouth and Essex with between 465 and 779 cases per 100,000. The highest death rate, however, is in Hampden County, where 60 residents are dying from the virus for every 100,000 residents. Norfolk County is seeing the second-highest death rate, with 47 residents dying for every 100,000. Racial and ethnic data is still largely incomplete, according to Thursdays stats. Roughly 53% percent of deaths still havent been identified by ethnicity. About 38% of those whove died are non-Hispanic white. The new figures come as health care leaders spoke about the decline in emergency department visits for non-coronavirus health problems, prompting a number of the states teaching hospitals to issue a public service announcement assuring the public of the systems ability to handle the demand for other medical issues. Gregg Meyer, chief clinical officer at Partners HealthCare, said on Thursday there has been a growing number of empty beds in emergency departments because people are afraid of going to the hospital for a number of health problems and being exposed to the virus. Baystate, for example, used to see 120 children daily in the emergency room of Baystate Childrens Hospital, said Nancy Shendell-Falik, president of Baystate Medical Center. Now it sees sees 25 to 30 patients per day. Shendell-Falik also said there has been in 80 percent decline in patients with stroke symptoms during the outbreak. Meyer warned that people neglecting to seek medical care, or taking it upon themselves to try to resolve their own health problems, could amount to a second toll of the pandemic. For those of you who might wary of visiting a hospital during these anxious times, let me assure you, Massachusetts hospitals are open for business, Meyer said on Thursday. We have the beds, we have the physicians, we have the nurses, we have the specialists, we have the resources to treat you. Meyer added that hospitals have put in place policies and procedures to keep the emergency departments and inpatient facilities safe for the public. The state began releasing more comprehensive data on the outbreak earlier this week in an effort to increase transparency. The new data shows, among other things, the number of cases per hospital; rates of infection, hospitalization and death by county and age group; and nursing home information. But the data has so far proven to be error-prone. Due a formatting error, the Department of Public Health reported in its update on Wednesday that Middlefield had 89 new infections when there were in fact none. On top of that, DPH said that Winthrop, a town of 18,535 in Suffolk County, had 110 coronavirus patients as of Wednesday, and reported that the community had 12,877.64 cases per 100,000 residents instead of 583.64. The move to release more data is a shift from the Baker administrations approach to reporting earlier in the health crisis. Health officials initially limited data to cases and deaths by county. Gov. Charlie Baker has since tweaked what officials are willing to disclose, opting to share town-level data after facing pushback from lawmakers, local officials and residents. Here are the cases listed by county: Barnstable County: 708 Berkshire County: 418 Bristol County: 2,181 Dukes County: 14 Essex County: 6,219 Franklin County: 203 Hampden County: 2,836 Hampshire County: 367 Middlesex County: 10,724 Nantucket County: 9 Norfolk County: 4,541 Plymouth County: 3,529 Suffolk County: 9,739 Worcester County: 3,798 Unknown location: 737 Related Content: The iconic Monster Monument Dover International Speedways Victory Plaza is now a symbol to honor health care workers and first responders in the fight against COVID-19. All of us at the Monster Mile are in awe of the daily extraordinary efforts of our local and national health care workers, said Mike Tatoian, president and CEO of Dover International Speedway. Lighting the Monster Monument in blue is just a small way we can show the first-responder community and their families that we are thinking of them and their safety in this time. According to Wednesdays press statement, the monument was dedicated in 2008 and stands 46-feet tall with the monster clutching a full-scale stock car in its right hand. The base of the monument is a tribute to race winners and legends of that sport who competed on the worlds fast one-mile oval. PennLives complete coronavirus coverage Its not the first time speedway officials lit up the monument in support of various causes. In the past, the Monster Monument shined in pink for breast cancer awareness, blue for autism awareness, and teal in support of Martin Truex Jr. Foundation. NASCARs Cup Series Race at Dover, scheduled for May 1-3, has been postponed. The Drydene 400 is scheduled for Aug. 23 at Dover. The Delaware Division of Public Health on Wednesday announced seven additional fatalities related to the coronavirus disease, bringing the states total to 89. More than 3,200 cases of the disease have been confirmed. Follow Eric Epler on Twitter -- @threejacker 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. RELATED NEWS New site helps track Pennsylvania restaurants open for carryout More than 1,000 gather in Pa. Capitol rally to Reopen PA Where to buy face masks, bandanas, scarves to wear in public during coronavirus pandemic 80-year-old Dauphin County singer hosts porch concerts to relieve quarantine boredom Pa. liquor stores offering phone orders, curbside pickup starting Monday: Complete list of locations Owners, Kristin & Joel Casillas While the last few weeks have been difficult for the business, we have been blown away by the way our community is coming together, and thats something we want to be a part of! By delivering a free dinner we are hoping to relieve stress for even just an hour so families can enjoy the meal together. Paso Robles, California-based Orale Taqueria, a locally owned and operated Mexican restaurant, is expanding its Adopt a Family meal program, amid requests from the local community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program began with Orale sponsoring free weekly meals on us, with one meal going out to a local family in need throughout the months of April and May. Once the community heard about it, people immediately began asking the restaurant owners how they could donate to the cause and get even more meals out there to help more families. It just shows that were all in this together, says restaurant owner Joel Casillas. This response has been unexpected, but so inspiring. I think were all looking for ways to make a difference. Co-owner Kristin Casillas adds, We have been blown away by this. We announced our Adopt a Family program on [the local evening news] on the Saturday before Easter. Monday morning, a man walked in with $200 cash, wanting to donate. The owners quickly set up a place for donations online. Within the first week, Orale received $900, enough to feed 20 families. Since then, donations have been steadily coming in from $25 contributions all the way up to one woman asking the restaurant to use her CARES Act stimulus check to feed needy families. Orale has adjusted its operations in response to increased demand, and the owners say they plan to continue their own free weekly meals alongside community-donated meals. If you would like to donate, whether to a specific family or to the cause in general, Orale is accepting donations via their website. The African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights ordered Ivory Coast on Wednesday to suspend an arrest warrant against former rebel leader Guillaume Soro and free jailed supporters. Nineteen of Soro's supporters have been in detention for four months after he was accused of plotting an anti-government uprising and financial misconduct, charges his supporters have dismissed as a politically motivated. Soro, a candidate in presidential elections scheduled for October, took his case to the court, based in Arusha, Tanzania, and a branch of the African Union, last month and on Wednesday it ordered Ivory Coast to postpone the warrant against him. In its unanimous finding that the proposed sanctions likely infringed on the political rights of both Soro and his backers, the court also ordered his associates -- accused of aiding his plans -- to be provisionally released. The court said those accused should benefit from the presumption of innocence. The 19 include five of his party's lawmakers and two of his brothers. Amnesty International had on April 4 demanded urgent medical treatment for detained lawmaker Alain Lobognon, considered Soro's right-hand man. Soro, 47, has insisted throughout the affair that the accusations he faces are designed to keep him out of the presidential race. Analysts view him as a serious challenger to his erstwhile ally President Alassane Ouattara, whom he helped to power in 2010 amid political violence which cost 3,000 lives. Soro went on to serve as prime minister under Ouattara, then parliamentary speaker until last year. But the two fell out progressively and Soro by last year harboured his own presidential ambitions. The electoral campaign is set to be fraught after municipal and regional polls in 2018 were marred by violence and fraud. Gov. Brian Kemps call to reopen shuttered businesses in Georgia left many business owners wary and confused this week as they considered how to protect themselves and their customers in a state where coronavirus deaths exceed 800 and confirmed infections have surpassed 20,000. Kemps plan to kick-start the economy is one of the most aggressive announced since President Donald Trump laid out benchmarks for states to start lifting restrictions. But Georgias testing system has lagged behind much of the nation and public health experts warned that moving too quickly could fuel a resurgence in infections. Its concerning. Im certainly not going to go the gym or get a haircut, said Dr. Carlos del Rio, an infectious disease expert at Emory University in Atlanta. Ill let people make their own decisions. Businesses Fear Lawsuits from Sick Employees, Patrons After Reopening Whenever U.S. stores, restaurants and theaters reopen from coronavirus shutdowns, they may face an unexpected problem: lawsuits from sick patrons and workers. Learn more. Businesses Press Congress for Immunity When States Lift Coronavirus Lockdowns Businesses want to make sure that they are not held liable for policy decisions by government officials, should employees or customers contract COVID-19 once operations resume. Learn more. Kemps order lets gyms, hair and nail salons, bowling alleys and tattoo parlors open with restrictions Friday. Restaurants can resume dine-in service Monday, though bars and nightclubs must remain closed. The private sector is going to have to convince the public that its safe to come back into these businesses, Kemp said Monday. Trump Weighs In During a White House briefing Tuesday evening, Trump called Kemp a very capable man who knows what hes doing. Trump said he was planning to talk to Kemp soon, but he didnt give more details. Georgia has processed more than 900,000 new unemployment claims in the last month. But many business owners arent convinced its time to end the lockdown. I think most of our customers are not ready to venture out yet, said Kristin Allin, who, along with her husband, owns Bread & Butterfly restaurant in Atlanta. She said her restaurant will remain closed for now, possibly for another month or more. In Savannah, Mark Lebos closed his gym March 11. He reached out to clients Tuesday to tell them his business, Strong Gym, wont be reopening yet. Lebos said reopening would be professional negligence. We are not going to be a vector of death and suffering, he said. Ronique Holloway plans to wait until May 1 to reopen her Atlanta-area hair salon, where shes the only stylist. She worries thats still too soon, but said she doesnt have a choice because she needs money to support her daughter. Youre staring at somebody right in their face when you shampoo it. Heaven forbid if you talk, said Holloway, 48, who plans to wear a mask and gloves. In rural Terrell County, Karl Gould, 82, said its time to reopen businesses even though his age makes him vulnerable to serious illness. Do you want to continue being shut down with a destroyed economy forever? said Gould, a retired engineer. Sooner or later, youve got to suck it up and say, `Were going to reopen and if we have some casualties, we do.' Stay-at-Home Kemp was one of the last governors on the East Coast to announce a statewide stay-at-home order April 1. Even then, he controversially overruled local officials and allowed beaches, lakes and state parks to remain open a decision he has characterized as a success, saying there have been few problems. When salons and cafes reopen in the coming days, Kemp says they must enforce social distancing rules, provide workers with protective gear when available and screen employees exhibiting potential symptoms. But experts say widespread testing and the ability to trace people exposed to infected patients are critical to resuming business without causing a new wave of sickness. Georgia is working on those pieces, but isnt there yet, said Dr. Harry J. Heiman, an associate professor of public health at Georgia State University in Atlanta. He said Kemps decision to reopen businesses without sufficient testing or contact tracing is premature and its irresponsible. Georgia had administered more than 88,000 tests as of Tuesday, but its per-capita testing rate is in the bottom 10 of states. In most states, were still only testing the sickest of the sick, said Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. And were missing those people who are mildly affected who are going to be the ones out and about spreading their illness. Kemp acknowledged Georgias testing has lagged and announced initiatives to produce more swabs and employ an app to let clinicians remotely screen people. Public Health Commissioner Kathleen Toomey said the state is working to expand its ability to trace the contacts of infected people. Ian Jones, who owns four restaurants in the Atlanta area, is concerned Kemps order could force people to reopen prematurely because lenders and landlords might stop being forgiving. It just seems like its too early, Jones said. No Local Say Kemps reopening plan leaves local officials powerless to take a slower course. Kemp said thats to prevent a hodgepodge of local plans. Still, on Tuesday, Macon-Bibb County commissioners passed a resolution urging Kemp to reexamine the situation. In mostly rural southwest Georgia, where infections have spread especially fast, Albany Mayor Bo Dorough noted his community had 15 funerals last weekend for COVID-19 victims. On Tuesday, his city and surrounding Dougherty County surpassed 100 total coronavirus deaths the most of any Georgia county. I pray that the number of Georgians who are infected and die will not increase significantly in the coming weeks as a result of the lifting of these restrictions, Dorough said. Nearby, in the small city of Dawson, clothing store owner Dost Mohammad said several of his regular customers died from COVID-19. Keeping his doors shut could quickly put him out of business, he said, but hes not willing to risk reopening. Without a vaccine or a cure, the only medicine is to stay away from each other, he said. I would rather survive, I want to stay above the ground, Mohammad said. Our priority should be the protection of our people. Associated Press Writers Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia; Ben Nadler and Sudhin Thanawala in Atlanta; Claire Galofaro in Dawson, Georgia; and Kevin Freking in Washington contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Georgia Actor Theepetti Ganesan, who played a role in Ajith Kumar's Billa 2, has asked the Tamil superstar to come to his rescue amid the coronavirus lockdown. Ganesan issued a video appeal on social media saying that he struggling to make ends meet during the lockdown and urged Ajith to help him by providing financial assistance. Director-actor Raghava Lawrence shared Ganesan's message on his Twitter handle and assured him that he will reach out to Ajith's manager for him. Responding to Ganesan's video, Lawrence wrote, "Hai brother just now my friend shared this video, I will share this video with Ajith sir manager. If it reaches to Ajith sir he will definitely help. He is very kind hearted person. I will also do my part to help your children for education. Please share your contact details (sic)." Hai brother just now my friend shared this video, I will share this video with Ajith sir manager. If it reaches to Ajith sir he will definitely help. He is very kind hearted person. I will also do my part to help your children for education. Please share your contact details. https://t.co/vmQ9qadHQr Raghava Lawrence (@offl_Lawrence) April 21, 2020 Follow @News18Movies for more Kolkata, April 23 : The West Bengal governments order banning mobile phones in Covid-19 hospitals has raised the hackles of opposition parties, which called the measure an attempt to hide the mismanagement in the treatment of the dreaded viral disease. The government order, coming soon after a purported video of a state-run hospital showing a dead body lying in an isolation ward of suspected coronavirus patients became public, has raised suspicion in opposition circles about the motive behind the decision. Union Minister and senior BJP leader Babul Supriyo, who made the video 'super-viral' by tweeting it and following it up with probing posers to the government, claimed the mobile ban order proved that the video was 'not fake'. "Honble @MamataOfficial banning mobiles in hospitals Kind of proves that the Bangur Hospital video was not fake --Thank you," he tweeted. The state health department came out with the order prohibiting mobile phones in an internal WhatsApp message to district magistrates, district chief medical officers (health) and superintendents of all Covid-19 hospitals. "Since mobile phones can be a potential source of spreading Covid-19 infection, no one will be allowed to carry, possess or use mobile phones inside the Covid-19 hospitals in the state. This applies to all persons inside the hospital, whether patients or staff on duty. The deposit of patients' mobile phones may be taken and a receipt may be given to them," read the message. However, the message also asked the officials to ensure that communication channels before the patients were not affected. "While implementing this, take all measures for especially ensuring that the patients' need for communication with hospital authorities is attended to with due priority," the order said. "To ensure they have a communication channel to the hospital administration, intercom facility may be provided in the wards. The contact number of the control room or the hospital superintendent/manager should be publicised prominently among the patients. Also, land-line arrangements with STD calling facility should be kept ready in case the patient needs to make a call or receive a call from outside," it added. Both the CPI-M and the Congress assailed the state government move. "This government is making all efforts to suppress the truth. This is another step in that direction. Had the government genuinely felt that mobiles are harmful, it would have taken this measure much earlier," Left Front legislative party leader and CPI-M state Secretariat member Sujon Chakraborty told IANS. "When some videos have tumbled out despite the all-out attempts to hide the real picture of the health services in the state, the government has come up with this idea in an attempt to prevent even this bit of information from coming into the public domain, " said Chakraborty. Echoing Chakraborty and Supriyo, leader of the opposition in the state legislature and Congress veteran Abdul Mannan said that it is for the doctors to decide how the hospital administration should be run. "Too much of interference from the bureaucracy is improper. It's a proof of cover up attempts on the part of the government," said Mannan. He said while it is true that random use of mobile phones, especially near a patient, is unwelcome, the government's action seems to have been guided by an 'ulterior motive'. "We are going through a grave crisis. In such a situation, the government should stop bothering about such trivial things, desist from politicking and spend all its energies in the treatment of the sick and in ensuring the disease does not spread and is contained," Mannan told IANS. IANS tried to get in touch with West Bengal Minister of State for Health, Chandrima Bhattacharya, but she refused to comment on the matter. "You get in touch with the health department officials," Bhattacharya said. A hospital official said the decision was guided by health reasons and no other motive should be attached to it. "In worldwide Covid-19 protocol, it has been said that the virus can spread through mobile phones. So it's a welcome preventive step. And there is no point saying why it was not done earlier. Covid-19 is one of the toughest challenges modern civilisation has faced. You learn of your shortcomings as you go along. And then the loopholes need to be plugged," the official said on condition of anonymity. During his time at East Sale, he was assigned to Maralinga for three months as an operations officer as part of Operation Antler, the last major trial of the British atomic testing program. He vividly recalled the flash from the tests being so bright he could see the bones of his hands through closed eyes and sunglasses, facing away from the blast, 30 kilometres from Ground Zero. Reach for the sky: Ian Gordon in a CAC Wirraway. He was next transferred to 86 Wing, flying Dakotas with 36 Squadron in Canberra, and was responsible for the move to Richmond in anticipation of the arrival of the A Model Hercules in 1958. After the Hercules arrived, the Dakotas were transferred to 38 Squadron where he continued flying them for one more year. One incident from his time at Richmond was the crash of a Neptune aircraft in February 1959. Gordon was in the circuit in a Dakota, when the distress calls came over the radio that a Neptune from 11 Squadron had an in-flight engine fire. He landed and cleared the runway, watching the stricken aircraft approaching over the Lowlands. The engine caught fire and severed the wing, rolling the aircraft onto its back, crashing just short of the base. Fears that his brother was at the controls proved to be unfounded. After Richmond came a six-month stint in Canberra as personal assistant to the Air Member for Personnel. While there, he was asked to transfer to Government House, Canberra for a three-month posting as an aide-de-camp for the transition from Field Marshal Sir William Slim to Viscount Dunrossil, with an administrative promotion to acting flight lieutenant. Dunrossils sudden death in 1961 led to him being asked to stay on as senior aide-de-camp with a second promotion to acting Squadron Leader for the interim administration of General Sir Dallas Brooks, and the start of the tenure of Viscount De L'Isle. Hed jumped two ranks, from Flying Officer to Squadron Leader in the space of four months. After more than two years in the elite world of the Vice-Regal household, a friend reported hearing a remark of Oh, Ian Gordon; hes dead, isnt he? Six weeks later he was back in East Sale for a flight instructor course. The fact that he reverted back to being a Flight Lieutenant didnt dampen his enthusiasm for doing what he loved. On graduation, he was offered a posting to Pearce in Western Australia to instruct on Vampires, but due to back problems exacerbated by the Vampires seating position, and wary of having to eject in an emergency, he elected to go to Point Cook to instruct at the Basic Flying Training School. It was there that he developed a passion for teaching. Gordon, centre, with Viscountess and Viscount Dunrossil and Governor-General Sir William Slim in 1960. He finally got his hands on his beloved Hercules in 1965, joining 36 Squadron at RAAF Richmond as a flight commander. In that role, he was responsible for all operational flying at the squadron as they operated throughout Australia and South-East Asia in support of remote bases and Australias involvement in the Malaysian Confrontation and the Vietnam War. Air Commodore Ian Gordon AM. His first experience of operations in a war zone was brought home by an incident where given the option of a steep climb-out to avoid ground fire versus a high-speed low-level run to get out of the area, he chose the altitude option and escaped. A following American aircraft chose the low-level option and was hit by ground fire. It was during this time he was reunited with Anne Graves-Morris, a family friend who was working at Geelong hospital after emigrating from England as a ten-pound pom. With a girlfriend, she had been on an outback adventure in their Holden and involved in an accident in Ballina. She called Gordon for rescue as he was based at Richmond at the time. Ever the officer and a gentleman, he invited them to drinks at the Mess for which they quickly sewed dresses rather than turn up in their travelling gear. He then drove them back to Melbourne, squeezed into his E-Type Jag. They were engaged soon after which was followed by a wedding in England. In 1973 came the first overseas posting to the UK to attend the College of Air Warfare Course at RAF Manby in Lincolnshire, followed by roles at Australia House in London as Senior Air Staff Officer and Assistant Air Adviser. After London, the family returned to Richmond for Gordon to take up a position here as Air Staff Officer, responsible for all flying operations at the base, before once again heading overseas to Papua New Guinea. Gordon took up twin roles of Defence Adviser, and head of the Australian Defence Cooperation Group with responsibility for Australian military personnel in the country. He was also responsible for disaster relief assistance in a country prone to natural disasters. In 1980 he was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia medal for his outstanding work in PNG. Subsequent postings included Operational Command at Glenbrook and another overseas posting to Canada. He subsequently received his final promotion, to Air Commodore and returned to Melbourne at Support Command as Chief of Staff. In January 1985 Gordon took up the posting that was the pinnacle of his career as Officer Commanding RAAF Base Richmond. Less than a year later he suffered a heart attack that ended his career and officially resigned from the RAAF in February 1986. He did attend one last event in uniform; the presentation of the Queen's colours to the Royal Australian Air Force, by Her Majesty in March 1986, an event which he had been organising. After retirement from the RAAF, Gordon and his family settled in Richmond NSW, where he enjoyed over 30 years of involvement with community clubs and organisations, including the local branch of Probus. He never lost his passion for travel, both locally and around the world. Ian Gordon is survived by his wife Anne, children Tina, Michael and Rob and two grandchildren. Ukrainian and Belarusian Foreign Ministers Dmytro Kuleba and Vladimir Makei have reaffirmed their readiness to hold the Third Forum of the Regions of Ukraine and Belarus in Grodno in October 2020. The matter was discussed during a phone call between the two diplomats on April 22, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's press service reported. "The foreign ministers praised the implementation of the agreements reached at a meeting of the presidents of Ukraine and Belarus in Zhytomyr on October 4, 2019. The ministers reaffirmed their readiness to hold the Third Forum of the Regions of Ukraine and Belarus in Grodno in October 2020," the report reads. Kuleba also thanked the Belarusian side for fruitful cooperation in countering the spread of COVID-19. The sides praised cooperation in returning Ukrainian and Belarusian citizens to their homeland in March-April this year. The ministers also focused on key areas of bilateral cooperation, particularly trade, infrastructure, and energy. According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, preparations are now underway for the next meeting of the Ukrainian-Belarusian intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation. Kuleba also invited Makei to make a working visit to Ukraine. op The number of confirmed coronavirus cases globally has reached 2,588,335, and more than 180,000 people have died because of Covid-19 so far. In India, the tally of confirmed cases has breached the 20,000 mark and fatality in the country stands at nearly 650. Here are a few data trends to help you understand the present pandemic situation better: 1. America is adding more new cases daily than Europe and Asia combined North America continues to have a lead in adding new cases to the global tally of Covid-19 infections, with the bulk of those cases being contributed by the US. ... Dozens of coffins were taken to a public cemetery in Manaus, north-west Brazil, on Wednesday, where authorities decided earlier this week to open common graves to bury victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. An excavator dug the giant grave at Nossa Senhora de Aparecida Cemetery where the coffins were buried, while relatives and friends paid their last respects to their loved ones. According to local authorities, since the pandemic the number of burials has more than doubled, going from an average of 30 to 100 a day. Manaus, capital of the Amazonas state, has one of Brazil's highest rates of confirmed cases and deaths. By Wednesday, at least 172 died and almost 2,000 were infected with the new coronavirus, according to the authorities. Almost 80% of the cases in the state were concentrated in the capital. Manaus is the only city with intensive care units in the Amazonas' state - but they are almost at the limit of their capacity. Brazilian governors and mayors have said official figures largely underreport the true number of infections, as Brazil has yet to roll out mass COVID-19 testing. The country has reported more than 43,000 confirmed cases and over 2700 deaths. In his first news conference in Brasilia on Wednesday, the new health minister expressed doubts about projections that have guided governors' decisions on how to handle the coronavirus outbreak. Nelson Teich said it is impossible that estimates for total death counts vary so much, adding there needs to be a standard model of analysis. Teich also said Brazil is already looking at ways to ease social isolation. 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. Officials are working behind-the-scenes to develop a plan to start to reopen Connecticut tentatively sometime in June as the current wave of the COVID-19 pandemic subsides. Gov. Ned Lamont made the economic reopening the focus of his Thursday afternoon briefing, bringing in Indra Nooyi and Yales Dr. Albert Ko via teleconference to give the state an update on what the reopen Connecticut committee has worked on. The governor prefaced the daily news conference with the latest grim statistics: 95 more deaths since Wednesday for a total of 1,639 fatalities statewide. But an encouraging sign was the net decrease of 25 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Nooyi the retired chair and CEO of PepsiCo and top business executive leading the efforts to reopen the state said the committee to reopen Connecticut has been brainstorming ways to selectively reopen the economy when the time comes. We are never, ever going to not focus on public health, Nooyi said. She estimated the state will start to reopen in June, but will do it very carefully and in small steps. Nooyi is working on this advisory group alongside Dr. Albert Ko a professor of epidemiology and infectious diseases at the Yale School of Public Health and Yale School of Medicine. From a science perspective, Ko said, there needs to be extensive testing to protect the critical and vulnerable citizens in the community. Testing, he said, will also help with better decision-making in terms of the economy and schools. This is a highly-transmissible virus. Were concerned about the reemergence, of the virus, Ko said. Those who are sick and symptomatic will continue to be prioritized for testing, Ko said, followed by health care workers and nursing home workers. We need to test, intensively, the health care workers, Ko said. Lamont brought in the duo, who also represent Connecticut in the seven-state region along with Paul Mounds, the governors chief of staff, for what will become weekly updates as the necessities of public health mesh with the states ability to restart an economy that has resulted in a loss of jobs for a third of Connecticuts workforce, led by 150,000 bar, restaurant and hotel workers. Ko also said that the controversial therapy of using the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, once touted by President Donald Trump, seems to be refuted. First of all, with current medical knowledge, we dont have evidence of the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine on the outcomes, Ko said. Coming from the medical research side of things, evidence is really important. If we dont have high, rigorous evidence, we can have patients taking unsafe medications and unsafe therapies and actually having bad outcomes because of safety issues without demonstration of effectiveness. Earlier in the day, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo blasted U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, for suggesting that states in fiscal trouble as a result of the coronavirus should declare bankruptcy. Cuomo noted that while New York state in a net contributor to the federal government by $116 billion a year, Kentucky, McConnells state, takes from the government about $148 billion more than it gives. Asked to comment on the continued push and pull between the states and Washington, Lamont said Connecticut, like New York, is a net contributor of $7 billion to $8 billion. We are definitely a donor state, Lamont said. And thats remarkable when you realize that until recently we averaged a trillion-dollar (federal) deficit. If we had our share of that, that would be tens of billions of dollars. That just gives you an idea of the disconnect between how much Kentucky gets and how much Connecticut doesnt get. During a teleconference call earlier in the day with members of the Danbury Chamber of Commerce and Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, Lamont and David Lehman, commissioner of the state Department of Economic and Community Development said hospitals have been saved from surging beyond their capacity. The worst that we can do is backtrack on this, Boughton said, stressing the need to continue social distancing and business closures for the time being in the pandemic, which has resulted in 1,366 COVID-19 patients in Danbury, 66 of whom have died. Its going to crawl, walk, run in terms of the economy, Lamont said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 00:13:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BANGKOK, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The Thai Red Cross Society on Thursday delighted hospitals nationwide, arriving in Bangkok with a caravan of medical supplies to fight against COVID-19. All the medical supplies including facemasks, personal protective equipment (PPEs) gears, digital x-ray scanners and disinfectants have been donated by donors to the Red Cross since April 7, said Phan Wannamethee, secretary of Thai Red Cross Society. Phan said that the first batch of medical supplies will go to hospitals in five southern provinces, where infections were still high. Other deliveries will be made for hospitals across the country. Phan said that cash donations estimated at 30 million baht (928,505 U.S. dollars), as well as 100,000 pieces of medical supplies have been received from donors. He also reaffirmed that all medical equipment had been checked by a team of engineers from Chulalongkorn University to ensure their quality before being sent to hospitals. In the meantime, donations are still pouring in for people affected by the virus outbreak. At Bangkok's Wat Rakang temple, Thai donors have extended their kindness by offering food and essential goods to low-income earners. Enditem HARRISBURG, PA More details on how Pennsylvania will move forward with a staged reopening were offered in a Wednesday evening news conference during which Gov. Tom Wolf explained a color-coded system that will delineate the operating status of each region during the coronavirus pandemic. Pennsylvania will categorize its reopening into three phases: red, yellow, and green, the governor explained. Each region will be assigned a color, which will determine what mitigation measures previously set to stop the spread of the virus can be lifted, if any. Stay up-to-date on developments sign up for Patch emails The governor said he plans to analyze the north-central and northwest regions first, with a target of moving from them from red to yellow on May 8. The red phase, which encompasses the entire state as of Thursday, is fully focused on minimizing the spread of COVID-19 through strict social distancing and non-life sustaining business and school closures. In the red phase, stay-at-home orders remain in place, large gatherings are banned, restaurants are limited to serving carry out or delivery, and only essential travel is permitted. Only life-sustaining businesses are open, schools are closed, and there are restrictions in place at congregate care facilities and prisons. The next phase is yellow. In the yellow phase, some restrictions on work and social interaction remain but others are lifted. "The purpose of this phase is to begin to power back up the economy while keeping a close eye on the public health data to ensure the spread of disease remains contained to the greatest extent possible," according to the governor's plan. In the yellow phase, stay-at-home orders will be lifted but large gatherings of 25 or more people will be prohibited. Retail stores may reopen but with curbside and delivery the preferred method of operation. Gyms, spas, and entertainment venues like theaters and casinos will remain closed in the yellow phase. Restaurants will still be limited to carry out or delivery. Story continues Child care centers will reopen in the yellow phase with safety orders and telework must continue whenever possible. Congregate care and prison restrictions will remain in place, and schools will remain closed for in-person instruction. All reopened businesses must follow CDC and Department of Health guidance for social distancing and cleaning. The final stage is the green phase, which eases most restrictions by lifting the stay-at-home and business closure orders to allow the economy to strategically reopen "while continuing to prioritize public health," the governor's plan said. "While this phase will facilitate a return to a 'new normal,' it will be equally important to continue to monitor public health indicators and adjust orders and restrictions as necessary to ensure the spread of disease remains at a minimum," the governor's plan said. A timeline for the length of each phase was not provided, and will likely vary by region based on the current data. To determine when it may be safe to move to a new phase, the state has partnered with Carnegie Mellon University to develop a data tool using Department of Health metrics. The dashboard uses several factors to weigh the risk and benefits of reopening industries and services by region. Here's what the dashboard looks like: A region will be deemed ready to reopen and return to work based on the incidence rate of COVID-19 cases per capita. The target goal for a reopening is an average of less than 50 cases per 100,000 people over a period of 14 days. Here's a look at the state's health systems regions: "The administration will work closely with county and local governments to enable the communities to reopen and transition back to work," the governor's plan said. A reopening will also be contingent on the availability of adequate personal protective equipment and diagnostic testing, the governor said. A monitoring and surveillance program will be required during the reopening process to address any additional outbreaks on a strategic basis. The governor said there will be the same careful and phased approach to reopening as there was with the shutdowns, which began March 16 when the restaurants in Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties were ordered closed for dine-in service. All non-life-sustaining businesses in the state were ordered closed three days later. On March 23, stay-at-home orders were announced for Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Monroe, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties. Through the end of March, more than 25 counties were told to stay at home before a statewide order was announced on April 1. Since the state's first case was reported March 6, 1,421 Pennsylvanians have died from the virus. There have been more than 36,000 confirmed cases statewide as of Thursday. The full plan for Pennsylvania's reopening can be viewed here. >>>View Patch's full coverage of coronavirus in Pennsylvania This article originally appeared on the Across Pennsylvania Patch Vietnams Internet speed has been fully restored after the Asia America Gateway (AAG) submarine cable, which broke down on April 2, was successfully repaired this week, a local Internet service provider has confirmed. The repair was completed in five days from April 17 to 21, restoring bandwidth for all Internet connections through the AAG cable previously disrupted by a problem on the Vietnam-Hong Kong section. The AAG suffered an issue caused by a power outage at 8:30 pm April 2 on branch S1, which connects Vietnam and Hong Kong. The full restoration of Internet speed is particularly welcomed by Vietnamese users as novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) social distancing has led to an upsurge in demand for bandwidth-dependent services. The most notable example is the exploding popularity of video conferencing and remote learning tools. According to the Vietnam Internet Network Information Center, the average fixed-broadband download speed reached 61.39 Mbps, as measured from 30,000 domestic users, in Q1-2020. For mobile networks, the average download speed was 39.44 Mbps, according to the report published on April 20. Compared to foreign reports on the same query, this result was 45 percent higher for fixed broadband and 18.7 percent higher for mobile. The AAG is a 20,000-kilometer submarine communications cable system connecting Southeast Asia with the U.S. mainland across the Pacific Ocean via Guam and Hawaii. It was put into operation in November 2009. The segment connecting to Vietnam is 314 kilometers long and strikes land in Vung Tau City in the southern region, delivering up to two terabits per second. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Representative Image Sterlite Power on Thursday announced the commissioning of the 765-kilovolts (kV) Khandwa substation in Madhya Pradesh. "Sterlite Power, a leading global power transmission player, commissions the 765-kV Khandwa substation in Madhya Pradesh, which is part of the Khargone Transmission Ltd (KTL) project," according to a statement by the company. This will help in stepping down high-voltage 1,320 MW power from the Khargone Power Plant to further distribute it downstream to 50 million households across the states of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat, it said. So far, Sterlite Power has commissioned 5 out of 6 elements in the project -- 765-kV substation at Khandwa, 765-kV DC Khandwa-Indore transmission line, 400-kV DC Khandwa-Khargone transmission line, 400-kV line-in line-out (LILO), and Dhule Bay Extension. Sterlite Power won the Rs 1,370-crore Khargone transmission project in 2015 through a tariff-based competitive bidding process and is executing it under the build-own-operate-maintain (BOOM) model. Catch our entire coverage on the Facebook-Jio deal here. Sterlite Power is a leading developer of power transmission infrastructure with projects of over 13,670 circuit kms and 24,800 megavolt amp in India and Brazil.Also read: Coronavirus News India LIVE Updates This doctor is actually already in the United States; he arrived on a visitor visa earlier this year for his residency interviews, got stranded due to the pandemic and is now staying with family friends. Hes ready and able to help with the covid-19 response but cant work until his new skilled-worker visa gets approved. (Like others I spoke with awaiting visas, he asked me to withhold his name because he fears retaliation from immigration authorities.) Are you a current print subscriber? You qualify for online access to the Omak Chronicle. To receive your access, create a website account and then verify your print subscription or e-edition subscription with your subscriber number, which may be found on your bill or mailing label. UNs Middle East envoy says move would be devastating to a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The United Nations and the European Union warned Israel not to annex parts of the occupied West Bank. The UNs special Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov on Thursday said such a move would be a devastating blow to the internationally-backed two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as the EU said annexing Palestinian territory would constitute a serious violation of international law. Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main rival Benny Gantz signed a coalition agreement that includes a clause to advance plans to annex parts of the West Bank, including Israeli settlements, starting on July 1. Reporting from the UN, Al Jazeeras James Bays said the formation of a government in Israel has brought the question of annexation into focus. The new coalition government in Israel makes the prospect of the annexation of parts of the West Bank much more likely. That means that areas currently seen as occupied under international law, would be brought under Israels sovereignty. At least thats how Israel would see it, he said. In a video briefing with the UN Security Council, Mladenov warned that the dangerous prospect of annexation by Israel of parts of the occupied West Bank is a growing threat, and said such a move would violate international law. The envoy said annexation would also deal a devastating blow to the two-state solution, close the door to a renewal of negotiations, and threaten efforts to advance regional peace. Separately on Thursday, the EUs foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said the bloc of 27 member countries does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over the Palestinian territory and that it will continue to closely monitor the situation and its broader implications, and will act accordingly. US plan Netanyahus pro-settler base is eager to move forward with annexation while the friendly administration of United States President Donald Trump is in office. The White Houses long-awaited Mideast plan, unveiled earlier this year, envisions leaving parts of the West Bank under permanent Israeli control. The Palestinians have rejected the plan as biased. Israel captured the West Bank during the 1967 Mideast war. Since then, more than 700,000 Israelis have moved into settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Most of the international community considers Israels West Bank settlements illegal according to international law and an obstacle to a two-state solution to the conflict. The Palestinians seek all of the West Bank and East Jerusalem as part of an independent state. Annexation of West Bank settlements would infuriate the Palestinians and Israels Arab neighbours, and eliminate any lingering hopes of establishing a viable Palestinian state. The Netanyahu-Gantz deal stipulates that any Israeli action would need US backing, and must take into account Israels peace treaties with neighbouring Jordan and Egypt. Michigan's Food and Agriculture Businesses Answer Call for Food Donations Michigan's Food and Agriculture Businesses Answer Call for Food Donations Jennifer Holton 517-284-5724 April 22, 2020 Governor Gretchen Whitmer has recognized several Michigan food and agriculture businesses for their donations to the Food Bank Council of Michigan and other non-profits as part of the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Initiative launched earlier this month. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) has partnered with the Governors Office and the Food Bank Council of Michigan (FBCM) to seek donations of food and funds as part of the initiative. As we face unparalleled challenges, the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Initiative allows the state to accept monetary donations and donations of food or other needed supplies to support critical services during response and recovery efforts, said Whitmer. These donations from Michigan food and agriculture businesses will make a huge difference to families affected by COVID-19 and will shore up our food bank system at a time when its really needed. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people are facing economic hardship and food insecurity, and are turning to food banks for assistance. Through its network of regional food banks and distribution centers, FBCM provides food to more than 3,000 local food banks, soup kitchens and food pantries across the state. Food banks are currently operating at four times their normal capacity and are experiencing significant trouble securing food to meet demand. Although the federal stimulus package will provide future relief, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has told FBCM they will not receive food through the federal program until July, well beyond the expected food gap food banks are facing right now. Michigans food and agriculture industry has stepped up many times to help those in need through donations of food and funds, and although times are tough for the industry right now, our friends in the food and ag sector have once again heeded the call for help, said Gary McDowell, MDARD director. Food donations are desperately needed to meet historically high demand at a time when food supplies are dangerously low, and collectively, we can make a huge difference. The following food and agriculture businesses have made donations of food and funds to the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Initiative to support food banks in our state: Wednesday afternoon, McDonalds of Michigan made a delivery to the Greater Lansing Food Bank. The list of donated items includes apple slices, English muffins, buns, GoGurts, apple juice and cheese slices. The McDonalds Owner/Operators of Michigan are also donating $25,000 to the states food banks to help them through this difficult time.Sysco, with Michigan locations in Grand Rapids, Canton and Monroe, donated 48,000 pounds of food products, valued at $94,000. Items included beef, turkey and chicken products; cheese, yogurt and other dairy products; tortillas; hummus; beverages and more. Peterson Farms, Inc., of Shelby, donated over 100,000 pounds of three varieties of unsweetened applesauce made from Michigan apples, including mixed berry and strawberry applesauce, valued at nearly $78,000. McDonalds Owners/Operators of Michigan donated a combined 7,300 pounds of products, valued at $5,000, including apple slices, Go-Gurt squeezable yogurt, apple juice, buns, English muffins and cheese slices, that were delivered to Forgotten Harvest in Oak Park, Food Gatherers in Ann Arbor, the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan in Flint, Feeding America West Michigan in Comstock Park, the South Michigan Food Bank in Battle Creek and the Greater Lansing Food Bank, to help alleviate the shortages. In addition, the Michigan McDonalds Owner/Operators of Michigan are donating $25,000 to the Governors COVID-19 Response and Recovery Initiative. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, the following companies have made donations of food and funds directly to food banks in our state: Herbrucks Poultry Ranch, Michigans largest egg producer located in Saranac, donated over 300,000 eggs, valued at $65,000, to Feeding America West Michigan and the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan in Flint in addition to other community organizations across the state, and plans to continue donations. United Dairy Industry of Michigan, on behalf of Michigans dairy farmers, has donated over $200,000 in matching grants to Michigan food banks to support their purchase of milk and cheese for families in need and to buy needed cooling equipment for the safe distribution of fresh dairy foods. Michigan Milk Producers Association, a dairy farmer cooperative, announced in March a donation of 2,020 pounds of milk per day during calendar year 2020 to the Food Bank Council of Michigan. The total donation equals about 234 gallons of milk per day for the year or 85,410 gallons of milk. The donation is in partnership with Krogers Michigan Dairy plant, with MMPA donating the milk and the Kroger plant processing and packaging the milk. MMPA also donated 500 pounds of cheese and over 1,100 pounds of butter to the St. Joseph County United Way in mid-April for distribution to families in that county. St. Joseph County is where MMPAs Constantine manufacturing plant is located. Donations of goods made to the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Initiative are eligible for a federal tax deduction and may help leverage a 3-times match from federal resources, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). If transportation assistance is needed for donations, the state has secured trucks and can assist in donation pick-up and delivery. Food and agriculture businesses who would like to arrange for a donation should contact MDARD at MDARD-COVID19@michigan.gov. For other businesses and individuals interested in donating to the COVID-19 Response and Recovery Initiative, a secure online donation with the Michigan Department of Treasury can be made by visiting www.michigan.gov/fightcovid19 and clicking on donations. Donations of any size can be made by credit or debit card. Information around this outbreak is changing rapidly. The latest information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden held a Earth Day town hall, virtually Wednesday from Wilmington, Delaware. Biden's guest for the event was climate activist and former Vice President Al Gore, who hours earlier had endorsed Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee. Al Gore who also joined virtually from Nashville, Tennessee used the climate event to reiterate his stand for Biden as president. "Your election is absolutely crucial, Joe. And I want to do everything I can to convince everybody that cares about the climate crisis, particularly those people that this is this is a no brainer. This is a real simple choice. And if anybody has any doubt about that, come talk to me right now," he said. Gore said Biden has asked him to help "strengthen" his climate policies. Both leaders were critical of Trump's policies on climate change. "Donald Trump is the face of climate denial globally. He is lifting the constraints on polluters, putting more pollution into the atmosphere, making all these changes to all of the protections that we do now have," Al Gore said. "Beating Trump won't end climate change, but it's a critical first step," Biden said. Biden last year unveiled a plan that would spend $5 trillion over 10 years, with $1.7 trillion coming from the government. But his timelines for reducing carbon emissions fall short of what some climate activists demand. A delayed shipment of vital medical equipment from Turkey to protect frontline NHS staff against coronavirus reportedly contained just 32,000 gowns several hours worth of supplies. It comes as ministers face escalating pressure over the governments failure to ensure all staff treating Covid-19 patients and care home workers have the personal protective equipment (PPE) they need. The delivery from Turkey, which arrived in the UK on Wednesday on an RAF flight after multiple delays, was expected to hold 84 tonnes of equipment, including 400,000 clinical gowns. According to the Health Service Journal, however, the delivery contained just 32,000 gowns despite the communities secretary Robert Jenrick promising a very significant additional shipment at the No 10 press conference on Sunday. Separately, the government also said on Wednesday that 140,000 gowns had arrived from Burma. But with around 150,000 needed a day during the coronavirus crisis, demand on resources remains intense. Originally, the medical supplies had been due to arrive in the UK on Sunday, but a plane was only dispatched from the RAF Oxfordshire base, where two other planes were on stand-by to pick up further equipment from Turkey, late on Monday. Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer, told ITV a constant review of PPE supplies and management was needed to ensure that high demand was met across the country. It is so important our frontline staff have the right PPE, she said. One of my personal slight frustrations is there is a lot of information out there which we can perhaps use to support them better." It follows frontline workers including pharmacists continuing to voice concerns about becoming infected at work through lack of protection and difficulties maintaining social distancing. According to a survey by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, over a third (34 per cent) of respondents were still unable to access continuous supplies of PPE and almost 95 per cent said they could not maintain the recommended two-metre distance from colleagues due to the size of their workplace. The Independent has contacted the Department for Health and Social Care for comment. Two ex-military members accused of torture had been living in Germany as refugees and were arrested over a year ago. Koblenz, Germany The worlds first trial of a senior member of the Syrian military for war crimes got under way in Germany on Thursday, despite ongoing restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The accused Anwar Raslan, a former colonel in the Syrian military, and co-defendant Eyad al-Gharib, who allegedly worked under Raslan, had been living in Germany as refugees and were arrested in February last year. Because both are in custody, German law says it is important to proceed with the case quickly in the interests of justice and an efficient legal system, a spokeswoman from the Higher Regional Court in the southwestern German city of Koblenz told Al Jazeera. The conditions for the trial had to be adapted to current circumstances so that the schedule could be kept, she said. The trial began on Thursday in Koblenz, with benches carefully spaced out in the press and public galleries. Witnesses, lawyers and translators sat at tables separated by transparent screens. The process started with the indictment, about 100 pages long, being read aloud due to the German legal principle of orality, which requires oral evidence to be given live in an open court before the accused and judges. It included stark details of what happened to anti-government, opposition activists after they were brought to Branch 251 of military intelligence in Damascus, where Raslan supervised investigations. Reading testimony from 24 Syrian witnesses, it took two German prosecutors almost an hour to complete a list that repeatedly recounted similar methods of interrogation and torture, including being hung in stress positions from the wrists, being beaten by metal rods and electric cables, as well as electrocution and sexual violence. Detainees were often denied medical treatment and food, and at least 58 people died at Branch 251 during that time. German prosecutors accuse Raslan of complicity in crimes against humanity and allege he was well aware of the torture, inhumane conditions and resulting deaths of anti-government activists at the branch. Besides being in charge of investigations, Raslans office was in the same building, they said. Witnesses who were jailed at Branch 251 said they often heard the screams of those being tortured. Joint plaintiffs in the courtroom prior to the start of the trial [Thomas Lohnes via AFP] The case against Raslan is based on the period between April 2011 and September 2012, when at least 4,000 prisoners were tortured at Branch 251. Detainees were often denied medical treatment and food and at least 58 people died there during that time. Prosecutors expect to be able to prove the case by placing both defendants at the branch over those 17 months. We believe that such crimes against civilians should not go unpunished, Jasper Klinge, a senior public prosecutor from Germanys federal supreme court, told journalists afterwards. Our historical responsibility means that we [Germans] must pursue this kind of case, as far as it is possible for us to do so. There are no jury trials in Germany and the entire case, which is expected to take up to two years, will be decided upon by five specially appointed judges. The panel three women and two men is presided over by senior Koblenz judge, Anne Kerber. On the first day of the trial, the accused and their defence lawyers had a chance to make an opening statement to the court. But Raslans lawyer declined the opportunity, saying his client was preparing a written statement which would be presented in the next few days. Al-Gharibs lawyer made a statement, questioning the admissibility of his clients statements to German police, in which he admitted his own guilt. Al-Gharib is accused of rounding up at least 30 anti-government demonstrators in the autumn of 2011 and bringing them to Branch 251, where he knew they would be tortured and mistreated. In 2018, he had been invited to give federal police a statement about this, his lawyer told the court, but was told he would be a witness in a case to do with war crimes. Al-Gharib was not told that the evidence he gave could be used against him, his lawyer argued. The case marks the first time a high-ranking official in Syrian President Bashar al-Assads administration has been held to account in court. Germany is using a legal principle called universal jurisdiction to trial Raslan and al-Gharib. This allows German prosecutors to work on war crimes cases, whether they have a close connection to Germany or not. Universal jurisdiction could result in an alternative means for the international community to bring war criminals to account. The trial will provide an overall picture of the crimes committed by the Syrian government, Wolfgang Kaleck, a lawyer whose Berlin-based organisation, the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, will represent 16 witnesses Syrian survivors of torture and former detainees said in a statement before the trial. This knowledge can then be used by others and in other trials, be it in Arab countries or on the international level. Feras Fayyad, one of the witnesses in the trial, said after proceedings ended for the day: We need something like this to remind the people of Syria that there is justice, and there is law. I am 100 percent certain that this is a strong message to the al-Assad regime [and] all the other dictatorships, elsewhere in the world. This first session of the trial continues until Wednesday next week, before adjourning until May. PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-23 18:29:30 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 319 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 HONOLULU, HI / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2020 / The following was released by the Hawaii Longline Association:The Hawaii Longline Association (HLA) has collaborated with members of Hawaii's fishing industry in donating 2,000 pounds of fresh seafood to Hawaii Foodbank. The donation, done in coordination with United Fishing Agency (Honolulu Auction), Hawaii Seafood Council, Nico's Pier 38, and Pacific Ocean Producers, is the beginning of a new pilot program with the Hawaii Foodbank.Through the partnership, Hawaii Foodbank plans to purchase $50,000 worth of seafood landed by Hawaii longline vessels. The purchase will ensure that Hawaii Foodbank will be able to meet the needs of Hawaii residents facing hardship as a result of COVID-19. It will also support Hawaii's longline fishermen, who, like many other fisheries across the nation, have suffered devastating losses in revenue within the last 4 weeks."We're pleased to partner with Hawaii Foodbank on this important initiative supplying high-quality fresh fish to community members in need during this COVID-19 situation," said Eric Kingma, PhD, executive director, Hawaii Longline Association. "The face of hunger is changing every day and our nearly 140 vessels operating out of Honolulu Harbor are ready and able to make critical contributions to Hawaii's fragile food supply." The Hawaii longline fishery lands around 30 million pounds of fish per year, and generates more than $100 million in landed dock-side value, placing Honolulu Harbor 6th in the Nation in terms of fisheries port value.Fish caught by HLA, including ahi, marlin, and opah, will, according to Hawaii Foodbank, "be distributed through [Hawaii Foodbank's] network of food partner agencies at distribution sites across Oahu. United Fishing Agency will break down the fish into filets and package into insulated boxes for distribution." For more information on the work being done by Hawaii Foodbank to support those in need during the current crisis, visit hawaiifoodbank.org PRESS CONTACT:Bob VanasseStove Boat Communications(202) 333-2628bob@ stoveboat.com SOURCE: Hawaii Longline Association A system of tornados and storms that were said to have killed at least seven people across Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana could be set to move across the south of the country by the end of the week. The system moved east across the Texas and Oklahoma before moving into Louisiana, killing at least seven people and injuring dozens more, The Weather Channel reported. In Texas, three people were killed in the town of Onalaska in Polk County, and two others were killed when a tornado struck the town of Madill, Oklahoma on Wednesday, according to the report. The outlet said one person was also said to have been critically injured in Oklahoma. An Onalaska resident Charles Stephens told The Houston Chronicle that a woman in his neighbourhood was found dead in the reservoir Lake Livingston near his house. Its a lot of devastation, Stephens told the newspaper. I dont think anybody is going to be able to get [into the neighbourhood]. Two people were also reported to have died in Louisiana after severe storms and flooding ravaged local neighbourhoods, according to The Weather Channel. Local newspapers reported that a man in Shreveport died after falling into a flooded drainage system, while in the southeast a woman was killed as a potential tornado tore through Rapides parish, the broadcaster said. There was some pretty extreme flooding here in Mansfield, DeSoto Parish Sheriff Jayson Richardson told The Shreveport Times. Water like Ive not seen in many, many years, if ever. A notice from the weather service in Texas described the storm as extremely dangerous, The Chronicle reported. Social media photos of Onaslaka show levelled buildings, overturned vehicles, and debris scattered across roadways the outlet said. Tornadoes and storms moved east across the three states, and there is fear the storms could continue to move further south. As a result of the destruction, The Weather Channel reported that tornado warnings were issued for parts of Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia on Thursday. Jersey will be the first Channel Island to ban hitting, smacking or slapping children under any circumstances. Jersey's government voted in favour of the ban in December last year but will be the first of the British Isles to enforce it on Friday April 24. Children's Minister Sam Mezec said: 'I am proud that Jersey has taken this step and once again put children's rights at the heart of what we do. Times have changed and there is no place in a modern society for the physical punishment of children.' Before the amendment was passed parents and carers have been allowed to smack their children with 'reasonable' physical force. Children's Minister Sam Mezec (pictured) said that he is proud that jersey will be the first British Isle to make smacking children illegal The amendment passed the States Assembly by 39 votes to four. One of the opposers, Senator Sarah Ferguson, argued that making 'reasonable' physical punishment illegal would make it difficult for parents to be authoritative. 'Parents have to have sanctions and sitting on the naughty step isn't really a sanction,' she said. Scotland was the first part of the UK to ban smacking children in October last year but will only start enforcing it in November this year. The change comes after a 2017 report concluded that the Jersey's care system was failing children. Mezec agreed that before this amendment Jersey's child laws were not in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. What is 'reasonable' physical punishment? According to section 58 of the 2004 Children Act parents or carers can smack their children 'reasonably'. 'Reasonable' punishment is not defined in the legislation and it is supposed to be decided based on the age of the child and the nature of the smack. Hitting a child would be illegal if: It leaves a mark on the child If something else is used to hit a child Advertisement 'I am proud to find ourselves in this position, able to claim today to be trailblazers, rather than lagging behind,' said Mezec. The amendment also means that people will not be able to use corporal punishment as a defence in court. Referring to families being in lockdown Mezec said: 'We understand that this new law change comes at a very challenging time for families and so we want to let parents know they are supported, which is why I have approved an awareness campaign to ensure that all parents are informed about these legislative changes and know where to get the support they need.' Before the amendment it was legal for parents and carers to use 'reasonable' physical force when punishing children The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children welcomed the amendment they had been campaigning in favour of for a long time. A spokesperson said: 'More importantly, it will also ensure they are protected by the law from physical punishment. 'Prioritising the safety and wellbeing of the Island's children and young people is needed now more than ever during these uncertain times.' PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-23 18:33:04 Q1 2020 The Great Lockdown, Complex Times Q1 revenue: 428.7 million (+1.6%) Paris, April 23, 2020 In Q1 2020, Ipsos posted revenue of 428.7 million, slightly up on the same period last year. This incorporated the positive effect (+0.8%) of two acquisitions during the quarter. These have already been announced: the Mystery Shopping business of the US company Maritz and the French company ASKIA, which develops software solutions tailored to the needs of research firms such as Ipsos. Exchange rate effects were also positive (+0.8%). At constant exchange rates and scope, revenue was flat year-on-year. PERFORMANCE BY REGION Breakdown of consolidated revenue by region (in millions) Q1 2020 Q1 2019 Reported change Q1 2020 / Q1 2019 Organic growth Europe, Middle East and Africa 188.0 185.3 1.5 % 0.5 % Americas 167.5 155.4 7.8 % 4 % Asia-Pacific 73.2 81.3 (9.9) % (10.5) % Annual revenue 428.7 422.1 1.6 % 0 % Breaking down by region, growth was strong in the Americas and more particularly in the US (+5%). Conversely, it fell 10% in Asia-Pacific due to the very negative performance in China (-25%) caused by the early lockdown. PERFORMANCE BY AUDIENCE in millions Q1 2020 Q1 2019 Contribution Reported change Q1 2020 / Q1 2019 Organic growth Consumers1 195.4 194.9 45.6 % 0.2 % (1.5) % Clients and employees2 104.9 106.5 24.5 % (1.5) % (5) % Citizens3 64.9 58.0 15.1 % 12.0 % 10 % Doctors and patients4 63.5 62.7 14.8 % 1.3 % 3.5 % Quarterly revenue 428.7 422.1 100 % 1.6 % 0 % *Breakdown of Service Lines by audience segment: the analysis of the breakdown of revenue by audience segment is classified as non-financial data, and is likely to change over time in line with changes in the structure of Ipsos teams. Audience Measurement, Brand Health, Clinics & Mobility Labs, Creative Excellence, Innovation, Ipsos UU (excl. pharma), Ipsos MMA, Market Strategy & Understanding, Observer (excl. public sector), Media Development, Social Intelligence Analytics Customer Experience, Channel Performance, Mystery Shopping, Quality Measurement, ERM Public Affairs, Corporate Reputation Healthcare (quantitative and qualitative) In terms of audience segments, there are significant differences between 2019 and 2020. Revenue from services targeted at specific groups such as customers and employees was down 5%. Many companies in sectors that are heavily impacted by the pandemic discontinued their research work because of a lack of customers. This is true of hotel chains, airlines and other service companies. Services involving consumer research were also hit, particularly in March. Many companies, surprised by the scope and breadth of the crisis naturally suspended research around, for example, new product or service launches, asking themselves what markets look like now and what they will look like once the health crisis has been tackled, or even ended. Two audience segments are up. They are both directly linked to the pandemic: Public authorities in many countries want to know peoples lives in such unusual times. They are also looking to properly understand how they can shape their communications and encourage people to respect health guidelines designed to contain the epidemic. In parallel, they are also ramping up measurement systems that will give them reliable data on key issues, such as the number of people who were exposed to the virus and who, through serological tests, are showing signs of immunity. The Ipsos performance in these audience segments would have been even stronger had certain social research programs, involving face-to-face survey protocols, not been curtailed in March to comply with lockdown rules. Many of these programs will be restarted as soon as possible where the data collection protocols can be adapted. In some cases that offer the same quality assurances, interviews can be done by telephone with people who are confined at home rather than face-to-face. In certain cases, however, face-to-face survey protocols need to be maintained and it is thus a matter of waiting to restart them until this is once again feasible. Pharmaceutical firms have also been active. Ipsos developed a series of initiatives for them both related and unrelated to the pandemic and the health impact. OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT BUSINESS CONDITIONS IN Q1 Profitability was down around 100 basis points year-on-year, given the sudden slump in business from mid-March. This abrupt decline meant we weren't able to cut costs proportionally because they are partly fixed and were in line with projected growth to that point for 2020. In contrast, free cash flow from operating activities was in line with forecasts for Q1 and particularly high on the back of the strong sales at end-2019, reflected in inflows this quarter. The company invested close to 12 million in two acquisitions (Maritz Mystery Shopping and Askia) in Q1. These two companies were consolidated as from February 1, 2020. The net debt ratio was 47.4% at March 31, 2020, down from 51.5% at December 31, 2019 and 52.9% at March 31, 2019. The company has a strong cash position with 230 million in cash, not to mention around 500 million in undrawn bank facilities. This will allow it to meet its debt repayments in 2020 and 2021. OUTLOOK FOR 2020 The situation hasn't changed since the press release of April 8, 2020, which stated that following a very positive start to the year, despite disappointing performances in a number of Asian markets and in particular China, since the third week of March Ipsos has been operating in a highly changed market. There has been a significant fall in orders with the twin effect of fewer new orders than last year and a substantial level of cancellations and above all suspensions and postponements. The magnitude communicated on April 8 was reaffirmed during the first three weeks of April (week 14, beginning March 30 and ending April 5, week 15 and week 16): New orders were down 10% on last year whereas the net order book (new orders net of cancellations and postponements during the period) was at 40% of what it was in the same weeks of 2019. It is likely that this trend, with perhaps fewer cancellations and postponements, will continue until we move out of the Great Lockdown into a period where the most restrictive measures are removed.This will be gradual but nonetheless real. Until then, Ipsos will see sales negatively affected by: The difficulties faced by clients themselves; The uncertainty created by the epidemic, in particular regarding the length of the lockdown and the subsequent length of restrictions not to mention concerns about what will follow; The consequences of the lockdown and operational impossibility for Ipsos to work on certain programs, particularly where people need to be surveyed in person. Ipsos is optimistic that the services and information provided to public authorities, companies and other organizations are critical and will be viewed as such during the various phases leading up to a return to normal life for everyone. That said, Ipsos is realistic and has been proactive: Steps were taken in March to control the cost base and bring it into line with actual business levels. The primary goal, amongst others, is to preserve the company's strong cash position. The decision to cut the dividend in half is based on the same rationale. The solutions that Ipsos offers its clients have been or will shortly be adapted to reflect the technical and material constraints created by the Great Lockdown and the restrictive measures that will likely be in place for months. They are, insofar as possible, more digital, agile, quicker. They make it possible to obtain the accurate measurements and fresh information companies and organizations need. The Great Lockdown is reflective of the extent of the crisis. It is also, however, a major accelerator of innovation and of transformation in the methods and processes used to collect data. There is a particular focus on internal training, client communication and the functioning of collaborative platforms. These are trying and difficult times for everyone. There is considerable need to adapt. In fact, it is easy to order a company's employees to work from home, but it is much more complex to ensure that, under these conditions, the work that must be done is done as efficiently as before. Ipsos continues to manage thousands of projects, survey millions of people, collect and analyze content from hundreds of thousands of websites and social media sources. Every day and in every region, Ipsos teams act as spokespeople for consumers / citizens and clients. Lastly, Ipsos is closely monitoring the speed of market recovery and type of demand - new or not - in countries that were never fully locked down, such as South Korea, or that are coming out of lockdown, such as China. In five weeks, at the General Shareholders Meeting of Ipsos SA, which will be held behind closed doors on May 28, Ipsos will provide further updates on market conditions and business activity. Publication of 2020 half-yearly results: July 22, 2020. ABOUT IPSOS Ipsos is the third largest market research company in the world, present in 90 markets and employing more than 18,000 people. Our passionately curious research professionals, analysts and scientists have built unique multi-specialist capabilities that provide true understanding and powerful insights into the actions, opinions and motivations of citizens, consumers, patients, customers or employees. Our 75 business solutions are based on primary data coming from our surveys, social media monitoring, and qualitative or observational techniques. Game Changers our tagline summarizes our ambition to help our 5,000 clients navigate with confidence our world of rapid change. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos is listed on the Euronext Paris since July 1, 1999. The company is part of the SBF 120 and the Mid-60 index and is eligible for the Deferred Settlement Service (SRD). ISIN code FR0000073298, Reuters ISOS.PA, Bloomberg IPS:FP www.ipsos.com Attachment A Novotech client's COVID-19 trial was just approved in under 9 days in South Korea The Asia-Pacific's largest specialist biotech CRO Novotech said many countries in the region were now fast-tracking their COVID-19 clients' clinical trials with expedited review processes for treatment and vaccine candidates. A Novotech client's COVID-19 trial was just approved in under 9 days in South Korea. The South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has announced "GO-expedite" program where they are expediting the review process for COVID-19 treatment and vaccine trials with specific timelines. Other countries are also fast-tracking COVID-19 trial reviews including: India: review/approval in 10 working days Thailand: review/approval in 15 working days Malaysia: review/approval in 20 working days Novotech Executive Director Asia Operations Dr. Yooni Kim said she was pleased to see such a rapid response in the region to support vital research. "We are seeing an increase in demand from biotechnology sponsors for studies in the Asia-Pacific region because of the speed and quality available here. This expedited review process will further support the race for COVID-19 treatments." For the latest updates on the Asia-Pacific clinical trial landscape see our Data Bulletins (updated weekly). About Novotech - https://novotech-cro.com Novotech is internationally recognized as the leading regional full-service contract research organization (CRO) in Asia-Pacific. Novotech has been instrumental in the success of over a thousand Phase I - IV clinical trials for biotechnology companies. Novotech was established in 1996, with offices in 11 locations across the region, and site partnerships with major health institutions. Novotech provides clinical development services across all clinical trial phases and therapeutic areas including: feasibility assessments; ethics committee and regulatory submissions, data management, statistical analysis, medical monitoring, safety services, central lab services, report write-up to ICH requirements, project and vendor management. Novotech obtained the ISO 27001 certification which is the best-known standard in the ISO family providing requirements for an Information Security Management System. Together with the ISO 9001 Quality Management system, Novotech aims at the highest IT security and quality standards for patients and biotechnology companies. For RFP enquiries: Please fill out the form available at https://novotech-cro.com/talk-to-an-expert ### In this June 2016 photo, Herbert Vederman leaves the federal courthouse in Philadelphia after being convicted along with his friend, former U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah. Read more On April 14, former Philadelphia Deputy Mayor Herbert Vederman was told he had been selected for early release amid the coronavirus pandemic, along with most of his fellow inmates at the minimum-security prison camp in upstate New York where he is serving a sentence for his conviction in the political corruption case that brought down U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah. Vederman moved to a medium-security lockup to serve out a 14-day quarantine period and was eagerly counting down the days until he could finish the rest of his two-year term under confinement at his home in West Palm Beach, Fla. But on Monday one week before 74-year-olds scheduled departure the U.S. Bureau of Prisons reversed course. In a decision that has caused chaos for dozens of federal inmates and their families, and sowed confusion among wings of the executive branch, U.S. prison administrators revoked several of their earlier release decisions this week and said they would no longer consider inmates who had served less than half of their sentences. The decision has left inmates like Vederman who is just two months shy of that benchmark in limbo. READ MORE: Deal to end ex-Philly deputy mayors bribery case with one-year sentence crumbles in court Vederman, who earned his fortune as an executive with the Charming Shoppes womens clothing chain before taking prominent roles in the mayoral and gubernatorial administrations of Ed Rendell, was convicted in 2016 of showering Fattah with bribes for years, including gifts such as cash payments to the congressmans children and college tuition for his South African au pair. Fattah, in exchange, lobbied government officials including then-President Barack Obama and U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) in hope of landing Vederman a post as an ambassador. An appellate court later overturned Fattahs bribery convictions, but Vederman was sentenced last year on charges of bank fraud and false statements tied to $18,000 he paid Fattah in 2012 that they tried to hide by arranging a sham sale of a Porsche owned by the Democratic congressmans wife, former NBC10 news anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah. The confusion this week over whether Vederman would be released from prison comes nearly a month after Attorney General William Barr first ordered a review to determine which among the nations nearly 144,000 federal inmates could safely be furloughed to house arrest as coronavirus outbreaks in federal prisons nationwide began to threaten the lives of inmates and guards. More recently, he has directed the Bureau of Prisons to move more aggressively and expanded the criteria under which inmates could be released, urging the agency to prioritize low-risk offenders and those with health-risks who have already served half their sentences. Roughly 1,400 have already been selected for furlough as of Wednesday, the bureau reported on its website. Before Monday, those numbers had not only included Vederman, but also other high-profile federal inmates including President Donald Trumps former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and his personal lawyer Michael Cohen, according to various news reports. What exactly changed this week remains unclear. Inmates whose release decisions were reversed were told by prison officials that the Justice Department had issued new guidelines. But in Vedermans case, government lawyers say the departments guidance had not changed. The mandate to prioritize those who had completed half their prison terms is subject to deviation in BOPs discretion based on particular circumstances, Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Zauzmer wrote in a court filing Wednesday. Mr. Vedermans case will be assessed consistent with this policy. In a statement to Forbes, a Bureau of Prisons spokesperson said the decision to move inmates from the minimum-security camp in Otisville, N.Y., where both Vederman and Cohen are housed, into pre-release quarantine earlier this month was merely an anticipatory step and was not meant to guarantee their eventual release. Staff at Otisville are currently reviewing all inmates for their suitability for home confinement or furlough, the statement read. Some of these inmates may not ultimately qualify, but by proactively moving the inmates into quarantine now, eligible inmates will be able to be released from the institution sooner. Vedermans lawyers say that cant afford to wait and have now asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit to step in. 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. They cited their clients advanced age and health conditions such as heart disease and a bout with skin cancer that could make him more medically vulnerable should he contract the virus. To be clear, Vederman is not asking the court to reduce his prison sentence, attorney Yaakov M. Roth wrote in a court filing Tuesday. Rather, he implores the court to allow him to remain at home just as the BOP itself was poised to do, until [its] last-minute reversal of policy until the court can resolve his appeal. He could receive an answer as soon as Thursday during a previously scheduled hearing before the appellate court, where his lawyers were already set to urge a panel of judges to overturn his sentence. Vedermans lawyers did not return requests for comment Wednesday. Lawyers for Fattah, who is serving a 10-year sentence at a federal prison in Wayne County, Pa., did not respond to questions over whether he, too, had sought early release. Flash Qi Haowen is one of 8,000 Chinese students currently stranded in St. Petersburg, Russia, after travelling there in late August last year to learn Russian. "At the moment, neither my roommate or I dare go out not even to the supermarket. Wearing masks is no longer regarded as alien here," Qi explained. Before mid-March, Russia looked to have dodged a bullet. As COVID-19 raged in other countries, Russia's reported new confirmed infections remained in double figures. However, since March 25 when 163 new cases were confirmed, this number has risen fast: as of April 20, the total number of cases nationwide has reached over 47,100. "From February to early March, life in Russia was unaffected. A few Chinese people were persuaded by family members to wear masks, but they'd often remove them furtively if locals gave them a strange glance. It's ridiculous to think that at that time, I always took my mask off in crowded places, and then put it back on when there were fewer people around." After arriving in St. Petersburg last year, Qi took up a part-time job selling amber via livestream on Taobao platform. She recalled: "I used to livestream from a small room. Due to the pandemic, the amber shop had no Chinese tourists and business had dipped, so they asked us to do it in the shop. When sales rose because of my livestreaming, the Russian sales clerk kept saying '' ('great') to me." "I remember one day in mid-March, a sign was posted on campus saying that entry without a mask was prohibited. All colleges and universities then suspended classes and my courses were moved online." "The staff who livestream in the amber shop asked for leave because they didn't want to venture out to work. That's when the livestreaming was forced to stop." To cope with the rising tide of infections, the Russian government ordered all non-essential workplaces to close from March 28 to April 5, declaring that "the safest thing is to be at home now." "Drugstores and restaurants were all closed, and we could only go to the supermarket to buy food or else order takeaways. On the streets it was mostly deliverymen in their bright yellow uniforms," Qi recalled. Paid leave in the country, which was originally scheduled to last a week, was later extended until the end of the month. "Gradually, I began to see Russians wearing masks," Qi noted. "At present, the shops have enough of everything people need. There are two large supermarkets within one kilometer of my home, which haven't run out of stock, and I usually go out to buy essentials once a week." The items that Qi most urgently needs are still protective equipment. In early February, she purchased 3,000 N95 masks in Moscow and mailed them back to China. "At the beginning of March, I thought Russia had curbed the spread of the coronavirus, and so I just kept 20 masks. I really regret it now," she explained. Luckily, the Chinese Consulate General has distributed face masks, gloves, disinfectant and other protective gear in three batches since March 27 to ensure that every Chinese citizen in the consular district receives at least 20 masks, according to Wang Wenli, the Chinese consul general in St. Petersburg. Qi said: "A week ago, the Chinese Student Association of St. Petersburg informed me that I could go and pick up 20 masks. The donated materials from China had finally arrived. I could feel the warmth of my homeland! " Apart from the distributed masks, Qi also mentioned the WeChat groups set up by St. Petersburg's Chinese Association. "The association has been posting the latest news about the pandemic situation in Russia and relevant regulations on its official WeChat account and in our WeChat groups," Qi said. "In a special WeChat group for medical services, they listed the telephone numbers of those on duty everyday who can help us contact the hospital in an emergency. There's also a Chinese medical physician offering free consultations." According to Zhao Xiaoru, head of the Association's publicity department, they have been cooperating with the Chinese embassy and consulate to increase awareness amongst Chinese in Russia about how to stay safe, and making sure that they strictly comply with the local pandemic prevention measures. "The Russian government has successively issued many pandemic prevention policies in order to keep people at home." "In addition to our WeChat official account where we publish news and information about related laws and regulations we've also established online chat groups to help overseas Chinese in St. Petersburg solve practical problems. Whenever people have questions concerning visas, flight changes between China and Russia, or medical issues, we'll discuss them in the group and help find a solution." "We want to help our fellow Chinese during this special period and we hope the pandemic will end soon," Zhao added. [April 23, 2020] 'StimulusPlanner.com' Digital Portal Launched To Help Businesses Navigate Coronavirus Stimulus Loans NEW YORK, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- StimulusPlanner.com, an independent portal that helps small businesses navigate the complex web of federal stimulus programs, was launched this week. The digital portal provides free tools and resources to help businesses get fast funding through government stimulus programs, which offer up to $10M of forgivable funds to cover payroll during the crisis and up to $25M - $150M in loans to cover overhead expenses for small and medium sized companies. Everything on the Portal is provided for free by a group of business owners who've successfully navigated the complicated maze of the stimulus application process. The group felt compelled to share everything they learned with others facing the same unprecedented challenges they faced. The creators of the StimulusPlanner are not bankers, accountants, lawyers, or a government agency, they are business owners who want to help others at a critical time for all American businesses who want to keep their doors open and their employees on payroll. The Stimulus Planner provides practical tools and resources to help businesses navigate the complicated web of stimulus programs, so they can get the stimulus funding available, as fast as possible, before payroll is due or the funding runs out. StimulusPlanner.com Highlights Stimulus Program fact sheets that provide an overview of the programs available and the application process fact sheets that provide an overview of the programs available and the application process Stimulus Playbook provides a step-by-step action plan to help businesses get the maximum stimulus funds available under each program. The playbook also provides detailed instructions for how to get the maximum amount of loan forgiveness for loans that can be fully forgiven. provides a step-by-step action plan to help businesses get the maximum stimulus funds available under each program. The playbook also provides detailed instructions for how to get the maximum amount of loan forgiveness for loans that can be fully forgiven. Multimedia tutorials explain the stimulus program rules, with animated FAQ's, fact sheets and guides to help businesses secure fast funding. explain the stimulus program rules, with animated FAQ's, fact sheets and guides to help businesses secure fast funding. Stimulus Calculator the first interactive calculators that automate the complicated calculations to quickly determine the maximum stimulus funds available for a business and what businesses need to do to get the maximum forgiveness of loans. (ppp) the first interactive calculators that automate the complicated calculations to quickly determine the maximum stimulus funds available for a business and what businesses need to do to get the maximum forgiveness of loans. (ppp) Application Guide streamlines the cumbersome application process to ensure your application is completed properly, avoiding mistakes that could cause delays or a final rejection. streamlines the cumbersome application process to ensure your application is completed properly, avoiding mistakes that could cause delays or a final rejection. Top 10 New Stimulus & Tax Benefits describes benefits available to small businesses and their employees to help them acquire and conserve capital now, to sustain them through the crisis. describes benefits available to small businesses and their employees to help them acquire and conserve capital now, to sustain them through the crisis. Corona Crisis Playbook , a comprehensive guide to operational excellence in crisis, with over 20 guides the provide best practices to help businesses survive during the crisis and thrive through the recovery. a comprehensive guide to operational excellence in crisis, with over 20 guides the provide best practices to help businesses survive during the crisis and thrive through the recovery. Acquiring and Conserving Capital Financial Planning & Cash flow management Human Resources Facility Remediation & Cleaning Virtual Workforce Contactless Commerce Crisis Communications "Most small businesses don't have the cash reserves to cover payroll during the crisis, and they don't have the time to navigate the complex program rules and cumbersome application process to secure stimulus support, before payroll is due or the funds run out," said Sean Wolfington, chairman of the Wolfington Companies, one of the creators of the Stimulus Planner portal. "The stimulus program is right on time, but it can be very complicated and confusing to figure out at first," said Brian Benstock, general manager of New York-based Paragon Honda. "The Planner gave us a track to run on, and made it easier to understand and apply the right way, to secure stimulus funds faster, so we can keep everyone on payroll and get back to 100 percent as quickly as possible," Benstock added. "Small businesses are the heartbeat of the American economy and they are hurting badly," said Chad Collier, co-founder/CEO of CarSaver at Walmart. "We're doing what we can to help make a difference." "The Stimulus Planner gathers many of the best resources out there for businesses looking to navigate this crisis," said David Boice, co-founder/CEO of Team Velocity. "We're doing everything we can to help businesses get funded so they can support the families they serve. We will weather this storm and emerge even strongerjust as we have so many times before in our nation's history." About the Stimulus Planner The Stimulus Planner is an independent portal, created to help businesses navigate the complex web of stimulus funds, so they can secure much funding to keep their doors open and employees on payroll. After successfully navigating the confusing maze of stimulus programs, business owners were compelled to share everything they learned to help others get much needed funding faster. Everything on the website is free. The portal doesn't accept any personal or financial information. It's a one-way street, providing free tools and resources to help businesses keep their people employed. We're not bankers, accountants, lawyers, or a government agency, we're business owners, who are sharing everything we learned to help others get the funding they need. We hope this resource helps you protect your business and the families you serve. Contact: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stimulusplannercom-digital-portal-launched-to-help-businesses-navigate-coronavirus-stimulus-loans-301046412.html SOURCE Stimulus Planner [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] FURCY, HAITI - About an hours drive from Haitis capital, Port-au-Prince, residents of Furcy, a cool, lush, agricultural community high up in the mountains, say they are used to dealing with illnesses common to cooler climates. Their community is located more than 1,000 meters above sea level and average temperatures there during the month of April are around 20 degrees Celsius. Comparatively, in the capital, the average temperature is near 30 degrees Celsius. The residents say they are now using their herbal cold and flu remedies in their homemade plan to deal with the coronavirus. They had to come up with a plan of action they say, because the government has ignored them. The symptoms caused by coronavirus are things we are used to dealing with up here, a woman wearing a hoodie and a wool hat told VOA Creole. Were used to the flu, headaches, sore throats; they are all familiar to us. We do take precautions of course, but we can say we own this type of illness because we live in a cold climate. I know what to make for my children to protect them from illness, a woman cradling a baby on her hip said. Back in the day, the old people used to give their children medicine before medicating themselves. Remedies to fight flu symptoms Favorite local remedies to fight flu-like symptoms include a concoction made with cat tail plants, various leaves and ginger root. Theres bitter ginger and theres sweet ginger. To calm a cough, we have our own remedies, so we dont need to go see a doctor, the woman with the baby said. Residents told VOA they are wary of consulting a doctor when they have flu-like symptoms. You know its a saga to get the doctor to come all the way up here, a man wearing a patchwork face mask said. By the time they get their protective gear, instruments and drive up here, we could die. Instead, he said, they have decided to take a pragmatic approach. We have these leaves over here, he said pointing to a green leafy plant. These are sunflower leaves, but to us they are also medicine. They are really bitter, but when we have a cold or the flu, we boil these leaves. We also use it to get rid of fever. The man said the locals have various other herbal remedies in their arsenal that are quite effective. He also said they consume limes and bitter oranges, two fruits loaded with Vitamin C, which can boost the immune system. Fact or fake? VOA Creole asked Pierre Hugues Saint-Jean, president of Haitis National Association of Pharmacists, if theres any validity to the traditional remedies being touted by people in rural communities. There actually has been a debate about the virtues of certain plants. Some people say ginger, others say limes, some people are talking about aloe, Saint-Jean said. Just because its a plant doesnt mean it has no scientific validity. But you have to study the plant, isolate the active substances contained in the plant and then conduct (scientific) studies. Saint-Jean said this kind of in-depth study can determine what preventive attributes the plant may hold that perhaps later could be used to treat illnesses. Living in isolation Although Furcy is only 38 kilometers southeast of the capital, the road to get there is steep and winding, so not many people venture there. We dont go down to Port-au-Prince, so if we need something, someone has to bring it to us, the man wearing the patchwork face mask told VOA. No one has come to inform us about the virus or tell us what we should and shouldnt do. We learned all about it while listening to the radio. Another man, who was not wearing a face mask, agreed. We just listen to the radio and follow the advice, he said. Asked why he chose not to wear a face covering, the man said its because he finds it difficult to breathe when he has it on. I have to get used to it, he said. I know it will protect me. Residents whom VOA interviewed knew that keeping hands clean is also key to staying healthy. So, they found a way to make that happen. Since we live on a mountain, we take many precautions, said a woman whose baby was wearing a light blue wool hat. We wash our hands often; if we are going out, we always have a bottle of vinegar in our pocket (that we use as a disinfectant) because way up here, its hard to find alcohol but we can easily find vinegar, she told VOA Creole. The woman said she stays home most days and doesnt have contact with many people. Haiti currently has 58 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, according to the Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the global outbreak. Of those 58, four people have died and there have been no recoveries. Prime Minister Joseph Jouthe announced this week that a lockdown that began in March has been extended until May 19. Anantapur: An 85-year-old woman from Hindupur, infected with Covid-19, was discharged after a 16- day long battle with the virus in hospital. The woman survived even as she lost her 60-year-old son to the virus. The family of Mahaboob Bee, resident of Housing Board Colony in Hindupur municipality in Anantapur district, had four positive cases, including a death. Three generations - old woman, her son and grandson were infected by the virus. The familys first contact was a 60-year-old man who had contracted it from a Mecca returnee. The man was a patient with respiratory problem and shifted to the TB ward of Anantapur general hospital on March 31. The man died on March 3 and he was declared as Covid-19 positive after his death. The old woman could not even see her son, who was directly taken to burial ground from hospital. I couldn't even see the body of my son during final rites," she recalled. On April 4, the authorities instructed the family to go into quarantine. However, the 85-year-old woman, unable to move due to age-related problems, was permitted home quarantine while other family members were shifted to isolation wards. "She, grandson and driver were confirmed Covid-19 positive on April 5. Though she was asymptomatic, due to her age and condition, she was admitted to district Covid-19 hospital ( KIMS Saveera) at Anantapur on April 5. She underwent treatment and was cured within 16 days. Doctors took the case as prestigious and handled sensitively, Anantapur collector Gandham Chandrudu said. Her 29-year-old grandson, an RMP practitioner at RPGT Road, and his driver were also discharged on Tuesday night. The old woman is 85-years-old according to her Aadhaar card but she is possibly 87 years old or more, doctors from the hospital observed. Critical care in-charge of Covid KIMS Savera hospital, Dr. Ravishankar, told Deccan Chronicle that the old woman was brought to the hospital from Hindupur in a critical condition on a stretcher. "She was in a state of depression and fear. We kept her grandson in the same ICCU ward to build confidence for old woman. Within two days, the patient was free from depression. She was allowed to speak with her other family members over phone, Dr. Ravishankar said. Describing the method of treatment, Dr. Ravishankar said the old woman already had diabetes and hypertension. "Only oral medicine, mostly tablets, were given to her during all the days of treatment and no IV medicine was injected. HCQ was also not given because of her age and other ailments", he said and added she was able to attend to her own work within five days of being admitted to the hospital. "At the time of discharge, the old lady, with a cheerful face, was brought on a wheelchair, a model of confidence for millions of people in a panic situation across the globe, Chandrudu said, applauding the round-the-clock efforts of the medical team. The grand lady confidently said she was attending to her own work in the house without any fear of the coronavirus. Mera kaam mai kar sakti hu aur corona beemari ka koi fikr nahi, she said, expressing gratitude to the doctors. Photo: Hector Alejandro/Flickr Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Atlanta. Atlanta mayor: 'I am asking people to please stay home' Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms discusses the Georgia governor's decision to reopen some businesses amid the pandemic. Read the full story on MSNBC. Publix sets special hours for first responders, hospital staff Publix has set designated shopping hours for first responders and hospital staff in Atlanta during the pandemic. Read the full story on Patch.com. Police sergeant gives face masks to homeless in East Atlanta Atlanta Police Zone 6 Sgt. D. Simmons is making sure homeless people in East Atlanta have face masks to wear during the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the full story on 11ALIVE. Cobb County: 1,272 coronavirus cases, 63 deaths There have been 1,272 Cobb Countians diagnosed with the coronavirus as of Wednesday evening, according to the state Department of Public Health. Read the full story on www.mdjonline.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. Republic TV chief Arnab Goswami and his wife were attacked past midnight on Wednesday in Mumbai by two unknown people while they were driving home from their studios, a complaint filed by the television journalist said. Goswami and his wife escaped unhurt in the attack. The Republic TV chief has filed a police complaint in which he said that the attack took place around 12:15 am. Two men on a motorcycle overtook my car and tried to identify who was driving. They then blocked the path of my car with their two-wheeler. The pillion rider hit the right side driver window several times and after realising that the car windows were up, the pillion rider removed a liquid bottle from his pocket and threw liquid on the drivers side of the car where I was sitting, Goswami said in his complaint. He also said that the attackers were apprehended by Mumbai Police protection team. In his complaint, Goswami pointed fingers at the Congress and mentioned a tweet by party leader Alka Lamba just three hours after the attack. On Wednesday, Congress leaders had complained against Goswami accusing him of attempting to communalise the death of three persons in Maharashtras Palghar. Congress leader Nitin Raut also lodged a complaint against him in Nagpur on Wednesday. It is an attempt to give religious colour to the incident by the media. Goswami is one of them. We have decided to request the CM to take action against him, said Raut. An FIR was registered against him in Chhattisgarhs Raipur after several complaints by Congress workers. Union minister Prakash Javadekar condemned the attempt to attack Goswami. This is against democracy and it is really ironical that those who preach tolerance have become so intolerant. Therefore we condemn this attempt, said Javadekar. He also called for action on the complaint. BJP president JP Nadda said it was shocking to see Arnab Goswami attacked after Congress chief ministers publicly threatened him. Sad to see such public hounding of a journalist for his freedom of speech. Congress shows it is the party that brought Emergency and continues its rich tradition of trampling free speech, he said. A Chinese pet owner has forced his dog stay on the roof of his moving car without any protection while driving on busy roads because 'there is no room inside'. Shocking CCTV footage shows the black dog standing atop the car without a harness in the bustling city of Leshan in south-western China's Sichuan Province. When questioned by police, the unnamed driver claimed that he couldn't fit his pet inside the car because there was not enough room in the backseat. A Chinese pet owner has let his dog stay on the roof of his car without any protection while driving on busy roads because 'there is no room inside' The pet owner also stated that the dog wouldn't fall off the car because 'it is well-trained'. In a video uploaded by the Leshan Traffic Police yesterday, the pet owner was caught on camera carelessly driving through the city centre while his canine standing on the top of the car. When the black dog was sliding down to the front of the car at one point, the vehicle stopped to let it climb back to the top. The police tracked down the reckless driver after receiving a tip-off from a witness about the incident. The pet owner, who was not identified, said that he was taking the dog to a veterinary clinic for an injection that day. He explained that there was not enough room inside the car. 'I was worried that the dog would suffocate being inside the trunk, but I had stuff piled in the backseat that day,' the resident added. When later confronted by local police, the unnamed driver explained that he couldn't fit his pet inside the car because there was not enough room in the backseat Shocking CCTV footage has captured a black dog standing on the top of a moving car without harness at the bustling city centre of Leshan, Sichuan Province in south-western China A police officer can be heard in the video asking: 'How can you make sure that it wouldn't jump off the car?' The driver replied: 'That dog is well-trained.' He also confessed that he realised how thoughtless his behaviour was afterwards: 'After that day, I thought that something wasn't right about this.' It is unclear that if the resident received any punishment for his action. The news comes as the escalating coronavirus pandemic has shed a light on the issue of animal protection and welfare in China. The picture shows dogs resting after being rescued from a truck heading towards the Yulin Dog Meat Festival on June 22, 2017 The news comes as the escalating coronavirus pandemic has shed a light on the issue of animal protection and welfare in China. Although scientists are still unravelling several aspects of the virus - including how exactly it was transmitted to human from animals - it is widely believed that the contagion was originated from wildlife. A growing number of people in China have started to promote animal welfare using grassroots campaigns on social media, despite a lack of government legislations against animal cruelty currently in place. China has banned on the trading and eating of exotic meat in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak while two Chinese cities have announced a ground-breaking law to ban their residents from eating cats and dogs from May 1. A Chinese wildlife park which forced bears to do handstands and put monkeys on tiny bikes has halted animal shows permanently amid the health crisis. PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-23 22:59:03 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 673 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 This news release is not for distribution or dissemination in the United States of AmericaTORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2020 / GreenBank Capital Inc. (CSE:GBC)(OTCMKTS:GRNBF)(FRA:2TL) ("GreenBank or the Company") is very pleased to announce that Richard Beresford has joined its Board of Directors, having been voted onto the Board by the shareholders of the Company at the recent Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday 8th April 2020.Mr. Beresford is an entrepreneurial corporate lawyer with over 25 years' experience in the City of London. He is the driving force behind McCarthy Denning, a next-generation law firm, providing a radical new approach to the delivery of high-quality legal advice. The firm has international reach and experience and offers a full range of specialist expertise including employment, property, banking and debt finance, corporate, corporate finance, litigation, tax, competition and EU law. Richard has clients across several continents and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the GreenBank Capital Board.In 2017 Richard co-founded and became non-executive chairman of Rockpool Acquisitions PLC which is listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. Previously, Richard was a partner with McGuireWoods for over 4 years where he focused on M&A transactions (including those with cross-border elements).He earned his undergraduate law degree from the University of Warwick, and First Class Honors in his Solicitors Finals Exams at the City of London Polytechnic (now part of the London Metropolitan University).Mark Wettreich, Chairman of Greenbank Capital said, "We are delighted to welcome Richard to the Board of Directors. His international knowledge and relationships will be invaluable to the Company and together with Terry Pullen helps establish the global perspective which will be critically important in executing GreenBank Capital's strategy".About GreenBankGreenBank is a merchant banking business listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (trading symbols CSE: GBC and OTCMKTS: GRNBF and FRA: 2TL). GreenBank's 100% subsidiary GreenBank Financial Inc. is a merchant bank. GreenBank's portfolio companies comprise equity investments in 11 small cap businesses, namely; 52.5% of Blockchain Evolution Inc, owners of the world's first identification based blockchain, and developers of Xbook a user permissioned and revenue sharing social media platform; 22.6% of Ubique Minerals Limited, a zinc exploration company in Newfoundland, Canada; 47.7% of GBC Grand Exploration Inc, a gold exploration company in Newfoundland, Canada;; 59.5% of Kabaddi Games Inc, developers of a mobile application game based on the sport of Kabaddi;; 19% of Inside Bay Street Corporation, a financial news communications company; 34.8% of Gander Exploration Inc, a minerals exploration company in Newfoundland, Canada; 10% of Reliable Stock Transfer Inc, a Canadian small cap transfer agency; 25% of Buchans Wileys Exploration Inc, a minerals exploration company with interests in Newfoundland, Canada; 19% of Staminier Limited, a United Kingdom Merchant Banking firm, 10% of The Lonsdale Group LLC, a USA based private equity company focused on small cap investments;; and 11.2% of Minfocus Exploration Corp (TSXV: MFX), a mineral exploration company.For more information please see https://www.GreenBankCapitalinc.com or contact Mark Wettreich at (647) 693 9411 or by email Mark@ GreenBankCapitalinc.com Forward-Looking Information: This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business and trading in the common stock of GreenBank Capital Inc., the raising of additional capital and the future development of the businesses comprising GreenBank's investment portfolio. The forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the company's management. Although the company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because GreenBank can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and GreenBank disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws.Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.SOURCE: GreenBank Capital Inc. A student of the University of Colorado shared the details of the digital blind date that she fixed between her mother and her professor on TikTok and the internet is hailing her as the best wingman. Last week, Aly Oliver posted screenshots of the humorous virtual date saga of her mother that sneaked up on her good-looking professor during her online class, after which, she planned out a date for the two on Zoom. The clip quickly went viral with over 2.6 million views on TikTok and over 22.6k comments as users called the incident the best thing ever. In the video Oliver posted, her mom walks in while she was on a class on a zoom video app with her professor who the mother instantly had the crush on. Therefore, Oliver decided to introduce them both in another class where she fabricated the scene of her mom walking in on her accidentally. The woman hilariously practiced her role for another videoconference. Oliver said that she ensured beforehand that the professor knew that her mom was divorced and therefore, single. Read: Sona Mohapatra 'cheers' For Kartik Aaryan After He Deletes 'problematic' Video With Sister Read: Donald Trump Getting His Hair 'combed' Has Netizens Saying "best Thing Ever", Watch Video Bold and inspiring So, in the next videoconference class, Oliver asked her mom to casually walk-in while her professor was online to ask her for lunch. As she did, Oliver asked her mom if she would like to meet her favourite professor, to which the mother agreed and they both chatted for a while. TikTok users were rendered speechless at Olivers wit and were fascinated by the digital love saga despite the coronavirus social distancing. Oliver further informed the users that her professor and her mom lived in two different states, so it wouldnt be anytime soon that they might enter their chemistry into real lives soon due to the global pandemic crisis. When she walked in with a full contour and highlight beat face, wrote a user. Your mom is so bold its inspiring, wrote another. I love that she glammed herself for that 1 minute screen time, wrote a third. Your mom is a mood I aspire to be, wrote a fourth user. Read: Throwback Thursday: When Nia Sharma Played Holi On Sets Of 'Naagin 4', Watch Video Read: Sona Mohapatra 'cheers' For Kartik Aaryan After He Deletes 'problematic' Video With Sister GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip The state of emergency declared March 5 by the Palestinian Authority (PA) after COVID-19 cases were confirmed in Bethlehem and the subsequent lockdown have disrupted local economies and prevented laborers from going to work in Gaza, the West Bank and Israel. In the Palestinian territories, the economic hardship stemming from the pandemic serves to exacerbate problems for Palestinians already suffering from prolonged economic crisis, raising concerns of families not having access to sufficient food or financial aid programs. Among those struggling is Fares Mansour, who recently had to sell his wife's engagement ring to put food on the table for her and his four children. I used to work in a restaurant in Gaza City for 30 shekels [$9] per day, which, even then, was not enough to meet my familys daily needs, he said. Yet, the restaurant, as well as other diners, closed since COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the Palestinian territories. Like the rest of the restaurants workers, I became unemployed. Gaza recorded its first case of the novel coronavirus on March 22, prompting Hamas, which controls the territory, to issue orders the same day shutting down all cafes. Mansour complained, It has been weeks since I became forcibly unemployed. No one has offered me any assistance. Some 53,000 Palestinian families have fallen below the poverty line since PA President Mahmoud Abbas announced the state of emergency. The total number of households living in poverty currently stands at 115,000, Social Affairs Minister Ahmad Majdalani said at a press conference in Ramallah on April 15. These figures could increase at the end of the month, he stated. Of the total recorded, 80,000 are in Gaza. We launched on April 14 a relief plan for poor households in the Palestinian territories, Majdalani told Al-Monitor. The plan aims to disburse 136 shekels [$38.30] in cash assistance per person. He said the funds consisting of a 3% contribution from the World Bank, 39% from the European Union and 58% from the PA will be disbursed every three months. Majdalani's ministry is responsible for collecting data on families affected by job losses related to COVID-19 in order to organize cash and food assistance for them, Majdalani remarked. Preparations are underway to launch a program designed to help women working in nurseries, Majdalani remarked. About 1,245 women employed in 265 nurseries, which shut their doors to prevent COVID-19 from spreading among the children, were identified. Such women are likely the main economic providers for the families. Despite the hardship imposed by the shutdowns, Naser Qatami, deputy labor minister in Ramallah, told Al-Monitor, It was of utmost necessity for the workers to be quarantined at home in order to win the fight against the coronavirus. He explained that workers and those in close contact with them constituted up to 75% of the coronavirus cases in the Palestinian territories, at the time 230 of the 307 confirmed cases. The vast majority of the infected laborers were working in Israel, and they caught the virus while there, he claimed. Two hundred twelve cases stemmed from Palestinians working in Israel. According to Qatami, some 180,000 West Bank Palestinians were working in Israel, and around 150,000 of them returned to the Palestinian territories and self-quarantined. The rest ignored the PAs call to remain at home and self-isolate, choosing instead to remain in Israel in the hope of continuing to earn much-needed money. Qatami remarked that his ministry will soon launch a fund to provide monthly financial assistance to laborers no longer able to work. The first phase will cover 30,000 workers and by the end of the year include all affected workers. A worker whose family falls below the poverty line could thus receive monthly assistance from both the Social Affairs Ministry and the Labor Ministry. Meanwhile, UNRWA, the United Nations Relief and Works Administration, has faced difficulties raising funds to help combat the coronavirus epidemic. Adnan Abu Hasna, an UNRWA spokesman in Gaza, told Al-Monitor, We made an appeal to the world that they provide us with an emergency budget of $14 million to fight the coronavirus and its repercussions in the 58 Palestinian refugee camps located in our five areas of operation. Yet, we only obtained 30% of the amount, which was allocated to the health sector. He said there are no relief and food programs to provide additional assistance to the families of those who lose jobs because of the epidemic. According to Abu Hasna, UNRWA provides food aid to about 900,000 registered refugees in the West Bank and Gaza who are living below the poverty line, but cannot add the newly poor because its own financial crisis. The limitations of official Palestinian and NGO efforts in dealing with the repercussions of the coronavirus outbreak have prompted activists and volunteers to launch individual initiatives to collect donations from the more fortunate and distribute them to poor families now without a source of income. In one week, Zaki Madoukh along with other volunteers in Gaza City managed to collect $12,000 in donations from businesspeople inside and outside Gaza. They then used the funds to prepare and distribute baskets of food, including meat and vegetables, to less-fortunate shop owners. Madoukh told Al-Monitor, Our volunteer initiative targeted the owners of small enterprises whose work stopped because of the coronavirus in the Gaza Strip. The initiative is ongoing. A man was caught on security cameras breaking into three commercial vans in Wyandotte. The break-ins occurred on the morning of April 21 at Riney Electric, 1459 Fort St., and were discovered by an employee at around 8:30 a.m. The vehicles broken into were a 2011 Chevrolet Express van, a 2014 Ford Econoline van and a 2015 Chevrolet Express van. The caller said that when he arrived at the business he discovered the van that he uses had been broken into. The driver-side window window had been shattered and items were missing from inside. He then noticed that two other vans had been broken into in a similar manner, both with items missing. Although the thief has his face shielded in an attempt to conceal his identity, police say someone who knows him may be able to identify him by his body type, his clothing and the fact that he was in possession of a large amount of tools that police believe he does not own. Anyone who can identify the person in photos taken by the business security cameras or who has any information about this crime is asked to contact Detective Steve Sabo at 734-324-4432. In early March, my research group projected that by early August, at least 300 million Indians would be infected by the novel coronavirus. That was before there were any lockdowns or domestic travel restrictions. Viruses spread rather predictably and the scenario we were modeling was rather straightforward, yet terrifying the spread of a new coronavirus through a completely susceptible population. During the past two decades, our group has published dozens of infectious disease modeling papers in well regarded scientific journals. That did not stop ad hominem attacks by some who did not believe that the infection could spread so widely. What they did not realize was that Covid-19 is unlike influenza, to which there is vaccination available or some degree of population immunity because of past exposure, or HIV/AIDS where it is possible to not get infected by taking personal protection. There was really no easy way to prevent its spread without extreme measures such as lockdowns. We were not alone in projecting a large number of infections. A model published by researchers at the Indian Council of Medical Research predicted that in the absence of a lockdown, 25% of Delhi would be infected. Models from other groups, including Imperial College and the University of Cambridge arrived at similar or even higher estimates. All of these groups were using methods that date back to the earliest compartment models introduced by Daniel Bernoulli in 1776 and that have been remarkably useful at informing public health response, except for diseases like HIV/AIDS where individuals are able to change behaviour and alter the course of a disease in response to its spread. All of these groups were clear that the bulk of infections would be mild or without symptoms. Although the proportion of severe cases would be small, the numbers would be large in India given its large population. The purpose of these projections was to communicate the seriousness of the epidemic both to policymakers and the public and to debunk theories about how Indians were somehow immune to Covid-19. So where are those cases? The hospitals still seem to be relatively empty. Were the projections wrong? This is similar to going to a doctor who tells you that if you keep smoking and dont exercise you have a high risk of dying young. If you then quit smoking and started going the gym, does that mean that your doctor was wrong?. The lockdown changed the shape of the epidemic significantly not just in India but in every other country. Without enforced distancing measures, Paris, Milan and New York would still be reporting thousands of deaths a day. India was fortunate to have a lockdown early in the epidemic curve so that we never had to witness the kind of trauma that people in these cities had to go through. A recent French study showed that 6% of the population (about 4 million people) had already experienced Covid-19, even though there are only about 120,000 reported cases in that country. In India, unless we are able to test every single patient with Covid-19, a physical impossibility, modelling studies are the only way to study the progress of an epidemic. Fortunately, India has among the lowest reported cases and deaths per capita in the world the result of early measures to stop flights to China, close borders and impose a lockdown. The lockdown is projected to have pushed the epidemic peak out at least about eight weeks and possibly longer. The peak will also come down by as much as 50% if we diligently practice hand washing, physical distancing, and expanded testing and containment, with periodic restrictive containment measures. Some dont want lockdowns because of the economic and human costs. But they also dont want there to be a flood of cases into hospitals. Perhaps they are counting on chloroquine or BCG vaccination to save the day. Unfortunately, Covid-19 cannot be dealt with through wishful thinking. The work of disease modelers, who are generally data scientists and not medical doctors, and generally work far away from the media glare is poorly understood. Models are useful in understanding what would happen without any intervention, but also in anticipating what would happen under various intervention scenarios. They are a validated and systematic way of understanding disease spread using the best of what we know about viruses. Without the benefit of these models, we would not be able to respond effectively. We would not know when to impose restrictions, or how many cases, Intensive Care Unit beds and oxygen cylinders to plan for. Time will reveal the value of Indias lockdown, which was made on the basis of epidemiological projections and science. Ultimately, as Jeremy Farrar, the director of the Wellcome Trust recently said science is the only exit strategy from the Covid-19 pandemic. Now is not the time to replace respect and understanding of scientific expertise with gut feeling, and lessons from WhatsApp University. (Ramanan Laxminarayan is director at the Center for Disease Dynamics, Economics & Policy, and a senior research scholar at Princeton University. Views expressed are personal.) Suddenly my lips had gone numb and a similar sensation was progressing down my throat. I was sitting in a hut in a remote area of Fiji and sharing a murky-brown liquid with a group of village elders. The narcotic drink, called kava, is made from the roots of the kava plant piper methysticum - and it is said to have a relaxing effect. But instead, I was getting a little concerned about not being able to feel my lips. MailOnline Travel's Sadie Whitelocks tried kava while travelling in Fiji Sadie said the liquid had an earthy flavour, with a mild hint of liquorice One of the men started laughing and asking if I could feel the effect. The only other time I'd experienced such a sensation was when I'd gone to the dentist to have a tooth pulled out and they'd sprayed some local anaesthetic to ease the pain. The kava ritual involves one person serving everyone in the group, with people generally sitting in a circle. When you take a sip from the kava-filled 'cup', a coconut shell in this instance, you're meant to clap once and shout 'bula' (Fijian for hello). Then, after drinking the contents in one gulp, protocol demands you clap three times and say 'maca', meaning the bowl is empty. The liquid had an earthy flavour, with a mild hint of liquorice. Sadie helped to pound kava plant roots. The powdery remains were strained through a muslin cloth and water added I'd help pound the kava plant roots earlier that evening using what looked like an old metal gate post. The powdery remains were then strained through a muslin cloth and water added. Drinking kava was a new experience for me. By my third bowl, I decided I'd had ample amounts of the drink and was a little concerned about what it was doing to my insides. My local guides decided to stay in the hut and I found out the next day they continued drinking until around 4am. Royal seal of approval: Prince Harry glugged kava while visiting Fiji in 2018, just as his grandparents, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, did during an official visit to Fiji in October 1982 The Queen pictured here drinking kava in 1982 during a royal tour of Fiji Kava has a depressant effect on the central nervous system and can slow down the messages travelling between the brain and the body. It has been tipped as a natural alternative medicine to treat anxiety, insomnia and stress. Pictured - kava roots My kava initiation took place in the remote village of Navai in Fiji. It is the closest settlement to the country's highest peak, Mount Tomanivi. On reading up on kava upon my return from Fiji, I learned that the drink has a depressant effect on the central nervous system and can slow down the messages travelling between the brain and the body. It has been tipped as a natural alternative medicine to treat anxiety, insomnia and stress. However, the earthy drink has been shrouded in controversy for decades. It was banned in several countries in 2002, including Australia, the UK, Canada and European nations over concerns it can cause liver problems. But the World Health Organisation went on in 2007 to release a report declaring kava to be safe. During the 2016 Summer Olympics, the Fijian rugby team indulged in kava during a ceremony immediately after the players received their gold medals. There are more than 100 kava bars in the United States And while visiting Fiji in 2018 Prince Harry glugged some down, just as his grandparents, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, did during an official visit to Fiji in October 1982. Following more positive publicity, the root has seen a resurgence in Europe and North America. Now there are more than 100 kava bars in the United States, which is up from around 30 in 2012, according to The New York Times. I was told while in Fiji that the price of kava has skyrocketed as a result of many farms being destroyed by tropical cyclone Winston in 2016, leading to shortages. For the Fijians, kava is part of everyday life. It runs through their veins. For me, stirring memories of trips to the dentist and having teeth pulled isn't terribly pleasant. But I have to admit, I did sleep like a dream after my three bowlfuls. Thursday, April 23, 2020 at 9:19AM Like other videoconferencing solutions, Google Meet has seen significant growth amid the COVID-19 pandemic. So, it makes sense that Google is working fast to release new features. The app gets some significant updates that have already started rolling out. One is a Zoom-like gallery view that lets you see 16 participants at once. While Zoom can take up to 49 people on the same call, the jump from four to 16 for Google Meet is a good improvement nonetheless. Google Meet will let you present a single Chrome tab starting today if you want. The app gets a low-light mode that will first be making its way to mobile users, allowing those who make video calls in darker environments to be seen easily. It will be coming to web users "in the future." And then, background noise cancellation will be coming to G Suite Enterprise and G Suite Enterprise for Education users on the web in the coming weeks and "later" to mobile users. This feature allows the app to mute sounds like dogs barking in the background or any other unwanted noise during calls. Source: The Verge + TechCrunch A manhunt has been launched for a light rail passenger who disgustingly spat in the direction of other travellers. Police said they wanted to speak to the man over his alleged involvement in an assault on the service bound for Gunghalin in Canberra's northern suburbs about 3.30pm on March 26. CCTV footage showed the man appear to sneeze or cough on the light rail carriage before standing up and having a heated verbal exchange with another passenger. The argument ended with him appearing to spit towards the other light rail user, police allege, before getting off at a stop at Dickson in the city's inner-north. Police are looking to speak to anyone who can help identify the man or witnessed the incident. An Australian Capital Territory Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the alleged assault was shown in the man's actions in the footage. The ACT's chief police officer Ray Johnson has warned coughing and spitting on others is considered an assault during the COVID-19 outbreak. 'I would like to remind the public that coughing and spitting on ACT Policing officers or anyone is considered an assault,' he said on Wednesday. 'Assault is a criminal charge with serious penalties including jail time.' It comes after a drunk motorcyclist in New South Wales was fined for coughing and spitting at police officers last week. A manhunt has been launched for a light rail passenger who spat in the direction of other travellers on a Canberra light rail carriage The man was stopped by police in Beverly Hills in Sydney's south on Friday for not wearing a helmet. After being pulled over, the 31-year-old then allegedly coughed and spat at the police. They undertook a roadside breath test and he allegedly returned a positive reading of 0.079. In another incident, a woman allegedly spat in the face of a doctor while being treated at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital on Sydney's upper north shore on Monday. The man police are looking to speak to got off at the next stop at Dickson in the city's inner-north Police allege the emergency department doctor was treating the woman for a large laceration to her arm when she allegedly spat in his face and became aggressive. A $5,000 on-the-spot fine for spitting and coughing on NSW health workers has also been expanded to include all other essential workers. Police in the state can now fine people who target all types of workers including cleaners, midwifes, police, border force and retail workers, not just those in emergency services or healthcare. Those found guilty of these vile attacks will face a possible six months imprisonment. Health secretary had promised the country would be conducting 100,000 tests a day by months end. Coronavirus cases are still on the rise across Europe, as countries grapple with measures to contain its spread. Spain is debating whether to extend its lockdown but other nations have taken small steps to ease restrictions. In the United Kingdom, the government has faced criticism over its testing strategy. More than 18,000 people have died in hospital. Al Jazeeras Sonia Gallego has more on the situation across Europe. T he US military base near to where the crash which claimed Harry Dunn's life is "looking into" claims a staff member also drove on the wrong side of the road before hitting into a stone wall. Pictures emerged on Wednesday evening of a black BMW which had veered off the road in the village of Aynho in Northamptonshire on Wednesday evening. It happened only a couple of miles down the road from RAF Croughton where Mr Dunn was killed in August last year. Harry Dunn died in a hit-and-run in August 2019 / PA An extradition request for Mrs Sacoolas was rejected by US secretary of state Mike Pompeo in January after she was charged with causing death by dangerous driving. Following Mr Dunn's death, the chief constable of Northamptonshire Police, Nick Adderley, said he would fund driver training at RAF Croughton in an attempt to prevent similar incidents. In January, Mr Adderley announced there had been two further incidents of American staff driving on the wrong side of the road after Mr Dunn's death. It is understood that the Dunn family's local MP, Andrea Leadsom, is due to speak with police on Thursday about the latest incident. The former business secretary is allegedly attempting to arrange a virtual meeting between the Dunn family and the base commander at RAF Croughton, Colonel Bridget McNamara. Harry Dunn's family have been campaigning for Anne Sacoolas to be returned to theUK / AP A spokeswoman for RAF Croughton said: "While Northamptonshire Police has the lead, the 501st Combat Support Wing and RAF Croughton are cooperating fully on the investigation of yesterday's vehicle incident in Aynho. "We will continue to partner with Northamptonshire Police and apply corrective measures as needed. "The 501st Combat Support Wing remains committed to the safety of US and UK personnel, both on our bases and in the surrounding communities." Dunn family spokesman Radd Seiger said the Government was "failing in their duty to... safeguard our lives" and described the US administration as a "disgrace". He said: "What is it going to take before something is done? The suspect in Mr Dunn's death, Anne Sacoolas, claimed diplomatic immunity following the crash and was able to return to the US / PA "The loss of Harry Dunn was not enough. The near misses since his death have not been enough. Will this disastrous crash tonight make any difference? "The UK Government are failing in their duty to protect and safeguard our lives. "I have made it clear to them that enough is enough and they must do whatever it takes, this being British soil, to make sure that the Americans drive in accordance with our laws when they come off the base. "As for the American government, they are a disgrace. They have failed to engage with us at all to discuss how they are going to improve safety for their benefit as well as ours. "They have their heads buried in the sand. Well, we will not stand for this any longer and I will be making representations in the strongest possible terms. "If, as seems inevitable, there is further bloodshed, it will be on theirs and the UK Government's hands." On Thursday, a Northamptonshire Police spokeswoman said: "We were called at 7.45pm last night to reports of a road traffic collision in Aynho involving a BMW 5 Series colliding with a fence. "We deployed to the scene and are investigating the incident in line with our usual road traffic collision procedures. Thousands of New Jersey residents have been seeking assistance to pay their rent or mortgage due to the coronavirus pandemic. And hundreds more have been seeking help for putting food on the table. Data from the statewide information hotline 211 provides a glimpse into how some of New Jerseys most vulnerable residents are attempting to navigate the pandemic that has shuttered the state. The data, collected by Washington University in St. Louis, shows 2,283 New Jerseyans calling 211 to request assistance paying rent or a mortgage between March 1 and April 13, an increase of 142% compared with 2019. Similarly, the data shows 819 New Jerseyans calling 211 to request information on where to find a local food pantry between March 1 and April 13, an increase of 177% compared with the same period in 2019. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage The pandemics effects on the economy are showing up in many ways. Already, more than 700,000 New Jerseyans have filed for unemployment, a figure that is likely an undercount due to issues with the system. And Gov. Phil Murphy has said recently that the state is still weeks away from beginning to reopen. 211 is a free telephone hotline that operates in many states and metropolitan areas around the country. In New Jersey, it operates statewide and serves as a way for callers to connect with social services such as housing, food and child care assistance. 211 receives funding from several state agencies, the federal government and local United Way chapters. Compared with last year, calls to the hotline in New Jersey for food and housing assistance have more than doubled from March through mid-April. Murphy declared a state of emergency due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, on March 9. He began ordering nonessential businesses to close a week later. In New Jerseys poorest towns and cities, calls to 211 for assistance have increased more than four times this year compared to last. An analysis by NJ Advance Media showed that in 2019, 159 calls were to 211 from the 10 poorest places in New Jersey between March 1 to April 13. This year, during the same time period, 638 calls were made to 211 from those same 10 places, including Trenton, Camden, Newark and Atlantic City. In those areas, more than 25% of residents live in poverty, according to U.S. Census data. Lead researcher Matthew W. Kreuter, a public health professor and researcher at The Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, said the data reinforces that poor New Jerseyans are faring worse during the pandemic than others. Theyre disproportionately affected, he said. Magnitudes greater. But the data shows that people everywhere are seeking help. In the New Jersey towns and cities where fewer than 5% of residents are living in poverty, calls to 211 increased 2.5 times from March 1 to April 13. In 2019, 157 calls for food and housing assistance came from those 75 towns, including Boonton, Parsippany and Union. In 2020, that number jumped to 398. 211 works like this: You dial the three digits, and a live person in a large call center picks up. They take down your information and then, using a master database of social services, find resources that you can access near your home. Say your refrigerator breaks and you cant afford to buy a new one. 211 can help. Or, say you are experiencing homeless and are living in your car. You need to find a place to park your car so you can sleep and not be arrested or towed. 211 can help with that, too. Theyll figure out what a person needs and then try to connect them with what they need, Kreuter said. Across New Jersey, calls for rent and mortgage assistance, specifically, have increased significantly. From March 1 to April 13, New Jersey residents made an additional 1,341 calls for those needs in 2020 compared to 2019. On March 18, a record 136 calls were made to 211, 101 more than the same day in 2019. March 18 was the day that nonessential businesses began closing in New Jersey, in cities like Newark and Hoboken. Murphy would issue a statewide order the following day. Similarly, calls to 211 seeking help locating a food bank or pantry have increased nearly three-fold since the coronavirus reached New Jersey in March. The single-day high again came on March 18 with 52 calls that day. There were 14 calls for food pantries on March 18, 2019. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to grip New Jersey and other states, Kreuter said, resources like 211 are emerging as essential. They have a strong sense that when others dont answer the phone, 211 is there, he said. 211 does answer the phone. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. J. Dale Shoemaker is a reporter on the data & investigations team. He can be reached at jshoemaker@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JDale_Shoemaker. This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices. CAA has nothing to do with Muslims in India, says Delhi Jama Masjid's Shahi Imam Jama Masjid may have to close again, says Shahi Imam Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid urges all Muslims to pray from home, beat coronavirus India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 23: The Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid has urged Muslims to pray from home as the holy month of Ramzan is about to begin. If we follow the government's instructions we will be able to eradicate coronavirus soon. The holy month of Ramzan is about to begin. Prayers have to be offered from home itself and social distancing has to be maintained. By following this, we will be able to protect everyone, the Shahi Imam has also said. With Ramzan set to begin, Naqvi urges Muslims to pray from home Last week, Union Minister, Mukthar Abbas Naqvi had informed that all religious leaders had decided and made an appeal to the Muslim community to hold prayers from home. The statement was made in the wake of Ramzan beginning on April 24. He said that all religious leaders and social organisations have made an appeal to the Muslim community to hold prayers from home. This would be applicable to Iftar and other customs to be performed at home, he also said. Further, he also urged people to maintain social distancing norms. Last week, Naqvi directed state waqf boards to ensure strict implementation of lockdown and social distancing guidelines during the holy month of Ramzan starting next week amid the coronavirus pandemic. At a meeting via video conferencing, Naqvi asked the state waqf boards'' officials to create awareness among people to offer prayers and perform other religious rituals like "iftar (breaking of fast)" during Ramzan, which begins on April 24 or 25, staying inside their homes. More than seven lakh registered mosques, eidgahs, imambadas, dargahs and other religious and social institutions come under state waqf boards across the country. The Central Waqf Council is the regulatory body of state waqf boards in India. "We should cooperate with health workers, security forces, administrative officers, sanitation workers. They are working for our safety and well-being even putting their own lives at risk in this coronavirus pandemic," Naqvi said. Sunrise newsreader Edwina Bartholomew has spoken to The Australian Women's Weekly about becoming a first-time mother during the coronavirus pandemic. The 36-year-old journalist, who also posed with her baby daughter, Molly, for the magazine's cover, said she had found comfort in motherhood despite living in such 'strange' times. 'I've found it really comforting that, when the world is chaotic outside, the day-to-day of being a mum doesn't change,' she said. 'I was unprepared' Sunrise newsreader Edwina Bartholomew has spoken to The Australian Women's Weekly about becoming a first-time mother during the coronavirus pandemic Edwina explained she had found the first few weeks of motherhood 'intense' before settling into her new role. 'I was unprepared for it. I found the whole thing very overwhelming,' she said. Edwina added that it wasn't until she fully understood she had a 'happy, healthy and thriving' child that her confidence started to grow. New mother: The 36-year-old journalist said she had found comfort in motherhood despite living in such 'strange' times The Channel Seven personality and her journalist husband, Neil Varcoe, welcomed baby Molly in December. In her AWW photo shoot, Edwina modelled a variety of stylish country looks while on her property near Lithgow, in the NSW Blue Mountains. In several pictures, she wore a chic beige fedora, matching blazer and pants while posing with Neil and Molly. Honest: 'Certainly I found the first few weeks completely intense and I was unprepared for it. I found the whole thing very overwhelming,' Edwina said. Pictured with Molly In another look, she opted for a longline tan blazer, jeans and riding boots while sitting outside her sandstone farmhouse. It's not the first time Edwina has spoken candidly about the difficulties of being a first-time mother. 'The first 48 hours of motherhood were challenging in a way I wasn't really prepared for. I was a total mess, actually,' she wrote on Instagram in January. Candid: Edwina said it wasn't until she fully understood she had a 'happy, healthy and thriving' child that her confidence started to grow 'I burst into tears in the kitchen when our midwife arrived, I burst into tears when Neil went to sleep and I couldn't, and a few more times, just because.' Edwina and Neil celebrated their two-year wedding anniversary this week. Read the full interview in this month's issue of The Australian Women's Weekly, available on newsstands now In love: Edwina and her husband, Neil Varcoe, celebrated their two-year anniversary this week Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush on Wednesday said he is moving forward with a takeover of federal funds granted to the city for Hurricane Harvey housing recovery, prompting a sharp rebuke from Mayor Sylvester Turner. In a letter to Turner, Bush said General Land Office officials are drafting an amendment to the agencys spending plan that will eliminate all funding to the city and transfer all responsibility for administering disaster assistance to City residents to the GLO. The letter applies to more than $1 billion in grant funding allocated to the city for housing recovery. Bush told Turner that if he gives up control of the funds within a week, the city could negotiate the possible retention of its multifamily rental and home buyer assistance programs, among others. But he indicated the GLO would seek HUD approval to take control of the citys largest program, a more than $400 million effort to repair or replace single-family homes damaged in the storm. While we assumed we would fulfill this responsibility with the cooperation and assistance of the City, all attempts by GLO to assist the City in meeting its performance goals and, more recently, to renegotiate the Contact to allow for more timely disbursement of allocated funding have been met with consistent opposition by the City, Bush wrote in the letter. Turner promised to use all necessary legal steps to fight the move. He said a GLO team sent a letter on Friday indicating they were satisfied with the citys actions. A March 31 program status report showed repairs had begun on 59 homes and 44 homeowners had been reimbursed for work they had paid for themselves. Theres only one answer why Commissioner Bush would draw a different conclusion than the one carefully reached by the GLOs Monitoring and Quality Assurance team politics, said Turner. Brittany Eck, a GLO spokeswoman, said the letter clearly states the monitoring review of Houstons performance demonstrated the lack of timely expenditures. All communications from the GLO to the City of Houston regarding performance in administering disaster recovery funds articulate the city is not on track to expend the more than a billion direct allocation by the federally mandated contract by the deadline in August 2024, Eck said. Turner said the GLO had failed to give written guidance for the documents it needed to approve home applications, constantly changed the process and forced the city to redo hundreds of processed files, refused to cover three-bedroom homes, and swiftly went from approving more than 75 percent of applications to rejecting the same amount. Let me note that in the face of unrealistic, frivolous requirements, the City has quietly worked to correct our issues, expecting the GLO to do the same. Instead, the GLOs lack of capacity for reviewing our files, their ongoing technical issues, their failure to provide clear and consistent guidance for what they needed up front, and their slow-walking of many of the other documents required for our recovery programs contributed to the delay Commissioner Bush now uses to attempt to strip the City of its funding. The move is the latest in a series of public feuds between Bush, a Republican, and Democrat Turner over Harvey aid. In December, the state threatened a takeover, asking interested companies for proposals on how they would administer the funds. A GLO spokeswoman said at the time that the GLO had not decided whether to take control of the housing repair program, but was putting itself in position to act if the city continued to lag. She said the takeover had been threatened in part because the city had balked at a state proposal to embed a team of recovery experts with city staff, an idea the city then agreed to in January. Bush and Turner also traded barbs over the citys effort to skirt a GLO rule barring local governments from using federal Harvey recovery funds to rebuild a home with more bedrooms than the number of people living there. The GLO denied Houston and Harris County waivers that would exempt them from the guideline, fearing Texas would face the risk of an audit by the U.S. Housing Department. Last October, Gov. Greg Abbott gave Bush control of $4.3 billion in post-Harvey mitigation aid instead of letting city and county officials oversee the funds. Turner accused the state of making a money grab so they could spend the funds outside the Houston area, while Abbott blamed Turner for the slow home rebuilding process. jasper.scherer@chron.com, mike.morris@chron.com, dylan.mcguinness@chron.com VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2020 / FinCanna Capital Corp. ("FinCanna") (CSE:CALI)(OTCQB:FNNZF) a royalty company for the U.S. licensed cannabis industry is pleased to announce that its portfolio company, QVI Inc., a cannabis-infused product manufacturer located in Sonoma County, California and doing business as "The Galley", has been issued its Distribution Type 11 license by the California Bureau of Cannabis Control. The Type 11 Distribution license is an important addition to QVI receiving its Manufacturing license announced last week, as it positions the facility to deliver a full spectrum of licensed services further supporting the QVI value proposition as a "one-stop shop" for both in and out-of-state brands. The Type 11 License authorizes the transporting of cannabis goods between licensees including delivery to retail outlets, arranging for testing of cannabis goods and conducting the quality assurance review of cannabis goods to ensure compliance with all packaging and labeling requirements. The Galley facility is built to FDA and CDPH standards and is focused on high demand areas of production; Edibles, Topicals, Tinctures, Chocolates, Hard Candies, Gummies, Beverages, Vapes, Pre-Rolls and Flower Packaging. Annie Holman Co-Founder of QVI said, "This Distribution license allows us to deliver additional important services to our clients, greatly simplifying their transport and logistics requirements allowing them to focus on what they do best which is to build great brands. We are currently onboarding new co-manufacturing clients at our state-of-the-art facility and are pleased to now provide all distribution related services in becoming a true "one-stop" service provider. "The acquisition of the Distribution license is another important accomplishment for QVI as they have now, under one roof, connected the licensed supply chain from cultivator to retailer. This end-to-end capability further enhances their value proposition to cannabis brands looking to scale their business," said Andriyko Herchak, CEO of FinCanna Capital. "QVI's superior competitive positioning supports long-term growth as they continue to build on the strong demand for their services they are currently experiencing." QVI expects to be shipping finished products from its 8,300 square foot state-of-the-art co-manufacturing facility to the market within the next three to five weeks. Under the Royalty Agreement, FinCanna will receive a tiered corporate royalty, adjusted based on revenues, ranging from 15% to 6% of QVI's total revenues, with the top royalty rate of 15% on the first US$20 million of annual sales until cumulative royalties to FinCanna of US$10 million are achieved. In addition, FinCanna is entitled to earn a Supplemental Payment, when coupled with the royalty, will now ensure FinCanna receives a minimum of 35% of the annual after-tax net income from QVI. The supplemental payment will accrue annually and be paid out upon certain triggering events, including a change of control, an initial public offering or certain other specified events of QVI. About QVI QVI, which stands for Quality, Value and Integrity, is located in Sonoma County, California. Their purpose-built facility known as The Galley is differentiated from other contract manufactures by its automated capabilities to produce virtually all high-value cannabis products at large volumes under one roof. The facility is built to FDA and CDPH standards and is focused on high demand areas of production; Edibles, Topicals, Tinctures, Chocolates, Hard Candies, Gummies, Beverages, Vapes, Pre-Rolls and Flower Packaging. QVI's immediate goal is to become the premier contract manufacturer in California, the largest single market in North America and, upon success, to license products nationally and globally. About FinCanna Capital Corp. FinCanna is a royalty company that provides growth capital to rapidly emerging private companies operating in the licensed U.S cannabis industry. The company earns its revenue from royalties paid by its investee companies that are calculated based on a percentage their total revenues. FinCanna's scalable royalty model provides an attractive alternative or complement to debt or equity financing for its investee companies. FinCanna is focused on delivering high-impact returns to its shareholders by way of a strategically diversified investment portfolio. For additional information visit www.fincannacapital.com and FinCanna's profile at www.sedar.com FinCanna Capital Corp. Andriyko Herchak, CEO & Director Investor Relations: Arlen Hansen Kin Communications 1-866-684-6730 CALI@kincommunications.com Forward-Looking Information Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements about the market for, and effectiveness of, QVI products or services, the ability of QVI to commence and expand operations and generate sales, revenues profits and positive cashflows, the results of operations of QVI and the timing thereof, QVI's client lists, FinCanna's ability to fund and source future projects, and FinCanna's ability to earn and realize revenues from its investee companies. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the risks identified in the CSE listing statement available at www.SEDAR.com and other reports and filings with the applicable Canadian securities regulators. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made, and the respective companies undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. SOURCE: FinCanna Capital Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/586573/FinCanna-Portfolio-Company-QVI-Inc-Receives-California-Cannabis-Distribution-License A potential coronavirus vaccine developed by doctors and researchers at Oxford University will enter human trials as early as Thursday, according to the U.Ks health secretary Matt Hancock. According to a MarketWatch report, the U.K. government will give $24 million to Oxford University and more than $27 million to Imperial College, where scientists are also working on a vaccine. One million doses of the vaccine by September is the goal from Oxfords team. Germany and China also authorized human trials recently. PennLives complete coronavirus coverage In the U.S., dozens of drug companies and startups, funded by the Department of Health and Human Services and National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, are developing treatments for those infected with the coronavirus. But, are expectations for a vaccine ahead of the science? A recent Bloomberg report suggests a vaccine is more likely aligned with previous time estimates of one year or more. High expectations have bumped stock prices of companies developing vaccines, but some of these major companies were unsuccessful in bringing a product to market prior to the outbreak, according to Bloomberg. While investors may assume (U.S. Biotech leader) Moderna Inc. will be the fastest, we wont know for at least another 12 months if the biotechs messenger RNA vaccine is safe as well as effective, said Mark Poznansky, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Poznansky added, We dont yet fully understand what constitutes a protective immune response to the virus or what precisely a vaccine needs to do to achieve that, Bloomberg reported that more than 70 vaccines are currently in development despite scientists not knowing the full scope of the virus. RELATED NEWS What young people need to know to survive a recession: From how much to save to student loans I dont want to see them in my ICU: Healthcare workers react to protest at the Capitol Where to buy face masks, bandanas, scarves to wear in public during coronavirus pandemic Some blame Latinos for Hazletons COVID-19 outbreak, echoing divisions that once roiled city With schools still out and events canceled or postponed because of the coronavirus, I figured a local roundup of digital events and online activities that can be fun and educational for the kids (as well as grown-ups), would be helpful. In the spirit of transparency, Im double-dipping with a Lowcountry Parent column to be published on May 1. A more comprehensive breakdown will be included in that publication. Bulldog Tours, typically bustling downtown this time of year with its daily ghost, food and walking tours, has been streaming virtual tours on its Facebook page. Videos include guided tours, replete with history and ghost stories, of St. Philips Church; a tour of the ruins of Crowfield Plantation in Goose Creek; and a Huguenot torte-cooking demo from a home kitchen. Yes, Huguenot torte. There is also a series of seven videos that chronicle an overnight stay in the Old City Jail on Magazine Street, which is haunted house central. facebook.com/BulldogTours The Center for Birds of Prey is live-streaming on its Facebook page and its YouTube channel interesting and educational videos, including a bald eagle release. I loved the one with a fuzzy three-week-old Eurasian eagle owlet. I havent watched The World of Vultures yet, but I will. facebook.com/scbirdsofprey; bit.ly/34QJF7P The Charleston County Public Librarys Learn at Home site features resources for all ages: Storytime, art classes, and farm, zoo and aquarium trips for children (Cincinnati Zoo, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Zoo Atlanta, Houston Zoo, Georgia Aquarium); recommended reading, news quizzes, and research databases for teens; museum tours, book lists, and Met Opera performances for adults. As for me, Im going to take the kids route and keep an eye on the Panda Cam and meet a hippo named Fiona and a porcupine named Rico. ccpl.org/learnathome The Charleston Museum teaches about the natural and cultural history of the Lowcountry, and some of its #MuseumFromHome options on its website include a mammal lesson and craft (save the toilet paper tubes!) and a look at skeletons and fossils with 3D interactive controls. (I worked my way around a capybara skull.) Vocabulary words and critical thinking questions are in the mix. Do you know if blue whales are odontocetes (toothed whales) or mysticetes (mustache whales)? How about orcas? Well, I do. (Now.) charlestonmuseum.org The Charleston Music Hall has curated the Listen Here, There, Anywhere series, featuring live and unedited audio recordings from previous shows, including the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Drivin N Cryin, 54 Bicycles, Greensky Bluegrass, the Del McCoury Band and Women & Petty: A Tribute to Tom Petty. Crank it up! bit.ly/2xJh3RT Charleston Pirate Tours, which also includes history, ghost and childrens tours, has created a Captains Vlog Videos page, featuring the hangings of the Gentleman Pirate Stede Bonnet and the crew of Richard Worley, the history of the City Market and the ghosts of Poogans Porch (the dog!). Numerous videos explore 350 years of Charleston history, in recognition of the citys special birthday this year. bit.ly/3asjIwp Charleston Sloth & Exotics has taken to social media, and its Twitter (@HolyCitySloth) and Instagram (samanthaandtheanteaters) accounts feature a stream of photos and videos. For example, you can watch two anteaters at play, or Sid the Sloth, aka Sidney Jameson Copperpot, as he feeds himself breakfast (applesauce rice biscuit treat). And yes, I watched Sidney Jameson Copperpot eat his breakfast with a little spoon. charlestonslothandexotics.com The Childrens Museum of the Lowcountry features video resources at the bottom of its homepage, including lessons from staff members, such as building a STEM kit, salt painting and other learning activities. explorecml.org The Coastal Carolina Boy Scouts of America has launched a program and resource hub to support scouting at home, which includes educational stay-at-home activities for any scout rank. Cub Scouts activities include elective and required adventures, some of which can be done as a family. coastalcarolinabsa.org/ScoutingatHome College of Charlestons Discovering Our Past is a new website and mobile history project that tells some of the overlooked stories of the colleges past, as part of the schools 250th anniversary celebration. Its a series of historical essays on 13 campus landmarks, some iconic and some lesser-known locations, and can be accessed as a self-guided tour. discovering.cofc.edu The Do It in Nature podcast is a weekly podcast created by outdoors lovers. Julie Weldon and Stacey Pierce, founders of Charleston-based OME Gear, interview people who have chosen to make their career in the outdoors, including local oyster farmer and founder of Lowcountry Oyster Co., Trey McMillan; Liz Dobbins, a triathlete and teacher of The Science of Movement; and real outdoor and offshore fisherman Robert Fly Navarro. bit.ly/34XEkMc Dorchester County Librarys website features childrens picture books and chapter books, as well as lists of award-winning books (Newbery Medal, Coretta Scott King Award, SC Book Awards). It also includes a Teen Scene book list, as well as award-winning books (Printz Award, YALSAs Teen Top 10). A homework help section offers assistance with English & Language Arts, Geography & History, Literary Criticism, Math and Science. The adult section includes book lists of Pulitzer Prize winners, New York Times best-sellers and National Book Awards winners. In addition, there are links to state, national and international libraries, museums and digital galleries. dorchesterlibrarysc.org The Gaillard Centers Education and Community Program offers free resources to teachers, students and families, with curated lesson plans, focusing on an arts-enhanced curriculum for a variety of grade levels that correlates with the S.C. Department of Educations standards. Examples include Jazz Through the Ages with artist-in-residence emeritus Charlton Singleton, a Shakespeare lesson for middle and high school students, Poetic Hip-Hop: From the Page to the Stage with artist-in-residence Marcus Amaker, scenes from The Nutcracker, and additional workshops in creative and visual arts, theater, dance and music. bit.ly/2xyoPOx The Gibbes Museum of Art is encouraging folks to become a virtual visitor and has created several options on their website, blog and social media sites. #MuseumFromHome includes virtual tours, self-guided tours, readings and workshops, and there also is a section of artful tips for young artists (and parents). gibbesmuseum.org The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art is working on its #MuseumFromHome options, but in the meantime, current exhibitions can be viewed on the website and previous exhibitions are archived as well. The education blog features interviews that interns had with a selection of artists included in Young Contemporaries 2020 in April. The Edu Blog archives go back to 2012. halsey.cofc.edu Historic Charleston Foundation has gone into its archives on its Facebook page, with photos and stories of days gone by, as well some behind-the-scenes videos of some of its current improvement projects. I also learned that the foundations director has been combing through 19th-century rats nests. Good times. facebook.com/HistoricCharlestonFoundation Middleton Place has posted a plethora of videos, programs and downloadable materials on its website. The "Plugged in to History: Digital Content Portal" features Let's Talk Tuesdays, On the Farm Wednesdays, Hands-On History Thursdays and History Unplugged Fridays. There also is a LambCam (Eeeeeeee!) weekdays at 4 p.m. on Middleton's Facebook page. middletonplace.org/news-and-events/plugged-in-to-history, facebook.com/MiddletonPlaceNHL/live/?__tn__=-UK-R Redux Contemporary Art Center is offering some virtual learning workshops on its Facebook page, including techniques in drawing, mixed media collage, watercolors and introductory drawing on proportion and perspective, and additional classes will be added. Online workshops are $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers. Kits for classes will be assembled by Artist + Craftsman. facebook.com/ReduxArtCenter On its Facebook page, Santee Cooper is hosting virtual field trips and other educational videos at 11 a.m. Monday-Thursday to assist with homeschooling. On Mondays, you can shadow a Santee Cooper employee, electrical safety and science projects are Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Wednesdays feature nature information from Old Santee Canal Park. I also think I saw something about a homemade snack on there, which is worth a visit in and of itself. facebook.com/santeecooper Songs for Seeds is a kids music learning channel and enrichment program that focuses on teaching critical aspects of early childhood development. Videos uploaded to the YouTube channel include educational lessons that enhance cognitive skills, such as colors and numbers, as well as sing-alongs. songsforseeds.com/sc/charleston The South Carolina Aquarium is assisting with learning via social distancing with online activities, virtual visits, calming distractions and coloring pages and more. A K-12 online curriculum is separated by appropriate grade groupings. The website also has a live Nest camera positioned on the Great Ocean Tank. And let me tell you, I spent way too long looking for Caretta the loggerhead sea turtle. scaquarium.org/stayconnected Streamable Learning, based in Charleston, provides interactive livestreams for grades K-12, which are resources designed to supplement existing classroom lesson plans. streamablelearning.com Y'all have fun and enjoy! I should have a puzzle next week. In this pandemic, politics has become a dirty word. Those not fully onside with the federal Liberal governments efforts to deal with the COVID-19 virus are accused of putting partisan interests ahead of the common weal. They are said to be playing politics. But politics is not just something to be played. It is not a sport that can be abandoned whenever something serious comes along. It is not merely about who has the better messaging. Rather, it is the centrepiece of the liberal democratic system. It is how things get done. Political parties bring together people with common interests and world views. When Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer criticizes Justin Trudeaus handling of the pandemic as inadequate, he is not simply being mean-spirited. He is expressing a critique of the Liberal prime minister that is held by many Canadians. And when Scheer says that MPs should meet in person in the Commons more than once a week, he is not being ridiculous. In fact, he makes sense. Those elected to run the country are essential workers who, like hard-rock miners and grocery store clerks, should continue doing their job as best they can, without relying on dubious internet apps that the Commons administration has yet to create. Yes, Scheers Conservatives want in-person sittings for political reasons. The pandemic has led to their near disappearance from the political scene. They hope a revived Parliament will make them more visible. Until then, the government dominates the air waves. Each day begins with the photogenic Trudeaus live press conference from the front steps of his Ottawa home. It then moves on seamlessly to another media event featuring top Liberal ministers before ending with live press conferences featuring various premiers. Politically, the new format plays to Trudeaus strengths. It presents him as open, concerned and polite. It ignores the opposition. When he makes vague promises to reform Canadas long-term care system, as he did Thursday, there is no elected political critic on hand to ask exactly what he means. Indeed, the politics of the pandemic tends to favour all incumbents. Ontario Conservative Premier Doug Ford has miraculously boosted his favourability ratings just by appearing reasonable. He is so reasonable that he even praises former arch enemy Trudeau. Ford, too, is able to avoid legislative scrutiny. Instead, like Trudeau, he holds regular press conferences where he is able to present himself as a well-meaning guy who is as frustrated as anyone else by his governments inability to move more quickly against the virus. As he explained Wednesday, he wants everyone in nursing homes to be tested for COVID-19. But his officials just wont do it. This is an odd excuse for a premier heading a majority government to make. But so far the public seems to buy it. By contrast, New Democratic Party Leader Andrea Horwath, the leader of Ontarios official opposition, is barely visible. Which is too bad for the NDP. In normal times, Fords decision to call in the army to solve his botched handling of the nursing-home crisis would provide an irresistible target. But in the era of the pandemic, opposition parties have to move more carefully. For the time being at least, the public is scared. It wants its leaders to co-operate in the fight against the virus. Canadians have not abandoned other political concerns, such as climate change, pharmacare or the burgeoning federal deficit. But they are willing to put them on the back burner. The opposition parties get this. And so they are biding their time, hoping that the pandemic will soon run out of steam. When that happy day arrives, they will be able once again to do what their political supporters demand, which is to thrash the government and present alternatives. Thomas Walkom is a Toronto-based freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Reach him via email: is a Toronto-based freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Reach him via email: walkomtom@gmail.com Read more about: Measures to help German workers and businesses affected by the pandemic include more wage support and tax relief. Germanys coalition parties on Thursday agreed to further measures worth some 10 billion euros ($10.81bn) to shield workers and companies from the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The aid package includes more government wage support for people in short-time work schemes, an arrangement that subsidises wages so that firms can cut working hours rather than sack employees, according to a document agreed by senior members of Chancellor Angela Merkels ruling coalition. The parties also agreed to temporarily lower the tax burden for the catering industry through a reduced VAT rate of 7 percent for food and to give some tax relief for small companies. The package also envisages increased financial support of the federal government worth 500 million euros ($540.88bn) for schools and pupils to boost e-learning and digitalisation. Germany has successfully slowed down the COVID-19 pandemic through drastic restrictions. This has significant economic and social consequences, the coalition parties said in a joint statement issued after more than seven hours of negotiations. Nevertheless, we can only loosen the restrictions in small steps, because the virus is still widespread in Germany and we must not jeopardise success by another exponential wave of infections, the parties said. Although Germanys infection rate had slowed a week ago and the country slowly began to reopen its economy, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases increased by 2,237 to 145,694 on Wednesday. This marked a second consecutive day of new infections accelerating, data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases showed. The latest stimulus package will allow the government to keep financial means for future measures, the parties said, suggesting that the government wants to keep some of its fiscal powder dry in the event of another escalation in the outbreak. Germany has already approved an initial rescue package worth more than 750 billion euros ($811.31bn) to mitigate the effect of the coronavirus outbreak, with the government taking on new debt for the first time since 2013. The first package agreed in March comprises a debt-financed supplementary budget of 156 billion euros ($168bn) and a stabilisation fund worth 600 billion euros for loans to struggling businesses and direct stakes in companies. For-profit internet providers want to invest in areas flush with potential customers. Sparsely populated rural regions dont provide the desired bang for the buck. Yet in more than 20 states its actually illegal for a municipality or community to develop its own internet network. Fixed (i.e., installed) and mobile high-speed internet access (also known as broadband) are now the norm in densely populated areas, but the services arent available in all rural communities. In fact, as of 2019, 98 percent of urban areas nationwide had some sort of high-speed internet access compared with 69 percent of rural households. Even where the service does exist, the cost, coupled with those of computers and smartphones, can be too much for a cash-strapped household. Yet, in many ways, high-speed internet is now an essential utility, like electricity or water. In some situations, reliable high-speed internet is a matter of life and death. That was the case in 2016, when a Sioux Falls, South Dakota, emergency medicine physician with the telehealth network Avera eCARE guided a physicians assistant, located 700 miles away in rural Montana, through the treatment of a child badly injured in an ATV crash. When telehealth services are an option, patients can participate in routine and follow-up medical appointments from home. Another reality is that due to a lack of career opportunities and modern services, young people are leaving rural regions. Depending on the community, such migrations are debilitating or at least a matter of concern. While older residents in many places are more than capable of performing the jobs that need doing, as the population ages it may become more difficult to find essential services in rural areas. High-speed internet can be the key to a small towns ability to survive and its residents to thrive. SPCA centres across the country are in desperate need of funds, taking a hit of about one million dollars during the lockdown period. Postponement of major fundraising events and the 56 SPCA nationwide op shops closing for lockdown has resulted in this projected shortfall, says CEO Andrea Midgen. Now, they are doing what they can to ease the financial burden - appealing to the public for donations and partnering with online pet store Pet Depot. A Tauranga SPCA spokesperson says the centre is closed to the public, and workers have been forced to adapt under lockdown. As our essential work must continue, we have made urgent appeals to our supporters for donations. Our teams have implemented new ways of working looking after the animals while maintaining physical distancing. Pet Depot launched in June 2019, and once the start-up- breaks even 30 per cent of their profits will go directly to the SPCA. Profits will go towards helping animals like Toru, a three-legged Tauranga cat currently in foster care at the SPCA. Toru was found by a stranger - lying in the grass, unable to move back in February. He was immediately transported to the vets for assessment - the result was a shattered femur and torn ligaments. The Tauranga SPCA staff tried to locate his owners as he was held on pain relief. No owners came forward, so the SPCA decided to amputate his severely injured leg. Toru is now adjusting well to life as a tripod, learning to jump onto low things like beds and sofas, says the Tauranga SPCA spokesperson. Andrea reiterates the lockdown has not impacted how the SPCAs animals are cared for during this time. Our skilled staff are working in staggered shifts, we have fostered out a huge number of animals to experienced foster families, and we are very grateful to have wonderful sponsors like Purina who feed every animal in our centre. The SPCA Tauranga centre hasnt seen an upswing in animals being abandoned while alert level 4 restrictions are in place. The spokesperson says in the five days before centres closed to the public, they adopted out more than 1000 animals nationwide. This is an increase of three times the usual rate, says the spokesperson. Our centre is closed to the public during level 4 so adoptions arent able to progress at the moment, but our staff continue to look after the animals in our centre while maintaining new health and safety guidelines, such as staff bubble rosters and physical distancing. SPCA inspectors are still performing an essential service throughout this time and will continue to respond to emergency situations." The spokesperson expresses gratitude to the local community for providing support to the SPCA at this time. We have the most wonderful supporters in the Tauranga community and are so lucky for their support in helping New Zealands animals in need. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 20:59:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, speaks while attending a ceremony to inaugurate a reading activity for CPPCC members in Beijing, capital of China, April 23, 2020. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen) BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisor Wang Yang on Thursday called on political advisors nationwide to read more books and make continuous efforts in improving their abilities in bringing up proposals. Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee (CPPCC), made the remarks while attending a ceremony in Beijing to inaugurate a reading activity for CPPCC members. Wang called on CPPCC members to pass on the fine tradition of valuing learning and take full advantage of the reading activity to constantly promote their ideological building and improve their abilities of fulfilling duties. Highlighting the combination of reading and practical works, Wang encouraged all CPPCC members to join in the reading activity. He also required strengthened organization and guidance for the reading activity. Enditem A number of European carmakers, including Volkswagen across Europe and Aston Martin in Wales have initiated plans to reopen car plants shuttered for the past month due to the Covid-19 global lockdowns. The way the manufacturers handle the reopening of manufacturing wl be closely watched across Europe in all industries, including Irish builders and government health officials amid talks to reopen Irish sites next month. VW said it is making masks in China for distribution to Volkswagen plant employees in Europe, as it prepares to restart European production. VW will be able to produce 1.6 million masks per month in the coastal city of Tianjin, where it has car plants with partner FAW. The German carmaker had already announced plans to partly reopen its plant in Spains Navarra region this week after its closure in mid-March with one of its three daily shifts operating during four days in the first week, and the goal is to extend it to two shifts the following week, depending on how well the supply chain works. All workers would wear masks and gloves, and the plants disinfection would be intensified. The plant has around 4,800 workers and produces the Polo and T-Cross models. Aston Martin said it plans to restart its St Athan factory in south Wales on May 5 and will also resume operations at Gaydon later. It also announced pay cuts of between 5% and 35% for its senior managers. But there is no disguising the huge financial damage suffered by the carmakers. Renault said it in talks with the French government to secure a state-backed loan worth several billion euros by mid-May to shore up its liquidity. Renault, which is 15% owned by the French state, was lining up credit lines and aid when possible, including in France and emerging markets. And Swedens Volvo warned of stalling truck orders and a challenging adjustment to a new normal of feebler demand after reporting a smaller-than-expected fall in quarterly operating earnings helped by service sales. The rival to Germanys Daimler and VW Traton said its net order intake had turned negative since the end of March as customers rushed to cancel planned truck purchases due to the pandemic. Meanwhile, two of Britains best-known homebuilders -- Taylor Wimpey and Vistry, formerly called Bovis Homes, said they were planning to restart construction work in the next two weeks. Irish Examiner and Reuters The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the number of deaths caused by malaria in sub-Saharan Africa could double to 769,000, as efforts to tackle the disease face disruptions by the coronavirus pandemic. As of Thursday, the region had registered more than 26,000 cases of COVID-19, the highly infectious respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus. Some 7,000 people have so far recovered, while almost 1,250 have died. At a media briefing, WHO Regional Director for Africa Matshidiso Moeti urged all countries to ensure that essential malaria prevention work continues during the coronavirus pandemic. A recent analysis has found that if insecticide-treated bed net distribution stops, and case management reduces, malaria deaths in sub-Saharan Africa could double in comparison to 2018, Moeti said on Thursday. This would be the highest number of deaths seen in the region since the year 2000. Dr @MoetiTshidi urges all countries in Africa to maintain malaria interventions during the #COVID19 pandemic at today's @WHO media briefing with @WEF. Keeping up prevention and treatment will ensure that health workers and communities are protected. pic.twitter.com/x7wtbE83Yy WHO African Region (@WHOAFRO) April 23, 2020 Malaria is a life-threatening mosquito-borne disease that often causes fever, chills and flu-like symptoms. It is a treatable disease if it is caught early, but current antimalarial drugs are failing in many areas due to increasing drug resistance. In 2018, there were 213 million malaria cases and 360,000 related deaths in the African region, accounting for more than 90 percent of cases worldwide. The WHO said that if the focus on slowing the spread of the new coronavirus leads to a 75 percent reduction in access to anti-malaria medicines, deaths could double to 769,000. Such a scenario would have devastating consequences for young children, with those under five making up more than two-thirds of all malaria deaths in 2018. 200406164502568 The global health agency called on countries in sub-Saharan Africa where nearly 95 percent of all the worlds malaria cases and deaths occur to distribute malaria prevention and treatment tools now, before they become overwhelmed with COVID-19 cases. Countries across the region have a critical window of opportunity to minimise disruptions in malaria prevention and treatment and save lives at this stage of the COVID-19 outbreak, the WHO said in a statement. The doubling of the number of deaths represents the worst-case scenario, which also assumes the suspension of all distribution of treated mosquito nets due to the pandemic, the global health agency added. Moeti cited figures from Africas Ebola outbreak showing that more people died of other diseases, including malaria, than from Ebola itself, due to lack of access to treatment. Let us not repeat that again with COVID-19, she said. In a separate statement on Thursday, the WHO also repeated a call to maintain immunization services worldwide to ensure the measures taken to halt the pandemic do not end up sparking a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and polio. While the world strives to develop a new vaccine for COVID-19 at record speed, we must not risk losing the fight to protect everyone, everywhere against vaccine-preventable diseases, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in the statement. These diseases will come roaring back if we do not vaccinate. Happy 50th Earth Day. The first Earth Day took place in 1970 to raise awareness of air and water pollution, leading to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of environmental laws like the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Clean Air Act. Even though we're celebrating Earth from our homes this year, all of Texas's natural beauty will be waiting. EARTH DAY 2020: NASA celebrates the 50th Earth Day online with special broadcasts See some of the state's beautiful sites and its animals above. Actor Vicky Kaushal has put out a clarifying post on Twitter saying that he did not step out of his house, violating lockdown rules. He also tagged Mumbai Police's Twitter handle with his post. Vicky's clarification comes after rumours were rife that an actor had stepped out of his house to visit a Bollywood star, and was caught by the police and lectured. Tweets and posts regarding the same were being circulated on social media and many assumed it was about the Uri actor. Vicky's statement on Twitter read, "There are baseless rumours suggesting that I broke the lockdown and got pulled up by the cops. I've not stepped out of my house since the lockdown started. I request people not to heed the rumours. @MumbaiPolice." There are baseless rumours suggesting that I broke the lockdown and got pulled up by the cops. I've not stepped out of my house since the lockdown started. I request people not to heed the rumours. @MumbaiPolice Vicky Kaushal (@vickykaushal09) April 23, 2020 Just like many other Bollywood stars, Vicky has been living out his quarantine days at home, working out, cooking and doing household chores. The actor also participated in a song called Muskurayega India, alongwith stars like Akshay Kumar and Kriti Sanon, which was released as a salute to the spirit of India as the country battles the coronavirus pandemic alongwith the rest of the world. Follow @News18Movies for more Beijing, April 23 : People coming to Beijing from abroad must undergo one week of additional quarantine, besides the two weeks period that was mandatory until now due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to authorities in the Chinese capital. The move will affect mostly Chinese citizens, given that foreigners, barring a few exceptions, have been banned access to the country, reports Efe news. This change, announced by the authoritieson Wednesday, means that the number of weeks of mandatory confinement for all those arriving in Beijing from other countries rises to three. Foreigners, except diplomats and some people linked to trade or medical research, are currently banned from entering China due to widespread pandemic across the world. Until now, people arriving from abroad were required to remain under a 14-day quarantine at a hotel or a centre designated by the authorities. In some exceptional cases, the city's residents were allowed to self-quarantine at home. This is a step further in the government's measures against the coronavirus, as it seeks to prevent another outbreak from cases coming from abroad, after apparently bringing domestic infections under control. The Beijing authorities' decision came soon after a student from the US infected three members of his family after undergoing a two-week quarantine at a hotel, at the end of which he had tested negative for COVID-19. Another 62 people, which include those who had close contact with the student and their families, have been placed in solitary confinement under medical observation. Chaoyang district, where this incident occurred and where the financial centre of the Chinese capital is located, is now the only area officially considered "high risk" in the entire country. The deputy director of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's in Beijing, Liu Xiaofeng, explained that after the quarantine, residents of Chaoyang district should remain under observation inside their homes for seven days and take utmost personal protective measures. In the same district there was another case of linked to a Chinese woman who tested positive despite completing the quarantine period after arriving in Beijing from London on Maron 20. The woman had symptoms during the 14 days of confinement but took medications on her own and did not bring it to the attention of the observation staff at the designated centre. According to Beijing health authorities, the failure to report her symptoms caused delays in treatment and contributed to aggravating the woman's condition. Most experts and scientific studies estimate that the virus may have an incubation period of 1-14 days in the human body before symptoms appear, while the average is about five days. However, these recent cases, along with some other local ones in China, have shown that the virus can remain asymptomatic for much longer. Although the pandemic originated in Wuhan city last December, China now accounts for 83,876 coronavirus cases with 4,636 deaths, much less that other countries like the US which has the highest number of infections and fatalities in the world. The WHO said that the coronavirus crisis will not end any time soon, with several countries only in the initial stages of the fight against COVID-19 Geneva: The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday said that the COVID-19 crisis will not end any time soon, with several countries only in the initial stages of the fight against the virus. "Make no mistake, we have a long way to go. Coronavirus will be with us for a long time. There is no question that stay at home orders and other physical distancing measures have successfully suppressed transmission in many countries," WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a press conference. "Most countries are in the early stages of their epidemics. And some, which were affected early in the pandemic, are now starting to see a resurgence in the number of cases," he added. COVID-19 has infected more than 2.6 million people around the world and a total of 1,83,027 people have died due to coronavirus, according to data from US-based Johns Hopkins University. Can you really blame Trump for being bored of governing a country paralysed by an 'invisible enemy', as he so succinctly put it, and being unable to keep the engines of the US economy running? Immigration, China and Iran. It wouldn't be an election year in the US particularly one in which Donald Trump is an active participant if these three topics were not being discussed or in the news, at the very least. Over the course of this week, Trump has broached all three topics in one manner or another. The common thread being that all three topics were tackled with the president's trademark aggression and political tone-deafness. It all began on Monday when he announced that he would be signing an Executive Order to "temporarily suspend immigration" into the US a threat on which he made good two days later. News then trickled in on Wednesday that US warships had entered disputed waters in the South China Sea a move whose purpose, never mind efficacy, must be questioned under present circumstances. A few hours later came Trump's orders to the US Navy "to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea". In 2016, Trump would use each pillar of his election campaign to hit out at Hillary Clinton. But this is 2020 and 'Crooked Hillary' has long since fallen by the wayside. Accordingly, and in her stead, there's 'Sleepy' Joe Biden at whom Trump can lash out. On Iran: Sleepy Joe thought this was OK. Not me! https://t.co/VgIlA4fJKF Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 22, 2020 And on China: China wants Sleepy Joe sooo badly. They want all of those billions of dollars that they have been paying to the U.S. back, and much more. Joe is an easy mark, their DREAM CANDIDATE! https://t.co/vmvCr4SkQq Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2020 To go into the merits (or lack thereof) of Trump's decisions and related criticisms of Biden would take far too long, and more pertinently, be counterproductive to the broader point, so let's move on. Coronavirus fatigue After initially underestimating the coronavirus and even going as far as to call it a 'hoax' on a number of occasions, Trump claimed China had it under control towards the end of January. Over a fortnight later he expressed an equal amount of confidence that the April heat would kill off COVID-19. It became apparent soon into the US outbreak of COVID-19 that the president wasn't overly enthusiastic about tackling the pandemic himself handing, as he did, the reins of the coronavirus task force to Vice-President Mike Pence towards the end of February. Shortly after, the president went off in search of a quick solution to this predicament. Reports emerged in mid-March of the Trump administration trying to get a German pharmaceutical firm to sell the US a vaccine that would be used exclusively by Americans. A few weeks later, and in search of another ready fix, Trump attempted to muscle India into lifting its ban on exports of certain medical equipment and drugs, and export hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to the US or "there may be retaliation; why wouldn't there be?". The president even tried to resort to his trusty 'When in doubt, blame Barack Obama' tactic, but in vain. As this Washington Post piece points out, he didn't stop at Obama, blaming China, past presidents, governors, the media, hospitals and General Motors for the mess in which the US presently finds itself. Yet, COVID-19 remains far from cured. What's a guy to do when he's run out of people to blame? Cut funding to world bodies, that's what. And that's precisely what Trump did when he announced that the US would no longer be contributing money to the World Health Organisation. The president's also been busy launching a programme to 'reopen' America, casting aspersions on the need for the US to be locked down and even sacking the director of the Department of Health and Human Services' Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) Dr Rick Bright for critiquing the administration's decision to pursue HCQ without rigorous vetting. Incidentally, Bright who was also removed as deputy assistant secretary for preparedness and response had referred to HCQ as one of those "potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections". Now, with Trump supporters losing their patience and protesting the lockdown across the US, it appears even the president is weary of all this COVID-19 business and keen to look ahead to the election. Anything but this And can you really blame Trump for being bored of governing a country paralysed by an 'invisible enemy', as he so succinctly put it, and being unable to keep the engines of the US economy running? Some might even say it's an attack on him and his country. In fact, never mind 'some', because that's exactly what Trump said on Wednesday. "We were attacked. This was an attack. This wasn't just the flu by the way. Nobody has ever seen anything like this, 1917 was the last time," said the president at his daily briefing. What a difference roughly six weeks make. On 9 March, at the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, he was quoted as saying, "I like this stuff [medical science]. I really get it... People are really surprised I understand this stuff... Every one of these doctors said, 'How do you know so much about this?' Maybe I have a natural ability." The US had then reported just over 300 confirmed cases. At the time of writing, the US is staring at over 850,000 COVID-19 cases (with 77,210 recoveries) and 47,750 deaths. No world leader enjoys dealing with a pandemic, but Trump appears more unwilling than most to engage with it. That he is calling for the states of Virginia, Minnesota and Michigan to be 'liberated' and defending people inexplicably protesting the lockdown makes one wonder if he 'really gets it' at all. The real estate tycoon-turned-politician is happiest when dealing with a human adversary cracking a deal here, walking out of another there, a bit of sabre-rattling today, power handshakes and reconciliation tomorrow, and a bit of name-calling every now and then. But how do you do that to a virus? In fact, it appears he's willing to do anything, even threaten to engage with Beijing and Tehran militarily, just to break the monotony. It's a different issue entirely that the US will not fire on Iranian gunboats unless hostile intent is perceived and that its warships will most certainly not taken on aggressive postures in waters claimed by China. A keen eye on November... or later It is as-yet-unclear whether the US election will, in fact, be held on 3 November. CDC director Robert Redfield told The Washington Post, "Theres a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through... We're going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time." Unwilling or unable to fathom having to deal with this COVID-19 stuff for that long, Trump ordered Redfield to clarify (Read: walk back) his remarks something the CDC director did not do, at least to the extent the president wanted. The timing of the coronavirus outbreak meant that the Biden-Bernie Sanders showdown for top billing on the Democrat ticket ended in a damp squib, with the latter pulling out of the race and later, throwing his support behind the former vice-president. It also meant that neither he nor Trump has been able to embark on rallies across the nation. And now it looks like the campaign trail might find itself further compromised by the pesky pandemic. However, this week's developments show that this hasn't hampered the president's reelection efforts as much as one would imagine. By bringing the topics of immigration, China and Iran into the conversation, Trump is keeping his key voter base well-fed with the sort of rhetoric that prompted it to opt for him four years ago. Aside from positioning his recklessness on social distancing as a virtuous effort to rebuild what he describes as "the greatest economy in the history of the world... Better than China, better than any place", Trump is using coronavirus-induced unemployment as an excellent reason to keep out immigrants. While China has never really dropped out of the picture mostly because it's impossible to keep it out anymore, he's also resuscitating the old boogeyman Iran that had briefly dropped off the radar. It's hard to rule out Trump going after India on trade, Japan and NATO on protection money and even Kim Jong-un, should the North Korean leader re-emerge, to ratchet up more support for the eventual election. But, just what sort of country (and in what shape) he'll be courting for votes come November remains to be seen, particularly if he doesn't snap out of his coronavirus ennui. Virginia Vertetis will remain in jail while she awaits her second trial for the 2014 shooting death of her boyfriend, retired New York City police officer Patrick Gilhuley. Bail was set at $700,000 with no 10% option by Judge Stephen Taylor during a Thursday afternoon court hearing, the same amount bail was first set at following her 2014 arrest. It was later lowered to $500,000. Taylor cited the nature of the charges, her flight risk status, and the weight of the evidence against her in setting bail at $700,000. Her lawyer, Susan McCoy, asked for bail to be set at $50,000, but acknowledged that Vertetis was unlikely to be able to post any amount. Because she was indicted before New Jersey enacted bail reform measures, Vertetis trial will follow the old rules. Monetary bail is no longer used in deciding to detain someone. Wearing a face mask, Vertetis appeared via webcam from the Morris County Correctional Facility for the ten-minute bail hearing. She did not speak, except to thank her lawyer at the end of the hearing. Vertetis was transferred from the Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women in Union Township, where she had been held since her 2017 sentencing, to the Morris County Correctional Facility on March 30, records show. Vertetis, now 57, was convicted of first-degree murder and second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon during a 2017 jury trial in Morris County, and sentenced to 30 years in state prison. An appeals court struck down that conviction in March, saying a key self-defense requirement was not properly explained to the jury. A trial is unlikely to start before the fall because of the current moratorium on new jury trials during the coronavirus pandemic, Judge Taylor said. Another hearing is scheduled for May 26 that will likely also be via webcam. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Katie Kausch may be reached at kkausch@njadvancemedia.com. A Co Mayo nursing home has confirmed that seven of its residents have died this month, five of whom tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. A number of the 36 surviving residents of the Ti Aire private nursing home in Belmullet are still being treated for the virus, with one positive case among two residents currently in hospital. Another two residents also died in hospital this month, but their cause of death has not been confirmed. Nursing home manager John Tighe said that all 36 remaining residents had been tested, and staff testing is ongoing with results awaited. Some residents who tested positive for Covid-19 are doing well and we are supporting them through their recovery, he said. Mr Tighe added that extensive contingency planning and additional infection control measures had been put in place in advance of any confirmed cases at the home while extra training and supports had been put in place for staff. All national HSE and HIQA guidelines are being followed and we are liaising and working closely with both organisations on a regular basis. We are also working closely with the Public Health Service, HSE Community Healthcare Organisations and the National Ambulance Service, he said We received additional quantities of PPE equipment from the HSE several weeks ago and we are happy with the quality and quantity of that equipment." As part of our contingency planning we also recruited additional staff to ensure we have sufficient numbers to care for residents through this crisis, he added. Ti Aire in Tallagh, Belmullet, is located in one of the more isolated parts of the north-west coast. It is one of a number of homes run by the Sonas group which has nursing homes in counties Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon, Westmeath, Carlow and Tipperary. Local politicians have expressed alarm about the high rate of Covid-19 infection in the county, compared to neighbouring Galway particularly in the far less populated north of the county. There were 332 cases of the virus in Mayo, compared to 294 in Galway, as of Monday night. Mayo County Council chief executive Peter Hynes expressed concern about new hotspots in the county, when he told councillors earlier this week that numbers continued to escalate. Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne said he cannot understand why the figures in the county of Mayo are as high as the county next door in Galway which has double the population and which has a city. Cllr Kilcoyne also said he believed some 40 staff in Mayo University Hospital are either out sick with the virus or are isolating as they await tests for Covid-19. This raises serious questions, he said. Sinn Fein TD for Mayo Rose Conway-Walsh also called for more transparency and said the Health Service Executive (HSE) needed to take immediate action in relation to providing personal protection equipment (PPE) for health care staff in hospitals, nursing homes, care settings and in the community. MINNEAPOLIS, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Though this is an especially tough year for students with the uncertainty of the pandemic and learning remotely, Scholarship America is dedicated to supporting students' dreams and determination. Twenty-one exceptional students have been selected as recipients of Scholarship America's 2020 Dream Award. The Dream Award is Scholarship America's renewable scholarship program for students with financial need and who have overcome significant barriers to make it to college. Since the Dream Award was created in 2014, 108 students have been awarded scholarships totaling nearly $2 million. "This is an impressive group of resilient academic achievers who are focused on building a brighter future for their careers, while also helping their families and communities," said Robert C. Ballard, president and CEO of Scholarship America. "They have overcome major challenges in their lives including serious illness, abandonment, abuse, family loss, poverty and homelessness, to pursue their dreams for their future. These students demonstrate the power of a scholarship in transforming their lives and paying it forward to help others." For six years, Scholarship America has hosted Dreams to Success: a dinner and fundraising event in Washington, DC to honor Dream Award students. Ballard noted that due to COVID-19, the need to support deserving students is greater than ever. Therefore, Scholarship America will convert the 2020 Dreams to Success event into an online Day of Giving on May 7, celebrating the 2020 Dream Award students as well as Dream Award students from previous years. More information on the Day of Giving and how to donate can be found at https://scholarshipamerica.org/news-events/dreams-to-success/. Below is a sampling of the 2020 Dream Award recipients. For a complete list, click here. Thomas Ballinger, Hometown/Reno, Nev. Genetics and Cell Biology major, Washington State University: "Since the fifth grade, I was fascinated by the field of genetics. None of my local colleges offered the major and finding a way to pay the out-of-state tuition of $45,000 per year seemed daunting. Many well-meaning friends and family members cautioned me to be realistic and not waste so much time filling out scholarship applications. I was repeatedly urged to stop dreaming. Thank you, Scholarship America for proving them wrong." Marissa Gerstner, Hometown/Fort Atkinson, Wis. Elementary and Special Education major, Carroll University: "I was thrilled to learn I was selected for this honor and am deeply appreciative of your support. Working with children is my passion and becoming a teacher has always been my dream. The excitement you see in their eyes when learning something new is what I enjoy. The Dream Award will greatly help me in paying my educational expenses, and allow me to concentrate more of my time on studying. I promise to work hard and eventually give back to others, both as a teacher and possibly a scholarship to other students like myself." Breece Phipps, Hometown/Sacramento, Calif. Astronautical Engineering major at the University of Southern California: "I am honored and grateful to receive the Scholarship America Dream Award. My goal is to become an astronaut for NASA. I rely heavily on financial aid to fund my higher education journey. I applied for several scholarships and was continuously overlooked. I was beginning to think my current progress was being dismissed because of my difficult past. I have learned to be grateful for everything I receive." Audrey Hammond, Hometown/Los Angeles Applied Information Management Systems (AIMS) major/African American Studies minor, Loyola Marymount University: "I am honored to be selected as a Dream Award recipient. This scholarship allows me to focus more on gaining the knowledge I need to prepare for my future career. As a Dream Award recipient, I intend to be a guide for fellow first-generation, low-income students." Recipients were determined by a Dream Award Selection Committee, headed by Dr. Martha Kanter, the executive director of the College Promise Campaign and a senior fellow at the Steinhardt Institute for Higher Education Policy at New York University. Other selection committee members were: Robert C. Ballard, president and CEO, Scholarship America; Sarita Brown, co-founder and president of Excelencia in Education; Dr. Mildred Garcia, president, American Association of State Colleges and Universities; Kristin Hultquist, renowned national education expert and founding partner of HCM Strategists; and Jim Larimore, Chief Officer, ACT Center for Equity in Learning. About Scholarship America Scholarship America is a non-profit organization that helps students fulfill their college dreams. Since 1958, Scholarship America has distributed $4.3 billion to more than 2.6 million students. The organization works with partners to lower barriers to a college education and give students the support needed to succeed. Learn more at scholarshipamerica.org. Media Contact: Joan Cronson 952.830.7308 [email protected] SOURCE Scholarship America Related Links http://scholarshipamerica.org "CobbleStone is honored to have won this competitive opportunity because it showcases the strength of our centralized source-to-contract suite that solves sourcing, vendor management, & contract lifecycle management challenges." Bradford Jones, Director of Sales & Marketing at CobbleStone Software CobbleStone Software, a leader in contract management and eProcurement software, recently won a competitive health insurance government contract management award for Contract Insight - their user-friendly, scalable contract management software platform. This selection of CobbleStones software was performed by a large, non-profit health insurance organization based in Florida through a GSA award. Contract Insight will support operations that are funded by premiums with over 425 thousand policies and a 2020 operating budget of over $145 million for administrative expenses. Contract Insight can be purchased on the GSA Schedule 70 and has been recognized as a leading solution for numerous government agencies since CobbleStones establishment in 1995. Contract Insight powers organizations with comprehensive contract lifecycle management software with features such as budget alerts and key date notifications, contract writing tools, compliance management, FOIA procedures, DBE tracking, Dun & Bradstreet integration, full process transparency with automated contract workflows, and more! CobbleStone Software maintains strong relationships with various leading government organizations, including federal agencies, cities, counties, states, universities, and many other public agencies. Read case studies and success stories from a myriad of government agencies, and see how they have used CobbleStones Contract Insight for better contract management and procurement processes. CobbleStone is honored to have won this competitive opportunity, as it provides further evidence of the strength of our source-to-contract suite. Organizations need a solution that solves their sourcing, vendor management, and contract lifecycle management challenges in one centralized location. With CobbleStone Softwares one-stop solution, organizations have the opportunity to consolidate those platforms without having to face the challenge of managing vendor, sourcing, and contract processes separately. Bradford Jones, Director of Sales & Marketing at CobbleStone Software Book a free demo of Contract Insight to discover how your organization can promote increased productivity and efficiency with enhanced government contract management, contract authoring, E-Signatures, E-Approvals, eProcurement, and eSourcing whether you are in the office or on the go. About CobbleStone Software CobbleStone Software has been a leader in providing enterprise contract management, vendor management, and eSourcing software solutions for over 20 years and is trusted by thousands of users from a wide-ranging and diverse pool of industries. CobbleStones Contract Insight contract management suite provides contract and vendor tracking, configurable email alerts, calendar notifications, contract workflow management, contract writing, robust security options, authoring of contract templates with dynamic clauses, revenue/cost management, full-text indexing and searching, vendor/client ratings, document version control, custom reports, electronic signatures, smarter contracts with artificial intelligence and machine learning, and more. To learn more about Contract Insight, contact the CobbleStone Team at sales@cobblestonesoftware.com or call 866-330-0056. Press Release 23 April 2020 DALLAS - OYO Hotels, one of the world's leading hotel chains, has recorded an uptick in long-term stays in the US during the current COVID-19 pandemic as more and more travelers opt for OYO's services for their accommodation needs. A stay is classified as long-term when a guest spends over seven days at a hotel and OYO has witnessed an upwards of 21% increase in this category during the current COVID-19 pandemic. The hotel chain has been constantly monitoring the situation and resorted to adaptive measures for ensuring business continuity for its asset partners while taking the necessary steps to safeguard the health and well-being of its guests with a clear focus on hygiene and cleanliness. Advertisements Since the beginning of the pandemic, OYO has been focused on offering accommodation to those who are most likely to be at the forefront of the fight against the pandemic and is glad for the opportunity to serve them. These include those offering medical, government and military support, healthcare, transitional housing, mobility, and essential transportation. In the transitional housing segment, in particular, OYO has seen an increased demand for stays over 30 days in length for displaced workers and medical staff. The company is constantly working on new protocols while adhering to the current ones on social distancing for guests staying at hotels. OYO is glad for the opportunity to serve and support its asset partners through the means of innovative technology and tools for offering remote assistance. Over the past four weeks, the company's average response time on its OYO OS chat is less than one minute with over 95% requests being answered in less than five minutes. Commenting on the development, Abhinav Sinha, Global COO and Operating Partner, OYO US, said, ''We value this opportunity to serve our guests in these unprecedented times. We are working diligently to offer comfortable and hygienic accommodation to all those in need and our asset partners have a huge role to play in helping us achieve this. While the coronavirus crisis has deeply impacted our industry, it has also created the need for long term stays for the frontline workers. We are hopeful of driving demand for our partners across regions in the long term stays segment at a time when this can help maintain social distancing and break the cycle/chain of infections. Many of our hotels provide amenities in-house and are well-equipped to support the needs of long-term guests at an affordable price. We will continue to work together to serve those who are in need while adhering to stringent levels of hygiene and cleanliness.'' The company continues to work with the Department of Homeland Security, Salvation Army, National Guard, Red Cross, Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Health and Human Services and Mayors and Governors from across the country to meet any accommodation need that arises as they fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, OYO has offered free accommodation to doctors, nurses and medical first responders across its 300+ hotels in the US so they can sleep, shower or just get off their feet and recharge. Oil prices sank to fresh 21-year lows before recovering as markets continued to grapple with extreme oversupply caused by the coronavirus crisis. On a day of wild swings on global markets, Brent crude briefly fell below $16 a barrel, the lowest level this century. It later recovered, surging to more than $21 last night, but is still trading far below the $28 of a week ago. Earlier this year it was close to $70 a barrel. On a day of wild swings on global markets, The price of Brent Crude briefly fell below $16 a barrel - the lowest level this century The latest swings will raise more concerns BP and Royal Dutch Shell could cut or axe their dividends. The oil giants are the biggest dividend payers on the FTSE 100, with many savers and pension funds reliant on the income they provide. Their dividends are even more important to savers after big banks and insurers scrapped shareholder payouts. In 2019 the two handed back a combined 18.3billion to their investors, almost 17 per cent of the total 111billion paid in dividends by London-listed companies. But this year they would make up a much higher percentage of the total. The rollercoaster trading yesterday came after US oil prices fell below $0 on Monday. Demand has plunged by around a third as lockdowns across the world have taken cars off the road, grounded aircraft and temporarily closed factories. Analysts believe there could be worse to come. Bjornar Tonhaugen, head of oil markets at Rystad Energy, said: 'Be prepared for more surprises in this broken market.' So far BP and Shell have unveiled plans to cut costs and, in Shell's case, hit the pause button on a share buyback but have not said the dividend will come in the firing line. Both pay dividends every quarter and will confirm whether they are committing to a dividend next week when they report their results for January to March. BP will report on Tuesday and Shell on Thursday. Joshua Mahony, analyst at IG, said it was the second-quarter dividend that might face cuts or be handed out in another form. This is because recent price plunges started around the same time markets went haywire in late February. Mahony said: 'Trimming back expenditures should allow them to continue as is for the time being. But the second quarter could be a different story.' David Moss, at BMO Global Asset Management, said: 'Shell has made it very clear they were going to cut a lot of costs elsewhere before cutting the dividend. 'With Brent around these numbers, it's going to be difficult to maintain.' Shell has paid cash to shareholders since the Second World War, while BP's dividend was last disrupted by the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico. While people protesting the governors recent economic restrictions flooded parts of the state capital Tuesday morning, a few like-minded individuals in Iredell County united in downtown Statesville. A few people brought their children and protested outside the Iredell County Government Center in Statesville on Tuesday evening. The small groups main goal was to let Iredell County commissioners know they supported the larger effort in Raleigh organized by the group Reopen NC. Emily Kusz stood outside and watched her four children play tag. She said the protest was intended to let local officials know there are county residents who want the state to get back on track. I think you have to look at the population of the state versus the amount of people infected and compare that to the people impacted financially, she said. Kusz argued that North Carolina hasnt been hit as hard by the virus as states like New York, which has seen more than 251,000 confirmed cases and almost 15,000 deaths, state health officials reported Tuesday. Kurz also said that while she doesnt know what a reopening will look like, shed like to see a lot of small businesses open again. Open source During the audit, the Healthcare Ministry found out the $5.3 billion debt of the international procuring entities on drugs supply purchased by them for state funds as Deputy Healthcare Minister Svitlana Shatalova stated. Concerning the situation with the purchase of drugs: we see a big sum of debt of the international procuring entities, which reaches $5.3 billion, she said. The official noted that this sum had accrued from 2015 until 2019. We need to deal in details how the procurement and supply of drugs take place; what time frames of use of these drugs and organized it to understand how to move further, she said. Shatalova also reported that the Healthcare Ministry did not hold the meeting of the permanent task group on drugs procurement in over two months. Nevertheless, according to her, the ministry is ready to renew work on the procurement of drugs and started to form the nomenclature for them. We need to determine the list of the drugs and this work has started. We agreed with all ministries, we hope, that we will launch these processes as soon as possible, she said. According to Shatalova, there are a lot of questions concerning the passports of the budget programs. They are held in the Financial Ministry. As we reported, 7,170 cases of infection with coronavirus spotted in Ukraine. 578 cases were registered in the past 24 hours. Batelco has announced the renewal of the sponsorship of the Brinc Batelco IoT Hub for a further three years. Brinc Batelco, located in Manama, Bahrain, aims to support Bahrain's youth by promoting innovation, creativity, entrepreneurship, and most importantly, the upskilling of future generations of technology experts. The renewed sponsorship of Brinc in Bahrain stems from Batelcos commitment to support education and entrepreneurship and enhance the growth of digitisation, as its in line with the efforts of developing this field within the kingdom. The partnership is structured to drive innovation and creativity within the Brinc Batelco Hub through product design and development initiatives as well as workshops designed to drive entrepreneurial practices, encouraging the generation of new products and services. Brinc Batelco successfully hosted its latest youth-centric event on April 19 and 20 with a virtual education-themed hackathon designed to empower students during school closures. The virtual hackathon was organised in support of social distancing measures to curb the COVID-19 pandemic in line with official directives. The hackathon, launched in partnership with InJaz Bahrain and Cleverplay, focussed on the development of remote learning solutions to support educational efficiency for the future. Thirty high school and university students divided into five teams participated in the virtual hackathon which utilised such tools as Zoom and Google Sheet, Forms and Slides. The ideas presented by the teams were very diverse and tackled different perspectives of remote learning like VR, programming terminal, digital internship and much more. The winning team under the name Minds presented a pitch which featured the use of virtual reality, with an application that provides the visuals and environment of a science lab for students who are missing out on the laboratory experience. The Minds team members won cash prizes, vouchers and three-months hot desk at the Brinc Batelco IoT Hub. Over the past two years, a number of programmes sponsored by Batelco took place at the Brinc Batelco IoT Hub including eight hackathons for Batelco's employees, students and the community with 230 participants who were able to tackle 32 real-world challenges. Three corporate product design bootcamps for Batelco employees to create new innovative solutions were also delivered, and furthermore, over 30 workshops revolving around IoT, technology and innovation, and more than 90 technology events for the communitys aspiring future entrepreneurs were hosted at The Hub. - TradeArabia News Service Jupiter Business Mentors (JBM), a home-grown UAE-based mentorship platform has announced its partnership with in5, an enabling platform for entrepreneurs and startups fostering innovation, to support with the right mentoring to help them avoid mistakes and overcome difficulties setting up and growing their businesses. The outbreak of coronavirus has had a detrimental effect on many start-ups, small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), leading to a bleak outlook and a domino effect in the upcoming months. A recent poll revealed that one in five business owners believe climate change and natural disasters pose a threat to their business, but sadly a staggering 77% of them do not have a natural disaster plan in place. The ripple effect of this could mean that as many as 40% of small businesses will never reopen their doors following major natural disasters such as this. Experienced mentors are known to be the secret weapons of successful start-ups. The partnership with in5 startup incubator aims to help these business owners with access to experienced executives and industry experts from various areas of business to address specific issues faced by them in running their operations or to help them transform their processes to serve the current customers needs better. The strategic partnership valid until the end of May 2020 between the two entities aimed at supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem and allows business owners to book 6 free mentoring sessions of 15 minutes each with 6 different mentors or 3 free sessions of 30 minutes each with 3 different mentors of their choice to get practical and confidential business advice on matters related to new business setup, new venture opportunities, strategy development, legal advisory, financial consulting and data analysis, market intelligence and regulatory compliance, HR, marketing and sales strategies amongst many others. In addition, in5 members will also receive a 10% discount on all services offered by JBM through its platform. The mentors on the platform have immense entrepreneurial business experience and are equipped to understand the nuances of a pre-startup, a startup or a matured business. Renuka Gunjahalli, founder, Jupiter Business Mentors, said: We are happy to partner with in5 with an aim to enhance the entrepreneurial journey of many business owners during this time. Business mentorship will allow these individuals to understand the potential roadblocks and find practical solutions to complex business challenges for business continuation. Due to the outbreak of Covid-19 and the measure of social distancing it has spawned, JBM acts as the only platform in the UAE and Middle East region fully integrated with the voice, video and live-chat options, making it easier, faster, and cost-effective for entrepreneurs to connect with experts in real-time through the online platform instead of deferring or delaying their problems. During the course of this partnership, JBM will also conduct informative educational webinars on various topics such as addressing crisis intervention, business continuity planning, risk management, data privacy, crisis communications and more. Mentees looking forward to avail the free sessions can download the mobile app available on both IOS and Google Play and book the service they require. To learn more about Jupiter Business Mentors platform, visit https://jbm4u.com/#/home - TradeArabia News Service WASHINGTON In January 2018, Senate Democrats took a politically risky stand, shutting down the government to insist on protections for hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants. Gleeful Republicans saw the obstruction strategy as a huge blunder and pounded the Democrats, who caved after only a few days of sharp attacks and cut a deal to reopen. Times and circumstances have changed. Democrats have now blocked two consecutive coronavirus rescue packages pushed by Republicans and withstood withering criticism to win concessions and hundreds of billions of dollars they said were vital. At nearly $500 billion, the latest measure to move through Congress this week ended up being almost twice the size and much broader in scope than the original bill Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, tried to ram through two weeks earlier without negotiations. It was a potentially dangerous strategy for Democrats, particularly in an election year, that left them open to accusations from President Trump and congressional Republicans that they were denying desperately needed money at a crucial moment for businesses trying to survive in the face of the pandemic. It may have also reduced their leverage in the next fight over a much larger stimulus measure that is likely to top $1 trillion. But their willingness to take on those risks reflects Democrats confidence that the terrain of the current debate a public health crisis and economic disaster that will require the broadest government relief effort since the post-World War II era plays to their core strengths as a party. It is also based in part on their belief that Mr. Trump, whose re-election hopes are likely to rise or fall based on the public perception of his administrations response to the pandemic, has a strong incentive to compromise with them. Police in Pakistan's Punjab province shot dead four suspects of rape and murder of a five-year-old boy in an encounter late on Wednesday night, officials said on Thursday. According to the FIR, two vendors - Umair (18) and Abbas (20) - allegedly kidnapped a five-year-old boy in Faisalabad, some 150-km from Lahore, while he was playing outside his house last week. It said both suspects took the boy to a deserted place and raped him along with their two accomplices. The FIR said they killed the boy after committing rape and dumped his body in an open plot. After Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar took notice of the incident a special team headed by the Faisalabad police chief was constituted that managed to arrest the culprits. Faisalabad police in a statement issued on Thursday said that they arrested the suspects Umair and Abbas and their two accomplices who confessed to their crime. Police said on Wednesday night a police team was taking the suspects to the crime scene when eight armed men attacked it. "The armed men opened fire on police party which was returned and in the crossfire all four suspects were killed," they said, adding the armed men managed to flee taking advantage of darkness. The victim boy's father has thanked the police and the chief minister "for providing the family swift justice." Earlier, the family had staged a demonstration in Faisalabad to arrest the kidnappers of the boy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A pump jack over an oil well along Interstate 25 near Dacono, Colorado. (David Zalubowski/AP) Oil futures rallied off multi-year lows on Thursday, after days of panicked selling in the market. International Brent crude futures (BZ=F) rose by 7.7% on Thursday morning to $21.95 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures (CL=F) were up 13.4% to $15.63. Analysts said the price revival was driven by a tweet from US President Trump saying he had instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea. Iran sits on the Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the most important sea passages for international oil trade. Flaring tensions in the region could put pressure on supply, which would support higher prices. The catalyst [for oil] seemed to be a tweet from President Trump, Deutsche Bank strategist Jim Reid and team wrote in a note to clients on Thursday morning. While geopolitics has rather moved out of the headlines since the start of the year, its worth noting that it was only last week that the US Central Command said in a statement that 11 Iranian ships crossed the bows and sterns of US vessels at close range. So one to keep an eye on. Read more: European stocks fall as investors assess stark impact of crisis The large percentage price climbs continue the wild swings in the international oil market, which has been rocked by the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent oversupply. US oil futures crashed into negative prices for the first time in history on Monday evening, with traders effectively paying people to take delivery contracts off their hands. US oil storage facilities have been filling up in recent weeks, meaning people could struggle to store barrels of oil. While technically, there is still 3 weeks of storage capacity at Cushing, Oklahoma, with about 30-40% tank ullage still available in the US it is already booked and in the hands of traders and operators, said Kang Wu, head of analytics, Asia, at commodities specialist S&P Global Platts. Story continues Its probably the same case for storage around the world. Brent, the international benchmark, crashed to an 18-year-low on Tuesday as panic spread more widely. Pressure eased on Wednesday before Thursdays stronger rebound. However, oil prices remain around a third lower than where they started the year. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 22:45:12|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TAIPEI, April 23 (Xinhua) -- One more person tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the outbreak involving three naval vessels, Taiwan's epidemic monitoring agency said Thursday. The total number of naval service personnel and cadets who contracted COVID-19 increased to 29, the agency said in a press release. The latest patient, a serviceman, developed symptoms on April 19, the statement said. The fleet of three naval vessels, with more than 700 people on board, returned to Taiwan on April 15 after a short stop at Palau from March 12 to 15 and nearly 30 days at sea. A majority of people on board disembarked before the first three tested positive with the virus on April 18. Authorities identified around 1,200 people having contact with the patients and put 509 of them under quarantine at their residences, the statement said. The total number of COVID-19 patients in Taiwan has risen to 427, 253 of whom have recovered and six died. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the island will extend the restriction of cross-Strait flights and the ban against flight transfer via its airports, the agency said. Enditem T he adoption of test, track and trace could enable the coronavirus lockdown measures to be eased, Matt Hancock has said. Speaking at the daily Covid-19 press conference at Downing Street on Thursday, the Health Secretary said that the infrastructure was being put in place so that contact tracing could be rolled out on a large scale. While he resisted demands for more transparency over how the lockdown would end, he said that testing, tracking and tracing could be key in allowing "lesser" social-distancing rules. It comes as the UK death toll nears 19,000 while the Government face pressure to layout an exit strategy to lockdown. Mr Hancock told reporters: Test, track and trace, done effectively, can help to suppress the transmission in a way that allows you then to have lesser rules. Critically, test, track and trace works more effectively when the rate of new cases is lower. Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance, Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Director of Health Improvement at Public Health England Professor John Newton / PA So, the lower the rate of new cases, the more effectively you can keep it down using test, track and trace rather than having to use heavier social-distancing measures. He said the Government is also introducing "large-scale" infrastructure for contact tracing in the UK. He added that some 18,000 people are being employed to help in the tracing efforts. As we look ahead, this is critical to keep the virus under control, he said. NHS works wearing PPE (File photo) / PA The Health Secretary then referred to a new NHS contact-tracing app was undergoing testing. Anyone who became unwell with coronavirus symptoms would be able to inform the NHS through the app, which would then inform other users they had had significant contact with. Loading.... Mr Hancock also said on Thursday that testing was also being used to establish how many people have and have had coronavirus. 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 These are critical pieces of information to inform our battle against this novel virus, he said. Initially, 25,000 people would take part, with plans to expand it to 300,000 over the next 12 months. Loading.... Participants will provide regular samples taken from self-administered swabs and answer a few short questions. He said letters had started to go out and appealed to anyone asked to become involved to do so. The Government is working towards the target of 100,000 tests a day / AP The early signs from today are that there is huge enthusiasm from those who have received letters taking part in this survey, he said. Mr Hancock later resisted demands for more transparency about how the lockdown would be ended. He said: I understand the thirst for knowledge. The tests that we have set out, which are the basis from which others for instance the Scottish Government have then developed their plans, those tests are the critical tests for when changes can be made. Of course, monitoring what is happening and making sure that we move at the right time is absolutely critical. But the message remains the same that people need to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. Manitoba took a big step towards addressing the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) this week as the province opened its arms to a large shipment of disposable gowns for front-line workers. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/4/2020 (628 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Manitoba took a big step towards addressing the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) this week as the province opened its arms to a large shipment of disposable gowns for front-line workers. On Tuesday afternoon, a chartered Air Canada Boeing 777 arrived in Manitoba carrying 150,000 disposable isolation gowns procured by local medical supply company SpiritRx Services. SpiritRx Services, owned by the Spirit Healthcare Group representing the seven tribal councils of Manitoba, said they had been in the process of putting together safety kits for First Nations communities when they applied to help the province secure essential protective gear. "When the pandemic headed our way, because communities are remote and housing is a problem, we were trying to build kits for households so they would have some supplies," said SpiritRx CEO Heather Berthelette in an interview Thursday. "As we were securing product and bringing product in, we registered on the province of Manitoba website looking for some assistance." The province reached out on April 2, Berthelette said, and by April 9 the company had been able to provide the province with testable samples. The 150,000 gowns took up the entire cargo area of the 777, said SpiritRx CEO Heather Berthelette. (Winnipeg Airports Authority) By April 21, the first plane was loaded with 150,000 gowns from a Chinese manufacturing plant that SpiritRx holds a long-standing relationship with. "They had ordered one million gowns, we were able to fit 150,000 on the first shipment. It takes up the entire cargo area of a Boeing 777 so we couldn't squeeze one more on that flight," said Berthelette. "We filled every corner of that plane." 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 rest of the gowns will come in stages. Another 150,000 are expected to arrive on a May 5 flight, and the rest will be shipped in smaller, weekly batches with 40-foot containers. "It was a very successful joint venture that I think Manitoba should be very proud of," Berthelette said. "Glad that we reached out and that they were actually very excited to work with us, it sure went well and I think both of us are very happy." The province announced the procurement in a press release Thursday, and noted that the provincial government has set aside $400 million in funding to buy PPE for front-line workers as part of the Manitoba Protection Plan. A spokesperson for the province said the gowns cost approximately $1.9 million in total, and would be distributed to a variety of locations across the health-care system. The government is continuing to ask manufacturers, businesses and other organizations to help with procurement if they are able to rapidly scale up Manitoba-based manufacturing or if they have stockpiled PPE that is going unused due to closures and physical distancing. julia-simone.rutgers@freepress.mb.ca Back To The Future fans have often debated the flaws in Marty McFly's plan to get his parents to start dating when he accidentally stopped them from meeting. And the iconic film's screenwriter Bob Gale has finally ended the debate around why Marty's parents George and Lorraine don't recognise him in later life following his time-travelling adventures. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter after discourse around the plot hole reignited during the '5 perfect movies' trend on Wednesday, the writer, 68, claimed the pair only knew Marty for six days so it makes sense that they don't remember him. Reignited discourse: Back To The Future writer Bob Gale finally explained THAT Marty McFly plot hole after a renewed debate began on Wednesday during the '5 perfect movies' trend 'Many years later, they still might remember that interesting kid who got them together on their first date,' he explained. Bob added that he felt that anyone looking back at their time in high school would only have a 'hazy recollection' of a person they met for such a short amount of time 25 years later. He went on: 'So Lorraine and George might think it funny that they once actually met someone named Calvin Klein, and even if they thought their son at age 16 or 17 had some resemblance to him, it wouldn't be a big deal. 'I'd bet most of us could look through our high school yearbooks and find photos of our teen-aged classmates that bear some resemblance to our children.' Plot hole: Fans of the film have often debated why Marty's parents George and Lorraine don't recognise him in later life following his time-travelling adventures Explanation: Bob said the pair only knew Marty for six days so it makes sense they don't recognise him, and would instead 'think it funny they once met someone named Calvin Klein' The debate began when Guardians Of The Galaxy director James Gunn reignited the discourse around the subject while discussing the Robert Zemeckis directed sci-fi's status as a perfect film. Taking to Twitter, he wrote to his followers: 'What is a "Perfect Film"? For me, a perfect film can be different from a favorite film, or a great film. 'A perfect film is something that sings from start to finish with no obvious mistakes, whether they be aesthetic or structural. There are no logical lapses.' Referring to the film, he then said: 'Back to the Future SEEMINGLY could be imperfect (why don't Mom and Dad remember Marty?), but I would still argue it's a perfect film because there are reasons why this could conceivably be the case (time protects itself from unraveling, etc). Or maybe I'm in denial. Who knows.' Discourse: The debate began when Guardians Of The Galaxy director James Gunn reignited the discourse around the subject while discussing the sci-fi's status as a perfect film Thoughts: Chris Pratt gave his own thoughts on the subject, as he claimed that Marty's parents could have remembered him as Calvin Klein, rather than as Marty Chris Pratt gave his own thoughts on the subject, as he claimed: 'Maybe they do remember him tho, not as Marty, as Calvin. 'When Marty returns to present day 1985, it could have been years since his parents would have perhaps originally noted the uncanny resemblance between their son and that kid from high school 20 years previous.' The 80's classic, which starred Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd as Marty and Doctor Emmet Brown respectively, spawned two more films, the second set in 2015 and the third a Western film set in 1885. For several generations, the most intense, complex and consequential arguments among conservatives have concerned how to construe the Constitution the various flavors of textualism and originalism and the role of courts in society, George Will recently wrote. Over the course of his career, Will has switched sides in those arguments. His previous concern that federal judges will wrongly overrule other branches of the federal government, and intrude on the domains of state governments, has faded, while his worry that judges will leave too many governmental infringements of liberty in place has grown. Around the time the New York Times published Wills comment, I learned that I had left one of those intraconservative arguments unfinished. In 2018, Will devoted three columns to proposing questions the senators could ask Brett Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings. In this space, I noted that Wills questions were more interesting than what the senators staffs would probably give them, and offered some answers. Wills questions tended to push in the direction of his new judicial philosophy, my answers to push back toward his old one. So, for example, to Wills question whether the Constitution exists to secure the rights set forth in the Declaration of Independence, I answered: Yes, but that fact does not establish the precise role of the judiciary in the securing of those rights. It turns out that Will responded to my Corner post in a speech he gave to the Cato Institute. He seized on one short answer. Him: Can you cite an important constitutional provision (certainly not the regulation of interstate commerce, or the establishment of religion, or government taking private property for public use, or the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishments) the meaning of which today is the same as the public meaning when the provision was ratified? Me: I certainly consider the fact that all members of the House are elected every two years important. Story continues His comeback, published a few months ago: That provision is important, perhaps, but uninteresting. It is so because this provision has never occasioned it could not occasion a controversy concerning constitutional reasoning (as distinct from policy reasoning). . . . What is interesting, however, is how little of the Constitution consists of such technical and unambiguous provisions. There is no scholarship seeking to establish the original public meaning of the phrase have attained to the Age of twenty five Years. The stuff of constitutional law are what former Justice David Souter calls the Constitutions many deliberately open-ended guarantees. It is certainly true that judges havent argued much about those provisions of the Constitution that are hardest to argue about. That seems like a good example of an uninteresting, indeed a nearly tautological, proposition. Will may have something more in mind. But while he is normally the most precise of writers, the way this disagreement has developed leaves me unclear which of three more interesting propositions he is advancing or assuming. He may believe that the plasticity of the Courts interpretation of many constitutional provisions over time means that there is no original meaning to be found. But I hesitate to attribute a non sequitur to him. He may believe that where historical inquiry cannot pin down the original understanding of a legal provision, judges should consider themselves rather than legislators in charge of filling in its meaning. But that view is not an obvious inference from anything in the text, logic, or structure of the Constitution. And it is at odds with Marbury v. Madison, which argued that the writtenness, and thus by implication the cognizability, of the Constitution is what enables judges to divine a conflict between it and mere statutes and authorizes them to set aside the latter. He may, finally, believe that the judicial interpretation of the Constitutions allegedly open-ended provisions has done more to secure Americans liberties, or other goods, than such structural provisions as bicameralism, the election of the House, the veto: all of that boring, unambiguous stuff in the Constitution that leaves judges nothing to improvise. It is an assumption that for several decades has come naturally. But I am not at all sure it is correct. The possibility that what is important in the Constitution and what is interesting to judges in it are not identical is, it strikes me, both interesting and important as are George Wills evolving thoughts on these matters. More from National Review Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sausan Atika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 08:54 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3ac27a 1 National coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,ramadan,Ramadan-Ekstra,Ramadan2020,Muslim,stay-at-home,prayer,tarawih Free Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, the nations largest Islamic organizations, have called on Indonesian Muslims to observe the fasting month of Ramadan at home to contain the spread of the COVID-19, which has shown no sign of abating. During Ramadan, which begins on Friday, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking and partaking in other corporeal pleasures from dawn till dusk. But Ramadan represents much more than just fasting for Muslims worldwide, including in Indonesia. It is the largest and longest religious observance of the faith professed by more than 80 percent of the countrys population and is a time for many communal activities, including tarawih (mass night prayers), bukber (iftar group meals) with families and colleagues, sahur (predawn meals) on the street, as well as family visits to the graves of relatives. However, Muslims have been instructed to forgo these traditions to flatten the curve of COVID-19 contagion. As of Wednesday evening, the country had confirmed 7,418 cases of the virus and 635 deaths. With Greater Jakarta under partial lockdown, Muslims in the area have been ordered to stay home and have been prohibited from taking part in activities involving more than five people, including prayers. Read also: NU, Muhammadiyah advise public to skip 'mudik in time of coronavirus On Wednesday, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan announced that he would extend the partial lockdown, which was supposed to end on Thursday, until May 22. To ensure that Muslims follow the rules, NU and Muhammadiyah have issued religious fatwas advising them to refrain from performing mass prayers. [At-home prayer] is an endeavor that is justified by Islamic and scientific considerations to prevent the spread of an outbreak. Do not think that we are under normal conditions. The fact is that this is an emergency situation, Muhammadiyah chairman Haedar Nasir said in a written statement on Wednesday. During this global emergency situation, do not observe your religion based on your own free will. NU executive Robikin Emhas echoed a similar sentiment, saying that breaking the chain of COVID-19 infection should be a collective effort. Certain types of worship commonly performed in mosques should be done at home or in accordance with health procedures established by the government or local authorities, he said. The call to prayer, he added, could still be recited and broadcast from mosques, but it was meant only to announce the time of prayer and should not be taken as encouragement to go to mosques. Islamic groups have launched intensive campaigns urging Muslims living in COVID-19 red zones to suspend mass prayers. Muhammadiyah, for instance, promoted the hashtag #RamadandiRumah (Ramadan at home) on Wednesday to encourage Muslims to worship at home. The Religious Affairs Ministry has issued a letter outlining prayer and worship guidelines for Muslims during this years Ramadan to protect Muslims in Indonesia from the risk of contracting the disease. The letter instructs Indonesian Muslims to perform tarawih and tadarus (Quran recitations) at home and not to participate in bukber or sahur gatherings in public. The nuzulul quran (Quran revelation day) commemoration, which usually takes place in mosques, will also be canceled. It is unclear, however, if all Muslims, particularly in areas where partial lockdowns are not officially in place, will follow the fatwas or the instructions issued by the ministry, which are directed at all Muslims in Indonesia. The Aceh Ulema Council (MPU), for instance, has announced that it will allow people to perform daily mass prayers and tarawih despite the outbreak. MPU deputy chairman Faisal Ali defended the decision, saying the council was only allowing mass prayers in areas where the spread of COVID-19 was contained. People who live in areas where COVID-19 is under control may perform daily prayers, as well as tarawih and Idul Fitri prayers at mosques while limiting their durations, Faisal said on Tuesday as quoted by tribunnews.com. He said people residing in red zones should not perform group prayers. Read also: Religion and COVID-19 mitigation Critics have questioned Indonesias ability to reliably detect clusters of the virus and determine red zones with such limited testing capacity. As of Wednesday, Indonesia had tested 184 people per 1 million, a testing rate significantly lower than that of many other countries. A village in Magetan, East Javahome to Al Fatah Pesantren (Islamic boarding school) and its more than 20,000 santri (Islamic boarding school students)is currently under quarantine after 43 of its santri tested positive for COVID-19 in Malaysia. The incident has shocked many as East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa had recently praised Magetan for its successful efforts to contain the virus. As thousands of people have already left Greater Jakarta, the epicenter of the countrys COVID-19 outbreak, to celebrate Idul Fitri in their hometowns, the country in the absence of widespread testing is depending on voluntary social distancing to contain the spread of the disease. The suspect was identified as Ashton Nesmith, 26, of Northeast. He was charged with assault with intent to kill, assault on a police officer and possession of a molotov cocktail with intent to use. Nesmith had not yet made an initial appearance in D.C. Superior Court on Thursday, and an attorney has not yet been listed. A statement signed by Mrs Beauty Emefa Narteh, the Executive Secretary of GACC on Wednesday, also applauded the private companies, individuals, religious organisations, and civil society organisations, which had donated to the COVID-19 Trust Fund. The Board of Trustees of the Fund, which is chaired by former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, receives contributions and donations from the public to assist in the welfare of the needy and the vulnerable. The Public Trust is managed by an independent body of trustees to ensure public accountability and the proper deployment of the funds. It also lauded the State social intervention measures to ameliorate the effect of the ban on public engagements on commerce, and thus the livelihood of Ghanaians, particularly, the most vulnerable in our society. The GACC also expressed appreciation to the men and women working on the frontlines to return socio-economic lives to normalcy. It, however, urged the Government and all persons in charge of procuring goods and services to be guided by value for money considerations, and strictly abide by the emergency public procurement laws. The statement said the GACC and like-minded CSOs would lead the charge of citizens to demand accountability. It encouraged all and sundry to abide by the safety and hygiene protocols, and restrictions on movements, as instructed by the health experts, to minimise the spread and eradicate the virus. ---GNA Farmers in Wales have spoken of their concern that water quality regulations published in draft form would push dairy farms 'over the edge'. If introduced, it would designate the whole of Wales as a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone, an area more than forty times bigger than present. It would also make the NVZ area eleven times bigger than what was recommended by the government's advisers Natural Resources Wales. NVZs are areas within Wales that contain surface water or groundwater susceptible to nitrate pollution from agricultural activities. They are designed to improve water quality in rivers and lakes, but it would mean tougher restrictions on fertiliser and manure spreading. Numerous industry groups in the country believe the all-Wales proposal would not be effective in delivering water quality improvements. NFU Cymru recently said it was 'ill-judged and inconsiderate' of the Welsh government to publish draft NVZ regulations during a time of 'stress and anxiety' for farmers. Now the Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) has said farmers are already suffering 'severe impacts' due to the coronavirus, with many 'unable to survive' if the regulations pass. Large numbers of dairy farmers have seen significant falls in the price they receive as well as delays to payments due to the closure of the service sector due to Covid-19. This has led to some farmers having to throw thousands of litres of milk away and large numbers losing vast sums of money on a daily basis. FUW Milk and Dairy produce committee chairman, Dai Miles said: We are currently doing everything we can to find ways of ensuring farm businesses can survive, but whatever happens our industry will be under severe financial pressures at the end of this crisis. The publication of draft regulations that would require families in such a precarious situation to find tens or hundreds of thousands of pounds to comply, plus large annual compliance costs thereafter, feels like a knife in the back to a sector already under severe pressure." The draft legislation would make farms subject to 'draconian rules', according to the union, which normally only apply in areas where pollution problems have been shown to exist. He added: For the vast majority of Welsh farms there is no evidence that such measures are needed, and there is even a real risk that the regulations would actually increase pollution. One tenant farmer on the FUWs dairy committee had been told by experts that compliance with the draft regulations would cost the business 100,000 - money the landlord was not prepared to invest and that the family could not afford, meaning the business would have to end. We have repeatedly raised the issue of tenant farms as well as a range of other issues, none of which have been addressed," Mr Miles said. On behalf of our dairy industry and every other farmer here in Wales, I hope the Minister uses the time she has now to reconsider these regulations. "For the sake of all our futures, including that of the environment which we care for deeply, he said. The United States will keep seeking North Koreas denuclearization no matter who is in charge in Pyongyang, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday, amid speculation about leader Kim Jong Uns health. US officials including President Donald Trump have declined to discuss Kims condition after a report, downplayed by South Korea, that the reclusive authoritarian was ailing. But asked in an interview, Pompeo said he had met Kims powerful sister, Kim Yo Jong, whose recent elevation in the hierarchy raised pundits view that she could be a successor. I did have a chance to meet her a couple of times, but the challenge remains the same -- the goal remains unchanged -- whoever is leading North Korea, Pompeo told Fox News. He renewed the US promise to bring the North Korean people a brighter future if the leadership gives up nuclear weapons. Theyve got to denuclearize. Weve got to do so in a way that we can verify. Thats true no matter who is leading North Korea, he said. Pompeo flew to North Korea four times in 2018 as he arranged historic summits between Trump and Kim after more than a half century of enmity between the two countries. But hopes for a breakthrough before US elections in November have dimmed, with North Korea firing off rockets and the United States refusing Pyongyangs demands for sanctions relief before full denuclearization. Daily NK, an online media outlet run mostly by North Korean defectors, said Kim had undergone a cardiovascular procedure earlier this month triggered by heavy smoking, obesity and fatigue. CNN also quoted a US official as saying Kim was in grave danger after surgery. But South Korea, which is technically still at war with the North, said it had detected no unusual movements in its neighbor. The Bombay high court on Thursday, directed the Thane police to submit the CCTV footage of state minister Jitendra Awhads house before the magistrate after hearing a petition filed by a Thane based civil engineer who claimed that the leader was behind an assault on him by 10-15 persons on April 5 for posting a morphed photograph of the leader on social media. The court has also asked the state to respond to the plea of the engineer seeking transfer of the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and posted the matter for hearing on April 30. A single bench of justice GS Kulkarni while hearing the petition filed by Anant Karmuse, 40, a resident of Thane was informed that he had posted a morphed photograph of Awhad on social networking site, mocking him for his stand against the call by prime minister Narendra Modi to have a candle light vigil on April 5 at 9pm to applaud the efforts of all those involved in the battle against Covid-19 pandemic. Awhad had, however, rebuked the PM through a viral video and said that he would not light a candle but spend the money to help the needy. Karmuse in his police complaint stated that after he posted the morphed photograph of Awhad, two people dressed as cops came to his house and asked him to accompany them to the police station. He obliged. However rather than the police station he was taken to Awhads bungalow behind Vivianna Mall where he apologised after being beaten by the two alleged police and some more persons. On April 8, an FIR has was registered against unidentified persons under several Indian Penal Code sections for abduction, causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, rioting and intimidation in the matter at Thane police station. Five persons were subsequently arrested by Vartak Nagar police. After a brief hearing, justice Kulkarni directed the police to secure the CCTV footage from Awhads residence of the day of incident and to submit it along with the call data record (CDR) of Awhad in a sealed cover to a magistrate in Thane and also sought a response from the state. Michigan's governor has made it clear that she plans to extend her "stay-at-home" order in some form beyond April 30. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer hinted that some form of the shelter order will be in effect for a "long time" in Michigan, and that people age 65 and older and those with chronic lung problems might face restrictions longer than others. "We will likely need another short-term extension of the 'stay home, stay safe' order," Whitmer said. "When we do start to reengaged, it will have to be very thoughtful and precise, mitigating risk to all, and mitigating the risk of a second wave." Whitmer said she hopes to say more in a press conference on Friday about the loosening of business limits to restart parts of the economy during the coronavirus pandemic. People will have to stay home unless they are explicitly permitted to leave under what is expected to be a revised measure. "There are reasons for cautious optimism we need to keep it up," Whitmer said. As of Thursday, there are now 35,291 total confirmed cases in Michigan and 2,977 deaths. Midland Countys total number of confirmed coronavirus cases has increased by four, bringing the total to 51. The number of deaths remains at three for Midland County, according to state information on Thursday afternoon. Thursdays report also recorded nine new cases for Bay County, bringing its total to 102 and two deaths. Gladwin and Isabella counties each remained stagnant, with their totals at 10 cases and one death and 54 cases and seven deaths, respectively. Saginaw County added 33 cases and three deaths, bringing its total to 507 and 38 deaths. A high flying technology executive has had her sexism case dismissed after she sued her boss for telling her she 'has balls'. An employment tribunal threw out the claims made by Rachel Power, ruling that the remark made by Pieter Danhieux was not sexist and was in fact meant to suggest 'defiant bravery' with no sexual connotations. Miss Power was working at cyber security start-up Secure Code Warrior, based in Northampton, as a contractor in 2018 when she got into a dispute with chief executive Mr Danhieux. The pair had been speaking on office-messaging platform Slack when he accused her of attempting to have him removed from his CEO position, the tribual heard. Rachel Power (left) has had her sexism claim against her former boss Pieter Danhieux (right) dismissed after a tribunal ruled his remark that she 'had balls' suggested 'defiant bravery' 'So I heard...that you asked for me to step down from the CEO role. Must admit, you got balls as a contractor', Mr Danhieux told her. Miss Power told the hearing that the words were 'highly offensive' and felt intimidated by Mr Danhieux's language - claiming that he would not have used the same words to a man. 'He refers to me having 'got balls as a contractor' which is highly offensive to me as a woman. To do it in a business context, even if only in an online context, is even more demeaning,' she said. As part of her case, the tribunal was told: 'He had used sexually offensive words to insinuate that, as a woman, Miss Power could not have the strength of character to do something challenging and that therefore, she must be masculine and 'have balls'.' Miss Power said Mr Danhieux had warned her she needed to understand her actions 'have consequences'. She said she felt intimidated by the conversation and had a panic attack as a result. Mr Danhieux told the hearing he used the phrase to express 'surprise and annoyance' at Miss Power's 'front' in suggesting that he be removed as CEO. Miss Power - who started at the company in January 2018 on a three month contract to manage its partnerships with tech giants Microsoft and Accenture and UK spy agency GCHQ - made a formal complaint about his behaviour. After her contract came to an end, she then sued the company for sex discrimination and harassment for the way Mr Danhieux had treated her - including claims that he had criticised her unfairly and she had been excluded from executive meetings - and victimisation for how the firm behaved after she complained. However, her claims were all dismissed by the London tribunal. Of Mr Danhieux's 'you got balls' comment, the panel concluded: 'He used a turn of phrase, which he did not associate with sex. The Tribunal found that the phrase was not one of a sexual nature - it was a colloquialism for defiant bravery.' The Washington Times explains why Georgia is coronavirus success story - GeorgianJournal Let us know what you're seeing and hearing around the community. Submit here Cy-Hope and the Houston Food Bank had a smoother second mega food distribution thanks to improved organization and help with traffic from the National Guard. For a second week, the mega food distribution served 3,000 families with 60 pounds of food each on Wednesday, April 22. The distribution, held in the parking lot of Houston Premium Outlets, received traffic guidance aid from 25 members of the National Guard after complaints of slow traffic due to a large volume of cars entering the parking lot during the first event. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Coronavirus live updates: 280K+ file for unemployment, Texas prison chaplain dies Instead of four lines of food we had seven lines of food, Cy-Hope Executive Director Lynda Zelenka said. It was much more efficient. Everything was presorted so we had a lot more volunteers. It went really smoothly. The food distribution, planned to occur every Wednesday until the Stay Home-Work Safe order is lifted, was first held on April 15 and served families food until they ran out of supplies. Initially, the distribution received criticism for its location in northwest Houston and not in areas perceived as impoverished, Zelenka said. According to the ALICEor Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed2018 report from United Way, Harris County has the largest number of households living below the ALICE poverty percentage range at 1.6 million households. MORE FROM CHEVALL PRYCE: Cy-Hope and Houston Food Bank begin weekly mega food distribution in the Houston Premium Outlets parking lot Houston Food Bank coordinated the aid from the National Guard, Zelenka said. All three groups are also participating in produce sorting on Thursdays and Tuesdays weekly. Zelenka said the mega food distribution needs to be relocated for next weeks event. Were in conversation with other locations because the outlet mall is kind of semi-opening, Zelenka said. We have to find another location next week. HOUSTON STRONG: Mother-daughter duo donate more than 2,000 handmade masks to people in need Although Cy-Hope is not currently operating at full capacity, Zelenka said the nonprofit benefiting Cy-Fair families living below the poverty line is still accepting donations. The next mega food distribution is scheduled for April 29 at a to-be-decided location from 2 p.m. until food is no longer available. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/CyHopeTx/. chevall.pryce@chron.com The Osun State Government says the 49 indigenes of the state who returned to the state from Ivory Coast on Wednesday have tested negative to COVID-19. The state Information Commissioner, Funke Egbemode, said in a statement on Thursday in Osogbo that the returnees were isolated for 14 days in a Lagos State facility in Badagry where they were tested for COVID-19 infection. There had been speculations in the state about the status of the Ivory Coast returnees who came to the state on Wednesday. Mrs Egbemode said the new batch of returnees, who were accepted into the state, had been certified to join the society by the appropriate agencies of the government. She added that there was no need for the people of the state to panic. Mrs Egbemode said: The 49 indigenes of Osun yesterday (Wednesday) returned to the state and of the number, 41 are from Ejigbo and 8 from Iwo. We have an official report showing they all have tested negative for COVID-19. These 49 indigenes of Osun, on arrival from Ivory Coast, were graciously received by the Lagos State Government at the Nigeria-Benin border. READ ALSO: They were quarantined for 14 days in Lagos States facility in Badagry where they were tested for COVID-19 infection during the period. Those who tested positive to the disease were moved into Isolation Wards in Lagos, while those who tested negative to the infection were cleared and those from Osun were allowed to return to the state. The State Government of Osun hereby assures its citizens that there is no cause for alarm or reason to panic. The returnees who were accepted into the state have been certified to join the society by the appropriate agencies of the government, hence, they pose no risk or threat to the people of Osun. The state government urges its citizens to continue to trust that this administration is committed to protecting the people of Osun with everything within its powers. NAN recalls that out of 127 Ivory Coast returnees who came to the state a few weeks ago, 17 tested positive to the virus. The 17 patients were, however, treated and discharged by the state government. (NAN) It seems polarisation between two communities has only heightened during this critical fight against COVID-19 and the national lockdown. And the bad news is that tensions could get worse. Why is this happening? Is it because of the actions of the Narendra Modi government, as a section of domestic and international media are attempting to portray? Or is it because of the Hindutava vanguards RSS and the BJP? The first assumption holds very little water. It is part of a manufactured narrative by the same set of people and media houses (including famed western publications) who could never reconcile with Modi's victories in 2014 and 2019. Indias fight against COVID-19 has been without distinction with regard to caste, creed, status and religion. The special Air India flights from West Asian countries point to that. The official machinery didn't discriminate when it came to the Tablighi Jamaat. In fact, the amount of time, energy and resources spent by the Centre in locating them and ensuring the safety of their members should have been applauded. The answer to the second question also is part of the same narrative. There are certainly elements on the Right who give events a communal colour and the same attempts have been made this time. Take Swami Chakrapani Maharaj of All India Hindu Mahasabha who held a 'Gaumutra party' and claimed it was a coronavirus cure. A similar claim was made by Assam BJP MLA Suman Haripriya. We need to address the elephant in the room. Is it happening at societal-level because of how things have lately panned out on the ground? One has to admit that lately more and more Muslims are guided by Wahabi philosophy. An endless debate on radicalisation of Islam is going on. But at the same time it is also true that Hindus of todays India are temperamentally not the same, as it was perceived to be till few decades ago, leaving everything on God, fate and destiny. It is no longer inclined to display Himalayan patience, if challenged. Hindus have become more conscious of religion and cultural traditions. Things have changed since 2014, with Modi coming to power with full majority and with enhanced majority in 2019. But it had more to do with national pride, confidence in India as a nation than reinforcement of Hindu identity. Muslim community, secularists and liberals, which virulently opposed his advent on national scene in 2013, 2014 and 2019 continued to raise their pitch on one pretext or the other. The polarisation that took place during national lockdown had nothing to do with Modi government, or the RSS or the BJP. It had to do with two things: first, the irresponsible way the Tablighi Jamat acted, till lately over one-third of all India corona positive cases coming from Jamat and in states like Delhi, Telangana, Tamil Nadu the sect contributing to 70 to 90 percent cases. Then there were those who came out in defence of Jamat, giving personal certificates that its members were such pious souls that cant be doing anything wrong. Then there attack on corona warriors medical, municipal and police personnel in several parts of the country. The news and related pictures and videos had polarising effect. Second, before first case of coronavirus was reported in India on 30 January, the CAA protests polarised the country on religious lines. The Shaheen Bagh protesters and their backers tried to turn it into an us versus them situation. A propaganda was made out that Modi government wants to throw (18 crore) Muslims out. The three-month sit down at Shaheen Bagh and other places in the country resulted in consolidating Hindu sentiments. Muslim consolidation on CAA-NPR resulted in reverse polarisation of Hindu community. Coronavirus outbreak coincided with fading of Shaheen Bagh protests but before tempers could die down, Tablighi Jamaat case erupted. The RSS may be smiling at the turn of events of past six months. But in present context the Sangh has less with things than the way the two communities acted and reacted. A 92-year-old city resident has recovered from coronavirus infection despite having suffered a stroke seven months ago which left one side of her body paralysed and even affected her ability to recognise faces. Follow latest updates on the COVID-19 pandemic here On Monday, the woman and three other members of her family including her three-and-a-half-year-old great-grand daughter returned home from hospital. According to a senior doctor from the private hospital here where the woman was treated, it showed that even elderly people can defeat the virus. Constant monitoring, measures to keep secondary infections at bay, use of standard treatment protocol and extra precaution considering her age and ailment paid off, said Dr Vijay Natrajan, CEO, Symbiosis Hospital. "If somebody who is 92 and hada debilitating stroke, the possibility of getting pneumonia is high as their movement is restricted. To avoid pneumonia, we ensured that her sleeping position was changed every two hours," he told PTI. "As per the procedure which is called 'awake proning', she was made to sleep on her abdomen and after two hours, the position was changed," he said. Also Read: Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases, deaths In the prone position, the person or patient lies flat with the chest down and the back up. Awake proning as a treatment protocol "is picking up in a big way for the corona patients as it helps lung ventilation in a better way and improves oxygenation", said Dr Natrajan. "We used to make her sleep on abdomen (prone), on her back (supine) and also on both right and left sides," he explained. Normally the sleeping position of COVID-19 patients is changed every six hours. But in the woman's case, it was brought down to two hours, Dr Natrajan said. "Since she had had a stroke and one side of the body was paralysed, she could not move on her own, so there was a risk of bedsores which can lead to other infections," he said. Despite the woman's age and her ailment, her innate immunity seemed to be good, he added. "Our strategy was to prevent rather than treat any complication. She did not require any oxygen support and as far as the standard protocol is concerned, multivitamin tablets and normal symptomatic treatment was given," he said. The woman's recovery shows that there is no need to panic if a senior citizen contracts coronavirus, he said. The common assumption that the infection would always be lethal for a person above 60 should be discarded, he added. The hospital is treating another woman COVID-19 patient who is 88 years old and has diabetes and hypertension, he said. "When she arrived, she was suffering from breathlessness and fever and was on four-litre oxygen. Today we moved her out of ICU and she is requiring only two-litre oxygen which is very minimal and it shows she is improving," Dr Natrajan said. Remember those bra-cup face mask memes doing the rounds on social media not too long ago? Well, a Japanese company decided to make them a reality, and they sold out almost instantly. Getting your hands on a proper medicinal face mask in Japan is pretty hard these days, but clothing companies around the country are trying to alleviate the shortage by producing reusable cloth masks. Atsumi Fashion, an apparel manufacturer in the city of Himi, Toyama Prefecture, is one such company, only its going about things a bit differently. You see, Atsumi specializes in womens underwear garments, and its management decided that applying the same design to face masks wouldnt be such a bad idea. They were right! Photo: Atsumi Fashion/Twitter According to SoraNews24, the lace bra face mask started out as somewhat of a joke, but the company underestimated Japanese consumers appetite for ingenuity and sexy underwear, as the prototype Atsumi Fashion originally showcased got a lot of attention online. People became even more interested in the accessory after the company posted a photo of model and TV personality Aya Kondo wearing a lace bra face mask, and before long, a whole collection of bra face masks was announced. On Saturday, the Atsumi Fashion lace bra face masks went on sale to the public. Priced at 1,490 yen (US$14), about half the price of a mid-range Japanese bra, the delicate accessory sold out moments after becoming available, as shoppers flocked to both Atsumi Fashions online shop, Lingerie Lab, and its storefront on online marketplace Rakuten. Photo: Atsumi Fashion/Twitter To be fair, the company did underestimate demand, offering only 50 units for each color available (white, pink, lime, aqua blue, black), but a new batch of lace bra masks is already in the works. It probably wont be long until something similar becomes available in the western world as well. Thats usually how it goes with this sort of ingenious and eye-catching products. Leader in content and connectivity solutions increases technical reach across Africa, APAC, LATAM and Europe by 12 million TV households in 2019 SES announced today that the number of global TV households it reaches directly or indirectly via satellite has increased by 12 million to 367 million in 2019. Findings from the company's annual Satellite Monitor market research validates, once again, SES's position as the world's leading video content distributor via satellite and shows the important role that satellite continues to play in reaching the largest possible audience globally. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200422006137/en/ SES Delivers Over 8,300 TV Channels to 367 Million Homes Worldwide (Photo: Business Wire) Much of the increase in the 12 million TV households is attributed to the leading infrastructure of TV reception satellite and cable which grew by 9 million in 2019 to 153 million and 149 million homes respectively. Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) and terrestrial TV grew by a combined 3 million to 43 million and 21 million homes. The Satellite Monitor study also showed that SES's technical reach has increased across several continents, including Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific (APAC), and Latin America (LATAM). Europe continues to be the strongest market for SES, with 168 million total households served by the SES fleet, up by 1 million from 2018, followed by North America at 69 million. In LATAM, SES has captured an audience of 42 million households, a significant increase from the 34 million households reported in 2018, thanks in part to the launch of a new satellite SES 14 which is boosting cable and IPTV growth in the region. This year also marked the first year that SES collected results from Indonesia and the Philippines. In total, SES serves 39 million APAC households with Direct-to-Home (DTH) feeds. The research also found that SES delivers digital television to 13 million households in the Middle East and 35 million homes in Africa. Altogether, SES has observed a combined growth of almost 5 million households across APAC and Africa. SES's TV market research sheds light on several key trends behind the relevance of satellite broadcasting, including the transition from analog to digital TV and the rise of HD broadcast. End consumers in Ghana and Nigeria are choosing satellite TV for its better value proposition and free-to-air offerings, rather than purchasing new hardware and switching to digital terrestrial TV. The Satellite Monitor study also revealed that HD broadcast has been on the rise in Europe, with 167 million TV households, an increase of 5 million from 2018. Satellite remains the preferred choice of infrastructure when it comes to HD content broadcasting, underscoring the key value proposition of satellite broadcasting as a reliable and cost-effective video delivery to large audiences. "Broadcasters and TV platform operators need robust and reliable data before they make the decision to enter new markets. For more than 25 years, SES has been the only satellite-based solutions provider in the world to regularly and extensively monitor the industry in specific countries and identify key trends for our customers to help them succeed in their business and expand their reach," said Ferdinand Kayser, CEO at SES Video. "The results of our annual Satellite Monitor market research demonstrate that satellite continues to be the most optimal infrastructure to deliver high picture quality, and that despite changing consumption habits, people still strongly rely on linear TV and complement it with OTT content." Introduced in 1994, SES's annual Satellite Monitor research reveals the detailed technical reach of SES and valuable insights into the video market and trends worldwide. It is seen as an important tool for SES's customers, the leading broadcasters and content owners. Follow us on: Social Media Blog Media Library About SES SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the world's only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the world's leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SES's video network carries over 8,300 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 367 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200422006137/en/ Contacts: Suzanne Ong External Communications Tel. +352 710 725 500 suzanne.ong@ses.com The Greater Chennai Corporation, which runs over 400 Amma Canteens here, on Thursday announced free food to people at all its eateries till the lockdown ends. Days after the food items were made free for people in the Western cities of Coimbatore and Salem, the GCC in its twitter handle said under Chief Minister K Palaniswami's 'order and guidance' all Amma canteens in its jurisdiction will provide free food thrice a day till the lockdown ends. Local Administration Minister S P Velumani tweeted that the Chennai corporation with the largest number of canteens in the city has made food free in all its 407 canteens until end of COVID-19 curfew. "Under Hon'ble CM's guidance, our govt strives to best serve the needy alwys,!" he said. Sources told PTI that per day, at least Rs 17 lakh is the cost of food served in the 407 canteens in the State capital and volunteers have expressed willingness to foot the bill. Recently, Velumani had said the AIADMK district party unit will bear the expenditure of providing food at all the 15 Amma canteens in Coimbatore. On April 19, Palaniswami announced free food at all Amma canteens in Salem district, his native place,and said that the AIADMK's local units will bear the cost. In Tamil Nadu, there are 600 plus canteens and in Salem district, 11 are functioning in the Corporation areas and four in municipalities including Edappadi, the home turf of Chief Minister Palaniswami. Launched by former chief minister late Jayalalithaa years ago, the Amma canteens, known as "Amma Unavagam" in Tamil, provide breakfast, lunch and dinner even during lockdown. Catering to lakhs of people, including working classes and the indigent, the chain of low cost eateries are run by local bodies. These canteens offer idlis at a cost of Rs one each, two pieces of roti at Rs 3, Pongal Rs 5 and rice varieties including sambar, lemon and curd at Rs 5 a plate. The state governments of Karnataka and Rajasthan had launched Indira Canteens and Annapurna Rasoi respectively inspired by the Amma Canteens. The second phase of the ongoing nationwide lockdown is to end on May 3. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SEATTLE, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Associated Behavioral Health Care, a leading provider of behavioral health services in metro Seattle, will begin offering online treatment programs for gambling addictions at all four of its locations. It's estimated that 15% of all Americans gamble at least once weekly. Recent studies have shown a significant increase in online gambling, including for first time gamblers during this time of social distancing. Gambling disorder can lead to a wide array of significant mental health issues, including a documented higher suicide rate than other addictions. Analytics firm AlphaBeta has revealed a 67% increase in online gambling since the shutdown of all non-essential services due to COVID-19 in most of the U.S. and much of the world. A similar trend was flagged by US-facing online social poker room Global Poker, which revealed a 43% increase in the use of online poker sites in the U.S. since social distancing and lockdowns took effect, including a 255% increase in first-time poker players. Associated Behavioral Health Care provides medical, mental health and substance abuse/chemical dependency outpatient behavioral health services at its four Washington locationsBellevue, North Seattle, West Seattle and Kent. "Recovery from addiction has just gotten a lot harder in this time of social isolation. People in early recovery depend on their sober community for connection and support. Faced with loneliness and with limited options, people may turn back to their substance of choice, such as alcohol, or if one is struggling with gambling addiction may turn to other risky activities such as online gambling," says Janna Johnson, SUDP, Kent branch, ABHC "Some symptoms to be aware of include an inability to stop once starting, needing to wager higher and higher amounts to get the same effect, hiding losses from family, obsessing over the next gambling session, chasing losses and increasing debt," she added. In January, ABHC joined the portfolio of residential, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs for teens and adults owned by Discovery Behavioral Health, Inc., an expanding nationwide provider of behavioral health services with treatment centers in 12 states, offering programs to treat substance use disorders, eating disorders and mental health conditions. "The COVID-19 crisis has created an environment where more than ever evidence-based addiction treatment services are needed. Research has shown that anxiety, isolation and boredom are stressors that promote addictive behavior including gambling. As Seattlites continue to experience a new shelter-in-place normal, we want to continue to serve the needs of this population," says John Peloquin, PhD, CEO of DBH. About Discovery Behavioral Health Discovery Behavioral Health is a leading, in-network U.S. healthcare provider in the evidence-based treatment of substance abuse, mental health and eating disorders. It offers residential, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient care for teens and adults. The company was established in 1998 and is headquartered in Orange County, California. Press Contact: Greg Ptacek PR| Communications 323-841-8002 mobile [email protected] SOURCE Discovery Behavioral Health As coronavirus clusters emerged lately in some factories and commercial premises where the staff is mostly made up of women, voices are calling the government to take urgent action to contain the virus and prevent its spread, especially in workplaces. In this connection, the Federation of the Democratic League for Womens Rights (FLDDF) addressed a letter to the Minister of Employment, Mohamed Amekraz, calling the government to take the necessary measures to protect the health and safety of women in their workplace, mainly those working in shops, markets and supermarkets, factories, agriculture farms and animal husbandry. The FLDDF denounced in its letter the working conditions in some companies and factories that it described as inhuman, and urged the government to strengthen its control operations, and to incite employers to comply with the health precautionary measures in force, including those imposed during the current coronavirus health crisis. FLDDFs letter comes in a context marked by the proliferation of clusters of contamination in several industrial units and shops as well as in rural areas where agriculture and livestock are the predominant activity. Contamination outbreaks were recorded in an agro-food industrial unit in Ain Sebaa, in Casablanca where around fifty workers tested positive for Covid-19; in a Fes supermarket that reported 60 cases; in a medical device manufacturing factory in Casablanca where 130 cases tested positive, as well as in other factories in other cities in Northern Morocco. The most worrying case, however, is that of a fish canning unit in Larache that employs 5,000 workers and that may become the largest coronavirus cluster in Morocco, although authorities shut down the factory. One of the employees died of Covid-19 and 48 others were so far tested positive. The employees and their families are denouncing the low rate of tests being conducted, saying they do not exceed 150 per day while the workforce of the company amounts to about 5,000 people, not counting their family circle. The employees are requesting faster screening and, if necessary, appropriate medical treatment, without waiting for the appearance of symptoms of the coronavirus since there are asymptomatic carriers. According to the latest tally from Tuesday April 21 to Wednesday April 22 at 6 p.m., 237 new coronavirus cases were confirmed in Morocco, bringing to 3446 the total number of cases. The Ministry of Health has also recorded 04 deaths and 24 healings in the 24 hours, bringing the death toll to 149 and recoveries to 417 since the start of the epidemic in Morocco early March. Fiesta may be postponed until November, but that didn't stop the residents at a local senior housing facility from breaking out their flower crowns and decorations. The Morningside Ministries community posted videos on Twitter of the residents at their San Antonio location dancing through the halls in their best Fiesta gear as mariachi music played. JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) Opponents have lost a court case against the proposed copper and gold mine near a major salmon fishery in Alaskas Bristol Bay region. U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason ruled the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency could withdraw aproposed determination about potential negative mine impacts dating from 2014, Alaska Public Media reported Sunday. The determination had concluded the mining project, named the Pebble Mine, posed too great a threat to the salmon-rich waters of Bristol Bay. The judges ruling was based on the amount of latitude governme... Facebook will invest $US5.7 billion ($9 billion) in the digital assets controlled by India's richest man, the social-networking giant's biggest deal since the 2014 purchase of WhatsApp as it seeks a broader foothold in its biggest global market. The US company will buy about 10 per cent of Jio Platforms, becoming the largest minority shareholder, Reliance Industries said in a statement on Wednesday. Facebook said the deal would bring together JioMart, an ecommerce venture of Mukesh Ambani and its WhatsApp platform to enable people to connect with businesses. Shares of Reliance Industries jumped as much as 12 per cent on Wednesday in Mumbai, compared with the 2.3 per cent gain for the benchmark S&P BSE Sensex index. India's Mukesh Ambani has won Facebook as the biggest outside investor in his digital media assets. Credit:Bloomberg Jio Platforms, a wholly owned unit of Reliance Industries, brings together Jio's digital apps, ecosystems and the wireless platform offered by telecommunications carrier, Reliance Jio Infocomm, under one umbrella, according to the Mumbai-based company. The deal values Jio Platforms at a pre-money enterprise value of about $US66 billion, the Indian company said. Its a metaphor for Manhattan, a synonym for Mad Men, the apex of midcentury modernist New York. It supplanted some of the citys stateliest mansions with corporate palaces in blue glass and bronze. The Park Avenue School of Architecture is the term the critic Ada Louise Huxtable employed to define the sleek and shiny postwar skyline, which moved the concept of elegance, as she put it, from domestic to professional life, from the apartment house to the office building. During coronavirus, New York endures and awaits. This latest entry in a series of (condensed and edited) walks around town with architects and others is the first of two exploring, Rashomon-like, some of the citys most famous midtown skyscrapers and commercial landmarks. As with paintings or people, theres no one correct way to look at buildings or the city. The two walks take different perspectives, an architects then an engineers. Annabelle Selldorf moved to New York from Germany after falling in love with the towers of Park Avenue as a teenager. She founded Selldorf Architects in 1988. The firm has transformed the historical Miller House on Fifth Avenue into the Neue Galerie, designed the Sunset Park Material Recovery Facility in Brooklyn and is currently expanding the Frick Collection. Structures are more important than individuals in international affairs. However, when a critical mass of the individuals inhabiting those structures hold certain ideas and beliefs, the direction of structural forces changes. by Henry George The lack of backbone displayed by Western leaders when dealing with China is symbolic of the malaise that has been gripping Western culture for decades. The Coronavirus pandemic is holding the West in a vice-like grip, strangling the life out of our economies as it suffocates the life out of the most afflicted. A virus that came from China and spread worldwide through the arteries of globalization has caused a shut-down of the system that disseminated it. There has been talk of a brewing cold war with China for years now. Along with other geopolitical trends in place before the pandemic, the virus has only entrenched this new reality. Whether we are in a position to engage in Cold War 2.0 remains to be seen. Daniel Strand at Providence argues that we are witnessing a Clash of Civilizations that Samuel Huntington warned would be the norm in the wake of Cold War 1.0. While we should be careful not to let the rhetoric of civilizational clash be hijacked by neoconservative ideologues, that does not mean that there is not such a clash coming. Indeed, it was already being waged through the avenues and trenches of trade war. The offer of aid to various European powers in fighting the virus China unleashed on the world is purely a power play on the part of the Communist Party of China (CCP), designed to show the weakness of our governments in their supposedly lax response. Never mind that much of the equipment offered has either been faulty or not what is needed. The arsonist helping put out the fire he started that is consuming the lives and economy of a continent is a sight to see. In reality though, China has been increasingly expansionist for years now. It has been building islands in the South China sea and aggressively patrolling what it sees as its sphere of influence. It would not be a great surprise if in the next few years China declared its own version of the Monroe Doctrine. China has also expanded its physical reach through the Belt and Road initiative, gaining access to Central Asia and Europe and orienting more and more of the Eurasian landmass towards its orbit. China is the buckle on the belt that binds the globe, its vision of its place in the world rooted in its 5,000-year mythos. Alongside this are Chinas efforts at building up its presence in Sub-Saharan Africa through investment and infrastructure development in return for resource exploitation. *** Identity politics has become what we do as a decadent, stagnant and narcissistic alternative to being Francis Fukuyamas listless Last Men at the end of History. While anti-Western, China apologist Left-wing MPs concentrate on victimhood, China concentrates on victory. *** In all cases, China does not care about the liberality of the regimes it deals with. Operating in a pragmatic way, the CCP views the security and stability of the countries it deals with as the highest goods of diplomacy and foreign policy. Liberal causes that we hold dear in the West, particularly in our identity-obsessed therapy culture are irrelevant for a power moving into the spaces from which the West is largely absent. Instead we engage in immature, civilizational navel gazing that amounts to little more than a not-so intellectual form of masturbation. No wonder young Chinese hold spoiled Westerners in contempt, calling the SJWs baizuo, or white Left. Identity politics has become what we do as a decadent, stagnant and narcissistic alternative to being Francis Fukuyamas listless Last Men at the end of History. While anti-Western, China apologist left-wing MPs concentrate on victimhood, China concentrates on victory. Of course, as Strand argues, the weightless neoliberal view of the world and of history mentioned earliernot to mention identitarian grievance politicsis woefully inadequate for facing the realities of life. It reveals an abstraction endemic in all ideologies of ultimate progress, whether progressive or neoconservative. It does not take men as they are, seeing them as weightless atoms extracted from cultural and historical context and contingency. The bonds of family, community, nation and civilization are irrelevant to this blank-slate view of politics and international relations. What Claes Ryn calls the neo-Jacobins of the liberal Left and the neoconservative Right both believed in the inevitable march of history. Attendant to this, as Strand says, is an almost millenarian, American belief that liberal democracy is the best form of government and that it must ultimately win the day. For Samuel Huntington, a civilization was symbolic of the highest values binding peoples together into collectives short of humanity. This undoubtedly ignored nuances: Taiwan is supposedly part of the Sinic civilization but is an adversary of China. What Huntington got at was that our vision of a universalist world order, grounded in liberal, rationalist values, was not, in fact, universal. Instead, it was nurtured in and grew from a distinctive Enlightenment-infused soil and air. Structures are more important than individuals in international affairs. However, when a critical mass of the individuals inhabiting those structures hold certain ideas and beliefs, the direction of structural forces changes. In other words, the culture of a society matters. And yet, as Robert Kaplan wrote last year in The National Interest, The American foreign policy elite does not like to talk about culture since culture cannot be quantified, and in this age of extreme personal sensitivity, what cannot be quantified or substantiated by a footnote is potentially radioactive. But without a discussion of culture and geography, there is simply no hope of understanding foreign affairs. One cannot understand how and why China has modernized without Westernizing if one does not grasp this. Anyone who has even the slightest knowledge of Chinese history and culture would have predicted this outcome, and they did. The neoliberal, free-trade ideologues were too busy to listen. The secular Enlightenment view of universalism is 300 years old. China has a mythic view of itself stretching back 5,000 years. It has been a functioning society for 3,000 years. China has a continuity of culture and of identity stretching back millennia. As Lucian Pye puts it, China was a civilization long before it was a nation-state. Xi Jinpings Chinese Dream, notwithstanding its Marxist inflection, has deep roots in Chinese history and culture. And it speaks to the Chinese beliefs in inherent greatness and civilizational power and its destiny to spread the Mandate of Heaven to mankind. And what do we in the West have to offer? A degraded form of neoliberal crony capitalism that commodifies everything within reach and sells to the highest bidder at lowest common moral denominator. A culture that does not know itself and is desperate to repudiate its own history, a history it only dimly remembers. A culture that views victimhood as the highest moral good and sees attributes like heroism, honor, stoicism, and fortitude as remnants of a bigoted, oppressive past. Weakness of character and spirit is celebrated; forgiveness is prohibited for sins against the woke religion. Solidarity is eroded by a combination of rampant consumerist individualism and identitarian tribalism in response. Existential misery and loneliness are the result. *** Kaplan makes the point that we should not assume that victory for the West is inevitable as a result of the inherent superiority of our worldview to Chinas. *** These are problems faced by all Western powers. The lack of backbone displayed by Western leaders when dealing with China is symbolic of the malaise that has been gripping Western culture for decades. This civilizational tiredness, what Douglas Murray describes in The Strange Death of Europe as the feeling that the story has run out, is not a state in which we can engage in a civilizational contest and be confident of success. Kaplan makes the point that we should not assume that victory for the West is inevitable as a result of the inherent superiority of our worldview to Chinas. Winning the Cold Warand the peace that followedbred complacency and ignorance of the tragic nature of life and history. We have lost a sense of our past, and what holds us together. As R.R. Reno writes in Return of the Strong Gods, the architects of the Postwar Consensus saw the need to restrain the strong loves that bind people together. The strong gods are not golden idols but the objects of our shared loves, what Russell Hittinger calls the three necessary societies: family, country, and church. Open minds, open societies, and open borders were consideredand still are consideredthe way forward. Witness the fact that Britains borders remain open. Material prosperity, itself now gone, came at the cost of the strong gods of truth, belief in the sacred, and patriotism. We have seen a collapse in solidarity afforded by the liberal dispensation of the last 60 years. This cannot continue. According to Reno, the fact that we are inherently social beings means the strong gods of family, community, and nation will return. Indeed, the coronavirus has simply sped up this movement. As Reno writes, we must work to restore public life in the West by developing a language of love and a vision of the we that befits our dignity and appeals to our reason as well as to our hearts. The fabric of civilization, which binds those alive today with those of yesterday and tomorrow in solidarity across the generations, must be rewoven. Regaining common loves towards our culture, history and nation is essentialnot just to compete with Chinabut to fulfill the very human goal of living the good life through community and common sympathy. Facing the challenge of balancing against China in Cold War 2.0, we can only hope with James Burnham in his Suicide of the West that just possibly we shall not have to die in large numbers to stop them. However, we shall certainly have to be willing to die. Unless we recover the strong gods that bind us together, it does not seem likely that we will be equal to he task of resisting and containing the Chinese civilizational-state. Henry George is a freelance writer living in the U.K. He holds an MA in War Studies from Kings College London. He writes for Merion West where this piece first appeared. Daniel P. Troy, Lake Countys representative on the Northern Ohio Public Energy Council Board of Directors, recently announced that the McKinley Community Outreach Center in Willoughby has received a $12,022 grant for its food bank from the newly created NOPEC Foundation. During these difficult times, it has been inspiring to see so many of our fellow citizens and numerous organizations stepping up to help, Troy said. Lake County is fortunate and certainly blessed to have a strong social service network in place to assist those in need in our community. This center is seeing unprecedented demand for the services it provides in feeding and caring for individuals and families in need. The NOPEC Foundations initial act of giving totaled $125,000 in grants to 16 food banks in the 19 counties the organization serves. The latest donation aims to make a difference in the lives of so many in need throughout western and central Lake County, Troy said. God bless Director Beth Morgan and her team at the McKinley Center for all that they are doing to assist our fellow Lake County residents during this unprecedented crisis. The Joint Steering Committee of Unescos rehabilitation and reconstruction project of the Al Hadba Minaret and the Al Nouri Mosque of Mosul have unveiled plans for the reconstruction of two architectural landmarks of the old Iraqi city of Mosul. The decision, taken during the third session of the Steering Committee, marked the launch of the second phase of Unesco's Revive the Spirit of Mosul initiative. The project, supported by the UAE, aims to restore and reconstruct the historic landmarks of Mosul, notably the emblematic Al-Nouri Mosque and its celebrated, 45-metre tall leaning Al-Hadba Minaret, built more than 840 years ago. Following the meeting, Unesco Director-General Audrey Azoulay said: "Today marks the culmination of many months of hard work, but also of cooperation, dedication and determination to ensure that we all move ahead together, side by side, to revive the spirit of Mosul." "At the end of phase one of the reconstruction of the Al-Nouri Mosque complex, I wish to reiterate Unescos firm commitment to the successful implementation of the project for Mosul, for Iraq, and for the world," he stated. Acting for the Committee, Unesco will launch an international architectural competition for the reconstruction of Al-Nouri Mosque. The competition will take on board the input of the residents of Mosul who will be invited to take part in a large-scale consultation concerning the main reconstruction options for the Minaret and the Mosque. The timetable of these activities will depend on the ongoing response to Covid-19 in Mosul. The second phase of the Revive the Spirit of Mosul Project involving the consolidation of the remaining base and reconstruction of the Minaret and Mosque, will begin once field and soil investigations are completed and after an extensive consultation with the local community on the design of the edifice and on whether to make the Minaret lean to one side as the original did, stated Azoulay. At this stage, the Joint Steering Committee endorsed the reconstruction of the Al Hadba Minaret in its original location and opted for an intermediate solution for Al Nouri Mosque, aimed at maintaining the visual aspects of the building as it was before its destruction in 2017. This historic and defining structure was all but levelled by violent extremists who occupied the city from 2014 to 2017. The project also provides employment opportunities and job training. It is an integral part of Unescos flagship initiative Revive the Spirit of Mosul, launched in February 2018, as the Organisations response for the recovery of one of Iraqs most iconic cities, through the revival of education, heritage and cultural life. Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, the UAE's Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, welcomed progress in the reconstruction project saying, "we have come a long way since the projects inception. This progress would have not been possible without the relentless efforts made by the technical committee and the steering committee." "We have witnessed significant developments on the ground. Al Nouri Mosque represents a historical and a cultural asset," stated Al Kaabi. "We are all aiming at the same goal and we shall agree on the principle of safeguarding this Cultural Heritage. This project has invested a great deal in the local community. We will continue to engage Maslawis throughout the process and are committed to train and hire more Iraqis in the project," she added.-TradeArabia News Service Ambassador to London urges US, which has accused China of hiding information, to stop acting as worlds policeman. China did not cover up the novel coronavirus outbreak and so the United States should not seek to bully the Peoples Republic in a manner reminiscent of 19th-century European colonial wars, the Chinese ambassador to London said on Thursday. I hear quite a lot of this speculation, this disinformation about China covering up, about China hiding something this is not true, Liu Xiaoming said. The Chinese government was transparent and very quick to share data. He added: Some other country their local courts sued China it is absurd. Some politicians, some people, want to play at being the worlds policeman this is not the era of gunboat diplomacy, this is not the era when China was a semi-colonial, semi-feudal society. These people still live in the old days they think they can bully China, think they can bully the world. China is not an enemy of the United States if they regard China as an enemy they chose the wrong target. Tensions between China and the US have grown since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, at the end of last year. The virus originated in China but quickly spread around the world and heavily impacted other countries such as Iran, Italy, Spain and the US. Even so, US President Donald Trump has continued to refer to the COVID-19 disease as a Chinese virus. Last week, Trump said that his government was trying to determine whether the virus emanated from a lab in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, where the coronavirus pandemic emerged in December. The World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday that all available evidence suggests the novel coronavirus originated in animals in China late last year and was not manipulated or produced in a laboratory. All available evidence suggests the virus has an animal origin and is not manipulated or constructed in a lab or somewhere else, WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib told a Geneva news briefing. It is probable, likely, that the virus is of animal origin. Advertisement Putting on makeup, dressing in your finest clothes and doing your hair will be familiar parts of any woman's beauty regime - but for the nomadic African Wodaabe tribe it is the men who put in all the effort to attract a partner. Sometimes known as 'the world's vaniest tribe', Wodaabe men are known to carry mirror with them everywhere they go and to spend each morning fixing their appearance before even going to herd cattle. And once a year they go all-out at the Gerewol fertility festival, often known as the wife-stealing festival, where men dress up and compete in a series of dances to win the admiration of female judges - and a lot more besides. Wodaabe culture prizes white eyes, white teeth and height as the pinnacle of beauty, so the men don brightly-coloured makeup and eyeliner to accentuate these features. The Wodaabe tribe - nomads who can be found in Chad, Niger, Nigeria and Cameroon - compete in a yearly fertility festival known as Gerewol, where the men put on makeup, dress up and do their hair to win the affections of women Wodaabe culture prizes white teeth and eyes as well as height, so the men paint their faces to accentuate these features as well as rolling their eyes and grimacing to accentuate those features. They often wear headdresses to make themselves taller The week-long festival sees men spent hours each day doing their hair and makeup, which is made from saffron or ochre, giving it a yellow or red appearance. Battery acid is sometimes used to make the black lipstick Men typically shave the front part of their heads and braid the rest of their hair down their backs - adorned with beads - and then spend hours dancing in front of female judges The Wodaabe are usually married off to each-other at a young age, meaning most of the participants in the festival are married, but they live in a polygamous society where taking other sexual partners is common They will often put feathers in their hair or wear elaborate headdresses to accentuate their height. They also shave the hair off their foreheads and braid the remainder down their backs, often adoring it with beads. Competitors will then take part in dances over the course of a week, culminating in a night of dancing that goes all the way through to dawn the following day. Women as young as 12 sometimes participate in the ceremony, where they pick the most beautiful men to sleep with - and sometimes marry Gerewol is known as the wife-stealing festival because Wodaabe men typically have a marriage arranged for them at a young age, meaning most of those taking part in the ceremony will be married. But the Wodaabe are a polyamorous people, meaning that sleeping with other people while married is not taboo. As a result, women participating in the festival will typically sleep with the men they choose as winners. If she chooses, the woman can leave her current husband and marry the man she has picked - meaning that some Wodaabe tribesmen will have several wives. These photos were taken by travel photographer Trevor Cole from Londonderry, Northern Ireland, who went to Chad in September last year to capture the images. He said: 'To participate in the Gerewol, the girls must have menstruated prior to the festival. Effectively when choices are made the girls know they are going to have sex in the bush with the chosen Wodaabe male, if the male accepts them. 'This may be a one night affair, or last for longer, sometimes culminating in marriage. Men may have a few wives and, as women do all the work, second or third wives are seen positively by the first wife. 'The girls may be as young as twelve or thirteen when they make their selections at the Gerewol,' said Trevor. 'They have no formal education and their culture is still resilient to the outside world. 'As a tribe, they perform the Gerewol for themselves not for any visitors. Very few have ever seen this in Chad. More have seen it in Niger but instability has curbed any potential tourism. 'There were only a few photographers and travellers there, but the friendliness of the tribe was universal although quite a few were shy, which is part of their cultural code.' The week-long Gerewol festival culminates in a night of dancing that goes on until dawn, when the women will choose a male partner to sleep with - which may end with him taking her as a wife The Wodaabe also practice facial scarring as a means to accentuate their looks, with razor blades used to cut the skin before ash is rubbed into the open wound - leaving a dark scar The Wodaabe are often known as the world's vaniest tribe. Researchers say men will often carry small mirrors with them wherever they go and will fix their hair and makeup each morning before even tending their cattle LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Computacenter Plc. (CCC.L), in its first-quarter trading, said that its quarterly revenue reduced slightly from last year, however profitability has remained in-line with the previous year. The company has placed approximately 10 per cent of itsmployees across Europe, on wage-subsidy programmes utilising various governments' initiatives. The majority of these employees are engineers, project managers and consultants. The company said it continues to explore all opportunities to maintain cashflow and preserve cash balances in light of heightening macro-economic uncertainty directly related to the COVID-19 crisis and its duration. The company board will not propose a final dividend in respect of the financial year ended 31 December 2019. The company said it is confident in the short-term outlook and the Board believes that the pre-tax profit performance in the first half of 2020 will be broadly in-line with, or slightly ahead of, that of the first half of 2019. The second half of the year is more difficult to predict but currently our full year expectations remain unchanged. 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. And most also know that independent bookstores are often on the brink, even in good times. Volumes opened in Wicker Park in 2016, and after two years, hosted a fundraiser to dig out of debt incurred after the shop required major heating and cooling and plumbing upgrades, said George, who owns the shop with her sister Kimberly George. The store was on decent footing, even after opening an outpost in the Gold Coast, when the pandemic hit. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. A detailed analysis report of the Global Fatty Acids Methyl Esters Market has been covered in the report coupled with a thorough description of each company profile with information on the H.Q, future capabilities, key mergers & acquisitions, financial outline, partnerships and new product launches and developments. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) is produced using the process of transesterification of vegetable oils and animal fats. Rapeseed, soybean, UCO, palm oils, sunflower and animal fat are used as raw materials in the production of fatty acid methyl esters. It is present in biodiesels and exhibits similar properties as conventional diesel, but it is non-toxic and biodegradable. Fatty acid methyl esters has high oxidation stability and hence it can be used under normal weather conditions. North America and Europe are the leading geographic markets for fatty acids methyl esters. Asia Pacific is estimated to be the rapid growing market for the forecast period. The rapid economic growth and government regulations for the control of the content of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the environment is a major driver for fatty acids methyl esters in Asia Pacific, Latin America and African regions. Browse the complete Global Fatty Acids Methyl Esters (FAME) Market Research Report Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast Till 2026 @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ip/365-fatty-acids-methyl-esters-fame-market-report The major manufacturers of fatty acids methyl esters are : Cargill Diester Industries ADM Biodiesel Biofuel Corporation Novaol Green Fuels Western Iowa Energy Biopetrol Industries SEGMENTATIONS IN REPORT: Fatty Acids Methyl Esters (FAME) By Application Agriculture Coatings Food Fuels Lubricants Metalworking Fluids Polymers Others Fatty Acids Methyl Esters (FAME) By Geography: Asia Pacific North America Europe Latin America Middle East And Africa Download Free Sample Report of Global Fatty Acids Methyl Esters (FAME) Market @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-365 The Global Fatty Acids Methyl Esters (FAME) Market has been exhibited in detail in the following chapters Chapter 1 Fatty Acids Methyl Esters (FAME) Market Preface Chapter 2 Executive Summary Chapter 3 Fatty Acids Methyl Esters (FAME) Industry Analysis Chapter 4 Fatty Acids Methyl Esters (FAME) Market Value Chain Analysis Chapter 5 Fatty Acids Methyl Esters (FAME) Market Analysis By Application Chapter 6 Fatty Acids Methyl Esters (FAME) Market Analysis By Geography Chapter 7 Competitive Landscape Of Fatty Acids Methyl Esters (FAME) Companies Chapter 8 Company Profiles Of Fatty Acids Methyl Esters (FAME) Industry Purchase the complete Global Fatty Acids Methyl Esters (FAME) Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-365 Other Reports by DecisionDatabases.com: Global Plant Sterol Esters Market Research Report Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast Global Emollient Esters Market Research Report Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast Till 2025 Global Phosphate Esters Market Research Report Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast Till 2026 About-Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research reports provider, enriching decision makers and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research report, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 9028057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 23 By Eldar Janashvili - Trend: To mitigate the risks arising from the preferential package of tax reforms, it is extremely important to increase investments and monitor the correct targeted use of the growing money supply, Economic Expert, Professor of Azerbaijans State University of Economics (UNEC) Elshad Mammadov told Trend. The expert also said that the changes associated with a sharp decrease of 75 percent in income tax is a very correct step, because it can allow compensating for the falling public investments by private investments into the national economy. Thus, exempted funds should be directed to companies in order to maintain the level of investments in the domestic economy. In other words,regarding the lowering of the income tax, it is necessary to achieve a concomitant increase in investments, that is, those sectors of the economy and business that will invest more, pay more to depreciation funds, should receive a greater tax incentive, said Mammadov. At the same time, I think that the growth of the money supply should be accompanied by the growth of investments, so that on one hand the purchasing power of the population increases and the social benefits of the population increase, and on the other hand there will be an increase in investments to increase the production of goods and services in the real sector of the economy, he added. Amid the introduction of a package on relieving tax burden for taxpayers in the areas most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the suspended activity of the economy and record low oil prices, budget cuts should relate to administrative expenses, government administration expenses, and possibly to a small extent, capital investment. At the same time, the reduction in investment should be insignificant, and should be compensated by private investments, said the economic expert. From the point of view of covering the budget deficit, in my opinion, the best option is the currency emission and buyout of the government securities. The buyout of securities by the CBA and the injection of money into the economy are the most optimal options, since external borrowing cannot be considered optimal, especially in the current conditions. As for withdrawing money from the economy, this will mean a reduction in domestic investment, which is also extremely impractical, Mammadov said. The risks of a reduction in capital investments will occur if they are not compensated by private investments. Therefore, the state needs to create appropriate conditions so that private investments, which should be based primarily on the institution of internal soft lending, compensate for the state capital investments, which will fall out as state budget expenditures decrease, the professor concluded. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @eldarjanashvili TORONTO, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maru/Matchbox ('Matchbox'), the technology-driven global insights partner, has today announced the launch of Concept Connections, a ground-breaking proprietary concept test solution that combines System 1 and System 2 measurements. Maru/Matchbox operates at the intersection of behavior and emotion, advocating the combined use of System 1 and System 2 tools to capture a holistic understanding of consumer response. "Every year, eight out of ten product launches, many of which have been through rigorous testing, fail to meet stated objectives", explains Ged Parton, CEO of Maru Group. "What people say and do is often different. We believe that the industry has been too focused on what consumers Think, they have ignored how people Feel and the dominant role emotions play in how consumers Behave", continued Parton. "With Concept Connections, we're delivering a radical new approach to concept testing that closes the Say-Do gap, accurately evaluating messaging, designs and ideas". Concept Connections utilizes a ground-breaking concept testing methodology, combining traditional attitudinal metrics with implicit and emotional measures to help business leaders close the gap between what consumers say and what they actually do. Todd Trautz, Chief Innovation and Solutions Officer at Maru/Matchbox, comments, "Combining our two passive System 1 technology-enabled tools to understand how consumers implicitly and emotionally connect to concepts, we can unearth how they Feel. By utilizing scalar attitudinal, we understand how consumers perceive concepts and what they Think. Lastly by replicating the System 2 trade off we have insight into how they behaviorally react to the concept elements. (Behave)". "This combination enables us to holistically understand consumers, by covering all aspects of their connected experience to the concept. By utilizing this approach, we provide insights to both understand and close the consumer Say-Do gap". The launch is the latest innovation to be launched by Maru. The business recently announced new efficiencies to deliver branded Panel Communities in just 14 days, as well as making its global technology ecosystem Maru/HUB available via a Direct Access Portal. For more information, visit www.marumatchbox.com About Maru/Matchbox Maru/Matchbox began disrupting the market research industry in 2000. We're a different breed of global insight partner, built on proprietary technology that enables our experts to connect with the people that matter most to our clients. Our people bring deep sector-focused knowledge to client projects, so they can build and maintain a competitive advantage. We have agile tech platforms to connect with customers, provide on-demand insight and combine quality research and analytics data sources. About Maru/HUB Maru/HUB is an instant access platform that gives you meaningful insights to fuel confident business decisions. Maru/HUB is a fully scalable technology platform. It can be used for projects of any size, from small, ad hoc projects to enterprise-wide programs. It is powered by AI with first-class ingestion capabilities. Unlike other insights providers with bolt-on technologies, our team of experts has been building and developing our secure proprietary platform infrastructure for the last 15 years. The technology platform is ISO/IEC 27001 certified and adheres to the highest level of data security and compliance. Contact: media@marumatchbox.com CHAPEL HILL, N.C., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- College Consensus (https://www.collegeconsensus.com), a unique college ratings website that aggregates publisher rankings and student reviews, has published their ranking of the Best Online Community Colleges 2020 at https://www.collegeconsensus.com/rankings/best-online-community-colleges/ . To identify the Best Online Community Colleges 2020, College Consensus focused exclusively on regionally accredited, reputable institutions identified as community colleges or technical colleges. Editors researched the number of available online degrees, then added three further factors to rank: web presence transparency about their offerings user-friendliness of the learning platforms These three factors help students and their families determine whether the community college they are considering will have a real, qualitative impact on their careers and lives. The Top 10 Community Colleges of 2020 are: 1. Wake Technical Community College 2. Lenoir Community College 3. Foothill College 4. Coastline Community College 5. Central Texas College 6. Cowley County Community College 7. Volunteer State Community College 8. Hazard Community and Technical College 9. Front Range Community College 10. Harrisburg Area Community College The full top 50 will be listed in alphabetical order at the end of this release. "Community Colleges are known for being accessible and catering to literally ALL varieties of students," the editors of College Consensus explain; in fact, as they say, one can "think of Community Colleges as Post Secondary for the People." As the editors explain, "One primary contrast between community colleges and four year colleges and universities is the fact that everyone is admitted." Moreover, there are many reasons that students choose community college: "Community College Programs might interest someone working towards a specific career path. They might be required to take additional courses, achieve a vocational certificate, and/ or an associates degree to get there." In other cases, "Some students are not sure what they want to do, but know they are eventually trying to attend a four year school with the ultimate goal of walking away with a bachelor's degree." For all of these diverse students and more, College Consensus is dedicated to helping students and their families make the right choice for them. "More and more, community colleges are trying to cater to the busy lifestyles of adult learners," the editors explain, "and, therefore, there are more and more community college online options." Whatever their goal, College Consensus wants to help students choose the online community college program that is right for them. The Top 50 Online Community Colleges of 2020 (in alphabetical order) are: Anne Arundel Community College Bismark State College Bucks County Community College Central Texas College Chemeketa Community College Coastline Community College College of Southern Nevada Columbus State Community College Community College of Allegheny County Community College of Aurora Cowly County Community College Craven Community College Cuyahoga Community College Eastern Florida State College Fayetteville Technical Community College Foothill College Frederick Community College Front Range Community College Georgia Northwestern Technical College Great Basin College Guilford Technical Community College Harrisburg Area Community College Hazard Community and Technical College Herkimer County Community College Hutchinson Community College Ivy Tech Community College Lake Superior College Laramie County Community College Lenoir Community College Metropolitan Community College Area Minnesota State Community and Technical College Minnesota West Community and Technical College Northcentral Technical College Northeast Community College Northern Virginia Community College Northwest Mississippi Community College Odessa College Peninsula College Pitt Community college San Antonio College Shoreline Community College Sinclair Community College St. Phillips College Stark State College Tyler Junior College Volunteer State Community College Wake Technical Community College West Los Angeles College Western Wyoming Community College Westmoreland County Community College College Consensus is an innovative approach to college rankings. We combine the latest results from the most respected college ranking systems with thousands of real student review scores. College Consensus also offers expert advice and guidance on all aspects of college life, from finding the perfect college, to getting accepted, paying for it, and finding your professional path after graduation. Contact: Carole Taylor Marketing, College Consensus [email protected] (512) 710-9901 http://www.collegeconsensus.com/ https://www.facebook.com/collegeconsensus/ TW: @CollegeConsens IG: @CollegeConsensus SOURCE College Consensus Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. In recent weeks, on a quiet stretch of Detroits west side dotted with vacant homes, a 262,000-square-foot Coca-Cola manufacturing facility has buzzed with activity, even as many businesses in Michigan were ordered by the state to temporarily close to combat the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Coca-Cola churns out a number of beverages here, including Dasani bottled water, which generated more than $1 billion in U.S. sales in the past year, according to market research firm IRI. Its a good time to be in the water business: As the coronavirus pandemic spread in the U.S. throughout March, bottled water sales increased 57 percent over the same time period last year. But among the products, such as toilet paper and hand sanitizer, that Americans are panic-buying, bottled water is unusual: There is no shortage of safe drinking water, and health officials have tried to assure people that public water supplies are not contaminated by the coronavirus. Hoarding bottled water simply isnt necessary for most people. Source: Nielsen. Whats more, most bottled water sold in the U.S. comes from the same municipal sources that supply tap watera fact that might be unknown to most consumers. Coca-Cola makes Dasani at the companys Detroit plant by purchasing, treating, and bottling municipal water before selling it at a significant upcharge to consumers. Pepsi bottles its Aquafina water brand in Detroit the same way. The business model is hugely profitable. The cost to buy that municipal water is exceedingly lowand once bottled, the markup can be around 133 times greater, a Consumer Reports analysis of company water billing and usage records found. But whats good for businesses isnt necessarily good for consumers, according to CRs review, which included the examination of hundreds of pages of billing and other records obtained through public records requests, and interviews with environmental law experts, industry consultants, residents of Detroit, and consumer advocates. Story continues For starters, bottlers and consumers arent always treated as equals by water utilities, CR found. In Detroit, whose policy prior to the coronavirus crisis called for shutting off water to residents if they fell $150 behind in their water bills, 2,800 homes were estimated to be without running water at the start of the pandemic. (Read more about cities that have not restored water to residents during the coronavirus crisis.) But bottlers in Detroit have also racked up tens of thousands of dollars of past-due water bills that went unpaid for months, CR found. Not once has their access to water been shut off over the time period we examined. When asked why, the city cited the companies strong payment history and an ability to pay their bills. The city said in a later statement that it had made errors collecting past-due balances. From a regulatory point of view, companies that want to put vast quantities of public water into bottles for profit face few hurdles and minimal ancillary costs, leading some experts to call for taxes on the bottlers. And because the water supply, including the processing and infrastructure, that bottlers rely on is paid for by local taxpayers, the companies business is subsidized by the public, consumer advocates say. These bottlers are essentially double-dippingreceiving low-cost water subsidized by taxpayers and then turning around and selling it back to the public at a significant markup, says Brian Ronholm, CRs director of food policy. Dasani Water: From Tap to Bottle Sources: Beverage Marketing Corp. and water billing records from Coca-Cola in Detroit and Pepsi in Harrisburg, Pa. Shutoffs Pose Health Risk Detroit has been questioned about the potential health risk of water shutoffs before. In August 2014, residents who had their taps turned off argued in court to suspend shutoffs because a lack of water could create unsanitary conditions and lead to the transmission of hepatitis A, influenza, and other diseases. Detroits lawyers argued that those residents could rely on alternative sourceslike bottled water. Just because a person is out of water doesnt mean they cant get water, a city lawyer said at a court hearing. The judge in the case ultimately sided with the city, and the shutoff campaign carried on. Now, six years later, Detroit and other cities have taken some steps to address residential water shutoffs during the coronavirus crisispeople need running water not just to cook and bathe but also to practice basic virus-fighting hygiene. But the reprieve is only temporary. And it hasnt necessarily reached everyone. A Detroit spokesperson says all customers who called to enroll in a program that would turn their water back on during the pandemic have either been restored or are in the process of a restoration. But the spokesperson concedes that some occupants might not have called, and advocates dispute the citys reported progress. We believe the city of Detroit is vastly exaggerating their progress and underreporting the number of people without water, Shea Howella member of the Peoples Water Board, an advocacy group based in Detroitsaid during a recent teleconference with reporters. The coronavirus pandemic has underscored just how problematic water shutoffs can be, as utilities servicing nearly 40 percent of the U.S. population still have not committed to suspending water shutoffs, according to Food & Water Watch. This has consumer advocates worried. Its just unconscionable to make people fear losing their water service at this time, says Mary Grant, director of the Public Water for All campaign at Food & Water Watch. We need every governor to step up to address this crisis immediately. Paying Twice When They Buy Bottled Water Its a striking situation. People whose water gets shut off because they cant afford their bill may have no choice but to buy bottled water that comes from the same source that feeds their tap. They may be obtaining bottled water from companies that have been behind on their water bills but didnt face a shutoff, and whose business depends on access to publicly funded water systems. And its not just in Detroit: Coca-Cola and Pepsi get water from other major cities, including Phoenix and Denver, with a history of shutting off water to residents before the coronavirus crisis. Coca-Cola didnt respond to questions from CR about water shutoffs or its late payments, but the company says that it obtains water from a variety of sources, including municipal supplies, and uses a treatment process that creates a consistent pure, clean, and crisp taste. The company remains in operation, the company says, because the federal government identified the food and beverage industry as critical to keeping grocery stores stocked. Pepsi did not respond to repeated requests for comment from CR. Beulah Walker, chief coordinator for the nonprofit group Hydrate Detroit, which assists residents without running water, pointed out the irony of the situation for residents who have lost their water service at home and may turn to bottled waterpossibly Aquafina or Dasani made with city tap wateras an alternative. Detroit residents are paying twice when they buy bottled water, Walker says. Why Companies Bottle Tap Water Two decades ago, most bottled water in the U.S. came from natural springs, sold by brands such as Evian and Nestles Poland Spring. But bottlers soon came to see the benefit of tap water as a source, says Erik Olson, senior strategic director of health and food at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Its cheaper. And the more water you use, often, the less you pay per gallon, he says. After Coca-Cola and Pepsi introduced their bottled water brands in the 1990s, the industry began to shift from spring water to purified, which generally means municipal water that is treated further, sometimes through a process called reverse osmosis. In 2000, spring water made up 67 percent of the bottled water market and the rest was purified water. By 2018, those numbers had essentially flipped, industry data show, with purified water now dominating the market. The International Bottled Water Association, an industry group, asserts that bottled water provides consumers with a value-added product. Purified bottled water is not just tap water in a bottle, says Jill Culora, an IBWA spokesperson. (Coca-Cola and Pepsi arent members of the IBWA.) The chemical and physical quality of this bottled water product is not the same as the water that comes out of the tap, she says. The Rise of Bottled Water See how much the average American consumes of the nation's most popular non-alcoholic bottled beverages each year. Carbonated soft drinks Bottled water Fruit drinks Milk Source: Beverage Marketing Corp. DrinkTell Database. Graphic: Andy Bergmann But bottlers have caught some flack for failing to correct consumers misimpression that all bottled water came from natural spring sources. In 2007, for example, following criticism, Pepsi agreed to state on Aquafina labels that the water was sourced from a municipal supply. If this helps clarify the fact that the water originates from public sources, then its a reasonable thing to do, the company said at the time. Aquafina and Dasani continue to rack up dramatic sales for Pepsi and Coca-Cola, respectively. Last year, industry data show, each company cleared $1 billion in U.S. sales of their bottled tap water brands. Few Regulatory Hurdles Companies turning tap water into bottled water can thank the Food and Drug Administration and state regulators, which together oversee the nations bottled water, for making the regulatory approval process a relative snap. For instance, in Michigan Coca-Cola and Pepsi had to provide documentation showing that the Detroit Water & Sewerage Department (DWSD) certified that its tap supply source is safe for consumption. They also had to confirm that their facilities were connected to the Detroit system before paying $25 for a permit to sell a product in the state. By contrast, when a company wants to launch a spring water brand, they have to undergo a far more complicated and costly process. That includes finding a groundwater source and building the machinery to pump the water up and the infrastructure to transport it to a processing facilityas well as surmounting regulatory hurdles to get the water tested for safety and approved. (Culora says the IBWA couldnt comment on production cost differences between spring and municipal water.) Coca-Cola's bottling facility on Warren Avenue in Detroit. Photo: Dustin Blitchok. And while its true that the vast majority of bottlersif not allusing a public water supply will clean it further, they dont necessarily have to. If a company bottles tap water but does not treat it, its required to explicitly note on the label that its product comes from a municipal or community source and the product cannot be labeled purified. (Water that is treated further is not required to be labeled as being from a municipal source, but some products, including Aquafina, come with those labels in bottlers efforts to be transparent.) Its unclear how many brands produce water this way; the IBWA says its not aware of any bottled water products that use a municipal source and arent purified, asserting that the possibility any such brand exists is extremely unlikely. But the IBWA doesnt represent all bottlers, and in fact, some cities even toyed with the idea of bottling their tap water in the 1990s. Picking on the Little Guy In 2014, Detroits shutoff policy drew national attention when the city, which emerged that year from bankruptcy, launched a campaign to disconnect service to residents in arrearsforcing some people to turn to other sources, such as capturing rainwater or buying bottled water. Shutoffs have continued since then, but officials concluded in early March that a reprieve was needed to try to help residents during the coronavirus outbreak. Ricky Reynolds holds up his nearly $20,000 water bill, sent to his home in 2019. Photo: Ryan Felton. Ricky Reynolds is one of the beneficiaries. The 65-year-old Detroit resident moved into his home down the road from Coca-Colas bottling plant last summer after obtaining the deed from an acquaintance for $500. It should have been a happy occasion. Reynolds had been homeless, bouncing between family and friends, so it was a relief to get his own placeuntil he tried to get the water bill put in his name. Reynolds, who is retired, learned from the city that his new home had a nearly $20,000 unpaid water bill. Its hard to catch up with $20,000 when you have a fixed income, he says. And the city refused to turn on his water unless he paid 10 percent of the bill, he says, a monumental demand for someone living on Social Security income. Reynolds was never able to pay the bill. In the months before the city finally restored his water service during the pandemic, Reynolds says, he had to fill up containers with water from family members, then haul them home. And he bought bottled water whenever he couldincluding, he says, Dasani, which may have been made around the corner at the Coca-Cola plant. (The city didnt directly respond to questions about Reynolds case.) Detroits temporarily suspended shutoff policy states that residents or businesses are delinquent and potentially risk having their water shut off if they are 60 days past due with a minimum balance of $150, a spokesperson says. (The city considers a companys accounting practices, as well, before determining whether to proceed with a service interruption.) Records show that since 2017, both Coca-Cola and Pepsi met that threshold at points. Between April and July 2017, billing records show, Coca-Cola had a $77,600 balance that went unpaid for three months. From August to November of that year, it carried a balance of as much as $287,250 before paying it off. From December 2017 to March 2018, the company had a balance that fluctuated between $1,860 to $108,170 before paying it off in full. Meanwhile, from December 2018 to February 2019, Pepsi had a balance between $1,410 and $29,710 until paying it off. The city never shut off the companies water, and bottling continued. Disparity in Detroits Water Shutoffs Source: Detroit Water & Sewerage records obtained via Freedom of Information Act requests. Since both Pepsi and Coca-Cola have a strong payment history and an unmatched ability to pay their bills, DWSD does not pursue service interruptions, says Bryan Peckinpaugh, a DWSD spokesperson. These companies never go longer than three months past due, at which time the balances due, including late fees, are paid. These companies are not a priority target for service interruption due to their payment history and ability to pay. (After CR published this article, the DWSD said that, contrary to Peckinpaughs previous statement, the past-due balances cited on the billing data were due to errors on the city's part, including address mailing issues. Regardless, while the city registered Pepsi and Coca-Cola as delinquent, and continued sending bills and assessing late fees, it never shut off the companies water.) Coca-Cola and Pepsi didnt respond to CRs questions about why they went months without paying their bills. Grant, at Food & Water Watch, takes exception to the citys position. You should have a policy and should apply it equitably, she says. I think this is discrimination against low-income households in Detroit, that youre having a shutoff policy and youre not applying it, the same shutoff policy, to these big corporations because you expect them to pay down the road. Reynolds was also stunned to hear that Detroit let Coca-Cola and Pepsis bills slide. Thats not fair, he says. Theyre picking on the little guy. Swimming in Profits For bottlers, a single municipal source can generate significant revenue, according to records CR obtained. Pepsis average output of Aquafina at a Pennsylvania manufacturing plant is approximately 9.36 million cases per year, according to a January 2018 inspection report. At an industry wholesale average of $1.33 per gallon, that means Pepsi could gross $19.73 million to $23.36 million annually from Aquafina produced at just that one plant, according to an analysis by CR. By contrast, billing records obtained by CR show that Pepsi paid $467,941 for water in 2017 to Harrisburgs water utility operator for 51.21 million gallonsor about one penny per gallon. Pepsi has at least 12 bottling facilities that make Aquafina in the U.S. Coca-Cola has more than 30 that make Dasani. In Detroit, Pepsis plant can push out on average between 500,000 and 600,000 cases of product each day at its plant just outside of Detroits Eastern Market district, according to a 2017 inspection report. (That number counts not just Aquafina but also all Pepsi beverages made at the plant, including soda and bottled tea.) Coca-Cola has a seemingly good deal in Detroit, too. The company paid the city about $1 million for water and associated fees in 2018, records show, which is less than 0.3 percent of all revenue the DWSD generated in fiscal 2018. That same year, Coca-Cola received 106.13 million gallons of water. Subsidized Bottled Water A spokesperson for Coca-Cola told CR that it financially supports Detroit and other cities in which it operates by paying commercial rates for the water it uses. But, at least in Detroit, the rate the city charges bottlers and city residents is the same. PepsiCo and Coca-Cola are charged the same water, sewerage, and drainage rates as any customer in Detroit, says Peckinpaugh at the DWSD. Environmentalists and consumer advocates say that, as a result, bottled water companies are effectively being subsidized by taxpayers. The public paid for the water treatment plant to be built, the public paid for the intake structure, the public paid for decades of laying pipes down, the distribution system, the maintenance of thatall those costs are sunk costs, says the NRDCs Olson. He adds that the companies also dont have to contribute to ongoing maintenance costs, essentially giving them a free ride. The IBWA disputes that characterization. Culora, the spokesperson, says that bottled water companies pay utilities for the water they use and that, in doing so, they help the city generate additional revenue without needing to increase the rates that consumers pay for their tap water. But Jim Olson, an environmental and water rights lawyer who works with For Love of Water, a nonprofit based in Michigan, agrees with Erik Olson (whos unrelated) that the system as it is gives bottlers a financial break. His group drafted a model law that would, among other things, charge bottling companies a royalty or fee on the sale of water, with the proceeds going to a state fund. What we have is an ongoing, very lucrative subsidy for the bottled water industry by ratepayers, Jim Olson says. Bottled Water Tax? Others are offering different ways to raise funds from bottlers that can be put toward the cost of maintaining water system infrastructure or providing financial aid to residents behind on their water bill. One idea is for bottlers to pay a tax on their product, or for municipalities to assess one at the point of sale. Nick Schroeck, an environmental law expert and associate dean of experiential education at the University of Detroit Mercy, writing in 2018 for The Conversation, an academic news site, focused on a long-running environmental controversy in northern Michigan involving Nestle, which pays a $200 annual permitting fee to suck up millions of gallons of spring water in the state. Public outrage had been simmering over how little Nestle pays for access to a public resource vs. how much it profits, he said. Schroeck suggested that Michigan could collect taxes on companies that harvest groundwater or spring water, or significantly raise the fees bottlers must pay to operate in the state. At the time, Michigan lawmakers were considering a tax of 5 cents per gallon on water harvested from groundwater by bottlers, who would pay the tax, with the intention of generating revenue for a dedicated fund for water infrastructure costs. But the bill died in the legislature. Schroeck tells CR he believes theres still potential in this idea. He suggests a tax for bottlers could be used to help low-income residents struggling to pay their water bills. As long as theres a legitimate public health safety purpose for it, I dont think theres a problem, he says. Pepsi plant sign outside the company's bottling facility in Detroit. Photo: Dustin Blitchok. The IBWAs Culora says her group opposes any effort to tax bottled water. She points to a recent report by the California State Water Resources Control Board that examined the possibility of using a bottled water tax at the point of sale to fund a financial aid program for low-income residents. The tax could raise $153.6 million for such a fund, according to a draft of the report, though, it says, the tax could have a regressive impact on low-income households that purchase bottled water due to actual or perceived contamination of tap water. But the board adds in the report that most bottled water expenditures are discretionary, and theres a possible basis for taxing it to fund such a program because it contributes to public trash and other environmental impacts. (A final version of the report is not complete. Coca-Cola didnt respond directly to questions by CR about a tax.) Since 2016, nearly 16,000 households in Detroit have enrolled in a local financial aid program, according to the citys water department. But Nick Leonard, executive director of the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, a nonprofit based in Detroit, says that additional measures are needed to help residents unable to pay. They would ultimately benefit utilities, he adds, by generating more revenue for the utility because more residents would be able to keep up with their bills. Consumer Reports agrees theres viability in taxing bottled water to fund a financial aid program. A tax on bottlers could be viewed by states and municipalities as a way to help offset that arrangement and allow them to apply needed funds toward assisting low-income residents with their water bills and/or improving their water system infrastructure, says Ronholm, CRs director of food policy. Concerned About Your Tap Water? If youre concerned about the quality of your tap water and are on a public system, you should be able to get a report from your local water authority about the level of contaminants that may be present, if youre serviced by a community water system. The Environmental Protection Agency and World Health Organization say that the novel coronavirus has not been detected in municipal supplies, and risk of it happening is low. Most water in the U.S. is safe, and if youre hoarding bottled water, youre taking it away from people who might not have safe water at home, people whove been shut off, says Grant at Food & Water Watch. Water filters are an option for those who want to exercise added caution, as well. In the past, CR has reviewed filters for their ability to remove certain potentially dangerous contaminants. Consumer advocates and activists say that while the move to suspend shutoffs is encouraging, a long-term solution is necessary. That was a theme echoed by public health experts and advocates at a teleconference earlier this month on the move to ban shutoffs in Detroit during the pandemic, including Monica Lewis-Patrick, president of We the People of Detroit, a human rights and water advocacy group. Even after the coronavirus pandemic has passed, we must work together to develop an affordable water structure that will allow those whove been restored to maintain their water and access to proper sanitation, Lewis-Patrick says. Editors Note: This article was updated to include a statement sent by the Detroit Water & Sewerage Department after publication. 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. Samsung has added six new fitness-focused apps to its Smart TV lineup. Calm, Echelon, Fitplan, Jillian Michaels Fitness, barre3, and obe Fitness apps are now available to download is select Samsung Smart TVs. Availability may vary by market, though. Samsung says these fitness platforms will be integrated into the Samsung Health app for its Smart TVs later this year. The company is making the apps available to download independently early because many people currently stuck at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic need fitness solutions. The new apps will bring over 5,000 hours of wellness content to Samsungs Smart TV lineup. The company says more than 250 instructive fitness videos are currently available. They range from barre classes and guided meditations, to celebrity-led personal training sessions. Advertisement New fitness apps for Samsung Smart TVs Samsung Smart TV owners can now download Calm, Echelon, Fitplan, Jillian Michaels Fitness, barre3, and obe Fitness apps on their TVs depending on availability. Calm, which Samsung calls the #1 app for mental fitness, offers tons of mindfulness, meditation, and sleep content on its platform. All of its content will be absolutely free on Samsung Smart TVs. The app is now available on all 2019 models in the US, Canada, the UK, Korea, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Brazil, Portugal, UAE, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Morocco. Advertisement The Echelon FitPass app, meanwhile, will offer 20 fitness classes for free to Samsung Smart TV owners. The app is available on both 2018 and 2019 models in the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia. Samsung Smart TV owners will get access to 6 plans and 50 classes with five trainers for free with the Fitplan app. It is available on all 2019 models in the US, Canada, the UK, and Australia. The Jillian Michaels Fitness app provides an exclusively-curated 28-day workout plan to Samsung Smart TV owners. It is available on all 2018 and 2019 models in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Advertisement The barre3 app offers 50 pieces of workout content while the obe Fitness app will offer 20 new workout classes every 2 weeks, for free. Both the apps are available on all 2018 and 2019 Samsung Smart TV models in the US and Canada. Samsungs 2020 Smart TV models will get the six new fitness apps as part of Samsung Health later this year. Availability will differ from market to market. Most of them will be available in the US, Canada, and the UK, though. The company is hopeful of rolling out Samsung Health to all eligible models early this summer. TAIPEI, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF), by integrating upstream, midstream, and downstream textile industries and with the help of textile manufacturers such as Formosa Plastic Group, Formosa Chemicals & Fibre Corporation, Far Eastern New Century Corporation, KNH Enterprise Co., Ltd., China Surgical Dressings Center Co., Ltd. and Chang Hong Machinery Co., Ltd. etc., a complete surgical mask supply chain was formed. Taiwan has transformed from importing country for surgical mask to the second-largest surgical mask producer worldwide with daily production capacity of 15 million units. Taiwan plays an important role as the "Silicon Valley" for textiles industry globally and is a long-term trusted partner of international brands. With years of research and development efforts in functional textiles, Taiwan textile industry has accumulated experience and technology that allows Taiwan government to form a national epidemic prevention team in the fight against COVID-19 at short notice. Through the efforts by manufacturers like WEB-PRO Corp., Nan Liu Enterprise Co., Ltd, Eclat Textile Co., Ltd. and Makalot Industrial Co., Ltd. on the "National Team for Hazmat and Protective Clothing", Taiwan successfully develops and produced the level 3 protective suit in just one month. In the period from March to April, over one million units of isolation gown and 100 thousand units of protective suits were manufactured. Thanks to the joint efforts of the Taiwan's textile industry and the government, Taiwan's performance on epidemic prevention has been recognized internationally. Taiwan is contributing its experience and capabilities, fulfill its international responsibilities, and actively strengthen anti-epidemic cooperation with other countries. Taiwan has donated 15 million surgical masks to support medical staffs in countries with severe coronavirus outbreak, and will continue to provide support to the international community. Under the Taiwan-US epidemic prevention cooperation framework and in the spirit of "Taiwan can help!", Taiwan has donated 2 million surgical masks to the U.S. and will continue to help strengthening protection for frontline medical personnel by providing 100 thousand urgently needed surgical masks every week. In response to these kind acts, The United States White House National Security Council (NSC) thanked Taiwan for their support and collaboration via a tweet while the EU representative in Taiwan, Mr. Filip Grzegorzewski, posted a tweet thanking Taiwan for its swift delivery of masks to countries hardest hit by the pandemic. Furthermore, Microsoft founder Bill Gates also publicly praised Taiwan's swift action to fight off Coronavirus as "exemplary". Even the phrase "TaiwansHelping" is turning into a hashtag keyword on Twitter. Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF), a non-profit organization, plays an important role in Taiwan's textile industry. In order to assist the textile industry to cope with the competition of globalization, TTF, as commissioned by the Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs, implements the "Textile Export Promotion Project" (TEPP) by selecting premium textile exporters and promoting their exports through the measures under this project. As the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the textile and apparel sector, TTF quickly took actions to assist companies in receiving government relief. TTF asking brands to maintain supply-chain partnerships with Taiwan's textile industry and to regard suppliers as important business partners. Taiwanese textile manufacturers' quick action to integrate the resources and capabilities of all parties to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and the ability to assemble a mask and protective clothing production line in a short period of time, has echoed the long recognized traits "quick response", "reliability", "sustainable innovation", and "profound professional knowledge and experience" of Taiwan textile industry. The brands' trust is precisely why Taiwan has become the first choice for international brand cooperation. At this critical moment, Taiwan's textile industry is ready to support its partners to weather out this epidemic and work together to focus on the future of medical fabrics and garment market. Related Links: http://365.textiles.org.tw SOURCE Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF) Related Links http://365.textiles.org.tw/ The opposition Congress in Mizoram slammed state Home Minister Lalchamliana, alleging that he was inept to look after the law and order situation. The Congress's attack came in the wake of the alleged assault on two personnel of the Indian Reserve Battalion by a group of people from a village on the Tripura-Mizoram border on Saturday. The Congress held Lalchamliana responsible for the assault as it claimed that the state police failed to maintain law and order situation, but instead village-level task forces were entrusted with guarding the inter-state borders during the lockdown. Lalchamliana, who is also disaster management and rehabilitation minister, failed to carry out his utmost duty due to which the reputation of state police has been degraded, the Congress said in a statement. A group of people from the Chakma-dominated Kawnpui village in North Tripura district had allegedly assaulted two IRB personnel from Mizoram, who were guarding the inter-state border to prevent movement in a bid to contain the spread of the coronavirus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Italians thanked the Ukrainians for assistance. Ukrainian doctors sent to Italy on a mission to treat patients with COVID-19 are returning home. Read alsoNearly 1,400 healthcare workers, 457 children contract COVID-19 in Ukraine "Rescuing Italian patients, the Ukrainian doctors have gained important experience from their Italian colleagues in fighting against COVID-19, which will now be used to treat coronavirus patients in our country," the Embassy of Ukraine in Italy wrote on Facebook, noting the doctors worked in hospitals in the cities of Pesaro and Urbino in the Marche region of Italy. The Italians highly appreciated the Ukrainian doctors' assistance, the embassy said. "According to the doctors themselves, sincere words of gratitude from ordinary locals who at every step (from the streets to supermarkets) recognized the Ukrainian doctors and thanked the Ukrainians for taking the trouble of local residents so close to their hearts were the best assessment of their work in local hospitals," the embassy said. As reported earlier, in early April, Ukraine sent a group of doctors to Italy to assist in the fight against the pandemic. On April 6, twenty Ukrainian doctors sent to Italy went on duty in hospitals. County's Colleges Allotted Funds From Federal Stimulus WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. The county's four colleges are in line to receive a combined $4.2 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, with at least half that money going directly to aid students financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. One provision of the $2 trillion CARES Act signed into law late last month is $12.6 billion set aside for institutions of higher learning, to be distributed based on a formula that factors in each school's Pell Grant recipients. The grants to colleges and universities, which are administered by the Department of Education, made headlines this week when President Trump objected to the idea that Harvard University with a $41 billion endowment was in line to receive $8.7 million of CARES Act funds. "Harvard should give the money back," the president said on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the 400-year-old Cambridge school did just that, issuing a statement saying that while it faced economic challenges related to the pandemic, it would not accept the CARES Act funds. "We are also concerned however, that the intense focus by politicians and others on Harvard in connection with this program may undermine participation in a relief effort that Congress created and the President signed into law for the purpose of helping students and institutions whose financial challenges in the coming months may be most severe," Harvard said in a Wednesday statement. Locally, Williams College stands to receive $1,564,588 from the CARES Act. Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts has been issued $1,309,397. Berkshire Community College is slated to receive $1,052,143, and Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington is getting $312,339, according to figures on the website insidehighered.com By law, "at least 50 percent must be reserved to provide students with emergency financial aid grants to help cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus," according to a funding letter from Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. MCLA Dean of Enrollment Management and Community Relations Gina Puc said Wednesday that the public college in North Adams is working through how to distribute the federal dollars to eligible students. "Those conversations continue to be ongoing," Puc said. "It seems like the Department of Education puts out additional guidelines each day. "We're aligning our practices with what peer institutions around the state are doing." The $1.3 million represents less than 4 percent of MCLA's annual operating budget of $35 million to $40 million, but the targeted relief will help, Puc said. "With the half going directly to students, it really does make a difference," she said. "We're able to get money to students and families the minute they need it ... for emergency expenses, food, child-care, expenses of moving to a remote environment, transportation to get back home, that sort of thing." Puc said MCLA's information technology team took the lead on making sure that students, particularly those who live in underserved areas of Western Massachusetts, had the internet access they needed to transition to a distance-learning model when the school's campus was closed. "This is a testament to how nimble the MCLA community was," she said. "One of our goals was to be as equitable to all of our students as possible. MCLA also began addressing the financial impact of the pandemic on its students long before the CARES Act was signed. Within a couple of weeks of the school canceling in-person classes for the semester, MCLA launched its Resiliency Fund, which as of last Thursday had distributed more than $26,000 to more than 50 students in need to cover costs ranging from food to laptop computers. "This CARES Act money bolsters that work," Puc said. There is nothing in the federal legislation to prevent institutions from devoting more than 50 percent of the CARES Act fund to direct aid to students. In fact, Harvard on Monday told the school's newspaper that, "Harvard is actually allocating 100 percent of the funds to financial assistance for students to meet their urgent needs in the face of this pandemic." Puc said it remains to be determined what percentage, if any, above the mandated 50 percent of MCLA's grant will go toward direct student aid, but she noted that the college incurred pandemic-related expenses, like purchasing additional licenses for software that must be used by students off campus. An email to Berkshire Community College's spokesperson on Wednesday morning was not returned. Williams College's spokesperson Wednesday evening was not able to provide a comment. Alliance and Equity Investment Improves Access to Remote Patient Care for 70 Percent of the Global Population MOUNTAIN VIEW, California and KYOTO, Japan, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AliveCor, a leader in personal ECG products, and OMRON Healthcare, Co., Ltd., a global leader in personal heart health and wellness technology, today announced a global, strategic alliance that combines AliveCor's ECG technology with industry-leading blood pressure devices from OMRON to better serve customers and expand access to remote patient care. This partnership aligns with global trends to deploy non-invasive remote monitoring devices to facilitate patient monitoring while reducing patient and healthcare provider contact during the current pandemic. "At AliveCor, we are committed to providing life-saving cardiological services to those who need them most. The scope, scale, and strategic importance of this transaction are unprecedented in our corporate history," said AliveCor CEO Priya Abani. "OMRON's enormous R&D and distribution resources will bring AliveCor technology to more markets and more end users than ever before." The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the importance of telemedicine in how we care for ourselves and loved ones. Those with chronic illness, including heart disease, are at higher risk of infection. AliveCor and OMRON serve this vulnerable population every day by allowing patients to send personal health data to physicians without leaving their homes. The companies' ability to provide innovative, medical-grade technologies at home offers peace of mind to their users. "The integration of these complementary technologies allows us to expand the heart health data we provide our customers and physician partners for a more complete picture of a patient's heart health," said Isao Ogino, president and CEO of OMRON Healthcare. "Our mission is 'going for zero' heart attacks and strokes. It is a lofty goal and we have committed to combining forces with like-minded partners to achieve it. OMRON has already made important strides with AliveCor to advance our mission and this expansion of that collaboration, including the development of remote patient monitoring services, is a valuable boost to our growing healthcare portfolio." The first technology collaboration between the two companies is the FDA cleared, award-winning OMRON Complete. Introduced in 2019, Complete is the first blood pressure monitor with ECG capability in a single device. The companies expect this product to be the first in a line of integrated ECG and blood pressure devices making home heart care more accessible to consumers than ever before. OMRON Complete is available for purchase in the U.S. at OmronHealthcare.com and participating retailers. The companies also announced today the closing of an equity investment by OMRON Corporation (OMRON Healthcare's parent company) in AliveCor. About AliveCor AliveCor, Inc., is transforming cardiological care using deep learning. The FDA-cleared KardiaMobile device is the most clinically validated personal ECG solution in the world. KardiaMobile provides instant detection of Atrial Fibrillation, Bradycardia, Tachycardia, and Normal rhythm in an ECG. Kardia is the first AI enabled platform to aid patients and clinicians in the early detection of atrial fibrillation, the most common arrhythmia and one associated with a highly elevated risk of stroke. AliveCor's enterprise platform allows third party providers to manage their patients and customers' heart conditions simply and profitably using state-of-the-art tools that provide easy front-end and back-end integration to AliveCor technologies. AliveCor was named the No.1 artificial intelligence company in Fast Company's Top 50 Most Innovative Companies. AliveCor is a privately-held company headquartered in Mountain View, Calif. "Consumer" or "Personal" ECGs are ECG devices available for direct sale to consumers. For more information, visit alivecor.com. About OMRON Healthcare OMRON Healthcare, Co., Ltd., is the world's leading manufacturer and distributor of personal heart health and wellness products. Its market-leading products include a full-range of home blood pressure monitors, respiratory care and electrotherapy devices. Since OMRON invented its first blood pressure monitors more than 40 years ago, the company has been passionate about empowering people to take charge of their health at home through precise technology. OMRON provides the World's #1 Blood Pressure Monitor (Global Home Appliance Market Comprehensive Survey 2020 by Fuji Keizai Co., Ltd. (2019)). The company's mission is Going for Zero, the elimination of heart attacks and strokes. For more information, visit OmronHealthcare.com. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/349955/omron_pms_300_Logo.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1159191/AliveCor.jpg By Shlomo Ben-Ami TEL AVIV Long before people and goods were traversing the globe nonstop, pandemics were already an inescapable feature of human civilization. And the tragedy they bring has tended to have a silver lining: perceived as mysterious, meta-historical events, large-scale disease outbreaks have often shattered old beliefs and approaches, heralding major shifts in the conduct of human affairs. But the COVID-19 pandemic may break this pattern. In many ways, the current pandemic looks a lot like its predecessors. For starters, predictable or not, disease outbreaks have always caught the authorities off guard and the authorities have often failed to respond quickly and decisively. Albert Camus depicted this tendency in his novel "The Plague," and China's government embodied it when it initially suppressed information about the novel coronavirus. U.S. President Donald Trump did the same when he minimized the threat, comparing COVID-19 as recently as last month to seasonal flu. As an official in Camus' novel said, the plague is nothing but "a special type of fever." Leaders' lack of foresight has often left people with only one real defense from disease outbreaks: social distancing. As Daniel Defoe noted in "A Journal of the Plague Year," his memoir of the bubonic plague outbreak in London in 1665, the municipal government banned events and gatherings, closed schools, and enforced quarantines. Nearly two millennia before London's Great Plague, during the epidemic that killed at least one-third of Athenians near the end of the Peloponnesian War, the Greek historian Thucydides observed that if people made contact with the sick, "they lost their lives." As a result, many "died alone," and funeral customs were "thrown into confusion." And, owing to the high death toll, the dead were often "buried in any way possible." During the COVID-19 crisis, lockdowns and other social-distancing protocols have similarly prevented people from visiting their dying loved ones and upended funeral traditions. In China, families are reportedly encouraged to bury their dead quickly and quietly. Satellite images show mass graves being dug in Iran. New York City officials have also ramped up mass burials, intended for those who have no next of kin or families who can afford a funeral. Some cemeteries in London have run out of graves. Another parallel between the current pandemic and its predecessors is the tendency to embrace experimental palliatives. During the pandemic of so-called Spanish flu a century ago, scientists blamed bacterial infections, and designed treatments accordingly. We know now that influenza is caused by a virus; no bacterial vaccines could protect against it. Of course, researchers working on COVID-19 have a much more advanced understanding of disease. But, as we await a bespoke cure or vaccine, existing antivirals such as those long used for malaria are being tested, with mixed results. The use of one such drug, chloroquine, has raised concerns after patients receiving it showed signs of heart-related complications. And then there are the bogus cures that invariably emerge "infallible preventive pills," as Defoe called them. Today, charlatans aided by social media have made similarly false and dangerous claims, suggesting that anything from snorting cocaine to drinking bleach can protect against COVID-19. Trump himself has touted hydroxychloroquine as a potential "game changer," despite the lack of testing prompting one couple to attempt to self-medicate. The husband died; his wife barely survived. The economic disruption caused by COVID-19 also has plenty of precedent. The second-century Antonine Plague caused one of the most severe economic crises in the history of the Roman Empire. The Plague of Justinian which initially erupted in 541-542 and recurred intermittently for two centuries did the same to the Byzantine Empire. Epidemics not only ravage economies, but also throw societal inequalities into sharp relief, deepening mistrust in the status quo. Disease may not discriminate between rich and poor, but their living conditions always make the poor and marginalized more vulnerable. Machiavelli, who witnessed and probably died in the plague in Florence in 1527, viewed the outbreak as the direct result of misrule. Criticisms of China, Trump, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and others have echoed this sentiment. Others view epidemics through the lens of conspiracy theories. Marcus Aurelius blamed the Christians for the Antonine Plague. In Christian Europe, the 14th-century Black Death was blamed on the Jews. Imagined culprits behind the COVID-19 crisis include radiation from 5G technology, the U.S. military, the Chinese military, and no surprise Jews. Iran's state-controlled media has warned people not to use any vaccine developed by Israeli scientists. Publications in Turkey and Palestine have defined COVID-19 as an Israeli biological weapon. White supremacists in Austria, Switzerland, and the U.S. have blamed the Jewish financier and philanthropist George Soros, who they believe hopes to thin out the world population and cash in on a vaccine. Despite these similarities, the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to stand out in a crucial way: It is unlikely to upend the established order. The Antonine and Justinian Plagues encouraged the spread of Christianity throughout Europe. The Black Death drove people toward a less religious, more humanistic view of the world a shift that would lead to the Renaissance. The Spanish flu prompted uprisings, massive labor strikes, and anti-imperialist protests; in India, where millions died, it helped to galvanize the independence movement. The current pandemic, by contrast, is more likely to reinforce three pre-existing and highly destructive trends: deglobalization, unilateralism, and authoritarian surveillance capitalism. Almost immediately, calls for reducing dependence on global value chains already gaining traction before the crisis began to intensify. Efforts by the European Union to devise a common strategy have again exposed the bloc's old divisions. Trump has now decided to suspend U.S. funding allocated to the World Health Organization. And, under the cover of the fight for life, authorities beyond just China or Russia are trampling on liberties and invading personal privacy. Two world wars have shown that a global order organized around egocentric nationalism is incompatible with peace and security. The pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for a new balance between the nation-state and supranational institutions. Barring that, the devastation wrought by COVID-19 will only increase. Shlomo Ben-Ami, a former Israeli foreign minister, is vice president of the Toledo International Center for Peace. He is the author of "Scars of War, Wounds of Peace: The Israeli-Arab Tragedy." His article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org). LAS CRUCES The Dona Ana County Commission will vote next week to ask the state to reopen all nonessential businesses closed because of the novel coronavirus pandemic. That comes after the governor announced a phased plan to reopen the New Mexican economy Wednesday. For its April 28 meeting, the county commission has on its agenda a resolution brought by Republican District 4 Commissioner Isabella Solis which calls on Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to reopen businesses, including small businesses, specialty retailers and non-profits closed by Executive and Public Health Orders. We are looking at ways to safely help the community, Solis said. There are people who need to get back to work and feed their families. As cases of the virus have spread throughout New Mexico, all businesses deemed nonessential by the state have been forced to close through at least May 15 to limit the risk of spread. As of Wednesday, New Mexico had more than 2,200 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Thousands of New Mexicans have lost jobs and business owners have lost revenue. While many itch to reopen to stave off economic hardship, state health officials say its not safe at the moment to lift restrictions, and to do so would cause more infections. The resolution calls on the state to reopen businesses deemed nonessential, but emphasizes the reopen should keep current health guidelines in mind, such as physical distancing and limiting the number of people inside businesses. We can only proceed with caution, Solis said. At a virtual news conference Wednesday, Lujan Grisham said shell appoint an economic recovery council to develop a phased plan to reopen businesses. The county resolution calls for a phased-in, data driven approach to the reopen that recognizes some areas of the state have fewer cases than others and could have looser restrictions. It also calls for non-emergent yet necessary health care procedures to be deemed essential, after many have been suspended. Solis said the governors announcement didnt include a timeline, so the resolution is still useful. The state Republican Party and some business owners called on the governor last week to reopen nonessential businesses with similar limits in place to decrease the risk of coronavirus spreading. Commissions from three other southeastern New Mexico counties Eddy, Lea and Otero have placed similar requests on agendas this week, according to reporting from the Carlsbad Current-Argus. Eddy County Commissioners were set to vote on their resolution Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. New Mexico has begun to flatten the curve when it comes to the rate of new infections. On Wednesday, the governor said the time it took for the number of cases to double within the state continued to decrease. To state health experts, it showed the physical distancing measures were working. Protests against physical distancing measures and state stay-at-home orders have popped up all over the country in the last week, with scores calling for a reopening of the American economy. However, two recent polls one from NBC News/The Wall Street Journal and the other from the Pew Research Center showed between 60 to 66 percent of Americans worry about lifting restrictions too early and increasing the number of sick people. Arianna Parsons, the co-owner of Becks Coffee in Las Cruces, said her business has been able to financially weather the shutdown order knowing its a temporary measure. The store has switched to online sales and home delivery of coffee. Parsons said if the state lifted the orders on businesses in the next few days, she wouldnt feel safe opening. There is no amount of money that would make me sacrifice the health of our employees or our clients, Parsons said. Barbershops and hair salons have also been shut down. Nick Rojas, owner of Reds Barber Shop in Las Cruces, said hed rather not rush the reopening for safetys sake, even if health guidelines were in place. Safety and everybodys health, it comes first, Rojas said. He added, I would hate for someone to get sick. While Reds has been closed, some of the barbers, who work as independent contractors and not employees, have found other jobs in the meantime, Rojas said. The five-member Dona Ana County Commission will host a virtual livestreamed meeting on April 28 beginning at 9 a.m. The livestream will be found on the countys website at donaanacounty.org/bocc/video. Michael McDevitt can be reached at 575-202-3205, mmcdevitt@lcsun-news.com or @MikeMcDTweets on Twitter. 2020 the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) Visit the Las Cruces Sun-News (Las Cruces, N.M.) at www.lcsun-news.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday discussed the global coronavirus pandemic and efforts to blunt its spread, the White House and the Pakistani leader's office said. The two also discussed the U.S.-led effort to bring peace to Afghanistan, Khan's office said in a statement distributed by the Pakistani embassy. Trump and Khan spoke by telephone following talks last week that U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad held with Taliban negotiators in Doha and Pakistani officials in Islamabad on the stalled peace process. A Feb. 29 U.S.-Taliban deal for a phased U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan called for the opening by March 10 of intra-Afghan negotiations on a settlement to decades of war. But differences between Kabul and the Taliban over prisoner releases, a feud between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his main political rival, and a surge in Taliban attacks have stalled the peace initiative, raising concerns it could collapse as the coronavirus spreads. U.S. officials say Pakistan wields considerable influence over the Taliban by providing the militants with sanctuary on its side of the border and other support. Pakistan denies those allegations. In his call with Trump, Khan "reaffirmed Pakistans support for facilitation of the Afghan peace process and underscored the importance of next steps leading to the earliest commencement of intra-Afghan negotiations," the Pakistani statement said. Afghanistan and Pakistan, impoverished countries with poor healthcare systems, are confronting growing cases and deaths from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus. The United States, also fighting rising cases and deaths, last week announced more than $8 million of aid to help Pakistan battle the pandemic. Trump and Khan "discussed developments in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and agreed to continue working together on a coordinated response to defeat the virus and minimize its economic impact," White House spokesman Judd Deere said. Story continues The Pakistani statement said Trump reassured Khan "of U.S. support to Pakistan in the efforts to combat COVID-19 including by making available ventilators as well as in the economic arena." Trump, it said, offered to send "the latest rapid testing machine for COVID-19" to Khan after hearing that the Pakistani leader was tested for the disease. Khan was found to be negative, according to Pakistani news reports. (Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Additional reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Leslie Adler) [April 23, 2020] Faraday Future Appoints Former Nevada Lieutenant Governor Brian Krolicki to Its Board of Directors Faraday Future (FF), a California-based global shared intelligent mobility eco-system company, today announced the appointment of Brian Krolicki to its five-person Board of Directors. This is one of many steps the company has recently undertaken to help bolster its leadership team, improve corporate governance, and secure funding for the planned delivery of its first ultra-luxury production vehicle (FF 91). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005955/en/ Brian Krolicki (Photo: Business Wire) As FF's first Independent Board Member, Mr. Krolicki will use his years of corporate and public finance knowledge to help oversee corporate audit and compliance requirements and contribute to the Board's governance, strategy, and oversight responsibilities. His domestic and international experience, as well as his private and public sector expertise, will help position FF in its fundraising activities, upcoming product launches and eventual IPO. Brian was nominated to the Board by FF Global Partners, part of FF's unique governance structure. Brian Krolicki is a veteran of the private banking industry and a master of municipal finance. He brings over 20 years working with government and business in China. He began his career on Wall Street, working with high-profile firms such as Smith Barney and Bankers Trust Company. His 24-year career in public service included four election victories to the Nevada Constitutional Offices of Lieutenant Governor and State Treasurer. Brian is the first person in Nevada history to be term-limited twice. As Lieutenant Governor, Krolicki served as Chairman of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development, Chairman of the Nevada Commission on Tourism, Vice Chairman of the Nevada Department of Transportation, and President of the NevadaState Senate. Mr. Krolicki previously served as a founding member of FF's Advisory Board, providing policy, business development and public relations guidance to FF management and its Board of Directors. Brian is a graduate of Stanford University, and currently serves on multiple corporate and non-profit boards. Said Brian, "The more familiar I become with Faraday Future's management, workforce, products and vision, the more convinced I am this company can literally change the way people view mobility in the future. I am delighted to play a role in bringing this company and our products to the world." "Brian's well-developed business acumen, contacts and political experience were obvious strengths during his time on the Advisory Board, making his selection as FF's first Independent Board Member an easy one," said Dr. Carsten Breitfeld, CEO of FF. "We look forward to his continued guidance, independent thinking and governance experience on the Board." Upon his recent appointment as FF's new Global CEO late last year, Breitfeld stated that leadership changes will be part of a series of key adjustments in strengthening the management team, accelerating product delivery planning, R&D and operational cost reduction, and most importantly, fundraising and strengthening FF's financing strategy. FF will kick off its production of the FF 91 in approximately nine months following the closing of successful equity funding. The newly announced FF 81 EV and development preparation for future models and next-generation core technologies will be completed as soon as possible. FF is targeting an IPO within 12-15 months following the conclusion of equity financing. FF also recently announced the decision to embrace new market opportunities for its comprehensive technologies and products. FF is now offering its innovative resources to other companies so they can take advantage of its intellectual property, unparalleled research, and depth of talent resources. ABOUT FARADAY FUTURE Faraday Future (FF) is a California-based global shared intelligent mobility eco-system company. Established in 2014, FF's vision is to create a shared intelligent mobility ecosystem that empowers everyone to move, connect, breathe and live freely. FOLLOW FARADAY FUTURE: https://www.ff.com/ https://twitter.com/FaradayFuture https://www.facebook.com/faradayfuture/ https://www.instagram.com/faradayfuture/ www.linkedin.com/company/faradayfuture View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005955/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] AKRON, Ohio The Ohio Supreme Court on Wednesday indefinitely suspended an Akron-area attorney who was convicted of soliciting sex from an undercover police officer posing online as a 15-year-old boy. Harold Schwarz III, 40, of Hudson pleaded guilty in February 2019 to a fifth-degree felony of importuning and was sentenced in June to three years of community control and to be designated as a sex offender. He had been under an interim suspension since March 2019. The Office of Disciplinary Counsel filed a complaint against Schwarz in June 2019, accusing him of violating rules of professional conduct based on the facts that led to his conviction. The Board of Professional Conduct found that Schwarz had broken the rules, according to a news release issued by the Ohio Supreme Court. At his disciplinary hearing, Schwarz said he used a cell phone app to exchange text messages that were sexual in nature with a person he believed was a minor, but was actually an undercover Streetsboro police officer, the news release states. The board found Schwarz violated the rule prohibiting a lawyer from committing an illegal act, and that he engaged in conduct that reflected adversely on his fitness to practice law. In a unanimous opinion, the Supreme Court wrote that the board found Schwarz had acted with a dishonest or selfish motive and that his conduct was directed at a vulnerable teenage victim. The board also noted that Schwarz did not appear to express remorse and that he did not appear to understand the gravity of his offense, the vulnerable nature of minors or the potential adverse consequences to them as a result of solicitation offenses, the opinion states. The Court accepted the boards recommendation to indefinitely suspend Schwarz. To be reinstated, he must demonstrate that he complied with the terms of his criminal case probation. He must also pay for the cost of the disciplinary proceedings. Schwarzs lawyer declined to comment on this story. You have to say one thing for President Donald Trump: He has yet to find a crisis he cant try to exploit for his own political gain. While the details have yet to seep out of the White House, Trump tweeted late Monday that he intends to sign an executive order halting all immigration to the U.S. (never mind that closed government offices have already effectively made it impossible to immigrate legally). Notably, he didnt attribute the decision to fears that new arrivals could exacerbate the spread of the coronavirus, but because they would compete with U.S. workers for jobs, which have been disappearing at a stunning rate in recent weeks. Trump won election in part through bashing immigration, both legal and illegal, and has worked diligently since then to limit new arrivals while ramping up arrests of people here without permission. He has sharply lowered the cap on the number of refugees accepted for resettlement, while also trying to restrict asylum claims by denying them from people who did not present themselves at a legal port of entry. That policy went into effect despite an immigration law that states plainly that any foreign national who is physically present in the United States or who arrives in the United States (whether or not at a designated port of arrival ) is eligible to apply. The administration also has forced those applying at ports of entry to remain in Mexico while the lengthy process plays out. But as the pandemic grew, the president shut down nearly all nontrade traffic at the southern and northern borders including asylum seekers. Now, citing the massive job losses from widespread stay-at-home orders, Trump intends to halt all immigration. In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States! the president tweeted. Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany followed that up with a statement Tuesday morning that President Trump is committed to protecting the health and economic well-being of American citizens as we face unprecedented times. As President Trump has said, Decades of record immigration have produced lower wages and higher unemployment for our citizens, especially for African-American and Latino workers. At a time when Americans are looking to get back to work, action is necessary. But the presidents assertions just arent true. Numerous studies have found that new arrivals tend to take jobs that employers have trouble filling often tasks that pay poorly, are dangerous and involve hard physical labor. Those workers tend to compete with and dampen wages for the immigrants who preceded them into the country. But the new arrivals also add to the economy and help create higher-paying, less physically strenuous jobs for native-born workers. As the Brookings Institute reported in 2012, immigrants and U.S.-born workers generally do not compete for the same jobs, and low-skilled immigrant laborers allow U.S.-born farmers, contractors, and craftsmen to expand agricultural production or to build more homes thereby expanding employment possibilities and incomes for U.S. workers. And they also help support local retail shops, restaurants and other businesses. The economic impact of immigrant workers tilts heavily to the positive end of the scale. Does that change during an economic crisis like this? In some ways, yes. Is it reasonable to declare a short-term hiatus? Perhaps. But that has already been put into effect by the shuttering of government offices that process visa applications, by the restrictions on travel, and by the collapse of the labor market (economic migrants tend not to travel for jobs that dont exist). Its hard to assess whether the presidents metaphorical barricading of the border will help or damage the economy until we see what, exactly, he will do. Will his promised crackdown apply to people already here seeking work permit renewals? Will he freeze special employment visas for high-skilled foreign workers? Will he bar California growers from rehiring their usual contingents of visa-carrying migrant laborers, and inadvertently make even more work for those here illegally? Bear in mind that the current disruption of the economy is not permanent, and that the president himself has argued vociferously for a (too rapid) lifting of the restraints on commerce. No one can offer a reliable sense of what the future economy will look like, but it will need workers, whether they are new-arriving immigrants or laid-off native-born Americans. Its no coincidence that his call for a ban on new immigrants dovetails with one of his signature campaign issues at a time when the vibrant economy he had planned to campaign on has cratered. This is about saving one job the presidents. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 LIVE: POTUS & FLOTUS Participate in Tree Planting Ceremony https://t.co/pblucpg8dF The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 22, 2020 National parks will start to reopen amid the COVID-19 pandemic in accordance with state-by-state plans, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday during a tree-planting ceremony in celebration of Earth Day. The president, alongside First Lady Melania Trump on the South Lawn of the White House, said that while conducting all out war with the virus, it was vital to protect our priceless national parks and our public lands. We will have them open quickly. Trump did not announce a timetable or a detailed plan for national parks to open, but said they would start in line with my administrations guidelines for opening up America again. The Trump administration and several states have said they will soon begin to ease stay-at-home orders and social distancing measures that have blunted the spread of COVID-19 but crippled the economy. States must see at least two weeks of declining new coronavirus cases and solid hospital preparedness for flare ups before starting to lift restrictions, according to the administration guidelines. Several states hard hit by the virus, including New York and Massachusetts, will not return to normalcy as quickly as other states, public health officials and state leaders have said. Vice President Mike Pence celebrated the gradual reopening of national parks, noting his family often used to load up the minivan, making our way to Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and Yosemite. The American people, Pence said, are anxious to get back to enjoying those beautiful parks. This year, #EarthDay turns 50! Taking care of the Earth and our national parks go hand-in-hand. What new commitment will you make to our planet? Learn more about ways to love the Earth: https://t.co/0NOqgxptDI#NationalParkWeek #FindYourPark pic.twitter.com/QtZtQsoA3b National Park Foundation (@GoParks) April 22, 2020 The announcement came before Trump and the first lady planted a maple tree in honor of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. He noted it was also National Park Week and that Arbor Day was coming up on Friday. The president touted the 1 trillion tree initiative," a worldwide public-private mission to plant 1 million trees which the U.S. joined at the World Economic Forum earlier this year. Trees are the lungs of the earth, said House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California. When 1 trillion trees are planted around the Earth, that will remove the equivalent of two-thirds of man-made carbon from the industrial revolution until today. Trump said America leads the world in environmental stewardship. But many on social media Wednesday noted Trump has described global warming as a hoax several times and has made deregulation, including environmental and energy roll backs, one of the foundations of his presidency. The New York Times has tracked nearly 100 environmental rules and regulations that the Trump administration has reversed or has proposed easing, including more than two dozen on air pollution and emissions. During the pandemic, @realDonaldTrump has rolled back clean car standards, undermined mercury protections, & refused to strengthen air quality rules all of which pollute the air & put folks at higher risk of COVID-19 complications, tweeted Emily Samsel, press secretary for the League of Conservation Voters. Related Content: MARQUETTE, MI An Upper Peninsula man was convicted on assault charges on Thursday in what Marquette County Prosecutor Matt Wiese said was the first Michigan trial broadcast live over the internet due to the outbreak of COVID-19. Wiese said the two-day bench trial for Justin David Langsford, 38, was broadcasted to protect the defendants right to a public trial. The number of people that can safely be present in a courtroom has been reduced to the outbreak of coronavirus. 25th Circuit Court Judge Jennifer A. Mazzuchi convicted Langsford on one count of assault with intent to commit great bodily harm less than murder and one count of domestic violence, third offense. During the trial, testimony showed that the defendant seriously assaulted the victim in the case, breaking two bones in her right leg and one bone in her left foot, according to Wiese. Although normally felonies punishable by up to ten years and five years, respectively, both charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison due to Langsfords status of being a habitual offender with at least three prior felony convictions. In addition, because of his violent criminal history, the defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of twenty-five years in prison for the conviction of the assault charge, Wiese said. Langsford will be sentenced by Judge Mazzuchi later. The case was investigated by trooper Laken Hammon, trooper Andrew Peterson, trooper James Wachnicki and trooper George Kanyuh of the Michigan State Police Negaunee Post. Developer to press ahead with consultation on plans for 116 new homes in Wrexham despite MPs plea This article is old - Published: Thursday, Apr 23rd, 2020 A development company has revealed it intends to plough ahead with a consultation on plans to build 116 new homes in Wrexham. It comes despite an MP calling for the process to be brought to a halt because of the coronavirus pandemic. Norris Jones Developments signalled its intention to create a large number of properties on grazing land off Hillock Lane in Gresford last month. The company launched the process to seek the views of residents ahead of submitting formal proposals to Wrexham Council. Conservative MP Sarah Atherton asked for the consultation to be postponed until after the COVID-19 crisis is over to give people a better opportunity to make their opinions known. However, the firm has now said it will continue regardless as it believes the scheme will help the villages economy to recover once the outbreak is over. In a statement, a spokesman said: Whilst we absolutely empathise with local residents that their focus is on keeping themselves and their families safe, we do not believe that a moratorium should be placed on planning matters until the pandemic subsides. On the contrary, we firmly believe that the planning system needs to continue to function so that important economic activity can wherever possible continue. We should also add that it is the governments position that wherever possible, business should continue providing it does not put people at risk. If planning permission is granted for the proposed development, we firmly believe that the project will bring significant benefits to the village of Gresford, the local community and to businesses in the area, including job creation and much needed affordable housing both of which would greatly assist the recovery of the local community once the current crisis is over. We therefore feel that it would be remiss of us to terminate the consultation process at a time when government are trying to safeguard and stabilise the economy. The spokesman added that alternative arrangements would be put in place for people who do not have internet access. A community event which was due to be held to highlight the proposals was previously cancelled due to the pandemic. In a letter shared on her Facebook page, Ms Atherton asked for a delay to be put on the process for a period of three months. She said: As a result of the COVID-19 crisis, many people across the country are understandably focused on keeping themselves and their families safe. As long as people are focused on something so important and so pressing, any response to the consultation is unlikely to be a fair reflection of local public opinion. For the sake of transparency, openness and fairness to local people, I request that this consultation is paused until this pandemic has subsided. The company said the consultation documents could be accessed online at www.hillocklane.co.uk By Liam Randall BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme) Papua New Guinea has recorded its eighth COVID-19 case, sparking concerns about a potential outbreak just as the country looks to ease restrictions. The PNG government has committed to easing some restrictions that have been in place since last month including allowing for domestic air travel and taxis, and opening up international travel for PNG citizens to return home. Medical staff in a health clinic in Papua New Guinea, which recorded its eighth COVID-19 case. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Out of any country in the South Pacific, the Australian government is most worried about a major outbreak in PNG because of its population of more than 8 million people and fragile health system. There have now been cases in four different provinces, making some health workers fear there could be an outbreak that is unknown because of a lack of testing. County Derry members are among those embarking on an ambitious project to highlight and support Covid-19 relief programmes in poor areas of Africa. Friends of Africa (FOA) members are running 10km each day to accumulate a total of 100km, with Bellaghys Voice UK semi-finalist Brooke Scullion joining those pounding the tarmac. The initiative came about after the organisation were forced to shelve international work planned for the summer months in the wake of the coronavirus spread. Ciaran McShane said Friends of Africa had gone the extra mile this year and were looking forward to the summer. The Kilrea man told the County Derry Post: This year for the first time we had taken the decision to invest in our membership. All our volunteers have been trained in accredited youth work training, which is the focus of our work in Africa. When we, like everyone else, were faced with the reality of the Covid-19 pandemic we decided to to postpone all our international work planned for June, July & August of this year. It wasnt an easy decision as months of training, fundraising and planning had been done but integrity, solidarity and the common good are values which are central to our mission. With their efforts frustrated, the organisation looked to find a way to continue their fundraising efforts and support their partners and the communities in which they work. Shauna ONeill, who has worked with Friends of Africa in South Africa, came up with the idea to run 10k a day for 10 days 0 100k to raise funds for our appeal, said Ciaran. Our members took up the challenge without much convincing and we have 75 people signed up to the challenge. It started on Saturday and has raised over 6,500 to date. We are also delighted to have our 10x10 challenge being taken up by FOA members living in Thailand, Australia & New Zealand as well as by our partners in Ghana and South Africa. This expression of solidarity is keeping us all going and reminds us that no matter how difficult it is for us here, living in poverty makes this much virus more deadly. While lockdown is an inconvenience to many here, it is almost impossible in the conditions that are common in many areas where Friends of Africa work. Once we began to understand how the virus works and the effect it was having in Europe we began to fear for the people and communities we work with across Africa, said Ciaran. How can you implement social distancing when you live in a squatter camp with 10,000 other people? How can you practice proper hygiene when you have no access to running water? How can you stay at home and stay safe when you live hand to mouth and no work means no food on the table that evening? This is the sad reality for hundreds of millions of people across the continent whose lives were already difficult because of poverty and inequalities made worse by the corona virus. Donations to the 10x10 campaign can be made on the Just Giving page. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said she wants the lockdown to be rolled back in two weeks after May 4. In an interview to NDTV, the CM said: As a citizen and TMC chief, I want lockdown to be scaled back. She said the lockdown should be lifted in two stages. Lift 25 per cent of lockdown in week beginning May 4, reopen 50 per cent in second week after May 4, and total roll back should happen in two weeks after May 4. For the third day in a row, Banerjee hit the streets of Kolkata and advised people to strictly follow the ... The once monumental final resting place of a probable prehistoric chieftain and, potentially, his shaman has been discovered in southwest England. Its one of the most fascinating archaeological discoveries in southern Britain in recent years. Significantly, the duo formed part of a remarkable social and political process which changed human history and still shapes our world today. The probable chieftain or prestigious leader a man in his thirties or forties had been interred underneath the centre of a large funerary mound which had been constructed specifically for him inside his own personal 20m diameter ditched enclosure. The key evidence for his high status is the unusually fine material buried with him for his journey to the next life. He had been buried in around 2,200BC with a 20cm long copper dagger (with a pommel made out of whalebone), an amber bead, a flint knife, an iron pyrites and flint fire-lighting kit, four special cowhide rugs and an extremely fine archers wrist guard made of a particularly valued stone quarried or gathered near the top of a mountain in the Lake District. Close examination of the dagger suggests that it had been in a grass and leaf-lined probably leather scabbard. Whats more, dark staining in the gravel surrounding his skeleton shows that he had been buried in a wooden plank coffin (or possibly just wrapped in animal skins), says archaeologist Andy Hood of Foundations Archaeology, the Wiltshire-based company carrying out the archaeological investigations near Lechlade, Gloucestershire. Some early Bronze Age high-status individuals were buried with one or two cowhide rugs but this very prestigious communal leader had a total of four, a number not known to be paralleled anywhere else in Britain. Each rug would have been an impressive and valued possession an entire cowhide complete with the animals hooves at its four corners and its skull. The stone used for his wrist guard had been obtained from the slopes (or from near the top) of Harrison Stickle or Pike of Stickle two 700m-high mountains in the Lake District 250 miles north of Lechlade. It is believed that the remote and difficult-to-access rock source is likely to have been seen as imbuing the artefact with special significance and power. It had already been regarded as a culturally and probably spiritually important source of special stone for more than 1,500 years. That particular type of stone (a very fine-grained volcanic tuff) is green or greyish green in colour and may have been perceived as supernaturally helpful in ensuring life after death. Throughout many areas of the world, green has traditionally been seen, since ancient times, as symbolising eternal life, heaven and fertility. The probable chieftains final resting place was in a particularly sacred location just 150m west of one of southwest Britains most important prehistoric religious monuments a big Neolithic ceremonial complex (a so-called cursus monument) which was already around a thousand years old when he was buried. Like many other religious practitioners around the world, some Byzantine and medieval bishops were laid to rest in a seated position. In some places, the tradition continued into relatively modern times. This image shows a mid-20th century Syrian bishop sitting, rather than lying, in state (Wikimedia Commons) Significantly, this high-status Lechlade leader was interred looking southeast gazing directly towards a second buried man, just two metres away. That second individual had been buried probably at or immediately after the chieftain had been laid to rest. However, this second burial is a complete enigma which is likely to be the subject of much archaeological debate for years to come. That individual an older man, perhaps in his fifties or sixties had not been buried in the normal manner. Instead, he had been interred sitting on an earth and gravel seat with his legs descending into what would initially have been a pit. Seated burials are very rare in most ancient and more modern cultures but across much of the world and for thousands of years, when they do occur, they have often been associated with elite individuals especially religious practitioners. Interestingly, the Lechlade seated individual was buried without the normal elite grave goods (daggers etc) which a high-status secular person would have had. All he appears to have been supplied within death was a single cowhide rug. In light of other seated burials known from elsewhere, it is therefore conceivable that he was some sort of holy man maybe a shaman or a priest. In Bronze Age Siberia, shamans were buried partially sitting up. Some early mediaeval Germanic seers (priest-like divination practitioners) were also buried in a seated position and, from at least the fourth century, many Christian bishops in eastern Europe were buried in a similar fashion. In ancient Thrace (Bulgaria), acolytes initiated into the Orphic religion are thought to have been buried in a seated position. In ancient India (and indeed, sometimes still in modern India) some holy men were buried in a cross-legged seated lotus position. In death, they were seen not as having died in the conventional sense, but to be in an eternal yogic state a state in which they were perceived to have abandoned their body and to have merged with the eternal essence or soul of the cosmos. The earliest written reference to aspects of that concept dates from 1,000BC but the concept itself is likely to be far older. The Gloucestershire chieftain chose to be buried with what he may have perceived as a spiritually-endowed archers wrist guard made of special stone obtained from near the remote summit of Pike of Stickle (or one of its neighbouring mountains) in the Lake District (Wikimedia Commons) And in Skateholm in Sweden, a 7,000-year-old seated burial is thought to have been that of a female shaman or another communal leader, who was interred wearing a slate chest plaque and a belt decorated with dozens of red deer, boar and elk teeth and two pine marten lower jaws. Other elite individuals were buried in a seated position in many different parts of the world from mediaeval Mongolia and ancient southern Russia to early mediaeval France and Viking Scandinavia. The Lechlade seated burial, therefore, appears to be part of a very widespread series of traditions, the earliest known examples of which date back to around 9,500BC in Karelia (in northwest Russia) and the Ukraine. Both elite individuals formed part of one of the most important social and political processes in the whole of British and indeed world prehistory a phenomenon which, in some senses, still shapes our world today, thousands of years after it occurred. Both of them were part of what archaeologists call the Beaker culture a people and culture which largely originated in what is now south Russia and migrated westwards, arriving in Britain in around 2500BC. The Beaker people quickly became the dominant population, culturally, genetically and probably linguistically, largely replacing the indigenous population. It was probably the Beaker culture which introduced the proto-Indo-European language to western Europe (including Britain) and it is from that early language that English and all other Indo-European languages in Europe (ie, around 85 per cent of our continents languages) and in Asia (including Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Kurdish and Persian) have evolved. Today, 5,000 years after the Beaker people spread outwards from southern Russia, 44 per cent of the worlds population speaks Indo-European languages. This antler-adorned potential shaman, surrounded by animals, is portrayed on a Thracian (ancient Bulgarian) silver cauldron. Interestingly, he is portrayed in a seated position. The cauldron was found in a peat bog in Denmark and is now in that countrys national museum in Copenhagen (Wikimedia Commons) The Beaker migrants also introduced the first metal-working technology (copper) into Britain. It is thought that they arrived in western Europe and Britain as a highly mobile very innovative warrior elite. The Lechlade beaker chieftain and his potential shaman wielded their power around 300 years after their culture had first arrived in Britain and were by then the dominant group. However, the duos choice of final resting place was determined by purely pre-beaker phenomena. They appear to have wanted to buy into Britains pre-Beaker heritage and therefore deliberately chose burial sites that were imbued with ancient pre-Beaker power and tradition. Bones unidentified for centuries may belong to one of Englands most historically important queens They therefore chose to be interred in one of the most spiritually and ritually significant places in the whole of southern Britain an ancient pre-Beaker religious and ceremonial complex at the confluence of no less than four rivers (including the Thames itself). That complex had already been important for at least a thousand years. It included at least three pre-Beaker ceremonial monuments a substantial ceremonial enclosure (the so-called cursus), perhaps up to a kilometre long, leading down to or towards the River Thames, a similar 500m long enclosure, leading to one of the other rivers in the confluence (the River Cole) and another major probable Neolithic ritual monument. But history is a continuous and sometimes repetitive process! Just as the chieftain and his probable shaman had sought to buy into the areas prestigious past, so did people who lived in the area hundreds, indeed thousands, of years later. Some 1,200 years after his burial mound had been constructed, four Late Bronze Age people had their cremated remains buried there and 700 years after that, three Iron Age individuals also chose the place as their final resting place. Even in Anglo-Saxon times 900 years after the Iron Age trio had been interred people were deliberately choosing to be buried in that by then very ancient ceremonial area. In all, the Lechlade complex and its surroundings has one of the longest-lasting religious pedigrees in Britain well over 5,000 years. The archaeological investigation into the burial mound and its beaker period, late Bronze Age and Iron Age occupants has been carried out over the past three years. Due to thousands of years of soil erosion and many centuries of ploughing, the burial mound had been completely flattened and had, therefore, become invisible from ground level. But it was that very invisibility that protected the subterranean graves that the funerary mound had covered. It had therefore never been looted by treasure hunters or even excavated by early archaeologists. It is one of the very few intact prehistoric British burial sites to be fully investigated by modern scientific archaeology. Our investigation has been a rare opportunity to shed new light on a crucial period of British prehistory. Whats more, it has allowed us to understand the extraordinary time depth of this ancient funerary monument and its use by so many different cultures from the Neolithic all the way through to the Iron Age, says Andy Hood, of Foundations Archaeology, the company which has carried out all the excavation and other investigatory work. The project has been funded by Lechlade Town Council and King Builders of Gloucester. The second anniversary of the deadly van attack in Toronto is even more difficult this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent shooting rampage in Nova Scotia, Mayor John Tory said Thursday. The mayor started a day of virtual commemoration for the 10 people killed and 16 injured on April 23, 2018, when a man drove a rented van down a busy sidewalk on Yonge Street in north Toronto. We will not be broken, Tory said live on YouTube. Let us take inspiration, both from those we lost, and from the heroes who responded to the tragedy, as we rise to the challenges of today. A local community group will host a virtual vigil Thursday night rather than gathering at the site of the attack, and Tory has asked mourners to avoid gathering or placing flowers and other items near the site. Shortly after his arrest two years ago, Alek Minassian told police he committed the attack for retribution against society after being shunned by women for years. The judge overseeing the trial, which has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, said it will turn on Minassians state of mind not whether he carried out the attack. Tory said the city will never forget those who died and were injured that day. Ten lit candles, representing those who died, will be placed in the mayors office window to face toward the city hall square, where the flags will be lowered to half-mast and the Toronto sign dimmed to honour the victims. The victims of the Yonge St. van attack, clockwise from top left: Anne Marie D'Amico, 30, Dorothy Sewell, 80, Renuka Amarasingha, 45, Geraldine Brady, 83, Munir Najjar, 85, Chul Min (Eddie) Kang, 45, Ji Hun Kim, 22, Andrea Bradden, 33, Betty Forsyth, 94, and So He Chung, 22. Toronto Star composite Ji Hun Kim, So He Chung, Geraldine Brady, Chul Min Kang, Anne Marie Victoria DAmico, Mary Elizabeth Forsyth, Munir Abdo Habib Najjar, Dorothy Marie Sewell, Andrea Bradden and Beutis Renuka Amarasingha died that day. I know that can make it more difficult for some to bear, Tory said. That will not stop us from remembering all the lives that were lost on April 23, 2018. He said the city is also mourning the loss of life after a shooting rampage in Nova Scotia left 22 people dead. This year is especially difficult for many people as we experience as a nation another senseless act of violence and loss of life in our sister province of Nova Scotia, he said. We continue to mourn with the residents Nova Scotia and I want them to know that Toronto is with you during this time and will continue to support you in any way that we can. Read more about: UN chief warns of risks to asylum seekers from closed borders, and governments eroding freedoms under guise of virus. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said the novel coronavirus could give some countries an excuse to adopt repressive measures for reasons unrelated to the pandemic as he warned that the outbreak risks becoming a human rights crisis. Guterres released a UN report on Thursday highlighting how human rights should guide the response and recovery to the health, social and economic crisis affecting the world. He added that while the virus does not discriminate, its impacts do. The new coronavirus, which causes the respiratory illness COVID-19, has so far infected more than 2.6 million people globally while more than 183,120 have died, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The virus first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year. We see the disproportionate effects on certain communities, the rise of hate speech, the targeting of vulnerable groups, and the risks of heavy-handed security responses undermining the health response, Guterres said. The UN report said migrants, refugees and internally displaced people are particularly vulnerable. It said more than 131 countries have closed their borders, with only 30 allowing exemptions for asylum-seekers. Against the background of rising ethno-nationalism, populism, authoritarianism and a pushback against human rights in some countries, the crisis can provide a pretext to adopt repressive measures for purposes unrelated to the pandemic, he said. This is unacceptable. The UN did not give any specific examples of such measures. Reports of abuses In China, people who have spoken out on the outbreak, including doctors, have been questioned by police and arbitrarily detained. Cambodias long-term leader Hun Sen has also been accused of exploiting the coronavirus to accumulate more power, cracking down further on dissent. Amnesty International released a report on Thursday saying the government in Thailand were prosecuting social media users criticising the government or monarchy to try and wipe out any form of dissent. Through harassment and prosecution of its online detractors, Thailands government has created a climate of fear designed to silence those with dissenting views, said Clare Algar, the organisations senior director of research, advocacy and policy. The governments attacks on freedom of expression online are a shameful attempt to escape scrutiny from those who dare to question them. And repression is escalating, with authorities seemingly using the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretext to further quash criticism and unlawfully restrict human rights. Questions have also been raised about whether police have been abusing their powers to enforce lockdowns in Europe. Guterres called on governments to be transparent, responsive and accountable and stressed that civic space and press freedom were critical. He said: The best response is one that responds proportionately to immediate threats while protecting human rights and the rule of law. With businesses shut down and hundreds of millions of people told to stay home to avoid spreading the virus, the International Monetary Fund has predicted the world will suffer its steepest downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s. The UN report said the pandemic was creating further hardship that if not mitigated, will raise tension and could provoke civil unrest, adding that this could then lead to a heavy-handed security response. In all we do, lets never forget: The threat is the virus, not people, Guterres said. A pharmacy technician has been arrested for grand theft and burglary after police discovered nearly $7,000 worth of prescription drugs being considered as coronavirus treatments. Police began investigating Christopher Mencias Agustin, 35, of Torrance, California, after his colleagues at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center noticed more than 700 pills of anti-malarial hydroxychloroquine and antibiotic azithromycin were unaccounted for. The drugs together are valued at about $6,700. Agustin is believed to have entered the premises on two separate occasions and stolen the medications. 'Based on the foreseen high demand of the above-described medication due to the COVID-19 pandemic, hospital stakeholders and hospital personnel have concentrated their inventory monitoring efforts of their supplies,' The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a statement. 'They quickly noticed a discrepancy.' Christopher Mencias Agustin, 35, has been accused of stealing $6,700 worth of drugs. Police found 700 pills of anti-malarial hydroxychloroquine and antibiotic azithromycin at his home Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said that Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (pictured) 'quickly noticed a discrepancy' as based on the foreseen high demand due to COVID-19 hospital personnel have concentrated their inventory monitoring efforts on their supplies Law enforcement agencies did not say what evidence indicated Agustin may have been behind the missing drugs before they searched his property. It was not indicated on what terms his job at Harbor-UCLA ended, when it ended or how long he worked there. According to the Board of Pharmacy Agustin has a clear pharmacist license that was activated July 2004 and expires November 2021. President Trump hailed hydroxychloroquine as a 'gamechanger' in a March 21 briefing. Two days later a man died after ingesting the fish tank cleaning agent chloroquine phosphate which is toxic compared to the tablet form. Police warned the type of medication to treat a variety of auto-immune diseases can also be fatal when taken outside of the care of a medical professional. Law enforcement said despite the pandemic having an impact on law enforcement across the country, the LASD County Services Bureau Detectives and deputies from Harbor/UCLA investigated this case to its entirety. President Trump hailed hydroxychloroquine as a 'gamechanger' in a March 21 briefing Detective workforces are currently divided between their regular duties and being reassigned to patrol due to the health emergency. During the search on April 9, additional prescription drugs and one controlled substance were recovered at the location. The Los Angeles County District Attorney helped investigate the 'theft and illegal sales of prescription drugs intended to combat the COVID-19 virus'. In California, there were more than 39,000 coronavirus cases and more than 1,500 death as of Thursday evening. 'Due to the current COVID-19 public health emergency, and the heightened public vulnerability regarding the propensity for citizens to purchase these types of medications, LASD is urging the public not to buy from someone other than a healthcare provider or pharmacist working inside a licensed pharmacy location,' they added in a statement. Agustin was initially arrested March 31 and posted $20,000 bail. The case was filed for warrant April 20 and he was arrested again April 21. Agustin was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail for two counts of 2nd Degree Burglary during Emergency. He was also held on a felony count of concealing or withholding stolen property exceeding $950. His first court appearance was on Wednesday and he pleaded not guilty. He has since been released on his own recognizance. If convicted he faces a maximum of four years and four months incarcerated. Actor Tom Holland has had many career firsts over the past few years: His first Marvel Cinematic Universe film, his first time being in the middle of a studio battle, and his first truly viral moment (his Lip Sync Battle performance). All of these are a lot of pressure on a person. However, Holland says that writing a script is even more stressful. Tom Holland joined the MCU with Captain America: Civil War Holland first began performing as a child, most notably in Billy Elliott the Musical in his native London. He then gained some recognition for early film roles, including The Heart of the Sea with fellow Marvel actor Chris Hemsworth. Around this time, he also starred in the British miniseries Wolf Hall. But it was Hollands swing into the MCU that got him worldwide recognition. He first portrayed Peter Parker in 2016s Captain America: Civil War. Though he didnt have a large part in the star-studded film, he called it his audition for the public, saying, Civil War was my chance to, kind of, show the world what I was trying to create. He then starred in Homecoming and Far From Home Fortunately for Holland (and Marvel), he quickly earned fan approval. Next up was his first solo entry: Spider-Man: Homecoming, which debuted in July 2017. The film was a joint venture between Sony (which owns the rights to the character) and Marvel. Holland later appeared in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. He was then tasked with closing out the MCUs Phase 3 with the sequel Spider-Man: Far From Home. If that wasnt enough pressure, a subsequent struggle between Disney (which owns Marvel) and Sony put the characters future crossovers jeopardy. Fortunately, this was worked out, with Holland getting really emotional while trying to help smooth things over. Holland wrote a script with his brother Throughout his journey, Hollands family has been by his side. This includes his younger brother, Harry Holland. In fact, while sheltering in place during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the two have taken on a difficult project together. Harry and I have been working on the script weve been writing together. So weve done some really good work on that, he told Jimmy Kimmel on April 21, 2020. Weve sent that out yesterday to the first bunch of producers which is actually more nerve-wracking than anything Ive ever done in my career because Im worried that theyre going to actually find out that Im really stupid and I cant spell anything. When does filming for the third Spider-Man movie begin? Tom Holland at the Spider-Man: Far From Home World premiere on June 26, 2019. | Chris Delmas/AFP via Getty Images Though Holland is keeping busy in quarantine, he has a lot to look forward to. He tells Kimmel that he had just started filming Uncharted with Mark Wahlberg when they shut down for coronavirus. However his future schedule is not certain. As previously reported, the final film in his Spider-Man trilogy was set to begin shooting in July. Im not too sure, he told Kimmel of whats to come. Whether we shoot [Uncharted] first or we shoot Spider-Man first Im unclear. But both movies are being made. Given that hes always up for a challenge, we think Holland will weather this storm just fine. By Trend The World Health Organization (WHO) had declared COVID-19 a global emergency, the highest level of alert, at the right time, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said here on Wednesday, Trend reports citing Xinhua. "Looking back, I think we declared an emergency, at the right time... when the rest of the world had enough time to respond," Tedros told a virtual press briefing. On Jan. 30, the WHO chief declared the outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), sending the highest level of alarm to the world. "This is more than two months and 21 days ago, close to three months from now," when "there were only 82 cases and no death" outside China, he recalled. At that time, what was reported from Europe is ten cases - five from France, one from Finland, and four from Germany, while no case had been reported yet in Africa, he added, suggesting it was possible to cut transmission chains. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Australia's chief medical officer says a deadly COVID-19 outbreak in northwest Tasmania likely originated from a Ruby Princess passenger and is a lesson of how easily the virus can spread. The region has been told to brace for an extension of tough restrictions as authorities try to contain the outbreak which accounts for more than half of the island's 205 cases. There were no new virus cases recorded on Thursday, the first time since March 31. Ruby Princess cruise ship departs Port Kembla on April 23, 2020 in Wollongong Pictured: Staff and passengers celebrate the final night on board the Ruby Princess before the ship docked in Sydney Professor Brendan Murphy earlier told a senate committee into the nation's pandemic response northwest Tasmania is a 'very good example' of how infectious the virus is. 'Tasmania Health have been investigating. I haven't seen the final report, but it seems likely healthcare workers picked up the virus, probably, from a Ruby Princess passenger who was being cared for,' he said. Prof Murphy had initially suggested the outbreak was a result of an 'illegal dinner party' among hospital staff, but later retracted the claim. The first three of the state's eight virus deaths were passengers aboard the ill-fated cruise ship which originally docked in Sydney. Two of them were patients at the North West Regional Hospital in Burnie which has since been closed alongside its private counterpart, forcing 1200 staff into quarantine. Australian Border Force ordered the Ruby Princess to depart Australian waters on Thursday Exterior view on the closed entrance to the North West Regional Hospital in Burnie, Tasmania, Australia, 14 April 2020 State Public Health Director Mark Veitch has previously said the Ruby Princess link is being probed as part of an ongoing investigation. The outbreak, which has infected more than 70 healthcare workers, prompted tough retail restrictions in the northwest which are due to be lifted Sunday night. CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement 'I do want to ready the northwest for the circumstance that this may not occur for another week,' Premier Peter Gutwein said, adding a decision will be announced on Friday. Mr Gutwein implored parents to start planning for the event that northwest schools do not reopen for term two. Public schools are planned to reopen on April 28 statewide but only for children of essential workers and those who can't be taught at home. 'The measures taken in the northwest are the toughest in the country,' Mr Gutwein said. 'I want to thank the people of the northwest for how they have responded.' Anyone in the region with virus symptoms, such as a runny nose, cough or sore throat, is being urged to contact authorities and arrange testing. There are plans to widen testing guidelines for people in the north and south, where virus case numbers have remained low. A total of 91 people have recovered from the virus. Both closed hospitals in Burnie are undergoing a specialist deep clean, with services to progressively resume over coming weeks. Kim Yo-jong, younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, walks ahead of Kim who escorts his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in at the North's ruling Workers' Party headquarters in Pyongyang on Sept. 18, 2018. AP With North Korea saying nothing so far about outside media reports that leader Kim Jong-un may be unwell, there is renewed worry about who is next in line to run a nuclear-armed country that has been ruled by the same family for seven decades. Questions about Kim's health flared after he skipped an April 15 commemoration of the 108th birthday of his grandfather, North Korea founder Kim Il-sung. It is North Korea's most important event and Kim, 36, hadn't missed it since inheriting power from his father in late 2011. North Korea's state media on Wednesday said Kim sent a message thanking Syria's president for conveying greetings on his grandfather's birthday, but didn't report any other activities, while rival South Korea repeated that no unusual developments had been detected in the North. Kim has been out of the public eye for extended periods in the past, and North Korea's secretive nature allows few outsiders to assert confidently whether he might be unwell, let alone incapacitated. Still, questions about the North's political future are likely to grow if he fails to attend coming public events. Kim is the third generation of his family to rule North Korea and a strong personality cult has been built around him, his father and grandfather. The family's mythical "Paektu" bloodline, named after the highest peak on the Korean Peninsula, is said to give only direct family members the right to rule the nation. That makes Kim's younger sister, senior ruling party official Kim Yo-jong, the most likely candidate to step in if her brother is gravely ill, incapacitated or dies. But some experts say a collective leadership, which could end the family's dynastic rule, could also be possible. "Among the North's power elite, Kim Yo-jong has the highest chance to inherit power, and I think that possibility is more than 90 percent," said analyst Cheong Seong-chang at the private Sejong Institute in South Korea. "North Korea is like a dynasty, and we can view the Paektu descent as royal blood, so it's unlikely for anyone to raise any issue over Kim Yo-jong taking power." Believed to be in her early 30s, Kim Yo-jong is in charge of North Korea's propaganda affairs and earlier this month was made an alternate member of the powerful Politburo. She has frequently appeared with her brother at public activities, standing out among elderly male officials. She accompanied Kim Jong-un on his high-stakes summits with President Donald Trump and other world leaders. Her proximity to him during those summits led many outsiders to believe she is essentially North Korea's No. 2 official. "I think the basic assumption would be that maybe it would be someone in the family" to replace Kim Jong-un, U.S. national security adviser Robert O'Brien told reporters Tuesday. "But again, it's too early to talk about that because we just don't know what condition Chairman Kim is in and we'll have to see how it plays out." The fact that North Korea is an extremely patriarchal society has led some to wonder if Kim Yo-jong would only serve as a temporary figurehead and then be replaced by a collective leadership similar to ones established after the deaths of other Communist dictators. "North Korean politics and the three hereditary power transfers have been male-centered," said Nam Sung-wook, a professor at Korea University in South Korea. "I wonder whether she can really overcome bloody socialist power struggles and exercise her power." A collective leadership would likely be headed by Choe Ryong-hae, North Korea's ceremonial head of state who officially ranks No. 2 in the country's current power hierarchy, Nam said. But Choe is not a Kim family member and that could raise questions about his legitimacy and put North Korea into deeper political chaos, according to other observers. Other Kim family members who might take over include Kim Pyong-il, the 65-year-old half-brother of Kim Jong-il who reportedly returned home in November after decades in Europe as a diplomat. Kim Pyong-il's age "could make him a reasonable front man for collective leadership by the State Affairs Commission and regent for the preferred next generation successor," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. "However, elite power dynamics and danger of instability might make this an unlikely option." (AP) These are extraordinary times and we all are in uncharted territory. There is a lot of fear and negativity in all spheres due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. While the Corona Warriors are doing a tremendous job fighting from the frontlines, we at Adgully are embarking on an endeavour to highlight the positive developments during these challenging times. Adgully is featuring a series of brief interactions with industry leaders in India and find out how they are keeping their spirits up as well as keeping their employees motivated, also how they are joining in the fight against the adverse impact of the global pandemic. Robert Godinho, Managing Director, MediaMonks, India, stresses on the importance of health and safety amid COVID-19 times, and adds how being empathetic, patient and thankful for everything we have are important, too, to emerge out of this crisis. What steps are you and your organisation taking to help out the society at large or those engaged in the war against Covid-19? While health and safety is the foundation of this pandemic situation, there are many other key things that need to be done to come out of this, hurt yet strong. One of my key tasks is to look after my work family, which means, working harder to make sure we don't let go of any artists, and avoid pay cuts. By doing this small gesture, I believe, we will collectively ensure that our economy does not dive further and employment and consumption can start building the foundation for the next few quarters. We are also working with charitable organisations to help generate more contributions so they can continue to do the good work of feeding, hosting and looking after the community. How are you keeping your employees motivated and are encouraging them to give their best, even as they are working from home? MediaMonks is a hub for passionate artists, and even though the teams are bound by four walls, their minds are not. Our young directors programme has gotten together to make a creative collage with 21 films of Quarantine, a series of films shot, directed and edited by our teams to document the different moods of a quarantine situation, yet the extremely optimistic India. Being quarantined is a beautiful time to stop and take stock of ones trajectory. To this extent, I have spent one on one time with each of my artists over the last few weeks to understand where they are in their journey and to mentor them into the next chapter of their life. Being key stakeholders in the business, they need to be nourished and given room to grow rather than hitting that glass ceiling, we so often find ourselves pressed up against. What is most needed in challenging times such as these: (a) From the general public: Be empathetic, be patient and most importantly, be thankful for everything you have. It is this that will help us see not only how lucky we are, but also why it is important to follow the protocol. (b) From the authorities: Initiatives to help SMBs to survive the next couple of months. Consumption and economic stability are key when the country and the world are going through such tumultuous times. It would be sad to see a negative domino effect in times like these. (c) From business leaders: It is important to be prudent and austere, but also very important to be mindful of the trickle effect and to make sure that the economy continues to chug along in a further more holistic manner, rather than looking too deeply inwards. To tweak a campaign that was launched many years ago, I believe if we can pledge Each one save one, the task at hand is not so difficult. Gravely, our center and all of its affiliates, including full-time and weekend schools, have been shut down since mid-March in compliance with recommendations from our local and national authorities, he said. This will continue during the month of Ramadan unless there are any changes that will allow us to resume our services. The curriculum operates in a space where knowledge is recontextualised and organised for various pedagogical purposes. It also exists as a compelling site of personal, social, cultural, political and symbolic reflection. The process of selection necessarily entailed in the design of curricula (on our behalf) almost inevitably results in opposing ideologies competing with each other, in order to stamp their authority on the curriculum. Whether these ideologies are personal, cultural or political, they function to construct our pedagogic identity and structure our lifeworld in fundamental ways.It is fascinating to consider the breadth and complexity of curriculum debates and, in particular, the structuring of the field in relation to competing for epistemologies (theories of knowing) and new ontologies (ways of being).The rapid emergence of a global Zeitgeist made possible by 21st-century technology has recast the potential of technology for transforming pedagogy into a powerful ontology in its own right. This new way of being in the world is reframing and reshaping the organisation and transmission of knowledge, with profound ethical, social, moral and commercial consequences for the construction of pedagogic identities.In this way, technology is clearly emerging as much more than a revised methodology. The digital becomes more than merely how we get things done, and instead, becomes a matter of how we come to be in the new Knowledge Age and, significantly, how we come to know. But how is this new way of knowing and being codified and grounded in the curriculum? Moreover, how will it shape the pedagogic identities that it sponsors? What are the consequences for citizenship and the world of work? Yuval Noah Harari (2018) discusses a fast-approaching, intractable paradox, suggesting that the only thing we can be sure of is an uncertain future. The current Covid-19 pandemic validates this point quite poignantly. The best thing we can do, he argues, is to prepare students for the inevitability of lifelong learning, upskilling and reskilling. All of this takes place in a context of disruption, represented by the fourth and fifth industrial revolutions (4IR and 5IR), which are increasingly reframing and reshaping modern societies and the world of work.The ontological shift necessitated by 4IR and 5IR portents significant disruption for the curriculum. Curriculum practitioners worldwide predict the death of the qualification as we know it. As such, questions surrounding an uncertain future dominate the curriculum studies landscape: How can the curriculum be transformed to address the requirements of a super-complex world of work, where grand narratives not yet fully known or understood are likely to dominate the pedagogic identity of the future? Does this ontological shift signal an increasingly close relationship between departments of education and labour around the world? Can we imagine a political dispensation in which these two departments are combined into a single supra-department, in which education increasingly comes to serve the interests of labour?It comes as no surprise that 21st-century technologies have shifted both the production and dissemination of knowledge in the new Knowledge Age, with the result that digital modalities are now ubiquitous in the pedagogies of the developed world. But what about pedagogic contexts where technology remains significantly absent? How will the pedagogic identity formed in a technologically poor environment compete in an increasingly global and technological world of work? Indeed, how will we, as a community of educational practitioners, respond to the social justice challenges generated by this great divide?In this new dispensation, technology is elevated to the ideological. There will be winners and losers. British sociologist, Basil Bernstein (2000), makes this point as follows: A school metaphorically holds up a mirror in which an image is reflected. There may be several images, positive and negative. A schools ideology may be seen as a construction in a mirror through which images are reflected. The question is: who recognises themselves as of value? What other images are excluded by the dominant image of value so that some students are unable to recognise themselves? In the same way, we can ask about the acoustic of the school. Whose voice is heard? Who is speaking? Who is hailed by this voice? For whom is it familiar? Digital pedagogies and their implications represent just a fraction of the many compelling debates in curriculum studies. These debates cut to the very heart of what it means to be human, to live, and to prosper (or not) in contemporary society.Altbach, P. and De Wit, H. (2020), Post pandemic outlook for HE is bleakest for the poorest. UWN [website] https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20200402152914362 accessed 9 April 2020.Bernstein, B. (2000), Pedagogy, Symbolic Control, and Identity: Theory, Research, Critique. New York, NY: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.Harari, Y. N. (2018), Yuval Noah Harari on what the year 2050 has in store for humankind. Wired [website] https://www.wired.co.uk/article/yuval-noah-harari-extract-21-lessons-for-the-21st-century accessed 6 April 2020.Over the last 20 years, Mike Thoms has served as the Academic Head and Head of Institution at a number of registered private higher education institutions in South Africa. Currently, he works as a consultant for private higher education institutions and is undertaking research relevant to the sector. His current research interests pertain to higher education policy as a lever of social and cultural reproduction. Previous research interests included pedagogic identity as the outworking of pedagogic relays that often codify power and ideology.Thoms acts as an expert advisor to Edge on matters relating to best practice, quality and quality assurance in higher education. The entire Muslim community cannot be held responsible for one group's 'crime', minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Thursday while reacting to instances of Muslims being blamed for the spurt in COVID-19 cases after Tablighi Jamaat congregation in New Delhi, and asserted that most of the minority community members have condemned the group's action. IMAGE: Members of the Tablighi Jamaat show victory sign as they leave in a bus from LNJP hospital for the quarantine centre in New Delhi. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo Naqvi also expressed confidence that Muslims will abide by lockdown guidelines during the holy month of Ramzan. He said across the India, imams, Ulema and Muslim organizations have unanimously decided that during Ramzan (the Islamic holy month), Muslims will not congregate in mosques, religious places and perform all rituals like 'Iftaar' (breaking of fast) and 'taraweeh' (special prayers) at home keeping in mind social distancing norms. Naqvi said he has spoken with State Waqf Board officials, social and religious leaders, imams on adherence to the lockdown and social distancing guidelines during the Ramzan month starting Friday or Saturday evening and they have begun creating awareness among the people. Asked about some people blaming Muslims for the spread of the pandemic after a large number of cases were found linked to the Tablighi Jamaat event at Nizamudddin in New Delhi, Naqvi said the whole community cannot be held responsible for the 'crime' of one organisation or one person. "Whatever that organisation did, criminal negligence or crime...most Muslims have strongly reacted to it, condemned it and called for action against it. Entire community cannot be held responsible for one person or one organisation's crime," he asserted, adding that this has always been India's culture. Last week, the Union health ministry had said 29.8 per cent of the total COVID-19 cases -- 4,291 out of 14,378 COVID-19 infections -- in the country were linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in March at the group's headquarters in New Delhi following which some sections of the society severely criticised Muslims, and blamed them for the spread of the pandemic in the country. Naqvi's comments also assume significance in view of the 57-member prominent international Mulim grouping, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, asking India to take 'urgent steps' to protect the rights of its minority Muslim community and stop the incidents of 'Islamophobia' in the country. Hitting out at the OIC, the minister had said the country is 'heaven for Muslims' and those trying to vitiate the atmosphere of prosperity cannot be friends of Indian Muslims. Naqvi said those targeting Muslims are few isolated people who are trying to spread 'misinformation' and 'we should be united and isolate such elements'. On the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions during Ramzan, Naqvi said no Muslim wants to stay away from mosques during the holy month, but everyone has resolved to win this battle against coronavirus. During this month, everyone should pray to God that not only India but also the entire world is freed from this COVID-19 pandemic, he said. Asked whether Muslims have followed lockdown and social distancing guidelines till now, Naqvi said, "Absolutely, the entire country is standing united in this fight against coronavirus." "When Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to people with folded hands, he had appealed to 130 crore Indians, it was not based on caste or religion. And everybody responded to his appeal and acted on it," he said. People have faith that whatever Prime Minister Modi does is for the health and safety of the people, Naqvi said. Asked about the role of the Opposition in the fight against COVID-19 and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi's suggestions, Naqvi said, "Some people have criticised, but that is their habit, we don't take any offence to it." The external fund manager backed by Berkshire Hathaway's Charlie Munger, Li Lu, makes no bones about it when he says 'The biggest investment risk is not the volatility of prices, but whether you will suffer a permanent loss of capital. When we think about how risky a company is, we always like to look at its use of debt, since debt overload can lead to ruin. We can see that AviChina Industry & Technology Company Limited (HKG:2357) does use debt in its business. But should shareholders be worried about its use of debt? When Is Debt Dangerous? Generally speaking, debt only becomes a real problem when a company can't easily pay it off, either by raising capital or with its own cash flow. If things get really bad, the lenders can take control of the business. However, a more frequent (but still costly) occurrence is where a company must issue shares at bargain-basement prices, permanently diluting shareholders, just to shore up its balance sheet. Of course, the upside of debt is that it often represents cheap capital, especially when it replaces dilution in a company with the ability to reinvest at high rates of return. The first step when considering a company's debt levels is to consider its cash and debt together. View our latest analysis for AviChina Industry & Technology What Is AviChina Industry & Technology's Debt? The image below, which you can click on for greater detail, shows that AviChina Industry & Technology had debt of CN10.8b at the end of December 2019, a reduction from CN13.2b over a year. But on the other hand it also has CN15.1b in cash, leading to a CN4.24b net cash position. SEHK:2357 Historical Debt April 22nd 2020 How Strong Is AviChina Industry & Technology's Balance Sheet? According to the last reported balance sheet, AviChina Industry & Technology had liabilities of CN45.8b due within 12 months, and liabilities of CN6.34b due beyond 12 months. Offsetting these obligations, it had cash of CN15.1b as well as receivables valued at CN24.2b due within 12 months. So it has liabilities totalling CN12.9b more than its cash and near-term receivables, combined. Story continues This deficit is considerable relative to its market capitalization of CN16.6b, so it does suggest shareholders should keep an eye on AviChina Industry & Technology's use of debt. This suggests shareholders would be heavily diluted if the company needed to shore up its balance sheet in a hurry. Despite its noteworthy liabilities, AviChina Industry & Technology boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load! Also good is that AviChina Industry & Technology grew its EBIT at 12% over the last year, further increasing its ability to manage debt. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But it is future earnings, more than anything, that will determine AviChina Industry & Technology's ability to maintain a healthy balance sheet going forward. So if you're focused on the future you can check out this free report showing analyst profit forecasts. Finally, while the tax-man may adore accounting profits, lenders only accept cold hard cash. AviChina Industry & Technology may have net cash on the balance sheet, but it is still interesting to look at how well the business converts its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to free cash flow, because that will influence both its need for, and its capacity to manage debt. Considering the last three years, AviChina Industry & Technology actually recorded a cash outflow, overall. Debt is usually more expensive, and almost always more risky in the hands of a company with negative free cash flow. Shareholders ought to hope for an improvement. Summing up While AviChina Industry & Technology does have more liabilities than liquid assets, it also has net cash of CN4.24b. On top of that, it increased its EBIT by 12% in the last twelve months. So although we see some areas for improvement, we're not too worried about AviChina Industry & Technology's balance sheet. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. However, not all investment risk resides within the balance sheet - far from it. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with AviChina Industry & Technology , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. Of course, if you're the type of investor who prefers buying stocks without the burden of debt, then don't hesitate to discover our exclusive list of net cash growth stocks, today. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Vietnam gained shrimp export growth to some key export markets in the first quarter of this year, especially Japan and the US, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Vietnams total shrimp export value in the first three months rose by 1.8 per cent year-on-year to $628.6 million. Photo vinanet.vn Japan jumped to first place in the five largest export markets, accounting for 21 per cent of Viet Nams total shrimp export value after the export value to this market in February surged sharply by 63 per cent year-on-year, according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). During this period, Viet Nam earned $132 million from shrimp exports to Japan, 8.4 per cent higher than the same period of last year. Meanwhile, the US became the second largest export market for Vietnamese shrimp in the first quarter because of higher demand for essential food, including shrimp, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the association reported. In the first three months Viet Nam's shrimp export value to the US market reached US$115.5 million, a surge of 18.2 per cent year-on-year. This was the highest growth rate among the top five export markets for Vietnamese shrimp during the first quarter. In March alone, the shrimp export value to this market increased by 11.5 per cent to $41.3 million year on year. However, in the same month, shrimp export to many other major export markets decreased in value against the same period of last year, including the EU (16 per cent), South Korea (6.3 per cent) and China (6.4 per cent). It is reported that Viet Nams total shrimp export value in the first three months rose by 1.8 per cent year-on-year to $628.6 million. Although it is still unclear when the pandemic ends, there is high demand for shrimp on the domestic and global markets because it is one essential food, according to the association. Therefore, Viet Nam needs to ensure shrimp supply for the home and abroad markets now and in the future. Shrimp output in many key producers in the world such as India and Ecuador is estimated to reduce due to disease of shrimp and bad weather while the shrimp demand on the global market is forecast to increase sharply after the pandemic. VNS Vietnams capital of shrimp farming The southernmost provinces of Ca Mau and Bac Lieu have recently emerged as Vietnams largest shrimp exporters, helping Vietnamese shrimp secure a foothold on the world seafood market. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 00:12:02|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A paramedic performs the COVID-19 rapid test for a man in North Sumatra, Indonesia, April 23, 2020. The Indonesian government on Thursday announced 357 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the archipelagic country to 7,775. (Photo by Jefri Tarigan/Xinhua) JAKARTA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia will ban all air and sea travel until June this year, commencing on Friday as an effort to curb the further spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Transportation Ministry said on Thursday. The ban on air travel will be effective till June 1, and that on sea travel till June 8, the ministry's spokesperson Adita Irawati said. Cargo transportation and other transportation in support of anti-pandemic efforts are exempted from the ban, the ministry's Director General for Aviation Novie Riyanto Rahardjo said. The transports for top officials of state institutions, state guests, representatives of foreign nations, international organizations, repatriations of Indonesian citizens from abroad or return of foreign nationals to their countries are also excluded from the ban, Rahardjo said. Indonesia has been striving to cut the transmission chains of the COVID-19 by applying partial lockdowns in some big cities including the country's capital Jakarta, and prohibiting the tradition of exodus for celebrating the Islamic festivity in the world's biggest Muslim country. The COVID-19 keeps spreading across the country as of Thursday as the number of casualties due to the disease rose to 647 with the number of infection cases climbing to 7,775, the government's spokesman for the COVID-19 Related Matters Achmad Yurianto announced. To control the spread of the novel Coronavirus, medical agencies have time and again come up with the precautionary practices that one should follow. Most of them build on the World Health Organisations tip to maintain utmost personal hygiene. That is because the COVID-19 is a highly contagious streak of Coronavirus. A simple misstep in following the basic precautions can expose one to catching the virus. That is also the reason why more than 2.6 million people have been infected with the virus to date. Reuters Regardless, here we look at all the Coronavirus tips we should adhere to and all those that we should not follow. In doing so, we will try to figure out the best precautionary measures and how to follow them through easy practices. DOs Wash Hands Regularly Hand Wash (Representative Image: Reuters) Hands can be the prime source of virus transmission for two main reasons. One, we use our hands for various tasks and that leaves them exposed to the virus being transmitted through such surfaces/ objects. Second, we can easily touching your face, eyes, ears or nose can be an easy entry point for the virus to find its way to the inside of your body. So the best solution for both the problems is to keep washing hands regularly and avoid touching your face. One can also use gloves while going out or use hand sanitiser regularly. Note that washing hands with soap and water for more than 20 seconds is still considered to be the best precaution. While Sneezing/ Coughing, Always Use Handkerchief Or Tissue (Representative Image: Reuters) Coronavirus is mainly spread through the respiratory droplets of those infected by it. These droplets are expelled into the air around the infected through coughing and sneezing. Hence, it is important that such droplets are not let out at all. An easy way of doing this is for everyone to follow basic hygiene and cover their mouths while coughing or sneezing with a cloth or a tissue. You should discard the tissue immediately afterwards. Everyone should follow this practice as this will make sure that even a asymptomatic carrier of the disease does not contribute to its further spread. Clean Commonly Used Surfaces At Home (Representative Image: Reuters) It has been found out through various studies on the virus that the Coronavirus can stay active on surfaces for varying durations, mostly based on the nature of the surface. Hence, it is an important practice to clean such surfaces regularly with disinfectants. The ongoing sealing of localities found with infected cases is partly due to this. Sanitising a place is of utmost importance if there are cues of the Coronavirus being present there. Rubbing alcohol, disinfectants or even hand sanitisers can then be used on all the surfaces to destroy the Coronavirus and not let it spread. Wear a mask DIY Surgical Mask Brace (Image: Fix the Mask) An important step for all those who need to step out of their homes for any purpose. Even though the COVID 19 isn't airborne, masks can prevent its spread by controlling the transmission of respiratory droplets as mentioned above. Masks should especially be worn if you are feeling sick and/ or coughing or sneezing. In case you do not have access to a mask around your residence, you can make one yourself by things usually found within the home. Once made, share it with the world, by clicking a selfie or video and tag it under hashtag #MaskIndia. The Times Of India will feature the best and most innovative creations online. DO NOTs Before we decide on our actions, we should understand the situation thoroughly. As per WHOs recent advisory, the way back from the lockdowns to life as it was before is hard. In fact, even when the activities resume, the threat of a second or a third wave of the Coronavirus will not be absent. Around 70 Coronavirus vaccines are under various stages of development across the globe. However, they are expected to be available by next year at the earliest. With no cure expected anytime soon, taking utmost precaution for the time being will be our best hope against the virus. This means, we should strictly be saying no to the following activities: Do not go out (Representative Image) This is the golden rule for keeping yourself safe from the virus. Minimise the exposure to the outside world and the chances of the virus getting to you will be reduced dramatically. That is also why almost the entire world is experiencing a lockdown, in an effort to break the chain and stop the transmission of the COVID 19. Do not go near those sick/ unwell It is strongly advised that you avoid contact or being in close proximity with people whore unwell. Not just Coronavirus, any sort of infection will damage your immune system and that is a risk not to be taken amid the Coronavirus spread. Do not venture out if you feel sick No matter the urgency of your task, avoid stepping out of your house if you are unwell. Even if you feel you have common cold, taking a rest would be the best way for you to recover quickly. In case the symptoms extend to severe cold or flu and troubled breathing, you might want to get a medical checkup done. Oxford University is launching a human trial of a potential coronavirus vaccine, with the daunting aim of making a successful jab available to the public later this year. Of the more than 100 research projects around the world to find a vaccine -- described by the United Nations as the only route back to "normality" -- seven are currently in clinical trials, according to the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Such trials are already underway in China and the United States and are due to begin at the end of this month in Germany, where the federal vaccine authority gave the green light on Wednesday. The British government strongly supports Oxford University's work, and the first human trials were to start on Thursday, Health Minister Matt Hancock said. He hailed the "promising development", pointing out that it would normally take "years" to reach such a stage of vaccine development. In its first phase, half of 1,112 volunteers will receive the potential vaccine against COVID-19, the other half a control vaccine to test its safety and efficacy. The volunteers are aged between 18 and 55, are in good health, have not tested positive for COVID-19 and are not pregnant or breastfeeding. Ten participants will receive two doses of the experimental vaccine, four weeks apart. Professor Sarah Gilbert's team hopes for an 80 per cent success rate, and plans to produce one million doses by September, with the aim of making it widely available by the autumn if successful. But the teams carrying out this research say on their website that this timetable is "highly ambitious" and could change. The government's chief medical officer Chris Whitty acknowledged on Wednesday that the likelihood of getting a vaccine within the year was "incredibly small". "If people are hoping it's suddenly going to move from where we are in lockdown to where suddenly into everything is gone, that is a wholly unrealistic expectation," he warned. The strategy of not waiting for each step to be completed before launching production is a financial "gamble", according to Nicola Stonehouse, professor of molecular virology at the University of Leeds. But the current crisis makes it a necessary gamble, she told AFP. The Oxford vaccine is based on a chimpanzee adenovirus, which is modified to produce proteins in human cells that are also produced by COVID-19. It is hoped the vaccine will teach the body's immune system to then recognise the protein and help stop the coronavirus from entering human cells. The adenovirus vaccine is known to develop a strong immune response with a single dose and is not a replicating virus, so cannot cause infection, making it safer for children, the elderly and patients with underlying diseases such as diabetes. The government, under fire in the media over its handling of the crisis, set up a task force last weekend to coordinate research efforts and to develop capability to mass-produce a vaccine as soon as it is available, wherever it comes from. It is also supporting research at Imperial College London, which hopes to start clinical trials in June. Their research focuses on a vaccine exploiting a different principle, using RNA, the messenger molecules that build proteins in the cells, to stimulate the immune system. Finding a vaccine is the only possible way to bring the world back to "normality", UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned last week, calling for an acceleration of projects. The UN on Monday adopted a resolution calling for "equitable, effective and rapid" access to a possible vaccine. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For twelve days earlier this month, the rescue ship Alan Kurdi, with 150 refugees on board, waited for permission to land at a European port. This is like a scene from the 1930s, when Jews fleeing Hitler were denied safe haven by all the great powers. In a cynical act, Malta and Italy declared their own ports unsafe because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Only last Friday were the refugees and crew of the Alan Kurdi, a German vessel, transferred to an Italian ferry, where they will be tested for coronavirus and spend a fortnight in quarantine. The Alan Kurdi rescued 150 refugees from two wooden boats on April 6, but the ship was then prevented from entering a European port. The situation on board the vessel, which was not designed to accommodate so many people over such a long period of time, became increasingly acute. Syrian and Iraqi refugees from Turkey arrive at Skala Sykamineas on the island of Lesbos where they are rescued by volunteers of the Spanish NGO Proactiva Open Arms, October 30, 2015 (Source: Ggia, CC BY-SA 4.0) The rescuing of the refugees itself had been extremely dramatic. On the morning of April 6, the Alan Kurdi, under Captain Barbel Beuse, rushed to a wooden boat in international waters off the coast of Libya, with 68 refugees on board. During the rescue, a speedboat belonging to the self-proclaimed European Union (EU)-backed Libyan coast guard turned up. Without any warning, the Libyans fired into the air, and half the refugees jumped into the water in panic, without life jackets. The crew of the Alan Kurdi threw all available life-saving equipment into the sea, but the refugees could only be plucked from the water when the Libyan coast guard boat pulled away. During this operation, the Alan Kurdi received notice of another maritime emergency further north. There, 82 refugees in another wooden boat were in distress. The offshore supply ship Asso Ventinove, which arrived at the scene several hours before the Alan Kurdi, refused to mount any rescue operation, claiming it had to stand ready for a possible accident on an oil rig. Therefore, the rescue ship evacuated this boat and asked the Italian authorities for permission to land at a safe harbour with the 150 refugees on board. The Alan Kurdi set course for the waters north of the Sicilian port of Palermo, but was forbidden from landing. On April 8, the Italian government issued a new decree, stating that the countrys ports were not safe havens for people rescued at sea by non-Italian flagged vessels during the coronavirus emergency. An almost identical decree had previously been adopted by the Maltese government. Malta and Italy also made it clear that they would not allow rescue vessels to land even if the distribution of refugees to other EU states had been agreed beforehand. The reason given was that it would no longer be possible to help migrants, as the police and military were concentrating their resources on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, medical care could no longer be guaranteed, as the health system was already overburdened with the care of those suffering from COVID-19. This argument cynically pits human life against human life. The suffering of the victims of the coronavirus crisis should not be the reason for refusing help to those who are not in danger of suffocating in an intensive care bed, but of drowning, according to a joint statement by Medecins sans Frontieres [Doctors Without Borders], SOS Mediterranee, Sea Watch and Open Arms. Nevertheless, the countries bordering the Mediterranean have stopped providing all aid to refugees in distress at sea. They are also supported in this by the German federal government. The German Interior Ministry, headed by Horst Seehofer, has called on all refugee aid organisations in the Mediterranean to halt their sea rescue operations. In view of the current difficult situation, we therefore appeal to you not to begin any voyages at present and to recall ships that have already set sail, the head of the ministrys Migration Department wrote to Sea-Eye, among others. The chairman of Sea-Eye, Gorden Isler, told the Suddeutsche Zeitung, These are the same politicians who have been stressing for weeks that those affected by the corona crisis must accept all restrictions on freedom, because the aim is to save livesand every single life is precious. On the other hand, they say we should stop the rescue work? Its like saying, Let people die. But that is precisely the aim and slogan of the European governments. In the week before Easter, according to information from the aid organisation Watch the MedAlarmphone, as a result of better weather and the worsening situation in Libyan refugee and internment camps, more than 2,000 refugees set off for Europe in around 20 vessels, with ten of them needing assistance. The Alan Kurdi was initially denied urgently needed drinking water, food, and fuel. On April 12, the crew was promised that an Italian quarantine ship would receive the rescued refugees within a few hours. But it was not for another five days that the ship even set sail. Due to the tense situation on board the Alan Kurdi, the cramped conditions and uncertainty, conflicts became more and more frequent. On Wednesday, a refugee who had been held for months in a Libyan internment camp and had experienced terrible violence tried to slit his wrists. He and his two cousins were taken aboard boats belonging to the Italian coast guard. In the process, other refugees threatened to throw themselves into the sea. People are totally desperate and have been held on the Alan Kurdi for ten days. They indicated that they wanted to jump into the water to reach the Italian boats. They could hardly be calmed down, said Jan Ribbeck, head of operations at Sea-Eye. The Spanish-flagged Aita Mari, with 47 refugees on board, is now also not being allowed to enter port. Not only are the authorities refusing to allow rescue vessels to enter their ports, they have also virtually stopped all sea rescue operations themselves, with terrible consequences for the refugees. The aid organisation Alarmphone received distress calls from four rubber dinghies packed with refugees during the night of April 9-10. While two boats were still able to reach the Sicilian coast under their own power, and one was evacuated by the Spanish Aita Mari, there was no trace of the last boat for days. While the Italian and Maltese coast guards took no action, the self-proclaimed Libyan coast guard declared that they cannot carry out any rescue operations at present because they do not have any face masks. The situation on board one inflatable vessel, packed with 63 refugees, was deteriorating rapidly. Water was coming in; children were screaming from thirst. Only on April 14, four days after the first distress alert, when the inflatable boat finally drifted into the Maltese sea rescue zone, did the Maltese authorities give the order to look for the boat. The Portuguese cargo ship Ivan stopped a mile away from the dinghy and observed the further developments. However, due to its size and the high swell, the Ivan was unable to carry out a rescue operation itself. Seven refugees jumped desperately into the sea to get to the cargo ship. All seven drowned. Hours later, the remaining 56 refugees were picked up by a fishing boat, which illegally returned them to Libya. Five refugees did not survive the journey and died of hunger and dehydration. In Libya, the fighting between the militias of the internationally recognised government of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and Gen. Khalifa Haftar continues unabated. Artillery fire is commonplace in Tripoli and sometimes so heavy that 280 refugees who had been picked up by the self-appointed Libyan coast guard could not be brought ashore. The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is making the situation of refugees even more difficult. Many international aid organisations have withdrawn from Libya. Refugees report that the supply of food and drinking water for them has collapsed. In this situation, to halt sea rescues and attempt to send stricken refugees to their certain deaths is a crime. Maltese military personnel are even said to have deliberately tried to kill migrants. The 70 refugees on board a rubber dinghy reported that the Maltese naval speedboat P52 stopped at the marooned people, but only to cut the cables of the engine and to say, Well let you die here. None of you will get to Malta. Only hours later were they rescued and taken to Valletta. The situation is the worst Ive experienced in all these years, said Britta Rabe, a member of the Alarmphone staff, in an interview with the daily Die Welt on Tuesday. The coast guards in Italy, Malta and Libya are no longer saving anyone. No one who gets into distress at sea will be helped. The COVID-19 pandemic has thus become a wretched and dishonest excuse to halt aid to refugees and to abolish the fundamental right to asylum in the European Union. The chairman of the rescue organisation Sea-Eye rightly stated, It is unacceptable that rescue packages worth billions are being made available for industry, but at the same time, it is claimed that there are no resources to protect migrants. Europe has created a situation where humanitarian disasters are played off against each other. Loading The series makes great use of the familiar mockumentary format in this case, the documentary is being made by Barris's super-smart 17-year-old daughter Drea (Iman Benson) as part of her application for film school. Drea doesn't hesitate to call out Barris and her mother, Joya (Jones), for sanctimony, lack of self-awareness, dodgy parenting and so on, but they quickly become a hugely endearing couple. Sure, they bicker, compete and taunt and blame each other but they are, as Drea puts it "on the same page about all the wrong shit". Such as trying to recapture their youth by taking drugs at a music festival where everyone else is young enough to be their children or in fact are their children. But while #blackAF excels as a parents-behaving-badly sitcom, with Jones in particular marvellous in every scene, race consciousness is always to the fore. The title of each episode is some variant of "It's Because of Slavery", and Barris and Drea make a point of explaining, for instance, why so many black Americans are obsessed with flashy, expensive clothes, and why black girls are sexually adultified in a way that other girls aren't. But Barris, the real-life one, doesn't pretend to know everything, and he makes the TV Barris both highly fallible and importantly open to changing his mind. While spending most of one episode railing against the broad black comedies so beloved of black moviegoers, TV Barris makes a point of taking Drea to meet Tyler Perry so they can both hear a different perspective. Quite the hoot. Tiger King: The Tiger King and I, Netflix Netflix has a Tiger King special, The Tiger King and I, about working with Joe Exotic. Credit:Netflix Joel McHale, that long-time connoisseur of weird TV, is just the man for hosting the Tiger King after-show episode via smartphone from isolation. Everyone is even more blunt-talking and entertaining than they were in the docuseries, and it's only Saff, who lost a hand to one of the tigers at "Tiger King" Joe Exotic's zoo, who has a kind word to say about him. Tiger King completists must also check out the 2011 documentary Louis Theroux: America's Most Dangerous Pets (Stan*), of which Exotic is a big part. Maggie Simpson in Playdate with Destiny, Disney+ Matt Groening himself is among the veteran Simpsons writers behind this charming little short, which fills in a piece of the Maggie Simpson story that you might never have realised you were missing. And it all plays out without a word of dialogue. On one enchanted trip to the playground Maggie falls for a toddler named Hudson, and they embark upon a fantastical whirlwind romance worthy of old Hollywood. Then complications arise. It's a reminder that Disney+ is also streaming the first 29 seasons of The Simpsons. Judith Lucy vs Men, Amazon Prime Video, from Friday Judith Lucy is at the peak of her powers in this unflinching new stand-up special looking back at her history with men. Her mastery of the form is clear from the start within moments she succeeds in some idiosyncratic crowd work that sets up the whole show, and she demonstrates how brilliant she is at getting laughs out of the kind of real-life indignities you don't even get to keep your pants on for. The whole thing is tragically funny, and even manages to end on a note of triumph. After Life, Netflix, new season from Friday (@FahadShabbir) Yemen has prepared 27 health care facilities to receive coronavirus patients, but the country is still in need of international help to fight a possible spike in cases, Yemeni Minister of Human Rights Mohammad Askar told Sputnik MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd April, 2020) Yemen has prepared 27 health care facilities to receive coronavirus patients, but the country is still in need of international help to fight a possible spike in cases, Yemeni Minister of Human Rights Mohammad Askar told Sputnik. "The Yemeni government has mobilized the efforts and capabilities it has, by reconfiguring 27 health centers, among other measures," Askar told Sputnik. Nevertheless, the impoverished country is still in need of more international aid to be able to control possible future spikes. "If there were infections and spread [of the virus], we would not be able to control it. There is no doubt that the King Salman Relief Center and the World Health Organization have played a role, but according to health institutions on the ground, this help has not reached its desired level," Askar went on to say. Yemen has so far registered only one case of coronavirus infection, but the war-torn country is ill-prepared for a pandemic. According to Askar, the civil war and international military incursions over the past five years have destroyed more than half of the country's health care capacity. Syracuse, N.Y. A 58-year-old Syracuse man has been arrested and accused of threatening to shoot a United States Post Office mail carrier, according to federal authorities. Daniel J. Trammell has been charged with assaulting a USPS employee, the United States Attorneys Office for the Northern District of New York announced Thursday. On April 21, Trammell walked into the Franklin Square Station Post Office and shouted at employees, federal officials said in a news release. Trammell threatened to shoot his former mail carrier and Trammell later accosted his former mail carrier as the man delivered the mail, federal officials said. Trammell tried to choke the mail carrier, federal officials said. If convicted, Trammell could spend up to eight years in prison, spend three years after his imprisonment in supervised release and could be fined $250,000, according to federal officials. Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Chris Libonati via the Signal app for encrypted messaging at 585-290-0718, by phone at the same number, by email or on Twitter. Local News, Health & Wellness By Andrew Hazen Published: April 22 2020 Notes from Governor Cuomo's COVID-19 Briefing Today Total hospitalizations 1,308 as of yesterday. - 1,599 new COVID hospitalizations yesterday. - 474 total deaths in NY yesterday: o 446 in hospitals; and o 28 in nursing homes. Reimagine NY Task Force: Opening the Economy Back Up - Local leaders are feeling pressure to reopen. - "This is not a time to be stupid." - Cuomo reiterated what happened during the Spanish flu noting that if we are not prepared a second wave could wreak havoc. - Governor reiterated that he has no problem taking the blame for any judgements on the matter. - Cuomo: "I don't know how you open businesses without opening schools." o Schools will only open if it is known that schools are disinfected and there are protocols in place for continued disinfecting and social distancing. - Can't reopen businesses without reopening schools and transportation. Testing - All efforts for testing and tracing will be coordinated with affected areas as jurisdictions will cross. - Online curriculum will be created for tracers. - Still waiting to receive results on serum for treated patients. - The use of antibodies may prove effective. - Random surveys are being taken across the state (in grocery stores and street corners) to find how many people have been infected. - All positive results will be traced to the greatest extent. - $1.3B will be provided in federal funding for tracing. Tracing Program - NY will work with Gov. Lamont and Gov. Murphy to launch nation-leading contact tracing program - Michael Bloomberg will donate $10M for a tracing program. - Bloomberg has volunteered to help develop testing/tracing/isolation program and will partner with John Hopkins and Vital Strategies on coordinating efforts. - Will be a coordinated downstate and tri-state area - Will work with SUNY and CUNY to draw 35K students in medical fields who can serve as tracers. PPE - Issues regarding PPE are due to need of equipment and supply from one source. - Cuomo: We must bring the production of PPE and other necessary resources closer to home. Nursing Homes - Announcement will be made tomorrow on regulations and ensuring safety of staff. - Working with nursing home leadership to increase staff and find ways to help COVID patients within the nursing home. - Trying to provide comfort for nursing home residents in addition maintaining public health is the key to balance. - State mandate is to readmit COVID residents even though homes are privately operated. - If homes are not providing staff with PPE they may be put out of business by the state for noncompliance. By PTI MUMBAI: Bollywood star Deepika Padukone has announced that her conversation with WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on mental health during the coronavirus pandemic has been called off for the moment. The actor was set to discuss mental health issues amidst the coronavirus pandemic with the UN health agency chief on Thursday. In a statement on her Instagram Story on Wednesday, Deepika said the chat has been "put on hold" due to "highly unavoidable circumstances". "I regret to inform you that due to unforeseen and highly unavoidable circumstances the conversation, 'prioritising mental health during the pandemic and beyond' between Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO and I, schedule for April 23rd, 2020 has been put on hold until further notice," the actor said. "Having said that, mental health is a very real and valid aspect of this pandemic; one that I hope we prioritise and nurture through these unusual time and beyond," she added. The "Chhapaak" star, who was diagnosed with depression in 2014, had announced on April 19 that she will engage in a discussion with Dr Tedros with the aim to prioritise mental health during the pandemic. JoJo Whilden/HBO The definition of "movie" is increasingly difficult to nail down, especially for those of us who concentrate on television. Netflix and other streaming networks make movies of all genres that are meant to compete with box-office theatrical releases; to help qualify for film awards, like the Oscars, Netflix even established its own theater for New York screenings. But most viewers experience a Netflix movie at home, on their TV screens, where the existential question persists: is it TV or is it a movie? And where does that leave the good ol' made-for-TV movie, which is its own species entirely? Lifetime and Hallmark still churn them out by the metric ton, but beyond that, the drop-off has been sharp. "It is the 50th Earth Day, the big 5-0, and I gotta say, Earth is still looking good she's just getting hotter every year," Stephen Colbert said on Wednesday's Late Show. "And Earth is having kind of a moment right now," with animals roaming and skies clearing as people quarantine. "Turns out the best present for Earth Day is the same as the best present for Mother's Day: Time away from her children." President Trump marked the occasion by planting trees, though Colbert was skeptical Trump has "always loved" arboricultural manual labor. "Trump also celebrated Earth Day by threatening to blow up chunks of the planet" in an odd tweet about Iran, he added. "You read that right: He's going to shoot down boats." "Here's the thing: Trump's attempt to change the subject to immigration or to China or Iran or anything is not gonna work," Colbert said. "Trump's normal tricks he uses to change the narrative aren't working, because it's hard to come up with a more gripping narrative than: stay inside or you might die. You can tweet all you want, but it's hard to capture people's hearts and minds when they're worried about their hearts and lungs. You can't have Bill Barr redact the virus or call Ukraine to get dirt on Hunter Virus, or get Mitch McConnell to have 51 Republicans vote that there is no virus. You can't even pay the virus $130,000 to stay quiet! ... So if you want to keep your job, you're gonna have to do the unthinkable: your job!" "Social distancing is working," Full Frontal's Samantha Bee said, pointing to the eight states that refused to close, "the countries that have already relaxed restrictions," and the price they are paying. "But the sentient bobblehead dolls at Fox News are acting like containing COVID-19 is somehow un-American," and "of course there's no bigger, louder, or all-capsier proponent of reopening the economy than Trump," Bee said, calling Trump's "American wants to be open" line "the 'she was asking for it' of coronavirus relief measures." Story continues "People have legitimate reasons for wanting to end this lockdown; it's understandable to feel angry and upset," Bee said. "But reopening the economy prematurely could backfire and lead to another shutdown. We're not facing a choice between saving lives or saving the economy the simple fact is, the economy is people, and dead people don't buy stuff." Watch below. More stories from theweek.com Cuomo rips McConnell's 'blue state bailout' by noting 'your state is living on the money that we generate' Trump reportedly comes into work as late as noon after a morning of 'rage viewing' TV Trump adviser suggests reopening economy by putting 'everybody in a space outfit' PARIS (dpa-AFX) - French drinks company Pernod Ricard SA (PDRDF.PK, PDRDY.PK, PRN.L) reported Thursday that its third-quarter sales totaled 1.74 billion euros, down 13.3 percent from last year's 2 billion euros. Organically, sales declined 14.5 percent. Sales in Americas increased to 577 million euros from last year's 567 million euros. In Asia/ Rest of the World, sales plunged to 684 million euros from last year's 922 million euros. Europe sales declined to 475 million euros from 515 million euros last year. For the first nine months of the year, sales were 7.21 billion euros, with an organic decline of 2.1 percent. The company said its business is showing good resilience through the coronavirus or covid-19 crisis. Further, Pernod Ricard said an interim dividend of 1.18 euros per share will be detached on July 8 and paid on July 10. The final dividend will be proposed by the Board at its meeting on September 1 and subject to the AGM decision on November 27. In its earlier announced 1 billion euros share buy-back programme across FY20 and FY21, the company bought back 523 million euros shares, while the remainder of up to 0.5 billion euros is suspended. Looking ahead, the company confirmed guidance of a about 20 percent organic decline in Profit from Recurring Operations for full-year FY20. 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. "Helios and College Success Arizona are partnering, with a sense of urgency, to identify ways to support college students who are at risk of dropping out or delaying their postsecondary education due to the effects of COVID-19," said Vince Roig, Founding Chairman, Helios Education Foundation and Chair of the Board for College Success Arizona. It has been widely reported that many students are considering going part-time, or taking a gap year, so they can work and help families who have lost jobs and are facing economic challenges. These realities are especially true for low-income and first-generation students who are traditionally more at risk of not completing their degree. It is an economic imperative that there are equitable opportunities for educational success available to all students, regardless of background or zip code. Arizona's future economy depends on increasing the number of students who pursue and complete a postsecondary degree. "COVID-19 heightens the equity issues low-income college students in Arizona face. Many students who were already at the brink of not being able to afford their next semester have lost their incomes and other means of paying for school," said Rich Nickel, president and CEO, College Success Arizona. "Organizations must come together now to provide aid to these students at this critical time." The Arizona Postsecondary Student Resiliency Fund will provide resources to help first generation, low-income, and underserved students complete this current semester and enroll for the 2020/2021 academic year. These supports will include things like administering emergency student aid, implementing Virtual Advising to help students stay on track, providing wraparound services such as mentoring and check-ins, and hosting trainings to help students navigate the current crisis and new learning norms. While there is no precise exemption list of services that might be covered, the intent is to not duplicate relief provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act which provides almost $14 Billion that will go directly to higher education institutions to support the costs of shifting classes online, and for grants to students for food, housing, technology, health care, childcare and other purposes. The Arizona Postsecondary Student Resiliency Fund has already been instituted and resources will be distributed immediately. The Fund, expected to help up to 1,500 students, will be administered by College Success Arizona and is available for students working with existing partner organizations focused on postsecondary student success across Arizona. For more information about partner programs and eligibility requirements, please visit www.collegesuccessarizona.org. "It is our hope that this partnership will provide some security and stability to help first generation, low-income, and underrepresented students persist in their educational journey and graduate on time," said Paul J. Luna, President and CEO, Helios Education Foundation. About Helios Education Foundation Helios Education Foundation invests resources all along the education continuum to ensure more students in Arizona and Florida connect potential to opportunity by completing a postsecondary degree. Committed to the principles of Community, Equity, Investment, and Partnership, Helios and our partners improve educational outcomes for minority, first-generation, and underrepresented students, throughout Arizona, and in Florida's metropolitan regions of Tampa Bay, Orlando, and Miami. Focused on the limitless opportunities provided by an equitable education system, Helios and our partners seek to change lives, strengthen communities, and close achievement gaps. Since 2004 Helios has invested more than $240 million in partnerships and initiatives focused on improving education outcomes in the two states we serve. Learn more about Helios Education Foundation at www.helios.org. About College Success Arizona College Success Arizona works to significantly increase the college attainment rate of students in Arizona, particularly for those who otherwise would not be able to attend or graduate, such as low-income, first generation, and Latino students. We advocate for long-term, sustainable policy solutions that address key challenges in Arizona. Our priorities include closing information gaps that limit college-going culture, working to improve college affordability and increase state financial aid, and advocating for increased attainment statewide to drive economic growth. CONTACT: Rebecca Lindgren, Helios Education Foundation, 602.828.7061 Maura Keaney, Collaborative Communications Group, 415.250.1875 SOURCE Helios Education Foundation Related Links www.helios.org Hanoi CDC director Nguyen Nhat Cam has been arrested over alleged violations in Covid-19 test kit purchases. Photo by VnExpress/Tat Dinh. The director of the Hanoi Center for Disease Control and six others have been arrested for suspected corruption related to Covid-19 test kit purchases. The Ministry of Public Security said on Wednesday that Nguyen Nhat Cam was taken in for "violating regulations of the law on bidding causing serious consequences." The CDC "conspired to cheat and raise the price of a bidding package for Covid-19 test kits utilizing Realtime PCR systems." Nguyen Vu Ha Thanh, head of the agencys financial accounting department; Le Xuan Tuan, an employee of the department; Dao The Vinh, director of the Vietnam Scientific and Material Science Company Limited; Nguyen Tran Duy, director of the Nhan Thanh Property Valuation and Auction company; Nguyen Ngoc Nhat, an employee of the Vitech Development Company Limited; and Nguyen Thanh Tuyen, an employee of the Eastern Medical Equipment Company, face the same charges. The CDC, Nhan Thanh, the Vietnam Scientific and Material Science Company Limited, and several other entities are involved in the case, according to the public security ministry. Cam has been the director of the Hanoi Center for Preventative Medicine since 2013 and took over at the Hanoi CDC in 2018. The CDC is in charge of preventing outbreaks and infectious diseases in the capital. It has collaborated with local authorities to disinfect areas with potential coronavirus infection and to investigate new infections. It is also in charge of Covid-19 testing in the capital, and has been testing 2,500-3,000 people a day. Vietnam has had 268 Covid-19 cases, 45 of them active. There have been no new cases in the last seven days. The Covid-19 pandemic has spread to 210 countries and territories and claimed more than 183,800 lives. Survey: Wyoming Doctors Feeling Impact of COVID-19 A survey of Wyoming physicians shows significant disruption of their practices related to novel coronavirus COVID-19, including financial distress. In addition to financial impacts, Wyoming doctors noted significant concerns with supplies and materials. Eighty-four percent report disruptions in current supply chain or procurement of materials, specifically personal protective equipment. In addition, 86 percent report that they have not been able to identify alternatives for purchasing needed supplies. The Wyoming Medical Society -- in collaboration with the Wyoming Telehealth Network, based at the University of Wyoming -- surveyed physicians across the state March 19-April 8 to understand the impact of COVID-19 on primary care practices and providers. Eighty-three doctors responded. In response to questions about how COVID-19 has affected their practices, providers report that disruption is the current norm, and they are experiencing financial strain that they expect to continue. Some 70 percent of respondents say theyve seen an increase in cancellations; 46 percent report and anticipate significant administrative interruptions; and 62 percent currently experience or anticipate cash flow issues. Asked about the states response to the pandemic, 49 percent say information from the state to help make informed patient and practice decisions has been at least adequate or very adequate. Physicians report that Wyoming needs to continue to emphasize the importance of people staying home and maintaining social distancing, and prioritizing testing. Among Wyoming physicians, telehealth use is on the rise, with 54 percent of respondents reporting that they are using telehealth in their practices and 58 percent reporting that they have encouraged patients to consider telehealth. For providers using or considering using telehealth, they are seeking additional resources and information in several areas, including rapidly changing billing and reimbursement practices; patient access issues; resources on telehealth use and technology; and information on practice policies and procedures. For more information on the survey results, go to www.uwyo.edu/wind/_files/docs/wytn-doc/survey-infographic.pdf. The Wyoming Medical Society provides representation, advocacy and service to Wyoming physicians, anticipating and responding swiftly to the rapidly changing health care environment. Learn more at www.wyomed.org. The Wyoming Telehealth Network serves as a statewide hub, connecting everyone with an interest in telehealth by providing access to telehealth technology, resources and education. The network is a legislatively mandated activity of the Wyoming Telehealth Consortium and is financially supported through the Wyoming Department of Health, Office of Rural Health and the Wyoming Institute for Disabilities in UWs College of Health Sciences. Learn more at www.wyomingtelehealth.org. Lisa Landreman has been appointed Willamette Universitys vice president for student affairs, effective July 1. She will also serve as dean of students in her new role. Landreman comes to Willamette with decades of experience in student affairs, most recently as assistant vice president and dean for student life at Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island. As vice president, Landreman will look for new ways to enhance Willamettes co-curricular offerings, which extend learning experiences beyond the classroom. Shes a highly accomplished, compassionate leader who focuses on building inclusive communities that support students well-being and holistic development. I look forward to building relationships with students, engaging in dialogue and creating spaces that enable them to explore new ideas, she said. Landreman is passionate about equity, mentorship and transformative learning. She knows how to help students feel like they belong and gives them tools to succeed not only while theyre in college, but for the rest of their lives. I welcome the opportunity to serve as a guide to students' educational journeys, and I cant wait to become part of the Willamette University community, she said. Landreman received her PhD in higher education from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Prior to working at Roger Williams, she served as associate dean of students at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, and as assistant executive dean for the Semester at Sea program with the University of Virginia. About Willamette University Based in Salem, Oregon, Willamette is the premier private university in the Pacific Northwest the only university in the country that appears on both the US News Best National Liberal Arts Colleges list and the Forbes and Businessweek best business schools lists. The College of Law is a leader in the state for job placement and bar passage. With unique proximity to the Oregon State Capitol, the university is a national leader in civic engagement, delivering an Only at Willamette education. For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here. A UCSF doctor did some math to estimate the number of lives the San Francisco Bay Area may have saved by jurisdictions acting quickly and residents following strict shelter-in-place orders. Dr. George Rutherford, a professor of epidemiology and the head of the division of infectious disease and global epidemiology, believes some 34,000 to 44,000 lives have been saved partially through the region's early action, such as San Francisco Mayor London Breed issuing a state of emergency on February 28. Rutherford pointed out that Breed's declaration nudged people to start staying home nearly three weeks before the shelter-in-place order was issued, dramatically limiting people's movement. How did Rutherford get to these numbers? First, he looked at the worst-case scenario forecasts for deaths in the United States if no precautions were taken. A top disease modeler at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention forecast that the U.S. could see as many as 1.7 million deaths. The C.D.C. didn't release the number to the general public, but the New York Times obtained screenshots from a presentation done on a phone conference and verified the data with scientists on the call. What's more, a model from the Imperial College of London forecast 2.2 million Americans could die as a result of the coronavirus pandemic if people went on with their daily lives as disease spread. Rutherford figured the six Bay Area counties that issued shelter-in-place orders on March 16 Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara make up about 2% of the U.S. population, considering these counties have about 6.6 million residents compared to the 328.2 million U.S. population. Two percent of 1.7 million is 34,000 and of 2.2 million is 44,000; these numbers provide a very rough estimate of the number of deaths that could have occurred if no precautions were taken, according to the C.D.C. and Imperial College in London. In reality, Rutherford said, "Weve had 200 deaths so far. Thats the delta. Thats the difference. Thats a lot." The reservation site Open Table is one indicator offering additional proof that people in the Bay Area were staying home earlier than those in other parts of the country. Rutherford said reservations dropped dramatically in San Francisco after February 28 while in Los Angeles and New York, the data shows people continuing to go out. He added that while the Bay Area's actions have "led to a massive decrease in deaths," we have still seen fatalities and "each one is tragic." MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here. Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com. NEW YORK, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Since early February, thousands of specialty food products have been arriving at the Food Innovation Center at Rutgers University in Bridgeton, NJ, in preparation for the Specialty Food Association's "specialty outstanding food innovation" sofi Awards the most prestigious competition in specialty foods. Due to the pandemic, the judging has been delayed, leaving a large assortment of perishable delicacies needing a home. Thanks to the generosity of the participating companies who entered thousands of products to be judged, FIC and the Specialty Food Association collaborated to ensure that those perishable foods set for tasting have been donated to feed local residents in the Bridgeton area. "Our members are dedicated to combating hunger and food waste. It is comforting to know that they are making a real difference to the local community in need," said Ron Tanner, vice president of philanthropy, government, and industry relations for the Specialty Food Association. FIC and Specialty Food Association collaborated with Gateway Community Action Partnership, a local non-profit, which received the donated specialty foods that included breads and tortillas, coffees and teas, a wide variety of cheeses, dips, yogurt, honey, soups, snacks, chocolates, and specialty candies. "We are grateful to have these truly special foods to provide to our community, especially at this time where our residents are at a greater need than we have seen in recent months," added Marcus Weaver, director of agriculture and food initiatives for Gateway Community Action Partnership. Earlier this year, the Specialty Food Association selected FIC as the new host location for the 2020 sofi Awards, which has been held annually since 1972 to recognize innovation and remarkable taste, and to highlight the flavors and the creativity found across the specialty food industry. A prestigious list of buyers, chefs, food writers, and distributors were preparing to arrive at FIC as judges to sample the hundreds of entries and select the gold, silver, bronze, and new product winners for each of the 49 categories. Margaret Brennan-Tonetta, co-founder of FIC and executive director of economic development and innovation at Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, said, "Every cloud has a silver lining, and I am so glad that the Food Innovation Center, with the support of the Specialty Food Association and the food company applicants, were are able to bring these delicious foods to our neighbors in Bridgeton during this challenging time." About the Specialty Food Association The Specialty Food Association is a thriving community of food artisans, importers and entrepreneurs. Established in 1952 in New York, the not-for-profit trade association provides its 4,000 members in the U.S. and abroad the tools, knowledge and connections to champion and nurture their companies in an always-evolving marketplace. The Association owns and produces the Winter and Summer Fancy Food Shows, and presents the sofi Awards honoring excellence in specialty food. Visit specialtyfood.com. About the Food Innovation Center at Rutgers University The Food Innovation Center is a unique food business incubation and economic development program, which is part of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Our Center provides business and technology expertise to startup and established food and value-added agricultural businesses, locally and globally. We operate out of two USDA and FDA-certified manufacturing facilities located in Piscataway and Bridgeton, NJ, facilitating the commercialization of products into distribution, while also providing mentoring assistance in marketing, R&D, food safety, regulatory, manufacturing and sales and distribution. Visit foodinnovation.rutgers.edu . SOURCE Specialty Food Association Related Links http://www.specialtyfood.com Benjamin Netanyahu will have first stint as prime minister. Photo: REUTERS/Amir Cohen Benjamin Netanyahu and main rival Benny Gantz have signed an agreement for a unity government under which they will take turns leading Israel after three elections that neither won. Here are some of the key questions about the complicated power-sharing deal: Who is prime minister and for how long? Currently head of a caretaker government after an election on March 2 and similarly inconclusive ballots in April and September last year, Mr Netanyahu, leader of the right-wing Likud party, will serve as prime minister for 18 months. He will then hand over to centrist Blue and White leader Mr Gantz, who will also serve for a year and a half. Once the new government is sworn in, Mr Gantz (60) will become defence minister and "substitute prime minister" under Mr Netanyahu (70), who will be substitute when it is Mr Gantz's turn. What about government composition and policies? Mr Netanyahu's current government comprises right-wing and Jewish religious parties, a bloc of 59 of parliament's 120 seats. Even if some pull out over the deal with Mr Gantz, the 17 legislators behind the former armed forces chief should ensure some stability. Peacemaking with the Palestinians is another matter. The coalition agreement, while stating that the new government will strive for peace, may also move towards implementation of Mr Netanyahu's plan to extend Israeli sovereignty to Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank - de facto annexation of land Palestinians seek for a state. What happens with Mr Netanyahu's corruption trial? As prime minister, Mr Netanyahu can remain in office while under indictment. His trial is due to open on May 24, after being postponed because of the coronavirus crisis. Should the Supreme Court intervene and rule Mr Netanyahu can be barred from heading a government because of the criminal proceedings against him, a new election would be called, under the unity deal. Will the Netanhayu-Gantz rotation really happen? Pundits have been sceptical that Mr Netanyahu will actually transfer power. The agreement calls for Mr Gantz to take over as prime minister in the months leading to a new election should Mr Netanyahu opt to dissolve parliament. An architect, who fled the Nazis only to spend six years in a Siberian gulag, and later had his love affair with music translated into an Oscar-nominated short documentary, has died with coronavirus. Joseph Feingold passed at Mount Sinai West Hospital in Manhattan, New York, on April 15. He was 97. His stepdaughter, Ame Gilbert, said Feingold's death was due to complications relating to Covid-19. Feingold had appeared in a 2017 short documentary by filmmaker Kahane Cooperman called 'Joe's Violin', telling the story of his escape from Nazi persecution, his subsequent internment in a Siberian gulag, and his donation of a cherished violin to a program that gives used instruments to schoolchildren in New York City. Feingold (pictured) appearing in a 2017 short documentary by filmmaker Kahane Cooperman called 'Joe's Violin', about his life and love of violin music Joseph Feingold was born in Warsaw, Poland on March 23, 1923. At age 17 the Nazis invaded Poland and he and his shoemaker father Aron fled the country to the Russian-occupied east. However, the pair were captured by the Russian army and forced into separate labor camps in Siberia for six years. While imprisoned, they faced near-starvation and the blistering Siberian cold. Feingold's mother Ruchele, and younger brother Henry, who remained in Poland, both died in Nazi concentration camps. Feingold's other brother Alex, however, survived both Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen, he later learned. Later, while at a refugee camp near Frankfurt in Germany, Feingold discovered a violin at a flea market which he traded for some cigarettes he had. In his memoir, he said the instrument's music 'reminded him of happier times before the war' when he would play while his mother sang. Pictured: The Feingold family before the war, mother Ruchele (standing), father Aron (seated), and brothers Joseph, Henry and Alex. (It is not clear who in the image is Joseph) After his brother perished with pneumonia last month, Feingold reportedly started having nightmares about his ordeal with the Nazis After emigrating to the US with his father and brother, he studied Architecture at Columbia Universitys Graduate School of Architecture. He then married his wife, Regina, in his late 40s. He would go on to become renowned for his knowledge and craftsmanship of New York's byzantine building codes. Feingold loved listening to classical music on WQXR, and it was there in 2014 he first heard about The Mr Holland's Opus Foundation, which donates musical instruments to under-funded music programs. Unable to play as much as he had in earlier years because of stiff fingers, he decided to donate his much-loved violin, which founds its way into the hands of Brianna Perez, a 12-year-old Dominican girl from the Bronx. Pictured: Brianna Perez, 12, from the Bronx, formed a fast friendship with musician Feingold Pictured: Some of Brianna Perez's fellow Bronx classmates rehearsing with their own violins Hearing about his donation over the radio, filmmaker Cooperman decided to tell Feingold's incredible story and how he and Perez became friends, in a short documentary that received numerous accolades, and an Oscar nomination. After his brother perished with pneumonia last month, Feingold reportedly started having nightmares about his ordeal with the Nazis. His stepdaughter said such dreams 'had haunted him periodically for years,' according to a New York Times report. In addition to his stepdaughter, Feingold is survived by four step-grandchildren and a step-great-granddaughter. Some Nigerians jailed in Tanzania has been freed and will soon be returned to their home country. Niaja News learnt that sixty Nigerians regained their freedom and repatriation through the help of the Nigerian ambassador to Tanzania. The Head, Media and Public Relations Unit, Nigeria in the Diaspora Commission, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, made this known through a statement in Abuja on Wednesday. Ever before COVID-19 pandemic, the Nigerian Mission had been working on repatriation of Nigerian prisoners in Tanzania.The Ambassador, Dr Sahobi Gada, was in Nigeria in January 2020, specifically for this purpose after having successfully secured a release of 60 out of 73 Nigerians in various prisons in Tanzania. Arrangements were then being made by the Ambassador for their repatriation, the statement read. Balogun further stated that most of the convicts are arrested for alleged drug-related offences, while a few of the offences bordered on immigration law violations. He explained that the mission had been visiting other custodial facilities in Tanzania to check other Nigerians who may be serving jail terms, adding that it had also canvassed for amnesty for the prisoners on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. here is the copy of the press release from the office of Nigeria in the Diaspora Commission below Share this post with your Friends on Hyderabad, April 23 : The Telangana government on Thursday issued orders for deferment of collection of rentals for three months for properties leased for residential purposes and warned that violators will be liable for punishment. The government directed the property owners to defer collecting rentals from tenants for three months with effect from March 2020, without interest, in view of the hardships caused by the lockdown. They may collect this amount in instalments after three months. "Whoever violates these orders shall be liable for punishment as contemplated under Section 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 and Sections 51 to 58 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005," says the Government Order (GO) issued by Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar. All the Collectors, District Magistrates and the Municipal Commissioners in the state were directed to strictly implement the orders. The GO was issued four days after the state cabinet took a decision in this regard. Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao had announced that if the tenants are harassed by the property owners for rent, they can complain to police by dialing 100. Within a couple of days police had received 35 complaints from tenants in various places. The GO noted that a large section of the population lives in rented accommodation and that rentals constitute a significant proportion of the monthly income, in some cases as high as 40 per cent of the monthly income. "These people will be adversely affected, if payment of timely rents is insisted upon by the property owners at this point. Further, any coercion by property owners including the eviction of tenants on account of non-payment of rents at this point would not only result in displacement of the tenants & extreme hardships for them especially since there is a ban on inter-state movement of people but also and more significantly, it puts them at great risk towards getting infected with virus by exposing them to unwarranted unknown open spaces," the GO said. "Our approach is based on fiber laser technology which is robust, rugged and less expensive," Peyghambarian said, adding that he hopes CMLaser's technology becomes the new standard. AZCERT aiding COVID-19 effort A Tucson-based drug-safety organization is making a key medication-safety tool available for free to help guide medical providers battling COVID-19. The Arizona Center for Education and Research on Therapeutics (AZCERT), a nonprofit founded and led by former UA College of Medicine Dean Dr. Raymond Woosley, is making its MedSafety Scan web-based decision support system, available free to medical professionals around the world, especially those treating high risk COVID-19 patients. MedSafety Scan can warn health-care providers when their patients are prescribed drugs that place them at high risk of developing a potentially lethal cardiac arrhythmia known as torsades de pointes, or TdP. The tool also checks for potentially dangerous drug interactions and suggests options for how to monitor patients and reduce their risk of harm. Several of the medications now being tested or prescribed for COVID-19 including chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin can cause TdP, which, although rare, occurs more often in patients with medical conditions that are commonly found in very ill COVID-19 patients, Woosley said. Contact senior reporter David Wichner at dwichner@tucson.com or 573-4181. On Twitter: @dwichner. On Facebook: Facebook.com/DailyStarBiz The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar pictured during his visit to the frontline volunteers of the Civil defence at their National Headquarters in Dublin. Picture; Gerry Mooney TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has suggested that coronavirus testing will be ramped up next week with the criteria for getting a test set to be broadened. But he also warned it could result in a new backlog. It came after the Dail was told that there is capacity to do 10,000 tests a day but just half this number are being carried out. One of the key factors in determining when coronavirus restrictions can be eased is a target of being able to do 15,000 tests-a-day. Read More The issued was raised by Aontu TD Peadar Toibin who claimed that testing remains "in crisis". He said that Health Minister Simon Harris promised a month ago that the 15,000 target would be reached within days but this hasn't happened. Mr Toibin said people are still waiting weeks for test results and he knew of one family who lost a loved one who had to wait two weeks for a test result before they could bury the person who died. He said that test criteria were narrowed earlier in the emergency due to capacity not for clinical reasons. He conceded that a shortage in lab chemicals to analyse the samples was a problem but that now capacity is 10,000-a-day and just half that number are being tested. Mr Toibin said this is "incredible" given that the World Health Organisation (WHO) advice is to "test, test, test". He said asymptomatic people who have been in contact with confirmed cases should be tested. And he asked Mr Varadkar to commit to using the full testing capacity immediately. Mr Varadkar said the HSE has capacity to do 10,000 tests-a-day in testing centres. He said hospitals are doing 1,500 tests for patients and staff and the National Ambulance Service has also ramped up to 1,500-a-day. Mr Varadkar said testing criteria have changed over the course of the pandemic and "they will change several times". He said initially it was anyone with symptoms and then this changed in line with WHO advice to people who had a fever as well as a respiratory symptom. He said the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) intend to widen the criteria again and it could advise on that as early as tomorrow with a view to the changes being implemented next week to test more people. However, Mr Varadkar said he has to be honest with people that there's "an inherent risk of widening the testing criteria that we may find ourselves overwhelmed and running into problems with backlogs... all over again." "That's not a mistake or failure by anyone its just that you can only guess how much a change in criteria will impact demand. "So everyone is doing their best on that front." Mr Varadkar said that until a few weeks ago the international advice was that testing asymptomatic people wasn't useful because the viral load would be so low the test would be negative for people who had the coronavirus. He said that advice has now changed and said that Ireland is one of the few countries in the world testing asymptomatic patients in nursing homes where there's been an outbreak. He said:"we were always testing symptomatic patients, both in the community and the nursing homes all along." Millions of people out of work, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. This is really a very, very, very sad day. We come to the floor with nearly 50,000 deaths, a huge number of people impacted, and the uncertainty of it all. We hope to soon get to a recovery phase. But right now were still in mitigation. The $55 million project to widen and improve Rayford Road in south Montgomery County one of the largest projects on the countys $280 million 2015 road bond referendum has been completed and all lanes of the roadway are open from Richards Road to the Grand Parkway. The project includes a new six-lanes bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, raised medians for safer left turns, six miles of new drainage infrastructure, new traffic signals and street signage. The completion of this project is a game changer for our community and is further proof that I am dedicated to solving our mobility challenges, Precinct 3 Commissioner James Noack said. The project, which was the top priority among projects for the precinct in the 2015 bond, had delays from Hurricane Harvey in August 2017. Montgomery County Commissioners awarded the construction contract to Conroe-based Smith and Co., which had the lowest bid at $26.6 million in January 2017. Noack budgeted $35 million for the project. There is a dip in construction right now and we were able to take full advantage of it, Noack said in a previous story. This project is shaping up to look really, really good, which means we will be able to do some of the other projects on our list, which is what I was hoping for. Noack said the widening of the roadway was critical to the safety of the public. Roughly $29 million of the $55 million can be attributed to the contractor and the rest of the cost is shared between the design engineer, property acquisition, project inspection and materials testing. In addition to the construction costs, Noack said the purchase of the rights-of-way for widening Rayford Road came in at $13.3 million, under the $16 million allotted. Over 70 percent of the $84 million in road bond funds received by Precinct 3 were spent on road improvement projects on east of Interstate 45. cdominguez@hcnonline.com DELPHI, Ind (WLFI) The Delphi Fire Department has released updated information about a Tuesday afternoon fire that destroyed two businesses. Delphi Fire Chief Dan Dulin said the fire started around 2:30 p.m. in the 1100 block of North Washington Street. On Wednesday, the State Fire Marshal's Office and arson dogs investigated the scene. Dulin said the dogs were interested in a few spots. However, Dulin said that does not mean an accelerant was used. The fire destroyed Treasures in the Woods Bait Shop and AllBQ's. Nobody was inside the building when the fire started, according to Dulin. Dulin said the fire started in a storage unit about 6 feet west of the bait shop. Officers believe the strong winds played a part in the amount of damage that was caused. Dulin said all members involved with investigation are cooperating, but he is encouraging people to call the Carroll County Sheriff's Office with any information. Samples from the fire have been sent to the state. Dulin said it could take months to come back. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 00:53:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PRAIA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Cape Verde's Ministry of Health and Social Security confirmed on Thursday nine new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the capital city of Praia, bringing the total number of infections in Cape Verde to 82. The confirmed cases include 52 on the island of Boa Vista, 28 in Praia, one in the municipality of Tarrafal and one on the island of Sao Vicente. Among the confirmed cases, there was a death, a 62-year-old British citizen who was on vacation on the island of Boa Vista, and a cured patient. This Thursday, 33 Cuban doctors and nurses arrived in Praia to help the archipelago to fight against this pandemic. On Monday, Cape Verde received an emergency humanitarian donation from Chinese government to help prevent and control the novel coronavirus in the archipelago. The donation from Chinese government was received by the Cape Verde's Minister of Health Arlindo do Rosario who highlighted the contribution of the Chinese government to minimize the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. This week, Cape Verde will also receive a second donation of medical equipments and materials from the Jack Ma and Alibaba foundations. In order to contain the spread of COVID-19 in the archipelago, the Cape Verdean Parliament has authorized the President of the Republic to extend the state of emergency until May 2 for the islands where COVID-19 cases have been reported, and till April 26 for the other islands. Enditem In the wake of the coronavirus-induced lockdown, Delhi electricity distribution company (discom) BSES on Wednesday announced the launch of its 'BSES Aap Ke Saath' digital platform to connect with consumers. A BSES statement said a virtual Residents' Welfare Association (RWA) meeting was organized -- a first such virtual initiative -- in capital's Saket and R.K. Puram localities under the jurisdiction of BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd (BRPL). "This virtual meeting, organised last evening with around 40 representatives from around 20 RWAs from Saket and R.K. Puram in south Delhi, was inaugurated over a secure virtual audio-video platform by BRPL CEO Amal Sinha," the statement said. "A similar virtual RWA meeting was organised by BSES Yamuna Power Ltd (BYPL), which was attended by residents from east and central Delhi. BYPL CEO P.R. Kumar led the BYPL team. More such meetings have been planned with RWAs in south, west, east and central Delhi in the days and weeks ahead," it added. The statement also said that this virtual platform will address customers' queries and concerns, while simultaneously updating them about the steps being taken by BSES to mitigate the impact of COVID-19. These services are designed on various digital platforms so that consumers continue to get BSES services while following government guidelines to fight the coronavirus, it said. Noting that the initiative is being conducted over secure online audio-video platforms, a BSES spokesperson said: "Consumers continue to get our services while maintaining social distancing. We can be contacted through our digital platforms like the BSES website, mobile app, Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, SMS and the call centre." The House passed a bill on Thursday worth nearly half a trillion dollars intended to help the US health system and economy weather damage from the coronavirus pandemic that has put tens of millions of Americans out of work and pushed many hospitals to the brink. The economic relief bill will now head to Donald Trumps desk, where the president is expected to sign it into law before the weekend. The chamber also passed a highly contentious Democratic-crafted resolution to establish a new Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis, a panel that would have broad authority to oversee the government's pandemic response and assess the Trump administrations preparedness and ongoing actions. The $484bn price tag for the health and economic relief bill which Congress has christened the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act and Democrats are calling only an interim relief package represents more than 2 per cent of US GDP. The bill, once signed into law, will provide additional assistance to small businesses and hospitals through programmes that received hundreds of billions of dollars in the $2.2trn economic stimulus package signed by Mr Trump in March known as the CARES Act. The measure also establishes a new comprehensive national testing programme that the president has resisted, saying testing for coronavirus is up to the states. But it does not include more money for state and local governments on the operational frontlines of the crisis, which could prove a massive obstacle in negotiations on any follow-up legislation after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell indicated on Wednesday that Republicans want to tighten the purse strings on federal spending. Mr McConnell said the GOP is keen to avoid passing bailouts for states that had overstretched budgets before the health crisis, and even suggested some states should pursue bankruptcy instead of asking for more money from the federal government. Story continues But lawmakers kicked that can down the road, opting pass the current bill and discuss the matter during coming negotiations about a larger coronavirus relief package. Interim relief package The bill shovels an additional $370bn to the Treasury Department to help small businesses via a slate of popular relief programmes that already ran through more than $350bn they got in the March CARES Act. The interim package will send $310 billion in additional funding for small businesses through the Treasury Departments Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) with $30bn set aside for community development financial institutions and other small community-based banks and credit unions that provide capital to underbanked communities whose small business owners are disproportionately minority, women, veteran, and rural. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin this week said Trump administration officials expect the interim legislations allotment for the programme will be the last tranche of emergency funding needed to continue propping up small businesses. He did not explain how officials reached that assessment, however. The PPP funding package also includes a $30bn earmark for mid-sized banks and credit unions to lend to businesses. PPP loans are forgivable up to 100 per cent if businesses meet certain payroll retention thresholds. The small business portion of the interim relief package also includes $50bn for the Small Business Associations so-called emergency Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programme and $10bn for SBA emergency disaster grants. Separately, the bill allocates $75bn to hospitals and other health care systems that are in desperate need of more beds, manpower, personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, and other supplies. It also includes $25bn on a comprehensive national testing program, funding that will be split down the middle, with half going to the feds and half to states and localities. The Trump administration must issue follow-up reports to Congress on Covid-19 testing, cases, hospitalizations, and deaths. Budding divisions Overall, Congress has spent more than 12 per cent of GDP on coronavirus relief in just the last six weeks, leading to growing concerns among some Republicans about the national debt. There are also budding divisions between and within both parties on follow-up legislation. Several progressives lamented that the interim relief package passed on Thursday does not go far enough, while conservative deficit hawks said it goes too far. Among the lawmakers who have stated their opposition to the bill are Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul, a libertarian, and New York Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive. Republicans in the hardline conservative House Freedom Caucus tried to file several amendments to the bill on Thursday but were blocked by House leaders from doing so. Those measures included an amendment that would have nullified guardrails limiting small business loans to mostly cover payroll expenses, and two amendments that would have prevented federal funding for contact tracing programmes that help identify who has come in contact with people who have contracted coronavirus. Conservatives have said contact tracing is an invasion of Americans privacy. We cannot and must not fund government surveillance of Americans healthy or symptomatic, said Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Biggs, who voted against the bill on Thursday. We cannot afford to relinquish the individual liberties that make America great. Meanwhile, numerous House progressives expressed increasing frustration this week that Democratic leadership folded on a number of key issues, including: more money for states to help secure elections and expand mail-in voting for November; an increase in food stamp benefits; and recurring direct payments of $2,000 to every American adult until the economy recovers. Ms Ocasio-Cortez voted against the bill. Coronavirus select committee The House also voted on Thursday to ratify a new Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis, to be chaired by Majority Whip Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, a longtime Nancy Pelosi ally. The committee will consist of seven Democrats and five Republicans and will have broad oversight power not only on how federal dollars are being spent to battle the pandemic, but also to assess the governments "preparedness for and response to the coronavirus crisis, according to the legislation. The resolution text grants the committee the authority to probe "executive branch policies, deliberations, decisions, activities, internal and external communications related to the coronavirus crisis and any other issues related to the pandemic. Ms Pelosi has insisted the new committee would be bipartisan, but such broad authority for the panel plays into Republicans fears that Democrats will use the panel to bludgeon the Trump administration during a presidential election year. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy panned the committee as pure politics on Thursday. On Wednesday, he said he would wait to appoint GOP members to the committee until Ms Pelosi selects her Democratic members to see if she is serious about making this a committee that works. Ms Pelosi indicated in a speech on the floor on Thursday that the primary goal of the committee would be to root out waste, fraud, and abuse. It will be laser-focused on ensuring that taxpayer money goes to workers' paychecks and benefits, and it will ensure the federal response is based on the best possible science and guided by health experts and that the money invested is not being exploited by profiteers and price gougers, the speaker said. The resolution forming the committee passed on a party-line 212-182 vote. More follows Read more Tracking the coronavirus outbreak around the world in maps and charts When can we really expect coronavirus to end? Everything you need to know on supermarket delivery slots The dirty truth about washing your hands Listen to the latest episode of The Independent Coronavirus Podcast Mayor Ras Baraka warned that Newark employees including police and fire personnel could soon be furloughed or laid off due to what officials say is a $143 million budget shortfall the city is facing from the coronavirus. To replenish Newarks coffers, the mayor of New Jerseys most populated city called on the federal government to give more funding to states hardest hit by the virus than those less impacted. If more money does not come, the mayor said the effects could be felt through every department in the city very soon. Were coming to a wall now where we believe if we dont act or ask for the support that we need, then we are facing a deadly situation, Baraka said in a press conference at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center on Thursday. Not just from COVID-19, but the wrecking of our budget and our ability to provide services to the people in a safe and healthy way. There are at least 4,445 COVID-19 cases in Newark and more than 300 city residents have died, according to figures provided at the press conference. Baraka did not indicate how many city employees could be impacted but said he is working with all public employee unions to come up with a plan. By mid-May, he added, the city would have a better sense of where it stands because federal stimulus bills would likely be voted on by then. City officials say Newarks $725 million budget for this year is taking a hit due in part to increased spending to combat the coronavirus: hotels for those who are homeless and thousands of free gloves, masks and meals for residents. The city is also on track to suffer a $110 million revenue loss by the end of the summer because certain parking violations have been suspended and fewer municipal court fines are being collected, city officials said. The mayor stopped short of saying which departments would be prioritized when asked about it. Newark Public Safety Director Anthony Ambrose said he would look to reduce in areas that have the least impact on residents if cuts came to his agency. For instance, some of the things were doing now, were telephone reporting, Ambrose said. When people call, the police dont respond. They do it over the phone. We would look at things like that to streamline and use less resources. The city recently unveiled a $6 million fund for local nonprofits, artists and small businesses. Baraka said that money was simply re-allocated from existing federal grants and local taxpayers did not bear the burden of those funds. Newark will not get any direct funding from the federal CARES Act since only local governments with more than 500,000 residents will see that cash, Baraka said. Newark only has an estimated 282,000 residents. Essex County, however, would be eligible for funding from the CARES Act, so Baraka also made a plea to the county and the state for more funding. The state has not given any indication that funding would stop thus far, Baraka said, but Newark officials are being prudent. Gov. Phil Murphy has said historic layoffs to public workers could come soon if Congress did not send more direct aid to states. The governor also said it was irresponsible that some in Congress think states should file for bankruptcy instead of relying on federal aid, and Baraka, a strong ally of the governor, concurred. I think theres just too much politics thats being played in D.C. right now regarding peoples health care and their lives in these states," Baraka added. The mayor said taxpayers may soon feel the pinch if more federal funding doesnt come soon. However, he said it was too soon to say if the states 2% cap on tax levy increases should be reevaluated. I think that should be the last thing," he added. "I think ultimately there are pieces that we can do to think about, to work out before we even get there. But I do believe that this is going to take the state, the county, the city - all of us together - to collectively figure this out. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Rebecca Panico may be reached at rpanico@njadvancemedia.com The governor of Ohio, Mike DeWine, has issued a statement condemning hate speech at a protest against his states anti-coronavirus measures as well as a Republican state senator who compared the states department of health to Nazi Germany. Posting on Twitter, Mr DeWine I am deeply concerned by the anti-Semitic sign at Ohios Statehouse during a recent protest rally, he wrote. The sign was vile and disgusting. While even disgusting speech is constitutionally protected, it still demands condemnation. The sign in question was a mocked-up Israeli flag, featuring a blue rat stamped with a white star of David and the words the real plague. It was displayed at a rally outside the statehouse in Columbus, one of a number of similar protests across the US in which crowds most of them relatively small have descended on state capitals to demand an end to lockdown policies, in some cities blocking traffic and waving pro-Trump signs. One such protest in Olympia, Washington featured speakers from far-right movements. Away from the streets of Columbus on Facebook, also indulging in anti-semitic propaganda were an Ohio state senator, Andrew Brenner, and his wife, both of whom felt Mr DeWines anger as well. The recent internet post by Ohio State Senator Andrew Brenner, likening Ohios Department of Health Directors actions to fight coronavirus to those taken by the Nazis in Germany during World War II, must also be condemned. Mr Brenner had posted a reply to a defiant message his wife, Sara Marie, posted on Facebook on Tuesday, in which she said: With a German accent, in your head say Show me your papers. You dont issue people certificates to be able to function outside of their home. You dont issue people a certificate to allow them to go to work. This is mark of the beast type talk. This is worse than China, for heavens sake. This actually feels like Hitlers Germany where you had to have blond hair and blue eyes to be able to function anywhere, and you were damned otherwise. When are people going to say enough is enough? Mr Brenner replied: We wont allow that to happen in Ohio. Ms Brenner also posted a picture of a concentration camp, superimposed with the message: If people were told to get in cattle cars to be taken to virus protection camps, most of you would rush to get in line The posts have now been deleted but having seen them, Mr DeWine was unambiguous in his response. The comments showed a complete lack of understanding of the Holocaust made even more offensive by posting on Holocaust Memorial Day and was a slur on a good, compassionate, and honorable person who has worked non-stop to save lives and protect her fellow citizens. Any complaints about the policy of this administration need to be directed at me. I am the office holder, and I appointed the Director. Ultimately, I am responsible for the decisions in regard to the coronavirus. The buck stops with me. Mr DeWine, a Republican, has been credited with taking strong public health measures before his state had reported a single case of the virus, including shutting down major sporting events that would have drawn tens of thousands of spectators in early March. The state has so far confirmed 13,609 cases of Covid-19, with 584 deaths. Free trade agreements (FTA), including the latest one signed between Viet Nam and the EU, will benefit the domestic fertiliser sector, with more diverse import and export markets, experts said. A fertiliser production line of PetroVietnam Fertiliser and Chemicals Corporation (PVFCCo). Photo congthuong.vn Statistics show that Viet Nam imports about 4 million tonnes of fertiliser worth about US$1.33 billion from 48 countries and territories each year, with 0.22 million tonnes coming from 17 EU countries. The EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), once effective, will lead to reductions in fertiliser export and import duties. However, to optimise the deal, experts suggested the industry make greater efforts to improve product quality in accordance with EU standards. According to Pham Minh Lan, head of the Fertiliser Management Bureau under the Plant Protection Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, fertilisers from EU make up 5.5 per cent of Viet Nams total fertiliser import volume and value, or 0.22 million tonnes and $73 million. Meanwhile, Viet Nam ships abroad around 0.75 million tonnes of fertiliser valued at $240 million to 47 countries and territories annually, including five EU nations Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Slovenia and Portugal. Some Vietnamese organic and inorganic fertiliser products have already met standards set by the selective market. Currently, Viet Nam imports about 0.25 million tonnes of organic fertilisers worth $45 million from 33 countries and territories, with 42 per cent from nine EU countries, mostly the Netherlands and Belgium. The EUs preference for organic fertiliser over recent years as part of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect the environment will help to spur Viet Nams organic fertiliser development. Vice President of the Viet Nam Fertiliser Association Phung Ha said FTAs, including the EVFTA, will benefit the domestic fertiliser sector, helping it diversify import and export markets. Thanks to the benefits of FTAs, Viet Nam expects to welcome more investment and domestic firms will have more opportunities to access scientific and technological advances from developed countries. The official suggested agencies map out plans to put an end to the use of chemicals in agriculture in order to help businesses utilise the advantages of FTAs. Lan also proposed intensified communication activities to help enterprises understand more about the EVFTA, thus charting their own business strategies for both the short and long term towards sustainable development. VNS EVFTA remains guiding light in mitigating trade depletion The European Union entry ban on its wide borders comes in a crucial year for Vietnamese exporters to the EU, leading to the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement to become ever more important for both sides in the year to come. President of Albania Ilir Meta made a phone call to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on April 22, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani press-service. The sides hailed the development of friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Albania in various fields. The presidents pointed out the successful implementation of the Trans Adriatic gas pipeline project, emphasizing that it contributed both to the strengthening of bilateral relations between the two countries and international cooperation. Ilir Meta's visit to Azerbaijan was reminded, and the importance of this visit in terms of the development of bilateral relations was underlined during the conversation. President Aliyev and President Meta also discussed the issues relating to the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The president of Albania invited the president of Azerbaijan to pay an official visit to his country. The invitation was accepted with gratitude. The reopeners dilemma: Your money or your life How many deaths are an acceptable price to pay to restart the economy? That macabre question confronts political leaders everywhere, writes Peter Baker, our chief White House correspondent, because in the continued absence of either a vaccine or a cure for Covid-19, any move to lift stay-at-home orders and to relax restrictions on commerce will involve a trade-off in some number of additional infections and fatalities. The shutdowns that have hobbled the economy and thrown 22 million Americans out of work have also clearly saved many thousands of lives. Some models predicted two million deaths in the U.S. if nothing was done; with social distancing precautions, the figure seems headed for something closer to 60,000. Assessing whether shutting down or reopening is worth the cost means doing something many people find heartless: putting a dollar value on a human life. Government analysts do it all of the time. For example, 41,000 deaths from opioid overdoses were valued in 2015 at $431.7 billion, or about $10.5 million per person, according to a recent White House report. Using that figure, if the shutdowns around the country were to save roughly two million lives, they would be worth a total of about $21 trillion more than 10 times the cost of the recent $2 trillion relief package. Some advocates of rapid reopening have offered a similar cold-eyed calculus, arguing that the immense economic harm being done by the shutdowns far outweigh the value of the additional lives that may be saved by keeping them in place. Of course, it may not be as simple as that. Reopening the economy earlier may not pay dividends in the long run, and may actually do more economic harm, if the virus came roaring back and shredded public confidence. [April 23, 2020] Curative Inc. Signs Agreement with the U.S. Air Force for Oral Fluid COVID-19 Testing Service LOS ANGELES, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- COVID-19 testing startup Curative Inc. and Gothams announced it has signed an agreement with the U.S. Air Force to deploy its FDA-authorized oral fluid tests and comprehensive testing service to U.S. military personnel around the world. Broad testing is critical to our nations ability to understand the COVID-19 pandemic, maintain operational readiness and restart the American economy. In this initial agreement, Curative will rapidly establish a new laboratory facility, fully operational this week, which will process up to 50,000 tests per day for the presence of COVID-19. In future phases of this agreement, Curative will establish eight testing locations across the U.S. to support testing for the U.S. population. Curatives oral fluid tests have been demonstrated in clinical studies to have equivalent sensitivity to nasopharyngeal (NP) swab tests. Unlike NP swab tests, the Curative test does not create an exposure risk for healthcare workers during sample collection and requires less Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), allowing it to be utilized by other front-line workers. Curatives test uses a different supply chain than NP swab tests, so it can be scaled rapidly and does not put any further demands on the already overstressed NP swab supply chain. Curative has tested more than 75,000 people for COVID-19 and is currently processing approximately 6,000 test results per day in Los Angeles. Curative tests have an average turnaround time of 24 hours and the company is currently producing 20,000 collection kits per day. As part of this agreement with the Air Force, each Curative lab will have a daily capacity to examine 50,000 tests per day. Currently Curative has the capacity to scale to a network of 10 labs across the country for a total of 500,000 tests per day. Through our work with the City and County of LA, we have helped thousands of people access COVID-19 testing and have demonstrated an ability to scale our testing capacity quickly and efficiently, said Fred Turner, CEO and founder of Curative. Our oral fluid test reduces the strain on PPE and existing testing supply chains while being accurate and easy to use. Were proud to be working with the U.S. military to rapidly scale this test to our global Armed Forces and beyond and are exceptionally thankful for Assistant Secretary Dr. Will Ropers leadership in moving quickly to making testing widely available to save lives and restart the economy. Curative worked with private contractor Gothams to establish a robust distribution channel that has enabled the company to rapidly scale its testing capacity. Through a collection of former Special Operations Command personnel, the Gothams team helped Curative build out testing capacity and establish a relationship with the U.S. Department of Defense that will bring its oral fluid COVID-19 testing service to the U.S. Armed Forces. About Curative Curative Inc. was founded to develop tests for sepsis in January 2020 and pivoted to COVID-19 in early March 2020 upon realizing the urgent need for test development and production in the United States. Curative is backed by Deep Tech venture capital firm DCVC and is currently operational within a CLIA-approved lab in Los Angeles, CA. Founded by Fred Turner and comprised of a team of doctors, researchers, robotics engineers, and health industry experts, Curative is rapidly scaling its simple-to-use oral fluid COVID-19 tests to reach the groups most in need of testing. For more details on Curative, please visit www.curativeinc.com . About Gothams Gothams acts as a force multiplier for clients building traction in the aerospace and defense sector. We work alongside our clients as one team to define strategy, outperform the competition, and deliver results. With exceptional people and an international presence, Gothams combines global perspective and industry expertise to help clients achieve their most ambitious goals. For more details on Gothams, please visit www.gothams.com . Contact: [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI)- The Paycheck Protection Program was supposed to provide stability to small businesses that have lost revenue due to the coronavirus, but several small businesses in our area have yet to find any relief. Michelle Donahue is the co-owner of the Jackson Hewitt Tax solution franchise in Lafayette and surrounding areas. Neither she nor several of her small business clients have received any relief from the paycheck protection program. "I have a client who has a hair salon and I have another client who has an auto detailing company with less than 5 employees, said Michelle Donahue. This funding would make a big difference for them when they are actually able to start opening for business again." On Wednesday the Senate approved a relief package worth roughly 484 billion dollars, 310 billion of that will be added to the Paycheck Protection program which ran out of money last week. "Before the replenishment of paycheck protection in this roughly 7 and half-billion dollars in funding had already been approved for Hoosiers businesses, most of those we can infer are small businesses," said Republican Senator Todd Young of Indiana. However, small business owners like Donahue say they are worried they wont receive any relief with the second round of funding either. "I think they need to look at what really qualifies as a small business," added Donahue. Thats why Senator Todd Young says this round of funding for the Paycheck Protection Program is focused on providing relief for small businesses that are attached to smaller banking institutions. "Our most recent legislation phase 3.5 legislation that we passed out of the senate allocates some specific funding for our smaller financial institutions, added Senator Young. Those banks disproportionately serve smaller firms and specifically we allocated 30 billion dollars to those institutions which have 50-billion dollars or less in assets." Senator Todd Young says they are doing everything they can to help small businesses get the relief they need. If a small business has any questions, they can find resources on his website which can be found by clicking here. Hudson, NY (12534) Today Partly cloudy. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Overcast. Low around 25F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chang Lodge 2, which has been declared an isolation area to curb the spread of COVID-19. (PHOTO: Screenshot/Google Maps) SINGAPORE Two more foreign worker dormitories Homestay Lodge and Changi Lodge 2 have been declared as isolation areas starting from Thursday (23 April), in a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19 at the locations. This brings the total number of isolation areas declared by the Singapore government to 21. All are foreign worker dormitories. In an online notice on the Government Gazette on Wednesday night, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said that seven blocks in Homestay Lodge at Kaki Bukit Avenue 3, as well as four blocks in Chang Lodge 2 at Tanah Merah Coast Road, have been isolated. Workers residing there must not leave their rooms for 14 days. As on Wednesday noon, there were 67 confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection at Homestay Lodge, and 211 cases at Changi Lodge 2. Homestay Lodge, which has been declared an isolation area to curb the spread of COVID-19. (PHOTO: Screenshot/Google Maps) The other 19 isolated dormitories are the S11 Dormitory@Punggol, Westlite Toh Guan Dormitory, Toh Guan Dormitory, Sungei Tengah Lodge, Tampines Dormitory, Cochrane Lodge I, Cochrane Lodge II, Acacia Lodge, Mandai Lodge, Shaw Lodge Dormitory, North Coast Lodge, Tuas View Dormitory, Kranji Lodge 1, Westlite Mandai Dormitory, PPT Lodge 1A, Jurong Penjuru Dormitory 1, Avery Lodge, Cassia@Penjuru and 31 Sungei Kadut Avenue. Around 40 clusters linked to foreign worker dorms have been identified thus far, including Singapores largest cluster of 2,211 cases linked to S11 Dormitory@Punggol, followed by Sungei Tengah Lodge linked to 684 cases. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Related stories: COVID-19: S'pore crosses 10,000 mark with 1,016 more cases; confirms 8 new clusters and 12th fatality COVID-19: 16 malls with high traffic urged to conduct contact tracing of customers COVID-19: SAF to further suspend basic military training till 1 June COVID-19: Youth who danced and ranted against safe distancing rules in public, 5 others fined IMANI Africa is asking President Akufo-Addo to temporarily suspend the operations of UNI-PASS and allow GCNET and West Blue to carry on for the remainder of the year. This is to enable the nation avoid revenue losses, most likely GHS10 billion given the reduced trade activity due to COVID-19. The policy think tank has also advised the President to conduct an independent review of the UNI-PASS system. At the same time, it wants the ministries of trade and finance to share revenue projections from implementing UNI-PASS with Ghanaians. In a statement to the President titled: Plugging huge revenue gaps occasioned by COVID-19: GCNET and West Blue remain your best port revenue assurers, IMANI said its argument was premised on recent publications by some media houses. Firstly, The state-owned daily, The Ghanaian Times, on April 20, 2020 published the header: Freight forwarders decry delays in clearing goods at Takoradi Port. Secondly, A second report published two days ago by the influential Business and Financial Times newspaper titled: Takoradi port goes back to manual process as angry importers call for unipass-icums halt stated among others. A third report published a week earlier by Multimedia, titled: UNI-PASS failure puts government under intense pressure, IMANI said, predicted the above situation. In this case, the think tank said the above reports do not only deal a blow to the enhanced paperless system that propelled an increase in port revenues from GHS 8 billion in 2016 to a little over GHS 13 billion in 2017 and 2018, adding: Working with West Blue and GCNET port technologies, it is likely to detract from the assured average daily revenues of almost GHS 33 million and ultimately jeopardise the flow of trade. The statement explained: I do not know what data Custom and Tax Commissioners presented to your Trade and Finance Ministers and the Senior Ministers Task Force on ports to warrant your apparent blessing of the UNI-PASS system. However, I am convinced that when the above steps are sanctioned, these officers who appear to be taking directives from superiors with non-existent data will have a rethink. They could be vindicated on the superiority of UNI-PASS, too. Right now, though, is not the time for playing games. Continuing, IMANI said: Revenues are a critical part of this countrys path to recovery post covid-19, and I agree with a very Senior Official in Ghana's Finance Ministry, who justified your suspension of the partial lockdown to me; that: "The economic cost is so significant, no revenues coming in at all, we wont be able to function economically. It is entirely probable that these incidents of false starts with the UNI-PASS system are expected with installing new technology systems. However, it is difficult to ascertain this claim, as there has been no independent verification of the robustness of the system. Second and crucially, this is not the time to be playing games with the most significant revenue earner for the country. COVID-19 has erased almost 6% of the countrys expected end-year growth of 7.5% leaving in its trail huge gaps in our finances. Our Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta wrote a sobering article in last weeks Financial Times, titled What does an African finance minister do now? in the light of COVID-19, it said. Further, Ken correctly understands that The world is changing. The German chancellor doesnt want to hear about debt-to-GDP ratios. Unthinkable stimulus packages are being announced, trumping orthodoxies and with no talk of a moral hazard: the G20 packages may end up close to $8tn. Their generous tool kits are not available to us. I am green with envy ...I need answers he said. I am also envious of the fact that Ghana, a lower middle-income country was left out of these generous debt-relief packages for the poorest 77 countries of the world- even though we managed to receive almost $500m in debt stand still from the World Bank. This amount constitutes less than a third of guaranteed port revenues for this year under the GCNET-WEST BLUE ports systems scenario pre-covid-19. ---classfmonline NEW HAVEN The U.S. Department of Labor is calling for a second re-do in the election for the presidency of the New Haven Federation of Teachers, according to a complaint filed in federal court. In a complaint against the union filed this month, the plaintiff U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia asks the court to void the Feb. 27 union president vote and for the union to hold another election for its top seat after it raised questions over disqualification of a candidate. Union President Dave Cicarella won his fifth consecutive term to the presidency of Local 933 on Dec. 8, 2018, after narrowly defeating union Vice President Tom Burns and challenger Cameo Thorne. But the national American Federal of Teachers organization, noting that 27 members who work in private schools were not distributed ballots, on July 10, 2019, called for a re-do of the election. Before that election happened, however, an American Federation of Teachers investigation concluded Burns had threatened to make public allegations about union financial practices in an attempt to force Cicarella to resign his role, and Burns was disqualified from running in the re-do election. On Feb. 27, 2020, after serving more than a year of his term, Cicarella again defeated Thorne. Although the U.S. Department of Labor had not taken any action on Burns complaint following the 2018 election, it received a Dec. 18, 2019, letter from Burns appealing AFTs decision to disqualify him. The Department of Labor complaint filed this month alleges that Burns is a member in good standing who may not be disciplined without specific written charges, a reasonable time to prepare his defense and being afforded a full and fair hearing. But AFT President Randi Weingarten said, We take membership rights seriously, so seriously, in fact, that we overturned the first election between Mr. Cicarella and Mr. Burns an election Mr. Cicarella also won because some members of the New Haven Federation of Teachers reported not getting a ballot. AFT has received a copy of the (new DOL) complaint and is reviewing it in conjunction with the New Haven Federation of Teachers, Weingarten said. Burns said he decided to file the complaint with the DOL because he believes in justice but no longer has any interest in running for the presidency. I dont even know if I want to participate with those kinds of people anyway. Why would I want to participate with people who make up stories to keep their guy in power? he said Thursday. Burns said he felt set up by the union. AFT is handling it. Theyve handled this from the beginning, Cicarella said when reached for comment Wednesday night. The only reason we had [a re-do] was because AFT said we need a rerun election because they have very high standards. In its complaint, the DOL alleged the union had not followed the law when it ruled Burns ineligible to run again on the 2019 ballot. The complaint alleges Burns was not provided with specific, written charges of discipline before his disqualification. The DOL complaint alleges that the AFT told Burns that a June 6, 2019, union hearing to discuss his contesting of the election results, as well as his allegations against Cicarella on misuse of union funds, a May 6, 2019, police report in which he alleged Cicarella had misused union funds, and a subsequent cease and desist letter from Cicarellas attorney William Dow accusing Burns of false claims, would be a fact-finding proceeding and not adversarial. Burns said he believed the hearing would be about him contesting the election, so he was surprised when the Dow letter came up during the hearing. It was an investigation about the election and about my complaints. Thats what it was going to be about. Once they knew they were going to lose, they must have concocted a plan, Burns said. They ganged up on me. Weingarten said they AFT stands by its decision. Weingarten said that the AFT believes Burns actions were fundamentally disqualifying for running for office in this union. We are confident that at the end of this, the courts will agree and the integrity of AFTs decades-old investigation and oversight processes will be upheld, she said. The DOL complaint also alleges that Burns was not informed that the hearing could result in his disqualification from running in the re-do election. The DOL document says that when the Dow letter was brought up in the hearing, Burns reportedly reacted with disbelief because the letter was not mentioned in his complaint in which he contested the election results. brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com A ten-year-old boy allegedly shot by police while enforcing lockdown order in Sankara community in Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State, is in critical condition, his father told PREMIUM TIMES. The father of the victim, Abdulkadir Suleiman, said his son, Usman, sustained a fracture in his head and that his condition is critical as he has been unconscious for three days. Im in confusion, I dont know what to do, I was referred from Ringim General Hospital to Rasheed Shekoni specialist hospital in Dutse the state capital, yet my sons condition keeps on deteriorating. From Dutse in Jigawa, now they referred us to Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano where the boy is expected to undergo skull surgery, the father said. PREMIUM TIMES broke the news on how the teenager sustained a wound at his head, allegedly by a police bullet while enforcing a lockdown in Sankara market in Jigawa. But, the police spokesperson, Audu Jinjiri, denied that the boy was hit by a bullet. He, however, said the boy sustained a head injury by a stone peddled by rampaging youth resisting the lockdown order in the community. The police command in Jigawa has summoned the father of the victim to ascertain the truth of the matter, and has vowed to render justice on the matter. One lucky person has won 500,000 after buying a Daily Million ticket at a petrol station in Co Meath. The ticket was sold at the Circle K in Asbourne today. The National Lottery is asking people on both sides of the Meath-Dublin border to check their tickets carefully to see if they are the lucky winner. "We are now encouraging all our Daily Million players who may have stopped for fuel in Circle K in Ashbourne to check their tickets at lottery.ie or by using the National Lottery app to see if it is you who has won this prize," a Lotto spokesperson said. The winning Daily Million Plus numbers from todays 2pm draw were: 07, 13, 19, 25, 27, 35 and the bonus number was 31. It comes after the winner of last week's 9.7m Lotto jackpot Read More: That ticket was sold at Daly's SuperValu in Killarney - four days after they sold a 500,000 EuroMillions Plus top prize to another one of its lucky customers. A champion of the Irish community in London who died after contracting Covid-19, Mrs Alice Kennedy, was laid to rest in her native Clonaslee yesterday. Originally from Clonaslee, Ms Kennedy (nee Culleton) moved from Shracullen to Kentish Town 58 years ago and immersed herself in the Irish community in London through her roles with the Irish Elderly Advice Network and her beloved Irish Pensioners Choir. She would go on to chair the network which cares for older Irish emigrants living alone and also served as secretary of the Irish Pensioners Choir for many years. 83-year-old Alice was admitted to a London hospital with symptoms in late March and was later diagnosed with Covid-19 before sadly passing on April 1. Speaking to the Leinster Express earlier this month, Co-Director of the Irish Elderly Advice Network and close friend of Ms Kennedy, Nora Mulready, said that Ms Kennedy was the life and soul of everything in the Irish community in London. The outpouring of love for her over the last number of days has been a real testament of what she meant to people over here. People knew she was ill and were following her progress, checking up on her. At one point, we all got news that she had improved. In fact, Alice was texting people herself because the doctors said she was doing well and had improved overnight. The last text message I got from her said, The doctors say Im doing well, thank God. That was probably three days before she passed and she just rapidly declined after that. She was still right at the absolute top of her game even at 83 years of age. Bright as a button, youd get nothing past our Alice. She always dressed so well and stood so perfectly upright. It was her smile though, everyone that has paid tributes has commented on it, said Ms Mulready. She was a tiny woman, but she was massive in every other way. She was deeply involved in the Irish Pensioners Choir and they had so many adventures, including recording songs with Foster and Allen - which was hilarious and fantastic. Theres a video on Youtube and right in the middle, youll see Alice. As always," she finished. When she emigrated in 1962, Alice worked in Woolworths for seven years, then in John Lewis on Oxford Street until her retirement. Her husband was Frank Kennedy, whose remains were also laid to rest in Clonaslee. The Sikkim government would bring back thousands of stranded people, including students and patients, from outside the state once the lockdown is lifted, officials said on Thursday. The strategy to facilitate the return of the people was discussed at the State Task Force meeting presided over by Chief Secretary SC Gupta, they said. The state government is aware of a large number of students, patients and other Sikkimese people stranded outside since the state was put under lockdown amid the outbreak of COVID-19, Gupta said. All those stranded people will be brought back to Sikkim once the lockdown is lifted, he said. Additional Chief Secretary, Education, GP Upadhyaya shared the details of Sikkimese students who are stranded outside the state and presented a plan for setting up quarantine facilities for lodging the students after they return. Likewise, Director General-cum-Secretary of Health PT Bhutia apprised the chief secretary about the details of patients stranded outside and said that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been prepared for screening and testing the people returning to the state. The District Collectors and officers from all four districts apprised the chief secretary about logistics to be put in place for quarantining the people coming from outside. The chief secretary stressed on the need to ensure all safety protocols while selecting and preparing the quarantine facilities and directed for preparation of an online registration system at the earliest to facilitate the return of the people. Gupta said that the entry of people from Rangpo and Melli check posts will strictly be based on the online self- declaration forms filled by each individual and added that this step was required to identify and regulate the entry of all incoming local people. Sikkim has not reported any case of COVID-19 so far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Photo : REUTERS/Joe Skipper) A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from pad 39A with the seventh batch of SpaceX broadband network satellites, at the Kennedy Space Center, in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., April 22, 2020. Elon Musk, CEO and founder of SpaceX, said on Twitter on Wednesday, April 22, that the failure of a single Merlin engine in the most recent Starlink launch was due to a "small amount" of isopropyl alcohol that ignited during the flight. Musk said the Merlin failure was due to a "[s]mall amount of isopropyl alcohol (cleaning fluid) [that] was trapped in a sensor dead leg & ignited in flight." Elon Musk says alcohol caused SpaceX engine failure; And then launches Falcon 9's 84th flight As Musk explained, the sensor housing a pressure valve in Merlin's fluid systems contained a small amount of alcohol which caught fire when the engine was ignited. While it was not enough to damage the engine, the sensor shut down because the heat levels surpassed the acceptable limit. This, however, did not prevent the launch from fulfilling its mission. The SpaceX Falcon 9 uses nine Merlin engines and can still operate successfully even if one stops working. The same thing happened on March 18 as the Starlink mission was ascending, although it did not affect the subsequent deployment of 60 Starlink satellites. However, it prompted an investigation joined by NASA before the commercial crew flight on May 27 that will carry NASA astronauts using a Falcon 9. Based on the fact that NASA and SpaceX have since announced an official date for their Commercial Crew Demo-2 mission, it seems very likely that the agency was satisfied with this investigation and the cause that SpaceX identified. The issue seems relatively easy to mitigate in the future through post-cleaning checks. And even in the off-chance of a similar re-occurrence, the redundancy built into SpaceX's Falcon 9 engine system seems very likely to be able to ensure the continued successful operation of the spacecraft. Falcon 9's 84th flight Despite delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, SpaceX's Musk is not letting go of his plans to create an "internet broadband constellation." On Wednesday, April 22, the skies were clear and winds were low in Cape Canaveral Florida for SpaceX's launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. At 3:30 P.M. ET, the Falcon 9 took off on its 84th flight carrying 60 Starlink satellites. The Starlink satellites then began deploying out of the nose cone of the rocket around 14 minutes after the launch. This is Starlink's seventh mission sending off a total of 422 satellites for the growing broadband network. The company's goal is to have more than 1,000 satellites in orbit by yearend. However, the astronomers slammed the company's actions, which they tagged as an injustice to humanity. "Starlink is a crime against humanity; it robs us of the skies of our ancestors to every corner of the earth," wrote Travis Longcore, associate adjunct professor of UCLA's Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. Also, a recent European Southern Observatory study found that these mega-constellations such as Starlink will "severely" affect observations taken by the astronomical observatory Rubin Observatory in Chile. "Mitigation techniques that could be applied on ESO telescopes would not work for this observatory although other strategies are being actively explored," the study said. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Thursday ordered senior administrative and health officers to camp in all districts that have reported more than 20 coronavirus cases to aggressively implement government's containment measures there. Additional Chief Secretary, Information, Awanish Awasthi told reporters here that the decision was taken after the chief minister held a meeting to review the coronavirus situation in the state. He has directed to post senior administrative and health officers in each district with 20 or more coronavirus cases," Awasthi said. "There are 15 such districts in the state. As officers are already there in Gautam Buddh Nagar, in the rest 14, they will be sent. These officers will have to camp there for a week and oversee the implementation of lockdown and other health-related issues," he added. The CM, he said, also directed to ensure that there is no misuse of vehicles being used to transport essential goods. "Such vehicles should be run only with driver and helper. If anyone is found carrying passengers or misusing it, the vehicle will be seized. This is a strict warning for drivers," Awasthi said. A health department official said the number of COVID-19 cases rose to 1,507 in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday as 58 more people tested positive for the infection. Among the worst-hit districts as on Wednesday are: Agra, Lucknow, Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Moradabad, Saharanpur, Raebareli, Bijnore, Shamli, Amroha. Awasthi said that a record volume of ration has been distributed in the state through the Public Distribution System (PDS). Currently, 53,000 fertilizer outlets, 33,000 pesticide outlets and 36,000 seed outlets are operating in the state to facilitate agricultural activities, he said About online teaching in higher education institutions, he said till now 93,652 e-contents have been uploaded by universities and institutions and 6.8 lakh students are taking online classes. He also said that Rs 16,413 crore have been paid to cane farmers in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dublin, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Impact of COVID 19 on the Apparel Market" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The apparel industry comprises sales of apparel by entities (organizations and sole traders) that manufacture apparel. There are three main categories of apparel that include men's wear, women's wear, and kid's wear. Fashion shows such as Milan, London, Paris, Barcelona, New York, Rome, and Berlin are introducing new fashion trends for women as well as men globally. The global apparel industry market generated significant revenue in 2018 with a remarkable CAGR for the last few years. The growth has resulted from the increasing demand from emerging markets. In addition, growth in the e-commerce industry and supportive government regulations on the manufacturing of apparel and clothing drove the global apparel industry. However, the recent outbreak of COVID-19 had a dual impact on the global apparel industry. The novel COVID-19 has impacted the apparel industry in most of the regions including North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Rest of the World. Corona virus has gradually increased across the globe since it originated in the Wuhan City of China. Many European economies including Germany, France, Spain, and Italy which are experiencing a large number of cases with over 100,000 cases by the mid of March 2020. Moreover, many cities all across the globe are partial or total lock down for preventing the spread of the virus. It has created a negative impact on the apparel industry and caused brands and design houses to close down and postpone upcoming runway shows. Department store including Neiman Marcus, Macy's, Nordstrom, Selfridges, and Saks Fifth Avenue have shut their operations. In addition, major events such as the CFDA Awards and the Met Gala have been postponed indefinitely. The prominent players studied in the global apparel industry include Nike Inc., Adidas AG, Ralph Lauren Corp., PVH Corp., VF Corp., and The TJX Companies Inc., among others. Due to the outbreak of the pandemic corona virus, the sales and revenue generation of these companies are largely affected as these players had to shut down their stores due to lock down. For instance, effective on March 19, the TJX Companies Inc. closed all of its stores in the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia for two weeks. In addition, the company is closing its online business, distribution centers, and offices. Moreover, after temporarily closing down its corporate headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, Nike has now closed many of its retail stores across the US due to corona virus outbreak. The retail giant announced to shutter all of its stores in the US, Canada, Australia, Western Europe, and New Zealand for limiting the spread of corona virus. These stores will be closed through March 27. The Report Covers Story continues Comprehensive research methodology of the Global Apparel Industry. This report also includes a detailed and extensive market overview with key analyst insights. An exhaustive analysis of macro and micro factors influencing the market guided by key recommendations. Analysis of regional regulations and other government policies impacting the Global Apparel Industry. Insights about market determinants that are stimulating the Global Apparel Industry. Detailed and extensive market segments with regional distribution of forecasted revenues. Extensive profiles and recent developments of market players. Key Topics Covered: 1. Report Summary 1.1. Research Methods and Tools 2. Market Overview and Insights 2.1. Scope of the Report 2.2. Analyst Insight & Current Market Trends 2.2.1. Key Findings 2.2.2. Recommendations 2.2.3. Conclusion 2.3. Government support/bailout packages for the Apparel industry 2.4. Supply & Demand Analysis 3. Industry Overview 3.1. Historical market growth estimation in Apparel industry excluding COVID-19 pandemic effect 3.2. Deviations in the Apparel industry growth rate due to COVID-19 pandemic 4. Market Segmentation 4.1. By Apparel Type 4.1.1. Men's Wear 4.1.2. Women's Wear 4.1.3. Kid's Wear 4.2. By Distribution Channel 4.2.1. Online Distribution Channel 4.2.2. Offline Distribution Channel 5. Regional Analysis 5.1. North America 5.1.1. United States 5.1.2. Canada 5.2. Europe 5.2.1. UK 5.2.2. Germany 5.2.3. Italy 5.2.4. Spain 5.2.5. France 5.2.6. Rest of Europe 5.3. Asia-Pacific 5.3.1. China 5.3.2. Japan 5.3.3. India 5.3.4. Rest of Asia-Pacific 5.4. Rest of the World 6. Company Profiles 6.1. BASF SE 6.2. DowDuPont 6.3. China Petroleum & Apparel Corp. 6.4. SABIC 6.5. Mitsubishi Apparel Corp. 6.6. Wanhua Apparel Group Co Ltd. 6.7. Chevron Phillips Apparel Co LLC 6.8. Evonik Industries AG 6.9. Jianshi Yuantong Bioengineering Co., Ltd. 6.10. PPG Industries Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/u21tnp 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 After city-based industry and business representatives on Thursday sought curfew relaxations for opening of some commercial establishments, the UT administration has decided against making any such provisions. In a video conference with UT adviser Manoj Kumar Parida and UT finance secretary Ajoy Kumar Sinha on Thursday, the local business community had sought a range of economic concessions amid the curfew. We requested the administration to allow opening of some shops for a few hours daily, and allowing movement of stranded trucks laden with goods, said Neeraj Bajaj, president, Chandigarh Business Council. Other curfew relaxation demands included allowing two to three property registrations in a day, back-end office work, and some small-scale industry operations where nine or fewer people are employed. It was also urged that Chandigarh must be given relaxation to open up borders along with adjoining states. Our supply chain is linked with them, said Naveen Manglani, president, Chandigarh Chambers of Industries. In the daily review meeting chaired by Punjab governor and UT administrator VP Singh Badnore, Parida said, The central government is monitoring the Covid management arrangements in the city and no further relaxation can be allowed under the present curfew. DEMANDS UNDER CONSIDERATION The business community requested the administration to waive fixed charges for electricity, adding that bills should only be based on actual consumption. Bills should also be deferred to at least a month after the lockdown, they demanded. Even as the administration deferred payment of MC property tax, it was requested that it be waived for six months. Water bills should be deferred for at least one month after the lockdown ends, the community demanded. Representatives of automobile companies requested for extension for sale and registration of BS4-compliant vehicles. The last date for BS4 vehicle registration was March 25. No excise duty should be charged from liquor vendors, bars, pubs and hotels during the entire period of lockdown, demanded the hospitality industry representatives. Parida said, Many of these demands relate to the central government and as such, these will be forwarded with favourable recommendations. Demands pertaining to the administration are under examination. Industrialists asked the administration to chalk out a plan for post-lockdown operation of industries. Besides finances, supply chain and availability of labour will be a big challenge for the industry. Ministry of home affairs suggesting penal action and criminal charge against businessmen if a worker gets infected, makes it risky for business owners to operate, said Pankaj Khanna, president, Chandigarh Industries Association. CELEBRATE RECOVERY OF COVID PATIENTS: BADNORE In the meeting, Badnore directed the heads of all medical institutions to focus on critical non-Covid cases, too. He said stories of patients who had been cured should be publicised and society should celebrate their recovery. The administrator also appealed to the Muslim brethren to observe and celebrate Ramadan indoors and conduct the prayers while practising social distancing. 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. The agreement is designed to streamline trade between Egypt and Saudi Arabia and boost customs control to combat illegal trade Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has approved a customs agreement between the governments of Egypt and Saudi Arabia aimed at promoting trade between the two countries. El-Sisi approved the deal, signed in Cairo in March 2015, after it was endorsed by the parliament. The presidential decree was published in the official gazette on Thursday. The agreement is designed to streamline trade between Egypt and Saudi Arabia and boost customs controls to combat illegal trade. It also aims at facilitating goods transfer through the customs transit system in both countries. The agreement is also intended to strengthen administrative cooperation and training in the field of customs through the exchange of information and technical support between the two countries. Search Keywords: Short link: Somrita Ghosh By Express News Service NEW DELHI: While the predictions are that the number of COVID-19 cases in India is going to go up in the coming weeks, testing in the national capital has been abysmally low. According to a health report of Delhi government, the total population under various containment zones in the capital is approximately 3.23 lakh but the number of people tested till April 22 was only 5,619 or nearly 1.7 per cent. While 995 samples were tested for coronavirus on Wednesday, 1,173 were tested at on Tuesday. The pan-Delhi samples tested so far, including containment zones, stand at a paltry 28,309. In Delhi, the AAP government received 42,000 rapid testing kits which were to be used first in the containment zones. However, even before these kits could be used on a large scale, the Indian Council of Medical Research, (ICMR) sent a new advisory restricting their use following complaints of faulty kits. On Wednesday, however, the ICMR said these rapid tests cannot replace the RT-PCR test to diagnose COVID-19 cases and are large to be used as a tool for surveillance. Ever wondered how COVID-19 tests are done? Heres the answer An official from South District said that with no supply of rapid testing kits to the area, RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) remained the only option. We conduct 50-60 tests in a day on an average, but it depends upon the need, said the official. When asked about the low number of tests, Delhi government officials chose to remain mum. Senior officials, including Delhis health secretary and special secretary, didnt respond to phone calls and messages sent through WhatsApp by this newspaper, asking how the government planned to use 42,000 kits when the population of containment zones alone is over 3 lakh and whether the ICMR advisory on the use of rapid tests as a surveillance tool would impact the testing process. We need more testing; all patients with influenza-like symptoms must be tested. Secondly, these rapid testing kits, specifically the ones procured from China, are faulty which raises serious concerns over their effectiveness, said Dr Harjit Bhatti, national president, Progressive Medicos & Scientists Forum. France has become the latest country to ban companies registered in offshore tax havens from coronavirus bailouts, following Denmark and Poland. The French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire announced today that companies either registered or controlling subsidiaries in tax havens are ineligible for the 110 billion rescue package. 'It goes without saying that if a company has its tax headquarters or subsidiaries in a tax haven, I want to say with great force, it will not be able to benefit from state financial aid,' Le Maire told France Info radio. The UK has yet to make the move, although experts say it is unlikely authorities will do so. Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire (pictured) announced today that companies either registered or controlling subsidiaries in tax havens are ineligible for the 110 billion rescue package Le Maire added: 'There are rules that must be followed. If you have benefited from the state treasury, you cannot pay dividends and you cannot buy back shares.' 'And if your head office is located in a tax haven, it is obvious that you cannot benefit from public support.' Of France's 110 billion package, four billion has been reserved for struggling startups, while 20 billion is being kept for larger firms, such as Air France. The UK, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Luxembourg all have provisions making them attractive to businesses that also allow them to be registered offshore. A spokeswoman for Her Majesty's Treasury told Business Insider they are looking into the specific point on tax havens. One expert said the UK should look at copying Denmark's approach as bailouts need to come with conditions to ensure 'good business behaviour.' Poland and Denmark are also banning companies that are registered in tax havens from accessing financial aid during the coronavirus pandemic, making France the third country to make the move. Denmark, which has spent billions on aid for companies experiencing drastic drops in revenues due to a wide-ranging government lockdown, announced an extended aid package worth 100 billion Danish crowns (11 billion) on Saturday. But in an amendment to the aid measures, which now total close to 400 billion crowns, companies registered in tax haven countries will no longer be eligible for aid. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (pictured) has banned companies that are registered in tax havens from accessing financial aid during the coronavirus pandemic The Danish finance ministry said in a translated statement: 'Companies seeking compensation after the extension of the schemes must pay the tax to which they are liable under international agreements and national rules.' 'Companies based on tax havens in accordance with EU guidelines cannot receive compensation, insofar as it is possible to cut them off under EU law and any other international obligations.' Additionally, firms applying for an extension of Danish state aid must now promise not to pay dividends or make share buy-backs in 2020 and 2021, it said. The new restriction applies to firms registered in countries on the European Union's list of 'non-cooperative tax jurisdictions', according to Rune Lund, tax spokesman for the leftist Red-Green Alliance. 'When we spend billions of taxpayers' money on saving companies and jobs, they need to go to that purpose and not get sent to a tax haven on the other side of the world,' Lund told Reuters. The list, which Lund said was not comprehensive enough, currently has 12 countries on it including Panama, the Seychelles and the Cayman Islands. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawieck (pictured during a parliamentary debate on April 16) said that companies must pay domestic business taxes before they can claim any of the country's 5 billion bailout funds The government said companies would be allowed to pay dividends again if they pay back aid. Poland, one of Europe's most vocal opponents of tax havens, was the first to restrict large firms' access to state aid based on whether they pay taxes in Poland on April 8. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawieck said that companies must pay domestic business taxes before they can claim any of the country's 5 billion bailout funds. 'Let's end tax havens, which are the bane of modern economies,' he said. Estimates of tax evasion vary widely, but tax havens collectively could cost governments between $500 and $600 billion a year in lost revenue from corporates, according to some researchers. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 13:37 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3c6377 1 News Hotel,charity,COVID-19,#COVID19,coronavirus,#coronavirus,fabric-face-masks Free Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of hotels in Indonesia have launched charity programs to help those in need, ranging from distributing face masks to ready-to-eat meals. Below is the list. Hyatt Regency Bali Hyatt Regency in Sanur, Bali, has started two projects under its Gift that Gives Back program. In the first project, the hotel produced face masks from upcycled batik fabric. The masks were donated to communities in need in Bali and were also sold to the public. All proceeds were used to purchase materials to make more fabric masks. On April 15, the projects first batch of donations was sent to Telabah village in Gianyar regency. The donation came just in time, said I Wayan Sarjata, the village head, in a statement. A lot of people in our village cant afford or have access to masks. The hotels chefs also created homemade sauces, pastes and sambal (chili) for those who wished to recreate dishes of the hotels all-day-dining restaurant Omang Omang and Italian restaurant Pizzaria at home. Sambal bawang (chili mixed with onion, garlic and oil) and Bolognese sauce were among the 11 flavors on offer. TAUZIA Hotels Hotel chain operator Tauzia Hotels aims to support medical personnel by distributing ready-to-eat meals to selected referral hospitals for COVID-19 in Indonesia. So far, the cooked meals have been delivered to 12 hospitals in 10 cities, including Soetomo General Hospital in East Javas Surabaya, Ken Saras Hospital in Central Javas Semarang, Ulin General Hospital in South Kalimantans Banjarmasin, Soedarso Hospital in West Kalimantans Pontianak, Arifin Achmad General Hospital in Riaus Pekanbaru and Sanglah Hospital in Bali. Read also: Jakarta hotels gear up for Ramadan with stay experience, delivery service We are grateful for the dedication and hard work of our healthcare workers who have selflessly made personal sacrifices in the fight against COVID-19, said Patrick Vaysse, chief operating officer of Tauzia Hotels. This meal distribution initiative is a way to express our gratitude and well-deserved appreciation for the healthcare professionals and we hope these meals can provide a bit of comfort during these trying times. The meals were cooked by the hotels chefs and were conveniently packaged for the busy medical personnel while packed with good nutrition. Safety measures were taken during the meal preparation and delivery. The delivery staff, for instance, were equipped with gloves, masks and hand sanitizer. The 101 OJ Malang Hotel Cleaning personnel in hospitals are among those who are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection. Working as cleaning staff at Dr. Saiful Anwar General Regional Hospital in Malang, East Java, Edwin Pramana is assigned at the hospitals lobby. I have to be prepared to be assigned to other areas, including areas designated for COVID-19 patients, Edwin told The Jakarta Post, adding that the hospital has equipped him with protective gear and vitamin C. Im not worried as long as I keep maintaining my condition and pray that everything will be fine. To help the cleaning personnel, The 101 OJ Malang Hotel prepared and distributed lunch packages to hospitals in East Java, including Dr. Saiful Anwar General Regional Hospital and Lavalette Hospital. The hotel also plans to deliver meals for sahur (predawn meal) and to break-the-fast. Ade Sudrajat, general manager of The 101 OJ Malang Hotel, hoped other hotels and institutions would follow the initiative. Aside from medical workers, cleaning personnel are also at the forefront in the fight against COVID-19, Ade said. Wyndham Garden Kuta Beach Bali The hotel's general manager Bagus Ngurah has collaborated with industry colleagues to distribute 52 public washbasins -- complete with water tank, soap and tissues -- for "high-traffic areas like walkways and locations near temples and mosques". As a result of COVID-19, there is unfortunately a very high demand for hygiene products, meaning that they are short in supply in certain areas and not affordable for many people. I was inspired to build these basins so everyone can clean their hands and protect themselves, Bagus said in a statement. Through corporate donors, hospitals and our personal friends, we have been able to raise approximately Rp 88 million for more than 50 basins so far, and we have plans for more," he added. Additionally, the employees at Wyndham Garden Kuta Beach also teamed up with other hoteliers and academics to donate 10,000 vitamin tablets to Songan villagers in Mount Batur, a region that has a low ratio of healthcare professionals. (wir/wng) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Musthofid (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 24 2020 Helping hands: A man gives a staple food package in Jakarta as part of the governments mitigation efforts in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan) People are beginning to scramble for other funding sources as the COVID-19 outbreak deals a cruel blow to their lives. For app-based driver Niko Satria, who has seen his income drop drastically, the disbursed financial aid from the government is like an oasis in the desert. 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 Photo credit: GCIS Only a unified and coordinated response offers Africa the best possible chance of containing the COVID-19 outbreak. To achieve this, the continents leading business people will have to be a catalytic proponent confronting what President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his capacity as African Union chairperson, has called one of Africas defining modern day challenges. President Ramaphosa made the remark while addressing leading African businesspeople and various heads of state during a virtual meeting on Wednesday. The continents private sector is well placed to assist in many of our most pressing challenges. Combining our resources, we can implement the screening, testing and contact tracing programmes that have proved effective in limiting the spread of the virus, said the President. He said the business community can shift manufacturing infrastructure towards the production of essential medical goods and collaborate in assuring the resilience of existing supply chains for essential products like food and pharmaceuticals. During the meeting, President Ramaphosa emphasised that the AUs response to the COVID-19 pandemic on the continent will be underpinned by principles of pan-African unity, solidarity and coordination. The private sector is a vital part of Africas efforts to combat Coronavirus and develop continental cooperation on stimulus measures to manage the economic impact of the pandemic. "I have addressed letters to numerous world leaders making a strong plea for support for international assistance from our multilateral and bilateral partners for Africas COVID-19 strategy, he said. Download: pdf Africa Joint Continental Strategy for COVID-19 Outbreak (AfricaCDC) (777 KB) During a recent Bureau of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, leaders acknowledged COVID-19 as an unprecedented public health disaster, and that urgent action is needed to stem the tide of the virus on the continent. President Ramaphosa said: We agreed on the need for a comprehensive and coordinated continental approach, and that the AU, Regional Economic Communities and all health institutions should redirect their efforts to stopping the spread of the virus. At the meetings, leaders recognised the critical role of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in the fight against communicable diseases in Africa in general and the fight against COVID-19 in particular. The Bureau agreed to the establishment of an African COVID-19 Fund, to which Member States of the Bureau initially contributed $12.5 million as seed funding and called on all AU Member States, the international community and philanthropic entities to contribute to this Fund. Related: pdf Communique of the Bureau of the Assembly of the AU Heads of State and Government Teleconference on COVID-19, held on 26 March 2020 (348 KB) We also agreed on the need for G20 countries to provide a comprehensive stimulus package for Africa, President Ramaphosa said. This, he added, would need to include deferred payments and the immediate suspension of interest payments on Africas external public and private debt to create fiscal space for COVID-19 response measures. Given the urgent need for medical supplies and equipment, we called for international cooperation and support, while increasing local production on the continent, the President added. In recent weeks, President Ramaphosa said he addressed letters to numerous world leaders, making a strong plea for support for international assistance from multilateral and bilateral partners for Africas COVID-19 strategy. In general, the response has been positive, with various partners making pledges, offering debt relief measures and providing concrete support in the form of medical supplies, the President said. As part of the work to mobilise international support for Africas efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, President Ramaphosa has appointed Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria, Dr Donald Kaberuka of Rwanda, Mr Tidjane Thiam of Senegal and Mr Trevor Manuel of South Africa as Special Envoys of the African Union. Related: pdf AU Chair appoints Special Envoys to mobilise international economic support for continental fight against COVID-19 (133 KB) In the main, the Special Envoys are tasked with soliciting financial support for the continental effort from G20 countries, international organisations (including the UN and its respective agencies), the international donor community and the African and international business communities. I underscored the need for a comprehensive, robust economic stimulus package for Africa. This economic injection should support both the continents immediate humanitarian needs and place the continent on a path towards economic recovery, the President said. During these meetings, President Ramaphosa said he encouraged the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the African Development Bank and other regional institutions to use all available instruments to help combat COVID-19 in Africa. The funds mobilised by the Envoys will support the Africa Joint Continental Strategy for the COVID-19 Outbreak. Saudi National Steel has started work on its new $500-million iron manufacturing plant located within the Salalah Free Zone (SFZ), said a report. It is a unit of Al Nasser Industrial Enterprises (Anie), a major industrial conglomerate in the UAE with manufacturing activities in sectors like steel, polymers, structural fabrication and industrial intermediates located across the GCC and Mena region. On completion, the 250,000-sq-m facility will boast a production capacity of 85,000 tonnes annually of various iron products, reported Muscat Daily, citing a senior SFZ official. "Investments worth $500 million have been earmarked for the construction of the giant iron industries complex in Oman," stated its CEO Ali Tabouk. "This project is a significant leap for investments in the region, as the plant will use the latest technology and innovative engineering designs that will help in reducing the construction cost up to 20 per cent and project time up to 50 per cent in steel related products," stated Tabouk. "Sixty-five per cent of the factorys production will be exported to the regional markets and it will manufacture various steel products that are used in the manufacture of refrigerators, generators, panels, steel roofs, heavy structures for large commercial and residential buildings, bridges, commercial complexes, factories and gas stations, he added. In September last year, Trade Arabia News Service (http://www.tradearabia.com/news/CONS_358947.html) had reported that the Saudi National Steel Company had signed a usufruct agreement with SFZ for the project. The new complex, once completed will create 500 direct jobs, and is aiming at a 150,000-tonne capacity, stated Tabouk after signing the deal with Sheikh Ahmed Al Shahin, the chairman for National Steel Company Complex in Riyadh. An ISO 9001:2015-certified company, Saudi National Steel has a billet manufacturing plant with a capacity to produce 75,000 tonnes per annum. New Delhi, April 23 : Hearing tales of stranded northeastern people across the states, Indian Administrative Services (IAS) and Indian Police Service (IPS) officers have joined hands to help them in an coordinated manner and have exclusively set up 24X7 ration control room for them. They have also released Whatsapp numbers - 8011034569 and 8527320763 - for ration with the help of a non-governmental organization. It was found that the people from northeast region living in various parts of the country fear being racially humiliated over coronavirus and also of being threatened by landlords for being evicted over non-payment of rent. The initiative was taken up by IPS officer Robin Hibu based in Delhi. He in his personal capacity contacted 33 IAS/IPS officers from all states and union territories and roped in to volunteer to facilitate rations to the stranded northeastern people in their respective states and union territories. Hibu appraised the 33 officers across the country that among the northeastern people there is a huge "fear of being racially humiliated over coronavirus". Further, he explained that among the stranded people there is lack of awareness about the arrangements by state government for rations and most importantly no documents are available with them for availing rations from government ration distribution. "He also said these officers who have agreed to volunteer said that there is a huge language problem especially for people from Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura and Sikkim," sources said. He also appraised them to ensure that no landlords threaten to evict them for non-payment of rent. IPS officer Hibu, who is the face of northeast in Delhi, also explained that there are endemic difficulties like availing the emergency cash transfer, especially for students and other stranded northeast people in cities, due to erratic internet connection back home. The officer has taken help of a non government organization Helping Hands to open 24X7 Ration Control Room and to monitor distress calls made from across different states and Union Territories. Thereafter Helping Hands will randomly check back about the delivery of the rations to northeast students or lowly paid employees. (Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in) Two advisers to Gov. Phil Murphy including one of his closest confidants are drawing paychecks from the Democratic Governors Association that he chairs, according to newly released Internal Revenue Service disclosures. Brendan Gill, Murphys 20017 campaign manager, and the firm of Rafi Jafri, an adviser to the state Democratic Party and finance chair for the governors 2018 inaugural, both received $10,000 a month as consultants from January to March. Both first came on board at the DGA after Murphy was elected governor but were paid less. Gill, who is also chairman of the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, has been one of the longest and most influential members of Murphys inner circle. He co-runs a pro-Murphy independent group, New Direction New Jersey. He has also drawn controversy. Julie Roginsky, a former Murphy adviser, has publicly accused Murphys 2017 campaign of being a toxic environment, especially for women, and she has singled out Gill. Gill has repeatedly denied Roginskys claims. Murphy said in a January statement that Roginsky was involved in a dispute with senior staff and and her comments did not reflect a larger workplace issue. He later apologized to those we failed during the campaign. The new disclosures also show that the Democratic Governors Association under Murphys helm raised more money during the first three months of a presidential election year than ever before. The DGA took in $9.5 million from Jan. 1 to March 31. That was second only to the election of 2018, when three times as many Democratic governors were up for election and when the association brought in $11.7 million. The Republican Governors Association, which former Gov. Chris Christie once headed, raised $13 million during the first three months of 2020. Christie also hired political allies when he ran the Republican Governors Association in 2014. He brought on as consultants longtime political strategist Mike DuHaime and Cam Henderson, former chief of staff to first lady Mary Pat Christie. Murphy and several other Democratic governors, most notably Andrew Cuomo of New York and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, have been among the most visible state chief executives during the coronavirus pandemic, issuing stay-at-home orders to stop the spread of the virus. The association under Murphy also has pushed for more funding for state and localities, who shut their economies because of COVID-19. The electoral successes of the DGA along with the incredible leadership shown by Democratic governors is resonating with voters and driving engagement," DGA Executive Director Noam Lee said. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage The biggest donors to the DGA during the past three months included health insurers and pharmaceutical companies. Anthem, a Blue Cross Blue Shield company, Molina Healthcare, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals led the way by donating $250,000 apiece. AstraZeneca contributed $200,000 and Cigna gave $125,000. Merck & Co., based in Kenilworth, contributed $100,000 and Sanofi US, based in Bridgewater, contributed $25,000. The association also raised $250,000 from Walmart and $150,000 from both the Teamsters Union and General Motors. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday barring immigration into the United States for 60 days. In order to protect our great American workers, Ive just signed an executive order temporarily suspending immigration into the United States, Trump said. This will ensure than unemployed Americans of all backgrounds will be first in line for jobs as our economy reopens. Crucially, it will also preserve our healthcare resource for American patients. The order is effective from Friday and broadly bars the entry into the United States of aliens as immigrants, with several significant exemptions. The order applies to aliens without a visa or travel documents who are outside the United States when the order goes into effect. The decree does not apply to permanent U.S. residents as well as spouses, children, and prospective adoptees of U.S. citizens. Healthcare workers traveling to the country to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as their families, are also exempt. The restriction also does not apply to some other groups, including aliens applying for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. The president said he signed the order shortly before walking into the White House Coronavirus Task Force press briefing on Wednesday evening. Trump noted that the order might be amended or extended based on the circumstances. Trump had previously said the order is designed to protect American workers, millions of whom have lost jobs due to the shutdowns intended to stop the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes the disease COVID-19. Amid the pandemic, much of the U.S. immigration system has already ground to a stop. Most visa processing by the State Department has been suspended for several weeks. Travel into the country has been restricted from much of the world. The White House noted in a press release that Trump has asked administration officials to review guest worker programs to determine if additional action is necessary. Recent polling showed that Americans are firmly in favor of limiting immigration during the health and economic crisis triggered by the CCP virus. A recent USA Today poll found showed 80 percent of the respondents favor a temporary pause on immigration. A Rasmussen survey found 70 percent of respondents agreeing that the government should place a temporary ban on foreign entry into the United States. The United States, Canada, and Mexico this week also agreed to place another suspension on unnecessary border travel ending in mid-May. Commercial traffic and a wide range of essential workers are still allowed to travel freely. The Department of Homeland Security, in confirming the development, said an additional 30 days would be added to the restrictions, meaning that it will end around May 20. Mexicos foreign relations secretariat confirmed on Twitter the agreement to extend the restrictions, saying it came after reviewing the development of COVID-19 propagation in Mexico and [the United States]. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the United States and Canada agreed to keep the border closed for another month. Still, he stipulated it would be likely much longer before the restriction is lifted. Last month, the administration effectively ended asylum, relying on a rarely used 1944 law aimed at preventing the spread of communicable disease. Jack Phillips and the Associated Press contributed to this report. From The Epoch Times That is the message from Andy Cuomo, who has presided over the one real disaster in the U.S. response to the Wuhan flu. The Washington Times reports: New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has a message for angry citizens who cant pay their bills during the coronavirus pandemic: You want to go to work? Go take a job as an essential worker. The Democrat fielded questions Wednesday while angry protesters outside expressed their displeasure with ongoing shutdown policies. A reporter said she spoke to many of the protesters and found them to be regular people who are not getting a paycheck. *** Mr. Cuomos response suggested that government-imposed shutdowns might exist as long as a single person was at risk of dying from the contagion. The illness is death, he said. What is worse than death? Economic hardship? Yes, very bad. Not death. Emotional stress from being locked in a house very bad. Not death. Domestic violence on the increase very bad. Not death. The question, of course, is not whether unemployment is worse than death. The question is whether the unemployment of millions is worth a very slight risk of death. But Andy Cuomo is not a very intelligent person. Mr. Cuomo was then asked if a fundamental right to work exists if the government cant get [citizens] the money they need in a timely manner. You want to go to work? Mr. Cuomo replied. Go take a job as an essential worker. It turns out that there are a lot of essential workers, beyond those who are obviously needed, like truck drivers and checkout people at grocery stores. Pretty much every public employee appears to be essential, although most would question that characterization. Here is a good example: the University of Minnesota Medical School is advertising for a Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The treacly job description seems like a message in a bottle from a former age. But it isnt; the money is on offer as we speak. And when I say money, Im not kidding: the salary range for this position is $392,000 to $400,000 annually: The University of Minnesota Medical School seeks a transformational leader and motivated changemaker to assume the inaugural position of Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion across our two unique campusesDuluth and Twin Cities. The Vice Dean will foster an inclusive and respectful environment for all members of the Medical School community by providing leadership over a focused mission and vision for the new Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The Vice Dean will work across all Medical School departments and units in collaboration with community partners and health system leadership to promote and advance innovative ideas, programs and initiatives making diversity, equity, and inclusion a foundation of institutional excellence. Yeah, right. Until now, the University of Minnesota Medical School has been a hotbed of prejudice and discrimination. Is there anyone in the world who actually believes this? Presumably not. And yet the diversity gravy train rolls on, while millions are unemployed by government dictates. So when Andy Cuomo says the unemployed should try to become essential, hollow laughter is the only plausible response. Well, not the only one. Tar and feathers is another. KUMI The man who hoisted the Uganda Flag on October 9, 1962 when the country got her independence from Britain has died. Maj (Rtd) Kanuti Akorimo succumbed to pneumonia at Atutur Hospital in Kumi district on Wednesday, April 22. He was 89. According to the hospital medical superintendent, Dr. Isaac Omare, the deceased has been in and out of hospital over the last two years. He had long time illness. He was suffering from stroke for almost nine months, Dr. Omare said in telephone interview. We have been treating him and he goes home. But it is on Friday when his condition worsened, and we admitted him not until two days later when we put him on oxygen, he said adding: By Tuesday we had alerted State House. He was to be transferred to Mulago, but the unthinkable thing happened. Christine Apolot, the LCV chairperson Kumi says Maj. Akorimos death is a big blow to the district, Teso and the country. She wants the government to meet the burial expenses of the person she described as a hero in the land. Maj. Akorimo, a man who carries accolade of national hero has been living a quiet life in Omatenga village in Kumi district. He attended a commercial course in Nairobi, Kenya and later trained in a short service commission in Britain where he returned as a senior officer in the army. Maj. Akorimo has also served as the chairperson of Kumi Association of Ex-servicemen. Akorimo served the British government for more than 20 years and retired as a major in 1968 at the age of 37. In 2014, Akorimo rejected a house President Museveni promised him in 2009 on grounds that he didnt have much time left to live. Related The cast at work. Photo: Broadway Podcast Network Nine years ago, writer Jason Schafer, composer Arthur Lafrentz Bacon, and lyricist Harris Doran began writing a musical called Bleeding Love. Basing their story on the Oscar Wilde short story The Nightingale and the Rose, a bleak little fable about sacrificing everything for love, they envisioned a futuristic sci-fi romance. It would be lush musically, told in the creepy fairy-tale vein of The Nightmare Before Christmas, and as cold as a postapocalyptic winter. It would be about a world where hard though such a thing would be to imagine! it was too dangerous to go outside. By 2012, it made it into development at the National Alliance for Musical Theatres Festival of New Musicals; by 2016 they had pressed a studio recording with Broadway luminaries like twice Tony-nominated Marc Kudisch (Girl From the North Country), twice Tony-nominated Sarah Stiles (Tootsie), and Drama Desk nominee Rebecca Naomi Jones (Oklahoma!). But they didnt have a production. Then on March 3, one of their producers wound up in a conversation with Alan Seales of the Broadway Podcast Network, who said the site wanted to try an audio drama. A week later the world went into lockdown, and the team started converting what they had into a podcastable musical with dialogue scenes recorded by their actors in quarantine. Rebecca Naomi Jones, recording at home under a blanker. Photo: Rebecca Naomi Jones Most of the music was broadcast-ready from the 2016 demo session, but Jones did have to rerecord one song under a blanket, screaming a high G into her mattress. (When everybodys stuck in their apartment, you can get Broadway actors to do that sort of thing.) The rest of the cast is equally impressive Taylor Trensch, Tony Vincent but none so much as the original Assassins star Annie Golden. During one recording session, Golden in her late 60s told the group that shes had an eventful shutdown. The daughter of her 80-year-old neighbor called to say she was missing, so Golden climbed down the fire escape, broke into the apartment, and saved her neighbors life. If youre going to be quarantined downstairs from a Broadway actor, says Doran, she is definitely the one you want. This morning at 9 a.m., the first third of Bleeding Love drops. Each episode is about 30 minutes; the other two will arrive on April 30 and May 7. On May 14 all three episodes will be released together as the musical, whole. Its on all the big podcast channels, or you can go browse around at Broadway Podcast Network. In 2012 it seemed really edgy, says Doran, wistfully. Now, of course, its accidentally relevant the protagonist Bronwyn (Stiles) sits watching the world through her window since she hasnt been outside in 12 years. Its hopeful, though, too: Its this darkened world where the sun never rose again, says Doran, and theres one small person who doesnt seem to have the skills to be useful and then she does. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 23 Trend: Eastern Partnership Summit may be held in June 2020 as planned notwithstanding the coronavirus pandemic, High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said, Trend reports with reference to Unian Information Agency. Borrell made the statement following the EU ministers of foreign affairs meeting held as a video conference. Borrell said that the ministers saw the current crisis as an opportunity to show that the EU is the most reliable partner for Eastern Partnership countries, i.e., to Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine. The EU High Representative said that during the meeting, the participants, in particular, discussed how the EU can support these countries so that their economies, jobs and institutions do not suffer, and that the drive for reforms remains high on the agenda. The Eastern Partnership Summit in June, the date of which I expect to remain unchanged, should be a good event to confirm this support to the region, but also help advance work in specific areas of cooperation, sustainable economic growth and job creation, he added. The Muhlenberg County Health Department made an announcement on their Facebook page stating that it is no longer necessary to register or meet the criteria to be tested at the COVID-19 test site at Madisonville-North Hopkins High School. The test site is open until 5:30 today, and is open Thursday from 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Testing is FREE. for a COVID-19 testing site near you. For more information on COVID-19 in Kentucky, The county saw four new deaths bringing the total to 61. New cases jumped by 54 to 1,346, still second behind Marion County, home of Indianapolis, with more than 4,400 cases and 228 deaths, according to the Indiana State Department of Healths daily update. Gary reported two new deaths. Further acceleration in Subscription revenue andAnnual Value of new Contracts (ACV) ? Signature Metric up 5.0% organically over the period ? Business continuity plan effectively implemented in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic ? Resilient Maintenance activity despite a contraction in License sales Regulatory News: As early as mid-March 2020, Axway (Paris:AXW) (Euronext: AXW.PA) implemented an action plan to address the COVID-19 global crisis. The Company immediately ensured strict compliance with local regulations and recommendations in each of the countries where it operates. As a priority, the Group focused on ensuring its ability to continue to provide the solutions, subscriptions and services necessary to its customers. The first measures put in place consisted of: Creating a committee to monitor developments in the health and economic situation, capable of making immediate decisions; - Implementing appropriate and secure remote working procedures for all employees; - Closely monitoring cash management and the Company's financial position. Thanks to Axway's international culture and the remote collaboration solutions that the Company develops, the rapid transition of all employees to remote working was carried out seamlessly, keeping the teams fully operational. However, the annual targets announced by Axway on February 19, 2020, which were based on information available at the time, have been called into question by the uncertainties surrounding the current crisis. While it is worth recalling that 70% of Axway's annual revenues are recurring business and, to date, the Company has not encountered any particular accounts receivable issues, the highly uncertain economic environment is causing a sharp slowdown in new projects, particularly in License and Services activities. Nevertheless, the Company is pleased with the dynamism of the Subscription business, which for the fourth consecutive quarter saw its revenue accelerate very significantly (+41.4%). This trend, now confirmed, illustrates the success of Axway's transformation plan, which consists of securing more recurring revenue, providing the Company with the stability it needs to succeed as an independent software leader. Patrick Donovan, Axway's Chief Executive Officer, said: "In this period of prolonged uncertainty, our priority is to protect all Axway's stakeholders: Employees, Customers and Shareholders. As a software publisher, we are fortunate to be able to pursue our activities with confidence while ensuring that our employees can work remotely, efficiently and securely. In parallel, Axway has always enjoyed a healthy financial position, based on solid fundamentals, which allows us to move forward with confidence, in anticipation of the situation stabilizing in the near future. In the first quarter, the ramp-up of our Subscription offerings continued, despite a progressively gloomy environment. This significant satisfaction factor, in line with our projections, confirms that our vision is spot on." Comments on Q1 2020 activity Axway Software: Consolidated revenue 1st Quarter 2020 (m) Q1 2020 Q1 2019 Restated Q1 2019 Reported Total Growth Organic Growth Constant Currency Growth Revenue 64.4 67.7 67.0 -4.0% -5.0% -5.0% In Q1 2020, Axway reported revenue of 64.4 million, down 4.0% in total and 5.0% organically. At constant exchange rates, revenue declined by 5.0%. Currency fluctuations had a positive impact of 0.7 million on revenue for the quarter. Axway Software: Revenue by business line 1st Quarter 2020 (m) Q1 2020 Q1 2019 Restated* Q1 2019 Reported Total Growth Organic Growth License 3.9 9.2 9.1 -57.2% -57.4% Subscription 15.7 11.1 10.9 44.4% 41.4% Maintenance 35.4 36.5 36.2 -2.1% -3.0% Services 9.3 11.0 10.9 -14.6% -15.1% Axway Software 64.4 67.7 67.0 -4.0% -5.0% * Revenue at 2020 scope and exchange rates License revenue totaled 3.9 million in Q1 2020 (6% of Group revenue), down 57.4% organically. In addition to a very high comparison base in the first quarter of 2019, when several exceptional contracts were signed, the business suffered from the major commercial disruptions that gradually emerged during the quarter. While historically License sales momentum is stronger in the second half of the year, Axway anticipates that the activity will remain under pressure for the full year. The Subscription activity grew organically by 41.4 in Q1 2020 thanks to revenue of 15.7 million (24% of Group revenue). Overall, activity growth amounted to 44.4% over the period. The annual contract value (ACV) of new subscription contracts signed totaled 3.4 million in Q1 2020, an increase of more than 140% compared with the first quarter of 2019. As the Group continues to transform its business mix in line with its strategy, subscription-based models, which are particularly popular with clients, are Axway's main growth drivers. Given these factors, the signature metric rose 5.0% in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same period a year earlier. Maintenance revenue amounted to 35.4 million (55% of Group revenue) in Q1 2020, an organic decrease of 3.0% compared to the previous year. Despite a significant decrease in License sales, the decline in Maintenance activity was relatively limited thanks to the low attrition rate on Maintenance contracts. Axway's recurring revenue flows, which include multi-year Subscription and Maintenance contracts, contributed 79% of the Group's revenue for the quarter, or 51.1 million. Services,impacted by the decline in License activity and the contextual slowdown in projects, saw revenue decrease by 15.1% organically over the quarter to 9.3 million (15% of Group revenue). Axway Software: Revenue by geographic area 1st Quarter 2020 (m) Q1 2020 Q1 2019 Restated* Q1 2019 Reported Total Growth Organic Growth France 17.9 20.5 20.5 -12.6% -12.6% Rest of Europe 13.5 13.7 13.7 -0.9% -1.0% Americas 30.1 30.0 29.3 2.5% 0.1% Asia/Pacific 2.9 3.6 3.6 -19.6% -18.8% Axway Software 64.4 67.7 67.0 -4.0% -5.0% * Revenue at 2020 scope and exchange rates France generated revenue of 17.9 million in Q1 2020 (28% of Group revenue), an organic decline of 12.6%. The strong acceleration in Subscription activity was not enough to offset the decline in License activity over the quarter. The Rest of Europe posted an organic decline of 1.0% over the quarter with revenue of 13.5 million (21% of Group revenue). Although the situation varied from one country to another, both Germany and the United Kingdom reported strong growth in Subscription and License activities. The Americas (USA Latin America) generated revenue of 30.1 million (47% of Group revenue) in Q1 2020, representing an organic increase of 0.1%. Business resilience was mainly due to strong growth in Subscription revenue in the first quarter. In Asia/Pacific, the region impacted earliest by the ongoing pandemic, Axway's revenue was 2.9 million in the quarter (4% of Group revenue), representing an organic decline of 18.8%. Financial position at March 31, 2020 At March 31, 2020, Axway's cash position was 27.5 million and net debt was limited to 14.6 million. Axway highlights that, if necessary, it has access to any unutilized financing capacity under its existing revolving credit facility. Financial Calendar Wednesday, June 3, 2020, 2:30pm: Annual General Meeting. Given the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the procedures for participating at the General Shareholders' Meeting scheduled for June 3, 2020 could change in line with health and/or legal requirements Shareholders are asked to regularly consult the Shareholders' Meeting section of the Company's website https://investors.axway.com/en/shareholders-and-investors/shareholders-meeting for updated information on the developing situation. As a precautionary measure, shareholders are advised to favor voting by mail or online, enabling, where applicable, a proxy to be granted to the Chairman. Monday, July 27, 2020, after close of trading: Publication of 2020 Half-Year Results. Tuesday, July 28, 2020, 9:00am: Presentation of 2020 Half-Year Results. Glossary Alternative Performance Measures Restated revenue: Revenue for the prior year, adjusted for the consolidation scope and exchange rates of the current year. Organic growth: Growth in revenue between the period under review and the prior period, restated for consolidated scope and exchange rate impacts. Growth at constant exchange rates: Growth in revenue between the period under review and the prior period restated for exchange rate impacts. ACV: Annual Contract Value Annual contract value of a Subscription agreement. TCV: Total Contract Value Full value of a Subscription agreement including both recurring revenue over the contract term and one-time payments. Signature metric: Amount of License sales plus three times the annual value (3xACV) of new Subscription contracts signed over a given period. Profit on operating activities: Profit from recurring operations adjusted for the share-based payment expense for stock options and free shares, as well as the amortization of allocated intangible assets. Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements that may be subject to various risks and uncertainties concerning the Group's growth and profitability, notably in the event of future acquisitions. The Group highlights that signatures of License contracts, which often represent investments for clients, are more significant in the second half of the year and may therefore have a more or less favorable impact on full-year performance. In addition, the Group notes that potential acquisition(s) could also impact this financial data. Furthermore, activity during the year and/or actual results may differ from those described in this document as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties set out in the 2019 Universal Registration Document filed with the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorite des Marches Financiers, AMF) on April 14, 2020 under number D.20-0289. The distribution of this document in certain countries may be subject to prevailing laws and regulations. Natural persons present in these countries and in which this document is disseminated, published or distributed, should obtain information about such restrictions and comply with them. About Axway Axway (Euronext: AXW.PA) empowers customers to succeed using hybrid integration to connect people, systems, businesses and digital ecosystems. Axway's hybrid integration platform, AMPLIFY, helps enterprise power users, IT specialists, developers, and partners accelerate digital transformation, create captivating experiences, and innovate new services. AMPLIFY speeds integrations by combining traditional integration patterns with API Management and Application Integration (providing over 150 prebuilt connectors). 11,000 organizations in 100 countries rely on Axway for their data integration challenges. To learn more, visit investors.axway.com/en Appendices Axway Software: Impact on revenue of changes in scope and exchange rates 1st Quarter 2020 (m) Q1 2020 Q1 2019 Growth Revenue 64.4 67.0 -4.0% Changes in exchange rates +0.7 Revenue at constant exchange rates 64.4 67.7 -5.0% Changes in scope +0.0 Revenue at constant scope and exchange rates 64.4 67.7 -5.0% Axway Software: Changes in exchange rates 1st Quarter 2020 For 1 Average rate Q1 2020 Average rate Q1 2019 Change US Dollar 1.103 1.136 3.0% View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005634/en/ Contacts: Investor Relations: Arthur Carli +33 (0)1 47 17 24 65 acarli@axway.com Press Relations: Sylvie Podetti - +33 (0)1 47 17 22 40 spodetti@axway.com The suspect in a deadly crime spree that began in Auburn and ended in Birmingham is now charged in the shootout with Birmingham police that left him wounded. The State Bureau of Investigation has obtained four attempted murder warrants against 32-year-old Derrick Hightower, SBI officials confirm. Hightower is also charged with capital murder in Birmingham and in Auburn in connection with two of four slayings that happened Friday and Saturday. Hightowers bond on the attempted murder charges totals $240,000 but he is being held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail on the capital murder charge. The exchange of gunfire happened early Saturday morning in east Birmingham. The ordeal began about 11 p.m. Friday when Birmingham police were notified that a vehicle being sought out of Auburn was spotted at the USA Economy Lodge on Crestwood Boulevard. That truck was recovered, but Hightower was not yet in custody. As police searched for Hightower over the next several hours, a silver sedan was seen leaving the area and Birmingham police tried to stop the vehicle. At that point, said Sgt. Rod Mauldin said, Hightower got out of the sedan and exchanged gunfire with Birmingham police. Officers lost sight of the suspect after the shooting. No officers were injured. A massive perimeter was set up in the Crestwood Boulevard and Montevallo Road areas. The manhunt included lawmen from multiple agencies as well as tracking dogs, a SWAT team and Jefferson Countys Star 1 helicopter. The registration from the sedan Hightower was last seen in led police to a home in the nearby 100 block of Briar Grove drive where 36-year-old Antione Harris was found shot to death inside. Police said the victim and the suspect did not know each other. After a day-long search, Hightower about 4 p.m. Saturday emerged from a neighborhood just feet from the police command post and surrendered. Officers said he was disoriented and had been shot in the arm. He was taken to the hospital and booked into the Jefferson County Jail upon his release. During the investigation, police made contact with 21-year-old Kentrice Symonee Hill. The Birmingham woman admitted to investigators that she was traveling with Hightower and was with him when 54-year-old Nancy Nash was killed Friday morning Auburn at the business where Nash worked. Hill told investigators she had joined Hightower in Columbus. It wasnt immediately clear where they were going, but they became stuck in a ditch at Creative Habitats Landscaping in Auburn. She advised (that) Hightower then went down a driveway, where she later heard several loud noises that she described as tires blowing, an investigator wrote. After the noises, she stated Hightower drove up the driveway in the victims stolen Nissan Frontier. Hill told police she got into the vehicle with him, and they fled the scene together. Hill further admitted to facilitating the rental of the motel room, records state. She also stated that when officers arrived at the motel parking lot, Hightower asked if he could hide out in her room, and she stated he could. Hightower gave Hill a pistol to hide as well, records state. Police found the keys to Nashs stolen vehicle inside Hills purse. Nashs wallet was also found to be in the suspects possessions. Hill is also charged with capital murder in the Auburn slaying, but she is not charged in the Birmingham homicide. In addition to the Auburn and Birmingham killings, Hightower is also suspected in the death of a Dadeville couple who were found slain inside their home Friday night. It wasnt immediately clear when they were killed, but their bodies were discovered by a concerned family member. No charges have yet been announced in the Dadeville case. Public records indicate Hightower went to prison in Georgia in 2006 on cocaine charges and again in 2014 on an aggravated assault conviction. He was sentenced to 10 years in the assault case, but it wasnt clear how long he actually served. Hightower was booked into the Jefferson County Jail at 2:10 p.m. Monday and is being held without bond. Hill is being held without bond in the Lee County Detention Center. Police in Lunga Lunga, Kwale County, Kenya have arrested a middle-aged couple for allegedly luring their neighbours 13-year-old daughter into prostitution. The girls father told K24 Digital that his daughter, a Class Four pupil, went missing from home in late-December 2019, and subsequent attempts to trace her whereabouts bore no fruit. The distressed father said he was later told by his daughters teacher that his neighbours a man and his wife had taken in the girl and turned her into a commercial s.e.x worker. Yesterday (Tuesday, April 21), I bumped into my childs teacher, who informed me he had spotted her several times at my neighbours compound. At 4pm, I went to the said-couples house and found my girl, the father said. The shocked teenager disclosed to her father that the neighbours, Mwalewa Kombe and his wife identified only as Chizi, had rented her a room in the estate, where she would sleep with men at a fee. She said the couple would, thereafter, take all the money she was paid by men in exchange for s.e.x, said the minors father. The livid parent went to Lunga Lunga Police Station and reported the matter. Police went to Kombes house and arrested him alongside his wife, Chizi. Lunga Lunga Deputy County Commissioner Josphat Biwott told K24 Digital that investigations into the allegations have commenced. We are also hunting a famous businessman who regularly sought sex from the girl at a fee. He went into hiding on learning that we had arrested Kombe and his spouse, said Biwott. Meanwhile, the 13-year-old girl is still being held in custody at Lunga Lunga Police Station. Section 15 of Kenyas S.e.x.u.a.l Offences Act 2006 criminalises acts such as child prostitution, which include the procuring of, or permitting children under the age of 18 to be s.e.x.u.a.l.l.y abused, or to participate in any form of s.e.x.u.a.l activity, or in any obscene or indecent exhibition or show. [Such a person] commits the offence of benefiting from child prostitution and is liable upon conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than ten years, says the law. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Editor's Note: Get caught up in minutes with our speedy summary of today's must-read news stories and expert opinions that moved the precious metals and financial markets. Sign up here! (Kitco News) Gold prices edged up to daily highs after the release of preliminary manufacturing and service-sector sentiment data. The flash U.S. manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index for April dropped to 36.9, marking an 11-year low, research firm IHS Markit said in its latest report. The April number missed markets expectations of a reading of 38.0. Manufacturers recorded the sharpest fall in sales since the depths of the financial crisis in early-2009, the HIS Markits news release stated. Private sector firms in the U.S. signalled an unprecedented decline in business activity in April, with manufacturing and service sector companies registering marked contractions of output amid the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The service sector saw the worst of it as the PMI reading fellto 27.0 in April, marking the quickest contraction on record. Services companies registered the steepest rate of decline in the surveys history, the report said. The cancellation and postponement of orders led firms to reduce their workforce numbers at a rate far exceeding anything seen previously over the survey history at the start of the second quarter. Any monthly reading above 50 points to an expanding sector, while anything below that shows contraction in activity. The COVID-19 outbreak dealt a blow to the U.S. economy of a ferocity not previously seen in recent history during April, said IHS Markit chief business economist Chris Williamson. The scale of the fall in the PMI adds to signs that the second quarter will see a historically dramatic contraction of the economy, and will add to worries about the ultimate cost of the fight against the pandemic. Gold prices edged up to new daily highs following the PMI data with June Comex gold futures last at $1,757.20, up 1.09% on the day. A wildlife protection group in Binh Dinh Province has received two endangered animals from local residents whod rescued them from a poacher. The Forest Protection Department said a pangolin and a baby grey-shanked douc langur were sent to non-profit organization Save Vietnam's Wildlife (SVW) Tuesday and later transferred to the Cuc Phuong National Park in Ninh Binh Province, 90 kilometers (50 miles) south of Hanoi. Forest rangers said the endangered animals were bought from a poacher by local residents who felt sorry for the two small animals separated from their mothers. The residents were not aware that the animals belonged to two endangered species and voluntarily handed them over to the authorities. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to draft a law banning wildlife trade. The pangolin and grey-shanked douc are both protected animals in Vietnam. Six of eight pangolin species in the world are listed as endangered or critically endangered by the IUCN and two others as vulnerable. Between 2017 and 2019 around 16 tonnes of pangolin scales were offered for sale in Vietnam to undercover Wildlife Justice Commission investigators. Last year, Vietnam seized the largest volume of scales, surpassing Nigeria, the main export hub. The grey-shanked douc langur is native to several provinces in central Vietnam. Hunting, deforestation and habitat defragmentation have driven them to be listed as critically endangered by IUCN. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo charged that China may have known of the new coronavirus as early as November, renewing accusations that Beijing has not been transparent. "You'll recall that the first cases of this were known by the Chinese government maybe as early as November, but certainly by mid-December," Pompeo said in an interview on Thursday. "They were slow to identify this for anyone in the world, including the World Health Organization," he told conservative radio host Larry O'Connor. Pompeo said the United States still wanted more information from China including the original sample of the SARS-CoV-2 virus detected in the metropolis of Wuhan. "This issue of transparency is important not only as a historical matter to understand what happened back in November and December and January, but it's important even today," Pompeo said. "This is still impacting lots of lives here in the United States and, frankly, around the world." China at first closely guarded information of the virus and detained whistleblowers. The first official acknowledgement of what became a global pandemic came on December 31 when authorities in Wuhan reported mysterious cases of pneumonia. Michael Ryan, emergencies director at the World Health Organization, said the UN body first spoke of an event in Wuhan on January 4 via Twitter and provided "detailed information" the following day to all member countries. President Donald Trump's administration has harshly criticised both China and the WHO, blaming them for not stopping the illness that has killed more than 1,80,000 people worldwide. Critics say that Trump is seeking to deflect from his own handling of the coronavirus, which he claimed to have "totally under control" in January but has since killed nearly 50,000 people in the United States -- more than any other country. Pompeo has previously not ruled out that the virus originated in a virology laboratory in Wuhan and has demanded international access to it. China has dismissed the theory. Its scientists say that the virus probably was transmitted to humans at a meat market in Wuhan that butchered exotic animals. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Colonie Ramadan, the monthlong daytime fast observed by millions of Muslims worldwide and thousands in the Capital Region, began at sundown Thursday. Healthy adult Muslims are required to fast, but anyone with medical conditions and health issues are exempt. Those observing the fast get up early to take a predawn meal called suhoor. Once the sun rises, a complete fast begins no food or drink, not even water until after sundown. Traditionally, the fast is broken with sweet dates and followed by prayers and an evening meal called iftar. Fasting is mentioned in the Quran, the holy book Muslims consider the word of God. It was revealed to Prophet Muhammad by means of the archangel Gabriel in the seventh century during Ramadan. "O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed for those before you, so you may learn self-restraint." (Chapter 2, verse 183) The month is a time of individual reflection and increased worship. It is also a time for community meals and congregational prayers. But there will be no gatherings this Ramadan because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to quarantine or shelter at home. The Islamic Center of the Capital District in Schenectady hosts Saturday iftars during Ramadan, including an annual interfaith iftar. This year will be different. Maliha Nazeer, coordinator for community iftars at the ICCD and a volunteer for the monthly food pantry there, said monetary contributions already received at the center for this year's community iftars are being directed toward the food pantry, which the ICCD holds the second Saturday of the month. In March, the pantry served 110 families in the parking lot. "Volunteers observed social distancing and put bags in the trunks of cars," she said. This month, the arrangement changed and volunteers delivered boxes of groceries to the homes of 90 families. Charity is encouraged during Ramadan and Muslims typically give generously. "Donations are down this year because people are out of jobs and businesses are slow," she said. "During Ramadan, we plan to provide groceries every other week to about 40 families that are (financially) hurting the most." Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five "pillars" of Islam, the other four being faith in one God, daily prayer, charity and pilgrimage to Mecca for those who are physically and financially able. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, called hijra, and was established when Prophet Muhammad and his followers migrated from Mecca to Medina, located in Saudi Arabia. Ramadan is said to begin at the first observance of the new crescent moon, though now the date is predetermined by astronomical calculation. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, so Ramadan starts about 11 days earlier each year. This is year 1441. As churches and synagogues used technology to stream Easter and Passover services earlier this month, Islamic centers will do the same with some prayer services during Ramadan. Zubair Ahmed, president of the ICCD, said the center will provide nightly uploads to its website, Facebook page and YouTube of a chapter of Quran recitation by Imam AbdurRahman Islam with translation and discussion by the ICCD's imams AbdurRahman Yaki and Nayef Patel. Imam Djafer Sebkhaoui of Al-Hidaya Center in Latham said parts of the nightly prayers will be livestreamed "so people can have the mosque in their hearts. They can personalize their prayers on their own, then we will finish. "In between we will do a reflection," he said. "We will capitalize that God is not only in the mosque but He is everywhere. That is what Prophet Muhammad taught. People should not feel deprived because they are not able to attend a mosque." ahaqqie@timesunion.com 518-454-5651 While clerics and governments across the Muslim world will greet Ramadan this week under lockdown, working together to shut mosques and urging worshipers to pray at home, in Pakistan, some of the most prominent imams have rallied their devotees to ignore the anti-pandemic measures. Ramadan, which begins this week, is the holy month in which Muslims crowd into mosques and fast all day, holding feasts after sundown with family and friends. Those are ripe conditions for the coronavirus to spread, and imams around the world are asking people to stay home. But in Pakistan, pandemic or no pandemic, hard-line clerics are calling the shots, overriding the governments nationwide virus lockdown, which began late last month. Most clerics complied with the shutdown when it was announced. But some of the most influential ones immediately called on worshipers to attend Friday prayers in even greater numbers. Devotees attacked police officers who tried to get in their way. Clearway Energy (NYSE:CWEN) (NYSE:CWEN.A) has had its share of ups and downs in recent years. Its prior sponsor mismanaged the renewable energy company, causing its performance to lag. Meanwhile, one of its largest customers, California utility PG&E (NYSE:PCG), went bankrupt last year, which affected the cash flow it generates from assets tied to that company. But with a new sponsor taking over in late 2018, Clearway has started turning things around. That's clear with its 2020 outlook, which should see the company grow its cash flow by more than 20%. This optimistic outlook enabled the company to boost its dividend by 5%, pushing the yield up to 4.4%. Those growth trends should continue after the company signed deals to buy several wind power assets from its sponsor. Details of the deal Clearway Energy noted earlier this year that its sponsor offered it the opportunity to acquire and invest in three wind-related projects: 100% of the equity in the 144 megawatt (MW) Rattlesnake Flat Wind Project in Washington State. The remaining interest in Repowering 1.0, which would give it sole ownership of that partnership. It owns the 161 MW Wildorado and 122 MW Elbow Creek wind projects in Texas that have already been repowered . A partnership with its sponsor to repower the 55 MW Pinnacle Wind Project, which will increase the generating capacity of a wind farm in West Virginia. Clearway has now signed binding agreements to invest in all three of these opportunities. It expects to pour $241 million into these deals, which it will finance with existing corporate liquidity (cash and borrowing capacity). It anticipates closing each transaction by year-end. Combined, the company expects these investments to generate an average of $23 million of cash flow per year over the next five years. That will provide a nice boost to Clearway's cash flow, which was on track to hit $310 million this year before it made these deals. An important diversifier The increased cash flow from these new investments is one of the main drivers of these transactions for Clearway. But it's not the only factor. Other important ones are that it will boost its wind business, which will increase the company's regional and customer diversification. Clearway already has a strong wind business, with 2,200 MW of generating capacity at the end of last year, which contributes 34% of its cash flow. While its solar portfolio is much smaller at 1,203 MW, it generates 29% of its cash flow. That's worth noting since Clearway has agreements to sell about a third of its solar output to PG&E. Meanwhile, that company also purchases about 30% of Clearway's conventional production (which contributes 15% of its cash flow). Thus, the boost to its wind business will do several things. First, it will make it an even larger contributor to cash flow. Meanwhile, because these assets are outside of California, they'll reduce its overall exposure to that market and PG&E since the wind projects have power purchase agreements with several other customers. Furthermore, the geographic spread of these assets around the country is worth noting since wind resources tend to vary by region in the amount of energy produced versus capacity: Region Q1 2019 Q2 Q3 Q4 Full year West (excluding California) 88% 97% 105% 106% 99% Texas 93% 87% 113% 87% 93% East 73% 114% 93% 94% 91% This geographical diversification will help smooth out its quarterly cash flow. The power to keep growing the dividend Clearway Energy had to reduce its dividend last year due to the bankruptcy of PG&E. Thanks to a series of acquisitions over the past several months, however, it was able to start growing its payout again in 2020. With these latest deals, the renewable energy company should have the power to keep increasing its dividend since the new investments will boost its cash flow and diversify its operations. Those factors make its dividend increasingly attractive to investors who are seeking a high yield powered by renewable energy. It happens every April and early May across the Chesapeake Bay region. Warm, sunny weather beckons to thousands of stir-crazy people who don shorts and T-shirts and drag their canoes and kayaks to the water. The desire to get outdoors is even more pronounced now with home isolation from the coronavirus keeping people cooped up. Canoeing and kayaking are currently permitted in all the Bay drainage states even as some forms of recreational boating are not. Because of that, officials and paddling groups are warning the public about being lulled by warming weather into a false sense of security as they take to the Bay, favorite streams and lakeswhere the water remains dangerously cold. The sobering fact is that, too often, paddlers go unprepared and overturn. April is the second-deadliest month for paddling accidents, and kayakers and canoeists made up 20% of all recreational boating accidents in the United States in 2018, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. From 2009 to 2019, in Maryland waters alone, there were 40 kayaking accidents, 24 canoe mishaps, 17 rowboat accidents and 9 inflatable kayak accidents, according to Maryland Natural Resources Police. "I hear it time after time. There are a lot of people who believe they will never fall out of their kayaks. And that's just unrealistic," said Devin Winand, a kayak instructor and guide for Shank's Mare Outfitters along the Susquehanna River in in York County, PA. "You need to assume you're going to end up in the water. You dress for water temperature, not air temperature." Paddling doesn't have to be cumbersome to be safe, stressed Ralph Heimlich, a leader of the Chesapeake Paddlers Association who has canoed and kayaked for 68 years. "I don't want to discourage people from paddling. Pay attention to water temperatures and have the right safety equipment and they'll be fine," he said. "The biggest single thing is to wear your PFD [personal flotation device]don't just have it." "Wearing a life jacket is the best way to ensure your trip doesn't end in tragedy," echoed Stacey Brown of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Some paddlers perpetuate the mistaken notion that there's a simple formula for deciding whether or not to wear a wetsuitadd the air and water temperatures together and use the sum as a guideline for safe conditions. A sum below a certain number, for example, would indicate the need for a wetsuit. But the National Center for Coldwater Safety calls this a myth. According to an example on its website, such a formula could suggest no protection is needed in water with a temperature in the low 50s. "That's simply incorrect," the center insists. "The only thing that matters when you're in the water is the water temperature." Debilitating cold water reactions are the biggest killers of paddlers. Water as warm as 60 degrees can cause a common phenomenon known as cold water shock, causing the overturned paddler to make involuntarily gasps for air. Often that happens when the paddler is at least partially under water, and gulping water puts him or her on the path to drowning, the leading cause of paddling deaths, according to Julie Brown, boating education coordinator for the Maryland Natural Resources Police. Even water in the 7077 degree range can impede survival. As of April 8, the water in the Bay was still a chilly 55 degrees. Without a dry suit, or at least a wetsuit, a spill in those conditions would immediately set off cold water shock, Brown noted. And even a paddler survived that, he or she would likely experience a quick increase in blood pressure and heart ratewhich could lead to disorientation and even cardiac arrest. "Without proper equipment and apparel, the body can become incapacitated in just a few minutes," she added, "and without a life jacket this can be a very dangerous and often fatal combination." Even if a paddler is wearing a life jacketand not just storing it onboard as some states allowa dunk in the drink is still dangerous territory. The cold quickly drains feeling in the hands and prevents the paddler from being able to swim far. As the core body temperature drops and hypothermia sets in, the paddler loses the strength to right the capsized canoe or kayak and climb back on board. In water of 50 to 60 degrees, a paddler hanging onto the craft may survive only six hours, or less in some cases. Paddlers should also be wary of wind, which can get even experienced paddlers in trouble, especially on open water and during gusts on the Bay, according to Heimlich. "If you're not familiar with it, wind can be an overwhelming force, and you have to compensate for that. People get in that chop and are not used to it and flip over." Look for routes protected from strong winds, such as narrow creeks and marsh guts, which also have the advantage of being closer to shore and in shallower water. But regardless of your paddle route, learning and practicing self-rescue skills should be part of owning a kayak or canoe, Heimlich said. Learn how to right an overturned craft and how to get back into it from the water. Heimlich points out that a lot of smaller recreational kayaks are not built for safety. If they don't have built-in bulkheads to keep the kayak afloat, buy float bags and secure them in the bow and stern for additional flotation. Other safety equipment, such as pumps or floats that can be placed on a paddle for stabilization, can help prepare for emergencies. Most paddling groups discourage paddling alone. Because of coronavirus regulations, if paddling in a group, maintain social distancing at all times. If you venture out in your canoe or kayak, especially with current colder water temperatures, here are the safety rules in a nutshell: Wear a life jacket. Don't just have it on board. Paddle with a partner, buddy or groupwith social distancing when necessary. Leave a float plan with family or friends. Explain your route and your expected return time. Call them as soon as possible to confirm your safe return. Carry a whistle to alert others in case of danger. Wear a dry suit, or at least a wetsuit, if the water temperature is 60 degrees or lower. Field test your gear, and test it each time before you go out. Learn how to self-rescue if your canoe or kayak overturns. Dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature. For more information, visit the National Center for Cold Water Safety website at coldwatersafety.com. To reinforce all this, also consider taking a paddling safety course. For a free online course, visit boaterexam.com/paddling. The Chesapeake Paddlers Association also offers paddling instruction, although spring classes have been postponed because of the coronavirus. For information, visit cpakayaker.com. Bay Journal staff writer Ad Crable is based in Pennsylvania. This article was distributed by the Bay Journal News Service. WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., drew flak Thursday from governors in both parties after suggesting that states hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak should be allowed to seek bankruptcy protections rather than be given a federal bailout. McConnell's comments, made during a radio interview on Wednesday, came amid a renewed push from states for help from Washington to cover lost tax revenue that has been among the dire consequences of the ongoing pandemic. "This is really one of the dumb ideas of all time," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said during a briefing in Albany in which he warned that bankruptcy declarations by multiple states would lead to "a collapse of this national economy." Republicans who panned the idea included Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, chairman of the bipartisan National Governors Association, which has asked McConnell for $500 billion to help states deal with lost revenue. "Mitch McConnell probably regrets saying that," said Hogan, a Republican. "If he doesn't regret it yet, I think he will regret it. . . . The last thing we need in the middle of an economic crisis is to have states all filing bankruptcy all across America and not able to provide services to people who desperately need them." McConnell pressed his idea Wednesday during an interview on Hugh Hewitt's conservative syndicated radio show, arguing that much of the financial strain faced by some states is the result of runaway pension obligations - and that several U.S. cities have used bankruptcy protections to restructure their finances. (Hewitt is also a Washington Post opinion columnist.) "I would certainly be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route," McConnell said. "It saves some cities. And there's no good reason for it not to be available. My guess is their first choice would be for the federal government to borrow money from future generations to send it down to them now so they don't have to do that. That's not something I'm going to be in favor of." The House is expected to sign off Thursday on a $484 billion relief bill that replenishes a loan program for small businesses affected by the pandemic. It also provides additional funding for hospitals and coronavirus testing, two issues Democrats pressed during negotiations. Republicans balked at including aid to states and localities in the pending legislation, but President Donald Trump signaled this week that he would be open to including such assistance in the next round of legislative relief. During Wednesday's radio interview, McConnell reiterated his view that lawmakers need "to push the pause button" before moving forward with "this whole business of additional assistance for state and local governments." "There's not going to be any desire on the Republican side to bail out state pensions by borrowing money from future generations," McConnell said. "So this is a much bigger conversation than we've had providing assistance for small business because the government shut them out, put them down, put them out of business, or assistance to hospitals which were overwhelmed by the covid-19 disease." States, he pointed out, have taxing authority, as does the federal government. Several U.S. cities - most prominently Detroit, in 2013 - have declared bankruptcy under Chapter 9 and used the process to restructure debts and cut costs. That route is currently not available to states. More for you Two more chain restaurants are giving back small business funds In a tweet Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., dared other Republicans to get on board with the path McConnell is advocating. "Republican Senators: Raise your hand if you think your state should go bankrupt," he wrote. At his briefing, Cuomo said that allowing states to declare bankruptcy amid the pandemic would be "irresponsible and reckless." He also took issue with a document put out by McConnell's office Wednesday in support of his views titled "Stopping Blue State Bailouts" - an allusion to many of the states in trouble being run by Democrats. "This is not the time or the place or the situation to start your divisive politics," a visibly agitated Cuomo said. "It's not red and blue. It's red, white and blue." Cuomo also pointed out that McConnell's state, Kentucky, currently receives more federal dollars for services than its taxpayers contribute while the opposite is true of New York. "It's your state that is living on the money that we generate," Cuomo said. "Your state is getting bailed out. Not my state." His comments about the wisdom of state bankruptcies echo those of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat whose state is also at the epicenter of the crisis. "Encouraging, explicitly almost hoping for bankruptcies of American states in the midst of the biggest health-care crisis this country has ever faced, is completely and utterly irresponsible," Murphy said during a news briefing Wednesday after McConnell's radio interview aired. McConnell's comments also drew a swift rebuke Wednesday from a Republican congressman from New York, Peter King. He seized on a characterization by McConnell that governors are seeking "free money." "To say that it is 'free money' to provide funds for cops, firefighters and healthcare workers makes McConnell the Marie Antoinette of the Senate," King wrote on Twitter. Hogan, who spoke out during a live-streamed interview with Politico on Thursday, also took issue with McConnell's contention that state aid would primarily help Democrat-dominated states that McConnell said had mismanaged their finances. "That's complete nonsense," the governor said. "These are well-run states." Hogan argued that the federal government has a responsibility to help states respond to the crisis by paying to keep core government services in tact. "States are the ones who are close to people's problems," he said. "We don't have a printing press like the federal government does. So it'd be nice to get some assistance from them directly." Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat whose state has been among the hardest hit by the coronavirus outbreak, also made a plea for aid from Congress during a television appearance Thursday. "It will undermine everything from public health to education if we don't get the kind of support we need out of Washington, D.C.," she said on MSNBC, labeling McConnell's comments about state bankruptcies "incredibly irresponsible." - - - The Washington Post's Erin Cox and Brittany Shammas contributed to this report. Available evidence indicates the novel coronavirus originated in animals and was not manipulated or produced in a laboratory, the World Health Organization (WHO) told a UN press conference held in Geneva, Switzerland on April 21, local time, in response to the false information circulating on the internet about the origin of COVID-19. The false information has recently sounded an alarm for the international society. Both the WHO and global medical titans believe that the source of the virus is a matter of science which shall never be politicized. WHO spokesperson Fadela Chaib underlined at the conference that the WHO is combating two pandemics one with the virus and one with information which is also called infodemic. She called on the international society to stand against the infodemic and oppose the fallacies and conspiracy theories on the origin of the novel coronavirus. She pointed out that the virus was not artificially made, which is a consensus reached by all sides, stressing that the worlds collective focus needs to be on facts, not fear. The WHO is now probing into the origin of the novel coronavirus with science-based approaches, and multiple teams, including the Chinese, have started relevant investigation. Its not the first time for the WHO to call for science- and facts-based approaches to address the origin of the virus. Executive director of the WHOs health emergencies program Michael Ryan told Peoples Daily that the organization has a very clear stand on the origin of the virus, and stigmatized languages shall be avoided, in response to the stigmatization of China by some politicians under the excuse of the virus. The fallacy that the novel coronavirus was manmade was also disapproved by global medical experts. Olivier Schwartz, head of the virus and immunity department of Frances Pasteur Institute, noted that the family tree of this virus indicates the virus is derived from viruses that circulate in nature, which has been verified by many laboratories. Russian epidemiologist and microbiologist Alexander Semenov revealed that its totally possible for researchers to tell whether the virus was originated from nature or artificially made from genetic sequencing. The statement that the novel coronavirus was artificially inserted with gene segments goes against facts, said Semenov, adding that such practice was intended to disguise the incapability of certain countries health systems. Australian news website ScienceAlert reported that scientists have explained for many times why the COVID-19 virus was not made in a lab. The emergence of a new coronavirus with pandemic potential is not a surprise, and scientists have been warning governments for years that a new disease was on the horizon, it said. People have to be careful not to aid those people who irresponsibly use the global crisis for their own political point-scoring by giving any oxygen to rumors, said the news website, citing La Trobe University epidemiologist Hassan Vally. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 16:34:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian defense minister said on Thursday that the armed forces are ready to repel any threat against the country, official IRNA news agency reported. The armed forces have been monitoring global and regional developments with vigilant eyes, said Amir Hatami at a meeting held in the capital Tehran with the participation of military advisors and officials. Highlighting the capabilities of the Iranian armed forces, he said the hegemonic system has been showing hostilities toward Iran for 40 years. A day earlier, Hatami said the "illegal and aggressive" presence of U.S. forces in the Gulf is causing insecurity in the region, Press TV reported. Enditem Numbers can kill: politicians should handle South Africa's coronavirus data with care Wed all love to know more about our neighbours from COVID-19 data, census data and other official data sources but we shouldn't. Numbers tell stories. Usually, stories of people often happy stories, like births, marriages, finishing school, getting a degree, getting a job. Even paying taxes. Sometimes they tell sad stories death, divorce, disease, liquidations. Statistics do not provide a cold or inanimate way of dealing with the world they are one key part of the world, waiting for someone to spin the tale they tell. At a time of heightened fear such as the world is currently living through, ensuring statistics of death and disease are handled with sensitivity should be self-evident, most particularly to politicians. It appears not. No one controls who talks to data once theyre in the public domain. No one stops journalists or students or politicians from analysing official stats as they see fit, thus creating their own narrative. That is why there are clear ethical and legal protocols in place. The most basic of these is never to release data that may allow respondents to be identified. In the case of South Africa this means that, in practice, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), the countrys national statistical service, anonymises data it does release and has legal rules for the level at which data can be made available. This refers to both individuals and small, identifiable communities. This is appropriate. It prevents the potential violation of confidentiality the ability to point accusatory fingers because you choose to read (or misread, exaggerate, over-state) numbers in a particular way. But is this basic protocol being adhered to during the COVID-19 pandemic? Sadly not. An early case in point is the Western Cape, where premier Alan Winde released remarkably detailed figures on the local level sites of COVID-19 infection in the province. As Winde put it, Today (March 29) we have started providing sub-district information across the Western Cape, including in the city of Cape Town. The stats show us that this virus is spreading, reaching communities across our province. Each and every one of these cases, from Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain to Mossel Bay is of very serious concern for my government. He went on to give detailed data for the Cape. Windes example has since been followed by other premiers, mayors and many others. This is not a party political point-scoring piece. The obvious question is: why tell us, at such granular level? Winde was no doubt acting from good intentions, one most people would share, which is that the more information people have, the more they may appreciate risk, and the better they may respond to the constraints of the COVID-19 lockdown. Police monitor compliance with COVID-19 regulations in the Diepsloot informal settlement, Johannesburg. Michele Spatari/AFP/GettyImages And, quite rightly, he was trying to put out the flames of potential stigma as every politician subsequently repeats as they intone the nightly death toll. He and others have tried to say the disease knows no race or age or class. It can get anyone. But the path to hell, as we know, is paved with good intentions. The politics of death When the first South African COVID-19 infection was reported on 5 March, almost immediately a video was circulated by some political figures that made it clear this was a rich white problem. Who else visits Italy in March? It pointed to the immediate racialisation of the first South African infection. This was a disease of white globe-trotters. This was a problem for rich whites, not for us (mainly poor black people). It fed on the political discourse that marked the 2019 election protect our borders (from them), take back our land and jobs (from a different them). Read more: Zimbabwe's shattered economy poses a serious challenge to fighting COVID-19 The same reaction greeted HIV when it debuted in the 1980s and was written off as the gay-related immunodeficiency syndrome. It was a disease of moffies a derogatory term used to describe gay people in South Africa a Western disease, a white disease, and a them disease. It was self-evidently not our macho, heterosexual problem. Until it was. And then it slaughtered people, and is still doing so. Have people really learned absolutely nothing? COVID-19 is everyones disease as well, as people are grudgingly accepting. But the race and class profile of this being a problem for rich white people, that started with South Africas infection #1 created a discourse that has not disappeared. It is fuelled by the countrys existing racialised inequality and peoples genuine fear of this invisible virus. The release of data showing that rich white suburban parts of Cape Town and Johannesburg are the epicentres in both city and province is problematic. It feeds into and amplifies South Africas tendency to default to race, and creates real local divisions that mirror and deepen those already hardcreted into South Africas cities by apartheid spatial engineering. Controlling the narrative But why did stigma exist (and why so early)? In no small part, because government didnt control the narrative from day one. As a result, every session now includes the repetition that the virus cares not a jot for race. But, though government spokespeople also reassure South Africans that it doesnt care if youre rich or poor, a new narrative is taking root, that the poor are the problem that enforced proximity coupled with poverty and compromised health means the epicentre will be informal settlements. This is because we are so fundamentally unequal that this virus (like HIV before it) is going to disproportionately affect the poor. And the poor are overwhelmingly black. So the prejudice that welcomed COVID has created its own truth. Statistics do tell stories. But they are understood in different contexts. So while everyone would love to know more about their neighbours from the census, from COVID-19 data, from income and expenditure surveys, and other official data sources they cant. And they should not be able to that way lies stigmatisation, racist and nationalist narratives, and worse. In many countries across the world narratives of our jobs apparently being taken by others are becoming increasingly common in the wake of COVID-19. This, as has been shown in South Africa prior to the pandemic, leads to xenophobic violence and more death, as happened immediately after the 2019 national elections. Politicians should take heed. Good intentions do not guarantee good outcomes. Stop imagining that granular data helps it doesnt. Stick to the protocols and the law. Statistics South Africa does not release this type of data, precisely to protect people from one another. Leaders need to do the same, or the country may be divided after the COVID-19 crisis than it was before it hit. David Everatt, Head of Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Singapore, April 23 : An Indian national, who was found lying motionless at the staircase landing of a hospital in Singapore, died on Thursday from his injuries, it was reported. In a statement, the police that they were alerted to a case of unnatural death at the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital at around 7.30 a.m., reports The Straits Times. Based on preliminary investigations, the police said they do not suspect foul play, while a probe was into the incident. Mechanical ventilation can provide lifesaving respiratory support for critically ill patients; however, prolonged ventilation time is associated with numerous complications, even after the patient leaves the hospital. Concerned about the potential negative outcomes, CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview, Texas, developed an integrated approach that reduced ventilation time for patients in its 34-bed intensive care unit. "Implementing the ABCDE Bundle, Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool, and Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale to Reduce Ventilation Time" is the first study to examine the effects of implementing protocol-directed sedation with the coordinated use of two evidence-based assessments across multiple disciplines. Findings from the 2018 intervention offer guidance for healthcare professionals caring for patients with the most serious COVID-19 symptoms. The study is published in the spring issue of AACN Advanced Critical Care. The awakening and breathing coordination, delirium monitoring/management and early mobility (ABCDE) bundle is a protocol used by respiratory therapists and nurses to assess patients receiving mechanical ventilation. The bundle includes the Critical-Care Pain Observation Tool (CPOT) to assess a patient's pain levels and the Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS), which measures the quality and depth of sedation. The use of CPOT and RASS together gave critical care nurses a guideline to use when patients exhibited pain or agitation while receiving ventilation. Using both tools allowed the staff to either treat pain or adjust sedation as appropriate. After ABCDE bundle implementation, mean ventilation time significantly decreased by nearly 50%, a decrease of nearly two days. The decrease in ventilation time was observed among all patients. Sedation time was also reduced, but this finding was not statistically significant. Despite a nursing staff compliance rate of 76.5%, the data reveals that twice as many patients had a positive outcome after the protocol was implemented. Co-author Jennifer Bardwell, DNP, FNP-C, AGACNP-BC, is a nurse practitioner at CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center and Taylor Medical Center Urgent Care in Longview, Texas. Performing the CPOT assessment after finding high scores on the RASS assessment often helped nurses identify signs of pain rather than agitation, which would have required increasing the sedative dose. The components of the ABCDE bundle provided critical care providers with steps to discontinue sedation and mechanical ventilation for patients as early as possible." Jennifer Bardwell, DNP, FNP-C, AGACNP-BC, Study Co-Author and Nurse Practitioner, CHRISTUS Good Shepherd Medical Center and Taylor Medical Center Urgent Care Of the 34 patients included in the post-intervention phase of the study, one patient required reintubation within 24 hours. None of the remaining 33 patients was readmitted within 30 days of hospital discharge or reintubated within 30 days of extubation. If breathing deeply and slowly calms down children in kindergarten, it might also help anyone dealing with anxiety in these troubling days, a public school teacher who wrote a book on the subject suggests. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. If breathing deeply and slowly calms down children in kindergarten, it might also help anyone dealing with anxiety in these troubling days, a public school teacher who wrote a book on the subject suggests. Karla Dueck Thiessen recently added a new verse to her 22-page childrens picture book, It Starts With a Breath, to address childrens concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic. "It was trying to think of a way to respond to whats happening, and it seemed like a good way to go," she said of the new four-line verse in modified iambic pentameter. It reads, "Your problems seem big / But its a moment in time / Be in the present / And you will feel fine." In October, Thiessen and her 2018-19 nursery/kindergarten classroom at Brock Corydon School released their long rhyming poem about mindful breathing as a picture book illustrated with photos of the students. They quickly sold out the initial 25 copies and printed an additional 500. In early April, Thiessen combined the photos and her narration into a 71/2-minute video posted on YouTube for anyone who might need a reminder to breathe during the uncertainty created by the pandemic. "Its so easy to get caught up in the past or future, but if we take the time to be in the present, we can handle what the moment brings," the 47-year-old mother of two said of the value of deep breathing, which moves a body into a restful mode. Daniel Crump / Winnipeg Free Press. Kids need an anchor to help them focus on stuff, Karla Dueck Thiessen, teacher and author about the value of objects in mindful breathing.. "Its so important to just take time to sit, to create time to be quiet." Ever the teacher, Thiessen said anyone working from home or in self-isolation could find a few moments to practise the simple techniques outlined in the book which include slowly inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth, or box breathing, which involves visualizing a box to breathe in for a count of four, holding your breath for another count of four, exhaling, and holding your breath again. "Breathe when youre washing your hands," she suggested. "No matter how busy you are, you always have two minutes to connect with your breath." 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. A Reiki master, Thiessen leads her students in the breathing techniques and strategies into her classroom for 10 minutes each Monday morning, to give her young students skills to calm themselves and deal with anxiety in the classroom. She incorporates stuffed animals, a glitter jar, and an expanding/contracting Hoberman sphere to aid in the exercises. "Kids need an anchor to help them focus on stuff," she said about the value of the objects in mindful breathing. Many religious traditions incorporate some sort of breathing, meditation, or centring prayer in their teachings and practices, said Thiessen, a Christian who attends River East Church. "Breath is our life force energy and connection to spirit," the West End resident said. faith@freepress.mb.ca SAN DIEGO The Trump administration has been quietly adding mobile surveillance cameras at the U.S.-Mexico border in response to the coronavirus pandemic, though fewer people appear to be crossing illegally. Its the latest move as operations at the U.S.-Mexico border have become increasingly militarized and secretive. Documents obtained by The Associated Press show the Department of Defense, at the request of the Department of Homeland Security, started manning 60 more mobile surveillance cameras this month after deploying 540 additional troops to the southwest border. The documents are unclassified but for official use only and were part of PowerPoint slides created last week to brief Lt. Gen. Laura J. Richardson, commander of U.S. Army North, the primary unit overseeing military operations at the border. The cameras are owned by Customs and Border Protection but manned by the military and will be removed after the pandemic has ended, said Matthew Dyman, a spokesman for Customs and Border Protection, which is under the Department of Homeland Security. The reason for the additional cameras was not based on border flow numbers but on rising coronavirus cases in Mexico, he said. Each person that avoids arrest and makes further entry into the United States has the potential to be carrying the COVID-19 virus and puts American lives at risk, Dyman said in a email. Apprehensions of people crossing illegally have declined by 77% since a peak in May, according to Customs and Border Protection. April figures have not been released yet but are expected to be even lower. The cameras were set up days before President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday placing a 60-day pause on issuing green cards in an effort to limit competition for jobs in a U.S. economy wrecked by the coronavirus. Trump has used emergency powers during the pandemic to implement an aggressive border crackdown that has included turning away or immediately deporting asylum-seekers, including minors. The military help means more Border Patrol agents can focus on apprehending people who cross illegally or expelling foreigners under a rarely used public health law that the Trump administration tapped amid the pandemic, Dyman said. The addition of the mobile cameras, which are are mounted in the back of trucks, bring the total to at least 192, according to the documents. Southern border expert David Shirk sees no justification for adding cameras and troops. He pointed out that Mexico so far has a fraction of the number of COVID-19 cases that have been confirmed in the United States, while deportees flown back from the U.S. have introduced cases in their home countries. There is no evidence that suggests there are hordes of COVID-19 patients lined up along the border, said Shirk, an associate political science professor at University of San Diego. And there is no evidence that COVID-19 is even contributing to a surge in people trying to cross the border. The governments own numbers show the opposite. Apprehensions at the U.S.-Mexico border have been declining for nine straight months. As of Sunday, the 60 added mobile surveillance cameras planned to be manned and operational, according to the documents. That day, the six Mexican states bordering the U.S. reported a total of about 125 confirmed COVID-19 cases, according to Mexicos health secretary. By comparison, the four U.S. states that border Mexico California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas recorded about 55,000 infections Sunday. Pentagon officials as recently as August were considering a request from the Department of Homeland Security to send reconnaissance planes and military drones designed for battlegrounds in Afghanistan and Iraq to the border. Administration officials have declined to say whether that plan, first reported by Newsweek on Aug. 9, is still in the works. In December, Richardson, the U.S. Army North commander, ordered historically unclassified documents and daily briefings on the U.S.-Mexico border to be moved to a classified system to prevent further leaks. With the additional troops, about 3,000 active-duty service members are on the border along with 2,500 National Guard troops. Barred from law enforcement duties, they have kept a low profile, doing on-the-ground surveillance among other things. The border mission marking one of the longest deployments of active-duty troops to the border in U.S. history has cost more than $500 million since October 2017. The Defense Department also has reallocated nearly $10 billion to building Trumps border wall. The U.S. border is the most militarized peacetime border in the world, and the border is more militarized today than it ever was in the entire history of our two countries, said Shirk, the professor. I think the administration is clearly exploiting a crisis to try to advance its ulterior domestic policy objective of restricting immigration. Trump uses the monthly border tallies on apprehensions as a benchmark to determine how his policies are working, and thats become particularly important in an election year. The number of people crossing the border traditionally declines when its hot outside, and the winter months often see increases. However, as COVID-19 cases in the United States jumped dramatically in March, apprehensions at the border dipped further, to 29,953 from 30,074 in February and a peak of 132,856 in May. That coincided with the U.S. expelling more than 10,000 Mexican and Central American asylum-seekers under public health rules that the administration quietly began using March 20 the same day Trump announced the southern border was closed to nonessential travel. The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Robert Redfield, on Monday extended the rules largely shutting down the asylum system until May 20. His order described a serious danger of COVID-19 being introduced at Border Patrol stations and ports of entry as well as further into the country. At least 272 Customs and Border Protection employees have tested positive for the virus, including 62 in states bordering Mexico. Redfield also noted that many places on the U.S. side of the border have not yet experienced widespread community transmission of the virus and therefore the pandemic in Canada and Mexico remain a serious danger to such locations. Thats despite the U.S. having the most cases in the world by far. The Department of Homeland Security requested the latest military help under the Economy Act, which allows federal agencies to order goods and services from other federal agencies. Congress passed the law in 1932 to eliminate overlapping activities of the federal government. It has been abused, so conditions have been added, including a requirement that the requesting agency demonstrate that its request meets a bona fide need that either exists or is arising within the fiscal year. ___ This story corrects that the cameras are owned by Customs and Border Protection, not defense department. ___ Contact APs global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org. ___ Contact the reporters on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JimLaPorta or https://twitter.com/watson_julie. Eleven juveniles escaped from a correctional home in Central Delhi after allegedly injuring its security in-charge and three police personnel, amid the ongoing lockdown to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. All of them are in the age group of 16 to 18 years and they escaped from the correctional home near Delhi Gate on Wednesday evening, police said. While escaping, they attacked its security in-charge and in an ensuing fight, the three police personnel were injured, a senior police officer said on Thursday. They broke the lock of the main gate and escaped, he said, adding that police were informed about the incident around 7.15 pm on Wednesday. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital and later discharged after treatment, the officer said. The parents of the absconding juveniles were contacted immediately after the incident. One of the juveniles, a resident of Kailash Nagar, who fled to his home was brought back to the correctional home by police. Efforts are on to trace the other absconding juveniles, the officer said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Swedish engineering group Alfa Laval reported quarterly core earnings just above market forecasts on Thursday but said it expected demand to fall in the second quarter due to disruption caused by the coronavirus. Although some businesses have remained open in Sweden, the company's global footprint makes it susceptible to the spread of the coronavirus, which has crippled cross-border supply chains and halted commerce worldwide. "The financial performance in the first quarter was stable with order intake, sales, and operating income on about the same level as last year," said CEO Tom Erixon in a statement. "Its pretty clear where the world is going and it will effect us as well," he told reporters on a call, referring to the coronavirus. The company said first-quarter adjusted operating profit (EBITA) rose to 1.75 billion Swedish crowns ($173.16 million)from 1.73 billion a year-earlier, beating the 1.71 billion analysts' mean forecast according to data from Refinitiv. Alfa Laval, a maker of products such as heat exchangers, separators and ballast water treatment equipment, said order intake dropped to 11.88 billion crowns from 12.2 billion a year ago but beat the 10.67 billion seen by analysts. Erixon said demand in Q1 was strong in key end markets, such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and biotech and marine pumping systems. China recovered enough after its lock-down to record an order intake above that of the first quarter of 2019, he added. However, the company faces problems in its supply chain. "Right now our main concern is related to India, we have a supply base there...and things are turbulent and tricky, so in terms of trouble-shooting, the focus is on India at this moment," Erixon said, also referring to coronavirus restrictions. Shares in the company were up 0.30% by 1157 GMT. On April 3, the company withdrew its proposed dividend for 2019 to preserve cash. Story continues It had already announced a cost-cutting program of more than 1 billion crowns to cope with the outbreak of the coronavirus. Alfa Laval said the measures would include work time reduction initiatives, aggressive cuts to travel costs as well as curbs on discretionary spending and external consultants. Erixon said the program was "on track" to show results by the end of Q2. (Reporting by Colm Fulton; editing by Niklas Pollard, Kirsten Donovan) Ha Giang decided to lock down Ta Kha hamlet in Dong Van districts Pho Bang township and Thanh Thuy communes health station in Vi Xuyen district from April 22 to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. browser not support iframe. The lockdown will last until a new announcement. Chairman of the Dong Van Peoples Committee Hoang Van Thinh said that the quarantined area is the entire Ta Kha hamlet, covering 336.5 hectares, with 97 households and 503 members. Meanwhile, Chairman of the Vi Xuyen Peoples Committee Do Anh Tuan stated that those quarantined at the Thanh Thuy commune Health Station include six healh workers, two policemen, one military medical worker, and people entering Vietnam through the Thanh Thuy International Border Gate. Two nearby households with four members have been also quarantined. Since 9am of April 22, the whole of Dong Van township in the district of the same name has been also locked down, as an urgent COVID-19 prevention and control measure. Chairman of the district Peoples Committee Hoang Van Thinh said the lockdown will last until a further notice from the Ministry of Health. The township, covering nearly 27,500 ha, is home to 1,629 households with 7,623 people. Ha Giang recorded its first COVID-19 infection case on April 16 - a HMong ethnic minority girl in Dong Van districts Pho La commune. The source of her infection is yet to be determined. She has three brothers who all work across the border in China but none have tested positive for the SARS-CoV-2 that causes the disease. Health authorities have to date taken test samples from 358 people that had contact with the patient. Of these, 302 samples were negative, with the remainder still waiting for results./.VNA When social distancing means no social drinking, not even a convivial beer or glass of wine, and lockdown translates to no alcohol at all with bars and retail outlets firmly shut, spirits take a nose dive mild depression for some and outright despair for many others. COVID-19 being the great equaliser, the nationwide lockdown, which began on March 25 and is set to go on till at least May 3, has been a sobering experience for millions of Indians in villages and cities going without their everyday or occasional tipple. While the once-in-a-while drinkers are missing saying 'cheers' as often as they'd like, there has been a surge in withdrawal cases. Those with problems of alcohol dependence are most seriously hit with no access to alcohol or de-addiction centres and support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous that help them cope with their addiction. With all watering holes and liquor stores shut only stores selling essentials are open in the lockdown period -- even the affluent with bars stocked with premium gin, vodka and single malts are running low on stocks. I have maintained a good stock over the years I won't tell you the quantity but it was more than enough. But then the lockdown and now the extension took all of us by surprise and for once even I am worried my booze stock will run dry, said Amit Mahajan, a Delhi businessman. Many, even among the affluent, are rationing their drinks and borrowing from others who might have some extra bottles stashed away. According to a 2019 report by the National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, AIIMS, 14.6 per cent of the population (between 10 and 75 year of age) in India consumes alcohol about 16 crore people in total. Of these, nearly one in five alcohol users suffer from alcohol dependence and need urgent treatment, said the report titled Magnitude of Substance Use In India. A 38-year-old in Amritsar who said he had been an addict for 10 years and was undergoing therapy is among those most affected. The prolonged shutdown disrupted his therapy and the social isolation has exacerbated his problems. I got agitated without any trigger factor, couldn't sleep for long and there was shivering too. I tried contacting my friends and some close family members, asking them if they could help me with a bottle or two but no one helped. Earlier, I was going through therapy Since I am showing what my doctor tells me are withdrawal symptoms' I have again been put on therapy, he explained. Ramesh Banerjee in Kolkata said all his stocks have dried up and he ison mild anti-depressants. "I have been a alcoholicfor last 20 years Right now I am having one pill a day so I can have sound sleep every night," Banerjee said. There are tragic consequences too. In Kerala, which has a per capita annual consumption of over eight litres, the highest in the country, at least nine people reportedly ended their lives. The state government had directed the excise department to provide liquor to those with a prescription from a doctor. The move, which faced a backlash by doctors, was later put on hold by the Kerala High Court. The non-availability of alcohol can be an additional reason for stress and anxiety for a person suffering from withdrawal symptoms, but in that case what needs to be addressed is the possible dependence or addiction. Instead of considering alcohol as an essential, it would be more helpful if people with alcohol dependence seek psychiatric/therapeutic intervention, said Ann Philipose, a psychologist. In Tamil Nadu, three men died in Chengalpattu after consuming varnish mixed with water as they could not obtain alcohol from the government-owned local TASMAC outlet, closed due to the lockdown to stem the spread of coronavirus. Before that, in Pudukottai district, three men died after they mixed soft drinks with after shave lotion in the hope of a high. S Nambi, a Chennai-based psychiatrist, called for addressing the problem at the primary healthcare level before it assumes alarming proportions. "The non-availability of alcohol all of a sudden will cause withdrawal symptoms. While craving and mild trembling can be seen in normal cases, nearly 15 percent will develop complicated withdrawal symptoms and tend to become irritable, go into delirium or experience severe anxiety or restlessness," he said. Ajit Magdum, director of the Anvay De-addiction Centre in Navi Mumbai, said they have started counselling addicts over the phone. This lockdown is also an opportunity for parents and spouses of people suffering from addictions to engage in fruitful conversations and bring theaddictson the right track, he said. Some centres opened their doors for emergencies. Disha Foundation in Bhubaneswar, for instance, had shut down its de-addiction centre but admitted a 30-year-old man, said Pratap Kumar Mohanty, who runs the centre. Following a request from the private hospital we allowed his admission in our centre. The man,addictedto liquor as well as ganja, developed withdrawal symptoms marked by psychiatric problems as he was unable to get his supply due to the lockdown, he said. And sometimes, desperation knows no bounds. From Hubbali in Karnataka came a report of chemists stopping the sale of chemical-based sanitisers after people, chasing a high, were found to be buying large amounts and drinking the liquid. There have also been numerous reports from different parts of the countries of desperadoes breaking into liquor shops to steal whatever they could lay their hands on. Those with time, tech and access to varied ingredients are taking the matter in their own hands. So, during the March 22-28 week, how to make alcohol at home was a trending topic on search engine Google. From homemade mead to wine fermented from rice, tipplers are trying it all to put an end to their sobriety period. Producers and manufacturers are hoping for a quick end to the seemingly endless dry days. The All India Brewers Association (AIBA) and the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC) have written to various state governments and the Centre to allow beer and alcohol sales to resume with adequate safeguards incorporated. According to AIBA, March-June accounts for 50 per cent of annual beer sales and that they have already lost over 25 per cent of sales for the year a loss of nearly Rs 15,000 crore. The beer sector is disproportionately impacted because this is season time for us and all of us are sitting on a lot of inventory that can expire," said Ankur Jain, founder CEO of Bira 91 and member of the board of directors AIBA. The CIABC said in its letter that alcohol is one of the most important sources of revenue for state governments. By shutting down retail shops, states are depriving themselves of the tax revenues that are so vitally required in fighting the coronavirus pandemic, it said. "... Alcohol compromises the body's immune system and increases the risk of adverse health outcomes. Therefore, people should minimize their alcohol consumption at any time, and particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic," the WHO has in an advisory. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ukraine's foreign trade deficit to decrease amid quarantine central bank 23:30, 23.04.20 692 NBU Governor also said that after commerical activity is restored in Ukraine and beyond, the current account deficit will expand, again. The work on the rebuild of the Notre Dame cathedral, which was halted due to the pandemic, will gradually resume starting Monday, France Info reported on Thursday, citing a state agency in charge of the reconstruction. The rebuilding was put on hold in March as part of efforts to avert the spread of the coronavirus, Sputnik writes. The cathedral's spokesman, Andre Finot, told Sputnik last week that, despite the pause in the works, architects still continued assessing the scale of the rebuilding remotely. A major fire broke out at Notre-Dame on April 15, 2018, causing the collapse of the cathedral's spire and the partial destruction of its roof structure. While the cause has not yet been determined, the French authorities have ruled out criminal motives. The cathedral has since held two religious services - in June and on April 10. Access to both masses were limited, with only clergy and a few other people allowed in. As of Wednesday, France reported 1,827 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total to over 119,000. The death toll topped 21,000 after 544 new deaths recorded. The lockdown in the country is set to last at least until May 11. By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Wednesday urged Europe to remain united in overcoming the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, speaking on the eve of an EU summit to discuss a huge but divisive economic stimulus package. By Philip Pullella VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Wednesday urged Europe to remain united in overcoming the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, speaking on the eve of an EU summit to discuss a huge but divisive economic stimulus package. The pandemic has put new strains on the unity of the 27-member bloc, again exposing splits between the richer north and the poorer south. "In these times in which we need so much unity among us, among nations, let us pray today for Europe," Francis said at the start of his daily morning Mass, which he dedicates each day to a different theme related to the global crisis. He asked for prayers "so that Europe manages to have this unity, this fraternal unity of which the founding fathers of the European Union dreamed". It was the second time in 10 days that Francis, a big supporter of the EU, had expressed concern about the bloc. On Easter Sunday he warned that it risked collapse if it did not agree on how to recover together. [nL5N2C006B] The EU's fiscally conservative northern nations remain keen to keep a tight rein on spending and have rejected calls from the ailing southern states for a joint debt - or 'coronabonds' - to fund the recovery.[nL8N2C914Z] EU states - whose leaders are holding a video summit on Thursday - have clashed repeatedly over financial responses to the epidemic, on issues from sharing medical equipment to cushioning the immediate economic hit. The bloc has relaxed state aid rules and limits on public spending as well as unlocking a half-a-trillion euro rescue plan. But Rome, Madrid, Paris, Lisbon and others believe that is not enough and call for more solidarity, casting the challenge as an existential choice for the EU. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Giles Elgood) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Nationally, COVID-19 has disproportionately affected minorities. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control, the death rate for novel coronavirus among blacks/African Americans (92.3 per 100,000 population) is more than twice as high as whites (45.2 per 100,000 population). The rate for Hispanics is also higher (74.3 per 100,000 population). ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Coronavirus live updates: Abbott says state mask order unlikely In Fort Bend County, arguably one of the most diverse counties in the United States, the figures broken down by race and ethnicity for those who have tested positive for COVID-19 are just now being reported. MORE FROM ROY KENT: Fort Bend County Judge KP George announces program for PPE donations I am committed to transparency and that means releasing data about the novel coronavirus cases accurately and quickly, said County Judge KP George in a news release. I ask everyone of all ages, genders, races and areas in Fort Bend to help stop the spread of this virus in our county by social distancing, hand washing and wearing masks in public places. George also announced that the county will update its website daily with all available race and ethnicity data for residents of Fort Bend County. George reported that the data will be updated daily when new reports are received. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Tracking coronavirus: Interactive maps, charts show spread of COVID-19 across Houston, rest of Texas To date, the country reports there have been 2,021 COVID-19 tests performed at county sites. Overall in Fort Bend County, there have been 889 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus with 20 deaths. It reports that 104 people have recovered from the virus. As of 4 p.m. Thursday, the current breakdown by race is: Black (not Hispanic): 34 percent (two deaths). Hispanic: 21 percent (four deaths). White: 21 percent (nine deaths). Asian (not Hispanic): 20 percent (three deaths). Other/unknown: 4 percent (two deaths). By gender, 474 cases have been female and 415 are male. Two additional cases have missing data. All the reported deaths are among people older than 60, according to Fort Bend County figures. The hardest-hit cities in Fort Bend County include Missouri City (187 cases), Sugar Land (173 cases), Richmond (107 cases) According to the news release, in compiling the data for its reporting, Fort Bend County receives reports of notifiable diseases from multiple sources, which include hospitals, doctors and laboratories. The reports have varying amounts of information on them. Up to now, Fort Bend has posted the data from the reports online for gender, age and zip code. The county did not initially report the race and ethnicity online because not all the reports have that information. However, due to the heightened national interest in race and ethnicity data, Fort Bend County has begun adding that information to its online hub daily. For more information about COVID-19 in Fort Bend County, visit fbchealth.org/ncov. rkent@hcnonline.com Barack Obama bashed Donald Trump's response to the coronavirus crisis on Wednesday, claiming there is still no 'coherent national plan' to address the outbreak. 'While we continue to wait for a coherent national plan to navigate this pandemic, states like Massachusetts are beginning to adopt their own public health plans to combat this virusbefore it's too late,' the former president tweeted Wednesday afternoon. Obama used the tweet to issue an attack on the president, but also praised Massachusetts for its response to the pandemic with a New Yorker article titled: It's Not Too Late to Go on Offense Against the Coronavirus. As several states continue to lament that they do not have the supplies to administer enough testing, some have taken matters into their own hands. Former President Barack Obama launched a veiled attack on Donald Trump without using the president's name, claiming there is no 'coherent national plan' on coronavirus response Obama has kept up with not naming his successor, especially in his attack against the current president and his administration Obama also praised Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker's (left) response to the virus, and in his tweet linked to an article about the state dramatically increasing its testing capabilities Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker launched a plan for full-scale, statewide testing, which will be used to implement effective quarantine and treatment systems. The state was able to increase the number of tests administered from just 41 on March 9 to more than eight thousand by April 17. Obama's comments come as the House is preparing to pass a $484 billion interim coronavirus bill Thursday after it passed the Senate Wednesday but several Democrats have bashed the legislation, claiming it doesn't go far enough. While the bill does include $25 billion for coronavirus testing, Democrats wanted there to also be a measure to send more federal money to state and local governments to help with mitigation on a more small-scale level. Obama also attacked his successor at the end of March as Trump signed the CARES Act to provide $2.2 trillion in economic stimulus and relief for Americans and small businesses. 'We've seen all too terribly the consequences of those who denied warnings of a pandemic,' the two-term Democrat tweeted last month. 'We can't afford any more consequences of climate denial. All of us, especially young people, have to demand better of our government at every level and vote this fall,' he continued at the time. Obama's tweet also came as Trump is preparing to sign a bill with a measure for $75 billion for for testing after the House passes the $484 billion package Thursday afternoon Obama's tweet last month also included a link to a news story, but this one was about the Trump administration's new rules that rolled back Obama-era vehicle fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions standards that were aimed at slowing global warming. That tweet came as the Trump administration faced growing criticism for failing to heed early global alarms about the virus outbreak even as death tolls began to spike in places like China and Italy. Trump has often praised his administration and task force's response to the crisis, pointing to the fact that he shut down travel from China early on in the pandemic. Obama many times remains silent on most issues involving his successor in the Oval Office and has stuck with his practice of not naming the president, especially while issuing veiled attacks on Trump. A bike retailer that boasted about increased sales due to the coronavirus has demanded lower rent from its landlords. The founder and managing director of Pedal Group, Matt Turner, which is the company that owns 99 bikes and its 47 stores, boasted that sales had increased by 50 per cent. He also said the sales at the stores in Sydney and Melbourne were even higher thanks to people purchasing bikes to stay healthy and avoid public transport. But 99 Bikes property manager, Jeremy Betts, wrote to all its landlords in April and said they would either need a rental deferral plan or a 50 per cent rent decrease for two months for the stores to remain open. The founder and managing director of Pedal Group, Matt Turner, which is the company that owns 99 bikes and its 47 stores, boasted that sales had increased by 50 per cent People have been looking for ways to keep healthy and avoid public transport, which led to long queues outside of 99 Bikes. The stores have been so busy that 99 Bikes were required to higher 50 extra staff to meet customer demand. But Mr Betts said he sent the letter to landlords as a precaution. He wanted a decision from landlords by 'close of business Friday 17th April,' The Australian reported. He said increased costs and uncertainty surrounding future trade meant they could not keep up with future rent payments despite increased sales. 'We are not aware of any valid reason why the landlord would not agree to either of the above actions to ensure that they retain 99 Bikes as a valued tenant,' he said. He also said the sales at the stores in Sydney and Melbourne were even higher thanks to people purchasing bikes to stay healthy and avoid public transport Under commercial lease rules issued by the government during the coronavirus outbreak, landlords whose tenants are suffering financially must work with them to reach temporary rent waivers or deferrals. Rent concession must be based on the amount of money the tenant has lost and will determine a recovery period once they are back in operation. Mr Betts spoke to The Australian on Wednesday and said 99 Bikes had dropped it's demands. 'We decided we can pay on time, in full, even though a lot of them had agreed to deferrals,' he said. Murray, 32, was supposed to fly to Martinique to be with her partner in March, but she didnt want to risk not being able to come back to the United States. She plans to post more about topics such as what its like to be separated from a partner during this pandemic. Murray started booking more beauty and lifestyle campaigns in February, which have bolstered her income and allowed her to remain a full-time influencer. Im taking it day by day, she said. She aims to post on her feed three times a week and tries to do a daily story, which has been difficult while shes stuck at home. I feel the pressure of having to always provide some kind of value, and Im trying to free myself of that, she said. When we can travel again, she predicts that there will be less of a focus on luxury and more about what travel can do to lift your spirits or help you learn new things instead of flexing for the gram. The world's largest transport aircraft, the Antonov An-225 Mriya, has delivered medical supplies to Ukraine. Video of the landing was posted on the Facebook page of the President's Office. It is known that a batch of medical cargo - protective masks, gloves and suits - was delivered to Ukraine. The cargo arrived from Tianjin city in China. A number of world countries have already shown their support for Ukraine: on April 15, India made a decision on unpaid allocation of shipment of pills against coronavirus to Ukraine; a week later, on April 22, six lung ventilators were delivered to Ukraine from Israel. China and South Korea sent batches of polymerase chain reaction tests and reagents. As we reported earlier, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell and EU Foreign Affairs Ministers have agreed to continue supporting Ukraine and the Eastern Partnership countries in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Our message to them is clear: We will keep helping them in these challenging times. We will give clear support to President Zelensky of Ukraine. He had been making bold steps in reforms and conflict resolution with a significant progress on reforms, but there are still many obstacles, these efforts have to continue, Borrell stated. MBABANE Its back to square one. Government has reversed the relaxed partial lockdown, which it announced last week and has reverted to the initial partial lockdown where only employees in essential services were allowed to go to work and non-essential to work from home. The cancellation or the removal of the relaxed measures was announced by Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini yesterday and will be effective from midnight (tonight). The partial lockdown was one of the measures government put in place to fight the spread of the coronavirus. This means that from tomorrow, all the measures which had been effected at the start of the partial lockdown on March 27, 2020 will now be in full force. Speaking during a press conference at the Cabinet Offices, Dlamini said after wide consultations, government had taken the decision to remove the relaxed measures. Transport As a result, guidelines of the relaxed operation of public transport were removed and the Minister of Public Works and Transport, Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe, is expected to announce the new set of transport guidelines today. This effectively means that from tomorrow, public transport will not be operating normal hours as has been witnessed this past week. Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Nxumalo is also expected to announce this morning which businesses can continue to operate during the next two weeks of the partial lockdown. During the first phase of the partial lockdown, only 11 services were listed as essential and could operate, but last week, the ministry added 15 more industries, stating that they were low and medium-risk. However, all this changed yesterday as the PM stated that over the week of the extended partial lockdown, they had observed with concern that complacency among the populace was creeping in and that an increasing number of people were now casual and lacked vigilance in preventing the transmission of the virus. The premier said everyone was learning on the go and as a result, now and again, government would review the measures to adjust to the situation on the ground at any particular time. He said they were aware of the negative effects of COVID-19 and would adapt and respond effectively to preserve the lives of emaSwati. The level of compliance to the measures aimed at curtailing the rapid spread of COVID-19 has dramatically dropped, said Dlamini. Protecting The PM said the pronouncement of the relaxed lockdown last week had been meant to balance the scales between protecting the lives of emaSwati and ensuring access to the basic necessities of life. The PM said new information had emerged showing that positive cases had almost doubled from last weeks 16 to 31 (as at noon yesterday). Non-essential The number of people leaving their homes and places of residence for non-essential services has spiked, said Dlamini. He said as a result, people were potentially exposing themselves and others to COVID-19. Dlamini said it had almost become business as usual in the cities, towns and communities yet the partial lockdown measures were still in force. The PM said security forces would be vigilant in enforcing compliance to these preventative measures to help the country buy more time to strengthen its response and capacity to flatten the curve. The PM further said government had taken lessons from the experiences of other countries across the world at this unprecedented time in history. Following the dotcom crash 20 years ago, I was involved in the sales of a slew of data centres. In hindsight, those companies were far ahead of their time. They had the solution but the problem, the processing and storage of data, wasn't big enough. Two events changed that forever. The first was the advent of the smartphone in 2006, and the second when Amazon made super-computing capacity available as a service. Companies no longer needed their own computing infrastructure, they could rent it. Overnight, data became a utility. Those events launched a boom in the creation, storage, importing and exporting of data, which the UN describes as the fourth industrial revolution. Ireland has placed itself at the centre of this revolution. Globally, we are a top-tier location and the data centre cluster around Dublin is the biggest metropolitan cluster in Europe. That is why information and communications technology was Ireland's largest export sector last year, at $82bn. Data centres are specialised buildings where servers are stored and managed. The data stored is critical and there is a high degree of redundancy built in, for example in connectivity options, back-up power supplies and security systems. Even in a global pandemic, with use soaring, society remains connected and functioning. There are around 55 data centres around the M50, and some of those are enormous campuses, comprising multiple buildings. As a sign of the ongoing expansion, there are approximately 20 more data centres under construction, albeit that those sites are temporarily closed. These buildings are served by 18 under-sea cables and two new cables were recently laid, to Denmark and France, running either side of Britain to strengthen autonomy post-Brexit. Some 99pc of data hosted in Ireland is exported, and the vast majority goes to Europe. This is largely due to the divergence in legislation between the US and Europe, around how data is stored and issues such as GDPR. One man at the heart of this is Garry Connolly, president and founder of Host in Ireland. This is a global initiative, created to increase awareness of the benefits of hosting digital assets here, to attract foreign investment and to export skills and services around the world. Mr Connolly told me that, despite the lockdown and most factories being shut, Ireland's data centres are operating normally. Traffic through them is up around 35pc since the lockdown started, he said, due to remote working, teleconferencing, home schooling and TV streaming. He added that there is a planned investment in new data centres of 1.3bn a year, every year until 2024. Despite the sites being temporarily closed, Mr Connolly believes this investment will be exceeded, as "capacity to the end of 2023 will already have been taken up by the end of this crisis". The two main types of data centres are co-location centres, where servers belonging to customers are maintained, and there is a big trend now of large companies moving to these. The second are the hyperscale centres such as Amazon, Google and Microsoft, where companies rent "virtual space", on a shared server or in the cloud. Some 70pc of the cost of operating a data centre is electricity and Mr Connolly told me data centres have moved to a "renewable energy first" policy. Data centres are the factories of the future and have become a vital part of our economy. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NewLeaf Brands Inc. (CSE: NLB) (OTC: NLBIF) (FSE: 0NF) ("NewLeaf Brands" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a share swap agreement with Levee Street Holdings, LLC ("Levee Street") to purchase 50% of Levee Street for $450,000 CAD in common shares. Greg Kassanoff founded Levee Street to infiltrate the "alternative" beverage space, which includes CBD products. This share swap agreement with Levee Street will include the distribution of We Are Kured, LLC, ReLyfe Brands, LLC, TeaLief Brands, LLC and Drink Fresh Water, LLC products. Earlier in 2018, the Farm Bill restored industrial hemp to nationwide legal production for the first time since World War II. Removing hemp from the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (CSA) also helped create a financial domino effect eventually leading mass-market retailers CVS Health, Rite Aid, and Walgreens Boots Alliance to carry hemp-CBD brands. Greg Kassanoff is the founder of Levee Street Holdings, LLC, Pioneer Wine & Spirits, LLC, & CEO of Mexicor Pioneer Wine & Spirits ("MPWS"). MPWS has thousands of existing retail and restaurant relationships throughout the state of Texas with infrastructure to support beverage distribution throughout the entire state. Mr. Kassanoff is also the founder of Pioneer Louisiana, LLC which has a large distribution footprint covering the state of Louisiana. "Levee Street is excited to partner with NewLeaf Brands creating a vertically integrated distribution company and giving us the comfort to build brands as true partners." - Greg Kassanoff - Founder, Levee Street Holding, LLC NewLeaf Brands' leadership team will be leveraging Mr. Kassanoff's high-level nationwide relationships with the goal of becoming a leading, nationwide CBD & non-alcohol distribution conglomerate. "We're extremely excited to partner with Levee Street Holdings & Greg Kassanoff. We have spent a lot of time focusing on distribution partners, but partnering with Greg will prove to be invaluable with his decades of experience, nationwide relationships and already established infrastructure in Texas & Louisiana," said Josh Bartch - CEO, NewLeaf Brands, Inc. About NewLeaf Brands NewLeaf Brands, Inc. is an innovative Cannabidiol ("CBD") lifestyle Company. Through the Company's wholly-owned subsidiaries We are Kured, LLC, Drink Fresh Water, LLC, ReLyfe Brand, LLC and TeaLief Brand, LLC the Company's main business activities encompass the development, marketing, and distribution of CBD products (including vaporizer pens/cartridges, hot/cold tea, softgel capsules and beverages) throughout North America, South America, and Europe. In addition, NewLeaf Brands, Inc. has extensive retail and cultivation land investments in Oregon, USA. For further information about NewLeaf Brands, please consult the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com or visit the Company's website at www.NABrandsInc.com. For further information about We Are Kured, please visit their website at www.wearekured.com. The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof. This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Readers are cautioned that these forward looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected including, but not limited to completion of planned improvements at both the Canadian and US sites on schedule and on budget, the availability of financing needed to complete the Company's planned improvements on commercially reasonable terms, planned occupancy by the tenant-growers, commencement of operations, differences in yield on expected harvests, delays in obtaining statutory approval for marijuana production plans, issues that may arise throughout the grow period, outdoor crops affected by weather, the ability to mitigate the risk of loss through appropriate insurance policies, and the risks presented by federal statutes that may contradict local and state legislation respecting legalized marijuana. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances save as required under applicable securities legislation. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell securities and the Company is not soliciting an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. This news release does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. These securities have not and will not be registered under United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to a U.S. Person unless so registered, or an exemption from registration is relied upon. On Behalf of the Board of Directors For Further Information Contact Joshua Bartch Corporate Communications Chief Executive Officer [email protected] +1 250-488-6728 We Are Kured Contact: Benjamin Martch Founder & CEO www.wearekured.com SOURCE NewLeaf Brands Inc. The ousted director of a key US agency charged with developing drugs to fight the coronavirus pandemic said on Wednesday he was dismissed because he called for careful vetting of a treatment frequently touted by President Donald Trump. Rick Bright said in a statement that he was replaced as director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, and reassigned to a new role because he resisted efforts to push hydroxychloroquine and the related chloroquine as cures for Covid-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus. "While I am prepared to look at all options and to think 'outside the box' for effective treatments, I rightly resisted efforts to provide an unproven drug on demand to the American public," Bright said in the statement, reported by multiple US media outlets on Wednesday. Bright said the US government has promoted the medicines as a "panacea" even though they "clearly lack scientific merit." Bright has retained a law firm, Katz, Marshall & Banks, known for representing whistleblowers. The US Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees BARDA, said on Tuesday that Bright had been moved to a new public-private partnership under the National Institutes of Health announced last week. US top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said on Wednesday he had heard that in his new role, Bright would be responsible for the development of diagnostics, a "very, very important" issue. BARDA officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday. Bright, an expert in vaccines and therapeutics, was named BARDA's director in 2016 before Trump took office as president. Trump has repeatedly promoted chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine as potential treatments for Covid-19, including saying early this month, "I may take it," even though doctors said the drugs' effectiveness were unproven and further tests were required. When asked about Bright's case at a media briefing on Tuesday, Trump said he was not familiar with the official. "I never heard of him. A guy says he was pushed out of a job. Maybe he was maybe, he wasn't. You'd have to hear the other side," he said. In the absence of any known effective treatments, doctors on the frontlines said they began using hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine on deteriorating patients based on a few small studies suggesting a possible benefit. Some said they had come under pressure from patients to use the therapies widely touted by Trump and other supporters. After Reuters reported on that pattern, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention removed from its website highly unusual guidance informing doctors on how to prescribe the drugs. Binhai Investment Company Limited (HKG:2886), which is in the gas utilities business, and is based in Hong Kong, received a lot of attention from a substantial price movement on the SEHK over the last few months, increasing to HK$1.48 at one point, and dropping to the lows of HK$1.15. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether Binhai Investment's current trading price of HK$1.20 reflective of the actual value of the small-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Lets take a look at Binhai Investments outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change. Check out our latest analysis for Binhai Investment What's the opportunity in Binhai Investment? The stock seems fairly valued at the moment according to my valuation model. Its trading around 7.5% below my intrinsic value, which means if you buy Binhai Investment today, youd be paying a reasonable price for it. And if you believe that the stock is really worth HK$1.30, then theres not much of an upside to gain from mispricing. In addition to this, Binhai Investment has a low beta, which suggests its share price is less volatile than the wider market. Can we expect decent returns from Binhai Investment? SEHK:2886 Price Estimation Relative to Market April 23rd 2020 Valuation is only one aspect of forming your investment views on Binhai Investment. Another thing to consider is whether it is actually a high-quality company. The best type of investment is always in a great company, producing robust returns at a cheap price. We can determine the quality of a stock many ways; one way is to look at how much return it generates relative to the money weve invested in the stock. Binhai Investment is expected to return 17% of your investment in the next couple of years if you buy the stock today. This is a relatively good return on your investment which builds up the case for owning the stock. Story continues What this means for you: Are you a shareholder? It seems like the market has already priced in 2886s positive outlook, with shares trading around its fair value. However, there are also other important factors which we havent considered today, such as the financial strength of the company. Have these factors changed since the last time you looked at the stock? And will you have enough conviction to buy should the price fluctuates below the true value? Are you a potential investor? If youve been keeping tabs on 2886 for a while, now may not be the most optimal time to buy, given it is trading around its fair value. However, the high returns are encouraging for 2886, which means its worth further examining other factors such as the track record of its management team, in order to take advantage of the next price drop. Price is just the tip of the iceberg. Dig deeper into what truly matters the fundamentals before you make a decision on Binhai Investment. You can find everything you need to know about Binhai Investment in the latest infographic research report. If you are no longer interested in Binhai Investment, you can use our free platform to see my list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. George MacKay in the movie "True History of the Kelly Gang." (IFC Films) At the beginning of True History of the Kelly Gang, the young Ned Kelly (Orlando Schwerdt) peers into a hut through a window and spies his mother, a prostitute, servicing one of her regular johns. Near the end of the movie, and of his own short, storied life, the fully grown Kelly (George MacKay) stares out through the slit in his tank-like iron helmet, watching the advancing soldiers who will soon bring him to a kind of justice. Sex and death, boyhood and manhood: In between these two visually linked bookends, Kelly seems to exist at a wretched remove from lifes bounty, forever flailing at something that sits tantalizingly out of reach. Australian director Justin Kurzel occasionally offers you a glimpse of that something: It might be a lovely interlude in which Ned reads a snippet of poetry to his friend Joe Byrne (Sean Keenan) or a fleeting moment of tenderness with his sweetheart, Mary Hearn (Thomasin McKenzie). But these are fugitive intimacies, and for Ned, there is no real escape from his first and most ferocious love: his mother, Ellen (Essie Davis, The Babadook), who confers on him a singularly cruel destiny. My Ned loves me, she murmurs, a declaration of ownership that the extraordinary Davis infuses with pride, contempt and a flicker of near-Oedipal lust. And there are worse ways to think of this movie than as a Freudian spin on a folk legend. Freud would certainly have some thoughts on the storys most outre invention, which also conjures its most resonant image: a man riding a horse while wearing a red gown, streaking like a ball of fire across a cold gray landscape. The real-life Kelly may have been famed for his homemade armor, but for this one and his gang, womens dresses provide their own form of protection: If you wear a frock to a fight, theyll think youre crazy, one of them reasons, and nothing scares a man like crazy. True History of the Kelly Gang, for its part, strikes just the right balance of scary and crazy, and it subjects both to an impressive measure of discipline. Adapted from Peter Careys Booker Prize-winning 2000 novel, this is an artful, often gripping revisionist portrait of the 19th-century outlaw often regarded as Australias answer to Jesse James. Its sympathetic reading of a notorious bank robber and cop killer is not in itself anything new: Kelly has long been mythologized in books, plays, songs and movies, which often frame his criminal exploits as a matter of principled rebellion against the tyranny of English rule. Story continues Orlando Schwerdt and Essie Davis in the movie "True History of the Kelly Gang." (IFC Films) The difference lies in the boldness of the execution. The none-too-memorable 1970 film Ned Kelly starred Mick Jagger, but this new movie is the one whose sensibility feels authentically punk. Stripped down and glammed up by turns, awash in realistic blood and stagy strobe effects, its as tough and brutal as you might expect from Kurzel, whose Macbeth and Assassins Creed shared the same gaudily violent MO. But the director isnt merely repeating himself. His filmmaking here exudes gravity and purpose, placing the books gnarled period vernacular in counterpoint with his own muscular cinematic language. Screenwriter Shaun Gray (who also penned Kurzels grimly accomplished debut feature, The Snowtown Murders) frames the story around a series of letters Ned is seen scribbling by firelight, recounting his life and justifying his actions to his unseen child. That Kelly is not known to have fathered any children is one of many clues that True History might be a misnomer. Like most good dramatists, Kurzel and Grant seem less concerned with strict factual accuracy than with psychological plausibility. Rather than offering up another well-traveled biographical formula, they want to plunge deeper and darker, to allow the wild, untamed perversity at the storys edges to flourish and grow toward the middle. To return to the Oedipal theme: The first of the movies three acts, devoted to Neds impoverished upbringing in a scorched-earth backwoods, introduces not just an all-consuming mother but also a succession of dubious father figures. There is Neds biological da, Red Kelly (Ben Corbett), an Irish-born convict who dies early on, tormented and humiliated along the way by an English sergeant, ONeil (Charlie Hunnam), who regularly calls on Ellen for sexual favors. Ned gets his shot at revenge against ONeil in a scene that plays like an unnerving castration fantasy, egged on by Harry Power (a superb Russell Crowe), the famous bushranger who takes the boy under wing. But Neds apprenticeship does not go well, and Harrys influence leaves its own ugly scars. The remarkable young Schwerdt, with his blond locks and haunted eyes, makes a beautiful vision of corrupted innocence. Ned seethes at his mother, who betrayed him by selling him off to Harry, but he also inherits her bitter struggle against their British oppressors. The second act pointedly kicks off with a wild scene in which MacKays increasingly unhinged Ned, now a bare-knuckle boxer, stretches out his body before a Union Jack that hated national symbol of an enemy with many faces, all of them loathsome. Russell Crowe in the movie "True History of the Kelly Gang." (IFC Films) But not necessarily unattractive. Enter a formidable new nemesis, Constable Alex Fitzpatrick (a dangerously sexy Nicholas Hoult), whose initial meeting with Ned plays like both a confrontation and a seduction. Sexual desire and blackmail are among the many weapons the constable proves willing to use as he begins a sadistic campaign of persecution against Neds loved ones, including his siblings Dan (Earl Cave) and Kate (Josephine Blazier), and of course the indomitable Ma Kelly, asserting herself to the end as this familys dark heart and soul. Davis and Hoult, among others in the fine ensemble, give such sharply etched performances that they run the risk of overshadowing their fine star. I mention this as more of an observation than a criticism. MacKay, last seen as the quietly heroic British soldier in 1917, has a gift for taciturn reserve, as well as a tendency to deflect rather than inhale the cameras gaze. His casting shrewdly reinforces the movies conception of Ned as a reactive, contemplative figure, someone who has absorbed one blow after another and now assumes the roles of gang leader and familial protector with more obligation than glee. Even when he storms and rages like a madman, he suggests a man who hasnt chased after his grim calling so much as had it foisted upon him. The movie pulls us in close to Ned Kelly we smell his fear and share in his exhilaration but it also allows him, and us, a crucial measure of distance. That distance often manifests itself in Kurzels formal and structural choices, from the title cards that separate the movies three acts to the occasional use of strobe effects and spare, theatrical backdrops, conjuring the sense of a hellish Brechtian rave. Even the frenzied strings of the music (composed by the directors brother, Jed Kurzel) serve to underscore this movies sharpest insight: A measure of artifice can offer the most direct path to the truth. Egypts non-petroleum imports declined by 24 per cent in the first quarter of 2020 compared to the same period last year to $13.81 billion, according to Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea, citing figures from a report issued by the General Organisation for Export and Import Control. Prolonged lockdown periods and depressed international trade activity could result in significant import savings. That said, we believe the trade balance deficit could narrow to $31.5 billion in fiscal year 2019-20 from our previous estimate of $35.8 billion, noted HC Securities, an investment bank, in a report issued on 11 April. Ashraf Sheeha, a member of the Importers Division at the Federation of the Chambers of Commerce, said that about 25 per cent of Egypts imports come from China, which has been adversely affected by the coronavirus outbreak, leading to the closure of factories and the suspension of exports. European exporters like Spain, Italy, and Germany have also cut down or halted production due to the outbreak of the virus. China typically holds trade shows in April and October that help to stimulate Chinese exports. The April show was cancelled owing to the coronavirus and will instead be held online in June, Sheeha said, who expected it to make up for lost months during which imports from China had come to a halt. Recently released data from the World Trade Organisation suggest international trade will decrease by between 13 and 32 per cent this year due to the spread of the coronavirus. Once imports pick up again, demand for Chinese exports will increase, particularly because 90 per cent of imports from China are for industrial raw materials, including pharmaceutical raw materials and materials needed for food production, Sheeha said. He said that 80 per cent of Egypts imports of household and electronic spare parts come from China. Egyptian factories are at present working with materials they have in storage and problems will arise should they run out of stockpiled materials, he said. Egypt banned the import of some Chinese products in February, including onions, fearing the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Egypts imports rose last year by 20.8 per cent to $71.9 billion, up from $59.5 billion in 2018. The countrys non-petroleum trade deficit dropped by $1.4 billion to $18 billion in the first half of the fiscal year 2019-20, down from $19.4 billion during the same period the year before. This was the result of a rise in non-petroleum exports by $940.9 million to $9.2 billion, up from $8.3 billion a year earlier. According to balance of payments data, Egypt increased its imports of gold, radio and television sets, medicines and medical items, and inorganic and organic compounds. The countrys imports of non-petroleum products retreated by $490.7 million this fiscal year to $27.2 billion, down from $27.7 billion during the same period a year earlier. These products include cast iron, wheat, spare parts for vehicles, and medicines. Alia Mamdouh, a senior economist with Beltone Financial, an investment bank, said Egypts imports would shrink this year, particularly with the decrease in petroleum prices, which make up about 20 per cent of the countrys imports. Due to decreasing demand in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the price of a barrel of oil has dropped from $60 to $20 or less. This has led OPEC to reduce production to put the brakes on declining prices. This will limit the opportunity to import intermediary commodities, restricting imports on raw materials, Mamdouh said. She expected a decline in the imports of many finished goods, including vehicles, furniture, and clothing, with spending being restricted to basic items. *A version of this article appears in print in the 23 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under headline: Imports shrink Search Keywords: Short link: Midland County Sheriff's Office Midland County Sheriff's Office deputies are investigating a shooting incident in Mount Haley Township. At 5:01 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, deputies responded to a shooting complaint in the 3000 block of Kane Road in Mount Haley Township, according to a news release from the sheriff's department. Deputies arrived on-scene and made contact with a 53-year-old Merrill man, who said an unknown subject had shot toward him, striking his maroon GMC pickup truck in the process. The man was not injured. Quarterly Activities Report Perth, April 24, 2020 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Blackham Resources Limited ( ASX:BLK ) ( FRA:NZ3 ) ( OTCMKTS:BKHRF ) provides the following update on its activities for the quarter ended 31 March 2020 ("Q1"), and thereafter:Operationso March 2020 quarterly gold production of 12,950oz. @ an AISC of A$2,287/oz. (December 2019 quarter 20,003oz. @ A$1,527/oz.)o The main reason for the poorer-than-expected production performance was due to limited access to high grade ore from the mines during the quarter, requiring the treatment of lower grade stockpiles which decreased ounces produced and increased our AISC. Pre-stripping and pre-mine development resulted in a very high stripping ratio for the quarter of 21.4 (December 2019: 8.7) which also affected AISC for the quartero This continued pre-stripping and pre-mine development has meant for the next 18 months, the Company will have access to high grade, accessible ore primarily from the Williamson open pit mineo Cyclones Blake and Damian resulted in mining being constrained in both the open pits and underground for a longer than expected periodo In our Operations and Corporate Update released to the market on 20 March, it was stated that we expected mining rates to return to normal levels and that we expected to increase our access to high grade free milling ore in March and April. Due to COVID-19 operational disruptions, the expected improvement only occurred in late AprilOther production matters were;o A number of equipment matters, which affected production from the open pits and the underground Golden Age mine. These matters were primarily old equipment that needed replacing, shortages of mining machinery operators which directly reduced planned material movements and impacted negatively on production and a shortage of maintenance staff and replacement parts. The old motor issues of the ball mill have already been highlightedo COVID-19 Response Plan measures implemented have created unavoidable disruptions to normal operations which affect gold production, primarily with site access, isolation and change is shift rotationsOther matters of note are;o Site operating cash flow, excluding capital expenditure and preproduction mining, decreased to $7.8m for the March 2020 quarter (December 2019 quarter: $20.6m) because of the lower amount of gold produced and soldo Capital expenditure and pre-production mining costs for the quarter were $19.5m (December 2019 quarter $14.3). Capital expenditure incurred during the quarter related primarily to the construction of Tailings Storage Facility K, for which 60%-70% of its capacity is currently non-sustaining capital expenditure as it will be utilised for the future Stage 1 Sulphide ExpansionImportantly, all the factors that negatively impacted March 2020 quarter production have been dealt with and the Company expects to see a turnaround in performance and a marked improvement in production for the remainder of the June quarter (in comparison to the March quarter) and steady production levels for the next 18 months.To view the full report, please visit:About Wiluna Mining Corporation Ltd Wiluna Mining Corporation (ASX:WMC) (OTCMKTS:WMXCF) is a Perth based, ASX listed gold mining company that controls over 1,600 square kilometres of the Yilgarn Craton in the Northern Goldfields of WA. The Yilgarn Craton has a historic and current gold endowment of over 380 million ounces, making it one of most prolific gold regions in the world. The Company owns 100% of the Wiluna Gold Operation which has a defined resource of 8.04M oz at 1.67 g/t au. In May 2019, a new highly skilled management team took control of the Company with a clear plan to leverage the Wiluna Gold Operation's multi-million-ounce potential. Boris Johnson announces the coronavirus lockdown on 23 March. A former UK chief scientific adviser has said the 'delay' imposing this has cost lives. (PA) The UKs former chief scientific adviser has said Boris Johnsons delay in enforcing the coronavirus lockdown has cost lives. In a scathing assessment of the governments response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Sir David King said every days delay has resulted in further deaths. The latest official death toll stands at 12,107, while the number of people infected is set to pass 100,000 in the next couple of days. Johnson imposed a full lockdown on 23 March, having initially requested people to work from home and avoid social venues on 16 March. Sir David King is a former chief scientific adviser to the UK government. (Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images for ReSource 2012) Sir David was the chief scientific adviser to Tony Blair and Gordon Brown between 2000 and 2007. Its the job currently held by Sir Patrick Vallance, one of the key figures in driving the prime ministers coronavirus response. 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 Sir David told LBC: I'm very saddened by the predicament we're in. Why we didn't respond so much sooner once this epidemic broke out in China, I simply don't know. I say this because in 2006, we published a report on actions needed to deal with a pandemic and in that report, we showed that if an outbreak occurred of any new virus of this kind anywhere in the world, within three months, due to air travel, it would be everywhere in the world. "That of course is what has happened and it seems like we were unprepared and we didn't take action. Sir David pointed to the Cheltenham Festival horse racing event on 16 March as he went on: We didn't manage this until too late and every day's delay has resulted in further deaths in the United Kingdom. Asked if the government was negligent and asleep at the wheel, Sir David claimed the austerity measures of the David Cameron and George Osborne government led to the cutting back of risk management programmes. He said: It goes right back to 2010 when the government came in with a very clear policy to reduce public spending across the board, including the National Health Service. Story continues Coronavirus: what happened today What is herd immunity? Muslims across the world began marking the holy month of Ramadan under unprecedented coronavirus lockdowns on Friday as the US added another half a trillion dollars to its already-massive support package to help its pandemic-ravaged economy. The virus has upended life around the planet as nations try to stop the spread of the disease that has so far claimed nearly 190,000 lives, infected close to 2.7 million people and hammered the global economy. Ramadan spirits have been dampened by movement restrictions in Muslim communities from Southeast Asia to the Middle East and Africa, with bans on prayer in mosques and large gatherings of families and friends to break the daily fast -- a centrepiece of the month. But despite the coronavirus threat, clerics and conservatives in many countries including Bangladesh, Pakistan and Indonesia -- the worldas largest Muslim-majority nation -- have pushed back against social distancing rules, refusing to stop prayer gatherings in mosques. Several thousand people attended evening prayers on Thursday at the biggest mosque in the capital of Indonesiaas conservative Aceh province, and there were similar scenes at many sites in Pakistan. The World Health Organization has called for a stop to some Ramadan activities to lower the risk of infections, and authorities in several countries have explicitly warned of the threat from large religious gatherings. There have already been explosions of coronavirus cases from three separate Islamic congregations in Malaysia, Pakistan and India since the virus first emerged late last year in China. Distancing measures and the severe economic impact of the pandemic has also meant many charitable activities during Ramadan, especially food distribution and other donations, have been hit hard. Salah Jibril, an unemployed Palestinian man who lives with his wife and six children in a cramped two-bedroom apartment in the Gaza Strip, said he was not sure how his family would cope without Ramadan donations. "The markets and mosques are closed. The good people who give us money or aid each Ramadan are facing a tough situation," he said. "This is the hardest Ramadan we have faced. We don't know how we will cope." - Massive economic stimulus - The economic devastation wreaked by lockdowns that have half the planet indoors is huge, with the world facing its worst downturn since the Great Depression. US lawmakers covered their faces with masks and voted in small groups to approve a $483 billion stimulus plan, on top of the $2.2 trillion package already enacted. The money will back small businesses on the brink of bankruptcy, and hard-pressed hospitals, as the American economy reels with more than 26 million people losing their jobs since the pandemic hit. The United States is now the worst-affected nation in the world, with about 50,000 coronavirus deaths. In Europe, leaders haggled by video conference over their own package that could top one trillion euros, as the European Central Bank chief warned of the risk of "acting too little, too late". The 27-nation European Union agreed to ask the bloc's executive arm to come up with a rescue plan by May 6, sources told AFP. The fight has reopened the wounds of the 2009 economic crisis in debt-laden European southern states such as Spain and Italy, both badly hit by the pandemic, demanding help to get back on their feet. Richer northern countries like Germany and the Netherlands say they are ready to help for now, but insist they will not pool debt with Mediterranean governments they accuse of profligacy. - Race for vaccine - While the disease appears to be peaking in Europe and the United States, other nations are still in the early stages of the fight. The World Health Organization has warned that strict measures should remain until there is a viable treatment or vaccine. The race is on around the world to develop one, with Oxford University launching a human trial of a potential vaccine on Thursday. Germany announced similar trials will start by next week. In a briefing at the White House, scientists said they had found that the virus was quickly destroyed by sunlight, raising hopes that the pandemic could ease as the northern hemisphere summer approaches. "Our most striking observation to date is the powerful effect that solar light appears to have on killing the virus, both surfaces and in the air," said William Bryan, science and technology adviser to the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Their findings, however, have not yet been released and therefore not reviewed by independent experts. The rapid pace of development efforts is in part down to the vast numbers of patients that have overwhelmed healthcare systems in the developed world and in poorer countries. In Brazil, where intensive care units at hospitals have been slammed, Dr Fernanda Gulinelli said this "is a new chapter in medicine that we are having to write on the go, and we donat know what the next sentence will be". burs-qan/hg Beijing Stakes Out Sovereignty Claims in Contested South China Sea Sputnik News 00:07 GMT 22.04.2020(updated 00:17 GMT 22.04.2020) Beijing has issued a proclamation of sovereignty over dozens of geographical features in the disputed South China Sea, just weeks after Vietnam protested China's right to do so. China's Natural Resources Ministry and Civil Affairs Ministry published a joint release on Sunday which announced the Chinese names and coordinates belonging to 25 islands, shoals, and reefs, as well as 55 submerged oceanic mountains and ridges, all in the contested waterway south of the mainland, reported AFP. "No state can claim sovereignty over underwater features unless they are within 12 nautical miles of land. So is China ignorant of this or deliberately trying to overturn international law?" Bill Hayton, an associate fellow at British think tank Chatham House, told the outlet. "China has ratified the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which is very clear on what states can and cannot claim as territory. Yet China seems to be going against UNCLOS by asserting sovereignty in very far away places." Despite China's individual claims in the South China Sea, it has also made the more general claim to roughly 90% of the waterway via the so-called "nine-dash line," which has never been precisely delineated. In addition to China, several other countries have also laid claim to parts of the South China Sea, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, Taiwan, and the Philippines. The waterway is believed to contain huge hydrocarbon deposits beneath the seafloor and carries trillions in annual sea trade. Yan Yan, director of the Research Center of Oceans Law and Policy in the National Institute for South China Sea Studies, told the South China Morning Post that China's territorial claims were a showing of its sovereignty in the region. He noted that this is not the first time such an announcement has been made by China. The last one came during a 1983 exercise in which China laid claim to 287 features in the South China Sea. "China is faced with an increasingly aggressive Vietnam as the country continues to fish illegally and conduct oil and gas exploration unilaterally in the South China Sea," Yan said. "And as this year's chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Vietnam should exercise more restraint rather than acting aggressively." Last month, Vietnam issued a diplomatic note to the United Nations which protested China's sovereignty claims in the South China Sea. Beijing has stepped up activity in the South China Sea over the past six years and on Saturday announced that two new districts will govern areas in the sea that overlap with claims from Vietnam and Taiwan. "The State Council has recently approved the establishment of the Xisha and Nansha districts under Sansha city," the Ministry of Civil Affairs stated, using the respective Chinese names for the Paracel and Spratly Islands. Vietnam has since responded, stating that China's actions "seriously violated" its territorial sovereignty, according to AFP. China's Foreign Affairs Ministry fired back on Tuesday, contending that the Spratly and Paracel Islands are China's "innate territories" and that Vietnam's claims in the South China Sea are "illegal." Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nuns wearing protective masks walk with a health worker in protective gear at a nursing home in Bochnia, Poland, April 13, 2020. Jakub Wlodek/Agencja Gazeta via REUTERS Countries in eastern Europe are yet to see coronavirus outbreaks as severe as those in western Europe. Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and the UK are the worst-affected countries after the US. But the likes of Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia are relatively unscathed. In part, this is due to swift lockdowns that were in some cases enforced before any deaths were reported. It may also be due to a lack of testing. Fewer tests means fewer identified cases. Most of the countries are also yet to reach the peak of their outbreaks, which could explain why casualties and cases are comparatively low. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Countries in eastern Europe have avoided large coronavirus outbreaks like those seen in the west and south of the continent. Spain, Italy, France, Germany, and the UK are the worst affected countries in the world after the US. Poland and Romania are the worst affected of the eastern European states, but are still far behind their western counterparts. Even further behind them are Bulgaria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, and Slovakia. Here's why the bloc appears to have dodged a major outbreak, with many now confident enough to roll back their lockdown measures. Early, strict lockdown The World Health Organization started encouraging countries to enforce lockdowns in mid-February, citing the success of the tactic in Wuhan, China, which locked down in late January after the virus started to spread there. Eastern European countries were, overall, faster to act than the UK, Italy, or Spain. Poland reported its first case on March 4 and by the time it reported its first death, on March 12, large events had been suspended. By March 25, schools, non-essential shops, and border crossings were closed, and non-essential travel was banned. In contrast, the UK reported its first case on January 29 and first death on March 5. The government didn't act until March 17, where it banned large gatherings. On March 25, the UK banned non-essential travel and closed schools, non-essential shops, and borders. Last week, the UK government said the lockdown could last for many months to come. Story continues The Czech Republic has also drawn praise for taking swift action. The first case was reported there on March 12. By the time the first death was reported, on March 22, the country had already been living under a full lockdown for six days, since March 16. A vendor prepares products before a local farmer's market reopening in Prague, Czech Republic, April 20, 2020. REUTERS/David W Cerny Adam Vojtech, the Czech health minister, said on April 6 that the country could start lifting controls because the lockdown had been successful. Slovakia enforced one of Europe's harshest lockdowns, forbidding international travel, banning all public events, and forcing new arrivals to undergo 14-day quarantine. Only 13 people have died in Slovakia as of Tuesday, giving it the lowest death rate per-capita in Europe, Reuters reported. It also made facemasks mandatory before any other European country. Slovakia also harnessed telecoms data to monitor the spread of people. Other nations, like the UK and Japan, have faced vocal opposition to such techniques over privacy concerns. However, bucking the trend, Belarus has not enforced any form of lockdown, despite on Monday reporting its fifty-first death. In March, President Alexander Lukashenko appeared to deny the accepted science of the virus, telling his people that drinking vodka and visiting the sauna would keep them safe. The worst is yet to come Though it is clear that the region moved faster to stunt the spread of the virus than the west, health authorities in many of these countries warn they have not yet reached the peak of their outbreaks. Despite the approach taken by Belarus, the outbreak is expected to peak there in early May, health minister Vladimir Karanik said on Monday. Hungary, for example, has reported just over 2,000 cases, and the government is targeting May 3 for an end to lockdown. But on Sunday, the country's chief medical officer, Cecilia Muller, warned that a boom in new cases was expected. Italy and Spain now appear to have passed the peaks of their outbreaks, with the help of lockdowns, while the UK is currently in the midst of it. Romania is also anticipating more cases to emerge, predicting the outbreak could peak between April 22 and April 26, according to Raed Arafat, the head of the country's Emergency Services Department. A woman wearing a protective mask uses her mobile phone in Turin, Italy. Reuters Health minister Nelu Tataru said on Monday: "We are still in a moment when we are on the climb." Similarly, Ukrainian prime minister Denys Shmyhal said on Monday that the epidemic was projected to peak there in early May. Slovakia's health ministry predicts the peak will fall at the end of June, despite the early and stringent lockdown. Fewer tests, fewer confirmed cases "We have a simple message for all countries: test, test, test. Test every suspected case," WHO director general Tedros Adhanom said on March 16. But many countries are not doing so, either as a result of policy, logistical issues, or a lack of equipment. Hungary completed 70% fewer tests than its less populous neighbor Austria, according to the Guardian. Romania, with a population of 19.5 million, has only carried out 12,000 tests. The country's health minister resigned on Friday, shortly after pledging to test all two million residents of the capital Bucharest. A COVID-19 coronavirus test kiosk at the Maccabi Medical Clinic in Tel Aviv, Israel on April 20, 2020: Andrei Shirokov\TASS via Getty Images Poland, which has a population of 38 million, has carried out 224,355 tests. Georgia, which has a population of 3.7 million, carried out 7,611 tests. Conversely, one reason why the number of infections in Germany is so high is because of mass testing. The government was testing more than 200,000 a week in early March and has identified 147,065 cases. Similarly, one reason why Spain has located 200,000 infections is down to the use of one million tests. Health authorities are agreed that lockdowns and social distancing have saved lives, and the efforts countries like Poland should be commended. "Sustained, drastic actions taken by European governments have already saved lives by driving down the number of new infections each day," Dr Seth Flaxman, expert in statistical machine learning at Imperial College London, said. Read the original article on Business Insider "The states that seem to have the problem happen to be Democrat," Trump added. Later Thursday, President Donald Trump said that it was "interesting that the states that are in trouble do happen to be blue." Cuomo said that it was "vicious" for McConnell to describe proposals to federally fund the states devastated by the virus as a "blue-state bailout." "I would certainly be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route," McConnell said. "It saves some cities, and there's no good reason for it not to be available." On Wednesday, McConnell, of Kentucky, told radio host Hugh Hewitt that he supports allowing states to declare bankruptcy rather than getting federal money to cover budget shortfalls as tax revenue dives. "You will see a collapse of this national economy" if states such as New York and California declare bankruptcy, Cuomo said. "So just don't." "This is one of the really dumb ideas of all time," Cuomo, a Democrat, said during a press conference in Albany. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo tore into Sen. Mitch McConnell on Thursday over the Senate Republican leader's support for letting states declare bankruptcy as they grapple with the coronavirus pandemic . McConnell said of state leaders: "My guess is, their first choice would be for the federal government to borrow money from future generations to send it down to them now so they don't have to do that. That's not something I'm going to be in favor of." Cuomo, whose state has been hit harder by Covid-19 than anywhere else in the U.S., strongly disagreed. "The entire nation is dependent on what the governors do to reopen," Cuomo said at the press conference. "But then you're not going to fund the state government? You think I'm going to do it alone? How do you think this is going to work?" "You want to see that market fall through the cellar? Let New York declare bankruptcy," Cuomo added. Cuomo has previously criticized Congress and the federal government for not providing nearly enough funding to help his state offset the massive costs inflicted by the coronavirus. Before the massive $2 trillion economic relief package was signed into law by President Donald Trump in late March, Cuomo said it would be "terrible" for the Empire State. The latest coronavirus relief bill, which is expected to pass the Democratic-led House later Thursday, does not provide funding for state and local governments. Congress is expected to work on at least one additional relief package in the future. "I would've insisted that state and local funding is in this current bill," Cuomo said at the press conference, "because I don't believe they want to fund state and local governments. And not to fund state and local governments is incredibly short sighted." "They want to fund small business, fund the airlines, I understand that, but state and local government funds police, and fire, and teachers and schools," Cuomo said. "How do you not fund police and fire and teachers and schools in the midst of this crisis?" he said. "When you don't fund the state then the state can't fund those services." The governor paraphrased McConnell's argument as: "Don't help New York state because it is a Democratic state." "How ugly a thought," Cuomo said. "I mean, just think of what he's saying: People died, 15,000 people died in New York, but they were predominantly Democrats, so why should we help them?" Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, told Politico on Thursday that the bailout language, which came from McConnell's office, was "complete nonsense." "These are well-run states. There are just as many Republicans as Democrats that strongly support this," Hogan said. Cuomo told reporters that he has not contacted McConnell about the issue of state funding and that he doesn't intend to. A spokesman for McConnell did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment about the governor's remarks. Hogan and Cuomo, the chair and vice chair of the National Governors Association, wrote to congressional leaders Tuesday requesting an additional $500 billion state stabilization fund. They said lost revenue during the crisis would force states to make "drastic cuts" to programs and harm the economic recovery from the pandemic. "While the three supplemental spending laws passed in March have provided relief to the states, none contained direct funding to offset drastic state revenue shortfalls. Unlike the federal government, states cannot borrow to fund continuing operations," the governors wrote. McConnell's comments have divided some members of his Republican caucus. Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican who represents Louisiana, home of hard-hit New Orleans, plans to introduce a proposal with Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey to provide half a trillion dollars in relief to state and local governments when Congress returns next month. "We worked hard to make sure state and local governments can maintain essential services necessary for employees and employers to survive. We must protect Americans' financial future," Cassidy said in a statement announcing the plan Sunday. At the same time, a spokesperson for Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said Thursday that he agrees with McConnell. Earlier this month, he wrote a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin saying that federal aid money "should not be used to backfill lost revenue or plug holes in poorly designed state budgets." This image made from video provided by Thomas Marcum shows a tornado seen from State Highway 48 in Durant, Okla., on April 22, 2020. (Thomas Marcum via AP) At Least 6 Dead as Storms Hit Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana Severe weather was moving through Mississippi early on April 23 after apparent tornadoes tore through parts of Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana, where six deaths included a trailer factory worker whose body was found a quarter mile from his workplace. More than 100,000 customers from Texas to Mississippi were without power Thursday as the severe weather moved through, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports. The worker was killed in southern Oklahomas Marshall County, where the storm hit Madill, near the Red River, about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, causing widespread damage to the town, including its residential neighborhoods, said Donny Raley, the citys emergency manager. A damaged home is seen after an apparent tornado touched down in Onalaska, Texas, on April 22, 2020. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via AP) The workers body was found about a fourth of a mile from J&I Manufacturing, a trailer factory outside town where a suspected twister hit just as the workforce was leaving for the day, causing severe damage, Marshall County Emergency Management Director Robert Chaney said. Chaney said he had no other information on the person. At least three people were killed when apparent tornado touched down in southeast Texas at about 6 p.m. Wednesday near Onalaska, about 75 miles north of Houston, the Polk County Emergency Management System said in a statement. The storm rumbled east through Seven Oaks and caused severe damage to homes and other structures, said Carrie Miller, a spokeswoman for Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy. There was no immediate information on how the victims were killed. After a tornado touched down in the area, a line of vehicles is seen along FM 3459 in Onalaska, north of Houston, on April 22, 2020. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via AP) A woman was killed on a bridge in Woodworth, Louisiana, 15 miles south of Alexandria, due to the severe weather, the Rapides Parish Sheriffs Office told KALB-TV. The sheriffs office did not provide detail on how she died. The Alexandria campus of Louisiana State University also saw some damage from the storm. The university tweeted, All resident students safe. There is damage to DeWitt Livestock building and a camper flipped over. The campus was also left without power. The Clarion Ledger reported that storms were moving through Mississippi early Thursday, bringing the threat of tornadoes, flooding and wind surges. A woman received medical attention after an apparent tornado touched down in Onalaska, Texas, on April 22, 2020. (Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle via AP) The storms crossed into southwest Mississippi before midnight Wednesday and radar indicated tornado, the Ledger said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries in Mississippi early Thursday. A National Weather Service team will be dispatched to survey damage and to confirm whether the storms were tornadoes. Epoch Times staff contributed to this report. Giovanni Boccaccio wrote the "Decameron" between 1349 and 1353, or so it is believed. A set of short stories about social life in the fourteenth century, the book's title means ten days in Greek. The stories were written against the background of the Black Death. Florence was ravaged by the plague, so ten young people (seven women and three men) flee the city to a villa in the countryside, where they entertain themselves by telling stories. 1845 statue of Boccaccio by Fantacchiott. Wikipedia. These stories were mostly all set in Italy, but among other settings were London and Majorca; they tell, respectively, of an Alessandro and Alatiel, the Princess of Babylonia. In the first, three brothers from Florence are the beneficiaries of their wealthy father's inheritance. They squander this and fall into near poverty. Ashamed, they leave the city and don't stop travelling until they reach London, where they settle and, little by little, dedicate themselves to work to earn interest on the money they had left. Having built up this capital and with pangs for Italy, they return to Florence, leaving a nephew - Alessandro - to manage the business and send them money. However, a long and terrible war breaks out, and Alessandro has to leave England urgently. He heads for the continent with other refugees, one of them a distinguished cleric, an abbot from one of the great monasteries in England, who was escorted by a retinue of friars who carried a great deal of luggage. But this clergyman was not all he seemed. He was in fact a woman in disguise, with whom Alessandro had long conversations. Having stopped at an inn, where they are alone, they share a bed, making love on the condition that he marries her. Peace returns to the British Isles, and so do they. She is really the daughter of the king of England, who forgives her and arranges great festivities. He appoints his son-in-law as a knight and grants him the county of Cornwall. No less exotic and adventurous is the tale of Princess Alatiel, daughter of Beminedab, the Sultan of Babylon, who arranged her marriage to his friend and ally, the King of the Algarve in Portugal. The sultan prepared a very well provisioned ship for Alatiel, who was very beautiful and was escorted by her trusted ladies as well as by some male guardians. The ship set sail from Alexandria. There was a favourable wind, but after several days of good sailing there was a fierce and terrible storm. This lasted three days and pushed the ship towards the shores of Majorca. As the ship filled with water and was on the point of capsizing, the crew and passengers abandoned ship and tried to save themselves. Only Alatiel and some of her ladies-in-waiting managed to make it to land, when what was left of the ship ran aground a short distance from a beach. The time passed and they, almost dead from exhaustion, were lying on the sand when a Christian knight named Perico de Visalgo appeared. On horseback, he was heading for his castle, accompanied by a few servants. He rescued the princess. A banquet was held. They made love, he having got her drunk. His brother, Marato, was extremely envious that Perico should have such a beautiful woman. He became infatuated with Alatiel and when a time came for him to sail from the port of Ciutat de Mallorca (Palma), he killed his brother and took the princess. But Alatiel is kidnapped by various other men, one of them the Duke of Athens. Finally she is freed and in Famagusta (Cyprus) finds someone who knows her father and who takes her to the court of her fiance, the King of the Algarve. A madrasa head who had gone missing last week was found dead in the Kairana area of Uttar Pradesh's Shamli district on Thursday, police said. Mufti Sufiyan, 32, was missing since April 16 and he was found murdered at Kakor village under the Kairana police station, they said. The body was traced after three people, including a madrasa teacher, were arrested and they confessed that they killed Sufiyan and dumped his body in Yamuna river, Circle Officer Pradeep Kumar said. Kumar said old enmity over some monetary issue was stated to be the reason behind the murder of the madrasa head. Incidentally, the main accused, Abdullah, had filed a missing complaint with the police on April 21, stating that Sufiyan had not returned to madrasa after going to buy ration from a market on April 16, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thirty-four police personnel, including some officers, have tested coronavirus positive in Bhopal so far, a top official said on Thursday. The official claimed that as per the findings, the initial infections in the city's police force were caused when the personnel went out in search of those who had returned to the state capital after attending the Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Delhi's Nizamuddin held last month. "With a policeman in our cyber cell testing coronavirus positive this morning, 34 of our personnel, including officers, have been infected so far," Bhopal Additional Director General of Police, Upendra Jain, told PTI. Besides them, around 30 of their family members have also contracted the infection, he added. In order to curb the spread of the virus and to keep their family members safe, around 2,100 police personnel in the city are not going homes after their duty hours. "They have been put up in hotels and provided PPE kits, sanitisers and food," he added. "After an analysis, we came to know that the virus found its way into the police force when our personnel went out to search for the people who had come to Bhopal after attending the congregation of Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi last month," Jain said. "As per the findings, there was no other source initially, except the Nizamuddin attendees, from whom they could have contracted the infection. The police went to the mosques under Jahangirabad and Ashbagh police stations towards the end of last month to look for the attendees," he said. Already 30-35 Jamaat members, including foreigners, who had come from Delhi, had tested coronavirus positive, Jain said. He, however, said that all the policemen were not infected due to the Nizamuddin attendees. "One of them contracted the infection as he was part of a medical team visiting homes to check the virus spread. A few others got infected in the containment areas and during the general duty, but the virus crept into police force through the Nizamuddin attendees," he said. "No policemen or their family member affected by the virus had history of travel abroad," Jain said. (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] SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TPI Composites, Inc. (TPIC), the only independent manufacturer of composite wind blades with a global footprint, announced today that it will be collaborating with the State of Iowa on COVID-19 testing for its Newton, Iowa associates. As a result of the increase in COVID-19 levels in Jasper, Marshall, and Polk Counties, as well as 28 confirmed new cases during the last week among TPI Newton associates, TPI proactively reached out to the office of Iowa Governor, Kim Reynolds to discuss establishing an enhanced COVID-19 testing plan. TPI plans to voluntarily pause production at its Newton, Iowa manufacturing facility until the middle of next week in order to do another deep clean of the facility and to implement this more rigorous testing plan, which will include testing all Newton associates. TPIs associates will be paid during the production pause and TPI also plans to provide protective masks to its associates family members for use at home. The health and safety of our associates and the communities in which they live and work is our top priority, and we feel strongly this is the right action to support associates and their families and to help prevent further community spread in Iowa, said Josh Syhlman, General Manager of the Iowa facility. In early March, TPI implemented best practices learned from their operations in China during the COVID-19 outbreak in January and February including implementing mandatory temperature checks for anyone entering the factory, mandating social distancing and when not practical due to the manufacturing process mandated wearing PPE, and disinfecting the entire facility at least once per day. Our practices exceed the CDC and WHO guidelines, continued Mr. Syhlman. We are pleased that Governor Reynolds supports this proactive approach to work in close partnership with the State and the States recently announced TestIowa plan to stop community spread, added Mr. Syhlman. Story continues About TPI Composites, Inc. TPI Composites, Inc. is the only independent manufacturer of composite wind blades for the wind energy market with a global manufacturing footprint. TPI delivers high-quality, cost-effective composite solutions through long term relationships with leading OEMs in the wind and transportation markets. TPI is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona and operates factories throughout the U.S., China, Mexico, Turkey and India. TPI operates additional engineering development centers in Denmark and Germany. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements which are made pursuant to safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include statements, among other things, concerning: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business; effects on our financial statements and our financial outlook; our business strategy, including anticipated trends and developments in and management plans for our business and the wind industry and other markets in which we operate; our projected annual revenue growth; competition; future financial results, operating results, revenues, gross margin, operating expenses, profitability, products, projected costs, warranties, our ability to improve our operating margins, and capital expenditures. These forward-looking statements are often characterized by the use of words such as estimate, expect, anticipate, project, plan, intend, seek, believe, forecast, foresee, likely, may, should, goal, target, might, will, could, predict, continue and the negative or plural of these words and other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are only predictions based on our current expectations and our projections about future events. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements for any reason. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the matters discussed in Risk Factors, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports that we will file with the SEC. Shaye Spell, wife of pastor Tony Spell, flashes wads of cash as she waits outside the East Baton Rouge parish jail. Tony Spell was arrested for flouting lockdown orders during the coronavirus pandemic: AP The Apostle Paul was jailed in Rome for preaching that Jesus Christ was God. Some 2,000 years later, another evangelist - Louisiana Pastor Tony Spell - was jailed for trying to hit a protester with a bus. While legend holds that Paul was eventually beheaded by Emperor Nero, Mr Spell will have to suffer no such fate; his wife, Shaye, flashed $5,000 at the local jail, made bail, and brought her husband home. Spell has been in the news for defying state stay-at-home orders for the purpose of holding his church services. He believes his church should be recognised as an "essential service" and that the coronavirus is politically motivated. The pastor has been under scrutiny by the state for continuing to hold in-person church services despite state social distancing guidelines. WAFB 9 News in Louisiana reported that Spell was taken into custody and jailed in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Tuesday. He was released later that day after his wife bailed him out. Shaye Spell, wife of Lousiana pastor Tony Spell, flashes wads of cash as she arrives at the East Baton Rouge parish jail to post bond for him following his arrest for flouting coronavirus lockdown orders (AP) Read more Sean Hannity's Fox News show helped spread of coronavirus, study says How to help the elderly and vulnerable during the coronavirus How to feel less anxious about the coronavirus How to be productive when working from home during coronavirus Which countries around the world has coronavirus spread to? The dirty truth about washing your hands A Himachal Congress MLA has accused a head constable of extorting money from some Kinnaur youths amid the coronavirus curfew. The Kinnaur police has initiated an inquiry into the matter after one of the youths' brother submitted a written complaint in this regard. Kinnaur's Bhawa Nagar DSP Raju told PTI that he has been asked by Superintendent of Police (SP) Saju Ram Rana to hold a fact-finding inquiry. "I have initiated the probe and recording statements of the concerned parties," he added. Kinnaur Congress MLA Jagat Singh Negi told PTI that some youths, including Sachin and Sahil, from Katgaon village in Nichar tehsil had come to know that a salesman of a local liquor vend was providing booze despite the lockdown. They contacted him over the phone on April 16 to get liquor. The salesman called them near the vend, where they entered into an altercation with him, the MLA added. At this, the salesman called head constable Ravi, posted at the Katgaon police post, he said. The MLA alleged that the head constable sought a bribe from the youths and threatened to implicate them in a robbery case if they refused to do so. Sachin transferred Rs 60,000 into the account provided by the head constable, the MLA alleged. Sachin's brother Robin on Thursday submitted a written complaint to the Bhawa Nagar police station. The Bhawa Nagar DSP said he will be able to say anything on the matter only after the completion of the inquiry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Lebanese and Ghanaian businessmen at about 13:40 hours cashed the money from the bank after which they were attacked by some armed robbers at the TDC traffic light some 400 meters away. Mr Mashuud, one of the victims, narrating their ordeal said: we are importers of frozen fish at Tema Newtown, we went to the Zenith bank to withdraw some money, when we came out, one of the bank staff told me that there were some motor riders around and that they suspected them, so we should wait a little. He added after waiting a while the bank authorities said they would give us one police officer to escort us wherever we are going. "The Policeman wanted to sit in front seat of our car but I asked him to follow us in his car which he did. The moment we reached the traffic light and it turned red, they (robbers) came with full speed (two of them on one motorbike) and crossed us, stood infront of us and started shooting and the process took the money. The police returned fire, one fled with the money but one got hit, he said. Mr Ali, the Lebanese victim corroborating his colleague's narration, said the two crossed their car and tried to shoot them but the police officer following them opened fire on them adding that the incident happened within five minutes. The incident attracted a large crowd of people from Tema Community One Sites one and four to the traffic light, while others followed to the Tema Community One Police Station to catch a glimpse of the dead robber. ---GNA [April 23, 2020] Hilton Grand Vacations to Hold 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in Virtual-Only Format Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE:HGV) ("HGV" or "the Company") announced today that its upcoming 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") will be held in a virtual-only format to protect the safety of its stockholders and meeting participants in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health guidance and restrictions. As previously announced, the Annual Meeting will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. (EDT) for stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 13, 2020. The original date and time of the Annual Meeting, as well as the items of business to be addressed at the Annual Meeting, remain unchanged. However, stockholders and other participants will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person and may only participate via webcast. The possibility of this change was referenced in the Company's Notice of 2020 Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 26, 2020, and subsequently mailed or made available to HGV's stockholders. The Company has designed the format of the virtual meeting to ensure that stockholders are afforded the same rights and opportunities to participate as they would at an in-person meeting. Stockholders entitled to attend the Annual Meeting who encounter any difficulties accessing the virtual meeting during the check-in or meeting time should call the technical support number that will be posted on the virtual meeting login page. Access and Log-In Instructions for Virtual Annual Meeting Stockholders entitled to attend the Annual Meeting may access the virtual meeting by going to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HGV2020 and following the instructions on the website to enter the 16-digit control number printed on their proxy card, voting instruction form or Notice of Internet Availability, as applicable. Online access to the Annual Meeting will open at 8:15 a.m. (EDT) to allow time for stockholders to log-in prior to the start of the live audio webcast of the Annual Meeting at 8:30 a.m. (EDT). Voting Methods Whether or not you plan to attend the Annual Meeting, the Company urges you to vote and submit your vote your shares in advance of the Annual Meeting by one of the methods described in the proxy materials previously provided in connection with the Annual Meeting. Please note that the proxy card included with the previously distributed materials will not be updated to reflect the change to a virtual format and may continue to be used to vote your shares in connection with the Annual Meeting. HGV's proxy materials are currently available at www.proxyvote.com. Stockholders who have already voted do not need to take any further voting action unless they wish to change their vote. If you wish to vote during the webcast of the Annual Meeting, go to www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/HGV2020 and vote during the meeting by following the instructions on the meeting website. Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "intends" or similar expressions indicate a forward-looking statement, although not all forward-looking statements include these words. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different. About Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. Hilton Grand Vacations Inc. (NYSE:HGV) is recognized as a leading global timeshare company. With headquarters in Orlando, Florida, Hilton Grand Vacations develops, markets and operates a system of brand-name, high-quality vacation ownership resorts in select vacation destinations. The Company also manages and operates two innovative club membership programs: Hilton Grand Vacations Club and The Hilton Club, providing exclusive exchange, leisure travel and reservation services for more than 325,000 club members. For more information, visit www.hiltongrandvacations.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005131/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Officials from many localities in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta and rice exporters have urged the Government to resume rice exports without setting limits, saying many firms face difficulties because of this. Harvesting rice in the Mekong Delta. Rice growing localities and exporters have urged the Government to resume rice exports without setting limits. Speaking at a conference in HCM City on April 22 they also exhorted the ministries of Industry and Trade and Finance and the customs department to quickly clear the consignments of rice exports stuck at ports. The Government recently lifted a ban on rice exports, but capped them at around 400,000 tonnes each in April and May citing national food security concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 12, the General Department of Customs began accepting online customs declarations from rice exporters, but many were left disappointed since the quota of 400,000 tonnes was reached in just three hours. Some hundreds tonnes of rice are now stuck at ports. Le Minh Duc, director of the Long An Province Department of Industry and Trade, said: "Last year, we sat together to discuss solutions to boost rice exports, but this year we discuss whether to export or not. This is abnormal, especially in the context that rice output this year has not decreased despite being affected by drought and saltwater intrusion." As the COVID-19 pandemic rages globally, demand for rice has increased in many markets, and Viet Nam should pay attention to this opportunity, he said. "In the current situation, we have recommended the Government should allow export of rice without applying limits. Nguyen Ngoc Nam, chairman of the Viet Nam Food Association, said: As of April 18, rice inventory at member companies was 1.94 million tonnes. Enterprises had signed contracts to export 1.7 million tonnes with delivery until June. If they fulfil the contracts, they will still have more than 200,000 tonnes in stock. Besides, the summer-autumn rice crop is about to be harvested. Therefore, we have petitioned the Government to allow normal rice exports from May. Truong Quang Hoai Nam, deputy chairman of the Can Tho City Peoples Committee, agreed with Duc and called for allowing exporters who submitted customs declaration forms in March to ship their rice and enabling firms with consignments stuck at ports to complete customs clearance. "Firms in the city had shipped 76,181 tonnes of rice to ports. They submitted customs declarations for more than 46,000 tonnes in March. But all consignments are stuck at ports." Tran Ho Hien of the Binh Dinh Food Joint Stock Company (Bidifood) said his company had nearly 10,000 tonnes stuck at My Thoi Port because customs lost its customs declaration form. His company has been suffering heavy losses since it has to meet VND200 million a day (US$8,476) for a month in unexpected expenses, he said. "Our company is in danger of collapse. He sought the help of the ministries of Industry and Trade and Finance. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh, who chaired the conference, called on customs to help Bidifood and other companies in similar circumstances clear their consignments as soon as possible. He admitted that there have been difficulties for businesses, but the recent changes in rice export regulations were due to concerns related to food security and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and saltwater intrusion. Localities in the Mekong Delta have reported a bumper winter-spring crop, and farmers in the north have also started harvesting their rice crop, which has not affected by pests as earlier feared. Based on this, his ministry would recommend that the Government should adjust the rice export regulations from May, he promised. VNS VN government cautious about exporting rice despite plentiful supply The Vietnamese government has decided to resume rice exports, but the debate continues about whether the country should continue to do so. Turkey on Wednesday confirmed 117 more fatalities from the novel coronavirus, bringing the total death toll to 2,376, Daily Sabah reports. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases reached 98,674, as 3,083 more people tested positive for the virus, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said following a meeting of the Coronavirus Science Board. So far, a total of 16,477 patients have been discharged from hospitals after recovering from the virus, with 1,559 discharged on Tuesday alone, the minister added. A total of 37,535 tests were conducted over the past 24 hours, with the total reaching 750,944. Thursday, April 23rd, 2020 (5:00 pm) - Score 2,065 Full fibre ISP Gigaclear has announced that their on-going roll-out of a 1Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network in Essex (England) has now covered 10,000 premises, which includes 1,153 homes and businesses that were added in just the last month alone. A further 20,000 are due to be covered by December 2021. The most recent addition of 1,153 premises includes 771 that were reached through Gigaclears own commercial deployment and 382 that were delivered under their state aid supported Superfast Essex (SFE) contracts (i.e. Phases 3.1 Uttlesford, 3.2 Braintree + Colchester and 4a.1 Epping Forest). The 1,153 can also be broken down as follows: 537 addresses in the Epping Forest District, 517 in Braintree and 99 in Uttlesford. NOTE: Gigaclears SFE contract for Epping Forest was due to begin work in July 2020. Despite this progress it should be noted that Gigaclears Phase 3 SFE deployments are still running well behind schedule (here). Under the original plan Phase 3 (8,300 premises) was due to be completed by the end of 2019 and not 2021, while Phase 4 (2,100 premises) is much more recent but due to complete by the same date. Nevertheless the provider finally appears to be getting back on-track after suffering significant turbulence over the past year or so. Earlier this month they also secured 525m in financing to help drive a new long-term build strategy (here). The operator is typically tackling some of the hardest to reach rural communities, which is no easy task and tends to be very expensive. Tony Smith, Gigaclears Regional GM for the East of England, said: Were extremely proud to have connected an additional 382 properties in partnership with Superfast Essex, and a further 771 properties on our own, all in one month. Gigaclears work is considered essential by Government, so we are continuing our activities maintaining, building and installing new customers on our network where it is safe to do so. Never has connectivity been more important for the communities we have built to and those we are still working to reach. Separately the ISP also noted that their commercial deployments across the South West of England have in the past month alone reached 966 additional rural properties across Devon and Somerset, which follows a recent agreement with the Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) project to finish part-built areas (here). Oscar winner Diane Keaton showcased her kooky yet conservative sense of style by pairing leopard-print pants with leather motorcycle boots to visit a Los Angeles apartment building on Wednesday. Despite the 80F-degree weather, the eccentric 74-year-old also chose to wore a heavy plaid winter coat over a brown turtleneck and beige hat for her outing. Diane - who's high risk due to her age and asthma - made sure to put on her CDC-recommended COVID-19 surgical mask and plastic disposable gloves before heading inside. Kooky yet conservative! Oscar winner Diane Keaton paired leopard-print pants with leather motorcycle boots to visit a Los Angeles apartment building on Wednesday High risk due to her age and asthma: The eccentric 74-year-old made sure to put on her CDC-recommended COVID-19 surgical mask and plastic disposable gloves before heading inside Los Angeles County's stay-at-home order was extended through May 15 due to the 16,447 confirmed coronavirus cases in LA, which has led to 732 deaths as of Wednesday - according to Johns Hopkins University. Ever since the quarantine, Keaton has been even more active on Instagram where she shares funny memes and videos of her entertaining herself inside her lavish 8K-square-foot Pacific Palisades mansion. The LA native is most likely empty nester now that her 25-year-old daughter Dexter and 20-year-old son Duke have both grown up. Diane never wed despite heated romances with her castmates Jack Nicholson, Warren Beatty, Al Pacino, and Woody Allen. Crooning: Ever since the quarantine, Diane has been even more active on Instagram where she shares funny memes and videos of her entertaining herself inside her lavish 8K-square-foot Pacific Palisades mansion (pictured April 7) Visiting her children? Keaton is most likely empty nester now that her 25-year-old daughter Dexter (L) and 20-year-old son Duke (R) have both grown up 'Let's just get that straight. That one's important. I haven't been on a date in, I would say, 35 years. No dates,' Keaton (born Hall) confessed in the August edition of InStyle. 'I have a lot of male friends. I have a lot of friends, but no dates. No mwah-mwah.' The Poms producer-star spent September 16-October 19 in Boston shooting Dennis Dugan's indie rom-com Love, Weddings & Other Disasters alongside Andrew Bachelor, Jeremy Irons, and Maggie Grace. The movie will have its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in Canada, which is still scheduled to happen sometime in early September despite the global pandemic - according to Variety. Action! The Poms producer-star spent September 16-October 19 in Boston shooting Dennis Dugan's indie rom-com Love, Weddings & Other Disasters alongside Andrew Bachelor (L), Jeremy Irons, and Maggie Grace (pictured September 24) I was so destroyed to hear of Brian's death. It is a great loss to theater and to me. I met him 12 times thanks to your newspaper review back in 2010 alerting me that he was starring in Hughie and Krapp's Last Tape. I went to the Goodman to see that double bill and became a true lover of everything Dennehy did. I ended up seeing him several times there at Chicagos Goodman, and I even traveled to Stratford, in Canada twice to the see him at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. I will truly miss the chance to see Mr. Dennehy again on stage. I wanted to let you know that without your wonderful review I had read a decade ago, I would never have experienced his monumental theater presence. Read what is in the news today: Society Vietnam has registered no new cases of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for seven mornings in a row, with its tally standing still at 268. Among them, 223 people have recovered, while 11 out of the 45 patients remaining in treatment have tested negative for the virus at least once. The Ministry of Transport has allowed the increase of daily flight frequency between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to 20 flights a day and reopened other domestic flight routes starting from Thursday, April 23, after the enhanced social distancing period ended on Wednesday night. The Peoples Committee of Da Nang on Wednesday night allowed schools to reopen from May 4; and beach-going activities, all accommodation businesses, and a number of four-wheeled commercial passenger vehicles to resume operations from Thursday, subject to conditions. The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam has announced that the four carriers Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Jestar Pacific, and Bamboo Airways will operate 13 flights to bring Vietnamese citizens home from Japan, the U.S., Canada, the UAE, France, Russia, Spain, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Nghi Son District in the north-central province of Thanh Hoa, Hoai Nhon District in the south-central province of Binh Dinh, and Dong Hoa District in the south-central province of Phu Yen have been upgraded to a district-level town, a type of second-tier administrative unit of Vietnam. Six officials along with the director of Hanois Center for Disease Control have been detained over alleged wrongdoings in purchasing COVID-19 diagnostic equipment, the municipal police announced on Wednesday afternoon. Business More than three-quarters of tourism firms expect their revenue in the second quarter to fall more than 80 percent from the same period last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey done by the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Council and the Private Economic Development Research Board on nearly 400 travel firms between April 13 and 17. Vietnam has resumed the normal export of glutinous rice, with the export amount not being counted toward the white rice export quota for April, which has also been increased from 400,000 metric tons to 500,000 metric tons, the government said on Wednesday. World News Over 2.63 million people have caught COVID-19 while more than 183,800 have been killed by the disease globally as of Thursday morning, according to statistics. About 717,200 have recovered. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Officials disinfect an artificial croquet lawn in Seoul, Thursday, in preparation for its reopening after the government eased its social distancing measures for some facilities imposed due to the spread of COVID-19. /Yonhap By Bahk Eun-ji The government has decided to reduce the number of hospitals specially designated to treat COVID-19 patients nationwide in response to the falling number of confirmed cases here, the health authorities said Thursday. The administration had designated 67 hospitals with 7,500 beds to treat the virus patients. Of those, 12 hospitals reporting no new cases were removed from the list. The second batch of cuts will be carried out by the end of the month for long-stay hospitals or rehabilitation centers that are not suitable for treating patients with such an infectious disease over the long term. Eleven hospitals with a utilization rate of under 5 percent will also be removed from the list. The government said it is aiming to reduce the number of beds for COVID-19 patients to less than 2,300 by next month in four phases, noting that those beds will be utilized again if another crisis surfaces. The decision came as the reported number of COVID-19 infection cases has been below 50 per day for two weeks. Huawei had one of its most complicated years in 2019. On the one hand, the brand experienced a surge in smartphone sales in China, but global sales have been on the decline. Until Q1 2019, Huawei was on track to overtake Samsung and become the number smartphone brand with the highest market share. Huaweis Global Decline But that had since changed, when the US President Donald Trump enforced a trade ban on several Chinese companies over allegations of spying, one of them being Huawei. As a supplier of telecommunication equipment, Trumps trade ban not only decimated Huaweis 5G push in the US but also effected in crippling the companys global smartphone business. As a result of the trade ban, Google revoked Huaweis Android license. This left Huawei with the only option of using Android on its smartphones through a custom version of Android using AOSP (Android Open Source Project) code, Google Play Store and other Google apps. Still the Strongest Camera Game Here is the thing though, software woes aside; Huawei has continued unveiling some impressive smartphone cameras. Just look at DxOMark, five of the top ten smartphones on the best overall camera list belong to Huawei and sub-brand Honor. Huawei even dominates the list of best selfie shooters with three phones on the top ten list, including the top two spots. It is worth noting that Huawei ultra-premium P40 Pro+ is not added to these lists. Having 8 out of 20 phones between the two best camera lists seems impressive. But it is not just DxOMark, premium Huawei and Honor devices have been praised by reviewers as well, primarily for their camera performance. One can make the argument that we are losing out on smartphones with some pretty capable cameras by ignoring Huawei phones due to the lack of Googles mobile services on them. Just how Difficult is Life without Google? So should you forgo Huaweis excellent camera hardware for Googles software ecosystem? Well, the answer to that question is simple, maybe. But let us get into the why maybe. Firstly, the main factor in opting for a Huawei or Honor phone would depend on your reliance on Googles ecosystem. Even if you can substitute G Suite apps and YouTube, what about Google Maps? Personally, living without Googles Mobile Services seems like a nightmare. But one could argue that G Suite can be substituted with Microsoft Office 365. Additionally, you also have a couple of alternatives for Google Maps. Just look at how many iOS users opt for Apple Maps. Apart from the occasional traffic avoidance, Google Maps does not really help, maybe if you go on a solo adventure. On the other hand, Huawei is building a pretty strong ecosystem with Huawei Mobile Services with hundreds of millions of users. Last month, Huawei announced several partnerships with software and game developers to bring popular Play Store apps to Huaweis App Gallery. Since we are yet to get our hands on a Huawei device, we cannot tell you for sure if life without Googles services is manageable, complicated, or convenient. But what we can say is that an ecosystem cannot be built overnight. For now, all we can say is maybe, maybe forgoing Googles software for Huaweis hardware is worth it, perhaps the tradeoff can be justified. What we can say for sure is that there is a foreseeable future where Huaweis Mobile Services could be a worthy challenger to Google. Who knows, Huaweis app ecosystem could even be better than Google. But at the moment, life without Googles services on Huawei devices is definitely going to be a challenge. Considering the price of Huaweis top-tier devices, we would suggest waiting until Huawei can make a stronger case. Just like the cameras on Huawei phones, the companys app ecosystem is also going to continue improving with time. So the final answer to our question would be, at present maybe, but in the future no. We do not believe you will have the luxury to write off Huaweis top-tier camera hardware just because of software in the future. The Big Security Question! Before we end, there is still the security question that is left unanswered. No doubt, the US ban on Huawei cannot simply be written off as inconsequential. Huawei was at the forefront of the 5G revolution and well-ahead in the 5G race. But then again, Chinas authoritarian government puts the chances of government involvement in Huawei at zero. But when it comes to our data, companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon, etc. have been hoarding it for years. Facebooks Cambridge Analytica scandal laid bare to the world the state of data privacy, but that hasnt stopped it from being one the most utilized apps in the world. In the case of government officials or private individuals involved in military contracts, it would perhaps be best not to opt for a Huawei phone. Still, for regular citizens, we dont see any major security risk. Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including party president J P Nadda, on Thursday condemned the alleged attack on senior journalist Arnab Goswami and targeted the Congress over the incident. 'Shocking to see Arnab Goswami attacked after Congress CMs publicly threatened him. Sad to see such public hounding of a journalist for his freedom of speech. Congress shows it is the party that brought Emergency and continues its rich tradition of trampling free speech,' Nadda tweeted. Two motorcycle-borne persons allegedly attacked Goswami's car in Mumbai and tried to break its glass window when he and his wife were on their way home in the early hours of Thursday, police said and added that both the attackers have been arrested. Law Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad sought action against those involved in the incident. 'Deeply condemn the violent physical attack on senior journalist #ArnabGoswami and his wife. State Police must take lawful action against the attackers,' he tweeted. There was no immediate reaction from the opposition party. Another senior BJP leader and Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar also condemned the incident. He said every attack on any journalist is condemnable as this is against democracy and sought action against the accused as per law. Several other BJP leaders also deplored the incident and took aims at the Congress. Goswami, the editor-in-chief and owner of Republic TV, said in a video posted after the incident that he was told by his security guards that the attackers were Youth Congress workers. There was no confirmation of the same by either police or the youth outfit. The journalist has invited sharp criticism from Congress leaders for his remarks aimed at their party president Sonia Gandhi during a TV discussion on the Palghar incident in which three persons, including two sadhus, were lynched. Senior Congress leaders, including chief ministers, slammed Goswami with the party's chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala alleging that it was 'deeply disgraceful that PM and BJP eulogise this brand of TV anchors'. How COVID-19 Will Affect 2020 Elections: Analysts Pandemic or not, the Nov. 3 general election will most likely happen as scheduled, political analysts tell The Epoch Timesbut the COVID-19 outbreak will continue to wreak havoc with the process and the campaigns. The uncertainties surrounding the pandemic and its economic fallout continue to change on a daily basis. As the election nears, voters will get a clearer picture not only of who will be on the ballot, but also where and how they will be able to vote. Two California-based analysts agreed during a joint interview that unless the number of deaths from the pandemic subsides significantly, mail-in ballots may be required. Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a retired public policy professor at the University of Southern California, and Tony Quinn, a senior editor at California Target Book, agreed that the constantly changing landscape is providing an opportunity for former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, to defeat President Donald Trumpif the election does takes place. Will the Election Take Place? Gee whiz, are we still going to have an election on November 3? How do we know? Jeffe asked. We just flat-out do not know. Anyone who says differently, is just whistling up the chimney, she said. This is a situationpolitically, economically, and sociallyunlike any other situation I have ever seen, she added. Quinn said, The real danger is that the whole thing comes back in the fall. When the weather cools in October, we could have another outbreak. It could all come right back. It could affect the November election, he said. Voters cast their ballots at a voting center in El Segundo, Calif., on March 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) Mail-in Ballots Both analysts say that mail-in ballots will be a likely necessity come Novemberbut many Californians already vote that way. According to the California Secretary of States website, about two-thirds of Californians voted by mail in 2018, and more than half in 2016. Now, due to the pandemic, Secretary of State Alex Padilla is pushing for an all-mail statewide election in November. And Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed an executive order requiring all eligible voters to be sent vote-by-mail ballots for a May 12 special election in two districts. Many Republicans, including the president, warn that more mail-in ballots could open the door to increased voter fraud. Certain citizen watchdog groups, such as Election Integrity Project California (EIPCa) and True the Vote, agree. EIPCa has pointed to officially acknowledged problems with voter registration lists in California, for example. It has found that more than 1 million ineligible people remain registered to vote in California. If Padillas plan goes into effect, ballots will be mailed to potentially ineligible voters, which will open the door to unlawful voting. The risk is increased because California law allows anyone to gather and deliver these ballots to the officials, EIPCa said in a March 16 statement. Quinn dismisses the notion that mail-in ballots are problematic. There is no greater risk of voter fraud from mail-in ballots than there is when votes are cast in person, he saidbecause the signature on each mail-in ballot must be matched with the signature on a voter registration form to be valid. The mail ballots have to be signed by the voter, Quinn said. The reason that it takes so long for the votes to be counted is that the counties have to verify every signature. Thats how it works. You have a fail-safe. Jeffe agreed that although there are always some instances of voter fraud, its not a widespread problem. No system is perfect, she said. But isnt the job of voting in democracy to allow the largest number possible to vote? While Jeffe previously told The Epoch Times she isnt a big fan of voting by mail, she said this year might be a first for her. Voter ID Whenever concerns about potential voter fraud surfaces, the question of whether voter ID should be required at the polls quickly follows. Quinn is in favor of voter ID. I think its constitutional and makes sense, he said. But he added that many Democrats are against the requirement, because they feel that some minority voters dont have proper identification. The Democrats have some view that minorities dont have ID. Well, thats just not true, Quinn said. Jeffe said she would want to find out more about any voter ID law before supporting it. Im a little uncomfortable, but I havent really formed an opinion on that, she said. I want to know how its done, why its done, and whats involved in it. If youre registered to vote, youre registered to vote. Thats all I care about. And they can check it. Trump Versus Biden Quinn and Jeffe agree that Biden will eventually take the nominationthough perhaps without a Democratic National Committee convention. While the convention is scheduled for August in Milwaukee, a virtual convention has not been ruled out, due to COVID-19 concerns. If the outbreak does force the gathering to be canceled, however, Quinn feels there may be unexpected benefits for Biden. Conventions are not healthy. They dont help the political parties, Quinn said. Progressive attendees and their platforms, such as Medicare for All, could distract from party unity, he said. You get all the screamers going to them. Frankly, the media gives them less and less coverage. Theyre just a big show, and sometimes the show gets out of hand. If Biden is going to win against Trump, he must get back to the middleto claw back the votes of working class Democrats in the industrial states that Hillary Clinton lost in 2016, Quinn added. Jeffe agreed, and predicted Trump could lose votes in the Midwest if the pandemic gets much worse in those states. Dont forget, the virus has now reached into Trump territorythe small towns, the rural areas, the middle of the country, she said. Its serious in South Dakota, Quinn added. He cited the recent closure of a Smithfield Foods Inc. meat processing plant in Sioux Falls. As of April 27, more than 800 workers at the plant, and 245 cases of contacts of Smithfield employees, had tested positive for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. Yet, while confirmed virus cases are spiking, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has yet to issue a statewide stay-at-home order. The governor wont shut it down, Jeffe said. How the Midwest governors handle the pandemic in their states could influence the election; if virus cases continue to spike and disrupt life in the heartland, it could spell trouble for the president. The most recent Real Clear Politics national average shows Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, leads Trump in the polls by 5.8 percentand both analysts agree that Biden has a better chance of winning the presidency. Even if Biden has nothing more to offer than peace and quiet, that might be enough, Quinn said. Hes going to be the nominee, unless he has a health problem or something, and wants to drop out, Quinn said. But if, by chance, Biden does unexpectedly end his campaign, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo could have a shot at the presidency, Jeffe said. If not, there is still a possibility he could be approached to become Bidens running mate. Both analysts agree that Bidens choice for running mate is crucial to the election, and could be impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Both feel the party would prefer a woman of color, but the way certain governors handle the outbreak in their states could impact their chances. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer might have been a strong choice before the pandemic, Quinn said. But she has lost popularity over what her critics have called an overreaction to the COVID-19 outbreak. Whitmer has kind of made a fool out of herself, with this latest order to ban travel in Michigan, Quinn said. Both Quinn and Jeffe predict the ongoing pandemic will hurt Trumps chances of reelection, citing recent national polls. I think were headed into a terrible depression, Quinn said. I mean, when Im reading on the economic stuff, its just going to be terrible. Its not gonna be a V-shaped [recovery]. He cited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention forecasts that the U.S. may face another round of COVID-19 outbreaks when the weather cools in the fall and another flu season begins. The economic impact is not going to end early. I think that theres a real possibility that Trump just kind of gets washed awaythat he cant do anything. And, if you take a look at the states right now, in every single state, Biden is aheadsignificantly in Pennsylvania and Michigan, Quinn added. Aicha Moussa from Nigeria and her two children were forced to flee previous violence in the Lake Chad and Sahel region. Here they stand outside their new "home" in a refugee camp in Chad. UNHCR/Aristophane Ngargoune UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is calling for greater protection for people caught up in violence resulting from an upsurge in military action against armed groups in West Africas Sahel and Lake Chad regions. Thousands of people have fled homes and villages on a daily basis since March 29 when security forces from Niger, Chad, Nigeria, Cameroon launched a military crackdown on armed groups in border regions responsible for attacks on civilians and members of those countries military forces. The safety of the displaced population and their host communities must be a priority for all sides involved in this conflict, said Aissatou Ndiaye, Deputy Director for UNHCRs Bureau for West and Central Africa. Too many civilians in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin have already paid a high price and should not be made to suffer more. Nearly 50,000 people, including thousands of women, children and the elderly, have been displaced in the region this year, including 25,000 when the Chadian army launched operation Wrath of Boma on the shores of Lake Chad, end of March with support from other countries military. Chadian authorities declared the departments of Fouli and Kaya an effective war zone. In addition, more than 4,000 people were displaced by clashes earlier this month in Nigers Tillaberi region while hundreds have crossed borders to seek safety in parts of Mali, themselves already insecure. Attacks and counter-attacks are constantly pushing populations living in the border areas into deeper misery and risk annihilating any advances in building their resilience, UNHCRs Ndiaye added. Another 6,000 people have also fled Niger to Mali joining at least 10,000 Malians displaced inside their own country by the unrest which has swept the entire Sahel region since January 2020. In Niger, UNHCR and partners have recorded 191 incidents with 549 victims in the first three months of 2020 in localities within 50 kilometres of the borders. These incidents include attacks, assassination, kidnapping, theft and extorsion as well as sexual and gender-based violence. UNHCR reminds governments of their international obligations and to uphold commitments made during high-level regional dialogues last year in Abuja and Bamako. States then reiterated pledges to protect civilians and avoid them becoming victims during any counter-terrorism operations. UNHCR remains ready to support their regional efforts to maintain the civilian and humanitarian nature of asylum and to facilitate humanitarian access. It continues to work with the authorities to identify a safe location to relocate people. Both the Sahel and Lake Chad have been facing armed conflicts and violence for many years. The humanitarian situation is extremely dire with limited access. Some 3.8 million are internally displaced across both regions and 270,000 have fled to neighbouring countries as refugees. For more information on this topic, please contact: The billionaire philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates have purchased an exquisite beach house outside San Diego-splashing out on $43 million for an oceanfront mansion in the coastal town of Del Mar, CA. The prodigious purchase price makes it one of the largest sales in the area's history. BEIJING (Reuters) - China and the United States should use the Phase 1 trade deal as an opportunity to strive to reduce uncertain factors in bilateral trade relations and avoid adopting new trade and investment restrictions, China's Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday. The two countries should meet each other half way, step up cooperation and manage their differences, which are key to reviving the global economy against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, ministry spokesman Gao Feng told a press conference. Reuters reported earlier in the day that China is preparing to buy more than 30 million tonnes of crops for state stockpiles to help protect itself from supply chain disruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic and make good on pledges to buy more U.S. crops. (Reporting by Xu Jing, Stella Qiu and Se Young Lee; Editing by Toby Chopra) Vice Mayor Ruth Jeno presided over her first Red Bank Commission meeting in the role of acting mayor on Tuesday night. She will be replacing Eddie Pierce who is no longer eligible to serve as mayor after moving out of the city. The meeting was also the first held since March 3 when the Covid-19 pandemic was recognized. To address how the city can function during a time of a declared emergency such as the present, the commissioners passed an amendment to the Red Bank personnel ordinance. The amendment adopted a system of policies that gives the city manager discretionary authority to make determinations for implementing, revising or changing personnel policies to maintain social distancing and at the same time provide essential services and government functions. This amendment gives a written policy for the functions that City Manager Tim Thornbury has been implementing since the pandemic began. The citys sign ordinance was also amended Tuesday night regarding content-based restrictions. Due to court decisions addressing signs, content that was previously restricted and/or not allowed, is no longer valid or enforceable. The city manager was given authorization to submit an application for the Governors Local Government Support Grant for the amount of $289,635. If received, the grant would provide 100 percent funded support for roadway repairs and paving improvements. An agreement with Johnson, Murphy and Wright to perform the annual audit of the city was approved in the amount of $33,275. Resolutions were passed at the council meeting which authorizes signors for bank signature cards with First Horizon Bank. No less than two signatures are required, one being an elected official. A resolution also authorized signors for bank executions and withdrawals from the Drug Fund Confidential Account. No less than two officers are required, including one elected official. In his report, the city manager said the question most asked is when the city will re-open. He told the commissioners that Red Bank will follow the guidance from Tennessee Governor Bill Lee and Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger. This will include when to open parks and playgrounds while maintaining social distancing. He said when Governor Lees orders and restrictions are known, there will be a press release from Red Bank to inform citizens. Acting Mayor Jeno said the last few weeks have been challenging, but that Red Bank has dedicated employees in all departments who have done a great job. She thanked City Manager Thornbury and Recorder Ruthie Rohen, who she said have gone beyond the call of duty to maintain communications and run the city. She also praised the Red Bank Community Food Pantry which has fed 250 families during April. "The pantry provides an amazing service to our community," she said. The days that food is distributed are the first Thursday of each month from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. and the third Thursday of the month when it is open from 5 to 7 p.m. She said that $10 will buy 30 pounds of food for the pantry. Donations can be mailed to the Red Bank Methodist Church or given through www.redbankfoodpantry.org Struggling to restore normalcy in the United States where the coronavirus has claimed the lives of more than 47,000 people and infected over 8,52,000, President Donald Trump has said that the country was "attacked". IMAGE: US President Donald Trump addresses the daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House in Washington, DC. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters "We were attacked. This was an attack. This wasn't just the flu by the way. Nobody has ever seen anything like this, 1917 was the last time," Trump told reporters at his daily White House news conference on Wednesday. He was responding to a question about the growing US national debt as a result of the multi-trillion dollars stimulus packages that his administration has come up with to help people and businesses in distress as a direct fallout of the pandemic. "We have no choice. Do we have a choice? I'm always concerned about everything. We had to fix this problem," he said. "We had the greatest economy in the history of the world... Better than China, better than any place," he said. "We built it in the last three years and then one day, they came and they said you have to close it. Now, we're going to open it again and we're going to be just as strong or stronger but you have to spend some money to get it back open," he said. We saved our airlines. We saved numerous companies that are great companies that two months ago were having the best year they've ever had. Now all of a sudden, they're totally shut out of markets, he added. Trump said the number of new positive cases continue to decline nationwide. "Recent hotspots appear to be stabilising. They are going in the right direction. Cases in the Boston area are now declining. The Chicago curve appears to have flattened, which is terrific... Detroit has passed its peak," he said. "These trends demonstrate that our aggressive strategy to battle the virus is working and that more states will soon be in a position to gradually and safely reopen. That's very exciting, he asserted. Trump said his administration is working closely with governors to ensure that they have the testing infrastructure in place to reduce further spread of the virus if they're so inclined to use the testing apparatus, including strategies for older individuals, low income Americans, minorities, and Native Americans. I'll not rest until that prosperity has been fully restored. I really believe that we're going to lift those numbers higher than ever before, and it will be as long as people might think," he said. "A lot of very smart people are looking at that and they're betting. You just have to look at what's going on with the stock market, he added. The administration so far has directed more than USD 7 billion in federal funding to support the development of treatments, diagnostics, and therapies. The FDA, the NIH, and industry leaders are establishing master clinical trial protocols to test multiple promising new drugs at the same time. More than 1600 locations across the country have signed up to administer convalescent plasma to patients, infusing them with antibodies of those who have recovered, he added. Militants massacre 52 villagers in northern Mozambique Iran Press TV Wednesday, 22 April 2020 10:55 AM Militants have killed 52 villagers in northern Mozambique who refused to be recruited to their ranks. The massacre took place on April 7 in the village of Xitaxi in the Muidumbe district of Cabo Delgado Province, home to multi-billion-dollar gas projects led by foreign companies such as Total. "The young men were about to be recruited but they resisted, which provoked the ire of the bandits, who killed the 52 indiscriminately," police spokesman Orlando Modumane said on Tuesday. Modumane said most of the victims had been either shot dead or beheaded, adding that a manhunt had been launched for the attackers. Militants have in recent weeks stepped up attacks in the gas-rich province, targeting towns, villages, or government buildings. For more than two years, the militants have mainly targeted isolated villages, killing more than 900 people, according to the US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED). The unrest has forced hundreds of thousands of locals to flee the troubled province. Cabo Delgado, expected to become the center of a natural gas industry after several promising discoveries, has seen a string of assaults on security forces and civilians. In 2017, the government announced plans to build a commercial port in Cabo Delgado. Attacks have prompted security concerns for investors in Mozambique, one of the world's poorest countries. NGOs say the government must do more to protect the mostly poor civilians in the area. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 19:52:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KABUL, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Fighting in Afghanistan has intensified as dozens of fighters with majority of them militants have been killed over the past 24 hours, amid efforts to broker ceasefire and find peaceful solution to the country's protracted conflict, officials said Thursday. In the latest showdown, 10 militants were killed and eight others wounded as fighting broke out in Dasht-e-Archi district of the northern Kunduz province on Thursday, provincial police spokesman Hujratullah Akbari said. However, Akbari admitted that four security personnel including army and police had been killed and three others wounded in the neighboring Qala-e-Zal district on the same day. Similarly, fighting between government forces and the Taliban militants have left 11 dead including seven insurgents and four police personnel in the southern Uruzgan province since Wednesday, provincial government spokesman Zulgai Ebadi said Thursday. About 20 others including five police sustained injuries as fighting broke out outside provincial capital Tirin Kot, the official asserted. A total of 19 others including two soldiers have been killed in the northern Takhar, southern Kandahar and eastern Ghazni province over the past 24 hours, according to security officials. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid has confirmed the fighting, claiming dozens of government forces have been killed over the period elsewhere in the country. Afghan observers believed that fighting in Afghanistan would further increase amid efforts to initiate intra-Afghan dialogue and facilitate Taliban-government direct talks. "Usually fighting gets momentum in Afghanistan with the herald of spring when the weather gets warm, but this year is different as efforts are underway to facilitate Taliban-government direct talks to end the war in the country," local analyst Khan Mohammad Daneshjo told Xinhua. The expert opined that the "Taliban would do its best to gain more ground" in order to talk from a strong position in the expected dialogue with government. Exchange of 5,000 Taliban prisoners with 1,000 Afghan government forces as a precondition for initiating intra-Afghan dialogue is part of the U.S.-Taliban peace deal inked in late February to end the war in Afghanistan and withdraw thousands of the U.S.-led coalition forces from the country. The Afghan government has set free 361 detainees, according to Javid Faisal, the spokesman for National Security Council; while the Taliban outfit has released 60 detainees with majority of them civilians. The government of Afghanistan has linked the release of 5,000 Taliban inmates to observing ceasefire ahead of intra-Afghan dialogue, but the armed group has rejected the condition. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) While some health experts see a flattening of the coronavirus curve in the Philippines, the health department says it is still too early to say. Nakakaflatten na tayo ng curve? Too early to say. Hindi pa natin masabi with all the things that we are doing, wala pa tayo sa punto na makapag sabi that we have already flattened the curve, says Health Department spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire. [Translation: Have we flattened the curve? Too early to say. With all the things we are doing, we are not yet at the point where we can tell if we have already flattened the curve.] But she told reporters in a video conference on Thursday, the now slower reproduction time of the virus is a good indication that the COVID-19 cases are staring to plataeu. At the beginning of the outbreak, the number of infections doubled in three days. The case doubling time is now five days, Vergeire said. Sinabi ni [Secretary Duque] nagplateau kasi for the past days medyo nagtretrend tayo ng ganitong numero lang, hindi nagspike pataas," she said. [Translation: Secretary Duque said there is a plateau because for the past days, the recorded new cases are around the same number, and there is no spike.] At sabi nga ng mga eksperto kung magkakadoubling time na 30 days and more talagang sinasabi na nating we are on to that direction of flattening the curve, pero matagal pa tayo dun. [Translation: Experts said that if the doubling time becomes 30 days and more, we can really say that we are on to that direction of flattening the curve, but that will take a while.] Special assistant to the health secretary Beverly Ho explained that they are so careful about categorically saying that the curve has been flattened because the Department of Health is still facing limitations. Among these is the data that are coming in from hospitals, regional epidemiological surveillance units and hospitals. The number of new cases including the deaths and recoveries is still not real-time. Some of the reports on cases are not transmitted to the DOH immediately, while some have yet to be verified. This is why the official coronavirus case tally announced by the Health Department everyday is sometimes different from the numbers presented by officials in localities. Vergeire said that they need to present accurate information to make appropriate recommendations to the President. That includes data on the reproduction time of the virus, as well as updates about the expanded mass testing and the current health care capacity. But there have been no further reports of any public activities by Kim Jong-un or any fresh pictures of the leader in the North Korean state media that would normally be published to dispel such rumors. Fox News quoted a U.S. intelligence source as saying that the American government has "extensive contingency plans" to deal with Kim's possible death, while Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun said Kim's younger sister Yo-jong is ready to assume power in an emergency. North Korea remains silent on rumors that leader Kim Jong-un is dangerously ill, giving rise to even more frantic speculation among pundits. The official [North] Korean Central News Agency on Wednesday reported that Kim replied to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who had written to Kim on his late grandfather's birthday last week. But it published no new pictures of Kim, who was conspicuously absent from the annual annual ceremonial event, to go with the story. South Korea has denied reports in the Daily NK website and other media that Kim is at death's door after emergency cardiovascular surgery. Cheong Wa Dae earlier said it believes Kim to be staying in Wonsan in the east. U.S. President Donald Trump also denied any privileged knowledge of Kim's health but added he wishes him well. A top U.S. military official said he assumes that Kim is still in full control of his country's armed forces. "I assume that [Kim] is still in full control of the [North] Korean nuclear forces and the [North] Korean military forces," said Joint Chiefs of Staff Vice Chairman Gen. John Hyten in a Pentagon press briefing Wednesday. But Yoon Sang-hyun, the head of the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee, said it is "unusual" for North Korea not to issue a response so far. U.S. and South Korean intelligence rely on spy satellites, electronic eavesdropping and human intelligence for news of Kim, which seems to be the basis of Cheong Wa Dae's comments. But Cheong Wa Dae does not appear to have any more insight. One intelligence source said, "We've been trying to contact the North, but I believe such efforts were unsuccessful." Several RC-135W (Rivet Joint) reconnaissance aircraft flew over the Korean Peninsula on Wednesday to get a glimpse of intelligence on North Korea. She added: Is it triggered by pure hatred of Trump? Of Fox? Of me? (Ms. Ingraham prefaced her remarks by reminding viewers: Im not a doctor; I dont play one on TV.) Since mid-March, hydroxychloroquine has been a staple of the right-wing news media venues that Mr. Trump follows closely, including Rush Limbaughs radio show and Fox News prime time. Ms. Ingraham was an early and enthusiastic advocate. On April 2, she told her viewers that nearly all the experts that Ive talked to, and the studies Ive read, review this information, the evidence, and at this point, its come across as pretty much of a game changer. The next day, she met with Mr. Trump in the Oval Office to personally pitch him on the drug. Doctors around the country have prescribed hydroxychloroquine to patients for weeks despite the lack of rigorous trials. Some physicians say, given the speed and severity of the coronavirus, they are turning to any medicinal tools they can to save lives, even as little evidence has emerged that hydroxychloroquine is a panacea. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York has allowed that, anecdotally, doctors have seen positive results from the treatment, while reminding people that reliable data may take months to collect. On Fox News, though, Ms. Ingraham acknowledged those caveats in passing, leaving an impression that a skeptical bureaucracy was keeping Americans from benefiting from a miracle drug. On April 9, she began her program by mocking the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Robert Redfield, for essentially dismissing, trashing hydroxychloroquine despite all of its success stories. She told viewers that the doctors booked on her program that night my medicine cabinet would set the record straight. (Fox News said on Wednesday that Ms. Ingrahams segments about hydroxychloroquine always included a doctor or recovered coronavirus patient.) Later on the show, she interviewed a patient, Billy Saracino, who, by his account, recovered from the coronavirus because his wife was inspired by The Ingraham Angle to help arrange a prescription for hydroxychloroquine. The US Navy's hospital ship Comfort will be returned after the vessel only treated 179 patients in three weeks. The ship is going back to the Navy after the city's demand for hospital beds did not reach levels that had been projected during the coronavirus pandemic. The Comfort also was unable to live up to its billing because of red tape that limited the ship's capacity for serving as an overflow medical facility for non-coronavirus patients. Following outcry from health executives, including Michael Dowling, the head of Northwell Health, New York's largest hospital system, the ship's mission was refocused to treatment of COVID-19. The US Navy's hospital ship Comfort will be returned to its Norfolk, Virginia, port after serving as a medical facility for patients infected with the coronavirus in New York City since March 30 US Navy Commander Nelle Linz prepares to enter an intensive care unit on board the Navy's hospital ship Comfort earlier this month. The ship has only treated 179 patients in the three weeks since it was sent to New York City and is now being returned to the Navy Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who told President Trump he could have the ship back during his White House visit on Tuesday, expressed confidence that stresses on the hospital system are easing. Despite concerns, makeshift hospitals, including the one set up in Manhattan's Jacob Javitz Convention Center, were able to provide enough beds during the outbreak, reports Business Insider. Trump, offering a slightly different version of the conversation with Cuomo, said he was the one to ask for the Comfort back. 'We could bring the Comfort back to its base in Virginia so that we could have it in other locations,' detailing what he said he told New York's governor. So far, New York City has had 138,345 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, which as been blamed for 9,944 confirmed deaths. Across the US, there have been 871,818 confirmed cases and more than 49,000 deaths. So far, New York City has had 138,345 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, which as been blamed for 9,944 confirmed deaths Across the US, there have been 871,818 confirmed cases and more than 49,000 deaths The Comfort had steamed into New York Harbor to cheers and applause on March 30, and was viewed by many New Yorkers as long overdue help from the federal government. It was intended as an overflow hospital for the city's strained health system, and officials said from the outset that it would provide 1,000 beds for non-coronavirus patients. Its hesitation in accepting COVID-19 patients was that it would be a complex operation to disinfect the ship once the pandemic was over. Gov. Andrew Cuomo , who told President Trump he could have the ship back during his White House visit on Tuesday, expressed confidence that stresses on the hospital system are easing. The governor is pictured when the Comfort arrived in New York on March 30 US Navy Sailors prepare to transport a patient arriving for medical treatment from an ambulance onto the Navy's hospital ship Comfort But shortly after arriving, Nothwell's Dowling slammed the 'ridiculous' red-tape for getting treatment. Only four patients had been treated on the vessel in the four days following its arrival. Dowling and other health executives said it was 'a joke' the ship was not being put to use to house COVID-19 patients. 'Everyone can say, "Thank you for putting up these wonderful places and opening up these cavernous halls," said Michael Dowling, the head of Northwell Health, New York's largest hospital system at the time. A look at how the number of new coronavirus cases has escalated over time A look at how the number of new coronavirus infections has escalated over time A day-to-day look at the number of deaths which have been attributed to the coronavirus 'But we're in a crisis here, we're in a battlefield,' he told The New York Times. Trump, at Cuomo's request, later authorized changing the ship's original mission as an overflow hospital for non-coronavirus patients to also treat patients with the deadly virus. Cuomo said after meeting with the president this week that the Comfort was helpful, but could now be sent elsewhere. The governor said having the ship had been worthwhile, even as the need for it didn't reach the levels that had been projected. 'I believe Comfort not only brought comfort but also saved lives,' Cuomo said. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said the success of the ongoing lockdown restrictions would be judged on the countrys ability to tackle coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak. Singh made the remark while addressing the Congress Working Committee (CWC) through video-conferencing, while highlighting the key to success in the combat against Covid-19 would be the cooperation between the Centre and states. It is necessary to focus on a number of issues in this fight and that will depend upon the availability of resources, added Singh. Coronavirus outbreak: Full coverage Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the issue of migrant workers needs to be addressed on a priority basis. Lockdown is a pause button. As a nation, we need to think of a transition from a complete lockdown to lockdown only in hotspots and commencement of activities in green zones, he added. Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh said the Centre was yet to release Rs 4,400 crore of Goods and Service Tax (GST) dues. In place of 100,000 rapid testing kits, weve received only 10,000 and that too of Chinese make. Their authenticity is yet to be tested, he added. His Rajasthan counterpart Ashok Gehlot said his government had repeatedly emphasised the need for rapid testing but unfortunately the test kits turned out to be below par. There is an urgent need for centralised procurement of kits and ventilators in a bid to assure their availability, quality, and quantity. We gave an advance pension to 80 lakh pensioners. We transferred Rs 2,500 each among the poor and destitute. Were also distributing 10 kilograms of wheat to each household, he added. Gehlot said the fight against Covid-19 could never be won unless the Centre provides financial support to states. Normalcy cant be restored even after lockdown restrictions are lifted till the Centre announces a comprehensive financial package for states, he added. Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said out of 36 Covid-19 positive cases in his state, all but eight have recovered. Weve given rations for two months (April-May) ration of 35 kilograms free to 56 lakh families (2.44 crore people). Well provide free ration for June as well. The 35-kg free ration includes rice, gram, jaggery, and salt, he said. Baghel expressed concern about students and migrant labourers from Chhattisgarh, who are still stuck in other states because of the ongoing lockdown restrictions. There needs to be a policy by the central government for the return of migrant workers and students. Unfortunately, the Centre is silent on this, he added. Baghel also demanded financial assistance from the Centre. How will we win the fight against Covid-19 unless the Centre gives us financial aid? he said. Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy said his government has given Rs 2,000 to every household, Rs 5,000 to every farmer, additional Rs 2,000 to every construction worker, and Rs 10,000 to every woman self-help groups from its own kitty. The Centre hasnt given the Rs 600 crore of GST compensation and Rs 2,200 crore of the finance commissions share to us. It hasnt given any assistance to us. How will a state survive in times of crisis? Were not enemies. Weve to act and work together, he added. Senior leader Ahmed Patel said the conditions to fight Covid-19 were not satisfactory. The Centre needs to find solutions to the financial crisis being faced by all states. Our doctors and health workers are also facing several challenges, he added. Former finance minister P Chidambaram said the finances of states were in dire straits and they need urgent assistance. The health infrastructure also needs to be addressed and a humane policy formulated for the return of migrant workers, he added. Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said crude oil prices have fallen to rock bottom yet the Centre refuses to give any relief to the common man. The Congress must aggressively take up the issue, he said. Former defence minister AK Antony said, Its our responsibility to act as watchdogs and ensure course correction. A large number of Indians are stuck abroad. They must be permitted to return home after they undergo tests. State governments must be consulted and special flights arranged to evacuate them. Why isnt the Centre doing so? he asked. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra said compassion is the key to fight the pandemic. There should be no hostility towards Covid-19 patients. We need to permit migrant workers to return to their homes after they undergo tests and take due precautions, she said. Israels new national emergency government was established not to defeat COVID-19, but to keep Netanyahu out of prison. Akiva Eldar is an Israeli author and was formerly an editorial writer and columnist for Haaretz. Unlike the Holocaust, this time we identified the danger in time, Israels interim (for now) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on April 20, patting himself on the shoulder in a recorded statement marking Holocaust Remembrance Day. We made important decisions, such as closing off the borders, Netanyahu continued, reading to the camera. We mobilised all the systems of the state for the war against the corona. Netanyahus distorted exploitation of this memorial day for the six million Jews slaughtered by the Nazis in order to boast of his supposedly early detection powers is somewhat reminiscent of his revelation in 2015 that the Mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, was the one who dreamed up the plan to exterminate the Jewish people. It is highly doubtful that Netanyahu presciently identified the coronavirus threat, but he undoubtedly identified its potential to be a vaccine against his personal ruin by a move from the prime ministers office to a jail cell. The official name of this vaccine is national emergency government. But the more appropriate title for this government, whose guidelines and composition were finalised and inked on April 20, would be personal salvation government. Shortly after his Holocaust speech to the nation was aired, Netanyahu signed a 14-page power-sharing agreement with his chief political rival, Blue and White alliance leader Benny Gantz, that establishes Israels most bloated government ever with 36 cabinet posts and 16 deputy ministers. Under the deal, Netanyahu will serve as prime minister through the first 18 months of the three-year term, with Gantz serving in the newly created position of alternate prime minister. Netanyahu will hand power to Gantz once his time is up, and serve as alternate PM for the second half of the term. I promised the people of Israel a national emergency government that would save lives and livelihoods, Netanyahu wrote on his Facebook page. I will continue doing everything for your sake, citizens of Israel. The power-sharing agreement was signed after weeks of intense negotiations. But the issue that held up the signing of the document was not related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the apartheid regime in the West Band and the blockade on Gaza. The only hint of the chronic disease known as the occupation in the document is to be found in the section relating to US President Donald Trumps plan for Israeli-Palestinian peace, which stipulates that as of July 1 of this year, the prime minister could ask the government and Knesset to approve the agreement reached with the US under the Trump blueprint on imposing sovereignty over Israeli settlements in the West Bank. According to the deal, Gantz will also be invited to take part in consultations with the prime minister on this paragraph in the agreement, which practically spells the demise of the two-state solution. The issue that held up agreement between the two sides was also not related to the official raison detre for an emergency government easing the coronavirus crisis. In fact, the deal barely mentions the matter, but it does leave the incumbent Health Minister, Yaakov Litzman, in place even as it entails job changes or demotions for most other current coalition ministers. This is the man who could not even enunciate the word corona at the start of the crisis, who himself contracted the disease when he prayed in a group in contravention of his own ministrys instructions and has spent most of his time since the start of the pandemic advancing the interests of his ultra-Orthodox constituency. With Litzman staying in his post, Netanyahu will continue to run the ministry de facto as he has been doing so far. He will also replace the head of the Knessets special corona crisis committee with one of his loyalists, making it easier for him to whitewash the many failures of his government in dealing with the epidemic that have already been exposed. Should an inquiry commission be established to examine the states handling of the crisis, it will find grist for its work in the interim report issued on April 7 by the Knesset oversight committee chaired at the time by opposition Knesset member Ofer Shelach. The report found, inter alia, that the social and health repercussions of the economic chokehold imposed by the government had already become as real and great a threat as the virus. The political price for these harsh economic and social repercussions will now be divided equally among all the partners of the new coalition government. The signing of the agreement was held up because of an article that relates only to one single Israeli whose trial on corruption charges is set to open on May 24 and sets a dispensation for him, unprecedented in Israels political history. Its convoluted language essentially stipulates that should circumstances, such as a Supreme Court ruling, for example, prevent Netanyahu and/or Gantz from serving as prime minister and alternate prime minister, the Likud and Blue and White parties would not propose anyone else for these posts and instead jointly disband the Knesset and schedule new elections. Had Netanyahu not adamantly refused to step down after being indicted on charges of bribery, Israel would not have found itself dragged into three back to back, inconclusive elections within the past year and threatened with a looming fourth election unless an agreement was reached on a new government. From the start, the Blue and White leadership made clear its preference for a unity government with the Likud. Its key, if not sole condition, was Netanyahus replacement by another member of his Likud party. Had he truly been willing to do everything in his power for the sake of Israels citizens, as he declared in his Holocaust memorial speech this week, Israel would not have needed an emergency government. All he had to do was step down, even temporarily, and spend his time wisely convincing the courts of his innocence. The cowardice of other top Likud figures left Gantz and his friends between a rock and a hard place. They were forced to choose between joining a Netanyahu-led government, against the wishes of a majority of voters who gave Gantz and his bloc a Knesset majority of 62 seats, and lending a hand to fourth elections under the shadow of a deep economic and social crisis. The decision by Blue and White and its Labor party allies to ignore their main campaign pledge of not entering into a coalition government with Netanyahu is expected to shorten their political life span. They will have a hard time convincing voters that they had no choice but to partner with Netanyahu in a government of more than 40 ministers and deputy ministers simply to deal with the epidemic. The ball is now with the Supreme Court, which has been presented with several petitions asking it to void the coalition deal, among them an appeal by dozens of former security officials, academics and business people against the appointment of a prime minister under indictment. In a letter to Netanyahu published on April 20 in Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the Knessets former legal adviser and attorney Nurit Elstein wrote, The court could decide that youre not fit to be prime minister in light of your corruption indictments involving violations of integrity, or more specifically, moral turpitude No legal model will provide you with complete protection or, as long as Israel is a democracy, grant legitimacy to a matter thats fundamentally crooked. Given the make-up of the designated government and its guidelines, the emphasis should be placed on the words as long. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. By Alex Lawler and Ahmad Ghaddar LONDON (Reuters) - Whether or not OPEC+ oil producers formally agree to extra oil output curbs, rapidly filling storage capacity and plummeting demand due to the coronavirus crisis may force them to cut more. With crude consumption collapsing, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other producers, a group known as OPEC+, is due to implement a deal to cut supply by a record 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd) from May 1. But that unprecedented deal to withdraw about 10% of global supply already looks inadequate when demand has plunged by as much as 30% and the world is possibly just weeks away from running out of storage space for the surplus By Alex Lawler and Ahmad Ghaddar LONDON (Reuters) - Whether or not OPEC+ oil producers formally agree to extra oil output curbs, rapidly filling storage capacity and plummeting demand due to the coronavirus crisis may force them to cut more. With crude consumption collapsing, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and other producers, a group known as OPEC+, is due to implement a deal to cut supply by a record 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd) from May 1. But that unprecedented deal to withdraw about 10% of global supply already looks inadequate when demand has plunged by as much as 30% and the world is possibly just weeks away from running out of storage space for the surplus. Vopak, the world's biggest independent storage company, said on Tuesday its tanks were almost full. Tanks at Cushing, the delivery point for the U.S. crude futures contract, might not yet be full but any available space was already booked, analysts and traders said. "We have to cut down, ... with or without OPEC output cut deal," Mele Kyari, the head of Nigeria's state-owned oil firm NNPC Group, told the African nation's Premium Times newspaper. He said Nigeria would have to cut production because it was hard to find anywhere to put the oil. An OPEC source told Reuters it was "logical" to expect the market to force more cuts on OPEC+ producers. As much as 17 million bpd of supply could be taken out of the market this spring, estimated Jim Burkhard at IHS Markit, a research firm, due to production cuts and other shutdowns. However, Woodmac expects supplies to drop more slowly, saying compliance with the OPEC+ cuts would not be immediate. The consultancy forecast oil output in May and June would decline by 6.71 million bpd, of which 4.5 million bpd would come from OPEC+. Energy Aspects expects imminent shut-ins in the United States to amount to at least 1.3 million bpd, in addition to cutbacks already announced by the United States this month when OPEC+ was working on its deal. 'UNCHARTED TERRITORY' "The deep contango will now compel oil producers to reduce output immediately, financially and logistically," Energy Aspects wrote, referring to a market structure where spot prices are lower than prices for oil delivered at a later date - which usually encourages storage unless there is no space left. The consultancy forecast U.S. production would decline by 710,000 bpd year on year in 2020. "We are in uncharted territory. Everything is possible, including the unbelievable," an OPEC+ source said on whether members of the group could be forced to make even deeper cuts. Rystad Energy's analyst Christopher Page estimated about 400 million barrels of crude storage capacity remained available, much of it in the United States, while stocks were building at a rate of 26.5 million bpd in April. If that rate holds, it could exhaust global storage capacity in a little more than two weeks. "While the OPEC cuts will help, they are limited, and the global storage availability picture now looks grim for June," Page said. Meanwhile, OPEC is already looking at further steps, less than two weeks since forging its last deal. Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday it was ready to take extra measures along with OPEC+ allies and other oil producers, and Iraq echoed that position, although Russia was more cautious. But there are already signs of producers around the world being forced to take action for economic reasons. EnQuest last month became the first British producer to shut North Sea fields in the wake of the price slump. "Once all available storage capacity is utilised physical shut-ins will be required to balance the market," said Redburn Energy in a report. "This may have to happen rapidly." (Additional reporting by Libby George and Dmitri Zhdannikov; Editing by Edmund Blair) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. An employee watches monitors at Hyundai Mobis' test site in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province, Wednesday. / Courtesy of Hyundai Mobis By Kim Jae-heun Hyundai Mobis has come up with support measures to help its dealers which have been struck hard by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. For the month of April, Hyundai Mobis will provide discounts on car parts for 1,134 dealers across the nation. This is expected to reduce costs by about 3 million won ($2,432) per shop. The car parts maker will also extend this month's payment due date by three months at the dealers' request. Many of them are short of cash due to a decrease in sales along with delays in payments from clients. In addition, the company's employees have come up with a fundraiser to aid medical teams fighting COVID-19. Since March 26, Hyundai Mobis employees have raised about 75 million won ($60,861) to support medical staff fighting to overcome the virus nationwide. The company chipped in the same amount to raise 150 million won to donate to Medipeace, a nonprofit organization. The company said the money will be used to purchase medical supplies including protective clothing, masks and food packs for workers on isolation wards and in intensive care units. The program was started at the suggestion of an employee on the company's online community "konggam," meaning "empathy" in Korean. The suggestion received positive feedback and many joined the effort. The company also joined the program and helped select the charity to receive the donation. In addition, Hyundai Mobis will provide 5,000 hand sanitizers to car parts dealers nationwide. Meanwhile, under the title, "Safe and healthy workplace," Hyundai Mobis has been offering a work-from-home system since last month. Half of the employees at headquarters and research centers have been working from home every other day to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Pregnant employees have been working from home, and those with children under seven years old were recommended to take family vacations. Hyundai Mobis has established long-term self-regulating safety and health measures to be included within the company culture. It is also holding regular simulation exercises to better prepare for diverse emergency situations, allowing the company to make quick decisions through a simplified reporting system. The emergencies include fire and safety accidents. We are very excited to welcome Earl Fender to the Nalu team. I cannot think of a stronger person to lead Nalu as it enters its full commercialization and growth phase than Earl. He brings over 30 years of successful experience in building and leading medical technology companies. Nalu Medical, Inc. (Nalu"), a global medical device company that provides miniaturized, battery-free implantable solutions for the treatment of chronic pain in Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) and Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS), announced today that Earl R. Fender has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors. Mr. Fender succeeds Keegan Harper, who has stepped down as CEO but will remain as Chairman of the Board. We are very excited to welcome Earl Fender to the Nalu team, said Mr. Harper. I cannot think of a stronger person to lead Nalu as it enters its full commercialization and growth phase than Earl. He brings over 30 years of successful experience in building and leading medical technology companies. For the last 12-years, he worked in the chronic pain space as the CEO of Vertiflex, Inc., which was acquired by Boston Scientific in June 2019. He brings a wealth of experience in building industry-leading, high growth companies and I am excited to have him join the Nalu team. I am very excited and proud to join Nalus illustrious team who has developed such differentiated technology to positively impact the lives of patients in the U.S. and abroad, said Mr. Fender. The uniquely miniaturized, battery-free and easily upgradable Nalu implantable pulse generator system will help expand patient acceptance in both spinal cord and peripheral nerve stimulation. Mr. Fender added, "The Board thanks Keegan for his years of dedicated service to Nalu since founding the Company in 2014. As Nalu's co-founder and CEO, Keegan built a strong team, developed a sophisticated product in record time, launched a successful first in human study in Australia, received FDA clearance in SCS and PNS, received CE mark approval, and completed a successful limited clinical launch in the U.S. We look forward to his continued leadership as Nalus Chairman. About the Nalu Neurostimulation System The Nalu neurostimulation system is a battery-free, micro-implantable pulse generator (iPG) currently cleared by the FDA for both Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) and Peripheral Nerve Stimulation (PNS) for mitigating chronic pain. The system is highly capable and easily upgradeable, providing a menu of therapy options. To learn more, please visit http://www.nalumed.com. About Nalu Medical Nalu Medical, Inc. is a privately held early-stage medical device start-up company based in Carlsbad, California. The team of seasoned entrepreneurs, engineers and scientists are developing the next generation of medical devices to address a number of poorly treated clinical conditions. Nalu Medicals vision is to modernize and enhance medical device technology to improve peoples lives. LONDON and PHILADELPHIA, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Clarivate Analytics plc (NYSE: CCC) ("Clarivate"), was scheduled to hold its 2020 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders ("AGM") at 2:00 p.m. BST on Thursday, May 7, 2020, at Hotel Sofitel London St. James, 6 Waterloo Place, St. James's, London SW1Y 4AN, United Kingdom. However, as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, UK authorities have issued stay-at-home orders that restrict public gatherings of more than two people. In order to do our part to assist in protecting the health and well-being of our shareholders and employees, Clarivate will adhere to all government and public health authority guidance to limit the spread of COVID-19. As a result, Clarivate has decided to make the following changes to the logistics for the AGM: We are not permitted to hold a virtual-only AGM under the terms of our governing documents, and therefore, we currently plan to hold the AGM at 2 Sydney Terrace, The Green, Claygate, Surrey KT10 0JJ, United Kingdom . However, in order to comply with the stay-at-home orders and public health directives, shareholders will not be permitted to attend the AGM, and anyone seeking to attend the meeting in person will be refused entry. KT10 0JJ, . However, in order to comply with the stay-at-home orders and public health directives, shareholders will not be permitted to attend the AGM, and anyone seeking to attend the meeting in person will be refused entry. In order to keep in-person AGM attendance to the bare minimum and observe proper social distancing measures for the small number of people required to attend, our advisers and other guests have also been asked not to attend. Shareholders are strongly encouraged to vote and submit their proxy by internet, by email or by signing and returning the proxy card that was included in the Notice of Annual General Meeting sent to shareholders on April 10, 2020 . . Shareholders may listen to the meeting through our webcast or conference call. However, participation through these means will not constitute formal attendance at the AGM. Our broadcast will begin at 2:00 p.m. BST on Thursday , May 7, 2020 and shareholders may join via: Event address for attendees: https://clarivatewebinars.webex.com/clarivatewebinars/onstage/g.php?MTID=ed40088458d1750607651d643a993c8fa Event number: 667 453 471 Event password: clarivate2020 Audio conference: To receive a call back, provide your phone number when you join the event, or call the number below and enter the access code. US Toll +1-415-655-0001 Show all global call-in numbers Access code: 667 453 471 The Company values the views of its shareholders, and any shareholder wishing to submit a question in connection with the AGM may do so by emailing [email protected] . While we may not be able to address your questions during the AGM, we will respond promptly. Clarivate is actively monitoring the evolving COVID-19 coronavirus situation. If we determine further changes to any of the logistics for the Annual General Meeting are necessary due to developments relating to the COVID-19 coronavirus or otherwise, we will provide notice to shareholders through a press release and the filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K. About Clarivate Clarivate is a global leader in providing trusted insights and analytics to accelerate the pace of innovation. We have built some of the most trusted brands across the innovation lifecycle, including the Web of Science, Cortellis, Derwent, CompuMark, MarkMonitor and Techstreet. Today, Clarivate Analytics is on a bold entrepreneurial mission to help customers reduce the time from new ideas to life-changing innovations. For more information, please visit clarivate.com. SOURCE Clarivate Analytics Related Links https://clarivate.com/ Airbus has put six jets made for one of its largest customers up for sale after giving up on Malaysia's AirAsia taking delivery of them, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The unusual move is a sign of the deepening crisis in the aviation industry caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which some analysts warn could lead to a fire-sale of unwanted planes. Like other airlines looking to save cash amid lockdowns and travel bans that have crippled their business, AirAsia has said it doesn't need any more aircraft this year. Manufacturers usually insist an airline takes delivery of jets that have been built while showing flexibility on delivery dates of planes yet to be produced, especially for top clients. Although "pop-up" sales of unwanted aircraft are not new, they rarely involve high-profile customers and typically include the manufacturer keeping the deposit, the sources said. Airbus declined to comment on whether it had done so this time. "It is a harsh step to take," said one source, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. An Airbus spokesman said: "We do not disclose or comment on delivery schedules for any customers". A spokesman for AirAsia, Asia's biggest low-cost carrier, declined to comment. Airbus has invited bids for four A320neo and two A321neo jets built for AirAsia, according to the sources and a confidential document seen by Reuters. Buyers can fetch the jets from France or Germany in June, complete with optional onboard equipment ordered by AirAsia. AirAsia co-founder Tony Fernandes said this month the group had no revenue and 96% of its fleet was grounded. He added that "AirAsia is strong and remains firmly focused on the future". A senior Malaysian minister told Reuters on Friday that merging AirAsia with loss-making state Malaysia Airlines was one of the options to "save" them. Airbus said this month it faced many calls from airlines to defer aircraft deliveries but had not received cancellations directly as a result of the coronavirus epidemic. RISKS A sale would protect Airbus's investment in parts but comes with greater than the usual risk during the industry crisis. With most airlines struggling financially and reluctant to make deliveries, the move could lead to pressure from other customers to find new homes for aircraft they no longer want, triggering a broader sale of undelivered jets, the sources said. Airbus has said it has 60 aircraft already built that it is unable to deliver, partly for logistical reasons. Secondly, Airbus faces a risk that any cut-price deals will set a precedent for future jet sales. "It's a small community and the result of these tenders often gets out," said a second source familiar with the auction. Others said Airbus had little choice but to recoup as much as possible from the jets, worth $111-$130 million each at most recent list prices but less than half after typical discounts. Buyers are currently scarce, but some are ready for bargains. Ryanair, a mainly Boeing customer with an Airbus fleet through acquisition, told Reuters last week that now could be a good time to buy jets. Wizz Air says it wants to take new planes. In February, long-haul subsidiary AirAsiaX said it would defer delivery of 78 larger A330neo jets. Boeing, meanwhile, faced the latest in a spate of cancellations of its grounded 737 MAX, as China Development Bank said it had agreed with Boeing to cancel 29 jets. Also Watch: Thank you for registering Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in Many Americans have witnessed daily briefings in which New York State's governor, Andrew Cuomo, makes repeated demands of the President and exploits his moment in the sun by condemning the President and even maligning him. Instead of constantly complaining, it's about time Cuomo apologized to President Trump and to those Americans across the country who specifically helped NYC during her time of need. It is not President Trump who has fallen short in doing his job, rather governor Cuomo and his side-kick Bill de Blasio, mayor of New York City. Three weeks ago Cuomo was demanding ventilators, masks, gowns, and hospital beds. He made no demands of himself, rather of the President. But now many are asking why the governor had not spent his many years in office accumulating the supplies needed for the emergencies and epidemics that surely transpire. In President Trump's desire to help the country and specifically the state where he was born and raised, Mr. Trump did not haggle over the question of whose responsibility it is to take care of state needs, but instead dove headlong to supply what New York needed. While Cuomo spent his days grandstanding and pontificating, and alternating his made-for-TV attire between informal leather jackets one day, blazers the next, presidential suits, and then sweaters, Mr. Trump was marshaling and corralling every force in this country and around the globe to provide the needs of New York state. Cuomo always looks well rested while Mr. Trump, the heroic workhorse, looks exhausted. We now know why: one is playing soap-opera governor while the other is a minute-by-minute, indefatigable President. Mr. Cuomo is never satisfied. Like a spoiled prince he upped the ante every time the President fulfilled Cuomo's previous demands. Cuomo spoke of 4,000 ventilators, then 30,000 ventilators, then possibly a million ventilators. The governor of New York had the luxury of extrapolating his demands because it was not he, rather President Trump, who was personally bearing and shouldering the supply-chain responsibility. It turns out that Mr. Cuomo's dramatic and made-for-television hyperboles, wrapped in self-righteous entitlement, were simply hyperbole. In the end, Mr. Trump directed more ventilators to New York than were needed. People outside of New York sweated like crazy to find and send those ventilators. There are tons of ventilators now in New York, yet state and local officials have mismanaged the distribution and many hospitals are still waiting for them. Mr. Cuomo and de Blasio should apologize to the President and all the way down to America's truckers who, in patriotic fashion, rushed to get supplies to New York City. On another occasion, enjoying the limelight and adulation he was receiving from the media for maligning President Trump, Andrew Cuomo demanded thousands of hospital beds. At the time, many wondered where were the years of expected planning by the governor of New York and the mayor of New York City for an event precisely such as this. After all, the state of New York as well as New York City has a budget for Health Departments exceeding the entire budgets of some American cities. As is known, New York state and New York City have bragged about their autonomy from the Federal government. Proclaiming their jurisdiction is above federal law, they defied ICE and the Federal immigration laws. Many are now wondering how a city and state that defied federal authority, as well the President of the United States, by declaring themselves Sanctuary cities and a Sanctuary state suddenly have relinquished their state autonomy by demanding the federal government micro manage and pay for all their supplies. Cuomo and de Blasio, the anti-Feds, accept no blame, placing, suddenly, all responsibility on the Feds. On Tuesday Cuomo was at the White House renewing demands and asking the Federal government and Donald Trump to rescue New York. Many are asking if the billions of dollars boastfully spent by de Blasio and Cuomo on illegal immigrants, providing corpulent benefits to hundreds of thousands of illegal aliens, depleted the city of the reserves necessary to carry on the basic nuts and bolts and supplies needed to properly manage and sustain a city. Some are questioning whether Cuomo and de Blasio's pre-occupation with enacting a leftist social agenda and prioritizing identity and sexual politics took precedence over old fashioned, bread-and-butter management. They seem to have chosen virtue-signaling rule over dry but essential care-taking management. Cuomo and de Blasio made what they call a "moral" decision, namely: that the invitation to and support of illegal aliens is more important than spending on the needs of everyday, native New Yorkers for the inevitable rainy day. Though Rachel Maddow and so many of the cynics and smug elitists who've come to dominate the New York scene smarmily accused the President of not being able to furnish hospitals beds, Mr. Trump did so. And, the whole nation saw him do it. The ship, named the Comfort, sailed into New York harbor on the Hudson River. It was a mammoth and gleaming, floating hospital with hundreds of beds, surgery rooms, 5,000 units of blood, emergency rooms, lighting, a staff of 1,200, and the most modern moving medical facility in the world. It was brought to New York not by its mayor or governor but by Mr. Trumpin Mr. Trump fashion. Yet, Cuomo demanded even more beds! So, Donald Trump, the native New Yorker, more acquainted with every square inch of Manhattan real estate than its own mayor and governor, suggested the Javits Convention Center be transformed into a hospital. Mr. Trump supplied the men and women necessary to convert the Center into a 2,500 bed facility. In the end, hardly any of the beds were needed or used. The pompous governor of New York demanded much more from America, from the President, and our patriotic citizens than was actually needed. Mr. Cuomo: Isn't it time you apologized and thanked the President and the thousands of Americans who sweated to deliver beds and make hospitals based on your exaggerated claims? In the end, the President's assessment of need was right, not yours. Some wonder if New York City big mouths like Rachel Maddow and Joy Behar would extend themselves for victims in Paducah, Kentucky as those from Kentucky have eagerly jumped to help those in New York City. Would the Manhattan/Brooklyn chattering class help the Franklin Graham crowd the way his Samaritans First did when coming to NYC to set up makeshift hospitals in Central Park? Even after all this, Mr. Cuomo keeps demanding more, and Mayor de Blasio continues asking for more money. De Blasio especially, still refuses to express any gratitude to Mr. Trump. For too long, both disallowed the ameliorative hydroxychloroquine to patients, simply because Mr. Trump had suggested the legal drug had potential promise. Shame on them. Many feel that instead of more demands, it is time these men apologized for their arrogance and sense of entitlement, and recognized that much of the catastrophe in New York is due to their lack of preparedness and their incapacity for real management. Many New Yorkers are upset with Mayor de Blasio for not managing the subways and buses in such a way as to lessen the contagion inherent in packed mass transit ridership. Plans such as decreasing ridership per car (social distancing) by adding more cars and by increasing train runs could have been utilized, but were not. No warnings were issued to mass transit riders until way after the contagion had already spread.Many New Yorkers wonder why the Mayor and his Health Commissioner were urging people to go downtown to Chinatown long after President Trump had already prohibited incoming flights from China. New Yorkers are wondering why Mayor de Blasio kept New York City schools open a week after other districts had already closed. Now New Yorkers are anguishing over the bare shelves in many New York City supermarkets, when the mayor should have coordinated truckers, vendors, and food service suppliers to keep food flowing into New York. The highways and thoroughfares within in the city are wide open for food trucks to flood right in. Where are they? It seems that it is Donald Trump, not they, who plans steps ahead during a crisis. He is always thinking and doing, as opposed to those who gripe and demand and whine....and sermonize. Many Americans are wondering if New York State's shortfall of money is due to the governor's self-righteous insistence that income producing fracking and shale exploration be prohibited in New York. Americans are wondering why they should bail out New York State's budget woes that, really, pre-date the Covid-19 flu. After all, it is a deficit caused by the state's high taxation policies pushing business out of the state and scaring away achievers for fear of being targeted and penalized by New York State. Why should frugal Americans in other places foot the bill for the obscenely high pensions given to unionized New York state workers? Is Corona being used as a way to fleece America for the high maintenance give-aways that are really behind New York's financial woes? Should America bail out New York again as it did in the 1970s? We know how Mr. Cuomo feels about the "deplorables", the half of the country who voted for Trump. He has told Second Amendment New Yorkers they don't belong in New York. Yet, he wants the deplorables to pay his bills. He has told those who are pro-life and pro-traditional marriage that their views are anathema and they belong somewhere else, since these are not the values of true New Yorkers. Yet we should pay his bills and we should supply the materials to run his mismanaged state. The elitists believe we should take from our families to financially support them, the "superior" ones, as well as the almost one million illegals invited into New York. Cuomo, like Hillary Clinton and so many smug, anti-tradition, cosmopolitan "citizens of the world", the snob-set, who have taken over New York City in the last fifteen years, think Trump conservatives are deplorables. Yet, it is those deplorables that outfitted the Comfort ship of salvation now anchored at Pier 90 on Manhattan's West Side. Rabbi Spero is author of Push Back, president of Caucus for America, and a frequent guest on Fox News and Newsmax. Image: Pat Arnow via Flickr. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 08:56:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HARBIN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- China's Heilongjiang Province Wednesday reported three new locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and one new imported confirmed case, the provincial health commission said Thursday. The new imported case was a Chinese national returning from Russia. By Wednesday, the province had reported a total of 540 locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and 385 imported cases. On Wednesday, Heilongjiang saw no new imported asymptomatic cases. The province had a total of 26 imported asymptomatic cases by Wednesday. Enditem The Centre has written to states advising them to allow construction activities in power projects outside municipal limits during the lockdown. The advisory comes following ministry of home affairs guidelines on exempted activities under the extended lockdown till May 3. The power sector has been reeling under stress since the lockdown with a dip of 30% in demand due to the absence of commercial activity in the wake of lockdown. The Centre has also directed Coal India Limited (CIL) to produce 710 million tonnes (MT) of coal as the companys coal offtake target will also remain at 710 MT for this fiscal. Union Minister for coal Pralhad Joshi held a meeting to set the performance targets for the state-run company keeping in mind the roadmap for a post-lockdown scenario, officials said. The demand for coal will pick up again after the coronavirus lockdown, so I have directed CIL to keep the production and offtake targets at 710 MT for financial year 2020-21 in line with its goal to achieve 1 billion tonne coal production by year 2023-24. Pralhad Joshi said on Thursday. Railways freight loading for coal, one of its prime commodities has dipped since the lockdown. Its earnings for coal and coke dipped by 48.25% to 1,880.61 crore since the lockdown. In the letter written to the states, union territories, District Magistrates and police authorities, the power ministry said, As per MHAs guidelines construction of all kinds of industrial projects in rural areas, i.e., outside the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities have been allowed to be carried out with effect from April 20. This is also applicable for ongoing construction activities in Thermal/Hydro Power Generation Projects outside the limits of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). On April 15, the home ministry had allowed continuation of works in construction projects within the limits of municipal corporations and municipalities, where workers are available on site and no workers are required to be brought from outside from April 20 onward. However these additional activities will be operationalised by states/union territories/district administrations based on strict compliance to the existing guidelines on lockdown measures, the guidelines had said. Movement of all personnel travelling to place of work and back in the exempted categories as per the instructions of the state/union territory was also allowed. The power ministry has also requested to allow the intrastate and interstate movement of construction materials, equipment, spares and consumables etc., for these under construction power projects. It has been emphasised that resumption of project works at sites may be carried out while taking all mandatory precautions and norms of social distancing as well the advisories issued by Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health and Family welfare from time to time with regard to Covid-19, the ministry said in a statement Thursday. The home ministry had in a fresh set of guidelines added exemptions including activities in farming/plantation, construction and banking sectors. Construction activities in rural areas, water supply, sanitation, and laying of power, telecom lines were also exempted from the lockdown. The Bombay high court on Tuesday upheld invocation of stringent provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), 1999, against a gang run by a local from Kolhapur. On April 8, 2019, a team of police personnel from Kolhapurs Karvir police station raided the gambling den of Salim Mulla. When the police party was seizing the material and cash found at the den, Mullas wife Shama reached the den with some gang members and all of them assaulted the policemen. Police initially booked the accused persons under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, Maharashtra Gambling Act, Maharashtra Police Act and Maharashtra Prohibition Act. Two days later police invoked stringent provisions of MCOCA against the gang, involving more than 40 members. Fourteen of them had moved high court challenging invocation of MCOCA against them. They argued that they were not present at the den when it was raided, and they did not have any association with Mulla or his alleged organised crime syndicate. They further argued that on the basis of the material collected by police, they can, at the most, be said to have committed the offences under the gambling act, and since maximum punishment for these offences is two years imprisonment, MCOCA could not have been invoked against them. A division bench of chief justice BP Dharmadhikari and justice NR Borkar, however, rejected the argument after noticing that the petitioners provided risk cover to the main accused Mulla and thus helped him run the gambling den. If the case of the prosecution is accepted, the organised crime syndicate of the accused [Mulla] would not have succeeded in gambling activity or business in absence of the helping hand of the petitioners, said the bench rejecting their argument. Gambling by itself may not be organised crime, but an organised crime syndicate may take recourse to it as one of its profit-making ventures. The bench added, If the existence of an organised crime syndicate comes to the knowledge of the state for the first time while conducting the raid on a gambling establishment and the investigation shows previous two or more charge-sheets for cognisable offences punishable with imprisonment of three or more years, the police may take recourse to the MCOCA . By PTI ISLAMABAD: Cash-strapped Pakistan has received an emergency loan of USD 1.39 billion from the IMF to boost its foreign exchange reserves in the wake of the further economic downturn due to the coronavirus crisis. The USD 1.39 billion loan is in addition to the USD 6 billion bailout package that Pakistan has signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in July last year to stave off a balance of payment crisis. "SBP (State Bank of Pakistan) has received $1.39 billion under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) from the IMF," the central bank said in a tweet on Wednesday. Pakistan in March had requested the global money lender for a low-cost, fast-disbursing loan under its Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) to deal with the adverse economic impact of COVID-19. The RFI is used to provide financial assistance to IMF member countries facing an urgent balance of payments need without requiring them to put a full-fledged programme in place. According to a report in The Express Tribune, the USD 1,39 billion loan will push Pakistan's foreign currency reserves apparently to a one-month high above USD 12 billion. The IMF executive board approved the low-cost emergency loan last week to help Pakistan meet the urgent balance of the international payment needs in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent IMF statement. With the latest recovery of Rs 0.76 in the inter-bank market on Wednesday, the rupee has cumulatively regained Rs 7.53, or 4.5 per cent, in the past two weeks to a one-month high at Rs 160.36 to the US dollar, the SBP said in a statement. Earlier, the foreign currency reserves had dropped to a four-month low at USD 10.97 billion on April 10, 2020, according to the central bank's weekly update on Thursday last week. The reserves had partly depleted due to capital pullout worth around USD 2.69 billion by short-term foreign investors from Pakistan's debt market over the past five to six weeks. Many of them sold premature treasury bills and long-term Pakistan Investment Bonds in panic following the fast spread of the coronavirus across the world. Foreign debt repayments also consumed the foreign currency reserves in the past four months. Pakistan has also approached other multilateral donors for additional funds to fight the pandemic and its economic implications. The World Bank has earlier approved USD 1 billion and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) USD 1.5 billion for Pakistan to keep its economy afloat. Elderly patients are among the groups at greatest risk for becoming critically ill from coronavirus and even dying of the infection - but their signs of the infection might not be as obvious as the now-widely known tell-tale signs. Persistent cough, fever and shortness of breath are the primary symptoms of COVID-19, and many people who don't have thee have been turned away at testing sites. But the changes the body undergoes with age may alter the immune systems of older patients. making them less likely to show these markers of infection. Instead, an older person might simply seem more tired than usual, less hungry and may seem more confused, disoriented and off-balance. Doctors are warning that families and caretakers must not dismiss these symptoms as a product of age, but immediately seek help, before these elderly people enter a rapid decline that's led to the deaths of so many already. Elderly people's immune systems are in decline - and it may mean they don't develop the typical symptoms of coronavirus like cough and fever. Instead, they may become confused, extremely tired or even collapse. Pictured: A nurse talks to her older father through a window in Hayward, California (file) At baseline, COVID-19 behaves much like other respiratory viruses. It typically enters the body through the nose and mouth, and possibly the eyes. In most adults this irritation will trigger inflammation, cough and a fever. As the the infection travels lower into the body, its attacks on the lungs can trigger inflammation deeper in the lungs and lead to shortness of breath. Mysteriously though, some people may never become short of breath, even while their blood oxygen levels fall dangerously low. Our bodies work differently at different ages, however, and the changes that come with age can mean we respond in different ways. IMMUNE RESPONSES DECLINE WITH AGE Many of our bodies' processes slow and become altered with age. Bone marrow produces fewer of certain fighter and signalling cells - B and T cells - as we get older. Although elderly people have just as many of some other immune cells, such as lymphocytes, they become more sluggish. Older people are more vulnerable to infection and at greater risk of dying of coronavirus, accounting for many of the US's more than 46,000 deaths, so they must be closely monitored for atypical signs of the virus So when an invader is present in an elderly person, their immune system respond more slowly and less robustly. It's the immune system's response to infection that triggers cough, fever and inflammation, so these might not be seen in an elderly person. Elderly people's bodies also don't regulated temperature as effectively as younger peoples' do, which may lead to differences in how a fever presents. MENTAL CONFUSION AND FOGGINESS MAY BE A WARNING SIGN Dementia and general mental decline are devastating and common among older populations. However, not all cognitive changes are as mundane as symptoms of age, nor as catastrophic as Alzheimer's disease or stroke. Scientists aren't exactly sure why, but many infections - including flu, but most commonly urinary tract infections - trigger confusion and delirium in elderly patients. Some scientists think this is related to cytokines, immune cells that are overwhelming many coronavirus patients' bodies in a 'storm.' These cells have considerable effects on the central immune system, which may be why elderly people with coronavirus develop cognitive issues. Dr Laura Perry treated a patient at University of California, San Francisco, who was in her 80s, had cold symptoms as well as confusion. The woman could hardly stay awake during her exam and had no idea where she was, Dr Perry told CNN. After being diagnosed with hypoactive delirium, the woman tested positive for coronavirus. OLDER PEOPLE MAY BE EXTREMELY TIRED AND UNABLE TO COUGH Broader mental declines and common events of older age, like strokes, can also impair reflexes. And without fully functional reflexes, elderly people's bodies may not respond to irritation in normal ways. Normally, coronavirus's attacks on the airway might make us cough, but elderly people with weaker reflexes might be unable to do so. As a result, another primary symptom providers are told to look for in this population might be missing. Lethargy, however, is common across all age groups and might be even more pronounced in older people. Montgomery County Judge Mark Keough is again deciding not to follow in the footsteps of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and announced he will not make wearing masks in Montgomery County mandatory amid the novel coronavirus crisis. Keough said after speaking with officials with the Montgomery County Attorneys Office there is no statutory or legal basis to require residents to wear masks and punish those who do not. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Coronavirus live updates: Hidalgo sued by GOP activist over mask order, 280K+ file for unemployment As your Montgomery County Judge, in consultation with our county attorneys office, I do not find a statutory or legal basis that would allow me or anyone else in government to issue an order requiring the citizens to wear a mask. Especially under the fear of making it a criminal offense if they dont, Keough said in a statement Wednesday. If you choose to wear a mask or face covering, I support your decision to do so. If you are a high-risk individual and you want to wear a mask while in public places, then please do. If you choose not to wear a mask, I support that decision as well. Also on Wednesday, the Montgomery County Public Health District confirmed 23 more COVID-19 cases bringing the countys total to 440. Health officials reminded residents the state-wide stay-at-home order remains in effect. There are now 306 active cases with 35 people still hospitalized and 271 in self-isolation. The countys death toll remained at seven and 127 people have made a complete recovery. FRONTLINE SUPPORT: COVID-19 outbreak moves Joes Italian Restaurant proprietor to feed first responders for free Keough said while he has stayed out of the business of other counties, especially those with which we possess a good relationship he decided to address the issue after his office was flooded with calls about a mandatory mask order for Harris County. I will not issue an order mandating the wearing of face coverings or mask in public places anywhere in Montgomery County, he said. We will support your right to decide for yourself whether or not a face mask is necessary when you leave your home. Please continue to practice good hygiene, keeping hands clean, staying home when sick, and avoiding others who are sick and proper social distancing as recommended by the CDC. If you do this, we will see the end of this coming sooner than later. Details on Montgomery County cases can be found at https://mcphd-tx.org/coronavirus-covid-19/confirmed-cases/. cdominguez@hcnonline.com AT&T Charter Spectrum T-Mobile Verizon (TNS) Tamara Solis faced a choice when it came to her children's education: Pay for rent and food or pay for internet access. Broadband came in second, so she takes her kids to a friend's garage apartment in Watts for internet where they do their schoolwork in close quarters amid the coronavirus pandemic."It's a small place," said Solis, noting that it was difficult to abide by recommended physical distancing guidelines. "We try to do the best one on the table, one on the sofa, one on the bed ... but it's not big enough to keep far away."Her plight is not unique.Despite promises of help, families in the low-income neighborhoods of Watts, Boyle Heights and South Los Angeles have struggled to get online, with at least 16 percent of students lacking basic internet access, according to a survey of public school families in those communities released Wednesday by the nonprofit Partnership for Los Angeles Schools.Many more students likely lack the high-speed internet connection needed for regular online academic work, according to the organization, which manages 18 L.A. Unified campuses that enroll large numbers of black and Latino students who are members of low-income families.The survey, conducted March 24 through April 4, also recorded other areas of concern: 15 percent of families reported that students had not yet been in contact with teachers, and 25 percent said students needed to print out materials at home for their assignments, but they lacked a printer.Partnership staff interviewed the families of more than 1,000 students about their experience with service providers and also initiated requests for service from addresses in Watts, which is served by Partnership schools.Families from among the city's most impoverished neighborhoods report impediments to signing up for free service offered as aid during coronavirus-related school closures. The difficulties included inadequate coverage areas in their communities, long wait times, limited data plans and unexpected fees and documentation requirements, as well as monthly payments that were too costly to sustain after a free period.Companies represented in the survey AT&T, Charter Spectrum, T-Mobile and Verizon defended their efforts, saying they moved to offer their services during this time of school closures to help the families of low-income students. They explained that coverage limitations are based on geography or other factors, and noted that customers can cancel in order to avoid monthly fees after their free service expires."We are committed to supporting families who need internet access during this difficult time," said Jim Kimberly, an AT&T spokesman.The free service is typically scheduled to end near the close of the current school year although the internet needs of families are expected to extend well beyond that.The Los Angeles Unified School District is trying to fill the digital gap by providing students with portable internet hot spots and computers. But the district has not not yet been able to reach all who need the devices.Campuses across the state have been closed since mid-March, forcing students to continue academic work through "distance learning." In most cases, that means receiving, completing and submitting assignments online and taking part in online sessions through platforms such as Zoom."Education is a constitutional right in California," said Ryan Smith, chief external officer of the Partnership for L.A. Schools. "However long we're doing online learning then internet connection must become a constitutional right, too. Therefore we must monitor the 'free trials' that these internet companies are trying to provide."Smith generally praised L.A. Unified's efforts to fill the digital gap, noting that more families were becoming aware of the district-provided hot spots as the survey proceeded. He said he was less impressed with offers by the technology companies.Most callers were not told that a free trial is available. The few who were told about the trial had to sign up for a $59.99 per month plan to receive the first 60 days free of charge.The company is committed to providing free service to eligible families in need, who now include those with children who qualify for the subsidized school lunch program and Head Start preschool.No home service was available in most of Watts' 90002 ZIP Code. The free trial required signing up for a $54.99 per month plan after the no-cost 60 days.Spectrum is available in the areas covered by the survey. However, some renters in multiunit buildings may not be able to access services if Spectrum does not "have an agreement with the property owner to wire the building and serve residents." Customers can cancel at any time.No home internet service is provided in the communities that were part of the survey. Existing customers pay an additional $15 a month for a hot spot with 2 gigs of high-speed access, which is not enough for students and families, according to the Partnership.The company has created options for customers to receive extra data at no extra charge but these offers do not include free service. The company also introduced a plan priced at $15 per month.No home internet service was available in the survey area. Separately, L.A. Unified is paying for hot spots that are free for students. Families who directly contacted Verizon were referred to L.A. Unified. Families unaware of the district arrangement were advised by Verizon representatives to use a public hot spot.Verizon provides home internet service in limited parts of L.A., but not Watts. The arrangement with L.A. Unified is that the district not Verizon distributes the hot spots to families.For Solis, the online odyssey included burning through the 10 gigabytes of hot-spot data she was able to obtain through T-Mobile in about two weeks online schoolwork for her two children can consume a lot of data, she said. She tried unsuccessfully to get free Wi-Fi service from Spectrum and AT&T to her Watts home.Solis is out of work after an injury last year, and her husband is getting only part-time hours now as a maintenance worker."Money for the internet it's not in my plans right now," Solis said. "They said, 'It's going to be free' ... and it's not free."So far, she also has not been able to get a hot spot from Florence Griffith Joyner Elementary, a Partnership school in Watts. Portable hot spots recently arrived at the school, and administrators are currently reaching out to families who might need them, said Cathy Kralik, a spokeswoman for the Partnership.A Spectrum spokesman said Solis should qualify for its special offer.The survey represents a snapshot in time and, since then, the situation has improved as L.A. Unified continues to distribute technology and as teachers and students engage more effectively, district officials said Tuesday.L.A. Unified Deputy Supt. Megan Reilly said she appreciated receiving the information about lack of access to printers. "That was not on our radar," she said.She added that the distribution of devices has been slowed by the necessary logistics of installing bar codes, the district's online learning management system and software that keeps students safe online while also allowing for central updates.The district prioritized getting computers to high school students, then turned to middle schools. Elementary students went home with work packets, but the effort is underway to provide them with technology as well.The district's latest data indicate that, overall, 98 percent of high school students and 97 percent of middle school students had logged on at least once by April 17, figures that represent substantial progress. However, 7 percent of high schoolers were not in contact with teachers every week."There are challenges in the field," said Pedro Salcido, chief of staff to L.A. Unified Supt. Austin Beutner. "We have been pretty aware of them. Even in a non-COVID-19 world this would be a big lift logistically."Solis said she has come to realize the sudden importance of digital access to her children's education."Everything is by computer everything," she said. "So that's one thing I realize right now: that I have to have internet." New York, April 23 : US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order banning many categories of immigration to the US for 60 days but it does not apply to H1-B professional visa-holders. Trump signed the executive order on Wednesday evening and reiterated afterwards at his daily news briefing that he took the action to protect Americans thrown out of work by COVID-19 shutdowns. The President said that he may reconsider it before it expires in 60 days. Although he said repeatedly in the order that the 22 million Americans who have lost their jobs will be protected by the ban, there are several exemptions in it for potential immigrants and it does not cover those coming in on temporary work visas. This makes it more of a political statement than a "strong" action as he called it, playing to a section of his political base while not upsetting business interests. The ban does not apply to those who have already received their green cards or permanent resident status and to holders of temporary visas but find themselves abroad. The ban distinguishes between those seeking to immigrate to the US permanently, who are covered by the ban, and those coming in on temporary visas, who are not. Among the exempt categories of those immigrating are healthcare workers and those involved in COVID-19 and other medical research along with their families. The order also exempts spouses and minor children of US citizens and members of the armed forces, and those required for law enforcement purposes who are in the immigration pipeline. Holders of work visas like H1-B for professionals and H2-A for farm and other labour are exempt because they not considered immigrants as their visas are for a limited period and do not confer a permanent resident status. Indians are the single largest group of H1-B visa-holders accounting for nearly 74 per cent of all such visas. In addition to American firms, several Indian technology companies rely on the H1-B workforce to operate in the US. The ban also does not cover L-1 visas for employees of foreign companies transferred to work in the US. Investors, including those in the category eligible for green cards, are also exempt. In contrast to his public statements about a quick economic rebound once the pandemic is under control, Trump said in his executive order that without the ban the US "faces a potentially protracted economic recovery with persistently high unemployment". Making a targeted political statement, Trump said that the categories of would-be immigrants he is barring would have competed with "African-Americans and other minorities, those without a college degree, and the disabled" who are "at the margin between employment and unemployment". Although Trump had barred asylum-seekers from coming through the Mexican border, the order said that it will not limit the ability of anyone to seek asylum or refugee status. There is a ban on all travellers from 28 European countries, China and Iran who are not US citizens or permanent residents. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter @arulouis) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Amid the strict lockdown, a school teacher travelledfrom Thiruvananthapuram to Muthanga in Wayanad-- a distance of about 465 km-- on her way to neighbouring Karnataka en route to Delhi following whichcases have been registered against her and an excise official. The woman, Kamna Sharma, said to be working in Kendriya Vidyalaya,Pattom here undertook the journey on April 21 along with her two year-old daughter, police sources told PTI. An Excise Circle Inspector, Shahjahan, had provided his vehicle to travel allegedly on the instructions of Malappuram excise officer, in whose private vehicle, the woman and the child had reached Wayanad border from Thiruvananthapuram, the sources said. The two were booked under the Kerala Epidemic Act and various sections of the IPC including sect 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection) and 271 (disobedience to quarantine rule). Because of the lockdown even inter-district travel is not allowed by police and district administration, unless there is an extremely genuine reason. A senior police official in Thiruvananthapuram said he does not remember issuing any such pass. The woman may have "misused" government machinery as private vehicles would have been stopped somewhere during the long journey, he said. She cameto Kalpetta in Wayanad allegedly in an official car of the excise department. Wayanad District police chief R Elango told PTI that an FIR has been filed based on preliminary information and investigations have begun. "We will check if she has followed procedures in obtaining a pass and if she made any false claim to get the pass." As per preliminary information the woman came in an excise official's car from Thamarassery (Kozhikode) to Muthunga(Wayanad), he said. Her mode of transport before that--from Thiruvananthapuram to Wayanad--will also be investigated,he said, adding they have no information if she has reached Delhi. "We will track down her movement," he said Meanwhile, theWayanad district administration has intensified the lockdown protocol from Thursday to prevent people's movement within and from outside the district/state. Interception at all the check posts on district and state borders of the district, bordering Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, will also be intensified. No one would be allowed to travel frequently to and fro the district under the pretext of official duty. Wayanad collector Adhila Abdulla said officials from outside the district will no longer be allowed to commute daily. "Elderly people above the age of 65 should confine to their homes unless it is extremely urgent or unavoidable. Cases will be registered against family members who allow elderly people to go out for buying medicines and other essentials," she said. Senior citizens, who live alone, can call either the Fire (101) or Police (100) departments for any help and to get things they need, the collector said. Whatever relaxations were in place have also been withdrawn with effect from Thursday, she added. Wayanad and Thiruvananthapuram come under the 'Orange B' zone where there are some relaxations. However, Thiruvananthapuram city limits falls under the hotspot area. Police said a case was also registered against a doctor and her husband who entered Kerala from Tamil Nadu border. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Press release no 1, 2020 Sborg April 23, 2020 Konsolidator enters a strategic partnership alliance with Develop IN Europe for Australia and New Zealand Konsolidator enters a strategic partnership alliance with Develop In Europe for further international market expansion across the Asia pacific region with preliminary focus on New Zealand and Australia. Konsolidator has signed a channel partner agreement, incorporating affiliate sales and implementation partner services, with leading business advisory firm, Develop IN Europe (DINE), leveraging the firms APAC internationalization arm, Develop IN Asia Pacific. Develop IN Europe has 20+ years of experience helping companies realize their ambitions within exporting, innovation, internationalization and investment promotion. As trusted and specialist advisors for entering and expanding cost-effectively into international markets, DINE brings a proven track record of deploying strategic Go-To-Market (GTM) entry and operating models, creating rapid market growth across key European markets such as D-A-CH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), France and Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg). This year, alongside Konsolidator, the firm is aiming to grow their Develop IN Asia Pacific delivery arm, principally in New Zealand and Australia with Hong Kong and Singapore to follow. Were very excited and sincerely embrace the opportunity of taking the Konsolidator SaaS solution to market across the APAC region. With my senior-level Finance & Accounting background, coupled with my local SaaS marketing experience, I can definitely appreciate the gap that the Konsolidator software plugs for multi-layered organizations, says DINEs Director Asia Pacific, Michael Dall. It truly simplifies the financial consolidation process (eliminating tedious Excel sheeting and unnecessary data tabulation) and empowers finance professionals to deliver more strategic value. Im absolutely certain that companies will embrace the beautiful automation of this simplistic and full audit-trail software solution. Mr Dall concludes. Story continues For Konsolidator, initially, Develop IN Europe will focus on building up the market in New Zealand and Australia. The Australasian region is eager to adapt new technology to drive innovation and improve productivity. The estimated captive market potential for NZ and AU, alone, exceeds 13,500 corporations and will add suitably to the companys generic incremental revenue growth as an integral part of Konsolidators international expansion strategy. Being a SaaS company, means that were able to effectively handle everything from sales to onboarding and support purely in an online environment, and therefore were able to scale our business and expand at a much faster speed than many other software providers. And now were starting to see the effects of our internationalization efforts, says Konsolidators CEO, Claus Finderup Grove. About Konsolidator Konsolidator is a Danish company founded in 2014 by a CFO and an Auditor. Listing on the NASDAQ stock exchange followed in 2019. Today, Konsolidator is operating internationally across Scandinavia, Europe, the UK and Asia. Konsolidator is a cloud-based, best-of-breed, financial SaaS consolidation and reporting tool that automates, standardizes and streamlines the monthly and annual reporting consolidation process through simple innovative functionality, delivering accurate and timely management information based on corporate key ratios. Konsolidator is created by CFOs for CFOs. A deep understanding of needs and requirements, urgencies and necessities will therefore always be what determines the development of the software. Konsolidator digitalizes the finance function and enables finance professionals to deliver accurate financial figures for multinationals and entire Groups of Companies, quickly and easy. About Develop IN Europe Develop IN Europe, or simply DINE, is an international professional services firm co-founded in Galten, Aarhus, Denmark and Milford, Auckland New Zealand in 2015; today, with regional head offices in Munich, Bavaria, Germany and Bloom Intl. in Singapore, DINE is one of the leading professional services firms in Europe and across the Asia Pacific region. Core strengths include crisp market insights, strategic Go-To-Market (GTM) advisory and direct access to international business networks. It primarily provides market entry (which includes export assistance), international expansion (sales and marketing), consulting and advisory services to its clients. Like many of the larger trade councils and business development consultancy firms, in recent years, DINE has expanded into business areas adjacent to internationalization, including investments, accounting, operations, HR, technology, and financial services consulting. For further information please contact: CEO Claus Finderup Grove Konsolidator A/S +45 20 95 29 88 cfg@konsolidator.com Tobaksvejen 2A, 2860 Sborg Denmark www.konsolidator.com and/or Director Asia Pacific Michael Dall Develop IN Europe Ltd +64 27 435 5341 michael.dall@developineurope.com 6-8 Heather Street, Parnell, Auckland 1052 P.O. Box 105511, Commerce Street, Auckland City, Auckland 1143 New Zealand www.developineurope.com Certified Adviser Ernst & Young P/S Osvald Helmuths Vej 4 2000 Frederiksberg www.ey.com Attachment Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The Substation Automation Market is anticipated to reach around USD 207.8 billion by 2026 according to a new research published by Polaris Market Research. In 2017, the Intelligent Electronic Devices segment dominated the substation automation global market, in terms of revenue. North America is expected to be the leading contributor to the global market revenue during the forecast period. The growing adoption of smart cities, along with high demand of smart grids has boosted the adoption of substation automation. The rising demand for electricity, and growing demand for efficient and low-cost solutions in the solar energy sector further support the growth of substation automation market. Increasing investments by vendors in technological advancements, growing need to update existing networks, and increasing demand for retrofitting conventional substations would accelerate the adoption of substation automation during the forecast period. Growing demand from emerging economies, increasing adoption smart grid applications, and technological advancements are expected to provide numerous growth opportunities in the coming years. Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/substation-automation-market/request-for-sample North America generated the highest revenue in the market in 2017, and is expected to lead the global substation automation market throughout the forecast period. The presence of established telecom and cloud infrastructure in this region, and growing trend of smart cities drive substation automation market growth in the region. The growing demand from energy sector, and technological advancements further support market growth in the region. The use of smart technologies in energy and utilities, industrial automation, and intelligent buildings is expected to support substation automation market growth in this region during the forecast period. The companies operating in substation automation market include Schneider Electric SE, Cisco Systems, ABB Ltd., Siemens AG, Eaton Corporation Plc., General Electric, Honeywell International, Inc., Larsen & Toubro Limited, Crompton Greaves, and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to innovate and launch new products to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers. Complete Summary with TOC Available @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/substation-automation-market Substation Automation Market Size and Forecast by Module, 2018-2026 Communication Networks Scada Systems Intelligent Electronic Devices Substation Automation Market Size and Forecast by Component, 2018-2026 Hardware Software Services Substation Automation Market Size and Forecast by Type, 2018-2026 Distribution Substations Transmission Substations Substation Automation Market Size and Forecast by Communication Channel, 2018-2026 Optical Fiber Communication Ethernet Copper Wire Communication Others Substation Automation Market Size and Forecast by Region, 2018-2026 North America US. Canada Mexico Europe Germany UK France Italy Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific China India Japan Rest of Asia-Pacific Latin America Brazil Middle East & Africa Avail discount on this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/substation-automation-market/request-for-discount-pricing About Polaris Market Research Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities. Contact us- Polaris Market Research Phone: 1-646-568-9980 Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.com Web: www.polarismarketresearch.com The cell expansion market in North America is anticipated to reach USD 14,697. 41 million by 2027 from USD 4,522. 07 4 million in 2019; it is projected to grow at a CAGR of 15. 9% during 20202027. The growth of the market is attributed to the increasing prevalence of cancer, rising number of new product launches, and increasing inclination of patients toward regenerative and personalized medicines. New York, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "North America Cell Expansion Market to 2027 - Regional Analysis and Forecasts by Product ; Cell Type ; Application ; End User, and Country" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05887379/?utm_source=GNW Also, growing R&D expenditure on cancer research is likely to have a positive impact on the growth of the market in the coming years. In addition, technological advancements in the pharmaceuticals industry and extensive developments in drug discovery are likely to stimulate the growth of cell expansion market in North America during the forecast period. Cell expansion is the large-scale artificial production of daughter cells from a single cell, and the process is carried out to support the medical research. It plays a critical role in exploring a wider range of benefits and applications of fully differentiated stem cell cultures for their use in therapeutics, drug screening, or advanced research. R&D is a significant part of a majority of pharmaceutical and biotech companies; they focus on R&D to come up with new molecules with the most significant medical and commercial potential for various therapeutic applications.The companies invest big amounts in these activities to deliver innovative, high-quality products to the market. Moreover, as per the report of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the R&D expense of biopharmaceutical companies surged from US$ 49.6 billion in 2012 to US$ 58.8 billion in 2015. Several government organizations are working on enhancing the detection methods and treatment procedures of cancer in the region. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) spends on various categories of the treatment, including specific cancer sites, cancer types, and cancer-related diseases, as well as types of NCI research mechanisms. The NCI allocated the funds of ~US$ 208.4 million for cell expansion research in 2017 from their total budget of US$ 5,636.4 million in that year for cancer research studies. Therefore, the growing R&D expenditure on cancer research by these companies is expected to provide them with opportunities for business expansion. The North American cell expansion market has been segmented on the basis of cell type into human cells and animal cells.The human cells segment held a larger share of the market in 2018, and it is also projected to register a higher CAGR in it during the forecast period. Rise in research activities for the treatment of cancer is expected to offer considerable growth opportunities for the human cell expansion market players. A few of the important secondary sources referred to for preparing this report on the cell expansion market are World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Canadian Cancer Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and American Cancer Society. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05887379/?utm_source=GNW 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. __________________________ Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 Gap Inc says it may not have enough funds to run its operations over the next 12 months and has stopped paying rent at its store locations, as it weathers the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The apparel retailer warned in a security filing Thursday that it has suspended rent payments of about $115million per month in North America starting in April, needs to cut costs and will raise money by issuing debt. The company said it was in talks with landlords to defer payments, change lease agreements or in some cases terminate the leases and permanently close some of the stores. Gap, like many other stores forced to close due to the nationwide lockdown, has furloughed employees and launched massive sales in its stores, marking items up to 75 percent off in a desperate bid to keep business going. As of February 1 Gap owned 3,345 stores globally, with 574 franchise locations. Gap Inc says it may not have enough funds to run its operations in the next 12 months and has stopped paying rent at its store locations, as it weathers the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. A boarded up Gap store in downtown Seattle pictured April 18 'We expect the Covid-19 pandemic to have a material adverse impact on our business and financial performance. The extent of the impact ... will depend on future developments, including the duration and severity of the pandemic, which are uncertain and cannot be predicted,' Gap said in the filing. On February 1 Gap said its cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments totaled $1.7 billion. Gap said it expects to have $750 to $850 million of cash and cash equivalents inclusive of short-term investments at the end of the fiscal quarter ending May 2. In order to have sufficient liquidity for the next 12 months, the company said it would need to tap the debt market, cut jobs, defer capital expenditures and cut back on orders from vendors. Shares of the company were down nearly 3% in early trading on Thursday morning Gap which runs its namesake brand along with Old Navy and Banana Republic has seen its stock plunge by more than 71 percent over the last year. A view of the stock's trajectory over the past six months pictured above The company has already furloughed the majority of its workers in the US and Canada and cut from its corporate board. Gap Inc said it cut capital expenditures by $300million, withdrawn guidance for the full year, and suspended stock repurchases and cut pay for the board and leadership team, according to Market Watch. Shares of the company were down nearly 3% in early trading on Thursday. Gap which runs its namesake brand along with Old Navy and Banana Republic has seen its stock plunge by more than 71 percent over the last year. Gap isn't the only retailer struggling to make ends meet amid the pandemic. Earlier this week Lord & Taylor announced it is exploring filing for bankruptcy after shutting down its 38 US department stores. Luxury department store Neiman Marcus Group also announced plans to file for bankruptcy as soon as this week after defaulting millions in bond payments last week, furloughing 14,000 employees and shutting down 43 of its locations. The pandemic has seen unemployment skyrocket in the US with at least 26million Americans out of work. The coronavirus outbreak has wiped out 13.5 percent of the work force and 10 years of job growth. A 27-year-old pregnant Indian woman in Dubai has filed a petition in the Supreme Court of India seeking help to return home for her delivery, amidst the international travel lockdown imposed by India over the coronavirus pandemic, according to a media report. Athira Geetha Sreedharan from Kerala said she wanted to return to India for the birth of her first baby, due in the first week of July, the Gulf reported. Sreedharan, who lives in Dubai with her husband Nithin Chandran, filed the writ petition in the apex court seeking help to return to her home country following the suspension of flights to India as part of the precautionary measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19, the report said. India has been under lockdown since March 25 to curb the coronavirus pandemic. All domestic and international commercial passenger flights have been suspended for this period. The first phase of the lockdown was from March 25 to April 14. The second phase began on April 15 and would end on May 3. Owing to standard flight restrictions during pregnancy, Sreedharan has submitted to the court that she can travel up till the first or second week of May. In her plea, she said she has no one to help her except her husband who cannot seek leave as he works in a construction company, the sector which is not shut down during the national disinfection and sterilisation campaign here. In the plea she requested the apex court to direct the Indian government and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to make arrangements for her return, the report added. On April 17, the Indian government told the Kerala High Court that there was no immediate plan to bring back expatriates from Gulf? and they were also granted visa extension. Speaking to Gulf on Wednesday, the engineer-couple said the case was filed with the help of the youth wing of UAE-based expat organisation Incas, among a host of Indian community groups campaigning for the repatriation of stranded Indians here. "We had initially planned to bring over our parents on visit in turns (for support during and post-delivery), said her husband Nithin. Sreedharan said that they had planned to return home in March but there were reports of many cases of passengers from here testing positive for coronavirus after reaching Kerala, the report added. We thought the situation would improve. We never expected the lockdown to continue like this. Now, my husband has to go to work and we are concerned about my safety and that of our baby," she said. Nithin said his concerns are growing more after he heard of positive cases of COVID-19 among people known to him. "I just want her to be repatriated safely to Kerala. I don't have to accompany her. I am not in a position to resign my job and go. It is risky for her to travel after a few weeks. So, we hope the Supreme Court will give special consideration to her case." The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 681 and the number of cases to 21,393 in India on Thursday, according to the Union Health Ministry. Whereas, in the UAE the total number of confirmed cases are 8,756 and 56 deaths reported, according to the Ministry of Health and Prevention. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rome, April 23 : The coronavirus pandemic has claimed over 25,000 lives in locked-down Italy, bringing the total number of active infections, fatalities and recoveries so far to 187,327, according to the latest data released by the country's Civil Protection Department. Wednesday saw 437 new deaths, bringing the total to 25,085 fatalities since the pandemic first broke out in the northern Lombardy region on February 21, Xinhua news agency reported. A total of 2,943 additional recoveries were registered on Wednesday compared to Tuesday, bringing the total to 54,543. It was also the biggest daily recoveries recorded so far. The active infections stood at 107,699, which is 10 lower than Tuesday. It was the third consecutive daily drop in the number of active infections nationwide. A positive trend was also confirmed in the number of patients hospitalized. Of those infected, 2,384 are in intensive care, down by 87 compared to Tuesday, while 23,805 are hospitalized in normal wards, down by 329. The rest, or 75.7 per cent, are in isolation at home. In related news, the number of doctors who have died from the coronavirus infections grew to 144, after two more fatalities were registered in the last 24 hours, the National Federation of Orders of Surgeons and Dentists (FNOMCeO) said. Also on Wednesday, Interior Minister Luciana Lamorgese confirmed a plan was being discussed within the Italian cabinet on the possibility of providing irregular workers, including undocumented migrants, a regular permit. The measure would aim at allowing irregular workers to fill a labour shortage caused by the coronavirus emergency in some economic sectors, and especially in agriculture. "Together with the ministries of Agriculture and Labour, we are assessing the positions of undocumented workers, both Italians and foreigners," Lamorgese told senators in a hearing to the upper house. "This issue arises from the need to find a specific solution to the problems concerning agriculture and fishing industry, in order to remedy the labour shortages in those sectors without affecting national production," she explained. The first to openly talk about regularizing at least some of the estimated 600,000 undocumented migrants living in the country had been Agriculture Minister Teresa Bellanova in an op-ed on Il Foglio newspaper last week. "Figures are clear: the regular foreign labour force in Italy's agriculture counts on about 400,000 units (workers); for ten years, Italians have fallen and foreigners have increased," Bellanova explained. "Today, due to the (coronavirus) emergency, many have returned to their countries of origin, and we are dealing with a vacuum estimated in about 350,000 and with a need for skills." She argued regularizing undocumented migrants -- many of which working in the fields of southern Italy, and living in unsafe makeshift settlements -- would be a matter of both economy and health safety. "(It would help) preventing a humanitarian emergency, which might occur in informal settlements crowded with people who are now not working... and at the risk of hunger, at the mercy of the virus threat," the minister wrote. At the same time, she continued, it would meet the urgent need for labour of many farms, just ahead of the harvest time for many products. The idea was strongly opposed by right-wing political forces, which expressed fears such regularization might work as a trigger for further irregular immigration into the country. According to Italy's farmers' association Coldiretti, several spring crops were at risk due to the lockdown imposed in the coronavirus emergency, and the consequent borders closure to foreign workers. In a statement on Tuesday, the group approved of the agriculture minister's proposal, while calling on the government to provide as soon as possible "more flexible (hiring and paying) tools, such as vouchers for pensioners, students, and redundancy workers" in order to partially fill the gap. Italy's agricultural sector employed about 1.13 million people last year, according to a report issued by the Italian General Confederation of Agriculture in February. Italy entered into a national lockdown on March 10 to contain the pandemic. The lockdown, which is expected to last until May 3, will be followed by a so-called "Phase Two," involving "the gradual resumption of social, economic and productive activities," the Italian government has explained. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The Government cannot allow retail workers to become "the collateral damage of this crisis", the Dail heard, as TDs blasted Debenhams over its decision to make hundreds of its Irish employees redundant. Cork North Central TDs Thomas Gould and Mick Barry blasted Debenhams treatment of its workers across the country, which include 958 directly employed and a further 300 in concessions. Protests have taken place in Cork, Kerry and Dublin, while observing social distancing rules in two of the counties affected. In his maiden speech in the Dail, Mr Gould said during leaders questions that "fair and proper" redundancy packages had to be negotiated for the employees. The Sinn Fein TD said: "If Debenhams get away with what they are doing now, they will set a precedent. And my worry is that I will be in this chamber speaking on behalf of thousands, if not tens of thousands, of more workers. The workers of Debenhams "have been treated terribly", and such workers should not be "the collateral damage of this crisis", he said. Solidarity TD Mick Barry slammed measures by gardai in dealing with Debenhams protesters in Dublin, claiming "they were threatened with arrest...escorted to Luas and bus stops" and other measures he said were an infringement on civil liberties. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has said the Government should review the decision to exclude protest from the list of reasonable excuses to leave home during the pandemic. ICCLs Doireann Ansbro said: "The right to protest, to voice dissent and dissatisfaction without fear of breaking the law, is a core tenet of a democracy. "Where a protest is small and complying with principles of physical distancing, as we saw in Cork and Dingle lately, there is a very good argument that they should be facilitated." The ICCL said it is urging the Government to provide legal clarity on the right to protest under the regulations as soon as possible. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday said the United States strongly believes that China's ruling communist party failed to report the outbreak of the new coronavirus in a timely manner to the World Health Organization. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday said the United States strongly believes that China's ruling communist party failed to report the outbreak of the new coronavirus in a timely manner to the World Health Organization. Speaking at a State Department news conference, Pompeo also accused Beijing of failing to report human-to-human transmission of the virus "for a month until it was in every province inside of China." The Trump administration has criticized China's handling of the coronavirus outbreak, which began late last year in the city of Wuhan and has grown into a global pandemic that has killed nearly 180,000 people, including more than 45,000 in the United States, according to a Reuters tally. Citing WHO rules implemented in 2007, Pompeo said, "We strongly believe that the Chinese Community Party did not report the outbreak of the new coronavirus in a timely fashion to the World Health Organization." He said that even after Beijing notified the WHO of the outbreak "it did not share all of the information it had. Instead it covered up how dangerous the disease is." China has rejected charges that it mishandled the outbreak, saying it has been transparent and open about the spread of the virus. In fresh criticism of the WHO, Pompeo said the organization's director general, Tedros Adhanom, had failed to use his ability "to go public" when a member state failed to follow the new rules. U.S. President Donald Trump last week suspended U.S. funding for the WHO, charging that the organization promoted China's "disinformation" about the outbreak of the virus. WHO officials have denied that the body was China-centric and said now was not the time to cut funding. (Reporting by Jonathan Landay, Humeyra Pamuk and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Paul Simao) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Musicians from a dozen of countries including China, Germany and France on Wednesday staged an online concert of classical music to support the global fight against COVID-19. The 12-hour live event, Music One World, started at 8 a.m. Beijing Time and was joined by about 100 musicians also from Australia, the United States, Britain and Israel, who played at home or in forest. To celebrate Earth Day which falls on Wednesday, the musicians presented a newly adapted orchestral version of "Salut d'Amour" to salute the Mother Earth. The idea of "warming the world with classical music" was raised by Xu Zhong, a Chinese conductor. Radio Shanghai and Shanghai Opera House made the concert possible by inviting the musicians across the world and receiving warm response. "When China was at a critical moment of fighting the epidemic, many foreign music organizations, orchestras and musicians voiced their support," said Xu. "Now, it's time to return our caring and love." "Music is the language of the world and can soothe a wounded heart. The virus is the common enemy of all human beings. We need to cooperate closely and fight it together," Chen Ping, an official with the Chinese Embassy in Austria, said in his message to the concert. "I believe that after the pandemic outbreak, we will be closer and have more things to share. It's tough time, but victory belongs to us," Lyndon Terracini, art director of the Opera Australia Orchestra, said in a speech to audience through a video. Tens of thousands of households are to be tested for coronavirus as part of a new government study which will monitor immunity levels among the UK population and track the spread of the infection. Around 20,000 households in England will be contacted by healthcare professionals, and asked to provide a nose and throat swab test to see whether they currently have Covid-19. Adults in some 1,000 of the households will also be asked to provide a blood sample to help establish what proportion of the population has developed antibodies - for which there is not currently a sufficient test available. The initial findings are expected in early May, and it is hoped the study will eventually be extended to include up to 300,000 participants within the next 12 months. This survey will help to track the current extent of transmission and infection in the UK, while also answering crucial questions about immunity as we continue to build up our understanding of this new virus, said Matt Hancock, the health secretary. Together, these results will help us better understand the spread of the virus to date, predict the future trajectory and inform future action we take, including crucially the development of ground-breaking new tests and treatments. The Department of Health, leading the study with the Office for National Statistics (ONS), said participants will form a representative sample of the UK population by age and geography. Swab tests will show whether or not participants currently have the virus, allowing the government to monitor the rate and spread of infection. They will be asked to take further tests every week for the first five weeks, then every month for a year. In addition, adults in around 1,000 of the households where no one has Covid-19 symptoms or is self-isolating will also provide blood samples, which scientists will test for antibodies. Antibody testing is considered crucial in providing a pathway out of the current lockdown, and also providing data to those developing a vaccine. However, Public Health England (PHE) does not have enough confidence in any of the tests currently available, according to Englands chief medical officer Chris Whitty. Scientists at the University of Oxford are in the process of validating an antibody test, also known as an Elisa test, which will be used in this study. They are on track to have a fully validated and an accreditation compliant test in place by 4 May, according to Professor Derrick Crook, one of the lead scientists. This laboratory test will be used in the government study, but Prof Crook said there is capacity to process well over 20,000 tests a day should there be such a demand for testing. Participants in the antibody test will be asked to give further samples monthly for the next 12 months. Although swab test results will be given to participants via their GP, a letter seen by the PA news agency says that those participating in the antibody test will not receive their results. The de-identified blood samples will be sent to the University of Oxford to be tested for antibodies, with infection testing swabs to be sent to UK Biocentre. While home visits by healthcare workers to every participant in the study are likely to raise concerns, the government insisted healthcare workers will use recommended precautions to protect themselves and everyone in the household from getting the virus. It comes as The Times reports an "army" of thousands of contact tracers, including civil servants and council staff, are to be trained to ensure every person thought to be infected in the UK can be isolated. The reported aim would be to track at least 80 per cent of those who had been in contact with an infected person within 24 hours of diagnosis. The UK abandoned mass testing and contact tracing in mid-March, a move that appeared at odds with World Health Organisation insistence to "test, test, test" every suspected patient. Mr Hancock told MPs on Wednesday that the government hopes to introduce "large scale" contact tracing, saying: "Our goal is to get to a point where we can test, track and trace everybody who needs it." The paper reports PHE hopes to have a contact tracing system up and running within three weeks. Additional reporting by PA TORRINGTON Beginning May 1, Friendly Hands Food Bank at 50 King St. will be open from 9 am.-1 p.m. on Fridays, in addition to its regular hours from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. The food bank is holding a Friday Food Drive event in May. Everyone who drops off a food donation on Friday will be entered to win a Dinner for Days gift card basket, filled with gift cards for area restaurants. To reach Friendly Hands Food Bank, call 860-482-3338 or email:friendlyhandsfoodbank@gmail.com. Kindergarten registration open to April 24 TORRINGTON Kindergarten registration continues until April 24. Connecticut law requires public schools to be open to all children who reach age 5 on or before Jan. 1, 2021 to be eligible for the 2020-21 school year. Parents need to log onto the Torrington Pubic School webpage and register their child online through the registration portal found in the Enrolling Students tab or simply type: www.bit.ly/tpskreg in their web browser. Information about further registration steps will be on the webpage. Parents will receive notifications when schools are accepting documents which include a proof of residency (ex: current utility bill, a signed lease or a mortgage statement, etc . . .), copy of immunization form and original birth certificate. Parents can call their district school if they have any questions:, Torringford School, 860-489-2300; or Vogel-Wetmore School 860-489-2570. En Espanola: Jenny Garcia texto/ Llamame 860-294-9827. American Legion suspends Memorial Day parade BANTAM After careful consideration and concerns regarding the coronavirus pandemic, American Legion Post 44 of Bantam has suspended the Bantam Memorial Day parade at this time. There are still ways to honor those veterans who gave their lives for our country and to care for veterans who are isolated, members said in a statement. Please visit veteran's graves in cemeteries, while there pick up sticks, weed around graves, check the condition of their flags and don't forget to salute them and offer your thanks. Call home-bound veterans to ask if they are in need of anything, spend a few minutes chatting and offer your concerns for their well-being. The town of Litchfield has also suspended its Memorial Day parade, according to First Selectwoman Denise Raap. Virtual caregiver support groups offered HARTFORD Caregivers support groups provide emotional, educational and social support in a positive and uplifting atmosphere for those who care for an older loved one, particularly those with dementia. For many years, Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging has offered monthly in-person support groups at numerous senior living communities and senior centers. However, due to recent restrictions on social gatherings, Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging is now hosting four call-in caregivers support groups each week led by dementia specialists and resource coordinators. The call-in groups are held at 10 a.m. Mondays, 3 p.m. Tuesdays, 3 p.m.; 10 a.m. Wednesdays, and 2 p.m. Fridays. At the meeting time, participants can call 860.972.6338 and enter access code 19623#. We want caregivers to have a sense of community and connectivity even if we cannot come together in person. This is an opportunity for caregivers to share how they are feeling, their successes and challenges, and be supported by others in similar situations, said Adrianne DeVivo, CDP, dementia specialist, Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, in a statement. Participants need not to have attended a previous caregivers support group. Confidential discussion and telephonic assessments can also be had one-on-one with a dementia professional outside of the online group. Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging is a not for profit member of Hartford HealthCare Senior Services. Each of the 11 resource and assessment centers are designed to enhance access to services and information related to attaining optimal quality of life for seniors and their caregivers. For more information about Hartford HealthCare Center for Healthy Aging, visit http://hhccenterforhealthyaging.org or call 877-424-4641. Students can enter essay contest; deadline extended The Connecticut Higher Education Trust (CHET) has extended the deadline for the annual CHET Dream Big! Competition, to April 30. Parents, teachers and guardians can conveniently access entry materials from home at www.chetdreambig.com The competition features two entry categories based on grade level. Students in grades K through 3 are asked to submit an original drawing that answers the question, What do I want to do after I go to college? Fourth through eighth graders are asked to write a 250-word essay that responds to the question, How will I make a difference in my community or in the world after I go to college? A total of 48 students will be awarded a contribution to a CHET 529 college savings account of either $1,000 or $529. Over $26,000 will be awarded. Contest winners will be chosen by a panel of judges and are announced in May. Application deadline extended BARKHAMSTED The Barkhamsted Women's Club has extended the deadline for applications for the Barkhamsted Women's Club scholarship to May 1. Additionally, they will not be requiring a transcript. The scholarship application is attached below and the completed application can be submitted to the NWR7 guidance counselor or mailed to Linda Jacobs, 16 Old New Hartford Rd, Barkhamsted, CT 06063. Kiran de Silva pays $865 per month for a room he shares with his girlfriend A tenant who lost his dream job because of the COVID-19 pandemic managed to cut his monthly rent by $1,710 with one email. Kiran de Silva pays $865 per month for a room he shares with his girlfriend in Camperdown in Sydney's inner west. The total rent for the household, which the couple share with others, is $3,910. When Mr de Silva lost his job at music ticketing agent Dice and one of his housemates was stood down, he knew he had to ask for a rent reduction. 'To be completely transparent, we just simply won't be able to afford to pay rent at the current rate for the foreseeable future,' he wrote in an email to his real estate agent, ABC reported. '[The agent] wrote straight back and said 'don't stress, a lot of tenants are in a similar position'. As a result, rent was reduced by $1,710 to $2,200 for three months - a discount of 44 per cent. When Mr de Silva (centre) lost his job at music ticketing agent Dice and one of his housemates was stood down, he knew he had to ask for a rent reduction Mr de Silva's advice to others was to be direct and transparent with agents and landlords, without being rude or pushy. More than 400 people have contacted him since he shared his success online. About 50 people said they managed to get a rental discount using his letter. Lisa Pennell from Ray White Real Estate told the publication landlords are also struggling in the face of the pandemic. She said compassion and empathy is needed from both sides to reach an agreement. Meanwhile, some landlords in Sydney - known for its exorbitant rental prices - are offering a month's free rent to lure in tenants after many renters left the market due to the pandemic. Landlords are offering massively reduced rent across Sydney due to the coronavirus crisis. Pictured: Listing for Paddington The exodus has sparked a 300 per cent rise in vacant rental listings in the past month in some areas of the city, according to date from realestate.com.au. Last week, a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house with a car port in Sydney's eastern suburbs offered a weekly discount of $675. A three-bed house in Bondi Junction in the city's east was reduced from $1,300 to $1,000-a-week - a $7,800 saving over the six month period. Consumer researcher Graham Cooke, from Finder.com.au, said the pandemic is creating a 'tenant's market' in major cities. He said rents expected to drop by up to 10 to 20 per cent. Timothy Springer thought his fortune was excessive, even before he became a billionaire. Ive had more than enough wealth for myself for some time, Springer said in a 2018 interview. I dont feel I need more. The Harvard University medical professors riches are much bigger now, thanks to his stake in Moderna Inc., the US biotechnology firm attempting to develop a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. 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 Quantum computing is increasingly becoming the focus of scientists in fields such as physics and chemistry, and industrialists in the pharmaceutical, airplane, and automobile industries. Globally, research labs at companies like Google and IBM are spending extensive resources on improving quantum computers, and with good reason. Quantum computers use the fundamentals of quantum mechanics to process significantly greater amounts of information much faster than classical computers. It is expected that when error-corrected and fault-tolerant quantum computation is achieved, scientific and technological advancement will occur at an unprecedented scale. But, building quantum computers for large-scale computation is proving to be a challenge in terms of their architecture. The basic units of a quantum computer are the "quantum bits" or "qubits." These are typically atoms, ions, photons, subatomic particles such as electrons, or even larger elements that simultaneously exist in multiple states, making it possible to obtain several potential outcomes rapidly for large volumes of data. The theoretical requirement for quantum computers is that these are arranged in two-dimensional (2D) arrays, where each qubit is both coupled with its nearest neighbor and connected to the necessary external control lines and devices. When the number of qubits in an array is increased, it becomes difficult to reach qubits in the interior of the array from the edge. The need to solve this problem has so far resulted in complex three-dimensional (3D) wiring systems across multiple planes in which many wires intersect, making their construction a significant engineering challenge. A group of scientists from Tokyo University of Science, Japan, RIKEN Centre for Emergent Matter Science, Japan, and University of Technology, Sydney, led by Prof Jaw-Shen Tsai, proposes a unique solution to this qubit accessibility problem by modifying the architecture of the qubit array. "Here, we solve this problem and present a modified superconducting micro-architecture that does not require any 3D external line technology and reverts to a completely planar design," they say. This study has been published in the New Journal of Physics. The scientists began with a qubit square lattice array and stretched out each column in the 2D plane. They then folded each successive column on top of each other, forming a dual one-dimensional array called a "bi-linear" array. This put all qubits on the edge and simplified the arrangement of the required wiring system. The system is also completely in 2D. In this new architecture, some of the inter-qubit wiring--each qubit is also connected to all adjacent qubits in an array--does overlap, but because these are the only overlaps in the wiring, simple local 3D systems such as airbridges at the point of overlap are enough and the system overall remains in 2D. As you can imagine, this simplifies its construction considerably. The scientists evaluated the feasibility of this new arrangement through numerical and experimental evaluation in which they tested how much of a signal was retained before and after it passed through an airbridge. Results of both evaluations showed that it is possible to build and run this system using existing technology and without any 3D arrangement. The scientists' experiments also showed them that their architecture solves several problems that plague the 3D structures: they are difficult to construct, there is crosstalk or signal interference between waves transmitted across two wires, and the fragile quantum states of the qubits can degrade. The novel pseudo-2D design reduces the number of times wires cross each other, thereby reducing the crosstalk and consequently increasing the efficiency of the system. At a time when large labs worldwide are attempting to find ways to build large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computers, the findings of this exciting new study indicate that such computers can be built using existing 2D integrated circuit technology. "The quantum computer is an information device expected to far exceed the capabilities of modern computers," Prof Tsai states. The research journey in this direction has only begun with this study, and Prof Tsai concludes by saying, "We are planning to construct a small-scale circuit to further examine and explore the possibility." ### About the Tokyo University of Science Tokyo University of Science (TUS) is a well-known and respected university, and the largest science-specialized private research university in Japan, with four campuses in central Tokyo and its suburbs and in Hokkaido. Established in 1881, the university has continually contributed to Japan's development in science through inculcating the love for science in researchers, technicians, and educators. With a mission of "Creating science and technology for the harmonious development of nature, human beings, and society", TUS has undertaken a wide range of research from basic to applied science. TUS has embraced a multidisciplinary approach to research and undertaken intensive study in some of today's most vital fields. TUS is a meritocracy where the best in science is recognized and nurtured. It is the only private university in Japan that has produced a Nobel Prize winner and the only private university in Asia to produce Nobel Prize winners within the natural sciences field. Website: https://www.tus.ac.jp/en/mediarelations/ About Professor Jaw-Shen Tsai from Tokyo University of Science Dr Jaw-Shen Tsai is currently a Professor at the Tokyo University of Science, Japan. He began research in Physics in 1975 and continues to hold interest in areas such as superconductivity, the Josephson effect, quantum physics, coherence, qubits, and artificial atoms. He has 160+ research publications to his credit and serves as the lead author in this paper. He has also won several awards, including Japan's Medal of Honor, the Purple Ribbon Award. Lead author Professor Jaw-Shen Tsai Department of Physics Tokyo University of Science Media contact Tsutomu Shimizu Public Relations Divisions Tokyo University of Science Email: mediaoffice@admin.tus.ac.jp Website: https://www.tus.ac.jp/en/mediarelations/ Plans are underway for the introduction of a double-track trading system in major market in the Suame Municipality in Kumasi, Ashanti Region. The latest directive is among the plans of the Suame Municipal Assembly to help prevent congestion and also boost social distancing in the busy market as the country continues to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. Per this directive, which would be rolled out in the coming days, the traders would be divided into two or more groups so they could trade in turns at the market. Dr. Bobie Osei Boahen, the Suame Municipal Assembly Chief Executive, disclosed that he was not impressed about the congestion in the market. According to him, the social distancing and other protocols suggested by health experts to prevent the spread of Covid-19 were not being respected by traders and their patrons. Dr. Bobie stated that the assembly had therefore decided to introduce the double-track trading system not as punishment for the traders but rather to help protect them from the disease. There was an invasion on the Suame Market the very day that the partial lockdown was lifted and the rush to trade in the market posed danger to the people. Upon realizing the congestion in the market and the danger that it posed to traders and shoppers, we decided to introduce a rotational system there, he said. The traders will be given special cards of different colours with their names and pictures so they will be trading in turns to stop congestion, he told journalists. The Suame MCE said the new directive is because traders are difficult to control and it is to help ensure social distancing and other health protocols in the market. ---Daily Guide Texas Capital Bancshares Inc. TCBI reported adjusted loss per share of 11 cents in first-quarter 2020, against the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings of 94 cents. The reported figure excluded certain noteworthy items such as the impacts of the MSR impairment charges and merger-related expenses. Elevated expenses and pressure on margin were negatives. Further, results reflect a decline in loan balances. Also, a fall in revenues, a substantial rise in provisions and reserve build related to the coronavirus-led crisis were other key headwinds. After considering one-time items, net loss available to common stockholders was $19.1 million or 38 cents per share against net income of $80.4 million or $1.60 per share recorded in the prior-year quarter. Revenues Rise, Costs Escalate Total revenues declined 9.4% year over year to $240.1 million in the first quarter due to lower net interest and non-interest income. Furthermore, revenues lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $244.6 million. Texas Capitals net interest income was $228.3 million, down 3.1% year over year, mainly stemming from a decline in loan yields, partly muted by a decrease in funding costs. Net interest margin, however, contracted 95 basis points (bps) year over year to 2.78%. Non-interest income declined 61% year over year to $17.8 million. The downside primarily resulted from lower other non-interest income, partially offset by increases in brokered loan fees, servicing income and swap fees. Non-interest expenses flared up 17.8% year over year to $165.4 million. The upswing mainly resulted from a rise in almost all components of expenses, partly negated by lower marketing expenses. As of Mar 31, 2020, total loans declined 7.7% on a sequential basis to $25.2 billion, while deposits rose 2.3% sequentially to $27.1 billion. Credit Quality Deteriorates Non-performing assets totaled 0.9% of the loan portfolio plus other real estate-owned assets compared with the prior-year quarters figure of 0.57%. Total non-performing assets rose 64% to $219.2 million compared with the prior-year quarter. Story continues Provisions for credit losses summed $96 million compared with $20 million in the year-ago quarter. The companys net charge-offs were $57.7 million compared with $4.6 million as of Mar 31, 2019. Capital Ratios Steady The companys capital ratios displayed a steady position during the first quarter. Tangible common equity to total tangible assets came in at 7.3% compared with the year-earlier quarters 8.5%. Common equity Tier 1 ratio was 9.3%, up from 8.6% in the prior-year quarter. Leverage ratio was 8.5% compared with 10% as of Mar 31, 2019. Stockholders equity was up 8.6% year over year to $2.8 billion as of Dec 31, 2019. The uptrend chiefly allied with the retention of net income. Our Viewpoint Texas Capitals improved top line and a solid balance sheet during the quarter look impressive. Moreover, an improving economic situation is anticipated to drive the companys performance in the future. The banks inability to control expenses and higher non-performing assets will likely affect near-term profitability. Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. Quote Currently, Texas Capital carries a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Performance of Other Banks Navient Corporation NAVI reported first-quarter 2020 adjusted core earnings per share of 51 cents that missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 72 cents. Also, the bottom line was lower than the year-ago quarter figure of 58 cents. Bank of Hawaii Corporation BOH delivered first-quarter 2020 positive earnings surprise of 35.9%. Earnings per share of 87 cents surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 64 cents. However, the bottom line compares unfavorably with $1.43 reported in the prior-year quarter. Ally Financial ALLY reported first-quarter 2020 adjusted loss of 44 cents per share, lagging the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings of 71 cents. The figure also deteriorated from the year-ago quarterly earnings of 80 cents per share. Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, its expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity. A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time. See 8 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 Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. (TCBI) : Free Stock Analysis Report Bank of Hawaii Corporation (BOH) : Free Stock Analysis Report Ally Financial Inc. (ALLY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Navient Corporation (NAVI) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Egypts cabinet has said that Saturday, April 25, would be a paid holiday for all public and private sector workers to mark the 38th anniversary of the Sinai Liberation Day. The manpower ministry announced Wednesday that the day would be a paid day off for all private-sector employees. On 25 April, Egypt celebrates the completion of the withdrawal of all Israeli military forces from the Sinai Peninsula in 1982, following the 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty. Search Keywords: Short link: A couple who were living their dream of sailing across the Atlantic have shared their "shock" of returning to land and hearing the news about the global coronavirus pandemic. Elena Manighetti and Ryan Osborne had told their families not to contact them with bad news while they crossed the Atlantic. They set sail from Lanzarote on a 3,000 nautical mile journey on February 28, when the Covid-19 outbreak was mostly confined to China. Elena, who is from Lombardy in northern Italy, told the Evening Standard: "We didn't want to wait until we retire to make our dreams come true. "We couldn't afford a house, so in 2017 we joined the minimalism movement and got a cheap small boat instead. We work while we travel the world, very slowly." The couple, who used to live in Manchester, spent the first three years sailing in Europe exploring the Mediterranean, and then found themselves "lured across the Atlantic Ocean by the promise of an endless summer." They first heard about the extent of the pandemic after reaching the Caribbean island of Bequia on March 25. Ryan and Elena's initial plan was to land on Guadeloupe. However, on March 15 while they were in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, they learned that some Caribbean islands were closing their borders. Elena and Ryan decided to live a frugal life on a sailboat / Elena Manighetti "We were shocked," said Elena. "The number of deaths and cases recorded blew our minds, as well as the spread - the virus had infected the whole world. "It all happened in March, when we were out in the middle of the ocean, with no 3G. 3G only works up to about 10 nautical miles from the coast. "By the time we left to sail across the Atlantic, at the end of February, the WHO hadn't called it a pandemic and it was affecting mainly China. 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 "No one was familiar with the world lockdown. It's easy to forget how sudden the change was, worldwide." The couple have been documenting their experiences on their Youtube channel. The only means of communication they had when crossing the Atlantic was a satellite device which could only receive 160 character messages. Elena and Ryan are still in Bequia in Saint Vincent and are unable to return home until the pandemic subsides. Nyamebekyere Co-operatives Vegetable Farming and Marketing Society Limited, a farmer-based organization, has called on the government to prioritise organic farming to guarantee public health. This will also facilitate rapid socio-economic development as well. Both organic and conventional agriculture could play a pivotal role in Ghanas public health and local economic development, field research conducted by the society indicated. The society is made up of about 100,000 vegetable farmers in the Techiman Municipality of the Bono East Region, Sunyani Municipality of the Bono region, and Bechem and Tano North Municipalities of the Ahafo Region. According to the society, vegetable production was very important for the socio-economic development, and health benefits of Ghana, significantly on job creation, income generation, tourism opportunities, as well as food and nutrition security. But, it regretted over what it described as the influx of fake and adulterated agrochemicals in the market, which in the end were bought and applied by ignorant farmers. Inability of state institutions such as the Environmental Protection Authority(EPA) to regulate the agro-chemical industry in the targetted farming districts has led to adulteration and proliferation of harmful agrochemicals in the market. The effects are enormous; low yields, poor market access, high level of chemical residue on vegetables and this is adversely affecting over 100,000 vegetable producers within the study area, Dr. Gabriel Gbiel Benarku, lead researcher and service provider of the society told Journalists at Bechem in the Ahafo region. Revealing findings of the research, titled Public health concerns in vegetable value chain production: A case study in three regions of Ghana, Dr. Benarkuu explained the vegetable industry was the main source of livelihood for many actors in the sub-sector value chain. Ghanas vegetable sub-sector offers great opportunities for growth given the steady increase of high-value domestic markets and export opportunities. The domestic market alone is growing at more than 10 per cent per annum and the potential value for export vegetables is estimated at US$250 million. This increasing demand could be attributed to the perceived health benefits associated with vegetable consumption. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2003), high vegetable or fruit intake could reduce ischemic heart disease and stroke by 31 per cent and 11 per cent respectively. But, Dr. Benarkuu indicated vegetable farmers faced a critical regime where there are many sub-standard and unregulated agro-chemicals in the market. The vegetable farmers are confronted with the challenge of human resources expertise and poor management of farms due to the inability of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to deploy adequate extension officers. This affects them greatly leading to their inability to manage disease outbreaks annually. As a result, the farmers experienced poor access to the market, due to poor quality of products, a situation he said was a serious concern to public health and safety. Chemical pesticides are commonly used in the management of pests and diseases in vegetable production in Ghana. However, there is increasing concern about the adverse effects this use has on public health and the environment. Dr. Benarkuu called on the government to adequately resource the EPA, Extension Division of MOFA, and the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA), and that would enable them to deliver their mandate effectively, and rid the market of fake agrochemicals. PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-23 13:34:02 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (CSE: AGN) (FRANKFURT: AGW) (OTCQB: AGNPF) (the Company or Algernon) a clinical stage pharmaceutical development company, is pleased to announce that it has received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in South Korea, as well as ethics approval, for an investigator-led, Phase 2 COVID-19 clinical study of its re-purposed drug NP-120 (Ifenprodil), an NMDA receptor antagonist. The Lead Principal Investigator is Dr. Dong Sik Jung, Professor, in the Division of Infectious Disease of Dong-A University Hospital, Busan. The 40-patient, 4-week trial, is designed to test the effect of Ifenprodil in COVID-19 infected patients with severe pneumonia. Patients are randomized in a 1:1 fashion to receive either standard of care (SOC) or SOC with Ifenprodil. The primary endpoint will be the rate at which their lung function improves by measuring oxygen levels in the blood (Pa02/Fi02). Secondary endpoints will include mortality, rate of mechanical ventilation, and patient reported effects on cough and breathlessness (dyspnea). Enrollment in the phase 2 clinical trial is expected to begin on May 8, 2020. This first human trial of Ifenprodil in COVID-19 patients is a major step forward with our new acute lung injury clinical research program, said Christopher J. Moreau CEO of Algernon. Positive Phase 2 data would be an important milestone as we continue to investigate Ifenprodils therapeutic potential as a treatment for COVID-19, in addition to advancing our idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and chronic cough program. The Company cautions that while it is preparing to begin a Phase 2 clinical trial shortly in South Korea, it is not making any express or implied claims that NP-120 (Ifenprodil) is an effective treatment for acute lung injury (ALI), the COVID-19 virus, or any other medical condition at this time. About NP-120 (Ifenprodil) NP-120 (Ifenprodil) is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist specifically targeting the NMDA-type subunit 2B (Glu2NB). Ifenprodil prevents glutamate signalling. The NMDA receptor is found on many tissues including lung cells and T-cells, neutrophils. The Company believes NP-120 can reduce the infiltration of neutrophils and T-cells into the lungs where they can release glutamate and cytokines respectively. The latter can result in the highly problematic cytokine storm that contributes to the loss of lung function and ultimately death as has been reported in COVID-19 infected patients. About Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. Algernon is a drug re-purposing company that investigates safe, already approved drugs for new disease applications, moving them efficiently and safely into new human trials, developing new formulations and seeking new regulatory approvals in global markets. Algernon specifically investigates compounds that have never been approved in the U.S. or Europe to avoid off label prescription writing. Algernon has filed new intellectual property rights globally for NP-120 (Ifenprodil) for the treatment of respiratory diseases and is working to develop a proprietary injectable and slow release formulation. CONTACT INFORMATION Christopher J. Moreau CEO Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. 604.398.4175 ext 701 info@algernonpharmaceuticals.com investors@algernonpharmaceuticals.com www.algernonpharmaceuticals.com The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not in any way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER STATEMENT: No Securities Exchange has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to product development, licensing, commercialization and regulatory compliance issues and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as will, may, should, anticipate, expects and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Companys expectations include the failure to satisfy the conditions of the relevant securities exchange(s) and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law. ANN ARBOR, MI For the last several years, Jane Lumm has been the only non-Democrat on Ann Arbors City Council. She served on council as a Republican in the 1990s and ran for mayor as a Republican in 2004. Since 2011, she has identified as an independent, winning her 2nd Ward council seat in four odd-year elections. Now shes running as a Democrat for the first time, facing Democratic challenger Linh Song in the Aug. 4 primary. After she was cleared to go on the ballot Tuesday, April 21, Lumm issued a statement explaining her decision. Wave of council candidates file in Ann Arbor, pandemic doesnt stop signature gathering The city has switched to holding only even-year elections in which its now harder for anyone without the Democratic label to compete, given the amount of straight-ticket Democratic voting that happens in those bigger, state and federal elections. We are one of only three cities in Michigan that still conduct their local elections on a partisan basis, Lumm said. Last year, I proposed letting the voters consider a charter amendment to move us to non-partisan local elections, since good government at the local level is rarely a partisan issue. A majority of the Democrats on the council supported my proposal, but it was vetoed, so it never went to the voters for their decision. Realistically, Lumm said, this now means all city elections are decided in the Democratic primary. Ann Arbor mayor issues veto to block nonpartisan elections proposal Im running again because I want to ensure that the 2nd Ward continues to have neighborhood-friendly, service-oriented representation, she said, adding shes not committed to vote in lockstep with any other council members. Lumm said shes been very comfortable these past two years working closely though not always in full agreement with the majority of Democrats on council. They picked her in 2018 to serve as mayor pro-tem. Over the past few months, six of the other nine ward representatives on the council all Democrats have urged me to run for re-election this year, she said. They tell me that they need to be able to draw on my long institutional memory about how Ann Arbor government works and my many hours of poring over the agenda for each council meeting. Washtenaw County Commissioner Andy LaBarre, D-Ann Arbor, is supporting Song and, in a Facebook post, took aim at Lumm for filing as a Democrat. LaBarre said Lumm has always been civil to him and he doesnt wish her ill will, but he doesnt think she should be running as a Democrat. LaBarre argues she chose to share a party with Newt Gingrich, Bob Dole and George W. Bush, didnt endorse Barack Obama in 2008 or 2012, and didnt endorse Hillary Clinton in 2016. Now, after deciding not to actively support Democrats in years past, shes running as one, he said. Lumm has supported other Democratic candidates for City Council in the past and supported Democrat Jack Eatons campaign for mayor in 2018. She said shes also a supporter of state Rep. Yousef Rabhi, D-Ann Arbor, and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, and walked in last years Fourth of July Parade with Dingells team. Lumm also is supporting Arianne Slay, a Democratic county prosecutor candidate. Ann Arbor library board leader announces City Council campaign Eaton, a 4th Ward council member, defended Lumms decision to run as a Democrat, saying hes been trying to convince her to become a Democrat for years. Jane is what we used to call a Milliken Republican, Eaton said, referring to the label given to those who aligned with former Michigan Gov. William Milliken, a moderate Republican. Shes very socially liberal on guns, on gay rights, on choice and reproductive freedom, all of the things that are important to someone like me, Eaton said. She does pay close attention to how we spend our tax revenue and that makes her too conservative for some people, but really she is your typical Ann Arbor Republican who is socially liberal and financially responsible. Its been well over a decade since anyone has been elected in Ann Arbor as a Republican and Lumm isnt the first to change parties as the city has become more Democratic. As an independent, Lumm was elected to council in 2011 by defeating Democratic incumbent Stephen Rapundalo, who previously ran for mayor as a Republican in 2000. Marcia Higgins, another former Republican council member, switched parties in 2005, becoming a Democrat, the same year Rapundalo was elected to council as a Democrat. Lumm said shes an independent thinker concerned about social and environmental issues, but hard-headed in looking at specific proposals to advance those causes. This is especially important in the current crisis, which is placing new financial pressures on city government and on residents, she said. I have many years of experience in dealing with the complexities of the city budget, which is where we set our priorities each year. As always, we cant do everything we would like, but now the choices are becoming even more difficult. She said many constituents have thanked her for her willingness over the years to speak out on their priorities and problems at city hall and pursue commonsense policies. Ive been honored and pleased at how many residents have welcomed my decision to run again, and I look forward to continuing to represent the 2nd Ward on the Ann Arbor City Council, she said. Song, who announced her campaign in February, said she welcomes Lumm to the Democratic Party and looks forward to seeing her fully embrace the values that make the party diverse and progressive. Song is president of the Ann Arbor District Library board and cites building more affordable housing as one of the issues she hopes to tackle. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS: Ann Arbor council hopefuls talk NIMBYism, housing, renter rights Ward 4 Ann Arbor council candidates discuss coronavirus outbreak, sustainability Ward 5 Ann Arbor council candidates talk housing, impacts of coronavirus Ann Arbors recovery from coronavirus will be a marathon, city predicts huge revenue losses Ann Arbor council not ready to adopt A2Zero carbon-neutrality plan Amid fears of a mass coronavirus outbreak in war-ravaged Yemen, a two-week cease-fire expired Thursday with no permanent deal in its place to end fighting between Houthi rebels and the Saudi-led coalition opposing them. Heeding a call last month by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to implement a truce, the coalition, which backs the internationally recognized government of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, declared a cease-fire to allow for UN-brokered talks and to focus on containing the novel coronavirus. The Houthis, however, rejected the unilateral cease-fire. Both sides have since traded accusations of truce violations in Marib and Bayda provinces. On April 17, the coalition said it had recorded 100 Houthi violations in the preceding 24 hours. That same day, locals accused the coalition of launching six airstrikes on Sanaa, the capital, held by the Houthis. Despite the continued hostilities, UN Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths said last week that he expects the warring parties to agree on a nationwide cease-fire in the immediate future. We are redoubling our efforts to bridge the outstanding differences between the parties, he told the UN Security Council on April 16. The expired truce threatens to exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in the worlds poorest nation, which has been ravaged by war since 2014, when the Iranian-backed Houthis rebels seized control of Sanaa and went on to capture large swathes of the country from pro-government forces, on whose behalf the Saudis and a group of allies intervened militarily in March 2015. The war has claimed thousands of lives and left nearly 80% of the population requiring some form of humanitarian assistance. Although Yemen has confirmed only one case of COVID-19, aid organizations fear that an outbreak would devastate the countrys already weakened health infrastructure. More than half of Yemens hospitals and clinics have been destroyed in the five-year-long conflict, most or them in coalition-led strikes. On April 23, Lise Grande, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, described the challenges facing health care workers as a race against time. We have to be frank, the odds are stacked against us, she said. The threat of COVID-19 is so terrifying we have to do everything we can to stop the spread of the virus and help the people who may become infected. Aid cuts are expected to further hamper Yemens response to the pandemic. A majority of the United Nations humanitarian programs will either scale down or shutter entirely by the end of April unless international donors come forward with more funding. UN agencies estimate that they need more than $900 million to continue working through July. Business secretary Alok Sharma struggled to explain on Thursday why British banks have agreed just 2.8bn of lending under a government-backed scheme designed to keep small and medium-sized businesses afloat through the coronavirus pandemic. MPs on the House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee grilled Mr Sharma on why Switzerland, Hong Kong, Germany and other nations had been able to deliver multiple times the amount of emergency funding to businesses than the UK had. In terms of the [Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme] ... the latest figures being published today are showing that so far there are around 28,000 applications to date and 16,600 businesses have secured a loan, representing a total value of 2.8bn, Mr Sharma said. The amount is less than 1 per cent of the 330bn of loans and 20bn of grants and tax relief announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak last month. Switzerland has given out 98,000 loans almost six times more than the UK, despite having a population one-eighth the size. Its loans are 100 per cent guaranteed by the state, compared with 80 per cent in the UK, and are delivered to businesses in 24 hours after they fill out a one-page application. In the UK, businesses have complained of facing reams of paperwork asking detailed questions about their finances, as well as high rejection rates and delays in receiving funds. Thousands of firms are thought to be in danger of running out of cash within weeks unless they can access financial support. Asked why more than 90 per cent of the governments 350bn of financial support to businesses came in the form of loans rather than grants, Mr Sharma said it was important to look at the totality of the support being offered. That includes the furlough scheme which 387,000 employers have now applied for to cover 2.8 million peoples wages. Larger firms have received 11.2bn through a credit facility with the Bank of England while 500,000 SMEs have had grants totalling 6bn, Mr Sharma said. He added: I think you have to look at the totality of what we are offering ... if you look at what the Swiss are offering in terms of fiscal stimulus, as I understand the majority of it has gone through these particular loan schemes. Mr Sharma conceded that there was a need to get more loans out there but said that the number of accredited lenders had increased to 48 with the addition of peer-to-peer platforms like Funding Circle. Figures released on Thursday by banking trade body UK Finance show that 16,624 of the 36,186 small business finance applications for CBILS facility have been processed and approved. The average value of a CBILS loan stands at 171,000. Business groups say that is not enough and are calling for urgent changes to the scheme. Tej Parikh, chief economist at the Institute of Directors, said: It is positive to see the scheme ramping up, but cash still needs to get to more businesses quickly. Reforms have started to bed in, and more money is getting out the door. However, there are still swathes of businesses facing processing delays and restrictive viability criteria, and many are reluctant to engage with the system at all. He urged the government to relax affordability criteria for small loans and to increase state backing for lenders losses. Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) chair Mike Cherry called on banks to consider firms at the heart of communities such as small shops, restaurants, gyms, manufacturers and mechanics, many of whom are looking for relatively small loans. These figures mark an improvement, Mr Cherry said. But we need to see far more from the banks where the speed of processing applications and making money available to the smallest businesses are concerned. The government should up its guarantee on emergency loans with values under 30,000 from 80 per cent to 100 per cent. That, combined with the streamlined application process that should be in place for facilities of this size, should help to get more cash to the small firms that really need it. Part of the problem is that while the government is backing up to 80 per cent of banks losses on the loans, that still leaves them on the hook for 20 per cent. Given the potential size of the scheme, that represents a risk that some lenders appear reluctant to take. Banks may also need to change some of their operations to allow them to approve commercial loans under 25,000 because of consumer credit rules. Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey suggested last week that the government should look at guaranteeing business loans under 25,000 so that banks can avoid carrying out standard credit checks that have blocked some applications. Is there a case [for 100 per cent guarantees] for very small firms that account for quite a high volume of applications? Would it unblock things to change the risk appetite for those firms? he asked. Treasury officials are understood to be concerned about potential abuse of the system if guarantees are increased to 100 per cent. But those fears must be weighed against the danger of exacerbating economic damage caused by the pandemic if thousands of businesses run out of cash and go bust. Mr Sharma also said he would look to introduce measures to ease commercial rent demand within the next week. I do think the majority of landlords and tenants are working well, they are reaching agreements on debt obligations but I am certainly aware that certain landlords are putting undue financial pressure with aggressive debt recovery tactics, he said. What Im very happy to say to you is I will look to introduce temporary measures on this particular issue which will ease commercial rent demand and protect the UK high street ... that is something I will be doing very very shortly. Last year, 2019, was the hottest year in history across Europe, the European Union's satellite monitoring service announced. The EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service (CS3) said in a new report that 11 out of 12 of the warmest years on record took place since 2000. Areas of the European Arctic were close to 1 degree Celsius warmer than normal. Greenhouse gas emissions also led to widespread drought in parts of southern Europe. Summer heatwaves led to July 2019 being the hottest month ever recorded. Globally, 2019 was second only to 2016. In Europe, the 2019 average temperature is closely followed by 2014, 2015 and 2018, DW reported. Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal has assured that Ukraine's economy works, except for six areas. "Economy works in Ukraine. In fact, we have six industries, mainly consumption industries mass events, trade in non-food goods, transportation, restaurant business, hotel business that stopped [their operation] to break the chain of infection and epidemics. All critical infrastructures, all enterprises acting as exporters, the entire economy works today," Shmyhal said at the online briefing in Zakarpattia region, an Ukrinform correspondent informs. In addition, he cited data of a sociological survey indicating that 70% of Ukrainian citizens go to work. At the same time, the Head of Government said that new working conditions emerged because of quarantine, in particular, the need to keep social distance. However, Shmyhal added, the Social Policy Ministry and the Economic Development Ministry cooperate to create additional jobs. "Today, Ukraine needs several hundred thousand [jobs] and we will be ready to present these jobs and grant them literally in the near future, so that people will be able to move on, find a job and provide their families with food at least immediately after the quarantine is eased or ends," the Prime Minister said. ol Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 05:56:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BRUSSELS/PARIS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) leaders in a video summit on Thursday tasked the European Commission to shape the bloc's collective response to the coronavirus pandemic and link a recovery fund against the pandemic with the EU's next long-term budget starting next year. Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, said EU leaders agreed a recovery fund is needed and urgent. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a briefing that it is clear to everyone that the EU needs such a recovery fund. No specific amount was given, however. French President Emmanuel Macron said disagreements over the size and shape of the rescue package remained. Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, said the EU's executive arm would start working on the details. "Based on proposals from the European Commission, we will work constructively on a joint strategy for the recovery phase, linked to the multi-year budget," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Twitter. "This fund shall be of a sufficient magnitude, targeted towards the sectors and geographical parts of Europe most affected, and be dedicated to dealing with this unprecedented crisis," Michel said. The EU must provide budgetary transfers and not just loans to its worst-hit regions and sectors to help restart the economy, said Macron. "In the moment we are living through, these transfers must be transfers by subsidies, real budgetary transfers." With a rescue package worth at least 5 to 10 percentage points of EU gross domestic product, an agreement within EU could allow the issuance of debts with a common guarantee in order to finance "budgetary transfers towards a region or a particularly hit sector, with very clear rules and governance and accepted by all," said the French president. "No consensus is reached today. But it is an answer that we will have to provide and I believe that our Europe has no future if we can not provide this answer," he added. "If we let part of Europe fall, all of Europe will fall with it." The EU leaders also endorsed a separate 540-billion-euro (587 billion U.S. dollars) package, drawn up by euro area finance ministers earlier, to set up safety networks for workers, employers and member states. The package should be operational by June 1, according to the EU leaders. Enditem New York Representative Grace Meng on her new legislation, the Emergency Educational Connections Act of 2020, which would distribute $2 billion to schools and libraries to buy Wi-Fi hot spots, routers and Internet devices. ( The Hill April 21, 2020) A carer in St James's Hospital in Dublin has handed out over 200 goody bags filled with toiletries, snacks and even childrens drawings donated from the public in an effort to lift coronavirus patients spirits. Valerie Quirke, who lives in Tallaght, appealed to her friends last week to donate shower gel, shampoo, toothbrushes and packets of biscuits so she could hand them out to Covid patients in the hospital to raise their spirits. The carer received hundreds of donation items and has been putting them in paper bags and handing them out to all patients at St Jamess. I came across a gentleman in a ward who had a little battery-operated radio and it was his only point of contact to the outside world. Read More I brought him in some juice drinks, chocolate and batteries the next day and he was delighted. That kind of upset me the following day and I couldn't really sleep, thinking of how many people like that are in the hospital. If I know that there were people like him before the pandemic, then I know theres going to be a hell of a lot more now. Valerie asked her girlfriends to pick up a few essentials on their weekly shop runs and before she knew it, people were getting in touch from all over Dublin, looking to donate. Expand Close Gift bags en route to be handed out at St James' Hospital. Credit: Valerie Quirke / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Gift bags en route to be handed out at St James' Hospital. Credit: Valerie Quirke She also set up a GoFundMe fundraiser which has raised over 2,000. I set up the GoFundMe and it just snowballed, the response was absolutely unbelievable, she explained. I originally had planned to give out bags to only Covid patients, but everybody in the hospital is going to be able to get one of these gift bags now. Each bag contains either baby wipes or womens facial wipes, shampoo, shower gel, toothbrush and toothpaste, a magazine or a book as well as personal hygiene items. A bottle of water and a juice or a fizzy drink, as well as a packet of biscuits, bars and sweets are also included. My kids have also been drawing pictures and my friends' kids have also been making get well cards so weve included them too. Thats a big thing because its a very personal touch, she added. Paper bags and labels were donated through companies P&J Gaffey and Masterphoto Digital and Valeries spare rooms have been turned into gift bag stations with her friends Isaura Brady and Stephen Keighery helping out. I have two spare rooms at the moment and a colleague has been staying with me as shes high risk and my boyfriend has been helping out putting the bags together as my minions, she laughed. Expand Close Some of the donations from the public for gift bags to be handed out to patients. Credit: Valerie Quirke / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Some of the donations from the public for gift bags to be handed out to patients. Credit: Valerie Quirke Each bag costs 8 to put together and donations have come far and wide, with some items purchased with the money raised. I met five people at Tescos car park where we parked far apart, they put stuff in the middle of the car park and then we collected it and loaded it in the boot. When we get home, all the stuff is going into a room and it stays there for 48 hours to ensure its not contaminated. She has now encouraged other healthcare staff in other hospitals to set up similar initiatives. Im very conscious of it snowballing because we dont want to be left with too much stuff, she explained. As hospital staff we can access each ward but I dont have access in other hospitals. So I would encourage staff in other hospitals to set up something similar so patients in other places can benefit too. Courtesy Mel Keefer(BATON ROUGE, Louisiana) -- BY: TOMMY BROOKSBANK Two emergency room nurses said "I do" over the weekend with pictures of family and friends due to the coronavirus pandemic. Clare Seghers, 25, and Mel Keefer, 35, met three years ago working in the emergency room ward at Baton Rouge General Medical Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The medical professionals had been planning their nuptials for months and were hoping to spend their big day with loved ones, but the escalating COVID-19 crisis got in the way. "We were just happy to be there and be out of the hospital for a minute," Keefer said. "Delaying the wedding didnt make sense for us so we tried not to worry about things out of our control." They invited 200 people to the ceremony but had to cut it to just 10 of their closest family members to keep with social distancing guidelines from the Center of Disease Control. But Keefers mom wasnt about to let the couple walk down the aisle without a few familiar faces lining the pews. She got together with a handful of cousins and put up printed headshots of nearly 100 guests who otherwise would have been present. Keefer had no idea until he reached the alter. "I turned around and couldnt believe it," Keefer said. "It was crazy to see because I know how much time and effort they had to put in to print all those out. It felt really nice." But when Keefer saw his bride, the pictures seemed to melt away. "I saw Clare and thats all I had in my head," Keefer said. "Everything else became a blur just standing there with her during the ceremony." As the newlyweds made their way out of Mount St. Carmel Church in St. Francisville, Louisiana, family, friends and co-workers secretly waited in cars to send well-wishes from a distance. "They were all honking the horns and cheering, it was a heartwarming surprise," Keefer said. With the ceremony over, it was back to the front lines for Seghers and Keefer as the battle against COVID-19 continues. Keefer, who now works at West Feliciana Parish Hospital, revealed the wedding came as a short but much-needed breather from the ER room. "It was a good break for both of us to put a lot of sad and negative things to the side and focus on each other for a day, Keefer said. It felt like a vacation from everything thats going on and I'm thankful for my family and friends that helped us celebrate our marriage." Keefer added the couple intends to have a wedding reception at their Louisiana home in the fall. Plans for a honeymoon are on hold. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Manama Attorney General Nayef Yousef Mahmoud said that $4 million have been uncovered in the vast money-laundering scheme linked to state-owned Iranian banks. However, he stressed that the investigations are still proceeding in the case and the thousands of remaining transactions and that more names involved in the scheme will be revealed. The Public Prosecution has been probing the vast scheme to launder billions of dollars through the Bank of the Future, set up and controlled by two Iranian banks- Bank Saderat and Bank Melli. Charges have been levelled against officials from the Future Bank and three Iranian banks for multiple offences under Bahrains anti-money laundering, terrorist funding and banking laws and regulations. A line of laborers wait outside a medical clinic in the Al Quoz neighborhood of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Migrant workers in oil-rich Gulf Arab states find themselves trapped by the coronavirus pandemic. They are losing jobs, running out of money and desperate to return home as the coronavirus, stalks their labor camps. An unknown number of workers have contracted the virus or have suddenly been forced into mass quarantines, leaving them exposed and painfully vulnerable with little recourse for help. (AP Photo) DUBAI: Long a lifeline for families back home, migrant workers in oil-rich Gulf Arab states now find themselves trapped by the coronavirus pandemic, losing jobs, running out of money and desperate to return to their home countries as Covid-19 stalks their labor camps. Whether on the island of Bahrain, hidden in the industrial neighborhoods behind Dubais skyscrapers or in landlocked cities of Saudi Arabia, a growing number of workers have contracted the virus or been forced into mass quarantines. Many have been put on unpaid leave or fired. The United Arab Emirates is even threatening the laborers home countries that wont take them back with possible quotas on workers in the future something that would endanger a crucial source of remittances for South Asian countries. Some 35 million laborers work in the six Arab Gulf states of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as well as in Jordan and Lebanon, according to U.N. figures. Foreigners far outnumber locals in the Gulf states, accounting for over 80% of the population in some countries. Gulf states have increased coronavirus testing for residents and citizens alike. The UAE, for example, says 10,000 workers are being screened daily in Abu Dhabis industrial district. Many of the migrants hold low-paying construction jobs, laboring in scorching heat to transform the regions deserts into cities teeming with highways, skyscrapers, luxury hotels and marbled malls. Others work as cleaners, drivers, waiters and in jobs traditionally shunned by locals. Women often find jobs as nannies or maids. The virus represents a new danger, especially in their living quarters. Krishna Kumar, the head of the Abu Dhabi-based Kerala Social Center, named after the Indian state from which many laborers come, said up to 10 workers share a room in some labor camps in the region. By PTI NEW YORK: New York Attorney General Letitia James has threatened to take legal action against US President Donald Trump's decision to halt issuance of green cards to immigrants, saying his executive order uses immigrants as "scapegoats" and is antithetical to "everything we believe as Americans". On Wednesday, President Trump signed an executive order to suspend immigration to the US and halt the issuance of new green cards for the next 60 days as part of his administration's efforts to protect American workers, amidst the coronavirus crisis that has wrecked havoc in the country. "This proclamation is antithetical to everything we believe as Americans and only uses immigrants as scapegoats," James said in a statement on Wednesday as Trump signed the proclamation. She said her office stands "ready to take legal action" and will not allow Trump to usurp Congress's authority by presidential proclamation. "Immigrants are on the front lines of the fight to battle the coronavirus, and are providing the essential services that are keeping our nation and our economy moving forward," she said, adding that immigrants provide the American society with health care, care for the elderly, "prepare and deliver our food, clean our hospitals and public spaces, and take on so many other essential roles in our society". ALSO READ| 'Hope to protect devastated US job market': Trump signs partial suspension of immigration The proclamation signed by Trump says that green card holders or "lawful permanent residents, once admitted, are granted 'open-market' employment authorisation documents, allowing them immediate eligibility to compete for almost any job, in any sector of the economy". There is no way to protect already disadvantaged and unemployed Americans from the threat of competition for scarce jobs from new lawful permanent residents by directing those new residents to particular economic sectors with a demonstrated need not met by the existing labour supply. Trump said in the proclamation that he has "determined that the entry, during the next 60 days, of certain aliens as immigrants would be detrimental to the interests of the United States". As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, more than 22 million American workers have applied for unemployment benefits, which is a record in itself. In the coming weeks, several more millions are expected to being laid off as the US economy is in tatters. Trump said that this pause on new immigration will also help to conserve vital medical resources for American citizens. The suspension and limitation under the proclamation do not apply to, among others, lawful permanent resident of the United States, individuals seeking to enter the United States on an immigrant visa as a physician, nurse, or other healthcare professional, to perform medical research or other research intended to combat the spread of COVID-19 or to perform work essential to combating, recovering from and alleviating the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. ALSO READ| Donald Trump says US will destroy Iranian gunboats harassing Navy ships At least 842,376 coronavirus cases, including 46,769 deaths, have been recorded in the United States, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally. And globally, more than 2.6 million people are infected and at least 183,000 killed by the deadly COVID-19. According to a recent report by Congressional Research Service, currently there are almost 1 million lawfully present foreign workers and their family members waiting to receive a green card. This employment-based backlog is projected to double by financial year 2030. "Under current law, and owing to a limited number of green card issuances, the current backlog of 568,414 Indian nationals would require an estimated 195 years to disappear," CRS said. As per the existing law, the US can issue a maximum of 1,40,000 employment-based Green Cards every year with a per country cap of seven per cent. Accordingly, in fiscal year 2019, Indian nationals received 9,008 category 1 (EB1), 2,908 category 2 (EB2), and 5,083 category 3 (EB3) green cards. EB1-3 are different categories of employment-based Green Cards. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo gives his a press briefing about the CCP virus crisis in Albany, New York, on April 17, 2020. (Matthew Cavanaugh/Getty Images) Cuomo Tells New Yorkers Wanting to Return to Work: Get a Job as an Essential Worker New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said April 22 that protestors demanding the state reopen so they can return to work amid the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic should get a job as an essential worker. Cuomo made the comments during a press conference on Wednesday after WRGB reporter Anne McCloy told him that she had spoken with some demonstrators who had gathered in Albany to stage an Operation Gridlock protest calling for an end to the PAUSE plan that closed non-essential businesses statewide. The order went into effect March 22 in an effort to prevent the spread of the virus and also banned non-essential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reason until at least May 15. McCloy said the protestors had told her that that they dont have time to wait, for widespread testing, which Cuomo has been pushing for, and which can help determine how many people in the state were infected by the virus. She said many Americans are not getting a paycheck, and desperately want to get back to work so that they can feed their families. By the way, if you want to go to work, go take a job as an essential worker. Do it tomorrow, Cuomo said following a heated discussion, to which McCloy responded, But the people arent hiring because of the pandemic. No, there are people hiring, Cuomo said. You can get a job as an essential worker, so now you can go to work and you can be an essential worker and youre not going to kill anyone. While Cuomo expressed sympathy for the plight of the protesters and those who are currently struggling with economic hardship, he noted the virus is still killing hundreds of New Yorkers every day and that the risk of death outweighs economic hardship. Its not about me. Its about we, Cuomo said, I get the economic hardship, everybody gets it, everybody feels it, before adding that the state is moving heaven and earth to get unemployment insurance out to those who need it. We get the economic anxiety, the question is how do you respond to it and do you respond to it in a way that jeopardizes public health and possibly causes more people to die? the governor said before urging protesters to think about it as if it was your family that might get infected, and gain a new perspective on the pandemic. He added that all New Yorkers would eventually receive their unemployment check, noting that while they are a couple of days behind, everyone will get their unemployment check from the date of unemployment, and it will not cost them an extra penny. A number of states across the United States are beginning to announce timelines for relaxing strict measures put in place to prevent the spread of the virus, including Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Many are dropping stay-at-home orders beginning May 1 amid a surge in unemployment numbers and the prospect of economic depression. However, several states have not yet announced an end to restrictions and health officials have warned that lockdown measures being lifted too swiftly may create a second wave of infections. As of April 23, there have been 262,268 confirmed cases of the CCP virus in New York and 20,354 deaths in the state have been attributed to the disease. P eople across Australia, New Zealand and around the world will mark Anzac Day this weekend. The poignant annual event honours Australia and New Zealands war dead, who lost their lives in the Gallipoli landings during the First World War. In the UK, a service of commemoration and thanksgiving takes place at Westminster Abbey to mark Anzac Day but this year, as with most other events, it is cancelled due to the ongoing coronavirus lockdown. Heres everything you need to know about Anzac Day, why it is remembered and how memorial services are adapting due to the pandemic. When is Anzac Day? A young girl watches sailors march during the Anzac Day parade in Melbourne / AFP/Getty Images Anzac Day was first made an official day of remembrance on April 25, 1916, and has been celebrated on that day every year since. For Kiwis and Australians, Anzac Day is an important time to remember those lost in all conflicts, much like Remembrance Day in the UK. Anzac Day 2019 - In pictures 1 /41 Anzac Day 2019 - In pictures The Duke of Cambridge walks with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during an Anzac Day service at the Auckland War Memorial EPA The Duke of Cambridge meets five year old Alen Alsati and her father Wasseim, who are recovering in Starship Childrens Hospital in Auckland after being injured in the Christchurch mosques terrorist attack Kensington Palace Prince William greets New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden during the service Reuters The Duke of Cambridge laying a wreath at the Auckland Anzac Day Civic Service PA A member of the 324 Squadron pictured during the Anzac Day dawn service at Coogee Beach in Sydney EPA A soldier raises an Australian flag before a ceremony at Lone Pine, at Canakkale on the Gallipoli Peninsula AFP/Getty Images Australia's Chief of Defence Forces Angus Campbell visits the Lone Pine Australian memorial to attend a ceremony to mark the 104th anniversary of the World War One battle of Gallipoli, in the Gallipoli peninsula in Canakkale, Turkey REUTERS Gypsy O'dea (left), granddaughter of late Australian second world war veteran and former prisoner of war Neil Macpherson, is consoled by a member of Australia's Defense Forces at the Hellfire Pass section of the Thai-Burma railway, following the Anzac Day war memorial service at Hellfire Pass in Kanchanaburi province, Thailand EPA Soldiers march during the Anzac Day parade in Brisbane EPA Australian servicemen take part in Anzac Day ceremonies at the military cemetery of the Australian National Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux, northern France AFP/Getty Images Prince William attends an Anzac Day service in Auckland Reuters The Duke of Cambridge lays a wreath during an Anzac Day service at the Auckland War Memorial EPA Visitors from Australia and New Zealand attend a dawn ceremony marking the 104th anniversary of the World War One battle of Gallipoli, at Anzac Cove in the Gallipoli peninsula in Canakkale, Turkey Reuters People walk among gravestones after an Australian Memorial service at Lone Pine, at Canakkale on the Gallipoli Peninsula AFP/Getty Images Australia's Defence Force Chief Gen. Angus Campbell stands in attention during a ceremony at the Lone Pine Cemetery, in Gallipoli peninsula, Turkey, AP Visitors from Australia and New Zealand attend a dawn ceremony marking the 104th anniversary of the World War One battle of Gallipoli, at Anzac Cove in the Gallipoli peninsula in Canakkale, Turkey Reuters People visit the Lone Pine Cemetery in Gallipoli peninsula, Turkey AP Australian visitors attend a dawn ceremony marking the 104th anniversary of the World War One battle of Gallipoli, at Anzac Cove Reuters Australian visitors attend a dawn ceremony marking the 104th anniversary of the World War One battle of Gallipoli, at Anzac Cove Reuters Visitors from Australia and New Zealand attend a dawn ceremony at Anzac Cove Reuters Visitors from Australia and New Zealand wait at Anzac Cove to attend a dawn ceremony Reuters The Auckland Anzac Day Civic Service at Auckland War Memorial PA People participate in the Anzac Day march in Sydney, Australia EPA Soldiers march during the Anzac Day parade in Brisbane EPA People attend he Dawn Service ceremony at the Anzac Cove beach, the site of World War I landing of the Anzacs AP Participants take part in the Anzac Day parade in Sydney AFP/Getty Images A woman carries a photo of a veteran during a march celebrating Anzac Day in Sydney AP People attend the Anzac Day war memorial service at Hellfire Pass in Kanchanaburi province, Thailand EPA Visitors from Australia and New Zealand gather during a Dawn Service ceremony at Anzac Cove Beach, at Canakkale on the Gallipoli Peninsula AFP/Getty Images People attend the Australian Memorial Service at Lone Pine in commemoration of the Gallipoli War on Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey EPA Australian soldiers take part in Anzac Day ceremonies at the military cemetery of the Australian National Memorial in Villers-Bretonneux, northern Franc AFP/Getty Images ANZAC is an acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. On April 25, 1915, Australian and New Zealand soldiers formed part of the allied expedition that set out to capture the Gallipoli peninsula. These became known as Anzacs. What were the Gallipoli landings? Dawn: people walk at the Anzac Cove cemetery by the site, in Gallipoli peninsula, Turkey / AP On the morning of 25 April 1915, the allies, including the Anzacs, launched an expedition to capture the Gallipoli peninsula. Their aim was to gain access to the Dardanelles - a strip of water the peninsular and mainland Turkey - which leads to the Black Sea and thus free it up for their navy. This would then give them direct access to Constantinople (now Istanbul in Turkey) which, at the time, was the capital of the Ottoman Empire a key ally of Germany during the war. The plan was to hit Ottoman troops hard with a surprise attack and knock them out of the war whilst capturing their capital. What happened? Remembrance: People attend an Anzac Day dawn service in Canakkale, Turkey / AFP/Getty Images The Anzacs were met with fierce resistance from the Ottoman Turkish defenders. The expedition quickly entered a stalemate which then dragged on for eight months leading to huge losses and casualties on both sides. By the end of the year, when Allied forces were evacuated, their deaths totalled over 56,000, including 8,709 from Australia and 2,721 from New Zealand. Why is it an important day for New Zealand and Australia? ar veterans make their way down Elizabeth Street during the ANZAC Day parade in Sydney / Getty Images News of the events at Gallipoli made a profound impact on Australians and New Zealanders and April 25 became the day on which they remembered the sacrifice of those killed. On 30 April 1915, when the first news of the landing reached New Zealand, a half-day holiday was declared and impromptu services were held. The actions taken by Anzac troops went down in history for their bravery and the hardships suffered, with many seeing their heroism as being key to national identity. Following the Second World War, Anzac Day was used to commemorate the lives of Australians who died in both wars and now all military operations. How is Anzac Day commemorated? Memorial services are usually held at dawn to mark the time of the original landing in Gallipoli in which those in attendance sing hymns and lay wreaths. The last post is played by military trumpeters. This year, the Covid-19 pandemic has ensured that no events will take place and no veterans will march with New Zealand under strict lockdown and social distancing measures in force across Australia. Instead, Australians and Kiwis have been asked to stand at the end of their driveways or on balconies at 6am on Saturday to mark their respects. This is followed by marches which take place in cities across Australia and New Zealand and commemorative services at churches and war memorials. GREENWICH Numerous police units were deployed to the the Byram section of town Thursday afternoon after a fight among several women, according to law enforcement authorities. A person was injured in a fight in a laundry shop on North Water Street, Police Lt. Mark Zuccerella said. LIMERICK GAA Clubs turned on their lights on Wednesday night in a moving display of prayer and community for a boy seriously injured in a crash. The nine-year-old boy was on his bike when the collision occurred at Cush Cross, between Kilfinane and Garryspillane, on Tuesday. He was airlifted to Cork University Hospital with chest and head injuries. He has since been moved to Temple Street Children's Hospital where he is in intensive care. The child is in the thoughts and prayers of all in south east Limerick. Staker Wallace and Effin GAA Clubs switched on their lights at 9.30pm on Wednesday. Fr Chris O'Donnell said they lit a candle by turning on their lights. "That was their gesture in a world where we have to be so creative around how we show sympathy. People gathered at a social distance in Staker Wallace and prayed. "I have a night prayer at 9.30pm every night on Facebook. I dedicated my prayer to the child and his family. I prayed online. We all prayed together," said Fr O'Donnell. His fellow priests in the locality - Fr David Casey and Fr Michael O'Shea - are also offering up their thoughts and prayers. Many people also stood outside their own homes with candles in solidarity. Kilmallock GAA, Blackrock GAA, Cois Laoi Gaels also posted messages on their Facebook pages asking people to say prayers. Fr O'Donnell said they encourage families to send pictures in for the online Masses. One of the boy's family sits on the altar and is then moved under the statue of St Anthony when they are doing the Novena to St Anthony. Everyone is praying for his recovery. "It is everyone's dream and hope. We are going to keep hoping and praying," said Fr O'Donnell. The economic director of the White House has said he thinks American businesses should not be held liable if their employees or customers become infected with the coronavirus. During an appearance on CNBC, Larry Kudlow argued protecting businesses from the consequences of operating in the middle of a pandemic was necessary to instil confidence in business owners who wish to reopen. Youve got to give the businesses some confidence here that if something happens, and it may not be their fault the disease is an infectious disease if something happens, you cant take them out of business, Mr Kudlow said. You cant throw big lawsuits at them. And I think liability reforms and safeguards are going to be a very important part of it. Mr Kudlows sentiments are shared by Donald Trump, who said on Monday that he believed protections needed to be established to shield businesses from lawsuits. We have tried to take liability away from these companies, the US president said. We just dont want that because we want the companies to open and to open strong. Mr Trumps statements came after the US Chamber of Commerce a lobbying group aimed at promoting business interests published a letter that claimed that liabilities related to coronavirus exposure were the largest area of concern for the overall business community and asked that businesses not be subject to standards set in place by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards in place requiring training and personal protective equipment use intended to stop the spread of coronavirus. There have already been instances of essential staff becoming ill while working. Food workers, like those at meat packing plants, have become infected - there have been dozens of outbreaks in meatpacking plants across the nation, USA Today reported - and Amazon workers have held demonstrations over warehouse conditions related to coronavirus exposure. In addition to seeking liability protection due to coronavirus exposure, the US Chamber of Commerce is also pushing for business protections against disruptions to business that affect wages, hours, leave and travel. These are practical things to reassure business that they can confidently move to implement a reopening, Neil Bradly, chief policy officer at the US Chamber of Commerce, told Reuters. Such moves, while protecting businesses, could leave employees open to lost wages, disrupted benefits and potentially temporary loss of leave. This week, more than 24 million people have filed for unemployment assistance in the US. It appears the move would have broad support among Republican politicians. Theres been a lot of discussion among conservative Republicans, Mike Johnson, a Republican representative on Mr Trumps congressional task force on the economy, said. On the Republican side, I think there would be broad support, probably near-unanimous support. Though Democrats have not issued an official position on the legislation, some politicians have noted there would need to be caveats to any liability legislation that ensured businesses wouldnt have carte blanche protections. If you just want to immunize the business and stop there, thats not much of a conversation, Bobby Scott, a Democrat representative, told Reuters. Mr Scott and other House Democrats recently introduced legislation requiring employers to implement infectious disease exposure control plans meant to keep their workers safe during the pandemic Hemant Kumar Rout By Express News Service BHUBANESWAR: At 60, he faced the worst fears of his life. Yet, he beat the odds. The recovery of one of the oldest coronavirus patients in Odisha provides hope for all. A native of Bhubaneswar and banker by profession, he had a travel history to New Delhi and was diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 26. As patient no 3 of the State, he was then the oldest too. Luckily, none of his 112 contacts - not even family members - test positive. Though in high-risk category, his self-discipline and approach to life was well supported by the doctors who helped him fight the battle of a lifetime. It was after a short trip to his colleagues native place Muralipur in Haryanas Rewari district he found himself sick. He was admitted in the ICU of a private clinic for two days before getting admitted to Capital Hospital. "Nobody in the hospital told me that I tested positive for coronavirus but it was evident in their care for me, a day after the collection of swab samples. Initially, I was panic-struck and under tremendous stress but never lost hope and the fight," he said. The hospital ensured that the elderly man was given special nursing care as he was suffering from fever and breathlessness for a few days after his test results came positive. After five days of treatment, his condition started improving and he regained complete hope. As the doctors and paramedics had to go under 14-day quarantine as per protocol, he was shifted to KIMS Covid Hospital on April 12. He was in isolation there for a week before being discharged on April 18. He is now in home quarantine after two days of institutional quarantine at a hotel. One among nine elderly patients of the State, this Chief Manager of a public sector bank is all praise for treating doctors and paramedics. "They were like angles for me. All I have for them is gratitude. Apart from blessings of God, it is their behaviour and counselling that gave me strength," he added. Though the source of transmission has not been traced as yet, he suspects to have got the infection at the airport or in the return flight to Bhubaneswar. He had travelled to New Delhi on March 7 along with his wife and daughter and from there to Muralipur. After spending two days, he returned on March 10. He was absolutely fine until he fell sick on March 16. He consulted a doctor over phone and took medicine. As the fever did not subside, he got admitted in a private clinic before testing positive. But that nightmare is gone for now. High-resolution images taken by satellites in orbit around Earth can detect swathes of plastic pollution in the world's oceans, a study has found for the first time. The European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 satellites are able to spot floating plastics and tell them apart from other materials such as seaweed and driftwood. Astronomers say the imaging technique can automatically spot the difference with 86 per cent accuracy. In one location where the method was tested, Canada's Gulf Islands, the method was 100 per cent accurate. Conservationists are calling for similar technology to be used in the fight to clean up the world of humanity's litter. Scroll down for video The signatures that were studied came from satellite data on plastic litter washed up at Durban Harbour in South Africa (pictured) in April 2019 and floating plastic off the coast of Mytilene in Greece in 2018 and 2019 Scientists from the UK and Greece teamed up and tested the system in four different coastal locations: Scotland, Ghana, Vietnam and Canada's Gulf islands. By proving images from several miles above the planet's surface can be used to spot plastic, researchers hope drones or high-resolution satellites could be used to improve global monitoring of marine plastic littering and aid clean-up operations. Study author Dr Lauren Biermann, an Earth observation scientist at the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, said: 'Plastic pollution is a global issue. Researchers identified patches of floating debris based on their spectral signatures, which refers to the wavelengths of visible and infrared light the debris absorbed and reflected and an algorithm then further separates the items in the signature (pictured) 'This method will hopefully provide a stepping stone for satellites and drones to be used to tackle the marine plastics problem at the end of the product life cycle. 'However, we will only ever make meaningful progress if we also tackle the source and reduce the amount of plastics produced. 'The approach which uses data from the European Space Agency Sentinel-2 satellites is able to distinguish plastics from other materials with 86 per cent accuracy.' The plastic patches were identified by their spectral signatures the unique way in which rays of light bounce off an object. A machine-learning algorithm was then used to spot the differences between plastics and other materials, such as driftwood, seaweed and sea foam. The signatures that were studied came from satellite data on plastic litter washed up at Durban Harbour in South Africa in April 2019 and floating plastic off the coast of Mytilene in Greece in 2018 and 2019. Researchers also used previously obtained satellite data on natural materials likely to be found together with marine plastic such as seaweed, woody debris, foam and volcanic rock. Gov. Tom Wolf said Thursday hell be employing a county by county approach to reopening Pennsylvania. Wolf has outlined steps to allow for a return to normalcy after shutting down the state to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Wolf said the northwestern and northcentral regions of Pennsylvania will be the first to see an easing of restrictions. He also described three rolling phases to reopen the state: red, yellow and green. In a news conference Thursday, Wolf said hell consult with local officials on reopening regions. Were going to work with the counties, Wolf said on lifting restrictions. He said the lifting of restrictions will be a county by county approach. While rural areas with few cases may get to reopen earlier, Wolf said the Philadelphia region would likely be among the last. Philadelphia and its suburbs have been hit hard by COVID-19. The governor said the administration will work with everyone to get ideas and solicit criticisms to make sure what were doing is right. Were trying to make the reopening appropriate to the realities on the ground, Wolf said. The Wolf administration outlined a guideline for easing restrictions: counties must have fewer than 50 new cases per day per 100,000 residents for a period of 14 days. Wolf said the administration is laying out criteria that will be as objective as possible but will also include subjective observations. The administration has also said it will evaluate the areas local healthcare capacity, such as available hospital beds, in addition to the number of cases. The goal is to keep Pennsylvanians safe, Wolf said. Wolf said if a county is reopened but an outbreak emerges, the state could employ more restrictions to limit the spread of the virus. Wolf said the state will be watching closely to see if cases rise as restrictions are lifted. We have reserved for the state the ability to backtrack, Wolf said. Gov. Tom Wolf's red, yellow and green phases reopening Pennsylvania after coronavirus-related shutdowns in 2020. (Graphic via the governor's office.) Philadelphia The city of Philadelphia has been the epicenter of the virus. More than 10,000 people in the city have contracted the virus and more than 360 have died, city officials said. Thousands more have been infected in the surrounding suburbs. Wolf said hes pretty sure the southeastern part of the state will be among the last to reopen. There are parts of the state that are not ready for it, Wolf said of reopening. The governor said he didnt want to continue to have rural areas with fewer cases shut down simply because the Philadelphia region has a high concentration of cases. Wolf said a measured approach to reopening the state makes sense. On May 8, Wolf plans to begin lifting restrictions in some rural counties in northern Pennsylvania where there have been only a handful of confirmed cases. In those regions moving into the yellow phase, some business activity resumes but restrictions would remain in place. Gatherings of more than 25 people would be prohibited, so casinos, theaters and gyms would remain closed. Some could return to work at offices or businesses but teleworking is still encouraged. More than 37,000 people statewide have been diagnosed with the coronavirus and more than 1,400 have died, according to the state Department of Health. Wolf and Levine have said social distancing measures have flattened the curve in Pennsylvania. Construction The governor also said construction activity can resume May 1. Wolf clarified that public and private construction can begin again. The idea is all construction will resume May 1, Wolf said. Construction companies will still be required to have workers wear masks and employ social distancing. He said the administration will work with the construction industry to ensure they reopen safely. Still, Pennsylvania remains under a statewide stay-at-home order until May 8. Unemployment Wolf said the state is working to handle the surge of unemployment claims submitted to the state Department of Labor & Industry. More than 1.5 million Pennsylvanians have filed unemployment claims since mid-March. It has created all kinds of challenges for us, Wolf said. We are working day and night to figure out how to turn everything around. Wolf said more than $1 billion has been paid out in unemployment claims. The state has hired more workers and is using new technology to try and handle all the requests for assistance. The governor said the state is confronting an unprecedented surge of claims in a short time, but he understood the frustration of those who have had trouble reaching the labor department. Im not satisfied with where we are and neither is Labor & Industry," Wolf said. Testing Wolf said he wants to see more testing in the state. But hes not certain what tests will be done. The governor said there isnt an antibody test with a fast enough turnaround time to be useful. Some diagnostic tests have flaws and take too long to turn around, Wolf said. He said all states are struggling to acquire enough test kits. Right now, the state is relying on the federal government for test kits. Theres a lot of pleading and begging that goes on there, Wolf said. This post will be updated. More from PennLive Can we find those infected with coronavirus, so everyone else can get back to work, school and life? Wolf administration defends its coronavirus death counts as county coroners say theyre being skipped WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Navy ships will shoot Iranian gunboats that get too close "out of the water," President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, after 11 vessels from Iran's elite fighting force came dangerously close to American ships in the Gulf. "We're not going to stand for it. If they do that that's putting our ships in danger and our great crews and sailors in danger - I'm not going to let that happen. And we will - they'll shoot them out of the water." "That's a threat. When they get that close to our boat, and they have guns, they have very substantial weapons on those boats, but we'll shoot them out of the water." (Reporting by Jeff Mason; Writing by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Sandra Maler) ALBANY The state Legislature has made tentative plans to return to session within the next two weeks, hoping to consider additional coronavirus-related legislation. The majority conferences in both chambers are meeting privately this week to discuss upcoming legislative priorities, primary elections and the state's financial crisis, members said. Senate Democrats were conferencing Thursday, while Assembly Democrats plan to meet virtually on Friday. We have lots of work to get done and plan on being back in session shortly," Senate Majority spokesman Mike Murphy said in an email. "We prepared for this situation and passed a resolution that has allowed us to hold session remotely. We look forward to continuing to serve the people of New York in this unprecedented time." Assembly Majority spokesman Michael Whyland reiterated previous statements that the chamber remains in session "at the call of" Speaker Carl Heastie. After the passage of the budget in early April, members had a planned recess through April 20 and then were scheduled to meet four days this week. But the coronavirus which also canceled several session days last month has put the remainder of the legislative calendar in limbo. Individual members have called to resume session, especially as more progressive lawmakers push for a rent freeze that Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has thus far rejected. And while members have continued to propose coronavirus-related bills, others have also pushed for unrelated legislative priorities, including measures tackling environmental issues, social justice, safety and public health. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The timing of the planned session would also likely coincide with the state's first deadline for potential budget cuts. When lawmakers passed the annual state budget earlier this month, they included a provision allowing officials some flexibility throughout the fiscal year to adjust for revenue shortfalls related to the pandemic. There are three scheduled deadlines for potential cuts, with the first falling on April 30. The Legislature would then have 10 days to pass spending changes if tax receipts are less than 99 percent of what had been projected or if the state overspends by at least 1 percent. If they can't agree, the decision falls to Budget Director Robert Mujica. Cuomo has already indicated that schools, local governments and hospitals could see 20 percent spending cuts across the board if the federal government fails to pass another relief package including funding for states hit by COVID-19. The world has lauded Singapore for its exemplary COVID-19 response just less than a month ago. The small city-state was able to control the rise of the cases without the need for restrictive lockdowns or community quarantines as compared to the rest of the world. (Photo : Pixabay) The world has lauded Singapore for its exemplary COVID-19 response just less than a month ago. The small city-state was able to control the rise of the cases without the need for restrictive lockdowns or community quarantines as compared to the rest of the world. After Singapore's model approach to coronavirus, the second wave hit the city-state hard. Based on Johns Hopkins University, Singapore's number of confirmed coronavirus cases rose from 266 since March 17, to over 9,000. About 3,000 cases have been reported in just the last three days. As of April 21, the Ministry of Health has confirmed 1,111 new cases of infection. These numbers may not be as enormous as the thousands of daily reported cases in European countries and the United States. However, the city-state has only a population of 5.7 million, with a small total land area of almost 700 square kilometers. In comparison, New York is more massive; hence, the total number of reported cases is quite significant and alarming. Initially, Singapore's ideal approach to the pandemic is also due to a lot of advantages it has, such as having only one primary land border with Malaysia, a top-notch health care system, stringent rules, and policing, among others. Despite these, cases have still surged drastically. Most of the newly reported cases are Work Permit holders that reside in clustered residences. The growing number of infections are linked to the country's crowded migrant worker dormitories. Singapore has been acknowledged globally for what seemed like a successful containment of the outbreak. However, this second peak or new wave of confirmed cases proves how easily the virus can revive and spread, particularly in disadvantaged communities. The prime minister, Lee Hsien Loong, imposed restrictions at the beginning of April and was supposed to end by the first week of May. However, with the steep spike on the number of positive cases, Singapore will extend its lockdown measures and restrictions until early June. Singapore was one of only a handful of countries that did not close schools due to early research that suggests that children are not as vulnerable to COVID-19 compared to adults. Majority of countries imposed school closures to avoid transmission of the virus and intensify social distancing measures. However, the findings of the study published early April point out that school closures did not aid in controlling the SARS outbreak in 2003. This time, however, the city-state is tightening its measures by closing schools and numerous workplaces to slow the wildfire-like spread of the virus. The country's first measures, also known as the "circuit breaker" strategy, include the closure of theme parks and casinos, food and beverage outlets, and restaurants will remain open but only for delivery or takeaway. Food establishments, supermarkets, hospitals, clinics, utilities, banks, and transportation will remain open. The announcement of extended measures came two weeks after the government imposed its original lockdown strategy. Stricter standards have resulted in the closure of more shops and non-essential establishments, restriction of access in public hotspots, and work suspension of migrant workers who were required to stay home. Patriotic Chinese trolls have been using fake Twitter accounts to hound foreign media companies about their reporting of the coronavirus outbreak. According to an analysis of social media trends released on Thursday by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, a network of bloggers operating independently of the Chinese government have targeted outlets such as the Wall Street Journal, CNN, BBC and the US government-funded non-profit Radio Free Asia with a barrage of criticism and fake news. The Twitter accounts have also apparently sought to increase tensions between Taiwan and Beijing. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the World Health Organisation, accused Taiwan of a racist smear - a claim amplified by patriotic tolls. Credit:Bloomberg Although many media outlets were being trolled by Chinese accounts well before 2020, the main campaign appears to have picked up steam around mid-March as a loose network of Twitter accounts designed to mimic and harass Western media, according to the Institute's researchers Elise Thomas and Albert Zang. - The Philippine Army has called for an investigation on the death of Corporal Winston Ragos - It is asking the public to be more understanding of soldiers who are still carrying the wounds of war - In its official statement, the PA stated that the wounds of soldiers are not just physical but also mental - Corporal Winston Ragos was gunned down by a policeman at a quarantine checkpoint in Quezon City PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed The Philippine Army has finally released its statement on the death of Corporal Winston Ragos, who was gunned down by Police Master Sergeant Daniel Florendo Jr. at a checkpoint in Quezon City last April 21. According to the spokesperson of the Philippine Army, Colonel Ramon Zagala, the army is seeking a probe into the incident, stated ANC. "Lieutenant General Gilbert Gapay, commanding general [of the] Philippine Army, ordered an investigation to be conducted by the Army Judge Advocate in coordination with the Philippine National Police in order that justice be given to the death of Ragos," Zagala said in a statement on April 23 as per ABS-CBN's report. On Tuesday, at around 2:30 p.m., Ragos and the cops at the checkpoint along Maligaya Drive, Brgy. Pasong Putik, QC., had an altercation. Ragos allegedly violated ECQ rules, was asked by policemen to drop to the ground, but he raised his hands and failed to drop to the ground. He was then shot by the police officer. As per Manila Bulletin, Ragos sustained two gunshot wounds. Here's the statement of the Philippine Army: 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! One netizen made a difference by giving food to a Grab driver. Cha Calubaquib posted about how happy the Grab driver was when she gave him chicken for his family. You will find how truly inspiring the story is through the video that we created just for you. Check out all of the exciting videos and celebrity interviews on our KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: KAMI.com.gh They logged onto Zoom from every corner of the city, from the South Shore of Staten Island to the northern reaches of the Bronx. In fact, Wednesdays first-ever remote meeting of the New York City Council had perfect attendance, with all 50 current council members present something that rarely happens at meetings held at City Hall, under normal circumstances. But then again, what else did the citys lawmakers have to do at the time? The City Council as a whole hasnt met for nearly two months, since Feb. 27. The last committee meetings were almost six weeks ago, on March 13. And in the meantime, the world has changed, with the new coronavirus taking the lives of as many as 15,842 New York City residents and slowing the citys charging economy to a trot. But in a time when so much in the city is going poorly, the nearly-three-hour-long meeting moved relatively smoothly. There was a minor hiccup early on, where the meeting was paused to resolve technical difficulties, but it resumed after two minutes. Indeed, the live-streamed meeting led to some New Yorkers wondering aloud on Twitter why Congress or the state Legislature couldnt do the same. Congress has considered implementing remote voting, but hasnt taken action. And while state lawmakers in Albany were able to pass a budget with some altered voting procedures, theyre postponed all subsequent public meetings and may cancel the rest of the legislative session entirely. While New York City Council Majority Leader Laurie Cumbo, who presided over the meeting, deserves notice for banging an actual gavel in what appeared to be her living room, credit for the meetings organization must also go to council parliamentarian Lance Polivy, a staffer who made sure the rules of order governed by the City Charter were strictly followed, despite the circumstances. Of course, some exceptions had to be made. Rules, Privileges and Elections Committee Chairwoman Karen Koslowitz made a motion to suspend certain rules about meeting at City Hall in relation to certain emergency measures to respond to the public health risk posed by the coronavirus. The motion passed unanimously, and the video meeting continued. As for actual legislating, the council unanimously passed dozens of the typical land use applications and low-profile real estate tax abatements that always make up a portion of its business. The only dose of digital debate was a disagreement over whether the council should expand the size of the Downtown Flushing Transit Hub Business Improvement District in Queens. City Councilman Peter Koo, who represents the area, supported it, but Brooklyn Councilman Kalman Yeger forced a vote to reconsider, since the pandemic could have changed some business owners' thoughts on the matter since a public hearing held in February. Yegers challenge failed, and the bill passed. In some ways, the meeting could be seen as a test run for whats to come. The council officially introduced an ambitious package of bills at the meeting meant to slow the spread of the coronavirus and to help New Yorkers who have held their health or jobs or finances affected by the disease. It includes a bill that would close some 75 miles of city streets to cars in order to allow New Yorkers more space outside, and another that would halt all residential and commercial evictions for 12 months. Another bill would effectively close some city homeless shelters during the pandemic and instead let homeless New Yorkers stay in unused hotel rooms. Theyre likely to spur more debate among council members than expanding the Flushing BID. There isnt a specific timeline for the package, but Council Speaker Corey Johnson said he wants to move quickly, and the next meeting of the full legislative body is currently scheduled for May 5. Still, Johnson expressed regret that the council couldnt do more, and called on the federal government to provide the city with more money and help in coordinating a crisis response. The legislative package is not a silver bullet, Johnson said in a video press conference before the meeting. Its not a panacea. Its not going to take care of every issue. Its an area we think we can bring an additional level of protection for the folks right now who are anxious and concerned. The council also plans to hold its usual spring budget hearings by video conference, during which the body will comb through the extensive budget cuts proposed by Mayor Bill de Blasio. The council had previously pushed de Blasio to save more money in a rainy day fund. Now, Johnson said, the rainy day is here. The days proceedings over Zoom, however, shed some light on council members personal lives and eccentricities. City Councilman Chaim Deutsch tuned into the beginning of the meeting from his car. He made it home and hugged his dog, then caught the latter half of the meeting lounging in the sun in what appeared to be his backyard. City Councilman Ben Kallos was joined in the meeting by his large housecat, Pandora. He occasionally stroked her on video, like a James Bond villain gone municipal. City Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, who represents the neighborhoods around the George Washington Bridge, appeared before a digital background of San Franciscos Golden Gate Bridge. City Councilman Costa Constantinides seemed to be sprouting a quarantine beard, while City Councilman Stephen Levin has let his already-long hair grow to unforeseen lengths. In normal times, the legislators spend some time at City Hall meetings gossiping, joking and catching up with friends. Now, separated by a stay-at-home order and with Zooms chat function disabled, they had to make personal connections publicly. I miss being in the same room with all of you, said City Councilwoman Adrienne Adams. When Levins young child showed up on his video, it was praised as adorable and wonderfully distracting. And many condolences were shared with City Councilman Rafael Salamanca, whose father recently died from COVID-19. I want to sign off, and tell New York City, I love you, Johnson said before closing the meeting. Godspeed. Be safe, New York City. Were here for you. Nicola Sturgeon's plan to get out of lockdown The Scottish First Minister today set out some of the restrictions which could soon be lifted or modified north of the border. They include: Businesses: Certain businesses could be allowed to reopen but only if they can guarantee that social distancing will be adhered to. Schools: Ms Sturgeon said reopening schools will be considered but she warned it could require classrooms to be redesigned to make sure pupils are kept at least two metres apart. She also suggested it may mean not all children attending at the same time. Leaving the house: Ms Sturgeon suggested limited outdoor activities could be restarted but indoor ones would likely have to wait. Geographical differences: Different restrictions in different areas could be lifted at different times depending on the spread of the disease but a consistent approach is preferable. Large gatherings: Gigs and sporting events are 'likely to be off for some months to come'. Shielding: Greater protections for the vulnerable 'almost certainly be required for the foreseeable future'. Advertisement Health Secretary Matt Hancock today refused to bow to growing political pressure to set out how the UK government will ease the coronavirus lockdown. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon earlier published her own blueprint for how to lift the restrictions and there is growing Tory fury over Downing Street continuing to keep its strategy secret. But Mr Hancock told the daily Number 10 coronavirus press conference that the government's tests for lifting the draconian curbs were yet to be met. He said one of the reasons why the UK has been able to slow the spread of the killer disease is the 'clarity on that message' of the need to flatten the curve and for people to stay at home. He said there is still an 'awful lot of work that still needs to be done' before the government can deviate from that message and start talking about easing measures. His comments are likely to further inflame tensions with Conservative backbenchers and are in stark contrast to the position adopted by Ms Sturgeon as she said there needed to be a 'grown up' discussion about how to get out of lockdown. Ms Sturgeon had used a lunchtime briefing to signal she is willing to ease coronavirus restrictions in Scotland independently of the UK government as Northern Ireland also suggested it could follow suit. The Scottish First Minister said there must be a 'better balance' between tackling the disease and protecting the economy as she set out a number of potential restrictions which could soon be loosened. They included allowing certain businesses to reopen if they can guarantee social distancing and looking at whether schools could also return, potentially with redesigned classrooms to keep children at least two metres away from each other. However, she said large gatherings are unlikely to be allowed 'for some months to come' while the shielding of the vulnerable will also have to continue for the foreseeable future. She also insisted any easing of restrictions is not yet imminent. Overnight Arlene Foster suggested Northern Ireland could emerge from coronavirus restrictions at a faster pace than other parts of the UK. Northern Ireland's First Minister said lockdown measures will be eased when certain scientific and public health criteria - such as the rate of infection and death rate - are met and not against set timelines or dates. Many of the powers relating to the current lockdown are devolved which means Scotland and Northern Ireland could in theory opt to do their own thing, potentially leaving England and Wales behind. So far the four Home Nations have been broadly on the same page in terms of action taken during the crisis and any decision to split from that way of working would have major political and social ramifications. Matt Hancock today refused to bow to growing pressure for the UK government to set out how it intends to ease the coronavirus lockdown Nicola Sturgeon today signalled she is prepared to ease Scotland's coronavirus lockdown independently of the UK government Matt Hancock extends coronavirus testing to all essential workers Essential workers and their families will all be offered coronavirus tests from tomorrow as part of a step change in the Government's coronavirus battle plan. Health Secretary Matt Hancock today announced that swab testing will be expanded from just health workers into wider society as part of plans to 'test, track and trace'. Authorities will push forward with more testing to work out the true size of the UK's outbreak, as well as tracing contacts of infected patients to prevent surges in cases. The same key workers whose children have been allowed to remain at school will now be able to order COVID-19 tests online or through their employers. These include teachers and social workers, supermarket staff and lorry drivers, public transport staff, bankers, postal workers, bin collectors and utility workers, for example. Members of their families will also be eligible for the tests. Britain has 7.1million of these essential workers, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and 42 per cent of them have at least one child under the age of 16. Mr Hancock said in this afternoon's briefing 'I want to make it as easy as possible for people to get a test' and said there are 31 places around the UK that can do them. People will be able to book the swabs online and will receive results by text. Advertisement There have been signs in recent days that some people are beginning to tire of the curbs on daily life with photographs showing more people on the UK's roads, using London's underground and in the nation's parks. Dominic Raab said last night it will be weeks before ministers even 'think about' putting forward a comprehensive exit strategy. Mr Hancock stuck to that sentiment this evening as he was asked whether Ms Sturgeon and Tory MPs were wrong to talk about how to get out of lockdown. He said: I understand the thirst for knowledge but the tests that we have set out which are the basis from which others for instance the Scottish government have then developed their plans, those tests are the critical tests for when changes can be made. And of course monitoring what is happening and making sure that we move at the right time is absolutely critical. But the message remains to your viewers and to everybody across the country the message remains the same that people need to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. The reason that we have clarity on that message is it has succeeded in bringing down and flattening the curve. But we are not through that yet and there is an awful lot of work that still needs to be done and we are absolutely determined to avoid a second peak. We have set out the five tests for when we should move. We havent met them yet and therefore we must keep the social distancing measures in place. The government's five tests are: ensuring the NHS can provide enough critical care, a sustained and consistent fall in the daily death rate, manageable infection levels, increased testing capacity and no risk of a second peak. Mr Hancock said a 'test, track and trace' programme would be key to the government's battle against coronavirus in the future. But he said there is no 'automatic link' between the scheme being up and running and the government easing lockdown. 'There is no automatic link between the scale of test, track and trace and any changes to the social distancing measures,' he said. Nicola Sturgeon's plan to get out of lockdown The Scottish First Minister today set out some of the restrictions which could soon be lifted or modified north of the border. They include: Businesses: Certain businesses could be allowed to reopen but only if they can guarantee that social distancing will be adhered to. Schools: Ms Sturgeon said reopening schools will be considered but she warned it could require classrooms to be redesigned to make sure pupils are kept at least two metres apart. She also suggested it may mean not all children attending at the same time. Leaving the house: Ms Sturgeon suggested limited outdoor activities could be restarted but indoor ones would likely have to wait. Geographical differences: Different restrictions in different areas could be lifted at different times depending on the spread of the disease but a consistent approach is preferable. Large gatherings: Gigs and sporting events are 'likely to be off for some months to come'. Shielding: Greater protections for the vulnerable 'almost certainly be required for the foreseeable future'. Advertisement Ms Sturgeon has repeatedly gazumped Number 10 during the coronavirus crisis as she has moved on key issues before ministers in London. Previous examples include announcing a ban on large social gatherings, closing schools and saying that the original three week lockdown would be extended. The end-of-lockdown strategy document published by the Scottish government today makes clear that in the future some changes to everyday life will remain in place. Ms Sturgeon told a briefing at lunchtime that the Scottish government 'wants to ease restrictions, of course we do' as she warned that any easing could ultimately have to be reversed. But signalling she is willing to take Scotland in a different direction to the rest of the UK, she said: 'While todays paper is still quite high level it is the start of a process. It sets out the objectives and the principles that will guide us, the different factors we will need to take into account, the framework in which we will take decisions and the preparations we need to make now. In the days and the weeks ahead, evidence, data and modelling will allow us to take firmer decisions. As that happens this paper will evolve into a detailed plan with metrics, actions, milestones and measurements attached to it. Ms Sturgeon stressed that suppressing the spread of coronavirus will always be the Scottish government's main aim. But she added: This virus causes real harm and we see that everyday in the statistics that we report, especially in the numbers of people who have died. But the lockdown measures we are taking to contain the virus are also doing damage. They are doing harm to the economy, to living standards, to childrens education, to other aspects of our physical health and to mental health and wellbeing. The toll of all of that may also in time be measured in poorer health outcomes and lives lost so we must try to find a better balance than the one we have right now. Ms Sturgeon said that while the data suggested that the spread of the virus is now subsiding, more time is needed to assess the numbers on key metrics like new cases, ICU admissions and total death toll. The SNP leader also said more surveillance would be needed in the coming weeks to further improve that data and that it would be 'only when we are sure the virus is under control' that restrictions could be lifted. Ms Sturgeon said the nature of the disease means that lifting restrictions too soon or too much could prompt coronavirus to 'run rampant again'. Government set to update guidance on face masks Britons are set to be told it will not be compulsory to wear masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus - but they will be advised to wear DIY face coverings at work, in shops and on public transport. The government's top scientific experts have been reviewing key evidence and ministers are expected to issue new guidance to the public by the weekend. The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) is believed to be backing advice on wearing a cloth face mask - such as a homemade mask or scarf - in areas where social distancing is not possible. This will mean asking people to cover their nose and mouth when they go to the shops and travel on trains, but won't apply to being in parks and quiet, residential streets. The experts are set to say it should not be compulsory and that the wearing of masks should be left up to the individual. Advertisement As a result, she said a 'return to normal as we knew it is not on the cards in the near future'. But the plan will result in a 'new normal' which will see people 'living alongside this virus but in a form that keeps it under control'. She said social distancing will be a 'fact of life for a long time to come' and possibly beyond the end of this year. Any changes made will be 'gradual' and 'incremental' and likely 'quite small to start with'. Some of the options which will be considered by the Scottish government will include the possibility of reopening some businesses if they can guarantee social distancing and a limited restarting of some outdoor activities with indoor having to come later. Ms Sturgeon also said reopening of schools will be examined but warned that could require classrooms to be redesigned to keep children at least two metres away from each other as she also raised the prospect of not all pupils attending classes at the same time. The SNP leader said she was open to geographical differences in easing restrictions but insisted her preference is for a consistent approach across the country to avoid confusion. However, she was adamant that large gatherings and events are unlikely to be allowed to resume 'for some months to come' while shielding of the vulnerable will also be required 'for the foreseeable future'. Senior figures at Holyrood are insistent the paper has been designed to start a discussion on what measures will need to stay in effect. But the publication of the blueprint is unlikely to have been well received in Whitehall where ministers are adamant the focus must remain on slowing the spread of the virus, with Mr Raab saying yesterday the UK must not 'take our eye off the ball'. Asked if Ms Sturgeon's remarks today meant that the joint four-nation approach to the pandemic was crumbling, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman said: 'There is no indication of that so far.' He added: 'As far as I am aware the Scottish government has stated they want to continue to operate in a four-nation UK framework and align any decision taken as far as possible.' The impact of coronavirus has not been as severe in Northern Ireland as it has been in other parts of the UK with the region having recorded 250 deaths in the pandemic as of yesterday. The latest Downing Street statistics show the number of people in hospital with coronavirus continues to fall in London and other parts of the country The number of coronavirus patients in critical care in hospitals across the UK has also been falling The UK's coronavirus trajectory remains broadly the same as a number of other European countries, including Spain and France There have been signs in recent days of people potentially growing tired with lockdown as more traffic has returned to the UK's roads. The M5 is pictured today near Bristol Construction employees are pictured working on a building site this morning in Lewisham, South East London Crowds of commuters board a Jubilee line train at Canning Town station on the London Underground this morning Customers wait outside a B&Q store at Sutton In Ashfield in Nottinghamshire which has opened its doors this morning Mrs Foster was asked whether the contrasting experiences meant Northern Ireland could move away from lockdown at a different pace to the rest of the UK. 'It will be led by the criteria that will be set down and agreed by ourselves in the Northern Ireland Executive in conjunction with the our colleagues in the other parts of the UK,' she told Cool FM. 'And because of that you could well see different parts of the United Kingdom move in different time to other parts, because it will be criteria-led.' Health chiefs launch new bid to determine spread of coronavirus in Britain Health chiefs have finally launched a mass coronavirus antibody testing study to trace how far the killer disease has already spread in Britain. A thousand households will have their blood samples taken every month by a nurse or trained medic, the Department of Health last night announced. Antibodies are substances made by the immune system in response to an infection and can be picked-up by a simple finger-prick blood test. The announcement marks a step forward after months of the government dragging its feet on a programme which scientists say is essential to ending lockdown because it's the only way of getting a true picture of the size of the outbreak. Antibody testing, which has been picked up on much larger scale in other countries, forms a vital part of the government's 'five-pillar' testing strategy - but officials have so far only managed 4,900 tests. The UK government is yet to identify a mass produced antibody test which is sufficiently accurate to be rolled out nationwide. The new British sampling scheme is dwarfed by one being carried out in the Italian region of Lombardy, for example, where medics now plan to do 20,000 tests per day. British officials have also begun a separate scheme to carry out regular swab tests on 25,000 people, who will be tested around 15 times a year to see whether they have the disease, so the government can keep track of its spread. Advertisement Senior backbenchers on the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs met yesterday to discuss the government's response to the current crisis. They said it is 'silly' for ministers not to be totally frank with the public about an exit plan given how well most of the population has stuck to social distancing measures. They stressed 'there has got to be an economy to go back to' as they sounded a warning which will be heard loud and clear in Downing Street. The committee's treasurer, Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, then broke cover today as he suggested a comprehensive plan must be set out within the next month or many businesses 'are actually likely to cease trading'. 'We have got to think about the number of businesses, particularly small businesses, that unless they get some form of indication when they might be able to get back into business that are actually likely to cease trading,' he told the BBC. 'Every business that ceases trading is a job or more than one lost.' Former Tory chancellor George Osborne has urged the government adopt the same approach to openness as Ms Sturgeon. He tweeted the SNP leader had got it 'right' and it is 'time to treat the public like adults'. Last night Mr Raab delivered a tough message to Britons wearying of the lockdown, warning that the UK is still 'going through the peak' of coronavirus. The First Secretary of State said it was not the time to 'take our eye off the ball' as he rejected claims the government is preparing to ease curbs in mid-May. Meanwhile, Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty suggested some form of restrictions will have to remain in place for the 'next calendar year'. He said the only way to completely get back to normal life is if a vaccine is developed which works or if drugs are developed which can stop so many people dying from the disease. He had told the daily Downing Street press conference: 'Until we have those - and the probability of having those any time in the next calendar year are incredibly small - we should be realistic that we're going to have to rely on other social measures, which of course are very socially disruptive as everyone is finding at the moment.' The row over when the government will set out its plans detailing how lockdown will be eased came as Business Secretary Alok Sharma today revealed almost 400,000 businesses have made applications to the government's coronavirus furlough scheme. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme only opened for applications on Monday this week but as of 4pm yesterday some 387,000 firms have applied for help. Official statistics showed yesterday that the number of people in hospital with coronavirus continues to fall in many parts of the country Angela Merkel says some German states have eased lockdown too quickly German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that some states have gone too far in easing coronavirus lockdowns and warned the country is still at the beginning of its outbreak, not the end. Speaking to the German parliament this morning she told ministers that 'we can't return to life like it was before coronavirus' and cautioned that the country will have to live with the virus for a long time. 'We are in for the long haul,' she said. 'We must not lose energy before we reach the end.' She added: 'It would be a terrible shame if our hope punishes us.' Advertisement Those applications cover 2.8 million workers which means the Treasury is now facing a maximum monthly bill of up to 7 billion so far based on the fact the scheme pays up to 2,500 per worker. Meanwhile, 2.8 billion has been handed out through a government loan scheme designed to keep small and medium sized companies afloat. But businesses are urging ministers to urgently speed up the application process in the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) with industry groups labelling it 'too complex and too lengthy'. More than 38,000 completed applications for loans have now been sent to lenders to assess. However, the number which have been approved so far is just 16,624 with the others still in the queue waiting to be processed. At no time should the United Kingdom regret Brexit as its two largest trading partners, the European Union and the United States, are courting her and stand ready to take thee for better or for worse. The truth is that the EU will never leave the UK in the wilderness. The former is even willing against all odds and contrary to the conviction of Boris Johnson to extend the 2020 deadline on withdrawal negotiations for an extra two-year period. The Trump administration makes similar courteous attempts to lure the UK in sealing a free trade agreement, as it believes the UK could serve as gateway to Europe. Today, the UK is in a challenging situation having to choose between the two giants. Failure to reach an agreement with the European Union will have far-reaching negative repercussions on the British economy, as nearly 50 per cent of UK exports go to European markets, which makes reaching a preferential agreement with the EU indispensable. On a different note, the UK does not hide its interest to conclude a comprehensive free trade agreement with the US, because this means an open market for its goods and services also to Canada and Mexico, which form with the US a broad free trade agreement (USMCA). Furthermore, in light of the outbreak of the trade war between the US and China in the summer of 2018, Mexico is about to become a potential alternative to China and a likely destination for American companies. The UKs attachment to the US camp means its assimilation into new production chains to compensate potential losses in European value chains. It is not easy for the UK to win over both of these partners, as they are often in stark contrast to one another. The sharp disparities and inconsistencies between the EU and the US will force the UK eventually to choose one over the other. The two differ in laws, standards and rules, which are even in some instances inconsistent with one another. Trade disputes between the two giants are multiple in front of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) dispute mechanism. The latest of these conflicts started recently by France aimed at imposing a tax on the profits of giant technology companies like Google and Amazon. Such an attempt forced the US into threatening to retaliate in turn by imposing high tariffs on French wines. Moreover, the two differ in the levels of protecting the privacy of Internet users and personal data. As it is becoming more conservative, the EU raises the echelon of protection. This will force companies focused on personal data, such as Google and Facebook, to change their business models in the future, a trajectory they dread taking. These problems and others are minor when juxtaposed with the problem of genetically modified food. While the European consumer continues to refuse to import or market such foods, the US does not distinguish between the quality of genetically modified and unmodified food, as the former is widely distributed on the shelves of American supermarkets. The US considers the rejection of the EU based on the precautionary principle as an unjustified barrier without scientific evidence. The precautionary principle is inconsistent with the rules of the WTO, which stipulates the use of technical rules based on valid scientific evidence and not based on the principle of precaution. Given the UKs need for both trading partners, the challenge to the British prime minister in manoeuvering between the EU and the US is formidable. He must prove his ability to obtain the best deal from both partners, which is not easy. If together with the EU he agrees to extend the withdrawal negotiation period to secure a balanced deal, this will hinder the conclusion of an FTA with the US, which means the UK will lose the balancing Trump card to mitigate the repercussions of its exit from the EU and the ensuing possible disadvantages. Furthermore, the EU will stand in the face of any manipulation by the UK prime minister and will not tolerate his endeavours to converge with the US at the expense of the union and its member states. Alternatively, while the UK is attracting the interest of both giants as well as many others, having signed to date over 40 free trade agreements, Egypt seems indifferent to the UKs potentials as a self-determining and autonomous state. While this seems understandable today, as countries turn their full attention to fighting Covid-19, Egypt is not among the first countries to have signed an FTA with the UK when the time was more propitious and the UK approached Egypt to sign an agreement. The agreements between the UK and its partners aim at maintaining preferential treatment and ensure smooth sailing and continuity of trade relations. While grappling with its agreement with the EU, the UK cannot alter, in the transitional phase, the terms of the agreements with its partners from the ones applied within the EU. This will only be possible after the transitional period expires, whether in a year or three, if extended after January 2021. The million-dollar question is why Egypt should be interested in signing swiftly an agreement with the UK. British investments in Egypt total around $5.4 billion, which represents 41 per cent of total foreign direct investment inflows, meaning the UK ranks first globally in terms of FDI in Egypt. Furthermore, trade exchange between Egypt and the UK stands at over $3 billion yearly, facilitated largely by the EU Association Agreement with Egypt. If Egypt does not sign an agreement with the UK, WTO regulations will apply, granting Egypt the treatment of a most favoured nation. Egypt will lose its preferential treatment and will have to pay tariffs on its exports to the UK. Acknowledging mutually beneficial relations between the two countries, Egypt and the UK must expedite the signing and ratification of an FTA, if the former wants to extract the maximum benefit from its relation with the UK and ensure continuity of trade between the two countries on the same preferential grounds prevailing between Egypt and the EU. Todays agreement with the UK will be confined to trade in goods; however, we must anticipate in light of the increasing importance of trade in services that we will eventually negotiate a full-fledged agreement after the transitional period. It is of utmost importance to start promptly closer cooperation with the UK to boost our services sector, thus enabling us to enter African markets from a position of strength within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). Egypt should follow the lead of other African countries, which were unhesitant to sign FTAs with the UK, such as Morocco and South Africa, to lay the groundwork for trilateral cooperation between Egypt, the UK and Africa. This falls jointly within the scope of the two governments policies towards Africa. The UK can be instrumental in supporting and developing the necessary infrastructure for manufacturers and investors. Egypt should lure British manufactures to cooperate with it to penetrate new African markets and compensate for the possible loss of EU markets. Egypt should attract the UK as a leading economy after Brexit, so that the UK continues to invest in Egypt and accedes jointly in African markets, in order to benefit from AfCFTA. The writer is former assistant foreign minister for international economic affairs. *A version of this article appears in print in the 23 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Ngo Toan Thang on April 23 said that the 2019 World Press Freedom Index from Reporters Without Borders (RSF) that ranks Vietnam in 176th place out of the 180 countries is untrustworthy and unpersuasive. Foreign Ministry deputy spokesman Ngo Toan Thang (Photo: Foreign Ministry) During the ministrys regular press conference in Hanoi, Thang said it is not the first time the RSF has published reports based on untruthful, groundless, and ill-intentioned information. The rankings are based on its own criteria without understanding the circumstances and conditions in each country, he stressed. In Vietnam, the right to free speech and a free press are stipulated in the 2013 Constitution and relevant laws. The Vietnamese media plays an important role in protecting the interests of the society and freedom of the people, contributing to the States policy and law enforcement, the official added. The media has helped uncover and fight corruption and questionable behaviour, promptly covered pressing issues around the country, and most notably ensured correct information regarding COVID-19 reaches the public. The public is able to access media channels to exercise their rights and express their opinions regarding the States legal policies, he said. Over recent years, press and information freedom in Vietnam has been clearly reflected via the strong development of the media in various forms. The country is now home to nearly 1,000 print and electronic newspapers, over 90 radio stations, about 200 TV stations, and press associations. These also actively use modern technology to provide full and timely news to the public. Vietnamese reporters and journalists have also been given support to cover every aspect of life in the country. They are also protected by law and work in line with the law, making responsible contributions to the common interests of the country and society, Thang said./.VNA Freshfields has elected counsel Bui Thanh Tien, one of the leading corporate and finance lawyers in Vietnam, to the firms international partnership. Bui Thanh Tien, the fresh Vietnam-based partner at Freshfields In his almost 20 years at Freshfields, Tien has acted on some of the most high-profile transactions in Vietnam, often involving billions of dollars as well as complex and innovative deal structures. Aside with advising private equity investors and investment banks on their investments and divestments, Tien has extensive experience serving banking and finance sector clients, representing financial institutions from around the world on a range of matters spanning corporate financing, project and asset financing, and restructuring. Marking this special occasion, Tony Foster, Vietnam managing partner at Freshfields, has congratulated Tien on his well-deserved election to the partnership. At a time when clients are facing unprecedented challenges, Tien brings a formidable combination of global expertise and in-depth local experience, Foster said, adding that the fresh move underlines the importance of Vietnam in the world as well as attests to the firms commitment to further development in the country. Tiens move into the top ranks of one of the top law firms in the world demonstrates to younger Vietnamese lawyers that there are no limits on where their skills can take them, Foster noted. With the election of Bui Thanh Tien, Freshfields for the first time has two Vietnam-based partners. Freshfields is a Magic Circle law firm that dates back to 1743, when it started representing the Bank of England (now still a client of the firm). The law firm has been in Vietnam since 1994, when the country opened up to international business. With a 2,800-plus lawyer team, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a global law firm widely recognised for its long-standing track record of successfully supporting the world's leading national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments on ground-breaking and business-critical mandates. VIR Anh Duc 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. ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) is still the greatest security threat and so far this year has killed 170 civilians and security personnel. There were about 300 wounded. Half the dead were civilians and more than half the wounded soldiers and police. It could have been worse because so far this year ISIL has lost 135 dead. The greatest damage to ISIL had been its losses of equipment and hideouts. So far this year there have been about a thousand security operations (raids, ambushes, searches and so on) against ISIL and that led to most of the actions that killed ISIL members. The counter-terrorism activity led to the discovery and destruction of 279 hideouts, including a growing number of tunnels built for hiding personnel and material. Most of these hideouts contained some equipment, including weapons, ammo, explosives, roadside bombs and explosive vests ready for use as well as computers, vehicles, communications gear and so on. Most Iraqi ISIL personnel still operate in a wide strip of territory between Baghdad and the Kurdish controlled north, from the Syrian to the Iranian borders. The largely Sunni population in this area has always been partial to Sunni causes, from the Sunni dictatorship of Saddam Hussein to the Sunni led Islamic terrorism campaign that began after the Saddam government was removed from power in 2003. This ISIL Zone also contains a lot of other minorities, especially Kurds and Turkic Iraqis and well as several different religious minorities and many Shia, who are the majority in Iraq. For Iraq this area has long been the local blood lands, where deaths was more common, unexpected and violent than in the rest of the country. Currently, ISIL is trying to take advantage of the covid19 quarantine situation, which is tying up a lot of police and restricting army operations to limit the spread of the virus. Many ISIL members believe Allah decides who shall die from the virus and since ISIL men are soldiers of Allah they will have an advantage as long as the virus is active. ISIL often uses delusions like this to keep their members motivated. The Other Terror So far Iraqi has 1,621 identified covid19 cases and 83 dead. Thats 41 cases per million and two dead per million. Iraqi medical experts know a lot of covid19 infections and deaths are going unreported and often unnoticed. The virus mainly kills the elderly and anyone with existing serious medical problems. A covid19 death can easily be mistaken for pneumonia. Israel, the best prepared nation in the region to detect and deal with the virus, has had 1,686 cases per million and 57 deaths. Turkey, the other highly developed state, has had 1,170 cases and 28 deaths per million. Israel and all the other Moslem states in the region are cooperating when it comes to dealing with the virus. The major exception is Iran, and its subordinates Syria and southern Lebanon. Iran is where the virus hit first and hardest in the region because China is a major trading partner and supplier of forbidden goods. Iranian religious leaders at first denied that the virus could hurt believers, especially Shia. That was incorrect and made the government even more unpopular. Iran admits to 1,024 cases and 64 deaths per million. While Iran is unwilling to cooperate openly with Israel to deal with the virus, unofficially Iran will accept help from Israel but will not publicize that. Iranian efforts to expand their control in Iraq and Syria are not producing the desired results. Worse, Iraq and Syrian involvement is causing more anti-government activity inside Iran. Iran is hard hit by covid19, in part because the government initially dismissed the possibility of the virus posing a serious threat. Despite the much reduced budget for operations in Syria and Iraq, the Iranian Quds Force officers in charge convinced their bosses back in Iran that more cash was needed Iraq and Syria to prevent the Iranian efforts there from collapsing. The cash has apparently come though because the Iranians have increased the pay and benefits for many of the mercenaries in Syria and local loyalists in Iraq. This increased Iranian activity is unpopular in both countries. In Syria, it has turned into a very costly (for Iran) war with Israel. In Iraq the opposition is local and it is growing. Iraqis want the Iranians to leave and the Americans to stay, mainly to keep the Iranians out. April 22, 2020: The U.S. Navy was ordered to fire on and destroy any Iranian speedboats that harassed American ships. Iran has long violated the generally accepted navigation rules that were developed to avoid collisions at sea. The Iranians make videos of all this nautical misbehavior and present it on Iranian TV as Iranian gunboats intimidating larger American warships. Russia and China have done this but using larger warships that could do some real damage if there were a collision. The Iranian IRGC (Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps) small craft are built for coastal patrol and suicide attacks when carrying a hundred kg (220 pounds) or so of explosives. These harassment attacks are not constant and tend to occur when Iran is having a hard time, as they are now in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, and need some positive publicity as well as training for their suicide speedboat crews. Now the Americans have declared playtime is over and in the future, the U.S. ships will open fire. The IRGC has to decide if they will test this. Much would be lost of the Americans did actually fire on the boats. While Iran can afford to lose a few of these boats and declare a dozen or so men lost as martyrs, they cannot afford to lose the element of surprise. Until now the Iranians knew they could carry out of few successful suicide speed boat attacks because the Americans never opened fire. If that changes the Iranians have turned their speed boats into target practice rather than potential ship destroyers. All this is another side effect of the problems of having with American troops inside Iraq. Ever since early January, when the Americans killed the commander of their Quds force and the head of the largest Iran-backed militia in Iraq, Iran has been on the defensive in Iraq. Efforts to strike back with ballistic missiles and unguided rockets have failed and anti-Iran sentiment in Iraq grows. April 20, 2020: The government relented and agreed to lift some of the covid19 quarantine rules before the holy month of Ramadan begins on the 23rd. Retail and manufacturing operations can resume supplying the nightly feasting after fasting during daylight hours. Government employees can return to work but only 25 percent of workers can be at their workplace at one time. Restaurants will remain closed, along with mosques and schools. Anti-corruption demonstrations have already resumed although with fewer participants. April 18, 2020: Outside Baghdad two rockets were fired at a Chinese oilfield development operation. There were no casualties. This was the second such attack this month and the cause appears to be a local militia that did not get the terms they wanted from the Chinese for a business deal. In the north (Diyala Province) ISIL carried out four attacks, three with bombs and one with gunfire. Nine soldiers and police were wounded along with two civilians. April 13, 2020: In the north (Kirkuk) province Iraqi troops called in American aerial surveillance and airstrikes to find and destroy an ISIL base in the thinly populated Wadi Ashai area. The airstrikes killed twenty of the 23 ISIL members. The rest died as the Iraqi police and troops captured the base. April 10, 2020: In the last three days, Iran has made it obvious that they have declared war on American forces in Iraq. Iran did this via revealing three new pro-Iran Iraqi militias. Usbat al Thairen, one of several new Iran-backed Iraqi militias announced its existence by releasing a quad-copter video of the Al Assad airbase in Anbar province. This is where U.S. troops have been stationed for five years. Another one of these militias, Ashab al Kahf, took credit for an April 8th attack on an American convoy. The convoy was traveling north from Baghdad to the Kurdish controlled north. A third Iranian militia, Qadbat al Huda, insisted that the U.S. was planning on attacking pro-Iran Iraqi militias and that the American and British ambassadors must leave Iraq within 48 hours or else. Also heard from was Katab Hezbollah, an Iran-backed groups based on the Lebanese Hezbollah that has been active in Iraq since 2003, after the U.S. removed the Saddam Hussein government. Katab Hezbollah grew enormously after 2014 when the Iraqi government allowed the formation of more militias to oppose the ISIL invasion. Technically Katab Hezbollah is a creation of the original Lebanese Hezbollah that was created in the 1980s, with the help of Iran, to protect Lebanese Shia during a 1975-90 civil war. Hezbollah military and political power grew since the 1980s due to financial and military aid from Iran, via neighboring Syria, which became an Iranian ally in the 1980s. Lebanese Hezbollah is increasingly unpopular in Lebanon, where they exist as a separate military and political entity that constantly tries to gain control over the entire country. That is difficult because Hezbollah only has the support of about a third (the Shia portion) of the population and even the Lebanese Shia are growing tired of the Iranian domination and interference. Iraqis are aware of these developments in Lebanon and Katab Hezbollah is accused of working for Iran to achieve Iranian control over Iraq. The head of Katab Hezbollah was killed along with Quds commander Qassem Soleimani back in January. Now the United States is offering a $10 million reward for information about the location of Mohammad Kawtharani, the senior Lebanese Hezbollah in Iraq, where he coordinates Iranian support for and control of Katab Hezbollah. Another Soleimani associate killed in January was Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis, the Chief of Staff for the PMF militias. His death led to the accelerated disintegration of Iranian control over many factions in the PMF. The Chief of Staff takes care of the details and those details included what had to be done to maintain the loyalty of the Iran-backed PMF militias. These links were deteriorating during 2019 as the leaders of the 67 PMF brigades increasingly developed divided loyalties. That meant more of these brigades, although pro-Iran and receiving weapons and other aid from Iran, could no longer be considered under Iranian control. The Iraqi government has been removing or remoting senior PMF officials who are pro-Iran. Since the death of Muhandis more PMF brigades have openly broken their links with Iran. Some are even leaving the PMF, which is what a few of the more extreme militias have already done. One example is the Katab Hezbollah, which is very openly fighting with American forces in Iraq. April 9, 2020: Once more since the September 2018 Parliamentary elections Iraq has a Prime Minister-designate. This one is Shia intel chief Mustafa al Kadhimi. Since 2018 Iraq has not been able to agree on an acceptable prime minister. Kadhimi is known to be uncorrupt and capable and for the first time since 2018 a prime minister has the support of all the Shia parties. Kadhimi has one month to form a government and that is not going to be easy. He may have the support of all the Shia parties, but that is contingent on the major parties getting their people appointed to the right ministries in the new government. Another key task is arranging the next parliamentary so that they are not as corrupted and unreliable as the last ones. March 30, 2020: The two most senior Shia Iraqi clerics (Sistani and Badr) refused to meet with Ismail Ghaani, the new head of the Iranian Quds force. Ghaani was on a visit to Baghdad, despite the fact that the U.S. is targeting Ghaani for the same treatment (death by Hellfire missile) his predecessor suffered in January. The U.S. considering about putting a multi-million dollar price on him (dead or captured alive). The U.S. revealed that it had brought in Patriot anti-missile batteries to the two Iraqi bases where most U.S. troops are now stationed. In fact, these two bases now host American personnel from seven other bases the U.S. forces have left. All these bases have been attacked by Iran and Iran-backed Iraqi groups. The consolidation of U.S. troops on two bases makes it easier to deal with the growing Iranian rocket attacks on U.S. troops. Two Patriot batteries are already in Iraq and two more on the way. It is unclear if the U.S. got permission from Iraq for this as a request was made back in January and not much happened after that. Iraq is under heavy pressure from Iran to block the U.S. from bringing in Patriot batteries. Iran is unlikely to use ballistic missiles against American bases as it did in January. That attack backfired big time and was considered a failure. The U.S. is also bringing back the C-RAM (Counter-Rockets And Missiles) anti-rocket system. This has long been used to defend bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. C-RAM is basically the American Phalanx naval gun system with new software that enables it to take data from its own or other radar systems, and shoot down just about any kind of artillery shell or rocket within range. It uses high explosive 20mm shells that detonate near the target, spraying it with fragments. By the time these fragments reach the ground, they are generally too small to injure anyone. At least that's been the experience in Iraq. The original Phalanx used 20mm depleted uranium shells, to slice through incoming missiles. Phalanx fires shells at a rate of 75 per second. Another advantage of C-RAM, is that it makes a distinctive noise when firing, warning people nearby that a mortar or rocket attack is underway, giving people an opportunity to duck inside if they are out and about. The first C-RAM was sent to Iraq in late 2006, to protect the Green Zone (the large area in Baghdad turned into an American base). It was found that C-RAM could knock down 70-80 percent of the rockets and mortar shells fired within range of its cannon. In its first four years of use, C-RAMR systems in Iraq intercepted several hundred rockets or mortar shells aimed at the Green Zone and other bases. Not bad, since it only took about a year to develop C-RAM. A C-RAM system, which can cover an area about four kilometers wide, costs $15 million. In addition to the United States, Britain and Israel have also bought C-RAM. There is a mobile version, mounted on a flatbed trailer, and hauled by a tractor. Iran-backed militias get around C-RAM by launching large numbers of rockets at once to overwhelm the defenses. That works, but it also sends more of these unguided rockets into areas where Iraqis live and cause damage and casualties. This makes these militias even more unpopular and more likely to get informed on by fellow Iraqis. As the pandemic continues to sweep across the globe, it has sent more than half of the population on lockdown as health services struggle to cope up. The United States has been severely affected by the dreaded virus. Fatalities have peaked to nearly 48,000 while confirmed cases have reached 853,000. Although COVID-19 sees no age, gender and race, statistics have shown that some racial groups are more vulnerable to coronavirus. Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases explained why the viral disease appears to be disproportionately affecting the majority of the African-American community. Grammy Award winner Will Smith got a chance to interview Dr. Fauci for a new episode on his Snapchat show "Will at Home" to tackle more about the ongoing pandemic. African-American Community More Vulnerable On Coronavirus The NIAID director pointed out that the African-American community is "one of the failings of our society," "As is [in] all situations associated with the disparities in health in minorities, particularly the African-American communities... It's really terrible, because it's just one of the failings of our society, that African-Americans have a disproportionate prevalence in incidents of the very comorbid conditions that put you at a high risk," he explained. Moreover, the health "conditions" he's referring to are hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and asthma -- which make one a high-risk to contract a serious COVID-19 case. "If you get infected, you're going to have a poor outcome," Dr. Fauci added. "When it's all over, [we need] to focus a bright shining light on what disparities in health mean." As cited by BBC, 72% of fatalities in Chicago were black despite making up only one-third of the city's population. In New York -- which is considered the virus epicenter in the U.S. -- they have reported 1,999 deaths among African-American people. Dr. Fauci Answer COVID-19 Questions from Kids Smith and Dr. Fauci continued the quarantine series by entertaining questions from kids and teens via video. A 7-year-old girl from Los Angeles named Ava expressed her concern about the tooth fairy's health and asked if she will still come to visit her even on lockdown. "I don't think you need to worry about the Tooth Fairy," Fauci replied. "So when your tooth [falls] out, you stick it under the pillow and I'll guarantee you that that Tooth Fairy is not going to get infected and is not going to get sick." Another teen asked Dr. Fauci how and when will the pandemic end. He explained that there's nothing to worry about once "we have a vaccine and enough baseline immunity." The NIAID director also reassured the teen that although the experience may be uncomfortable and "tough for another year," it will all "go away." Named as "the most powerful actor in Hollywood," Will Smith used his social media platform to educate and entertain his fans as he launched his quarantine series last April 3. The "Will at Home" is scheduled to air every Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays. BERKELEY, Calif., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Intento, #1 AI integration platform, today announced that Anton Antich has joined the company as Chief Operating Officer (COO) as of April 1st, 2020. Antich has 20+ years of experience building and scaling global technology businesses. As COO, Antich will focus on scaling Inten.to operations globally, will lead sales, marketing, and customer success efforts as well as direct the company's finance and administrative functions. Before joining Intento, Antich was an SVP, Strategic Operations at Veeam Software, in charge of sales, global scaling initiatives, and end to end revenue generation process, helping to build it from $20M to over $600M in annual revenue. Besides Veeam, Antich ran business units of corporations such as Microsoft and VMware, as well as consulted, advised and became an investor in startups and mid-size companies such as Tricentis, Acronis, Mercaux, Astrodigital, GapFruit, and others. "Anton understands global sales, go-to-market strategy, and operations in a way that few executives can hope to, and he's got a proven track record of maximizing the growth potential of a range of Enterprise Software businesses. His advice and support turned out to be invaluable during the early days of Intento," said Konstantin Savenkov, CEO and co-founder of Inten.to. "Anton shares our passion and vision to help global companies procure and deploy AI. We're thrilled to have him on board." "I became an early angel investor in Inten.to 3 years ago as I liked the product vision having faced Enterprise integration challenges firsthand at Veeam and the smart founding team," commented Antich. "I'm excited for the opportunity to now join the team full time and lead the efforts of growing Intento into the global leader in cognitive AI integration services, without which no company can efficiently utilize hyped AI solutions be it image or video tagging, machine translation, sentiment analysis or others. Intento already has an impressive customer portfolio, and we will aggressively expand from now on to make sure we can help many more customers worldwide to become productive in using AI products." Antich holds a degree in Physics from Novosibirsk State University and follows AI and type theory research in his spare time. In addition to his operational accomplishments, Antich is an active angel investor, working closely with companies such as innmind.com and investiere.ch to help connect the best startups with value-add investors. About Intento A Berkeley SkyDeck startup, Intento helps global companies to procure and utilize the best-fit cognitive AI services. Intento AI Hub connects AI models trained on multiple platforms (such as Google AutoML or Microsoft Cognitive Services) with a multitude of enterprise software systems. Launched in 2017, Intento works with global Technology, Retail and Travel companies, augmenting their Localization, Content Management, Customer Support, and Marketing operations with AI and recently obtained its ISO-27001 certification. For more information, visit inten.to. Contact Information Intento, Inc. Konstantin Savenkov, +1 510 876 7332, [email protected] SOURCE Intento Related Links https://inten.to New York (United Nations) 10 April 2020 (SPS)- The Russian Mission to the UN published a Tweet on its official Twitter Account yesterday after a closed meeting by the UN Security Council on Western Sahara, stressing that any solution to this conflict must respect Saharawi peoples right to self-determination and UN Charter. The final formula of settlement in Western Sahara must be acceptable for both parties; it should envisage self-determination for the people of Western Sahara on the basis of UNSC resolutions in the framework of procedures that should meet the goals and principles of the UN Charter, the Tweet reads. Polisario Front has also reacted to this same meeting in a Press Release yesterday, deeply regreting that the UN Security Council today failed to send a clear signal regarding its united support for the UN-led peace process on Western Sahara. Todays consultations on the UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) offered another chance for the Council to stand strongly behind international law and reinvigorate the stalled political process. Instead, the Council opted for inaction and delivered no concrete action or outcome. The Front estimated that the failure to make progress in the political process and the silence and inaction of the UN Secretariat and the Security Council in the face of Moroccos unlawful and destabilising actions have further deepened the loss of faith amid the Sahrawi people in the peace process. Neither the UN Secretariat nor the Security Council has taken any of the actions that we have outlined in our letter (S/2020/66) with a view to restoring our peoples confidence in the UN process. The Frente POLISARIO remains committed to a peaceful resolution to the conflict. However, we reaffirm that we will not be a partner in any process that does not fully respect and provide for the exercise by the people of Western Sahara of their inalienable right to self-determination and independence in accordance with relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions. The right of our people to self-determination and independence is inalienable and non-negotiable, and we will pursue all legitimate means to defend it, the Press release concluded. (SPS) 090/500/60 (SPS) - Since the outbreak of coronavirus, some countries raised complaints about fake test kits sent from China - The latest to launch a complaint was Spain which earlier rejected a second set of test kits from China and demanded a refund - Besides Kenya and Spain, there were reports of fake kits in India, Turkey, Ireland, Slovakia, UK and the Netherlands Spain is the latest country that has sent back faulty COVID-19 tests kits to China as it attempts to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The kits were the second batch to be returned after an initial consignment was deemed to be defective. READ ALSO: Government reclaims 2,700 acres of land allegedly grabbed by Ruto, Jirongo in Ruai READ ALSO: Miguna Miguna claps back at Sonko after regretting Nairobi handover deal: "I warned you" Spain demanded a refund for its total order of 640,000 tests after it realised some kits in both batches were not sensitive enough to consistently detect the disease. According to a report by Business Insider, the first batch of the kits came from Bioeasy, a Chinese company. Coronavirus testing in progress. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Nakuru: Vijana 21 wanaswa wakipiga picha bila maski, wawekwa karantini ya lazima They were delivered at a time when Spain had reached a crucial stage in its fight against the coronavirus. As of Thursday, April 23, over 22,000 people had lost their lives in the country due to coronavirus. An info-graphic showing the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths worldwide. Photo: Worldometers. Source: UGC China responded by saying Bioeasy was not an approved retailer and consequently began investigations into the case. Other countries such as the Netherlands, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Ireland and India had complained of defects in test kits purchased from Chinese companies. In March, Kenyan authorities raided a shop suspected of selling fake testing kits and arrested 10 people and shut down the facility. A London-based man, Frank Ludlow, was also arrested and charged in court over fake COVID-19 treatment kits. He was picked up by the Intellectual Property Crime Unit after it was contacted by US counterparts. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States of America (USA had also raised an alarm over use of unauthorised COVID-19 testing kits It indicated that it was "actively and aggressively monitoring the market for any firms marketing products with fraudulent coronavirus (COVID-19) diagnostic, prevention and treatment claims as part of ongoing efforts to protect public health during this pandemic". The report on fake kits raised concerns on the real extent of the spread of COVID-19 in Kenya and Africa as a whole given the continent had reported few cases of the pandemic compared to the rest of the world. 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. Kenya hits 300 mark for positive Covid-19 cases | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 22:56:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JERUSALEM, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Israeli and German scientists have developed a model that explains the unique formation and properties of Arrokoth, the most distant object ever imaged in the solar system, the northern Israel Institute of Technology (Technion) said on Thursday. Photos of the 36-km-long Arrokoth, also known as "Snowman," were first taken in 2019 by NASA's New-Horizons space mission. This object is located in Kuiper Belt region, where there are many asteroids whose diameters range from a few meters to thousands of kilometers. Arrokoth consists of two different sized lobes interconnected with a thin neck, which appears to be the product of two smaller objects colliding to form Arrokoth. According to the model, developed by researchers from the Technion and the University of Tubingen, the two objects gradually approached each other at low speed, and after "rubbing" each other they became one unified object. The researchers said that simple high-speed collision between two random objects in the Kuiper Belt would smash them, since they are mostly made of soft ice. The researchers noted that Arrokoth's low speed and its high inclination angle is a result of the low speed collision that created it. This model predicts that many other Kuiper Belt objects, and perhaps even the system of the dwarf planet Pluto and its moon Charon, have evolved similarly. It also predicts that many such objects may be found elsewhere in the solar system. Enditem Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Elmar Mammadyarov have discussed agenda of economic cooperation and cooperation within GUAM organization. The parties highlighted the active Ukraine-Azerbaijan dialogue, in particular the cooperation in counteracting the spread of COVID-19, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informs upon the phone conversation between the ministers. The ministers also discussed the results of the official visit of President Volodymyr Zelensky to Azerbaijan on December 16-17, 2019. The ministers expressed conviction that the agreements reached during this visit would create the necessary conditions for deepening bilateral cooperation between the two countries. This will enhance cooperation in the economic, tourism and transport spheres, as well as the cooperation within the GUAM framework, the statement reads. The foreign ministers also exchanged invitations to pay official visits to Ukraine and Azerbaijan. As a reminder, the GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development is a regional organization of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and Moldova. ol D octors performed an emotional rendition of Ave Maria to celebrate the recovery of a fellow nurse from the coronavirus. Alicia Borja, 63, was met by applause from her NHS colleagues as she was discharged from Northwick Park Hospital in Harrow, northwest London. The senior sister from the hospital's accident and emergency department left the Covid-19 unit after four weeks of treatment. Dr Maxton Pitcher played the powerful Franz Schubert tune on the violin and was accompanied by Katherine Fawcett on the piano. The consultant gastroenterologist told the Times the special performance was the pinnacle of his musical and medical career. "It was a spur of the moment thing where we all came together," said Dr Pitcher, who has been brining his violin to the hospital to cheer patients. "It's just one of those natural moments that will never be replicated. I feel tearful thinking about it." Doctors play Ave Maria to celebrate the recovery of a fellow nurse from the coronavirus / Maxton Pitcher Dr Pitcher said he felt "completely overcome" when watching his colleague be wheeled out of the door of the Covid-19 unit. "What's so great is that something like this has captured people's imaginations," he said. "The hospital has been hit hard - it was the number one in the country for Covid-19 cases before Birmingham took that over." Dr Maxton Pitcher played Ave Maria on the violin accompanied by Katherine Fawcett on the piano / Maxton Pitcher The Department of Health (DOH) said the number of deaths from coronavirus in the UK now stands at 18,100 - up by 763 from 17,337 the day before. As of 9am on Wednesday morning, 133,495 people have tested positive for coronavirus across the country, the DoH said in a statement. Ms Borja, who has been working at the hospital for 15 years, praised the "fantastic team" that helped with her recovery. 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 She said: "I'm a nurse but it's still scary to go through something like this. "I was in tears where I was discharged because so many colleagues lined the corridors to wish me well. They are my second family." There were similar scenes at Conquest Hospital in Hastings when more than 100 NHS staff applauded a nurse who spent 23 days fighting for her life against coronavirus. Representative image The number of COVID-19 cases in India has crossed 21,000, with Maharashtra still reporting the highest number of cases. On April 22, Gujarat became the state with the second-highest number of reported infections, surpassing Delhi by a significant margin As per the day's 5 pm update by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the number of reported COVID-19 cases in Gujarat stands at 2,407, of which 179 have been cured, discharged, or migrated. The death toll in the state is at 103. To put this in context, the total number of COVID-19 cases in India at the time of filing this story is 21,700, of which 16,689 are active cases while 4,325 people have been cured and 686 people have lost their lives. This means that Gujarat currently accounts for about 11 percent of the burden of COVID-19 infections in India. On the other hand, Maharashtra (with 5,652 cases) makes up about 26 percent, while Delhi another 10.35 percent of the total coronavirus positive cases in the country. Gujarat reported its first two cases of the COVID-19 on March 19. Both the patients had a history of foreign travel one of them had returned from Saudi Arabia, while the other from London. In a span of over 20 days, more than 2,400 people in the state have contracted the infection. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show Even as the number of reported infections in Gujarat is on the rise, the state government, earlier this week, allowed as many as 4,000 industrial units to resume operations. This is in line with the announcement of relaxations to the ongoing nationwide lockdown starting April 20. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had, on March 24 announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19. This was later extended until May 3 in light of the continued spread of the infection and the rising number of cases across the country. As far as the speed of recovery is concerned, India's recovery rate has improved to nearly 20 percent. However, Gujarat has recorded one of the lowest recovery rates in India at around 7.4 percent (going by the health ministry numbers, Meghalaya and Mizoram have a zero percent recovery rate, with the number of COVID-19 cases at 12 and 1 in the states respectively). On this, the state's Principal Secretary-Health, Jayanti Ravi, told Ahmedabad Mirror , "The first case was reported on March 19, so we are now taking forward the momentum of discharge cases. The new cases started late. As it takes at least 12 days to recover, the discharge cases will increase." Dr. Rick Bright, head of the agency responsible for vaccines in the Trump administration, released a statement Wednesday that blames political motives for his abrupt reassignment. "I am speaking out because to combat this deadly virus, science not politics or cronyism has to lead the way." WASHINGTON: Dr. Rick Bright, a leading official at the United States Department of Health and Human Services, says he was demoted for fighting efforts to "fund potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections," and for opposing hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malarial drug touted by Trump as a coronavirus treatment. Bright says he wants an investigation by the Inspector general, and has hired a whistleblower lawyer. Here is the full statement from Bright: "Yesterday, I was removed from my positions as the Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and HHS Deputy Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response by the Administration and involuntarily transferred to a more limited and less impactful position at the National Institutes of Health. I believe this transfer was in response to my insistence that the government invest the billions of dollars allocated by Congress to address the COVID-19 pandemic into safe and scientifically vetted solutions, and not in drugs, vaccines and other technologies that lack scientific merit. I am speaking out because to combat this deadly virus, science not politics or cronyism has to lead the way. "I have spent my entire career in vaccine development, in the government with CDC and BARDA and also in the biotechnology industry. My professional background has prepared me for a moment like this to confront and defeat a deadly virus that threatens Americans and people around the globe. To this point, I have led the government's efforts to invest in the best science available to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, this resulted in clashes with HHS political leadership, including criticism for my proactive efforts to invest early in vaccines and supplies critical to saving American lives. I also resisted efforts to fund potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections. "Specifically, and contrary to misguided directives, I limited the broad use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, promoted by the Administration as a panacea, but which clearly lack scientific merit. While I am prepared to look at all options and to think "outside the box" for effective treatments, I rightly resisted efforts to provide an unproven drug on demand to the American public. I insisted that these drugs be provided only to hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 while under the supervision of a physician. These drugs have potentially serious risks associated with them, including increased mortality observed in some recent studies in patients with COVID-19. "Sidelining me in the middle of this pandemic and placing politics and cronyism ahead of science puts lives at risk and stunts national efforts to safely and effectively address this urgent public health crisis. "I will request that the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services investigate the manner in which this Administration has politicized the work of BARDA and has pressured me and other conscientious scientists to fund companies with political connections as well as efforts that lack scientific merit. Rushing blindly towards unproven drugs can be disastrous and result in countless more deaths. Science, in service to the health and safety of the American people, must always trump politics. "I am very grateful for the bipartisan support from Congress and their confidence in my leadership of BARDA as reflected in the generous appropriation to BARDA in the CARES 3 Act. It is my sincere hope that the dedicated professionals at BARDA and throughout HHS will be allowed to use the best scientific acumen and integrity to continue their efforts to stop the pandemic without political pressure or distractions. Americans deserve no less." The news was first reported by Maggie Haberman at the New York Times. SCOOP Dr. Rick Bright says in statement he was pushed out of BARDA for a narrower, more limited role at NIH for wanting to use science to test treatments for COVID19, specifically the administration push to get chloroquines in wide use https://t.co/T6DHLIYWnC Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) April 22, 2020 "I believe this transfer was in response to my insistence that the government invest the billions of dollars allocated by Congress to address the Covid-19 pandemic into safe and scientifically vetted solutions, " 1/ Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) April 22, 2020 "and not in drugs, vaccines and other technologies that lack scientific merit," Bright said. In statement, he said, "I am speaking out because to combat this deadly virus, science not politics or cronyism has to lead the way." Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) April 22, 2020 Rick Bright, a top HHS official, says he was demoted for resisting efforts to "fund potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections" & opposing hydroxychloroquine. Says he wants an IG probe & has hired a whistleblower lawyer. First reported by @maggieNYT Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) April 22, 2020 Bright has hired Debra Katz and Lisa Banks, the lawyers who represented Christine Blasey Ford. "I am speaking out because to combat this deadly virus, science not politics or cronyism has to lead the way." Says he was ostracized for speaking out against hydroxychloroquine. Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) April 22, 2020 LONDON, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb has today launched 'The Chubb Interviews' podcast - a classic car-focused monthly show hosted by model, presenter and racing driver, Jodie Kidd. Co-hosted by James Elliott, editor of specialist motoring magazine Octane, The Chubb Interviews will each month meet the people that populate the impassioned and specialist world of classic cars. The series is designed to entertain and inform experts and classic car hobbyists alike, revealing the passions and stories that drive enthusiasts around the world. In episode one, available now, Jodie and James are joined by Simon Thornley, co-founder of classic car restoration business, Thornley Kelham. Simon speaks about winning 'Restoration of the Year' with a Bizzarrini 5300 GT Strada and taking on a three-year restoration of an Alfa Romeo 6C 1750 Super Sport with an incredible history. Jodie Kidd, The Chubb Interviews host, said: "Classic cars really take a hold of you in a way very few things do. The passion, the expertise and the skill of the people that inhabit this world has hooked me in since a very early age. To be now hosting a podcast with Chubb, who already insure my vehicles, on the very subject closest to my heart is an absolute dream and I can't wait to share more wonderful stories with our listeners." Annmarie Camp, Head of Personal Risk Services, Chubb Insurance said: "We've been insuring cars for almost a century so we know just how fascinating and complex the world of historic vehicles can be. With the help of Jodie, Octane Magazine and our guests, we want to invite people into this world in a way that's never been done before, to intrigue existing experts and spark a lifelong passion in classic cars for a whole new audience." Listen to the podcast here www.chubb.com/theinterviews You can also subscribe for free to The Chubb Interviews on the following platforms: Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Spotify and Stitcher. About Chubb Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London, Paris and other locations, and employs approximately 30,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: chubb.com/uk About Octane Octane is a British car magazine, published monthly, and concentrating on classic and performance cars. It was launched in 2003 and is now published by Dennis Publishing. The magazine features news, road tests and buyer's guides of both classic cars and some modern performance cars. It also has an extensive for sale section, showing cars from all around the world. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/324916/Chubb_Logo.jpg Michael Jackson was the King of Pop. Madonna is still the Queen of Pop. It only made sense that the two artists should collaborate. However, this never happened. It almost happened, though. Madonna wanted to their duet to be very edgy. Jackson, however, wasnt comfortable with this idea. Michael Jackson and Madonna | Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images The origin of Michael Jacksons song In the Closet Jackson watched Madonna perform her song Sooner or Later at the Academy Awards in 1991. He and his friend Diana Ross gawked at Madonna. Ross said Madonna was an awful woman. Jackson and Ross agreed Madonnas dress was tacky. Despite this, Jackson understood Madonna was a major star. Jackson wrote his song In the Closet in the hope it would be a duet with Madonna. The phrase in the closet is associated with the LGBT community. However, Jacksons In the Closet is actually a voraciously heterosexual love song. Madonnas ideas for the collaboration Madonna performing Sooner or Later in a sparkly dress. Jackson asked Madonna to write some new lyrics for the song based on its title. Madonna wanted the track to be provocative but Jackson wasnt receptive to her ideas. I started writing words and getting ideas and stuff and I presented them to him and he didnt like them. I think all he wanted was a provocative title, and ultimately he didnt want the content of the song tosort of, live up to the title. Madonna agreed to appear in the video if it was edgy in some way. Jackson was initially fine with that idea. Then, Madonna got a little more specific. She wanted the video for In the Closet to feature her dressed as a man and Jackson dressed as a woman. According to J. Randy Taraborrelli, the concert concerned Jackson, due to the rampant speculation about his sexual orientation, Jackson turned to his sister Janet for advice. Why Michael Jackson decided not to wok with Madonna Michael Jackson and Madonna in a car | Barry King/WireImage Janet actually thought Madonnas idea for the video was good and unexpected, even though shed been critical of Madonna in the past. Jackson ultimately turned down Madonnas offer. Madonna recalled how Jackson wasnt comfortable being provocative. Producer Kenneth Babyface Edmonds said Jackson was very upset by Madonnas proposal. Madonna said that while she spent lots of time with Jackson, he wasnt her friend. She noted how Jackson was thoughtful about what he said and ate. By contrast, Madonna felt she was impulsive. She said she felt like a big clumsy farm girl compared to Jackson. Facts about the final version of In the Closet The video for Michael Jacksons In the Closet Jackson still released In the Closet as a single. The finished track features a female voice. Some fans speculated the female voice on the track belonged to Madonna or even Paula Abdul. Instead, it belonged to Princess Stephanie of Monaco. Because Jacksons plan for a Madonna duet fell through, Jacksons love interest in the video was portrayed by Naomi Campbell. The video didnt include any cross-dressing, but it did show Jackson and Campbell dancing quite close to each other. So much for not being provocative! Also see: Michael Jackson: Quincy Jones Says He Stole Billie Jean A grandmother-of-six was left in tears when her husband surprised her by hiding outside their house upon his release from hospital after testing negative for coronavirus. Wesley Boyd, 76, from Sydenham, Belfast, came up with the plan to surprise his wife after his son Aaron, 39, collected him from the Royal Victoria Hospital. He was admitted to hospital with all the symptoms of Covid-19 but thankfully tested negative for the virus and was discharged following surgery for a twisted bowel. Heartwarming moment Sadie breaks down in tears on her doorstep when she sees Wesley hiding outside Wesley Boyd (pictured), 76, from Sydenham, Belfast, leaving the Royal Victoria Hospital. Wesley and Aaron came up with the surprise plan in the car However, the pair decided to prank his wife Sadie, 77, by driving Wesley home on Friday 17 without telling her while pretending Aaron had left a parcel for his mother around the side of the house. Hatching the plan in the car, Aaron said: 'So you're going to hide around the corner like we always do. And then I'll shout at her and be like: "Do you need anything?". 'And then she'll be like: "Oh I don't know". And then we'll have a conversation. Wesley hid around the side of the house while Aaron waited in the car (left). Aaron told his mother Sadie, 77, that there was a parcel waiting around the side of their home (right) He added: 'And then I will be like: "Aye I dropped a thing just around the corner there, a wee parcel for you". 'And then that is when you will be standing there and she'll freak - she will just lose her mind. 'That is the plan - hopefully she is in!' The couple embrace after Wesley tested negative for coronavirus unbeknownst to Sadie After pulling up outside the house, Aaron rang the doorbell and returned to his car where he continued to film Wesley, in his dressing gown, hiding around the corner from the door. Footage shows Sadie answer and start giving Aaron a shopping list for him to pick up for her, completely oblivious to the fact her husband of 43 years hiding just metres away. And in a heartwarming moment, unsuspecting Sadie ventures around the house in her apron to pick up the 'parcel' waiting for her, where the grandmother breaks down in tears before embracing her husband. Musician Aaron later posted the video to his Facebook page, where it has raked in an impressive 2.1 million views and more than 6,600 comments. Aaron said: 'Mum's reaction was priceless. She was just over the moon. It was a mixture of shock and relief because she didn't know when he was coming home. 'I was overjoyed at seeing her reaction and it was nice to give her a bit of a pick me up in the midst of everything that's going on. And Aaron said he was emotional while filming: 'I was holding it together, I actually turned the camera around and you can see my eyes watering a little bit. The happy couple wave to their son Aaron from their doorstep after being reunited at home 'My dad phoned me on Friday to let me know that I could pick him up at any time and so I decided then and there that I would surprise my mum with him. 'I just thought it would be a good idea to surprise her. I didn't even think about it that much. He continued: 'I told dad the plan and he said 'what if she's at the shops or something' to which I thought 'she shouldn't be because I'm the one picking stuff up from the shops for her'. An emotional Aaron tries to hold back the tears in his car while filming the emotional scene Aaron praised the support of his parents throughout his life and described them as superheroes. He said: 'I've grown up with my parents and they've always been there to support me. They are great parents, like Wonder Woman and Superman and so to see them as they grow older and frail it breaks your heart. 'My mum knew he was getting out but she didn't know what day or time as there was still some talk of him coming out on different days.' Aaron added: 'We had the conversation about who would collect him and decided that I would be best to pick him up from the hospital. 'I picked him up from the hospital, his throat was still really rough and so I was just chatting a little bit to him, I wasn't really thinking ahead to the surprise.' And people were in awe of the heartwarming reunion with many delighted to see 'some positivity' during the pandemic. Jennifer Kane said: 'Thank you so so much for sharing that... I'm not crying - you're crying.' Annette Pawson added: 'This is amazing. We need some positing out of this awful time! Thank you as this made my day! 'Going to share this to bring hope and smiles to people's faces. Blubbering away here!' People were left in tears after watching the footage of the reunion on Facebook after Aaron posted it on social media 'I was asking him about his time in the hospital and if he was ready to come home, he got into the car and we started driving through a very desolate Belfast and he said 'this is just lovely'. It's the little things in life.' Speaking about when his father was admitted to hospital, Aaron said: 'He had all the symptoms at first but thankfully he wasn't diagnosed with it. 'My Facebook page isn't die-hard music, I've let a lot of people into my world and I put out that my dad wasn't really well. He continued: 'This video was just the end of that journey that I wanted to share with those who had helped and supported us through it. 'I didn't really create it to do anything but share the moment with my followers. 'For me, the most important thing to me is my relationships and helping others in the world. 'The people that follow us really trust us and so they have been very supportive in this journey, they were genuinely celebrating that my dad got out of the hospital.' SINCE the 2016 election of Donald Trump, there is no disputing the fact that the Canada-United States relationship has experienced its most difficult period since 1945. And, unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the problem. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion SINCE the 2016 election of Donald Trump, there is no disputing the fact that the Canada-United States relationship has experienced its most difficult period since 1945. And, unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated the problem. In late March, in an effort to contain the novel coronavirus, Trump raised the bizarre possibility of deploying 1,000 U.S. soldiers along the 9,000-km Canada-U.S. border so as to intercept any unauthorized crossers. Just the thought of the White House contemplating such a move (which was eventually scrapped) raised immediate objections from Canada. As Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland explained, "In terms of what we are doing about it, we are very directly and very forcefully expressing that in Canadas view, this is an entirely unnecessary step which we would view as damaging to our relationship." At one of his regular coronavirus briefings in Washington, the president also acknowledged that U.S. troops could be used to block illegal shipments of Chinese steel from coming into the U.S. via Canada. "We have a lot of things coming in from Canada. We have trade, some illegal trade, that we dont like. We dont like steel coming through our border thats been dumped in Canada so they can avoid the tariff," he said. Since the Canadian government is already closely monitoring the Chinese steel issue, its hard to know exactly what Trump was talking about. On the face of it, the whole idea of stationing soldiers along the border makes very little sense except for its U.S. domestic political utility. Another point of contention between the two countries is Trumps decision to deport back to their home countries asylum-seekers turned away by Canadian border officers. In the words of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official, "In the event an alien cannot be returned to Mexico or Canada, CBP will work with interagency partners to secure return to the aliens country of origin and hold the alien for the shortest time possible." Forcibly returning legitimate refugees to the country in which they were persecuted is not something that Canada endorses, and officials have expressed those sentiments to their U.S. counterparts. Earlier this month, Trump once again invoked the Korean War-era Defense Production Act to block Minnesota-based 3M Company from exporting desperately-needed N95 respirator masks to Canada. Thats hardly the way for the White House to treat a neighbour, friend and Americas best customer. But this is what happens when "America First" policies are put into practice against supposed allies. Not surprisingly, Canada quickly made its concerns known about the uncharacteristic medical equipment interruption to the highest levels of the U.S. government. Freeland once again stated bluntly, "I do want to assure Canadians that our government as has been demonstrated by our action is prepared to do whatever it takes to defend the national interest." There was even some loose talk about Canada fashioning some sort of retaliatory action against Washington. At one point, Canadian officials highlighted the fact that disrupting economic exchange between the two countries especially given its highly integrated nature and long-standing supply chains only ends up damaging both nations. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Additionally, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau opaquely referred to the possibility of Canadian medical professionals many of whom work in COVID-19 hotspots in Michigan being prohibited from crossing the border into the U.S. But Ottawa, wisely, thought otherwise. Besides, it hardly makes sense for Canada to take out its frustrations with the Trump administration against Detroit-area hospitals in the midst of a deadly pandemic. More to the point: I cant imagine a beleaguered Trump would take kindly to such a bilateral provocation. For a variety of reasons, Canada does not want to get into a war of retaliation with the U.S. Simply put, we would get clobbered. So it would be wise for the Trudeau government to ditch any chatter about reciprocal retaliatory measures against Trump. The unfortunate reality is that the Canadian government does not possess the requisite leverage to have any pull with the U.S. We may have it sometime down the road, when issues around shortages of fresh water and rare-earth metals become more acute in the U.S. But until that happens, and as long as Donald Trump occupies the White House, Canada is best served by biting its collective tongue and looking the other way. We just dont have any other option right now, Im afraid. Peter McKenna is professor of political science at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown. The more than 86 tornadoes that ravaged through the Southeast earlier this month caused damage to 23,448 structures with a reconstruction value estimated at $2.95 billion, according to CoreLogic. CoreLogic said more than 40,000 structures were affected across all regions by the powerful storms that hit on Easter Sunday, April 12 and into April 13, with the full reconstruction cost of over $5 billion. The most damaging tornado, an EF3 with wind speeds up to 145 mph, occurred in Chattanooga, Tenn., and was responsible for 12,218 incidents of structural impact and $1.99 billion of the reconstruction costs, CoreLogic estimates. Two severe tornadoes an EF4 and EF3 hit southern Mississippi, impacting upwards of 4,008 structures with a reconstruction cost of nearly $199.6 million. Tornadoes that scattered across Georgia impacted more than 3,000 structures at a reconstruction cost of $262 million. In South Carolina, tornadoes scattered across the state impacted upwards of 2,192 structures with a reconstruction cost of $209.4 million, while the Alabama tornadoes impacted upwards of 1,120 structures with a reconstruction cost of $215.7 million. CoreLogics Tornado Verification Technology monitored the tornadoes over a two-day period and estimated structural impacts and reconstruction costs. Adding to the regions challenges after the storm includes the COVID-19 pandemic that has led to social distancing requirements and quarantines across the region, CoreLogic said. Experts are concerned that nonessential business shutdowns will drastically hinder the ability of these towns to recover through reconstruction, the catastrophe modeler said. It added that, fortunately, aggregate materials should still be available for builders even though much construction has been halted because of the pandemic. Manufacturers should have ample supplies available for distribution, though there may be regional disparities accessing these resources. For displaced homeowners in damaged areas, fewer hotels and restaurants are available to help and displaced living expenses may incurred as a result of the higher housing and commuting costs. With humidity, warm air and strong winds in the Southeast, many communities in the region worry that the coming storm season will bring more tornadoes and other severe weather. This will continue to be a challenge for the region as it simultaneously works to prevent the spread of COVID-19, CoreLogic noted. Source: CoreLogic Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Windstorm SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hackard Law, a California estate, trust and elder rights litigation firm, today opened an investigation into California nursing homes and assisted living facilities amid COVID -19. The investigation began after senior advocates raised concerns over a new request to Governor Newsom. Groups representing California's nursing homes and assisted living facilities are pushing for an order that would grant them sweeping immunity for decisions made in the COVID-19 pandemic. An order, if issued, would violate a long-held rule that a law cannot apply retroactively if it would destroy a vested right. Moreover, it would likely be unconstitutional. Skilled nursing and assisted living facilities are experiencing unprecedented challenges from the Coronavirus pandemic across the length of California. At least 261 skilled nursing facilities 21 percent have reported COVID-19 cases among either a resident or health care worker. On April 19 the California Department of Public Health requested daily updates on the number of COVID-19 patients in all skilled facilities. At least 91 people have died from COVID-19 in assisted living facilities. It's unclear whether Governor Newsom is seriously considering the request from California's nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities and other health care providers to grant them legal immunity for their decisions during the Coronavirus crisis. All these groups want protection from "future legal action as long as that liability protection does not excuse willful misconduct." Advocates for elders argue that legal immunity is dangerous. The CDC has issued guidance and strategies for dealing with COVID-19 cases in Long-term Care Facilities and Nursing Homes. Blanket immunity to facilities that may have failed to meet these guidelines and to protect residents from reasonably foreseeable harm would hurt California's most vulnerable population its elders. California's separation of powers doctrine set forth in Article III, Section 3 of the state Constitution provides in part: "The powers of state government are legislative, executive, and judicial. Persons charged with the exercise of one power may not exercise either of the others except as permitted by this Constitution." This is a limitation, not a grant of power. The request for legal immunity is apparently a request for an executive order an order affecting all elders in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. Power to grant immunity resides with California's Legislature, not the Governor. The Governor does not have the power to shield senior care facilities from Coronavirus lawsuits. The Coronavirus pandemic cannot nullify or infringe on our citizens' constitutional rights. Emergency measures are certainly justified up to a point granting wholesale immunity to California's nursing homes and assisted living facilities from negligence and wrongful death claims goes well beyond that point. Families or residents who are concerned about COVID-19 issues in California nursing homes and assisted living facilities can learn more about the firm's investigation at [email protected]. Hackard Law 10630 Mather Blvd. Mather, CA 95655 (916) 313-3030 Related Images hackard-law.jpg Hackard Law California Estate, Trust & Probate Litigation Attorneys Related Links Hackard Law Hackard Law YouTube SOURCE Hackard Law Related Links https://www.hackardlaw.com SPRINGFIELD Local officials have praised the final schematic design of a new consolidated school in the Mason Square area, headed for consideration by the School Committee on April 30. The School Buildings and Maintenance Subcommittee reviewed the plans on Wednesday, which details plans to construct a new school to replace William Deberry and Homer Street schools. The new school will be on the DeBerry property on Union Street. The design is really done very well for the utilization of space and diversity, said Christopher Collins, subcommittee chairman. It allows the schools to keep their own identities. And it allows for efficiencies such as one gymnasium, one cafetorium, media center and library. He and member Maria Perez voted to recommend approval of the design plans, and to forward the plans for needed approval from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. The plans will be submitted to the state authority by May 6, once approved by the School Committee. The estimated cost of the new school is $102.2 million, and would be bordered by Union Street, Hancock Street, Monroe Street and Eastern Avenue. Collins and Peter Garvey, the citys chief development officer, praised the design of bus drop-off area and car drop-off area, done so that both areas are away from the traffic lanes. The design is well thought out, Garvey said. A lot of work went into this. Its not just a building, The educational component is huge on design. The consolidation is intended to replace two schools that are aged and outdated, school officials said. Donna DiNisco, of DiNisco Design of Boston, the architect, presented the plans for the new school. There would be separate entrances for the two schools and would retain their names, and have separate principals, officials said. The new school would serve 800 students and 120 Pre-K students, and would be followed by the demolition of the Deberry school, officials said. In conferring with school and city officials, it was decided to change Monroe Street into a one-way street, and widen it to allow parents to drop off their children away from the traffic lanes, DiNisco said.. The bus drop-off area will be on Union Street. So we have clear separation of parent and bus drop-off, DiNisco said. So we will be able to get the buses off the road, continue to allow traffic to pass by while the buses are loading and unloading the students. .. The vaccine candidate ChAdOx1 is an adenovirus vector vaccine - one of the most common types of vector vaccines. Today, the Oxford University vaccine candidate for COVID-19 is entering clinical trials. According to the World Health Organisations list of 70 COVID-19 vaccine candidates, this will be the fourth COVID-19 vaccine to enter the clinical trial phase after the Moderna candidate in the USA and two others in China. The vaccine called ChAdOx1 is being worked on currently at the Jenner Institute under Oxford University by a group of researchers led by Professor Sarah Gilbert, Professor Andrew Pollard, Dr Sandy Douglas, and Professor Teresa Lambe. Professor Adrian Hill, the director of the Jenner Institute, is also leading the team. However, what makes this vaccine different from its peers is the speed at which it is being prepared for mass immunisation. Dr Pollard, the chief investigator on this study has reportedly announced last week that they aim to produce about a million doses of this vaccine by Septemeber. The team already has three manufacturing partners in Britain, two in Europe, one in India and one in China. It is important to note that these doses are being prepared at a risk. Though the research team at Oxford University are very confident about the vaccine, in case the trials prove the vaccine is not effective, all these doses will go to waste. On April 21, Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, UK announced in a press briefing that this vaccine candidate for COVID-19 will be under clinical trials from Thursday, April 23, 2020. The UK government has already released massive funding for the same. ChAdOx1 The vaccine candidate ChAdOx1 is an adenovirus vector vaccine - one of the most common types of vector vaccines. A vector vaccine uses a vector microbe - another virus/bacteria to carry the tiny piece of the nucleic acid of a harmful microbe against which immunity needs to be generated. The vector itself usually does not cause harm to the person. However, once inside the body, it produces specific proteins using that tiny piece of the nucleic acid from the harmful microbe. Our immune system identifies those proteins as if the harmful microbe has actually entered our body and starts producing antibodies against it. Hence, the person is protected from the disease without ever acquiring it. The adenovirus vector in the ChAdOx1 vaccine is reportedly using a spike protein from SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19). It will not replicate inside the body and hence will be safe for children, adults, the elderly as well as those suffering from chronic diseases. According to news released by the Oxford team, they had started designing this vaccine as early as January 10, 2020. Adenovirus vaccines, in general, are well studied and have been used in 1000s of candidates in various countries in various age groups. Unlike the Moderna vaccine candidate for COVID-19, the Oxford vaccine reportedly generates a strong immune response in a single dose and hence may need lesser time to complete clinical trials. The team working on this vaccine have previously worked on the Ebola Vaccine in 2014 and have also worked on a vaccine for another coronavirus disease - Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). Interestingly, the vaccine candidate from China that has entered into phase 2 clinical trials is also a type of non-replicating adenovirus vector vaccine. The clinical trials For the clinical trials of their vaccine, the Oxford University team started enrolling healthy volunteers in the age of 18-55 years in March and their primary outcome data is supposed to show up by May 2021. A total of 510 people will be included in the study for now and will be divided into five different study groups. All of the candidates will either get the vaccine or the control injection (which would not contain the vaccine). These trials will give information on the safety of the vaccine and the ability of the vaccine candidate to generate an immune response. According to the data from the Clinical trials registry of NIH, it will be a combined phase 1 and 2 clinical trials and will take approximately 6 months to be completed. The participants will have the option to come for an additional follow up visit after a year - 364 days to be precise. Most experts have said that a vaccine will take 12-18 months to become available for use. The scaled-up manufacturing of this vaccine could possibly shorten that timeframe if the trials are successful. For more information, read our article on WHO Solidarity Project to find a treatment for COVID-19. Health articles in Firstpost are written by myUpchar.com, Indias first and biggest resource for verified medical information. At myUpchar, researchers and journalists work with doctors to bring you information on all things health. A Cairo court on Thursday ordered Egyptian social media influencer Haneen Hossam be detained pending investigation for 15 days, after she was arrested on Tuesday for posting videos on TikTok "inciting debauchery and immorality," according to a security source. Egypt's prosecutor-general had ordered the woman be detained on Wednesday for four days pending investigations. The official charges levelled against Hossam are set to be announced in a statement on Thursday, according to the prosecutor's office. Hossam, who has 1.2 million followers on the social media app, posted a video to recruit women to join a group she created on short-video sharing platform Likee, with the purpose of promoting the platform in return for payment. Egyptian TV hosts denounced the video, accusing it of inciting debauchery. Hossam has denied the accusations and said her videos had been taken out of context. Earlier this week, Cairo University ordered an investigation into Hossam, who is a second-year archaeology student at the university, for exhibiting "behaviours inconsistent with public morals and the university's values and traditions." University President Mohamed El-Khosht said the university will seek the maximum penalty against the student, which could include expulsion. Search Keywords: Short link: Like many Native Americans living on reservations in the United States, Dennis Metcalf has faced poverty, hardship and sadness, and now he fears the coronavirus outbreak could devastate his community. Metcalf, a 23-year-old Sioux from the Crow Creek tribe in South Dakota, started drawing when he was a boy to escape boredom, and now it is an outlet for his darker emotions. "I grew up in a very poor family," he told AFP near the small Wild West-style town of Chamberlain. "I didn't have any toys and sometimes we didn't even have power, so we didn't have TV or electronics." Among his heavy metal-inspired sketches is a portrait of a calm young woman with braided hair -- his late sister Nicole, a casualty of the high suicide rate on the reservations. The threat of coronavirus has further darkened the outlook for vulnerable Native American populations. "I'm very afraid that if the virus will spread in the reservation, it will start affecting my family members. I am worried sick for them," Metcalf said. Tribal officials have responded to the global health crisis by placing signs along roads ordering travellers not to stop as they drive through the Crow Creek reserve. Their Sioux neighbors in Lower Brule have imposed a curfew on their approximately 1,000 members and are now considering quarantining their entire territory as others have already done. - Grim echo of colonial smallpox - "The tribes have been a lot more proactive than the state," said Boyd Gourneau, Lower Brule Sioux tribe chairman, expressing frustration that South Dakota has issued no general containment order. Sitting in front of a buffalo skull in the tribal council room built in the shape of a teepee, he said the pandemic has echoes of the infectious diseases brought by Europeans which decimated Native American people. British colonialists in the 18th century are accused of wiping out tribes by deliberately giving them smallpox via infected blankets. "It's an instinct -- I didn't live through the smallpox blankets, but we heard enough stories that it's reactive," said Gourneau. - No jobs, poor healthcare - The damage that the current virus could cause to some of the most disadvantaged communities in the United States is made clear every day to Trisha Burke and her colleagues at Native Hope, a non-profit group. Astronomical unemployment, food shortages, alcoholism, poor health and a reliance on state subsidies and food stamps -- Burke said "there are a lot of factors" at play in conditions she describes as "a different world, Third-World-ish." How can you wash your hands in homes without running water or electricity, and what do you do if you get infected as healthcare is so limited, she asks. "Most of these reservations do not have hospitals per se, they have clinics that are overrun already and underfunded," she said. "COVID presents an extra layer of difficulty. They may have to travel three hours to get to a place where they could be treated." Social distancing guidelines might seem easy out on the Great Plains of North America, but the tattered doors of houses and caravans hide the reality of life in this picture-postcard landscape. "The housing shortage is bad. You have maybe seven or eight families living together, sometimes 20 to 30 people in one house," Melissa Johnson, program unit director at the Lower Brule Boys and Girls Club, who grew up with 12 brothers and sisters, told AFP. "You can imagine, everybody piling on top of each other. That's probably why everybody is so scared." - Finding solace - Her mother Toni Goodlow, 63, a probation case manager, is a linchpin of the tribe, organizing Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, helping young parents and offering a sympathetic ear to everyone's anxieties. But she says she is sometimes "tired of being the strong person." "I have my own fears too," she admitted behind her gap-toothed smile and sunglasses that reflect the peaceful waters of Lake Oahe. She finds solace each morning by burning sage, cedar and sweet grass in a "smudging" ritual. "Everybody has different ideas of what it means to us. We don't talk about it. We do it and that's it. "That's just a spiritual thing but we also believe that it's killing the virus.? Dennis Metcalf, a Sioux tribe member, fears that the pandemic could wreck his vulnerable community The Crow creek reservation has taken its own measures to halt the virus spread Like many reservations, the Lower Brule is faced with poverty and poor housing An American flag flies over a cemetery of the Lower Brule reservation, South Dakota T he first people have been injected as the UK starts human trials for a coronavirus vaccine. A scientists and a cancer researcher were administered with the first doses by University of Oxford researchers on Thursday. A third was given a meningitis vaccine, used in the trial for comparison. The participants said they wanted to help in what could be a groundbreaking development in the fight against Covid-19. Microbiologist Elisa Granato, who took part in the trial on her 32nd birthday, said she was "excited" to support the efforts by volunteering. She told the BBC: "Since I don't study viruses, I felt a bit useless these days, so I felt like this is a very easy way for me to support the cause." Cancer researcher Edward O'Neill said: "It seems like the right thing to do to ensure that we can combat this disease and get over it a lot faster." Microbiologist Elisa Granato, who took part in the trial on her 32nd birthday, said she was "excited" to support the efforts by volunteering / PA Professor Sarah Gilbert, who is leading the team, said she is optimistic about the chances of success. She said: "Personally, I'm very optimistic it's going to work. Formally, we are testing it in an efficacy setting. Professor Sarah Gilbert, who is leading the team, said she is optimistic about the chances of success / PA "There's absolutely no suggestion we're going to start using this vaccine in a wider population before we've demonstrated that it actually works and stops getting people infected with coronavirus." The Oxford Vaccine Group hopes to repeat the process with six more volunteers on Saturday, moving to larger numbers on Monday. Up to 1,102 participants will be recruited across multiple study sites in Oxford, Southampton, London and Bristol. Up to 1,102 participants will be recruited across multiple study sites in Oxford, Southampton, London and Bristol / PA Lydia Guthrie, who will begin taking part in the Oxford vaccine trial in a week, told BBC Radio 4's The World At One programme: "They've (the clinical team) been very clear with participants about the potential risk, and vaccine trials are very carefully regulated, so we've had to give explicit consent at every step of the way. "They're really clear with us that as participants we can pull out at any time if we change our minds." She added that after receiving either the Covid-19 vaccine candidate or the meningitis jab, she would go about her normal life, keeping a diary about how she feels, or any symptoms. 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 John Jukes, from Witney, Oxfordshire, is expected to get his injection on Monday. He told the Daily Mail: "I don't see what I am doing as being heroic at all. I'm in a position to possibly be helpful to lots of people - that's an opportunity to grab." A Covid-19 vaccine is considered the ultimate exit strategy by many experts, and scientists across the world are racing to develop one that can be produced at scale. The Oxford team hopes to have at least a million doses of its candidate ready in September. Another institution hoping to have a vaccine ready for use by the end of the year is Imperial College London. Looks like The God Of Thunder is quite excited about his next venture. Thor's hammer will ring out larger than ever before because Chris Hemsworth has just promised that Thor 4 titled Thor: Love and Thunder will be "pretty insane". Twitter Spilling the details on his movie, the 36-year-old actor told Philadelphia Inquirer, "It's one of the best scripts I've read in years." medialeaks.au Once again, Ragnarok's Taika Waititi is helming this film, and Hensworth says this time he is at his best. "It's Taika at his most extreme, and at his best. If the version I read is the one we get running with, it's going to be pretty insane". In an Instagram live session earlier, Waititi has teased that he just can't wait to do this movie. "It's one of those ones where I can't wait to do it. There's so many great, great things in it. It's so over the top now, in the very best way. It makes Ragnarok look like a really run-of-the-mill, very safe film." Twitter "This new film feels like we asked 10-year-olds what should be in a movie, and then we said yes to every single thing. Space sharks, if you know anything about the comics... That's all I'm gonna say... Space sharks," added the filmmaker who won Academy Award recently for his script for Jojo Rabbit. Twitter To this, Tessa Thompson asked if Korg would get a love interest in this one. Waititi quipped, "He was deeply in love and lost that love along the line He doesn't feel brave enough to find love again." Meanwhile, Chris Hemsworth is gearing up for the release of Extraction, wich also stars Randeep Hooda, Manoj Bajpayee and Pankaj Tripathi in pivotal roles. The movie is scheduled to be released on April 24 on Netflix. While a call centre is up and running to assist Manitoba businesses in applying for federal loans and grants in the wake of the pandemic, a provincial advertising campaign to promote the service is still days away from being launched. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. While a call centre is up and running to assist Manitoba businesses in applying for federal loans and grants in the wake of the pandemic, a provincial advertising campaign to promote the service is still days away from being launched. Premier Brian Pallister caught many in the local business community by surprise on April 13 when he announced a $4-million contract to a call-centre operator to help Manitoba organizations leverage federal cash. The contract, with local company 24-7 Intouch, was hastily arranged. According to information posted on a government tendering website, Manitoba issued a request for proposals (RFP) at 2:20 p.m. on April 7, with a deadline of 2 p.m. on April 9. Pallister called a news conference four days after that to announce the new initiative and the winning bidder. Pallister estimated that more than 65,000 businesses, not-for-profits and charities stood to benefit from federal COVID-19 loans and wage subsidies. "Literally billions of dollars are at stake," the premier said. At the time, the province was not offering any direct assistance to businesses to cope with loss of revenue owing to the coronavirus. 24-7 Intouch began reaching out to businesses and other groups who may qualify for federal assistance last Thursday, the province says. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files) The province says 24-7 Intouch began reaching out to businesses and other groups who may qualify for federal assistance last Thursday. But with the federal government poised to start taking applications Monday for its multibillion-dollar wage-subsidy program, the province has yet to begin advertising the call-centre service. According to the RFP, the call centre was to make initial contact with about 50,000 businesses within one week of operation, or provide a detailed description of when it expected to achieve that milestone. Bidders were told the province would support its efforts through a "multi-channel advertising campaign to create awareness and establish credibility." A government spokeswoman said a multi-platform campaign, featuring online, radio and print ads, is in the works. She could not provide a cost. "The campaign should be launched in the next week or so," she said in an email. An official with 24-7 Intouch did not return a request for comment on Wednesday. For inbound calls, the government requires that 24-7 Intouch prepare staff with scripts to be developed by professionals with finance and accounting expertise. Government will help provide the necessary information, according to the RFP. The province prescribed that the average wait for clients calling for help should not exceed 30 minutes, and that hang-ups or "call abandonment" be less than 10 per cent. Premier Brian Pallister caught many in the local business community by surprise when he announced a $4-million contract to a call-centre operator to help Manitoba organizations leverage federal cash. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press files) The winning bidder was also to establish "privacy procedures to ensure sensitive information is protected." Some business leaders say a call centre can play a useful role in helping small- and medium-sized businesses navigate the federal system. "I can see the value of having a co-ordinated approach to getting information into business and getting information from business," said Loren Remillard, president of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce. The call centre can ensure that businesses are accessing the full range of assistance available to them, he said. Remillard noted, however, that the Canadian Chamber of Commerce has created a portal called the Canadian Business Resilience Network, in partnership with the federal government, that has all the latest information on COVID-19 national assistance programs. "We would hope that the call centre utilizes that portal," he said. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The chamber and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business have already been fielding numerous calls from local businesses about the various government programs. "I think there will be a lot of businesses out there that call into the help line the province has set up, and I think this is a very good thing," said Jonathan Alward, director of provincial affairs with the Manitoba branch of the CFIB. However, one businessman with strong ties to government said when the call centre was announced many in the business community were perplexed. "That was not on anybody's radar," said the businessman, who requested anonymity. "Unless 24-7 (Intouch) somehow, like the American Express card, gets you to the front of the line, what is it really going to do?" larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca New things about COVID-19 are coming to light each day it seems, and living in a world affected by it, scientists and researchers are only too keen to learn all that they can about it. According to a report by Reuters, doctors at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City noticed something strange happening to a COVID-19 patient's blood. Naturally Savvy Patients are reportedly exhibiting signs of blood thickening and clotting in different organs of their bodies. Doctors have termed this condition as alarming as it is something fairly new. Doctors from different specialisations are figuring out how the blood is clotting in different organs of the body. At Mount Sinai, nephrologists have noticed kidney dialysis catheters getting plugged with clots. Pulmonologists monitoring COVID-19 patients on mechanical ventilators have seen portions of lungs were oddly bloodless. Neurosurgeons confronted a surge in their usual caseload of strokes due to blood clots, the age of victims skewing younger, with at least half testing positive for the virus. Dr J Mocco, a Mount Sinai neurosurgeon told The New York Times, Its very striking how much this disease causes clots to form." He also added that some doctors think that COVID-19 is more than a lung disease. He informed how a stroke was a young patient's first symptom of COVID-19. After doctors discussed this new development, they came up with a different protocol. Patients are now given high doses of blood-thinning drugs in order to prevent future clotting. Dr David Reich, the hospital president said, Maybe, just maybe, if you prevent the clotting, you can make the disease less severe." AFP However, the new treatment will not be used on high-risk patients because blood-thinners can pose a threat to bleeding in the brain or other organs. In the last three weeks, Dr Mocco has witnessed 32 stroke patients with large blood blockages in the brain which is double the number for that period. Five patients out of those were young, under age 49 and had never shown any risk factors for stroke. He added that "it was crazy and very, very atypical." At least half of the 32 patients would test positive for COVID-19, Dr Mocco said. On the other hand, Dr Hooman Poor who is a Mount Sinai lung specialist found himself working with 14 patients on a ventilator. According to the report, the patients' lungs did not appear to be stiff but instead it looked like blood circulation wasn't happening freely through the lungs with each breath. LA Times COVID-19 has claimed 184,263 lives all over the world till now. But along the way it all starts to go south for the man, ending in his conviction for hiring someone to murder a rival. There has been no documentary yet about Lorin Womack, whose Land OLorin Exotic Wildlife Haven was at least a Batavia curiosity and in some eyes an attraction in the waning years of the 20th Century. Amid the strict lockdown, a school teacher travelledfrom Thiruvananthapuram to Muthanga in Wayanad-- a distance of about 465 km-- on her way to neighbouring Karnataka en route to Delhi following whichpolice have registered a case and a probe is on. The woman, said to be working in Kendriya Vidyalaya, Pattom here undertook the journey on April 21. Because of the lockdown even inter-district travel is not allowed by police and district administration, unless there is an extremely genuine reason. A senior police official in Thiruvananthapuram said he does not remember issuing any such pass. The woman may have "misued" government machinery as private vehicles would have been stopped somewhere during the long journey, he said. There are reports that the woman undertook the journey in a government vehicle. She cameto Kalpetta in Wayanad allegedly in an official car of the excise department. Wayanad District police chief R Elango told PTI that an FIR has been filed based on preliminary information and investigations have begun. "We willcheck if she has followed procedures in obtaining a pass and if she has made any false claim to get the pass,"he said. As per preliminary information the woman came in an excise official's car from Thamarassery (Kozhikode) to Muthunga(Wayanad), he said. Her mode of transport before that--from Thiruvananthapuram to Wayanad--will also be investigated,he said, adding they have no information if she has reached Delhi. "We will track down her movement," he said Meanwhile, theWayanad district administration has intensified the lockdown protocol from Thursday to prevent people's movement within and from outside the district/state. Interception at all the check posts on district and state borders of the district, bordering Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, will also be intensified. No one would be allowed to travel frequently to and fro the district under the pretext of official duty. Wayanad collector Adhila Abdulla said officials from outside the district will no longer be allowed to commute daily. "Elderly people above the age of 65 should confine to their homes unless it is extremely urgent or unavoidable. Cases will be registered against family members who allow elderly people to go out for buying medicines and other essentials," she said. Senior citizens, who live alone, can call either the Fire (101) or Police (100) departments for any help and to get things they need, the collector said. Whatever relaxations were in place have also been withdrawn with effect from Thursday, she added. Wayanad and Thiruvananthapuram come under the 'Orange B' zone where there are some relaxations. However, Thiruvananthapuram city limits falls under the hotspot area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with patients who have recovered from the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, DC on April 14, 2020. The Supreme Court on Thursday sided largely with environmentalists in a case over the reach of the landmark Clean Water Act, ruling that a "loophole" in the law backed by the Trump administration was unlawful. The top court voted 6-3, with conservatives Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh joining the court's four Democratic appointees in the majority. The case is the most high-profile environmental dispute of the Supreme Court's term. The majority ruled that the Clean Water Act forbids polluters from spewing waste into navigable waters like oceans and streams without a permit even if the pollution travels indirectly through groundwater. But it also applied a more narrow standard than the one used by the federal appeals court that previously sided with the clean water advocates. Maui, which brought the case, and the Trump administration's Department of Justice had argued that the law did not apply to pollution that traveled through groundwater. Read more: Brewers warn Supreme Court: Back the Clean Water Act, or beer will taste like medicine Justice Stephen Breyer, who authored the opinion of the court, rejected that interpretation, arguing that if it were accepted, a pipe owner could "simply move the pipe back, perhaps only a few yards, so that the pollution must travel through at least some groundwater before reaching the sea." "We do not see how Congress could have intended to create such a large and obvious loophole in one of the key regulatory innovations of the Clean Water Act," Breyer wrote. The case concerned Maui's Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility, which treats millions of gallons of sewage each day and injects the treated waste into wells deep underground. A study ordered by the Environmental Protection Agency showed that nearly all of the waste ends up in the Pacific Ocean. Environmental groups challenged Maui in court over the pollution, arguing that the Clean Water Act required the facility to obtain a federal permit. Read more: Supreme Court casts doubt on Trump-backed 'loophole' in Clean Water Act A federal district court sided with the environmentalists, and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the decision, saying such permits were required when pollutants are "fairly traceable" from the pipe to navigable waters, which includes the Pacific Ocean but not groundwater. The Supreme Court said that the "fairly traceable" standard was too broad, citing the "power of modern science" to detect pollutants years after their release in minute quantities. Breyer wrote that a permit is instead required when the indirect pollution via groundwater is the "functional equivalent of a direct discharge." "If the pipe ends 50 miles from navigable waters and the pipe emits pollutants that travel with groundwater, mix with much other material, and end up in navigable waters only many years later, the permitting requirements likely do not apply," he wrote. David Henkin, an attorney at the environmental nonprofit Earthjustice who argued the case before the justices in November, said in a statement that the Supreme Court's opinion is "a huge victory for clean water." "The Supreme Court has rejected the Trump administration's effort to blow a big hole in the Clean Water Act's protections for rivers, lakes, and oceans," he said. An attorney for Maui and the Justice Department's solicitor general's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The three justices who dissented from the majority opinion, Justices Neil Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, said they would only require a federal permit for direct pollution into navigable waters. Thomas, in a dissent joined by Gorsuch, wrote that the text of the statute only applied to direct pollution. Alito, on the other hand, wrote that there were "two ways to read this text": It could require permits for all indirect pollution, or only direct pollution. The majority's "middle way" the functional equivalent standard, which requires permits for only some indirect pollution was incomprehensible, the George W. Bush appointee wrote. "Instead of concocting our own rule, I would interpret the words of the statute, and in my view, the better of the two possible interpretations is that a permit is required when a pollutant is discharged directly from a point source to navigable waters," Alito wrote. The case is County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund, No. 18-260. A network of humanitarian activists and volunteers in Paris are preparing and delivering meals for people who are sleeping rough, living in shelters or asylum centres and may find it especially hard to get by during the coronavirus outbreak. The Refugee Food Festival is one of several volunteer initiatives across France to bring community members together and offer food help amid restrictions to public movement imposed during the outbreak. In Paris' 12th district, volunteers turn up on a daily basis to help cook what the chef has planned for the menu that day. Thanks to food donations adding to the ingredients, the initiative can prepare 1,200 ready meals a day, and has so far during the outbreak delivered more than 25,000 boxes of food. Louis Martin, the founder of the Refugee Food Festival, a culinary and solidarity project supported by the UNHCR, has helped put forward the culinary skills of former refugees, of which some now work for the initiative. The project's three restaurants in Paris had to close during the lockdown, but were able to keep kitchens operating to prepare the meals. One of the chefs is a former refugee from Mauritania, who said he wanted to help people as a way of returning the help that he had received from volunteers on his arrival in France. (We wanted) leaders with Pre-K-8 experience who, by working together, could provide full coverage in the interim position and who also met the criteria that was previously communicated to the community, Begley stated. We believe we have found exactly that. The coverage on this live blog has ended but for up-to-the-minute coverage on the coronavirus, visit the live blog from CNBC's U.S. team. Global cases: 2,630,005 Global deaths: 183,489 Most cases reported: United States (842,624), Spain (208,389), Italy (187,327), France (157,135), and Germany (150,648). The data above was compiled by Johns Hopkins University as of 3:31 p.m. Beijing time. All times below are in Beijing time. 6:53 pm: China to donate more money to the WHO China is to donate an additional $30 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) to support efforts to combat the coronavirus, China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Thursday, Reuters reported. Hua said on Twitter that the donation was aimed at strengthening developing countries' health systems and added that China had already donated $20 million to the WHO in March. Holly Ellyatt 5:41 pm: Australia will push for a coronavirus investigation at the World Health Assembly Australia will push for an international investigation into the coronavirus pandemic at next month's annual meeting of the World Health Assembly, the decision-making body of the World Health Organization, its prime minister said on Thursday, Reuters reported. Australia wants a review into the WHO's response to the pandemic and would like to see the organization strengthened. Holly Ellyatt 5:21 pm: Spain's death toll rises to 22,157 Spain has reported that 440 people have died from the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths to 22,157, its health ministry said. The death toll has risen slightly from Wednesday, when 435 deaths were reported. The total number of cases has reached 213,024, up 4,635 from the previous day. Holly Ellyatt Health workers at Hospital Clinic applaud at 8p.m. during the coronavirus pandemic on April 22, 2020 in Barcelona, Spain. Xavi Torrent 5:00 pm: Here's a snapshot of virus hot spots in the US 4:42 pm: Merkel says 'things will remain hard for a very long time' as pandemic is not over German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the end of the coronavirus pandemic is not yet in sight and that we will have to live with the virus "for a long time." Speaking to Germany's Parliament, the Bundestag, on Thursday, Merkel said "we are not living in the final phase of the pandemic, but still at the beginning." "We have won time," Merkel said, according to a Reuters translation, adding that this had been used to bolster Germany's health-care system. Holly Ellyatt 4:30 pm: Eurozone business activity crashes to 'shocking' lows on coronavirus pandemic Euro zone business activity hit another record low during April in another sign that the coronavirus pandemic is causing severe economic damage across the region. The IHS Markit Purchasing Managers' Index, which measures both the services industry and manufacturing, dropped to 13.5 in April, according to preliminary data. In March, the same index had already recorded its biggest ever single monthly drop to 29.7. A contraction in PMI numbers a figure below 50 indicates a likely fall in economic growth overall. "April saw unprecedented damage to the euro zone economy amid virus lockdown measures coupled with slumping global demand and shortages of both staff and inputs," Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit, said in a statement. Silvia Amaro 3:46 pm: Singapore preliminarily confirms 1,037 new cases The number of coronavirus cases in Singapore jumped by 1,037 to 11,178, according to preliminary data by the Ministry of Health. A vast majority of those cases were migrant workers living in dormitories, the ministry said. (See 10:18 am update) Singapore is the first country in the Southeast Asia to report cumulative cases of above 10,000, according to the tally compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Yen Nee Lee 3:22 pm: Virus precautions by Facebook Marketplace in the UK are falling short of its rivals Facebook Marketplace is one of the biggest second-hand buying and selling platforms in the world. But its efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus pale in comparison to those of rival apps. On March 24, one in five people worldwide were in some form of lockdown, with many people only able to go out to pick up essentials (food and medicine), or to get some exercise. Things remain largely unchanged. "Stay at home. Protect the NHS. Save lives." That's the message U.K. citizens are hearing over and over again. Popping to someone's house to pick up a second-hand this or that probably isn't a great idea right now. However, a host of Facebook Marketplace users in the U.K. told CNBC that they were still completing face-to-face transactions over the platform. Some of them said they're taking their own precautions by wearing masks and gloves, but not all. The company has said that users should follow government advice and it was monitoring the situation. Sam Shead 2:55 pm: Fintech firms race to plug gaps in UK's coronavirus relief measures Britain's financial technology industry is racing to fill gaps in the government's coronavirus business relief measures, by offering loans quickly to those struggling financially as a result of the pandemic. Several of the country's top fintech firms have been pushing for accreditation from the state-backed British Business Bank (BBB) to be able to provide loans under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). Initially only 40 banks including the major high street lenders Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC and RBS were accepted onto the program. But in recent weeks newer digital lenders such as Starling, OakNorth and Funding Circle have been approved as well. Ryan Browne 2:30 pm: Credit Suisse sets aside more than $580 million for potential loan losses Credit Suisse reported a 75% rise in first-quarter net profit Thursday, in new CEO Thomas Gottstein's first earnings report since taking the helm. The bank reported a net income of 1.31 billion Swiss francs ($1.35 billion) for the three months up to March 31, up from 749 million for the same period last year. However, the Swiss lender set aside 568 million Swiss francs ($584.9 million) for potential loan losses, mainly as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and warned it expected "COVID-19-related uncertainty to persist." For comparison, in the first quarter of 2019, the bank set aside 81 million Swiss francs for potential loan losses. Elliot Smith 2:10 pm: China's cash-strapped poor seek more debt as virus hits job prospects Demand for consumer loans is picking up in China, especially among the less affluent, highlighting a group that some say could use more support during the coronavirus-induced economic downturn. The disease, officially called Covid-19, emerged late last year in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The virus has since spread rapidly around the world, killing more than 183,000 people, including over 4,600 in China. While the coronavirus' outbreak has stalled within the country, China is still trying to recover from the economic shock of weeks-long shutdowns, both domestically and now from export destinations. Official and third-party data show that China's poorest households are the hardest hit. Evelyn Cheng 1:52 pm: Europe could opt for 'helicopter money' as the pandemic destroys economic growth, experts predict It has never been implemented in the euro zone, but ultimately the European Central Bank could reach a point where so-called "helicopter money" is its best option amid the coronavirus crisis, two analysts told CNBC. The term, coined by 20th century economist Milton Friedman, refers to an unconventional monetary policy, where a central bank prints additional money and distributes it directly to its citizens. The idea which evokes the image of money being thrown out of a helicopter to the people below is to boost consumer spending, and thus an economic recovery, during a recession. However, there are a range of ideas as to how central bankers could go about this. European nations have been some of the hardest hit by Covid-19, with the International Monetary Fund projecting a GDP contraction of 7.5% for the euro area this year. Silvia Amaro 1:35 pm: Thailand's confirmed cases rise by 13 to 2,839 Confirmed coronavirus cases in Thailand rose by 13 to 2,839, according to the Ministry of Public Health's Department of Disease Control. The country reported one more death to bring its tally to 50 since the outbreak, the department said. It added that 2,430 patients have recovered so far. Thailand's important tourism industry has taken a hit as many countries globally closed borders and restricted travel. (see 9:50 am update) Yen Nee Lee 12:45 pm: Germany reports 2,352 new cases, 215 more deaths Germany reported another 2,352 cases of the coronavirus disease, taking its tally to 148,046 since the outbreak, according to the latest data by Robert Koch Institute, a federal government agency responsible for disease monitoring and prevention. The country's death toll increased by 215 to 5,094, said the institute. Yen Nee Lee 11:20 am: Japan reports 14 more cases on Italian cruise ship docked in Nagasaki Japan has confirmed 14 more coronavirus cases on the Italian cruise ship Costa Atlantica currently docked in the western Japanese city of Nagasaki for repairs, reported Reuters. At least 48 cases of infections have been identified on the ship, including cooks and staff members serving food to the crew on board, according to the report. The cruise ship is reportedly carrying 623 crew members and no passengers. Nagasaki officials said they plan to test all on board the ship within the next few days, according to a report by Japanese broadcaster NHK. Yen Nee Lee 10:45 am: South Korea posts worst quarterly economic contraction since 2008 South Korea's gross domestic product fell by 1.4% in the first quarter compared to the previous three months, according to advance estimates by its central bank. That's a slightly smaller contraction compared to the 1.5% decline projected by economists in a Reuters poll. Reuters reported that the quarterly decline in GDP was South Korea's worst since the fourth quarter of 2008. The economic contraction was led by declines in private consumption as well as trade of goods and services, data by the Bank of Korea showed. On a year-on-year basis, the South Korean economy grew by 1.3%, said the central bank. South Korea on Thursday reported eight new cases of the coronavirus disease, bringing its tally of confirmed infections to 10,702 since the outbreak, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The country's death toll increase by two to a total of 240, said KCDC. Yen Nee Lee 10:18 am: Why Singapore's push to contain coronavirus among migrant workers is so difficult Previously a poster child for its efficient handling of the coronavirus spread, Singapore is now back in the spotlight as it struggles to contain a new outbreak among a section of its population migrant workers. The number of Covid-19 cases in the city-state has spiked in the past month from about 1,000 cumulative cases on April 1 to more than 10,000 today. Most of the newly infected patients are foreign migrant workers residing in dormitories, who hail from countries including India and Bangladesh. There is "aggressive testing" underway inside migrant worker dormitories even among migrant workers who are not sick, and who do not display any symptoms, which could explain the high numbers of cases being reported everyday, according to Lawrence Wong, Singapore's minister for national development, at a virtual press conference. This could suggest the infections have been occurring for some time, he added. Audrey Cher 9:50 am: Foreign tourist arrivals to Thailand dip 76.4% in March Arrivals of foreign tourists into Thailand fell by 76.4% in March from a year earlier, reported Reuters, citing the latest data from the country's tourism ministry. The report also said that Chinese visitors, Thailand's largest source of foreign tourists, plunged 94.2% year over year last month. Tourism is an important contributor of growth for the Thai economy. Last year, foreign tourist receipts accounted for 11% of the country's gross domestic product, said Reuters. Globally, companies in the tourism and leisure industry have been among the hardest hit in the coronavirus pandemic as many countries restricted travel and closed borders to curb the spread of the virus. Yen Nee Lee 8:55 am: China reports 10 new cases, no deaths China reported just 10 new cases as of April 22, according to its National Health Commission (NHC) a decline from the 30 new cases reported the day before. Six were attributed to travelers coming from overseas. That takes the country's total to 82,798 cases, according to government data. For the eighth straight day, there were no new deaths, with total fatalities remaining at 4,632, according to the NHC. Separately, there were 27 new asymptomatic cases, where people tested positive for the virus but did not show any symptoms. That brings its number of asymptomatic cases currently under medical observation to 984, the NHC said. Weizhen Tan 8:30 am: New cases in Italy jump again Even as recoveries rose and deaths dropped in Italy, the number of new cases in the country jumped again Wednesday. Italy reported 3,370 new cases, that's more than the 2,729 new cases reported Tuesday. The country also reported 437 additional deaths, less than the 534 deaths reported Tuesday, according to Reuters. There were also fewer people in intensive care, 2,384 as of Wednesday compared with the 2,471 on Tuesday. A worker wearing protective garments sanitizes the Duomo square, during the coronavirus disease outbreak in central Milan, Italy. Flavio Lo Scalzo | REUTERS Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said this week that the country will start lifting lockdown measures from May 4, but that the re-opening will be cautious and gradual, according to Reuters. To date, Italy has reported a total of 187,327 cases, 54,543 recoveries and 25,085 deaths. Weizhen Tan 8:10 am: Confirmed cases in Mexico top 10,000 The number of confirmed cases in Mexico soared past 10,000, according to its health ministry, a Reuters report said. The country has seen 970 fatalities, according to the report. Mexico has unveiled $25.6 billion in increased spending on social programs and infrastructure, in a bid to boost the ailing economy which had been hit by the pandemic. Weizhen Tan All times below are in Eastern time. 7:01 pm: Trump says he 'disagrees strongly' with Georgia governor's plan to reopen businesses President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that he strongly disagrees with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's "phase one" plans to allow non-essential businesses to re-open in his state at the end of the week. The re-opening of businesses, which begins Friday, includes tattoo parlors, spas, hair salons or barbershops, movie theaters and bowling alleys. They will be allowed to open their doors to the public, as long as they, and their patrons, follow physical distancing orders and other OSHA guidelines, Kemp announced on Monday. Trump said he told the governor, "I disagree strongly," adding that the governor "has to do what he thinks is right." Lora Kolodny 6:29 pm: Trump says CDC director's coronavirus warning was 'totally misquoted' President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Robert Redfield was "totally misquoted" when he said challenges from the coronavirus could be "more difficult" in the winter. "He was talking about the flu and corona coming together at the same time," Trump said at a White House press briefing, "and corona could be just some little flare-ups that we'll take care of." Redfield told The Washington Post on Tuesday that the already daunting task of responding to the coronavirus outbreak could only become more challenging in the winter, when flu season begins. "There's a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through," Redfield told the Post. "And when I've said this to others, they kind of put their head back, they don't understand what I mean." Kevin Breuninger 5:40 pm: Two pet cats in New York test positive for the coronavirus, CDC says Authorities in Georgia reported another family tragedy during the CCP virus crisis after a stepfather shot and killed his teenage stepson following a dispute over the boys wishes to leave the house during the shelter-in-place order. The stepfather, identified as 42-year-old Bernie Hargrove, was arrested for the deadly shooting that happened Wednesday night on Lisbon Drive in southwest Atlanta. Hargrove has been charged with felony murder following the shooting death of 16-year-old Deonte Roberts, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. He is expected to make his initial court appearance on the afternoon of April 23. The dispute unfolded after Roberts started a fight with his parents over the current shelter-in-place order, the victims mother told detectives. The 16-year-old refused his parents orders to remain in the home and comply with recent shelter-in-place directives, police said in a statement. Later, the victim returned to the home and kicked in the door to the house where a physical fight began between the suspect and the victim. During that altercation the victim was shot. Hargrove shot the teen multiple times, authorities told news outlets. Roberts was transported to a local hospital with critical injuries to his chest and was later pronounced dead. Responding officers apprehended Hargrove shortly afterwards and he was booked into the Fulton County Jail, The Associated Press reported. Tensions get high because youre in the same space, day in and day out, Atlanta Police Captain DAndrea Price said. However, when the pressure gets high, you just have to take a deep breath and you have to separate. It is not yet clear if Hargrove had an attorney who could comment during his initial court appearance Thursday afternoon. During the current Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus pandemic, officials said the vast majority of 911 calls so far involved domestic disputes and crisis intervention calls. Some experts fear that the further the COVID-19 crisis spreads across the United States, and the more people are placed under lockdown, a surge in domestic violence is possible. Teen Held Without Bond in Mothers Stabbing Death A Maryland teenidentified as 19-year-old David Frederick Miner IVwas arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of his mother 45-year-old Samantha Annette Miner on April 19. Responding officers with the Frederick Police Department found the woman with stab wounds in her neck. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators working on the case interviewed Miner IV and the teen told them that he had been using drugs during the current shelter-in-place order and that he had an urgent desire to kill the family dog. In the interview obtained by WFMD, the teens mother reportedly tried to stop him after he grabbed a knife to kill the dog, then the teen stabbed his mother instead. Police said he admitted to stabbing his mother, but he could not remember clearly what happened. The teens father called the police after finding his wife in the house. The Maryland teen is currently held without bond. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Trump says ordered Navy to destroy Iranian boats 'if they harass' US ships Iran Press TV Wednesday, 22 April 2020 2:17 PM US President Donald Trump is stepping up his anti-Iran threats by claiming that he has instructed the US Navy to destroy Iranian boats "if they harass" US ships in the Persian Gulf. "I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea," Trump wrote in a tweet posted on Wednesday morning. The order is Trump's first reaction to a recent confrontation between US warships and Iranian boats in the Persian Gulf. Trump posted the tweet as his administration is under unprecedented pressure over its highly criticized response to the coronavirus pandemic, prompting suggestions that his anti-Iran statement is probably meant to divert attentions from his poor handling of the crisis. A video released by Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps on Sunday shows the IRGC Navy warning off a flotilla of US warships in the Persian Gulf as they try to approach the Iranian territorial waters. In the video, a personnel of the IRGC Navy warns the vessels to stop inspecting and detaining Iranian fishing or commercial ships in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. He also warns them that they would face consequences according to the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran if they ignore this notice. Tensions in the strategic waterway rose significantly last summer after a series of mysterious explosions targeted a number of oil tankers. The US, quickly blaming Iran for the incidents without providing conclusive evidence along with other countries such as Saudi Arabia, has since deployed thousands of troops and military equipment to the region. Meanwhile, in a statement released on Sunday, the IRGC refuted the claims by the US that Iranian forces behaved in a dangerous manner when faced with US Navy vessels. The IRGC further blamed Washington as the main source of insecurity in the in West Asia region and called for the full withdrawal of all American forces. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A shop robber who threatened staff with a syringe over four cans of cider has been jailed for ten months. Dubliner Myles Byrne (28) was out of it when he went into the city centre Tesco shop at around 9am and tried to buy the cans. When staff told him they could not sell him any alcohol he refused to leave the cans back. He pulled out a syringe and told one staff member get away or I'll stab you. He then said you're lucky I didn't rob the tills before he left with the cans. Garda Aine Hogan told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that staff were afraid for their life when Byrne made his threat. The deputy manager told gardai that Byrne was clearly out of it and was swaying when he came into the shop. Byrne of Cardiff Castle Road, Finglas, pleaded guilty to robbery and making a threat to kill or cause serious harm at College Green, Dublin city on September 29 last (2019). His 79 previous convictions include assault, robbery and road traffic offences. He was on bail when he committed 56 of these offences. Rebecca Smith BL, defending, told the court that her client had an ongoing difficulty with alcohol and had little memory of the robbery. She said he was embarrassed by his actions and wanted to apologise. She said Byrne wished to deal with his addiction problem but that the offer of a place in residential treatment had been put on hold because of the pandemic related restrictions. Judge Martin Nolan told Byrne that he was not living up to the reputation of his famous Wexford namesake. He said this was a very stupid crime and Byrne behaved in a very aggressive and violent way when challenged by shop staff. A Nigerian woman has given birth to twins a boy and a girl at the age of 68. Margaret Adenuga went through three previous IVF procedures before finally having twins. Her husband Noah Adenuga, 77, told CNN the couple, who married in 1974, had long desired to have a child of their own. Adenuga said they never gave up even after the failed attempts. The retired stock auditor told CNN, "I am a dreamer, and I was convinced this particular dream of ours will come to pass." The babies were delivered via caesarian section at 37 weeks last Tuesday at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) but the hospital only recently made the news public to give the first-time mother time to recuperate, it said. Dr. Adeyemi Okunowo, who delivered the babies, told CNN a specialist team was assembled at the hospital to monitor the pregnancy because of her age. "As an elderly woman and a first-time mother, it was a high-risk pregnancy and also because she was going to have twins but we were able to manage her pregnancy to term," Okunowo told CNN. An international rights watchdog is calling for accountability in Burkina Faso after 31 unarmed men were killed earlier this month in Djibo, a town in the northern part of the country, allegedly by government forces. "The Burkinabe security forces apparently executed 31 men in a brutal mockery of a counterterrorism operation that may amount to a war crime and could fuel further atrocities, said Corinne Dufka, Sahel director at Human Rights Watch. According to statements taken by the US-based human rights group, the men were rounded up various parts of town after Burkinabe armed forces asked for their identification during a significant government counterterrorism operation. According to eyewitness statements taken by HRW, they were carried off in a convoy of about 10 vehicles, and not seen alive again. The residents said they heard gunfire, then searched for the men a few hours later, finding the bodies of the detainees. None were armed, and some were bound, according to the eyewitnesses. There was no gunfire before the arrests. If there had been tension, or an attack we'd not have gone to the well, clinic, or to our fields, an elder told HRW, pointing out that residents were going about their day normally The government should immediately and impartially investigate the killings and hold to account all those responsible, regardless of rank, said HRW's Dufka. If someone links you to terrorists, you are dead Yes, there are Fulani who are terrorists, but not everyone, says Hassan, a former resident of Djibo who is following the situation. He asked not use his real name due to the tense security conditions. The security services go to the villages where these people grew up and look for their relatives. The relatives don't support terrorism, they are living in their villages. But they detain these people who they see as complicit in terrorism, he tells RFI. Residents who spoke to HRW believe that the village was targeted because a number of armed Islamists were seen in the area. If someone accuses you of having a link or being involved with terrorists, you will be killed. You are dead, adds Hassan. No judicial process HRW has documented the killing of more than 300 civilians by armed Islamist groups and several hundred men by government security forces since 2017. The presence of Islamist groups in the region and their ongoing attacks has displaced 775,000 people. Although the security services are tasked with capturing terrorists, there is no regard as to proper judicial process, according to Hassan, likening the area to the 'wild west'. The whole region is inaccessible from the outside due to insecurity, so lawyers cannot conduct an investigation, he says. There are three camps for different security forces in Djibo, including a police station, a gendarme base, and barracks that house the mixed counter-terrorism force, Groupement des Forces Anti-Terroristes (GFAT).Witnesses tell HRW that they believe it was GFAT that carried out the killings of the 31 men on 9 April. A state of permanent fear Hassan was willing to speak to RFI, but noted that others are too scared. People live in permanent fear here, he says. It is hard enough to live as a herder or a farmer in the area, but many who do not support the Islamists feel that they are already targeted because of family ties to those who have chosen to go fight with them, says Hassan. Sometimes people don't have a choice-- the terrorists promise that they will be protected, so they go there, he adds. For Hassan, one way forward would be with the government voluntary initiative that deals in mediation. But the government needs to involve all the ethnic groups in the organization, not just a few, he says. Human Rights Watch calls for accountability to stop abuses against residents and to commit to a rights-respecting counterterrorism strategy. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 23 By Nargiz Sadikhova - Trend: The US Government, through its the US Agency for International Development (USAID), has committed an additional 348 million tenge ($800,000) to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak in Kazakhstan, Trend reports with reference to the US embassy in Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is taking decisive action to stop the spread of the virus. In the fight against COVID-19, the US Government stands with Kazakhstan and other partners around the world. We need to join forces as the international community. Every one of us can contribute to stopping the pandemic by staying home and following the governments guidelines, the US Ambassador to Kazakhstan William Moser said. With this additional commitment, the US has now provided 713 million tenge (over $1.6 million) to help Kazakhstan respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. The embassy said that through this assistance, USAID is focused on helping to strengthen Kazakhstans own ability to fight the disease and to support the following priority areas: infection prevention and control; preparing laboratory systems for large-scale testing; and communicating with the public on steps they can take to prevent and respond to the spread of the virus. On March 15, 2020, Kazakhstans President Kassym Jomart Tokayev signed a decree introducing an emergency state in Kazakhstan due to the coronavirus outbreak, which came in force from 08:00 (GMT +6) on March 16 till 08:00 April 15, 2020. On Apr. 14, 2020, by a decree of Kazakhstan's president, the emergency state period in Kazakhstan was extended till May 1, 2020. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Kazakhstan has reached 2,207. The first two cases of coronavirus infection were detected in Kazakhstan among those who arrived in Almaty city from Germany on March 13, 2020. --- Follow the author on twitter: @nargiz_sadikh A devastated husband has revealed his wife was pregnant with their second child when she was shot dead in Canada's deadliest mass shooting over the weekend. Kristen Beaton, a care assistant who worked for Victorian Order of Nurses, was one of 22 victims shot by 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman during his 12-hour rampage across Nova Scotia. She is survived by her husband Nick and their three-year-old son, Daxton. Nick said his wife had been treating coronavirus patients on the frontline of the pandemic, while carrying the couple's second child. They had planned to share the news about the pregnancy this week while she had some time off work. Our son Daxton was going to wear a shirt and let everybody know, Nick told CTV News. Nick said that he spoke to Kristen on the phone just minutes before she was killed, warning that the gunman was at their friend's home. He said: "I didn't find out until at least an hour later from people on social media that he had an RCMP cruiser and that's what he was driving and dressed as an officer when he cowardly, extremely cowardly took my wife's life and our unborn baby." Residents of the quiet Portapique community were left shaken by the atrocity / REUTERS Nick has now vowed to carry on Kristen's fight for personal protective equipment for healthcare workers and "be her voice". "We are trying to make some positive out of this senseless act," he said. "Kristen was so passionate about her job...and loved all her clients dearly. "Every morning before she went to work, she would cry, and every night she would come home, she would have to strip on the doorstep and go and shower before she could hold our son Daxton. "The fact her PPE was not provided for her scared the living daylights out of her." Nick said he wanted to ask Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to explain why PPE was not being provided to healthcare professionals. Asked the question at a daily news briefing, Mr Trudeau said: "To Nick and to all the families going through a heart-wrenching loss right now, looking for answers, looking for reasons, looking for support, we are there for you and we will be there for you. "Like so many people across the country who are worried about what the next days will bring, our front-line workers have been worried about the availability of PPE." A GoFundMe page set up in memory of Kristen and to help her family has raised more than $70,000. A Royal Canadian Mounted Police constable named as Heidi Stevenson, a married mother-of-two who had served in the force for 23 years, was also among those killed. Another healthcare worker, Heather OBrien, a licensed practical nurse, was also identified as one of the victims, according to Von Canada. The rampage began late Saturday, and authorities believe the shooter may have targeted his first victims but then began attacking randomly. Constable Heidi Stevenson (NOVA SCOTIA RCMP/AFP via Getty Images) / NOVA SCOTIA RCMP/AFP via Getty I Police said in an earlier news release that they believed there were 23 victims but a spokesman later clarified the death toll included 22 victims and the gunman. Police have warned the death toll will almost certainly rise as investigators comb through homes destroyed by fire. Meanwhile, questions have been raised about why a public emergency alert was not sent as the rampage ensued. Police provided Twitter updates, but no alert that would have automatically popped up on mobile phones. Earlier this week, the Queen paid tribute to the police in the wake of the devastating shooting. BERWYN, Pa., April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Annovis Bio Inc. (NYSE American: ANVS), a clinical-stage drug platform company addressing Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, published data from its two double-blind, placebo controlled animal studies in Alzheimers disease (AD) and Parkinsons disease (PD) demonstrating in both diseases preclinical efficacy of ANVS401, the companys lead compound. No drug to date has shown efficacy in two totally different animal models of neurodegeneration, commented Maria Maccecchini, Ph.D., CEO of Annovis Bio . In our AD animal studies, ANVS401 was shown to lower amyloid precursor protein (APP) and all its fragments, and animals fully recovered memory, learning, fear conditioning, and brain function. In our PD animal studies, ANVS401 lowered levels of -synuclein and normalized gut motility in two transgenic animal models of PD. Together, these data are very exciting and provide strong support for moving forward in our development of ANVS401 for both AD and PD. The Alzheimers study, conducted by Professor Ottavio Arancio at Columbia University and published in Alzheimers & Dementia: Translational Research & Clinical Interventions , is the first study demonstrating the therapeutic efficacy in animals of inhibiting the translation of APP and its fragments in an AD model. Translational inhibition of APP by ANVS401 has been shown to reduce APP and its fragments in cell culture, animal models, and mildly cognitively impaired patients, making it a promising drug candidate for the treatment of AD. The study used a mouse model of AD to examine ANVS401s efficacy, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics. In the study, ANVS401 treatment normalized impairments in spatial working memory, contextual fear learning, and synaptic function in APP/presenilin-1 mice, without affecting their visual activity, motor skills, or motivation and without affecting wild-type mice. ANVS401 had a prolonged effect in reducing APP and all related peptides for at least nine hours after the last dose. Its concentration was higher in the brain than in plasma, and the most abundant metabolite was N8-NorPosiphen. Story continues The Parkinsons study, conducted by Professor Robert Nussbaum at University of California San Francisco and published in the American Journal of Neurodegenerative Disease , is the first study showing the preclinical efficacy of ANVS401 in improving the colonic motility in mouse models of gastrointestinal dysfunction in early PD. This result demonstrates the ability of ANVS401 to reach the nervous system, and its mechanism of action, the translational inhibition of -synuclein expression, supporting further development of ANVS401 as a drug for the treatment of PD. The study used two -synuclein transgenic mouse models to investigate the efficacy of ANVS401 in reversing the gastrointestinal dysfunction, showing that ANVS401 normalizes the colonic motility of both transgenic mouse models, while not affecting the Whole Gut Transit Time (WGTT). Pharmacokinetics studies revealed that ANVS401 is more abundant in the brain than in blood, in agreement with its lipophilicity, and the main metabolite is N8-NorPosiphen, a molecule with similar properties as ANVS401. The brain levels of ANVS401 necessary to effect optimal function were calculated in both studies and compared with efficacious brain levels from previous studies, showing that a 150 nM concentration of ANVS401 in the brain is sufficient for functional efficacy. The PD study was funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation. PD is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after AD and affects the central, peripheral, and enteric nervous systems. Gastrointestinal dysfunction is a particularly common non-motor abnormality in PD, documented in over 80% of patients. PD affects an estimated one million people in the U.S. and as many as 10 million globally. An estimated 5.8 million people in the U.S. have AD and there are approximately 44 million people worldwide living with the disease. About Annovis Bio Headquartered in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, Annovis Bio, Inc. (Annovis) is a clinical-stage, drug platform company addressing neurodegeneration, such as Alzheimers disease (AD), Parkinsons disease (PD) and Alzheimers in Down Syndrome (AD-DS). We believe that we are the only company developing a drug for AD, PD and AD-DS that inhibits more than one neurotoxic protein and, thereby, improves the information highway of the nerve cell, known as axonal transport. When this information flow is impaired, the nerve cell gets sick and dies. We expect our treatment to improve memory loss and dementia associated with AD and AD-DS, as well as body and brain function in PD. We have an ongoing Phase 2a study in AD patients and plan to commence a second Phase 2a study in PD patients. For more information on Annovis, please visit the companys website: www.annovisbio.com. Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release contain forward-looking statements that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as anticipate, expect, believe, will, may, should, estimate, project, outlook, forecast or other similar words, and include, without limitation, statements regarding the timing, effectiveness and anticipated results of ANVS401 clinical trials. Forward-looking statements are based on Annovis Bio, Inc.s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled Risk Factors in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Annovis Bio, Inc. undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law. Investor Relations: Dave Gentry, CEO RedChip Companies Inc. 407-491-4498 Dave@redchip.com SOURCE: Annovis Bio Inc. A nurse who urged the public to stay at home to stop the spread of the coronavirus is 'grateful' to be alive after thinking she would die alone in hospital. Sharon Cook, from Cherry Willingham, Lincolnshire, who was hospitalised with coronavirus in March, shared a tearful plea where she described the 'horrendous' symptoms the virus had left her with and said that it's 'not worth going out, even if you miss your friends'. Appearing on Good Morning Britain today, alongside some of the colleagues who treated her, the nurse told that she thought 'that was it' after contracting sepsis pneumonia, and feared she would die in isolation, with no contact from her family. Sharon Cook, from Cherry Willingham, Lincolnshire, appeared on Good Morning Britain today where she told she is 'grateful' to be alive after thinking she would die alone in hospital Nurse Lorraine Waby (left) who treated Sharon told that it was 'difficult' treating colleagues while they're unable to see their families 'I really am grateful Im happy to be here and grateful, they saved my life, said Sharon. 'I was positively tested and then I got sepsis pneumonia, and I have an underlying lung problem, so I thought that was it. 'It was especially hard because I was isolated in a room on my own and I had no contact with anyone, my family. I really thought that was it.' She went on to praise her fellow NHS staff members who saved her life, insisting she 'can't thank them enough'. The nurse told host Susanna Reid (pictured) that she thought 'that was it' after contracting sepsis pneumonia, and feared she would die in isolation,with no contact from her family She went on to praise her fellow NHS staff members who saved her life, insisting she 'can't thank them enough' 'You are all amazing, from the nurses to the doctors who came in with food and drink. It's a scary time for everyone, I just can't thank them enough. 'They were in and out and some of them were really nervous putting on the PPE. It's a scary time for everyone not just patients.' Nurse Lorraine Waby admitted: 'Our colleagues are getting poorly. We're having to look after them without their families, it really is a difficult thing.' Sharron added: 'To see my dogs and my family, my husband, my son who lives at home with me still. I didnt think I'd be coming home.' Sharon was hospitalised with coronavirus on March 23, urged the public to 'stay at home' amid the COVID-19 outbreak Sharron took to Facebook from her hospital bed to tell the public: 'I thought I'd do a quick Vlog. I've been in hospital since March 23 with COVID-19. I was tested as positive but now that's getting better. 'Now I have sepsis pneumonia which is why I can't talk very well. I'm a bit breathless but I have oxygen so that's good. 'I just want people to know how important it is to stay at home, it's not worth going out even if you miss your friends. 'I'm on the mend and I'm in my own room on two lots of antibiotics. I'm just struggling really to breath but apart from that I feel so much better than I did. 'I had a temperature and felt so ill for over two weeks. If someone would have given me an injection to put me down I would've taken it, it was awful. 'The COVID-19 is horrendous compared to this. This is awful because I can't move or do anything because I have no breath - but at least I don't feel like I did.' T he unprecedented scale of the devastation being wreaked on Britains economy by the coronavirus lockdown was revealed for the first time today in a key business survey. Output in the vital services and manufacturing sectors plummeted at eye-watering record rates in April to lows that go far beyond the worst effects of the financial crisis just over a decade ago. The figures, described as worse than anything previously thought unimaginable, will pile pressure on ministers to tell the public about its plans for a partial lifting of the emergency measures that are forecast to lead to Britains deepest recession and mass unemployment. Todays preliminary flash survey of business activity by analysts IHS Markit showed the reading for the dominant services sector, which accounts for 80 per cent of GDP, tumbling from 34.5 in March to 12.3 in April. The manufacturing output index dropped from 43.9 to 16.6, while the combined composite reading slumped from 36 to 12.9. The IHS Markit surveys are closely watched by the financial markets and are seen as a reliable indicator of economic activity. A reading of 50 points to no growth, while anything lower indicates a fall in output. Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit, said: Record falls in output across both manufacturing and services are being accompanied by job losses on an unprecedented scale, even if furloughed workers are excluded. The dire survey readings will inevitably raise questions about the cost of the lockdown, and how long current containment measures will last. Ruth Gregory, senior UK economist at forecaster Capital Economics, said: The eye-watering declines in Aprils flash PMIs confirm the lockdown has pushed the economy into a recession of unprecedented speed and depth. Particularly worrying was the large drop in the employment balance, providing further support to our view that a perfect V-shaped recovery is extremely unlikely. She said the GDP could fall by as much as 20 per cent month-on-month in April alone. Gertjan Vlieghe, a member of the Bank of Englands Monetary Policy Committee, said: It seems that we are experiencing an economic contraction that is faster and deeper than anything we have seen in the past century, or possibly several centuries. Todays data came as the National Institute of Economic and Social Research warned that unemployment will rise from the current 1.34 million to more than six million, a horrendous jobless rate of about 20 per cent, by the end of May. An article written for the NIESRs quarterly review to be published next week claims that jobs are being wiped out 20 times faster that during the recession after the financial crash. The vast scale of the public borrowing needed to help support the economy through the lockdown and the start of the recovery was revealed in new Treasury plans for the issuance of government bonds, known as gilts, in the three months from May to July. According to the Debt Management Office, planned gilt sales now total 180 billion over the period. If April is included, the Government will be asking for loans totalling 225 billion from the start of lockdown. Under the previous plan, borrowing for the whole year would total 160 billion. Figures from the Office for National Statistics said public sector borrowing excluding banks owned by the state jumped 9.3 billion to a higher-than-forecast 48.7 billion in the financial year to March 31. It was the highest for the month since 2016. Empty streets in UK after pubs and restaurants close 1 /8 Empty streets in UK after pubs and restaurants close An empty Westfield Stratford City Getty Images The empty car park outside a cinema in Leicester, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered pubs, restaurants, leisure centres and gyms across the country to close PA Westminster Bridge is quiet in London AFP via Getty Images A pedestrian walks past a closed pub in New Cross, south London PA Cyclists keep their distance in Richmond Park PA A sparse Odeon cinema in Leicester after the Government ordered leisure facilities to close PA The ONS data showed debt excluding state-controlled banks rose to 1.8 trillion, or 79.7 per cent of GDP, at the end of March, up 30.5 billion on a year earlier. The chairman of the Commons Treasury committee has piled pressure on banks to speed up issuing emergency loans for businesses. Tory MP Mel Stride is asking bosses to appear before the committee and to supply data on their performance. Listen to The Leader: Coronavirus Daily podcast The World Health Organisation has decided to go for a truncated annual meet on May 18 with a limited agenda amid efforts by countries such as Australia to push for an international investigation into the coronavirus pandemic. In a communication sent to member states, the WHO said it would not be appropriate to take up the nearly 60 items that had been placed on the provisional agenda less than 20 days ago. This is being done to provide crucial international focus on Covid-19 that has killed nearly 180,000 people worldwide in a matter of months, it said. Instead, the WHO document proposes that the 73rd World Health Assembly consider an abridged agenda. This would include opening of the health assembly, address by Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus that would be focused on Covid-19 preparedness and response and the formal election to the 10 seats on the executive board that will fall vacant. Hindustan Times has accessed the document. The session would begin on 18 May and end the next day. A fuller version of the assembly would be held later. The only items to be taken up would be what were described as uncontroversial items such as resolutions and decisions recommended by consensus by the WHOs executive board. These would be considered to have been cleared by the health assembly if no country objects to them. During the virtual session, member countries will 2 minutes each to make their point. Regional and group statements have been limited to 4 minutes but they can all submit written submissions that would be uploaded to the WHO website. Information about the WHO opting for the abridged version came days after US President Donald Trump took sharp swipes at the global health body for what he described as its flawed recommendations on the Covid-19 outbreak in China. The US believes that the WHO-led by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus sided with China to play down the disease that originated in Chinas Wuhan city. It is an allegation that Tedros Adhanom, a former foreign and health minister of Ethiopia, has denied. But the WHO chief hasnt been able to convince many of his critics. On Thursday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison declared that his country would push for an international investigation into the pandemic at the meeting of the decision-making body of the WHO. The World Health Assembly is coming up in May. There are opportunities to pursue that matter there and that is our first port of call, Morrison said, according to news agency Reuters. .Australia sits on the executive board of the assembly, which determines WHO policies. Next month, it will be Indias turn. Besides, New Delhi will also get the position of the executive boards chairperson. Morrison had already phoned leaders in France, Germany and the United States to lobby support and could call Britain and Canada next, Australia has overcome the worst of its coronavirus outbreak, which is why it has moved on to lobbying other countries to support its call for an enquiry, but it understood that other nations were still dealing with high death rates, government, Reuters said, quoting unnamed sources. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON It has been a very active April in the southern Plains & South for severe weather. Just this past weekend, another significant tornado occurred. This one was a 1.25-mile wide EF4 tornado that tracked more than 54 miles across southern Mississippi. 1 person was killed & 1 injured. Two others were injured in in other tornadoes. However, no other tornado exceeded EF1 in strength in much straight-line wind damage. A total of 22 tornado reports were received, however. This is a far cry from the 137 confirmed tornadoes (15 large, strong to violent & long-track) with 38 deaths in the outbreak overall. Damage was catastrophic in this "High Risk" type event. There were 6 tornado reports in northern Florida two days ago. 21 tornado reports have come in so far from Oklahoma & Texas today. The Plains & South will be the target of the worst of the severe weather for the rest of the month, it appears. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Lows overnight to early this morning ranged from 28-37. Highs today topped out at 64-75. The big blue spot in Warren County is an interpolation issue. The last observation the Vermilion County Airport had was 41, so temperature is stuck there to look like a 41-degree high. The big pink, off-the-charts number spot at Logansport is due to a temperature sensor malfunction this evening that showed 142 degrees at 6:56 p.m.: Areas of rain are likely tomorrow, especially in the southern half of the area. Highs should run 54-66, warmest in the northwest with a lack of rainfall & coolest in the far southern fringe where there will be the greatest amount of rainfall in the area. Much of the viewing area will receive 0.25" or less. The far south may see up to 0.75". If more in the way of the showers & t'storms around Chicago set up in our northwestern counties, we will "up" rainfall totals there & alter the wording to better rainfall coverage not only in the south half, but also the northwest. Winds will be strong for a time from largely the east with gusts 25-35 mph with mostly cloudy to cloudy skies. Skies may actually turn partly cloudy for a bit in our northwest late in the day. This system will also be yet another big outbreak for the South with ENHANCED RISK widespread with potential corridor of MODERATE RISK being penciled in far southern Louisiana, Mississippi, southern Alabama to far northwest Florida. That would be the best potential of an isolated strong to violent, longer-track tornado. Otherwise it is wind, hail & some tornadoes from Texas to North Carolina. After 35-45 & some fog Wednesday night to early Thursday. As warm front moves back northward with clouds & sun & a couple isolated showers, highs will vary from 56-72. Severe weather will blossom Missouri to Oklahoma & Arkansas southward to eastern Texas & Louisiana Friday evening. Rainfall & isolated t'storms are likely Friday night with rain lingering through Saturday morning. It will tend to decrease Saturday PM. Highs should only run in the 50s to lower 60s then falling. East to northeast winds will be strong with gusts 30-40 mph possible. TOTAL RAINFALL of 0.40-0.80" is looking possible with band of 1-2" just south & southeast of our area. We will monitor that band to see if it tracks more to the northwest. Severe weather risk may evolve in the Tuesday night-early Wednesday period of next week as round of t'storms passes (most likely a squall line of storms). This would be April 28-29. Looks briefly cooler April 30, then we rise the night of April 30-May 1. Storms are possible with some severe risk around May 1, 3-4 days after the first round. Highs of 79-85 are possible. Severe risk returns around May 4. Looks like elevated showers/storms in the morning & then severe risk late PM to night. Highs of 80-85 are possible. So, certainly end of April to early May will get warmer, wetter & stormier overall. FP Trending Zoom has announced that the Zoom v5.0 update has robust security enhancements. The update arrives amid security and privacy concerns surrounding the video conferencing platform. Among other features, Zoom has highlighted the introduction of the AES-256 GCM encryption standard, which deploys a more secure cipher for data in transit compared to erstwhile AES-256 ECB. We will earn our customers trust and deliver them happiness with our unwavering focus on providing the most secure platform, said Eric Yuan, CEO of Zoom. The new update will let individuals opt for which data centre they want to use for Zoom services, putting to rest concerns over surveillance of calls by China. Zoom had earlier admitted that it routed some calls through China. The company issued an apology, explaining as to why the calls were directed to the company's Chinese servers. Zoom said that owing to spike in the number of users, it had to increase its server capacity, in the process of which it "mistakenly" routed some calls from North America through Chinese servers. The company has also added a new security icon on the meeting menu, combining multiple important security features such as removing rogue participants, restricting who can share screen and locking meetings. The new update will allow only meeting hosts to share their screen in the education space. It will prevent general users from renaming their accounts after joining a call to protect integrity of identity. Zoom has decided to turn on a waiting room feature so that hosts can vet participants before allowing them into a meeting. The waiting room feature will be on by default. Passwords for meeting links will also be turned on by default so that IT admins can set password guidelines for users. By Sankalp Phartiyal and Nivedita Bhattacharjee NEW DELHI/BENGALURU (Reuters) - Facebook is set to spend $5.7 billion to buy a 9.99% stake in Reliance Industries' digital arm, as it looks to roll out services for India's grocers and small businesses by capitalizing on WhatsApp's extensive reach in the country. The deal announced on Wednesday is Facebook's biggest since its $22 billion buyout of WhatsApp in 2014 and will give the Cupertino, California-based firm a stake in Jio Platforms - the digital services entity that houses Reliance's telecoms arm Jio Infocomm, as well as its news, movie and music apps, along with other businesses. The transaction is also the eighth largest deal in Asia this year based on deal value, according to Refinitiv data, and comes at a time when the coronavirus outbreak has stifled mergers and acquisitions activity globally By Sankalp Phartiyal and Nivedita Bhattacharjee NEW DELHI/BENGALURU (Reuters) - Facebook is set to spend $5.7 billion to buy a 9.99% stake in Reliance Industries' digital arm, as it looks to roll out services for India's grocers and small businesses by capitalizing on WhatsApp's extensive reach in the country. The deal announced on Wednesday is Facebook's biggest since its $22 billion buyout of WhatsApp in 2014 and will give the Cupertino, California-based firm a stake in Jio Platforms - the digital services entity that houses Reliance's telecoms arm Jio Infocomm, as well as its news, movie and music apps, along with other businesses. The transaction is also the eighth largest deal in Asia this year based on deal value, according to Refinitiv data, and comes at a time when the coronavirus outbreak has stifled mergers and acquisitions activity globally. To kick off the partnership, Facebook's WhatsApp messenger, which counts India as its biggest market with about 400 million users, will help fuel the growth of Jio's new retail venture, JioMart, the two companies said. "In the near future JioMart ... and WhatsApp will empower nearly 30 million small Indian kirana (grocery) shops to digitally transact with every customer in their neighborhood," Mukesh Ambani, Reliance chairman and Asia's richest man, said in a video statement. JioMart, the e-commerce venture of Reliance's retail arm, offers customers free express grocery deliveries from neighbourhood mum-and-pop stores. It is yet to be launched across India, and is likely to pose a formidable challenge to Amazon.com's local unit and Walmart's Flipkart, which are also betting big on groceries to grow. For Reliance, the deal will help the oil-to-retail group, which bet over $30 billion on the Jio telecoms venture, reduce its debt load. FACEBOOK INDIA ROADMAP The companies said the potential benefits of the deal were manifold, but shied away from giving details. "We will really look to explore multiple areas of collaboration," Ajit Mohan, the India head of Facebook, told journalists on a call. "And the spirit of it will be - can we open new doors? Can we open new avenues?" The investment, according to tech and retail analysts, will give Facebook new means to expand in India, its biggest market outside of the United States. Facebook's offerings such as WhatsApp Business, which allows businesses to catalogue products and send automated replies, and a payment service, could be handy tools for millions of small retailers and customers that Reliance wants to tie together. The alliance with Jio, which has over 380 million subscribers, could also help WhatsApp evolve into an Indian version of Chinese internet giant Tencent's <0700.HK> WeChat, which allows users to chat, make payments and book flights and hotels, a source with direct knowledge of the deal said. "The idea is to turn the Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram ecosystem into something like that. What Facebook don't want to do is go out and deal with the physical task of building warehouses, keeping inventory. They don't want to be a Walmart or an Amazon," the source added, declining to be identified as details of the deal were private. RELIANCE'S SWAY The perceived closeness between Reliance chairman Ambani - who has net worth of $49.2 billion, according to Forbes - and India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party could also ease Facebook's struggles in country which has taken Big Tech to task over issues such as misinformation and data privacy, sources said. WhatsApp's payments service has been awaiting regulatory clearances for nearly two years, and India has previously blamed WhatsApp for the spread of misinformation and fake news. Facebook's Mohan, however, played down the idea of the deal being aimed at smoothing regulatory issues, saying it was squarely focused on meeting the needs of small business owners. Reliance has always pitched Jio as a technology company and it is using its financial muscle to build smart homes, which could rival Amazon's Alexa-based solutions, connected cars and security systems. For all of those, it could potentially tap into Facebook's tech prowess. "They (Reliance) have great ambition. As they try to build a retail business on top of the core Jio base, this deal provides them with a mechanism for not having to go through a hit and trial method, but leverage some technologies that are proven," said Atul Kunwar, a former Chief Technology officer at one of India's biggest IT firms, Tech Mahindra . Shares in Reliance ended 10% higher after rising as much as 12% earlier on the news, contributing nearly half the gains on the NSE Nifty 50 index on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley acted as financial adviser for Reliance, while AZB & Partners and Davis Polk & Wardwell acted as legal counsel. Facebook was advised by Bank of America. (Reporting by Sankalp Phartiyal in New Delhi and Nivedita Bhattacharjee in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Bhargav Acharya and Subrat Patnaik in Bengaluru, Nidhi Verma in New Delhi, Katie Paul in San Francisco, Sumeet Chatterjee and Sayantani Ghosh in Singapore; Editing by Edwina Gibbs, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Mark Potter) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. San Francisco, April 23 : To provide greater transparency and equip users with more information about who is advertising to them, Google on Thursday announced that its identity verification policy will now cover all advertisers on its platforms and the identity verification programme will "take fear years to complete. Google currently verifies political advertisers in 30 countries in an effort to maintain election integrity. Now, all advertisers will be required to complete a verification programme in order to buy ads on Google network. They will need to submit personal identification, business incorporation documents or other information that proves who they are and the country in which they operate. "Beginning this summer, users will start to see disclosures that list this information about the advertiser behind the ads they see," Google said in a statement. John Canfield, Director of Product Management, Ads Integrity at Google said that the company will start by verifying advertisers in phases in the US and continue to expand globally. "We are working closely with our advertising partners to scale the programme while continuing to ensure we are surfacing helpful information to our users, we expect that this process will take a few years to complete," said Canfield. This change will make it easier for users to understand who the advertiser is behind the ads they see from Google and help them make more informed decisions when using the advertising controls. Google said the move will also help support the health of the digital advertising ecosystem by detecting bad actors and limiting their attempts to misrepresent themselves. In 2018, the company announced a new identity verification policy for political advertisers. The policy requires all advertisers that want to run election ads on Google platforms go through a verification program to confirm their identity. The company displays that identity in the ad unit so that users can learn more about the election ads they see on Google's platforms. "We're committed to giving our users transparency, choice and control when it comes to the ads they see on our platforms," said Canfield. Google already offers tools like Ad Settings which allows people to control how ads are personalized or even opt out of personalized ads altogether, as well as features like Why this ad? That helps explain why a specific ad is being shown. "Now, we're working to bring additional transparency into the advertiser behind the ads people see," said the tech giant, adding that the goal is to make more information about the ad experience universally available and accessible. "Broadening our verification policy is the next step in reaching that goal," it added. BJP MP Sukanta Majumder was on Thursday stopped by police when he was on the way to distribute relief materials among Indian citizens living in Hili, a village located on the other side of the barbed-wire fencing of the India-Bangladesh border. Majumder, the Lok Sabha MP from Balurghat, told reporters that he intimated South Dinajpur district authorities on Wednesday that he will distribute relief materials among the Indian citizens living on the other side of the barbed-wire fencing, and claimed he was given permission. However, he was stopped by police at Mangalpur crossing in Balurghat town on the way to Hili, Majumder said. He alleged that the senior police officer present at the spot did not produce any order which prohibited his visit, and could not explain why Trinamool Congress leader Arpita Ghosh was allowed to visit the same area a day back. Even the request of Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar to the officer to allow him to go to Hili was ignored as he called up Raj Bhavan, the MP said, alleging that he waited for two hours at the spot before returning. Ghosh claimed she had followed all procedures for visiting the border area which was probably not done by Majumder. Deputy Superintendent of Police Dhiman Mitra said they did not have any written intimation about the BJP MP's visit to the border. District Magistrate Nikhil Nirmal refused to comment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tony Spell arrested for aggravated assault after backing church bus toward protester Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Controversial Louisiana pastor Tony Spell, who has defied state stay-at-home orders by holding church services, has been arrested for aggravated assault after he allegedly backed up a church bus toward a protester. The police department in the city of Central near Baton Rouge issued a warrant for the Pentecostal pastor on Monday. On Tuesday, Spell was taken into custody outside of Life Tabernacle Church and transported to East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, according to WAFB. The pastor has made national headlines in recent weeks as he already faced several misdemeanor charges for holding in-person worship services attended by hundreds despite bans on mass gatherings to combat the spread of COVID-19. But now, Spell is accused of rapidly backing up a large church bus on the shoulder of a public road outside of the church and nearly hitting a protester. A video of the incident shows the church bus being backed up at a seemingly rapid pace in the direction in which a protester was standing with a picket sign. Not until the bus was a few feet from striking the protester were the brakes rapidly applied and the bus brought to a halt. Trey Bennett, the protester in the video, told WAFB that he first thought Spell was just turning around the bus to pull away. [B]ut he just kept coming in reverse, Bennett said. I could see him (Spell) driving the bus. He was honking his horn loudly at me and making gestures suggesting he was yelling while he was driving. It didnt seem real until it was physically in my face with a bus. Spells attorney, Joseph Long, told NBC News that his client did not try to run over the protester. "A fair viewing of the video will prove that Spell did not attempt to run over the protester, and the protester did not feel threatened, as he never moved when the bus came near," Long was quoted as saying. According to WVLA, investigators say that an unnamed security guard also drove a pick-up truck onto the same shoulder dangerously close to the protester. The security guard also reportedly faces a charge of aggravated assault. Long said that he believes Spell will be vindicated. According to The Washington Post, Spell wrote in a text message to one of its reporters Monday night that he would not surrender and that authorities will have to take him out of his church. Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran told the newspaper that Spell was trying to intimidate the protester. Spell claimed that he just finished dropping off church members before the encounter with the protester. I approached a man who verbally assaulted my wife and little girls, Spell claimed in his correspondence with The Washington Post. Hes a crotch-grabbing, middle-finger using against my church ladies. What would you do to a man like that? Spell said. Bennett denied the accusation that he uses profanity or obscene gestures in his demonstrations. I havent done anything of the sort. I just stand there with a sign, Bennett told WAFB. I dont say anything to anybody. Spell also reportedly claimed that he reported the presence of the protester on the public road outside of the church every day for the last few weeks but police have not responded to the complaints. This is the proudest day of my life to be persecuted for the faith, Spell was quoted as saying, before threatening to block The Washington Post reporter on his phone after he was asked if he thought the bus incident was an act of faith. Spell told WAFB that he drove the bus and wanted to confront the protester. However, he claims that his wife, who was with him on the bus at the time, talked him out of confronting the protester. I was pulling in from my bus route, picking up black children who havent eaten because of this sinister policy that has closed schools, Spell told WAFB. I was going to approach this gentleman and ask him to leave. While many churches nationwide have suspended in-person services and shifted their ministries online to help combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, Spells church is among a small defiant minority that is continuing to hold services. Supporters have argued that it is a First Amendment right to be able to gather for worship. However, some religious freedom advocates and even Vice President Mike Pence have called for religious adherents to avoid large in-person worship services during the pandemic. Among advocates who have advised against in-person services is U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Chair Tony Perkins, a prominent Christian conservative activist from Louisiana. Chief Corcoran told The Washington Post that Spell had spoken with Perkins and agreed to abide by Gov. John Bel Edwards stay-at-home order but has not upheld the agreement. Hes trying to hide behind the First Amendment, Corcoran was quoted as saying. No one has asked him not to preach the word or preach a service. We just ask that he adhere to the order that was given by the governor and the president, put it on social media or FaceTime like the other churches, but hes refused to do that. A lawyer who represents Spell, Jeff Wittenbrink, was hospitalized with coronavirus symptoms last week. It was also reported that a member of Life Tabernacle died because of coronavirus. However, Spell has disputed the cause of death. After a clash between few villagers and Mizoram Police along the Tripura-Mizoram border, the Tripura Police has tightened security and deployed large contingents of TSR jawans to avert any further tension. While the police declined to name the cause of the clash, the matter is under investigation. Two FIRs have been lodged on both sides of the inter-state boundary on the issue so far. Tripura Police arrested three villagers in connection with the case; they were later released by a local court. An FIR was lodged at West Phaileng police station in Mizoram, claiming that two Mizoram police personnel were assaulted by some locals of Kanpui village on April 18. The village falls inside Tripura. We arrested three persons the subsequent day. One of them fled during a routine medical check-up in hospital. The rest two were released on bail after they were forwarded in the court on April 20, said superintendent of police of North district Bhanupada Chakraborty. The third accused is still absconding. Kanpui village, located in Jampui Hills is around 200 kilometres from Agartala. It falls within Tripuras North district. An abandoned house was burnt on April 20 night by some unknown miscreants. The officials said that no untoward incident has occurred so far, as security has been tightened along the inter-state boundary. The situation is under control. No clash has been reported, Chakraborty said. Revel Systems, a leading provider of a cloud-based point of sale (POS) and complete business management platform, today introduced a standalone version of its online ordering tool called Revel Go to meet the needs of restaurants dealing with business disruption due to COVID-19. The solution offers easy, lightweight implementation and can be added to existing retail or restaurant operations regardless of which POS platform is currently installed. The new ordering solution is designed to help merchants operate more efficiently or quickly get up-and-running as they refocus their business on take-out, curbside services, and delivery. This is an ideal solution for restaurants and retailers taking orders over the phone, which is very slow and cumbersome. And for those using only third party ordering and delivery services with fees that may be too expensive. The restaurant industry was already heading toward a digital-centric model, and the pandemic has greatly accelerated it, said Chris Lybeer, chief strategy officer, Revel Systems. As our customers join with their local communities to flatten the curve and remain healthy, we have implemented our online ordering and delivery management solutions at hundreds and hundreds of our client locations. We introduced Revel Go to help restaurants whose POS does not provide these capabilities to quickly and easily add new revenue streams in challenging times. Operators can move to quickly diversify and support their revenue streams with Revel through integrated online ordering and delivery management capabilities, including these mission-critical features: Easily import the menu from your existing POS with help from Revel's implementation team Build an online-specific menu in a matter of minutes Manage door-to-door delivery solutions including driver fleets Eliminate the need for social interaction by enabling contactless payments Optional delivery functionality through Revels third-party delivery partnerships (including leading providers like Chowly) Businesses interested in learning more about Revel Go, can visit this web page. For businesses continuing to operate through the lockdowns as essential services, Revel has created a COVID-19 resources and information center listing services, relief programs and best practices. For more information visit: https://revelsystems.com/revel-covid-response/ About Revel Revel Systems powers the ambitions of restaurants and retailers with a robust cloud-based point of sale (POS) and business management system. The Revel Essentials solution, which has been deployed at tens of thousands of customer locations, is designed for the needs of small chains or single sites. The Revel Enterprise solution is tailored for large chains and leads the industry with hundreds of national, big brand customer implementations. Improving day-to-day operations and fueling merchant growth, Revels streamlined ecosystem helps customers seize their future by pairing an intuitive POS with powerful management tools on a single platform. Founded in 2010 with major offices in Atlanta, Lithuania, and San Francisco, Revel is a leading member of the Apple Enterprise Mobility Program. For more information, please visit http://revelsystems.com/ or call (415) 744-1433. "That you analyse, plan, delegate, hold people accountable all those good techniques kind of go out the window," George said. "The leader, no matter how large the company, does need to take charge." For now, my own time and thinking continues to be focused on COVID-19 and how Amazon can help while we're in the middle of it. Jeff Bezos in letter to shareholders Before the pandemic, Bezos increasingly spent his time away from Amazon's headquarters in Seattle. He travelled the world and devoted a day each week to Blue Origin, his space exploration company. At Amazon, Bezos typically gave his priority to projects that addressed a major risk to the business or where he felt he was uniquely qualified to get involved, according to two people familiar with his process, who like others interviewed for this article requested anonymity because they weren't authorised to discuss Amazon's operations publicly. That meant he was spending more time on fun, futuristic bets. Before the voice assistant Alexa was released, he held several meetings a week to track the product's development. He closely followed the cashierless Amazon Go stores. Focusing on the long term is "pretty much all" he did, Bezos told Forbes in 2018, in one of the few in-depth interview he has done about Amazon in recent years. "I very rarely get pulled into the today," he said. The glamour days are over: News anchor Lauren Sanchez and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos in January. Credit:AP The coronavirus crisis changed that luxury. At first, he publicly went dark. No trips were documented on his Instagram account, and on March 4, when Amazon told its headquarters employees to work from home, the email came from a generic office safety email account, signed by "Amazon Human Resources." The company's board meeting, scheduled in Seattle the next week, was held online, and Bezos began talking regularly with his executives, focused on responding to COVID-19. Eventually, he held the calls daily, including on weekends. Bezos has been "incredibly focused on this and is participating in, and driving, our leadership meetings" for the response, Jay Carney, the company's senior vice president for corporate affairs, said in a March 31 interview. My list of worries right now like yours I'm sure is long. Bezos in a letter to Amazon workers As the coronavirus gripped the country, cases appeared among workers in Amazon's warehouses. By mid-March, Amazon's vaunted logistics operations were breaking; customers wanted more products just as fewer warehouse workers showed up for their shifts, afraid to risk getting the virus or left to care for children whose schools had closed. Bezos and the other executives soon approved plans to stop accepting low-priority items into warehouses and to delay customer shipments of other items that Amazon considered low demand, according to three people briefed on the changes. Bezos helped decide which features to remove from the Amazon website to reduce customer demand, such as burying its popular page promoting daily deals, one of the people said. He also approved delaying Prime Day, the company's summer shopping extravaganza. Amazon has faced criticism it is not doing enough to protect its workers during the coronavirus outbreak. Credit:Bloomberg Still, workers and politicians increasingly called for more precautions at the warehouses. On March 21, Bezos sent a rare letter to all of Amazon's employees, which the company immediately posted on its blog. He said the company had ordered millions of face masks for workers, though few of those orders had been filled. Loading "My list of worries right now like yours I'm sure is long," he wrote. Waiting weeks to address his employees was a mistake, particularly when Seattle had an early outbreak of the virus, George said. "You need to be out there early, every day, and talking to your people," he said. "If the people are risking themselves, you need to be there with them." Amazon said the senior executive who oversees operations had communicated with employees earlier. In late March, Bezos posted on Instagram a picture of him holding a video chat with Washington state's governor, Jay Inslee, one of several officials he has talked with. The photo gave a glimpse of Bezos' puppy, which sometimes yaps during calls, and the Saltillo tile at his West Texas ranch. (Amazon said he had worked from other places as well.) Inslee said in an interview in late March that Bezos had focused on the issue of vastly increasing testing for the coronavirus in the state and country. "We were talking about whether we could somehow activate the Amazon supply chain to see if we could mobilise the production and distribution of those assets, including the delivery logistics," Inslee said. Testing has animated Bezos, Carney said. "How do we get to a point where tests are available on demand," Carney said about Bezos' thinking, "where results are as close to instant as possible?" That would let Amazon and other employers identify and quickly "isolate places where there are potential outbreaks and then defeat this," Carney said. Meeting notes from Bezos' call with executives on April 1, which were obtained by The New York Times, showed that they had discussed working with medical organisations to focus on expanding testing capacity for its workers and others "to help immunise from criticism that we're selfish in using the tests for employees." Loading The company would later announce plans to start building its own small lab. "We are not sure how far we will get in the relevant time frame, but we think it's worth trying," Bezos told shareholders. He has joined the daily calls from the new testing team, which has procured tests and is close to rolling out a pilot program to test employees, according to a person familiar with the effort. Notes from the daily meeting, which were first obtained and published by Vice, also showed that the warehouse crisis, and organising by workers to raise safety concerns, continued to be a risk to the company. While the notes do not mention Bezos by name, they reported "general agreement" among the executives about how Amazon should handle an employee who the company said had been fired for breaking quarantine rules when he protested its safety measures. The notes said the company should make him "the face of the entire union/organising movement," adding that he was "not smart, or articulate." Amazon's general counsel, who wrote the meeting notes, later apologised. The publication of the notes prompted criticism from New York officials and several US senators. On April 8, when the virus had spread to more than 50 Amazon facilities, Bezos made a surprise visit to a Whole Foods store and an Amazon warehouse, both near Dallas, which the company filmed. The United Kingdom health ministry on Thursday, April 23 reported nearly 616 more coronavirus deaths, taking the country's death toll to 18,738. Though the daily rise in the toll was lower than the previous days, the UK is still struggling to contain the deadly outbreak of the virus. According to Worldometer, the UK has over 138,078 active COVID-19 cases out of which nearly 1,559 are in critical condition. With the virus still wreaking havoc in the country, UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock informed that the authorities have set a '100,000 coronavirus tests' which will be carried out daily from the end of this month. While addressing the daily coronavirus briefing, he added that the testing capacity has also increased to 51,000 a day because of the test, track and trace formula. Furthermore, Hancock also informed that any essential worker who needs a test will be able to book an appointment on gov.uk themselves from April 24. READ: Welsh Health Minister Gething 'embarrassed' For Swearing During Online Assembly Session Vaccine Taskforce In a bid to overcome the COVID-19 infection, last week the UK government also announced a Vaccine Taskforce which will drive forward, expedite and co-ordinate efforts to research and produce a coronavirus vaccine. According to the official UK government website, the taskforce will be led by Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam. The authorities will be supporting efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible by providing industry and research institutions with the required resources and support. They will be reviewing regulations and scaling up manufacturing so that when the vaccine becomes available, it can be produced at a quick pace and in mass quantities. READ: Kensington Palace Shares Adorable Pictures Of Prince Louis On His Second Birthday Furthermore, the authorities also announced that 21 new coronavirus research projects will benefit from accumulated funding, worth around 14 million (about $17,2 million). The authorities have also invited GP surgeries to take part in the ground-breaking trial, to ascertain whether it could reduce the need for affected patients to go to the hospital and speed up their recovery. Furthermore, the government also announced one new project led by the University of Oxford, in which they will trial anti-malarial drug to determine whether it could diminish the effects of COVID-19 on people in identified high-risk groups. (Image source: AP) READ: Nurse Talks About His Experience Treating British Prime Minister Boris Johnson READ: UK: Users Report Over 5,000 Suspicious Emails To New Cyber Crime Service In One Day The operator revealed that in 2019 it increased its technical reach across Africa, APAC, LATAM and Europe by 12 million TV households to total 367 million in 2019. The company attributes much of to what it calls the leading infrastructure of TV reception satellite and cable which grew by 9 million in 2019 to 153 million and 149 million homes respectively. By comparison, IPTV and terrestrial TV grew by a combined 3 million to 43 million and 21 million homes.The Satellite Monitor study also showed that SESs technical reach has increased across several continents, including Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific (APAC), and Latin America (LATAM). Europe continues to be the strongest market for SES, with 168 million total households served by the SES fleet, up by a million from 2018, followed by North America at 69 million. In LATAM, thanks in part to the launch of a new satellite SES 14 which is boosting cable and IPTV growth in the region , SES captured an audience of 42 million households, an 8 million-home increase compared with 2018.Altogether for across APAC and Africa, SES observed a combined growth of almost 5 million households. In APAC, SES served in total during the year 39 million households with direct-to-home (DTH) feeds and also delivered digital television to 13 million households in the Middle East and 35 million homes in Africa.The research also revealed the increasingly rapid transition of analogue to digital in Africa and the acceleration of HD broadcast. Specifically, the study showed that in places such as Ghana and Nigeria, rather than purchasing new hardware and switching to digital terrestrial TV, viewers were opting for satellite TV for its better value proposition and free-to-air offerings. In Europe, the key trends was all about HD with high-definition broadcasts going to 167 million TV households, an increase of 5 million from 2018.All of this said SES underscored the viewer that satellite was the preferred choice of infrastructure when it comes to HD content broadcasting, underscoring the key value proposition of satellite broadcasting as a reliable and cost-effective video delivery to large audiences. Broadcasters and TV platform operators need robust and reliable data before they make the decision to enter new markets, said Ferdinand Kayser, CEO at SES Video. The results of our annual Satellite Monitor market research demonstrate that satellite continues to be the most optimal infrastructure to deliver high picture quality, and that despite changing consumption habits, people still strongly rely on linear TV and complement it with OTT content. Education Minister Joe McHugh is set to give his blessing to schools to go ahead with their own Junior Cycle exams in the coming weeks, rather than obliging students to wait until the autumn. But his officials are working on guidance to ensure a certain level of uniformity among schools that opt for this approach, including ensuring they have agreed assessment policies. The Junior Cycle exams issue was among the matters discussed at a meeting yesterday between the Department of Education and education stakeholders, including school managers, teacher unions and parent representatives. Afterwards, Mr McHugh said: "The best way to address this issue is to allow the group have further discussions, in a spirit of partnership in the best interests of this year's Junior Cycle students. "I would urge schools to await the conclusion of these discussions with the education partners before taking any decisions regarding assessment arrangements for their Junior Cycle students." As yesterday's meeting was taking place, a second post-primary school, Presentation Secondary School, Kilkenny, said it was setting its own assessments for its 140 third-year pupils to take next month, rather than having the prospect of autumn exams hanging over them in the summer months. Schools are also concerned that after all the current disruption, along with the possibility of a delayed return in September, the last thing they need is to start the year with exams. Earlier this month, as part of the response to difficulties presented by Covid-19, the minister announced the cancellation of Junior Cycle June exams and their replacement with school-based assessments in the autumn. While the State Examinations Commission (SEC) would set the autumn papers, the Department of Education says there will be no State certification this year, which has led principals to question their value. Both Shane Hallahan, principal of Presentation Secondary, Kilkenny, and Alan Mongey, principal of Colaiste Bhaile Chlair, Co Galway, the other school to announce that it was going ahead with Junior Cycle exams in coming weeks, have assured their pupils that if they are not happy with grades awarded by teachers, they can sit SEC papers in the autumn. Yesterday's Department of Education meeting also discussed the practical arrangements for project work, coursework and practical exams for the Leaving Cert and the development of a range of supports for students' wellbeing. Meanwhile, thousands of students are to get free laptops in a move to help bridge the digital divide while schools are closed. Mr McHugh announced a 10m fund targeted at disadvantaged pupils in both primary and post-primary schools. Most of the focus is on Leaving Cert students, with 7m of the money going to post-primary schools and priority to be given to supporting the sixth-year exam candidates. One estimate suggests that up to 10,000 of the 61,000 Leaving Cert students nationwide may be in need of a device to support their learning at home. Students may have mobile phones, but they do not lend themselves to teaching and learning in the same way as a laptop or tablet. Schools in the Department of Education's Deis scheme for disadvantaged communities will get additional funding. A typical big post-primary school, with a minimum of 750 pupils, will get a grant of 17,000, while a Deis school of the same size will receive 19,000. Fee-charging schools will not receive funding. By Robin Emmott and Jan Strupczewski BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to build a trillion euro emergency fund to help recover from the coronavirus pandemic, avoiding another all-night bust-up but leaving divisive details until the summer. With the EU's Brussels headquarters under lockdown - along with most of Europe - the 27 leaders held a four-hour video conference to consider proposals, rallying around a bigger common budget for 2021-27 with a recovery programme. At around 1% of the EU's economic output, the multi-year common budget has long been one of the most contentious subjects of debate for its members. Expanding it will not be easy, even if Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte hailed "great progress" after the summit ended. French President Emmanuel Macron said differences continued between EU governments over whether the fund should be transferring grant money, or simply making loans. "Divisions remain," Macron told reporters in Paris. "I'm saying this sincerely: if Europe raises debt to loan to others, that won't live up to the response we need," he said, adding that it would saddle already heavily-indebted countries, such as Italy, Belgium and Greece, with yet more debt. Europe is facing a severe economic shock from the spread of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, which has also led to border closures across the bloc and left member states fighting over medical supplies. European Central Bank Governor Christine Lagarde told the leaders the pandemic could cut between 5% and up to 15% of euro zone economic output, officials and diplomats said. The euro zone's economic growth for 2020 is forecast to contract 5.4%, which would make it the worst year since the common currency was introduced in 1999, according to a Reuters poll. That is still better than the International Monetary Fund's latest forecast for a decline of 7.5%. "POLITICAL EMERGENCY" Story continues After weeks of squabbling, the leaders approved half-a-trillion euros worth of an immediate rescue scheme to protect jobs, businesses and offer cheap credit to governments. But with Italy and Spain hit far harder than Germany by the crisis, old enmities have surfaced across the bloc. Reaching agreement among euro zone finance ministers two weeks ago on the smaller euro rescue scheme was torturous, as the Netherlands refused an Italian demand to issue common debt. Conte told leaders that a recovery fund should be 1.5 trillion euros in size and provide grants to EU governments to stop countries heading towards economic collapse and thereby threatening the viability of the bloc's internal market. "Grants are essential," Conte said, according to diplomats who were on the video conference. "The sanitary emergency has quickly become a social emergency. But now we are facing a political emergency as well." Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz took the opposite view, saying on Twitter that, while Vienna was ready to show solidarity, "we should do this through loans". Kurz said he would coordinate with "like-minded countries", a reference to wealthy but cautious northern countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands, who resent having to pay for poorer southern countries they see as fiscally irresponsible. Spain, one of the world's worst hit countries, backs Italy's view that a fund must issue grants, rather than loans, while France has argued for a fund that could issue common EU debt, hoping its temporary nature will calm passions. German Chancellor Angela Merkel took a conciliatory stance as she publicly called for a major recovery fund after the summit. "Things can only go well for Germany if they go well for Europe," she said. Leaders tasked the European Commission, the EU executive, to present detailed proposals by May 6, diplomats said. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said EU countries had so far handed out state aid worth 1.8 trillion euros to cushion the economic hit and that the new recovery fund would be in the order of magnitude of a trillion euros. She said the solution was to increase the amount that each EU government would be liable to pay into a recovery fund if needed, raising it to 2% of gross national income (GNI), from 1.2% today. GNI is the EU's preferred measure of economic output. Most significantly, that means an implicit guarantee needed from EU governments for the Commission to issue bonds, a kind of "contingent liability". The Commission has a triple-A credit rating, issuing against the security of the next EU long-term budget. "We are slowly heading towards some form of joint debt. We'll never call it 'coronabonds' or 'eurobonds' and it will be raised by the Commission, rather than member states together," said a senior EU diplomat involved in the summit. (Reporting by Jan Strupczewski, Gabriela Baczynska, Robin Emmott, Kate Abnett, Philip Blenkinsop, Francesco Guarascio, in Brussels, Madeline Chambers and Thomas Escritt in Berlin, Michel Rose in Paris; Editing by Robert Birsel, Giles Elgood and Alex Richardson) On the heels of Amazon getting approval from the competition authority to proceed with an investment leading a $575 million round for food delivery startup Deliveroo in the UK, two of Deliveroo's biggest rivals got their own 6.2 billion merger approved, and they have subsequently picked up an extra $756 million to come out fighting. Today, the competition watchdog in the UK officially gave a nod to the merger, originally valued at $10 billion but more currently valued at 6.2 billion, between UK's JustEat and the Netherlands' Takeaway.com. And along with that, the merged company announced that it had raised 700 million ($756 million) in new outside funding in the form of new shares and convertible bonds. JustEat and Takeaway had already been respectively trading on the London and Netherlands stock exchanges -- on LSE as 'JET' and on AMS as 'TKWY' -- and they said they would use the capital and convertible bond issue to pay down debts, business development and other corporate purposes and potential acquisitions in what remains a very fragmented and crowded market for food delivery in Europe and elsewhere, despite the rapid scaling we're seeing among some of the biggest players. Specifically the pair said in their announcement that they would use the money to "partially pay down revolving credit facilities currently utilised by both Just Eat and Takeaway.com, for general corporate purposes as well as to provide the Company with financial flexibility to act on strategic opportunities which may arise." The two also noted that the placement is conditional on the two getting successfully admitted to trade as a merged company. They've made the application for this and it is expected to become effective on April 27. The Competition and Markets Authority, meanwhile, noted that its decision was influenced by the fact that Takeaway.com had not been active in the UK market and "we are satisfied that there are no competition concerns." Story continues "Millions of people in the UK use online food platforms for takeaways and, where a merger could raise competition concerns, we have a duty to rigorously investigate whether customers could lose out. In this case, we carefully considered whether Takeaway.com could have re-entered the UK market in future, giving people more choice," it said. "It was important we investigated this properly, but after gathering additional evidence which indicates this deal will not reduce competition, it is also the right decision to now clear the merger." The moves cap off a turbulent nine months for the two companies, which announced their intention to merge last year to bulk up against pricey competition from Uber Eats, Deliveroo (which itself was getting a huge cash injection and support from the mighty Amazon) and more. After the two announced their intentions to come together, Prosus (the tech holdings of Naspers) also made a protracted, hostile bid for JustEat that was ultimately unsuccessful. Online food delivery services have been a popular business in the world of tech: three-sided marketplaces bring together restaurants, consumers who would rather stay home but still want to eat restaurant food, and an army of delivery people who largely work as contractors to shuttle between the other two. But their growth has come at high costs. Heavy competition between a number of firms, and the overall unit economics of on-demand services, have meant that all of them need large sums of cash to grow and survive while they slowly inch towards profitability. And those that cannot raise that cash often fall by the wayside or are swallowed up in larger consolidation plays for economy of scale. Part of the CMA's approval of the Amazon investment was based on the fact that Deliveroo would have been in some serious financial hot water without the cash infusion. The big question now is how the current climate is going to affect that general model. Stay-at-home orders have been a huge boost for businesses that cater to people making transactions virtually, or staying at home. Food delivery services check both of those boxes, and at least in the short term, that has potentially spelled major opportunity for the on-demand food delivery model, covering not just companies like Just Eat, Takeaway, Deliveroo and Uber Eats, but also grocery delivery services, meal kit services, and everything in between. The most optimistic believe that even if the current outsized surge abates when some of our COVID-19 restrictions get relaxed, it will leave in its place a permanent shift among consumer and business behaviour. That, of course, also has a counter-narrative. Just earlier today, CNBC ran a report noting that drivers for Deliveroo and Uber Eats were struggling because demand for their services has plummeted. It would appear that even if there has been an increase in food delivery and buying online, it might not always be extending to all categories within that, such as ready-made restaurant food. (The article doesn't detail the reasons for the slump, but makes references to hand sanitising and many restaurants closing down during the pandemic. Those imply that supply is down, and demand may be down too due to people being antsy about untraceable social contact. But also, keep in mind the premium prices of restaurant food delivery versus getting cheaper, unprepared food that you make yourself. A slumping economy means many are getting furloughed or losing jobs altogether, and so budgets will be tightening.) For its part, the CMA noted that while "millions" of people in the UK are using take-out services, it is trying to be more flexible and efficient during COVID-19 to enable more services to people. "During the COVID-19 outbreak, the CMA is working with businesses where it can to be flexible for example, by recognising that there may be delays in providing the information it needs to conduct investigations," it said. "However, it is also trying to complete investigations efficiently at this time, wherever possible, to provide businesses with certainty. In this case, the CMA was able to publish its final decision 26 days ahead of the statutory deadline." The worst time of my life was when my ex-wife moved to Australia with Xenia, my 18-month-old daughter, in 2005. The anguish caused by trying to imagine Xenia's anguish from the separation was simply unbearable. It took many years to overcome the feeling that pain was constantly leaking out of me. It's considerably embarrassing but I had a perfectly happy childhood, despite a weird far-right dictatorship taking over in 1967 when I was six, until I turned 13. My family was on the left, and among those persecuted, and I remember visiting my favourite uncle in a high-security prison; we had to lie to my grandmother he was away on business. Athens was a huge playground and I would head off with a gang of kids; we were very into sport. I lived in Palaio Faliro, on the coast, yet very near the centre - despite the political madness, it was idyllic. My sister arrived when I was nine so I have memories of being an only child. I was surrounded by constant political discussion and I went alone to my first meeting aged 14, but politics was never my aim. Because of my parents' fear of another coup, I went to university in the UK and right away I felt academia was where I belonged. Maverick economist I wanted freedom from the market and did not want to have a boss; to have to rely on the kindness of customers. I always worked extremely hard but I did not want to have to sell myself. I wanted to teach, contribute ideas, shape minds. So after a BA in mathematical economics, and an MA in mathematical statistics, I engineered a PhD in economics and then a lectureship - the first of many in the UK, despite a nasty atmosphere under Thatcher and years of austerity. I then had 12 good years in Sydney. When Australia shifted to the right, I returned to Athens for many years before taking up an academic position in Texas. I published articles and books throughout, keeping at bay the encroachments of academic bureaucracy that, in recent times, have sullied academia. My happiest moment was when I received my PhD from Essex University, at a time I was already a lecturer at the University of East Anglia. I held the piece of paper and could not wipe the smile off my face for a couple of days - my mission accomplished. If I had to give my younger self a piece of advice on that day, it would be to stay well away from departmental politics and bureaucracy. It had been my intention to remain in academia for my career but when I was asked by Syriza in 2015 to implement the policies I had been previously advocating, and to take up the position of Greek finance minister, it was impossible for me to refuse. It was a duty. Constructing ideas Though I have left full-time academia - since July, I have been leading the MeRA25 party in parliament, the Greek wing of my new pan-European DiEM25 party (Democracy in Europe Movement 2025) - I still carve out a lot of time to read. When I am writing a book, I would work intensely for eight or 10 hours a day, taking small breaks, and after publication I need to replenish my batteries, so I would just read and keep notes for the next three months before having another go. Being a politician, there is less time, but I always read for two hours every morning, sometimes starting at 5.30am, to collect my thinking. However, under lockdown, I often lose myself and find myself working until 5am. These days, I usually go to bed early, by Greek standards. However, in the past, I would work all night and sleep all morning. My friends would joke, 'the revolution will take place at 2am when Yanis is in full swing and the proletarians are having a break'. Survival techniques Music is very important to me as is good theatre, though I'm glad to avoid mediocre theatre. I unwind by reading and talking with my wife and friends. To react to the pandemic, we started our DiEM-TV sessions on YouTube. We need new ways to communicate and on Monday, I hosted Roger Waters from Pink Floyd. Bailout memories When I think back on the debt restructuring negotiations during the first half of 2015, it was like an out-of-body experience, watching someone else take part in those discussions. I had to distance myself to cope and I fell into that state of mind where I tried to remain detached. It was the only way I could manage the pressure. Never watching TV helps too. Lockdown challenge I am doing quite well in lockdown, reading, writing and cooking, and am grateful to those working hard making it possible for us to self-isolate. I was lucky I went to Australia and saw Xenia right before. It is harder for my wife Danae, whose children are in Athens locked down at home. Before lockdown, I would do a combination of weight training and running to keep fit, and now it is running and resistance exercises in our bedroom. As I look out on the Aegean, I feel it is the calm before the storm. Greece was quick to properly lock down in the first instance and had the smallest number of deaths but the reality is, given the decade-long economic depression that will be made much worse now, we will have the largest number of people going hungry. I also worry about side-effects, like women locked down with abusing husbands and people with mental health needs. Personal assets It is not good enough to have good intentions; the road to hell is paved with them. It is actions that matter and at every stage, I did what I felt needed to be done. So I had a clear conscience at all times. From the experience dealing with the European economic establishment, I saw Europe failing at every level. Today this failure has gone beyond the hope of no return. I feel no option but to get involved - I have never feared failure in my career, only submission. I despise optimism but embrace hope wholeheartedly. Good humour, like spontaneity, cannot be sought. Either you have it or you don't. Here's the most recent top news you may have missed in Houston. Bicyclist fatally struck by car while riding in NE Houston, deputies say A man is dead after deputies said he was struck by a car while riding his bike Tuesday night. Read the full story on KPRC2 / Click2Houston. 70-year-old woman with dementia reported missing in northwest Houston Houston police said Cynthia Gay Whitaker was last seen at 7:45 a.m. at her home in the 1100 block of Kerkimer Street. Read the full story on KHOU 11 News. Man accused of assaulting resident, grandmother during burglary Investigators say the victim's grandmother tried to intervene and was thrown to the ground during the burglary. Read the full story on KHOU. Houston doctor calls COVID-19 the hurricane and flood no one can see Coronavirus presents challenges that go beyond what we faced during Hurricane Harvey. Read the full story on KENS5. Woman buying milk killed, another injured in southeast Houston shooting A woman who had just bought a carton of milk was killed as she tried backing out of a southeast Houston meat market parking lot Wednesday afternoon. Read the full story on MySanAntonio. This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. The latest: The House is sending President Donald Trump a fourth bipartisan bill to help businesses crippled by the coronavirus, an almost $500 billion measure that many lawmakers are already looking beyond. The measure passed almost unanimously, but the lopsided tally belies a potentially bumpier path ahead as battle lines are being formed for much more ambitious future legislation that may prove far more difficult to maneuver through Congress. Anchoring the bill is the Trump administrations $250 billion funding request to replenish a fund to help small- and medium-size businesses with payroll, rent and other expenses. The payroll program provides forgivable loans so businesses can continue paying workers while forced to stay closed for social distancing and stay-at-home orders. Supporters are already warning that more money will be needed almost immediately for the business-backed Paycheck Protection Program. Battle lines are forming over the next measure amid growing demands to help out state and local governments, the Postal Service and first responders. Thursday's vote in the House brings the total cost of the four bipartisan bills to respond to various impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic to about $2.5 trillion, according to the Congressional Budget Office, Washington's impartial scorekeeper. Study suggests coronavirus spread earlier than first thought A preliminary study of 3,000 New Yorkers found that 13.9% tested positive for coronavirus antibodies, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday. The revelation provides further evidence that the coronavirus spread earlier and infected more people than official tallies show. Both California and Indiana are retracing their coronavirus timelines after discovering that the highly infectious disease started killing people earlier than previously known. In addition, researchers at Northeastern University estimated that the virus had spread widely in major cities as early as March 1. Taken together, these discoveries emphasize just how much about this pandemic remains uncertain and unknown. Four months since the novel coronavirus was first discovered in Wuhan, China, experts worldwide still do not fully understand how the virus started, how it impacts the body or what treatments are effective. Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease expert, said New York's antibody testing results could be good news, as it means that the virus's fatality rate may be lower than the official fatality rate. "It tells us this virus is much more widespread than we thought. When we look at the models that are using hospitalization rates and case fatality ratios, that those are likely overestimating because they're based on skewed data," he said. "The hospitalization rate may be much lower because the denominator (of people infected) is so much bigger. "I think it's also in a way reassuring, meaning that we are developing some immunity to this. There are people that have mild illness that don't know they are sick, and those individuals may be part of how we move forward as we start to think about reopening certain parts of the country." Still, despite the many unknowns as well as ongoing testing shortages, several U.S. states are planning to loosen their stay-at-home restrictions to alleviate the pains of a flailing economy and high unemployment. Earlier spread than known California Gov. Gavin Newsom has asked coroners to review California cases dating to December after autopsies revealed two people in the state died of coronavirus in early and mid-February up to three weeks before the first known U.S. death from the virus. "We are doing the same across the state and in other counties as well to ultimately help guide a deeper understanding of when this pandemic really started to impact Californians directly," Newsom said Wednesday. In Indiana, too, officials are tracking cases going back to at least mid-February weeks before the state announced its first case in early March. A model of the disease's spread by researchers at Northeastern University estimates that on March 1, while Americans were still focused on China, thousands of people in New York, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago and Seattle were silently infected with coronavirus, according to The New York Times. Governors and mayors are feuding over reopening The decision to reopen even as coronavirus deaths linger is pitting governors against mayors in some of the largest cities. Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman said the city's businesses are ready to reopen, but she did not provide any social distancing guidelines. "For a restaurant to be open or a small boutique to be open, they better figure it out. That's their job. That's not the mayor's job," Goodman told CNN's Anderson Cooper. The state's key leader did not share her enthusiasm. "We are clearly not ready to open," Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak told CNN. In Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp made the most aggressive move yet to get the state's economy humming by allowing businesses such as barbershops, nail salons, bowling alleys and gyms to reopen Friday. Trump initially applauded the decision by one of his key Republican allies, a source said, then criticized it during his daily coronavirus briefing Wednesday. "I disagree with him on what he's doing but I want to let the governors do (what they want)," the president said. The state is struggling with an epidemic that has left about 850 people dead. The mayor of Georgia's largest city said the decision to reopen left her puzzled. "I have searched my head and my heart on this and I am at a loss as to what the governor is basing this decision on," said Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, a Democrat. Other states have begun to reopen but in slower steps. In neighboring South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster announced certain stores can reopen at 20% capacity along with beaches. Mayor Stephen Benjamin of Columbia accused him of using "arbitrary dates" instead of data to make his decisions. "When you should go back to business is when you have some true indicators over two weeks that show a deceleration of the pandemic," Benjamin said, referring to one of the White House's criteria for reopening state economies. "We need more testing. We need more data, and then we can decide how we go back into business." Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg said the governor's reopening plan was "a measured response" that took safety and social distancing into account. "It's not like he opened the barn door and everything flies out," Tecklenburg said. Gov. Bill Lee has announced that restaurants in Tennessee will be allowed to reopen Monday for dine-in service with reduced seating capacity as part of his effort to reopen large swaths of the state economy by the end of the month. Lee announced earlier this week that he would not extend his mandatory safer-at-home order, which expires April 30. Instead, the Republican said businesses in 89 out of the state's 95 counties will be allowed to reopen. That did not include the state's biggest cities, including Nashville, Memphis, Chattanooga and Knoxville. Multiple states extend stay-at-home orders Meanwhile, several areas are extending stay-at-home orders. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Thursday extended his stay-at-home order through May 30, which was to expire April 30. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper said Thursday that the states stay-at-home order from COVID-19 will remain in place for at least another two weeks. The order, which allowed only essential business to open and limited movement by the public, was set to expire next Tuesday. Now it will be extended to May 8. And Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on Thursday announced he will extend a ban on nonemergency surgeries for another week. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A WONDER drug which a Donegal scientist was instrumental in developing will undergo a clinical trial to see how effective it is in the battle against Covid-19. Ivermectin is commonly used by farmers to treat roundworm in cattle and sheep, but it is also used in the treatment of parasitic infections in humans, such as in the treatment of head lice. Professor William Campbell (89), originally from Ramelton, in county Donegal, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology in 2015 for his work in the development of the drug. It has had a massive impact on world health, saving millions of people from diseases caused by parasites in developing countries, such as river blindness. The drug will be at the centre of a new trial by French researchers to ascertain if it could be used in the fight against coronavirus, after promising results were recorded in an Australian lab. Biochemistry expert, Professor Luke O'Neill of Trinity College in Dublin, told the Irish Independent: "It's added now to the list of possible approaches" but added that dosages found on farms were not suitable for humans. Expand Close Professor William Campbell. Photo: Justin Mac Innes/ Trinity College Dublin/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Professor William Campbell. Photo: Justin Mac Innes/ Trinity College Dublin/PA Wire "But because it's been widely used in veterinary medicine and it has been used in humans, it's very safe. It is extremely cheap to make." He said if it works, it would be widely available. "The holy grail here is to get an anti-viral, a drug that will kill the virus, because that will have a massive impact, and that will be as important as a vaccine potentially." He said Ivermectin has been shown to be safe so "you would be less concerned about side effects". "It's another prospect, and we like it because we know it is safe in humans." However, the expert said: "The anti-viral that we are most optimistic about is called Remdesivir. That is very specific against the virus." Prof O'Neill pointed out there is "a massive effort" behind coming up with a treatment for Covid-19. "I think it will be faster than traditionally it would have been because of the pressing need for this," he said. "The worry is that the vaccine will take ages to develop and there are no guarantees it will work. There is a risk it mightn't work. This would be a wonderful plan B." However, he stressed while Ivermectin might be lying around farmers' sheds, it must not be consumed by humans. Prof O'Neill pointed out that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning in relation to this, because the veterinary dose would be far too high for humans. The FDA said it was concerned about the health of consumers who may self-medicate by taking Ivermectin products intended for animals, thinking they can be a substitute for Ivermectin intended for humans. "These animal drugs can cause serious harm in people," it warned. Irish researchers have been working on the Covid-19 pandemic. The Health Research Board previously announced it had mobilised rapid support for a Covid-19 clinical trial among Irish patients in intensive care units as part of global research efforts. The trial will test interventions for Covid-19 in critically ill patients, capture the outcomes and analyse data across an international network in a global effort to reduce the impact of the coronavirus in intensive care settings. I would so much rather be back in class. Online courses are more work that the normal classes. Its also harder to get feedback on you work. The professors and T.A.s are doing the best they can to support office hours, but its just not the same. I cant wait to be back in class. Howard Lukk, Los Angeles, University of California, Santa Barbara Image Credit... Ori Toor I am a biology student with the intention of going into medicine after graduation. One of the most important parts of our undergrad education are science labs, which give us practical experience and application of the difficult concepts we learn in our lecture courses. Due to the outbreak, my organic chemistry lab has had to go online, which is essentially an impossible undertaking. All of us are missing out on this essential process of synthesizing our own reagents and running a chemical reaction, replaced by this poor substitute of watching videos and doing worksheets. Andrei Robu, Greenville, S.C., University of South Carolina, Columbia My university gave me three days to move out of my dorm. With my parents living 10 hours away, it was terrible circumstances. I had no car to put everything I owned. My boyfriends family came in a clutch and helped me move out and let me stay in a spare bedroom of theirs. If not for his family, I would have had no where to stay. The day after I moved my stuff out, Whitmer announced a shelter in place order to start the next day at midnight. I called my parents, and my dad drove 20 hours round trip to get me home. Karen Larss, Iron Mountain, Mich., Western Michigan University I am a 55-year-old man who takes two classes per semester after work towards a TESL degree: teaching English as a second language. I enjoy the classroom experience. It is how I effectively learn. Listening to live lectures, asking questions, and speaking with other students about assignments and concepts. Both my classes went online, and I knew immediately that I would have to drop one of them as I was having trouble with the material in a normal classroom setting. I knew that I would not be successful sitting in my living room with all the distractions of home around me while trying to focus on a tough subject. Kent Shimizu, Santa Clarita, Calif., California State University, Northridge Image Credit... Ori Toor I do enjoy being able to wake up later because now I just have to log in to a class rather than get ready for an entire day. I can also sleep more, but I still miss the in-person interactions going to class on campus provides. Im also worried how moving online is going to impact classes that require sequential learning or classes that assume I acquired skills already learned in a prior class. Kate Carniol, Great Falls, Va., Syracuse University The ratings for MasterChef Australia's twelfth season have been impressive so far, with viewers gushing over the three new judges, Melissa Leong, Jock Zonfrillo and Andy Allen. And it seems the old judges, particularly Matt Preston and George Calombaris, are missing the limelight as they hunker down at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Without a cooking show on which to share their culinary tips and tricks, restaurant critic Matt, 58, and chef George, 41, have been making tutorials for Instagram. Regret that decision yet? MasterChef's old judges have been sharing kitchen tips on Instagram as the cooking competition soars to new heights with new hosts. Pictured: George Calombaris While in lockdown on Monday, Matt demonstrated a cheap and easy Italian mussel dish to his 392,000 followers. The cravat-wearing food writer created the seafood dish with a tomato-based soup, crispy lentils and capers. Unfortunately, the video recording was not the best quality and a fan joked in the comments: 'What did you record this on, a Nokia 3310?' He has also shared tutorials on how to make almond hummus and Negroni cocktails. Sharing his tips: While in lockdown on Monday, Matt Preston (pictured) demonstrated a cheap and easy Italian mussel dish to his 392,000 followers Recipes: He has also shared tutorials on how to make almond hummus and Negroni cocktails George posted a video on Wednesday of himself making honeycomb as part of a 'Sweet Week' series on his Instagram account. He paid close attention to the pot, often brushing down the sides with water to keep the mix of caster sugar, honey and bicarbonate of soda from crystallising. 'This recipe is the base of many other dessert dishes... if there is anything left after you eat it all,' he said. 'Cover it with melted chocolate, crumble it over your pavlova or simply serve it with vanilla ice-cream.' Many fans commented that they missed him on the show, with one follower writing: 'MasterChef is not the same without you.' 'It's sweet week!' George posted a video on Wednesday of himself making honeycomb as part of a 'Sweet Week' series on his Instagram account Matt, George and Gary Mehigan chose to walk away from the program after Channel 10 refused to give them a significant pay rise. At the time, George was also facing controversy for underpaying his restaurant staff by nearly $8million between 2011 and 2017. Back in July, the embattled chef was hit with a $200,000 fine, with many viewers calling for him to be dumped from the show. Negotiations: Matt, George and Gary Mehigan (left) chose to walk away from MasterChef after Channel 10 refused to give them a significant pay rise In a statement - which avoided mentioning George's scandal - Channel 10 CEO Paul Anderson claimed the decision to axe the three judges came after months of failed negotiations. Mr Anderson said: 'We would like to thank Gary, George and Matt for their contribution over the past 11 years.' Meanwhile, the ratings for season 12 of MasterChef Australia have been impressive so far, proving that hiring three virtual unknowns - Jock, Melissa and Andy - has paid off handsomely for the network. Worth the risk! Meanwhile, the ratings for season 12 of MasterChef Australia have been impressive so far, proving that hiring three virtual unknowns - Jock Zonfrillo (left), Melissa Leong (centre) and Andy Allen (right) - has paid off handsomely for the network The first episode was watched by 1.23 million viewers nationwide, making it the highest-rating reality TV premiere of the year. It even managed to beat Married At First Sight, which had premiered to an audience of 1.154 million in February. MasterChef: Back to Win continues Thursday at 7:30pm on Channel 10 Muslims in Malaysia will welcome Ramadan amid strict movement restrictions in order to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus. The restrictions, called Movement Control Order, were initiated by the government in a bid to reduce COVID-19 infections in the country. Mosques around the capital city Kuala Lumpur remained closed and Muslims were told to pray at home. These restrictions are felt by small businesses who rely on the Ramadan season to sell traditional food. Zahrullail Rosely, who sells traditional Malay food for Ramadan, said he is expecting a sharp decrease in sales and now relies on delivery. Restrictions include movement controls, banning public gatherings and urging social distancing. 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. Ramadan is the Muslim holy month, marked by daily fasting from dawn to sunset, ending with the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Fitr. Rajasthan has become the only one with six districts that have more than 100 cases of Covid-19, according to the governments data. In Maharashtra, which has the highest number of Covid-19 infections in the country, only four districts have more than 100 cases. The number of Covid-19 infections in Tonk and Ajmer district crossed 100 on Wednesday. Tonk now has 115 cases and Ajmer 104. Jaipur has the highest number of cases with 737, Jodhpur has 307, Kota has 118 and Bharatpur 103 cases of Covid-19. By Thursday afternoon, Rajasthan had recorded 1890 cases of Covid-19. Follow coronavirus live updates here. From detecting four cases in a day, on April 1, in Tonk, the number of cases increased constantly thereafter and crossed 100 on Wednesday, but in Ajmer, which recorded its first case on March 29, there was a sudden spurt in the last two days with over 75 cases. Kota and Bharatpur had also witnessed a sudden increase in number of case. The education hub, Kota reported its first case on April 6. Four days later, 14 cases were reported and on April 15, 34 cases were reported. Similarly, in Bharatpur, the first case was reported on April 1, but sharp increase started from April 17. Rajasthan health Minister Raghu Sharma said more people testing positive is not a concern but it is helping to get the real picture of the pandemic. Under a strategy it was decided to conduct maximum number of tests across the state. Our testing capacity was zero on March 2, which we have increased to 4,700 per day and in coming time will take it to 10,000 in a day. Next in agenda is developing testing facility at all district headquarters, he said Despite the rising number of positive cases in the state, Rajasthan has one of the lowest mortality rates in the country amongst the similar situated state. According to the health department data, Rajasthan with 1890 cases and 27 deaths has a mortality rate of 1.43%, and stands at 15th position after states such as Punjab, Jharkhand, MP, UP and Delhi. The highest mortality rate of 8.33% has been recorded in Meghalaya, which recorded 12 cases and a death; and lowest in Kerala of 0.68%, the state has recorded 438 positive cases and three deaths. Data shows that around 27 districts across 10 states in the country have more than 100 cases, of which maximum six are from Rajasthan . Other states with maximum affected districts are Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh with four districts each, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu with three each, Madhya Prahesh, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala two each and Telangna and Karnataka one each. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON More than 100 fourth-year medical students at Rowan University will be graduating early this year in an effort to bolster the health care workforce in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, college officials said. Both Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine typically graduate students in mid-May, and their residencies start in July. Now, qualified students will be able to complete medical school this month. The 113 early graduates represent nearly half of 259 medical students at both schools. This should give the general public confidence that we have young, dedicated health care professionals anxious to get in there help any way they can, said Dr. Annette Reboli, dean of the Cooper medical school. This is what they signed up to do and theyre ready to do it. Im inspired because these students are the people I always dreamed would be the next generation of health care providers Reboli said none of her early graduates are in residency programs that were able to start early. She said her new physicians will have earned the degree of medical doctor but still need intensive supervision and training to get their medical licenses. Nearly half of the total of 180 osteopathic students scheduled to graduate this year have accepted residencies in New Jersey. Just over 30 percent of 89 graduates at the Cooper medical school are expected to complete their training in the state. Meanwhile, the early graduates are seeking ways to volunteer to help during the pandemic. Some are helping doctors keep track of critically ill patients by phone and others are sewing protective masks. Its a unique time in U.S. history, Reboli said. The lessons they learn now are very valuable if and when the next pandemic comes. It will forever influence how they practice medicine. Rowan medical school graduates must complete 130 weeks of instruction. Reboli said all of the students, including the early graduates, are averaging more than 168 weeks of instruction. Still, Rowan plans to refund a total of $7 million to all of its students because of the closure of its campuses last month when Gov. Phil Murphy issued a shelter-in-place order. New Jersey now has 5,368 coronavirus deaths as the total number of cases climbed to 99,989 on Thursday, though officials continue to say they are seeing hopeful signs of the outbreak stabilizing. Murphy said the latest numbers include 307 new deaths and 4,227 new cases. The governor said as the total cases near 100,000, it is important to note that thousands have recovered. Staff writer Matt Arco contributed to this report. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Scientists everywhere are banding together to fight the novel coronavirus, and they're already making progress. Computational chemists are focused on building computer models of the virus's parts, which could aid in developing new therapeutics. Now, organizations around the world are offering up their computing power to researchers to help provide rapid results, according to an article in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society. Building an accurate model of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes the COVID-19 illness, requires a significant amount of computing power. This is especially true if scientists want fast results from their simulations, which is a given under current circumstances, writes Assistant Editor Sam Lemonick. In the U.S., a group of universities, national labs and corporations have formed a consortium offering free computing resources to researchers, including Google's and Amazon's extensive cloud services and some of the world's most powerful supercomputers. Similar efforts are underway in Europe, China and elsewhere, with the goal of providing rapid resources for an ever-evolving situation. To take advantage of these resources, researchers submit proposals to the consortia, which are then fast-tracked for approval. Although many scientists who request computing resources are familiar with these technologies, the U.S. and E.U. consortia plan to assist those who aren't by matching them with expert collaborators. Current projects include a study on protein inhibitors of viral enzymes that could prevent SARS-CoV-2 from replicating, using powerful supercomputers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The consortia are looking for scientists in a broad range of dis ciplines to use these computer systems for fighting COVID-19. Researchers are encouraged to keep submitting proposals, with the hope that the sense of urgency will lead to real progress in the near future. Your browser does not support the audio element. Tuan Anh, who only goes by his pseudonym, has been an active private detective for more than a decade, empowered by the quest for truth and his experience dealing with all types of requests from clients. Your correspondent had to spend days talking Tuan Anh into giving an anonymous interview. Anonymity, according to Tuan Anh, is central to his job. We are after the truth, but we have to do everything by the book so we wont break any laws, however lucrative the offer may be, he said. A zest for truth Tuan Anh worked for a well-known detective agency a decade ago, but he quit to set up his own law firm. Despite leaving the old job, he is still stuck with his so-called 'detective gigs' for which he has such a lust. Clients who seek his legal service often mention extra investigation and evidence collection, so Tuan Anh added that service to his plethora. To make for the best results, he browsed his old contacts and sought those competent enough for such investigative tasks. More than a hundred candidates applied over a course of five years, but only a few have lasted in the job. The majority of his contracts are concerned with civil law, but some are related to criminal law. His clients are either wealthy or powerful, or both. Sometimes they are willing to pay thousands of U.S. dollars just to keep tabs on their kids, as they want to know what their children do and which friends they hang out with. Some well-off clients are ready to splash a huge pile of money just to trace a lost object that they hold dear. A detective in Vietnam takes photos of his subject from a car. Photo: V.Tuan / Tuoi Tre On the day of the interview, Tuan Anh carefully instructed your correspondent on his before-and-after attire, for he did not want to draw any attention to CCTV operators. The interviewer was to put on a jacket and wear large glasses before entering the premises a newly built apartment block in the Nam Trung Yen Residential Area in Cau Giay District, Hanoi. Once the interview was done, he was supposed to wear only his shirt, with the jacket and glasses all put in a handbag. Love affairs are the easiest of all. Even newbies can deal with these. There are ads about such a service everywhere on the Internet, Tuan Anh said. But being a detective is a different level. Its more challenging and socially significant. From his accounts, Tuan Anhs detectives once captured a spider-man who was stealing things from several villas in a neighborhood or tracked down a drunkard that had stolen a bike and ridden it hundreds of kilometers from Hanoi to Da Nang. Another story is that of a stunning supermodel who fell head over heels in love with an Internet romance who turned out to be a scam. This experienced detective further added that in order to check a detectives credibility, it is enough just to read their ads. If an agencys website is full of stuff like triangle love violence, love affairs and the like, their detectives are either very wet behind the ears, or are a complete fake bluffing to make money. Indeed, tracking down the daily routines of lovers, children, and business counterparts is a rather lucrative task. On average, a private investigator contract lasts around 7-10 days, with the charge depending on the complexity of the job. The more input the client provides, the lower the price; and the fewer the clues to start with, the higher the cost. Generally, one week of investigation can cost VND 7 million (US$300). Having what it takes Seasoned detectives highly value their reputation and reliability. They care more about secrecy and challenging jobs and avoid trivial cases, Tuan Anh said. The line between investigation and intrusion of privacy is delicate, he added, as tracing a missing person or a lost object is one thing, but watching a persons whereabouts, what they do, and who they have sex with is another ball game. Without proper training and a lack of knowledge of the laws, detectives might as well become criminals. A detective in Vietnam takes photos of his subject while pretending to be on the phone. Photo: V.Tuan / Tuoi Tre More than five years ago, Tuan Anh investigated the whereabouts of a tycoon whose wife suspected that he was cheating on her. Reckoning this was a simple case, Tuan Anh handed it over to his juniors, who produced zero progress after six days of hard work. They said the entrepreneur went to work normally every day, and his bike was parked in the parking lot for the whole time he was at work. Studying the case in detail, Tuan Anh decided to step in as he smelled something fishy. He waited until the man had arrived at his office, then phoned his work number. The operator informed him that the tycoon was on an unexpected business trip. Tuan Anh concluded from this story that professional detectives should have a quick eye that could see through their subjects in no time. He laid out a whole stack of binders on the table and said, Read these. They are all sorts of evidence, images, and video clips. These are just a little part of my years at work. Ive tried to keep them as evidence of our service. Sometimes clients ask to have all of the original evidence. I couldnt keep all of them, though, as we had to switch offices several times, he added. Tuan Anh then told the story of how he tracked down a much-loved daughter who had run from home for two years. She came from a wealthy family with an authoritarian father who often yelled at his wife. Depressed by such domestic problems, the young girl left home so as not to see their parents in a fight. The father did not hold high hopes when he reached out to Tuan Anh and his team. He even suspected that the agency had provided him with a fake address of his daughter. But when he finally held his daughter in his own arms, it all became clear that Tuan Anhs team was really good at their job. And so they got an extra tip. Lucrative as it might be, being a detective is no gold mine as the cost of an investigation can sometimes override how much they get paid according to the contract. Tuan Anh have sometimes had to terminate contracts due to ethical concerns as well. These primarily are cases where husbands or wives try to frame their partners into adultery, as that would benefit them in a divorce. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! By Associated Press BANGKOK: The world inched toward a new phase in the coronavirus crisis on Thursday, as some countries like Vietnam and New Zealand with few new cases moved toward ending their pandemic shutdowns while others like Singapore and Japan were doubling down on measures to prevent a surge in infections. Like the US, many countries are moving from crisis mode to figuring out how to live with the virus by modifying pre-pandemic routines with precautions, more testing and containment of flare-ups, mindful of the potential for future waves of the virus. Authorities in the capital of Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim majority nation, extended to May 22 strict disease-fighting restrictions with the approach of the month-long Ramzan fasting season, which begins with the new moon this week. With traditional, communal meals for the poor, large fast-breaking dinners with family and friends and cultural events after sunset cancelled, the world's 1.8 billion Muslims find themselves cut off from much of what makes the month special as authorities fight the pandemic. ALSO READ| Coronavirus pandemic is quickly becoming a 'human rights crisis': UN chief Antonio Guterres UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Muslims to "focus on our common enemy - the virus", and repeated an earlier appeal for an immediate cease-fire for all conflicts. In a separate message, he urged countries to provide equitable help to all, saying the pandemic was "a human crisis that is fast becoming a human rights crisis". Guterres said that some leaders are using the crisis as a pretext for repressive measures. "The message is clear: People - and their rights - must be front and centre," he said. The United Nations has warned that tens of millions of people risk starvation as the coronavirus pandemic, a plague of locusts in Africa and other disruptions prevent food from reaching the world's most vulnerable populations in places like Yemen and South Sudan. A report released on Wednesday estimated that at least 135 million people are at acute risk of starvation due to conflicts and other factors. The report was compiled before shutdowns, border closures and freezes on transport activities began disrupting food supplies. In response, the EU pledged 20 billion euros (USD 22 billion) for helping bridge such disruptions to provide help to vulnerable communities in Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East, parts of Asia and Latin America. While some parts of the world are just beginning to grapple with the pandemic, in China authorities reported no new deaths and just 10 new cases on Thursday. The number of people hospitalised dropped to 959, with 63 considered serious cases. As new cases drop close to zero, China has re-opened many businesses. Middle and high school seniors preparing for exams are returning to classes. But a ban on foreign arrivals and strict quarantine measures remain in place to prevent an influx of new cases from abroad or fresh infections among those thought to have recovered or who had no symptoms but could still be spreading the virus. ALSO READ| Long way to go in coronavirus crisis: WHO amid global toll crossing 180,000 Neighbouring Vietnam, which moved quickly to close its borders and trace coronavirus cases, has reported no new cases in the past three days and is preparing to loosen restrictions. New Zealand, which announced just three new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday, remained on strict lockdown, with 1,451 confirmed cases and 16 deaths, but was preparing to ease limits next month. But the virus continues to pop up unexpectedly. Singapore has been reporting hundreds of new cases each day, many traced to crowded migrant worker dormitories. Japanese officials on Thursday said 14 more crew members on an Italian-operated cruise ship docked in southern Japan tested positive for the coronavirus, raising the breakout on board to 48. The Costa Atlantica has been docked in Nagasaki with 623 crew members and no passengers since late January for repairs and maintenance. Nagasaki officials said that one crew member is hospitalized and on a ventilator. Other infected crew members are quarantined in single rooms, and officials planned to test all by Friday. Officials are investigating how the virus could have got on board after discovering the first known case in a crew member who tested positive after developing a cough and fever. An earlier outbreak aboard the US-operated Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was quarantined offshore of Yokohama for weeks, resulted in more than 700 cases among its 3,700 passengers and crew. Separately, Japan has about 12,000 cases, with 300 deaths. The global outbreak of coronavirus has infected more than 2.6 million people and killed about 183,000, including more than 45,000 in the United States, according to a tally compiled by John Hopkins University from official government figures. The true numbers are believed to be far higher, and most people infected suffer from only mild or moderate symptoms and survive. But the crushing death toll of the pandemic has left many people understandably cautious and it will likely take weeks, even months, for people to regain confidence and resume normal activities. Future waves of outbreaks could reverse any gains in the interim, Dr Robert Blendon, a Harvard professor of health policy and political analysis said. [April 23, 2020] NASA Contributes Expertise, Ingenuity to COVID-19 Fight WASHINGTON, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has joined the fight against coronavirus (COVID-19) with efforts underway across the country to augment the national response, a few of which were highlighted in a media briefing today. "NASA's strength has always been our ability and passion collective and individual for solving problems," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. "All the work being done shows how NASA is uniquely equipped to aid in the federal response to coronavirus by leveraging the ingenuity of our workforce, mobilizing investments made in the U.S. space agency to combat this disease, and working with public and private partnerships to maximize results." On April 1, NASA launched an agencywide call for ideas on its internal crowdsourcing platform [email protected] for how the agency can leverage its expertise and capabilities to help the nation with this unprecedented crisis. In just two weeks, 250 ideas were submitted, more than 500 comments were submitted, and more than 4,500 votes were cast. In addition to the [email protected] challenge, the agency workforce developed ideas and worked with partners to quickly respond to the health crisis within the last month. Agency efforts highlighted during the media briefing include: VITAL Ventilator Engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California designed a new high-pressure ventilator tailored specifically to treat COVID-19 patients. The device, called VITAL(Ventilator Intervention Technology Accessible Locally), passed a critical test on April 21 at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York an epicenter of COVID-19 in the United States and now is under review for an emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). VITAL is designed to treat patients with milder symptoms, thereby keeping the nation's limited supply of traditional ventilators available for patients with more severe COVID-19 symptoms. The device can be built faster and maintained more easily than a traditional ventilator, and is comprised of far fewer parts, making it more economical to produce. It was designed to use parts currently available to potential manufacturers but not compete with the existing supply chain of currently made ventilators. Aerospace Valley Positive Pressure Helmet NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center in California partnered with Antelope Valley Hospital, the City of Lancaster, Virgin Galactic, The Spaceship Company (TSC), Antelope Valley College and members of the Antelope Valley Task Force to solve possible shortages of critical medical equipment in the local community. One of the task force's first efforts was to build an oxygen helmet to treat COVID-19 patients exhibiting minor symptoms and minimize the need for those patients to use ventilators. The device functions like a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to force oxygen into a patient's low-functioning lungs. Called the Aerospace Valley Positive Pressure Helmet, the device was successfully tested by doctors at Antelope Valley Hospital. The Spaceship Company began producing 500 this week and a request was submitted April 22 to the FDA for an emergency use authorization. Surface Decontamination System Through its Regional Economic Development Program, engineers at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Ohio partnered with Ohio company Emergency Products and Research in 2015 to guide the development and production of a small, portable, and economical device that decontaminates spaces such as ambulances in under an hour and at a fraction of the cost of systems currently in use. AMBUStat is being used in police cars and other areas killing airborne and surface particles of viruses. Now NASA is conducting additional research to continue to maximize the effectiveness of this device on COVID-19. NASA's legacy of human space exploration, research and technology development has yielded countless innovations that prove the direct and profound impact of taxpayer investment in America's space program on our quality of life on Earth, including improved technologies for water purification, air filtration, kidney dialysis and tele-medicine, as well as research that has led to improved vaccines, drug therapies, and mitigations for bone loss. We can only speculate as to the breadth of transformative benefits that will come from America's return to the Moon through NASA's Artemis program and our efforts to put the first humans on Mars. For more information about NASA's efforts, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/coronavirus View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-contributes-expertise-ingenuity-to-covid-19-fight-301046552.html SOURCE NASA [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Here are some of todays top headlines. Missouri is suing China over coronavirus impacts saying the country did little to stop the spread of the disease Missouri is suing the Chinese government and other top institutions for the role they played in the coronavirus pandemic and the effects it has had on the state, accusing the country of covering up information, silencing whistleblowers and doing little to stop the spread of the disease, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced Tuesday. CDC chief says there could be second, possibly worse coronavirus outbreak this winter A second coronavirus outbreak could emerge this winter in conjunction with the flu season to make for an even more dire health crisis, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told The Washington Post in an interview. 90% of the worlds students are in lockdown. Its going to hit poor kids much harder than rich ones Theoni Bosman Quarshie has been cramped into a two-bedroom London public housing apartment with her mother and younger sister since the UK went into coronavirus lockdown in mid-March. Facebook invests $5.7 billion for 9.99% stake in Indias Jio Platforms Facebook is investing $5.7 billion into Jio Platforms, the digital technology arm of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambanis sprawling conglomerate Reliance Industries. Bangladeshi garment workers face ruin as global brands ditch clothing contracts When Fatema Akther arrived for work at the Alif Casual Wear garment factory in Dhaka in late March, she had no idea it would be her last day. Tiger King, Love is Blind and coronavirus propel Netflix to huge subscriber gains Netflix added a stunning 16 million subscribers in the first quarter of 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic led people to stay at home and binge on hit docuseries, such as Tiger King, and reality shows like Love is Blind. His family stayed on the phone for 30 hours until he died Like so many people who have lost loved ones to Covid-19, Abby Adair Reinhard wasnt able to be at the hospital with her dying father, Don Adair. Vice President Michelle Obama? On Monday night, in an interview with Pittsburghs premier political pundit, Joe Biden made a little news about his vice presidential search. Why Elon Musks Starlink satellites are upsetting stargazers Billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk can be a controversial figure. Not surprisingly, one of his projects has managed to frustrate stargazers. Africa Live: Six Nigerians fined for partying during Ghanas lockdown BBC News The United Nations has warned that the coronavirus pandemic could almost double the number of people around the world suffering from acute hunger, expressing concerns for people in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Death toll of Canadas worst shooting rises to 23 The toll from the worst mass shooting in Canadas modern history, a 14-hour rampage over the weekend, has risen to 23 from 19, police say. The victims include a 17-year-old not identified by officials who previously believed all those killed in the province of Nova Scotia were adults. World risks biblical famines due to pandemic UN The world is at risk of widespread famines of biblical proportions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the UN has warned. David Beasley, head of the World Food Programme (WFP), said urgent action was needed to avoid a catastrophe. A report estimates that the number suffering from hunger could almost double from 135m to more than 250m. Newcastle United takeover: BeIN Sports & Amnesty warn Premier League The Premier League has been urged to fully interrogate Newcastle Uniteds proposed 300m takeover by one of its largest worldwide broadcast partners, beIN Sport. The head of the Qatar-based TV giant, CEO Yousef al-Obaidly, has written to chairpersons of all top-flight clubs about the deal, which could see the Magpies bought by a Saudi-backed consortium. Will we ever be immune to Covid-19? As the news of potential new vaccines and tests for Covid-19 developed by labs around the world seems to make the news each day, the optimists among us have started to look for signs that we might be moving towards the easing of lockdown restrictions in Europe and the US, following from the relaxing of measures in New Zealand and Australia. Coronavirus Study Of Drug Pushed By Trump Finds More Deaths, No Benefit A malaria drug widely touted by President Donald Trump for treating the new coronavirus showed no benefit in a large analysis of its use in U.S. veterans hospitals. There were more deaths among those given hydroxychloroquine versus standard care, researchers reported. The nationwide study was not a rigorous experiment. Republican Group Endorses Biden With Anti-Trump Ad In Battleground States A conservative group critical of President Donald Trump is going on the attack with a new ad endorsing former Vice President Joe Biden for Novembers election. The spot from The Lincoln Project, titled Ready, lauds Biden as a bipartisan leader who puts good ideas ahead of party politics and praises his strength and character. When The Holy Month Of Ramadan Comes At The Peak Of A Pandemic Last year, 26-year-old Layla Comstock broke fast with her friends almost every night during Ramadan. A recent convert who joined the Islamic faith a few years ago, being surrounded by her Muslim friends meant she always had someone to break fast or walk to prayer services with. 17 of the best Zoom memes thatll make you laugh while working from home Theres nothing quite so 2020 as Zoom memes. Sure, were all stuck inside and on endless video calls but, hey, at least were getting some internet content out of it! To be fair, Zoom memes are good mostly because its so much of reality these days. Netflix is now worth more than Disney thanks to a surge in viewership during pandemic If it wasnt already obvious what people have been doing while staying home during this pandemic, it certainly is now. Netflix just its biggest quarter ever on Tuesday. The most shocking number from Netflixs Q1 2020 results: The video streaming service brought in 15.77 million new global paid subscribers. Stop comparing coronavirus to other deadly viruses The new coronavirus has some stark differences from other relatively recent, grim outbreaks of disease. Take, for example, the SARS outbreak in 2003 (also a coronavirus), the H1N1 flu in 2009, or even the ongoing HIV epidemic. They dont compare for a number of reasons. Rob Shuter, MTN President and Group CEO 23.04.2020 LISTEN The Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN) Group has been adjudged the most valuable telecom brand in Africa and the companys focus on customers and its provision of high-quality service across all its markets recognized. Consequently, MTNs brand strength rating has been upgraded from AAA- to AAA, in recognition of an increasingly strong leadership position in telecommunication services throughout Africa and the other markets within which it operates, as well as its increasingly-resilient network investments. Brand Finance, a leading independent brand valuation consultancy, explained in a recent annual report that MTNs brand value was boosted by a solid overall performance for the year, despite challenging economic conditions and regulatory challenges in some markets. Brand Finance acknowledged MTNs BRIGHT strategy to grow revenues through data and digital, while also focusing on growing its subscriber base. Mr David Haigh, Brand Finance CEO, commended MTN for its performance in its home market as well as further afield, adding that the company was increasingly being recognized throughout Africa by their customers as providing high quality service, because their brand image was deeply rooted on more than just marketing campaigns. Receiving the news of the recognition, Rob Shuter, MTN President and Group CEO, said MTN Group was humbled by the recognition in these unprecedented times of the global CONVID-19 pandemic. Mr Shuter gave the assurance that MTN had built a sound, robust and resilient organization that could and would withstand the virus scourge, adding that the decisive steps required were being taken to persevere the MTN spirit of togetherness and a positive, can-do attitude. Source: G.D. Zaney, Esq. JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) Some midsize coastal towns in Alaska have voiced opposition to state rules barring the communities from establishing their own restrictions on workers arriving for the fishing season. Updated guidelines issued by Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy say only the smallest, most isolated towns and villages can restrict travel or require mandatory quarantine for workers in industries the state deems critical during the coronavirus pandemic, CoastAlaska reported Wednesday. The April 9 amendment allows special rules to be drafted only in communities with populations of less than... An investigation into the 1996 disappearance of California college student Kristin Smart took another twist with a second search warrant issued at the home of a former fellow student Wednesday. Authorities served a search warrant at the Los Angeles County home of Paul Flores, with the San Luis Obispo Sheriff's Office saying in a statement that investigators were looking for "specific items of evidence." Smart, 19, vanished in May 1996 while returning to her dorm at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo. A friend said Smart had attended an off-campus party and was seen returning to the school with Flores, who was also a student. She was legally declared dead in 2002, although her body was never found. Image: Kristin Smart (FBI via AP) Flores "continues to be a person of interest" in the cold case, the sheriff's office statement said. The search warrant is sealed by the court. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office assisted in Wednesday's search of Flores' home, which is about 200 miles south of San Luis Obispo. A search warrant was also served at Flores' home in February. At that time, authorities also served warrants at two locations in San Luis Obispo County and one in Washington State. "Today's search warrant only involved the home of Paul Flores," Wednesday's statement from the sheriff's office said. Flores, who has been the subject of several police inquiries and searches, has never been charged in connection with the disappearance of Smart. In January, the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office said it had seized two trucks that belonged to members of Flores' family in 1996. In September 2016, sheriff's deputies and FBI agents excavated a section of Cal Poly's campus. The department said at the time that "items of interest" were recovered and were being analyzed, once again bringing attention to the case. A recent locally produced podcast also renewed interest in the case. Smart would have turned 43 in February. Outside a hospital in Guayaquil, Ecuador, a family seals the coffin of their father with plastic wrap. Many people in Guayaquil blame the government for failing to slow the spread of coronavirus, and to deal with the thousands of bodies that have piled up in the aftermath. Guayaquil has suffered arguably the worst Covid death toll in Latin America. The thing is, Ecuador had acted earlier than its neighbors to close borders and order strict quarantine. So what went wrong? From the start, the one-two punch of rapid contagion and the ensuing death toll caught local and national officials off guard. On Feb. 27, doctors in Guayaquil diagnosed the countrys first Covid-19 patient, Bella Lamilla, a 71-year-old retired teacher, otherwise known as Patient Zero. Dr. Esteban Ortiz-Prado is a medical investigator helping to advise the government on the pandemic. It took 13 days to diagnose Lamilla with coronavirus. And in that time, she infected many other people, including much of her family, pictured here in 2019. In all, three family members died, including Bella herself. After she arrived in Ecuador, Lamilla stayed in the home of her niece, Cassandra, in the town of Babahoyo. Bella Lamilla was certainly not the only case. There were at least six other flights from Madrid to Guayaquil between the time she arrived and when she was diagnosed. Other travelers later tested positive for Covid-19. Those lost weeks led to an out-of-control epidemic. Two and a half weeks after Bella Lamillas diagnosis, the country was on lockdown. Two weeks after that, Guayaquil was in the throes of the most aggressive outbreak in Latin America. It is true that at the very beginning, it was a disaster. We are learning by mistake, by errors that we made. This is Dr. Juan Carlos Zevallos. He was installed as Ecuadors health minister in late March, after the former minister resigned. He admits the government should have tested and tracked patients. But he also blames residents for not following stay-at-home orders after Bellas diagnosis. Ecuador, as I said, was prepared. I mean, did all the measures in place and very early. Unfortunately, the people didnt hear us. And they did not obey those restrictions. Like a lot of cities in Latin America, a large segment of Guayaquils population lives day to day, working informal jobs. So to stay home means not eating. It was a perfect storm of factors that left Guayaquils hospitals and morgues overwhelmed. Now, the government of Ecuador has another dilemma: Just how to bury the thousands of bodies that have piled up in the weeks after Lamillas death? Ecuadors official Covid death toll is several hundred. But forensic police have been working around the clock to collect and account for thousands more dead. And construction is now underway for various large burial sites around the city. Container trucks like this one transport corpses to one new site on the outskirts of Guayaquil, in the neighborhood of Pascuales. Local residents fearful of contamination are outraged. Officials in charge of handling the dead have promised that each body will have a separate resting place. We attempted to film drone footage of the new burial site. But Ecuadorean soldiers ordered our team to bring the drone down, and temporarily confiscated our footage. A human rights worker documented the incident. Since the first coronavirus diagnosis, distrust of the governments handling of this crisis appears to have spread as fast as the contagion itself. For countless students, Kimarlee Nguyens English classroom was a safe place to be themselves. Nguyen gave them scented stickers and glitter gel pens as she led them in discussions of diverse authors, from Ismail Kadare to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie to Nawal El Saadawi. She felt like a safe beacon that we could all go to for a quick laugh or a serious conversation, one former student wrote. Nguyen was a teacher that treats her students genuinely, a teacher who sacrifices herself into teaching, another wrote, adding that she was like a candle thats burning, so bright and so warm. Nguyen died on April 5 from COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirusone of more than 100 educators across the country who have succumbed to the illness . She was 33. A well-regarded fiction writer, Nguyen had taught at the Brooklyn Latin School, an academically rigorous public high school in New York that has a classical, liberal arts curriculum, for the past six years. Before that, she taught for five years at Bushwick Leaders High School in New York, according to the United Federation of Teachers . Like many of us, shes very dedicated to what she does, said her friend Zarah Vinola, who is also a New York City public school teacher. She was very passionate about writing, and was able to bring that type of energy and passion to her classroom. She could make teaching Shakespeare lively and fun, Vinola said. But she also filled her classroom with diverse perspectives. Like many of her students, Nguyen was a first-generation American. Her parents survived the brutal Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia, and much of Nguyens writing was influenced by their experiences. Nguyen would bring in poetry about the Cambodian genocide to her classroom, said close friend and fellow writer Cherry Lou Sy. Once, a Cambodian-American student broke down crying, saying she finally understood why her father was the way he was. Some of her students had told her she was the first adult who took them seriously, Sy said. She added that Nguyen wanted her students to know, You are seen, you are heard. I hear you. I see you. Brooklyn Latin school leaders wrote in a message to the school community that Nguyen filled our atria and classrooms with her vibrant attitude, joy, and laughter. Her disarming charm and candor resonated with discipuli, who gravitated to her when they were seeking advice, looking for a place to belong, or going through a difficult period in their lives. Indeed, in an online memorial page, students shared their memories of lunchtime chats, shared jokes, and Nguyens warmth. I was an angry, feisty, and oftentimes sassy student, one former student wrote. Instead of responding with the same bitterness I carried for the world, Ms. Nguyen sought to instead understand me and question me. Where are you hurting?, she inquired, something no adult had ever asked me before. My voice was not only always heard, it was listened to. She created a space for you to matter in, to be important in. Thats just who Ms. Nguyen was. Fall in Love With a Poem Nguyen was an irrepressible, bubbly person with a zest for life, Sy said. She loved Harry Potter, anime, and live music. She recently became a big fan of BTS, the South Korean boy band. Going skydiving was on her bucket list. She wanted so much out of life that she really pursued it, Sy said. She was telling me, I just want to experience everything. Born and raised in Revere, Mass., Nguyen earned a bachelors degree in English from Vassar College and a masters of fine arts degree from Long Island University. She was close to her family and went to be with them when the coronavirus outbreak shut down New York City, Vinola said. She is survived by her father Hai Nguyen, her mother Vy Yeng, and her brother Steven Nguyen. At the time of her death, Nguyen was working on a novel called Lions Tooth, about a Cambodian-American family living in Cambridge, Mass. Her short stories had been published in Hyphen Magazine , PANK Magazine , Cha: An Asian Literary Journal , and several other journals. She had received several writers residencies and fellowships and had recently completed a writing fellowship at Kundiman , a national nonprofit group dedicated to cultivating Asian-American writing. It was tough for Nguyen to balance writing and teaching, Sy said. But Nguyen was one of the few teachers of color at her school, Sy said, and she took that responsibility to her students seriously. We talked about being tired of teaching and what it demanded of usand [how] we go on because of our students, Sy said. We remembered that those [students] were us some years ago, not even that far. When Nguyen saw the impact that she had on her students, who viewed her as a role model, it kept her going, Sy said. When her students started the schools first Asian Student Alliance, she was the inaugural co-adviser. I am grateful for the way that you encouraged us to be messy and colorful and opinionated, one former student wrote on Nguyens memorial page. You helped me fall in love with a poem for the first time in my life. You made us feel safe and qualified to think deeply, despite our awkward 17-year-old-ness. That student wrote that she is now studying to be a teacher, and when shes asked about teachers who were influential to her, she always thinks of Nguyen. You are going to keep inspiring me for the rest of my life, and when I have my own classroom, I hope its even half as joyful and comfortable as yours, she wrote. Thank you for bringing sunshine to all of our lives. TEL AVIV, Israel, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ICL (NYSE: ICL) (TASE: ICL), a leading global specialty minerals and specialty chemicals company, will announce its first quarter 2020 financial results on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, prior to the TASE market open. Mr. Raviv Zoller, ICL's President & CEO, and Mr. Kobi Altman, ICL's CFO, will host a conference call at 8:30AM EST (1:30PM London time, 3:30PM Israel time), to discuss the results and to address questions. To participate, please call one of the access numbers listed below: U.S.A. (toll free): 1866 966 1396 Israel (toll free): 1809 203 624 UK (toll free): 0800 376 7922 Or (toll/international): +44 (0) 2071 928 000 Conference ID: 7645076 ICL's conference call and presentation may also be viewed on WebEx at the following link: https://icl-meet.webex.com/icl-meet/onstage/g.php?MTID=e88091eb00ec35b7bd7ceada7be2973b7 (Please use the password: May2020, if necessary) ICL's conference call and presentation may also be viewed on ICL's website at: www.icl-group.com About ICL ICL is global specialty minerals and specialty chemicals company operating bromine, potash, and phosphate mineral value chains in a unique, integrated business model. ICL extracts raw materials from well-positioned mineral assets and utilizes technology and industrial know-how to add value for customers in key agricultural and industrial markets worldwide. ICL focuses on strengthening leadership positions in all of its core value chains. It also plans to strengthen and diversify its offerings of innovative agro solutions by leveraging ICL's existing capabilities and agronomic know-how, as well as the Israeli technological ecosystem. ICL's operations are divided into four business divisions: Industrial Products (bromine value chain and complementary business); Potash; Phosphate Solutions (P2O5 Chain); and Innovative Ag Solutions. ICL shares are dually listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (NYSE and TASE: ICL). The company employs over 11,000 people worldwide, and its 2019 revenues totaled approximately $5.3 billion. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.icl-group.com. INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT Dudi Musler Investor Relations Manager +972-3-684-4448 [email protected] PRESS CONTACT Adi Bajayo Scherf Communications +972-52-4454789 [email protected] SOURCE ICL Related Links http://www.icl-group.com [April 23, 2020] Loyalty to Wireless Carriers in Canada Continues to Hinge on Network Quality, J.D. Power Finds Canada's wireless networks are performing this year at a level similar to 2019 regarding the average number of issues cited by customers, and the level remains unchanged year over year at 9 problems per 100 connections (PP100), according to the J.D. Power 2020 Canada Wireless Network Quality Study,SM released today. However, carriers should not rest on their laurels, as network quality is the top reason cited by long-term clients when switching to a new provider. "In our current state of self-isolation, telecommuting and an exponential rise in the use of streaming service -from video conferencing to movies-are stretching network infrastructures to unprecedented levels," said Adrian Chung, director of the technology, media & telecom practice at J.D. Power Canada. "Many consumers are able to take advantage of home Wi-Fi for now but the demand for reliable wireless connectivity will continue in the future and carriers should be mindful of network performance being a key contributor to strengthening customer loyalty and defining value." The importance of network quality on client churn is also evident by the 21% of customers who indicate they would be less inclined to switch providers if network quality improves. This is a key factor in customer satisfaction-trumped only by loyalty discounts-and should bode well for carriers that plan 5G rollouts. Following are additional key findings of the 2020 study: Carriers meet the need for speed: Prior to the implementation of stay-at-home restrictions, 91% of wireless customers across all regions of Canada said their wireless data speeds were as expected or higher. Additionally, only 8% of customers indicate they have left their carrier in the past year due to network issues. Worry-free: New wireless customers (those who have switched carriers or are net-new) tend to cite fewer network issues than existing customers. According to the study, 45% of new customers experienced zero PP100 compared with 38% of existing customers who experienced the same. Apps on the rise: Wireless usage patterns remain relatively unchanged compared with 2019, based on a 48-hour usage period. Text messages continue to lead in frequency (44) followed by apps (15) and regular voice calls (9). Study Rankings In the East region, TELUS Mobility ranks highest in network quality with a score of 6 PP100. Rogers Wireless (News - Alert) and Videotron rank second in a tie, each with 8 PP100. The East Region consists of the provinces of New Brunswick; Newfoundland and Labrador; Nova Scotia; Prince Edward Island; and Quebec. In Ontario, Rogers Wireless and TELUS (News - Alert) Mobility rank highest in a tie, each with 8 PP100. In the West Region, Rogers Wireless ranks highest with a score of 9 PP100. Bell Mobility, SaskTel and TELUS Mobility rank second in a tie, each with 10 PP100. The West Region consists of the provinces of Alberta; British Columbia; Manitoba; Northwest Territories; Nunavut; Saskatchewan; and Yukon Territory. The 2020 Canada Wireless Network Quality Study was conducted online in English and French. The study, which measures problems per 100 connections (PP100), includes four wireless carriers in the East Region; four wireless carriers in Ontario; and six wireless carriers in the West Region. The study is based on 14,335 responses and was fielded in February-March 2020. For more information about the Canada Wireless Network Quality Study, visit https://canada.jdpower.com/business/resource/canada-wireless-network-quality-study See the online press release at http://www.jdpower.com/pr-id/2020043. J.D. Power is a global leader in consumer insights, advisory services and data and analytics. These capabilities enable J.D. Power to help its clients drive customer satisfaction, growth and profitability. Established in 1968, J.D. Power has offices serving North America, Asia Pacific and Europe. About J.D. Power and Advertising/Promotional Rules: http://www.jdpower.com/business/about-us/press-release-info J.D. Power 2020 Canada Wireless Network Quality StudySM Brand Ranking - Problem Per 100 (PP100) East Region Brand PP100 TELUS Mobility 6 Rogers Wireless 8 Videotron (News - Alert) 8 Region Average 8 Bell Mobility 9 Note: East Region includes New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Quebec. Ontario Brand PP100 Rogers Wireless 8 TELUS Mobility 8 Region Average 9 Bell Mobility 10 Freedom Mobile 14 West Region Brand PP100 Rogers Wireless 9 Bell Mobility 10 SaskTel 10 TELUS Mobility 10 Region Average 10 Freedom Mobile 11 Bell MTS (News - Alert) 12 Note: West Region includes Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Saskatchewan, and Yukon Territory. Charts and graphs extracted from this press release for use by the media must be accompanied by a statement identifying J.D. Power as the publisher and the study from which it originated as the source. Rankings are based on numerical scores, and not necessarily on statistical significance. No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release or J.D. Power survey results without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005018/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Abortion access in Texas swung wildly for a month, with clinics canceling dozens of appointments and rescheduling them days later, as the case bounced through the court system. Texas residents scrambled, with some traveling long distances to clinics in nearby states like Kansas and Colorado. At least six other states Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma and Tennessee have tried similar abortion restrictions, often through emergency orders by their governors. But hospitals around the country have been under financial strain after postponing often lucrative elective surgical procedures to make way for coronavirus patients, and last week, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas eased the restrictions on some surgical procedures. Operations can now be performed in facilities that certify in writing that they will reserve at least 25 percent of their capacity for coronavirus patients and that they will not request personal protective equipment from any public source. The changes took effect at midnight on Tuesday, and lawyers for the clinics said that by Wednesday morning, all clinics had complied with the order and were starting to perform abortions again. Healthcare workers at the forefront of the war against coronavirus are not only facing the daunting task of handling patients, but are also fighting to keep their own worries and emotional stress at bay. A doctor from a leading Mumbai hospital, who is currently home quarantined after he came in contact with a colleague who had coronavirus symptoms, said these times are challenging for everyone, including the medical fraternity. Even though his colleague tested negative for coronavirus, the doctor is not taking any chances as he has aged parents and a six-month-old son at home. "I haven't touched my baby since the last one month. Yesterday was my wife's birthday, but I could not participate in the celebration since I am confined to a separate room in the house," the doctor told PTI. He said some of them at the frontline of the COVID-19 war are feeling exhausted and running out of patience. "Initially, we thought we would tide over the crisis. But, now April is ending and there is no sign of decrease in coronavirus cases. My colleagues haven't met their families for last one month," he said. "The junior doctors, nurses and paramedicshave really taken up this war time as a challenge. We hopewe are able to flatten the curve," he said. He said wearing the personal protection equipment (PPE) and masks for long hours is also no mean task and makes them feel suffocated. The PPE comprises a gown, shoes, cap, N-95 mask, goggles and double gloves which are air tight. "Still, there is no guarantee of protection against the virus," he said. Most hospitals here have separate coronavirus disease ward, ICU and a dedicated medical team whose members work for five days and then are quarantined for seven days, he added. A nurse, who is ward in-charge in a city hospital, was initially quite worried when she was told last month that the medical facility will admit COVID-19 patients, and she and her team will be working in the specially created ward. "We were not mentally prepared and had heard about how serious the situation was in China. I was more worried for my young team than my 15-year-old son and husband. What if I was got infected while treating the patients?" she said, adding that they did not even know how to wear the PPE. "I could not control my emotions in front of my senior doctor. He said I may be excluded from the team as I was very sensitive. Later, he told me I can take up this challenge by considering my own and my team's safety first. He said the hospital trusts me I can handle the situation," she revealed. The nurse said she then took it upon herself to stay emotionally strong. But, the fear of whether she and her family would be safe continued to haunt her. "Fortunately, all patients who have come to us so far are stable and not like what we had heard about China and other countries," she said. But, her inner struggles continued when she could not celebrate her son's 15th birthday on March 24, as the first COVID-19 patient got admitted to their hospital that day. "I felt sad and at the same time wondered if I was making my family and team unsafe. I felt I was responsible for their safety. So, we sent our son to my parents' home and me and my husband maintained social distancing," she said. But, the emotional turmoil continued and one day, after returning come, she cried. Her son consoled her, saying she was part of efforts being made at the global level to fight the pandemic and should not be emotional. "My son was proud of me. The next day, I joined the duty at my hospital and worked non-stop for the next few days. My son would call me at night to enquire about me. Some nurses did not report to work due to family pressure or fear of being isolated by society, but my allowed me to work," she said. The nurse said they also faced problems when the cleaning staff stayed away from work after the COVID unit was started. "We nurses had to clean the patients and also give them bed pan," she said. While she was all geared up for her work, she was earlier this month asked to remain in institutional quarantine for 10 days after she came in contact with a ward boy who tested positive for coronavirus. "My test later came out negative. I felt God wanted me to continue my work. There is no fear of coronavirus now," the nurse said. She also expressed concern over fake content on coronavirus circulating on social media. Revealing one such incident, she said the security guard of her ward tested positive for coronavirus sometime back and was admitted to another hospital. A few days later, the security guard's son came to her and showed a purported video of his father's death and the civic body preparing for the funeral. "I informed higher authorities of my hospital to check and found the security guard was stable and doing well. This left me wondering how people can think of preparing fake videos when the health workers and others are working round- the-clock to contain the pandemic," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Facebook's Rs 43,574 crore-investment in Jio Platforms earned accolades from industry leaders on Wednesday, even as some internet activists raised privacy concerns New Delhi: Facebook's Rs 43,574 crore-investment in Jio Platforms earned accolades from industry leaders on Wednesday, even as some internet activists raised privacy concerns. Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra said the investment is a strong signal of India's economic importance and further projects the country as the centre for new growth post the coronavirus crisis. "Jio's deal with Facebook is good not just for the two of them. Coming as it does during the virus-crisis, it is a strong signal of India's economic importance post the crisis. It strengthens hypotheses that the world will pivot to India as a new growth epicentre. Bravo Mukesh!" Mahindra said in a tweet. Facebook announced an investment of $5.7 billion (Rs 43,574 crore) to buy 9.99 percent stake in the firm that houses Ambani's telecom arm Jio, as the social media giant looks to expand presence in its largest market in terms of subscriber base. Click here to follow LIVE news and updates on stock markets The deal values Jio Platforms at Rs 4.62 lakh crore pre-money enterprise value ($65.95 billion, assuming a conversion rate of Rs 70 to a US dollar). This is the largest investment for a minority stake by a technology company anywhere in the world and the largest FDI in the technology sector in India. The investment values Jio Platforms amongst the top five listed companies in India by market capitalization, within just three and a half years of the launch of commercial services. Jio Platforms, Reliance Retail and WhatsApp have also entered into a commercial partnership agreement to further accelerate Reliance Retail's new commerce business on the JioMart platform using WhatsApp. Digital payments firm Paytm's founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma tweeted, "This is extraordinary at so many levels. #GODStatus." JioMart's business model will compete with Paytm services. WhatsApp has applied for a digital payment licence to facilitate UPI-based transactions. However, it is yet to receive permit due to security issues flagged by the Ministry of Electronics and IT. Former IT and telecom minister Milind Deora said the deal is a respite in the present scenario. "Welcome respite from our daily doom & gloom. Mukesh Ambani always envisioned @reliancejio as a global internet company, not merely an Indian telco. As we consume more & more data, Jio's partnership with @Facebook could enable India to become a world leader in AI innovation," Deora tweeted. However, Save The Internet co-founder Nikhil Pahwa said that people need to be watchful about the deal. "Jio is much more powerful than in 2015. FB (Facebook) remains the same. The government isn't as open to public opinion on issues like privacy, encryption etc anymore. Civil society is much weaker than in 2015. We will have to be watchful," Pahwa said. (Disclaimer: Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd which publishes Firstpost) New Delhi, April 23 : A Special PMLA court in Ranchi on Thursday convicted former Jharkhand minister Anosh Ekka in a money laundering case and sentenced him to seven yesrs of jail with a fine of Rs 2 crore. An ED official in Delhi said, "The agency got sentence of conviction of Ekka under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act,2002 (PMLA)." He said the Special Judge (PMLA), Ranchi pronounced the pending judgement on quantum of punishment to the accused through video conference. According to ED official, Ekka has been sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for seven years and pay a fine of Rs 2 crore. The court also ordered to confisticate properties totalling to Rs 22.38 crore of Ekka. The ED had earlier attached movable and immovable assets consisting of residential properties, lands, fixed deposits, balances in bank accounts, National Savings Certificates, Kisan Vikas Patras, vehicles, rifles and pistols. THe official said that these confiscated assets were held in the name of the Ekka, his family members and companies owned by him and his family. The PMLA court in Ranchi on Tuesday has convicted Ekka for being guilty of offences of money laundering to the tune of Rs 20.31 crore. Ekka was a former minister of Rural Development, NREP, Transport, Panchayat Raj and Building Construction in the cabinet of former Chief Minister Madhu Koda from March 12, 2005 December 19, 2008. The ED had registered a case of money laundering on the basis of an FIR registered by the Vigilance Bureau of the state government for misusing his official position and power being a public servant and acquired huge movable and Aimmovable properties. On the direction of the Jharkhand High Court, the CBI also took up investigation from the Vigilance Bureau. ZURICH (dpa-AFX) - Swiss banking major Credit Suisse Group AG (CS) reported Thursday that its first-quarter net income attributable to shareholders climbed 75 percent to 1.31 billion Swiss francs, its highest quarterly result in the last five years, from 749 million francs last year. The strong profit was despite the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant volatile market environment. Pre-tax income grew 13 percent to 1.2 billion francs. Excluding the gain from the InvestLab transfer and major litigation provisions, pre-tax income would have been 951 million francs, down 11 percent year on year. Net revenues for the quarter grew 7 percent to 5.78 billion francs from 5.39 billion francs a year ago. Excluding InvestLab transfer gain, net revenues would have been up 2 percent. Provision for credit losses for the quarter was 568 million francs, up from 81 million francs last year. Looking ahead, the company said 'the scale of the adverse economic impact of the COVID- 19 crisis is still difficult to assess and we would caution that we may also see further reserve build and impairments in the coming quarters, particularly in our Corporate Bank and other loans, outside Switzerland, as well as from our investments in Asset Management.' The company also cautioned that the recovery in advisory and underwriting fees might be limited, at least in the short term until the COVID-19 pandemic eases and the global economy begins to recover. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. When Liliana Pertenava decided to go all-in on crypto by investing $2,000 in a mining rig in 2017, she went so far down the crypto rabbit-hole she decided to make a documentary about it. If youre locked-down and looking for something to watch, you could do worse than sit down and watch "Crypto Rush," which just went live on Vimeo today (8AM PT / 11AM ET / 4PM BST / 5PM CEST), and is available free for the first 100 TechCrunch readers to grab one of these codes. Covering blockchain technology, its applications and the culture that surrounds it, Pertenavas 90-minute documentary led her to meet such characters as a tribe of iconoclasts living in a small cabin in the Swiss Alps, using cheap, hydroelectric energy to mine cryptocurrency while living like monks. She also meets crypto-miner David Carlson in Seattle, Wash., who built the worlds largest crypto-farm, only to later go bankrupt. It's also likely to prompt feelings of nostalgia, not just for the heady days of crypto but also the fact that people are actually hanging out with each other (OMG). To that point, stymied by COVID-19, Pertenava has decided to go through Vimeo to release the movie, so that people can watch it at home. "Also, since its a road movie, I hope to feed everyones wanderlust while the world is on lockdown, she says. A former broadcaster in Russia, Pertenava was intrigued by the decentralized nature of blockchain tech. I felt a bit like Alice in Wonderland, exploring this strange world and its colorful characters, said Pertenava. We live in a world where digital technologies are transforming reality. I wanted to emphasize the stories of people, especially women, taking part in these technological developments. Blockchain advocate Toni Lane Casserly, who tragically passed away recently, also features, speaking about the concept of when nations might compete for our citizenship. Her predictions about this are not to be missed. Made in collaboration with Steven Pape, a director who has worked with James Cameron, the film will be available for streaming worldwide today and 10% of the funds gathered through streaming will be donated to organizations battling COVID-19 and organizations supporting female entrepreneurs. The nail salon Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames visited this week in spite of a standing shutdown order due to the coronavirus outbreak is now under state investigation. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation said the agency has received at least three formal complaints against The Nail Bar and many, many, many more complaints on its Facebook page, spokeswoman Tela Mange said in confirming the investigation to The Enterprise. The department issues permits required for nail salons and other service businesses. The Texas Attorney Generals Office later Thursday declined to confirm or deny whether it is pursuing an investigation into the mayor or The Nail Bar. Ames visit to the salon prompted a public furor when a photograph of her, wearing a face mask and with her fingers dipped in a bowl of removal solution, was publicly posted Tuesday afternoon. Ames, who signed the citys broad business shutdown order that prohibits nonessential businesses from operating until the virus threat has subsided, initially defended her visit. She insisted that she was not getting a manicure but only being shown how to remove the dip nails she got prior to the shutdown. On Thursday, she issued an apology. I did not intend to take personal privilege while asking others to sacrifice and for that I am truly remorseful, Ames said in an emailed statement. As an elected official I am held to a higher standard. I regret my action that day. I am honestly sorry and I pray that you will forgive me. >> Related: Beaumont mayor defends nail salon visit After the cropped Snapchat photo appeared on a local blog Tuesday afternoon, scores of local residents took to social media to condemn the mayor or post biting memes about the issue. Some called for her resignation, while others decried the attacks on her as cyber bullying. Ames said Thursday that she has asked the City Attorney to put her on executive session during Tuesdays council meeting so she can address the issue with the other members. In early March, the council was set to hold a similarly closed-door session to discuss potential sanctions for Councilman Mike Getz over crude comments made to the city attorney. Getz requested the discussion be held in public. The council then voted unanimously to censure the councilman. >> Related: Getz censured as city attorney alleges hostile workplace The council met this week by video conference due to social distancing requirements related to the outbreak. The one set for Tuesday will be semi-public, and people who want to address the council will be allowed into chambers one at a time. Residents who dont want to speak are encouraged to watch the City Council meeting on the citys Facebook page or the bottom of its homepage. Ames initially told The Enterprise that the dip nails had become painful, and she texted the salon owner for help. The owner said she could pick up an acetone solution from the salon. The photo was taken, Ames said, in the 10 minutes she was soaking her nails in the back of the salon so the owner could teach her how to remove them. The mayor then went to the Beaumont City Council meeting, she said, with half of the nails removed, and planned to finish the process at home. >> Related: In coronavirus fight, mayors take lead in stay-at-home orders Generally speaking, after a complaint to the Department of Licensing and Regulation is filed, an investigator determines whether theres enough information to open a case. If there is, the investigation gather evidence to potentially forward to a prosecutor in the agencys enforcement division. If not, the case is closed for a lack of evidence. Spokeswoman Mange said the complaint against The Nail Bar is in the investigation phase. In cases that are forwarded to a prosecutor, the license holder is sent a notice of alleged violation and is given the option of paying an administrative penalty or having the case taken to the State Office of Administrative Hearings for a formal hearing. Mange said state licenses regulated by the agency requires licensees to follow state law and, right now, the state law is you cant perform services in a salon, at home, in the garage anywhere. She declined further comment, citing the ongoing investigation. Kaitlin Bain is the Government Reporter for the Beaumont Enterprise. Contact her at Kaitlin.Bain@BeaumontEnterprise.com or on Twitter by clicking here. Don't miss a thing: Sign up for our Daily Headlines newsletter. Oscar nominee Chloe Sevigny and her boyfriend since 2018, Karma Art Gallery director Sinisa Mackovic, still aren't sure what to call their first child when he/she arrives on April 30. The expecting 45-year-old told Homme Girls magazine on Wednesday that 'we don't have a name yet' and she has not yet revealed the gender either. But back in 2018, Chloe hinted to Who What Wear that she wanted to have a daughter, so that she could inherit her massive fashion collection. Very soon! Oscar nominee Chloe Sevigny and her boyfriend since 2018, Karma Art Gallery director Sinisa Mackovic, still aren't sure what to call their first child when he/she arrives on April 30 (pictured March 17) Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Sevigny is likely preparing for a home birth since the last book she read - Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering - was written in 2008 by Dr. Sarah Buckley, who 'home-birthed her own four children.' The Queen & Slim actress had previously expressed her 'distress' on March 23 about New York-Presbyterian hospitals banning all visitors in the delivery room, including spouses. As of Wednesday, an eye-popping 15K people have died from the fast-spreading respiratory illness in New York City and over 147K have been infected - according to Johns Hopkins University. Still hoping for a daughter? The expecting 45-year-old told Homme Girls magazine on Wednesday that 'we don't have a name yet' and she has not yet revealed the gender either Home sweet home: Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Chloe is likely preparing for a home birth since the last book she read - Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering - was written in 2008 by Dr. Sarah Buckley, who 'home-birthed her own four children' '8 days!' Sevigny had previously expressed her 'distress' on March 23 about New York-Presbyterian hospitals banning all visitors in the delivery room, including spouses On Tuesday, Chloe urged her 827K Instagram followers to donate to the Art-House America Campaign, which benefits 150 American independent movie theaters that have closed to due to COVID-19. Sevigny will next star as Fraser Wilson's (Jack Dylan Grazer) mother in Luca Guadagnino's eight-episode miniseries We Are Who We Are, which is set to premiere on HBO later this year. The 48-year-old Oscar nominee's coming-of-age drama was shot last summer in his native Italy, and it centers on two American teenagers falling love while living with their families on a military base - according to Deadline. Charity: On Tuesday, the Queen & Slim actress urged her 827K Instagram followers to donate to the Art-House America Campaign, which benefits 150 American independent movie theaters that have closed to due to COVID-19 Blue Bloods, which celebrates its tenth season this year, might be most famous for its dinner scenes. So many police dramas look alike that the dinner scenes with the Reagan family do a lot to make the show distinct. Its undoubtedly part of why the show has lasted as long as it has. Still, every once in a while, the show likes to mix it up with the inner scenes. New members have joined the Reagan family, like Vanessa Rays Eddie, and an outsider played by Treat Williams made it to the dinner table. Now, the show has batted around the idea of something different. How did the dinner scenes come about? Tom Selleck, Donnie Wahlberg, Bridget Moynahan, Will Estes, Len Cariou, Amy Carlson, Sami Gayle, Tony Terraciano, and Andrew Terraciano | John Paul Filo/CBS via Getty Images The dinner scenes do more than just shake up the show from the usual law and order material. They strengthen the themes of Reagan family solidarity and traditions passed down through the years. There are generations of police officers at the table, led by Tom Sellecks police commissioner Frank, with Bridget Moynahans lone daughter providing the black sheep element by being the lawyer of the family. In the episode, By Hook or by Crook, Jamie Reagan (Will Estes) explained to Eddie that the dinners started via a family member who immigrated to America and had one desire. Because my grandmother grew up poor in a small town in Ireland, he said. She was the oldest of 12 kids and there was never enough to eat. She moved to New York to make money. She met my grandpa and when they got married she promised herself that they would always have more than enough to eat. Family dinner was just her way of proudly proving that every week. How has Blue Bloods changed up the dinner scenes? The most obvious addition to the Blue Bloods dinner scenes has been Eddie, who came to the table by virtue of marrying Jamie. Jamie and Eddie were partners on the force, which raised some eyebrows in the family, but they welcomed her with open arms although those arms crossed when she tried to introduce the meat and potatoes Reagan clan to plant-based veggie burgers. Until recently, it was unheard of for anybody not in the Reagan family to join the dinner table, but the show changed that this year with the one-off visit by Franks former partner, Lenny. Williams told TV Insider, I dont think theyre used to somebody being Franks equal, being comfortable with Frank to call him nicknames and to give him a hug and to kiss him on a cheek. Hes this mountain of a powerful guy, and then you have a guy who put his life on the line with this guy for 15 years. Now the Reagan table isnt just for family dinners and while the change seems minor fans are in favor of it. Whats the new addition to the Blue Bloods dinner table? The April 3 episode The Puzzle Palace, was mainly about Erin and Anthony having to trust a sociopath who claims he has the evidence to convict a double-murderer. Meanwhile, Frank faces backlash from his department when he suspends an officer for violent behavior. In the dinner scene at the end, the Reagan clan kicked around the idea of having a guys night, of which fans on Twitter were generally in favor, although some fans expressed anxiety about Franks status. I pray to god this isnt setting Frank up to quit!!!!! one fan tweeted. Another said, This aint going where I think it is with Tom Selleck leaving. That anxiety stems from the fact that because Selleck had signed only a one-year extension to do season 10, according to Popculture.com. Here, the simple fact is it was great to know the heart of our show wanted to come back, Selleck said. Its also great to know, as far as I know so far, that we have the whole universe coming back. Youre talking about, from top to bottom, a cast of really good, strong actors playing all sorts of roles. The coronavirus outbreak and government policies to limit the disease could disrupt food supply chains, potentially threatening food availability, even as prices remain stable in 2020, the World Bank cautioned Thursday. Prices of agricultural commodities are likely to hold up better than oil, metals and other industrial materials that have seen demand plummet amid lockdowns and other measures to combat COVID-19, the World Bank said in a report. Agriculture prices are less tied to economic growth, and saw only minor declines in the first quarter of 2020, except for rubber, which is used in transportation, the report said. But while prices are expected to remain broadly stable this year as production levels and stocks of most staple foods are at record highs, the bank warned that producers could face disruptions to the trade and distribution of inputs such as fertilizer, pesticides, and labor availability. John Baffes, a World Bank economist and co-author of the report, said exports of flowers to Europe from Kenya and Tanzania have collapsed and that North African fruit and vegetable suppliers also are suffering. We can see how complex those supply chains are, Baffes told AFP. Other countries have set up barriers to trade, with Russia limiting wheat exports and Vietnam restricting rice shipments, while the Philippines is among the countries that has conducted excess buying of rice. Although these measures have not yet been used widely, they could lead to problems if they are used extensively, the report said. Meanwhile, the World Bank expects energy prices to fall 40 percent in 2020 before experiencing a sizeable rebound in 2021. Oil prices are expected to average $35 a barrel in 2020, down from $61 a barrel last year. Metal prices, which also are linked to global growth, are seen dropping 13 percent, with copper and zinc especially hit, according to the report. The authors also sees the potential for lasting effects on commodity markets. A shift towards remote work would dent oil demand, while a near-shoring of key supply chains could alter demand for raw materials. Coronavirus is thought to have originated at a wet market in Wuhan that was also selling illegal wildlife. Australia has called on G20 nations to bring an end to wet markets selling wildlife over concerns they pose a threat to human health and agriculture, in a move which could further strain ties with China as Canberra repeated calls for an international inquiry into the coronavirus pandemic. The outbreak is thought to have started in a wet market in Wuhan in central China that was also selling illegal wildlife. Wet markets are a key part of daily life not only in China but across Asia. They trade in fresh vegetables, meat and fish and most do not sell wildlife. China imposed a temporary ban on selling wildlife on January 23 and is now reviewing its legislation to restrict commercial wild animal trading on a permanent basis. Australias Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said on Thursday he had asked government officials from the G20 leading economies to back a plan to end the practice. There are risks with wildlife wet markets and they could be as big a risk to our agricultural industries as they can be to public health, Littleproud told Australias Channel 7 television. Officials in the United States have also called for wet wildlife markets across Asia to be closed. Littleproud did not mention China by name, but his comments follow Australias push for an international inquiry into the origins and handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Prime Minister Scott Morrison repeated the need for an independent inquiry on Thursday, after tweeting that he had raised the issue in calls with US President Donald Trump as well as the leaders of France and Germany on Wednesday. He said all members of the World Health Organization (WHO) should cooperate. If youre going to be a member of a club like the World Health Organization, there should be responsibilities and obligations attached to that, Morrison told reporters. Wed like the world to be safer when it comes to viruses I would hope that any other nation, be it China or anyone else, would share that objective. France and Britain have said now is the time to fight the virus, not to apportion blame. China has accused Australian politicians of taking instructions from the US. China moved to disinfect and clean up Wuhans Huanan seafood market in March after the coronavirus outbreak escalated [cnsphoto via Reuters] The White House has been fiercely critical of China, and the WHOs handling of the pandemic, and has withdrawn US funding from the UN agency. The COVID-19 outbreak has spread to some 2.6 million people globally and left more than 183,000 dead, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Australia has about 6,600 cases of coronavirus nationally and 75 deaths from the virus. A group of seven Hyderabadis headed out on a 13-day trip to Antarctica, zodiac-cruising through exotic locations. They hung out with emperor penguins, seals, whales and a myriad of exotic life forms in the vast white wilderness, covered with enormous ice shelves and craggy crevasses of magnificent glaciers all of which left them spellbound. They knew this would indeed be their most memorable trip, ever. And it was, but in more ways than one. After experiencing magic on the coldest place on earth, the group reached London via Buenos Aires on 19 March. A connecting British Airways flight would have brought them back to Hyderabad the next day, had it not been for the Coronavirus outbreak and the subsequent lockdown, which caused many flights to cancel abruptly. This was just the beginning of their woes. Seven left wondering Even as thousands of Indians are stuck worldwide owing to the lockdown, this group of seven, among whom are three couples desperate to return to their families back home pooled in all their resources and reserved a chartered flight to fly them down to Hyderabad. However, their repeated pleas for necessary clearances for flying into Hyderabad has yielded no results. The group of seven finds themselves feeling helpless, fuming at the Narendra Modi-led NDA government for its inaction. When I first got in touch with the officials in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), they assured us that the Centre will be evacuating all Indians stranded abroad. They assured we will be allowed to fly out of the UK by 20 April. But now they tell us its not possible. All countries are evacuating their citizens, and it is surprising why India is not allowing us to return, Ravinder Kumar Agarwal, managing director of Ravi Foods private limited (Dukes), tells Deccan Chronicle from Nottingham, UK. Incidentally, all seven have submitted an affidavit to the Indian Embassy in the UK, saying that theyd be happy to quarantine themselves anywhere the government sends them as soon as they land in Hyderabad. We also wrote to the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh state governments seeking guidance and support. While a senior government functionary in Telangana to whom I sent repeated messages did not even bother to respond, the AP government wrote to their officials in New Delhi to extend all possible help in getting us back, Ravinder adds. Sunil Saraf, Chairman of Radha TMT Steels and another member of the group, tells us that soon after their connecting flight was cancelled on 19 March, British Airways looked at other possible routes to fly them into Hyderabad including Qatar, Doha and Amsterdam. However, by then all routes were shut. In London, we got a visa and were put up at a hotel near the airport. The next day, we went to Nottingham and moved in with a friend. But we would like to come back to our country now, says Sunil. However, both businessmen seem to be hopeful that theyd fly out of the UK in the next few days. We are keeping our fingers crossed. The UK government has given us the green signal for the take-off, but our government appears to be ignoring their own citizens. I am not sure if we will be allowed to land in Hyderabad even by May end. Our families back in Hyderabad are worried, Sunil tells us. A long way from home The chartered plane from the UK to Hyderabad does not come cheap. Its a 12-seater aircraft, which costs USD 1,40,000 dollars for the trip. We reserved it by offering a tentative date. But now, we feel let down by our own government, which refuses to give us permission to fly back. We understand their fear, but we have assured that we can be sent into quarantine the moment we land in Hyderabad, says Ravinder, sounding desperate. The groups despair to return home is understandable given that they had reached Antarctica on 24 February and have been away from home for close to two months. Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry telephoned his US counterpart Mike Pompeo on Thursday to discuss the coronavirus pandemic and the national efforts exerted by both countries to deal with the virus and mitigate its economic repercussions. Pompeo expressed his thanks for an Egyptian initiative to provide medical supplies to the US to contribute to confronting the outbreak, which demonstrates the friendship between the two sides, Egyptian foreign affairs spokesman Ahmed Hafez said in a statement. Egypt sent a military plane filled with medical aid and protective suits to the US on Tuesday. The call touched upon a number of regional issues of mutual interest, including the latest updates concerning the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Tensions have been building between Egypt and Ethiopia over the technical details regarding the operation and filling of the dam, which is under construction near Ethiopia's border with Sudan. Last November, the US stepped in to host negotiations after Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia announced that talks on the operation and filling of the dam had reached a dead-end. The three sides were expected to sign a final deal in late February, when the last meeting was scheduled to be held in Washington, but Ethiopia skipped the meetings, citing incomplete domestic discussions. Search Keywords: Short link: The top U.S. diplomat has accused China of deploying an energy survey ship to contested waters off Malaysia to intimidate other South China Sea claimants from developing hydrocarbon resources in the regions resource-rich waters. Malaysias foreign minister, meanwhile, called for disputes in the South China Sea to be resolved peacefully and came under pressure from his predecessor to take firmer action against China. Chinas survey ship, the Hai Yang Di Zhi 8, which arrived off the Malaysian coast with an escort of China Coast Guard ships a week ago, continued to operate within Malaysias exclusive economic zone on Thursday, according to vessel-tracking software. It is near the West Capella, a drillship contracted by Malaysian state petroleum company, Petronas. The U.S. statement, issued late Wednesday in Washington by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, followed a conference call with Southeast Asian counterparts to discuss the response to COVID-19. Pompeo reiterated the U.S. position that China is taking advantage of the pandemic to press its claims in the South China Sea and engage in provocative behavior. The PRC (Peoples Republic of China) has dispatched a flotilla that included an energy survey vessel for the sole purpose of intimidating other claimants from engaging in offshore hydrocarbon development, Pompeos statement said, referring to the Hai Yang Di Zhi 8. The U.S. strongly opposes Chinas bullying and we hope other nations will hold them to account, too, Pompeo said. A U.S. MV-22B Osprey helicopter takes off from the USS America during operations in the South China Sea, April 19, 2020. [Petty Officer 3rd Class Jomark Almazan] His remarks follow maneuvers by U.S. warships in the area this week as Southeast Asian nations face pressure from China in the regions disputed waters. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said the presence of the USS America and USS Bunker Hill showed the U.S. supports the efforts of our allies and partners to determine their own economic interests. Pompeo also cited the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat and the establishment of new research stations and administrative districts on islands and reefs as evidence that China is exploiting the distraction caused by COVID-19 in its neighborhood. Geng Shuang, spokesman for Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shot back at these accusations on Thursday during a press conference in Beijing. He asserted Chinas sovereignty over islands and reefs in the South China Sea and adjacent waters. We are committed to resolving differences with parties directly concerned through dialogue and consultation, he said. Some people in the US want to replace facts with rumors and lies and sow discords among neighbors. Such attempts will not succeed. Australia Foreign Minister Marisa Payne also expressed concern over Chinas actions. Her remarks followed the deployment of an Australian frigate that joined the U.S. warships for a joint exercise in the South China Sea this week. It is vital at this time that all parties refrain from destabilizing activities and work to ease tensions so the international community can devote full attention to responding cooperatively to the COVID-19 pandemic, Payne was quoted as saying Wednesday by the Sydney Morning Herald. While the current area of tension is located within Malaysian waters, Malaysia itself had stayed mostly silent, until Thursdays statement by Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein. He said that issues in the region should be solved peacefully based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. He said that Malaysia remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding its interests and rights in the South China Sea, but added: We must avoid unintended, accidental incidents in these waters. U.S. maritime expert Greg Poling said Malaysia is in an untenable position and is likely to halt its exploration. If anybody is unclear about when Hai Yang Di Zhi 8 is going to leave Malaysia waters, they are going to leave when the West Capella leaves, and not before, and that is going to be a waiting game that I suspect Malaysia cant win, Poling told Malaysian journalists on Thursday. He is director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank. Anifah Aman, Malaysias former foreign minister, called for his nation to adopt a consistent and principled stance and take appropriate action in relation to surveillance activities being carried out by Chinese vessels in Malaysian maritime areas. Smaller Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and Royal Malaysian Navy vessels may not be able to stop the Chinese ships, but at least we can express our resolve to not let Chinese ships do as they like in Malaysian maritime space, Anifah said in an open letter. He served as Malaysias top diplomat between 2009 and 2018. It wasnt clear if the current foreign ministers comments Thursday were prompted by Anifahs letter, but Hishammuddin pushed back against suggestions that the government wasnt doing anything. We have open and continuous communication with all relevant parties, including the Peoples Republic of China and the United States of America, Hishammuddins statement said. Beijing claims most of the South China Sea, including areas that reach the shores of its smaller neighbors. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan also have overlapping claims in the sea region. Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines have directly disputed Chinas expansive claims in diplomatic notes in recent weeks. On Wednesday, the Philippines filed two diplomatic protests against Beijing, saying it violated international law through recent actions in the South China Sea. On Thursday, Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin, Jr., called for all countries in the region to focus on the COVID-19 crisis and its potential aftermath. The World Bank released a report earlier this month on the dire outlook of Southeast Asias economic recovery out of the crisis. In Asia, that recovery hinges on Chinas recovery from the ravages of the pandemic; but it can never be at the price of our honor and sovereignty, Locsin said. Sweetwood Ventures, the Luxembourg incorporated venture capital arm of Sweetwood Capital, closed its first venture capital Fund of Funds, at $70m. The vehicle is backed by several institutional, family office and high-net-worth investors, located predominantly in Europe, including a top-tier private Belgian bank and family offices in Belgium and Luxembourg. Led by Manuel Sussholz, Managing Partner, Amit Kurz, Partner, and Cohen Solal, Managing Partner, the fund provides investors with access to promising Israeli technology startups, through a combination of primary and secondary investments in top-tier Israel-focused venture capital funds and direct co-investments into promising technology startups. According to IVC, an Israeli tech research company, in 2019, local startups raised $8.2 billion, while exits accounted for $21.7 billion. During Q1 2020, Israeli startups raised a record $2.7 billion, despite the slowdown which occurred in March. Sweetwood Ventures acts as the venture capital arm of Sweetwood Capital, an Israel-based financial firm founded in 2011. FinSMEs 23/04/2020 We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Two central teams, which are in West Bengal to assess the COVID-19 situation, visited quarantine centres, hospitals and hotspots on Thursday and took stock of the state's preparedness to combat the outbreak, officials said. The team, which is in Kolkata, on Wednesday had sought a detailed presentation from the West Bengal government on whether the level of testing in the state is adequate and enough oxygen, ICU beds and ventilators are available. This team, led by Apurba Chandra, a senior bureaucrat in the Ministry of Defence, visited a quarantine centre in Rajarhat in North 24 Parganas district and spent nearly an hour, the official said. Later in the afternoon, the team went to M R Bangur Hospital, where several COVID-19 patients are undergoing treatment. "Both at the quarantine centre and at the hospital, the central team spoke to doctors and officials and took note of the details. They spoke to the superintendent of the M R Bangur Hospital, and took stock of measures taken by the authority. They also enquired about the problems, if any, that the health staff are facing," a senior official said. The team also visited some of the wards of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, which have been reported as COVID-19 hotspots. The second central team began its field visits from a migrant labour centre in Siliguri and also went to an apartment where the doctors and nurses treating the coronavirus-infected patients have been kept. The team at North Bengal, led by Vineet Joshi, a senior official of HRD ministry, met health officials, including the Jalpaiguri district's chief medical officer (CMOH), and took stock of the situation. Later in the evening, the members visited a centre, where migrants labourers are quarantined, and enquired whether they are facing any problem. Speaking to reporters, Joshi said they are trying to understand the situation and are getting cooperation from the government from Thursday. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier slammed the Centre for sending the teams to West Bengal and alleged that faulty testing kits were dispatched to the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday called for Iran to be held accountable for the launch of a military satellite, adding that he thinks the action violated a United Nations Security Council resolution. Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps said on Wednesday it had successfully launched the country's first military satellite into orbit, at a time of heightened tensions with the United States over Tehran's nuclear and missile programs. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday called for Iran to be held accountable for the launch of a military satellite, adding that he thinks the action violated a United Nations Security Council resolution. Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps said on Wednesday it had successfully launched the country's first military satellite into orbit, at a time of heightened tensions with the United States over Tehran's nuclear and missile programs. U.S. officials have said they fear long-range ballistic technology used to put satellites into orbit could also be used to launch nuclear warheads. Tehran denies U.S. assertions that such activity is a cover for ballistic missile development and says it has never pursued the development of nuclear weapons. A 2015 U.N. resolution "called upon" Iran to refrain for up to eight years from work on ballistic missiles designed to deliver nuclear weapons following an agreement with six world powers. Some states argue the language does not make it obligatory. "I think every nation has an obligation to go to the United Nations and evaluate whether this missile launch was consistent with that Security Council resolution," Pompeo said at a news conference. "I don't think it remotely is, and I think Iran needs to be held accountable for what they have done," he added. Most U.N. sanctions imposed on Iran were lifted in January 2016 when the U.N. nuclear watchdog confirmed that Tehran fulfilled its commitments under the nuclear deal with Britain, France, Germany, China, Russia and the United States. But Iran is still subject to a U.N. arms embargo, which is due to expire in October, and other restrictions. The U.N. sanctions and restrictions on Iran are contained in the 2015 resolution, which also enshrines the 2015 Iran nuclear accord. European powers have been scrambling to salvage the deal following the U.S. withdrawal from the agreement in 2018. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, David Brunnstrom, Arshad Mohammed and Daphne Psaledakis; Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Paul Simao) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Two alleged former Syrian intelligence officers go on trial in Germany on Thursday accused of crimes against humanity in the first court case worldwide over state-sponsored torture by Bashar al-Assads regime. Prime suspect Anwar Raslan, an alleged former colonel in Syrian state security, stands accused of carrying out crimes against humanity while in charge of the Al-Khatib detention centre in Damascus. The 57-year-old is charged with overseeing the murder of 58 people and the torture of 4,000 others at the prison between April 29, 2011 and September 7, 2012. Fellow defendant Eyad al-Gharib, 43, is accused of being an accomplice to crimes against humanity, having helped to arrest protesters and deliver them to Al-Khatib in the autumn of 2011. Like hundreds of thousands of other Syrians, the two men both fled their country and applied for asylum in Germany, where they were arrested in February 2019. This trial is the first occasion on which (victims) are speaking out not only in public, but before a court about what happened to them and what is still happening in Syria, said Wolfgang Kaleck, founder of the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), a Berlin-based legal group supporting the plaintiffs. Raslan and Gharib are to be tried on the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows a foreign country to prosecute crimes against humanity. This is the only way to bring the perpetrators of Syrian state crimes to justice, as the International Criminal Court is hamstrung by vetoes from Russia and China, the ECCHR claimed. Beaten with fists, wires and whips The court is expected to hear testimonies from victims who survived what prosecutors say were inhuman and degrading conditions at Al-Khatib, before later escaping to Europe. The prisons inmates, many of whom were arrested for taking part in pro-democracy demonstrations during the Arab Spring in 2011, were beaten with fists, wires and whips and subjected to electric shocks, prosecutors claimed. Others were hung by their wrists so that only the tips of their toes were touching the ground and continued to be beaten in this position or else deprived of sleep for several days. Such brutal acts of psychological and physical abuse were intended to extract confessions and information about the (Syrian) opposition, the charge sheet added. Some have suggested that Raslan was not just a pawn of the regime, noting that he reportedly defected to the opposition in 2012 before arriving in Germany two years later Yet ECCHRs Kaleck insists that the 57-year-old was not any old prison guard, but rather someone who, according to prosecutors, had a position of authority in the apparatus of the Syrian state. If convicted, Raslan faces life imprisonment. Raslan and Gharibs lawyers declined to give a comment ahead of the trial, which is expected to last until at least August. Assad himself, however, defended Raslan against the accusations when he was asked about the trial in an interview with Kremlin-backed Russian broadcaster RT. We never believed that torture could make the situation better as a state, very simple. So we dont use it, said the Syrian president, who has ruled the country with an iron fist for 20 years. Yet according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 60,000 people have been killed under torture or as a result of the terrible conditions in Assads detention centres. In emergencies, it often feels like every single person is needed for the crisis at hand. But experienced emergency managers know that even when everything feels incredibly urgent, there is always a need to have people planning for the future. Almost everyone in schools right now should be helping to support the immediate needs of students and families, but a few people in every school and every district should stay out of the fray and be thinking ahead. The incident command system is a set of tools for managing crisis situations. It was originally developed to fight wildfires in the American West, but the core ideas can be useful in all kinds of emergencies. One basic principle is that in a crisis, there need to be two groups: Operations and Plans. Operations is responsible for everything that needs to happen immediately and urgently. School counselors are identifying the students in the most vulnerable home settings and figuring out what they can do to support nutrition, shelter, and safety. Food-service staff are turning lunchrooms into soup kitchens. Instructional technology staff are getting classroom computers into homes and sending Wi-Fi-equipped buses down country roads. Teachers and instructional leaders in every grade and subject are identifying the best ways in their local context to support remote learning throughout the school closures that now seem likely to last until the end of the year. Schools and districts should take a few smart people off of daily operations and have them spend their time thinking ahead." But even during a raging wildfire, there are people in Plans responsible for predicting future challenges and getting ready to address them. When I ran a search and rescue group, looking for children and senior citizens lost in the woods in Virginia, at any given time, most of our volunteers would be out scouring the countryside. But we always had a few people tucked away in a church basement, looking at maps and planning for what the search might look like a day later or, God forbid, a week later. In these times of crisis, schools and districts should take a few smart people off of daily operations and have them spend their time thinking ahead. What new supports will teachers, students, and families need when the routines of remote learning start wearing thin in May? What could summer programming in August look like with volunteers and a shoestring budget? What could summer programming look like if Congress plowed millions of recovery dollars into state education budgets? Extra instructional days will cost money, require renegotiating union contracts, and bring to the surface other challenges from air conditioning to transportation. Starting to imagine, plan, and organize is the way to bring difficult ideas to life. The most important planning questions concern the coming fall. While epidemiological forecasts remain uncertain, it seems quite likely that well into next year schools will need to maintain physical distancing and enhanced hygiene practices and be prepared for waves of closures in places struck by flare-ups of infection. The few places in the world, like Denmark , coming back to school after implementing early and strict closures illustrate the challenging programmatic choices ahead. Schools in Denmark opened elementary grades before secondary schools, made more extensive use of outdoor classrooms, and required students to wash hands regularly throughout the day. Experienced elementary school teachers will recognize that adding multiple classwide handwashing times to the class schedule is not a trivial undertaking. Schools that plan all summer to outfit classrooms with new handwashing and sanitizing stations will lose less instructional time than schools that improvise new routines in September. This is one of dozens of accommodations that educators will need to make in community building, instructional routines, food service, school counseling, and every other aspect of school life. Amid the intense pressure to get remote learning right, right now, it may seem inconceivable to devote scarce resources this May to imagining handwashing routines in September. But experienced crisis managers in many other settings have learned the hard way that in the midst of emergencies, the future has a way of crashing down more quickly than could be expected. Form a planning team. Choose a few key district and school leaders to step away from the immediate fray, recruit a few teachers who have gotten the hang of remote learning, and find a few students and parents who are excited to imagine a new summer and fall. Read about schools in Asia and Europe that are further along the course of the pandemic. Start designing for concrete moments. Tell stories about what the first day of school could look like. Draft new schedules for what could be done with stimulus funds for extended- learning days. Write out the plans for when a COVID-19 flare-up is detected and you have only a day or two to prepare again for remote learning. Revisit the academic and cultural priorities of your community and consider how you can stay focused on the most important work of schooling in the midst of ongoing disruption. DALLAS (SMU) - A new report by SMU professors Alexandra Pavlakis and Meredith Richards details how homeless students in Houston ISD are faring educationally. Released by the Houston Education Research Consortium at Rice University, the report makes clear that homeless students are at an elevated risk of a range of adverse educational outcomes, and the findings also highlight the complexity of the relationship between homelessness and student outcomes. Pavlakis and Richards, who are both assistant professors at SMU's Simmons School of Education & Human Development, looked at students who were homeless from 2012-13 to 2016-17, the years immediately preceding Hurricane Harvey. Some of the key findings include: Students experiencing homelessness were more likely to drop out of school than their matched, non-homeless peers. Students who were homeless four and five years tended to have higher attendance than students who were homeless for shorter periods of time. Unaccompanied youth had substantially lower attendance than accompanied homeless students, and less likely to pass the STAAR exams than accompanied homeless students. Where students sleep matters. Attendance gaps were large for unsheltered students and students in motels. Interestingly, homeless students tended to perform better on STAAR exams than their matched peers. This could hint at the potential value of educational supports and resources inherent in McKinney-Vento Act or provided at shelters or drop-in centers for homelessness. However, homeless students were also somewhat less likely to take STAAR tests--particularly in math. ### Pavlakis and Richards also make recommendations on what the school district might consider to improve student outcomes. Simmons post doctoral fellow Kessa Roberts, Ph.D. assisted with the research. The Moody Foundation and SMU's University Research Council supported the research. This is a long-term project for the researchers. The full study can be viewed at: https://kinder.rice.edu/sites/g/files/bxs1676/f/documents/Complexity%20in%20Student%20Homelessness.pdf. About Simmons School of Education & Human Development The Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development at SMU (Southern Methodist University) reflects the University's vision of serving the most important educational needs of our city, region and nation, graduating students for successful careers in a variety of fields and providing educational opportunities beyond traditional degree programs. Recognized as a unique and transformative leader in education research, practice and policy, the School is committed to rigorous, research-driven programs that promote evidence-based, effective practices in education and human development. Rentals (Photo : Image by F. Muhammad from Pixabay ) Image by F. Muhammad from Pixabay Advertisement KEY POINTS The CARES Act prohibits most landlords from evicting their tenants for 120-days Landlords are still illegally evicting their tenants In many instances, no federal or state agency is enforcing this moratorium on evictions Landlords and property owners are still forcing people out of their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic despite an explicit 120-day ban on evictions from properties receiving federal subsidies in the CARES Act, lawyers who work with low-income clients told BuzzFeed News. According to the Eviction Lab at Princeton University, all but five states have imposed moratoriums on evictions, but reports from BuzzFeed News and The American Prospect reveal that the law remains on paper. The American Prospect reports that despite this federal ban on evictions, "neither federal agencies nor most state court systems have moved to implement the law." Dennis Meadows, who faced eviction from his apartment in the Phoenix area this month, told The Prospect that his building's owner evicted two other families and then tried to evict him after he mistakenly paid rent on the 5th instead of the 1st of the month. "They're trying to kick people who are already down," he said. BuzzFeed News spoke to Akil Mayfield, who has a disability and was evicted from his Brooklyn apartment on March 19, three days after the eviction moratorium took effect in New York. During the two weeks he was out of his home, he stayed at a YMCA and then at a hotel with his mother, telling BuzzFeed that he was worried about his safety if he went to a shelter and that he "was feeling very hopeless and violated." On April 2nd, a judge ruled that Mayfield "was illegally forced out." Google lawyer Jack Halperin seeks to evict tenants from his $1.4 million Mission District building. Photo: Salvador Rodriguez Not everyone is as lucky as Mayfield. The Maricopa County judge presiding over Dennis Meadows' case was not aware of the extent of the federal ban on evictions, according to the attorney with Community Legal Services who represented Meadows. He eventually had his case dismissed, but Meadows' ordeal highlights how he would not have been able to overturn his eviction without legal representation, something a majority of people facing eviction cannot obtain due to systemic and financial constraints. Even though some tenants like Mayfield and Meadows have been able to reverse their evictions through emergency court hearings, there is widespread concern about what happens when the 120-day federal ban on eviction expires. Alexis Erkert, a staff attorney with Southeast Louisiana Legal Services told BuzzFeed News that "there's no official waiver of late fees, rent is still owed, and our clients are very low-income. They need their stimulus money to buy food and diapers and pay for basic living expenses. It won't go very far if you have no other source of income right now. I just can't fathom how most of my clients are going to be able to pay back one, two, or three - who knows how long this will go on - months of rent." Press Release April 22, 2020 Bong Go urges DA to ensure food security amid COVID-19 crisis; encourages provision of fresh agri-fishery products to affected Filipino families Senator Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go appealed to the Department of Agriculture to continue to protect the welfare of farmers, ensure the country's food security, and make farm produce available to poor communities amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) crisis. "Siguraduhin nating hindi masayang ang pinaghirapang anihin ng ating mga magsasaka. Bigyan natin sila ng kabuhayan, lalo na sa panahon na kailangan ng mga tao ng pagkain," Go said adding that the threat of hunger is as real as the threat of COVID-19. "Importante ang tiyan ng tao. Walang dapat magutom na Pilipino. Tulungan rin natin ang ating sektor ng agrikultura upang maiahon ang mga magsasaka sa panahon ng krisis," he added. Go appealed to the DA to ensure that the farmers are supported through continuous food production and unhampered mobility of goods to achieve food security in the country. He added that the DA should continuously lead in facilitating and catalyzing partnerships with commercial and institutional buyers to source out agricultural produce directly from farmers and fishermen, including local government units for their food pack distribution to their respective constituents. According to the DA, the ECQ restrictions have initially affected the market for fruits and vegetables which resulted in wastage of agricultural products. Among them are some farmers from the Cordillera region who were reported to have thrown away their produce after failing to sell them due to logistical limitations. But after a series of recommendations by DA Secretary William Dar which were adopted and enforced by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases, these challenges were addressed and there is now unhampered movement of agricultural goods and commodities properly prepositioned in respective distribution areas. "Nakakalungkot na sa kabila ng kakulangan ng pagkain sa ibang bahagi ng bansa ay may nasasayang na mga gulay at prutas dahil hindi mabenta o maidala sa mga pamilihan. Dapat lang na inaksyunan ito ng DA para walang masayang, kumita ang mga magsasaka, at makarating sa mga nagugutom ang mga pwedeng makain," Go said. To further address these issues, the DA says it immediately institutionalized the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita, a marketing strategy of the DA that links the farmers to direct buyers and to the consumers. With programs like Kadiwa on Wheels, Kadiwa Online, Oh My Gulay, and IsDA on the GO, the food accessibility and affordability challenges posed by the ECQ can be immediately addressed. The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act has also authorized the government to resort to more expedient procurement processes because of the urgent need to purchase goods and services amid the COVID-19 health emergency. With this, the LGUs, other government agencies and institutional buyers are encouraged to directly negotiate with farmer-cooperatives and associations (FCAs). "Now, more than ever, let us do what we can to help Filipinos in need. Let us support our farmers and ensure that our people are not hungry. Pinilit po natin silang manatili sa bahay, siguraduhin nating may sapat silang pagkain para mabuhay ng matiwasay," Go explained. Go, who is the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, also said that adding fruits, vegetables and other fresh agri-fishery products to relief packs being distributed to communities instead of only processed food will provide better nutrition to Filipino families and will boost their immune system against COVID-19 and other diseases. "Hindi tayo mabubuhay lang sa instant noodles at mga delata. Bigyan rin natin ng sariwang gulay at prutas ang mga apektadong tao. Napapabuti na natin ang kanilang kalusugan, natutulungan pa natin ang ating mga magsasaka," Go said. The Senator further suggested that the DA may continue updating the database of farmer-producers to better manage the demand-and-supply chain from the local to the national level. DA may then, in turn, link up with interested LGUs and other procuring entities interested in buying these agricultural products to stock up on their existing relief packs for their constituents. "Malaki po ang ginhawang dala nito hindi lamang sa ating mga farmers na sa kasalukuyan ay nahihirapang ibenta ang kanilang mga produkto, mapupunan din nito ang kakulangan sa pagkain ng ating mga kababayan na kasalukuyang sumasailalim sa Enhanced Community Quarantine," Go said. Meanwhile, the DA is presently distributing P5,000 subsidy under its Financial Subsidy to Rice Farmers (FSRF) for almost 600,000 rice farmers nationwide now affected by the ECQ. "Ginagawa po ng DA ang lahat upang mapabilis ang pamamahagi ng mga ayuda sa lahat ng target beneficiaries, lalo na yung sa mga malalayong lugar. Sa ilalim po ng ating oversight function ay sisiguraduhin din po natin na nabibigyan ang mga pinaka-nangangailangang magsasaka at mangingisda sa tulong ng gobyerno sa lalong madaling panahon," Go said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Devina Heriyanto (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 11:03 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3ba5fe 1 Books The-City-We-Became,New-York-City,NK-Jemisin,fantasy,book-review,Book Free What makes a city a city? In The City We Became, NK Jemisin presents an answer to this that encompasses the usual: its people, culture and tradition. Yet, it also explores the unusual; the sheer force of being that punches through the multiverse. The book starts with the birth of New York City and its anthropomorphic personification as an avatar. As a city is born, an opposing force emerges known as the Enemy, which will try to stop its birth due to the threat that the city presents to lives elsewhere. Cities are monstrous, says the Enemy. Filthy. Too many people, too many cars. Criminals and perverts everywhere. And theyre bad for the environment, too." And yet, humans are now mostly city-dwellers. According to the United Nations, 68 percent of the human population will live in cities by 2050, hence the need for cities to be built and, to some extent, to be born and become alive. The City We Became is the antithesis to countless books that have a seemingly similar message: that humans will be better off if we go back to the nature; that with no internet, there will be a better connection. No matter how dull or chaotic cities can be, they are where lives actually take place for most of us. New York City in the book is represented not by one avatar but five one for each borough. The boroughs are personified either through someone who is born and raised there, or through a newcomer who arrives there, ready to start a new life in the city. Beyond the surface, there is one important feature: each avatar gets its strength from each borough's specific features, be them good or bad. Take Manhattan, for instance. Its avatar, Manny, is a no-nonsense newcomer who strives to build a better life in the city. Cold and ruthless while needed, the avatar of Manhattan, New Yorks financial district, gets its power from the one thing that makes Manhattan stand out: money. Read also: 5 ways to read free books online The avatar of Brooklyn is a black woman, born and raised in the borough. She is a politician and, yet, while battling the Enemy, she employs sick beats and rhymes and the music from the constant noise in the city that never sleeps. The avatar of Staten Island, geographically detached from the rest of the city, is embodied in a slightly racist homebody who is aptly named Aislyn. With its urban and present-day setting, The City We Became is a seeming departure from The Broken Earth trilogy, which won Jemisin her three consecutive Hugo awards, and yet, the two could not be more similar: the scale of the story is vast, and the characters are deeply grounded and interlinked to the geographic and spatial features in which they live. Jemisin's lyrical voice lends the book its biggest strength, as it is the first of a planned trilogy and hence carries the burden of making an explosive and engaging reading experience worthy of the reader's time and emotional investment. Some parts of the book, especially when explaining the technicalities of the universe and cities as a living being, might have been too convoluted if not for Jemisin's writing. The book is a promising start to a modern myth on an urban, contemporary being that dominates our lives and skylines. New York City is born, and from now on, it can only grow and grow and grow. The story has just begun. (kes) Advertisement People were queuing for hundreds of yards at a food bank on the outskirts of Paris as the French capital suffers huge job losses and violent protests amid the coronavirus lockdown. In Paris's working-class suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois, the number of people relying on food handouts is soaring as a strict coronavirus lockdown plunges France into its deepest recession since World War Two. Many worked in the grey economy before the outbreak, and now receive little protection from France's generous welfare state. Clichy-sous-Bois is part of the Paris banlieues, the low-income districts that encircle the city. Unemployment among its largely immigrant population was already well above the national average before the epidemic struck. People queue as they wait to receive food aid and drinks collected from donators by the ACLEFEU association in Clichy-sous-Bois, a Paris suburb, on the 37th day of a strict lockdown in France aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic People receive food at a food aid distribution by the ACLEFEU association in Clichy-sous-Bois, a Paris suburb People queue as they wait to receive food aid and drinks collected from donators by the ACLEFEU association on April 22 France on Thursday reported 516 new deaths from the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, bringing its overall toll to 21,856 fatalities. But it said the number of patients in intensive care is continuing a two-week decline, falling by 165 over 24 hours to 5,053. A majority of the deaths reported - 13,547 - were in hospital, and the rest in retirement homes and other facilities. Although hospitals across France are still receiving a steady stream of new cases the overall number of those who remain hospitalised with the virus continues to drop, underscoring an eight-day trend. 'There were lots of women who worked looking after children... There was a whole economy based on getting by,' said Bachir Ghouinem, volunteering at the food bank in Clichy-sous-Bois, some 12 miles from the city centre, on Wednesday. 'So as everything stopped what did people find themselves with? Nothing.' He and other volunteers would end up handing out sugar, pasta, cheese, milk and fresh fruit and vegetables - most donated by local stores rather than large retail chains - to around 1,600 families during the day, twice the number expected. People pictured queuing for hundreds of yards. In Paris's depressed suburbs, the number of people relying on food handouts is soaring as a strict coronavirus lockdown plunges France into its deepest recession since World War Two People queue as they wait to receive food aid and drinks collected from donators. 'There were lots of women who worked looking after children... There was a whole economy based on getting by,' said Bachir Ghouinem, volunteering at the food bank in Clichy-sous-Bois, some 12 miles from the city centre People queue for food in Clichy-sous-Bois. As the queue lengthened, Mohamed Mechmach, founder of local charity ACLEFEU, urged those in line to respect social distancing rules Queueing for food, Nathalie Barlagne, 46, said she had lost her job as a creche assistant before the crisis. She had never before needed to rely on charity to support her family but could no longer afford her food bill after local markets closed. 'Now we have to shop in supermarkets and it's very expensive,' she said. As the queue lengthened, Mohamed Mechmach, founder of local charity ACLEFEU, urged those in line to respect social distancing rules. 'Otherwise we won't be able to keep doing what we're doing,' he told the crowd. 'The prefect will just say "Stop everything". That would be a shame. We're all here for the same reason.' A total of 29,219 virus cases are now being treated in hospital, down 522 on Wednesday. 'Otherwise we won't be able to keep doing what we're doing,' he told the crowd. 'The prefect will just say "Stop everything". That would be a shame. We're all here for the same reason' In the banlieues, the strict curbs ordered by President Emmanuel Macron to try to contain the epidemic have exacerbated deep-seated social tensions People queue for food. 'Since the coronavirus outbreak, there's a lot more poverty,' Sakho said Since the start of the epidemic 42,088 people have left hospital, not taking into account the tens of thousands of people who healed without being interned, the health service said. French authorities say the coming days are key if the country is to be able to meet a May 11 target to begin a gradual end to national lockdown measures imposed in mid-March. Officials have warned that confinement must have proved to be a success before deconfinement can begin. Due west of Clichy-sous-Bois in another suburb, Argenteuil, Kante Sakho's charity was delivering food parcels to households. He says he is shifting 600 a week, and is barely able to keep up with demand. Some recipients were illiterate and unable to fill out the mandatory government forms justifying movement outside the home. Others were families struggling to feed their children three meals a day after schools shut down. 'Since the coronavirus outbreak, there's a lot more poverty,' Sakho said. People queue as they wait to receive food aid and drinks collected from donators by the ACLEFEU association on April 22 Cramped social housing, workers with frontline jobs and a restless younger generation have turned some into hotspots of infection and unrest Violence hit several neighbourhood for five straight nights over the past week as the stringent lockdown ordered by the government continues to exacerbate deep-seated social tensions in the deprived, high-rise neighbourhoods that ring the capita In the banlieues, the strict curbs ordered by President Emmanuel Macron to try to contain the epidemic have exacerbated deep-seated social tensions. Cramped social housing, workers with frontline jobs and a restless younger generation have turned some into hotspots of infection and unrest. Violence hit several neighbourhood for five straight nights over the past week as the stringent lockdown ordered by the government continues to exacerbate deep-seated social tensions in the deprived, high-rise neighbourhoods that ring the capital. Fireworks were aimed at riot police and rubbish bins were set on fire during the unrest, which was sparked on Saturday night when a motorcyclist was injured in a collision with an unmarked police car during a check in Villeneuve-La-Garenne. Police, who have launched an enquiry into the incident, said they had wanted to question the rider who had been seen speeding the wrong way down a street without a helmet. France's 'banlieues' - high-rise housing estates on the outskirts of major cities - have long been flashpoints of anger over social and economic grievances. In 2005, unrest lasted three weeks after two youths died fleeing police in a northern Paris suburb. Wael Jerro, a Lebanese, who offered to sell Peace Ufuoma, a Nigerian, for $1000 on Facebook, has been arrested. Abike Dabiri-Erewa... Wael Jerro, a Lebanese, who offered to sell Peace Ufuoma, a Nigerian, for $1000 on Facebook, has been arrested. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), broke the news in a post via her Twitter page on Thursday. According to her, Jerros arrest would be followed by prosecution for criminal sales of a human. for onward prosecution against criminal sales of a human, a young Nigerian girl, she wrote. Trafficked Nigerian girl for sale on Facebook by a Lebanese !The Lebenese Government just announced the arrest of Mr. Wael Jerrofor onward prosecution against criminal sales of a human, a young Nigerian girl, she wrote. Breaking news on Trafficked Nigerian girl for sale on Facebook by a Lebanese !The Lebenese Government just announced the arrest of Mr. WAEL JERRO for onward prosecution against criminal sales of a human, a young Nigerian girl Abike Dabiri-Erewa (@abikedabiri) April 23, 2020 NigerianEye had earlier reported how the Lebanese caused a social media stir after he had shared the passport of Ufuoma to Buy and Sell in Lebanon, a Facebook group, alongside a post written in Arabic, calling for prospective buyers. Information contained on the passport had shown it was acquired in May 2018, and that the bearer hails from Ibadan, Oyo state. Several Nigerians had condemned the move, asking the Nigerian government to swiftly wade into the issue and ensure justice is done. In reaction to the outrage, the NIDCOM boss had disclosed that the countrys mission in Lebanon had reported the issue to the host authorities, adding that a man hunt was already on. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment In a drawing that illustrates an article in the most recent Harvard Magazine, a sad homeschooled girl sits imprisoned in a house made of books labeled reading, writing, arithmatic, and Bible. Outside, children happily play, skip rope, and run races. The image must have seemed strange to the many homeschool families who, unlike the editors, know how to spell arithmetic and who, unlike many educational professionals, tend not to separate out-of-class activities from learning. The article, on the other hand, in which Harvard Law professor Elizabeth Bartholet calls for a presumptive national ban on homeschooling, should be alarming. The article summarized the arguments from a recent Arizona Law Review paper in which Bartholet argues that homeschooling not only violates childrens rights to a meaningful education and their right to be protected from potential child abuse, but may keep them from contributing positively to a democratic society. To argue her first point, Bartholet must (and indeed does) reject studies, such as the 2010 study published in the Widener Law Review, that conclude homeschooled children reach levels of academic achievement similar to or higher than their publicly schooled peers. She singles out the research of Dr. Brian Ray, whos conducted some of the most extensive studies on homeschooling to date. Rays 2009 survey of standardized test results from more than 11,000 homeschooled students over 25 years from all 50 states, led him to conclude that, on average, Homeschoolers are still achieving well beyond their public school counterpartsno matter what their family background, socioeconomic level, or style of homeschooling. Bartholet dismisses Rays research as advocacy dressed up by science. In response to the Harvard article, recent Harvard grads Melba Pearson and Christian author Alex Harris wrote articles dismissing Bartholets claims as ideology dressed up as advocacy, pointing out how growing up homeschooled prepared them not only to attend Harvard, but to excel there. What of Bartholets argument that the lack of oversight of homeschooling families can conceal child abuse? Nowhere does Bartholet mention that according to the most widely-cited research, nearly 1 in 10 public school students in the U.S. will be subjected to sexual misconduct by school employees. Of course, public schools are filled with many good and dedicated teachers and workers, but homeschool families are filled with good and dedicated parents. Let me be clear: Every single case of abuse is horrific, and anyone anywhere who perpetuates such abuse should be stopped and prosecuted. Whats unclear is why, for Bartholet and Harvard Magazine, the outliers in one arena disqualify it, but not in the other. The reasons behind Bartholets highly selective criticism are laid bare when she admits what she thinks to be the real bogeyman of many homeschool families: a majority of are driven by conservative Christian beliefs, and seek to remove their children from mainstream culture. Well, there you have it. Our response to such extreme religious ideologues, she suggests, should mirror Germany, where homeschooling is illegal. And, apparently unable to hear herself talk, Bartholet concludes I think its always dangerous to put powerful people in charge of the powerless, and to give the powerful ones total authority. So, giving the powerful government authority over the education of children will solve the problem of powerful parents having authority over children? And therein lies the fundamental confusion, one thats been debated in various cultural contexts throughout history and, that, when gotten wrong has destroyed lives and human flourishing. Does government have unlimited authority, or does it function best by preserving the inherent authorities possessed by other institutions throughout society, especially the authority of the family? As Princeton professor Robert George pointed out, this article isnt so much an argument against homeschooling as it for the compulsory secularization of Americas children. This kind of power grab, for which Bartholet advocates and against which George warns, is only made easier when parents surrender their God-given authority and responsibilities to the state. Outsource is one thing. Surrender is another. This article is just one indication of growing challenges to parental rights everywhere. There are others, including the Summit on homeschooling to be held at Harvard this summer, where Bartholet will be a featured speaker, as well as William and Mary Law professor James Dwyer who once said, the reason parent-child relationships exist is because the State confers legal parenthood. At root, this isnt a debate about better or best educational environments or practices. Its a debate about where our most fundamental rights come from. Those who think the State grants rights seek a legal monopoly on the minds of the next generation. Those who think the States job is to recognize rights and protect them look elsewhere for the source of those rights. Who are the real ideologues again? Originally posted at breakpoint.org People receive quarantine completion certificates from Thua Thien-Hue Province's Military Command on Thursday afternoon. VNA/VNS Photo THUA THIEN-HUE The remaining 171 people at COVID-19 quarantine sites in Thua Thien-Hue Province completed their 14-day quarantine on Thursday, bringing the province's total to 6,380 cases finishing compulsory isolation. They all returned to Hue from abroad (mostly from Laos) are in good health and returned to their hometown after completing isolation at concentrated quarantine areas in Hue City, Huong Thuy Township and Phu Vang District. There have been no new cases at quarantine sites from Thursday afternoon. Colonel Ngo Nam Cuong, commander of the Military Command of Thua Thien-Hue Province, said they were assigned to take care of isolated people and did well in epidemic prevention as well as safety for soldiers on duty. The province has tested 9,000 people so far and found two positive cases with SARS-CoV-2. For over a month, there have been no cases of COVID-19 recorded in the province. VNS I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea, US President Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday in a startling threat that could trigger a catastrophic war throughout the Middle East and beyond. The threat to launch a war 7,000 miles from US shores in the midst of coronavirus pandemic, whose death toll in the US is rapidly approaching 50,000, comes on the heels of Trumps Monday night tweet announcing a suspension of all immigration into the United States, a transparent attempt to scapegoat immigrants for the ravages of the pandemic and the layoffs of tens of millions of workers. There is in both of these actions an expression of desperation and a flailing about in the face of a national and global crisis for which the US ruling class has no viable solution. It is a crude attempt to change the subject and divert public attention from the catastrophic consequences of the criminal indifference of the government and the ruling oligarchy it represents to the lives and well-being of the vast majority of the population. B-52s lined up at Andersen Air Force Base Pentagon officials reported Wednesday that they had received no prior notification of Trumps tweet, much less any orders for a change in the rules of engagement in the Persian Gulf. Nonetheless, the brutal and fascistic rhetoric of Trump reflects a drive to war by US imperialism that has not been tempered, but rather intensified, by the global pandemic. Even as Trump issued his tweet, US warships were sailing toward a confrontation with China in the South China Sea. At the same time, the Pentagon was announcing a shift in its deployment of long-range, nuclear capable B-52 bombers to make their presence less predictable to Beijing and Moscow and thereby ratchet up tensions. In recent days, the US has sharply escalated its air strikes against the impoverished African nation of Somalia, even as the coronavirus pandemic threatens to ravage its population. Escalating war threats continue against Venezuela, and the Pentagon continues to provide support for the near-genocidal Saudi-led war against the people of Yemen. Nowhere does this war drive find more naked expression than in the massive government bailout that is being organized for the US arms industry. With tens of millions of workers unemployed, many facing hunger, and a drive by both the Trump administration and state governors to force a premature return to work, billions upon billions of dollars are being lavished upon military contractors to sustain their guaranteed profits and the obscene fortunes generated for their major shareholders. The Pentagons top weapons procurer, Undersecretary of Defense Ellen Lord, told a press conference Monday that some $3 billion has already been funneled to the arms makers in the form of early payments for existing contracts, in addition to billions more approved by Congress in the first CARES Act, which pumped trillions of dollars into the financial markets. She indicated that much more will be doled out once Congress passes another stimulus package. Asked by a reporter how much would be need to insure Washingtons Merchants of Death from any losses due to the coronavirus pandemic, she replied, Were talking billions and billions on that one. Lord added that the first priority for this aid program was the modernization process of the nuclear triad. These industries are hardly the picture of the deserving poor. The fact that massive financial resources that are desperately needed to save lives and rescue millions of workers from poverty are instead being poured into their pockets is a crime. In a conference call this week to inform Lockheed Martin shareholders of first-quarter earnings, the companys CEO, Marilyn Hewson, boasted that the corporations portfolio is broad and expanding and its cash generation strong. She said the company looked forward to supporting our warfighters needs. Indeed, Lockheed Martin pulled in $2.3 billion in cash during the single quarter and expects to top $7.6 billioncoronavirus effects notwithstandingover the year. It has a $144 billion backlog in orders, an all-time high. Asked whether she had any qualms about political fallout over completing a $1 billion stock buyback in the midst of the crisis, she replied, Were very different, I think, than those who have experienced a very significant impact to their demands. Hewson announced that the company had set aside a grand total of $10 million for COVID-19-related relief and assistance. The very different character of these companies was also noted in a financial column published in the New York Times for the benefit of its well-heeled readers, titled Opportunity in the Military-Industrial Complex. Pointing to the projected $741 billion Pentagon budget for the coming year, the Times counsels: That combination of federal dollars and corporate heft may represent an opportunity for investors who dont mind profiting from warfare. A modest bet on a mutual fund or exchange-traded fund that buys military contractors and aerospace companies may help buffer the deep recession brought on by the coronavirus. In short, one can reap substantial wealth fromand amidmass death. One of the principal concerns expressed by Undersecretary of Defense Lord as she spelled out plans for the multibillion-dollar bailout of the arms industry was the disruption of supply chains, particularly those originating in the maquiladora sweatshops just across the US border in Mexico. She also mentioned problems in India. Thousands of Mexican workers have struck and protested against the deadly conditions inside these plants, conditions that are being prepared for workers throughout the planet as back-to-work orders are shoved through. At a plant in Ciudad Juarez owned by Michigan-based Lear Corporation, 16 workers have died from COIVD-19, while area hospitals are overflowing with victims of the virus. The Pentagon and US Ambassador to Mexico Christopher Landau have intervened with the Mexican government, demanding that the maquiladora workers be forced back into the plants as essential to US imperialisms war machine, just like their counterparts in the US. Lockheed relies on low-paid Mexican workers in Chihuahua, Mexico to produce electrical wiring for the US militarys Black Hawk and S-92 helicopters and F-16 fighter jets, while Boeing gets parts from a plant run by PCC Aerostructures in Monterrey. General Electric, Honeywell and other military contractors also profit off the labor of Mexican workers across the border. Transmitting the dictates of the Pentagon in the language of contempt for human life that characterizes all of the policies of the Trump administration and the US ruling class, Ambassador Landau launched a Twitter campaign demanding that Mexican workers go back into the maquiladoras for the greater good of US imperialism. He enjoys the full collaboration of Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, promoted by the pseudo-left as a progressive and even socialist, who has prepared the countrys National Guard for deployment against strikers. Warning that workers jobs are tied to supply chains linking them to US arms manufacturers, Ambassador Landau said, if we do not coordinate our response, these chains can evaporate. He added, There are risks everywhere, but we don't all stay at home for fear we are going to get in a car accident. The destruction of the economy is also a health threat. These are the same reactionary, antiscientific and misanthropic arguments being made in the US and internationally in an attempt to force workers back into the factories and workplaces with the certainty that many will fall sick and die. Workers in the arms industry in the US, like their counterparts in Mexico, have also struck and protested over being forced to work as part of the critical infrastructure of US imperialism. Workers at the Bath Iron Works in Maine and the BAE Systems shipyard in Norfolk, Virginia, both run by General Dynamics, have struck over the failure of the employers to provide them with protection against infection and death. Similarly, workers at the GE Aviation plant in Lynn, Massachusetts, which produces engines for US Marine helicopters, picketed the plant over the lack of protective measures or any guarantee for workers who fall victim to COVID-19. This resistance of the working class across national boundaries is directly opposed to the rabid nationalism and reaction that characterizes the response of the ruling classes, not only in the US, but in Europe and internationally, to the intensification of the capitalist crisis triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. To defend their profit interests, they will condemn millions to sickness and death, even as they prepare for world war and fascist dictatorship. The only alternative is for the international working class to put an end to the profit system and rebuild society on socialist foundations. Former Eton College Head Master Sir Eric Anderson has died at the age of 83. Sir Eric was head of the public school between 1980 and 1994 and several notable pupils including Boris Johnson and David Cameron were educated there during his tenure. Earlier in his career, Sir Eric worked at two of the top schools in his native Scotland Gordonstoun and Fettes College, where he was Tony Blair's housemaster. While at Gordonstoun, he also taught Prince Charles. Sir Eric Anderson, who was head of Eton College between 1980 and 1994, has died at the age of 83 Mr Blair recalled his housemaster when he mentioned Sir Eric in a 1997 teacher training campaign. Sir Eric's time at Eton was so successful that in 2000 he returned as Provost, the head of the school's governing body and an appointment made by the Queen. Eton Head Master Simon Henderson told the Mail last night: 'Sir Eric's contribution to Eton was unparalleled in modern times. During Sir Eric's tenure, several notable pupils including Boris Johnson and David Cameron were educated at the school Early on in his career, Sir Eric was also Tony Blair's housemaster at Fettes College, Scotland 'He was one of the school's greatest ever Head Masters and then one of our finest Provosts. 'A great school master, a fine scholar, and an inspiring and visionary leader but above all a kind, loyal and utterly authentic man. Much of the success of the school today derives from his legacy.' Sir Eric leaves behind his wife, Poppy, and two children, David and Kate. Corporate Email Address: You forgot to provide an Email Address. This email address doesnt appear to be valid. 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Bihar has the highest number of people not getting benefits under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) for want of ration cards, and the Centre has asked for their details to expeditiously provide them food, a much-needed relief during the lockdown, Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on Thursday. The lockdown is imposed in the country till May 3 to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. The consumer affairs, food and public distribution minister said that the NFSA is supposed to cover 71 crore people across the country. However, 39 lakh of these 71 crore people are not receiving benefits as they do not have ration cards, he said. "Among these 39 lakh poor people, Bihar accounts for 14 lakh. There are some other states, too, but Bihar has the maximum number of such people. I spoke to Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi on this matter recently," the Union minister told PTI-Bhasha over phone. "We are going to send a written request to the state government for providing us with a list of such people. This would enable the Centre to expeditiously provide them with food under the provisions of the Act, a much-needed relief during the nationwide lockdown," he said. The minister also said that the state was home to "8.71 lakh people eligible for benefits under the Act. But, as of now, the number of beneficiaries stands at 8.57 lakh only". Paswan also said that a total of 12.97 lakh metric tonne of foodgrains has been allotted to the state as part ofthe Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana "over and above the regular allocation made under the Act". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Photo : Nikola Motor Company Facebook Page) The unveiling of Nikola One (Photo : Nikola Motor Company Facebook Page) The new Nikola Two Electric vehicle (EV) startup Nikola has been granted a $4.1 million loan from the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). It is the third EV startup to avail of financial support. Earlier, Faraday Future received a loan amounting to $9.1 million while Workhorse was loaned $1.1 million. On Wednesday, April 22, Nikola founder Trevor Milton said on Twitter that the loan from JP Morgan Chase would cover the payroll of Nikola's over 300 employees for about two months as the world struggles against the coronavirus. Nikola gets $4.1M loan while $2 billion lawsuit against Tesla moves forward The loan came over a month after it received a $525-million investment as a publicly-traded company. This made Milton worth over $1 billion, according to a CNBC report. Milton founded Nikola in 2014 and has since developed electric hydrogen-fuel cell vehicles and trucks. The Phoenix, an Arizona-based company recently announced an on-going deal to merge with VectoIQ, a publicly-traded shell company led by former GM Vice Chairman Steve Girsky. The company will receive an additional $500 million capital from investors, including Fidelity and ValueAct Capital, as part of the merger. The deal, once closed, will make Milton's value at $3 billion. CARES Act' The PPP Program The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was signed into law on March 27, is divided into three small-business programs, offering grants, loans, and loan deferral. Under the PPP, businesses can obtain a loan amounting to 2.5 times their average monthly payroll costs or a maximum of $10 million for each company. Included as payroll costs are worker salaries, paid leave, health care benefits, commissions, and tips. The funding is the government's program to support small businesses and struggling employees during the crisis. However, dozens of larger multi-billion-dollar companies have also availed of the loan. Just a month after it was launched, banks have already loaned out the $350 billion allocations for PPP. However, Congress is inclined to infuse another $300 billion to the program. Unfortunately, many small businesses across the country were unable to get the loans they need while banks continue to lend to big companies. The $2B-patent lawsuit against Tesla Last year, Nikola sealed a deal with European manufacturer Iveco to mass-produce one of its trucks. Before that, the EV startup made noise after filing a $2 billion lawsuit against Elon Musk's Tesla in 2018. Since unveiling its prototype in 2016, Nikola One has not changed its design, which it received the patent on. However, Milton claims Tesla violated three of Nikola One's semi design patents. Specifically, the lawsuit points out that Tesla stole the design for the mid-entry door, wrap windshield, and the shape of the body. On April 20, after about two years, the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) upheld Nikola's patent, which Tesla filed for an invalidation. In a tweet, Milton announced the recent development. "Two billion dollar lawsuit moving forward. We will defend our company's IP no matter who it is," he said. Meanwhile, Tesla has yet to air its comments on the USPTO ruling. Ironically, the company announced in 2014 that the company would apply "open-source philosophy" to all its patents. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. By ANI MUMBAI: Two persons were arrested on Thursday morning for allegedly attacking Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami and his wife Samyabrata Ray here. "Two people have been arrested for attacking Arnab Goswami and his wife. The FIR has been registered at the NM Joshi Marg Police station under Sections 341 and 504 of the Indian Penal Code," Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Zone 3, Avinash Kumar said. Goswami in his complaint to the police has alleged that he and his wife were attacked by Youth Congress workers when they were driving back home from the Republic TV Headquarters in Worli. ALSO READ: FIR against Arnab Goswami in Chhattisgarh for creating animosity between communities "At around 12:15 am, when we reached Ganpatrao Kadam Marg, two men on a bike followed our car and tried to overtake it. These 2 men first tried to identify who was driving the car. They stretched out their arms, pointed their fingers at me and then blocked the path of my car with their two-wheeler," he said in the complaint. "The pillion rider hit the right side driver window several times and then, these attackers realised that the car window was up and they couldn't break through and immediately the pillion rider removed a bottle from his pocket and threw liquid all over the car on the driver's side of the car where I was sitting. All through, both were shouting and abusing in Hindi while making violent gestures," read the complaint. We appeal to the collective wisdom that this is undemocratic and as per present law Police definitely takes action if there is a complaint: Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar https://t.co/2ZVfxKCaPN ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 The senior journalist said that the attackers were later apprehended by the Mumbai Police. Goswami stated that Shivaji Hosmani, who is deputed for his personal protection informed him that "the attackers had identified themselves as members of the Youth Congress who had been sent by higher-ups to teach me a lesson". Goswami claimed that he had to make "multiple requests" to get an FIR registered regarding the incident. "Congress leader Alka Lamba tweeted 'Yuva Congress Zindabad' using her verified social media handle. This celebration of the attack on me further reinforces my belief that this attack on me and my wife Samyabrata Ray has been orchestrated by Sonia Gandhi and her close circle of Congress leaders at a time when we have raised serious questions about her accountability in several cases, including the attack on Hindu monks in Palghar on 16th April," Goswami stated. He also alleged that there is "considerable" evidence that top Congress leaders have been carrying out an attempt to incite towards a "violent attack" on him and the Republic Network. Written complaint submitted to police by Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami, after he and his wife were attacked early this morning in Mumbai by 2 unknown persons while they were driving home from their studios. pic.twitter.com/wTU1Dau1lC ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 "Senior Congress leaders, in fact, have suggested the 'modus operandi' of the attack on me. So it cannot be a coincidence that a physical attack on me follows a series of threatening and violence laced comments by leaders loyal to Sonia Gandhi," read the complaint. The journalist stated that a "series of orchestrated" FIRs have been filed against him for asking questions directly from the Congress interim chief on her silence on the Palghar issue. "As journalists, personally we will not be cowed down by such assaults and my team at Republic are determined to ask the question that make the Vadra Congress and Sonia uncomfortable, like we do, of all. I hope this matter will not be covered up and investigated and I'm ready to cooperate to follow up in any way. I would also like to place on record that if there is any untoward incident or harm to me or those associated with me, I will hold Sonia Gandhi and the Vadra family personally responsible given the history of their malice and violence towards me and my team," the complaint said. #UPDATE 2 people arrested in connection with the attack on Arnab Goswami & his wife. FIR registered by NM Joshi Marg Police station under sec 341 (Punishment for wrongful restraint) and 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of IPC: DCP Zone 3 #Mumbai https://t.co/zBarBKk4m6 ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 In a video message after the incident, Goswami said: "...Sonia Gandhi, you tried to carry out an attack on me when I was driving back from work. Sonia Gandhi bring it on. Maybe you did not like it. But nobody is scared of you anymore. Get your goons out, attack me, stop my car, do the hell what you can. We are not going to scared of you and your monstrous measures." "I hold you personally responsible for any consequences of any attack on me. If anything happens to me, it is Sonia Gandhi who is responsible. Sonia Gandhi and Vadra family who cannot take my questions right now. I have asked legitimate questions," he said. The senior journalist alleged that Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has tried to spread fake news regarding segregation of COVID-19 patients in Gujarat on April 15. "I have questioned and exposed the lies of Sonia Gandhi and her daughter Priyanka Vadra who had tried to spread fake news regarding segregation of COVID patients in Gujarat on April 15. I suspect and am concerned that there could be an attempt to conceal the fact that this was a clear attack orchestrated by Sonia Gandhi and the Congress leadership on me and my wife," read the complaint. (ANI) Like so many 'grown-up' children across the country, Irene and Lydia Forte, the 30-something daughters of hotelier Sir Rocco, have returned home to spend lockdown with their parents. But fortunately for the glamorous It Girls, going back to the family home doesn't mean squeezing into the sole spare bedroom or negotiating space on the sofa. For the Forte sisters, who are stalwarts of the London social scene and close friends of Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, have joined their parents in isolation at their sprawling 1,800-acre estate in Ripley, Surrey. Indeed there is plenty of space for the whole family to bunker down together, with their brother, Charles Forte, friend Georgie Wright, Irene's fiance Felix Winckler, Lydia's husband, Dimitri and their 14-month-old son Johnny, also holed up at picturesque Ryde House Farm. Snaps shared by Irene, Lydia and their mother, Lady Aliai, on Instagram reveal how the Fortes, are treating quarantine as a wholesome country retreat, scheduling time for family yoga and making the most of the spring sunshine by dining al fresco. Sir Rocco Forte and his wife Lady Aliai are spending lockdown at stunning Ryde Farm in Ripley, Surrey, with their daughters Lydia (right) and Irene, son Charles, their respective partners, and Lydia's 14-month-old son, Johnny. Left, Irene with fiance Felix Winckler Lady Aliai offered a rare glimpse into the family home when she shared a video of husband Sir Rocco conducting a virtual board meeting last month after recovering from COVID-19 The easy-going schedule will no doubt come as a relief to Sir Rocco, who has recovered from COVID-19 after confirming he had tested positive for the virus last month. His youngest daughter Irene also contracted the virus but it is not known whether any other family members have been affected. Skincare entrepreneur Irene, who has an eponymous range of products and heads up 'all things wellness/spa' at her father's hotel chain, has revealed how she is taking advantage of the lack of socialising to catch up on her beauty sleep. 'Now that people arent going out in the evenings, this is a great opportunity to sleep more,' she said in an interview with the Daily Telegraph. 'You can dream about your next adventure.' Snaps shared by Irene, Lydia and their mother on Instagram reveal how the Fortes, are treating quarantine as a wholesome country retreat, scheduling time for family yoga (pictured) Irene shared this beautiful photograph from Easter lunch. Pictured, left to right, Felix Winckler, Irene's fiance; Georgie Wright, thought to be Charles Forte's girlfriend; Irene Fortel; Sir Rocco Forte; Aliai Forte; Charles Forte; Dimitri Chandris and his wife, Lydia Forte The family has the advantage of an 1,800-acre estate to explore on their daily walks She added: 'Ive also been boosting my wellbeing by doing things I havent had time to do in a while, like learning a language (Im doing an online French class) and reading.' The socialite, who is a close friend of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, is also starting each day with a bit of exercise. One photo shared on her Instagram Stories shows Irene, her fiance Felix Winckler, a technology entrepreneur, and sister Lydia, doing yoga in one of the country home's large reception rooms. Irene and Felix became engaged in January and were due to marry this year. It is not known whether their plans have been put on hold because of COVID-19. Lydia shared this photograph of a mouth-watering cake whipped up by Charles and Georgia Skincare entrepreneur Irene, who has an eponymous range of products, has revealed how she is taking advantage of the lack of socialising to catch up on her beauty sleep. Pictured, a photo shared by the Irene Forte Instagram thought to have been taken in the family home Meanwhile Lydia, who is head of Food and Beverage at Rocco Forte Hotels, is being kept busy with her one-year-old son, Johnny, whom she shares with city banker husband Dimitri Chandris. The couple married in September 2016, in a weekend extravaganza in Tuscany which involved a dinner in the town's medieval cloisters prepared by a Michelin-starred chef and a feast at Lydias grandparents' 12th-century Tuscan castle, followed by a fireworks display in the early hours. Both sisters have shared snaps of their more publicity-shy younger brother, Charles, who is thought to have invited girlfriend Georgie Wright to stay during the lockdown. The sun rises over a crisp country morning in an Instagram photo shared by Lydia last month The pair showed off their culinary skills by whipping up mouth-watering desserts for the family to enjoy. Sir Rocco has owned Ryde Farm for a number of years but has kept details of the property under wraps. Only a handful of photos have been published from within the estate. However his wife Aliai did offer a glimpse at one of the rooms when she filmed her husband taking part in a virtual board meeting last month. A government employee in the central Chinese province of Hubei, worst-hit by the coronavirus epidemic, is sueing the provincial government over its handling of the outbreak, as local residents said they fear a fresh wave of infections. Tan Jun, a civil servant from the Yangtze river town of Yichang, filed the lawsuit at the Wuhan Intermediate People's Court calling the government to account for the unprecedented loss of life and property as a result of the pandemic. Tan, who works as a government administrator at Yichang's Children's Park, declined to comment when contacted by RFA on . But a copy of the lawsuit seen by RFA accuses the Hubei provincial authorities and the Wuhan municipal government of covering up the fact that the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 can easily be transmitted between human beings. Tan cites a Jan. 11 notice issued by the Hubei health commission denying that person-to-person transmission existed. But the State Supervisory Commission said in a report into the reprimanding of late whistleblowing doctor Li Wenliang published March 19 that human-to-human transmission was known about as early as December, according to Tan's lawsuit. The Wuhan People's Congress also knew that the virus was transmissible between people, but gave the go-ahead for the 10,000 Families Banquet at Baibuting, which gave rise to a large cluster of infections, the lawsuit said. "The authorities' concealment and playing down of the epidemic caused people to neglect prevention measures ... and gave rise to the rapid spread of the virus," Tan's lawsuit alleges. He said the people of Hubei had suffered "unprecedented loss" of life and property as a result, and called on the authorities to be held accountable, to apologize to the people of Hubei, and to pay the costs of litigation. Hubei residents face discrimination Hubei resident Wu Lijuan applauded Tan's lawsuit. "The government covered up the true situation ... they should be held responsible," Wu told RFA. "Now, when people from Hubei go to seek work in other provinces, they are discriminated against." "Some companies won't hire people from Hubei, and landlords won't rent accommodation to them," she said. "This epidemic has hurt everyone in Hubei a great deal." "If the government had told people about the epidemic sooner, there wouldn't be so many people suffering now," Wu said. Tan declined a request for an interview when contacted by RFA on . "Sorry, I can't give interviews right now: there are rules about that," he said. "The legal process is under way, and proceeding slowly." A duty officer who answered the phone at the Wuhan Intermediate People's Court referred inquiries to the litigation department. But the number supplied rang unanswered during office hours on , while the Hubei provincial government helpline returned a busy signal. A Guangdong lawyer surnamed Zhang said the case was unlikely to win, however. "It is problematic because there is the matter of compensation," Zhang said. "They would need to hold somebody responsible." "And if this lawsuit is successful, then many more people will bring cases," he said. "So they won't let this case be successful." People wearing face masks amid the concerns over the COVID-19 coronavirus walk on a nearly empty street in the Chinese capital Beijing, April 23, 2020. AFP Fresh infections in hospitals He said the authorities are likely to use delaying tactics for the time being, until public attention has dwindled away. Meanwhile, Chinese premier Li Keqiang has warned of fresh clusters of coronavirus infections centered on Chinese hospitals. A Hubei resident said his neighborhood had seen restrictions on people coming in and out reimposed since the lifting of the province-wide lockdown. "The government won't let us go back to our homes, and it won't say why," the resident said. "They have told us to find somewhere else to stay temporarily." Guangzhou current affairs commentator Wang Aizhong said coronavirus continues to spread in China; it's just not being reported. "The situation is entirely opaque regarding the number of people infected," Wang said. "The rest of the world has no idea how bad things are." Shanghai resident Xu Peiling said hospitals are still apparently worried about cross-infection. " I went to the hospital to see a doctor, and they seemed pretty nervous," Xu said. "We had to line up to get our temperature taken, then fill out forms ... before I was allowed to see a doctor." Yichang resident Liu Jiacai said many employers are still too worried about the epidemic to resume work. "If people are gathered together again, they may get infected with the virus," Liu said. "But [the government] can't disclose this to the international media or the rest of the world because they have announced to the whole world that China has beaten the coronavirus." Liu said many residential communities in Yichang are still operating restrictions, including facial masks, a health status code system, and access cards for people cleared to move around. Reported by Wong Lok-to, Qiao Long and Man Hoi-tsan for RFA's Mandarin and Cantonese Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 00:37:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COPENHAGEN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Hans Kluge, the World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for Europe, said on Thursday that a "deeply concerning picture" was emerging from the coronavirus pandemic as up to half of the deaths in Europe occurred in long-term care facilities. During a weekly press conference on COVID-19 broadcast online from Copenhagen, Kluge confirmed that over 1.2 million people had been infected with COVID-19 in the European region, almost 50 percent of the global total, and 110,000 of them had died in the past 100 days. Kluge also revealed that half of all European COVID-19-related deaths occurred among residents of long-term care facilities. It's an "unimaginable human tragedy," he said. Kluge stressed that the pandemic had "shone a spotlight on the overlooked and undervalued corners of our society." "The way that such care facilities operate, how residents receive care - is providing pathways for the virus to spread," he said. "We must step up," Kluge said, arguing that "we have a clear investment case for setting up integrated, person-centered long-term care systems in each country." To this end, he said that care workers -- "the unsung heroes of this pandemic" -- must be empowered by ensuring that they have personal protective equipment (PPE), appropriate remuneration, proper training and "suitable levels of resources and staffing." He stressed an "immediate and urgent need" to change the way long-term care facilities operate, and a need to isolate all suspected cases immediately. According to Kluge, "quality, resourced, strong and sustainable care systems" must be built that prioritize people's needs. "We must bring together physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social and other health care professionals, care workers, and above all, care home residents themselves, in decision-making and care provision," said Kluge. According to Kluge, these measures would not only help curtail the spread of the virus but ultimately allow for the managed opening of locked-down care homes to families and visitors. "Complacency could be our worst enemy at this time ... Any steps to ease social and physical distancing measures must be carefully considered and gradually undertaken," he stressed. Enditem In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Keurig Dr Pepper announced last week it would be donating millions of cups of coffee and thousands of bottled beverages to hundreds of U.S. hospitals, including 21 in the commonwealth. The Burlington, Massachusetts-based beverage companys effort is part of its Fueling the Frontline program to provide health care workers in the country with coffee and other drinks during the pandemic, according to a statement from spokesperson for the business. To date, thousands of breakrooms in approximately 250 hospitals have been supplied with beverages, and the company expects to donate millions of cups of coffee and thousands of bottled beverages during this crisis, the statement said. The Boston hospitals Keurig Dr Pepper has partnered with include Beth Israel Lahey Health, Boston Childrens Hospital, Boston Medical Center, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and Tufts Medical Center, according to the company. Drinks will also be provided to Cape Cod Healthcare, the Cambridge Health Alliance, Lowell General Hospital, Newton-Wellesley Hospital and UMass Memorial Health Care in Boylston, Keurig Dr Pepper said. Beyond Massachusetts, the company said it is donating to hospitals near its co-headquarters in Dallas Fort-Worth, Texas, and in communities hit hardest by the public health crisis, including Detroit, Los Angeles, New Jersey, New York and Seattle. All frontline employees at the beverage company will be given a free Keurig brewer and coffee supply as well, according to Keurig Dr Pepper. Office workers have also been asked to gift the machine to an essential worker. The company feels an enormous responsibility to protect and reward its many frontline employees working to ensure trucks are loaded with beverages, that product is delivered to stores and that shelves are stocked, the company spokesperson said. It is keeping all of its 26,000 workers employed and continues to hire, with 35 open positions in Boston right now. Related Content: Coronavirus Diaries is a series of dispatches exploring how the coronavirus is affecting peoples lives. For the latest public health information, please refer to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions website. Krista is a 35-year-old U.S. citizen married to Roberto, an immigrant from El Salvador. Krista, a preschool teacher, and Roberto, a cook, live in New Jersey with their three children, ages 6, 9, and 17. Under the federal governments CARES Act, Krista is one of the many thousands of Americans ineligible for the coronavirus stimulus checks$1,200 per person making under $75,000, plus $500 for each childbecause she files joint tax returns with a spouse without a Social Security number. This as-told-to essay has been transcribed and edited for clarity from a conversation with Molly Olmstead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, when I noticed that people were talking online about receiving their stimulus checks. I got excited to check my bank account. And when I did, I saw that I didnt receive anything. I thought that was a little bit weird, because it was my understanding that the first round of deposits were being made to people that were on the lower income scale. And I was surprised that, being in that category with children, I hadnt received the deposit along with those 80 million other people. The first couple days, I felt really defeated and upset. So I started to do some research. And thats when I stumbled across a Facebook group called Mixed-Status Families United. Were denied these checks systematically. As much as it hurt to see that there were so many other people in my situation, it made me feel a little bit stronger because I felt like I deserve this payment. And my kids deserve this. And I have a right to fight for what I believe in. Advertisement Advertisement Roberto has lived here for about 14 years. Life is extremely rough where he is from. They dont have much opportunity for advancement. Its not safe. Theres a lot of gang activity. And he came here with a mindset of most people in his situationto build himself a better life and hopefully be able to help out the rest of his family in the future. Advertisement He has been employed with the same company for 12 years. We met approximately nine years ago, working together at the time in the restaurant industry. Were currently going through the process to get him a green card and, hopefully, eventually citizenship, but its a very long and expensive process. Advertisement With the potential prospect of finalizing his citizenship in the future, we were told to get an ITIN number so that we can file jointly together on our taxes. That is the way that youre supposed to do it in a situation like ours, trying to do the right thing. And unfortunately, it has backfired. Advertisement Advertisement Before the COVID pandemic, we both were full-time workers. He actually works closer to 50 hours a week. We have three school-aged children. And with all their sports, were constantly on the go. We definitely fall into a lower income bracket because of his situation. Id say that we were bringing in under $45,000 together. My preschool closed two weeks ago. Hes been out of work since March 15. Theres just nothing coming in now. Hes unable to apply for unemployment in his situation, and my unemployment has not moved past the pending status in the past few weeks; New Jersey is very behind on unemployment payments. So we have zero income coming in at this point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This stimulus money would have been a huge stress reliever. It would have been enough for us to pay a months worth of rent and all of our necessary bills and large trips to the grocery store. The internet is very important right now, because we have three kids doing remote schooling from home. Were using double the amount of everything. And now were basically depleting any savings that we had put aside and worrying about how were going to pay everything in the next few weeks. We had about $3,000 in savingsthat was before. Were working through that. Unfortunately, I kind of have to swallow my pride in the situation and ask for help when I need it. Whether it be from family or friends or taking out a loan or asking the state for assistance. Were pretty much always pushed aside or unable to apply for certain benefits because of a spouse with an ITIN. So you get a lot of rejection, and you get the least amount of benefit when you try to apply for any type of assistance with the state. But at this point, were just trying to do what we can to stay afloat until something changes. We really were counting on this stimulus money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The people that are in this situation are not upset because our spouses are not going to receive the stimulus package. The majority of us were not expecting a check for our spouse. But we never in a million years were expecting for ourselves not to receive it and for our children to not receive it. We were all born here in America. Were all U.S. citizens. And to think that my children are less than somebody elses childrenits what were trying to fight here. Honestly, Roberto feels horrible. It makes him feel like hes worthless, or like were better off without him in our lives, because his situation makes ours harder. All I can do is basically tell him that its not his fault. And, you know, were in this together at the end of the day. Advertisement But its the United States citizens having the hardest time swallowing this. Youre telling me that my family means less because of who Im married toIm being punished because of who Im married to. And, you know, I cant think of anything much more unfair than that. Advertisement Advertisement I think that this starts to deter people from doing the right thing. A lot of people are asking if they should go back and amend their taxes so they can get this money. But at the end of the day its definitely not worth it. Because if you do plan on trying to get your spouse legal presence here, then the only way that you should be filing is married filing jointly. It just shows a good faith marriage. Its how youre supposed to do it. But a lot of people do feel like theyre being brought down. Filing for citizenship or a green card or whatever youre filing for is a very, very mentally and financially exhausting procedure. And then when you get pushed down for things like this, it makes it that much worse. My husband still wants me to keep doing things the right way. I still will file my taxes the proper way next year. I still have that same mind frame that we have to do the right thing no matter what. Its just hard, you know, getting screwed over. Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. For more on the impact of COVID-19, listen to What Next. Avakov noted that the statements of Ivano-Frankivsk Mayor are the violation of the rights of the citizens and contains the elements of xenophobia Interior Minister of Ukraine Arsen Avakov condemned the urge of Mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk Ruslan Martsynkiv to take Roma out of the city. He stated that the criminal proceeding was opened due to this fact as the Interior Ministry reported. Due to fact of the urge for forcible conveyance of persons in Ivano-Frankivsk, the National Police has opened the criminal proceeding due to the violation of the equality of the citizens depending on their race, national identity, religions views, disablement or other signs), the minister said. He noted that the statements of Ivano-Frankivsk Mayor are the violation of the rights of the citizens and contains the elements of xenophobia. Avakov also underlined the inadmissibility of the division of the citizens of Ukraine on ethnic signs. The minister underlined that Roma people are the same citizens of Ukraine as mayor and the law applied to everyone without discrimination. On April 22, Mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk Ruslan Martsynkiv ordered to take Roma people to Zakarpattia region. PORTLAND, Ore. Bypassing decades of precedent, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that limits on campaign spending are legal under the state constitution. Oregon is one of only a handful of states in the U.S. that have no limits on campaign contributions be they from individuals, corporations, or PACs. The dubious distinction makes Oregon one of the biggest destinations for election spending in U.S. politics. "This ruling will strengthen the voices of everyday Oregonians and ensure a representative government." My full statement on the Oregon Supreme Court Campaign Finance Limits Decision. #orpol #orleg pic.twitter.com/RKcDU4sefG Senator Ginny Burdick (@SenBurdick) April 23, 2020 The 2018 Oregon gubernatorial campaign was the most expensive race in state history, with Kate Brown and Knute Buehler raising about $18.7 million between them. The vast majority of those funds came from a small number of individuals or groups. According to the Associated Press, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled that $500 campaign limits adopted by Multnomah County voters in 2016 do not violate the state constitution, though the ruling sends the case back to a lower court to decide whether Multnomah Countys dollar limits are too low. Past rulings in the Oregon Supreme Court have largely regarded campaign contributions as a protected expression of free speech under the state constitution, much like the infamous Citizens United case at the U.S. Supreme Court determined for federal elections. While the Oregon high court's ruling on Thursday did not overturn these past rulings, it did provide a path forward for some limitations on campaign contributions. Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, applauded the decision in a statement issued Thursday afternoon: The Oregon Supreme Court made the right decision today. Until now, Oregon was one of just a few states without any limitations on campaign contributions. Campaign contribution limits will protect our democratic process and allow elections to be more competitive and inclusive. This ruling will strengthen the voices of every day Oregonians and ensure a representative government. Last year, the Oregon House passed a bill to cap contributions for statewide candidates. The bill did not make it through the Oregon Senate, and also required a referral to the ballot to be decided by Oregon voters. The Associated Press contributed to this article. business Yes Bank rescue: Kotak Bank, Federal Bank and IDFC First Bank step back, cut stake within 14 days of investing Kotak Mahindra Bank sold 4.76 crore shares after March 17, Federal Bank sold 5.87 crore shares and IDFC First Bank sold 4.02 crore shares, according to data available on the BSE. RAMSAY SANTE - UPDATE ON COVID-19 IMPACTS Paris, 23 April 2020 The Covid-19 crisis impacted all of the Group's activities in Europe from mid-March onwards, in particular through the termination of scheduled surgery, but in very different ways depending on the country. Thus: In France, as of mid-March, like the entire profession, our Medecine-Surgery-Obstetric (MSO) facilities cancelled all non-urgent surgical procedures. Within a few days, the teams reorganized the facilities to create Covid-19 zones. 46 of our MSO facilities admitted up to 1,250 Covid+ patients, including 350 patients in resuscitation care, i.e. more than 50% of the flow of Covid patients handled by the private sector. Thus, in many regions such as Ile-de-France, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes or Occitania, around 10% of all patients admitted to resuscitation care were admitted to a Ramsay Sante facility. This has made a major contribution to the positive reinforcement of links with the regulatory authorities. These patients arrive directly, via the emergency services of our own facilities, or from public hospitals. In the Ile de France region, our facilities have received up to 900 Covid+ patients, 250 of whom are in resuscitation care. To cope with the unprecedented influx of patients, we have almost tripled our resuscitation admission capacity in the Ile de France region, going so far as to create some from zero. In addition, the lack of caregivers has been offset by a solidarity drive of volunteer employees from our facilities in less affected regions. This solidarity is also illustrated through the care of patients transferred to less impacted regions, such as the Toulouse cluster, which receives patients from the eastern part of France, and the Caen cluster, which receives patients from the Ile-de-France region. Today, as part of our ability to ensure patient care, it is now the turn of our Rehab clinics (FCR) clinics to be called upon to receive Covid patients after resuscitation or after Critical Intensive Care Units (ICUs). In turn, they organize Covid zones and train their caregivers in the specific needs of these patients. Story continues In Sweden, almost half of the Covid+ patients are in the Stockholm area where our Capio St Goran hospital receives a significant proportion of the infected patients in the region with more than 100 cases of Covid+ and 11 patients in resuscitation care. Our non-emergency care activities, such as the ophthalmology and orthopaedic clinics, are operating at a slower pace due to the decreasing number of patients and the support provided by staff for the care of Covid+ patients, especially at St Goran Hospital. Elderly clinics in Stockholm have converted most of their capacity to Covid-19 patient care and have increased their support for advanced home care. Our 105 proximity care centres have largely turned to virtual patient contact, with a significant increase in chat and video contact. In Norway, where the overall epidemic has been very low, after a period of suspension of some care, all activities resumed from 20 April. In Denmark, the private sector has always been able to continue activities not requiring general anaesthesia (examinations, surgery with local anaesthesia, MRIs). And in recent days, as announced by the government, a gradual easing of restrictions has begun. In Germany, our hospitals have postponed all unnecessary surgery and hospitalization, and are working alongside public hospitals to care for Covid patients. The mobilization of Ramsay Sante teams, both medical and management, has been and continues to be extraordinary during this period, and has made it possible, in all countries, to strengthen links with the health authorities. In this particular context, the Group was able to benefit, for its French healthcare institutions, from cash advances set up by the Ministry of Health for the benefit of all private and non-profit players. These amounts, corresponding to one-twelfth of the receipts received from social security bodies for the 2019 calendar year, were paid on 27 March and 10 April. A new advance is scheduled for 10 May and this scheme could be extended to the rest of 2020. The Ramsay Sante Group thus has sufficient liquidity to meet all its commitments and ensure disbursements related to its activity. It does not plan to draw on its EUR 100 million revolving credit line to date. The Group would also like to thank the real estate companies and SCIs, owners of the premises of the facilities it operates, which have extended the due dates of rents due for the second quarter of 2020. With regard to the impact of the crisis on turnover, the health professionals' unions are involved in discussions initiated by the French Ministry of Health aimed at setting up a system of income guarantees. A decree is expected to provide health institutions with a minimum turnover for the calendar year 2020, covering in particular the requisition periods of hospitals and clinics as well as the loss of income related to the instructions of deprogramming of medical and surgical activities of mid-March 2020 and still in force. In addition, the specific costs related to the care of Covid patients are the subject of a census coordinated by the Ministry with the aim of setting up a specific financial compensation method. Direct costs (personal protective equipment, resuscitation consumables, mobilized personnel), indirect costs (logistics costs, crisis management support, etc.) and the necessary investments (equipping additional resuscitation beds, etc.) should thus be taken into account. Outside France, various models for compensating for the costs and business losses associated with crisis management are currently being studied and deployed, at the initiative of the federal states, counties and administrative regions responsible: Coverage of short-time working, Funding of empty beds following deprogramming Packages to finance the personnel and equipment provided Guaranteed income floors In this context, and in view of the planned cessation of all medical activities at the request of the health authorities since mid-March, the objective of organic growth of more than 1% in the number of patients treated for the current financial year has been suspended. However, and despite a few months of delay, the financial and strategic prospects linked to the integration of Capio remain the same in the long term, beyond initial expectations. In conclusion and to date, Ramsay Sante remains more than ever mobilized directly and in support of public hospitals and health institutions, to welcome and care for the sick and actively participate in the eradication of this epidemic. The Group does not anticipate any liquidity risk that could cause it to default or jeopardize its long-term viability. It is also working actively, in conjunction with professional federations in each countries and the competent authorities, to define economic remediation plans to deal with the impact of the crisis on the financial statements of its institutions. Yours sincerely. Pascal Roche Attachment The leader of Irans elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has promised a crushing response to any American military attacks in the Gulf after United States President Donald Trump threatened to shoot down and destroy Iranian vessels. Iran officials on Thursday also accused Trump of bullying and said he should focus on caring for US service members infected with the coronavirus instead of making threats. Thousands of US service members have contracted the virus, including hundreds on a stricken aircraft carrier, docked in Guam, and at least two have died from COVID-19. I have ordered our naval forces to destroy any American terrorist force in the Persian Gulf that threatens security of Irans military or non-military ships, General Hossein Salami told national TV. Security of the Persian Gulf is part of Irans strategic priorities. The US presidents tweet on Wednesday saying he had authorised the US Navy in the region to attack any Iranian fast boats that engaged American military assets came after an encounter last week between the two forces in the Gulf. US forces have no business 7,000 miles [12,500km] away from home, provoking our sailors off our OWN Persian Gulf shores, wrote Irans Foreign Affairs Minister Javad Zarif on Twitter. The US military is hit by over 5000 #covid19 infections. @realdonaldtrump should attend to their needs, not engage in threats cheered on by Saddam's terrorists. Also, US forces have no business 7,000 miles away from home, provoking our sailors off our OWN Persian Gulf shores. pic.twitter.com/7CjzabkyVK Javad Zarif (@JZarif) April 23, 2020 After Irans announcement of the launch of a military reconnaissance satellite on Wednesday, Trump wrote on Twitter, without citing any specific incident: I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea. I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 22, 2020 General Abolfazl Shekarchi, a spokesman for Irans armed forces, called Trump a bully after issuing the threat. At the Pentagon on Wednesday, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General John Hyten, welcomed Trumps tweet as a useful warning to Iran. He drew a parallel between last weeks naval encounter in the Gulf and Wednesdays space launch, which he said was just another example of Iranian malign behaviour. And it goes right along with the harassment from the fastboats You put those two things together and its just more examples of Iranian malign behaviour and misbehaviour, Hyten said. Iran considers the heavy US military presence in the Middle East a threat to its security. Right of self-defence Senior Pentagon officials gave no indication that Trump had directed a fundamental change in military policy on Iran. The president issued an important warning to the Iranians, David Norquist, the deputy secretary of defence, said when asked about the tweet. What he was emphasising is all of our ships retain the right of self-defence. But Representative Elaine Luria, a Democrat and Navy veteran, said Trumps tweeting could lead to war. The presidents continued issuing of orders to our military via tweet is a threat to our national security and, if followed without clear guidance and rules of engagement, will unnecessarily escalate tensions with Iran and possibly lead to all-out-conflict, she said. Asked whether the tweet means a repeat of last weeks incident in the Gulf would require a lethal US response, Hyten said: I would have to be the captain of the ship in order to make that determination. Provocative launch Irans space launch has potentially bigger implications for conflict with Iran. US officials say it was intended to advance Irans development of intercontinental-range ballistic missiles that could threaten the US. Using a mobile launcher at a new site, the IRGC said it put the Noor, or Light, satellite into a low orbit circling the Earth. Iranian national TV late on Wednesday showed footage of what it said was the satellite, and said it orbited the Earth within 90 minutes. National TV said the satellites signals were being received. Hyten said it was too soon to know whether the launch had successfully placed a satellite in orbit. He said US tracking technology showed the launch vehicle had travelled a very long way, which means it has the ability once again to threaten their neighbors, their allies, and we want to make sure they can never threaten the United States. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the United Nations needs to evaluate whether the space launch was consistent with Security Council resolutions. I dont think it remotely is and I think Iran needs to be held accountable for what its done, Pompeo said. In a letter on Wednesday to Trump, 50 former senior US officials and experts on Iran accused Tehran of using COVID-19 as a reason to pressure the US to ease sanctions, while continuing to spend money to bankroll malign activities in the region. The letter called on Trump to double down on the maximum pressure campaign to force the mullahs to spend their money on the Iranian people, not their nuclear ambitions, imperialism, and internal oppression. Tensions between Iran and the US increased earlier this year after an American air strike killed Qassem Soleimani, head of Irans elite Quds Force, in Iraq. The assassination brought the two countries to the brink of war. Iran retaliated on January 8 with a rocket attack on Iraqs Ain al-Assad base where US forces were stationed. No US troops were killed or faced immediate bodily injury, but more than 100 were later diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries. U.S. millionaires will each obtain an average of $1.7 million in stimulus payments in accordance to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. According to a nonpartisan congressional body, provisions in the CARES Act altered a 2017 tax law in a way that will highly benefit Americans who earn $1 million or beyond annually. Almost 43,000 millionaires across the nation would soon benefit from the loophole adapted from the Republican tax code overhaul of 2017 that allows specific business owners to remarkably reduce their tax liability by suspending the limit of deductions the millionaires can place against non-business income for the time being. According to a report published by the Joint Commission on Taxation, the loophole was incorporated as a provision in the sweeping $2.2tn CARES Act. The estimated $2 trillion coronavirus relief package was signed into law in March. The main beneficiaries of the suspension are "far and away" and real-estate owners and hedge-fund operators, according to Steve Rosenthal of the Tax Policy Center. Meanwhile, a lone watchdog of the recent congressional oversight commission tasked with supervising the distribution of a large amount of coronavirus relief fund has requested the government to provide an explanation about where the taxpayer-funded dollars are being sent. The sole member of the commission named Bharat Ramamurti and a former leading staffer to Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren said he sent a letter to US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell demanding "detailed and timely disclosures on every loan" disbursed as part of the CARES Act. 43,000 taxpayers are set to receive the $1.7 million windfall thanks to the provision buried in the CARES Act. Also Read: Small Town Near Canada is America's Safest Place from Coronavirus According to Shahar Ziv, a contributor for Forbes, one may or may not be surprised that parts of the language conveniently included in the $2.2 trillion-dollar CARES Act are directed towards favoring the wealthy. To provide direct payments to U.S. citizens, the relief package permitted the U.S. Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to send low- and middle-class workers $1,200 checks. Democrats who commanded the report have since found fault in Republicans of having "wrongly seized on this health emergency to reward ultrarich beneficiaries, likely including the Trump family", and appealed for the tax break to be urgently revoked. A staggering 82 percent of the policy's benefits will be sent to the taxpayers who earn more than $1m annually, according to the Joint Commission on Taxation. The coronavirus relief package was incorporated into the legislation by Senate Republicans. The Joint Committee on Taxation laid out a distributional analysis of the tax law modification applying to 2018, 2019, and 2020, with the most striking effect transpiring this year. "The Fed will soon lend trillions to companies," lone watchdog Ramamurti tweeted. "But it has not committed to disclosing which private companies are getting taxpayer-backed support." Requested by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Representative Lloyd Doggett, a report from the Joint Commission on Taxation deduced that suspension of the "pass-through" limitation would cost the government beyond $90 billion in merely 2020. The JCT confirmed the argument of critics that the benefits disproportionately accrue to wealthy Americans. Related Article: COVID-19 Patients Recover Quickly After Getting Remdesivir @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A frontline health worker in Sydney is currently being treated in intensive care after contracting coronavirus. The paramedic is the 59th health worker in New South Wales to become infected with the deadly disease. Of the eight new cases reported in the past 24 hours in Australia, four of them have been New South Wales health workers. Medical workers administer COVID-19 tests at a drive through testing centre at Bondi Beach in Sydney on April 21, 2020 'There has been a New South Wales Ambulance paramedic based at the Liverpool Super-station who has been confirmed to have COVID-19,' New South Wales Chief Medical Office Kerry Chant told reporters on Thursday. 'All public health actions are being taken in relation to the case and he is currently being treated in hospital. 'The source of the infection is being investigated.' This morning, two more staff at Anglicare Newmarch House tested positive which brings the total number of cases at the aged care facility to 44 with 29 residents and 15 workers. A 79-year-old patient this morning with 'existing health problems' became the third resident of the facility to die of coronavirus. A nurse at the Sydney Adventist Hospital, who had worked in the hospital's COVID-19 isolation ward has also been diagnosed with the virus. A spokeswoman for the hospital said the nurse did not work while sick, but had been on the ward 48 hours before they developed symptoms. 'Two days later, when symptoms suddenly became apparent, despite having a normal range temperature when checked on arrival at work, prior to commencing, the nurse was immediately sent home for testing,' the spokeswoman told The Sydney Morning Herald. 'It is unknown if the virus was contracted in the hospital or in the community.' Crew from the coronavirus-hit Ruby Princess cruise ship are seen arriving at Sydney International Airport in Sydney on April 23, 2020. Front line workers from the Australian Army and Federal Police are pictured assisting the operation A health worker is pictured wearing a protective mask on Macquarie Street in Sydney April 21, 2020 Ms Chant said the source of the infection is currently being investigated by health authorities. In the meantime five close contacts of the nurse have been put into self isolation. NSW Health said there was no ongoing risk to staff or patients at the hospital. 'The hospital has had health screening checks including temperature testing for all staff at the start of each shift for several weeks and similar processes for all doctors and hospital visitors,' the spokeswoman said. 'All personal protective equipment protocols are being followed.' As cases pile up for frontline medical workers in Australia, Health Services Union secretary Gerard Hayes said the virus is adding even more stress to their already difficult jobs. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Australia has now risen 6,660 including 76 deaths Four New South Wales health workers were infected with COVID-19 on April 23, bringing the total number of new infections across Australia on that day to eight 'COVID-19 is a serious virus, but it does not stop the fact people are still having heart attacks, having strokes, and car accidents,' he said. 'The day-to-day life of paramedics continues, and this is just another level of proactive focus they need to bring to their job.' Despite the new cases, New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the hard-hit state is flattening the coronavirus curve. 'We know that these restrictions that we've had in place are working,' she said. 'Yesterday we had over 5,600 people tested with only five cases detected. 'That is a very positive result. It's probably one of the best results we've had given the numbers of people tested and the low number of cases.' Across Australia there have been a total of 6,660 confirmed cases of coronavirus including 76 deaths. HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Morien Resources Corp. ("Morien" or the "Company") (TSXV:MOX) today announces that its Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders will be held in a virtual-only format, and that its 2020 Notice of Annual and Special Meeting, Management Information Circular and Form of Proxy are now available on SEDAR. Virtual Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders Moriens Virtual Annual and Special Meeting of Shareholders (the Meeting) will be held on Wednesday, May 20 at 1:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. AT). Due to the public health impact of COVID-19 the Company will hold the Meeting in a virtual-only format, with proceedings conducted solely via live audio by phone and webcast. Shareholders who elect to attend the Meeting may do so by calling 877-407-2991 (toll-free) or 201-389-0925. Shareholders may also access a webcast of the Meeting using an Internet-connected device, such as a laptop, computer, tablet or cellphone, by visiting the following link: https://78449.themediaframe.com/dataconf/productusers/morien/mediaframe/36851/indexl.html All shareholders are encouraged to call in to register at least 20 minutes prior to the start of the Meeting. There will be no in-person meeting to attend this year. Important Information for Voting at the Virtual Meeting Shareholders of companies are either Registered or Non-Registered. REGISTERED SHAREHOLDERS ARE THOSE WHO HAVE THEIR NAMES, AND NOT THE NAMES OF THEIR BROKER OR OTHER INTERMEDIARY, ON A PHYSICAL SHARE CERTIFICATE OR DIRECT REGISTRATION SYSTEM (DRS) STATEMENT. This certificate or statement may be in your possession or lodged at your bank or brokerage firm. ONLY REGISTERED SHAREHOLDERS (and their duly appointed proxyholders) WILL BE ABLE TO CAST OR MODIFY THEIR VOTE AT THE VIRTUAL MEETING. Non-Registered Shareholders are those holders who have their share ownership through a broker, nominee or other intermediary. NON-REGISTERED SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO VOTE AND SUBMIT PROXIES OR VOTING INSTRUCTION FORMS IN ADVANCE OF THE MEETING AS THEY WILL NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO SPEAK OR CHANGE THEIR VOTES DURING THE MEETING. Whether or not you plan to attend the Meeting, Morien urges both its Registered and Non-Registered Shareholders to vote and submit their proxies or voting instruction forms in advance of the Meeting by one of the methods described in the Companys 2020 Management Information Circular. We recommend that Shareholders call in 20 minutes in advance of the Meeting start time of 1:00 p.m. ET (2:00 p.m. AT) on May 20, 2020 to allow ample time to check into the Meeting by telephone and to complete the registration and, if applicable, voting procedures. At the outset of the Meeting, all Registered Shareholders and duly appointed proxyholders will be prompted to speak with Moriens transfer agent, Computershare Investor Services Inc., if they wish to cast a vote. Meeting Materials The Meeting materials for the Company have been filed with Canadian securities regulators and have been distributed to Registered Shareholders and intermediaries for delivery to Non-Registered Shareholders. The documents may be accessed electronically by visiting the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. The Company intends to resume holding in-person meetings for its 2021 annual meeting and thereafter. About Morien Morien is a Canadian based, dividend paying, mining development company that holds royalty interests in two tidewater accessed projects. Before going on care and maintenance, the Donkin Coal Mine commenced production in 2017, and the Black Point Aggregate Project, permitted in 2016, is progressing toward a development decision and is paying advanced minimum royalties to Morien. Moriens management team exercises ruthless discipline in managing both the assets and liabilities of the Company. The Companys management and its Board of Directors consider shareholder returns to be paramount over corporate size, number or scale of assets and industry recognition. The Company has 52,419,114 issued and outstanding common shares and a fully diluted position of 55,149,114. Further information is available at www.MorienRes.com. Forward-Looking Statements Some of the statements in this news release may constitute "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable securities laws. These statements reflect Morien's current expectations of future revenues and business prospects and opportunities and are based on information currently available to Morien. Morien cautions that actual performance will be affected by a number of factors, many of which are beyond its control, and that future events and results may vary substantially from what Morien currently foresees. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties described in Moriens annual information form filed with the Canadian Securities regulators on SEDAR ( www.sedar.com ) on April 26, 2016. Morien cautions that its royalty revenue will be based on production by third party property owners and operators who will be responsible for determining the manner and timing for the properties forming part of Moriens royalty portfolio. These third party owners and operators are also subject to risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted herein including: volatility in financial markets or general economic conditions; capital requirements and the need for additional financing; fluctuations in the rates of exchange for the currencies of Canada and the United States; prices for commodities including coal and aggregate; unanticipated changes in production, mineral reserves and mineral resources, metallurgical recoveries and/or exploration results; changes in regulations and unpredictable political or economic developments; loss of key personnel; labour disputes; and ineffective title to mineral claims or property. There are other business risks and hazards associated with mineral exploration, development and mining. Although Morien believes that the forward-looking information contained herein is based on reasonable assumptions (including assumptions relating to economic, market and political conditions, the Companys working capital requirements and the accuracy of information supplied by the operators of the properties in which the Company has a royalty interest), readers cannot be assured that actual results will be consistent with such statements. Morien expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information in this news release, whether as a result of new information, events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All dollar values discussed herein are in Canadian dollars. Any financial outlook or future-oriented financial information in this news release, as defined by applicable securities laws, has been approved by management of Morien as of the date of this news release. Such financial outlook or future-oriented financial information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such outlook or information should not be used for purposes other than for which it is disclosed in this news release. 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. Joe Biden racked up the endorsements from his former nemeses last week. Bernie Sanders gave Biden the nod in a highly scripted two-hander on April 13, just a few days after suspending his own campaign. (Yes, that happened just last week.) Elizabeth Warren chimed in on April 15 with a video endorsement that praised Bidens leadership in times of tragedy and economic uncertainty. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a devoted Sanders surrogate who got her start in politics on his 2016 campaign, came just short of endorsing Biden in an interview with Politico that same day. I would love to see the vice president clarify and deepen his policy stances on certain issues, she said. But aside from that, you know, I think its incredibly important that we support the Democratic nominee in November. As my colleague Jim Newell pointed out, the Democrats, for once, are in array. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a strange phenomenon to watch. To give their party the best chance of ousting Donald Trump in November, progressive political leaders are throwing their support behind one of the most conservative, least inspiring, most out-of-touch, least values-driven candidates from what was initially an uncommonly diverse and left-leaning primary slate. That task would have been delicate even in simpler times. Today, with an ongoing pandemic, a once-in-a-generation economic crisis afoot, and a recent sexual assault allegation against the presumptive Democratic nominee, it has the potential to be a minefield. But it hasnt been, really. Perhaps thats because, at its core, this outpouring of accolades from the partys nuclei of ideas and energy for an establishment candidate in visible cognitive decline is the picture of political normalcy. In a two-party system, the pride swallowing and the strained flattery arrive in the wake of every primary. For elected officials in either party, this is the cost of membership. Advertisement Advertisement Plus, were living in strange times, pandemic aside. The Democrats currently face an opponent, Donald Trump, who has activated the GOPs base in new and fearsome ways. In a recent piece in the Nation, former leaders of the left-wing Students for a Democratic Society wrote critically of the Democratic Socialists of Americas decision to refrain from endorsing Biden after Sanders withdrew from the race. Some of us are DSA members, but do not believe their position is consistent with a long-range vision of democracy, justice, and human survival, the group wrote. By failing to direct its members toward Biden, the countrys current best chance for leftward movement in the White House, the SDS leaders wrote, the DSA has communicated that Biden and Trump are equally undeserving of the presidency, a premise the group that authored the Nation piece strenuously disputed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, it might be difficult for some left-leaning people to really get energetic about campaigning for the former vice president. The challenges of endorsing Biden are particularly acute for progressive women and feminists, for example, especially those whove been supportive of the #MeToo movement and other efforts to unveil and eradicate sexual harassment and assault. Several women have accused Biden of foisting demeaning, unwanted kisses and touches upon them in professional settings, and Tara Reade, who worked in Bidens Senate office in the 90s, has accused him of sexual assault. When the New York Times reported on Reades allegation, its piece pointed out that the sexual assault allegations against Trump were far more extensive than the one against Biden. Some left-leaning pundits have made similar comparisons between Bidens policies and Trumps, expressing their halfhearted support for Biden by calling him (as they called Hillary Clinton four years ago) the lesser of two evils, an attempt at falling in line without abandoning their principles. Advertisement Advertisement Id argue that, for anyone truly invested in progressive social change, this is the wrong way to approach an election. A resigned acceptance of an elected officials shortcomings wont help turnout or organizing efforts. And assessing sexual assault allegations by their relative severity only serves to minimize them. But theres a better way to think about how the far left can support Biden. It just requires some refocusing. Advertisement Advertisement Here is the mindset of a political organizer: No one candidate will ever be a perfect leader in any movements eyes. Activists accept theyll have to put political pressure onand occasionally argue withwhoever wins the election. The question, for them, is which elected official theyd rather be up against, considering the respective communities the candidates are beholden to and their respective abilities to be swayed. Would Ocasio-Cortez rather push Trump to halt deportations, or Biden? Would #MeToo activists rather mobilize for sexual harassment legislation under a Trump administration, or a Biden one? Its not about accepting a lesser of two evils. Its about choosing an opponent. Advertisement Advertisement Its not about accepting a lesser of two evils. Its about choosing an opponent. Over the course of her campaign, Warren proved to be a clear communicator on gender issues, and her attempts to hold men accused of sexual harassment and assault accountable got results. Her February skewering of Mike Bloomberg on his history of sexist remarks and the sexual harassment claims he racked up at Bloomberg LP was one of the most memorable moments of the entire campaign cycle. Later that same night, she skillfully dismantled the Bloomberg apologia of MSNBCs Chris Matthews, leading to a broader reckoning with the anchors history of sexism and incompetence, shunting him into early retirement. Her success on these matters explains why it was a little surreal to hear the same candidate who made mincemeat of two sexist jerks in one night and made visible hundreds of stories of pregnancy discrimination last fall narrate a video in support of a man whose understanding of gender issues hasnt much advanced past his 1981 op-ed that faulted child care tax credits with subsidizing the deterioration of the family. But Warren knows what shes doing. Advertisement Advertisement The broader grounds of Warrens endorsement demonstrate that Biden has cleared the bar for political praise set by a coalition of Any Functioning Adult 2020 bumper stickers. Biden has served in government for a very long time, Warren says in her endorsement video. Obama assigned him tasks, and he completed those tasks, she notes. Biden is committed to getting something good done for this country. Not anything specific, just something. Not something great or transformative, just something good. Ocasio-Cortez offers a slightly different framework for coming to terms with a candidate like Biden. In response to a question about Reades allegation from a participant in an online conversation convened by the Wing, the congresswoman assured the audience that its legitimate to talk about these things if Democrats want to have integrity. Shes also been calling for Biden to adopt more progressive policies on immigration, climate change, and health careall while affirming that people who agree with her should commit to voting for the Democratic nominee in November. In other words, Ocasio-Cortez plans to use her support for Biden to move him closer to her favored policy ends, without waving away Reades allegation. Biden doesnt have to be anywhere close to perfect to be a useful potential ally for Ocasio-Cortezs political cohort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Likewise, in her endorsement, Warren did credit Biden with one actually great thing: doing what other people want him to do. When you come up with new facts or a good argument, hes not too afraid or too proud to be persuaded, she said in the video. Its a slightly inaccurate line of approval, considering that at several turns in his campaign, when given the chance to own up to sexist views he held in the past or his previous policy positions, Biden has lied or gotten defensive. But early in his presidential campaign, Biden did change his position on the Hyde Amendment: Like the vast majority of his former rivals in the race for the Democratic nomination, he now opposes the controversial policy, which prevents low-income women from receiving federal Medicaid coverage for abortion care. The likely reason for his shift was simple: Democratic voters and elected officials have moved left on several issues, including health care and abortion rights, so it made sense for Biden to follow them. Even Barack Obama said in his Biden endorsement that his 2008 platform would be insufficiently far-reaching for 2020. Biden may not be leading his party into a bold, radically equitable future, but at least hes on the bandwagon. Advertisement Advertisement Smart activists will take note of the way Biden has slowly but surely followed his party to the left. As advocates have pressured Democratic Party leaders to adopt more progressive policies, Biden has been forced to modify his own. Like any other elected official who wants to retain the support of his party and voter baseand much more so than his ideologically purer peers to the leftBiden is susceptible to carrots and sticks. A Biden presidency isnt a death knell to fairer policies on health care, housing, and wealth redistribution. Its an opportunity for activists to gain some ground. At least, thats how the left should imagine it. To maintain some movement cohesion and dispel the nihilism thats setting in, the left should think of a hypothetical Biden White House not as the least disastrous outcome out of two possible disastrous outcomes, but as a more favorable setting for a set of ongoing fights. Advertisement Advertisement This distinction might seem merely rhetorical, but it makes a big difference when youre talking about a candidate whos been accused of sexual assault. The choosing-an-opponent framework doesnt require any moral concessions or wavering on values, because theres no wholesale acceptance involved. And yet, it still leaves room for the sort of fired-up enthusiasm the begrudging lesser-of-two-evils narrative smothers. In her Biden endorsement video, Warren fondly recalls what Biden told her as he swore her into the Senate in 2013: You gave me hell, and youre gonna do a great job, he said. Therein lies the key to keeping progressives motivated for the 2020 election: Get them excited to give Joe Biden hell. Canadian authorities have extended the ban on the export of new weapons to Turkey for an indefinite period, CBC reported. The government suspended approval of export permits last fall after Turkish troops launched an invasion of northern Syria. Charles-Marie Matte, deputy director of the export controls division at Global Affairs, said in an email that approvals have been suspended until further notice. Turkey is on the list of trusted countries of the Canadian government, Canadian defense contractors can conduct business and sell weapons. Although some applications for permission are examined on an individual basis, the revised notice clearly states the issuance of permits for certain types of military products will be presumptively denied. In other words, companies with these goods should not even apply for permission to sell them to Turkey. The items in question include ammunition, light weapons, armour, protective equipment and electronics. Check back in three weeks, Rhonda McDonald, a single mother, told me last month. See if my hair is standing on end. It was still spring break then: no schoolwork, no working from home. Instead of traveling, McDonald, her three kids and her mother were all at home, getting the hang of social distancing. Structure, McDonald thought, was key to making stay-at-home life work. It gave a rhythm to their days, an appearance of normalcy. Each spring-break day at 9 a.m., she had the boys, 15 and 16, run five laps around a park near their house in Third Ward. Then they were given assignments, things like organizing the medicine cabinet. CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Stay informed with accurate reporting you can trust on HoustonChronicle.com Their toddler sister had two story times per day, plus craft time and instruction, things like tracing her letters. There were movie nights. There were board games. But how, McDonald and I both wondered, would that structure hold up once the boys resumed schoolwork and she restarted her job? How much normalcy could she build in these abnormal times? Sebastian, 16, had liked the idea of homeschooling. Away from the noisy distractions of Lamar High School, he predicted, hed make all As. Nigel, 15, wasnt so enthusiastic: He likes noisy distractions the trips to meet friends at Dave & Busters or the movies. Divya, the 4-year-old, bridles most of all at being cooped up. The bad germs are still out there, McDonald tells her. McDonald put everyone on a strict schedule. They were all supposed to go for a walk early every morning. And sometimes the boys do join her and Divya; usually not. Then its time for work. McDonald goes to her home office. And Divya hangs out near her or upstairs with McDonalds mom. Schoolwork, she told the boys, was their job, and now they were to treat it like one. Theyd homeschool from 8:30 until 4, with an hours break for lunch. (Sure, some of their friends dont wake up until 11. But the boys knew better than to try that.) They do at least start each morning on time, teeth brushed at 8:30, opening their school-issued laptops and checking in for office hours with their teachers. CORONAVIRUS CHRONICLE: Subscribe to our new daily podcast for pandemic insights through a Houston lens Mostly they work on their own. After awhile, they get drowsy. Sometimes they fall asleep. To rouse them, McDonald has instituted class changes an hourly schedule where the boys pick up their laptops and move to a new spot in the house. Youve got to keep your blood circulating! she tells them. If a snack would help them stay awake, she says, then fine: They can snack. Now the problem is that they stand in the pantry, both of them together, munching, for 15 minutes at a time. Get out! she shouts, when she notices. Shes been cooking them lunch every day, too, but shes threatening to quit that job. Im fine with being the homeschool principal and IT person, she says. But the lunch lady? The lunch lady isnt being paid enough. McDonald is a private client manager for Moet Hennessy USA. In normal times she travels frequently to Europe, and to the companys U.S. headquarters in New York. But mainly she works out of her home office. Her days feel different now, though and not just because there are teenagers grazing in her pantry. Suddenly, the rest of her company is working at home too. And now, instead of talking with her on the phone, theyre in Zoom meetings. Moet Hennessy is a luxury-goods conglomerate, and normally, its employees look as composed and coolly perfect as a flute of champagne. Coronavirus, though, has upended that. Moet Hennessy, she says, has been good about recognizing that employees have real lives, and that working from home is necessarily messy. On company Zoom meetings, its fine that her colleagues have to get up to tend a fussy baby, or that McDonalds daughter suddenly decides to crawl into her lap. LIVE UPDATES: Stay on top of the latest coronavirus news, analysis and more with our daily live blog Now Playing: 'COVID-19 in 60': Houston coronavirus news in a minute Video: Houston Chronicle She has Zoom meetings with clients, too. Theres no makeup! she marvels. None of us is wearing it. Not in Italy, France or the U.K.! Free of foundation all these weeks, her skin glows. On Friday, shell host her first social-distancing event for clients: a Zoom champagne gathering for women. That, she thinks, calls for making a new effort at her appearance on getting at least somewhat closer to her old self. Shell curl her hair, and wear some big, bling-y earring, a nice top, and eyeliner and lipstick. Shell move her laptop away from her desk, where the Zoom view is of a stack of boxes, and to a spot at the dining-room table, where shes carefully staged the room behind her. Things wont really be back to normal, of course. But at least on the laptop screen, theyll look that way. lisa.gray@chron.com, @LisaGray_HouTX Over forty Muslim coronavirus patients who were discharged from a hospital in Vadodara in Gujarat on Thursday have agreed to donate their blood plasma for the treatment of others, a community leader said. Recently the Union government allowed Gujarat health authorities to use on an experimental basis the plasma transfusion therapy which aims to boost the immunity of critical patients. Plasma (a component of blood) of recovered patients contains antibodies, which are supposed to help fight the infection when injected in other patients. On Thursday, 44 Muslim patients were given discharge from a Covid Care Centre in Vadodara after they tested negative for infection twice in two days, said community leader Zuber Goplani. Since all of them were asymptomatic and in non-critical stage, they were kept at this Covid centre, set up in the hostel premises of Ebrahim Bawany Industrial Training Institute on Ajwa road. "With intensive care and quality food provided by authorities, they finally recovered," Goplani added. "Since the plasma of their blood now carries antibodies for coronavirus, we asked them to donate their plasma so that lives of other patients can be saved," he said. While leaving, more than 40 of them said they were ready to donate plasma. IAS officer Vinod Rao, who is in-charge of Vadodara COVID-19 operation, said doctors, officials and community leaders persuaded these patients to donate their blood so that plasma can be extracted. "I am glad to know that they have agreed to become plasma donors. Plasma of these 40-odd patients will be useful in saving lives of 100 others," said Rao. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi, April 23 : When a Nagpur doctor founded a small nationalist group in 1925, he had no idea that nearly 100 years later, the RSS will be one of the biggest non-government groupings in the subcontinent, so widespread that its leadership may have a hard time communicating with each other in face of an unforeseen situation like the lockdown. As RSS supremo Mohan Bhagwat, Dattatreya Hosabale, Dr Krishna Gopal are all scattered across different parts of India, it is technology that the RSS has massively relied upon to not just hold meetings among the leadership but also to address its vast network of active cadres. While Bhagwat is stuck at the RSS headquarter at the Hedgewar Bhavan in Nagpur, Sar Karyavah (General Secretary) (Joint General Secreatry) Krishna Gopal and RSS's new Sah Prachar Pramukh (media in charge) Sunil Ambekar are here in the national capital. During this time of communication crisis, the RSS, like the government and corporate houses, is overtly counting on technology. For instance, this Sunday, Bhagwat will address a select lot of intellectuals. "The Sangh, from time to time, reaches out to different sections of society, be it academicians, intellectuals or traders. We can't stop what we do, due to the shutdown," said a RSS source closely associated with arranging Sunday's event. But in view of the lockdown, this address will be online. Bhagwat will address the select gathering through live streaming on the official Youtube and Facebook pages of the RSS. In fact, an invite for the same issued by RSS Nagpur Division's Rajesh Loya says: "Keeping the view the current scenario, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Nagpur is organizing an Online Bauddhik (address) on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya which will be addressed by Pujaneeya Sarsanghchalak Shri Mohan ji Bhagwat"(sic). On April 14, Dr Krishna Gopal held a meeting on April 14, on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti. He was addressing the RSS coordinates, mainly those who have been spearheading the Singh's efforts to feed people through small to medium teams. That meeting was held through popular video conference application Zoom. While he addressed from inside a house with a big photo of 'Bharat Mata' as the background, most of the attendees were on field duty and joined from the either footpath or inside a car. He told the online gathering: "Please be mindful of those in your vicinity who may be hungry. I urge you to feed them. There are many employers who too may be going through a tough time. But as PM Modi said and as Babasaheb Ambedkar himself would want, treat your employees with empathy." Meanwhile, given the security apprehension over the use of Zoom, the video conference was password protected. On an average, the top leadership of the Sangh is holding three to four video conferences every day, said a source based out of Maharashtra and familiar with the way the RSS is functioning amid the nationwide shutdown. The Sangh has even held a press conference, through video conference, on April 6. It's Sah Sarkaryavah (Joint General Secretary) Manmohan Vaidya had in fact lashed out at the Tablighi Jamaat for their congregation, through that press conference but de-hyphenating religion and the Covid-19 outbreak. Vaidya went on to say even within the community, the Tabhlighis "are getting exposed". Few days before that, using a secure line, Suresh Joshi, better known as 'Bhaiyaji' represented the RSS in a chat with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was part of the meeting where the PM reached out to organisations involved in social welfare to help dispel superstitions and myths over coronavirus. Not just talking among each other and with cadres, the RSS is using technology to go about with its regular business too. On the event of World Earth Day, the RSS organised an E-Competition on different themes. They called it 'Paryavaran Samrakshan'. While paintings and posters were invited for the completion, but rather than accepting them physically, a link is being provided where the entry can be uploaded to be judged. Many of its affiliates like Sewa Bharti, which claims to feed at least 75,000 people Delhi every day during the lockdown, are increasingly using WhatsApp video calls. "The number of WhatsApp groups too have exponentially grown ever since the lockdown kicked in," said a member who is overseeing distribution at a community kitchen in Delhi.A As late as last week, Bhagwat himself took stock of the organizational work with office-bearers through video conference. He is learnt to have asked about the plan after the lockdown is taken off, the feasibility of starting shakhas in a phased manner when the government lifts the lockdown and taking stock RSS cadres ground work in providing food and ration to the marginalized -- all of it, through a virtual medium. For the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its top leadership, like most corporate establishments or governments, its business as usual. (Anindya Banerjee can be contacted at anindya.b@ians.in) --IANS abn/dv A Latest updates on Gandhi Jayanti 2019 Opioid addiction isn't taking a break during the coronavirus pandemic. But the U.S. response to the viral crisis is making addiction treatment easier to get. Under the national emergency declared by the Trump administration in March, the government has suspended a federal law that required patients to have an in-person visit with a physician before they could be prescribed drugs that help quell withdrawal symptoms, such as Suboxone. Patients can now get those prescriptions via a phone call or videoconference with a doctor. Addiction experts have been calling for that change for years to help expand access for patients in many parts of country that have shortages of physicians eligible to prescribe these medication-assisted treatments. A federal report in January found that 40% of U.S. counties don't have a single health care provider approved to prescribe buprenorphine, an active ingredient in Suboxone. A 2018 law called for the new policy, but regulations were never finalized. "I wish there was another way to get this done besides a pandemic," said Dr. David Kan, chief medical officer of Bright Heart Health, a Walnut Creek, California, company. It has recently started working with insurers and health providers to help addicted patients get therapy and medications without having to leave their homes. He said he hopes the administration will make the changes permanent after the national emergency ends. For years before the emergency regulations, Bright Heart along with several other telemedicine counseling providers began offering opioid addiction treatment and counseling via telemedicine, even if they couldn't prescribe initial medication for addiction. Patients can renew prescriptions for drugs to deal with withdrawal symptoms, get drug-tested and meet with counselors for therapy. When Nathan Post needed help overcoming a decade-long drug addiction, he went online in 2018 and used Bright Heart Health to connect to a doctor and weekly individual and group counseling sessions. He said the convenience is a big benefit. "As an addict, it was easy to have excuses not to do stuff, but this was easy because I could just be in my living room and turn on my computer, so I had no reason to blow it off," he said. Post, 38, a tattoo artist who recently moved from New Mexico to Iowa City, Iowa, was addicted to Suboxone, the drug he was prescribed in 2009 to deal with an addiction to opioid pills. Officials with the insurer Anthem said using Bright Heart's telemedicine option has helped increase medication-assisted treatment for members with opioid drug abuse issues from California and nine other states from 16% to more than 30%. While fewer than 5% of Anthem patients seeking addiction treatment use telemedicine, the company expects the option to become more common. Bright Heart Health officials say one barometer of the effectiveness of the care is that 90% of patients are still in treatment after 90 days and 65% after 90 days far higher than with traditional treatment. Several insurers including Aetna, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies like Anthem across the country have begun covering the telemedicine addiction service. Dr. Miriam Komaromy, medical director of Boston Medical Center's Grayken Center for Addiction, said there are some downsides to virtual care. "I think therapists and providers do worry whether it provides the same level of engagement with the patient and whether it's possible to gauge someone's sincerity and level of motivation as easily over a camera as in person," she said. But she predicted telemedicine service will grow because of the tremendous need to broaden access to mental health and addiction counseling. "Too often the default is no counseling for patients," she said. "This gives us another set of tools." Patients can also have trouble finding a doctor who is eligible to prescribe medication to help treat addiction. Physicians are required to get a federal license to prescribe Suboxone and other controlled substances that help patients with opioid addictions and can write only limited numbers of prescriptions each month. Many doctors hesitate to seek that qualification. A few small studies have found that patients are as likely to stay with telemedicine treatment as with in-person care for drug addiction. But no studies have determined whether one type of therapy is more effective. Telemedicine does have its limits and is not right for everyone, particularly patients who require more intensive inpatient care or who lack easy internet access, Komaromy said. Premera Blue Cross and Blue Shield officials said they are partnering with Boulder Care, a digital recovery program based in Portland, Oregon, to help customers in rural Alaska. "Telemedicine is a unique way for someone to go through treatment in a discreet manner," said Rick Abbott, a Premera vice president. While telemedicine has been growing in popularity for physical medicine, some people may still be reluctant to use it for drug addiction. There are also concerns that allowing providers to prescribe controlled substances without meeting patients in person could increase the risks of fraud. "There is a fear around this that there may be some rogue providers who make a lot of money off addiction and will do it stealthily on the internet," said Dr. Alyson Smith, an addiction medical specialist with Boulder Care. "While that is a small risk, we have to compare it to the huge benefit of expanding treatment that will save lives." Smith said she doesn't notice a big difference in treating patients for drug addiction in her office compared with on a video screen. She can still see patients' pupils to make sure they are dilated and ask them about how they are feeling which can determine whether it's appropriate to prescribe certain drugs. Dilated pupils are a sign of patients suffering from withdrawal from heroin and other drugs. Dr. Dawn Abriel, who treated Post and previously directed a methadone clinic in Albuquerque, New Mexico, said she can diagnose patients over video without issue. "I can pick up an awful lot on the video," particularly a patient's body language, she said. "I think people open up to me more because they are sitting in their homes and in their place of comfort." In West Virginia, one of the states hardest hit by the opioid addiction epidemic, Highmark, a Blue Cross and Blue Shield company, started offering telehealth addiction coverage with Bright Heart Health in January. Highmark officials say a lack of providers, particularly in rural parts of the state, meant that many of the insurer's members had difficulty finding the help they need. Dr. Caesar DeLeo, vice president and executive medical director of strategic initiatives for Highmark, said the insurer was having problems getting customers into care. Only about a third of members with addiction issues were receiving treatment, he said. "We needed to address the crisis with a new approach," DeLeo said. "This will give people more options and give primary care doctors who do not want to prescribe Suboxone another place to refer patients." DeLeo said patients will also be referred to Bright Heart in hospital emergency rooms. Dr. Paul Leonard, an emergency doctor and medical director for Workit Health, an Ann Arbor, Michigan, company offering telemedicine treatment and counseling programs, said many patients who turn to ERs for addiction treatment get little help finding counseling. With online therapy, patients can sign up while still in the ER. "We've built a better mousetrap," Leonard said. Telemedicine addiction providers said they and their patients are getting more accustomed to virtual care. "There are always times you wish you could reach out and hold someone's hand, and you can't do that," said Boulder's Smith. "But we feel like we are more skilled at a virtual hand-holding and really connect with people and they feel well supported in return." China has promised to send $30million extra to the World Health Organization (WHO) to 'support' the agency after Washington said it would freeze its $500million funding meant for it during an escalating diplomatic row. US President Trump accused the WHO of being 'very China-centric' before announcing his decision to halt funding from the organisation. Geng Shuang, the spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, praised the WHO and its chief for being 'objective, just and scientific in fulfilling its duty'. The news comes as another major Chinese city with around 10 million people has adopted draconian quarantine measures to curb a new COVID-19 outbreak. China has announced that there are only two critically ill coronavirus patients left in Wuhan, the former epicentre of the pandemic. Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang (pictured on March 18) said Beijing's new donation to the World Health Organization would help 'strengthen developing countries' health systems' US President Trump (pictured on April 16) claimed the coronavirus outbreak could have been contained with 'very little death' had the WHO assessed the situation in China accurately The US, which is the WHO's biggest contributor, accused the organisation last week of 'mismanaging' the COVID-19 crisis, drawing ire from Beijing as both countries spar over the deadly virus. Trump also claimed the outbreak could have been contained with 'very little death' had the WHO assessed the situation in China accurately. Beijing's spokesperson Geng said the new donation would be in addition to a previous $20 million committed and would help 'strengthen developing countries' health systems'. 'China and its people will show support and confidence to WHO by this donation,' Geng added. The WHO, under the leadership of Ethiopian Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (pictured on March 11), has been accused by Washington of being 'China-centric' in its handling of the pandemic Geng added that China's contribution to the UN agency 'reflects the support and trust of the Chinese government and people for the WHO'. He hailed the organisation for 'playing an important role in helping countries fight the epidemic and promoting the international counter-epidemic collaboration'. In announcing the funding freeze last week, US President Donald Trump accused the WHO of covering up the seriousness of the coronavirus outbreak in China before it spread. According to Trump, US taxpayers provided between $400 million and $500 million per year to the WHO, while 'in contrast, China contributes roughly $40 million a year and even less'. Ethiopian Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, has faced heavy criticism over his handling of the pandemic, especially for praise he heaped on China's communist party for its response - hailing the regime's 'commitment to transparency' and saying the speed with which it detected the virus was 'beyond words'. There are currently 69 active COVID-19 cases including two critical cases in Wuhan, according to officials. Pictured, a medic attends to an ICU patient at Tongji Hospital in Wuhan on April 11 Over 82,000 people in mainland China have been infected with the deadly disease and at least 4,632 patients have died, according to China's official figures. Pictured, a recovered patient wearing a face shield lines up in a hospital after the lockdown was lifted in Wuhan on April 13 Mi Feng, a spokesperson from the Chinese Centre of Disease Prevention and Control, said in a press conference today that Wuhan now only has two coronavirus patients who are in critical condition. 'But some areas with infection clusters have seen an increase in confirmed cases,' Mi continued. '[We need to] cut the source of the spread quickly, fill in the loopholes in epidemic control and firmly prevent the second wave of outbreak.' Mi Feng, a spokesperson from the Chinese Centre of Disease Prevention and Control, said today that the number of active confirmed patients in China has dropped below 1,000 for the first time. The health official is pictured speaking at a press briefing earlier this month Mi's remarks comes as Harbin, the provincial capital of Heilongjiang in north-eastern China, is grappling with what is now the country's biggest coronavirus outbreak. The city of around 10 million has a similar population and the same political importance as Wuhan. The government yesterday released a directive to instruct further restrictions on its residents, visitors and inbound traffic. Harbin, the provincial capital and the biggest city of Heilongjiang, which borders Russia Officials say the virus was likely 'imported' into the city by a student who had returned from New York. Pictured, passengers wearing masks push luggage carts at Harbin airport on April 11 Mi said today that the number of active confirmed patients in China has dropped below 1,000 for the first time. More than half of the patients who contracted the bug from abroad have recovered, the official stated. Over 82,000 people in mainland China have been infected with the deadly disease and at least 4,632 patients have died, according to China's official figures. China has recorded 1,616 'imported cases' from abroad, including 793 active cases and 823 patients who have recovered. A total of 77,207 coronavirus patients have been discharged from hospitals in the country. The former ground zero Hubei Province has borne the brunt of the coronavirus cases in China, with a total of 68,128 infections and 4,512 deaths. There are 69 active confirmed cases in Hubei as of today and 63,547 patients have recovered from the deadly disease. China puts a city of 10 million 'on lockdown' to curb a new outbreak A major Chinese city has adopted draconian quarantine measures against the novel coronavirus after a new outbreak was detected there. More than 70 people have been infected and over 4,000 are being tested in Harbin after the virus was believed to be 'imported' into the city by a student who had returned from New York, according to media reports. Officials have banned gatherings and ordered communities to closely monitor non-local visitors and vehicles in the city of around 10 million. Checkpoints have been installed at the airport and train stations, to screen those coming from elsewhere. Harbin's government said this month it was ordering 28 days of quarantine for all arrivals from abroad, with two nucleic acid tests and an antibody test for each. Pictured, workers in protective suits are seen at a registration point for passengers at an airport in Harbin on April 11 Harbin, the provincial capital of Heilongjiang in north-eastern China, has been grappling with what is now the country's biggest coronavirus outbreak. The government yesterday released a directive to instruct further restrictions on its residents, visitors and inbound traffic. Before entering any public facilities and residential complexes, people must use a government-approved health app to prove they don't have the virus, have their temperature taken and wear a face mask, the notice says. Residents must follow social-distancing measures. Weddings, funerals, public performances and conferences are banned. A man is pictured keeping watch at a checkpoint in Suifenhe, Heilongjiang, on April 21 All confirmed, suspected, asymptomatic cases and their close contacts will be put into strict quarantine. All their neighbours in the same building must be isolated at home for two weeks with around-the-clock surveillance. Asymptomatic cases are those who carry the virus but show no symptoms. They can still spread the virus to others. Anyone in home-quarantine must pass two nucleic acid tests, which detect the coronavirus, and one anti-body test, which shows if the person has had the virus in the past. Harbin, Heilongjiang's biggest city, had already ordered isolation for those arriving from outside China or key epidemic areas. The city's government said this month it was ordering 28 days of quarantine for all arrivals from abroad, with two nucleic acid tests and an antibody test for each. Advertisement The pandemic has claimed more than 48,000 lives and infected over 856,000 in the US The deadly virus, which has claimed more than 181,000 lives worldwide, first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, which was locked down in late January for 76 days to curb the spread. It continued its global march, however, with cases reported in 193 countries and territories to date, ravaging economies around the globe. Beijing has urged the US to support WHO-led international action against the pandemic after it halted funding, while observers warned that the US freeze would have consequences for the WHO's other disease control programmes around the world. Author Lionel Shriver with (maybe?) her quarantine reading, Pushkin in the original Russian. (Jeff Williams) The Times asked authors to track what they do in isolation. Lionel Shriver, the very outspoken author of "We Need to Talk About Kevin" and the forthcoming novel "The Motion of the Body Through Space," reads Pushkin in Russian, learns Greek and imagines a world with no book sales. Or does she actually watch British reality TV and raunchy videos, drink and yell at the news? Tuesday, 14 April You know, Im glad for the lockdown, I say reflectively. All this opportunity for contemplation and solitude. And the social solidarity is so uplifting. Yes, Jeff says. Social solidarity is a lot easier when you dont see anybody. I return to Remembrance of Things Past, because during this becalming stasis it makes sense to read a book in which nothing happens. Jeff picks thoughtfully at the sitar he ordered on Amazon. Ive always wanted to read Proust, Jeff has always wanted to learn the sitar, and thanks to the British government we can fulfill our dreams. I head to the Tesco Metro covered in PPE (gotta dig all our hip new lingo). Silent, wary social-distance queuing with fellow Londoners Ive learned to spurn as leaky vessels of lethal contagion means a 15-minute trip now takes two hours. Again I relish the extended meditation and chance for inner wisdom. Lately I really know myself, right? So it hardly matters that I dont know anyone else. Jeff and I take a lingering online tour of the British Museum, gawking at big chunks of rock that have endured, stoic and implacable, for thousands of years. Their defiant inertia seems to be telling us something. Theyre not going anywhere. So whats our problem? A rock, stoic and implacable, at the British Museum. (Oli Scarff / Getty Images) At dinner I remark beamingly, Im pleased we agreed not to drink during this period of enlightenment and cultural enrichment. The mental clarity is so refreshing. This evening, I read Pushkin aloud in Russian. Jeff doesnt speak Russian but he gets so caught up in the rolling rhythms of the poems that he is moved to tears. I am so moved that he is moved that I cry too. Then Jeff is moved that I am moved that he is moved, and the sofa gets terribly wet. We have tender tantric sex, because weve never been this close. Cheers, Boris Johnson. Story continues (I lied. We got up at noon. I read the Telegraph, the New York Times and the Spectator, then maniacally worked on my new manuscript, the only fiction I can stand to read. We watched the Channel 4 News, Newsnight, Sky News, PBS NewsHour and one more car-crash presidential press briefing on CNN. We killed a second bottle of wine. We made a fumbling stab at sex but Jeff was too drunk.) Wednesday Royal Opera HouseMoby Dick I confess, I ruminate at dinner, I was peevish at first that my new novel will be released into a black hole, with no bookstores or promotional events. But maybe next months publication date is another lucky break. Isnt selling ones work a little grubby? Its a defilement, Jeff agrees readily, with a sense of excitement. An audience for any true work of art, I say with a returning excitement, is also a defilement. Surely theres a purity to a novel no one reads. Reading is a kind of contamination or appropriation. I feel the same way about jazz, Jeff says vigorously. When anyone listens to me drum, they interfere with the music. If clubbers pay a cover charge, the relationship is transactional. The music becomes about money in a way, it becomes money. Im so relieved that, on the other side of this, all the venues will be bankrupt and replaced with pawnshops and off-track betting. That way I can play all by myself, like a real pro. Gordon Ramsay in noisier times. (Fox) I pat my husbands thigh with a touch of condescension. Oh, honey. Youre right about how fortunate you are to be shed of a viable occupation. But on the other side of this? Who said anything about another side? I take my 2020 diary to bed and put big, joyous black Xs through Reviewers Dinner, Book Launch, Solo Spectator event at Emmanuel Centre, Swiss Festival, Ely Festival, Bath Festival, Dublin Festival" and Hay Festival, and then let Jeff do the honors on his own account. He strikes through JW tour of Portugal and JW tour for Bloom with Carmen Staaf and Michael Formanek with a zestful flourish. (OK, the Xs are real. Otherwise, I lied. We got up at 2 p.m. We watched Knowers video The Government Knows When You Masturbate three times. We devoured five episodes each of Ramsays "Kitchen Nightmares and Come Dine With Me. We streamed Who Wants to be a Millionaire and then watched Quiz, which, being about Who Wants to be a Millionaire, gave us the cozy Russian-doll feeling of Gogglebox: watching people on TV who are watching TV. I cant believe Jeff has already polished off that tequila.) Thursday Jeff and I divide up the parts of Ibsens An Enemy of the People and perform the script aloud. I decide its time I learned Greek. I learn Greek. Then I learn to play the violin. It takes a few minutes but within the hour I can get through the Prokofiev Violin Concerto #2 at a good pace. Jeff is doing an online course on Indonesian cooking. I take up watercolors. Then I knit bright woolen masks for the National Health Service. At 8 p.m. we lean out our front windows and bang pots with wooden spoons to express our gratitude for NHS staff. We feel a warm glow of conformity. The dented pots are ruined, but thats all right because banging out the window makes so much difference to what happens. Ive been managing emotionally but today Im anxious. Britains three-week lockdown is closing on four weeks. How will the government keep us safe? Worried, after destroying our cookware, we turn on the news. Dominic Raab announces that the lockdown will last three more weeks. Boris Johnson. (Czarek Sokolowski / Associated Press) Thank God! I gasp. It was super important he didnt even hint when were going to exit, Jeff says appreciatively. The British are a dim and impulsive people, and at even the word exit theyd all rush into the street and start licking each other. Back to carving Italian marble? I propose. (Not quite. We woke at dusk, which Jeff used as an excuse to crack open the cognac. I carped that he really shouldnt start drinking before weve had our morning coffee. Jeff got belligerent and broke the snifter, then tried to blame me for it. We both refused to sweep up the glass. I grabbed the bottle for rewatching Kenneth Clarks Civilisation while we still had one.) Lionel Shrivers new novel, The Motion of the Body Through Space, is out in May. Please dont despoil it by ordering a copy. BANGKOK - Indonesia is suspending passenger flights and rail service as it restricts people in the worlds most populous Muslim nation from travelling to their hometowns during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan because of the coronavirus outbreak. The transportation ministrys director general of aviation, Novie Riyanto, said late Thursday the flight ban applies to both domestic and international flights. He said there would be some exceptions, including for leaders of state institutions, representatives of international organizations and the repatriation of Indonesian citizens. Officials also suspended all railway service linking cities on Java island, where 54% of the countrys nearly 270 million people live, and banned private cars from leaving Jakarta. During Ramadan, which begins Friday, faithful Muslims normally fast during the day and then congregate for night prayers and share communal meals. President Joko Widodo previously banned people from travelling home to celebrate Eid al-Fitr to mark the end of the daily fasting, amid warnings from health experts that Indonesia could face a virus outbreak affecting 1 million people unless it takes stricter measures. Millions of Indonesians usually cram into trains, ferries, cars and planes during the annual exodus. Indonesia has reported 7,418 infections, including 635 deaths. In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region: NORTH KOREA REPORTS NO CASES: North Korea has told the World Health Organization it has tested 740 people for the coronavirus as of April 17 and no one tested positive. Edwin Salvador, WHOs representative to North Korea, said the Health Ministry has been sharing weekly updates with WHO on its anti-virus efforts. He said WHO is working with the government to bring anti-virus supplies from China. The countrys borders remain closed and all goods are brought in by sea. CHINA GIVES MORE TO WHO: China said it will give an additional $30 million to the World Health Organization to help fight the coronavirus, on top of an earlier $20 million contribution. The announcement comes as the U.S., WHOs main contributor, threatens to cut off funding over criticism the U.N. body has not shown sufficient leadership in the fight against the virus and has uncritically supported China despite allegations Chinese officials initially suppressed news of the outbreak, first detected in Wuhan late last year. China also said Australian calls for an independent investigation into the cause of the pandemic are politically motivated and unhelpful. Australia is among a number of countries calling for more information from Beijing about where the virus originated and whether all efforts were made to stop it from spreading. TAIWAN: Taiwan said it is extending restrictions on flights to China and a ban on transit passengers. The self-governing islands Centers for Disease Control said lifting the restrictions would depend on the status of the disease. Taiwan confirmed two more cases of the virus from a navy refuelling ship that recently returned from a training mission to Palau, bringing the total from the ship to 29. THAILAND AVIATION GUIDELINES: Thai aviation authorities issued guidelines for airlines that plan to resume domestic flights on May 1. The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand said there must be empty seats next to all passengers and the last row must remain empty for isolating passengers who develop symptoms in flight. Cabin crews must wear masks, gloves and face shields, and passengers must bring their own masks and wear them at all times. Food and drink will not be provided and passengers may not bring their own for consumption during the flight. Domestic airlines cancelled their flights on their own initiative with permission from the aviation authorities. There is a ban through April 30 on incoming international commercial passenger flights, imposed in part because of a shortage of facilities to quarantine arriving passengers. CRUISE SHIP LEAVES AUSTRALIA: A cruise ship that is the subject of a criminal investigation after it became Australias largest single source of coronavirus infections set off from the countrys shores a month after it was ordered by police to leave. The Ruby Princess has been linked to 19 deaths in Australia and two in the United States. A government inquiry is underway into why 2,700 passengers and crew were allowed to disembark in Sydney on March 19 before test results for sick passengers were known. The Ruby Princess delayed its departure because of sick crew members, several of whom have died in Sydney hospitals. BANGLADESH REOPENING FACTORIES: Bangladesh is extending a nationwide lockdown by another 10 days, but says manufacturers can slowly reopen factories that produce export goods, including garments. It said the companies must ensure safe conditions for their workers. Bangladesh has the worlds second largest garment industry after China. Garment manufacturers say customers have cancelled or suspended orders worth $3.17 billion, affecting 2.3 million workers. VIETNAM TO LOOSEN RESTRICTIONS: Vietnam, which moved quickly to close its borders and trace coronavirus cases, has reported no new cases in several days and is preparing to loosen restrictions. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said the country will be gradually reopened so people can get back to normal life. The government has lifted a ban on inter-provincial travel and has allowed an increase in domestic flights. In several provinces, students were going back to school after almost three months. Vietnam has reported no coronavirus deaths. US SAYS CHINA TAKING ADVANTAGE OF VIRUS: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told his Southeast Asian counterparts on Thursday that China is taking advantage of the worlds preoccupation with the coronavirus pandemic to push its territorial ambitions in the South China Sea. Pompeo made the accusation in a meeting via video to discuss the outbreak with the foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Beijings expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea conflict with those of several ASEAN members. Its now crystal clear that the need for trustworthy, accurate, and local information can be a matter of life and death, said Steven Waldman, co-founder and president of Report for America. This surge of reporters should help meet this moment. Report for America today announced the selection of 225 journalists for its 2020 reporting corps. The new cohort will be placed with more than 160 local news organizations across 45 states and Puerto Rico. These reporting positions come at a time when local journalism is already reeling from years of newsroom cuts and unforeseen challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. They also mark a major expansion from the current corps size of 59, of whom, more than 90 percent are returning. Report for America is a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities through its reporting corps. It is an initiative of the nonprofit news organization, The GroundTruth Project. The full list of 2020-21 corps members is here. The journalists start in June and reflect wide ranging backgrounds of the communities they will serve: 225 reporters in 162 newsrooms About 40 percent are journalists of color More than a quarter speak Spanish More than three quarters are women 5 are post-9/11 military veterans Its now crystal clear that the need for trustworthy, accurate, and local information can be a matter of life and death, said Steven Waldman, co-founder and president of Report for America. This surge of reporters should help meet this moment. Today, Report for America also announced a new round of support from the Facebook Journalism Project. Facebook is a leading supporter of the program and their latest contribution of $2.5 million will help scale the corps at this tremendous time of need for local news. "Local journalists are providing us with an extraordinary public service 24 hours a day, said Campbell Brown, VP, Global News Partnerships, Facebook. We all need to understand how the virus is impacting the communities where we liveit's vital information that's helping keep our friends and families safe, and we're proud to support Report for America in this effort." Report for America co-founder Charles Sennott, CEO of GroundTruth, said, Were grateful to all of our funders who are allowing us to answer a great need across the country for trusted local news and to restore journalism from the ground up in communities across the country. THE 2020-21 CORPS This years Report for America corps was chosen after a highly selective national competition that drew more than 1,800 applications. Leading journalists, editors and academics from a diverse spectrum of backgrounds and different media platforms acted as judges. Among the new class are the winners of: the Maryland/Delaware/DC First Place Award for Best Series (Surviving Abuse); Best breaking news and human interest stories from the Los Angeles Press Club (for Families lose loved ones to Orange Countys opioid crisis); and the New England Press Association Rookie of the Year Award. The group also includes career-changers and reporters with unusual non-journalism experiences, including: a Stanford computer scientist who holds two patents, the Air Force Academys Outstanding Educator of the Year, a Ph.D. ecologist, an intelligence officer in the Israel Defense Forces and a Peace Corps volunteer in Rwanda. The talent level of our applicants was extraordinary, said Kim Kleman, National Director of Report for America. And it shows that theres a new generation that cant wait to get out there, connect with residents and report on whats happening in communities throughout the country. They have worked on staff at a wide range of newsrooms, including the Associated Press, Boston Globe, the Daily Oklahoman, Deseret News, Hubbard Broadcasting, the Marion Star, Miami Herald, New York Times, NPR, PBS NewsHour, Quad City Times, Texas Tribune, KEVN Fox local news, USA Today, Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. Five are post-9/11 veterans seeking their next opportunity to serve at home. As a transitioning military memberwith service around the country and worldI recognize the importance of local journalism, said Brandon Lingle, a U.S. Air Force veteran who will be reporting for the San Antonio Express-News. Local voices and stories are critical for our democracy today. The corps members attended a wide range of colleges and graduate schools from around the country including: Arizona State University, Columbia University, Marquette University, Miami Dade College, Millsaps College, Milwaukee School of Engineering, North Carolina A&T State University, Northern Kentucky University, Northwestern University, Oklahoma Christian University, Princeton University, United States Air Force Academy, University of California Berkeley, University of Idaho, University of Southern California, University of Wyoming and Yale. Many corps members will cover the coronavirus for their host news organizations. Report for America and The GroundTruth Project have been developing guidelines and workshops for journalists to work safely in the field at this time of required isolation and social distancing. THE NEWSROOMS The newsrooms were selected in December based on a national competition. To win, news organizations described an urgent gap in coverage and a plan to deploy a Report for America journalist to address that gap. As a result of the COVID-19 shock, some newsrooms pulled out of the program and others newsrooms asked for additional staff. The 162 newsrooms are in 45 states, plus Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Nearly half of the positions are in nonprofit media organizations. Initially, many of the corps members will be covering COVID-19. Over time, they will shift to the beats originally defined by the newsrooms, including health care, housing, schools, government accountability, minority issues, environmental issues, and military and veterans affairs. The final list of newsrooms, searchable by state or beat, can be found online. ESSENTIAL PHILANTHROPIC PARTNERS Report for America aims to increase the size of its reporter corps each yearwith a goal of 1,000 journalists by 2024. Its ability to scale the program is made possible by multi-year commitments from supporters like the Knight Foundation. Report for America leverages a unique funding match model, paying half of a corps members salary, while encouraging and supporting its local news partners to contribute one-quarter, and local and regional funders to contribute the final quarter. For example, the North Carolina Local News Lab Fund, an initiative of the Democracy Fund, gave $40,000 this year to seven Report for America newsroom partners across North Carolina, getting them off to a running start on their fundraising for the year. "Local news and information are an essential to the immediate response to this current crisis. Communities need accessible, credible reporting now and for the long term, even as news organizations face unprecedented challenges. Report for America corps members can serve those communities' needs and catalyze new forms of support," said Lizzy Hazeltine, fund coordinator, for the North Carolina Local News Lab Fund at the North Carolina Community Foundation. Additional leading, current supporters include: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Natasha and Dirk Ziff; The Joyce Foundation; The David and Lucile Packard Foundation; Jonathan Logan Family Foundation; Craig Newmark Philanthropies; Chan Zuckerberg Initiative; Heising-Simons Foundation; Tow Foundation; Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation; Evelyn Y. Davis Foundation; LOR Foundation/Solutions Journalism Network; Galloway Family Foundation; Leon Levy Foundation; Inasmuch Foundation; Select Equity Group; Henry L. Kimelman Foundation; Annie E. Casey Foundation; Newman's Own Foundation; Annenberg Foundation; Santa Fe Community Foundation; Samuel I. Newhouse Foundation; Further Forward Foundation; and McClatchy Foundation. To learn more about Report for America and its efforts to strengthen communities through public service journalism, please visit http://www.reportforamerica.org. If you are interested in partnering with Report for America, please write to info@reportforamerica.org. About Report for America: Report for America is a national service program that places talented emerging journalists in local news rooms to report on under-covered topics and communities. Launched in 2017 and donor-financed, Report for America is creating a new, sustainable system that provides Americans with the information they need to improve their communities, hold powerful institutions accountable, and rebuild trust in the media. Report for America is an initiative of The GroundTruth Project, a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. GroundTruth is an award-winning nonprofit media organization with an established track record of training and supporting teams of emerging journalists around the world and in the US. For years, Skip Sroka was leaving money on the table. I wasnt charging for installs, only for product delivery, says the Washington, D.C.based designer. There were multiple areas I was failing to charge, yet providing great value to my clients. It wasnt a flash of inspiration or a seminar that led to Sroka changing his strategyit was an open discussion with fellow designers about pricing practices in Design Trust Limited, a national peer group for designers. Even in normal times, groupswhether large and formalized or just a running text with a few friendshave been an essential way for designers to navigate best practices and get the most out of their businesses. In a time of unprecedented uncertainty, theyre more important than ever. Founded in 2015, Design Trust Limited is made up of 24 designers from across the country, all of whom own and operate their own firms. The peer-to-peer organization aims to provide members with a place to speak transparently about specific business concerns. I have never been able to share and learn from others the way I do in this group, says Sroka, who serves as the president. There is nothing we dont go over confidentially. Currently, DTL is keeping track of vendors that are honoring orders and those who are on shaky ground. My biggest angst, aside from keeping my team employed, is the supply chain, says Debbie Baxter, a designer in San Antonio. I have orders to place for product and deposits from clients and Ive been struggling with how to place them safely under the current economic conditions. Baxter says that the information sharing going on in the group is taking some of the pressure off those decisions and giving her confidence in the orders she does move ahead with. Last month, when Congress passed the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act, members of the DTL were quick to decipher the requirements necessary to qualify for the Small Business Administrations Paycheck Protection Program and share them with the group. There was so much early information coming out from the government about the new loan program requirements that didnt match what the SBA actually needed, says Douglas Greiwe, a designer in Cincinnati. Our group spent the time to drill down and make sure none of us made any errors in our applications. You were given one opportunity to apply for these loans, so we all wanted to make the most of that and be able to benefit from them. Megan Gorelick, a designer based in Montchanin, Delaware, says that she even found herself educating her accountant and local banker about the intricacies of the SBA loans and Paycheck Protection Program based on information the DTL had provided. Many DTL members are industry veterans who have weathered previous economic downturns and are able to share their advice and experience with younger members. The more experienced designers came out of the last recession with a great deal of knowledge and hindsight that can help all of us avoid some of the minefields, says San Diegobased designer Anita Dawson. We have discussed how to keep our staff on in the near term, but we also talked about recognizing the signs so that we can make some hard decisions before its too late. We talk about cash flow and receivables, but we also are thinking collectively about the ways our industry will change and how we can be best prepared. Beyond providing each other with business advice, the DTL is now acting as something of a support group during this turbulent time. Every Friday afternoon, theres an hourlong call where members can voice their concerns and lend an ear to one another. Having people to talk with who understand what we are all going through gives us all comfort, says Greiwe. There is strength in not being alone, and it gives us all a way to be able to go back to our teams and clients with a positive message and to keep moving forward. The driver of a black Porsche involved in the horrific Eastern Freeway crash that killed four police officers has been identified by multiple police sources as mortgage broker Richard Pusey. The Age has confirmed that Mr Pusey is the 41-year-old driver who is in police custody being questioned by homicide detectives after allegedly leaving the scene of the crash on Wednesday night. Four Victoria Police officers were killed in the horrific crash after the black Porsche 911 was pulled over for speeding near the Burke Road exit at Kew during a routine check about 5.40pm. It is alleged Mr Pusey was speeding at around 140km/h when he was pulled over. A fluid test was conducted, allegedly returning a positive result for drugs. Two officers called for back-up from colleagues and were preparing to impound the car when a semi-trailer ploughed into the group. The third series of Killing Eve is romping along at its usual break-neck speed with three brutal deaths already chalked up - but some viewers have been getting distracted by spotting their local high streets on screen. The BBC drama, which was released early to help cheer people up during lockdown, has so far offered up locations including New Malden, Kingston, Kew and Ealing - with Twitter account @KillingEveSites signposting for fans the suburban streets the crew used during filming last summer. While the show is known for it's shocking and heart wrenching storylines, fans have admitted they're thrilled to see so many filming locations they recognise from their own London neighbourhoods. One independent off-licence, The Good Wine Shop, on Royal Parade in Kew, tweeted 'fame at last' after making a cameo in episode two when key character Konstantin (Kim Bodnia) lingers for a chat with Geraldine, the daughter of Carolyn Martens, head of Russia at M16. EALING BROADWAY Killing Eve fan fanatics have uncovered the suburban locations across London where the thrilling hit TV drama is filmed (pictured, Sandra Oh as the titular character on a bus driving along Ealing Broadway) As the titular character travelled through London on the top of a double-decker bus in the first episode, eagle-eyed viewers were able to spot she was actually driving along Ealing Broadway high street by looking at the size and shape of the shops in the background. And while Eve believes she spots arch-nemesis Villanelle (Jodie Comber) loitering at a bus stop on the high street, fans noticed that the the location had actually been erected by production for the shot. NEW MALDEN In the third season of the programme, which is currently airing on BBC, Eve is living in New Malden, with filming regularly taking place on the high street Meanwhile other West London neighbourhoods have also appeared in the programme with greater prominence. In the third series of the programme, title character Eve (Sandra Oh) lives in New Malden with the character trudging up and down the local high street as she collects groceries and shopping. Even her home, a small one bed studio apartment down an alleyway, has been found by avid fans who often take to Google Street view to gather information as to where the show is filmed. And while Eve's home may have been obvious to fans thanks to the show's careful signposting, followers of the programme have also discovered some less identifiable locations. KINGSTON Meanwhile eagle-eyed fans were amused to discover the restaurant Han in which Eve works is actually a karaoke bar in Kingston Meanwhile eagle-eyed viewers were amused to discover the restaurant in which Eve works is actually the Han karaoke bar in Kingston. The character could be seen standing outside the bar during the first episode as she exchanged a phone call with Kenny ahead of his unfortunate demise. KEW AND ROEHAMPTON While shops on Royal Parade in Kew were on full display in the second episode of the drama, other locations were transformed by the programme's production team to transport the viewer to faraway destinations. And while it may appear that Eve's former husband Niko (Owen McDonnell) is in a hospital facility in an unknown location, the cast and crew actually filmed the moment the former couple reunited after Gemma's murder at Grove House in Roehampton. The Royal Parade in Kew was on display in the second episode of the drama, where Konstantin could be seen meeting Carolyn's daughter Another South-west London hot spot! Viewers were amazed to see Roehampton's Grove House play the part of a hospital in the first episode of the drama WHITECHAPEL AND CLAPTON And it's not just the streets of West London that fans have spotted in the thrilling drama. In episode one, Kenny's (Sean Delaney) final bike ride ahead of his death to the Bitter Pill office took place along the recognisable Regent Canal. He later arrived at the Bitter Pill offices in Greenfield Road, Whitechapel, a disused high-rise office space in the area, stuck between the old brick streets and the eastward spread of skyscrapers from The City. In the first episode, Eve can be seen entering Kenny's offices as the youngster begins working for the Bitter Pill website. The cast filmed at a high-rise office space in Greenfield Road for the shots And shortly after his demise, the characters are seen gathering for his funeral at a pub in the north-east of the city. Eve, Konstantin, Carolyn and Geraldine joined together to remember the lovable character in Hackney's Clapton Hart. Characters including Carolyn, Konstantin and new addition to the cast Geraldine joined together in an east-London pub called the Clapton Hart to remember Kenny MARYLEBONE During Dasha's (Harriet Walter) flashback scene in episode one, the audience were transported to a gymnasium in Moscow, Russia to watch her undertake seemingly her first assassination. However, in reality this segment was filmed in the much more local Seymour Leisure Centre at Seymour Place in Marylebone. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Galih Gumelar (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 24 2020 The staggering increase in capital punishment verdicts last year has fueled criticism of Indonesias justice system, with activists accusing judges of ignoring basic human rights and underlining the ineffectiveness of the death penalty in reducing crime. As many as 80 death sentences were meted out by Indonesian judges in 2019, a 66 percent increase from 48 such sentences in 2018, according to an annual report by Amnesty International published this week. Sixty of the sentences were handed down for drug-related crimes, while serious criminal offenses such as terrorism, murder and sexual abuse against children account for the rest. 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 F1 must be careful about when it returns to the track in 2020, according to Pirelli boss Mario Isola. The Italian has been in the headlines recently as he conducts his duties as a volunteer ambulance driver during the coronavirus crisis that has hit his country hard. "There are plans to return in the summer," Isola told the DPA news agency. "It would be good news if Formula 1 came back, because it would be like beating the virus," he said. "But we have to be careful to avoid a second wave." Isola said the pandemic had "opened my eyes" to the differences between the Formula 1 bubble and "real life". "We don't have races, but here I come across people who have much more serious problems," he said. Former world champion Mika Hakkinen agrees that F1's current plans to reopen may be premature. "You can plan as much as you want, but there is still no antidote to the coronavirus. That is the biggest problem," the Finn told his sponsor Unibet. (GMM) More than 50 countries require people to cover their faces when they leave home. In an attempt to slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus, an increasing number of countries have made wearing face masks mandatory in public spaces, with citizens facing a possible fine if caught without one. There have been a number of conflicting opinions on whether face masks can prevent the new coronavirus from transmitting from one person to another. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of medical masks for sick people, those with COVID-19 symptoms, health workers, people caring for suspected or confirmed cases, people aged 60 and over, and those with underlying health conditions. It also recommends fabric masks for the general public where there is a risk of widespread community transmission and physical distancing is difficult. Masks are effective only when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water, WHO said. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) said despite there being no evidence for self-protection, covering the mouth and nose can trap infectious droplets that are expelled when the wearer is speaking, coughing or sneezing. That is, face masks are designed to protect people from the wearer. Other governments, such as the United Kingdom and Singapore, have urged the public not to wear masks in order to ensure enough supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers. Meanwhile, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) does not specifically advocate the use of surgical masks but does advise the use of simple cloth face coverings made from common household materials to slow the spread of the virus and prevent asymptomatic people from transmitting it to others. In Asian nations such as China, Taiwan or Hong Kong, masks were relatively common even before the coronavirus pandemic, which is credited to populations used to wearing coverings because of either pollution or previous experience with the SARS and H1N1 outbreaks. Venezuela was among the first countries to impose the mandatory use of face masks in public back in March. Vietnam made face masks compulsory for people to wear in public on March 16. On March 18, the Czech Republic became the first European country to make wearing masks mandatory in supermarkets, pharmacies, and public transport. Slovakia followed suit on March 25, and in an attempt to dispel away the stigma associated with face masks, President Zuzana Caputova wore a red one that matched her dress during the swearing-in ceremony of the new government. On March 29, Bosnia and Herzegovina made it mandatory for its citizens to wear a face mask or a cloth covering their mouth and nose while walking in the streets or outside their homes. On April 4, Colombia made wearing face masks compulsory on the public transport system and public areas such as stores, outdoor marketplaces and banks. The United Arab Emirates also announced on the same day that face masks should be worn at all times when outside the home. Cuba followed suit on April 6, and a day later Ecuador decided to make the use of face masks obligatory in public spaces. On April 6, Austria also made masks mandatory in public spaces, with Chancellor Sebastian Kurz acknowledging that wearing them would require a big adjustment because masks are alien to our country. In North Africa, Morocco made wearing face masks mandatory on April 7, with the government warning anyone who fails to comply faces a prison sentence of up to three months and a fine of 1,300 dirhams ($130). On the same day, Turkey ordered all of its citizens to wear masks when shopping or visiting crowded public places. The country has surpassed Iran in becoming the heaviest affected nation in the Middle East, and the government said it will deliver masks to every family free of charge. On April 8, El Salvador made face masks mandatory in public, and Chiles health ministry announced that face masks must be worn while using the public transport system. On April 9, Cameroon imposed masks for people leaving their homes. A dozen more African countries followed suit soon after: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, and Zambia. Nigeria is expected to join them in early May after state governors asked President Muhammadu Buhari to approve the compulsory use of face masks in public. On April 12, Israel made it mandatory for its citizens to wear face masks while out in public. Argentina made face masks obligatory for everyone using public transport and out in public on April 14. On April 16, the Ministry of Health in Poland made covering the face with either a mask or homemade piece of fabric such as a scarf mandatory. This applies to green areas such as parks and beaches as well as public places such as roads, squares, religious facilities, commercial facilities, and marketplaces. On April 20, Luxembourg made the use of face masks mandatory in public places where it is not possible to keep enough distance between one person and the other, such as public transport and supermarkets. On April 21, Jamaica imposed a series of new coronavirus restrictions such as a revised curfew and also made it mandatory for citizens to wear a face mask in public spaces. On April 22, Germany became the latest European country to make the wearing of face masks compulsory when on public transport and while shopping in all of its 16 states. On the same day, Bahrain made wearing face masks in public areas compulsory for citizens and residents as well as shop workers. On April 26, Qatar made the use of face masks mandatory for government and private sector employees and clients, shoppers at food and catering stores and workers in the contracting sector. On May 17, the Gulf state made wearing masks in public mandatory, with violators facing up to three years in jail and fines of as much as $55,000. 200610193333415 On May 3, Honduras made face masks obligatory for people going outside their homes. On May 5, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda said every person who leaves their home must wear a cloth face mask to stop the spread the COVID-19. On May 10, France made the use of face masks in public mandatory, as the country is set to emerge from its coronavirus lockdown the following day. Spain made it compulsory on May 20 for everyone older than six to wear masks in indoor public spaces, and outdoor ones when it is impossible to keep more than two metres apart. Starting from May 26, South Korea made it mandatory for people to wear masks when using public transportation and taxis nationwide. On the same day, Lebanon announced that it would begin issuing fines from May 29 of up to 50,000 Lebanese pounds ($33) to anyone not wearing a mask in public. On May 30, Pakistan made it compulsory for people to wear a face mask in crowded public spaces inlcluding mosques, bazaars, shopping malls and public transport. In a decree signed on August 16, Italys government said that from 6pm to 6am, the wearing of masks would be mandatory in public areas where groups could form. [April 23, 2020] Slice Labs & AXA XL Offer Lenovo Small Business Users On-Demand Cyber Insurance Slice Labs Inc., the first on-demand insurance platform, today announced that its cloud-based cyber insurance for small to midsize businesses (SMB), provided by one of the affiliated insurance companies of AXA XL, will now be offered through the Security Advisor suite of the Lenovo (News - Alert) Vantage platform. Lenovo SMB customers will be able to access information on the cyber insurance that covers a broad range of attacks including ransomware and contributes other resources for businesses to recover from a cyber attack. Furthermore, the Slice and AXA XL cyber insurance product leverages AI and analytics to inform customers of potential attacks through cyber risk management education. "Establishing a relationship with a global technology leader illustrates that SMBs can access on-demand cyber insurance in an even more practicable manner," said John Coletti, Chief Underwriting Officer, AXA XL's cyber insurance team. "Small businesses owe it to themselves, customers, and partners to spend a few minutes to get an on-demand cyber insurance policy in place. The consequences of not doing so are way more detrimental than losing a short period of the day to purchase this product compared to the potential of having to close a business after an attack." Through this opt-in, on-demand soluton provided by Slice and AXA XL, Lenovo is able to offer its SMB customers a more accessible insurance option to help protect against a rapidly changing threat landscape. "With cyber crime on the rise in the current environment, the enormity of protecting businesses requires a multi-pronged approach to cyber risk management comprising education, technology, and insurance," said Tim Attia, CEO and Co-founder, Slice Labs. "Lenovo's robust SMB ecosystem will now benefit from a seamless addition to strengthening cyber health. We applaud their continued efforts to increase the awareness of cyber insurance to SMBs which are traditionally unaware of a potential life-saver." About Slice Labs: Slice Labs Inc. is the insurance engine behind tomorrow's cloud-based, on-demand digital services ecosystems for the new economy. Through the Slice Labs Insurance Cloud Services (ICS) platform, Slice Labs is enabling insurers, technology companies, and other service providers to build truly intelligent and intuitive, usage based digital insurance products protecting the insured anytime and anywhere. To stay up to date with Slice, visit https://www.slice.is and follow @SliceLabs on Twitter (News - Alert). About AXA XL: AXA XL Insurance offers property, casualty, professional, financial lines and specialty insurance solutions to mid-sized companies through to large multinationals globally. We partner with those who move the world forward. To learn more, visit www.axaxl.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005081/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Inslee faces growing resistance to stay-at-home restrictions By RACHEL LA CORTE Associated Press OLYMPIA The sheriff of Washington state's third largest county says he won't enforce Gov. Jay Inslee's stay-at-home order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, saying it violates people's constitutional rights, and House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox warned public patience is hitting a tipping point if some changes aren't made soon. Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fortney announced his position on Facebook Tuesday night, following a statewide address by Inslee in which the governor said the state will not be able to lift many of the stay-at-home restrictions implemented to fight the coronavirus by May 4. That's the date through which the current directive is currently in place but Inslee hopes health modeling in the coming days will allow resumption of some activities. Also Wednesday, Republican gubernatorial candidate Joshua Freed sued Inslee in federal court, challenging the current prohibition on religious gatherings under the stay-at-home order. The complaint contends the prohibition is a violation of First Amendment rights pertaining to religious freedom, free speech and assembly. Inslee has said a return to public life will take a series of steps and that until several markers are met including adequate testing and a vaccine preventing an increase in new cases is the main priority. And he announced a plan to have about 1,500 workers focused solely on contact tracing in place by the second week of May. Inslee said the state health officer believes the spread of COVID-19 is likely declining in Washington state, based on data on hospitalizations, confirmed cases and deaths, but he still urged caution. The data tell us that if we were to lift all restrictions right now or even two weeks from now this decline would almost certainly stop and the spread of COVID-19 would go up, he said, adding that to turn back on this successful temporary approach now would be disastrous. In a Facebook post Wednesday, Wilcox said that in his speech to the state, the governor missed a critical opportunity to explain what metrics and forecasts he's using and to address the obvious unfair and ineffective parts of his original Stay Home order. Wilcox said later in a phone interview that the virus is serious and said has wanted to give the governor time to do the best possible job. But he said that there are inconsistencies with what businesses are considered essential and non-essential, noting that while public construction is allowed, private construction still is not. Inslee has said private construction may start up again soon, but hasn't given a timeline. I'm not arguing that we should be less safe. I'm arguing the fact that he's losing legitimacy is making us less safe, he said. And this is from someone who has gone a long way to support him. There have been mounting calls for Inslee to ease the state's stay-at-home order, and a weekend protest drew about 2,500 to Olympia. However a new survey finds Americans remain overwhelmingly in favor of stay-at-home orders and other efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus. A majority say it won't be safe to lift such restrictions anytime soon. The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found only 12% of Americans say measures to fight the outbreak where they live go too far. About twice as many believe the limits don't go far enough. Fortney, the Snohomish County sheriff, joins Franklin County in eastern Washington where the sheriff and local officials say they will not enforce Inslee's directive. Snohomish County, which has about 800,000 residents, has been particularly hard hit by COVID-19, with more than 2,100 confirmed cases and at least 99 deaths the second-highest county fatality total in Washington. So far Washington has more than 12,280 confirmed cases and at least 682 deaths. 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. David Postman, Inslee's chief of staff, said Tuesday night that local officials don't have the legal right to ignore stay-at-home orders. Local governments can be stricter than the state if they choose, they can't be looser, he said. The law doesn't allow it. The order is clearly rooted in statute and constitutional authority, and a county governing body does not have the right, the legal authority in any way, to take a vote and deem something unconstitutional. That's a role for the courts. Inslee's general counsel sent a letter to the county administrator of Franklin County on Wednesday, saying that a vote taken by the board of commissioners on Tuesday that businesses in the county that includes Pasco could reopen immediately intentionally and knowingly violates an order issued by the Governor pursuant to his emergency powers and violates state law. The letter directs the county to immediately retract or rescind the resolution. Wilcox said that he hopes Inslee soon lays out exact metrics and goals to the public, and specific steps that businesses can start taking to reopen their doors, even if it is in phases. People just want to know, Wilcox said. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment So far, the Executive Branch and the vast majority of states and local officials have not transgressed their constitutional authority. Only a small handful of Governors and city councils have overextended their powers. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Grisham amended her mass gathering ban to fight the spread of the coronavirus to include houses of worship. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear put out a declaration before Good Friday stating that anyone caught attending a "mass gathering" in the state over Easter weekend would have their license plates recorded by state police and then forced into a two-week self-quarantine. Even my own Governor, Roy Cooper, in North Carolina, has subverted Executive Order 121 and turned it into an Executive Overreach. These Governors are clearly in the wrong. Another abuse of powers is the local police department arresting several pro-lifers outside several abortion mills citing they were breaking the social distance order and deeming their services as "non-essential." Yet, the pro-lifers were not congregating and it's actually unlawful for law enforcement to force arbitrary rules that infringe upon American's First Amendment rights. You see, in those occurrences, law enforcement is picking and choosing who they say has a right to assemble and who doesn't. That is limiting individual liberties because several of these local "shelter-in" orders are going beyond the least restrictive means to protect the public and violating religious interests. The fact that our very own US Justice Department (at one point) sought to suspend habeas corpus to enact emergency securities during the coronavirus outbreak is an outrage. But, thankfully, that was quickly squelched. And instead, the DOJ came out in defense of several churchgoers in Mississippi who were fined $500 for attending a drive-up church service on private property. Yes, the government is in the right to exercise its enumerated powers that reside over centralized oversight to the public health and well-being of Americans. But, there is no constitutional exception that authorizes Congress unrestricted permission to expand its powers and reach into the privacy of American citizens and strip them of their freedoms based on a "Pandemic Crisis." That would, of course, impinge on our First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments, which deals with the Free Exercise Clause, Due Process, and Equal Protection. In a time of quarantine, the federal government's primary role is supplying the states with extra supplies, building up the commerce, reducing certain restrictions on supplies, and lifting regulations to allow progress to be made with testing and treatments. But, when it comes to the federal government encroaching on self-governance, that is a big no-no! That being the case, there are actually ample legal precedents, and common-sense laws that declare the health and safety of Americans is a priority function of sovereign states. According to the Tenth Amendment, it clearly reserves the right for individual states to impose specific orders (within reason) to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of their residents. This was reinforced in the Supreme Court in 1824 with the Gibbons vs. Ogden case. The Employment Division v. Smith of 1990, is another Supreme Court case that ruled neutral laws can be lawfully executed to the general public, as long as they do not exclusively target a particular group. What does that all mean? Well, it means that the government cannot enforce special restrictions that infringe upon a religious person and their religious activities. Like imposing criminal penalties from police officers standing outside the entrances of churches or at abortion mills. These sorts of enforcements are unlawful because they are singling out a particular religious institution that is exercising free speech and expression of religion. Now, back to my main point in all of this. If the safety and well-being is the primary objective, and the scientific and medical data proves an infectious disease can be transmitted drastically by large gatherings then religious groups should be the first to comply with these less restrictive measures. And as churches do so, they can play an integral role in assisting their communities and local governments throughout the country to stem the tide of Covid-19. In many ways, religious groups have a unique opportunity during this quarantine to showcase themselves and look to lead the way so that others can know how to respond amid this crisis. Presently, most of the religious institutions have complied with the "shelter-in" orders and taken to the Internet to continue providing religious services to their congregants. And what we see on both the federal and state level, is minor restrictions that are mainly centered around large gatherings, not the prevention to express and exercise an individual's First Amendment rights. The truth is, the Free Exercise Clause is not a protective blanket that can be used to put people in harm's way. We are compelled to protect life, and during this quarantine, we may be giving up some privileges and having to sacrifice a few things, but just because churches are meeting online doesn't mean our civil liberties have been sacrificed. There may be the temporary curtailing or halting of certain religious activities, namely Sunday worship in buildings, but that in no way means the restraining to exercise your faith. Let me be clear, elected officials have no right to deem public worship services as non-essential. That is why, if a person or a church believes their First Amendment rights have been violated, then they can refer to their state's Religious Freedom of Restoration Act, and there prove the government has substantially burdened their religious freedoms. Of course, that will vary state to state. But what about churches that are choosing to have drive-up services on their campuses? Well, there are a few challenges with this, but if churches are in compliance with the quarantine enforcement in their area, then the states need to be in compliance with these creative worship services. What is blatantly wrong and inconsistent, is to deem a local fast-food chain as an essential business (that can exchange money); and yet, not consider church services as essential and preclude them from tithing. That is direct viewpoint discrimination because it specifically targets and violates a person's fundamental right to assemble. But, again, I strongly urge churches to evaluate their level of risk in their communities and with the highest degree of certainty can promise churchgoers that they have taken precautionary steps that are in compliance with their state quarantine laws. But you know what? We should be proud to witness how amazing so many of our churches and essential workers have been during this quarantine. The vast majority of Americans have remained in quarantine because we know how to self-govern ourselves and care for those around us better than the government. Our religious freedoms are what made the United States so great, and now more than ever, we must pray for God's hand of mercy on our elected officials, and for the men and women who are treating people infected with the coronavirus. Jason Jimenez is president of Stand Strong Ministries and is a best-selling author of several books, and a national speaker who specializes in apologetics and biblical worldview training. Jason has been featured on the Focus on the Family radio program with Jim Daly, Family Talk with Dr. James Dobson, CBS radio, TBN's Praise the Lord, the Christian Post, Sky News, and many more. The strategic partnership between India and Singapore can contribute to stability and prosperity in the post-COVID world, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday. He made these remarks while speaking with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. "Exchanged views on the COVID-19 pandemic with PM @leehsienloong, and thanked him for the support and care being extended to Indian citizens in Singapore," Modi tweeted. The India-Singapore strategic partnership can contribute to stability and prosperity in the post-COVID world, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 09:11:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAPE TOWN, April 22 (Xinhua) -- South Africa on Wednesday reported 7 more deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic, bringing its death toll to 65. Five of the deaths occurred in the Western Cape province and two in KwaZulu-Natal, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said in his latest update on the pandemic. Meanwhile, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country stood at 3,635, up by 170 from Tuesday's figure, the minister said. Gauteng remains the epicenter of the outbreak with 1,224 cases, followed by Western Cape with 1,079 and KwaZulu-Natal with 758. The Nelson Mandela Bay metropolitan municipality in the Eastern Cape province has witnessed a rapid rise in caseload, recording a total of 167 cases as well as 6 deaths, according to the minister. With a total of 377 cases, the Eastern Cape is identified as a new hotspot of virus infections involving many people who were believed to be infected while attending funerals. Mkhize said testing and screening should be ramped up in Nelson Mandela Bay and the Eastern Cape. He said mass community testing is operating nationwide, with 133,774 tests conducted to date and 6,868 done in the last 24 hours. Enditem Kaim had hoped to take his legal fight to the Supreme Court. A man fighting extradition back to Poland over violent jewellery robberies has failed in a new bid to have his case determined by the UK's highest court. Piotr Kaim has been locked in a legal battle to serve out his jail sentence in Northern Ireland. High Court judges in Belfast have already dismissed his bid to remain in this jurisdiction, stressing the need to prevent the UK being seen as a safe haven for fugitives. They also declined to refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union. Following that ruling last month, Kaim applied to certify a point of law of general public importance for a further appeal to the Supreme Court in London. But Lord Justice Stephens has now held that a procedural question being posed does not require clarification. He confirmed: "The application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court is refused." It represents a further blow in the wanted man's attempts to avoid extradition. Kaim carried out at least four attacks on women on dates stretching back to 2012, the court heard. He targeted victims by holding their faces and blocking their noses and mouths in order to steal jewellery. Other women were grabbed around the neck and threatened as part of attempts to snatch their belongings. In 2014 Kaim was ordered to serve two and a half years in prison for the offences. But later that year he moved to Northern Ireland, by which stage he still had nearly two years left to serve on the term. Extradition proceedings commenced by Polish authorities led to Kaim being detained in October 2019 under a European Arrest Warrant. In November last year Belfast Recorder Judge McFarland ordered his return to Poland. Kaim mounted a High Court appeal against that decision, claiming a failure to allow him to exercise his right to seek to serve the sentence in Northern Ireland. His lawyers also contended that it was disproportionate to return him to Poland before his bid to remain behind bars in this jurisdiction was determined. However, senior judges identified no strong, compelling factor to outweigh an otherwise "inevitable extradition". Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) No personal information will be included in any public list of beneficiaries who have received emergency subsidies in light of the COVID-19 crisis, said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in a virtual press briefing on Thursday. Ayon sa ating napagkasunduan, ang impormasyon na ipapaskil sa website ng mga DSWD field offices ay ang mga pangalan lamang ng mga benepisyaryo na nakatanggap ng ayuda," explained Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Rene Glen Paje. "Ito rin ay pinaskil na ng mga LGU sa mga barangay at alinsunod ito sa utos ng DILG. [Translation: Based on what weve agreed upon, the only information that will be published in the website(s) of DSWD field offices shall be the names of beneficiaries who have already received the cash aid. This (information) was also posted by LGUs in barangays and this is in line with DILGs order.] With this, personal details shall not be published in accordance with the Data Privacy Act, he said. On Saturday, barangay captains were ordered by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to post a list of beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program in places easily seen by the public, particularly barangay halls. READ: DILG tells barangays to list social amelioration program beneficiaries for transparency DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista expressed support for Interior Secretary Eduardo Anos order saying it will help identify beneficiaries and other people qualified to receive the cash aid. Paje, echoing Bautistas sentiments in the briefing, said it will help avoid cases being filed against local government officials for wrongly providing emergency subsidies to unqualified recipients. To prevent the spread of the Coronavirus in the country, the US Government has announced a complete lockdown in the country and has requested citizens to stay indoors. Hollywood celebrities, too, have been practising social distancing and have promoted the importance of lockdown among fans. However, what caught the audiences attention was actor Bruce Willis moving in with ex-wife Demi Moore before the lockdown, which has now led to a rise in speculations about the actors estranged relationship with his current wife, Emma Hemming. Recently, Bruce Willis daughter Scout Willis has spilled some beans about the same. Also Read | Bruce Willis And Demi Moore Self-isolate Together With Family Amid Pandemic Recently, Bruce Willis daughter, Scout Willis rubbished the speculations surrounding her fathers relationship with Emma Heming and revealed the reason why the actor has been away from his wife. Scout Willis said that her younger sister tried to poke her shoe with a hypodermic needle, which she found in the park and ended up poking her foot instead. Adding to the same, Scout Willis revealed that her stepmom is currently in LA, awaiting the test results. Furthermore, Scott Willis explained that Bruce Willis had arrived earlier and Emma Heming had to stay back because of her sister's foot injury. Also Read | Demi Moore, Bruce Willis' Family Book Club Amid Coronavirus Quarantine Fans on Moore-Willis bonding I just found out that Bruce Willis and Demi Moore basically bought (and then tanked the economy of??) a small town in Idaho in the 90's????? and now they're quarantining together in that same town??? while his new wife/kids are in LA??????????????????????? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cait Raft (@caitraft) April 15, 2020 apparently for her 30th bday he bought Demi an entire victorian house in Hailey, Idaho where she could store her porcelain dolls?!??!???!???!??!! pic.twitter.com/YvtAiRehzm Cait Raft (@caitraft) April 15, 2020 Apparently Bruce Willis youngest daughter got her foot pricked by a druggies needle in a LA park.Pray the child is ok. How many more citizens need to get pricked before it matters? Hopefully Bruce Willis stands w/us to fight the man who destroyed all LA parks: Mayor Clowndick. Carol (@LAVagrants) April 22, 2020 Also Read | Demi Moore Wishes Ex-husband Bruce Willis On His Birthday With A Throwback Picture Coronavirus in the US With more than 8,50,000 positive Coronavirus cases, the USA remains a COVID-19 hotbed, surpassing the national tallies of the worst-hit countries like Germany, Italy and the UK combined. New York remains the worst-affected region in the US with more than 2,57,000 cases, followed by New Jersey and Massachusetts. As per reports, more than 45,000 people have died due to COVID-19 in the US. Also Read | Bruce Willis And Demi Moore Self-isolate Together With Family Amid Pandemic The mob lynching of three men, including two saints Kalpavriksha Giri Maharaj (70 years), Sushil Giri Maharaj (35), in Maharashtra's Palghar on April 16 has triggered a political slugfest with the BJP and other parties accusing the state government of failing to take action against those involved in the incident. The shocking incident took place when the two saints along with a driver of the vehicle were on their way to Surat in Gujarat. Kalpavriksha Maharaj belonged to Vedpur village in Uttar Pradesh's Bhadohi district. His childhood name was Krishnachand Tiwari and his father's name was Chintamani Tiwari. Kalpavriksha Maharaj was the fourth among six brothers in the family and his four brothers live in Mumbai. One of his brothers had died few years ago. Kalpavriksha Maharaj decided to become a saint when he was in class three and he left Uttar Pradesh to come to Nashik where he learned vedas and puranas and became a monk. Kalpavriksha Maharaj was a regular visitor at the Vanvasi Temple in Mumbai's Jogeshwari. He also used to visit Pimpleshwar Mandir in Kandivali to meet Sushil iIri, the other saint who was also lyunched by rampaging mob in Palghar. Zee News team visited the scene of crime and talked to several local people to know more about the incident and many people who wished to remain anonymous hinted that the lynching of the saints was part of a political conspiracy. The local residents of the area said that the tribals living in Palghar had never assaulted any sadhu in the past, adding that in facts the sadhus are accorded a lot of respect by the tribals. Notably, Palghar is dominated by tribals and it is a bastion of Communist and like-minded parties. The village where the saints were lynched falls under Dahanu Assembly constituency of Palghar and the incumbent MLA of Dahanu, Vinod Nikole, is from Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM. The Facebook logo is shown on a screen in New York's Times Square in a March 29, 2018 photo. Facebook came under fire from Vietnamese and international rights activists Wednesday after the social media giant publicly admitted that it had agreed to help communist authorities censor posts critical of the government. Two Facebook employees told Reuters news agency Tuesday that the companys local servers in Vietnam were taken offline earlier in the year until the company gave in to the demands of the government to remove posts, a period of about seven weeks when the website was often not usable in Vietnam. We believe the action was taken to place significant pressure on us to increase our compliance with legal takedown orders when it comes to content that our users in Vietnam see, the first of the two Facebook sources told Reuters in a report that stirred anger in the human rights community. [Facebook is] helping the Vietnamese communist dictatorship cover up information and control people, said Trinh Ba Phuong, a Vietnam-based human rights activist. I will continue raising this concern to other human rights organizations and the U.S Embassy because Facebooks actions violate human rights, he told RFAs Vietnamese Service. In a statement condemning Facebooks decision, Amnesty International Human Rights Advisor William Nee warned that after the example set by the U.S. company, governments around the world will see this as an open invitation to enlist Facebook in the service of state censorship. "The revelation that Facebook is caving in to Vietnam's far-reaching demands for censorship is a devastating turning point for freedom of expression in Vietnam and beyond, Nee said in the statement. The Vietnamese authorities ruthless suppression of freedom of expression is nothing new, but Facebooks shift in policy makes them complicit, Nee added. It does all tech firms a terrible disservice by making them vulnerable to the same type of pressure and harassment from repressive governments, Nee added. Threat of being totally blocked In an e-mailed statement to RFA on Wednesday, a Facebook company spokesperson confirmed that the Vietnamese government has instructed us to restrict access to content which it has deemed to be illegal in Vietnam. We believe freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, and work hard to protect and defend this important civil liberty around the world, the spokesperson wrote. However, we have taken this action to ensure our services remain available and usable for millions of people in Vietnam, who rely on them every day. Sources familiar with Facebook's approach to Vietnam say the firm follows host-country laws wherever it operates, including government requests to block access to content. In the case of Hanoi, it fears that resisting requests by authorities would result in being entirely blocked in Vietnam, harming small businesses and developers who use Facebook for their work. AIs report highlighted how in January Hanoi began an unprecedented crackdown on social media in order to prevent open discussion of the Dong Tam land dispute. RFA reported that month that protests related to the land dispute had flared up violently, leading to the deaths of three policemen and a civilian. RFAs YouTube channel at that time was taken offline in Vietnam. AI detailed how the crackdown progressed as COVID-19 began to take hold in Vietnam, saying that 654 people were ordered to appear at police stations across the country for questioning pertaining to Facebook posts about the coronavirus. All of those summoned were forced to delete content they had posted online, and 146 were fined. On 15 April, authorities introduced a sweeping new decree, 15/2020, which imposes new penalties on alleged social media content which falls foul of vague and arbitrary restrictions, said AI in the statement. The decree further empowers the government to force tech companies to comply with arbitrary censorship and surveillance measures, it added. Vietnam, whose ruling Communist Party controls all media and tolerates no dissent, ranks 175th of 180 countries on the 2020 Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index. Many truths are hidden Trinh told RFA that for many of its 65 million users in Vietnam, Facebook is the go-to medium for actual news, because in Vietnam, all state media and communications are part of the so-called prolonged arm of Vietnams communist party. [Approved media outlets] publish news in accordance with the Ministry of Information & Communications guidance and are controlled strictly from the communist state. Therefore news posted from party newspapers or state media serve only to popularize demagogic policies, Trinh said. Many truths are hidden. So Facebook is [the only] social means for me to raise [my] concerns in this society, Trinh said. Trinh said he had used Facebook to discuss the Dong Tam dispute but was shocked when Facebook complied with the Vietnamese governments censorship requests. Another activist, Hanoi-based La Viet Dung, told RFA, Two or three days ago, I posted a video clip recording the moment that Le Dinh Kinhs relatives received his body from police. Le was an elderly community leader killed during the Dong Tam protest in January. That clip was shared 2,000 times and drew the attention and wrath of [countless] Facebookers, said La. However, this morning my friends told me that the clip was removed from my Facebook account, and I did not receive any announcement or email from Facebook. For La, this is a sharp break from the past, as he said Facebook previously only removed posted content after explaining the removal to the user. RFAs Vietnamese Service received a notice from Facebook Monday saying that a Vietnamese-language report about COVID-19, published April 14, was restricted in Vietnam. Reported by Eugene Whong and RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Huy Le. Written in English by Eugene Whong. The US government has called on China to permanently close its wildlife markets, with secretary of state Mike Pompeo citing links between the markets and zoonotic diseases. Mr Pompeo also claimed Beijing had covered up how dangerous the coronavirus was in the early stages of the outbreak. The virus is believed to have emerged in a wet market in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year. Given the strong link between illegal wildlife sold in wet markets and zoonotic diseases, the United States has called on the Peoples Republic of China to permanently close its wildlife wet markets and all markets that sell illegal wildlife, Mr Pompeo said in a statement. The secretary of state also told a news briefing the US strongly believed Beijing had failed to report the outbreak in a timely manner, in breach of World Health Organisation (WHO) rules. Mr Pompeo accused Chinese officials of failing to report human-to-human transmission of the virus for a month until it was in every province inside of China. He also said China had halted testing of new virus samples, destroyed existing samples and failed to share samples with the outside world, making it impossible to track the diseases evolution. Even after Beijing notified the WHO of the outbreak, Mr Pompeo claimed it did not share all of the information it had. Instead it covered up how dangerous the disease is, he said. Donald Trumps administration has repeatedly criticised both China and the WHOs handling of the outbreak. The pandemic has killed around 180,000 people globally, including more than 45,000 in the US. The president last week suspended US funding to the WHO, accusing the UN agency of promoting Chinas disinformation about the outbreak. WHO officials have denied this and China has said it has been transparent and open. Mr Pompeo said WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom failed to use his ability to go public when a member state failed to follow the rules. He said the WHO had an obligation to ensure safety standards were observed in virology labs in Wuhan and its director-general had enormous authority with respect to nations that do not comply. He also accused China of taking advantage of the pandemic to bully neighbours even as he welcomed Beijings provision of essential medical supplies to the US. Pompeo speaks during a press briefing at the State Department, 22 April (AP) Mr Pompeo repeated allegations that China was exploiting the worlds focus on the pandemic with provocative behaviour to erode autonomy in Hong Kong, exert military pressure on Taiwan and coerce neighbours in the South China Sea. The United States strongly opposes Chinas bullying, we hope other nations will hold them to account, he said. Asked about recent reports that supplies were being held up in China, Mr Pompeo said: The good news is we have seen China provide those resources; sometimes theyre from US companies that are there in China, but weve had success ... We appreciate that. We are counting on China to continue to live up to its contractual obligations and international obligations to provide that assistance to us and to sell us those goods ... in a way consistent with all of the international trade rules. Earlier this month, Apple and Google teamed up to announce a cross-platform contact tracing API for health organizations worldwide to fight the spread of coronavirus. As per the original announcement from Apple, the API would be released sometime in mid-May. However, it looks like Apple is preparing to release this API to developers on April 28. Apples CEO Tim Cook held talks with European Commission Thierry Breton yesterday about the upcoming contact tracing API. In the meeting, Breton also urged Cook to support the contact tracing apps being developed in the EU. He was referring to the StopCovid app developed by France which cannot work as intended on iPhones due to the Bluetooth restrictions of the OS. Apple does not allow apps to use Bluetooth to collect data when they are not in the foreground while the contact tracing app wants to do exactly that. It is the responsibility of companies such as Apple to do their utmost to develop suitable technical solutions to make the national apps work. Coordination with EU member states health authorities is paramount, Breton said in a statement. After his meeting with Tim Cook, Breton held a press conference where he revealed that Cook himself told him that the first version of the contact tracing API would be released to developers on April 28. As previously detailed, Apple would have to roll out a software update for all compatible iPhones and iPads to add support for the new contact tracing API. Access to this API will also be given to public health bodies of every country. After releasing this API, both Google and Apple ill work on integrating the contact tracing feature right into their respective OS. A mid-May release for the contact tracing API would have been late as health organizations around the globe will also need some time to develop their app. An early release would give them the time to properly develop their app and roll it out as quickly as possible. [Via iGen BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- African political party leaders have spoken highly of China's support for Africa's fight against COVID-19 through concrete actions, and its emphasis on and protection of lives, health and lawful rights and interests of African citizens in China. In messages sent to the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, they said the traditional friendship between China and Africa has withstood the test of time, and the two sides will build a closer China-Africa community with a shared future through the joint fight against the pandemic. China's successful experience and practices in its COVID-19 fight, as well as its support in providing relevant supplies, have greatly helped Kenya in fighting the pandemic, said Secretary General of Kenya's ruling Jubilee party Raphael Tuju. Tuju expressed deep appreciation of China's important contributions to the prevention and control of the pandemic in Africa and globally, as well as safeguarding the health and safety of all mankind. He also appreciated China's taking good care of Kenyan students studying in the country. The secretary general noted that they are ready to work with China to continue fighting the pandemic and finally defeat it. China's efforts in and contributions to the fight against COVID-19 were obvious to all, said Chris Matlhako, general coordinator of the South African Peace Initiative and Second Deputy General Secretary of the South African Communist Party. As long as Africa and China join hands to strengthen cooperation in the epidemic prevention and control, and safeguard regional and global public health security, we will surely be able to win the final victory in defeating the pandemic, Matlhako said. Jean-Claude Gakosso, minister for foreign affairs of the Republic of the Congo and a member of the political bureau of the Congolese Party of Labor, said that the deep friendship between the two sides has endured hardships and tests, adding that China has offered a helping hand to African nations while itself is still facing pressure to contain the COVID-19, contributing a great deal to Africa's fight against the epidemic. He also said that his country firmly opposes some countries' attempts to hype specific problems in the anti-virus fight and to smear Africa-China friendship. An employee at the Mapco on Highway 58 called police due to a disorder at pump 6. Dustin Fairbanks and Aubrey King were refusing to get out of Haden Laymons' vehicle. Mr. Laymons stated he did not know them and he was giving them a ride but wished for them to leave him alone. Mr. Fairbanks and Ms. King left the area when asked by officers.* * *A man on 15th Avenue said he had three pairs of shoes stolen from his back porch. He said he leaves his shoes on the back porch regularly, and he went to bed at approximately 11:45 the night before.When he woke up to go get his shoes at around 11 a.m. he found that they were gone. The three shoes included a pair of Nikes (valued at $70), a pair of Jordans (valued at $140), and a pair of Adidas (valued at $100). There is no suspect information.* * *Police received a call of an alarm at 802 Broad St. Upon arrival police found the front glass window to be broken out along with a glass door which was smashed as well (total damage was estimated at $3,000 by the victim). Upon making entry it appeared someone had taken some cigarettes. Police cleared the building to ensure no one else was inside. The owner responded to the scene. The victim told police there were about 10 cartons of cigarettes stolen. He said each carton was worth about $58 with a total of $580 worth of property stolen. Police viewed their camera footage and found a bald black male throwing a rock three times at the front of the business. Police observed the man climb in the window and take the cigarettes then exit the same way he entered. Police searched the area, however, were unable to locate the suspect or other evidence. Police contacted the day shift supervisor to send out the video and images.* * *A woman reported that some TRU Religion pants, shirts, and Victoria's Secret bra and panty sets were stolen from the Residence Inn laundry room on Center Street. All items are valued at $720.* * *Police reported to a situation on Jarvis Avenue. Police were told a woman is elderly and wantedto get out of the house. She called her friend to drive her around. The friend arrived while the officer took the report. The woman's daughter had a huge problem with her leaving due to the coronavirus that has killed some elderly people in Hamilton County. The woman decided to stay in.* * *Police spoke with a man on Hawthorne Street after he placed $200 onto a Walgreens Gift Card and provided the serial number to an unknown male. The unknown male called him and said that he was Padre (Father) David Cutter with the "Catholic Church". Padre Cutter asked for him to help the church by donating money onto a gift card and then providing him with the gift card serial number. The man traveled to the East Ridge Walgreens and purchased the gift card. He then texted the serial number to "Padre Cutter." When he did not hear back from "Padre Cutter" he felt that he had been scammed. He has attempted to cancel the gift card and any further transaction related to the card number.* * *Police responded to a Shoplifting at 4355 58 Highway. Upon arrival on scene police met with the complainant who said she had two women enter the Speedway and take several items, then exit the store. The women approached a vehicle with two other women in it, began to argue with them and during the course of the argument pepper sprayed them. The second group of females then entered the store and took two gallons of milk into the bathroom to wash their eyes out. The second pair of females then exited the Speedway and left in a silver sedan without paying for the milk. The employee identified the first pair of females. She did not know the identity of the second pair of females. Police attempted to identify both of the first set of females, but were unsuccessful. Items Stolen: Giant Gummy Bear -$6, Candy Shark - $5 x 2, Slushies- $2 x 2, and the milk.* * *Police were dispatched to Chestnut Street/W. 26th Street on two men making a rap video in an abandoned concrete slab that used to be a part of the foundry. The reporting party stated one of the men was holding a gun while filming in font of a drone. Upon arrival, police located the two men. Both said they were filming a music video. Police asked if they had a firearm and one said he did. The firearm was not on his person but located next to their gear. The pistol, a Hi-Point 9mm, was run through NCIC and was not stolen. Both men were extremely apologetic and said they did not mean to cause a disturbance. They were both checked for warrants and then released. On 22 April 2020 at 3:00 pm CET an ordinary general meeting was held in Oncology Venture A/S at Pharmakon Konferencecenter, Milnersvej 42, 3400 Hillerd, Denmark. The agenda for the annual general meeting was as follows: 1. Election of Chairman of the Meeting 2. Report on the Companys Activities during the Past Year 3. Submission of the Annual Report with Auditors Report for Approval and Discharge of the Board of Directors and Management 4. Resolution on Application of Profits or Covering of Losses as per the Adopted Annual Report 5. Election of Board Members 6. Election of Auditor 7. Any proposals from the Board of Directors and/or Shareholders Resume and complete resolutions Re 1 Attorney-at-law Lars Luthjohan Jensen was elected as chairman of the general meeting. Re 2 Chief Financial Officer, Henrik Moltke reported on the Companys activities for the year ended December 31, 2019. Chief Financial Officer, Henrik Moltke also reported on the Companys financial position as the Company had lost more than half its equity, cf. Danish Companies Act section 119. Re 3 The Annual Report was adopted and a resolution was passed to discharge the Board of Directors and Management from liability. Re 4 It was resolved that the consolidated loss for the year of EUR 138,132,000 be carried forward to next year. Re 5 The following persons were re-elected for a term expiring at the annual general meeting to be held in 2021: Duncan Moore Frank Knudsen Steve Carchedi Steen Knudsen Gunnar Magnus Persson Carani Sanjeevi so that the composition of the Board of Directors remained unchanged. Information about the current board members was made available on the Companys website www.oncologyventure.com . Re 6 PricewaterhouseCoopers Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab was re-appointed as the Companys auditor. Re 7 The Board of Directors had proposed 2 amendments to the Articles of Association, which were all adopted on the general meeting with the required majority. Each of the resolutions is described below in A and B. Story continues Resolution A: It was resolved to amend the Articles of Association by inserting a new authorization in Article 6.10 which authorizes the Board of Directors to issue convertible loan notes which give the right to subscribe for shares in the Company. It was specifically resolved that a new Article 6.10 is inserted in the Articles of Association with the following wording: The board of directors is authorized until the period ending 1 April 2025 at one or more times by resolution of the board of directors to obtain loans of up to SEK 100,000,000 against issuance of convertible loan notes which give the right to subscribe for shares in the company as well as carry out the appurtenant capital increases without pre-emption rights for the existing shareholders. The loans shall be paid in cash. The terms of the convertible loan notes issued under this authorization shall be determined by the board of directors. The convertible loan notes shall be offered at a conversion price no lower than the market price of the companys shares. As a consequence of this authorization the board of directors is also authorized until the period ending 1 April 2025 to increase the share capital of the company without pre-emption rights for the existing shareholders by up to a nominal value of DKK 5,000,000 by conversion of the convertible loan notes issued under the authorization set out in this section 6.10. The new shares issued based on this authorization shall be negotiable instruments issued in the name of the holder and registered in the name of the holder in the companys register of shareholders. The new shares shall not have any restrictions as to their transferability and no shareholder shall be obliged to have the shares redeemed fully or partly. The shares will have the same rights as the existing shares. All other terms are set by the board of directors. The resolution was adopted at the general meeting with the required majority of at least two thirds of both the votes cast and of the voting share capital represented at the general meeting. Resolution B: It was resolved to amend the Articles of Association by renewing the existing authorization in Article 7.2 that authorizes the Board of Directors to increase the Companys share capital at one or more times without pre-emption rights for the existing shareholders. It was specifically resolved that the existing wording in Article 7.2 of the Articles of Association is replaced in its entirety with the following wording: The board of directors is authorised until the period ending 1 April 2025 at one or more times to increase the companys share capital by up to nominal DKK 8,000,000. The capital increase shall be carried out without pre-emption rights for the companys existing shareholders. The new shares may be issued at market price or at a discount price as decided by the board of directors. The board of directors decides that the capital increase is carried out by way of cash contributions, contributions in kind and/or conversion of debt. Sections 7.3 and 7.4 shall apply to the new shares. All other terms are set by the board of directors. The resolution was adopted at the general meeting with the required majority of at least nine tenths of both the votes cast and of the voting share capital represented at the general meeting. ---oo0oo--- Pharmakon Konferencecenter, Milnersvej 42, 3400 Hillerd, Denmark Lars Luthjohan Jensen Chairman of the meeting. Attachment A man who was hospitalised with coronavirus but has since overcome it, believes he may have done so due to practising deep breathing exercises. Rob Thomas, 59, contracted Covid-19 at the end of March and was sent to Gloucester Royal Hospital where he was admitted to intensive care. The family of Mr Thomas, who had initially fallen ill with sepsis to make matters worse, was told by doctors that he only had a 50/50 chance of survival during the first three days. While in hospital, staff told him that his breathing techniques had spared him from being placed on a ventilator. As a result he was coined with the nickname 'the king of the breathers'. Rob Thomas has spoken about how he overcame Covid-19 due to his 'deep breathing' methods Mr Thomas was told by doctors that his techniques prevented him from being on a ventilator Speaking about the ordeal, Mr Thomas - who was discharged on Sunday - said it was thanks to his sister's advice that he was able to beat the deadly disease. His sibling, Janice Fawn - who was awarded a CBE for setting up a successful healthcare company - is a retired nurse and told her brother to 'just keep breathing'. 'When I came out of ICU and onto a high dependency ward, a doctor came along and he said to me, "Rob, I've got to say, you are the king of the breather",' he told Good Morning Britain. 'Before the paramedics collected me, my sister Janice, who is a retired nurse, she was speaking to the family on the phone and she said, "tell Rob to just keep breathing". 'I took those words with me and throughout ICU that's all I did. 'I just lay there - well I made them sit me upright because I felt like I would suffocate if I lied flat - and I just sat there watching the clock and got into a deep breathing pattern. 'The doctor did say that they think because of that deep breathing pattern that I got into that saved me going onto a ventilator.' Upon being discharged, footage of Mr Thomas hugging his wife, Viv, went viral after three weeks apart. The 59-year-old is now back recovering at home with wife Viv (left) and their daughter Selina He is currently recovering at their home in Hardwicke, Gloucestershire where the couple had been isolating with daughter Selina, 32, sons Daniel, 35, and Blake, 27, and his girlfriend Hannah Masters, 29. Mrs Thomas, who has been married to her husband for 40 years, said that the family's 'world fell apart' when he was admitted to hospital. Mr Thomas was taken there after antibiotics for his sepsis didn't work and he instead started displaying coronavirus symptoms - including a temperature of 44 degrees Celsius. 'We just didn't know if we'd ever see him again,' she told GMB host Susanna Reid. 'I have to say, the doctors, nurses, everyone at Gloucester Royal was absolutely amazing. 'They kept us updated all the time as to how he was, what they were going to do, they were just brilliant, I can't thank them enough.' Footage of him went viral after being discharged from hospital and reunited with his wife Mr Thomas, a businessman who owns the Renault Trade 'n Save Centre on Mercia Road, Gloucester; says he owes his life to the staff who looked after him at Gloucester Royal Hospital. 'I can't thank GRH enough. The way the function as a team in ICU is unbelievable and without a doubt they saved my life,' he is quoted as saying by Gloucestershire Live. 'The high dependency ward is amazing and the staff on 2a who got my lungs functioning and my legs walking again are just outstanding. 'If I ever I hear anybody moaning about GRH, the tower block or the staff again they will get the sharp end of my tongue because what they are doing inside that hospital is truly amazing.' His sister Janice has also received his gratitude for the massive part she played too. New Delhi/Washington: Beijing has denied permission to American scientists to visit Wuhan Institute of Virology or any other part of China to investigate the origin of the novel coronavirus. Aarti Tikoo Singh New Delhi/Washington: Beijing has denied permission to American scientists to visit Wuhan Institute of Virology or any other part of China to investigate the origin of the novel coronavirus. US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo revealed this on Wednesday while speaking to Fox News about why greater transparency from the Xi Jinping government was required. "Even today, the Chinese government hasn't permitted American scientists to go into China, to go into not only the Wuhan lab but wherever it needs to go to learn about this virus, to learn about its origins," Pompeo told the news channel. Reiterating that the Trump administration has information about it, he said, "Look, we know it began at onea, but we need to figure this out. There's an ongoing pandemic. We still don't have the transparency and openness we need in China." "It is the World Health Organization's (WHO) responsibility to achieve that transparency. They're not doing it. They need to be held accountable," Pompeo said adding, that it has been "great to see other countries around the world to begin to recognize the WHO failures as well." The US secretary of state said the WHO needs structural changes including stepping down of its chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "Or even more than that. It may be the case that the United States can never return to underwriting, having U.S. taxpayer dollars go to the WHO. We may need to be have even bolder change than that," he said. Last week, President Donald Trump said that the US will halt all funding of the WHO arguing that the organization had given precedence to "political correctness over lifesaving measures." AT Jaipur, April 23 (IANS) At a time when lockdown has brought life to a standstill, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) continues to work on a "three-dimensional strategy" in Rajasthan -- offering service ('sewa'), organising family meetings ('pariva Image Source: IANS News Jaipur, April 23 : At a time when lockdown has brought life to a standstill, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) continues to work on a "three-dimensional strategy" in Rajasthan -- offering service ('sewa'), organising family meetings ('parivarmilan') and connecting with workers on phone and online (from national to state and state to regional) to serve the people in need. The ideological mentor of the Bharatiya Janata Party says its activists have enabled women and children to connect to their home-run shakhas during lockdown, it says. This novel concept where a family, including children, prays together twice in a day in the morning and evening in home-run shakhas has been named as 'kutumb shakhas', said Vishwa Samwad Kendra member Manoj Kumar. With women and children joining the daily-run shakhas, the number of RSS workers in Rajasthan has gone up many-fold. In its three 'prants' in Rajasthan -- Jaipur, Chittaur and Jodhpur -- as many as 4,32,326 new members have joined RSS 'shakhas' out of which 1,18,609 are from Chittaur, 2,63,217 are from Jaipur and 50,500 are from Jodhpur, he said. Before lockdown, as many as 2,90,621 RSS workers attended various 'shakhas' being run in 9,732 places in the state and this number now has increased to 7,22,947 with women and children among other family members joining the Hindutva brigade. In Jaipur 'Prant', the RSS is running 'kutumb shakhas' at 847 places in which around 3,785 women participate, says Kumar, adding that Sangh workers despite lockdown are continuing their 'shakhas' in their houses and are actively reaching out to places where their services are required. Earlier, women were active in other activities of RSS, but they did not participate in 'shakhas'. Lockdown has changed the scenario, he added. The Jaipur 'Prant' comprises Sikar, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, Dausa, Tonk, Jaipur Rural and Jaipur Nagar. The RSS continued its work even during the Emergency period, when its workers operated from their homes. Today, the organisation is actively engaged in all its social and philanthropic activities across Rajasthan. Recently, the RSS workers in Jaipur reached out to porters at the railway station who were in urgent need of ration as their earning had dried up due to suspension of railway services. As many as 61 porters were given ration by these workers, said Rajasthan Seva Karya Pramukh Shivlehri. Most of the porters are not employed by anyone and hence were given food items, including, sugar, salt, spices and edible oil in the presence of Atul Srivastava, Chief Commercial Officer, Jaipur Mandal; Devendra Singh, Jaipur Railway Station Superintendent; Rajeev Kulshreshta from Jaipur Railway Station VIP movement and other senior officers. The RSS' women workers are stitching 10,000 masks in a day, distributing food kits and cooked food to the needy, providing masks to the destitute and fodder for the cattle. Although Sangh has cancelled all its programmes involving participation of over 20 people till July 20, its service activities continue to make a mark in the state, he added. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has opened an investigation of the local nail salon that Beaumont Mayor Becky Ames was photographed in earlier this week. Spokeswoman Tela Mange confirmed the investigation to The Enterprise on Thursday afternoon -- 22 hours after the agency gave a simple "yes" comment on a Facebook post from someone asking if the incident was being investigated. She said the agency has received at least three formal complaints against The Nail Bar, in addition to "many, many, many" on its Facebook page. MALLS OPENING: Five Houston-area malls are opening for retail-to-go shopping Neither Ames, nor the salon's owner, responded to a request for comment Thursday afternoon. Generally speaking, after a complaint is filed, an investigator determines whether there's enough information to open a case. If there is, the investigation will begin to determine if there's enough evidence to forward it to a prosecutor in the agency's enforcement division. If not, the case is closed for a lack of evidence. If the case is forwarded to a prosecutor, the license-holder is sent a notice of alleged violation and they have the option to pay the administrative penalty or have the cause taken to the State Office of Administrative Hearings for a formal hearing. Ames' visit to the nail salon was revealed Tuesday afternoon, when a cropped Snapchat photo appeared on a local blog. She later told The Enterprise she needed help taking her "dip" nails off after they became painful, so she texted the woman who did them for help. The salon owner, who also was the one who originally did Ames' nails, told her she could pick up an acetone solution from the salon. The photo was taken, Ames said, in the 10 minutes she was soaking her nails in the back of the salon so the owner could teach her how to remove them, allowing Ames to finish the process at home. She then went to the Beaumont City Council meeting, she said, with half of the nails removed. CUBAN WARNS TEXANS: Mark Cuban says its too soon to reopen Texas businesses after virus closures On Tuesday evening, Ames told The Enterprise she didn't do anything wrong and she would not have a problem if anyone else did something similar, saying hair stylists have been leaving out hair dye for customers to pick up during the pandemic. Mange couldn't comment specifically on this case because of the active investigation. State licenses regulated by the agency requires licensees to follow state law and, "right now, the state law is you can't perform services in a salon, at home, in the garage -- anywhere," she said. [April 23, 2020] VersaBank Announces Results of 2020 Meeting of Shareholders Including Election of Art Linton to Board of Directors VersaBank (the "Bank") is pleased to announce that Art Linton was elected to its Board of Directors (the "Board") at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") held on April 22, 2020. Mr. Linton brings to the Board a wealth of knowledge and experience in business, law, cyber security and other banking subject areas. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005196/en/ Mr. Linton is a lawyer with over 30 years business experience. He is an advisor to businesses in Canada and abroad. His extensive experience as an entrepreneur and corporate leader will make a valuable contribution to the Board. Mr. Linton is a graduate of the Osgoode Hall Law School. As recently announced, Avery Pennarun has become a director for DRT Cyber Inc., a subsidiary of the Bank, and did not seek re-election at the Meeting. Mr. Pennarun served on the VersaBank Board for four years and has made a significant contribution to the Bank's success. He will continue to advise the VersaBank Board on information technology matters. David Taylor, President & CEO of VersaBank stated: "I want to thank Avery Pennarun for his dedicated service to the Board and look forward to continuing our association with him as a member of the DRT Cyber Inc. Board. I am very pleased Mr. Linton has agreed to stand for election to our Board. Mr. Linton's extensive experience as an entrepreneur and corporate leader will benefit our Board." VersaBank is pleased to announce that each of the director nominees listed in its Management Information Circular dated February 28, 2020, were elected as directors of the Bank. The detailed results of the vote are as follows, with percentages rounded to two decimal places: Director Number of Votes Cast Percentage of Votes Cast Robbert-Jan Brabander In Favour: 12,964,775 99.70 % Withheld: 38,779 0.30 % Gabrielle Bochynek In Favour: 12,738,232 97.96 % Withheld: 265,322 2.04 % David A. Bratton In Favour: 12,882,224 99.07 % Withheld: 121,330 0.93 % Richard W. Carter In Favour: 12,964,775 99.70 % Withheld: 38,779 0.30 % The Honourable Thomas A. Hockin In Favour: 12,886,042 99.10 % Withheld: 117,512 0.90 % Art Linton In Favour: 12,965,216 99.71 % Withheld: 38,338 0.29 % Colin E. Litton In Favour: 12,960,175 99.67 % Withheld: 43,379 0.33 % Susan T. McGovern In Favour: 12,934,066 99.47 % Withheld: 69,488 0.53 % Paul G. Oliver In Favour: 12,965,027 99.70 % Withheld: 38,527 0.30 % David R. Taylor In Favour: 12,967,775 99.72 % Withheld: 35,779 0.28 % The Shareholders also approved the re-appointment of KPMG LLP as auditors of the Bank. VersaBank's Voting Results with respect to all matters voted upon at the Meeting will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. ABOUT VERSABANK VersaBank adopted an electronic B2B branchless model in 1993, becoming the world's first branchless financial institution. It holds a Canadian Schedule I chartered bank license and obtains its deposits, and the majority of its loans and leases, electronically. VersaBank's Common Shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol VB and its Series 1 Preferred Shares and Series 3 Preferred Shares trade under the symbols VB.PR.A and VB.PR.B, respectively. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005196/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The presidents latest assertion seemed prompted by his anger with The Washington Post over an interview with Dr. Robert R. Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, published a day earlier. In that interview, Dr. Redfield warned that fall and winter would be taxing on Americans because influenza and the coronavirus would be circulating at the same time. He was misquoted, Mr. Trump said. His whole purpose in making the statement was to get a flu shot so that next fall we dont have such a big season of flu, the president continued. But when pressed by reporters, Dr. Redfield said he had been accurately quoted. Theres a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through, he said in that interview. On Wednesday, directed by the president to take the stage, Dr. Redfield said, When I commented yesterday that there was a possibility of next fall and winter, it could be more difficult, more complicated when we had two respiratory illnesses circulating at the same time. He added: I didnt say that this was going to be worse. I said that this was going to be more difficult. Taking the lectern to quibble with reporters over the article which had the headline C.D.C. Director Warns Second Wave of Coronavirus Is Likely to Be Even More Devastating Mr. Trump said that Dr. Redfield did not actually know if the corona would come back, and that he had spoken to the doctor at great length about his comments. Officials, Data Put Nursing Homes' COVID-19 Numbers in Context BOSTON -- The governor and secretary of health and human services Wednesday each attempted to put the number of COVID-19 deaths linked to nursing homes in context. At their daily press briefing, the state officials were asked two questions about nursing homes: why the commonwealth's fatality numbers at the facilities are on a par with neighboring New York when Massachusetts' total number of deaths from COVID-19 trails the Empire State and why the Legislature has advanced a bill requiring the Department of Health to "report weekly the number of COVID-19 positive cases and mortalities at assisted living residences, elderly housing facilities and long-term care facilities to the house and senate committees on ways and means." Gov. Charlie Baker asked HHS Secretary Marylou Sudders to put in context the fact that more than half of the commonwealth's total deaths from COVID-19 are linked to long-term care facilities. According to Tuesday's DPH report, 1,059 of the state's 1,961 confirmed COVID-19-related deaths have been in long-term care facilities. Sudders said that over the last five years, between 1,000 and 1,700 deaths per month have occurred in Massachusetts' nursing homes. "I've been collecting that data because sometimes, I think the reporting is, 'There's never been a death in a nursing home,' based on some of the reports I've been reading," Sudders said. "People are suggesting we're starting at zero deaths in nursing homes." Baker noted that no one ever asked or showed interest in the pre-outbreak fatality rate at facilities. As for the comparison to New York, Sudders indicated it may be tied to the relative sizes of the per capita nursing home populations in each state. "Massachusetts has one of the greatest numbers of nursing home beds in comparison to other states," she said. "I don't actually know the answer of what New York's per capital utilization of nursing home beds is in comparison to rest homes, assisted living, elder housing and the like." The data released by the DPH on Tuesday also helps contextualize Berkshire County's best known COVID-19 "hot spot," the Williamstown Commons nursing home. The DPH statistics released on Tuesday list 220 Massachusetts nursing homes, rest homes and skilled nursing facilities with at least two known cases of COVID-19 among residents and staff. The report classifies the facilities as having fewer than 10 confirmed cases, between 10 and 30 confirmed cases or more than 30 cases. Of the 220 on Tuesday's report, about 81, or more than a third, are listed as having more than 30 cases. Williamstown Commons' which is in that group of more than 30, Tuesday reported that it has, "35 active cases in-house, which is 5 down from last week, and 21 additional residents are recovering and improving every day." The Williamstown facility also has reported 17 COVID-19-related deaths, including three new deaths reported Tuesday. Of the 81 facilities on DPH's list with more than 30 cases, the majority, 67, are listed as having fewer licensed beds than Williamstown Commons, which has 180. The most striking statistic on the list is the German Centre in West Roxbury, which is listed as having 31 licensed beds but on Tuesday reported 34 confirmed cases and 13 deaths. Tuesday's data from the Department of Public Health also identifies Great Barrington's Fairview Commons (146 licensed beds) and Lenox's Mount Carmel Care Center (69 beds) as having fewer than 10 confirmed COVID-19 cases among staff and residents. Sudders said Wednesday that there are characteristics of the nursing home industry in Massachusetts that have made it particularly susceptible to transmission of the novel coronavirus. "There's no question we have a high degree of spread in our nursing home facilities," she said. "Many of our nursing homes are old nursing homes that were waivered in in terms of the new regulations; when I say 'new,' it was early 2000s, where everyone has single rooms. Our nursing home industry is older in Massachusetts, the physical plants. So you were waivered in if you had two or three people per room. As we know, the more social distancing you have, the better." Last week, the president of the Massachusetts Senior Care Association called on the commonwealth to ramp up testing of residents and employees, prioritize delivery of personal protective equipment and funnel and an additional $130 million per month into the industry to avoid "death and devastation" at nursing homes across the state. In a letter to state officials, the trade group warned that under a "worst-case scenario," half of the state's nursing home population would become infected and 10 percent, or 3,800 people, would die. Baker's own father is a resident at one of those facilities, and the governor has talked repeatedly about his personal frustration at not being able to visit his parent since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak in the commonwealth. On Wednesday, he defended the industry as a whole. "I know a fair number of people who operate in that industry, and some of the folks who suffered some of the most dismaying, disturbing and destructive outbreaks are terrific operators and folks who literally have never had a demerit or an issue at any point in time with respect to the work they do," Baker said. "I mean Belmont Manor (156 beds, more than 30 cases) is a good example of that. That's a five-star nursing home. "And even in the assisted-living space, some of the folks who battled their way through some of the worst examples of COVID-19 penetration represent organizations that, prior to that, were considered by most to be among the very best players in the space." When Marine Corps family members in Maryland reached out to their congressman with concerns about crowded base barber shops, Rep. Jamie Raskin said that -- of all the challenges the country faces during the coronavirus pandemic -- this was an easy one to solve. "The people who joined the Marines are protecting us and we have an obligation to protect them," Raskin, a Maryland Democrat, told Military.com. "[Grooming standards] can be relaxed in a way that does not endanger our national security." Raskin, who wrote a letter to Marine Commandant Gen. David Berger on Tuesday, is the latest to question the service's adherence to strict grooming standards during the global pandemic. A video shared on social media that showed Marines without masks lined up to get their hair cut prompted Defense Secretary Mark Esper to ask, "What don't you guys understand?" Related: Defense Secretary to Marines: Rethink Haircut Rules During Pandemic In his letter, Raskin urged Berger to relax Marine Corps grooming standards temporarily "to protect both Marines and the barbers and hairdressers who serve them." Berger has received the letter but wishes to keep private his communication with lawmakers, Maj. Eric Flanagan, the commandant's spokesman, said. The commandant has left decisions about relaxing standards to stem the spread of coronavirus up to commanders, but Raskin said the massive health crisis the pandemic presents calls for top-down guidance. "This calls for precisely the kind of institutional leadership and cohesion that the Marines are famous for," he said. "The commandant can act here to prevent high-risk situations from materializing." Having Marines wait in lines for haircuts as cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in the military ranks is unnecessary, Raskin said. The ongoing public health struggle against coronavirus, he said, requires leaders to help reduce any unneeded close physical contact. Each of the military services has issued its own guidance on how to enforce grooming standards during the pandemic. The Navy, the service hit hardest by the coronavirus crisis, was the first to give commanders the authority to relax male and female hair-length rules on March 18. The Air Force also issued guidance last month to commanders about relaxing grooming standards. Soldiers have been told to follow the service's hair regulations, but not to be overboard with extra cuts to keep it super short during the outbreak. In his letter, Raskin stressed that it only takes one infected Marine or barber to spread COVID-19. That could lead to a chain reaction of COVID-19 cases in the ranks, he warned. The congressman acknowledged that military leaders have a lot to consider when it comes to new policies during the unprecedented situation caused by the coronavirus pandemic. But if family members are worried about their Marines' safety, public leaders have an obligation to consider their concerns, he said. "I hope the commandant can strike the right balance," Raskin said. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Read more: Get 'A Pair of Scissors:' Army Grooming Standards Still in Effect, Officials Say With remote working as the order of the day, the threat of an online attack on your business is all too real. There are a number of measures companies and their employees can implement to minimise the risk of sensitive company information getting into the hands of malicious actors. Logicalis is a leading provider of digital services, with specialised offerings that include cloud, data centre, networking and cybersecurity solutions. Logicalis South Africas Chief Information Security Officer Caesar Tonkin recently provided advice to companies and employees regarding safe remote working practices. The threat Tonkin said attackers are looking at ways to monetise the coronavirus in their cyberattacks. One example is phishing attacks that are carried out with links or attachments that claim to direct users to the latest coronavirus statistics or advice. Anyone who clicks on the link opens themselves and their company up to the harvesting of personal information which can be used to determine company passwords. When attackers gain access to company systems, it can have a massive impact on its financial and reputational standing. Tonkin reiterated that essential services in particular should be extremely wary of attackers that could disrupt production processes. A pharmaceutical manufacturer cannot afford to have downtime in its production of medication that has got to get to hospitals and pharmacies because someone clicked on a link, Tonkin said. It is also important to note that failure to comply to industry regulations that require certain security protocols could result in fines, causing further financial damage. Understanding security controls It is important to provide a technical perspective to team members of which security measures are in place to protect systems and sensitive information. People will be under attack, because they are working from home, in terms of phishing mails, ransomware and any attempt by attackers to gain access through the individual working from home, Tonkin warned. If team members see what those security controls look like when they are working from home, they are aware of the types of threats that exist and what attacks could happen, he noted. This will also put their minds at ease as they will know that the company has implemented robust and sufficient security controls. Company-issued computers One of the fundamental security controls that companies should implement is ensuring each staff member uses a company-issued machine for working purposes, Tonkin said. This computer may not be used by family members or friends that are sharing the house of the employee during lockdown. The machine should have all the necessary company-approved security policies in place, including: Anti-virus Firewall Full disk-encryption Secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) Automatic regular updates and backups as per company policy Protecting sensitive communication and information Communication and data must be carried out via secure channels, Tonkin emphasised. The company has a responsibility to make sure that staff are aware that they must only share sensitive company information in an approved repository, Tonkin said. Appropriate platforms for communication and data-sharing are determined by the company and could include SharePoint, OneDrive, e-mail, Teams chat or a company-approved cloud service. They must not be sharing sensitive information on WhatsApp or SMSes and they must not be allowed to use personal email such as Gmail for company purposes, Tonkin stated. He added that the employee often has a contract that compels them to comply with the companys security policies. Monitor VPN activity Tonkin said Logicalis SA was encouraging customers to monitor more carefully what types of attacks are being carried out on their VPN service. Often suspicious activities on the VPN access is not really carefully looked into in business-as-usual times, Tonkin said. Monitoring of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks and suspicious failed logins are things that most companies should look at. In business-unusual times, the effects could be even worse. If your VPN service is down that means you cannot service your customers and from a production-operations point of view, staff cant remotely do what they need to in order to do their jobs, Tonkin stated. How Logicalis can help Logicalis South Africa offers fully-fledged security solutions to provide comprehensive end-to-end protection for companies digital systems. This includes the following services: Security Consulting Projects Cyber Security Maturity Assessment, Vulnerability and Controls Compliance, Penetration Testing and more. Managed Security Services Managed Firewall, Email, and Endpoint Protection, as well as Endpoint Detection Response, Privileged Account Management and more. Cyber Defence Services Next Generation Security Operations Centre, Vulnerability Management Service, Threat Detection and Response Management, and more. Contact Logicalis SA today to give your remote workers the best possible protection from cyber-attacks. Click here to learn more about Logicalis South Africas comprehensive security offering. [April 23, 2020] Global Telecom Named IoT Emerging Company of the Year in 8th Annual Compass Intelligence Awards Global Telecom, the only U.S. manufacturer of modules for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, has been honored as the IoT Emerging Company of the Year for the Consumer Market in the 8th Annual Compass Intelligence (News - Alert) Tech Awards. The 2020 Compass Intelligence Tech Awards were voted on by 40+ industry-leading press, editors, journalists, thought leaders, and analysts. A total of 45 awardees were recognized in mobile, IoT, and emerging technology. "We at Global Telecom are so proud to be recognized as the IoT Emerging Company of the Year by the industry experts at Compass Intelligence," said Ahmad Malkawi, CEO and founder of Global Telecom. "Modules are the foundational component in thedevices that will change our world for the better in the new Internet of Things. The Global Telecom team is dedicated to enabling innovation at a time when connected devices offer so much hope for advancing the accessibility of healthcare, essential consumer products, and education around the globe." Global Telecom has a long history of working to meet and exceed industry standards. The company's modules undergo rigorous testing and validation under the certification standards of the Federal Communications Commission, Global Certification Forum, PTCRB (News - Alert) and the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The company's line of modules includes Cat NB1, LTE Cat M, LTE Cat 1 and LTE Cat 12/15 - and in the spring of 2020, the company's first 5G module. "It is an honor to recognize Global Telecom in this year's awards as they demonstrate excellence in IoT," states Stephanie Atkinson, CEO of Compass Intelligence. "I am excited to watch them grow and provide innovative IoT solutions across multiple sectors in this very competitive market." About Global Telecom Global Telecom engineers hardware, software and AI solutions that enable a reliable and secure Internet of Things. Online: www.GlobalTelecomUS.com Twitter (News - Alert): @GlobalTelecomUS. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005074/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Over 100 Sri Lankan students studying at the Lovely Professional University (LPU) here were on Thursday evacuated by a special Sri Lankan airlines flight from Amritsar International Airport, officials said. Kapurthala Deputy CommissionerDeepti Uppal said the students were either staying at the premises of LPU or in paying guest accommodation near the university. LPU Additional Director Aman Mittal said the 101 students from the neighbouring country were stranded due to the lockdown imposed as part of measures to control coronavirus spread. Earlier, 259 Bhutanese students studying in LPU were airlifted through two different flights from Amritsar and Chandigarh airports by Bhutan government's special flights on March 28 and April 13 respectively. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Trump on Wednesday said he "disagreed strongly" with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's (R) plan to reopen some nonessential businesses in the state, telling reporters he thinks it's "too soon" for people to visit barbershops, nail salons, and tattoo parlors. During his daily coronavirus briefing, Trump said he wants Kemp to do "what he thinks is right" for Georgia, but "I disagree with him on what he's doing." Under Kemp's plan, gyms, salons, and tattoo parlors will reopen on Friday, followed by theaters and restaurant dining rooms on Monday. Trump said he thinks it's "just too soon" to open those types of establishments "in phase one," and while he "love[s] those people who use all of those things ... they can wait just a little bit longer. Because safety has to predominate." The Georgia Department of Public Health on Wednesday reported 20,740 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state, with the death toll at 836. Several small business owners and their employees are worried about how fast the virus will spread once these businesses reopen. Dewond Brown, a line cook in the Atlanta area, was laid off in March, and he told The Associated Press if his restaurant reopens, he won't go back to work unless he knows his co-workers have tested negative for COVID-19 and there is a drop in new cases. He has high blood pressure, and is worried about becoming sick. "I understand everybody wants to get back to normal, but you hear the medical people everyday say it's not time yet," he said. More stories from theweek.com Cuomo rips McConnell's 'blue state bailout' by noting 'your state is living on the money that we generate' Trump adviser suggests reopening economy by putting 'everybody in a space outfit' The Trump administration reportedly wants control over U.S. Postal Service in return for emergency loan The count is not complete of the many Israelis abroad who are returning to their country right now, but the trend is clear. According to the Interior Ministry's Population and Immigration Authority, more and more Israelis who have been abroad for a long time are returning to Israel due to the novel coronavirus. Some 550,000 Israelis returned in February and March. About 15% of them, around 80,000 people, had spent an extended period abroad. That last group is growing, reaching more than 30% in April. To understand the significance of this trend, it is useful to divide the returnees into four groups: First we have the students studying abroad, returning because their studies were discontinued over the pandemic. Then there are the backpackers young Israelis who traditionally take several months after their army service to see the world. There are also Israelis who had relocated, moved abroad for periods of one to three years for work or study. Finally, there are the emigrants who had lived abroad for many years. The post-military backpackers have returned for three reasons: concern over sub-standard medical care abroad, mainly in developing countries; parental pressure to come home while the virus is raging across the globe; and pressure to leave from local authorities in Thailand, South America and other places. Israels Foreign Ministry mobilized to bring back the backpackers, even funding some flights. Upon arrival, thousands of them were put up in hotels for quarantine at the expense of the state. The government made great efforts to bring home those who found themselves in especially far-off places such as Columbia, Costa Rica, Peru and India. Israelis who migrated abroad form a well-established population living mainly in Western countries. Many are tech workers, academics and businesspeople. At least half a million of them live outside of Israel, not including children born to them abroad. Most of the returnees in this group left their host countries due to the coronavirus, including academics whose universities have been closed and others who were fired or furloughed due to the pandemic. Most of these returnees had been abroad for relatively short periods of one to three years. Journalist Shaul Amsterdamski decided to return with his family after a year and a half in Boston. He wrote of it, As the epidemic spread, it became clear that our place was not in the United States. With a heavy heart and sense of missing out, but with an understanding that the world is changing for everybody and there is not a good chance that by June everything will be fine and we can tour the West Coast as we planned, we decided to return home. Even though we dont have an apartment in our name or even furniture to furnish an apartment, our families are here, our friends, our hearts. The past few weeks have made this very clear to me. I carefully followed what was happening in Israel with the virus in terms of numbers, not the United States. I kept track of and reported on what was happening in government offices in Israel, not America. Because in America, it was someone elses problem. In Israel, it involves me, my relatives, my friends. In America, it is an epidemic that I stumbled into; in Israel, it is an epidemic that I chose to be part of." Among the well-heeled Israelis who had spent many years abroad, the trend is less distinct, but they, too, are showing interest in returning to Israel. Jewish Agency emissary in Long Island Gili Dvash told Al-Monitor that throughout the crisis there have been many enquiries from Israelis who have been in the United States for many years about procedures for coming home and the rights of returning residents. Ther trend extends to other countries, with a wave of inquiries from emigrant Israelis about incentives to return. A senior official in the Ministry of Immigration and Absorption said on condition of anonymity that there are indications that the pandemic is creating a flood of returning Israelis because of Israel's relative success in handling the crisis compared with other countries including the United States. According to the source, Israelis strong sense of family also plays a role. In times of crisis, people want to be with their family members. We are certainly witnessing that now. Ilana Levi, an Israeli who lived in Los Angeles more than 10 years, returned to Israel at the end of March with her husband and their three children. She told Al-Monitor that most Israelis living abroad have mixed feelings about it and a strong emotional connection to Israel. This emotion appears especially during a time of crisis, wars or terror attacks or other major events. The difference this time was that we saw the entire world challenged by a crisis, and it seemed that Israel was coping better than most of the countries, even better than the large, rich United States. We felt proud, together with real concern about my own family. After a conversation with my mother in Israel, who is under isolation, we immediately decided to pack up our suitcases and go. During the packing-up process we made the decision to return for good. My husband is a freelancer and will find a way to use his profession in Israel. I have stopped working due to downsizing at my place of work. Ill need to find work in Israel. Returning Israelis are entitled to National Insurance Institute benefits, importantly health insurance. Those who have been abroad longer than 18 months must wait one month for every year they were abroad before being entitled to benefits including medical care. However, they can pay a penalty and receive immediate benefits including health services. But despite the legalities, in the current crisis, anyone returning from abroad who needs medical treatment receives it immediately certainly sufferers of COVID-19. At this stage, we dont play games when it comes to all the various medical treatments. The hospitals and the HMOs and the National Insurance Institute as well we are all on the same page, said a source from National Insurance who deals with health insurance, on condition of anonymity. Those returning from extended time abroad of more than two years or in some cases three years are considered "returning residents" entitled to additional incentives from the state including income tax breaks. They are exempt from most customs on the products they bring from abroad. Additional benefits include funding for studies and training programs and assistance with rent. All these benefits are available to students who spent at least 18 months in a recognized academic institution abroad. Those abroad for more than five years are exempted from income tax for five years, and from capital gains taxes for 10 years. Jewish Agency chairman Isaac Herzog has said that Israel is seen as a stable, well-established and well-functioning country with a good health system. He feels that despite occasional criticism and the kind of failures that take place everywhere, he anticipates a wave of new Jewish immigrants in addition to returning Israelis. FREDERICKSBURG, VA Pilots flew vintage World War II Stearman biplanes and local residents participated in a car parade in Fredericksburg Wednesday to honor health care workers who are working on the front lines to take care of patients during the coronavirus crisis. The car parade was organized by Ashley Hawk, a King George County resident who wanted to give back and show support for the health care workers at Mary Washington Hospital. Hawk created a MW Hospital Love Day Facebook event that drew more than 200 cars to Mary Washington Hospital for Wednesday's parade, which featured honking horns, painted windows and homemade signs. The community means everything, because without it we wouldnt be able to share all this love, Hawk said. From the cleaning crews at night to the doctors and nurses on the frontlines, you guys show so much love for people who have nobody right now because they're alone. They can't have anybody in the hospital." The pilots, all Virginia residents, flew five Stearman biplanes in formation by Stafford Hospital and then traveled south to do a flyover at Mary Washington Hospital. Stafford Hospital and Mary Washington Hospital are owned by Mary Washington Healthcare. 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. Each of the pilots is a member of the Mid-Atlantic Stearman Association based in Virginia. MASA exists to promote Stearman flying and to preserve the vintage WWII biplanes. Some of the pilots regularly fly with the Flying Circus Airshow in Bealeton in Fauquier County, which is in its 50th year of operation. Five pilots flew vintage WWII Stearman biplanes in formation by Stafford Hospital and Mary Washington Hospital. (Courtesy of Mary Washington Healthcare) Anything we can do to make them a little bit happier, give a little cheer into their day, thats what we wanted to do, to give something back to these people heroes, every single one of them," said Lee Fox, a Stearman pilot who coordinated the flyover. Mary Washington and Stafford Hospitals primarily treat patients who live in the Rappahannock Health District, which covers the City of Fredericksburg, along with Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George and Caroline counties. Story continues As of Thursday, 336 people in the health district had tested positive for the coronavirus and nine people have died. Fredericksburg has reported 20 positive cases and no deaths from the coronavirus. The Rappahannock Area Health District and the West Piedmont Health District are the only two health districts in the state without an official outbreak of the coronavirus. The West Piedmont Health District oversees Henry, Franklin and Patrick counties and the city of Martinsville. Last week, Mary Washington Hospital employees gathered in the atrium of the hospital to give two women who had been hospitalized with the coronavirus a send-off as they were pushed in wheelchairs to the hospital exit. So far, the two hospitals have been able to take care of their coronavirus patients without having to send patients to medical facilities in other regions of the state or use the field hospital that Mary Washington Hospital created in its parking garage. "With the stay-at-home orders and the social distancing that have been taken so seriously by every member of the community, those models show that we are flattening the curve," Dr. Michael McDermott, president and chief executive officer of Mary Washington Healthcare, said April 16 at a virtual town hall held by the health care system. By flattening the curve, Mary Washington Healthcare's facilities in Fredericksburg and Stafford County now have the capacity to treat every patient who comes in sick with the coronavirus, he said. But McDermott cautioned that Mary Washington Healthcare's hospitals and others across the state could easily reach their capacity in the coming weeks if people do not follow the governor's order to stay at home. Hawk was thrilled that more than 200 cars showed up for the parade in Fredericksburg. But she wasn't surprised by the number of people who feel the same way she does about the hospital's employees. "You guys are really angels. We appreciate all your hard work and your dedication and your compassion for all these people when they need it the most," Hawk said. RELATED: This article originally appeared on the Fredericksburg Patch Flash Chinese Ambassador to Iraq Zhang Tao on Wednesday handed medical aid to Iraqi Ministry of Defense to fight COVID-19. "During the past two months, China has provided Iraq with three batches of medical aid," Zhang said in a handover ceremony in Baghdad, adding that the ministry played an important role in transporting supplies from China to Iraq. "China and Iraq are good friends and dear partners. When China went through difficulties and challenges over COVID-19, the Iraqi side gave a hand to China. Therefore, when Iraq faces difficulties, we are keen to provide assistance to Iraq," Zhang said. "This is what real friends should do," he added. Iraqi Minister of Defense Najah al-Shammari expressed gratitude for China's assistance to the Iraqi people and government. "COVID-19 is a global pandemic that has affected all countries of the world, which needs extensive international cooperation in all fields, especially in the medical field," al-Shammari said, describing the medical cooperation between Iraq and China as "more than excellent." Al-Shammari praised China's efforts in supporting Iraq to confront the outbreak of coronavirus by sending medical aid, laboratory testing devices, and a team of experts, who trained medical personnel in nine Iraqi provinces. Earlier on Monday, China sent the third medical batch to Baghdad as part of China's assistance to boost Iraq's capability to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. On March 7, China sent the first batch of medical aid to Iraq, with a medical team of seven Chinese experts to work with their Iraqi counterparts to fight the coronavirus, while the second batch of aid arrived on April 8. To drivers on the George Washington Bridge, Martin Morales probably looked like just another weekend warrior in his windbreaker and bicycle helmet, out for a ride in the suburbs across the river from New York City. To his family, though, a selfie Morales snapped with the bridge towering overhead during one of the rides he loved is a reminder of just how far he had journeyed from a remote village in southern Mexico to follow his older brother, Javier, to a new American life. Then, the coronavirus extinguished both their lives, just a day apart. On April 6, Javier Morales, who immigrated to the US about 30 years ago and eventually became a citizen, died of complications from the infection at a New Jersey hospital. He was 48. The next day, the virus took the life of Martin Morales, who was 39. Javier was the first one to immigrate ... He was chasing the American dream, said Sheila Cruz Morales, whose mother is a first cousin to the two men. Martin followed nearly a decade later, joining his older brother in Teaneck, New Jersey. They wanted to be near each other and he really tried to adapt the same way that my uncle Javier did, she said. In New Jersey, the brothers lived in apartments one floor apart, together with others from Santa Catarina Yosonot, a village of about 1,800 people in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. In the village, about five hours drive over mountain roads from the state capital, hardly anyone has a phone and internet service is even more rare. Calling family from the US means dialling a telephone kiosk and telling whoever answers who you're trying to reach. It works because the village, where people speak the indigenous language of Mixtec, is as close-knit as it is remote. We all know each other, said Rogelio Morales, 32, a cousin who followed Javier and Martin Morales to the US Javier Morales left the village around 1990 after his father was shot and killed in a business dispute, family members said. He started off picking fruit in California before eventually settling in New Jersey, where a man he knew from the village already lived. He married, raised a daughter who is now a medical assistant, and worked as a truck driver for a company that rents furniture for special events. Over the years, he assisted more than a dozen others who immigrated from Santa Catarina, helping them find work and housing. He was the security, the light that we all had here, Rogelio Morales said. Martin Morales followed his older brother to the US when he was 17. Quieter than Javier and interested in politics, he worked in a warehouse. He and his wife were parents of three children. Martin bought bicycles for each, leading family rides through the neighbourhood and savouring his own solo excursions. On weekends, it was not unusual to find the brothers in the driveway, taking care of their pickup trucks and playing with the children. They celebrated nearly every birthday, holiday and other family occasion together, Cruz Morales said. Soon, Javier Morales hoped, there would be a new reason to celebrate. He was divorced, but was planning to marry again to a woman he had courted during return visits to Santa Catarina. Javier's final visit came in March when, he and Rogelio Morales travelled back to the village for a religious festival. They returned to the US feeling worn out and chalked it up to jet lag and partying. But 10 or 11 days later, Javier Morales sought care at one hospital, then another. Isolated from family and on a ventilator, he died on a Monday. His brother, ill and despondent, died at home the following day. In the time since, the family has been working to find a way to send their remains back to Santa Catarina. The men's mother still lives there and family members said the brothers' pride in its culture and identity as descendants of Oaxaca's original inhabitants remained essential to their character, even after years away. His hometown was very, very special to him, Cruz Morales said of Javier Morales. And it's in our belief that for us to rest peacefully, we have to be in our homeland and we have to rest with our ancestors. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A massive database storing millions of credit card transactions has been secured after spending close to three weeks exposed publicly to the internet. The database belongs to Paay, a card payments processor based in New York. Like other payment processors, the company verifies payments on behalf of selling merchants, like online stores and other businesses, to prevent fraudulent transactions. But because there was no password on the server, anyone could access the data inside. Security researcher Anurag Sen found the database. He told TechCrunch that he estimates there are about 2.5 million card transaction records in the database. After TechCrunch contacted the company on his behalf, the database was pulled offline. "On April 3, we spun up a new instance on a service we are currently in the process of deprecating," said Paay co-founder Yitz Mendlowitz. "An error was made that left that database exposed without a password." Two records from the exposed database. TechCrunch has blacked out the full credit card number in the record to prevent fraud. The database contained daily records of card transactions dating back to September 1, 2019 from a number of merchants. TechCrunch reviewed a portion of the data. Each transaction contained the full plaintext credit card number, expiry date and the amount spent. The records also contained a partially masked copy of each credit card number. The data did not include cardholder names or card verification values, making it more difficult to use the credit card for fraud. Mendlowitz disputed the findings. "We don't store card numbers, as we have no use for them." TechCrunch sent him a portion of the data showing card numbers in plaintext, but he did not respond to our follow-up. It's the third payments processor this year to admit a security lapse. In January, Sen found another payments processor with an exposed database storing 6.7 million records. Earlier this month, another researcher found two payment sites for paying court fines and utilities also left a cache of data exposed for several months. Mendlowitz said the company was informing between 15 and 20 merchants, and that the company has engaged an unnamed forensic auditor to understand the scope of the security lapse. The health systems board was created 12 years ago to operate autonomously from Cook County politicians. Storys appointment comes amid sweeping changes to add more county board oversight of the financially troubled health system, which is $2.8 billion of the countys $6.2 billion budget this year. Though some criticized the move as a power grab, Preckwinkle has said there is greater need for more communication between the hospital system board and the county that finances it. Oil advanced as traders eye a production slowdown that has resulted from the coronavirus-led weaker demand environment. Futures in New York rose as much as 33 per cent on Thursday. With crude trading below $20-a-barrel, U.S. production has declined rapidly, now at the lowest since last July. Operators in the U.S. have also started to shut in old wells and halt new drilling, actions that could reduce output by 20 per cent. Plus, the number of new wells being brought online is forecast to plunge almost 90 per cent by the end of the year, according to IHS Markit Ltd. Cash market prices have recovered. There is a sense that the market is starting to clear itself, said John Kilduff, a partner at hedge fund Again Capital LLC. The decline in production and rig count in the U.S. is obviously supportive. OPEC and its allies have also reacted to the low-price environment. The coalition agreed earlier this month to slash daily production by about 10 million barrels a day starting in May. Kuwait said it has already started cutting output, the first major producer in the Persian Gulf, the worlds most prolific oil-producing region, to announce that its pumping less oil ahead of schedule. Algeria also told OPEC its cuts would begin immediately. Still, the U.S. benchmark crude has plummeted about 70 per cent so far this year as the coronavirus pandemic shutters economies and keeps drivers off the road. The World Bank says global commodities markets will face lasting disruption because of the outbreak. Oil markets are also having to grapple with a wave of volatility spurred by exchange-traded funds. The United States Oil Fund may roll more of its WTI contracts forward due to extraordinary market conditions, while at least two brokerages, including INTL FCStone Financial Inc., are limiting the ability of some clients to enter into new trades in the most active oil benchmarks. Even with production slowing, crude stockpiles in the U.S. are still at the highest level since May 2017, according to the Energy Information Administration. Inventories at the nations key storage hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, increased each week since early March and are inching closer to a maximum capacity of around 76 million barrels. Until we see some kind of resolution to the idea of how much demand is being destroyed from the Covid crisis, rallies will be short-lived, said Gene McGillian, manager of market research at Tradition Energy. PALERMO - Online platforms and smartphone apps are giving people at home on lockdown during the coronavirus emergency an exceptional possibility to visit many of Sicily's cultural heritage areas, from archaeological parks to museums. The Region of Sicily is offering an extraordinary possibility for visiting the island's archaeological parks with a smartphone app called "Sicilia Archaeologica", created by its cultural heritage department. The free app, which can be downloaded through Google Play or Apple App Store, brings visitors through 14 different Sicilian archaeological parks, including underwater itineraries with the Superintendency of the Sea. Sicilian Governor Nello Musumeci said the app offers not only a "rich and varied multimedia offering" but also helps "renew the invitation to stay home, therefore preventing the spread of infection" from coronavirus. Websites are also a way for virtual visitors to go on internet visits. Parks available for online touring include the Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, the park of Selinunte, the park of Naxos and Taormina, the Villa Romana del Casale, the park of Catania, the park of Segesta, and the park of Lilibeo. Museums include the Pepoli Museum in Trapani, the Riso Museum in Palermo, and the Palazzo D'Aumale in Terrasini, where visitors can view collections online. The Superintendency of the Sea offers the chance to access editorial publications produced since 2004 and to admire underwater cultural itineraries on its YouTube channel. Visitors can also tour the Valley of the Temples through Google Arts & Culture, accessible from the park's website at www.parcovalledeitempli.it or by downloading the smartphone app. Coopculture offers a web platform called "Culture at Home" for visiting sites such as the Palazzo della Zisa and the Salinas Museum in Palermo. The website Aditusculture offers text and images from the Paolo Orsi Museum in Siracusa, the Neapolis, Castello Maniace, the Gallery of Palazzo Bellomo, the Musem of Messina, the archaeological area of Tindari, the Roman villa of Patti and the Museum of Lipari. Tourism Minister Shane Ross has discussed the impact of the Corvid-19 crisis on tourism on the island of Ireland with his counterpart in the North as well as representatives of the tourism and hospitality industry. Mr Ross and Minister of State Brendan Griffin TD also spoke with representatives of the banking and insurance sectors to discuss the "devastating impact" the coronavirus is having on tourism. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Alice Ritchie (Agence France-Presse) London, United Kingdom Thu, April 23, 2020 10:30 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3b804b 2 World UK,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-lockdown,COVID-19-quarantine,pandemic,physical-distancing,social-distancing Free Social-distancing measures to tackle coronavirus are likely to be in place for many more months, one of Britain's top health officials warned on Wednesday, as the world waits for either a vaccine or drugs that can stop people dying. "Until we have those -- and the probability of having those any time in the next calendar year are incredibly small... we are going to have to rely on other, social measures," Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, told a media briefing. Pressure is growing on the British government to explain how it might ease a month-long lockdown that has seen people confined to their homes to stem the spread of COVID-19. But deaths continue to rise, reaching 18,100 on Wednesday -- an increase of 759 on the previous day -- making Britain one of the worst-hit countries in the global pandemic. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who is standing in for Prime Minister Boris Johnson following his hospitalization with coronavirus, warned of the threat of a new wave of cases. "The greatest risk for us now, if we eased up on our social distancing rules too soon, is that we would risk a second spike in the virus," he said. Whitty said it was "wholly unrealistic" to expect the lockdown to be suddenly lifted. Experts were looking at the effect of different social distancing measures, he said, but ministers would have decide on the right combination. "We are going to have to do a lot of things, for really quite a long period of time. The question is, what is the best package," Whitty said. Too slow Johnson has been out of action for more than two weeks after being hospitalized with coronavirus, spending three nights in intensive care. In his absence, the government is battling growing criticism over its response to the crisis. Labor leader Keir Starmer on Wednesday used his first appearance in parliament since his election at the helm of the main opposition party earlier this month to accuse ministers of being slow to act. "There's a pattern emerging here: we were slow into lockdown, slow on testing, slow on protective equipment," he told MPs, many of whom were attending via videolink -- a first in the parliament's long history. Raab rejected the accusation of being slow and hit back that Starmer was looking at the situation "with the benefit of hindsight". Brexit row Britain's death toll only covers those people hospitalized with coronavirus, and Whitty said when all the statistics were collected, he expected to see a "high mortality rate in care homes". The state-run National Health Service (NHS) has radically expanded its critical care capacity in recent weeks but staff continue to complain about a lack of masks and gowns to protect themselves. Ministers insist they are doing everything they can to get personal protective equipment (PPE) from abroad and ramp up production at home. A Royal Air Force plane landed in Britain from Turkey on Wednesday after collecting a shipment of equipment including 400,000 badly needed surgical gowns. But a simmering row has erupted over whether Britain missed a chance to bulk buy equipment through the European Union, which it left on January 31 but to which it retains close ties. The government has blamed "communication problems" but the foreign ministry's top civil servant on Tuesday said it was a "political decision". In an extraordinary U-turn, Simon McDonald then retracted his evidence to the foreign affairs committee, writing to tell them it was "incorrect". Health Secretary Matt Hancock later revealed Britain had agreed to join the EU scheme on an "associate" basis but said it had yet to deliver anything. European Commission spokesman Stefan de Keersmaecker said Britain had "ample opportunity" to participate in joint procurement schemes for coronavirus. "As to why it did not participate, this is obviously something on which we cannot comment," he said. View this post on Instagram Zeelo launches critical-worker commute offering, to help essential service providers beat Coronavirus The safe movement of staff has never been so important and with public transport services closing down and causing a risk to employees wellbeing we have decided to dramatically improve our service standards to be able to support the healthcare food, utility or critical logistics industry. Zeelo is working with a number of businesses around the UK and SA to help ensure employees are still able to get to and from work safely during this stressful time. If you work or know someone in the healthcare, food, utility or critical logistics industry feel free to get in contact with us. Dr. Tomi Coker, the Commissioner for Health in Ogun said the three new cases of coronavirus in the state were Nigerians from Togo. They were heading to Sokoto and Jos. She disclosed this in Abeokuta during an inspection of the ICU of a 250-bed public hospital at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. Coker toured the facility along with representatives of the NCDC and the WHO. She said that the three new cases were among the eight returnees from Togo. The commissioner added that three of the returnees tested positive to the virus within 48 hours of testing. Five tested negative, while the results of two others are being awaited. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 11:40:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest developments on the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China: -- Chinese health authority said Thursday that it received reports of 10 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the mainland Wednesday, of which six were imported. The other four new cases were domestically transmitted, including three in Heilongjiang Province and one in Guangdong Province. No death or suspected case was reported Wednesday on the mainland. As of Wednesday, the mainland had reported a total of 1,616 imported cases, 823 had been discharged from hospitals after recovery, and 793 were being treated with 37 in severe conditions. -- The overall confirmed cases on the mainland had reached 82,798 by Wednesday, including 959 patients who were still being treated and 77,207 people who had been discharged after recovery. Altogether 4,632 people had died of the disease. -- Also on Wednesday, 27 new asymptomatic cases, including one from abroad, were reported on the mainland. Three domestic asymptomatic cases were re-categorized as confirmed cases, and 31 people, seven of whom were from abroad, were discharged from medical observation. A total of 984 suspected asymptomatic cases, including 166 from abroad, were still under medical observation. -- Heilongjiang Province Wednesday reported three new locally-transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases and one new imported confirmed case. The new imported case was a Chinese national returning from Russia. -- No new confirmed cases or new deaths of COVID-19 were reported in central China's Hubei Province on Wednesday. By the end of Wednesday, the province had 546 asymptomatic cases under medical observation, after 21 new such cases were reported and 23 were ruled out on Wednesday. By Wednesday, Hubei has reported 68,128 confirmed COVID-19 cases in total, including 50,333 in Wuhan. -- Shanghai reported one imported COVID-19 case and zero increase in locally transmitted COVID-19 case on Wednesday. Enditem - Fitch, an international rating agency, has ranked Ghana's economy at 'B' - It expressed hopes of a swift recovery of the economy after the elimination of the coronavirus - Fitch added that the anticipated recovery comes at a time when there is also the risk of a deeper and longer economic shock Our Manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in International rating agency, Fitch, has affirmed Ghanas Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at B. With the rating, the agency expressed hope in the possibility of a swift recovery of the economy after the COVID-19 epidemic. It also highlighted the importance of additional fiscal and external financing options for the country. READ ALSO: COVID-19: Akufo-Addo predicts Ghana's economic growth could fall from 7% to 2.5% The hope for recovery comes at a time when there is also the risk of a deeper and longer economic shock that could lead to worsened fiscal and external debt metrics. A dailymailgh.com report shows that the outbreak of the coronavirus is likely to cause a shock to Ghanas near-term growth and fiscal outturns. It is also expected to upset Ghanas public finances given the countrys track record of fiscal slippage in election years as well as deficiencies in public financial management (PFM) that weakened the governments ability to meet fiscal targets. Fitch has predicted that general government cash deficits would widen from 7.6% of GDP in 2019 to above 10% in 2020. This is expected to include approximately 2.8% of GDP in arrears clearance and the realisation of contingent liabilities from the financial and energy sectors. It is also expected that the fiscal deficit will narrow in 2021, supported by stronger growth and fewer materialising contingent liabilities. YEN.com.gh earlier reported that Moodys, an international rating agency, downgraded Ghanas economic outlook from positive to negative. The firm, however, maintained the countrys long-term local and foreign currency issuer and foreign currency senior unsecured bond ratings at B3. Information available shows that the outbreak of the coronavirus is a key reason for the downgrade. Read more: READ ALSO: Fitch predicts COVID-19 could lead to a slowdown in Ghana's power sector Read the best news on Ghana #1 news app. Install our latest app for Android and read the best news about Ghana Nana Addo shouldn't share the food to the kayayo's only - Market women cry out | #Yencomgh Use the comments section below to share your views on this story. Do you have a story to share or you have information for us? Get featured on YEN.com.gh. Message us on Facebook or Instagram Source: YEN.com.gh For families and friends with loved ones in an Ontario long-term-care or retirement home, there is no public database with up-to-date information about COVID-19 outbreaks and deaths in these facilities. Every day, Public Health Ontario publishes some information on confirmed cases and deaths in long-term-care home outbreaks, but the Star has found this data vastly under-reports the true number of people dying in these settings, as well as in retirement homes. Provincial health officials began this week to quote in their daily press briefings more up-to-date death numbers collected by the Ministry of Long-Term Care. But this data has limitations too; it only includes deaths at long-term care homes and not retirement homes, it doesnt tell where the deaths are occurring, and it doesnt tell you which homes are experiencing outbreaks. Families are frantic. They are desperately trying to get reliable, accurate and up-to-date information about whats happening in both long-term care and retirement homes, said Laura Tamblyn Watts, CEO of the national seniors advocacy group CanAge. There has been no one easy, consistent place that they can go to get that information. So, in the absence of up-to-date information from an official agency, the Star built its own database. Readers can now look up outbreaks and deaths in long-term care facilities, retirement homes, shelters and hospitals, and find this data on an interactive map that will be updated daily. As of Wednesday night, the Star can report that at least 510 people have died with COVID-19 in a total of 283 reported outbreaks in Ontario. Of these deaths, weve counted 63 fatal cases in retirement homes and at least 444 in a long-term-care home. That last total makes up a clear majority of all reported COVID-19 deaths in the province, although the exact proportion is not clear because the provinces latest official tally of total deaths, put out daily, is missing more than 100 of these cases. At Queens Park Wednesday, Long-Term-Care Minister Merrilee Fullerton acknowledged that there has been confusion over the numbers, and said the province is making sure that our homes understand the importance of accepting the support when they need the support. Were making sure those communication channels are open, said Fullerton, adding that consistent and timely numbers are very important. Ontario Public Healths daily summary is based on data reported by the regional public health units at 4 p.m. the previous day into the provinces database, known as the integrated Public Health Information System. While provincial health officials have cautioned over the past several weeks that Ontarios official numbers may be out of date, it raises the question of how and why that was allowed to happen, said Patricia Spindel, president of Spindel and Associates, a health and social services consulting firm. Its very confusing to the public, said Spindel, former president of the non-profit Concerned Friends of Ontario Citizens in Care Facilities and former associate dean of health sciences at Humber College. Families need to understand just how much jeopardy their relatives are in and whether they should be taking crisis action, like deciding whether they want to obtain a lawyer so that they can remove someone from a home...without adequate information, they cant make informed crucial decisions like that. It certainly raises the question of who is in charge of the coordination of this information provincially, she added. If you think weve missed information here, please email us at stardata@thestar.ca and wed be happy to look into it. Iranian FM Mohammad Javad Zarif reacted to a statement by US president Donald Trump that he had instructed to shoot down Iranian warships chasing American ships. The US military is hit by over 5000 #covid19 infections. @realdonaldtrump should attend to their needs, not engage in threats cheered on by Saddam's terrorists. Also, US forces have no business 7,000 miles away from home, provoking our sailors off our OWN Persian Gulf shores, he tweeted. Earlier, Donald Trump said he had instructed to destroy Iranian warships chasing American ships. I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea, Trump tweeted. In an attempt to ease the turmoil on European agricultural commodity markets, the European Commission yesterday announced a support package for thousands of tonnes on food to be stored. The move, however, underwhelmed many in the industry with some even going as far as describing it 'insulting'. It comes as the outbreak of the coronavirus has wreaked havoc in the food sector with millions of tonnes of food destined for the food service market forced elsewhere, stored or in some cases dumped altogether. In the beef sector, while sales of mince have surged in retailers by as much as 45pc other more expensive cuts such as steaks destined for restaurants and hotels have had to be frozen and put into storage. Significantly reducing their value and seeing cattle prices slump to a ten year low here. Such was the surge in demand for mince in Britain, Larry Goodman's ABP Group had to resort to importing mince from its Polish plants much to the annoyance for farmers here and in the UK. In the dairy sector, product destined for the food service sector has also had to be diverted into storage or other markets. One of Ireland's largest dairy processors Lakeland Diaries based in the border region is a significant supplier of dairy to airlines and has seen the market grind to a halt in recent weeks. "The food service sector across Europe has suffered near wipe-out following the closure of restaurants, cafes, hotels, while airlines have grounded many planes. Food service is an important route to market for Lakeland Dairies and many dairy processors across Europe. Prices for butters, powders and cheeses are under significant downward pressure as food service milk is now flooding into powders and butter. Closer to home, sales of fresh milk and butter in retail outlets have increased somewhat but this increase has not offset the drop off in sales in the food service market," the company told its milk suppliers this month. Dairy farmers have seen farmgate milk prices cut by up to 2c/L last month with further cuts likely in the months ahead. Farmers and many in the agri-food industry have been highly critical of they see as the EU's sluggish response to the crisis. For weeks, there had been a chorus of calls for immediate action from the agriculture and food industry which received a limited response from the European Commission. However, over the weekend Minister for Agriculture Michael received unanimous support from his counterparts across Europe for his calls for increased actions. That move finally saw the commission take action by providing aid to companies to store product in the hope it will be able to sell into a more stable market in the future. However, with the budget which will be shared across 27 Member States understood to be less than 100m, many fear it will not be sufficient to calm the market. IFA President Tim Cullinan said the package announced today by EU Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski will not be nearly enough to support agriculture, particularly beef farmers, through the current crisis. Tim Cullinan was speaking following a meeting of European farm leaders with the Commissioner through the European farmers umbrella body COPA. While the Aids to Private Storage (APS) Scheme is an acknowledgement of the problems facing the sector, the funding wont be sufficient. It amounts to less than 8 for every farmer in Europe, he said. President of ICMSA, Pat McCormack went further and said that the funding being allocated was so obviously inadequate that it bordered on an insult. Mr McCormack said the package completely fails to recognise the pressures on farmers and the wider food industry at this time. Meat Industry Ireland (MII) said that while it is important that the European Commission is now engaging on supports to address the major market disruption caused by Covid-19, based on initial information on the level of supports in the meat sector, the proposed measures fall well short of what is needed to tackle the extent of the problem and scale of market imbalance, particularly for beef. At a time when the country is fighting unitedly against coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for unity, it seems that some people have decided to show no respect to human values. In one such indicent, a man in Maharashtra'sThande district refused to accept delivery of the items he ordered online from a Muslim delivery agent. The incident took place on Tuesday (April 21) when the 32-year-old Muslim delivery agent identified as Barkat Usman Patel went to deliver groceries to the 51-year-old man at his home. Uman approached the police and said that in his complaint that he was wearing gloves and mask while delivering the essential items but man refused to accept the delivery only because he was Muslim. Police have registered an FIR against the accused under Section 295 (a) deliberate and malicious acts to outrage religious feeling or insulting religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Some reports claimed that the police have arrested the accused and sent him to judicial custody. Meanwhile, the coronavirus positive patients in India surged to 21, 393 which includes 16,454 active cases, 4,257 cured and 681 deaths, as on 8 am Thursday (April 23). A Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable, who had gone to Delhi on official work, tested positive for COVID-19 a few days after coming back to his barrack in Uluberia here, a South Eastern Railway official said on Thursday. The constable was part of a 26-member RPF contingent which had returned on April 14 from the national capital with a consignment of arms and ammunition on a parcel express, the official said. After the constable developed symptoms related to COVID-19, his swab was tested at a West Bengal government facility and following a positive report, he has been admitted to a designated private COVID hospital in Uluberia, SER spokesman Sanjay Ghosh said. All the other members of the contingent are being tested for the infection, he said. Ghosh said that all the 26 RPF personnel has been on mandatory quarantine since their return from Delhi. Another constable from the Uluberia RPF barrack who had gone to Delhi has tested negative for the infection, he added. The state authorities have sealed the RPF barrack and other personnel posted there have been asked to remain on home quarantine, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) LAKEWOOD, CO, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU; TSX: EFR) ("Energy Fuels"), the leading producer of uranium in the United States, applauds the Trump administration and the U.S. Nuclear Fuel Working Group ("NFWG") for developing the Strategy to Restore American Nuclear Energy Leadership. This comprehensive strategy seeks to revive and strengthen U.S. nuclear fuel capabilities, starting with uranium mining, with the goals of supporting U.S. energy and national security, preventing geopolitical adversaries (particularly those in Russia) from using their nuclear capabilities to influence the U.S. and the world, and promoting global non-proliferation objectives and nuclear safety. The report states that "the clear outcome of the Working Group's efforts is confirmation that it is in the nation's national security interests to preserve the assets and investments of the entire U.S. nuclear enterprise and to revitalize the sector to regain U.S. global nuclear leadership." Mark S. Chalmers, president and CEO of Energy Fuels stated: "President Trump initiated the most comprehensive review in decades of our nation's nuclear fuel supply chain when he established the U.S. Nuclear Fuel Working Group. By appropriating and implementing the recommendations outlined in this strategy, our nation will take bold and much-needed steps toward reestablishing U.S. nuclear leadership, while protecting our national security. We are extremely pleased that the U.S. government has expressed such a strong commitment to supporting domestic uranium mining and nuclear fuel capabilities. It is our belief that this report is the first step toward reversing a multidecade trend, where the U.S. has ceded global nuclear leadership to Russia, China and other geopolitical challengers."Stating that "the U.S. Government will take bold action to revive and strengthen the uranium mining industry" and "de-risk the fuel cycle" to counter the deliberate actions of state-owned enterprises in Russia, China and elsewhere to degrade U.S. nuclear capabilities, the Strategy to Restore American Nuclear Energy Leadership recommends: making direct U.S. government purchases of 17 19 million pounds of uranium beginning in 2020 for a strategic uranium reserve (which has already been reflected in the President's fiscal 2021 budget, which contemplates expenditures of $150 million per year over a 10-year period, totaling $1.5 billion , to create this strategic uranium reserve); per year over a 10-year period, totaling , to create this strategic uranium reserve); ending the Department of Energy uranium bartering program that has directly competed against domestic uranium miners in the past; supporting the Department of Commerce's efforts to extend the Russian Suspension Agreement ("RSA") to prevent dumping of Russian uranium in the U.S., and "the consideration of further lowering the cap on Russian imports under future RSA terms"; enabling the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to deny imports of fabricated nuclear fuel from Russia ; and ; and streamlining regulatory reform and land access for uranium. The NFWG report goes on to state that, in addition to the commitments above, "[s]ubsequent support will be considered as deemed necessary across a 10-year period " In July 2019, President Trump created the NFWG, which is comprised of several cabinet-level secretaries and other high-ranking government officials, to address the deterioration of the U.S. nuclear fuel industry. Today, U.S. uranium mining is at its lowest level since record keeping began in the 1940s. The only U.S. uranium conversion facility closed in 2017 and is at risk of closing permanently, and the U.S. has no domestically owned uranium enrichment capabilities. State-owned enterprises in Russia, China and their allies are filling the global vacuum left by the U.S., which has ceded leadership in nuclear energy over the past several decades. The NFWG report represents the largest U.S. government commitment in decades to support U.S. uranium and nuclear fuel production, and recognizes "the importance of taking focused, deliberate action to prevent the near-term collapse of the domestic uranium mining, milling and conversion industries and the need to support U.S. strategic fuel cycle capabilities." The report recognizes that "the U.S. national security interest is truly integrated with the health of the entire front-end of the nuclear fuel cycle the United States needs a strong civil nuclear industry to enable national defense." The report recommends taking "immediate actions" directed toward "assur[ing] defense needs," "removing strategic vulnerabilities across the nuclear fuel cycle," and "restoring a world-class workforce." In recognizing the malign actions of geopolitical adversaries attempting to increase market share in the U.S. and globally, the report goes on to state that "American companies do not face competition from other international companies they face competition from State actors." Therefore, the report recommends "leveling the playing field against state-owned enterprises" in the uranium and nuclear fuel sectors. Energy Fuels Is the Largest Uranium Miner in the U.S. Energy Fuels has been the largest U.S. uranium miner since 2017, and its assets have produced approximately 34% of all uranium produced in the U.S. since 2006. Energy Fuels also holds more uranium production capacity and more permitted uranium resources than any other U.S. company. Based in Lakewood, Colorado, with mines, plants and employees in Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Texas and New Mexico, the Company expects to be a beneficiary of U.S. government actions to support U.S. uranium miners. Energy Fuels holds three (3) key U.S. uranium production facilities, including the Nichols Ranch Plant in Wyoming; the Alta Mesa Plant in Texas; and the White Mesa Mill in Utah, the only conventional uranium mill operating in the U.S. today. Energy Fuels was also the largest producer of vanadium in 2019 and is evaluating options to utilize the White Mesa Mill facility to produce rare earth elements. Uranium, vanadium and rare earth elements are identified by the U.S. government as minerals "vital to the Nation's security and economic vitality." Chalmers continued: "Energy Fuels is ready to play a significant role in helping the U.S. restore nuclear leadership. We have proven, low-cost uranium mines and constructed production facilities in the western U.S. that can increase uranium production more quickly and on a greater scale than any other U.S. company, making us an obvious candidate to supply U.S. uranium requirements. In addition, Energy Fuels had over 515,000 pounds of finished uranium in inventory at the end of 2019, and we expect to produce another 125,000 to 175,000 pounds of uranium by the end of 2020. Therefore, we will have up to 690,000 pounds of uranum potentially available for sale into the U.S. uranium reserve this year. We believe our industry-leading production capabilities and inventories place Energy Fuels in an unmatched position among U.S. uranium producers. Finally, our record of safety and environmental responsibility is exceptional, and we look forward to putting Americans back to work in this critical clean energy industry." Webcast & Conference Call Details The webcast and conference call to discuss the NFWG recommendations, and how Energy Fuels expects to benefit, will occur on Friday, April 24 at 11:30 a.m. (ET). To join the webcast, please dial 1-888-664-6392 (toll free in the U.S. and Canada) or 416-764-8659. The webcast slides can be accessed through the following link: Energy Fuels Webcast Link A link to a recorded version of the proceedings will be available on Energy Fuels' website (www.energyfuels.com) shortly after the webcast by calling 1-888-390-0541 (toll free in the U.S. and Canada) or 416-764-8677 and entering the code 391359#. This recording will be available until May 8, 2020. About Energy Fuels : Energy Fuels is a leading US-based uranium mining company, supplying U 3 O 8 to major nuclear utilities. The Company also produces vanadium from certain of its projects, as market conditions warrant. Its corporate offices are near Denver, Colorado, and all of its assets and employees are in the United States. Energy Fuels holds three of America's key uranium production centers, the White Mesa Mill in Utah, the Nichols Ranch in-situ recovery ("ISR") Project in Wyoming, and the Alta Mesa ISR Project in Texas. The White Mesa Mill is the only conventional uranium mill operating in the U.S. today, has a licensed capacity of over 8 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year, and has the ability to produce vanadium when market conditions warrant. The Nichols Ranch ISR Project is in operation and has a licensed capacity of 2 million pounds of U 3 O 8 per year. The Alta Mesa ISR Project is currently on standby. In addition to the above production facilities, Energy Fuels also has one of the largest NI 43-101 compliant uranium resource portfolios in the U.S., and several uranium and uranium/vanadium mining projects on standby and in various stages of permitting and development. The primary trading market for Energy Fuels' common shares is the NYSE American under the trading symbol "UUUU", and the Company's common shares are also listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "EFR." Energy Fuels' website is www.energyfuels.com. Cautionary Notes: This news release contains certain "Forward Looking Information" and "Forward Looking Statements" within the meaning of applicable United States and Canadian securities legislation, which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to: any expectation that the NFWG's recommendations will revive and expand the production of U.S. nuclear fuel, including uranium mining; any expectation that the Company will be a beneficiary of U.S. government actions to support U.S. uranium miners; any expectation as to how the President's fiscal 2021 budget will be implemented and the timing of implementation; any expectation with respect to the Company's plans to expand and/or resume production at its various projects; any expectation with respect to expected production, costs of production, timelines to production, inventory levels and the Company's ability to maintain its leading position as a producer; any expectation that Energy Fuels is well-positioned to provide a significant portion of the uranium needed for the reserve through our existing inventories and U.S. uranium production portfolio; any expectation that Congress will make the requested appropriations; and any expectation that the Company may be able to utilize the White Mesa Mill facility to produce rare earth elements. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans," "expects," "does not expect," "is expected," "is likely," "budgets," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates," "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," "be achieved" or "have the potential to." All statements, other than statements of historical fact, herein are considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements express or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include risks associated with: any expectation that the NFWG's recommendations will revive and expand the production of U.S. nuclear fuel, including uranium mining; any expectation that the Company will be a beneficiary of U.S. government actions to support U.S. uranium miners; any expectation as to how the President's fiscal 2021 budget will be implemented and the timing of implementation; any expectation with respect to the Company's plans to expand and/or resume production at its various projects; any expectation with respect to expected production, costs of production, timelines to production, inventory levels and the Company's ability to maintain its leading position as a producer; any expectation that Energy Fuels is well-positioned to provide a significant portion of the uranium needed for the reserve through our existing inventories and U.S. uranium production portfolio; any expectation that Congress will make the requested appropriations; any expectation that the Company may be able to utilize the White Mesa Mill facility to produce rare earth elements; and the other factors described under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, which is available for review on EDGAR at www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml, on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, and on the Company's website at www.energyfuels.com. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, results, future events, circumstances, or if management's estimates or opinions should change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update the information in this communication, except as otherwise required by law. It should further be noted that the proposed budgeted activities are subject to appropriation by the Congress of the United States, and there can be no certainty of the outcome of this budget or the NFWG's recommendations. Therefore, the outcome of this process remains uncertain. SOURCE Energy Fuels Inc. Related Links http://www.energyfuels.com Mumbai, April 23 : The Maharashtra Congress on Thursday demanded that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre should immediately enact a law against mob-lynching as directed by the Supreme Court in July 2018. State Congress spokesperson and General Secretary Sachin Sawant said that way back in July 2018, the then Supreme Court Chief Justice Deepak Misra had given directions to the Centre in this regard to check such heinous crimes. Besides, 11 guidelines were issued that were disregarded by the Centre and later in July 2019, the then Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi again sent a notice to the Centre on the status of framing such a law. "However, the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi did nothing in the matter so far. After the (April 16) Palghar lynching case, Union Home Minster Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath spoke with Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, but there was nothing about the law against mob lynching," Sawant told a video press conference. "Such mob lynchings have occurred in other states also, but no senior BJP leader displayed such concerns. On the contrary, the accused in some of those cases were felicitated by ministers and party leaders," he pointed out. Dismissing the Vishva Hindu Parishad's (VHP) contentions, Sawant said that since the past 10 years, the Gadchinchale area of Palghar, where the unfortunate mob lynching of two 'sadhus' and their driver took place, has been a BJP bastion. "The current village sarpanch is Chitra Chaudhary, the list of its local office-bearers was announced by the BJP Dahanu Mandal on its official Facebook profile. Two of the accused arrested in the mob lynching case are Ishwar Nikole and Bhau Sathe, and many others nabbed are also linked to the BJP," Sawant contended. Nikole was felicitated on the occasion of ex-CM Devendra Fadnavis government's Surajya Parva programme against the backdrop of pictures of Modi, Shah, Fadnavis and then state party chief Raosaheb Patil-Danve. "Despite all this, even a week after the sad incident took place in Palghar, why the BJP has not taken action against all its office-bearers and members for their involvement in this gruesome crime," Sawant asked. He said that the Congress wants the Centre to immediately take steps to enact the law against mob lynching and promptly take punitive action against its own party members for the Palghar case. It may be recalled that on the night of April 16, a mob of over 150 villagers had brutally assaulted the two sadhus of Shri Panch Dashnam Juna-Akhara, Varanasi -- Chikane Maharaj Kalpavrikshgiri (70) and Sushilgiri Maharaj (35) -- and their driver, Nilesh Telgane (35), leading to their death. Later, the Palghar Police arrested around 100 persons, including five masterminds, while state Home Minister Anil Deshmukh handed over the probe to the Crime Investigation Department (CID). Parking App Collects Donations to Support Communities and Restaurants Impacted by COVID-19 VANCOUVER, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, PayByPhone, a leading global provider of mobile parking payment solutions, today announced it will support the global nonprofit organization World Central Kitchen 's COVID-19 relief response. The #ChefsForAmerica effort is now serving 160,000 meals every day across the United States and in Spain. Founded by Chef Jose Andres a decade ago, World Central Kitchen and its partners are working to safely distribute fresh meals in communities across the nation that need support. The effort enables families to pick up and take home meals, and includes delivering food to vulnerable communities, seniors who cannot venture outside and frontline workers at hospitals and other medical facilities. The endeavor also includes putting restaurants that otherwise might be temporarily closed back in business through a coalition of restaurants and tech companies working to feed the hungry. PayByPhone is using its parking platform to collect donations across the United States to bolster the #ChefsForAmerica effort. PayByPhone users in Miami, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C. can log into the app and donate by using designated parking zone number 19. To stretch each donation, PayByPhone will match a portion of user donations through its app to the #ChefsForAmerica initiative. "We want to do our part to help the communities we serve weather this storm," said North American CEO Roamy Valera. "Our customers are looking for ways to help too, and this effort lets them contribute in an easy way. Making a meaningful impact can happen right in the palm of your hands." For more information visit, paybyphone.com/parkitforward. About PayByPhone PayByPhone is one of the fastest growing mobile payment companies in the world, processing over 125 million transactions annually, totaling more than $550 million USD in payments. Through the company's mobile web, smartphone and smartwatch applications, PayByPhone helps millions of consumers easily and securely pay for parking without the hassles of waiting in line, having to carry change or risking costly fines. A subsidiary of Volkswagen Financial Services AG, PayByPhone is leading the way in the creation of the mobile future. SOURCE PayByPhone Technologies Inc. Related Links paybyphone.com The Eternals - Harry Styles' Eros has one of the most disturbing Marvel Comics histories The superhero Eros AKA Starfox AKA Thanos' brother is a part of a whole other section of Marvel Comics Eternals' lore The dozens of howler monkeys, macaws and sloths in a zoo in the jungles of Peru have enough animal feed to last for about two more weeks. After that, their future during the new coronavirus pandemic is uncertain. The situation is the same for more than 140 breeding centers and zoos throughout Peru that have been left without income from paying visitors as quarantines designed to curb the spread of the COVID-19 disease keep the public away. Some operators of zoos and breeding centers are pleading for government help. 'We need the state to remember its wild animals,' said Magali Salinas, founder of the Amazon Shelter, which is located on the banks of the Tambopata River, a 30-minute drive from Puerto Maldonado just 34 miles away from the border with western Bolivia. An anteater peers out from its cage at the Huachipa Zoo, on the outskirts of Lima, Peru. Breeding centers and zoos in Peru only have enough animal feed to last for about two more weeks as they have been left without income from paying visitors due to the strict coronavirus quarantines keeping the public away Jose Gatelu (pictured) hand feeds goats at the zoo inside the closed Cogollo Portuario Club, located on the outskirts of Lima, Peru A pair of horses stand in their corral at the zoo inside the closed Cogollo Portuario Club outside Lima, Peru. Manuel Cabrera, who runs the club, said the coronavirus epidemic has left the animals in an unfair fight for their survival For the last 15 years, the 63-year-old activist has been nurturing injured animals after police recovered them from traffickers. Salinas, who is already indebted to five banks, believes Peru's government should step in to help save the animals, which will otherwise starve to death or have to be killed. 'Do you think it's just 15 years of my life that I have dedicated myself to rehabilitating fauna so that later, due to this terrible problem, the state shuts down and cannot give a contribution to support us?' said Salinas, who says she's saved animals wounded by shotgun pellets and mended bones broken from human cruelty. Peru is one of the countries in Latin America hardest hit by the new coronavirus, with at least 19,250 confirmed illnesses and 530 deaths. Zoo operators in Peru care for about 4,000 animals that police rescued each year from traffickers. A keeper feeds an anteater at the Huachipa Zoo, on the outskirts of Lima, Peru. Animal shelter and zoo operators are asking the Peruvian government to step in and provide economic assistance to increase the amount of food needed to keep the animals alive A macaw parrot perches on a piece of wood at the zoo inside the Cogollo Portuario Club A worker interacts with a seal at the Huachipa Zoo. Zoo and shelter leaders have approached the Peruvian government asking for help as they are left without income from paying visitors as strict coronavirus quarantines keep the public away Desperate for assistance, leaders of some shelters and zoos recently sent a letter asking for help from Peruvian Minister of Economy Maria Alva. They're still waiting for a response. Hunger is encroaching on animal shelters, even the smallest ones like the zoo inside the Cogollo Portuario club on the outskirts of Lima. 'We are condemned not to open until the end of the year,' said Manuel Cabrera, who runs the club that in past years brimmed with visitors eager to visit the animals. Today, however, the tree-lined walkways around the animal exhibits are empty. So are the club's coffers, Cabrera said, adding that the pandemic has left the animals in a fight for survival. 'The animals can't wait,' Cabrera said. The slump in consumer confidence in March due to the concerns arising from the COVID-19 outbreak has resulted in a decline in new home sales, according to the latest market update from the Housing Industry Association (HIA). Over the month, sales of new homes declined by 23.2%. Despite this sharp drop, new home sales for the quarter ending in March were just 0.9% lower than the same quarter in 2019. This indicates that the transactions were strong during the first two months of the year, only to be dragged by the sales in March. "Prior to March, the housing market was gaining momentum and new home sales had been improving. Leading indicators including building approvals, house prices and housing finance data all showed that the market was starting the new decade strongly," said Tim Reardon, chief economist at HIA. The decline was apparent across all states, with Western Australia witnessing the biggest decline at 31.6% and Victoria recording 16.9%. New South Wales and Victoria reported lower quarterly sales in March, clocking declines of 1% and 0.1%, respectively. On the other hand, detached house sales remained slightly higher in Western Australia, Queensland, and South Australia than in the previous quarter. Reardon said consumer confidence dictates Australians' intentions to purchase a home. Given the impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak on the economy, concerns about employment have surfaced, dragging consumer confidence. "Consumer confidence, overseas migration and population growth are central to the outlook for the residential building industry. Until there is certainty about when the economy will be 'restarted', including a return of overseas students, it is difficult to forecast the magnitude of a decline in residential building activity," Reardon said. (Ecco) There is a place for us here, says one character, an Indian immigrant to California, in Rishi Reddis novel, Passage West. They need us. The year is 1914, and the man a sharecropper farming cantaloupes in the Imperial Valley is trying to convince his nephews friend, recently arrived from Punjab, that their new country isnt as unwelcoming as he suspects. Hes not totally wrong. White Americans did indeed need immigrants to work the farms they owned, but that didnt stop them from resenting the Indian (and Mexican and Japanese) laborers who toiled in their fields. In her promising but frustratingly uneven novel, Reddi tells the story of some of those immigrants, who hoped to find a home in Southern California but found hatred and violence instead. Simple prose made Reddis previous book, Karma and Other Stories, feel understated and effective; here, perhaps feeling compelled by the urgency of the story, she tips over into melodrama, dampening its impact. Most of the novel follows Ram Singh, a young migrant whos left his pregnant wife in India to make his fortune in the U.S. His goal is to make enough money to help his uncle buy land in his family's ancestral village; when he does, he reasons, hell be able to return to Punjab as something of a hero. Not long after his arrival, hes beaten in a savage hate crime in Washington state. He decides to take his friend Karak up on his offer to join him on a cantaloupe farm. Karaks uncle, Jivan, a Sikh, welcomes the Hindu Ram into the fold: You are like my family to us; we are from branches of the same tree. Ram spends days recovering from the injuries he suffered in the attack, although he hides the truth about the origin of his wounds. Jivan, Karak and Ram find success with their cantaloupe crops, and the younger two men decide to branch out into cotton. Ram yearns to return to his family Some days his longing for home sat inside him like an infestation but his uncle in India keeps insisting the money sent back home isnt enough. Karak falls for a Mexican woman named Rosa, while Ram develops feelings for her cousin Adela. Story continues For a while, things go well for the men (and men are the focus of the novel; women are supporting players). Then they dont. The characters are forced to reckon with crumbling relationships, war, racism and violence. There are certainly things to admire about Passage West. Its a well researched novel about a time and place in American history that few outside Southern California likely know about, and Reddi does a very good job evoking the physical and political landscape of the early-20th century Imperial Valley. Shes particularly sharp on the effects of Californias Alien Land Laws, two xenophobic acts that prohibited many immigrants from owning farmland. And Reddi is a talented writer with a gift for pacing she knows how to employ suspense to keep readers turning pages, even if the novel could have used a bit more editing. But the story is framed awkwardly, with the first chapter taking place decades after the main story. Reddi should have let the main narrative stand alone. While Passage West is by no means fatally flawed, Reddi too often repeats herself; she is overly fond of and reliant on stock phrases. Ram, were told at one point, could not gather himself up and make himself whole. Less than a hundred pages later, we learn that He would be forever suspended between two lands, never whole. In a climactic scene toward the end, Reddi describes a characters face as contorted twice over two pages. Then there is the melodrama. In one scene, Jivan, who fought for the British army, comes to a bizarrely sudden realization that the U.K. hasnt been fair to the people of India, an opinion he previously resisted. In a scene thats cinematic in the worst way, he throws his military medals into the Salton Sea. Not long afterward, Karak, who had cut his long hair in preparation for his marriage, makes a weirdly similar gesture, tossing his cut locks into the Colorado River. Neither scene is believable, and its odd that Reddi chose to include it twice, when the ideal number would have been zero. Too much of the dialogue is clumsy and needlessly expository, suffering from Reddis unfortunate choice to write in dialect. Its a notoriously tricky technique to pull off, and Reddi doesnt clear the bar, with white characters saying things like, You dont make no trouble for me. You dont shout about unfairness and make a ruckus neither while a Japanese man says, For twelve years I here. It better than land in Japan, better than land in Hawaii. If Consolidated offer, you take. Every line like this jerks the reader right out of the story. The story in Passage West would have been better served with a lighter touch. Other writers Imbolo Mbue in Behold the Dreamers, Mohsin Hamid in Exit West have handled issues of immigration and social justice with more subtlety. Passage West feels like a missed opportunity, a novel in need of a tighter narrative and more fleshed-out characters. The furor earlier this year over Jeanine Cummins immigration-themed novel American Dirt touched not only on issues of cultural appropriation, but also on the novels stilted dialogue and theatrical plot twists. Obviously, Reddi isnt appropriating anything, but the importance of the story shes telling ought to raise the bar, not lower it; leave the cliches and repetitions to those middle-class domestic dramas of which we already have too many. You cant fault her intentions; its clear that Reddi seeks to bring light to a largely forgotten era of American history, which might help contextualize the racism and xenophobia on display this week and every other week. And she is clearly capable of writing a good novel, but Passage West isnt it. Schaub is a writer in Texas. Passage West Rishi Reddi Ecco: 448 pages, $28.99 A day after Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo signed an order mandating all residents wear masks or face coverings in public, a Houston political activist organized a rally outside Hidalgo's office to protest the order. Dr. Steven Hotze, organizer of the "Let Freedom Ring Rally" that took place on Thursday afternoon, has also filed a lawsuit against Hidaldo in an attempt to block the order, which he says is unconstitutional. NEW YORK, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Recognizing the power and impact of creative influence to drive broad global change, influencer marketing agency Whalar today launched The Change Collective, a creator marketplace that connects brands with creators dedicated to using their influence and creative skills to affect positive change on issues including sustainability, equality, health, and safety. In development for over a year, Whalar's Change Collective is designed to help brands more quickly, effectively and authentically create and communicate their purpose by partnering with dedicated and credible creators who share their values and can connect with their engaged audiences to drive social change at scale. No longer can companies grow simply by providing a great product that satisfies a customer need; they must also do so ethically and sustainably, putting this at the heart of their business strategy moving forward. This "third dimension" of business will take on even greater importance as research shows consumer definitions of "value" are changing, particularly for consumers under 40: 90% believe brands have a responsibility to detail their beliefs on social and environmental issues (Source: DNA, Seattle report, August 2019 ) report, ) 87% will spend more on socially compliant products (Source: Deloitte, 2018) 75% will alter their buying habits to reduce environmental impact (Source: Nielsen, 2018) 80% of companies and brands linked to purpose outperformed the market, vs. 32% non-purpose brands (Source: Kantar Millward Brown 2018) Accessible through Whalar's existing Creator platform, The Change Collective community at launch includes more than 60 purpose-driven micro-influencers and content creators from around the world, who have a combined digital footprint of 6.5 million+ followers. Founding members of The Change Collective include: Aditi Mayer @aditimayer, US-based journalist and fashion sustainability advocate Neel Wanders @flunkingmonkey, UK-based biologist and eco-consultant Caroline South @caroline_south, UK-based beach cleaner and artist of beach finds @caroline_south, UK-based beach cleaner and artist of beach finds Dom & Dom @allthatisshe, UK-based creative duo and conscious creators Dan Magatti @danmagatti, Brazil -based photographer and environmental activist @danmagatti, -based photographer and environmental activist Natalia Seth @escapingyouth, US-based artist The Change Collective will work with brands in two ways: consult with brands in the early stages to co-create products, provide feedback on planned projects, and ensure authenticity and connectedness to their target audiences; as well as create and promote content and purpose-led messaging for campaigns. To mark the launch of The Change Collective for Earth Day on April 22, Whalar and The Change Collective have launched a pro bono campaign featuring the Collective's 60+ creators posting throughout the week to raise awareness of climate change, as well as what individual actions people can take to reduce their own impact. Said Neil Waller, co-founder of Whalar: "The Change Collective marks a step-change in how we as an influencer community can use our platforms and creative skills to partner with brands and organizations for positive advocacy and global change on the issues that impact us all - health, safety, equality and equity, and sustainability. In the last year, more than 90 percent of Whalar clients have actively worked with creators to promote at least one purpose-led product or brand message. While we've seen great success on one-off campaigns focused on specific issues, through The Change Collective, we aim to make it quicker and easier for brands and creators to partner for campaigns at scale." Added Sir John Hegarty, Chairman, Whalar, "When we emerge from the lockdown we will all be looking at a changed business environment. The brands that will be valued are those that show they contribute to society, not just make money. We like to call this the Third Dimension. The old duopoly of product and profit will be replaced by a triumvirate of needs. What is your purpose? What value can you generate? And how do you contribute to a better world?" Added Jessica Van Wyk, Client Manager, Whalar and founder/lead for The Change Collective: "We started The Change Collective because we saw the potential digital creators have to accelerate positive change. We recognize the collective impact that we as individuals have when we work together, and the digital world provides us unprecedented connectivity to do so. Whalar's community consists of thousands of creators whose work and voices have lasting influence, as a result of the deep relationships they have with their audiences - we want to empower them to use this influence for good. Ultimately, we recognize that, via our platform, we have the ability to play a pivotal role in shaping the conscious change the world needs." Members of The Change Collective have previously worked on purpose- and issues-driven campaigns for organizations including the United Nations . For more information about Whalar's Change Collective, please visit https://whalar.com/change-collective About Whalar Whalar is a full-service influencer marketing and content creation solution. We leverage the most creative and credible talent to produce high quality content for brands, and are on a mission to Liberate the Creative Voice. We make advertising more personable, more culturally relevant, and more effective by including ALL creative voices, delivering authenticity at scale. Headquartered in New York and London, we work with 300+ brands across seven global offices. For more information, please follow us @whalar or visit us www.whalar.com SOURCE Whalar Related Links https://whalar.com KYODO NEWS - Apr 23, 2020 - 05:20 | All, Japan, Coronavirus Some leisure spots near Tokyo have seen crowds of visitors recently despite government instruction to stay home amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, prompting local residents and municipalities to voice concerns about further potential spread of the virus. Although it was a weekday, a beach near iconic Enoshima Island in Fujisawa, Kanagawa Prefecture, drew about 100 surfers on Wednesday morning, with many of the cars in parking lots showing license plates from Tokyo or other prefectures. (Surfers on a beach near Enoshima, Fujisawa City on April 22, 2020) A 64-year-old local resident said that during the previous weekend the popular beach was as packed with families and couples as it normally is in the summer, while young people gathered in local restaurants. "Maybe they think it would not be serious if they are infected (with the coronavirus). But they should also think of the risk of infecting elderly people," he said. After receiving more than 200 complaints about the huge crowd of tourists and traffic jams, the city issued a joint statement on Wednesday along with other entities such as a local chamber of commerce, urging people to refrain from sightseeing amid the coronavirus outbreak. Along with 10 municipalities, Fujisawa city also submitted a petition to the Kanagawa prefectural government calling for the closure of roads near the beach. "It was a tough decision as a sightseeing city," Fujisawa Mayor Tsuneo Suzuki told a press conference. People have also flocked to mountainous tourist spots for recreation rather than strictly observing stay-at-home guidance during the pandemic. Mt. Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture has drawn crowds of visitors, including many people from outside the eastern Japan prefecture. Following complaints about the number of tourists, the Tsukuba city government shut down the destination's parking lots from Wednesday. (A notice showing that four parking lots at Mt. Tsukuba will be closed from April 22 to May 6 following a state of emergency declaration by the central government.) One lot on a hillside of the mountain drew around 600 cars on a Sunday earlier this month. Even on weekdays, about 100 cars are parked there, the prefectural government operating the facility said. According to local officials, some visitors with picnic lunches failed to keep a safe distance away from others so as to avoid virus infection. Some visitors did not wear face masks. Takashi Kawashima, secretary general of Japan Workers' Alpine Federation, said he has received reports that the mountain was crowded with many people from outside Ibaraki Prefecture. Keiichi Shinozaki, 70, visited Mt. Tsukuba from Gunma Prefecture with his friend. "I was surprised to encounter so many people on the trails," he said. "Normally I avoid crowds and refrain from going out, but I want to exercise sometimes." Seoul: Kim Jong-un has reportedly thanked Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for his good wishes on the birthday anniversary of the country's founder Kim Il-sung, challenging rumours that the North Korean leader might be dead. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signs a guestbook next to his sister Kim Yo Jong, right, inside the Peace House at the border village of Panmunjom in Demilitarized Zone in 2018. Credit:AP North Korea's state media channel, the Korean Central News Agency, published the text of reply that Kim allegedly sent on Wednesday. "Kim Jong-un, in his message, expressed his deep thanks to the president of the Syrian Arab Republic for sending his heartfelt message of greeting, reflecting the warm respect for president Kim Il-sung, who is always alive in the hearts of the Korean people and the world progressives, on the occasion of his 108th birth anniversary," the state agency reported in an English-language article. But the report did not address the questions raised on Tuesday about Kim's health - which flared after he skipped an April 15 commemoration of his grandfather's birthday. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23 Trend: Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov had a telephone conversation with Oleg Tulea, the Moldovan Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration, Trend reports citing Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry. The sides discussed the current state of bilateral relations between Moldova and Azerbaijan, as well as a number of topical issues on the agenda of cooperation. At the same time, the sides touched upon the current global situation and exchanged views on the measures taken by both countries in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. During the telephone conversation, the sides discussed perspectives of cooperation between Azerbaijan and Moldova within the framework of various international organizations and agreed to continue joint efforts to this end. In the end, Mammadyarov invited his counterpart to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan, and he accepted the invitation with pleasure. Security Working Group of TCG works on determining next sections for disengagement of forces in Donbas, Ukraine initiates extraordinary meeting During a video conference on Wednesday, the Ukrainian side in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) for the settlement of the conflict in Donbas suggested holding an extraordinary meeting of the Security Working Group in the near future. "The Security Working Group continued its work on determining the next sections for disengagement of forces and hardware. The Ukrainian side insists that such sections should meet humanitarian requirements and include safe areas for the local residents the citizens of Ukraine," the press service of the Ukrainian president's office said on Wednesday following a video conference of the TCG. Ukraine supported an initiative of the UN Secretary-General to introduce a full and comprehensive ceasefire regime along the contact line. Ukraine also shared concern expressed by the OSCE representatives about the hindering of activities of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and urged the opposing side to provide observers with unconditional and unhindered access to the temporarily occupied territories in Donbas. The sides also discussed the issue of intensification of procedures within the TCG. NEWTOWN A state Senate candidate is facing heavy criticism for a controversial tweet that came from his account, stating the coronavirus pandemic is what health care workers signed up for. Unpopular take: didnt nurses and doctors sign up for this? I have respect for the great job theyre doing but this is exactly what they signed up for, JT Lewis tweeted Tuesday. The tweet has since been deleted after sparking a backlash, but not before garnering more than 1,000 likes and hundreds of retweets. Most of the comments about it are negative, with many coming from health care professionals who said they signed up to help people, but not for the lack of personal protective equipment. On Wednesday afternoon, Lewis confirmed he posted the tweet and said he stood with health care professionals. I thank them for the great work theyve been doing, as I stated earlier, he said. And my tweet made no mention of and was not referring to the fact that they are very ill-equipped to fight the virus. God bless nurses and doctors! Lewis is a Republican challenging state Sen. Tony Hwang for the 28th state Senate seat, which covers Easton, Fairfield, Newtown, Weston and Westport. He is the brother of Jesse Lewis, who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012. In thirty years of nursing, Ive never hesitated to work with ANY infectious patient. Weve always had adequate PPE, one woman wrote in response to the tweet. Michelle McCabe, the Democratic candidate for the seat, called out Lewis on Twitter. Our nurses, doctors, and healthcare workers signed up to do this job ... WITH the appropriate equipment and resources. They are heroes. #HealthcareHeroes, she said. A nurse echoed the need for a safe work environment. Hi JT. We actually didnt sign up for unsafe work conditions. We didnt sign up to be martyrs. We didnt sign up to die for our patients. We signed up to care for and treat the sick... she wrote. Others drew comparisons to firefighters asking if they signed up to fight fires without the right protective equipment, while some questioned if similar comments would be made about those in the military or police officers killed in the line of duty. Meanwhile, a doctor tweeted that Lewis is 20 and lost a sibling in a school shooting and probably needs to be cut a little slack. He added, As a doctor I kind of signed up for it. Really, its a miracle I didnt get HIV or Hep C. But our medical assistants, receptionists, janitorial staff, etc. sure didnt. An AMBER Alert was issued after Stephan Charles Robinsonleft fled with his three children Nya, Stachia, and Stephan. (Chandler Police Department) Chandler Police Locate Suspect in Abduction of 3 Children after AMBER Alert The Chandler Police Department said it had located three children and the suspect father in a home on Wednesday morning in a child abduction case that involved an AMBER Alert. Chandler is a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona. Stephan Charles Robinson, 36, allegedly abducted the children and kept them at a relatives home. The three children, Nya Robinson, 8, Stachia Robinson, 6, and Stephan Robinson, 2, are now said to be safe. Earlier on, police said they were in grave danger since their father allegedly threatened to kill the children and commit suicide. Stephan Charles Robinson, 36, who is accused of abducting his three children, Nya Robinson, 8, Stachia Robinson, 6, and Stephan Robinson, 2. police said the children were in grave danger and issued an AMBER Alert after Robinson allegedly threatened to kill his children and commit suicide. (Chandler Police Department) Chandler Police Department posted an update to Facebook on Wednesday that read: Stephan & his children were located in Gilbert around 6:45 a.m. All are safe. Stephan is in custody & his children are in the care of Chandler PD as well. The Amber Alert has been canceled. Chandler police made no further comments about any arrests or charges made or about the mother of the children. 3 Missing Virginia Children Safely Located In a similar story Wednesday, three young children from Virginia have been safely located, according to the Roanoke County Police Department. Suspects John Varion Allison and his wife Ruby Marie Allison are in custody facing abduction charges and refusing to serve a court-ordered child removal. The three children were abducted around 3:30 p.m. on April 21. Virginia State Police issued an Amber Alert on behalf of the Roanoke County Police Department and said at the time that the three missing children were believed to be in extreme danger. Allison is described as a white male with blond hair and brown eyes. He is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 185 pounds. His wife, identified as Ruby Marie Allison, was thought to be traveling with him, according to authorities. The male suspect John Varion Allison has turned himself in, but his wife Ruby Allison and the three children were not with him at the time. The children are believed to be with their mother. Police described Ruby as a white female with brown hair and brown eyes. She is 5 foot 3 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds. John Varion Allison (L) and Ruby Marie Allison (R), believed to have abducted their three children. (Courtesy of Virginia State Police) The three children are identified as two 6-year-olds, Cameron and Emma Allison, and 21-month-old Colin Allison. Cameron is described as a white male with brown hair and brown eyes, and Emma is a white female with brown hair and brown eyes, and Colin is a white male with blonde hair and brown eyes. It is not known how where and exactly when the mother and her children were found. Missing children, 6-year-olds Cameron (L) and Emma Allison (C), and 21-month-old Colin Allison (R). (Courtesy of Virginia State Police) Lorenz Duchamps contributed to this report From NTD News Turn this small-time indie project into reality by supporting the Kickstarter here , watching the trailer on YouTube here , and visiting the brand new Steam page here . By Trend Tax incentives for the private sector are essential for revitalizing the national economy, Azerbaijani expert in economic issues, Professor of Azerbaijan State University of Economics (UNEC) Elshad Mammadov told Trend on April 23. Accordingly, a two-fold reduction in the tax rate for a certain category of taxpayers is one of the mechanisms to stimulate business activity during the difficult period of a pandemic, he said. Mammadov noted that in terms of reducing the fiscal burden, the tax changes introduced are a strong driving force for economic growth, although they cannot fully replace the more substantial monetary credit stimulation. At the same time, the tax reform processes associated with the deepening of the incentives for entrepreneurs should be of a protracted, sequential nature and as new risks arise for the stability of the country's economy, it will also be necessary to make new decisions, said the expert. Mammadov added that along with reforms in the socio-economic and tax policies, the most relevant for the national economys restoration now is the growth of innovation and investment activity, money supply growth and credit stimulation of the economy with adequate rates of no higher than 3 percent. Moreover, according to the expert, the Central Bank of Azerbaijan should carry out targeted financing of the economy through commercial banks implementing a differentiated credit policy for each sector of the economy to finance the real sector at rates below the level of profitability in a particular sector of the economy. "Only in this way we can increase business activity in the economys real sector, which is extremely important. As for the tax policy - in conditions when its needed to increase the competitiveness of the high-tech spheres of the national real sector, we need to gradually distance from value added tax," Mammadov said. At the same time, he noted, its necessary, especially in the conditions of increasing the money supply, to prevent its leakage onto the foreign exchange market and its generation in the financial market, and to ensure its transition to the real sector of the economy. This requires the introduction of effective control over the movement of capital, primarily cross-border financial assets. Its also necessary to introduce currency restrictions and a tax on speculative currency transactions in order to limit as much as possible the effect of speculative capital on the country's foreign exchange market, the expert added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Pakistani doctors have called on the government and powerful clerics to reverse a decision to allow prayers at mosques during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan out of concern that large gatherings will lead to an explosion of coronavirus cases. Under pressure from clerics, the Pakistani government over the weekend loosened restrictions on communal prayer at mosques ahead of the beginning of Ramadan, which falls on April 24 in Pakistan. Doctors with the Pakistani Medical Association wrote in a letter to Prime Minister Imran Khan and clerics on April 22 that lockdowns are needed to prevent the rapid spread of the coronavirus. They said the health-care system is already being overrun by cases. "We demand [a] strict lockdown to contain rapid spread of COVID-19," the letter said. "Unfortunately, our rulers have made a wrong decision; our clerics have shown a nonserious attitude," Qaiser Sajjad, secretary-general of the Pakistani Medical Association, told a news conference. Pakistan has a population of over 220 million people, and has recorded more than 10,000 COVID-19 cases and 212 deaths. The real numbers are likely much higher. Doctors warn the country has fewer than 3,000 ventilators and health workers lack enough protective gear. With reporting by AP, dpa, and Reuters The Congress has urged the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to take action against senior journalist Arnab Goswami and his TV channel, alleging that they violated broadcasting rules during a show. In a letter to Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar, Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev claimed that the content of a show broadcast on Republic Bharat on Tuesday with Goswami as the anchor was "vile, misleading and hateful in nature". The Congress and the BJP on Wednesday sparred over Goswami's remarks on the show aimed at Sonia Gandhi during a discussion on the Palghar incident in which three persons, including two sadhus, were lynched. "The broadcast in its entirety is a violation of the Programme Code prescribed under the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994," Dev alleged in her letter dated April 22. Meanwhile, two motorcycle-borne persons allegedly attacked Goswami's car in Mumbai and tried to break its glass window when he and his wife were on the way home in the early hours of Thursday, police said. BJP leaders, including party president J P Nadda, condemned the alleged attack on Goswami. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion Renowned Winnipeg jewelry designer Hilary Druxman is helping Winnipegs front-line non-profit organizations get through the COVID-19 pandemic in style. Druxman has designed a new silver necklace to raise funds for local non-profit groups providing food, shelter, health and social services to the citys most vulnerable residents during the outbreak. "It was directly created as a response to the pandemic," Druxman explained Tuesday. "For every 100 necklaces sold, were donating $1,000." The pieces are sent by courier or through the mail, without a delivery charge to the buyers. Her "Pause-itivity" necklace features a sterling silver "pause symbol," those two little vertical bars viewers see when they hit the pause button on their TV remote control. The designer said the symbol reflects how the global pandemic has forced society to hit the pause button, and serves as a reminder to maintain a positive attitude while physically distancing and hunkering down at home. "It gives us, as a small business, the opportunity to give back to the community," she said. "Im thinking of the people who are going hungry and dont have the resources they need. "And the people who are out there supporting them and delivering food and volunteering. Im so grateful for what they are doing Its great we are able to manufacture something that can help and send a message of hope." RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The pause-itivity necklace features a sterling silver "pause symbol," those two little vertical bars viewers see when they hit the pause button on their TV remote control. Druxmans store at 258 McDermot Avenue has been closed by virus restrictions, but is still taking orders online (hilarydruxman.com), by email (hilary@hilarydruxman.com) and over the phone (204-947-1322). She said almost 300 of the $40 fundraising necklaces have been sold since April 8, allowing her to donate $1,000 to Siloam Mission and another $1,000 to the Winnipeg Harvest food bank. The next $1,000 donation will be directed today to Lighthouse Mission. Its far from the first time Druxman who started creating jewelry in the basement of a home in River Heights and whose name is now recognized around the world has designed a special necklace to support a local charity. In the last 10 years, she has raised more than $500,000 for local organizations through her Good Works program, wherein she creates and sells one-of-a-kind pieces for everyone from the Assiniboine Park Zoo to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights to the Never Alone Foundation, created by former Blue Bomber boss Lyle Bauer to support cancer patients. "Weve done at least 80 to 100 pieces for different organizations," Druxman estimated. "Typically, every year we donate over $50,000 to various non-profits. We create different unique pieces and use the organizations logo to raise awareness and provide a message for them. "We try to create the piece not to look like their logo, but to speak to the work they are doing." RUTH BONNEVILLE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Goldsmith Gene Mayoralgo works on the necklaces in Druxman's studio. The design for her pandemic-inspired "Pause-itivity" necklace came from a casual chat she had at the kitchen table while isolating in her St. Vital home with her oldest son, George, 19. "When I was having a conversation with George, I said right now this is a pause. Lets try to make it the very best pause we can. I said Id like to come up with something that would have that message for people," she said. "My son said, What about the pause sign? And I said thats what were doing right now. In a moment when we pause, I always see there are benefits being more in the moment, taking time to read, taking time to just rest. See this time of staying at home as a pause and find the good aspects in it." The mother of two who is 56 but laughingly stresses she was born in a leap year, which means she is technically 14 said her team will keep making the pandemic-inspired necklace to support local non-profits as long as customers are willing to buy them. "There are people ordering (them) from all over Canada and the U.S., as well as local Winnipeggers," she said. "This one we created out of just going through all of this. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "Instead of doing it for just one organization, we wanted to be able to support all the groups that are helping out and providing food and clothing for those in need. "The community means everything to me and this business. For 26 years, to be able to stay in business, its remarkable the support. Im a proud Winnipegger. I have so much to be grateful for here in our city. We are very fortunate to live here. "With what we have been able to donate, it makes us feel very proud about our work." Economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis forced her to lay off about seven staff members, but Druxman is determined her business will remain standing when restrictions lift. "It (COVID-19) hit us all hard, all the businesses in the area, myself included," she noted. "I think we will survive this. Im determined to survive and get through this." doug.speirs@freepress.mb.ca Positive change is happening every day in the shadows of COVID-19. From people donating PPEs, to neighbors supporting restaurants and small businesses, to children in our communities drawing messages of inspiration on their driveways. Thats why we felt it was important develop this initiative. Annapolis-based advertising agency Liquified Creative and Maryland news platform Eye on Annapolis have collaborated to launch a three-part initiative aimed at providing support for the Annapolis community during COVID-19. The initiative, officially named Designing Change Together, will feature three main components designed as a way to give back to our community in a small way. Weve been cheerleaders for the local business scene and community since 2009 and have received so much support; giving back was really a no brainer. Especially now, said John Frenaye, Publisher of Eye on Annapolis. Designing Change Together offers a secure and easy virtual tipping platform called Annapolis Gives, which directly supports those working in the service industry. Also included in Designing Change Together is an opportunity for one local business or non-profit to receive a pro-bono branding and logo project, along with 6 months of free digital advertising provided by Eye on Annapolis. The third component is a custom-designed resource and activity book called Maryland Heroes, which includes information on vital community resources as well as fun activities for the whole family. As local businesses across the country close their doors, cut back on staff, and adapt to a change in everyday life in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, Americas famed service culture is moving online. In many cities, regulars continue to support their favorite out-of-work servers, favorite bar staff, and even total strangers via virtual tip jars. A dedicated Annapolitan first took the initiative to start a spreadsheet-based system for patrons to support service industry workers throughout Anne Arundel County and Baltimore. In a collaborative effort, Liquified Creative and Eye on Annapolis were able to expand on this initiative by developing a website where service-industry professionals can sign up to receive tips directly via a secure transaction. Patrons can also continue to show support by easily giving a tip, no matter the amount, on the same website. Currently, the website allows users to give and receive tips via PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp. Those who give or receive support are encouraged to share positive messages of inspiration on social media using the hashtag #annapolisgives. Tagged content will be featured via a feed on the website as another way for community members to stay engaged. The second component of Designing Change Together is a custom-designed resource book called Maryland Heroes, available to download on annapolisgives.com. The book is filled with information on vital community resources, ways to stay engaged and healthy at home, and fun activities for all ages, including creative coloring pages ranging from beginner to advanced. Lastly, Liquified Creative is offering a pro-bono branding and design project to one local business or non-profit. In addition, Eye on Annapolis will be proving six months of digital advertising. If you feel that your business or non-profit organization would benefit from this opportunity amidst the current COVID-19 crisis, please visit annapolisgives.com to apply. Positive change is happening every day in the shadows of COVID-19. From people donating PPE, to neighbors supporting restaurants and small businesses, to children in our communities drawing messages of inspiration on their driveways. Thats why we felt it was important to develop this initiative, said Shawn Noratel, Founding Partner and Creative Director of Liquified Creative. We believe that Annapolis, and the entire state of Maryland, is not only defined by its leadersit is defined by the leadership of its citizens. Now more than ever is a time for everyone to be an agent of positive change and action. Visit AnnapolisGives.com to learn more about this initiative, sign up, and share support. 253 Shares Share When the pandemic hit New York, I was lucky to have enough PPE to prepare myself, and my staff, for what was to come. After the 2014 Ebola scare, I stocked up on N95 masks, gowns, gloves, and face shields; I knew that should anything with even the slightest semblance to that crisis occur once more, I needed to be prepared. When the owner of Acutis Labs informed me that he could supply test kits for my practice, I readily accepted his offer. I joined a physician group on Facebook where its members shared ideas on how to prepare for and learn from this virus. Sometime after my arrival in this group, I noticed how a large number of physicians were being refused COVID-19 testing by their institutions despite being obviously symptomatic. At this moment, I knew I needed to provide aid to my colleagues and fellow physicians. I offered my services to them and any health care worker affected by this pandemic, and do what their institutions should have done from the start: test their workers. The ability to offer my medical colleagues a testing site and provide them with monitoring during their illness is incredibly gratifying; it gives a sense of satisfaction like no other. However, I wanted to give more to my fellow physicians. As medical professionals, we constantly sacrifice our own safety in order to care for others, though many dont recognize that we too are in need of care. I contemplated ways to provide aid before settling on a course of action. Previously, I had heard of the scarcity of PPE health care workers at Elmhurst Hospital had to sustain themselves with. Elmhurst Hospital, a city hospital, is in the epicenter of this pandemic, yet lacks the equipment necessary to deal with a crisis of this magnitude. I asked my office manager, an incredibly talented and creative woman, if she could somehow create homemade face shields to give to the hospital workers. She rose to the challenge. The next day, she arrived at our office with a handful of masks. I posted her creation on my Facebook page and asked my followers to replicate her work. Many complied, and I had dozens ready to be distributed. I contacted Elmhurst Hospital and spoke to an ER intern, asking him if I could donate our homemade masks. He excitedly accepted, though when prompted, he explained the lack of food access those working twelve to fourteen-hour shifts had. This conversation began my next project. The day following my call with the ER intern I spoke with a supervisor at my local BJs, who offered to give me a $100 certificate the money of which would be used to purchase food for the Elmhurst workers. I readily accepted, using this gift card and my own money to buy as many non-perishable food items as the trunk of my car could fit. I filled my SUV with nutrition bars, clementines, apples, drinks, and cookies. Soon afterward, I contacted the intern and asked him to meet me at the lobby and to bring a cart with him. The moment he saw me, pure joy flooded his eyes. This moment truly revealed how much a small act of kindness could boost the morale of those in need. After this first drop off, I came to a conclusion: I would continue to make food deliveries for the interns and residents at these poor city hospitals. These interns and residents had the misfortune of training during one of the hardest times of modern-day health care; the least I could do was provide them with the food their institutions sadly could not. I posted my project on Facebook, and without prompt, the Muslim community of Long Island readily offered to donate money to my project. Almost three weeks later, I can proudly say that I have been able to deliver hundreds of dollars worth of food to Nassau University Medical Center, Jamaica Hospital, NYP-Queens Hospital, Downstate Hospital, Bellevue Hospital, and once more to Elmhurst Hospital. At each hospital drop off, I see the happiness and gratitude in the masked faces of the interns and residents. Their eyes reveal their exhaustion, though their thankfulness shows the power my help carries. I am writing this story to inspire others to engage in small acts of kindness, just as I have. During this pandemic, hospitals throughout New York have been overwhelmed with COVID+ patients. Although many restaurants have donated full meals to their local health care facilities, the lack of off time interns, residents, and physicians have throughout their shift prevents them from taking a break to enjoy whatever has been donated. However, a small protein bar or a juicy apple can be eaten while on the go; donations of snacks such as these go a long way. Together, health care workers and civilians alike will fight to conquer this pandemic, and we will emerge from this crisis stronger than we had entered. But I ask you this: Years from now, when looking back at this time, what will you be reminded of? I, for one, would much rather recall the joy I brought those in need than the fear and suffering of those around me. Im sure you would prefer the same. Sonia Qadir is an internal medicine physician. Image credit: Shutterstock.com KATY, Texas, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SLCA) announced today that it will release its first quarter 2020 financial results before the New York Stock Exchange opens on Friday, May 1, 2020. This release will be followed by a conference call for investors on Friday, May 1, 2020 at 7:30 a.m. Central Time to discuss the results. Hosting the call will be Bryan Shinn, chief executive officer, and Don Merril, executive vice president and chief financial officer. Investors are invited to listen to a live webcast of the conference call by visiting the "Investor Resources" section of the Company's website at www.ussilica.com. The webcast will be archived for one year. The call can also be accessed live over the telephone by dialing (877) 869-3847 or for international callers, (201) 689-8261. A replay will be available shortly after the call and can be accessed by dialing (877) 660-6853 or for international callers, (201) 612-7415. The conference ID for the replay is 13702887. The replay will be available through June 1, 2020. About U.S. Silica U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. is a global performance materials company and last-mile logistics provider and is a member of the Russell 2000 Index. The Company is a leading producer of commercial silica used in a wide range of industrial applications and in the oil and gas industry. Over its 120-year history, U.S. Silica has developed core competencies in mining, processing, logistics and materials science that enable it to produce and cost-effectively deliver over 400 diversified product types to customers across its multiple end markets. U.S. Silica's wholly owned subsidiaries include EP Minerals and SandBox Logistics. EP Minerals is an industry leader in the production of products derived from diatomaceous earth, perlite, engineered clays, and non-activated clays. SandBox Logistics is a state-of-the-art leader in proppant storage, handling and well-site delivery, dedicated to making proppant logistics cleaner, safer and more efficient. The Company currently operates 25 mines and production facilities. The Company is headquartered in Katy, Texas and has offices in Reno, Nevada, Chicago, Illinois and Houston, Texas. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws that is, statements about the future, not about past events. Such statements often contain words such as "expect," "may," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "intend," "anticipate," "should," "could," "will," "see," "likely," and other similar words. Forward-looking statements made include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Forward-looking statements are based on our current expectations and assumptions, which may not prove to be accurate. These statements are not guarantees and are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from these forward-looking statements. Among these factors are global economic conditions; the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on markets the Company serves; fluctuations in demand for commercial silica, diatomaceous earth, perlite, clay and cellulose; fluctuations in demand for frac sand or the development of either effective alternative proppants or new processes to replace hydraulic fracturing; the entry of competitors into our marketplace; changes in production spending by companies in the oil and gas industry and changes in the level of oil and natural gas exploration and development; general economic, political and business conditions in key regions of the world; pricing pressure; changes in government regulations and regulatory requirements, including those related to mining, explosives, chemicals, and oil and gas production; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in this press release and our most recent Forms 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize (or the consequences of such a development changes), or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those reflected in our forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly or revise such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. Investor Contacts Arjun Sreekumar Manager, Treasury and Investor Relations 281-394-9584 [email protected] SOURCE U.S. Silica Holdings, Inc. Related Links www.ussilica.com (Photo : REUTERS/Jeenah Moon/File Photo) FILE PHOTO: Protesters are seen at Amazon building during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in the Staten Island borough of New York City, U.S., March 30, 2020. Amazon.Com Inc. workers allegedly used data about third-party sellers on the company's platform to expand competing products, a Wall Street Journal investigation found. The probe discovered that a few Amazon executives had access to seller records that were then used to find out bestselling objects they might want to compete. The executives also improved workarounds to Amazon's internal policies to access reports on man or woman seller facts, as part of "going over the fence," the Journal reported. ALSO READ: Amazon Sales in 2020 Are Skyrocketing Amid Coronavirus Pandemic, But Warehouse Workers' Safety at Risk? At odds with the organization's company policies The WSJ's findings contradict Amazon's policy on accessing data from third-party traders to build personal merchandise. According to CNBC, Amazon has housed its own goods under the AmazonBasics branding, which offers everything from furnishings to clothing for many years. It also makes personal label merchandise below other emblem names. Amazon has long declared that accessing third-party data to build future products is against company policy. Amazon's associate general counsel Nate Sutton told Congress in July Amazon doesn't use individual seller data directly to compete" with businesses on the platform. We dont use individual sellers data to launch private label products (which account for only about 1% of sales). And sellers arent being knocked out theyre seeing record sales every year. Also, Walmart is much larger; Amazon is less than 4% of U.S. retail. https://t.co/5wXTfaAHuN Amazon News (@amazonnews) April 23, 2019 ALSO READ: FedEx To Stop Ground Delivery Services To Amazon Is there a rift between Amazon and third-party sellers? Amazon had been in a difficult relationship with sellers, mainly those who no longer sell their merchandise on its site. While some of the issues revolved on counterfeit items or frustration on manipulated prices, Amazon would use data they accumulate to copy the products and siphon sales. WSJ said pulling records on competitors, even individual sellers, was the "standard operating procedure" while making products such as electronics, sporting goods, and different lines. Some former Amazon employees told the Journal the use of such data was a "common practice" that they discussed such move openly in meetings they attended. "Customers' shopping behavior in our store is just one of many inputs to Amazon's private-label strategy," the Amazon employee said. "We knew we shouldn't [do the act]," said one former employee who accessed the data. But at the same time, the former worker acknowledged they were making Amazon-branded products they wanted to sell. AmazonBasics has been the target of criticism from some third-party dealers who say it offers Amazon an unfair gain over dealers. The e-Commerce giant had been selling its "very own brands" on its website. The items include adding links to its very own merchandise on third-party listings. Travis Killian, CEO of seven-person Upper Echelon, told WSJ that Amazon spying at sellers to compete with the third-party sellers is "not a comfortable feeling." Amazon started out making its own products in 2007 with its Kindle e-reader. The e-Commerce giant then steadily brought new categories and different private-label logo names. Some of its label products, including batteries, have been domestic runs. The practice has additionally attracted increasing scrutiny from regulators, who said the move can be anti-competitive. Amazon is already being probed through FTC officers over its commercial enterprise practices in retail and cloud computing, in keeping with reports from numerous outlets. The Department of Justice and the House Judiciary Committee have both opened extensive antitrust opinions of Big Tech. READ ALSO: Week in Tech: Google Bans Zoom, Amazon Now Allows Non-Essential Products, and More! 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A n English bulldog nicknamed Big Poppa has found internet fame after his owner posted a picture of him looking forlorn during the coronavirus lockdown. Rashida Ellis, a costume designer, lives in an apartment in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, with a 3-and-a-half-year-old English bulldog named Pop who also goes by Big Poppa, Biggie and Popsicle. When Ms Ellis, 38, noticed Pop sitting on the balcony looking glum while watching the kids below, she posted a photo of him on social media which has gone viral. Writing on Twitter, she said: "Big Poppa has been so sad today, I think he miss playing with the kids in the building. He just watches them from the patio." Rashida Ellis lives in Atlanta with Pop the bulldog / Rashida Ellis She also uploaded the picture to Instagram, captioning the photo from Pops perspective: "All I want to do is play with the kids in my building but due to Covid-19... I can't. I just watch them from the patio. Flatten The Curve please." Ms Ellis told the Standard that Pop has been playing with the children in her building for about a year. The younger kids know his name, the older kids just know him from trying to take their skateboards, she said. While Ms Ellis was mourning a friend who had passed away, she noticed that Pop also seemed sad. Me and Poppa laid around the house, she told the Standard. As I kind of got back into the swing of things, I noticed he did not. Then I noticed him trying to get the kids attention from the balcony and dropping his head in defeat. Pop has lived with Rashida Ellis for more than three years / Rashida Ellis She added: I think [the kids] definitely miss him. He saw one on a walk yesterday and they both were excited. Ms Ellis said Pop has always been friendly, and added that the bulldog is very comfortable accompanying her to film sets for her job and meeting people. Its like he works there. She is now working on ways to lift Pops spirits. I cheer him up by singing songs and treating him to doggy ice cream and his favorite chicken paw pie, she said. I also play with him on his skateboard. Pops photo has received more than 700,000 likes on Twitter. Thousands of people have declared their love and sympathy for the dog, including Ellen DeGeneres and Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams. Ms Ellis was surprised by the reaction to her photo, but understands why people relate to her pets dejectedness amid the Covid-19 lockdown. We all want to see our friends and family and not just from far away, she said. Also seeing a sad dog missing his friends is very emotional. Ms Ellis noticed Pop trying to get kids' attention from the balcony / Rashida Ellis When the lockdown is over, Ms Ellis plans to take Pop to a park or her friends house to play with her children one of whom is Ms Elliss godson, and adores her dog. My godson refers to Poppa as his brother, she said. [April 22, 2020] Optoma Earned the Grand Slam of Product Design in her 20th Year SEOUL, South Korea, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Optoma, a leading international projector and audio solution brand, has reached an exciting milestone as the company celebrates 20 years of delivering innovative display and audio technology solutions. For two decades, Optoma has continued to grow alongside the ever changing user landscape throughout the world. Now that in the line of Optoma No.1 4K UHD projectors, Optoma has honourably earned "The Grand Slam of Product Design" (if, Red dot, Good Design) in her 20th years. Furthermore, Optoma remain world's number one 4K projector brand in Year 2019, occupying 21.6 of the market share, according to PMA Marketing Research. Again, Optoma has held on the champion position throughout 2019. "The ultra-short-throw technology that uses reflected light for projection is applied to replace traditional large screens and eliminate the injury that the backlight panel brings about directly to the user and minimize the eyestrain after watching TV for hours. The simple and elegant design language matches with the home environment and creates a projector that is not set up as a device but a decoration in the modern living space." The Jury mentioned from iF DESIGN AWARD 2020. Gordon Wu, Head of Optoma APAC speak: "We're so proud that Optoma has been finally issued 'The Grand Slam of Product Design' in her 20th Year across the world. Looking forward, Optoma redefines home cinematic experience with the all-new P1; it absolutely would be an excellent choice, which is exclusive to Optoma projectors. At this time, we are also looking for reverberation in Korea, in the meanwhile, we celebrates 20th year anniversary with customers as well." The Optoma P1, launching across the world, integrates 4K ultra high definition (UHD) resolution with an ultra-short throw distance, plus a laser light source a culmination of today's best technology advancements. The Optoma P1 features Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice control capabilities, IFTTT support for seamless smart home automation with smart IoT devices and an integrated premium NuForce soundbar with Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus pass through over optical and HDMI arc. Combined with an easy auto geometry correction system driven by the SmartFIT app and Firmware Over-the-Air (FOTA) technology for hassle-free software updates, this powerhouse marries cutting edge technology with high style to be easily integrated into any home cinema. For maximum contrast and brightness, the Optoma P1 can be used with Optoma's 100" ambient light rejecting ALR101 screen. The specialised screen surface is designed to actively reflect a projected image for high contrast and solid colour saturation while preventing ambient light from washing out the picture. The Optoma P1 Smart 4K UHD laser projector is available for sale now at a street price of KRW 4,950,000. The Optoma P1 key features True to life detail - 4K UHD resolution and HDR compatible UHD resolution and HDR compatible Laser cinema projection - bright 3500 ANSI lumens Amazing colour - 87% DCI-P3 Ultimate flexibility - ultra short throw lens Built-in sound bar - powerful NuForce audio with Dolby Digital 2.0 3x HDMI v2.0 Voice control - Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant supported device* Smart features - IFTTT integration Video Streaming: via Optoma Marketplace with access to popular streaming services Integrated 4K media player media player SmartFIT app - hassle free set-up via smartphone Fluid viewing - PureMotion frame interpolation Remote Control: Bluetooth smart home remote with air mouse Full 3D For more information about Optoma, please go to www.optoma.com/kr/ *Optoma is the#1 brand worldwide for 4K projectors, according to PMA Research, 2019 data. For more information, brochures, and product images, please contact: Anderson Chen, +886-(2)-8911-8600-ext.3795, [email protected] Chris Lu, +886-(2)-8911-8600-ext.3708, [email protected] Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200422/2783395-1 SOURCE Optoma APAC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Planning consent was granted last night for the new Ashford International Film Studios. The 250m studio-led transformation of Kents derelict Newtown Railway Works by Piers Read and Jeremy Rainbirds The Creative District Improvement Company (TCDI) and Quinn Estates was passed at the first ever virtual meeting of Ashford Borough Council. Ashford International Studios will be combined with the UKs largest new creative industries cluster including leading education institutions is set to launch early 2022. Piers Read and Jeremy Rainbird, Founders of The Creative District Improvement Co. said: Amidst this current global pandemic, it is extremely exciting to be given the go-ahead by the council to start work on what will become one of the UKs biggest creative hubs. Global streaming giants have already expressed interest in the scheme as demand for their services booms and before there is a huge backlog in production, as people stay at home and burn through original content at record levels. We have the ability to create thousands of jobs for people which is crucial at this time and we will also be able to ensure creative talent and skills are harnessed and nurtured through our planned education centre. We are thrilled that the council recognise the importance of Ashford International Studios and have given consent to this development which will deliver huge opportunities through its massive expansion of the industry in the UK. The process of transforming the 15-acre site at Newtown Works, once a locomotive manufacturing company, is set to start straight away. Abandoned in the 1980s, the Grade II listed building, will be converted into 240,000 square feet of dedicated TV & film production space to include a media village, educational centre, hotel and more. TCDIs sister company Time + Space Studios will be operating the studios and architects Guy Holloway are collaborating on the project. The project aims to create over 2,000 jobs. The plan is to make Ashford a new creative hub for the UK with Ashfords Eurostar stop just moments from the studios, connecting Kent with Netflixs European hub in Amsterdam and Frances TF1. The development of Ashford Studios forms part of TCDIs 500m plans to grow a network of world-class studios in the country. TCDI Co. recently acquired Twickenham Film Studios and plans to extend the facility in a 50m development deal backed by General Projects and British Airways Pensions that will include film stages, flexible workspace for creative industries with new event and hospitality spaces. Time + Space Studios, the sister company of TCDI, has already committed to operating the Littlewoods Studios in Liverpool which forms part of the expansion strategy. TCDI, led by their chairman, Anthony Lilley OBE, will establish the Future Media Centre at the Ashford site, the largest new centre dedicated to media education, training skills development and R&D in the country partnering with the local universities and colleges. The Centre will provide work placements for students in a live film studio complex and support for individuals and companies getting into the industry. They will work with the publicly-funded Thames Estuary Production Corridor; a project that aims to create the worlds largest creative corridor along the Thames Estuary across North Kent and South Essex. Adrian Wootton OBE, Chief Executive, British Film Commission and Film London, said: The UK screen industries have been experiencing an exceptional boom time and we look forward to building on this by continuing as an industry to invest in skills and develop our world-class infrastructure. We are of course operating in unprecedented times and the impact of COVID-19 will undoubtedly be felt deeply by screen industries as we work through this ever-evolving situation. Todays announcement highlights the industrys commitment to an ongoing strategy to ensure its sustainability, building on the UKs rich history of attracting filmmakers, nurturing talent and creating world class content. Mark Quinn, CEO of the projects master developer Quinn Estates said: This is fantastic news, both for the town of Ashford and the broader South-East region. The decision means we can collectively start to rebuild the industry, jobs and momentum temporarily lost as a result of what has been happening globally, building on the investment in the town that has already been made to deliver an exciting new era for Ashford. Gavin Cleary, CEO for Locate in Kent, said: I see Ashford International Studios as a game changer for the creative and digital sector in Kent. A lot of work has gone into bringing this site to the attention of the likes of Amazon and Netfiix and we look forward to hearing more on this, now that planning approval is in place. Over the past five years, there has been an explosion in the number of creative businesses across Kent and Medway, with projects like Creative Estuary and the broader Thames Estuary Production Corridor supporting efforts to bring all that creative talent together and put the region on the map. Newtown Works is a key part of that story. Share this story MELVILLE, N.Y., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- At a time when everyone could use a little motivation, Nikon Inc. is focused on providing content that's inspiring, educational, and entertaining. Due to high interest, Nikon will extend the offer for free Nikon School Online courses through May and will expand the variety of new Creator's Hour online events and activities which feature some of the most compelling creators and storytellers from our community. Creator's Hour content includes long-form episodic interviews with world-renowned creators, live talks with Nikon Ambassadors and photographers, free Nikon School Online courses, fun photo and video challenges, tips and techniques from the pros, as well as Moments of Zen beautiful, serene images from around the world. "During these unprecedented times when we are all looking for human connection, photography has the power to bring us closer together, even when we are apart. Through Creator's Hour, Nikon is helping creators of all levels find ways to stay inspired, to learn and be entertained safely from their homes," said Jay Vannatter, Executive Vice President, Nikon Inc. "Regardless of a person's skill level, there's something for everyone, whether they are looking to learn the fundamentals of photography or seeking an opportunity to push their creativity to new levels." Here are a few ways that Nikon is helping to inspire, educate and entertain: Free Nikon School Online Courses Nikon School Online courses will continue to be free through the month of May, extending this popular program. These ten courses offer the chance for anyone to enhance their photography or video abilities by learning from the best in the business. The easy-to-follow lessons cover a variety of topics, including macro photography, photography fundamentals, tips for photographing kids and pets, advice for creating amazing videos and much more. To access the full list of courses, visit: https://www.nikonevents.com/us/live/nikon-school-online/. courses will continue to be free through the month of May, extending this popular program. These ten courses offer the chance for anyone to enhance their photography or video abilities by learning from the best in the business. The easy-to-follow lessons cover a variety of topics, including macro photography, photography fundamentals, tips for photographing kids and pets, advice for creating amazing videos and much more. To access the full list of courses, visit: https://www.nikonevents.com/us/live/nikon-school-online/. "My Defining Images" and AMA Chats This compelling series of one-hour interviews with world-renowned creators highlights the incredible stories behind their very best work and what it took to capture the images that defined their careers. Occurring twice a week, these conversations will be streamed as hour-long episodes on NikonUSA.com/CreatorsHour. Additionally, creators will also be participating in AMA (Ask Me Anything) chats on the Nikon USA Instagram account. These real-time conversations will allow anyone to join the conversation, as these talented creators field questions from the community. This compelling series of one-hour interviews with world-renowned creators highlights the incredible stories behind their very best work and what it took to capture the images that defined their careers. Occurring twice a week, these conversations will be streamed as hour-long episodes on NikonUSA.com/CreatorsHour. Additionally, creators will also be participating in AMA (Ask Me Anything) chats on the Nikon Instagram account. These real-time conversations will allow anyone to join the conversation, as these talented creators field questions from the community. Creativity Challenges These photo and video challenges are posted weekly to Nikon's social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and encourage creators to get out of their comfort zone and keep creating with fresh ideas. Whether a beginner photographer or seasoned pro, creators can unleash their potential and take advantage of different items and resources that can all be found at home. These photo and video challenges are posted weekly to Nikon's social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and encourage creators to get out of their comfort zone and keep creating with fresh ideas. Whether a beginner photographer or seasoned pro, creators can unleash their potential and take advantage of different items and resources that can all be found at home. Moments of Zen These curated images have the power to invoke emotions, offering an opportunity to immerse oneself and escape for a few minutes. Each week Nikon will be showcasing beautiful, serene images from around the world across Nikon's social channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) to remind everyone to pause, if just for a moment. These curated images have the power to invoke emotions, offering an opportunity to immerse oneself and escape for a few minutes. Each week Nikon will be showcasing beautiful, serene images from around the world across Nikon's social channels (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) to remind everyone to pause, if just for a moment. Instagram Live at Home Live and unscripted, these chats will take place between two Nikon Ambassadors or photographers each week. During these Instagram Live chats, a variety of topics will be covered including how to livestream, wildlife photography and creating family portraits. Pros will discuss what they are doing to stay inspired, what fuels their creative drive and what goes into making the beautiful content they produce. Whether looking for production tips, industry secrets, engaging anecdotes, and everything in between, the community is invited to submit questions and chat with the featured creators in real-time on NikonUSA's Instagram Live. Live and unscripted, these chats will take place between two Nikon Ambassadors or photographers each week. During these Instagram Live chats, a variety of topics will be covered including how to livestream, wildlife photography and creating family portraits. Pros will discuss what they are doing to stay inspired, what fuels their creative drive and what goes into making the beautiful content they produce. Whether looking for production tips, industry secrets, engaging anecdotes, and everything in between, the community is invited to submit questions and chat with the featured creators in real-time on NikonUSA's Instagram Live. [email protected] with Nikon Ambassadors A limited video series featuring Nikon Ambassadors staying creative while at home. The Ambassadors will invite viewers into their homes to see what they are doing to keep creativity flowing, while providing advice and techniques to try at home. This series will be available to view on NikonUSA.com/CreatorsHour. Nikon Inc. invites the community to check back daily and follow #CreatorsHour on social, as the Creator's Hour hub will be updated with new engaging content each week. For the latest Creator's Hour schedule of events and activities, please visit: NikonUSA.com/CreatorsHour. For more information about Nikon and their latest products, please visit www.nikonusa.com. About Nikon Nikon Inc. is a world leader in digital imaging, precision optics and photo and video capture technologies; globally recognized for setting new standards in product design and performance for an award-winning array of equipment that enable visual storytelling and content creation. Nikon Inc. distributes consumer and professional digital SLR cameras, NIKKOR optics, Speedlights and system accessories, Nikon COOLPIX compact digital cameras and Nikon software products, as well as the revolutionary Nikon Z series of mirrorless cameras and NIKKOR Z lenses, which achieve a new dimension in optical performance. In 2018, Nikon Corporation, the parent company of Nikon Inc., announced the production of 110 million NIKKOR lenses, creating a new milestone in Nikon's heritage of superior optics. For more information, dial (800) NIKON-US or visit www.nikonusa.com, which links all levels of photographers and visual storytellers to the Web's most comprehensive learning and sharing communities. Connect with Nikon on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Vimeo and Flickr. SOURCE Nikon Inc. Related Links http://www.nikonusa.com Flash Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and the settlement of the Ukraine conflict in a phone conversation Wednesday, the Kremlin has said. "The importance of close coordination of international efforts in this direction with active participation of the World Health Organization was emphasized," it said in a statement. Putin and Merkel examined in detail problems of the intra-Ukrainian conflict settlement, stressing the necessity of consistently implementing the Minsk agreements and decisions adopted at the Normandy format summits between leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Germany and France. The two leaders positively assessed the recently held exchange of prisoners between Kiev and the non-government-controlled areas of Luhansk and Donetsk, the statement said. In addition, the parties discussed issues related to the development of the situation in Syria and Libya, as well as the current situation in the world oil market, it said. Infectious disease experts say provinces looking to relax restrictions related to COVID-19 need to consider their neighbours. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A woman wearing a fabric mask on her face walks in downtown Vancouver, on Thursday, April 16, 2020. Infectious disease experts say provinces looking to relax restrictions related to COVID-19 need to consider their neighbours in those decisions. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Infectious disease experts say provinces looking to relax restrictions related to COVID-19 need to consider their neighbours. Prince Edward Island, where the caseload is low, is aiming to ease its public health orders on May 1 and reopen businesses in mid-May. The Saskatchewan government outlined a plan Thursday for some businesses and services to be allowed to resume next month. Dr. Craig Jenne, an infectious disease researcher at the University of Calgary, said easing restrictions in one province could present challenges for others. "Many provinces in Canada have no hard borders," he said in an interview with The Canadian Press. "Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba we are not exactly islands where we can cut off travel between provinces. "We are going to have to make sure we're on the same page with this." As of Wednesday, Saskatchewan had recorded 326 cases, including four deaths, but less than 20 per cent of cases were considered active. Premier Scott Moe said Thursday that reopening businesses and services would be done with physical distancing in place. "We will carefully monitor the case numbers each and every day and we will adjust our plan accordingly if required," he said. Moe said travel was the source of many of the province's early COVID-19 cases. "We continue to strongly discourage all non-essential interprovincial and international travel," he said. He said he doesn't believe that Saskatchewan easing restrictions will be a risk to other provinces. Next door, in Alberta, there are more than 3,400 cases, including 66 deaths. Dr. Stephanie Smith, an associate professor in infectious diseases at the University of Alberta, said it may make sense for provinces with a low number of cases to consider letting up on COVID measures. "When they do that, the most important thing is that they still have an ability to identify new cases and new contact tracing," she said. "(They need) really robust testing and tracing so that you can identify any new patients and make sure they are actually self-isolating. "It's important in terms of ensuring you don't get into an uncontrolled situation again." Jenne added that outbreaks in High River, Alta., and several long-term care homes show how quickly a situation can change once the novel coronavirus starts spreading. "As soon as we let our vigilance down in screening and isolation ... we will see a spike back in Canadian communities, we will see an increase in cases, we will see an increase in hospitalizations and, unfortunately, we will see an increase in deaths once these hotspots start popping up." For example, an outbreak at Imperial Oil's Kearl oilsands project in northeastern Alberta has been linked to cases in Saskatchewan, British Columbia and Nova Scotia. "This virus does not travel in the air," said Jenne. "It travels on people and the more people move between provincial borders and even within their own community, this is how this virus gets around." Jenne and Smith said that's why social distancing has been so effective in reducing the number of cases in Canada. Each province and territory has different approaches for how to limit the spread of COVID-19. Manitoba has set up checkstops on major highways to help inform travellers about public health measures in place. Some jurisdictions such as New Brunswick and the northern territories have restricted non-residents from entering or require anyone who comes into the province to self-isolate for up to 14 days. Valorie Crooks, a geographer who specializes in health services research at Simon Fraser University, said it would be difficult to control movement across provincial boundaries. 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. "It raises a whole lot of questions about how you enforce and what kinds of abilities you have to enforce measures you put in place," she said. Crooks added that it would be easier to protect populations in the North or on Canada's islands, but it's simply not practical to patrol every road between provinces. Both infectious disease experts said closing the border with the United States has been an effective tool, but Jenne noted it's not a perfect solution. "It has to be done in concert with everything else, including high levels of screening, contract tracing and self-isolation within communities," said the University of Calgary professor. "Closing a border alone is really a false sense of security if it's not coupled with enhanced measures." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 23, 2020 A total of 18,738 patients have died in hospital after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Wednesday, the Department of Health said, up by 638 from 18,100 the day before. Of the 638 new deaths announced, 616 were new, while 22 were as a result of Northern Ireland adjusting its data. Of the hospital deaths 514 were in England, where the highest death toll in a single day remains 838 on April 8. A number of the UK's top scientists maintain that April 8 was the peak of the coronavirus pandemic. As the hospital death toll continues to rise, it is believed the true number of fatalities will be far higher, when deaths in the community - such as care homes - are accounted for. Loading.... The Department of Health said, as of 9am on Thursday, 425,821 people have been tested of which 138,078 tested positive. Overall, 583,496 tests have been conducted in the UK, with 23,560 tests on Wednesday. Loading.... Separate figures from NHS England, using data up to 5pm on April 21, show that of 16,272 patients in hospitals in England who had tested positive for Covid-19 at time of death, 74.1% were of white ethnicity, 15.7% were of BAME ethnicity and 0.7% had mixed ethnicity. The remaining 9.4% had no stated or identifiable ethnicity. Europe takes it's first steps out of Coronavirus lockdown 1 /25 Europe takes it's first steps out of Coronavirus lockdown People queue at a hardware store during a partial reopening after the Austrian government eased lockdown restrictions Reuters A worker checks the temperature of a customer at the entrance of a supermarket in Itay Reuters Customers hold flowers in front of a DIY store in Graz, Austria, after it re-opened on April 14, 2020, following a "shutdown" in a measure to limit the spread of the new coronavirus APA/AFP via Getty Images People wearing protective face masks and gloves walk in the streets as the Italian government allows the reopening of some shops while a nationwide lockdown continues following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Venice, Italy, Reuters People queue to enter a hardware store during a partial reopening after the Austrian government eased restrictions following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Eisenstadt, Austria Reuters Camilla Cocchi wears a face mask and gloves as she sorts out clothing in her children's clothes shop after it was allowed to reopen following lockdown measures to contain the spread of Covid-19, in Rome AP A man wearing a face mask shops in a hardware store during a partial reopening after the Austrian government eased restrictions following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Eisenstadt, Austria Reuters "Respect the 2 meters distance" banner is seen at a fish stand as the Italian government allows the reopening of some shops while a nationwide lockdown continues following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Venice, Italy, Reuters Customers wearing face masks push shopping carts in front of a DIY store in Vienna, Austria, after it re-opened on April 14, 2020, following a "shutdown" in a measure to limit the spread of the new coronavirus APA/AFP via Getty Images A worker checks the temperature of a customer at the entrance of a supermarket, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Turin, Italy Reuters Customers line up in front of a DIY store in Graz, Austria APA/AFP via Getty Images Gianfranco Mandas wears a face mask as he sorts out clothing in his children's clothes shop after it was allowed to opens following restriction measures to contain the spread of Covid-19, in Rome AP Customers wearing face masks push shopping carts in front of a DIY store in Vienna, Austria, after it re-opened on April 14, 2020, following a "shutdown" in a measure to limit the spread of the new coronavirus APA/AFP via Getty Images Customers queue at the Trastevere market, as new restrictions for open-air markets are implemented to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Rome, Italy, Reuters Customers wearing face masks push shopping carts in front of a DIY store in Vienna, Austria, after it re-opened on April 14, 2020, following a "shutdown" in a measure to limit the spread of the new coronavirus APA/AFP via Getty Images A man wears a protective face mask and gloves at the newsstand as the Italian government allows the reopening of some shops while a nationwide lockdown continues following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Venice, Italy Reuters People wearing face masks work in a hardware store during a partial reopening after the Austrian government eased restrictions following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Eisenstadt, Austria Reuters Customers queue at the Trastevere market, as new restrictions for open-air markets are implemented to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Rome, Italy Reuters A general view of the parking area of a hardware store during the partial reopening of shops after the Austrian government loosens its lockdown restrictions during the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Vienna Reuters It comes as frontline workers, including pharmacists, continue to voice concerns about becoming infected at work through lack of protection and difficulties maintaining social distancing. According to a survey by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), over a third (34%) of respondents were still unable to access continuous supplies of PPE and almost 95% said they could not maintain the recommended two-metre distance from colleagues due to the size of their workplace. Some pharmacists say they have been forced to pay for PPE personally. Reports by the Health Service Journal (HSJ) suggest that of the much-anticipated shipment of 400,000 medical gowns arriving from Turkey, only 32,000 have been delivered. 23.04.2020 LISTEN President Akufo-Addo's decision to lift a stay-at-home order in Greater Accra, Greater Kumasi and Tema at a time when transmission of the coronavirus has not been controlled has surprised many Ghanaians. These major cities were placed under a three-week lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. But while the nation lifts its lockdown, we cannot lift our vigilance. As of April 19, 2020, the day of the President's announcement, total tested cases were 68,591. Out of this number, total negative cases were 67,549 (98.5%); total positive cases were 1042 (1.5%); recovered cases were 99 (9.5%) and total deaths stood at 9 (0.9%), according to Ghana Health Service data. The government has cited the impact on the poor and mass testing improvements as a major factor in its decision. It may be indeed true that our economy, dominated by informal sector workers, cannot sustain the same lockdown procedures as the West. Many medium, small and micro enterprises (MSMEs), which occupy a dominant role in Ghana's economic life (constituting 99.8% of enterprises in Ghana ), have taken a serious hit as a result of the lockdown and its associated financial constraints. Unlike the middle class, many poor and vulnerable people have struggled to feed their families these past three weeks while the stay-at-home order remained in force. Thus, it is no surprise that low-income earners and many vulnerable people in Ghana have welcomed the President's decision. Some even took to the streets of Accra to celebrate the lifting of the stay-at-home order. But given that WHO criteria for lifting lockdowns have not been met, we are not yet out of the woods. I urge Ghanaians to avoid interpreting the lifting of the lockdown as the disappearance of the danger to public health. Going forward, we need to be more vigilant as restrictions on movements are relaxed. In order to ensure that case numbers in Ghana are controlled, I recommend the following steps; ` The Government must provide the necessary resources for the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Information Services Department (ISD) and other relevant State institutions to intensify public education about COVID-19, particularly in under-resourced communities where access to sanitation may be limited. The government must resource health care institutions and professionals to carry on with tracing, testing, isolation and treatment of cases. The government must strictly enforce social distancing rules and the ban on public gatherings, including schools, churches, mosques and other social activities. Every citizen must maintain good hygiene by washing their hands, avoiding touching their face and wearing masks wherever possible. The fight against COVID-19 is the shared responsibility of government and citizens. If every citizen does not take action and play his or her part in following these recommendations, we risk further prolonging this pandemic. Grace Ayensu-Danquah MD, MPH, FACS, is the NDC Parliamentary Candidate for the Essikado Constituency and a member of the NDC COVID-19 Technical Team. Karachi, April 23 : Pakistan's Sindh government has challenged the provincial verdict in the kidnapping and murder case of American journalist Daniel Pearl before the country's Supreme Court, it was reported on Thursday. In its April 2 order, the Sindh High court (SHC) had overturned the conviction of Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh for killing the South Asia Bureau Chief of The Wall Street Journal 18 years ago, reports Dawn news. The SHC had also acquitted three other accused Fahad Naseem, Sheikh Adil and Salman Saqib, who had been earlier sentenced to life imprisonment by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) of Karachi. But the provinical government has re-arrested and detained the four accused for a period of three months, pending filing of the appeal. Pearl, 38, was was abducted Karachi in January 2002. A graphic video showing his decapitation was delivered to the US consulate a month later. Subsequently Omar Sheikh was arrested in 2002 and sentenced to death by the trial court. On Wednesday, Sindh Prosecutor General Fiaz Shah moved the appeal before the top court on the grounds that the "last seen evidence", "impersonation" and "identification parade" was proved against the accused persons and maintained concurrently by the trial court. Moreover, the appeal pointed out that the video showing the committing of murder of the journalist had been verified by a public official and was never challenged. The SHC did not appreciate that there was overwhelming incriminating evidence on record against the accused connecting them to the offences with which they were charged, it said, adding that they had committed offences they were charged for in league with each other with their common intention and object and were liable to be punished accordingly. Employees hailed as heroes for risking exposure to the coronavirus as they stock groceries, drive buses and process food are getting sick and dying because they arent getting enough protection. Many retailers have refused to allow cashiers and clerks to wear gloves and face masks for fear of scaring off customers, changing policies only after employees were infected, developed the virus associated disease, COVID-19, and died. Food processing plants and call centers havent redesigned shoulder-to-shoulder assembly lines and cubicle farms, causing infection to run so rampant that several facilities have been forced to close. Workers are protesting by walking off the job, calling in sick and refusing to come to work to highlight the danger as states and federal officials talk about re-opening their economies and getting people back to work. Theres not much else they can do. Federal and state governments have to yet to adopt standards to safeguard employees from contracting the disease on the job while those who would refuse to work because of unsafe conditions have few protections against losing their jobs, according to workplace safety and employment law experts. As a result, many workers are frightened to even raise concerns about inadequate social distancing or a lack of protective gear or practices that put their health at risk because theyre worried theyll be labeled a troublemaker or a union agitator and fired for speaking up, experts said. Employees are on their own, said Deborah Berkowitz, director of worker safety and health for the National Employment Law Project, a New York-based low-wage advocacy group. And theyre not getting help from federal health or safety regulators either, said Berkowitz, who served as chief of staff for the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration during the Obama administration. Waiting for guidance OSHA hasnt issued a specific coronavirus standard that would require companies to take specific steps to reduce risk, such as providing hand sanitizer, positioning workers 6 feet apart and supplying masks and other protective gear. Instead, the agency is relying on whats known as the general duty clause, which requires employers to provide an overall safe environment. The agency isnt even investigating worker coronovirus-related complaints, said Berkowitz who has been fielding calls from workers complaining theyre working without critical safety equipment but cant get federal investigators interested in their plight. It doesnt feel like the cavalry is around the corner, said Rick Levy, president of the union federation AFL-CIO in Texas. OSHA has taken swift and decisive action to protect Americas workers, Loren Sweatt, principal deputy assistant secretary of labor for the agency, said at a news conference Thursday. She said OSHA is looking into about 1,000 complaints related to COVID-19 after investigating and closing more than 1,400 others. White-collar workers often are allowed to work from home during the coronavirus, but many low-wage, service workers dont have that option. As the drive accelerates to open the Texas economy, anxiety is rising among workers on the front lines in retail, manufacturing and construction that they face a greater likelihood of becoming sick in the absence of government-mandated standards aimed at preventing such infections, workplace experts say. Gov. Greg Abbott recently announced plans to reopen state parks, lift the ban on nonessential medical procedures and allow stores to reopen for curbside delivery. All you have is some platitudes about going back to work, Levy said. Workers dont have many legal protections to fall back on either because most employees are whats known as at-will workers, a legal standard that means companies can terminate employees for any reason thats not illegal and employees can leave at any time, too. OSHA has a regulation that allows workers to refuse to work if they believe theyre in danger of death or serious injury, but one employment lawyer doesnt see workers mounting successful claims during the coronavirus pandemic. Its difficult to prove as a legal matter, Houston attorney Ed Sullivan said. And it will be very difficult to prove you got coronavirus at work. Some local governments, including Austin and Dallas, have imposed specific health and safety rules for construction workers, such as requirements for daily temperature checks, social distancing, masks and gloves and limits on tool sharing, said Laura Perez-Boston, organizing director for Houstons Workers Defense Project, which represents low-income workers in the construction industry. The group is working with Harris County to impose some of the same rules, she said. Saying thank you isnt enough, Perez-Boston said. Construction workers need to know how they can be safe at work and go home to their families and not spread the disease. But some workers say its difficult to raise safety concerns. Its better not to say anything, said Manuel Navarro, who works in Houston installing drywall for commercial construction projects. He said his job site does not provide masks, gloves or hand sanitizer. Navarro, who earns $18 an hour, said hes seen workers fired for complaining when they werent paid. He is reluctant to raise infection-fighting measures because he needs his job. But hes also worried about becoming infected and spreading the virus to his wife and two young children. Para la compania uno es desechable, he said. In English: Workers are disposable. Fighting back Postal workers, transit workers and manufacturing workers have led more than 100 wildcat strikes nationwide since the beginning of March, including organized efforts to call in sick and walking off the job to protest unsafe working conditions, according to Payday Report, a website tracking worker protests. Tyson Foods announced this week that it would indefinitely suspend operations in Iowa at its biggest pork processing plant after high levels of worker absenteeism. The company invited the 2,800 employees to return for coronavirus testing. The virus has taken an especially hard toll on employees who work in the meat and poultry processing business, often in tight quarters, where several COVID-19 outbreaks have occurred. The worlds biggest processor of fresh meat, Brazilian-owned JBS, closed its pork processing plant in Minnesota after a coronavirus outbreak. The plant processed 20,000 hogs each day. Retailers say theyre acting quickly to protect workers and applaud states such as Texas that allow nonessential businesses to begin reopening this week under a retail-to-go model, according to the small-business trade group National Federation of Independent Business. But hundreds of store workers have become infected with the virus and many have died, including at least two employees who worked at a Chicago-area Walmart. The store allegedly didnt provide latex gloves or masks, didnt enforce social distancing or notify employees after workers exhibited symptoms of the coronavirus, according to a lawsuit alleging negligence filed in Cook County by Toney Evans, whose brother died while working at the store. We are heartbroken at the passing of two associates at our Evergreen Park store, and we are mourning along with their families, Walmart spokesman Randy Hargrove said. Walmart has since reinforced its cleaning and sanitizing procedures. The company also has taken steps nationwide to install sneeze guards at registers, place social distancing decals on floors and provide masks and gloves to associates who want to use them, Hargrove said. H-E-B, the San Antonio-based grocery chain, also has taken several measures like installing plastic shields at cash registers and drawing giant Xs on the floor in front of the fish counters to maintain social distancing. Change is coming so fast that in the space of less than a month, H-E-B has gone from giving employees the option to wear masks while serving customers to requiring them for all employees and vendors. Writing their own rules Companies are trying to figure out how to get employees back to work with ideas such as using workplace configurations that spread everyone out, limiting elevator occupancy and considering whether to close lunchrooms, said Houston employment lawyer Scott McLaughlin. Compounding the problem has been the recent trend in corporate circles to shrink office space and eliminate private offices to cut overhead. Maybe there will be a Monday/Wednesday crowd and maybe a Tuesday/Thursday crowd, he said. There will be a lot of restructuring around this. Meanwhile, government cant react fast enough to the fast-changing conditions as the coronavirus spreads, said one retail marketing consultant, putting the onus on businesses to determine whats right to keep workers safe, said Erik Rosenstrauch, CEO of Florida-based consulting firm FUEL Partnerships. And if workers feel uncomfortable working closely with strangers, maybe they should find another job, said Rosenstrauch, adding that plenty of warehouse jobs dont require much contact with others. Ultimately, no one has to do a job, he said. Thats the great thing about this country. lynn.sixel@chron.com twitter.com/lmsixel Simone Mela never dreamed that a traffic light would determine when he could take a bathroom break in the factory where he works. But in the world according to coronavirus, that is the new normal. And he feels lucky to have a job. Only 200 of the 800 workers at the ISA company, which makes refrigerated display cases for bars, restaurants and supermarkets, have so far been able to return to the factory in Italy's Umbria region. The gradual return has been made possible through a combination of solutions ranging from simple to innovative to high tech. A worker is seen by a traffic light limiting the access to bathrooms inside the ISA factory that has introduced new safety measures to respect social distancing among workers to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease in Bastia Umbra, Italy, on April 22 A worker uses hand sanitiser with a traffic light in the background limiting the access to bathrooms to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease inside a factory in Bastia Umbra Strips taped on the floor create walking lanes and delineate work areas. A yellow and green traffic light system was installed to keep the bathrooms safe. Workers flick a switch as they enter or leave the bathroom and the colour of the light tells those who want to enter if they can or have to wait. The high-tech end of the company's back-to-work strategy is a system known as SWAT, or System Workers Advance Tracing. Employees scan an app onto their smartphones and clip a small white device on to their work clothes. Workers wear face masks and are separated by a divider inside the ISA factory It vibrates if they get too close to another worker and simultaneously sends a signal to a computer database. 'We are sure that it is not a tool to spy on us. It is only a device to increase safety distances and to report close contacts,' said Mela. 'If we find a positive case, it will be easier to trace the contacts they had. We feel very safe.' A similar system is on trial in the port of Antwerp. ISA's managers realised that if they wanted to stay in business, they had no choice but to modify work patterns and safety measures. A thermal scanner is used to measure the temperature of a worker inside the ISA factor 'To help people to cope with this virus - which unfortunately won't be going away in coming days and weeks - we developed a hardware and software system to help people work together in a safe way and adhere to social distancing,' said ISA's general manager, Marco Giulietti. Employees' body temperatures are checked when they enter the factory and they all wear masks, gloves and face shields. To provide further protection, plexiglas dividers have been put up between work stations along the assembly line. But they extend from the waist up so workers can still pass material and talk to each other. Two leading epidemiologists fear outbreaks in prisons or nursing homes, and re-importations unwitting or malicious pose the greatest risks of any attempt to eradicate coronavirus in Australia. The federal government is pursuing a strategy of virus suppression, but as the numbers of new daily cases continue to fall, elimination seems increasingly enticing to many. Nursing homes pose one of the greatest risks to eradicating coronavirus in Australia, experts say. Credit:Louise Kennerley Melbourne University epidemiologists Dr Kathryn Snow and Professor James McCaw warned against complacency and the misplaced belief that eradication was inevitable. Dr Snow said there was a misplaced sense in the community that we are pretty much out of the woods. Friends and relatives of Bangladeshi photojournalist A. Hye Shapan, who died from COVID-19 in New York, participate at his burial at a Muslim cemetery in Marlboro Township, N.J., March 30, 2020. At least 370 Bangladeshis in more than a dozen countries have died of COVID-19 a number nearly three times greater than the current death toll in their home country from the highly contagious virus, according to estimates compiled by BenarNews. Bangladesh on Thursday recorded seven deaths linked to the coronavirus, taking the death toll in the South Asian country to 127. By comparison, more Bangladesh citizens have died in the United States to date from the virus, according to Dhakas embassy in the U.S. About 180 Bangladesh nationals died so far, as per the information we received from the Bangladesh community here, Shamim Ahmad, the spokesman at the embassy in Washington, told BenarNews. Elsewhere, 140 Bangladeshis have died in the United Kingdom, 31 in Saudi Arabia, seven in Italy, six in Canada, five in Spain, four in Qatar and two in Sweden because of coronavirus complications, according to Bangladesh diplomats and expatriate communities in those countries. In addition, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kenya, Libya and Gambia each reported one death, according to a tally of numbers gathered from those sources through Wednesday. Officials could not clearly establish if those who died were citizens of these countries or Bangladesh. An estimated 10 million Bangladeshis, many of them migrant workers, are scattered across the globe, with their mobility exposing them to the threat of catching the virus, experts said. In the U.S., Bangladeshis who died were buried there according to coronavirus-related guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO), officials said. Talisma Islam, a U.S. citizen of Bangladeshi origin who was visiting Dhaka, told of how COVID-19 had devastated her family. We are one of the millions of victims of COVID-19, she told BenarNews, referring to the number of people who had fallen ill from the virus worldwide. My sister, my brother-in-law and my nephew in New York were badly affected by COVID-19 three weeks ago, she said, adding her brother-in-law had lost his three-week battle against the coronavirus. Singapore hotspot While the exact number of Bangladesh nationals infected with COVID-19 across the globe is not known, authorities estimate there are 4,000 in Singapore, 1,000 in the U.S. and 500 in Qatar. Most of those infected in Singapore, where there have been no reported Bangladeshi deaths, are foreign workers who live in dormitories that have become hotspots for the coronavirus, according to local authorities. On Thursday, Singaporean health officials announced that the number of infections in the city-state had surpassed the 11,000 mark with 1,037 new cases confirmed. An official with Bangladeshs largest NGO warned that Bangladeshis who travel abroad to work are at high risk of being infected with the coronavirus. One of the key reasons is that the Bangladesh nationals live in crowded rooms and dirty environments where they together use a single toilet. They have long been living in a condition that puts their health at risk, Shariful Hasan, the migration program chief at the Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), told BenarNews. The current situation is the outcome of that poor living condition, he added. The Bangladesh health minister, meanwhile, had a message for those Bangladeshis seeking to return from Singapore. I want to clearly say that Bangladeshi returnees from Singapore must undergo quarantines, Minister Zahid Maleque told BenarNews on Thursday. Aid for Bangladeshis overseas According to Ahmed Munirus Salehin, an additional secretary at the Bangladesh Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, the agency has distributed funds to support those migrants abroad who have lost their jobs. We have sent about [U.S.] $600,000 (50 million taka) with other support to 22 countries, he told BenarNews. He also said Bangladeshis in other countries who had contracted the coronavirus were receiving the necessary treatment. As of now, we dont see any discrimination, he told BenarNews. On Thursday, the Bangladesh health directorate announced seven COVID-19 deaths and 414 infections since Wednesday, bringing the national number of fatalities from the disease to 127 and the total number of cases to 4,186. Also on Thursday, the government issued an order announcing that a nationwide COVID-19 shutdown, referred to by officials as a public holiday, was being extended from April 25 to May 5. The government also allowed export-oriented factories, including those in the garment industry, to reopen slowly but they must ensure worker safety, according to the Associated Press. Garment manufacturers have said customers canceled or suspended orders valued at $3.17 billion, affecting 2.3 million workers. Globally, more than 2.6 million infections have been recorded while the death toll stood at more than 185,000 as of Thursday, according to data compiled by disease experts at U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University. German Cabinet Agrees Plan to Deploy Up to 300 Troops to Uphold Arms Embargo on Libya Sputnik News 13:16 GMT 22.04.2020 BERLIN (Sputnik) - The German cabinet agreed on Wednesday to send up to 300 troops to patrol the waters off the coast of Libya as part of the new EU mission to stop arms smuggling, the government spokesman said. "The government today approved the mandate for the prospective German military deployment until April 30, 2021. This will, of course, require a green light from the Bundestag," Steffen Seibert told reporters at a briefing. The government plans to send P3C-Orion surveillance planes to monitor the Libyan waters, according to the government directive, seen by the public broadcaster ARD. A navy ship will be dispatched to the area by August. Operation Irini was launched on April 1 in place of Operation Sophia, which focused on efforts to curb human trafficking. The new mission also aims to stem illicit oil smuggling from Libya. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address An environmental and economic justice advocate and a once-disgraced former chair of the Multnomah County commission are facing off in the race to replace Rep. Alissa Keny-Guyer as the House member representing a swath of Northeast and Southeast Portland that stretches from Laurelhurst through Mount Tabor to Lents. Jeff Cogen, who started a small business and advised leaders at Portland City Hall and Multnomah County, served more than six years as a Multnomah County commissioner. He resigned in 2013 during his first elected term as its chair after his affair with a county employee and his use of county funds to travel with her were made public. Oregons Department of Justice investigated the matter and did not file charges, and Cogen subsequently served nearly three years as executive director of Impact Northwest, a local antipoverty non-profit. Khanh Pham brought grassroots organizing experience in California as well as a background in graduate-level research and teaching at Portland State University when she began working for the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon. She has focused her advocacy on climate health and housing and health equity and helped lead the effort to pass a clean energy tax on large Portland retailers to fund energy retrofits, clean energy job training and other help geared to people of color. Both candidates have long lists of prominent endorsers, with labor unions, including those for teachers, electricians, state workers and teamsters, siding with Pham. They differ on the issues, including whether to give businesses with $1 million or more in sales temporary relief from a tax to enhance education and whether Oregon has done enough to eliminate exemptions to its public records disclosure requirements. Here are their answers to six key questions posed by The Oregonian/OregonLive and designed to help Democratic party voters make their choice in the May 19 primary. Some responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity. What specifically in your track record would you point to that makes you the best Democratic nominee for Oregon and for your district at this time? Cogen: My leadership in the county at the time of the Great Recession showed me how to deal with the economic impact of the coronavirus infection. Specifically, my time as chairman of the county taught me how to cut government while maintaining vital programs. This will be key to preserving, and enhancing, programs like education, human services and health care. I added SUN School afterschool programs at county public schools every year when I was chair, despite having to cut budgets every single year. I will do the same in the Legislature. Pham: After being a community organizer in the heart of House District 46 for years, I helped lead the Portland Clean Energy Fund campaign. For the first time in Oregon, communities of color led a campaign to achieve environmental and economic justice. Our opposition was the established, deep pocketed network of business interests. We won overwhelmingly. I will take the communities Ive helped empower and lead to the Legislature to advance environmental, economic and social justice. Our district is one of the most diverse in Oregon and weve never had an Asian American represent us in Salem. Its time. Oregon businesses have called for a suspension or temporary modification of the new gross receipts tax to fund education. Do you support this? Pham: No. Even without suspending the corporate activity tax, revenue will be much lower than anticipated when the Student Success Act was passed. Adjusting the corporate tax for education will force additional cuts to services our children depend on. The call for reducing corporate taxes comes from the same anti-worker interests that opposed the Student Success Act, the business tax to fund it and raising the minimum wage. The economic damage of coronavirus is not an excuse to abandon our values, deny help to people in need and peel back legislation to protect corporate profits. Cogen: I support businesses having to pay only half of the tax for six months, in light of the coronavirus. After that, they would pay the tax in full. Education has been defunded in Oregon for two generations. We can pause the tax impact for six months, but no longer. Oregon has hundreds of public records law exemptions on the books, making it one of the less transparent states in the country. Is there any public records exemption you believe should be removed? Or a new public records exemption you believe lawmakers should add? Cogen: The Oregon Sunshine Committee is composed of 15 individuals from all walks of life and they oversee recommending taking out exemptions. I trust this committee and the Department of Justice to determine which sunshine laws are working and which need to be reevaluated. Pham: First, Ill support legislation similar to Senate Bill 1506, which was a casualty of the 2020 Republican walkout, to make the Office of the Oregon Public Records Advocate independent. We need a truly independent gatekeeper and public records advocate. I believe many of our more than 550 public record exemptions should be removed and will prioritize increasing transparency as it relates to police misconduct with a focus on criminal investigations, personnel disciplinary records and public safety employee personnel disciplinary records. West Linns handling of Michael Fesser, an innocent black man, is a glaring example of Oregons need for police transparency. Khanh Pham, who played a leading role in the drive to create a green energy tax on large retailers in Portland, is running for a seat in the Oregon House in part based on her environmental and economic justice credentials. Republicans succeeded in killing cap-and-trade legislation and Gov. Kate Browns executive order can only accomplish a fraction of the greenhouse gas emissions a new law would have achieved. What should the Legislature do next to reduce climate warming emissions? Pham: Oregon should set clear goals for emissions reductions in different sectors and hold companies accountable for violations with significant fees for noncompliance. We must also fund a just transition so workers in polluting industries have a pathway to family-wage jobs in the emerging green economy. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the legislature should prioritize implementing a requirement that utilities to purchase 100% of their energy from renewable sources by 2050. In addition, the state should seek to expand the use of Highway Trust Fund dollars to include biking and pedestrian options and public transportation by referring it to the ballot. Cogen: The impacts of climate change know no party lines. Our state cant afford to deny science any longer, we must take action to protect all of us, our economy and way of life. As the COVID crisis has demonstrated, the impact of catastrophic events which are projected to be more intense and more frequent if no climate action is taken wreak havoc on our economy and working families. Democrats and the Republicans should meet and vet all their concerns. If they are unable to agree, the majority party should seek quorum reform and pass legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Jeff Cogan, a lawyer and policy advocate who served multiple terms on the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners before heading an anti-poverty nonprofit, is running for a seat in the Oregon House of Representatives. The market downturn has further undermined the funded status of Oregons public pension system, which will lead to further cost increases for public employers. Is there anything further you think should be done to address the problem? Cogen: Current employees and retirees should not have to pay more for their retirement benefits. If the market downturn further undermines the retirement of Oregonians in public service, they should put a bond on the ballot to make up the shortfall. Pham: Oregon needs to view our public pension unfunded liability for what it is: a debt. A series of reductions in benefits to public employees have resulted in a system that is now essentially self-sustaining. The legacy debt needs to be addressed by dedicating a funding source just as we would with any other debt. Prior to the economic downturn, it was just a matter of years until employer PERS contributions overwhelmed the state and local budgets. With our new economic crisis, it's imperative that the legislature finally address the problem with a dedicated funding source to pay off the debt. Before the coronavirus crisis, the Portland metro area was enjoying a long-term economic recovery. But the benefits were not shared by some Oregonians in rural areas and even many in the metro area remained financially unstable as they depended on the gig economy. Whats one thing you could do as a state lawmaker to bring economic stability to more Oregonians? Pham: Living and working in Portlands Jade District for years has shown me that the economic recovery did not extend to all Oregonians, especially communities of color. While we still dont know the extent of the economic impact from this pandemic, we know it will be significant. Its time for a Green New Deal for Oregon. I will take the Portland Clean Energy Fund framework -- taxing large corporations to fund green jobs with a focus on equity -- statewide to help rebuild our economy, centering it on the people who are most impacted, particularly rural, low-income, and communities of color. Cogen: One immediate action we can take is to reclassify gig economy workers so that they are eligible for critical benefits like health insurance, retirement savings, the right to organize and unemployment. Wage theft is a critical issue in our state, and gig workers -- along with women, people of color and other historically marginalized communities are most impacted. -- Betsy Hammond; betsyhammond@oregonian.com; @OregonianPol -- Hillary Borrud; hborrud@oregonian.com; @hborrud Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Perhaps you recognize me, she said to speed the process. Im Madeleine Albright, and I used to be secretary of state. She got a blank stare, until the receptionist said: Colin Powell is secretary of state. Yes, she explained, she was Powells predecessor. So, the receptionist said flatly, that means you are unemployed. In reality she was overemployed. She started her own consulting firm, one of those peculiar Washington businesses that capitalize on their ability to contact an Egyptian or Chinese minister to cut through a problem, or anticipate a geopolitical crisis. She teaches a popular course on statecraft at Georgetown University, and has organized a group of former foreign ministers, which she informally calls Madeleine and Her Exes; they represent an Establishment that hasnt existed since the late 1990s, but still try to exercise some influence at the edges. And she writes books lots of books. There was a memoir of her time in the Clinton administration, Madam Secretary, and Prague Winter, the fascinating story of growing up a Czech refugee and ending up in Denver, where her father was a professor (whose star student was Condoleezza Rice, the second woman to serve as secretary of state). More recently, she has written books warning about the revival of fascism, and about her signature pins. And with books, of course, come the vicissitudes of book tours, including the time that a booksellers convention scheduled her to speak about her memoir about managing the post-Soviet world right after the author of Time to Pee!, a manual on potty training. Going with the theme, she spoke on the similarities of managing allies and adversaries to negotiating with 2-year-olds. But there are more telling moments that resonate in the current political moment, including her self-doubts as she campaigned in the primaries for Hillary Clinton in 2008, and watched as former colleagues disparaged her candidate in favor of Barack Obama. Shame on them, I sniffed, she writes, but then there I was on national television accusing Obama of being naive for advocating direct talks with the leaders of Iran. I had negotiated with North Korea, for Petes sake. So, of course, did Donald Trump. Neither of them got very far. Federal Communication Commission Commissioner Brendan Carr testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Communications and Technology Subcommittee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on Dec. 05, 2019. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Its Always a Right Time to Speak Truth to the Communists: FCC Commissioner Stands Up to Beijing Propagandists In recent weeks, Brendan Carr, commissioner of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has taken to Twitter to call out the Chinese regimes propaganda surrounding the pandemic. His thread responding to a tweet by Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying went viral. In a series of posts, Carr asked the regime to un-disappear a group of citizen journalists, doctors, and others who have gone missing after they spoke out about the severity of the outbreak in China. The commissioner has been blocked on Twitter by another foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian. His impetus for publicly calling out Chinese officials? There is nothing that a communist dislikes more than the truth spoken freely, Carr told The Epoch Times American Thought Leaders program. I think we all have an obligation to do that. Carr said the Chinese regime has embarked on a global campaign to improve its image and deflect attention away from its initial coverup of the CCP virus outbreak that resulted in a global pandemic. This needed to be countered, he said. Its important that we always send a clear signal, whether to our own media here in the U.S. or across the world, that we stand strong for free speech and not having the government interfere with the free flow of information, Carr said. Earlier in April, Hua responded to a tweet by U.S. State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus about the need for the United States and China to work together to combat the virus. Hua wrote that the U.S. official was welcome to China anytime and talk to anyone in the streets to enjoy the freedom [sic]. Carr jumped at the opportunity to expose what freedom under the communist regime looks like. In his reply to Hua, Carr said hed like to speak with eight individuals who have been silenced by the regime for voicing their concerns about the outbreak. They include citizen reporters Fang Bin, Chen Qiushi, and Li Zehua, property tycoon Ren Zhiqiang, and law professor Xu Zhangrun. Great! First, I would like to speak with Dr. AI Fen. She worked at Wuhan Central Hospital and tried to sound the alarm on the virus. Could you un-disappear her so we could speak?https://t.co/yvxGSKSEk9 https://t.co/mbL08cR4tW Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) April 10, 2020 The Chinese people are the ones that are most directly and most often brutalized by the communist regime, Carr said. And so I think we should all stand up for them when they have the courage to stand up to these brutal communist leaders. Hua responded to Carrs tweet, noting his list of names and adding that he was welcome to Wuhan to pay respects to the heroic city. But Plz [sic] dont pretend to be a detective. The commissioner, in reply, reiterated his request to un-disappear those individuals so he could speak with them. Im glad youve seen their names. And Im glad your response confirms to the world that you disappeared them simply for telling the truth about your brutal regime. Now, my question to you still stands: Will you un-disappear them so we can speak?#UndisappearThem https://t.co/FAEm2GhOzP Brendan Carr (@BrendanCarrFCC) April 14, 2020 Securing Our Networks Outside of Twitter, Carrs work at the FCC has also focused on making sure telecoms infrastructure in the country is free from security threats posed by the Chinese regime. What were called to do with the FCC, increasingly, is to look at the threat and the potential threat to U.S. telecom networks of entities that may be owned and controlled by the communist regime in China, Carr said. For example, we took action against Huawei and ZTE, two companies that we determined were too tightly controlled by the Communist Party, he said. Last November, the FCC voted unanimously to designate those two telecom gear manufacturers as national security risks, barring U.S. rural carrier customers from using federal subsidy funds to purchase their equipment. This came months after the Trump administration put Huawei on a trade blacklist, effectively banning it from doing business with U.S. firms. The security concerns surrounding Huawei and other Chinese telecom firms stem from Chinese laws that compel companies to cooperate with Chinese intelligence agencies when asked. The commission last May also voted unanimously to deny a bid by Chinese state-run telecom firm China Mobile to operate in the United States, citing risks that the regime could use the approval to conduct espionage against the U.S. government. Earlier this month, a group of federal agencies recommended that the FCC revoke Chinese state-owned company China Telecoms authorization to provide international telecommunication services in the United States, citing substantial and unacceptable national security and law enforcement risks. Carr said the Commission is moving to implement the recommendation, and will provide China Telecom with an opportunity to make the case as to why they shouldnt be kicked out of our network. But its not only China Mobile receiving more scrutiny; the FCC has also set its sights on all other Chinese companies currently participating in the U.S. telecom network. Ive called on the FCC and for the national security agencies to take a look at each and every one of those companies, effectively to do a top-to-bottom review of all companies that may be owned or controlled by the communist regime, Carr said. Ensuring the security of the countrys next-generation of wireless 5G networks is a core concern of the commission, Carr said. If our 5G networks are insecure, every single thing that we value in life is going to be insecure, he said. And thats why were taking such aggressive action at the FCC looking at Huawei, ZTE, China Mobile, looking at China Telecom, supporting this trend to software-based network to make sure that we have not just the best 5G platform but the most secure platform as well. 5G will offer internet connectivity at speeds 10 to 100 times faster than 4G. The fast connection is set to revolutionize many industries, including transportation, health care, and manufacturing. Carr said that four years ago, the United States was at serious risk of ceding leadership in 5G to China. But weve engaged in a significant turnaround, and the U.S. now has the strongest 5G platform in the world, he said. The FCC has achieved this, Carr said, by cutting red tape to allow 5G cell towers to be constructed faster and by opening up more spectrum than any other country in the world. On April 20, the commission voted unanimously to allow U.S. satellite company Ligado Networks to deploy a low-power nationwide 5G network. Ligado will be able to use L-Band spectrum, a mid-band spectrum, which has slower speeds than high-band spectrums but offers more coverage. Thats one piece of probably a dozen or more spectrum bands that weve been getting across the finish line, Carr said. McLennan County Judge Scott Felton said local leaders are waiting on an address from the governor scheduled for Monday to help determine whether they will lift local emergency orders next month. It could be that here locally we have little control over how that happens, Felton said. But we will be able to counsel and advise local businesses on how to best make that work, so we dont have the backlash of the virus coming back on us. Felton thanked the countys residents for complying with the shelter-in-place order as well as they have so far. He said Heart of Texas Region MHMR has seen a 20% increase in activity in the past two weeks. I know MHMR is adding additional people to handle this, Felton said. One thing that we want to try to prevent from happening is our mental health population starting to move into our emergency rooms, which happens many times. Griggs said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now reporting the virus is much more infectious than initially reported. Bacon isnt just for breakfast anymore. Heres a sampling of restaurants throughout the region where you can dig into some sinfully delicious strips of bacon from breakfast right through to lunch, dinner and even dessert. Lock 29 with Rebel Hill... The central government has announced it will conduct a telephonic survey on COVID-19. A Ministry of Health and Family Welfare notification says some citizens will get a call from the number 1921 for the COVID-19 survey, which will be carried out by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). The Centre has not announced the exact date when the survey be launched. The ministry has requested people to "participate in a good measure when a call comes in from the number 1921 to enable proper feedback of the prevalence and distribution of COVID-19 symptoms." The health ministry also warned that people should be aware of any calls they receive from pranksters or any other number disguised as a genuine-looking helpline. "Only a phone call from the number 1921 is an authentic survey-related call," the health ministry notification said. The health ministry has requested states and union territories to inform people about the survey and also about the phishing attempts by dubious callers. The state/UT health departments have also been asked to post information on their official websites. The government has also warned people from giving out any personal information to pranksters. Also Read: Coronavirus India Live Updates: President approves ordinance against attacks on health workers; tally-21,393 Also Read: Coronavirus: Lockdown in India has affected 40 million migrants, says World Bank Indias new headache: Coronavirus positive terrorists from Pakistan India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 23: Last week there were reports that Pakistan is using the coronavirus situation to send in as many terrorists into India. The latest revelation is that Pakistan will use terrorists who have tested positive for coronavirus into India. This was stated by Jammu and Kashmir, DGP, Dilbag Singh. He also said that Pakistan will make attempt to send terrorists who have tested positive for coronavirus into the Valley and infect others. The Indian agencies have time and again warned that Pakistan will continue to use this difficult situation to send in its terrorists. If the statements by Singh are to go by then the security agencies are in for a bigger headache. Handling terror would not limited just to apprehending him or gunning him down, but the additional headache of testing and taking all other precautions too would be there, an Intelligence Bureau official told OneIndia. 5 terrorists gunned down in last 24 hours in Kashmir Valley; 3 jawans martyred Despite the virus spreading like wildfire, Pakistan has lined up scores of terrorists and is looking to push them into India. Terror activity in Pakistan continues unabated, the officer also said. They are looking to take advantage of the situation and send in as many terrorists as possible into Jammu and Kashmir, the officer also said. Terrorists of both the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad have been sent closer to the border and Pakistan has been looking for an opportunity to send them into India. The IB picked up intercepts that suggested that Pakistan has activated its launch pads along the Line of Control and the International Border. The officer cited above said that Pakistan is taking advantage of the situation, while the security forces are busy with helping the administration fight against the coronavirus outbreak. The officer said that the launchpads have at least 200 terrorists waiting to infiltrate. Pakistan also resorts to ceasefire violations even in today's situation so that they can provide cover fire to the terrorists. There has been a huge mobilisation that has been taking place since February. These terrorists numbering around 200 came in batches. Today, they are looking to take advantage of the situation and infiltrate to the LoC and International Border. Watch: Indian Army inflicts heavy damage after Pakistan violates ceasefire at LoC The recent operation in the Keran sector showed that Pakistan continued with its terror activities. Five terrorists were killed in the operation, while, five elite commandoes too were martyred. Pakistan has been losing terrorists by the dozen in the various encounters in the Valley. They have lost a good number of overground workers and terrorists. Most of the top commanders have been wiped out and Home Ministry data for January-February show that 24 terrorists were killed while 48 were arrested. This explains the desperation, the IB officer says. Meanwhile, in a positive development, Pulwama became the first coronavirus free district in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. HARRISBURG, Pa., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Third-grader Rowen Lewis of Mountain View Elementary School in Harrisburg, Dauphin County will receive a $500 prize for winning first place in the Pennsylvania Dental Association's (PDA) 2020 National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM) statewide poster contest. Rowen's prize-winning entry shows a large, lively tooth along with floss, a toothbrush and toothpaste, dancing and singing "Brush and Floss Daily." Rowen will be presented with his framed winning poster and $500 prize at a future date. Both Mountain View Elementary School and Rowen's teacher, Mrs. Nicole Welch, will also receive prizes of $250 each for being part of first place in PDA's contest. Our second-place winner is eight-year old Chloe Karasek from J. M. Hill Elementary in Monroe County. Chloe created a super-hero themed piece with "Super Tooth," showing that when you "Brush, brush twice a day, then your teeth will say hooray!" Chloe will receive a $250 prize and a certificate of recognition. "Fluoride in waterGet it from the tap," says Ian Costanzo, a third grader from Salem Elementary in Berwick, who received third-place recognition. In Ian's artwork, he drew a young boy getting a drink from the water faucet. Ian will receive a $100 prize and a certificate of recognition. The winning posters were selected from more than 100 clever, well-designed entries submitted to the PDA Central Office for judging. The contest was open to third-grade students in any Pennsylvania public, private or charter school. More than 1,300 schools were contacted for participation. Visit PDA's website at www.padental.org to learn more about NCDHM and other dental health topics. About the Pennsylvania Dental Association Founded in 1868, the Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) is comprised of approximately 5,200 member dentists. It is a constituency of the American Dental Association (ADA), the largest and oldest national dental society in the world. PDA's mission is to improve the public health, promote the art and science of dentistry and represent the interests of its member dentists and their patients. PDA is the voice of dentistry in Pennsylvania. For more information on PDA, visit our website at www.padental.org. SOURCE Pennsylvania Dental Association Related Links http://www.padental.org Atop a shaded hill at the edge of Sao Paulo, the gravedigger thinks he knows the truth. No matter how bad it appears in Brazil - the country hit hardest by the coronavirus in the Southern Hemisphere - the reality is significantly worse. Manoel Norberto Pereira watched another body being wheeled in, accompanied by what has by now become a familiar set of details. Sex: Female. Age: 77 years. Cause of death: Insufficient respiration. Every day brings more. The cemetery now receives around 50 bodies every day - double the average in normal times. Many are marked as confirmed cases of covid-19, the disease the virus causes. But many more say only unidentified respiratory ailment. To Pereira, they're the unseen toll of the coronavirus in Brazil, which has officially infected 45,000 people and killed 2,900 - but unofficially many times more than that. Imprecise and insufficient testing is a global problem, but in Brazil, it's on an entirely different scale. Latin America's largest country is testing people at a rate far lower than any other nation with at least 40,000 cases. It tests 12 times fewer people than Iran. Thirty-two times fewer than the United States. Hospitalized patients aren't being tested. Some medical professionals aren't being tested. People are dying in their homes without being tested. The undercount has undercut pleas for social isolation and empowered skeptics such as Jair Bolsonaro. Brazil's president dismisses the pandemic as a "fantasy" driven by "a little flu." Bolsonaro said this month that the numbers "looked like the virus is starting to leave." Then, last week, he fired his health minister, Luiz Henrique Mandetta, who had repeatedly and publicly contradicted the president on the severity of the crisis. "Undercounting empowers populists to say, 'See, things are not that bad,' " said Pedro Doria, former executive editor of the Brazilian newspaper O Globo. "There is a huge effort by the federal government to deny the gravity of the pandemic." Now Bolsonaro's supporters are gathering in city streets to amplify his calls to reopen the economy - while data scientists are saying the problem is drastically worse than they realize. Researchers at the Federal University of Minas Gerais have suggested Brazil has eight times more coronavirus cases than the official numbers. A research team at the University of Sao Paulo thinks it has 16 times more - as many as 711,000 cases. According to government statistics, nearly 37,300 people have been hospitalized this year with respiratory ailments - four times the number at this point last year - but only half have received test results. In Sao Paulo, nearly 1,300 people have died of unidentified respiratory problems, compared with 50 people last year. Amazonas state has reported 193 deaths from covid-19. But its capital city is burying so many people - three times the average - that it's digging trenches for mass graves. "The big conclusion is that we don't know what the real scenario is," said Leonardo Costa Ribeiro, an economist at the Federal University of Minas Gerais. "It gives the sensation that it is more controlled, when the reality is very different." Domingos Alves, a data scientist at the University of Sao Paulo, did little to hide his anger at the chasm between how government officials talk about the virus and what the data shows. "As a researcher, I look at the data and make analyses for the government," he said. "But as a citizen, I'm frustrated. The government is trying to control the epidemic without the elements of how to control it because they don't know how serious it is. "It will get much worse. There will be lines at the hospitals. There will be lines at the cemeteries. The next few weeks will be very dark." New Health Minister Nelson Teich, named by Bolsonaro to replace Mandetta, has made increased testing a pillar of the country's response to the pandemic. He said this week the government intends to purchase 46 million tests, enough for just over a fifth of the population. He hasn't specified when the tests will arrive or when they'll be used. "We are not talking about testing the entire country," Teich said. "We are going to use the tests so that people tested will reflect the Brazilian population." But the obstacles will be enormous - and could portend the struggles that await much of the developing world as the coronavirus moves deeper into Latin America and Africa. A variable as basic as reliable data could become a distinguishing factor between poor and wealthy countries. Analysts say Brazil has neither the manufacturing nor the purchasing capacity to meet the demand for tests. Its laboratories, already overwhelmed by a testing backlog, aren't equipped to process them at scale. And in the international scrum for supplies and testing equipment, the country is losing out to wealthier nations that can pay more or leverage closer ties with China. "Brazil could be thought of as a barometer of what could be expected in other countries," said Marcelo Gomes, a researcher at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, a scientific institution. "Information is paramount. The more we have, the more we can make the population aware of what it is exactly that we are facing." Without that information, said Paulo Buss, one of Brazil's preeminent public health experts, "the consequences are clear." The consequences were clear last month for Bruna Marques, a 24-year-old woman in Sao Paulo state. Her mother, diabetic, asthmatic and pregnant, had become so sick she could barely stand. She was having difficulty breathing. Her temperature had risen to 104 degrees. Two hospitals turned her away without testing for the virus. The third, 30 minutes away, finally admitted her. But within days, she was dead, the baby was lost and the funeral was over. Marques stood over her mother's grave, furious. All around, she said, were other families, equally mystified by the sudden deaths of loved ones. The hospital told Marques her mother had died of acute respiratory failure, she said. For weeks afterward, she said, she has called daily, asking if it was covid-19. But she never heard anything. "Sometimes they don't even wait for me to say my mother's name before hanging up," she said. "Nobody tells me what really happened to her. It was all very fast, and we just wanted an answer. It's inhumane." A gravedigger at Sao Paulo's Vila Formosa Cemetery, one of Latin America's largest, said he started noticing strange deaths in early March - weeks before Brazil's first confirmed coronavirus death. The causes of death - pneumonia, respiratory failure - were what he would expect to see during the Southern Hemisphere's winter, not peak summer. "One day, I saw on the news that in all of Sao Paulo there had been 20 burials of coronavirus victims," said the man, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he didn't have permission to give an interview. "But I knew at my cemetery alone, there had been 27." Pereira feels the same frustration. Some days, he can't believe the number of people out in the street. If they were seeing what he saw, no way would they be outside. No way would there be a national debate over reopening the economy. No one would be listening to claims that the pandemic had been overblown. Bodies don't lie, he said. And here came another one. Sex: Male. Age: 100. Cause of death: Insufficient respiration. Elizabeth Warren's brother Donald Gen Reed aka Don Reed died from coronavirus. Warren, one of the frontrunners of the US Democratic Party's candidate for President, confirmed the news today through a tweet. Don Reed, senator Elizabeth Warrens brother, died earlier this week, confirmed the Massachusetts Democrat senator in a tweet on Thursday, April 23. She informed that her brother died due to novel coronavirus. Reed was a popular American actor, writer, producer, director and comedian Warrens tweet reads, Don Reed joined the Air Force at 19 and spent his career in the military, including five and a half years off and on in combat in Vietnam. He was charming and funny, a natural leader, she added. She further said that Reeds smile-quick and crooked- made him extra special as his smile always generated its own light, one that lit up everyone around him. Senator thanked the medical staff which tried its best to take Reeds care. In another tweet, she said she is grateful to the nurses and frontline staff who took care of him, but its hard to know that there was no family to hold his hand or to say I love you one more timeand no funeral for those of us who loved him to hold each other close. She ended saying she will miss her dearly brother. The novel coronavirus aka COVID-19 has infected over 2,677,071 people across 210 countries and claimed 180,577 lives so far. While 735,367 have been cured by isolation and hard work of doctors across the globe. Only in the United States, 8,55,869 positive cases have been detected and 48,061 people have died so far. While in India, the number of coronavirus positive cases raised to 21,393, of which, 16,454 are active, while 4,257 have recovered. The death toll has grown to 681, the Health Ministry data added. For all the latest World News, download NewsX App During the COVID-19 pandemic, were all making adjustments. For state Sen. Eric Lesser of Longmeadow, that means an occasional TV interview or video conference from his living room, where his daughter Nora on Tuesday found a Skype conversation with WGBYs Carolee McGrath far more intriguing than her coloring book. Nora made her television debut on @WGBY last night! Hope all the parents with kids at home are managing the chaos okay. Thanks, Carolee for your patience! pic.twitter.com/NsRG1ZY6YI Eric Lesser (@EricLesser) April 23, 2020 Just as Lesser told McGrath that we understand full well the pain that this is causing, and the strain that this is causing our local businesses, the pigtailed 3-year-old peeked into her dads computer screen. Everything seemed stable, Lesser said by phone Thursday, noting that hed almost made it through the 10-plus-minute interview without any hiccups. Nora was occupied with coloring or so he thought while his wife, Alison Silber, an attorney like Lesser also working from home, was upstairs on a conference call. The couples 6-year-old daughter, Rose, was upstairs as well. Then, I could see her approaching from the corner of my eyes, Lesser said with a laugh. In the moment, Lesser played it cool and said, Hi Nora, you want to say hi? as he tried to gently nudge her off camera. But the preschooler popped right back into view with an attempted nose boop, continuing to steal the show when the interview aired Wednesday. Nora made her television debut on WGBY last night! Lesser tweeted Thursday. Hope all the parents with kids at home are managing the chaos okay. Everyone was a good sport, said Lesser, who had warned McGrath that home was hectic. He noted that hes continued to do interviews with local media through the pandemic because its very important to get information out and have continuing communication." Hes also frequently in Zoom meetings working on State Legislature business. But Lesser said he knows hes blessed with a roof over his head allowing him to work from home, and a healthy, safe family. Like many other kids stuck at home, Nora and Rose, a first-grader, miss their friends and teachers, Lesser said. Its online classes and trying our best, like all parents, to keep them occupied, he said. We have nothing to complain about, he added. Everyone just trying to have a good attitude and trying to be flexible is important. It does make me think all the time about families who cant work from home, whether front line workers, health care workers, grocery workers, and the pressures being put on families right now. My heart goes out and were in solidarity with those families. Earlier this month, Lesser and State Sen. Joanne M. Comerford spearheaded a letter from almost 30 Massachusetts lawmakers asking Gov. Charlie Baker to waive credentialing requirements so school nurses could help with COVID-19 response. On Thursday, he said the state and nation were in an unprecedented situation and all of us really need to work together." I think especially right now is a time we have to have empathy for each other and work together to overcome, he said. Everyone needs to do their part and its not going to be an easy process. Lesser added that its important to take time for the small blessings." The senator said a viewer whod caught the WGBY clip had commented that, Everyone is the BBC dad now, referencing a 2017 live interview watched on YouTube more than 38 million times in which a curious young child pops into Prof. Robert Kellys home office with a bounce in her step and hilarity ensues. Its definitely a challenge to work from home, but I feel blessed and lucky that I get to be with my children all day, Lesser said. Sometimes it takes great challenge, and frankly even crisis, to bring out what the most important things in life are. Related Content: Selfies are so 2019. In 2020, the year of the global pandemic, we're taking self-timer photos. Partly because we have a lot of free time while staying at home during the lockdown, and every random object doubles up as a tripod or phone stand, and partly because we don't have anyone else to take the photos for us. As India stays in lockdown, most businesses have closed their workplaces, and people are working remotely to maintain social distance - this includes a section of print media. Magazine shoots, which usually require a whole team of stylists, makeup-artists, producers, directors, not to mention, models for the shoot. But in times of social distancing, that's no longer possible. Taking matters into her own hands, Sobhita Dhulipala, known popularly for her role in Made in Heaven, created this month's Cosmpolitan cover, in her own house, via self-timer. From her makeup, to her styling, to even camera angles, Dhulipala did all the work of a whole team on her own, in the confines of her house. Sharing the post on Instagram, she wrote, "I had the unique opportunity to style myself, do my hair/makeup and take pictures on a phone (hello, self-timer, my new friend) in the confines of my house. It has been empowering to be reminded that one needs very little aid when they are truly invested in creating something - even if it is just pictures; it has been humbling to come in contact with people who nurture an individual voice and give it a public platform. I spent a couple of days photographing myself for this story for Cosmopolitan magazine, not only did I thrive in the creative stimulation but also had fun because I didnt need to be anything but truthful and relevant. Cheers to significance that is found in simplicity. Cheers to joy that is multiplied by the spirit of sharing. Cheers to women rooting for women." She later shared another post of the same, shot on her terrace, with the mention that there was no-retouching. And one more on her couch. What stands out through the images is how normal they are - Dhulipala is doing the same kind of quarantine activities as the rest of us: lying on her couch feeling existential dread, restricting her walks to her own terrace, and looking somewhat bored in front of her bookshelf. The images are so normal and regular, they perhaps make the viewer relate to them a lot more than they do to heavily-made up models in the usual cover shoots. Dhulipala's shoot could also be an example of what the future holds, since even after the pandemic ends, it might be a while before people can go back to the way things worked, as the world changes to adjust to new standards. The state administration is frustrated by the lack of compliance with social distance norms at several places in the state such as this scene from Uppal in Hyderabad. (DC Photo) Hyderabad: The remarkable thing about the Covid-19 story in Telangana on Wednesday that the states top bureaucrats were sent on a mission to three districts to impart a sense of urgency to the efforts being made statewide to implement. Chief secretary Somesh Kumar, director-general of police M Mahendar Reddy, director of health G. Srinivas Rao and others visited Suryapet, Jogulamba Gadwal and Vikarabad districts to review the ground-level situation with respect to containment and quarantine measures being implemented in these districts. The first-named district accounts for a disproportionate bump in the number of cases, therefore the serious attention. The high-level delegation underlined to the local administration the need to implement containment measures withgreater efficiency in these three districts. The state was startled by a surge of 15 new Covid-19 cases, taking the number up to 943 with 725 patients currently undergoing treatment. So far, 194 individuals who recovered from the disease have been discharged. The number of deaths rose to 24, with the passing away of a 45-year-old Unani medicine practitioner on Tuesday evening. The doctor is learnt to have come into contact with a 60-year-old woman from Talabkatta in the Old City who passed away earlier this month and was confirmed as a Covid-19 positive case. The health department said that of the 15 new cases detected on Wednesday, 10 were from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation limits while three were from Suryapet and two more were from Jogulamba-Gadwal district. Late at night, chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao convened a review meeting on the states implementation of containment zones. The review was attended by health minister Etala Rajendar, chief secretary Somesh Kumar, DGP M Mahendar Reddy, principal secretaries S Narsing Rao, Shanta Kumari and other senior officials from the health department. The top bureaucrats briefed the chief minister on their visit to the three districts. Chandrashekar Rao said that after identifying Covid-19 positive cases and tracing their contacts, we now have a good idea about the current spread of the disease based on which containment zones have been set up. People are also cooperating with the lockdown and if we continue what we are doing, then we should be able to control the disease and get good results, a press release from the chief ministers office said. Moscow may toughen some of the restrictive measures introduced to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, however, it will be done in a targeted manner, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on Rossiya-24 channel on Thursday, TASS reports. "It is true, there is always a possibility that the measures may be toughened. However, this decision must be justified. Before the introduction of permits, we tackled it head on, but now we can do it in a targeted manner," Sobyanin said. He noted that digital permits make it easier for Moscow officials to detect those violating the self-isolation regime in a prompt manner. "I think that the permit system is the most fair and effective. Since we introduced the permits, the number of people moving around the city has lowered by 500,000-800,000," the mayor said. All Moscow residents regardless of their age must self-isolate at home until May 1. These measures were introduced to restrict peoples movements within the city. Starting April 15, a digital permit is required to move around Moscow and the Moscow Region. Soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division lift a log over their heads while competing in the Ivy Heptathlon during Iron Horse Week, January 28, 2015. Flickr/ The US Army Three junior US Army soldiers stationed in South Korea were docked pay and busted down to the lowest enlisted rank after they were caught sneaking off to a bar and illegally returning back to base. According to the Army's findings, the trio violated public health guidance by making their non-essential off-base trip and then returning through "a hole in the installation's fence." The soldiers, who were also punished for not reporting the hole in the fence, were all demoted, forfeited $866 per month for two months, under restrictions for 45 days, and received 45 days of extra duty. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Three junior US Army soldiers stationed in South Korea were docked pay and busted down to the lowest enlisted rank after they were caught sneaking off to a bar and illegally returning back to base. According to the Army's findings, the trio violated public health guidance by making their non-essential off-base trip and then returning through "a hole in the installation's fence." Related Video: How COVID-19 Is Impacting US Army Basic Training The unnamed soldiers comprised of two Privates Second-Class (E-2) and a Private First-Class (E-3) from the 94th Military Police Battalion, 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command, 8th Army, in Camp Humphreys, according to a statement. The soldiers, who were also punished for not reporting the hole in the fence, were all demoted to Private (E-1), forfeited $866 per month for two months, under restrictions for 45 days, and received 45 days of extra duty. "Doing the wrong thing has serious consequences," the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command said in a Facebook post. "Don't risk everyone's safety and our ability to complete our mission because you can't follow orders." The United States Forces Korea command has taken a hardline approach in efforts to stave off the novel coronavirus outbreak in the country. Troops in South Korea imposed strict measures, including limiting travel, almost immediately compared to other military forces in the US. Commanders in the region have also been active on social-media channels, delivering warnings about the coronavirus and conducting online town halls. Story continues It is unclear exactly how many troops have tested positive in South Korea after the Defense Department mandated military bases to stop reporting coronavirus numbers. Over 3,500 troops in the entire US military tested positive for the coronavirus as of Wednesday, of which 1,073 recovered and two died. For the fourth day in a row, South Korea has reported less than 15 new cases on Wednesday, according to Yonhap News. Over half of new cases in the last two weeks were reportedly from travelers who recently arrived in the country. Around 10,700 people were infected and 237 have died. Business Insider Could wearing face masks actually put you more at risk of infection? (Getty) While wearing masks could help reduce the spread of coronavirus, there is some risk that fit and healthy people could find themselves at greater risk of infection by wearing them, a medic has warned. Professor Martin Marshall, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said it would make sense to advise the public to wear masks on a voluntary basis to reduce the chance of the spread of coronavirus. But he told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that there is a risk that fit and healthy people could be increasing their chance of infection by wearing a mask that encourages them to touch their face. His comments come as the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) was expected to discuss the usage of masks in a meeting on Thursday. Theres no research evidence to support wearing masks if you are basically fit and well, said Prof Marshall. Indeed if people wear masks theres a risk they play around with it, they play with their eyes more and maybe youre even at a higher risk of picking up an infection. However it is common sense that if they are coughing and spluttering then it makes complete sense to wear masks in order to protect other people. 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 He went on: I think the guidance that were expecting to hear is that the wearing of face masks is a voluntary activity not mandated and it certainly makes a lot of sense to focus limited resources that we have at the moment on those who have greatest need and thats the health professionals. This sophisticated kit is likely to be more rigorous, more useful, but actually its perfectly reasonable to wear a bandanna around your mouth or whatever, that will work, it wont be quite as good but it will be good enough. Also on Thursday morning, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said no new decision had been made on wearing masks ahead of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) meeting. Story continues He told BBC Breakfast: Sage is meeting today but we havent yet had that advice as ministers yet. I dont want to get ahead of ourselves and prejudge what will come out of Sage just yet. Theres no change at the moment. On Wednesday, health secretary Matt Hancock said he cant promise that everyone across the UK will be given free protective masks if scientific advice dictates that they should be worn. Hancock was responding to a question in the Commons from Labour former minister Hilary Benn, who asked whether members of the public would be expected to source their own masks if they are required to wear them in certain situations by government guidance. The health secretary responded: Well follow the advice, well listen to what the Sage advisory group says on masks and then we will implement that. I cant promise that we will give everybody free masks, I mean that would be an extraordinary undertaking, and we do have to make sure that we have supplies available especially for health and social care staff, where the scientific advice throughout has been that the wearing of masks is necessary in those circumstances and weve got to make sure the provision is there for them. Coronavirus: what happened today 'Time-traveller' makes bizarre claim, says 'underground alien race' will be discovered in August 2022 We are into a new year and everyone is hoping this year is kinder, but according to a self NIAID/NIH-Sponsored Clinical Trial of Remdesivir on Hospitalized Adult COVID-19-Positive Patients with Pneumonia Will Help Provide Data for Possible FDA Licensure Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) are testing the effectiveness of the investigational antiviral drug remdesivir in hospitalized adult patients with SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). The randomized controlled clinical trial is evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the drug, and it is part of a national study funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This research is being conducted through the UMSOMs Center for Vaccine Development and Global Healths (CVD), and the Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit (VTEU). It is part a global multicenter National Institutes of Health-sponsored effort to evaluate this experimental treatment for COVID-19 patients with the respiratory disease, first detected in December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. As part of the study, the investigational antiviral drug remdesivir is being administered to patients who test positive for COVID-19 and are hospitalized at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) with pneumonia. Karen Kotloff, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, is the Principal Investigator and Justin Ortiz, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, is Co-Principal Investigator for the clinical trial being conducted in Baltimore. There are no specific therapeutics approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with proven effectiveness to treat patients with COVID-19 infection. This trial brings opportunities for our patients at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) to receive the drug under carefully controlled conditions and provide the critical data needed for licensure of remdesivir as a COVID-19 treatment by the FDA, said Dr. Kotloff, Associate Director for Clinical Research in CVD. The clinical trials are taking place over 30 days. Participants in the study are receiving daily intravenous (IV) infusions of remdesivir or a placebo for up to ten days or until they are discharged from UMMC. Those eligible for the trial included adults who are not pregnant and are 18 years or older with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 as determined by a COVID-19 RT-PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test. Participants must have either radiographic pneumonia, or clinical pneumonia. Individuals with confirmed infection who have mild, cold-like symptoms, or no apparent symptoms, were not included in the study. This research into the effectiveness of remdesivir is critical as we face this growing global COVID-19 crisis. Our clinical trial will help us understand how this drug works with essential scientifically based evidence, said Kathleen Neuzil, MD, MPH, FIDSA the Myron M. Levine MD, DTPH Professor in Vaccinology and Director of UMSOMs CVD. As part of the research, researchers collected nasal and/or oral swabs and blood samples four times a day over a ten-day period while the patients were hospitalized, with follow-up testing on days 15 and 29. At present, there are no specific therapies approved by the FDA to treat people with COVID-19. This infection can cause mild to severe respiratory illness, and symptoms can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. Remdesivir, developed by Gilead Sciences Inc., is an investigational broad-spectrum antiviral treatment. It was previously tested in humans with Ebola virus disease and has shown promise in animal models for treating Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which are also caused by other coronaviruses. This clinical trial is an important step toward discovering how we can treat this novel coronavirus, which has impacted us globally. With the important collaboration among our infectious disease scientists and other experts around the world, we will hopefully discover therapies and vaccines to protect against this terrible illness, said Dean E. Albert Reece, MD, PhD, MBA, who is also Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs, UM Baltimore, and the John Z. and Akiko K. Bowers Distinguished Professor, University of Maryland School of Medicine. A Global Effort Clinical trials of remdesivir are also ongoing at up to 75 sites in the U.S. and internationally. Potential participants in these trials are undergoing a baseline physical exam before receiving treatment. Eligible participants are then randomly assigned either to the investigational treatment group or the placebo group. The study is double-blind, meaning that trial investigators and participants will not know who is receiving remdesivir or a placebo. Participants in the investigational treatment group will receive 200 milligrams (mg) of remdesivir intravenously on the first day of enrollment to the study. They will receive another 100 mg each day for the duration of hospitalization, for up to 10 days in total. The placebo group will receive, at an equal volume, a solution that resembles remdesivir, but contains inactive ingredients. Researchers will regularly monitor participants and will assign them daily scores based on a predefined scale of clinical outcomes that considers factors such as temperature, blood pressure and use of supplemental oxygen, among others. This research underway in Baltimore is supported by NIAID. For more than four decades, CVD has operated as part of NIAIDs VTEU network, testing vaccines and therapies for a broad range of infectious diseases including influenza, Ebola and Zika. In 2019, CVD was renewed as one of nine sites in the U.S. that makes up the VTEU network, with funding up to $29 million among the nine sites over the next seven years. A key role of the CVD VTEU is to quickly respond to public health emergencies like COVID-19 by providing surge capacity and rapid trial implementation. CVDs role is also to serve as a crucial coordinator of multicenter trials. CVD has assembled an expert and accomplished investigative team with complementary skillsets in all areas necessary to address the NIAID priority areas, including clinical research NS vaccine development. Future research may include Phase I, II, III, and IV clinical trials and studies of new and improved candidate vaccines, therapeutics, and other biologics and drugs provided by or through NIAID. This Adaptive COVID-19 Treatment Trial (NCT042807050) is a multicenter trial sponsored by the NIAID. About the University of Maryland School of Medicine Now in its third century, the University of Maryland School of Medicine was chartered in 1807 as the first public medical school in the United States. It continues today as one of the fastest growing, top-tier biomedical research enterprises in the world -- with 45 academic departments, centers, institutes, and programs; and a faculty of more than 3,000 physicians, scientists, and allied health professionals, including members of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Academy of Sciences, and a distinguished two-time winner of the Albert E. Lasker Award in Medical Research. With an operating budget of more than $1.2 billion, the School of Medicine works closely in partnership with the University of Maryland Medical Center and Medical System to provide research-intensive, academic and clinically based care for nearly 2 million patients each year. The School of Medicine has more than $540 million in extramural funding, with most of its academic departments highly ranked among all medical schools in the nation in research funding. As one of the seven professional schools that make up the University of Maryland, Baltimore campus, the School of Medicine has a total population of nearly 9,000 faculty and staff, including 2,500 student trainees, residents, and fellows. The combined School of Medicine and Medical System (University of Maryland Medicine) has an annual budget of nearly $6 billion and an economic impact more than $15 billion on the state and local community. The School of Medicine faculty, which ranks as the 8th highest among public medical schools in research productivity, is an innovator in translational medicine, with 600 active patents and 24 start-up companies. The School of Medicine works locally, nationally, and globally, with research and treatment facilities in 36 countries around the world. Visit medschool.umaryland.edu. About the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health For over 40 years, researchers in the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health have worked domestically and internationally to develop, test, and deploy vaccines to aid the worlds underserved populations. CVD is an academic enterprise engaged in the full range of infectious disease intervention from basic laboratory research through vaccine development, pre-clinical and clinical evaluation, large-scale pre-licensure field studies, and post-licensure assessments. CVD has worked to eliminate vaccine-preventable diseases. CVD has created and tested vaccines against cholera, typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, non-typhoidal Salmonella disease, shigellosis (bacillary dysentery), Escherichia coli diarrhea, nosocomial pathogens, tularemia, influenza, malaria and other infectious diseases. CVDs research covers the broader goal of improving global health by conducting innovative, leading research in Baltimore and around the world. CVD researchers are developing new and improved ways to diagnose, prevent, treat, control, and eliminate diseases of global impact. Currently, these diseases include typhoid, Shigella, E. coli diarrhea, malaria, and other vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. CVD researchers have been involved in critical vaccine development for emerging pathogens such as Ebola and Zika. In addition, CVDs work focuses on the ever-growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance. Fady Saad (left), MassRobotics Cofounder, receives the Festo donation of a Rize 3D printer for the MassRobotics Shared Labs from Festo Senior Product Manager Nuzha Yakoob. Festo has entered into a strategic partnership with MassRobotics, based in Boston, to further global market growth and innovation initiatives dedicated to the development of the next generation of robotics. MassRobotics, the independent, nonprofit group serving as an innovation hub for robotics and smart connected devices, works to foster a collaborative space in which to inspire the next generation of robotics and automation innovators and builders. The organizations unique escalator model allows startups to establish, grow, offer meaningful employment, and provide ongoing value for MassRobotics partner organizations. MassRobotics also creates a supportive learning environment to engage youth and next generation engineers and entrepreneurs by offering Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) workshops, competitions, and technical internships. MassRobotics supports the Ventilator Project, founded by entrepreneurs located at MassRobotics. The Ventilator Project aims to solve the ventilator shortage crisis with an innovative low-cost ventilator designed by members; the team is currently seeking FDA approval for the device. We are pleased to announce our partnership with MassRobotics, said Alfons Riek, Vice President Technology and Innovation, Festo. Combining Festos in-depth know-how in manufacturing applications and automation technology with the MassRobotics community will enable Festo to engage with robotics and automation startups. We will collaborate with entrepreneurs and academia alike in bringing innovative new automation and robotic concepts and solutions to market. The Boston area with its high density of robotic expertise is very interesting for us, and we expect many interesting opportunities for our robot development throughout the partnership with MassRobotics, said Christian Tarragona, Vice President Festo Robotics. Carlos Miranda, CEO, Festo North America, added, Festo and other MassRobotics members will explore the evolution of automated manufacturing solutions to autonomous ones. Through technology challenge engagements, members will co-develop and commercialize advanced products and systems. Festo is one of the worlds leading automation companies, and, in addition to technology, the company offers automation learning systems through its Didactic Division. It promotes public and private alliances that implement apprenticeship programs. Festo invests heavily in research and development. The Bionic Learning Network, for example, creates novel solutions based on designs found in nature. The network emphasizes Festo partnerships with academia and technology businesses. MassRobotics and Festo share a vision of developing the future of robotic solutions dedicated to the emerging needs of the manufacturing sector, said Fady Saad, Cofounder and Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, MassRobotics. Having an automation company with the expertise, resources, and leading-edge development capabilities of Festo will further the mission of MassRobotics and create excitement about our collaborative efforts. ### About Festo Festo is a leading manufacturer of pneumatic and electromechanical systems, components, and controls for process and industrial automation. For more than 40 years, Festo Corporation has continuously elevated the state of manufacturing with innovations and optimized motion control solutions that deliver higher performing, more profitable automated manufacturing and processing equipment. Connect with Festo: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube About MassRobotics MassRobotics is the collective work of a group of Boston-area engineers, rocket scientists and entrepreneurs. With a shared vision to create an innovation hub and startup cluster focused on the needs of the robotics community, MassRobotics was born. MassRobotics mission is to help create and scale the next generation of successful robotics and connected device companies by providing entrepreneurs and innovative robotics/automation startups with the workspace and resources they need to develop, prototype, test and commercialize their products and solutions. http://www.massrobotics.org PHOTO: Getty Images SINGAPORE More than a month into her quarantine stint, Case 441 is counting down the days between each occasion that she is tested for COVID-19. The 57-year-old, who only wished to be known as Mrs Lee, takes a swab test every four days. She must test negative for the virus two days in a row in order to be cleared for release. I am very unlucky, lamented the mother of two adult children. Three times already, my first test was negative, but the second was positive. When she spoke to Yahoo News Singapore over the phone on Wednesday (22 April), she was awaiting the results of a first test on the day that Singapore crossed the 10,000 mark for COVID-19 cases. It has now been 31 days since Mrs Lee was initially warded at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). She is currently confined to a shared room at DResort NTUC, which has been designated as a community isolation facility and can accommodate some 500 people. Throughout this time, Mrs Lee has only experienced mild symptoms like headaches and a slight cough, on and off. Asked how it compares to a regular flu, she replied, It is not even like a flu. The feeling is like I am slightly uncomfortable, but I can still go to work. For now, Mrs Lee is keeping busy with exercise, watching Korean dramas and daily prayer sessions and video chats with her husband and children. The family also regularly brings her cooked food and fruit. Mrs Lee also misses local food like chilli crab. Asked what meals are catered each day, she replied with a laugh, Every day chicken. But we cant complain, the government is paying for it. We should be grateful. Waiting to go home This has been home for Mrs Lee a.k.a. Case 441 since 30 March, as she remains in quarantine and is unable to leave the room. PHOTO: Mrs Lee Mrs Lee is one of 4,999 cases who are clinically well but still testing positive for the coronavirus, according to latest figures from the Health Ministry. These patients are being isolated and cared for at community facilities until they have shed the virus. The office manager is also the last of a group of four people including her husband, who is Case 308 who all got sick after returning from a holiday to the United States last month. All have since recovered and been discharged except her. Her symptoms are also the mildest among the quartet. Story continues Mr Lee had a fever and severe headaches, and also lost his sense of taste and smell for a while. Their friend became seriously ill but has since recovered. And while she remains in good spirits, she admitted that the moment she discovered that her husband had been discharged but she could not leave, was tough to take. My hope is high that I can go home, but then they called and said I am positive. In that moment, I was very, very down. The couple, who were initially warded at NCID at different times, were assigned to the same room in DResort upon her husbands request. But the feeling of loneliness hit hard after he was released on 14 April. Why am I still here? she recalled thinking. I have become more holy Asked if anything positive has resulted from her long stay in quarantine, Mrs Lee said with a laugh, I became more holy. I was telling my friends, never in my life have I prayed so hard. It has also been a time for reflection and soul searching, with the family, whom she misses dearly, coming closer together. I know I need to be well to go home. I cannot be spreading it to other people, said the Catholic. I tell myself: I need to be strong, I need to be positive to get a negative answer. I also need to think of my children. What if I spread it to them? Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Related stories Indonesia sends thousands of bedding items to Singapore for COVID-19 isolation facilities Singapore must 'test a lot more' for COVID-19 before circuit breaker can be lifted: Gan Kim Yong COVID-19: Circuit breaker period to be extended by 4 more weeks to 1 June PM Lee 'Mummy, when are you coming home?': A Singaporean family separated by COVID-19 Bareilly : , April 23 (IANS) Even though Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh has been declared Corona-free, the district administration is taking no chances regarding the deadly virus. The Bareilly health department has deployed a mobile medical unit in crowded localities of the city to collect "pool" samples for random Covid-19 testing of vegetable and fruit vendors, hawkers, chemists, etc. In Bareilly, six members of a family had tested positive for Corona but they have recovered after treatment and have been discharged from hospital, leaving the district with no active Corona case as of now. However, the neighbouring Badayun district still has 13 Corona positive cases who are presently in hospital. Chief medical officer (CMO) Dr Vineet Shukla said, "The mobile medical unit will be stationed in crowded areas of the city. We will collect nasal and throat swab samples from fruit and vegetable vendors, hawkers, chemists and grocery store owners on a voluntary basis. These people are exempted from lockdown norms as they provide essential services, and thus interact with the maximum number of people. The aim is to check if they have come in contact with any Corona positive patient." District surveillance officer Dr Ranjan Gautam said, "The mobile medical unit visited Mandi Samiti and railway hospital on Wednesday, and collected seven samples whose reports are awaited. Already, around 30-40 of the vendors and chemists who have been given lockdown passes, have approached the district medical team for their samples to be collected and tested." Meanwhile, reports of 31 suspects tested on Tuesday arrived on Wednesday and all of them turned negative." According to officials, the mobile medical unit will collect pool samples. One pool contains at least 10 samples. If a pool tests negative for Covid-19, it means all 10 people whose samples were in the pool are Corona negative. However, if a pool is found positive, all 10 persons have to undergo individual tests for Covid-19. The health department on Wednesday had also collected 22 pool samples from journalists working in the area, and 45 individual samples from suspects. All of these will be sent to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI) for testing on Thursday. Officials said 47 teams had conducted door-to-door survey in the buffer zone around the house of the family of six that tested positive and screened 3,440 houses on Wednesday. Police in Uganda have launched a crackdown to make sure people comply with the overnight curfew imposed to combat the coronavirus. The government has extended the curfew for a further three weeks, and a top police officer, Ivan Nduhura, says most people are abiding by the measures. But Nduhura, the assistant superintendent of the police in charge of operations, said some criminal gangs are taking advantage of the situation by breaking into stores and dealing in drugs. The streets of the capital Kampala appear deserted at night, but many homeless city dwellers are hiding in empty shopping centres and dark alleys within the city. Ugandan police have been joined by the military in order to enforce the lockdown, arresting anyone they find on the streets where they are not supposed to be. As security forces increase their crackdown around the city, police officers said criminal gangs are also developing new ways of eluding the authorities. Many Ugandans are out of work because of the lockdown, struggling to make ends meet. Uganda currently has 61 confirmed COVID-19 cases with no deaths reported. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. But it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death for some people, especially older adults and people with existing health problems. Kanye West, Chick fil-A chip in to help LA Dream Center's pandemic relief efforts Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Los Angeles church that has been serving thousands of meals to people who are now unemployed following mass layoffs caused by the state's lockdown to combat the coronavirus pandemic counts rapper Kanye West and Chick-fil-A as among its donors supporting the cause. "It's crazy; this is 37 straight days in a row, seven days a week, 11 hours every day, 7:30 in the morning until 6:30 at night," Matthew Barnett, pastor and founder of the LA Dream Center, told The Christian Post in an interview on Tuesday. "I just knew on a Thursday, when the city was starting to shut down in LA, that by Monday we needed to be on the curb serving people. We started with enough reserve for maybe two days, that's all we had. And we just believed that God would help us along the way." It wasn't long before cars of people in need started showing up. A friend of Barnett's who knows West told him that the rapper had been following their relief efforts and subsequently gave them a sizable donation, enabling them to keep the line going with two or three weeks of reserves. Chick-fil-A also came on board to help, Barnett told CP, and has been donating 500 chicken sandwiches a day since the first week of the shutdown. View Photos Several LA Dodgers players have also been contributing by donating funds to help local businesses, he added. As a result of the pandemic, Los Angeles' unemployment numbers have increased by more than 1.3 million as over half if the city's residents are now out of work. But that hasn't stopped the flow of people who say they feel compelled to give. "It has just been the most extraordinary thing I've ever seen. People are finding a way to give in the midst of their struggle," Barnett said. More than 16,400 residents have been infected with the new coronavirus in Los Angeles County, according to official numbers, but a new study released by the University of Southern California shows that as many as 442,000 adults in the county have had virus and did not know it. As of Thursday, 729 people in the county have died of complications from the virus. While the death toll is much lower than other areas of the country, such as New York City, the situation remains dire, the pastor said, noting that they don't yet know when life will return to normal. "We're definitely going to be the last ones [to reopen] maybe even further behind New York because of the extreme caution being used here. It has left us in this unbelievable position. And we just figured that if we're going to be in the most difficult place to possibly do this type of church work we're going to go out swinging, we're going to go out fighting, and we're going to go out serving," he said. "And as a result, people have just kind of gravitated toward it. I don't know what it is, maybe they know the kind of stress we're under to not only keep the food line going but we house 700 people every day who are homeless. "So many good things are happening and we believe that God is continuing to do it, and we just keep showing up and wondering what miracle is around the corner." Angelus Temple, the church of the Dream Center, is a Pentecostal megachurch of the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel in the Echo Park district of Los Angeles. Courtesy photo There are 153 employees at Mercedes-Benz of Sugar Land. While it remains open as an essential business, owner Ken Enders understands that during stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on families and employees. With that in mind, Enders authorized bonuses of $1,000 each for all 153 employees. The bonuses were paid to employees from technicians to executive management. China could have reported over 2.32 lakh COVID-19 cases by mid-February -- more than four times of what was officially announced -- if it had followed a broader criterion to count the total number of infections, a new study has said. "We estimated that there were at least 232,000 infections in the first epidemic wave of coronavirus in mainland China," said University of Hong Kong researchers, who conducted a study on the criteria applied by China in counting number of virus cases. According to China's National Health Commission (NHC), the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in China stood at 82,798 with 4,632 fatalities as of Wednesday. China has faced severe criticism from the US and other European countries over under-reporting of coronavirus cases and an alleged cover-up. On April 17, China revised the death toll in virus epicentre Wuhan by 50 per cent to 1,290 additional fatalities, taking the city's total toll to 3,869. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Wuhan was revised to 50,333 an increase of 325, according to an official announcement on April 16. The Wuhan Municipal Headquarters explained the revision, saying they were in accordance to laws and regulations as well as the principle of being responsible to history, the people and the deceased. In the study published in medical journal The Lancet, researchers said China might have had 232,000 confirmed cases rather than the official count of about 55,000 by February 20, if a revised definition adopted earlier in the month had been applied throughout. "The true number of infections could still be higher than what is currently (being) estimated considering the possibility of under-detection of some infections, particularly those that were mild and asymptomatic even under the broadest case definitions," a report on the study by the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post said on Thursday. The researchers, led by Peng Wu from the University of Hong Kong's School of Public Health, looked at the various classification systems used by the Chinese government after the epidemic broke out in Wuhan late December. China has published seven editions of diagnosis and treatment guidelines, changing the classification system as understanding of the disease developed. The calculations were based on epidemiological curves, included in a World Health Organisation report published on February 28 after a joint mission to Wuhan. The curves show the number of cases based on symptoms, onset dates and reporting dates. In the fifth version of the guidelines released on February 5, China modified its classification of confirmed cases to include diagnosis by symptoms only rather requiring confirmation by both clinical symptoms and laboratory tests, the study said. The inclusion of these cases led to a sudden jump in confirmed cases before the authorities reversed the decision more than a week later on February 17, it said. The researchers found that if the fifth definition was used throughout the epidemic, the total number of confirmed cases could have reached 232,000 by February 20. The impact of later versions of diagnosis guidelines cannot be gauged because no data based on symptom onset dated after February 20 has been released yet, it said. The team found that if the revisions of case classifications were taken into account, the original growth rate estimate would be an overestimate, and epidemiological studies should take into account changes in case definitions. It also suggested that countries that did not have enough test kits for the disease should include clinical diagnosis in their classification guidelines to better gauge the number of infections and determine the public health response. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Mnangagwa yesterday accepted a wide range of donations and support from Zimbabwean companies and the Chinese Embassy at a ceremony at State House, with research into the Zimbabwe Covid-19 pandemic now guaranteed. Sakunda Holdings pledged $30 million over six months to fund university research and development. The firm also handed over the fully equipped Arundel Hospital, renovated at a cost of $2,8 million, and will pay the 55 staff for six months. The rest of the companys gift was 300 000 litres of fuel, and US$3,6 million of protective equipment, some still in transit from China, including face and surgical masks, face shields, googles, disposable gowns, as well as emergency ventilators, portable ventilators and ultra sound scans. Accepting the donations, President Mnangagwa said: On behalf of the Government and on my own behalf, I sincerely and deeply thank you for coming forward in response not really to my appeal, but its your own individual or collective conscience that has persuaded you to take the actions that you have taken. I did appeal, but if your conscience did not want to come forward to make a contribution towards fighting the pandemic, mitigation against the pandemic, I would do nothing about it, so my gratitude goes towards your personal or collective conscience towards your country. Sakunda Holdings chief executive officer Mr Kuda Tagwirei said of his companys support: We pray that this gesture will assist in the fight and assure you of our continued support to the Government and the people of Zimbabwe at large in this dark hour, he said. The Chinese embassy donated 166 000 masks, 7 600 protective suits, 20 000 test kits, 12 000 pairs of gloves and five ventilators. A further 8 000 protective suits, 15 095 respirators, 150 000 surgical masks, 7 000 pairs of gloves and shoe covers were expected soon. Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Guo Shaochun commended relations between the two countries. Its truly gratifying to see that under the enormous stress of Covid-19 disease, China and Zimbabwe friendship is standing stronger ever, he said. China will not forget how Zimbabwe was among the first to give us confidence and support in the hard days of our own struggle against the virus. Ambassador Guo said an 11-member team of Chinese experts was expected in the country soon to assist in the fight against the pandemic. A few days ago, Zimbabwe and China celebrated the 40th anniversary of the founding of diplomatic ties, he said. Although we were not able to enjoy the day in fanfare, our joint efforts to fight the disease was also a remarkable way to commemorate the milestone. Zimbabwe Chamber of Mines president Ms Elizabeth Nerwande said mining companies had managed to raise US$1 million to go towards purchase of PPEs and equipment that included ventilators and hospital beds, while their members had adopted hospitals in the districts and hospitals they operate in. ADJUSTING TO ADAPTATION: EDUCATING UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AMID THE COVID-19 HEALTH CRISIS Springtime is a season when thoughts turn toward warmer weather, new beginnings, and budding opportunities. Such is the case for freshman and transfer applicants to colleges and universities around the state and country, as both groups wait on that hoped-for letter of admission and consider which opportunity they will accept among the options they have been provided. California State University, Dominguez Hills (CSUDH), one of 23 campuses in the California State University system, has extended offers to its Fall 2020 class and is now awaiting students decisions to enroll. This admissions season, however, brings a mixed bag of feelings. Excitement and the normal anxiety about which offer to choose are coupled with uncertainty about life in the new reality of the current and post-COVID-19 pandemic health crisis. As CSUDHs president, my team and I were set to welcome our admitted Fall 2020 class with the packet we normally send out this time of year. However, the historic events unfolding around us called for us to do something different. With all of Los Angeles County adhering to stay-at-home orders, I recorded an iPhone video message from my home to our newly admitted students. I shared with them that as CSUDH Toros, they will engage in academic and co-curricular learning opportunities, intellectual enlightenment and illumination, critical thinking, creativity and innovation, discovery and inquisition. I concluded my message with the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who asserted that lifes most persistent and urgent question is what are you doing for others? In many ways, this quote has added meaning at this time, as we, as a society, collectively sacrifice to flatten the curve of this virus spread. I also referenced that quote to remind students that at CSUDH, the education they will receive from our magnificent faculty and dedicated staff is not simply for job acquisition and career advancement. Rather, the education students receive at Dominguez Hills will inspire them to do for others in society, while taking the knowledge and skills they have learned and translating those into specific skills and behaviors that will uplift their communities, this state, and this nation. Indeed, my slogan of how CSUDH transforms lives that transforms America could not be more accurate. Mission-Focused ADVERTISEMENT There is no doubt that a campus that sometimes has been called the HBCU of the West will deliver on those aspirations and goals, even amid a health crisis that may linger for some time. In fact, throughout these past months, our university has remained mission-focused even as we have had to rapidly transition our entire campus to a remote environment. I applaud our faculty for their commitment and dedication to our students. They have worked tirelessly to ensure the alternative forms of instruction they developed were based on sound pedagogy and evidence-based practices. I give credit to our academic support staff, who accepted the challenge of adapting student services such as academic and career counseling, tutoring, peer-mentoring, and co-curricular activities to a more virtual environment. And our campus operations have continued, thanks to the staff who provide critical IT support, clean and disinfect our environment, manage the physical plant, and provide executive leadership and management. Beyond maintaining campus services, CSUDH staff and faculty, with assistance from students, are also using their knowledge and skills to create resources that healthcare agencies and municipalities desperately need to fight this global pandemic. For example, our Center for Innovation in STEM Education (CISE) and our Occupational Therapy Program (OT) have been making face shields using fabrication laboratory technology, while our Center for Service Learning, Internships and Civic Engagement (SLICE) make cloth masks for the community. Their efforts reflect the core values that CSUDH stands for. Commitment to Education Admittedly, this spring semester is not what we envisioned for our 15,000-plus students, and especially for our graduating seniors. Like most, if not all, students in this nation, their academic and personal worlds have been disrupted by the current health crisis. However, I have been impressed with how our students have handled all the changes they are confronting. Their commitment to their education, especially now, will benefit them, and society as a whole, as we move toward recovery. Our communities and our economy will need the innovation, critical thinking, and advanced skills that an educated citizenry provides. So, whether a student already engaged with their studies at a university campus, a new student about to enter college, or a parent struggling to assist their son or daughter, I offer this advice to help you navigate this uncharted terrain and remain focused on the future. ADVERTISEMENT Current students: Communicate with your professors about lectures, assignments, and exams. Access services like advising, mental health counseling, affinity group support, and career guidance to support your academic endeavors. Students and their parents: Sit down and discuss the options for attending a university like Dominguez Hills. When you decide to accept an offer, be sure to submit your intent to enroll, and submit all required documents, such as official transcripts, federal financial aid form (FAFSA), housing applications, and health and immunization records, on time. Like CSUDH, many universities have extended these deadlines as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. Do not hesitate to reach out to admissions staff with any questions. They are there to assist you through this process. Second, I encourage all incoming freshman and transfer students who are newly admitted to finish your semesters strong, even as you, too, must do so in a virtual space. While schools, colleges, and universities are exercising a level of flexibility with your final grades in response to our current climate, we need you to do your part to prepare for the next stage of your education. Third, I invite new students and parents to be a little patient with the climate of ambiguity we are all experiencing. The territory we are navigating is uncharted in my lifetime, and as presidents, senior executives, faulty, staff, etc., seek to crystalize operations going forward, there is considerable uncertainty about how long the curve of new COVID cases will take to decrease, when public health guidelines will be relaxed, and when physical distancing strategies will be abated. Until then, I invite you all to stay tuned. Additionally, the psychologist in me would recommend that as you listen to and absorb the daily news, try and balance stories you expose yourself to. In a climate of negative news where data about new and total COVID-19 cases, tales of struggle and hospitalization, and anxiety-provoking death statistics dominate the headlines, it is easy to become more anxious, depressed, hopeless, and pessimistic. Instead, try and balance those narratives with other stories of collaboration, compassion, empathy, assistance, healing, and recovery. One of the consistent trends in life is change, although most change allows for more gradual adjustment than todays rapid/immediate jolts to the system. And yet, the cultural fabric of our people is organized around our tendencies to find hope in the midst of despair, courage in the face of fear, and a tenacity to keep on keepin on in the face of lifes adversities. We all will need to summon those internal resources to help us navigate our way through this health crisis. I remain confident however, that we can do it if we just recognize that we are all in this together. Indeed, Dr. King was also clear that we are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality; tied to a single garment of destiny. From our Dominguez Hills family to you and your loved ones, stay safe and healthy. Dr. Thomas A. Parham is president California State University, Dominguez Hills Thousands of people living with diabetes will be able to monitor their glucose levels while fasting during the Holy Month of Ramadan. According to the International Diabetes Federation and the DAR (Diabetes and Ramadan) International Alliance, unmonitored fasting for patients living with diabetes carries the risk of complications associated with blood glucose levels going too low or too high, known as hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia respectively. Living with diabetes can cause daily fluctuations in glucose levels; however, regular glucose monitoring throughout Ramadan will help maintain better glucose control. FreeStyle Libre empowers people with diabetes who are fasting by keeping a close eye on their glucose levels around the clock. Developed by Abbott, FreeStyle Libre is the world leading sensor-based glucose monitoring system. A small sensor worn on the back of the upper arm automatically measures and continuously stores glucose readings day and night, eliminating the need for routine finger pricks. Providing support for people with diabetes who fast during Ramadan, the features and reports of the FreeStyle Libre system can help those people limit glucose variability, minimising risk of hypoglycemia and better managing their overall glucose levels. Diabetes is a public health issue in the Middle East and Africa, said Hani Khasati, Regional Director of Abbotts diabetes care business. According to the International Diabetes Federation, 54.8 million adults aged 18 to 79 years in the Middle East and North Africa are currently living with diabetes. Unfortunately, the risks of severe hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia increase significantly in patients who dont monitor their blood sugar levels while fasting during Ramadan. Practical guidelines by the Epidemiology of Diabetes and Ramadan (EPIDIAR) found that people with diabetes typically fast for at least 15 days during Ramadan. Additionally, the study recorded higher rates of severe hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia in people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes while fasting as compared with statistics before fasting.6 Despite these risks, only 37 per cent of people with Type 2 and 67 per cent of people with Type 1 diabetes monitor blood glucose while fasting. The FreeStyle Libre system offers people greater insights on their glucose levels; such as current glucose readings, glucose level patterns, up to eight hours of glucose history, and low glucose events reports. With easy access to their complete glycemic status, people with diabetes can act faster and more effectively to limit variabilities in their glucose levels during Ramadan. With unmatched clinical figures supported by real world data, Abbott's FreeStyle Libre system is a great alternative for people living with diabetes and fasting during Ramadan. Data shows that users of the FreeStyle Libre system have improved their glucose control, increased their time in target glucose range, and decreased time in hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, as well as a sustained reduction in HbA1c over a period of 12-months, concluded Khasati.-- Tradearabia News Service Armenias Minister of Defense David Tonoyan on Wednesday paid a working visit to the military outposts located in the southwestern direction of the border with Azerbaijan. The minister was reported on the situation on the border, the work done and being carried out, as well as the matter of maintaining the military rear. Tonoyan talked to the position-holders, encouraged the servicemen on military duty in difficult mountainous conditions, and thanked them for their excellent service. The Minister of Defense also listened to the reports of the commanders of the military units, and gave relevant assignments and instructions. A Garnet Valley man has been charged with multiple counts of abusing his two children, including a 1-month-old, according to a release from Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer. The injuries suffered by these babies, allegedly at the hands of their father, are horrible, said Stollsteimer. Infants cant defend themselves. But at least today we have stopped the abuse and will now seek justice on their behalf. Brandon P. Murphy, 29, is facing three felony counts of aggravated assault and one misdemeanor count of simple assault against the 1-month-old, who allegedly suffered fractured bones and multiple bruises. Separate charges of endangering the welfare of a child and aggravated and simple assault have also been filed against Murphy for alleged abuse involving the infants 16-month-old sibling in October. The older child had been removed from the home and placed in foster care at that time. The younger child has also now been placed with Delaware County Children and Youth Services, according to a spokesperson for the District Attorneys Office. Marcus Hook police were notified by CYS April 14 about suspected abuse after receiving a tip from Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, according to the release. An officer met with Murphy at the hospital, who allegedly denied any wrongdoing. Borough police contacted the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Divisions Special Victims Unit to conduct a child abuse investigation. The infants mother told CID detectives Michael Palmer and John Hoffner that the injury occurred while Murphy was alone with the child, according to the release. The detectives also spoke with the duPont physician who treated the infant and were advised that the infant sustained trauma consistent with child abuse. Murphy was arrested Monday and preliminarily arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Harry Karapalides, who set bail at 10 percent of $50,000. Murphy was remanded to the county prison in Concord after failing to post bail, according to online court records. He has a preliminary hearing set for May 28 before Magisterial District Judge Wendy Roberts. Assistant District Attorney and Special Victims Unit Chief Christopher Boggs is prosecuting. It was unknown Wednesday if Murphy has an attorney. Across Mexico, large corporations have been losing millions and even billions because of the COVID-19 outbreak, but that doesn't stop them from helping the front liners battling the deadly disease. In a recent article, hospitals in the state of Mexico are thankful for receiving 100,000 bottles of Corona, not the virus, and definitely not filled with beer. Although the world-famous beer's name-association with the COVID-19 has significantly affected its sales, it proved that "corona" can also bring hope nowadays. Like many large corporations, the brewery has shifted its production and filled the familiar beer bottles were with purified water. Corona also pledged to continue providing 200,000 liters of drinking water to neighborhoods around Mexico City each week, which it has done since earlier this month. Aside from that, the company also vowed to continue working with the government on ways to support medical personnel. Other corporate entities across Mexico, like Ford Mexico, the giant bakery firm Bimbo, and the resources company BHP also have extended help by contributing resources to support medical staff during the pandemic. Ford announced that its Chihuahua plant would convert its operations starting April 27 to produce 100,000 plastic face shields over the coming days. The first 20,000 will go to the states of Chihuahua, Sonora, Guanajuato, and Mexico, regions where Ford has manufacturing plants. READ: No One Can Stop Drug Cartels From Giving Aid, Not Even AMLO Meanwhile, 60,000 shields will be allotted to the federal government to distribute as it sees fit, and the remaining 20,000 will be aired to countries in Central America where Ford also has plants. Grupo Bimbo, the world's largest bakery, had to close its plant in Wuhan, China, but has pledged some 200 million pesos or the U.S. $8 million, to support the medical staff and small businesses in Mexico. Its aid package includes the distribution of 1 million face masks and 2.5 million box lunches to medical personnel across the country. Seventy million pesos will also be allotted to fund Mexico City's 854-bed Citibanamex Center; a temporary hospital erected to cater to patients with respiratory symptoms. Small businesses will also receive financial incentives to keep them afloat, as well as 1 million cloth masks to protect employees. ALSO READ: As COVID-19 Cases Rise in Mexico, so Does Criminality Joining these efforts is Australia-based mining and resources company BHP, whose global assets in 2019 were upwards of U.S. $100 billion, the very same amount it has allocated to coronavirus aid. Half of the funds will proceed to the Mexican Health Foundation and utilized for training health professionals, converting hospitals to coronavirus units and research projects, among other efforts. The remaining U.S. $50,000 will be given to Caritas Tampico, a non-profit in Tamaulipas that helps vulnerable communities in the southern part of the state, as well as in northern Veracruz. The funds will be used to produces food and medications to those in need in that region. READ MORE: Number of Coronavirus Outbreaks in Mexican Facilities Is Alarming Mexico currently has recorded 10,544 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 970 deaths and 5,956 recoveries. Indias security agencies have associated the spurt in social media messages attacking India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a collaborating attempt that has etches of Pakistan intelligence. As maintained by an assessment given to the government on Wednesday, the attempt was formulated to flood social media with messages to incite anit-India sentiment, especially in the Gulf nations, by spreading false propaganda on Islamophobia in India. According to the report, the Pakistan intelligence was trying to bring a discord between India and allies in the Gulf by launching an attack on PM Modi who has invested greatly to strengthen Indias relations with the Middle East. The analysis includes a long list of troll handles based in Pakistan and in the Gulf nations that were being operated to fulfil this intention. The spike in social media messages attacking New Delhi is not new. Security appointees had taken note of a similar pattern in 2019 when Jammu and Kashmir was put under a communication lockdown, just before Parliament took up legialation to revoke that states special status. On social media and otherwise, Pakistan had made a collective attempt to demean India over abrogation of Article 370 but didnt succeed, official said. According to Hindustan Times, there was also evidence how new terror outfits capitalized by Pakistan deep state first made their presence felt on social media even before it organized the first attack in Srinagar. While the internet was still prohibited in the valley. What has been the novelty in the instant case is the use of prominent personalities in Gulf countries to scale up a systematic agenda of fake propaganda This effort has clear imprints of the involvement of Pakistan ISI, government official told Hindustan Times, citing the analysis of tweets that targeted New Delhi. Previously, the hashtag that was backed by organizations in Pakistan was ShameOnModi. Before that, the hashtag was ChaosInIndia. The plan that targeted PM Modi was handled by systematically engineering circulation of videos of incidents of attack on Muslims in India to show as if the whole community was under attack. The analysis categorize the Twitter accounts into four brackets: to each of the hundreds analysed by security agencies, the report calssifies aggregators, feeders, spreaders and influencers. Twitter accounts categorized as feeders collect the clips from aggregators, devise the appropriate messaging for the videos or photos and then forward it to the spreaders. Officials said it was not a twist of fate that the Twitter accounts of most of these feeders were made recently - between January-April - and indicated there was a plan and organised effort to target New Delhi. Many of the accounts categorized as spreaders are located in Pakistan. The report listed a lot of Twitter accounts, each repeating tweets shared by the others, and using graphic pictures and videos to give rise to outrage. However, this time the report states, there were spreaders stationed in various nations of Gulf Cooperation countries: Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Qutar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. These are old but unverified accounts, the report stated. Also Read: Pakistan removes thousands of names from terror watch list: Report As the Centre prepares to expand the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to offer a financial cushion to rural India in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic, it turns out that the virus is reshaping the distribution of jobs under the flagship jobs programme.. Three large states -- Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharasthra -- that account for a large number of Covid-19 patients havent yet been able to distribute allot much work under the programme this summer. States such as Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Karnataka that have reported a relatively fewer number of coronavirus cases and have fewer red zones are, meanwhile, off to a roaring start MGNREGS, which offers 100 days of work every year to at least one member of every rural household, is seen as an ideal tool to ease rural distress caused by the coronavirus disease that has forced an exodus of hundreds of thousands of migrant workers from the cities back home to the hinterland. Job creation under the programme has been skewed by the burden of disease each state is bearing. Andhra Pradesh alone, according to data updated until Thursday, has accounted for 5.4 million out of 15.6 million persondays of work generated under the programme since April 1. Chhattisgarh has provided 3.3 million persondays of work and Bihar 1.7 million this month. Karnataka, West Bengal and Odisha have generated 1.4 million, 1.1 million and 800,000 persondays of work, respectively. According to the data, the pandemic has spread to 58.3% of the countrys 731 districts. There are 222 districts with up to 10 cases, 66 with 11-20 cases, 42 with 21-30 cases, and 96 districts with more than 30 cases each. Tougher restrictions and a higher number of containment zones in the three big states -- Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan -- possibly didnt allow their governments to maximize the MGNREGS opportunities in their states, a government official said on condition of anonymity Rajasthan has generated 480,000 persondays of work while Maharashtra and Gujarat have allocated 260,000 And Gujarat Just 16,859 till date in April, the first month of the financial year. The Centre is confident that once the Covid spread is arrested and the pandemic subsides, these states too will maximise their potential for job creation under the MGNREGS. We are keeping a daily tab on the work creation and spending of fund in all states. As soon as we see surge in jobs in these three states, we will allot more work, said a senior official of the rural development ministry. Government data reveals that the average expenditure on an MGNREGS worker has significantly increased in many states in April over last years average, indicating that workers are earning more than what they did in the previous year.Experts attributed this to two reasons: higher wages and fewer workers coming to work during the lockdown. Andhra Pradesh has been allotted 10 million additional persondays of work this year than in FY 2019-20. Similarly, Bihar and Uttar Pradeshhome to a large number of migrant workers who have returnedhave been given an additional 20 million and 10 million persondays of work, respectively. Kerala, Jharkhand and Telangana have also been allotted an additional 10 million persondays of work each this year, which may be increased depending on demand.. Assam has been sanctioned 4.5 million more persondays of work, Odisha 30 million and Tamil Nadu 20 million jobs during FY 2020-21. At the same time, the Centre has possibly factored in the Covid-19 spread in the districts to allot work because tthe three big statesRajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarathave not been sanctioned any increase in work allocation under the MGNREGS. Former rural development minister Jugal Kishore Mohapatra maintained that a surge in MGNREGS jobs in the bigger states is just a matter of time. Gujarat traditionally doesnt see very high demand for MGNREGS. But in both Rajasthan and Maharashtra, things will pick up. Rajasthan also has very well-laid out work processes and labour standards. The demand will also pick when the harvest season gets over and labourers return to their states, he said. A rural development ministry official, who requested anonymity, said the situation was still very fluid. We will allot more money and work as soon as we see states picking up the allocated funds and are able to give more work, this person said SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON California Rep. Katie Porter is a rising star in the Democratic Party, and the coronavirus pandemic is providing her an even greater opportunity to shine, starting with the viral video of how she persuaded the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month to provide free coronavirus tests for all Americans live on C-SPAN. Porter is a single mother of three trying to figure out this new world of working from home while her children adapt to learning from home, concerns that plenty of other Americans are dealing with. The first-term member from Irvine is trying to figure that out while her day job becomes more intense. Porter will be a key person to watch after the House approved another $484 billion Thursday in pandemic relief aid, upping the total to $2.7 trillion Congress has spent fighting the virus. Porter is a rare combination in Washington: She is both an experienced watchdog who isnt afraid to call out anyone including Speaker Nancy Pelosi and someone who is living a life that is closer to what many Americans are experiencing. Porter, who was a state-appointed watchdog for California during the housing meltdown a decade ago, sees dangerous parallels to that time. Shes worried about how $500 million in federal aid went to at least 100 publicly traded companies that have other access to capital, according to the New York Times, rather than tiny mom-and-pop businesses that dont, like people who provide day care in their homes. Her empathy lies in how the mother of three school-age children is more relatable to many Americans than most members of Congress, where half of the members are millionaires, according to Open Secrets. Porter, a former law professor, isnt starving on her $174,000 congressional salary, but the 46-year-old is wrestling with the same questions other working parents face. Im doing fine. Im getting tired of my children, but I think thats to be expected at this point. I think theyre tired of me, Porter told The Chronicles Its All Political podcast while seated in her minivan parked in the driveway of her home. Her kids were making too much background noise, so she walked outside mid-interview to be heard. Like many parents who are now working from home, it is often hard to find space to work. I booted my daughter out of the kitchen desk that she had and gave her a card table up in her room so that I could have a desk from which to continue working for my constituents, Porter said. One word that Porter doesnt use when describing how she helps her children is homeschooling. Ive heard some of my colleagues say that theyre homeschooling. And I never say that because I think it discounts all the incredible efforts that I see from my kids teachers every day to even make it possible for me to assess my kids with the learning they are doing, Porter said. Im not homeschooling. I am helping my kids distance-learn. Porter is that kind of straight shooter. And she also possesses a finely tuned hypocrisy detector. That is why then-California Attorney General Kamala Harris in 2012 appointed her to be the states monitor of the National Mortgage Settlement, overseeing the $18 billion that large lenders promised for homeowners who were losing their houses or were underwater. Porter sees parallels to the financial crisis of a decade ago, when many in Washington cared more about bailing out big banks than small businesses. My biggest concern is that oversight simply wont happen, Porter said. And the reason I say that is because to me oversight is an active, real-time activity. Its not about looking back and say, Gee, three years ago, we did this and it didnt work. Oversight to me has an active, engaged aspect to it. That would seem to make her a natural to be appointed to the just-created five-person Congressional Oversight Commission to oversee the trillions spent on COVID-19. But instead, Pelosi chose as her appointee Rep. Donna Shalala, a first-term Democrat from Florida who was the secretary of Health and Human Services in the Clinton administration. Shalala, who doesnt have the level of fiscal oversight experience that Porter does, will remain on the commission even though she admitted this week that she failed to disclose stock sales last year when she took office under federal financial disclosure laws. Porter, who openly expressed her desire to be on the panel, has played the loyal soldier, saying in a tweet that she would continue to speak truth to power and call out corporate abuse whether she served on the commission or not. But she wasnt so silent about another disagreement she had with Pelosi and other House leaders. Six weeks ago, she wrote a letter to them asking to allow Congress to vote remotely as a public health safety precaution during the pandemic. This week, Congress established a commission to study the matter, which in Washington-speak is often translated into, Dont hold your breath waiting for this to happen. We have lost valuable time to identify technology, address security issues and train members, Porter said in a statement Thursday. By kicking this farther down the line and avoiding stepping up to meet the challenges of the pandemic, we are letting our constituents down. Part of the problem, Porter said, is that a lot of her fellow House members arent tech-savvy. The concern she hears most often on conference calls with other Democrats: I think you need to unmute yourself, Porter said wryly. She said the second most-often heard concern on the calls is Where are the (coronavirus) tests? followed by Where is the PPE? and Where are the stimulus payments? But none have been as pressing, Porter said, as I think you need to unmute yourself or Unmute yourself. Thats the number one thing that we discuss on these calls. Porter said Congress has to be able to do what it is asking the American people to do: be flexible and learn new skills just as teachers and everybody else is doing right now. And she has little time for congressional leaders who dont want remote voting because they prefer the personal touch, she said. My daughter likes the personal touch of seeing her second-grade teacher every day, Porter said. But thats just not safe right now, and so I think its important that we are an example of how to practice good public health measures. Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli - China reacted in anger after a German paper prepared a 130 billion (KSh 15 trillion) bill asking it to pay for damages resulting from the outbreak of the coronavirus - The act followed similar condemnations from the United Kingdom, France and the United States of America - Bild, a German newspaper, which prepared the bill, claimed Beijing hid details of the virus from the rest of the world China has reacted in anger after a Germany paper prepared a KSh 13 trillion invoice for damages resulting from the coronavirus outbreak. The German paper's move came after the United Kingdom, France and the United States of America descended on the Asian nation for its role in the global pandemic. READ ALSO: William Ruto mourns veteran Kenyan journalist Johnson Barasa READ ALSO: Ken Walibora: Tears flow freely as 40 mourners attend Swahili author's funeral TUKO.co.ke learnt the bill was prepared by Bild, a major newspaper, amid reports Beijing hid the true details of the coronavirus from the rest of the world. Bilds list includes a 27 billion charge for lost tourism revenue, up to 7.2 billion for the German film industry, a million euros an hour for German airline Lufthansa and 50 billion for German small businesses. It added this amounted to 1,784 (1,550) per person if Germany's GDP fell by 4.2%, under the title What China Owes Us. Coronavirus was first detected in Wuhan, China. Photo: NYT. Source: UGC READ ALSO: COVID- 19: Watu 2 kati ya 50 waliotoroka karantini KMTC wakamatwa China responded by claiming the invoice "stirred up xenophobia and nationalism". This came as rumours of an intentional spread continued to circulate all over the world even as the source of the outbreak remained a mystery. The US President Donald Trump had warned of dire consequences if it was established China knowingly released the virus. Trump said, "It could have been stopped in China before it started and it wasnt, and hence the whole world was suffering because of it." If it was a mistake, a mistake is a mistake. But if they were knowingly responsible, then there should be consequences," he said. Wuhan, where the outbreak started, revised its number of fatalities following a sudden 50% jump in the total number of infections. 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. Evacuate Kenyans from China instead of giving Raila Odinga 72M- Kenyans tell Government | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke Police say they do not encourage people run checkpoints in their communities. "Police understands that some small and isolated communities feel they have a particular vulnerability to COVID-19," says a statement released by New Zealand Police this afternoon. "Police are committed to ensuring communities are safe and feel safe. "Police understands that some small and isolated communities feel they have a particular vulnerability to COVID-19." A police spokesperson says police and other agencies remain responsible for ensuring that people comply with the restrictions under the different COVID-19 Alert Levels. Where communities have determined to undertake checkpoints to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Police are working with those communities and other agencies to ensure checkpoints are safe and not preventing lawful use of the road. "Working in partnership with the local authority, the local Civil Defence Emergency Manager, local Iwi, community groups and Police, we will assess whether checkpoints are needed or if there are other solutions." If COVID-19 checkpoints for vulnerable communities are deemed necessary for the overall safety and wellbeing of a community, they: Will be operated by district Police alongside community members Will be conducted in a safe manner, according to Police operational guidelines and practices Will be guided by the relevant alert level status as set out in the Governments COVID-19 response Will not restrict access for people moving through for legitimate purposes Police will continue to work with those communities and local agencies in Alert Level 3 and 4 to understand their concerns and needs. Police do not envisage a need for COVID-19 checkpoints to operate at Alert Level 2. "Every person in New Zealand has a right to freedom of movement, including to travel along the roading network and in any public place, and this fundamental right may only be restricted through the law. "Currently movement around our regions must comply with the settings allowed under COVID-19, set out at COVID-19.govt.nz. "We recognise that community efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19 are motivated in the interests of the wider community. "However, Police must protect peoples fundamental right to freedom of movement around their region for legitimate purposes." Modi the person through which Balakot information went to Arnab: Rahul Gandhi Arnab Goswami attacked by unknown persons India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Mumbai, Apr 23: The editor-in-chief of Republic TV, Arnab Goswami and his wife were attacked by unknown persons this morning. The incident happened when he along with his wife, Samia Goswami was driving back home from the studio. Both were unhurt in the attack reported news agency ANI. A complaint has been registered and investigations are on. Republic TV editor in chief Arnab Goswami and wife were attacked early this morning in Mumbai by 2 unknown persons while they were driving home from their studios. A police complaint has been registered, details awaited. Both Arnab and Samia Goswami were unhurt in the attack. pic.twitter.com/wzsDnu2QLL ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 Congress and the BJP on Wednesday sparred over senior journalist Arnab Goswami's remarks aimed at Sonia Gandhi during a discussion on Palghar incident in which three persons, including two sadhus, were lynched. Republic Media Network discloses extent of Arnab Gowswamis personal shareholding Senior Congress leaders, including chief ministers, slammed Goswami, the editor-in-chief and owner of Republic TV, with the party's chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala alleging that it was "deeply disgraceful that PM & BJP eulogize this brand of TV anchors". BJP's Amit Malviya criticised the Congress for its leaders' attack on the journalist. Slamming Goswami's remarks against Sonia Gandhi, senior Congress leader and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said she has been a highly successful Congress president. "Ridiculous attack by Arnab Goswami on Sonia Gandhi Ji in derogatory language is totally shameful & unacceptable. She was 22yrs old when she came to India & has been living here for 52 years of which she has dedicated most of her life to the service of the country," Singh tweeted. Malviya defended Goswami, saying he spoke the truth. "Shame on Congress for attacking Arnab because he spoke the truth. In 2013, Wiki cable said that Sonia Gandhi wanted Bajrang Dal banned in Odisha and Karnataka, but she retracted when M K Narayanan explained that their response was against forced conversions by Pentecostal groups," he tweeted. Plenty of unlikely social media superstars have emerged during self-quarantine, from Leslie Jordan's iconic mini-rants to Stanley Tucci's informative and thirst-inducing cocktail class. Another must-follow to emerge is actor Max Greenfield, previously best known for his stint on The New Girl alongside Zooey Deschanel. He also appeared in a "raunchy" comedy central pilot The Girls and Boys Guide to Getting Down alongside a pre-Royal Meghan Markle. Now, the actor has a new job, at least for a little while - he's a teacher. On Instagram, he details his time in self-isolation and it's decidedly normal. https://www.instagram.com/iammaxgreenfield/?hl=en / Instagram Greenfield, 39, has been homeschooling his daughter, Lilly, who doesn't care that her dad is a star. It might be because Lilly is the real star. She's amassed a whole slew of celebrity fans on Instagram, including Taraji P. Henson who called her an "artist" and Arrested Development actor Tony Hale. Even Leslie Jordan is weighing in, calling them the "top internet comedy team." We've rounded up some of our favorite moments from the Greenfield family's adventures in homeschooling. When they talked TikTok "Do you know who Charli D'amelio is?" Taking it back to where it all started Just call him professor. That time when Lilly shared some thoughts with her teacher And she was not impressed with her dad (it's kind of a theme for them). When his wife contemplated taking over homeschooling duties from him It's not time yet. Lilly proved she knows her dad's old tricks "Glug, glug, glug." When she questioned Tiger King's plot As Justin Long commented, "It's not NOT about a zoo." Luckily, he explained Tiger King to his daughter in an age appropriate way "There's this woman named Carole..." When she issued a progress report about her dad "It was really easy for me but it was very hard for my dad." And at one point, Lilly was all of us On Tuesday, President Donald Trump said the United States would halt payments to the World Health Organization (WHO). He charged the organization with "severely mismanaging and covering up" the Covid-19 pandemic and claiming that "so much death has been caused by their mistakes." Trump is desperately trying to deflect attention from his own catastrophic behavior. He has presided over one of the largest security failures in US history, with far more deaths than at Pearl Harbor or on 9/11. While the President has called for an investigation of the WHO, it's his own administration's disastrous response to the crisis that needs scrutiny. The urgent and practical goal should be to fix the federal response before possibly hundreds of thousands of lives are lost. The Congressional Oversight Committee should immediately scrutinize the Trump administration's handling of the pandemic so that we can change course. At this point it's clear: The Trump Administration has failed. The United States has so far incurred 26,000 deaths, 79 per million; South Korea, in contrast, has incurred 225 deaths, just 4 per million. Taiwan's death toll stands at just 6 deaths (0.3 per million) and Singapore's death toll stands at 10 (2 per million). Many other countries have a similar record of lower death rates. Canada's is less than a third of the US rate, with 24 per 1 million. Some countries in Europe have more deaths per million than the United States, but we should judge our performance against the highest-performing countries and investigate how to improve US performance rapidly before incurring a further massive loss of life. The overwhelming evidence is that the Trump administration received repeated early warnings of a possible pandemic. Indeed, even before his inauguration, Trump received warnings of the grave danger of a global pandemic, and such a threat was rated among the highest security threats facing the United States. The threat of pandemics was well known and well studied in the intelligence, military and scientific communities. There is no way around the reality that Trump was unable to process this information and give direction to the federal government to respond to it effectively in the manner that Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea and other countries did. Here is what we know, and what questions remain to be answered from an in-depth congressional investigation: First, China reported the outbreak to the World Health Organization on December 31. According to Reuters, the National Security Council also received notice of the outbreak around the same time from a US health attache in Beijing. The investigation should ascertain whether and when the White House received this information and when was it first part of the President's intelligence briefings. On the basis of the reports from China, on December 31 Taiwan immediately began to screen flight arrivals from Wuhan, where the coronavirus emerged, without waiting for WHO guidance or any other advice. South Korea began to screen flights from January 3. The US screening that began on January 17 was haphazard at best, nonexistent in many places at worst. Why didn't the US government follow the lead of Taiwan, South Korea and others on flight screenings? On January 3, according to Reuters, the director of China's Center for Disease Control, Dr. Gao Fu, called the director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Robert Redfield, to discuss the outbreak. What did they discuss? When were the details of the call conveyed to Trump and the National Security Council? According to The Washington Post, the US intelligence agencies issued classified briefs in January and February on the dire urgency of the epidemic. What were the warnings, and were there specific recommendations made by the intelligence agencies? Trump now seems to think the United States was misled by the WHO. In what ways did the United States rely on WHO statements and warnings for its policies, given that many other countries were proceeding on the basis of a high emergency situation? On January 23, the WHO Emergency Committee declined to declare Covid-19 a global health emergency, an action that it took a week later, on January 30. The US CDC has a senior official on the WHO committee. What was the advice of the US committee member at the January 23 meeting? Did the US representative call for declaring Covid-19 a global emergency? Was the CDC position discussed with Trump? The Centers for Disease Control sent out faulty test kits around the United States in early February. Red tape prevented the issue from being resolved as quickly as possible. Other nations developed test kits and went into large-scale testing weeks before the United States. What accounts for this basic failure of the CDC? Early on in the outbreak, Trump repeatedly asserted that the pandemic was not a great threat in the United States. He told the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on January 22, "We have it totally under control," thereby misleading or deceiving not only Americans but the entire world. In February, he asserted that with the warm weather of April, the virus "miraculously goes away," once again contrary to scientific evidence. There are countless other such misguided statements. The federal government and many states have been in a nonstop battle over scarce and urgently needed supplies including personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, test kits and other medical basics. What information was used to decide how to assist each state in acquiring these medical essentials? Trump long delayed invoking the authority of the Defense Production Act, causing governors and mayors to scramble desperately until now for these missing supplies. Why did Trump refuse to utilize the Defense Production Act for many critical weeks? As of now, there is no agreed national strategy for how to reopen the economy. On the contrary, Trump and many governors are in open conflict about the best plan of action. What federal management systems and agencies are being used to obtain the best information and evidence for how to proceed and to coordinate the actions of the federal and state governments? Answers to these questions are urgently needed. The United States failed to act early, to heed the dire alarms heard clearly by many other nations to mobilize supplies of vital commodities and to coordinate between national, state and local levels. Addressing these urgent questions is the responsibility of the House Oversight Committee, which is the House of Representatives' main investigative committee. Its legislative jurisdiction includes the "overall economy, efficiency, and management of government operations and activities, including federal procurement," the "relationship of the federal government to the states and municipalities," and "reorganizations in the executive branch of government." Hundreds of thousands of American lives are at stake, not to mention the millions of lives around the world that the United States should be helping to save. Congress must urgently investigate and correct the disastrous failures of the Trump administration in handling this crisis. There is no time to lose. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Tuesday a huge economic and social support plan worth 500 billion rand (24.4 billion), to support companies and the most vulnerable people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. This envelope is intended to help millions of South Africans in the informal economy and the unemployed who are struggling to survive, while poverty and food insecurity have increased dramatically in recent weeks, the President stressed. On the economic front, the government will offer 200 billion rand in loan guarantees to businesses to cover their operational costs, such as salaries, rents and payment to suppliers. This plan should make it possible to help more than 700,000 businesses and more than 3 million employees in this difficult period that has come after South Africa entered recession at the beginning of the year. The economic slowdown due to Covid 19 has hit businesses, big and small, as well as individuals and families. The country is the most affected in sub-Saharan Africa by the global Covid-19 pandemic, with 3,465 confirmed cases, and 58 deaths. Healthcare workers wheel a patient to a triage tent at the Maimonides Medical Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York, the United States, April 19, 2020.Photo:Xinhua By John Ross The coronavirus situation in the US and Europe is now so serious that it is overwhelming the ability of numerous Western governments to develop strategic policies. Given the immense efforts and suffering the Chinese people put into fighting the coronavirus, it is difficult for them to imagine that the situation in the West is very many times worse than it was at the worst moment of the crisis in China. But this reality is proven by the facts. Taking into account the recent upward revision of deaths, the greatest number of daily deaths in China was 254. But in the US, on its worst day, there were 2,395 deaths. China's population is more than four times that of the US. Therefore, in proportion to China's population, the US figure is about 40 times that of China. In the UK, the highest number of daily deaths was 980. But China's population is 21 times the UK's, so the UK's daily death toll was equivalent to 20,580 deaths in a country with China's population - 81 times as bad as China's worst day. The cumulative death toll is equally horrific. Chinese mainland's total number of coronavirus deaths, as of Monday, is 4,632. But again, in proportion to population, the situation in Western countries is grim. In the UK, it is as though in 323,000 people had died in China (15,464 x 21); for Spain, as though 602,000 died in China (20,043 x 30); and in the US, as though 138,000 had died in China (32,427 x 4.3). Adjusted for population, the US' death toll is 30 times higher than China's and rising, while Spain's is 130 times higher than China's. The traumatic effect of these deaths on the political situation will be particularly great in countries such as the US and Britain, where large-scale fighting, with very high numbers of deaths, did not occur in World War II. Indeed, this is only the third mass death experience in the entire history of the US. The US suffered large casualties among its troops in foreign wars - World War II, Korea, Vietnam - but only twice before, in the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic and during its Civil War, has the US ever suffered mass deaths on its own soil. The US' reaction to its disastrous death toll is clear. It would be a catastrophic blow to US international ideology and prestige for the truth to be known - that the US had disastrously failed to protect its own population against the coronavirus pandemic and that China had been many more times effective in protecting its population. Therefore, the US has already decided that it is vital that this truth is concealed from its population. Trump's daily lies on the coronavirus at his press conferences are well known. Equally distorted are the advertising campaigns launched by Democratic challenger Biden - which concentrate not on the failure of Trump to prepare the US for the coronavirus pandemic but instead make the ridiculous charge that Trump has capitulated to China. In other countries, under the impact of the coronavirus crisis, a sharp swing of public opinion in favor of China has taken place. For example, in a recent poll in Italy asking which country outside Europe it was most important to form alliances with, 36 percent said China compared to 30 percent who responded the US. In other Western countries a fierce fight is taking place, the outcome of which is not yet decided. In the UK, for example, the government under Prime Minister Boris Johnson earlier this year defied US pressure and allowed Huawei to participate in the development of the country's 5G network. But, in line with the US attempt to shift blame from its disastrous failure to prepare for coronavirus, the acting head of government Dominic Raab denounced China for the coronavirus crisis, claiming there cannot be a return to 'business as usual.' Forces tied to the US have renewed campaigns to reverse the country's previous decision on Huawei. However, other UK political forces are urgently seeking China's help in fighting the coronavirus - the UK government pointed to the fact that China had supplied 12 million pieces of protective medical equipment to the UK. Key representatives of the health profession, for example the most important UK medical journal The Lancet, have been outspoken in their support for China's handling of the coronavirus. The reality is that the UK government is so preoccupied with the coronavirus disaster that is unfolding that it is unlikely any serious thought is currently being given to strategic foreign policy at the highest levels of government. Furthermore, as with other countries, the outcome of these conflicting forces will only become clear after the effect of the intense coronavirus crisis gripping the West is known. The author is a senior fellow with the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies at Renmin University of China. Coronavirus: curfew in Turkey until Sunday Lockdown began at midnight for holiday weekend (ANSAmed) - ISTANBUL, APRIL 23 - A total curfew kicked off at midnight yesterday in Turkey and will continue until Sunday in efforts to contain the spread of Codiv-19. The lockdown concerns the country's 31 main provinces with the exception of essential workers, including healthcare operators. The lockdown had previously been imposed only during the last two weekends in order to contain damages for businesses. The new measures concern the upcoming holiday weekend that starts Thursday with the celebration of the Day of national sovereignty and children commemorating the 100th anniversary of the creation of the Grand national assembly in Ankara. Authorities have decided to close down factories, offices and banks also on Friday, the first day of the holy Islamic month of Ramadan. The government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan had already closed schools, universities and public venues and ordered citizens over 65 and under 20 to stay home. According to the latest official data, Turkey has so far registered 98,000 cases and 2,376 deaths from coronavirus. (ANSAmed) Despite a strong performance on Wall Street and further gains in crude oil futures, Australian shares slid for a fourth session on Thursday, weighed down by weakness in banks and healthcare providers. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 fell 4.1 points, or 0.1 per cent, at 5217.1, a disappointing outcome given it had been up more than 1 per cent in early trade. Having tumbled to a multi-year low exactly a month ago, some believe the inability of the local market to rally further suggests a period of consolidation may be in order. While forceful monetary and fiscal intervention and a belief that the first wave of the pandemic is peaking have fuelled a strong rebound in risk assets in recent weeks, we would be wary of extrapolating the uptrend too much further for now, said Paul OConnor, head of multi-asset at Janus Henderson Investors. We believe the next major battle for market sentiment will be fought over the outlook for the world economy in the second half of the year. In his opinion, markets are yet to price in the full impact from coronavirus disruptions, limiting the potential for further near-term gains in equities. The continued slide in consensus estimates of economic growth and corporate earning suggests that neither economists nor equity analysts have yet fully factored in the scale of the coronavirus slump, Mr OConnor said. We believe that a period of market consolidation is more likely from here. In complete contrast to performance seen on Wednesday, gains in the big miners and energy stocks helped to offset weakness in the banks and healthcare giant CSL. BHP Billiton rose 2.7 per cent to $29.75 while Rio Tinto added 1 per cent to $86.00. Newcrest Mining also enjoyed a strong session, lifting 3.9 per cent to $28.48 on stronger gold prices overnight. After plunging to fresh 21-year lows on Wednesday, a rebound in Brent crude futures helped Santos rally 6.8 per cent to $4.26. Woodside Petroleum added 2 per cent to $20.00. Offsetting those gains, all the big four banks closed lower, led by the NAB with a fall of 1.1 per cent to $15.72. Healthcare stocks were also pressured with CSL slumping 2 per cent to $306.67. Ramsay Healthcare slid 5.9 per cent to $60.52 after raising $1.2 billion in fresh capital while Cochlear eased 1.4 per cent to $179.34. REITs also underperformed with Vicinity Centres and Scentre Group both tumbling 3.4 per cent to $1.275 and $2.01 respectively. Telehealth platform Medici saw overall veterinarian registration for telemedicine spike by 48% in March, and pet telehealth consultations rose by 170% month over month, after the FDA relaxed guidance on virtual visits for animals in late March. As human telehealth visits are forecast to surge past 1 billion this year, the veterinary industry is following suit, at least for now, in order to reduce the spread of coronavirus. On March 24 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it would temporarily suspend a requirement for veterinarians to examine animals in person before beginning telemedicine in order to "limit human-to-human interaction and potential spread of COVID-19." The decision came at a good time: On Wednesday the first cases of positive coronavirus tests in U.S. domestic pets, in two New York area cats, were confirmed, along with four more tigers and three lions at the Bronx Zoo. On April 6 the first tiger to test positive for the virus, at that same zoo, tested positive. "During this time, we need to provide veterinarians with the latitude to expand the use of telemedicine in the care of animals, not only pets but also the animals that produce our food," FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn said in a statement. The measure, along with an April 30 extension of federal social distancing guidelines, has resulted in a widespread migration to virtual animal care. "We've seen a significant uptick in telemedicine," said Dr. Aaron Smiley, president of the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association. "Veterinarians in Indiana and a lot of other states are essential businesses. We keep going to work, but our patients can largely stay home." Smiley offers his services through telehealth platform Medici, which saw overall veterinarian registration for telemedicine spike by 48% in March, according to a company statement to CNBC. Its pet telehealth consultations also rose by 170% month over month. VCA Animal Hospitals, owned by Mars Petcare, recently launched video consultations in addition to implementing cleaning and social distancing protocols at its facilities. A company spokesman told CNBC that use of its mobile app's live chat service with a team of on-call veterinarians has more than doubled during the pandemic. "So far, clients love it and the feedback from our veterinarians has been very positive," the spokesman said. Mobile telehealth apps serve as a platform for vets to decide whether in-person treatment is essential for a pet. Practitioners can conduct video calls, examine photos and videos uploaded by pet owners and even facilitate electronic prescriptions and payments. If a provider determines that a pet requires emergency medical services, the owner can bring it to an animal care facility many of which are implementing new social distancing efforts. "We have asked that patients are handed off to our staff from the hospital parking lot or at the front door whenever possible," the VCA spokesman said. "Retrieval of pets from the outside of the building presents an additional area of risk to control so that pets do not get loose and are properly identified." For patients, a service fee is generally added to the primary costs set by the veterinary practice. A portion of the fee goes to the doctors, while the rest compensates the telehealth company providing the technology, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association's website. The AMVA also provides examples of how vets can price their services for patients and recommends that vets inquire about telehealth expenses directly with service providers. WASHINGTON, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In a letter to President Trump today, the nation's leading immigration cutback advocacy group demanded to know why his Administration was exempting hundreds of thousands of foreign workers under an immigration pause that is supposed to help relieve pressure on the American workforce. Over twenty-six million Americans have lost jobs since March 21, a crisis the country has not seen since the Great Depression. Dan Stein, President of the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), asked why, after such great fanfare on Twitter suggesting a complete cessation of immigration, the White House decided to exempt what is arguably the largest component of foreign-born impact on the welfare of American workers: the H-1B, H-2A, and H-2B programs as well as an assortment of other exemptions. FAIR highlighted the irony of continuing fast-moving guestworker admissions at a time of skyrocketing unemployment, claiming it demonstrates that the U.S. is moving to a two-class society, which is "not very American." "Under what craven notion of American equity would the United States continue a subordinated labor importation program at a time when American workers are in such distress?" asked Stein. "The optics are devastating -- we are becoming a two-class society, with a servant caste relegated to guestworker status continuing apace while Americans search desperately for employment." Stein noted that under the ill-advised legal concept of "dual intent," nonimmigrants can enter the country with the full intention of becoming a permanent resident of the U.S.: "These guestworker programs have spun completely out of control," he asserted in the letter. "This represents a deadly dependency that's wreaking havoc on the normal process by which our American workers are recruited into various components of the labor force. President Trump, you promised you would do better, and as the EO states, you have 30 days to do so." Stein noted that just because the Democrats have abandoned core common sense on immigration controls doesn't mean a capitulation on immigration won't have consequences affecting voter enthusiasm for President Trump. "The American public understands a meaningful pause of immigration to help Americans must include all immigration, especially guestworkers," he observed. "Besides that, Mr. President, where are the health screenings, and the assurance that the users of these guestworkers abide by proper social distancing at work and in employer-provided housing? Consider the lessons from Singapore," he concluded, in reference to migrant worker dormitories becoming the country's largest coronavirus cluster. The letter also included data on rising guest worker admissions during the Trump Administration, as well as an estimate reflecting the overall weakness of his Executive Order. But most importantly, FAIR challenged President Trump to make things right in the next 30 days the American people are counting on him. Contact: Matthew Tragesser, 202-328-7004 or [email protected] ABOUT FAIR Founded in 1979, FAIR is the country's largest immigration reform group. With over 2 million members and supporters nationwide, FAIR fights for immigration policies that serve national interests, not special interests. FAIR believes that immigration reform must enhance national security, improve the economy, protect jobs, preserve our environment, and establish a rule of law that is recognized and enforced. SOURCE Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) Related Links http://www.fairus.org Kristi Nix Fort Bend County Judge KP George confirmed Wednesday a COVID-19-related death among residents of the Richmond State Supported Living Center (RSSLC). The case was one of two confirmed cases previously reported at the RSSLC, one of 13 state-run homes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. "Our staff is working alongside Richmond State Supported Living Center staff to implement additional infection prevention and control measures to protect the residents and staff, Jacquelyn Minter, Fort Bend County Health and Human Services director, said in a statement March 31 announcing an epidemiological investigation at the facility. However, Judge George said the Texas Department of Health and Human Services (TDHHS) had taken over the investigation and no information about new cases was yet available. State officials are also currently investigating at the Denton State Supported Living Center where 114 active cases are confirmed among the residents and staff according to Denton County officials. The Denton facility is the largest of the 13 state-run facilities and is home to 446 people and employs 1,727 full-time staffers. - Germany and the United Kingdom are proceeding with plans for clinical trials using human volunteers - The Paul Ehrlich Institute in Germany green-lighted the trials for a vaccine developed by local firm BioNTech and US pharma giant Pfize - Tests of the vaccine candidate named BNT162 was also set to atke place in the US - In the UK scientists will soon start recruiting volunteers for clinical trials on a second vaccine that were set to start in June - Project leader Robin Shattock acknowledged there was absolutely no guarantee the vaccine will work - Recent animal trials have been successful The United Kingdom (UK) and Germany are forging ahead with plans for clinical trials using human volunteers in the race to find a vaccine against COVID-19. The UK's health secretary Matt Hancock announced a coronavirus vaccine being developed by Oxford University will enter human trials as early as Thursday, April 23. READ ALSO: Restaurant owner sells car to pay jobless employees after shutting down eatery due to coronavirus File photo of a new vaccine. The Paul Ehrlich Institute in Germany on Wednesday green-lighted the trials for a vaccine developed by local firm BioNTech and US pharma giant Pfizer Source: UGC READ ALSO: Millions of Narrow Bee flies infest Kabarnet town, Kenyans term it another biblical plague The vaccine project, which is being run by the Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group, will also receive a further 20 million (KSh 2.7 billion) in funding from the government, Telegraph reported We are going to back them to the hilt and give them every resource they need to give them the best chance of success, the Health Secretary said. Scientists at Oxford had previously said the aim was to produce a million doses of the vaccine by September 2020. READ ALSO: Ken Walibora: Barber draws iconic image on client's head in honour of late author He added the government would invest in manufacturing capabilities so that if either vaccine was successful it could be available for British people as soon as humanly possible. However, he insisted vaccine development was a process of trial and error and trial again. Praising the team, Hancock said reaching this stage in normal times would take years. READ ALSO: William Ruto mourns veteran Kenyan journalist Johnson Barasa The Paul Ehrlich Institute in Germany on Wednesday green-lighted the trials for a vaccine developed by local firm BioNTech and US pharma giant Pfizer, according to Agence France-Presse. The Paul-Ehrlich-Institute has authorized the first clinical trial of a vaccine against COVID-19 in Germany, PEI, the federal institute for vaccines, said in a statement. Reuters also reported tests of the vaccine candidate named BNT162 were also being planned in the US and were awaiting regulatory approval for testing on humans in the country. READ ALSO: New study shows COVID-19 patients on hydroxychloroquine treatment had higher death rate The trials will include 200 healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 55 years who will be vaccinated with variants of the RNA vaccine. A second phase could include volunteers from high-risk groups. Neither PEI nor the developers specified when the trial will begin in Germany, though Biontech said in a statement that it would be soon and ahead of their expectations. READ ALSO: COVID-19: Sonko's newly launched sanitisation booths vandalised in Kibera The trial was only the fourth worldwide of a preventive agent targeting the coronavirus, which had killed more than 177,000 people and infected about 2.5 million as of April 24, according to John Hopkins University. In the UK, meanwhile, scientists will soon start recruiting volunteers for clinical trials on a second vaccine that were set to start in June 2020 with Imperial College London, according to The Sun. 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 London-based Pharos Energy, a top oil and gas exploration and production company said after evaluating Shell Egypts upstream portfolio in the Western Desert in Egypt it has dropped for acquisition of the same. The Board of Pharos evaluates M&A opportunities with reference to strict strategic, financial and operational criteria. In light of current market conditions, the Board of Pharos has determined that an acquisition of the Western Desert Assets is unlikely to be in shareholders best interests and has accordingly decided to withdraw from the consortium that is evaluating that opportunity, Pharos said in a statement on its website. On March 6, 2020, Pharos confirmed that it was in the preliminary stages of evaluating the acquisition, as part of a consortium, of the upstream portfolio of Shell Egypt NV, an affiliate of Royal Dutch Shell, in the Western Desert in Egypt. TradeArabia News Service The TTC says it will temporarily lay off 1,200 employees as it continues to grapple with the staggering financial impact of the COVID-19 crisis. In a Thursday news release, the transit agency said it is now losing about $90 million a month as a result of the crisis, which has reduced ridership by about 85 per cent. Roughly 1,000 transit operators will be furloughed, subject to negotiations with the workers union, according to the release. About 200 non-union positions will also be affected. The TTCs goal is to maintain service at about 70 to 80 per cent of regular levels. In an interview, TTC CEO Rick Leary said the decision to lay off workers was a last resort. It breaks my heart, he said, adding that the employees did nothing wrong, this is just purely the result of COVID-19. Leary said he expected the affected workers to be eligible for federal COVID-19 support and the TTC intends to offer them a benefits package. Even with the layoffs, the TTC will still be losing tens of millions of dollars every month for the duration of the crisis. Leary wouldnt answer directly when asked whether there could be additional layoffs. He called for the provincial and federal governments to provide emergency funding to keep the agency afloat. At least no one can say the TTC hasnt done its part, and now its time for others, senior levels of government, to come in, he said. Carlos Santos, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113, said he was extremely disappointed the TTC had decided to let workers go. The union represents about 12,000 TTC employees. Our members have been coming to work each and every day, fearing for their lives, and this is the thank you that we get, Santos said. He called on the federal and provincial governments immediately step in with emergency funding in order to avert the layoffs. As of Wednesday, 27 TTC employees had tested positive for COVID-19 out of a total workforce of about 16,000, according to the agency. Under the terms of its contract with the union, the TTC must provide workers with 30 days notice before layoffs can take effect. Leary said the agency hasnt identified which 200 non-union staff will be furloughed. A TTC spokesperson confirmed transit officers and fare inspectors wont be affected. The temporary layoffs are part of a wider package of cost-cutting measures that would allow the TTC to save about $25 million a month. Those measures include pausing salary increases for non-unionized employees, reducing overtime and delaying non-essential capital projects. Last week, the TTC said it had already lost about $80 million in foregone fare revenue since the start of the crisis in mid-March. The agency relies on fare revenue for about two-thirds of its $2-billion operating budget, and the city has estimated the organization could incur losses of $439 million over nine months as a result of the outbreak. Transit agencies across the country are facing dire financial forecasts as the COVID-19 crisis drags on. On Monday, Vancouvers TransLink announced it was furloughing nearly 1,500 of its employees and further reducing service. The organization says its losing $75 million a month during the pandemic. On Thursday, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities called for the federal government to provide $2.4 billion in emergency operating funding for struggling transit systems. In a statement, Mayor John Tory echoed that call, saying the entire country is counting on a strong recovery right here in Toronto and in cities across Canada. He added: Moving to provide emergency funding now will help ensure that recovery and protect vital services like the TTC. In separate statements Thursday, spokepeople for the provincial and federal governments said they were aware of the financial challenges transit agencies are facing, but offered no concrete plans for emergency aid. MISSOULA - Researchers in the Center for Translational Medicine at the University of Montana have been awarded $2.5 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health to identify and advance a COVID-19 vaccine candidate. The principal investigator on the two-year award is Dr. Jay Evans, the center director and a research professor in UM's Division of Biological Sciences. "When the call came from NIH in February to shift focus and develop a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, we quickly adjusted lower priority vaccine projects to focus our efforts on this urgent need," Evans said. "Our dedicated team of experienced researchers stepped up in the face of school closures, stay-at-home orders and social distancing to rapidly advance this vaccine and continue working on other essential research projects of critical importance to our community and the nation." The NIH award resulted from the combined efforts of Evans with Drs. David Burkhart and Helene Bazin-Lee from the Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Dr. Kendal Ryter from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry; and Dr. Steve Sprang from the Division of Biological Sciences. The UM team partnered with Drs. Florian Krammer and Adolfo Garcia-Sastre from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in in New York City to assist with the rapid advancement of a COVID-19 vaccine. UM has a world-class vaccine discovery and development team actively working on new or improved vaccines for influenza virus, tuberculosis, pertussis (whooping cough), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Lyme disease, E. coli and opioid addiction. This vaccine research team has expanded from 15 people in January 2016, when the group joined UM from GSK, to over 40 employees now, including students, staff and faculty. There are plans for further growth in 2020 and beyond with this funding and other new projects expected this year. Dr. Stephanie Lathrop, a UM immunologist and COVID-19 project leader, has been instrumental in designing studies and coordinating staff schedules in the middle of a pandemic. "It's not every day you can be involved in an essential vaccine project with global health implications," Lathrop said. "It has been amazing to see the UM community rally behind us in support of our efforts." The research team has implemented alternative work schedules, social distancing, additional personal-protective-equipment requirements and telecommuting to ensure the safety of employees and their families while balancing the need for critical research to continue. "Zoom and Skype are our new best friends, keeping us all healthy and connected in real-time," Evans said. "We have learned new ways of working and interacting - some of which will also be helpful after the restrictions are lifted." The UM team has spent more than 20 years working to improve vaccines through the use of adjuvants - components added to vaccines to improve the immune response - and novel delivery systems to ensure vaccines are safely and efficiently delivered to the right cells. These technologies now are being used for the COVID-19 project to rapidly advance a safe and effective vaccine toward human clinical trials. "Our team has already started testing a wide array of vaccine adjuvants with the COVID-19 antigens from our collaborators at Mount Sinai to quickly find the best vaccine that will protect against the virus," said Burkhart, a researcher and associate director of the Center for Translational Medicine. "We will use this data to obtain funding to advance it to human clinical trials as soon as possible, while running the tests needed to ensure the vaccine is safe for human use." "This award demonstrates the amazing team the University has assembled to advance vaccine development for both COVID-19 and future viruses that will lead to the next pandemic," said Scott Whittenburg, UM vice president for research and creative scholarship. "UM is now a recognized leader in the response to pandemics and other health emergencies through the Center for Translational Medicine, Center for Public Health Research, Center for Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics and numerous faculty across campus." ### Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 02:50:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ISTANBUL, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Turkish musicians on Thursday held a special concert broadcasted live from seven iconic locations of Istanbul to mark the 100th anniversary of the National Sovereignty and Children's Day. "The concert will convey a message of hope, peace, fraternity, and love to all the seven continents of the world, from seven exclusive venues of Istanbul," Firuz Baglikaya, head of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies, said at a press release. Artists played several favorite pieces of Turkish and western classical music at the venues, which were empty as four-day curfew was declared in 31 provinces across Turkey to curb the spread of COVID-19. The landmarks included Topkapi Palace and the Hagia Sophia Museum on the ancient peninsula of the city, the July 15 Martyrs Bridge over the Bosphorus Strait connecting the European and Asian parts, the Galata Tower, the Maiden's Tower, the Pierre Loti Hill, and the Dolmabahce Palace on the Bosphorus coast. "The world only becomes a better place by sharing more and feeling connected," Baglikaya noted, referring to the hard days that the world has been going through due to the pandemic. "We undoubtedly believe that we will overcome these hard days together and re-celebrate the joy of standing as a global citizen," he added. The concert was hosted by the Presidency of Turkey. On April 23, 1920, the Turkish parliament was founded and the day was dedicated to children seen as the nation's future by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. Enditem Analysis In Western Myanmar, State Counselors Praise for Tatmadaw Causes Unease Daw Aung San Suu Kyi (front) and senior military officials Lt-Gen Ye Aung, Lt-Gen Sein Win and Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe (back, from left to right), who would go on to become the ministers of border affairs, defense, and home affairs, respectively, attend the official power transfer ceremony on March 30, 2016, at the presidential residence in Naypyitaw, following the NLDs landslide victory in the November 2015 general election. / The Irrawaddy While Rakhine and Chin states continue to be rocked by heavy fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army, Daw Aung San Suu Kyis praise for army officers and rank-and-file soldiers for protecting civilians in the two western Myanmar states has been criticized as harming the prospects for peace, and setting back the cause of national reconciliation with the countrys ethnic minorities. In a statement issued by her office on Tuesday evening, Myanmars de facto leader and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi pledged to continue to work to achieve peace, to help people to be free from the suffering due to the armed conflicts. The Office of the State Counselors Facebook post drew over 24,000 likes and 1,000 comments within 24 hours, with diverse reactions from users. While many thanked her for praising the soldiers, many others expressed displeasure at her stance, claiming that the militarys reported artillery and air strikes on villages had left many civilians dead or displaced. The soldiers you praise are committing crimes of arson and killing women and children, while townships in Rakhine State are blocked access to the Internet, said one commenter, adding ironically, I respect that you think about other minorities. Another commenter wrote, Now I see that reconciliation means reconciling with the Tatmadaw. U Pe Than, a Lower House lawmaker from the Myebon constituency of Rakhine State, said Daw Aung San Suu Kyis statement is not helping to move forward the peace negotiations, since she praises the soldiers and regards the Arakan Army (AA) as a terrorist group. [Its] clear that she takes the side of the Tatmadaw. Exactly a month ago, her National League for Democracy government declared the AA a terrorist group and an unlawful association. The State Counselor said that while the government, public and volunteers are putting their efforts into controlling and containing COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, soldiers are giving their lives to protect people and their wellbeing, but the AA is conducting destructive activities in western Myanmar. The governments National Reconciliation and Peace Center, which she chairs, held talks with the AA until February aimed at reaching a bilateral ceasefire agreement. The talks included three other ethnic armed groupsthe Kachin Independence Army (KIA), Taang National Liberation Army and Myanmar National Democratic Army, an ethnic Kokang groupin northern Myanmar. But the peace talks have been temporarily postponed due to travel restrictions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Our hopes are wearing thin, due to her stance, even though we have been pushing for a political dialogue, U Pe Than said. Besides, he added, It is clear that [the government] is discriminating between the Chin and Rakhine [minority groups], as her plan to help create development opportunities once the fighting is over only applies to Paletwa [in Chin State]. Stressing the plight of Paletwa residents, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said the government is planning to create livelihood opportunities and regional development for sustainability when Paletwa becomes stable and peaceful again. Paletwa is seen as the AAs gateway to Rakhine State. Nearly 10,000 IDPs, mostly ethnic Chin and Khumi, are currently sheltering in downtown Paletwa and nearby Samee town after fleeing intensified fighting between the AA and the military. She expressed regret about the civilian casualties and the victims of the fighting in Rakhine and Chin states. She pledged to provide the necessary support to the injured and the surviving family members of the victims. Offering praise to officers of the national army is normal for a senior state leader and in most countries there would be no objection to it. Furthermore, Myanmars army was founded by Daw Aung San Suu Kyis father, the late General Aung San, during the fight against British colonial rule, and the State Counselor has made no secret of her fondness for it. In Myanmars case, however, the military officers and rank-and-file soldiers she praises have been accused of human rights abuses against the residents of Rakhine State and the air force has reportedly been involved in strafing villages, wounding and killing innocent civilians. The military has suffered significant losses since the AAwhich uses guerilla warfare tacticsbegan trying to build a base in western Myanmar in early 2015, though it was born in northern Myanmar in an area controlled by another ethnic armed group, the KIA. Myanmar military spokespersons have repeatedly declined to provide figures for casualties among army personnel. If the numbers were made available, the public would be able to see just how much the Army is sacrificing to help protect the livelihoods of the local residents in Myanmars western states. As they possess arms, AA troops have also abducted local peopleoften for monthsincluding an NLD lawmaker from Paletwa Township last year, and have attacked government development projects. Among these were the Multimodal Transit Transport Project, from which it abducted a number of Indian nationals working on the project. Their actions are intolerable. But it does not mean the Tatmadaw, the national army, is free from wrongdoing and is only protecting lives. According to accounts from local people, relief groups and other observers, including the media, innocent civilians are vulnerable to artillery shelling, air strikes, arbitrary detention and physical abuse such as beating, destruction of homes, and arson by the militarythe very institution tasked with protecting them. In Rakhine State, nearly 160,000 people had been displaced as of the end of March. Hundreds of innocent civilians have died from wounds caused by unclaimed shrapnel, bullets and landmines, while hundreds of others are being sued or are in detention on suspicion of affiliation with the AA. As recently as this week, the military arbitrarily detained 38 residents of Kyauk Seik Village in Rakhine States Ponnagyun Township on suspicion of affiliation with the AA, less than a week after eight civilians were killed by artillery strikes on the village. It released 33 of them after questioning and beating them. Kyauk Seik Village administrator U Aye Tun was among the 33 detainees who were released on Tuesday after being held in a building at the compound of the militarys Light Infantry Battalion No. 550 for more than 24 hours. He told The Irrawaddy after being released, The men were beaten with the butts of soldiers guns, kicked and left without food during the interrogation. His nephew and a friend are among the five men still being held by the military. He demanded their immediate release. In her message, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said she is happy that rice bags were delivered to people in Paletwa, Chin State on Sunday. The military assisted in the delivery of 830 rice bagswhich was delayed over the Thingyan holidays due to security concernsto more than 3,600 internally displaced people. A previous delivery of 100 rice bags in March was held up by AA troops for several hours until a local relief group agreed to give the armed group 20 bags. It has been more than a month since Paletwa Townships displaced villagers had to flee their homes due to fighting between the military and AA, which saw military fighter jets strafe their villages. Since mid-March, air strikes on villages in Paletwa have caused dozens of civilian casualties, including 21 deaths and 26 injuries in Meiksa Wa and Wet Ma villages. While the state government has provided some support to the victims families, there have been no expressions of condolence to the families of the dead villagers, and no support offered to local relief groups, by the Union government, the President or the State Counselor herself. The injured remain stranded in temporary shelters along with all the other villagers who have fled. You may also like these stories: Chinese Electricity: Blessing or Curse for Myanmar? Flashpoints: Myanmars Eight Most Hotly Contested Constitutional Amendment Proposals YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. The Kurdistan Region has evacuated 91 Kurdish students and other nationals from Armenia who were stranded because of the coronavirus pandemic, Kurdistan 24 reported citing the Kurdistan Regions Department of Foreign Relations (DFR). A group of 89 students and two others arrived at Erbil International Airport through a flight from Armenia; 57 of them from Sulaimani province, 21 from Duhok, and 13 from Erbil, DFR official Halgurd Salaye told Kurdistan 24. They had been stuck in Armenia due to the suspension of flights as part of the prevention measures against the new coronavirus. The process of returning the citizens was conducted in coordination with Kurdistan Regional Governments (KRG) DFR and Iraqs Foreign Ministry, Salaye added, thanking the governments of Armenia and Iraq. He said there are more students currently in Armenia who will be airlifted over the next few days. Editing by Stepan Kocharyan Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 22:27:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Egypt will resume a nighttime curfew during the holy fasting month of Ramadan to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said on Thursday. "The curfew will start at 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. local time (1900 to 0400 GMT)," he told a televised news conference. He added the commercial centers and shops will be opened across the week until 5 p.m. local time, after only working for five days, to ease the life of the citizens in Ramadan. "The government is planning to gradually re-open the economy while following the precautionary measures after the end of Ramadan," he said. Egypt has banned all public religious gatherings during Ramadan. On Wednesday, Egypt reported 169 new coronavirus cases and 12 new fatalities, bringing the total number of cases to 3,659 and the number of deaths to 276. Enditem A man from Portland, Maine led police in Burlington and Mercer counties on separate high-speed chases Wednesday in which he crashed a stolen car twice, the second time leaving his girlfriend behind and fleeing on foot, authorities said. Police in Trenton rescued the girlfriend, but Paul Grandmaison, 41, got away despite extensive searches that included use of a New Jersey State Police helicopter. Grandmaison remained at large Thursday afternoon. He is wanted on several charges in three towns, including domestic violence aggravated assault, and eluding police and possessing stolen property. The incidents began about 4:30 p.m. at convenience store on Keim Avenue in Burlington City, authorities say. A witness called police and reported seeing a man punching a woman outside the store, and head butting her. The witness told police the victim had visible injuries, and the victim was able to tell the witness her boyfriend had been beating her all day, police said in a statement. Burlington City police got to the store in time to see the couple get into a burgundy Chevrolet truck. Officers tried to pull it over, but it sped away. Officers alerted area departments to be on the lookout for it. At about 5:30 p.m., Bordentown Township police saw it pull into a truck stop on Rising Sun Road and again tried to pull the truck over, and it again raced away. With officers in pursuit, the truck crashed into a vehicle on Route 130 at Ward Avenue, and kept heading north, police said. The truck sped onto Interstate 195 west and into the city of Trenton, where officers lost sight of it, and terminated their pursuit. Moments later, Trenton police were alerted to the truck driving aggressively and found it crashed and disabled at Calhoun and West Hanover streets, police said. After treating the victim, a 34-year-old woman also from Portland, Maine, officers learned the vehicle was stolen from Portland, and had license plates stolen from Philadelphia. Despite numerous police agencies joining a search that lasted into Wednesday night, they could not find Grandmaison, police said. Anyone with information about Grandmaison can call Burlington City police at 609-386-3300 or Bordentown Township police at 609-298-4300. Police on April 22, 2020 inspect the crashed truck - at Calhoun and West Hanover streets in Trenton, NJ - that authorities say was being driven by wanted suspect Paul Grandmaison, of Portland, Maine.(Photo courtesy of Brian McCarthy) Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. As the pandemic swept across the nation in March, so did urgent questions about the virus' potential strain on the healthcare system. Among top concerns: whether the nation's hospitals had enough ventilators to provide breathing support to critically ill patients with the disease COVID-19, which mainly attacks the lungs. As experts predicted a surge in coronavirus cases and a possible shortage in intensive care unit equipment, University of Michigan teams immediately got to work on a solution. The mission: to quickly develop an efficient, affordable and more controlled way to expand ventilator capacity. Now, just weeks later, U-M and Michigan Medicine researchers have invented an individualized vent-splitter that may allow multiple patients to receive customized pressures while sharing a single ventilator. U-M has filed for patent protection on the technology, and a local start-up, MakeMedical LLC, has licensed the technology and developed it into the VentMITM device. The VentMITM device has been tested in animals and received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. MakeMedical, which U-M inventors have equity in, will provide the device at cost to other institutions without any profit for U-M or the company. It has taken relentless positive action by a large number of individuals all motivated by the common good to make this happen." Glenn Green, M.D., pediatric otolaryngologist at Michigan Medicine C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and co-developer of the technology The team has spent the last few weeks using in-house 3D printing to rapidly develop multiple prototypes, test them on machines in a hospital operating room and evaluate how the technology worked on pigs. The FDA's emergency authorization now allows their device to be used on humans if needed. "We have been working 24/7 to develop a system that could at least double ventilator capacity," says otolaryngologist Kyle VanKoevering, M.D., of the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Michigan Medicine and an associate faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Michigan Engineering. "We were looking for innovative ways to potentially help hospitals that were preparing for a ventilator shortage during the pandemic." The device is being manufactured in partnership with Grand Rapids, Mich. facility Autocam Medical, with hundreds of devices available for public distribution before the end of April. MakeMedical, LLC will market the product domestically and internationally, and is in the process of partnering with distributors. MakeMedical cofounders include Green, VanKoevering, Mott pediatric head and neck surgeon David Zopf, M.D. and local business owner Owen Tien. SARS-CoV-2, a respiratory virus, can cause complications like pneumonia and respiratory distress. In severe cases, patients will require a ventilator, a device that is attached to the windpipe and supports a patient's lungs while their body fights the infection. Ventilators are also used for other types of conditions, including brain and spinal cord injuries that interfere with breathing and muscle, lung and sleep disorders. Currently, there are significant limitations to more than one patient using the same ventilator at once. One of the biggest barriers is that, without individualized controls, shared ventilator circuits will deliver only one pre-set pressure to all patients sharing the same ventilator. "The problem is that for patients to share a ventilator using a currently available vent-splitter, they must have the same ventilator needs," VanKoevering says. Patients sharing a ventilator need to have similarly-sized lungs with equal stiffness - or ability to stretch and expand. "Otherwise one person may receive excessive volume or pressure on their lungs, which can cause lung trauma." "Our design would have much broader use because it solves the problem of different ventilatory requirements and monitoring for people that have different lung sizes and degrees of disease." The system mimics a scuba tank regulator. A scuba tank contains compressed air at a very high pressure, but the regulator delivers it slowly at the pressure the lungs need to breathe. "Every innovative idea that comes from our group starts from powerful inspiration - in this case, Dr. Vankoevering's ideas on how to tailor lifesaving shared ventilation," says fellow team member and otolaryngologist David Zopf, M.D., assistant professor of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery at Michigan Medicine and Mott and an affiliate professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Michigan Engineering. The team says because VentMITM is inexpensive, light. mobile and readily deployable, it can be delivered quickly to any place that could use it. The individualized pressure regulator system for vent splitting is expected to cost up to a hundredth of the cost of a new ventilator. "The speed with which our team developed, tested, and verified this technology was incredible," says Owen Tien, co-developer of the technology and founder of Ann Arbor-based 3D printing company Thingsmiths, "We couldn't have done it without great industry partners, and our access to, and knowledge of, 3D Printing, CAD design, and the best of rapid healthcare innovation." Tien especially credited Autocam's versatility and capacity to mobilize a precision-manufactured device in less than a week as being critical to the team's success. Researchers represent teams from Michigan Medicine otolaryngology, anesthesia and intensive care and University of Michigan biomedical engineering. While Michigan Medicine is among hospitals that currently have adequate ventilator capacity, the researchers wanted to make the device available to any hospitals anticipating a shortage. "We plan to make the devices available to be used across the world," VanKoevering says. "Our goal is to help provide lifesaving care to every critically ill patient who needs it during this pandemic." Hospitals and centers that are interested in receiving the device, may make inquiries online. TDT | Manama Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF) secretary-general Dr Mustafa Al Sayed announced yesterday a television programme, to be broadcast on Bahrain TV, to receive contributions from the Kingdoms expatriate communities, including individuals, institutions and companies, in line with the Feena Khair national campaign. This will be televised tomorrow from 2 pm until 5 pm. Many people will be hosted, while calls will be received announcing the names of contributors and the donated amounts. Dr Al Sayed explained that this comes in response to the wide interest received from many expatriate communities, who have sincere love and appreciation for the Kingdom in which they are blessed to be living in. Meanwhile, GFH Financial Group (GFH) announced yesterday a donation of US$1million to Feena Khair. Commenting on GFHs support, GFH Capital chairman Shaikh Ahmed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa said: In line with GFHs deep commitment to the Kingdom and the health and well-being of its economy and citizens, we are pleased to join hands and cooperate with the wise initiatives launched by the public sector and our leadership to combat the spread and impact of the coronavirus. GFH has closely been monitoring this unprecedented situation and working together with local and regional authorities to do what we can to safeguard the health and interests of our employees, clients and the communities where we are active. Wed like to extend our deep appreciation and gratitude to the government and leadership for their exceptionally well-thought-out efforts and response to this crisis and the success of their efforts in keeping Bahrain safe. Wellington/London, April 23 : UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson was just "another patient we were trying to do our best for", the New Zealand nurse credited with helping to save his life from the novel coronavirus, said on Thursday. Jenny McGee was praised by Johnson for standing by his bedside "when things could have gone either way" while he was in intensive care with coronavirus. "We take it very seriously who comes into intensive care, these patients who come into us, it's a very scary thing for them so we don't take it lightly," the BBC quoted McGee as saying to Television New Zealand (TVNZ). She was not "fazed" by treating the Prime Minister, she said, adding it was "just another day at the office". "As a unit he was just another patient we were trying to do our best for," she said. McGee, who has worked in intensive care for 10 years, said it was "heartbreaking" to watch some patients pass away without their families, calling it the "saddest part" of her job. She said nurses were glad to offer some comfort to these patients by "holding their hand", when the virus makes it "unsafe" for some loved ones to visit. After being singled out by Johnson in a video thanking NHS staff, McGee, from Invercargill on the South Island, became known globally as "Jenny from New Zealand", the BBC reported. She told TVNZ that Johnson's praise came "totally out of the blue", adding her first reaction was that her friends were playing a "joke" on her. "I couldn't believe what he said on TV," she added. She later received a message of thanks from her "hero" New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Johnson was discharged from St Thomas' Hospital in London on April 12, one week after being admitted to be treated for coronavirus. He spent several nights in the intensive care unit where he was given oxygen. India has seen a linear growth rate in coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases and not an exponential one in the 30 days of the lockdown, with the number of confirmed patients staying in the range of 4-4.5 per cent of the total tested cases. This was revealed by Environment Secretary CK Mishra, who is leading the Empowered Group-2, which is looking at the availability of hospitals and allied services. The number of confirmed Covid-19 cases as on Thursday was 21,700 and the death toll was 686. The number of tests conducted in the past 30 days increased 24 times to over ... Results of over 3,000 random samples tested in ten coronavirus-free districts in Karnataka so far have returned negative results, the government said on Thursday as one more death was reported and 18 people tested positive for the contagion elsewhere. With the latest updates, the toll due to COVID-19 in the state has risen to 18 while the total cases to 445. The day saw the partial lockdown relaxations, allowing certain activities including in IT and ITES sectors outside COVID-19 containment areas, coming into effect that also led to traffic snarls in parts of the city. Joining states like Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka has made it mandatory for pharmacies to maintain contact details of customers who purchase drugs used for influenza like illness, the government said. Ten districts in the state so far continue to remain "corona free" and the government had asked the officials there to collect at least 100 samples each and screen them for the virus, Minister S Suresh Kumar, who is the spokesperson for COVID-19 in Karnataka said. "So far in 10 districts, 4,631 samples have been collected. Among them positives are nil so far. Negatives are 3,146, results awaited are 1,485," he told reporters here. Late on Thursday, official sources said a 75-year old woman, who was among the 18 new COVID cases, died at a hospital in Mangaluru. Hailing from Bantwal, she had history of hypertension, stroke and pneumonia. Earlier, the health department bulletin said ten of the new cases were from Bengaluru Urban district, as its total infections breached the century mark and stood at 101. Fourteen patients were discharged after recovery on Thursday, taking the total number of people recovered to 145, the bulletin said adding there were 283 active cases in the state. Responding to question, Additional Chief Secretary- Health and Family Welfare Department Jawaid Akhtar said about 62 per cent of the patients who have tested positive and undergoing treatment in the state were asymptomatic. Among the 18 cases reported on Thursday, nine are contacts of a 54-year-old man, a labourer with a history of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI), who tested positive on Wednesday, while the other is contact of another patient earlier tested positive, here. Others are two each from Vijayapura, Hubballi in Dharwad district and Mandya; and one each from Bantwala in Dakshina Kannada district and Kalaburagi. In all, 17 out of the 18 fresh cases, including 13 men, are contacts of patients already tested positive, while contact of a woman from Vijayapura was being traced. Most number of cases have been reported in Bengaluru Urban district (101) followed by Mysuru (88) and Belagavi (43). As many as 2,798 samples were tested on Thursday, taking the total to 32,122 so far and of this 28,174 reported negative with the day's tally at 2,750. A slum in Hongasandra municipal ward in the city has become a COVID-19 hotspot and has been completely sealed after some people contracted the coronavirus from a migrant labourer. Kumar also said the state government has issued a notification making it mandatory for chemists and Druggists to maintain a list of customers who purchased certain drugs used for Influenza Like Illness or Severe Acute Respiratory Infection along with their contact details. Earlier, governments in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha have issued such advisories to chemists in their states in a bid to ensure that people are not hiding symptoms of coronavirus. As the relaxations in the lockdown came into effect, officials sources said Information Technology and IT Enabled Services (ITES) companies, that have been allowed to function, will work out the essential minimum staff requirement and mobilise them. Besides these, certain construction activities, manufacturing of packaging materials, courier services, ice cream and juice shops, flour and dal mills, recharge facilities for pre-paid mobile connections, shops of educational books for students are among the services that figured in the relaxations announced. All these activities will be permitted only outside COVID-19 containment zones, the government has made it clear. As parts of the city witnessed large scale traffic movement, opposition Congress criticised the government, accusing it of proper planning. "Announcement of partial relief to ease Lockdown by @BSYBJP has created chaos in #Bengaluru today. Massive traffic jams are reported across city with confusions & no proper guidelines. This shows lack of co-ordination in Governance with improper planning," it tweeted. Meanwhile, taking into consideration inconvenience faced by renal patients in view of 23 government hospitals offering dialysis services having been designated COVID-19 facilities, it has been decided to use 45 private hospitals for them as per the cost prescribed under the Ayushman Bharat-Arogya Karnataka scheme. The government has also issued a circular for resuming immunization services at all health facilities except in containment zones and follow strict infection prevention and control measures and social distancing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Secretary of State Brandon Lewis has said he cannot rule out the Government relaxing coronavirus restrictions in Northern Ireland county by county if there is a downward trend in reports of Covid-19. While Mr Lewis said easing restrictions on different counties could be difficult practically, particularly in border areas such as Fermanagh, he said its not impossible. I think its unlikely to be different within Northern Ireland, its not impossible. I wouldnt rule anything in or out," he told the Impartial Reporter in a video interview on Tuesday. But the challenge with having variations within Northern Ireland is around the messaging. We all understand the messaging of stay at home and save lives every reader of yours, every resident who has stayed at home and has followed the guidelines has directly helped to save a life and protect the NHS ability to look after people. That has been hugely important. The challenge of having variations within Northern Ireland is how you manage that, how you message that. I think its unlikely, but I wouldnt rule it out. In a practical sense I think its quite unlikely." Asked when restrictions could be lifted, Mr Lewis said: The short answer is I dont know. We are going to do a review in three weeks time. The reality is we will look at the medical evidence. The Northern Ireland Executive will have its own flexibility and we may see across the country some variations; we saw some variations going into lockdown as well. Itll be a decision that all four nations take together based on the evidence, he said. I think its unlikely to be different within Northern Ireland, its not impossible. I wouldnt rule anything in or out. NI Secretary Brandon Lewis Mr Lewis said he was aware of the complexities of Northern Irelands border with the Republic of Ireland amid the pandemic, explaining that he has been meeting with First Minister Arlene Foster, deputy First Minister Michelle ONeill and Tanaiste Simon Coveney. Even where there are differences in the approach between the Republic and the North, if there are, if we know that we can make sure we are clear with residents why those differences are there. The challenge of having variations within Northern Ireland is how we manage that. An investigation in The Sunday Times at the weekend featured a Whitehall source claiming the government missed the boat on testing and PPE (personal protective equipment) and just watched as the death toll mounted in Wuhan, China. The report also claimed that Prime Minister Boris Johnson missed five crucial Cobra meetings in the Cabinet Office in London. When asked to respond to these serious allegations, Mr Lewis said: I didnt recognise some of what I saw in the Times. I was in the Cobra meetings in January and February; COBRA meetings are chaired by the Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms. Its a place, not a thing. We were making decisions; the scientists and medical experts were making decisions at that time and planning was going on. This is the point; to judge it now when we have two months more evidence is dangerous and a misleading thing to do. The challenge of having variations within Northern Ireland is how we manage that. NI Secretary Brandon Lewis Turning to PPE which has been an issue in Fermanagh, Mr Lewis used his own constituency of Great Yarmouth as an example of where there has been no problems with accessing equipment. He added: Weve had gowns sent over to the UK, ONeills [sportswear] converted to gowns, there is gin distillery in your part of the world producing sanitisers. Were shifting five and a half million pieces of PPE across to Northern Ireland. Weve been able to supply that; its in good order. I am talking to the first minster every day that. Mr Lewis said the priority of the United Kingdom government is to make sure we dont hit the second peak of the virus. One of the most damaging things economically would be, as well as health wise, to start coming out of lockdown restaurants, pubs, whatever start opening again and suddenly you have to close down again and thats not viable. I think its right to be cautious about this; well make that decision in a few weeks. The science is shifting on this; the experience is changing. I am cautious about predicting what will be in a few weeks time. He believes the government could flatten the curve of Covid-19 if people continue to stay at home, adding: We want to see past the peak, you dont want to see a downward trend and ease up as all you do is let it shoot back up again. If you think back to the beginning there were some quite scary numbers being put about by some experts about what the deaths might be. Now any death is too many and we have sadly lost people, friends and family who have gone through tragic experiences recently, and the figures are nowhere near those numbers we saw at the beginning. Thats because the public across Northern Ireland and the UK have done a good job generally of following the guidelines which means we can flatten that curve, he said. Mr Lewis explained that he had personal experience of people close to him who had been diagnosed with Covid-19, including his parliamentary private secretary. Someone I know lost a member of their family this week, I have a few people in family who had the disease. One way or another we are all going to be touched by it. I suspect when we have an antibody test I think well find some of us will have been touched by it or even had it. I think about Q. Ibraheem, an Evanston caterer whose phone began to ring with calls from local residents asking for recipes based off what food they had at home. She recognized that some of her neighbors were in need of more help, and she is now cooking and delivering free meals to dozens of families to help them get through the pandemic. Hungry lions at a safari park are keeping active during lockdown by clawing their way up trees to hunt for meat hidden among branches. Staff at Longleat in Wiltshire have implemented the workout to ensure the park's famous lions keep fit by stretching muscles they need for hunting and catching prey. Meat is hidden 10 feet up trees by keepers before the big cats are released and allowed to sniff out their dinner. Keeper Caleb Hall, who captured eight-year-old big cat Harry's impressive feat on camera, said: 'All lions are capable of climbing trees, but Harry is particularly good and makes it look deceptively effortless. 'He's quite a character and very popular, both with his keepers and the other lionesses. He is strong, quick and there's no doubt he's king of his territory.' Above, Harry the lion plans his climb for supper and uses his claws to grip into the bark as he scales his way up the tree Above, Harry spots the meat hidden in the tree before he begins to make his climb for supper. Lions have been living at the Longleat estate since 1966, when it became the first place outside of Africa to open a drive-through safari Keepers at the Wiltshire wildlife park are keeping the big cats active during lockdown. Longleat is currently closed amid social distancing meaures and will remain shut until at least May 31 Lions have been living at the Longleat estate since 1966, when it became the first place outside of Africa to open a drive-through safari. The park currently has two separate prides of lions as well as cheetahs, tigers, wolves, rhinos, zebras and giraffes. Large male lions can grow to over 10ft in length and weigh more than 240kgs. Females are about 6.5ft long and reach a maximum of 180kgs. In the wild lions generally live to about 12 years, but can reach almost double that age in captivity. Above, Harry hugs the tree with his claws to keep balance while he devours his meat feast dinner Longleat is currently closed because of the coronavirus lockdown measures, and will remain shut until at least May 31. Those hoping to catch a glimpse of the lions can watch the park's virtual safari from the comfort of their own home. The park was beset by tragedy in March when its owner, Lord Bath of Longleat, died aged 87 died after testing positive for coronavirus. A statement issued at the time on the Longleat website said: 'The family would like to express their great appreciation for the dedicated team of nurses, doctors and other staff who cared so professionally and compassionately for Alexander in these extremely difficult times for everyone.' Above, the park's late owner Lord Bath of Longleat helps giraffes wolf down their food at feeding time. He passed away last month aged 87 from coronavirus And last month it was confirmed that a four-year-old Malayan tiger had been diagnosed with coronavirus at the Bronx Zoo in New York after developing a dry cough and loss of appetite. A further seven big cats at the same zoo - four tigers and three Africa lions - have since been diagnosed with the killer bug. The news sent shockwaves around the world, proving that the virus could spread between animals as well as humans. The Heart: Frida Kahlo in Paris Marc Petitjean; translated by Adriana Hunter Other Press. 208 pp. $25 --- It's difficult to imagine a world in which Frida Kahlo plays second fiddle to anyone. Yet in 1939, Kahlo was better known as the wife of painter Diego Rivera than a daring artist in her own right. The Kahlo we would celebrate for her symbolic self-portraits, combining surreal imagery and Mexican folk art, was only just starting to come into her own. Following the devastating discovery of Rivera's affair with her sister Cristina and his intention to seek a divorce, Kahlo traveled alone to Paris to exhibit her work. There, she was welcomed into the city's artistic circles and embarked on a whirlwind affair with a young Frenchman named Michel Petitjean. So begins "The Heart: Frida Kahlo in Paris." However, the narrative travels beyond the confines of Kahlo and Michel's affair to author Marc Petitjean's present-day investigation into his father's past. That search is set in motion when Petitjean receives a call from a Mexican researcher suggesting a passionate connection between Kahlo and his father. Kahlo's personal effects were sealed for more than 50 years in her home, Casa Azul, after her death at age 47 in 1954, and among them were Michel's letters. Presented with this one-sided correspondence, Petitjean feels compelled to delve deeper into their story. He spent his childhood gazing up at Kahlo's painting "The Heart," hanging on the wall, finding it in turns terrifying and moving. A female figure is flanked by two dresses floating on hangers - a schoolgirl uniform to the left and a traditional Mexican dress to the right. A golden rod pierces the woman's chest, and a large human heart lies bloody in the foreground at her feet. As Petitjean seeks to better understand his father, Kahlo's painting becomes his compass. Petitjean discovers letters and recorded interviews that present a different man from the father he knew. The Michel Petitjean of 1939 was described as affable and charming, while the "man I knew," the author writes, "was certainly charming and elegant but also a little depressed and not especially amusing." Petitjean dexterously shifts from tracing Kahlo's artistic and biographical trajectory to tracking his father's progression from an associate at the Ethnographic Museum to a gallery assistant at Galerie Renou et Colle, where Kahlo exhibits. Petitjean's meticulous research fills the gaps between his father's anecdotes to render a compelling portrait of a young man exuberantly of his time: creatively charged, sexually free and politically engaged - someone not so unlike Kahlo herself. Petitjean also captures the pop and fizz of artistic circles in Paris during the interwar years. Kahlo mingles with 20th-century luminaries Andre Breton and his wife, Jacqueline Lamba, Dora Maar and Pablo Picasso, Marcel Duchamp and Elsa Schiaparelli. They drink and smoke at Cafe Cyrano, talking about politics and poetry, carefully tracking the updates concerning the Spanish Civil War. They go to sumptuous dinner parties at Marie-Laure de Noailles' mansion on the Place des Etats-Unis and play parlor games in the Bretons' living room. During a game of Truth or Dare, Kahlo memorably chooses to make love to an armchair instead of admitting that her true birth date does not coincide with the onset of the Mexican Revolution. However, Kahlo was uneasy within Parisian circles where theory and aesthetic manifestos were all the rage. She would rather "sit on the floor in the market of Toluca and sell tortillas, than to have anything to do with" so many of the "artistic" types in Paris, Kahlo wrote to her on-again, off-again lover Nickolas Muray in New York. Despite explaining that "she simply paints her own reality and has no theories about art other than its sincerity and necessity," Breton repeatedly introduces her as a surrealist painter. Considering his penchant for mansplaining Kahlo's artistic style to her, it's no wonder he was sarcastically dubbed the "Pope of Surrealism" by his detractors. Although Kahlo's time in Paris was brief, Petitjean shows the ways in which this two-month sojourn was significant, charting the beginning of her independence. In Paris, Kahlo contends with questions of identity that have an effect on her work. Even in the fashion capital, she wears the brightly colored embroidered clothing of her homeland and braids ribbons and flowers into her hair. Moreover, her rejection of any connection to European culture becomes more entrenched as she embraces her Mexican identity wholeheartedly. Asked if she speaks German, a language her father taught her, Kahlo replies: "I don't want anything to do with that country or its inhabitants, I'm Mexican, period - and proud of it." "The Heart" is a distinctively intimate undertaking, which is no small feat considering its well-known cast of characters. Yet in weaving together Kahlo's biography with his quest to understand his father, Petitjean creates an unconventional and deeply personal biography. --- Sarazen is a freelance writer based in Paris. BEND, Ore., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disproportionately impact seniors across the country, Sunshine Retirement Living (www.sunshineret.com), a Bend, Oregon-based, family-owned senior housing company with 32 premier communities in 16 states, has announced that they will begin testing residents and employees who are exhibiting symptoms or who may have been exposed to the virus. The Vikor Scientific FDA-approved Respira-ID test will also be given to all new residents before they move into any of the company's communities. Produced by Vikor Scientific, a high complexity CLIA certified and CAP-accredited molecular diagnostics laboratory in Charleston, South Carolina, Respira-ID tests for over 40 pathogens known to cause respiratory illness including COVID-19. Vikor Scientific will provide in-depth virtual training to the community nursing staffs, who will administer the tests and oversee the shipment of samples back to Vikor Scientific for analysis within 24 hours. The testing will be conducted via the QuantStudio 12k Flex Open Array from the Thermo Fisher, which is an industry-leading instrument for PCR testing and has the capacity for high throughput, allowing Vikor Scientific to test a high volume of patients daily. According to Luis Serrano, CEO, Sunshine Retirement Living, the tests are a critical factor to sustaining the company's ongoing, stringent and proactive infection prevention and mitigation protocols. "Even before the CDC issued its mandates and guidelines for COVID-19 infection prevention and control procedures, Sunshine Retirement Living proactively began implementing heightened measures to help protect our residents and employees," said Serrano. "After weeks of urgently researching when and how we could begin testing within our communities, we chose Vikor Scientific's Respira-ID testing solution because of the lab's superior reputation, expeditious testing process, high throughput capacity, and FDA approval. For more than 20 years, the health and safety of our residents and employees have been our highest priority and these tests will help us monitor, detect and prevent COVID-19 infections in addition to dozens of other acute respiratory infections that may be the source of disease symptoms." Last month, Serrano also issued a written and video statement communicating the company's vigilance in regard to COVID-19 and relentless focus on caring for and protecting its senior residents and their caregivers. Among the key and essential protocol now implemented at each community: Residents at all Independent Living communities, who may feel ill or are beginning to exhibit any symptoms, are asked to remain in their apartments and alert their community's health management team, who will follow all CDC protocols to prevent any illness from spreading. Visitation is restricted at all Assisted Living and Memory Care communities to protect the most vulnerable seniors. Visitors to Sunshine's Independent Living communities are limited based on guidelines from the CDC. All people entering the community will be screened at the front door, including residents and staff. To alleviate the stress around this situation, each community continues to help to facilitate video conferencing and other virtual communication tools between residents and loved ones. To enable social-distancing and decrease person-to-person contact, in-room activities are encouraged and all home-made meals are hand-delivered three times a day to resident apartments at Independent Living communities. Dining and activities at the Memory Care communities remain in-place as these communities are already in restricted mode. To maintain the highest priority of health and safety at each community, Sunshine is now hiring and training more staff, especially among those who may have recently lost their jobs due to this unprecedented crisis. For those seniors who now seek or need a new home at one of Sunshine's communities, all tours are conducted digitally, and additional strict screening processes are being implemented for new residents to ensure everyone remains as safe as possible. About Sunshine Retirement Living Based in Bend, Ore., Sunshine Retirement Living manages 32 retirement communities in 16 states, offering senior apartments, independent living, assisted living and memory care. A family-owned business with more than 20 years in the senior housing industry, Sunshine Retirement Living's mission is to be the preferred senior living provider offering value, choice and independence while promoting health and social interaction that exceeds residents' expectations and enriches the lives of both residents and staff. By providing meals, housekeeping, activities, transportation, utilities and in-house management staff, Sunshine Retirement Living continues to build an unparalleled community feeling in each property. For more information, visit www.SunshineRet.com or connect socially, @SunshineRetirementLiving. SOURCE Sunshine Retirement Living Related Links http://www.sunshineretirementliving.com/ By PTI NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday accused the BJP of spreading the virus of communal prejudice and hatred in the country, asserting that "grave damage" is being done to social harmony. Addressing a meeting of the Congress Working Committee, Gandhi said it should worry every Indian and her party will have to work hard to repair this damage. "Let me also share with you something that should worry each and every one of us as Indians. When we should be tackling the coronavirus unitedly, the BJP continues to spread the virus of communal prejudice and hatred," she said. "Grave damage is being done to our social harmony. Our party, we will have to work hard to repair that damage," the Congress president added. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and top Congress leaders attended the meeting through video conference. This is the second time the CWC, the Congress' top decision-making body, is meeting through video-conferencing in the past three weeks ever since the lockdown was enforced to contain the coronavirus threat. The Congress president said the coronavirus pandemic has increased disturbingly in the past three weeks and called upon the government to increase testing for it. FOLLOW COVID-19 LIVE UPDATES HERE Gandhi said she has written several times to the prime minister since the lockdown was enforced and suggested several measures and constructive cooperation. "Unfortunately, they have been acted upon only partially and in a miserly way. The compassion, large-heartedness and alacrity that should be forthcoming from the central government is conspicuous by its absence," she said. The Congress chief said the focus of the party must continue to be on successfully engaging with health, food security and livelihood issues. She claimed that around 12 crore people have lost jobs in the first phase of the lockdown and urged the government to provide a relief package for the MSME sector, which accounts for one-third of the GDP. Gandhi called upon the government to provide food and financial security to migrants and jobless stranded at various places and were desperate to reach back home. "We have repeatedly urged PM there is no alternative to testing, tracing and quarantine. Unfortunately, testing still remains low, testing kits still in short supply," she noted. Gandhi said trade, commerce and industry have come to a virtual halt and crores of livelihoods have been destroyed. "The central government does not appear to have a clear idea on how the situation will be managed after May 3rd. A lockdown of the present nature after that date would be even more devastating," she said. Former prime minister Manmohan said the success of the lockdown will be judged finally on India's ability to tackle COVID-19. He also said the cooperation between the Centre and states was key to the success of the country's fight against coronavirus. Singh said it is necessary to focus on a number of issues in the fight against coronavirus. The fight against COVID-19 would very much depend upon the availability of resources, he noted. Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said unless the central government comes forward to financially help states, the fight against COVID-19 will get weakened. "Unless there is a big financial package for states, how will normalcy return to states post lockdown," he asked. Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said unless the Centre rises to the occasion and provides financial assistance to states, how will the fight against COVID-19 be won. Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy said the Union government has not given any assistance to the states. "How will states survive in times of crisis. We are not enemies but have to act and work together," Narayanasamy said at the CWC meet. Energy: F2i, acquisition of Spanish solar operator Renovalia Controlled Ef to reach over 1,800 MegaWatt in Europe (ANSAmed) - MILAN, APRIL 23 - F2i, the leading Italian infrastructural fund, has announced that it has reached an agreement with Cerberus Capital Management to acquire the Spanish solar energy operator Renovalia Energy Group. The acquisition, made by the fund's EF Solare subsidiary, will create one of the main solar energy groups in Europe, with a total photovoltaic capacity to over 1,800 Megawatts. Renovalia is one of the main solar operators of the Spanish market, with over 1,000 Megawatts of solar power, 102 of which come from nine plants already in operation and another 850 Megawatts from projects currently being developed. This capacity is in addition to the 853 Megawatts already generated in Italy by EF Solare, which will bring its total photovoltaic capacity to over 1,800 Megawatts, making the Italian group one of the top solar energy producers in Europe. Renovalia will be entirely controlled by Italian company Ef Solare and Jose Manuel Olea will be confirmed as CEO. Cerberus has maintained in Spain some projects for which Renovalia will continue to provide technical managerial services to favor their development.(ANSAmed) A herd of wild pigs dragged and ravished a four-year-old boy to death while he was playing near a garbage dump in the City of Hyberdad in Southern India, Tuesday. The child was identified by the police as V. Harshavardhan, who was innocently playing outside his house when the group of wild pigs approached and attacked him. He was then dragged by the pigs and was mauled to his death. According to reports, Harshavardhan lives in a hut in the colony with his parents and stepped outside to play before the tragic incident happened that evening. His parents who are both daily wage workers were inside the hut during the attack as they are unable to work due to the restrictions that are implemented because of the coronavirus. The victim's parents said that they were unaware of the time when their son was being attacked by the wild animals. Based on the statements of the residents who found the boy's body while passing by the isolated area, they saw the boy lying near the garbage dump. They then came closer to see what happened and said that the boy was not moving at all, adding that some parts of his body appear to have been partially eaten. After which, they immediately reported what they saw to the local police who immediately responded to the scene. In a statement by station house officer K. Srinivas, a pack of pigs were loitering around the area and attacked the child upon spotting him. They also confirmed that the said animals partially ate parts of the boy's body. While officers who responded were trying to identify the victim, his parents who have been searching for him arrived at the scene after their neighbors informed them of the brutal incident. Upon responding, the officers rushed the child to the nearest local hospital but their efforts all went in the vain as the hospital declared that the child was dead upon arrival. Harshavardhan's body was then transferred for an autopsy to a government hospital. Read also: Three Men Repeatedly Stab Kidnapped Victim Then Sets Body on Fire People have been repeatedly complaining about the stray pigs Before the horrifying incident happened, residents in the neighborhood have repeatedly complained about the stray pigs roaming their streets to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). However, their requests and complaints have been ignored by authorities. According to Bangalore Mirror, the child's father already registered a complaint regarding the terrible fate that his son went through. According to the residents, the pigs have been a usual sight in the neighborhood. They also have tried shooing away the said animals but they kept on coming back. They told the reporters that the animals caused a constant disturbance in their farms, but this is the first time that an incident like this happened. In reports by Sputnik News, the local Balala Hakkula Sangham, which is an Indian community leaning towards the protection of children has already filed an official petition to the country's Human Rights Commission for a criminal case to be filed against the GHMC officials who repeatedly ignored pleas and said that the organization has responsibility for the child's death. Related article: Four-Year-Old Boy Who Dreamed of Flying, Fell to His Death from 16th Floor @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Armenian president Armen Sarkissian has issued a statement on the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, president's press service reported. The statement runs as follows: Dear Compatriots in Armenia, Artsakh and Spyurk, This year, the anniversary of the Armenian Genocide is commemorated in accordance with a protocol forced on us by the pandemic. However, our tribute to the memory of our holy martyrs has never been measured by the visits to the Genocide Memorial in Yerevan or other memorials dedicated to the Armenian Genocide. We remember our victims all the time and everywhere, no matter where in the world we are. We pray for them in our souls and minds, name by name. Remembrance and the pain of loss, intertwined with our resolve to win and achieve justice by being alive, has been with us for the last 105 years. The Armenian Genocide took place more than one hundred years ago; the Armenian people were deprived of their possessions and of their fatherland. But the entire Armenian nation is waiting for the re-establishment of justice and truth. Many historians and analysts, state and political figures of the day, considered one of the greatest injustices of the world created after the WW I the total neglect for the rights of the Armenian people. The loss of 1.5 million lives had a substantial impact on the reproductive abilities of our nation: today our numbers should have been not 10-12 million but at least its double. The issue of recognition of the Genocide, which the Armenians raise before the international community and Turkey, has a number of components: duty of remembrance, prevention of the repetition and condemnation of such crimes, elimination of the consequences of the Genocide. It is unacceptable to view the recognition of the Armenian Genocide from the standpoint of momentarily economic or political interests related to Ankara. Such an approach will stop the world in its advancement. We cannot on one hand declare that we are going to fight together against xenophobia, discrimination, intolerance, anti-Semitism, denial and other all-human vices, and on the other hand play diplomacy with Turkey on the Armenian Genocide. Many of the states, which have huge interests in Turkey, have overcome that barrier, and we are grateful to them. We are also grateful to the countries which after the Genocide opened their doors and gave refuge to those who had survived that catastrophe. We are grateful to the missionaries, military doctors and nurses, diplomats and to the nations and individuals who in those desperate days often put their own life and safety in harms way and lent a helping hand and saved many Armenians. The stance of the successive Turkish governments, which have been carrying out the denial policy on the state level to escape the recognition of the Genocide is unacceptable. Statute of limitation does not apply to the crime of genocide. Recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey and elimination of its consequences is a matter of security for Armenia, the Armenian nation, and the region. We will not forget the Armenian Genocide; we will not submit to its consequences. Dear Compatriots, Today, along with painful memories, we ought to speak also about tenacity and heroism of our people. The Genocide was also a story of daily survival and struggle of the Armenian nation, a story of strong spirit and unbending will. It was a struggle for life. Struggle for the preservation of the national identity, a struggle for the right to preserve national memory and pass it to the next generations. The Genocide was also a story of a daily heroism when life and survival became a struggle. We strived, struggled, and triumphed. We were able to triumph over death; we survived and reemerged. Todays independent Armenia, the free Artsakh, as well as the well-organized and successful Diaspora testify to that and give us new opportunities. Opportunities to unite as a nation and people, to combine our efforts and abilities to achieve our national aspirations. I am sure of that. I remember and demand. God bless the Armenian people A Co Down couple say they have been left thousands of pounds out of pocket after having to cut their dream holiday short due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Geoffrey and Joanne Parks, from Waringstown, claim they are getting nowhere in their battle to have their trip part-refunded after a 20-day 60th birthday holiday taking in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mauritius was ended nine days early. The couple feel let down by their travel agent Trailfinders, which they maintain is responsible for refunding the part of the trip they were unable to take. Geoffrey and Joanne have found themselves lost in emails, trying to get their money back. "We left on March 8 and had completed the South African leg of our holiday and were confident that the refunds due may fund a trip in the future," Geoffrey explained. "On March 17 we were contacted by South African immigration to advise us that they had closed their borders and if we travelled to Zimbabwe we would not be able to get home. "Mauritius closed its borders on March 19. Our flight from Johannesburg on March 24 was cancelled, so we should be due a refund for that too. We were offered flights home leaving on March 20 at no extra charge, but this involved a 12-hour stopover in Johannesburg and at least as long in Dubai. Joanne had radiotherapy for breast cancer in 2018, which damaged her lungs and compromised her immunity, and I have COPD, so we couldn't risk all that time in airports. "We finally paid extra and made it home on March 24. We booked the entire trip through a travel agency, so we felt confident of fair treatment, but we could not have been more wrong. "At first Trailfinders claimed that it was our insurance company's responsibility to reimburse us. However, like many others we found we did not have cover for a global pandemic. Their reluctance to offer a refund is all the more galling since I know that our Mauritius hotel is paying 100% refunds, but that goes to the booking company, not directly to us." Trailfinders said it was sorry to learn of the disruption but had offered a route home at no extra cost and was not aware of any underlying health issues. "Trailfinders was able to assist Mr and Mrs Parks in getting home at a small cost, which they agreed to pay. They were also advised to contact the British Embassy in South Africa to register for repatriation," it added. "When a holiday has been curtailed, it is right for clients to firstly contact their travel insurers, given the booking was 100% non-refundable from before the day of departure. Their holiday was curtailed due to the government and border restrictions that came into place worldwide. (It was) not a failure on behalf of Trailfinders, our suppliers or the clients. By recommending this course of action, we are not looking to deflect any responsibility. However, it's exactly these types of events where travel insurance can offer assistance in recouping any costs. "Trailfinders will continue to support Mr and Mrs Parks' attempts to recover costs and we are now investigating possible refunds for them with our suppliers." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) Authorities will exercise maximum tolerance in dealing with violators of the 48-hour lockdown in Sampaloc, Manila starting tonight, but will arrest hard-headed and uncooperative residents, the Manila Police District (MPD) said Thursday. Following the order of city Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, residents of the district will not be allowed to leave their homes starting at 8pm, in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19. "There's no reason for the people not to abide by this directive of the mayor. Ang reason lang naman nito is para magkaroon ng smooth na pagkuha sa ating mga COVID-19 positive at para sila ay mabigyan ng medikal na atensyon ng pamahalaan ng lungsod ng Maynila," MPD Director BGen Rolando Miranda told CNN Philippines' New Day on Thursday. [Translation: The only reason why the city government of Manila imposed this directive is to ensure the smooth process of isolating COVID-19 patients and give them proper medical attention.] "Ang bilin ng punong lungsod naming si Mayor Isko ay to treat these people as humanely as possible," said Miranda. "We will implement in our police operation procedure yung respect for human rights, pero kung may mga matitigas ang ulo, we will resort in arresting these people and take them into custody." [Translation: Mayor Isko ordered us to treat these people as humanely as possible. We will implement in our police operation procedure respect for human rights, but for the hard-headed ones, we will resort to arresting these people and take them into custody.] Moreno earlier announced that quarantine violators will be placed in designated detention facilities - such as in Barangays 420, 424, 463 and 581 - during the entire lockdown period, to prevent the possible spread of the disease in jails and precincts. Police forces will also be deployed to "control points" in the district. Miranda said a total of 700 police officers and soldiers will be deployed 550 from the Philippine National Police and 150 from the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Only healthcare workers, police and military personnel, government employees, service workers (pharmacies, drug stores and death care), barangay officials and accredited media practitioners are allowed to go in and out of the area. The Health Department previously reported that there have been 99 recorded COVID-19 cases in Sampaloc, with 159 suspected cases. The district has the highest number of infection in Manila City to date. The Philippines currently has a total of 6,710 COVID-19 cases, with 693 recoveries and 446 deaths. President Rodrigo Duterte previously warned quarantine violators that he will let authorities impose a "martial-law" type of discipline to further contain the spread of the virus. Just last Wednesday, an alleged retired soldier was shot dead by a police officer near a checkpoint in Quezon City. International rights group Human Rights Watch earlier noted that reports of abuse against quarantine violators "should be promptly investigated and those responsible should be appropriately disciplined or prosecuted." The President is set to decide on the fate of the Luzon-wide lockdown within the day. ABC has paid tribute to Eric from Old Peoples Home for 4 Year Olds who passed away late last month. He turned 86 in March and was seen in the show with energetic young Aiden. He migrated to Australia in 1957, having been a carpenter who then imported timber from South East Asia. He leaves behind two sons, and four grandchildren who live in Batemans Bay. Eric is the second of the elderly cast members from the Sydney nursing home to pass away, after Grace died, aged 89. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now. A couple of weeks ago, Dr. John Harold, a cardiologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, had a patient who'd taken a fall. The patient had a headache and felt weak in the left side of his body. But it took a while for Harold to hear about it. "He opted not to call the ER, even call me, because of concerns about getting exposed to COVID-19," Harold told me. "Eventually, his symptoms progressed into basically a full-blown stroke and he ended up at the hospital." Harold, who's board president of the Los Angeles affiliate of the American Heart Association, said his patient waited two days to get treated. And his patient wasn't an anomaly. He told me doctors across the country have seen patients avoiding or delaying care because of concerns about contracting the virus. "People are in this fear mode," he said. "But the challenge is -- heart attacks and strokes and cardiac arrests -- they don't stop for COVID-19." 'WHERE ARE ALL THESE PATIENTS?' According to the California American College of Emergency Physicians, ER volumes have been down 40% to 70%. Doctors say part of that is due to people staying at home, and avoiding trauma or injuries so they don't wind up in the ER. But emergency rooms are also seeing fewer heart attack and stroke patients. "I mean, we've all been scratching our heads -- where are all these patients?" Dr. Larry Stock, an ER doctor at Antelope Valley Hospital, told me. "The answer is, they're at home, and we're starting to see the tip of the iceberg of this phenomenon." icon DON'T MISS ANY L.A. CORONAVIRUS NEWS Get our daily newsletters for the latest on COVID-19 and other top local headlines. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy At Loma Linda University Medical Center, the 52-bed ICU for coronary patients is usually full of people coming in by way of the emergency department. But recently, the unit has been only about a third to a half full, said Dr. Anthony Hilliard, a cardiovascular disease specialist at Loma Linda University's International Heart Institute. "It's counterintuitive to some extent, because these are conditions that aren't on a schedule," he said. "These are things that present out of the blue or acutely and require urgent or emergent care." A report published in Journal of the American College of Cardiology showed a 38% drop in March of STEMI patients -- or heart attack patients who had complete arterial blockage. At Cedars-Sinai, the ER has seen 18% fewer stroke patients and 10% fewer STEMI patients from March to April 15 compared to the same period last year, according to a spokesperson for the hospital. When patients do show up, doctors say they're often sicker. Dr. Andrea Austin, an ER doctor in downtown Los Angeles, told me she's seen fewer non-COVID patients overall during the pandemic, but she's seen more serious cases because of patients' unwillingness to go to the ER right away. "We've seen that before COVID, sometimes, people have delays in care, but I've never seen the number of delays that I have in the last month or so," she said. Austin said in some cases, patients have run out of medicine for their chronic conditions, like diabetes. In other cases, she's had stroke patients come into the hospital days after having symptoms like nausea, dizziness and vomiting. "I think that's really one of the tragedies of COVID-19 is that people are scared," she said. "They're staying at home and trying to diagnose themselves, or really playing down their symptoms, where if they came in, we as trained emergency physicians would quickly realize that this was potentially a stroke." Austin said she's been using telemedicine to help triage patients to the emergency department. 'THE BEST CARE IS CARE' Jacqueline Alikhaani understands why people have been afraid to go to the hospital. She has a rare form of heart disease and diabetes, and she had a stroke several years ago. She's 59 years old, and her husband is 70. "I've been feeling a lot of anxiety," she told me last week. "They're saying that people who have heart disease and diabetes, those kind of chronic conditions, are at a higher risk." Recently, she said she's been having some chest pains, and has been unsure if it's related to her anxiety. Before the pandemic, she said, she'd go down the street to her local ER. "That's just not something I feel very comfortable with right now," she said. "It's a tough call, tough decisions." She said she's been in close contact with her doctor and monitoring her symptoms, like her blood pressure, and says her doctor has made sure to tell her that she shouldn't hesitate to go to the ER. And that's the message doctors have been trying to tell their patients despite COVID-19. Harold, with Cedars-Sinai and the American Heart Association, said hospitals have taken precautions to keep people safe from the virus, and delaying care in major events like a heart attack or stroke can only make things worse. "I tell people the best care is care, and not just to sit at home and wait for things to get better spontaneously," he said. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The Smart Antenna Market is anticipated to reach around USD 9,705 million by 2026 according to a new research published by Polaris Market Research. In 2017, MIMO segment dominated the global market, in terms of revenue. North America is expected to be the leading contributor to the global smart antenna market revenue during the forecast period. The growing demand for smart antenna in wireless communication networks coupled with rising need for efficient and stable network performance has boosted the adoption of smart antenna. The rising penetration of smartphones, and increasing adoption of mobile-connected devices further support the growth of this market. The growing demand for high speed communication services, high demand for wireless broadband services, and declining costs of connected devices would accelerate the adoption of smart antenna during the forecast period. However, high costs associated with smart antenna is expected to restrict the growth of the market to a certain extent. Growing demand from emerging economies, increasing adoption of IoT and advancements in cellular networks are expected to provide numerous growth opportunities in the coming years. Get Sample Copy @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/smart-antenna-market/request-for-sample North America generated the highest revenue in the market in 2017, and is expected to lead the global smart antenna market throughout the forecast period. The presence of established telecom and cloud infrastructure in this region, and growing trend of IoT drive the smart antenna market growth in the region. The growing demand of mobile devices, and technological advancements further support market growth in the region. The use of smart technologies in varied sectors and growing need for high speed communication services for increased efficiency in diverse industries is expected to support smart antenna market growth in this region during the forecast period. Get Special Discount On this Research Report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/smart-antenna-market/request-for-discount-pricing The key players operating in the smart antenna market include Texas Instruments Incorporated, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., Broadcom Limited, Airgain, Inc., Motorola Solutions, Inc, Ruckus Wireless, Airgo Netwroks Inc., Interdigital communications Corp., Lucent technologies, and Sierra Wireless. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to innovate and launch new products to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers. Contact us Polaris Market Research Phone: 16465689980 Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.com Web: www.polarismarketresearch.com Ottawa, April 23 : Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced C$9 billion ($6 billion) in financial aid for students whose education and job prospects have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The aid named Canada Emergency Student Benefit is intended to help young people who have fallen through the cracks of other emergency relief programs against the COVID-19 crisis, reports Xinhua news agency. At his news conference on Wednesday, Trudeau said that a monthly payment of C$1,250 was going for post-secondary students from May through August to make up for lost work and cut hours. It will increase to C$1,750 for students with disabilities or who care for others. He also said students will be eligible to receive monthly payments of between C$1,000-5,000 for volunteering in their communities to reward them for their efforts. Trudeau also announced that his government is doubling student grants for eligible students up to C$6,000 for full-time students and up to C$3,600 for part-time students. "COVID-19 has meant that there aren't as many jobs out there for students, and without a job, it can be hard to pay for tuition or the day-to-day basics. "You might normally have turned to your parents for help, but right now mom and dad are stretched, too," Trudeau said. The benefit will require additional legislation and talks are underway about how quickly a bill to implement this new program can be brought forward. As of Thursday morning, there were 41,650 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada and 2,080 deaths. ALMERIA, Spain (AP) A former London rapper who stopped making music not long after his father's extradition to face terror charges in the bombings of two U.S. embassies was arrested Monday in southern Spain on suspicion of joining Islamic State fighters in Syria. Two sources close to the investigation told The Associated Press that police arrested Abdel-Majed Abdel Bary and two other men at a rented apartment. Abdel Bary is the son of an Egyptian operative of al-Qaeda who was convicted for events related to the 1998 bombings at U.S. embassies in Africa that killed 224 people. A media release from Spain's National Police didn't name Abdel Bary. It described him as an Egyptian national who left Europe to fight in Syria and Iraq. The police statement also called him one of the most sought terrorists in Europe, both because of his criminal trajectory in the ranks of Daesh (Islamic State) and because of the high danger that he represented. He and the two other men were arrested overnight at the apartment in Almeria, a port city in southeastern Spain, the AP learned from officials on the ground and interviews with local residents. The three were being interrogated on Tuesday and were scheduled to appear before a National Court judge in Madrid on Wednesday, according to a spokesman for the court that usually handles terror-related case. The spokesman who was not authorized to be named in media reports. Police said the operation was the result of international cooperation" between agents specialized in fighting terrorism who suspected that the Egyptian suspect might be traveling through Spain as he tried to return home from the Mideast. Abdel Bary, who is believed to be 29, grew up in London to become a rapper known as Lyricist Jinn and L Jinny. Music videos still available online show him performing raps with references to drug use, violence and his familys experience as asylum-seekers in Britain. His radicalization reportedly took place shortly after his father, Abdel Abdul Bary, was extradited in 2012 to the United States, where he was tried for the twin bombings of the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. The father was convicted in New York and sentenced in 2015 to a 25-year prison term. Story continues In a 2013 post still viewable on what appeared to be his Facebook account, the younger Abdul Bary left a message for his fans: I have left everything for the sake of Allah," he wrote. One year later, in August 2014, a photo of him holding a mans severed head was posted on Twitter. British investigators initially suspected Abdel Bary as being Jihadi John, the IS militant who spoke with a British accent in the video showing the execution of American journalist James Foley. Foley, one of the Islamic State group's early foreign victims, was decapitated. The real Jihadi John turned out to be Mohammed Emwazi, who also grew up in London. Britains Foreign Office declined to comment on Tuesday's arrests, referring queries to the Spanish police. Shiraz Maher, an expert on radicalization at London's Kings College, described Abdel Bary as one of the better known among a cluster of Islamist extremists that emerged in west London in the early 2010s. He was also one of the earliest so-called foreign fighters to become disillusioned with ISIS. Disillusionment kicked in at different stages for different people. He was known to have been disillusioned for quite a while. And he then just disappeared off the radar, Maher said, suggesting that Abdel Bary's early departure doesn't necessarily signal that he was no longer a threat. He was a member of ISIS and clearly participated in all kinds of horrors the group was involved in and should face punishment for those crimes," Maher said. "But at this stage, he is more likely to be someone who was trying to save himself in Spain. Abdel Bary was no stranger to Spanish law enforcement. In 2015, a Spanish woman was arrested at an airport terminal in Madrid when she tried to travel to Turkey with a fake passport in order to meet up with and marry Abdel Bary. At her trial, Maria de los Angeles Cala Marquez said she had fallen in love with Abdel Bary after chatting with the former rapper online. In mid-2018 she was sentenced to two years of imprisonment with reprieve. On Tuesday, Spanish police described Abdel Bary as having anextremely violent criminal profile. His arrest took place in Cerro de San Cristobal, a historic neighborhood in Almeria known for its narrow streets dotted with nightclubs and a mix of old and new buildings leading to the citys Alcazaba, a 10th-century fortress of Arabic origin. Taxi driver Angel Vilchez told the AP that at least six police vehicles and about 30 officers, including many in plainclothes, had blocked access to several streets for most of Monday. Another neighbor, who asked not to be named in media reports, said police had showed up at 3 a.m. Monday and took away at least one person handcuffed from an apartment used for short stays by tourists. Spain's Interior Ministry says police have arrested nearly 400 people connected to extremist religious groups since 2012. Many of the arrests have not led to judicial convictions. ___ Parra reported from Madrid. AP reporters Danica Kirca in London and Lori Hinnant in Paris contributed to this report. Japan is changing its stock exchange structure to improve corporate governance. IFLRs latest primer looks at how the changes will impact asset managers and whether the changes go far enough to address corporate governance issues. What are changes to the JPX about? Financial services operator, the Japan Exchange Group (JPX) is planning to restructure the Tokyo Stock Exchange (TSE) from April 1 2022. Under the proposed changes the five existing market segments: first section, second section, Mothers and JASDAQ (standard & growth) will be reorganised into new market segments: prime, standard and growth. The prime segment will include companies with large market capitalisation, excellent corporate governance, and high liquidity. This segment requires that the tradable market capitalisation of companies be at least JPY10 billion ($92.7 million). Companies under the standard segment will have basic corporate governance standards and a standard level of market liquidity. The growth segment will include companies with relatively high risks that need to disclose progress at set time periods. For asset managers, the question is which companies will make the cut to be included in the prime section. This will determine what companies will fall under the Topix index, which tracks companies in the first section of the JPX. See also: PRIMER: Japans new foreign investment law Why is the JPX changing its structure? The focus on corporate governance reform in Japan started about 10 years ago when the Japanese government and the TSE started discussions on encouraging the appointment of outside and independent directors at Japanese listed companies. Since then, a number of reforms, including the establishment of the corporate governance code and the stewardship code have been implemented, said Masakazu Kumagai, partner at Mori Hamada & Matsumoto. Investor scrutiny on Japanese corporate governance is getting stricter and stricter. The TSE has indicated that it will review the corporate governance code and apply higher standards to those companies listed on the prime market. This would contribute to the trend of heightened corporate governance in Japan. Yusuke Motoyanagi, partner at Nishimura & Asahi, said: Higher market capitalisation requirements are required because of the increase in passive investment. This and other high thresholds will give Japanese companies an incentive to improve corporate governance. What are the concerns of the reform? Sources suggest that a main concern of the reform is that it does not go far enough to reduce the number of companies in the prime segment. The existing first section of the TSE has more than 2000 companies. We welcome the intention to simplify the market structure and clarify the role of each section, given that there are ambiguities about the distinction between the current lower sections, said Sachi Suzuki, associate director of engagement at Federated Hermes. However, it appears that a vast majority of the more than 2000 companies currently on the first tier of the exchange will likely stay in the new prime section after the reform. Suzuki is concerned that the restructuring may fail to address concerns that the top tier is overpopulated, from large global companies to very small ones. This is one of the factors making the Japanese market less attractive to global investors, she said. Investors typically investing in index funds would be investing in companies across the board on Topix, said Chie Mitsui, senior researcher at Nomura Research Institute. The problem is that there is no competition for companies to be better, even with the corporate governance code in place. She continued: Its easy for companies to stay the same when passive funds are investing into them but there are too many companies on the Topix." "If the list of 2000 companies were to go down to 150, for instance, it would be much easier to engage with companies on corporate governance issues. How are asset managers preparing for the changes? Since all companies currently listed in the first section of the stock exchange are included in the Topix, investors who use the index as a benchmark will need to prepare for the change to the composition of the index related to the reform of the stock exchange. According to Kumagai, the TSE intends to review the selection rule of the Topix constituent companies so that liquidity will be more heavily weighted. It is expected that the new rule will be determined and announced by March 2022. The TSE has indicated that it will seek opinions from Topix users in the course of its review. For asset managers, the question will be which companies will be included in the premium segment of the Topix as they will need to sell companies that are not included, said Mitsui. They will be tied down by investment policies and the shift will take time because contracts between asset managers and clients will need to be changed. The challenge is that all of these existing contracts need to be changed. Mitsui added that there will be a lot of uncertainty as to whether companies on the borderline will be able to meet the minimum market capitalisation threshold. What areas lack clarity? Suzuki said that it is also encouraging that the JPX is planning to apply more stringent governance requirements to companies listed in the prime section, although it is unclear what new criteria will be introduced at the next revision of the corporate governance code. While it may be reasonable to make compliance a criterion for listing in the prime section with the enhanced criteria of corporate governance code, it is important for the stock exchange to ensure the compliance is not superficial but also has substance, she said. Kumagai said that attention should be paid to the definition of tradable market capitalisation. In particular, TSE indicated that it will review the definition of a tradable share and shares held as cross-shareholdings could be considered non-tradable. While cross-shareholdings are still prevalent in the Japanese market, investor pressure on listed companies to unwind such relationships is getting stronger and stronger, he said. There might be certain companies which could be affected by how tradable market capitalisation will be defined. Suzuki said that plans to revise the definition of tradable shares, the amount of which will be used as an additional criterion for the each section of the market, and in particular, to exclude shares held as cross-shareholdings from the definition, are welcomed. She hopes that this will not only help select companies with sufficiently liquid shares, but may also help unwind cross-shareholdings, which are associated with a number of other issues, such as ignoring shareholders interests. See also:Japan: disclosure of corporate affairs 2021 Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. For help please see our FAQs. Share this article With pubic healthcare systems becoming increasingly strained due to the impact of COVID-19, healthcare professionals are having to question whether to factor age in as a priority when deciding who to treat. Now, an article recently published in The BMJ outlines two sides of the debate over whether younger people with COVID-19 should be prioritized for receiving treatment. Dave Archard, Emeritus Professor at Queen's University in Belfast, argues that prioritizing younger individuals would be entering into discrimination, while Arthur Caplan, Professor of Bioethics, at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York talks about why he thinks age should be considered, once data support reasons for doing so. Archard's view Archard begins by pointing out that prioritizing who should receive potentially life-saving treatment becomes unavoidable once the demand for treatment exceeds the availability of supplies and that various recommendations made in the past have been based on ethical principles. "It is easy then to see why age might be proposed as a simple, clear, and definitive basis on which to decide matters: when there are no other relevant differences between two patients in equal need of care, choose the younger," he writes. However, he points out the "crudeness and unreliability" of basing decisions on age, which may only be a marker of differences in factors such as chances of survival or clinical frailty rather than a marker of anything else. This then suggests an element of unjust discrimination because it allows treatment decisions to be determined by "unwarranted animus or prejudice" towards old people. Three main reasons for not prioritizing age Archard says there are three main reasons why age should not be a prioritizing factor. Firstly, he asks where the line would be drawn in terms of what constitutes "younger than." For example, prioritizing an 18-year-old for treatment over a 19-year-old would be no less morally reprehensible than using a coin toss to decide who receives treatment, he says. "If young people as a demographic group are to be preferred to old people, then there are problems of distinguishing in a non-arbitrary way between two patients who differ only in being just above and just below the agreed threshold of age." Secondly, he refers to the "fair innings" argument, which posits that people who have not yet lived for a certain amount of time should be prioritized over those who already have. However, there is no consensus over what constitutes fair innings, says Archard: "Someone who has had her fair innings may yet have much to give the world than another who has not may be unable to offer." Archard argues that even if what counts as fair innings can be agreed upon, why exactly should this be seen as a fair basis for determining who receives treatment, especially since luck and circumstances play a significant role and regardless of age, the need for treatment may be the result of bad luck. "It is hard not to think that it matters what kind of life has been led and might still be led," he says. Thirdly, Archard thinks that discrimination in the provision of care based on age sends a message to the public that older people are of less value than younger people. "It stigmatizes them as second class citizens And it would be hard not to think-- even if it was not intended--that a cull of elderly people was what was being aimed at," he concludes. Caplan's view Caplan, on the other hand, says that age becomes a valid criterion when it is supported by data and points out that age has been a defining factor for decades, once access to emergency treatments such as organ transplants or dialysis requires rationing. He refers to previous reports of some countries having an age of over 65 as a criterion for denying intensive care when services are scarce. He also refers to how in Europe and the US, "it is almost unheard of for anyone over 80 to receive a solid organ transplant from a dead donor." However, Caplan does think that denying such services to an entire group based merely on age would be discriminatory and wrong, but he also thinks the vital question is whether age should be considered once rationing has become inevitable. Referring to the "fair innings" point, he says that this commitment to equality in opportunity has nothing to do with the relative contributions of old people versus young people. However, when the aim becomes to save lives in the face of limited resources, then he thinks the reduced likelihood of survival with older age may begin to deserve consideration. "Indeed, the relevance of old age as a predictive factor of efficacy--combined with the powerful principle of healthcare affording equality of opportunity to enjoy life--makes age an important factor in making the terrible choice of who will receive scarce resources in a pandemic," concludes Caplan. "Ageism has no place in rationing, but age may." An illuminated globe shows the South China Sea at a museum in Pathumthani, Thailand. (Charles Dharapak/AP Photo) Malaysia Calls for Peaceful End to Months-Long South China Sea Standoff KUALA LUMPURMalaysia called on April 23 for disputes over the South China Sea to be resolved by peaceful means, amid a standoff between Chinese and Malaysian vessels that a U.S. think tank said had been going on for months. U.S. and Australian warships arrived in the South China Sea this week near an area where a Chinese government survey vessel, the Haiyang Dizhi 8, has been operating close to a drillship under contract to Malaysian state oil company Petronas, regional security sources have said. The standoff was the latest development in a series of targeted harassments by Chinese vessels of drilling operations in five oil blocks off the Malaysian coast in the past year, said Greg Poling, director of the Washington-based Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative (AMTI). Since December, Chinese forces have been harassing supply ships servicing the West Capella, an oil exploration vessel operated by Petronas, Poling said. A U.S. V-22 Osprey takes off from the USS Wasp, U.S. Navy multipurpose amphibious assault ship, during the amphibious landing exercises as part of the annual joint U.S.-Philippines military exercise on the shores of San Antonio town, facing the South China Sea, Zambales Province, on April 11, 2019. (Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images) Warships and fighter jets of Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Navy take part in a military display in the South China Sea, on April 12, 2018. (Reuters) Last week, the Haiyang Dizhi 8, accompanied by a Chinese Coast Guard (CCG) vessel, entered Malaysias exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and began a survey close to where the West Capella was operating. On Thursday, the Haiyang Dizhi 8 was still within Malaysias EEZ, about 337 kilometers (209.4 miles) off Borneo, data from ship tracking website Marine Traffic Showed. Three U.S. warships and an Australian frigate conducted a joint exercise in the South China Sea this week, near the site of the West Capellas operations, officials and security sources have said. China has denied reports of a standoff, saying the Haiyang Dizhi 8 was carrying out normal activities. Malaysia said on Thursday it remained committed to safeguarding its interests in the South China Sea. While international law guarantees the freedom of navigation, the presence of warships and vessels in the South China Sea has the potential to increase tensions that in turn may result in miscalculations which may affect peace, security and stability in the region, Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said in his first official remarks on the standoff. Hishammuddin said Malaysia maintained open and continuous communication with all relevant parties, including China and the United States. Petronas did not respond to requests for comment. Separately, Taiwans Defense Ministry said that a Chinese aircraft carrier group lead by Chinas first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, had ended a mission in the South China Sea on Wednesday and was now heading east through the Bashi Channel, which separates Taiwan from the Philippines. The carrier group earlier this month sailed down Taiwans east coast. China said at the time it was on its way to routine exercises in the South China Sea. By Rozanna Latiff and A. Ananthalakshmi. Epoch Times staff contributed to this report. Boyds owner Kent Gushner, left, with his son Alex Gushner. Boyds has been able to keep employees on payroll thanks for a Payroll Protection Program loan of more than $500,000. Read more Small businesses are getting a second chance to grab a financial lifeline and stay afloat during the coronavirus crisis. But their initial struggles in securing emergency government-backed loans that quickly went dry inspired little confidence for the mom-and-pop shops, restaurants, and other small enterprises that need the money most. Im looking to get money into my 27 employees hands because we had to furlough everyone, said Tim Way, co-owner of the Ways Brewing Co. in Glenside, who has been unable to obtain a loan through the troubled Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). We wanted to be able to give this money to them so they can pay rent and eat. Hes not alone. And now Philadelphia small-business owners are scrambling to get in line for the next round. The House gave final passage Thursday to a measure that would provide more than $300 billion in new funding for the PPP, a Small Business Administration program that was meant to help firms keep employees on payroll during the pandemic. Many banks disbursing the loans were overwhelmed by demand, many of the smallest businesses struggled to get cash, and the PPP quickly burned through its first $350 billion. The big banks had so much volume, but they didnt have a lot of people with SBA experience, said Vernon Hill, executive chairman at Philadelphia-based Republic Bank. Smaller banks saw much less overall demand but approved a far higher proportion of loan requests. Even with the second wave of money, Vernon said, some people will be left behind. The additional cash is coming amid rising criticism that the first round saw money meant for small businesses go to bigger firms including some publicly traded companies. The question is whether banks and the federal government have sped up systems that frustrated many early applicants. In the first application frenzy, larger companies with private bankers and accountants on-call were winners. Many had their lenders on speed dial. Smaller companies often turned to local banks and community lenders, instead. The experience of JPMorgan Chase customers was particularly acute. The nations largest bank, JPMorgan said it approved only 26,500 loans out of the 300,000 PPP applications, or about 9%. Of those, about 8,500 went to clients of JPMorgans elite wealth management and corporate banking departments. Most who applied there were approved, and very few who applied without that edge werent. If JPMorgan were the Titanic, first-class business passengers survived, while most small businesses in steerage drowned. Bank of America and Wells Fargo wouldnt say how many loans they approved. But SBA data show they each approved 10% or fewer. READ MORE: Phillys women- and minority-owned businesses say theyre getting the shaft on emergency coronavirus loans By contrast, mid-sized M&T Bank, based in Buffalo, N.Y., with large branch networks in Pennsylvania and Delaware, said it approved 27,000 of its 36,000 applicants, or 75%. And Parke Bank, a small lender based in Gloucester County, approved 230 of the 285 PPP applications about 81% pumping almost $60 million into the region, according to chief lending officer Nick Pantilione. My staff made sure we were prepared, Pantilione said. So what went wrong at the bigger banks? Despite more than 2,000 people working tirelessly to help as many small businesses as possible, we were not able to process all of those applications before the SBA funds were depleted, JPMorgan said in a statement. Kent Gushner, the third-generation president of the Philadelphia clothing store Boyds, closed in mid-March along with most businesses in Pennsylvania. For the next four weeks, he continued paying 125 workers from company savings. Then he collected a PPP loan of more than $500,000 from the Cherry Hill-based, Canadian-owned TD Bank. Thanks to the PPP loan, Gushner said, he was very proud to announce to our staff last week that nobody would be furloughed, at least through the middle of June. READ MORE: Phillys struggling restaurants are nearing a moment of truth as the coronavirus crisis drags on Many are turning to small local banks such as Huntingdon Valley Bank, where chief lending officer Hugh Connelly said more than $50 million in PPP loans had been funded by April 23. We have a funding surge building, and this pause, while the SBA reloads, affords every lender a chance to catch their breath, rebuild processes ... so when the money returns, we can be faster and more responsive, Connelly said. Huntingdon Valley loans were mostly to new customers moving their entire accounts over. Weve probably facilitated the rehiring of 3,500-plus employees, Connelly said. Were definitely punching above our weight class. M&T Bank processed loans for area small businesses including DFW Motel Supply, River Twice Restaurant, and Revere Suburban Realty, which were among more than 900 businesses borrowing more than $428 million. By contrast, some PNC customers said they couldnt get answers. Banks prioritized larger business customers first in the PPP program, said Benjamin Kauffman, a doctor who runs a small ophthalmology practice in Northeast Philadelphia, employing 16 workers. We have been loyal customers with PNC bank for over 25 years, Kauffman said. We applied with PNC on April 4, the first day the PPP application portal went live. Other than one email, hes heard nothing. We took our obligations with respect to every application that was submitted very seriously, and sought to process it as quickly as possible, PNC spokesperson Marcey Zwiebel said. Ultimately, many of the applications that we were able to get approved by the SBA before the cutoff date were from very small businesses across our entire footprint. We are working rapidly real-time hour by hour, Dan Fitzpatrick, president of Citizens Bank of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, said in an interview earlier this month. We [normally do] several hundred SBA loans per month. This is thousands. Shanthy Brown, who owns Brown Eye Care optometry clinic in Mount Airy, applied for a $4,600 PPP loan through the nonprofit Womens Opportunities Resource Center, having already dealt with the group for an SBA mortgage earlier this year. She banks with Citizens, but because of my experience with WORC, I knew I wanted to work with them, Brown said. Another issue has been access to loans for women- and minority-owned businesses. The next round of PPP funding includes $30 billion set aside for institutions specializing in loans to underserved businesses, including community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and minority depository institutions. Still, minorities fear they may again be left behind. The large majority of Latino-owned businesses were locked out of the first round of PPP, said Noel Poyo, executive director of the National Association of Latino Community Asset Builders. We dont expect that status quo to change. More than two dozen people on a flight from Russia have tested positive for the coronavirus upon arriving in China, according to Chinese health authorities. A total of 28 people on Air China flight CA910 from Moscow to the northwestern Chinese city of Xian returned positive tests after landing Monday morning, according to a statement (link in Chinese) published Tuesday on the website of the Health Commission of Shaanxi province, of which Xian is the capital. The infected people include 27 passengers and one member of the flight crew, and are aged between 24 and 64. While many have shown Covid-19 symptoms like fever, coughing and headaches, seven people are asymptomatic, the statement said. All 166 people on board the flight have been quarantined for medical observation, it added. The new cases come after Chinas ambassador to Moscow, Zhang Hanhui, condemned Chinese citizens who have returned home from Russia amid the Covid-19 outbreak. Zhang said Friday in an interview with Chinas state broadcaster that their actions risked spreading the deadly virus even further. His comments backfired on Chinese social media, where some users argued (link in Chinese) the government had a duty of care to stranded overseas citizens, while others pointed out (link in Chinee) that Chinese nationals had a legal right to return home if they wanted to do so. Zhang had said in an April 7 interview that there were 160,000 Chinese nationals in Russia. A Russia-based Chinese national with knowledge of the flight, who requested anonymity because he was sharing certain passengers personal details, told Caixin that many travelers on the flight were Chinese goods traders working in Moscows Lyublino and Sadovod markets. Many decided to fly back to China due to limited foreign language ability and doubts about the Russian health systems ability to cope with the Covid-19 pandemic, he added. Although China has largely brought its outbreak under control, disease hotspots have recently emerged in areas near the Russian border. Authorities in the remote northeastern Chinese city of Suifenhe, where the two countries have a border crossing, implemented a strict lockdown earlier this month after nearly 300 people, mostly Chinese nationals returning from Russia, were found to have contracted the virus. The rise in so-called imported infections in Chinas Northeast also spurred the temporary closure of its land border crossings with Russia earlier this month. Russia last month placed (link in Russian) severe restrictions on international flights in response to the coronavirus outbreak. The worlds largest country has so far recorded about 58,000 cases of the virus and more than 500 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Contact reporter Matthew Walsh (matthewwalsh@caixin.com) and editor Michael Bellart (michaelbellart@caixin.com) Pranker wanted on suspicion of aborting online school lessons in St. Petersburg RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov 10:53 23/04/2020 ST. PETERSBURG, April 23 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov) A pranker suspected of aborting online school lessons in St. Petersburg has been put on a wanted list, RAPSI has learnt from the local Main Investigations Distrctorate of the Investigative Committee. Police are searching streamer and pranker acting on VKontakte social network under the nickname Arthur Amayev. A case is opened against him over illegal access to computer information. A law enforcement check found that Arthur Amayev mostly makes videos of computer games running, sets up pranks and publishes them on his YouTube channel. In March and April, he released videos showing him joining to online lessons, playing rude jokes and aborting lessons. Closeup of gavel in court room. Jonathan Altman, Chester County lawyer, who once served as an Assistant District Attorney, was disbarred this week for flagrant misconduct. Read more A Chester County lawyer who once served as an assistant district attorney was disbarred this week for flagrant misconduct that included a sexual relationship with a destitute client and unauthorized business and financial transactions with her. Jonathan F. Altman, 70, admitted to repeated instances of sexual contact with a woman who had hired him to represent her in a child custody and property tax dispute. The Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania issued a disbarment order Wednesday. Altman served as assistant district attorney in Chester County in the 1980s. Citing Altmans lack of remorse and misuse of his position, the Hearing Committee wrote that the overwhelming evidence establishes that [Altman] is unfit to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and no amount of suspension or rehabilitation will make him fit for practice. Altmans lawyer Samuel C. Stretton said that he was disappointed in the decision. I think they have changed the standards for the imposition of professional discipline," Stretton said. "They have given little weight now to a man with 44 years of good services as a lawyer. Prior to hearings in 2018, Altman admitted to violating professional rules of conduct. In a statement to the hearing board, Altman confessed to having a consensual affair. But Altman added that he had been in a weakened state. Though he "should have known better, he said, "what Ive learned is that I cant put myself in a position where Im alone with a female. The Hearing Committee cited Altmans words as evidence of lack of sufficient remorse: Altmans statement that he should not be alone with a female reflects a tendency to make excuses for his conduct (i.e. that he sees himself as weak) rather than an admission of an ethical failing on his part. The woman, a divorced single mother, initially contacted Altman at his office in West Chester in December 2012 because of a lien on her East Fallowfield house that threatened to make her and her four children homeless. Altman, a trial lawyer, took her on as a client. Altman had sex with the woman five times, according to court papers, and threatened to quit representing her if she didnt continue to provide sexual favors. Altman also gave the woman money to make home repairs in an attempt to keep her from telling his wife about their affair, court documents show. When the woman couldnt pay him back, Altman took her to court and demanded $30,000 for house repairs and an additional $10,000 for legal fees. He allegedly misused the legal system by filing collection actions based on inaccurate representations. During a 2017 hearing, Altman stipulated to having a relationship with the woman for 18 months and being aware of her dire financial straits. He knew she would do anything to regain and retain custody of her children, but wouldnt be able to do so without his assistance. He also stipulated that he threatened to withdraw as her lawyer if she did not comply with all his requests for sexual favors to his satisfaction. The hearing committee lambasted Altman in its ruling, filed in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. [Altman] is a risk to current and potential clients and he denigrates the integrity of the profession, the committee said. A Kansas Baskin-Robbins wants customers to know that the ice cream chain has absolutely nothing to do with Tiger King's Carole Baskin. On Sunday, the Baskin-Robbins in Junction City updated its marquee to proclaim that it has 'No Relation to Carole Baskin.' And according to TMZ, the new sign has been a hit, with its owner saying sales doubled the day the new letters went up. Popular: A Baskin-Robbins in Junction City, Kansas put up a new sign saying it has 'no relation to Carole Baskin' and double the customers came in It's a hit! The owner hadn't watched the show, but her son said referencing Carole (pictured) would be a good idea given the success of Tiger King Peggy Heldstab owns the local ice cream store, but hadn't actually watched the Netflix docu-series herself when she changed the sign. She told TMZ that her son thought it would be funny, and she took his word for it. It turned out to be a pretty good tip, with the sign attracting double the customers on Sunday than the store had had the day before. This has proven particularly helpful since the business is currently limited to carry-out and delivery. Meanwhile, Peggy has since started watching Tiger King, and said that despite the sign, she'd happily serve Carole if she came into the shop. Everyone's watching: The Netflix docu-series has been a huge hit Today. DailyMail.com exclusively reported an interview with one of Carole's old boyfriends. Alan Schreier, 70, was in a relationship with the Big Cat Rescue founder between 1999 and 2001, after her husband Don Lewis mysteriously vanished. Alan, a retired real estate developer, met Carole, 58, online and after just two months of dating he moved into the wildlife preserve compound where she still lives in Tampa, Florida. 'I was on a couple of dating sites in the late 90s and one day I got this email from Carole saying: ''I know you but I don't think you know me, but if you want to know me I'm in People magazine this week,"' Alan said. Carole's first husband, Don Lewis, went missing in 1997 and has since been declared dead. His body was never found. Into her past: DailyMail.com published a new interview today with one of Carole's old boyfriends, Alan Schreier, 70 'I met Carole about a year and a half after her husband went missing, so it was still fresh,' recalled Alan. 'She told me that Don hung around some ''unsavory people.'' She said he used to carry a lot of money around on him and she thought maybe somebody did something to him, perhaps kidnapped or killed him. 'Their marriage was faltering towards the end. She told me they were not getting along at all.' Despite Carole's interesting past, Alan was keen to meet her in person. 'We got along and she was very attractive. She usually dressed in cat prints, they looked good on her,' he said. 'We hit it off pretty quickly and started spending a lot of time together.' Alan added: 'We had a very good sex life, and she was quite affectionate with me. She had a very high sex drive, maybe that's why it lasted for over three years. 'She liked it in the hot tub, we got our money's worth for the hot tub! He exclusively told DailyMail.com: 'We got along and she was very attractive. We had a very good sex life, and she was quite affectionate with me' Pictured: Carole and her dead husband Don Lewis Alan and Carole lived together harmoniously for about seven months, but problems arose when Alan's son Todd, then 15, moved in with them. Todd, now a 36-year-old real estate investor, does not remember his time at the Baskin household fondly, explaining Carole wasn't much of a people person and made him stay away from her side of the house. He said: 'I never spoke with her about her ex-husband, but there was a big cement slab in the middle of the woods that never had an explanation on it. That didn't make sense to me. That always like that was the only red flag thing that stuck out with me. ' Despite the soured relationship Carole had with both Alan and Todd, both are skeptical she killed Lewis. Alan said: 'I think it's bull spit. He was not nice to her. He was rough with her and so forth. So, you know, there's a part of me thinking, who knows? You know? I don't know. I still believe that she didn't do it.' Todd added: 'Do I think Carol personally, like schlepped him in the back of a truck and ground him up and then fed him no, absolutely not. 'Do I think that she might know like more than she's let anyone else know? Absolutely. How private and cold she is? Shes probably the world champion at keeping a secret.' [April 23, 2020] Sysdig Wins Red Hat North American Partner Award Sysdig, Inc., the secure DevOps leaders, was named as the Public Sector Rising Star by Red Hat (News - Alert), Inc., the world's leading provider of open source solutions. The award is part of the annual Red Hat North American Partner Awards that honor partners for continued efforts to support customers on the path to IT modernization. In order to confidently run Kubernetes and containers in production, toolsets must support a secure DevOps workflow. Sysdig was honored by Red Hat for its unified platform for security and monitoring, which simplifies management with a single source of truth across development, DevOps, and security teams. The Sysdig Secure DevOps Platform is built on open source, with the scale, performance, and usability enterprises demand. Earlier this week, Red Hat announced Ford (News - Alert) is a finalist for the 2020 Red Hat Innovator of the Year award. After launching Openhift in production, Ford adopted Sysdig Secure and Sysdig Monitor, a Kubernetes security solution certified by Red Hat, to add extra visibility and protection for its development and production OpenShift environments. "Red Hat and its technology is a testament to the power of open source solutions in supporting the transition to containers and Kubernetes and accelerating innovation," said Suresh Vasudevan, chief executive officer, Sysdig. "We are honored to be recognized by Red Hat as a Rising Star and we look forward to our continued collaboration. We are also excited to see our joint customer, Ford, recognized for their cloud transformation." Sysdig collaborates with Red Hat during each phase of the container lifecycle. With Red Hat, Sysdig customers are able to maximize application performance and availability while minimizing security risk. The Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform is the industry's most comprehensive enterprise-grade Kubernetes container application platform and Sysdig provides a unified platform for OpenShift security, compliance, and monitoring. Red Hat's 2019 North American Partner Awards honor both commercial and public sector partners for their dedication to successfully delivering innovative open source solutions to customers. Honorees were recognized for outstanding performance in 2019 across several categories that span Red Hat's open source portfolio and their dedication to delivering customer success. "Sysdig is a valued channel partner to Red Hat, and we are pleased to honor them with this well-deserved award," said Michael Byrd, vice president, public sector channel sales, Red Hat. "We look forward to our continued relationship with Sysdig and helping them provide the best in open source solutions to their clients." About Sysdig Sysdig enables companies to confidently run cloud-native workloads in production. With the Sysdig Secure DevOps Platform, cloud teams embed security, validate compliance and maximize performance and availability. The Sysdig platform is open by design with the scale, performance, and usability enterprises demand. The largest companies rely on Sysdig for cloud-native security and visibility. Learn more at sysdig.com. Red Hat and OpenShift are trademarks of Red Hat, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005519/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Lord Bethell said Britain was 'not alone in struggling' with the amount of gowns, gloves and masks required and no one could have anticipated the 'huge demands' placed on supplies A minister sparked fury today after he failed to apologise for a lack of protective equipment provided for NHS staff fighting to save lives from coronavirus Lord Bethell said Britain was 'not alone in struggling' with the amount of gowns, gloves and masks required and no one could have anticipated the 'huge demands' placed on supplies. It came as the Government faced mounting criticism over its handling of the logistics of getting personal protective equipment (PPE) to front-line medics. But the hereditary peer, the minister for innovation at the Department of Health, refused to apologise, telling a remote hearing of the House of Lords 'I don't think now is the time for apologies. 'Now is the time for delivering PPE and that is what this Government is focused on doing, It came as the the deputy chief medical officer admitted that continuing shortages were a 'personal frustration'. Speaking to ITV, deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries said a constant review of PPE supplies and management was needed to ensure that demand was met across the country. Speaking to ITV, deputy chief medical officer Jenny Harries said a constant review of PPE supplies and management was needed to ensure that demand was met across the country An Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire yesterday that is believed to have carried the PPE supplied from Instanbul Lord Bethell was responding to concerns raised by peers including Lord Patel, a former president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Lord Patel, an independent crossbench peer, said: 'We have not done well when it comes to the delivery and availability of PPE. 'Nobody, as yet, has said to anybody 'sorry' for that. Do you think somebody should?' he asked. Lord Bethell replied: 'This is a global phenomenon. The chase for PPE is difficult in all countries around the world. Britain is not alone in struggling with this.' The minister assured peers the 'full weight' of Government was working to get NHS staff and care workers the PPE they needed. But Labour's leader in the Lords, Baroness Smith of Basildon, said there were numerous reports of firms with the ability and capacity to produce PPE in the UK feeling 'ignored' by the Government. She said there had also been reports of overseas manufacturers facing 'bureaucracy and hurdles' in the procurement process and selling to other countries instead. This morning it was claimed Downing Street ignored a Department of Health warning not to announce the imminent delivery of vital safety equipment from Turkey which later turned into a farce by taking days to arrive. Senior officials reportedly warned No 10 and Communities Minister Robert Jenrick that any public confirmation of the plane-load of personal protective equipment (PPE) for NHS staff battling coronavirus could backfire. But Mr Jenrick was authorised to announce its imminent arrival on Saturday, a decision which sparked major embarrassment when it became clear it would not be ready in time. Lord Bethell today denied that Turkey had only been asked to 'facilitate' the delivery of PPE to the UK on Sunday. With the RAF plane having finally landed on Wednesday, Lord Bethell said: 'It isn't correct that Turkey was only asked to intervene at the last minute. 'We've been in constant, daily and regular contact with the Turkish government. We are grateful to the Turkish government for their help and continue to work with Turkish companies on this order.' Meanwhile Dr Harries spoke out as frontline workers, including pharmacists, continue to voice concerns about becoming infected at work through lack of protection and difficulties maintaining social distancing. 'It is so important our frontline staff have the right PPE,' she told ITV 'One of my personal slight frustrations is there is a lot of information out there which we can perhaps use to support them better. 'Different parts of the country will be experiencing different risks, different levels of disease at different times, and it is so important that our health, and particularly our social care staff as well, have the right kit.' According to a survey by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS), more than a third (34 per cent) of respondents were still unable to access continuous supplies of PPE and almost 95 per cent said they could not maintain the recommended two-metre distance from colleagues due to the size of their workplace. Some pharmacists say they have been forced to pay for PPE personally. But Business Secretary Alok Sharma told a select committee that workplace safety was 'paramount' and measures were in place to make sure staff had sufficient access to PPE. The Coronavirus has created untold sufferings globally. The prime minister of India declared a lockdown for the entire country of India to combat the global pandemic of the Coronavirus. This has made life extremely difficult for some of the day workers in India. These workers would purchase groceries each day from their daily wages. Many non-resident Indians (NRI) living in the United States are making efforts to be helpful to people in need in India. One such person is Rahul Shukla. Rahul Shukla is the owner and president of S.S. White Technologies and Shukla Medical in St. Petersburg, Florida where they manufacture aerospace and automotive parts as well as orthopedic extraction tools. Rahul Shukla, upon hearing of the plight of poor day wage earners in the district where their subsidiary is located, called the district collector (county commissioner) and asked how he and his company could help. The collector explained that not too far from where the S.S. White building is located in Gujarat State, India, there is a large community of day wage earners who work in salt farms. The wages are meager and the workers are paid on a daily basis. Since the lockdown, there was no work and these salt farmers had no money to buy food supplies or make meals for their families. Would S.S. White/SHUKLA Medical be willing to make some food kits and donate them to us so that we can distribute them to the salt workers? asked the collector. Rahul Shukla did not hesitate for one second. He said, We will make 2,000 such kits and distribute them. He promptly called his top management team and asked how soon they could assemble the kits. It will be done by the end of tomorrow, said Ahmed Pathan, one of the managers in India. Even though the country was under a total lockdown in India, the S.S. White/SHUKLA management team obtained necessary permission to open the plant for one day, purchased bulk food supplies, and created assembly lines to prepare 2,000 kits each containing 10 lbs of wheat flour, 10 lbs of rice, 10 lbs of lentils, 10 lbs of rice-lentil mix called Khichdi, a half a gallon of cooking oil, 2 lbs of sugar, and some spices. As per the suggestion of the district collector, the kits were distributed to the poorest of the poor workers in a small village of Kuda where many workers make their living by working in salt farms. S.S. Whites President did not stop there. The company gave the same ration kit to its 350 employees and to all of their contract workers. Mr. Shukla also gave one hundred thousand rupees ($1,500 USD) to the Chief Minister's relief fund, in the spirit of doing something not only for the people of the country where we grew up but also for the people of the state where we have lived. In 2017, S.S. White India had purchased an ambulance, fully equipped with ICU facilities. The company makes the ambulance available free of cost to local residents when a patient needs to be transferred to a larger hospital 80 miles away or further. During the Coronavirus pandemic, the company supplied the ambulance to the County Collector, Mr. K. Rajeshs, disposal to allow seriously ill patients to be readily transferred to larger, better-equipped hospitals. Many people have money, said Vipin Toliya, the Mayor of Surendranagar, where the S.S. White branch is located, but what is noteworthy is Mr. Shukla called us from the USA and asked us how he and his company could help. It is the goodness of kind people like Rahul Shukla and companies like S.S. White and SHUKLA Medical that reinstates our faith in humanity. For more information: Please contact: Sheryl@sswhite.net +1 727-273-4390 Kazumi@sswhite.net, +91-769-800-1507 Arlas milk price for May will fall to 29.89p per litre as the dairy market entered 'unprecedented territory' due to the Covid-19 crisis. The British cooperative's on-account prices for conventional and organic milk will decrease by 1 eurocent for May 2020. When applied to the UK manufacturing price this is a 0.9ppl reduction, bringing conventional milk to 29.89 and organic milk to 38.93 pence per litre. Arla Foods amba board director, Arthur Fearnall, said that because of the coronavirus crisis, and the actions taken by governments to limit its spread, the dairy market had moved into 'unprecedented territory'. "Despite some short-term increase in retail sales, the closure of many foodservice businesses, alongside the spring peak in milk production and the uncertain global economic outlook, has caused significant reductions in commodity market prices across all categories in the space of a few weeks. "Due to the continuing impact of the current situation, the outlook remains uncertain, Mr Fearnall explained. The impacts of coronavirus have been felt across the global dairy industry, not just the UK, Graham Wilkinson, agriculture director at Arla Foods UK, added. He said: "As a cooperative owned by dairy farmers, Arla is not immune from these developments and we are working hard to manage the significant fluctuations in demand and the challenges this brings. "Following the announcement from the government to temporarily relax competition rules, we welcome the opportunity for the industry to be able to work more closely together at this time to build more robust plans to navigate through this crisis. Saudi Arabia may be forced to reroute tankers carrying some 40 million barrels of crude oil to the United States if President Trump goes through with a threat to ban imports, Reuters has reported, citing shipping data and unnamed sources. There have been reports that Washington is discussing a ban on Saudi imports of crude oil or impose tariffs to stem the decline in U.S. oil prices. When President Trump first floated the idea of oil import tariffs, it was taken as a threat to large oil exporters to the U.S. such as Saudi Arabia to finally reach an output cut agreement with their partners in OPEC+. Now, the stakes are higher. According to Reuters sources, Saudi Arabia had first tried to seek storage options for the oil now at sea. Many tanker owners, however, were unwilling to agree to such a change in plans as it would have meant stranding tankers, with the prospects of finding a buyer quickly grim. Aramco offers its larger customers with refineries in multiple regions of the world optionality to take their crude purchases from Aramco into the region, the company told Reuters in a statement. Changes in ship destinations are routine in the course of our business, particularly in a company of our scale. Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that at least one in every ten Very Large Crude Carriers capable of holding up to 2 million barrels of oil is now serving as floating storage, with many of them full of unsold Saudi oil. Last week, The Wall Street Journal reported that the volume of Saudi crude en route to the United States was seven times higher than the typical monthly intake of Saudi oil in 2019. These vessels, however, were loaded before OPEC+ struck the deal to cut 9.7 million bpd from its collective output beginning in May. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: According to the United Nations, English is one of the organisations two working languages, along with French. It has become the lingua franca in international relations for United Nations. The UN English Language Day is celebrated on 23 April. The day observes both the birth and death anniversary of the famed English bard William Shakespeare. According to the United Nations, English is one of the organisations two working languages, along with French. It has become the lingua franca in international relations for the UN. In 2010, the Department of Global Communication of the UN had established language days for each of the Organisation's six official languages. It included Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. The aim of celebrating language days at the UN is to entertain and inform the culture and achievements of each of the six working languages among the UN community. The day also aims at promoting equal use of all six official languages throughout the organisation. United Nations Spanish Language Day United Nations also celebrates Spanish Language day on 23 April. The day observes the death anniversary of the Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes, the creator of Don Quixote. The UN describes multilingualism as an 'essential factor' that enables harmonious communication by promoting tolerance. Multilingualism ensures increased participation for all of the Organisation's work and has seen numerous activities being undertaken, from 1946 to the present. Multilingualism promotes the use of the official languages to ensure that the goals and actions of the UN are understood by the widest possible public. The suspect was identified as Ashton Nesmith, 26, of Northeast. He was charged with assault with intent to kill, assault on a police officer and possession of a molotov cocktail with intent to use. Iran has hit back after Donald Trump said he had instructed the US Navy to fire on any Iranian ships that harass it at sea. Tehran responded by saying it will destroy "any American terrorist force" if its security is threatened in the Gulf. It comes as tensions escalate between the two countries again, with Iran's Republican Guard announcing the launch of the country's first military satellite. Mr Trump said on Twitter: "I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea." At a briefing later, he said that he was not changing the military's rules of engagement, adding: "We're covered - we're covered 100%". He said: "We don't want their gunboats surrounding our boats and travelling around our boats and having a good time. "We're not going to stand for it...they'll shoot them out of the water." :: Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker Responding on state TV, the head of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards, Hossein Salami, said: "I have ordered our naval forces to destroy any American terrorist force in the Persian Gulf that threatens security of Iran's military or non-military ships. "Security of the Persian Gulf is part of Iran's strategic priorities." He added: "I am telling the Americans that we are absolutely determined and serious in defending our national security, our water borders, our shipping safety, and our security forces, and we will respond decisively to any sabotage. "Americans have experienced our power in the past and must learn from it." Last week, the US Navy said 11 Iranian gunboats had behaved in a "dangerous and harassing" way towards US vessels in the Persian Gulf. But Iran blamed the US. Deputy Secretary of Defence David Norquist told reporters: "The president issued an important warning to the Iranians, what he was emphasising is all of our ships retain the right of self-defence." Story continues General Abolfazl Shekarchi, a spokesman for Iran's armed forces, accused Mr Trump of "bullying" and said he should focus on his country's coronavirus problem. The US has more than 840,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 3,500 cases within the US military. Meanwhile, there are fears that Iran's satellite launch will allow it to develop ballistic missiles capable of threatening the US, although Tehran denies this. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the launch could be a breach of a United Nations resolution which "called upon" Iran to stop working on missiles designed to carry nuclear weapons. He said Iran needed to be "held accountable for what they have done", although some states argued that the language of the resolution did not make Iran's compliance obligatory. It comes after a number of recent events have tested relations between the two countries. On 3 January, the US killed Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, in a drone strike in Iraq. Iran retaliated five days later with a rocket attack on an Iraqi base housing US troops. In 2018, Mr Trump pulled out of the nuclear deal between Iran and other world powers, reimposing sanctions on Iran. Coronavirus Crisis: Australia Calls World to Pray & Fast for USA 30 April -- 7 May 2020 NEWS PROVIDED BY Australian Heart Ministries April 23, 2020 UNANDERRA, Australia, April 23, 2019 /Christian Newswire/ -- For the eighth consecutive year, Australia is calling the nations of the world to join with them in 8 days of prayer and fasting for the United States of America, from 30 April 7 May 2020. May 7 is America's National Day of Prayer. The theme is "GODS GLORY Across the Earth" Habakkuk 2:14. http://www.nationaldayofprayer.org April 30 is America's National Day of Repentance. http://www.dayofrepentance1.org Promo YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjdLwjhc0iA Facebook Video: https://www.facebook.com/351789974896650/videos/165564174716690 The National Day of Prayer is a vital part of America's heritage. The first call to prayer was in 1775 when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation. The national call to prayer has continued through history, including President Lincoln's proclamation of a day of "humiliation, fasting, and prayer" on 30 April 1863. In 1952, a joint resolution by Congress, signed by President Truman, declared an annual National Day of Prayer. Commissioner James Condon, Chairman of the Australian National Day of Prayer & Fasting team, said, "We have been praying and fasting on an annual basis since 2013 for revival and transformation for USA, according to 2 Chronicles 7:14. Our prayers, and the prayers of other nations we believe, have made a significant contribution to the miraculous shift back to more Godly values which have occurred under the current administration." Ps Warwick Marsh, also from the Australian National Day of Prayer and Fasting team, said, "Currently there are 849,092 active cases of Coronavirus in USA, 10 times worse than Australia on a pro-rata basis. Worse still, there have been 47,681 deaths from COVID-19 in the USA, almost 50 times worse than Australia on a pro-rata basis. This is horrific! From the sheer number of cases and death toll, the USA is the worst hit country in the world and the death rate is likely to get rise. America desperately needs our prayers!" Andrew Scarborough, a member of the Australian National Day of Prayer and Fasting team said, "President Abraham Lincoln's humble call to prayer in 1863 resonates with us today. Both America and Australia need to come back to God in repentance and humility. "It is significant that these 8 days of Prayer and Fasting mark the beginning of Go2020 in the month of May, a call for the Christians of the world to pray for and share the Gospel with 5 people in the month of May. The simple goal is to reach a billion people with God's love. We encourage each believer to accept the 'Hope Story Challenge' and share their video testimony about how they came to hope in Jesus, and post it online. Then challenge five others to do the same. This is a vital part of our prayer call." National Day of Prayer & Fasting: www.nationaldayofprayer.org.au Hope Story Challenge: https://www.hopemovement.com.au SOURCE Australian Heart Ministries CONTACT: James Condon, 61-478-301-468; Warwick Marsh; 61-418-225-212; Andrew Scarborough; 61-456-478-935 Oil refiners are hunting for vessels to store jet-fuel and gasoline that nobody is buying, sending freight rates sharply higher, an indication that the global refining system is fast approaching a breaking point. Until now refiners had mostly been storing unwanted product on site, but the latest indication from the tanker market suggests they are now being forced to place their output into ships. With local demand sharply down, if they cant find storage, theyll be forced to trim output, or even shut down completely. The shipping market is now the main bottleneck, said Torbjorn Tornqvist, head of commodity trading giant Gunvor Group Ltd. We are fast approaching the crunch point whereby it will be hard to find any ships, and shipping rates are currently stratospheric, he added in an interview. If the refiners are forced to reduce their processing rates, it would mean even less demand for crude, creating a ricochet effect through the oil market. OFFSHORE: Oil tankers are surrounding California with nowhere to unload The sign of a global hunt for tankers to store products is clear in the eye-watering prices traders are paying for the vessels. It now costs almost $7.5 million to haul an 80,000-ton cargo of naphtha, a material used to make gasoline and plastics, to Asia from Europe. Just a few years ago, the same route was paying little more than $1 million. Rates are soaring on all routes and ship sizes, according to the Baltic Exchange in London. The main driver for the rocketing clean tanker rates is that the production of clean product exceeds the current demand and that land-based storages are filling, which drives storage onto product tankers at sea, said Joakim Norholm Vasehus, a spokesman at Torm A/S, a 131-year old Copenhagen-based owner that operates dozens of refined-fuel tankers. Across the oil market, traders are looking for any ships they can get their hands on to store supplies at sea because on-land facilities are pretty much full -- or fully booked. The glut -- Indias shore tanks for fuels are now 95% filled -- is also making it harder and harder to discharge cargoes into onshore facilities, delaying vessels for their next voyages, in turn driving up rates. Torm estimates that about 7% of the global fleet of refined fuel tankers is now involved in some form of storage. Oil trader Gunvor estimates that around the world refiners have cut processing rates by about 17 million barrels a day already, but thats likely to increase to about 20 million barrels a day by early May. Then, oil producers would find it even harder to find a home for their barrels, a view thats widely shared by other traders and oil companies. OIL CRASH: Plunging value of oil business stings five energy giants In a couple of weeks, the shipping market may force cuts in refining runs, Tornqvist said. And a few weeks later we may see a lack of crude oil shipping force cuts in productions rates beyond the agreed OPEC+ cuts. The shortage of tankers to ship or store products is exacerbated by the fact that vessels that traders hoped to become available around now after hauling product remain anchored at ports, waiting to discharge. Oil traders say many import terminals are completely full, forcing tankers to wait on demurrage for weeks until they are able to offload, further tightening fleet availability. Handysize tankers, among the smallest mainstream ocean-going tankers, are making in excess of $90,000 a day from hauling fuel across the Mediterranean Sea, the Baltics data show. Thats an extraordinarily high earnings rate for the ships, and compares with just $12,000 at the start of this year. The whole markets gone absolutely nuts, said Richard Matthews, head of research at E.A. Gibson Shipbrokers Ltd. Its absolutely unbelievable. Compounding the issue has been a recent trend for owners to dirty up the ships -- industry speak for switching over from transporting refined, or clean, fuels to crude or fuel oil instead. That eroded fleet capacity thats now desperately needed to move or store products like gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Tankers are also sailing on longer routes than usual in order to capitalize on a so-called contango structure that now dominates oil and fuel markets, whereby later dated contracts are at a premium to prompt prices. Charterers are also asking for slower voyage speeds of 11-12 knots rather than 13, taking yet more capacity out of the tanker market, Matthews said. FUEL FIX: Our energy news + your inbox = A perfect combo. Royal Vopak NV, the worlds biggest independent crude and fuel storage firm, said on Tuesday that almost all available space has now been reserved and that its racing to complete maintenance on tanks to free up more capacity. Multiple long-range vessels, among the largest to typically haul fuels, have also been used for three- to six-month floating storage of diesel, jet fuel, and gasoline, diminishing vessel supply across the market, according to Randy Giveans, senior vice president for equity research at Jefferies LLC in Houston. There absolutely have been many older refined products tankers switching to carry crude, he said. This is rapidly tightening the products tanker market, pushing spot rates to record levels and time charter rates to decade highs. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Confluence Park on San Antonios South Side has been lauded for its unusual design and focus on environmental education. In 2018, during the parks grand opening ceremony, Mayor Ron Nirenberg was quoted as saying, The South Side is rising again. The center of gravity of San Antonio is shifting ever-so-slightly southward. The sites, the historic Spanish missions and established neighborhoods are among the things that make the South Side a desired location for many home buyers. Sara Briseno Gerrish, a REALTOR with RE/MAX Unlimited, said her office categorizes anywhere south of Highway 90 as the South Side. She said there are a lot of great older neighborhoods in that part of the city, which covers a vast area. For instance, in District 3, which spans the south and southeast sides, the median price for a house is $160,000. There are new home sites available, but existing homes make up the bulk of the inventory. Gerrish said home buyers like the character of those older houses, everything from the quality of the hardwood floors to the craftsman style porches. She knows the area well because she grew up on the South Side in the Highland Park neighborhood. Gerrish believes its still a great place to live, work and raise a family. The median price per square foot for a house in Highland Park is $87.85, the median year built is 1930. Donald Trump. US president Donald Trump was on Twitter bright and early today, announcing at 7am that he plans to sign an executive order prohibiting immigration into our Country. I will be signing my Executive Order prohibiting immigration into our Country today. In the meantime, even without this order, our Southern Border, aided substantially by the 170 miles of new Border Wall & 27,000 Mexican soldiers, is very tight including for human trafficking! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 22, 2020 Although that statement appears to be an exaggeration, as the presidents order will reportedly halt some green card applications for at least 60 days, with exceptions, the American chief executivemarried to an immigranthas reason to believe his scheme will survive the inevitable legal challenges to come. In June of 2018, the Supreme Court issued a ruling on what was colloquially known as Trumps travel ban. The presidents executive order prohibited entry into the US for citizens from five Muslim-majority countries, Venezuela, and North Korea. The official reasoning for it was that these countries provided insufficient information to the US, making entry of their citizens a national security threat. The state of Hawaii challenged the order unsuccessfully, and the courts majority opinion showed Trump how he might proceed similarly in the future. Chief justice John Roberts wrote for the majority, explaining: The President has lawfully exercised the broad discretion granted to him under [the US Code section] to suspend the entry of aliens into the United States. By its terms, [the section on inadmissible foreigners] exudes deference to the President in every clause. It entrusts to the President the decisions whether and when to suspend entry, whose entry to suspend, for how long, and on what conditions. It thus vests the President with ample power to impose entry restrictions in addition to those elsewhere enumerated in the Immigration and Nationality Act. Story continues The courts conservative wing felt that the presidents proclamation fell well within the comprehensive delegation of power granted to the president in matters of immigration. Today, the makeup of the bench is slightly different but no less conservative. The travel ban decision was issued just before Anthony Kennedyconsidered a swing voter though he wasnt in this caseretired. Kennedy was replaced by the controversial conservative Brett Kavanaugh. So its likely that a ruling on the next order would also allow Trumps plans to stand. Standard of review The high court majority noted in its 2018 decision that the sole prerequisite set forth in immigration law is that the president show that entry of foreigners barred by an order would be detrimental to the interests of the United States. The standard of review used was lowall Trump had to do was show a rational basis for his ban. In the current situation, Trump is claiming that allowing immigration would harm American interests given the high rate of unemployment prompted by the coronavirus crisis. By pausing immigration, we will help put unemployed Americans first in line for jobs as America reopens. So important, the president said Tuesday. It would be wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced with new immigrant labor flown in from abroad. We must first take care of the American worker. The courts conservative majority would likely find that this basis is as rational as it needs to be to sustain Trumps proposed immigration ban as long as his reasoning is laid out in the order. The previous travel ban had a 12-page explanation of the presidents rationale and the court found this sufficient. Still, its not yet clear what section of the US Code Trump would rely on precisely to justify the unilateral suspension of some green cards. The New York Times reported that Justice Department lawyers are looking into the legal basis for such an order and were caught off guard by the presidents declaration, which was first made in a tweet on Monday. The section relied upon for the travel ban does cite health reasons as a basis for finding certain foreigners inadmissible if they are determined (in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services) to have a communicable disease of public health significance. However, its not evident from reading the text that this could be the basis for a ban on a whole category of immigrants without any proof that those affected are actually infected with the coronavirus. Significant resistance What is certain is that the president will face pushback from businesses. The Information Technology Industry Council issued a statement in response to the presidents initial Twitter declaration, writing: The tech industry understands and values the need for public health protections due to COVID-19 and stands ready to work with the Trump Administration to address these challenges. We also recognize the profound toll the pandemic has had on American workers; however, the United States will not benefit from shutting down legal immigration. Tech workerswhether from the United States or another countryare playing an essential role in Americas response to COVID-19. They will be vital to the US economic recovery and must remain part of the workforce. We urge President Trump not to endanger the countrys economic recovery by closing its economy to the rest of the world. At this point, with no actual executive order to analyze, attempts to understand just how the president will justify a decision to temporarily suspend immigration are just speculation. But based on recent history, its fair to say that the Supreme Courts conservative majority will likely find the president has the power to act if he presents a rational basis for the proposed ban and provides some justification. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. More stories from Quartz: by Vladimir Rozanskij Aleksandr Agejkin was 49 years old. He lost consciousness suddenly on April 20 around midnight, and on the morning of April 21 he passed away. His illness and death increase the health concerns for the patriarch himself, a friend of Fr. Alexandr. In Moscow, 31 priests test positive. In the country, cases of infection have risen to 50 thousand. The population is panicking. Moscow (AsiaNews) - The pastor of the Cathedral of the Epiphany in Elokhovo, Aleksandr Agejkin has died of the coronavirus in the capital. Aleksandr was 49 years old. His death was communicated by the same patriarchate commission on the coronavirus: the parish priest lost consciousness suddenly on April 20 around midnight, and on the morning of April 21 he passed away. The Epiphany church is actually the true patriarchal cathedral, which remained open even during the Soviet period, the official seat of the patriarch until 1991. The reconstruction of the cathedral of Christ the Savior, the large church next to the Kremlin spectacularly destroyed by Stalin in 1931, was rebuilt in 1994 and then resurrected as a symbol of the new Russia of post-communism. Most solemn liturgies are held here as well as the synodal assemblies and the great manifestations of the Orthodox Church. But in collective consciousness, the Epiphany church, in the ancient Basmannoe district, remains the true patriarchal church. Aleksandr started serving as pastor in Elokhovo in 2013, wanted directly by the patriarch Kirill (Gundjaev), to whom he was very close. In 2017 he became the vice-administrator of the secretariat of the patriarchate of Moscow, and at the same time he was the president of the ecclesiastical-civil council with the patriarch for the development of Russian ecclesiastical chant. His illness and death increase the health concerns for the patriarch himself and many senior officials of the patriarchate. Already in early April the priests of the Epiphany had all been quarantined, according to communications from the patriarchal commission. In 15 churches in Moscow and two monasteries cases of infection were detected, in all 31 priests tested positive. Another historic church in central Moscow, that of the Annunciation of the Resurrection on the River of the Assumption, is also without priests because of the coronavirus. The was reported by parish priest Nikolaj Balashov, also very close to the patriarch, and deputy head of the external affairs department of the patriarchate. The cases of coronavirus in Russia have exceeded 50 thousand, and there is a palpable growing panic in the country. The statistics of previous epidemics reveal that in similar cases the birth rate in the country falls by 15-20%, accentuating the deep demographic crisis in Russia, which already loses over 300 thousand people per year in overall numbers. The Russian population, currently around 144 million, is in danger of falling rapidly below 140 million. The most pessimistic forecasts are mitigated by a relative drop in the number of abortions in recent years, although it is still among the highest in the world. In recent days, the Russian population has also shown increasingly marked signs of impatience with isolation measures, accompanied by fears of the consequent economic crisis. On-line protests are taking place in the main cities of Russia, asking the authorities for effective directives and assistance to the most needy sections of the population, and greater freedom of movement and work. The protests take place through posts on the virtual maps of the major websites, containing requests to the authorities. Major companies such as Yandex have warned that they will be forced to remove the reporting features on their sites. Similar protests are taking place in many Russian-speaking countries of Central Asia, to contest the measures decided by the authorities, or the lack of necessary measures. A non-virtual protest took place on the night of April 20 in a mining village in Kazakhstan, in the Atyrau region, where some coronavirus-positive workers were sent to work with everyone else. About 500 workers refused to go to the mine for fear of the virus. A 38-year-old Jersey City man was shot dead Tuesday night and a Bayonne man who has served prison time has been charged, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced Wednesday. Abimael Fuentes was on Brinkerhoff Street between Monticello and Bergen avenues when he was shot in the abdomen just after 10:30 p.m., HCPO spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said. Fuentes was taken to the Jersey City Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 1:41 a.m. Wednesday. Bernard Wilson, 27, was arrested early Wednesday morning at a home on Brinkerhoff Street, and at the time of his arrest he was in possession of two firearms, Morrill said. The fatal shooting is the fifth in Jersey City since March 31. Wilson is charged with murder, two counts of possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, two counts of unlawful possession of a weapon and certain persons not to possess a weapon. Suarez credited the Hudson County Prosecutors Office Homicide Unit and the Jersey City Police Department for the investigation and arrest. Bernard Wilson, 27, of Bayonne, has been charged with the murder of 38-year-old Abimael Fuentes.HCPO photo In 2013, Wilson pleaded guilty and was sentenced to five years in state prison for two separate incidents involving weapons, one in August 2011 and the second in June 2012, according electronic court records. He was out on bail when he committed the second crime, officials said at the time. The recent spate of shootings began on March 31, when 25-year-old Damone Smith was killed in the area of Rose and Cator avenues. The following night, 17-year-old Stephanie Jacques was fatally shot on Martin Luther King Drive between Oak and Forrest streets. On April 4, 21-year-old Akim Ward was fatally shot shortly after 3:15 p.m. on Ocean Avenue between Bidwell and Bayview avenues, officials said. He was transported to the Jersey City Medical Center and pronounced dead 15 minutes later. Two days later, 23-year-old Javone Smith, of Jersey City, was shot dead in the area of Martin Luther King Drive and Myrtle Avenue. Because of the ruthless forces of natural selection, organisms have developed all kinds of strategies to interact with their environments. Outer space is not conducive to life, but aerospace engineers can reverse engineer applicable biological approaches in robots, and then apply them to space exploration. Robotic probes and living things are often constrained in similar ways, such as a requirement for optimum energy use, a tolerance for extreme environments, or the ability to make rapid decisions in novel situations. Almost every biological system that has evolved has some kind of application in space. Sense organs, bones and appendages for locomotion in animals can serve as inspiration for sensors, structural components and propulsion systems in spacecraft. One of the most famous people to use this biomimetic approach for designing new machines, was Leonardo Da Vinci. Note that the title images are in the style of Da Vinci, but not his actual sketches. Rovers Space agencies around the world, including NASA and ESA are collaborating with research institutions to develop spacecraft concepts that can turn into planned missions in the future. NASA and Cornell University are developing soft robots to explore the global subsurface oceans in the moons of the gas giants. The Jovian moon of Europa is the prime target for such missions. The concepts being developed derive their energy from the environment, one possibility being the strong magnetic field of Jupiter, harvested through the use of electrodynamic tentacles that serve as generators. Such an aquatic rover could derive its fuel from the ambient water, which is available in abundance. After electrolyzing the water, the hydrogen and oxygen can be stored in the body and limbs of the rover. Sparks could be used to make these gasses expand, allowing the rover to propel itself. The approach would mean that the rover would not require to have any solar or nuclear power system on board, allowing the robot to stay functional for longer periods of time. For lighting, the researchers are using a stretchable electroluminescent film, similar to bioluminescence in marine animals, allowing the imaging sensors on board to record the local environment. The approaches of power generation and locomotion by expanding gas are both breakthrough concepts, but are feasible within the limits of current technologies. Researchers at Cornell are considering two options, one based on the squid, and another based on the lamprey. The mission would require a lander, that drills through the ice crust of Europa. The proposal for the drilling vehicle is called a cryobot. It would have to be equipped with autonomous systems and SONAR to detect any obstacles such as rocks embedded in the ice crust, that it will have to navigate around. After drilling through the surface, the cryobot can deploy the rover into the subsurface ocean. Here, the rover can navigate through the ocean, and even dive to explore the floor. Just like the Moon, Venus also has an unexplored dark side. NASA has funded researchers from Buffalo University to develop a spacecraft concept that is based on the stingray. Instead of the oceans however, these rovers would use the flapping motion of their pectoral fins to fly through the heavy atmosphere of Venus. Scientists believe the design will be effective because of the high intensity winds in the Venusian atmosphere. The concept spacecraft is known as Bio-inspired Ray for Extreme Environments and Zonal Explorations (BREEZE). The same concept can also be used to explore Titan, another Solar System body with a dense atmosphere. The projects lead investigator, Javid Bayandor says, By taking our cues from nature, specifically sea rays, were looking to maximize flight efficiency. The design will allow for a so-far unattained degree of control for such a spacecraft that would be subject to severe zonal and meridional winds on the planet. ESA along with Surrey Space Centre has a concept legged rover for exploration of Mars. The legs are segmented and based on those used by insects. This allows the legs to fold over the body or the thorax of the rover, while the probe is in transit. For power, there will be a conventional solar panel mounted on top. Such a legged rover is ideal for exploration of very rocky terrain, where the movement for wheeled rovers would be difficult, such as the landing sites of the Viking missions. Another innovative concept rover is based on a tumbleweed. Plants are not normally known for their locomotive abilities, but the Russian thistle grows into a ball like structure while it is still rooted. When it dies, the ball rolls along the ground over long distances, powered by the wind, dispersing seeds. The dust storms on Mars can have intense winds, which can propel spherical rovers. The researchers at TU Delft have developed a flapping wing drone called the DelFly. This is essentially a robotic dragonfly, with four wings. In the lower gravity environment of Mars, a probe based on the same design could explore the planet from the air, passing on information about promising sites to rovers on the surface. The concept is called ExoFly. Biomimetic tools Asteroids and comets have considerably reduced gravity as compared to the Earth. Future missions will have to extract local resources. This can be for collecting samples to analyse, harvesting energy, refuelling the propulsion tanks, or for mining mineral deposits. The traditional rotary drill used on Earth is less effective in low gravity environments, and requires high rotation speeds. Consequently, such devices require more energy and the systems that can both drill and provide the energy add weight to the spacecraft, which in turn increases the fuel requirement. Researchers at Surrey Space Centre are developing a percussive drill that can easily dig into asteroids. The drill bit is based on the ovipositor of the Sirex woodwasp. This is an appendage that allows the woodwasp to deposit its eggs within the trunks of trees. There are two parts to the drill, the teeth that push into the surface, and pockets facing the reverse direction. While one half of the bit pushes downwards and goes deeper and deeper into the surface, the other half removes material from the hole. Each motion feeds into the other, requiring very little energy. The proposed drill bit will also have two halves, that can slide against each other to mimic the action of the Sirex ovipositor. Another animal inspired application are the arrays of microscopic hair on the feet of gecko. These allow them to grip almost any surface (teflon being a notable exception). NASA is developing spacecraft with grippers based on the gecko feet, which can act as grapples for orbital debris or defunct spacecraft. Such a device could be used to quickly remove junk from Earth orbit, preventing any potentially catastrophic collisions with active astronomical instruments or orbital platforms such as space stations. The design has already been tested on more than 30 materials used on spacecraft. The design allows for the stickiness to be toggled when required. Apart from grappling mechanisms, the same design can also be used to inspect spacecraft, and for docking into orbital platforms. Company was also ranked #1 by customers on Spring 2020 G2 Grid for Pricing Software and named to Constellation ShortList for Price Optimization Solutions for Q1 2020 Pricefx, the global leader in cloud pricing software, today announced it was named a 2020 SAP Pinnacle Award finalist for SAP App Center Partner of the Year. The annual SAP Pinnacle Awards acknowledge the contributions of leading SAP partners that have excelled in developing and growing their partnership with SAP and helping customers meet their goals. "Pricefx maintained a consistent position in 2019 as an eco-system leader and well deserving finalist for App Center Partner of the Year," said Karl Farhbach, Chief Partner Officer at SAP. "Their true cloud native solution enables our mutual customers to unlock the power of SAP Operational and master data, to optimize, manage and realize bottom line growth through dynamic pricing across multiple channels. Pricefx continually innovates, and have enhanced their proposition with SAP Customer Experience to include S/4HANA and Cloud Platform Integrations. Our strategic partnership with Pricefx drives mutual success and value for our customers and ecosystem. We are excited for the future ahead of our joint partnership." Finalists and winners in 34 categories were chosen based on recommendations from the SAP field, customer feedback and performance indicators. Pricefx applications Optimized Dynamic Pricing, Optimized Promotions Rebates and Optimized Algorithmic Pricing are available on SAP App Center, the digital marketplace for SAP partner offerings. Pricefx was also named the only Leader in Pricing Software by G2 Crowd. This ranking in the Spring 2020 G2 Grid? is based on verified customer reviews. The company was ranked first on the G2 Momentum Grid, which highlights companies that are achieving continued growth at accelerated rates. In addition, G2 Spring report shows customers see Pricefx as the Easiest To Do Business With and The Best Relationship provider. G2 Crowd includes more than 500,000 independent user reviews, and more than 1.5 million visitors each month to make business software buying decisions easier and more reliable. In February, the company was again named to the Constellation ShortList for Price Optimization. The technology vendors and service providers included in this program deliver critical transformation initiative requirements for early adopter and fast follower organizations. Products and services named to the Constellation ShortList meet the threshold criteria for this category as determined through client inquiries, partner conversations, customer references, vendor selection projects, market share and internal research. "We are honored to be recognized for the work we do daily across the globe to help organizations deliver more value and unlock revenue growth," said Patrick Adams, chief revenue officer of Pricefx. "Being honored by SAP, G2 Crowd and Constellation Research shows that our partners, customers and the industry at large see Pricefx as an innovative, proven and top-performing solution to help businesses achieve pricing excellence. These awards are a result of our expanding customer base across several sectors globally, coupled with our high customer satisfaction and commitment to providing fast, flexible and friendly pricing software for our customers." At SAP App Center, businesses can discover approximately 1,800 innovative partner solutions that integrate with and extend SAP solutions. The solutions are SAP-validated and can be sorted by SAP product line, industry, solution type and use-case scenario, creating a seemingly endless supply of opportunities. Find, try, buy and manage SAP partner solutions digitally at www.sapappcenter.com. With the SAP Pinnacle Awards, SAP shines a spotlight on its most distinguished partners that have demonstrated their commitment to teaming with SAP to help the best run SAP. Follow Pricefx Blog: https://www.pricefx.com/site/blog/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/price_fx LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/price-f-x-/ About Pricefx Established in 2011 in Germany, Pricefx is the global leader in SaaS pricing software, offering a comprehensive suite of solutions that are fast to implement, flexible to configure and customize, and friendly to learn and use. Pricefx delivers a complete price optimization and management platform based on native cloud architecture, providing industry leading time to value and total cost of ownership advantages to customers. Their innovative solution works for both B2B and B2C enterprises of any size, in any industry, in any part of the world. Pricefx's business model is entirely based on the satisfaction and loyalty of its customers. Today, Pricefx delivers Passion for Pricing to more than 100 customers in more than 37 countries worldwide. For more information, please visit www.pricefx.com. SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies. Disclaimer: Constellation Research does not endorse any solution or service named in its research. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005080/en/ Contacts: Media Contact: Cathy Summers Summers PR cathy@summers-pr.com +1 (415) 483-0480 Every age faces events that help define them. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic is such an event for this age. While we are physically distancing ourselves from one another, we are coming together in countless other ways. Health care workers and first responders are heroes. We all value the people who make it possible to buy groceries, fill prescriptions, get the mail, read the paper, communicate online or by phone, and carry on with life in countless ways. Energy infrastructure workers are critical to all of this, whether at NorthWestern Energy, MDU, Energy West or one of Montanas rural cooperatives. Without them and the systems they build, maintain and operate, nothing else works. President Eisenhower famously said, Plans are worthless, but planning is everything. At NorthWestern, we plan and train for all kinds of possibilities, from cyberattacks to floods. The pandemic is unique in its physical scope; its duration; and the complexity of effects. Planning and preparation have paid off. On March 5 we activated our internal Incident Command Structure, part of our continuity of operations planning. Within days most employees who could work remotely were doing so. That created space in our facilities for social distancing. We opened backup control centers to allow greater distancing and to provide redundancy in case a COVID-19 exposure occurred. Our crews are working in small groups. Our supply chain managers are ensuring our people have what they need. A lineman now works with Bucky the Bucket Bear, a stuffed animal from his daughter to help keep him safe. A gas foreman has a photo of his granddaughters hugging the gas meter outside their home, because they cant hug their grandpa. Folks are sharing photos of their home offices, and their new assistants (toddlers, pets). If you speak to a customer service representative, theres a good chance she or he is helping you from a corner of their home. We all appreciate the kind words received by our employees over the phone and the friendly waves to our folks in the field, from an appropriate distance. COVID-19 hits rural areas and small communities as well as large, and stresses limited resources. A coworker and friend moved into his parents basement, caring for his mother while she recovered from the virus. His father, who also had COVID-19, had been transported to a hospital in a larger community, where he died, with his family unable to visit. Now our coworker is generously telling a story he says will define the rest of my life, so that we can all learn from his experience. NorthWestern immediately announced that we will not disconnect service customers for nonpayment. Late fees are waived. We are working with customers to help them get through. We announced $300,000 in additional aid to help customers, including small businesses, and to support the organizations that make our communities strong. As we often do, we are also matching employee contributions to key organizations. Learning from experience in other parts of the country through multiple weekly phone calls, we are prepared in case the situation gets worse, or lasts longer, or if we have major events such as storms, on top of COVID-19. We are stewards of the critical infrastructure and essential service on which we all depend. Our employees are fulfilling that mission during the pandemic, and are prepared to serve when we begin to emerge and turn our attention to economic as well as community recovery. My parents remembered the hardships of the Great Depression, but what they talked about most was how families, neighbors and the community came together in ways small and large. I know thats one thing we will remember and learn from now. Physical distancing hasnt prevented the communities we love and care about from pulling together. On behalf of everyone I have the privilege of working with at NorthWestern Energy, thank you! Robert C. Rowe is president and chief executive officer of NorthWestern Energy. Love 3 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 2 Tablighi Jamat chief Maulana Saad has completed the 14-day quarantine and got himself tested for coronavirus disease Covid-19, his lawyer Fuzail Ayyubi has told Hindustan Times. He has completed his quarantine and undergone a test. The report is awaited, said Ayyubi. When asked if Maulana Saad is going to present himself to the police for questioning, his lawyer said, The Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) does not ask someone to go and present himself that ok, here I am. There are steps to be taken by the police, and those steps have already been taken even during his quarantine. His house was searched in the presence of his son. He got two notices and he responded to those notices. He was asked to undergone the test, and he has undergone the test, Ayyubi added. Also watch| Covid-19: Has Tablighi Jamaat chief been tested? Lawyer ends speculation He also said that Maulana Saad is communicating with the authorities. In an earlier interview to Hindustan Times, the Tablighi chief had told through his lawyer that he is willing to cooperate with the police, and that no illegal activity took place at the groups markaz (centre), which is the biggest Covid-19 hotspot in India. Markaz Nizamuddin is basically a masjid namely Bangle Wali Masjid, where normal religious sermons are given on a daily basis throughout the year. Being a masjid, I dont think there is any requirement to seek permission to give sermons or to have other religious discourses within the building, he had said. Maulana Saad also said in his response that its unfortunate that a few members have tested Covid-19 positive, but an overwhelming majority of the groups members tested negative too. Does that make Markaz responsible for the disease? Police had filed a criminal case against Maulana Saad and six other top officials of the Jamaat on March 31 for defying a series of government directives, which curbed religious and large gatherings, issued to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease Covid-19 in the national capital. Delhi Police officers, requesting anonymity, had confirmed to Hindustan Times that they had added Section 304 in the FIR against Maulana Saad. Section 304 of the IPC, related to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, is a stringent section, unlike the other sections of Epidemic Diseases Act which had been levied in the FIR initially. His family haa, however said that the Tablighi Jamaat chief can join investigation on a three-day notice. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An Egyptian influencer has been arrested for 'inciting debauchery' after encouraging youngsters to make money by live streaming. TikTok and Instagram influencer Haneen Hossam was reportedly arrested on the morning of April 21 after her online video sparked outrage in Egypt. The local authorities have accused her of 'inciting debauchery' and 'violating public morals', according to reports. In footage posted on the app Likee, the online star offered women aged over 18 years the chance to work from home and earn around $2,500 to $3,000 for making live videos and talking to strangers. TikTok and Instagram influencer Haneen Hossam (pictured) was reportedly arrested on the morning of April 21 after her online video sparked outrage in Egypt She added: 'You will be able to form friendships with people in a respectable way.' The influencer, who is also a student at Cairo University, may face expulsion over the video as well as criminal proceedings, according to local media. Egyptian feminist Ghadeer Ahmed was one of the few high-profile people to defend Hossam and claimed that she had been the target of numerous bullying campaigns by the authorities. In footage posted on the app Likee, the online star (left and right) offered women aged over 18 years the chance to work from home and earn around $2,500 to $3,000 for making live videos and talking to strangers She said: 'This video went viral and some TV hosts and YouTubers started to incite against her, saying she wants to hire young Egyptian women as 'digital sex workers,' which is illegal and goes against the so-called public moralities.' One social media user said: 'This is the same as prostitution. Instead of engaging in intercourse, they are just showing their bodies.' Another person commented: 'TikTok, Likee and apps like these should all be banned in Arab countries. I myself don't like them.' The influencer (pictured), who is also a student at Cairo University, may face expulsion over the video as well as criminal proceedings, according to local media Egyptian feminist Ghadeer Ahmed was one of the few high-profile people to defend Hossam (left and right) and claimed that she had been the target of numerous bullying campaigns by the authorities Before her arrest, Hossam released a video defending her post and claiming that she did not call for 'debauchery'. The influencer added: 'There are famous actors that use TikTok. Does this mean they work in prostitution?' The investigation continues. In a fresh development in Palghar mob lynching case, the CID and Maharashtra Police have summoned NCP Gram Panchayat member Kashinath Chaudhary to record his statement about his presence at the spot and his role in the incident. Kashinath was spotted in one of the videos of the gruesome incident. According to local residents, Kashinath and three CPM leaders Vishnu Paatra, Subhash Bhavar and Dharma Bhavar were present at the spot when the sadhus were lynched by the mob. The police, however, said that Kashinath was taken to the spot by the police in order to control the rampaging mob. The mob lynching of three men, including two saints Kalpavriksha Giri Maharaj (70 years), Sushil Giri Maharaj (35), in Maharashtra's Palghar on April 16 has triggered a political slugfest with the BJP and other parties accusing the state government of failing to take action against those involved in the incident. The mob lynching took place when the three men were going from Mumbai in a car towards Surat in Gujarat to attend a funeral. The vehicle of the seers was stopped near a village in Palghar district and the three were dragged out of the car and beaten to death with sticks by a mob on suspicion that they were child-lifters. The deceased were later identified as Chikne Maharaj Kalpavrukshagiri (70), Sushilgiri Maharaj (35), and driver Nilesh Telgade (30). Police have arrested 101 people, including nine minors, in connection with this case. Zee News team had visited the scene of crime and talked to several local people to know more about the incident and many people who wished to remain anonymous hinted that the lynching of the saints was part of a political conspiracy. Palghar is dominated by tribals and it is a bastion of Communist and like-minded parties. The village where the saints were lynched falls under Dahanu Assembly constituency of Palghar and the incumbent MLA of Dahanu, Vinod Nikole, is from Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPM. Earlier, the seat was a stronghold of the Congress but after 1999 the NCP and CPM gained a foothold in the region. After 1999, NCP and CPM have won twice each from Dahanu. Sources said that around 2000 people were present at the scene of crime when the incident took place and it is alleged that most of these men were from NCP and the CPM. After looking at Ameresco, Inc.'s (NYSE:AMRC) latest earnings announcement (31 December 2019), I found it useful to revisit the company's performance in the past couple of years and assess this against the most recent figures. As a long-term investor I tend to focus on earnings trend, rather than a single number at one point in time. Also, comparing it against an industry benchmark to understand whether it outperformed, or is simply riding an industry wave, is a crucial aspect. Below is a brief commentary on my key takeaways. See our latest analysis for Ameresco Did AMRC beat its long-term earnings growth trend and its industry? AMRC's trailing twelve-month earnings (from 31 December 2019) of US$44m has jumped 17% compared to the previous year. However, this one-year growth rate has been lower than its average earnings growth rate over the past 5 years of 36%, indicating the rate at which AMRC is growing has slowed down. To understand what's happening, let's look at what's transpiring with margins and whether the whole industry is feeling the heat. NYSE:AMRC Income Statement April 23rd 2020 In terms of returns from investment, Ameresco has fallen short of achieving a 20% return on equity (ROE), recording 8.8% instead. Furthermore, its return on assets (ROA) of 4.4% is below the US Construction industry of 6.2%, indicating Ameresco's are utilized less efficiently. However, its return on capital (ROC), which also accounts for Amerescos debt level, has increased over the past 3 years from 4.7% to 4.8%. What does this mean? Though Ameresco's past data is helpful, it is only one aspect of my investment thesis. Companies that have performed well in the past, such as Ameresco gives investors conviction. However, the next step would be to assess whether the future looks as optimistic. I recommend you continue to research Ameresco to get a better picture of the stock by looking at: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for AMRCs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for AMRCs outlook. Financial Health: Are AMRCs operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why weve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the trailing twelve months from 31 December 2019. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. The gunman then fled the area south on Lombard Avenue, and possibly entered an older model sedan on South Boulevard that was driven by an unknown suspect, police said. The car was last seen traveling east on South Boulevard at a high rate of speed, police said. LAUSANNE, Switzerland, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --- ActLight, the Swiss technology firm known for its best in class signal-to-noise ratio photodiodes, announced today that it has signed a license agreement with a leading semiconductor company that intend to use ActLight's innovative sensing technology to fulfill the fast growing demand of the global healthcare market. "Now that the COVID-19 pandemic is spreading throughout the globe, we are proud to offer our Dynamic PhotoDiode technology to the healthcare segment together with a prestigious semiconductor company. In these times of trouble we all need to join forces to exploit innovative technologies at the service of the impacted communities," said Roberto Magnifico, Chief Commercial Officer at ActLight. About ActLight SA ActLight SA, the start-up company founded in 2011 and based in Lausanne - Switzerland, focuses on the field of CMOS photonics by developing a new type of photodetector, the Dynamic PhotoDiode (DPD). Being a fabless company, ActLight specializes in the Intellectual Property (IP) of this area and operates primarily in the IP licensing business model. The patented CMOS-based photonics technology allows the substantial improvement of the efficiency and accuracy of various light sensing applications, such as Time Of Flight (TOF) based range meters, vital signs monitoring, 3D/2D cameras and much more. ActLight operates in the Internet of Things (IoT) market, with a focus on mobile and wearable devices, healthcare/medtech, autonomous driving, drones and robotics. More info about ActLight available at http://www.act-light.com Contact: Roberto Magnifico +41792108313 [email protected] or [email protected] SOURCE ActLight Related Links http://www.act-light.com Photo credit: Netflix From Digital Spy Time to Hunt spoilers follow. Time to Hunt is now on Netflix, following a legal battle that temporarily delayed its worldwide release, nevertheless Yoon Sung-hyun's heist thriller brings with it plenty of twists and turns to keep you decisively gripped. Set in a dystopian near-future South Korea, where a financial crisis has devastated the economy, Time to Hunt follows four incompetent young thieves who decide to rob an underground casino, but quickly regret it as theyre hunted by a relentless killer. Naturally, major spoilers follow. Photo credit: Netflix Having recently got out of prison for a previous heist he and his friends cocked up, Jun-seok (Lee Je-hoon) now finds himself in a world where Korea's currency, won, has crashed colossally, rendering the haul of their last job effectively worthless. While modern day South Korea has strict gun control laws, in Time to Hunt everyone and their mother is packing firearms to survive this rather pessimistic vision of the future. Why would anyone want to stay? Well, Jun-seok doesn't. He dreams of a life on the beach in Taiwan, and to make it a reality, he proposes one last heist to his best chums Jang-ho (Ahn Jae-hong) and Ki-hoon (Choi Woo-shik, who played the son in Parasite). Their target is an illegal gambling den in the underbelly of the city, housing hefty stacks of US dollars and they'll need some weapons of their own if they're to crack it. Luckily, from his time in prison, Jun-seok happens to know a friendly arms dealer who can supply him and the rest of the gang with some heavy artillery. Photo credit: Netflix With the help of inside man Sang-soo (Park Jeong-min), the team's heist is a messy but nevertheless successful one. For the time being. They make it away with a large enough sum of cash to start their new lives in Taiwan, but they make the fatal error of also taking the surveillance hard drives, which contain footage of dodgy dealings between the casino owners and assorted criminal scum. Story continues The pissed-off mobsters soon unleash Han (Park Hae-soo) the Anton Chigurh-esque hunter of the movie's title to track them down and retrieve the hard drives. Oh yeah, and kill them if he fancies it. And he definitely does fancy it. Although killing the culprits isn't technically part of his job, he delights in the thrill of the chase. Like a tech savvy boogeyman, he torments his targets by knocking out the lights in a car park and ringing Jun-seok's phone from the other side of darkly lit bar, just so he can breathe in his ear. Photo credit: Netflix Not much is known about Han and his backstory, but in the movie's first major twist, the boys end up stealing his car, only to discover it comes with a police radio and flashing lights. He's a copper! Whatever that means in this seemingly lawless dystopia. After the gang makes another near escape, Han ends up being arrested by his colleagues who are keen to bump him off, but orders from the top force them to release him back into the wild. Sang-soo, who sillily decides to keep working at the casino for a little longer, to avoid raising suspicion of his involvement in the heist, is killed off-screen by Han, leaving the three other boys to hole up in a derelict docking bay while they wait for transport to Taiwan. Photo credit: Netflix However, with Ki-hoon deciding he can't leave his parents behind after he receives a worrying phone call from his mum, he chooses to go back home. After that, we don't actually get to see what happens to him, but it's heavily implied that he snuffs it. So, it's now just Jun-seok and Jang-ho who are left to battle it out with Han. And, despite regular displays of their ineptitude, the pair manage to hold their own for a while, until Jang-ho is eventually peppered with bullets and dies a slow, emotional death. Thoroughly pissed off, Jun-seok proceeds to unleash a few rounds at Han, somehow only managing to hit him once in the shoulder. Soon enough, though, he once again finds himself staring down barrel of Hans rifle. Before Han can pull the trigger, hes ambushed by a bunch of masked coppers (presumably off-duty), led by the chief of police himself, who looks oddly familiar. Photo credit: Netflix Remember Jun-seoks friendly arms dealer friend who provided him with the weapons for the heist? Well, the chief of police just so happens to be his twin brother. And he's pretty upset with Han for blowing him up earlier in the movie. The chief made the call for Han to be released so he could operate outside his job and kill Han himself. We told you law enforcement wasnt really a thing in this movie. Anyway, with Jun-seok able to leg to safety, the masked coppers hunt down the hunter before the chief gets to fire the last shot, knocking Han off the edge of the docks and into the water. And that's the last we see of him. Photo credit: Netflix When then skip forward a few months, possibly years, with Jun-seok now living out his days in Taiwan. However, hes unable to enjoy his solitude as hes haunted by the loss of his friends. At one point, he's visited by Ki-hoon in his new bike shop on the island, but it's just his imagination. It's unclear if Ki-hoon is still alive or not, and that's partly the reason Jun-seok makes his next radical decision. After hearing that Han miraculously managed to survive that onslaught of bullets, Jun-seok practises his shooting skills on some defenceless empty bottles and decides to head back to South Korea, knowing that he wont be able to live in peace until the hunter is dead. Of course, this perfectly sets things up for a sequel, but with Jun-seok's journey from a desperate thief to a levelled-out warrior complete, exploring his character any further might just be overkill. Time to Hunt is available to watch now on Netflix. Digital Spy now has a newsletter sign up to get it sent straight to your inbox. Looking for more TV recommendations and discussion? Head over to our Facebook Group to see new picks every day, and chat with other readers about what they're watching right now. You Might Also Like Prince Charles has called for global solutions to climate change, as he launches a campaign to encourage others to share their vision for a sustainable future. Charles, 71, asked people to share their ideas for social, economic and environmental sustainability on the #ReimagineReset hashtag as he noted the ability of the Earth to repair itself while people stay at home to prevent the spread of coronavirus. He marked the 50th Earth Day with a passionate plea for more to be done to tackle the continuing climate problems. Remarking on changes seen with people spending more time indoors and only making essential trips, the heir to the throne said: Equally, the slowdown of human and industrial activity has shown just how quickly the Earth can heal itself when we let it. We need only look to the improved air quality in some of the worlds major cities and the return of wildlife to our communities and waterways. Air, water, soil and landscapes are vital to human health and well-being. Biodiversity, the incredible interconnectedness of plant, animal and insect life, which we are rapidly destroying, holds insights and solutions that we have yet to discover; its protection and genuinely sustainable management is vital to our survival as a human species. It is, therefore, increasingly clear that when we care for our planet we fundamentally care for ourselves. Read more: Coronavirus: Prince Charles praises farmers, driver and shelf-stackers keeping food on the table To reflect and inspire the world to action, while aiming for a green recovery, I would ask you to join me by sharing your vision for a more sustainable future. The Prince now encourages you to share your sustainability ideas for the next fifty years using #ReimagineReset. pic.twitter.com/2X05CAFz9X Clarence House (@ClarenceHouse) April 22, 2020 Charles also likened the Earth to a patient, saying that human action had weakened her immune system, and damaged her vital organs. Story continues He added: Rarely do we have the opportunity to pause, reflect and reset our trajectory. I would encourage us all to reimagine the world we want and use all the levers we have at our disposal, knowing that each and everyone one of us has a vital role to play. His message on Earth Day came soon after he wrote in Country Life magazine, to celebrate farmers working throughout the crisis, and saying food does not happen by magic. If the past few weeks have proved anything, it is that we cannot take it for granted. Prince Charles delivers a speech on Forests as part of the United Nations conference on climate change in Paris. (Getty Images) Charles has previously pointed out the link between the response to coronavirus and that to the global emergency, saying in March that the world should react to both with the same urgency. Just a few days before he ended up contracting COVID-19, he said: The current battle against the coronavirus at least demonstrates, if nothing else, how quickly the world can mobilise when we identify a common threat. Prince Charles and Camilla visit the Eden Project in 2011. (Getty Images) Read more: Jellyfish filmed swimming through Venice's now-crystal clear waterways Earth Day also comes as it was confirmed 2019 was the hottest year on record for Europe. Concern for the environment is no new thing for the Royal Family. Charles, 71, has been campaigning on environmental issues for more than five decades and he has passed on his passion to his sons. Charles recalled his first speech on the problem with plastic waste earlier this year, remarking on being considered rather dotty at the time. He was also one of the early adopters of organic farming, which he continues to use at his Home Farm in Highgrove. Prince Harry has founded Travalyst, a sustainable travel project which looks to offset carbon and support communities which suffer damage from tourism. Meghan paid a secret visit to feminist climate change group in Vancouver shortly after she and Harry announced they wanted to end royal duties. Read more: An Unintended Consequence of COVID-19 Shutdowns? Blue Skies and Cleaner Air Read more: Prince Charles: I was considered 'rather dotty' for worrying about plastic 50 years ago He and Meghan have faced criticism for their use of private jets, most recently when they moved to California from Canada, before the border between the US and Canada closed. Harry, 35, said he has done it to protect his family. William and Kate launched the Earthshot prize at the beginning of 2020, after consulting with naturalist David Attenborough, to try to repair the damage done to the planet. Prince William, 37, talked to his family before launching the prize, and he is hopeful that many of them will get involved with it, representing a shared concern for climate change. Prince William, and Kate visit the Chiatibo glacier in the Hindu Kush mountain range in Pakistan. (Getty Images) Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex at the Queen's Young Leaders Awards Ceremony celebrating response to issues including climate change. (Getty Images) He worked on it for more than a year before its launch, and has said he hopes it will focus attention on finding answers to big questions, like climate change, the oceans, and air pollution. The Cambridges also frequently put climate change on the agenda on their tours. In Pakistan, they visited a melting glacier, and spoke to an expert. They travelled to community-led projects where people are coping with the changes to their environment. Equity Vs. Equality The travesty of COVID-19 has sparked many conversations around racial disparities among the African American community. There are a lot of people discussing how hard the Black community has been hit by this epidemic and why. It is interesting because initially there were rumors that this disease could not, would not hit our community. The novel Coronavirus is not specifically targeting the African American community; but rather, because of the health disparities that already existed within the Black community, they are among the hardest hit. There is an old African American aphorism that says, When White America catches a cold, Black America gets pneumonia. In the case of COVID-19, more often than not when White America gets sick, they survive; when Black America gets it, they die. People often talk about wanting equality, but the reality is we need equity. It has been expressed that equity and equality are two strategies that can be used to produce fairness. Equity is giving everyone what they need to be successful. Equality is treating everyone the same. Equality aims to promote fairness, but it can only work if everyone starts from the same place and needs the same help. The problem is everybody does not start from the same place. There are many that start behind the starting line and it has been that way for generations. Structural Racism is just part of the problem. Racism has been around for generations and still exists here in America. It is based on policies and practices that are put in place by those that are in power. Because of the inequities and disparities, the Black community has higher levels of health issues such as heart disease, higher levels of stress, obesity, diabetes, asthma, and high blood pressure that are tied to racial inequality and poverty. The way the majority, especially those in power, look at minorities is often related to economics. If they are needed for labor then they have value, but the question becomes, does their basic existence matter? Do our lives matter? ADVERTISEMENT Since the end of slavery, racism has underwritten Black economics and the lack thereof. African Americans are heavily concentrated in low-wage jobs that the government and the powers that be have designated as essential. In a press conference, Vice-President Pence expressed the role of low-wage workers as being essential workers. He said, You are giving a great service to the people of the United States of America, and we need for you to continue, as a part of what we call critical infrastructure, to show up and do your job. There are reports that Black and low-income individuals have reported that they were not feeling well, yet they were mandated to return to work. Oftentimes without even proper protective gear. Their lives did not matter. Some have even died (check out Tyson food workers). Where is the equity or equality in this? When people are hungry, worried about losing their homes and looking down the barrel of unemployment, they do not prioritize their safety or health, especially when the system has not treated them equitably in the first place. Many African American workers are on the front lines facing the public in areas such as public transportation, retail, food service, and other industries where social distancing is difficult. There are systemic factors and stereotypes lined up against African Americans (and other minorities and poor people) that cause the system to discriminate against them. We must work on ending this crisis. But we will only eradicate this problem when equity and equality walk hand and hand for everyone. Healing Without Hate: Its a choice. Its a lifestyle. Pass it on! Visit www.WendyGladney.com and www.forgivingforliving.org to learn more. Wendy is an international coach, consultant, trainer, author and speaker Kwadwo Asamoah pleaded guilty to stealing and causing unlawful harm. He was convicted on his own plea and sentenced accordingly. Prosecuting, Police Chief Inspector William K. Boateng told the Court presided over Mrs Afia Owusua Appiah that Enoch Osei the complainant is a resident of Tabora whilst Asamoah also resides at Kantamanto, all suburbs of Accra. Prosecution said both convict and the complainant trade at the Kantamanto market. He said on April 7, this year, the mobile phone of one Solomon Lamptey, a trader and witness in the case got lost at the Kantamanto market when he was charging it. Chief Inspector Boateng said the next day, at about 0900 hours, Asamoah was found with the phone and some traders arrested him. He said the complainant who is a friend to Asamoah pleaded with those who arrested him not to send him to the Police Station, but to the elders in the market who referred the suspect to the rules of the market, which says anyone caught stealing and has rasta hairdo should have his hair shaved off. The Prosecution said the complainant who had a pair of scissors on him, brought it out for Asamoah's hair to be shaved to set him free. The Prosecution said after Asamoah hair was cut, he was set free, but furious he grabbed two empty bottles, broke them and stabbed the complainant on both shoulders and on the right side of his neck. Chief Inspector Boateng said Asamoah was arrested by some traders and handed over to the Railways Police Station, whilst the complainant was rushed to the Korle bu Teaching Hospital. He said after investigations, Asamoah was charged and put before court. ---GNA Yesterday, i.e on April 22, 2020, on account of World Earth Day, Ananya Panday shared a throwback photo with her friend Shanaya Kapoor from their vacation in Alaska. Shanaya Kapoor is the daughter of actor Sanjay Kapoor and both Shanaya and Ananya are reportedly friends since childhood. The two could be seen taking a walk in the woods in Juneau, Alaska. Check out the throwback photo below - Also read: Ananya Panday spills beans on Ishaan Khatter, her favourite films & more during Insta live Ananya's throwback photo with Shanaya Kapoor Also read: Ananya Panday recalls her first day on the sets of 'Student of The Year 2', Read here In the photo, Ananya Panday could be seen taking a walk in the forest. Ananya was seen sporting an all-black attire. Whereas, Shanaya Kapoor wore a black jacket coupled with blue denim jeans. Ananya Panday also added two World Earthy Day themed stickers to the Instagram story named 'Earth Day Every Day' and 'Stand For What You Stand On' respectively. Later, Ananya Panday also posted a photo on Instagram posing in the backdrop of nature on account of World Earth Day. Check it out below - Also read: Ananya Panday oozes positivity amid COVID-19 lockdown, says 'not stuck, but safe at home' Ananya kickstarted her Bollywood career in 2019 with Student of the Year 2 recently celebrated crossing 10 million followers on Instagram. She is evidently emerging as one of the most influential stars working in the Hindi film industry with just two films down the line to date. She will be next seen alongside Ishaan Khatter in the film Khaali Peeli. She will also feature alongside Vijay Deverakonda in a Pan-India untitled film. Also read: Abhimanyu Dassani gives sneak peek into Ananya Panday's relationship status Also read: Shanaya Kapoor sends virtual hugs to BFF Ananya Panday with cute childhood photo We think intelligent long term investing is the way to go. But along the way some stocks are going to perform badly. For example, after five long years the Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group Company Limited (HKG:564) share price is a whole 56% lower. That is extremely sub-optimal, to say the least. And some of the more recent buyers are probably worried, too, with the stock falling 26% in the last year. Furthermore, it's down 30% in about a quarter. That's not much fun for holders. But this could be related to the weak market, which is down 14% in the same period. Check out our latest analysis for Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group 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. While the share price declined over five years, Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group actually managed to increase EPS by an average of 36% per year. Given the share price reaction, one might suspect that EPS is not a good guide to the business performance during the period (perhaps due to a one-off loss or gain). Alternatively, growth expectations may have been unreasonable in the past. Because of the sharp contrast between the EPS growth rate and the share price growth, we're inclined to look to other metrics to understand the changing market sentiment around the stock. The steady dividend doesn't really explain why the share price is down. While it's not completely obvious why the share price is down, a closer look at the company's history might help explain it. The graphic below depicts how earnings and revenue have changed over time (unveil the exact values by clicking on the image). SEHK:564 Income Statement April 23rd 2020 We know that Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group has improved its bottom line over the last three years, but what does the future have in store? You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic. Story continues What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. We note that for Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group the TSR over the last 5 years was -53%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! A Different Perspective We regret to report that Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group shareholders are down 22% for the year (even including dividends) . Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 17%. 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 14% per year over five years. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. 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. NEW YORK, April 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KEY FINDINGS The global artificial intelligence in healthcare market is set to register growth, projecting a CAGR of 38.05% during the forecast period, 2020-2028. The prominent drivers of market growth are estimated to be the rising big data in the healthcare industry, the growing use of AI in genetics, the emergence of personalized medicine in tests for clinical decision making, along with the creation of a real-time monitoring system due to AI. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05242360/?utm_source=PRN MARKET INSIGHTS The utilization of AI in healthcare entails the use of software and algorithms for estimating the human perception for analyzing complex medical data, along with the relationship between treatments or prevention techniques and patient outcomes.The growing demand for real-time monitoring system is one of the key aspects propelling the growth of the global artificial intelligence in healthcare market. The real-time monitoring devices like health monitoring devices or indicators track real-time health data of patients, which is increasing the demand for AI in healthcare.The devices also drive the relevancy of data interpretation and aid in reducing the time the patients spend in piecing data output. In healthcare, the devices help in detecting and preventing undesirable patient outputs. The growing number of mobile devices integrated with artificial intelligence assists in the prediction of future outcomes with regard to health, which further benefits market growth. Medical practitioners are reluctant to adopt AI-based technologies, and this is restraining the growth of the market.The reluctance is because of the lack of data that identifies healthcare decisions. Also, from a diagnostics point of view, AI systems fare less in terms of efficiency in comparison to conventional methods.The companies in the market are competing against each other by providing the same characteristics and similar prices. The competitive rivalry is projected to be high during the forecast period. REGIONAL INSIGHTS The geographical segmentation of the global artificial intelligence in healthcare market includes the analysis of Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and the rest of the world.Inkwood Research estimates the Asia Pacific region to be the fastest-growing region by the end of the forecast period. The invention of new technologies, the presence of countries like China, Japan, Australia, and India, and the thriving artificial intelligence market, are the factors propelling the growth of the market. COMPETITIVE INSIGHTS Some of the prominent companies operating in the market are Enlitic Inc, Next IT Corporation, Recursion, Welltok, GE Healthcare, Microsoft Corporation, etc. Our report offerings include: Explore key findings of the overall market Strategic breakdown of market dynamics (Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, Challenges) Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years, along with 3 years of historical data for all segments, sub-segments, and regions Market Segmentation cater to a thorough assessment of key segments with their market estimations Geographical Analysis: Assessments of the mentioned regions and country-level segments with their market share Key analytics: Porter's Five Forces Analysis, Vendor Landscape, Opportunity Matrix, Key Buying Criteria, etc. Competitive landscape is the theoretical explanation of the key companies based on factors, market share, etc. Company profiling: A detailed company overview, product/services offered, SCOT analysis, and recent strategic developments Companies mentioned 1. DEEP GENOMICS INC 2. ENLITIC INC 3. GE HEALTHCARE 4. GENERAL VISION INC 5. GOOGLE 6. IBM CORPORATION 7. ICARBONX 8. INTEL CORPORATION 9. MICROSOFT CORPORATION 10. NEXT IT CORPORATION 11. NVIDIA CORPORATION 12. ONCORA MEDICAL 13. RECURSION PHARMACEUTICALS INC 14. STRYKER CORPORATION 15. WELLTOK INC Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05242360/?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 If you are an enthusiast of the Philippines historical films, then the name Joven Hernando has crossed your path. Joven Hernando is the young and intriguing journalist in the most talked-about Filipino film, Heneral Luna. He is a recurring character in the sequel, Goyo: The Boy General, where he plays an observer and a chronicler. His role in these films represents the next generation. Image: facebook.com, @ARRONationOFC Source: Facebook The well-built and handsome Arron Villaflor plays the role of Joven Hernando. Arron Villaflor as Joven Hernando has gained traction in the past few years, with fans keeping abreast of his latest trends in the theatres. For more interesting facts, lets uncover the mystery behind Joven Hernando real face. Joven Hernando Profile summary Full name: Joven Hernando Joven Hernando Nationalit y: Filipino y: Filipino Age: 19 years 19 years Profession: Journalist and photographer Who is Joven Hernando? He is the striking and famous character of the Philippine historical biopic films, Heneral Luna, and Goyo: The Boy General. He is a young man who gets an opportunity to write about two interesting generals in the history of the Philippines. Joven Hernando biography Joven Hernando was a student and young patriot who idolized General Luna. He was a journalist, writer, and narrator of Antonio Lunas life. The general shared his secrets to the young journalist before his treacherous death by his fellow countrymen. After the death of General Luna, Goyo, The Boy General took over. He was a favorite of the president, and many saw him as his hatchet man. The young and self-confident General assigned the 19year old, Hernando, to be del Pilars photographer. During this time, he had been working for his uncle and later became quite close to Goyo and his men. The war against the Americans and Goyo got the Philippine army off guard. They were quickly invaded and had no time to organize themselves. When Joven and Garcias son, Kiko, tried to escape, Joven fell off a cliff when he met with an American soldier. He was saved with Kiki and Lunas former assistant, Eduardo Rusca. READ ALSO: Miguel Malvar biography, quotes, contribution, books Image: facebook.com, @ARRONationOFC Source: Facebook Joven Hernando wiki He is the films POV character. Joven Hernando is a composite character of a journalist who interviews General Luna. He cheated death when Quezon overran the government. He was rescued by Lunas former aide, showing how loyal Luna's men were and believed in never leaving a man behind. History Joven Hernando history was not part of the real war that happened during 1899-1902, between the Philippines and the Americans. Joven Hernando Heneral Luna is where his story begins with him being the writer of the generals beliefs and line of thinking. Joven Hernando Philippine history is an essential fictional role that ties the trilogy of different generals, that led the Filipinos into war against the Americans. When the young and composed General Goyo was in charge, he took the law into his own hands. The members of Lunas crew that refused to follow the new regime were deemed enemies of the president and were therefore eliminated. At this time, Joven was appointed by Goyo to be his photographer, and this is where he knew more about his army. Joven Hernando and Remedios Nable can bring out Goyos character as a womanizer, and at the same time, a hero. The dashing young general was a fervid loyalist of president Aguinaldo. As much as the young journalist came from Lunas government, he knew he had to show his loyalty to Goyo. This was critical for him to maintain his photography job and remain relevant to the crew. He worked diligently by producing Goyos classic portraits. Quotes Some of Joven Hernando quotes that many people reflect on, include the following: Image: pexels.com, (modified by author) Source: UGC The person with feelings is not a slave, but I think if these feelings are caused by our blindness, we are enslaved by our own emotions. Image: pexels.com, (modified by author) Source: UGC The months have been really quiet, but I don't want to forget. I do not want to be blind. I just want to remember that we have a fight. Is this all we always do? Regular dancing and festivals? Pure romance and purpose? Image: pexels.com, (modified by author) Source: UGC What is the value of a hero? Why do we keep on praying and praying without a doubt? Is Joven Hernando real? Joven Hernando is not real, but a fictional journalist. The young and talented Arron Villaflor plays this role. In Spanish, his name means youth. His character demonstrates how much the youth hunger for the truth, and would want to play a part in Philippines history by understanding what happened. Through his character, the story about the Philippine-American War can be narrated to the young Filipino patriots. Watching him play his role has made numerous Filipo youth to bring their country's history closer to their heart. Image: facebook.com, @ARRONationOFC Source: Facebook Luna had a lot of admiration for Joven. He protected him since he captured everything in his writings that would be told in the future. This was the avenue he found to ensure the stories of the Philippine-American war could be told to make the Philippines a better place, even after his death. Hernando plays an essential role in Philippines history since he identifies the pros and cons of the different generals. He gets a taste of a fiery and bombastic general and a young and enthusiastic general, who both take pride in their patriotism. In essence, he depicts the relevance of youth and how much they hold in their hands. He got to experience the rule of different generals and how they used different rules. His character not only elevated the status of Philippine filmmaking but has also infused a restored sense of patriotism in the country. The youth can relate to his role by comparing the past and current governments they have been through. The Joven Hernando book awakens the countys nationalistic passion. This has resulted in Filipinos and the rest of the world yearning for more about the Philippine-American war and the Philippine filmmaking industry. As much as Joven Hernando is a fictional character in both Heneral Luna and Goyo: The Boy General, his role is substantial to the Filipino youth of today. After watching his role in the two movies, many young Filipinos have gone back to find out more about their history and generals. READ ALSO: Leody de Guzman biography, education, advocacy, background Source: KAMI.com.gh BERLIN (dpa-AFX) - Vonovia SE (DAIMF), a German residential property company, said Thursday it is regularly asked about a possible takeover of Deutsche Wohnen. 'Acquisitions are an integral part of our strategy, and we constantly monitor and analyze potential opportunities as a matter of course,' the company said. However, Vonovia noted that such a transaction would only be conceivable if fundamental issues were resolved and the company received political support for such a transaction in Berlin, where the local government is currently making every effort to successfully combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Vonovia said its primary focus is on addressing challenges related to the COVID-19 crisis in the best interest of its employees and customers. Currently, the company's highest priority is to actively deal with these issues. 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. Dozens of mafia dons could be released in Italy over fears they could catch coronavirus in jail, it has emerged. Three mob bosses from the infamous Cosa Nostra and 'Ndrangheta clans have already been allowed to leave jail, and are now under house arrest. All releases have been due to concerns regarding the inmates' health conditions but a prison police officers' union has described the move as 'very alarming'. On Wednesday, a judge in Milan ordered 78-year-old Francesco Bonura, a Cosa Nostra boss, to serve his sentence at home. The mobster will be allowed to attend health appointments despite still having years to serve. Bonura was one of three joint chief dons of the Cosa Nostra, sentenced to 18 years and eight months in Opera Prison in Milan in 2002, according to Italian Insider. Far from his first stretch, Bonura was also one of several Sicilian mobsters convicted for mafia association during Palermo's landmark Maxi trial in 1992. The trial was the largest ever court proceeding against the mob and several judges were executed in the six years it ran. At the trial, key informant Tommaso Buscetta called Bonura a 'valiant' mobster. 78-year-old Cosa Nostra boss, Francesco Bonura (left), was released from jail in Milan yesterday. Bonuro, who was convicted in Sicily's landmark Maxi trial, will serve his sentence at home amid fears that if he catches the coronavirus, he could die. Vincenzino Iannazzo (right), 65, the head of the Lamezia Terme 'Ndrangheta clan, who was serving a 14 years and six months sentence, has also been placed under house arrest Magistrate Antonino Di Matteo called Bonura's release a 'serious offence against the memory of the victims,' in reference to murders committed while Bonura was in charge. Rocco Santo Filippone, 72, a boss who was tried in the early 1990s 'Ndrangheta Massacre' trial for the murder of two Carabinieri officers, has been spared the remainder of his stint in jail because he suffers from a cardiovascular disease that could prove fatal if he were infected with Covid-19. Prosecutors allege that Filippone was a boss of the Piromalli gang, one of the most feared clans of the 'Ndrangheta crime syndicate, based in Calabria. The gang took hold of the Gioia Tauro port in the mid 90s, using it to traffic illegal goods and drugs. Pictured: Rocco Santo Fillippone, boss of one of the most feared 'Ndrangheta clans in Calabria Fillipone earned his nickname, the 'Monk', for his 'confidentiality', according to reports. He was jailed for ordering his ruthless grandson to kill two Carabinieri officers Antonino Fava and Vincenzo Garofalo on January 18, 1994. Vincenzino Iannazzo, 65, nicknamed 'the brunette', was caged during Operation Andromeda in 2015 and handed a sentence of 14 years and six months for his role as the head of the Lamezia Terme clan. At the beginning of April, a judge granted him permission to serve his sentence with an electronic tag under house arrest due to him suffering with an 'immune deficiency that places him at great risk of infection with Covid-19,' according to CN24. He has now been released and placed under house arrest. Meanwhile, another feared mobster bidding for some time at home amid the coronavirus crisis is 83-year-old Nitto Santapaola whose lawyer has petitioned for him to be released from Opera prison in Milan. Nitto, a prominent Cosa Nosta mafioso from Catania, is serving several concurrent life sentences after he was arrested in 1993. He was wanted for the murder of journalist Giuseppe Fava but evaded arrest for 11 years when he was found hiding out at a farmhouse in Catania. Despite the difficulties running his clan from prison due to article 41-bis, it is rumoured that Nitto manages to keep his operation going from behind bars using a series of regents. Judges have weighed up the chances of the veteran gangsters escaping and said it will be impossible for them to leave the house or meet others, unless for 'health reasons. Security officials prepare for the transfer of 60 prisoners from Melfi prison to other penitentiaries in Italy, after the 9 March revolt, which was triggered by the coronavirus lockdown, in Melfi, Potenza, Italy, 17 March 2020 'It is a very alarming situation,' Leo Beneduci, secretary general of Osapp, Italys largest prison police officers union, told the Guardian. 'Members of the penitentiary police have begun reporting detainees who embrace each other with the alleged goal of increasing the possibility of contracting the virus and getting released from prison.' According to an internal memo seen by the Guardian there are 74 high-profile dons whose ages and health conditions make them particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus. The septuagenarians, all currently held under the 41-bis protocols which can suspend certain prison regulations by ministerial decree, include bosses of the Bellocco clan of the Ndrangheta and the Sicilian 'boss of bosses' Nitto Santapaola. Italian Justice Minister Alfonso Bonafede, said the government had not approved the releases. 'The risk is that well find the mafia virus on the streets alongside Covid-19,' Lirio Abbate, journalist and national editor of LEspresso, told the Guardian. 'It would be a double pandemic that we mustnt allow to happen.' It comes days after anti-mafia author Roberto Saviano, who wrote the script for Italian crime drama Gomorrah, claimed the Mafia is handing out food to Italy's needy and offering interest-free loans to impose control over people's lives and capitalise on the country's coronavirus crisis. Saviano told journalists that at the most basic level, the mob is handing out groceries to the poorest Italians to ensure favours once the crisis is over. He added they are also preparing to snatch up struggling businesses as the country awaits European funding to boost its battered economy. Saviano, who is currently under police protection in New York after the release of the series, is an expert on mafia groups and how they have successfully expanded beyond drugs and other illegal activity to worm their way into otherwise legitimate businesses and sectors across the world. His fears have been echoed by both anti-mafia investigators and politicians as the virus batters Italy. Earlier this month, Pope Francis slammed 'the mafiosi and the loan sharks' who are exploiting the pandemic to make a quick profit. Johana Mendoza Chancay hasnt been in the same room with her baby since she giving birth while in a medically induced coma. Chancay talked about delivering her daughter amid the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic on CNNs Cuomo Prime Time. Now, after recovering from the virus, a traumatic labor, and the emotions of being separated from her premature baby, she says there are no words for the experience. Diagnosed late last month with COVID-19, the disease the virus causes, Chancay said she wasnt initially worried. At the time, she didnt believe the virus was affecting pregnant women as much, she said, and thought she would only face flu-like symptoms. She decided to ride it out in self-quarantine. But then she began having respiratory issues. Thats when I just couldnt take it anymore, Chancay told CNN. Almost immediately after arriving at a Connecticut hospital, she was told she would have to be put into a coma and have an emergency C-section to deliver her baby early, she said. It was told to me right away and thats when I called my family and told them hey, Im going under,' she said. And thats the last time they heard from me. When she woke up, it was April 1 and she had a one-pound baby she named Zion, born 14 weeks early. But instead of holding her in her arms, Chancay met her daughter for the first time from a webcam. Both she and the baby are fragile, she said, so while she is recovering at home, Zion is still at the hospital. They will likely not be reunited until July 8, Zions due date. Chancay is now undergoing a long recovery that includes physical therapy. Meanwhile, she said she is trying to understand the absence of her baby. I am a mom, shes just not here. Last week, another mother and daughter got that long-awaited reunion Chancay and Zion are waiting for. Angela Primachenko, who lives in Vancouver, Washington, held her baby last Wednesday for the first time after delivering in a medically induced coma as well. When she woke up, her baby was already five days old. Crying right now, she posted on Instagram. Our little sunshine is doing amazing! The CNN Wire and NTD staff contributed to this report. Support isn't entirely about oneself, but also the ability to help others and positively impact one's friends and the folks around, says Srikrishna Tharuvai, an IT employee who has been living under lockdown in New Jersey, US Editor's Note: Thousands of Indians are stranded in foreign lands across the world, some by choice, others due to geopolitical, financial and academic constraints. In this multi-part series, Firstpost takes a look at how they are managing through the lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic *** Mohammad Ali is a veteran freelance journalist working in New York for the last one year. With years of experience behind him, nothing ever came close to preparing him for the COVID-19 pandemic, especially when it proved fatal for someone in his vicinity. It is a very scary situation here. About three weeks ago in Manhattan, one person working in an international hostel, which was close to my place, died of the virus and another was tested positive. These were the people who worked in the mess. That is when I panicked since that I used to go for a walk in that area. You never know how often you would have bumped into them. Some people I know have even left the area, he says. The close proximity to a COVID-19 death has left Ali shaken and worried. Sometimes, it feels like I cannot breathe when I step outside because of the infection and the hyper awareness. There are so many conflicting reports like how long the virus stays on a surface or in the air. Especially because it is a novel virus, we dont know enough about it yet. The situation has become an existential question," he says. While many people, after the lockdown was announced, had to inadvertently stay back wherever they were, some made a conscious choice about where to self-isolate. For Parasi (34), the decision of choosing her place of residence during the imminent lockdown was well thought out so that her research work was not hampered. A PhD scholar in Chicago, Parasi said that she returned to USA in mid-March. At that point the question was where to be when the global lockdown began. Since my work place is here where I have my own space and access to books which was before the university library shut down for the holidays/lockdown I decided to return. There are challenges wherever one is in this crisis but overall, we, the middle class, salaried people, are all very lucky whether in India or abroad. All we have to tackle is boredom and lack of social life. News from India about daily wage workers and migrant labourers is more heart-breaking than anything we have to face, adds Parasi. In some cases, universities closing down their campuses after WHO declared COVID-19 as pandemic, led people into taking cognisance of the seriousness of the situation and indulged in panic buying. Universities like Chicago, Loyola, Illinois shut down their campuses and asked students living in University dorms to leave within a few days unless they had nowhere else to go. This was on 12 March. It might have created some sort of panic as people across cities indulged in panic-buying. Because of this, it was difficult to get essentials like potatoes, onions and milk for one week but after that the stores caught up with the demand. One wont find everything even now but the most basic amenities are available, says Kovind, a PhD scholar in Chicago. Like most Indians living abroad, staying in touch with his family back in India has been a challenge for Kovind as well. I cannot go back home to India because of travel restrictions but it feels like I am in two different places trying to stay updated about India and Chicago, he says. People are in touch with each other via calls to create a network of support. University departments are also trying to keep students updated about the situation. Srikrishna Tharuvai (30), an IT employee in Barclays Investment Bank, New Jersey, said that even though his brothers wedding in May in Toronto, Canada may get postponed, he tries to keep himself cheered-up and well-connected by having quick chats with his neighbours from a distance or by using online video call applications. He also helps his landlord, who is well over 60, by getting groceries for him. "Support isn't entirely about oneself, but also the ability to help others and positively impact one's friends and the folks around. One can help and feel much better. That's been one way to bring positivity into such times and foster a greater sense of community, adds Tharuvai. Cattle Market Red at Midday Barchart - 20 minutes ago Front month cattle futures are trading 12 to 82 cents weaker so far with the nearbys down the most. The weekly FCE auction sold 379 of the 3,050 head listed for $137. One smaller pen of steers went for... LEG22 : 136.625 (-0.76%) LEM22 : 136.350 (-0.37%) GFF22 : 161.600 (-0.29%) GFH22 : 165.400 (-0.57%) Triple Digit Gains for Cotton Barchart - 20 minutes ago The front month cotton futures market is 81 to 193 points stronger. New crop prices are also gaining 68 to 73 points at midday. USDA left the average cash price for cotton at 90 cents/lb in the Monthly... CTK21 : 89.48s (+3.77%) CTK22 : 115.55 (+1.46%) CTZ21 : 111.55s (+0.25%) Corn Futures Trading Red After Reports Barchart - 20 minutes ago Corn futures are weaker as the USDA data dump gets digested. Old crop is 3 to 3 1/2 cents in the red so far. New crop futures are fractionally weaker. USDA maintained $5.45 as the cash average price. The... ZCH22 : 600-6 (unch) ZCPAUS.CM : 5.8746 (-0.08%) ZCK22 : 602-0 (unch) ZCZ21 : 588-6s (+0.77%) ZCPZ21US.CM : 5.7930 (-0.49%) Weekly U.S. Ethanol Production Scales Back, Stocks Jump to 47-Week High Renewable Fuels Association - 1 hour ago Report on U.S. ethanol production, usage, and stocks for the week ending January 7, 2022. 3 Top Dividend Growth Stocks With DRIPs Sure Dividend - 1 hour ago Dividend Reinvestment Plans, or DRIPs, allow investors to experience the power of compounding. This article discusses 3 top DRIP stocks. China announced it will give another $30 million to the World Health Organization to help in the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic, days after Washington said it would freeze funding. The US, which is the WHO's biggest contributor, accused the organisation last week of "mismanaging" the COVID-19 crisis, drawing ire from Beijing as both countries spar over the deadly virus. Search Keywords: Short link: One of the most critical challenges that the current coronavirus pandemic has underscored is India's ability of the food sector to effectively cope with crisis situations. Amid the mayhem and loss following the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus, the pandemic has graced the states with the option of hitting pause, putting things in perspective and introspecting its priorities in decision-making. The global coronavirus health crisis, inter alia, has exposed the systemic deficiencies in Indias food security systems and the tilted priorities between its defence and food sector. This can possibly inhibit the ability of the government to effectively deal with social crisis situations directly affecting millions of people. Overwhelming spending on defence The guns versus butter is an all too familiar macroeconomic debate with a simple dilemma. What is the maximal and most efficient way in which an economy can divide its output between defence (guns) and civilian (butter) goods? This choice has proven to be all the more difficult for a developing country like India which is coming into her own with increasing regional and global presence. Over the years, one can see a clear incremental shift towards a guns economy, something that is reflected in the majority of the defence budgets. For example, Indias Union Budget of 2020-2021 allocated a total of Rs 4,71,378 crore to the defence sector out of a total outlay of Rs 30,42,230 crore. This accounts for 15.49 percent of the total government expenditure. In fact, the Ministry of Defence budget as a percentage of total government expenditure over the last decade has never been below 15 percent. The figures fit right in with Indias fourth position in the world on defence spending. While some structural challenges remain within Indias defence sector including greater allotment to pay, allowances and defence pensions component and not enough emphasis on building infrastructure, research and development, the solution lies not in vying for an even bigger piece of the pie. Instead, a re-adjustment of funds from revenue to capital expenditure is required which would include streamlining efforts at efficient procurement and building indigenous production capability. Click here for Coronavirus Outbreak LIVE Updates Be that as it may, when compared to social sector investment, the allotment to defence security takes the cake. Moreover, under the current dispensation, the changing rhetoric towards the use of force (conventional or otherwise) is only indicative of a future increase in defence share. Food security Coming to the other side of the debate, one of the most critical challenges that the current coronavirus pandemic has underscored is the ability of the food sector to effectively cope with crisis situations. Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy which employs more than 50 percent of the workforce and contributes to 17-18 percent of the countrys GDP. However, this is also one sector that has been dealt with the tragic fate of being the most important and yet remains as the often ignored sector for the policymakers. In a crisis like the country is facing currently, one of the biggest areas of concerns, after health, of course, is an uninterrupted supply of food to the citizens. The biggest component of food security is contingent upon agriculture, along with simultaneous advancements in rural development and public distribution systems. However, as far as the budget allocation of 2020-21 goes, the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare was allocated Rs 1,42,762 crore which accounts for a mere 4.69 percent of the total estimated expenditure. While the percentage of allocation to agriculture has steadily increased over the years in relative terms, it has not exceeded the 5 percent mark in the last decade as compared to investments in defence expenditure. Therefore, a token allotment of 4-5 percent of expenditure for a sector which contributes more than 17 percent to the countrys GDP is bound to face critical challenges that directly impact millions. While there are a plethora of challenges associated with agriculture in India, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted some critical issues areas that need an urgent address and hence more investment. Challenges to food security under COVID-19 First, agriculture in India is highly labour-intensive. Farm labour would be currently required to harvest Rabi crops like wheat, mustard, lentil as well as to sow Kharif crops like rice, maize and cotton in the coming month of June. The lockdown and mass panic-migration of labour from Delhi and adjoining areas back to their hometowns can prove to be problematic. Although the Central government has exempted most essential agricultural services from the lockdown guidelines, these exemptions are not uniformly implemented across states. The long-term solution is to move towards the mechanisation of farm activities which has been slow to come by. The level of mechanisation in India has only been about 40-45 percent, that too with major inconsistencies between north Indian states like Uttar Pradesh and Haryana and the northeastern states. Small land holding scattered across different regions unsuited for sophisticated and uniform mechanisation is also part of the problem. Second, food security is contingent upon not only crop production, but also its last-mile delivery. Unfortunately, the pandemic and the consequent lockdown has put in jeopardy, the timely delivery of harvested crops to the mandis as well as timely transport of seeds for the Kharif crops to the farmers. As a result, the farmers are dreading their perishable crops rotting away. To that end, there has been a greater push for electronic marketing platforms like e-NAM and the government has already taken favourable steps in that direction by allowing e-NAM to bypass the mandi so that farmers can directly sell their produce from Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO)". However, in the absence of fully functional online mandis and technical equipment and expertise to the farmers, this will only have fragmented impact. Third, it is important to realise that farmers are the frontline field-warriors who are braving the risk of the virus every day to put food on every citizens table. While crop insurance coverage against climate change impacts is covered under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojna, it is equally imperative to provide health coverage to farmers as well, akin to the health insurance scheme for COVID-19 health workers. Most of these efforts are conditional upon new and creative research solutions adaptable to changing times. However, the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE) which is primarily responsible for R&D in agriculture accounts for an extremely modest 5.85 percent of the total agriculture budget. COVID-19 provides India with a chance to introspect on food security The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the fragile ecosystem of food security and the need for heavy investment in this sector that is desperately wanting. Considering the current retarded pace of the Indian rate of growth and the continuation of it in a post-COVID world, some critical choices lie ahead. Ensuring stable and resilient food security systems will be one of them. It is time that the government re-assesses its prioritisation of guns over butter in an agriculture-dependent economy like India. The author is MPhil scholar, Disarmament Studies, JNU and researcher, Nuclear Security Programme, Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies. Britains Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Matt Hancock confirmed in todays press briefing that clinical trials for a new Covid-19 vaccine will go ahead on humans in Oxford from tomorrow, Thursday. Five ongoing research projects into Coronavirus at Oxford University The news that a new coronavirus vaccine had been developed and was ready for trial was reported by The Daily Telegraph earlier this week. Several research centres around the world are believed to be close to testing new drugs in the battle against Covid-19 but only the ones in England and Germany have stated they are ready to begin Phase 0 clinical trials on humans. The ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine which will undergo the first phase of testing from tomorrow was developed at the University of Oxford which has been running five separate projects at their Medical Sciences and Research faculty out of a total of 21 which have been funded by the UK government. Oxford University received a large amount of the 24 million pound funding give to the Medical Research Council (UKRI) for their rapid response programme set up at the end of March. One of the research projects in Oxford which will be staging the first trial this week is being run by the Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group. It is set to receive a further 20 million in funding from the Government. "Outstanding response" by Covid-19 research teams UK Research and Innovation Chief Executive Professor Sir Mark Walport explained: The research communitys response to the Covid-19 crisis has been outstanding. In a matter of weeks, researchers have formed projects to develop potential vaccines, repurpose existing drugs and explore the potential for new medicines, and to examine how the virus is transmitted and causes wide variation in symptoms. Pre-clinical trials of vaccines and clinical trials of drugs are already underway. The pace at which this work has been carried out is tribute to the UKs world-class research base and its dedication to the fight against this disease. Phase 0 trials are conducted by administering very small doses of the drug to a small group usually between 10 and 15 people, to make sure that the drug isnt harmful to humans and to verify that it acts in the way investigators expect. New pharmaceutical products must be rigorously tested in subsequent trials Phases I, II, III and IV before its long-term safety can be assured and the drug can be licensed. Full screen RONALD WITTEK (EFE) New Coronavirus vaccine to be tested in Germany This afternoon, the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut in Langen, Germany, also announced that it is ready to commence trialling its covid-19 vaccine on humans and has been granted authorisation to start testing. While it is encouraging news that research has advanced at such a pace that the first human trials are already in motion, an effective vaccine probably wont be available commercially until the end of 2021 at the earliest. The Oxford team hope to have a vaccine candidate ready by late summer. Professor Adrian Hill, Director of the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford explained, The aim is to have about a million doses by September once we have the results of our vaccine efficacy tests. Then well move even faster from there, because its pretty clear that the world is going to need hundreds of millions of doses ideally by the end of the year to end this pandemic and let us out of lockdown safely". The Oxford University team's experimental product, called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19, is a type of immunisation known as a recombinant viral vector vaccine and is just one of at least 70 potential Covid-19 candidate shots currently under development by research teams around the world. At the same time, in Langen near Frankfurt in Germany, the first trials of the Paul-Ehrlich-Instituts BNT162 vaccine will be going ahead on 200 healthy volunteers aged between 18 to 55 years A female prison officer described by friends and family as a 'shining light' has died from the coronavirus. Rachael Yates started her role at Usk Prison in Monmouthshire just 18 months ago and had formerly been a post office worker. The 33-year-old died on Monday after becoming ill with the virus and her family have now said she 'put up one hell of a fight' against it. The Prison Officers' Association said her death 'highlights the risks that brave officers' face on a daily basis. Ms Yates is the fourth member of the Prison Service in the UK to have died after contracting Covid-19. Rachael Yates (pictured above) died on Monday after contracting the coronavirus Earlier this month it was reported that support workers Bovil Peter and Patrick Beckfordat died after contracting the illness at Pentonville Prison in London. It was also reported yesterday that a prison officer at HMYOI Polmont near Falkirk in Scotland had also died from the virus. Usk Town Council said it was 'saddened' to learn of Ms Yates's death from this 'awful disease'. It said: 'Many of you will remember Rachael and her cheery nature working along-side Jane behind the counter at the old Post Office in Bridge St (often in Victorian costume). A fund raising page set up by her friend Lydia Stokes (pictured above with Rachael Yates) has so far raised over 2,000 'Our thoughts are very much with her family at this very sad time. Many of you will have known Rachael but please respect her family's privacy at this difficult time for them.' People who knew Ms Yates said she 'always had a smile' on her face and a fund raising page set up by her friend Lydia Stokes has so far raised over 2,000 to pay for the 'kind-hearted soul's' funeral. The fundraiser stated: 'Rachael was a much loved daughter, friend and was loved by anyone who came into contact with her. Rachael started working at Usk Prison in Monmouthshire 18 months ago, she died on Monday after contracting the virus 'She was taken away from us way too soon, she put up one hell of a fight but unfortunately lost her battle with the corona virus, we would like to raise some money so we can help give Rachael the send off she truly deserves.' Those donating money to the cause described Ms Yates as 'lovely'. One said: 'Absolutely awful news! I used to work with Rachael, I have no words. She was so lovely, always kind and would always be smiling. I really am gutted for her and her family, sending all my love! I hope my donation helps in getting her a good send off. 'Awful in these circumstances at the moment that not everyone can be there! Truly heart breaking to see this today! Fly high beautiful girl, taken far too soon!!' Another said: 'So so saddened to hear this today! A beautiful, kindhearted soul taken far too soon. It was a pleasure to have known you Rach, hope you're at peace now. My thoughts go out to your family at this very sad time.' Usk Prison is a Category C prison for vulnerable prisoners including many sex offenders. It has around 250 inmates. It is next to neighbouring jail Prescoed which is an open prison and also takes juveniles with a capacity of about 230. A Lebanese man, Wael Jerro, who put a Nigerian lady on sale on Facebook has been arrested. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) confirmed this in a tweet this afternoon. This is coming just a day after the Lebanese authorities themselves condemned the incident. It noted that following the Facebook post by the suspect, the Nigerian Mission in Lebanon had swung into action. NIDCOM said the case was reported to the Lebanese authorities while a manhunt was launched to apprehend the suspect. According to it, the Lebanese Ministry of Labour issued a statement in which it said Jerros action was completely unethical and in contravention of the countrys laws. The ministry had also promised to take legal action against the suspect for human trafficking before a competent judicial authority. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates US President Donald Trump's plan to fill the U.S. emergency crude oil stockpile has become the centerpiece of his administration's strategy to shield drillers from a meltdown in energy demand - but company officials and industry groups said the program will not be enough. Trump announced his intention to fill the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve "to the top" on March 13 as global oil prices went into freefall during the coronavirus outbreak as governments issued stay-at-home orders that have obliterated fuel demand. But drillers are now balking at the government's offer to take their oil. Company officials and traders have cited the difficulty of transporting it from inland fields to delivery sites on the Gulf Coast, and worries that placing it in the reserve's vast salt caverns could compromise its quality. They also worry that the program is too small. Global oil demand generally averages about 100 million barrels per day, but the pandemic is estimated to have cut that by about a fifth. While major oil-producing nations led by Saudi Arabia have cut output and companies are closing wells, the oversupply is projected to linger for months or years leading to waves of bankruptcies in the U.S. energy industry. "I don't see (the SPR program) providing a significant benefit to the masses in Texas," Ed Longanecker, president of the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association. The administration's initial idea for the SPR was to purchase 77 million barrels of oil the amount required to fill all available space in the reserve - directly from small U.S. producers most at risk from the market slump. But after Democratic lawmakers blocked funding for the program, the administration shifted strategies by offering the initial 30 million barrels of space for lease instead. The Department of Energy said it was now negotiating contracts with nine companies to store a total of just 23 of the 30 million barrels initially offered in the reserve. DOE spokeswoman Shaylyn Hynes did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "I know the plan to lease SPR storage went over like a lead balloon," said one source at one of the largest oil trading shops in the world, asking not to be named. The Independent Petroleum Association of America did not immediately provide a comment on the SPR program, but said it was hoping for more sweeping aid, including "royalty relief, lease extensions, and access to federal loan programs." The Trump administration has said it is looking at ways to ease a cash crunch in the ailing industry, including by possibly increasing loan limits under the recently passed CARES Act economic stimulus package. LOGISTICAL CONSTRAINTS The DOE's SPR loan proposal asks companies to deliver sweet crude oil to its sites either in Bayou Choctaw, Louisiana, or Big Hill or Bryan Mound in Texas. It is taking sour crude at the West Hackberry site in Louisiana. Many small producers find it challenging to access those salt caverns dotting the U.S. Gulf Coast. While several pipelines connect inland shale fields to the Gulf Coast region, space on the lines is either locked up by large oil companies or not worth the expense now as oil prices have crashed, traders said. Companies were instead mainly opting to cut production, according to traders and officials with drilling companies. U.S. output surged to a record near-13 million barrels per day in late 2019 but has dropped off sharply in recent weeks. Companies are concerned about what storing their oil in the SPR would do to its quality, some traders said. Much of the oil stored in the SPR is blended together, meaning producers of high-quality oil could be degrading their product. The traders also cited a looming possible health concern. Three firms that bought crude oil in 2017 from U.S. emergency stockpiles raised concerns about dangerous levels of a poisonous chemical called hydrogen sulfide in the cargoes. The DOE said it would seek to compensate for any significant quality issues during storage by providing a so-called quality adjustment payment. As oil prices hit negative territory this week for the first time ever, Trump again told reporters he intended to help the industry by filling the SPR. His administration is still urging Congress to come up with funds for outright purchases. But for some drillers, the writing is on the wall. "The price action will cause producers to cut (production) harder, period. Everything else is background noise," one source at a publicly traded Permian producer said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 02:45:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Thursday warned against Israel's planned annexation of occupied Palestinian territory. China is very much concerned about the alleged plan of Israel to annex occupied Palestinian territory, which goes against international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. "We urge relevant parties to refrain from taking any such unilateral steps," he told a virtual meeting of the Security Council. In his briefing to the Security Council, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process Nickolay Mladenov said the two leading political parties in Israel on Monday signed a coalition agreement to form a government and agreed on advancing the annexation of parts of the West Bank, starting July 1, 2020. The Palestinian Authority has threatened that if this move takes place, it will cancel the implementation of all bilateral agreements, said Mladenov. Zhang, the Chinese ambassador, asked the parties to heed UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' call for a global cease-fire and refrain from unilateral action that will aggravate tension. Relevant parties should cease all settlement activities, and stop the demolition of Palestinian homes and the destruction of Palestinian property. Measures should also be taken to prevent violence against civilians, said Zhang. Enditem * Vedomosti is one of Russia's most respected business dailies * New editor was appointed last month * Journalists pen editorial suggesting he be replaced * Complain of unacceptable pro-Kremlin censorship By Anton Zverev and Andrew Osborn MOSCOW, April 23 (Reuters) - Journalists at Vedomosti, one of Russia's most prominent business publications, on Thursday accused their editor of imposing stifling pro-Kremlin censorship upon them and suggested the board of directors appoint someone else. In a blunt editorial article published on the newspaper's website, journalists complained that Acting Editor-in-Chief Andrei Shmarov had banned the publication of opinion polls carried out by a research firm that has irritated the Kremlin. A day earlier, the newspaper's media reporter, Kseniya Boletskaya, had publicly complained that Shmarov had banned negative coverage of President Vladimir Putin's plans to change the constitution to allow him to extend his rule until 2036. Anyone who flouted the ban would be fired, she said. "Changes of this kind undermine trust in the publication," the editorial article said on Thursday, referring to the alleged ban on publishing offending opinion polls. Staff, it said, were determined to defend the newspaper's values. "Having lost its reputation, Vedomosti will become another dependent and managed media outlet whose aim is not to satisfy readers' needs with news that has been verified and quality analysis, but to serve the interests and ambitions of its official and secret owners," it added. Shmarov did not answer a request for comment and left questions put to him by Reuters unanswered. The surveys staff said had been banned, conducted by the Levada Centre, a pollster regarded as more independent than state counterparts, have regularly appeared in Vedomosti. The paper this month published a Levada poll which found that 38 percent of Russians believe that Putin represents the interests of oligarchs, bankers and big business. Story continues Levada was officially classified a "foreign agent" by authorities in 2016, a designation which complicated its life and which is handed out to organisations deemed undesirable. Asked about staff claims of censorship at Vedomosti, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the Kremlin did not interfere in media outlets' editorial policy and was unaware of the ban on Levada polling. "We were and remain interested in having first rate quality publications with very talented teams," said Peskov. Vedomosti has until now been widely regarded as one of the few high profile publications in Russia not to be under the direct control of the authorities or businessmen close to the Kremlin. Shmarov was appointed acting editor-in-chief at the end of March, after it was announced that two businessmen would be buying the newspaper. "He (Shmarov) yesterday said that he went to the presidential administration for an interview before being appointed and that they drew him red lines (not to cross) and that the most serious one was Levada," Dmitry Simakov, Vedomosti's chief editor told Reuters. "Yesterday I had a conversation with him and he told me not to mention Levada anymore. Otherwise, he said they (the Kremlin) would remove him and everyone else and that the publication didn't have any money." Simakov said he'd refused. Philip Sterkin, the paper's deputy editor-in-chief, told Reuters that Shmarov, in conversations with employees, had referenced the Kremlin's stance on Levada's polls. Two other newspaper staff who wanted to remain anonymous said that Shmarov had told reporters that the Kremlin had ordered the ban on its polls. Deputy Chief Editor Boris Safronov said staff were determined to defend the paper's integrity. "People are determined to fight. And if they lose, then they will leave," said Safronov. (Additional reporting by Darya Korsunksaya and Alexander Marrow Editing by Alexandra Hudson) Gurugram, April 23 : Ride-hailing major Uber on Thursday said it has started disbursing grants to the first batch of 55,000 drivers from its Driver Fund in India and by the end of this week, Rs 20 crore will reach the drivers' accounts in these difficult COVID-19 times. Uber set up the Driver Fund with an initial commitment of Rs 25 crore to support drivers amid the ongoing pandemic. In response to Uber's appeal to raise an additional Rs 25 crore, more than 23,000 Uber riders and employees contributed Rs 2.15 crore while NGOs and corporations have donated an additional Rs 4.28 crore. The aim is to generate Rs 50 crore to benefit the driver-partners. "We are continuing to disburse and we will reach close to Rs 20 crore by the end of this week," Pavan Vaish, Head of Central Operations, Uber India and South Asia, told IANS. "Over the coming few days, we will continue to report fresh contributions and disbursements from the Uber Care Driver Fund," he added. Several drivers appreciated the generosity on part of Uber. Payal Verma, a New Delhi-based driver and single mother of three daughters, said: "These past days (since the lockdown) have been tough, and we haven't been able to earn any money. I want to thank you for helping me financially".' The Driver Fund has been created in partnership with Give India and Samhita to directly transfer grants into the accounts of thousands of driver partners to enable them meet immediate and essential family needs. Uber aims to raise a total of Rs 50 crore for its fund through contributions from its employees, riders, CSR funds and citizens through a partnership with Milaap, a leading crowdfunding organization. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank our riders, Uber employees, corporations and NGOs who've opened their hearts and wallets to support drivers, who're the core of our business," said Vaish. Sophie Monk clearly has a chip on her shoulder about her former pop career. The Love Island host, 40, apparently blocked her old Bardot bandmate Tiffani Wood on Instagram after the group began discussing a possible 20-year reunion. Sophie is also reportedly deleting references to Bardot from her social media page. Sophie Monk's petty snub to her Bardot bandmates: The Love Island host (second from right) 'blocked' Tiffani Wood (second from left) on Instagram after the group began discussing a possible 20-year reunion. Bardot is pictured in London, England, in March 2001 Tiffani, 42, told The Courier-Mail on Thursday: 'Sophie doesn't like the association with Bardot. Anything that's tagged with Bardot on her page she deletes. 'A fan pointed that out to me, I've been blocked by Sophie on Instagram, so I used another profile and had a look and she's deleted most references to Bardot, which is where she came from.' Tiffani pointed out that Sophie's efforts to distance herself from the girl band, which formed on Popstars in the year 2000, didn't make any sense. 'To me, it's just logical to be grateful about how you got your start': Tiffani pointed out that Sophie's efforts to distance herself from the girl band, which formed on Popstars in the year 2000, didn't make any sense. Pictured: Sophie on set of Love Island Australia 'Chris Hemsworth still talks about starting on Home And Away. Kylie Minogue honours Neighbours and Charlene; she may not have the same career without that. To me, it's just logical to be grateful about how you got your start,' she said. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Sophie Monk's manager for comment. During an appearance on The Morning Show this week, Sophie was noticeably absent from the band's lineup, despite being one of the original members. Trying to erase the past? Sophie (second from left in this undated photo) is also reportedly deleting references to Bardot from her social media page When asked about her whereabouts, Tiffani revealed she hadn't spoken to Sophie since the group's split in 2002. 'I haven't spoken to her in 18 years. As far as I know, the answer [to joining a Bardot reunion] is no. I don't know why. I think she is doing bigger and better things, maybe. I'm probably the wrong person to ask,' she said. Fellow band member Katie Underwood, 44, also revealed she hadn't heard from Sophie in a long time. Getting the band back together: Twenty years after the release of their debut single, Poison, Bardot has reunited with three out of the five original members. Pictured (left to right): Katie Underwood, Sally Polihronas, Sophie, Tiffani and Belinda Chapple in the year 2000 'I left the group early, so it was just the four girls and the next thing I knew, [Sophie] moved to LA. It is just one of those things,' she explained. 'She was away for 10 years. Then, I don't know. Life moves on. I tried to reach out to her via social media but it's hard when you have 500,000 followers. She probably didn't get my message.' Also absent from the Morning Show reunion was Sally Polihronas, while Belinda Chapple phoned in from her home in Singapore. Phoning it in: During an appearance on The Morning Show this week, Sophie was noticeably absent from the band's lineup, despite being one of the original members. Pictured (left to right): Tiffani, Katie and Belinda The three band members have a better relationship with Sally, 43, who initially agreed to the reunion only to change her mind. 'Sally is one of my good friends. She just didn't want to join in... she just didn't have the vibe. She celebrated in her own way,' Tiffani said. In an interview with News.com.au on Tuesday, Belinda, 45, said the original lineup 'got really close' to reuniting to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of their debut single, Poison, but received a firm 'no' from Sophie's management. Ho Chi Minh City will stop its mass screening for novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at airports and train stations from Thursday as the city has recorded no new cases for more than two weeks, the municipal Center for Disease Control said the same day. A total of 13,861 samples had been taken from passengers at Tan Son Nhat International Airport and 5,599 from those at railway stations by Wednesday, the center said, adding that 6,281 had also been screened for the virus at factory worker lodgings. All tests have returned negative, which proves there is no virus in the community, an expert preferring to stay anonymous said. The epidemic is now under control in Ho Chi Minh City so it would be inefficient to continue the mass testing, the expert added. Local authorities are currently screening people entering and leaving the city for illness signs at 62 checkpoints. The city has confirmed 54 COVID-19 cases to date, 52 of them having exited hospitals, according to the disease control center. The number of suspected cases has hit 382, with 380 having already tested negative for the novel coronavirus and the remaining two waiting for their results. The city has gone 16 days without any new infection recorded. City health workers are still monitoring 45 recovered patients. Thirty-eight of them have been tested and 37 already got a negative result. One is waiting for theirs. The other seven are to have their samples taken on schedule. Vietnam has reported no new patients for a week, as the national tally still stands at 268 cases. A total of 223 have recovered from the disease while nobody has died from the pathogen in the Southeast Asian country. The Vietnamese government decided on Wednesday to ease social distancing restrictions given a slower infection rate since April 4, allowing non-essential stores and services to reopen subject to local conditions. People are still advised to limit unnecessary outdoor travels. They are required to wear face masks whenever in public and maintain a physical distance of at least two meters in social interaction. Officials have publicly said that the country should be prepared to adapt to 'a new normal,' hinting at continuing life when the disease has not been completely eradicated given the absence of a proven drug and vaccine. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about others here. A senior doctor at Medistra Hospital in Jakarta, Ketty Herawati Sultana was known as a tireless physician who would treat anyone without regard for her own welfare. When Indonesias transportation minister, Budi Karya Sumadi, arrived at the hospital in mid-March with what appeared to be typhoid, she was part of the team that treated him. His illness instead turned out to be one of Indonesias early cases of the new coronavirus. Dr. Ketty and several other staff members soon contracted the virus themselves, although its origin was never pinpointed. She died on April 3 at the hospital, said her daughter, Dr. Margareta Oktaviani. She was 60. Two convictions and lengthy sentences of a Somerset County man convicted in two shooting incidents in 2016 have been upheld in separate appellate court decisions. Rhudell Cruz-Snelling whose nickname is Suicide had appealed the results of two trials: the first in October 2017 for firing into a vacant Jersey City building; and the second, in January 2018 trial, for shooting a woman in the wrist and the neck on a Kearny street. He was sentenced to 15 years for the first conviction and 18 years for the second. In his appeals, Cruz-Snelling said each sentence was too long. The 18-year sentence will begin after he completes the 15-year sentence at South Woods State Prison in Bridgeton. Before he was sentenced in March 2018 for the shooting of the woman, Cruz-Snelling said he was not remorseful because he didnt commit the crime. He also told Judge John Young that a long sentence would be condemning him to a life of crime and would be setting me up for failure. The judge told Cruz-Snelling at the time that everything in his past has shown that he will always be involved in the criminal justice system. You will always be violent and dangerous because that is all you know and that is your history, Young said. Both appellate court decisions were made public Tuesday. An appeal by a co-defendant in the first case, Saquan Peace, was also rejected. In the appeal of the 2018 conviction, Cruz-Snelling claimed the state failed to proved beyond a reasonable doubt that he was the shooter and testimony that he was seen with a gun the day before the shooting should not have been allowed. One of the witnesses to the shooting who identified Cruz-Snelling as the shooter testified that she had been drinking and was on Xanax at the time, but she had failed to the police that when questioned after the shooting. Police said in court that the woman did not appear drunken or under the influence of drugs at the time of the questioning. While defendant argues there are cumulative errors that deprived him of a fair trial, a review of the record indicates there was only a single error that was harmless under the facts and circumstances of this case, and that defendant did receive the benefit of a fair trial, the ruling said. The appellate court found that Youngs sentencing for the 2018 was not heavy-handed and that Young correctly took previous gun crimes and Cruz-Snellings long criminal history into account as aggravating factors. At the time of the shooting, Cruz-Snelling was out on bail after being charged in the Oct. 3, 2016 shooting incident in Jersey City. The government wants to launch the app on May 11, the date it has set to begin easing a two-month lockdown in the country. It initially announced a parliamentary debate on the technology, but that's been changed to a vote, after major pushback from lawmakers. In a video on the ruling party's Facebook page, O said the so-called "Stop COVID" app will fully respect people's liberties, and will be completely voluntary and anonymous. It also will be temporary -- lasting only as long as the pandemic, he added. French Digital Affairs Minister Cedric O says the downloadable app would notify smartphone users when they cross people with COVID-19, helping authorities track and reduce the spread of the pandemic. France's parliament votes next week on plans to use a controversial tracing app to help fight the coronavirus, as the country eyes easing its lockdown next month. The app's critics include ruling party member Guillaume Chiche, who told French TV the app would reveal people's health status and lead to discrimination and exclusion. He's not the only one worried. "We think that it is very dangerous for the government to say to French people that the solution will be this kind of application," said Benoit Piedallu, a member of La Quadrature du Net, an advocacy group defending digital rights and freedoms. The potential problems he sees range from chances the app could infringe on individual liberties, to whether it would actually work effectively. "We think that the digital application is not the correct answer to this problem," Piedallu said. "The government should buy masks, the government should open new hospitals There are a lot of other solutions than an application." A recent poll showed eight in 10 French respondents said they would be willing to download the app. But Piedallu believes the numbers of those actually using it will likely be much smaller, and many seniors -- who are among the most vulnerable to the coronavirus -- don't have smartphones. France isn't the only European country working on tracing apps and sparking similar rights debates, including in neighboring Germany. Reports say the French government is also pushing Apple to allow the app to work on its iPhones without built-in privacy measures. The judge hearing Amazon Web Service's bid protest lawsuit against the Defense Department agreed to a 120-day remand while DOD reconsiders portions of the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure procurement. The news came in a sealed order on April 17. The stay is good through Aug. 17, 2020, but could be extended or shortened depending on how long it takes officials to complete a partial review of the procurement. AWS is suing over the award of the $10 billion cloud contract to Microsoft, alleging that political interference at the White House influenced the deal and that certain technical aspects of the bids were incorrectly understood by contracting officials. The Pentagon sought the remand to reconsider certain technical aspects of the procurement and, it said, "to accept limited proposal revisions addressing the offerors' technical approach" to pricing data storage. According to court filings DOD said it "wishes to reconsider its evaluation of the offerors' online marketplace offerings and may conduct clarifications with the offerors relating to the availability of marketplace offerings." The marketplace, in the JEDI solicitation, refers to a cloud provider's ability to furnish applications and software and development tools inside the cloud environment. AWS argued against the remand, stating that "its proposed corrective action is irrational and would result in a predetermined re-award of the JEDI contract to Microsoft -- a fundamental breach of the very premise of corrective action." Microsoft, which is a party to the government's case, said that AWS lost fair and square. "Amazon did build its pricing for the entire procurement, and it wasnt good enough to win. And now it wants a re-do," Microsoft Deputy General Counsel Jon Palmer argued in an April 15 blog post. AWS says it's not that simple. "AWS must have the ability to compete on value-which is the combination of technical solution and price," the company stated in a filing. DOD welcomed the remand. "We will immediately execute the procedures outlined in the motion for voluntary remand, issuing a solicitation amendment to allow for limited proposal revisions and a reevaluation of the proposals," Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Robert Carver said in a press statement. Watchdog report The remand comes just a few days after the DOD's Office of Inspector General issued its long-awaited report on JEDI. One of Capitol Hill's top defense barons is eager for the Department of Defense to get moving on its $10 billion cloud infrastructure project and get past a drawn-out period of oversight and second guessing. Rep. Adam Smith (D-Wash.), the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, was reassured by a recent report from DOD's Office of Inspector General that validated claims by DOD that the single-award structure and technical requirements of the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract were proper. The Pentagon's internal watchdog recently completed a probe into the massive cloud contract, which was awarded to Microsoft, focusing on certain aspects of the design of the solicitation, allegations of conflicts of interest among key DOD personnel and allegations that President Donald Trump's personal and well-documented animus toward Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos influenced the DOD's decision to award the contact to Microsoft. Amazon Web Services was a finalist in the bidding and was thought by many industry observers to have a leg up because of its experience in delivering classified cloud computing infrastructure to the CIA. According to the IG report, White House lawyers rebuffed efforts to interview top-level DOD officials on the subject of political interference and directed Pentagon lawyers to place conditions on interviews that did take place in order to protect privilege attached to "presidential communications." Smith took umbrage at the effort to stiff-arm investigators but also backed the report's conclusions that rank-and-file acquisitions personnel weren't subject to political interference. "While the White House's refusal to participate in the investigation makes it impossible to know if the administration attempted to interfere at a high level, the report's findings show that DOD personnel involved in the contract proposals and award selections were not pressured by any DOD leader nor the White House," Smith said in a statement. "That is good news." The findings however, Smith continued, "are stained" by the lack of cooperation from the White House. "This administration's complete disregard for independent oversight is further highlighted by the president's recent firing of the Departments acting Inspector General. I commend the Inspector General for completing a thorough inquiry under challenging circumstances and I look forward to the Department moving forward in development of critical cloud computing infrastructure. For its part, Microsoft hit back after DODs inspector general released a report April 15 on its nearly year-long investigation into the program and largely found the department followed the law in how it carried out the procurement. Microsoft Deputy General Counsel Jon Palmer wrote in a blog post that AWS is the one seeking a do-over on JEDI and simply bid too high a price in its proposal. In a statement last month, Microsoft said it supported DODs move to reconsider certain aspects of the award decision as it is likely the fastest way to resolve all issues and move ahead on the JEDI program. Ross Wilkers of WashingtonTechnology contributed to this report. A version of this article first appeared on FCW, a partner site of Defense Systems. Growing air assault force makes Chinese PLA Army stronger PLA Daily Source: China Military Online Editor: Li Wei 2020-04-22 22:37:09 By Qian Xiaohu and Yang Yuanqing BEIJING, April 22 -- The air assault force is a new-type combat troop of the PLA Army. It emerged in the reform of China's national defense and armed forces several years ago, aiming to accelerate the PLA Army's pace into an era of multi-dimensional warfare. During the past years, the aviation force of the PLA Army has paced up its integration with over 10 branches of ground forces, including the infantry and the artillery forces, with the mode of "combined arms and multi-dimensional assault" being normalized in routine training. It was a rough road of exploration from organizational integration to operational integration. Pilots of the army aviation force came to the infantry's training field to get familiar with the command and combat methods and tactics in ground attacks; while the detachments of ground forces conducted special training with emphases on air assault. This has helped shorten the running-in period for integrated operations among the PLA Army's air and ground troops. A pilot of the army aviation force said, "The aircraft carrying infantrymen used to complete force projection by low-altitude hovering and fast-roping. This required long range into the designated area and high accuracy control in flight. However, for now, the flight range and accuracy can be adjusted according to real-time battlefield needs, since the light and high maneuvering infantrymen onboard can overcome terrain obstacles on their own and win the battle by virtue of rapid maneuver." At present, the Chinese PLA Army's air assault forces are giving full play to the combat potential of combat aircraft and personnel, stepping up the construction of an air-ground integration combat system, and promoting the development of a new-type of PLA Army featuring combat capabilities of full-spectrum maneuver, as well as multi-dimensional offense and defense. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Priyanka Chopra glowed in a couple of sunlit selfies she posted to her Instagram page, seemingly from her backyard patio. The 37-year-old actress and UNICEF goodwill ambassador put up the snaps in honor of Earth Day, which began in 1970. 'We may be apart right now, but Earth keeps us connected. This is our home. Lets heal Mother Earth together. #EarthDay #EarthDayEveryDay,' she wrote. 'Earth keeps us connected': Priyanka Chopra glowed in a couple of sunlit selfies she posted to her Instagram page, seemingly from her backyard patio Priyanka was modeling a blue top embossed with white floral patterning, and for her selfies she let her luxurious hair fall stylishly over her face. The Mary Kom star has been hunkering down in her Los Angeles home with her husband Nick Jonas, whom she married in her native India in 2018. Recently she posted an Instagram video in which she demonstrated a hair care routine that her mother Madhu taught her. She mixed some full fat yogurt in a bowl with a teaspoon of honey and an egg, saying the result should be applied to the scalp for dryness or dandruff. Marking the occasion: The 37-year-old actress and UNICEF goodwill ambassador put up the snaps in honor of Earth Day, which began in 1970 'Let it sit in your hair for 30 min and rinse with warm water,' she wrote, adding that 'while this works wonders (for me), it doesnt smell the best.' Priyanka, who is known to her Indian fans by the nickname PC, shared: 'You may need to shampoo twice to remove all the yogurt, and then condition as usual.' The Quantico lead has also used social media to share how she has been working to help ameliorate the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. Side by side: The Mary Kom star has been hunkering down in her Los Angeles home with her husband Nick Jonas, whom she married in her native India in 2018 She announced this Tuesday she is working with Crocs to donate 20,000 pairs of the company's shoes to medical staff. Half of those pairs will go to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, and the other half will go to government hospitals in India. Priyanka has also been working with the UN's controversial World Health Organization, including as a part of last weekend's starstudded livestream fundraiser concert One World: Together At Home curated by Lady Gaga. By PTI ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said on Thursday that it was concerned over what it called a "systematic campaign" against Muslims in India amid the coronavirus outbreak in the country. India on Sunday trashed Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's comments alleging targeting of Muslims in the country in the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava in New Delhi said the "bizarre comments" by the Pakistani leadership was an attempt to shift focus from the "abysmal handling" of that country's internal affairs. On Thursday, Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Aisha Farooqui said, "a systematic campaign is unfortunately underway in India to demonize Muslims who face increased exclusion as well as threat of mob violence." Addressing the weekly media briefing here, she also said that the Organisation of Islamic Countries has voiced concerns over Islamophobia within political and media circles as well as the social media platforms where Muslims are being blamed for the spread of the virus. Farooqui also said Pakistan was concerned over the detention of journalists in Kashmir on what she called "baseless and concocted charges". She said that measures were being taken to bring home Pakistanis stranded in various countries. "So far 5,079 have been brought back from different countries in the third phase of this plan. In addition, 1,254 Pakistani nationals have been brought back through land borders in the last few days including 41 one from India through Wagah border," she said. The good news during the coronavirus pandemic for kidney dialysis patients is that its largely been business as usual. For the current 739 Oregonians awaiting a kidney transplant, its a bit of a rough patch, however. A typical dialysis patient receiving treatment at an outpatient clinic three times per week is finding few barriers since COVID-19 became an issue early in March, according to Dr. Susan Gurley, OHSU division head of Nephrology and Hypertension. Most of the precautions include masks, PPE, extra sanitizing and extended hours, the latter in order to have fewer dialysis patients in a large community room during a given time. Clinic providers are taking other measures such as screening everyone at the front door and restricting visitors who arent essential. According to the Northwest Kidney Council, there currently are 6,575 active dialysis patients in Oregon. Its a room full of patients with chronic medical conditions, so exposure risk is pretty serious there, Gurley said. Patients are able to get dialysis and are certainly encouraged. Unlike a dentist appointment, dialysis isnt something you can defer. Gurley cautions that it gets trickier for dialysis patients who get sick. Such was the case for Rick Abel. The 53-year-old Klamath Falls man said going to the dialysis clinic was business as usual during March, as hed show up for a four-hour stint Monday, Wednesday and Friday at about 4:30 p.m. Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter But two weeks ago, Abel fell ill, so much so that he was hospitalized in Medford with what turned out to be a blood infection. But Abel was twice tested for coronavirus, each time coming back negative. Abels dialysis schedule came at random hours in order to shield him from other patients; one time, it began at 8:30 p.m. on a Saturday night. Abel hopes hes released soon and returns to a normal dialysis schedule. Im feeling quite a bit better, he said. Coronavirus has thrown a curve ball at the transplant world. Gurley says theyre still doing the surgeries, but only with organs from the deceased. Living donor transplant surgeries are currently not permitted, as theyre considered elective. Even for transplant patients receiving a kidney from someone who has deceased, its a challenge. You have to make sure neither party has COVID. You didnt have to consider that three months ago, Gurley said. --Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. S mall businesses struggling under coronavirus pressures have been handed nearly 1.5 billion in government-backed loans in just a week - more than double the loans provided since the scheme began in March. Banks paid out 1.45 billion to around 9,000 companies under chancellor Rishi Sunak's Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme in the week to April 21, lenders trade body UK Finance said. Before this, lenders had only given out around 1.1 billion to about 6,000 small businesses since the scheme was launched on March 23. Businesses have sent around 36,000 applications in total, with more than 16,000 approved so far. The government takes 80 per cent of the risk for each loan. Closed shops in an arcade in Windsor / PA Many businesses are struggling with a lack of customers as people stay home during the coronavirus lock, while others have had to suspend operations entirely. Chief executive of UK Finance Stephen Jones said: Frontline staff have been working tirelessly to get money to those viable businesses that need it as quickly as possible... "We stand ready to support many more businesses in the weeks ahead, and will continue to work closely with the government to ensure businesses can access the support they need." Rain Newton Smith, chief economist at the Confederation of British Industry, which represents businesses that employ around seven million people, welcomed the news but said banks needed to do more. He added: "Finding quicker and simpler routes for smaller firms to access cash and extending repayment schedules to encourage more businesses to take them up, are two ways that could make a difference. Saving jobs now will be far more cost effective in the end than trying to replace jobs lost. Mostly-empty streets around Victoria station / PA The news comes after a change of tack from the Government, taking a softer approach to lenders after previous criticism. City minister John Glen wrote to banks praising their "herculean efforts" during the coronavirus crisis on Tuesday. But business secretary Alok Sharma slammed banks in early April after slow progress in giving out business loans. He said: "It would be completely unacceptable if any banks were unfairly refusing funds to good businesses in financial difficulty... "Just as the taxpayer stepped in to help the banks back in 2008, we will work with the banks to do everything they can to repay that favour and support the businesses and people of the United Kingdom in their time of need." Business Secretary Alok Sharma / 10 Downing Street/AFP via Getty And Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey told lenders last week to work faster in approving loans. He added: "Notwithstanding the stress that were all operating under in terms of the current working environment, they have got to put their backs into it and get on with it, frankly... BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23 Trend: Turkmenistan is supporting the UN call for a global truce in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Trend reports with reference to Turkmenportal Information Portal. The issue was discussed between President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres over the phone. The sides discussed pressing issues, in particular the situation in the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Berdimuhamedov said the worl is facinga situation that affects the habitual life of all people, that is why the role of The United Nations as a universal international structure capable of consolidating the efforts of the entire world community in the fight against this threat is important. Turkmenistan, as the country where the headquarters of the UN Regional center for preventive diplomacy for Central Asia is located, will continue to support the activities of this organization, as well as contribute to the implementation of important regional projects and programs. Turkmenistan proposed to consider the possibility of creating new international legal mechanisms aimed at ensuring the stable functioning of international transport and transit corridors during emergencies. To develop such relations, Turkmenistan expressed its desire to open a broad multilateral dialogue on transport issues within the UN with the participation of all member States of the UN, specialized international structures, world financial institutions and other interested parties. A clear example of the partnership between Turkmenistan and the UN is the framework program for cooperation in the field of sustainable development between Turkmenistan and the UN from 2021 through 2025. Australian Minister Wants Schools Back to Normal Australian Schools could return to normal within the next few months if the federal government gets its way. With the COVID-19 shutting down swathes of the economy, the states and territories have adopted a mixed approach to schooling for term two. Some are doing all distance education, others have partially reopened or are looking to in May, while South Australia and the Northern Territory continue mostly classroom teaching. The vexed issue is expected to be back on the agenda when leaders meet again on April 24. From a commonwealth governments perspective, what were hoping to see is a transition back to full classroom teaching during term two, federal Education Minister Dan Tehan told ABC TV on Thursday. Thats very much our desire. Its very consistent with the approach of the medical expert panel, thats the chief medical officer of the Commonwealth, plus all the states and territories. Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy has consistently said the advice is schools are safe for children to attend and, while teachers are more at risk from the virus, effective mitigation measures can be put in place. Australian Medical Association vice-president Chris Zappala says this advice is reasonable and appropriate. Thankfully, as the numbers continue to dwindle, and the curve flattens, as we keep hearing, that hopefully will be scope to look at lifting of those restrictions in the future, he told Sky News. However, Victorias chief health officer, Brett Sutton, says hes advised that distance learning should continue until the mid-year school holiday because minimising the numbers of people on campus supported better physical distancing overall. Tehan said education ministers would discuss efforts to return to normality when they next meet in early May. By Katina Curtis Nations in the southern African region and elsewhere on the continent have moved rapidly to shut down their countries as they have watched outbreaks soon overwhelm far better-resourced health systems in countries like Italy or the United Kingdom. - Chinese officials banned weddings, funerals, public performances and conferences in Harbin city located in the northeastern part of the country - Checkpoints were also installed at the airport and train stations to screen people entering the city as residents were asked to strictly adhere to social distancing measures - The news came as the Asian country announced there were only two critically ill patients left in Wuhan, the former centre of the pandemic China has imposed new limits on movement in some northern parts of the country following a spate of new coronavirus infections, signaling it would be difficult for the Asian nation to fully recover from the outbreak that nearly paralysed the country. The restrictions imposed over the past week included the city of Harbin, which has 10 million inhabitants, where a number of new infections were reported. READ ALSO: Chinese ship crew throw 2 Tanzanians into Indian Ocean over coronavirus fears Over 70 new cases have been reported in Harbin city, northern China. Photo: Getty images. Source: Getty Images READ ALSO: Gov't shuts down Utalii college, hotel over high operation costs According to a report by Daily Mail on Thursday, April 23, more than 70 new infections were reported in Harbin while 4,000 others were being tested after the virus was allegedly imported by a student from New York, USA. Officials in the city banned gatherings of any kind and asked residents to closely monitor non-local visitors and vehicles in the city. Coronavirus was first reported in Wuhan, China before it spread to other countries and territories. Photo: NYT. Source: UGC READ ALSO: WHO laonya kuhusu virusi vya corona, lasema huenda visimalizike karibuni Checkpoints were also installed at the airport and train stations to screen people entering the city as residents were asked to strictly adhere to social distancing measures. Other measures which were announced included wearing face masks, using government approved health apps and checking of body temperatures while weddings, funerals, public performances and conferences were banned. The news came as China announced there were only two critically ill patients left in Wuhan, the former centre of the pandemic. Harbin is the provincial capital of Heilongjiang in north-eastern China. Globally, over 2.6 million cases of the virus had been reported with over 185,000 deaths as of Thursday, April 23, afternoon according to Worldometers, a real-time statistics website. The US led in the number of confirmed cases with over 849,000 followed by Spain (213,00), Italy (187,000), France (159,000) and Germany (150,000). China had recorded 82,000 cases. 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. Kenya hits 300 mark for positive Covid-19 cases | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke A Derry councillor has called for financial support package in aid of students who have lost their source of income and in some cases been threatened with eviction by landlords. People Before Profit Cllr Eamonn McCann said: "Young people are among the hardest hit financially in this crisis. This includes students. We shouldn't stand for a situation wherein landlords receive a state bailout and students are forced to pay rent for accommodation they're not using. "Students should also be able to access benefits on the same basis as everyone else during this crisis. People Before Profit are urging all Councillors in the Derry and Strabane Council to back the motion supporting the NUS-USI student union campaign. The Stormont Executive has the ability to act on this immediately. People Before Profit Motion to April Derry and Strabane Council full meeting: "Landlords have been supported with mortgage holidays, VAT relief and rates relief but this is not being passed down to students. Despite receiving support from the public purse some landlords continue to demand full rent from student tenants. Many students have lost their source of income as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. Students are currently excluded from applying for benefits, resulting in students being threatened with eviction and legal action when unable to pay rent. Council supports the NUS-USI demands and calls on the Stormont Executive to protect students during this crisis by implementing the following measures: World's biggest plane brings 103 tonnes of protective gear from China to Ukraine (Photos, video) 19:30, 23.04.20 3942 Zelensky says the flight will be registered as a Guinness World Record. Interior Minister Sar Kheng on Wednesday suggested that there were no positive cases of the novel coronavirus among the nearly 86,000 migrant workers who had returned from Thailand in the last month. In a meeting to discuss measures to help returning migrant workers, Sar Kheng said there are some 86,000 workers who had come back to Cambodia in the last four weeks, all of whom had been placed in quarantine at home and only 600 are yet to complete their isolation period. He added the workers had displayed no symptoms of COVID-19, despite not having tested many of the workers. The minister admitted that the government was unable to test all workers. If they don't have symptoms of the virus, it means they don't have the disease, he said. In a press conference on Monday, Ly Sovann, a spokesperson of Health Ministry, said only around 400 of returning migrant workers had been tested and they were negative. The Cambodian Ministry of Health has reported no new cases of novel coronavirus for the last 10 days, a development the World Health Organization said was really great news but still warned that the country was likely in the early stage of the pandemic. As of Thursday morning, there are 122 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 110 recoveries - representing some 90 percent of the total cases. Around 150 to 200 workers are coming back from Thailand every day, said Sar Kheng, raising concerns about a potential increase in poverty due to the economic fallout from the pandemic. In September 2018, UNDP and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative released the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, which estimated that more than a third of Cambodians live in poverty. This was based on peoples health, education, and living standards, as well as income, the latter being the only measure the government uses in its calculations. April 22, 2020: Oslo, Norway, PGS (or "the Company") held its Annual General Meeting today. The Annual General Meeting resolved to approve all matters as proposed in the Calling Notice. The minutes from the Annual General Meeting can be downloaded from www.newsweb.no and www.pgs.com. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act Attachment New Delhi, April 23 : On completion of 30 days of continuous nationwide lockdown, the government on Thursday contacted industry associations to facilitate permits for industrial functioning in order to boost economic activities. Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and Department of Promotion Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) Secretary Guruprasad Mohapatra held a video conference with the industry associations to discuss the issue. They reportedly discussed facilitating permitted industrial activities and boosting economic activities across the country amid the lockdown imposed to break the transmission of novel coronavirus. Sources said the government has been considering providing relaxation to some more industries to restart economic activities. The move comes a week after the industry department asked the Home Ministry to allow more industries to operate with reasonable safeguards after the lockdown was extended till May 3. However, two days ahead of the ending of the first phase of 21-day lockdown on April 14, the Home Ministry permitted over 15 industries to start work with minimum manpower and by maintaining social distancing norms on a single shift basis. Now, the government wants to exempt a few more industries during the ongoing 19-day second phase of lockdown which is considered crucial in terms of economic activities. The Home Ministry on April 12 gave relaxation to industries involved in manufacturing of heavy electrical items like transformers and circuit vehicles, telecom equipment and components including optic fiber cable, compressor and condenser units, steel and ferrous alloy mills, spinning and ginning mills, power looms, and defence and defence ancillary units. They were allowed to function in one shift. Cement plants, however, were allowed to run in three shifts as cement production is a continuous process. Pulp and paper units were allowed to resume their production in clusters where Covid-19 cases were low, based on the data provided by the state authorities. Exclusive: Leaked CCP Document Says Virus In Harbin Out of Control; Patients Kicked Out of Hospital A leaked document obtained by The Epoch Times shows that the situation in Chinas Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, is now out of control. The four-page warning letter from provincial authorities in China accuses the local government in Harbin for its handling of the virus, and notes outbreaks have spread through villages and cases are now at uncontrolled levels. The leaked document gives additional insights into the CCPs ongoing cover-up of the real situation in China as it faces the virus outbreakand comes at an important time when the CCP is planning to loosen restrictions on international travel. Experts warn that a second wave infection in China is on the horizon, and already the regime has begun locking down residential compounds and restoring restrictions soon after attempting to end quarantines. And in Changsha City, Hunan Province, local officials have released a new phone app that allows people to report other people for violating requirements on face masks and other crimes. The app gives people points and prizes for reporting others, and some elderly residents are saying it reminds them of the tyranny they faced under the CCPs Cultural Revolution. These stories and more in this episode of Crossroads. Crossroads is an Epoch Times show available on Facebook and YouTube. A simple fundraiser to run 5K, donate 5 and challenge five people to do the same has so far raised over 210,000 in less than two weeks for Irish hospitals. Organiser Fiona Tallon aimed to raise just 1000 through the GoFundMe 'Run for our HSE Heroes' challenge and was completely overwhelmed to see 30,500 donors from across the world raise over 210,000 by Thursday morning. Indeed the amount raised more than doubled in three days after it hit the 100,000 mark on Monday. The challenge has now gone global with Irish people tagging their friends all over the world and challenging them to get out and do the 5k run or walk for the hospitals. The money raised was initially earmarked for eight hospitals but this will now be widened due to the total, which is increasing all the time. Fiona, who works as a pharmacist in Swords, Co. Dublin said: "After seeing my friends on Instagram participating in a UK version of this campaign, I decided to start an Irish one to help our own heroes in the HSE "The Irish are renowned worldwide for theor warm welcomes and caring nature. In these challenging times, we are being asked to come together by staying apart. "Our frontline heroes go to work every day and risk their own health to help others so I asked people to support them. "All you have to do is run or walk 5km, donate 5 and then tag five people on social media and challenge them to do the same. "I wanted to split the 1000 between the Dublin hospitals, Beaumont, St James', Mater and Connolly Hospital as well as Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda, Co. Louth, Limerick University Hospital, Mercy University Hospital, Cork and Waterford University Hospital." However Fiona, who hails from Stamullen, Co Meath, says more hospitals will now be included due to the huge amount raised. "I just can't believe how it has taken off and raised so much," she said. "I really am overwhelmed. It was 100,000 on Monday and now it's after passing the 200,000 mark. All I was expecting to raise was 1000. "There are people tagging friends all over this country and even in Australia where I'm told it's really going well. "I've been in touch with some hospitals already. Many of the major hospitals have foundations set up where staff can put forward their requests. "A lot are looking for diagnostic and monitoring equipment such as ultrasound machines as well as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other general pieces. "They are also trying to advertise that hospitals are always open for emergencies such as cardiac complaints because what they are experiencing at the minute is patients presenting with more severe symptoms and conditions as they are too afraid to go to hospital earlier. "It's only 5k so manageable to walk or run so get tagging and challenging and let's keep raising funds for our hospitals so they can continue the good fight, not just now but for years to come. "What's even more amazing is the messages that people are leaving on the GoFundMe page - if any frontline person out there feels unappreciated, then they should go and read what is on this page." Dozens of messages on the page include: "Thank you to those in the HSE for everything they have done and sacrificed," while another reads "I hope to become a hero like them one day where what they're doing right now is actually making a difference to everyone across the world. Anyone who would like to take part in the challenge and donate can do so at the website. Vicky Kaushal was recently made the subject of rumours that he violated the lockdown and stepped out of his house. He clarified on Twitter that the news of him getting reprimanded by the Mumbai Police for breaking the rules of the lockdown is completely false. There are baseless rumours suggesting that I broke the lockdown and got pulled up by the cops. Ive not stepped out of my house since the lockdown started. I request people not to heed the rumours. @MumbaiPolice, the actor tweeted. There are baseless rumours suggesting that I broke the lockdown and got pulled up by the cops. I've not stepped out of my house since the lockdown started. I request people not to heed the rumours. @MumbaiPolice Vicky Kaushal (@vickykaushal09) April 23, 2020 Not too long ago, Sonakshi Sinha was believed to have violated the rules of the lockdown and shot for a television show, after Vivek Agnihotri shared a newspaper clipping of her stepping out of a studio in Mumbai. She clarified that it was an old picture and told him that, being from the industry, he should know that all shoots were stalled. Sonakshi also tagged the Mumbai Police and Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackerays Twitter handles and asked how she could stop people from spreading baseless rumours, which sparked a war of words between her and Vivek. Earlier this month, Varun Dhawan was also slammed for setting a bad example, when he tweeted a picture of himself shaking hands with a policeman. Neither of them was wearing masks in the photo. Where is social distancing, mask and gloves. Idiot is shaking hands with policeman risking him of infection. Bad example set by this actor, a Twitter user wrote. Varun then clarified that it was an old picture. Also read: Saif Ali Khan reveals how son Taimur is dealing with the lockdown Meanwhile, Vickys building Oberoi Springs has been partially sealed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) after an 11-year-old resident tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a recent report. The apartment complex also houses several other celebrities including Rajkummar Rao, Krushna Abhishek and Kashmera Shah, Neil Nitin Mukesh and Prabhudeva. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Wanaka pair Caleb Nicol and Conor Hayes, who made national news when they were left stranded in Peru after the country went into lockdown in mid-March, have made it home after two weeks of quarantine in Auckland. But their story turned bittersweet with the news yesterday that Edward Storey, a 49-year old from Te Awamutu, was tragically not so lucky. After weeks of uncertainty after hostels and hotels started shutting down, Nicol and Hayes (23) managed to board a London-bound flight from Lima's military airbase on March 31 before flying to Auckland. They finished their two-week quarantine last Friday and were able to catch a flight to Dunedin that morning. The boys' story attracted a huge amount of attention after Nicol voiced their frustrations with the lack of government support for kiwis stranded in Peru online and in the press. A repatriation flight from Lima flew 60 kiwis to Auckland on April 15, by which time a petition for the government to bring nationals home from South America had reached over 6,000 signants. Tragically, this was too late for Edward Storey, who was found dead in a rented apartment in Cusco on April 17. His parents had raised the alarm when he failed to board the repatriation flight, despite registering for it. He was tested for Covid-19 and found to be positive. A weekend house party in The Pas ended with three people ticketed for not complying with public health orders. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A weekend house party in The Pas ended with three people ticketed for not complying with public health orders. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Police were called to a local residence Sunday, after it was reported a gathering larger than 10 people was occurring, RCMP said Wednesday. After three partygoers a 43-year-old woman, a 26-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman "disobeyed the directions provided" and became "belligerent" toward officers, they were each ticketed $486, police said. In April 14-20 numbers released Wednesday, Manitoba RCMP said Mounties have received 101 calls from people with COVID-19 concerns, mainly reporting gatherings larger than 10 or otherwise breaking guidelines under the provincial emergency order. Six warnings have been issued by police so far, the news release said. Tickets are currently set at a fine of $486 for individuals breaking public health orders and $2,542 for businesses. Provincial officers and bylaw inspectors are authorized to hand out tickets, while City of Winnipeg community service ambassadors can only give warnings and provide information. The Pas case appears to mark the first charges due to breaking restriction orders put in place to stop the spread of novel coronavirus in the province. In early April, a body modification shop in Brandon was ordered closed after it was cited for remaining open despite its status as a non-essential business. The shop was not fined. While Winnipeg has recorded multiple warnings issued by COVID-19 bylaw enforcers on a daily basis, no tickets have yet been issued in the city. Detailed data on those impacted by Covid-19, including those charged or detained under emergency powers, must be collected and published to ensure the State is meeting its human rights obligations. Thats according to a number of organisations representing communities particularly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic which have written to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar appealing for a human rights impact assessment to be carried out by May 5. The letter expresses concern that "certain communities are suffering more than others under these restrictions" and that the assessment must be carried out before any extension of restrictions beyond that date. The organisations want to see disaggregated statistics on infection and death rates, as well as statistics on infection and death rates in residential settings: "These statistics must be broken down by nationality, ethnicity, disability, gender and age. Where a person was living in a residential setting, it must be specified whether this was a care setting, a detention facility, or a Direct Provision centre. Where the person was in a care setting, it is vital we know if this was a setting for older people, people with disabilities, or people with mental health issues." "We call on the Government to update and publish these figures on a regular basis, with due regard to the privacy of patients. This assessment should also provide data on people who have been arrested, charged or detained under the Emergency Health Regulations or for related reasons," states the letter. The organisations also want to see information on where Garda checkpoints have been established and whether gardai have been deployed equally across the State. The letter was signed by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), the Immigrant Council of Ireland, Inclusion Ireland, the Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT), the Movement of Ayslum Seekers in Ireland (MASI), Mental Health Reform, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre, and Refugee and Migrant Solidarity Ireland (RAMSI). It follows another open letter sent earlier this month to the Government signed by more than 920 prominent lawyers, doctors, public health officials and academics which claimed that the State may be in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights unless it provides own-door accommodation to people living in Direct Provision. Executive director of the ICCL, Liam Herrick, said it is crucial that human rights principles inform the public health response to the pandemic: "They can provide a blueprint for deciding which restrictions should be lifted first and how the gradual lifting of restrictions should take place." This was echoed by Inclusion Ireland CEO, Enda Egan who said a public rights-centred approach protects all vulnerable groups: "Recent developments have seen those residing in care homes and other residential institutions becoming increasingly exposed to the virus, highlighting the need for both a public health response and a rights-based response to support these groups through this difficult period." The letter was copied to Minister for Health Simon Harris; the Departments of Justice and of Health; the Garda Commissioner and the Policing Authority; and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. Gulf rivals Saudi Arabia and Qatar are competing for rights to host the 2030 Asian Games, the Olympic Council for Asia said Thursday after receiving bids from both countries. "Doha, capital of Qatar, and Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, submitted official bids to host the 21st Asian Games," the OCA said in a statement. "The bid document from the National Olympic Committee of each country was accompanied by letters of support from the city and respective governments." Saudi Arabia, along with the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut all ties with Doha in 2017, accusing it of backing "terrorists" and being too close to Iran -- charges Qatar denies. Talks to mend the rift have stalled, after a flurry of diplomacy late last year raised hopes of a breakthrough. Doha hosted the Asian Games in 2006 but Saudi Arabia has never organised an OCA multi-sport event, the statement added. The OCA had invited bids for the 2030 Games from its 45 members by Wednesday. "The OCA is delighted to receive two strong bids for our Asian Games in 2030," OCA president Ahmad al-Sabah, said in the statement. "It... further enhances our reputation of hosting world-class sporting events on a major scale." The host city will be selected at the OCA General Assembly meeting in China on November 29. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) State Bank of India (SBI), the country's largest lender, has set a target of disbursing Rs 700 crore to MSMEs in the Mumbai circle by the end of June, to help them tide over liquidity crisis due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Among all banks, SBI controls a market share of 22 per cent in the MSME lending. "SBI will boost flow of credit to MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) in this challenging period by reassessing their working capital limit and also by extending COVID-19 emergency loans. "Overall, we expect to lend Rs 700 crore to MSMEs in four districts of Mumbai circle -- Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad -- by the end of June," the World Trade Centre said in a statement quoting Suresh Nair, deputy general manager (SMEs and financial inclusion) at SBI, as saying after a webinar. Nair expressed hope that the pandemic will not lead to a sudden spurt in bad loans as the Reserve Bank of India has provided moratorium on all loan repayments. "The impact of the crisis on NPAs (non-performing assets) will become clear after August depending on the evolving situation," Nair said. Though SBI has provided sanction letter for additional loan facility to 67 per cent of all eligible borrowers, only 50 per cent of them could avail of the facility due to practical difficulties in executing documentation, he 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 Dzulfiqar Fathur Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 17:05 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3e10e9 1 Business pre-employment-card,start-up,ruangguru,unemployment-benefit,Coordinating-Economic-Ministry Free The government is in talks with four start-ups to forge partnerships for the preemployment card program as it wants to add more online courses despite recent backlash over the programs partner selection process and courses. The program managements president director, Denni Purbasari, said adding new partners was intended to encourage more start-ups to grow. It was expected to take four to eight weeks to evaluate whether a company was suitable to be a partner in the program. I believe competition will promote innovation, it will push the price to be competitive and encourage more training institutions to partner with the program, Denni said in an online briefing on Wednesday. There will be more options for small training institutions to work with the partners. In providing online courses to help the participants upskill and reskill themselves, the government currently partners with eight start-ups, including Skill Academy, which is owned by e-learning platform Ruangguru, Pintaria and MauBelajarApa. The participants will use the money transferred to their e-wallet to pick and purchase any training they need. However, the pre-employment card, which is aimed mainly at offering relief for laid-off workers and owners of small businesses hit hard by the COVID-19 outbreak, has been subject to criticism. The public accused the management of a conflict of interest for partnering with a start-up linked to an expert staff member of President Joko Jokowi Widodo. Read also: Govt introduces new social benefits as 2.8 million lose jobs In response to the controversy, the expert staffer in question, Adamas Belva Devara, who is also the CEO of Ruangguru, resigned on Tuesday, despite explaining that he had not been involved in any partnership discussion or the appointment of Ruangguru as a partner in the program. Denni admitted that there was no open selection process prior to the existing partners appointments. Her office chose the start-ups because they had a national network, the necessary information and technology capacity, suitable courses and partnerships with training institutions, among other things. Furthermore, the program management had held consultations with tech companies, researchers, labor unions, the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), the Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) and representatives from more than 50 companies before the appointments, according to Denni. Ruanggurus core business is selling courses, and it is big, said Denni, who previously served as the Executive Office of the Presidents economic advisor. We cannot ignore this fact. Aside from Skill Academy, the program management is also partnering with a government agency and six other companies, including e-commerce firms Bukalapak and Tokopedia, to provide more than 1,500 courses. Read also: Sewing masks to silky pudding making: Training available with preemployment card Following its launch on April 11, the preemployment card has attracted more than 7.6 million applicants as of Wednesday. With Rp 20 trillion (US$1.2 billion) in allocated funds, the program aims to cover 5.6 million recipients this year. Only 168,111 participants were admitted in the first phase, while the rest would be admitted in later ones. Under the program, each recipient will get Rp 3.5 million worth of benefit, which will be disbursed in stages. To ensure they take the online courses, the program management will first disburse Rp 1 million to each recipient to pay for courses. After completing the training, the recipients will get Rp 600,000 in monthly benefits for four months on top of a Rp 150,000 incentive for participating in job surveys. Office of Coordinating Economic Minister secretary Susiwijono Moegiarso said the preemployment card was the only government aid targeted to support laid-off and furloughed workers in both the formal and the informal sector as well as the owners of small businesses. The number of applicants has reached 7.6 million in just 12 days, reflecting the publics extraordinary response, Susi said in the same online briefing on Wednesday. On the other hand, we are also empathizing with the many people in need of the assistance. Denni said the program was also preparing to accommodate hundreds of thousands of youth entering the workforce in June as they finished senior high school but did not immediately move on to college. They might struggle to find a job as the economy was taking a downturn due to the outbreak. According to data updated on Monday by the Manpower Ministry, as many as 2.2 million workers reported that the outbreak had affected their jobs. More than half of them were formal-sector workers furloughed by 43,690 companies. Laying off is an emergency measure when no other measures are feasible, Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah was quoted as saying in a statement released on Wednesday. But we are encouraging firms to try measures such as eliminating overtime, reducing working hours or furloughing workers in turn while paying them half. John Collier's passion for English literature and history led him into a lifelong career in teaching. The headmaster of St Andrew's Cathedral School in the Sydney CBD studied English, history and government at the University of Sydney before doing a diploma of education. He has been teaching for 48 years. St Andrews' principal Dr John Collier. Credit:Louie Douvis "I never wanted to be anything else," he said. "It arose initially out of my love for English and history and my growing understanding that I could have a great rapport with young people and this was a calling and vocation." After completing his practical teacher training at Sydney Grammar School when a young Malcolm Turnbull was one of the students, his first teaching job after graduation was at Lurnea High School in Liverpool as an English and history teacher, starting in 1973. The Sydney Grammar experience and his school years at James Ruse High had shown him the heights that gifted students could reach, but he was not prepared for his first job in the public school system. Remittances to India will fall by 23% to $64 billion, the World Bank said on Wednesday, calculating the impact of the coronavirus disease on a vital source of inflow into India and other countries. They grew by 5.5% to $83 billion in 2019. Globally, remittances are expected to decrease 20% in 2020. In low (per capita income less than $1,025) and middle income countries (including both lower middle income countries with per capita incomes between $1,026 and $3,995, and upper middle income countries with per capita incomes between $3,996 and $12,375) they are expected to decline by almost the same proportion, 19.7%. Low and middle income countries (LMICs) receive most of the remittances. In 2019, these stood at around $554 billion of a total of around $710 billion (78%). This year that number will fall to $445 billion (out of a total of $568). The World Bank expects remittances to LMICs to grow 5.6% to around $470 in 2021, but with the trajectory of Covid-19 still unclear, all estimates are just that estimates. Many countries will tighten their immigration laws in the wake of the pandemic the US already has and even those that dont are unlikely to welcome foreign workers, at least, not until a vaccine is discovered and becomes easily available. Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic At 15.16% of all remittances into low and middle income countries (India is a lower middle income country), and almost 12% of all global remittances, India is on top of the list of countries that receive money from workers abroad. At 3.36% of GDP, its not as high as it is in some countries, but the $83 billion it received in remittances last year was still higher than the $49 it is estimated to have attracted in foreign direct investment (according to an investment tracker by UNCTAD). According to the World Bank, in 2019, remittances became higher than FDI at an aggregate level for LMICs highlighting just how important these inflows are. Also Read: US nears 50,000 virus fatalities after 3,176 deaths in 24 hours: Johns Hopkins The fall in remittances by almost a fourth is more bad news for India, whose economy, like that of most other countries, has been ravaged by the virus as well as by what is universally accepted as the only way to flatten the curve of infections (a lockdown, which significantly impacts economic activity). Is the curve flattening? An optimistic reading of the number of daily cases recorded globally and in the US and the UK (among the worst-affected countries) would seem to suggest so. The number of daily cases in the US on April 22 was 29,973 according to worldometers.info. In the UK, it was 4,451. And across the world, there were 79,956 new cases on April 22. That number is still high, but it is definitely off the peaks seen in the past fortnight. The reason it doesnt make sense to be optimistic about anything concerning Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, is simply this every time the curve seems to be flattening, the virus finds a new hot spot, or several, which it then proceeds to overrun. Also Read: Chronic illnesses may put young Indians at higher risk of Covid-19: Study Still, it makes sense to look closely at the numbers. By April 22, the number of Covid-19 infections were 2,639,025. Of this number, 184,263 people have died (which is a lot), and 722,150 have recovered. There are 1,732,612 active cases, but 97% of these (1,674,355) are mild. All data (and the prognosis) are from worldometers.info. Also Read: SVAMITVA, powered by drones in sky, can change lives in rural India | Opinion In India, the number of cases were 21,367 on April 22. Of this number, 683 people have died and 4,373 have recovered. The number of new cases in the seven days to April 22 (including April 22) were: 1067, 953, 1304, 1598, 1248, 1504, and 1363. All Indian data is from HTs dashboard. Anecdotally (based on what health ministry officials tell us), very few of the infected people in India are on ventilator support. Most, they add, are asymptomatic, which, along with quarantine, lockdown and pandemic, is an early candidate for 2020s word of the year. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The United States was attacked, President Donald Trump has said of the novel coronavirus epidemic has rendered 26.4 million Americans jobless since mid-March with 4.4 million more filing for unemployment benefits last week, according to new data released Thursday; and killed more than 46,000. Economists assess unemployment rate to have climbed to somewhere between 15% and 20%, which is far higher than the Great Recession of 2008-2009, and briskly creeping up on 25% the peak reached during the Great Depression of 1929, which was the has been the worst slowdown in US history. Businesses continue to shutter as frustration mounts and people take to the streets demanding the reopening the economy, despite pleas from experts to let current mitigation efforts run their course as it has been successful in keeping fatalities lower than it had been feared earlier. US congress is set to pass later Thursday a legislation adding $480 billion to the $2.2 trillion passed earlier; the package includes $320 billion more in relief to small businesses, who account for 48% of the US workforce, under a government program to allow them to retain their employees. We were attacked, President Trump told reporters at the daily briefing of the coronavirus task force Wednesday, when asked if he worries about the impact of the stimulus package on US national debt. We had the greatest economy in the history of the world. We had the greatest economy -- better than China, better than any place. And then one day, they came and they said, he added, pointing to members of his coronavirus task force, You have to close it. Most US states are under varying degrees of stay-at-home restrictions and lockdown. But pressure has been mounting on governors to ease restrictions, with protests taking place across the country, which have been backed and encouraged by Trump. He is just as keen to reopen the country, if not more. South Carolina and Georgia, both Republican-ruled states, have already announced lifting of some restrictions that have been found worrying by public health officials around the who fear a rebound. President Trump himself weighed in Wednesday to urge Georgia to hold on to restrictions a little longer. More states want to reopen their businesses as the situation has looked better in recent days with the country going past the peak in new infections, hospitalization rates dropping and the hotspots increasingly stabilizing. But numbers continued to grow as a grim reminder tat the crisis is not over. New infections went up by 27,679 in the past 24 hours to 542,624 and fatalities by 2,139 to 46,785. The toll in New York state, the epicenter of the US epidemic that has stabilized lately, to 19,453; New York city accounted for most of them with 15,074. But the exact extent of the US epidemic is still evolving, with hidden outbreaks that had previously escaped official counts. While New York city, Seattle, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco had reported only 29 confirmed cases between them by March 1, the actual number is projected to have been around 28,000, the New York Times reported citing a new model developed by researchers Northwestern University. On Tuesday, officials in California had announced the death of two individuals of the coronavirus on February 6 and February 17, much earlier than on February 29, the previously first fatality. The virus has also shown it can spread from humans to animals. The first case was of the infection of a lion at a New York zoo. Two cats in New York city became Wednesday the first pets to catch the infection. AUSTIN, Texas, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Careers Institute ends the first cycle of courses under the new hybrid and online instruction model implemented as part of a plan to help minimize the spread of COVID-19. While education looks different these days, Southern Careers Institute is committed to training people in essential industries during this challenging time medical, technology and skilled trades. As Texas reported its first cases of COVID-19, Southern Careers Institute moved swiftly to create a hybrid and online instruction plan to ensure continued training while keeping students, faculty and staff safe in the midst of the pandemic. Under Southern Careers Institute's fully hybrid format, students whose programs require lab hours do most of their learning online, and come to a lab twice per week, observing responsible social distancing practices in which there are never more than ten people in a room. In addition, Southern Careers Institute has enhanced lab cleaning practices by disinfecting classrooms and equipment after each use and providing hand sanitizing stations and wipes to students in the labs. Programs not requiring lab hours such as Administrative Assistant, Business Administration, Business Accounting Specialist, Medical Billing and Coding, and Computer Support Specialist are now conducted completely online and each course can be completed in just three weeks. "We're proud of the way that our staff has been able to adapt and meet the needs of our students, and the feedback on the new format has been overwhelmingly positive," said Southern Careers Institute President, Nikki England. "The health and safety of our staff, students and the community are always important, and preserving that while still being able to deliver a first-class education has been invaluable." The transition to online classes has proved to be beneficial in a number of ways and has enabled students and instructors to learn valuable skills. "We are still on track working toward our goal despite everything that's going on," said Cosmetology Program Student Council President, Anastasia Vazquez. "The instructors have been very helpful not just with the class syllabus, but by providing video tutorials and even scheduling guest speakers to compliment the program." "Aside from keeping our Southern Careers Institute community safe, our priority is to keep our students motivated, engaged and on track," said Southern Careers Institute Harlingen Campus Director, Scott Hooks. "Our programs and certificates are training individuals in vital and essential fields." Southern Careers Institute continues to enroll new students. Visit scitexas.edu for more information on our programs. About Southern Careers Institute Southern Careers Institute began serving Texas students in 1960. They offer a diverse list of programs that create employment-ready students who can go on to serve their community. With eight convenient locations in Austin, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Harlingen, Pharr, San Antonio NW Loop 410, San Antonio SW Military Drive, and Waco, Southern Careers Institute offers programs in: Business : Administrative Assistant, Business Administration, Business Accounting Specialist : Administrative Assistant, Business Administration, Business Accounting Specialist Beauty : Cosmetology Operator : Cosmetology Operator Medical : Medical Assistant, Medical Billing and Coding, Medical Office Specialist, Nurse Aide, Pharmacy Technician : Medical Assistant, Medical Billing and Coding, Medical Office Specialist, Nurse Aide, Pharmacy Technician Technology : Computer Support Specialist, Software Development, Data Science, Cyber Security : Computer Support Specialist, Software Development, Data Science, Cyber Security Trades: Automotive Service Technician, Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator, Electrical Technician, HVAC, Welding They also offer an online curriculum. SOURCE Southern Careers Institute Related Links http://scitexas.edu By Bahk Eun-ji Seven-year-old Lee Sae-ron was supposed to become a first grader at Eulji Elementary School in Seoul in March at the start of the new school year. Unfortunately, she has been forced to wait, and instead began her first day of school Monday by taking online lessons because of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of meeting her friends and homeroom teacher in person, she watched pre-recorded TV programs aired on the state-run Educational Broadcasting System. Lee said she doesn't have any idea of how a normal life at school would be and accepts the idea of attending school through an online platform as a "new normal." "It's fun watching the educational programs and using a computer tablet to study at home instead of attending class in person. My mom said I must feel sad about not meeting new friends and teachers, but you know, I can't miss friends and teachers whom I've never met," she said. Hong Eun-hee, 45, Lee's mother, said taking care of her daughter at home all day and helping her engage in remote learning was challenging. But she was surprised that her daughter had adapted to online school life faster than she had expected. "The concept of remote learning is nothing new, but younger children like my daughter take to it more naturally. They are the so-called digital natives who are more familiar with digital systems than adults are," Hong said. The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought life around the world to a standstill, including the closing of schools, and as a result the pandemic is expected to have a tremendous impact on education. According to recent data from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, more than 1.5 billion students around the world are unlikely to have attended school or university by the third week of April. The pandemic is leading the world to conduct a huge experiment with online classrooms. As Korea experiences a slowing rate of Covid-19 infections, it is gradually returning to normality. But the Ministry of Education made the unprecedented decision to postpone the start of the school year in March by five weeks to avoid possible mass infections. This forced students at elementary, middle and high schools to take the online classes. Some parents and students have complained about frequent malfunctions of the learning platforms during the first few days of the digital education process. But many also agreed that there are no alternatives under current conditions. Working parents of young students struggle with online classes Multicultural families shunned from online education Online class platforms plagued with malfunction "My friend and I have been thinking about whether there are any other ideas the government could pursue, but we agree that this is the best option for now," said Hailey Cho, a high school sophomore in Busan. In Korea, online education has gradually gained acceptance over the last few years. Since 2014, the MOE has conducted a project promoting the use of digital textbooks in 72 schools nationwide. Participating teachers said the use of digital textbooks improved the students' motivation and problem-solving skills. In addition, more students appeared to be less distracted than those using traditional textbooks. Changes in higher education The winds of change provided by online education are also felt on Korean university campuses, part of a global trend as institutions of higher education worldwide adopt massive open online courses, or MOOC. These are lectures often offered by top universities, such as Harvard and MIT. The advantage of these is that students can listen, interact and learn online anytime or anywhere in the world. The concept has become popular in Korea. The MOE launched its own version, called K-MOOC, in 2016 to make university lectures available online to the general public. "Although it has been six years since the launch of the K-MOOC, there have only been 700 lectures uploaded from 100 universities so far," said Cho Eun-ok, a director of the higher education division at the ministry. "However, the virus pandemic will change the online education system. We expect that this will provide an opening for us to advance in online education instead of lagging behind other countries." Cho said it is difficult to decide whether online education is better than attending lectures in person, but it offers an opportunity to use many more tools in teaching students. "The challenge is to reduce the differences between the universities that are prepared to use them and those that are not," she explained. But university students have expressed discontent about the efforts to introduce online education during the pandemic. According to a survey of nearly 22,000 students at 203 universities and colleges in Korea conducted by the National University Student Council Network, 99 percent said they wanted a full or partial refund of their spring semester tuition, and also complained about the poor quality of the online lectures. Some students have filed petitions and held rallies against online education, saying their right to learn has been compromised. Education experts agree that university-level online classes in Korea pose a number of challenges in terms of the network infrastructure and the lack of preparation in making a swift switch from physical to online classrooms, as well as the poor quality of the lectures themselves. "Technical problems like securing a stable server will be easily solved, but student management or quality control are more difficult problems," said Kim Byung-jin, a chief research director at Etoos Academy, a professional education company. Kim said that students and their parents as well as educators need time to adjust to online classes if they are to be successful. "If we compare the framework of traditional school classes, online ones might be seen as full of problems. From the parents' point of view, it might seem that students are not focusing on their classes at all. But we have to keep in mind that their attitude toward online lectures is shaped by the styles to which they have become accustomed to, and that which is completely different," he said. Given the fact that younger students are already used to multitasking and video content, Kim said that over the long term they are expected to adjust well to online education systems. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Wednesday denounced a state senator from Central Ohio for a Facebook post that compared his administrations efforts to fighting the coronavirus to those taken by Nazi Germany. In a statement posted to social media that condemned a Facebook post by Sen. Andrew Brenner, DeWine also stood up for Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton, who increasingly has been singled out in intensifying conservative backlash to DeWines stay-at-home" orders. Brenner, meanwhile, issued a statement apologizing to Acton, who is Jewish, while also saying his Facebook post, reacting to a post from his wife, was misreported and misinterpreted. Reiterating comments hed made earlier in the day, DeWines statement also denounced an anti-Semitic sign displayed by two men who joined a demonstration at the Ohio Statehouse on Saturday against the state coronavirus closures. I am deeply concerned by the anti-Semitic sign at Ohios Statehouse during a recent protest rally. The sign was vile and disgusting. While even disgusting speech is constitutionally protected, it still demands condemnation, DeWine said. The recent Internet post by Ohio State Senator Andrew Brenner, likening Ohios Department of Health Directors actions to fight coronavirus to those taken by the Nazis in Germany during World War II, must also be condemned. "The comments showed a complete lack of understanding of the Holocaust -- made even more offensive by posting on Holocaust Memorial Day -- and was a slur on a good, compassionate, and honorable person who has worked non-stop to save lives and protect her fellow citizens. Any complaints about the policy of this administration need to be directed at me. I am the office holder, and I appointed the Director. Ultimately, I am responsible for the decisions in regard to the coronavirus. The buck stops with me, he said. DeWine was referencing a Facebook post from Brenner, a Delaware County Republican, who himself added to another post from his wife, Sara Marie Brenner. The posts reacted to Ohio Health Department Director Dr. Amy Actons Tuesday comments describing a certificate a worker might eventually have documenting immunity to COVID-19. Acton on Wednesday clarified, describing something like a doctors note that an employer might request or require. The post from Sara Marie Brenner, which has since been deleted, read in part: "With a German accent, in your head say Show me your papers This actually feels like Hitlers Germany where you had to have blond hair and blue eyes to be able to function anywhere, and you were damned otherwise. When are people going to say enough is enough? Andrew Brenner responded on the post: We wont allow that to happen in Ohio. In an interview Wednesday night, Brenner said he had not intended to reinforce the comparison to Nazi Germany. I dont want to see Ohioans pitted against each other, because now we have to show papers, he said. That is what Dr. Acton said. But she clarified her response today, which I very much appreciate. But it set off a firestorm yesterday where I had constituents calling all day, texting and messaging. Asked if he agreed with his wifes post, he said: "I didnt post it. In a statement shared with reporters Wednesday night, Brenner said: What I actually said was not the same as what is being reported. I would never, ever say what I am accused of saying. I understand that while people may differ on policy issues, the manner in which it was reported was upsetting, inflammatory and hurtful. I apologize to Dr. Acton, because Im sure she was offended by the comments as they were reported. I have also spoken with leaders from Ohios Jewish Community, for whom I have great respect, and I appreciate the understanding and support I have received. I am confident that Gov. DeWine and Dr. Acton have Ohios best interests in mind, and I appreciate their hard work and efforts in finding a responsible path forward. This is a time for us to work together, and I am committed to doing so for all Ohioans." The Brenners posts, first reported Wednesday by the Ohio Capital Journal, drew condemnation from state political leaders as the day went on. Among those who denounced the posts were Ohio Senate President Larry Obhof, a Republican, the Anti-Defamation League, state Attorney General Dave Yost, and Ohio Republican Party Chairman Jane Timken. Emilia Sykes, the state House Democratic minority leader, also denounced the comment, as did state Rep. Casey Weinstein, a Hudson Democrat who also called on Brenner to resign over the post. Wednesday was not the first time Brenner made a rhetorical reference to Nazi Germany while making a political point. In 2015, he compared Planned Parenthood to the Nazis, responding to an announcement from DeWine, then the state attorney general, of the launch of an investigation over the contents of a video recorded by anti-abortion activists. Congress President Sonia Gandhi chairs the Congress Working Committee (CWC) Meeting via vdeo conferencing on Thursday during the 21-day nationwide lockdown (that entered its 9th day) imposed as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of coronav Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, April 23 : The Congress top leadership seems to be upset over a series of events in Palghar, Maharashtra, where two sadhus were lynched last week, triggering a political row where Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi's name was dragged by the BJP and a TV channel. "Freedom of expression can't be used by propagandists to inject poison into the society," said Ahmed Patel, AICC Treasurer. "The Constitution of India guaranteeing freedom of expression must be followed by all, but libel can't be allowed," said Patel. He said while law should take it own course, the freedom of expression can't allow anyone to sully others' reputation. The Congress has denied the charge that its activists attacked any journalist, saying "our party does not stoop to this level." "We are very sure Congressmen have nothing to do with this. This is not our tradition, this is not our culture," said K.C. Venugopal, party General Secretary (Organization). Party sources say that "there should be action by the state apparatus," hinting that the "divisive agenda" cannot be tolerated. The Congress sources insist that there was no communal angle to the Palghar incident. In Maharashtra the Shiv Sena-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government is supported by the Congress and multiple FIRs have been registered in the case in various parts of the country. "Palghar is a BJP stronghold. We also heard Maharashtra Home Minister who made a statement yesterday that an FIR has been registered against 110 people. Out of these 110 people, not even a single Muslim is there, then how can it become a communal issue?" asked Venugopal after the Congress Working Committee meeting on Thursday. "The media show draw their own Laxman Rekha. We are not going to do it...Everybody witnessed what happened on Tuesday on a TV news programme," Venugopal said. Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has warned of what awaits the Southeast region if Governor Nasir El-Rufa... Reno Omokri, a former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, has warned of what awaits the Southeast region if Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State ever becomes President of Nigeria. Omokri warned that the Southeast will suffer great neglect if El-Rufai is elected president of Nigeria. In a series of tweets, the former presidential aide stated that the region will suffer more under El-Rufai than what they are currently experiencing under the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration. Omokri anchored his claims on the fact that El-Rufai allegedly harbours a deep hatred for the Southeast region. According to Omokri: Hatred for Igbos runs deep in the @Elrufai family. if Nasir El-Rufai ever becomes President, what the Igbo are suffering under General @MBuhari will be childs play. Under Buhari, at least it is 97% versus 5%. Under an El-Rufai, it will be 100% versus0%! A father who insulted Christ our Lord and Saviour on January 28, 2013. A son who threatened to gang rape someones mother on April 12, 2020. A mother who justified his behaviour as fair on the same day! What a family! God forbid them in 2023! By Aziz El Yaakoubi DUBAI (Reuters) - A two-week ceasefire in Yemen announced by a Saudi-led military coalition expired on Thursday without leading to a permanent truce, raising fears that the country's war will grind on and shatter its already weakened ability to combat coronavirus. The latest Yemen peace push follows U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's call last month for a global ceasefire so the world can focus on fighting COVID-19, which aids groups worry could cause a catastrophe in Yemen after five years of war. But the Iran-aligned Houthi group battling the coalition did not accept the coalition's ceasefire announcement, and violence has continued in several provinces including Marib, the last stronghold of the Saudi-backed government. Two diplomats and two other sources familiar with the matter had expected an extension of the ceasefire for at least another two weeks, if not until the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, expected to begin this week. But since the Houthis continued their attacks, the coalition did not extend it, they said. The Western-backed alliance has responded to recent Houthi advances with air strikes. "It was rather a symbolic ceasefire than an actual one, the coalition does not see the point of extending it," one of the sources close to the discussions told Reuters. A spokesman of the Saudi-led coalition did not respond to a Reuters' request for comment. "The Houthis could conduct an assault on Marib city very soon if there is no agreement, this would be another disastrous episode in the ground war after the battles for (the Red Sea port of) Hodeidah in 2018," said a Saudi-based Western diplomat. The Saudi-backed government was ousted from power in the capital, Sanaa, in late 2014 by the Houthi movement, which now holds most big urban centres. During the past two weeks, the United Nations has sought to hold virtual talks among the parties to cement a truce, coordinate a coronavirus response and agree confidence-building measures to restart peace talks. Story continues The pressing need is to end a ruinous war that has left millions vulnerable to disease. While Yemen has reported only one laboratory-confirmed case of the novel coronavirus, aid organisations fear a "catastrophic" outbreak should the virus spread among an acutely malnourished population, due to the country's inadequate testing capabilities. "NOT ROCKET SCIENCE" Yemen has been mired in conflict since the Sunni Muslim coalition intervened in March 2015 to try to restore the Saudi-backed government to power. The costly and unpopular war has been in stalemate for years and Saudi Arabia's key coalition partner largely reduced its presence last year, leaving Riyadh to lead the military campaign. Saudi Arabia resumed indirect talks with the Houthis, first launched late last year, to try to make the ceasefire binding on both sides. But the group wants to see air and sea blockades lifted first, sources close to the talks had told Reuters. The coalition says it patrols Yemen's coast and controls the airspace to prevent arms smuggling. The conflict, which has killed more than 100,000 and pushed the country to the verge of famine, is widely seen in the region as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The Houthis say they are fighting a corrupt system. Special U.N. envoy Martin Griffiths told the U.N. Security Council on Thursday he expects the combatants to formally adopt "in the immediate future" agreements on a nationwide ceasefire, economic and humanitarian measures and a resumption of political talks. However, the Houthis' spokesman Mohammed Abdusalam said U.N. proposals ignore important issues including the blockade and use "jargon which does not allow any commitment". "Ceasefires anywhere in the world depend on joint mechanisms, this is not rocket science, this is not unique to Yemen, we are not re-inventing any wheels here," Griffiths told Saudi-owned television channel Al Arabiya on Wednesday. (Reporting by Aziz El Yaakoubi, Editing by William Maclean) Tunisia-bound Qatar Airways Boeing 777 aircraft, with 243 passengers on-board, encountered a bird strike as it was about to land on April 21. The airline was operating a repatriation flight QR3273 which took off from Doha Hamad International Airport, Qatar. After over five hours of flying, the 777-300 wide-body (registered as A7-BAP) was arriving at the destination in Tunis Carthage International Airport (TUN) in Tunisia. During the final landing phase at 7pm the captain informed the control tower that they encountered a bird strike. After further inspection, a dead seagull was found on the runway. The Tunisian Civil Aviation and Airports Office stated that no damage to the aircraft was found after the initial inspection. However, due to the incident, the return flight from Tunisia to Doha was delayed. Ahead of the COVID-19 crisis, Qatar Airways operated the route between Doha and Tunisia twice a week, using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. However, the scheduled passenger service has since been cancelled. Also Watch: She made her return to glamour modelling last year after undergoing a breast augmentation, liposuction and a Brazilian bum lift. And Danielle Lloyd revealed the content she offers up to her subscribers after joining X-rated subscription site, OnlyFans. Speaking about her decision to sign up, she reasoned: 'The modelling industry has changed massively since I started.' Sizzling: Danielle Lloyd made her return to glamour modelling last year after undergoing a breast augmentation, liposuction and a Brazilian bum lift She continued: 'Obviously a lot of the lads mags aren't around anymore, and even the daily women's mags seem to have gone. 'A lot of the stuff has gone online now, and that's why I love using OnlyFans... I'm using it to speak to all my fans that have been following me for the past decade and also my brand new fans and subscribers.' The mother-of-four admitted that she does struggle to find the time these days to shoot new content. Candid: Danielle Lloyd revealed the content she offers up to her subscribers after joining X-rated subscription site, OnlyFans Danielle shares sons Archie, nine, Harry, eight, and George, five, with ex-husband Jamie O'Hara, and has son Ronnie, two, with husband Michael. Asked to detail her day-to-day life, she revealed: 'My daily routine is usually pretty manic. 'I get up in the morning with the children and it can be absolutely crazy and after that I get up and go to the gym unless I'm working, so I have a bit of a busy day and before I know it, I'm picking the kids up again.' Times have changed: Danielle spoke with OnlyFans about her decision to sign up, revealing that the modelling industry changed when the lads mags closed She continued: 'In the night, that's when I do my content for my OnlyFans, when the children go to bed. But I also do some content in the gym because people like to see what I'm doing in there, and also when I go to the spa looking sexy in my bikini. 'It is really difficult to balance everything because I am a really busy working mum, but obviously my children come first. I am really good at balancing. I love to work and keeping myself busy. I'm a good businesswoman. 'My biggest life lesson is to not take myself too seriously. I do what I want when I want.' Magic: Danielle went on to show off her bedroom, as she quipped, 'Here's where the magic happens. I love having a big massive bed and this is obviously where I film most of my content' Danielle went on to show off her bedroom, as she quipped: 'Here's where the magic happens. It is cute. 'I love having a big massive bed and this is obviously where I film most of my [OnlyFans] content. This is where I do most of my lives'. Last year, Danielle revealed she had returned to glamour modelling as she launched an OnlyFans account, offering fans a chance to purchase saucy topless snaps of herself for 115. According to Closer, the CBB star began the subscription service in October after plastic surgery made her feel 'womanly again' . Danielle revealed she was finally happy with her body after telling the magazine that she underwent a breast augmentation, liposuction and a Brazilian bum lift in September. Proud mother: Danielle shares sons Archie, nine, Harry, eight, and George, five, with ex-husband Jamie O'Hara, and has son Ronnie, two, with husband Michael Danielle candidly revealed that after suffering a miscarriage earlier in the year she struggled with weight gain, and following her wedding to Michael in April she battled low self-esteem. The star eventually decided that it was time to fix her so-called 'wonky boobs,' after a botched reconstruction in 2016. After jetting to Turkey to have her boobs done at the same surgical clinic used by Katie Price, Danielle quickly decided to have the liposuction and bum lift too. The reality TV star added: 'My surgeon said he needed to take fat from my stomach to reconstruct my left breast, but then he suggested putting some of the excess fat into my bum and hips to give me a nice shape. I said, ''Go on then, get it in there! Why not?'' For our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, learn more here. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size In a sprawling laboratory in Melbourne, an army of robots is joining the fight against COVID-19. The mission? To scan hundreds of thousands of chemical compounds, faster than humanly possible, searching for the needle in the haystack the one that can be turned into a lifesaving drug against a dangerous and fast-moving new virus. Meanwhile, further down the corridors of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI), scientists are preparing to test not just how an existing drug might slow the new infection but whether it can stop it taking hold altogether. And, next door at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, a huge trial is kicking off that will mean most patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in Australia and New Zealand can already opt in to an experimental treatment. A robot scans chemical compounds at the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute. This is just one stretch of the global frontline against COVID-19. The quest for a vaccine offering immunity from the new coronavirus has already been labelled this centurys space race, such is its speed. But moving just as fast is the hunt for a drug to treat it. Nobel-prize winning immunologist Professor Peter Doherty is hopeful the world will get its jab of immunity soon. But even the most optimistic predictions put a vaccine roll out into 2021. While we wait, treatments, ranging from existing drugs repurposed from the medicine cabinet to those that can stop the new virus infecting people in the first place, offer another road out of danger, he says. So what are the main therapy strategies and the most promising trials? And what about Donald Trump's drug of choice: hydroxychloroquine? Advertisement Professor Marc Pellegrini says the National Drug Discovery Centre at WEHI is now focusing its huge drug screening capability on finding a cure for COVID-19. Credit:Cameron Wells/WEHI What are the options for a COVID-19 drug? This virus has never been seen before in humans. There's still a lot we don't know about it and the illness it causes COVID-19, and most of our cells know even less. We don't have any natural immunity to fight it off and there's no known medical treatment or cure. "None yet, anyway," says virologist and director at the Doherty Institute Professor Sharon Lewin. But there are two main ways to defeat a virus, she explains. You can stop it in its tracks directly with a drug that disrupts how the microbe hacks into our cellular machinery. Or you can help our bodies cope with the invasion, ramping up or, more commonly in the case of a new unfamiliar pathogen, dampening down the immune systems response as required. This stops the virus either overwhelming our bodys defences or sparking an overreaction, the kind that can spiral into whats known as a "cytokine storm" as too many virus-fighting antibodies are called to the fight and our organs become collateral damage. This storm is already playing out in hospital wards across the world as patients' lungs and even hearts and kidneys start to fail under COVID-19. Some drugs could work on both the virus and our immune response, Lewin says. That includes the much-hyped anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine. Infectious disease clinician Professor Marc Pellegrini admits that, while the drug is already used safely to treat auto-immune conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, researchers still aren't completely clear how it works. "We think it can modulate the immune system so it might stop that initial blunderbuss immune defence we know can often do more harm than good, particularly in the case of a new virus," Pellegrini says. "But in the lab it's also been shown to stop the virus replicating in cells." Advertisement Still, like those overzealous antibodies, against COVID-19 hydroxychloroquine could do more harm than good (and two early trials have raised concerns it may not be safe to use on cases of the new virus at all). It's among the therapies being considered because the fastest route to treating a new virus is to find an existing drug that can do the job, one already widely used with its own well-understood applications (and side-effects). Loading The World Health Organisation launched an international "mega trial" known as SOLIDARITY on March 18, testing the four drugs it ruled had the most promise: an antiviral called Remdesivir that failed on Ebola but has shown some of the most encouraging early results against COVID-19; the anti-HIV drug combo Lopinavir/Ritonavir known as Kaletra; Inteferon, which is used to regulate the immune system and treat multiple sclerosis; and a late addition, following hype from the media and the US President, hydroxychloroquine. The trials are not double-blinded, the preferred gold standard, meaning patients taking part will know if they get an experimental treatment or if they're in "the control group" with just the current supportive care options. But scientists say the need for a fast roll-out and the large size of the new trials trump the risk of a placebo effect. They expect they will have meaningful results within months, even weeks. Could a tablet to stop an infection? There's another less talked about possibility. In the race for either a vaccine or a treatment, scientists may find a therapy that can do both by stopping the virus taking hold in the first place. As Pellegrini explains: "If you find a drug that stops the virus replicating and you give it to someone early enough, you can actually stop them getting infected." Advertisement Doherty agrees such drugs, which he likens to the preventative tablets taken to stop HIV infections, could be a gamechanger, offering a protective shield for at-risk groups such as the elderly or healthcare workers while the world waits for a vaccine. "The earliest I've heard [for a vaccine] is still looking like 2021, we can't lock down that long," he says. "Treatments, but also something that prevents the infection, like the HIV PreP [pre-exposure prophylaxis] drugs you take twice a day, could get us out of this earlier." Trials are now underway all around the world to find such a dual-action chemical. In some, healthcare workers are given a course of hydroxychloroquine over many weeks or months, at a lower dose than in trials testing the drug on infected patients. Scientists are making no promises a chemical that can kill the virus in a test tube will not necessarily stop it replicating in a human throat, says Pellegrini, who is leading one such prevention trial on more than 2000 healthcare workers in Melbourne for WEHI, which is double-blinded. (And, as outlined below, one major study has since found the drug was no more effective than a placebo in stopping the infection). But, if they succeed, will we all take one tablet a day to keep coronavirus at bay? Not according to researchers. Such a prevention drug would likely only be given to those deemed high risk or already exposed, the way the antiviral Tamiflu is sometimes given to people in close contact with an influenza case. Advertisement "Side effects from hydroxychloroquine are rare but all drugs have them, especially if given to a big population," Pellegrini says. "So, especially now the virus is not spreading as widely here in the community, if we find something that works and that's safe, you'd still want to target it to mini-outbreaks like the McDonald's cluster or people at risk, say, in aged care homes or healthcare workers." Still US President Donald Trump is not waiting until the results are in - on May 19, the day before Pellegrini's trial opened, he revealed he had already been taking hydroxychloroquine himself for more than a week after hearing about healthcare workers using the drug proactively as an experimental preventer. "Here's my evidence: I've been getting a lot of positive calls about it...I'm still here." Trump said a doctor had not suggested the treatment, but given it on the president's request - he was also taking a daily zinc supplement and a daily dose of the antibiotic azithromycin sometimes used as a preventative. (Antibiotics do not work against COVID-19 as it is not caused by bacteria). The President's pick: Hydroxychloroquine Hydroxychloroquine is an old and relatively cheap anti-malarial already safely used to treat autoimmune conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. But against COVID-19 it is unproven and has even been linked to higher death rates in seriously ill patients, prompting Americas own the US Food and Drug Administration to issue a warning about its use outside medical advice. Early on the drug had drawn interest from researchers for its COVID-19-killing power in the lab and, in the absence of a proven treatment, doctors in some parts of the world began giving it to patients on compassionate grounds. But so far clinical studies have found no benefit for patients already hospitalised with the illness, though trials are continuing including in Australia. At least one study overseas has been called off altogether due to concerns about side effects such as heart arrhythmia - a risky match for a virus known to attack the heart. Much of the hype around hydroxychloroquine comes from an early French study which claimed the drug had a 100% success rate in helping COVID-19 patients recover. The findings were later discredited when problems with the research emerged, including the fact one patient had died, but prominent figures from Donald Trump to Australian businessman Clive Palmer have been spruiking it ever since, without evidence, as a potential miracle cure. Many experts expect that, if it works, it will work best on early infections, reducing their severity or preventing them taking hold. Side effects from hydroxychloroquine are usually rare, Pellegrini says - problems with its use have so far emerged in non-randomised restrospective studies on patients already very sick with COVID-19, often in ICU where they were also on other drugs affecting their heart. Usually, even people with heart conditions could be prescribed the drug for rheumatoid conditions under supervision, he said. His prevention trial in Australia, 'COVID SHIELD, will use a fairly low dose on healthcare workers volunteering without such risk factors. Half will get the drug, the other a placebo, but all will be carefully monitored, even put through regular ECG scans of their heart. "Still were being extra careful in the trial because these people are healthy already, its not like giving a drug to someone who's sick when theres nothing else to try." While the trial is sourcing the drug directly from the manufacturer, experts are concerned about global shortages of hydroxychloroquine hitting people who need it for autoimmune conditions. On May 8, Border Force warned Australians to stop self-prescribing and importing the drug, revealing authorities had seized more than 6000 tablets at the border since January. A different form of the drug compound that is not safe for humans is sold as fish-tank cleaner. After Trump told people to try hydroxychloroquine ("What have you got to lose?" he said), one man in Arizona took the fish cleaner and died. UPDATE: On June 3 a major study into the use of hydroxychloroquine in preventing infection delivered disappointing results - when tested on about 400 people recently exposed to COVID-19 the drug did not reduce the chance of developing the infection any more than a placebo (which was given to another 400-odd people at risk). The good news was hydroxychloroquine, when taken as a preventer in this way, did not cause any harmful side effects. The same day, the White House physician released a report on Trump, saying the President's cardiac health had been closely monitored while he took a two-week course of hydroxychloroquine, and he had now completed it "safely and without side effects". As for patients already sick with COVID-19, another large retrospective study published in The Lancet in late May at first sparked further alarm when it linked the drug to a higher risk of death and heart complications. The WHO even temporarily paused its hydroxychloroquine arm of the SOLIDARITY trial to review the evidence. But days later, the organisation ruled it was safe to continue testing the drug - as concerns about the study's data piled up. On June 4, the authors of the study retracted it entirely, acknowledging they had been unable themselves to verify the data from the 96,000 patients involved. Researchers at the Doherty Institute confirmed on June 4 they will also continue with the hydroxychloroquine arm of their large ASCOT trial (detailed below) on patients hospitalised in Australia and New Zealand. "Multi-pronged attack": Scientists screening less common drugs for COVID-19 potential at WEHI say they might not get there first but it's important to have a back-up plan if one drug fails. Credit:WEHI Advertisement The U.S. Air Force has permanently stationed its first F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft in the Pacific. The 354th Fighter Wing at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, accepted its first two Lightning II aircraft Tuesday. The aircraft are already gearing up for joint training alongside their stealth fighter cousin, the F-22 Raptor, also stationed in the region, according to a service news release. "When you station the F-35 at Eielson and you have the F-22 Raptor down at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, working together in the [Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex] with our 18th Aggressor Squadron and ground training assets, you have the perfect training field for the F-35 to develop," said Col. Benjamin Bishop, commander of the 354th Fighter Wing. Establishing the F-35s in Alaska has been a yearslong process, but marks the first step "in a journey that will continue at Eielson Air Force Base for decades to come," Bishop said in the release. Related: Did F-35 Testing for Extreme Weather Conditions Fall Short? A total of 54 conventional takeoff and landing versions of the F-35 are scheduled to arrive by December 2021. The base also has KC-135 Stratotankers and F-16 Fighting Falcons, which often serve as aggressor air or "red air" training aircraft to simulate air-to-air battles with jet fighter counterparts. Eielson hosts one of the Air Force's premier exercises, Red Flag Alaska, bringing pilots and ground troops together several times a year for the purpose of enhancing tactics and techniques should friendly forces come under siege. "We have a new mission," Bishop said in the release. "We won't look back as we pioneer the airpower frontier." By 2022, Alaska will be home to one of the highest concentrations of fifth-generation aircraft operating in the Pacific theater and near the Arctic circle. In an Op-Ed featured in Defense News last year, then-Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson and Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein outlined the strategic importance of the F-35 in the region amid the growing international interest in the Arctic, stating that Alaska would become "home to more advanced fighter jets than any place on Earth." "Almost a decade before the Japanese invaded the Aleutian Islands, Gen. Billy Mitchell advocated building airfields, telling Congress: 'Whoever holds Alaska will hold the world,'" they wrote. "Even then, the Arctic was strategically important, and Mitchell's words underscored the role of airpower in the region. ... Today, technological advancements by potential adversaries are making this once forbidding border increasingly porous." Adding more U.S. jets to the region also presents an opportunity for allied nations to integrate and learn from American pilots, officials have said. For example, last year, Norway marked the first major exercise for its F-35A variant by participating in the biennial Arctic Challenge exercise in the "high north" -- a term used for the region encompassing the Nordic countries and the Arctic -- alongside U.S. F-16 pilots. "The U.S. Air Force is a huge reinforcement or potential. We are not enough," said Svein Efjestad, policy director for the department for security and policy operations at Norway's Ministry of Defense. Speaking to Military.com last year prior to the exercise, Efjestad said that pairing with the U.S. would bring volume, "tactical training" and advancement. Norweigan officials at the time said they would welcome more interoperability flights with the U.S. to mix and match capabilities, especially when allied militaries could learn more about Russia's expanding activities in the region, including GPS jamming and how to thwart or manage hostile action. The Air Force deployed F-35s to the Pacific for the first time in 2017 during a rotation to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Read more: President Trump Orders Navy to 'Destroy' Iranian Boats that Harass US Vessels Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 00:26:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAMASCUS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic State (IS) attacked the Iraqi Hezbollah group in eastern Syria on Thursday, leaving two killed and five wounded, a war monitor reported. The IS attacked the Iraqi Hezbollah group in the desert region of the city of Mayadeen in the eastern countryside of Deir al-Zour province in eastern Syria, said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Iraqi Hezbollah group fights alongside the Syrian government forces in several areas, mainly in eastern Syria. The IS group has been carrying out attacks in eastern Syria, targeting Syrian forces and allied fighters. The observatory said that as many as 418 Syrian soldiers and pro-government fighters have been killed by IS attacks in eastern Syria since March 24. The IS lost key areas across the country, but sleeper cells and some groups in the desert region often launch attacks on Syrian forces. Enditem SIDBI has launched a liquidity support scheme for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) said it had received Rs 15,000 crore from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to provide financial aid to MSMEs. The central bank provided the capital through a Special Liquidity Facility (SLF). SIDBI will provide the financing to MSMEs through banks, non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) and micro-finance institutions (MFIs). "The schemes would cover all eligible entities having investment grade ratings irrespective of the size of the organisation to ensure wider coverage," SIDBI said in a statement. NBFCs and MFIs that will receive the funding should have been in business for at least three years and have an external rating of BBB- or superior as on March 31, 2020, SIDBI said. Qualifying NBFCs are required to have minimum net worth of Rs 20 crore, and a minimum asset size of Rs 50 crore. The NBFCs should be registered with RBI as investment and credit company (ICC), SIDBI said. The RBI had on April 17 announced a special refinancing facility of Rs 50,000 crore for SIDBI, National Housing Bank (NHB) and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). An MFI, too, should be registered as a society, trust cooperative society, company, MAC or NBFC-MFI. Three men have been arrested after leading Bexar County Sheriff's deputies on a car chase through the far Southwest Side. The chase started near Loop 1604 and Wiseman Road at around 2 a.m., after deputies came across the men who were believed to be burglary suspects, officials said. Which of us would like to be in Matt Hancocks shoes? The beleaguered Health Secretary faces formidable problems, and the mounting chorus of blame is principally aimed at him. There is a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for frontline NHS staff. If the Government should change its advice and sensibly recommend that we should all wear face masks, there wont be enough of them. At the new Nightingale Hospital in London whose rapid construction spear-headed by the Army was rightly praised dozens of coronavirus patients have been turned away because there arent enough nurses. Wherever Mr Hancock looks, there are intimidating challenges, of which the greatest is testing. On April 2, his first day back after contracting the virus, he set the ambitious target by the end of this month a week away of carrying out 100,000 tests a day. Wherever Mr Hancock looks, there are intimidating challenges, of which the greatest is testing On Monday, only 18,206 tests were done out of a supposed capacity of 41,398. Mr Hancock will have to ensure that the number of tests being conducted increases by about five times within seven days. Will he manage it? The Health Secretary stuck by the figure yesterday. So did Dominic Raab, the stand-in PM, during Prime Ministers Question Time, when he promised an exponential increase in testing over the next week. Do they know something we dont? Or are they being wildly optimistic? Well see. I trust that on April 30 the Government wont take refuge in the argument that 100,000 daily tests are theoretically available. Mr Hancocks undertaking was that this number would be carried out. Now I realise its easy enough to criticise from the side-lines, and Ive no doubt Mr Hancock and his staff are working around the clock to deliver the promised tests. They are doing their best. But the fact remains that testing has been a fiasco. Germany, which has carried out about four times as many tests per 1,000 people, has been far more successful in curbing the disease. Rigorous and widespread testing partly explains the countrys significantly lower death rate. We have to ask whether our flawed system will ever deliver sufficient tests, or whether some radical change is needed if Britain is going to move from near the bottom of the international testing league. At the new Nightingale Hospital in London whose rapid construction spear-headed by the Army was rightly praised dozens of coronavirus patients have been turned away because there arent enough nurses Let me enumerate some of the errors of recent weeks. It emerged that 17.5 million antibody tests ordered from China those are the ones which establish whether you have had the disease are faulty. The Chinese are undoubtedly to blame. But we should also ask why the Government put itself in the position of being so dependent on foreign suppliers. Germany has produced millions of its own tests. Meanwhile, there is growing evidence that the antigen test which establishes whether people are infected can also be dodgy. An internal memo on April 11 from Public Health England mentions discordant i.e. unreliable results. Another huge failure has been the centralised approach taken by the NHS and Public Health England, and their disinclination, now being only slowly corrected, to involve private companies and universities in testing. This command structure has led to drive-in centres being set up which are often some distance from the staff who need testing, and can only be accessed by car. It partly explains why less than half of capacity is being used. Remember that a third of those infected are believed to show no symptoms. It follows that hundreds, if not thousands, of nurses and doctors are unwittingly spreading the disease in hospitals because they have not been regularly tested. I could go on. The Mail reported yesterday that a senior Government adviser blames red tape for the slow roll-out of testing. According to him, quangos such as Public Health England and the Care Quality Commission are throwing a spanner in the works by insisting that anyone who conducts tests must be accredited. One way and another, it is surely obvious that the system is failing, and that NHS and other frontline workers are not getting the tests they require. One terrifying new revelation is that only one in four care home staff who fear they have the virus have been tested. Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries appeared to question whether more tests would save lives when she said that the mechanism between greater testing and a lower death rate is still not clear As for non-NHS or non-essential workers who want to know whether they are free of the disease and can safely go to work, they can forget it, unless they are prepared to shell out hundreds of pounds for a private test. This is a mess a stupendous cock-up. As a result of faulty or non-existent tests, the contagion is spreading more freely than it should, and people who have recovered from it dont know whether its safe to return to work. In fact, even if 100,000 tests a day were achieved by the end of the month, that wouldnt be nearly enough. Germany is reportedly ramping up the number of tests its using, so that there will eventually be millions every week. Pinning the blame on Mr Hancock, who is in charge of the clattering train and who has set a target he will struggle to meet, is tempting. Even his best friend could hardly claim he has covered himself in glory. But I wonder whether the most focused minister could have done much better. I also deplore unattributed briefings from No 10 which imply that Mr Hancock may be hung out to dry if the figure of 100,000 is not reached. No one believes he dreamt it up by himself. It would be a collective failure of Government. The problem is not so much the Health Secretary who is competent enough and, as I say, hardworking as the vast bureaucratic behemoth comprising the NHS, with its offshoots of Public Health England and the Department of Health. Mr Hancock is like a captain of a vast ship the NHS whose crew respond laboriously, and sometimes not at all, to his instructions. It is as though he is trying to steer this enormous vessel with a paddle. Mr Hancock is like a captain of a vast ship the NHS whose crew respond laboriously, and sometimes not at all, to his instructions Last Sunday, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries appeared to question whether more tests would save lives when she said that the mechanism between greater testing and a lower death rate is still not clear. Are such heterodox views widespread in Public Health England? The question is what measures must be adopted so that the Government can finally get testing on track. Some will place faith in Boris Johnsons return to No 10, which may be imminent. But he will have his eye on a dozen problems, and cant be expected to sort out testing. What is needed is someone with the Prime Ministers authority who can be put in charge of testing, rather as Lord Deighton has just been asked to deal with the shortage of personal protective equipment, though with more powers. Such an appointment might put Mr Hancocks nose out of joint. But he has a great deal on his plate, and however hard he works he wont have time to cope with all the difficulties testing is throwing up. Of all the challenges, this is the greatest. Only thorough testing will get us out of this crisis. As he recuperates at Chequers, the PM should reflect that the success of this Government, and the recovery of our nation, depend upon it. London: Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has thrown his support behind an international investigation into the origins of the coronavirus pandemic. An inquiry would focus on China's early cover-up of the pandemic and the World Health Organisation's own role in alerting the world to the health emergency. Australia and the United States are pushing for an inquiry - Australia wants the WHO's powers beefed up so it can enter affected countries to make objective and first-hand assessments of emerging threats. Britain's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace (on right) has backed calls for an international probe into coronavirus' origins. Credit:AP Australia's Prime Minister spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel this week. ACHESON, Alberta, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- North American Construction Group Ltd. (NACG or the Company) (TSX:NOA.TO/NYSE:NOA) announced today that it will release its financial results for the First Quarter ended March 31, 2020 on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 after markets close. Following the release of its financial results, NACG will hold a conference call and webcast on Thursday, May 7, 2020, at 7:00 a.m. Mountain Time (9:00 a.m. Eastern Time). The call can be accessed by dialing: Toll free: 1-877-648-7976 International: 1-617-826-1698 A replay will be available through June 7, 2020, by dialing: Toll Free: 1-855-859-2056 International: 1-404-537-3406 Conference ID: 2681391 A slide deck for the webcast will be available for download the evening prior to the call and will be found on the companys website at www.nacg.ca/presentations/ The live presentation and webcast can be accessed at: https://onlinexperiences.com/Launch/QReg/ShowUUID=AC7542F4-30C2-4C56-958A-05233CA3A15A A replay will be available until June 7, 2020 using the link provided. About the Company North American Construction Group Ltd. (www.nacg.ca) is one of Canadas largest providers of heavy construction and mining services. For more than 65 years, NACG has provided services to large oil, natural gas and resource companies. For further information, please contact: Jason Veenstra, CPA, CA Chief Financial Officer North American Construction Group Ltd. Phone: (780) 948-2009 Email: jveenstra@nacg.ca CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Thursday said the coronavirus crisis in Gujarat is a result of lacunae in the state's healthcare services for the past 25 years, referring to reports that it has the lowest recovery rate from the pandemic. "All data from Gujarat shows that the crisis is due to long term shortages in healthcare there in past 25 years. This must be rectified in Modi's home state where he presided over destroying public health services as CM. All states must ramp up public health to save precious lives," he said in a tweet. So far, Gujarat had reported 2,407 coronavirus cases and 103 deaths, according to the Union health ministry. Officials said the number of COVID-19 cases in the state has increased significantly because of intensive surveillance and testing in areas that have been declared hotspots. Yechury accused the Centre of "hiding data and facts" and said this has further worsened the crisis. "Centre's attempts to hide data/facts has worsened the health & humanitarian crisis. Good information is key. States must be fully supported to check COVID-19. Instead we see centralisation, waste of precious resources in PR & breeding of communal hate. This is just unacceptable," he said. The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 686 and the number of cases climbed to 21,700 in the country on Thursday, the health ministry said. The number of active COVID-19 cases in India stands at 16,689 as 4,324 people have recovered and been discharged from hospitals, and one patient migrated, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 17:50:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- China's trade with Russia expanded by 3.4 percent year on year in the first quarter (Q1) of this year, the Ministry of Commerce said Thursday. Trade volume between the two countries stood at 25.35 billion U.S. dollars in the period, Gao Feng, spokesperson with the ministry, told a press conference. China's imports from Russia increased by 17.3 percent from a year earlier to 16.2 billion dollars, the fastest growth among China's major trading partners. Meanwhile, China's exports to Russia reached 9.15 billion dollars in the first three months, down 14.6 percent year on year, according to Gao. The impact of the novel coronavirus epidemic will be short-lived and the prospect of bilateral economic and trade cooperation remains promising, Gao said. Enditem Sydney Local Health District has opened new drive-thru COVID-19 clinics to increase testing in the inner west and Canada Bay to help stop the spread of the virus. The districts new drive-through COVID-19 clinics are located at the Five Dock Leisure Centre and Summer Hill. The drive-through service aims to make it easier for people to be tested. The drive-thru testing station in Summer Hill earlier this week. Credit:Dean Sewell Were now doing more testing for coronavirus. Were asking all people with symptoms to be tested, especially those who live or work in the inner west and Canada Bay to help us stop the spread of COVID-19, Dr Leena Gupta, the clinical director of the districts public health unit said. If youre feeling unwell with any symptoms a fever, sore throat, cough, difficulty breathing or other respiratory symptoms please get tested. You dont have to have been overseas or in contact with someone who has had COVID-19 to be eligible for a test. The two clinics will be open from 8.30am to 4pm, seven days a week. Credit:Rhett Wyman The Inner West and Canada Bay Local Government Areas have become an area of focus recently because of a few cases where theres likely to have been community transmission. If you are feeling unwell wed like to encourage you to please come to one of our COVID-19 clinics to be tested, Dr Gupta said. The two clinics, at Inner West Council Depot and Five Dock Leisure Centre respectively, will be open from 8.30am to 4pm, seven days a week. Two new drive-through testing sites will open in Canterbury and Rozelle early next week. Emmy-Nominated Actor, Father and Author Dondre Whitfield Talks New Book and Becoming a Man While women lead the way for the #MeToo and Times Up movement, Emmy-nominated actor, author, and father Dondre Whitfield is using his platform to push men to become better men. Acting is my passion, but activation is my purpose, Whitfield shared. Im trying to activate manhood. We have to really take these kinds of moments seriously in cultivating our communities and our families. Whitfield created The Manhood Tour, a global movement committed to awakening the consciousness of men. Objectives include giving them the keys to effective and impactful leadership and teaching them how to tap into their talents and live them to the highest degree. Since hes traveled around the world under his movement speaking to youth and men encouraging them to overcome distractions and be a man. ADVERTISEMENT His new book, Male vs. Man: How to Honor Women, Teach Children, and Elevate Men to Change the World will inform men how to become not only a provider but a man that serves his family and community with love. Male vs. Man: How to Honor Women, Teach Children, and Elevate Men to Change the World defines the difference between a male and a man: males look to be served while men chose to be of service. Whitfield takes it upon himself to uncover the ways of which he views manhood and hopes to transform it from chaotic to calm. Digging into his past and present to give a heartfelt guide to becoming a male worthy of man status. I tell people often, every man that you meet is a male, but not every male that you meet is a man. And the problem is that many of us dont know the difference, he stated. Whitfield opens up sharing he spent most of his life without a father figure and assumed his manhood once he reached the age of 18, which society often deems to be the age of adulthood. Not having my father around to teach me and me bumping my head up against the brick wall trying to matriculate into my manhood was the first thing that activated me to write this book. In addition, the #MeToo and Times Up movement inspired him to create an ally, a manhood movement that would grow males into men who positively affect society. Living in these times and having a 15-year-old daughter of my own. Being the son to a great mother and being a husband to a dynamic wife, I realized that we need to make manhood movement because someone has to raise up a son that my daughter is going to be partnered with one day, Whitfield affirming, Somebody has to take on the responsibility doing that. In just five months, Whitfield wrote up the blueprint to manhood based on his life experiences including his failures and successes. Being a man is not about you being perfect because theres no such thing as a perfect human being. So being a man still makes me human, he expressed. For me, every single day is about me being in the pursuit of my manhood. Me, being in the pursuit of my purpose. I dont have to be perfect, but I have to pursue my purpose perfectly which is being diligent every single day. Sure of his purpose, Whitfield voiced, My prayer is that this book serves as the manhood playbook that our brothers need in order to matriculate into their manhood. That it gives our sisters the instruction that they finally need in order to be able to readily identify the difference between a male and a man. ADVERTISEMENT As a man of his word, Whitfield is charged and excited to share with the world his story and his purpose through Male vs. Man: How to Honor Women, Teach Children, and Elevate Men to Change the World. Male vs. Man: How to Honor Women, Teach Children, and Elevate Men to Change the World by Dondre Whitfield can be purchased on Amazon and ordered online via all major bookstores. Everyone knows that Pakistan has been hosting millions of Afghan refugees for more than three decades. by Ali Sukhanver No one could be stopped from going to his home and from meeting his relatives; keeping this morality and legality in view Pakistan has recently opened its borders with Afghanistan at Torkham and Chaman for a limited time period. The reason behind this action is nothing but to ensure that Afghanistan citizens could travel back to their country to see their dear and near ones. Everyone knows that Pakistan has been hosting millions of the Afghan refugees for more than three decades. The presence of these refugees has ever been a severe burden not only on the economy of Pakistan but also on Pakistans social set up. But in spite of all these bitter realities Pakistan has always treated these refugees as its own nationals. Unfortunately, the official hi-ups of Afghanistan have never realized and admitted Pakistans services in this regard. Be it President Ashraf Ghani or Amrullah Saleh, the former NDS Chief, most of the time they target Pakistan by their fake propaganda stories. Recently talking to the Hindustan Times newspaper Amrullah Saleh has blamed that Pakistan is using the Taliban to influence the situation in Afghanistan through terrorism and violence. He described Pakistan as Talibans first home because the Taliban leaders engaged in negotiations with the US in Doha fly to there from Karachi or Islamabad. One could never expect such a childish argument from a political leader who has recently introduced himself as vice presidential candidate in the next elections. If a person flies from the New York airport to Dubai, it does not mean that he is representing the US government. Such nonsense logic reflects nothing but immaturity of a prejudiced mind. Recently a video clip was uploaded on social media which shows thousands of Afghan refugees returning to meet their relatives in Afghanistan. They all are happy, healthy and full of life. Many of them are seen carrying bags containing gifts for their relatives in Afghanistan. The most interesting thing is that soon they all would be coming back to Pakistan saying good-bye to their own country and they would do that in the same joyful manner. Nowhere in the world, are the refugees as comfortable and happy as the Afghan refugees are in Pakistan but even then no appreciation for Pakistan from the Afghan official authorities. Blaming Pakistan for all that goes wrong in Afghanistan is not a new practice. In the first week of this March, the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani alleged talking to the CNN that Pakistan was protecting the sanctuaries of Afghan Taliban in Pakistan. This irresponsible statement was strongly condemned by everyone in Pakistan and it was taken as another example of selfishness which has now become the trade-mark of the Afghan officials. Pakistans Former Interior Minister Rehman Malik termed this statement as highly unbecoming, unrealistic and biased. He said, It is a matter of fact that Afghanistans own intelligence agency NDS is backing ethnicity-based interference and is involved in terrorist acts through Daesh. Whatever Rehman Malik said in response to that statement was recently proved when the Afghan authorities announced that they have arrested an alleged leader of ISIS who had been involved allegedly in several attacks in Pakistan that killed tens of civilians. According to the Afghan authorities the ISIS leader was arrested on 5th of this April. Getting the news of this arrest the Foreign Office called in Afghanistans ambassador to Pakistan and demanded handing over of the arrested ISIS leader. Pakistans Foreign Office further conveyed Pakistans deep concerns over the activities of the arrested leader who was involved in nefarious anti-Pakistan activities in Afghanistan. Pakistans Foreign Office emphasized that the two sides (Pakistan and Afghanistan) should coordinate actions against the menace of terrorism, through established mechanisms. The Afghan government has yet not responded positively to Pakistans demand and experts are of the opinion that Pakistan would never get the desired response to this demand because Ashraf Ghani government has never been cooperative in such situations. If it were India instead of Pakistan, the response of Ashraf Ghani government would have been altogether otherwise. As far as the Taliban issue is concerned, Pakistan has nothing to do with it; the Talban matter is purely an internal rather indigenous matter of Afghanistan. The Taliban are originally Afghan citizens and their birth is simply a reaction against the foreign intruders. There would be no Taliban if the NATTO forces say farewell to the Afghan lands. All over the world, when there is an Afghanistan type of intrusion, Taliban type of reactionary groups automatically comes into formation. The Afghan Talibans are a reality and realities could never be denied. It is a proof of their presence, popularity, authority and their belonging to Afghanistan that the US authorities felt compelled to talk to them considering them the major stake-holder. Moreover they have major control over large Afghan territory. Recently an article was published in the Council on Foreign Affairs with the title, The Taliban in Afghanistan. The article says, The Taliban is stronger now than at any point in recent memory, controlling dozens of Afghan districts and continuing to launch attacks against both government and civilian targets. It is something very illogical that in spite of all these facts and figures, President Ashraf Ghani always keeps on blaming Pakistan for nurturing and patronizing the Taliban. Pakistan has a lot of its own problems; the present Covid-19 is at present top of the list. Though the government of Pakistan has been very successful in tackling with the problem but still there are a lot of things to be done. Instead of putting blame on Pakistan, President Ashraf Ghani must try to bring his own home to order. He must not forget that Pakistan is a country which has been hosting millions of Afghan refugees for so many decades. No other country has ever been as cooperative with Afghanistan as Pakistan has been. The Afghan leaders must try to realize that all time hostility against the neighbours is never a positive attitude; it simply widens the distances. eye-on-india COVID-19 impact | Centre freezes new rates of DA/DR till July 2021, move may impact pensioners Till then, existing levels of DA/DR will be paid Twelve people belonging to two families, including a 45-day-old child, living in Chooriwalan area of central Delhi have tested positive for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), according to officials. The baby and three of these persons, who have underlying health issues such as diabetes, hypertension and chronic kidney disease were admitted to the dedicated Covid-19 Lok Nayak hospital. They are all stable and recovering. Most of them did not have symptoms. The rest of the people have been admitted to Covid Care Centres, which look after patients with mild to moderate symptoms. From what we have learnt these are members of two different families, but their address is the same. They might be living on two different floors of the same building. We came to know of the case after the families got tested at a private clinic. We are currently assessing the area, said Nidhi Shrivastava, district magistrate of Central Delhi. The source of the infection is yet to be determined. One of the persons has a history of travel to Russia, before India imposed a complete ban on international travel on March 22. Russia has so far reported 62,773 cases and 555 deaths linked to Covid-19. Another in the group has a chronic kidney disease. Several cases of people testing positive for Covid-19 from dialysis centres across Delhi have been reported. We are still investigating the source of the infection, said Shrivastava. This lane is already within a containment zone but we will declare it a micro-containment zone, and carry out all the measures aggressively, said Shrivastava. All the people in containment zones are screened for symptoms by the health care workers, and those who might have come in direct contact with patients are tested for the infection. Civic bodies carry out sanitation drives and people are not supposed to step out of their houses in these areas, with groceries and essentials being delivered to their doorstep. On Wednesday night, the infected people gathered outside Lok Nayak hospital, demanding they be admitted, leading to some altercation with doctors. Only one the family members apart from the baby needed to be admitted here, but we admitted two others who had some co-morbid conditions. The others have been referred to Covid Care Centres, said JC Passey, director, Lok Nayak hospital. The government has now decided that only the category III patients who either have severe symptoms or are a at a high risk of developing such symptoms will be admitted to the hospital. There are five levels (four excluding the dedicated hospitals) of facilities right now the Covid testing centres where samples are collected; the isolation centres are there for those waiting for their results; Covid Care Centres in government flats etc. admit those with mild symptoms; and the Covid health centres admit those with moderate symptoms, said Passey. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-23 15:11:11 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 585 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2020 /360 Destination Group Florida signed on as a Newswire Earned Media Advantage Guided Tour customer and has now been featured as a thought leader in an article on SmartMeetings. After being in the business for the past 40 years, 360 Destination Group Florida saw an opportunity in the Guided Tour to help the company increase their exposure in the industry. With the help of an Earned Media Advantage Strategist (EMAS) who has created and implemented an integrated media and communications strategy on demand, the event planning company has been able to gain more media exposure, as per their feature."It's great to see our customers succeed and earn the recognition they deserve," said Charlie Terenzio, VP of Earned Media Strategy at Newswire. "The customerized' plan the EMAS has come with is proven to be the guiding tool that has unlocked the secret to an effective media and marketing communications plan." As a behemoth in the event planning industry, 360 Destination Group Florida is occupied with an array of tasks, hence why they have decided to rely on an experienced strategist to handle all media and marketing needs. Part of the process of the Guided Tour includes 360 Destination Group Florida connecting with their EMAS about the pain points they need to tackle in order to gain the exposure they deserve. This media communications survey and assessment has allowed the EMAS to understand all aspects of the company and develop a comprehensive Earned Media Advantage Plan (EMAP) to overcome any media and marketing communications obstacles they face. Having the right plan in place paved the path of further success and growth 360 Destination Group has come to acquire.Terenzio said, "Our strategists work closely with our clients to understand the intricacies of the company and their media and communication needs. With this information, they are able to create an EMAP and implement that plan to properly get the message out to the right audience at the right time through the right mediums." Many companies, such as 360 Destination Group Florida, have found the Earned Media Advantage Guided Tour to be more cost-effective than hiring a full-time equivalent. The Guided Tour has helped them focus on other tasks at hand while achieving the Earned Media Advantage: increased brand awareness, increased website traffic, greater return on media and marketing communications spend, and increased sales. The journey is designed to empower Guided Tour customers by providing them with an EMAP as well as a media communications calendar, services to set up, operate and manage media databases, monitor media alerts, statistical analysis, reporting and media room news collection to ensure Customer Success.Find out how Newswire is Transforming the Value of a Press Releases and discover how to empower your go-to market strategies with the Earned Media Advantage: greater brand awareness, increased traffic, generate greater return on media and marketing communications spend and increased sales.About NewswireNewswire delivers press release and multimedia distribution software and services (SaaS) that empower the Earned Media Advantage: greater brand awareness, increased traffic, greater return on media and marketing communications spend and the competitive edge. With over a decade of experience, Newswire continues to provide its customers with the ability to deliver the right message to the right audience at the right time through the right medium. To learn more about how Newswire can help you, visit http://www.newswire.com CONTACT:Charlie TerenzioVP of Earned MediaNewswireOffice: 813-480-3766Email: charlie@ newswire.com Related ImagesSOURCE: Newswire The Ruby Princess cruise ship left Port Kembla, New South Wales, on April 23, five weeks after the vessel first docked in Sydney, with reports that crew members on board feared for their health. Tug boats performed a water salute as the ship left port in Illawarra and the crew hung a large banner across the stern to say thank you. In this footage, smoke is seen rising from the ships engine before it leaves port. The journalist James Wilson said it looks as if they are running through some mechanical checks as it prepares to leave. The New South Wales opposition leader, Jodi McKay, said she was overwhelmed with messages from crew members who remained on the ship. Many scared, some unwell, she said on Twitter. They tell me they dont even know where the ship is going. One believes leaving is a death sentence. More than 350 crew members were allowed to disembark before the ship departed. A number of crew members who tested positive for coronavirus were taken to hotels for a 14-day quarantine. Others were transported to Sydney Airport for flights home. According to local reports, the Ruby Princess had been linked to more than 700 coronavirus cases and 21 deaths in Australia. The ship became the subject of an inquiry after 2,700 passengers were allowed to disembark and fly home to locations across Australia and overseas when it first docked. Credit: James Wilson via Storyful Why Women Kill A darkly comedic drama detailing the lives of three women living in three different decades: a housewife in the 60s, a socialite in the 80s, and a lawyer in 2019, each dealing with infidelity in their marriages. The protagonists' Lucy Lui, Ginnifer Goodwin and Kirby Howell will trade for your minds for sure! Nancy Drew It's time to bring alive your favourite teen detective from books to digital screens. A brilliant teen detective whose sense of self had come from solving mysteries in her hometown of Horseshoe Bay will leave you traceless. After her mother's untimely death Nancy swears off crime-solving while crossing off the days until she can reapply to the college. But she couldn't keep off for too long as when a socialite got murdered, Nancy finds herself as a prime suspect in the crime, along with a group of other teens present at the scene: Nancy's nemesis from high school, team up to clear their own names, encountering emotional entanglements and even more mysteries along the way. The journey is a roller coaster ride! MasterChef USA - Season 10 Passionate cooks hailing from various parts of the US come together and compete against each other in culinary challenges crafted by the finest cooks of the word, the latest season starring Gordon Ramsay. A show full of salt, sugar, spice and everything nice. Gear up as the contestants showcase and develop their cooking skills and win the title of the best chef. Tighten your aprons as these home chefs give us a treat to our buds. The Daily Social Distancing Show with Trevor Noah Trevor Noah is never far behind when it comes to current affairs. The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, now very innovatively being called The Daily Social Distancing Show With Trevor Noah, as now that he is hosting the specials from home. The hilarious native of South Africa born to a black South African mother and a white European father has been lauded for his unique, insightful take on current events and ability to sell out international comedy shows. It's also helpful that he is, in the words of his Comedy Central boss, "wickedly funny." You can't miss on this one! A US military convoy travelling through Qamishli has been forced to turn around by residents and the Syrian Arab Army, who chanted their disapproval and threw stones writes SANA. Citizens from a number of towns in Qamishlis southern countryside, supported by members of the Syrian Arab Army, intercepted on Wednesday a US occupation military convoy, and forced them to turn back. Civil sources told SANA that families of Um al-Ghadir and Thamnih Rahya, located to the south of the Tel Hamis area in Qamishli southern countryside, intercepted a military convoy of the US occupation, throwing stones at them and chanting slogans against their presence. The sources added that vehicles turned around and went back into the direction of Farfarah village. The Syrian families always reject any presence of foreign occupation in Syrian al-Jazeera region. 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. EDWARDSVILLE Gabby Wimes was looking forward to visiting Costa Rica for college credit this summer, but instead, shell have to gain knowledge about the country through an online experience. Wimes, a junior at SIUE, participates in the International Studies Program, which requires students to complete six credit hours of study abroad prior to graduation. However, like many other universities, SIUE has stopped all study abroad until at least Aug. 15 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, Wimes and several other SIUE students will take six credit hours of virtual study aboard coursework during the summer semester to fulfill their degree requirements. As soon as I heard the study abroad program was canceled, I was nervous because there would really be no other time for me to go, said Wimes, a volleyball player at SIUE who is on target to graduate next spring. If I went next spring semester, I would run into trouble with completing two senior projects in criminal justice and international studies. With volleyball season in the fall, I wouldnt have time to study abroad then. It put me in a hard situation, so I was really happy that the virtual study abroad experience was going to be offered in the summer. The virtual study abroad experience is being created by Dr. Sorin Nastasia, the director of the International Studies Program. It will consist of a pair of three-credit-hour courses, offered in parallel during the first five-week session of the summer semester which takes place between June 1 and July 5. Together with the advising team, Nastasia has guided students who are early enough in their work toward an international studies degree to delay their study abroad to a further semester or year. However, there are some students, like Wimes, who cant delay their study abroad requirement without also delaying graduation plans. Those are the students that Nastasia is creating a virtual study abroad experience for during the summer semester at SIUE. Some of them had already made arrangements to go abroad, so we have to adapt for them, said Nastasia, who is an associate professor of public relations in the Department of Applied Communication Studies at SIUE in addition to leading the International Studies Program. The first three credit hours component of Nastasias virtual study abroad experience will be used as a joint learning pursuit for the students. The second three credit hours portion will consist of individualized learning, as a research project focusing on a specific country/region for each student. Wimes, who is from Kansas City, Missouri, is the winner of the $500 Ambassador Hussein Moussawi international travel scholarship, which will allow her to focus on Costa Rica and explore issues related to the Muslim community in that country. Now, instead of traveling to Costa Rica, she will visit the country virtually through Nastasias summer study abroad experience. Upon my discussion with the representatives of the Moussawi family and the administrators of the College of Arts and Sciences, it has been agreed that if she is in this kind of virtual experience, she will still receive the $500 scholarship even if she is not going abroad, Nastasia said. She will still do research based on Muslim communities and culture in Costa Rica. Wimes has a double major in international studies and criminal justice with a minor in Spanish. She plans to go to law school and specialize in international law and eventually hopes to work for the United Nations. For Wimes, a five-week visit to Costa Rica this summer was going to play a key role in her career plans. Ive been to Europe, including Spain and Italy, but I wanted to go to a foreign country where they still have the Spanish language but with a different feel than the European vibe, Wimes said. My mom, who is an international lawyer, practiced there for a couple of years and really enjoyed it. I was looking forward to interacting with a completely new group of people and learning about a culture that was a lot different from mine. Nastasia, meanwhile, will use the connections he has established in four years as director of the International Studies Program as resources for the virtual study abroad experience. He can also draw on other connections he has built while offering study abroad options to students. Nastasia has organized two study abroad courses giving students opportunities to learn first-hand in international settings, one to France and Romania in summer 2012, and one to Germany and Hungary in summer 2014. When offering study abroad experiences didnt work in person, I tried to offer virtual encounters with international experts and virtual explorations of worldwide cultures as part of my courses, said Nastasia, a native of Romania who came to the United States in 2003 and has been at SIUE since 2010. For example, I have interviewed people from other countries speaking about various aspects of their cultures and shared the recordings with my students. International studies is an interdisciplinary degree program that allows students to explore the complex social, political, economic, and cultural interrelations that exist in our increasingly globalized world. The International Studies program started in the fall of 2016, so we are toward the end of our fourth year of existence. Each year since 2017, to promote the International Studies program and increase its collaborative capabilities, Nastasia has hosted an International Studies Day, where he invites different guest speakers to talk to SIUE students. This years International Studies Day was supposed to be on March 26, but it was canceled due to the coronavirus crisis. It would have included as the keynote speaker a faculty at George Mason University in Washington, D.C., who is an expert in character assassination in global settings. Instead, Nastasia will record an online interview with the keynote speaker, adding to the collection of academics, communication practitioners, affiliates of local and regional non-profit organizations and the United Nations and government officials, from across the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Africa, Europe and Australia that he has engaged with over the years in coursework or at International Studies Day. Nastasia envisions that in the three credit hours of joint learning pursuit this summer some experts will engage directly with students through Zoom or Skype, while some other experts will be recorded by Nastasia, who will make the recordings available to the students. For the three credit hours of individualized learning, students will choose their country/region of focus as well as the scope of their research inquiry. Nastasia will provide support through guidance for online resources available and additional contact with country/region-based experts. In the joint learning experience, students will be working together to get their feet wet on virtual experiences and how people are dealing with this crisis situation in their own countries, Nastasia said. I will rely on personal contact with experts I know through my research, as a professor of public relations, and as director of the International Studies Program. I count on them to provide insights into country-based and international aspects of communication and culture. The COVID-19 pandemic may have spoiled Wimes travel plans for this summer, but she is confident that she can still learn a lot about Costa Rica through the virtual study abroad experience. At first, I wasnt sure how (Nastasia) was going to conduct it, but I got a little more information and hes going to use professors and a lot of outside resources to get more of the study abroad feeling, Wimes said. Im still excited about that, so I will be getting some cool experiences. The cancellation of this summers trip has only strengthened Wimes resolve to see Costa Rica in person. When she does get there, she will be armed with plenty of knowledge about the country thanks to the virtual study abroad experience. Youve got to try to make the best out of everything, so Im just trying to stay positive about it, Wimes said. I was disappointed about not being able to go to Costa Rica this summer, but I was planning on taking a gap year after I graduate, and I can use that to study abroad. Hopefully I can go to Costa Rica so I can get some life experiences there, especially learning the Spanish language. TRENTON, NJ Has the coronavirus peaked in New Jersey? State officials are saying they've "plateaued" and "stabilized." But they're waiting for more data before making any declarations. Gov. Phil Murphy was not ready to proclaim that New Jersey was on the downside of the coronavirus crisis on Wednesday and Thursday despite the progress that's been made and the "flattening" of the curve of cases. Indeed, the daily number of new cases has been stable througout April, averaging around 3,500 a day (see numbers below). "We're not there yet," Gov. Phil Murphy said. "To lose 314 blessed souls of our state (on Wednesday) is a sobering reminder that even when we start to see those curves start to come down, you have folks who were infected some number of weeks ago who are losing their lives in these days." A coronavirus projection model by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, which has been used by the White House to influence response to the outbreak, estimated the peak for COVID-19 deaths in New Jersey was supposed to be April 15 and 16. New Jersey hit its peak, so far, of deaths on Tuesday, April 21, when Murphy reported that another 379 people died of the disease. Read more: Gov. Murphy: NJ Coronavirus Outbreak Again Has Deadliest Day: 379 Despite the grim numbers, however, Murphy said several positive trends continue, noting that New Jersey is seeing decreases in the number of new daily hospitalizations. "This ties almost directly with the fact that we're slowing the rate of spread," he said. "The fewer people who test positive, the fewer people who need to go to the hospital." The peak for hospital resources was supposed to be April 14. That number appears to be on course, so far; the trend of new hospitalizations has been going down over the past week, hitting an April low of 361 on Tuesday: The predictions from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, which have been referenced by members of the White House to determine the national reaction, indicate the national coronavirus infection peak in deaths and resources occurred in mid-April. Story continues The institute bases its modeling on the expected peak of infections and the number of hospital beds, number of intensive-care beds, and ventilators available for COVID-19 patients. Currently, 7,240 New Jerseyans are hospitalized due to COVID-19, and 1,462 ventilators are in use. Murphy said New Jersey has "clearly come an enormous distance. We are clearly heading in the right direction. Everything overwhelmingly tells us that." But, "we're not there yet," he said. "Just because hospitalizations have stabilized or critical care beds have stabilized or ventilators have stabilized, we're not there yet." The overall number of cases rose to 99,989 on Thursday, and 5,368 people have died. Murphy said he'd like to see a complete downward trend before making the decision whether to reopen schools on or after May 15. Read more: NJ Coronavirus Updates: Here's What You Need To Know Here is a look at new coronavirus cases by day in April: April 23: 4,427 April 22: 3,551 April 21: 3,644 April 20: 3,528 April 19: 3,915 April 18: 3,026 April 17: 3,250 April 16: 4,391 April 15: 2,625 April 14: 4,049 April 13: 3,219 April 12: 3,733 April 11: 3,599 April 10: 3,627 April 9: 3,748 April 8: 3,088 April 7: 3,361 April 6: 3,663 April 5: 3,482 April 4: 4,331 April 3: 4,372 April 2: 3,489 April 1: 3,649 Here is a look at coronavirus deaths by day in April April 23: 307 April 22: 314 April 21: 379 April 20: 177 April 19: 132 April 18: 231 April 17: 323 April 16: 362 April 15: 351 April 14: 365 April 13: 94 April 12: 168 April 11: 251 April 10: 233 April 9: 198 April 8: 275 April 7: 232 April 6: 86 April 5: 71 April 4: 200 April 3: 113 April 2: 182 April 1: 91 This article originally appeared on the Westfield Patch Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Norman Harsono (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 11:46 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3bd1bb 1 Business PLN,DPR,subsidy,electricity,finance-ministry,SOEMinistry,ESDM Free The government has yet to disburse Rp 48 trillion (US$3.09 billion) to state-owned electricity company PLN for electricity subsidy costs incurred over the past two years. PLN president director Zulkifli Zaini said on Wednesday that the electricity companys receivables were Rp 23 trillion for subsidies in 2018 and Rp 15 trillion for 2019. The 2019 funds are still being assessed by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), he told House of Representative (DPR) members during a videoconference. The electricity company, he continued, was preparing a reminder for the government, namely the State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Ministry, Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Ministry and Finance Ministry, to disburse the compensation. Read also: PLN projects lower electricity consumption over coronavirus The slow disbursement of funds is putting further strain on PLNs cash flow, which is already being squeezed by power infrastructure investment and electricity price ceilings. To maintain its cash flow, PLN issued Rp 1.73 trillion in bonds on Monday. The company is also reviewing its infrastructure investments and talking to banks over reprofiling debt. Lawmakers on Wednesday also asked Zulkifli about the ability of Indonesias sole power distributer to cover, among other things, a populist electricity relief plan for 31 million of Indonesias poorest households during the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan is to provide Rp 3.5 trillion worth of electricity subsidies for the households until June. Zulkifli told lawmakers that his company had fully implemented the relief policy starting April 9. The brain doesn't cope well with age-related deafness and memory suffers. If your hearing deteriorates in old age, the risk of dementia and cognitive decline increases. So far, it hasn't been clear why. A team of neuroscientists at Ruhr-Universitat Bochum (RUB) in Germany examined what happens in the brain when hearing gradually deteriorates: key areas of the brain are reorganized, and this affects memory. The results are published online in the journal "Cerebral Cortex" dated 20 March 2020. Daniela Beckmann, Mirko Feldmann, Olena Shchyglo and Professor Denise Manahan-Vaughan from the Department of Neurophysiology of the Medical Faculty worked together for the study. When sensory perception fades The researchers studied the brain of mice that exhibit hereditary hearing loss, similar to age-related hearing loss in humans. The scientists analyzed the density of neurotransmitter receptors in the brain that are crucial for memory formation. They also researched the extent to which information storage in the brain's most important memory organ, the hippocampus, was affected. Adaptability of the brain suffers Memory is enabled by a process called synaptic plasticity. In the hippocampus, synaptic plasticity was chronically impaired by progressive hearing loss. The distribution and density of neurotransmitter receptors in sensory and memory regions of the brain also changed constantly. The stronger the hearing impairment, the poorer were both synaptic plasticity and memory ability. Our results provide new insights into the putative cause of the relationship between cognitive decline and age-related hearing loss in humans," said Denise Manahan-Vaughan. "We believe that the constant changes in neurotransmitter receptor expression caused by progressive hearing loss create shifting sands at the level of sensory information processing that prevent the hippocampus from working effectively." Professor Denise Manahan-Vaughan, Department of Neurophysiology, Ruhr-Universitat Bochum (RUB) Palace Theater / Contributed photo WATERBURY - As an antidote to student boredom during the Corona Virus, the Palace Theater in Waterbury and The Next Street Driving Schools are co-hosting a virtual talent showcase, and has invited students from around Connecticut to submit videos of themselves or in a group performing. Students must record themselves singing, dancing or playing an instrument that will be shared on the Palaces Instagram page (@palace_theater. Fred the Godson, a prominent New York rapper, has died aged 35 after contracting coronavirus. A representative for the artist confirmed the death to Complex. The South Bronx rapper, born Frederick Thomas, had announced on social media earlier this month that he was being treated for Covid-19. His wife LeeAnn Jemmott told News 12 Brooklyn at the time that Thomas had been put on a ventilator. He was at one point showing signs of improvement, with the machine supporting his breathing by 70 per cent instead of 100 per cent, Jemmott said. Thomass career developed over the past decade. He was featured in XXLs Freshman Class of 2011 alongside Kendrick Lamar, Meek Mill, Mac Miller, and more. Fred the Godson collaborated with Diddy, Pusha T, and Jay Pharoah among others. His latest project, Payback, was released last month. DJ Self paid tribute to Thomas on Instagram, writing: Was loved by many never heard one bad thing about you RIP @fredthegodsonmusic Sleep Well my brother. Pharoah also paid homage to the artist in a tweet reading in part: Jesus my heart is so heavy right now, just found out we lost my bro @FREDTHEGODSON literally just did a project with him in December and he was such a good dude. I remember us connecting so fast because of our love for lyricism. Thomas is survived by his wife and their two children. WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a $484 billion coronavirus aid package for small businesses and hospitals, and voted along party lines to appoint a House panel that will oversee dissemination of the vast sums that have been approved to counteract the pandemics effects. Republicans including Champaign County GOP Rep. Jim Jordan contended the oversight panel will be used to attack President Donald Trump and boost likely Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in an election year, while Democrats argued its needed to fight waste, fraud and abuse of the trillions of tax dollars spent on virus recovery. This is just a continuation of the attack the the Democrats have had on the president for the past four years, said Jordan. The panels formation was approved in a 212-182 vote that took longer than usual as members of Congress cast their ballots in shifts to allow for social distancing. Many members of Congress wore masks as they walked through U.S. Capitol, although most removed them before speaking on the House floor. Just landed in DC as Congress considers legislation that will provide additional support for hospitals and providers, the Paycheck Protection Program, and widespread testing. We are #InThisTogether. pic.twitter.com/TgWHTbDXCE Steve Stivers (@RepSteveStivers) April 23, 2020 The House subsequently approved adding an extra $310 billion to the Paycheck Protection Program program that provides small business loans to companies with under 500 employees, which effectively become grants if the loans are used to keep workers on the payroll, make rent and mortgage payments or pay utilities. The bill approved Thursday also allots $75 billion to support the nations hospitals, doctors and nurses; $60 billion in disaster loans and grants for small businesses and $25 billion to support additional virus testing. The Senate approved the bill on Tuesday and President Trump has agreed to sign it. Cincinnatis Steve Chabot, the top Republican on the House Small Business Committee, said demand for the Paycheck Protection Program that was created by the CARES Act several weeks ago was so high that over 1.6 million loans were processed, worth more than $340 billion, exhausting money originally allotted for the program in two weeks. In Ohio alone, he said nearly 60,000 loans were processed. Congress should have passed this legislation last week, said Chabot. But to those small businesses who already applied and are waiting to hear, or those who are yet to apply for this relief, finally help is on the way. Yes, our small businesses need additional support. But when will we help everyday families, postal workers, students, seniors and vulnerable Americans? pic.twitter.com/Oyh3615v0t Rep. Marcia L. Fudge (@RepMarciaFudge) April 23, 2020 Warrensville Heights Democratic Rep Marcia Fudge agreed small businesses and hospitals need help, but questioned why the legislation didnt increase money for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food to the needy, while Toledo Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur urged support for the bill even though it drastically shortchanges Americas local communities and first responders. Congress must move America forward a step at a time, said Kaptur. The bill fails to adequately provide much needed resources to our local governments to pay for police, fire, first responders, and for trash pickup," said a statement from Niles Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan. "If we let our local governments run out of money, they will have to stop vital services that we need to stay safe and healthy. Rocky River Republican Rep. Anthony Gonzalez stressed that the bill would not be the end of Congress work in response to COVID-19. He said local leaders in his congressional district have made it clear their municipalities are in dire financial shape, forcing difficult decisions about essential services including fire and police services. While we should not bail out badly run states and cities, it is vital that we provide targeted funding to municipalities like Parma, North Canton, Medina Orville, Rootstown and Green, municipalities that have done things the right way and need our help," said Gonzalez. A statement from Holmes County GOP Rep. Bob Gibbs called the extra small business funding desperately needed. As we work to safely re-open Ohio and the rest of our country, Congress cannot allow partisan politics to get in the way of providing critical relief to those trying to pay their workers during a crisis that has already cost 26 million Americans their jobs, agreed Bainbridge Township GOP Rep. Dave Joyce. Looking forward to voting today to replenish the #PaycheckProtectionProgram so @SBAgov can take down this dreaded notification thats greeted #SmallBusinesses and lenders since the 16th and continue to provide #SmallBizRelief during the #COVID19 pandemic. pic.twitter.com/UpqC6wuO2N Dave Joyce (@RepDaveJoyce) April 23, 2020 More coverage: Rep. Jim Jordan, refusing to wear mask at contentious hearing, calls proposed coronavirus oversight subcommittee a Democratic plot to attack Trump Cleveland company approved to make swabs for coronavirus testing Senate approves deal on extra coronavirus funding for small businesses and hospitals Whats in President Trumps three-phase plan for reopening the country, and will it work for Ohio? Bipartisan congressional group including Ohioans releases reopening checklist Northeast Ohio firms start mask sales during the coronavirus pandemic and donate $50,000 worth to local institutions Rep. Jim Jordan wants Judiciary Committee to probe stay-at-home orders effects on liberty Can a debt collector grab your stimulus check? In Ohio many cant, says AG Dave Yost Sen. Rob Portman and five Ohio Congress members to advise White House on reopening the economy What Ohio members of Congress want in a fourth coronavirus stimulus bill How to track your federal stimulus check New Cleveland company gets federal approval to produce ventilators during coronavirus pandemic Feds approve new mask sterilization process from Mentors STERIS Battelle to expand coronavirus mask decontamination to 60 sites around the country Coronavirus response may drag on Trump in 2020 election, conservative pundits say Feds will use extra Great Lakes Restoration Initiative money to fight water pollution and invasive species Coronavirus boosts demand for Elyria-based Invacares oxygen products and beds WMO expects a six percent drop in carbon emissions this year but warned it could be followed by higher emissions than before COVID-19. The COVID-19 pandemic is expected to cause the biggest fall in carbon dioxide emissions since World War Two but it will likely be short-lived and will not stop climate change, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Wednesday. The WMO expects a six percent drop in carbon emissions this year, an estimate on the high end of a range given by scientists, but the U.N. agency warned that it could be followed by even higher emissions growth than before the crisis. This drop of emissions by six percent, thats unfortunately short-term good news, WMOs Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said in response to a Reuters question at a virtual briefing in Geneva. In the most likely case we will easily go back to normal next year and there might even be a boost in emissions because some industries have been stopped. In fact, the drop is not even enough to get the world back on track to meet the target of the 2015 Paris Agreement, which aims for a global temperature rise of no more than 1.5 degree above pre-industrial levels, Taalas said. That would require at least a seven percent annual drop in emissions, he added. The WMO also published on Wednesday its Global Climate report, which confirmed a finding that 2015-2019 was the warmest five-year period on record, with the global average temperature up 1.1 degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels. So far this year, global temperatures on a monthly basis have been either the warmest or second warmest on record, a spokeswoman added. Carbon dioxide remains in the air for centuries so falls in emissions do not immediately impact climate and would need to be sustained over a period to eventually do so. However, the WMO did note lower levels of the harmful greenhouse gas nitrous oxide as well as improvements in air quality in industrial hubs like China and northern Italy due to the pandemic. On the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the WMO said carbon dioxide levels were up 26 percent since then and the global temperature was 0.86 degrees Celsius higher on average. Taalas added that climate change was a different magnitude of problem compared with COVID-19 and urged governments to tackle it in the same spirit as they have the pandemic. To be optimistic, we would learn from this example and use the same spirit to tackle the climate problem, he said. A statement released by the WMO also urged governments to consider stimulus packages that helped the transition to a green economy, adding to similar calls. The WMOs ability to make climate forecasts is also being hampered by the outbreak since some aircraft taking measurements are no longer flying, Taalas said. Wall Street expects a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when California Water Service Group (CWT) reports results for the quarter ended March 2020. While this widely-known consensus outlook is important in gauging the company's earnings picture, a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates. The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on April 30. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower. While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise. Zacks Consensus Estimate This water utility is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.02 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +112.5%. Revenues are expected to be $131 million, up 3.9% from the year-ago quarter. Estimate Revisions Trend The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period. Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change. Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise Earnings Whisper Estimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core. The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier. Story continues Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only. A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP. Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell). How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for California Water Service Group? For California Water Service Group, the Most Accurate Estimate is the same as the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that there are no recent analyst views which differ from what have been considered to derive the consensus estimate. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of 0%. On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3. So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that California Water Service Group will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue? While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number. For the last reported quarter, it was expected that California Water Service Group would post earnings of $0.33 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.24, delivering a surprise of -27.27%. Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates just once. Bottom Line An earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss. That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. California Water Service Group doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings 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 California Water Service Group (CWT) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. HOLYOKE At least 70 percent of the veterans who were living at the Holyoke Soldiers Home when the coronavirus first broke out in mid-March have now contracted the disease and three more people have died of COVID-19 in the past day. Officials for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services reported as of Wednesday a total of 55 residents have died of COVID-19, tests are pending on one person who died and another is unknown. Nine other people have died of other causes since the first veteran tested positive on March 21. An additional 93 veterans have tested positive for the coronavirus and tests are pending for another seven residents, officials said. A total of 81 employees have also tested positive for COVID-19, officials said. After state officials were alerted by the employees union and Mayor Alex B. Morse about their concerns that the virus was rapidly spreading through the facility, a team from Health and Human Services inspected the home on March 30. Before noon Superintendent Bennett Walsh had been placed on paid administrative leave and Val Liptak, CEO of Western Massachusetts Hospital was asked to take over management. Walsh, who reported in a court injunction that he is believed to have contracted the coronavirus, has denied any mismanagement and called any accusations of wrong-doing as outrageous. The state also quickly set up a clinical team of experts to handle different facets of the crisis. About 160 National Guard members who have medical, logistical or operations expertise are also working at the home to augment the depleted staff, officials said. Multiple agencies including U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling and state Attorney General Maura Healey are conducting independent investigations into the crisis at the Soldiers Home, where about 210 veterans lived when it began. The clinical team has added two nursing executives to the staff to provide additional clinical support. Baystate Medical Practice Management has also been working at the Soldiers Home to assist in administrative procedures, officials said. Additional social workers have also been contracted to support staff and help families contact residents during weekends and per diem throughout the week. To try to prevent the disease from spreading further, quarantine zones for residents who have tested positive are being strictly enforced and all staff members are required to wear protective equipment such as masks. Continual cleaning and disinfection is also occurring throughout the home, officials said. Related Content: A senior Goa minister on Thursday inspected the premises of the Basilica of Bom Jesus at Old Goa after the state witnessed sudden showers while the roof of the iconic building was opened for repairs. Port Minister Michael Lobo, alongwith officials of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and church management, visited the premises of the Basilica where the relics of St Francis Xavier are preserved. The structure which dates back to 1605 is a world heritage site protected by the ASI. Rector of the Basilica Fr Patricio Fernandes was also present during the minister's visit. Lobo said that water entered the building when it rained over the last two days. While the repair work was awarded in 2018, it started late due to the contractor's negligence, he added. The minister asked the ASI official to carry out repair of the roof on a priority basis as rains can recur. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Passengers using the Delhi Metro, post resumption of operations, will have to take out any metallic item on their body before frisking, use face masks, have the 'Aarogya Setu' app, but those with flu-like symptoms won't be allowed, as per a proposal prepared by the CISF on Thursday. The paramilitary force that guards the network running across the national capital region has formulated a 'business continuity plan' for security and safety of passengers and staffers working at the facility. The proposed measures, as per the plan accessed by PTI, will be implemented by the force "in consultation" with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and its controlling ministry of Urban Development. The plan has been prepared to ensure "public confidence in the ability of the rapid rail network to deliver under any circumstance and to thwart evil designs of disruptive forces to hit the smooth functioning of the network." As per the plan envisaged by the force, that deploys about 12,000 men and women personnel to guard over 160 metro stations, the services of the rail network should be resumed in a phased manner. "Aarogya Setu app with inbuilt e-pass feature could be employed for identification of suspected persons (having COVID-19 infection). Persons with high risks for both spreading as well as contracting infections should be discouraged from using metro," the plan said. "All persons entering metro premises will be mandatorily wearing masks. Hand sanitisation or washing facility to be available at the entry points." "Thermal screening of all entrants to be conducted at the entry point of stations and those found with abnormal temperatures will not be allowed to enter and persons with cold, cough and other flu like symptoms will be denied entry," the proposal said. CISF Director General (DG) Rajesh Ranjan told the agency that the plan has been prepared keeping in mind that the "speed, safety and security" of the passengers, force personnel, DMRC staffers and others present in the area is ensured. The force has suggested that all passengers will have to take out metallic items like belts and buckles before frisking and keep them in their bags which will be scanned by an x-ray machine. Those without bags but carrying metallic items will be provided trays as in the case of airport security, the proposal said. "Strict distancing norms will be followed throughout the station area and proper queuing area before the security screening point will be maintained," it said. At least two meters distance shall be maintained between the security screening place and line-up points and a meter between passengers waiting at the security screening place, it said. The CISF proposes to keep at least two personal protective equipment (PPE) suits at all metro stations "to handle a suspected passenger or baggage." "Four PPE suits will be kept as standby. CISF personnel will wear regular uniforms with sleeves fully covered, gloves along with masks covering nose and mouth." "Friskers and x-ray baggage screeners should additionally wear face shield or visor to protect their face especially eyes from exposure," it recommended. In order to ensure that nefarious elements do not take advantage of the COVID-19 situation to breach the counterterror security cover of the force, it proposes to "intensify electronic and manual surveillance on all activities within the metro premises." "Passengers shall be advised through regular announcements to maintain social distancing. Shops and other commercial establishments to ensure social distancing at their locations by means of markings," it said. The CISF has also asked the DMRC to deploy adequate staff at paid areas including automated fare collection gates and platforms for maintaining COVID-19 protocols. "Passengers will be advised regularly to refrain from touching any surface inside the metro stations or trains," the CISF plan said. It has also proposed that the entire station area be sanitised with chemicals and security fixtures, equipment and x-ray tables should be sanitised every 30 minutes. Among all the security forces, the CISF has the largest public interface like at airports and Delhi Metro, a senior official said. In the post-lockdown scenario, our personnel will come in close contact with large number of commuters daily while performing security duties, especially during security screening of passengers and baggages and hence they would be more exposed and susceptible to the virus, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress has urged the Information and Broadcasting Ministry to take action against senior journalist Arnab Goswami and his TV channel, alleging they violated broadcasting rules during a show. In a letter to Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar, Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev claimed the content of a show broadcast on Republic Bharat on Tuesday with Goswami as the anchor was "vile, misleading and hateful in nature". The Congress and the BJP on Wednesday sparred over Goswami's remarks on the show aimed at Sonia Gandhi during a discussion on the Palghar incident in which three persons, including two sadhus, were lynched. "The broadcast in its entirety is a violation of the Programme Code prescribed under the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994," Dev alleged in her letter dated April 22. Meanwhile, two motorcycle-borne persons allegedly attacked Goswami's car in Mumbai and tried to break its glass window when he and his wife were on the way home in the early hours of Thursday, police said. BJP condemns attacks BJP leaders, including party president JP Nadda, condemned the alleged attack on Goswami and targeted the Congress over the incident. "Shocking to see Arnab Goswami attacked after Congress CMs publicly threatened him. Sad to see such public hounding of a journalist for his freedom of speech. Congress shows it is the party that brought Emergency and continues its rich tradition of trampling free speech," Nadda tweeted. Law Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad sought action against those involved in the incident. "Deeply condemn the violent physical attack on senior journalist #ArnabGoswami and his wife. State Police must take lawful action against the attackers, " he tweeted. There was no immediate reaction from the opposition party. Javadekar also condemned the incident, saying every attack on any journalist is condemnable as this is against democracy and sought action against the accused as per law. The Olympic Games Edition Galaxy S20+ 5G has been canceled. Japanese carrier NTT Docomo has announced that the special edition Samsung flagship has been canceled owing to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) postponing the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games. Samsung and NTT Docomo were planning to release the Galaxy S20+ 5G Olympic Games Edition in July this year. However, with the IOS postponing the mega sporting event to next year, the two companies have now pulled the plug on it. The 2020 Olympic games were originally scheduled to take place between 24 July and 9 August 2020 in Tokyo, Japan. The event has now been rescheduled for 23 July to 8 August 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement Galaxy S20+ 5G Olympic Games Edition canceled Last month, the first live images of the Galaxy S20+ 5G Olympic Games Edition appeared on a Matte Gold finish, bearing the Tokyo 2020 Olympics logo. Unlike Samsungs previous Olympic Games Edition devices, this device wasnt created solely for Olympian athletes. Samsung was planning to sell it to consumers as well. In fact, NTT Docomo had already opened up reservations for this special edition phone. The carrier was planning to release the phone on schedule irrespective of whether the Olympics go according to plan or not. Advertisement This special edition smartphone is no different than the regular Galaxy S20+ 5G model in hardware terms. It lacks the Samsung branding though, as the company uses the Galaxy branding in Japan. The handset was also priced almost similar to the standard Galaxy S20+ 5G. However, in a disappointing turn of events, which also saw the 2020 Tokyo Olympics getting postponed by a whole one year, NTT Docomo has decided to cancel the Galaxy S20+ 5G Olympic Games Edition altogether. This is certainly not the end of the Olympic Games Edition Samsung flagships, though. Samsung and NTT Docomo might now prepare a new Olympic Games Edition phone for next year. While theres no word yet on this matter, the next years edition will likely be based on the Galaxy S21. Advertisement Samsung has been an Olympic partner since the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul. In December 2018, the South Korean giant signed an extension to its partnership with the IOC for another 10 years. So it will continue to play the role of Worldwide Olympic Partner at least until 2028. This period will cover five Olympic games three Summer Olympics and two Winter Olympics. Samsung is also a Gold Partner of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in the Wireless Communications Equipment category. Kris Jenner showed her personal appreciation to essential workers on Wednesday afternoon when she donated 'thousands of bottles of water' to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles '@krisjenner the amount of support you and your family have given to those in need during this time is tremendous,' wrote Dr. Thais Aliabadi in a post shared to his 114,000 Instagram followers. Last week, daughter Kylie Jenner donated 6,000 pounds of her Kylie Skin hand sanitizer bottles to hospitals across Los Angeles, including Cedars Sinai. Generous: Kris Jenner showed her personal appreciation to essential workers on Wednesday afternoon when she donated 'thousands of bottles of water' to Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles Thankful: '@krisjenner the amount of support you and your family have given to those in need during this time is tremendous,' wrote Dr. Thais Aliabadi in a post shared to his 114,000 Instagram followers Aliabadi continued: 'Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generosity, for organizing countless other donations on the side and for continuing to support my cause to help our frontline workers.' 'I am truly honored to call you my dear friend. From the entire medical community, THANK YOU,' he concluded. Aliabadi, who is Kylie's personal physician, shared a slew of snapshots of the boxes delivered to the hospital on Kris' behalf. The crates of water were laid out in seemingly endless stacks and packed to the brim with lengthy bottles of VOSS brand water. Endless: Aliabadi, who is Kylie's personal physician, shared a slew of snapshots of the boxes delivered to the hospital on Kris' behalf On the day of Kylie's big donation, Aliabadi also used Instagram to thank the makeup mogul. '@kylieskin donated 6000 pounds of hand sanitizers to us yesterday. These pallets will soon be distributed to the hospitals and clinics around Los Angeles,' he explained. He continued: These pallets will soon be distributed to the hospitals and clinics around Los Angeles. THANK YOU again @kyliejenner for your generous donation. The loving gift that keeps on giving.' Aliabadi shared a photo of the stylish bottle emblazoned with the Kylie Skin logo along with a message for first responders. Sanitize: Last week, daughter Kylie Jenner donated 6,000 pounds of her Kylie Skin hand sanitizer bottles to hospitals across Los Angeles, including Cedars Sinai Protecting our health workers: It was revealed two weeks ago that Kylie and Kris would be producing hand sanitizers to help fight COVID-19; Kris and Kylie pictured in 2015 The labels read: 'Dedicated, in partnership with Coty, to 1st responders supporting our communities.' is written on the label underneath text which details the solution is 'Alcohol Antiseptic 80%'. Kylie, herself, flaunted the vast nature of her donation, when she posted photos of a fork lift truck moving pallets of the bottles. Last month, Kylie Cosmetics announced that they would be producing hand sanitizers for hospitals across California to help fight the spread of the COVID-19 infection. A representative for Kylie Skin confirmed that the hand sanitizer would be made by Coty's factories and will not affect the production of Kylie Skin products. Pallets: Kylie, herself, flaunted the vast nature of her donation, when she posted photos of a fork lift truck moving pallets of the bottles Distributed: 'These pallets will soon be distributed to the hospitals and clinics around Los Angeles. THANK YOU again @kyliejenner for your generous donation. The loving gift that keeps on giving.' The lip kit mogul has also donated $1 million to help supply protective wear to healthcare professionals fighting coronavirus on the front lines. The entirety of the Kardashian-Jenner clan have been under lockdown in their Calabasas mansion in an attempt to deter the spread of the potentially deadly virus. On Tuesday night, Kris spent the evening at Kylie's home, where the 22-year-old billionaire hilariously captured her sleeping mom on her Instagram Story. In the now expired posts, Jenner can be seen sound asleep on a suspended bed, while Kylie quietly creeps up next to her. Sleepover: On Tuesday night, Kris spent the evening at Kylie's home, where the 22-year-old billionaire hilariously captured her sleeping mom on her Instagram Story Surprise: It was not until Kylie's second shriek that Kris' eyes sprang open in a drowsy panic Kylie then let out a high pitched squeal, which did not initially wake up the famous 'momager.' It was not until Kylie's second shriek that Kris' eyes sprang open in a drowsy panic. Kylie could not help but burst into laughter and remarked how it was frightening that it took 'two screams' to get her mom's attention. In a more peaceful video, Kylie could be seen stroking her mom's sleeping face, while remarking how 'cute' she is. In Snohomish County, Washington, Sheriff Adam Fortney is refusing to enforce the governor's stay-at-home order. He claims the order "intrudes on our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness." On April 22, he told constituents via a Facebook post that "along with other elected Sheriffs around our state, the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office will not be enforcing an order preventing religious freedoms or constitutional rights." These Washington sheriffs are far from alone. They're part of a nationwide group of sheriffs who feel beholden to no one but their voters. As they have on issues such as immigration and gun regulations, they will lead rebellions against higher levels of government - in this case, undermining public health efforts in the name of their interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. Here's how. - Sheriffs are unlike other elected officials Unlike police chiefs or commissioners who are generally appointed, sheriffs are law enforcement officials elected by residents of their counties. While research finds that police generally try to carry out their responsibilities in a nonpartisan manner, sheriffs are influenced by the desire to be reelected. Sheriffs run for office in the same way that members of Congress or the president do: they run on campaign platforms they believe will win a majority of votes. Sheriffs' campaign platforms consist of their political and law enforcement records, personal philosophies and policy priorities. What sheriffs promise to do is quite likely to come true, because they have much more autonomy than do other elected officials. Legislators can't do much without first going through lengthy and involved policymaking efforts that involve collaborating with their fellow legislators. Governors and presidents have to work with the legislative branch of government. Because sheriffs don't have these constraints, their personal attitudes are quite likely to affect how they carry out their jobs. For example, research finds that sheriffs choose whether and how they cooperate with federal immigration authorities. On one end of the spectrum is a group of sheriffs in North Carolina who campaigned on the promise to cut ties between their offices and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Since their elections, they have refused to honor immigration detainers, which are official ICE requests to take custody of someone who has been arrested; these sheriffs no longer allow ICE into county jails. On the other end of the spectrum was Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, Ariz., well known for relentlessly policing immigration status, at the expense of civil rights and neglecting other aspects of his job. Now combine that popular mandate from being directly elected with law enforcement power. What you get are sheriffs willing and able to lead local rebellions against the government - something that for decades has been happening from a group known as "constitutionalist sheriffs." - Constitutionalist sheriffs in charge Constitutionalist sheriffs believe that the Constitution appoints sheriffs as the ultimate law enforcement authority, even above the federal government. The Constitutionalist Sheriffs and Peace Office Association (CSPOA) claims to have over 400 members. Constitutionalist Sheriffs vow not to enforce federal laws that they consider a violation of individual rights granted by the Constitution. Constitutionalist sheriffs have been attacking stay-at-home orders, which elevate the rights of the community over the rights of the individual. For example, Sheriff Daryl Wheeler, who identifies himself as a constitutionalist sheriff, posted a letter to Bonner County, Idaho, Facebook page asking the governor to "reinstate the Constitution" because "Covid-19 is nothing like the Plague." This sentiment is echoed by sheriffs across the country. Sheriff Christopher Schmaling in Racine County, Wis., released a public statement on April 17 declaring he would not enforce the governor's Safer At Home order because it intrudes on the constitutional rights of his constituents. He reminds the county that he "took an oath to uphold the constitutional rights of our citizens." Fortney reassured his constituents via a Facebook post, "As your elected Sheriff I will always put your constitutional rights above politics or popular opinion." In less than 24 hours, the post had been liked by 7,000 followers and shared over 12,000 times. None of this is surprising. Constitutionalist sheriffs have refused to enforce orders from above before. For instance, as the Center for Public Integrity reported at length in 2016, these sheriffs have refused to enforce state gun regulations, federal land-use rules and Internal Revenue Service demands for payment of federal taxes. Protecting Second Amendment rights is central to CSPOA's mission. In 2013, almost 100 sheriffs went on record opposing the Obama administration's gun regulation initiatives. The group sent dozens of letters to the White House stating they would defend their constituents' constitutional rights by refusing to enforce the new gun regulations. In 2018, Washington state voters passed stricter firearms restrictions via ballot initiative. Sheriffs have refused to enforce the new laws. Political scientist Mirya Holman, who has written here at TMC about her research into sheriffs, speculates that political polarization along the urban-rural divide contributes, as predominantly rural constitutionalist sheriffs refuse to enforce gun policies promoted predominantly by city dwellers, whether those are Seattle-area voters or President Barack Obama. My research finds that constitutionalist sheriffs use their offices to undermine enforcement of federal public lands policies, making it easier for others to illegally use public lands for such purposes as grazing livestock or driving all-terrain vehicles. For instance, they threaten and try to arrest federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) rangers who try to keep citizens off federal lands closed to the public. Counties that elect constitutionalist sheriffs have higher rates of violence against BLM employees than other Western counties, according to my analysis of government incident reports from 1995 to 2015. - Statewide efforts don't work without local cooperation As with immigration, land management and gun regulations, maintaining U.S. public health involves the cooperation of many layers of government. And as with those issues, sheriffs may find it in their political interests to thwart other levels of government in trying to slow the pandemic. Social distancing orders aim to help communities in the long run, at the cost of restricting lives and pinching wallets in the short run. People who don't believe in the promise of the former may chafe angrily against the latter. Such constituents may thank sheriffs who encourage them to travel and gather, defying state and national orders. - - - Nemerever (@ZoeNemerever) is a Ph.D. candidate in political science at the University of California, San Diego. For other analysis and commentary from The Monkey Cage, an independent blog anchored by political scientists from universities around the country, see www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage The disinvestment department could look at sale of smaller public sector companies to larger ones instead of privatising large CPSEs in the current financial year as the COVID-19 pandemic would make it difficult to scout for buyers. As the fallout of the pandemic has impacted stock market valuation of companies, an official said the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) will have to look for different ways to meet the steep target of Rs 1.20 lakh crore budgeted from CPSE stake sale. "We feel it would be difficult to privatise CPSEs (central public sector enterprises) in the current scenario as going ahead also the outlook is bleak. We will have to look at the option of strategic sale of smaller CPSEs to their sector counterparts," the official said. The department would soon internally prepare a list of entities that could be sold to other CPSEs, following which consultation could be initiated by the administrative ministries or departments, the official told PTI. "In the current situation, it would be difficult to conduct roadshows and investor meets. Hence, CPSE stake sale through stock market like OFS (offer-for-sale) and IPOs (initial public offerings) too would be difficult this fiscal," the official added. The process for big-ticket strategic sale of Air India and BPCL had already been set in motion but the COVID-19 outbreak has led to the government deferring bid submission deadline for these companies. Now, the last date for submission of bids for BPCL is June 13, and for Air India, it is April 30. The government is looking to sell its entire 53.29 per cent stake in fuel retailer Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd (BPCL), 100 per cent in Air India and 30.80 per cent of its 54.80 per cent stake in Container Corporation of India. Last month, the government completed the strategic disinvestment of its 74.49 per cent stake in THDC India Ltd and 100 per cent stake in North Eastern Electric Power Corp Ltd to state-owned NTPC Ltd. It also sold 66.67 per cent in Kamrajar Port Ltd to Chennai Port Trust for Rs 2,383 crore. In March 2019, state-owned PFC had acquired the government's 52.63 per cent stake in REC for Rs 14,500 crore. In 2018, state-owned ONGC has acquired the government's entire 51.11 per cent stake in oil refiner HPCL for Rs 36,915 crore. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Company to expand capacity to 100,000 litres in the coming days and also launch protective gears for frontline healthcare professionals Bengaluru based startup, Axio Biosolutions has launched RESIST+, a hygiene and protection range to meet the growing demand due to the current pandemic. Funded by Ratan Tatas UC RNT, Omidyar Network and other investors, the startup has rolled out surgical hand disinfectants and hand sanitizers with a running capacity of 25,000 litres at present. The plan is to expand the capacity to 100,000 litres in the coming days. The new product range, manufactured in compliance with WHO standards and Pharma regulations, will soon include masks and other protective gear. Commenting on the rationale behind RESIST+, Leo Mavely, Founder & CEO, Axio Biosolutions, said, For India to tackle the pandemic, we need to address the large-scale shortage of quality hygiene and safety products. Hospitals are getting overwhelmed with deluge of patients and the dearth of quality products is a challenge. People are forced to procure sanitizers and disinfectants from various unvetted non-medical sources. The need of the hour is for medtech companies is to support in every way they can. At Axio, our priority is to meet the urgent demands from hospitals and institutions in India, followed by other regions." This may also become a permanent consumer product line with more innovative hygiene products with proprietary formula to be added under the brand RESIST+ Resist + hand sanitizer contains 70 per cent alcohol, while Resist + surgical hand disinfectant contains 75 per cent alcohol. Currently Axio is ramping up their supply chain during the lockdown with support from local government to get their products to major cities. A crippling transit stoppage that would have prevented thousands of essential workers in Philadelphia getting to their jobs was dramatically called off at the eleventh hour after mayor Jim Kenney intervened. Kenney called union leader Willie Brown late on Wednesday evening personally assuring him he would see that demands for better protection from the coronavirus will be looked at urgently. And Brown agreed that the action would be postponed for 48 hours to see if the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority comes up with the goods. I dont have much faith that it will prevent the action completely, John Samuelsen, the New York-based international president of the Transport Workers Union told DailyMail.com in an exclusive interview. We are essential cogs in the wheels that run Philadelphia, so we are saying "Dont expose transit workers". It is a bit like putting a higher value on the lives of nurses and doctors than on transit workers and we wont stand for that. Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney called union leader Willie Brown on Wednesday evening to assure him that demands for better protection from the coronavirus will be looked at Union leader Willie Brown agreed to postpone the action for 48 hours Five thousand transit workers were due to walk off the job on Thursday morning claiming the SEPTA bosses were trying to kill them by failing to provide measures to protect them from the coronavirus. They say they had done virtually nothing to make them safe as three workers have died from COVID-19 and another 170 tested positive. SEPTA is trying to kill people, Samuelsen said in an exclusive interview just hours before the walk-out was due to begin. We recognize the vital role we play in getting people to work but SEPTA has a reciprocal obligation to its workforce that we arent used as human sacrifices. The action would have disrupted the rail and bus system in and around the nations sixth largest city and severely inconvenienced essential workers who rely on the system to get them to their jobs. Transport Workers Union president John Samuelsen has urged officials: 'Dont expose transit workers' A Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority bus driver wears a protective mask as he drives through in Philadelphia Samuelsen said the 2-day pause would give time to see if SEPTA was serious in protecting its workers. He said he was not calling the action a strike, rather a refusal to work until the safety issues are hammered out. Strikes are banned in the TWU contract with SEPTA. SEPTA is run by a 15-member board of directors with the mayor and the city council president each appointing one member. Those two can veto any item approved by the full board. The other members are appointed by the surrounding counties, the state governor, and by the majority and minority leaders of each house of the Pennsylvania state legislature. Samuelsen had harsh words for SEPTA bosses. There has been a reckless indifference on the part of the management who have exposed the workforce to COVID-19, he said. We have been working diligently, giving the agency a chance to get its act together but their actions have exemplified the incompetent indifference of public sector bureaucracy. Samuelsen said other cities such as New York took quick action to move buses to serve middle-class areas as most office workers are no longer needing public transport. While they are sitting at home watching Tiger King or making trades from their bedroom, it is the blue-collar workers who are delivering and New York and other systems have recognized that. Stoppage would have prevented thousands of essential workers getting to work SEPTA operates the fifth largest overall transit system in the country SEPTA operates the fifth largest overall transit system in the country, serving 4 million people living in the City of Brotherly Love and five surrounding counties. In normal times there are around 6 million rides a week on its trains, subways, buses and trolleys. Brown, leader of Local 234 in Philly, had said riders should find an alternate way to work. We will choose life over death, Brown said in a video posted on YouTube. Its almost as if theyre sending my members out there on a suicide mission. Samuelsen said it is not just drivers who are at risk of catching the virus from riders, but mechanics are working on top of each other in close quarters. He said virtually the only concession SEPTA management had made to ward off the virus is to have operators working one-week on and one-week off to reduce contact with the public. They havent even endeavored to accomplish social distancing in the workplace, he said. There is no strategy to reduce tensions in the ridership in fact they are asking the operators to act as policemen by limiting the ridership. There has been no attempt to bring in temperature screening which is mandatory in Pennsylvania. The union is asking for full temperature screening of all employers and those with a temperature of 100.4 or more to be sent home on full pay; contact tracing for anyone exposed; better social distancing among the workforce; daily air quality testing on all vehicles; a limit of 15 riders per vehicle; quarantine with pay for workers who have existing medical issues; and that any deaths should be classified as work-related so families can get compensation. In a statement before the action was suspended, SEPTA had warned of significant service disruption. At minimum, it would likely force the suspension of bus service within the City of Philadelphia, the agency said. SEPTA is looking at all possible options for maintaining some core services, such as limited operations on the Market-Frankford and Broad Street Lines, the statement added. We are working diligently to evaluate and implement all viable options to balance the needs of our customers and employees while under tremendous financial stress due to revenue losses, the statement said. SEPTA urges TWU Local 234 leadership to commit to engaging in a productive dialogue aimed at making further improvements, while allowing employees to continue to provide service that is connecting residents to essential jobs, hospitals, grocery stores and other life-sustaining services. Officials in the city said contingency plans were in place to help health care workers get to their jobs and a plan was being worked out to help police officers and firefighters as well. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Cloudy with some light snow. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 70%.. Tonight Occasional snow showers. Low near 25F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Chinese operatives helped spread false messages that claimed the Trump administration was planning to impose a nationwide lockdown to combat the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to The New York Times. The Times says the messages, which first appeared last month as cellphone texts and social media feeds, claimed President Donald Trump would announce the lockdown as soon as troops were in place to help prevent looters and rioters. The messages became so widespread over the next two days the National Security Council was prompted to issue a statement on Twitter declaring them as fake. The newspaper based its story on information from six American officials from six different agencies who spoke to them on condition of anonymity. Two of the officials said they believed the messages were not created by Chinese operatives, but instead amplified existing ones. The Chinese Foreign Ministry called the accusations complete nonsense and not worth refuting. The U.S. and China have engaged in a back-and-forth information war over who is to blame for the COVID-19 pandemic. President Trump has in the past labeled the disease the Chinese virus, referring to the fact that the virus was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, while other U.S. officials have accused Beijing of a lack of transparency at the start of the outbreak. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian had accused the U.S. Army of transporting the virus to Wuhan in a post on Twitter last month. U.S. officials rejected the allegation. * Unwrought aluminium products top 120,000 T in March * Volume is highest import level since Dec 2013 (Adds graphic, background on bauxite) BEIJING, April 23 (Reuters) - Chinas aluminium imports more than tripled in March from a year earlier, customs data released on Thursday showed, hitting their highest in more than six years, while incoming shipments of raw material bauxite fell. Imports of unwrought aluminium and aluminium products came in at 121,025 tonnes last month, compared with 35,420 tonnes in March 2019, the General Administration of Customs said. The intake volume last month was the highest since China imported 125,180 tonnes in December 2013. China is by far the worlds biggest producer and exporter of aluminium, used in everything from cars to cans, and it rarely imports large volumes of the metal. It exported almost 520,000 tonnes of aluminium overseas in March, data released in mid April showed, down 5% from a year earlier. It was not immediately clear what caused the jump in imports. One trader said that with overseas demand weak because of pandemic-related disruptions, holders of the metal were seeking to find a home for their aluminium in top consumer China, where demand is starting to recover. Also, Chinas scrap supply of aluminium has been tight since the Lunar New Year holiday in late January as the coronavirus curbs stalled local collection activity, increasing the call on primary aluminium. First-quarter aluminium imports stood at 302,580 tonnes, 2-1/2 times the incoming shipments of the same period last year. The customs data did not break down the origins of the imported aluminium but detailed data is scheduled to be released on Saturday. Chinas imports of bauxite, the main ore source of aluminium and which has to be first refined into alumina, were down 10.1% from a year earlier in March, the customs data showed. It gave a figure of 90,000 tonnes for March arrivals, although year-ago levels were around 9 million tonnes, according to the online customs database. It was not immediately clear why there was such a discrepancy. Chinas General Administration of Customs said last month in its final trade data bulletin it would stop including alumina imports. Alumina exports in March were up 88.2% year-on-year at 10,000 tonnes. Dr. Rick Bright was abruptly dismissed this week as director of the US Department of Health and Human Services Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. Washington: The doctor who led the federal agency involved in developing a coronavirus vaccine said Wednesday that he was removed from his post after he pressed for rigorous vetting of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug embraced by President Donald Trump as a coronavirus treatment, and that the administration has put politics and cronyism ahead of science. Dr. Rick Bright was abruptly dismissed this week as director of the Department of Health and Human Services Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, and removed as deputy assistant secretary for preparedness and response. He was given a narrower job at the National Institutes of Health. In a scorching statement, Bright assailed the leadership at the health department, saying he was pressured to direct money toward hydroxychloroquine, one of several potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections and repeatedly described by the president as a potential game changer in the fight against the virus. I believe this transfer was in response to my insistence that the government invest the billions of dollars allocated by Congress to address the COVID-19 pandemic into safe and scientifically vetted solutions, and not in drugs, vaccines and other technologies that lack scientific merit, he said in his statement. I am speaking out because to combat this deadly virus, science not politics or cronyism has to lead the way. Doubts about the use of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for the coronavirus and the lack of evidence about the drugs effectiveness including some small studies that indicated patients could be harmed appear to have dampened Trumps enthusiasm for it. As the seriousness of the pandemic became clearer in mid-March, the president seized on anecdotal reports about victims of the coronavirus who recovered quickly after using the drug. Desperate for good news as he watched the death toll climb and the stock market plummet, Trump could hardly contain his excitement. In a post on Twitter on 21 March, the president urged federal officials to quickly approve the use of hydroxychloroquine with an antibiotic called azithromycin a combination that he believed could work on the coronavirus. Hopefully they will BOTH (H works better with A, International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents) be put in use IMMEDIATELY, he tweeted. PEOPLE ARE DYING, MOVE FAST, and GOD BLESS EVERYONE! By then, Trumps favorite Fox News hosts were echoing his optimism that hydroxychloroquine could be a magic bullet against the virus. A day after meeting in the Oval Office with Laura Ingraham and two doctors promoting the drug as a cure-all, Trump became First Salesman, promoting it from the White House briefing room. Ill say it again: What do you have to lose? Trump said on 4 April, carefully pronouncing the drug, hydroxychloroquine. His presidential prescription: Take it. In briefing after briefing with reporters at the White House, Trump defied the voices of medical experts and some of his own top advisers including Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease specialist and an adviser to the coronavirus task force who cautioned that hydroxychloroquine, which is used to treat autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus as well as malaria, needed to undergo the same kind of rigorous evaluation that other drugs do. In mid-April, a small trial in Brazil was halted after some patients developed irregular heart rates. Then a study this week of 368 Veterans Affairs patients, which has not been peer-reviewed, found that it did not help patients avoid the need for ventilators and that the use of the drug alone was associated with an increased risk of death. And this week, a panel of the governments own experts at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said there was insufficient data to recommend taking it to treat symptoms from the virus. The president has not talked much since then about hydroxychloroquine. In his statement, Bright did not directly name Trump. But the searing language he used left little doubt that he viewed the administrations support for the drug as pressure to ignore scientific facts in favor of politics. My professional background has prepared me for a moment like this to confront and defeat a deadly virus that threatens Americans and people around the globe, Bright wrote. To this point, I have led the governments efforts to invest in the best science available to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, this resulted in clashes with HHS political leadership, including criticism for my proactive efforts to invest early into vaccines and supplies critical to saving American lives. I also resisted efforts to fund potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections, he said, adding that hydroxychloroquine was promoted by the administration as a panacea, but which clearly lack scientific merit. Asked about Bright and his transfer Wednesday at the daily White House briefing, Trump said he did not know who he was. I never heard of him, the president told reporters. You mention the name; I never heard of him. When did this happen? I never heard of him. The guy says he was pushed out of a job. Maybe he was. Maybe he wasnt. I dont know who he is. A career government official who has led BARDA since 2016, Bright pointed specifically to the initial efforts to make chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine widely available before it was scientifically tested for efficacy with the coronavirus. While I am prepared to look at all options and to think outside the box for effective treatments, I rightly resisted efforts to provide an unproven drug on demand to the American public, Bright said, describing what ultimately happened: I insisted that these drugs be provided only to hospitalised patients with confirmed COVID-19 while under the supervision of a physician. A person familiar with Brights account said that he was pressured to rush access to the drug after the president and Larry Ellison, chairman and chief technology officer of Oracle, had a conversation about chloroquines. Bright was then directed to put in place a nationwide expanded access program to make the drugs available on a broad basis without specific controls in place, according to the person familiar with his account. Medical experts say that it is still not known whether hydroxychloroquine might yet emerge as an effective treatment for the most devastating symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The studies in Brazil and at the Department of Veterans Affairs were small and limited. Comprehensive, peer-reviewed studies have yet to be completed, and while hospitals are using the drug, many doctors acknowledge they are doing so only because they have few other tools to help dying patients. And inside the White House, the drug still has its true believers, including Peter Navarro, a trade adviser who has been put in charge of procuring protective gear and other medical supplies to fight the virus. Navarro is relentless with anyone in the West Wing who will listen, encouraging the government to keep stockpiling the drug and dismissing the recent studies as deeply flawed. The Brazil study gave doses of hydroxychloroquine in excess of the levels recommended by the Food and Drug Administration, he said in an interview. The Veterans Affairs study administered the medicine too late and focused narrowly on an older population with high incidences of cardiac failure, diabetes and lung disease, among other issues, he insisted. None of this was reported by a mainstream media which appears incapable of reading anything more than study headlines, he said. To date, almost 40 studies have reported apparent usefulness of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine in shortening length of hospital stay, improving symptoms and resolving lung lesions as seen on X-rays. Some doctors around the country are still hopeful that more complete tests of the drug might still yield some positive news. Dr. William ONeill, a cardiologist at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit who is organizing a large randomized study using the drug as a preventive medication in health care workers and emergency medical workers, said he had cautious optimism but urged the public to avoid drawing premature conclusions. Everybody is desperate to find out all the answers, ONeill said. But we have to be careful about jumping to conclusions either way. Bright said his superiors at the Department of Health and Human Services were doing exactly that. He is represented by the lawyers who represented Christine Blasey Ford, who testified against the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, accusing him of sexual misconduct decades ago, a claim he denied. In a statement, the lawyers called Brights change in position retaliation, plain and simple and said they planned to ask for an investigation. A White House spokesman, Judd Deere, did not directly address the accusations Wednesday. While some are rooting for the drug to fail, Trump is simply offering a consistent message of hope, comfort and optimism while telling Americans to consult with their doctor, Deere said. A spokeswoman for Alex Azar, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. Medical publication Stat reported Tuesday that Bright had clashed with Dr. Robert Kadlec, assistant health secretary for preparedness and response. A former administration official disputed that Bright expressed significant opposition to the drug and insisted that he was moved out of his position because of long-standing concerns about his job performance. Michael D. Shear and Maggie Haberman c.2020 The New York Times Company Sinn Fein representatives Karen Mullan MLA and Senator Niall O Donnghaile have called on Minister Peter Weir to address and rectify the exclusion of the Irish language from Education Authority education resource packs which are available in eleven other languages. Speaking today Ms. Mullan said: I have written to the Minister seeking an urgent meeting to discuss how this overt failure was allowed to take place. At a time when educational resources are of massive importance and use, it beggars belief that the Education Authority would publish these resources and not include the Irish language. Multilingualism within the department is welcome and encouraging, every parent should have the right to know that the linguistic and educational needs of their children are being met; there are of course many children from minority ethnic and language backgrounds who are also being educated through Irish Medium Education. Seanadoir O Donnghaile said: The department of education has a statutory obligation to promote the Irish language. The Minister also has an obligation to ensure that the educational needs of our children are met. The community will not tolerate any steps back which disrespects or disregards the Irish language and those who speak it. Over 7,000 children are currently going through Irish Medium Education in the north and are as worthy of resourcing and supporting as those within any other sector or language. The Minister and his department must live up to their statutory responsibility. 360Civic has announced it will host a webinar titled Emergency Response: Best Practices for Schools and School Websites. The company, which created technologically-advanced, award-winning websites for school districts in California, Arizona and Alabama, will offer guidance on how schools can optimize their sites during emergency situations, such as the current Coronavirus pandemic. Topics covered will include forming an emergency plan, the pivotal role played by the schools website in implementing that plan, and how to create an emergency-ready website within the limited budget of a smaller school district those with 40 or fewer schools. Smaller districts are more likely to struggle with budget restrictions that might keep some IT and communication capabilities out of reach, explained Ron Zayas, CEO of 360Civic. We look forward to providing options for these schools to create a plan and acquire the technology to implement it, all at an affordable cost. Two one-hour sessions for the webinar are scheduled: Tuesday, April 28 at 10AM Pacific Time, and Thursday, April 30 at 2PM Pacific Time. Zayas will be joined as a presenter at the webinars by Dr. Rosina Wright-Castro, who has worked in the field of Education for the last 17 years. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara, she holds a B.A. in Sociology and Spanish as well as an M.A. and PhD in Education. She currently serves as the Student Success Coordinator for Mesa Community College's Foundations for Student Success Initiative. To register, please visit https://360civic.com/blog/webinar-improving-school-response-emergencies-coronavirus About 360Civic 360Civic is a California marketing and website agency located in Orange County, California. The company specializes in advanced, customized websites and marketing programs for the public sector. 360Civic is a branch of 360 BC Group, Inc., a minority owned marketing corporation that holds top market position in California. For more information, visit http://www.360civic.com. Anthony Tata, the president's reported pick for a high-level Pentagon post, is a Donald Trump loyalist who served in Afghanistan and left the Army in 2008 after an inspector general concluded he had two extramarital affairs. Tata is a Fox News commentator who served as an Army Brigadier General before his retirement. He has developed a sideline penning thriller novels about government overthrow, terror plots, and even disease outbreaks. Trump has settled on Tata to serve as an undersecretary of defense for policy, a key post. He would replace John Rood, who was forced out of office. Tata has regularly defended Trump on Fox, and has a literary following for his writings about the exploits of Jake Mahegan, a fictitious Delta Force vet. President Donald Trump plans to nominate Anthony Tata, a retired Army Brigadier General who has defended the president on Fox News He left the Army in 2008 after the Army following the release of a 2007 IG report that probed alleged misconduct. He later served as a state official in North Carolina. According to the Raleigh News and Observer, the Army IG found Tata had affairs in 1985 and in 1992. Extramarital affairs violate the Army's code of conduct but are rarely prosecuted other than in coordination with other matters. According to the report, which was obtained by the paper, it involved affairs with three women as well as a son born out of wedlock. Tata is a retired Brigadier General who served in Afghanistan Tata, left, has regularly defended President Trump on Fox News He also has authored military thriller novels Tata would take his literary flair to the Pentagon's policy office if nominated and confirmed by the Senate Tata's first wife, Tracy, brought complaints to the military while her former husband was serving overseas. The 1985 affair was with an Army lieutenant who did not report to Tata and swore in an affidavit she didn't know Tata, then an Army captain, was not single at the time. He had an affair with a civilian in 1992 after Tracy Tata had failed for divorce, the IG found. She said Tata told her he was married after the two had had sex. He ended the relationship 'because he knew it was wrong,' he told investigators. He told the News and Observer: 'You know, I was separated when that happened. Sure, military law says youve got to be divorced. OK, I get that, and I owned up to that.' He had another affair in 1993, but investigators concluded he though the was divorced at the time. The IG also explored the murky matter of a fake court order in connection to a custody dispute. The document was headed as a 'FINAL ORDER' from a Georgia state judge, with a purported ruling favorable to Tata. Tracy Tata was seeking $3,000 in child custody. The fake order had similarities to what the judge had said in the courtroom, but had signatures that parties swore were not authentic. Tracy Tata and her lawyers discovered it after obtaining the IG report on he ex. Tony Tata said that he 'believed the document I originally submitted ... to be a true and accurate rendering of the judges final decision.' He said it got submitted inadvertently with a raft of documents soon after he returned from Afghanistan. Politico said Tata would be nominated, citing three sources. Tata also served as the transportation secretary for the state of North Carolina, resigning in 2015 to spend more time with his family. Tata has repeatedly talked up President Trump during Fox News appearances. He also has defended Eddie Gallagher, a Navy SEAL tried for war crimes who President Trump repeatedly backed up on Twitter. Tata has written numerous books including Three Minutes to Midnight, Double Crossfire, Foreign and Domestic, and Direct Fire. Tata would take his literary flair to the Pentagon's policy office if nominated and confirmed by the Senate A parking lot picnic in Colleyville, Texas. (Molly Hennessy-Fiske / Los Angeles Times) As several governors prepared to lift pandemic restrictions this week, a conservative Fort Worth suburb went a step further. Colleyville Mayor Richard Newton became the first in Texas to issue a proclamation allowing churches, retail stores, gyms, salons, massage parlors and restaurants to reopen Friday with social distancing ahead of an order by the Texas governor expected next week. Confusion, frustration and worry followed, encapsulating the debate, uncertainty and hand-wringing playing out across the country. Our businesses are panicking. They dont know whats going on, said Laura Hill, mayor of neighboring Southlake. You have people coming out saying whose order do we follow? said Dr. Justin Fairless, a local emergency room doctor who has treated COVID-19 patients and worried about businesses reopening because, Youve got people not wearing the masks and following the social distancing guidelines. Glen Whitley, the executive officer of surrounding Tarrant County, who has yet to reopen the area, questioned whether the mayors order was even legal. A spokesman for the Texas attorney general's office said the mayor's order wasn't in line with the governor's. Gov. Greg Abbott, an advocate of small government, refused to intervene. Debate erupted online among residents of the leafy city of nearly 27,000, more than half of whom are 65 or older, pitting neighbor against neighbor: Was it safe to reopen? Its a calculus that cities across the country will have to make in coming days as numerous states begin to ease outbreak restrictions, including Georgia, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. Newton, 71, an electrical engineer, said he decided to reopen the city after eating takeout in his car while staring at patio tables where he believes diners can now eat safely with social distancing. Why shouldnt I be able to sit at that table and eat? he said by phone from City Hall this week. Most of the businesses in Colleyville are small, locally owned. Its the smaller guys that are really getting killed. As long as the data supports it, we want to give them the opportunity. Story continues The mayor released instructions with his order that businesses that reopen could only serve customers by appointment, one person per 200 square feet excluding employees. Gyms can host private classes of up to 10 people at a time. Restaurants can offer dine-in service if they have a patio or construct one, with distance between tables. He said city leaders took into account Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, virus tracking by the state and the University of Washington, a model cited by the White House. According to those models, the Colleyville area has reached peak infections with only half of local hospital beds occupied. Tarrant County, with a population of about 2 million, has reported 1,333 infections and 42 deaths, although less than 0.5% of the population has been tested for the virus. As business owners prepared to reopen, they tried to figure out what added protections they would need. Colleyville, Texas, Chamber of Commerce President Chelsea Rose has been fielding questions from business owners about reopening this week. (Molly Hennessy-Fiske / Los Angeles Times) Chelsea Rose, president of the Colleyville Chamber of Commerce, released instructions to the group's 436 members and held a Zoom call with some of them and the mayor Wednesday. Stores were reorganizing to allow patrons to pick up purchases curbside. Restaurants were figuring out whether they could still serve alcohol, given state licensing requirements. Were going to see some creative openings, to get that revenue flowing, Rose said. At Enigma Salon, stylist Eleanor Thompson was already fielding calls for appointments. Thompson said she planned to disinfect her shop and see clients one at a time while wearing a mask and gloves. And well keep the door locked, she said, to ensure that walk-ins (still allowed under the mayors order) wait outside. Across town, Loveria Caffe was ready to serve five tables of diners on its outdoor patio, but owner Andrea Matteucci was still trying to figure out how to start service safely. If a large family arrives, can they be seated together at the same small table, he wondered? Do restaurants need to post new social distancing rules? Does the health department need to sign off on them? None of that was addressed in the mayor's order. We are ready with masks for the servers, with shields. But before making a decision we would like to ask more details from the city, because we dont want any risks for our customers or employees, Matteucci said. Everybody needs to better understand what we can do. One of his regular customers, Mark Assaad, wanted to return to the patio there and at neighboring Glorias Mexican restaurant. Youve just got to make sure youre wearing a mask, Assaad, 49, a civil engineer, said as he stopped at Loveria on Wednesday to pick up takeout veal scallopini. On Thursday, with restaurant patios still closed, Dana Judd and her friends spread towels on the parking lot in front of Loveria and had a tailgate picnic. A local principal, Judd supported the mayor's order. "He's doing a great job of supporting local businesses," she said as she ate Mexican takeout from nearby Costa Vida. Local COVID-19 survivor Shelley Beall also supported the reopening. "People need to make a living," said Beall, 62, as she sat with half a dozen friends at a park in front of City Hall on Thursday to celebrate her birthday. Her friends said they planned to head to local salons for haircuts and pedicures wearing masks, of course. They were more hesitant about returning to local gyms, worried about how the equipment would be cleaned. About half of Colleyville residents supported reopening, according to a Facebook poll. Businesses lining the towns main artery, State Highway 26, are mostly small, family-owned and struggling because of pandemic closures. Some have already laid off workers. "It's good they're reopening because a lot of people are hurting," said Yvette Briseno, whose real estate office in downtown Colleyville laid off five of eight staff since the pandemic started. Workers clean the patio at a restaurant ahead of reopening to diners on Friday in Colleyville, Texas. (Molly Hennessy-Fiske / Los Angeles Times) But Colleyville isnt a remote outpost, and some residents worried that reopening could lead the virus to spread from other neighboring cities or nearby Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. Most of the city's more than two dozen churches did not plan to reopen until the governor issued his order, said Rev. Dave Toney, executive pastor of 6,000-member Compass Christian Church. Im conflicted, said Karl Meek, 65, a retired financial manager who started the Facebook page Colleyville Citizens for Accountability, where residents have been debating whether to reopen. Were not an island. What will you do if infections increase? The mayor said that if infections spike, we will respond to those changes very quickly. On Thursday, traffic was busy on Highway 26 as business parking lots started to fill. Local insurance agent Ron Wadleys friend texted to ask where he should go eat when restaurants reopen. Loveria, Wadley replied they have the best patio. But would Wadley, 47, join him? He might. He thought the mayors order was reasonable. We could start opening things in a measured way and see how it goes, Wadley said as he arrived for work in the still-empty downtown Thursday. He's been social distancing from coworkers during the outbreak. His wife is a pediatrician, and theyve been monitoring COVID-19 infections. But Wadley said theres not enough data yet to assess the risk of reopening places like Colleyville. Its a gamble, he said, and walked into his office. For the record: 7:29 AM, Apr. 24, 2020: A previous version of this article misidentified Southlake, Texas, Mayor Laura Hill as Karen Hill. Onondaga County Executive Ryan McMahon took a pause from his daily COVID-19 briefings to announce the birth of a baby Sichuan takin calf at the Rosamond Gifford Zoo. The calf, a male, was born on Monday, April 6, at 8:30 a.m. and weighed 7.5 kilograms (16.5 pounds) at birth. The calf, born to female takin Jaio, age 7, and male takin Bo, 6, represents the second birth of this unique species of mountain goat/antelope at the zoo. Sichuan takin are native to the mountains of China, where their numbers are in deep decline due to overhunting and habitat destruction. McMahon said the takin birth demonstrates that the Rosamond Gifford Zoo continues to fulfill its mission of saving species even though it has been closed due to the COVID 19 pandemic since March 16. The takin birth is part of the Rosamond Gifford Zoos participation in the Species Survival Plan for this species overseen by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). Takin were rated as vulnerable when last assessed in 2008 and have been declining since. The zoo joined the takin SSP in 2016, when it acquired Bo from the Albuquerque BioPark, and takin sisters Jaio and Ling from The Wilds in Cumberland, OH, said Zoo Director Ted Fox. Fox said the baby joins his big brother, Windsor, who was born in March 2019 as the first takin ever born at the zoo. Jaio is a great mom, and the birth went smoothly, just as her first birth did last year, he said. Windsor has grown so much in a year that hes almost as big as his mom, so it will be fun to have another little baby scampering around. The new baby does not yet have a name; check the zoos Facebook for updates. Takin can grow to be about 4 feet high and weigh about 600 pounds. Adults have thick, curved horns, long coats, large bulbous noses and, it has been said, ears that look like theyre upside-down. Their hardy build and strong, flexible hooves enable them to easily traverse steep cliffs and rocky terrain, which their exhibit on the zoos Wildlife Trail is designed to mimic. Takin share the same habitats as giant pandas and benefit from the same conservation programs aimed at protecting wildlife and restoring deforested areas in their range. Fun Fact: Takin have a thick blonde coat thats believed to have inspired the ancient Greek legend of Jason and the Golden Fleece. The editorial said, "For years, it was common for viral diseases to be associated with the landscapes, places or regions where the first outbreaks occurred But in 2015, the WHO introduced guidelines to stop this practice and thereby reduce stigma and negative impacts such as fear or anger directed towards those regions or their people." Nature is not the only journal that has appealed for people to stop stigma related to COVID-19. In February, medical journal The Lancet published an article jointly written by 16 scholars in global health law. It stated, "Under no circumstances should public health or foreign policy decisions be based on the racism and xenophobia that are now being directed at Chinese people and those of Asian descent." However, some politicians are sticking with the outdated script, blaming China for the virus, and even replacing the words "COVID-19" with "Chinese virus" in speech notes. Some U.S. politicians have even repeatedly preached the conspiracy theory that the virus is a Chinese bioweapon. In fact, such rhetoric had already been overturned by scientists. Virologist Robert Garry from Tulane University said the virus is not made in a laboratory, rather, it's a product of the nature. The consequences of vicious slander are obvious to all. There has been no scientific conclusion on the origin of the virus, but Chinese and other Asian people are suffering from discrimination, humiliation, and even violence in many countries. The number of COVID-19 cases recorded worldwide has now exceeded 2.4 million. Discrimination and hatred incited by stigma contribute nothing to containing the virus. What's more, when such hatred spreads to other fields, it will take a heavy toll on the haters themselves. Nature has pointed out the damage stigma has on academic and scientific research, that is: it undermines diversity and international academic mobility and finally causes "a loss for all." The fight against COVID-19 requires solidarity. The recovery and development of the global economy and other areas after the pandemic also demand international exchanges and collaboration. Stigma will do nothing but intensify hatred and confrontation, thereby impeding global development. Naming a virus is essentially a matter of science. The politicization of science will only increase tension and leave the situation worse off. Certainly, competition takes place in various fields among countries and it is understandable for countries to speak up for their own interests. However, certain groups manipulate science in order to pursue political gain and influence public opinion, in defiance of science, facts, social norms and principles. Such ill-intended behavior must be condemned and resisted. Nature's apology shows the journal has realized the harm of stigma and wants to uphold the scientific spirit. It deserves endorsement. Scientific issues should be addressed through science, and political comments must be based on facts. Faced with the pandemic, all humanity should stand up against stigma, and join hands to create a future of health, peace and prosperity. China Mosaic http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm Nature magazine apologizes: Stop manipulating science for political gain http://www.china.org.cn/video/2020-04/23/content_75967647.htm SOURCE China.org.cn US Could Strike Iranian Gunboats if They 'Harass' US Military Ships By Jeff Seldin April 22, 2020 U.S. President Donald Trump's message to Iran should be "crystal clear," top defense officials said Wednesday, defending the president's latest social media missive to the government in Tehran. Trump early Wednesday tweeted that he had instructed the U.S. Navy to "shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea." The tweet appeared to be a direct response to an incident last week, when several Iranian gunboats harassed U.S. ships, with some of the Iranian boats coming within 10 meters of the U.S. vessels in the Persian Gulf. "I like that the president warned an adversary," General John Hyten, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters, adding there was "no doubt what that means." "If you cross that line, we know what that line is and we will respond," he said. "We will come and we will come large, so don't go down that path." But Hyten and Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist also said that Trump's tweet, while a useful reminder to Iran, did not change the Navy's standing orders regarding the use of lethal force in self-defense. US warning The tweet and the Pentagon's response came as U.S. officials warned Iran, as well as other U.S. adversaries that have become increasingly aggressive, against using the coronavirus pandemic to test U.S. resolve. Iran has denied such allegations, insisting in recent days that its naval forces were merely conducting drills last week when they faced "unprofessional and provocative actions" from U.S. warships. Still, U.S. officials argue that last week's incident at sea is just part of a larger, ongoing pattern of Iranian behavior that is risking further conflict and instability in the Middle East. That pattern, they say, includes Wednesday's launch of what Iran said was a military satellite into orbit. "The IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps], a designated terrorist organization, launched a missile today," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday, saying the move clearly violated U.N. Security Council resolutions. "Iran needs to be held accountable for what they've done," Pompeo said. He also said U.S. officials have been told to "take whatever action is necessary to make sure you can defend and keep our people safe." The U.S. has objected to Iran's satellite program, maintaining it is being used to develop ballistic missiles that could be armed with nuclear warheads. Still assessing U.S. military officials Wednesday declined to say whether the Iranian satellite launch had been successful, saying an assessment was in progress. But they said the threat was unambiguous. "It went a very long way, which means it has the ability once again to threaten their neighbors, our allies," Hyten said. Iran has insisted its nuclear program is only for civilian purposes. VOA's Nike Ching contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address LONDON (Reuters) - Oil rose on Thursday, spurred by rising tensions in the Middle East, output cuts by producing nations to tackle oversupply and the promise of more government stimulus to ease the economic pain of the new coronavirus pandemic. Brent crude LCOc1 was up $1.60, or 7.8%, at $21.97 per barrel by 1123 GMT. U.S. crude CLc1 rose $1.74, or 12.6%, at $15.52 a barrel. Oil prices have suffered one of their most tumultuous weeks. The expiring WTI front-month contract CLc1 on Monday fell into negative territory for the first time as traders paid buyers to take crude off their hands given a lack of storage space due to the current supply glut. Brent has lost roughly two thirds of its value this year. Concerns about the collapse in demand because of travel restrictions to contain the coronavirus pandemic and a shortage of space to store oil still dominate, but analysts say they do not expect a repeat of Mondays price shock. The rally on Thursday followed an announcement from U.S. President Donald Trump he had instructed the U.S. Navy to fire on any Iranian ships that harass it in the Gulf, although he added later he was not changing the militarys rules of engagement. The head of Irans Revolutionary Guards said Tehran will destroy U.S. warships if its security is threatened in the Gulf. This ratchets up tensions once again between the U.S. and Iran. However, given the glut we have in the oil market, it is difficult to see this offering lasting support to the market, unless the situation does escalate further, INGs head of commodities strategy Warren Patterson said. Graphic - Cushing crude stockpiles surge: here Output cuts by producers also supported prices. Kuwait said it had begun reducing oil supply to the international market without waiting for the deal agreed by major oil exporting countries to take effect on May 1. OPEC and other oil producing nations, a grouping known as OPEC+, agreed this month to cut output by a record amount, around 10% of global supply, to support oil prices. It is questionable that bringing forward the planned output restraint by a week would make a material difference, especially as no demand consolidation is anticipated in the current quarter, PVM Oil Associates analyst Tamas Varga said. In addition to the OPEC+ deal, other producers are also pledging reductions. Oklahomas energy regulator said companies could shut wells without losing their leases. The state is the fourth-largest oil producer in the United States. U.S. crude inventories rose by 15 million barrels to 518.6 million barrels the week to April 17, close to the record of 535 million barrels set in 2017, data showed on Wednesday. Graphic - OPEC's share of India's crude oil imports falls to record low: here The stocks build was less than the market had expected, analysts said, providing some support for prices, while the promise of more government stimulus improved market sentiment across global markets. The U.S. House of Representatives expects to pass a nearly $500 billion coronavirus relief bill on Thursday to provide funds to small businesses and hospitals. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg at a press conference on December 12, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Daniel Pockett/Getty Images) Unemployment Pay Will End After Pandemic: Australian PM On April 23, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that the jobless payments, which were doubled because of the CCP virus pandemic, will likely be cut once its over. This means that while the unemployed may not have yet found work, their financial support will be halved, to its normal rate. The original Jobseeker unemployment benefit was $40 (US$25) a day but this was doubled for a six-month period as part of a huge package to help soften the blow caused by the pandemic. Australia is spending $14 billion (US$9 billion) over six months, in one of the largest boosts to social security benefits in history. Morrison said that an extension is not promising, at a press conference on April 23. Weve put a COVID supplement in place for the period of the pandemic and thats what weve budgeted for and thats what our policy is, Morrison told reporters. Greens senator Rachel Siewert, who has long called for an increase to unemployment benefits, was not impressed. An increase to the Jobseeker payment must be long term and permanent, Siewert said. I am gobsmacked that the PM is thinking it is ok to return the #Jobseeker payment to $40 a day in 6 months, condemning what is likely to be over a million people to living in poverty. How can it be Gov policy for people to live below the poverty line? #COVID19 #RetaintheRate Rachel Siewert (@SenatorSiewert) April 23, 2020 However, the prime ministers focus is on restoring jobs and businesses. Our focus is on keeping as many Australians in a job and as many Australian businesses in business, he said. So the best way to get people off JobKeeper and off JobSeeker is to ensure that those businesses are busy again and thats why opening up the elective surgery is important. Thats why opening up our schools again is important, Morrison said. Over half a million Australians have applied for the unemployment payout during the pandemic. Appearing with the prime minister, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said that hundreds of thousands have been granted early access to their superannuation. This means that they can access up to $10,000 (US$6,000) from this financial year and up to another $10,000 next financial year. The government on Wednesday announced a W3.4-trillion plan to create 550,000 jobs as employment shrivels due to the coronavirus epidemic (US$1=W1,233). It is part of a W10.1 trillion emergency package to help businesses and workers affected by the epidemic. Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said the plan is a "bold investment" accounting for 40 percent of this year's job-creation budget and designed to help 2.86 million people, 2.5 times more than the 1.15 million Koreans who were unemployed last year. Some W500,000 a month will be given for three months to 930,000 mom-and-pop businesses and temporary workers including freelancers whose earnings have been severely hit by the epidemic. Another 320,000 workers who have been put on unpaid leave will also be given W500,000 a month for three months. The government will also provide more emergency funds for businesses and waive their employment and other insurance fees to prevent them from laying off workers due to cash shortages. The allowance of W500,000 a month for young jobseekers will be extended from six to 11 months. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. (Getty Images) Ottawa is spending an additional $1.1 billion for a national medical and research strategy in the fight against the coronavirus. The money will be allocated to three pillars which include research on vaccines and other treatments, support for clinical trials, and expanding national testing and modelling. Hospitals and universities get $115 million for vaccine and treatment research. Clinical trial funding for vaccines is $662 million. A vaccine is the long-term solution to this virus, said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his daily COVID-19 address. But these drugs will take months to develop, test, and roll out. So to help control the spread of COVID-19, Ottawa is spending $350 million to expand national testing and modelling and creating a COVID-19 Immunity Task Force. The Prime Minister says 20,000 tests are being done daily, almost double where we were earlier this month. He says at least a million Canadians will be tested over 2 years. He also urged Canadians to keep doing what they are doing. Youve been doing your part, by staying home and practicing physical distancing, said the Prime Minister. Its working. And we cant afford to waste that progress. Jessy Bains is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on Twitter @jessysbains. Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. Arkansas Voters First had a mission in 2020: It would get nonpartisan redistricting on the November ballot. It studied the rules, which required that 89,000 valid signatures be submitted to the state by July 3. In early March, at a cost of about $200,000, Arkansas Voters First put paid staffers into the field, with a clear message and a tight deadline. The first day they could collect signatures: March 16. "We were just getting out into the field," said Arkansas Voters First spokesman George Shelton, "and it became clear that CDC guidelines were going to make it impossible." Organizers quickly realized that collecting signatures would be impossible, as stay-home orders clamped down and voters shut their doors. Arkansas Voters First hit the 100-signature mark, saw no chance of success and sued. The plaintiffs were three voters who wouldn't be able to sign their petitions and who argued that if the ballot measure was stopped, it would "freeze the political status quo" without finding out whether voters wanted to change it. As the coronavirus pandemic has shut down most economic activity, keeping many elected officials at home, candidates and issue campaigners are trying to lower ballot access requirements. In some states, they've succeeded. In others, they've already given up, punting on their ballot initiative campaigns and opting to try later. All of it is highlighting the vast and seemingly random discrepancies in how states determine what voters see on their ballots. Much of it is colored by partisan politics, whether the fear that minor-party candidates could peel voters away from a major party or that some ballot measures could skew November turnout. But the campaigners who have gotten used to fighting for every inch of ballot access hit their limits. "Asking people to go door-to-door under these conditions is unconscionable," said Michael O'Neil, a spokesman for the Green Party, which is challenging signature requirements in several states. The pandemic may have uneven effects on ballot access across the country, depending on what states had in place and when judges hear petitioners' cases. In much of the country, the Green and Libertarian parties easily or automatically make the ballot every cycle. In 2016, the Greens made 44 state ballots, plus the District of Columbia's. So far, they've made D.C. and just 22 other states. (Making a ballot in a state one year is not a guarantee of future access, and states that require signatures often tie the required number to total votes cast.) The path for minor-party ballot access has always been rocky, and it was getting rockier before the pandemic. The Greens point to Georgia, Nevada and Tennessee as three of the most problematic states; in the latter two, the turnout surge of 2018 raised the number of signatures required for any ballot access, as it's based on a percentage of all votes cast in the last election. "We've got six weeks left, and the chance of getting the signatures we need in Nevada is basically zero," said Brendan Phillips, who runs the Green Party ballot access effort. Signature requirements have tripped up even major-party candidates before, and even without the pressure of a global health crisis. But the pandemic has added a new level of complication. In New York, an incumbent Democratic legislator fumbled her ballot petition by forgetting to attach a cover sheet. Under normal circumstances, she could have filed as an independent candidate for the safely blue district. That would require sending out volunteers to get signatures, which stay-home orders had rendered impossible, a Catch-22 already in effect in other states. (Petitioning requirements vary from state to state, too, with some accepting petitions mailed by voters to signature-gatherers.) "There were days when it was both required by law and prohibited by law for people to collect signatures in Illinois," said Oliver Hall, the founder of the Center for Popular Democracy, who has been advising politicians on ballot access issues. In some states, when petitioners have asked for relief, they've gotten it. In more states, they've sued, and have won. The Libertarian Party's lawsuit in Illinois delivered most of what activists wanted: lowering the signature requirement by 90%, pushing the deadline from June 22 to Aug. 7, and allowing e-signatures on petitions, something that ballot access lawyers note is allowed for many other legal documents. But Illinois, which has not voted for a Republican for president since 1988, is not among the states Democrats and Republicans are expected to contest in November. The pressure is higher in states with close races, and it always has been, with the two major parties tending to view Greens and Libertarians as spoilers. That played out in Montana two years ago, when Republicans helped a Green Party candidate access the ballot, and Democrats successfully sued to boot him. In Michigan, where some Democrats blame 2016 Green Party voters for throwing the state's electoral votes to Donald Trump, a similar fight is playing out in a House race. Eric Esshaki, a Republican running in the 11th Congressional District, filed for a temporary injunction over the state's 1,000-signature requirement. The stay-home orders, he argued, prevented the kind of signature-gathering campaign that the law envisioned. Esshaki won, and the deadline was extended. But state Attorney General Dana Nessel appealed that decision, pointing out that Esshaki had been able to file more than 1,300 signatures "despite his representations and arguments to the court to the contrary." In an interview, Esshaki said he'd set an original goal of 2,000 signatures, because hundreds of voter names are often struck when opponents challenge the petitions. "I think the attorney general's targeting me because I won in court," said Esshaki. "This is about the Constitution, but it's also about all the other candidates and voters, and what works for them." Lawsuits against burdensome signature requirements can work, as Nessel herself knows: In 2018, an independent candidate for her job fought his way onto the ballot by suing to get the signature requirement lowered. Each of those lawsuits drains time and energy from the candidates. And even if they succeed, it might not solve the separate problems faced by ballot measure campaigns. Those activists have been tripping over the hurdles. Already, an effort to legalize marijuana in North Dakota has been postponed, as has an effort to fund more public transportation in San Francisco with a wealth tax. An effort to decriminalize some psychedelic drugs in Washington is looking dicey; so is a socialist-led campaign in Seattle to tax major corporations, with a focus on Amazon. (Jeff Bezos, chief executive and founder of Amazon, owns The Washington Post.) New Approach Montana, a campaign to legalize recreational marijuana in the state, has sued to delay the signature deadline. In Arkansas, the pandemic may smother something activists had a once-in-a-decade shot to do: transfer the state's redistricting process from legislators to an independent commission. "We're on a deadline," Shelton said. "If this doesn't make the ballot, legislators get to draw their own maps and we don't get a chance to change that until 2030." With Covid-19 bringing the country to a halt and the tourism sector to its knees, a clamour has started for the resumption of mining -- the other industry that is considered the backbone of the Goan economy. The Goa Mineral Ore Exporters Association (GMOEA) has pitched itself as the potential saviour of Goas debt-ridden-economy and promised that the government coffers will be full if mining restarts. In a letter to the state government, Ambar Timblo, the president of the GMOEA, has said that in the time of lockdown, the mining industry was a safe bet for the revival of Goas economy. At present, it is not possible to restart the tourism industry unless the contagion is overcome globally. However, in so far as mining is concerned, the same can be undertaken even during the present period of lockdown with certain safety procedures and practices. Goa is uniquely positioned for the immediate resumption of operations as all workforce, infrastructure, and relevant statutory clearances are in place, Timblo said. Mining in Goa came to a halt in March 2018 after the Supreme Court ruled that the Goa governments decision to renew mining leases in 2015 was unduly hasty and was contrary to its earlier directions for the grant of fresh leases instead of renewals. However, rather than granting fresh leases -- a process that now involves an auction after the Government of India amended the MMDR Act in 2015 -- the Goa government has been hoping to get the Supreme Court to change its mind. Parallelly, Vedanta Ltd which acquired Sesa Goa, the largest mining company operating in Goa, has filed a petition in the Supreme Court arguing that its request for a 50-year extension of its lease with effect from the year 1987 should be allowed. The Goa government had disallowed Vedantas request claiming that its hands were tied as the Supreme Court clearly mandated that all mining operations in the State of Goa be stopped until fresh mining leases or other renewals and fresh environmental clearances are granted. Vedantas plea before the High Court against the State Governments decision was also rejected and is now pending before the Supreme Court. Apart from the revenue loss due to the suspension of mining operations, the Goa government has seen its debt mount over the last one year owing to slashing of the GST rates for the hospitality sector including on hotels and restaurants. In a bid to shore up revenues, the Goa Government hiked excise duty on liquor as well as VAT on fuel but has still seen debt balloon to Rs 20,000 crore. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has expressed his inability to run to the aid of business sectors that were facing losses on account of the shutdown. Right now we are not in a position to declare any kind of package for everyone. The state itself is going through a bad position; we should all understand that the government itself is going through an economic crisis. At this stage, it is wrong to expect a relief package from the state government, Sawant said. This sharp increase in debt levels can be attributed to shutdown of mining activities which has led to revenue loss of Rs 7000 crores in the last 2 years. The state tourism sector, which is already reeling under huge losses, is expected to witness a major fall in the number of tourists coming to the state over the next 3 quarters. The contraction in tourism will lead to additional losses for the State as well as an increase in unemployment to the tune of almost 75,000 jobs, said Timblo, who has now been appointed on the Goa governments economic revival committee. Despite the clamour to revive mining, voices against the resumption of mining persist. The transportation of ore mined before March 2018 has been allowed by the Supreme Court for six months, leading to vocal protests by those affected by it. We are observing about 200 laden trucks plying per hour on the village roads. This makes the mockery of lockdown. We all are aware that COVID-19 positive cases in our neighbouring states are increasing day by day, especially in Belgaum district of Karnataka State. We were expecting the authorities to be very cautious about the movement of people, Rupesh Velip from Caurem village in South Goa which has seen the movement of ore, said. Goa Foundations executive director Claude Alvares, too, questioned the move during the lockdown. Lakhs of Goans have been told to stay at home by the Prime Minister of India and to wear masks. However, heavy and uncontrolled movement of mining trucks on open roads through human settlements makes nonsense of these directions. This is sheer hypocrisy, he said. Officials said the first tier would include troops involved in critical national capabilities, such as nuclear forces and at least some Special Operations forces; the second would include troops assigned to combat zones and those involved in the domestic virus response; the third would be troops located overseas on priority missions and those being brought back to the United States following deployments; all remaining troops would make up the last tier. Three Michigan health systems are more than 80 percent occupied as the coronavirus pandemic persists, new state data shows. The state and the Michigan Health and Hospital Association released data specific to hospitals or health systems for the first time on Thursday, April 23. The data gives a peek into which hospitals are handling more COVID-19 cases and how much personal protective equipment is available. Trinity Health which has hospitals in metro Detroit and West Michigan is closest to capacity, with 89 percent of beds being full. Hurley Medical Center, in Flint, is next at 87 percent capacity and Detroit Medical Center is 81 percent full. Beaumont has the most COVID-19 patients with 701, while Henry Ford Health System has the most coronavirus patients in intensive-care units with 224. If youre viewing the story on an app and cant see the database below, click here. Sorry, but your browser does not support frames. In total, Michigans acute-care hospitals are at 61 percent capacity with 3,611 COVID-19 patients hospitalized, including 1,148 of them in intensive-care units. The MHA and the state are tracking personal protective equipment at hospitals by days on hand instead of total masks, gowns, shields and gloves. "The purpose of this data is to provide meaningful, actionable information to the public and decision-makers," said MHA Senior Vice President Ruthanne Sudderth. "So without understanding the needs of a particular hospital or system, providing quantities alone does not provide a lot of meaning." The equation for determining how many days equipment will last is based on quantity of equipment, bed capacity for the hospital and total COVID-19 patients at the hospital, among other factors, Sudderth said. New Michigan coronavirus cases up again, highest jump in 9 days Kalkaska Memorial Health Center is in the most dire need of personal protective equipment, per the state chart, with less than a week's worth of masks, gowns, shields and gloves. Other data points, like ventilators, may be added to the chart in the future, officials said. The data will update Mondays and Thursdays, with all numbers being from 48 hours prior. Michigan has 35,291 people whove tested positive for coronavirus, including 1,325 new confirmed cases reported Thursday, April 23. The states death total from COVID-19 reached 2,977 on Thursday. 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 Thursday, April 23: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Despite crashes, 820,000 of 1.1M Michiganders filing for unemployment have gotten paid Judge rejects bid by landscapers, garden shops to reopen immediately Michigan restaurants projected to lose $1.2B in April, survey indicates Dozens of bodies found in hospitals temporary morgue prompts Wayne County investigation Protest held outside Michigan governors residence despite pleas from Republican leader As Michigan expands coronavirus testing, issues with test accuracy remain As tens of thousands of students in Hong Kong prepare to sit university entrance examinations starting on Friday, sixth-former Ahmad Shahzad can only dream about what might have been. Shahzad is stranded in a village in Pakistan, meaning his hopes for a career in aviation are likely to be put on hold for another year as he is unable to sit the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exams. He and his family flew to their ancestral home to wait out the pandemic in early March after school classes were suspended in Hong Kong to help in the fight against the coronavirus. But not long after they left, the coronavirus caught up with them, finding its way to the South Asian nation. Now Shahzad is stuck in a village on the outskirts of Nowshera, a city three hours drive northwest of the capital Islamabad, after Prime Minister Imran Khan put the country under total lockdown to stem surging coronavirus infections. Shahzad, who moved to Hong Kong 10 years ago, recalled: I couldnt speak English when I first arrived so I already wasted a year in Primary Two. I am interested in aircraft maintenance and joined extracurricular programmes about flight attendants. He said he did not want to waste another year. The coronavirus crisis had already forced a one-month postponement of the exams, which more than 52,000 candidates were originally scheduled to sit from March 27, as well as the indefinite closure of schools since early February. The Education Bureau said it had received inquiries from two DSE candidates who were unable to return in time for the exams because of lockdown orders overseas. For candidates who are unable to attend the exams due to illness or other special circumstances, [the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority] may consider giving an assessed grade to the candidate concerned upon application with medical proof or supporting documents, a bureau spokesman said. Story continues Shahzad, who goes to Delia Memorial School (Hip Wo) in Kwun Tong, said his teacher had told him about the arrangement. But he hoped the authorities could arrange a separate round of exams for them or postpone them entirely, an idea the bureau had already ruled out. Zain Ali, 18, also wished the exam would be postponed, or that he should he make it back in time could be allowed to sit exams in some of the subjects while being placed under quarantine. The Delia Memorial School (Glee Path) student has been stranded in Azad Kashmir, north of Islamabad, since February when he went there to attend a cousins wedding. He expected he would have to take the exams next year instead, before moving on to his plan to become a pilot. Lawmaker Vincent Cheng Wing-shun, from the pro-establishment Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong, said he had been contacted by at least five students stranded in Pakistan, along with more than 1,000 Hong Kong residents stuck there and in India and Nepal. Cheng said he had contacted the Security Bureau and met Pakistan Consul General Bilal Ahmad Butt recently, in the hope that they could bring those stranded back as soon as possible. Vincent Cheng has been trying to help those stranded get back to Hong Kong. Photo: Nora Tam But technical difficulties remained at diplomatic and logistical levels, including the transport involved to bring those stranded to the airport and the flights which could be deployed. Lawmaker Jeremy Tam Man-ho, from the opposition Civic Party, said he was involved in helping those stuck in India. About 1,800 residents were stranded there, including 220 Hong Kong passport holders, he said. The Immigration Department said it had provided advice to those who had sought help and contacted relevant authorities. It said residents without imminent travel risks should approach airlines and travel agencies for help, while the authorities would assess the need to charter a flight when necessary. But even if Shahzad made it back soon, his chance of sitting the exams would be slim as he would have to undergo 14 days of home quarantine. Yet Shahzad is looking forward to his return. Our life is there and our home is there. We have been living there for more than 10 years, he said. This article Coronavirus: Hong Kong students stranded in Pakistan set to miss exams, leaving dreams on hold for another year first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. Currently, theres a lot of mystery around the health of North Koreas leader Kim Jong Un and theres also speculation that he has undergone a major surgery and may be still under treatment. On Wednesday, days after rumour of his ill health, a top US general said that Kim Jong Un is still in full control of the North Korean military. According to the reports, Vice Chairman of Pentagon Joint Chiefs, General John Earl Hyten said that the US military had no indication that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been incapacitated or lost any control of the country's military. However, several news surrounding North Korean supremos health has created a lot of buzz all over the world as to who will be the heir to his throne next, if at all anything happens to him. While the Kim family has ruled for around 70 years by passing power between male heirs like other hereditary dynasties, the 36-year-old Kim has named no successor. His children are still young and the ruling family's surviving adults all face potential barriers to their rise. Consequently, the focus is now on his sister, Kim Yo-Jong, who could take over after him. Kim Jong Uns reported health problems have now pushed Kim Yo-Jong into focus and the spotlights on her. Here are six interesting facts about Kim Yo-Jong, who might succeed Kim Jong Un and possibly rule North Korea next: 1. 31-year-old Kim Yo-Jong has risen to be considered the most powerful woman in North Korea, and a key lieutenant to her older sibling Kim Jong Un. She is believed to be the youngest child of former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's mistress Ko Yong Hui, who also gave birth to Kim and two of his older brothers. Gettyimages 2. She was partly educated in Switzerland at the same school Kim Jong Un attended. But she returned to North Korea in 2000 after completing the US equivalent of the sixth grade. Wikimedia Commons 3. In 2007, Kim Yo Jong, 31, was given her first public role by her father and was appointed as a junior cadre to the Workers Party of Korea. Under her brother's rule she has steadily risen through the regime's ranks. AP 4. Interestingly, the mystery princess of North Korea first came to international prominence when she represented North Korea at the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea. She currently serves as first vice-department director of the Korean Workers' Party Central Committee. AP 5. Her life is still quite mysterious as it is completely unclear where she was or what she was up to between 2000 and 2007. Although her first public appearance was in 2011 at Kim Jong IIs funeral. Kim Yo Jong's first recorded public appearance: The North Korean princess appeared among the mourners at her father's funeral at the end of 2011. pic.twitter.com/GWPw4dgbZU Anna Fifield (@annafifield) February 8, 2018 6. Over the years, she has emerged as Kim Jong Uns closest aide. Besides, earlier this month, she was reinstated as an alternate Politburo member of the ruling Workers Party of Korea. Currently, she is the only other member of the Kim family with anyone approaching real power in the regime. Well, what is unclear is whether or not North Koreas patriarchal elite will support a relatively young woman as the next supreme leader of North Korea. That only time will tell. France has avoided the slaughter of 60,000 people thanks to its strict lockdown measures, a study of epidemiologists from the School of Advanced Studies in Public Health (EHESP) has found. Without confinement, which began in mid-March, 23 percent of the population would have been infected with the coronavirus saturating hospitals and requiring more than 670,000 hospital beds, French daily Le Monde reported Thursday. Of those, 100,000 intensive care beds would have been needed, with 30,000 alone in the hard-hit Ile-de-France region surrounding Paris. Instead, at the peak of France's health crisis on 8 April, 7,148 intensive care beds were being used. The latest figures, from 19 April, put that number at 5,127. According to EHESP modelling, 73,900 people would have died in hospital between March 19 and April 19 if social distancing measures had not been taken. This compares with the 12,200 recorded hospital deaths. Of these 61,700 lives "saved", around 15,000 were in Ile-de-France and 7,700 in the Grand Est, the two French regions most affected by the Covid-19 epidemic. The figures are very conservative, and do not take into account deaths retirement or domestic homes, EHESP researcher Pascal Crepey told Le Monde. "These results bury the idea that we could have let the virus spread, saying to ourselves: once we have all had it, we will be rid of it," Crepey said, adding that earlier measures may have avoided a blow-out of cases in the Grand Est. A separate study this week by the Institut Pasteur put the disease's mortality figure or the number of deaths compared to the number of people infected at about 0.5 percent in France. This means that if the virus stops circulating once 70 percent of the population of 67 million becomes infected, some 250,000 people could ultimately die from Covid-19. France's death toll as of 19 April was 20,796. It's the world's fourth highest behind the United States (45,343), Italy (24,648) and Spain (21,717). She is an expert in the art of the bathroom mirror selfie. And Emily Ratajkowski proved it as she posed up a storm for her Insta Stories in lingerie this Wednesday. The 28-year-old declared that she was 'wine drunk' as she showed off her enviably chiseled midriff for her more than 26 million followers. Looking fab: And Emily Ratajkowski proved it as she posed up a storm for her Insta Stories in lingerie this Wednesday Emily slipped into a luxurious looking robe with golden trim and let her dark brown hair fall free for her new social media update. While previously in lockdown in New York she posted bathroom mirror selfie videos in which she raised a glass of wine to her public. She has also used her free time to go on social media and plug her clothing company Inamorata, which started as a lingerie line in 2017. Sizzling sensation: The 28-year-old declared that she was 'wine drunk' as she showed off her enviably chiseled midriff for her more than 26 million followers Swank: Emily slipped into a luxurious looking robe with golden trim and let her dark brown hair fall free for her new social media update The brunette bombshell is now holed up in Los Angeles with her hunky producer husband Sebastian Bear-McClard and their dog Colombo. Although they were initially hunkering down in New York City, the American epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, they flew to Los Angeles last Wednesday. The Centers For Disease Control And Prevention issued an advisory on March 28 asking 'residents of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to refrain from non-essential domestic travel for 14 days effective immediately.' Cross country: The brunette bombshell is now holed up in Los Angeles with her hunky producer husband Sebastian Bear-McClard and their dog Colombo Sebastian is a producer whose credits including the Safdie brothers movie Uncut Gems starring Adam Sandler, who calls Emily's husband 'SeBo.' Emily, who while showing Vogue around her vast LA apartment in 2015 said she was for a platform to 'redistribute wealth in this country,' got married in February 2018. She made a splash with her surprise courthouse marriage to Sebastian in New York City, wearing a $200 Zara trouser suit. CLEVELAND, Ohio A federal judge on Thursday issued a new order allowing some surgical abortions to proceed in Ohio during the coronavirus pandemic and sharply criticizing Ohio Attorney General Dave Yosts office on how it defended itself during the legal process. The preliminary injunction issued by Senior U.S. District Judge Michael Barrett supersedes a temporary restraining order he issued late last month, after providers such as Planned Parenthood and Preterm-Cleveland expressed concern that they may face repercussions from the state if they continue performing abortions. Barrett wrote that doctors must decide on a case-by-case basis whether a woman should obtain a surgical abortion will remain in effect for at least two more weeks. Doctors may perform a surgical abortion if one is medically necessary to protect the mothers health or to preserve her right to obtain one before the baby is viable, which can be as early as 21 weeks, the judge wrote. The preliminary injunction comes in response to an order from Ohio Health Department Director Dr. Amy Acton barring elective surgeries with the stated goal of conserving personal protective equipment, as well as how Republican elected officials interpreted that order as it relates to abortion. Gov. Mike DeWine has said providers shouldnt perform abortions when the womans life is not at risk while Actons order is in effect. Yost on March 21 also sent letters to two abortion clinics that said the clinics must immediately stop performing non-essential and elective surgical abortions. The letter cited Actons order. Inspectors from the Health Department also visited abortion providers on March 26 and March 27 and did not tell clinics whether they had found violations of Actons order Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood and Preterm-Cleveland, asked Barrett to step in because they said the state refused to provide clarity on when a surgical abortion procedure is considered essential. The injunction comes after a couple of weeks of legal wrangling in court filings, as well as some conduct that appeared to trouble Barrett. Barrett, a George W. Bush appointee, noted that the Attorney Generals Office initially refused to explain its position on when abortions can occur, and only later stated it when they appealed the judges order. Its position ended up being similar to the judges temporary restraining order, which a federal appeals court later upheld, and wrote that he was mindful of concerns from the providers that about how Defendants will interpret the Directors Order on any given day, particularly in light of Defendant Yosts statement that he is ready to pursue legal action on the ODHs behalf. He also said that Yosts office inaccurately described the providers position as wanting a blanket exception for surgical abortions and noted that some providers have reported performing up to 72 percent fewer abortions during the pandemic. Plaintiffs do not, and have not, made such request to the Court and the constant inaccurate characterization of Plaintiffs position is unnecessary and distracting, the judge wrote. Finally, he criticized the office for trying to compare an abortion during the coronavirus and plastic surgery. Defendants false equivalence between a woman seeking pre-viability abortion care during the COVID-19 pandemic and a woman seeking a face-lift during the COVID-19 pandemic ignores well-settled Supreme Court precedent on the Fourteenth Amendments guarantee of the right to reproductive freedom, Barrett wrote. Yosts office said that it was reviewing the decision and would consult with the Health Department. Jessie Hill, an attorney working with the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio and the abortion providers, said in a statement that we are so pleased that Judge Barrett granted a preliminary injunction so that abortion clinics can remain open to provide essential services to patients in need. Seventy-two Nigerians awaiting evacuation in Guangzhou city, Guangdong Province of China have tested positive for the coronavirus disease. The results of the tests conducted on 56 Nigerians, which were released on Tuesday, indicated that the affected individuals were asymptomatic, raising concern that they might have infected other people. It was learnt that that 16 Nigerians had earlier tested positive for the virus, bringing the total number to 72. 65 contacts being traced The Chinese authorities explained that 65 persons who had contact with the positive cases were being traced. The Foreign Affairs Office of Guangzhou Municipal Peoples Government disclosed this in a note verbale (diplomatic correspondence) to the Nigerian Consulate in Guangzhou dated April 22, 2020. The note, which was also copied to the Nigerian Embassy in China, as well as the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, indicated that 16 Nigerians had earlier been confirmed positive. The correspondence sighted by our correspondent on Wednesday read in part, According to the data by the Guangzhou Municipal Health Commission on April 21, there are currently 16 confirmed cases and 56 positive test cases among Nigerian citizens in Guangzhou, as well as 65 cases of contact. READ ALSO: Three new cases are Togolese returnees intercepted at border Ogun We invite the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Guangzhou to supervise Nigerian citizens in Guangzhou so they can abide by the law of the Peoples Republic of China on the prevention and control of infectious diseases. Asian citizens understand Guangzhous epidemic prevention and control; work and cooperate with Chinas political support. The note verbal was written in Mandarin and translated into English using Google Translate. The 56 citizens are part of the over 2,000 Nigerians from China, the United States, United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and other countries, who had indicated interest in returning to Nigeria on account of the coronavirus pandemic. The Federal Government had announced plans to evacuate Nigerians in China first following complaints of racism and stigmatisation against them by Chinese officials in Guangzhou. This was sequel to a viral video showing Nigerians being evicted from their hotels and apartments. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, had summoned the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Dr Zhou Pingjian, twice last week to register Nigerias displeasure over the incident. The PUNCH also learnt that the acting Nigerian Consul-General, Mr Razaq Lawal, had gone on self-isolation having mingled with the affected Nigerians during their protest against the Chinese authorities. Lawal could not be reached for comment on Wednesday as his mobile line was unavailable. 4,553 Africans undergoing tests Our correspondent further gathered that 111 other African nationals also tested positive for COVID-19 during the ongoing tests of 4,553 Africans in Guangzhou city. Apart from the Africans, reports said that a total of 30,768 foreigners were currently staying in the city, mainly from South Korea (4,600), Japan (2,987), the US, (2,724), Canada (1,832) and Russia (1,422). This is aside 50,000 others who had yet to return to Guangzhou due to the coronavirus outbreak. The number of non-Africans who tested positive for the virus could not be immediately ascertained. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Ferdinand Nwoye, said he was not aware of the diplomatic correspondence from the Chinese authorities. He promised to find out from the Nigerian consulate in Guangzhou. After one hour, Nwoye said, Lawal did not respond to my calls; maybe its because of the time difference. I will provide an update tomorrow (today). Post Views: 15 Mom of family repeatedly denied care for coronavirus hospitalized with blood clot in lungs DETROIT Cheryl Fowler is back in the hospital, this time with a blood clot in her lungs. The 57-year-old Grosse Pointe Woods mother of four has been through a lot in the last few weeks. She lost her husband, Gary Fowler, and father-in-law, David Fowler, to COVID-19 in early April. Then, she was hospitalized and needed ventilator support to breathe. While she was being treated at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Cheryl Fowler tested positive for the virus, which continued to sweep through their family infecting her sons Keith Gambrell and his younger brothers, Troy and Ross Fowler, as well. Gary Fowler, pictured here with his wife Cheryl, got sick in late March and went to several hospitals when he started to have shortness of breath, and according to his stepson Keith Gambrell, all turned him away. They told him he had bronchitis and refused to test him for coronavirus. Fowler died in the recliner of his home in Grosse Pointe Woods early on April 7. Cheryl is on a ventilator at Henry Ford Hospital. The family's plight Gambrell said his father went to three metro Detroit hospitals as he grew sicker and sicker, but was turned away and refused coronavirus testing at them all was highlighted in a Free Press story published Sunday. Cheryl Fowler seemed to be improving, her eldest son said. She came off the ventilator after a few days, and was discharged from the hospital on April 11. Earlier: Family ravaged by coronavirus begged for tests, hospital care but was repeatedly denied But, said Gambrell: "My mom, shes never really been back to 100% since shes been home from the hospital." He explained that she needed supplemental oxygen and was still coughing and complained of back pain. The Gambrell-Fowler pose for a family portrait. From left are Keith Gambrell, Gary Fowler, Cheryl Fowler, Troy Fowler and Paris Fowler. "She took her medicine, and it kind of went away," said Gambrell, a 33-year-old business owner from Detroit. "But two days later, she developed a little fever. She took Tylenol, but her oxygen levels started dropping. "We kept an eye on her. I called the doctor, told the doctor she was complaining of chest pain, and her oxygen was dropping, and he told us to bring her back because it could be something with her heart." Fowler was readmitted Tuesday night to Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, her son said, on what would have been her 24th wedding anniversary. "She has double pneumonia and she developed a blood clot in her lung, which explains the pressure she was feeling in her back." Story continues Blood clots appear to be a growing concern for coronavirus patients. Cheryl and Gary Fowler post together in this undated family photo. Published case reports of COVID-19 patients in the U.S., China and the Netherlands suggest some have developed a multitude of small blood clots, Stat News reported, and they can be fatal. As many as 7 out of 10 patients who died of COVID-19 had small blood clots throughout the bloodstream, according to a report from China, compared with fewer than 1 in 100 people who survived. Broadway star Nick Cordero's wife, Amanda Kloot, posted to Instagram about his ordeal with COVID-19. His right leg was amputated because of blood clots that weren't resolved with blood thinners. VPC CORDERO GETTY Coronavirus: Broadway actor Nick Cordero is still in coma but 'getting better' after leg amputation Some studies suggest COVID-19 can cause organs to fail as well, causing damage to the kidneys, the liver and heart of some patients. Gambrell said he's been reading the research about COVID-19, and it worries him. So far, he said his mother hasn't needed to go back on a ventilator, and he's been video chatting with her in the hospital. Keith Gambrell of Detroit is seen in a window in the front of his house while on quarantine with COVID-19 symptoms on Friday, April 10, 2020. Gambrell has had his life ravaged after losing his grandfather and stepfather to COVID-19 along with his mother being admitted to Henry Ford and is on a ventilator. His younger brother is now showing symptoms as well. But he worries, too, about how she's doing emotionally after so much loss and heartache. "Shes not the type of person to let you know somethings bothering her," Gambrell said. "I catch her crying, though, when I'm just talking to her. Shes not taking it too good at all." He said the family has been touched by the outpouring of support from the community. His mom, he said, hasn't worked in weeks. She's a food service worker at Parcells Middle School. His sister has created a GoFundMe to help cover the costs of medical expenses not covered by insurance, Gambrell said. Follow Kristen Jordan Shamus on Twitter: @kristenshamus. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan family devastated by COVID-19 takes another hit: Their mom Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 19:18:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Iran's UN mission spokesman Alireza Miryousefi said on Thursday that the Islamic republic will not succumb to the U.S. threats, Tasnim news agency reported. "Iran has proven that it will not succumb to intimidation and threats, nor will it hesitate to defend its territory, in accordance with international law, from any and all aggression," Miryousefi was quoted as saying. "In the midst of a global coronavirus pandemic when all attention worldwide is to combat this menace, the question is what the U.S. military is doing in Gulf waters, 7,000 miles from home," he added. The Iranian official was reacting to Wednesday's remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump who said he had "instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea." Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Sunday that the U.S. naval forces had during recent weeks repeatedly behaved in an "unprofessional" manner in the Gulf, which had threatened regional peace and given rise to new risks. Earlier, the U.S. Navy said in a statement that eleven military vessels of the IRGC conducted "dangerous and provocative actions" near U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships in international waters in the Gulf on April 15. Accordingly, the IRGC called for full withdrawal of all American forces from the Gulf and West Asia, saying the "illegal" presence of U.S. forces in the region is the source of insecurity in the West Asia. Enditem Philadelphia, PA - April 23, 2020 (Investorideas.com Newswire) VSBLTY Groupe Technologies Corp. (CSE: VSBY) (Frankfurt: 5VS) (OTC: VSBGF) ("VSBLTY"), a leading retail software technology company, today announced that it has signed a global, multi-product strategic teaming agreement with UST Global, a leading digital transformation solutions company. The two technology companies are teaming up to assimilate their solutions and services for the fast-changing retail industry. In announcing the strategic partnership with UST Global, VSBLTY Co-founder and CEO, Jay Hutton said, "We are excited to have the opportunity to work collaboratively with one of the world's most prominent digital transformation firms. UST Global is the perfect partner for us as we share their business philosophy of committing to long-term client success while providing value and flexibility' and we look forward to helping meet the advanced technology needs of UST Global's worldwide customers." Speaking on this, Subhodip Bandyopadhyay, GM, Emerging Digital Retail Technology, UST Global, said, "We are pleased to join hands with VSBLTY in providing IT solutions to our retail clients, which include 12 of the Top 20 Global Retailers. The UST Global - VSBLTY partnership is a powerful combination. VSBLTY is on the forefront of digital transformation for retail and it has the best-of-breed solutions for retail, including at shelf digital activation, audience measurement, customer journey analytics and theft prevention. This partnership will unlock the full potential of retail industry transformations and place our customers on the high path of success in today's digital landscape." VSBLTY technology provides enhanced customer engagement and audience measurement using machine learning and computer vision. Its industry leading VisionCaptor and DataCaptor software combine motion graphics and interactive brand messaging with cutting-edge computer vision measurement and insights. VSBLTY's AI-driven software, Vector, provides advanced facial recognition that is crucial to enhancing today's security requirements when recognizing weapons or suspicious persons in a crowd. With over 35 offices and 23,000 employees worldwide, UST Global offers industry-leading expertise through its Centers of Excellence that enable clients to attain their key business objectives. Complimenting the Centers of Excellence is the firm's Partner Program. This unique program is designed to develop strategic relationships with industry-leading companies and academia to provide the company's developers with both educational resources and early access to new technology. Investor Relations MarketSmart Communications Inc. +1-877-261-4466 info@marketsmart.ca CHF Capital Markets Cathy Hume, CEO +1-416-868-1079, x231 cathy@chfir.com CONTACT: Linda Rosanio, 609-472-0877 lrosanio@vsblty.net About VSBLTY (www.vsblty.net) Headquartered in Philadelphia, VSBLTY (CSE: VSBY) (Frankfurt:5VS) (OTC: VSBGF) ("VSBLTY") is the world leader in Proactive Digital Display, which transforms retail and public spaces as well as place-based media networks with SaaS-based audience measurement and security software that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning. About UST Global (www.ust-global.com) UST Global is a technology partner dedicated to transforming businesses, communities, and the people who live within them. Operating in 25 countries, we deliver future-ready digital transformation strategy services, products, and platforms that create new possibilities and help you imagine what's next in banking and finance, healthcare, retail, manufacturing, semiconductor, technology and media. But what matters most is the deep partnership we forge with you to solve the unique challenges you face today, while preparing you for tomorrow. That's us together. That's UST Global. Visit us at www.UST-Global.com. Media Contacts, UST Global: Tinu Cherian Abraham +1 (949) 415-9857 Neha Misri +91-9972631264 media.relations@ust-global.com LINDA ROSANIO VSBLTY, INC 609-472-0877 LROSANIO@VSBLTY.NET FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the development of advanced camera applications to help screen for persons who may be infected with COVID-19 as they enter buildings, and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. In particular, there is no assurance that VSBLTY and Photon-X will be successful in developing an advanced screening camera or be able to commercialize such product. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of VSBLTY, and which are described in the VSBLTY's public filings available under its profile at www.sedar.com. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and VSBLTY does not intend to update any of the included forward-looking statements except as required by Canadian securities laws. 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Disclosure: VSBLTY is a paid PR, news and social media client on Investorideas.com as of March 1, 2019 https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp VSBLTY Groupe Technologies Corp. (CSE: VSBY) is a featured Tech / AI stock on Investorideas.com Visit profile page Plans are being formed to turn abandoned coal mines in the northeast of England into a renewables project that will harness geothermal energy to heat buildings. In a statement Tuesday, South Tyneside Council said its cabinet would be asked to approve the appointment of a main designer for the project, which will draw geothermal energy from flooded mines at the old Hebburn Colliery, next week. Described by the U.S. Department of Energy as a "vital, clean energy resource," geothermal energy refers to heat from under the Earth's surface which can be used to produce renewable energy. The Hebburn Colliery project has already gained preliminary approval for funding worth 3.5 million ($4.32 million) from the European Regional Development Fund. South Tyneside Council is collaborating with both the Coal Authority and Durham University on the initiative, which amounts to 7 million in total. Councillor Joan Atkinson, who is South Tyneside Council's lead member for area management and community safety, said the scheme was expected to "deliver a reduction of 319 tonnes of carbon emissions a year, which will make it a key component in our drive to make the council carbon neutral by 2030." While the Hebburn Colliery was abandoned in 1932, the decline of coal mining across the U.K. as a whole has been a long process that has hit many communities hard in terms of job losses and societal change. As a source of power, coal's importance in the U.K. at least is also fading. According to the government, Britain's "reliance on coal for electricity" has fallen from 70% in 1990 to under 3% today. Provisional statistics released by the government at the end of March showed that electricity provided by coal-fired generators dropped by nearly 60% in 2019 compared to the previous year. According to the figures, the 6.9 terawatt hours of electricity supplied from coal-fired generators in 2019 represented a record low. The Energy Trends report on U.K. electricity put this down to plant closures and coal-generation becoming "less economically favourable" than gas-fired generation. On a larger scale, last December the International Energy Agency said that cheap natural gas had "shattered coal's competitiveness in the European Union in 2019." Already, 2020 has seen several coal facilities in Europe close their doors. Two coal-fired facilities in the U.K., operated by SSE and RWE, shut down on the same day at the end of March, while Austria's last operational coal-fired power station closed last week. In February, energy firm Drax said coal-fired electricity production at the U.K.'s largest power plant was expected to end in March 2021. - Hassani Rajabu, 30, and Amiri Salamu, 20, were stowaways aboard MV Top Grace ship from Singapore to South Africa - They had travelled miles and were almost reaching the destination when the Chinese crew realised they were on board - Afraid of their COVID-19 status, the crew led by the captain forced Rajabu and Salamu into an isolation room within the ship - They later dumped near the mouth of the Tugela River where great whites, hammerheads, tiger and bull sharks are known to hunt - The stowaways were only given two bottles of drinking water and a life jacket each to battle for their lives A Chinese ship captain and crew members have pleaded guilty to throwing two Tanzanian nationals into the shark-infested Indian Ocean for fear of catching coronavirus. A 30-year-old Hassani Rajabu and his counterpart Amiri Salamu, 20, were stowaways aboard MV Top Grace ship plying from Singapore to South Africa. READ ALSO: Miguna Miguna claps back at Sonko after regretting Nairobi handover deal: "I warned you" A Chinese ship crew threw two Tanzanians into the Indian Ocean over fears of being infected with coronavirus. Photo: Daily Mail. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Coronavirus update: 17 new cases test positive as national tally jumps to 320 According to the New York post, the ship crew was rattled to see the two stowaways of African descent in the vessel after covering thousands of miles to almost reaching the port of Durban in South Africa. Since they did not know the COVID-19 status of the stowaways, the crew asked them to wear face masks, a directive the two Tanzanians refuted, forcing the crew to take them into an isolation room within the ship. The Chinese nationals, thereafter, assembled a raft out of plywood, plastic drums and rope, and set the stowaways overboard, all with the skipper. As all this was happening, the ship's captain, Cui Rongli was watching. "The ship pulled away leaving them (stowaways) once they were aboard the raft. The accused admitted that their actions could have resulted in serious injury and even the loss of life. National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson, Natasha Kara, told the Daily Mail. MV Top Grace ship approaching Garden Bay port in South Africa. Photo: The Times. Source: UGC Before they were dumped into the Ocean, Salamu and Rajabu were only given two bottles of drinking water and a life jacket each to battle for their lives. According to New York Post, the two were dumped near the mouth of the Tugela River where great whites, hammerheads, tiger and bull sharks are known to hunt. They, however, survived the danger after they were washed up onto a tourist beach at dusk on the KwaZulu-Natal coast of South Africa, about 50 miles north of Durban. Doctors who assessed them after being rescued by locals said the stowaways suffered from hypothermia, thirst and hunger having been given no food and little water to survive. Upon receiving the news, the South African Maritime Safety Agency impounded the 600 foot long MV Top Grace as soon as it docketed at Richards Bay in South Africa. Captain Cogli was fined KSh 537, 000 while each of the crew parted with KSh268, 000 in a plea bargain. 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. Kenya hits 300 mark for positive Covid-19 cases | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke Canadian police have admitted that they failed to issue a timely public alert about the gunman who killed 22 people across eastern Nova Scotia, after facing mounting criticism for using social media to notify the residents instead. The shooter, 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman, began his rampage on Saturday night. The massacre continued in several small Nova Scotian towns and ended around noon on Sunday. During the worst mass shooting in the country's history, the Nova Scotia provincial detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) sent a series of tweets to about 90,000 followers warning that there was an active shooter in the area. Police set up two barriers around the initial crime scene in Portapique on Saturday night. But they didn't realize until between 7am and 8am the next morning that the shooter had disguised himself as an RCMP officer and was driving a vehicle resembling a police car. Scroll down for video Canadian police (pictured on Thursday) have admitted that they failed to issue a timely public alert about the gunman, who killed 22 people across eastern Nova Scotia, after facing mounting criticism for using social media to notify the residents instead During the worst mass shooting in the country's history, the Nova Scotia provincial detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) sent a series of tweets to about 90,000 followers warning that there was an active shooter in the area Police said they started the process of issuing the alert but it took several hours to make its way up the chain of command. Nova Scotia RCMP Chief Superintendent Chris Leather told reporters on Wednesday that 'Nova Scotia emergency management officials contacted the RCMP to offer the use of the public emergency alerting system'. 'We were in the process of preparing an alert when the gunman was shot and killed by the RCMP.' Leather defended the use of social media, saying he was 'very satisfied' with the messaging, which he said the media helped spread, and that the 'communications being provided were the best and clearest information that could be provided'. At 9.17am, authorities tweeted this image of the car that Wortman was driving On Monday, Leather told reporters that the force felt it was a 'superior way to communicate' the threat in the community, but said the force would look into the matter. Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil said the province had not received a request from police for an emergency alert to be sent out. Canadian authorities are still investigating what led Gabriel Wortman (pictured), 51, to shoot dead at least 19 people during a shooting spree in Nova Scotia But some of the families and friends of the victims said a provincial warning system, which would have sent out text, radio and TV warnings, might have saved the lives of their loved ones. 'I don't use Twitter, and I don't know anyone that does use Twitter,' Nick Beaton said in an interview broadcast by CTV News. Beaton's wife, Kristen, a nurse and mother from Debert, was shot dead on Sunday while on her way to work. Beaton said he would have never let his wife leave the house that morning had he known the gunman was still at large. She was pregnant with the couple's second child. 'We never got the chance to tell family,' he said. 'We were going to tell them this week, she was going on vacation.' Wortman's motive remains unknown. Police have said some of his victims were known to him, including his ex-wife and her new boyfriend, but others appear to have been chosen randomly. Police are still piecing together the timeline of events, Leather said, adding more details could come on Thursday. Wortman did not possess a firearms license in Canada, he said. Police initially said they believed there were 23 victims but Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) spokesman Daniel Brien later confirmed the death toll included 22 victims and the gunman. Authorities have also cautioned that they are still investigating crime scenes, including more than five homes Wortman burned to the ground. No details have been released about the type of gun used by Wortman or how it was obtained. Bringing in stricter gun control measures was an election promise of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberals in the October 2019 federal election, and he told reporters on Tuesday the legislation had been 'almost ready to go' when the novel coronavirus crisis hit. Police initially said they believed there were 23 victims but RCMP spokesman Daniel Brien later confirmed the death toll included 22 victims and the gunman. Police have cautioned that they are still investigating crime scenes, including more than five homes Wortman burned down 'The tragedy in Nova Scotia simply reinforces and underlines how important it is for us to continue to move forward on strengthening gun control in this country,' Trudeau said. 'We will do that at the appropriate time.' Meghan Nearing, a resident of the area where many of Wortman's victims lived, was home with her son on Saturday night and heard about the shootings, but did not know the gunman was still active when she woke up the next morning. 'There was nothing, no alert, so I thought everything was OK,' she said, speaking not far from where RCMP Constable Heidi Stevenson was shot and killed by Wortman on Sunday. 'Little did I know he was in my town when I was thinking that.' The few drivers, cyclists and walkers passing through a quarantined Matakana today will probably notice an impressive display of poppies, flags and and crosses placed on the communitys war memorial in advance of Anzac Day tomorrow. However, what most will not realise is that today Friday, April 24 is also a significant day for the monument itself, since it marks exactly 100 years since the statue was unveiled as New Zealands first public war memorial. Its a proud milestone for resident Adrienne Miller, who has almost single-handedly come to the rescue of the previously neglected monument in recent years, restoring the statue and surrounds, researching the stories of the fallen and reinstating Matakana ANZAC Day services. And she is celebrating two victories not only that the memorial has survived for 100 years, but also that Heritage New Zealand has accepted an application for it to be included on its list of significant historic places. The Matakana War Memorial was dedicated on April 24,1920, and has survived neglect, abuse and vandalism for nearly 100 years it's a miracle, she says. And heritage listing gives it protection it means that if someone tries to move it or do anything to it in future, they will have to jump through a whole lot of legislative hoops. The Matakana War Memorial was not only the first to be dedicated after the end of hostilities in 1918, it was also the first statue of King George to be carved in the world. The sculptor was William Henry Feldon, a renowned sculptor and brigade major of the Auckland Mounted Rifles. He went on to sculpt a number of NZ war memorials, but Matakanas was the first. The statue depicts the theme of peace and victory, with King George holding in his right hand his proclamation of November 1918 calling for two minutes silence to remember the dead. There are 13 names from World War I on the monument and Matakana's population at the time was 313, making the death rate of deployed local servicemen twice the national rate. Adrienne says the speed at which Matakana organised a quality sculpted memorial reflects the intense patriotism shown by the village and surrounding area before, during and after the 1914-18 war. Servicemen were returning from the conflict as late as October 1919, Adrienne says. But no sooner had the last soldier returned, the community fundraised and commissioned a unique monument to those who didn't return. Unfortunately, the memorial has often been a target for vandalism over the years, with King Georges head removed, lost and replaced on several occasions. The first known damage to the memorial occurred during the Abdication Crisis in 1936. Unfortunately, ignorance of what the memorial represents has seen it damaged, poorly restored and relocated, Adrienne says. However, Auckland Council has since worked with us to prevent some of the mistakes of the past, so that the memorial can look forward to celebrating its bicentenary. An ANZAC Day Stand At Dawn service will be broadcast from the Matakana War Memorial at 6am tomorrow (Saturday). For information, please see the Matakana War Memorial on Facebook www.facebook.com/MatakanaWarMemorial Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 17:36:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LHASA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Tibet Airlines plans to add 18 air routes this summer to provide more options for passengers and promote tourism in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, according to the company. The air routes will link Lhasa, capital of the autonomous region, and other cities in China including Kunming, Changsha and Shijiazhuang. The company said it will offer a total of 66 air routes this summer. More than 40 million tourists from home and abroad visited Tibet in 2019, up 19 percent year on year, according to local authorities. Enditem (Bloomberg) -- Some of the worlds largest companies have advised against the use of Zoom Video Communications Inc.s conferencing app, fueling a growing backlash against a service that shot to prominence during the Covid-19 pandemic. Daimler AG, Ericsson AB and NXP Semiconductors NV are among a wave of companies forbidding or warning employees against using Zoom because of concerns about its security, according to people familiar with their operations. At Bank of America Corp., staff need to get permission to use the service. They join corporations like Tesla Inc. and government agencies from Taiwan to Singapore that have banned the apps use, though the city-state has since backtracked. India has deemed Zoom an unsafe platform and initiated a public contest to develop a secure homegrown video-chat alternative. Zoom emerged during the global coronavirus lockdown as a home for everything from virtual cocktail hours to cabinet meetings and classroom learning. It passed the milestone of 300 million daily meeting participants this week, having never crossed 10 million before the start of this year. Its share price rose to another record Thursday. However, cybersecurity researchers warn hackers can exploit flaws in the software to eavesdrop on meetings. Weak protection has given rise to the phenomenon of Zoombombing, where uninvited trolls gain access to a video conference to harass participants. Daimler wrote the software has various security gaps and data protection problems in a memo to employees reviewed by Bloomberg News. The automaker, employer to close to 300,000 people globally, wasnt a Zoom corporate customer before but is now explicitly prohibiting the video-calling app, pointing workers to Microsoft Teams as a more trustworthy alternative. Daimler prohibits the use of Zoom for corporate content until further notice, company spokesman Christoph Sedlmayr said in an emailed statement. Zoom CEO Eric Yuan has focused on bolstering the security of his videoconferencing application with the goal of winning back customers who abandoned the company. Zoom is working on improving its encryption and argues that many of its problems stem from the fact the app was initially geared toward enterprise clients with their own IT security teams instead of the broad consumer app its become. Singapores government banned Zooms usage by schools but later lifted that moratorium after putting in place security safeguards. Story continues NXP, a provider of wireless communications technology, uses Microsoft Corp.s Teams internally and recently banned the use of Zoom with external parties, one person said, asking not to be identified discussing internal matters. Networking giant Ericsson also relies on Teams, previously Skype for Business, for remote meetings and now asks staff not to use Zoom. If clients or partners want to use the app, Ericsson staff will need to make sure the outside parties understand and are willing to accept the risks of using Zoom before proceeding with a meeting, said another person familiar with the measures. An NXP spokesman declined to comment, while Ericsson said in an emailed statement it has internally approved apps and guidelines for meetings, without elaborating. A large number of global institutions ranging from the worlds largest financial services companies, to leading telecommunications providers, government agencies, universities and others have done exhaustive security reviews of our user, network and data center layers and confidently selected Zoom for complete deployment, said a Zoom spokeswoman via email. We are proud to be helping these customers maintain business continuity in this challenging and unprecedented time. Bank of America doesnt typically use Zoom internally because it has other video conferencing tools, and in cases where clients seek to communicate via Zoom, bankers need to go through an approval process to use it, a person familiar with the situation said. Of the banks 208,000 employees, more than 175,000 are working from home, Chief Executive Officer Brian Moynihan said at the companys annual shareholder meeting Wednesday. A Bank of America spokesperson declined to comment. (Updates Zoom share price 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. Click here to read the full article. Long before he became the Marvel Cinematic Universes go-to stunt guy, moving up in the franchise ranks from Chris Evans stunt double to serving as the primary stunt coordinator on such massive outings as Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame, Sam Hargrave wanted to be a director. Hargraves first feature, the gritty Chris Hemsworth-starring action outing Extraction, hits Netflix this week, and hes celebrating in understandable style: quarantining on the Southern California coast with his girlfriend and dog and considering his unlikely career path. Extraction, written by his MCU compatriot Joe Russo (who also produced it alongside his brother Anthony and star Chris Hemsworth), is a smart fit for Hargrave: filled with bone-crunching action (no, really, turn on those captions and see how many [bone crunches] pop up), a vibrant location, and a frenetic 12-minute single take that left his own stars breathless (more on that to come). Its also the kind of movie that audiences still like, even if the studios (including Marvels home, Disney) arent so interested in making them. More from IndieWire Shot on location in both India and Bangladesh, Hemsworth stars in the film as a mercenary who is hired to rescue the kidnapped son of a big-time drug lord. Extraction zips and zags from massive action set piece to massive action set piece, but unlike Hargraves best known work, its also an original feature that isnt beholden to the demands of an overarching franchise framework. Thats become increasingly rare. Netflix offered a platform for a movie of the size and budget to exist, Hargrave told IndieWire during a recent interview. Movies like this, kind of the mid-range budget action movies with an R rating, its hard for them to find a home in the theatrical landscape. To get something thats not a big franchise with an existing idea that people know or a character that people are going to automatically flock to see, its risky. Its a risky business. Story continues As a youngster, Hargrave was big into action movies (watching) and martial arts (doing), which eventually led to an enduring affection for both Jackie Chan and Hong Kong cinema. Chans work is what inspired Hargrave to attend film school in the first place, where he dreamed of learning how to do everything: write it, direct it, act in it, do stunts in it, just like his cinematic hero. At UNC Chapel Hill, Hargrave learned how to do just that, eventually directing five short films, all of which he also wrote or co-wrote, most of which he edited, and a few of which he served as sound editor or cinematographer on. But Hargrave was also proficient at something else: as one of his friends observed while at school, he was pretty good at falling on his head, suggesting that Hargrave enter Hollywood (and the directing thing) by working as a stuntman. It made sense. As a kid, Hargrave also loved Westerns, from Sergio Leone spaghettis to serials like The Lone Ranger and Zorro. Hargrave didnt just like to watch, however, he and his little brother would recreate stunts and film them on their familys camcorder. Their derring-do got so intense, Hargrave said, that his mother would attempt to edit out bigger action sequences, recording Hargraves favorite shows and then toggling between a pair of VCRs to snip out the really scary stuff. It didnt necessarily work, but Hargrave did get a career out of it. Still, after nearly a decade with Marvel, plus stints coordinating stunts for other massive Hollywood films like Atomic Blonde, The Accountant, and The Hunger Games series, Hargrave had not lost sight of his filmmaking desires. And they were well-known to his friends, including MCU directors Joe and Anthony Russo and Thor himself. Joe Russo first approached Hargrave on the set of Avengers: Infinity War with the script for what would become Extraction. Hargrave was familiar with it he had read a previous iteration when it was titled Ciudad, was set in South America, and was even being explored as a directing gig for another stuntman-turned-director, Hargraves friend Chad Stahelski but Russo had something new for him. The action had been moved to Dhaka, Bangladesh, and for a guy like Hargrave, who grew up loving films from all over the world, that setting was too intriguing to overlook. It also reminded him of the other stunt-heavy outings he loved as a kid, including the work of Michael Mann, Steven Spielberg, and James Cameron, action kings who have also been able to capture success in both franchise and non-franchise features. It reminded me of those movies, Hargrave said. It had the reality and the feel of Heat or a Cameron or Spielberg movie, in terms of those big action set pieces. It was a little more violent than some of those films, but it did have this very strong, silent type hero, but with a depth to him. It was a muscular action movie, but at its core, it was a heartfelt tale about redemption. Hes not kidding about the feature being a little more violent than some of his perennial favorites and the kind of films hes worked on for most of his career. Extraction is the sort of film where Hemsworth, starring as a hardened mercenary named Tyler Rake, actually puts a mans face through a rake. Thats just in the first act. Maybe its just repressed from having the restrictions of working in the PG, PG-13 world of Marvel, Hargrave said with a laugh. When youre given a movie that opens the door to a whole new way of looking at action, a new way of telling the story, its very enticing. And we wanted to be true to the DNA of the film, which was a very hard, raw, open look at violence in this world of black market contractors and drug lords. We didnt want to pull punches, and I think that if we had done that, it might have been a disservice to that world and the story. And, like films like Heat or True Lies, two Hargrave favorites, it does not exist to create a new franchise. I think thats one that you dont really see a lot nowadays, he said. Having been a part of so many large franchises, what was cool about this movie is it was an original story that stood alone. I never thought about it as a franchise-able thing. So much content these days is either a sequel or a comic book movie based on previous IP, so to have an original story like this is very unique and it was part of the draw for me. The film also makes a point to show other perspectives beyond just Tyler or his young charge (Rudhraksh Jaiswal, who stars as the kidnapped Ovi), resisting a good versus evil storyline that can sometimes dominate big budget Hollywood fare. So much of the time, theres violence portrayed in movies where, I dont want to say you become numb to it or dont really appreciate it, but youve got a good guy whos shooting a bunch of guys, and its the good guys versus the bad guys, he said. The good guys shoot the bad guys! They fall, we cheer, and we just keep going. You dont really think about it. Hargrave falls on the side of good guys. While Extraction is the product of a multi-billion dollar corporation and bonds forged while making a multi-billion dollar franchise, its also the result of a childhood dream, helped along by people who are eager to help foster the next generation. The Russos, mentored by Steven Soderbergh in their own early years, have always set out to help up-and-comers who, like themselves, might have taken a different kind of path to meet their ambitions. I cant say enough good things, theyre just kind, thoughtful, caring people and they really do want to help upcoming filmmakers, and thats something thats important to me in the business, Hargrave said. None of us got to the places were at by ourselves, there are always people along the way who helped us and inspired us and took a chance on us. Extraction starts streaming on Netflix on Friday, April 24. Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has renewed its call for government relief measures for the Mena airline industry saying the regions airlines could lose up to $24 billion of passenger revenue compared to 2019. The figure is $5 billion more than was expected at the beginning of the month. Job losses in aviation and related industries could grow to 1.2 million. That is half of the regions 2.4 million aviation-related employment. Previous estimate was 0.9 million, it said. Iata said full-year 2020 traffic is expected to plummet by 51% compared to 2019. Previous estimate was a fall of 39%. GDP supported by aviation in the region could fall by $66 billion from $130 billion. Previous estimate was $51 billion. These estimates are based on a scenario of severe travel restrictions lasting for three months, with a gradual lifting of restrictions in domestic markets, followed by regional and intercontinental, Iata said. Airlines in the Middle East continue to be battered by the impact of Covid-19. Passenger traffic has all but ground to a halt and revenue streams have evaporated. No amount of cost cutting will save airlines from a liquidity crisis. The collapse of air transport will have devastating effects on countries economies and jobs. And in a region where aviation is a key pillar of many nations economies the effect will be much worse. Direct financial support is essential to maintain jobs and ensure airlines can remain viable businesses, said Muhammad Al Bakri, IATAs Regional Vice President for Africa and the Middle East. Some of the impacts at national level include: Saudi Arabia: 35 million fewer passengers resulting in a $7.2 billion revenue loss, risking 287,500 jobs and $17.9 billion in contribution to Saudi Arabias economy. UAE: 31 million fewer passengers resulting in a $6.8 billion revenue loss, risking 378,700 jobs and $23.2 billion in contribution to UAEs economy. Egypt: 13 million fewer passengers resulting in a $2.2 billion revenue loss, risking 279,800 jobs and $3.3 billion in contribution to Egypts economy. Morocco: 11 million fewer passengers resulting in a $1.7 billion revenue loss, risking 499,000 jobs and $4.9 billion in contribution to Moroccos economy. Iran: 8.7 million fewer passengers resulting in a $1.8 billion revenue loss, risking 206,900 jobs and $4.3 billion in contribution to Irans economy. Kuwait: 5.2 million fewer passengers resulting in a $1billion revenue loss, risking 24,100 jobs and $1.6 billion in contribution to Kuwaits economy. The Finance Ministry on Wednesday notified changes in FDI rules, which made prior approval of the government mandatory for foreign investments from countries that share border with India, to prevent opportunistic takeover of domestic firms amid Covid-19 pandemic under the FEMA law. The countries which share land borders with India are China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar and Afghanistan. The Department of Economic Affairs, under the ministry, has notified these amendments to the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA). In exercise of the powers conferred by clauses (aa) and (ab) of sub-section (2) of section 46 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Foreign Exchange Management (Non-debt Instruments) Rules, 2019..., the department said in a notification. Change in FDI policy needs to be notified under FEMA for its implementation. Provided that an entity of a country, which shares land border with India or the beneficial owner of an investment into India who is situated in or is a citizen of any such country, shall invest only with the Government approval, it said. The the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on April 18 issued a press note regarding this change in policy, which would impact both direct and indirect FDI from China. It said that the government has amended the FDI (foreign direct investment) policy to curb opportunistic takeovers/acquisitions of Indian companies on account of Covid-19 pandemic. China has stated that these new norms violate the World Trade Organisations (WTO) principle of non-discrimination and are against the general trend of free trade. Indian trade experts have, however, said that India has not violated any norm of the WTO by making these FDI changes as the global bodys rules do not cover foreign investments. Currently, such norms were there for investments coming from Pakistan. A company can invest in India, subject to the FDI policy except in those sectors/activities which are prohibited. According to the DPIIT data, India received FDI from China worth USD 2.34 billion (Rs 14,846 crore) between April 2000 and December 2019. During the same period, India has attracted Rs 48 lakh from Bangladesh, Rs 18.18 crore from Nepal, Rs 35.78 crore from Myanmar, and Rs 16.42 crore from Afghanistan. There are no investments from Pakistan and Bhutan. FDI is allowed through automatic route in most of the sectors, however, certain areas such as defence, telecom, media, pharmaceuticals and insurance, government approval is required for foreign investors. Under the government route, foreign investor has to take prior approval of respective ministry/ department. Through automatic approval route, the investor just has to inform the RBI after the investment is made. There are nine sectors where FDI is prohibited - lottery business, gambling and betting, chit funds, Nidhi company, real estate business, and manufacturing of cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes using tobacco. During April-December 2019-20, FDI into India increased by 10 per cent to USD 36.77 billion. The National Commission for Women has asked the Delhi government to conduct an immediate inquiry into the alleged assault and heckling of female medical staff working in coronavirus quarantine wards at the Lok Nayak (LNJP) hospital here. According to a media report, a nurse claimed that she was heckled and that her PPE suit was torn by some patients when she was distributing food. It was also reported earlier this month that a senior resident doctor was allegedly assaulted by patients at the same hospital when she was treating COVID-19 patients at the surgical ward. Expressing concern over the matter, the NCW has written to Chief Secretary, Delhi, Vijay Dev and has sent a copy of the letter to the Director of LNJP hospital, Delhi, for immediate inquiry into the alleged incidents saying that action be taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents in future. "Further, strict measures shall be taken to ensure safety and security of women staff and doctors working as frontline workers in this pandemic period," the NCW said in the letter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 21 Trend: The Azerbaijani Ministry of Health has called on the population not to try treating coronavirus without a doctors prescription, Trend reports on April 21 referring to the Azerbaijani Ministry of Health. Many websites have been recently advertising the effectiveness of various medicines to treat coronavirus. These websites emphasize a positive effect of these medicines on eliminating the symptoms caused by the virus. However, medication should be taken only under the supervision of a doctor, the message said. The erroneous, irregular consumption of medicines may have a negative effect on medical treatment and may cause more harm than good, said the ministry. So now only two men are on trial in Germany, far from where their accusers say the crimes took place, while many more senior perpetrators, including Mr. Assad, remain in power. Further complicating Mr. Raslans status is his defection to the opposition in 2012, less than two years into the war. In 2014, he even joined the opposition delegation to peace talks sponsored by the United Nations in Geneva. Some legal advocates fear that prosecuting someone like Mr. Raslan could dissuade other former Syrian officials from serving as inside witnesses to help build other cases because they might fear facing trial themselves. Others worry that a small number of similar prosecutions could allow European governments to feel that they are doing enough and dissuade them from broader efforts to hold Mr. al-Assad and his subordinates accountable. It is a good first step, an important step, but it is not going to be sufficient to fulfill the demands for justice of the Syrian people, said Mohammed Al Abdallah, the director of the Syrian Justice and Accountability Center, which is monitoring the trial. For Germany, the trial has become the most important of several prosecuted since 2002 on the principle of universal jurisdiction, under which national courts can try war crimes cases from elsewhere in the world. " " Being forced to stay home during the COVID-19 outbreak may start to feel like house arrest, but it could be worse. Oliver Rossi/Getty Imges Whether you're officially quarantined or just hunkering down at home, the COVID-19 pandemic has the world on lockdown. If you haven't left your house or had a meaningful face-to-face interaction in weeks, you might wonder, is this what it feels like to be on house arrest? Or do even convicted felons have more freedom than folks who are self-isolating from the coronavirus? "That's not an inappropriate observation," says Marjorie Peerce, a criminal defense attorney and partner at Ballard Spahr in New York. "The difference is that if you violate social distancing guidelines or take a drive when you're not supposed to, you won't get taken to jail. There are real consequences for somebody who violates home confinement rules that would not apply to you." "Home confinement" or "home detention" are the official legal terms for house arrest, which is a special type of sentence or condition of release imposed by a judge in criminal cases. While every case is different and state laws vary, court-ordered home confinement is not that different from what many people are experiencing in regions of the world hardest hit by COVID-19. The terms of each home confinement sentence are laid down by the judge, who decides how much contact the detainee is allowed to have with the outside world. Peerce says that some people on house arrest can't even stray as far as their front porch, while others are allowed to leave during the day for work or grocery shopping as long as they're back at the house by a set curfew. But even the most "lenient" court-ordered home detention is still a punishment, Peerce insists. "It is confinement. You are locked in. It is not a life of luxury. Liberty is curtailed," says Peerce. "A judge is controlling when you can and cannot leave your home." Advertisement When is Home Confinement an Option? Judges generally order home confinement in three different scenarios: as a condition of bail (pre-trial) as a type of probation in lieu of jail time as a condition of release from jail In the bail situation, a judge may choose to confine an individual to their home if they are considered a flight risk. The whole point of bail is to allow someone who has been formally indicted for a crime to be released from jail while they await trial. Bail can be denied, however, if it's a violent offense or if there's suspicion that the defendant will try to flee the country. In cases where the flight risk isn't serious enough to warrant incarceration, the judge could impose home confinement instead. The other two scenarios involving home confinement happen during the sentencing phase after someone has been convicted of a crime. If it's a first offense or a nonviolent crime, the defense attorney may decide to request home confinement in lieu of any actual jail time. In that case, the judge may order a period of home confinement as part of a longer sentence of probation or community service. If the crime is serious enough to warrant a prison sentence, the judge may still tack on a period of home confinement at the end as a type of supervised release. Peerce says that when a judge pronounces a five-year jail sentence, it could break down as four years and two months behind bars, four months in "community confinement" a halfway house with a curfew and finally six months of home confinement. Advertisement A Different Type of Shackle? As Peerce says, house arrest isn't a walk in the park. People sentenced to home confinement are required to wear an electronic monitoring device often an ankle bracelet with a radio or GPS transmitter that tracks their movements 24/7. According to people who have lived with these devices, ankle bracelets can feel like another form of jail. In many states, individuals pay a daily "rental" fee for the bracelet, as much as $25 a day. The transmitter must be frequently recharged, and if the battery dies, that could send the police to your house. In some drug convictions, the ankle monitor is equipped with sensors that test sweat for signs or drug or alcohol consumption. Some ankle monitors even allow probation officers to initiate two-way communication with the device without the individual's consent. Peerce has had clients who couldn't wear an ankle monitor for medical reasons, but who still had to check in with an automated phone system to make sure they weren't violating curfew. "A machine would call their landline telephone in the middle of the night, they'd be prompted to say some magic words and the machine would determine whether it was the right person," says Peerce. "When you first wake up, your voice doesn't sound the same, so the client would often get woken up and the voice wouldn't match, so they just decided to stay up until the machine called." Advertisement Is COVID-19 Isolation Worse Than House Arrest? If you've been truly locked down and quarantined during the coronavirus pandemic, you might be feeling levels of isolation that are worse than those some home detainees experience. Depending on the sentence, people on house arrest may be allowed to leave the house for all manner of necessary activities including work, schooling, child or elder care duties, shopping, religious services and more. In many cases, they are allowed to receive visitors at home or at least family members. So, if you haven't seen your grandma in a month, your "sentence" is probably worse than the normal house arrest. But before you get jealous of convicted felons, remember what Peerce said about the price of breaking the terms of home detention. You could get thrown in jail, the last place anyone wants to be, especially during a pandemic. In addition to being a litigator, Peerce is co-chair of the Sentencing Committee of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, where she advocates for policy reforms to make criminal sentencing more fair and equal. As the COVID-19 pandemic worsens, Peerce says it's desperately important to move as many prisoners as possible to alternative sentencing like home detention. COVID-19 will move quickly through prisons, where vulnerable populations have no viable options for social distancing. Peerce thinks that if more people understood that home detention was a true punishment and not a walk in the park, the Bureau of Prisons would be more likely to reassign inmates to house arrest and potentially save thousands of lives. Perhaps this prolonged general sheltering in place may help to make that point. Now That's Interesting Buzzfeed News interviewed two parolees who'd spent time on house arrest. Their advice for people struggling with staying at home during COVID-19? "Go back to the basics" and have dinner as a family or play a board game. Or take up a hobby, like painting. And if your family members start bugging you? Go into another room and shut the door. "Everything will pass," advised one. A former Scout leader has been jailed for a maximum of 31 years and 6 months after he preyed upon young boys for more than two decades, sexually abusing nine children including a seven-year-old boy. Mario Henry Aliverti, 61, assaulted six boys while he occupied leadership roles at a Scout group in south-west Sydney between 1985 and 1989. One boy was abused again by Aliverti in 1991. Mario Henry Aliverti leaves court in 2018. Credit:Georgina Mitchell Those boys, who were aged between 11 and 15, were subjected to a range of persistent assaults including being masturbated against their will, being touched indecently, and having Aliverti penetrate them, causing significant pain. One of the boys, aged 12, was assaulted so forcefully he developed a friction burn on his penis. He was assaulted again at age 13, sustaining another penis burn which bled, after Aliverti invited him to build canoes in a Scout building and instead pushed him down and assaulted him while he cried. He later attempted to take his own life. GOTHENBURG, Sweden, April 23, 2020/PRNewswire/ -- Alrik Danielson, President and CEO: "We have delivered another very strong set of results, despite falling demand connected to the Covid-19 pandemic. Our cash flow generation and financial liquidity continues to be strong. We have continued to invest in innovation, optimize our operations and reduce costs. Net sales fell organically by almost 9% to SEK 20.1 billion. Sales were 10% lower in Asia, 9% lower in Europe, 12% lower in North America and almost 4% higher in Latin America. Sales were impacted across most regions by both government- imposed closures as well as lower underlying demand. Despite this development, the adjusted operating margin for the first quarter was very strong, at 12.8%, (12.8% last year), with an adjusted operating profit of SEK 2,572 million (2,720 last year). Cash flow was also strong, at 1,930 million (684). The Industrial business delivered an adjusted margin of 15.5% (15.8%), despite a drop in organic sales of almost 7%. The Automotive business, which in Europe was significantly impacted by customer closures from the middle of March, delivered an adjusted margin of 5.7%, in-line with last year's performance, despite a fall in organic sales of over 13%. Precautionary measures by authorities and lower overall demand is impacting many of the regions and industries in which SKF operates. This was particularly visible during the last two weeks of March when we experienced a sharp drop in sales of 25% compared to last year. In India and Southeast Asia, for instance, our factories have been closed, in accordance with government guidelines. Some of our factories in Italy have also been closed, with exceptions for those supplying critical industries. Factories in most other countries have remained operational, albeit at a lower capacity, taking lower demand levels into account. We continue to work diligently to ensure our sites remain safe places to work, with increased focus on personal hygiene and wellbeing. Our colleagues around the world have done a great job in continuing to keep our customers in focus, despite exceptionally challenging circumstances in many economies and societies. We are also taking steps to mitigate the financial impact of the situation. This includes closure of sites, reducing costs and number of employees and increasing flexibility within the workforce. These are difficult but necessary steps that we need to take, in a responsible manner, to protect the business and make sure we have the foundations in place from which to emerge from this crisis as an even stronger SKF. We are preparing the business for a range of different demand development scenarios and feel confident that we will be able to act accordingly as the situation develops. SKF has a strong financial position and has a track- record of resilient margins and strong cash flow in a downturn. With this in mind, and given the uncertainty in the current global economic situation, it is not feasible to provide a reliable demand guidance for the second quarter." Key figures, SEKm Q1 2020 Q1 2019 Net sales 20,085 21,278 Adjusted operating profit 2,572 2,720 Adusted operating margin, % 12.8 12.8 Operating profit 2,268 2,658 Operating margin, % 11.3 12.5 Profit before taxes 1,856 2,442 Adjusted profit before taxes 2,160 2,504 Net cash flow after investments before financing 1,930 684 Basic earnings per share 2.75 3.77 Adjusted earnings per share 3.41 3.91 Net sales change y-o-y, % Organic Structure Currency Total SKF Group -8.6 0.1 2.9 -5.6 Industrial -6.7 0.1 3.0 -3.6 Automotive -13.3 - 2.9 -10.4 Organic sales change in local currencies, y-o-y, % Europe North America Latin America Asia Mid-East & Africa SKF Group -8.8 -11.7 3.5 -10.4 5.6 Industrial -- --- + -- +/- Automotive --- --- +/- --- +++ Outlook and guidance Demand for Q2 2020 compared to Q2 2019 The industries and regions in which SKF operates are being impacted by initiatives by authorities and by SKF's customers related to the spread of the Covid-19 virus. As a result of this significant level of uncertainty, it is not feasible to provide a reliable demand guidance for the second quarter. Guidance Q2 2020 Financial net: SEK -250 million Guidance 2020 Tax level excluding effect related to divested businesses: around 29%. Additions to property, plant and equipment: around SEK 3,300 million . A teleconference will be held on 23 April 2020 at 08:00 (CET): Conference ID: 2975346 International: +44 (0) 2071 928338 Sweden: +46 (0)8 566 18467 United States: +1 646 741 3167 Website: http://investors.skf.com/en/reports-and-presentations Aktiebolaget SKF (publ) The information in this press release is information which AB SKF is required to disclose under the EU Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 The information was provided by the above contact persons for publication on 23 April 2020 at 07:00. CONTACT: For further information, please contact: PRESS: Theo Kjellberg, Director, Press Relations tel: 46 31 337 6576, mobile: 46 725-776576, e-mail: theo.kjellberg@skf.com INVESTOR RELATIONS: Patrik Stenberg, Head of Investor Relations Patrik Stenberg, 46 31-337 2104; 46 705-472 104; patrik.stenberg@skf.com This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/skf/r/skf-first-quarter-report-2020--continuing-to-deliver-strong-results-and-cash-flow,c3094668 The following files are available for download: In "Driveways," Brian Dennehy plays Del, a widowed veteran whose days are defined by bingo games at the VFW and solo TV dinners. When a little boy named Cody (Lucas Jaye) shows up to help his mom clean out her sister's house next door to Del, an unlikely friendship blossoms. This slight but well-observed drama was one of the last projects filmed by Dennehy, who died last week at 81. He couldn't have chosen a more tender, elegiac note to go out on. Graced by a spiky, unsentimental performance by Hong Chau, who plays Cody's overworked mom, "Driveways" is a film of modest but richly detailed pleasures, chief among them watching Dennehy bring his signature brand of barrel-chested gruffness to a man of achingly few words. When, late in the story, Del opens up, it's as if an ancient oak tree were throwing all its acorns at once, in one final gesture of generosity and grace. Unrated. Available April 24 via streaming at theavalon.org, afisilver.afi.com, cinemaartstheatre.com and themiracletheatre.com. Contains brief strong language and smoking. 84 minutes. - Ann Hornaday - - - "Extraction" has a pretty good pedigree: It's produced by brothers Anthony and Joe Russo ("Avengers: Endgame"), the latter of whom wrote the screenplay, based on "Ciudad," a 2014 graphic novel the Russos co-wrote with Ande Parks. And although director Sam Hargrave is making his feature debut, his previous work as stunt coordinator for the Russos stands him in good stead here. It's obvious that he knows his way around an action movie in this entertaining thriller, which stars Chris Hemsworth as a mercenary who takes on what looks like a simple job retrieving the kidnapped son of a drug lord, only to find it's not so straightforward. Set mostly in and around the streets, markets, slums - and, in one scene, sewers - of Dhaka, Bangladesh, "Extraction" is a sterling piece of escapism, characterized by vivid, visceral mayhem and a nice rapport that develops between Hemsworth and his young charge (Rudhraksh Jaiswal). R. Available April 24 via Netflix streaming. Contains strong bloody violence throughout, coarse language and brief drug use. 117 minutes. - Michael O'Sullivan - - - The 19th-century Australian outlaw and folk hero Ned Kelly is given a punk makeover in "True History of the Kelly Gang," a visually striking but dramatically inert biopic from filmmaker Justin Kurzel ("Macbeth") that is neither very true nor historical. Fresh off "1917," actor George MacKay makes for an intense, slightly demented antihero, and the screenplay, which Shaun Grant adapted from Peter Carey's Booker Prize-winning novel about Kelly, keeps hammering away at the theme of destiny. "Be the man who you were meant to be," Ned's mother - played by Essie Davis, who is married to the director - tells him. At another point, Ned's nemesis in law enforcement (Nicholas Hoult) says, "You're not the man who you pretend to be." In the end, we don't come away with a clear picture of Kelly, giving the lie to what one character calls "a story with telling." R. Available April 24 on various streaming platforms. Contains strong violence throughout, bloody images, pervasive crude language, sexuality and some nudity. 124 minutes. - M.O. - - - The documentary "Circus of Books" is really two movies in one. The first is a quirky history of a now-defunct book-and-gay-pornography emporium that operated two branches in the Los Angeles area for many years before the internet killed it. That part looks at the shops' role as gathering spaces during the gay liberation movement and AIDS crisis, offering a simultaneous portrait of the business's unlikely owners: Barry and Karen Mason, a nice middle-class Jewish couple who fell into their jobs almost accidentally, before becoming known as champions of tolerance. Directed by the Masons' daughter Rachel Mason, "Circus" is also a bit of a family history as well, looking back at her mother's initially negative reaction when one of her two sons came as gay. Both narratives are fascinating, but Karen's journey toward aligning her politics with her personal life is the more inspirational one. TV-MA. Available via Netflix streaming. Contains sexual images and language and some nudity. 86 minutes. - M.O. - - - You might not be in the mood these days for a movie packed with gruesome death scenes that (mostly) take place within the confines of a single apartment. But if you can get past a few minutes of torture porn and a steady stream of blood, "Why Don't You Just Die!," a gore-fest from Russian writer-director Kirill Sokolov, is a moderately compelling drama. Much of the thriller consists of young thug Matvey (Aleksandr Kuznetsov) and middle-aged police detective Andrei (Vitaly Khalev) attacking each other with a dizzying array of conventional and unconventional weapons, from a hammer to a shotgun to a TV set. But as the title suggests, Matvey, after being subjected to increasingly cartoonish violence - and the excruciating use with a power drill - simply won't die. The filmmaker has a master's degree in physics, and he puts it to good use in his feature debut, carefully observing the way blood drips and spurts, and designing extravagant experiments that suggest a live-action Wile E. Coyote episode directed by Quentin Tarantino. As frantic, and frankly headache-inducing, as all this savagery is, the punishing fight scenes eventually give way to moments of introspection from Andrei's broken family, whose deepest wounds lie well below the surface. Which kind of makes "Why Don't You Just Die!" a Chekhov play for fans of extreme horror. Unrated. Available on various streaming platforms. Contains inordinate amounts of extremely unsettling graphic violence. In Russian with subtitles. 95 minutes. - Pat Padua - - - Anyone lucky enough to have seen the exhibition "Hilma af Klint: Paintings for the Future" at the Guggenheim last year knows the thrill of encountering the Swedish painter's work firsthand. With "Beyond the Visible: Hilma af Klimt," Halina Dyrschka's incisive documentary, the rest of us now get a chance to witness the vibrant, cosmically-inclined images created by an intellectual and artistic pioneer. Recounting af Klint's early days as the daughter of an aristocratic naval family and gifted art student, "Beyond the Visible" makes a convincing case that af Klint invented abstract painting long before such nominal groundbreakers as Kandinsky and Malevich. Like the recent film "Be Natural: The Untold Story of Alice Guy-Blache," Dyrschka's movie tells a revealing and infuriating story about how women's work gets erased and marginalized by the men who write the histories. But aside from a much-needed correction of the record, the best reason to watch "Beyond the Visible" is simply to see af Klint's breathtaking paintings - ecstatic concoctions of spirals, coils and biomorphic shapes that evoke the scientific and philosophical questions that consumed her. Unrated. Available April 24 via streaming at cinemaartstheatre.com. Contains noting objectionable. In English, German and Swedish with subtitles. 93 minutes. - A.H. - - - Capitalizing on the interest in Netflix's "Tiger King," the cult classic "Roar" - a 1981 oddity starring Tippi Hedren, her daughter Melanie Griffith and a menagerie of untrained lions, tigers and other wild cats - is returning to streaming platforms. Make no mistake: This story of a naturalist (writer-director Noel Marshall, who was married to Hedren) who lives with dozens of big cats - several of whom are said to have attacked the cast and crew during filming - is by no means a well-made movie. But it is a fun watch, despite the seemingly improvised dialogue, thin, incoherent plot and bad acting, which veers from the stiffly awkward to what looks like genuine terror. It's been called the most dangerous movie ever made, and, with a budget of $17 million, the most expensive home movie ever made. Both claims are equally well justified. PG. Available April 24 via streaming at afisilver.afi.com. Contains some bloody images and scenes of violence. 102 minutes. - M.O. - - - ALSO STREAMING - "Robert the Bruce" is a historical drama about the titular medieval Scottish king, played by Angus Macfadyen, who had the same role in "Braveheart." The Guardian calls this "sort-of-but-not-quite sequel" to the 1995 Oscar-winner a "thoughtful, well-meaning crack at historical drama." Unrated. Available April 24 on various streaming platforms. Contains some strong language and sporadic graphic violence. 124 minutes. - In "Braking for Whales," Tom Felton ("Harry Potter's" Draco Malfoy) and Tammin Sursok play estranged sibling who agree to an absurd request: disposing of their late mother's ashes inside the body of a whale. Unrated. Available April 24 via various streaming platforms. 103 minutes. - "The Queen's Corgi" is a Belgian animated feature, made in English, about a Buckingham Palace dog who gets lost and must find his way back home. PG. Available via Amazon streaming. Contains thematic elements involving sexually suggestive material, rude humor, violence and some coarse language. 85 minutes. - Based on a 2008 children's book about four siblings who conspire to bring about the demise of their neglectful parents, "The Willoughbys" brings what Variety calls "a candy-coated palette and high-fructose energy to what might have been a gloomy Gothic affair in the Tim Burton or Charles Addams tradition." PG. Available via Netflix streaming. Contains rude humor and some mature thematic eklements. 92 minutes. - Made by a group of students at the University of Maryland, "My Brothers and Friends!" tells the story of a college student struggling with financial and mental hardship who finds solace in a fraternity and one of its enigmatic members. Unrated. Available April 23 via Amazon streaming. 90 minutes. - "2 Weeks in Lagos" is a faith-based Nigerian rom-com involving conflict between love at first sight and an arranged marriage. Unrated. Available April 24 via streaming at afisilver.afi.com. 115 minutes. - A tale of erotic obsession and, yes, a zombie, the French film "Zombi Child" is characterized by a "dreamy detachment," according to the New York Times. It may be inconclusive, but that's the source of power, the Times says, for a film "fueled by insinuation and fascination." Unrated. Available April 24 via streaming at afisilver.afi.com. In French, Creole and English with subtitles. 103 minutes. - "To the Stars" is a black-and-white coming-of-age drama about two teenage outsiders set in 1960s Oklahoma. Screen Daily calls it "quietly moving." Unrated. Available April 24 on various streaming platforms. Contains strong language and mature thematic elements. 111 minutes. - "Planet of the Humans" is a documentary about the failure of the environmental movement to halt climate change. Director Michael Moore ("Bowling for Columbine") has made it available for free on his YouTube channel. Unrated. Available via streaming at youtube.com/mmflint. 100 minutes. - The Sundance-nominated documentary "Pahokee" follows four teenagers in a small, impoverished agricultural town in rural Florida during their senior year in high school. Variety called the film "lively and rousing." Unrated. Available April 24 via streaming at themiracletheatre.com. 110 minutes. Victorian Parliament Debates Temporary Emergency Bill A scaled-down meeting of Victorias state Parliament has taken place to try and resolve the economic damage of the CCP virus. The urgent Parliament debate will focus on budget measures and the temporary COVID-19 Omnibus (Emergency Measures) Bill. The emergency bill, which is hundreds of pages long, lays out reforms to the justice system, rental, and landlord agreements, employment, and public health. The appropriation (interim) bill (pdf) and the Appropriation (Parliament) (Interim) Bill (pdf), will provide funding for the rest of the year. An estimated $35.9 billion (US$22.8 billion) and $116 million, will come out of the consolidated fund, to be used to counteract the public health and social stability challenges created by the CCP virus. Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews proposed the temporary Emergency Bill on April 21, as a response to the economic downturn which was caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as coronavirus. The pandemic has seen hundreds of employees stood down and some businesses forced into temporary closure, or worse. The bill, which has a six-month expiry clause, allows the Victorian government to exercise all its power to counteract the losses caused by the CCP virus pandemic. These are temporary changesbut theyre necessary changes. This is about responding to the challenges of physical distancing and ultimately, saving lives, said Attorney-General Jill Hennessy. Proposed in the bill is a relief package for tenants which will see a freeze in rental increases. Landlords will also see lowered land rates and other relief assistance as well. With this Bill, well enact the tenancy reforms announced last weekand give landlords and tenants the support they deserve, said Minister for Consumer Affairs Marlene Kairouz. The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) has called for more scrutiny of the emergency measures bill, as it gives a lot more power to the Victorian government in a variety of sectors. We recognise that the government needs to take emergency action to manage the current health crisis and we support many of the measures proposed in the Bill, said ALA Victorian State President Jeremy King. Details of the bill (pdf) include assistance given to vulnerable workers and plans to financially compensate workers affected by the CCP virus. According to the ALA, there is an aspect of the bill that will need careful consideration of infringements to human rights. The isolation and solitary confinement of prisoners and young people in detention, particularly those who are vulnerable to serious illness, is inhumane and may be unlawful under international law, said NSW Attorney General Mark Speakman. Several other states in Australia have passed legislation to allow changes to funding and the rule of law amid the CCP virus pandemic. Queensland Parliament passed an appropriation bill to fund more than $4 billion in household, business, and health support measures. New South Wales introduced emergency laws on March 25, bringing changes to health, justice, and community services. Update on Victoria CCP Virus Cases New cases in Victoria have fallen over the last week or so, with none reported on April 22. More than 90,000 people have been tested in Victoria. As of April 23, confirmed cases increased by one up to 1,337. Reports indicate the number of recovered cases is 1,243. This is a very promising result, we have seen a stabilisation of the numbers in recent days and, in fact, there have been no further cases of community transmission, Minister of Health, Jenny Mikakos said. On April 22, a man in his 60s became the sixteenth death attributed to the CCP virus in Victoria. Mikakos confirmed on April 23 the man, who had underlying health conditions, succumbed to the virus in hospital overnight. I want to express my thoughts and my sympathy to his family, she told reporters. Since reaching the peak of new cases on March 27, Victoria has seen a decline, however, there have been fluctuations recently. Victorias Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the recent daily fluctuations in the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Victoria was due to an increase in the number of tests being completed and an increase in the number of travellers returning from overseas on repatriation flights. The increases we are seeing are small and this is encouraging. They prove that our physical distancing measures are working but this is not a time to relax our strong approachthis disease can get away from you very quickly as we have seen in cities overseas, Sutton said. Since the lockdown kicked in on March 25, air traffic has been suspended, but the aviation companies led by Air India have been working tirelessly to help the government in their efforts to fight coronavirus. Agencies The airlines have been operating cargo flights mostly with medical equipment and medicines - on several routes ever since the restrictions were imposed. Airlines and freight forwarders are continuing to ramp up their cargo operations in response to the urgent demand for critical medical equipment in different parts of India. Air India has led the way with the airlines ferrying on many domestic and international routes to air lift medical supply. Agencies Delhi-Mumbai-Delhi, Delhi-Imphal-Delhi, Delhi-Raipur-Bhubaneshwar-Delhi, Kolkata-Agartala-Kolkata and Mumbai-Pune-Raipur-Mumbai are the routes where the Air India flights are being operated domestically. Essential items especially medicine and ICMR kits were transported from Delhi to Aizawl, Dibrugarh, Kolkata and Hyderabad over the past weeks and other flights transported essential items from Mumbai to Pune, Bengaluru and Trivandrum. The special Air India flights are also being used to bring medical cargo from China, including novel coronavirus test kits. The governments of both countries are hoping that more such flights will operate between India and China in the near future. As per data with the aviation ministry, SpiceJet has operated 220 cargo flights from 24 March to April 8, covering a distance of 2,99,775 km and carrying 1,805.6 tons of cargo. Out of these 61 were international cargo flights. Agencies Blue Dart operated 70 domestic cargo flights covering a distance of 67,273 km and carrying 1,075 tons of cargo from 25 March to April 8. IndiGo has also operated 15 cargo flights between April 3 and 8, covering a distance of 12,206 km and carrying 4.37 tons of cargo. According to a report in PTI citing Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, India will airlift 220 tonnes of essential medical cargo from China over next three days. The National Carrier, Air India, has lifted about 300 tonnes of essential medical cargo so far this month through the China-India aerobridge, the minister said on Twitter. "It is planned that Air India along with SpiceJet and Blue Dart will airlift another 220 tonnes of this critical cargo in the next three days," he said. India continues to remain in lockdown until at least May 3 to contain the spread the coronavirus. 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 allowed to operate during this lockdown. Howard Marks put it nicely when he said that, rather than worrying about share price volatility, 'The possibility of permanent loss is the risk I worry about... and every practical investor I know worries about. So it might be obvious that you need to consider debt, when you think about how risky any given stock is, because too much debt can sink a company. As with many other companies China Resources Cement Holdings Limited (HKG:1313) makes use of debt. But the real question is whether this debt is making the company risky. When Is Debt A Problem? Debt is a tool to help businesses grow, but if a business is incapable of paying off its lenders, then it exists at their mercy. Part and parcel of capitalism is the process of 'creative destruction' where failed businesses are mercilessly liquidated by their bankers. However, a more usual (but still expensive) situation is where a company must dilute shareholders at a cheap share price simply to get debt under control. Having said that, the most common situation is where a company manages its debt reasonably well - and to its own advantage. The first thing to do when considering how much debt a business uses is to look at its cash and debt together. View our latest analysis for China Resources Cement Holdings What Is China Resources Cement Holdings's Net Debt? The image below, which you can click on for greater detail, shows that China Resources Cement Holdings had debt of HK$7.93b at the end of December 2019, a reduction from HK$12.5b over a year. But on the other hand it also has HK$12.8b in cash, leading to a HK$4.92b net cash position. SEHK:1313 Historical Debt April 23rd 2020 A Look At China Resources Cement Holdings's Liabilities The latest balance sheet data shows that China Resources Cement Holdings had liabilities of HK$11.3b due within a year, and liabilities of HK$7.58b falling due after that. On the other hand, it had cash of HK$12.8b and HK$4.17b worth of receivables due within a year. So it has liabilities totalling HK$1.89b more than its cash and near-term receivables, combined. Story continues Given China Resources Cement Holdings has a market capitalization of HK$68.8b, it's hard to believe these liabilities pose much threat. However, we do think it is worth keeping an eye on its balance sheet strength, as it may change over time. Despite its noteworthy liabilities, China Resources Cement Holdings boasts net cash, so it's fair to say it does not have a heavy debt load! The good news is that China Resources Cement Holdings has increased its EBIT by 4.2% over twelve months, which should ease any concerns about debt repayment. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But it is future earnings, more than anything, that will determine China Resources Cement Holdings's ability to maintain a healthy balance sheet going forward. So if you're focused on the future you can check out this free report showing analyst profit forecasts. Finally, a business needs free cash flow to pay off debt; accounting profits just don't cut it. While China Resources Cement Holdings has net cash on its balance sheet, it's still worth taking a look at its ability to convert earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) to free cash flow, to help us understand how quickly it is building (or eroding) that cash balance. Over the last three years, China Resources Cement Holdings recorded free cash flow worth a fulsome 92% of its EBIT, which is stronger than we'd usually expect. That positions it well to pay down debt if desirable to do so. Summing up While it is always sensible to look at a company's total liabilities, it is very reassuring that China Resources Cement Holdings has HK$4.92b in net cash. The cherry on top was that in converted 92% of that EBIT to free cash flow, bringing in HK$9.2b. So we don't think China Resources Cement Holdings's use of debt is risky. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. However, not all investment risk resides within the balance sheet - far from it. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 4 warning signs for China Resources Cement Holdings (of which 1 is potentially serious!) you should know about. When all is said and done, sometimes its easier to focus on companies that don't even need debt. Readers can access a list of growth stocks with zero net debt 100% free, right now. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) will hold its annual shareholders meeting online on Thursday, May 7, at 12:30 p.m. ET. Duke Energy Chair, President and CEO Lynn Good will provide an overview of the company's 2019 performance and response to COVID-19. Shareholders will be able to participate in the meeting, vote on company and shareholder proposals and, through a website, submit questions. Questions will be answered either during the meeting or afterward through a web posting. Information about how shareholders can access the meeting online, or by phone, is available in Duke Energy's proxy statement. Duke Energy Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 29,000 people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts through its regulated utilities, and 3,000 megawatts through its nonregulated Duke Energy Renewables unit. Duke Energy is transforming its customers' experience, modernizing the energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure unit's regulated utilities serve approximately 7.7 million retail electric customers in six states North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to more than 1.6 million customers in five states North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The Duke Energy Renewables unit operates wind and solar generation facilities across the U.S., as well as energy storage and microgrid projects. Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2020 "World's Most Admired Companies" list, and Forbes' 2019 "America's Best Employers" list. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Media contact: Neil Nissan 800.559.3853 Analysts contact: Bryan Buckler 704.382.2640 SOURCE Duke Energy Related Links www.duke-energy.com The Supreme Court has adjourned ruling on a suit challenging the legitimacy of the Ghana-US military cooperation agreement. The adjournment followed the inability of the panel members to have a conference prior to the ruling as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which has affected court sitting in the country. The suit was originally scheduled for ruling yesterday after both parties had filed their written submissions. Justice Anin-Yeboah, the Chief Justice, adjourning the case yesterday, stated that they were unable to have a conference due to the partial lockdown which was imposed on parts of Accra and Greater Kumasi to curtail the spread of the virus. The ruling was subsequently set for May 5, 2020. Suit The Ashanti Regional Youth Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Yaw Brogya Genfi, filed the suit asking the Supreme Court to nullify the military cooperation agreement between the Government of Ghana and the United States of America (USA) although the deal had been ratified by Parliament. In the suit, which has the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Gloria Akuffo, and the Minister of Defence Dominic Nitiwul, as defendants, the plaintiff claimed that the decision by Parliament to ratify the agreement is contrary to constitutional requirement. He is, therefore, seeking a declaration that the Minister of Defence acted in contravention of Articles 58 (1) and 75 (2) of the 1992 Constitution when he laid or caused to be laid before Parliament an unexecuted draft of the supposed Defence Cooperation Agreement for ratification under Article 75 of the 1992 Constitution. Parliament on March 23, 2018, ratified the controversial Ghana-US military agreement although the Minority NDC staged a last minute walkout. Per the agreement, Ghana has entered into collaboration with the US military which would allow exchange of military cooperation, including unfettered access to some facilities. The deal will also allow for military training activities between the armies of the two countries. Ghana is expected to earn some $20 million to aid military training as part of the agreement. NDC Pandemonium Prior to the ratification, NDC Members of Parliament (MPs) turned Parliament House 'upside down' and tried to prevent the House from ratifying the controversial deal. Wearing red arm bands and headgears, the NDC MPs sang war songs and violently hijacked the public address system in the Chamber. They disabled the electronic microphones amid disruptive banging of their desks. ---Daily Guide (Newser) When Yanira Soriano touched her newborn baby, the hospital staff cheeredfor a mother and son who had beaten incredible odds. The 36-year-old was admitted to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, NY, on April 2 and tested positive for pneumonia and COVID-19, Newsday reports. In her third trimester of pregnancy, she was put on a ventilator, placed in a medically induced coma, and given an emergency C-section. Her son Walter was born the next day. "In most instances you're awake when you deliver the baby and you can bond with the baby right away," Dr. Benjamin Schwartz, who delivered Walter, tells ABC 7 News. "But in this context because the mom was so ill, she had to be put on a ventilator and put to sleep right before the baby was born." story continues below That was followed by 11 days on a ventilator, an experience that ended Monday. "I was helping someone with a problem and I just noticed those big brown eyes looking back at me," a nurse who was there when Soriano came around tells WPTV. "I was like, 'I know you!'" Finally, dozens of health care workers celebrated around Soriano on Wednesday as Walter's father handed her the baby. She was wheeled outside, then walked to her car with the child in her arms. "It's an incredibly proud moment for not just the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology but for Southside Hospital and the entire team that works here," says Schwartz, per Good Morning America. Walter tested negative for COVID-19 but doctors say he'll be monitored through online health visits. (Read more uplifting news stories.) A simmering debate on whether gig workers should be classified as employees has become more urgent during the coronavirus pandemic, which has demonstrated the importance of essential workers like ride-hailing drivers and food delivery cyclists. When the state Legislature finalized the budget earlier this month, it omitted a measure that would have created a task force to study whether gig workers should be considered employees and to propose new labor protections. With that, the debate on classifying gig workers seemed to have been mostly concluded for the year. Plus, its not clear if the Legislature will get a system for remote voting in place by the end of the session in June, meaning they may not be able to vote on a stand-alone gig worker bill. But now, the New York City Council may make progress on the issue where the state Legislature has stalled determining whether gig workers should be classified as independent contractors, as they currently are, or as employees. The council held its first official remote meeting on Wednesday, and City Councilmen Brad Lander and Ben Kallos introduced a bill that would extend paid sick leave to gig workers. The pair also introduced a nonbinding resolution that called on the state Legislature to classify gig workers as employees. Their bill would set an important precedent if it passed, or it could at the very least reignite the efforts of those who want gig workers to be classified as employees. The councils bill would use the ABC test, a new standard for determining who should be classified as an independent contractor. Under the test, for an employer to claim that its workers are independent contractors, a worker must be free from the control of the employer, doing work outside the usual course of business and engaged in an independently established business. Many gig workers, like ride-hailing drivers or on-demand freelancers, would be classified as employees under the ABC test. The bill, which is part of a larger Essential Workers Bill of Rights proposed by the council, only would qualify eligible independent contractors as employees for paid sick leave. They would not be classified as employees for any other purposes. We are working closely with the coalition that is trying to get legislation passed in New York state that would properly reclassify this set of folks as employees, Lander told City & State, referring to the Direct Coalition, made up of labor and advocacy groups. This is one step in that direction. The best-known and most controversial application of the ABC test is in California, which passed a law in September that established the ABC test as the definition for independent contractors. What this effectively means is that most gig workers alongside people like freelancers would now be classified as employees, and receive the labor protections that come along with that classification, such as paid sick leave, unemployment benefits and health insurance. The California law, which is referred to as AB5, has drawn harsh opposition, not only from these on-demand companies that want to maintain these workers as independent contractors, but also from some of the freelancers and other workers who say the new law hurts their ability to work. For instance, under the law a freelance journalist wouldnt be able write more than 35 stories for the same publication in a year without being classified as an employee. Late last year, Vox Media cut hundreds of freelance positions to prepare for the new law. Lander said that he wants the state Legislature to keep freelancers as independent contractors, and only reclassify gig workers not just Uber drivers, but also home health aides, for example as employees. Still, some of the companies that would be affected by the councils bill will strongly oppose it just as they have with similar efforts to classify gig workers as employees in the state Legislature. With unemployment skyrocketing in New York City, its alarming that the City Council is threatening to interfere with industries that provide New Yorkers with flexible work to make ends meet and offer a critical service during a time of crisis, a spokesperson for Flexible Work for New York, a business coalition that includes Uber, Postmates, TaskRabbit and others. We hope the City Council refocuses their efforts on finding commonsense solutions that create opportunities instead of eliminating them, especially for those New Yorkers who have been directly affected by this economic downturn. Campbell Matthews, a spokeswoman for Lyft, which is also in the coalition, wrote via email: While we share the City Councils goal to ensure everyone has access to support when sick, there are many aspects of this proposal to be worked out. In New York City, ride-hailing drivers for Uber, Lyft and Via already get some paid sick time under a new minimum pay rule for drivers. Meanwhile, separate courtrulings in New York have established that Uber drivers and Postmates couriers are employees for the purposes of unemployment insurance. Since the coronavirus outbreak, most of the major gig companies have voluntarily offered sick leave and other benefits to their workers. Most of these companies have said theyre providing personal protective equipment to their workers too. Still, Lander said these ad hoc efforts are not enough. Between previous court rulings and Landers sick leave proposal, the official employment status of gig workers across the state could get technically confusing, leaving some labor advocates to call for a statewide solution. The need to provide gig workers with the same rights as all other New Yorkers has never been more clear than during this pandemic, Mario Cilento, president of the New York State AFL-CIO, said in an emailed statement. The inability to address this issue as a whole has left these workers without access to benefits and susceptible to continued mistreatment. It is not surprising to see that others are now trying to fix the problem. What we need is a statewide solution now. While the City Council might be more likely to take action on the gig worker issue this year than the state Legislature, those who are advocating for gig workers to become employees still face an uphill battle. Landers bill has just a handful of co-sponsors so far, and the council has a long to-do list in responding to the pandemic. But if the citys reliance on gig workers continues, the debate over gig workers classification will likely be a resonant and attention-grabbing issue for months to come. The total number of coronavirus COVID-19 cases across 185 nations spiralled towards 2,678,585 and the death toll stood at 186,640 at 11.45 pm (IST) on Thursday (April 23), even as the battle between humanity and the virus continued to surge. With the highest numbers both in positive cases and death toll, the US continues to remain the worst-hit with a total of 847,985. It is followed by Spain with 213,024 cases, Italy with 189,973 cases, France with 157,135 cases and Germany with 151,285 cases. With a massive jump, the US has witnessed the highest death toll across all the nations at 47,178, followed by Italy at 25,549, Spain at 22,157, France at 21,373 and the UK at 18,791. In the US, state officials say there remain bottlenecks in testing capacity, shortages of materials such as swabs used for taking samples and not enough workers to contact- trace infections. In addition to a staggering death toll, unemployment claims soared on Thursday and reaffirmed the grim economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic. Over 26.5 million Americans have sought unemployment benefits over the last five weeks, confirming that all the jobs gained during the longest employment boom in U.S. history have been wiped out as the novel coronavirus savages the economy. The US House of Representatives said that the $484 billion coronavirus relief bill will fund small businesses and hospitals and push the total spending response to the crisis to an unprecedented nearly $3 trillion. The measure is expected to receive solid bipartisan support in the Democratic-led House but threatened opposition by some members of both parties forced legislators to return to Washington despite stay-at-home orders intended to control the spread of the virus. The Republican-led Senate passed the legislation on Tuesday by unanimous consent, allowing senators to stay at home. Approval by the House will send it the White House, where Republican President Donald Trump has promised to quickly sign it into law. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said a fundamental reform of the World Health Organization was needed following its handling of the coronavirus pandemic and that the United States, the WHO`s biggest donor, may never restore funding to the UN. body. As Pompeo launched fresh attacks on the U.N. body on Wednesday, Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives accused the Trump administration of trying to "scapegoat" the WHO to distract from its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. In Italy, deaths from the COVID-19 epidemic climbed by 464 on Thursday, against 437 the day before, the Civil Protection Agency said, but the daily tally of new infections declined to 2,646 from 3,370 on April 22. People registered as currently carrying the illness fell to 106,848 from 107,699 on Wednesday, a fourth consecutive daily decline. There were 2,267 people in intensive care on Thursday against 2,384 on Wednesday, maintaining a long-running decline. Of those originally infected, 57,576 were declared recovered against 54,543 a day earlier. For the first time, the civil protection unit published data on how many people had been tested for the virus so far in Italy, putting the number at 1.053 million, out of a population of around 60 million. Spain has recorded 440 new deaths overnight for the new coronavirus, bringing the total confirmed fatalities to over 22,000 according to an official data on Thursday. With more than 4,600 new positive infections tested, the reported cases are now over 200,000. On Thursday, a new genetic study published by the Carlos III Institute, Spain's main epidemiology research centre, suggested that the new coronavirus was spreading in the country since mid-February, weeks before the first local contagion clusters were identified. The number of people who have died from coronavirus infection in France rose by 516 on Thursday, the health ministry said in a statement. The 2.4% increase was slightly slower than on Wednesday and Thursday when the death toll increased by 2.6%, but well below the more than 4% rate seen last week. The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 infection fell further to 29,129 from 29,741 on Wednesday and the number of people in intensive care fell to 5,053 from 5,218 on Wednesday. Both have been on a downward trend for several days. SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California hospitals will resume scheduled surgeries during the coronavirus outbreak. Gov. Gavin Newsom made the announcement on Wednesday. He called it the first significant change to the state's stay-at-home order that has been in place for more than a month. The change covers surgeries that are not emergencies. Newsom said examples include procedures for tumors, heart valves and chronic disease. The change does not include purely cosmetic surgeries. Newsom said state officials will be monitoring hospitals closely to make sure they are not overwhelmed. If there is a surge of coronavirus cases, the scheduled surgery ban could be put back in place. Iran's Revolutionary Guards chief on Thursday warned the US of a "decisive response" after President Donald Trump said he instructed the US Navy to "shoot down" Iranian boats that harass American ships in the Gulf. "We declare to the Americans that we are absolutely determined and serious... and that all action will be met with a decisive response that will be efficient and quick," Major General Hossein Salami told state television. "We have also ordered our naval units to target (US boats and forces) if they try to endanger the safety of our ships or boats of war." Tensions between decades-old foes the United States and Iran escalated again last week with Washington accusing its arch enemy of harassing its ships in the Gulf. Trump took to Twitter on Wednesday after Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they had launched the Islamic republic's first military satellite. The US president said he had "instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea". Salami said last week's maritime incident was the result of "unprofessional and dangerous behaviour by the Americans in the Persian Gulf". The Guards commander also indicated that US actions in the sensitive waterway had been hampered by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus. "In last week's incident, there was operational turmoil and disorder among US naval units at sea," said Salami. This, he added, was an indication that the "command and control of their military units may have been weakened by... the coronavirus disease." Iran and the United States are among the countries hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The United States has accused Iranian vessels of harassing its ships in the Gulf More than 10,000 student nurses are being fast-tracked onto the NHS frontline in the battle against coronavirus while still working around the clock on their dissertations. With the death toll in Britain over the 18,000 mark and known cases at 133,495, hospitals need as many key workers as possible. Third year student nurses do not officially qualify for their roles until September, although they already have thousands of hours experience, and have been asked to step up in these difficult times to help their colleagues. Helen Pickett (pictured) is one of the thousands of student nurses joining the frontline fight against coronavirus to help the NHS before officially qualifying in September The starting salary for a new-qualified nurse is around 23,000, but these students have also made huge sacrifices just to get to this position, working multiple jobs alongside their studies and work placements and going into tens of thousands of pounds of debt to pay for their training. Two student nurses from Grimsby, Amber Salt and Helen Pickett will be starting work this week on the NHS frontlines, after being asked to do so early in an effort to combat the coronavirus. They spoke about their passion for their new profession, saying that everyone who wants to become a nurse does so because of their love for helping others - but they've also highlighted the lack of financial support. Helen said: 'Everyone who trains to become a nurse does so because they love helping people and they want to do that full time. 'It is a lot of hard work getting there though, with one of the most intensive training courses that anyone might do. Over three years we are expected to do 2,300 hours theory work, 2,300 hours on placement and that doesn't include assignments and revision. 'While all of this is a lot of pressure, it is also extremely rewarding, because you are out there training on the job and helping people. As student nurses we do a lot of the same work as full-qualified nurses, although there is always a member of staff watching over us and making sure that we are doing things correctly, offering mentorship and guidance.' Amber said: 'I am so proud to wake up every day and know that I am training to become a nurse, because I know what I am going to be doing will really make a difference in so many people's lives.' The pair have recently been asked, along with all other third and second year student nurses, if they would like to join NHS staff on the frontlines battling the coronavirus. This paid role will see them start their new professions slightly early, although they will still have assignments to finish. Both nurses have volunteered to work on Covid wards. Amber has been told that she will definitely be on one of them, while Helen is yet to hear if she will be. Amber Salt will start working at her local hospital this week and also has a dissertation to do Helen said: 'This week Amber and I will be starting work at our local hospital in order to help out during the coronavirus outbreak. 'We were initially asked if we would like to work on a red or green ward, with the red wards being the ones for coronavirus patients. We both said that we would happily put ourselves out there and work in the red ones. 'It is a little bit worrying, but we are more than happy to help because we want to make a difference and fight this. 'We still have outstanding assignments and dissertations to do, but we won't mind the extra pressure because we know that we will be helping our fellow health workers during this. 'I also hope that it will make us better nurses in the future and give us more knowledge on what to do if this ever happens again.' When a student nurse is taking part in one of the nine placements that they do over their three year course, they will work a normal full-time week at the hospital. This will involve long 12 hour shifts, followed by studying everything that they might have learned that day while working, to make sure that they know everything that they need to. This training was all unpaid. Amber said: 'It is amazing how many patients do not realise that student nurses are not paid for the work that they do at a hospital. They see that we are doing the same work as other nurses and are just as important, and they are shocked when they realise we do it all for free.' Helen said: 'The life of a student nurse is a bit different to that other students. While we have to do the same long assignments and dissertations as them, they may not have spent most of their nights sitting by someone's beside as they are dying or comforting a family while a loved one is going through treatment.' They also highlighted the financial difficulties that nurses can face while training, especially those in their class who were the first year to not have access to the previous bursary and will also not have access to the newly announced one that begins in September this year. Amber said: 'When you start on your course they tell you that you shouldn't work any extra jobs, because you are going to be so busy on the course that you could stretch yourself too thin. 'In reality though, that is just not possible for many student nurses. Student nurses can range from 18 years old to over 50, and they may have families, mortgages and other commitments that they need to adhere to while they are studying.' The crisis will see second and third year student nurses help as the NHS is struggling Helen said: 'It is very very hard to try and just live off what loans are available to you, and the amount you receive from those are entirely based on your circumstances, so many don't get the full amount, which is about 9,000 a year. 'Even that is still almost impossible to live on, so many student nurses have to work extra jobs if they are going to get by. 'We were the first year that did not have access to the bursary, and even that didn't go far enough. We are also not able to receive help from the newly announced bursary, so many of us will start our careers already nearly 60,000 in debt. 'We have often heard from people that it should be seen as a privilege that we have been given the opportunity to train as nurses. But it is really the other way around and the government and public should see it as a privilege that we have decided to train to become nurses. 'This crisis has shown more than ever the importance of nurses, carers and key workers. We are the ones who have been supporting the country and keeping it going through this, and I don't think that we should be hard done by financially for wanting to do so.' The student nurses at Hull University, are now promoting a petition which is calling on the government to abolish the debt for student nurses and nurses. Helen said: 'We have a shortage of nurses because people haven't been applying for training courses due to the financial barriers that have been in place. 'The coronavirus outbreak has shown just how important nurses are in the country and if we are going to get more people into the profession then we need to encourage them to do so, and not have them being put off by the thought of going into debt.' Union Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah on Thursday tweeted on the global praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modis handling of the Covid-19 crisis in India. Shah stated that the truth is self evident as the entire world is praising the Prime Minister and his approach towards tackling the coronavirus outbreak in the country. Shah said that every Indian is feeling safe under PM Modis leadership and has trust in him. Truth is self evident! Entire world is praising PM @narendramodi, the way he is handling COVID-19 global pandemic, taking care of Indians and helping the world community in such challenging times. Every Indian is feeling safe and trusts his leadership, Shah tweeted out. Truth is self evident! Entire world is praising PM @narendramodi, the way he is handling COVID-19 global pandemic, taking care of Indians and helping the world community in such challenging times. Every Indian is feeling safe and trusts his leadership. pic.twitter.com/caq5y8Hjio Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 23, 2020 Co-founder of Microsoft and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates on Wednesday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modis efforts to combat the coronavirus menace. We commend your leadership and the proactive measures you and your government have taken to flatten the curve of the COVID-19 infection rate in India, such as adopting a national lockdown, expanding focused testing to identify hot spots for isolation, quarantining, and care, and significantly increasing health expenditures to strengthen the health system response and promote R&D and digital innovation. Gates said he is glad that the Indian prime ministers government tapped its exceptional digital capabilities as a formulated response to Covid-19. Im glad your government is fully utilising its exceptional digital capabilities in its COVID-19 response and has launched the Aarogya Setu digital app for coronavirus tracking, contact tracing, and to connect people to health services. Earlier this month, World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus lauded steps taken by PM Modi to help the poor during the nationwide coronavirus lockdown. My appreciation to Prime Minister @narendramodi for announcing a $24 billion package to support 's vulnerable populations during #COVID19 crisis, including: -free food rations for 800M disadvantaged people -cash transfers to 204M poor women -free cooking gas for 80M households. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) April 2, 2020 My appreciation to Prime Minister @narendramodi for announcing a $24 billion package to support s vulnerable populations during #COVID19 crisis, including: -free food rations for 800M disadvantaged people -cash transfers to 204M poor women -free cooking gas for 80M households, the WHO chief had tweeted out. Turkish-backed Syrian rebel groups are fighting themselves in the border town of Ras al-Ain, which is experiencing renewed violence since Turkey ended its major military operations in northeast Syria in November. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that Ahrar al-Sharqiya and the al-Mutassim Brigade began fighting with machine guns and rocket launchers Monday. The Syrian state news agency SANA also reported fighting between the two groups. Both the observatory and the news agency reported casualties among the fighters. Ras al-Ain is near the border with Turkey and has a population of Arabs and Kurds. The Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) took the city in 2013. In 2019, Turkey and its Syrian rebel allies in the Syrian National Army (SNA) took the city from the YPG. Turkey began its incursion into northeast Syria in October because it considers the YPG to be an offshoot of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has fought Ankara for decades inside Turkey. The groups in the SNA originally fought the Syrian government in the civil war. The SNA was formed in 2017 and since then has largely battled the YPG for territory in northeast Syria, though it has fought the Syrian army and the Islamic State as well. The YPG is the dominant force in the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, which control most of northeast Syria. A Syria analyst at the Turkish think tank SETA said the fighting began when a division of the SNA from Deir ez-Zour farther south tried to take an area controlled by the al-Mutassim Brigade in Ras al-Ain. Mutassim put up resistance and small clashes happened which ended very soon due to the interference of the military police of the SNA with Turkish backing, Omer Ozkizilcik told Al-Monitor. Turkey-backed groups have been accused of several human rights violations in Ras al-Ain and other areas they control. Some local Kurds told Al-Monitor that Turkeys Syrian rebel allies stole property from them in the city. The Turkey-YPG conflict has displaced thousands, prompting concerns from Kurds that demographic change is taking place in the area. Others in northeast Syria reject the rule of the YPG, including its use of conscription. Turkeys Operation Peace Spring ended in November, but Turkish state media reported that the YPG still attacks Ras al-Ain. The YPG is constantly harassing the opposition-held areas with car bombs, (anti-tank guided missile) strikes, assassination and other forms of terror on an almost daily basis, said Ozkizilcik. Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI director general. (Stefan Rousseau/PA via Getty Images) The Treasury is facing growing calls to guarantee 100% of loans made to small businesses in a bid to speed the flow of cash to companies and prevent a wave of bankruptcies. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) both renewed calls on Thursday for the government to increase the state guarantee on coronavirus loans from 80% to 100% for smaller businesses. It adds to growing pressure on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to offer even greater support to Britains smallest businesses to ensure they dont collapse. Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey, former Chancellor George Osborne, and the head of industry group UK Finance have all backed calls for an increased state guarantee. The CBI said the government should stand behind 100% of loans of up to 500,000 ($616,097) made under the coronavirus business interruption loan scheme (CBILS). The FSB, meanwhile, said the government should raise its backing to 100% for loans of up to 30,000. The Chancellor has resisted calls for further state guarantees but the Financial Times reported on Friday morning that Sunak could be bending under the pressure. The paper said the Chancellor had called in bankers to help draft a scheme to guarantee 100% of loans below 25,000, although it was not clear if this policy had gone beyond the feasibility stage. The calls from the FSB and CBI for further state action came hours after new figures showed that just 2.8bn of state support had reached the frontlines of small businesses in the month since special measures were announced by the Treasury. Read more: UK economy suffers record shock and 'unprecedented' job losses These figures mark an improvement, FSB chair Mike Cherry said. But we need to see far more from the banks where the speed of processing applications and making money available to the smallest businesses are concerned. Banks are covered for only 80% of losses on loans under the CBIL scheme and so must still undertake full due diligence, which slows the process. A 100% government guarantee would mean lighter checks and allow companies to access cash faster. Story continues Germany and Switzerland have both agreed to stand behind 100% of loans extended to small businesses, leading to a quicker deployment of capital. Swiss banks issued 11.8bn-worth of loans to small businesses in just the first few days of its programme, according to Reuters. The UK government is reluctant to extend the state guarantee to 100% as it could leave taxpayers with greater losses in the future. Stephen Jones, head of industry group UK Finance, told the Treasury Select Committee last week the government was expressing a very different risk appetite to Germany and Switzerland. However, Jones backed calls for a 100% guarantee of loans below 25,000. The CBI said on Thursday the process for applying for loans below 25,000 should be simplified. Read more: Over 80% of UK firms unable to cope if lockdown lasts six months The current loan scheme is up, running and working for many, said CBI director general Dame Carolyn Fairbairn. Now we need another big push to get money out the door faster. This is a race against time, and the only winning strategy is scale, speed and simplicity. Nothing should be left on the table. Asked about extending loan guarantees last week, chancellor Rishi Sunak said: Is there an argument for looking at something like that? Of course there is. We continually look at everything other countries are doing. A 46-year-old Indian national, who was a confirmed case of COVID-19, was found dead here on Thursday, police said. The deceased, whose name was not revealed by the authorities, was found dead at the staircase landing at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital here and subsequently died of injuries, the police said. Police said it did not suspect any foul play and are investigating the case. The Indian High Commission here said it was awaiting details on the exact circumstances under which the Indian national died. "We await further information about the circumstances surrounding the death from the police after coroner's (inquiry) is complete," the embassy told PTI in an email. According to the Singapore's health ministry, the man was a confirmed COVID-19 case. The Ministry of Manpower said the deceased was a construction worker and lived in a factory-converted dormitory operated by his employer. "It (the dorm) was last inspected on April 12, 2020. At the time, it housed nine workers (including the deceased), less than the approved capacity for factory-converted dormitories," said the ministry. "The dormitory was found to be in an acceptable condition, including cleanliness and ventilation," it added. Manpower Minister Josephine Teo has noted with concern the number of foreign workers inflicted by the killer disease. "I was deeply saddened by that a worker passed away this morning," said Teo. The Indian worker had worked with the same employer in Singapore since 2009. "We have informed his family and are working with the Migrant Workers' Centre (an NGO working for foreign workers here) to support the family," said Teo in a Facebook post. The Singapore Hindu Endowments Board will also undertake the funeral arrangements of the worker. Earlier this afternoon, Law and Home Minister K Shanmugam and I visited the worker's roommates who are also his friends, Teo wrote in the post. "His friends, who are also working with the same employer, were sad but calm. They shared with us that they're satisfied with their work in Singapore, and that the employer has been taking good care of them," said Teo, referring to the late Indian national. "I reassured them that their health and medical needs are our uppermost priority. If they fall sick, the government will make sure they are treated and help them recover. "I was glad they knew all the right numbers to call, which had been provided by our officers," said Teo. Teo reiterated Singapore's assurances to migrant workers, noting they are worried. "We will look after you, your health and safety, your daily needs. You can approach our officers at any time for help. Please stay strong so that you can be reunited with your families. "We know this is a stressful time for all of you. You are not alone, and the Singapore government will take care of you," said Teo. Singapore has so far recorded 11,178 coronavirus infections with twelve deaths. Battling the second-wave of coronavirus infections, Singapore on Thursday reported 1,037 new COVID-19 cases, more than 1,000 of which are foreign workers, including Indian nationals, mostly working in labour-intensive industries and living in packed dormitories. This is the fourth day in a row that Singapore has reported a daily increase of more than 1,000 cases. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New York: Unemployment in the US has swelled to levels last seen during the Great Depression of the 1930s, with 1 in 6 American workers thrown out of a job by the coronavirus. More than 4.4 million laid-off workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, the government said on Thursday, local time. In all, about 26 million people - more than the population of the six biggest US cities combined - have now filed for jobless aid in five weeks, an epic collapse that has raised the stakes in the debate over how and when to lift the state-ordered stay-at-home restrictions that have closed factories and other businesses from coast to coast. Abroad, there was mixed news about the epidemic. Some countries, including Greece, Bangladesh and Malaysia, announced extensions of their lockdowns. Vietnam, New Zealand and Croatia were among those moving to end or ease such measures. Israel's new coalition government seems to be contemplating massive annexations of occupied Palestinian territories in the coming weeks. The person dictating the timetable may not be an Israeli at all, but President Donald Trump. Article 29 of the national unity government agreement between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and Benny Gantz's Blue and White coalition explicitly opens the door to annexations. Trump's so-called "Peace to Prosperity" proposal announced on Jan 28 gave Israel license to permanently appropriate all existing settlements in the West Bank, plus the strategically crucial Jordan Valley. This would completely encircle any potential Palestinian entity within a greater Israeli state. Netanyahu, fighting not only for reelection but also to avoid a criminal trial on corruption charges, leapt at the chance to announce that he would immediately annex much of the West Bank. Trump and his son-in-law-and advisor on the Middle East-Jared Kushner warned Netanyahu to wait. Gantz adopted an incoherent policy in favor of annexation but only in coordination with the international community, whatever that means. During weeks of negotiations to form a government, Gantz insisted his party would not support unilateral annexation. But the new agreement marks his complete capitulation. Netanyahu appears determined to go forward for personal, political and ideological reasons. And Gantz is no longer inclined to stop him. There is an additional incentive for Netanyahu and his allies to move quickly: Trump is in big trouble politically. The coronavirus pandemic has decimated the U.S. economy, depriving the president of his main reelection pitch, and his poll numbers are sinking badly. Moreover, he will have to face the centrist veteran Joe Biden, a more formidable opponent than the avowedly socialist Bernie Sanders. None of the leading Democrats have embraced the Trump proposal. So it would be reasonable for Netanyahu to conclude that this opportunity for Israel to seize large swaths of Palestinian territory with American approval may never be on offer again. Once the deed is done, it would be extremely difficult for another president, whether Biden or anyone else, to force an Israeli withdrawal. Netanyahu may be willing to bear the costs annexation would impose on Israel, including another bloody conflagration with the Palestinians, serious damage to relations with Jordan, for long Israel's closest ally in the Arab world. He may be willing to risk recent improvements in relations with other Arab states. If anything gives the prime minister pause, it may be the knowledge that annexation would create another major headache for Trump, who has plenty of crises on his plate right now. Trump may not care if there is an explosion of Palestinian anger, and the Arab states are unlikely to direct their anger at him. But an annexation drive would set off a debate within the U.S. over the nature of American support for Israel, which is neither in the interest of the president nor of the prime minister. Few Democrats, including Jewish supporters of Israel, favor the annexation plan; internationalist Republicans in the Senate are also skeptical. On the eve Trump's re-election bid, it would be politically awkward to abandon a decades-long bipartisan consensus for a two-state solution, with very limited domestic support and widespread anxiety about the consequences. Much depends now on the signal Trump sends to Netanyahu. A green light would allow Israel to move rapidly on annexation, with only the current coronavirus crisis serving as any kind of brake. A clear red light is unlikely: It would be hard for Trump, having essentially endorsed annexation earlier this year, to now do a volte-face. But he might be able to hold up the process by asking Netanyahu to wait for the Israeli-American "mapping committee"-which is to determine exactly which areas of the occupied West Bank Israel can be permanently annexed-to complete its task. The committee's deliberations can then be dragged out until Trump feels politically secure enough. A third possibility is a flashing yellow. Trump might quietly encourage Netanyahu to take something small for now, like the Israeli settlement of Ma'ale Adumim, which most Palestinians assume will eventually become part of Israel anyway. This would set the precedent, both in Israel and in Washington, without actually setting off a conflagration. Having thus laid the groundwork at little political cost, Trump and Kushner could make the annexations a second-term project. That might make the implementation of Article 29 of the Netanyahu-Gantz deal contingent on the outcome of the U.S. election in November. The question is whether the prime minister and his hardliners are prepared to risk waiting. - - - This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Ibish is a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. Hyderabad, April 23 : One more person died of coronavirus in Telangana on Thursday, taking the death toll in the state to 25. Health Minister Eatala Rajender said 27 new Covid-19 positive cases were reported, taking the state's tally to 970. He told reporters that 58 persons were discharged from hospitals. With this, the number of recoveries rose to 252. A total of 693 people are currently undergoing treatment in hospitals. The minister claimed that the number of positive cases is on decline. He said the government was taking all necessary measures to check the spread of the virus. An Asiana Airlines flight carrying 240 South Korean experts of LG Electronics landed at the Van Don Airport in the northern province of Quang Ninh Thursday. All South Koreans carried official Covid-19 negative certifications issued by competent authorities of the South Korean government, approved by the Vietnamese government. This was the seventh flight carrying South Korean engineers to Vietnam for work under an agreement between the governments of both countries. All LG engineers were required to submit health declarations and transferred to facilities for 14-day quarantine. On Wednesday, a group of Chinese specialists had entered the country via the Huu Nghi border gate in the northern mountainous province of Lang Son. They also submitted health declarations and valid Covid-19 negative certificates, the Vietnam News Agency reported. The Chinese experts were taken to Bac Ninh Province, around two hours from Lang Son, in specialized cars - and quarantined at two hotels. The group had come to work for the Goertek Vina Company, a joint venture of China and South Korea, which manufactures headphones, accessories and other products at the Que Vo Industrial Park in Bac Ninh. Their samples would be tested for the first time on the fourth day of their quarantine and the second time on the 13th day. If they test Covid-19 negative both times, they will be issued with a certificate of quarantine completion. Earlier, authorities in Thanh Hoa and Quang Ninh provinces had quarantined over 500 foreign specialists, including 400 South Korean experts as they entered the country for work. Starting March 22, Vietnam suspended entry for all foreign nationals, including those of Vietnamese origin and family members with visa waivers. Only Vietnamese nationals and foreigners carrying diplomatic and official passports such as business managers, experts and high-skilled workers are allowed to enter the country at this time, and all entrants will be quarantined for 14 days. One of the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic is that 24,410 foreigners have not been able to enter the country to work, according to data from the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs in late March. These include 18,999 Chinese, 2,826 South Koreans, and 2,585 citizens from other countries and territories, including experts, skilled workers and managers. A survey by the ministry found 34 cities and provinces want to bring back over 9,000 foreigners, mostly Chinese and South Koreans. As of Thursday, Vietnam has gone through a week without a new infection. Of its 268 cases, only 44 are still active and the rest have been discharged. N etflix has released some outstanding series recently, with Unorthodox, Tiger King and Too Hot to Handle being among the most talked-about shows right now. And the streaming platform is only upping its game for May, with even more unmissable series and movies dropping throughout the month. Big titles including Hollywood and White Lines are among some of the best new shows available to watch soon, with the much-anticipated second season of Dead To Me also dropping in May. Heres the full list of everything you can look forward to this month... Netflix has got some treats lined up for May / Netflix May 1 All Day and a Night Penned by Black Panther co-writer Joe Robert Cole, the emotional Netflix Original film boasts an impressive cast, with Moonlights Ashton Sanders and Westworlds Jeffrey Wright taking the lead. The story follows Jahkor, who ends up being cellmates with his father in prison, as the pair embark on a journey of self-discovery. Almost Happy (Season 1) The Spanish-language comedy Sebastian Wainraich and Natalie Perez follows radio show host Sebastian, who is trying to win back his ex-wife - whom he is still desperately in love with. Get In The French thriller follows a family man who returns from a holiday only to find squatters have broken in and taken over his house. Hollywood The hotly-anticipated Ryan Murphy series is coming soon / Netflix The new series from Ryan Murphy - the man behind Glee, American Horror Story and the American Crime series - returns with the hotly-anticipated limited series. Hollywood follows a group of actors who are struggling to make it in the showbiz industry following the Second World War, and is anticipated to be a big hit for the streaming site. Into the Night The Belgian series is based on Jacek Dukajs best-selling novel, The Old Axolotl, and follows a group of passengers on a hijacked plane after a solar event. Medici: The Magnificent (season 3) The third and final series of the Italian Renaissance drama sees Lorenzo de' Medici fuelled by rage as he fights a conspiracy. Mrs Serial Killer The Hindi-language thriller starring Jacqueline Fernandez and Manoj Bajpayee sees a man framed as a serial killer. To prove her husbands innocence, his wife must now commit a very similar murder to the serial killer to prove his innocence. Never Stop Dreaming: The Life and Legacy of Shimon Peres The 2018 documentary honouring the Nobel Peace Prize winner and former Israeli prime minister, Shimon Peres, is due to arrive on Netflix. The Half of It Ellie's money-making scheme goes awry after she help the high school jock out with his love life / Netflix The Netflix Original movie sees smart but skint student Ellie Chu agree to ghost-writing a love letter for school jock Paul only to find herself falling for the girl in question herself. The film stars Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer and Alexxis Lemire. May 5 Jerry Seinfeld: 23 Hours to Kill The Netflix comedy special, recorded in New York, sees the comedian discuss talking vs texting, buffets vs restaurants - and his secret foodie obsession. May 7 Scissor Seven (season 2) The second season of the Chinese-animated series, which bends genres with its kooky adventures, sees a scissor-wielding, hairdressing assassin interrupt a struggle for power among feuding factions. May 8 Dead to Me (season 2) Dead to Me is returning for a second series / Netflix The second series of the hugely popular Netflix Original continues to follow the acerbic widow Jen (Christina Applegate) and her new friend Judy (Linda Cardelleni), as the former unravels the mystery of her husbands hit-and-run death, and secret life. Restaurants on the Edge (season 2) The second series of the reality show sees a restaurateur, chef and designer save even more ailing restaurants. The Eddy The limited series sees the owner of a Paris jazz club become entangled within a dangerous criminal gang as he tries to protect his business, band and teenage daughter. The Hollow (season 2) The latest series of the Canadian sci-fi cartoon follows the new adventures of three teenagers who awaken in a room with no memories of each other or even themselves. Valeria Four friends rally together as they embrak on a journey of self-discovery / Netflix The Spanish language show, based on the novels by Elisabet Benavent, follows a writer who finds her life in crisis but is supported by her three friends who are going on similar journeys of self-discovery. May 9 Rogue Warfare The 2019 film, directed by Mike Gunther, sees the worlds major military powers band together to defeat a huge underground terrorist network May 11 Have a Good Trip: Adventures in Psychedelics The feature-length documentary looks at hallucinogenic highs and lows, with celebrities sharing their adventures of psychedelics. The off-beat documentary sees these mind-bending tales re-enacted or animated. Trial by Media The true-crime docu-series looks at how media may have impacted the verdicts of some of historys most dramatic trials. May 12 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy Vs the Reverend Kimmy is returning to our screens (Netflix) The popular sitcom is back with an interactive special, a la Black Mirror: Bandersnatch. Our girl Kimmy is getting married but in order to do so, she needs to foil an evil plot by the Reverend, with the viewer in charge of the decisions. May 13 The Wrong Missy Netflixs latest romantic-comedy, starring David Spade, sees a guy meet the women of his dreams, and invite her to his company's corporate retreat. However, things go awry when the wrong girl turns up as he realises hes asked the wrong woman. May 14 Schitt's Creek (season 6) The final series of the Canadian sitcom sees the once-rich family, who moved to Schitts Creek after they bought it as a joke, make a decision as to whether theyre going to stay in the small town. May 15 White Lines White Lines is full of familiar faces you'll no doubt recognise / Netflix Written by Alex Pina, who is behind international hit Money Heist, White Lines sees a woman return to Ibiza after her DJ brothers body is uncovered 20 years after he first went missing. But as she investigates his disappearance, she finds herself drawn further into the hedonistic world the Balearics can offer. May 19 Patton Oswalt: I Love Everything The American comedian returns with a Netflix stand-up special, as he explores being a dad in his 50s - as well as being an avid Star Wars fan. May 22 Selling Sunset (season 2) The Oppenheim Groups team of formidable realtors are back for a second season, selling some of the biggest and most beautiful homes in Hollywood. May 23 Spelling the Dream This sweet documentary film follows four hopefuls' journeys, as they explore the trend of Indian Americans ruling the Scripps National Spelling Bee. May 29 Space Force The workplace comedy is likely to feature some comparison to The Office, with Steve Carell starring as the lead. The World Health Organization on Wednesday warned that the coronavirus crisis would not end any time soon, with many countries only in the early stages of the fight, as the global death toll surpassed 180,000. The pandemic has sparked not only a health emergency, but a global economic rout, with businesses struggling to survive, millions left jobless, and millions more facing starvation. US President Donald Trump -- with an eye on widespread unemployment and his re-election prospects -- prepared to sign an executive order suspending the issuance of green cards for 60 days. World toll of coronavirus infections and deaths, as of April 22, 2020 at 1900 GMT. By (AFP) Health experts in the world's biggest economy warned it could face an even deadlier second coronavirus wave come winter, as some US states moved to reopen select businesses. Nations around the world have been scrambling to fight the pandemic -- which has killed more than 180,000 people and infected nearly 2.6 million worldwide -- while desperately seeking ways to limit the devastating economic fallout. As some countries have moved to lift lockdown restrictions that have upended daily life around the globe, WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus issued a sober warning. "Make no mistake: we have a long way to go. This virus will be with us for a long time," Tedros told a virtual press conference. "Most countries are still in the early stages of their epidemics. And some that were affected early in the pandemic are now starting to see a resurgence in cases." Worst-hit region Europe saw its death toll climb to another grim milestone of 110,000, while fatalities in Italy, the hardest hit country behind the United States, topped 25,000. Finland said it would maintain a ban on gatherings of more than 500 people through July. A health care worker attends to a coronavirus patient at the Principe de Asturias hospital in Alcala de Henares near Madrid -- Spain has been particularly hard-hit in the crisis. By PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU (AFP) In Spain, which reported a slight increase for the second day running in the number of COVID-19 deaths, the government said it did not expect to lift its strict lockdown until mid-May. "We must be incredibly careful in this phase," Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said. 'Significant step' But Germany, which has cautiously begun allowing shops to reopen, offered another glimmer of hope when it announced that human trials for a vaccine will start by next week. Clinical trials on vaccines against the new coronavirus have been approved in Germany and launched in Britain. By Thibault Savary (AFP/File) The trial, only the fifth to have been authorised worldwide, is a "significant step" in making a vaccine "available as soon as possible", the country's regulatory body said. With several months to go before a viable vaccine can be rolled out, more than half of humanity remains under some form of lockdown. Singapore extended its confinement order for a month to June 1, as the Asian city-state -- which managed to keep its outbreak in check early on -- has been hit by second-wave infections. The director of the US Centers for Disease Control also warned Americans to prepare for a more ferocious second round of outbreaks. "There's a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through," Robert Redfield told The Washington Post. A member of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) wears a face mask as he stands at the back of an armoured personnel carrier (APC) in Soweto -- South Africa is rolling out more than 73,000 extra troops to enforce virus lockdown measures. By Marco Longari (AFP/File) In South Africa, more than 73,000 extra troops were sent out to enforce a shutdown as authorities struggled to keep people indoors -- particularly in overcrowded townships. With businesses shuttered and millions of jobs lost, the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) said the virus crisis would hit the least privileged the hardest. "I want to stress that we are not only facing a global health pandemic, but also a global humanitarian catastrophe," WFP executive director David Beasley told the UN Security Council on Tuesday. Migrant labourers and families from India's Bihar and Uttar Pradesh states protest over the lack of food during a government-imposed nationwide virus lockdown. By NARINDER NANU (AFP) "Millions of civilians living in conflict-scarred nations... face being pushed to the brink of starvation." The WFP said the number of people suffering from acute hunger was projected to nearly double to 265 million this year. Standing in line in Bangkok's historic quarter for food donations of rice, noodles, milk and curry packets, Chare Kunwong, a 46-year-old masseur, said: "If I wait for the government's aid, then I'll be dead first." 'Wrong and unjust' US President Donald Trump has moved to suspend the issuance of green cards -- permanent residency permits -- for 60 days amid the coronavirus crisis. By MANDEL NGAN (AFP) In the United States, Trump cast his decision to suspend the issuance of green cards as one to "help put unemployed Americans first in line for jobs as America reopens." "It would be wrong and unjust for Americans to be replaced with immigrant labor flown in from abroad," he said. The US has recorded more than 46,000 deaths and more than 800,000 infections -- and its health care infrastructure, especially in hotspots like New York, has struggled to cope. A protester in the US state of Virginia demands that businesses be allowed to reopen as the coronavirus crisis leaves millions across the country out of work. By Ryan M. KELLY (AFP) Protesters took to the streets again Wednesday -- this time in Virginia's state capital Richmond -- to demand that stay-at-home orders be lifted so people can get back to work. But that demonstration came as experts revealed that the country's first virus-related death came in February, weeks earlier than first reported. 'Now they die alone' Among those hardest hit economically during the crisis are millions of migrant workers who toil abroad to send money back home to their families. Remittances are expected to plunge by about 20 percent globally this year, the biggest decline in recent history, the World Bank said in a report on the money transfers that are lifelines to millions of families. Employees lift the body of a COVID-19 victim before loading it into the furnace at the New Sonapur Hindu crematorium in Dubai. By GIUSEPPE CACACE (AFP) The pandemic shutdowns mean even the bodies of some migrant workers cannot be sent home, and are instead being buried or cremated in the country where they die -- often without any loved ones present. "Nobody comes anymore, nobody touches, nobody says goodbye," said Ishwar Kumar, manager of a Hindu cremation ground in Dubai. Before the pandemic, people would come "to grieve and bring flowers. Now they die alone". burs-sst/ft Seaports are bearing negative impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic as the major partners of Vietnam are reducing orders. However, experts still see positive prospects. If the epidemic continues to last and large economies like the US, EU and China are seriously affected, import and export activities will bear negative influences. SSI warned that Vietnams exports to China will bear adverse impacts in Q1 2020 because of decreased consumption in the country in Covid-19. Bao Viet Securities estimated that vegetable and fruit export turnover may decrease by 13.4 percent. The textile and garment indutry will also see an export turnover decrease of $4.5 billion, a drop of 7.6 percent. As of the end of February, the total import/export turnover had been estimated at $74 billion, an increase of 2.4 percent. Of this, export turnover was $36.9 billion, up by 2.4 percent, and import turnover $37.1 billion, up by 1 percent. As of the end of February, the total import/export turnover had been estimated at $74 billion, an increase of 2.4 percent. Of this, export turnover was $36.9 billion, up by 2.4 percent, and import turnover $37.1 billion, up by 1 percent. As such, the economy is witnessing an excess of imports over exports, in contrast to the state of continuous trade surplus in 2019. However, the impact of the epidemic on Vietnams exports remain unclear as exports to some markets have increased slightly. According to Bao Viet Securities, exports to China in the first two months of the year brought $4.8 billion, a slight increase of 3.7 percent. The US remains the biggest export market with an increase of 19.6 percent. The decreases in export turnover were seen in some markets, including the EU (- 7.7 percent), ASEAN (- 9.3 percent) and South Korea (- 6.5 percent). If the epidemic is contained and stopped prior to Q2, the impact will not be big, because the trade exchange demand is always low in Q1, a fund investment expert on maritime and logistics stocks said. Seaport developers said the epidemic has not had a big impact on business prospects yet, though the consequences will be serious if it lasts a long time. The current impact is not big because the demand for trade is not high at this moment, a senior executive of Gemadept said. Despite Covid-19, experts still give optimistic forecasts about the prospects of the seaport sector in medium and long terms. KB Vietnam Securities said Vietnam is still an attractive destination forFDI flow thanks to the labor force, stable macroeconomic conditions and improved business environment. Deep-water seaports in Vietnam can receive large-tonnage vessels. Meanwhile, a report says over 70 percent of vessels to be built have capacity of over 10,000 TEU. Kim Chi Cargo through seaports grows despite virus The number of ships docking at Vietnamese seaports has fallen due to COVID-19 pandemic, but the volume of goods passing through the ports has recorded impressive growth. 22.04.2020 LISTEN WASHINGTON, April 22, 2020 Global remittances are projected to decline sharply by about 20 percent in 2020 due to the economic crisis induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown. The projected fall, which would be the sharpest decline in recent history, is largely due to a fall in the wages and employment of migrant workers, who tend to be more vulnerable to loss of employment and wages during an economic crisis in a host country. Remittances to low and middle-income countries (LMICs) are projected to fall by 19.7 percent to $445 billion, representing a loss of a crucial financing lifeline for many vulnerable households. Studies show that remittances alleviate poverty in lower- and middle-income countries, improve nutritional outcomes, are associated with higher spending on education, and reduce child labor in disadvantaged households. A fall in remittances affects families ability to spend on these areas as more of their finances will be directed to solve food shortages and immediate livelihoods needs. Remittances are a vital source of income for developing countries. The ongoing economic recession caused by COVID-19 is taking a severe toll on the ability to send money home and makes it all the more vital that we shorten the time to recovery for advanced economies, said World Bank Group President David Malpass. Remittances help families afford food, healthcare, and basic needs. As the World Bank Group implements fast, broad action to support countries, we are working to keep remittance channels open and safeguard the poorest communities access to these most basic needs. The World Bank is assisting member states in monitoring the flow of remittances through various channels, the costs and convenience of sending money, and regulations to protect financial integrity that affects remittance flows. It is working with the G20 countries and the global community to reduce remittance costs and improve financial inclusion for the poor. Remittance flows are expected to fall across all World Bank Group regions, most notably in Europe and Central Asia (27.5 percent), followed by Sub-Saharan Africa (23.1 percent), South Asia (22.1 percent), the Middle East and North Africa (19.6 percent), Latin America and the Caribbean (19.3 percent), and East Asia and the Pacific (13 percent). The large decline in remittances flows in 2020 comes after remittances to LMICs reached a record $554 billion in 2019. Even with the decline, remittance flows are expected to become even more important as a source of external financing for LMICs as the fall in foreign direct investment is expected to be larger (more than 35 percent). In 2019, remittance flows to LMICs became larger than FDI, an important milestone for monitoring resource flows to developing countries. In 2021, the World Bank estimates that remittances to LMICs will recover and rise by 5.6 percent to $470 billion. The outlook for remittance remains as uncertain as the impact of COVID-19 on the outlook for global growth and on the measures to restrain the spread of the disease. In the past, remittances have been counter-cyclical, where workers send more money home in times of crisis and hardship back home. This time, however, the pandemic has affected all countries, creating additional uncertainties. "Effective social protection systems are crucial to safeguarding the poor and vulnerable during this crisis in both developing countries as well as advanced countries. In host countries, social protection interventions should also support migrant populations, said Michal Rutkowski, Global Director of the Social Protection and Jobs Global Practice at the World Bank. The global average cost of sending $200 remains high at 6.8 percent in the first quarter of 2020, only slightly below the previous year. Sub-Saharan Africa continued to have the highest average cost, at about 9 percent, yet intra-regional migrants in Sub-Saharan Africa comprise over two-thirds of all international migration from the region. Quick actions that make it easier to send and receive remittances can provide much-needed support to the lives of migrants and their families. These include treating remittance services as essential and making them more accessible to migrants, said Dilip Ratha, lead author of the Brief and head of KNOMAD. Regional Remittance Trends Remittance flows to the East Asia and Pacific region grew by 2.6 percent to $147 billion in 2019, about 4.3 percentage points lower than the growth rate in 2018. In 2020, remittance flows are expected to decline by 13 percent. The slowdown is expected to be driven by declining inflows from the United States, the largest source of remittances to the region. Several remittance-dependent countries such as those in the Pacific Islands could see households at risk as remittance incomes decline over this period. A recovery of 7.5 percent growth for the region is anticipated in 2021. Remittance costs: The average cost of sending $200 to the East Asia and Pacific region dropped to 7.13 percent in the first quarter of 2020, compared to the same quarter in 2019. The five lowest-cost corridors in the region averaged 2.6 percent while the five highest cost corridors averaged 15.4 percent as of 2019 Q4. Remittances to countries in Europe and Central Asia remained strong in 2019, growing by about 6 percent to $65 billion in 2019. Ukraine remained the largest recipient of remittances in the region, receiving a record high of nearly $16 billion in 2019. Smaller remittance-dependent economies in the region, such as Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, particularly benefited from the rebound of economic activity in Russia. In 2020, remittances are estimated to fall by about 28percent due to the combined effect of the global coronavirus pandemic and lower oil prices. Remittance costs: The average cost of sending $200 to the ECA region declined modestly to 6.48 percent in the first quarter of 2020 from 6.67 percent a year earlier. The differences in costs across corridors in the region are substantial; the highest costs for sending remittances were from Turkey to Bulgaria, while the lowest costs for sending remittances were from Russia to Azerbaijan. Remittances flow into Latin America and the Caribbean grew 7.4 percent to $96 billion in 2019. Growth in inflows was uneven across countries in the region. Brazil, Guatemala, and Honduras saw a rise in remittances of more than 12 percent in 2019. Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Panama had an increase of more than 6 percent, while remittances to Bolivia and Paraguay declined by 3.8 percent and 2.2 percent, respectively. In 2020, remittance flows to the region is estimated to fall by 19.3 percent. Remittance costs: The average cost of sending $200 to the region was 5.97 percent in the first quarter of 2020. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the costs of transferring remittances to the region could increase due to operational challenges being faced by remittance service providers (closures of agents and offices, access to cash, foreign exchange, security) and compliance with AML/CFT regulations. Remittances to the Middle East and North Africa region are projected to fall by 19.6 percent to $47 billion in 2020, following the 2.6 percent growth seen in 2019. The anticipated decline is attributable to the global slowdown as well as the impact of lower oil prices in GCC countries. Remittances from the euro area would also be impacted by the areas pre-COVID-19 economic slowdown and the depreciation of the euro against the U.S. dollar. In 2021, remittances to the region is expected to recover, albeit at a slow pace of around 1.6 percent due to projected moderate growth in the euro area and weak GCC outflows. Remittance costs: The cost of sending $200 to the region was 7 percent, largely unchanged from the previous year. Costs vary greatly across corridors. The cost of sending money from high-income OECD countries to Lebanon continues to be in the double digits. Sending money from GCC countries to Egypt and Jordan costs between 3 percent to 5 percent in some corridors. Saudi Arabia to Syria corridor has experienced a dramatic fall in costs as the civil war in Syria has receded. Remittances to South Asia are projected to decline by 22 percent to $109 billion in 2020, following the growth of 6.1 percent in 2019. The deceleration in remittances to the South Asian region in 2020 is driven by the global economic slowdown due to the coronavirus outbreak as well as oil price declines. The economic slowdown is likely to directly affect remittance outflows from the United States, the United Kingdom, and EU countries to South Asia. Falling oil prices will affect remittance outflows from GCC countries and Malaysia.Remittance costs: South Asia had the lowest average remittance costs of any region, at 4.95 percent. Some of the lowest-cost corridors had costs below the 3 percent SDG target. This is probably due to high volumes, competitive markets, and the deployment of technology. But costs are well over 10 percent in the highest-cost corridors due to low volumes, little competition, and regulatory concerns. Banking regulations related to AML/CFT raise the risk profile of remittance service providers and thereby increase costs for some receiving countries such as Afghanistan and sending countries such as Pakistan. Remittances to Sub-Saharan Africa registered a small decline of 0.5 percent to $48 billion in 2019. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, remittance flows to the region are expected to decline by 23.1 percent to reach $37 billion in 2020, while recovery of 4 percent is expected in 2021. The anticipated decline can be attributed to a combination of factors driven by the coronavirus outbreak in key destinations where African migrants reside including in the EU area, the United States, the Middle East, and China. These large economies host a large share of Sub-Saharan African migrants and combined, are a source of close to a quarter of total remittances sent to the region. In addition to the pandemics impact, many countries in the Eastern Africa region are experiencing a severe outbreak of desert locusts attacking crops and threatening the food supply for people in the region. Remittance costs: Sending $200 remittances to the region cost 8.9 percent on average in the first quarter of 2020, a modest decrease compared with the average cost of 9.25 percent a year before. The most expensive corridors are observed mainly in the Southern African region, with costs as high as 20 percent. At the other end of the spectrum, the less expensive corridors had average costs of less than 3.6 percent. The Migration and Development Brief and the latest migration and remittances data are available at www.knomad.org. Interact with migration experts at http://blogs.worldbank.org/peoplemove/ WASHINGTON, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Restaurant Association today released new guidance for operation reopening which provides a basic summary of recommended practices that can be used to help mitigate exposure to the COVID-19 virus. The document is meant to be used in conjunction with instruction operators receive from authorities during their reopening phase-in. The guidance focuses on food safety, cleaning and sanitizing, employee health monitoring and personal hygiene, and social distancing. Each section includes a list of actionable items an operation should consider as it evaluates its safety procedures. The guidance builds on already established best practices and available requirements that address specific health and safety concerns related to the spread of COVID-19. Included in the document are highlights of the recently released Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Best Practices for Retail Food Stores, Restaurants, and Food Pick-Up/Delivery Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic. "By combining this guidance with a restaurant's existing policies gleaned from the FDA Food Code, ServSafe training, and recommendations from local health officials, they can help secure a safe opening," said Sherman Brown, executive vice president, training and certification. "Adding to current best practices is an approachable way for owners and managers to put the modified protocols into practice as state and local officials begin to open communities." To prepare to comply with opening procedures, the guidance document advises operators to update their existing policies and operating procedures in accordance with the latest FDA, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidance and in accordance with local and state officials regarding: Social distancing and protective equipment Employee health Cleaning/sanitizing/disinfecting The National Restaurant Association partnered with representatives of the FDA, academia, the Conference for Food Protection, Ecolab, public health officials and industry representatives to develop the guidance. Download the full guidance here. For the most comprehensive and up-to-date COVID-19 resources and information for the restaurant industry, visit restaurant.org/COVID19. About the National Restaurant Association Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises 1 million restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of 15.6 million employees. We represent the industry in Washington, D.C., and advocate on its behalf. We sponsor the industry's largest trade show (National Restaurant Association Show); leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF's ProStart). For more information, visit Restaurant.org and find us on Twitter @WeRRestaurants, Facebook and YouTube. SOURCE National Restaurant Association Related Links https://www.restaurant.org The flag has the power to inflame feelings of division, he said, adding, I cannot have that division inside our Corps. All Marine Corps installations have regulations prohibiting the display of symbols related to hate speech, guidelines that General Berger said were intended to foster an environment that promotes unity and security. He ended his letter by asking Marines to focus on the symbols that unite them: the eagle, globe and anchor. It was not immediately clear if the ban would apply to clothing and cars owned by Marines when they are off base and off duty. The Marine Corps did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Thursday. The announcement came two months after General Berger ordered the removal of all Confederate paraphernalia from Marine Corps installations, according to CNN. Like many in coronavirus lockdown, Ruby Rose is taking a break from wearing makeup. And the Australian actress looked stunning with not a scrap of it on her flawless visage as she visited a friend's house in Los Angeles, on Thursday. The 34-year-old also debuted her new purple hair as she hopped out of her expensive Tesla car. Ruby Rose, is that you? Batwoman star looked barely recognisable makeup free and debuted her new purple hair during an outing in Los Angeles on Thursday The Orange Is The New Black beauty had dyed her black cropped locks the day before, and cut them into a mullet. Ruby appeared to be going for a swim at her pal's place as she arrived holding a towel. She also showed off her slender figure in a pair of denim shorts and a Metallica T-shirt, accessorised with a pair of white Crocs and a Fendi logo backpack. Fancy a dip? Ruby appeared to be going for a swim at her pal's place as she arrived holding a towel The brunette currently plays the first openly gay superhero in history - Karen Kane in CW's new Batwoman series. Ruby herself came out as a lesbian when she was just 12, and identifies as gender fluid. The Melbourne-born stunner started her career as a model and became an MTV VJ before moving to LA to pursue acting. She quickly rose to fame after joining the cast of Orange Is the New Black in 2015 playing Stella Carlin. She has also starred in films such as Resident Evil: The Final Chapter, XXX: The Return of Xander Cage, John Wick: Chapter 2, Pitch Perfect 3 and The Meg. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 18:41:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education on Thursday reported 1,030 new cases from COVID-19, bringing the total number to 87,026, the state TV reported. Kianush Jahanpur, head of Public Relations and Information Center of the ministry, said 90 died in the past 24 hours which increases the overall death toll to 5,481. He put the number of recovered patients at 64,843, saying 3,105 are still in critical condition and under treatment. So far, 389,507 people have been lab-tested for the novel coronavirus in Iran, the spokesman added. The Iranian health official urged people for further respect to the social distancing regulations to help the authorities control the spread of the disease. Iran is among the worst-hit countries in the Middle East in terms of the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths. Enditem Canada Goose, the coat maker known for its $1,000 parkas, won't buy coyote fur from trappers starting in 2022. Instead, the 63-year-old Toronto company will buy fur for its coat hoods from the marketplace. Until then, Canada goose will buy back fur hoods from its customers in order to recycle them. The decision to use what the company called 'reclaimed fur' was spelled out in in a sustainability report planning for its future that was released online Wednesday. Canada Goose, the coat maker known for its $1,000 parkas (pictured), won't buy coyote fur from trappers starting in 2022. The 63-year-old Toronto company, instead, will buy its fur from the market place, according to a sustainability report planning for its future Until the switch to marketplace fur happens, Canada Goose says it will buy back fur hoods from its customers in order to recycle them. An image of the fur hoods is pictured from the company's sustainability report CEO Dani Reiss, whose grandfather started Canada Goose in 1957, insists the company isn't caving into outside pressures from animal rights activists, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals CEO Dani Reiss, whose grandfather started Canada Goose in 1957, insists the company wasn't caving to outside pressures from animal rights activists, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. 'The fact that we've been targeted did not factor into this decision at all,' he told the New York Times. 'We're still using fur,' he said. PETA, when reached by the DailyMail, remained critical of Canada Goose. 'Canada Goose is attempting to "humane wash" its image by switching from fur taken from coyotes whom trappers have recently caught in steel traps to fur that may already be on the market, which is also a product of the cruel actions of trappers,' said Tracy Reiman, Executive Vice President of PETA in a statement. PETA said: 'Canada Goose is attempting to 'humane wash' its image by switching from fur taken from coyotes whom trappers have recently caught in steel traps to fur that may already be on the market, which is also a product of the cruel actions of trappers' Canada Goose responded with a statement saying the company's 'Sustainable Impact Strategy,' is 'about doing the right thing for the environment and the future of our planet.' 'With reclaimed fur, we are making a sustainable material more sustainable,' the company says. PETA has criticized Canada Goose for years and even staged a demonstration outside the company's flagship store in New York's trendy SOHO neighborhood using topless protesters in 2018. PETA has criticized Canada Goose for years and even staged a demonstration outside the company's flagship store in New York's trendy SOHO neighborhood using topless protesters in 2018 PETA recruited a throng of shirtless demonstrators for the October protest sporting black pants, matching boots and writings across their chests that read: 'Canada Goose Kills' The group had recruited a throng of shirtless demonstrators for the October protest sporting black pants, matching boots and writings across their chests that read: 'Canada Goose Kills.' On their backs, the brand's logo was painted in dripping blood. A number of women bared their breasts and marched the city streets. A handful of men attended the animal rights rally, holding signs that said things like, 'Coyotes Suffer for Canada Goose!' and 'Fur is Dead! TEL AVIV - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has warned that his administration will take all the measures necessary to safeguard Palestinian national rights if Israel annexes parts of the Jordan Valley and Jewish settlements in the West Bank. ''Nobody should deceive themselves that they can exploit the global situation caused by the coronavirus epidemic to violate our national rights'', he said in a speech broadcast on television. ''We have informed the relevant international parties, including the US and Israeli governments, that we will not stand hand-cuffed if Israel announces the annexation of any part of our land'', he warned. Abbas said his administration would consider ''null'' all agreements with the two governments, based on resolutions of the Palestinian National Council. The PNA president went on to say that ''we are on our guard towards anyone who thinks to ease or circumvent our national decision to establish a free and independent state in our territory with East Jerusalem as capital, in line with legitimate international resolutions. We will take any decision and measure to safeguard our national rights and fundamental principles''. Abbas then urged Palestinians to respect restrictive measures that have been imposed due to coronavirus during the month of Ramadan. (Bloomberg) -- Italy will present a plan this week to ease its rigid lockdown, joining Germany, France and Austria in pursuing a gradual return to normality as coronavirus infection rates fall and pressure mounts to reopen businesses. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte aims to roll out a detailed restart program beginning on May 4, saying in a post on Facebook that the process will take time in order to mitigate risks of re-igniting the spread of the disease. On Tuesday, the nation reported an almost equal number of virus recoveries and infections for the first time. Now, we must loosen restrictions, Conte later told lawmakers in Italys Senate. We must do everything possible to preserve the industrial sector. The countrys engines must restart. Italys commitment to relax containment measures is an important marker in Europes battle with the pandemic. The original center of the continents outbreak suffered the most deaths after the U.S. and has the third-most cases in the world. With more than 100,000 fatalities in the region, Europes leaders are seeking to strike a balance between saving lives and securing jobs. The first steps to loosen curbs in Austria, Denmark and Norway are putting pressure on others to follow suit, despite the lack of treatments or a cure. Italy recorded 2,729 new cases of the disease, compared with 2,256 a day earlier, the first increase in five days, according to the civil protection agency on Tuesday. Against that, the number of recovered patients hit 2,723 over the past 24 hours, a daily record. Italys current restrictions -- in force since mid-March -- shutter all non-essential businesses, ban movements within the country, and all but confine people to their homes except for buying food, going to work and seeking medical help. Conte is juggling caution from scientific and public-health advisers, who insist the decline in new cases is still slow and relaxed restrictions could trigger a new outbreak, with demands from businesses and regional governors to restart the economy. Story continues Similar pressures are playing out in capitals across Europe, and leaders are pleading for patience. Because of contagion risks, Munich canceled its famed Oktoberfest for the first time since World War II, and Spain wont hold the traditional running-of-the-bulls festival in Pamplona in July, the latest signs that disruptions will linger for months to come. We agreed that the risk is simply too great to hold the traditional beer and folk festival in Munich, Bavarian Premier Markus Soeder said. We are living in different times, and living with corona means living carefully. The move deals a $1.3 billion blow to the local economy, according to the citys mayor. Germany, which had the smallest rise in new cases this month in the 24 hours through Tuesday morning, started to allow small stores and some other retailers to reopen on Monday and will weigh next steps on April 30. France will unveil plans within two weeks to progressively lift restrictions amid falling numbers of patients in hospitals and in intensive care, and Spain plans to loosen rules for children. The European Union cautioned against complacency. Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides said containment efforts that end too quickly and arent coordinated across the bloc could threaten the sacrifices made by citizens and medical staff. As part of efforts to develop a vaccine, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will host an online event on May 4 to generate funding pledges and mobilize investment necessary for research into effective treatments, she told the European Parliaments health committee. The pressures facing policy makers are evident in Austria. Despite being one of the first European nations to ease restrictions, the economy may take as long as three years to recover, according to a group of leading economists. Unemployment and state-wage support have skyrocketed, with almost every third worker receiving some form of subsidy due to the pandemic. After allowing small shops and hardware stores to open from April 14, Austria will let all other retailers resume operations in May and will begin to reopen schools, restaurants and places of worship May 15. Conte said that his cabinet is working with various experts to coordinate the so-called phase 2, when Italians will have to adapt to the lingering threat of the virus, such as maintaining social-distancing guidelines and wearing masks in public. The plan could include a full reopening of stores on May 11 or more likely May 18, La Repubblica reported. Full movement for citizens would only come after that, the newspaper said. The lockdown is crippling an already fragile and debt-ridden economy. In an attempt to obtain some relief, Conte will make another push for so-called coronabonds, or joint debt issuance, at a virtual gathering of European Union leaders on Thursday. Italys easing plan will be laid out at the national level but will take into account regional differences, according to the countrys leader. I would like to be able to say: we will open everything. Immediately. Tomorrow morning, Conte said in a post on Facebook. But a decision like that would be irresponsible and could jeopardize all the efforts weve made until now. (Updates with new Italian cases and recoveries from second paragraph) For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. On March 30, Russian leader Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by telephone, the first of five calls between the two over a period of three weeks, a flurry of communication unprecedented during Trump's 3 1/2 years in office. "We had a great call," Trump later told reporters. The Kremlin described the call as "lengthy" and said the two leaders "expressed serious concern regarding the scope of the spread of the coronavirus" and "discussed closer cooperation." Meanwhile, the two countries' diplomats have spoken at least three times over that same period, which also coincided with an unusual shipment of Russian coronavirus-related humanitarian aid to the United States. For many Russia watchers, the flurry of behind-the-scenes phone calls and other communications is a clear indication that something's going on. Consensual Adversaries After years of animosity rivaling the depths of the Cold War, are Washington and Moscow moving to "reset" relations? "It's an unusual amount of communication, but these are unusual times," said Dmitry Suslov, a professor and foreign affairs expert at Moscow's Higher School of Economics. "This explains more the intensive interaction" between Washington and Moscow. "In no way could it result in any sort of reset," he said. "What kind of reset can we talk about if there is a strong consensus, in both countries, that we are adversaries," he said. Neither the Kremlin nor the White House responded to requests to comment for this story. But Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was asked specifically about the conversations between Trump and Putin in an interview on Russian state television on April 11 "The two presidents are able at the proper time to step back from strategic disagreements and to tactically engage in constructive dialogue," Peskov said. "They absolutely understand each other. They understand there is no alternative to some kind of joint action, joint understanding. And this is fully demonstrated in the last two telephone conversations." 'A Kind Of Opportunity' Along with the coronavirus pandemic, the collapse of global oil prices, which has hammered the U.S. shale-oil industry and clouded Russia's otherwise strong fiscal picture, has reinvigorated some sort of dialogue, experts in Washington and Moscow said. "It's a kind of opportunity, maybe not a big one, to improve U.S.-Russian relations on the level of mutual understanding and mutual trust," Ivan Kurilla, a professor of international relations at the European University at St. Petersburg, told a panel discussion on April 21. Oksana Antonenko, a director of global risk analysis at the London-based company Control Risks, said she doubted there would be any major transformation in the relationship between the two countries. However, she said, both the Trump and Putin administrations have been critical of how international organizations like the United Nations and the World Health Organization have responded to the coronavirus. That may open the door for some sort of understanding on specific areas of agreement, she said. "It is an opportunity to move the relationship forward, but there is also an opportunity for this relationship to deteriorate again," she said during the Wilson Center discussion. Reset Vs. Overload Efforts to "reset" Russian-American relations date back to the period after Barack Obama won the U.S. presidency in 2008. Ties between Moscow and Washington had been fractured by the war in Georgia, which ended with Russian forces occupying swaths of Georgian territory and recognizing them as independent countries. After Obama's election, then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton headed up an effort to engage with Moscow, an effort that appeared hexed from the outset by a mistranslated symbolic "reset" button. By the time Trump succeeded Obama in the White House in 2017, however, that reset effort had failed. Relations had been soured by Putin's return to the Russian presidency in 2012 and, in 2014, by Moscow's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula and its support for separatist formations in eastern Ukraine. Even before Trump took office, his administration was shadowed by allegations that Russia conspired to sway the 2016 election in his favor. That conclusion, which was bolstered earlier this month by the most recent bipartisan report from the Senate Intelligence Committee, has hobbled Trump and his repeated calls for the United States and Russia to work more closely together on international crises. Cloud Of Suspicion Dmitry Trenin, who heads the Carnegie Moscow Center, said a reset has been a long-standing objective for the Kremlin, but it's been impossible given the cloud of Russia suspicion hanging over the White House and political pressure from congressional Democrats. "When a major crisis occurs that affects both countries and indeed the world as a whole, the Kremlin seeks to reach out to the White House with the idea of joining forces to fight a common threat," he said during a panel discussion hosted by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, in Washington, D.C. on April 20. "The new coronavirus pandemic is just another opportunity that Moscow is using to engage Washington," he said. "There's nothing inherently bad in phone calls between our two leaders," Eugene Rumer, who served as national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia at the National Intelligence Council during the Obama administration, said during the Carnegie discussion. "It's what transpires oftentimes in the history of U.S.-Russian and U.S.-Soviet relations, this sort of the dialogue between two top leaders, to get the bureaucratic processes engaged." But, he said, "we need a serious dialogue. Presidential phone calls don't just happen. There has to be an agenda that has to happen." Initially, the collapse of global oil prices was due to the collapse of a six-year agreement between Moscow and the OPEC oil cartel. That flooded markets just as world demand dropped off a cliff due to the economic shutdowns prompted by the coronavirus. The price collapse hurt not only Russian and Saudi producers, but also U.S. shale-oil producers, which is why Trump was spurred to help broker a dialogue between Moscow and Riyadh, experts said. "We worked out a deal on oil," Trump said at a White House briefing on April 18. "I worked with Putin and with the king on that," he said referring to Saudi King Salman. "And President Putin was a total gentleman, and it was very important to get that done." Two weeks earlier, Russia dispatched a planeload of medical supplies ostensibly aimed at helping the United States in its struggle with COVID-19. 'Propaganda Victory' While the gesture appeared benevolent, the load, which arrived at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport on April 1, involved two companies subject to sanctions imposed by the United States in response to Russia's takeover of Crimea. Moreover, there were conflicting statements about whether the shipment was paid for and by whom. The Treasury Department later told RFE/RL that the exporter of the shipment did not appear to fall under U.S. sanctions. "To the extent that such sanctions apply, Treasury has authority to license U.S. persons to engage in transactions that are consistent with U.S. foreign policy and national-security interests," a spokesman said. Critics of the White House said it was more of a propaganda victory for Moscow, which has long sought to persuade the White House to roll back the sanctions. In a call with reporters on April 22, John Sullivan, the U.S. ambassador to Russia, defended the shipment, while also signaling that the U.S. administration was not considering easing sanctions and seeming to group Putin's Russia among the world's "authoritarian regimes." "U.S. sanctions do not inhibit humanitarian assistance," Sullivan said. "The answer to humanitarian assistance challenges what we are seeing now with COVID-19 is not sanctions relief, because sanctions relief will not convince authoritarian regimes to reverse course and prioritize the well-being of their people." Adding further tension to any potential reconciliation: a U.S. State Department agency has reportedly concluded that Russia, and China, are conducting a coronavirus disinformation campaign against the United States. New START, Old START The Kremlin has made clear that its other pressing priority is the looming expiration of the New START nuclear arms treaty. The pact, which will expire in February unless Moscow and Washington agree to extend it for another five years, is the only U.S.-Russia arms control treaty still in effect. The Trump administration, already distrustful of Russia over another now-defunct Cold War arms treaty, initially gave mixed signals about extending New START. More recently, U.S. officials have said they want to broaden the treaty to include China, although Beijing has rejected the idea of trilateral negotiations. Without an extension, the treaty will collapse, and further fuel a new arms race, analysts have warned. "We completely agree with the Trump administration, that arms control as it exists today is outdated," Suslov told RFE/RL. "We want time to elaborate the system, to expand it. But it is impossible to do it now." One of the four police officers killed in a horrific crash in Melbourne was a 28-year-old constable who was on his first week on the job, it has been revealed. Josh Prestney has been identified as one of the victims killed by a speeding truck on the Eastern Freeway at Kew on Wednesday afternoon. Mr Prestney only graduated from the police academy in November, and was only working a short stint in the field before he was to be transferred to Kew police station. His grandmother Eliza Anderson told the Herald Sun Mr Prestney was 'so proud to serve' his community. The first victim has been identified as constable Josh Prestney, who only graduated from the academy in November (pictured) The 28-year-old (pictured with his grandmother) was killed alongside three fellow officers while they were dealing with the driver of a Porsche, who had allegedly tested positive to a roadside drug test Four police officers were killed when they were struck by a truck (pictured at the tragic scene) in Melbourne, marking the greatest loss of police life in a single incident in Victoria's history He had reportedly only started in his new role on Tuesday, the day before the tragic accident. 'We were so proud of you. God bless Josh. Miss you forever,' she wrote in a Facebook post. Ms Anderson had shared a photo of her and her grandson back in June when he was still in the academy. 'Proud Nan with my grandson Josh at the police academy,' she said in the caption. A truck was travelling at 100km/h when it hit and killed four police officers dealing with the driver of a Porsche, who had allegedly tested positive to a roadside drug test. As the officers arrived, a refrigeration truck ploughed into all three parked cars, killing the two senior constables and two officers as they stood in the emergency lane. The driver of the black Porsche 911 fled on foot and remains on the run on Thursday, though officers know who he is and expect he will turn himself in. Flags will fly at half-mast across Victoria on Thursday in honour of the officers. Police pulled over a speeding driver at 4.50pm on Wednesday, then proceeded to call for backup from highway patrol when they decided to impound the car. By 5.40pm, the refrigeration truck had ploughed into the three cars and four officers, killing them all The police car that arrived at the scene was crushed by a refrigeration truck about 5.40pm on Wednesday Emergency services took the bodies of the four police officers away from the scene Further details about the three other victims - a female senior constable, male senior constable and another male constable, are expected to be released later on Thursday. Trevor, a cousin of one of the deceased officers and who drives a truck similar to the one involved in the tragedy, told Melbourne radio 3AW he was shocked by the tragedy. 'It hasn't hit home yet, but the job they do, I don't think is respected enough,' he said. Trevor revealed his cousin had been in the force for eight years and leaves behind a wife and family. 'It's just devastating. They're not a number, they're a name, they're a family member, they're a friend, they're a cousin, they're an uncle and a brother, or a husband, or a wife,' he said. Police confirmed one female and three male officers were killed in a horror crash in Melbourne Victoria Police was inundated with heartfelt tributes from interstate colleagues A GoFundMe campaign has been launched by a member of the Narre Warren Police Department in Victoria to support the families of the victims. Senior Constable Steven Pope is aiming to raise a total of $2million, or $500,000 for each family. More than $29,300 has been raised by 442 donors in just 12 hours. 'This is a brutal reminder of the danger police face in the course of their service, every minute of every shift,' Constable Pope said. 'Whilst we mourn their loss, we grieve with their families and colleagues. Whilst money can never replace a lost loved one, the financial stresses can take their toll.' All four officers were mowed down by the refrigerated truck after it veered off the traffic lanes into the emergency lane. The Porsche driver, who's known to police, fled uninjured. 'It is an unprecedented event for us to lose so many officers in one event. Officers just doing their work, just doing their job,' Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said Thursday. The 41-year-old Porsche driver apparently took photos at the crash site and shared them on social media, Mr Ashton told reporters. The man, who has an extensive criminal history, has since made contact with police and will hand himself in. The truck driver had a medical episode after the crash, blacked out and is in hospital under police guard. Commissioner Ashton said the driver of the truck was taken to hospital following the incident, where he remains under police guard. They are hoping to interview him on Thursday. Pictured: Moments before the truck ploughed into the officers and the Porsche, as officers speak with the driver in the emergency lane of the freeway 'He is from Cranbourne and we did a warrant through the night at his premises,' he said. 'What was found at that premises is still the subject of ongoing investigation.' It comes as chilling footage emerges of the Porsche speeding down the same highway a month before it was involved in the accident. Motorist James Tsagros saw the exact same car 'flying' down the same freeway at 'scary' speeds on March 21. Shattered police colleagues and emergency workers across Australia have since paid tribute to the fallen officers in what is the greatest loss of police life in a single incident in Victoria's history. The ages of the female senior constable, one male senior constable and two male constables killed have not yet been released. One of the male constables had reportedly been part of the team for eight years - leaving behind a devastated wife and children. Chief Commissioner Ashton said detectives were trying to piece together what led to the crash, but labelled the tragedy a 'crime'. When asked why homicide detectives were at the scene on Wednesday night, he replied: 'Those officers (who died) have been victims of a crime.' The tragedy rocked Victoria Police to its core and eclipses the loss of three officers gunned down by bush ranger Ned Kelly in the state's north-east in 1878. Ashley Amon and her daughters, Alysha, 2, and Alexandria, 4, attend a drive-in Easter service with fellow worshipers in their cars in a parking lot in Santa Ana. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times) Churches in Riverside and San Bernardino counties must continue to follow government orders banning in-person religious services to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. At a hearing conducted by telephone Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Jesus G. Bernal refused to grant a temporary restraining order that would have prevented state and county officials from enforcing the ban, which was included in broader stay-at-home orders prohibiting gatherings and closing down many businesses. Three pastors and one parishioner filed a lawsuit this month alleging that the stay-at-home orders violated their 1st Amendment religious freedoms and other constitutional rights. Harmeet Dhillon, an attorney for the plaintiffs, argued that the judge should apply the constitutional standard of strict scrutiny to assess the legality of limiting worshipers to online services. She noted that some Californians, particularly in rural areas, do not have internet access. Attorneys for the government countered that the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed more more than 1,400 in California and more than 180,000 worldwide, justifies the use of emergency powers that restrict peoples movements and right to gather in houses of worship. Any harm the plaintiff suffers is significantly outweighed by the harm to the public health that this disease provides, that harm being a significant risk of severe sickness and death on a massive scale, Deputy Atty. Gen. Todd Grabarsky said at the hearing. Dhillon questioned why in-person religious services cannot be held if worshipers stay at least six feet apart, when laundromats and supermarkets remain open. She warned that if the restrictions continue, churches and other religious institutions will be driven underground, posing a greater risk to public safety than if they are allowed to legally gather. Religion is as central to people of faith as eating, she said. It is not optional. It is not weekend. Story continues Deborah Fox, an attorney for San Bernardino County acting Public Health Officer Erin Gustafson, said a church gathering is different from picking up a prescription or milk and eggs because it is a communal experience, not a quick stop to grab a few items. "You can't sit in a McDonald's and have a burger and fries," she said. "You can't sit in Starbucks with a coffee and read the New York Times." Some of the plaintiffs in the case have shown their determination to share the same physical space as their parishioners. James Moffatt of Church Unlimited in Indio was fined $1,000 for conducting a service on Palm Sunday. On Easter Sunday, the church held a drive-in service, which was permitted by Riverside County only for that weekend. Photos on the churchs Facebook page show a full parking lot, with some worshipers standing on curbs or in between cars. Another plaintiff, Patrick Scales of the Shield of Faith Family Church in Fontana, held an in-person Easter service in defiance of the stay-at-home orders. A video on the churchs Facebook page shows people in the pews cheering and applauding, many wearing masks and gloves but appearing to be closer to each other than six feet. Bernal agreed with the defendants, who include Gov. Gavin Newsom and other state officials, as well as Riverside and San Bernardino county officials, that the pandemic justifies the government's use of emergency powers, even at some cost to religious freedom. I do think the state has put forth some authority that during a state of emergency, the executive powers are in effect and that they are empowered to provide for emergency remedies which may infringe on fundamental constitutional rights, Bernal said. Dhillon requested a hearing for a preliminary injunction to stop the ban, which would cover similar legal ground as the arguments over the temporary restraining order. In an interview, Dhillon said that even if she loses the case, she will have won a victory in getting state officials to clarify that churches can hold drive-in services if people stay in their cars. Its better than nothing. It gives heart to people that they can see one another, she said. Dhillon said she is monitoring restrictions on religious gatherings in other parts of California and may file more lawsuits soon. Facebook has agreed to block access to certain anti-government content to users in Vietnam, following months of having its services throttled there, reportedly by state-owned telecoms. Reuters, citing sources within the company, reported that Vietnam requested earlier in the year that Facebook restrict a variety of content it deemed illegal, such as posts critical of the government. When the social network balked, the country used its control over local internet providers to slow Facebook traffic to unusable levels. At the time, an explanation that the slowdown was owing to maintenance of undersea cables likely did not convince many, since it was specific to Facebook (and related properties Messenger and Instagram). All things being equal, Facebook has shown in the past that it would prefer to keep discourse open. But all things are not equal and in this case millions of users were unable to access its services and consequently, it must be said, unable to be advertised to. The slowdown lasted some 7 weeks, from mid-February to early April, when Facebook conceded to the government's demands. One Reuters source said that "once we committed to restricting more content... the servers were turned back online by the telecommunications operators." Facebook offered the following statement confirming general, though not specific, aspects of the story reported by Reuters: The Vietnamese government has instructed us to restrict access to content which it has deemed to be illegal in Vietnam. We believe freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, and work hard to protect and defend this important civil liberty around the world. However, we have taken this action to ensure our services remain available and usable for millions of people in Vietnam, who rely on them every day. Facebook is no stranger to government requests both to restrict and hand over data. Although the company inspects these requests and sometimes challenges them, it's Facebook's stated policy to comply with local law even if that means (as it often does) complicity with government censorship practices. The justification usually offered (as here) is that people in a country with such restrictions are better served with an incomplete set of Facebook's communications tools rather than none at all. DES MOINES, Iowa, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Simpson College (simpson.edu) today announced the college's winners of the 2020 Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact Presidents' Engaged Campus Awards. This year's awards included more than 100 honorees selected by 38 college and university presidents in Iowa and Minnesota. Awardees were selected for their role as student leaders, civic leaders, and community-campus partners. Simpson College recognized awardees in four selective categories: Emerging Innovation, Community Collaboration, Alumni Leadership and Civic-Minded Employer. "Simpson College is committed to preparing our students for global and local leadership through a broad liberal arts education, experiential and service learning and civic engagement," said Bob Lane, interim president of Simpson College. "We are excited that Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact is recognizing the amazing service of the award winners that continues to benefit the Greater Des Moines community in an effort to create high-impact educational experiences for our students," said Lane. Simpson College Awardees: Student Leadership: Amanda Stadtlander , Simpson College student Stadtlander embodies the characteristics of a servant leader through her deep and ongoing commitment to community engagement at Simpson College . In her role as Rotaract President, she focuses on growing the on-campus service club and evaluating service projects to ensure they are mutually beneficial for all involved. Additionally, she has served in a leadership role for the college's Wesley Service Scholar program, growing participation to 120 students in Spring 2020. Stadtlander embodies the characteristics of a servant leader through her deep and ongoing commitment to community engagement at . In her role as Rotaract President, she focuses on growing the on-campus service club and evaluating service projects to ensure they are mutually beneficial for all involved. Additionally, she has served in a leadership role for the college's Wesley Service Scholar program, growing participation to 120 students in Spring 2020. Community Partner: Sue Wilson '01, The Helping Hand of Warren County Wilson '01 is the executive director of The Helping Hand of Warren County , a volunteer organization that provides food, clothing and household furnishings to Warren County residents at no cost. Simpson College and The Helping Hand work together to provide a robust partnership to benefit residents of Warren County . Not only are Simpson students eligible to use the organization's services, many serve regularly through IT and food recovery support. Wilson '01 is the executive director of The Helping Hand of , a volunteer organization that provides food, clothing and household furnishings to residents at no cost. and The Helping Hand work together to provide a robust partnership to benefit residents of . Not only are students eligible to use the organization's services, many serve regularly through IT and food recovery support. Civic Engagement Leadership Award: Dr. Heidi Levine , Vice President of Student Development Levine brings more than 30 years of experience as a student affairs professional and educator to her leadership of Simpson College's student life programs and services. She is passionate about student engagement and inclusion, as well as her belief in the transformative power of the out-of-class learning which occurs from campus involvement. Most recently, Levine led the launch of the Simpson College Dialogue program with the goal of teaching dialogue across differences. Levine brings more than 30 years of experience as a student affairs professional and educator to her leadership of student life programs and services. She is passionate about student engagement and inclusion, as well as her belief in the transformative power of the out-of-class learning which occurs from campus involvement. Most recently, Levine led the launch of the Dialogue program with the goal of teaching dialogue across differences. Civic-Minded Employer Award: Foster Group Foster Group, led by CEO Buck Olsen '00, is committed to making an impact on the communities in which it serves. Since 1989, the team at Foster Group has been committed to helping communities feel Truly Cared For. Foster Group is dedicated to spanning the ownership during three generations of employees to help ensure relationship continuity. "This year is a particularly important time to recognize the amazing collaborations happening between communities and campuses," said Emily Shields, Executive Director of the Iowa & Minnesota Campus Compact (IAMNCC). "The current crisis makes the important public role of colleges and universities even more evident and these examples demonstrate what's possible." Awards events to be held in April and May had to be canceled due to COVID-19. Online recognition will occur from April 17 to May 5 and will include video messages for and by awardees, virtual message boards, pictures and descriptions of awardees. These will be shared on the Simpson College website and social media. About Simpson College Simpson College is a private, liberal arts college located in Iowa with campuses in Indianola, West Des Moines and online. Founded in 1860, the college has approximately 1,300 full-time undergraduate students and approximately 400 part-time students. Simpson offers more than 80 majors, minors and programs in addition to three graduate programs. Outside of the classroom, Simpson is a member of the NCAA Division III American Rivers Conference, hosts eight Greek houses on campus and sponsors many extracurricular options for student involvement. SOURCE Simpson College Related Links http://www.simpson.edu The premise for Defending Jacob is a simple pitch: a smalltown assistant District Attorney finds his world implodes when his 14 year old son is accused of murder. Apple TVs latest drama is based on a 2012 New York Times best-selling novel of the same name by William Landay. Set in a picture perfect Massachusetts community, this sees Chris Evans star as Asst. DA Andy Barber, married to kindergarten manager Laurie (Michelle Dockery), both parents to 14 year old only child Jacob (Jaeden Martell). Their existence is white collar, middle class and almost-picket fence perfect until a shocking case of a school student murder, which Evans is investigating. But while the school community offers few leads, Andy is shocked when social media gossip points the finger at his own son. Jacob is portrayed as untroubled and not exactly a loner, but could he really be concealing the murder weapon? Everybody knows you did it you have a knife, Andy reads. It isnt long before Andys own department turns on him, removing him from the case and is on the hunt for a distressed Jacob. Little of this is a spoiler given the title and the opening scene in which Andy is on trial, presumably as being some sort of accomplice, before the flashbacks begin. Im here because I believe in the system. I just want the truth to come out, he tells a jury. And while he may not be Julia Roberts in Erin Brockovich or Tom Cruise in A Few Good Men, you just know Chris Evans is going to get a star turn in chew-the-scenery courtroom drama. The earnestness of this story is its biggest short-coming with lots of American I love yous and Hang in there buddys as characters embrace, on the verge of tears. This gives Defending Jacob a network TV feel rather than the more complex tales we might expect of a streaming drama. The three principals all deliver including heroic Evans as a father with unconditional love, Dockery showing not a trace of her Downton accent, and a solid juvenile performance from Jaeden Martell. Featuring in support roles are Cherry Jones, Pablo Schreiber and later, J. K. Simmons. Expect a steady stream of red herrings, jeopardy and genre tropes, all of which do make this broadly entertaining. Without having seen how this resolves Im going to guess its the kids who hold the key to the truth the adults are seeking. Defending Jacob begins today on Apple TV+. The Pulse of Europe movement collects signatures for more support for Italy in front of the Italian embassy in Berlin (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File) EU leaders have agreed to revamp the EUs long-term budget and set up a massive recovery fund to tackle the impact of coronavirus and help rebuild the blocs ravaged economies. But deep differences remain over the best way to achieve those goals. With more than 100,000 Europeans known to have died from the virus, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and business only slowly starting to open in some countries, the urgent need for funds in hard-hit countries like Italy and Spain has never been starker. This pandemic is putting our societies under serious strain. The well-being of each EU member state depends on the well-being of the whole of the EU. We are all in this together, European Council president Charles Michel told reporters after chairing their video-conference summit. The uneven impact of the virus on countries with very different budgetary means has eroded trust, with Italy and Spain notably lacking confidence that relatively wealthier partners like Austria, the Netherlands or Germany who have suffered less from the disease are willing to take swift, sweeping measures backed by real economic firepower. But the leaders did agree to task the European Commission with revamping the EUs next seven-year budget, due to come in to force on January 1 but still the subject of much disagreement, and devise a massive recovery plan. While no figure was put on that plan, officials believe that 1-1.5 trillion euros would be needed. There is only one instrument that can deliver this magnitude of task behind the recovery and that is the European budget clearly linked to the recovery fund, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said. Expand Close European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks after a video conference with EU leaders (Olivier Hoslet, Pool Photo/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks after a video conference with EU leaders (Olivier Hoslet, Pool Photo/AP) The budget is time tested. Everybody knows it. It is trusted by all member states. Countries like the Netherlands and Germany generally remain reluctant to share too much debt out of fear of having to foot the bill for others, and debate raged Thursday over what form some of the funding should take, either grants or loans. Ms von der Leyen said that the budget investment should be front loaded in the first years and of course it is necessary to find the right balance between grants and loans. When asked what amount of money might be found with some adjustments, she said: Were not talking about billion, were talking about trillion. Even before these new funds are agreed, the EUs institutions and member countries combined have mobilised around 3.3 trillion euros for overburdened health services, suffering small businesses, embattled airlines or wage support for people unable to work. Despite knowing that the budget revamp will cost her country more money, German Chancellor Angela Merkel endorsed the plan, saying of course this means Germany must calculate with higher contributions for the next budget but thats right and good. Expand Close French President Emmanuel Macron, right, attends the video conference call (Ian Langsdon, Pool/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp French President Emmanuel Macron, right, attends the video conference call (Ian Langsdon, Pool/AP) In normal times, the seven-year budget totals around 1% of EU gross national income, or just over one trillion euros. French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed that the summit found a consensus on a fast response and a strong one. It is true that there are disagreements on the mechanism, Mr Macron said, and he insisted that the EU will need real economic budgetary transfers, not simply only loans, but transfers to the worst affected regions and sectors. During their talks, the leaders also endorsed a separate 540 billion euro rescue package drawn up by euro area finance ministers which would help pay lost wages, keep companies afloat and fund health care systems. They agreed that it should start operating from June 1. Earlier, after addressing the leaders online, European Parliament president David Sassoli noted the economic damage the virus has done as European faces perhaps its deepest recession in a century. We are extremely concerned because we can see a downward spiral, and we are going to need every instrument available, he said. Kano State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of 15 Imams who reportedly defied the lock down order issued by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, amid the Coronavirus outbreak in the state. The Imams who reportedly led Jumaat prayers in violation of the state governments order meant for public safety, were arrested at Kano Municipal, Garko, Gwale, Karaye and Tarauni local government areas of the state. Kano Police Spokesperson, Abdullahi Haruna said the suspects were apprehended by members of Kano State Hisbah Board who transferred the case to the police for thorough investigation and prosecution. Haruna said; The suspects were arrested for defying the lockdown order by leading Friday congregational prayers in their respective localities. You must note that the decision for the lockdown was reached in consultation with the religious leaders in the state but these people, most of whom are not Imams, out of defiance, went ahead to organise and lead the prayer. The suspects confessed to violating the lock down order and they will soon be charged to court. By Kang Seung-woo The ruling party and the government have reached an agreement to provide emergency disaster relief money to all citizens to help them deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Rep. Lee In-young, floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, participates in a party meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday. / Yonhap System error error: Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. context: ... 21: 22: 23: % foreach my $c (@categories) { 24: <%perl> 25: my $category_id = $c->get_id(); 26: my @stories = Bric::Biz::Asset::Business::Story->list ( { element_type_id=>1148, category_id=>$category_id , Order=> 'cover_date', publish_status => 't' , OrderDirection=> 'DESC' , Limit=>10 } ); 27: 28: 29: ... code stack: /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html:25 /usr/share/perl5/HTML/Mason/Request.pm:951 /var/cache/mason/obj/1784076917/main/smetimes/dhandler.html.obj:17 /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/autohandler_template.html:149 Can't call method "get_id" on an undefined value at /usr/local/bricolage/data/burn/stage/oc_1027/smetimes/dhandler.html line 25. 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On Tuesday, President Trump allocated a budget to help solve the problem on where the coronavirus came from. This is part of a release from Trump emphasizing that a knowledge about the origin of COVID-19 can help eradicate the virus. The release is based off animal pathogens from the Wuhan market in China (this is questioned by China), not escaped from a Wuhan lab because of its virulence. No exact blame is placed who made the virus first. The suspected culprit is the lab that is located in Central Wuhan, where it started and led to the charnel events after it spread. The World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson Fadela Chaib, in a Geneva brief, said in a statement, "All available evidence suggests the virus has an animal origin and is not manipulated or constructed in a lab or somewhere else." She added," It is probable, likely, that the virus is of animal origin." According to Chaib, it is not clear how the virus jumped to humans, but an animal host with viruses is for sure. She said in a statement," It most likely has its ecological reservoir in bats but how the virus came from bats to humans is still to be seen and discovered." Prior to this release, many studies and researches have made headway including the work of Dr Zhengli Shi. One question was asked, if the virus though not manipulated escaped, the question was snubbed and not answered. Center to all these circles of controversy is the Wuhan Institute of Virology that has denied any inquiry, nor answered substantially the if it escaped? Also read: Coronavirus Origin: Is It Really a Bio-weapon Created in a Wuhan Laboratory? President Trump with the interest of the world community in getting the truth from Beijing has said it was no accident but premeditated that took the lives of many nationalities. Especially America that has its newest Pearl Harbor, he mentioned 'knowingly responsible'. Trump has been put on the hot seat as China is in focus. On Sunday, Vice President Mike Pence said the US will get down to the truth and in due time. Quoting Mike Pence," It is clear to us that not only was there a failure by the World Health Organization (WHO) to communicate to America and the world what was happening in China, but also that China was not as forthcoming as they should have been." Made these statements on Fox News Sunday. Issues that pilloried the response of the Trump administration is harsh, several congressional Republicans are blaming China for the outbreak that came from the Hubei province earlier than December according to some studies. Though late December is the accepted narrative. A small number of GOP lawmakers suggesting that the coronavirus was released from lab work that created the virus. These lawmakers are serious to make China pay for the deaths and misery, with damages for their complicity. A seemingly aggrieved China through its foreign ministry said everyone should work together, not blame anyone in particular. The ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told reporters in Beijing," Like many other countries, China was attacked by this virus. We are the 'victim' instead of the 'culprit'." Despite all these details, the COVID-19 is of animal origin as per their statement, taking the blame if the virus was indeed lab-made. Related article: Fang Fang's Wuhan Diary May Shed Light on What Really Happened During Coronavirus Lockdown @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Canary Islands could re-open to Spanish visitors by August 1st, with international arrivals following in October, according to planning scenarios revealed this week. Health and safety would govern all decisions, Tourism Minister Yaiza Castilla told local media, adding that she wants to make the islands "a world laboratory for tourism safety". A best-case scenario would see tourism and leisure activities opening to locals this summer, followed by Spanish residents and finally international visitors, according to a Canary Islands Statistic Institute (ISTAC) report. "If we can get hotels open in July or August, we would be walking in a good way," Canary Islands president Angel Victor Torres told El Mundo. "That way, in October, November or December, which are good months in the Canary Islands, we can begin to receive tourists from other countries." There were over 585,000 Irish visits to the Canaries in 2019, the Spanish Tourist Office in Dublin says, and islands like Lanzarote, Tenerife and Fuerteventura are widely serviced by Aer Lingus and Ryanair. Restrictions are due to begin easing on the islands from May 9. However, a worst-case scenario outlined in the ISTAC report could see confinement continuing to June 16, with an easing of lockdown in July and domestic tourism not resuming until October. That could potentially freeze out any Irish visits before December. Governments around the world have been grappling with how best to control coronavirus and prevent fresh outbreaks, while providing staged timetables for how and when 'normal' life may begin to resume. The Canary Islands, a Spanish territory, are heavily dependent on tourism - with an estimated 200 million a month being lost as the industry remains shuttered, Castilla says. Tenerife became an early focus of the pandemic in Europe, when the H10 Costa Adeje Palace was placed into lockdown after an Italian guest tested positive in February. Despite a high caseload in Spain, however, the Spanish Tourist Office in Ireland says Covid-19 figures "are relatively good for the islands" with 2,113 cases - an an average of 98 per 100,000 people (Ireland's incidence rate is 337 per 100,000, by contrast). "We have reason to believe [the Canaries] will be the first region to open up to tourism", said Ruben Lopez Pulido, Director of the Spanish Tourist Office here. To restart tourism and save the 2020/21 winter season, new protocols would be required to project a strong image of health security, Castilla added. These could include everything from health screening to re-designing popular buffet services at resorts, she added. "We have to transform this situation into an opportunity. We can be that world tourist laboratory and the first destination to implement these protocols." Despite the economic pressure, the Spanish Tourism Office reiterated that health and safety were the most important considerations. "Peoples health and safety, including those of the millions of tourists who visit us every year, are the absolute priority of the Government and the decisions that are taken are focused precisely on safeguarding public health," it said. "Spain has always been a safe destination and now more than ever we must reinforce that idea and rebuild that concept of public safety." Sign up for our free travel newsletter! Like what you're reading? Subscribe now to our free travel newsletter. 'Travel Insider' is written by our award-winning Travel Editor, Pol O Conghaile. Justifying ban on door-to-door delivery of newspapers during the lockdown, the Maharashtra government on Thursday told the Bombay High Court bench here that as per experts coronavirus stays on surfaces for a long time and newspapers are passed on from one hand to another, increasing the chances of spread of the deadly infection. Making the submission before the Nagpur bench of the Bombay HC, the government said its decision prohibiting door- to-door delivery of newspapers (now in force only in COVID-19 hotspots and containment zones) was an exceptional policy move and in no way violates the freedom of the press. The state, in an affidavit filed before Justice N W Sambre, said newspapers are not an essential item and hence prohibition on its doorstep distribution cannot be said to be infringing upon any fundamental rights. The affidavit, filed by Ravindra Thakare, Nagpur Collector on behalf of the state, was responding to a petition filed by the Maharashtra Union of Working Journalists (MUWJ) andthe NagpurUnion of Working Journalists (NUWJ), challenging a government circular issued on April 18. The circular said whilenewspaperscan be sold at stalls, their door-to-door distribution by vendors cannot be permitted at this stage looking at the rapid spread of coronavirus in Maharashtra, the state worst-affected by COVID-19 in the country. The government clarified that a blanket ban on door- to-door delivery of newspapers has been lifted and now the prohibition is limited only in Mumbai, Pune and coronavirus containment zones in other districts of the state. Mumbai and Pune are the top two cities worst-hit by the deadly disease in the state. The affidavit claimed the aim of the government was to control and reduce the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. According to experts, COVID-19 virus can stay on various surfaces for a considerable amount of time and the newspaper is something that will be passed on by hand to hand by various people which may increase the chances of infection spreading, the affidavit said. Newspaper cannot be considered an essential need unlike food items. Citizens can still get e-papers through the Internet for daily reading. "Hence, prohibition of door-to-door distribution of newspapers by no means infringes upon the right of the freedom of the press, the state said. It added that there are several areas or districts that are now coronavirus-free or where the prevalence of the virus is negligible. The circulation of a non-essential item which is printed elsewhere in these coronavirus-free areas may lead to resurgence of the infection, the affidavit said. The government said this was an exceptional policy decision taken by the state under an extraordinary situation as an important temporary measure to control the outbreak of the pandemic, which has infected more than 5,600 people so far in Maharashtra. The intentions behind these policy decisions related to the lockdown are in the interest of the citizens to ensure their wellbeing and safety. "These are judicious, fair, and transparent and are neither arbitrary nor permanent in nature, the affidavit said. Justice Sambre took note of the affidavit and posted the matter for further hearing on June 15. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turkey has confirmed 117 more fatalities from the novel coronavirus, bringing the total death toll to 2,376. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases reached 98,674, as 3,083 more people tested positive for the virus. So far, a total of 16,477 patients have been discharged from hospitals after recovering from the virus, with 1,559 discharged on Tuesday alone. A total of 37,535 tests were conducted over the past 24 hours, with the total reaching 750,944. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca speaks at a press conference in the capital Ankara, Wednesday, April 22, 2020. (AA Photo) READ: Turkeys coronavirus death toll rises to 2,376 as cases top 98,000 Health Minister refutes NYT article on Istanbul COVID-19 death toll Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on Wednesday refuted a recent New York Times article, which alleged that the government was underreporting the COVID-19 death toll in Istanbul. READ: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/20/world/middleeast/coronavirus-turkey-deaths.html People who were supposed to be laid to rest in their respective hometowns had to be buried in Istanbul instead as a precaution against the pandemic. Hence the numbers are higher than usual, he said. Death rate from coronavirus is 5.3% in the US, 10.5% in Spain, 13.2% in Italy, 3.5% in Germany, 13.5% in UK, 17.3% in France, 5.5% in China, 14.7% in Belgium, and 2.3% in Turkey. The data proves the efficiency of our efforts, the minister stated. We have given all the information transparently to the World Health Organization, as it wants, and we continue to do so, he added. Read the full article here: https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/health-minister-refutes-nyt-article-on-istanbul-covid-19-death-toll-points-to-anti-turkey-bias/news Turkish firm develops 5-minute COVID-19 test The new COVID-19 test, seen in this undated photo, will rely on immunofiltration and will yield results within five minutes, Turklab says. (AA Photo) A Turkish firm based in the Aegean province of Izmir has developed a COVID-19 testing kit that can yield results within five minutes, with plans to mass produce the tests already underway to help the country contain the outbreak. Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) on Wednesday, Turklab General Manager Kartal Yagldere said the company has been producing test kits for various diseases for the past 25 years and decided to put their expertise to work to help the country in its fight against the coronavirus outbreak. READ: https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkish-firm-develops-5-minute-covid-19-test/news WHO cautiously optimistic about Turkey as number of virus cases stabilizes Three people who recovered from the novel coronavirus donate plasma for the treatment of COVID-19 in Gaziantep, Turkey, April 23, 2020. (AA Photo) The World Health Organization (WHO) said in an online press briefing in Geneva on Thursday that they are cautiously optimistic about Turkey and that the number of COVID-19 cases is stabilizing. WHOs European Director Dr. Hans Kluge said during the press briefing that there is no fast way to normalization and that any measures should be taken gradually, pointing to countries that are partially lifting restrictions due to the decline of new confirmed virus cases. Complacency, BBC quotes Kluge as saying, would be our biggest enemy. READ: https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/who-cautiously-optimistic-about-turkey-as-number-of-virus-cases-stabilizes/news Restrictions may be eased in phases after Ramadan According to Hurriyet Daily News, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has shared plans as to how the normalization process will play out in the period ahead, which foresees the gradual easing of measures that have been introduced to curb the spread of the virus. At a recent central executive committee meeting of his Justice and Development Party (AKP), the president stressed that people are largely abiding by the lockdown rules and said that if people keep sticking with those measures, curbs could be relaxed. The government will implement a four-phase roadmap down the road until a vaccine against the COVID-19 is developed, Milliyet newspaper has separately reported. The normalization process may begin after Ramadan and include four stages: Namely the preparation period called phase zero between May 4 and May 20, the first phase from May 27 to Aug. 31. The third phase covers the period between Sept. 1 and Dec. 31. And the final stage will kick off on Jan. 1, 2021, if the vaccine does not get developed during the phase 2 and phase 3. As to what happens in those stages, a blueprint inked by the Interior Ministry provides some clues: Restaurants and cafes could be allowed to open on limited business hours in the first phase with social distancing rules firmly enforced. This strategy will be implemented if no case is reported within 14 days. READ: https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/restrictions-may-be-eased-in-phases-after-ramadan-154143 Important Flight Information Source: UKinTurkey April 23 National Sovereignty and Childrens Day celebrations in Fethiye Fethiye District Police Dolphin and traffic teams made sure April 23 National Sovereignty and Childrens Day, was celebrated today. A celebration convoy of police vehicles drove round the streets of Fethiye sounding their horns.. Police vehicles were decorated with Turkish flags and red balloons and four Dolphin team riders carried a large Turkish Flag between them. The surprise celebration was accompanied by applause from the people of Fethiye from their balconies and windows Source: https://gercekfethiye.com/-emniyet-ekiplerinden-renkli-kutlama-/26907/ Global statistics There are now 2,669,965 confirmed cases of COVID-19 globally, of which 731,012 have recovered. The number of fatalities stands at 186,388. Source: Worldometer. Follow Fethiye Times on social media for regular updates. Like us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram Follow us on Twitter Todays featured image: Early morning over Fethiye by Lyn Ward Demand for work under the Centres rural job guarantee scheme and food from the public distribution system (PDS) has spiked in a signal of economic distress in the Hindi-speaking heartland, where hundreds of thousands of migrant workers have returned since the coronavirus disease lockdown went underway on March 25. In the absence of any real-time data, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and the PDS act as pointers to the state of the rural economy and the living conditions of the marginalised sections. And close to a month after the lockdown was imposed to stop the spread of Covid-19, they present a depressing picture. A grim picture Enrolment for manual work under the MGNREGS, which provides at least 100 days of employment a year to at least one member of every rural household, has risen 10-fold in Rajasthan and Maharashtra, officials said. It has increased up to threefold in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. The number of families buying subsidised household rations under the PDS has increased by about 40% in Maharashtra and 20% in Madhya Pradesh, officials in these states said. A clear sign of rural anxiety about what the future holds is the rush of villagers to local panchayat offices for enrolment under the MGNREGS, billed as the worlds biggest job security scheme. We have not been able to enrol all because there is shortage of staff in panchayat offices, said a Madhya Pradesh government official, requesting anonymity. In Bihar, an official said the demand for MGNREGS enrolment was not unexpected, given that a large number of migrant workers who have returned from the cities have no money left. Our government has provided immediate financial relief to all migrant workers as providing work under MGNREGS may not be possible immediately, said an Odisha government official who requested anonymity The number of people who have lined up for work across the nation under the job guarantee scheme has increased threefold since April 20, compared to a month ago,said Nikhel Dey, a civil society activist who has been monitoring MGNREGS for more than a decade. Growing enrolments On April 23, MGNREGS had 110.6 million active workers enrolled, compared with 82.3 million a month ago, according to the website of the welfare programme. MGNREGS works resumed only on Monday, and just 1.58 million people have received work under it, or10% of the total people employed in April 2019. Enrolment has surged since migrant workers returning home emerged from a mandatory 14-day quarantine. In Bihar, around 90% of the workers were released over the past one week and in Uttar Pradesh the proportion was about 80%, officials said. Demand for work is set to increase once the harvest is completed by April-end in Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Considering that there would be huge demand for work, the governments need to enhance capacity fast under MGNREGS to manage demand distress, Dey said. Rural distress The higher sales of subsidized foodgrains at rural fair price shops in the states is another proxy for rural distress. In Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the number of households buying PDS rations has risen to 86% and 90%, an increase of 10 to 15 percentage points from March. In poorer states like Jharkhand, governments should ensure that every poor person gets ration irrespective of whether they have a ration card or not, said development economist Jean Dreeze. Food shortages faced by people, especially families without PDS ration cards, are being reported from across the state. Despite mounting food stocks that are thrice the required amount [77 million tonnes], the central government is yet to universalise the PDS, which is the need of the hour, he said. Sachin Jain, a member of Right to Food campaign, said: As the migrant labourers have returned, per-family consumption of food grains has also increased in villages. A helping hand As many poor have been left out of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), states such as Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have decided to extend PDS benefits to those who were not enrolled under the PDS. The PDS enrolment was done on the basis of the 2011 socio-economic census and many who became eligible for it after 2011 have not been included, said Dreeze. There are five million such people in Rajasthan and 6.5 million in Madhya Pradesh who have been provided access to rations only now, said Dey. A Central government statement on Thursday said 390.2 million people have received free foodgrains under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana announced last month at a cost of 1.7 trillion.The Centre and state governments have maintained that there is enough food stocks for three months. The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) said on Thursday that the unemployment rate in India had increased to 26.2 % and consumer sentiment had fallen to its lowest level since 2015. A report by the International Labour Organisation said that around 90% or 400 million people working in the informal economy were at risk of falling deeper into poverty during the Covid-19 crisis in India. According to the information provided by the state governments, the problem appears to be more acute in states such as Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar and Jharkhand. In Madhya Pradesh, around 375,000 people have been provided work under MNREGS although over 10 million have enrolled. Additional chief secretary (rural development and panchayati raj) Manoj Shrivastava said, All panchayats have been asked to immediately start MGNREGS works related to water harvesting and agriculture. The state has also distributed rations to 11.6 million beneficiaries, including 3.2 million not covered under the PDS. Uttar Pradesh commissioner (rural development) K Ravindra Naik said all districts had been told to provide work under MGNREGS to migrants who had retuned home. A total 570,000 migrant workers have returned to their homes from various other states following the nationwide Covid-19 lockdown, he said. Uttar Pradesh has 8.8 million people enrolled under MGNREGS and eight million under PDS. Our PDS offtake remains equal to the distribution. But in April, it was double since we distributed foodgrains twice and to 323,00 additional beneficiaries that included the MGNREGS job card holders, commissioner (food and civil supplies) Manish Chauhan said. Chhattisgarhs panchayat raj minister TS Singhdeo said there has been a sudden rise in enrolment under MGNREGS in last 10 days. Last year, till April, a similar number of people were enrolled for MGNREGS but this year we expect to provide work to 1.5 million more people under the scheme, Singhdeo said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON ABOUT THE AUTHOR Chetan Chauhan Chetan Chauhan heads regional editions as Deputy National Affairs Editor. A journalist for over 20 years, he has written extensively on social sector with special focus on environment and political economy. ...view detail Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-22 19:08:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People take part in the demonstration in Lebanon's northern city Tripoli on April 22, 2020. Lebanese protesters resumed on Wednesday their demonstrations all over the country against the cabinet's policies amid a meeting for the parliament to approve draft laws, the National News Agency reported. (Photo by Khalid/Xinhua) BEIRUT, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese protesters resumed on Wednesday their demonstrations all over the country against the cabinet's policies amid a meeting for the parliament to approve draft laws, the National News Agency reported. Protesters drove their cars while holding Lebanese flags and vowing to resume their nationwide protests given the dire economic circumstances and the inability of the government to adopt policies that would reduce poverty in the country. Protesters demanded early parliamentary elections in hope of a complete change in the current political class. Meanwhile, protesters in Sidon urged the government to allow them to reopen their businesses to generate some income to feed their families after a month of general mobilization amid COVID-19 outbreak which had a huge impact on work and living conditions. On the other hand, part timers working at Mina municipality in Tripoli prevented employees from entering the municipality while asking the government to pay their pending salaries. Lebanon had witnessed last year nationwide protests in the country which led to the resignation of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and the appointment of Hassan Diab as new prime minister. The current government is working on drafting a strategy aimed at saving Lebanon from further financial collapse after the country defaulted on its public debt earlier this year. The Pir Panjal range, which is a part of the inner Himalayan region, running across the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh and Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, is now clearly visible to the people of Srinagar, all thanks to the lockdown. Twitter/@waseem_andrabi Pictures of the spectacular view were tweeted out by a journalist named Waseem Andrabi. He wrote, 'Pir Panjal range of mountains is visible from Srinagar city on April 23, 2020, in Srinagar'. Pir Panjal range of mountains is visible from srinagar city on April 23, 2020 in Srinagar.@waseem_andrabi pic.twitter.com/es28Ie83jT Waseem Andrabi (@waseem_andrabi) April 23, 2020 Pir Panjal is the largest range of the Lesser Himalayas. Near the bank of the Sutlej river, it dissociates itself from the Himalayas and forms a divide between the rivers Beas and Ravi on one side and the Chenab on the other. The renowned Galya mountains are also located in this range. The breathtaking pictures soon went viral and here's what people had to say: #1 Beautiful pictures! https://t.co/ROGAOK7aDJ Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu (@Junaid_Mattu) April 23, 2020 #2 Never seen it like this before.... Gorkhascholar (@gorkhascholar) April 23, 2020 #3 , Surender Kumar (@Surende12471668) April 23, 2020 #4 Surprised to know that even Srinagar had pollution.. Rishabh Sarda (@Ris_Sarda) April 23, 2020 In another instance, the Dhauladhar range, which is part of a Himalayan chain of mountains in Himachal Pradesh, became visible to the people of Jalandhar, which is in Punjab, due to the improvement in air quality following the lockdown. The mighty Dhauladhars in Himachal Pradesh are now visible from Jalandhar as the air gets cleaner due to lockdown. Never thought this was possible! First pic is from a DSLR and second from a mobile phone camera. Pics courtesy colleague @Anjuagnihotri1 pic.twitter.com/IFGst3jP8k Man Aman Singh Chhina (@manaman_chhina) April 3, 2020 According to a recent NASA study, aerosol levels in northern India to be at a 20-year low, for this time of year, after the country was put under lockdown on March 25. A report observes that every year, aerosols from anthropogenic (human-made) sources contribute to unhealthy levels of air pollution in many Indian cities. Aerosols can be described as tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the air that reduce visibility and can damage the human lungs and heart'. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has fined a manufacturer of parts for the aerospace industry near Albany more than $70,000 for citations related to its mishandling of hazardous waste materials. A Selmet company spokesman did not return an email seeking comment, The Albany Democrat-Herald reported. An agency letter says Selmet was penalized for failing to determine if wastes generated at the titanium parts manufacturing facility were hazardous on two occasions. Selmet was also cited but not fined for 12 violations of hazardous waste, used oil and universal waste management regulations. Other violations included transporting totes of waste fixer solution, weighing more than 25,000 pounds in one instance, to a disposal site in Washington as a non-hazardous material, state officials said. Selmet also failed to designate the waste as hazardous on its hazardous waste manifest, according to officials. State officials noted that Selmet has significantly expanded production and the facility footprint since the agencys last inspection in 2016, but has also decreased resources to the environmental health and safety department. The state agency has labeled the company a significant noncomplier, because it reportedly has not completed all the requested corrective actions based on a pre-enforcement notice filed with the company in September. The company was commended for its efforts to address the majority of the violations, and the state said it considered those efforts when determining the amount of the civil penalty. Selmet has 20 days to appeal. In February, Selmet was fined $27,500 by the Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration for an August titanium furnace explosion in which two employees were hurt. Selmet employs more than 800 people and is owned by Consolidated Precision Products, with headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Oregon Aerospace MBABANE While quarantine centres for COVID-19 are selected according to availability, affordability and willingness of the owners, for Bethel Court, there was a breach of the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards. Health Task Team Chairman Emmanuel Ndlangamandla, when quizzed on how the ministry selected the quarantine centres that are currently utilised by the Ministry of Health at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, said they considered willingness and affordability. Ndlangamandla was justifying the use of Bethel Court as one of the facilities used as a quarantine centre, a move that does not sit well with parliamentarians, who raised the issue during a debate in Parliament on Monday. Populated The legislators decried that the facility was within a densely populated area and that no tender was issued for its use. Also, they questioned if there were no issues of conflict of interest as the establishment is owned by Senate President Lindiwe Dlamini. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards, a quarantine centre should preferably be placed on the outskirts of the urban/ city area (can be a hostel/unused health facilities/buildings, etc.), away from peoples reach, crowded and populated areas, well protected and secured (preferably by security personnel/ army) and preferably should have better approachability to a tertiary hospital facility having critical care and isolation facility. Some of these guidelines were not followed when selecting Bethel Court as a quarantine centre because it is situated in the urban and densely populated Ezulwini. Just before reaching the establishment, there are at least three shopping centres with a huge flow of traffic. When justifying this, Ndlangamandla said COVID-19 was a fast-moving pandemic and every decision they took was determined by the pace that the pandemic was moving at in the interest of protecting the citizens of the country from the virus. Although Im not involved in the day-to-day operations of the ministry as I am in the technical working group that is working with the deputy prime minister and others to just give guidance on issues, the little I know is that in terms of getting facilities, this is an emergency and one of the things to be considered is based on the availability of whatever centre they get in terms of the affordability of the centres and the willingness of the owner to allow for that facility to be utilised as a quarantine centre and that is my broad understanding, he said. Utilisation Ndlangamandla said it should be considered that some of the owners of these properties were not willing to give them out for utilisation as quarantine centres because they were scared that they could be infected while some of them were beyond what government could afford to pay. In terms of the operations in an emergency, the normal systems sometimes are being waived in order to give effect. As you can realise, with the pandemic moving very fast, every decision must be taken promptly and therefore one believes that it is what the ministry is going through at the moment. Even the Disaster Management Act that governs the whole operation clarifies all these elements, he said. When quizzed on which the 10 other quarantine centres that government was using currently, he said he was not privy to that information but stated that government was still identifying more. Responsible Auditor General Timothy Matsebula said in the event a tender was not issued at the height of an emergency, the responsible ministry or company for issuing that tender should still go to the Tender Board to justify the sense of urgency or they should get a waiver for not issuing the tender. Matsebula said if both aspects were skipped, then an audit inquiry should be done. Despite an emergency, we still have the obligation to do an audit in that ministry or government business enterprise, he said. Section 103 of the Finance Management Act, 2013, states that a government business enterprise shall prepare an annual report for that enterprise and its subsidiaries, including financial statements in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the Companies Act and instructions from the principal secretary of the ministry responsible for Finance. Federal, State Authorities Ramp Up Contact Tracing in Bid to Safely Reopen Economies In support of moves to safely reopen the economy, the Trump administration is coordinating efforts between the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and local governments to ramp up contact tracing. In a call with state governors on April 20, Vice President Mike Pence said the CDC will be sending rotating teams dedicated exclusively to coronavirus surveillance to all 50 states and territories, according to a recording of the call obtained by ABC News. Were going to deploy specific coronavirus teams on a 12-month, 18-month rotation to each and every state, and that information should be reaching your statethose personnelthis week, Pence told governors, the report said. The initiative is one of the first large-scale federal actions to enhance contact tracing efforts in states and territories. Contact tracing is triggered when a person tests positive for COVID-19. Authorities try to identify every person who was exposed to the patient within a certain time period, and if those contacts become symptomatic, they are then tested for COVID-19. Health officials and experts have said repeatedly that contact tracing is a key part of efforts to limit the scale of future outbreaks when restrictions are lifted, and, as such, tracing is a critical component of plans to restart business activity. As a once-vibrant economy has been brought to a standstill by measures to curb the spread of the virus, the unemployment rate has soared, fueling tensions. In at least 10 states so far, rallies have been held to protest lockdowns that have upended nearly every aspect of the day-to-day lives of Americans. CDC Director Robert Redfield told governors during the call that the agency is working with state health authorities and that the vice president said we already have 500 individuals embedded. We probably have another hundred working on about 22 outbreaks, but were going to augment this very substantially. Literally, thousands of more individuals starting to get placed in the states working with your state public health leadership to determine the right mix, Redfield added, ABC reported. Immediate action is needed, the CDC said in recent guidance on contact tracing. Communities must scale up and train a large contact tracer workforce, and work collaboratively across public and private agencies to stop the transmission of COVID-19. States Expand Contact Tracing Efforts Efforts to ramp up testing are increasingly visible at the state level. Health and municipal authorities in Texas have moved beyond just testing those with symptoms to the more ambitious job of surveillance testing of the general population. California authorities, meanwhile, have announced plans to train some 10,000 state workers to contact trace, while on April 22, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced a joint program with neighboring Connecticut and New Jersey to trace contacts of people exposed to the virus. Cuomo said the three states have been working as part of a larger regional coalition to coordinate reopening their economies. Its best to do this tracing on a tri-state area. Why? Because thats how our society works, the virus doesnt stop at jurisdictional boundaries, Cuomo said, requiring an army of thousands of people for the initiative. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, meanwhile, told reporters on April 22 that his state is looking to train up to 10,000 state workers to carry out contact tracing. He also thanked President Donald Trump for committing to send hundreds of thousands of testing swabs in the near future, which will help expand Californias testing capacity. I want to thank the President, not only for being available for a phone call at a moments notice, but being willing to directly commit to all of us in the State of California, to a substantial increase in supply of the swabs, Newsom said. The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security on April 10 published a national plan to ensure comprehensive contact tracing across the country. In the document (pdf), the center stated that a new pandemic management plan is needed to avoid a spike in cases of the virus as people return to work. We've lost count of how many times insiders have accumulated shares in a company that goes on to improve markedly. The flip side of that is that there are more than a few examples of insiders dumping stock prior to a period of weak performance. So shareholders might well want to know whether insiders have been buying or selling shares in DigitalX Limited (ASX:DCC). Do Insider Transactions Matter? Most investors know that it is quite permissible for company leaders, such as directors of the board, to buy and sell stock in the company. However, most countries require that the company discloses such transactions to the market. We don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions. But it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. As Peter Lynch said, 'insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy them for only one: they think the price will rise. See our latest analysis for DigitalX DigitalX Insider Transactions Over The Last Year In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when MD, CEO & Executive Director Leigh Travers bought AU$141k worth of shares at a price of AU$0.055 per share. That means that even when the share price was higher than AU$0.023 (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. Notably Leigh Travers was also the biggest seller. Happily, we note that in the last year insiders paid AU$215k for 5.30m shares. But they sold 2561111 shares for AU$141k. Overall, DigitalX insiders were net buyers during the last year. They paid about AU$0.041 on average. I'd consider this a positive as it suggests insiders see value at around the current price. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by individuals) over the last 12 months, below. If you click on the chart, you can see all the individual transactions, including the share price, individual, and the date! Story continues ASX:DCC Recent Insider Trading April 22nd 2020 DigitalX is not the only stock that insiders are buying. For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Insider Ownership Many investors like to check how much of a company is owned by insiders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. Insiders own 15% of DigitalX shares, worth about AU$2.2m. While this is a strong but not outstanding level of insider ownership, it's enough to indicate some alignment between management and smaller shareholders. What Might The Insider Transactions At DigitalX Tell Us? It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded DigitalX shares in the last quarter. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. Overall we don't see anything to make us think DigitalX insiders are doubting the company, and they do own shares. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing DigitalX. Be aware that DigitalX is showing 7 warning signs in our investment analysis, and 4 of those are a bit concerning... But note: DigitalX may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE 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. A San Diego woman is facing a $1,000 fine or 90 days jail time over Saturday's downtown anti-lockdown protest rally - but has said she is planning a second demonstration for Sunday. Naomi Soria, 27, faces criminal misdemeanor charges after she organized last week's downtown protest against California Governor Gavin Newsom's stay-at-home order, put in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Around 400 people sporting Donald Trump merchandise waved American flags and marched on the San Diego Hall of Justice during San Diego's 'Freedom Rally' Saturday afternoon. This marked just one of many demonstrations taking place across the US, as thousands of protesters have taken to the streets demanding governors bring an end to coronavirus lockdown rules and reopen states for business, despite the virus death toll continuing to soar nationwide. Naomi Soria, 27, faces criminal misdemeanor charges after she organized last week's downtown protest against California Governor Gavin Newsom's stay-at-home order Soria has said she is planning a second demonstration despite facing charges over Saturday's anti-lockdown protest rally Around 400 people sporting Donald Trump merchandise waved American flags and marched on the San Diego Hall of Justice during San Diego's 'Freedom Rally' Saturday afternoon Soria, who goes by the name Naomi Israel on Facebook, said the San Diego Police Department notified her of the potential charges Tuesday. The SDPD confirmed to CBS8 that Soria is the only protester they have submitted a case on to the city attorney's office. They said they are 'requesting their review to issue charges against the protest organizer for violating the county health order by organizing a gathering'. Police said that Soria organized the protest and encouraged others to gather, which is a violation of the stay-at-home order. Soria slammed the authorities saying they are trying to take away her constitutional rights and said she is planning another protest in Pacific Beach for this weekend. 'They can't stop me. I'm exercising my God-given constitutional rights and I'm protected by all the amendments,' she said, according to CBS8. She then took to social media to ask for people to fund her legal bill. 'I will be arrested on Sunday for exercising my constitutional rights. I have attorneys ready and an entire team here to protect me but I need your help,' she wrote in a Facebook post Wednesday. Soria said the San Diego Police Department notified her of the potential charges Tuesday Police said that Soria organized the protest and encouraged others to gather, which is a violation of the stay-at-home order This marked just one of many demonstrations taking place across the US, as thousands of protesters have taken to the streets demanding governors bring an end to coronavirus lockdown rules and reopen states for business 'Centers for American Liberty is assisting with my cause and has put up a way for you to help fundraise the money for my attorneys fees and any fees involved in this fight.' She also insisted she followed social distancing guidelines during the 'peaceful protest'. The Center for American Liberty, which was founded by Republican activist Harmeet Dhillon and also filed a lawsuit last week against Newsom for banning in-person church services, confirmed it is representing Soria. Dhillon blasted the arrest an 'abuse of power' by the state. 'The First Amendment guarantees the right to peacefully protest. Our client participated in a responsible protest adhering to social distancing guidelines. She, along with other protestors, stood six feet apart on a public sidewalk,' Dhillon said in a statement. Soria slammed the authorities saying they are trying to take away her constitutional rights Soria is also planning another protest in Pacific Beach for this weekend 'The right to assemble and to petition the government does not exist if there are topics that are off limit,' she said. 'Governor Newsom cannot shut down the state's economy and then prosecute criminally freedom-loving Californians who peacefully protest his decision.' California has been hard hit by the pandemic, with 1,442 deaths and 37,862 cases as of Thursday. Newsom has held firm with the state's lockdown, as the stay-at-home order continues indefinitely while other largely Republican states have begun reopening for business. Revolts against stay-at-home orders continued into their second week across several US states, as thousands of Americans disregarded social distancing rules to protest against the shutdowns that have left millions out of work but health experts insist are critical to saving lives amid the deadly outbreak. This comes as the death toll from the pandemic continues to soar, as more than 49,000 Americans have been killed and 871,000 infected. Increased Cyber Threats From North Korea The US is warning its Banks and othet Financial institutions that they could soon be attacked by a fresh wave of North Korean state-sponsored hackers. In the past the US has blamed North Korea for the November 2014 cyber attack on Sony Pictures and has accused Pyongyang-linked actors of being behind campaigns to steal tens of millions of dollars from banks and automated teller machines. It has also accused them of developing the WannaCry ransomware that infected computers in more than 150 countries. More recently, a UN report found North Korean hackers had generated $2 billion to offset money lost because of sanctions for its nuclear program. Now the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), State, Treasury and FBI have recently published a Report about an increase in cyber threats from North Korea. The agencies warned that North Korea poses a significant threat to the global financial system, with hackers targeting these institutions to fund Pyongyang's weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs to get around sanctions from the United Nations and the United States. The agencies say that North Korea is increasingly able to generate revenue despite UN Security Council sanctions by using malicious cyber activities to steal from financial institutions through increasingly sophisticated tools and tactics. North Korea steals from financial institutions, and has demonstrated a pattern of disruptive and harmful cyber activity in cyberspace. North Korea has repeatedly engaged in cyber-enabled theft and money laundering, and as of late 2019 attempted to steal around $2 billion through these activities, according to the agencies. Hackers are also alleged to have engaged in extortion campaigns through accessing networks and threatening to shut them down if they are not paid a ransom. In order to counter North Korean cybersecurity threats, the US agencies recommended that countries raise awareness of the threat with the public, enhance the cyber security of critical infrastructure such as financial institutions, notify law enforcement of any attacks and promote international cooperation on this issue. "In order to support international efforts to disrupt North Koreas illicit activities, the State Departments Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program offers rewards of up to $5 million for information that leads to the disruption of financial mechanisms of persons engaged in certain activities that support North Korea, including money laundering, sanctions evasion, cyber-crime, and WMD proliferation," says a dedicated page on the Rewards for Justice portal. It is vital for the international community, network defenders, and the public to stay vigilant and to work together to mitigate the cyber threat posed by North Korea, the agencies wrote. North Korea has long been considered one of the most dangerous countries in cyberspace alongside Russia, China and Iran. The US has taken steps against North Korea for its malicious cyber activities in the past. The Treasury Department sanctioned three cyber-criminal groups with ties to the North Korean government last year for targeting critical infrastructure. Multiple governments alleged one of the groups carried out the WannaCry 2.0 ransomware attack, which encrypted or locked down over 300,000 computer systems worldwide, seriously impacting about 8 percent of the United Kingdoms general medical practices. According to the US Dept.of Homeand Security (DHS) North Korea's cyber actors new tactics include cyber-enabled financial theft and money laundering, extortion campaigns, and crypto-jacking. The 2019 Worldwide Threat Assessment compiled by former US Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats concluded that North Korea posed a significant cyber threat to financial institutions, remains a cyber espionage threat, and retains the ability to conduct disruptive cyber-attacks. US CERT: The Hill: Bleeping Computer: Dark Reading: VOA Cambodia: You Might Also Read: US Sanctions Against N. Korean Hacking Groups: Another mobile telecoms mast has been set ablaze with Gardai in Cork investigating a possible arson attack. The Eir mast, close to Apples Hollyhill headquarters on Corks northside, had to be treated by firefighters after the damage was spotted on Wednesday night. Eir has confirmed that the mast was not being used for 5G, but was being updated to give better 3G and 4G coverage to nearby St Marys Health campus and the Apple campus. Its the second suspected arson attack on a mobile mast in the country this month, as conspiracy theories continue to link the current 5G roll out with health scares. On Easter Sunday, a 4G Eir mast designed to improve coverage for Letterkenny Hospital was set on fire in what Gardai say is suspected criminal damage. Last week, Facebook Ireland began removing posts by anti-5G campaigners calling for masts to be burned down. Some anti-5G activists on Irish Facebook groups have posted theories that the current Covid-19 pandemic was preplanned as a cover to allow for the speedier rollout of 5G. Medical, regulatory and scientific authorities in Ireland, Europe and the UN have asserted that there is no adverse health effect from 5G, 4G or 3G mobile services. Earlier this month, the telecoms regulator greenlighted additional spectrum capacity for the mobile operators, to help vital services and people working from home. Operators here say that usage of mobile services has risen by up to 50pc in the last two months. The attacks come as Virgin Mobile announced that it is making all of its mobile plans unlimited until June 30th. The move means that it will not enforce its fair use limit on unlimited packages during this time, meaning that customers will be able to use more than the 80GB limit on the unlimited packages. Petroleum and Natural Gas minister Dharmendra Pradhan has called all the stakeholders in the LPG cylinder supply chain to work diligently and in a systematic manner to speedily increase the delivery of free refills to Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries. Under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan package, over 8 crore PMUY beneficiaries are eligible to get 3 free cylinders over the next 3 months. In a video conference with District Nodal Officers (DNOs) of oil marketing companies (OMCs) across the country, Pradhan on Thursday said that during such an unprecedented crisis due to coronavirus lockdown, the government has provided a package for the poor, and free gas cylinders for them is an important component of it. "In the first three weeks of April, about 40 per cent beneficiaries have got their cylinders, which shows that the speed of cylinder booking and distribution has to show massive jump, to achieve the target," he said. Also Read: Coronavirus relief package: Free gas cylinders to Ujjwala beneficiaries for next 3 months Pradhan directed the DNOs to adopt the best practices, work according to a target plan, and enhance their efforts. He asked them to take all health precautions, follow lockdown guidelines issued by Home Ministry, and make people aware about the AarogyaSetu App. AarogyaSetu is a mobile application developed by the Government of India to connect essential health services with the people of India in our combined fight against COVID-19. Pradhan also noted that PMUY beneficiaries are the top priority, but supply to other regular customers should not be affected either. Also Read: Coronavirus: CII calls for smoother tax regime, ease of doing biz, labour market reforms to revive economy The Petroleum Minister also expressed grief at the unfortunate death of a LPG delivery boy in an attack by robbers in Supaul, Bihar. He instructed concerned officers to ensure his family gets all relief due to them. In order to support the poor amid coronavirus outbreak, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on March 26 announced a Rs 1.7 lakh crore Garib Kalyan Yojana. The package includes cash transfers for farmers, MGNREGA workers, widow/pensioners, free cooking gas for three months to Ujjwala beneficiaries, apart from benefits under Jan Dhan Yojana and EPFO. By Chitranjan Kumar Godofredo A. Vasquez/Staff photographer A new order issued by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo requires county residents over the age of 10 to cover their nose and mouth or face a $1,000 fine beginning Monday, April 27. The Harris County Precinct 1 Constable's Office is partnering with Houston's faith-based leaders to host several free face mask and glove giveaways over the next week to make sure residents in need are prepared. Residents are not allowed to walk up to the site and must enter through the drive-thru only. Only the first 100 cars will be served. Each giveaway will run from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Takao Shimanuki, who heads Nihonkai General Hospital in Sakata, Yamagata Prefecture, feels itas only a matter of time before his hospital will max out its ability to accept COVID-19 patients. aIf the number of patients increases at the current pace, beds allocated (for coronavirus patients) will eventually be full,a he said. Yamagata Prefecture has cared for a total of 60 COVID-19 patients, as of April 18, since the first case was confirmed at the end of March. Located in the northern part of the prefecture, Nihonkai General Hospital is designated to treat patients with infectious diseases. As patient numbers have increased, the hospital expanded the number of beds set aside for COVID-19 patients to 54, including those in the intensive care unit (ICU). At present, it is caring for six COVID-19 patients. However, the situation is getting worse by the day. Medical masks and surgical scrubs are expected to run out as soon as the end of this month. As there is only one facility that can conduct testing in the prefecture, the hospital purchased a testing device on its own a only to be told that it wonat be delivered for three months. Through cooperation with other hospitals in neighboring cities, the hospital has decided to only accept patients with severe symptoms from April 13. aThe number of patients is small compared to large cities but the possibility of a collapse in the medical system is not someone elseas problem,a Shimanuki said. aWe are the main health care provider and if we max out (on our capacity to accept patients) it will have a profound effect.a Like Yamagata, prefectures in rural areas are worried that their hospitals will reach their capacities sooner rather than later as they have fewer doctors and nurses available compared to metropolitan areas. LOS ANGELES, April 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Since the outbreak of COVID-19, over 1,000 engineers have signed up to teach, and students across 45 U.S. states and 30 countries have received coding lessons. Started by The Coding School, a 501(c)(3) tech education nonprofit, the organization is providing free online, one-on-one coding lessons to students who have been significantly affected by COVID-19. Students grades 412 with a parent who is an essential worker or has lost a job due to COVID-19 is eligible to receive personalized coding lessons from a live instructor. An instructor from The Coding School works with a student on her final Tic-Tac-Toe Python project. Since 2017, The Coding School has taught online, face-to-face coding lessons for K-12 students in partnership with USC and UCLA's Schools of Engineering. The organization is also offering other free programming to inspire students during this time, including a web development coding course and Q&As with engineers specializing in aerospace, healthcare and tech, product design, and quantum computing. Full schedule: www.codeConnects.org/spring. "We're on a mission to ensure coding education is accessible and empowering for all students," explains Kiera Peltz, founder of The Coding School. "Over the past three years, we've seen the power personalized coding education has in transforming students' lives, and that's why we want to make sure especially now students experiencing difficult times, have access to specialized coding instruction and mentorship." Instructors are professional software engineers from over 60 companies and university students from undergraduates to Ph.D. candidates at more than 100 universities, including Stanford, MIT, and Duke. Students are matched with instructors with similar backgrounds, thus serving as not only instructors but also mentors. Over 95% of students who participate in the program are more likely to pursue a career using programming skills, and 98% of students found The Coding School's program to be the most effective form of coding education. Students learning at their own pace, focusing on tech fields of interest, and having relatable mentors as instructors has been the winning formula for students' engagement and success. "Feeling lost in his school's coding class, my son was ready to give up," said Vladimir Manuel, a healthcare worker in Los Angeles. The Coding School matched Manuel's son with a software engineer from Google for one-on-one lessons. "The one-on-one lessons really helped my son understand the material. Now he leaves every lesson with a smile on his face and is excited to continue learning to code." While students benefit greatly from personalized instruction, instructors have found giving back has its own rewards. Jiahan Yan, an instructor and also software engineer at Google, wrote, "This has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life." For more information:www.codeConnects.org // 323.790.9992 Media Contact: Lisa Heck (323) 790-9992 [email protected] Related Images instructor-teaching-student-at-the.jpg Instructor Teaching Student at The Coding School An instructor from The Coding School works with a student on her final Tic-Tac-Toe Python project. Related Links Free Coding Course & Tech Talks with Engineers at Google, SpaceX & more Info Free Coding Course & Tech Talks Registration SOURCE The Coding School Related Links https://codeconnects.org Protestant families in Mexico denied water access, kids barred from school: NGO Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Some Protestant minority families from indigenous communities in Mexico are being denied access to crucial utilities like water and electricity while some kids are denied access to school, a new report from an international Christian persecution watchdog warns. Christian Solidarity Worldwide, which is active in over 20 countries, published its new report A culture of impunity: religious discrimination in Mexico on Monday. The report sheds light on the common and widespread occurrence of religious freedom violations in Mexico as well as increasing violence against religious leaders in the North American country. Specifically, the report draws attention to violations happening within indigenous religious minority communities in the states of Chiapas, Guerrero, Hidalgo and Oaxaca as little has been done to address the violence and violations. No one should be at risk of losing their homes, livelihood or education on account of their religion or belief, CSW Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said in a statement. We continue to call on the Mexican authorities to fulfill its obligations to uphold this vital right for all citizens, as guaranteed in its constitution. According to the report, CSW received reports of continued religious freedom violations throughout 2018 and 2019. In 2019, CSW received documentation on seven separate violations in Hidalgo, six in Chipas, two in Oaxaca and one in Guerrero. All of these cases were a result of the minority groups conversion from and refusal to participate in activities, including festivals, associated with the majority religion, the report explains. The majority of these cases included either threats, illegal fines or arbitrary detention. The most common form of violation was the blocking of basic services such as water and electricity. According to CSW, two of the cases resulted in forced displacement while over 38 children in one community remain without access to schools because of the religious beliefs of their parents. Vulnerable communities continue to complain about high levels of impunity and the lack of protection granted by the state officials, who often side with those of the majority religion, the report explains. The lack of intervention by the state governments to protect [freedom of religion or belief] is a clear indication that they continue to view [these] violations as community issues or minor problems rather than violations of fundamental human rights. According to the 2010 census, 83 percent of people in Mexico identify as Roman Catholic, while about 5 percent identify as evangelicals, 2 percent identify as Pentecostals, 1 percent identify as Jehovahs Witnesses and 9 percent identify as members of other religious communities. CSW notes that despite the overtly Christian percentage of the population, Mexico has had a complicated relationship with religion as both Roman Catholics and Protestants have suffered throughout the countrys history. Although many citizens can participate in religious activities regularly without interference, a significant percentage face moderate and severe forms of persecution. The report cited a 2017 study finding that over 32 percent of women and 24 percent of men over the age of 18 suffer discrimination over religion or belief. Religious discrimination is particularly prevalent in indigenous communities where some local authorities have sought to impose religious uniformity in their communities, CSW details. Religious discrimination has the potential to worsen in the face of government inaction. According to CSW, the Mexican government is averse to involving itself in religious affairs and tends to refrain from prosecuting those responsible for criminal attacks on religious freedom because of an extremely strict interpretation of the concept of separation of church and state. There is a "significant overlap" between religions especially between Roman Catholicism and pre-Columbian beliefs that can lead to moderate religious freedom violations. Issues are made worse by the fact that Mexican law gives significant autonomy to indigenous communities to implement their own social and cultural norms. This law is meant to be exercised in line with human rights guarantees in the Mexican constitution, but in practice, this is not enforced, the report states. Many local leaders in communities functioning under the Law of Uses and Customs mandate community uniformity in terms of religious practice and belief, compelling all members of the community to participate in the religious activities of the majority or face punishment. Punishment ranges in severity but includes measures like illegal fines, cutting off access to utilities like water and electricity as well as prohibiting religious minority children from attending school. With the absence of government intervention and the culture of impunity, violations all too often escalate to the point of destruction of property, arbitrary detention, violence and forced displacement, the report explains. Although schools are state institutions, the CSW report accuses school officials in some areas of collaborating with local government officials to block religious minority children from attending. The state and federal governments rarely intervene to uphold [religious freedom] or protect the rights of these children," the report asserts. According to the report, Protestant families in the communities of Rancho Nuevo and Coamila in Hidalgo have been removed from the register of inhabitants. This led to families being denied education, healthcare and other government benefits. In August 2018 in Rancho Nuevo and Coamila local authorities directed that the local school be closed to prevent 16 children, whose parents are Protestant Christians, from attending classes there, the CSW report reads. In April 2019, CSW received information that indicated that at least 38 children in the community remained without access to education. They remain without access to state education. Many of the cases of religious intolerance in these communities result in the forced displacement of individuals from their communities. Most of these victims wait years for their cases to be resolved, if they ever are, the report adds. The act of displacement causes disruption to the childrens education. According to CSW, all the state and federal governments have designated offices to deal with religious affairs and it is the responsibility of those offices to actively mediate a solution to religious conflicts. But CSW stresses that there is little political will to address these cases in addition to the fact that officials are often poorly resourced and typically lack expertise and training in human rights. In addition to the escalation of religious violations in Mexico, the countrys murder rate hit a record high in 2019 as there was an increase in violence related to criminal enterprises. According to CSW, illegal groups often view churches as an attractive target for extortion and fronts for money laundering. Church leaders are often viewed as threats to the criminal groups since some groups have tried to incorporate religious beliefs into their identity" and have "aggressively attempted to promote them. According to CSW, precise figures on how many religious leaders have been killed are difficult to obtain because witnesses fear retaliation for speaking out. The organization says that it received seven reports of religious leaders being murdered in 2019. Although not listed this year, Mexico has in the past been listed by Open Doors USA on its annual World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most persecution. West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar took to Twitter on Thursday to fire another salvo at the Mamata Banerjee government over the red carpet treatment for a World Health Organization (WHO) team and asking the government about the outcome of the visit. Urge @MamataOfficial to ensure seamless way forward for Central Teams. Concerned at Rebuff to Central Teams. Red Carpet visit of WHO to East Midnapur and Bishnupur. What outcome and gain of WHO visit? Declare! Time to take to Constitution. Let concerned handle Mikes/Brooms, Dhankhar tweeted. Urge @MamataOfficial to ensure seamless way forward for Central Teams. Concerned at Rebuff to Central Teams. Red Carpet visit of WHO to East Midnapur and Bishnupur. What outcome and gain of WHO visit ? Declare ! Time to take to Constitution. Let concerned handle Mikes/Brooms. Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) April 23, 2020 His tweet came amid the visits by an inter-ministerial central team to Bengal that initially triggered a controversy with the state government criticising Centres decision to send these teams as unilateral and undesirable. Also read: WB Guv Dhankhar requests Mamata to avoid confrontation with centre to combat Covid-19 crisis However, the state administration has started cooperating with the central team after a strongly-worded letter from the Union home ministry that warned the government that obstructing the central team amounted to violation of the Disaster Management Act and orders of the Supreme Court. A team of WHO representatives had visited the districts of East Midnapore, a Covid-19 hotspot in the red zone, and Bankura in the orange zone on Monday. The state administration had fully cooperated with the WHO team during its one-day visit. Incidentally, the Bengal unit president of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Dilip Ghosh, too, had criticised the Mamata Banerjee government for preferring foreign advice over those coming from the Centre. She has formed a global committee of advisors that includes foreign nationals. It would be acceptable if the Prime Minister formed a global advisory panel. But why is a state government preferring advice and praise from abroad instead of cooperating with the Centre? This is because the government has a lot to hide that the Centres scrutiny would expose, Ghosh had said on Wednesday. Governor Dhankhar has been taking pot shots at the Bengal governments handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. The ruing Trinamool Congress has mostly refrained from responding to the governor, saying that they would better ignore him. The partys Rajya Sabha leader and national spokesperson Derek O-Brien recently described Dhankhar without naming him as a twitter-happy nominated person from New Delhi. Also read: Amid lockdown, Bengal governor and government lock horns over PDS scam Dhankhars repeated swipes at the state government had also earned him criticism from Congress national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP from Bengal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who recently targeted the governor in series of tweets. Governors shd b seen heard. Latter only in official letters thru proper channels. They reign but do not rule (except during pres rule or govt formation). They shd be true friends, philosophers &guides, nt inimical to those elected to run state. #WB #Govnor #Dhankar, Singhvi wrote. Governors shd b seen heard. Latter only in official letters thru proper channels. They reign but do not rule (except during pres rule or govt formation). They shd be true friends, philosophers &guides, nt inimical to those elected to run state. #WB #Govnor #Dhankar Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) April 21, 2020 Does nt behove #Governor #WB 2have presser nor say tht he warned CM repeatedly & deprecates her Centre bashing every morning. Govnor cnot enter political fight btween #Centre & #WB. Has no power 2warn #CM on such matters. Cnot b more royal than King & v all know who tht is!, Singhvi wrote in another tweet. Death rate in Ghana as a percentage of known infections has dropped 1.45% from to 0.86%. In South Africa it has increased from 1.2% to 1.7% and GLOBALLY from 6.2% to 6.9%. As expected, due to increased testing, known infections as a percentage of Ghana total population has increased from 0.002% to 0.003%; in South Africa from 0.004% to 0.005%. Globally, it has increased 0.025% to 0.030%. SERIOUS and CRITICAL cases globally has decreased from 2.6% to 2.3%. In Ghana it has increased from 0.35% to 0. 38%. and in South Africa from 0.3% to 1.19%. Again, please note that like the rest of the world Ghanaians and Africans are already developing antibodies and immunity to the virus. SAR-COV-2 is here to stay. Like the influenza(flu) viruses: (A, B, C & D) Coronavirus will be part of our daily lifes forever. Recovery rates will most likely become the benchmark for most countries. For example, the higher the recovery rate in country the more likelihood that tourists will be prepared to visit a county. Recovery rate also has a direct impact on foreign direct investment into a country. Hopefully with vaccines and medications, its long-term impact will be kept at a minimum. It is imperative that Government start putting appropriate systems in place to collect ongoing purposive data for informed decision making that will help determine the funding that will be regularly required for amongst others public health infrastructure development and management. In summary, the Government of Ghana is doing relatively WELL with the purposive testing, tracing and overall management of the SAR-COV-2(ie Coronavirus and the associated disease (ie. COVID-19). For the record, to date, only South Africa has officially reported more purposive testing than Ghana in sub Saharan Africa. We just need to further intensify our testing plus constantly remind the population to respect the need for meaningful and workable social distancing, encourage further improvements in personal hygiene, wearing of face protection masks, regularly wash our hands, plus isolate the infected for a defined period. Finally, Ghanaians must be constantly made aware that testing negative TODAY does not necessarily mean that one will be still be negative in 48 to 72 hours. (Unless the individual has been infected before and already developed some immunity and antibodies). Therefore, each one of us has to be constantly on our guard. Congrats to HE President and the Government for pushing for more tracing and purposive testing, plus the relative success of the partial lockdown. Without doubt, we will win the battle against this cunning and elusive beast and work towards achieving Ghana BEYOND AID. May the ALMIGHTY continue to bless our beloved Ghana and the entire world. Keep hope alive, stay safe and blessed. Source: Professor Douglas Boateng 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 mother of sixteen children has shared a photo of the sign she uses to defend herself from parent-shamers who shame her for hoarding food while shopping. As both supermarkets and their customers continue to feel the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, Jeni Bonell, from Queensland, Australia, wanted to make sure that people dont get the wrong impression when they see her full grocery cart - so she attached a sign explaining her situation. Not hoarding, just feeding 16 kids, the sign reads, according to a picture uploaded to Bonells Instagram, where she has more than 5,000 followers. Be kind or go away please. Along with the post, Bonell shared a video, which does not show the sign, of the weekly grocery haul she does for her large family, jokingly explaining while in the car to the store that this is it, this is all we ever do. Groceries. Later in the video, Bonell revealed that, because the store was not imposing limits on certain products, she was able to purchase eight 3-litre bottles of milk, four packets of chicken, and four packages of minced meat, six loaves of bread and six packages of hot cross buns for the family. The mum also showed off purchases of canned goods, as well as condiments and frozen foods. According to Bonell, she was only able to buy one package of toilet paper, as the grocery store is still limiting purchases to one per transaction. Despite following the guidelines, Bonell told The Sun that she has experienced rude reactions including judgey looks in the grocery store because other customers assume that she is attempting to hoard food. This pandemic has brought out the best and worst of people, she told the outlet. And unfortunately because we have to always buy large amounts of food due to our family size, people can still be rude in the grocery store. According to Bonell, she decided to use the sign, which she explained is a bit of a joke, in the hopes that people might just leave me in peace to do my regular shop. After all, we need to keep a sense of humour during these times. There's enough stress as it is, she added. On social media, people have applauded Bonell for the amusing sign, and expressed their sympathy for any negative reactions shes gotten. My dad was one of 14. I get it and sorry you have to go through this! Stay safe, one person commented. Another said: Good on you. People need to mind their own business. As for the reactions to the sign, Bonell said it "made a few people laugh". Bengal imposes fresh Covid curbs: Schools shut, all offices to work with 50% staff from Monday Bengal in throes of third Covid wave, infections curve may rise more WBJEE 2022 application correction open: How you should do it Governor questions Bengal govts red carpet to WHO team India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Kolkata, Apr 23: West Bengal Governor, Jagdeep Dhankar has fired another salvo at the West Bengal government over the red carpet treatment for a World Health Organisation team. He also asked the government about the outcome of the visit. "Urge @MamataOfficial to ensure seamless way forward for Central Teams. Concerned at Rebuff to Central Teams. Red Carpet visit of WHO to East Midnapur and Bishnupur. What outcome and gain of WHO visit? Declare! Time to take to Constitution. Let concerned handle Mikes/Brooms," Dhankar tweeted. West Bengal govt accuses ICMR-NICED for providing defective COVID-19 test kits Dhankar tweeted amid the visits by an inter-ministerial central team to Bengal, which had initially triggered a controversy with the state government criticising the Centre's decision to send these teams as undesirable. A team of the WHO representatives had visited the districts of East Midnapore, which is a red zone and Bankura, an Orange zone on Monday. The administration was fully cooperative with the team during its one day visit. The BJP had criticised the Bengal government for preferring foreign advice over those coming from the Centre. Somrita Ghosh By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital has sent 57 of its healthcare workers, including doctors and nurses, to quarantine after they came in contact with a suspected COVID-19 patient. The female patient, a resident of Jahangirpuri came to the medical emergency ward on April 16 late evening. Since she was suspected of COVID-19, she was admitted to the isolation cubicle of the medical emergency ward. The patient later died on April 18. A sampling of all contacts and healthcare workers was done after five days of exposure. Those who were in close contact of this patient will be in strict quarantine within the hospital provided accommodation. The rejoining of the healthcare workers will be decided as per the existing strength of the hospital. Last week, 68 healthcare workers including doctors, nurses and other staff of Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital were sent to home quarantine after a COVID suspected 25-year-old pregnant lady died. However, later test results turned out negative. On Wednesday, a report also came that a nurse from Safdarjung hospital had tested positive for the coronavirus who was posted in the Gynaecology High Dependency Unit (HDU) of the institute. So far, four doctors including two Gynaecologists of the hospital have tested positive. One more patient detected positive of the infection succumbed to it taking the toll to 48 in the national capital. After Max Hospital successfully conducted plasma therapy on 47-year-old COVID positive patient, the Indian Liver and Biliary Science hospital has taken four plasma donations two on Monday and one each on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. The state government also passed an order to all MSs, MDs and Directors of all state government hospitals to make sufficient arrangements for disinfection of hearse vans and ambulances used for the transfer of COVID-19 patients. LONDON, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The COVID-19 crisis is being defined by four distinct consumer behavior segments, according to the first edition of the EY Future Consumer Index, a survey of 4,859 people tracking consumer sentiment and behavior across the US, Canada, the UK, France and Germany.1 These are "Cut deep," "Stay calm, carry on," "Save and stockpile" and "Hibernate and spend". Consumers that fall into the "Cut deep" segment (27.3%) are spending less across all expense categories as the pandemic impacts employment; others representing the "Stay calm, carry on" category are continuing to spend as normal (26.2%). Most consumers (35.1%) represent the "Save and stockpile" segment, indicating that they feel pessimistic about the future, while consumers that fall into the "Hibernate and spend" segment (11.4%) are spending more across the board. Overall, 42% of respondents believe that the way they shop will fundamentally change as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. When it comes to brands and products, 34% of consumers indicate that they would pay more for local products, 25% for trusted brands and 23% for ethical products. Kristina Rogers, EY Global Consumer Leader, says: "Looking beyond the immediate effects of COVID-19, few consumers expect to revert back to pre-crisis behaviors any time soon. In these uncertain times, no one knows how long the transition will take or whether different consumer trends will emerge. The EY Future Consumer Index, paired with analysis around the EY FutureConsumer.Now, will continue to provide a perspective on the changing consumer and help consumer-facing companies stay relevant and plan for the future." The four segments reflect how consumer behavior can relate to age groups, family or employment status: Cut deep: These consumers are mainly more than 45 years old and have seen the biggest impact on their employment status. Almost a quarter have seen their jobs suspended, either temporarily or permanently. Seventy-eight percent of them are shopping less frequently, while 64% are only buying essentials. Thirty-three percent feel that brands are far less important to them in the current climate. These consumers are mainly more than 45 years old and have seen the biggest impact on their employment status. Almost a quarter have seen their jobs suspended, either temporarily or permanently. Seventy-eight percent of them are shopping less frequently, while 64% are only buying essentials. Thirty-three percent feel that brands are far less important to them in the current climate. Stay calm, carry on: These consumers do not feel directly impacted by the pandemic and are not changing their spending habits. Just 21% of them are spending more on groceries, compared with 18% that are spending less. These consumers do not feel directly impacted by the pandemic and are not changing their spending habits. Just 21% of them are spending more on groceries, compared with 18% that are spending less. Save and stockpile: This segment shows particular concern for their families and the long-term outlook. More than a third (36%) are now spending more on groceries, while most are spending less on clothing (72%) and leisure (85%). This segment shows particular concern for their families and the long-term outlook. More than a third (36%) are now spending more on groceries, while most are spending less on clothing (72%) and leisure (85%). Hibernate and spend: Primarily aged 18-44, these consumers are most concerned about the impact of the pandemic. However, only 40% of this segment say they are shopping less frequently. And while 42% say the products they buy have changed significantly, 46% of them say brands are now more important to them. Andrew Cosgrove, EY Global Consumer Knowledge Leader and Lead Analyst, says: "Companies were already struggling to keep up with changing consumer behaviors before the pandemic. Now it's even more critical for companies to anticipate how consumers will change and respond to specific segment needs." Five new segments may emerge as consumers move beyond the pandemic The four segments identified could morph into five very different ones as the crisis abates. For example, the Index currently suggests that over time, most consumers in the "Save and stockpile" segment will migrate to two new segments: "Remain frugal" and "Cautiously extravagant." These new consumer segments, detailed in the Index, could emerge post-COVID-19 and be summarized as: "Keep cutting" (13.1%), "Stay frugal" (21.7%), "Get to normal" (31.4%), "Cautiously extravagant" (24.7%) and "Back with a bang" (9.1%). Consumer attitudes to privacy and purpose are changing Over the last two years, EY teams have been modeling future scenarios as part of the FutureConsumer.Now program. One of these scenarios was based on the impact of a hypothetical global pandemic and indicated that consumers could adopt more open attitudes to privacy and sharing personal data. Indeed, the EY Future Consumer Index finds that 54% of consumers would make their personal data more available if it helped to monitor and track an infection cluster. The Index also finds that health care providers are regarded as the most authoritative organization, with 47% of consumers indicating that they trust them completely, compared to governments (28%), brands (17%) and media companies (16%). Another FutureConsumer.Now scenario model showed that consumers could view time, talent and natural resources as equally precious, with traditional notions of status receding, replaced by purpose and social good. This is supported by the Index, in which 33% consumers strongly agree that they will re-evaluate the things they value most as a result of the pandemic, while more than a quarter say they are already paying more attention to what they consume and what impact it has. Over the coming months, the EY Future Consumer Index will provide regular longitudinal indicators and perspectives on which changes are likely to be temporary reactions to the COVID-19 crisis, and which point to more fundamental shifts. More countries will be included as the analysis continues. The latest analysis is available at ey.com/futureconsumerindex1. Notes to editors About EY EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients. About the EY Future Consumer Index The EY Future Consumer Index tracks changing consumer sentiment and behaviors across time horizons and global markets, identifying the new consumer segments that are emerging. It provides regular longitudinal indicators and a unique perspective on which changes are temporary reactions to the COVID-19 crisis, which point to more fundamental shifts, and what the consumer post COVID-19 might be like. More countries will be included as the analysis continues. 1 Survey conducted week of 6 April 2020. Maya Vautier EY Global Media Relations +1 212 773 2181 [email protected] SOURCE EY Related Links http://www.ey.com Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is planning to introduce a reserve quarantine mechanism that will involve isolating the most vulnerable people--the aged or those with underlying health conditions and compromised immunity--to monitor their indicators and protect them from contracting the coronavirus disease (Covid-19), a top state official said on Thursday on condition of anonymity. The mechanism is likely to be introduced as the Covid-19 cases have gone up after dipping for a while. It will be apart from the track, trace, and treat regime the state is following. The health department official cited above said the state has realised it is in for a long haul and needs a multipronged strategy to fight the virus. Kerala was the first state in the country to report a Covid-19 case in January. It was the worst-hit until Maharashtra overtook it as the state with the highest number of Covid-19 cases last month. Officials believe the state will be able to check a higher mortality rate through the mechanism in case of a community spread of the disease by isolating vulnerable people. The community spread involves individuals contracting a contagious disease in a particular location without any known contact with other infected individuals or travel history to an area where the illness has been documented. People above 60 accounted for around 15% of the states 33.4 million population as per the 2011 census. According to the latest state economic review, better health care facilities have led to a higher life expectancy in the state and the number of elderly people has grown. Officials said the mechanism will be implemented through local bodies and they will be tasked with providing medicine, food, counselling and other assistance. They added many local bodies and grassroots accredited social health activists have started collecting details for the exercise, especially in Covid-19 hotspots. Dr Jayaprakash Muliyil, a former principal of Vellores Christian Medical College, said as the pandemic spreads deeper into the community, reserve quarantine is one of the solutions expected to keep vulnerable people safe from the virus. It does not mean that they will have to be moved to care homes. In their homes, they can be given separate rooms and their interaction with other family members can be controlled, he said. He said immunity against Covid-19 depends on whether it generates neutralising antibodies and also how long they remain protective. We need to accept a fact now... we cannot say when will it end. Not all viruses can be prevented by vaccines either. Some of the viruses like influenza antigens do change frequently, which poses a serious challenge to vaccine makers also, said Muliyil. Experts say reverse quarantine is possible in Kerala since most people have their own houses and slums are uncommon. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON [April 23, 2020] ShowMeCables Now Shipping L-com-Brand Category 5e Angled Ethernet Cable Assemblies IRVINE, Calif., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ShowMeCables, an Infinite Electronics brand and a leading supplier of connectivity solutions, is now offering L-com's Category 5e angled Ethernet cables that are ideal for installations in tight spaces. This line of L-com-brand Cat5e angled Ethernet cables includes more than 1,100 SKUs of shielded and unshielded Ethernet cable assemblies with a 90-degree bend. These cables are available with up, down, right, and left, right-angle connector orientations. 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About ShowMeCables: ShowMeCables is a leading eCommerce brand that specializes in providing a large portfolio of in-stock IT, voice, video, and data network cables and connectivity products. ShowMeCables is the chosen supplier for network and IT infrastructure cable assemblies used by professional installers and consumers alike. Backed by a highly knowledgeable support staff of industry experts, the company offers its full inventory of in-stock products while also providing best-in-class customer and technical support. ShowMeCables is an Infinite Electronics company. About Infinite Electronics: Based in Irvine, Calif., Infinite Electronics offers a broad range of components, assemblies and wired/wireless connectivity solutions, serving the aerospace/defense, industrial, government, consumer electronics, instrumentation, medical and telecommunications markets. Infinite's brands include Pasternack, Fairview Microwave, L-com, MilesTek, Aiconics, KP Performance Antennas, PolyPhaser, Transtector, RadioWaves, ShowMeCables, INC-Installs and Integra Optics. Infinite Electronics serves a global engineering customer base with deep technical expertise and support, with one of the broadest inventories of products available for immediate shipment. Press Contact: Peter McNeil ShowMeCables 17792 Fitch Irvine, CA 978-682-6936 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/showmecables-now-shipping-l-com-brand-category-5e-angled-ethernet-cable-assemblies-301045162.html SOURCE ShowMeCables [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A new saliva test for the coronavirus developed by Rutgers University could more than double the amount of daily testing in New Jersey, with results in less than 48 hours, providing hope for a rapid expansion of testing as part of a larger strategy to reopen the state, officials said Thursday. The test, which uses saliva instead of a swab that is inserted deep into the nose or throat, will be administered to 10,000 people a day as soon as next week, said Brian Strom, chancellor Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. Currently, between 7,000 to 9,000 people in New Jersey are tested each day. Testing is the new linchpin to begin to return to normalcy, Strom said during the states daily press briefing in Trenton, adding the daily capacity could be increased and equipment is on order. It is expandable in a modular fashion," Strom said. There is no limit. This is so new, were just launching. The development is significant since Gov. Phil Murphy has insisted a huge spike in testing is needed before the state can begin to roll back the unprecedented lockdown restrictions he put in place to mitigate the deadly pandemic which has led to record unemployment, untold business losses, and cratering tax revenue for state and local governments. Its definitely going to be a game-changer, state epidemiologist Dr. Christina Tan said of the saliva testing. The tests will initially be made available to the RWJBarnabas Health network, which has partnered with Rutgers University and includes Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick and University Hospital in Newark. Strom listed several locations where the tests are being deployed including walk-up testing facilities. In addition, all staff members at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick will be tested, Strom said. The tests were initially piloted at a Middlesex County coronavirus drive-thru facility on Kilmer Road in Edison, for county residents and first responders. Murphy said called the tests a "huge breakthrough coming from our very own flagship university. He said the tests will be used on every resident at the states five development centers. These are among our most vulnerable residents," the governor said. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage Murphy on Thursday revealed another 307 people in New Jersey have died from COVID-19 and another 4,227 more tested positive. A total of at least 5,368 people have died in New Jersey, which has at least 99,989 cases. Health officials have said New Jersey could need to administer 20,000 to 30,000 tests a day to appropriately get a handle on the outbreak and reopen the state, dwarfing the 7,000 to 9,000 currently being administered in the state. Murphy said he plans to unveil a broad blueprint on Monday on how the state will eventually reopen. The unveiling was originally slated for the end of this week, but he said a couple more days were needed to finish the report. Murphy insisted Thursday that before the state can reopen there needs to be sufficient scale and rapid return testing, contact tracing and then a plan for self-isolation and quarantine." We are working as fast as we can on all of the above, he added. The new COVID-19 test developed at Rutgers got emergency approval by the Food and Drug Administration and has already been used as of last week. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Volunteers for an experimental coronavirus vaccine trial have received their first doses as scientists desperately try to fight the illness which has now claimed the lives of 18,738 in the UK. Scientists at the Jenner Institute, University of Oxford, have begun the first human trial in Europe by administering the trial injections, which were developed in under three months, to more than 800 volunteers on Thursday. And Health Secretary Matt Hancock has insisted that Britons will be first in the queue for any successful UK-developed vaccine from the 42 million programmes. But Downing Street is refusing to make any promises over who will benefit first from the drug due to concerns another country might produce one first. Among the volunteers being given the trial coronavirus vaccine is microbiologist and Elisa Granato (pictured) A Department of Health and Social Care source told the Telegraph: 'If Britain is first to develop a vaccine he wants to make sure British people have first refusal.' The trial will see half of the candidates injected with the coronavirus vaccine, made from a weakened version of the common cold virus from chimpanzees, while the other half will be given a meningitis vaccine. The volunteers will not be told which vaccine they have received. Microbiologist and volunteer Elisa Granato told the BBC: 'Well I'm a scientist so of course I want to try and support the scientific process wherever I can and since I don't study viruses I felt a bit useless these days so I felt this is a very easy way for me to support the cause.' The volunteer, who was injected with the vaccine on Thursday, said that she wanted to take part in the trail as a way to support the cause Half of the volunteers will be injected with the coronavirus vaccine which is made from a weakened version of the common cold virus from chimpanzees Researchers at the institute, who created the vaccine using technology they have previously used for successfully treating diseases such as Mers and Ebola, are 'confident' that the trial will pave the way for millions of vaccines being made available to the public by September. By taking a version of the common cold virus, ChAdOx1, and modifying it so that it does not grow in humans, scientists hope the process will activate an immune response that will protect humans and destroy the virus. Professor of vaccinology at the Jenner Institute, Sarah Gilbert, who led the pre-clinical research, said she was 80 per cent confident about the outcome of the vaccine. She told the BBC: 'Personally I have a high degree of confidence in this vaccine. Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at the Jenner Institute at the University of Oxford, said she was 80 per cent confident in the vaccine Researchers have taken a version of the common cold virus, ChAdOx1, and modified it before giving it to the participants. (Stock image) 'Of course, we have to test it and get data from humans. We have to demonstrate it actually works and stops people getting infected with coronavirus before using the vaccine in the wider population.' Lydia Guthrie, who is also taking part in the trial, told BBC Radio 4's The World At One programme: 'They've (the clinical team) been very clear with participants about the potential risk, and vaccine trials are very carefully regulated, so we've had to give explicit consent at every step of the way. 'They're really clear with us that as participants we can pull out at any time if we change our minds.' Once the vaccine, which is made from a weakened version of the common cold virus from chimpanzees, is injected into participants it will prompt the body to produce antibodies and T-cells which will in turn destroy the virus. Scientists, who will pursue a larger trial of about 5,000 volunteers in the coming months, will know if the vaccine has worked by looking at the number of candidates who become infected with the virus from the two groups. The first human trial comes as Britain announced another 616 coronavirus victims today, taking the total number of fatalities in the UK to 18,738. Another 4,583 people have tested positive for the virus in the past 24 hours, meaning 138,078 have now been officially diagnosed. The number of positive tests has remained stable this week and appears to be plateauing. NHS England confirmed a further 514 people have died with COVID-19 and another 102 deaths were announced across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Today's figure marks a fall of 37 per cent from the worst day in Britain's statistics, April 10, when 980 people were confirmed to have died - and is lower than the 759 recorded yesterday. In two separate operations, Indian Army and Assam Police apprehended five hardcore United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent (ULFA-I) cadres and rescued seven minors recruited recently, the army and police said on Thursday. Five members of the proscribed outfit were nabbed by a joint team in Charaideo district of upper Assam early on Thursday and that led to the seizure of a large cache of arms. Based on a tip-off we cordoned Tairai village on Wednesday night and nabbed the ULFA-I cadres who were holed up in the house of one Bhuban Gogoi, Charaideo district superintendent of police Anand Mishra said. The arrested men were identified as Apurba Gogoi, Simanta Gogoi, Yogen Gogoi, Lakhyajit Gogoi and Siddhartha Gogoi. All of them are hardcore cadres who are experts in bomb making as well. They were involved in several cases of murders, extortions, kidnappings since 2012 as well as the Republic Day blast this year in Sonari, said Mishra. Though the cadres were unarmed at the time of their arrest their interrogation led to recovery of several assault rifles, pistols, ammunition and bomb making materials. In a separate operation, seven minors who were recently recruited by ULFA-I were rescued by the Indian Army and Assam Police in a joint operation. The teams were also able to nab four other members and six over ground workers of the proscribed outfit in the operation carried out in six districts of Assam on April 21 and 22. Based on specific intelligence input, the joint teams launched a well-coordinated and intensive campaign spread over Golaghat, Jorhat, Sibsagar, Charaideo, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts, the army said in a statement. According to the army, the arrested ULFA-I cadres and over ground workers were actively involved in recruiting new cadres and had been successful in luring several youths to join the outfit. The rescued youths belonging to well-to-do families were influenced and lured into joining the insurgent group through social media and online propaganda videos, the statement said. Following their rescue, the seven minors were counselled and reunited with their parents. They were rejuvenated to see their missing children especially in these tough times of Covid-19 pandemic, the statement said. The four cadres and six over ground workers have been handed over to Assam Police for further investigation. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON I would be lying if I didn't say that I enjoyed Four More Shots Please! Season 2. The sequel is definitely better than the original build as it takes new, inspired directions and often surprises along the way. The four girls have a reunion in Istanbul after four months when Siddhi (Maanvi Gagroo) panic calls Umang (Bani J) to rant about her loneliness. This time, they promise to be by each other's side through life's absolute lows and highs, no matter what. Damini (Sayani Gupta) has hit a writer's block and is struggling to find the motivation to finish her book. She is also figuring her relationship with Jeh (Prateik Babbar). Anjana (Kirti Kulhari), on the other hand, is getting cold feet about her boyfriend Arjun (Ankur Rathee), who has started behaving like an ideal husband. Umang learns about Samara's (Lisa Ray) mental breakdown in public through social media. Extremely disturbed by the video, a helpless Umang tries to reach out to Samara again. Siddhi has not been able to overcome a heartbreak caused by sudden leaving of her fiance Mihir (Rajeev Siddhartha). What I like about these four women in this season is that they have grown more respectful towards each other and recognise one anothers problems even better. They give each other the space and the support necessary for progressive womanhood. The another good thing about Four More Shots Please! Season 2 is that unlike the first part, it does not show its women protagonists in need of men to solve their problems as well as endorse the hegemonic belief that women are co-dependent, insecure and weak. But there is also a desire for an easy narrative of women taking on the status quo in the show. That's why it falls apart so quickly. Their struggles don't exactly resonate the way they should because these women appear to skip past the deeply entrenched gender norms so easily that it makes me wonder-- Do women really have it that easy? The show also never really digs deep into Umang's real and intense struggle of being a lesbian from a small town, and deals with her sexuality only on the surface. Another glaring problem that I have with the show is Maanvi Gagroo's character of Siddhi, a super-rich and spoiled woman in her late twenties, who consciously internalises her confusion and oppression on a guy she works with. In addition, Damini, a deadly serious, and fiercely outspoken journalist, who got fired from her own company for writing a controversial article in the last season, is unemployed, and yet living a comfortable and luxurious life, which is a bit too much to stomach. Looking at her privileged face throughout the show, it is impossible for any journalist or a woman with less advantages to at all identify with the character. The sad part is that Devika Bhagat, the writer of the show, never makes these women acknowledge and understand their own privilege, and often seems to complicate their lives for the sake of it. Their lives seem entirely emblematic of a cultural moment in which feminism and wokeness are fashionable and trendy, so to speak. Thats one of the reasons their girl power chants and smash the patriarchy cry ring a little hollow to me. And this is precisely why it is important for our writers to understand the significance of recognising and acknowledging intersectionality when tackling patriarchy, sexism and economic inequality in shows or films. Failing to acknowledge this diversity of experience leads to un-inclusive decisions about what feminism should look like and what it should achieve. Having said that, the show has its moments. Kirti Kulhari's Anjana as an ambitious single working mother stands out most, and holds your attention right to the very end. LONDON -- Britains government plans to test a sample of 20,000 English households for COVID-19 in the coming weeks to try to establish how far the disease has spread across the country. Health minister Matt Hancock - who has faced criticism over limited testing facilities for some health and social care workers - said on Thursday the research would help the government understand the trajectory of the disease better. More than 18,000 British people have died in hospital of the disease so far, and the country is now in its fifth week of a lockdown that stops most people from leaving home other than to buy food, exercise, or undertake essential work. Britains health ministry said initial results from the research - which it is conducting jointly with the Office for National Statistics and the University of Oxford - would be available in early May. Twenty thousand households from across England will take part in the pilot, which will be expanded to 300,000 households throughout the United Kingdom over the next 12 months. Participants will provide weekly samples from self-administered nose and throat swabs for the first five weeks, which will show if they currently have the virus, and then monthly samples for the following year. Adults from around 1,000 households will also provide blood samples to see if they have developed antibodies following an earlier infection with the coronavirus. Understanding more about the rate of COVID-19 infection in the general population, and the longer-term prevalence of antibodies, is a vital part of our ongoing response to this virus, Hancock said. Tests will be administered by IQVIA, a U.S. health data company that has worked before with Britains state-run health service, and analysed in British government laboratories. The governments chief medical adviser, Chris Whitty, said at a news conference on Wednesday that Britain did not yet have any reliable antibody tests, though he hoped they would be available in the near future. Whitty said it would not be possible to end all lockdown restrictions until a vaccine or effective treatment for COVID-19 was developed and rolled out, something that could easily take until the end of the year. A sign on the window at a 7-Eleven store reads, "Now Hiring," as an employee inside the store wears a mask and gloves while mopping the floor amid the coronavirus health crisis in Dallas, Wednesday, April 22, 2020. (AP Photo) WASHINGTON: For weeks, the Trump administration played up the dangers of the coronavirus as it sought to persuade Americans to disrupt their lives and stay home. Now, as President Donald Trump aims for a swift nationwide reopening, he faces a new challenge: convincing people its safe to come out and resume their normal lives. Its a defining question for a cloistered nation and a political imperative for Trump, whose reelection likely rides on the pace of an economic rebound. We need to create the kind of confidence in America that makes it so that everybody goes back to work, said Kevin Hassett, a White House adviser and former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers. And that confidence is going to require testing and confidence that your workplace is a healthy place, but also confidence in the economy. At the White House, officials believe theyve entered a new chapter of the pandemic response, moving from crisis mode to sustained mitigation and management. It began last Thursday with the release of guidelines to governors for how to safely reopen their states. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence celebrated Americans for successfully flattening the curve of the epidemic. Governors have been lifting restrictions each day since then, including aggressive moves announced Wednesday in Montana and Oklahoma. The Montana governor gave schools the green light to open their doors in early May, and Oklahoma will allow salons, barbershops, spas and pet groomers to reopen Friday. Trump predicted earlier this month that the economy would take off like a rocket ship once we get back to business. But experts say the recovery will be far slower. Eighteen Kashmiri prisoners, detained under stringent Public Safety Act, were released from different jails in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, while 36 others, whose detention orders have been revoked, are to be freed soon, officials said on Thursday. In addition, 52 prisoners were released from various jails in Jammu and Kashmir over the past few days, taking the total number of released inmates in the Union Territory to decongest prisons to save them from turning into fertile grounds for COVID-19 to 288, the officials said. A number of persons were arrested under the PSA and shifted outside J&K in August last year following nullification of Article 370 and bifurcation of the erstwhile state into two UTs. On April 1, a three-member high powered committee headed by Executive Chairman of J-K State Legal Services Authority, Justice Rajesh Bindal along with Principal Secretary (Home) Shaleen Kabra and DGP (Prisons) V K Singh as its members, passed directions for the release of jail inmates except those involved in militancy related cases to decongest prisons in the UT. The committee was constituted by the J&K government following a Supreme Court n order on March 23, directing the states and the UTs to decongest jails to ensure social distancing among prisoners. The apex court had issued the order, observing that overcrowding of prisons is a matter of serious concern in the wake of coronavirus outbreak. The officials said a total of 54 PSA detention orders were revoked this month as on April 23, of whom 18 detenues were released by Wednesday. They included 13 from four jails in Uttar Pradesh and five from two jails in Haryana. The process is on to ensure the release of the other PSA detainees, they said, adding eight detenues were released from Central Jail Agra (UP), three from district prison Jhajjar (Haryana), two each from district jail Bareilly (UP), district jail Ambedkar Nagar (UP) and district prison Karnal (Haryana) and one from Central jail Varanasi (UP). The PSA detenues whose detention orders have been revoked include 33 in Central Jail Agra, seven in district jail Ambedkar Nagar, four each in district jail Bareilly and Central jail Varanasi, three in district prison Jhajjar, two in district prison Karnal and one in Central jail Naini-Allahabad (UP), the officials said. They said the release of the prisoners took time as authorities had to prepare movement passes for their close relatives to bring them back in view of the ongoing lockdown across the country. The officials said 52 prisoners including four PSA detainees and 10 undertrials were also released from different jails in Jammu and Kashmir from April 18 to 22, taking the number of prisoners who were released this month to 288. Six of the 52 prisoners were released on parole, the officials said. While nine were released from Central jail Kot Bhalwal and district jail Jammu each, eight were released from Central jail Srinagar, seven each from district jail Baramulla and special jail (correctional home) Pulwama, six from district jail Kupwara, three from district jail Rajouri, two from sub-jail Hiranagar and one from district jail Anatnang. Earlier, 236 prisoners were released from various jails between April 1 and 17. They included 61 prisoners arrested under the PSA, 82 undertrials through the undertrial review committee, 11 undertrials falling under section 107, 109, 151 of the CrPC besides 18 prisoners who were released on parole. Out of the total 288, the officials said the highest number of 55 jail inmates were released from Central jail Srinagar followed by 48 from Central Jail Kot Bhalwal, 31 from district jail Rajouri and 29 from district jail Jammu. The other released prisoners include 28 from district jail Anantnag, 22 from district jail Kupwara, 20 from district jail Udhampur, 19 each from special jail Pulwama and sub-jail Hiranagar, nine from district jail Baramulla, and four each form district jail Bhaderwah and district jail Kathua. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Addressing a meeting of the Congress Working Committee, Gandhi said it should worry every Indian and her party will have to work hard to repair this damage. New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday accused the BJP of spreading the virus of communal prejudice and hatred in the country, asserting that "grave damage" is being done to social harmony. Addressing a meeting of the Congress Working Committee, Gandhi said it should worry every Indian and her party will have to work hard to repair this damage. "Let me also share with you something that should worry each and every one of us as Indians. When we should be tackling the coronavirus unitedly, the BJP continues to spread the virus of communal prejudice and hatred," she said. "Grave damage is being done to our social harmony. Our party, we will have to work hard to repair that damage," the Congress president added. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, and top Congress leaders attended the meeting through video conference. This is the second time the CWC, the Congress' top decision-making body, is meeting through video-conferencing in the past three weeks ever since the lockdown was enforced to contain the coronavirus threat. The Congress president said the coronavirus pandemic has increased disturbingly in the past three weeks and called upon the government to increase testing for it. Gandhi said she has written several times to the prime minister since the lockdown was enforced and suggested several measures and constructive cooperation. "Unfortunately, they have been acted upon only partially and in a miserly way. The compassion, large-heartedness, and alacrity that should be forthcoming from the central government is conspicuous by its absence," she said. The Congress chief said the focus of the party must continue to be on successfully engaging with health, food security, and livelihood issues. She claimed that around 12 crore people have lost jobs in the first phase of the lockdown and urged the government to provide a relief package for the MSME sector, which accounts for one-third of the GDP. Gandhi called upon the government to provide food and financial security to migrants and jobless stranded at various places and were desperate to reach back home. "We have repeatedly urged PM there is no alternative to testing, tracing, and quarantine. Unfortunately, testing still remains low, testing kits still in short supply," she noted. Gandhi said trade, commerce and industry have come to a virtual halt, and crores of livelihoods have been destroyed. "The central government does not appear to have a clear idea of how the situation will be managed after 3 May, A lockdown of the present nature after that date would be even more devastating," she said. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh said the success of the lockdown will be judged finally on India's ability to tackle COVID-19. He also said the cooperation between the Centre and states was key to the success of the country's fight against coronavirus. Singh said it is necessary to focus on a number of issues in the fight against coronavirus. The fight against COVID-19 would very much depend upon the availability of resources, he noted. Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said unless the central government comes forward to financially help states, the fight against COVID-19 will get weakened. "Unless there is a big financial package for states, how will normalcy return to states post lockdown," he asked. Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said unless the Centre rises to the occasion and provides financial assistance to states, how will the fight against COVID-19 be won. Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy said the Union government has not given any assistance to the states. "How will states survive in times of crisis. We are not enemies but have to act and work together," Narayanasamy said at the CWC meet. New Delhi, April 23 : The Delhi High Court in a series of orders has put up certain conditions, including sharing of location through Google Map, in order to track the prisoners who are being released on interim bail during the coronavirus pandemic to decongest the jails. A single judge bench of the high court presided over by Justice Anup Jairam Bambani, while granting interim bail to three prisoners in separate orders, asked them to make a video call every Friday to the police officer concerned and also 'drop-a-pin' on Google Map so that the officer can verify the their presence and location. The bench issued the directions while granting relief to three men -- a 73-year-old retired school teacher, a 21-year-old man and an ATM van driver -- in cases of a minor's rape, rash and negligent driving and defalcation of Rs 51 lakh cash, respectively. The high court passed the orders keeping in mind the ongoing public health emergency which has created the need to decongest the prisons. Toronto: A gunman acted alone in waging a weekend rampage that killed at least 22 people across northern and central Nova Scotia, Canadian police said Wednesday as they faced mounting criticism over not issuing a public emergency alert for the province. Chief Supt. Chris Leather of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said investigators were still trying to determine whether anyone assisted the gunman leading up to the incident, but had determined he carried out the attack himself while disguised as a police officer in a vehicle marked to seem like a patrol car. Authorities said the suspect, identified as 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman, was shot to death at a gas station at 11:26 am Sunday about 13 hours after the first 911 call came in late Saturday. Leather said that as the initial attack was underway in the rural town of Portapique, police warned residents to lock their doors and stay in their basements. The town, like all of Canada, had been adhering to government advice to remain at home because of the coronavirus pandemic, and most of the victims were inside homes when attacked. But no wider warning was issued, and questions emerged about why a public emergency alert was not sent province-wide through a system recently used to advise people to maintain social distancing. Police provided Twitter updates, but no alert that would have automatically popped up on cellphones. There are now 16 crime scenes in five different rural communities throughout northern and central Nova Scotia. Officials have not given a motive for the killings. Leather said it wasnt until about 8 am Sunday that authorities learned that the shooter was wearing a police uniform and driving a vehicle that looked like a patrol car. Leather said they are investigating whether he pulled drivers over and executed them after his initial attack in his home community of Portapique where he set fires to homes and shot a number of people. Leather said Nova Scotia's Emergency Management Office contacted the RCMP at 10:15 am Sunday to ask about sending an emergency message to cellphones and televisions in the province. He said police were crafting a message when the suspect was killed almost two hours later. The US consulate in Halifax emailed alerts to its citizens warning of the danger at a time when the RCMP was using Twitter to communicate the news. Im very satisfied with the messaging, Leather said. Residents of some of the five communities where the killer struck have said they would have changed their behaviour had an alert been sent. Several bodies were found inside and outside one house on Portapique Beach Road, police said. Bodies were also found in four other communities, and authorities believe the shooter may have targeted his first victims but then began attacking randomly as he drove around. Clinton Ellison was visiting his fathers home in Portapique with his brother when the gunshots and fires began late Saturday. He said his brother, Corrie, went to help with one of the homes on fire. After a while he went to look for his brother with a flashlight. I could see a body laying up the side the road. As I got closer I could see it was my brother. I got one more step closer and I could see blood and he wasnt moving. I shut my flashlight off and turned around and ran and I ran for my life in the dark, Ellison told Canadian Broadcasting Corp. He said at one point he spotted a flashlight and fearing it was the shooter he ran into the woods and hid for hours, all the while hearing gunshots and explosions from the fires in the community. I was hiding in the woods for about for four hours staring up into the sky, freezing to death, looking for red flashing lights that never came, Ellison told CBC. It took hours. People were in there burning to death and dying and it took hours for a response. Thats not right." He said a police armored car finally picked him up and he saw lots of officers as he left the community. But he feels they failed to do their job. They were all standing around when people were dying, Ellison said. You shouldnt be wearing the uniform if you dont have the guts to go in there and save peoples lives." Leather said police were in the community contrary to what Ellison said. While that fellow may not have thought police were in the vicinity, there were a large number in Portapique, Leather said. Ellison said he can barely function and is scarred for life. He returned to the community Wednesday to pick up his vehicle and said its a trail of destruction with numerous burned out homes and cars Its horrible. Its something right out of a horror movie, worse than a horror movie. This is real life and it took our friends and family, he said. 23.04.2020 LISTEN Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Representative of New York 14th Congressional District since 2019, has advocated for a boycott of work by all American workers. Appearing on VICE's Seat at the Table with Anand Giridharadas, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez urged Americans not to return to work, she was in fact very loud with; I think a lot of people should just say, no, we are not going back to work. Her urge of citizen of America for this action drums at the back of decisions by some states to partially reopen their respective economies in response to the updated information on the Chinese coronavirus pandemic, with southern states such as Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, South and Colorado leading the charge. This call by her smacks madness and can only be made by someone who wishes a total collapse of the American economy and a loss of its power and influence among the world economies, she does not wish America well and as a result, her district needs another caretaker who has America more at heart. Actually, ever since her election, she has never made any meaningful statement, all she has been about has been the push of deceit, sexism, bigotry, racism, divisiveness among the citizens of America, and other needless agenda parallel to the growth of America and the seat she represents. Moreover when it comes to the general welfare and progress of the economy of America, she is worse than Joe Biden and Democratic Party's quest to destroy Bernie Sander; I am still shocked Old man Bernie and his followers are still with them as the Democratic Party has continuously showcased that they have never had use for his philosophy and vision due to their constant description of him as an outcast. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez should make no such mistake with her thought that she can convince America with her deceit borne out of Democrats' greedy and selfish desires for the unproductiveness of America because old Bernie and his followers are even smartening up to leave just as Jones Vernon has been bold to do. The light of discernment brightening up and revealing the good plans of Donald Trump and the Republican Party is wearing away the deceptive scale from the pupil of people's eyes every day and as a result, the majority are being clarified with the truth every day. Democratic Party is fast sinking deeply every day and there is nothing Alexandria, Pelosi, Biden, Obama, and any other can do to save it. Hhhmm, May God be praised always Nana Kwadwo Akwaa ([email protected]) Member, Critical Thinkers International (CTI) For Todd Thrasher, it seemed like a sure bet. In October 2018, he opened a sprawling bar and rum distillery along the newly revitalized District Wharf in Washington, D.C., with three floors, space for 300 diners and 56 employees. He figured that with the areas heavy foot traffic and a booming local economy, his wager would pay off quickly. And for a while, the bar, Tiki TNT, and the adjacent Potomac Distilling Company were a huge hit. Then came the coronavirus outbreak. In late March, Mr. Thrasher closed the bar and furloughed his entire staff, including himself. Though he is still distilling, he doesnt know how long he can stay in business. If nothing changes, Id say I have until July, he said. Its hard to build a brand when no one is buying. The coronavirus recession has left no industry unaffected, but the one-two punch of shuttered bars and mass unemployment has hit craft distilling particularly hard. In a survey of its members by the American Craft Spirits Association, more than two-thirds say they may have to close permanently in the next few months. A suspect in a stolen car whom authorities chased from Mississippi to Alabama on Wednesday and apprehended by Mobile County sheriffs deputies died shortly after he was handcuffed, authorities said. Moss Point, Mississippi police were pursuing the stolen vehicle into Alabama. They lost sight of the vehicle, but Mobile County sheriffs deputies spotted it and attempted to stop it when it became disabled at the dead end of Henderson Camp Road, said sheriffs office spokeswoman Lori Myles. The male suspect fled on foot but was taken into custody following a brief struggle. As the suspect, who was not publicly identified, was being taken to a patrol vehicle, he collapsed and experienced a possible cardiac event, Myles said. Sheriffs office personal tried CPR and used a defibrilator but the suspect died. No use of force was used in the incident, according to the sheriffs office. A large quantity of methamphetamine was found in the stolen vehicle, Myles said. No further information was available as the investigation continued. Hooping, like pole dancing, became a sexy-exercise craze in the early 2000s. Doing it vigorously can burn nearly as many calories as a spin class. It surprised me to realize in 2005, at age 46, that I hadn't given up my dream of spinning a ring around my body. I signed up for a hula-hooping class at my gym after my Pilates instructor, Sandy, put on a show for us wearing an I Dream of Jeannie outfit and dancing with hoops that featured changing colored lights. Ponytailed and gyrating to Flo Rida's Low, she curved her liquid body around the room like a swan, rolling hoops around her wrists, head and between her feet with a feminine grace and fluidity the rest of us could only dream of. Her bangles clinked and shifted each time she raised her arm to make a dramatic hand gesture, seducing us. Sandy promised she could teach anyone to hoop. I wanted a body like hers chiseled abs, Michelle Obama arms, a display-worthy waist. In my cautious and unflirty world I'd grown up skinny, boyish and ignored by boys this was revolutionary. Japan once banned the hula hoop because the rotating hip action was thought to be indecent. I was all in with whatever Sandy was peddling. The word hula was first used in the 1700s, when British sailors discovered topless Polynesian women doing the sensuous hip-swiveling hula dance. Though they didn't use hoops, the oscillations of knee, hip and waist were the same as the motion used to sling a hoop around a midsection and the term stuck. Graceful hand and arm movements were used to signify swaying trees, waves in the ocean and a sense of yearning. Before my first hooping class, Sandy invited me to the parking lot to choose one of the hoops she'd made from polypropylene tubing and was selling out of her trunk. They were gorgeous and sparkly, not the orthopedic shoes of special hoops, like some sports hoops I'd seen online, covered in ugly foam padding. "Your hoop should reach somewhere between your waist and mid-chest when resting vertically on the ground, Sandy said. I chose one with hues of purple and aqua that picked up holographic patterns in the sun, paid $38, and prayed this would be the antidote to my spasticity. The hoop toy is older than most religions. As early as 1,000 B.C., Egyptian children played with hoops they fashioned from dried grapevines. In the class with eight other women, I stood in the center of the hoop and lifted it around my waist. I tried a simple rotation, moving my hips from side to side. It fell, with heavy weight clanking on the floor. Old feelings of shame surfaced. Then Sandy walked over to me and demonstrated how to move my pelvis forward and back. It's not about the hips, she said. I put the hoop back up at my waist and gave it a twirl. I rocked my pelvis forward and back. I had always thought it was a side to side motion I was going for. The weight and size of the hoop made it easier to keep up. The friction tape helped it stick to my body. It suddenly felt so right. I was focused yet relaxed, my body and mind working as one. The repetition of it became soothing and everything seemed to come together, the power of the female body unleashed! I suspect the immense joy I felt related to my hoop-ability was in direct proportion to how difficult it had been for me to get there. I went on to learn minor-level tricks, walking and twirling around my yard. I came across my hoop in the basement the other night and dusted it off, took it outside onto the terrace off my bedroom, and started to gyrate and hula under the stars, my body a fluid instrument made for this exact sensual action. I alternated flinging the hoop with my arms, a leg and my waist. It now seemed more cosmic than sexual, like I'd come full circle. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is investigating whether non-American traders had obtained insider information about Russias position in the OPEC+ negotiations last month, which they may have later illegally used to bet on crude oil futures, Bloomberg reported, citing two people with direct knowledge of the issue. Under the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010, it is illegal to profit on the markets from leaked government information. The CFTC probe was opened before Mondays 300% price crash of the WTI Crude May futures contract, which slipped into negative territory for the first time ever, according to Bloombergs sources. The regulators investigation is focused on whether the traders involved had obtained non-public information about Russias position during the one-month long oil price war with Saudi Arabia after the collapse of the previous OPEC+ deal in early March. Between early March and early April, Russia and Saudi Arabia were in an oil price war that further depressed oil prices already hit by the demand collapse in the pandemic, after Moscow refused to back a total 1.5 million bpd cut from OPEC+. A month later, the Saudis and the Russians, along with the other members of the OPEC+ group, agreed to remove 9.7 million bpd from the market in May and June to try to counter the growing glut. As per Bloombergs sources, the individuals under investigation are not Russian government officials and do not have a prior history of trading futures. One of the sources, however, told Bloomberg that the entities that had placed the crude oil price wagers employ people with ties to the Kremlin. The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has also opened an investigation into suspicious crude futures trades for the same reasonsuspecting that non-public information about Russias oil strategy and discussions with other oil-producing countries may have been leaked to traders who may have later used it to illegally bet on crude prices. We saw the reports and we dont know how credible they are, Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putins press secretary, said on Thursday, as quoted by Reuters. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- SignatureMD, Inc. ("SignatureMD") and Paragon Private Health, LLC ("Paragon"), two leading providers in membership-based concierge medicine (collectively, the "Company"), have merged in partnership with management and Blue Sea Capital LLC ("Blue Sea") to create an industry leader in concierge medicine support services. The Company, with physician practices across the United States, is one of the nation's largest providers of initial conversion and ongoing support services to concierge medicine physicians, with an expanding network of more than 160 affiliated primary care physicians and specialists across 31 states. "We are proud to merge with Paragon, a leader in concierge medicine. They share our core values to always do the right thing for our affiliated physicians and members and to provide them with the highest level of service and care," said Matthew Jacobson, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SignatureMD. "Combining our two companies isn't about getting bigger, it's about getting better and stronger together to expand our community of exceptional physicians, to serve more people looking for a closer relationship with their doctor for better health and peace of mind, and to innovate in areas like telehealth and remote monitoring to meet the emerging needs of our affiliated physicians and members. This merger comes at an exciting time as more and more doctors are choosing SignatureMD's flexible care model that puts them back in control without having to decide between practicing medicine on their terms and saying goodbye to thousands of their patients." "The merger of SignatureMD and Paragon brings together two industry-leading concierge medicine platforms, allowing us to better capitalize on the substantial sector growth opportunity while maintaining a high-quality service offering to our existing affiliated physicians and members," said Hiren Doshi, Founder of Paragon Private Health. "The Company's combined resources and capabilities, coupled with a track record of providing best-in-class support services, portends a sustainable and compelling growth trajectory for years to come. I have always had great respect for SignatureMD and I am excited about what we can accomplish together to improve the lives of more people." Scott Ames, Principal at Blue Sea, commented, "We are thrilled to be supporting the merger of SignatureMD and Paragon, building on the companies' track records of providing top-quality services to affiliated physicians and members and, in the process, creating an industry leader in member-based concierge medicine, a sector that remains well positioned for long-term growth, driven by a superior value proposition and certainty to providers and members alike." CapM Advisors acted as financial advisor to SignatureMD and Intrepid Investment Bankers acted as financial advisor to Paragon. McDermott Will & Emery served as legal advisor to SignatureMD and Sherrard, German & Kelly served as legal advisor to Paragon. About the Company The Company, operating under the SignatureMD (www.signaturemd.com) and Paragon Private Health (www.paragonprivatehealth.com) brands, with offices in Los Angeles, California and Richmond, Virginia, is one of the nation's largest providers of initial conversion and ongoing support services to concierge medicine physicians, with an expanding network of over 160 affiliated primary care physicians and specialists across 31 states. About Blue Sea Capital Blue Sea Capital (www.blueseacapital.com) is a private equity firm based in West Palm Beach, Florida that invests in growth-oriented lower middle market companies valued up to $200 million. The firm has approximately $600 million in assets under management and invests across three industry verticals: healthcare, aerospace & defense and industrial growth. Blue Sea Capital's strategy is to partner with talented managers and differentiated companies, typically as the first or second institutional investor, and deliver strategic and operational value-add that drives growth acceleration, industry outperformance and business transformation. Media Contact: Matthew Jacobson 310-299-7797 SOURCE SignatureMD Related Links http://www.signaturemd.com The Apostle Paul was jailed in Rome for preaching that Jesus Christ was God. Some 2,000 years later, another evangelist - Louisiana Pastor Tony Spell - was jailed for trying to hit a protester with a bus. While legend holds that Paul was eventually beheaded by Emperor Nero, Mr Spell will have to suffer no such fate; his wife, Shaye, flashed $5,000 at the local jail, made bail, and brought her husband home. Spell has been in the news for defying state stay-at-home orders for the purpose of holding his church services. He believes his church should be recognised as an "essential service" and that the coronavirus is politically motivated. The pastor has been under scrutiny by the state for continuing to hold in-person church services despite state social distancing guidelines. WAFB 9 News in Louisiana reported that Spell was taken into custody and jailed in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Tuesday. He was released later that day after his wife bailed him out. Police in Central, Louisiana issued a warrant for his arrest, accusing him of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for an incident in which he allegedly backed a church bus dangerously close to a man protesting the church services. A security camera caught the incident on tape. Shaye Spell bailed him out by noon on Tuesday, fanning out the $5,000 bail for the cameras and her supporters to see. Shaye Spell, wife of Lousiana pastor Tony Spell, flashes wads of cash as she arrives at the East Baton Rouge parish jail to post bond for him following his arrest for flouting coronavirus lockdown orders (AP) As Spell emerged from the jail, he flashed a "V" for victory sign and his gathered flock, hands raised in worship, cheered. After being released, Spell gave a press conference, telling reporters: "I am not guilty of any charges that I have been accused of. I am not guilty of assault with a deadly weapon. I am not guilty of defying any orders. The only thing I am guilty of is practising my faith, which was given to me by Jesus Christ himself." Lousiana pastor Tomy Spell leaving jail in Baton Rouge following his arrest for flouting coronavirus lockdown measures (AP) The man who Spell was accused of attempting to hit has been holding signs outside the church, calling it a "coronavirus incubator." The protester, Trey Bennett, was at the jail when Spell was released, holding a sign that said "close this church". Spell has long maintained that he is within his rights to hold in-person church services regardless of the health risk it might pose. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal and are endowed by the creator with certain inalienable rights.My rights to have church and to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ are endowed to me by my creator, not my district attorney, not my chief of police, and not my governor, not my president and not my department of justice," he said. Members of the Life Tabernacle Church sing and pray as they wait for pastor Tony Spell to be released from prison in Baton Rouge following his arrest for flouting coronavirus lockdown orders (AP) Spell claimed that part of his inalienable rights was to "assemble and have church" and said he "cannot give up those rights." The state's stay-at-home order - which may be lifted when it expires on 1 May - limits gathering in large groups, such as church services. While that guideline worked for Jesus - "wherever two or three gather in my name, there am I among them" - Spell has stricter definitions of what constitutes a church. In addition to flagrantly defying the state's stay-at-home order, he also earned the public's ire for soliciting his followers to donate their $1,200 government stimulus checks to the church. "We are challenging you, if you can, give your stimulus package to evangelists and missionaries, who do not get the stimulus package," he told CNN. Three more residents have tested postive for COVID-19 at Berks Heim Nursing and Rehabilitation, bringing the facilitys resident case number to five, according to Berks County Commissioner Christian Leinbach. The residents were all in the Essick Commons unit, according to the county. This is the first time the unit the positive tests came from has been released, but on Wednesday officials said the residents lived in a unit where a previous positive test was reported. Berks Heim previously reported two employee cases, but it has been two weeks since those cases were confirmed. The employees had been monitoring symptoms from home before their tests. County officials said families of the patients have been notified and had been notified of the previous positive test within the unit. Berks Heim management is working with the CDC, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Berks County Department of Emergency Services and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Read more on PennLive: NEW YORK, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Roberts & Ryan Investments, Inc., one of America's first Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVO) FINRA-registered broker-dealers, is pleased to announce that Daniel Rice, veteran U.S. Army officer, has joined the firm's advisory board. Rice will assist Roberts & Ryan in expanding the firm's offerings and engagements to corporations and institutional investors committed to enhancing opportunities and economic independence to veterans, disabled veterans and their families. Roberts & Ryan Investments, Inc. Rice is President and one of the co-founders of Thayer Leadership Development Group (TLDG) at West Point. TLDG is one of the Top 40 ranked executive leader development companies globally as classified by Training Industry. TLDG works with Fortune 1000 companies to help build leaders of character using a proprietary method of developing leaders based on military leadership principles. In 10 years, TLDG has trained over 100,000 executives. Under his vision and leadership, TLDG partnered with the Chief Executive magazine to create the Patriots in Business Awards to recognize corporations that go above and beyond to support our military, veterans and their families. Rice is the publisher and co-author of the award-winning book "West Point Leadership: Profiles of Courage" and has been published several times in The Wall Street Journal, Chief Executive Magazine and Small Wars Journal. He has appeared on CNN, TODAY SHOW, FOX & FRIENDS, Bloomberg, MSNBC, NBC and other networks speaking on various national security and veterans' issues. "Dan is a tremendous addition to our team with his character, energy and his extensive corporate and financial network," said Brian Rathjen, President of Roberts & Ryan Investments, Inc. "Dan is known nationally as a tireless supporter of U.S. national security and veteran issues, having served three times in the Army, recipient of the Purple Heart, and having helped educate thousands of American executives on the lessons that corporate leaders can learn from the military through his writings, speeches and advocacy." Dan is a graduate of West Point with a B.S. in National Security, holds an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Business at Northwestern University and an M.S. in Marketing from Medill Graduate School at Northwestern University, and will receive an M.S.Ed. in Learning from the University of Pennsylvania in May 2020. He is also a doctoral candidate in the University of Pennsylvania Chief Learning Officer program. In 2004, he volunteered to rejoin the Army after over a decade out of uniform and deployed to Iraq as an infantry officer based in Tikrit for over a year. In 2008, he served on the congressionally funded "Project for National Security Reform." He has been awarded the Purple Heart, Ranger Tab, Combat Action Badge, Airborne Badge and other awards. "It's an honor to serve on the Roberts & Ryan team. Brian Rathjen has built a team of professional traders, many veterans themselves, each with considerable experience and expertise in their respective fields," said Rice. "However, I'm most impressed with the incredible philanthropic support that Roberts & Ryan provides to veteran philanthropies that is unmatched by any other firm. I look forward to helping grow the firm and increasing the philanthropic giving exponentially." For more information, contact: Roberts & Ryan Investments, Inc. Jennifer McDonough, 646-542-0745 Director of Administration [email protected] About Roberts & Ryan Investments, Inc. Roberts & Ryan Investments, Inc. is one of America's first Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned (SDVO), FINRA-registered broker-dealers, located in New York, Dallas and Seal Beach, California. For more information, please visit www.roberts-ryan.com. Related Images daniel-rice.jpg Daniel Rice SOURCE Roberts & Ryan Investments Inc. Related Links http://www.roberts-ryan.com Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (27) A major Chinese city has adopted draconian quarantine measures against the novel coronavirus after a new outbreak was detected there. More than 70 people have been infected and over 4,000 are being tested in Harbin after the virus was believed to be 'imported' into the city by a student who had returned from New York, according to media reports. Officials have banned gatherings and ordered communities to closely monitor non-local visitors and vehicles in the city of around 10 million. Checkpoints have been installed at the airport and train stations, to screen those coming from elsewhere. The news comes as China today announced that there were only two critically ill patients left in Wuhan, the former centre of the pandemic. Harbin, a city of around 10 million people in north-eastern China's Heilongjiang province, has adopted draconian quarantine measures against the coronavirus. The picture shows a man keeping watch at a checkpoint in the border city of Suifenhe, in Heilongjiang, on April 21 Harbin, the provincial capital and the biggest city of Heilongjiang, which borders Russia Harbin, the provincial capital of Heilongjiang in north-eastern China, has been grappling with what is now the country's biggest coronavirus outbreak. The government yesterday released a directive to instruct further restrictions on its residents, visitors and inbound traffic. Before entering any public facilities and residential complexes, people must use a government-approved health app to prove they don't have the virus, have their temperature taken and wear a face mask, the notice says. Residents must follow social-distancing measures. Weddings, funerals, public performances and conferences are banned. All confirmed, suspected, asymptomatic cases and their close contacts will be put into strict quarantine. All their neighbours in the same building must be isolated at home for two weeks with around-the-clock surveillance. Asymptomatic cases are those who carry the virus but show no symptoms. They can still spread the virus to others. Anyone in home-quarantine must pass two nucleic acid tests, which detect the coronavirus, and one anti-body test, which shows if the person has had the virus in the past. Officials say the virus was likely 'imported' into the city by a student who had returned from New York. Pictured, passengers wearing masks push luggage carts at Harbin airport on April 11 The city's government said this month it was ordering 28 days of quarantine for all arrivals from abroad, with two nucleic acid tests and an antibody test for each. Pictured, workers in protective suits are seen at a registration point for passengers at an airport in Harbin on April 11 Harbin, Heilongjiang's biggest city, had already ordered isolation for those arriving from outside China or key epidemic areas. The city's government said this month it was ordering 28 days of quarantine for all arrivals from abroad, with two nucleic acid tests and an antibody test for each. Heilongjiang has been at the forefront of China's latest efforts to identify infected citizens arriving from Russia, with which it shares a border, to curb the spread of the virus. 'I'm not taking my daughter or parents outside anymore. If we need any food or vegetables, we just let my husband buy it on his way back,' said a 34-year-old Harbin resident surnamed Sun. 'And whenever anyone has to go outside, he or she will leave their shoes outside the door to avoid bringing back any virus.' Wuhan has only TWO critically ill coronavirus patients, China says China has announced today that there are only two critically ill coronavirus patients left in Wuhan, the former epicentre of the pandemic. A health official said that the number of active confirmed patients in China has dropped below 1,000 for the first time and the total of critically ill cases in Wuhan has fallen to two. More than half of the patients who contracted the bug from abroad have recovered, the authorities stated in a press conference on Thursday. China has announced today that there are only two critically-ill coronavirus patients left in the former epicentre Wuhan of Hubei Province. The photo taken on February 13 shows a doctor checking a patient's conditions at a hospital in Wuhan Over 82,000 people in mainland China have been infected with the deadly disease and at least 4,632 patients have died, according to China's official figures. China has recorded 1,616 'imported cases' from abroad, of which 823 have recovered. A total of 77,207 coronavirus patients have been discharged from hospitals in the country. Mi Feng, a spokesperson from the Chinese Centre of Disease Prevention and Control, said in a press conference today that Wuhan now only has two coronavirus patients in critical condition. 'But some areas with infection clusters have seen an increase in confirmed cases,' Mi continued. '[We need to] cut the source of the spread quickly, fill in the loopholes in epidemic control and firmly prevent the second wave of outbreak.' A staff member is pictured spraying disinfectant on medical equipment on April 14 after all coronavirus patients have left Leishenshan Hospital in Wuhan Mi's announcement comes as the northern city Harbin has reported more than 70 infections in the past two weeks the virus was allegedly imported into the area amid fears of a new outbreak. The former ground zero Hubei Province has the brunt of the coronavirus cases in China, with a total of 68,128 infections and 4,512 deaths. There are 69 active confirmed cases in Hubei as of today and 63,547 patients have recovered from the deadly disease. Advertisement Harbin, which has air links with Russia, reported three new confirmed cases today, taking its local infections to 55, excluding recoveries discharged from hospital. Officials have so far registered 21 asymptomatic cases, including two who were diagnosed yesterday, according to the latest government figures. So far, Heilongjiang has reported 540 local confirmed cases, including 470 discharged from hospital. Besides Harbin, the city of Mudanjiang has two current confirmed cases. 'Prevention measures have been stricter recently, and people from Mudanjiang or Harbin will not be allowed to come into our town,' said a civil servant surnamed Zhang, who lives in Mishan town on the eastern edge of Heilongjiang. Hospitals in Harbin were arranging 4,106 people to be tested in response to the cluster infections, Beijing Daily reported. The Second Hospital of Harbin halted its operation on Monday after all of the six cases the city registered on Sunday were said to be related to the hospital. One persisting cluster in Harbin centred on an 87-year-old man surnamed Chen who had stayed at two hospitals since April 2, four days after dinner at home with his son's friends, two of whom later tested positive. Harbin, near Russia, reported three new confirmed cases today, taking its local infections to 55. Pictured, police officers in protective suits are seen at the airport of Harbin on April 11 Heilongjiang has been at the forefront of China's latest efforts to identify infected citizens arriving from Russia. A keeping watch at a checkpoint in the border city of Suifenhe By Tuesday, Chen had infected 78 people, with 55 confirmed, though 23 who tested positive have yet to show virus symptoms. Those infected were mainly family members, hospital patients and their families, and doctors and nurses in direct or indirect contact, provincial health officials said. Of seven new confirmed cases in Heilongjiang on Tuesday, four were patients who had stayed in the same ward as Chen, while three were healthcare workers at one hospital. However, Harbin's health officials have named a 22-year-old student, who studies in New York, as the likely source of the local crisis. According to the Harbin Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Han is a Master's student at New York University. Her parents and brother live in Harbin. Staff members keep watch at a checkpoint in the border city of Suifenhe on April 21 She arrived in her hometown on March 19 after flying out of New York the day before and having stopovers in Hong Kong and Beijing. Han tested negative during isolation, but local health officials said her two recent tests in April showed she had coronavirus antibodies, which indicated a previous infection. Officials suggested that Han spread the bug to one of her neighbours, whom she never met during her quarantine, by contaminating the environment of her building. Her neighbour, Cao, then pass the virus on to various others, who in turn transmitted it to Chen. The virus that infected the cluster has travelled beyond the province, with health officials in neighbouring Liaoning reporting on April 16 a confirmed case whose father had stayed at the same hospital as Chen. On Monday, the northern region of Inner Mongolia reported a confirmed case in an individual who had stayed at one of the Harbin hospitals at the same time as Chen and the Liaoning patient. China reported 10 new confirmed cases today, six of them imported, involving travellers from overseas, down from 23 yesterday. China's tally of confirmed cases stands at 82,798, with 4,632 deaths. With personal protective equipment in short supply, California agencies are paying steep prices for coveted masks to protect state workers against the spread of the coronavirus. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) State agencies and ultimately California taxpayers are paying steep prices for coveted masks that protect against the spread of the novel coronavirus as suppliers and middlemen cash in on the global shortage of medical equipment, according to a Times review of hundreds of state contracting records. State officials are paying more than 300% above list prices as they navigate a marketplace rife with fraud and price gouging in search of millions of masks for healthcare workers, inmates and government employees deemed essential. Last week, state transportation officials bought more than 1,400 masks at $12.74 each in what was described as an emergency purchase to ensure that road and maintenance workers were protected against the virus. The masks are N95 respirators made by the giant U.S. manufacturer 3M, according to the seller and purchase orders reviewed by The Times. 3M said it has not changed its prices, and the companys highest suggested list price for common N95 models tops out at $3.40. The state has little legal protection from price gouging even as authorities decry the practice. Gov. Gavin Newsom's executive order this month banning large price hikes on medical gear exempts vendors willing to sell to the state or local governments. A state spokeswoman said the exemption was necessary so California could buy medical supplies "regardless of price to protect public health," but the loophole also means there is no limit on what vendors can charge the state. Officials defend paying the steep prices, saying there is intense competition for masks and the top priority must be protecting state workers. California Department of Transportation spokesman Matt Rocco said in a statement that the agency's purchase of masks at more than $12 each was "based on immediate need for the health and safety of its employees. Considering the unprecedented demand and fluctuating circumstances, we are reviewing our processes to determine ways the department can streamline purchasing and obtain a reliable supply at a better cost." Story continues Government agencies are not alone. Companies and individuals are also paying inflated prices for various types of masks both at stores and street-corner vendors who have popped up in recent weeks. Most state purchasing records reviewed by The Times made it difficult to determine exact pricing per mask, but in 10 cases, The Times found extraordinary markups on respirators, including on large bulk purchases. Earlier this month, the healthcare provider at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation ordered 1 million KN95 respirators at $4.78 a mask, a price another supplier said was high. The California Department of Public Health ordered 100,000 masks at $4.60 each last week for a model that 3M says should not cost more than $1.88. Holy moly! said John Thomas, co-founder of recently formed Blue Flame Medical, which sells personal protective equipment. These agencies have a duty to obviously procure PPE, but also to get it at a fair market price." Where the markups are happening is difficult to pinpoint. Thomas said its possible that sellers are pocketing only a slight markup but that with multiple middlemen involved in a single deal, the price ends up being astronomical. Some sellers say the bulk of price hikes happens in China, where companies want a full payment before shipment. That leaves some middlemen assuming the risk of sending cash before inspecting the products. Another supplier said he was competing against rival companies and even countries that send envoys with bags of cash to bid for supplies. Brian Ferguson, spokesman for the Office of Emergency Services, said state officials have been compelled to make some high-priced purchases because there is no "reliable source of personal protective equipment." Some of these prices the state is paying are not ideal, they are not what we would pay under typical circumstances," Ferguson said. Ferguson said state officials have been inundated with questionable offers to sell them masks, including a demand to pay up front in Bitcoin. More than 6,000 offers to sell equipment have poured in since the state launched a website, covid19supplies.ca.gov, on April 4 to help centralize the process, he said. Before buying, he said, state officials must determine if the equipment meets government standards and whether the seller is reputable. Many offers are not legitimate or dont meet the threshold for purchasing by the state, Ferguson said. State officials, he said, have reported at least one case of suspected fraud to the FBI. Federal and local law enforcement officials have made a series of arrests related to fraud or price gouging mask deals. The Baldwin Park Police Department announced April 7 that it arrested a Covina man suspected of price gouging during an emergency, saying he was advertising to the public that he had 3M N95 masks for $15 each. While there is no specific federal law against price gouging, a U.S. Department of Justice task force is using anti-hoarding laws to target suppliers suspected of demanding high prices for stashes of scarce protective equipment. State officials say that California's new partnership with a Chinese electric car manufacturer will ensure the state has a steady supply of masks. How much the state will pay for each mask, however, is unknown. The $1-billion deal Newsom announced with BYD has been shrouded in secrecy and is not expected to get masks to California until next month. That leaves the state continuing to scramble in the near term for what masks it can find. Last month, the Department of General Services, which acts as the states business manager, ordered 4,800 masks for $8.25 each. 3Ms highest suggested list price for those masks is $1.88. State procurement data identifies the seller as SecondLifePhones, a company that public records say is run by Saqib Waqar of Los Angeles. Waqar declined to comment. The department made a second purchase for 4,460 N95 masks from SecondLifePhones earlier this month for $8.25 per mask, but the state's procurement data do not indicate the model. A department spokeswoman declined to comment or provide a purchase order for either sale. The procurement data reviewed by The Times show the prison system has ordered millions of masks in recent weeks for its 46,000 staff, including healthcare workers, and 118,000 inmates. As of Wednesday, 95 prison staffers and 135 inmates had tested positive for COVID-19. On Sunday, an inmate at the California Institution for Men in San Bernardino County became the first in the state to die from complications related to the virus. Dana Simas, a corrections department spokeswoman, said the prison system is working "diligently to ensure our staff have the equipment necessary to protect the health and safety of all those who live and work in our state prisons." "We are exploring vendors at all levels local, state, national and international to help meet our supply needs at the best possible price available in line with local and global market pricing," Simas said. Simas said one company offered to sell KN95 masks for $13 each on a large order, which the department declined. The KN95, a Chinese alternative that is supposed to match the gold standard of the N95s filtration rate, is new to American healthcare supply chains, said Ryan Curtis, vice president at Boss Safety Products. Curtis said his company hasnt significantly changed prices on N95 masks since before the pandemic, saying it was a matter of business ethics. But traditional sellers such as his company are sold out. Timothy Devine, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who owns Aviate Enterprises, the company that sold the state 1 million KN95 masks for prison healthcare workers at $4.78 each, said his profit margin was between only 2% and 4%. Chinese manufacturers have been able to hike prices because of the global demand, he said. While searching for masks to complete the order, one of his employees visited a manufacturer in Shanghai, where representatives of European countries were bidding for the same masks with duffel bags and suitcases full of euros, he said. Ultimately, the Aviate employee went to another supplier, he said. Chinese manufacturers are able to "rake [American customers] over the coals right now," said Diane Devine, the owner's spouse, who also provides legal services to the Sacramento-area company. Her husband said that while masks are usually transported by sea, the urgent need for the supplies in California required the company to airlift them, and the cost of air transport, already many times more expensive than sea transport, has nearly quadrupled since before the crisis. Raw materials have also gone up, he said. And he said he has had to take additional security measures after hearing stories of trucks filled with masks being robbed on U.S. highways. He said he had another car he called a "chase vehicle" secretly tail the trucks carrying the masks to thwart any theft. Any seller claiming it can provide the same masks at a much lower price is spouting "baloney," Timothy Devine said. On March 23, the corrections department bought 1,200 N95 masks at $9 each from AAA Wholesale Co. Inc., the procurement data show. David Chang, AAA Wholesale's president, said in an email that the South San Francisco-based company is charged $4 to $7 for each mask and must pay up front, then carry the shipping costs and wait 30 to 45 days before the state pays for an order. During the time they asked us for a bid, there was absolutely nothing on the marketplace, and I didnt even know well even get it, so we just threw in a price, Chang said. That one particular time we got lucky, and we did make a little money. His company's website currently lists the price of the same masks as $49 for a box of 10 roughly half the price paid by the state. He said wholesalers are frequently changing the amounts they charge. Brennen Davis, whose companies Environmental Concepts and Pavement Preservation Specialties in Tehachapi sold 1,436 masks last week at $12.74 each to Caltrans, said he purchased them from an American 3M distributor chain located in the South. Davis said he warned Caltrans that the asking price from his supplier was steep. The total was $18,300, according to state purchasing records. Davis said the per-mask charge included expedited shipping costs. Davis declined to say how much he paid for the masks or the name of the supplier. He said his company, which has a long history of selling asphalt, protective gear and other supplies to Caltrans, made less than 20% as the middleman. When pressed during an interview, he said the "true profit margins were around 15%." In a follow-up email, Davis said he looked into the details of the deal and the "profit margin is at 10%, excluding credit card fees and expedited shipping." Our profit margins are our profit margins, Davis said. We werent price gouging at all." External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday held telephonic conversation with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his Brazilian counterpart Ernesto Arajo, broadly focusing on ways to effectively deal with the coronavirus pandemic that has killed over 180,000 people globally. Jaishankar also held telephonic talks with Oman's Foreign Minister Yusuf Alawi and his Saudi counterpart Prince Saud al-Faisal and thanked both of them for taking care of the Indian community living in their countries. About his talks with Pompeo, the External Affairs Minister said he exchanged views with the US Secretary of State on the situation in Afghanistan besides discussing the coronavirus crisis. "Nice to hear from @SecPompeo of #UnitedStates. Discussed our #coronavirus responses and the importance of international cooperation. Working closely on its implications and consequences. Also exchanged views on the Afghanistan situation," Jaishankar tweeted. It is not known whether the issue of US President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily halting immigration into the US for 60 days figured in the conversation. About his talks with Lavrov, Jaishankar said the two sides discussed about the forthcoming meeting of the foreign ministers of the BRICS countries as well as situation in Afghanistan. "Good to speak with FM Sergey Lavrov of #Russia. Discussed the forthcoming #BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting. Also reviewed recent developments pertaining to Afghanistan. Our cooperation on #coronavirus reflects our special friendship," he tweeted. The BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) is also an influential bloc which represents over 3.6 billion people, or half of the world population and have a combined GDP of USD 16.6 trillion. All the BRICS member nations are reeling under the pandemic. In another tweet, Jaishankar described his talks with the Brazilian Foreign Minister as "productive" adding they review implementation of decisions taken during President Jair Bolsonaro's visit here earlier this year. About his talks with Prince Faisal, the External Affairs Minister said it was a "warm conversation" and that India will remain a reliable partner of the Gulf nation. "Appreciated the very warm conversation with HH Prince Faisal, FM of #SaudiArabia. Thanked him for taking care of the Indian community there. Discussed our shared interest in ensuring health and food security. India will remain a reliable partner," he said. In another tweet, Jaishankar said he was very pleased to speak to Oman's Foreign Minister Alawi. "Very pleased to speak with FM Yusuf Alawi. Appreciated #Oman's taking care of the Indian community there. As trusted partners, assured him of India's support in the collective fight against #coronavirus," Jaishankar said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI Muskegon County has had another coronavirus death as cases continue a steady climb. There were 13 new positive COVID-19 cases reported Thursday, April 23, bringing the countywide total to 186, according to data posted to the state of Michigan website. Health officials reported one additional death Thursday, increasing the total to 12. The county has not released any further information about the most recent death. Statewide, there were 1,325 newly reported cases, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in Michigan to 35,291, the state reported on Thursday. The number of deaths jumped from 2,813 to 2,977, according to the state of Michigan health department website. Last week, the number of positive cases in Muskegon County doubled, rising from 68 reported cases Monday to 128 cases on Friday. The number of deaths doubled over a three-day period, jumping from five reported deaths Saturday to 10 total deaths on Tuesday. Muskegon County isnt expected to reach its peak of the pandemic until mid-May, Public Health Officer Kathy Moore told MLive Wednesday. Moore attributed the recent increase in new cases to an increase in testing capabilities in Muskegon County. Browser does not support frames. Women make up 60 percent of all coronavirus cases in Muskegon County, according to data available on the county health department website. Countywide data shows that 34 percent of coronavirus patients in Muskegon County are white residents, even though white residents make up 81 percent of the countys population. Moore said that although health officials expected senior citizens to be most impacted by COVID-19, Muskegon County residents ages 50-59 have been most impacted by the virus, making up 22 percent of all coronavirus cases in the county. That compares to patients ages 70 and older, which make up about 14 percent of the total countywide cases, according to county health department data. Cases involving elderly patients are mostly being reported by local assisted living facilities, Moore said. County health officials confirmed last week that residents and staff at local assisted living facilities had testing positive for COVID-19, although they did not specify how many had tested positive or where. Two assisted living homes in Norton Shores -- Seminole Shores and DaySpring -- reported Wednesday that five residents had died with coronavirus, according to a news release issued by the county. RELATED: New Michigan coronavirus cases up again, highest jump in 9 days The number of positive cases in Oceana County remained at four Thursday, while the total number of deaths remained at one. Newaygo County data remained at 13 positive coronavirus cases and no deaths. In Ottawa County, the number of positive cases jumped from 149 to 161. There was one newly reported death, bringing the total number of deaths to eight. MLive has complete coverage on coronavirus COVID-19, including maps of known cases, at mlive.com/coronavirus. PREVENTION TIPS Michigans State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips: What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases: Always cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or sleeve. Stay home if you are sick and advise others to do the same. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if soap and warm water are not available. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces (computers, keyboards, desks, etc.). Its not too late to get your flu shot! While the influenza vaccine does not protect against COVID-19 infection, it can help keep you healthy during the flu season. For statewide and national information on the virus, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus or CDC.gov/Coronavirus. More on MLive: Thursday, April 23: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan Short-term extension of Michigans stay-at-home order likely necessary to limit coronavirus spread, Whitmer says Whitmer moves to further expand unemployment eligibility during coronavirus crisis Muskegon coronavirus cases weeks away from peak 1. Yes. The downtown area needs a good draw. Some quality taverns would be a plus. 2. Yes. Too many storefronts are vacant. Bars could help to bring in needed revenue. 3. No. Putting a number of bars downtown is just asking for trouble. Dont change things. 4.No. Several churches have located downtown. Putting bars close by would be a bad fit. 5. Unsure. It would depend on how the law is written and what standards are enacted. Vote View Results Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 16:20 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3d8457 1 Books World-Book-Day,literacy,Literature,Perkumpulan-Literasi-Indonesia,online-festival Free Perkumpulan Literasi Indonesia (Indonesian Literacy Association) is celebrating World Book and Copyright Day, which falls on April 23, by conducting a series of online events. Held under the World Book Day 2020 Indonesia Online Festival, 30 events will be streamed on Zoom and YouTube daily at 10 a.m., 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. until May 2, which is known as the countrys National Education Day. Fifty literary figures are involved in the event, including Indonesian author Akmal Nasery Basral. On April 24, he will be featured in a session dubbed Sastra Bencana Sebagai Katarsis di Era Pandemi (Disaster Literature as Catharsis in Pandemic Era) at 4 p.m. Akmals 15th work, Genggam Cinta or Te o Toriatte, is being featured as a series in Indonesian Japanese-language newspaper The Daily Jakarta Shimbun. The novel narrates the story of Meutia Ahmad Sulaiman whose family died in the tsunami that devastated Aceh in 2004. Read also: 9 Indonesian book translations to read on World Book Day Traveler and author Trinity will share her experience in Profesi Penulis yang Enggak Ada Matinya (Writer as A Timeless Profession) on April 25 at 8 p.m. Trinity is the author behind The Naked Traveler book series, which explores her lively traveling experiences to various countries in the world. On April 27 at 8 p.m., film critics Ekky Imanjaya and Hikmat Darmawan will discuss Tujuh Buku Tentang Film (Seven Books about Film). Education and Culture Ministry Culture Director General Hilmar Farid will also deliver his view in the Perbukuan dalam Gerak Pemajuan Kebudayaan (Books in Cultural Advancement) session on May 2 at 8 p.m. The complete schedule of the festival is available on the community's Instagram account. From 2006 to 2011, World Book Day events were held in Indonesia by Forum Indonesia Membaca (Indonesia Reading Forum). This year, while carrying on the World Book Day event from Forum Indonesia Membaca, we want this to be a national-scale tradition to commemorate books and literature, said Wien Muldian, head of Perkumpulan Literasi Indonesia in a statement. However, considering the pandemic, we've planned an online festival where we can interact with as many participants as possible and with wider communities." World Book and Copyright Day was initiated by UNESCO to promote the enjoyment of books and reading. (wir/wng) [April 23, 2020] Web.com Group Launches Partnership Program with Phone.com to Deliver New Business Communications Service JACKSONVILLE, Fla. and NEWARK, N.J., April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Web.com Group , a leading web technology company serving millions of customers around the world, and Phone.com today announced a partnership program featuring a new business communications service purpose-built for mobile professionals. The service provides businesses with the ability to secure the two most critical elements of their brand identity in minutes: a website address and phone number. It is currently available for Web.com and Network Solutions customers. Phone by Web.com , is a dedicated business line including a mobile app that enables professionals to use separate business and personal phone numbers on a single mobile device. The app streamlines both business and personal calls from one device, reducing telecommunications costs and helping SMBs better organize their business. For desktop users, the expanded web app (web.phone.com) allows a user to process messages, faxes and more from a laptop at home or any location. The new offering utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to match relevant phone numbers and domain names, helping businesses make their phone number more memorable. This offering is a unique business communications tool for todays always-on, mobile professional, said Web.com Group CEO and President, Sharon Rowlads. Were always hunting for new ways to simplify life for our customers so providing the ability to address both business and personal calls on a single device was an easy decision once we started looking closely at it. Were thrilled to be able to partner with Phone.com, a forward-thinking company that shares our obsession with supporting small business owners and entrepreneurs. Were excited about the opportunity to forge a partnership with Web.com, said Phone.com CEO, Ari Rabban. Our talented teams have worked together to craft a solution that is ideal for Web.com and Network Solutions customers. Remote work is a crucial aspect of todays business landscape and we are proud to offer a solution that lets users connect from the mobile devices they love while maintaining professionalism and brand identity. Phone by Web.com is easy to install and customers can cancel anytime; unlike traditional phone numbers, there is no contract and no long-term commitment required. For more information visit the partnership program . About Web.com Group Web.com Group is a leading web technology company serving millions of customers around the world. Through our portfolio of brands Network Solutions, Register.com, Web.com, CrazyDomains, Sitebeat, and Vodien we help customers of all sizes build an online presence that delivers results. Web has the breadth of capabilities and depth of knowledge to be your go-to partner in todays always-on digital world. With our extensive product offerings and personalized support, we take pride in partnering with our customers to serve their online presence needs. Learn more at www.web.com . Web.com Group Contact Alex Sheehan Finn Partners 630-479-2237 [email protected] About Phone.com Founded in 2008 by veteran telecommunication entrepreneurs, Phone.com provides more than 32,000 businesses across the U.S and Canada with comprehensive, flexible, and reliable cloud-based communication and collaboration solutions. Phone.coms innovative services, award-winning 24/7 U.S.-based support, coupled with experienced executive leadership and forward-thinking strategic planning, has led to 10 straight years of growth. With over 50 customizable features including audio and video conferencing, call forwarding, voicemail transcription, IVR, vanity and virtual toll-free 800 and local numbers, Phone.coms business VoIP allows you to connect with anyone, anywhere, at any time. Phone.com Contact Mostafa Razzak JMRConnect 202-904-2048 m.raz[email protected] A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/898018c6-0f36-407b-893c-2fff05c6014b [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] UTICA, N.Y. The United States District Court for the Northern District of New York has ruled in favor of the city of Utica and its police officers in a lawsuit regarding a 2015 incident. The claimant, Eric Jackson, accused Utica police officers of using excessive force and wrongfully shooting his dog while executing a no-knock search warrant at 1645 Howard Ave. Utica police say Jacksons pit bull had a history of biting other dogs and people, and attacked officers during the raid. Officers then fired several rounds at the animal, before one bullet went through the dog, ricocheted off the floor and hit Jacksons foot. Jackson was treated immediately, according to police. After this exchange, UPD secured the scene before finding heroin in 96 glassine envelopes. Jackson was arrested, prosecuted and convicted on possession charges. Jackson later filed the lawsuit, claiming officers unconstitutionally shot his dog and used excessive force, which resulted in the gunshot wound to his foot. The United States District Court for the Northern District of New York entered a Memorandum-Decision and Order in favor of the City of Utica and its officers in April 2020. India has acquired enough strength and resources to take on the worst challenge thrown by the coronavirus COVID-19 said Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan on Thursday. Indias response has been proactive, pre-emptive and graded in handling situation arising out of COVID-19 outbreak said Vardhan while participating in a virtual interactive session with Health Ministers of member countries of the World Health Organization (WHO) on the measures being taken for containment of COVID-19. At the outset, he stated, The current situation on COVID-19 in the world is alarming and requires special measures to mitigate the number of casualties. Exhorting the WHO officials, Vardhan said, We are meeting in troubled times and we have to work together by sharing our best practices to eradicate COVID-19. He stated, India was first to respond to COVID -19 and stands on a better footing than the rest of the world because of the valuable and sincere services of our Corona warriors. Referring to the active surveillance efforts made by the Government agencies to monitor potential victims or carriers of the disease, Vardhan said, We know the enemy and its whereabouts. We are able to check this enemy through community surveillance, issuance of various advisories, cluster containment and dynamic strategy. Speaking about how the crisis arising out of COVID-19 has been turned into an opportunity to strengthen the healthcare delivery system in the country, he said, We had only one lab at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) at Pune, to perform tests for COVID-19 initially. During the last three months, we have scaled up the number of government labs to 230 aided by another 87 private labs with more than 16,000 collection centres." "Till now we have tested more than five lakh people for COVID-19. We are going to increase the numbers of government labs to 300 and ramp up our present daily testing capacity of 55,000 to one lakh per day by May 3, he added. Elaborating further on the preparations made by the country to deal with the crisis, he said, The Government has ensured preparedness for high loads of patients in times to come. The Government has classified COVID-19 treatment facilities based on the severity of the disease, into three categories, which are COVID Care Centers for patients with mild symptoms, COVID Health Care Centers for patients with medium symptoms and Dedicated COVID Hospitals for patients with severe symptoms." He added, "These three types of COVID centres are duly mapped to facilitate the transfer of patients as per the severity of the case. We have in all 2,033 dedicated facilities in the country with more than 1,90,000 isolation beds, more than 24,000 ICU beds and more than 12,000 ventilators. All these facilities have been organized within last three months. With the arrival of new Luvatar app, the issue of isolation is significantly - and enjoyably - less problematic for the modern communicator. The avatar based app is now taking the UK and USA by storm, gaining popularity by the day. With the arrival of new Luvatar app (https://www.luvatar.com), the issue of isolation is significantly - and enjoyably - less problematic for the modern communicator. First gathering popularity in South Korea, the Luvatar app has jumped to the top 10 list in Singapore. It doesnt stop there, either! The avatar based app is now taking the UK and USA by storm, gaining popularity by the day. With online communication being the only clear available alternative for those wanting to socialize during lockdown, Luvatar provides a fantastic solution. Whether simply to build friendships, or to connect with someone, there are some great options open to those wanting to find quality connections online. As of overnight, our world has changed beyond recognition. Singles and socials all over the world have suddenly found themselves in lockdown, unable to head out on the dates they were enjoying up until very recently. If meeting new people wasnt an interesting challenge in any ways already, the arrival of the virus certainly hasnt helped matters! During times of social distancing, our connection to the outside world via technology has become more crucial to us than ever. We continue to crave human communication and engagement no matter who we are or what our lifestyle might usually look like. When it comes to dating, connection has never been more important than it is right now. In Luvatar iOS app users start off anonymously by creating their 3D avatars and playing with creative tools such as filter masks. Those who want their luvatars to mirror their look in real life can use a cool face mapping feature that automatically does the job for them. There is a vast collection of clothing available, so it may be easy to get distracted by creating the greatest possible avatar of yourself. From there, users connect with others and now the ball is in their court. They can choose to offer more about themselves, or simply move on to talking to someone new. Its as simple, and as safe, as that! The Luvatar app has been designed to be easy to use. Within moments of downloading, the user can quickly and enjoyably move through the menu options to build an avatar with which to join the Luvatar community. Users can begin anonymously, using the creative tools available to select funky poses, cool looks, and even the latest fresh hairstyles. The community encourages personality, and the app provides access to every tool the user will need to be able to engage with other users in new and unique ways. In the current situation, it can be easy to fall into a mindset of feeling isolated and losing links with the wider community outside of the front door. But things dont have to be that way. By embracing the new technology that is available, there are new options to make connections with others. The journey belongs to the user of the Luvatar app and it is very much directed by each individual enjoying the app. During times of social distancing, our connection to the outside world via technology has become more crucial to us than ever. We continue to crave human communication and engagement no matter who we are or what our lifestyle might usually look like. The freedom that Luvatar can provide during these unprecedented times is very enjoyable. Luvatar is the app that opens a window into a world that is still turning, quarantine or otherwise. It can be embraced as the tool many are looking for to start making connections today. Luvatar app is available at AppStore U.S.A. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/luvatar-social-avatar-app/id1197305956 For media inquiries please contact Anton Bogansky, anton.bogansky@luvatar.com About Luvatar Luvatar is a social avatar app and a welcoming community of 3D avatars. Using the latest technology, it turns your selfie into a realistic 3D character which you can customize the way you want it. Users can create digital versions of themselves & experiment with their looks, share the snapshots of their digital look-alikes, chat and meet new people. Luvatar opens new possibilities in digital communication allowing people to socialize in an open and safe manner regardless of looks, views, preferences and stereotypes. The bright yellow rapeseed flowers that adorn the British countryside have largely disappeared after crops this season failed. The flaxen dandelion - used to make rapeseed oil - is a common sight on farmland in late spring but has suffered a downturn partly due to flea beetle larvae infestations, Farmers Weekly reported. Farmers have struggled to control the pest after the EU banned neonicotinoid seed treatments in rapeseed crops six years ago. A number of hectares of the crop completely failed, and any others that made it through the tough winter months then had to contend with the flea beetle - leading to a very small rapeseed crop. April 2020: Linlithgow Palace looks out over an empty field that in previous years had rapeseed crop April 2017: Linlithgow Palace surrounded by yellow rape seed fields in West Lothian In Britain, Chloe Lockhart, combinable crops adviser with the National Farmers Union, last year said that cabbage stem flea beetle was a 'huge concern'. And last year they had 'near perfect conditions for drilling and still crops are being destroyed'. She added: 'The risk is extreme, it just gets eaten in front of your eyes.' There may yet be an upside for UK farmers as availability of the old crop is fast disappearing. This means if the economy starts to get going there will be demand for the limited new crop - meaning a price hike for those cultivating the crop. And there is likely to be added motivation to buy home-grown products. The crop also had a difficult year in 2018 after a drought hindered the sowing of rapeseed, the European Union's main crop for vegetable oil and biodiesel production, cutting summer 2019's EU rapeseed harvest to a 13-year low. The late afternoon sun shines on a field of rape near the village of Broad Hinton, Avebury, Wiltshire, on May 16 2015 The same field five years later has barely any of the yellow flowering dandelion used to make rapeseed oil In France, the largest EU rapeseed producer, oilseed institute Terres Inovia estimated that the rapeseed sown area for this year's harvest could reach 1.2 million-1.3 million hectares, up from 1.1 million last year. The area harvested last summer was down around 30% from the previous year after drought caused problems with sowing. Issues in the global economy have also affected the harvest. A reduction in the production of biodiesel has meant a sharp increase in the price of rapeseed meal - with average delivered price last week rising 4/t to 285/t. Another rise in the value of distillers' dried grains accompanied this increase - with ethanol production from maize falling in the US. Farmers work with vehicles to prepare a field next to a field of flowering rapeseed near Pontefract on April 23 A cyclist passes a field of flowering rapeseed near Pontefract, northern England, on April 23 The delivered price in the UK for imported maize distillers' grains last week stood at 255/t - down from 262/t the previous week, but still up from 128/t four weeks prior. Analysts from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board suggested the recovery in the price of the pound played a part in holding the price of rapeseed from rising as sharply as they did in mainland Europe. Last September experts predicted that rapeseed sowings in major European producers could increase after a poor summer harvest last year - with restrictions on insecticides causing problems for farmers. Citizens who refuse to wear face masks if ordered by the health ministry will be fined between EGP 300 and EGP 5,000 Egypt's House of Representatives approved Wednesday legislative amendments drafted by Mohamed Al-Amary, head of parliament's health affairs committee, and endorsed by 60 MPs aiming to help the state fight epidemic diseases. According to the draft law's explanatory note, it aims to help Egypt's health authorities take greater precautionary measures to contain the outbreak of coronavirus or any other epidemic diseases. According to Al-Amary, the law is an amendment to the law regulating precautionary measures on the prevention of epidemic diseases Law No 137 of 1958. "The amended law aims to reinforce the capacity of Egypt's health authorities in preventing a mass outbreak of epidemic diseases which present significant danger to public health, such as the coronavirus," said Al-Amary. "The legislative amendment represents a quick response from MPs who want to contain coronavirus infections in a more effective way. According to Al-Amary, recent weeks have shown that the health ministry is in urgent need of greater powers, to help it effectively contain the outbreak. "As a result, I proposed amending articles 25 and 26 of the law on the prevention of epidemic diseases, and also adding three new articles to achieve the objectives required in this respect," said Al-Amary. "First, the law will grant the health minister or health authorities in general the power to make it obligatory for citizens to wear face masks and follow other preventive measures outside the home, once the health minister finds it necessary to help stem the spread of the epidemic," he said. The draft law states that citizens who refuse to wear face masks outside the home will be fined, in line with rules and measures to be levied by the minister of health in this respect. "The health minister will be allowed to compel citizens to wear face masks and other preventive requirements outside homes whenever he/she finds this necessary," said Al-Amary, adding that Decrees in this respect will determine the conditions and rules regulating this matter." "Citizens who violate this will be fined an amount ranging from EGP 300 to EGP 5,000, amendments to article 20 state. The draft law also allows health authorities take the measures necessary to handle the bodies of citizens who die because of epidemic diseases. "The law will state that the bodies of dead patients be buried under health supervision and in a way that prevents the spread of the epidemic and respects the dignity of the dead and religious and social traditions at the same time," said Al-Amary. The two new articles aim at toughening penalties for violating the amended law. Citizens who violate article 23 regarding the rules of burying the corpses of citizens who die because of epidemic diseases, such as the coronavirus, or who block or postpone burial procedures, will be fined an amount ranging from EGP 5,000 to EGP 10,000. Search Keywords: Short link: 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: 263,460 in New York state, including 20,973 deaths. 695,920 total tested. 868,395 in the U.S., including 49,861 deaths. 80,045 recovered. 4,660,250 total tested. 2,704,676 worldwide, including 190,743 deaths. 738,274 recovered. Note: The figures include presumed COVID-19 deaths. The number of positive confirmed cases is cumulative and includes people who have recovered as well as those who died. As of April 23, the 11-county region had 2,160 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 97 deaths. A breakdown of known cases, hospitalizations, recoveries and deaths by county is as follows: Albany 739 cases, 31 hospitalized, 7 in ICU, 401 recovered, 30 deaths Columbia 138 cases, 9 hospitalized, 3 in ICU, 66 recovered, 13 deaths Fulton 28 cases, 2 deaths Greene 106 cases, 51 active, 55 resolved, 3 hospitalized, 5 deaths*** Montgomery 45 cases, 25 recovered, 3 under medical care, 1 death*** Rensselaer 213 cases, 105 recovered, 15 hospitalized, 3 in ICU, 10 deaths Saratoga 293 cases, 10 hospitalized, 122* recoveries, 10 deaths Schenectady 373 cases, 25** hospitalized, 198 recoveries, 15 deaths Schoharie 27 cases, 4 hospitalized, 24 recovered, 1 death*** Warren 115 cases, 4 hospitalized, 63 recovered, 8 deaths Washington 83 cases, 39 recovered, 2 deaths *as of 4/14 **includes all hospitalizations in county, regardless of patients county of residence ***As of 4/22 Additional resources: Where to get tested for COVID-19. 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. Share stories about people helping others in our Facebook Group. Thursday's latest news: 4:31 p.m. Rensselaer County updates COVID-19 cases Rensselaer County reported seven new confirmed COVID-19 cases bringing the county total to 213 residents. The new cases include a fifth death at Diamond Hill nursing facility in Schaghticoke. This makes 10 deaths in the county. Diamond Hill has 18 overall confirmed cases involving residents, seven employees testing positive, including three employees who are county residents. The county has 15 residents hospitalized with three in ICU. The county has about 500 residents in monitor quarantine. There have been 2,250 tests administered to residents. The county has 105 cases cleared for recovery. 3:44 p.m. One death in Rensselaer County Rensselaer County reported a resident at the Diamond Hill nursing home in Schaghticoke has died. from COVID-19. The county has now seen 10 residents die including five at Diamond Hill. 3:26 p.m. Two deaths in Warren County Two more patients died of COVID-19 in Warren County. The county offered little details, other than saying one was a nursing home resident who died in a hospital and the other death was a person who died in a private residence. 3:05 p.m. Schenectady County cases rise The county saw its total number of cases rise to 373. It did not report any additional deaths and did see several more recoveries. 1:40 p.m. Nearly 14 percent who took tests had antibodies of COVID-19 As the state nears 20,000 deaths from the coronavirus, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Thursday revealed preliminary results of statewide antibody testing that began this week that indicates 13.9 percent of the 3,000 who gave blood samples had antibodies associated with COVID-19. The governor said the latest data indicates 2.7 million people have been infected statewide an infection rate of about 13.9 percent which means the rate of fatalities from the infectious disease is about 0.5 percent. Read more ___ 8:50 p.m.: Albany County sheriff distributing masks Thursday at ShopRite stores The Albany County Sheriff's Office is dropping off boxes of face masks at two ShopRite grocery stores on Central Avenue Wednesday. Sheriff Craig Apple says people can pick up masks starting at noon at the chain's stores in Albany and Colonie. Two masks will be included in each pack. Apple encourages people to take masks only if they have no other source. Medical experts and the state urge people to wear face masks when they cannot practice social distancing in confined spaces during the coronavirus pandemic. ___ 7:25 a.m.: Cohoes mayor: Big budget cuts regrettable, but responsible Mayor Bill Keeler said staff reductions, program cuts, and proposed 2020 budget cuts must be made to offset major revenue shortfalls resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. It means temporary staff furloughs, staff reductions based on attrition and cancellation of contracts, he said. Read more ___ 6:41 a.m.: COVID-19 community test sites limited to Albany, Warren counties The 543,876 people living in Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady counties, the majority of the Capital Regions population, are in between drive-through coronavirus test sites in Albany and Warren counties. Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin on Wednesday renewed his request for help setting up a test site in his county. Albany Countys multiple testing sites are a combination of local, state and federal efforts. County Executive Dan McCoy said he and other county officials made an early decision to ensure they could get as many tests as possible from various sources. We worked extremely hard to get testing up. We set up a variety of things and if we had a lead, we just kept following it. At the end of the day, I wanted to make sure we had the testing up and established, McCoy said. Read more ___ 6:15 a.m. Hundreds line up for food bank at Schenectady County Community College Hundreds of cars lined up Wednesday at Schenectady County Community College where volunteers filled the trunks of vehicles with free food. The three-hour effort was a partnership of the local government, food bank and a charity. Once motorists pulled up to the front of the line and popped their trunks, volunteers at several stations in the parking lot of the college dropped the food items in the back of the vehicle. Read more ___ Wednesday Gillibrand calls McConnell's comments reprehensible Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, said Wednesday night that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's comments today on hitting the pause button on further federal emergency legislation, and that cities and states should declare bankruptcy, are utterly reprehensible. Mitch McConnell eagerly passed billions in tax breaks for wealthy companies and made sure to take care of big companies and the airlines last month, but now he is telling struggling Americans to take their $1200 check and keep quiet. It is utterly infuriating that McConnell is telling American cities and states to go bankrupt, as millions fall behind on their rent and mortgages and face food insecurity." ___ Wednesday: One more death in Schenectady County The death toll in the county from COVID-19 is now up to 15 people. A total of 358 individuals have tested positive for the coronavirus, with 693 under quarantine, and 170 in isolation. So far, 172 people have recovered while 27 have ended up in the hospital as a result of the virus. ___ Wednesday: Columbia County sees 9th nursing home death County Public Health Director Jack Mabb said Wednesday that a ninth resident of the Pine Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Philmont has died after becoming infected with the novel coronavirus. The nursing home has been battling an outbreak since March. To date, 30 residents and 12 members of staff have tested positive for the virus, Mabb said. The only other known cases at long-term care facilities in the county are at the Livingston Hills Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Livingston, which had two cases as of Tuesday. ___ Wednesday: Albany Med says 88 employees have tested positive to date Albany Medical Center executives said Tuesday that 88 members of their staff have tested positive for the novel coronavirus since the pandemic hit the region. The hospital system which has about 10,000 employees has tested 772 staff members for the virus, meaning the percent positive among those being tested stands at about 12 percent. Half of the employees whove tested positive have recovered and are back to work, said Fred Venditti, hospital general director. About one-third of the cases were connected to on-the-job work, and the rest were acquired in the community, he said. ___ Wednesday: State Comptroller predicts major money loss Tom DiNapoli appeared with Albany County Executive Dan McCoy on Wednesday, saying the virus could cause a revenue hit of between $10 billion and $15 billion. ___ Read more updates from Wednesday MEDFORD, Ore--- The Springs at Anna Maria and Veranda Park in Medford are only allowing "essential visitors" during the coronavirus pandemic. The goal is to keep COVID-19 away from the most vulnerable age group by keeping the virus outside of the buildings. According to The Springs Living, it is working. The Springs Living owns 12 senior living facilities in Oregon. The Springs Living founder and CEO Fee Stubblefield says that the company watches over 1,948 senior residents. Of those, one resident has tested positive for COVID-19. That positive test occurred at The Springs at Lake Oswego in Portland. Stubblefield said that person is now in good condition. "For the vast majority, I think that we are going to see that senior housing care has kept people safe through this," said Stubblefield. If you know someone that lives in one of these facilities, it can be frustrating to not be able to visit that loved one. However, Stubblefield bragged about the community's cooperation through these hard times. "Listen, family members care very deeply about not risking the safety of our residents and their parents. They care. They care more than anybody," said Stubblefield. During this time when you can't visit the residents, The Springs has made it a priority to keep those residents connected to family and to each other. "You would be surprised at the innovations that are out there, and there are ways that we are connecting. We have concerts happening in our courtyards. Where people come out on the balconies," said Stubblefield. The Springs Living shared photos with NewsWatch 12 of residents at The Springs at Veranda Park bowling in the hallways, making sock monkeys on Easter, and having video calls with family members. The Springs is also participating in the "Stop the Drop" campaign. It is a reminder to caretakers and residents that they wear masks out of respect. "It is a sign of respect when we cover our face with the face coverings. We are saying "It does not necessarily protect us, but it protects the other person." We are saying "We love you. We want to protect you. We are going to cover our face so that if we are asymptomatic positive, we are not going to harm you," said Stubblefield. Stubblefield remains optimistic about what results can be produced if the people of Oregon keep social distancing in the near future. "Wouldn't it be grand, if another two to three weeks, this summer, sometime when authorities feel it is appropriate, that we have significantly less deaths and impact than projected? Wouldn't that be grand? That would be the best possible outcome of this." The order applies to those applying for permanent residence from outside the US, not those already in the country. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an order to temporarily block some immigrants from permanent residence in the United States, saying he was doing so in order to protect American workers during the coronavirus pandemic. The order, which was immediately slammed by immigrant advocates and lawyers, is set to last for 60 days and then will be reviewed and possibly extended. Some critics saw Republican Trumps announcement as a move to take advantage of the coronavirus crisis to implement a long-sought policy goal of barring more immigrants ahead of the November 3 election. In order to protect our great American workers I have just signed an executive order temporarily suspending immigration into the United States. This will ensure that unemployed Americans of all backgrounds will be first in line for jobs as our economy reopens, Trump said at his daily news conference about the coronavirus at the White House. He also said it will preserve our healthcare resources for American patients afflicted by the coronavirus. White House lawyers worked all day to craft the language for the order, prompting some officials to say the signing might have to wait for Thursday. But aides described Trump as eager to sign the document. Trump won the presidency in 2016 in part on a promise to crack down on immigration, and has made the issue central to his presidency. But many of his major moves trying to curb immigration have been challenged in court and legal experts said this executive order could also face lawsuits. Wednesdays order would only apply to people applying for permanent residence from outside the US, not those already in the country seeking to adjust their status. The measure also limits the ability of current green card holders to sponsor their extended families. Several exemptions apply, however. Trump said the order initially would last for 60 days and could be renewed for the same period or longer, and that a second immigration-focused order was under consideration. A person familiar with the internal debate at the White House said Trump and his advisers had discussed the executive order over the weekend and that the move was directed at his electoral base. Hes wanted this all along, the person said. But now under this pandemic he can absolutely do it. Separates families Immigration lawyers representing businesses and other advocates expressed opposition to Trumps plan earlier on Wednesday, arguing it would only further depress the economy and separate families. Doug Rand, who worked in the Obama administration and is also the founder of Boundless Immigration, a tech company helps individuals navigate the immigration process, wrote that far and away the primary immediate impact [of the order] is that parents will be separated from their children, for no legitimate economic or public health purpose. He added that if the order were to be in place for years it will favour immigrants from Western Europe relative to other regions of the world, since they are more likely to be exempt. Trump's immigration ban applies only to *green card applicants outside the United States.* Exemptions: Spouses & minor children of US citizens Special Immigrant Visas EB-5 investor visas Temporary visas of any kind And surprise! It favors W. Europeans:https://t.co/qlIPK3hg2s Doug Rand (@doug_rand) April 22, 2020 Michael Clemens, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Center for Global Development, said prior to the final text of the order being released that a range of industries would be hurt, including ones that are critical during a public health emergency such as food processing, warehousing, shipping, eldercare, childcare, communication and technology. Many of those jobs are filled by immigrants and the family members they reunite with from abroad, he said. Immigrants are the backbone of these industries, Clemens said. Most US immigration services are largely already on pause due to the crisis, but immigration lawyers including those representing financial and tech firms around the country fielded calls on Wednesday from applicants and employers worried about the possible order. Democrats and immigrant advocates have criticised the new policy as an attempt to distract from Trumps response to the coronavirus pandemic as he seeks re-election in November. Some amounted the order to xenophobic scapegoating. More than 45,000 people in the US have died because of the virus the highest death toll of any country. Frank Sharry, executive director of Americas Voice, a liberal immigration reform group, said that the order was more about grabbing a headline than changing immigration policy. Sharry said that to him, the order smacks of an electoral strategy, not a policy change, and it smacks of desperation and panic. Some immigration hawks criticised the order, as described by Trump on Tuesday, for not going far enough. It doesnt apply to guest workers, which are perhaps the most immediate threat to US workers, said Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, which backs lower levels of legal immigration. A model who can no longer wear high-heels after plunging off a cliff during a 'water-inspired' photoshoot has tried to sue her Sydney-based former agency. Michelle Nihill fell four metres off Blue Fish Point at North Head, on the northern beaches, during an unpaid gig with Vivien's Model and Theatrical Management on November 18, 2015. The 23-year-old was the subject of a 'water inspired shoot' with photographer Kane Lehanneur for her portfolio when she slipped sideways off a 30cm wide ledge, Wentworth Courier reported. Michelle Nihill has tried to sue a Sydney-based agency after falling off a cliff during a 'water-inspired' photoshoot The 23-year-old fell four metres during an unpaid gig with Vivien's Model and Theatrical Management on November 18, 2015 Ms Nihill landed on rocks below and was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital, where she stayed for two weeks. She fractured her pelvis and the heel bone on both feet, as well as suffering a 'likely lumbar spinal injury', Sydney District Court Judge John Hatzistergos heard. Ms Nihill stayed in a wheelchair for about three months after her release from hospital and then spent an additional three months at physiotherapy to 'learn to walk again'. Following the accident, she has been unable to wear heels, stilettos or wedges and has instead been forced to opt for sneakers and sandals. Ms Nihill also suffered from anxiety and post traumatic stress disorder in the wake of the fall, where she experienced flashbacks and dreams of 'falling'. The 23-year-old told the court she advised her photographer as well as videographer Tyler Bell she did not want to climb down the cliff for a photoshoot but felt it was required of her. The photoshoot took place at Blue Fish Point at North Head, on the Northern Beaches (pictured). The model fell four metres Ms Nihill landed on rocks below and was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital, where she stay for two weeks 'I feel that I need to do the job because that's what I've been booked for and as I said before, it's my passion, it's my dream job to do that which is why and then as I said yesterday, I put my trust in who I'm with the ensure I'm safe,' she said. The pair said they don't remember Ms Nihill expressing concerns about proceeding with the climb but they recalled advising her 'she'd be fine' for a climb they'd done 'many times before'. Mr Lehanneur said: 'I said we were going to go to the rock pools I said the path is going to be treacherous and if she didn't want to do anything on the day then she didn't have to and we could take the shoot somewhere else if need be.' Now working part time as an early educator, Ms Nihill told the court it isn't her passion and she would rather work as a model. But according to a report by Priscilla's Model Management director Priscilla Leighton-Clark, 'this model would not have had a fruitful career'. The report explained Ms Nihill made $1,300 in the year ending June 2014, $4,634 the year later and $2,759 the year after that. But she also received an offer for representation from Only About Models in Korea, which she considered relocating for. Ms Nihill's claim was dismissed by Judge Hatzistergos and she was ordered to pay the agency's costs. Thursday, April 23rd, 2020 (1:00 pm) - Score 6,919 The FTTH Council Europe has today published their annual 2020 ranking, which lists the countries with the strongest subscriber penetration of full fibre (FTTP/H/B) ultrafast broadband ISP networks. The good news is that the United Kingdom continues to claw its way up and is no longer at the very bottom. Just to recap. Last years ranking was in fact the first official one in which the UK even appeared, albeit right at the very bottom. Since then the rate of build has continued to strengthen and at the end of 2019 we reported that some 11% of UK premises were within reach of a Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based network (here), which is roughly double where we stood a year earlier. NOTE: This years ranking is largely based on data from before the Coronavirus crisis. Much of this improvement has been fostered over the past 3 years by the Governments increasing support for gigabit-capable networks, such as via their business rates holiday on new fibre, connection vouchers, various other funding schemes (here) and regulatory changes via Ofcom to help support investment (here). A further 5bn has also been pledged to help bring gigabit services to every home by the end of 2025 (here). Weve also seen a significant increase in competition between full fibre ISPs over that same period (Cityfibre, Hyperoptic, Gigaclear, Community Fibre, G.Network etc.), which has helped to drive the market forward at a pace never before seen in the UK (2020 Summary of UK Full Fibre Builds). At present most of these are commercial deployments in urban areas, while the Governments future 5bn will boost rural builds. Suffice to say that the ever increasing deployment pace of full fibre has helped to pull the United Kingdom up from the bottom of the councils ranking table, which reports that we now have a market penetration rate of 2.8% (up from 1.3% last year) and a take-up rate of 18.2% (up from 13.1% last year). Oddly though they also state that the UK had FTTP/B coverage of 15.1% in September 2019, which is well above Ofcoms own figures and thus seems incorrect for that particular period (its possible they may not be factoring overbuild correctly or have included areas that were built, but not yet live for customers). As a result of the rapid roll-out weve now leapfrogged over both Serbia and Austria, although theres clearly still a VERY long way left to go. Nevertheless its easy to see why weve able to make some real progress, which is largely due to the recorded growth rate of 50.8% (+1.4 million extra premises) in the last year. Germany, which has a similar infrastructure setup to the UK, and Croatia now look like two potential targets for the UK to leapfrog in next years ranking. Admittedly though that will very much depend upon the impact of the COVID-19 crisis upon build rates. We also do reasonably when when looking at a smaller selection of countries and using the number of total subscribers. Overall the total number of homes passed with Fibre to the Home (FTTH/B) style broadband ISP networks in the EU39 reached nearly 172 million, compared to 160 million in 2018, with now 19 countries counting more than 2 million homes passed each. The main movers in terms of homes passed in absolute numbers are France (+3.5 million), Italy (+1.9m) and Spain (+1.5m). The top 5 of the annual growth rates in terms of homes passed is headed by Belgium (+307%), Ireland (+70.4%), Switzerland (+69.1%), the United Kingdom (+50.8%) and Germany (33.5%). Interestingly alternative network (altnet) ISPs (e.g. Cityfibre, Hyperoptic etc.) are still constituting the largest part of FTTH/B players, with a contribution of around 56% of the total fibre expansion, while 41% of homes are passed by former incumbent operators. Erzsebet Fitori, Director General of the FTTH Council Europe, said: Uubiquitous and reliable digital infrastructure has never played such a crucial role as today connecting families, enabling business activities and working from home. Very high capacity connectivity is not only mission critical in times of crisis but will also be fundamental for economic recovery and the transition towards a sustainable, green EU economy. Competitive investments in very high capacity networks should, therefore, remain a high political priority and we look forward to working with the EU institutions, national governments and NRAs towards removing bureaucratic and other barriers from the way of network deployment. Access to very high capacity networks faster and more cost efficiently benefits everyone! Much as we said last year, its still early days for the UK and for the time being most of our fixed broadband connections will continue to be dominated by cheaper and often slower hybrid fibre solutions (e.g. FTTC [VDSL2] / G.fast and HFC DOCSIS), probably for quite a few years to come. Plus theres always the chance that 5G could throw a spanner into the works by undercutting FTTP in some areas as an alternative broadband product, but that has yet to be proven. On top of that its worth noting that the Governments new 2025 target for gigabit-capable broadband is no longer prescribing full fibre as the only solution, which means that it can also be achieved via other technologies like Hybrid Fibre Coax based DOCSIS (cable networks) and fixed wireless connectivity (e.g. 5G). As such there is no longer any clarity as to when the UK might achieve universal coverage of FTTP, if ever. Despite the above change, were still advised that full fibre remains the Governments primary technology of choice, even though other methods may now be used to help achieve the latest coverage ambition. But for now the pace of new FTTP going into the ground remains rapid, although once again we suspect that the COVID-19 crisis might temporarily slow this growth during 2020 (mostly due to staff/engineering shortages). Otherwise its worth highlighting that country-to-county comparisons never tell the whole story. For example, some countries have funded the deployment of fibre almost entirely from public money, while offering very little in the way of competition (e.g. consumer choice of ISPs). Meanwhile many other countries see a significantly larger proportion of people living in big apartment blocks (e.g. Spain, Portugal), which are a lot cheaper to reach. On the whole its good to see the UK making progress, although theres no escaping the fact that our late arrival still means that many other countries will have reached the finish line long before weve even got to the halfway point. Residents in Madagascar have formed long queues to pick up bottles of herbal tea that they have been told is a cure for coronavirus. Madagascars president, Andry Rajoelina, said tests have been carried out on the drink and that it gives results in seven days claims which have been strongly rejected by medical experts. Further claiming that two people had already been cured, Rajoelina added: "Schoolchildren should be given this to drink... little by little throughout the day. Video footage from Madagascar shows people lining up to be given the drink, that has been labelled Covid-Organics, free of charge. Long queues formed in Madagascar for what the president said was a coronavirus 'cure'. (YouTube/AFP) A woman in Madagascar said she was drinking the tea after advice from the president. (YouTube/AFP) One person said: The president says this remedy cures and we trust him so we drink it. Another added: When I discovered this drink, I hesitated as a parent. I said to myself: 'How come sick people don't drink it, and why do we make students drink it?' I hesitated a lot. 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 The World Health Organization (WHO) have dismissed the claims that the drink has the potential to damage peoples health as its "scientific evidence had not been established". The herbal drink is produced from the artemisia plant the source of an ingredient used in a malaria treatment as well as other Malagasy plants. The bottles of herbal tea were given out free to the vulnerable. (YouTube/AFP) Madagascar's president said the tonic should be given to schoolchildren throughout the day. (YouTube/AFP) No deaths have so far been reported out of 121 cases on Madagascar, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The herbal tea is the latest product that misleadingly claims to either offer protection for, or cure, coronavirus. Faith healer Bishop Climate Wiseman was criticised earlier this month for selling a plague protection kit for 91. Bishop Wiseman, the head of the Kingdom Church in Camberwell, south London, promised his followers the small bottle of oil and piece of red yarn will protect them from COVID-19. Story continues Other unsubstantiated claims have been widely spread online including one that suggested garlic would prevent someone catching coronavirus. The WHO acknowledged that garlic provided health benefits but denied there was any evidence that it offered any extra protection during the pandemic. Another theory touted on Facebook, that quotes a Japanese doctor was drinking water every 15 minutes to flush out the virus. One claim online suggested that eating garlic would prevent someone getting coronavirus. (Getty) This was also debunked by Professor Trudie Lang at the University of Oxford, who said "no biological mechanism that supported the theory. In January, YouTuber Jordan Sather claimed that MMS a miracle mineral supplement that contains bleaching agent chlorine dioxide can wipe out coronavirus. However, various health agencies have warned that drinking MMS could be dangerous. Several other countries have offered up their own cure claims including in Mexico, where Puebla state governor Miguel Barbosa said a mix of turkey and mole, a traditional Mexican marinade, was a vaccine. A Hindu group in India urged worshippers to drink cow urine to ward off COVID-19. (Getty) Meanwhile Hindu group in India hosted a party where worshippers were encouraged to drink cow urine to battle coronavirus. In Turkmenistan, president Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov claimed inhaling smoke from a burning desert-region plant called Peganuma harmala could beat coronavirus, while Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko claimed driving tractors was the answer. One other fake story spread on social media was that taking cocaine would cure someone of coronavirus. The French government was forced to put out a statement saying cocaine was not a cure, saying: "Cocaine does NOT protect against COVID-19. It is an addictive drug that causes serious side effects and is harmful to people's health." Coronavirus: what happened today Click here to sign up to the latest news, advice and information with our daily Catch-up newsletter Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK A mother-of-three discovered she was pregnant with twins after waking up from an induced coma whilst battling COVID-19. Danielle Martin, 32, initially had a sore throat which worsened but she never thought it would be the deadly virus until she began to feel as though she was 'suffocating' on March 30. She was rushed into hospital and was diagnosed with pneumonia but tests revealed it was corona virus on April 1. Danielle Martin from Belfast, pictured with her three sons, Jaiden, 9, Parker, 3 and Joshua, 2, discovered she was expecting twins after being released from a Covid-19 ward Ms Martin, pictured with her partner Bryan Green, right, called him to tell him about the twins. Mr Green thought Ms Martin was hallucinating Ms Martin has shared an image of the scan showing her growing twin babies After ten days in an induced coma, Ms Martin's sadness turned to joy as she was informed by medics that she is expecting twins. Ms Martin said: 'At first, I just had a sore throat which led to a bad chest and I thought it must be a chest infections but I could barely breath after six days. 'It felt like I was suffocating so Bryan decided to call an ambulance who came within five minutes and took me away - I was terrified. 'I felt bad leaving my boys but I knew it was for the best - they did scans and diagnosed me with severe pneumonia. 'I was put on a ventilator which helped and I was managing - I was struggling to breath and talk - it was terrifying.' Overnight, Ms Martin took a turn for the worst and her oxygen levels dropped leaving medics with no choice but to put her into an induced coma. Danielle says her time in hospital was a 'blur' and her partner Bryan Green, 32, refers to the traumatic ordeal as a 'living nightmare'. He said: 'It is crazy how quick things can take a turn for the worse - one day Danielle was sending me photos telling me about the toast she is eating in hospital and then the next she is in ICU. 'The doctor rang to say her oxygen had dropped and she's been put into an induced coma - I was devastated and worried sick. Ms Martin said her oxygen levels fell dangerously low before her admission to hospital Mr Green, pictured with his family, said it was difficult to explain to his sons what was happening when his partner was taken away in an ambulance Ms Martin said she was confused and agitated when she came around from the coma 'It was so hard trying to explain to our sons Jaiden, nine, Parker, three and Joshua, two, where mummy is as they had watched her go in the ambulance from the window. 'I had to put on a brave face and reassure them she will be fine and be home in no time. 'The hospital rang me daily with updates but it was always up and down - one day it would be good news and the next bad. 'I was hoping she would pull through with all my heart.' Ms Martin was nine weeks pregnant but she didn't know she was expecting twins. Mr Green, who is a security gaurd, adds: 'The doctor rang to say Danielle was spotting and it was highly unlikely if the baby would survive as it was still very early in the pregnancy. 'It was a living nightmare knowing she is fighting for her life and our unborn baby too. 'But thankfully, we started to receive some good news - she was getting better and they are weaning her off the ventilator. Mr Green has opened a GoFundMe account to help raise money for local NHS services 'She was put onto the ward for a few days to rest before coming home which was the best news I had heard - I couldn't wait to have her back. 'Once she was out of ICU and on a ward, she rang me to tell me both babies are fine - I was like "both?" at first I thought maybe she is still a little confused from everything she had been through. 'But when she said twins, I was so happy and grinning from ear to ear.' Ms Martin hadn't been out for ten days prior to catching the virus says she feels 'incredibly lucky' to have survived corona virus but warns others to stay at home as it 'could happen to anyone.' She adds: 'I woke up feeling very confused an agitated from the coma but once I had came round, I was extremely grateful. 'I was in disbelief when they told me about the twins - it was the cherry on top of the cake knowing I had beat coronavirus and have twins on the way! 'It is a random way to find out you're expecting two babies but at least we will be able to remember something good about this horrible time. 'I am recovering with plenty of rest and hoping my friends and family are doing the same.' Mr Green has set up a fundraiser for Nightingale hospital to give something back after they helped his partner and unborn babies, to donate click here. Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto has said food is now cheap in Ghana despite the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus in the country. In recent times, due to the outbreak, there have been complaints of hikes in prices of foodstuff due to the pandemic. But commenting on the alleged price hikes at the Meet the Press session today, Thursday, April 23, 2020, Dr. Akoto said there are food surpluses in the system attributing the fete on governments Planting for Food and Jobs programme. The hike in food prices, I think we all recognize that only four years ago, a bunch of plantains, you had to spend GHS40 but now with GHS3 to GHS6, you can get a bunch of plantains. It shows you clearly that we have come to reduce prices of food even in the major cities like Accra where there is substantial rushes in the markets. Most families who could not afford one meal a day can now afford three meals a day because food is so cheap and we will continue to ensure that planting for food and jobs will deliver even more food to areas of consumption to makes lives very easy for families in consuming areas, the Minister noted. In any case, we are talking about three million producers of farm produce, hundreds of thousands of traders, small and large, and in the market, you see the teeming numbers of market women and men. So how do you go about controlling prices? I think that an open pricing system that this government is following shows the kind of confidence that we have that we will able to supply food to the markets for consumers at a very reasonable price and this is what is happening. I dont think anybody can complain in this country that that food is expensive, the Minister added. Ghana has enough food Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto also said Ghana has enough food in store despite the outbreak of COVID-19 in Ghana. Although he didn't state the period Ghana's stock could last for, he said farmers in the country continue to produce enough, with the support of the government. He said the country was producing in excess of its consumption capacity and that the challenge since 2018 has been how to manage the surpluses. In the few days before the lockdown, the instant hike in prices, and people falling over themselves in the market to get stocks to their homes. I did say after the lockdown that there is no need for it because we have plenty of food. The success of planting for food and jobs have been so instant that h the problem that we are facing in this country since 2018 has been how do we manage the surplus because, on-farm the Ghanaian farmer has proven beyond doubt that with the right support from the government, they will deliver and they are delivering. They are providing surpluses which are increasing every year. That has been the in the last three years, Dr. Afriyie Akoto said. GUTA warns of possible shortage of goods, price hikes over Coronavirus The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) had earlier raised alarm over the possible shortage of goods in Ghana by May 2020 following the spread of the deadly coronavirus. According to GUTA, prices of goods in the country may also go up following the shortage of goods on the international market. ---citinewsroom Of the dozens of funerals hes presided over since coronavirus ripped through New York state, killing more than 15,000 residents and infecting more than 263,000 and ravaging the Jewish Orthodox community in particular Rabbi Levi Gurkov was struck by one ceremony. Gurkov, who leads Chabad of Oceanside, an Orthodox synagogue on the south shore of Long Island, didnt want to give details about the mid-60s widow, insistent that she be allowed to process her grief privately. But he cant stop thinking about how alone she was, mourning the loss of her husband in a solitary, heartbreaking manner. This woman, there was no one there to give her support, Gurkov recalled. Her very good friend couldnt come to the funeral because she was worried about exposing herself, her children were quarantined in another state, other friends and family were in the hospital. She was just all by herself. Rabbi Levi Gurkov, who leads Chabad of Oceanside, an Orthodox synagogue on the south shore of Long Island, works as a volunteer at the Chevra Kadisha, a Jewish burial society. He's averaged five funerals a day during the coronavirus pandemic. He described a piercing loneliness in the room, a shattering, solitary grief that was made worse by how singular it was, because it fell solely on the shoulders of the widow, and Gurkov, who couldnt even offer the woman a hug. Im trying my best to be there for families, but His voice trailed off. The grief is overwhelming, he said. It feels endless. Faith leaders have had to shift roles Gurkov joked that hes now a part-time health administrator, distributing glove and masks anytime people do attend funerals and making sure everyone stays at least 6 feet apart. They try to answer deep, theological questions about the afterlife from panicked congregants. Because of orders that limit the number of people at funerals and require physical distance between residents, many death and burial rituals have been modified. An act of God?: Faith leaders debate tough questions amid coronavirus pandemic Both Judaism and Islam instruct believers to bury bodies as soon as possible, typically within 24 hours of death. Bodies are claimed from morgues or hospitals immediately (cremation is strictly forbidden in Islam and traditionally forbidden in Judaism) and washed before burial. In a world where stay-at-home orders are commonplace, thats not always possible. Story continues In Long Island, Gurkov said at least one prominent funeral home said it wont do Jewish burials in an effort to protect its employees. That ritual includes wrapping the body in linen and making sure the body is watched until its put in the ground. Typically, the deceased are never left alone. The number of bodies makes that almost logistically impossible now, Gurkov said. Gurkov works as a volunteer at the Chevra Kadisha, a Jewish burial society made up of volunteers who prepare bodies for burial using the utmost respect and care as mandated by Jewish law, according to Gurkov. To perform this work, he protects himself with a hazmat suit and the proper headgear. Hes been busy, averaging five funerals a day. Although Gurkov has yet to counsel a family thats been unable to obtain a Jewish funeral, he knows other Jewish societies and rabbis across the world are dealing with that very problem, and the anguish that accompanies it. The Gerard Neufeld funeral home in Queens, N.Y., has been overwhelmed by the number of deceased needing funeral services during the coronavirus pandemic. Gurkov is adamant that theres no reason for anyone to worry that God will be angry about a modified ritual. Gurkov hears from loved ones left behind that theyre desperate to do the right thing and heartbroken to think they might let down a loved one whos died. There's anguish that they might shortchange someone's soul. Gurkov tries his best to comfort them from a distance. I want those people to know, that Im holding their hand virtually through this, and so is God, he said. I tell them that their fears are understood, but they shouldnt beat themselves up. There is nothing to fear. Whatever anybody is able to do at this time, if its the best we can do, thats whats warranted. God understands this is not in our control. In Washington, Imam Johari Abdul-Malik gives Muslims the same message that a modified burial will not affect the afterlife, and Muslims should not be anxious for those who have died. He aches for people who lost a loved one and are forced to mourn by themselves. For the most part, funerals are not about or for people who died, Abdul-Malik said. Theyre for the people who remain. The ability to collegially grieve is really important. Not being able to provide that comfort for people is gutting. 'We hear you, Dad': A daughter stays on phone for hours as her father dies alone In Islam, Abdul-Malik explained, public viewings of the dead are traditionally discouraged, but immediate family washes the body a great honor within the faith and dresses it in shrouds. Then Muslims pray the Janazah, the funeral prayer asking God to pardon the deceased and all other Muslims. Included in the prayer is the line To Allah we belong, and to Allah we shall return. According to Abdul-Malik, the Quran says having three rows of people praying the Janazah is a great blessing. In the age of coronavirus, when remains are delivered in a double-sealed plastic bag which means theres no opportunity to view a loved one and when funerals are limited to 10 people or less, these things are not possible, which compounds grief. People who lose someone in any manner, coronavirus-related or not, often feel guilty, Abdul-Malik said. One way to compensate for that guilt can be to hold a giant funeral. These days, thats not happening. These losses, Abdul-Malik said, are on so many levels. The past few weeks, as death tolls have risen, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nations largest Muslim advocacy and civil rights group, started hosting daily video chats addressing various coronavirus topics, including how to deal with burial and funeral rituals and restrictions. Omar Rodriguez and Ray Neufeld move a body in the Gerard Neufeld funeral home in Queens on April 22 in New York City. On March 20, Imam Suhaib Webb explained that although Islams burial rituals are typically considered a communal obligation, theres an overriding principle in the faith that if people performing those acts are put in danger, the rituals can be dropped or modified. As for the notion that Muslims might be ashamed they cant follow through with their traditions, Webb said imams and other leaders need to be in the role of ministers, not lawgivers, and focus on caring for those in mourning, not scolding them for something they cant control. In Los Angeles, thats been the focus of Amy Bernstein, senior rabbi at Kehillat Israel, a 1,000-family synagogue, who serves as the president of the Board of Rabbis of Southern California. Shes concerned about people dying, but mostly shes been thinking about those left behind. Yes, its sad that dead are not being honored, but the real tragedy for us as a people is that the moment of the burial, we shift to comforting the mourners, Bernstein said. Rituals around death are really powerful for all cultures. Theyre huge transitional points and right now, whats really being stripped away is the ability to sit and grieve together. We are pack animals; were not designed to do most things alone. Jewish funeral homes in Los Angeles have limited burials services to 10 people, putting larger families in agonizing positions. How do you choose who makes the cut and whos left at home? For liberal Jews, theres a lack of pallbearers. Typically at a Jewish burial, pallbearers lower the casket into the ground, then loved ones shovel earth onto the casket and pass the shovel around. Now, theres no shoveling and no shovels, which means no final ritual. Its awful to hear that thud of dirt on the casket, but thats also the first step of closure, Bernstein said. Everyone shovels, because it is our responsibility. To just leave the body above ground, that is not Jewish. The struggle for mourners, Bernstein emphasized, is emotional, spiritual and psychological. Sitting shiva wasnt designed to be done via Zoom. It takes a toll on everyone, she said, and shes preparing for it to get worse in the coming week. In Judaism, its not traditional for a rabbi to be called to the bedside of a dying person, though thats common in Catholicism, when priests are asked to anoint the sick often referred to as last rites and hear a final confession. In Kirkland, Washington, where the first U.S. coronavirus fatalities were reported, Father Kurt Nagel was ready to receive a lot of those calls. The lead pastor of Holy Family Parish has been summoned only once to Evergreen Health, the hospital where all critical Kirkland patients went. Hes kept busy the past few weeks assuring congregants that even if their loved ones werent able to receive last rites, that doesnt mean theyre going to hell. Members of a family and a priest attend a funeral ceremony on April 20 in a church in Saint-Orens-de-Gameville, southern France. The afterlife is between a deceased individual and God, Nagel said, and its not for him or any other human to speculate on what happened to a particular person. Nagel is concerned about those left behind but points out that because Catholics dont have any rules or rituals tied to when someone needs to be buried or memorialized, most are waiting for social distancing to lift before holding funerals. Hes presided over only two funerals and anointed one person in the ICU. Nagel was called to the beside of a sick senior citizen at the Life Care Center where the first fatalities in the American outbreak were reported. The person he anointed was believed to be dying of heart disease, but it was later determined that she died of coronavirus. Nagel had to self-quarantine for 14 days. In his absence, the Holy Family assistant pastor was ready to step in and provide comfort to anyone he could from a distance of at least 6 feet. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus forces religions to modify death, burial rituals There is a healthy way to make coffee. (Getty Images) Theres nothing better than a morning coffee, or so we thought. A healthier version of our morning coffee with no impact on taste, of course sounds great, and now, thanks to scientists, that is a possibility. Researchers looked at how a coffee should brewed in order to decrease the risk of heart attacks and death. They concluded that filtered coffee is the healthiest for us. Read more: Coffee increases your ability to problem solve, study finds The research, published today in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, found that unfiltered coffee contains substances which increase blood cholesterol. Using a filter removes these and makes heart attacks and premature death less likely. study author Professor Dag S Thelle of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, said. Thirty years ago, Prof Thelle discovered that drinking coffee was linked with raised total cholesterol and the bad low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol. As a result of his research, he believes that the level of bad cholesterol in coffee could have detrimental consequences for heart health. Read more: Weve been making our coffee wrong for decades, scientists say We wondered whether this effect on cholesterol would result in more heart attacks and death from heart disease. But it was unethical to do a trial randomising people to drink coffee or not. So we set up a large population study and several decades later we are reporting the results, ProfThelle explained. The study looked at the 508,747 healthy men and women aged 20 to 79 and asked participants to fill in a questionnaire indicating the type of coffee they consumed. Smoking, education, physical activity, height, weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol were also taken into consideration to limit outside factors. The people were followed for an average of 20 years, in which time 46,341 people died 12,621 due to cardiovascular diseases. Read more: Scientists reveal why we feel so tired in the morning Story continues Overall, coffee drinking wasnt seen as a dangerous habit. In fact, drinking filtered coffee was seen as a healthier option than drinking no coffee at all. Drinking filtered coffee was associated with a 15% reduced risk of death from any cause in comparison to drinking none at all. The finding that those drinking the filtered beverage did a little better than those not drinking coffee at all could not be explained by any other variable such as age, gender, or lifestyle habits. So we think this observation is true, Prof Thelle said. He noted that unfiltered coffee did not raise the risk of death compared to abstaining from coffee except in men aged 60 and above, where unfiltered brew was linked with elevated cardiovascular mortality. Although the data is only observational, Prof Thelle has advice for anybody who is unsure about the type of coffee they should drink based on their cardiovascular health. For people who know they have high cholesterol levels and want to do something about it, stay away from unfiltered brew, including coffee made with a cafetiere. For everyone else, drink your coffee with a clear conscience and go for filtered. China launches second amphibious assault ship Global Times By Liu Xuanzun Source:Global Times Published: 2020/4/22 16:09:03 China on Wednesday launched its second Type 075 amphibious assault ship, only a little more than half a year after the launch of the first one, leading Chinese military experts to say China has mastered mature technologies, prepared related aviation equipment and needs the ships in safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity. China's second domestically built Type 075 amphibious assault ship was launched on Wednesday in Shanghai, Shanghai-based news website thepaper.cn reported. It is capable of conducting amphibious combat and a variety of missions. Analysts noted that China's amphibious assault ship program has been advancing very rapidly, in terms of both the construction of each ship and the interval between the two ships' launches. Li Jie, a Beijing-based naval expert, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the second Type 075's launch showed China has grasped mature technologies in the construction of amphibious assault ships as well as those in the helicopters to be deployed on the ships. The building of the ships has been fast, and related systems, facilities, and equipment are expected to be installed smoothly after the launch, Li said. Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the construction of the first Type 075 has given the shipbuilding company rich experiences, enabling the second ship to launch in a short time. The launch of the second Type 075 came at a time when the world is grappling with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and Song said this showed China's shipbuilding industry holds advanced management capability and can minimize the impact of the pandemic. In addition to mastering related technologies, another reason for China's rapid amphibious assault ship development is its urgent strategic and tactical needs, Song said, noting that China needs this type of warship to safeguard territorial integrity and sovereignty in fields like the Taiwan question and the South China Sea. Echoing Song, Li said that amphibious assault ships mainly conduct vertical deployment and landing missions on islands and reefs like the island of Taiwan and those in the South China Sea. These warships with large flat flight deck can transport troops vertically via helicopters much faster than using only horizontal means, Li said. They can also operate together with aircraft carriers, letting the carriers seize air superiority as they transport troops, tanks, and armor vehicles to land, significantly improving the Chinese Navy's combat capability as a comprehensive system, Li said. In military operations other than war, amphibious assault ships can be deployed in anti-terrorism, anti-piracy, sea lanes protection, disaster relief, and humanitarian aid missions, the experts said. Thursday is the 71st anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, and military enthusiasts said the launch of the second Type 075 on Wednesday is a birthday present for the PLA Navy. Both Li and Song said the date is likely a coincidence. Although the launch can give inspiration, the key factor to determine the launch is the construction progress, which is of practical meaning, they said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We hope that science and the public health experts are leading the politicians, that their voices are in the foreground, and that the politicians follow their advice, said Matt Seeger, who has researched crisis and emergency risk communication for the past 35 years at Wayne State University. But in this case, the political agenda seems to be setting the agenda for the subject matter experts, which is exactly the opposite of the way we would expect to have this happen. The Akwa Ibom State Government has shut down a private hospital in the state after its medical director died showing symptoms of the coronavirus. The hospital, San Dominique Hospital, is located in Uyo. Dominic Essien, the medical director of the hospital, was sick with a week history of fever, cough and shortness of breath before he was rushed to the Ibom Specialist Hospital, Uyo, where he passed on a few weeks ago, the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom branch of the Nigerian Medical Association, Nsikak Nyoyoko, said on Thursday. With the symptoms elucidated above, a suspicion of COVID-19 was entertained and he had his sample taken awaiting transportation to the laboratory for COVID-19 testing, Mr Nyoyoko added. PREMIUM TIMES, during an interview with the Commissioner for Information in Akwa Ibom state, Charles Udoh, on Monday, asked the commissioner what the government was doing about shutting down San Dominique Hospital. Have you been to the hospital today? Mr Udoh responded. Weve done what we need to do. The hospital was under lock when a PREMIUM TIMES reporter visited on Wednesday evening. The Case Management Committee, Akwa Ibom State COVID-19 Taskforce, said in a statement that Mr Essien, 50, was self-medicating in his hospital with anti-malaria, antibiotic, and antihypertensive, and was also administering oxygen on himself before he was taken to the Ibom Specialist Hospital by a doctor-colleague and friend. The statement was signed by Etete Peters, a pulmonologist and the head of the case management committee, and Emmanuel Ekanem, the chief medical director of the Ibom Specialist Hospital. The committee advised residents of the state to call COVID-19 helpline in the state if they have any symptoms of the coronavirus. The (state) government has provided adequate modern health care facilities to take care of most of the health challenges, including COVID-19, it added. By Azernews By Akbar Mammadov Armenia took advantage of the novel coronavirus pandemic to hold illegal elections in Azerbaijans occupied Nagorno-Karabkah region recently, expert from Bosnia and Herzegovina Sabahudin Hadzialich said in an interview with Day.az on 22 April. "The crisis that the world is faced with due to the [coronavirus] pandemic, has enabled Armenia to use political manipulation with the help of the lie about the elections in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, which is a member of the UN", Hadzialich, Doctor of Science in Media and Communication in Bosnia and Herzegovina, said. He stressed that Armenia seeks to legalize the impossible, even with the help of illegitimate "elections" held on March 31st and on second round on April 14th, 2020 in Azerbaijans occupied lands. He further condemned the international communitys lack of response to the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan that has been going on for 30 years now. Armenia continues its evil intentions, realizing that there is no pressure... Inaction is complicity in a crime, no matter how much we keep silent about it Today I want to warn world forces - your irresponsibility gives rise to doubts, doubts give rise to anger, and anger causes a reaction to your laziness and ignorance, Hadzialich said. The expert showed the example from the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992 to 1995) that was not stopped by world powers that never opened their eyes to what was happening. Hadzialich also touched upon the resolutions of the international organizations, especially the UN Security Council. The UN Security Council, like many other organizations, has repeatedly called on Armenia to reason, but the appeals of the world community were ignored by Armenia. In turn, Azerbaijan seeks to build good neighborly and international relations with the help of a reasonable and well-grounded policy, the expert said. The methodology of scientific research, which can geopolitically explain the desire to steal and control other people's things, is nothing more than an inferiority complex, which manifests itself in the international context in Armenia, he went on saying. He added that the only way to solve the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is the recognition of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan and Armenia are locked in a conflict over Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh breakaway region, which along with seven adjacent regions was occupied by Armenian forces in a war in the early 1990s. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and around one million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The OSCE Minsk Group co-chaired by the United States, Russia and France has been mediating the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict since the signing of the volatile cease-fire agreement in 1994. The Minsk Groups efforts have resulted in no progress and to this date, Armenia has failed to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions (822, 853, 874 and 884) that demand the withdrawal of Armenian military forces from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan. The Prophet Muhammad once told his followers never to enter or leave a town that has the plague, to avoid spreading the disease. That advice seems timely for this years Ramadan. The annual Islamic holy month is upon us, during which Muslims fast from food, drink (Not even water? No, not even water) and sex from sunrise to sunset. Thanks to social-distancing measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, most of us wont be leaving our homes, let alone our towns, this month. My familys Google calendar is completely empty. There are no community iftars, the fast-breaking meals. The local mosques are all shut down. In the years before this pandemic, despite the hangry, exhausted moments that tend to accompany fasting, Ramadan always left me with a faint smile. Id relish the memories of the months daily rituals and the beautiful chaos of a community in constant motion. This time, everyday life has been upended, and we will confront a different kind of chaos. How can there be community engagement and worship, which is as central to Ramadan as the fast, during a lockdown and quarantine? LOS ANGELES In recent weeks, a tentative timeline for reopening Americas movie theaters began to take shape. It involved pushing to get 75 percent of the countrys 5,548 cinemas selling tickets again this summer, enough to justify the wide release of two potential blockbusters: Christopher Nolans mind-bending Tenet, scheduled for July 17, and Disneys mega-budget Mulan, set for July 24. That one-two punch would be enough to draw moviegoers back into theaters that had been closed because of the coronavirus pandemic, multiplex operators believed, allowing Hollywood to salvage part of the blockbuster season and, perhaps, revive a pastime that has taken on symbolic importance for the American economy. But some politicians want their popcorn now. Some Republican governors are urging cinemas to reopen sooner rather than later, despite business and public health realities that make an abrupt relighting of marquees impractical, if not impossible. To help restart Georgias economy, Gov. Brian Kemp wants theaters to reopen starting Monday. Tennessee, where Regal Cinemas is based, plans to allow most businesses to reopen at the end of next week. South Carolina and Ohio are also restarting their economies. Texas and Florida are itching to do the same. Hill County Residents Urged To Continue COVID-19 Efforts Hill County Judge Justin Lewis reported Tuesday, April 21, that the local number of COVID-19 cases had increased to 11, with the latest confirmed Hill County case involving a Hillsboro man in his forties. The judge also addressed new information released by Governor Greg Abbott Friday, April 17. Information released from Governor Abbott last week has many people talking about the reopening of our state, Lewis said. This tells us there is light at the end of the tunnel, but it is not yet time to let down our guard. If we relax too quickly, we will lose the ground we have gained." The judge said that Hill County residents should continue to adhere to social distancing guidelines and stay home whenever possible to keep the spread of COVID-19 at bay. "This ensures we can reopen our local businesses in a safe manner without causing the rate of spread to increase and overwhelm our health care system, continued Lewis. We owe it to our front line workers to do all we can to protect them and keep things moving in a positive direction. The judge said that as guidelines, recommendations and directives have evolved through this process, it has created some confusion on what is mandatory and what is recommended. Currently, there are no local mandates requiring face coverings when out in public, but the latest Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations advise people to have some form of face covering on when they are out in public. While face coverings are mandatory in state parks, we are requesting people to voluntarily comply and wear face coverings whenever out in any public location, said Lewis. It is the prudent and responsible action, and it shows you are taking responsibility for yourself and trying to help protect your neighbors." State Parks reopened from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. beginning Monday, but visitors to the parks will be required to have a face covering on while they are on site. Other restrictions still in place for using state parks include people who do not live in the same household being required to stay a minimum of six feet apart, and group gatherings in state parks are limited to no more than five people. The parks are open for day use only, and no overnight camping is allowed. While state parks have reopened, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has not yet announced a date for reopening their park facilities, but the judge said that their boat ramps are open for use. "In addition to the reopening of state parks, other restrictions are scheduled to slowly be relaxed to determine if we can resume activities without negatively impacting the spread of COVID-19," Lewis said. Beginning Wednesday, April 22, the medical community was allowed to begin some optional medical procedures related to immediate health concerns for patients. Friday, April 24, all retail establishments will be allowed to open in a retail-to-go model, in which shoppers place their orders by phone or online in advance of arriving at the store, and then they will be able to pick up their order curbside. Customers will still not be allowed to enter the previously-closed establishments for shopping. "As these limited activities are restarting, it is important to note the governors 'stay home except for essential activities' order is still in place. Residents should continue to take all precautions available to protect their households," Lewis said. "Group gatherings of more than 10 are still not allowed." Statewide as of Tuesday, there were 20,196 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 517 fatalities, 6,486 recoveries and 1,419 in Texas hospitals. More guidelines on reopening for other areas of the economy are expected to come from Governor Abbotts office Monday, April 27. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 20:58:02|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BLANTYRE, Malawi, April 23 (Xinhua) -- As one way of trying to find solutions against COVID-19, a group of young engineers at the Polytechnic, a constituent college of University of Malawi have developed several innovative products aimed at reducing the spread of the virus. Among the innovations, the group has unveiled a locally made "low cost" ventilator, 3D printable and reusable face masks, drones, hand sanitizers, wheelchair bed, plastic face shields, pedal water dispensers and portable solar cooler. According to the manager of the Innovation Design Studio at the campus, Hillary Lodzanyama, all the innovations were made using locally available resources and they cost less to build compared to other similar products that are on the market. Lodzanyama highlighted that the innovations are basically targeting to help local Malawians who are not financially sound to buy protective materials like portable hand sanitizers. He also pointed out the most innovative equipment such as the ventilators and reusable face masks have been tested carefully by experts to ensure they are fit to meet a required global standard. Lack of enough healthcare equipment is the biggest challenge in the country. According to latest reports from local media, Malawi has only 17 respiratory machines in all its major hospitals in the country. Malawi is among African countries with fewer numbers of people affected with COVID-19, however, critics have questioned lack of testing kits and other medical materials to be one of contributing factor to this trend. However, this group of young engineers is moving with a belief that through science and innovation Malawi will become a COVID-19-free nation in no time. The design studio is not resting in its efforts to meet Malawi's healthcare resource gap. According to Hope Chilunga, a designing engineer at the college, the innovation programme is also aimed at helping all hospitals including those in remote areas. Chilunga pointed out that the newly innovated drones will help to transfer medicine and blood samples from one health unit to another whilst minimising travel and fuel cost in the process. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and the United Nations have pledged to support the initiative. Delegates from these sectors visited the Design studio on Wednesday, where they were taken through the process of how the materials and equipment could perform in regards to COVID-19. Both delegates were impressed with what they saw during the visit and they promised to support the team in research, production and purchasing the materials. Enditem The State Oil Company of Azerbaijan SOCAR is looking to combine production processes in one digital system - SAP UFAM, local media reported, citing SAP company. SAP UFAM (a joint solution of SAP and OIS) will combine production processes in one system and will be integrated into the digital core of the enterprise - SAP ERP. The start of industrial operation of UFAM is scheduled for June 2020. SOCARs Vice-President for field development Yashar Latifov said that SOCAR strives to use advanced technologies in business processes and production, while setting industry standards for oil production and supporting the government policy on digitalization of the economy. The implementation of UFAM platform will consolidate disparate data from various production systems. It will carry out integrated analysis to ensure that wells are operated in accordance with the approved potential, and also optimize geological and technical measures, he added. A consolidated team from SOCAR, Caspian Innovation Center, SAP Digital Business Services and OIS are creating a single data source, which will allow for integrated planning, modelling, analysis and monitoring of all oil production processes, said the message. In the first stage, it developed solutions for the main business processes, data and its integration with SOCAR measurement source systems, corporate data storage and SAP ERP digital core. The solution was implemented in the system of consistent algorithms and has been tested at two production departments of SOCAR. It demonstrated the functionality of the platform for selection of geological and technological measures, analysis of wells operations, integrated modeling and planning of the production process. The training for main users has already been finished. SOCARs responsible specialists have been appointed to various data groups to verify data and upload it to the system, the message said. Launching the platform for industrial exploitation will enable SOCAR to achieve the following goals: a standardized approach to planning will ensure performance record of all production services affecting the output; a permanent asset model will be realized in the integrated modeling subsystem to support decision making and calculating the pattern of static and dynamic constraints; all business facilities (inc. wells, pipelines, ground equipment, energy facilities, etc.) will be displayed on the map of monitoring panel in real mode with their current operation parameters. SAP UFAM is the first product developed in the CIS and included in the global SAP price list. This means that the solution meets high international standards. The system takes into account many indicators in its work, from the reservoir to the oil delivery unit, which allows us to transform production processes. We are pleased that for 10 years SOCAR has been choosing SAP solutions for the implementation of projects of strategic importance for the whole country, CEO of SAP CIS Dmitriy Pilipenko said. SAP is a global leader in corporate application market. More than 413,000 customers in 180 countries around the world are using SAP solutions and services. In 1992, SAP SE opened its office in Moscow, now the number of SAP CIS employees is about 1,300 people, the company is represented in all CIS countries. For more than 25 years, SAP has been helping domestic companies to transform and optimize their businesses based on innovative solutions. The company actively invests in training, increasing competencies and developing ecosystem expertise. More than 60 universities in Russia receive free access to SAP software for educational purposes. Since 2017, 12 SAP Next-Gen Labs - innovation centers for students and young IT professionals have been opened there. MEXICO CITY, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: ASR; BMV: ASUR) (ASUR), a leading international airport group with operations in Mexico, the United States, and Colombia, today announced that shareholders approved the following resolutions and considered the following matters at the General Ordinary Shareholders' Meeting held in Mexico City on April 23rd, 2020: General Annual Ordinary Meeting Summary of Resolutions Approval of the report submitted by the Chief Executive Officer to the Board of Directors, accompanied by the independent auditor's report, with respect to the operations and results of the Company during the fiscal year ended December 31 st, 2019, as well as the Board of Directors' opinion regarding the content of said report. Approval of the report submitted by the Board of Directors which contains the principal accounting and reporting policies and criteria followed in the preparation of the Company's financial information. Furthermore, note was taken of the report submitted by the Board of Directors with respect to the transactions entered into with Related Persons, Relevant Shareholders or contracts exceeding US$2,000,000.00 . Due note was taken that the report of the activities and operations in which the Board of Directors intervened, pursuant to Article 28 IV (e) of the Securities Market Law, was not prepared because during the fiscal year ended on December 31, 2019 , the Board of Directors did not intervene in any such activities or operations to be reported. Approval of the audited individual and consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31 st, 2019. Approval of the report submitted by the Audit Committee of the Company with respect to its activities during the fiscal year ended December 31 st, 2019. Approval of the activities of the Board of Directors during the year ended December 31 st, 2019. Approval of the report on fulfillment of the tax obligations of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31 st, 2018. Due note was taken that the report for the year ended December 31 st, 2019 has not yet been issued and will be presented for approval at the first General Shareholders' Meeting to be held after the report is issued. Approval to set aside 5% of the accumulated net profits for the year ended December 31 st, 2019 to increase the legal reserve of the Company, in accordance with Article 20 of the Mexican General Corporations Law (Ley General de Sociedades Mercantiles). Approval and delegation to the Board of Directors of the power to declare (i) an ordinary net cash dividend from accumulated retained earnings in the total amount of Ps. 8.21 ( eight pesos and twenty-one cents , Mexican legal tender) per share, to be paid out on a date approved by the Board of Directors on or after May 11th, 2021 in a single installment to each of the outstanding, common, Series "B" and "BB" shares representing the paid-in capital stock of the Company, and that are issued, subscribed, fully paid and released on such date and (ii) if applicable, the taxes that the Company incurs with respect to the dividend payment. Payment of the dividend shall be made through the Variable Income (Renta Variable) department of S.D. Indeval, S.A. de C.V., at its offices located at Paseo de la Reforma No. 255-3rd floor, Colonia Cuauhtemoc , 06500, Mexico City, Mexico , subsequent to approval of said dividend by the Board of Directors. Payment of the dividend shall be made against delivery of coupon "13" (thirteen) of the outstanding stock certificates in accordance with the terms notified to shareholders. The dividend payment notice shall be published no later than April 24 th, 2020 in a newspaper in general circulation. Approval to set aside all remaining accumulated net profits for the year ended December 31 st, 2019 for the repurchase of shares by the Company during the fiscal year 2020, pursuant to Article 56 of the Securities Market Law. Approval of the activities of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Secretary and Assistant Secretary during the year ended December 31 st, 2019, and release from any liability they might have incurred in the execution of their duties. Ratification of Mr. Fernando Chico Pardo as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Approval of the resignation of Mr. Roberto Servitje Sendra from his position as independent member of the Board of Directors Approval of the appointment of Ms. Barbara Garza Laguera Gonda as an independent member of the Board of Directors. Ratification of all other members and alternate members of the Board of Directors. Ratification of non-member Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Board of Directors. Ratification of Mr. Ricardo Guajardo Touche as Chairman of the Audit Committee. Ratification of Mr. Fernando Chico Pardo and Mr. Jose Antonio Perez Anton as members of the Nominations and Compensation Committee. Approval of the resignation of Mr. Roberto Servitje Sendra from his position as member of the Nominations and Compensations Committee. Approval of appointment of Ms. Barbara Garza Laguera Gonda as a member of the Nominations and Compensations Committee. Approval of the proposal made by the Nomination and Compensation Committee to pay the following compensation to the members of the management bodies of the Company: Each member of the Board of Directors will receive Ps. 72,600.00 (seventy-two thousand six hundred pesos 00/100 Mexican currency), plus travel expenses, if any, per meeting attended. 00/100 Mexican currency), plus travel expenses, if any, per meeting attended. Each member of the Audit Committee will receive Ps. 102,850.00 (one hundred and two thousand eight hundred and fifty pesos 00/100 Mexican Currency), plus travel expenses, if any, per meeting attended. 00/100 Mexican Currency), plus travel expenses, if any, per meeting attended. Each member of the Operations Committee will receive, Ps. 72,600.00 (seventy-two thousand six hundred pesos 00/100 Mexican currency), plus travel expenses, if any, per meeting attended. 00/100 Mexican currency), plus travel expenses, if any, per meeting attended. Each member of the Nominations and Compensations Committee will receive Ps. 72,600.00 (seventy-two thousand six hundred pesos 00/100 Mexican currency), plus travel expenses, if any, per meeting attended. 00/100 Mexican currency), plus travel expenses, if any, per meeting attended. Each member of the Acquisitions and Contracts Committee will receive Ps. 24,200.00 (twenty-four thousand two hundred pesos 00/100 Mexican Currency), plus travel expenses, if any, per meeting attended. Special delegates of the Ordinary Annual General Shareholders' Meeting were appointed to appear before a notary public to legalize the minutes of the meeting and to undertake any other action necessary to formalize and give effect to the resolutions taken at this meeting. About ASUR: Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V. (ASUR) is a leading international airport operator with a portfolio of concessions to operate, maintain, and develop 16 airports on the American continent. The company operates nine airports in the southeast of Mexico, including Cancun Airport located in the biggest tourist destination in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Latin America; as well as six airports in northern Colombia, including Medellin international airport (Rionegro), the second busiest in Colombia. ASUR also holds a 60% stake in the capital stock of Aerostar Airport Holdings, LLC, operator of Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, the capital of Puerto Rico. The airport in San Juan is the main point of entry to the island for international flights and continental flights from the U.S.; it was the first and is currently the only airport in the United States to have achieved a successful public-private partnership under a pilot program implemented by the FAA. Based in Mexico, ASUR is traded on the Mexican Bolsa (BMV) under ticker symbol ASUR, and on the NYSE under the symbol ASR. One ADS represents ten (10) B-series shares. For further information, visit www.asur.com.mx SOURCE Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste, S.A.B. de C.V. Capital infusion will help accelerate deployment of solutions aimed at abating the single largest source of the oil and gas industry's vented methane emissions OGDEN, Utah, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Qnergy, the world's leading manufacturer of Stirling energy systems, today announced the closing of a $10 million Series B funding round led by OGCI Climate Investments ("CI"), Tene Capital ("Tene") and Kibbutz EHI ("EHI"). The funds will allow the company to accelerate the deployment of its compressed air pneumatics product, CAP3. The application, which couples Qnergy's remote power generators with air compressors, offers a low emission alternative to gas pneumatic devices currently used in upstream oil and gas. Pneumatic devices powered by pressurized natural gas are widely used in the oil and gas industry for process control. The vented gas from these devices is the single biggest source of vented methane emissions, accounting for 67 million tCO2e per year across North America in 2019. The potential mitigation from switching methane pneumatics to CAP3 air pneumatics is estimated to be as much as 1 million tCO2e by 2029, the equivalent of taking over 2.1 million cars off the road. "We are pleased to welcome CI as a new investor to Qnergy and are grateful for the vote of confidence in the technology, team and mission," said Dr. Ory Zik, Qnergy's CEO. "The new funding will accelerate deployment and we look forward to working with customers on decarbonizing the oil and gas supply chain." Pratima Rangarajan, CEO of OGCI Climate Investments, said "We are pleased to add Qnergy to our portfolio of methane reduction solutions. We believe Qnergy's technology has the potential to significantly reduce new methane emissions from oil and gas operations which is vital for improving the pace of warming." Qnergy is the only company that has a Stirling-based, stand-alone power generator: the PowerGen. Thanks to the technology's unparalleled reliability, major and independent oil and gas companies already rely on the system to meet their remote power needs. The PowerGen has proven itself to be more cost effective than alternatives thanks to near-zero maintenance costs, leading to a significant growth in 2018 and 2019. Qnergy successfully pitched its technology to OGCI Climate Investments during its 2020 Investment Day held virtually on 9 March, focused on decarbonizing upstream, midstream and downstream oil and gas operations. About Qnergy Utah-based Qnergy is the world's leading clean technology manufacturer of Stirling energy systems. Qnergy provides reliable remote power generators for the 500W-10,000W range to help customers improve operational efficiency, decrease operating cost and reduce emissions. Qnergy's Stirling generators are an enclosed system that requires no lubrication, maintenance or repair, delivering tens of thousands of hours of uninterrupted operation. Learn more https://www.qnergy.com/ About OGCI Climate Investments OGCI Climate Investments is a $1B+ fund that invests in solutions to decarbonize sectors like oil and gas, industrials and commercial transport. We look for outcomes that reduce methane and carbon dioxide emissions, and that can recycle or store carbon dioxide. Achieving significant impact requires global implementation and commercial frameworks - at OGCI Climate Investments, we collaborate with innovators, investors and governments to fund and implement impactful solutions. To learn more about OGCI Climate Investments, please visit www.oilandgasclimateinitiative.com/climate-investments Media contact: OGCI@hkstrategies.com +1 713 752 1901 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1159168/Qnergy_Logo.jpg Viktor the sheep was all dressed up in his tie and ready for a Microsoft Meetings conference call when he decided to just run the other way instead. But his owner Kathleen Schurman wasn't too cross with him. After all, these are the pitfalls of inviting livestock to video conference calls. He made it onto the call eventually. Despite some difficulties, animals on conference calls are something Schurman hopes to make a habit (and business) of. She has run a rescue farm and animal sanctuary called Lockets Meadow Farm in Bethany, Conn. for more than 20 years. The nonprofit organization usually relies on a number of things like fundraising events, donations, goat yoga, pony rides and an Airbnb business to stay afloat and provide care and food for its rescue animals. The coronavirus pandemic has put a stop to all of these activities and has greatly affected the farm's ability to raise money, said Schurman. It costs over $2,000 a week just to feed the 140 animals on the farm. "Our major concern right now is hay and grain," she said. It's a problem that Schurman says animal sanctuaries everywhere are facing, and if they are forced to shut down, the animals will be dispersed and run the risk of being slaughtered for meat. "If the sanctuaries dont make it, the glut of rescue animals that will go to the open market will be heartbreaking," she said. When a Hearst Connecticut Media editor showed her an article about a farm in California making money by offering goat cameos on video calls, Schurman though: "Brilliant!" After a week of starting this new business endeavor, Schurman and her farm animals had joined five video calls three business meetings and two happy hours. Customers pay anywhere from $40 - $175 for animal appearances or personal farm tours. Appearances last about 10-15 minutes, and customers can pick their animal from a list. Schurman has cows, horses, donkeys, sheep, a pig, goats and a llama as well as cats, dogs and parrots on her farm. >> Join us on Facebook Live this Friday, April 24 at 12 p.m. EST to meet Schurman and her animals. She will tell us more about how the calls work and the stories behind some of her animals. << A cow named Francis Beauregard is popular for calls; there's also Benny Coconut the one-eyed cow, a mother/daughter duo of donkeys and a slew of energetic goats. (In the video above, Schurman introduces some of her animal residents). Choose your favorite animal, but Schurman says to be prepared for unexpected cameos. "On [one call] they requested our llama, but while I was out there, our free-roaming horse showed up, so I was like 'Do you want to meet the horse?'" said Schurman. So far, Schurman and the animals have been enjoying the experience. Since most of them were rescued as babies and spent time inside her house, she said her animals are very social and love being around people. Viktor, for example, is "Mr. Personality," she said. So when people speak to the animals even through a screen, "they love the attention," she said. Schurman hopes to get some backdrops for the animals and maybe even a giant martini glass to fill with hay for happy hours. Costumes and hats are on the table as well. "It's fun for me too," said Schurman. But while the calls are fun, the need for the money they can bring in is no joke, said Schurman. She and her husband have faced hard times in the past, but "have never been up against anything quite this monumental before," she said. "We have made a promise to our residents that we will always find a way to keep them safe and living in their home, and we will do whatever it takes to make that happen," said Schurman. "We will attack this situation with the same tenacity we have in the past. These are our babies, and we love them as children." Frontline workers and seniors at care homes around the Lower Mainland received a welcome token of spring this week on behalf of the Dutch Liberation 2020 Canadian Society and the Vancouver Consulate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The bouquets 5,000 in all were originally meant to be presented at events to recognize Canadian veterans who helped liberate the Netherlands during the Second World War, said Adriana Zylmans, president of Dutch Liberation 2020 Canadian Society. Those commemoration services have since been cancelled due to the pandemic. "We had all these tulips left over in a sense because we planted the bulbs in the fall," Zylmans said. So the group found another purpose for the flowers. "We thought we could still bring happiness, joy and delight to everyone around us, and to the people in the care homes," she said. CBC The group has been delivering tulip bouquets to multiple care homes in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley communities of Langley, Chilliwack, and Abbotsford. On Wednesday, the group stopped at Haro Park Centre in Vancouver's West End, one of he hardest hit by the pandemic, where 10 residents have died due to COVID-19. CBC Rob Gillis, CEO of the Haro Park Centre Society, who recovered from COVID-19 himself, called the gesture a "ray of sunshine." "Our team has been working so hard for weeks on end now to give service to our residents and make sure they're all healthy," Gillis said. "[The tulips will] bring a lot of smiles to the faces of the residents who get them and also our staff." Many of the residents, he said, are facing tough conditions because they are supposed to stay within their rooms or on their floors, and cannot go outside or receive visitors. CBC He said the staff at Haro Park have gone above and beyond, making sure residents can contact family through video conferencing over Skype or Facetime. "I get blown away by the effort they put in," his said, his voice breaking. "The way they help each other and the residents ... They're the heroes of what's happening here." Australia has sought the support of world leaders in overhauling the embattled World Health Organisation following its bungled response to coronavirus pandemic. Scott Morrison has called for an international probe into the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak and the WHO's handling of the crisis, in calls with US President Donald Trump and other heads of state. The prime minister said on Twitter he had 'a very constructive discussion' with Trump on the two nation's responses to COVID-19 and the need to get economies up and running. 'We also talked about the WHO and working together to improve the transparency and effectiveness of the international responses to pandemics,' he tweeted. Scott Morrison has called for an international probe into the origins of the COVID-19 outbreak and the WHO's handling of the crisis The prime minister said on Twitter he had 'a very constructive discussion' with US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the need to improve the transparency and effectiveness of the international responses to pandemics Mr Morrison is pushing to give the global health agency the same powers as weapons inspectors, allowing them to enter countries without invitation to investigate the source of disease outbreaks. 'If we have that ability that could potentially save thousands if not hundreds of thousands of lives. We need to have that sort of ability,' he told Sky News on Wednesday night. Mr Morrison has been scathing of the United Nations agency for its handling of COVID-19 after it criticised Australia for closing its borders to Chinese tourists and took two weeks longer to declare a pandemic. He has also challenged its decision to support China reopening wet markets, which were the likely cause of the deadly disease. Asked if the WHO should have the power to compulsorily enter countries at a time like the present, Mr Morrison said world organisations need to be able operate without being 'fettered in any way'. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has repeatedly said that it will evaluate its handling of the pandemic after it ends Scott Morrison has also challenged its decision to support China reopening wet markets (pictured) which were the likely cause of the deadly disease There is a clear view among other leaders that a transparent and independent process is needed to examine what has ha But Mr Morrison's plan and push for reform could ultimately mark the end of the UN agency as the changes could lead to the establishment of a new global body. The WHO has come under heavy pressure from Australia and other western nations for being too slow to react to the outbreak of coronavirus in China. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has repeatedly said that it will evaluate its handling of the pandemic after it ends and draw the appropriate lessons, as it does after all emergencies. 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 China has been accused of lacking transparency at the onset of coronavirus when it first emerged in the city of Wuhan late last year. A stronger WHO could be given full access to data and other information crucial to tracking and suppressing disease. Mr Morrison said if the world had been alerted to the gravity of the virus earlier, it may have saved hundreds of thousands of lives. 'We need to have a transparent and independent process to look at what's gone on here, and even more importantly, what things have to change,' he said. The prime minister said there could be no repeat of the aftermath of the ebola epidemic, when there was an inquiry that didn't lead to major reform. Mr Morrison raised the issue of strengthening the international health agency with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emannuel Macron. Mr Macron told Mr Morrison now was not the time for an investigation, a French official said. 'He says he agrees that there have been some issues at the start, but that the urgency is for cohesion, that it is no time to talk about this, while reaffirming the need for transparency for all players, not only the WHO,' an Elysee official told Reuters. Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has also launched a global push for independent experts to scrutinise wild animal markets. The likely source of coronavirus making the jump to humans was at a Chinese wet market. At home, the federal government is eyeing tax and industrial relations reforms as part of a suite of measures to restart the economy after the crisis. Australia's coronavirus death toll has reached 74 but the rate of new infections continues to drop, prompting restrictions on elective surgeries to be eased. More than two-thirds of the 6,600 people who have been infected in Australia have fully recovered. The average daily rise in cases over the past three days is at 0.3 per cent, with just four cases detected on Wednesday. Australia's deputy chief medical officer Paul Kelly has warned against putting the brakes on social distancing measures. 'Just because you're slowing down, you don't take the parachute off when you're approaching the landing - you wait until you've landed,' he told reporters in Canberra. TUSCOLA COUNTY As of Thursday, April 23, 2020 the Tuscola County Medical Care Facility was 13 days clear of any new COVID-19 cases. CEO Brenda Kretzschmer was hopeful that when Friday rolled around, the facility would be 14 days free of any new cases. Its been the biggest mountain I have ever had to climb, Kretzschmer said. Its been something I had never imagined, and I have been a nurse for 40 years. Nearly 14 days without a new case and down to five positive cases, the facility may finally be able to celebrate its first milestone. Its no secret that since the first confirmed case in Tuscola County on March 20, the medical care center has been a hotbed for COVID-19 cases, ambushed with 18 positive cases and nine related deaths. This left Kretzschmer, staff, residents, families, and the community grief stricken. Sadness did not mean defeat; it just meant that the fight was on. Within the facilitys four walls and on each of its three levels, war was waged against the deadly pandemic. According to the CEO, her facility follows all regulations and recommendations set forth by Gov. Gretchen Whitmers office, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization. She continues operations with guidance from Tuscola and Huron County Health Department Health Officer Ann Hepfer, as well as Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Bureau Director Larry Horvath and Federal Survey Certification Director Michelle Roepke. Weve been working very collaboratively to keep us successful, in having contained it and stopped it, Kretzschmer said. She talked about the difficulties involved when keeping such a highly contagious virus mitigated in a long-term care center. The mere size of the building creates a problem, Kretzschmer said. The facility has capacity for up to 159 clients. Yet, staff has managed to contain the virus to one floor. Any place where you have people breathing in the same air, without barriers, the virus will travel, Kretzschmer said. You have to have barriers. Its the key to containment. Kretzschmer explained that if the client in bed number one gets sick, then the individual in bed number two will get sick. It does not matter that they are more than six feet away and do not share items. She also discussed how the four cardinal symptoms associated with COVID-19 were not what they have seen in their elderly clients. They may never have a cough, and some never a temperature, Kretzschmer said. What we are seeing is a change in mental baseline. Some complained of not feeling well, accompanied by nausea, at which time they were placed in isolation immediately. She talked about how long-term care facilities are at the bottom of the list to receive personal protective equipment from the government. Stock-piles of PPE went to hospitals, Kretzschmer said. The CEO and her staff thanked the efforts of the community and nearby businesses for sewing cloth breathing masks and donating other medical PPE supplies. This includes the loan of the facilitys first ultraviolet light sanitizer from UV Cleaning Systems in Marlette. Since then, the center has purchased eight UV machines to sanitize their PPE. This was a turning point for us, Kretzschmer said. Staff members clean with soap and water, chemical sanitizer, and UV light sanitization. Resident rooms are cleaned and sanitized daily. All community spaces are cleaned multiple times a day and after every use. Travel into resident rooms is allowed only by authorized nursing and medical staff, to include aids. Nursing staff members take food trays to resident rooms and the aids leave garbage out in the hallways to be picked up. The coordination of staff helps to mitigate the spread, Kretzschmer said. Everyone is screened twice a day. If a staff member exhibits any symptoms of a cold or flu, they are sent home. If they dont feel well for any reason, regardless of the symptoms, they are done for the day, Kretzschmer said. The employee must remain symptom free for 72 hours, display no fever and have been cleared by a doctor before returning to work. If someone isnt feeling well, we send them with an order to get tested, Kretzschmer said. MDHHS has recommended that health care providers utilize NxGen MDx to expand COVID-19 testing. The facility will partner with the health company to receive specimen collection materials, so that they may conduct their own testing. They will then ship the test materials back to NxGen for results to be read. This gives us the opportunity to test more rapidly, Kretzschmer said. They dont have to have symptoms anymore. As the 14th day of no new COVID-19 cases approached, the facility hopes to once again be able to open its doors to new admissions. Kretzschmer knows the facility wouldnt be as successful in its battle against COVID-19 without its dedicated employees, help from the health department and LARA, generosity from local businesses, and all its community support. The outpouring of trust and compassion people have demonstrated warms my heart, Kretzschmer said. The staff here have been phenomenal. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 07:25:02|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Harvard University said on Wednesday that it would not accept money from the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's call for the university to return the funds. "Harvard will not accept funds from the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. Like most colleges & universities, Harvard has been allocated funds as part of the CARES Act. Harvard did not apply for this support, nor has it requested, received or accessed the funds," Harvard said in a statement. "We have previously said that Harvard, like other institutions, will face significant financial challenges due to the pandemic and economic crisis it has caused. We are also concerned however, that the intense focus by politicians and others on Harvard in connection with this program may undermine participation in a relief effort that Congress created and the President signed into law for the purpose of helping students and institutions whose financial challenges in the coming months may be most severe," said the statement. "As a result of this, and the evolving guidance being issued around use of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, Harvard has decided not to seek or accept the funds allocated to it by statute," said Harvard. The decision came as Trump claimed that the university took coronavirus funding "meant for workers," when the funds designated to Harvard were from a separate source of federal funding within the CARES Act coronavirus package, according to a CNN report. "I'm going to request it," Trump said at Tuesday's White House press briefing. "Harvard's going to pay back the money. They shouldn't be taking it." Harvard joined Princeton and Stanford universities in deciding to not accept the funds provided to them by the CARES Act Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, said the CNN report. Enditem European leaders remained divided over the need for a significant EU-wide response to the Covid-19 crisis, and failed to approve a major 1.5tn rescue package demanded by Spain. Leaders endorsed the package recently agreed by the Eurogroup - worth up to 500bn - and asked that it be made operational by June 1. Opposition to such a major debt sharing deal was led by Germany, Austria and Holland who are reluctant to assume responsibility for less fiscally prudent countries as they see it. On the call, the leaders also welcomed the Commissions intention to undertake a sector-by-sector analysis on the economic impact of the crisis so as to better target supports necessary for recovery. During a conference call of EU leaders on Thursday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar was among those calling for a swift and ambitious EU response. He welcomed the Commissions intention to undertake a sector-by-sector analysis, and highlighted acute difficulties in agriculture resulting from a collapse in exports and prices. According to a government statement, the Taoiseach stressed the need for urgent financial support for farmers under the provisions of the CAP. He also called for a plan to be developed to ensure EU states have public health controls at airports before business and tourist travel resumes and so that it can. Mr Varadkar also spoke of the need for the EU to scale up its capacity to produce medical equipment and create stockpiles in advance of a possible second wave of the pandemic. Leaders also discussed the urgent need for a Recovery Fund commensurate to the scale of the challenge. The Commission was asked to undertake further detailed work on this, including on how it might be linked to the Unions budget, the MFF. EU leaders must work together to help countries recover from the coronavirus pandemic, the head of the European Parliament has warned. Speaking to reporters after giving a speech to the bloc's 27 leaders at the start of their video-conference summit, European Parliament President David Sassoli said: "we are extremely concerned because we can see a downward spiral, and we are going to need every instrument available". Referring to the massive US aid package in 1948 that helped Europe rebuild after the Second World War, Mr Sassoli said that "we've all called for this new Marshall Plan for Europe, but with a major difference of course. The funds will not be coming from abroad this time, but rather from European countries and economies. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said the coronavirus pandemic is still at the beginning and parts of Germany may be rushing their exit from lockdown, as divided EU leaders held a video conference to try to agree a desperately needed Europe-wide recovery fund. Worried that Germans were relaxing physical distancing efforts amid the reopening of smaller shops this week, the chancellor said some of Germanys 16 states were moving too fast and the country remained on the thinnest ice despite its early achievements. Germany has the fifth-highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the world, but has managed to keep its death toll down to just over 5,000, a far lower tally than in many other countries, mainly through early and extensive testing. It is precisely because the figures give rise to hope that I feel obliged to say that this interim result is fragile, Merkel told parliament. We are still far from out of the woods. We are not in the final phase of the pandemic, but still at the beginning. Meanwhile, European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) Director Andrea Ammon said the lifting measures too quickly, without appropriate monitoring and health systems capacity in place, may cause sudden resurgence of sustained community transmission. Through its latest risk assessment, ECDC supports the implementation of The Joint European Roadmap towards a careful lifting of some COVID-19 containment measures by providing a set of public health objectives, epidemiological criteria, indicators and considerations regarding the various measures. She said the Covid-19 pandemic is posing an unprecedented threat to the EU/EEA countries and the UK, which have been experiencing widespread transmission of the virus in the community for several weeks. Stay-at-home policies, jointly with other community and physical distancing measures such as the cancellation of mass gatherings, closure of educational institutions and public spaces have collectively reduced transmission and incidence in the EU/EEA and the UK overall. "There is now significant interest in phasing out these measures, as they are highly disruptive to society, she added. UCSF sent 21 health care workers seven doctors and 14 nurses - Wednesday to treat patients in the Navajo Nation, which has been hit hard by the coronavirus. UCSF-trained doctors working on the largest Native American reservation in the U.S. asked San Francisco colleagues for help as the outbreak strains the health care system. Navajo Nation, where around 175,000 people live spread over 27,500 square miles in New Mexico and Arizona, has recorded 1,206 COVID-19 cases and 48 deaths. By comparison, San Francisco, which has a population eight times as large in a much smaller area, had only 21 deaths as of Thursday afternoon. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) Senator Risa Hontiveros hit back at the Chinese Embassy on Thursday for calling her demand that Beijing pay for the Philippines' expenses in battling the coronavirus disease "ridiculously absurd and irresponsible." "Mas iresponsable at mas absurdo na sa gitna nitong COVID-19 pandemic na nagsimula at lumabas sa Tsina ay patuloy ang kanilang aggressive actions sa ating territorial waters," Hontiveros told CNN Philippines' Balitaan. [Translation: It's more irresponsible and absurd that in the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic that started and came out from China, they continue with their aggressive actions in our territorial waters.] Hontiveros reiterated that China owes the country some 200 billion in damages for "at least six years" worth of environmental harm in the West Philippine Sea or areas that the Philippines claims and occupies in the South China Sea. She said it's high time China paid so that the Philippines could use the money for its response to COVID-19, a viral illness that has infected more than 2.6 million worldwide and killed over 183,000 since the outbreak began in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, China put up two research stations and sank a Vietnamese fishing boat in the South China Sea. These actions show there's no stopping it from establishing control of contested waters, said Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, a Washington-based think tank which has been monitoring the South China Sea dispute. The Philippines' Department of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday filed a diplomatic protest with China for "declaring parts of a Philippine territory as part of Hainan province." This was in response to China's creation of two new districts in Sansha City, the southernmost city of Hainan province, which cover disputed features, including the Philippine-claimed Spratly Islands, Scarborough Shoal and Fiery Cross Reef. Another diplomatic protest was filed over Chinas alleged pointing of a radar gun at a Philippine Navy ship in Philippine waters, but no other details were disclosed. Hontiveros welcomed the DFA's action, but urged the government to take it a step further by asking China to pay for the expenses incurred in the COVID-19 response as a reparation for destroying reefs in the West Philippine Sea. "Since nakapaggawa na rin ng diplomatic protest ang DFA kaugnay nitong aggressive actions ng Tsina sa bahagi ng West Philippine Sea, ay pwede na ring tumuntong doon sa pagisingil ng damages, damages sa ating reefs and other marine ecosystems," Hontiveros said. [Translation: Since the DFA already made a diplomatic protest over China's aggressive actions in the West Philippine Sea, asking China to pay damages for the damage done to our reefs and other marine ecosystems can be the next step.] The Chinese Embassy on Wednesday dismissed Hontiveros' call as a selfish political tactic. At this trying time, it is ridiculously absurd and irresponsible to make such remarks for the sole purpose of catching eyeballs and for selfish political gains, it said, adding that the two countries are "friendly neighbors across the sea." Hontiveros on Thursday responded: "Ang mga kaibigan ay hindi nang-aagaw ng isla ng kanilang kaibigan... hindi nainira ng mga bahura ng kanilang mga kaibigan so tama na ang ganyang mga pagdadahilan at pag-aatake, magbayad na lang sila ng dapat nilang bayaran sa ating bansa." [Translation: Friends do not steal their friend's island or destroy their friend's reefs so they should stop with these excuses and attacks and pay our country instead.] President Rodrigo Duterte has nurtured ties with China despite its continued aggression in the West Philippine Sea and outright rejection of the arbitration ruling. Beijing asserts ownership of the vast South China Sea, ignoring Manila's arbitral win in 2016 that invalidated its sweeping claim to the global waterway. By PTI WASHINGTON: Remittances to India are likely to drop by 23 per cent from USD 83 billion last year to USD 64 billion this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has resulted in a global recession, the World Bank has said. Globally remittances are projected to decline sharply by about 20 per cent this year due to the economic crisis induced by the pandemic and shutdowns, according to a World Bank report on the impact of the COVID-19 on migration and remittances released on Wednesday. The projected fall, which would be the sharpest decline in recent history, is largely due to a fall in the wages and employment of migrant workers, who tend to be more vulnerable to loss of employment and wages during an economic crisis in a host country, it said. ALSO READ| Migrant workers returning home could spread coronavirus in sub-continent: World Bank "In India, remittances are projected to fall by about 23 per cent in 2020, to USD 64 billion -- a striking contrast with the growth of 5.5 percent and receipts of USD 83 billion seen in 2019," the report said. World Bank Group President David Malpass said remittances are a "vital source of income" for developing countries. "The ongoing economic recession caused by COVID-19 is taking a severe toll on the ability to send money home and makes it all the more vital that we shorten the time to recovery for advanced economies," he said. Malpass noted that remittances help families afford food, healthcare and basic needs. "As the World Bank Group implements fast, broad action to support countries, we are working to keep remittance channels open and safeguard the poorest communities' access to these most basic needs," he said. Remittance flows are expected to fall across all World Bank Group regions, most notably in Europe and Central Asia (27.5 per cent), followed by Sub-Saharan Africa (23.1 per cent), South Asia (22.1 per cent), the Middle East and North Africa (19.6 per cent), Latin America and the Caribbean (19.3 per cent), and East Asia and the Pacific (13 per cent). In Pakistan, the projected decline is about 23 per cent, totalling about USD 17 billion, compared to a total of USD 22.5 billion last year, when remittances grew by 6.2 per cent. In Bangladesh, remittances are projected at USD 14 billion this year, a likely fall of about 22 per cent. Remittances to Nepal and Sri Lanka are expected to decline by 14 per cent and 19 per cent, respectively, this year. The deadly coronavirus has so far infected over 2,638,020 people and claimed more than 184,230 lives across the globe. (Photo : Pixabay) Neo-Nazis are attempting to use 25,000 purportedly hacked email addresses and passwords to prey on employees of the World Health Organization (WHO), the USA National Institutes of Health, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The data were said to have been stolen by a group of unknown hackers and spread online in the last few days through far-right extremists, according to SITE Intelligence Group, the online terror monitoring organization. SITE said it couldn't fully confirm the facts were genuine, but it was being "aggressively" circulated. Also Read: [BEWARE] New Malware Strains Trickbot and Emotet Can Bypass Antivirus Software! Here's its Trick! 25,000 email addresses and passwords from the CDC, WHO, Gates Foundation were dumped online Robert Potter, an Australian cybersecurity expert, told The Washington Post that he was able to verify that the WHO email addresses and passwords were real. Based on a list of the records acquired by Motherboard, the situation appears to be an aggregation of formerly-hacked usernames and passwords that were compiled from previous data breaches of various companies. However, Motherboard cannot confirm where the list came from and how it was compiled. Motherboard ran a chain of the email addresses through the internet site haveibeenpwned.com, which collects breaches. The group observed that each of the addresses they examined has previously been part of known data breaches. Many of them were confirmed to be circulating in big aggregated lists of usernames and passwords tracked by the website. If those are from previous records breaches, that means the credentials being traded might be from sites unrelated to their official occupations. These might be logins for websites that had been hacked--not for any WHO or Gates Foundation systems--and would not work unless until the users were reusing their passwords. ALSO READ: Hacking Threats From Cybercriminals Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic; Joint Statement From the US and UK Cybersecurity Agencies Warn Public Far-right extremists sowing disinformation Far-right extremists have recently been enamored with sowing disinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic, stoking protests and anti-government sentiment in hopes of making social chaos. Specialists have warned that people trying to create chaos have taken the opportunity of the coronavirus pandemic to test countries' governments worldwide. Discussions on data dump were first seen on the online site 9chan on Monday night, April 20. The data then quickly spread to various social media platforms. SITE Intelligence, a US-based terrorism watchdog, first spotted the information. The group followed it to a Telegram group with over 5,000 followers and links to neo-Nazi terrorist groups Atomwaffen Division and The Base. Both groups have been under an extreme, nationwide FBI crackdown in current months. SITE Executive director Rita Katz said far-right extremists' distribution of allegedly hacked data is fitting with how they have targeted medical organizations and healthcare personnel amid the pandemic. "Whether out of accelerationist or conspiratorial-minded motivations, white supremacists and Neo-Nazis have called to vandalize hospitals, intentionally infect medical workers, and beyond," she said. Katz said that the hacked information could cause continued conspiracy theories proliferating about the pandemic, and the potential for violent actors to react on the fake and harmful theories. "Far-right communities online have an enormous capacity to disseminate this hacked data, especially as their audience grow amid this pandemic," Katz said. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. This woman spat in the faces of two people this weekend at Di Bruno Bross. in Center City, police said. Read more A woman who police say spit in the faces of two people at Di Bruno Bros. market in Center City over the weekend has been arrested. Jacqueline McBride, 27, was charged with simple assault, terroristic threats, and harassment, police said Thursday evening. Authorities said she spit at a store employee on Saturday and at a customer on Sunday. McBride was apprehended about 4:30 p.m. after she returned to the Rittenhouse area and witnesses, who recognized her from widely circulated social media images, called police. I think the cops did a great job responding so quickly, said Alexis Danilo, one of the victims. Im just happy shes not going to do it to anybody else." Danilo said she was waiting in line to enter the market when a woman approached her and got very close, breaking the six-foot social distancing rule. Danilo took a few steps back, she said, which angered the woman. She got really upset by that, and then she said, B, I dont have the disease, recalled Danilo, 36. Danilo said she ignored the woman and walked into the store to buy cheese and meat for dinner at her parents house. While she was picking out her items, the woman intentionally ran into her, Danilo said. She said she told the woman, That was really rude, we are in a pandemic," and the woman responded: Ill fight you right now, Danilo recalled. The woman then pulled down the red bandanna covering her mouth, spit in Danilos face, and stormed off, she said. I was just in shock, said Danilo, of Southwest Center City. She said the employee behind the counter asked her if she was OK and took her to a sink so she could wash her face. Danilo said a manager told her the same woman had come into the store on Saturday and spit at an employee after getting into an argument about how the woman wanted to pay for her items. Police confirmed that. During these and all times, we take the safety and security of our employees and customers extremely seriously, Di Bruno Bros. said in a statement Thursday. We are troubled by this incident and are fully cooperating with the police. We have reached out to the victim to lend our support in any way that we can. Danilo said she called police after she learned this was the second incident involving the woman. The biggest thing for me was that this woman is likely to do it to other people if shes done it two times, she said. I think this woman should be locked up. You should never be spitting on anybody, and given the fact that theres a pandemic, you shouldnt be doing that. READ MORE: Read more: Pa. grocery store trashes $35,000 worth of food after woman intentionally coughs on it; she is arrested Danilo said she had not had any symptoms since the incident, but is avoiding most public spaces just in case. She said she called the citys health department to see if she could get priority testing, and also asked her physician if she could be tested. Both said no, she said, because she is asymptomatic, but said she could possibly have an antibody test and is waiting to hear back. Across the country, authorities have cracked down on people threatening to intentionally spread the coronavirus. In March, a woman shopping at Gerritys Supermarkets in Hanover Township, Luzerne County, allegedly coughed on $35,000 worth of food. The woman, identified by police as Margaret Chirko, was charged with threats to use weapons of mass destruction, terroristic threats, criminal mischief, and related charges. In New Jersey, a Camden man was charged with making terroristic threats during a state of emergency after he spit on police officers and said he had the virus. A plane full of medical supplies to combat the Covid-19 pandemic has been sent to the United States by Egypt, a move that a US official said showed support to President Donald Trump, according to the Washington Post daily. Anaesthesia, body bags, masks, testing swabs and antibiotics were sent via military plane as Egypt surpassed South Africa for the number of cases on the African continent. Some 3,032 people have contracted the highly contagious coronavirus, according to the Egyptian health ministry on Wednesday. Shortages in medical supplies and food staples has plagued Egypt, and price gouging on masks and protective gear has increased since the beginning of the pandemic. The World Health Organisation indicated that 13 percent of health workers in Egypt are infected, and a number of hospitals have had to close, due to the high rate of staff infection. The health supply shipment is meant to appease American lawmakers after two Democratic Senators, Patrick Leahy and Chris Van Hollen, wrote a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to withhold $300 million in military assistance to Egypt after US citizen Mustafa Kassem died in prison in January, suffering a heart attack after going on a hunger strike. Although Egypt has been repeatedly called out by the United Nations, rights organisations and even the US for its human rights abuses, Trump continues to court Egyptian President Abdelfattah Al-Sissi, who he has called his favourite dictator. Larry Ellison, co-founder and executive chairman of Oracle Corp., speaks during the Oracle OpenWorld conference in San Francisco on Oct. 22, 2018. A top federal vaccine expert who was ousted from his post this week felt pressured to rush out expanded access to a potential treatment for coronavirus patients after President Donald Trump discussed the drug with Larry Ellison, chairman of tech giant Oracle, NBC News reported Thursday. The report comes a day after the expert, Rick Bright, went public with a bombshell statement saying he was removed from leading a federal agency heavily involved in coronavirus response efforts after he "resisted efforts to fund potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections." And it comes on the same day that a House committee chairman called for an investigation into Bright's forced transfer from his post as director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, a unit of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department. A source close to Bright who spoke with NBC News said that he was told to put in place a national program geared to expanding access to the drug hydroxychloroquine after Ellison, who has raised campaign funds for Trump, and the president spoke about it. TWEET The program would lack appropriate controls for drug treatment, including peer-reviewed clinical data about hydroxychloroquine's efficacy, according to NBC News. On March 24, The Washington Post reported that Ellison helped arrange a partnership between Oracle and the federal government to collect "'data in real time from doctors trying out those and other unproven drugs" on Covid-19 patients outside of clinical trials. The Post reported that Oracle planned to donate to the government a related website to assist in that effort. A spokeswoman for Ellison did not immediately respond Thursday to a request for comment from CNBC on the new NBC News report about Bright, and about the meeting between Trump and Ellison. The White House declined to comment, and HHS did not directly respond to a request for comment about a possible connection between Ellison's meeting and the pressure Bright felt. The New York Times reported on April 6 that Trump "first expressed interest in hydroxychloroquine a few weeks ago, telling associates that Mr. Ellison, a billionaire and a founder of Oracle, had discussed it with him." Ellison is worth nearly $70 billion, according to a Forbes tally late last year. Trump, during a news conference in early April, said five times, "What do you have to lose?" referring to coronavirus patients being given the drug, which normally is used to treat malaria. After Bright was removed earlier this week from leading BARDA, he was given a job, with fewer responsibilities, at the National Institutes of Health. Bright has since retained lawyers at a Washington, D.C., firm that specializes in representing whistleblowers. Those lawyers called his dismissal from BARDA "retaliation, plain and simple." On Thursday, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee asked HHS's Office of the Inspector General, an internal ethics watchdog, to investigate the situation. "I have been particularly concerned by the Trump Administration's politicization of public health agencies," the chairman, Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., wrote in a letter to the IG's office. "This most recent action, if true, further raises serious questions about the commitment of President Trump and his Administration to science and the public good as the government and the nation work to combat an unprecedented global health pandemic," Pallone wrote. In a statement Wednesday, Bright said he was ousted after resisting widespread adoption of hydroxychloroquine, which Trump has promoted as a treatment for Covid-19. Bright also said that he believed he was removed from his post because he insisted that "the billions of dollars allocated by Congress to address the Covid-19 pandemic" be invested "into safe and scientifically vetted solutions, and not in drugs, vaccines and other technologies that lack scientific merit." "Rushing blindly towards unproven drugs can be disastrous and result in countless more deaths. Science, in service to the health and safety of the American people, must always trump politics," said Bright. "I am speaking out because to combat this deadly virus, science not politics or cronyism has to lead the way," he said. CMNTY Adds 'Focus' Chat Functions Online community specialist CMNTY has added a real-time video chat functionality called Focus to its platform, to help researchers host video sessions as part of in-depth interviews, virtual focus groups and live brainstorming exercises. The company was founded in the Netherlands in 2007 by Maxim Schram (pictured), and opened an NYC office in 2015. Its DIY platform includes quant and qual data collection, features the CMNTY Pulse moderator's dashboard, and also filters language and organizes content using bookmarks. Focus, which is an extension to the firm's existing qual research toolkit, provides a way to conduct a live group chat session with a moderator, respondents and observers within a community platform, helping record non-verbal communication such as body language and tone of voice. In addition, Focus integrates with the CMNTY Pulse central insights hub, giving community managers access to recorded video sessions, automated audio transcripts and sentiment for further analysis. Schram comments: 'An online community is a great research tool, especially now people are at home en masse and ready to talk. Focus taps into people's natural tendency to connect with others through video, leading to even more useful insights'. Web site: www.cmnty.com . The Congress in Maharashtra on Thursday alleged that two of the accused in the Palghar mob lynching case are members of the BJP and demanded that the saffron party take action against them. The BJP, however, rejected the Congress claim and said the two persons mentioned by it are not members of the saffron party. Addressing a press conference here, state Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said Ishwar Nikule and Bhau Sathe, listed as accused no 61 and 65, respectively, are office-bearers of the BJP's Dahanu mandal unit in Palghar district. The BJP must take action against its office-bearers who are accused of killing two sadhus and their driver, and its government at the Centre should bring a law to curb mob attacks, said Sawant. He said Nikule could be seen on the official Facebook page of the BJP Dahanu mandal as a booth-level office-bearer of Gadchincle village, where the three people were lynched by a violent mob on Thursday last on suspicion that they were child-lifters. More than 100 people have been named accused in the case. Sathe is also one of the booth-level office-bearers of Gadchincle village, Sawant claimed. Several pictures, including the one featuring Nikule, were taken during a programme organised by the BJP to highlights the achievements of the erstwhile Devendra Fadnavis government, he said. Gadchincle sarpanchChitra Chaudhary can also be seen in one of the pictures, Sawant said, adding the BJP is ruling the village panchayat for the last 10 years. Besides Chaudhary, local BJP mandal president Sangita Kotela and then chairperson of Dahanu Panchayat Samiti Rama Thackeray were present at the event, Sawant said. He said the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, of which the Congress is a constituent, will bring all those involved in the lynching incident to book. "But it is surprising that the BJP hasn't taken action against it's people accused of killing the sadhus," he said. Sawant demanded that the Centre enact a law against mob lynchings as directed by the Supreme Court. Despite direction from a Supreme Court bench headed by the then Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, the central government has not enacted a law against mob lynchings in the last two years, the Congress spokesman said. In July 2018, the Supreme Court had condemned incidents of mob lynching and directed the central government to enact a legislation against such heinous act, he said. In addition, 11 guidelines were issued in this regard but the central government did not take any action on them, Sawant said. Again in July 2019, a bench headed by thethen Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi took note of mob lynching cases and sent a notice to the Centre asking what were the measures taken on previous directives, but the Modi government did nothing, Sawant charged. "After the Palghar incident, Union Home Minister Amit Shah called Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, but did not do anything to bring a law against incidents of mob lynching," he said. Incidents of mob lynching have occurred in other states too, but no senior BJP leader at the time showed any such concern, Sawant said. On the contrary, accused in some of these cases were later felicitated by BJP ministers, he claimed. When contacted, state BJP spokesman Keshav Upadhye rejected the Congress allegations. "The two persons mentioned by the Congress are not BJP workers. The photographs (released by the Congress) are of a public programme attended by many villagers," he said. One new case of coronavirus has been reported in Longford, according to latest figures from midnight on Tuesday, April 21. This new case brings the county total to 102. This figure makes up approximately 0.6% of the national figure, which currently stands at 17,607. In neighbouring counties, Cavan has had an increase of 36 cases, bringing its total number of confirmed cases to 466. Westmeath's total confirmed cases currently stands at 395. Roscommon currently has 92 confirmed cases, with only one new case reported in the space of three days, while Leitrim's total remains the lowest in the country at 56, with just one more confirmed case than the previous day. The number of deaths reported today is significantly lower than it has been for the last few weeks with 28 people sadly passing away due to Covid-19. There have now been 794 laboratory confirmed Covid-19 deaths in Ireland. Validation of data at the HPSC has resulted in the denotification of 3 deaths. The figure of 794 deaths reflects this. As of 1pm on Thursday, April 23, the HPSC has been notified of 936 new confirmed cases of Covid-19. There is now a total of 17,607 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread. Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: "Covid-19 is a highly infectious disease. Modelling data shows us that the reproduction number remains below 1.0 and that we have achieved great progress through the action of staying apart. In order to continue protecting ourselves, our vulnerable groups and our healthcare workers, we must continue to practice physical distancing, respiratory etiquette and regular hand washing. These basic steps, if done by all, will save many lives. Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: "Today, the World Health Organization Regional Director for Europe noted that up to half of those who have died of COVID-19 across Europe were living in residential care settings. Ireland continues to closely examine mortality so that we can understand it and do everything in our power to prevent it. We are now using our increased testing capacity to focus on staff and residents so that we can learn in real time about this virus and take actions informed by that evidence. Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of NPHET Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said: "For the population at large, the growth rate is at zero and the transmission of the virus is effectively suppressed. Our R number is between 0.5 and 0.8. This success emphasises how vital it is to remain vigilant in our behaviours. If the R number moves above one, we are no longer in control of the disease. The Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) on Thursday said that it has initiated the rejuvenation and conservation of Devanahalli Pomelo by cultivating it within the campus, under its flagship CSR Programme 'Namma Ooru'. On the occasion of Earth Day 2020, BIAL, also owner and operator of the Kempegowda International Airport, decided to plant and nurture about 500 pomelo (Chakota) trees that will not only help conserve the rare indigenous fruit, but also contribute towards carbon reduction, it said in a statement. With support from the Department of Horticulture, Karnataka government, BIAL procured saplings and has already planted 50 plants at a location that was once a hub for pomelos, before the construction of the Airport. It added that this location will be developed as an organic pomelo cultivation demonstration site, complete with signboards and literature for any member of the public interested in learning about the process. At BIAL, we are committed to achieving excellence in sustainability. In our attempt to be a role model for sustainable progress, we have made a long-term commitment to sustainability and community engagement that will effect a change in culture. This is one of our many initiatives towards achieving that goal, Hari Marar, MD and CEO of BIAL was quoted as saying. With this initiative we aim to revive, conserve and restore past glory of Devenahalli pomelo, a fruit that is associated with the region in which BLR Airport is located, he said. The Devanahalli pomelo, which comes with a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, has a unique, sweet taste, unlike other varieties. Hectares of pomelo plantation, which once dotted Devanahalli region, have now all but vanished. Currently, there are less than 100 cultivators in the area, the statement read. "Over the next few years, BLR Airport campus will be home to largest pomelo orchard. BIAL intends to promote cultivation of the fruit around the region and create a viable market by collaborating with Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and other institutions," BIAL said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The new spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services made a series of now-deleted tweets that included racist and xenophobic language about Chinese people. Michael Caputo, a Republican political aide from New York who assisted in Donald Trump's 2016 campaign, also made derogatory remarks geared towards Democrats and media critical of the president's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, Caputo was appointed as Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at HHS. HHS plays a central role in the federal government's response to the coronavirus. Michael Caputo, a Republican political aide from New York who assisted in Donald Trump's 2016 campaign, made a series of now-deleted tweets that included racist and xenophobic language about Chinese people Caputo also made derogatory remarks geared towards Democrats and media critical of the president's handling of the coronavirus pandemic The controversial tweets - along with a majority of Caputo's Twitter presence - were deleted from before April 12, CNN reports. They were found using the Internet Archive's Wayback Machine and were included amongst 1300 deleted tweets and retweets from late February to early April. Racism is littered in the tweets, along with conspiracy theories and other comments aimed at Democrats and media, who he claim are agents of the Communist party in China. In tweets made on March 12, Caputo responded to conspiracy theories that the US brought the virus to Wuhan, China, by asserting that 'millions of Chinese suck the blood out of rabid bats as an appetizer and eat the a*s out of anteaters but some foreigner snuck in a bottle of the good stuff' In a March 8 tirade, Caputo claimed Democrats wanted to inflict hundreds of thousands of American deaths from the coronavirus. He said: 'Coronavirus is the Democrats' new Russia, their new Ukraine. And nobody will believe them except their zombies. But know this: The Dems' strategy to defeat @realDonaldTrump requires 100s of thousands of American deaths. Will one of their nutjobs make it happen, a la Hodgkinson?' In tweets made on March 12, Caputo responded to conspiracy theories that the US brought the virus to Wuhan, China, by asserting that 'millions of Chinese suck the blood out of rabid bats as an appetizer and eat the a*s out of anteaters but some foreigner snuck in a bottle of the good stuff.' He made numerous tweets slamming Democrats and the media The Republican made many tweets referring to the virus as the 'Chinese Virus' When reporters began asking Trump why he was referring to the coronavirus as the 'Chinese Virus,' Caputo took the opportunity to slam the media The next day, Caputo - a long time friend of Roger Stone - referred to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo as an 'a**hat'. The Republican made many tweets referring to the virus as the 'Chinese Virus.' When reporters began asking Trump why he was referring to the coronavirus as the 'Chinese Virus,' Caputo took the opportunity to slam the media and declared: 'And they wonder why many consider them now the enemy of the people. Carrying water for the Chinese Communist Party is reason enough.' On March 28, in an another attack against the media, Caputo quote tweeted remarks made by MSNBC's Chris Hayes - regarding the country's handling of the virus - and asked: 'Who knew @chrislhayes is Chinese?' Caputo - a long time friend of Roger Stone - referred to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo as an 'a**hat' On March 28, in an another attack against the media, Caputo quote tweeted remarks made by MSNBC's Chris Hayes - regarding the country's handling of the virus - and asked: 'Who knew @chrislhayes is Chinese?' When asked about the remarks, Caputo said that the tweets were 'fair game, dude.' He added: 'I don't care. It doesn't matter to me at all.' Caputo claims that he deletes his tweets 'every month and I do it because it drives people mad.' 'When you tweet in spirited fashion, KFile is going to have them. I've known that all my days. So I don't mind what you've done.' Caputo testified in the Mueller investigation and adamantly denied there was collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. He has led efforts to have Stone pardoned after he was found guilty of lying to Congress, obstructing a congressional inquiry and witness tampering. GameStop Corp. GME recently announced updated plans in response to the COVID-19 impact. The updates include executive pay cuts, furloughs and reopening of certain stores. The company also provided sales data. The gaming retailer said that it has started the process of reopening outlets across Italy, Austria, Germany, and the states of South Carolina and Georgia. After Australia, the company is looking forward to reopening stores in other countries as well. However, its U.S. stores remain shut but two-thirds of such stores are functioning through curbside pick-up. In addition, the company has decided on a temporary pay cut of 50% for its CEO and 30% for the chief financial officer and rest of its executive leadership team. Also, the boards cash compensation has been lowered by 50%. Starting Apr 26, the company has decided to temporarily cut pay by 10-30% for some of its employees worldwide. Some of the companys corporate support staff have been given a choice between going for a furlough or working under a reduced workweek/cut pay program. GameStop has also cut down on capital spend and lowered inventory receipts. Moreover, it has not paid part of its certain lease payments, and is in discussions with landlords in relation to rent payments, potential abatement and restructuring of future rents during the coronavirus-led closure period. As of Apr 4, it had roughly $772 million in total cash, including $706 million in cash and $66 million available on its revolver. What Else? For the nine weeks ending Apr 4, GameStops comparable store sales fell 23% year over year, reflecting the impact of store closures through March. For the March period ending on the 21st of the month, comparable U.S. store sales increased roughly 3% on higher demand for products that people require to work or play from home. For the five weeks period in fiscal March, the companys Australia unit recorded comparable store sales growth of about 64%. Moreover, the stores in the same region have been delivering strong results, with nearly 24% comparable store sales for nine weeks ended Apr 4. In the wake of the pandemic, curbside pickup has been gaining traction as companies are now resorting to this to curb the spread of the virus. The service has been driving sales, partly making up for the lost sales owing to closed stores. Impressively, GameStop has retained more than 90% of its planned sales across two-thirds of its stores with curbside pick-up facility. Renowned retailers like Best Buy BBY and Sprouts Farmers SFM have also been enhancing their curbside pick-up capabilities. Other retailers like Casey's CASY have been ramping up delivery capabilities in the wake of the crisis. Story continues Coming to GameStop, the Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock has gained 3.5% against the industrys 37.7% decline over the past three months. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. 5 Stocks Set to Double Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth. Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >> 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 Best Buy Co., Inc. (BBY) : Free Stock Analysis Report GameStop Corp. (GME) : Free Stock Analysis Report Casey's General Stores, Inc. (CASY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. (SFM) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research IANS, April 22, 2020 Four Afghan civilians were killed when a vehicle they were travelling in hit a roadside bomb in eastern Ghazni province, provincial government spokesman confirmed on Wednesday. "The incident occurred in Peerka locality of Khogyani district on Tuesday night. The district police officials were trying to find and notify the next of kin of the victims," spokesman Harif Noori told Xinhua. He blamed enemies of peace, referring to the Taliban militant group, for the attack in the province, 125 km south of the country''s capital Kabul, Xinhua news agency reported. Militants in Afghanistan have been using home-made IEDs to make roadside bombs and landmines to target security forces, but the lethal weapons also inflict casualties on civilians. On Tuesday morning, two police officers were killed and three police officials, including provincial police chief, were injured after a roadside bomb struck a police van in central Daikundi province. An artist and geographer in Toronto, Canada, has assembled a social distancing machine to show city authorities how difficult it can be for people to stay 2 metres apart on some of Torontos streets amid the coronavirus pandemic. Daniel Rotsztain made the circular device with plastic and rubber tubing before videoing artist Bobby Gadda bumping into objects and pedestrians on a walk through downtown Toronto last week. The duo, who have called for the widening of Torontos sidewalks while social distancing measures are in place, used the viral video to prove to city authorities that maintaining a 2m distance from others at all times was impossible. Mr Rotsztain said in a Twitter post that he created the social distancing machine to show why @cityoftoronto needs to close major streets like Yonge during COVID-19. Our sidewalks are too narrow to keep a safe distance. During their minute-long video, which has had more than 360k views on Twitter, Mr Gadda is shown swerving on and off the sidewalk while other pedestrians are forced to do the same to maintain a 2m distance. On Yonge Street, the sidewalk is so narrow that Mr Gadda had no option but to walk in the middle of the road. Humorous captions including out of the way buddy and dude have helped the Toronto Public Space Committee members to prove their point. Toronto is kind of in the midst of an identity crisis, Mr Rotsztain told Streetsblog. It was once a city for people, but its now primarily designed around the car. The Toronto Public Space Committee wants to be playful and experimental and bold when it comes to widening the pedestrian realm again. Especially during the pandemic, which is a really dark time for many of us, its important to keep messaging positive. Mr Rotsztain has called on Toronto residents to petition Mayor John Tory and Toronto City Council to close some downtown streets to cars so that pedestrians can walk safely while maintaining social distancing. Toronto can become a part of a movement of over 60 cities that have turned over road space to people on foot and bike to maintain their distance, reads one petition letter shared online. Canadian cities including Vancouver, Edmonton, Montreal and Brampton have been among the first to prioritise road space for pedestrians and cyclists to maintain social distancing measures. But Dr. Eileen de Villa, Torontos medical officer of health, said last week that increasing pedestrian space would encourage more people to leave their homes. We do not want to inadvertently encourage people to leave their homes through opening streets, which could result in higher pedestrian demand and social gathering, said Dr de Villa. On Wednesday, Torontos Medical Office of Health announced that confirmed cases of coronavirus were lower than expected thanks to the citys advice on staying at home and social distancing . There are currently 3,416 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Toronto, and 190 deaths in the city since the start of the pandemic. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 13:16:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Yu Shuaishuai ATHENS, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Greek authorities said Wednesday that seven new cases of COVID-19 have been reported across the country over the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 2,408 with 121 deaths. This is the first time the newly confirmed daily caseload in Greece has dropped below 10, after 48 consecutive days of 10-plus cases per day since the outbreak on Feb. 26. It's also the first day that no death has been reported since March 14. EARLY RESPONSE Greece has a population of 11 million, of which over 25 percent is over 60 years of age, making it the second-oldest in the EU, only behind Italy. Due to a decade of austerity demanded in return for rescue loans from international lenders to keep the country afloat, Greece's public health expenses were cut by three quarters. Many doctors went to other countries to find a career. When the epidemic broke out in the country, it had only 560 intensive care beds, which means 5.2 beds per 100,000 people, the lowest in the EU. Experts and international media pointed out that early response has been one advantage Greece has gained in the fight against the virus. Greece was an early adopter of "social distancing" strategies. The first case occurred on Feb. 26, when the government canceled all the carnivals nationwide for the coming few days. On March 3, the government implemented the first batch of targeted restrictions. On March 10, the authorities shut down all schools and universities, followed by closure of law courts, theaters, cinemas, culture events venues, clubs and gyms on March 12, when the first death in Greece was announced. The Greek government appointed Sotiris Tsiodras, a Greek specialist on infectious diseases, as spokesperson for the Greek health ministry for the epidemic in early February, and formed a committee of epidemiologists and doctors to advise on the control of the virus spread. The government, led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, announced a national lockdown on March 23, and extended it lately to April 27. Those who violated the measure face a minimum 150 euro fine. On the first day and a half after the lockdown announce, Greek police imposed nearly 800 fines to individuals who violated the measure. Panagiotis Behrakis, a Greek pulmonologist-intensivist, attributed the country's success in the virus fight largely to the government's early response and intervention with great decisiveness "which was proved life saving." "(The Greek government) implemented measures of prevention at the right time and this in combination with the very positive acceptance the measures received by the Greek public, leading to the excellent result we have today," Behrakis told Xinhua in an interview on Wednesday. Most Greeks' obedience to the government advice to remain indoors is also seen as key to Greece's temporary success to contain the virus. "Greeks have been through crisis; they know what it is. I think that also enabled them to adapt and be stoic," Alex Patelis, economic adviser to the Greek government, told The Guardian in a recent interview, noting that the Greek economic meltdown did indeed play a role in its virus fight. CHALLENGE REMAINS Greek authorities announced on Tuesday that more than 150 asylum seekers in a hotel in Peloponnese peninsula in southern Greece have tested positive for COVID-19. A total of 470 asylum seekers, mainly from Africa, were staying at the hotel which is used as a refugee accommodation facility. Greece now accommodates over 70,000 asylum seekers and more than 38,800 were in overflowing reception centers on five Aegean Sea islands, according to the latest data provided by the government. The country has been burdened with a major refugee and migrant problem since 2015. Earlier this month, the government immediately quarantined two other refugee facilities near Athens after coronavirus cases were reported there. Aid agencies have kept calling for more concerted actions at the European level to tackle the migration issue and human rights protection organizations have expressed worries about the over-crowdedness and lack of health sources in the camps on Aegean islands, which may result in "a massive humanitarian crisis." Greek government spokesperson Stelios Petsas noted during an interview with a local television on Wednesday that the next days are crucial when referring to the recent coronavirus outbreak at the refugee facility. "We are neither optimistic nor pessimistic; we are closely monitoring the situation," Petsas said. Meanwhile, in an article published by Spiegel and Deutsche Welle, Greece ranks 15th among the European countries where citizens are safer against the coronavirus. The article said that Greece lags behind in terms of two criterion, the availability of hospital beds and the mass of diagnostic tests, although the country has increased its ICU beds from 560 to 900 in a short time. The Greek health ministry announced on Wednesday that 56,944 tests have been carried out in the country since the outbreak, but some voices from doctors said that more tests are needed to boost confidence of the public. Some Greek officials also said that the country wants to get rid of being labelled as the "black sheep" of Europe from the debt crisis, by showing a successful containment of the coronavirus. "What is consoling, however, is that we are no longer a special case. We are not a black sheep," said Mitsotakis in a recent interview with Greek newspaper Kathimerini, adding that Greeks have shown discipline and resilience in this battle. [April 23, 2020] Assured Guaranty Ltd. to Report First Quarter 2020 Financial Results on May 7, 2020 Assured Guaranty Ltd. (NYSE: AGO)(the Company) today announced that it will issue its financial results press release for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020 after 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (5:00 p.m. Atlantic Time) on Thursday, May 7, 2020. The press release and Assured Guaranty Ltd.'s Financial Supplement for March 31, 2020 will be available in the Investor Information section of the Company's website located at AssuredGuaranty.com. The Company will host a conference call for investors at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (9:00 a.m. Atlantic Time) on Friday, May 8, 2020. The conference call will be available via live andarchived webcast in the Investor Information section of the Company's website at AssuredGuaranty.com or by dialing 1-877-281-1545 (in the U.S.) or 1-412-902-6609 (International). A replay of the call will be made available through August 7, 2020. To listen to the replay, dial 1-877-344-7529 (in the U.S.) or 1-412-317-0088 (International), passcode 10142873. The replay will be available one hour after the conference call ends. Assured Guaranty Ltd. is a publicly traded Bermuda-based holding company. Through its subsidiaries, Assured Guaranty provides credit enhancement products to the U.S. and international public finance, infrastructure and structured finance markets and also provides asset management services. More information on Assured Guaranty Ltd. and its subsidiaries can be found at AssuredGuaranty.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005134/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Hollywood star Richard Gere and his wife, activist Alejandra Silva have become parents to their second child, a boy. According to Spanish magazine Hola!, the couple welcomed another son and are spending time on their ranch on Pound Ridge, outside New York. The date of birth of the newborn is unknown. Gere, 70, and Silva, 37, already share another son Alexander, who was born early last year. The veteran actor also has son Homer, 20 with ex-wife, actor Carey Lowell, while Silva has a seven-year-old son with former husband Govind Friedland. Gere and Silva had secretly wed in April 2018 after more than three years of dating. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) While Moroccan authorities are making huge efforts to limit the spread of the coronavirus that already infected 3,537 people and killed 151, some still do not take the situation seriously and continue to challenge the precautionary measures decreed in the country. Actually, since the state of health emergency was decreed on March 20, the police brought before the prosecution 30,689 offenders. Just during the last 24 hours, some 3,590 people have been arrested, of whom 2,036 have been placed in police custody. The national police indicate that since March 20, they have arrested 57,003 people across the country. The largest numbers of arrests were conducted in Casablanca (7,887) followed by Rabat (7,632), Kenitra (5,753), Marrakech (5,332), Oujda (5,079), Agadir (4,017), Sale (3,357) and Meknes (3,033). Greg Hatala/For NJ Advance Media Don't Edit Vintage photos of drug stores and pharmacies in N.J. There has been some debate as to when and where the first drugstore opened in America. According to an article published in the New York Business Journal, C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries in New York City, which opened in 1838, describes itself as "the oldest functioning apothecary in the United States." Some claim the first drugstore opened in New Orleans in 1823 while still others say the first pharmacy dates back to Revolutionary War-era Fredricksburg, Virginia, according to drugstoremuseum.com. What likely has never been debated is the value of the drugstore in American towns and cities. With the coronavirus outbreak, drugstores have been classified essential business. But, drugstores have always been essential -- and, for more than just dispensing medicine. In some communities, the first telephone was hooked up and made available for use in the town pharmacy. Drugstores with soda fountains became the town's social spot. Over the years, drugstores carved out niches to coexist with grocery stores and markets. Many sold film and photo supplies and connected with developing services as photography became more popular and affordable. In some towns, the drugstore was the only place to purchase greeting cards. Here's a gallery of the "corner drug stores" that served our needs in New Jersey. Click on the links in the final slide to see more vintage photos. And if you have vintage photos you'd like to see in our slide shows, send them in an email to greghatalagalleries@gmail.com. Don't Edit Courtesy of the Historical Society of Bloomfield A photo of the interior of Scherff's Drug Store at Glenwood Avenue and Washington Street in Bloomfield taken in 1882. Don't Edit Courtesy of Jim Paxson Customers wait to fill prescriptions at Bayless Drug Store on Atlantic Avenue in Atlantic City in this photo from the 1950s. Alburtus Steward is the pharmacist. Don't Edit Courtesy of the Boonton Historical Society The Cornelia Pharmacy was located on Main Street in Boonton; the photo is from the 1940s. Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Dennis Abriola Goodfellow's Drug Store was located at the corner of Landis Avenue and the Boulevard in Vineland. The photo is from 1904. Don't Edit Courtesy of Vintage Bergen County Cathay Drugs in Waldwick is shown in a photo from 1955. Don't Edit Courtesy of Deidra McLaughlin Reider's Drugs in Montclair, pictured here in the 1950s, was sandwiched between a sport shop and hardware/auto supply/bicycle shop. Don't Edit Courtesy of Keith Hogle This photo of Kasdin Drugs in Paulsboro is from the 1950s. Don't Edit Courtesy of Dave Townsend This was MacLennan's Pharmacy in Gloucester City; the photo appears to be from the early 1930s. Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Vintage Bergen County This photo of Drug Fair in Scotch Plains was taken in 1954. Don't Edit Courtesy of Kay Kearney Taylor's Drug Store in Westville is shown in a circa-1960s photo; the two men are unidentified. Don't Edit Courtesy of Vintage Bergen County Mr. and Mrs. Roy Schmidt and their son, Alan, were photographed on a Sunday afternoon in 1941 inside their drug store on Pleasant Avenue in Maywood. Don't Edit A circa-1960s photo taken at Plutchok Pharmacy in Passaic shows some prescriptions were still mixed the old-fashioned way. Pictured (from left) are George C.P. Voss Jr. RPh, Bruce Plutchok RPh, and Michael J. DuBois Jr. RPh. Don't Edit Courtesy of Robert Certo A photo taken in front of Spotswood Pharmacy in 1958; the two adult women in the photo are identified as Brenda Coar and June Coar. Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of the Gloucester County Historical Society Charles White, pictured, owned and operated this drugstore and soda fountain at Kings Highway and Mill Street in Swedesboro from 1924 to 1940; the photo is from 1935. Don't Edit Courtesy of the Westfield Historical Society In 1900, the switchboard for all phone calls in Westfield was placed in William Trenchard's Westfield Pharmacy. This photo was taken shortly after. Don't Edit Courtesy of Paul Lake Jerry's Drugs is shown in Bayonne in the 1950s; it's still in business at 455 Broadway, now also offering surgical supplies. Don't Edit Courtesy of the Wyckoff Historical Society An early incarnation of Miller's Main Pharmacy in Wyckoff is shown in this undated photo; the business is now known as Miller's Pharmacy and Surgical. Don't Edit Courtesy of Barbara Jones Two unidentified gents are shown in Ruziki's Drug Store in Manville in the 1970s. Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of the Burlington County Historical Society When this photo was taken in Burlington the 1930s, the ground-floor business was known as Wheatley's Drug Store; the signage on the building is left over from prior businesses - the building itself dated back to 1733. Don't Edit Courtesy of Vintage Bergen County Levy's Woodridge Pharmacy could be found at the corner of Hackensack Street and Union Avenue in Wood-Ridge; this photo was taken in 1922. Don't Edit Courtesy of Ethan Reiss When drug store met mall; the Nescott Drug Store is very busy not long after its opening at the Miracle Mall in East Brunswick in 1970. Don't Edit Courtesy of Terry Pangburn Dorothy and Albert Chiola ran Chiola's Pharmacy in Millville for many years; this photo is from 1966. Don't Edit Courtesy of the Atlantic County Historical Society Ralston's Pharmacy was located at Shore Road and Delaware Avenue in Somers Point; the photo is from the late 1930s. Don't Edit Don't Edit Greg Hatala/For NJ Advance Media Vintage photos of specialty stores in N.J. https://www.nj.com/news/2016/03/vintage_photos_of_specialty_stores_in_nj.html Vintage photos of Americana in N.J. https://www.nj.com/news/2018/06/vintage_photos_of_americana_in_nj.html Vintage photos of unique N.J. https://www.nj.com/news/2017/10/vintage_photos_of_unique_nj.html Odds are in favour of a no-deal Brexit despite coronavirus pandemic, according to betting firm Smarkets. (Getty) Betting exchange Smarkets says there is a 63% chance that Britains Brexit transition period will not be extended beyond the end of the year. The group said this is a substantial leap in probability from just 15% last week due to the recent statements made by the UK government on exit from the European Union (EU). The transition period for Britain leaving the EU is due to end on 31 December. During this period, Britain was set to negotiate trade agreements with the 27-nation bloc as well as a number of other measures. However, if no agreement has been made by this time, there will be a gulf of rules and tariffs between the parties. Over the last few days, Whitehall said it will not accept any delay to the Brexit transition period beyond this year even if the EU offers an extension. We will not ask to extend the transition. And, if the EU asks, we will say no. Extending the transition would simply prolong the negotiations, prolong business uncertainty, and delay the moment of control of our borders, said a spokesperson. Read more: IMF: UK should seek longer Brexit transition due to coronavirus pandemic Smarkets says that for this reason, it is likely were heading for a no-deal Brexit, since there is a 94% chance that a trade agreement won't be struck this year. What normal eventually looks like will also be affected by what seems increasingly possible on Smarkets: that the UK will have a no-deal Brexit at the end of 2020, said Sarbjit Bakhshi, head of political markets at Smarkets. Until mid-April, our users put an extension to the transition period as more likely, but recent statements by Number 10 have flipped the market and now no extension is more probable at 63%. Meanwhile, our market shows a 94% chance that a trade deal will not be struck between the UK and EU this year. If a no-deal Brexit follows hot on the heels of the coronavirus crisis, normality might be a long way off indeed. Graphic: Smarkets The coronavirus pandemic has significantly changed everything as leaders across the globe battle to contain COVID-19 as well as help mitigate the damage to the economy. Story continues The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the global pandemic is likely to cause the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s and do lasting damage to the global economy. Britain is currently in its fifth week of lockdown, which is having a dramatic effect on businesses, jobs, and the economy. Latest figures show another 759 people have died from coronavirus in UK hospitals, bringing the total number of deaths to 18,100. Read more: UK economy suffers record shock and 'unprecedented' job losses On Thursday, data provider IHS Markit and the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) released the latest flash figures from their monthly UK purchasing managers index (PMI) survey. It showed that the UK economy has suffered its worst month in decades as the coronavirus crisis has wreaked havoc for millions of firms. Last week, the head of the IMF urged Britain to ask for an extension to its post-Brexit transition period due to the unprecedented impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on the economy. Kristalina Georgieva, told BBC radio that "it is tough as it is. Let's not make it any tougher. My advice would be to seek ways in which this element of uncertainty is reduced in the interests of everybody, of the UK, of the EU, the whole world. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo Finance UK The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities will launch tonight at 8:00 pm a new virtual tour of the Funerary Complex of King Unas. The tour will be posted on the ministrys official website and social media platforms. The Funerary Complex of King Unas consists of the valley temple, mortuary temple, the causeway connecting them, and the pyramid itself. King Unas (c.23752345 BC), is the last king of the5th Dynasty. His pyramids complex contains all the components of the royal funerary complex of the Old Kingdom. The entrance to the pyramid is located on its north side. A descending corridor leads to a hall, and then to a horizontal gallery ending in an antechamber with three small magazines on its left. On the right is the burial chamber, which contains the oldest known pyramid texts. These are religious inscriptions that helped the deceased king in his resurrection, guiding him to reach the sun god Ra in the sky. The mortuary temple, dedicated to the performance of religious rituals for the king after his death, is located on the east side of the pyramid. It contains a court with columns, a sanctuary, altar, and a number of magazines. From 1899 to 1903, excavations took place in the area surrounding the pyramid, which led to the discovery of numerous shaft tombs from the 26th (664525 BC) and 27th Dynasties (525404 BC), as well as the tomb of King Hetepsekhemwy, founder of the 2nd Dynasty (c.2890 BC), which lies directly beneath the mortuary temple. This tomb consists of a 50-metre long corridor sculpted in rock that has 80 storage rooms on its left and right. Search Keywords: Short link: GUIYANG, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Guizhou Province plans to set up 13,000 5G base stations by the end of 2020, according to local authorities. "We have started the construction of the first batch of 3,143 5G base stations, which will be completed by around the end of May," said Guo Zhihan, deputy director of Guizhou Communications Administration. The province will invest a total of 20 billion yuan (about 2.82 billion U.S. dollars) in 5G construction and set up 32,000 5G base stations from 2019 to 2022, achieving the full commercial use of 5G by 2022. Guizhou is known as "data valley" as China established the first big data pilot zone there in 2012. A moderate climate, sufficient power supply, and adequate network infrastructure make it attractive to big data enterprises. (Bloomberg) -- Intel Corp. withdrew its full-year sales forecast, citing significant economic uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The companys shares fell more than 5% in late trading. The worlds largest semiconductor maker reported a 23% jump in first-quarter revenue and better-than-projected profit, bolstered by demand for chips that run the laptops and server machines companies need to keep people working from home. Though it gave an optimistic second-quarter sales target, Intels profit outlook fell short of estimates, sparking concerns that a spending slowdown will drag on business for the rest of 2020. Sales in the current period will be about $18.5 billion, the Santa Clara, California-based company said in a statement Thursday. Analysts estimated $18.08 billion on average, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Net income will be about $1.04 a share, compared with Wall Street expectations of $1.11. Investors were caught off guard by the profit forecast, Logan Purk, an analyst at Edward D. Jones & Co., said. When theyre crushing it on the top line but whiffing pretty hard on the earnings, its a shock. Read more: Intel Analysts Say Weak Margin View Overshadows Revenue Growth Companies have reacted to coronavirus shelter-in-place orders by buying more laptops to keep employees working remotely. At the same time, data-center owners have responded to a surge in video-conferencing, social-media use and movie streaming by stocking up on pricey Intel processors that run server machines. Those trends fueled a 14% increase in PC-related chip sales in the first quarter, and a 43% gain in the companys data-center division. Still, the soaring first-quarter sales fed into concerns that demand may have peaked early in the year, with Intel and its customers girding for the worst recession since the 2008 financial crisis. In the report, the chipmaker said it expects weaker demand from government and corporate clients in the second half of 2020. Story continues Revenue growth was strong in the quarter, but is likely not sustainable, said Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore. While the factors behind a disappointing margin outlook were described as temporary, the company could face challenges in the second half of the year, he said. The second half demand picture is more uncertain, Chief Executive Officer Bob Swan said during a conference call with analysts. For Intels PC chip business, the economic slowdown will outweigh demand from the work-from-home trend, the company said. The data center division will benefit from continued chip purchases by large cloud providers, it added. The company suspended share repurchases in late March and did not reinstate buybacks on Thursday. It also sold $10 billion of debt recently to give itself a financial cushion if needed, Chief Financial Officer George Davis said in an interview following the results. At some point were going to see the recession start to impact demand for PCs, Davis told analysts on the conference call. Intel is already seeing the impact on automotive customers and the Internet-of-Things business, he added. Gross margin, or the percentage of sales remaining after deducting the cost of production, will suffer in the second quarter as Intel increases production of new chips. That will be reversed when those products go on sale in the second half, he said. First-quarter sales climbed to $19.8 billion, the chipmaker said. Analysts on average had predicted $18.83 billion. Net income was $5.7 billion, or $1.31 a share, compared with per-share estimates for $1.23. Gross margin, or the percentage of sales remaining after deducting the cost of production, widened to 60.6% in the quarter. Intel shares, which closed at $59.04 in New York, dropped as low as $55.26 following the earnings report. The stock is down about 1% for 2020. (Updates with analyst comment in seventh 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. China in Focus (April 22): Harbin City Has 200 Times More Virus Cases Than Reported, Internal Documents Reveal Internal documents obtained by NTD show the infected CCP virus cases in Harbin City may be 200 times the official figure. Residents in Chinas northernmost province are worried that the epidemic has been seriously concealed by the regime. Four children found dead at an illegal construction site in central China. Now, outrage, after journalists were attacked for trying to investigate. China is rolling out digital coupons in an effort to stave off a recession. But many residents point out fallacies. A Chinese doctor lost his job after he spoke up against authorities virus control policies. We spoke to the doctor about it. And U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo slams China for failing to disclose the virus outbreak in a timely manner to the WHO. NTD refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. Subscribe to our Youtube channel for more first-hand news from China For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter The Vietnam China fisheries inspection trip in the Gulf of Tonkin, the first of its kind this year, successfully wrapped up on April 23, as part of a plan to extend the bilateral fisheries cooperation agreement. Vessels in the trip Joining the three-day trip were Vessels 8004 and 8003 from Vietnam's Coast Guard High Command Region 1 and Vessels 4302 and 4204 from the Chinese Coast Guard. It was the 19th joint trip covering nine points in the joint fishing area in the Gulf of Tonkin in line with the agreement signed by the Vietnamese and Chinese governments in 2000. During the trip, both sides inspected and monitored fishing activities by fishermen, raised their awareness about the provisions on the operation and conduct in the sea, and disseminated relevant laws among them. On the occasion, the Vietnam Coast Guard carried out a programme to support Vietnamese fishermen whose vessels are operating in the joint fishing areas. Fishermen are asked to comply with the law. The work in the Gulf of Tonkin has been strengthened over the time. Through monthly updates on vessels violating the agreement, the sides have bolstered communication work for fishermen, contributing to building the joint fishery areas in the Gulf of Tonkin into a region of peace, friendship and cooperation. The joint inspection this time has fulfilled its targets./. VNA A man in his 60s died and a firefighter was injured in a fire that broke out in a home in the Fernwood neighborhood on the South Side on Thursday morning, officials said. MONTICELLO, Ind. (WLFI) Monticello Mayor Cathy Gross said Indiana Beach has a new buyer. The park is planning to reopen this year. Mayor Gross said the official announcement Thursday has sparked a lot of joy in the community. "I hope I speak for most for the community," said Mayor Gross. "We are just excited to know that someone, some group has the same affection for and vision for what we know as our jewel." She said Gene Staples has taken over as the owner. Staples is president of Indiana Beach Holdings, LLC, and now the new owner of the nearly 100-year-old park. "Indiana Beach, it has a tremendous legacy," said Mayor Gross. "I am hopeful he [Staples] will keep moving forward." As we previously reported in February the park closed for financial reasons. The park's owner at the time, Apex Parks Group said a search for buyers ended successfully. Indiana Beach updated its Facebook page. It said, "we're back!' This story will be updated with an interview from Staples. 23 Apr The Vice President of the Philippines Leni Robredo recently revealed that she was pleasantly surprised to welcome actor Enchong Dee, who showed up at her office to send donations. As reported on ABS-CBN, on 21 April, the politician shared a photo of her and Dee on Facebook in front of several packs of donated items, writing, "He appeared out of nowhere this afternoon, on his own. He brought PPEs for frontliners and food for volunteers." "May you live long, Enchong Dee," she added. Robredo's office has been donating PPEs and food to the frontliners, aside from providing accommodations and transport to them since the start of the pandemic. On the other hand, Dee, who also shared similar photo on Instagram, revealed that the donation came from him and fellow actor Ria Atayde, as well as their fans and friends. "A little something for the protection of our Frontliners. We decided to forward our fund raising efforts to the OVP since they have access to more hospitals," he posted. (Photo Source: Leni Robredo Instagram) Photo: Telus Telus Health is expanding its Home Health Monitoring (HHM) solution so nurses and other healthcare providers in BC can continue to digitally monitor patients remotely while they recover from COVID-19. Launched with the B.C. Ministry of Health and local health authorities, the digital health dashboard allows healthcare providers to track the symptoms and provide medical help for patients as they recover outside of hospitals in the comfort of their own homes. Nearly 400 COVID-19 cases in BC have benefitted from HHM with 24 cases from the Interior Health Region. As we face the immense challenge of COVID-19, Telus Health is committed to working alongside BCs healthcare leaders to expand the use of technology solutions like Home Health Monitoring to support more British Columbians while recovering at home, said Darren Entwistle, president and CEO, Telus. By enabling clinicians to remotely observe the vitals of patients with COVID-19, as well as those who are vulnerable to the virus, and provide necessary interventions early, we can reduce exposure and also help to alleviate the pressure in hospital emergency rooms and clinics. The platform is accessible through a phone, where the program sends daily prompts for the patient to report their biometrics such as temperature, physical symptoms and overall health condition. This provides crucial information on the patients health to their clinicians who are regularly and remotely monitoring their well-being through a digital dashboard. HHM prompts the patient to complete a daily online questionnaire to report their temperature, physical symptoms and overall health condition to their healthcare teams. The dashboard-style system also allows clinicians to support a much larger group of patients at one time - one clinician for 100 patients. Depending on their symptoms, patients may be advised to contact their doctor, or visit their nearest hospital, while others with improving symptoms may be told to continue recovering and isolating at home. Home monitoring is a significant part of our response to the ongoing pandemic. We are grateful for the technology and partnership with Telus Health enabling our efforts, said Lisa Saffarek, Clinical Director Virtual Care and Home Health Monitoring lead at Island Health. With the Home Health Monitoring solution, we are able to stay connected with our patients, provide symptom support and ensure our patients who are quarantined or isolated at home are provided with safe and effective care. The monitoring solution has also improved clinical capacity for our Public Health team, the front line of our pandemic response. HHM by Telus Health has been in use in B.C since 2013 to remotely monitor thousands of patients in the province. Our investment has enabled us to act quickly to monitor our patients in isolation while also providing them with peace of mind, knowing that they are being monitored daily by their healthcare teams," says Corrie Barclay, Assistant Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Management and Information Technology with the B.C. Ministry of Health. "As well, our clinicians are given the assurance that we are keeping track of our vulnerable citizens," Fatigue is setting in amid the lockdown. Fatigue with being cooped up. Everyone is getting more impatient and frustrated about job losses, financial worries and a closed economy. Just as we all entered this pandemic with a desire for full co-operation and a basic belief in the measures our caretaker government was taking to deal with it, many are now starting to question how some issues are being handled. A sense of 'we are all in this together' has got the Government so far with unquestioning support for its crisis response. Impatience with that too is starting to creep in. There has been a political backlash to how the response completely underestimated and overlooked the potential risks for thousands of elderly people in care settings. Now questions are being asked elsewhere, especially when it comes to the economy. Here are some areas of concern. 1. Fruit and veg Taoiseach Leo Varadkar flip-flopped on the issue of migrant workers coming in to bail out the fruit and vegetable sector. At first, he expressed concern about fruit grower Keelings flying in around 150 Bulgarians to pick fruit. By singling out this one firm, he was putting a real black mark up against the fact it had hired a charter plane to fly workers in. Just a few days later, when it emerged that nobody, from Keelings to Dublin Airport, had breached any guidelines or rules, the problem clearly lay in the way the guidelines themselves were framed. Varadkar said agricultural workers were needed to bring in the harvest which will ensure we have enough food to eat. "So I think people will understand why they are essential workers," he said. He then added a bizarre comment: "When we deemed agricultural workers to be essential workers, I hadn't envisaged hundreds of agricultural workers coming in from outside the country." Clearly, he hadn't a clue how this industry works and even if he didn't know, the comment suggests that at no point was this fact raised at senior-level meetings or at Cabinet. In the UK, recruitment firms which take in 80,000 migrant workers from eastern Europe each summer had been advertising a 'Feed the Nation' campaign for British people to do these jobs as far back as March 20. Around 36,000 people in Britain applied or expressed interest, as the industry there is short 50,000 workers, but only 6,000 opted for interview. One recruiter, Concordia, said that 900 had rejected job offers and 112 had taken them up. Poor wages, childcare and travel issues were all factors. Sometimes migrant workers will live two or three to a caravan for the summer on these jobs, something which many locals felt just wasn't for them. Keelings may not have broken any rules but it has been caught in the media storm, which throws a spotlight on how relatively low-paid this work is, especially if you are not fast at it. It has always been like this. Consumers want their food as cheaply as possible. This is what makes it possible. Workers deserve better conditions but maybe we would all have to pay for it with higher prices. 2. Private hospitals The Government was praised for coming up with a swift response to the pressure on our health system. It increased ICU capacity and did a 115m-per-month deal with private hospitals. Not all of this bed capacity is needed, with just 339 of the 2,000 or so beds in private hospitals occupied. If all were in use, the State would be paying the equivalent of 1,800 per bed per night. At current occupancy levels, it is paying 15,000 per night per bed. Around 600 private hospital consultants have not signed up to the new terms put to them by the State, and this is shaping up to be an expensive and unnecessary row. Perhaps it would be better to back off the contract and pay per bed per night. However, politics has come into this issue now, as well as the stated aim in Slaintecare of having a single care system. The State will spend close to half a billion euro discovering that such a lofty goal is still a very long way off. 3. Earning more on the dole The Government moved quickly to provide a financial cushion for employees and devised a generally good scheme very quickly. But it has real flaws. Employers are pointing out that for weeks now, staff who earned less than 350 per week because they were working part-time or trainees are at home earning more than if they were working. Small firms with part-time staff have found some of them are now on the Covid-19 unemployment payment of 350, while others are doing increased hours and still not making that much. At the same time, there are gaps in the scheme for those higher earners supporting families on 75,000 per year who want to use the wage subsidy initiative. Work in progress As discussion turns to gradually opening up the economy elsewhere, there is still no published plan or even criteria around which businesses will open up first, and under what kind of restrictions. The bones of an exit strategy have still to be worked out. A plan to compensate small companies directly with rent, supplier debts, bank debts and the need to remain in business has yet to emerge. If it doesn't come soon, it won't be a reboot but a defibrillation for small businesses. As big businesses such as airlines abroad look for bailouts, governments will have to examine whether they will seek to take part-ownership of companies they end up propping up. Imagine underwriting the debts of the banks during the financial crisis without taking equity in return. Something similar will have to be examined by governments in the months ahead. Discussions with insurers are still ongoing, despite multiple claims they are using every piece of small print in the book to avoid interruption insurance payouts. Even the suggestion that motorists should get a partial premium refund or forward discount has been met by the industry with comments that other countries aren't doing it. The Government needs to find the right pressure point with insurers and squeeze very hard, just as it did with the banks over the tracker mortgage scandal. When all of this is over, we will look back on how the crisis was handled. Undoubtedly, there will be lessons to learn and much has been done well. But we need to talk openly and constructively about what we have got wrong, as well as what we have got right so far, to ensure accountability and make sure unnecessary mistakes are not made. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Vinasse is a byproduct of sugar industry. Vinasse is a liquid residual left after fermentation and distillation of alcohol. Vinasse is used for production of biogas, and also for the production of methane which is used to generate electricity. The mineral nutrients present in vinasse are useful for algal and plant growth, especially for sugarcane. The use of vinasse in chemigation is increasing for agriculture areas, substituting potassium fertilizers and furnishing water, organic matter, and other mineral nutrients in negligible quantities which is increasing the market for vinasse. Get Sample Copy Of This Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/16693 Market Segmentation Vinasse is segmented by its type, application, form, and region. By its type, it is further segmented as beet vinasse and sugarcane vinasse. Beet vinasse is derived from the production of alcohol from sugar beet. Beet vinasse has a high fertilizing value. It provides a significant level of phosphorous and nitrogen. Beet vinasse is useful for organic farming and used as a fertilizer especially for arable crops. Sugarcane vinasse is used in alcohol. Sugarcane vinasse is high in organic matter and various nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and minerals such as zinc, iron, manganese, and others. By its application, it is segmented as animal feeding, beverages, and agriculture. In agriculture, it is useful in irrigation, especially for sugarcane. In the beverage industry, the distillery vinasse is low feed, as the sugar presents in the molasses used for alcohol production. Vinasse is used in liquid form for animal feeding, and it also used in powdered form which makes it easier to improve the intake. The use of vinasse as an additive is better for feeding and to increase weight and growth due to the presence of organic acids. It also used for feeding birds. By form, it is segmented by liquid and powdered. Liquid vinasse is useful for plants growth which shows rapid recovery. Regional Outlook There is an increasing demand for vinasse throughout the globe with the major exports accounting to the following region; North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Africa and APAC. North America accounts for a significantly bigger market, whereas there is an increase in market demand from developing countries. Asia Pacific region is expected to grow to a considerable fraction during the forecast period. Drivers Increasing demand for beverages is projected to rise the vinasse market over the forecast period. As it is an effluent from sugarcane, it is useful for alcohol production. Vinasse has high levels of potassium, calcium, and organic matter as well as nitrogen and phosphorous which is useful for crop production. In agriculture, it used as a fertilizer and as a raw material for single cell protein production and for energy conversation which is fuelling the demand for vinasse. Along with this, vinasse is mixed with soil to obtain soil vinasse which is then used for the production of non- structural bricks. As vinasse is rich in protein, it is helpful for animal feeding. Increasing popularity and consumption of beverages among consumers is expected to increase the market share of vinasse over the forecast period. The use of vinasse in agriculture is important, but it has several challenges due to its high polluting potential to soil and subterranean water i.e., underground water. Vinasse has high chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD) values that contribute to pollution. A high BOD can cause damage to aquatic life. Request For TOC @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/16693 An essential worker in Virginia has donated his $1200 stimulus check to a young father who has lost his job amid the coronavirus pandemic. Cameron Crockett, 32, took to Facebook last week announcing that he would be running a lottery to give the money to 'one randomly selected individual who has been forced out of work by mandatory shutdowns'. Crockett, who is continuing to work as a heating and air conditioning technician, explained that he was looking to help out someone who had been deeply affected by the crisis. Cameron Crockett (left) has donated his $1200 stimulus check to young father Aries Ziegler (right) who has lost his job amid the coronavirus pandemic. The pair met in person for the first time on Sunday Crockett announced that Ziegler was the recipient of his stimulus money - despite being contacted by nearly 50 other needy people 'I am thankful that my line of work makes me 'essential' in these times. Could I use the $1,200? Of course. Who couldn't? But I am doing this for two reasons. One: people more deeply affected by the crisis need it more than me, plain and simple. And two: I want to show in my own little way that we the people are far greater than our representatives in Washington,' he wrote. Crockett urged those who were out of work to send him a message explaining their situation, and he would randomly select one of them to receive the $1200. At least 50 people wrote to Crockett to say they had fallen on hard times and needed the extra money - evidence of the widespread economic impacts the coronavirus crisis is having on people across the country. On Sunday, Crockett randomly drew Aries Ziegler's name - a father from the Virginia Beach area who had recently lost his job as a bartender. The pair met in person later that same day. 'He was basically at a point where he was at a breaking point. He didn't have any savings left. He's faced with bills. He's got a young daughter to take care of,' Crockett later told Virginia news station WAVY. Crockett and Ziegler posed together for a heartwarming photo that has since been shared widely on social media. 'I have delivered $1,200 to Aries Ziegler,' Crockett wrote beneath the snap. 'While I could have held onto the money to try and buy a house or put it toward any number of things, I think it would be selfish of me to do that': Crockett is pictured in a recent social media snap Crockett is now encouraging others to share their government stimulus checks if they are not in immediate need 'Now my brother can keep hanging tight while this mess drags on. Thanks to everyone who entered. I wish I had the money to help everyone, but I'm happy to know my check went to a good, genuine soul. This is what true community looks like.' Crockett is now encouraging others to share their government stimulus checks if they are not in immediate need. 'While I could have held onto the money to try and buy a house or put it toward any number of things, I think it would be selfish of me to do that when I have friends out there who are faced with the very real threat of not being able to maintain a roof over their heads at all.' Crockett was only recently released from prison after serving more than seven years behind bars for involuntary manslaughter over a drunken driving incident that killed his friend. He has always maintained his innocence, insisting he wasn't driving the vehicle at the time of the crash. Crockett has now filed a civil lawsuit over the incident. He says his experience of being wrongfully imprisoned changed his perspective on life. 'No matter what your circumstances may be, it taught me there's always somebody out there whose circumstances are worse than yours,' he told WAVY. Ablexis, LLC, AlivaMab Discovery Services, LLC ("ADS"), and Berkeley Lights, Inc. today announced the rapid generation and recovery of sequences encoding a rich panel of human antibodies against the S1 spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon/Shutterstock.com Based on multiplex screening assays performed on the Beacon platform, these SARS-CoV-2 S1 antibodies may be binned into subsets based on their binding to the receptor-binding domain (S1B) of SARS-CoV2, blocking of S1B binding to the ACE2 receptor, and cross-reactivity with the S1 spike protein of the SARS-CoV virus. The observed diversity includes activities consistent with different mechanisms of action hypothesized for highly efficacious antibody therapy and prophylaxis of infection by SARS-CoV-2. The companies will jointly make these antibodies available to an organization with the capabilities and commitment for their further research and development. Through this collaborative project, our three companies have contributed their unique technologies and know-how to recover a diversity of potential drug-quality antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. We have observed excellent combinatorial and somatic diversity in this panel of antibodies selected for activities consistent with possible therapeutic mechanisms of action. This panel of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies can provide a wealth of material for further research and development.", Larry Green, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, Ablexis and ADS. "We believe the key to anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic development is to rapidly screen and recover functionally diverse antibodies from an in vivo model", said Eric Hobbs, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of Berkeley Lights. "Using the Berkeley Lights platform with our process of ultra-high-throughput function-first screening, we efficiently recovered different categories of antibodies with diverse activities, each of which we believe could contribute to the fight against this terrible disease." Ablexis' AlivaMab Mouse platform is used by the majority of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies as the platform of choice for the rapid and efficient generation of diverse panels of antibodies with inherent qualities needed for antibody drugs, including affinity, potency, specificity, and developability. AlivaMab Discovery Services immunized AlivaMab Mouse by expressing native trimeric SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in vivo using its propriety AMMPD-DNA technology, a process validated for rapidly eliciting strong IgG titers, and molecularly diverse, high affinity (very low picomolar) antibodies. Next, Berkeley Lights, a leader in single-cell selection and functional screening, deployed its platform capabilities using its Beacon system to interrogate single plasma B cells over a two-day period. Using the assays described above to screen for binding and function, the Beacon system efficiently recovered the naturally evolved fully human VH and VL sequences and therein connects antibody function to variable region sequence for the development of therapeutic treatments. Kingsley Owusu Brobbey 23.04.2020 LISTEN Disappointed Ghanaians have had mixed reactions to their long-awaited expectation; being an extension to the partial lockdown decision President Akufo -Ado made as a measure to combat this outrageous virus COVID - 19 that has taken the world by surprise since January. President Akufo-Ado in his seventh nation's address announced the lifting of the two to three weeks lockdown of the cities which he explained as the high risked areas, greater Accra and the Kasoa metropolis as well as greater Kumasi and its environ. The lifting of the ban that was imposed has rather infuriated some Ghanaians whereas others were excited looking at the media spectrum after the president's announcement. While others like the manager of Citi FM feel that the decision of the president is the best, the CEO of Winners Radio UK a former radio presenter of Ash FM and Kessben FM in Kumasi Mr. Kingsley Owusu Brobbey an addict supporter of the current government in power New Patriotic Party has disagreed vehemently with both the president's decision and to those in support. Mr Kingsley Owusu Brobbey is not of the view that the president's decision to lift the ban should be based on the ascendency or reduction of our infected cases as others have argued. In that, it didn't make sense to partially lockdown the prone areas when cases were in the hundreds and rather when the nation has hit the thousands he rather lifts the ban that was imposed on the affected areas. According to him the president's measures and decisions taken to curb this pandemic has been phenomenal especially before Ghana recorded its first case. In the president's address as his usual opening remark; He said, Fellow Ghanaians, in view of our ability to undertake aggressive contact tracing of infected persons, the enhancement of our capacity to test, the expansion in the numbers of our treatment and isolation centres, our better understanding of the dynamism of the virus, the ramping up of our domestic capacity to produce our own personal protective equipment, sanitisers and medicines, the modest successes chalked at containing the spread of the virus in Accra and Kumasi, and the severe impact on the poor and vulnerable, I have taken the decision to lift the three (3) week old restriction on movements in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area and Kasoa, and the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area and its contiguous districts, with effect from 1 am on Monday, 20th April. In effect, tomorrow will see the partial lockdown in Accra and Kumasi being lifted. As part of the partial lockdown measures, President Akufo-Addo initiated, 3 weeks ago in his speech on Sunday 19th of April still maintained his position that lifting of the partial lockdown doesn't affect the ban on public gathering, including church activities, funerals etc. This is his disappointment Was it not the same President Akufo-Addo who stated that the ravaging Coronavirus disease COVID-19 is so extraordinary that it calls for the people of God to seek the face of the one true God for healing and restoration? Did President Akufo-Addo indeed said These are not ordinary times, eminent clergy, and in such times the country, whose population is predominantly Christian, must seek the face of one true God for healing and restoration, so I humbly call you for this prayer meeting for us to join together to pray to the Almighty God to heal this land and save us from this pandemic Mr Brobbey believes Erudite leaders of these well-organised churches like church of Pentecost, Assemblies of God, Christ Apostolic, Royalhouse Chapel, Perez Chapel, International Central Gospel Church, Christian Action Faith Ministries, Lighthouse Chapel, Catholic, Methodist, Presbyterian Churches, etc. whom the president sought their assistance through prayer would have done a great job by educating their members whom most of them are market women of the importance of the social distancing which the deployed security forces couldn't handle effectively. Most leaders of these organisations are well educated and would have done a good job. Most of them already ran multiple services and therefore instilling social distancing measures, washing of hands, application of hand sanitisers and other W.H.O protocols set in place wouldn't have been a challenge. He shouldn't forget that these organisations also have staff that help in the day to day operations, therefore, keeping them at home isn't an ideal situation and family members also rely on these people for survival. The clergy plays a very vital role in the governance of our nation Ghana. Constructive Critics like Mr Brobbey, although has commended the president and his government of most of the measures taken, have asked the president to reconsider his decision on the lifting of the partial lockdown of businesses and others leaving out the churches. That said, he knows there are other 'charlatan' in the system that would mud the good ones but he knows the majority would be up for the task. By: Jeremiah Asare - April 21, 2020. (Freelance Journalist) UK Europeans and Americans have been taking to their windows and balconies to applaud health care workers on the front lines of the novel coronavirus crisis. Now, sailors on a tiny Pacific island are doing the same for Marines who've come to their aid. Crew members from the Navy's aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt coordinated a thank-you cheer for Marines with 3rd Law Enforcement Battalion. The Japan-based Marines arrived in Guam in early April and have been assisting the more than 4,000 members of the Roosevelt's crew who have faced weeks of quarantine after a widespread outbreak on their ship. Capt. Vicente Huerta, a military police officer with the battalion, described the moment in a Navy video. "They all came out on their balconies and just started cheering and clapping," Huerta said. "I started getting goosebumps, and I was like, 'OK, this is a different type of deployment.'" Related: Hundreds of Marines Arrive in Guam to Help Virus-Stricken Carrier Crew The Roosevelt has been sidelined in Guam since late March, when cases of COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, began spreading. Now, 840 sailors have tested positive for the illness, including Aviation Ordnanceman Chief Petty Officer Charles Robert Thacker Jr., who died in mid-April. Huerta called his mission of looking out for the crew members living out their two-week quarantines in hotels and other facilities on Guam "probably the most gratifying thing I've done so far in the Marine Corps." The captain said they've been flooded with letters of appreciation from the crew. The video shows messages left by the crew thanking Marines for making their food, delivering laundry and providing other services while they're in Guam. "We could not do this without you," one wrote. "Thank you," another said, "for everything you all have done and sacrificed to help us in this time of need." Aside from the law enforcement Marines, about 230 members of the Marine Corps' 3rd Medical Battalion have also deployed to Guam to assist the carrier's crew. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Read More: Thunderbirds, Blue Angels Team Up for Dramatic Salute to Coronavirus Responders Meeting budget limits & schedule deadlines: PENETRON ADMIX was used to treat around 2,300 m3 (3,000 cubic yards) of concrete mix used in the foundation slabs and the underground garage structures. Whilst the concrete was placed, the waterproofing was being placed at the same time. This ensured a dry basement structure and allowed the construction team to stay on schedule. And today, Green Heart is a new home to many companies. The Green Heart office complex in Belgrade, Serbia, was officially inaugurated in March 2020 with the completion of the third and final office building. The developer specified the full range of Penetron crystalline technology to ensure waterproof below-grade structures for the office complex. Over the past three years, strong construction activity in Belgrade, Serbias capital, has fueled consistently strong growth in the demand for office space. Most of the new projects are located in the central business district of New Belgrade. The GTC Group, a leading commercial real estate developer active in Eastern and Southern Europe, launched construction of the 60 million ($70.5 million) Green Heart project at the end of 2017, completing work in just over two years. Construction included the comprehensive renovation of two existing buildings (each with four floors) and the construction of three new buildings (each seven floors tall). Located on Milutina Milankovica Boulevard in the New Belgrade central business district, the Green Heart business complex now comprises five buildings with 46,000 m2 of office space and three underground levels of parking accommodating 900 cars. Deepest Excavation in New Belgrade The Green Heart complex has a very unique architectural style that creates a verdant environment, giving you the feeling of being in a park, despite the downtown location, says Theodor Mentzikofakis, Managing Director of Penetron Hellas. Every floor features terraces lined with trees, adding to the naturalistic impact. Also, ZOP Engineering, the project builder, paid attention to the use of sustainable materials and processes. Planned with three underground levels to accommodate the parking garage, the initial excavation phase at the site made the Green Heart project the deepest excavation ever undertaken in the New Belgrade business district eight meters below the water table. Because of the proximity to the confluence of the Danube and Sava Rivers, the site experienced an abundance of groundwater. Lever Engineering, the project subcontractor for waterproofing, realized a robust waterproofing solution was required. Offering a Superior Solution Penetron West Balkans, the local support team in Belgrade, worked with the local Penetron distributor for Serbia to offer an optimal technical solution. At the time, two competitors had offers on the table at Lever Engineering to waterproof the below-grade concrete structures, adds Theodor Mentzikofakis. However, once the Penetron West Balkans team and the project manager at Lever Engineering reviewed the specifications and aggressive project deadlines, we recommended a solution that would meet their budget constraints as well as their tight construction schedule. The full range of the Penetron System was incorporated into the Green Heart project. PENETRON ADMIX was used to treat around 2,300 m3 (3,000 cubic yards) of concrete for the foundation slabs and underground garage structures. The resulting construction joints were permanently sealed with PENEBAR SW-55 waterstop strips. The ongoing repairs to the existing retaining walls were carried out with a combination of PENEPLUG, a rapid-setting, crystalline compound that quickly stops active leaks, PENECRETE MORTAR, to fill cleaned and prepped cracks, and finally, a layer of PENETRON, a crystalline material, as a topical application to the repaired surfaces to ensure a waterproof structure. A Value Engineering Solution PENETRON ADMIX, a permeability-reducing concrete admixture, is delivered in premeasured, soluble bags. These bags are simply tossed into the concrete mix during batching, providing a simple solution to ensure a waterproof concrete mix. The active ingredients in the admixture react with moisture to form insoluble crystals that self-heal and seal all micro-cracks, pores and capillaries in the concrete, becoming an integral part of the matrix, making the concrete impermeable. Whilst the concrete was placed, the waterproofing was being placed at the same time. This ensured a dry basement structure and allowed the construction team to stay on schedule, says Theodor Mentzikofakis. And today, Green Heart is a new home to many companies. The Penetron Group is a leading manufacturer of specialty construction products for concrete waterproofing, concrete repairs and floor preparation systems. The Group operates through a global network, offering support to the design and construction community through its regional offices, representatives and distribution channels. For more information on Penetron waterproofing solutions, please visit penetron(dot)com or Facebook(dot)com/ThePenetronGroup, email CRDept(at)penetron(dot)com or contact the Corporate Relations Department at 631-941-9700. MMA fighters have lashed out at police after they were accused of breaking social distancing rules for holding a class during the coronavirus pandemic. Video footage shared online showed two Victoria Police officers confront a pair over an illegal gathering at a property in Melbourne's south-east at about 6.30pm on Wednesday. But the verbal confrontation - which lasted about eight minutes - turned into a debate about the law, people residing in bodies rather than in properties and whether COVID-19 'exists'. Nick, the man who was filmed arguing with the officers, told Daily Mail Australia he was 'running a small class' with two groups when police arrived. 'I had all my trespassing signs on the front of gate and case law on front to protect your property from trespasses whether it be government or police,' he said. 'Police bashed on the door really loud and I went out there They told us we broke the law.' The police officers explained they attended the property in relation to Premier Daniel Andrews' declaration, where police are allowed to issue on the spot fines of up to $1,652 for individuals and $9,913 for businesses who don't follow the rules. 'The reason we're here is we've had a report that there's been a mass gathering here,' one of the officer's tells the two men. Nick began to disagree with the rules put forward by police, while his friend filmed the altercation. 'I don't trust the Australian Government but I know we have rights, with freedom to move,' he said and questioned whether the law had come from the Queen. The father-of-four told police he lived at the property, which appeared to be a gym. An officer explained he is only allowed to have one additional guest at the property, excluding those who reside there. But Nick quickly questioned the word 'reside'. 'They all reside in here right now because they reside in their bodies. Their spirits reside in their bodies,' he said. Video footage shared online showed two Victoria Police officers confront a pair over an illegal gathering at a property in Melbourne's south-east at about 6.30pm on Wednesday Nick then went to the entry of the building to read a 'legal notice' stuck to the wall. 'No trespassing, admittance by invitation only. This is a private place,' he told the officers. 'To all men, women, persons and entities including police - that's who you would be - government, sheriff, (sic), server, council, private investigators, corporations trespass damages shall apply upon one step onto this land, property without written consent. 'Minimum penalty $10,000 per person, per entry. Penalty at discretion of occupier.' The police officers stood quietly throughout most of the incident and only occasionally interjected with questions or objections. After making his point, Nick told the police they should be on their way. Nick then went to the entry of the building to read a 'legal notice' stuck to the wall 'So I suggest you guys go back to doing what you're meant to do and stop harassing people for feeding their families,' he said. The man behind the camera then questioned the health crisis itself. 'Where's the proof this virus even exists?' he said. Nick continued: 'I don't trust the government, I don't trust the media and I haven't seen anyone with this.' 'And there's contradicting information on both sides.' The police officer said the incident would be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHS). 'We'll leave, that's fine. But as I said, we report it to them and they'll make the final call,' the officer said. The police officer said the incident would be reported to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHS). Pictured: Police leave the property Speaking about the incident to Daily Mail Australia, Nick said the coronavirus restrictions had impacted his day-to-day life. 'I've lost 90 per cent of my business and I have four children,' he said. 'I don't trust the government. The government have been known to lie my whole life especially when they make a law in violation to other laws we already have.' Nick said he had not been fined but 'won' the argument as the police left the property. 'They thought they were right, I thought I was right,' he said. Nick said people are 'sick of being treated this way' during the health crisis and claimed Australians don't know their rights. 'I think that people are driven are fear they don't know they have rights,' he said. 'We need more people to stand up for their rights otherwise we don't have them.' MBABANE - At least 500 farmers will benefit from E1.2 million that was donated by the European Union (EU). That was according to the Minister of Agriculture, Jabulani Mabuza, yesterday. The benefit is in the form of farm inputs to be used by the farmers. According to Mabuza, the farmers to benefit are those in the vegetable production sector. The minister said this when receiving the cheque from European Union (EU) Ambassador to Eswatini, Esmeralda Hernandez Aragones, at the Cabinet Offices yesterday. The ambassador said the E1.2 million contribution by EU would be managed by the National Agricultural Marketing Board (NAMBoard). It will focus on ensuring that 400 hectares of land is kept under use for the production of about 2 000 metric tons of vegetable produce over the next six months. This project is supported by the National Indicative Programme 2014 2020 which has agriculture as a major sector, she added. Economy The ambassador narrated that the reason behind the donation was to ensure that the countrys economy was not crippled, especially because it was largely dependent on agriculture production. She further stated that the effects of the coronavirus pandemic could increase the risk of a food security crisis, particularly for the poor and needy hence the donation to curb such circumstances. It was established that the E1.2 million, which is approximately EUR58 000, would be channelled to the Eswatini Revolving Fund which is aimed at increasing agricultural production to counter the effects of COVID-19 and supporting the preventive measures introduced by the government, to curb the spread of the virus. Receiving the donation, the minister appreciated the gesture and stated that the country imported a sizeable proportion of vegetables but due to restricted movements and general slow-down in operations. Eswatini was experiencing shortages in a number of such supplies. Mabuza said the programme to be supported had four objectives, which were to improve production of targeted vegetables, increase food availability and affordability, increased household income from sale of vegetables and improve farmer liquidity and working capital. We as a ministry undertake to ensure that through best farming practices, we will ensure improved availability of basic vegetables in the country throughout the year, said Mabuza. He added that they would achieve that through mentoring farmers by their extension specialists, including those from NAMBoard. He said as a ministry, they identified seven critical vegetable lines including; cabbages, spinach, tomatoes, carrots, sweet pepper, onions and potatoes to respond to the coronavirus pandemic, both in the short and medium terms, as part of the broader food security response. The above mentioned interventions will directly address the already evident shortage of the seven critical commodities in the local market, and coupled with global restrictions, unrelenting challenges with moving commodities around as human movement is also restricted, he said. Mabuza said they targeted, through the funding, to mobilise an output of at least 2 500 metric tons of produce by the end of the year. The produce, according to Mabuza, would be sold to both the formal and informal markets, increasing availability of both food for households and income to farmers from produce delivered to the markets. He further stated that the grant would directly support farmers by providing a revolving payment scheme to NAMBoard that covers 25 per cent of the payables, which would also reduce the payment waiting time to 14 days after delivery, so that farmers could quickly re-engage in the next production cycle procurement. Mabuza then appealed to the agricultural business community such as companies, millers and individual farmers to contribute food parcels to be distributed to the needy and vulnerable members of the society. We are specifically looking at maize, mealie-meal, cooking oil, rice and beans. Such support will be highly appreciated, he said. Muslims across the globe and throughout France will mark the holy month of Ramadan this year under lockdown. The annual event of fasting, prayer and charity is usually a time of community but because of the coronavirus pandemic, many rituals have been curtailed. For Muslims, it is the most sacred time of the Islamic calendar. Ramadan requires them to refrain from food and drink from sunrise to sunset every day for a month, and it is an exercise in self-discipline and restraint, both spiritually and physically. Muslims are asked to abstain from sexual intercourse and bad thoughts as well. This year's fast however, comes with new challenges. "Because of the health crisis we're facing, Muslims will be fasting in confinement," explains Imam Tarek Oubrou, who is rector of the El-Houda mosque in Bordeaux, in southwest France. With strict curfews and social distancing measures in place to limit the spread of Covid-19, the world's 1.8 billion Muslims, including France's 6 million-strong Muslim community, will have to forego many of Ramadan's communal traditions. Covid-19 and Ramadan spirit "It will be a time of spiritual introspection," comments Imam Oubrou. "Muslims can take advantage of these extraordinary circumstances to get closer to God by reading the Koran," he told RFI. Over the 30 days, Muslims wake up before sunrise for morning prayer and to eat and then fast during the daylight hours. Breaking of the fast is usually a time where communities come together, alongside their families in large gatherings for 'Iftar' meals or 'taraweeh' prayers in mosques. But because of Covid-19, mosques in France, like others around the world, have shut their doors as a precaution against the virus. "There will be no prayers in mosques during the month of Ramadan," says Imam Oubrou. This is because places of worship are often packed as Muslims, "even those who don't normally pray," embrace this key pillar of their Islamic faith without hesitation, the religious leader offers as an explanation. Controversial start The first day of fasting for Ramadan remains subject to debate. As the calendar is lunar, the dates for when each month begins move every year. Several users took to Twitter on Thursday to offer their best guesses. One person shared a letter from France's Muslim Theological Council, stating that the faithful should start fasting on Friday, 24 April. Imam Oubrou dismisses the confusion surrounding Ramadan's start date, for whom it "begins on 24 April and ends on 23 May." "In Bordeaux, we use astronomical calculations to determine the exact start date of Ramadan. Looking up at the sky to sight the slight crescent moon is nonsense," he commented. All Muslims agree though, that the Koran was revealed during Ramadan. According to tradition, the Prophet Mohammed received a series of revelations from God which combined to form the Koran and that the holy book was revealed during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, Ramadan. Asked how his worshippers felt about celebrating the holy month under lockdown, Imam Oubrou responded "it is in their best interest, it is to protect their lives so they have no choice but to self-isolate." New forms of worship After all, Islam has been handling pandemics for more than 1,400 years, he adds. "Right from the Middle Ages, the Prophet Mohammed has been teaching Muslims about the importance of quarantining themselves and limiting their movements to mitigate the spread of illness." Fit and able adults are expected to fast, but children, the elderly and people who are sick are exempt. "Islam is not irrational. If a person's health is at stake, of course there will be exemptions." Still, Imam Oubrou is aware that human connection, typically embodied by this month of fasting, will need to be replaced. "The connection will continue, albeit online." Muslims will be able to attend religious lectures via video-conferencing apps such as Zoom, Facebook and YouTube. In Paris, the Grand mosque will offer worshippers daily teachings throughout the month via the station Radio Orient on themes ranging from patience, discipline and solidarity. Helping the poor Charity, another of the five pillars of Isam, is especially encouraged during the holy month. It is common for mosques to host large iftars--the shared meal eaten at sunset to break the day's fast--especially for the poor and needy. For safety reasons, the World Health Organisation has advised using individual pre-packaged boxes/servings of food to adhere to strict social distancing rules. Imam Oubrou says he is working with local authorities in Bordeaux to guarantee food distribution to those who need it the most. "We are distributing packages to the homeless and migrants, who are completely isolated. We are applying all of the government restrictions to limit the spread of the virus," he explains. The last of day of Ramadan is Eid al-Fitr, which is celebrated with feasting. But again, this will be done in the privacy of people's homes. "Yes, we are confined, but we should not give up empathising with the poor," Imam Oubrou said. Photo: Garrett Morrow/Pexels Here's the most recent top news you may have missed in Seattle. Doctors start giving second round of shots to volunteers in Seattle COVID-19 vaccine trial The volunteers who got shots in the first trial of a possible coronavirus vaccine are getting the second shot an indicator the trial is going well. Read the full story on USA TODAY. Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan says she'll forgo her salary during the coronavirus pandemic Seattle is looking at a $300 million tax revenue shortfall because of the pandemic. Read the full story on KING5. Frustrated West Seattle Bridge users have more than a thousand questions about what's next City officials fielded questions at a virtual town hall meeting about the closed West Seattle high bridge. There were few firm answers. Read the full story on KING5. Seattle Mariners announce new sustainability efforts at T-Mobile Park ahead of Earth Day The Seattle Mariners this week announced sustainability updates to T-Mobile Park in celebration of Earth Day on Wednesday. Read the full story on SeattlePI. 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. Union Ministry of Home Affairs issues orders to extend lockdown beyond May 4, by two weeks in order to contain the coronavirus spread mainly in the red zones of the districts. As India remains in lockdown for over a month, the total number of cases reported in the country crosses 36,000 and death toll exceeds 1,200 according to DH's tally. Meanwhile, the government has announced that there will be considerable lockdown relaxation in many districts in the country from May 4. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2020) - (TSXV: NNO) (OTC Pink: NNOMF) (FSE: LBMB). In summary,: Nano One patented cathode tests positively in solid state batteries with auto companies. Cobalt free cathode reduces supply chain risk, increases power and enables fast charging. Coated nanocrystal cathodes (single crystal) boost durability, capacity and charge rates. Figure 1. Illustration of a solid state lithium ion battery showing simplified anode, cathode and electrolyte interfaces. (a) Nano One's proprietary cathode materials have a uniform coating on individual single crystal particles, enabling rapid transfer of lithium ions to the solid electrolyte while (b) protecting the cathode from expansion and side reactions as the battery is operated. This increases durability and could improve lifetime, range, charging and/or cost. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3606/54766_8b2ff98c2483889b_001full.jpg Dr. Stephen Campbell, CTO of Nano One Materials Corp., is pleased to provide an update on solid state lithium ion batteries and on related advancements to Nano One's cathode materials. "There is a tremendous industry effort to advance and commercialize solid state batteries," explained Dr. Campbell, "and the goal is to improve safety and performance of lithium ion batteries. The objective is to replace flammable liquid electrolytes with solid materials that improve safety, power and energy density of the battery. Nano One, with its patented technologies, is contributing to these objectives and actively working on related projects with a number of global automotive consortia." The largest single challenge in solid state batteries is to design a stable and commercially viable interface between the solid electrolyte, of polymer, ceramic or glass composition, and the solid cathode and anode materials on either side of this electrolyte. Nano One is working with various automotive manufacturers to evaluate its patented One Pot process and coated lithium nickel manganese oxide (LNMO) cathode materials. The coated LNMO, also refered to as high voltage spinel (HVS), stabilizes the interface between cathode and electrolyte because (i) it does not expand and stress the cathode-electrolyte interface like other cathode materials, and (ii) the coating protects the cathode from side-reactions with the electrolyte while allowing the rapid transfer of lithium ions between the electrolyte and the cathode. In comparison to other cathode materials, HVS is faster charging and operates at higher voltage enabling increased power and energy densities. HVS is also free of cobalt and the associated supply chain risk. Dr. Campbell added, "Nano One is well positioned to capitalize on the rising automotive interest in solid state lithium ion batteries. Currently, several independent evaluations of our High Voltage Spinel are underway within automotive manufacturer consortia employing both polymer and ceramic solid electrolytes. Initial results with various solid electrolytes are encouraging and Nano One will provide further details as these evaluations progress." Nano One Materials Corp. Dan Blondal, CEO For information with respect to Nano One or the contents of this news release, please contact John Lando (President) at (604) 420-2041 or visit the website at www.nanoone.ca. About Nano One Nano One Materials Corp has developed patented technology for the low-cost production of high performance lithium ion battery cathode materials used in electric vehicles, energy storage and consumer electronics. The processing technology enables lower cost feedstocks, simplifies production and advances performance for a wide range of cathode materials. Nano One has built a demonstration pilot plant and is partnering with global leaders in the lithium ion battery supply chain, including Pulead, Volkswagen and Saint-Gobain to advance its lithium iron phosphate (LFP), lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) and lithium nickel manganese oxide (LNM) cathode technologies for large growth opportunities in e-mobility and renewable energy storage applications. Nano One's pilot and partnership activities are being funded with the assistance and support of the Government of Canada through Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) and the Automotive Supplier Innovation Program (ASIP) a program of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). Nano One also receives financial support from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP). Nano One's mission is to establish its patented technology as a leading platform for the global production of a new generation of battery materials. www.nanoone.ca Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the execution of the plans of Nano One Materials Corp ("the Company") which are contingent on the receipt of grant monies and the commercialization of the Company's technology and patents. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as 'believe', 'expect', 'anticipate', 'plan', 'intend', 'continue', 'estimate', 'may', 'will', 'should', 'ongoing', or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including: the ability of the Company to obtain additional financing; including the receipt of grant monies from SDTC, ASIP, NRC-IRAP and the receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that is incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASENEITHER 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 NEWS RELEASE To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/54766 US President Donald Trump and India Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Photo: AFP/File) By Mu Xiaoming The US and India signed a 3-billion-dollar arms deal at the end of February during President Trumps first official visit to India, along with three MOUs on health and energy sectors. The two countries also announced to step up cooperation in national defense, the fight against cross-border crimes and terrorism. But no other major agreement was reached between Washington and New Delhi, and the much-anticipated trade negotiations did not make any substantial progress. Clearly, the US and India share common strategic demands in the Indo-Pacific strategy, but there is still a chasm between them in terms of strategic capability and coordination when it comes to concrete actions and policies. Both of them, without any doubt, have the strategic need for building a multi-polar Asia, which motivates the two pursue the Indo-Pacific strategy. However, while New Delhi wants to create an ASEAN-centered, inclusive regional architecture focused on economy and infrastructure, Washington seeks to foster a regional security structure with the security dialogue among the US, Japan, India, and Australia at the heart. This fundamental divergence was conspicuously reflected during the 2019 US-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, a meeting among their foreign and defense ministers held in Washington last December. At the press conference, American and Indian officials made different statements on some key issues, and US Secretary of State Pompeo admitted that the two sides did not see eye to eye on many matters although they had held candid and open discussions about many big issues. The mutual visits between their heads of state also indicate a difference in attitude. Indian PM Modi has paid several state visits to the US from 2014 to 2017 after he took office, twice in 2017 and 2019 after Trump took power, yet his American counterpart did not respond positively to New Delhis repeated invitations. Trump chose to visit India in his election-year mainly to gain votes from the Indian Americans and nail the huge arms deal with New Delhi. Nonetheless, his first official visit to the South Asian country bore little fruit despite all the pomp and pageantry because Modi is a tough negotiator when America first comes up against the Make in India initiative. Therefore, although senior officials of both countries stressed how they share a common vision and how confident they are in pushing forward their global strategic partnership, they cannot cover up their division in interests. With the execution of the Indo-Pacific strategy, the US will attach more importance to Indias geopolitical position while the latter has a mind to leverage on the US to elevate its own status as a major country and maintain the power balance in Asia. As a result, the US-India defense cooperation will continue to move forward in general, but so will their conflicts and disagreements in other areas due to their divergence of interests and strategic concepts. The seeming overall affinity aside, a continuous discrepancy in attitude is perhaps the true color of the US-India relationship. New Delhi: Nearly every second car sold in India carries the Maruti brand name. No wonder then that the countrys biggest carmaker was producing, on an average, 208 vehicles per hour in its three manufacturing facilities across in Haryana and Gujarat till March 22. However, as the country went into a complete and unprecedented lockdown since that week, Maruti Suzuki India had to bring down the shutter of all its factories. The lockdown has been lifted partially from this week and Maruti is permitted to restart production at one facility in Manesar. But it has chosen not to, though Manesar accounts for a third of Marutis total production. The story is similar for many manufacturing firms making vehicles, auto parts, textiles and other products across big and small factories. They now have the government permission to lift locks at factory gates and start limited production, but havent done so. Reasons for this reluctance vary: for some, patchy availability of spare parts is an insurmountable problem, for others, fear of government action in case even a single worker contracts the dreaded COVID-19 infection is playing spoilsport. Also, issues such as a severe shortage of labour due to the migrant crisis and broken supply chains are also hampering resumption of manufacturing activity for many sectors. Maruti Chairman RC Bhargava said his company has not restarted production since availability of all the various components needed to assemble a car is a concern. All components have to be present so that a car can be assembled. No car company makes all components itself and unless all vendors are functioning and there is continuous supply, it is not possible to assemble a car, he said. A nationwide lockdown of nearly a month and shutting down of factories have taken a huge toll on Indian (and global) economy, with some predictions suggesting India will register a negative GDP growth rate in the current fiscal. International forecasts have also pointed at an unprecedented global recession, with a similar fate seen befalling many advanced economies as well. Given this significant level of economic uncertainty, the partial lifting of lockdown in India starting April 20 was expected to help a limited revival in economic activity. Some factories have indeed opened and some amount of work has begun. For example, construction activities have started in a limited way, works under MNREGA have also begun in some states. Factories producing essential items such as dal (pulses), atta (flour), and other consumables, have opened. Production of milk and medicines was anyway ongoing even during lockdown. But factories in many sectors which account for a large share of Indias production basket are still shut and manufacturing has remained largely suspended. There, thus, hangs a question mark over how economic activity can be revived in the short to medium term while also protecting people from the spread of coronavirus. Take the case of Ludhiana, which is the hub of small-scale knitwear industry with nearly 15,000 units 90% of these are in the small-scale sector manufacturing a range of items, including T-shirts, mufflers, sweaters, knickers and so on. Vinod Thapar, president of Knitwear and Textile Club of Ludhiana, said only about 25 of these units have begun functioning after lockdown restrictions were partly lifted earlier this week. And those which have started are still not producing the usual stuff, they are making PPE kits instead, he added. Even if the lockdown were to be completely lifted today, where is the demand for us to continue producing at the earlier scale? The lockdown started when it was time for peak summer supplies of us. Besides very little demand, there is also the issue of proper transportation. It will take minimum three-six months to revert to normalcy if the lockdown were to be lifted entirely, Thapar said. The industry here is dependent on migrant labourers and these units paid workers for a month of the lockdown despite not earning during that period. However, they are now struggling to retain workers as factories remain largely closed and demand ephemeral. While lack of workers may be an issue for certain labour-intensive industries, stringent rules being imposed by some states and making owners of small and micro units responsible for keeping workers safe from the virus seem to be the single-biggest concern for the small-scale sector. Anil Bhardwaj, secretary general of the Federation of Indian Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, said some state governments have made the local administration (in Uttar Pradesh for example) responsible for keeping COVID-19 in check. This is fine administratively but this could lead to harassment of employers. New rules empower local officials to seal factories, imprison employers. Our association recently issued an advisory that members should not rush to open factories and instead wait for more pragmatic guidelines, he said. The association looks after two million enterprises, of which 90% are micro enterprises and about 50% operate in rural areas. Added to the fear of danda raj is a drastic lack of funding options for MSMEs, never mind claims made by the RBI about having injected enough liquidity into the system and having nudged banks to lend more to such firms. So the combination of fear of local administrations high-handedness coupled with lack of an ecosystem to sell products (absence of raw material supplies and logistical support) and the absence of funding have ensured that Indias small-scale industries remain shut. The general consensus emerging from manufacturing firms is of at least three-six months time lag between end of lockdown and complete resumption of production. This, too, can happen only if all the parts of the manufacturing ecosystem are up and running and only when the government steps in with a large fiscal stimulus to keep demand intact. Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday unveiled, via video conference, a mobile virology research and diagnostics laboratory (MVRDL) that will speed up coronavirus disease screening and other Covid-19-related research and development activities, the defence ministry said in a statement. The MVRDL has been developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation, Hyderabad-based Employees State Insurance Corporation hospital and private industry. The DRDO is among the several government agencies that have been at the forefront of the fight against the coronavirus disease. It has developed several products to combat the pandemic, including ventilators, PPE kits, large area sanitisation solutions and Covid-19 sample collection kiosks. Singh appreciated the setting up of the Biosafety Level 2 and Level 3 laboratory in a record time of 15 days (in the ordinary course, it could have taken six months), the ministry said in a statement. The minister said the testing facility, capable of processing more than 1,000 samples a day, would strengthen the countrys capabilities to fight the coronavirus disease. The lab is the combination of a BSL 3 lab and a BSL 2 lab essential to carry out the activities. The labs are built as per World Health Organisation and Indian Council of Medical Research biosafety standards to meet international guidelines. The system has built-in electrical controls, LAN, telephone cabling and CCTV, the ministry said. Singh said the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had taken a raft of timely measures because of which the spread of Covid-19 in the country was far less compared to many other countries. He also appreciated the contribution of the armed forces in the fight against Covid-19, with special reference to setting up of quarantine centres, providing healthcare facilities and evacuating Indian nationals from other countries. The video conference launch of the facility was attended by minister of state for home affairs G Kishan Reddy, minister of state for labour and employment Santosh Kumar Gangwar and DRDO chairman G Satheesh Reddy. The mobile lab will help carry out Covid-19 diagnosis, virus culturing for drug screening, convalescent plasma derived therapy, comprehensive immune profiling of Covid-19 patients towards vaccine development and early clinical trials specific to Indian population. The lab screens 1000-2000 samples per day. This lab can be positioned anywhere in the country, the statement said. The DRDO acknowledged the contributions of M/s iCOMM for providing containers, M/s iClean for designing and building the BSL-2 and BSL-3 labs in a time-bound manner and M/s Hi Tech Hydraulics for providing the base frame. The DRDO last week shifted a key testing facility for carrying out quality checks on personal protective equipment (PPE) from Gwalior to New Delhi to cut down delays and ensure faster delivery of the safety gear to healthcare workers battling Covid-19. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Rear admiral fails to report all fever cases on COVID-19-infected ship ROC Central News Agency 04/22/2020 06:12 PM Taipei, April 22 (CNA) The former commander of a Navy flotilla on which a cluster of COVID-19 coronavirus infections has occurred admitted to lawmakers on Wednesday that he did not report back to his superiors all the fever cases aboard his ships during their month-long cruise as required. Rear Admiral Chen Tao-hui (), former head of the Republic of China Navy's Friendship Fleet, however, defended the decision, saying that that he did not do so because the medical officer had already ruled that many of the cases were common colds and not suspected COVID-19 cases. He therefore decided to continue to carry out the goodwill mission to Palau, one of the nation's Pacific allies. Chen insisted that he would have never deliberately concealed information if he knew there were suspected COVID-19 patients aboard the three-ship flotilla that visited Palau from March 12-15. He apologized to all 744 flotilla members and their families and also to the Taiwanese public over the concern the cluster infection caused to the nation, since many of the confirmed patients had already returned to their homes around the country for three to four days prior to their diagnoses. Chen made the comments in a phone interview with lawmakers as part of a legislative session held to probe the cause of the cluster infection that has so far left 28 people infected. The rear admiral was unable to attend the session in person since he, along with the rest of the flotilla, was in quarantine. Chen was removed from his post a day earlier pending further investigation into responsibility for the coronavirus infections that occurred on the supply ship Panshi, which was part of the naval Friendship Fleet. His direct superior, Vice Admiral Kao Chia-pin (), commander of ROC Naval Fleet Command, has also been removed from his post. According to medical records released by the military, 148 people aboard the Panshi sought medical treatment 226 times during its month-long trip. Aside from five visits for fevers, 10 were for upper respiratory tract symptoms. However, the Navy said Chen only reported one of the cases back to the Naval Fleet Command. Speaking during the legislative session, Defense Minister Yen De-fa () said Chen was removed from his post as punishment for failing to follow standard procedures issued by the military before the flotilla departed the country as part of a series of preventive measures amid the pandemic. The Panshi, the Yueh Fei -- a Cheng Kung-class guided-missile frigate -- and the Kang Ding, a Lafayette-class frigate, departed Taiwan in early March for Palau and returned to their Zuoying military port base in Kaohsiung on April 9. The crew of the three ships then remained on board for another six days in compliance with Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) quarantine requirements that passengers cannot disembark from ships until at least 30 days after leaving their most recent port of call. They were finally allowed to leave the ships and return home on April 14 and 15. However, on April 18, the CECC announced that three people aboard the Panshi had tested positive for COVID-19, and the number of confirmed cases had since risen to 28 as of Wednesday. The CECC originally suspected that the crew members contracted the virus during the fleet's goodwill visit to Palau. However, it later said that the health authorities are still investigating whether the crew contracted the virus locally or overseas. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Wednesday said all staff at the nation's embassy in Palau have tested negative for COVID-19. The test results of a total of 48 people, including members of the embassy and technical mission, their family members, locally hired employees, as well as Palau citizens who came into contact with the Taiwanese crewmwen, have all tested negative, said foreign ministry spokeswoman Joanne Ou (). (By Matt Yu, Wang Cheng-chung, Chen Yun-yu and Joseph Yeh) Enditem/J NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The family of Harry Dunn have called on the RAF to launch an investigation amid claims a second American service personnel drove on the wrong side of the rode and crashed their BMW two miles from where the teenager was killed. The family's spokesman said photos had emerged of the right-hand drive vehicle having been driven by an American' having veered off the road and smashing into a wall taken last night. The smash is said to have taken place on the B4001, Roundtown, Northamptonshire, a short drive from RAF Croughton where Harry was killed last August. Speaking to MailOnline, the family lawyer Radd Seiger said it raises more concerns that overseas diplomats are not adequately trained about UK driving laws, especially concerning driving on the left. The family of Harry Dunn have called for the RAF base at the centre of the scandal to probe a second crash after images appearing to show the incident emerged last night The smash is said to have taken place on the B4001, Roundtown, Northamptonshire, a short drive from RAF Croughton where Harry was killed last August Harry Dunn (right) was killed when his motorbike crashed into a car outside RAF Croughton. Anne Sacoolas (left) is charged with causing death by dangerous driving Mr Seiger claimed the UK Government was 'failing in their duty to safeguard our lives' and called the US administration a 'disgrace'. 'What is it going to take before something is done? he said. The loss of Harry Dunn was not enough. The near misses since his death have not been enough. 'Will this disastrous crash tonight make any difference? The UK Government are failing in their duty to protect and safeguard our lives.' Dunn (pictured) was killed around 400 yards away from an exit of RAF Croughton The Dunn family's local MP Andrea Leadsom is due to speak with police today about the latest incident. She is attempting a virtual meeting with them and the base commander at RAF Croughton, Colonel Bridget McNamara. A spokeswoman for RAF Croughton said the base was looking into the most recent claims and would release further information when they were able to. Northamptonshire Police said: 'We were called at 7.45pm last night to reports of a road traffic collision in Aynho involving a BMW 5 Series colliding with a fence. 'We deployed to the scene and are investigating the incident in line with our usual road traffic collision procedures. Thankfully no one was injured as a result of the collision.' Last night's incident comes as the UK's most senior diplomat said that Britain had agreed to let prime suspect Anne Sacoolas - a former CIA agent - return to the US on the basis of an 'illogical' interpretation of diplomatic immunity. Sacoolas, who is accused of causing death by dangerous driving, claimed diplomatic immunity and fled the UK. An extradition request for Sacoolas was rejected by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo after she was charged by the Crown Prosecution Service in January. Chief Constable Nick Adderley of Northamptonshire Police said he would fund driver training at RAF Croughton in an attempt to prevent similar incidents. Chief Constable Nick Adderley of Northamptonshire Police said he would fund driver training at RAF Croughton (pictured) in an attempt to prevent similar incidents A spokeswoman for RAF Croughton (pictured, entrance) said the base was looking into the most recent claims and would release further information when they were able to He said there had been two further incidents of American staff at RAF Croughton driving on the wrong side of the road following Dunn's death. Mr Seiger called the US Government a 'disgrace' and warned 'if... there is further bloodshed, it will be on theirs and the UK Government's hands'. He alleged: 'They have failed to engage with us at all to discuss how they are going to improve safety for their benefit as well as ours. 'They have their heads buried in the sand. Well, we will not stand for this any longer and I will be making representations in the strongest possible terms.' Police launched an investigation in February after a video emerged showing a car driving on the wrong side of the road just outside RAF Croughton. A map, detailing where each crash took place, shows how they were in close proximity The shocking footage shows a red vehicle driving towards an oncoming car for at least two seconds before swinging across the road. Meanwhile, controversy rages over the validity of Sacoolas' claim to diplomatic immunity, described as Britain's top diplomat as 'illogical'. FCO lawyers advised UK ministers on August 30 that Sacoolas' diplomatic status was ambiguous. It then told Northamptonshire Police on September 2 that she had full diplomatic immunity and that no prosecution would be possible. Speaking to a select committee on Tuesday, Sir Simon McDonald said: 'The controversy was over an agreement made at the end of the last century over continuing immunities for US diplomats posted at the Croughton annex. 'In that agreement the American authorities gave a pre-waiver for accredited diplomats so that was the formal position, but that agreement was silent on the rights of their dependants, and that has been the origin of a lot of the dispute.' Sir Simon called it a 'recondite bit of law' and its interpretation 'a bit illogical'. Nearly 50 out of over 600 crew members on an Italian cruise ship docked for repairs in Japan's Nagasaki have tested positive for the coronavirus, raising concern about the strain on the city's hospitals if conditions worsen for those infected. So far, 127 people have been tested, and the infection rate is 38 percent. The latest tests showed on Thursday that 14 people aboard, all either cooks or those serving food, were infected with the virus, an official in Nagasaki prefecture said. One patient who had been taken to hospital previously was now in serious condition and on a ventilator, he told a live-streamed news conference. Those showing mild or no symptoms remain on board, and officials said they hoped to complete testing of all 623 crew this week. The Costa Atlantica infections come after the cases on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama two months ago, where more than 700 passengers and crew were found to be infected, although this time only crew members were on board. 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 Costa Cruises-operated ship was taken into a shipyard in Nagasaki in western Japan in late February by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries after the COVID-19 pandemic had scuttled plans for scheduled repairs in China. The latest cases have raised concern about the potential impact on Nagasaki residents after revelations some crew had left the restricted area despite assurances from the ship operator that they would stay within the wharf, according to Nagasaki officials. Details on their movements were still being sought, officials said. Authorities are also concerned about the potential rise in patients who require hospitalisation, as an increase in domestic coronavirus cases strain medical services around the country. Japan has seen more than 12,000 infections and over 300 deaths from the coronavirus, excluding figures from the Diamond Princess. Compared with the Diamond Princess outbreak, the present situation is more dangerous because it represents "community transmission" of the virus that can spread through hospitals, said Kenji Shibuya, director of the Institute for Public Health at King's College, London. "So I'm very worried, because this could have been prevented," Shibuya said via an internet press briefing. To make room at hospitals for severely ill patients, some local governments have begun monitoring those with milder symptoms in hotels or at their homes - a move that proved fatal for one man in his 50s in Saitama prefecture who died at home this week while waiting for a hospital bed. Asked about the man's death, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Thursday the health ministry was working to find out how many COVID-19 patients were being monitored at home, and how many had died outside hospitals. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has declared a nationwide state of emergency at least through May 6, asking schools and non-essential businesses to close for the duration. New cluster-like infections continue to be reported, including at hospitals. On Thursday, Toyama city determined that the infections of four children and a schoolteacher originated in the same classroom when the school briefly opened in early April, according to a Kyodo news report. Japan's education ministry said there have been no clusters at schools so far, Kyodo said. Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here. Over 35 coronavirus suspects, who had been quarantined at two different facilities in Delhi, went missing in suspicious circumstances, HTs Hindi language publication Live Hindustan reported. District police of Delhis neighbouring states have been alerted while a search operation is underway. The Delhi Police have also formed several teams to look for the missing suspects. According to Delhi Police sources, the incidents took place at Delhis Mukherjee Nagar and Azadpur Colony in Model Town. On April 15, more than 100 coronavirus suspects were admitted at a centre in Azadpur Colony of Model Town. Around Tuesday, night it was reported that three to four people disappeared from there. The complaint was lodged with the police on behalf of the centre in-charge as soon as the matter was detected. The second incident was reported from a centre in Mukherjee Nagar area. Around 125 people were admitted to the quarantine centre here around April 16. From here, more than 30 Covid-19 suspects were reported missing under mysterious circumstances sometime on Monday night. The incident was also reported to the concerned police station by the centre in-charge. According to Delhi Police sources, some Nepali origin suspects have also been reported to be among the missing Covid-19 suspects. All are being looked for. An investigation is also being done to find out the cause behind their escape. It is reported that no person from the respective quarantine centres helped these suspects in escaping. 2248 people have tested positive for coronavirus in the national capital. 48 people have died from the infection while 724 people have made a recovery, as per the health ministrys data. Italian prosecutors are considering criminal trials for health officials after grieving relatives of coronavirus victims demanded justice for their negligence. More than 45,000 people have joined NOI Denunceremo - meaning We will report - which is a Facebook group where testimonies are being gathered for magistrates. The group was created by Luca Fusco whose father died from coronavirus in Bergamo, in the Lombardy region of Italy which has been worst-hit by the virus. An official probe has already begun at a hospital in Alzano Lombardo in Bergamo - where coronavirus symptoms were not recognised and the disease spread through the facility and beyond. Prosecutors in Lombardy are also investigating possible crimes of negligence and manslaughter following hundreds of deaths in care homes. The aim is to target people in leadership who underestimated the virus rather than healthcare workers. But lawyers have already cautioned that the challenge will be to establish who exactly should take responsibility. It comes with the country's total death toll now standing at 25,085, the second highest in the world after that of the United States. Italian prosecutors are considering criminal trials for health officials after grieving relatives of coronavirus victims demanded justice for their negligence. Pictured: a patient in Catania The Facebook page reads: 'This group was born out of a need for justice and truth to give peace to our dead who could not even have a decent burial following the coronavirus pandemic. 'When everything is over, whoever made a mistake and turned his head to the other side will have to pay. We will denounce and ask for justice.' The testimonies being shared share similarities such as the virus being mistaken for ordinary flu and people at home suffering from a fever advised to take paracetamol. The aim of the group is not to target health workers, but people in leadership positions who may have underestimated the virus, Fusco told The Guardian. 'The health workers are victims as much as those who have died,' he said. 'But as the healthcare system in Italy is decentralised, it would have been those who lead the regions who set the guidelines for hospitals. More than 45,000 people have joined NOI Denunceremo - meaning We will report - which is a Facebook group where testimonies are being gathered for magistrates. Pictured: testing in Trento 'So if a magistrate decides there is a case, then the responsibility would be at regional level.' An official investigation at one hospital in Alzano Lombardo in Bergamo has already begun - where coronavirus symptoms were not recognised and the disease spread through the hospital and beyond. Prosecutors in Lombardy are also investigating possible crimes of negligence and manslaughter following hundreds of deaths in care homes. Legal action is also being planned in regards to the 144 heath care workers who have died as a result of the virus - mostly due to lack of protective equipment available at the start of the crisis according to doctors' associations and unions. Robert Lingard, an Italian who lives in London, has filed legal action with a prosecutor after two of his relatives died and three others were in intensive care. The prosecutor will help establish whether campaigns in Milan and Bergamo encouraging people to carry on as normal, such as going to bars and restaurants or shopping, during the early stage of the outbreak constitute criminal negligence. Legal action is also being planned in regards to the 144 heath care workers who have died as a result of the virus. Pictured: law enforcement in Venice during the lockdown He said that public authorities were aware of the 'aggressiveness' of the virus due to data coming out of China and that large scale containment would be necessary but nonetheless seemed to 'act in denial'. Elena Gazzolla, a lawyer in Codogno, the Lombardy town where Italy's outbreak emerged, said the challenge was establishing who should take responsibility. She expects a lot of legal action to be taken by various groups once the emergency is over. 'Lawyers are studying the issue and collecting documents to see if there could be eventual judicial processes or compensation for damages,' said Gazzolla, who has so far been contacted by five people who have lost loved ones. 'There are many, many aspects to consider.' A new pandemic has emerged in Andhra Pradesh. Amid the Covid-19 lockdown, there appears to be a scramble among ruling MLAs and some ministers for publicity. While cases of the novel coronavirus are rising every day in the state, these leaders have spurred several massive public gatherings in the name of distribution of essential articles, putting lives at risk. A few days ago, YSR Congress Party MLA Biyyapu Madhusudhan Reddy from the Srikalahasti constituency in Chittoor district held a huge rally with 35 vehicles to distribute groceries among the poor and needy. Later, about a dozen officials who participated in the event tested positive for Covid-19. The administration though had denied that they caught the infection at the rally. Another MLA of the same party, Venkataiah Goud from Palamaneru constituency again in Chittoor district, had inaugurated a bridge with about 150 people in his constituency where the highest number of coronavirus cases have been reported. He did not maintain social distancing. Later, he abused the media when they questioned about his actions. YSRCP legislator RK Roja from Nagari constituency in the same district participated in a borewell inauguration programme with her followers. While the actor-turned-politician posed as a deity, supporters threw flower petals at her feet. Videos went viral and detractors raised objections about the event during the lockdown. Defending her actions, Roja said, "The villagers had maintained social distance and wore masks when they had thrown flowers on me to show their love. The opposition party is unnecessarily driving the issue towards a controversy. Some days ago, Prasanna Kumar Reddy, MLA of YSRCP from Kovur constituency in Nellore district, was booked for violation of the lockdown code. He distributed groceries which prompted a gathering of 4,500 people. The legislator protested at the police station, demanding withdrawal of the case. He called of his demonstration after an assurance from the district collector. MLA from the same party Kiliveti Sanjeevaiah organised a big rally at Sullurpeta in Nellore district on Wednesday. A few days ago, a man died after being beaten up by police in Andhra Pradesh for violating lockdown rules. Critics are asking why the restrictions can't be enforced more strictly for politicians. Ahead of a cabinet expansion, ruling party leaders are trying to cash in on the Covid-19 situation to impress chief minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, say observers, though common people may have to pay a heavy price. The Egina floating production storage and offloading vessel, the largest of its kind in Nigeria, is berthed in Lagos harbor on February 23, 2017. Stefan Heunis | AFP | Getty Images The historic plunge in oil prices earlier this week has left some major exporters of the commodity scrambling to shore up their economies. The U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude contract for May delivery fell by more than 100% to settle at negative $37.63 per barrel on Monday and expired on Tuesday at $10.01 a barrel. Futures contracts trade by the month. It comes at a time when the coronavirus crisis continues to ravage global demand, the world is awash with oil and traders are quickly running out of places to put it. Remarkably, this led to a situation where producers were effectively having to pay to get oil taken off their hands. As of Thursday, WTI contracts for June were hovering above $15 per barrel and international benchmark Brent crude was trading above $21.50 per barrel. Monday's collapse came as the coronavirus pandemic obliterates global demand, furthering a price shock seen in March as OPEC and its allies, chiefly Russia, engaged in drawn out negotiations over production cuts. An agreement by OPEC and its allies known as OPEC+ to reduce output by 9.7 million barrels a day from May 1 eventually put an end to a price war between Russia and OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia. However, the absent demand arising from the pandemic has meant the deal has failed to stabilize oil prices. The latest capitulation compounds the problems facing the countries that are most dependent on oil exports for export revenues and government income. Nigeria Nigeria, Africa's largest economy, had applied for more than $7 billion in emergency funds as of Tuesday from international lenders including the IMF, World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the Islamic Development Bank. The country depends on oil sales for around 60% of its revenue and 90% of its foreign exchange earnings, though it only accounts for 9% of GDP (gross domestic product), according to the IMF. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva acknowledged in a recent statement that Nigeria faces "twin shocks" from the pandemic and associated oil price plunge. Meanwhile, ratings agencies Fitch and S&P have downgraded Nigeria's credit rating in recent weeks on the back of the oil slump. "The countries on the West Coast (of Africa) the most dependent on oil exports for export revenues and government income Nigeria, Angola, Gabon, Congo Republic will be scrambling to borrow from lenders who will have serious doubts about their ability to repay, and who will be tough negotiators when it comes to determining the value of the mineral assets these governments will try suggesting as collateral," according to a research note from NKC African Economics on Tuesday. The IMF announced on Monday that it was extending $147 million in limited conditionality financing to Gabon. As part of the OPEC+ agreement on production cuts, Nigeria agreed to reduce its output from around 1.8 million barrels a day to 1.4 million, Oil Minister Timipre Sylva told Nigeria's Punch newspaper on April 10, following the landmark OPEC deal. "We currently do not expect Nigeria to reduce production by nearly that much, as the country has reflected very poor compliance with OPEC agreements in the past," NKC Analyst Cobus de Hart said in Tuesday's note. "Nonetheless, pressure to reduce output has increased, and markedly lower prices could squeeze less-profitable producers." Russia, Saudi Arabia and the Middle East Russia, the leader of the non-OPEC allies, relies on oil sales for around two-thirds of its export earnings and 40% of its revenue. While the price of Russian Urals the country's main oil brand did not fall below zero earlier this week, it was trading at its lowest point since 1998 at around $8 per barrel on Tuesday, according to Russian newspaper Vedomosti. "This is not an encouraging sign for Russian economic policymakers who predicted oil prices would recover to $30-40/barrel after the OPEC+ deal comes into effect on May 1," analysts at BMB Russia said in a note Wednesday. While several OPEC+ members reportedly met on Tuesday to discuss bringing the implementation date forward, powerhouses Saudi Arabia, Russia, Kuwait and the UAE were not present, according to Vedomosti. Louis CK won an award for writing in his semi-autogbiographical comedy series Louie: Getty Former vice-president Joe Biden has returned a donation from Louis CK. Mr CK's $2,800 donation was not welcome by the Democratic hopeful, with a campaign spokesman saying it has since been refunded and would be reflected in the next report filed to the Federal Election Commission in May. According to documents filed with the commission, the comedian donated to Mr Biden on 4 March, the day after the ex-vice president won more than a dozen states in Super Tuesday primaries on his way to securing the nomination. Emails to Mr Biden's campaign and Mr CK were not immediately returned on Thursday. The career of Mr CK, real name Louis Szekely, was brought to a halt in 2017 after The New York Times published sexual misconduct allegations from five women dating back to the late 1990s and early 2000s. Mr CK expressed remorse for his actions, saying he "tried to learn from them. And run from them. Now I'm aware of the extent of the impact of my actions". Following the report, FX Networks dumped his shows, HBO removed his back catalogue, Netflix scrapped plans for a stand-up special, and his feature film I Love You, Daddy was cancelled. The New York Times reported #MeToo complaints against Mr Biden after former aide, Tara Reade, came forward with allegations he sexually assaulted her during the early 1990s when he was a senator. "There was no exchange, really, he just had me up against the wall," Ms Reade alleged in March. "I remember him saying, first, as he was doing it 'Do you want to go somewhere else?' and then him saying to me, when I pulled away... he said 'Come on man, I heard you liked me,'" she said. "That phrase stayed with me." Mr Biden, who has denied the allegations against him, became the presumptive presidential nominee when Bernie Sanders withdrew from the race on 8 April following the Wisconsin primary. Mr Sanders' campaign did not immediately respond when asked if his campaign has been offering any refunds. OTTAWAThe coronavirus pandemic is exposing the risk of relying on a few industrial slaughterhouses for a huge portion of Canadas beef supply, according to food experts and a national farmers union. More than 95 per cent of Canadas beef production comes from just three processing plants, the National Farmers Union says. Two of them have been hit by COVID-19 outbreaks, including a massive plant in Alberta that shut down Monday with no estimated date of return. Ian Robson, a board member with the union who raises cattle on his farm in Deleau, Man., said this could have a major impact. When a big processor shuts down, shock waves roll through the beef supply chain that increase consumer prices and force ranchers to take losses because they cant sell cattle, he said. You cant eat the beef until its killed and processed, Robson said. And if the killing capacity is the limiting pinch point, it causes a problem both for people who want to eat and for us who want to raise and sell the product. The situation also puts employees under pressure as large processors are declared an essential service during the pandemic, said Paul Meinema, national president of the United Food and Commercial Workers that represents 40,000 workers in the food processing sector. We are in unprecedented times and our members are very dedicated, he said. It certainly is causing stress for them as individuals. Experts who have spoken to the Star in recent days along with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday have stressed that Canadas food supply is stable, even if disruptions drive up prices as millions of people turn to government aid to make ends meet. But the concentration of production has been a recurring question for the beef industry as smaller processing plants have been replaced by industrial slaughterhouses in recent years, said Queens University professor Elaine Power. According to the National Farmers Union, there were 119 federally inspected beef processors in Canada in 1988; now there are 20. People have been sounding the alarm on it for a while, but no one pays any attention unless theres a problem, said Power. It works for big multinational corporations because they make lots of profit, but theres a price. The price right now is the security of the food supply. Dalhousie University professor Sylvain Charlebois, director of the schools Agri-Food Analytics Lab, said concentration of production poses a risk, but the realities of the beef industry simply make it difficult for smaller players to compete. Larger companies can achieve greater production efficiencies in a high-cost sector, buy cattle from ranchers for better prices, and meet rigorous inspection and quality regulations, he said. Canada could change regulations to encourage regional processors, but that would increase prices, Charlebois said. The architecture of the industry is a product of what we want as consumers: we want cheap food, he said. While the Canadian Food Inspection Agency reports there is no evidence food is a likely source of transmission for the virus, outbreaks of the disease have forced some meat processing plants to slow production or shut down after workers contracted COVID-19. Two pork plants in Quebec temporarily shuttered to deal with outbreaks this month, and on Monday, the Cargill facility in High River, Alta. suspended operations with no estimated date of resumption. Another major beef producer in Brooks, Alta., is facing an outbreak with more than 60 confirmed infections. And a chicken processor in British Columbia also shut down Tuesday after Vancouver Coastal Health reported 28 workers there contracted the virus. Read more about: President Donald Trumps executive order suspending immigration in view of the coronavirus epidemic impacts Green Card hopefuls mostly, but not spouses and underage children of existing US citizens, healthcare professionals such as physicians and nurses and rich investors. It does not affect non-immigrants work visas, but it was penciled in as something that can be considered. In order to protect our great American workers, Ive just signed an executive order temporarily suspending immigration into the United States, Trump told reporters after signing the order Wednesday. This will ensure that unemployed Americans of all backgrounds will be first in line for jobs as our economy reopens. An estimated 26.4 million Americans have been rendered jobless by the shutdown of the country because of the coronavirus epidemic and the president has said he wants American to have the first claim to jobs still available or those that will become available, not foreigners. The executive order suspends all immigration for the next 60 days and applies to foreigners who are outside the United States, do not have a valid immigrant visa or any other official travel document issued before the other went into effect. It does not apply to current permanent residents (Green Card holders), physicians and nurses, medical researchers who can help combat the coronavirus outbreak, and their dependents. Also exempted from the suspension are spouses and under-21 children of US citizens, applicants for EB-5 investor visas, members of the US armed forces and their dependents, asylum seekers and refugees. The order can be terminated at the end of the 60-day period, or extended, or toned down or made more expansive. A a provision in the order says additional measures could be considered based on a review (of) nonimmigrant programs, which could include, though not mentioned in the order, short-term H-1B visas that have gone mostly to Indians hired by US employers from US universities or from India. People from India have been major beneficiaries of Green Cards in recent years. A Pew research center study said of the nearly 1 million Green Cards issued in 2017, 126,000 went to applicants from India; followed by Mexico, China and Cuba. Actor Apurva Agnihotri is missing his friend Kushal Punjabi, who died last year. Taking to Instagram, Apurva shared a post dedicated to his late brother. The photo shows Apurva in a helmet and Kushal smiling bright. The two seem to be on a bike trip in the picture. I stood and watched as my brother rode by it wasnt the way it should be But I shed not a tear for this brother for he lived free and loved his life So ride on my brother till we meet again and when my time comes to take that last ride you can bet itll be with a smile...till then enjoy your special day Happy Birthday Dear Kushal Bhai...Miss ya, he wrote. Apurva got messages of support and strength from his friends. Warm hugs apu, wrote one. Memories of the ones we have lost Happy Birthday dear Kushal! Lots of love, wrote another. Kushal committed suicide at his Bandra residence in Mumbai last year in December. He was found dead in his apartment and police said they recovered a suicide note from the actors house, wherein he stated that no one was responsible for his death. In a one-and-a-half page suicide note recovered from his apartment, the actor had written: No one from my family or from my friends circle is responsible for my suicide. This is my own decision. 50% of my property and assets should be equally distributed amongst my parents and sister and remaining 50% should be given to my three-year-old son and wife. The actor and his wife, a French national who lives in Shanghai with their son, had been planning to get separated. According to sources, he has mentioned his Dahisar flat, bike, electronics and savings account details in the note. Also read: Manoj Bajpayees Aligarh paved the way for Ayushmann Khurranas Shubh Mangal Zyaada Saavdhan; it deserves a reappraisal Farhan Akhtar, who had worked with Punjabi on the film Lakshya, took to social media to express his condolences. Have fond memories of working with him on Lakshya...You will be missed brother, he had tweeted. Kushal was a popular TV actor and was last seen in Ishq Mein Marjawan. He also acted in films like Lakshya, Kaal and Dhan Dhana Dhan Goal. Follow @htshowbiz for more PHILADELPHIA, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Berger Montague is investigating securities fraud claims against VMWare, Inc. ("VMWare" or the "Company") on behalf of all purchasers of VMWare common stock (NYSE: VMW) between March 30, 2019 and February 27, 2020 (the "Class Period"). If you purchased VMWare shares, have information, would like to discuss this investigation, or have any questions concerning your rights or interests, please contact our attorneys Barbara A. Podell, Esq. at (215) 875-4690 or Andrew Abramowitz, Esq. at (215) 875-3015, or visit www.bergermontague.com/vmware. According to the lawsuit, VMWare and members of its senior management concealed that: (i) the Company's reporting with respect to its backlog of unfilled orders was not in compliance with all relevant accounting and disclosure requirements; (ii) the foregoing subjected the Company to a foreseeable risk of heightened regulatory scrutiny and/or investigation; and (iii) as a result, the Company's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. Investors learned the truth on February 27, 2020, when, in announcing disappointing results for Q4 2019, VMWare disclosed that in December 2019, the SEC requested documents and information relating to VMware's backlog and associated accounting and disclosures. Indeed, on the Q4 2019 earnings call, VMware disclosed that its total backlog was only $18 million, down enormously from $449 million in the prior year quarter. This information was material to investors because the backlog constitutes orders and agreements that the Company expects to record as revenue in the following quarter. On this news, shares lost 11% of their value, dropping $15.11 per share, from a close of $135.63 per share on February 27, 2020, to a close of $120.52 per share on February 28, 2020. If you purchased VMWare common stock during the Class Period, you may seek Court appointment as lead plaintiff to represent other injured investors in a class action. The lead plaintiff appointment deadline is June 1, 2020. You do not need to be a lead plaintiff to share in any potential Class recovery. Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding VMWare, Inc. should consider their options to help Berger Montague's investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under this program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to thirty percent (30%) of successful recoveries obtained by the SEC. For more information, contact us. Berger Montague, with offices in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Washington, D.C., and San Diego, has been a pioneer in securities class action litigation since its founding in 1970. Berger Montague has represented individual and institutional investors for five decades and serves as lead counsel in courts throughout the United States. Contacts Barbara A. Podell, Shareholder Berger Montague (215) 875-4690 [email protected] Andrew Abramowitz, Senior Counsel Berger Montague (215) 875-3015 [email protected] SOURCE Berger Montague Related Links http://www.bergermontague.com The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or CDC has warned that the second wave of COVID-19 could be more devastating. A resurgence of the virus next winter could hit the health care system of the United States even harder because it coincides with the start of the flu season. The flu season is responsible for thousands of deaths in America every year, and if the coronavirus emerges during the same season, the country's health care system will likely be more overwhelmed and supplies may be more scarce than it has been during the coronavirus outbreak. Coronavirus and the flu season will be twice as deadly CDC Director Robert Redfield told The Washington Post on April 21 that there is a possibility that the assault of the virus in America next winter will be even more difficult than the one that the country is going through right now. This is because the flu pandemic and the coronavirus pandemic will happen at the same time. The first wave of COVID-19, the disease that is caused by the novel coronavirus or SARS-CoV-2, has already killed more than 47,000 people in America since the first known case was reported in January. The coronavirus outbreak has overwhelmed hospitals and the health care system and it revealed massive shortages of test kits and personal protective equipment like gowns, gloves, shields, and masks for health care workers and those in the front lines. Also Read: Air Quality in the United States is Declining Fast, Posing Danger to Millions of People Flu season in the US The flu season in America peaks between December and February and it creates a strain on the U.S health care system every year, but fortunately, the epidemic arrived toward the end of the flu season. According to the estimates of CDC, the flu killed almost 32,000 Americans in the 2018-2019 flu season and it resulted in half a million hospitalizations. If the flu season had peaked at the same time as the coronavirus pandemic, ti could have been really difficult in terms of health care capacity. According to scientists, a coronavirus vaccine is likely to be available in 12 to 18 months, and the only way to prevent the virus to spread more and infect more people is by doing other actions and protocols advised by WHO and the CDC. Redfield stated that federal and state officials must continue to push for social distancing, especially now that more businesses and public spaces are reopening. Social distancing has had a massive impact on the outbreak in America since the pandemic began and it will hold true until the vaccines for the virus are accessible. Redfield also added that the country needs to scale up testing and contact tracing so that new coronavirus cases can be identified immediately before they become larger outbreaks. He also said that U.S health officials must spend the summer months persuading American citizens about the importance of getting flu shots in the fall in order to minimize the number of flu-related hospitalizations. Getting a flu vaccination, especially this year, can help the health care system from being overwhelmed. It can also leave more room for coronavirus patients in the hospitals. Related Article: Coronavirus Lingers in Eyes for Over 20 Days, Can Be Viable Route of Transmission @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Before entering the construction site all workers and engineers have their temperature checked, wash their hands and keep a minimum distance of two meters. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak in January, the HCMC Management Authority for Urban Railways has counseled the workers to raise awareness of disease prevention and required them to wear masks and maintain a distance between each other. By Jung Min-ho The ruling Democratic Party of Korea on Thursday vowed to raise the age of consent to 16 from 13 in its fight against child sexual abuse. The move comes a week after the Ministry of Justice said a 13-year-old is not mature enough to consent to sexual acts and that the age should be raised to 16. At a high-level meeting at the National Assembly, the two sides agreed to cooperate to push for parliamentary passage of relevant bills before the end of May. The age of consent is that at which a person is legally considered old enough and competent enough to consent to sexual activity. An adult who engages in sexual activity with a person under the age could be charged with child sexual abuse or rape. Korea has long been criticized for keeping the legal benchmark too low. It is one of few major countries where adults can engage in sexual activity with 13-year-olds, as long as it is "consensual." In Finland and New Zealand, the benchmark is 16; in California, it is 18. Zimbabwe's government has reduced the mandatory quarantine period for possible coronavirus cases by one-half. The government says it lacks the resources to take care of patients in isolation for the two-week period recommended by the World Health Organization. Health Minister Obediah Moyo says Zimbabwe does not have the resources to continue following the two-week quarantine period for people entering the country. Speaking at a news conference streamed on social media, Moyo said the Cabinet has decided to reduce the quarantine period to seven days. And if they are found to be positive they will be sent to an isolation center. And if they are found to be negative they will be released. It decongests the facilities, said Moyo. That might be good news for returning Zimbabwean citizens, who have been complaining on social media about squalid quarantine centers which reportedly do not have running water. Health experts see this move as dangerous. Dr. Alex Gasasira, the head of the World Health Organization in Zimbabwe, is urging those released to self-quarantine to minimize the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Zimbabwe has 29 confirmed cases. Four people have died. Several of the confirmed cases in Zimbabwe have been amongst people returning to Zimbabwe from countries which had a widespread of COVID-19. So, it is really in the public health recommended good to have a close monitoring of anybody who is returning to Zimbabwe at this time from such countries. So, this monitoring or quarantine could be voluntary or mandatory, he said. Zimbabwe had initially put the quarantine period at 21 days, even longer than the WHOs recommendation. Gasasira explains the importance of keeping possible coronavirus patients isolated while doctors watch them for signs of the infection. The 14-day is the average time incubation period -- between the time maybe infected and the time he or she develops symptoms. So, if you spend more than 14 days without developing any symptoms. the likelihood is that you are not likely to be infected, he said. The cash-strapped government says it has so far spent about 125,000 U.S. dollars on food and basic needs of 950 returning residents in COVID-19 quarantine centers. The cost of accommodation is not included in that figure, officials said Wednesday. SARATOGA SPRINGS Anticipating a multi-million dollar shortfall to the citys 2020 budget, Commissioner of Finance Michele Madigan asked her fellow commissioners to offer suggestions for budget cuts. In an email sent to all the commissioners, who act as city department heads, she has requested they provide recommendations by April 29. We are all in this together, Madigan said on Tuesday at the City Council meeting where she announced her plan for reductions to every department. We are all aiming for the same outcome, an intact city with a sustainable plan. Madigan said the cuts were necessary to survive the financial fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. The decision to shutdown many businesses to slow the spread of the virus is wreaking havoc on city revenues including sales and occupancy taxes. It is also expected to impact financial aid from the state and New York Racing Association revenues all of which could mean a $14 to $16 million loss, or a quarter of the citys $48.7 million budget. She is asking for a 10 percent reduction in spending as a start. Ideally Id like to (then) to see where we are at, Madigan told the commissioners. If I have to come back to you and say we didnt go deep enough I will. At the meeting, Madigan said everything will be considered including layoffs, which she called the least palatable option. However, she said she is exploring options including a state Department of Labor Shared Work program where employees could collect partial unemployment if they reduce the hours they work. She is also considering wage deferrals and early retirement incentives that would replace higher salaried employees with lower salaried employees at the cost, she said, of losing expertise. She did not mention an increase in property taxes, which in weeks past, she said is too early to consider for 2021. The city is already experiencing a hiring and spending freeze, implemented on April 10. At the meeting, Commissioner of Public Safety Robin Dalton said it's not a pretty picture" and is concerned that she won't be able to hire new police or firefighters. Losing fire and police, in my opinion, is also not something we can do, she said. Commissioner of Public Works Anthony Skip Scirocco said that he likes the early retirement plan because he has a handful of people who are close to retirement. He said that his department can postpone more costly projects. There would be hits in the services, Scirocco said. Under the circumstances, we dont have a whole lot of choices. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Madigan also discussed borrowing funds, using more of the fund balances - which totals about $8.5 million - as well as seeking relief from the federal government that is discussing a stimulus plan for municipalities. My appeals for aid are abundant and relentless and will be until the city has a plan that does not bankrupt our financial health or valuable employees, Madigan said. Commissioner of Accounts John Franck said much of what happens to the city depends on the Saratoga Race Course. A summer meet without fans would hit the city hard. But he thinks the city can get through the pandemic. Its far worse for most cities in the U.S. and New York State, Franck said. We are much healthier position than other municipalities. On Thursday, Madigan announced that the city ended 2019 with a $856,00 deficit. She blamed the shortfall, in part, on the New York Racing Association, which changed its calculation to its admission tax for the city. Madigan was expecting to bring in $723,000 in 2019 from the track, the same as 2018, but actually took in $429,000. She said that is equivalent to what the city received from NYRA in 2011. The Western Regional Communications team of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is demanding an unqualified apology from the NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Essikado-Ketan, Dr. Grace Ayensu Danquah, for making 'distasteful' comments about them and the party. According to them, the NDC candidate who is a member of the NDC national COVID-19 team has described them as people who are paid by the NPP 'to speak anyhow'. The NDC candidate allegedly made the unsavoury comments on Takoradi-based FOX FM on Monday while discussing the COVID-19 pandemic. She claimed the NPP government had not been able to purchase a ventilator for any of the health facilities in the region, particularly for the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi, to help deal with the pandemic. The following day, a member of the NPP regional communications team, William Manful-Sam, also stated on Takoradi-based Kyzz FM that the NDC candidate had always tried to give a partisan twist to discussions on the coronavirus disease. He said that what the NDC candidate said was an admission that the NDC government under Mr. John Mahama could not purchase a ventilator for the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi when they were in power for eight years. He indicated that Dr. Ayensu Danquah was polite on issues on radio but after she was made a member of the NDC COVID-19 team and came back from Accra, she started doing politics with the pandemic whenever she spoke on radio. The NDC candidate who was also listening to the programme called in and explained that she never said former John Mahama did nothing to improve Effia-Nkwanta and other hospitals in the region. She then went ahead to say the NPP communicators are paid by the party to talk by-heart on radio. The NPP communication team members, who felt insulted by the statement, stormed Kyzz FM in their numbers on Wednesday. They called on the Essikado-Ketan NDC candidate to retract the statement and apologize to them or else they would expose her. Rex Jonfiah, acting Western Regional Communications Director, implored the NDC candidate to render an unqualified apology to the NPP communicators for insulting their intelligence. The NDC was in government for eight years, so if you say they should blame the NPP for not purchasing ventilators for the health facilities in the region, then she should also blame her party and not to insult, he said. ---Daily Guide Craig Coopersmith was up early that morning as usual and typed his daily inquiry into his phone. "Good morning, Team Covid," he wrote, asking for updates from the ICU team leaders working across 10 hospitals in the Emory University health system in Atlanta. One doctor replied that one of his patients had a strange blood problem. Despite being put on anticoagulants, the patient was still developing clots. A second said she'd seen something similar. And a third. Soon, every person on the text chat had reported the same thing. "That's when we knew we had a huge problem," said Coopersmith, a critical-care surgeon. As he checked with his counterparts at other medical centers, he became increasingly alarmed: "It was in as many as 20, 30 or 40% of their patients." One month ago, when the country went into lockdown to prepare for the first wave of coronavirus cases, many doctors felt confident they knew what they were dealing with. Based on early reports, the novel coronavirus appeared to be a standard variety respiratory virus, albeit a contagious and lethal one with no vaccine and no treatment. They've since seen how covid-19, the disease the novel coronavirus causes, attacks not only the lungs but the kidneys, heart, intestines, liver and brain. Increasingly, doctors are reporting bizarre, unsettling cases that don't seem to follow any of the textbooks they've trained on. They describe patients with startlingly low oxygen levels - so low that they would normally be unconscious or near death - talking and swiping on their phones. Asymptomatic pregnant women suddenly in cardiac arrest. Patients who by all conventional measures seem to have mild disease deteriorating within minutes and dying at home. With no clear patterns in terms of age or chronic conditions, some scientists hypothesize that at least some of these abnormalities may be explained by severe changes in patients' blood. The concern is so acute some doctor groups have raised the controversial possibility of giving preventive blood thinners to everyone with covid-19 - even those well enough to endure their illness at home. Blood clots, in which the red liquid turns gel-like, appear to be the opposite of what occurs in Ebola, Dengue, Lassa and other hemorrhagic fevers that lead to uncontrolled bleeding. But they actually are part of the same phenomenon - and can have similarly devastating consequences. Autopsies have shown some people's lungs filled with hundreds of microclots. Errant blood clots of a larger size can break and travel to the brain or heart, causing a stroke or heart attack. On Saturday, Broadway actor Nick Cordero, 41, had his right leg amputated after being infected with the novel coronavirus and suffering from clots that blocked blood from getting to his toes. Lewis Kaplan, a University of Pennsylvania physician and head of the Society of Critical Care Medicine, said that every year doctors treat people with clotting complications, from those with cancer to victims of severe trauma, "and they don't clot like this." "The problem we are having is that while we understand that there is a clot, we don't yet understand why there is a clot," Kaplan said. "We don't know. And therefore, we are scared." - - - The first sign something was going haywire was in legs, which were turning blue and swelling. Even patients on blood thinners in the ICU were developing clots - which is not unusual in one or two patients in one unit but is for so many at the same time. Next came the clogging of the dialysis machines, which filter impurities in blood when kidneys are failing and jammed several times a day. "There was a universal understanding that this was different," Coopersmith said. Then came the autopsies. When they opened up some deceased patients' lungs, they expected to find evidence of pneumonia and damage to the tiny air sacs that exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide between the lungs and the bloodstream. Instead, they found tiny clots all over. Video meetings were convened in some of the largest medical centers nationwide. Tufts. Yale-New Haven. The University of Pennsylvania. Brigham and Women's. Columbia-Presbyterian. Theories were shared. Treatments debated. Although there was no consensus on the biology of why this was happening and what could be done about it, many came to believe the clots might be responsible for a significant share of U.S. deaths from covid-19 - possibly explaining why so many people are dying at home. In hindsight, there were hints blood problems had been an issue in China and Italy as well, but it was more of a footnote in studies and on information-sharing calls that had focused on the disease's destruction of the lungs. "It crept up on us. We weren't hearing a tremendous amount about this internationally," said Greg Piazza, a cardiovascular specialist at Brigham and Women's who has begun a study of bleeding complications of covid-19. Helen Boucher, an infectious-disease specialist at Tufts Medical Center, said there's no reason to think anything is different about the virus in the United States. More likely, she said, the problem was more obvious to American doctors because of the unique demographics of U.S. patients, including large percentages with heart disease and obesity that make them more vulnerable to the ravages of blood clots. She also noted small but important differences in the monitoring and treatment of patients in ICUs in this country that would make clots easier to detect. "Part of this is by virtue of the fact that we have such incredible intensive care facilities," she said. - - - The body's cardiovascular system often is described as a network of one-way streets that connect the heart to other organs. Blood is the transport system, responsible for moving nutrients to the cells and waste away from them. A common cold or a cut on the finger can lead to changes that help repair the damage, but when the body undergoes a more significant trauma, the blood can overreact, leading to an imbalance that can cause excessive clots or bleeding - and sometimes both. Scientists call this "hemostatic derangement." In math, a derangement is a permutation in which no element is in its original position. Harlan Krumholz, a cardiac specialist at the Yale-New Haven Hospital Center, said no one knows whether blood complications are a result of a direct assault on blood vessels or a hyperactive inflammatory response to the virus by the patient's immune system. "One of the theories is that once the body is so engaged in a fight against an invader, the body starts consuming the clotting factors, which can result in either blood clots or bleeding," he said. "In Ebola, the balance was more toward bleeding. In covid-19, it's more blood clots." A Dutch study published April 10 in the journal Thrombosis Research provided more evidence the issue is widespread, finding 38% of 184 covid-19 patients in an intensive care unit had blood that clotted abnormally. The researchers called it "a conservative estimation" because many of the patients were still hospitalized and at risk of further complications. Early data from China on a sample of 183 patients showed that more than 70% of patients who died of covid-19 had small clots develop throughout their bloodstream. Although acute respiratory distress syndrome still appears to be the leading cause of death in covid-19 patients, blood complications are not far behind, said Behnood Bikdeli, a fourth-year fellow at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, who helped anchor a paper about the blood clots in the Journal of The American College of Cardiology. "My guess is it's one of the top three causes of demise and deterioration in covid-19 patients," he said. That recognition is prompting many hospitals to change the way they think about the disease and manage it. When the novel coronavirus first hit, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others put people with asthma at the top of their lists of those who might be the most vulnerable. But European researchers writing in the journal Lancet noted that it was "striking" how underrepresented asthma patients had been. Earlier this month, when New York state released data about the top chronic health problems of those who died of covid-19, asthma was not among them. Instead, they were almost all cardiovascular conditions. Some medical centers have begun giving all hospitalized covid-19 patients small doses of blood thinners as preventive measures, and many are adjusting doses upward for the most seriously ill. The challenge is the more you give, the greater the danger of upsetting the balance in the other direction and having the patient bleed out. Another big mystery the doctors hope the blood issue will shed light on is why some maternity patients are collapsing during or after giving birth. A paper published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology MFM in late March detailed how two women with no prior symptoms of covid-19 ended up in intensive care. The first was a 38-year-old patient of New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center in Manhattan who spiked a fever of 101.3 while undergoing a C-section delivery and began bleeding profusely. The second woman, 33, also underwent a C-section but the next day developed a cough that progressed to respiratory distress. Her heart beat irregularly, and her blood pressure jumped to as high as 200/90. Several physician-researchers said the relationship between covid-19, clotting and pregnant women is "an area of interest." Women in childbirth can experience clotting and bleeding complications because of the involvement of the blood-rich placenta, but it's possible covid-19 may be triggering additional cases by making some women's bodies "lose balance." "There's lots of speculation," Krumholz said. "That's one of the frustrating things about this virus. We're in a lot of darkness still." Chinas circulation of a number of diplomatic notes at the United Nations (UN) that raise unreasonable sovereignty claims over Vietnams Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos as well as maritime claims in the East Sea runs counter to the provisions of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), an official said on April 23. Toc Tan island in Vietnam's Truong Sa archipelago In face of this, Vietnam on March 30 circulated a note at the UN to reject Chinas claims as mentioned in many documents sent to the UN and related international agencies, Deputy Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry Ngo Toan Thang highlighted at the ministrys regular press briefing in Hanoi, adding that Vietnam has also contacted China to strongly affirm its consistent stance and reject Chinas wrongful viewpoint. The official was answering reporters queries about Vietnams response to Chinas April 17 sending of a note to the UN stating sovereignty claims over the East Sea. As stated at the press briefing on April 9, Vietnams sending of diplomatic notes is a normal act to manifest its stance and to safeguard its legal and legitimate rights and interests, he said. Vietnam circulated a note on April 10 to affirm its stance on the East Sea issue with other parties concerned. According to the official, Vietnam has repeatedly affirmed that it has sufficient historical evidence and legal basis to assert its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos in accordance with international law. As a littoral state, Vietnam is entitled to fully enjoy the waters in the East Sea determined on the basis of the UNCLOS, he said. All the maritime claims which are contrary to the provisions of the UNCLOS and infringe upon Vietnam's sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction over its waters are null and void, he affirmed. Vietnam believes that all countries have common duties and interests in respecting the fundamental principles of international law, including the principle of national sovereignty equality, restraint from the use or threat to use of force in international relations against the territorial integrity of other countries, promoting friendliness, and settling international disputes through peaceful means, Thang said. In this spirit, he highlighted, Vietnam stands ready to resolve disputes with parties concerned through negotiations as well as other peaceful measures, including those specified in the UNCLOS. Regarding China's issuance of the so-called standard names for 80 entities in the East Sea, Thang stated that Vietnam has affirmed many times that it has sufficient historical evidence and legal foundation to assert its sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, in line with international law, and at the same time has national sovereign right and jurisdiction over the waters established in accordance with the UNCLOS. All the acts harmful to Vietnam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, sovereign right and jurisdiction over its waters are void and unrecognised, and Vietnam resolutely protests such acts, he affirmed./.VNA Press Release 23 April 2020 London, UK - The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) calls upon G20 tourism ministers to lead a united and coordinated recovery for the Travel & Tourism sector out of the COVID-19 crisis. Advertisements WTTC, which represents the global Travel & Tourism private sector, says only the G20 has the power to influence and drive forward a coordinated recovery effort needed to preserve the sector. The extraordinary Tourism Ministers meeting due to take place on Friday 24 April is set to discuss how to combat the crisis crippling the entire Travel & Tourism sector. According to WTTC analysis, 75 million jobs around the world are at risk, with one million jobs on the line daily, significantly impacting major source markets. Ahead of the meeting, WTTC praised the G20 for freezing the debt of the world's poorest countries as a major step towards enabling them to bolster their health systems, to save lives and combat COVID-19. Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, said: "The G20's proven record, which powered the recovery following the financial crisis in 2008, and the recent decisive action to freeze debt proves this forum is the best platform with the speed and agility needed, to drive forward the urgent actions required to set the pace and save the global Travel & Tourism sector and enable it to survive and thrive. "WTTC proposes tourism ministers participating in the meeting, fully jointly commit with the private sector to four key principles to achieve a faster recovery. "This would involve including the private sector in the coordinated response, ensuring all measures put the traveller at the heart of their actions. This would include a seamless traveller journey with enhanced health security standards enabled through technology, developing joint public-private and G20-wide health protocols as well as ongoing support packages for the tourism sector beyond lifting of lockdown and into the recovery. "As the premier forum of international cooperation, the G20 is the best proven vehicle to help achieve global economic stability and sustainable growth, which has successfully partnered with the private sector to achieve such objectives. Millions of people around the world depend on their actions. "Under the leadership of Saudi Arabia as the G20 Chair, a country which recorded the fastest growth in Travel & Tourism GDP in 2019 with four times the global average, this meeting offers the best platform to ensure a coordinated approach for a faster recovery. "We must remember up to 75 million jobs are at risk, and without swift action from the G20 one in four new jobs around the world and the 10.3% (US$8.9 trillion) contribution to global GDP, will not be generated and the global economy will struggle to recover. We also have to learn from past experiences that when the private sector is involved the recovery has been faster." WTTC's four principles to ensure swift recovery for the Travel & Tourism sector and the global economy following the end of the COVID-19 outbreak, are: A joint public-private coordinated approach across the G20 to re-establish effective operations, remove travel barriers and reopen borders. This would ensure the efficient resumption of flights, movement of people and widescale travel essential to re-build confidence in Travel & Tourism. Enhance the seamless traveller journey experience, combining the latest technology and protocols to increase health standards. Consider the "new normal" for the sector with components of health, security, hygiene and sustainability with a traveller centric approach. Work with the private sector and health experts to define global standards for the new normal, grounded in science which can be easily adopted by businesses of every size across all travel industries and can be implemented across the world. Continue to aid and assist to the Travel & Tourism sector during the recovery phase, throughout the entire travel eco-system. Financial support for workers, businesses and for promotion for a prompt recovery. It is vital the domino effect is fully realised so that businesses large and small can all recover and prosper. Following these four principles will reduce the recovery timeframe of the global economy and offer reassurance to travellers that the time is right once more to explore and visit. The economic importance of Travel & Tourism sector to the G20 is demonstrated by the latest WTTC 2020 Economic Impact report, which shows it supported more than 211 million jobs, or 9.5% of the G20's total workforce. The G20 includes most of the key source markets to the majority of regions around the world. Travel & Tourism across the G20 represented 76% of global Travel & Tourism GDP in 2019. The sector also generated US $6,736.4BN to GDP, or 9% to the total G20 economy, growing by 3.7% from the previous year. The comprehensive report shows this growth outperformed the overall G20 GDP growth in 2019 of 2.6% in the same year. United Utilities is offering farmers free hire of weed wipers and aerators in a drive to reduce pesticides entering the River Dee. The offers run until October 2020 and are open to farmers with land around Bala in Gwynedd, Wales. Weed wipers use glyphosate which is considered to be less harmful to the environment because it breaks down quicker than selective broadleaf herbicides such as MCPA, 2,4-D and Mecoprop. These common herbicides are used to control broad-leafed weeds and rush infestations and have been detected through routine water quality monitoring in the Dee catchment. Although the levels found have been too low to cause environmental or health risks they increase the cost of treating raw water, United Utilities explained. The weed wipers target weeds directly using less chemicals, leaving the valuable underlying crop unaffected. Aerators are an effective way to maximise production and reduce water run-off from compacted soils. United Utilities catchment advisor, Robert Llewellyn-Smith, said aerating allows oxygen, water and nutrients to get directly to the root system and can help deeper root growth and improve root structure. "On compacted soils it can also help improve yields and soil drainage reducing fertiliser losses from run-off and improving the soil retention of nutrients from slurries and manures. "Aerating soils can also help reduce flooding as rain penetrates into the soil rather than washing straight off taking soil and nutrients with it," Mr Llewellyn-Smith said. The weed wiper can be used to treat anything that is significantly higher than the grass including rushes, docks and thistles. It is more targeted than a spray as a properly adjusted weed wiper only applies herbicide to the weeds, United Utilities explained. It added that this saves money as less of the herbicide chemical is required for the process. "The combination of no spray and less chemical makes it a safer method of weed control for both the user and the wider environment, Mr Llewellyn-Smith said. The water firm has been running its weed wiper offer farmers in the Upper and Middle Dee and Llangollen Canal catchments for three years. It has hired out the weed wipers 58 times to treat a total of more than 728 hectares. As a service to the community, AllenComm and the Columbia University Department of Psychiatry released two online guides that teach coping skills for getting through the COVID-19 outbreak. COVID-19: Tips for Facing the Lockdown and COVID-19: 5 Tips to Face Your Anxiety have now been distributed by recognizable companies such as Change Healthcare, Chick-Fil-A, and several others. The organizations that have shared these resources have a strong commitment to the morale of their teams and communities. Their leadership has prompted them to ensure their employees have the resources they need to weather this difficult time. I went through [the guide] and was pleased to see it was echoing a lot of what we've been sharing with our teams as well, said one executive. I will definitely forward it, so others are aware. These guides address common frustrations and the anxiety caused by the Coronavirus outbreak. Laid out in easy-to-navigate modules, the guides cover helpful topics such as evaluating helpful vs. harmful thoughts, regulating your mood, changing the stories you tell yourself to ease anxiety, using mindfulness to accept what cant be changed, finding ways to treat yourself and keep your mind and body active, harnessing the power of changing up your routine to alter your perspective, and finding ways to preserve or strengthen your relationships. There are simple, tried and true techniques that psychologists have developed that we can all use to get us through this difficult time, says Dr. Barbara Stanley, writer of COVID-10: Tips for Facing the Lockdown. These resources can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection on their mobile device or computer. These guides can also be hosted on corporate, educational, and governmental learning management systems free of charge. Contact AllenComm for more information. We are committed to sharing these effective coping skills with our clients and partners, said Ron Zamir, AllenComm CEO. While our country focuses on the medical care of so many Americans, we shouldnt forget that our mental health is under assault. During these times of crisis, we are honored to have developed a resource that is quickly becoming so valuable to businesses and communities. About AllenComm For over 35 years, AllenComm has partnered with Fortune 100 companies to create and scale unique, innovative learning solutions. Extensive instructional design experience, innovative learning technologies, and agency-level creative teams enable AllenComm to stand out in the learning landscape. Considered one of the top ten firms of its kind in the country, AllenComm wins over 40 awards year after year for their tailored learning solutions. With internal workforce and experience, AllenComm is uniquely positioned in the learning space to meet multiple needs from small to very large change management projects. Partnering with AllenComm to supplement and support human capital management needs has helped customers reduce expenses, shorten onboarding periods, and raise the impact of sales and compliance efforts. For more information, visit allencomm.com. About Columbia University Department of Psychiatry The Columbia University Department of Psychiatry is one of the largest in the country in terms of faculty size as well as state, federal, and foundation research support. They are currently among the top-ranked in the nation for Psychiatry in the US News & World Report Best Hospital rankings, as well as in psychiatric research funding from the National Institutes of Health. They have extraordinary clinical, educational, and research resources. Their faculty includes over 400 psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, nurses, and neurobehavioral scientists. Clinical facilities and laboratories of the Psychiatry Department are located in a large number of institutions and healthcare systems. These include New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, the New York State Psychiatric Institute, the New York State Office of Mental Health, and the Washington Heights Community Mental Health Center. The Department of Psychiatry also houses the Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, the Mind/Brain Institute, a Howard Hughes Research Institute, and the Stanley Center for Applied Neuroscience of Bipolar Disorders. T he three finalists for this years prestigious BP Portrait Award were announced today. The portraits in the running to scoop the 35,000 first prize place are Night Talk by Jiab Prachakul; Portrait of Denis: Actor, Juggler and Fashion Model by Sergey Svetlakov; and Labour of Love by Michael Youds. It is the first time any of the artists have been shortlisted for the award or selected for exhibition. Thai painter Prachakuls Night Talk portrays the artists friends Jeonga Choi, a designer from Korea, and Makoto Sakamoto, a music composer from Japan, sitting in a Berlin bar on an autumn evening. Russian painter Svetlakovs work is of an aspiring actor, who the artist found through an internet advert. Meanwhile, Youds piece is of the owner of a record shop called Tommy Robertson in his hometown of Edinburgh. The shortlisted portraits were selected from 1,981 entries from 69 countries. The prize winners will be announced on Tuesday, 5 May on the National Portrait Gallerys social media channels. The total number of coronavirus cases in India has grown to 21,393, while death toll raised to 681. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) on Thursday, April 23, said the increased number of fresh COVID-19 aka coronavirus cases in India are linear, not exponential. The statement from the government was made today evening after MoHFW reported 1,409 new cases and 41 deaths in last 24 hours. With todays addition, the total number of coronavirus cases has grown to 21,393, while death toll raised to 681. Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) Director-General, Balram Bharghava, told media that currently, the situation is almost same as it was a month ago. Countrys health situation hasnt dipped much and only 4 to 4.5% of people are getting infected. A data collected by the ICMR before March 22 (before the lockdown period) said off 16,109, only 341 people were found to be COVID-19 positive. The equation of infection rate was said to be 2.11 %, which is around half the figure being quoted by the government. In its daily press conference, the Health Ministry spokesperson said that the recovery rates has grown to 19.89% as 4,257 have been cured so far by doctors and nurses hard work. He added that comoared to last weeks recovery rate (9.99%), this week the number of people cured has shoot up which is a positive and moral boosting sign. For all the latest National News, download NewsX App Were thrilled to have experienced client leaders in the market research space join us. Elena and Marek are great additions to the Zappi team. Zappi, the ad and innovation testing platform built by brands for brands, today announced that it has hired two new client leaders to deepen relationships with existing customers. Elena Protopapas joins Zappi from Nielsen and is based in London and Marek Slodyczka joins from Ipsos and is based in New York. Protopapas was an associate manager at Nielsen (BASES), focusing on product innovation and packaging design. Using both System 1 and System 2 methodologies, she has helped a number of FMCG companies worldwide to grow through innovation. She also has a Master's degree in Market Research and Consumer Behavior from IE University in Madrid. Slodyczka was a senior vice president and executive team lead in Ipsos innovation practice. With over a decade of experience in innovation, brand strategy, and consumer insights, Marek has helped companies like Procter & Gamble, Sanofi, Tyson Foods, and Morton Salt bring successful innovations to market. "I'm thrilled to be joining such a dynamic organization that's driving the transformation of insights, Slodyczka shared. Zappi is at the forefront of combining leading technology with curated, fit for purpose methodologies designed to streamline workflows, scale data, and unlock tremendous value for customers." Protopapas added, "I am very excited to be part of a revolution that can drastically change the way brands grow and innovate." This news comes on the heels of Zappis earlier hiring and promotion announcements. Data strategist Yvonne OBrien joined at the start of the year as Zappis executive vice president of go-to-market, while Zappi also announced a number of customer hires across sales, marketing and customer success. Ryan Barry, Zappis chief revenue officer, said, Were thrilled to have experienced client leaders in the market research space join us. Elena and Marek are great additions to the Zappi team. ABOUT ZAPPI Zappi is the ad and innovation testing platform built for brands, by brands. Whether you want to screen initial creative/product ideas, guide your go-to-market plan, or optimize at any point of the process, Zappi has a solution co-built with some of the best consumer brands on the market. In Zappis platform, your insights grow more valuable the more you test and learn. To find out more, visit https://www.zappi.io/web/. MEDIA CONTACT Katie Sweet katie.sweet@zappistore.com Human trials of a COVID-19 vaccine in Thailand are expected to begin within the next four months, according to the Department of Disease Control (DDC) of the country. Colorized scanning electron micrograph of a dying cell (purple) infected with SARS-COV-2 virus particles (yellow), isolated from a patient sample. Image captured at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility in Fort Detrick, Maryland. (Photo: NIH via Reuters) The announcement follows an initial cooperation agreement between the Thai Ministry of Public Health and Chinese pharmaceutical companies in developing a vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2. Speaking at a meeting of the National Vaccine Committee, DDC chief Suwannachai Wattanayingcharoenchai said the National Vaccine Institute is preparing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chinese partners to test a COVID-19 vaccine in Thailand. The trial is expected to involve more than 10,000 Thai citizens, he said, adding that DDC will consider possible candidates to work with. According to Suwannachai, many laboratories in the country are ready to develop a vaccine if their Chinese counterparts provide them with the technology. Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvrirakul said he has ordered the National Vaccine Institute to complete its vaccine development blueprint within three months so the country can go ahead with vaccine development projects. The government has approved 45 billion THB for the fight against COVID-19, which included vaccine development, he noted. Thailand on April 22 recorded 15 new cases of COVID-19, raising the total to 2,826, including 49 deaths. The number of infections reported by day in Thailand is on the decline, opening up the possibility that the government may ease restrictions across the country in the coming time./.VNA ALBANY Potentially thousands of workers who were laid off from small businesses due to the coronavirus pandemic are declining to return to work because the combined income they are receiving from federal stimulus benefits and New Yorks unemployment system is more than they made at their jobs. The fallout also has hindered the ability of small business owners to meet the conditions attached to federal Payment Protection Plan loans, which may be forgiven if the money is used to maintain employee payrolls. Business owners have to spend that money on salaries, health care and rent or mortgage. So whats happened is the employees ... are getting more money at home not working than they would be getting paid and returning to work, or paid and staying home, said Kevin Luibrand, an Albany attorney who learned about the situation from clients who are small business owners. So theres no incentive for employees to want to be returned to the payroll. As a result, the employers arent going to be able to spend down the PPP money. In those instances, instead of having the loans forgiven small business owners may have to pay them back with interest. The Times Union reported last week that roughly 2 percent of small businesses in New York have been approved for loans through the Small Business Administrations Paycheck Protection Program. The program was created by a recent federal stimulus bill and launched April 3, and has been overwhelmed by demand. Congress is negotiating more funding for it even as business owners have been reporting the difficulty of getting lower-paid employees to return to work or agree to be placed back on the payroll. In an interview last week, Mathew Tully, an attorney at one of Albanys largest law firms, said his business has seen some of the same consequences, and hes also hearing about the issue from clients who own small businesses. Many businesses have employees coming in and saying Can you please furlough me?, Tully said. Its creating a major problem for companies that are in limbo. ... Were not like a restaurant or a diner where were completely shut down. The unemployment stimulus package approved by Congress enable someone collecting state unemployment benefits, which are calculated based on the salary of the job they lost, and an additional $600 a week in unemployment benefits funded by the federal government. Many workers are collecting up to $1,000 a week under the two programs. Tully said a client who owns a business that had about 60 employees had roughly 35 workers demand to be furloughed. An employer can notify the state Department of Labor if an employee refuses to return to their job or the payroll, and the benefits can be rescinded. But that reporting is not mandated, and some employers fear having to rehire an employee who is disgruntled because they lost an opportunity to make more money not working than they would make on a payroll. Employers also must pay higher unemployment insurance rates if they lay off more workers for longer periods. Whats happened is the employer is going to contact employee and say, Im going to offer you your job back, Luibrand said. The employee can say, Im making more money not working. An employer can force an employee to accept the job return offer by contacting the state, which would stop the unemployment benefits if the employee declined to accept the job offer. But what kind of employee will an employer have if the employer forces the employee back to work making less pay than (they would make) being at home not working? The answer is a very disgruntled employee, Luibrand said. Tully said the situation could inhibit the ability of businesses to reopen when the economy is restarted for non-essential operations. The government has motivated people to collect benefits and stay home rather than work, which will keep our unemployment numbers high for months to come, he said. That is going to hinder my business from growing in a reliable, steady and resolute manner in the coming months. ... We are having numerous employees ask to be laid off because the unemployment benefits are now so generous. Love 0 Funny 4 Wow 1 Sad 3 Angry 22 By Azernews By Akbar Mammadov US-based News Blaze website has commented on the recent aid from Iran to Azerbaijans occupied Nagorno Karabakh region in its report published on April 21. Recently, a video circulated in the media about the transportation of fuel, raw materials and food by trucks with Iranian state license plates. Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry has expressed concern over the reported aid to, saying that it "caused serious concern of Azerbaijani government and deep public dissatisfaction. Commenting on the aid, News Blaze questioned: Why would the self-proclaimed guardian of all the worlds Muslims support the ongoing Armenian occupation of land that belongs to its secular northern neighbor, the Republic of Azerbaijan, whose population is primarily Shiite Muslims? Iran shares a 611-kilometre border with the Republic of Azerbaijan; as a result of the Nagorno-Karabakh War of 1988-94, a large part of this border stretch has been removed from Azerbaijans lawful control. Armenia aggressively invaded and occupied approximately 20 percent of Azerbaijans sovereign territory that includes the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The outcome of the war was that over 800,000 Azerbaijani civilians were expelled from these occupied areas. And till today they are still internally displaced, scattered all over Azerbaijan," the report reads. Following the occupation, Armenia created the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, now called the Republic of Artsakh, in the illegally occupied area of Azerbaijan. It is important to state that the Armenian-occupied region is internationally regarded as part of Azerbaijan while the so-called Republic of Artsakh is not recognized by any country, worldwide, reads the article. The author added that the Armenian-controlled Iran-Azerbaijan 132 km long border portion, stretching between the Armenian town of Meghri and the Azerbaijani town of Horadiz, is where Tehrans interfaces with the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh republic. Built in the 13th century, the Khodaafarin Bridge, stretching across the Araz River and connecting Iran with the occupied Jabrayil district of Azerbaijan can be seen as an example of Irans cynicism. While Iran claims to be a nation of piety and order, at the same time it is pouring hard drugs, arms and fuel across this illegal border crossing, as well researched and penned by investigative writer Harrold Cane in his article The Islamic Republic. The Khodaafarin Bridge, the main crossing point between Iran and Nagorno-Karabakh, is considered illegal under international law. Located well beyond the reach of global law and order agencies, therefore useful," the author of the article wrote. The author touched on the fact that for a long time Tehran, under the control of the IRGC, has been using this route for trafficking drugs, originating in Afghanistan, to their final destination, Europe. In addition, she also noted that the Iranian smugglers, driving trucks with Iranian license plates, openly carry narcotics into the Nagorno-Karabakh region, across the Araz River and into Europes back passage. "Iran, a fervent Islamic theocracy, and Armenia, a Christian nation, make strange bedfellows. But, as it seems, money talks," Greenger wrote. "According to Araz News an independent news source focusing on ethnic Azerbaijanis, in addition to drug trafficking, the IRGC are also in charge of sending supplies, i.e. fuel, food, construction materials, etc., to the Armenia-occupied Karabakh. Most of the trucks sent to Armenia and the occupied Karabakh territory belong to the Nasr Novin Mishu Company, located in Sufian and Tabriz, Irans northwestern cities. The Nasr Novin Mishu Company is one of the subsidiaries of Nasr Company, a company operating under the auspices of IRGC in the northwestern part of Iran, the article reads. Greenger noted that Iranian trucks, coming from the north-western part of Iran, enter the Karabakh region using at least two different routes and satellite images show the two crossing points. One widely held route is from Tabriz to Meghri, a southern Armenian border town with Iran-to Nagorno-Karabakhs capital, Stepanakert (Khankendi), via the Goris-Lachin highway. "The second route is from Khomarlys north-east, in the Irans Ardabil province, leading to the Jabrayil district of Azerbaijan, which is crossing a portion of the Iran-Azerbaijan border that has been controlled by Armenia since the early 1990s," she added. The author notes that sadly, Tehran conducts a two-faced policy towards Baku. For one, it claims to support the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, yet it allows Iranian trucks and cars to enter the region, tacitly supporting the UN-condemned Armenian occupation of Azerbaijans lands. According to Greenger, in its relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia, Tehrans geopolitics is twofold: the official policy, and the pragmatic one, based on its national interests. The author believes that Armenian control over Azerbaijani lands, bordering Irans north-western region, appears to be beneficial for Tehran. It creates a buffer zone between Azerbaijan and Irans north-western Azerbaijani populated regions. Any Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict resolution, in favour of Azerbaijan, may not be in the interest of Iran either. The present status-quo in the Armenian-occupied Azerbaijan regions bordering Iran solves a national security problem for Tehran. Since its 2nd declaration of independence, in the early 1990s, Azerbaijan has chosen to be strategically aligned with the West, including the US and Israel, which Iran considers to be its archenemies. The fear of Azerbaijani irredentism inside Iran, the secular nature of the government in Baku and its close partnership with the West have facilitated the emergence of a strong alliance between Iran and Armenia. The adage the enemy of my enemy is my friend well characterizes the Iran-Armenia nexus. Iran has even gone as far as supporting radical Shia and separatist groups in Azerbaijan, she wrote. The author went on to add that so far Azerbaijan has been somewhat balancing its open strategic partnership with the US and Israel while having normal neighborly relations with Iran to the extent, to date, even not opening a diplomatic envoy in Israel, despite being Israels closest majority-Muslim ally. EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Josep Borrel has said the EU will continue to help Ukraine "in these difficult times." Borrel made the remark on Wednesday at a press conference after the meeting of the EU Council on Foreign Affairs, at which the Ukrainian issue was discussed. The meeting was held in the format of a video conference due to the coronavirus pandemic. "We also discussed how best to help Ukraine during the coronavirus pandemic. Because the problems, as they were before the pandemic, remain. Our message to them is clear we will continue to help them in these difficult times. We express our clear support to the President of Ukraine [Volodymyr] Zelensky, who took courageous steps in the area of reform and to resolve the conflict with significant progress in reform, but these efforts should be continued," Borrel said. According to him, the ministers reiterated their support for "the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, including the non-recognition of the illegal annexation of Crimea, support for the implementation of the Minsk agreements, the work of the Normandy format and the work of the OSCE." Borrel confirmed that the first visit he will make when everything is normal will be a visit to Ukraine. "This is what we agreed on with the Foreign Minister. [] The first thing I will do when everything returns to normal is to visit Ukraine and pay much attention to the Eastern Partnership," he said, adding that he would also visit Belarus. Answering the question of what the EU expects from Ukraine, the High Representative said that this is the fulfillment of undertaken commitments and the implementation of well-known reforms in the field of rule of law, freedom of the media and the fight against corruption. You might say she was willing to gamble with their lives. It's been quite a week for politicians saying awful things that reveal how little they care about the human beings they govern. Latest case in point, the mayor of Las Vegas. In this CNN clip with Anderson Cooper, Mayor Carolyn Goodman of Las Vegas, Nevada offers her city as a "control group" she says, "we offer to be a control group" (!!!) to find out how many people will become infected with coronavirus and die without social distancing. She is a supporter of impeached president Donald Trump, who is pushing states and mayors to lift social distancing guidelines. Trump is also tweeting erratic commands to his armed supporters about liberating states, and it's all very weird. Watch the clip: Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman calls for businesses to reopen, while saying she won't provide social distancing guidelines on how to do so safely. "They better figure it out. That's their job. That's not the mayor's job." https://t.co/lx4A6WuB0P pic.twitter.com/fEedR19LYX CNN (@CNN) April 22, 2020 The brouhaha over her televised comments may be for naught there are reports she has no such jurisdiction, anyway. The Las Vegas Strip is not in the City of Las Vegas. She is the mayor of the City of Las Vegas, not the Las Vegas Strip. Turns out the mayor has no control over the Las Vegas strip. From @ThisAlexTin: "City of Las Vegas doesn't actually have any jurisdiction over the Las Vegas Strip. Plans to reopen from casinos anywhere in Nevada can only be approved by a state control board, per the governor" https://t.co/OIMLv25Kus David Begnaud (@DavidBegnaud) April 22, 2020 More from reporters trying to make sense of it all, below. Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman says her city should reopen, including casinos. Asked by @andersoncooper how she would recommend casinos maintain social distance, Goodman: "I'm not a private owner." She said it's "alarmist" to raise concerns about spread of disease by reopening Manu Raju (@mkraju) April 22, 2020 Goodman said we don't actually know if social distancing is working unless there's a control group. She said she "offered" to allow Las Vegas be a control group. "I offered to be a control group," but then she was told they couldn't do that Manu Raju (@mkraju) April 22, 2020 One might say the Las Vegas Mayor is, ahem, gambling with her constituents lives Rhea Butcher (@RheaButcher) April 22, 2020 Dr. Craig Spencer, the New York City doctor who survived Ebola, on Thursday stressed the importance of relying on scientific studies to determine the effectiveness of potential Covid-19 treatments. "We're looking for anything, because otherwise we don't have much other than high-quality critical care and good medicine," Spencer said on CNBC's "Closing Bell." "What we need is really good, well-done scientific studies before we start really putting all of our eggs in this treatment basket," added Spencer, director of global health in emergency medicine at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. Spencer's comments followed the World Health Organization's accidental publication of a draft document that discussed an antiviral drug from Gilead Sciences. The draft document, first reported on by The Financial Times, purported to show disappointing results from a clinical trial in China of the drug remdesivir. Gilead said the accidentally published document drew "inappropriate characterizations." The company also said the study was ended early due to low enrollment and was therefore "inconclusive." Thursday's developments came after optimism last week as leaked details about another clinical trial involving remdesivir reportedly showed what seemed to be promising results. In addition to remdesivir, Spencer noted attempts to use as treatments hydroxychloroquine, a decades-old malaria drug, and convalescent plasma, a centuries-old method that was used during the flu pandemic of 1918. Spencer, who contracted Ebola in 2014 after working in Guinea with Doctors Without Borders, said doctors are "grasping at straws," hoping the currently unproven treatments do make a difference for patients with Covid-19. "In the meantime, we're going to keep using things we think may help but recognizing that they may not make a huge dent in things like mortality, ICU stays and the likelihood people will come off a ventilator," he said. Spencer said he believes it's possible the various high-quality clinical trials for therapeutics produce "good data" in the coming months. But he emphasized that there is much uncertainty around treatments. "Do we know if any of these are going to significantly reduce mortality or infection? No. Will there probably be some things that are likely to shorten the length of disease or decrease the likelihood that people get on a ventilator? Probably," he said. However, Spencer also said it is possible studies do not determine that any drugs are highly effective treatments. "And we'll have to continue to rely on good old public health to stop the spread of this disease and prevent this from becoming a much bigger outbreak," he said. Samsung's US branch already made a generous $1 million donation towards Dallas efforts in the fight against COVID-19 and now it is launching a pair of stimulus programs for frontline workers in the US. Eligible users including doctors, nurses, hospital workers, EMTs, police officers, and firefighters will be able to get one free repair on their Samsung smartphone, through June 30. This is done in partnership with uBreakiFix and includes repairs for cracked screens, as well as battery replacements, among other things. Besides providing a valid ID, beneficiaries are also instructed to make sure the phone in question turns on and does not have water damage. Phones can either be mailed-in or taken to any participating uBreakiFix location to take advantage of the offer. Beyond that, in a related initiative, Samsung USA is also offering frontline workers and first responders up to 30% discounts on any purchase through the companys online store. The unifying motive here is obviously easier access to reliable communication equipment to those that need it the most right now. Source India 9th largest recipient of FDI in 2019, will continue to attract investments: UN Changes in FDI policy notified by Finance Ministry India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 23: The Finance Ministry has notified changes in FDI rules, which made prior approval of the government mandatory for foreign investments from countries that share border with India, to prevent opportunistic takeover of domestic firms amid COVID-19 pandemic under the FEMA law. The countries which share land borders with India are China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar and Afghanistan. The Department of Economic Affairs, under the ministry, has notified these amendments to the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA). Indias tweaked FDI rules 'discriminatory, against free trade: China "In exercise of the powers conferred by clauses (aa) and (ab) of sub-section (2) of section 46 of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Foreign Exchange Management (Non-debt Instruments) Rules, 2019...," the department said in a notification. Change in FDI policy needs to be notified under FEMA for its implementation. "Provided that an entity of a country, which shares land border with India or the beneficial owner of an investment into India who is situated in or is a citizen of any such country, shall invest only with the Government approval," it said. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) on April 18 issued a press note regarding this change in policy, which would impact both direct and indirect FDI from China. It said that the government has amended the FDI (foreign direct investment) policy to curb "opportunistic takeovers/acquisitions" of Indian companies on account of COVID-19 pandemic. China has stated that these new norms violate the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) principle of non-discrimination and are against the general trend of free trade. Indian trade experts have, however, said that India has not violated any norm of the WTO by making these FDI changes as the global body's rules do not cover foreign investments. Currently, such norms were there for investments coming from Pakistan. A company can invest in India, subject to the FDI policy except in those sectors/activities which are prohibited. According to the DPIIT data, India received FDI from China worth USD 2.34 billion (Rs 14,846 crore) between April 2000 and December 2019. During the same period, India has attracted Rs 48 lakh from Bangladesh, Rs 18.18 crore from Nepal, Rs 35.78 crore from Myanmar, and Rs 16.42 crore from Afghanistan. There are no investments from Pakistan and Bhutan. FDI is allowed through automatic route in most of the sectors, however, certain areas such as defence, telecom, media, pharmaceuticals and insurance, government approval is required for foreign investors. Under the government route, foreign investor has to take prior approval of respective ministry/ department. Through automatic approval route, the investor just has to inform the RBI after the investment is made. India revises FDI policy to prevent opportunistic take of Indian companies amidst COVID-19 There are nine sectors where FDI is prohibited - lottery business, gambling and betting, chit funds, Nidhi company, real estate business, and manufacturing of cigars, cheroots, cigarillos and cigarettes using tobacco. During April-December 2019-20, FDI into India increased by 10 per cent to USD 36.77 billion. Health-Care Officials Urge People Not to Delay Medical Help PITTSFIELD, Mass. People delaying their medical care is emerging as a byproduct of the novel coronavirus pandemic. It's become so apparent, that six Boston teaching hospitals have partnered on a series of public service announcements urging people not to put off contacting their doctors or avoid emergency rooms because of COVID-19 fears. "We're not seeing the same number of patients coming to our emergency departments with strokes, with heart attacks, with traumas," said Dr. Michael Apkon, CEO of Tufts Medical Center, who with two other hospital officials spoke at Gov. Charlie Baker's daily COVID-19 update on Thursday. "In fact, we're seeing about half of the activity that we would normally see during the month of April." Part of the reduction can be explained by the stay-home advisories that are keeping people off roads and at home. But all three said there has been a significant dip in emergency room admissions regarding stroke and cardiac symptoms, and delays in treatment for children. "Our concern is that fear is leading to adverse outcomes," Apkon said. "We've seen children coming to the hospital after having several days of abdominal pain and coming with a ruptured appendix. We've seen patients with symptoms of stroke that are staying at home, long beyond the point at which medications that would markedly improve their outcome could safely be delivered." There's definitely a sense of fear in the community about going to a hospital because that's where COVID-19 patients are being treated, said Dr. James Lederer, chief medical officer of Berkshire Medical Center in a recent interview. "If you think you need help then come to the emergency room, come to our urgent care centers, that's what we're here for," Lederer said last week. "We are wearing our protective equipment, we will place a mask on you and your loved ones when they come into our facility so they're protected." Lederer said Berkshire Medical is taking precautions to make it as safe as possible for people seeking care for medical issues other than the novel coronavirus. Berkshire County has high incidences of heart disease, diabetes, strokes and other chronic diseases that won't get better by ignoring them. "We've seen some deaths in the community that are very upsetting to us because they were young patients, and they were preventable and our fear is that ... they were concerned about coming here because this is where the COVID virus is," he said. Nancy Shendell-Falik, president of Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, speaking in Boston on Thursday said her hospital has seen an 80 percent decline in patients with stroke symptoms over the past month. "Those patients are starting to arrive at Baystate Medical Center. They are seriously ill. And many of them have lifelong debilitating consequences to waiting," she said. The cardiac care unit has not seen as much of a drop off, but many patients are coming in after waiting two or three days. And, as Greg Meyer, chief clinical officer for Partners HealthCare, also described, Baystate has seen an increase in amputations because people are waiting too long to address vascular diseases. Western Massachusetts' largest hospital normally sees 120 children a day in its pediatric emergency department; now it's averaging about 25 to 30. Baker said the dramatic increase in intensive care capacity across the state to address the pandemic means hospitals are better prepared to deal with coronavirus patients as well as other acute medical cases. "We don't want people getting sicker or exacerbating an illness or an injury," the governor said. "And it's important that people are cared for when they're sick, whether that's for COVID-19, or for something else." Lederer, speaking last week, said Berkshire Medical's emergency department, urgent care center and physician practices are there to provide some comfort and capacity to "re-engage" with the health-care community. The governor's admonitions to stay home are correct, but not if you're in a health-care crisis, he said. "Health care is what we do, we're here for our community and we're here for your needs and staying home sometimes might seem like the safest to you and it's certainly listening to what the governor says, but sometimes, you know, you need to recognize when it's beyond something you can manage on your own and come in and get help," he said. James Hodge Hyundai offers 0% APR financing opportunities and 120-day payment deferrals on select new models. The exceptional situation our country is under has led to many individuals experiencing financial hardship. Thats why James Hodge Hyundai is offering Muskogee-area buyers financing incentives to ease the burden of purchasing a new vehicle. During the month of April, well-qualified shoppers can take advantage of 0% APR financing plus 120-day deferred payments on select new Hyundai models when they finance their purchase through Hyundai Motor Finance. Throughout the month, James Hodge Hyundai is offering 0% annual percentage rate (APR) financing for a term of up to 84 months on new purchases of Tucson and Elantra vehicles. Qualifying buyers interested in these models can also benefit from no payments until 120 days after the purchase. In order to be eligible for this offer, buyers must finance their purchase through Hyundai Motor Finance and hold qualifying credit. This incentive is only valid for a limited time and may not be combined with other special offers. Finance contract must be signed and dated no later than May 5, 2020. James Hodge Hyundai is home to more than 100 Hyundai vehicles, including cars, SUVs and hybrids. This family-owned and -operated dealership has been providing drivers in the Muskogee County area and the surrounding cities of Fort Gibson, Tahlequah, Eufaula, Tulsa and Sallisaw with Hyundai vehicle sales and automotive service for over 50 years. Anyone looking for a more remote car-shopping experience can purchase their new Hyundai vehicle online at https://www.jameshodgehyundai.com/. Those interested in taking advantage of these special limited-time incentives are encouraged to contact the dealerships sales team by calling 833-331-0067, any time during business hours. The James Hodge Hyundai sales department is open from 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Lebanese authorities have arrested a man , Wael Jerro, for advertising a Nigerian lady for sale on Facebook. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) confirmed this in a tweet on Thursday, a day after Lebanese authorities condemned the incident. It noted that following the Facebook post by the suspect, the Nigerian Mission in Lebanon had swung into action. An international passport said to have been obtained from the victim in May 2018 revealed that she hailed from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. NIDCOM said the case was reported to the Lebanese authorities while a manhunt was launched to apprehend the suspect. According to it, the Lebanese Ministry of Labour issued a statement in which it said Jerros action was completely unethical and in contravention of the countrys laws. The ministry had also promised to take legal action against the suspect for human trafficking before a competent judicial authority. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Mission in Lebanon has demanded that the victim be handed over to it unconditionally and in good health. Feature stories Strongsville Heinens closes again after 2nd employee tests positive for coronavirus (WKYC Channel 3) Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine denounces state senator for comment on post that equated anti-coronavirus measures with Nazi Germany (cleveland.com) DeWine condemns anti-Semitic protesters at coronavirus demonstration: It was disgusting. It was vile. (cleveland.com) This could happen in Ohio if were not careful, say Cleveland Clinic doctor, nurse fighting coronavirus in New York hospital (cleveland.com) Citing coronavirus costs, University Hospital cuts pay, hours of employees uninvolved with patient care (cleveland.com) Hospitalization counts show flat, encouraging trend for coronavirus in Ohio in face of murky overall case data (cleveland.com) Coronavirus in Ohio The number of known coronavirus cases in Ohio has grown from three on March 9 to 14,117 on Wednesday, April 22.Rich Exner, cleveland.com Ohio coronavirus deaths surpass 600: Gov. Mike DeWines Wednesday, April 22 briefing (cleveland.com) Mapping Ohios 14,117 coronavirus cases, updates and trends (cleveland.com) Big 6 Ohio business groups press Gov. Mike DeWine on urgent need to re-open economy with May 1 approaching (cleveland.com) Federal judge orders Elkton prison officials to clear out vulnerable inmates because of coronavirus (cleveland.com) Why has Ohios Marion prison become the No. 1 coronavirus hotspot in the United States? (cleveland.com) Ohio releases new details for coronavirus cases at nursing homes (cleveland.com) Gov. Mike DeWine: Time for hospitals to catch up on elective surgeries delayed by coronavirus (cleveland.com) First U.S. coronavirus death now thought to be Feb. 6 -- 3 weeks earlier than previously thought (cleveland.com) Crime Man cited with violating Ohios stay-at-home order after throwing party at AirBnb in Ohio City that drew 100 people (cleveland.com) Man arrested for beating, stomping his friend Sunday (Elyria Chronicle-Telegram) Cleveland / Cuyahoga County Cleveland police cited the owner of The Yard Sale Lady, a resale shop, with violating Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's order that closed all non-essential businesses in the state. 2 more Clevelanders die of COVID-19 coronavirus, 10 new city cases confirmed by state (cleveland.com) University Hospitals to temporarily close several ERs in Northeast Ohio (cleveland.com) 18-year-old in Ohio youth prison tests positive for coronavirus (cleveland.com) Cleveland secondhand store owner defies Ohios stay-at-home order, despite criminal charge: I have no choice but to stay open (cleveland.com) Cuyahoga County Jail officer resigns after second arrest in five months (cleveland.com) Enforcement of Cuyahoga Countys plastic bag ban to be delayed again, coronavirus concerns cited (cleveland.com) Cleveland company approved to make swabs for coronavirus testing (cleveland.com) I am still a nurse: Cleveland native pleads for people to stay home amid coronavirus (cleveland.com) Cleveland Clinic receives 15,000 masks from sports-apparel manufacturer Fanatics (cleveland.com) Sprinly, Cleveland-based meal delivery service, to donate thousands of PPE to hospitals (cleveland.com) Cleveland Race Week regatta pushed back to August because of coronavirus (cleveland.com) Tri-C JazzFest canceled due to coronavirus, virtual concert planned (cleveland.com) Local news East Giant Eagle expands curbside hours for health-care workers at 2 locations (cleveland.com) Despite coronavirus-depleted revenues, Richmond Heights mayor doesnt anticipate layoffs (cleveland.com) Richmond Heights may require stores to provide hand sanitizer, disinfectant wipes at entrance (cleveland.com) Local news West 26 Parma FD and others salute frontline workers at UH Parma Parma Fire Department and five other area departments salute frontline workers at University Hospitals in Parma (photos, video) (cleveland.com) Cleveland Clinic in Avon gives sendoff to 13 nurses heading to Michigan to treat coronavirus patients (photos) (cleveland.com) Family of Lorain County high school wrestler wants Amazon to pay for role in teens caffeine powder overdose death (cleveland.com) Independences ROE Dental Laboratory joins coronavirus fight by manufacturing nasal swabs, face shields, respirators (photos) (cleveland.com) Seven Hills avoids coronavirus-related layoffs for city employees (cleveland.com) Berea trims $2 million from budget due to coronavirus crisis (cleveland.com) Economic downturn leads Parma Heights mayor to furlough more than 25 employees (cleveland.com) Independence school board approves new role for departing high school principal, discusses future plans (cleveland.com) Cafeteria worker fired months after lunch confiscation incident (Elyria Chronicle-Telegram) Akron / Canton area Summa Health merger with Michigan-based Beaumont Health delayed due to coronavirus pandemic (cleveland.com) Ohio Supreme Court suspends Akron attorney convicted of soliciting sex from undercover officer posing as minor (cleveland.com) Akron postpones all Lock 3 summer concerts, festivals to 2021 due to coronavirus (cleveland.com) State Ohio rape shield law bars questioning sexual abuse victims about prior abuse, court rules (cleveland.com) US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell talks to reporters after the Senate voted to acquit U.S. President Trump of both charges in his Senate impeachment trial in Washington, U.S., February 5, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst McConnell said there would not be another coronavirus relief bill in the near future, citing the national debt as "a matter of genuine concern." "You've seen the talk from both sides about acting, but my goal from the beginning of this, given the extraordinary numbers that we're racking up to the national debt, is that we need to be as cautious as we can be," he said. Republicans and Democrats, though, say more aid is immediate needed to deal with the extraordinary public health and economic crisis caused by the coronavirus. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell hit the brakes on the prospect of another immediate round of federal coronavirus relief late on Tuesday, citing the mounting national debt. On the same day the Senate approved another $480 billion of spending to aid small businesses and hospitals, the Republican senator from Kentucky said the $24 trillion debt was "a matter of genuine concern." He's seeking to push back negotiations on another large relief bill until the Senate was back in session on May 4. In another interview with Politico, McConnell said the Senate would move "cautiously" in negotiating another round of coronavirus aid. "You've seen the talk from both sides about acting, but my goal from the beginning of this, given the extraordinary numbers that we're racking up to the national debt, is that we need to be as cautious as we can be," he said. Read more: Wall Street's best-performing fund this year breaks down its long-term strategy that's outsmarting 99% of peers and shares 7 stocks to buy for a post-pandemic world He went on: "We need to see how things are working, see what needs to be corrected, and I do think that the next time we pass a coronavirus rescue bill we need to have everyone here and everyone engaged." Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, though, increasingly argue coronavirus relief should be an urgent priority for Congress. They're weighing another massive round of spending that could easily top $1 trillion. Story continues "We've got to get through this stimulus, and then it's on to the next stimulus," Larry Kudlow, the chairman of the National Economic Council, told reporters. Emergency federal spending has topped over $2.3 trillion so far, according to projections from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. The lion's share was a product of the CARES Act approved by President Trump last month. It provided urgent relief through a blend of $1,200 stimulus checks, grants, and emergency federal loans designed to help stave off a collapse of the economy. Read more: Meet the 20-year-old day-trading phenom who says he's turned $20,000 into $3 million. He details his precise strategy and shares how he made $11,400 in 2 minutes this week. Throughout the tenure of President Obama, Republicans had argued it was critical to curtail the level of federal spending to safeguard the nation's economy and pushed for drastic reductions. But those efforts largely faded when Trump took office and pushed for tax cuts on corporations that exploded the federal deficit. Many economists, though, point to low interest rates and say any alarm about the perils of further borrowing should be swept aside to deal with the extraordinary economic crisis that has caused 22 million Americans to file for unemployment in the past four weeks. "We want massive, debt-financed disaster relief while the economy is in its medically induced coma," Nobel laureate Paul Krugman said in a Twitter thread last month. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also made a similar argument. "Interest rates are incredibly low, so there's very little cost of borrowing this money," Mnuchin told reporters in March. "In different times, we'll fix the deficit. This is not the time to worry about it." Read the original article on Business Insider Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday announced that the state government will provide insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh each to all journalists in Haryana who are reporting during the coronavirus pandemic, news agency ANI reported. Khattars announcement comes at a time when scores of media professionals have tested positive for coronavirus while performing their duties during the Covid-19 lockdown. Nearly 50 journalists in Mumbai and not less than 20 journalists in Chennai tested positive for Covid-19 recently. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had announced that the administration will start testing media personnel for coronavirus. The testing began on Wednesday at a dedicated Covid-19 centre in Delhi. State govt has decided to provide insurance of Rs 10 lakh each to all journalists who are reporting during #Coronavirus pandemic: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar (File pic) pic.twitter.com/9u7U8pi9lJ ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 Dear friends from media, Testing of media persons has started at a covid test centre. I wish u all very good health, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted out. The Karnataka government had also issued a similar order on the Covid-19 testing of media persons who are working in the field during the coronavirus crisis. In its advisory, the central government on Wednesday urged all media professionals to take care of their health and observe necessary precautions. It has come to the notice of the Ministry that a large number of media persons have recently contracted with Covid-19 while covering the happening in certain parts of the country, the statement read. Print and electronic media are part of essential services and professionals working in the field are exempt from the lockdown. India entered the ninth day of the nationwide coronavirus lockdown which will come to an end on May 3. The alert, sent to medical providers and other subscribers, went on to warn that the consequences of relying on potentially false results may lead to providing patients incorrect guidance on preventive interventions like physical distancing or protective equipment. Dr. Daskalakis, early in the outbreak, had been a strong voice arguing for social distancing measures and urging Mayor Bill de Blasio to close schools in New York City. When Mr. de Blasio resisted doing so, Dr. Daskalakis threatened to resign, a city official said. City Hall has said the mayor was never told of the threat. Patrick Gallahue, a spokesman for the city health department, said the alert referred to unvetted tests outside of a lab setting which is not what the state is doing. He added that there isnt any daylight here between the city and state. Dr. Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert at the University of Minnesota, praised the overall intent of New Yorks study, but said the results in this case probably skew to a higher estimate than is real because a survey of grocery store shoppers in a pandemic would not be representative. The sampling may disproportionately include those who have either already had the illness, or those who naturally tend to go out more and so are more likely to be exposed to the virus, he said. It would miss children, teenagers and older adults who may be sheltering in place. Its not a criticism. Its more of a comment that we have to be careful about interpreting supermarket customers as a representative sample when the state was in lockdown, he said. State officials said the test had been calibrated to err on the side of producing false negatives to miss some who may have antibodies rather than false positives, which would suggest a person had coronavirus antibodies when they did not. Boris Johnson's Downing Street fixer Dominic Cummings was so struck down by coronavirus that he should have gone to hospital, his wife revealed today. Journalist Mary Wakefield revealed that Mr Cummings, 48, spent 10 days bedridden with the disease after coming home to nurse her through a milder case. Writing in the Spectator she spoke of how her 'extremely kind' husband struggled to breathe while at home in London with her and their four-year-old son Alex. It came as Mr Cummings also gave his own short account of their time together in isolation, branding it 'sticky' - but in reference to the London home being 'covered in a layer of spilt Ribena, honey, peanut butter and playschool glue'. Mr Cummings spend 14 days off work, twice the usual period of quarantine, sparking questions about his health. But No 10 throughout insisted he was 'in contact' with staff in Downing Street. However, in her account, Ms Wakefield showed how serious his situation was. 'Day in, day out for ten days he lay doggo with a high fever and spasms that made the muscles lump and twitch in his legs. He could breathe, but only in a limited, shallow way,' she wrote. 'After a week, we reached peak corona uncertainty. Day six is a turning point, I was told: thats when you either get better or head for ICU. 'But was Dom fighting off the bug or was he heading for a ventilator? Who knew? I sat on his bed staring at his chest, trying to count his breaths per minute. 'The little oxygen reader wed bought on Amazon indicated that he should be in hospital, but his lips werent blue and he could talk in full sentences, such as: "Please stop staring at my chest, sweetheart." Mr Cummings with his wife Mary outside their London home last year, after he had begun working for Mr Johnson Mr Cummings arriving at No 10 this morning for the daily Covid-19 meeting. The couple married in 2011. Mary is a journalist for the Spectator and the daughter of Sir Humphry Tyrrell Wakefield, owner of Chillingham Castle and a friend of Prince Philip. The Prime Minister's chief of staff was confirmed by No 10 as self-isolating with coronavirus-type symptoms on March 30, three days after Mr Johnson himself went into self-isolation. But he took a fortnight away from No 10, sparking fears over his health at a time when the Prime Minister was hospitalised. Advice for those with symptoms is to isolate for seven days, with a 14-isolation for those around them. Downing Street has insisted he has been working from home in the intervening period, but would not elaborate on his condition. Asked at about the apparent contradiction between Ms Wakefield's account of Mr Cummings' illness and Downing Street's breezy assertion that it was not serious, the Prime Minister's official spokesman today said: 'All we ever said was that he was in contact and that was the case.' The No 10 aide and Vote Leave mastermind used his own artcle in the Spectator to present his interpretation of his self-isolation. He was among a host of Tory figures asked to describe their coronavirus experience living with writers for the Conservative bible for this week's edition. He said his wife 'made a castle out of polystyrene and cardboard; she pretends its for our son, but it isnt'. And in a glimpse into his own personality, he added: 'I have to talk a lot more at work than I like I like quiet. 'Being with Mary in lockdown means I think I am talking all day and Mary thinks shes starved of conversation. 'But I like listening to her and our four-year-old. They bicker like an old married couple and discuss what the birds are thinking.' The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and Navy Blue Angels demonstration teams are set to fly over multiple cities as a show of solidarity for health care workers on the frontlines of the novel coronavirus pandemic. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the "air shows" -- part of Operation America Strong -- are meant to pay tribute to the medical communities "confronting COVID." "And it's really a signal to all Americans to remain vigilant during the outbreak," Trump said during the daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House. Related: These Groups of Service Members Will Get Priority for Coronavirus Tests "America Strong is a collaborative salute from the Navy and Air Force to recognize health care workers, first responders, and other essential personnel while standing in solidarity with all Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek. The series of flyovers will take place over the next few weeks, Stefanek said in an email to Military.com. Prior to Trump's announcement, The Washington Post reported that there would be flights, but not formal air shows -- which often involve sharp, somersault-like maneuvers for viewers below. Senior defense officials told the newspaper that the plans were conceived by military officers in the Pentagon as a nonpartisan way to say "thank you" to the men and women "who are pitching in." The cost of the flights will come from money already in the Pentagon budget, the senior defense officials said. The teams have cut their air show schedules short amid the pandemic, leaving their return dates open-ended. With air shows cut, it's hard for pilots to get needed flying hours, which could lead to lapses in their certifications. The Air Force Thunderbirds performed two recent flyovers: Last weekend, the team, which flies F-16 Fighting Falcons, flew over hospitals, medical facilities and major metropolitan areas in Colorado. The team, which is headquartered at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, first flew a salute to first responders in Las Vegas on April 11. But the flights have not been without scrutiny. People took to social media to question the flight costs amid the pandemic, with many businesses shuttered and millions of people out of work. According to fiscal 2017 data, it costs $20,423 per hour to fly an F-16. Responding to criticisms after the Las Vegas flight, former Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson stressed the necessity of continued training. "[They] have to train whether Air Shows are canceled or not," Wilson tweeted. The flights are also a recruiting tool, with "20% of leads for enlisting in the Air Force com[ing] from Air Shows," she added. Earlier this week, the Blue Angels, flying F/A-18 Hornets, and the Thunderbirds were spotted flying together over Pensacola Beach in Florida, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The Blue Angels are stationed at Naval Air Station Pensacola. The Post, citing a Defense Department memo, said that the two teams will jointly fly over Washington, D.C.; Baltimore, Maryland; New York City; Newark and Trenton, New Jersey; Philadelphia; Atlanta; and Dallas, Houston and Austin in Texas. The Thunderbirds will separately fly over San Antonio; Oklahoma City; Phoenix; San Diego; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Portland, Oregon; and Seattle. The Blue Angels will fly by Miami, Tampa, Tallahassee and Jacksonville in Florida, and Norfolk and Virginia Beach in Virginia. Additional destinations include Detroit, Chicago, Indianapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, and Kingsville and Corpus Christi in Texas, according to the Post. "In order to reach the maximum number of Americans, some portions of America Strong will feature only the Blue Angels or the Thunderbirds, while others will include both teams flying in their signature Delta formations simultaneously," Stefanek said. "The flyovers are intended to be viewed from home, work and via media coverage while maintaining social distancing and will not take place as traditional air shows. More information on timing and locations will be announced soon." According to Trump, "Operation America Strong was the idea of our great military men and women -- the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels crews who wanted to show support to the American medical workers who, just like military members in a time of war, are fiercely running toward the fight." -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Read more: Marines May Get New Tropical Uniform in Time for Summer Heat Scott Morrison is ready to hear ideas for economic reform but is a long way away from choosing the path ahead. The Prime Minister is in what some call a "harvesting phase" on big reform options like tax, industrial relations and deregulation. Prime Minister Scott Morrison is trying to work out which reforms are needed to boost the Australian economy. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen He wants business and community groups to come up with proposals but is not going to be prescriptive about the solution whether that means changes to workplace rules or a company tax cut. This is a difficult message to send to a political class that prefers a simple message about a specific plan that can lift Australia out of a slump once the coronavirus crisis passes. Siju Wilson, who is known for his amazing performances in films like Premam, Happy Wedding, Aadhi and others, has completely changed himself during the Novel Coronavirus lockdown. Celebrities have been doing various activities at home but, Siju has gone one step ahead. The actor has learnt a lot of skills like cooking, dishwashing and threading. Yes, you read that right. Siju Wilson recently shared a picture where he is threading his wife, Sruthi's eyebrows. The Premam actor states that he has inspired his young fan as he is also threading his sister's eyebrows. Speaking about that to the Times Of India, "I am staying with my friend Pramod Mohan and wife Amarapali because we were here when the lockdown was declared and we didn't go to my house in Aluva. Sruthi and Amarapali were checking out online threading tutorials and I thought I'd give it a try. I do it fairly regularly for her now and while it's not perfect, it's okay because she doesn't go out now." Siju Wilson also revealed that he is using this free time for reading scripts. He said, "We have to make the best of a difficult situation, and respect what our government and health authorities are saying, especially when they are doing such a good job." The actor is also watching films and web series during this quarantine period. Siju said, "Nawazuddin Siddiqui's Photograph is really charming. I saw Notting Hill twice in a row. I'm also returning to inspirational films like Luck By Chance, about an aspiring actor, which I first caught when I too was starting out in my career, and I'm catching up on Money Heist." Also Read : IN PICS: Siju Wilson Enters Wedlock Adding about his improvement in cooking, Siju Wilson said, "I put my spin on online recipes, and luckily it usually works well. At home, even as kids we were made to share in the housework, so cooking and doing the dishes aren't new to me." Ahead of the declaration of lockdown, Siju Wilson was shooting for Innu Muthal. He said, "Industries all over the world have been affected, so we just have to keep a positive outlook about things. It is difficult to predict when shoots will resume, considering this involves many people working in proximity. Our priority should be to defeat this pandemic. I am not someone who works on back-to-back projects, so I don't feel unduly frustrated. We have to look at this as a learning process in many ways." On a related note, Siju Wilson will also be seen in Varayan, whichwill release this year. WASHINGTONThe Education Department will prohibit colleges from granting emergency assistance to students who entered the country illegally, even those known as Dreamers who are under federal protection, according to guidance issued to colleges and universities Tuesday. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos ordered higher education institutions to dole out more than $6 billion (U.S.) in emergency relief only to students who are eligible for federal financial aid, including U.S. citizens or legal residents. The directive effectively excluded tens of thousands of students who are living in the United States under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program, an Obama-era policy that protects hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought to the United States illegally as children. U.S. President Donald Trump has moved to end the program, but that effort is awaiting Supreme Court review. The measure will compound the challenges facing these students, whose families have also been excluded from aid like stimulus checks for individuals and unemployment insurance, said Miriam Feldblum, executive director of the Presidents Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, which advocates on behalf of immigrant students. In a recent survey of more than 1,600 students, conducted by the organization TheDream.US, a national scholarship organization for Dreamers, 80 per cent of those working have experienced income loss, said Candy Marshall, the groups president. Sixty-five per cent reported that they needed help with rent and utilities, and 48 per cent said that of food. This is not simply saying undocumented students shouldnt get things that other students dont get, Feldblum said. This was a choice. This was going to be a core lifeline. Higher education groups were not surprised that the Trump administration targeted immigrants who are living here illegally but said DeVos messaging had been inconsistent. In a letter announcing the grants, DeVos said the law provides institutions with significant discretion on how to award this emergency assistance to students and the only statutory requirement is that the funds be used to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus. The new guidance has caused head-snapping uncertainty on college campuses, said Terry Hartle, a senior vice president at the American Council on Education. He added that the decision was clearly made by the department. Congress had nothing to do with it, he said. The department has to own it. See Full Image Gallery >> The revised Mercedes-AMG E63 sedan has been spotted wearing only minimal front-end camouflage as the unveiling of the high-performance variant inches ever closer. While this prototype isn't completely undisguised, the scant covering on the nose leaves little to the imagination. The updated E63 will get a face-lift to bring it in line with the updates appearing elsewhere in the Mercedes portfolio, with a new set of headlights to tie it all together. The updates may not be extensive, but the visual impact is noticeable even with the front end covered up. The vertical-bar grille is missing the wings that flank the Mercedes-Benz logo on the current model, making the front end appear more upright and almost CUV-like. As Stuttgart has an affinity for covering up brand logos on its test vehicles, this may not be an indicator of the final grille design, but its absence stands out on this prototype. Under the skin, the E63 is expected to get some more significant revisions, including a revised 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 likely featuring the company's "EQ Boost" 48V mild-hybrid system. Don't plan on a big bump to the already-impressive 600-plus horsepower offered in the E63 S model, but a few extra ponies are common inclusions with a mid-cycle update. The sedan will also get interior updates to bring it in line with the company's latest tech, including the most recent iteration of its MBUX infotainment system. With the introduction of the updated AMG E63 model, Mercedes-Benz will cap off this generation of the E-Class. First introduced in 2016, the W213 will be put out to pasture in the coming years as Mercedes migrates the mid-sizer to an updated chassis. Infection hot spots appearing in prisons is not a fait accompli. The spread of the virus can be curbed if prisons send home eligible inmates. The federal government and 49 states already recognize some form of compassionate release for the elderly and very ill. If ever there were a time to show compassion to vulnerable, nonviolent inmates, it is now. Parole boards in states with indeterminate sentencing also have the power to assess the list of inmates set to be paroled in the next six months and to consider releasing many of them as soon as possible. Some states have already taken action to free inmates. Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington this week commuted the sentences of 293 inmates whose release was set to come within 60 days. In Washington, another 600 inmates are reportedly being considered for a rapid re-entry program that would allow freed inmates to re-enter the community with electronic monitoring. Governors across the country should evaluate ways to use their clemency powers to save lives. Releasing these prisoners during this crisis is not just an act of mercy to protect prisoners health, and the health of the prison staff. Fewer sick inmates means less strain on the already burdened prison hospital system. The system was ill equipped to provide proper care to the elderly and sick even before this crisis. A 2016 report from the Department of Justice found that 17 percent of medical positions in prison hospitals were unfilled, and that 12 Bureau of Prisons facilities were so understaffed that they were at crisis level. Releasing high-risk inmates will free up limited resources within the prison health care system to better treat those who remain. A 2016 study from the Brennan Center for Justice found that there was no compelling public safety reason to incarcerate 39 percent of the inmates in state and federal prisons, about 576,000 people. Elderly Americans are especially unlikely to commit further crimes once released. The United States Sentencing Commission found in 2017 that offenders over the age of 65 had just a 13.4 percent chance of being rearrested in an eight-year period after release, compared to a 67.6 percent chance for those under age 21. The report concluded that recidivism measured by rearrest, reconviction, and reincarceration declined as age increased. There are more than 10,000 people over the age of 61 in federal prison. Many elderly inmates have been in prison for decades after receiving long sentences in the tough-on-crime 1990s. Many would be good candidates for compassionate release now. If prisons are unwilling to release some inmates outright, they could send eligible people into home confinement, at least for the duration of this crisis. Attorney General William Barr has the authority under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act to expand the authority of the Bureau of Prisons to send people into home confinement. He has already ordered the Bureau of Prisons to make more inmates at federal facilities eligible for home confinement, prioritizing those at federal facilities with outbreaks of the coronavirus in Louisiana, Connecticut and Ohio. State and local prisons should follow suit. ROME - Egyptian Premier Mostafa Madbouly on Thursday was quoted by Al Arabiya as announcing a nighttime curfew for the entire month of Ramadan to fight the spread of coronavirus. The curfew - Madbouly told a press conference - will be in place from 9 pm until 6 am. Palo, Majorcas oldest and most famous tipple, was the top preprandial aperitif all over the island 60 years ago. But the tourism boom of the 1960s brought trendy drinks like whisky on the rocks and palo went out of fashion. But it has come surging back into the limelight and the El Tunel brand is now supplying in a day as much as it usually does in six weeks. Whats the sudden attraction? Its all because of the coronavirus. Palo is an ancient drink that has medicinal properties and was first made in the apothecaries of monasteries. People who had a fever took it. Fever is the operative word. One of the principal symptoms of COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, is a high temperature. Some people think that if palo is has anti-fever properties it will protect them from the coronavirus. Drinking palo during the lockdown wont do you any harm but its not going to stop the virus from creating havoc if it gets into your system. However, people everywhere are willing to do anything that might keep the virus at bay and theyre now grabbing all available bottles at the supermarket. Authentic palo is an ancient sweet-bitter drink unique to the island that was first created, like many similar drinks in other European countries, for its medicinal properties. Palo consists of infused or macerated quinine bark, gentian root, sugar, caramelised sugar and alcohol made from unrefined sugar cane juice. It should have an alcohol content of 25-36 per cent. Majorcan apothecaries were using gentian root in the 14th century and quinine bark came to Spain in the 17th century. The drink gets its name from palo quina, an old word for the bark of quinine trees. The original medicinal palos were very bitter, a taste people in those days were willing to accept especially if it cured their fever. Like many other drinks of this kind, originally made by monks because they had access to the herbs and spices that were needed, palo became a favourite aperitif but only after it was sweetened up with caramelised sugar. The production of palo as we know it today started in Sencelles in the second half of the 19th century. A few decades later, when there was a shortage of sugar, palo was sweetened with fig and grape syrup and even carob beans, which abound on the island. That was why some 50 years ago many Majorcans thought the main ingredient in palo was carob beans. In the first years of 1960s and earlier, the Majorcans favourite preprandial drink was palo, sometimes taken on the rocks but mostly with a splash of soda water from a syphon, of course, because there were no small bottles in those days. The palo before lunch custom was never part of my day. I tried it several times but although it has a slightly bitter aftertaste, the caramelised sugar makes it much too sweet for me. I prefer really bitter drinks, the kind that get the tastebuds kicking into gear. I would have loved those original palos made at the monasteries without the use of sweetening agents. Before the 1960s palo was the most popular drink in Palma bars and in villages all over the island. But when the tourism boom really got under way in the late 1960s, drinking habits changed. Young people were especially prone to innovation and they were soon dropping palo and switching to other drinks such as gin and tonic and whisky on the rocks or with soda. A gin and tonic, abbreviated to gin-tonic, was favoured by many because it is extremely refreshing during the hot summer nights. Whisky with ginger ale was also a popular summer drink. At that time many city centre bars stayed open until three or four in the morning. But most young Majorcans quickly came to think that drinking palo defined them as islanders who didnt know there were other drinks in the world. In the movies, Humphrey Bogart, Gregory Peck or Cary Grant never asked for a palo with soda. The last time I had a palo con sifon was about 35 years ago when it was on offer at a press reception and I had one for old times sake. But it was still too sweet for me, although it brought back all kinds of pleasant memories of the old days. Although I never hear anyone nowadays asking for a palo in Palma bars I still see bottles of it at the supermarkets supplied by the eight distilleries that make it. The supermarkets of El Corte Ingles and Eroski, which make a special effort to fill their shelves with island produce of all kinds, have good selections of palo that cost up to 12 a bottle. The El Tunel brand is one of the best and the one I used to have in my drinks cabinet. In the 1960s and earlier, there was a lovely selection of aperitif drinks from France and Italy. The favourite one all over Spain was vermouth, called vermut in Spanish. Spanish vermuts were so popular that Madrid and some other large cities had specialist bars that sold it on tap. I was especially fond of the French and Italian vermouths and I always had two or three bottles at home. Byrrh was especially attractive because it reminded me of holidays in France and so was the Italian Punt e Mes. The Cinzano and Martini vermouths were also very much in demand as was the French Noilly Prat. I was particularly fond of the Noilly Prat white because it was much drier than the others. Except for Cinzano and Martini, all of the Italian vermouths have disappeared from Palmas supermarket shelves. The only place I see the Noilly is at the Club del Gourmet of El Corte Ingles. At the Sandro Italian restaurant in Cale Ramon i Cajal theres a bottle of Punt e Mes on the bar shelves. Next time Im there Ill have a glass and order a bottle from his supplier of Italian products. All of the preprandial drinks in Palma went out of fashion as the tourism boom surged forward. The cana, the small draught beer, became the number one tipple because it was so appropriate when eating tapas. Eventually Spaniards were drinking more beer than wine. But a few years ago Spanish vermuts came whizzing back all over the country and were all the rage. Bars called vermuterias opened in various parts of the city, specialising in vermuts from different parts of Spain. Some even have it on tap. Will palo make the same kind of comeback as vermut? In our crazy world of Twitter and Instagram and peoples general desire for something new in all facets of their lives, anything can happen. Or not happen. Well soon see. Suspects detained over breaches in medical supplies purchase. From left: Nguyen Nhat Cam, Director of Hanoi Centre for Disease Control (CDC); Nguyen Vu Ha Thanh, head of Hanoi CDCs financial and accounting department; and Le Xuan Tuan, an employee in the department. (File Photo of VNA) Initial investigations revealed the suspects colluded to jack up the price of the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) machines, used in testing for the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which result in particularly serious losses to the State. The police said the case involves Hanoi CDC under the municipal Department of Health, Nhan Thanh Asset Valuation and Auctioning JSC, and Vietnam Scientific and Material Science Company Limited (MST) and certain other relevant units. The detained suspects in the case include 57-year-old Nguyen Nhat Cam, Director of the Hanoi CDC; Nguyen Vu Ha Thanh, 41, head of the Hanoi CDCs financial and accounting department; and Le Xuan Tuan, 38, an employee of the department. Four other suspects are from private companies alleged to have been in collusion with the Hanoi CDC, namely Dao The Vinh, 45-year-old, Director of MST; Nguyen Tran Duy, 40, General Director of the Nhan Thanh company; Nguyen Ngoc Nhat, 34, an employee of Vitech Development Co., Ltd; and Nguyen Thanh Tuyen, 35, an employee of Phuong Dong Medical Equipment Co., Ltd. The Investigation Police Agency under the Ministry of Public Security (C03) said it is clarifying the violations of each suspect and trying to recover the losses, and expanding the scope of the case. A disgruntled shopper spit on another customer during a social distancing dispute, marking the second incident in one weekend, Pennsylvania officials say. Philadelphia police are looking for a woman they say first got into a dispute at a store on Saturday. The customer was arguing with an employee about how she wanted to pay for her items when she spit on him, the Philadelphia Police Department said Thursday in an email to McClatchy News. The same woman returned to the store the next day and bumped into a customer, officers say. Thats when an argument about social distancing ensued, KYW and WPVI reported. The woman lowered her mask, stated B----, I dont have the virus, spit into the other shoppers face and left the store, according to police. Shopper Alexis Danilo told the Philadelphia Inquirer she was was in shock after spit came toward her face at Di Bruno Bros. market in the Central City area. I think this woman should be locked up, she told the newspaper. You should never be spitting on anybody and given the fact that theres a pandemic, you shouldnt be doing that. Danilo was wearing a protective mask and glasses and is OK, police say. Officers released a photo of the suspected spitter, believed to be a white female in her early- to mid-30s with a thin build, long reddish-brown hair, wearing a three-quarter length black jacket, dark pants, and a red bandana around her neck, according to cops. Philadelphia police are searching for a woman they say got into a coronavirus-related dispute. Spreading coronavirus It isnt the first time a person has been accused of spitting inside a Pennsylvania store in the age of coronavirus. In the Pittsburgh area, police arrested a man they say crouched under a Plexiglass barrier and spit in a supermarket managers face, McClatchy News reported last week. And in Harrisburg, a woman was accused of making a threat after spitting on a grocery store worker, according to the citys police department. To reduce the risk of getting COVID-19, health officials recommend social distancing, which involves avoiding crowds and keeping a 6-foot distance from others. The disease can spread through droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People who are nearby can breathe in those droplets and get sick. The Srinagar administration has reached out to more than 6,300 women expecting a baby in the next four months, allaying their fears about proper care during the coronavirus outbreak with a package that includes regular checkups and the availability of ambulances. The plan was chalked out after a team went door to door around Srinagar city and its outskirts to identify women needing help during these difficult days, when all of India is under lockdown, officials said. Jammu and Kashmir has more than 400 cases of COVID-19 and five fatalities. With panic about the pandemic rising, several people in the Kashmir Valley are under quarantine. It is in these difficult times that pregnant women need both help and reassurance, officials said. And so, Srinagar Deputy Commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary got together with some officials to draw up a plan for special care to expectant mothers. It includes a dedicated 24x7 helpline to facilitate end-to-end assistance, regular medical checks, ambulance services, hospital line-ups as well as counselling and vaccinations. The condition of the woman, pre-and post delivery, will be monitored on a web-based application which will have details such as expected date of delivery, administrative action, hospital assistance and vaccination schedules, officials said. After the baby is born, the administration will give the new mother a 'baby kit' that includes nutrition supplements, lotions and soaps and sanitiser. The kit will be enough to last the mother and baby three months, they added. The aim of the administration is to ensure that a baby is born healthy and in a safe environment keeping in view the threat of COVID-19, Choudhary told PTI. "The assistance for expectant mothers is important to avoid any medical complications and to ensure that both mother and the newborn are healthy and get proper nutrition as well as vaccinations," he added. Explaining the logistics of how the details were finalised, officials said the administration roped in 1,200 odd anganwadi and healthcare workers across the district to conduct a survey for pregnant women with a tentative delivery date in the next four months. Choudhary drew up a team led by Zeenat Ara, a Kashmir Administrative Officer who is district coordinator of the Integrated Child Development Programme. She has been dealing with issues being faced by women since March 17, when Srinagar shut down. Around a dozen officials were also deputed for the job. Sixteen localities have been declared 'red zones' in the entire district. The district has been divided into four administrative zones and 6,330 women identified for assistance -- 2,155 from North Srinagar which comprises some rural areas, 1,435 from Eidgah and 1,445 from Khanyar-East divisions of downtown areas of the city and 1,295 in west Srinagar, they said. Though there are ambulances, the district administration has procured five new ambulances specifically for the project. Another fleet of six vehicles is dedicated for various aspects of the project, including movement of teams to homes, medical check-ups and ensuring that a team of doctors in readiness to respond on call are able to reach the patient. The 24X7 helpline will be manned by four officials who will be put on six hour shifts. The project is being funded by "converged funds" from several schemes such as 'Beti Bacho Beti Padao', district plan and State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). "It needed sufficient funds and convergence was the only way," the deputy commissioner said. He said convergence of not only funds but also manpower, human resource and expertise is required to make such a plan a success. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Highlighting the financial strain the global COVID-19 pandemic is placing on local and state governments, Wayne County announced that revenues will be off by as much as $152 million for the current fiscal year. According to Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, who made the announcement on Tuesday, the COVID-19 related shortfall could amount to more than 20 percent of the countys projected revenues. Our main focus remains fighting the coronavirus spread as a public health matter, Evans said. However, the countys long-term health requires proactively planning for budget shortfalls created by this pandemic. I am committed to working with other elected officials and the commission on fiscally-responsible solutions that allow us to continue providing essential services to our residents. Evans said that over the past five years, the county has put its financial house back in order, but the ongoing pandemic and Stay Home orders are putting a tremendous strain on the countys ability to fund essential services at current levels. With initial projections showing a revenue loss of $152 million over the second half of the countys current 2019-2020 fiscal year, the Evans administration is working with other Wayne County officials on an updated two-year budget forecast that assesses every fund and department as well as evaluated potential investment losses in pension and other post-employment benefit plans. Every option is on the table and under consideration, said Assistant County Executive Khalil Rahal, who presented the revised forecast to Wayne County commissioners. We must take immediate and difficult steps to balance our budget, and we will. In addition, we are working with members of our congressional delegation to ensure relief funds also target local governments who are especially hard hit. The framework for Wayne Countys post-coronavirus recovery plan includes: ?Tapping funds from the accumulated budget surplus/Rainy Day Fund and possibly the Delinquent Tax Revolving Fund. ?Deferring capital expenditures and renegotiating existing leases. ?Workforce reductions are a possibility, though no current reductions have been identified. Additionally, the county is exploring opportunities to restore funding through federal and state aid. According to Evans, Wayne County accounts for nearly 18 percent of Michigans population, but has more than 45 percent of the states COVID-19 cases and deaths. Weve been especially hard-hit, he said. Over the last five years, Wayne County has put itself on a strong financial foundation through transparent budgets, right-sizing operations, and doing the hard work to eliminate its deficit. We cannot and will not allow the pandemic to wash away that progress. The county executive said that addressing the problem now gives officials time to create a budget that best serves county residents and employees in this new fiscal reality. He said it also ensures that the county is prepared to address the coronavirus pandemic as it evolves. OMAHA, Neb., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) today reported 2020 first quarter net income of $1.5 billion, or $2.15 per diluted share. This compares to $1.4 billion, or $1.93 per diluted share, in the first quarter 2019. "Against the backdrop of the emerging COVID-19 pandemic and a challenging volume environment, we leveraged productivity to deliver strong financial results, including an all time best operating ratio of 59 percent," said Lance Fritz, Union Pacific chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We also made substantial improvement in employee safety, which is a testament to our dedicated employees. Our rail network has never run better, providing a safer, more reliable and efficient service product to our customers." First Quarter Summary Operating revenue of $5.2 billion was down 3 percent in first quarter 2020, compared to first quarter 2019. First quarter business volumes, as measured by total revenue carloads, decreased 7 percent compared to 2019. Industrial volumes increased compared to 2019, while bulk and premium shipments declined. In addition: Quarterly freight revenue declined 3 percent, compared to first quarter 2019, as positive business mix and core pricing gains were offset by lower volumes and decreased fuel surcharge revenue. Union Pacific's 59 percent operating ratio represented a quarterly record and the fourth consecutive quarter below 60 percent, improving 4.6 points compared to first quarter 2019. Operating Ratio Earnings Per Diluted Share First Quarter 2019 63.6% $1.93 2019 Payroll Tax Refund (0.8) pts ($0.05) 2019 Weather Expense 0.8 pts $0.05 Fuel Impact 0.8 pts $0.04 Core Results 3.8 pts $0.18 First Quarter 2020 59.0% $2.15 The $1.87 per gallon average quarterly diesel fuel price in first quarter 2020 was 10 percent lower than first quarter 2019. per gallon average quarterly diesel fuel price in first quarter 2020 was 10 percent lower than first quarter 2019. Fuel consumption rate, measured in gallons of fuel per thousand gross ton-miles (GTMs), improved 5% compared to first quarter 2019, achieving a first quarter record in 2020. Union Pacific's reportable personal injury rate of 0.80 incidents per 200,000 employee hours decreased 11 percent compared to first quarter 2019. Quarterly freight car velocity was 209 daily miles per car, an 8 percent improvement compared to first quarter 2019. Quarterly locomotive productivity was 131 GTMs per horsepower day, an 18 percent improvement compared to first quarter 2019. Average maximum train length was 8,396 feet, a 15 percent increase compared to first quarter 2019. The Company repurchased 14.3 million shares in first quarter 2020 at an aggregate cost of $2.6 billion . Summary of First Quarter Freight Revenues Industrial up 3 percent Bulk down 5 percent Premium down 6 percent 2020 Outlook Union Pacific expects second quarter 2020 carload volumes to be down around 25 percent, compared to the second quarter 2019. Although the situation is fluid and highly uncertain, the Company fully expects to maintain sufficient liquidity to sustain an extended period of lower volumes. "Our first priority is the health and safety of our employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they perform the work necessary to move the goods communities need during this national emergency," Fritz said. "The eighteen month implementation of Unified Plan 2020 has put our company in a position of strength, with a strong balance sheet and ample liquidity, as we face today's fluid and uncertain situation. We remain focused on providing a highly consistent, reliable and efficient service product for our customers." First Quarter 2020 Earnings Conference Call Union Pacific will webcast its first quarter 2020 earnings release presentation live at www.up.com/investor and via teleconference on Thursday, April 23, 2020 at 8:45 a.m. Eastern Time. Alternatively, the webcast can be accessed directly through the following link. Participants may join the conference call by dialing 877/407-8293 (or for international participants, 201/689-8349). ABOUT UNION PACIFIC Union Pacific Railroad is the principal operating company of Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP). One of America's most recognized companies, Union Pacific Railroad connects 23 states in the western two-thirds of the country by rail, providing a critical link in the global supply chain. The railroad's diversified business mix is classified into its Bulk, Industrial and Premium business groups. Union Pacific serves many of the fastest-growing U.S. population centers, operates from all major West Coast and Gulf Coast ports to eastern gateways, connects with Canada's rail systems and is the only railroad serving all six major Mexico gateways. Union Pacific provides value to its roughly 10,000 customers by delivering products in a safe, reliable, fuel-efficient and environmentally responsible manner. Supplemental financial information is attached. This news release and related materials contain statements about the Company's future that are not statements of historical fact, including specifically the statements regarding the Company's expectations with respect to economic conditions and demand levels, its ability to improve network performance, its results of operations, and potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. These statements are, or will be, 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. Forward-looking statements also generally include, without limitation, information or statements regarding: projections, predictions, expectations, estimates or forecasts as to the Company's and its subsidiaries' business, financial, and operational results, and future economic performance; and management's beliefs, expectations, goals, and objectives and other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times that, or by which, such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking information, including expectations regarding operational and financial improvements and the Company's future performance or results are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from those expressed in the statement. Important factors, including risk factors, could affect the Company's and its subsidiaries' future results and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Information regarding risk factors and other cautionary information are available in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for 2019, which was filed with the SEC on February 7, 2020. The Company updates information regarding risk factors if circumstances require such updates in its periodic reports on Form 10-Q and its subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K (or such other reports that may be filed with the SEC). Forward-looking statements speak only as of, and are based only upon information available on, the date the statements were made. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information. If the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that the Company will make additional updates with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements. References to our website are provided for convenience and, therefore, information on or available through the website is not, and should not be deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein. UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (unaudited) Millions, Except Per Share Amounts and Percentages, 1st Quarter For the Periods Ended March 31, 2020 2019 % Operating Revenues Freight revenues $ 4,880 $ 5,010 (3) % Other 349 374 (7) Total operating revenues 5,229 5,384 (3) Operating Expenses Compensation and benefits 1,059 1,205 (12) Depreciation 547 549 - Purchased services and materials 521 576 (10) Fuel 434 531 (18) Equipment and other rents 227 258 (12) Other 298 305 (2) Total operating expenses 3,086 3,424 (10) Operating Income 2,143 1,960 9 Other income 53 77 (31) Interest expense (278) (247) 13 Income before income taxes 1,918 1,790 7 Income taxes (444) (399) 11 Net Income $ 1,474 $ 1,391 6 % Share and Per Share Earnings per share - basic $ 2.15 $ 1.94 11 % Earnings per share - diluted $ 2.15 $ 1.93 11 Weighted average number of shares - basic 684.3 716.8 (5) Weighted average number of shares - diluted 686.2 719.5 (5) Dividends declared per share $ 0.97 $ 0.88 10 Operating Ratio 59.0% 63.6% (4.6) pts Effective Tax Rate 23.1% 22.3% 0.8 pts UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES Freight Revenues Statistics (unaudited) 1st Quarter For the Periods Ended March 31, 2020 2019 % Freight Revenues (Millions) Grain & grain products $ 689 $ 665 4 % Fertilizer 174 159 9 Food & refrigerated 250 242 3 Coal & renewables 421 554 (24) Bulk 1,534 1,620 (5) Industrial chemicals & plastics 495 452 10 Metals & minerals 469 536 (13) Forest products 303 285 6 Energy & specialized markets 627 566 11 Industrial 1,894 1,839 3 Automotive 524 520 1 Intermodal 928 1,031 (10) Premium 1,452 1,551 (6) Total $ 4,880 $ 5,010 (3) % Revenue Carloads (Thousands) Grain & grain products 175 169 4 % Fertilizer 46 43 7 Food & refrigerated 48 47 2 Coal & renewables 208 256 (19) Bulk 477 515 (7) Industrial chemicals & plastics 154 148 4 Metals & minerals 174 180 (3) Forest products 56 56 - Energy & specialized markets 162 147 10 Industrial 546 531 3 Automotive 208 210 (1) Intermodal [a] 709 831 (15) Premium 917 1,041 (12) Total 1,940 2,087 (7) % Average Revenue per Car Grain & grain products $ 3,940 $ 3,924 - % Fertilizer 3,768 3,718 1 Food & refrigerated 5,277 5,219 1 Coal & renewables 2,022 2,162 (6) Bulk 3,219 3,146 2 Industrial chemicals & plastics 3,205 3,047 5 Metals & minerals 2,697 2,968 (9) Forest products 5,457 5,145 6 Energy & specialized markets 3,866 3,865 - Industrial 3,469 3,465 - Automotive 2,525 2,472 2 Intermodal [a] 1,307 1,241 5 Premium 1,583 1,489 6 Average $ 2,516 $ 2,401 5 % [a] For intermodal shipments each container or trailer equals one carload. UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES Condensed Consolidated Statements of Financial Position (unaudited) Mar. 31, Dec. 31, Millions, Except Percentages 2020 2019 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,130 $ 831 Short-term investments 60 60 Other current assets 2,614 2,568 Investments 2,078 2,050 Net properties 54,121 53,916 Operating lease assets 1,773 1,812 Other assets 440 436 Total assets $ 62,216 $ 61,673 Liabilities and Common Shareholders' Equity Debt due within one year $ 1,511 $ 1,257 Other current liabilities 3,130 3,094 Debt due after one year 26,365 23,943 Operating lease liabilities 1,339 1,471 Deferred income taxes 12,088 11,992 Other long-term liabilities 1,792 1,788 Total liabilities 46,225 43,545 Total common shareholders' equity 15,991 18,128 Total liabilities and common shareholders' equity $ 62,216 $ 61,673 UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) Millions, Year-to-Date For the Periods Ended March 31, 2020 2019 Operating Activities Net income $ 1,474 $ 1,391 Depreciation 547 549 Deferred income taxes 91 103 Other - net 43 (84) Cash provided by operating activities 2,155 1,959 Investing Activities Capital investments (807) (752) Maturities of short-term investments 70 90 Purchases of short-term investments (70) (90) Other - net - (32) Cash used in investing activities (807) (784) Financing Activities Debt issued 2,996 2,992 Common share repurchases (2,556) (2,987) Dividends paid (660) (626) Accelerated share repurchase programs pending final settlement (400) (500) Debt repaid (305) (560) Net issuance of commercial paper (1) 299 Other - net (71) (23) Cash used in financing activities (997) (1,405) Net Change in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash 351 (230) Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of year 856 1,328 Cash, Cash Equivalents, and Restricted Cash at End of Period $ 1,207 $ 1,098 Free Cash Flow* Cash provided by operating activities $ 2,155 $ 1,959 Cash used in investing activities (807) (784) Dividends paid (660) (626) Free cash flow $ 688 $ 549 * Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure; however, we believe this measure is important to management and investors in evaluating our financial performance and measures our ability to generate cash without additional external financing. UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES Operating and Performance Statistics (unaudited) 1st Quarter For the Periods Ended March 31, 2020 2019 % Operating/Performance Statistics Freight car velocity (daily miles per car) [a] 209 194 8 % Average train speed (miles per hour) [a] * 25.4 24.6 3 Average terminal dwell time (hours) [a] * 23.8 26.8 (11) Locomotive productivity (GTMs per horsepower day) 131 111 18 Gross ton-miles (GTMs) (millions) 201,297 210,319 (4) Train length (feet) 8,396 7,292 15 Intermodal car trip plan compliance (%) 85 66 19 pts Manifest/Automotive car trip plan compliance (%) 64 63 1 pts Workforce productivity (car miles per employee) 894 812 10 Total employees (average) 33,872 40,053 (15) Locomotive Fuel Statistics Average fuel price per gallon consumed $ 1.87 $ 2.07 (10) % Fuel consumed in gallons (millions) 225 248 (9) Fuel consumption rate** 1.117 1.182 (5) Revenue Ton-Miles (Millions) Grain & grain products 16,111 16,177 - % Fertilizer 3,044 2,886 5 Food & refrigerated 4,506 4,507 - Coal & renewables 20,005 26,329 (24) Bulk 43,666 49,899 (12) Industrial chemicals & plastics 7,174 6,812 5 Metals & minerals 8,533 9,919 (14) Forest products 6,041 5,844 3 Energy & specialized markets 12,046 10,645 13 Industrial 33,794 33,220 2 Automotive 4,489 4,525 (1) Intermodal 17,734 19,006 (7) Premium 22,223 23,531 (6) Total 99,683 106,650 (7) % [a] Prior years have been recast to conform to the current year presentation. * Surface Transportation Board reported performance measures. ** Fuel consumption is computed as follows: gallons of fuel consumed divided by gross ton-miles in thousands. UNION PACIFIC CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES Non-GAAP Measures Reconciliation to GAAP Adjusted Debt / Adjusted EBITDA* Millions, Except Ratios Mar. 31, Dec. 31, for the Trailing Twelve Months Ended [a] 2020 2019 Net income $ 6,002 $ 5,919 Add: Income tax expense 1,873 1,828 Depreciation 2,214 2,216 Interest expense 1,081 1,050 EBITDA $ 11,170 $ 11,013 Adjustments: Other income (219) (243) Interest on operating lease liabilities** 62 68 Adjusted EBITDA $ 11,013 $ 10,838 Debt $ 27,876 $ 25,200 Operating lease liabilities 1,665 1,833 Unfunded pension and OPEB, net of taxes of $116 and $124 387 400 Adjusted debt $ 29,928 $ 27,433 Adjusted debt / Adjusted EBITDA 2.7 2.5 [a] The trailing twelve months income statement information ended March 31, 2020 is recalculated by taking the twelve months ended December 31, 2019, subtracting the three months ended March 31, 2019, and adding the three months ended March 31, 2020. * Total debt plus operating lease liabilities plus after-tax unfunded pension and OPEB obligation divided by net income plus income tax expense, depreciation, amortization, interest expense and adjustments for other income and interest on operating lease liabilities. Adjusted debt to adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, other income and interest on operating lease liabilities) is considered a non-GAAP financial measure by SEC Regulation G and Item 10 of SEC Regulation S-K and may not be defined and calculated by other companies in the same manner. We believe this measure is important to management and investors in evaluating the Company's ability to sustain given debt levels (including leases) with the cash generated from operations. In addition, a comparable measure is used by rating agencies when reviewing the Company's credit rating. Adjusted debt to Adjusted EBITDA should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, net income. The table above provides reconciliations from net income to adjusted debt to adjusted EBITDA. At both March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the incremental borrowing rate on operating lease liabilities was 3.7%. ** Represents the hypothetical interest expense we would incur (using the incremental borrowing rate) if the property under our operating leases were owned or accounted for as finance leases. SOURCE Union Pacific Corporation Related Links www.up.com - Over 15 people were captured in a viral video escaping from KMTC quarantine facility in Nairobi - At least three were trailed down and arrested with the latest one being nabbed in Kericho county - The suspect wass reported to have used dubious routes to dodge police roadblocks as he made his way to his village home A man who escaped from quarantine at the Kenya Medical Training College in Nairobi has been arrested in Bureti, Kericho county. Nelson Kiplangat was trailed by detectives from Nairobi to his home in Tabaita village, Tiriitab Moita, where he was apprehended on Thursday, April 23. READ ALSO: Which Kenyans? Ambassador Sarah Serem rubbishes claims Kenyans in China slept on streets The suspects were recorded jumping from the fence of KMTC in Nairobi. Photo: Screenshot from the video Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Government reclaims 2,700 acres of land allegedly grabbed by Ruto, Jirongo in Ruai Confirming his arrest, Bureti sub-county police commander Felician Nafula said the man was taken to Kapkatet Medical Training College where he was quarantined. The police commander said his family members were advised to quarantine themselves at their home for the next 14 days. According to the police, Kiplangat escaped KMTC in Nairobi and then travelled to his home in Kericho using panya routes. READ ALSO: Wafanyakazi 24 wa bandari ya Mombasa ni miongoni mwa wagonjwa 303 wanaougua coronavirus Residents in the area expressed concern the man was exposing them to danger given he had escaped the facility along with over 15 other people. "It is scary that a man could escape from a quarantine centre and travel all the way to Bureti from Nairobi, mingling freely with others," said Geoffrey Rono Kataress, a resident of Litein town. On Wednesday, April 22, police arrested two other people who escaped the quarantine facility at Marurui. Police also recovered a laptop believed to have been stolen from the facility by the two suspects. The search for the other missing people is ongoing with the law enforcers determined to quarantine them. 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 A lot of my clients dont get to interact with people unless its me, said Mr. Gumbs, 48, who drove a school bus for 10 years before becoming a driver for Gods Love We Deliver (how to donate), which caters mostly to older New Yorkers. Sometimes, they have no one to talk to. His conversations with them are shorter now, but just the sight of him a glimpse from behind a window curtain, a peek through a peephole, the brief yet friendly exchange as he drops off a bag is enough. Herbert DeCordova, 91, a former chef and drummer, looks forward to Mr. Gumbss twice-a-week deliveries, when all of a sudden, Mr. DeCordova said excitedly, the doorbell rings. STATEN ISLAND BUSINESS STRONG: This is the fifth in a series of stories about Staten Island small business owners reinventing their products/services to try to remain profitable during the coronavirus pandemic. Each week during this crisis, Business Writer Tracey Porpora will profile businesses adjusting to the situation. STATEN ISLAND., N.Y. -- One business model that quickly morphed into a virtual reality during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was boutique exercise studios -- especially Pilates and yoga classes. Be Yoga and Dance, and Transformation Fitness were two Staten Island studios -- recently profiled in this column -- that immediately took to video conferencing tools to live-stream classes to both loyal and new clients. And several more boutique fitness studios -- Including BodyLine Pilates and 5 Boro Power Yoga -- have reinvented their business models to help Staten Island residents continue their exercise regime during the coronavirus pandemic. BODYLINE PILATES Pilates instructor Michele Guccione teaches a mat class via Zoom. (Courtesy of BodyLine Pilates) Lana Modnyy and Alina Kremarman, owners of BodyLine Pilates in Grasmere, which has been open for seven years, said they didnt know how they could keep their loyal clients exercising during the coronavirus pandemic. My first thought when we had to close was, This cant be. What are our clients going to do for this period of time?' And no one knows how long it will last," said Modnyy. Its not easy to cope for us at this time because BodyLline Pilates is our second home, and all of our clients are like a second family to us, she added. BodyLine has many clients who attend the studio to take apparatus Pilates classes, which are limited to four students per class and utilize Pilates machines, commonly known as Reformers, and other equipment. But the studio also offers personal training and Pilates mat classes. We were thinking about how can we still help our clients stay healthy and active, since we offer apparatus Pilates classes. It was very hard to continue with that type of exercise. However, we thought about it and decided to offer a mat Pilates classes through Zoom stream. This way, clients can sign up and do their exercises at home, Modnyy said, noting that BodyLine is offering 30-minute classes for $5. The studio is also offering a free weekly class. We also decided to do something for our community as these are hard times for all of us. We are offering every Sunday at 11 a.m. a free mat Pilates class. Anyone can join by signing in and registering themselves through the Bodyline website, she added. People were very happy to find out that we are continuing offering classes through the Zoom app. We have a lot of clients who sign up every day to exercise. BODYLINE PILATES AT A GLANCE Address: 1361 Hylan Blvd. Website: Bodylinepilates.com Instagram: @bodyline_pilates Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/bodyline.pilates.9 ***** CLICK HERE FOR MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE **** 5 BORO POWER YOGA First thoughts were how are we going to still offer yoga to the community if we couldnt be in the studio? recalled Karen Torrone, who owns three Staten Island-based 5 Boro Power Yoga studios. (Courtesy of Karen Torrone) Karen Torrone said she was more than upset when she had to close her two Island-based 5 Boro Power Yoga studios on March 18. All of her studios specialize in Baptiste Power Yoga. First thoughts were how were we going to still offer yoga to the community if we couldnt be in the studio? recalled Torrone. Her studios offer a variety of yoga classes -- from slow flow and restorative classes, to power and meditation classes. Having some experience with Facebook live and Zoom, I knew that was the way we needed to go. It was just a matter of getting the kinks out with the booking system, so that our community would be able to join in and sign up for the classes. Another thought was, Is the Tottenville studio going to survive this closure, since it is so new?, she added, referring to her third studio, which opened in 2018 on Amboy Road. But she said she knew she could quickly get her classes up and running online. The business just went from being open to virtual. In the morning of March 18 we were at the studio and in the evening of that day we were fully operational online, said Torrone, noting the studio offers up to five classes per day led by a 5 Boro yoga instructor. Torrone also launched a book club, a Monday morning meditation, and a weekly online cooking class that includes vegan and vegetarian recipes. This [the pandemic] really became an opportunity to get out of the box and discover ways where we can bring tools of meditation, breath and movement to people at a time that they need it, and deliver it in a way that was easy and accessible, she said. Derek Tabacco takes a 5 Boro Yoga class via Zoom at home. (Courtesy of Derek Tabacco) 5 BORO POWER YOGA AT A GLANCE Addresses: 5 Boro Power Yoga, 176 Rose Ave. 5BPY South, 7311 Amboy Rd. Website: www.5boropoweryoga.com/ Social Media: Facebook -- www.facebook.com/5-Boro-Power-Yoga-www.facebook.com/5BPY-SOUTH Instagram https://www.instagram.com/5boropoweryoga/ This column will temporarily replace SILive/Advances New Businesses in Focus column. If you are a Staten Island Business owner who has reinvented services/products/offerings during the coronavirus pandemic, e-mail porpora@siadvance.com. Please put Staten Island Business strong in the subject line of your email. REALTED COLUMNS Coronavirus: Staten Island wine shop boosts business via doorstep delivery Life amid coronavirus: Yoga studio turns to streaming classes live on Zoom Yaymaker franchise owner launches virtual paint classes Trainer keeps clients fit during coronavirus crisis FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER Osafo Maafo 23.04.2020 LISTEN Government has indicated that the newly-deployed UNI-PASS technology is a tried and tested innovation that would simplify revenue collection at the ports. The single window service, which replaces the GCNet software, has been deployed successfully in Tanzania, Cameroun, Equador, and South Korea, and has won the World Customs Organization (WCO) acclaim as one of the best innovative trade facilitation systems. This was made known to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Tuesday in a press release from the office of the Joint Inter-Ministerial Oversight Committee that saw the implementation of the new Custom Management system under the Chairmanship of Senior Minister, Yaw Osafo Maafo. The release is an attempt by government to set the records straight as to the fact that the committee held meetings and addressed the issues with GCNet and the various entities on a fair and amicable transition to the new system. As per the release, GoG had set a comprehensive programme of capacity building and training for various levels of staff of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and officials of other relevant stakeholders. Simulation exercises, scalability and stress tests of the new system have been conducted and have all proved favourable, and the reports are available for review at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the release said. According to the press release, imports through a limited number of entry points since 1st March, 2020, were being cleared through the news system, adding that, For the period, 57 freight forwarders who do business at the selected entry points have all been successfully enrolled and are clearing goods through the new UNI-PASS system. The release informed that the government and people of Ghana had 100% ownership of the UNI-PASS system, unlike GCNet, and it came with cost savings because of the single window system with an end-to-end trade facilitation system. The system would also improve the security of cross-border movement of persons and wholesome goods, facilitate trade across Ghana's borders, provide customs revenue assurances and achieve better and more accurate audit trail for all goods crossing Ghanaian borders for both economic and security management. The deployment of the UNI-PASS window service, according to the release, was to address the issues arising from the transition from the existing Customs Management System to a new end-to-end trade facilitation regime. The release indicated that the need to discontinue with the services of GCNet and other service providers arose out of, among other reasons, the need to replace the multiplicity of vendors with a single service provider deploying an end-to-end system. BOSTON As she treated patient after patient infected with the coronavirus at a Veterans Affairs medical center in New York City, Heather Espinal saw stark warning signs. So many nurses had called in sick, she said, that the Bronx facility was woefully understaffed. It lacked specially equipped rooms for infected patients, she said, and didnt have enough masks, gloves and other protective gear to guard against the spread of the highly contagious disease. Espinal, a member of the union National Nurses United, says she and her colleagues were told to do the best they could, using a single N95 face mask for an entire shift rather than getting a new one for each patient. In early April, she tested positive for COVID-19. I definitely believe it was related to me being at work, said the 34-year-old Espinal, who was out sick for two weeks. Espinal is one of 1,900 VA health care workers who have become sick with the coronavirus, according to agency documents obtained by The Associated Press. Twenty have died. Another 3,600 of the 300,000-plus VA health care employees are quarantined and unable to work because they have been exposed to the virus, according to VA figures. As the coronavirus spreads across the U.S., VA health care facilities are struggling with shortages of workers and the equipment necessary to protect employees from contracting the virus, according to VA staff and internal documents obtained by the AP. We thought we were doing everything right, even with reusing these N95 respirators. But we still ended up getting sick, Espinal said. More than 5,700 veterans treated by the VA have been infected by the coronavirus, and nearly 380 have died. The Labor Department is now investigating, and several Democrats in Congress sent a letter Thursday calling on President Donald Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act to get more supplies for VA health facilities. The VA, responsible for the health care of 9 million military veterans, denied it was short of supplies and stressed that it follows federal health guidelines when rationing personal protective equipment like masks and gloves. VAs PPE conservation posture is precisely why the department has not encountered any PPE shortages that have negatively impacted patient care or employee safety, said spokeswoman Christina Mandreucci. She said the VA has moved aggressively in recent weeks to add staff, hiring 3,183 people, including 981 nurses, from March 29 to April 11. But interviews with VA employees at facilities around the country, internal documents, and a March report by the agencys inspector general tell another story. The facilities were short of staff and equipment like masks, eye shields, hand sanitizer and gowns. Some workers were forced to reuse masks for days or weeks, according to interviews with VA nurses. In hard-hit states like New York, a crush of coronavirus patients led to a shortage of negative pressure rooms to limit the spread of the virus, several VA nurses told the AP. The VA inspector generals staff visited more than 230 facilities in March. It found that nearly a third of the medical centers could improve their processing for screening visitors. More than half of the medical centers reported shortages of supplies and equipment including respirator masks, and 10 reported shortages of staffing mostly for nurses in intensive care units. There has been a failure of leadership at VA, and veterans, VA employees and the public are suffering as a result, said Paul Rieckhoff, founder and former head of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America and now host of the podcast Angry Americans. Suzanne Gordon, a senior policy analyst at the nonpartisan Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute, said VA preparations were hampered by inadequate funding and staff, leaving it with nearly 50,000 job openings. In VA facilities all over the country, they are doing a really incredible job trying to respond to the crisis in a situation where they have been deliberately crippled by the Trump administration, Gordon said. As the nations largest health care system, the VA typically enjoyed preferred status in orders for medical supplies from prime vendors. But as the outbreak escalated in the U.S., surging demand for crucial medical equipment spurred frantic competition for supplies, including from state governments and the National Stockpile. The Federal Emergency Management Agency began buying supplies directly from manufacturers, and VA began submitting its orders to FEMA alongside others. Not long after, according to people familiar with VAs weekly briefings to Congress, the supply shortages got worse as medical workers burned through 250,000 masks a day. On April 7, the VA issued guidelines asking workers to ration masks in response to what the department described as shortages and challenges in getting adequate supplies to protect VA staff, according to an internal memo. Citing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, the VA said employees in direct contact with COVID-19 patients should use N95 masks as protection but may need to reuse them. VA staff working with high-risk elderly or vulnerable patients, such as those in nursing homes or spinal cord facilities, would only get one face mask per work week. After criticism from staff, and a small increase in supplies, the VA on April 16 said those employees working with high-risk elderly or vulnerable veterans could now have one face mask per day. Individual medical centers have wide discretion if they face shortages, including allowing employees in direct contact with COVID patients to use surgical masks instead of N95 respirators and permitting staff to bring their own. All other VA staff would be encouraged to bring in handmade masks, even if they work in a building where the disease is present. A complaint filed by the American Federation of Government Employees alleges that VA workers who came in contact with someone suspected of contracting the virus were told on orders of VA Secretary Robert Wilkie that they still had to report to work ignoring a 14-day quarantine period. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating. The staff and equipment shortages are creating chaos at the VA medical center in Brooklyn, New York, according to Maria Lobifaro, an intensive care nurse. Usually the ratio is one nurse to two critical patients. Im having five critical ICU patients on ventilators, said Lobifaro, who also is a member of National Nurses United, which has organized protests as VA facilities in Brooklyn and Baltimore. This has happened four times in the last week and a half. Its to the point where my hands are trembling because of what Im going to walk into, she continued. Ive never seen anything like this. A group of Senate Democrats blames Trump for a broken procurement and distribution system developed by this administration. Those who care for veterans should not be afraid to wake up every morning, go to work and help save veterans lives, says a letter sent to the White House on Thursday by Sen. Jon Tester of Montana, the top Democrat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. More than a dozen senators joined him, including Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Kamala Harris of California, all former 2020 presidential contenders. Wilkie defended his agencys response. We have the lowest employee infection rate in the world. It is less than half of 1 percent, he said Wednesday on MSNBC, citing higher rates in Italy and elsewhere in the U.S. Irma Westmoreland, a nurse at the Charlie Norwood VA in Augusta, Georgia, said its hard for nurses to be tested, so no one really knows how bad the situation is. We are told if you have symptoms or feel like you have been exposed and you want to be tested unless you are veteran, you cant be tested, said Westmoreland, another NNU member, adding that employees are told go to their own doctors if they want to be tested. Its stressful for the nurses to be in this environment, she said. But its even more stressful when they dont have information they need. ___ This story has been corrected to show the policy analysts name is Suzanne, not Susan. Amid a global transport industry crisis brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, a study from clean energy nonprofit Transport and Environment has added strength to the argument that EVs emit far less CO2 than internal combustion engine vehicles do over their lifetimes. The UK nonprofit said in its report that it had taken into account all relevant factors, including the carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the production of the electricity that feeds an EV as well as the emissions that accompany the extraction of mineral resources that go into EV batteries. They even factored in the costs of building a power plant. The main finding of the study was that on average, electric vehicles, at least those in Europe, emitted three times less carbon dioxide than internal combustion engine cars. However, the location seems to be quite important for the overall emission level, the authors note. "In the worst case scenario, an electric car with a battery produced in China and driven in Poland still emits 22% less CO2 than diesel and 28% less than petrol," the authors wrote. "And in the best case scenario, an electric car with a battery produced in Sweden and driven in Sweden can emit 80% less CO2 than diesel and 81% less than petrol." The report confirms an earlier study by three universitiesNijmegen in the Netherlands and Cambridge and Exeter in the UKthat found EVs had lower CO2 emissions than gasoline and diesel cars in most of the world, or 95 percent, to be precise. The argument against EVs' reputation as greener alternatives to ICE cars was based mostly on the fact that not all the electricity that power plug-in vehicles comes from renewable sources. Hence, the emissions resulting from the generation of that electricity must be taken into account. Even so, suggesting that this makes EVs more harmful in terms of emissions than ICE cars is quite a stretch. After all, even if they are powered by electricity produced from coal, they themselves do not emit CO2a fact that seems to have slipped through the cracks of the argument. And yet, with the evolution of Europe's energy mix, coal-powered electricity now only accounts for a small portion of the total. This portion, as of 2017, was a percentage point higher than the portion of renewables. Two years later, in 2019, Europe got more electricity from its renewable energy sourcesincluding hydropowerthan it got from fossil fuel-fired power plants. Premium: 2 Stocks To Consider As Oil Nears $15 So, an EV, especially in Europe, would be more eco-friendly than a gasoline or diesel vehicle. But there are exceptions, noted by Dutch scientists: in Estonia, where most of the electricity is produced at oil-fired shale oil power plants, switching from an ICE car to an EV would actually increase emissions, and by a hefty 40 percent. Still, this is more of a special case than a solid argument against EVs. Despite the growing evidence of EVs' beneficial effect on the environment in terms of CO2 emissions, the outlook for EV sales is not that great. Sales of electric cars could take a 43-percent dive this year, Wood Mackenzie warned earlier this month. The reason: the travel bans in response to the coronavirus and a looming recession, which has dampened people's appetite for new purchases, especially costly ones such as a new car. The economic situation, the Wood Mac analysts also noted, is also likely to increase people's aversion to new technology adoption. And then there's oil, trading at historic lows and US futures even briefly plunging deep into negative territory yesterday as traders offloaded their last May contracts. It's an undisputed truth that when gasoline is cheap, people stick to their ICE cars. Of course, incentivesread subsidiescould help motivate a change of mind. Still, right now, few governments can afford to offer additional financial support for the EV industry when every other sector is ailing, too. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Barack Obama has warned that the climate crisis "will force far harsher changes" on future generations than the coronavirus pandemic and urged people to "demand more" from leadership to protect the planet. In a message on Twitter on Earth Day, the former president shared an Associated Press report about the young climate activists that have galvanised a global movement 50 years after Earth day was recognised, and how the youth-led movement has adapted to the current health crisis. He said: "All of us should follow the young people who've led the efforts to protect our planet for generations, and demand more of our leaders at every level." His successor Donald Trump meanwhile marked Earth Day's 50th anniversary by planting a tree outside the White House and declaring the US to have "the cleanest air and cleanest water than anywhere else on Earth" it does not. The nation's air quality has been in decline for several years, scientists and researchers have reported, including the American Lung Association's recent State of the Air report that found nearly half of the US, roughly 150 million people, is breathing polluted air. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Clean Air Act, which the Environmental Protection Agency has cited for most of the emissions reductions within the last few decades. But the Trump administration has proposed dramatic rollbacks to the law or dropped enforcement entirely. The State of the Air report notes that 2016, 2017 and 2018 years with the most recent air quality data were also among the five hottest recorded years in history. Changing climate patterns "fuel wildfires and their dangerous smoke, and lead to worsened particle and ozone pollution". American Lung Association president Harold Wimmer said that the 2020 report "shows that climate change continues to degrade air quality and increase the risk of air pollution harming health. To protect the advances in air quality we fought for 50 years ago through the Clean Air Act, we must again act today, implementing effective policies to protect our air quality and lung health against the threat of climate change." On Tuesday, the White House also finalised rule changes to Obama-era protections in the Clean Water Act to effectively remove limits on the amount of pollution that can be released into streams and wetlands. The rule change could eliminate protections for roughly 81 per cent of streams in the US southwest. It's effective on 20 June. Several environmental groups have mounted challenges to the rule change. MIAMI, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ArisGlobal, the leading provider of life sciences software that automates core drug development functions for over 250 life sciences companies, today announced Luye Pharma Group, an international pharmaceutical company dedicated to the R&D, manufacturing, and sale of innovative medications has selected LifeSphere Signal and Risk Management as its next-generation signal detection tool. Luye Pharma has more than 30 products and a robust pipeline of over 40 drug candidates in China and over 10 drug candidates in other international markets. ArisGlobal's LifeSphere Signal and Risk Management will assist Luye Pharma to embrace advanced qualitative and quantitative in-depth signal detection and to streamline their risk management planning across their global locations. Luye Pharma Group is focused on developing innovative therapies targeting the central nervous system, oncology, and other areas with business covering over 80 countries and regions around the world. LifeSphere Signal and Risk Management will enable Luye Pharma to automate signal management across its drug development portfolio, thus improving operational efficiency. It will also provide Luye Pharma with an intuitive interface that utilizes advanced analytics to conduct ad-hoc analysis, drag and drop visualization, and reporting. "Luye Pharma has over 30 products and a worldwide pipeline of more than 50 drug candidates. We need end-to-end product lifecycle capabilities and advanced analytics in order to go through large amounts of data. ArisGlobal's solution will help us optimize the process and improve the efficiency with its state-of-the-art technology," said Zhu Jie, Vice President of Pharmacovigilence Department, Luye Pharma Group. "We're excited to have Luye Pharma leveraging LifeSphere Signal and Risk Management to implement effective signal detection strategies across their product portfolio," said Sankesh Abbhi, President and CEO of ArisGlobal. "This landmark deal represents an extension of ArisGlobal's growing footprint into the Chinese marketplace and further validation of the emphasis we've put into developing industry-leading signal detection technology." LifeSphere Signal and Risk Management helps organizations to proactively identify and manage safety issues and easily assess their impact on a product's benefit-risk profile across its life cycle. It provides real-time safety profiling by analyzing multiple data sources simultaneously with advanced qualitative and quantitative methods for in-depth signal detection. To learn more about LifeSphere Signal and Risk Management, visit our website: https://www.arisglobal.com/products/lifesphere-signal-and-risk-management-agbalance/ About ArisGlobal ArisGlobal is transforming the way today's most successful Life Sciences companies develop breakthroughs and bring new products to market. Our end-to-end drug development technology platform, LifeSphere, integrates our proprietary Nava cognitive computing engine to automate all core functions of the drug development lifecycle. Designed with deep expertise and a long-term perspective that spans more than 30 years, LifeSphere is a unified platform that boosts efficiency, ensures compliance, delivers actionable insights, and lowers total cost of ownership through multi-tenant SaaS architecture. Headquartered in the United States, ArisGlobal has regional offices in Europe, India, Japan and China. For more updates, follow ArisGlobal on LinkedIn and Twitter. About Luye Pharma Group Luye Pharma Group is an international pharmaceutical company dedicated to the R&D, manufacturing and sale of innovative medications. The company has a robust pipeline of over 40 drug candidates in China and more than 10 drug candidates in other international markets. The company currently has a number of new drugs and new formulations in the central nervous system and oncology therapeutic areas under study in the U.S., Europe and Japan. Luye Pharma has set up 7 manufacturing sites with over 30 production lines in total, establishing GMP quality management and international standard control systems. The company offers more than 30 products covering the four largest and fastest growing therapeutic areas - oncology, cardiovascular, metabolism and central nervous system, with business conducted in over 80 countries and regions around the world, including the largest pharmaceutical markets - China, the U.S., Europe and Japan, as well as fast growing emerging markets. For more information, visit Luye Pharma. Logo - http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/523994/ArisGlobal_Logo.jpg Some Island parents say they're frustrated with a Maritime tour company, which won't give them a full refund on a school trip cancelled because of the pandemic. Twenty-five Grade 9 students at Englewood School in Crapaud had a year-end trip booked to Montreal in mid-June, through Schools Out Tours. Parent Miranda Ellis says she was asked to speak on behalf of other parents. According to Ellis, a few weeks ago after P.E.I.'s Public Schools Branch made the decision to cancel all school trips for the rest of the year the tour company refunded families most of their money, but did not return the $250 deposit per student. Ellis said while that deposit was listed in the trip contract as non-refundable, she maintains an exception should be made, given the fact the trip isn't going ahead because of a pandemic. "All of the parents with our group are on the same premise that [the company] can't provide the service," said Ellis. "Travel restrictions are in place, so we should be getting our money back." 'We're doing the best we can' Mike Morrissey, co-owner of Schools Out Tours, says all 31 of the trips his company arranged this spring have been cancelled, including eight involving P.E.I. school groups. He says while Schools Out Tours has decided to return 35 per cent of deposits to all parents, given the circumstances, that's as much as his small company can offer without going bankrupt. "Each of our trips requires a considerable amount of work moving from the proposal and costing process through to tentative and then contracted bookings. We've already paid all of our employees. We've already spent money to put all these tours together," said Morrissey. "We're doing the best we can. With 100 per cent of your business cancelled, you don't have the option, unless you want to go bankrupt or go out of business, to give 100 per cent of the money back." Story continues Mike Morrissey/Zoom Morrissey says even with his company hanging onto 65 per cent of tour deposit amounts, it's still counting on federal wage subsidies to keep its few employees on the payroll for as long as possible. That doesn't sit well with Ellis. "I feel you can't keep these funds from all these kids for all these trips they were supposed to go on, and also get government funding for lack of business," said Ellis. "A lot of these families, the parents in the household aren't working, and this is their hard-earned money." Ellis said they are willing to compromise. "We felt that it would be fair if the company could provide proof of the payroll that went out to plan this small four-day trip we would pay those fees and have the rest of our funds back," said Ellis. Insurance covers deposits, says company Morrissey says all school groups travelling within Canada are presented with optional travel insurance as part of their tour packages, which parents can choose to purchase. He says that insurance does cover deposits. "That policy covers school board cancellations, so yes, they would've been fully covered," he said. Google Maps Ellis acknowledges she and some other parents didn't purchase the insurance offered through the tour company. She doesn't think it should take insurance for parents to get all their money back. "No one foresaw this [pandemic] coming," said Ellis. "It's just something no one would've ever known to worry about." 'Very few complaints' In an email to CBC, a spokesperson for P.E.I.'s Public Schools Branch said while it doesn't deal directly with tour companies like Schools Out Tours, it does authorize all schools trips. "As part of the approval process, all travel groups are strongly advised by the PSB to take cancellation insurance in the event of any unforeseen circumstance," the email said. "Based on initial discussion with travel leaders, participants in the vast majority of PSB trips have purchased travel insurance. While we are still quite early in the cancellation process, we have received very few complaints to this point." Ellis said a lawyer in her area has agreed to help the Englewood parent group pro bono, and has written a letter to Schools Out Tours, outlining their concerns. 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 Ministry of Food and Agriculture is reassuring the nation of adequate food supply in this period of the coronavirus pandemic. Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, addressed the nation on Thursday, April 23, at an emergency press conference at the Information Ministry in Accra. He recounted that We have gone through three weeks of partial lockdown of some cities and we are aware of few challenges that occurred which slightly disrupted the food distribution system to the markets. Now that the partial lockdown has been lifted by the President, I am here to reassure the public that there is adequate food in the country and distribution and marketing of food items will continue uninterrupted, he says. In view of observing social distancing, District Assemblies will continue to organize the markets to ensure adherence to COVID-19 protocols, he stated. At this point I want to acknowledge the efforts of our gallant farmers and all actors in the agriculture value chain for their cooperation and contribution in ensuring supply of food during the lockdown period, he stated. Our Flagship Programme, the PFJ is in its 4th year of implementation and the distribution of subsidized inputs (seeds and fertilizer) to all parts of the country is on-going. Similarly, he said, the other modules of PFJ Planting for Export and Rural Development, Rearing for Food and Jobs, Greenhouse Village and Agriculture Mechanization are also being pursued. Our efforts to meet production targets and food needs for 2020 production season remain on course. The COVID-19 pandemic provides golden opportunity for Ghana to optimize our potential for food production to meet domestic needs and exports, he said. In the wake of export bans from countries that we import food from, it provides a compelling situation for us to put strategic measures in place to ramp up production of all our key commodities. It also gives us the opportunity to intensify agro processing, thus reducing post-harvest losses, enhancing all-year round food availability and creating jobs. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, the Ministry has engaged with several stakeholders including input distributors, importers of food items, collaborating MDAs, Ghana Commodity Exchange and our Development Partners to craft remedial measures for immediate response to COVID-19 and also design post-COVID interventions. Some of the immediate actions include: market surveillance, (where market prices and food availability on the markets are monitored) PPE's for Extension Agents, development of guidelines for production, public education through video and print, facilitating inputs distribution, etc. He noted that Medium-term actions include facilitating access to credit for producers, aggregators and processors, supporting NAFCO to mop up strategic stocks for food security, re-establish early warning system to provide regular update on food situation and establishment of COVID-19 Fund for Agriculture and Food Security. Support We are beginning to receive support and cooperation from our stakeholders to implement our plans to combat the pandemic. He stated that Ghanas Development Partners have indicated their commitment to support our plans by restructuring on-going programmes to respond to the emergency situation or provide new funding where possible. On Monday 20th April, 2020, the Ministry received a presentation of PPEs and cash donation of GH10,000 from AGRA, mobilized from its Country staff. The cash is to serve as seed money for the COVID-19 Fund for Agriculture and Food Security. This is a gesture worth emulating, he said. We also want to acknowledge the support of Global Affairs Canada for refurbishing the three Biocontainment Laboratories which are now being used for testing the Coronavirus. ---Daily Guide Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday he will extend his stay-at-home order into late May, with some modifications that will take effect May 1, including a requirement for people to wear a face covering or mask when in a public space where they cant maintain a six-foot distance from other people and a phased re-opening of state parks. Retail stores not designated as non-essential businesses will also be able to reopen to fulfill phone and online orders for curbside pick-up and delivery, under the new order. Greenhouses, garden centers and nurseries, and animal grooming services will also be able to reopen. Employees and customers must wear face coverings, under the new order. Officials reported 1,826 new known cases on Thursday. There have now been 36,934 cases since the start of the outbreak. With 123 more fatalities also reported, the death toll stands at 1,688, officials said. Heres a recap of what happened on April 23 with COVID-19 in the Chicago area and Illinois: 9:30 p.m.: McHenry drive-in theaters plans to reopen May 1 are shelved after Pritzker extends stay-at-home order in Illinois Drive-in movies were an essential part of Scott Dehns life growing up. Not only did he take in films with family and friends at the McHenry Outdoor Theater, but he got a job there, and ended up buying the operation in February just before the state closed all movie theaters. Devastated by the closure order due to the coronavirus, Dehn came up with a plan to open for business May 1, the day after the stay-at-home order was set to expire. He decided to allow cars only in every other space and keep people in their vehicles to maintain social distancing. A buzz over the opening built on Facebook, where dozens of drive-in fans thanked him for giving them a chance to get out for a little fun. Dehn said he even had gotten early encouragement from officials in the states Small Business Development Centers, one of whom offered advice on how to do it safely. But Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Thursday extended his stay-at-home order, which also kept closed most businesses, through the end of May. State officials told Dehn by email that he cannot open because the theater is not an essential business. Defeated, Dehn gave up his dream of showing movies anytime soon, saying he did so with a very heavy and saddened heart. Read more here. Robert McCoppin 9:08 p.m.: Illinois officials say the state is hitting its COVID-19 peak and thats actually good news For weeks, Illinois officials have said the state has been bending the curve on the COVID-19 pandemics rate of growth. Now the states leaders say they think Illinois is reaching the peak, based on models by Illinois researchers that officials unveiled Thursday. Read more here. Joe Mahr 8:35 p.m.: Gov. J.B. Pritzker gives Illinois golf courses the all-clear to reopen May 1 under strict safety guidelines amid the coronavirus pandemic Like finding a ball that was thought to be lost off the tee, Illinois golfers got some good news Thursday: Courses may open May 1 under strict safety guidelines. What are those guidelines? They had not been spelled out as of 8 p.m. Thursday. Read more here. Teddy Greenstein 8:05 p.m.: Worker became super spreader at Joliet nursing home where 26 people died After the coronavirus shut down dining rooms at nursing homes, a maintenance worker at Symphony of Joliet took it upon himself to order, assemble and install personal dining tables in more than 40 rooms. Tragically, though the worker had no symptoms, it was discovered later that he was carrying the COVID-19 virus. By visiting those rooms and through his physical exertion, officials at the nursing home believe, he became a super spreader and infected many of the residents. As soon as administrators learned the worker had the virus, they relocated the exposed patients and other workers to another floor. Regardless, 24 residents and two workers one of them the maintenance worker died of the disease. Read more here. Robert McCoppin 6:50 p.m.: Illinois wants all shoppers to wear masks at the grocery store. Enforcing that rule is trickier. Customers and employees will have to start wearing masks in Illinois stores starting May 1 under the modified stay-at-home order Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday. Major chains like Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, CVS and Walgreens say they have already mandated all store employees wear masks or facial coverings. Enforcing the same rule for customers can be more challenging. Approaches have varied in suburbs that have already adopted similar rules. Some grocery stores in suburbs that require masks be worn in public say they are turning away shoppers who arrive bare-faced. Others say confronting customers could put employees safety at risk. Read more here. Lauren Zumbach 6:20 p.m.: Long-term care facilities in DuPage now account for 83 of countys overall total of 118 Twelve more people with coronavirus in DuPage County have died, all of them from long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, officials said Thursday. That makes 83 deaths attributed to long-term care facilities, out of 118 overall in the county. That includes 10 at Chateau Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Willowbrook, as well deaths as 34 other such businesses. Read more here. Robert McCoppin 6:05 p.m.: Doctors give tips on telling COVID-19 from seasonal allergies As captive Chicagoans focus on COVID-19, allergy sufferers have an added layer of worry: Pollen counts for both trees and grass have yet to peak in Illinois and theyre hoping their congestion and cough dont mean something more serious. Figuring out when allergy season starts has gotten harder in recent years because of long cold spells in spring, which have led to an overlap of different kinds of pollen that trigger allergies. At the same time, the Illinois stay-at-home order may be triggering allergies for people stuck in the house with pets. But while allergies and the novel coronavirus show some of the same symptoms, experts say there are ways to tell which people are experiencing. Those who have known allergies to either tree or grass pollen they tend to trigger the similar symptoms, said Dr. Rachna Shah, Loyola Medicines allergy expert can expect itchy eyes and nose, sneezing and a runny nose. Some can develop headaches, nasal congestion and postnasal drip. In some cases, allergies also can lead to or exacerbate asthma, a disease that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says can put people at higher risk for more severe COVID-19. Dr. Sharmilee Nyenhuis, an associate professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago with expertise in allergies and asthma, said there can be some overlap in the symptoms of allergies and the new coronavirus. But the ones that do overlap arent common for those suffering from the new coronavirus. Read more here. Katherine Rosenberg-Douglas 5:05 p.m.: COVID-19 deaths in Southland top 100 for third consecutive week For a third straight week, more than 100 Southland residents are confirmed to have died of COVID-19 complications, according to a Southtown analysis. At least 378 south and southwest suburban residents 257 in South Cook County and 121 in Will County have died of complications from the virus since March 19, according to data from the Cook County medical examiners office and Will County public health officials. The South Cook County patients who died 137 men and 120 women hailed from 47 different communities and range in age from a 19-year-old Riverdale man to a 108-year-old Evergreen Park nursing home resident. At least one resident at 43 south and southwest suburban nursing homes has died of COVID-19, and 26 nursing homes have had multiple residents die, according to data provided by state public health department and the medical examiners office. Read more here. Zak Koeske 4:54 p.m.: Judge allows Green and Libertarian candidates on Nov. 3 ballot without normal petition-gathering process due to pandemic A federal judge on Thursday issued an order that allows presidential, vice presidential and U.S. Senate candidates for the Green and Libertarian parties on Illinois Nov. 3 general election ballot without the normal petition-gathering process, which the judge called a nearly insurmountable hurdle amid the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer also ruled that most other independent and third-party candidates for lower offices can collect signatures electronically and will need to get only 10% of the previously required signatures to get on the ballot. The deadline for getting the signatures, which will not have to be notarized, was extended from June 22 to Aug. 7 under Pallmeyers order. The combined effect of the restrictions on public gatherings imposed by Illinois stay-at-home order and the usual in-person signature requirements in the Illinois Election Code is a nearly insurmountable hurdle for new party and independent candidates attempting to have their names placed on the general election ballot, Pallmeyer wrote. 4:21 p.m.: Federal judge hears testimony in ongoing lawsuit over the response to COVID-19 at Cook County Jail The assistant director of the Cook County Jail testified in federal court Thursday that more than 175 tiers in the sprawling facility have been transitioned to single-cell housing to help stem the rapid spread of coronavirus that so far has killed six inmates and a correctional officer. In addition to putting more prisoners in cells by themselves, jail officials have stepped up social distancing measures by spray painting Xs on the floors to try to keep detainees six feet apart, said Mike Miller, the executive director of the Cook County Department of Corrections. Theyve instructed inmates to spray down showers with disinfectant after use, handed out writing tablets and puzzle books to keep detainees occupied, and threatened those who violate social distancing protocols with loss of phone time or even the privilege of using the microwave, Miller testified via a video link in U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennellys courtroom. When officials with the Chicago Department of Public Health and the federal Center for Disease Control toured the jail complex last week, they were stunned by what they saw, according to Miller. One of them told me, I cant believe how well you guys are doing, Miller testified. It was phenomenal. His testimony came as part of an ongoing lawsuit filed by the Loevy and Loevy law firm and the MacArthur Justice Center at Northwestern University alleging Sheriff Tom Dart has failed to stop a rapidly unfolding public health disaster at the jail, which has been identified as one of the nations leading hot spots for COVID-19 infections. As of Wednesday, six detainees have died after contracting COVID-19 at the jail, according to the sheriffs office. Another 231 inmates currently have the virus, 18 of whom are hospitalized. Hundreds of others have tested positive and have since recovered. Also, 173 correctional officers who work at the jail are currently positive for COVID-19. One officer has died of the disease, the sheriffs office said. Earlier this month, Kennelly rejected an emergency request by plaintiffs in the suit to order the release of hundreds of medically vulnerable detainees due to the pandemic threat. Kennelly did, however, grant a temporary restraining order forcing Dart to comply with strict sanitation and testing measures. Read more here. Megan Crepeau and Jason Meisner 3:44 p.m.: Pritzker says hospitals can begin to resume some elective surgeries May 1 Some elective surgeries in Illinois may soon resume, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday as he extended and modified the states stay-at-home order. The Illinois Department of Public Health will issue guidance to surgical centers and hospitals allowing certain elective surgeries for non-life threatening conditions, starting on May 1, the governors office said. In order to restart elective surgeries, facilities will have to meet certain criteria including having appropriate personal protective equipment, enough space for COVID-19 patients and the ability to test elective-surgery patients to make sure they dont have the illness. In recent weeks, hospitals in Illinois have canceled elective surgeries to ensure they had enough resources to handle surges of COVID-19 patients. Those cancellations have left many patients with important but non-emergency health needs waiting for treatment, and have hit hospitals bottom lines hard. The Illinois Health and Hospital Association has estimated that Illinois hospitals are now losing about $1.4 billion a month because of canceled surgeries and fewer non-COVID-19 patients. A number of hospitals in the Chicago area, including Lurie, Mount Sinai, Holy Cross, Weiss, West Suburban and Loyola University Medical Center have instituted employee furloughs in recent weeks to help them deal with financial challenges. Lisa Schencker 3:28 p.m.: Alderman calls for City Council to meet twice monthly to respond faster to coronavirus crisis The Chicago City Council should meet twice as often during the coronavirus stay-at-home order to act faster on plans to deal with the emergency, an alderman said Thursday. North Side Ald. Andre Vasquez, 40th, said he will introduce a plan to the council this week to require the body to have twice-monthly meetings during the pandemic, instead of meeting once a month as usual. Vasquez pointed to ordinances brought forward this week by colleagues to set caps on the fees collected by food delivery services during the stay-at-home order and to require Chicagoans to wear masks in public as ideas that need a swifter response. We clearly have the capability to do this, so if it helps us act more quickly, lets do it, Vasquez said. Read more here. John Byrne 3:01 p.m.: Pritzker announces he will extend stay-at-home order, with some modifications that will take effect May 1 Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Thursday he will extend his stay-at-home order into late May, with some modifications that will take effect May 1, including a requirement for people to wear a face covering or mask when in a public space where they cant maintain a 6-foot distance from other people and a phased re-opening of state parks. Retail stores not designated as non-essential businesses will also be able to reopen to fulfill phone and online orders for curbside pick-up and delivery, under the new order. Greenhouses, garden centers and nurseries, and animal grooming services will also be able to reopen. Employees and customers must wear face coverings, under the new order. We now have what we didnt have two months ago, an understanding of what COVID-19 cases, deaths, hospitalizations and ventilator and ICU usage look like every day in Illinois, Pritzker said, presenting data that hes basing his decisions on. Pritzker addressed projections that Illinois will not see its peak in the COVID-19 pandemic until next month, after models previously projected an April peak. A pushed-out peak is the best indicator that we are flattening the curve, Pritzker said. Thats what youre aiming to do, slow down the rate of transmission, which leads to a slower rate of increase over a longer period of time, Pritzker said. Hence, a later and lower peak, pushing the peak further down the line might not sound like good news, but I promise you, it saves lives. The modified executive order will require businesses deemed essential to provide face-coverings to all employees who are not able to maintain six feet of social distance, and will impose occupancy limits for essential businesses and other measures including shift-staggering and operating only essential lines for manufacturers. Pritzker said his administration is finalizing steps for safely moving toward reopening in phases. We are making progress building out testing and launching our contract tracing initiative, he said. Pritzker said he will be giving more details on that in the coming days. Jamie Munks 3 p.m.: Remote learning could be the new normal even into fall, Chicago leaders say Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said local leaders are making sure were truly prepared in case the school shutdown continues in the fall. In-class instruction is now halted through the end of the academic year. But both the mayor and Chicago Public Schools CEO Janice Jackson have both acknowledged theres a possibility that schooling might not be back to normal in the fall. We dont know that at this stage, but I think one of the things all of us are thinking about, and obviously CPS is as well, is what if? and making sure were truly prepared, Lightfoot said Thursday. Read more here. Gregory Pratt and Hannah Leone 2:53 p.m.: Feds pressure Potbelly, Ruths Chris, other public companies to give back small-business loans Big public companies that received loans under a government program intended to help small businesses devastated by the coronavirus outbreak could be forced to return it. The Small Business Administration issued an advisory Thursday clearly aimed at companies like restaurant chains Ruths Chris Steak House and Potbelly that received loans under the Paycheck Protection Program. The guidelines imply that unless a company can prove it was truly eligible for a loan, the money should be returned by May 7. Read more here. Associated Press 2:45 p.m.: 1,826 new COVID-19 cases, 123 additional deaths Officials reported 1,826 new known cases on Thursday. There have now been 36,934 cases since the start of the outbreak. With 123 more fatalities also reported Thursday, the death toll stands at 1,688, officials said. Chicago Tribune staff 2:41 p.m.: A Fourth with no fireworks? Some suburban towns have already had to cancel for Independence Day The Memorial Day Parade and Chicago Blues Fest have been scrapped. No ruling yet on Taste of Chicago but its hard to think about. Next in line for whats shaping up to be a quiet Chicago summer? The question of what will happen with fireworks for the Fourth of July, both in the city and the displays put on in the suburbs. In Chicago, a decision will come from Navy Pier, the citys go-to spot for fireworks since the city last put on its own display in 2010. But the logistics of what it takes to put on a show, along with other factors such as the Illinois shelter-in-place order extending and Gov. J.B. Pritzkers recent warnings about the summer, mean some of those decisions to cancel are being made now. Read more here. Doug George 2:13 p.m.: Nearly empty of regular commuters, CTA trains are now carrying essential workers and the homeless, 'a recipe for disaster Advocates for the homeless have seen an increase in people sheltering on trains during the health crisis, and the CTA has received more complaints about the issue. It has heightened concerns that homeless people, many of whom have health problems, are on trains with essential workers like medical personnel and grocery store clerks who may have been exposed to the virus. As the economic impact of stay-at-home orders grows and more people find themselves out of work, experts worry the ranks of the homeless may grow, making the situation worse. Read more here. Mary Wisniewski 1:53 p.m.: Target extends temporary pay raises as online sales surge. Some workers call for more protection from COVID-19. Target is extending temporary raises of $2 an hour for store employees as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to fuel a surge in online shopping and dramatic shifts in what shoppers are buying. Sales in Target stores have been down slightly since early February, but online sales more than doubled as customers in many parts of the country stocked up while staying home as much as possible, Target said Thursday. Overall, sales online and at stores open at least 13 months are up more than 7% so far in its fiscal quarter that began in February, according to a news release from the retailer. Even with the shift to online shopping, some workers say the health and safety precautions Target is taking dont go far enough, and that temporary raises arent enough to compensate them for the risk. Employees are planning a mass sickout on May 1, according to a statement posted by employee activist group Target Workers Unite. Read more here. Lauren Zumbach 1:40 p.m.: Lightfoot launches COVID-19 economic recovery task force Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has enlisted the help of former President George H.W. Bushs chief of staff in launching an economic recovery task force to help guide the citys response to the coronavirus pandemic. Lightfoot announced the COVID-19 Recovery Taskforce outside the water tower downtown as a nod to the citys resilience and recovery from the Great Chicago Fire. We are the great American city of Chicago," Lightfoot said. "We must be a model for the rest of the nation on how to move forward and we will be. Lightfoot will co-chair the task force with former White House Chief of Staff Sam Skinner. There also will be working groups dedicated to Policy and Economic Stimulus, Mental and Emotional Health, Marketing and Business Development, Regional Coordination, and Economic Change Study. The committees include political and business heavy hitters, including Mellody Hobson, co-CEO of Ariel Investments; Bob Reiter, the Chicago Federation of Labors president; Evelyn Diaz, President of the Heartland Alliance; Karen Freeman Wilson, president and CEO of the Urban League of Chicago; Daniel Cronin, DuPage County board chair, and Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County board president. As Chicago goes, so does the entire Chicagoland region and very much vice versa, Lightfoot said. The task forces work will include creating a plan to help residents coping with grief, fear and loss, address COVID-created unemployment, keep Chicago a hotspot for tourism and events, and making sure recovery efforts are aligned across multiple jurisdictions, the mayors office said. Read more here. Gregory Pratt 1:14 p.m.: No youths test positive for COVID-19 at Cook Countys Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, officials say Of the 88 youths tested for COVID-19 in Cook Countys Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, none were positive for the disease, according to the Chief Judges office. The office conducted preemptive testing in the detention centers general population this week after seven JTDC employees had confirmed infections. Three juvenile detainees have tested positive, but had not been admitted into the general population at the time of their tests. There were 160 youths housed at the center as of Thursday. Ten of them have been ordered released by a judge but remain in custody since state child-welfare officials have not yet found places for them to live. Megan Crepeau 1 p.m.: Aurora COVID-19 testing site reaches capacity by 12:30 p.m. on first full day open On its first official day open on Thursday, the new Aurora coronavirus testing site reached full capacity by 12:30 p.m., officials said. The fourth state-run drive-through COVID-19 testing facility had a line of people in 97 vehicles waiting to be tested when it opened at 8 a.m. Thursday, Aurora police spokesman Paris Lewbel said. Cars snaked through the parking lot of the site outside the Chicago Premium Outlets mall off of Interstate 88 in Aurora. The mall temporarily closed on March 19 due to the pandemic. The site is run by the Illinois National Guard and opened Wednesday as part of a statewide effort to respond to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms can be tested at the site for free and do not need a doctors note, officials said. Health care workers and first responders can be tested regardless of symptoms. Read more here. Megan Jones 12:22 p.m.: Gov. J.B. Pritzker expected to extend Illinois stay-at-home order into late May, sources say Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to announce Thursday that he will extend a statewide stay-at-home order into late May, sources said. The directive is set to expire April 30, but Pritzkers action would extend it another 30 days, sources said. Pritzker has said he planned to make changes to the stay-at-home order and that restrictions will continue to be needed to curb the spread of the virus. Read more here. Jamie Munks, Gregory Pratt and Dan Petrella 11:14 a.m.: Furloughs and layoffs for workers at Sinai hospitals Sinai Health System is furloughing about 150 caregivers, reducing hours for another 200 and laying off about two dozen other workers, the system announced Thursday. As a result of cancellations and increased costs to care for COVID patients, like every other health system, Sinai is experiencing serious financial challenges, Karen Teitelbaum, president and CEO of Sinai Health System, said in a news release. It has meant drastic changes to every part of our daily operations including services, supplies, scheduling, security, food service, maintenance and finance. The system, which runs Mount Sinai, Holy Cross and Schwab Rehabilitation hospitals, is now losing about $10 million a month because of canceled elective surgeries and higher costs for care of COVID-19 patients, system leaders said. Mount Sinai had about 50 COVID-19 patients and Holy Cross had 36 as of Thursday. About 90% of the regular ICU beds at Mount Sinai and all of the regular ICU beds at Holy Cross were full, said spokesman Dan Regan, though the hospitals have additional surge ICU beds. The 24 workers being laid off are mostly in management and non-clinical positions and will be offered severance packages. Those who are furloughed are expected to come back to work within 60 days. The system estimates the changes will help save about $1.5 million. Sinai said it has received about $2.3 million in donations to help it weather the pandemic, as well as about $4.9 million from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and $29.6 million in early Medicare payments. The early payments must be paid back. Sinai joins a growing number of Chicago-area hospitals furloughing employees amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as they struggle with losses from canceled elective surgeries and reduced visits from other types of patients. Lurie Childrens Hospital announced temporary pay cuts and furloughs for employees Monday. Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago, West Suburban Medical Center in Oak Park, Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose Park and MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn have also instituted furloughs. The Illinois Health and Hospital Association estimates that hospitals statewide could now be losing about $1.4 billion a month because of canceled elective surgeries and fewer visits by other patients. Lisa Schencker 9:55 a.m.: Looking for a job? Heres a list of places that are hiring right now in Chicago The coronavirus pandemic has caused a historic number of job losses, with 26 million people now unemployed in the United States in the five weeks since the outbreak began. In Illinois, more than 737,000 people have filed unemployment claims, leaving many struggling to find work. Heres a list of major businesses that are hiring right now in the Chicago area. Chicago Tribune staff 9:52 a.m.: Chicagos warm-weather businesses prepare for the worst as coronavirus shutdowns are extended April 1 was the magic date for Tony Zarcone, owner of The Freeze in Logan Square. Whatever happened rain, snow, or shine that was when he would open his doors for the season. Instead, cases of ice cream destined for soft serve machines are sitting in Zarcones freezer. Orders for meat and bread have been canceled. I visit the store and I say a prayer, Zarcone said. I remember the good old days, when the lines were long and everybody was smiling. And its all come to a halt. The coronavirus pandemic has forced businesses in almost every industry to search for lifelines that might help recoup months of lost revenue. But for seasonal businesses like ice cream shops and garden centers that make most of their sales in warm-weather months, the future is even more uncertain. Read more here. Ally Marotti 9:48 a.m.: New $310 billion for PPP small-business loans likely already gone, banks say The more than $300 billion set aside to replenish the emergency loan program for small businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic is likely already all spoken for, banking industry groups said Wednesday. The initial $349 billion set aside for the Paycheck Protection Program ran out on April 16, after being available for less than two weeks. The Senate has approved an additional $310 billion for the program, which the House of Representatives is expected to vote in favor of it Thursday. But banking groups say the volume of applications already sent to the Small Business Administration makes it likely that much, if not all, the new money will go to those already in the queue. Any new applicants would likely miss out on this funding round. The majority if not all of the funding Congress is considering right now is already exhausted, said Nick Simpson, a spokesman with the Consumer Bankers Association. Read more here. Associated Press 9:45 a.m.: 19 people who went to polls on election day in Wisconsin contracted coronavirus, but ties uncertain, officials say State health officials said 19 voters and poll workers in Aprils spring election tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus afterward, but caution they cant say for certain whether election exposure was the cause. We are not able to say that their exposure was necessarily at the polls because they are all people who could have had exposure in other places, Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said. We have correlation they voted and they were at the polls but we do not have causation. The disclosure comes after a precipitous increase of 225 COVID-19 cases in a single day, the most in the state so far, as state health officials tied nearly 150 coronavirus cases to a Green Bay meatpacking plant on Wednesday. Read more here. The Wisconsin State Journal 9:35 a.m.: Coronavirus pandemic creates suicide risk. This could last years After years of a steady climb in suicide deaths, prevention advocates worry there could be a mental health fallout from the coronavirus pandemic for years to come. Consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic are also risk factors for suicide, experts say, including prolonged isolation, a down economy with massive job losses, and an uptick in domestic violence. That could lead to more suicides in the coming months, or even years, said Jonathan Singer, associate professor of social work at Loyola University Chicago and president of the Washington, D.C.-based American Association of Suicidology. Read more here. Kate Thayer 8:17 a.m.: New Illinois unemployment claims top 100,000 as 4.4 million Americans file for jobess aid More than 4.4 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week as job cuts escalated across an economy that remains all but shut down, the federal government said Thursday. In Illinois, unemployment insurance claims dropped, but still topped 100,000. For the week ended April 18, 102,736 people in the state filed initial claims for benefits, down 38,424 from the previous weeks 141,160. In the comparable week a year ago, 8,209 Illinois residents sought benefits. Read more here. Associated Press 8:15 a.m.: Hidden coronavirus outbreaks spread through Chicago, other major cities far earlier than Americans knew, researchers say Hidden outbreaks of coronavirus were spreading almost completely undetected in Chicago, New York, Boston, San Francisco and Seattle long before testing showed that each city had a major problem, according to a model of the spread of the disease by researchers at Northeastern University who shared their results with The New York Times. Even in early February while the world focused on China the virus was not only likely to be spreading in multiple U.S. cities, but also seeding blooms of infection elsewhere in the United States, the researchers found. In mid-February, a month before New York City schools were closed, New York City and San Francisco already had more than 600 people with unidentified infections, and Seattle, Chicago and Boston already had more than 100 people, the findings estimate. By March 1, as New York confirmed its first case, the numbers there may already have surpassed 10,000. From these primary travel hubs and a few other cities, the model shows, the disease was then spread to other locations in the United States. Read more here. The New York Times 7:15 a.m.: At least 20 Chicago suburbs are requiring face coverings in public. Heres the list. On Thursday, Evanston joined more than a dozen suburbs requiring that masks or face coverings be worn in public to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Evanston order goes into effect at 8 a.m. and requires all persons working in or patronizing essential businesses and operations ... to wear cloth face coverings, according to the towns Facebook page. The order does list some exceptions, including children under the age of 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated, or otherwise unable to remove the covering without assistance. Please get a note from your medical provider if your medical condition requires you to not wear a face covering. As for outdoor exercise like walking or running or biking, as long as you are practicing strict social distancing (6+ feet apart) with people outside your household, you do not need to wear a face covering while engaging in a permissible outdoor physical activity. Read more here, including list of other suburbs. 6:50 a.m.: City to hold first online town hall on COVID-19 aimed at slowing spread of virus in majority black communities The citys task force on the coronavirus in minority communities and a South Side community group will hold an online town hall Thursday afternoon as part of the citys strategy to fight the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on African American communities, according to the city. The town hall, being hosted by community group South Shore works, is the first of three to be held in communities hard-hit by the novel coronavirus outbreak: South Shore, Auburn Gresham and Austin, according to a news release from the mayors office. The citys Racial Equity Rapid Response Team, formed to try to slow the spread of the virus, is working with South Shore Works, the Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation and Austin Coming Together on its strategy in those three neighborhoods. Each online town hall will provide targeted information to residents, while also allowing the (response team) to listen to the concerns of community members and advise on how to navigate during these unprecedented times, according to the news release. Thursdays event will be held online at South Shore Works Facebook page. It was slated to start at 5:30 p.m. About 60% of the approximately 500 people in the city whose deaths have been linked to COVID-19 have been black, despite black residents making up 30% of the citys population. Check back for updates. Chicago Tribune staff and Associated Press 6 a.m.: McHenry drive-in theater owner making plans to reopen May 1. Extension of stay-at-home order would nix that idea. Devastated by the closure order due to the coronavirus, new owner Scott Dehn came up with a plan to reopen the McHenry Outdoor Theater which he just bought in February for business May 1, the day after the stay-at-home order is set to expire. He decided to allow cars only in every other space, and keep people in their vehicles to maintain social distancing. A buzz over the opening built on Facebook, where dozens of drive-in fans thanked him for restoring a feeling of normalcy. Dehn said he even got encouragement from officials in the states Small Business Development Centers, one of whom offered advice on how to do it. But when asked about the plans, the Illinois Department of Public Health replied flatly, Under the Stay-At-Home Order, movie theaters, including drive-ins, are considered non-essential and should remain closed. Read more here. Robert McCoppin 6 a.m.: For decades Chicagos lunchtime dining room, Mannys now fights for new business during coronavirus pandemic Less than two months ago, if you wanted to find the biggest and busiest lunchtime rush in the city, it would have been hard to beat the one that gathered most days at Mannys. Founded in 1942, this South Loop cafeteria normally serves heaping portions of corned beef, matzo ball soup and other deli classics to Loop workers, politicians, local celebrities and anyone else with a hankering for an over-sized sandwich, with a potato pancake on the side. But due to the coronavirus pandemic and the closing of all restaurant dining rooms, these days theres no hum, clang of utensils, or conversation sounding off the walls at Mannys. Obviously, its pretty quiet, says fourth-generation co-owner Dan Raskin in a phone interview. We are still open for customers, and have curbside and delivery options, but business is down like 70 percent. Raskin says that some of his biggest losses came from canceled events. Corporate events, wedding rehearsals, conventions all of those orders were canceled, says Raskin. Which doesnt mean Raskin isnt trying. I have been personally doing everything possible to get more business, says Raskin. Im not a give up kind of person. Im going to get scrappy and do what I can. Read more here. Nick Kindelsperger Wednesday, April 22 Here are five things that happened Wednesday that you need to know: Tuesday, April 21 Here are five things that happened Tuesday that you need to know: Monday, April 20 Champaign, IL (61820) Today Partly to mostly cloudy. High 42F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. Low 26F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the Afghan government has released another 55 Taliban prisoners, the National Security Council has said. Council spokesman Javed Faisal said in a tweet the detainees were released on April 22 from nine provinces -- Paktia, Logar, Badakhshan, Jawzjan, Ghazni, Baghlan, Khost, Paktika, and Maidan Wardak -- as part of ''our efforts to advance peace and fight'' the coronavirus epidemic. The Western-backed government in Kabul has released more than 480 Taliban inmates since April 8, while the militants have freed 60 Afghan security and defense personnel they were holding. A pact signed by the United States and the Taliban on February 29 calls for the Afghan government to release 5,000 Taliban fighters as a confidence-building measure ahead of formal peace talks aimed at ending the 18-year conflict in Afghanistan. The militant group has vowed to release some 1,000 Afghan government troops and civilian workers it is holding. The prisoner swap was scheduled to be completed by March 10, before the start of intra-Afghan peace talks, but it has been delayed by disputes between the sides. Meanwhile, deadly fighting has continued across Afghanistan since the U.S.-Taliban deal was inked in Doha, Qatar. In a message to mark the start of Ramadan, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani urged the Taliban to agree to stop the violence "as the coronavirus spreads across the country. ''The government and people of Afghanistan demand that the Taliban accept our call for peace and cease-fire out of respect for the holy month of Ramadan," Ghani said. In a statement, the UN envoy in Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons, encouraged everyone to back the UN's call for ''a global cease-fire to silence the guns and enable all Afghans to come together'' to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Afghan authorities have reported more than 1,270 cases of COVID-19, the disease cause by the virus, including 42 deaths. The authorities have released thousands of detainees, mostly women, juveniles, and sick people, to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading in prisons. With reporting by dpa Ohio Republican congressman Jim Jordan famously does not like wearing a jacket during committee hearings or floor proceedings unless he absolutely has to. Apparently that preference for eschewing the jacket applies to face masks as well. Mr Jordan and at least two other Republican House members did not wear masks on Thursday during a floor debate, a trend that has angered their Democratic colleagues in recent days. GOP congressmen Louie Gohmert of Texas and James Comer of Kentucky were the other two seen without face coverings, according to CNNs Manu Raju. The infuriating part of this is that GOP members of Congress are defying science and medical advice, and placing others at risk, Pennsylvania congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon wrote on Twitter, retweeting Mr Rajus message. The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that Americans wear cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (eg, grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. Even if someone is not showing symptoms of Covid-19, they should still wear a face covering 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, the CDC recommends. After Mr Jordan delivered his speech at the podium without a face covering, House rules chairman Jim McGovern, who was managing floor debate at the time, appealed to his defiant GOP colleagues to wear masks even though they are not mandatory. While face coverings are not mandatory, they are certainly recommended. And the Office of the Attending Physician has also advised that a face covering will produce a minimum reduction in sound when using a microphone. The face covering is likely to be most useful in preventing a viral spread when a person is speaking. So people can do whatever they want to do, Mr McGovern said. But he added: I would say that while we are all trying to show how fearless we are, we should be mindful of the people surrounding us. The House convened for the first time in weeks on Thursday to debate two bills to provide $484bn (392bn) in federal relief for the coronavirus pandemic and to establish a select committee to oversee the federal response to the crisis. On Wednesday, Mr Jordan drew criticism from Democratic congressman Jamie Raskin of Maryland for not wearing a mask at a Rules Committee Hearing on proposed the select committee on the coronavirus crisis. Mr Jordan and Mr Raskin were speaking over one another in a heated exchange during Mr Raskins allotted five minutes at the hearing. You might not be wearing a mask, but you adhere to the rules of this committee while youre here, Mr Jordan, OK? Mr Raskin said, claiming back his time wasted amid the cross-talk. The House is taking numerous extra precautions to help maintain social distancing and proper hygiene during the votes on Thursday, including voting in roughly 60-member groupings and urging members to stay in their respective offices when they are not voting. Honor announced a partnership with the fashion brand Boy London right in time for the launch of the Honor 30 smartphones. The most powerful Honor 30 Pro+ smartphone will be offered in a limited edition retail box with some branded accessories from the clothing company, including a case, a pin, and a unique t-shirt. There are two options of the limited edition retail box - both have the case and the pin, but only one of them comes with the shirt. According to a listing at the Chinese retailer JD.com, Boy London and Honor share a similar DNA - they are fashion-conscious brands for the young and bold people. Promo images by Honor and Boy London If you want to purchase only the t-shirt that is part of the latest collection, youll have to pull nearly CNY600 out of your pocket - thats $85/80 for a shirt with the heraldic eagle, used also by The Third Reich. However, the bundles prices will be revealed tomorrow, when the phone officially launches. Source (in Chinese) The United Services Union (Ver.di) and the International Federation of Journalists have backed calls for measures to cushion the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on freelance journalists and media workers in Germany. Finance Ministers from the country's federal states have proposed that the German government provide 1,000 euros to every self-employed worker, including journalists and media professionals, for three months. Ver.di chairman Frank Werneke, along with the leaders of the unions of the German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB), took part in talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel in March seeking financial help for freelancers. Following the talks, the German and some federal governments announced aid packages for self-employed workers and small businesses. But the union claims the measures have favoured small business but do not apply to many individual freelance journalists. Now they are backing the federal states proposals to address the issue - but calling on the states themselves to do more too. The initiative of the Conference of Ministers for Economic Affairs of the Lander is addressing this pressing problem. However, it is not enough to appeal only to the federal government - the federal states themselves are equally responsible, and Baden-Wurttemberg, in particular, is setting a good example, added Werneke. In Baden-Wurttemberg region, self-employed workers can receive 1,180 euros per month through a simple application form. However, not all regions have set up additional support programs. In this article we are going to estimate the intrinsic value of Gattaca plc (LON:GATC) by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. This is done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for Gattaca Crunching the numbers As Gattaca operates in the professional services sector, we need to calculate the intrinsic value slightly differently. In this approach dividends per share (DPS) are used, as free cash flow is difficult to estimate and often not reported by analysts. Unless a company pays out the majority of its FCF as a dividend, this method will typically underestimate the value of the stock. We use the Gordon Growth Model, which assumes dividend will grow into perpetuity at a rate that can be sustained. The dividend is expected to growth at an annual growth rate equal to the 10-year government bond rate of 0.5%. We then discount this figure to today's value at a cost of equity of 6.2%. Compared to the current share price of UK0.4, the company appears about fair value at a 8.3% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate) = UK0.06 / (6.2% 0.5%) = UK0.5 AIM:GATC Intrinsic value April 23rd 2020 Important assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Gattaca as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.2%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.932. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. Story continues Next Steps: Although the valuation of a company is important, it shouldnt be the only metric you look at when researching a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" If a company grows at a different rate, or if its cost of equity or risk free rate changes sharply, the output can look very different. For Gattaca, We've put together three pertinent aspects you should look at: Risks: For example, we've discovered 4 warning signs for Gattaca (2 shouldn't be ignored!) that you should be aware of before investing here. Future Earnings: How does GATC's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every GB stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. MADISON Wisconsin businesses have been approved for nearly $7.3 billion in emergency loans to help weather the coronavirus pandemic, but one month into a near economic shutdown, many have yet to see a dime and they say they need more help. It is unclear where that help will come from, after the Small Business Administration announced that all of the $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program authorized by Congress last month is spoken for, and the agency is no longer accepting applications. Weve got to get the funds to Main Street, said Bill Smith, Wisconsin state director for the NFIB, an association representing small businesses. More than 90% of small businesses surveyed have been affected by the coronavirus and associated shutdowns, which Gov. Tony Evers has extended to May 26 with some restrictions relaxed. Smith said about half only had enough cash to survive for a month or two. Theyre trying to hang in there ... but its a finite process, he said. When the doors are locked, its pretty hard to get customers in. As of April 13, the SBA had approved 31,702 loans totaling nearly $7.3 billion for Wisconsin businesses more than all but nine other states. The rules say banks must close the loans within 10 days of approval, but the SBA has not said how much of the money has been delivered nor how many loan applications were still pending or denied. Octopi Brewing in Waunakee is still producing teas, sodas and bottled water for supermarkets, but was forced to close its taproom and kitchen. Owner Isaac Showaki said he moved some taproom employees into production, but had to furlough some workers while waiting on his loan, which he received April 14. We couldnt hold on any longer, Showaki said. The loans are available to small businesses generally those with fewer than 500 employees and are capped at 2.5 times the average monthly payroll. The NFIB found more than a quarter of small businesses havent been able to qualify for loans in most cases because their banks arent participating and banks that are werent taking on new customers. That was the case for the popular Norske Nook restaurant chain, according to U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, who called on the SBA to make immediate changes to the application process and also loosen restrictions to allow businesses to use the funds to pay rent. Phil Fonzen, owner of Premiere Tech Shop in Milwaukee, had a similar experience. While hes still in business, his wifes Middleton barber shop, Bluejay Barbering, was forced to close, and Fonzen said their bank was not offering paycheck protection loans. After being turned down by local banks, Fonzen turned to PayPals online Loanbuilder app, but wasnt able to log in. We need the loan, as a family, he said. Were going to start hemorrhaging money pretty soon. It is up to banks to process the applications and make the loans, which are guaranteed by the government. So long as three-quarters of the money is used to cover payroll (and the rest on mortgage, rent or utilities), the loans will be forgiven. With the SBA rolling out the program just a week after Congress authorized it, banks were struggling to get clear direction, said Rose Oswald Poels, president of the Wisconsin Bankers Association. Every day theres a change or new guidance, she said. The rules arent final. Theyre being written as we live. Robbie Young, owner of Coulee Bicycle Co. in Onalaska, said he learned April 13 that his loan was approved, though he has yet to see the money. As an essential business, he is able to stay open, but has limited customer interactions as a precaution. Young said the funds will allow him to bring back two employees who have been furloughed or had their hours cut. Were doing OK, but its tough, he said. Being a bike shop, you save up money to weather the winter. Its time to start making money. Because loans through the Paycheck Protection Program are based on 2019 payroll, fast-growing businesses like Octopi are at a disadvantage. Thats the main reason we couldnt keep everybody, said Showaki, who added about 30 employees in the past year. Showaki said he learned that a separate SBA disaster loan program is not accepting applications because of a lack of funding. The Washington Post reported that program has only $7.3 billion allocated to deal with $372 billion in applications. Money is available through a Federal Reserve emergency loan program, but Showaki said the limits on existing debt keep growing businesses like his from participating. Everybody needs more help, Showaki said. Were very grateful for whats available, but whats available is not enough. Almost three out of four Covid-19 deaths of healthcare workers are from Black, Asian or ethnic minority (BAME) backgrounds, new figures have shown. The high level of BAME victims of Covid-19 is causing considerable concern because people from such backgrounds make up less than half of NHS medical staff - 44 per cent. Labour's shadow health secretary Jonathan Ainsworth has challenged Matt Hancock to issue a statement about the high levels of deaths among BAME healthcare workers. Among those NHS medics to have died of Covid-19 was Abdul Mabud Chowdhury, 53, pictured left, who passed away after battling the virus for 15 days Ear Nose and Throat Consultant Amged El-Hawrani, pictured, died on March 29 in hospital in Leicester. He was described by his family as a 'loving and much-loved husband, son, father, brother and friend'. He worked at the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust Mr Hancock said the government had commissioned a study into the disproportionate number of BAME victims and will publish its findings once completed. He said: 'In the same way that there is a disproportionate number of men who are badly affected by this disease compared to women we need to look at all these characteristics and make sure we have the full analysis so we can learn.' Figures released on the ethnicity of all patients who died in hospital linked to Covid-19 in England showed 19 per cent were from BAME background - a similar number to the proportion of ethnic minoority people in the wider population. Among those who died was Consultant Urologist Abdul Mabud Chowdhury, 53, who had warned the prime minister five days before his admission to hospital about the shortage of PPE. Mr Manjeet Singh Riyat, left, was the first Sikh to be appointed as an Emergency Consultant in a UK hospital. He worked at the Royal Derby Hospital Ear Nose and Throat Consultant Amged El-Hawrani died on March 29 in hospital in Leicester. He was described by his family as a 'loving and much-loved husband, son, father, brother and friend'. He worked at the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust. Josephine Peter died on April 18 having tested positive for Covid-19. Ms Peter had been working as an agency nurse at Southport and Formby District General Hospital where she died. Mr Manjeet Singh Riyat was the first Sikh to be appointed as an Emergency Consultant in a UK hospital. He worked at the Royal Derby Hospital. Dr Habib Naqvi, NHS director for workforce race and equality told Sky News: 'The fact that a high number of black and minority ethnic staff are dying from this pandemic is a worry for us. 'It's a challenge for us but we need to rise to that challenge and what we need to do is look at what we can put in place right now to support our staff.' So far, Covid-19 has claimed the lives of more than 70 NHS staff, including hospital consultants, nurses, porters and domestic workers. NHS England provides breakdown of BAME Covid-19 figures Separate figures from NHS England, using data up to 5pm on April 21, show that of 16,272 patients in hospitals in England who had tested positive for Covid-19 at time of death, 74.1% were of white ethnicity, 15.7% were of BAME ethnicity and 0.7% had mixed ethnicity. The remaining 9.4% had no stated or identifiable ethnicity. Figures do not add up to 100% due to rounding. The 15.7% figure for BAME ethnicity breaks down as: Indian 3.0% Pakistani 2.0% Bangladeshi 0.6% Any other Asian background 1.5% Caribbean 2.8% African 1.8% Any other black background 0.9% Chinese 0.4% Any other ethnic group 2.7% Advertisement Prof Gurch Randhawa of the Institute for Health Research at the University of Bedfordshire said the government has failed to consider Britain's diverse population when planning its Covid-19 response. He said: 'COVID-19 has hit the BAME population hard, both in the community and among healthcare staff. This is well publicised in other countries, for example the US but in the UK we are still playing catch-up. For example, approximately 35 per cent of intensive care admissions for COVID-19 are of BAME origin, partly due to a greater prevalence of diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular conditions, when only 14 per cent of the UK population is BAME. 'Throughout the pandemic the government has consistently failed to undertake a proper equality impact assessment of its response to COVID-19. We also know that some BAME nurses and healthcare assistants in the NHS often receive poorer treatment than their colleagues, a well-documented phenomenon backed by decades of research. In the context of the present crisis this means they may have worse access to PPE, more trying shift patterns and greater exposure to COVID-19 patients. 'The government has failed to appreciate that the UKs diverse population requires lockdown measures that recognise the economic and social inequalities experienced by BAME communities. For example, as part of the lockdown strategy the government advised that places of worship close; the BAME community is on average more religious and religious centres play a much greater role in alleviating food poverty. 'A more sensitive approach would have either proactively ensured that places of worship adopted a takeaway method for safe food delivery to peoples homes, or provided clear advice as to how people experiencing food poverty could safely collect food from places of worship. 'The final reason for longer term health inequalities that may be experienced by BAME communities, is the switch to video and phone consultations as the main way to access primary healthcare during the lockdown. 'The patients least able to adapt to these new methods are likely to be poorer than average and disproportionately BAME. We need to urgently review these primary care arrangements to ensure that all patients are able to negotiate access to medical advice via phone or video consultations, otherwise many patients who require healthcare will delay seeking help for a number of months.' The coronavirus pandemic is wreaking havoc on New Yorks economy, and even though the outbreak may be slowing, theres no telling when the state might return to some semblance of normalcy. The state will stay effectively shut down through at least May 15, with a high likelihood that varying degrees of social distancing rules will remain in effect after that. And with hundreds of thousands of unemployment claims in the state and the vast majority of the economy at a standstill, New York could be facing a major recession. Right now, the federal government is focused on short-term relief bills meant to prevent a larger economic collapse. But lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have expressed support for a major infrastructure bill to help jump-start the economy. Although the timing on that bill is unclear, it could advance the Gateway rail tunnel under the Hudson River and keep subway improvements on track. Late in March, President Donald Trump and Democratic congressional leaders floated the possibility of passing a major infrastructure bill as the fourth part of the federal coronavirus relief package. Trump suggested investing more than $2 trillion to help get the economy going again, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was pushing her own job-creation plan. The federal government for years has been trying to pass a major bipartisan infrastructure bill, and the looming economic crisis could provide the incentive for lawmakers to act. An immediate investment in infrastructure doesnt appear likely as the $484 billion bill largely provides more funding for a small-business loan program, hospitals and coronavirus testing. Both the president and Democratic leaders agree it would help create much-needed jobs as the country attempts to return to normal. In New York, a new focus on infrastructure could be just what the Gateway Program Development Corp. needs to begin work on the new Hudson River rail tunnel between New York and New Jersey. Owned by Amtrak, the current tunnels provide crucial access to the Northeast Corridor, but at over 100 years old, the tunnels are in dire need of repair. A new pair of tunnels would not only allow the old ones to temporarily close for repairs, it would also eventually alleviate the current traffic bottleneck. Stephen Sigmund, a spokesman for the Gateway Program Development Corp., said that the Hudson River is the biggest transportation infrastructure project in the region right now. It is just awaiting final federal approval and the last of the federal money it needs to move forward. As you come out of this crisis, you need badly to stimulate the economy, Sigmund said. And Gateway is a very, very significant infrastructure project that could help do that. According to Sigmund, initial estimates found that the project would create 72,000 direct construction jobs and $19 billion in economic activity. Those numbers are from two years ago, and Sigmund said that if anything, they have increased since then. The tunnel project is still awaiting for its environmental impact statement to be approved, which the development corporation originally submitted two years ago. Despite a commitment from President Barack Obama in 2015 to fund half of the project, President Donald Trump has opposed providing federal dollars and his administration continues to delay the project. Earlier this year, the project appeared to be moving forward as the administration cleared part of the Gateway program for funding the Portal North Bridge in New Jersey but still not for the crucial tunnel part of the project. And in March, the administration said it would not release an environmental impact statement anytime soon. But Sigmund said that the world is vastly different now than it was at the beginning of March when that decision was made. I think therell be a very significant reassessment of all sorts of things, but particularly things that can move the economy forward, Sigmund said. A spokesperson for U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, a longtime advocate for the Gateway Program and the Hudson River rail tunnel, did not return a request for comment about his priorities for a potential infrastructure bill. Major infrastructure legislation could also help keep the Metropolitan Transportation Authoritys capital projects on track at a time when the agency is facing massive budget shortfalls. The MTA has already received nearly $4 billion under one of the coronavirus relief bills, but the agency is now asking for another $3.9 billion as its revenue forecasts continue to worsen and it needs more aid to cover its operating costs. Without additional federal funding, the agency may have to borrow money or take money out of its capital budget just to stay afloat. Already, the MTA has suggested that key long-term improvement projects may face delays as a result of the crisis. Abbey Collins, a spokeswoman for the MTA, said that right now, the agency is hyper-focused on getting the necessary operating dollars, which will help to keep the capital budget intact. That money is for critical improvements, such as modernizing the signaling system and getting stations into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Collins said that the agency desperately needs more federal aid, and it hasnt determined yet what projects would take priority over others if it faces long-term funding shortfalls. Nicole Gelinas, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, said that down the line, the MTA will likely need supplemental federal support if it doesnt want to fall behind on capital projects and improvements. She suggested that the next phase of the Second Avenue subway line would be the first project on the chopping block if the MTA doesnt receive additional federal aid. Gelinas added that even before the coronavirus, the MTAs financial situation was fairly tenuous, and its $51.5 billion capital plan is not the most transparent or sound proposal. For example, it relies on $15 billion from congestion pricing, which still has not received federal approval and whose implementation will likely be delayed due to the pandemic. And even if it were quickly approved, Gelinas predicted the revenue it would generate would be lower since fewer people are driving right now. While additional investment may not necessarily create new jobs, it would ensure that projected jobs are not lost and that New York City can keep moving efficiently when it begins to reopen. Its more making sure the recession is less deep than it needs to be, Gelinas said. But I also think if we dont do subway modernization, subways cant run closely enough together and youre hurting the private sector economy. Shannon Grove, CA Senate GOP Leader View Photo Sacramento, CA Related to COVID-19, the Republican leader of the California Senate is asking Governor Newsom to give local governments, in areas more minimally impacted by the number of cases, the discretion and flexibility to reopen businesses. Senator Shannon Grove of Bakersfield made the request in a letter to the Governor. She adds, Californias economic engine is strengthened by our small businesses, farmers, ranchers, energy workers, and more. Any economic recovery plan in the Golden State must ensure that it meets the short and long-term needs of Californias diverse industries while protecting job creators from new burdens and costly mandates. Grove sent the letter to Governor Newsom after being appointed to a new California Advisory Council on Business and Jobs Recovery Task Force. Governor Newsom began lifting some restrictions on non-essential medical services yesterday, and indicated that the state needs to increase its test capacity before further reducing the stay at home restrictions. The Chief Justice, Justice Anim Yeboah, has reiterated that the measures adopted to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 in the courts across the country are still holding despite the lifting of the partial lockdown in selected parts of the country. He said the measures were aimed at decongesting the courts in order to observe the advised social distancing protocols. A release issued to the Ghana News Agency said the arrangements outlined in previous statements issued on March 16 and 20, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the courts across the country would continue. It said the courts would practice strict case management techniques such that only parties and witnesses in cases listed to be heard on particular dates and fixed times would be allowed into the courtroom to avoid large gatherings. It asked judges and magistrates to adjourn cases to specific times on given dates, to limit the number of people that would be allowed into the courtroom, hear cases which were extreme urgency, and as far as possible exercised great restraint in remanding accused persons, in order to avoid overcrowding in the prisons and police cells. The release said cause lists should also be reduced drastically for few cases to be listed for hearing. It said judges and magistrates should also dispense with the appearance of convicted and remand prisoners where possible; and in criminal appeals, the courts where possible, should dispense with the appearance of appellants who are in prison custody. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji M... The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), under the leadership of its President-General and Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Saad Abubakar, has enjoined Muslims in the country to search for the crescent of Ramadan 1441 AH immediately after sunset on Thursday, April 23, 2020, which is equivalent to 29th Shaaban 1441 AH. The council enjoins all Muslims to be prayerful unto Allah, especially in the Month (Ramadan), to help our nation and the world in general and our leaders, in particular, to be able to overcome the current COVID-19 pandemic. It felicitates with the entire Muslim Ummah on the auspicious occasion of the forthcoming Ramadan, 1441 A.H. The council in a statement made available by Professor Salisu Shehu, Deputy Secretary-General NSCIA prays that Allah spare our lives to this and many more Ramadans on the surface of the earth and give us the ability to carry out good deeds as much as possible because of the multiplicity of its virtues and the blessings of Allah in the Month. The council noted that if the moon is sighted on Thursday, Ramadan fast would commence on Friday but if not then Ramadan fast would commence on Saturday. Consequent upon the advice of the National Moon Sighting Committee (NMSC), the President-General enjoins the Nigerian Muslim Ummah to search for the crescent of Ramadan 1441 AH immediately after sunset on Thursday, April 23, 2020, which is equivalent to 29th Shaaban 1441 AH. If the crescent is sighted by Muslims of impeccable character on the said evening, then His Eminence would declare Friday, April 24, 2020 as the first day of Ramadan 1441 AH. If, however, the crescent is not sighted that day, then, Saturday, April 25, 2020, automatically becomes the first of Ramadan, 1441 AH. At the same time, His Eminence also directs the Muslim Ummah to practice social distancing when looking out for the crescent and specifically advises that people should look for the crescent at their residences without going out in groups. The Council hereby enjoins the Muslims all over the Country to be on the lookout for the announcement of His Eminence, the President-General of NSCIA, on the commencement of the 1441 AH Ramadan fast. We wish all Nigerian Muslims and their counterparts all over the world happy Ramadan in advance. TechGenies LLC, a global leader in delivering highly-skilled IT staff resources, and developing cutting-edge, custom applications, has announced its expansion into Argentina. The move adds to the firms global operations in the US, the UK, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, India, and Lebanon. TechGenies leadership recognized the booming startup environment in LATAM, and made it a priority to establish a presence in the region, said TechGenies CEO Ahmad Al-Amine. With successful companies like Mercadolibre, and two startups expected to hit valuations of over $1 Billion, Argentina was a logical step in our expansion. With the addition of the Argentina office, TechGenies extends its ability to support LATAM expansion for US-based companies. Beyond the spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation, Argentina boasts a world-class talent pool, said Tarek Hamdan, Argentina Country Manager. Were confident that access to those resources will benefit our clients, and expand our capabilities. Organizations ranging from early-stage startups to more established enterprises benefit from TechGenies software development, IT staff augmentation, and technology expertise. A global team of fully dedicated Genies can be deployed to fit economic, time zone, and proximity needs, while ensuring that businesses of any size arent constrained by limited resources or budgets. Expanding our services into this exciting market creates new opportunities for businesses to develop custom, global IT solutions and capitalize on the breadth of tech talent and expertise in Argentina, said Hamdan. Argentinian tech experts can help refine technology strategy and solutions specific to LATAM, and US-based business leaders can easily access their team in person given the proximity. Learn how TechGenies Argentina can help with the IT solutions your business needs, or contact info@techgenies.com to learn how TechGenies can help build an IT staff for your growing business. About TechGenies, LLC TechGenies is a global software development co-employment company that provides technology resources to a wide range of verticals and industries. The company is headquartered in Texas with operations in Canada, France, Mexico, the Philippines, India, and Lebanon. TechGenies has been developing world-class software solutions and providing international support for more than 14 years. The TechGenies operating model is simple. Provide clients with an off-site development team that can augment current staff, add a project team to an existing software development group, or serve as an organizations entire software development team - all with guidance and support to ensure that resources continually exceed expectations. Connect with TechGenies: Twitter at https://twitter.com/TechGenies/ LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/techgenies-llc/ Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TechGenies.Tech/ Media Contact: Lee Delahoussaye lee@mindtapmarketing.com Appeal against Russian citizens sentence for murder threats to judge to be heard in May RAPSI, Eugeny Varlamov 18:03 23/04/2020 MOSCOW, April 23 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court has postponed an appeal against sentence of a resident of town of Voronezh Mikhail Kvasov for murder threats to Moscow judge Stanislav Minin until May 12, RAPSI has learnt from the court's press service. In early March, Moscows Meshchansky District Court fined Kvasov to 270,000 rubles ($3,600 at the current exchange rate). Prosecutors earlier asked court to fine Kvasov 300,000 rubles ($4,000). The defendant pleaded not guilty. The man said he had published the incriminating statement in support of rallies and did not imply to threaten the judge. According to case papers, on September 5, 2019, an Instragram user with the nickname Chimera of All Russia published the judges photo and wrote that Minin had sentenced illegal rally activist Konstantin Kotov to 4 years in prison. Investigators claimed that between September 7 and 12, 2019, Kvasov having a criminal intent and knowing about public danger of his actions posted a comment to the publication calling to take part in rallies and promising to kill the judge. COVID-19 has millions working from home. As a longtime teleworker, let me offer some advice. Working from home has many upsides: no traffic jams, office politics or need for business attire. But a month-plus into this pandemic, many are realizing teleworkings downsides. My morning commute goes from my bedroom to the kitchen (for coffee) to a small den in the back of my house. Every morning, though, one rubbernecker (me) blocks my commute by looking longingly at his unmade bed - and frequently climbing back into it. Maintaining focus on work is challenging at home. Snacks in the fridge, Netflix on the tube, funny videos on Facebook all compete for attention. Ive been an adult for a while now, but send me a video of talking dogs and Id hang up on the company CEO to watch it. Another challenge is hardly ever seeing other real humans during the day. Sure, we see clients and colleagues on monitors, but, being social animals, we long for small talk. That regrettable need is straining my relationship with my postal carrier. Me (head covered by a green wool sock with eye holes cut out): I hear its going to rain tomorrow. Postal carrier (sitting in his vehicle by my mailbox): Youre wearing a sock for a mask? Me: How about a cup of coffee? Postal carrier: But you look like Gumby. I used to hang up on telemarketers. Now I look forward to their calls. Extended-car-warranty guy: Its only $2,000 for three years coverage. Me: My trucks still under the manufacturers warranty. Hows the weather where you are? Those of us able to work from home - able to maintain income while much of the countrys shuttered - are incredibly lucky. Thanks to innovation, we have powerful smartphones and laptops, plus super-fast fiber optic lines at home. We can collaborate with colleagues all over the globe, share large files and run complex financial reports - as if were in the office. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate the 1918 Spanish Flu killed 50 million people around the world and 675,000 in America, when our population was a third of what it is now. Working from home wasnt an option for most back then. Though the telephone had been invented four decades earlier, only about a third of U.S. homes had one, FastCompany reports. Still, the telephone offered some hope. People were beginning to order groceries by phone. Newspapers and magazines remained the primary forms of mass communication - the first radio news broadcast wasnt until 1920 - but phones offered opportunities to share news. However, phone calls required operators to manually make connections - operators who couldnt practice social distancing. They sat at banks of switchboards in tight quarters, elbow to elbow with any infected coworkers, FastCompany says. Many operators became sick and phone systems couldnt keep up with demand - making the 1918 pandemic all the worse. Despite many unpleasant setbacks, lots of positive storylines are arising from the current pandemic. One incredible silver lining is that millions of Americans can still work productively as it unfolds. Thats the good news. The not-so-good news: When all of this is over and the sock comes off my head, my postal carrier isnt likely to accept that cup of coffee. Maybe Ill give the FedEx driver a try. Tom Purcell, author of Misadventures of a 1970s Childhood, a humorous memoir available at amazon.com, is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review humor columnist and is syndicated exclusively by Cagle Cartoons Inc. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Dushanbe, Tajikistan Thu, April 23, 2020 17:03 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3e0573 2 World tajikistan,Ramadan-2020,ramadan,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,fasting-month,fasting,health Free The leader of majority-Muslim Tajikistan on Thursday urged the faithful to forego fasting during Ramadan to safeguard against "infectious diseases" even as he stressed the absence of coronavirus cases in the country. In an address welcoming the Islamic holy month of fasting, President Emomali Rakhmon said it makes people "vulnerable to infection from infectious diseases" and urged farmers and manual workers to postpone the ritual. "Although this disease is not registered in our country, this does not mean that we should be careless and sit idle," Rakhmon wrote in the address released by his office. Saying he was citing Islamic scholars, Rakhmon described fasting as harmful for "farmers, livestock breeders and those who work hard". "I urge all those who work in the fields and produce prosperity... to reschedule the fast to another, more favorable time," said Rakhmon. Impoverished Tajikistan is one of the handful of countries that have not reported a single case of the novel coronavirus. Another is fellow ex-Soviet state Turkmenistan. Turkmen authorities said at a meeting of officials and donor agencies on Wednesday that the reclusive gas-rich state had sourced ventilators and test kits from abroad in preparation for potential infections. "I am very frank! If there was a single registered case of coronavirus infection in Turkmenistan, we would immediately inform the World Health Organization and the international community!" Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov told the meeting. While Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have largely Muslim populations, both countries have been cited by the US State Department as top offenders against religious freedoms. In 2018, Tajikistan's pro-government religious authorities advised workers building the giant Rogun Dam -- a flagship hydroelectric facility of central importance to the economy -- not to keep the fast. PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-23 07:03:02 Allschwil, Switzerland April 23, 2020 Idorsia Ltd (SIX: IDIA) today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2020. Business updates Janssen submitted New Drug Application to the U.S. FDA and European Marketing Authorization Application for ponesimod for treatment of adults with relapsing multiple sclerosis Idorsia has a revenue-sharing agreement in respect to ponesimod Positive results in the first Phase 3 study of daridorexant with improved overall sleep and daytime performance of patients with insomnia Financial updates US GAAP operating expenses in Q1 2020 at CHF 116 million Non-GAAP operating expenses in Q1 2020 at CHF 106 million Updated guidance for 2020: US GAAP operating expenses below CHF 540 million and non-GAAP operating expenses below CHF 500 million (both measures exclude any potential milestone payments) Jean-Paul Clozel, MD and Chief Executive Officer, commented: With the results of the first pivotal study of daridorexant for patients with insomnia still so fresh I must start here. For the first time ever, a sleep medicine has demonstrated not only an improvement in sleep onset and sleep maintenance, but also in how the patients feel in the daytime. Even more impressive is that weve shown this efficacy without compromising safety. This has been an incredible company-wide achievement and gives us a very exciting springboard to launch the next phase of Idorsia. These results are a great endorsement of our research strategy and gives me more confidence for our whole pipeline. In this very difficult time of COVID-19 which has had such tragic consequences for so many, Im very proud that our work and the efforts to bring new therapies to patients are continuing, all credit to the excellent team effort at Idorsia. Financial results US GAAP results First Quarter in CHF millions, except EPS (CHF) and number of shares (millions) 2020 2019 Revenues 5 7 Operating expenses (116) (125) Operating income (loss) (111) (119) Net income (loss) (120) (106) Basic EPS (0.91) (0.81) Basic weighted average number of shares 131.3 131.1 Diluted EPS (0.91) (0.81) Diluted weighted average number of shares 131.3 131.1 US GAAP revenue of CHF 5 million in the first quarter of 2020 related to deferred contract revenue recognized in connection to the collaboration agreements with Janssen (CHF 3 million), Roche (CHF 1 million) and Mochida (CHF 1 million), compared to a revenue of CHF 7 million in the first quarter of 2019. US GAAP operating expenses in the first quarter of 2020 amounted to CHF 116 million (of which CHF 97 million R&D and CHF 19 million SG&A expenses), whilst operating expenses in the first quarter of 2019 amounted to CHF 125 million (of which CHF 110 million R&D and CHF 16 million SG&A expenses). US GAAP net loss in the first quarter of 2020 amounted to CHF 120 million compared to CHF 106 million in the first quarter of 2019. The increase of the net loss was mainly driven by financial expenses and partially offset by lower operating costs. The US GAAP net loss resulted in a net loss per share of CHF 0.91 (basic and diluted) in the first quarter of 2020 compared to a net loss per share of CHF 0.81 (basic and diluted) in the first quarter of 2019. Non-GAAP* measures First Quarter in CHF millions, except EPS (CHF) and number of shares (millions) 2020 2019 Revenues 5 7 Operating expenses (106) (117) Operating income (loss) (101) (110) Net income (loss) (102) (108) Basic EPS (0.78) (0.82) Basic weighted average number of shares 131.3 131.1 Diluted EPS (0.78) (0.82) Diluted weighted average number of shares 131.3 131.1 * Idorsia measures, reports and issues guidance on non-GAAP operating performance. Idorsia believes that these non-GAAP financial measurements more accurately reflect the underlying business performance and therefore provide useful supplementary information to investors. These non-GAAP measures are reported in addition to, not as a substitute for, US GAAP financial performance. Non-GAAP net loss in the first quarter of 2020 amounted to CHF 102 million: the CHF 18 million difference versus US GAAP net loss was mainly due to depreciation and amortization (CHF 5 million), share-based compensation (CHF 6 million) and a negative non-cash financial result (CHF 7 million). The non-GAAP net loss resulted in a net loss per share of CHF 0.78 (basic and diluted) in the first quarter of 2020 compared to a net loss per share of CHF 0.82 (basic and diluted) in the first quarter of 2019. Andre C. Muller, Chief Financial Officer, commented: Our operating expense in the first quarter was lower than planned, primarily due to the extraordinary circumstances caused by COVID-19. We currently anticipate a lower spend for the full-year 2020 thus resulting in an updated guidance of US GAAP operating expenses below 540 million Swiss francs and non-GAAP operating expenses below 500 million Swiss francs. How much less will mainly depend on the impact of COVID-19 on ongoing clinical trials, which we hope to have more visibility on by the end of the second quarter of course this excludes unforeseen events and potential milestone payments. I will reiterate that Idorsia's liquidity will not last until break-even, thus we will need additional funding to bring our products to market, but we are fortunate in having several unencumbered assets in clinical development with additional key results in the near future, as well as financing options available to us. Liquidity and indebtedness At the end of the first quarter of 2020, Idorsias liquidity (including cash, cash equivalents, short- and long-term deposits) amounted to CHF 632 million. (in CHF millions) Mar 31, 2020 Dec 31, 2019 Mar 31, 2019 Liquidity Cash and cash equivalents 95 263 718 Short-term deposits 357 476 394 Long-term deposits 180 - - Total liquidity* 632 739 1,111 Indebtedness Convertible loan 382 380 374 Convertible bond 199 199 199 Other financial debt - - - Total indebtedness 581 579 573 *rounding differences may occur Clinical Development Idorsia has a diversified and balanced clinical development pipeline covering multiple therapeutic areas, including CNS, cardiovascular and immunological disorders, as well as orphan diseases. On April 20, 2020, Idorsia reported positive results in the first Phase 3 study of daridorexant with improved overall sleep and daytime performance of patients with insomnia. More details and commentary can be found in the dedicated press release and investor webcast which is available for replay on the corporate website. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, continuity of Idorsia portfolio of Phase 3 and 2 clinical trials was maintained, with a primary focus on ensuring the safety and well-being of patients already participating, as well as study integrity and compliance with GCP and applicable regulation in the different regions of operations. Processes have been adapted where needed, including development of study-specific crisis plans, to cope with the pandemic situation, minimizing delay in the overall conduct of the studies. The recruitment of patients into these trials in this phase, where the healthcare system is focused on taking care of COVID-19 patients, is slowed down and will likely impact our timelines for reporting. Clinical Development Pipeline Compound Mechanism of Action Target Indication Status Daridorexant Dual orexin receptor antagonist Insomnia Phase 3 First study successful Second study recruitment complete Aprocitentan* Dual endothelin receptor antagonist Resistant hypertension management Phase 3 Clazosentan Endothelin receptor antagonist Vasospasm associated with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage Phase 3 Lucerastat Glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor Fabry disease Phase 3 Cenerimod S1P 1 receptor modulator Systemic lupus erythematosus Phase 2 Selatogrel P2Y 12 receptor antagonist Suspected acute myocardial infarction Phase 2 complete ACT-774312 CRTH2 receptor antagonist Nasal polyposis Phase 2 Sinbaglustat (ACT-519276) GBA2/GCS inhibitor Rare CNS diseases Phase 1 ACT-539313 Selective orexin 1 receptor antagonist Psychiatric disorders Phase 1 ACT-709478** T-type calcium channel blocker Epilepsy Phase 1 ACT-1004-1239 - Immunology / Cancer immunotherapy Phase 1 ACT-1014-6470 - Immunology Phase 1 * In collaboration with Janssen Biotech Inc. to jointly develop and solely commercialize aprocitentan worldwide ** Idorsia has granted to Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. an option to license ACT-709478, this option will expire 30 days after the IND application acceptance by the FDA, expected in mid-2020 Idorsia has the option to license vamorolone from ReveraGen Inc. and has granted to Santhera Holding Ltd. the option to sub-license vamorolone worldwide (except Japan and South-Korea) for all indications. Further details of the pipeline can be found in our clinical development fact sheet . About the Revenue Sharing Agreement for ponesimod Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd, a member of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, have entered into the revenue-sharing agreement in respect to ponesimod. Under the terms of the revenue-sharing agreement, Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd is entitled to receive quarterly payments of 8% of the net sales of ponesimod products from Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd. Note to Shareholders The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Shareholders to approve the Business Report of the year ending December 31, 2019 will be held on Wednesday May 13, 2020. The notice was published in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (Schweizerisches Handelsamtsblatt) on April 3, 2020, distributed to Shareholders by post on April 15, 2020, and is available, together with the Companys Annual Report and Compensation Report, on www.idorsia.com/agm . The 2020 meeting will be held in accordance with the requirements of the COVID19 Ordinance 2, issued by the Swiss Federal Council issued on March 13, 2020. As a result, attendance in person will not be possible and voting will take place by independent proxy only. In order to vote, shareholders must be registered in the company's shareholder register by May 4, 2020 at the latest. Results Day Center Investor community: To make your job easier, we provide all relevant documentation via the Results Day Center on our corporate website: www.idorsia.com/results-day-center . Upcoming Financial Updates Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on May 13, 2020 Half-Year 2020 Financial Results reporting on July 23, 2020 Nine-months 2020 Financial Results reporting on October 22, 2020 Full-Year 2020 Financial Results reporting on February 4, 2021 Notes to the editor About Idorsia Idorsia Ltd is reaching out for more - We have more ideas, we see more opportunities and we want to help more patients. In order to achieve this, we will develop Idorsia into one of Europes leading biopharmaceutical companies, with a strong scientific core. Headquartered in Switzerland - a biotech-hub of Europe - Idorsia is specialized in the discovery and development of small molecules, to transform the horizon of therapeutic options. Idorsia has a broad portfolio of innovative drugs in the pipeline, an experienced team, a fully-functional research center, and a strong balance sheet the ideal constellation to bringing R&D efforts to business success. Idorsia was listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker symbol: IDIA) in June 2017 and has over 800 highly qualified specialists dedicated to realizing our ambitious targets. For further information, please contact Andrew C. Weiss Senior Vice President, Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, CH-4123 Allschwil +41 58 844 10 10 www.idorsia.com The above information contains certain "forward-looking statements", relating to the company's business, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "estimates", "believes", "expects", "may", "are expected to", "will", "will continue", "should", "would be", "seeks", "pending" or "anticipates" or similar expressions, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Such statements include descriptions of the company's investment and research and development programs and anticipated expenditures in connection therewith, descriptions of new products expected to be introduced by the company and anticipated customer demand for such products and products in the company's existing portfolio. Such statements reflect the current views of the company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Attachment The CEO of Actual Experience plc (LON:ACT) is Dave Page. First, this article will compare CEO compensation with compensation at similar sized companies. After that, we will consider the growth in the business. And finally - as a second measure of performance - we will look at the returns shareholders have received over the last few years. The aim of all this is to consider the appropriateness of CEO pay levels. See our latest analysis for Actual Experience How Does Dave Page's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies? Our data indicates that Actual Experience plc is worth UK11m, and total annual CEO compensation was reported as UK154k for the year to September 2019. Notably, the salary of UK150k is the vast majority of the CEO compensation. We examined a group of similar sized companies, with market capitalizations of below UK162m. The median CEO total compensation in that group is UK267k. Pay mix tells us a lot about how a company functions versus the wider industry, and it's no different in the case of Actual Experience. On a sector level, around 70% of total compensation represents salary and 30% is other remuneration. Actual Experience is focused on going down a more traditional approach and is paying a higher portion of compensation through salary, as compared to non-salary benefits. At first glance this seems like a real positive for shareholders, since Dave Page 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. The graphic below shows how CEO compensation at Actual Experience has changed from year to year. AIM:ACT CEO Compensation April 23rd 2020 Is Actual Experience plc Growing? Actual Experience plc has seen earnings per share (EPS) move positively by an average of 6.0% a year, over the last three years (using a line of best fit). Its revenue is up 80% over last year. I like the look of the strong year-on-year improvement in revenue. Combined with modest EPS growth, we get a good impression of the company. I wouldn't say this is necessarily top notch growth, but it is certainly promising. Although we don't have analyst forecasts you could get a better understanding of its growth by checking out this more detailed historical graph of earnings, revenue and cash flow. Story continues Has Actual Experience plc Been A Good Investment? With a three year total loss of 92%, Actual Experience plc would certainly have some dissatisfied shareholders. This suggests it would be unwise for the company to pay the CEO too generously. In Summary... It appears that Actual Experience plc remunerates its CEO below most similar sized companies. It's well worth noting that while Dave Page is paid less than most company leaders (at similar sized companies), performance has been somewhat uninspiring, and total returns have been lacking. So while shareholders shouldn't be overly concerned about CEO compensation, they would probably like to see improved shareholder returns before seeing a pay increase. Taking a breather from CEO compensation, we've spotted 5 warning signs for Actual Experience (of which 1 is significant!) you should know about in order to have a holistic understanding of the stock. 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. Brent crude oil rebounded from two days of losses and US futures surged yesterday, bolstered by tentative discussions of additional supply cuts from Opec producers and US inventory builds that were less dire than some anticipated. Oil trading has been more volatile than ever in recent days, as the market has become overwhelmed by a growing supply glut and catastrophic declines in demand as governments order people to stay at home, restricting travel and halting daily life, to stop the spread of the coronavirus. US futures fell deep into negative territory on Monday, closing a record -$37.63 a barrel, while Brent touched its lowest level since June 1999 early Wednesday. Brent touched $15.98 a barrel, its lowest since June 1999, before turning around. It recovered $1.38, or 7.3pc, to $20.73 yesterday afternoon. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures for June delivery rose $3.06, or 26pc, to $14.63 a barrel. Since the start of the year, Brent has fallen more than 65pc, while WTI has dropped around 75pc. Opec+ nations announced a collective cut of 9.7 million barrels per day in supply in early April. But those cuts will come too slowly to offset rising inventories, which hit 518.6 million barrels in the United States last week, just 3pc off an all-time record, the Energy Department said. "If storage continues to increase at the end of the day, which seems likely considering all these Saudi barrels knocking at the door, then we are going to get to maximum storage sometime in the not so distant future," said Bob Yawger, director of futures at Mizuho in New York. Saudi Arabia on Tuesday said it was ready to take extra measures with other producers. Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin yesterday said the Trump administration were "looking at different plans" to support US oil producers. He also predicted that oil would be back to $30 a barrel by August. Reuters Director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, disclosed that Coronavirus will be around for a long time as most countries are still in the early stages of dealing with the deadly disease. Mr. Tedros during a virtual press conference on Wednesday night April 22, said; Most countries are still in the early stages of their epidemics and some that were affected early in the pandemic are starting to see a resurgence of cases. Make no mistake: we have a long way to go. This virus will be with us for a long time. He noted there has been progress in western Europe but said there were worrying upward trends in early epidemics in part of Africa and central and South America. The WHOs top emergencies expert Dr. Mike Ryan warned against opening up global travel too quickly, saying it would require careful risk management. Albany, N.Y. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnells suggestion that states declare bankruptcy amid the coronavirus pandemic is one of the really dumb ideas of all time, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today. Cuomo spoke about McConnell during his daily press briefing in Albany after the senator said on the Hugh Hewitt radio show hed be open to allowing states to file for bankruptcy. McConnell has been pushing back against federal aid for state and local governments in recent days. State bankruptcies would cause even further economic chaos, Cuomo said. You want to see that market fall through the cellar? Let New York state declare bankruptcy, he said. Let California declare bankruptcy. You will see a collapse of this national economy. So just dumb. READ MORE: Coronavirus in NY: New hospitalizations flatten, deaths dip for 2nd straight day READ MORE: NY to investigate nursing homes violating coronavirus orders, Cuomo says Cuomo also criticized McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, for a news release with a section on blue state bailouts. The states hardest hit by the virus have been predominantly Democratic and McConnell's language suggests lives in those places are worth less than others, said Cuomo, a Democrat. "Don't help New York because it is a Democratic state. How ugly a thought," Cuomo said. "I mean, just think of what he's saying. "This is not the time or the place or the situation to start your divisive politics." Cuomo has been calling for weeks for more federal help for New York. He has warned of steep spending cuts for local governments and schools if Congress doesn't provide aid. He said he wanted the states representatives to insist on money for states in a new aid bill expected to pass the House of Representatives soon. Most of the money in the new bill will fund small business loans. Cuomo said it makes no sense to ignore states and local governments when they are the ones that will face most of the expenses involved in restarting the economy. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources New York antibody tests: 2.7 million possibly infected with coronavirus statewide He has watched coronavirus victims gasp for breath: Its like theyve been hit by a train Cuomo worries about coronavirus PTSD, explains when NY can start to reopen Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598 Crisis always brings opportunities to think out-of-the-box and invent novel solutions. The COVID-19 pandemic has inspired the fashion world to come up with creative ideas despite all constrains. Almost 40 years since the inception of London Fashion Week, the British Fashion Council has announced that on Friday, 12th June, LFW will relaunch as a digital only platform. They wrote on Instagram, Open to all and merging womenswear and menswear in light of the current environment, for designers to tell their stories through collections, creative collaborations, podcasts and videos. Londonfashionweek.co.uk will be accessible to all audiences, embracing the cultural commentary, creativity and humorous spirit for which British Fashion and London are known. Recently all fashion weeks and events were put on a halt and the fashion calendar was thrown into disarray due to the pandemic. The Met Gala, Paris Fashion Week, Milan Fashion Week and every other major fashion spectacle either stood cancelled or postponed. However, in April, Shanghai held a digital fashion week and so did Russia, while Tokyo had already livestreamed its fashion week shows in March, calling off the physical show due to the COVID-19 scare. Closer home, Lotus Makeup India Fashion Week slated to be held in March was also postponed due the corona scare in the capital. Would a virtual show be something the Indian fashion industry will also consider? We dont want to be insensitive at times like this, though this is something we have been discussing over with the FDCI team and board members. Digital is the future but it takes some amount of expertise on having an online fashion week. Designers can do it from the comfort of their homes but they might not have the clothes with them right now due to the lockdown. However, if the situation continues, we will be coming up with innovative ways to display fashion which we are working on, says Sunil Sethi, chairman, Fashion Design Council of India. Designers also believe that a digital fashion week will help reduce the carbon footprint. The fashion weeks in India are for a small segment of the population. However, when people travel via flights and come from different cities, traffic is caused, so going digital might reduce the carbon footprint, says designer David Abraham. This garment was left on a dummy at Rahul Mishras workshop, so he used the digital platform and explored a new way to put forward his creativity and help people enter his fantasy world. Nature reclaims its space when there is no human interference. This is what is happening now, nature is growing, he says. But the question is, will a digital show work? What can a viewer expect from it? Designer Rahul Mishra says that fashion weeks are not just for trade but also to display a fantasy world which might be limiting online. But he is up for exploring creativity through the digital medium. With fashion shows, you also create a fantasy world. When you present a show, you want people to experience your creativity, your vision and your mood board. Going digital, we will have to see how to experiment more and find new ways to present our ideas, he says. Designer Amit Aggarwal feels there wont be a drastic change after a virtual show. Social media and technology has been an upward trend and adds a lot of accessibility to a product. Digital fashion week could be a great idea but the kind of content that goes is extremely important. There has to be a higher level of ownership. There is gravitas and stamina in going for a virtual show. A lot of buying usually happens virtually so there wont be drastic difference. However, at this juncture, it will help in conserving energy and also increase the importance of a show which we have lost in time due to multiplicity of shows, adds Aggarwal. Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON - The young girl identified as Salome Wairimu captured the attention of the news anchor with her song, Janga la Corona - Abdalla could not hold himself and posted the song on his Instagram account capturing the attention of his fans - Netizens praise the young girl saying she had done better not forgetting to mention how talented she is A lot has been said about coronavirus and the origin of the disease since it stepped foot in Kenya early in March 2020. Citizen TV news anchor, Rashid Abdalla's attention has been captured by a young girl who perfectly narrated the history of COVID-19 through a song. READ ALSO: Hilarious video of young boy imitating Health CS Mutahi Kagwe goes viral READ ALSO: Fisi wapendwa:Toddler recorded on camera spending time with clan of hyenas The anchor could not stop gushing about the young girl and through his Instagram account, he decided to let people know about the song. Rashid posted the whole song saying it is possible for Kenyans to fight coronavirus if we are dedicated which is a quote from Salome Wairimu's song. "#sisemikitu. It is possible to fight coronavirus if we are all dedicated. Salome Wairimu," wrote Abdalla. READ ALSO: Si kila mtu anayeaga dunia alifuata barabara ya virusi vya corona, asema Magufuli In the song, the young girl narrates how the disease got its roots in the Kenyan soil in a very emotional way. Rocking a Kenyan flag on her shoulder, the girl used her perfect voice to tell the story about Coronavirus. Salome Wairimu emotionally narrates about coronavirus: "Janga la Corona. Photo: Screengrab. Source: UGC The young girl narrated the measures the government has put in place since the first case was announced in Kenya. "March, 15 will remain as a memory to many students in Kenya. All schools from primary, secondary and universities were close down due to COVID-19," said Wairimu in her song. Salome Wairimu narrated how things drastically changed due to COVID-19. Photo: Screengrab Source: UGC The song dubbed Janga la Corona was delivered in Swahili a language that many in the country are familiar with. Janga la Corona captured the attention of many online who flocked to the comment section showering her with praises. surgent_joe said: "Awesome song. God hear us." its_eddie_nelson added: "Wow. Wow just wow. Hand up to salomewairimu." hans_mahmoud commented: "Very touching message." Although a lot of songs have been composed in order to keep people in the know-how of the pandemic, Wairimu urged Kenyans to observe safety. 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. Evacuate Kenyans from China instead of giving Raila Odinga 72M- Kenyans tell Government | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke SOUTH COATESVILLE Chester Countys Department of Emergency Services took delivery this week of three 275-gallon containers of specially made hand sanitizer, and quickly proceeded to bottle, label and begin distributing the solution to the countys health care, first responder and long-term care facility workers. Thanks to the generosity of Eight Oaks Farm Distillery and Wawa, staff at Chester Countys Public Safety Training Campus in the borough bottled 1,650 half-gallon containers of hand sanitizer a commodity that, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been in very high demand one Tuesday and Wednesday. The three county Commissioners turned their hand to bottling, capping and labeling the hand sanitizer and paid tribute to the two businesses for their donations. If you had told me a few months ago that Chester County would welcome a delivery from a regional distillery, I never would have believed it, noted commissioners Chairwoman Marian Moskowitz. But we are very grateful not just for this hand sanitizer delivery, but also for the creativity and good intent by the folks from Eight Oaks that came with the delivery. Meanwhile, on Thursday the county Coroners Office reported that deaths in the county from the COVID-19 pandemic had topped 100 in the month since the first reported case in the county on March 13. Coroner Dr. Christina VandePol stated in an email that the number of confirmed, test-positive deaths her office had handled was 108 on Wednesday, with presumed COVID-19 deaths at 16. The break down in deaths showed an age range of 48 to 98 years, with 56 percent of those male, and 10 percent African-American. Those deaths among long-term care facility residents totaled 81, with a hot spot coming at the Southeast Pennsylvania Veterans Center in East Vincent with presumed and confirmed deaths. The news about the distribution of hand sanitizer comes on the heels of the announcement this week that the county, with the aid of the Chester County Economic Council, had secured 3.5 million safety masks for distribution to emergency and health workers in Chester, Berks and Delaware counties. Recipients of the face masks are first responders as well as health care providers whose agencies submitted unmet needs requests through their municipalitys Emergency Management Coordinator. Those requests are forwarded to the county level and prioritized as critical or routine based on a formula that assesses current mask supply at a particular facility in relation to how many masks are being used daily. Critical needs are fulfilled that day or the following day; routine needs require a few days or up to a week. Since word spread about this latest PPE shipment, requests for the hand sanitizer have been coming in from hospitals, long-term care facilities and the first responder community. In a press release, Commissioner Josh Maxwell said, In Chester County, where there is a need, there is always someone, some organization, some group that steps up to meet that need. This is a perfect example of two companies using their resources to help our community at a time when it is needed the most, and for that we thank them. Officials with countys Department of Emergency Services have been working alongside the countys Health Department to prepare for the impact of the coronavirus long before the first COVID-19 case was recorded in here, noted Commissioner Michelle Kichline. Our countys emergency preparedness program is such that the network of contacts within the first responder, health care and congregate care sectors has been long-established, and the procedures for distributing much needed supplies have been tried and tested, she said. When we receive products such as the hand sanitizer and masks, and gloves, and other personal protection equipment you can guarantee that those goods are making their way to our frontline COVID-19 workers as quickly as they come in. To contact staff writer Michael P. Rellahan call 610-696-1544. Algerians stuck in pandemic lockdown and dismayed with their government are tuning into an irreverent online broadcaster that is keeping their protest spirit alive: Radio Corona Internationale. Created in an expatriate's dining room in the United States, RCI offers a cocktail of political talk, caustic humour and popular music to give listeners rare moments of freedom amid the gloom of confinement. The one-hour show airs live via Facebook on Tuesdays and Fridays, the weekdays when "Hirak" anti-government protesters would take to the streets for the past year until organisers suspended the rallies because of COVID-19. Its host is well-known Algerian broadcaster Abdellah Benadouda, 49, who fled his homeland in 2014 after falling out with the powerful inner circle around former president Abdelaziz Bouteflika. "I missed the revolution," says Benadouda with regret, referring to last year's unprecedented popular uprising that ended the two-decade reign of the ailing leader. Since then, the protests had continued, demanding the wider dismantling of the political "system" that has held a tight grip on the North African country -- until the pandemic put a halt to them last month. Benadouda said that ever since the Hirak movement started in February 2019, "only my body is here in Providence," the capital of the US state of Rhode Island. The online station is "a way to reinvent the Hirak in the time of confinement," he said, vowing to keep broadcasting even after the end of the public health crisis that has claimed almost 300 lives in Algeria. Benadouda is a former public radio journalist and presenter of the offbeat news show "Systeme Dz" on the private channel Dzair TV. He left Algeria fearing retribution after a dispute with Dzair TV, which is owned by Ali Haddad, a powerful businessman who was seen as close to the Bouteflika clan and who is now in prison for corruption. - 'Driven by freedom' - RCI operates much like a pirate radio station, with the freedom to interact with its audience and improvise live on air. Listeners are invited to send text and audio messages for broadcast on the programme, which is recorded in a mixture of colloquial Arabic and French, the language of the former colonial power. "Dear coronists, we give you the floor to tell us about your confinement or ask us questions or criticise us," RCI's Facebook page reads. It's a "very democratic" concept, said Benadouda, who is also a trained veterinarian, and who now works from a basic home studio consisting of a PC, a mobile phone and a speaker. "This programme is driven by our deepest state of mind: freedom," said the self-exiled journalist. Contributors include Algerian columnists dispersed as far as Paris and Doha, while the playlist features popular protest anthems and politically sensitive rap. The programme is characterised by comical puns and a jovial tone, but its message is serious -- a recent show was dedicated to Karim Tabbou, an emblematic figure of the anti-regime movement who is now in prison. Another show discussed the shut-down of online media sites Maghreb Emergent and Radio M, one of whose hosts, Khaled Drareni, has been in preventive detention since March 29, shortly after he had covered an Algiers demonstration. "It is in adversity that we remain united," Benadouda said on air last Friday. "The state must understand this." An empty street in the capital of Algeria, a country in lockdown as a measure against COVID-19 which has claimed almost 300 lives Algerian "Hirak" demonstrators march in February, but the anti-government rallies have since been halted because of the coronavirus A photo from April 2, 2019 when Algerians celebrated after veteran president Abdelaziz Bouteflika said he was resigning Amid the swift spread of the coronavirus disease across the globe, the Pakistan army continues to violate the ceasefire on the Line of Control in an effort to help terrorists sneak into Jammu and Kashmir, two senior officials said on condition of anonymity. Government data reviewed by Hindustan Times shows that the Pakistan army has violated the ceasefire 247 times this month (up to April 22), taking the count of border violations to 1,391 this year so far. Pakistan violated the ceasefire 234 times in April 2019 and 176 times in April 2018. The total number of ceasefire violations by the Pakistan army stood at 3,168 in 2019 and 1,629 in 2018. During a visit to Kashmir last week, Army chief General MM Naravane condemned the relentless ceasefire violations by Pakistan on the LoC, saying the whole world is battling the coronavirus pandemic but the neighbouring country has not stopped stirring trouble at the border. The Indian Army on Monday came out with a fresh set of instructions for soldiers who have completed their leave and temporary duties, and are required to rejoin their units on priority. According to the instructions, soldiers who have been accorded top priority for rejoining duty include all ranks of the operationally-critical Northern Command. The Udhampur-based Northern command is the nerve-centre for counter-insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir and is also responsible for guarding the LoC. Pakistan has also violated the ceasefire more times in January-March this year compared to the corresponding periods of the previous two years. Pakistan violated the ceasefire 1,144 times between January and March, with the highest number of violations (411) being recorded last month when Covid-19 cases started peaking globally. Figures show that the Pakistan army violated the cease-fire 685 times in 2019 and 627 times in 2018 in the same period. The army has been dealing with an increase in infiltration attempts by Pakistan-backed terrorists looking to stir trouble in J&K since the Centres move revoking the special status of the region on August 5, 2019. Experts said Pakistan was trying its best to reinvigorate the terror machinery in J&K to destabilise the border region. The army on April 10 targeted Pakistani positions across the LoC in Kashmirs Keran sector with artillery guns and caused severe damage to posts, terror launch pads and an ammunition dump in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The assault was launched in response to an unprovoked ceasefire violation by the Pakistani army days after five commandos belonging to an elite army Special Forces (SF) unit were killed in action along the LoC in the same sector on April 5 during an intense close-quarters battle with an equal number of terrorist infiltrators who were all killed. As reported by Hindustan Times on April 10, Pakistan-based groups have activated their launch pads along the LoC in Kashmir and the International Border (IB) in Jammu in an attempt to send across more than 200 terrorists at a time when the Indian security forces are busy helping the regions civil administration fight the Covid-19 outbreak. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Former Tottenham striker Darren Bent has branded the unnamed Arsenal player who 'leaked' the news about Mesut Ozil's reluctance to take a pay cut 'a snake'. The Gunners are trying to convince their first-team squad to agree a 12.5 per cent wage reduction to ease the financial pain of the coronavirus crisis but some are against it. Ozil is one of at least three players resisting the club's efforts to impose the salary slash for 12 months - news exclusively revealed by Sportsmail on Monday night. Darren Bent has called the Arsenal player leaking information about Mesut Ozil 'a snake' Speaking on talkSPORT on Wednesday, Bent slammed Ozil's unknown team-mate for talking But Bent insists those inside the dressing room circulating the information about the German midfielder are as much to blame, insisting Ozil should be doing his best to find out who it is. 'There's obviously a snake in that dressing room, which is not good,' Bent told talkSPORT Breakfast on Wednesday morning. 'When you're in a sporting environment with the guys in the dressing room, you're like a small family, but at times people do cross the line. 'I'd be in there making phone calls trying to find out who it was that leaked the story, because if there's three of us [who rejected a pay cut], I shouldn't be the only one being named.' Bent also revealed the fury that has been aimed at Ozil has been too much in recent days Arsenal are still optimistic that they can convince at least two of the three to accept the new terms. But persuading Ozil is of particular importance, given his astronomical 350,000-per-week wages. Bent also revealed the fury that has been aimed at Ozil has been too much, adding: 'I also think it's quite disgusting the abuse he's getting. 'He hasn't come out and said, "I'm not doing it", he's given context as to why he isn't doing it. He just wants a bit of time and wants to know where the money is going.' Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2020) - Precipitate Gold Corp. (TSXV: PRG) (the "Company" or "Precipitate") is pleased to announce its new high priority exploration focus at its 100% owned Ponton project, located approximately 20 kilometres ("km") due east of the Company's Pueblo Grande project in the Dominican Republic. Recent data compilation and interpretation of the Ponton property's historical surface geochemical sampling (soil, rock and stream sediment) highlighted the project's Copey Hill Zone as the region's strongest multi-element geochemical anomaly (gold, silver, arsenic, mercury, antimony) which is likely reflective of a near surface epithermal gold system. The zone has never been drill tested and will be the focus of the Company's near-term drill targeting plans. Copey Hill Epithermal Gold Zone, Major Attributes Coincident surface soil-rock geochemical anomalies, including gold, silver, arsenic, mercury, antimony and thallium, over an area measuring about 1,200 by 1,000 metres and open to the east . . Early stage rock sampling with gold values up to 4.1 grams per tonne ("g/t") , associated with fine grain silica (+/- pyrite) veins, often with boxwork and cockscomb textures. , associated with fine grain silica (+/- pyrite) veins, often with boxwork and cockscomb textures. Large distinctive areas of white clay argillic alteration . . Proximal to the Majagual Copper-Gold porphyry system 2.5 km to the northeast. Hosted in Los Ranchos Formation volcanics, similar to the host rocks at the Pueblo Viejo Gold Mine located about 35 kilometres to the west. located about 35 kilometres to the west. Excellent logistics and road access, with a high-power electrical line bisecting the property. Jeffrey Wilson, Precipitate's President and CEO, commented, "We're excited to pursue the Copey Hill Gold Exploration Zone at our Ponton Property. With the Company's Pueblo Grande project and its extensive prospective target areas now being explored and funded by Barrick Gold Corp. as part of an earn-in agreement, we're keen to shift our focus to a new, large, and nearly drill ready epithermal gold target just 20 kilometres to the east. Within the Ponton Project itself, and the immediate surrounding area, the Copey Hill Gold Zone stands out as the region's top gold geochemical exploration target, having the strongest multi-element surface soil-rock anomaly. The figures (maps) accompanying this news release show Ponton's location within the Los Ranchos geological formation and clearly evidence Copey Hill's elevated concentrations of gold, silver, and other important epithermal pathfinder elements. Access to the Company's recently purchased drilling equipment will expedite the path toward a cost efficient first phase of drilling at Copey Hill once target definition is complete. We continue to compile and assess the existing data and intend to immediately commence fieldwork once the current Covid-19 virus related restrictions are removed. Further comprehensive details of the Copey Hill Gold Zone and the Company's near-term plans will be provided in the coming weeks." "The Ponton project hosts a robust, 1.2 km-diameter epithermal gold anomaly, the Copey Hill target, with no history of drilling," commented Quinton Hennigh, Director of Precipitate Gold. "Given its close proximity to the world class Pueblo Viejo mine operated by Barrick, it is astonishing such a target has not yet been tested, especially given the fact this system is hosted by the same prospective host rocks, the Los Ranchos Formation. Based on the existing available data, the Company's initial assessment suggests the Copey Hill anomaly possesses the geochemical characteristics to host a significant untested epithermal target and warrants accelerated advancement toward a first phase of drill testing. Precipitate aims to soon fully develop this drill target in preparation for drilling using the Company's recently acquired drill equipment. Having now closed the Pueblo Grande transaction with Barrick, Precipitate is well cashed up with approximately $2.3M to aggressively pursue this high value target." Map 1: Ponton Project location map To view an enhanced version of Map 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1718/54782_2dde69b344bf3b18_003full.jpg Figure 1: Ponton Project property surface anomaly locations To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1718/54782_2dde69b344bf3b18_004full.jpg The Ponton Project location map and property surface anomaly locations are shown on the accompanying maps illustrating the Project's prospective geological location, with the Los Ranchos Formation as well as the scope of the surface gold anomaly and coincident epithermal pathfinder elements. Map figures demonstrate the size and tenor of these anomalies within the permissive Los Ranchos formation which hosts the nearby Pueblo Viejo mine. See also the Company's website for these and additional Ponton related figures. Project work completed by past operators includes both property-wide reconnaissance scale exploration and detailed follow up work on two of the three surface geochemically anomalous zones identified on the Project. The three notable exploration zones are (i) Copey Hill, an epithermal gold target, (ii) Majagual Hill, a copper-gold porphyry target (tested in 2017 with five diamond drill holes) and (iii) a broad area of early stage rock and stream sediment anomalies, which require follow up investigation. The Ponton Project is located about 20 kilometres east of the Company's Pueblo Grande gold project or 45 kilometres north of Santo Domingo, the capital of Dominican Republic. The Project covers 3,250 hectares, has excellent road access, is bisected by a high power electrical line and importantly is underlain by the similar prospective Cretaceous to Lower Tertiary aged Los Ranchos Formation volcanic rocks that host Barrick's Pueblo Viejo Gold-Silver Mine. At the Copey Hill Zone, topography is generally modest, with small hills and ridges varying from 100 to 220 meters above sea level. The Project's historical surface geochemical database includes 2,880 grid/auger soil, 1,403 rock and 317 stream sediment samples. At the Majagual Hill copper-gold porphyry zone prior work includes surface trenching, 4.7 line-kilometers of induced polarization (IP) geophysical surveying, and 1,666 metres of diamond drilling (5 holes in 2017). The Ponton Project historical soil, rock, stream sediment and core samples collected by past operators were collected on a wide range of surface or drill hole densities and were submitted to Bureau Veritas (previously Acme Labs) for multi-element ICP-MS analysis, all data is stored in various digital formats and is in the Company's possession. This news release has been reviewed by Michael Moore P. Geo., Vice President, Exploration of Precipitate Gold Corporation, the Qualified Person for the technical information in this news release under NI 43-101 standards. About Precipitate Gold: Precipitate Gold Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on exploring and advancing its mineral property interests in the Pueblo Viejo Mining Camp and Tireo Gold Trend of the Dominican Republic. The Company is actively exploring its 100% owned Ponton and Juan de Herrera projects. The Company's Pueblo Grande Project is subject to an Earn-In Agreement with Barrick Gold Corporation, whereby Barrick can earn a 70% interest by incurring US$10M within six years and producing a qualifying Pre-feasibility Study. Precipitate is also actively evaluating additional high-impact property acquisitions with the potential to expand the Company's portfolio and increase shareholder value, in the Dominican Republic and other favourable jurisdictions. Additional information can be viewed at the Company's website www.precipitategold.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Precipitate Gold Corp., "Jeffrey Wilson" President & CEO For further information, please contact: Tel: 604-558-0335 Toll Free: 855-558-0335 investor@precipitategold.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Precipitate Gold Corp.'s ("Precipitate" or the "Company") current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Company and on assumptions it believes are reasonable. 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 Precipitate to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the exploration concessions may not be granted on terms acceptable to the Company, or at all; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the concessions acquired by the Company may not have attributes similar to those of surrounding properties; delay or failure to receive governmental or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation affecting mining; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals. Although Precipitate 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Precipitate 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/54782 - As Kenya struggles to stop the spread of COVID-19, new challenges keep on piling up - The recent rains in several parts have brought with them Nairobi flies which have left part of Baringo county in disarray - However, Kenyans online have been trying to figure out which name is more appropriate for the tiny beetles As Kenyan fights several wars with the biggest being coronavirus pandemic, more continue to pile up. The latest headache not only on Kenyan soil but also on the social media platforms is the Narrow Bee fly which has caused a huge stir. READ ALSO: Diamond takes new WCB signee Zuchu out for shopping in Tanasha Donna's ride READ ALSO: Monkeys take over hotel and become tourists, swim all day amid coronavirus lockdown After the flies infested Kabarnet town in Baringo county, many took to social media to try figuring out which name would be most appropriate for the latest 'plague'. Kenyans on Twitter debated largely on which was the correct name with many accusing those referring to them as Narrow Bee fly to be too westernised while those that labeled it Nairobi fly were referred to be unknowledgeable. READ ALSO: Prisoner dies of coronavirus just weeks before his release READ ALSO: Kylie Jenner spotted looking unrecognisable without makeup amid COVID-19 lockdown To some, it did not matter what name they referred them to, reminding Kenyans there was much more to worry about than a name given to a fly. Here are some of the reactions on Twitter: Well, which is which? According to research, both names are okay and more so Nairobi Fly which identifies with the beetles that are more common in Kenya during the rainy seasons. The name is used in reference to two types of beetle; paederus sabaeus and paederus eximius. The Nairobi fly neither bites nor stings, but it has pederin released from their haemolymph which is a potent toxin resulting in paederus dermatitis and blistering. This poison is produced whenever the Nairobi fly is crushed against the skin, mostly in the darkness when humans unknowingly brush the insects from their faces. 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. Kenya hits 300 mark for positive COVID-19 cases | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke Five alleged drug peddlers, including two women, were arrested in separate incidents from west Delhi's Uttam Nagar area and contraband worth more than Rs 3 crore in the international market was recovered from them, police said on Thursday. All five arrests were made on Wednesday, they said. Acting on a tip-off, one Manoj Kumar was arrested from Om Vihar, Phase-1 of Uttam Nagar and 94 grams of amphetamine was seized from him, the police said. He told police that he worked for a woman drug peddler. Based on the information provided by Kumar, the woman (25) and her associate Mukesh were also arrested from a nearby area, a senior police official said. A total of 120 grams of amphetamine and cash worth Rs 53,220 were recovered from the two, he said. In another incident, a 36-year-old woman and her associate Ganesh Amar Singh were arrested from Om Vihar, Uttam Nagar with 118 grams of amphetamine, the officer said. All the five accused have been sent to judicial custody, the police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thiruvananthapuram, April 23 : With the entire Malayalam film industry affected adversely by the Covid-19 lockdown, the producer's association has requested its actors and technicians to reduce their fees by 50 per cent when the lockdown is lifted and the working in the industry gets back to normal. Around seven Malayalam films which were all set to hit the screens, during Easter and the Ramzan period and about 26 films are stuck in various stages of production. "We have no clue when this will get back to normal times. As and when the lockdown is lifted, if the industry has to go forward, the actors and technicians have to cut down their professional fees. A mere reduction of fees, won't be of any help, it should be reduced by 50 per cent," said leading producer Sureshkumar. The producer's association is soon expected to initiate discussions with the other segments of the industry, for this and to chalk out future plans, once the lockdown ends. In Kerala film industry, the leading superstars Mammootty and Mohanlal are the ones who charge the highest, followed by stars like Prithviraj, Dileep and others. The Ghana Immigrations Service (GIS) in the Upper East Region is holding some seven Nigerian illegal migrants believed to be commercial sex workers, and will process them for deportation once Ghana's borders and airports are opened for operations. The seven illegal migrants, all females, were picked up at a location at Kongo in the Nabdam District in the Upper East Region upon a tip-off by some concerned residents who described them as persons engaged in commercial sex work in the area. According to the Upper East Regional Public Relations Officer of the GIS, ASP Martin Soyeh, the ladies have all had their samples taken and tested for COVID-19, especially when their presence and activities in the area became suspicious. The good news is that they all tested negative to COVID-19, but we are still keeping them because they do not have the requisite permit to stay in Ghana. Once the borders are opened and people can travel out of Ghana, we will process them for deportation, he added. ASP Soyeh commended the residents for taking the right step to inform the GIS, and called on all landlords in the Nabdam District and the entire region to update the service with the details of foreigners who are staying in their houses. Even though landlords are expected to furnish the GIS with information and details of foreigners living in their houses, it has become very critical now in the face of COVID-19 and closure of the country's borders. According to ASP Soyeh, landlords who keep information and details of foreign tenants away from the GIS can be punished if the service gets hold of them. Meanwhile, the Upper East Region still has eight COVID-19 positive cases, and the local radio stations have all intensified their awareness creation and public education on the prevention of COVID-19. ---Daily Guide Technavio has been monitoring the automotive air brake system market and it is poised to grow by USD 249.14 mn during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of almost 2% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005716/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Automotive Air Brake System Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire) Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request Latest Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impact The market is concentrated, and the degree of concentration will accelerate during the forecast period. Akebono Brake Industry Co. Ltd., Knorr-Bremse AG, Meritor Inc., WABCO Holdings Inc., and ZF Friedrichshafen AG are some of the major market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Preference for air brake systems in medium-duty vehicles has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Automotive Air Brake System Market 2019-2023: Segmentation Automotive air brake system market is segmented as below: Application Trucks Buses Geographic Landscape APAC Europe MEA North America South America To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR31527 Automotive Air Brake System Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our automotive air brake system market report covers the following areas: Automotive Air Brake System Market Size Automotive Air Brake System Market Trends Automotive Air Brake System Market Industry Analysis This study identifies preference for lightweight brake components as one of the prime reasons driving the automotive air brake system market growth during the next few years. Automotive Air Brake System Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the automotive air brake system market, including some of the vendors such as Akebono Brake Industry Co. Ltd., Knorr-Bremse AG, Meritor Inc., WABCO Holdings Inc., and ZF Friedrichshafen AG. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the automotive air brake system market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Automotive Air Brake System Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023 Detailed information on factors that will assist automotive air brake system market growth during the next five years Estimation of the automotive air brake system market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the automotive air brake system market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of automotive air brake system market vendors Table Of Contents : PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT 2.1 Preface 2.2 Preface 2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysis PART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing 2018 Market size and forecast 2018-2023 PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY APPLICATION Market segmentation by application Comparison by application Trucks Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Buses Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Market opportunity by application PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023 North America Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Europe Market size and forecast 2018-2023 South America Market size and forecast 2018-2023 MEA Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Key leading countries Market opportunity PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challenges PART 11: MARKET TRENDS Increasing preference for lightweight brake components Truck brake dust filters to improve air quality Improvement in supply chain strategies PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruption Competitive scenario PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Akebono Brake Industry Co. Ltd. Knorr-Bremse AG Meritor Inc. WABCO Holdings Inc. ZF Friedrichshafen AG PART 14: APPENDIX Research methodology List of abbreviations Definition of market positioning of vendors PART 15: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005716/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) A male inmate at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa City has contracted the coronavirus disease, the Bureau of Corrections confirmed on Thursday. The detainee has been admitted at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine in Muntinlupa City since Friday, the BuCor said in a statement. The bureau said it was able to trace 40 contacts of the infected prisoner, all of whom are inmates. Those exposed were brought to an isolation facility, where they will be monitored more effectively while awaiting to be tested for COVID-19. Both the Quezon City Jail and the Correctional Institution for Women have previously reported COVID-19 outbreaks within their wards. Department of Justice (DOJ) Undersecretary Markk Perete said that the agency is already coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways to build a bigger quarantine area at NBP just in case there is a need for it. Perete added that the Department of Health has already committed an initial 10,000 test kits for persons deprived of liberty. The first batch of testing will be conducted at NBP and CIW, he said. Moreover, DOJ assured residents nearby NBP and the Muntinlupa City government that all precautions and protocols were complied with in the transportation of COVID-19 inmates from CIW to the quarantine facility inside the national penitentiary. The citys local government recently protested against the transfer of inmates citing that officials were not informed about it. Perete said that BuCor officials tried to inform the relevant local official but he cannot be reached. A petition for the early release of prisoners deemed highly vulnerable to the disease is pending before the Supreme Court, as human rights groups deem detention cells as "ticking time bombs" for infections. America once told a story of hope, and not just to Americans. West Germans like Mr. Maas, who grew up on the front line of the Cold War, knew that story by heart, and like many others in the world, believed it. But nearly three decades later, Americas story is in trouble. The country that helped defeat fascism in Europe 75 years ago next month, and defended democracy on the continent in the decades that followed, is doing a worse job of protecting its own citizens than many autocracies and democracies. There is a special irony: Germany and South Korea, both products of enlightened postwar American leadership, have become potent examples of best practices in the coronavirus crisis. But critics now see America failing not only to lead the worlds response, but letting down its own people as well. There is not only no global leadership, there is no national and no federal leadership in the United States, said Ricardo Hausmann, director of the Growth Lab at Harvards Center for International Development. In some sense this is the failure of leadership of the U.S. in the U.S. Of course, some countries in Europe have also been overwhelmed by the virus, with the number of dead from Covid-19 much higher as a percentage of the population in Italy, Spain and France than in the United States. But they were struck sooner and had less time to prepare and react. The contrast between how the United States and Germany responded to the virus is particularly striking. A senior judge is asking why nightclubs are allowed to open until dawn after he jailed a thug who tried to start a fight when a doorman refused him entry at 4.30am. Judge Anthony Cross QC heard how Domario Lindo was seen with a blade hidden behind his back on March 15 as a brawl erupted outside Club Bloom in Manchester's gay village. Lindo, 25, had arrived at the venue at 4.30am - but he and his brother flew into a rage when doorman Dominic Sinnott refused to let them in. He later tried to dispose of a lock knife when police were alerted but the three-inch blade was recovered as he was arrested. At Manchester Crown Court, Judge Cross jailed Lindo for two years and three months after he admitted possession of a bladed article and obstructing a police officer. He questioned whether it was 'necessary' for nightclubs to be open until dawn. At Manchester Crown Court, Judge Cross jailed Lindo for two years and three months after he admitted possession of a bladed article and obstructing a police officer The judge commented: 'The circumstances of this offending are quite terrifying. It was in the early hours of the morning, in a public place when people were going into a nightclub. 'There was a risk of serious public disorder if trouble broke out. This court has seen many cases which have resulted in serious harm having been caused by the use of a weapon and particularly weapons like this. 'In my judgement, he kept it from the sight of people until a point where it might be used to threaten someone should violence get to a stage where it was considered ''necessary''. 'I do not understand why it is necessary for nightclubs to be open until 4.30am.' Lindo had 19 previous offences on his record and had been convicted in September 2015 of possession of a knife plus possession of cannabis. He also received a suspended sentence for battery in 2017 and was convicted of harassment last year. The nightclub incident occurred on March 15 while Lindo, aka Simeon Nelson, from Old Trafford, Manchester had been out with friends. Prosecutor Simeone Flynn said: 'The defendant and his brother were trying to enter a nightclub in Manchester when they were told they could not by doorman Dominic Sinnott. They both became aggressive when told they could not go in. 'The doorman had to radio through to colleagues to come for assistance and he describes them as becoming more and more aggressive before the colleagues came to the front door. 'The two men then confronted other door staff and then one of them tried to punch a colleague of the complainant, and a full-on fight between the men and door staff ensued. 'Two members of the public passing by could see the defendant had a knife in his hand behind his back which they thought was a bladed knife. Judge Anthony Cross QC heard how Domario Lindo was seen with a blade hidden behind his back on March 15 as a brawl erupted outside Club Bloom in Manchester's gay village 'The defendant managed to get rid of the knife in a nearby alleyway but it was retrieved by police and there is a picture on the digital case system. The blade is about three and a half inches long and it was a locked knife with a back handle. 'The defendant gave a false name to police when interviewed after his arrest. He gave no comment to police when interviewed.' In a statement to police, Mr Sinnott said: 'It shook me that a knife of such design, which can inflict such harm on people, could be carried. It happened at a time when innocent people were out enjoying themselves. 'The thought of it being used on anyone is terrifying. The matter has unnerved me. The thought of that knife being used on me makes me extremely worried when I go to work. 'I have children and it is unbearable to think of what could happen to them.' Defence barrister Ellen Shaw said: 'The defendant is remorseful and regrets his actions. That remorse and regret was repeated and genuine. His wife is soon to give birth, which will be made more difficult because of the health crisis. She may well be the person who suffers most out of all of this.' But the judge told Lindo: 'You don't need me to tell you how seriously the courts consider the possession of knives. It would have been just a moment for that knife to have become visible, when, quite obviously, serious harm would have ensued. 'Mr Sinnott talks of the shock of seeing the knife and it's design which showed it could have inflicted serious harm. Innocent people were out enjoying themselves in the early hours of a Sunday morning. 'Despite the fact that Mr Sinnott is a doorman the incident has unnerved him and he is now worried when he goes to work and is worried about his children.' As Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced new directives for nursing homes to ensure they are complying with federal and state COVID-19 guidelines, he said Thursday that "nobody's to blame" for the more than 3,500 residents who have died after contracting the virus. The state banned visitation at nursing homes in mid-March and required personal protective equipment and temperature checks for employees. There are other mandates, including isolating residents who test positive for COVID-19 and designating staff members to care for residents with the coronavirus. If the nursing homes are unable to care for a COVID-19 patient, they must transfer the person to another facility. Cuomo also issued an executive order requiring nursing homes to notify residents and their families within a 24-hour period if a resident tests positive for COVID-19 or if there is a coronavirus-related death. This was in response to reports that family members weren't aware COVID-19 was present in their relatives' facility. Nursing homes are also required to readmit residents with COVID-19, which has been a source of contention between the state and nursing homes. Stephen Hanse, president and CEO of the New York State Health Facilities Association, told The Citizen last week that there have been concerns since the March 25 advisory from the state Department of Health. The advisory stated that nursing homes couldn't deny admission or readmission to residents who had confirmed or suspected cases of COVID-19. Nursing homes also couldn't test for COVID-19 before admitting or readmitting a resident who was recently hospitalized. "This treacherous virus spreads through nursing homes like fire through dry grass and the state's March 25 policy served to unnecessarily fan the flames of this fire," Hanse said. The COVID-19 death toll in nursing homes and adult care facilities is up to 3,540 nearly one-quarter of the statewide coronavirus-related fatalities. There have been COVID-19 deaths reported by nursing homes in 29 counties. None have been reported in Cayuga County facilities, while three have been reported in Onondaga County. Cuomo said Thursday that state Attorney General Letitia James and the health department will investigate any violations of the governor's executive orders. Any nursing homes that aren't complying with the orders will be inspected by the health department. If the department determines that facilities failed to comply with the directives, Cuomo said, the nursing homes will be required to submit action plans. They could face a fine of up to $10,000 per violation or the loss of their operating license. "They get paid to take care of a resident and they have to do it in accordance with the rules," he said. "And if they don't, we'll take appropriate action." But Cuomo didn't blame nursing homes for the outbreak within many of these facilities and the subsequent deaths of residents. He was later asked what went wrong in nursing homes that led to large numbers of fatalities. He said that "nobody's to blame" and that the virus is one that "attacks old people." The populations vulnerable to serious illness if they contract COVID-19 include seniors and those with underlying health conditions. But Hanse, speaking for the New York State Health Facilities Association, criticized the state for singling out nursing homes. He said the facilities have struggled to obtain personal protective equipment and COVID-19 testing and that nursing homes haven't been prioritized for these supplies. He's asking the state for help in securing more equipment and staffing. "We must work together in close partnership and coordination with the governor and the (Department of Health) to protect our residents and defeat this virus," he said. "We are counting on the governor's leadership and hope all New Yorkers rally around long-term care residents and caregivers." Politics reporter Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A terrorist belonging to banned outfit Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) was arrested from Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, police said. Arms and ammunition were recovered from him, they said. "(Based) on a specific input, police have arrested an active terrorist of proscribed terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen in Kulgam," a police spokesperson said. Officers at a checkpoint established at Nihama arrested Shakir Alie, a resident of Damhal Hanjipora area of Kulgam, he said. Incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, have been recovered from his possession, he added. The spokesperson said Alie had gone missing on April 14 this year and joined the militant ranks. He was apprehended in 2018 while he was trying to join militancy. However, he was released without charges due to lack of evidence, the spokesperson said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil Nadu: Why the lockdown exemption for fishing has brought little cheer to Chennais fisherfolk by Laasya Shekhar April 23,2020 | Source: Citizen Matters April 15th is the day that marks the beginning of the annual 60-day trawling ban in Tamil Nadu. A ban that restricts fishermen with mechanised boats from venturing into the sea. A ban that sees fewer boats getting into the sea along the coastline of Chennai. Not this year. The Bay of Bengal was abuzz with activity on the 15th when scores of fishermen (mechanised boats are still banned) sailed into the sea after 21 days of the first phase of the nation-wide lockdown. While the lockdown was extended for another 18 days, the central governments move to exempt fishing and other marine activities from the lockdown brought a ray of hope for thousands of fishermen, who had become bankrupt over the three weeks of confinement. Lockdown is worse than tsunami S Ethiraj, a 32-year-old fisherman, is among the few people who could get into the sea on Wednesday (April 15), maintaining strict protocols, of course. The fisheries department issued a token to 140 fishermen from the Madras Fishing Harbour at Royapuram. The catch was poor, says Ethiraj, adding that it was just enough for his family of seven. But he is happy that he could at least venture into the sea and the pent up anger at the government for not including fishing among essentials has subsided to a large extent. These are the toughest times we have lived through ever. It feels like our hands are tied. The lockdown is worse than the tsunami, says Ethiraj, We cannot even pledge our jewels as all the shops are closed. We had no choice but to borrow money to keep the family running. He spent more than Rs 8000 during the 21-day lockdown on mere essentials. A common question from all fishermen across the city during the 21 days till April 14th was this: If fruits and vegetables were essential commodities, why not fish? Their concerns were finally addressed when the central government announced a relaxation for fishing and marine aquaculture-related activities. Three departments Chennai Corporation, the Fisheries Department and the City Police now took a concerted decision to allow a specified number of boats into the sea twice a week. Fishermen in Chennai can venture into the sea on Wednesdays and Sundays. 50% of the boats in the fisheries villages under Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts can fish on alternate days. The village committee takes a decision regarding who can go when, explained K Bharathi, President of South Indian Fishermen Association. But where are the buyers? According to a press release from the fisheries department, auctioning of fish in fish landing centres and landing points shall not be allowed during the lockdown. Village committee shall get quotes from buyers or agents for the various varieties of fish and the catch has to be handed over directly to them, said the release. This move was adopted to avoid crowding in retail spaces, says Assistant Director of Fisheries Department, G Velan. As there has been an increase in coronavirus cases in Chennai, we cannot take the risk of opening up the fish markets to the public. The people are bent on buying fish from the nets, as they feel thats the only place they can get fresh fish, said Velan. But the governments strategy is not well thought out. Fishermen say that they do not have the details of buyers or the varieties of fish they would be interested to buy. We agreed to the rule even though selling fish in the wholesale market means a loss for us. But there has been no information from the fisheries department since then about buyers, said Manikandan S, a fisherman at Madras Fishing Harbour. Women take the worst hit Women in these fishing villages are particularly badly hit and face irreparable financial loss. Traditionally, women from the community take over the responsibility of cleaning and selling the fish, after the fishermen come ashore with the catch. As the business has temporarily shifted from retail to wholesale, there is no space for these women. There are widowed women, and others from troubled homes, who use this meagre income to run their household. One such woman is 46-year-old Parvathy Yesudas, the sole breadwinner of the family, earning about Rs 10,000 a month from the occupation. But not anymore. When a woman earns, the money is spent wisely. My husband is an alcoholic, who earns only just enough for his liquor. With no income of my own now, I do not know how to get through this period, said Parvathy. For many like Parvathy, rationed commodities from the state government are the only source of daily food. Some fisherwomen are now selling karuvadu (dry fish) from their homes, trying to make whatever measly amount they can from it and hoping that they will not get into trouble for that. They say that they are taking all possible precautions and maintaining social distancing norms. Lockdown, the annual fishing ban and no support from the government all these factors together have put the community in a tight spot. The fisherfolk demand that the government should either revoke the ban earlier than usual this year or provide them with livelihood support. However given that this is breeding season for many varieties of fish, lifting of the ban may not be an ecologically friendly move. The state government should instead take immediate steps to support the community and make the lockdown period easier for them by providing systematic and regular information about wholesale buyers. Potocek appeared at Belfast Magistrates' Court via video-link. A 28-year-old man wanted in connection with the alleged murder of a Prague businesswoman is to fight extradition, a court in Belfast has been told. Slovakian national Marek Potocek was detained at his Upper Darkely Road home in Keady, Co Armagh on Wednesday night. He is being sought over the suspected kidnapping and murder of Jana Svobodova. The entrepreneur disappeared under mysterious circumstances in July 2015. Potocek appeared at Belfast Recorder's Court via vide-link from Lurgan PSNI station after officers executed a European Arrest Warrant issued last year in Slovakia. During the preliminary extradition hearing a lawyer for the requesting state said it was an "accusation warrant". Defence barrister Sean Mullan, instructed by Una Conway of Donnelly & Wall Solicitors, confirmed Potocek's opposition to the legal process. Mr Mullan told Judge Patricia Smyth: "He will be resisting extradition." A potential issue was raised about an "extra-territorial aspect" to the warrant. "The alleged murder in this case occurred in Prague, in the Czech Republic, rather than in the requesting state," counsel added. No application for bail was made at this stage. But Mr Mullan signaled his client's intention to seek release in due course. "He's a designated key worker, employed over the border in Co Cavan," the barrister said. Remanding Potocek in custody, Judge Smyth listed the case for full hearing on June 29 By Kang Seung-woo A North Korean defector-turned-lawmaker-elect's unconfirmed remarks regarding North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's health are raising some eyebrows, including those of a fellow defector. Ji Seong-ho On Wednesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that billionaire and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will help the state create a test-and-trace program for identifying, tracking and isolating cases of COVID-19. The program would involve mass testing for the new coronavirus, tracking down anyone who has recently come in contact with an infected person and asking them to self-isolate. Michael Bloomberg will design the program, design the training, hes going to make a financial contribution, Cuomo said during his coronavirus briefing. He has tremendous insight both governmentally and from a private sector business perspective in this. Hours before Cuomo made this announcement New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said that the city has plans for a test-and-trace program. However, the city isnt close to being able to administer and process the number of tests required to properly implement such a program. The mayor has estimated that it would need to administer hundreds of thousands of tests per day in order for a test-and-trace program to be effective. We're not there yet, but we're going to show you how we get there pending being able, of course, to get the help we still need from the federal government, to get that vast amount of testing or somehow to find it in the international market, which to date has been extremely difficult, de Blasio said at a press conference. Dustin Duncan, an associate professor of epidemiology at Columbia University, similarly told City & State that the state would need a steady supply (of testing materials) or a sufficient number of testing kits to get such a program up and running. The city and state have been struggling to increase their testing capabilities as the country experiences medical supply shortages and health care workers needed to administer the tests continue to get sick and lack sufficient personal protective equipment such as masks. On Tuesday, President Donald Trump agreed to help the state increase its testing capabilities by helping it attain the supplies it needs but its unclear how much that would ramp up the city and states testing capabilities. Another roadblock preventing a statewide test and trace program from launching anytime soon is the U.Ss overall lack of contact tracers. Contact tracers are extremely important as they can prevent a string of outbreaks from happening by getting in contact with individuals who might be infected. There are currently fewer than 2,000 professionally trained contact tracers in the country but its estimated that the country will need anywhere from 100,000 to 300,000 tracers to effectively combat the virus. The cost to hire 100,000 tracers could be as high as $3.6 billion. Contact tracing is also a difficult skill that requires about a years worth of training and mentorships to develop. Learning contact tracing is not easy, Tom Frieden, the former Center for Disease Control director and New York City health commissioner told Politico. Training is very important. Listening to someone, understanding their concerns, helping them remember. Efforts to expedite training have already begun across the country and online tutorials are being offered to teach non-medical professionals about the basics of contact tracing. States such as Vermont, Utah, California and Arkansas have already begun developing contact tracing programs and recruiting volunteer contact tracers. There are also slightly less hands-on approaches to contact tracing, including surveilling cell phone data, looking into credit card histories, mobile applications and facial recognition technology. While these methods may have proved useful in other countries, such as South Korea, concerns have already been raised regarding the use of surveillance technology leading to potential human rights violations. Duncan suspects that any negative perception of such contact tracing tactics would have a lot to do with how much the country values individualism. I think, in other societies, the focus is more on the collective versus the individual, he said. My sense is that is part of the reason why President Donald Trump has allowed governors to make decisions on when they open up their states or not besides some political reasons is because we have adopted this idea that as an individual you have rights: you have your right to shelter in place or not, to bear a gun or whatever is more important than the collective good. Of course, Duncan concedes, people might not want just anyone knowing where theyre going all of the time. However, the epidemiologists biggest concern is ensuring that people asked to stay in isolation adhere to proper isolation protocols, though hes not sure how that could be monitored. I'm not sure what policies or procedures beyond an individuals desire to adhere to a shelter-in-place protocol for two weeks or more (could make an individual follow such protocols), he said. Countries including Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea and New Zealand, which have all seen fewer deaths per capita than the U.S., have all used contact tracing. Hong Kong, the special administrative region of China that operates as quasi-independently, has been implementing a test and trace programrecommended by the World Health Organization since February. As a result, only four people have died from the virus in Hong Kong. The city began aggressively testing anyone with symptoms immediately, quarantining anyone who tested positive in a hospital, then tracing their contacts from the past few days. Anyone who came in contact with an infected individual was instructed to self-isolate. Unlike European countries that similarly tested and traced early on, Hong Kong never implemented strict lockdown measures, though its residents did begin changing their behavior. People began avoiding crowded spaces and wearing masks when in public. By quickly implementing public health measures, Hong Kong has demonstrated that Covid-19 transmission can be effectively contained without resorting to the highly disruptive complete lockdown adopted by China, the U.S., and Western European countries, Benjamin Cowling, a professor from the University of Hong Kong who studied Hong Kongs response to its coronavirus outbreak, told the Guardian. However, Cowling also told the Guardian that it was a combination of factors that were responsible for Hong Kongs success, not just testing and tracing people. One of the most important differences is the citys ability to quarantine its residents much more easily. In Hong Kong, we have designated facilities for quarantine outside of the home and also procedures for strict enforcement of home quarantine, he said. Individuals with higher risk of infection (perhaps greater exposure to infection) would be quarantined outside the home, and those with lower risk would be placed in home quarantine for 14 days. The state cant set up a test-and-trace program without abundant testing and an army of contact tracers. But right-wing activists protesting lockdown restrictions will just have to wait for that before they can safely get their precious haircuts and spray tans. The former Russian ambassador to Syria has been scathing of the Syrian regime in a recent publication, accusing them of failing the Syrian people and being guilty of corruption and causing recent economic failings writes Ana Press. In a second blow by Russia in less than a week, the former Russian ambassador to Syria dealt harsh criticism to the Assad regime and its behavior on several fronts, most importantly regarding the military and economy. Aleksandr Aksenenok, a prominent figure, ambassador and deputy head of Russias Council for Foreign Affairs, said in a publication shared by the Russian International Affairs Council that it is necessary to rethink the future of Syria, specifically the fate of Syrias leaders. Russia also must re-examine its own policy of dealing with Syrias leadership, in light of the Syrian regime using security and military force to solve its crisis rather than adopting a flexible political approach. We must rethink the future of Syria, especially the fate of Syrias leadership. Damascus is not interested in a long-term flexible approach, instead wagering on military solutions, Aksenenok wrote. He added that it is difficult at times to discern between the fight against terrorism and the violence that the government is waging against its opposition in Syria. This has restored tensions in the south due to the mukhabarat, and has harmed the reputation of national reconciliations that were initiated by Russia. Around a week ago, Russias federal news agency fired a scathing attack on the Syrian president and his government, accusing it of complicating Syrias economic problems. It described Bashar al-Assad as weak, and spoke of his inability to fight widespread corruption in his administration, also blaming Assad for exploiting Russian aid to his own personal benefit. And in another attack, the same Russian news agency published a report on Apr. 13, 2020, that included an opinion poll from among Syrians. According to the report, Bashar al-Assads popularity is declining against a backdrop of corruption and economic problems at home. In a poll conducted by the Fund for Protection of National Values, 32 percent of Syrian residents expressed their willingness to support Bashar al-Assad in the 2021 elections. Alexander Malkevitch, president of the Fund, clarified to the federal news agency that the, significant drop in support for Bashar al-Assad is tied at its roots to corruption and cronyism at high levels of authority, including the presidents inner circle. Aksenenok concluded by saying that the situation in Syria is dangerous. Challenges are forcing the Syrian government to reassess current risks, focusing on rebuilding the economy and developing an internationally accepted political system before the upcoming presidential elections. 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. PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-23 07:00:04 (2020-04-23) Kitron today reported revenue and profit growth for the first quarter. The order backlog was record high, and Kitron maintains its outlook for 2020. Kitron's revenue for the first quarter was NOK 878 million, an increase of 8 per cent compared to last year. Growth adjusted for foreign exchange effects in consolidation was 3 per cent. The order backlog ended at NOK 2 064 million, an increase of 41 per cent compared to last year. Profitability expressed as EBIT margin was 6.7 per cent in the first quarter, compared to 6.3 per cent in the same quarter last year. Peter Nilsson, Kitron's CEO, comments: The first quarter 2020 has been a record quarter for Kitron in regards to revenue, profit, and order backlog. Kitron has been quick to adjust to the global environment caused by the outbreak of the corona pandemic. A number of actions have been in place since late February to minimize risk to our employees and our capacity. All Kitron sites are up and running at normal or high load. We can see that the demand outlook has changed compared to expectations coming into this year. Growth is stronger within medical devices, warehouse automation and defence communication. Growth is weaker to flat for products where demand is more directly driven by end consumer. All in all, we uphold our outlook for 2020. Revenue growth Kitron's revenue in the first quarter amounted to NOK 878 million, compared to 813 million in the same quarter last year. Revenue growth compared to the same quarter last year was particularly strong in the Defence/Aerospace sector. Record order backlog The order backlog ended at NOK 2 064 million, compared to 1 466 million last year. The order backlog increase was particularly strong in the Defence/ Aerospace, Energy/Telecoms and Medical devices market sectors. The increased order backlog in the Medical devices sector is partly related to the corona pandemic. Improved profitability First quarter operating profit (EBIT) was NOK 58.4 million, compared to 51.2 million last year. EBITDA was NOK 82.7 million, compared to 68.6 million last year. Profit after tax amounted to NOK 40.9 million, compared to 37.5 million in the same quarter the previous year. This corresponds to earnings per share of NOK 0.23, up from 0.21 last year. Operating cash flow was NOK 102.4 million, compared to 25.4 million in the first quarter of 2019. Temporary increase of working capital ratio Net working capital was NOK 1 013 million, an increase of 9 per cent compared to the same quarter last year. The ratio of net working capital compared to revenue also increased. While reducing inventory levels remains a key ambition for Kitron, in the extraordinary corona pandemic situation, holding more inventory has been important in order to safeguard the companys ability to serve customers. Longer term, capital ratios are expected to improve going forward. Outlook While Kitron recognizes increased uncertainty and expect volatility, the companys overall outlook for 2020 remains unchanged. For 2020, Kitron expects revenue to grow to between NOK 3 300 and 3 700 million. EBIT margin is expected to be between 6.4 and 7.0 per cent. Growth is driven by the Defence/Aerospace and Medical devices sectors. Profitability is mainly driven by growth and operational improvements in Norway, China and U.S Enclosed in PDF are the quarterly report and the presentation. The interim report is presented today at 8:30 a.m. CEST. The presentation will be given in English by CEO Peter Nilsson and CFO Cathrin Nylander, and will be webcast at the following link: https://sdk.companywebcast.com/sdk/player/?id=hegnarmedia_20200423_3&customBtnColor=da7038,674429 For further information, please contact: Peter Nilsson, President and CEO, tel. +47 94 84 08 50 Cathrin Nylander, CFO, tel: +47 900 43 284 E-mail: investorrelations@kitron.com Kitron is a leading Scandinavian electronics manufacturing services company for the Defence/Aerospace, Energy/Telecoms, Industry, Medical devices and Offshore/Marine sectors. The company is located in Norway, Sweden, Lithuania, Germany, Poland, China and the United States. Kitron had revenues of about NOK 3.3 billion in 2019 and has about 1 700 employees. www.kitron.com This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. Attachments Bangladesh has decided to extend the nationwide COVID-19 shutdown for 10 more days until May 5 amid warnings of heightening risks of coronavirus infections in the country, including among doctors and healthcare workers. To curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, the government initially declared a general holiday on March 26 for 10 days. Later, that was gradually extended till April 25 as the country kept seeing a rise in the number of cases and deaths from COVID-19. The government will extend the nationwide shutdown until May 5, a Cabinet division spokesman told PTI as health-care officials said that the pandemic has spread to the country's 58 of 64 administrative districts, indicating worsening situation of community level infections. The spokesman said an official announcement on extended shutdown was expected soon. His comments came as the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) reported that the virus claimed seven more lives in the last one day with all the deceased from Dhaka. The country also recorded 414 fresh cases, increasing the number of confirmed cases to 4,186. DGHS additional director general Nasima Sultana said the cases were confirmed after examining 3,416 samples in the past 24 hours. The statistics shows that over 45.51 per cent of infections occurred in Dhaka though several other hotspots were identified as well on the outskirts of the capital and elsewhere, she said. Health officials, meanwhile, said doctors and healthcare workers appeared to be the worst victims of the coronavirus pandemic which has so far infected 334 medics, including 186 doctors. Policemen are the second major professional group to be infected with the virus. Officials said until Wednesday, 217 policemen tested COVID-19 positive and 117 of them were on duty under Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP). Heath Education Director Nazmul Islam Munna said the extended shutdown appeared crucial as due to the limited healthcare facilities and equipment including ventilators in hospitals, Bangladesh could be exposed to a severe situation if the pandemic continue to spread in a geometric pattern. The situation we can see could be the tip of an iceberg......the shutdown should now be enforced strictly to ensure physical distancing, he said. Munna said the people should voluntarily come forward for testing whenever someone feels the virus might have infected (and) both motivation and compulsion can be used as tools to expose them to testing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Taoiseach says there may be "stricter social distancing measures" in the future if the Coronavirus reappears. "The easing of public health measures will require continuous effort by all of us to suppress some control of this virus," he said. "We will not necessarily mirror the manner in which they were escalated. "We must leave a period of time between taking each step. So we can monitor their impact on society. "Certain stricter social distancing measures may have to be reintroduced, if it looks like the virus is increasing again. "We've seen this happen unfortunately in Japan in recent days. "Today, our new enemy is complacency. "The risk is that if we become lax in the next few days or weeks, we could lose control over the spread of the virus." Restrictions on movement are due to run out on May 5, amid growing public pressure to ease the guidelines in certain areas in order to protect the Irish economy. Speaking on the Dail on Thursday, Leo Varadkar was also quizzed by a number of TDs on testing capacity, which Ireland has still not met from it's early targets, said criteria could change again in a few days, after a decision is made by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET). Ireland adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) case definition for Covid-19 on March 25, which means only patients presenting with fever and at least one sign of respiratory illness such as a cough will be tested. The change was criticised at the time, as many believe ramping up testing will be key in Ireland's fight against COVID19. "This is a rapidly changing system," Mr Varadkar said. "Facts change by the day, things we thought were true a few days ago, are not true today. "In terms of questions on testing, I am told by the HSE that we can ramp up to 10,000 per day in testing centres, with a referral appointment time of 24 hours." Hospitals are currently doing 1,500 tests per day, the ambulance service are doing 1,500 tests a day. "The criteria for testing has changed, and will change, but I need to be frank, when you widen criteria, there will be excess demand," Mr Varadkar added. "We may find ourselves overwhelmed and backlogged all over again, it's just you can only guess how these changes will affect demand. "Up until 3 weeks ago, we were told it wasn't useful to test asymptomatic patients, the science was that that kind of testing wasn't valuable, that's now changed. "It now appears that you can pick up COVID19 in asymptomatic patients" TDs had the chance to put questions to Leo Varadkar in the Dail from 12 noon, only one TD, Clare's Independent representative Michael McNamara, left time for Mr Varadkar to reply to their queries, at 13:50pm, ten minutes before the Taoiseach had to leave for the European Council teleconference. The Taoiseach said the Dail Business Committee should think about how better to do such question sessions, as he had six pages of questions written down that he had no time to answer. Makuei Has No Power To Suspend SSBC Managing Director "The law is clear that SSBC is a public institution accountable to the public through the National Legislative Assembly pursuant to the provisions of the Broadcasting Corporation Act, 2013,..." By Roger Alfred Yoron Modi* First, it is should be noted that South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation SSBC is not a department within the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services which Michael Makuei Lueth is heading. The law is clear that SSBC is a public institution accountable to the public through the National Legislative Assembly pursuant to the provisions of the Broadcasting Corporation Act, 2013, despite some of the imperfections of the same Act that require reform and the continues interferences by the government. Further, the Broadcasting Corporation Act, inter alia, provides for the transformation of the State-owned Media into public broadcasters, independent from political or economic control by the government. Matters of SSBC should be handled in line with the Broadcasting Corporation Act and as the law requires, not a ministerial order that is inconsistent with the Broadcasting Corporation Act, like the one issued by Information Minister Makuei last week. The Minister of Information, Communication Technology and Postal Services has no power to suspend SSBC Managing Director. In fact, no law provides for suspension of SSBC Managing Director. The Broadcasting Corporation Act provides only for removal of SSBC Managing Director, and still in that, it is the Board of Directors of SSBC that, by a resolution of two-thirds of all its Members, has the power to remove SSBC Managing Director from office, subject to provisions of the Broadcasting Corporation Act. Though Makuei is right that the term of office of the current Board of Directors of SSBC expired, it does not mean that as minister of information, he now has the power to suspend SSBC Managing Director. Makuei also has no power to appoint acting Managing Director for SSBC like he has claimed to have done in his last weeks ministerial order. Sections 17 (2), 7 (7), and 7 (8) of the Broadcasting Corporation Act which he cited in his order neither gave him the power to suspend SSBC Managing Director nor the power to appoint an acting Managing Director. Also, the Presidential Decree no No.33/2020 which he cited in the same order is not any special but simply the decree the President issued for the appointment of the RTGoNU ministers including Makuei himself. No special power comes from that. What ought to be done? As of now, it is not upon Makuei or one party but the Executive of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity that has powers, per Article 1.19.1.14 of the Revitalised Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in the Republic of South Sudan (R-ARCSS), to supervise and facilitate the reform and reconstitution of SSBC, paying particular attention to the mandate and appointments, to ensure their [the Corporations] independence and accountability. The R-ARCSS provides for this to be carried out during the current transitional period, hence the parties to the Agreement should live up to those terms. It is worth pointing out that, on its Supremacy, the R-ARCSS stipulates that its terms shall take precedence over any national legislation (including the Broadcasting Corporation Act) and that in the event that the provisions of a national legislation conflict with the terms of the R-ARCSS, the provisions of the R-ARCSS shall prevail. That, however, does not mean invalidating the Broadcasting Corporation Act; the provisions of the R-ARCSS on SSBC matters are limited and should be implemented as such. Many more should be done by reforming the Broadcasting Corporation Act, 2013. On how to do that, improve the SSBC, ensure the right of access to information and press freedom in South Sudan, read the recent book: Freedom of Expression and Media Laws in South Sudan, published by the author of this article. Once again, Makuei has no power to suspend SSBC Managing Director. He also has no power to appoint an acting Managing Director for SSBC. *Roger Alfred Yoron Modi is a South Sudanese journalist and the author of a new book Freedom of Expression and Media Laws in South Sudan, published by Virtue Book Publishers Kenya and available in a number of bookshops in Juba, the region and on Amazon. He's a former Editor-in-Chief of Radio Bakhita and former Managing Editor of Juba Monitor Newspaper. He can be reached via his email rogeryoron@gmail.com or twitter handle @RogerYoronModi Media Alert - America Is Desperate For A Comeback. Hear from the #1 Comeback Authority In The World! Every person in America is looking for answers to how to turn this setback into a comeback! Dr. Willie Jolley is the #1 Authority to help people answer that question! Dr. Jolley is the author of the international best selling book and PBS Special, A Setback Is A Setup For A Comeback! He is the expert Ford Motors called when they were on the brink of bankruptcy in 2006! He worked with Ford in 2006, 2007, 2008 and in 2009, Ford was able to reject a government bailout and go on to billion-dollar profits. The 7 principles that Dr. Jolley shared with Ford Motors will help many audiences successfully navigate this coronavirus crisis as well! He is current available for all media interviews via phone, Skype or Zoom. His new music video, "We'll Get Through This," was released to help people through this tough time. Many television and radio stations around the world have started sharing it with their viewers and listeners. Dr. Jolley is encouraging everyone to share it. Dr. Willie Jolley believes that together, we will get through this! Dr. Jolley is the author of several international best-selling books including It Only Takes A Minute To Change Your Life, A Setback Is A Setup For A Comeback, Turn Setbacks Into Greenbacks, Make Love, Make Money, Make It Last! and An Attitude of Excellence, endorsed by Dr. Stephen Covey. He holds a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Faith-Driven Achievement from the California Graduate School of Theology, a master's degree in Theology from Wesley Theological Seminary and a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from The American University. Dr. Jolley resides with his wife, Dee, in Washington, DC. Media Contact: Cheryl Ragin, VP, Marketing and New Media, Willie Jolley Production, Inc. Phone: 347-743-1600 Email: cheryl@williejolley.com Related links: www.winwithwillie.com. ### Lebanon government has reacted as one of its citizen identified as Jerro, on Tuesday, announced the sale of a Nigerian woman on ... Lebanon government has reacted as one of its citizen identified as Jerro, on Tuesday, announced the sale of a Nigerian woman on Facebook. Jerro, who resides in Beirut Lebanon, sent in an image alongside the data page of the 30-year-old Nigerian, Peace Busari Ufuoma to a Facebook group called Buy and Sell Lebanon. He also placed a $1,000 bill on the domestic worker, saying the Nigerian was very active and very clean. Reacting, Lebanon government described the act as illegal and inhuman. It, however, promised to persecute the culprit. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) gave the update on Wednesday evening. She tweeted, Update on Lebanese who put up a Nigerian girl for sale on FB. The Lebanese Govt today issued a statement describing the act as illegal, inhuman, with a promise to prosecute him for trafficking. Our mission has demanded that the girl be returned in good health to the mission. LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill., April 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CDW Corporation (CDW), a leading multi-brand technology solutions provider to business, government, education and healthcare customers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, today announced that it will host a webcast conference call to discuss its first quarter 2020 results on Wednesday, May 6, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. ET/7:30 a.m. CT. A live webcast (audio with slides) of the conference call will be accessible at investor.CDW.com . The press release and presentation slides will be posted on this website prior to the call. Please visit the website at least fifteen minutes prior to the call to register and to download and install any necessary software. A taped replay of the webcast will be available on the website shortly after the call. For questions, please email investorrelations@cdw.com . About CDW CDW Corporation (CDW) is a leading multi-brand technology solutions provider to business, government, education and healthcare customers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. A Fortune 500 company and member of the S&P 500 Index, CDW was founded in 1984 and employs almost 10,000 coworkers. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the company generated Net sales over $18 billion. For more information about CDW, please visit www.CDW.com . Investor Inquiries Brittany A. Smith Vice President, Investor Relations and Financial Planning and Analysis 847-968-0238 investorrelations@cdw.com Media Inquiries Sara Granack Vice President, Corporate Communications 847-419-7411 mediarelations@cdw.com CDWPR-FI 1. Bollywood Double Role Films - Fan (2016) 2. Bollywood Double Role Films - Tanu Weds Manu 2 (2015) 3. Bollywood Double Role Films - Dhoom 3 (2013) 4. Bollywood Double Role Films - Kaminey (2009) 5. Bollywood Double Role Films - Judwaa (1997) 6. Bollywood Double Role Films - Chaalbaaz (1989) 7. Bollywood Double Role Films - Aakhri Raasta (1986) 8. Bollywood Double Role Films - Angoor (1982) 9. Bollywood Double Role Films - Seeta Aur Geeta (1972) 10. Bollywood Double Role Films - Sharmilee (1971) Raakhee played a double role that of a coy homely girl and her evil twin who had ambitions of being a second Mata Hari. Shashi plays a debonair and dashing army officer who uncovers a dastardly scheme against the Indian armed forces. Raakhee had always done a good-girl-next-door kind of roles and hence it was a shock for the audience to see her as a scheming vixen. The musical crime thriller is still known for its songs like Khilte hai gul yahan, O meri Sharmilee, Aaj madhosh hua jaye re and the classical Megha chhaye aadhi raat. 11. Bollywood Double Role Films - Yakeen (1969) that of a coy homely girl and her evil twin who had ambitions of being a second Mata Hari. Shashi plays a debonair and dashing army officer who uncovers a dastardly scheme against the Indian armed forces. Raakhee had always done a good-girl-next-door kind of roles and hence it was a shock for the audience to see her as a scheming vixen. The musical crime thriller is still known for its songs like Khilte hai gul yahan, O meri Sharmilee, Aaj madhosh hua jaye re and the classical Megha chhaye aadhi raat. 12. Bollywood Double Role Films - Do Kaliyan (1968) 13. Bollywood Double Role Films - Ram Aur Shyam (1967) 14. Bollywood Double Role Films - Hum Dono (1961) 15. Bollywood Double Role Films - Anhonee (1952) Back in the 70s and the 80s, Bollywood filmmakers were making so many films havingthat it could easily be counted as a legitimate genre in itself. The films followed a set lost and found formula and very often the protagonists were shown to be long-lost siblings. The popularity of such films never ebbed despite the familiarity of the plots. We take a walk down memory lane to come up with a. Most of us would be feeling terribly bored thanks to the quarantine and what could be better than to binge-watch a set of films offering you a double dose of your favourite stars to stave off the boredom perpetuated by this lockdown.Shah Rukh Khan starred as a crazy lookalike fan who was obsessed with the star, again played by Shah Rukh Khan in this taut thriller. Gaurav (SRK) bears an uncanny resemblance to Aryan Khanna (SRK), which helps him win a local talent show impersonating his favourite star. He embarks on a train journey to Mumbai to meet Aryan. When another actor says unpleasant things about Aryan to the press, Gaurav beats him up and makes him apologise. Aryan gets him arrested and humiliates him, telling him that he isnt a true fan. Enraged, Gaurav swears revenge. He begins impersonating Aryan both in India and abroad and ruins his reputation. Aryan lays a trap for him with the help of Gauravs parents and manages to catch him. He wants Gaurav to lead a normal life but Gaurav chooses to kill himself instead.The film was a direct sequel to the 2011 hit. Four years into their marriage, Tanu (Kangana Ranaut) and Manu (Madhavan) are facing a rough patch in their relationship. They are constantly bickering and even couple counselling doesnt seem to work. It seems that divorce is the only solution. Manu meets Datto (Kangana again) a Haryanvi athlete at this juncture and falls for her at first sight. She too gets smitten by him and is willing to get married to him despite knowing hes already married. Tanu lands in between them at this juncture to save her marriage and what follows is an emotional roller coaster ride filled with laughter.Aamir Khan played the antagonist in the film. It was a take-off on the Hollywood film The Prestige which used the similar conceit of twins fooling the audience in a magic act because of their similarities. While Abhishek Bacchan and Sanjay Gadhvi reprised their roles, the film was centred more on Aamir Khan, who was shown executing improbable heists in the full face of the police with the help of his identical twin brother. Katrina Kaifs character was introduced as a gymnast and played Aamirs love interest. The film was shot extensively in the USA and the climax was shot at the famous Contra Dam in Switzerland.Guddu (Shahid Kapur) and Sweety (Priyanka Chopra), are lovers and help run an NGO which raises awareness about AIDS. Sweety gets pregnant and wants to marry him ASAP. Her brother Bhope (Amole Gupte) doesnt like outsiders and gets Guddu beaten up. Meanwhile, Guddu's twin brother, Charlie (Shahid Kapur), is a street-smart small-time thug who gets caught in a drug deal gone wrong. What follows is a long, convoluted plot involving mistaken identities, where the two brothers must unite not only to fight the mafia but the corrupt police too. Directed bylooked inspired by Guy Ritchie films, peppered as it was with lots of black humour and stylised action.This film marked the first collaboration between Salman Khan and David Dhawan. It was an uncredited remake of the Jackie Chan comedy, Twin Dragons (1992). The film revolved around separated-at-birth twins who suffer from reflection syndrome, wherein what one experiences would be felt by the other, depending on their proximity. While one grows up to be a rockstar, the other is a tapori. They somehow end up locking horns with Mukesh Rishis character, whose father was responsible for their separation. Salman Khan was a hoot as the tapori, and his chemistry with both Karisma and Rambha worked in the films favour. The girls didnt have much of a role in the film, which can be easily called a Salman-fest.Its believed in movie lore that if you havent done a double role you havent been a star. Sri was on top and the only feather she was missing from her cap was a dual role. This was the equivalent of Hema Malinis Seeta Aur Geeta or Anil Kapoors Kishan Kanhaiya. She played twins the tamed and submissive Anju and the boisterous and go-getting Manju. Manju helps Anju turn the tables on Anupam Kher and Rohini Hattangdis scheming characters. It was a credit to her versatility that she played both the roles with aplomb and made us forget the presence of Sunny Deol and Rajinikanth in the film.The film has. That of a vigilante hell-bent on revenge and that of his son, a police officer who has sworn to stop him. The highlight of the film was the unique ways with which the father killed his intended marks. No method was ever repeated, so the viewers looked forward to the next death with much glee. The son was always only a step or two behind the father, leading to a cat and mouse chase of sorts. The film ended in a chase down the gutters, one of the first such films to show that in India. Amitabh Bachchan essayed both the roles with his usual intensity. He made us root for the old man and admire his genius of building fool-proof death traps.Gulzar was the writer for the Debu Sen directed and Bimal Roy produced Do Dooni Chaar (1968), starringand was itching to make his own version as he wasn't satisfied with the original's treatment of the Shakespearean play A Comedy Of Errors. He cast Sanjeev Kumar and Deven Varma both in twin roles and their chemistry as master and servant elevated the film to a higher pedestal. Both managed to provide different personalities to their twin roles and their antics made us roll down the aisles with laughter. Moushumi Chatterjee, Aruna Irani and Deepti Naval too provided able support.The film was Ramesh Sippys take on the Dilip Kumar starrer Ram Aur Shyam (1967). The story revolves around identical twins Seeta and Geeta (played by Hema Malini) who are separated at birth. While Seeta is a rich heiress controlled by her cruel relatives, Geeta is a badass street performer who is as adept at beating up the baddies as her friend Raka (Dharmendra). They swap places due to circumstances and Geeta ends up teaching her relatives a lesson, and also hooks up with Dr Ravi (Sanjeev Kumar) in the process. It should be noted that both Dharmendra and Sanjeev Kumar played supportive roles in the film. It was Hema who was truly the hero of the film. The super-duper success of the film made her rankings soar and she was said to be counted as a female superstar afterwards.Yakeen was built around the James Bond template and had the devastatingly handsome-- that of a top scientist and the other of a rogue agent who impersonates him to know his secrets. It was perhaps the only film in Bollywood history to have utilised two different voices for the identical-looking characters. Dharmendra as the blue-eyed and blond hair Garson was even more handsome than his regular self -- its a pity he was an enemy agent. Like most Brij Sadanah films, this one too had a complicated plot but nevertheless stayed true to its spy film origins. Sharmila Tagore appeared in quite a glamorous avatar in the film, a far cry from her role in Aradhana, which too appeared the same year.Based on the Hollywood hit The Parent Trap (1961), the film starred Neetu Singh, billed as Baby Sonia as separated-at-birth twins Ganga and Jamuna who meet by chance and switch places to find out how different each others life is and to teach a lesson to their haughty maternal grandmother (Nigar Sultana), who was instrumental in getting their parents, played by Biswajeet and Mala Sinha separated. She had to portray two different personalities but Neetu Singh showed natural ease in front of the camera and aced both the parts with ease. No wonder she came to be counted as one of our dependable actresses later.This was perhaps Dilip Kumars last big hit as a solo star and what can be more fitting than the fact that he. Its to his credit that he was able to infuse two different personalities to the roles. Basically it was the story of twins separated at birth. Shyam grows up to be a street smart man-about-town while Ram is a bumpkin much abused by his brother-in-law. Things get right when the duo by chance exchange places.One of the reasons the film became such a big hit was that you could see two Dev Anands for the price of one in it. The suave actor played two distinct personalities to perfection. The high on life Major Verma, who grows morose because of his handicap is a different beast than the carefree Captain Mahesh Anand, whose motto in life was to puff away lifes worries in smoke (Har fikr ko dhuen mein udata chala gaya). Mahesh goes to console the missing in action Vermas family and is mistaken for him. He stays on to bring Vermas ailing wife back on her feet, the confusion leading to an emotional quandary in everyones life.A young lawyer (Raj Kapoor) meets the daughter of his landlord, Roop (Nargis), and the duo develops a liking for each other which soon blossoms into love. He meets with a courtesan Mohinibai (Nargis) who looks exactly like his beloved. The two are supposed to be half-sisters. The rich Roop takes pity of Mohini and calls her home and is even willing to give her half the money but Mohini, who has been brought up with a different set of values, doesnt take kindly to this generosity and proceeds to make life hell for all and sundry. It was Nargis film all the way. She managed to convey two distinct personalities with conviction and was a delight as the anti-heroine Mohini. By Boo Hyeong-wook For years, we have discussed new security challenges coming from different directions climate change, pandemic diseases, and large scale natural disasters, to name a few. Experts have continually argued that it should be armed forces that address such newly emerging challenges. To many, this proposition seemed unfeasible, since the military is most often seen as a tool for winning wars. It is more about sweeping destruction than anything else. However, today's armed forces have taken up an additional role as helping hands in times of crisis. Sometimes, the military is tasked with providing security, delivering water and food, and even fostering democracy. The Korean military faced a significant shift in mode as they assisted in providing emergency services during the new coronavirus pandemic. More than 5,000 soldiers have been dispatched to Incheon International Airport where they have provided administrative and logistical services for immigration processes. A C-130 aircraft flew to Myanmar to deliver protective gear and equipment to medical teams. In Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, the hardest-hit regions, the military provided equipment, distributed emergency food rations to the people, and disinfected contaminated areas. Many soldiers also volunteered to participate in a blood donation campaign. Such examples paint a picture of the Korean military doing well in its response to COVID-19. At the same time, however, military planners at the doctrinal or strategic level do not seem to have a clear blueprint. They do not have solid concepts and strategies for the military's role in responding to emerging security challenges. All they seem to offer are empty slogans. If one looks up the defense white papers published by the Ministry of National Defense, one can easily find catchphrases that echo the military's proactive roles in addressing emerging challenges. But in reality, no concrete agenda for action has been made. This predicament is somewhat understandable since the Korean military has mostly been dedicating its capacity to addressing North Korean threats. In fact, they have been great at responding to the North's long-range artillery threats, threats of the Special Operations Forces, and most significantly, its nuclear threats. But the military shows little ability to address emerging security challenges. Even though the ministry announced a defense policy addressing emerging threats, candid conversations within the security community are still largely focused on North Korea. COVID-19 is providing an excellent opportunity for security experts and military planners to pay more attention to other areas. We need to think about how to address emerging security issues while simultaneously providing robust deterrence against North Korea's military threats. South Korea's performance in responding to the pandemic was praised by the global community. Indeed, the Korean military's contributions should be recognized significantly. However, it is certain that there is more that can be done. For starters, there should be a very rigorous conceptual study. For a decade, I have proposed the "adaptive military" as the leading concept for the military of the future and have argued that the core characteristics of an adaptive Korean military should be its adaptive capacity, versatility, and agility. Since the Korean military is situated in a turbulent environment, it is all the more crucial that it develops such qualities. In "Army Vision 2050," a recent publication which I contributed to, I have elaborated on some of my ideas to make such a change feasible. While I am thankful to the vision development team of the Korean Army for having an open ear towards the changes I have proposed, I personally think that the army vision remains still largely tilted toward combat missions. Roughly put, at least a quarter of the military's energy should be poured into addressing emerging security challenges. Such roles do not necessarily have to do with combat or destruction. According to my assessment, the current Korean military has not even used one tenth of its energy to deal with the new and emerging security challenges. Preparing for conventional warfare, of course, should be regarded as the foremost important mission of the Korean military. This does not mean, however, that the military's efforts should be limited to such a role. The military contributed to the successful management of the pandemic crisis by dispatching several thousand soldiers to Incheon, fostering blood donation drives, and mobilizing forces for disinfection. Such actions are the kinds of roles and missions that should be regarded with as much seriousness as preparations for warfare. The absence of such actions calls for a rigorous concept development study. The military has always been the last resort when responding to large-scale disasters for many countries. Regardless, during Hurricane Katrina, the U.S. Coast Guard did an excellent job in addressing the people's needs in disaster-stricken communities. U.S. forces in Japan provided critical assets and efforts in cooling down the Fukushima nuclear plant in 2011. The Korean military, likewise, has always provided excellent services in disaster-stricken regions as well. Now it is time to incorporate such roles into the regular roles and missions statement of the armed forces. The military must establish a roles and missions review committee for these additional tasks, review past roles and missions, diagnose current issues, and set concrete, novel roles and missions. Boo Hyeong-wook, Ph.D. is a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses. He was deputy presidential secretary for peace and arms control. Health officials are implementing a zone system during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure personal protective equipment is where its needed the most. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/4/2020 (630 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us Health officials are implementing a zone system during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure personal protective equipment is where its needed the most. "Our experts have identified the level of PPE required for each of these zones based on level of risk to the staff and the level of risk to the population they are caring for," Shared Health chief nursing officer Lanette Siragusa said during Tuesdays daily health briefing. The zones include: green zones, where individuals are not considered COVID-19 suspects; orange zones, involving care or service for those who meet the criteria for COVID-19 testing, have been tested and whose results are pending; and red zones, where individuals have been tested and confirmed to have COVID-19. For example, in red zones, staff would be required to wear full protective gear, including masks, visors, gowns and gloves, Siragusa said. A green zone is the lowest-risk area and would require only normal levels of precautions, such as wearing gloves when dealing with blood and bodily fluids. Exceptions to these zones are areas where screening may not be possible, such as emergency response services and emergency departments "where sometimes a patients medical history may not be known or available, or where a quick response may be required," Siragusa said. When asked if the new zones will affect the current requirements for wearing protective equipment in areas such as long-term care and palliative care, Siragusa said that would be the case. Now that the COVID-19 curve is beginning to flatten and testing numbers are rising, "what we want to be able to do is make sure that we have full PPE available for those high-risk situations, in those high-risk environments, where we either know COVID is there or we think ... theres a small possibility if someone has symptoms or a history of contact or travel, we want to make sure those precautions are available and in place for the staff and for the patients," she said. But in areas where the risk is low, "if theres no COVID, we can start to go back to more ... what we always do in health care for patients and for protecting people." Whatever PPE is normally needed in an area will still be available, Siragusa said, adding the new guidelines will be sent out as soon as possible. She did not give a specific time frame. The Canadian Union of Public Employees, however, is not satisfied with that solution to address the supplies of protective equipment for front-line workers. "CUPE doesnt believe that downgrading PPE for any zone, at this time, is a good idea," said Shannon McAteer, the unions health-care co-ordinator in Manitoba. "One health-care worker without PPE is too much if were trying to flatten the curve and make sure that we get ahead of this crisis," she said. McAteer pointed out that even in areas where the risk is deemed low, it is still possible for someone who has the virus but not displaying symptoms to come in and infect others. "The problem is, you can get COVID right now, anywhere. Thats why were all quarantining or self-isolating, because theres a risk of exposure everywhere," she said. "I would have some concerns as will, I believe, the front-line health-care workers have concerns about downgrading the PPE at this time." To conserve PPE for health-care workers, public health officials are recommending all people who enter a health-care facility wear a cloth mask to protect others. As well, patients and clients are encouraged to wear non-medical face masks during any health-care interaction, as well as when using public transit, handi-transit or a taxi. "These are not easy decisions to make or to implement," Siragusa said. "They are vital, though, to ensuring protection of patients and staff in long-term care and in hospitals." Health officials identified one new case of COVID-19 as of Tuesday morning, bringing the total number of cases to date to 255. Seven people are currently hospitalized, four of them in intensive care. To date, the average length of stay for people admitted into the ICU has been 10.2 days, according to a provincial spokesperson. In total, 27 people have been hospitalized for COVID-19 in Manitoba. Of those, 14 have been discharged 11 from hospital and three from intensive care. Of the remaining 13 individuals, six have died. Prairie Mountain Health has identified 13 cases of COVID-19 to date. brobertson@brandonsun.com Indian troops kill 4 rebels in Kashmir: Indian security forces killed four rebels in a gun battle in disputed Kashmir during a stringent lockdown to combat the novel coronavirus, the Indian army said. The fighting broke out in southern Shopian district as counterinsurgency police and soldiers raided a house on a tip that militants were hiding there, an army spokesman said. The violence comes amid near-daily fighting between Pakistani and Indian troops along the highly militarized frontier that divides Kashmir between the two rivals. Banks are under pressure to ramp up their coronavirus rescue lending as the latest figures revealed just 2.8billion had been doled out to small businesses. Hundreds of thousands of smaller firms, decimated by the pandemic, are thought to be desperate for a loan to see them through the lockdown. And while 38,186 companies have already applied for a Government-backed loan through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans Scheme (CBILS), so far just 16,624 have been approved by High Street banks. While 38,186 companies have applied for a Government-backed loan through the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans Scheme, just 16,624 have been approved by High Street banks This means at least 21,562 firms have either been denied a lifeline or are still in limbo, waiting for their lender to make a decision. Although the Government will bear 80 per cent of any losses suffered under CBILS, banks are on the hook for the other 20 per cent, meaning many are being cautious with their lending. Business secretary Alok Sharma said: 'It is now 300million per day going out through the CBIL scheme, and I hope that is a figure which will ramp up. We are ensuring the process is simplified further.' Banks have upped the pace of their lending, as the 2.8billion is more than double the 1.1billion which had been lent a week ago. But as they finally caved in to demands from MPs to publish their individual lending data, Lloyds revealed it had only dished out 335million through 2,382 loans. This makes it the smallest CBILS lender of the major High Street banks. At the other end of the scale, Natwest owner RBS has handed out almost half the total through 6,518 loans worth 1.2billion. 'Lenders are standing in the way of bailout' Pub landlord Garry Tallent has accused banks of 'standing in the way' of the Government bailout after he was initially refused a 25,000 CBIL. The 57-year-old has owned the 200-year-old Red Lion in Chobham, Surrey, since June last year, when he ploughed 150,000 of his own money into the business. Pub landlord Garry Tallent (pictured with his partner Sandy Masson) has owned the 200-year-old Red Lion in Chobham, Surrey, since June last year The pub has enjoyed a 60,000-a-month turnover but Tallent's bank, Santander, refused his application as he has been trading for less than three years. He fears if his company is forced to fold, his 12 staff who he describes as being 'like family' will be left jobless. 'The Government said it wants to help people but the banks are standing in the way,' he said. 'They want to make money.' Santander said last night they are still processing Tallent's request. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said the lacklustre figures 'highlight the need to accelerate the delivery of existing support'. Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, CBI director-general, said: 'The current loan scheme is up, running and working for many. Now we need another big push to get money out the door faster. This is a race against time, and the only winning strategy is scale, speed and simplicity. Nothing should be left on the table.' The CBI, along with groups including the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and the Institute of Directors (IoD), renewed its call for the Government to up its guarantee on smaller loans to 100 per cent. Campaigners argue that this would allow banks to lend faster without worrying about the consequences, while there would be less of a burden on small companies to come up with detailed financial information and forecasts. FSB national chairman Mike Cherry said: 'The average value of a CBILS loan stands at more than 170,000. 'The small shops, restaurants, gyms, manufacturers and mechanics at the heart of our communities are not seeking loans of anywhere near this size. 'The Government should up its guarantee on emergency loans with values under 30,000 from 80 per cent to 100 per cent.' Earlier this week, Chancellor Rishi Sunak ruled out increasing the Government guarantee on CBILS loans. This is despite the success of a 100 per cent guarantee in European countries such as Germany and Switzerland. Sunak said: 'I think when you look at the totality of what we're doing it's more significant in scope and scale than most of those other countries.' But the 2.8billion which has been lent is still only a fraction of the 330billion which Sunak envisioned being made available under CBILS and the Bank of England's separate Covid-19 Corporate Funding Facility for larger businesses, which has so far doled out around 11billion. Actor Ananya Panday on Wednesday shared a throwback picture from her holiday in Alaska, USA to celebrate Earth Day. The picture also features her best friend Shanaya Kapoor, daughter of actor Sanjay Kapoor. Taking to Instagram stories, the Student of the Year 2 actor, wrote: Juneau Alaska Earth Day Every Day and tagged Shanaya Kapoor. In the picture, both the girls have their back to the camera and can be seen out on a trek in the jungle. It is a slope and could be a mountainous path. Shanaya Kapoor, Ananya Panday and Shah Rukh Khans daughter Suhana Khan are close friends. Ananya, who started her career in 2019 with Student of the Year 2, has picked up quite a fan following on Instagram. Towards the end of March, she announced that her Instagram page had crossed 10-million mark. She had given a shout-out to her fans and said, Biggest virtual hug and love for all 10 million of you. Thank you for always supporting me, loving me and laughing at my silly jokes. The actor has also been doing her bit in asking fans to stay home through the pandemic. Asking them to stay safe, actor had said, I hope you guys are at home and safe. After an impressive debut in Karan Johars production, Ananya had followed it up with another hit, Pati Patni Aur Woh, where she was paired with Kartik Aaryan and Bhumi Pednekar. The actor, however, is always in news because of her comments on various chat shows. Appearing on newcomers roundtable hosted by film critic Rajeev Masand, earlier this and speaking on nepotism, Ananya had said that everyones idea of struggle was different; as an example, she had said how her dad actor Chunky Pandey had never appeared on Karan Johars chat show Koffee With Karan. Also read: Arjun Rampal stuck in Karjat during lockdown with girlfriend Garbriella, son Arik: This will be a story to tell him She had said, I have always wanted to be an actor. Just because my dad has been an actor, I will never say no to an opportunity to act. My dad has never been in a Dharma film, he never went on Koffee With Karan. So its not as easy as people say. Everyone has their own journey and their own struggle. Gully Boy actor Siddhant Chaturvedi, who was also part of the show, agreed to her claim that everyones definition of struggle as different but had added, the difference is jahaan humare sapne poore hote hain, wahi inka struggle shuru hota hai (their struggles begin where our dreams are fulfilled). Ananya was, thereafter, massively trolled and asked to acknowledge her privilege. On the work front, the actor will be next seen in Khaali Peeli opposite Ishaan Khatter, and Puri Jagannadhs untitled film, featuring Telugu star Vijay Deverakonda. (With PTI inputs) Follow @htshowbiz for more TORONTO, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Americas Gold and Silver Corporation (TSX: USA) (NYSE American: USAS) ("Americas" or the "Company"), a growing North American precious metals producer, today announced that due to public health and safety concerns related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation, the location of the Annual General Meeting (the "Meeting") of Shareholders of the Company has been changed to the Company's head office at Suite 2870, 145 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5H 1J8 (the "Meeting Location"). As previously announced, the meeting will be held on Thursday, May 14, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. EDT. If, for reasons beyond the control of the Company, the Company shall determine that it has become impractical or impermissible to hold the Meeting at the Meeting Location, including in an effort to safeguard the health of all stakeholders and the broader community associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company has made arrangements with Alliance Advisors such that the Meeting shall be adjourned to a virtual-only Meeting to be held on Thursday the 14th day of May, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. EDT for the purposes of conducting the Meeting Business at http://viewproxy.com/AmericasGoldandSilverCorp/2020/VM/ where shareholders may attend and participate via live webcast. Notice of any such adjournment and details and information relating to such a change to a virtual-only Meeting, including instructions for attending and participating in a virtual-only Meeting, will be provided as far in advance of the Meeting as practicable by press release, filings on SEDAR and EDGAR, and on the Company's website at www.americas gold.com/investors/shareholder meeting documents/ ; however, given the context of ever-evolving facts and circumstances, the timing of such prior notice of such change to a virtual-only Meeting cannot be guaranteed at this time. In the event that the Company determines to hold the Meeting as a virtual-only Meeting, shareholders will be permitted to communicate with each other during the Meeting, regardless of their geographic location; however, shareholders will not be able to attend the Meeting in person. Given the context of the COVID-19 situation, the Company's Board of Directors, auditors and other advisors do not plan on attending, and in some cases are not permitted to cross international borders for the purpose of attending, at the Meeting, and due to further government orders concerning the maximum size of public gatherings or otherwise, the Company may be unable to admit shareholders to the Meeting. The Ontario government issued an emergency order dated March 28, 2020 (the "Order") which prohibits gatherings of more than five people. If this Order, or another law or order is in place on the date of the Meeting, the Company intends to proceed with the Meeting so long as quorum is satisfied, and attendance will be limited to the maximum number of people permitted by law. The Company strongly encourages each Shareholder to submit a form of proxy or voting instruction form in advance of the Meeting and not plan on attending the Meeting in person, in order to comply with government and public health directives regarding social distancing. Shareholders are encouraged to vote in advance of the Meeting by completing, signing, dating and returning the previously provided form of proxy by mail or by following the instructions for voting by telephone or internet in the form of proxy. Only shareholders of record at the close of business on April 3, 2020 will be entitled to vote on the Meeting Business. About Americas Gold and Silver Corporation Americas Gold and Silver Corporation is a highgrowth precious metals mining company with multiple assets in North America. The Company's newest asset, Relief Canyon in Nevada, USA, has poured first gold and is expected to ramp up to full production over the course of 2020. The Company also owns and operates the Cosala Operations in Sinaloa, Mexico and manages the 60%owned Galena Complex in Idaho, USA. The Company also holds an option on the San Felipe development project in Sonora, Mexico. For further information, please see SEDAR or www.americasgold.com . For more information: Stefan Axell Darren Blasutti VP, Corporate Development & Communications President and CEO Americas Gold and Silver Corporation Americas Gold and Silver Corporation 4168741708 4168489503 Cautionary Statement on ForwardLooking Information: This news release contains "forwardlooking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forwardlooking information includes, but is not limited to, Americas Gold and Silver's expectations, intentions, plans, assumptions and beliefs with respect to, among other things, the effects of COVID-19 on the Company and its upcoming Meeting or the Meeting Location. Often, but not always, forward looking information can be identified by forwardlooking words such as "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "goal", "plan", "intend", "potential", "estimate", "may", "assume" and "will" or similar words suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions, or statements about future events or performance. Forwardlooking information is based on the opinions and estimates of Americas Gold and Silver as of the date such information is provided and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of Americas Gold and Silver 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. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information. Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from this forward-looking information is available in Americas filings with the Canadian Securities Administrators on SEDAR and with the SEC. Americas does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forwardlooking information whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors which affect this information, except as required by law. Americas does not give any assurance (1) that Americas will achieve its expectations, or (2) concerning the result or timing thereof. All subsequent written and oral forwardlooking information concerning Americas are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above. SOURCE Americas Gold and Silver Corporation Related Links http://www.americasgold.com Kwame Owusu is alleged to have attacked the complainant, Daniel Oteng, who had just alighted from a vehicle at Twenedaso in the Atwima Mponua district, landed a heavy blow on his face resulting in loss of four teeth on the spot. He pleaded guilty and was convicted on his own plea and would reappear before the court presided by Mr Johnson Abbey on April 30 this year, for sentence. Prosecuting, Detective Chief Inspector Comfort Amankwaa told the court that on April 09 this year, at about 1100 hours, the accused arrived from Abuakwa in the Atwima-Nwabiagya South Municipality, to the Twenedaso village. She said immediately he alighted from a bus, Owusu and two accomplices, who are currently on the run, attacked and assaulted him without any provocation. Chief Inspector Amankwaa said the heavy blow from Owusu resulted in the removal of four teeth of the complainant. She said a report was made to the Nkawie Police who arrested the accused. The prosecution said in his cautioned statement, Owusu admitted the offence but said it was a retaliation to an earlier attack by the complainant. He was later charged and brought before the court. ---GNA Trump says the order is meant to protect workers amid the coronavirus pandemic, but many exemptions apply. President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Wednesday that temporarily blocks some individuals outside the United States from obtaining US permanent residency, a move he said would protect American workers amid the economic fallout from the coronavirus outbreak. The executive order included a number of exemptions and was not a full suspension of legal immigration, as suggested by a Trump tweet late on Monday night. Questions remain about the extent of the executive order and whether or not the measures therein fall within the power of the president. Here is what Trumps order does and does not do. Who will be affected? The order blocks some individuals outside the US from settling permanently by obtaining what is informally known as a green card. The measure applies to requests for permanent residence based on employment in the US and requests based on familial ties but contains several exceptions. Asylum seekers wearing masks enter a door while attending a mandatory immigration court hearing on Monday. [Cedar Attanasio/AP Photo] The order does not affect people coming to the US on non-immigrant visas, including tourists and business travellers. It also does not affect workers such as farm labourers entering the United States on temporary visas or skilled workers on H-1B visas. Foreigners already in the US and seeking to adjust their status will not be blocked by the latest measure. The majority of employment-based green cards are granted to people inside the United States, and thereby not covered by the ban. Most family-based green cards are granted to people outside the country, however. The immediate impact of the order was not clear since most US consulates around the world have already shuttered most immigration processing services. Who is exempt? How long will it last? Doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals will be exempt, as will other prospective immigrants coming to the country to perform essential work to combat the new coronavirus, as determined by federal agencies. White House Senior Policy Advisor Stephen Miller during a meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, US [Tom Brenner/Reuters] [Daylife] The measure also excludes immigrants applying for the EB-5 visa programme, which allows foreigners willing to invest large sums of money in US projects that create or preserve jobs to obtain permanent residence. The order makes an exception for spouses of US citizens and their unmarried children under the age of 21. The measure contains several other exemptions, including a general exemption for any alien whose entry would be in the national interest. The suspension will begin just before midnight on Thursday and last 60 days. After that, Trump will review US economic conditions and decide whether it should be extended. Future extensions could potentially be longer than 60 days, Trump said this week. What happens to foreign temporary workers? The executive order states that the administration will review all temporary visa programmes including guest worker programmes to determine if additional steps should be taken to protect US workers. A senior administration official told Reuters news agency this week that the White House was considering a separate action that could deal with skilled workers who enter the country on H-1B visas and others affected by US immigration policy. Does Trump have the power to suspend immigration? Trumps latest immigration order draws on the same legal authority his administration cited in its 2017 travel ban that suspended the entry of travellers and immigrants from several majority-Muslim nations. While that policy cited security concerns, critics dubbed it a Muslim ban. Federal judges blocked several iterations of the ban from taking effect, but the Supreme Court eventually upheld a reworked version of the measure in 2018 and it continues to be in force and was expanded in January. Some legal experts argue the high courts ruling does not permit a broad, worldwide ban on immigration into the United States and expect Trumps latest order to be challenged in court. How does migration look now? The US suspended routine visa services in most countries worldwide in mid-March due to the coronavirus outbreak, which was expected to dramatically slow immigration. Many other countries around the world have closed their borders and enacted quarantines to limit the spread of the virus, greatly reducing travel worldwide. Amid the global slowdown, the number of permanent residency visas issued by the State Department fell to around 24,000 in March, a 35 percent decrease from the previous month, according to department statistics published on Thursday. The number of temporary visas issued also decreased by roughly a third. Will blocking immigrants help the economy? Trump said on Tuesday that an immigration suspension would protect US workers, an extension of the message he employed during his 2016 presidential campaign. However, researchers generally agree that immigration into the US has actually stimulated economic growth, increased the size of the economy and created jobs, according to Giovanni Peri, an economics professor at the University of California, Davis. The idea that immigration threatens American jobs is just not there in any data, he told Reuters news agency. Hard-up parents are complaining that their children are missing out on BBC's Bitesize homeschooling lessons because they cannot afford a TV licence. Families without a TV licence said they cannot access some of the BBC Bitesize Daily's video content, which is available on BBC iPlayer and via the red button at 9am. The corporation is airing the daily programmes each week day for children aged five to 14 during the coronavirus lockdown. Rachel Riley, left, on BBC Bitesize and John Boyega, right, on the platform, explaining what life was like when Shakespeare was writing for one of the lessons Karim Zeroual appearing on BBC Bitesize Daily, a daily programme each week day for children aged five to 14 during the coronavirus lockdown Parents posted to Twitter about not being able to watch some of the video lessons, with one questioning: 'If I don't have a TV licence, presumably that means my kids can't access the educational videos for home schooling on iPlayer, is that right?' TV Licensing's official customer support account replied: 'You need a licence to watch or download any BBC programmes on iPlayer.' Another social media user posted: 'Not very equitable if it isn't available to ALL pupils. Not every household has a TV licence.' A third wrote: 'Only for ones with a TV licence?' A fourth asked: 'My son's school have decided this is what they'll do in terms of teaching... We don't have a TV licence as we have other online subscriptions. Will we be allowed to access the videos?' At present you need a TV licence to be able to access BBC iPlayer, but the BBC Bitesize website is free to use and there are a number of resources on there available to the public. The current system means it is a criminal offence to watch any live television or recorded TV without a licence. Those who do this can be prosecuted. The TV licence fee changed on April 1 with a colour licence costing 157.50, 3 more than previously, and a black and white fee costing 53, increasing by 1. Parents posted to Twitter about not being able to watch some of the video lessons, with TV Licensing confirming they will need a TV licence to access BBC iPlayer It comes as children unable to attend school in the UK have flocked to BBC Bitesize to take online lessons from celebrities such as Professor Brian Cox, Danny Dyer and Sir David Attenborough. More than 3million pupils logged on to BBC Bitesize Lessons on Monday, with 1.3million visiting the website on March 23 - the first day of school closures. Other famous faces recruited by the BBC include Countdown's Rachel Riley and Star Wars actor John Boyega. The Department for Education has also said free laptops and tablets will be given to children from disadvantaged backgrounds across England to help them learn from home. Alice Webb, Director of BBC Children's and Education, said: 'Education is one of the core pillars of the BBC so to see families across the UK engaging with the new content in such huge numbers is wonderful. 'We've had so much positive feedback from parents and teachers alike already and there's still much more to come!' A spokesperson for the BBC told MailOnline: 'Bitesize Daily is available on a range of platforms which do not need a TV Licence, including Bitesize online, the Bitesize app and daily podcasts on BBC Sounds. 'Parents can also access further advice about teaching via BBC Bitesize Facebook and Twitter which will be updated regularly with helpful guides. A TV Licence is needed to access Bitesize content on BBC iPlayer, Red Button and BBC Four.' A new study shows nearly nine in ten coronavirus patients on ventilators ended up dying in New York state. The study, published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, evaluated cases of COVID-19 patients admitted to 12 hospitals within the Northwell Health system in New York City, Long Island and Westchester County. Researchers evaluated electronic health records of 5,700 patients with the disease caused by coronavirus from March 1 through April 4. Overall, about 20% of the hospitalized COVID-19 patients died. Of hospitalized patients who were placed on ventilators, which force air into the lungs of patients who cannot breathe on their own, 88 percent died. According to CNN, only 12 percent of the patients in the study required ventilators, but it shows how grim the outlook is in that situation. Most of those who died or became severely ill had a pre-existing condition, such as high blood pressure (57%), obesity (41%) and diabetes (34%). Men were more likely to die than women, and older patients were more at risk as well; no one under the age of 18 died in the study. Of the patients who died, those with diabetes were more likely to have received invasive mechanical ventilation or care in the ICU compared with those who did not have diabetes, the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Researchs Dr. Safiya Richardson wrote, along with colleagues. The results echo smaller studies earlier this month in the U.S., China and Europe which also found most patients who require breathing machines do not survive. Most stay on a ventilator for weeks, and the longer theyre on it, the more likely they are to die. Were not sure how much help ventilators are going to be, Dr. Tiffany Osborn, a critical care specialist at Washington University in St. Louis, recently told NPR. They may help keep somebody alive in the short term. Were not sure if its going to help keep someone alive in the long term. Researchers in the Northwell Health study said final outcomes were only available for about half of the patients, so its possible more of those on ventilators survived. The absence of data on patients who remained hospitalized at the final study date may have biased the findings, including the high mortality rate of patients who received mechanical ventilation older than age 65 years, the paper said. Most coronavirus patients overall survived and were released from the hospital after an average of four days, according to the study. The majority of overall coronavirus cases see mild symptoms and do not require hospitalization. More than 2.6 million cases of coronavirus have been confirmed worldwide, including 185,000 deaths globally. The U.S. has seen more than 843,000 COVID-19 cases and 46,851 deaths as of Thursday, including 263,754 cases in New York and over 15,300 deaths statewide. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources He has watched coronavirus victims gasp for breath: Its like theyve been hit by a train Reopening NYS schools this academic year will be very difficult due to coronavirus, Cuomo says As coronavirus spread, a Fayetteville retirement community became a hotbed Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Renault has released initial designs of the Renault Captur Concept right before the Geneva Auto Show. Targeted towards young adventurous couples, this 2-door 4-passenger sporty crossover is outfitted with butterfly doors, a removable hardtop roof and 22-inch wheels. The Captur Concept is power powered by Renaults Energy dCi 1.6-liter 160-horsepower twin-turbo diesel engine concept. French carmaker Renault on Thursday posted a 19.2% drop in first-quarter revenue to 10.13 billion euros ($10.97 billion), and said it was still too early to assess what impact the coronavirus crisis would have on its earnings this year. The group, which had already cancelled its dividend and suspended its financial outlook, has been hit hard by the health crisis as demand for cars plummets, while many dealerships and production sites have closed. Renault sold more cars in Russia than in its home market in the January-March period as demand plummeted in Europe, the first time ever France has slid from the top spot. However, the group slightly benefited from a price effect on sales after launching more expensive SUV style models such as the Renault Captur, but this was not sufficient to offset tumbling volumes. Renault said it had 10.3 billion euros of liquidity reserves, as at end March, 5.5 billion euros less than at the end of 2019. The first quarter is traditionally a period when carmakers use cash to bump up stocks. Renault is expected to update investors on its strategy to bolster its alliance with Japan's Nissan by mid-May, with details of cost cuts and joint purchasing plans. The two firms were already under pressure before the coronavirus crisis due to faltering demand in emerging markets amid a major challenge of innovating less-polluting cars. Renault said in its statement it was looking to restart production where possible. Governments across Europe have enforced shutdowns to try and contain the fast-spreading virus. Warriors duelling with bronze swords in the millennia before iron weapons were crafted employed sophisticated fighting methods, a study has found. Researchers assessed the dings and dents on 110 Bronze Age swords and used modern replicas and hand-to-hand combat to investigate the cause of the damage. They discovered evidence of fighting methods similar to those of the Renaissance and Middle Ages which manipulated the blade of one's enemy. This allowed the warrior to expose a fleshy region and strike, with little risk of destroying the relatively weak bronze swords. Scroll down for video Researchers assessed the dings and dents on 110 Bronze Age swords and used modern replicas and hand-to-hand combat (pictured) to investigate their cause In order to understand what caused the damage to Bronze Age swords, researchers recruited Neil Burridge, a professional bronzesmith, to make seven replicas (pictured) Bronze swords were first used as weapons around 3,000BC in Turkey and similar weapons were then used in the fabled Trojan War. The technology spread throughout Europe over the coming centuries. Pictured, Brad Pitt in the 2004 movie Troy Bronze swords were used by soldiers between 1600BC and 600AD and this combination of copper and tin was prone to damage. In the hands of an untrained apprentice, a reckless swing of the sword would mangle the metal and render it useless. That is why, the researchers believe, the fighters were well-versed in using specific moves and sequences. Previously, the preponderance of bronze swords in graves and at burial sites had led some experts to wonder if they were merely status symbols and not used in battle. Others had theorised that the bronze swords were used in war but fighters deliberately avoided blade-on-blade contact to preserve their weapons. The findings of the study, published recently in the Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, reveal that neither of these are accurate. Instead, the soldiers were trained to use their weapon to control the blade of their enemy. Manoeuvring the opponent's sword out of the way while simultaneously priming for an attack on an exposed fleshy region was the goal of combat in the late Bronze Age, according to Raphael Hermann, the study's lead author. Once the sword was removed from the equation, a blow would be struck ideally to the neck, abdomen or pelvis. They deliberately avoided bone in order to prevent their weapon becoming stuck. Mr Hermann also discovered warriors fought in uniform styles which changed and adapted as sword technology itself advanced. Bronze swords were first used as weapons around 3,000BC in Turkey and similar weapons were then used in the fabled Trojan War. The technology spread throughout Europe over the coming centuries. A variety of weapons and attack methods were used to investigate the damage caused to bronze swords from various objects, including stabbing a shield (pictured) This controlled weapon test sees what damage is inflicted to a bronze sword from a glancing blow to the face of a wooden shield. This caused an irregular graze in the cutting edge The tests involved two stages of analysis studying surviving swords from the era itself, and creating modern equivalents and putting them through a variety of tests (pictured, one test). The former revealed several commonly seen forms of damage, including fissures, dents and blunted tips Britain was one of the last to adapt to the fighting style, with the study finding the earliest British swords bore evidence of 'an immature martial tradition'. Instead of trying to manipulate the sword of their foe, they would simply try to strike and not be hit. This gradually changed and it is thought the methods used on mainland Europe were adopted in the late Bronze Age, around 200 years after they were first seen in Italy. Mr Hermann, who conducted the research while a postgraduate student at the University of Newcastle and now working at the University of Gottingen, told the Times: 'Our findings overturn previous assumptions that prehistoric swordplay was characterised by simply alternating attacking and defending stances, while also disproving scholarly claims that early fencers avoided blade-on-blade contact to preserve their weapons, which were perceived as more damage-prone than later iron swords.' The tests involved two stages of analysis studying surviving swords from the era itself, and creating modern equivalents and putting them through a variety of tests. The former revealed several commonly seen forms of damage, including fissures, dents and blunted tips. In order to understand what caused the damage, researchers recruited Neil Burridge, a professional bronzesmith, to make seven replica swords. The researchers tested the impact on bronze swords from other swords but also from different kinds of weapons used in prehistoric armed clashes such as spearheads, spearshafts and replica wood, leather, and bronze shields One specific technique was found to be very common and evidence of it was etched on several blades. It is a method called versetzen German for displacement and would see a pair lock blades deliberately Each sword was a model of a weapon used in entire Bronze Age, ranging from 1600BC to 700BC. These included a Middle Bronze Age rapier used between 1300 and 1150 BC and one Carp's Tongue sword popular between 950 and 800 BC. The weapons were then used in a series of pre-planned blows from a variety of angles to simulate different impacts during battle. They were than also given to members of a local swordfighting organisation for controlled weapon tests to recreate prehistoric one-on-one combat. 'Presuming that different kinds of weapons would have encountered one another in prehistoric armed clashes, we tested the swords not only against other swords but also against spearheads, spearshafts and replica wood, leather, and bronze shields,' the authors write in the study. 'To allow for chronological consistency, all tests were carried out with weapons that would have existed contemporaneously.' One specific technique was found to be very common and evidence of it was etched on several blades. It is a method called versetzen German for displacement and would see a pair lock blades deliberately. A soldier would then try and outmanoeuvre their opponent, gain the upper hand and strike. This duelling left unique nicks on the blades of both swords. With 100 more persons testing positive for coronavirus in Madhya Pradesh, their count shot up to 1,687 on Thursday, while the death toll rose to 83 with the addition of three fatalities, health officials said. Among the new cases reported till 3 pm on Thursday, Ujjain recorded the highest increase of 35 COVID-19 patients followed by Indore 22, Bhopal 20 and Khargone 10, among others, they said. Three more deaths - two from Khargone and one from Indore - were reported during the period, taking the toll to 83, according to a state health department bulletin here. The virus has expanded its footprint to 25 of the 52 districts of the state. The sole COVID-19 patient found so far in Dindori district was a Chhattisgarh resident and the one in Burhanpur was from Buldhana town of neighbouring Maharashtra, the officials said. A patient in Rajgarh has recovered from COVID-19, making the district coronavirus-free, they said. The worst-affected Indore leads the coronavirus tally with 945 cases followed by Bhopal 323, Ujjain 76 and Khargone 51, they said. Among others, Jabalpur has 30 cases (04 new), Dewas 21 (01 new), Khandwa 35 (03 new), Sagar 05 (03 new), Gwalior 04 (01 new), Tikamgarh 02 (01 new) and Hoshanagabad 26 (01 new). Apart from these districts, the number of COVID-19 cases reported so far from Barwani are 24, Raisen 26, Morena 16, Vidisha 13, Ratlam 12, Mandsaur 08, Shajapur 06, four each in Sheopur and Chhindwara, three in Alirajpur, two in Shivpuri and one in Betul, the bulletin said. There was no change in figures in these districts till Thursday afternoon, it said. Three patient hails from other states. Of the 83 deaths recorded so far, 53 were from Indore alone. So far, seven each have died in Bhopal and Ujjain, six in Dewas, five in Khargone and one each in Jabalpur, Mandsaur, Chhindwara, Agar Malwa and Dhar. As many as 203 patients have recovered and returned home, the officials said. The officials said 461 containment areas have been established across the coronavirus-affected cities to curtail the spread of the deadly infection. The updated Madhya Pradesh tally: Positive cases 1,687; deaths 83; discharged 203; active 1,401; people tested 33,074. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Japan's primary and secondary students are at risk of falling behind the rest of the world as the country's wheels of bureaucracy have been slow to adapt to restrictions brought about by the coronavirus outbreak. While advanced democracies across the world have thrown resources at public schools to ensure students are able to take lessons at home while under lockdown, just a handful of Japanese schools will roll out online classes despite Prime Minister Shinzo Abe declaring a state of emergency on April 7, which was extended last week. "We generally do not approve credit for lessons taken solely online," said an official at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Most schools had also been closed for at least a month starting March 2, though some reopened this month before the state of emergency was announced. Although calls to institute online classes have gained momentum amid the novel coronavirus outbreak, Japan's rigid academic standards have prevented local governments from facilitating at-home learning. For brick-and-mortar high schools, online classes are required to provide the same educational benefit as face-to-face learning. Even under those strictures, online classes cannot account for half of the credits gained from coursework. Virtual classes must be later supplemented by face-to-face lessons. The only exceptions to the rule are high schools specifically designated for distance learning. As a result, only 5% of local government bodies in Japan will launch online classes for public schools that have shut down, the education ministry said Tuesday. In the 13 "special alert prefectures" where extra measures are needed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, only Tokyo and four other prefectures said they plan to implement Zoom-style classes in public high schools when asked by Nikkei. Just one prefecture, Gifu, will immediately provide online learning throughout every area under its jurisdiction. There have been calls for online learning from education and business circles before the coronavirus pandemic struck. The education ministry responded by unveiling a plan to distribute tablets and laptops to schools, but it still prioritizes lessons where all students are gathered together in a physical class. The coronavirus death count exceeded 48,000 in the United States on Wednesday, as the number of Americans infected by COVID-19 has increased by 200,000 in just one week. In the last 24 hours deaths have risen by 2,229 across the country, marking small decrease on yesterday's near-record total of 2,400 and bringing the number of Americans killed by coronavirus up to 48,035. Confirmed cases of COVID-19 also surged Wednesday, with 29,304 new cases, taking the total to 856,584. It means the number of people who have tested positive for the virus has increased by more than 210,000 in a week. In the last 24 hours, deaths have risen by 2,229 in the US - a small decrease on yesterday's near-record total of 2,400 - bringing the number of Americans killed by coronavirus up to 48,035 Confirmed cases of COVID-19 also surged Wednesday, with 29,304 new cases, taking the total to 856,584 Health officials have noted that deaths are a lagging indicator of the outbreak, coming weeks after patients fall sick, and do not mean stay-at-home restrictions are failing to slow the spread of the virus. New reported US cases appear to be slowing this week, rising by less than 30,000 a day for the past five days through Wednesday. The United States had a record 35,397 new cases on April 10. With no end to pandemic is sight, the predictive model relied on by the White House to forecast its potential impact has increased its projection of expected deaths by 10 percent. Now, The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation expects the national death toll to hit 67,641 by August 4. IHME's model is constantly being fed new data and changes its forecast accordingly. It is the model which is used by the White House for forward planning. The model had last month predicted there would be more than 90,000 deaths by August, but that number dropped to 82,000 on April 7, before decreasing by another 20,000 days later. The drastic reduction signaled to experts at IHME that social distancing measures were working in the fightback against COVID-19. But the model assumes that all states are implementing 'broad, aggressive social distancing policies', and may not have factored in any plans from states, including Oklahoma, Georgia and South Carolina, to ease social distancing measures early. On Wednesday, Oklahoma announced plans to begin easing lockdown restrictions in a bid to kick start their economy, which has suffered drastically since the coronavirus outbreak. The state's Governor Kevin Stitt said that Oklahoma will begin its reopening with barbershops, hair and nail salons, pet groomers and spas. Others, including restaurants and movie theaters, can reopen within 10 days, the governor said. Oklahoma now joins Colorado, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas in with measures to restarting their economies. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced similar measures on Monday - despite deaths and infections spiking in the state on Tuesday. On Wednesday, that spike saw a sharp drop as 43 new deaths were recorded and 771 new cases emerged, a decrease of 45 and 327 respectively. Georgia now has 20,166 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 818 total deaths. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announces plans to reopen Oklahoma businesses after COVID-19 closures, Wednesday, April 22, 2020, in Oklahoma City. Stitt said barbershops, hair salons and other personal care businesses can reopen Friday, if they maintain social distancing The state's reopening timetable, which is one of the most aggressive in the US, allows gyms, hair salons, bowling alleys and tattoo parlors to reopen on Friday as long as owners follow strict social-distancing and hygiene requirements. Elective medical procedures will also resume. By next Monday, movie theaters may once again sell tickets and restaurants limited to takeout orders could return to limited dine-in service. Such a swift reopening runs counter to the advice of many experts, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government's top authority on infectious diseases, who warned again Monday that resuming business too soon risked a fresh spike in infections. Gov. Brian Kemp said it was important to allow businesses that had been shut down a chance to get some revenue flowing but he emphasized businesses would still be operating under restrictions including monitoring employee health, enhancing sanitation and separating workers. 'I think this is the right approach at the right time,' Kemp said. 'Were not just throwing the keys back to these business owners. Were talking about people (who had) the government shut down their business.' Bars, live performance venues and amusement parks will remain closed. Kemp's order overrides any attempt to impose stricter local decisions, but some local officials including Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said the governor is moving too quickly. 'It appears the governor's order supersedes anything I can do as mayor, but I still have my voice and what I will continue to do is ask Atlantans to please stay at home,' Bottoms told ABC News. The governor's actions line up with the phase one of reopening seen in the guidelines issued last week by President Donald Trump's administration. Those guidelines call for 14 days of declining COVID-19 cases. Despite the criticisms, several state governors have followed Kemp's lead. In South Carolina, department stores, sporting goods stores and flea markets are among the businesses allowed to reopen in parts of the state from April 20. Other stores selling furniture, books, music, flowers, clothing and accessories can also reopen. The businesses are allowed to open at 20 percent capacity, or five people per 1,000 square feet. Meanwhile, Colorado's Governor Jared Polis has given the green-light for elective surgeries and retail curbside delivery to begin April 27. Hair salons, dental offices and tattoo shops can also reopen that date with restrictions. Other retail will be allowed to reopen from May 4 with social distancing, along with large workplaces operating at a 50 percent capacity. Tennessee too has declared it has no plans to extended its total shutdown beyond its April 30 expiration date, with a phased reopening slated to begin next week. And in Texas, state parks have reopened and retailers able to deliver their goods or services to people at home or in their cars to minimize contact resumed business on Wednesday. Schools and universities will, however, remain closed for the rest of the year. The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation has released a new map projection that reveals when each US state could potentially start relaxing measures For the country to re-open - and stay open - medical experts have routinely warned that increased testing will be essential in helping to slow the spread of the highly contagious respiratory illness. However, the measures have ground the economy to a standstill and forced more than 22 million people to apply for unemployment benefits in the last month. The US has by far the world's largest number of confirmed coronavirus cases, almost four times as many infections as Spain, the country with the second-highest number. Globally, cases topped 2.5 million on Tuesday with North America accounting for one-third of all cases. Advertisement Stunning footage has revealed how more than 400 jetliners grounded by the coronavirus pandemic have been parked in the California desert. Pilot Bryan Keith was given access to fly his Grumman Tiger over the Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville where the dry climate minimizes the risk of rust. Planes owned by Southwest, Delta, FedEx and other major commercial and cargo carriers sit idle under the desert sun after having their wings clipped by worldwide lockdowns. The Victorville facility in California is a decommissioned Air Force base. Last year, Southwest Airlines began storing its fleet of Boeing 737 Max jets there after the airplane was grounded following two fatal crashes. But now with demand for flights plummeting amid the coronavirus pandemic, and with thousands of aircraft grounded, airlines began to hit an unprecedented problem: finding a place to park them. The site has the capacity to store up to 500 planes, according to the company that manages it, and is thought to be nearing that. Pilot Bryan Keith was given access to fly his Grumman Tiger over the Southern California Logistics Airport in Victorville Planes owned by Southwest, FedEx and other major commercial and cargo carriers sit idle under the desert sun The airport has the capacity to store 500 planes, according to the company that manages it and is thought to be nearing that The dry climate of these storage facilities helps reduce the risk of rust, minimizing the maintenance required to bring the planes back into service when the pandemic nightmare ends. Alongside the Boeing 737 Max jets already being stored there, they are now joined by Boeing 747, 757, and 767, Airbus A310, A320 and McDonnell-Douglas MD-10 and MD-11 aircraft. Pilot Keith said: 'Wow, this is a scene. I wonder how many billions of dollars of jets are down there. 'I want to give a big shout out to the tower controllers at KVCV that were kind enough to let me do a flyover on the closed runway to see all the airplanes.' Taxiways, maintenance hangars and even runways at major airports around the world are being transformed into giant parking lots. In Frankfurt, Germany's biggest airport was a ghost town of silent airliners. Its northwest landing runway, including taxiways and bridges, was converted to an aircraft parking lot for Lufthansa, Condor and other airlines. Similar crowds of planes were parked at other major airports, including Hong Kong, Seoul, Berlin and Vienna as well as traditional desert parking lots, like this one in Victorville and Marana, Arizona. The Victorville facility in California is a decommissioned Air Force base. Last year, Southwest Airlines began storing its fleet of Boeing 737 Max jets there after the airplane was grounded following two fatal crashes The dry climate of these storage facilities helps reduce the risk of rust, minimizing the maintenance required to bring the planes back into service when the pandemic nightmare ends In the past week, flights within the United States have averaged about 12 passengers each, according to trade group Airlines for America. And there are already 75 per cent fewer flights than is typical. Delta Air Lines, the biggest and most profitable U.S. airline, has parked more than 650 planes. It lost $534 million in the first quarter, a setback that will appear trivial when the full force of the pandemic is revealed in the current quarter. Delta warned Wednesday that revenue during the April-through-June quarter, typically a period of harried travel, will plummet by 90 per cent compared with last year, when there were no government travel restrictions and flights were full. 'These are truly unprecedented times for all of us,' CEO Ed Bastian said. Delta is the first U.S. carrier to detail the damage that began to emerge in at the tail end of the first quarter, although United Airlines said Monday that it would record a pretax loss of $2.1 billion, confirming what most had suspected. And things look set to get worse for the airlines. The number of people screened each day at the nations airports by the Transportation Security Administration has seen a sharp drop. About 2.3 million people passed through security checkpoints on March 1, unchanged from the same day last year. The numbers careened sharply lower from that point on, plunging below 100,000 by early April a drop of about 95 per cent. Recalled Boeing 737 Max jets were already being stored there; they are now joined by Boeing 747, 757, and 767, Airbus A310, A320 and McDonnell-Douglas MD-10 and MD-11 aircraft Taxiways, maintenance hangars and runways at major airports around the world are being transformed into giant parking lots Airline officials say most of the people still flying are health care workers fighting the COVID-19 outbreak and individuals reuniting with family members. Airlines have responded to the drop in traffic by canceling thousands of flights. That triggers refunds to passengers who had tickets and cant or dont want to be rebooked on another flight. Delta and other airlines are spending more on refunds than they are taking in from new bookings thats called negative net bookings. The percentage of seats sold on U.S. airline flights dropped from 80.2 per cent in January to 13.1 per cent in the week of April 13-19, according to Airlines for America. That includes both domestic and international flights. Demand for future air travel in the U.S. was down 98.4 per cent in the second week of April compared with a year earlier, according to the industry trade group. Similar crowds of planes were parked at other major airports, including Hong Kong, Seoul, Berlin and Vienna as well as traditional desert parking lots, like this one in Victorville and Marana, Arizona Pilot Keith said: 'Wow, this is a scene. I wonder how many billions of dollars of jets are down there' And with fewer passengers, it makes sense for airlines to operate fewer flights. Worldwide, there were about 111,000 commercial flights a day in early January. The numbers, which include cargo flights, started dropping sharply in March, and they are now down to about 28,000, according to tracking service Flightradar.24. By canceling thousands of flights, U.S. airlines have cut their passenger-carrying capacity by about 81 per cent from a year ago, according to Airlines for America. But that isnt deep enough to match the plunge in passengers, which explains why the planes still flying have so many empty seats. All the major U.S. airlines have reached agreements with the Treasury Department for billions in grants and loans to help them cover payroll costs through September. Among the biggest carriers, American Airlines will get $5.8 billion, Delta has already received half of the $5.4 billion it was promised, United Airlines will get $5 billion, and Southwest Airlines will receive $3.2 billion. Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman unnerved hotel and casino workers on Wednesday when she pushed for resorts to reopen as soon as possible amid the coronavirus pandemic. During an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, Goodman was asked how these establishments could reopen safely. "That's up to them to figure out, I don't own a casino," she responded. That answer was "one of the worst things I've heard," UNITE Here president D. Taylor told NBC News. Taylor said the 300,000 U.S. hospitality workers represented by his union want to "go back to a safe and secure workplace and not be an experiment in a petri dish." Nevada has reported 4,081 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 172 deaths. The Culinary Union, which represents workers on the Las Vegas Strip, says 11 members have died. Hotel and casino employees have said they need to have strict safety measures in place for employees and guests before going back to work. Some suggestions include temperature checks for patrons upon entrance; constant cleaning of dice, cards, and slot machines; social distancing guidelines; and limits to the number of people at bars and in elevators. Alexander Acosta, a bartender in Las Vegas, told NBC News that Goodman's comments "struck a nerve." He and his colleagues are "not test subjects," Acosta said. "We're people, we are employees. We try to live everyday as we can." For his job, Acosta believes he might need to wear a mask and gloves, but he's worried there won't be enough proper equipment to go around. More stories from theweek.com Cuomo rips McConnell's 'blue state bailout' by noting 'your state is living on the money that we generate' Trump reportedly comes into work as late as noon after a morning of 'rage viewing' TV Trump adviser suggests reopening economy by putting 'everybody in a space outfit' ConsumerAffairs is not a government agency. Companies displayed may pay us to be Authorized or when you click a link, call a number or fill a form on our site. Our content is intended to be used for general information purposes only. It is very important to do your own analysis before making any investment based on your own personal circumstances and consult with your own investment, financial, tax and legal advisers. Company NMLS Identifier #2110672 Copyright 2021 Consumers Unified LLC. All Rights Reserved. The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission. NEW YORK, April 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) market worldwide is projected to grow by 5.5 Million Metric Tons, driven by a compounded growth of 3.7%. Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE), one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 3.7%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over 24.7 Million Metric Tons by the year 2025, Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03993522/?utm_source=PRN - Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 4.4% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over 288.6 Thousand Metric Tons to the region's size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over 254.8 Thousand Metric Tons worth of projected demand in the region will come from Rest of Europe markets. In Japan, Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) will reach a market size of 1.8 Million Metric Tons by the close of the analysis period. As the world's second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 3.4% over the next couple of years and add approximately 926.2 Thousand Metric Tons in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders. Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies. - Competitors identified in this market include, among others, China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec Group) Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) Eni S.p.A. Enterprise Products Partners L.P. Evonik Industries AG Formosa Plastics Corporation Huntsman Corporation LyondellBasell Industries N.V. Panjin Heyun Industrial Group Co., Ltd. PetroChina Company Limited Qatar Fuel Additives Company Limited Saudi Basic Industries Corporation Shandong Yuhuang Chemical (Group) Co., Ltd. SIBUR TPC Group Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03993522/?utm_source=PRN I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. MARKET OVERVIEW MTBE - A Popular Octane Booster Recent Market Activity Market Outlook Recent Past and Current Scenario Unique End-Use Applications Drive Demand Global Fuel Ethers Market - An Insight ETBE Challenges Growth of MTBE MTBE to Stay Competitive in Developing Regions Focus Grows on MTBE Production in Other Regions Gasoline Oxygenates: The Changing Scenario Bio-MTBE - An Emerging Niche New Role of MTBE as an Extractant Impact of Methanol Consumption on MTBE Market Global Competitor Market Shares Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Competitor Market Share Scenario Worldwide (in %): 2020 & 2029 2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec Group) (China) Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) (UAE) Eni S.p.A. (Italy) Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (USA) Evonik Industries AG (Germany) Formosa Plastics Corporation (Taiwan) Huntsman Corporation (USA) LyondellBasell Industries N.V. (Netherlands) Panjin Heyun Industrial Group Co., Ltd. (China) PetroChina Company Limited (China) Qatar Fuel Additives Company Limited (Qatar) Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (Saudi Arabia) Shandong Yuhuang Chemical (Group) Co., Ltd. (China) SIBUR (Russia) TPC Group (USA) 3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS 4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE Table 1: Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Global Market Estimates and Forecasts in Thousand Metric Tons by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 2: Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Global Retrospective Market Scenario in Thousand Metric Tons by Region/Country: 2009-2017 Table 3: Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Market Share Shift across Key Geographies Worldwide: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 III. MARKET ANALYSIS GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS UNITED STATES Market Facts & Figures Market Analytics Table 4: United States Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Market Estimates and Projections in Thousand Metric Tons: 2018 to 2025 Table 5: Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Market in the United States: A Historic Review in Thousand Metric Tons for 2009-2017 CANADA Table 6: Canadian Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Market Estimates and Forecasts in Thousand Metric Tons: 2018 to 2025 Table 7: Canadian Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Historic Market Review in Thousand Metric Tons: 2009-2017 JAPAN Table 8: Japanese Market for Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE): Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in Thousand Metric Tons for the Period 2018-2025 Table 9: Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Market in Japan: Historic Sales Analysis in Thousand Metric Tons for the Period 2009-2017 CHINA Table 10: Chinese Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Market Growth Prospects in Thousand Metric Tons for the Period 2018-2025 Table 11: Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Historic Market Analysis in China in Thousand Metric Tons: 2009-2017 EUROPE Market Facts & Figures Market Analytics Table 12: European Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Market Demand Scenario in Thousand Metric Tons by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 13: Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Market in Europe: A Historic Market Perspective in Thousand Metric Tons by Region/Country for the Period 2009-2017 Table 14: European Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Market Share Shift by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 FRANCE Table 15: Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Market in France: Estimates and Projections in Thousand Metric Tons for the Period 2018-2025 Table 16: French Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Historic Market Scenario in Thousand Metric Tons: 2009-2017 GERMANY Table 17: Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Market in Germany: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in Thousand Metric Tons for the Period 2018-2025 Table 18: German Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Historic Market Analysis in Thousand Metric Tons: 2009-2017 ITALY Table 19: Italian Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Market Growth Prospects in Thousand Metric Tons for the Period 2018-2025 Table 20: Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Historic Market Analysis in Italy in Thousand Metric Tons: 2009-2017 UNITED KINGDOM Table 21: United Kingdom Market for Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE): Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in Thousand Metric Tons for the Period 2018-2025 Table 22: Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Market in the United Kingdom: Historic Sales Analysis in Thousand Metric Tons for the Period 2009-2017 REST OF EUROPE Table 23: Rest of Europe Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Market Estimates and Forecasts in Thousand Metric Tons: 2018-2025 Table 24: Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Market in Rest of Europe in Thousand Metric Tons: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017 ASIA-PACIFIC Table 25: Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Market in Asia-Pacific: Estimates and Projections in Thousand Metric Tons for the Period 2018-2025 Table 26: Asia-Pacific Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Historic Market Scenario in Thousand Metric Tons: 2009-2017 REST OF WORLD Table 27: Rest of World Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Market Estimates and Forecasts in Thousand Metric Tons: 2018 to 2025 Table 28: Rest of World Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Historic Market Review in Thousand Metric Tons: 2009-2017 IV. COMPETITION Total Companies Profiled: 36 Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03993522/?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 THE 203 reports of domestic violence to the police in March represent a shocking increase of roughly 500 per cent when compared to the 48 reports filed in March last year. While more information and analysis would be required to make sense of this dramatic increase, one factor that must be considered is a possible link to the national lockdown which was announced on March 13. A top Bay Area microbiologist said Wednesday that the discovery of COVID-19 in a Santa Clara County woman who died three weeks before the nations first recorded fatality appears to be part of a cluster imported from China that he has been tracking. The infection, found in an autopsy of the 57-year-old woman who died at home on Feb. 6, prompted state officials to direct medical examiners and coroners across California to review autopsies dating back to December, amid speculation that the disease might have been spreading months before anybody knew. The womans death was one of three apparent COVID-19 fatalities identified this week by Santa Clara County health officials, including a 69-year-old man who died Feb. 17, which also predates what was thought to be the first U.S. death on Feb. 28 in Washington state. The other victim was a 70-year-old man who died March 6, three days before what was previously thought to be the first known coronavirus death in Santa Clara County. Charles Chiu, director of the UCSF-Abbott Viral Diagnostics and Discovery Center, said he hasnt yet sequenced the genomes of the three victims, but he suspects they were infected by the same coronavirus strain he had discovered in several early patients in Santa Clara County, the county with the most COVID-19 cases in Northern California. That virus, he said, is identical to the coronavirus strain in Wuhan, China, where the pandemic started, except for a single mutation. That suggests the county was one of the first entry points for the virus and hadnt yet spread widely around the community. Its China origin also indicates that it wasnt community spread. It indicates they are all early strains that came from travelers returning from China sometime in February, he said. Based on sequencing, we can tell it came into the country sometime in February when all of this began. What probably happened is that there was either one or multiple introductions in Santa Clara County, but there is no evidence that it had been circulating widely prior to that time. The new cases, found only because a medical examiner became suspicious and took tissue samples, bolsters concerns among epidemiologists that there are huge numbers of unreported infections. The infection rate in Santa Clara County could be 50 to 85 times higher than the number of reported cases, according to estimates by Stanford University scientists who administered antibody tests to 3,330 Santa Clara County residents. George Rutherford, a UCSF infectious disease expert, said investigators with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will try to understand how the newly identified victims became infected, along with whom they came into contact with while they were contagious. We need to figure out what went on and what the chains of transmission were, now that we have some antibody testing, said Rutherford, who doubts this strain spread far given the small number of cases. You might be able to put it together and understand why it died out and I think these clusters must have died out. Chiu has been analyzing the genetic makeup of COVID-19 since it first came into California, including in nine of the more than two dozen passengers who tested positive for the coronavirus on the Grand Princess cruise ship, which is based in San Francisco. In genomic sequencing, mutations are the fingerprint that allow scientists to tell one strain from another. The coronavirus mutates about twice every month, so the more mutations there are, the further removed it is from the original strain and the more it has circulated among humans. He found that the Grand Princess passengers all had a strain that originated in Washington state. That unique strain has been identified in 14 states and now accounts for a quarter of all known cases in United States. It is also in Australia, Mexico, Iceland, Canada, the United Kingdom and Uruguay, the New York Times reported Wednesday. Chiu said his laboratory sequenced four or five strains from samples collected in Santa Clara County in early March and found two strains that caused small clusters, but now appear to have been successfully isolated and controlled. He has characterized these simultaneous introductions as similar to sparks from a fire in that they can create large eruptions if they are not extinguished early. The Washington strain, which is now jumping around and intermingling with other strains, fits that description, he said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Not every scientist is willing to accept the notion that the strain that killed the three people in Santa Clara County was a novel introduction and died out. Warner Greene, a senior investigator at the Gladstone Institutes, said the first cases were reported in China in late December, and they were mostly connected to a meat and seafood market in Wuhan. For someone with no travel history to have been infected in Santa Clara County in early or mid-January, just a few weeks after the first reported cases in China, seems unlikely, he said. Greene wondered if the fish market outbreak was simply the first to get attention and possibly the virus was circulating much earlier than that in China. Certainly its possible someone traveled from Wuhan, but they would have had to have been at the market and then gone to San Francisco and then infected someone else. That timeline is getting very, very tight, Greene said. Im really starting to question how long this virus has been circulating in humans. Either way, he said, figuring out how the pandemic began is critical, both for understanding how the virus spreads among humans, and to prepare for future outbreaks. All of that will help us be prepared and better informed for the next coronavirus outbreak, he said. Chiu is trying to get blood samples from the three Santa Clara County victims from the CDC to sequence, but we have all of the genomes that occurred shortly after that and doubts much new genetic information will be found. Peter Fimrite and Erin Allday are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com, eallday@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @pfimrite, @erinallday Representative image The West Bengal government has been accused of blocking the flow of information from COVID-19 wards about likely mismanagement after it prohibited the use of mobile phones there, saying phone surfaces are potential sources of spreading infection, The Hindustan Times has reported. However, landline phones are available in the hospitals. According to the report, the instruction was issued on WhatsApp on April 21 night by an additional secretary of the health and family welfare department of the state government. The message was sent to district magistrates, chief medical officer of health and superintendents of all COVID-19 hospitals. On April 22, a top official of the states health administration confirmed that the use of mobile phones was being prohibited, it said. The internal message, accessed by the publication, read, Since mobile phones can be a potential source of spreading COVID-19 infection, no one will be allowed to carry, possess or use mobile phones inside the COVID hospitals in the state. Coronavirus LIVE updates The order applies to all persons inside the hospital, whether patients or staff on duty, read the message, adding that the deposit of patients mobile phones may be taken and a receipt may be given to them. 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 the message, it was also stated that the intercom facility may be provided in the wards. The contact number of the control room or the hospital superintendent/manager should be publicised prominently among the patients. Also, landline arrangements with STD calling be kept ready in case the patient needs to make a call or receive a call from outside, the message said. The hospital authorities have been asked to inform their staff on duty about the restrictions on the use and carrying of mobile phones inside the wards and treatment areas, said the report. Coronavirus state-wise tally The instruction was welcomed by a section of doctors who said a mobile phone could, indeed, carry the virus if not properly disinfected. However, another section of doctors said the ban could adversely affect the COVID-19 patients who are kept in isolation and use the mobile phone a lot to stay occupied, said the report. Some COVID-19 patients also advocated the use of mobile phones in the wards, as they had spent their time in isolation watching movies, listening to music and talking to friends and relatives, said the report. Follow our full coverage here Dr. Nasir Malim, a Muslim physician, has kept a beard for religious reasons for about a decade. It is a physical expression of his faith that makes him feel like he is in a state of worship at all times, he says, and it is considered virtuous in Islam. It was always part of how I expressed myself in terms of the way I express Islam, at least outwardly, Malim tells TIME. But as a health care worker on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak in New York City, Malim shaved off his facial hair last month, leaving only a slight mustache so he could properly use the personal protective equipment needed to be worn while treating COVID-19 patients in his hospital. Being without his beard wasnt how Malim expected to start the holy month. Ramadan, during which many Muslims refrain from food and water from dawn until sunset, starts on Thursday evening and continues through May 23. This year will be a Ramadan like no other for the 1.8 billion Muslims globally, of about which 3.45 million live in the U.S. For many, there will be no nightly prayers at the mosque, no breaking fasts in the evening at the homes of friends and family and no large congregational prayers to celebrate Eid and mark the end of the month. Many mosques around the world around are closed, Indonesia, which has the worlds largest Muslim population, has banned an annual exodus that involves city dwellers returning home to villages across the country and Saudi Arabia has cancelled the annual haji pilgrimage, which would normally see millions gather at some of the most holy Islamic sites. Social distancing and isolation run counter to the very essence of Ramadan, which emphasizes communitya time to make new friends, as well as reconnect with loved ones. View of the prayer area of the Islamic Cultural Center and Mosque, empty due to social distancing guidelines in Madrid, Spain, on April 23, 2020. | Bernat ArmangueAP Rania Awaad, an associate professor of psychiatry at Stanford University and director of the Stanford Muslim Mental Health Lab, says that for many Muslims, not having the support of community this year during what is otherwise a very community-oriented month could cause some Muslims to doubt whether theyre doing Ramadan right. Story continues This feeling of Im going to fail at Ramadan because Im so restless, Im so scared, I have so many anxieties that I cant sit on a prayer mat and surrender (to God.) Is there something wrong with me because I cant pray and feel better?' are the thoughts that can come up for some people, says Rabhi Fateh, an international trauma expert and therapist who works with many Muslim clients. The month could also be particularly difficult for converts living with families who dont approve of Islam, as well as those struggling with mental health conditions that could be aggravated by isolation, like anxiety, depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder, Fateh notes. While health care workers long hours often get in the way of breaking fast and praying in the company of a community, this year will be particularly challenging for Malim given his work taking care of patients in the Bronx. Its going to be a lot more lonely, he says, noting that it will just be him and his wife this Ramadan. Still, he takes comfort in knowing he is caring for people in an underserved community at this important time of year for his faith. Though I no longer carry the beard, I do still consider the act of removing people from harm, and maintaining health and life a form of worship, Malim says. He has taken care of dozens of critical COVID-19 patients and witnessed roughly nine deaths related to the disease in the course of his work. Dr. Nasir Malim, a Muslim physician who works at a hospital in the Bronx in New York City, is pictured wearing personal protective equipment and before and after he shaved his beard, which he kept for religious reasons for about a decade. | Courtesy of Dr. Nasir Malim Dr. Iman Elgammal, an emergency room doctor treating coronavirus patients in Los Angeles is unable to go back home to Detroit or gather with other relatives in the city. She lives alone and worries her Ramadan will be really lonely. Honestly, Im scared about going into Ramadan, Elgammal says. Its going to be really, really hard to motivate myselfemotionally hardknowing I have to do it alone. Community is everything, she adds, and it encourages her to pray more during the month; when shes back home in Detroit her family leaves for the mosque every night during Ramadan around the same time, like clockwork. Awaad says that many Muslim health care workers who are already dealing with anxieties about treating coronavirus patients may be worried about how they will fast as normal. Theres a sense of how do you balance all these things together and a fear of not really being able to do a good job in all of them, Awaad says. Both Malim and Elgammal are planning to fast despite despite their demanding work during the pandemic. Malim is worried about feeling dehydrated while wearing a protective mask and how it could make it more difficult to continue fasting. Everything about the situation right now will take a physical toll on my body, Malim says. I honestly cant imagine doing resuscitation and doing CPR and kind of pressing down on someones chest to keep their heart beating while fasting even though its something that obviously Im going to have to do. Khalid Latif, an imam who heads New York Universitys Islamic Center, points out that while Muslims cant pray shoulder-to-shoulder in congregations this year, theres still a lot of ways to engage with community. The communal aspects of Ramadan are so important. They dont have to be lost, Latif says, adding that its important to try and help underserved community members. The center has already raised more than $770,000 to help those financially impacted by the coronavirus, including those struggling to afford burial costs. Many Islamic institutes have also ramped up their online programming to make up for the lack of in-person contact. Imams note that while Muslims will need to adapt in ways they never have before, the spiritual benefits of the month can still be attained. Islam beautifully is trying to achieve spiritual equilibrium, notes AbdelRahman Murphy, an imam in Texas and director of the Roots Community. Murphy says that while he is grieving the community aspect of Ramadan, during which the mosque is buzzing with excitement and happiness, there is an opportunity to turn inward and have an introspective Ramadanfocusing on prayers and reading the Quran, he notes. Emily, Leena and Elaina Mejahed decorating their home in preparation for the Holy month of Ramadan, on April 22, 2020. | Courtesy of Sherihan Moustafa Sherihan Moustafa, a mother and businesswoman, is focused on her familys mental and spiritual health going into Ramadan, even as she may have to adapt their usual traditions. She anticipates a technology intensive Ramadan breaking fasts over Zoom and watching online lectures. The 33-year-old Egyptian-American lives in Brooklyn and is CEO of Urbanmodesty.coma modest clothing line for Muslim womenand has six children. Ramadan is always such a refocus and shift in mindset to whats really important in life, Moustafa says. During Ramadan, Moustafa and her husband would typically go pray at a nearby mosque with their two eldest kids. Theyre disappointed. They cant understand why we cant go, Moustafa says. She believes that going to the mosque as a family tells her kids that they belong, there are others like them and its OK to dress like this and feel comfortable in your own skin. But they are trying to keep the Ramadan spirit alive at home and are decorating a little indoor mosque area where they can pray, put their Qurans and have story time. Parvez Ahmed, a 35-year-old director at a realty firm who was born and raised in New York has been fasting since he was seven or eight years old. He has never known a Ramadan without a mosque. He lives with his 4-year-old son and wife, who is expecting their second child in about a month. He recalls as a child his elder family members dragging him to the mosque. Now, 20-something years later, here I am, trying to embed that in my son, Ahmed says. He now frequents a small mosque in Queens, which relies on donations to sustain its activities. If I dont go to pray, they dont raise money for next months rent, Ahmed says. To overcome the feeling of isolation, he has been taking his son on drives in their neighborhood, passing by familiar places like other relatives homes, his school and the local mosque. Sometimes they spot a worshipper or two praying outside its closed doors. Praying at Jamia Masjid mosque in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on April 23, 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic. | Saiyna BashirThe New York Times/Redux Malim sees providing care for patients as connected to his faith, particularly now as health care staff are now often the only human connection for many coronavirus patients. That element of really providing that interaction, as well as obviously doing whatever we can to help save their lives, spiritually and religiously for me that that is a major form of worship and in a lot of ways that helps to replace what the beard represented and what the beard meant for me, Malim says. He recalls being in the same room as a Muslim coronavirus patient after he declared him dead. He wasnt sure if he was going to get a proper funeral prayer, which is especially important for Muslims. So I quickly read kind of the funeral dua, the supplication that we say, Malim says. Just toto make sure he at least has that. ST. LOUIS A judge on Wednesday dismissed portions of a federal lawsuit against the city of St. Louis over the fatal shooting last year of a police officer, Katlyn Alix, by a colleague. U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark ruled that although officer Nathaniel Hendren was in uniform and on duty at the time he killed Alix, the act was of a distinctively personal nature. At the time of the shooting, Hendren and (his partner, Patrick) Riordan, though ostensibly on duty, were willfully and deliberately shirking their responsibilities as police officers. They disabled the GPS system on their police cruiser so they could not be tracked, left their patrol district without permission, and ignored a call to respond to a burglar alarm. Had Alix been a civilian, Hendrens uniform and duty status might be more important for the legal analysis, Clark wrote. With three of the four slots on the two national tickets spoken for, and filing deadlines passing without the emergence of a major third-party candidate, the hot presidential-election parlor game is the Democratic veepstakes: Who will Joe Biden pick as his running mate? Given Bidens age, its a particularly pressing question. We already know that he has promised to choose a woman. But while much of the talk has focused on high-profile figures, more than a few tickets have featured the proverbial dark horse candidate nobody saw coming. Is there someone the oddsmakers are overlooking? Let me offer one possibility: Alabama congresswoman Terri Sewell. Dont be surprised if she ends up on the ticket. There are at least ten reasons why she might be an attractive choice for Biden, and possibly even a shrewd one. 1. Crucially, in a party that remains obsessed with identity politics, Sewell is African American. There are differing theories about which demographic groups have the most swing potential in this race, the most chance to increase or decrease their vote for a particular candidate. Turnout is a big part of that equation, probably bigger in todays politics than persuasion. And black voters are a major factor in a lot of key swing states: 2016 and 2018 exit polls showed them as potentially 30 percent of the electorate in Georgia, 20 percent in North Carolina, 15 percent in Michigan, 14 percent in Florida and Ohio, and 13 percent in Pennsylvania. A running mate who brings more black voters, and black women in particular, to the polls would be an important electoral asset for Biden, because once they are at the polls, he will win their votes by an overwhelming margin in the fall no matter what he does. Black women are the single most loyal Democratic constituency: Hillary Clinton won them 94 percent to 4 percent over Trump in the 2016 exit polls, and that margin constituted an underperformance for a Democrat. That means that turning out black women is almost pure profit for Democrats up and down the ticket. Story continues Already having committed to a female running mate, Biden is under intense pressure to choose a black woman, not only because it could help turnout but also out of loyalty to the voting bloc that delivered him the nomination in the primaries. Unfortunately for him, the menu of plausible options is limited. Kamala Harris is the only black woman currently holding office as a governor or senator, the jobs that traditionally produce vice presidents. Harris, you may recall, was a disaster as a presidential candidate, and the highlight of her campaign was all-but-calling Biden a racist on national television. He would presumably prefer to look elsewhere. Then there is Stacey Abrams, the failed 2018 candidate for governor of Georgia who became a folk hero for progressives by refusing to concede defeat. Abrams is openly campaigning for the job, and she has begun pressuring Biden to pick a black woman to that end. In a Wednesday appearance on ABCs The View, when she was asked if not choosing a woman of color a black woman, actually is a slap in the face to black female voters, she responded, I would share your concern about not picking a woman of color. Stacey Abrams tells @TheView she thinks that Vice President Biden is going to make a smart choice in picking a running mate, but adds that she does have concerns about Biden not picking a woman of color. https://t.co/53N8arecl2 pic.twitter.com/KNpe5yNBx3 ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) April 22, 2020 From Bidens perspective, letting himself be bullied into giving the job to someone who has never held an office higher than the state legislature would be a disastrous projection of weakness. Choosing a black woman other than Abrams would mute her objection while avoiding that problem, which is an argument for Sewell. 2. Sewell is from the South. As many as four southern states, all of them with plenty of black voters, could be in play this fall: North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, and perhaps Virginia. Almost every southern state has a Senate race in November: There are two in Georgia, a hotly contested one in North Carolina (which also has a gubernatorial race), one in Alabama featuring a highly endangered Democratic incumbent who would love to see Sewell on the national ticket, and others of more theoretical competitiveness in Virginia, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky. A southerner on the ticket could be culturally reassuring to a region Democrats have tended to ignore of late, and would carry limited downside given that the Northeast, Midwest, and Pacific coast have comparatively few competitive Senate races ongoing. 3. Sewell endorsed Biden in January, when a lot of people were running away from him. She campaigned with him in Selma, and he won Alabama overwhelmingly on Super Tuesday. Loyalty always matters, especially to an old man forming a new administration. 4. Sewells long, deep ties to the Obama administration make her a perfect fit for the Obama Restoration story Biden wants to tell. (She has even said that a speech by President Obama inspired her to run for office, a story that would play well on the stump with the Democratic base.) As a freshman at Princeton, her mentor was Michelle Obama. She is an old friend of Susan Rice from their days at Oxford. And she knew Obama himself in law school. Thats a lot of old, powerful friends who could put in a good word with Biden. 5. Sewell has been in the House for almost a decade, having been elected in 2010 to replace Artur Davis. She sits on the House Intelligence Committee. At 55, shes young enough to stand out in a race between two men in their mid-to-late 70s without being too young. While she is lightly qualified by the standards of the presidency, she has at least enough time on Capitol Hill to be presented as a more plausible president than Abrams. As a Democrat, she would be given more benefit of the doubt than Dan Quayle or Sarah Palin received. She has degrees from Princeton, Oxford, and Harvard Law, which would go a long way toward blunting any notion that shes a lightweight. (And Democrats do love their academic credentials they havent produced a ticket without a graduate of Harvard or Yale since 1984.) 6. Sewell is a blue dog who serves as the vice chair of the New Democrat Coalition. Shes a former Wall Street lawyer at Davis, Polk & Wardwell in New York (where she worked with Kirsten Gillibrand, another of her early connections), and she has shown occasional flashes of moderation on economic issues. (In 2019 she balked at a $15 an hour national minimum wage, spearheading a rival proposal that would raise the wage more gradually to avoid punishing states such as Alabama that have a lower cost of living.) That profile would be reassuring to Democratic donors and upscale suburbanites, and in line with Bidens own preference for pandering to the social-issue left rather than the partys socialist wing. Sewell publicly shot back at Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez last year when Ocasio-Cortezs chief of staff called the Democratic establishment racist, starting a flap that ended with the staffers resignation: I personally experienced Dixiecrats bigoted policies growing up. So, to even insinuate that I, or any other member of the New Dems, would promote policies that are racist and hateful or ones that would negatively impact communities of color is deeply offensive and couldnt be further from the truth. This is the most controversial part of Bidens choice: Sewell would definitely be a put the Democratic Socialists in their place pick rather than an olive branch to the Sandernistas. The same would be true of Amy Klobuchar, one of the other leading candidates. Biden will need to make a choice between a traditional liberal such as Sewell or Klobuchar what passes for a moderate Democrat these days or an ambassador to the SandersAOC wing. If as seems likely his natural inclination is to opt for the former, that is an advantage for Sewell and a disadvantage for Abrams. (Harris has somehow managed to alienate both factions). 7. Sewell is not well-known at all, but aside from Elizabeth Warren, most of Bidens prospective running mates including figures as familiar to political junkies as Klobuchar, Harris, and Abrams are not well-known to the general public. With Biden, Donald Trump, and Mike Pence all familiar figures, the Democratic vice-presidential pick is the only one of the four national-ticket spots that could be a fresh face. And the story of Sewells rise from humble origins would be eaten up by a press corps desperate for a new Democratic saint. 8. While Biden would likely have a strong bias toward picking a senator he has spent his entire adult life around senators, including the man with whom he ran for and won the White House twice Biden is likely to appreciate the fact that Sewell was a Senate intern for two moderate Democratic senators from Alabama, Howell Heflin and Richard Shelby. Shelby later switched parties and now chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee as a Republican, which, given Bidens longing for bipartisan Senate bonhomie, could be another point in Sewells favor. And as a safe-district member of the House, Sewell would be costless to replace in Congress. 9. Sewell isnt a governor struggling to fight a pandemic. Michigans Gretchen Whitmer has kicked up all sorts of controversy just in the past week with her handling of the states lockdown. Whether or not thats really a negative for Whitmer, its a risk: Governors can have problems emerge in a hurry, especially in a rolling crisis where they are on the front lines. Picking a congresswoman would limit that risk. 10. All of a candidates virtues on paper have to be balanced against how the candidate comes off in person. Sewell is not an electrifying speaker or a policy wonk, but she is reasonably well-spoken by the Houses standards, and does not come off as an alarming, hair-on-fire bomb-thrower. That may not excite people itching for someone to bloody Mike Pence in a debate, but it means that there would be no risk of Bidens being overshadowed by his running mate. Sewell is not a choice that would excite online progressives or thrill the Beltway cognoscenti, and because she has never run a statewide race before, it is possible that careful vetting would turn up more vulnerabilities than she appears to have now. But as a low-risk pick who fits what Biden is looking to sell, she has a surprisingly strong case. More from National Review - The family of Corporal Winston Ragos received a staggering hospital bill of P31,890 - His family revealed that it was at the Commonwealth Hospital Medical Center where he died - The family disclosed that they needed to give the motorcycle as collateral so that the slain soldier could be buried - Ambulance, hospital equipment, N95 masks, cadaver bags, were among the items included in the P31K bill PAY ATTENTION: Click "See First" under the "Following" tab to see KAMI news on your News Feed The family of Corporal Winston Ragos received a staggering bill of P31,890 from the Commonwealth Hospital Medical Center where he died. KAMI learned that the bill included use of the ambulance, cadaver bags, N95 masks and hospital equipment among others. As per Rappler's report, the family of Ragos disclosed that they had to give the motorcycle of Ragos as collateral in order for him to be buried. As per Merlyn, the mother of Ragos, the bill was an added burden but her priority at the moment is to fix the papers of Winston. Ragos' mother is now gathering the documents needed for his burial because most of his documents got lost in December 2019, when Typhoon Tisoy wreaked havoc in their area. Merlyn worked as a beautician before the lockdown. She is among those who lost their means of income due to the ongoing quarantine. Ragos was shot on April 21, according to ABS-CBN. He was allegedly violating ECQ rules and was shot by a policeman at a checkpoint in QC. Family of Winston Ragos receives P31,000 bill from hospital, family compelled to give soldier's motorcycle as collateral Source: Facebook 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 Philippine Army Chief already ordered the launching of an investigation on the death of Corporal Winston Ragos. As per their statement, they also mentioned that the wounds of a soldier are not merely physical but also mental. 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! One netizen made a difference by giving food to a Grab driver. Cha Calubaquib posted about how happy the Grab driver was when she gave him chicken for his family. You will find how truly inspiring the story is through the video that we created just for you. Check out all of the exciting videos and celebrity interviews on our KAMI HumanMeter YouTube channel! Source: KAMI.com.gh Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. Palliative care physicians specialize in easing sufferingtheir job is to support patients and their families as they manage serious illnesses. They know the value of making time for compassion in the midst of a crisis. These days, palliative doctors and nurses are being called into hospital emergency rooms more and more to help the doctors manage the crushing numbers of COVID-19 patients facing intubation on life-support systems and, often, death. Theyre not the only onesdoctors and nurses from all kinds of fields have had to take on new and difficult roles during this pandemic, often discussing end-of-life scenarios with critically ill patients family members in ways they previously wouldnt have. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dana Lustbader, the chief of the department of palliative medicine at a large New York physician provider group, has seen some elements of her practice improve thanks to the urgency of the pandemic. Rules on documentation, for example, have been relaxed, she said, so she has been able to spend more time with patients and less inputting meaningless data in a computer. But the reality is that the work is harder than ever before. I spoke with Lustbader about those difficult conversations, how this moment might change our approach to palliative care indefinitely, and how to practice empathy in some of this pandemics most difficult moments. Molly Olmstead: What message do you have for other health care professionals without your experience? Advertisement Dana Lustbader: Were going to be having a lot more palliative care during the next phase of COVID-19 as we start to have a lot of people on ventilators [who are] not going to wake up. Were going to start to have to have some really hard conversations with their family members or their health care proxy, if they have one, about what to do next. So its important that we include as many other members of the team as possible to hear how we have these very difficult conversations. On Sunday I was in a Queens hospital, which is really the epicenter of the epicenter. I was doing a lot of these calls, and I brought in with me the ICU nurses. There are a lot of other physicians rotating through the ICU, like a dermatologist, a surgical oncologist, and a couple of other residents who normally arent even in the hospital. As were pulling in other doctors to help out, bringing people into these conversations helps their skill level. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats it been like to pull new colleagues into these settings? Advertisement Advertisement I had a [58-year-old] patient who was on a ventilator for two weeks. She was very borderline in terms of her ability to come off the ventilator. So I did a video visit with her son, and you could just see her completely wake up. He started to say a Catholic prayer to her in Spanish. She started to get teary, and her hands started motioning that we should take the breathing tube out. That visit with her son was so motivating it gave her the fortitude to just breathe on her own. The nurses were in the room, and they were just watching thisthey had never seen a conversation like this before. And they were, I think, worried that he wouldnt want to see his mother this way with a breathing tube in. And it was the opposite. He wanted to see herhis fear was such that his thoughts were just so much worse than reality. So he was crying with happiness to see her. And the nurses were just surprised. Advertisement Advertisement By adding the video component, its allowed us to see that a family member needs us to pause or that theyre just really having a hard time with what youre saying right now. Dr. Dana Lustbader Do you have any advice for how doctors should approach these conversations? Advertisement Advertisement One of the best practices here is to start those conversations early. Most doctors are not trained in serious illness communication and dont do it very well. Its not something youre born knowing how to do. A good way to do [a call] is to first say, Were just calling to give an update. The first thing they think when they see a hospital ID is that their loved one has died, so we want to make sure that we let them know that this is not yet an emergency. The second thing we might do is ask how the coronavirus has impacted them, because were finding that sometimes the person were calling is also in the hospital, or theyve just lost another relative, or theyre at a funeral, or theyre doing a Zoom funeral, or they just lost their job today. So understanding where they are right now, as a result of this pandemic, is important. And thats different from our usual practice. We didnt usually ask people how they were doing. But this is important now. Advertisement Advertisement And the next thing we ask them is what the doctors told them. Because sometimes, they actually dont know anything. They might not even know that their loved one is on a life-support machine or a ventilator. Maybe the team didnt have time or have the right phone number to call. The next thing we like to do is ask is if this is a good timeits giving them some control and asking permission to see if theyre ready to move forward. Advertisement What do you do when they are ready? [Try] to really understand what the patient wanted and valuedwhat kind of person are they? what do they value in life?so we can make the important decisions together going forward. We dont want to put the burden of a medical decision in someones lap without sharing in that. Would it be OK to be in a nursing home on a ventilator with a feeding tube, not recognizing the people around them? For some people, that might be OK, but for most, its not. We can, as medical professionals, help make these critical decisions based on what the patient values in life. Advertisement Heres where also these video visits are so helpful, because when youre having a conversation in person, you can see their body language and you know when to be quiet because you can tell that theyre starting to get sad or to cry, and you dont want to talk over that emotion. You want to just sit with it and be empathetic. With a telephone call, its sometimes hard to know whats going on on the other end. By adding the video component, its allowed us to see that a family member needs us to pause or that theyre just really having a hard time with what youre saying right now. And it gives us a lot more information, and it makes the call and the interaction better. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do you have any advice for the public while were on the topic? Its really important that all adults over the age of 18 who have the capacity to do so pick a health care proxy who is going to make decisions for you. Decisions about life support, about surgeries, about other treatments, amputations, other kinds of medications, dialysis. You just go to a website, you download your states health care proxy form. Weve seen with this disease, it can impact someone at any age. Do you think any of the ways youre practicing now will change palliative care beyond this pandemic? I think one of the biggest changes that were going to see [in palliative care] after COVID-19 is the use of telehealth. Prior to this, there werent many practices using it routinely. And because some of the [legal] restrictions have been lifted, we can do FaceTime or Zoom or WhatsApp, whatever is easiest for the family members. We can keep them in the loop in ways we wouldnt normally have been able to before. Right now, families arent permitted in the hospital to see patients, so bringing in telehealth so that we can do a virtual visit with a patient or family can be so incredibly meaningful. Advertisement Advertisement I had another patient who was beginning his dying process. A 52-year-old man, otherwise perfectly healthy. He had a wife and a daughter, and I called the wife to see if she would like to do a telehealth visit with him, and she didnt. [Then] I did a video visit with the daughter. The dad was paralyzed with the medications and sedated heavily and on a breathing machine, so all she could see was his back and then all these tubes coming out. She asked if I could show her the breathing machine. She wanted to see his face. She wanted to see where the tubes were going in. She wanted to understand what was being done. And even though he was dying, and she was crying and extremely sad, she was grateful to know that everything was being done for him. Because in her mind, she couldnt see him, she didnt trust that we were really doing everything, and I think she wondered even if he had a ventilator. For her, it was so important to see that. So the daughter spoke to her mom, and later that afternoon, the mother called back so she could say goodbye. And that ended up being a very meaningful and important thing to do because he died shortly after that visit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She wanted to see his face. She wanted to see where the tubes were going in. She wanted to understand what was being done. Dr. Dana Lustbader On a lighter note, I have an outpatient palliative care practice to take care of a lot of people with advanced illness, and it has become wonderful that we can still stay in contact with them. With some of the restrictions lifted, we can use FaceTime. If theyre socially isolated, we can try to help them think of ways to get connected with other people. I had a patient yesterday I did a telehealth visit with who hasnt been out of the house in two months. She had breast cancer, and shes in her 50s, and shes so terrified of getting COVID-19 that she wont even step outside her apartment. And shes very depressed and is having nightmares about being in the hospital alone. So we talked about taking a baby step, just getting dressed and opening the front door. Its so important that we reach out to people suffering from mental health issues and see them with a video call. Advertisement Speaking of checking in on people, you have a very emotionally challenging job. How have you been during this? Its hard. Its really, really hard. We havent really had a lot of time to process it. Some of us are together on a Slack chat group. And some of us kind of support each other through WhatsApp. And we debrief and sometimes share how hard things are there. But there hasnt yet been time for that. Advertisement I called this patients husband Saturday just to tell him that his wife wasnt doing well. She had a brain bleed or stroke, but also got COVID-19. He was lonely and desperate for her. He has thyroid cancer, and he was supposed to have surgery this week, which they canceled. But at the end of the call, he thanked me for my service. Which made me start to cry in the middle of the ICU. Here he is losing his wife, and hes thanking me. Every now and then, its something like that thats incredibly moving. Advertisement Advertisement Im a midcareer physician. Ive been around a long time, 25 years practicing. I see people die, generally who are very, very sick and terminally ill. Whats different here is these are young people dying. The amount of people dying is just so much in one day. I really worry about the younger physicians. I was two weeks ago leaving the ICU after a 16-hour shiftI do critical care alsoand it was four floors of COVID patients on ventilators. As were leaving, a patient had died. And the nurse taking care of the patient, as were walking out, started to cry. He said he had just come up here from San Antonio to work here for several months, and this was only his third death in his entire career. I worried about him that night when he went home. And these new doctors who graduated medical school early who we put on the floors to help out, we moved them into the ICU. We promoted everybody into higher positions or to jobs that normally they would never do. And these are people who I think are going to have a lot of PTSD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What would you like the public to know about your experience? I dont think people really understand whats going on inside the hospital. You know, when I drive to the hospital, theres nobody on the Long Island Expressway, and I park right in front of the hospital, in the middle of Queens. Theres this disconnect between what were seeing outside, but then you go inside the hospital, and everybodys wearing these N95s and spacesuits and goggles. We have very few ICU nursestheyre mostly nurses from other departments coming in to help. There was a pediatric ER nurse there taking care of adult ICU COVID patients, and one of the patients was her dad. Its just, like, war rules. And every two hours you hear overhear code 999. And thats somebody else not breathing, going on a machine. Its just constant like that. Then you leave the hospital and you go back to the car. And theres nobody outside, and its a pretty day. And its just a disconnect. A total of 295 people, most of them related to the Tablighi Jamaat, were shifted to 12 temporary jails in as many districts across the state, jail officials said on Thursday. Director general (DG) of UP Prison Administration and Reform Services Anand Kumar said 156 foreign nationals were among the people lodged in temporary jails. He said all the foreign nationals were members of the Tablighi Jamaat who came to India from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Nepal, Sudan, Thailand, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, France, Palestine, Syria, Mali and Morocco to attend a religious congregation. Giving a break-up, he said 64 people, including 54 foreign nationals, were lodged in a Saharanpur juvenile home that was converted into a temporary jail. Similarly, 46 people, including 15 foreign nationals, were lodged in a Jaunpur temporary jail, he said. Besides, 45 people, including 16 foreign nationals, were shifted to a temporary jail in Bulandshahr. The numbers for the other districts are: Prayagraj (30, including 16 foreign nationals), Lucknow (23 foreign nationals), Varanasi (22 locals), Sultanpur (17, including 10 foreign nationals) Gyanpur in Bhadohi (14 including 11 foreigners), Moradabad (14), Bjnor (eight foreign nationals), Sitapur (four, including three foreigners) and Agra (seven). Kumar said temporary jails were also set up in other districts, including two jails each in Mirzapur, Hardoi, Fatehpur, Pratapgarh and Meerut, one each in Ghaziabad, Muzaffarnagar, Kanpur, Agra, Mathura, Sonbhadra, Unnao, Lakhimpur Kheri, Hamirpur, Shahjahapur, Badaun, Rampur, Bahraich, Barabanki, Baghpat, Pilibhit, Kannauj and Banda. In all, 39 temporary jails have been set up in as many districts. The Uttar Pradesh government decided to set up these temporary jails to lodge Tablighi Jamaat members and suspected Covid positive people who were arrested during police raids after six inmates of the Moradabad district jail tested positive, leading to fears that other prisoners could also get infected. Five out of the six accused are those arrested for an attack on a medical team in Nagfani area of Moradabad on April 15. Two people, including a doctor, were injured in the attack. Calamity as anyone who ever bought real estate during a recession knows sometimes presents opportunities. For many governments, the pandemic crisis presents the perfect cover for carrying out actions they could only dream of before the virus struck. Around the time people first started falling ill in Hubei province, the Communist Party of China was wrestling with the difficult question of how to respond to voters in Hong Kong massively rejecting pro-Beijing candidates in local elections. Early in the new year, as news of the COVID-19 epidemic in Wuhan began to spread, China replaced its top official in Hong Kong with Luo Huining, who has a reputation as a party enforcer. On Saturday, he made his move, arresting 15 major pro-democracy figures including Martin Lee, the former colony's octogenarian "father of democracy." Kin Cheung/The Associated Press A distracted world Lynette Ong, who teaches political science at the University of Toronto's Asian Institute, said that the detainees include people Beijing would have been reluctant to go after had the world not been distracted by a once-in-a-lifetime public health crisis. "They've been wanting to make these arrests for a long time," Ong said. "They know the rest of the world's attention is on coronavirus." If Beijing was hoping that other countries would be reluctant to denounce its actions at a time when many of them have urgent orders for medical equipment pending at Chinese factories, it may have guessed right. Both Canada and the European Union issued fairly anodyne statements, saying the arrests demand "close scrutiny." While it defended the right to peaceful protest, Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne's statement included a line that seemed to suggest both sides shared some blame: "We urge all sides involved in the crisis to exercise restraint, to refrain from violence and to engage in peaceful and inclusive dialogue to address the legitimate concerns expressed during the 2019 protests." Story continues "I don't know what 'all sides' means," said Ong, who believes that Xi Jinping's autocratic regime has been winning back its people's trust after a rocky January and February. "I'm not optimistic for the future of Hong Kong." Orban's rule in Hungary Hungary's experiment with democracy in the post-Communist era began to falter the moment Viktor Orban was elected prime minister in 2010. "We only have to win once, but win properly," he said at the time. His actions as leader since have shown a single-minded dedication to subjecting Hungary to his personal rule. Hungary's independent media outlets have been largely silenced by being closed or bought out by oligarchs connected to Orban's Fidesz Party using money that comes largely from public contracts. Virginia Mayo/The Associated Press Debate was muted when Orban proposed a new law that would suspend parliament, stop all elections and allow him to rule by decree. The Fidesz-dominated parliament voted heavily in favour of the bill, which also gives the government the right to jail those it accuses of spreading pandemic misinformation for up to five years. Orban said the measure was necessary to allow the government to act swiftly to "save lives" in a pandemic. "We cannot react quickly if there are debates and lengthy legislative and lawmaking procedures." But given Orban's history of methodically dismantling Hungary's democracy and institutions, most human rights groups predict his new powers will be used against anyone who criticizes the government's handling of the pandemic. Rewards, not punishments "This bill creates an indefinite and uncontrolled state of emergency and gives Viktor Orban and his government carte blanche to restrict human rights," David Vig, Amnesty International's Hungary director, said in a statement. Former Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi called for the law to be withdrawn or for Hungary to be expelled from the European Union. But far from protesting Orban's takeover, the EU appears set to reward him with a huge $8.4-billion Cdn payout from its coronavirus mitigation fund. The money is to be distributed according to the rules that govern EU regional aid flows rather than according to the actual impact of the pandemic. And so Hungary, which has had slightly more than 200 COVID-19 deaths, will receive more money than Spain which has suffered more than 20,000 deaths and more than twice as many as Italy, which has lost about 25,000 people to the virus. Bolivia's election postponed When public anger over alleged electoral fraud led to the overthrow of Bolivia's Socialist President Evo Morales last November, Canada found itself in a democratic dilemma. The Trudeau government believed that Morales who lost a referendum on whether he should run again and then did it anyway had lost legitimacy. But it was reluctant to embrace a new government that appeared to be filling up with some of Morales's most virulent opponents from the religious fundamentalist far right. Canada's embrace of the new president of Bolivia, Jeanine Anez, was lukewarm and predicated upon a quick rerun of the election. Juan Karita/The Associated Press "Now that President Morales has resigned, Canada supports an institutional solution that will allow for a temporary caretaker administration to prepare for new elections and avoid a power vacuum," Global Affairs spokesperson John Babcock told CBC News. "Bolivians deserve to have their voices heard and democratic rights respected, and it is critical that free and fair elections be held as quickly as possible. Canada stands ready to support those efforts." An early plan to hold the election rerun on Jan. 22 was abandoned in the first days of the new year and Bolivians were told to prepare to vote on May.3. But now, with some polls showing Morales's party in first place (albeit with 23 per cent support) that election has been postponed, with the government citing the COVID-19 crisis as its reason. No new date has been set. CBC News asked the government of Canada for its reaction to the postponement. A spokesman for Global Affairs said the department would provide one, but none was forthcoming at the time of publication. Texas goes after abortion Texas's Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has never been shy about his goal of eliminating legal access to abortion services but has been prevented from following through by federal law, as interpreted through the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Roe vs. Wade. Then COVID-19 came along, and Abbott banned non-essential medical procedures including abortion. Republican governors in Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa and Ohio soon followed suit. Alabama, Oklahoma and Tennessee tried the same thing but were blocked by courts. Eric Gay/The Associated Press The stated rationale for banning abortions keeping hospitals free to treat pandemic patients and saving personal protective equipment (PPE) for health-care workers dealing with COVID-19 cases makes little sense in a state where only 0.2 per cent of abortions are performed in hospitals. About 90 per cent of abortions in Texas are performed using a two-pill process; judges initially refused to order a suspension of those outpatient procedures. On Monday, an appeals court allowed Texas to ban those as well. Some Texas Republicans have not tried very hard to hide their glee over these developments. Congressional candidate Kathaleen Wall actually claimed the pandemic might save lives as a result. But their triumph may be short-lived because it collides with another Abbott objective: reopening his state to normal commerce as soon as possible. Normal medical procedures are supposed to resume in the Lone Star State this week if providers can prove they won't take much-needed PPE away from the fight against the pandemic. It's not clear how that will affect abortion clinics. Netanyahu clings on If Benjamin Netanyahu were not a consummate political survivor, he would never have become Israel's longest-serving prime minister. But many observers thought his indictment for bribery, fraud and breach of trust, coupled with the conviction of his wife, Sara, for misusing public funds, would be too much even for him to survive. And it might have been but with COVID-19, Israel's courts were closed on March 15, two days before his trial was due to start. A new trial has been set for May 24, although nobody knows for sure that will actually happen. Pool via Reuters Meanwhile, Netanyahu's allies in the Knesset, who failed to win a majority in three consecutive elections, took advantage of the crisis to use procedural manoeuvres to prevent the formation of a new government. Netanyahu said he was motivated only by the desire to form a government of national unity at a moment of national crisis. "No one wants this more than I do," he said, "because I saw the coronavirus pathogen galloping toward us, and I know it's not going to leave us in the foreseeable future. Under these conditions, I know that the country needs a broad and stable government." This week, Netanyahu's chief rival, Benny Gantz, cited the pandemic as his reason for agreeing to serve in a unity government under a man he has often described as unfit to govern Israel. No criticism, please it's an emergency Many governments have introduced new restrictions on speech in the name of combating "misinformation" about the novel coronavirus. (The Trudeau government also has flirted with the idea.) In many cases, the "misinformation" governments are concerned about is anything that calls into question their own responses to the pandemic. In Turkmenistan, a hermetic police state dominated by President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov's cult of personality, saying the word "coronavirus" or wearing a mask in public can lead to arrest, according to Reporters Without Borders. Alexei Druzhinin/The Associated Press Thai Prime Minister Gen. Prayuth Chan-Ocha used COVID-19 to declare a state of emergency that gave him sweeping powers to censor media and critics. "After a state of emergency is announced, everyone must be careful about social media misinformation," Prayuth warned the Thai people in a television announcement. "The media and all of those who use social media to distort information will be scrutinized." Already, Thailand has arrested one citizen for a Facebook posting about a lack of screening for airline passengers landing in Bangkok from Barcelona. Danai Ussama faces a possible five-year sentence. Meanwhile, in Canada Canadian politicians are not immune to the temptation to make the most of COVID-19. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's attempt to run Canada without having to consult with Parliament until the end of 2021 was condemned as a "power grab" by opposition parties, constitutional scholars, historians and non-partisan watchdogs. The notion of allowing a minority government, which placed second in the popular vote, to govern without normal democratic checks for 21 months was soon abandoned in the face of resistance by outraged opposition parties. In Alberta, Jason Kenney's UCP government was accused of staging a power grab of its own when it passed the controversial Bill 10, which gives it sweeping emergency powers that some have called an affront to constitutional liberties. And some Conservative premiers responded to the pandemic by calling for the urgent repeal of the carbon tax something that was a favourite political target long before COVID-19 struck. FILE PHOTO: International supermodel and activist Naomi Campbell speaks to Reuters during an interview in London By Alicia Powell NEW YORK (Reuters) - Coronavirus quarantine has supermodel Naomi Campbell reinventing herself as a talk show host with the new series "No Filter with Naomi." The catwalk queen is chatting live on YouTube every day with some of her famous friends, including Vogue editor Anna Wintour and models Cindy Crawford and Karlie Kloss. "I want people to be able to see we're accessible, you know, to know a bit more about us," Campbell told Reuters. In normal times, she said, "you get us doing these talk shows for five minutes or seven minutes when we're promoting something." Her chats, all conducted remotely, are 30 minutes long so "you get us relaxed at home. Being able just to sit and just talk." Campbell has also allowed fans to join her for daily live workouts with her personal trainer on Instagram, drawing about 50,000 people. "I just want to share it with everyone, whoever wants to do it with me, which is great," she said. When restrictions are lifted Campbell said she's unsure of what the fashion industry will look like. "I really do worry what's going to happen about fashion shows," she said. "But there will be work again. It just will be in a different way." Campbell can currently be seen as a judge on the Amazon fashion design competition "Making the Cut" hosted by Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn. She said she was attracted to the show because of the "opportunity that these young designers of the next generation will get." The British native said the first thing she'll do after social distancing guidelines end is simple. "I just want to hug my mom." (Editing by Jill Serjeant and David Gregorio) The country's scrap importers are in a dilemma. One the one hand, they are unable to accept containers that are piling up at ports, and on the other, demand for their products has plummeted leading to a severe cash crunch. And to confound matters further, two separate communications from the Ministry of Shipping has added to the uncertainty. Over 30 percent of the 1.5 lakh containers that are stuck in ports across the country, contain scrap that are used to make products for auto and construction/infrastructure sectors. "We need to release the containers from the ships within a stipulated period of time. If we don't, the shipping companies start charging us detention and demurrage (charges levied if the ships are not released by the importers after a stipulated period of time). If there is no relief, then these charges could amount to Rs 6,000 crore," Jayant Jain, Secretary, All India Non Ferrous Metal Exim Association, told Moneycontrol earlier this week. 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 importers are unable to release containers because of severe cash crunch. They said it is taking longer, because of the lockdown restrictions, to get papers cleared by the banks and make the payments. Many have asked banks for relief in the form of easier credit lines. The Association had sent a letter to Mansukhbhai Mandaviaji, Union Minister of State for Shipping, asking for a relief from paying the charges. The Ministry had earlier given the importers relief for the first lockdown period, from March 24 to April 14, to limit the COVID-19 impact. The importers had requested for an extension of this relief to cover the second lockdown period. It looked like their requests were answered, when on April 21 the Ministry of Shipping passed an order asking all ports to ensure that importers are not levied any charges. The waiver on charges, including that for detention and demurrage, was for the lockdown period, and for 30 days of 'recovery period." Ports were also asked to defer lease rental payments. However, the very next day, Directorate General of Shipping in Mumbai, issued another order, this time for the shipping companies, that charges shouldn't be levied for the lockdown period, till May 3. However, there was no mention of the 30 days recovery period that the Ministry had included in its order. "Directorate General of Shipping comes under the Ministry. How is it that both their communications are different?" asked an importer. Importers reiterated that the 30-day recovery period is important because of the way the industry functions. Planning ahead Jitendra Chopra, an entrepreneur based in Ahmedabad, imports scrap from suppliers in the US, Middle-East and Africa. The scrap is used in his units, situated in Ahmedabad, to make products used by auto part companies, and those that make window frames for residential use. In a month, he imports about 35 containers, which come at the Mundra or the ICD Ahmedabad port. "At a time we order for three months, as it takes time in transportation and also releasing the containers from the port," adds Chopra. But as soon as the first lockdown was announced, importers like Chopra put a pause on orders. That was not enough. To ensure that the supply chain continued to function smoothly, they needed their customers in auto and constructions sectors to keep buying products from them, so that the stock of scrap keeps getting used, rather than piling up. Not just that the clients have stopped orders, but payments have been delayed. In the mail to the Shipping Ministry, the Association said that clients such as Renault and Nissan in the auto sector, and Tata Steel in the sector, have already informed vendors about delayed payments. The vendors were thus forced to stop payments to their suppliers, including to the likes of Chopra. With no demand, and production stopped under lockdown, the stock of scrap kept increasing. "I have no choice but to find space to store the containers," said Chopra. He has rented a space in Ahmedabad to do the same, and now as to pay additional rent for that. Given the circumstances, added importers, the 30-day relaxation that the Ministry gave - but not included in the order by the Directorate General - is crucial to manage the stock. "The industry needs minimum 30 days, after the lockdown, to get back to normalcy. The shipping ministry should ensure that all the stakeholders, including ports and shipping companies, provide the waiver," said Jain. According to the new Times Higher Education (THE) University Impact Rankings, Dalhousie is among the top 100 universities in the world. The Impact Rankings launched last year and are the only global rankings to document evidence of universities impact on society, rather than just research and teaching performance. They include metrics based on all 17 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals across three broad areas: research, outreach and stewardship. Dalhousie ranked 85 among the 767 institutions from 85 countries that participated. There were 19 institutions in Canada that took part, and Dalhousie was the only university in Atlantic Canada to be recognized. Achieving standing in the top 100 universities in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings is something we should all take great pride in, says Deep Saini, Dal president and vice-chancellor. Taking our place among the best in the world shows the profound difference our work is making in the lives of our students, our communities and around the globe. Global impact A universitys final score in the Impact Rankings is a measure of how well they are addressing the worlds most pressing issues in these areas. The top performance areas for Dalhousie included SDG 14 (Life Below Water); SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing); SDG10 (Reduced Inequalities); and SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goals). These rankings are an acknowledgement of the incredible research being done by hundreds of faculty and students at Dalhousie University, says Alice Aiken, vice-president research and innovation at Dalhousie University. They also demonstrate that by leveraging our greatest research strengths, and by partnering with others globally, we are able to focus our efforts on solving some of the most complex global issues facing humankind. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals can be found throughout Dalhousie Universitys Strategic Direction for Research and Innovation. The universitys five signature research clusters and two cross cutting themes are all grounded in specific Sustainable Development Goals. "It is tremendous that Dalhousie has been recognized for its exceptional and strategic contributions to the UNs SDG14 (Life Below Water), says Dr. Sara Iverson, Scientific Director of the Ocean Tracking Network. Dalhousie has demonstrated its world leadership through its highly innovative interdisciplinary work that is spread across many faculties and departments and through its ground-breaking international research initiatives, such as the Ocean Tracking Network (OTN), the Marine Environmental Observation, Prediction and Response (MEOPAR) network, and the Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI), among others, all of which are working towards healthier and more sustainable oceans and communities across the globe." Additional information about the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings can be found here. Am I being more lenient? I would say not necessarily, but weve made some accommodations on some cases, Smith said. If anything, we would delay the hearing and Ive had a lot of people want to get out of jail, had them file bond modification motions, and Ive not granted a single one yet based on the coronavirus. My rationale there is we havent had a single case in the jail, but weve had six or seven outside the jail, so which one is more dangerous right now? The Huber law lets people work from the jail, and Ive told the attorneys if anything Id stop that first because theyre coming in and out of the jail, and they kind of balk at that a little bit Letting them out of jail, I havent seen any proof that its more safe than not. Staying home has never been so stressful, but quarantine has some perks - it's allowed us to (virtually) snoop around other people's homes. The first few weeks of lockdown brought us the novelty of broadcasters migrating to guest bedrooms and kitchen tables, as the nation pored over Bryan Dobson's bookshelves and admired the Scandi-chic panelling of Claire Byrne's shed. And as the quarantine stretches on, stir-crazy celebrities seeking any excuse not to work (and any opportunity to grab the attention they crave) have given us a look into their luxurious homes - many viewers of Gal Gadot and Co's viral 'Imagine' video were less interested in the warbling celebrities than in the details of their decor, from Zoe Kravitz's tiled fireplace to Maya Rudolph's millennial pink couch. Without red carpets to strut or chat shows to titter on, the stars have had to resort to selfies and shots of their work-from-home set-ups posted to social media. Enter the #deskie, a carefully styled picture of the celebrity's desk, artfully dressed with vases of flowers, fashionable stationery and an illuminating selection of books. Alexa Chung's is an unsurprisingly chic example: atop a mid-century desk - which, she explains in the comments of her Instagram post, she picked up at a vintage shop - she has arranged an achingly cool display of sketchbooks and fashion tomes, next to a tumbling mass of flowers in a rustic vase and a lampshade featuring a very of-the-moment line drawing of a woman's face. Throw in a two-tone linen cushion on the traditional wooden chair and it's enough to give anyone desk envy. Much like Alexa's own personal style, it's an eclectic mishmash of contemporary and vintage touches, though without any laptops, tablets, unattractive cords or cables in the way, it's improbably low-tech (and miles more photogenic). The photo was taken just before lockdown during a shoot for Domino magazine, which explains the professional quality and impeccable styling - it's safe to assume a more recent snap wouldn't be quite so immaculate. In other examples of desks whose only job is to be photographed, see Kate Middleton's, captured in a picture shared by Kensington Palace last month. Decorated with a leather document wallet and a wicker letter tray, the elegant wooden desk is so pristine, it could be a stock picture, on which she (or some royal aide) has posed a collection of terribly sophisticated cloth-bound Penguin Classics. Book lovers eager to judge Kate's literary tastes will find little of interest here, only an indisputable selection of Dickens, Austen and Bronte. But in the background, we can see her desk overlooks a speckless cream sofa, embroidered cushions, covered radiators and a child-sized club chair, suggesting a family-friendly workspace. From Kate's bouncy blow-dry to her beautiful patterned carpet, it's picture-perfect, although nosy viewers would expect little else from a literal princess. Mindy Kaling's deskie, on the other hand, offered a visual feast for eagle-eyed bookworms. Her own desk - a dark, open-carved affair with child-proof corner guards - is empty apart from her laptop, a lamp and a couple of framed photos, but the stars of the show are her shelves: gorgeous, teal built-in shelving, heaving with books, framed photos and a game of Monopoly. Video of the Day She has a few Penguin Classics of her own - the Bronte sisters boxed set - and titles by fellow comics Tina Fey, Steve Martin and David Sedaris, literary fiction by Zadie Smith and Philip Roth, a large volume on American theatre, and Bridget Jones's Diary author Helen Fielding's lesser-known debut Cause Celeb, a natural choice for the romcom connoisseur. You get the sense she might even have read them all too. Jigsaw floor mats line the orange patterned rug and there appears to be a crib just out of shot, indicating her office doubles as a play area for her two-year-old daughter Katherine. Mindy shared a photo of herself sitting at the desk in a white shirt, sleeveless jumper and swan-printed pyjamas, quipping: "When all of your meetings for the day are video conference calls." Humour can be a handy tool for wealthy stars to prove they're really just like us - or so they believe. Cindy Crawford joked about the realities of working from home with a pair of shots contrasting "working from home on Instagram vs. working from home IRL". In the first, the supermodel poses with her heels resting on a spotless desk, laid out with a couple of neat documents, a laptop and notepad, beside a crisp white vase of pink roses. The second picture shows a more laid-back Cindy surrounded by scattered paperwork, notepads, greeting cards and miscellaneous household items - yet it also shows her sleek glass desk, iMac computer, tan leather chair and floor-to-ceiling windows, plus a large illustration of Cinderella, the only hint of her personality in an oasis of glistening modernism. Who knew the supermodel was a Disniac? In her working from home snap, Reese Witherspoon is joined by a four-legged assistant: her bulldog Lou. Her deskie reveals she's converted the kitchen into a temporary office, the table strewn with her laptop, glasses and various clutter. For many of Reese's followers, the grocery bags on the kitchen counter and the tablet box on the table are endearing, offering an authentic slice of the actress's life. Reese may be one of the most powerful players in Hollywood, but her brand pitches her as a down-to-earth, approachable, 'regular' woman and mother, and this set-up coveys that relatability - until you clock that nifty copper temperature control mug, which comes with a 145 price tag. One celebrity who hasn't made any attempts to appear relatable is Madonna, who shares frequent updates from her "quarantine diaries" on Instagram. She favours a chiaroscuro effect in her home office lighting: a single dim lamp and a handful of flickering candles in heavy brass holders provide the only illumination, as she sits at her desk and records her musings on a typewriter. "Working from home" has become, for her, another kind of performance, complete with props, including an eerie bird cage, a rather frightening doll figurine and one familiar item: a bottle of Tipp-Ex. It's bizarre, but getting that previously forbidden glimpse into a celebrity's home life feeds our naturally voyeuristic impulses. And if you need to take a break from the news, a dose of aspirational eye candy, in the form of built-in bookshelves, made-to-measure cushioning or a striking desk lamp, is as good a distraction as any. Playa del Carmen officers return home after becoming stranded in Peru Playa del Carmen, Q.R. Municipal police officers who had been stranded in Peru since mid-March finally returned home to Playa del Carmen. The 11 officers were on an international training course when coronavirus flight and border restrictions were put into place. On Wednesday, the Secretary of Foreign Relations, Marcelo Ebrard announced the safe return of the 11 officers who were met by their commander Jorge Robles, head of the Secretariat of Public Security and Municipal Transit at the Cancun International Airport. Commander Robles explained that in accordance with instructions from the Executive Secretariat of National Public Security, for their professionalization, the 11 elements of the Municipal Police went to Peru to be trained at the National Academy. Playa del Carmen mayor Laura Beristain, recognized the officers for their outstanding work and welcomed them home after being in Peru for more than a month following the closure of the South American countrys borders. The officers expressed their gratitude to the mayor for her efforts in ensuring they returned home, as well as for the support she provided during their stay in Peru. The officers left for Peru March 14 and were scheduled to return March 28. The Victorian government has used its numbers in an emergency sitting of Parliament to thwart opposition parties' calls for more scrutiny of the state's coronavirus pandemic response. The Andrews government was racing to pass its omnibus bill on Thursday night, granting it unprecedented temporary powers to deal with the pandemic. The opposition and minor parties have raised alarm about a small group of ministers in Premier Daniel Andrews' new Crisis Council of Cabinet wielding almost unchecked powers for six months. Political rivals say Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews is refusing to submit his government to enough scrutiny despite granting itself unprecedented emergency powers. Credit:Eddie Jim Lawyers and a public accountability expert have also questioned the measures in the bill, which include judge-only trials. A crazed knifeman stabbed a police sergeant in the stomach and then set a house on fire as his victim lay bleeding on the ground. The injured officer, 45, was able to call for back-up and his attacker was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder - while the officer was rushed to hospital with knife wounds to the abdomen. He is in a stable condition while another officer, 33, was taken to hospital for smoke inhalation. The drama happened at a quiet street in Newport, South Wales, at 5.15am after police were called to a disturbance. A man in his thirties, who was know to residents, was trying to get into a property known locally as a drugs den. A police officer was taken to hospital and a man in his 30s has been charged with his attempted murder and arson after an incident in Newport, Wales this morning When the PC arrived at the scene, he tried to reason with the man, who suddenly pulled a knife. The officer was stabbed in the side of the stomach and collapsed to the ground - though the injury is not thought to be life threatening. Neighbour Gavin Wilkins, 39, said: 'I was woken up by someone smashing on my neighbour's door. 'He was shouting through the door. I called the police at 5.12am, and they were here within five minutes. 'I showed them to where the person was knocking. They told me to go to my flat and stay there. 'They kicked the door through. Armed cops and dogs turned up at around 6am. 'He set fire to his room. You couldn't see the stairs as it was such black smoke. You had to hold the bannister to get out.' Another neighbour said: 'We know this bloke and he carries a knife with him - we've seen him with it. 'There was a hullabaloo about 5am and someone must have called the police. 'The officer was stabbed in the side of the stomach - it was mayhem after that.' Ten police vehicles, ambulances and fire engines were called to the house, close to the city centre. Neighbours said the fire didn't take hold and was quickly dealt with. Forensic investigators at the scene amid a large police presence after the arson attack this morning The police officer was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport. His family has been informed. The lane was cordoned off while forensic officers examine the scene. A Gwent Police spokesman said: 'At 5.15am this morning, officers responded to a report of disorder at an address on St Vincent Lane in Newport. 'Officers later arrested a man in his thirties from the area on suspicion of attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life. He is currently in police custody. 'An officer was taken to The Royal Gwent Hospital having sustained injuries. His family has been notified.' Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector, Mark Johnson said: 'We wish our officer a speedy recovery. 'This is obviously a very concerning incident for us and our officers. 'We have arrested a man from the Newport area on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer from Gwent Police and arson with intent to endanger life. He is currently in police custody. 'South Wales fire and Rescue are now carrying out an investigation and I can confirm this is an isolated case and we are not looking for anyone else connected to this incident.' DCI Johnson said it was a reminder that police were keeping communities safe around the clock despite the challenges of Covid-19. Governor Abdullahi Ganduje on Wednesday said Kano State has not recorded any strange deaths in the wake of the coronavirus scourge ravaging the state and other parts of the nation. He was reacting to Daily Trust newspaper report that 150 persons have been buried in Kano in the last five days, which the health minister, Osagie Ehanire, said was under investigation. The governor disclosed this on Wednesday on a Channels Television programme, while speaking on COVID-19 and the states containment measures. The governor, who expressed worry over the current spate of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state, said there is nothing to show that there is unusual frequency of deaths in Kano. He, however, said the state is still investigating the claim. He said the death toll reported was exaggerated as 13 deaths were actually recorded in a place where it was reported recorded 70 deaths. First of all I want to assure you that the information as portrayed by Daily Trust two days ago is not correct, because we undertook an investigation and in the initial report Ive received, where some people reported 70 deaths, we found out that there were only 13 death. We will soon get a complete report, he said But I can assure you that the information is not correct. There is nothing to show that there is unusual frequency of deaths in Kano State, he noted. The governor said there is yet no confirmation the deaths were caused by coronavirus infection. He said the state has recorded only one death from coronavirus so far. You know, Kano is a cosmopolitan area and people die from different types of diseases. But what is important is the confirmation of what actually killed the people that requested going to the hospitals. That is if they died in the hospital or with their families if they were not taken to the hospital. Certainly, there is no unusual burial taking place in Kano, he noted. The governor also said the state is testing hundreds of people everyday despite a recent report that testing had been halted in the state due to insufficient medical materials. Kano has so far recorded 73 cases of the dreaded virus. The NCDC said as of 11:25 p.m. on April 22, there were 873 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Nigeria. Of these, 197 infected people have recovered and have been discharged while the death toll rose to 28 from 25 reported on Tuesday. The Home Office has been accused of prioritising its tough immigration practices over public health during the pandemic, after confirming it will continue to require asylum seekers to submit claims in person. Leading charities said ministers were fundamentally failing to adapt asylum and immigration processes to protect the health and wellbeing of the nation, and that the department was instead bending over backwards to maintain its hostile environment policies. The Independent revealed last week that hundreds of asylum seekers were being forced to choose between travelling to London to submit their claims at the asylum unit or surviving without the support they are entitled to due to a lack of any alternative submission process during the coronavirus lockdown. The Home Office announced on Wednesday that it had temporarily introduced additional locations to register asylum claims, with limited operations in Glasgow, Belfast, Liverpool, Leeds, Solihull and Cardiff. The department stated that these changes were contingency measures put in place during the epidemic to fulfil the UKs statutory requirement to register asylum claims. Campaigners said that while the action would mean people travelling shorter distances, it would still in many cases require people to take long journeys through busy areas. They said ministers should instead allow asylum seekers to submit their claims remotely during this time. Steve Valdez-Symonds, Amnesty UKs refugee and migrant rights programme director, told The Independent the move failed to address what the issue, adding: It makes absolutely no sense for the Home Office to be insisting on people travelling to make any form of application at this time. They should be thinking about how to ensure everybody can do the things that are essential for everybodys health and welfare. Asking people seeking asylum to travel to make an asylum claim is not doing that. Judith Dennis, policy manager at the Refugee Council, said: Its clearly not safe for people seeking asylum to travel on public transport during a pandemic to these new regional intake units, which are not on most peoples doorsteps and could require long journeys through busy areas. It seems entirely sensible that asylum claims could be made remotely during lockdown, and its not clear why the Home Office hasnt set up a system to facilitate this. The Home Office has come under fire in recent weeks for other alleged failings to adapt and change its policies in line with public health guidance during the coronavirus pandemic Earlier this week, it was accused of causing foreign doctors and nurses in the NHS unnecessary distress as they fight coronavirus in Britains hospitals after declaring they would have their visas extended free of charge only to apparently narrow the group that would benefit. The department has also been criticised for telling people to leave the UK despite travel restrictions. These cases include an elderly woman with lung cancer who was told she must return to Ukraine despite a ban on all air traffic to the country, and a 60-year-old woman told she must return to the US or face deportation. It also prompted outrage when it emerged a man tested positive for coronavirus after being placed in an immigration removal centre despite his symptoms, fuelling concerns that the hundreds of detainees who are controversially still being held in detention were at risk. Mr Valdez-Symonds added: The Home Office is fundamentally failing to evaluate what the situation is now and think about what that means, what power and responsibilities it has and how they can best be used. I think its pretty shocking that were weeks into this and still the Home Office will not fundamentally rethink what its about. Its basically bending over backwards trying to do the same old thing for the same old reason with as little change to its behaviour as it can. Its the same old culture that has been underlying why our immigration system is so bad, so disrespectful, of the people most affected by them. It doesnt care about people, it cares about its preconceptions about how to have tough immigration and asylum policies and practices. A Home Office spokesperson said: In these unprecedented times the government has adapted its services to keep support in place for vulnerable people like asylum seekers. The new locations across the UK mean they travel short distances for appointments and adhere to social distancing guidelines. The Facebook-Reliance Jio deal announced on April 22 will solidify the Indian telecom company's leading market position in the country's growing digital ecosystem, Moody's Investors Service said in a statement. The credit ratings body said proceeds from the announced deal will reduce the consolidated net debt of Reliance Industries (RIL), the parent company of Reliance Jio, and also reinforce its commitment to pare down its net borrowings to zero by March 31, 2021. RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani, in his speech, while addressing the company's 42nd Annual General Meeting on August 12, 2019, said it had a very clear roadmap to becoming a zero net debt company by March 31, 2021. Also Read | Reliance Jio-Facebook deal: Mukesh Ambanis RIL one step closer to zero-debt plan Moody's Investors Service, in its statement, said, "We expect the transaction to reduce RILs consolidated net debt-to-EBITDA by 0.4 times to well below three times, the tolerance level for its Baa2 rating." 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 Social media giant Facebook has bought a 9.9 percent stake in Reliance Jio for $5.7 billion (Rs 43,574 crore). The deal values Jio at Rs 4.62 lakh crore ($65.95 billion). This gives the social media company a foothold in Indias fast-growing market and access to more than 388 million Indians online. It also helps billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led RIL cut its debt significantly. Prior to this, RIL accelerated efforts to reduce debt by attempting to sell stakes worth billions of dollars in some of its businesses. It is in talks with Saudi Aramco to sell 20 percent of its oil to chemicals business and Canadian private equity firm Brookfield Asset Management for a stake in its telecom tower business. Moody's noted that successful completion of these transactions would result in a significant reduction in the company's leverage. "While we expect RIL's earnings from its refining and petrochemical segment to be negatively impacted by the global coronavirus outbreak, its digital services business have benefitted from the increase in demand for digital connectivity," it said. Nonetheless, the ratings agency expects RIL's EBITDA to decline over the next 12 months, but its credit metrics may remain appropriate for its ratings if it successfully executes its announced transactions. Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust, which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd Even with a statewide stay-at-home order and a reeling economy, most Pennsylvania voters continue to support Gov. Tom Wolfs leadership during the coronavirus crisis. Recent polls show a strong majority of voters approve of Wolfs management during the pandemic. The surveys come after more than 1,000 rallied in opposition to the governors shutdown at the state Capitol this week. A Fox News poll found 69 percent approve of Wolfs handling of the crisis. The poll also revealed 62 percent said his stay-at-home order strikes the right balance. Conversely, 23 percent said it is too stringent, while another 12 percent said it is not restrictive enough. The Democratic governors support isnt defined solely by party lines. Naturally, Democrats are more inclined to support Wolfs handling of the crisis, with 86 percent saying they approve of his leadership. But the poll found 50 percent of Republicans approve of Wolfs crisis management, while 45 percent disapprove. In addition, 64 percent of voters surveyed said they were willing to wait to reopen the state, even if the shutdown does more damage to the economy. Republicans are fairly split on that issue, with 45 percent saying they can wait and 42 percent saying it is now time to reopen. Meanwhile, 80 percent of Democrats said theyre willing to wait. The Fox News poll surveyed 803 voters between April 18-21. The timing is noteworthy because it was done before Wolf announced details on his plan to gradually reopen Pennsylvania. The margin of error is 3.5 percentage points. A separate survey shows strong support for the governor. The FOX 43/Susquehanna Polling & Research Poll found 68 percent of voters said Wolf is doing a good job managing the crisis, according to FOX43 (WPMT-TV). The FOX 43/Susquehanna poll found 18 percent disapproved of Wolfs leadership during the pandemic and 13 percent said they were unsure. In addition, the FOX 43/Susquehanna survey found bipartisan support for Wolf. The poll found 83 percent of Democrats support Wolfs handling of the crisis, while 57 percent of Republicans approve of his management, FOX43 reported. But the survey also showed a growing anxiety to return to work. The survey found 44 precent of Pennsylvanians said they wanted to go back to work by the start of May, while 38 percent said businesses should stay closed indefinitely. The FOX 43/Susquehanna poll surveyed 693 registered or likely voters between April 14-20. The survey had a margin of error of 3.7 percent. Pennsylvania remains under a stay-at-home order. This week, Wolf said hell begin a gradual reopening of the state on May 8, starting with the northcentral and northwestern regions. The governor has closed businesses that arent what his administration terms life sustaining. Wolf said construction activity can begin May 1 and hes looking to allow some other business activity to resume next month. Statewide, more than 37,000 have contracted the coronavirus and more than 1,400 have died due to COVID-19, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Wolf has retained public support throughout the COVID-19 crisis. A Baldwin Wallace University poll in late March found 69 percent of Pennsylvania voters approved of Wolfs leadership during the pandemic. Race for the White House Both surveys give former Vice President Joe Biden an edge over President Donald Trump in the battle for Pennsylvania. The Fox news poll shows Biden leading Trump, 50 percent to 42 percent, in the Keystone State. The poll found 8 percent are undecided. The FOX 43/Susquehanna poll found Biden leading Trump, 48 percent to 42 percent, among voters statewide. Pennsylvania looms as a key battleground in the race for the White House. Political analysts note Biden, a Scranton native, could help Democrats take back the Keystone State. But they note Trump won Pennsylvania four years ago and could win it yet again this year. Analysts expect the coronavirus will be the defining issue of the campaign. More from PennLive Formula released by Wolf Administration shows most central Pa. counties not yet ready for yellow stage of coronavirus reopening Can we find those infected with coronavirus, so everyone else can get back to work, school and life? Renowned investor Steve Eisman said Thursday U.S. banks are an attractive investment following the coronavirus-induced market sell-off. "I actually think long-term, the best cyclical play out there are the very large banks," Eisman, senior portfolio manager at Neuberger Berman, told CNBC's "Fast Money." "Post the great financial crisis of 2008, the regulatory apparatus spent years working on the banks the banks were forced to de-lever and to wield multiples more liquidity," Eisman said. "Now that we have a second crisis, the banks are fine." Eisman is one of the "Big Shorts," a group of the investors who famously shorted subprime mortgage loans during the 2008 financial crisis. Bank stocks have taken an even bigger hit than the broader market this year as global governments push to keep people home to curb the coronavirus outbreak. Those measures have dented consumer spending and dampened the global economic outlook. Through Thursday's close, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America were down over 30% year to date while Citigroup and Wells Fargo had each lost over 46% of their market value. The S&P 500, meanwhile, was down 17.6% year to date. Eisman did not specify which U.S. banks he was long. He also said "some" European banks would make for good short positions along with Canadian banks. "The Canadian banks, I think, have not had a credit cycle in literally 30 years. They are not prepared for it and they're going to have real problems," he said, without specifying which banks he was betting against. Eisman added he was short Trex, a Virginia-based company that makes home decking and outdoor items. "A not-insignificant percentage of their customers buy their products by taking out loans," Eisman noted. "I think it's going to be much harder for those customers to take out any loans to buy something that cost $15,000 to $20,000." Trex shares fell more than 6% in thin after-hours trading. Subscribe to CNBC PRO for exclusive insights and analysis, and live business day programming from around the world. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2020 / PROGRESSIVE PLANET SOLUTIONS INC. (TSXV:PLAN) ("Progressive Planet", "PLAN" or the "Company"), a developer of natural pozzolan properties in BC, Canada, wishes to announce that it intends to proceed with a financing totaling $360,000 of up to 12,000,000 units. The financing consists of a non-brokered private placement of $360,000 for 12,000,000 units @ $0.03 per unit with each unit consisting of one share and one-half warrant. Each warrant entitles the holder to acquire one common share of the Corporation for a period of 12 months following the closing date, at an exercise price of $0.05 per warrant share, subject to an acceleration clause if the shares trade at $0.08 or more for a period of ten consecutive trading days following the completion of the four month holding period. The financing is subject to individual minimum subscriptions of $3,000, but the overall financing is not otherwise subject to any minimum aggregate subscription. Subject to certain limitations discussed below, the financing is open to all existing shareholders of the Company as at April 23, 2020, in reliance on the "Existing Shareholder Exemption" pursuant to BC Instrument 45-534. The aggregate acquisition cost to a subscriber under the Existing Shareholder Exemption cannot exceed $15,000 unless the subscriber has obtained advice from a registered investment dealer regarding the suitability of investment. In addition, other investors who qualify under available prospectus exemptions will be allowed to participate in the financing. Existing shareholders of the Company are directed to contact the Company for further information. If subscriptions received for the financing based on all available exemptions exceed the maximum amount of $360,000, subscriptions will be accepted at the discretion of the Company on a pro rata basis. It is thus possible for a subscription received from a shareholder may not be accepted by the Company if the financing is over-subscribed. Assuming the financing is fully subscribed, the Company intends to allocate the proceeds as follows: $210,000 for general working capital, $100,000 for equipment procurement, and $50,000 to retire debt supplied by a company owned by the controlling shareholder of the company, Mr. David Richardson. Although the Company intends to use the proceeds of the financing as described above, the actual allocation of net proceeds may vary from the uses set forth above, depending on future operations or unforeseen events or opportunities. If the financing is not fully subscribed, the Company will apply the proceeds to the above uses in priority and in such proportions as the Company's board of directors may determine is in the best interests of the Company. As required by Temporary Relief Bulletin issued by the TSX Venture Exchange on April 8, 2020, the company wishes to state that the majority of the funds will not be used to pay management fees or investment relations fees. Additionally, in accordance with BC Instrument 45-534, the Company confirms there is no material fact or material change related to the Company which has not been generally disclosed. There are currently 26,854,711 common shares issued and outstanding before giving effect to the current financing. Finders' fees may be payable on the private placement, subject to the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. This offering is subject to TSX Venture Exchange acceptance. All securities issued under the Post-Consolidation financings are subject to a statutory four month hold period. Progressive Planet is a Canadian based mineral exploration company with its flagship Z1 Zeolite Quarry in British Columbia and is earning an 100% interest on the Z2 Natural Pozzolan Property near Falkland, BC and earning a 100% interest in Heffley Creek Natural Pozzolan Property. All three properties are within a one-hour drive of Kamloops, BC. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Signed "Stephen Harpur" Stephen Harpur, CPA, CGA, CEO For further information or investor relations inquiries, please contact us: 1-800-910-3072 Investors@progressiveplanet.ca www.progressiveplanet.ca Forward-Looking Statements: Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Progressive Planet Solutions Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/586540/PLAN-Announces-Non-Brokered-Private-Placement In a separate attack on Saturday Ms Shao (pictured) said she was told she 'wasn't' allowed on the street' and to 'go back to China' A Chinese woman claims she was spat on in the street and abused by a stranger because of racism related to the coronavirus outbreak. Helen Shao said she's been targeted on several occasions because of her race. The natural therapist told the Today Show a man screamed at her while she walking along Falcon Street in Crow's Nest on Sydney's lower north shore. 'A man in his 50s, he turned around and spat on me all over my arm and also my chest,' Ms Shao said. 'He said you f***ing Chinese, take your coronavirus back home.' In a separate attack on Saturday Ms Shao said she was told she 'wasn't allowed' on the street' and to 'go back to China'. Ms Shao relocated to Australia 30 years after fleeing China as a political refugee. The natural therapist took part in the protest for free speech in China during the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989 where some of her closest friends died around her. The natural therapist told the Today Show the first incident involved a man screaming at her while she walking along Falcon Street in Crow's Nest (pictured) on Sydney's lower north shore She has blamed US President Donald Trump for the growing racism towards Chinese communities during the coronavirus pandemic. 'This is not the country I've been living in for 30 years,' she said. 'Ever since the President Trump has told the coronavirus is China virus we're being attacked,' Ms Shao said. Ms Shao said she was comforted by the response she had received by bystanders, who stood up for her during the racist attacks. She has issued a message to those looking to blame someone for the changes in Australian society as a result of COVID-19. 'I want to tell my attackers, please, please stop it. Please do not use us as your punching bag for your own frustration, and a punching bag for this sort of war between China and America. This Chinese community in Australia, have nothing to do with it,' she said. 'Ever since the President Trump (pictured) has told the coronavirus is China virus we're being attacked,' Ms Shao said The incident is the latest in a spate of racially motivated attacks across the country which appear to be linked to fears around coronavirus. Another instance involved a Melbourne family were the target of racist grafitti as well as an act of vandalism. The words 'COVID-19 China die' were spray-painted on the family's garage door. WASHINGTON - The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected the Trump administration's reading of a key part of the Clean Water Act as creating an "obvious loophole" in its enforcement, and gave a partial win to environmentalists in a case from Hawaii. The court ruled 6-3 that a wastewater treatment plant in Hawaii could not avoid provisions of the act, which regulates the release of pollutants into rivers, lakes and seas, by pumping them first into groundwater, from which they eventually reached the ocean. Justice Stephen Breyer's compromise language said an Environmental Protection Agency permit is required when a discharge is "the functional equivalent" of a direct release into navigable waters. While environmentalists had won a broader victory in the lower court, they were happy to accept the Supreme Court's ruling. "This decision is a huge victory for clean water," said David Henkin, an attorney for Earthjustice who argued the case. "The Supreme Court has rejected the Trump administration's effort to blow a big hole in the Clean Water Act's protections for rivers, lakes, and oceans." While the case must go back to lower courts, Henkin said, "we fully expect that Maui County's sewage plant will be required to get a Clean Water Act permit [requiring] the county to protect the ocean from sewage discharges in a way it has refused to do to date." The ruling decision was one of three the court issued on its website Thursday as justices continued to work mostly from home due to the coronavirus pandemic. The court still must decide some cases argued earlier in the term, such as whether federal law covers LGBTQ workers from discrimination, and if the Trump administration may end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which protects immigrants brought to this country as children. In the Hawaii case, environmental law experts agreed that the court's decision will resonate. The test endorsed by the court's majority is "one under which environmentalists can prevail in most every kind of case that environmentalists have brought under the Clean Water Act," said Richard Lazarus, an environmental law expert at Harvard Law School. Some lawyers criticized it as vague, and the EPA was noncommittal about how it would be implemented, emphasizing some specifics in the ruling rather than its bottom line. "We will respect the court's finding that 'as to groundwater pollution and non-point source pollution, Congress intended to leave substantial responsibility and autonomy to the states,' " EPA spokeswoman Corry Schiermeyer said in a statement. "In holding that the Clean Water Act requires a permit for the addition of pollutants to groundwater if it is the 'functional equivalent' of a direct discharge, the court unfortunately leaves some uncertainty for the public, including private property owners," Schiermeyer said. All agree that sewage plants and others must get a permit under the Clean Water Act when they produce pollutants that go directly into a body of navigable water. Maui County injects 3 million to 5 million gallons of treated wastewater into four deep injection wells about a half-mile from the shore. Some of that wastewater eventually gets into groundwater, which tests have shown eventually reaches the Pacific Ocean. Environmentalists said the polluted water had damaged a coral reef. But the issue can also affect agricultural interests, mining companies and home builders, and some justices worried during arguments that it could even affect individual homeowners with septic tanks. During the Obama administration, the EPA had sided with environmentalists in the case. It reversed its position after President Donald Trump took office and said discharges into groundwater fell largely outside the law. Only direct discharges into navigable waters were covered, it said. Breyer wrote that the administration's interpretation could not be right. All a polluter would need do to avoid regulation would be, for instance, to end a discharge pipe just before reaching the water, he said. "We do not see how Congress could have intended to create such a large and obvious loophole in one of the key regulatory innovations of the Clean Water Act," Breyer wrote. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit had ruled that a permit was required if the pollution was "fairly traceable" to a source. But Breyer said that was too broad, allowing "EPA to assert permitting authority over the release of pollutants that reach navigable waters many years after their release (say, from a well or pipe or compost heap) and in highly diluted forms." He had proposed the "functional equivalent" standard when the case was argued, and he acknowledged then and in Thursday's opinion that it could be criticized as vague. "But there are too many potentially relevant factors applicable to factually different cases for this court now to use more specific language," he said. He proposed a seven-factor test, and said it will evolve through EPA regulations and lower court decisions. Breyer was joined by Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. and Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Brett Kavanaugh. Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito Jr. and Neil Gorsuch dissented. They said the majority's decision was not supported by the text of the law and leaves too many questions unanswered. "The court makes up a rule that provides no clear guidance and invites arbitrary and inconsistent application," Alito wrote in his dissent. Water authorities won't know if they are covered, and "regulators are given the discretion, at least in the first instance, to make of this standard what they will. And the lower courts? The Court's advice, in essence, is: 'That's your problem. Muddle through as best you can.' " - - - The Washington Post's Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis contributed to this report. The number of coronavirus cases in the country crossed the 21,000-mark on Thursday. The Ministry of Health updated the total number of positive coronavirus cases in the country to 21,393 on Thursday morning. The figure includes 16,454 active cases, 4,257 patients who have been cured or discharged and 681 fatalities. Gujarat has the second-highest number of coronavirus cases which now near the 2,500-mark. Delhi has more than 2000 coronavirus cases. 724 Covid-19 patients have recovered from the infection in the national capital. In Maharashtra, cases inch toward the 6,000-mark. 4 Indian states have more than 1000 coronavirus cases, these include Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. Here are the key developments: 1. Union Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah on Thursday tweeted on the global praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modis handling of the Covid-19 crisis in India. Shah stated that the truth is self evident as the entire world is praising the Prime Minister and his approach towards tackling the coronavirus outbreak in the country. 2. Tablighi Jamat chief Maulana Saad has completed the 14-day quarantine and got himself tested for coronavirus disease Covid-19, his lawyer Fuzail Ayyubi told Hindustan Times. He has completed his quarantine and undergone a test. The report is awaited, said Ayyubi. 3. Congress president Sonia Gandhi had said that the suggestions she gave to the government on tackling the Covid-19 crisis, were only acted upon partially. Her comments came during a meeting of the Congress Working Committee. 4. Former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Thursday said that success of lockdown will be judged on the countrys ability to tackle Covid-19. He said that cooperation between the Centre and States is the key to success in the fight against coronavirus. 5. The Karnataka government partially relaxed Covid-19 lockdown norms in the state from Thursday. IT and IT-enabled services have been allowed to operate with essential minimum staff. Certain construction activities, manufacturing of packaging materials, courier services, have also been started. 6. According to satellite data published by US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), air pollution over northern India has plummeted to a 20-year-low for this time of the year amid the Covid-19 lockdown. 7. First Lady Savita Kovind on Wednesday stitched face masks at Shakti Haat in the Presidents Estate as part of the fight against Covid-19. 8. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has alleged that the federal government was trying to malign the state and that canards were being spread about the states testing figures when the real problem was with the testing kits supplied to the state. 9. Some industries and a few states have written to the union ministry of labour and employment to allow the use of funds collected under the ESI or Employees State Insurance (ESI) scheme, to cover wages or part of the wages for employees during the lockdown. 10. Co-founder of Microsoft and billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates on Wednesday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modis efforts to combat the coronavirus menace. YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. Amid the coronavirus lockdown, the Yerevan Zoo said it will organize the annual May 1 season opening ceremony remotely. The zoo is closed since March 14th due to the state of emergency, Yerevan Zoo spokesperson Anna Vanyan told ARMENPRESS. She said they had other plans for the May 1 event but due to the lockdown they have found a solution to make our visitors happy on that day. We have prepared a surprise for visitors and we will broadcast it live, Vanyan said. But even during the lockdown days the Yerevan Zoo has been trying to engage people, particularly children who are staying home. They have launched the Write to The Animals Write to Your Friends project, where kids are writing letters to their favorite fluffy creatures. The letters will be published on the zoos social media account and the author of the best one has a surprise waiting for them. And the zoo has been sharing videos online showing the daily lives of the animals. Reporting by Lilit Demuryan; Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan ORRVILLE, Ohio, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The J. M. Smucker Company (NYSE: SJM) (the "Company") today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a $0.88 per share dividend on the common shares of the Company. The dividend will be paid on Monday, June 1, 2020, to shareholders of record at the close of business on Friday, May 15, 2020. The Company also announced that its Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on Wednesday, August 19, 2020. The meeting will be held at 10:00 a.m., Mountain Time, at The St. Julien Hotel, 900 Walnut Street, Boulder, Colorado 80302, subject to any changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Shareholders of record at the close of business on Monday, June 22, 2020, will be entitled to notice of the annual meeting and to vote on matters considered at the meeting. About The J. M. Smucker Company Inspired by more than 120 years of business success and five generations of family leadership, The J. M. Smucker Company makes food that people and pets love. The Company's portfolio of 40+ brands, which are found in 90 percent of U.S. homes and countless restaurants, include iconic products consumers have always loved such as Folgers, Jif, and Milk-Bone plus new favorites like Cafe Bustelo, Smucker's Uncrustables, and Rachael Ray Nutrish. Over the past two decades, the Company has grown rapidly by thoughtfully acquiring leading and emerging brands, while ensuring the business has a positive impact on its 7,000+ employees, the communities it is a part of, and the planet. For more information about The J. M. Smucker Company, visit jmsmucker.com. The J. M. Smucker Company is the owner of all trademarks referenced herein except for Rachael Ray, a registered trademark of Ray Marks II LLC, which is used under license. SOURCE The J. M. Smucker Company Related Links http://www.jmsmucker.com Across the country, the coronavirus pandemic has scrambled mental health services, forcing thousands of people with disabling psychological distress, and their families, to adjust on the fly. Late last month, the Trump administration loosened regulations on psychiatric wards, allowing beds to be reallocated to handle Covid-19 patients, as emergency rooms in New York and other hard-hit areas became overwhelmed. Outpatient and community clinics have had to shut their doors; and many of the countrys hundreds of residential programs, like Mountain Valley, have either tightened admissions, barred visitors or suspended operations entirely. Program capacities are shrinking and staff are being laid off, said Virgil Stucker, the former director of CooperRiis, a residential therapeutic program near Asheville, N.C., who now has a private consulting practice. Families will need to take more family members back home who are experiencing acute and complex mental health conditions and learn how to provide support themselves. No family moves a loved one into long-term treatment, public or private, lightly; the moment often arrives at a breaking point. Two parents who were interviewed for this article subsequently asked to not be involved, in fear of reprisals from a grown child now underfoot and out of control. Theyre literally scared for their lives, some of these families, said Brad Richards, a New York-based mental health advocate who helps families find placements for loved ones in crisis. Many parents are on their own, he said, with multiple other children and little ability to defuse destructive situations. Connor was fortunate, he said the Langans are an intact, close family. The morning after he experienced serious panic, he packed himself into a car with his mother, leaving behind his therapist, his new friends and the highly regimented daily routine at Mountain Valley. He arrived home to a tight household, with his parents, two older siblings and the sisters Czech boyfriend, who was stranded in the United States by travel restrictions. The two now share a room. (@ChaudhryMAli88) BISHKEK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 22nd April, 2020) The number of people infected with COVID-19 in Kyrgyzstan has grown by 22 to 612 within the past 24 hours, the country's coronavirus response center told Sputnik on Wednesday. The previous reports indicated that Kyrgyzstan had 590 COVID-19 cases and seven fatalities. "As of April 22, 2020, 22 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 have been registered across the country," the response center's spokesperson said. According to the spokesperson, 10 of 22 new cases are medical workers. A total of 254 people recovered from the disease in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan has declared a state of emergency in several cities, including the capital of Bishkek, in light of the pandemic. Prescribing Considerations for HIV PrEP Among Adolescents PrEP Safety Data To effectively counsel patients, providers must be familiar with the safety data related to PrEP use among adolescents. Long-term clinical experience with the fixed-dose combination of TDF and FTC has shown the drug to be safe and well tolerated across different indications and age groups. The most common adverse reactions observed in adult PrEP trials include headache, abdominal pain, and decreased weight (29). The initiation of TDF/FTC for PrEP has been associated with self-limited start-up syndrome in approximately 10% of adults, consisting predominantly of mild to moderate gastrointestinal symptoms, headache, and fatigue; unintentional weight loss has also been reported (3032). Potential toxicities associated with use of TDF include effects on renal and skeletal systems. In adult PrEP trials, the risk for renal impairment with TDF/FTC was not significant compared with placebo, and the serum creatinine abnormalities that were observed were reversible when the medication was stopped (21). Similarly, although TDF is known to decrease bone mass when used for HIV treatment or prevention, the clinical significance is uncertain. In adult PrEP trials, the decreases in bone mineral density (BMD) observed while taking PrEP reversed when the medication was stopped (33,34). Limited safety data from trials of TDF/FTC among HIV-uninfected adolescents further assist in the risk-benefit assessment of PrEP among adolescents. Two open-label trials of TDF/FTC for PrEP among adolescents have been conducted: 1) the Adolescent Trials Network 113 (ATN 113) study among persons aged 1517 years in the United States (26) and 2) the Choices for Adolescent Methods of Prevention in South Africa (CHAMPS) PlusPills study among persons aged 1519 years in South Africa (25). Both studies found that TDF/FTC for PrEP was safe and well tolerated among different adolescent populations at risk for HIV acquisition (25,26). Published data from ATN 113 indicate that no confirmed laboratory abnormalities were considered to be related to TDF/FTC (26). One participant permanently discontinued the study drug because of grade 3 weight loss, which was assessed and determined to be possibly related to TDF/FTC; unintentional weight loss was the only grade 3 or 4 adverse event reported in more than one participant. No renal adverse events, elevations in serum creatinine levels, or bone fractures were reported in this study. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) tests, used to assess BMD, indicated substantial increases from baseline BMD in the spine, hip, and total body at 48 weeks, as would be expected in growing adolescents. Although BMD Z-scores in the hip and spine did not change from baseline to 48 weeks, the total body Z-score decreased (-0.20; interquartile range: -0.3 to 0.0; p<0.001). Interpretation of these safety results might be affected by the overall low adherence to the study drug observed in ATN 113, particularly after week 12. ATN 113 (26) and ATN 110, which studied PrEP among persons aged 1822 years (35), had a preplanned extension phase for participants who had signs of bone or renal toxicity at 48 weeks while taking TDF/FTC. Participants in the extension phase were followed for 48 weeks after TDF/FTC discontinuation. For participants aged 1519 years, spine and whole body BMD Z-scores remained below baseline after 48 weeks with no TDF/FTC; hip Z-scores recovered to baseline (36). ATN 117, a substudy of ATN 110 and 113, evaluated the association of serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D insufficiency and TDF exposure with bone toxicity, as defined by age-specific DXA criteria. The study demonstrated a gradient of bone toxicity risk, from lowest to highest of 1) vitamin D replete with poor TDF exposure, 2) vitamin D replete with high TDF exposure, 3) vitamin D insufficient with low TDF exposure, and 4) vitamin D insufficient with high TDF exposure. The study also reported a higher rate of bone toxicity in black persons, independent of vitamin D or TDF levels (37). The clinical impact of these findings is not known. A meta-analysis of 13 randomized PrEP trials indicated no increase in bone fractures among persons taking TDF-containing PrEP; however, the follow-up periods for included studies were variable, ranging from 4 months to 5 years, and might have been inadequate to fully evaluate long-term effects (38). In addition to data from the open-label trials of TDF/FTC among uninfected adolescents, clinical experience with use of this medication for treatment of children and adolescents with HIV is substantial. The extrapolation of safety data from trials of TDF and FTC in adolescents with HIV is permissible because acquiring HIV does not affect the pharmacokinetics of TDF or FTC and the dosage for adolescents weighing at least 77 lb (35 kg) is the same whether used for treatment or prevention (i.e., 200 mg/300 mg once daily) (29). In treatment trials, TDF and FTC were well tolerated in adolescents with HIV (39,40). Adverse events of skin hyperpigmentation and anemia, which are described as common adverse drug reactions for pediatric patients in FTC and TDF/FTC labeling (41), were not reported among adolescents. The incidence of discontinuation due to adverse events was consistently low across all TDF and FTC trials with no specific treatment-limiting adverse effects or laboratory abnormalities identified. The renal and bone safety profiles among adolescents with HIV receiving TDF through 48 weeks were consistent with those among adults with and without HIV. No adverse events of Fanconi syndrome or tubulopathy were reported. All reported fractures were trauma related. Increases from baseline in spine and total body BMD were seen at weeks 24 and 48, although the mean rate of BMD gain at week 48 was less with TDF compared with placebo. Skeletal growth (i.e., height) appeared unaffected. Clinical trials to evaluate TAF/FTC safety, efficacy, and adherence in adolescents have not been performed. Efficacy and safety data to support the FDA approval of TAF/FTC for PrEP were extrapolated from the DISCOVER trial in adult MSM and transgender women and from trials of TAF/FTC in adolescents with HIV (42). Overall, the available data support the safety of PrEP in adolescents. As outlined in the U.S. Public Health Service clinical practice guideline, ongoing clinical and laboratory-based monitoring (e.g., HIV testing, creatinine monitoring, and STI screening) is recommended for persons prescribed PrEP (1). Additional research is needed to assess potential clinical impacts of TDF-related effects on bone density in adolescents. Evidence is insufficient to inform specific recommendations about vitamin D levels or vitamin D supplementation for all adolescents starting PrEP. The U.S. Public Health Service 2017 guidelines do not recommend routine use of DXA tests for persons taking PrEP; however, persons with a history of pathologic fracture or other bone health risk factors should be referred for consultation and management (1). Familiarity with the available safety data allows for effective counseling to adolescents and, when appropriate, their parents or guardians. This knowledge will allow PrEP providers to effectively weigh benefits and risks, address safety-related questions, and explain the importance of the recommended evaluations for monitoring PrEP patients. Legal Issues Legal issues about consent for clinical care, status as a legal minor, and confidentiality are important considerations for providing PrEP to adolescents. The legal framework varies considerably by state. In 2017, potentially applicable laws were reviewed to clarify issues of consent for clinical care and confidentiality about providing PrEP for adolescents (43). Minors legal ability to autonomously access PrEP was assessed on the basis of two elements in a states laws: 1) whether the state either explicitly included HIV infection in the law or designated HIV infection as an STI through another law and 2) whether the state explicitly included prevention in the law allowing minors to autonomously consent to care for STIs (43). Minors can still be legally allowed to autonomously consent to PrEP in certain states with laws lacking the two elements because other mechanisms, such as case law, might be used to categorize HIV infection as an STI, define treatment broadly to include prevention, or both. The review determined that no states explicitly prohibit minors autonomous consent to PrEP (43). All states have statutes, regulations, or both that explicitly allow certain minors to consent to STI diagnosis and treatment (43). Seven states explicitly include HIV infection in the law allowing minors to autonomously consent to the service, or designate HIV infection as an STI through another law, and explicitly include prevention in the law allowing minors to autonomously consent to the services (43) (Table 1). Nine states broadly allow minors to autonomously consent to any health care services or procedures, arguably including PrEP; some states define minimum ages for minors consenting to health care services (43) (Table 2). Allowing minors to autonomously consent to PrEP does not mean that access to the health care service will remain confidential. Providers are permitted to disclose a minors autonomous access to HIV and STI services to the minors parents or guardians in 23 states (43). In addition, billing documentation from commercial health insurance companies in an explanation of benefits provides a potential mechanism of disclosure of services provided to adolescents covered under their parents or guardians health insurance (44). Title Xfunded clinics provide comprehensive family planning and related preventive services and HIV testing, screening, and treatment for STIs (45). Furthermore, Title Xfunded clinics cannot require parental consent and must maintain confidentiality (46). Whereas Title X clinics could provide a place for adolescents to access PrEP confidentially (30), clarification is needed regarding the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services policies on provision of PrEP under Title X funding (47). Funding restrictions might also limit widespread access to PrEP in Title Xfunded clinics (46). Even in states that allow minors to consent to certain aspects of their medical care, in certain circumstances a provider might need to breach an adolescents confidentiality. In several states, mandatory reporting laws require providers to report child abuse and neglect, including sexual abuse and sex trafficking (48). PrEP providers have to be familiar with the statutes and regulations regarding the provision of health care to minors in their jurisdictions. State and local health departments might be able to serve as resources for questions about these topics. Therapeutic Partnership Another unique challenge of providing PrEP to adolescents is how to best partner with both the adolescents and their parents or guardians, if applicable to the adolescents situation. Adolescence is characterized as a period of transition for youths as they mature into adulthood; likewise, the role of parents shifts during this time, with increasing autonomy given to the adolescent (49). Parental monitoring, which includes parental solicitation and adolescent disclosure of information as well as parental control, is associated with reduced risk behavior (50) and increased protective behavior, especially when parents recognize the autonomy of adolescents (51). Parental recognition of the autonomy of adolescents is associated with adherence to medications for chronic disease (52). In addition, parent-adolescent conversations about HIV have been associated with adolescent PrEP knowledge, illustrating that parents can be an important source of HIV prevention knowledge (53). Health care providers can be important partners with adolescents and with their parents or guardians in promoting healthy behaviors through a triadic approach (child, parent, and provider), whether working directly with adolescents or with their parents or indirectly through supporting a healthy parent-child relationship (54,55). One study examining parent-adolescent dyads found a significant correlation between parents and adolescents with regard to their desire for sexual health information from providers, suggesting that when adolescent patients have sexual health questions for providers, their parents might have those same questions as well (56). For health care providers, working with parents to support their childs care, especially for sensitive health services such as PrEP, can conflict with protecting the adolescents confidentiality (49) and can be complicated to negotiate (57). Studies have indicated that adolescents are less likely to seek services if they are concerned about confidentiality, yet parents might want to remain informed of discussions between adolescents and their providers even when those discussions are considered confidential (57). However, adequate time for adolescents and their providers to discuss sensitive topics without parents present, also called time alone, is associated with adolescents receiving more sexual health services (58). Current American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines recommend that time alone begin at approximately age 11 years (59), a process parents can facilitate by promoting time alone gradually through teen years, as appropriate. Time alone can be especially important for adolescent MSM, who might be reluctant to share information with providers with their parents present (60). Similar concerns exist for adolescents who inject drugs because they might be hesitant to disclose information about drug use to providers in the presence of their parents. Overall, PrEP providers must partner with the adolescent patient for PrEP decisions, recognizing the adolescents autonomy to the extent allowable by law, and include parents in the conversation about PrEP when it is safe and appropriate to do so. Approach to the Clinical Visit for Prevention Services A clinical approach tailored for the adolescent patient can enhance patient-provider communication about PrEP or other health-related topics. Obtaining a comprehensive history, including social and sexual history, is important to identifying adolescents health needs and providing individualized recommendations and counseling (61). Providers can set the tone for the visit by introducing themselves to adolescents before the parents or guardians (62). If a parent or guardian is present, the adolescent patient should have the opportunity to have time alone with the provider. A helpful approach is to conduct the interview while the patient is still clothed and seated somewhere other than the examination table. The provider should inform the adolescent of the confidentiality of the provider-patient conversation, including the circumstances that might require confidentiality to be breached. During the confidential interview with the adolescent patient, the provider might consider beginning with less sensitive topics. One well-described approach is the HEEADSSS (or HE2ADS3) format: asking the adolescent about home, education or employment, eating, activities (peer related), drugs, sexuality, suicide or depression, and safety (62,63). One approach to taking the adolescents sexual history is the five Ps method: asking the adolescent about partners, practices, protection from STIs, past history of STIs, and prevention of pregnancy (64). An important aspect of the sexual history includes screening for transactional sex to evaluate whether adolescents are engaging in sex in exchange for money, shelter, food, drugs, hormones (for transgender adolescents), or other resources. In all instances, the provider can use open-ended questions to facilitate effective communication. During certain parts of the history, including questions about substance abuse, the provider could begin the conversation by asking about activities of the adolescents friends (62). Active listening techniques (e.g., reflection, restatement, clarifying, and supportive statements) might encourage open discussion (44). Respectful, nonjudgmental language should be used, including avoiding assumptions about sexual orientation, gender identity, or the sex of the patients sex partners. Affirming the patients gender identity by using the preferred name and gender terms is also important. Training and resources are available to help providers gain skills in effective communication and provision of culturally competent care (65,66). PrEP is one possible component in a comprehensive approach to health for adolescents who inject drugs or engage in sexual behaviors that place them at risk for acquiring HIV. All adolescents need to receive developmentally appropriate sexual health education (67). CDCs STI treatment guidelines recommend that providers counsel adolescents about the sexual behaviors that are associated with risk for acquiring STIs and educate patients about evidence-based prevention strategies, including a discussion about abstinence and other risk-reduction behaviors (e.g., consistent and correct condom use and reduction in the number of sex partners) (64). The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends intensive behavioral counseling for all sexually active adolescents. The recommendation suggests that this counseling can be conducted through one-on-one conversations, videos, written materials, or telephone support (68). Certain youths might have serious challenges such as mental illness, substance use, juvenile justice system involvement, unstable housing, food insecurity, transactional sex, or other concerns. PrEP is only one of a number of interventions that might be indicated for an adolescents needs. Reports of abuse, neglect, or sex trafficking must be reported to the relevant authorities. Adolescents with evidence of mental health concerns might require referral to mental health resources. Adolescents who are using drugs illicitly need to receive clinical counseling and referral for services as indicated. Those who disclose homelessness or other needs can benefit from referral to social services or links to community-based resources. Medication Initiation, Adherence, and Persistence The U.S. Public Health Service 2017 guidelines recommend that persons starting PrEP should initiate the medication within 7 days of a negative HIV test (1). However, barriers to obtaining PrEP, such as lack of insurance coverage, can delay initiation and might also adversely affect adherence and persistence for those who have started PrEP (69). Providers and clinical support staff can help adolescents prescribed PrEP by screening for barriers and providing pertinent guidance and support. Resources to overcome barriers related to medication costs are available, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Ready, Set, PrEP program (70,71). Discussion of options to address additional costs of PrEP care (e.g., clinical visits and laboratory tests) are available from multiple sources, including CDCs PrEP website (72,73). Adequate medication adherence is required for PrEP to prevent HIV acquisition. Adherence was demonstrated to have a direct influence on PrEP efficacy in four randomized PrEP trials among adults. As summarized in a review, drug levels within the range reported to protect against HIV transmission were obtained in 50%81% of participants, and post hoc analyses from these initial studies indicated that protection against HIV ranged from 92% to 100% among participants whose drug levels suggested they were taking the medication daily (21). These findings are in contrast with results of two PrEP studies that did not demonstrate PrEP efficacy. In both the VOICE (Vaginal and Oral Interventions to Control the Epidemic) and FEM-PrEP (Preexposure Prophylaxis Trial for HIV Prevention Among African Women) studies, no difference was reported in HIV incidence between PrEP and placebo groups (74,75). However, in the VOICE trial, tenofovir was detected in only 29%30% of random plasma samples from participants randomized to receive oral tenofovir-containing PrEP (74). In the FEM-PrEP study plasma tenofovir levels were evaluated at specific timepoints, and among women randomized to receive PrEP, target drug levels were found in only 15%26% of women who seroconverted during the study and 24%37% of women who did not seroconvert (75). These data highlight the importance of the recommendation to carefully monitor and support adherence for all persons prescribed PrEP (21). Because of the dynamic physical, cognitive, psychological, and social shifts occurring during adolescence, PrEP use patterns among U.S. adolescents and young adults enrolled in the ATN PrEP studies demonstrated challenges with achieving the high levels of adherence needed for efficacy (76,77). In these studies, quarterly clinic visits were associated with poorer medication adherence among both younger (26) and older youths than the initial monthly visits (35). Despite the evidence demonstrating that adolescents commonly experience difficulties with adherence, efficacious adherence support interventions for clinical practice are limited. Youths with diagnosed HIV have benefited from youth-friendly mobile technologies, including cell phone support (78) and short message service (SMS) reminders (79). The interventions that have been developed specifically for PrEP include combinations of enhanced counseling, feedback of objective adherence measures, and SMS (80). The adherence challenges noted in the ATN PrEP studies occurred although youths received integrated next step counseling (iNSC), which is an interactive, client-centered motivational approach used to support adherence among participants in the Preexposure Prophylaxis Initiative (iPrEx) trial (81). This finding suggests that further interventions are needed to help adolescents adhere to PrEP. Real-time adherence feedback via dried blood spot tenofovir concentration measurements is the focus of several clinical trials under way to determine its utility in tailoring support to improve adherence outcomes (82,83). Urine tenofovir concentration as a possible point-of-care assay is also under study (84,85) (Box 2). Although practice varies among clinicians providing PrEP to adolescents (86), the decline of adherence observed after reduction of clinic visit frequency in the ATN studies seems to suggest that in general, youths might benefit from more frequent, supportive interactions. This is a consideration in the revised TDF/FTC labeling (29) and is consistent with management guidelines for other clinical interventions affecting youth, such as pregnancy prevention (87). Other potentially useful clinical approaches might include more flexible clinic schedules (e.g., after-hours availability), peer navigators or adherence buddies, and other youth-friendly strategies. Although many experts deem such approaches helpful, further evaluation is needed to understand whether their use improves adherence to care and medication. ATN (88) has several ongoing clinical trials evaluating innovative technology-focused interventions and other strategies to improve use of HIV prevention services and PrEP among adolescents and young adults at risk for HIV acquisition (8992) (Box 2). In addition, sociodemographic and behavioral factors can influence medication adherence for adolescents prescribed PrEP (93). Screening for potential barriers to adherence (e.g., unstable housing) would allow providers to offer resources, referrals, or counseling when indicated. Adherence (i.e., taking PrEP medication as prescribed) is crucial to PrEPs effectiveness. Persistence (i.e., continuing to take PrEP while the adolescent remains at risk for acquiring HIV) is another important factor. A study of young MSM (aged 1629 years) reported that 33% of 197 males who reported using PrEP in the past 6 months had discontinued PrEP by the time of the study interview (94). The most commonly reported reasons for discontinuing PrEP included difficulty getting to appointments, lapse in insurance coverage, and perception of being no longer at risk for HIV (94). Regular screening for the need and desire to continue with PrEP is part of the ongoing care of an adolescent prescribed PrEP. For those who plan to continue taking PrEP, screening for barriers to persistence (e.g., transportation problems and insurance changes) and providing guidance and support for overcoming barriers can help adolescents continue taking PrEP. Circumstances, attitudes, and behaviors will change over time, and regular conversations about both adherence and persistence will promote patient-provider communication about these important factors. LUND, Sweden, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Annual General Meeting of Alfa Laval AB was held today, April 23rd, at Scandic Star in Lund, Sweden. The number of participants were very few due to the restrictions made to reduce the risk of spreading the Corona virus. This is an unofficial translation of the Swedish report. In case of any discrepancies between the Swedish report and this English translation, the Swedish version shall prevail. The resigning chairman Anders Narvinger attended the meeting over the phone due to that he belongs to the risk category, therefore the meeting was led by attorney Erik Sjoman. The rest of the board members were also attending over the phone. In a pre-recorded speech Tom Erixon, Alfa Laval's President and CEO, talked about Alfa Laval's progress and key activities 2019 and forward. (The film is available on https://www.alfalaval.com/investors/ and as material related to the press release.) The income statements and balance sheets were adopted, and with the Board's proposal to withdraw the dividend for 2019 was approved. The AGM also approved the discharge from liability for the Board of Directors and the Managing Director. It was resolved that the number of members of the Board of Directors shall be eight, with no deputies. As Board members Finn Rausing, Jorn Rausing, Ulf Wiinberg, Henrik Lange, Helene Mellquist and Maria Morus Hanssen were re-elected. The nominating committee's proposal to newly elect Dennis Jonsson and Ray Mauritsson as members of the board was also approved. Dennis Jonsson was appointed Chairman of the Board. (A short film with Dennis Jonsson's presentation is available on https://www.alfalaval.com/investors/ and as related to the press release.) Anders Narvinger retired after 17 years as Chairman of the Board and Anna Ohlsson-Leijon declined re-election. Furthermore, the AGM approved the proposal to re-elect the authorized public accountants Staffan Landen and Karoline Tedevall, as deputy auditors, to re-elect Henrik Jonzen and newly elect Andreas Mast. The AGM approved the Nominating Committee's proposal, that the Board of Directors compensation will be same as last year. It was also decided that compensation to auditors shall be paid as per approved invoice. Furthermore, the AGM adopted a resolution on the guidelines for compensation to senior management, including fixed compensation as well as long and short-term variable compensation, pension benefits, non-monetary benefits and dismissal and severance pay. Complete proposals can be found on: www.alfalaval.com/investors/corporate-governance/ Lund, April 23, 2020 Alfa Laval AB (publ.) For more information: Peter Torstensson Vice President, Communications Alfa Laval Tel: +46-46-36-72-31 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/alfa-laval/r/report-from-the-agm-of-alfa-laval-ab,c3095101 The following files are available for download: SOURCE Alfa Laval Photo by Joe Gall, courtesy Visit Alpena Don't Edit By Emily Bingham | ebingham@mlive.com Don't Edit Alpena, and the entire Lower Peninsulas Northeast corner, boast so much of what we love about Up North -- outdoor adventure, natural beauty, a rich history, freshwater galore -- but with some unexpected treasures you wont find anywhere else. Theres a world-renowned underwater shipwreck preserve, for example. More than 200 natural sinkholes, many of which you can find on a nature hike. And one of the oldest accessible lighthouses in the entire Great Lakes, rumored to be haunted. For more great ways to explore this sunrise city, read on: *Be sure to call all destinations ahead of time to check on seasonal dates and times of operation. Don't Edit Photo courtesy Lacey Goff Whether you prefer watching the sun wake up over the lake or through the forest, Alpenas position along Michigans Sunrise Coast puts you in a great place for catching this daily wonder. Don't Edit Sunrises Every single day, Michigan's Northeast coast delivers a front-row seat to what is often one of the most spectacular -- and underrated -- displays Mother Nature has to offer: The sunrise. There are plenty of spots for watching the sun start the day, but Alpena's Blair Street Park, which sits along Thunder Bay, is a popular choice. Don't Edit Don't Edit Photo courtesy Julie Allen Blair Street Park in Alpena is a popular place to catch the sun rising over Lake Huron. Don't Edit Water trails Paddle enthusiasts should make a point to visit the Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary, a 500-acre flooding of the Thunder Bay River that offers a great spot to kayak, canoe or paddleboard. The sanctuary surrounds Island Park and is a wonderful destination for viewing wildlife like painted turtles, river otters, and marshland birds. Visitors can bring their own kayaks and use the ADA-accessible launch, or rent on-site seasonally. Don't Edit Photo courtesy Alpena Area Convention & Visitors Bureau Kayaking the still waters of the Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary gets paddlers up close to nature. Don't Edit Hiking trails Alpena has more than 100 miles of maintained trails that lace through a variety of terrain, including state and city parks, nature preserves, beach walks and even historic self-guided walking tours. See a full guide to where to walk and hike here. Don't Edit Photo courtesy Joe Gall Photography Hiking through Alpena's 17-acre Island Park. Don't Edit Don't Edit Shipwrecks Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a 4,300-square-mile protected area in Lake Huron, is the U.S.'s only freshwater national marine sanctuary. It's also one of the most significant shipwreck preserves anywhere. Nearly 200 shipwrecks have been found here, from 19th-century schooners to modern freighters, making it an exciting destination for divers from all over the world -- but there's plenty to explore without getting wet, too. A few ideas: Tour the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, paddle a kayak or SUP over the shallow-water wrecks, or sign up for a glass-bottom boat cruise on the Lady Michigan. Don't Edit Photo courtesy Joe Gall Photography A stand-up paddleboarder and a diver explore one of the region's many shipwrecks. Don't Edit Snorkeling With so many shipwrecks just offshore, Alpena is a great destination for snorkeling and free diving. The city's Shallow Shipwrecks guide is a solid place to start your trip research, as it lists the depth and distance-from-shore for a handful of the region's most easily accessible wrecks. A list of local snorkeling outfitters can be found here. Don't Edit Photo courtesy Craig Gerow Snorkeling shipwrecks in Lake Hurons Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary Don't Edit Fishing The four-county corner of Northeast Michigan has more than 100 accessible bodies of water, making Alpena a great launching point for fishing inland lakes, river systems, and the open waters of Lake Huron. The top four inland lakes for fishing in this region are Hubbard Lake, Long Lake, Grand Lake and Beaver Lake; fish species you might reel in here include bass, pike, whitefish, perch, rainbow trout, and all the panfish. Don't Edit Don't Edit Photo courtesy Steve Jakubcin Paul Gohlke casts for bass on Long Lake. Don't Edit Dark skies With most of the North American population now unable to see the Milky Way on account of light pollution, "dark sky" tourism has been on the rise. Alpena is home to three state-designated dark sky preserves -- Negwegon State Park, Rockport State Recreation Area and Thompsons Harbor State Park -- where light pollution is limited, allowing visitors to revel in the majesty of an obscured night sky. Don't Edit Photo courtesy Steve Jakubcin Centrally located to three dark-sky preserve parks, Alpena is a prime destination for stargazing. Don't Edit Photo courtesy of Joe Gall Photography Dark Sky stargazing and astrophotography is a popular draw in this area. Pictured here is Thompsons Harbor State Park, home of a state-designated dark sky preserve. Don't Edit Sandy beaches If you've been dismissing Michigan's northeastern coastline based on the assumption that the beaches are rocky, then you've been missing out on some beautiful stretches of sand. One particularly lovely spot to check out: Besser Natural Area, where a one-mile foot path leads past a lagoon, the ruins of the ghost town of Bell, Mich., a shallow shipwreck, and stands of white pine, eventually opening up to a cove with a big sandy beach. A great hike to do with kids, you can find this spot north of Rockport State Recreation Area. Don't Edit Don't Edit Photo courtesy Joe Gall Photography A little-known spot at Thompsons Harbor State Park offers natural sand dunes and views of Lake Huron. Don't Edit Photo courtesy of Joe Gall Photography Besser Natural Area is home to one of Northeast Michigan's most pristine, secluded sandy beaches. Don't Edit Biking There's plenty of places to get your roll on in this region -- from the more urban 18-mile Alpena Bi-Path, which winds through city parks and beaches along the Thunder Bay River and Lake Huron, to the 78-mile North Eastern State Trail, a recently completed limestone rail-trail connecting Alpena to Cheboygan. Beginning mountain bikers should check out Norway Ridge Pathway, which offers 10 miles of forgiving terrain; more experienced riders can conquer the single-track at the more challenging Chippewa Hills Pathway. Don't Edit Photo courtesy of Joe Gall Photography Biking at Norway Ridge Pathway Don't Edit Sinkholes Sinkholes are a fascinating natural feature in this region. Sinkholes are depressions in the landscape that form after layers of minerals like limestone or gypsum dissolve and collapse just under the ground's surface -- and with at least 200 known sinkholes, Northeast Michigan is considered to have one of the world's biggest collections of this geological wonder. A good place to see them for yourself is with a visit to Bruski and Stevens Twin Sinkholes, off Leer Road. Details on sinkhole geology and where else to find them in the region can be found at this sinkhole adventure guide here. Don't Edit Don't Edit Photo courtesy Joe Gall Photography The deep cracks along the Mystery Valley sinkhole hiking trail are mysterious and offer an interesting view of the karst geology that covers the region. Don't Edit Photo courtesy Joe Gall Photography Explore stunning sunken forests with a sinkhole hike along the saddle-back ridge at the Stevens Twin Sinkholes near Alpena. Don't Edit Lighthouses Lighthouse lovers will delight in discovering the region's seven historic lights, including Old Presque Isle Lighthouse, one of the Great Lakes' oldest accessible lighthouses, rumored to be haunted. Many of the lighthouses are open seasonally for tours and tower climbs; more details here. Don't Edit Photo courtesy Alpena Area Convention & Visitors Bureau The Old Presque Isle Lighthouse just north of Alpena is rumored to be haunted by the friendly ghost of a former lighthouse keeper. Don't Edit More information on Alpena-area activities and trip planning can be found at visitalpena.com. Don't Edit Don't Edit RELATED: Jaw-dropping places that people cant believe are actually in Michigan By Ofeliya Afandiyeva The Azerbaijani Economy Ministry plans to provide discounts on social insurance contributions to individual entrepreneurs until January 1, 2021, local media reported on April 22. According to the project published by the ministry, the compulsory state social insurance premium will be calculated from April 1, 2020 to January 1, 2021 for entrepreneurial activity 25 percent of the minimum monthly wage in construction and trade, and 15 percent in other areas. At the same time, differential coefficients will be used depending on the regions. Presently, the rates for social insurance contributions are 50 percent and 25 percent, respectively. Persons engaged in trade in Baku currently pay $73.6 in social insurance. After the changes come into force, they will allocate $36.8 in social insurance, which is 50 percent less. Moreover, persons engaged in other activities (except construction and trade) in Baku currently pay $36.8 in social insurance. Under the new conditions, they will allocate $22.1 for social insurance, which means a 40 percent reduction. Compulsory state social insurance premium for each family member of individuals using agricultural lands owned by them, depending on the area of the land, the minimum monthly wage is calculated at the following rates: Up to 5 hectares - in the amount of 2 percent ($2.9); From 5 to 10 hectares - in the amount of 6 percent ($8.8 per person); More than 10 hectares - in the amount of 10 percent ($14.7 per person). At present, the social insurance premium for this category of the population is 6 percent of the minimum wage for each able-bodied family member. The Law on Social Insurance was adopted in 1997. Based on this social insurance is a form of security intended for compensation of lost right to work, profits, and also extra expenses of individuals. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Regulatory News: Pershing Square Holdings, Ltd. (LN:PSH) (LN:PSHD) (NA:PSH) ("PSH") today announced that it has purchased, through PSH's agent, Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies"), the following number of PSH's Public Shares of no par value (ISIN Code: GG00BPFJTF46) (the "Shares"): Trading Venue: London Stock Exchange Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 23 April 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 20,006 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 1,618 pence 20.00 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 1,582 pence 19.56 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 1,601 pence 19.79 USD Ticker: PSHD Date of Purchase: 23 April 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 4,500 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 19.74 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 19.74 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 19.74 USD Trading Venue: Euronext Amsterdam Ticker: PSH Date of Purchase: 23 April 2020 Number of Public Shares purchased: 23,936 Shares Highest Price Paid Per Share: 20.05 USD Lowest Price Paid Per Share: 19.68 USD Average Price Paid Per Share: 19.84 USD PSH will hold these Public Shares in Treasury. The net asset value per Public Share related to this buyback is 29.27 USD 23.78 GBP which was calculated as of 21 April 2020 (the "Relevant NAV"). After giving effect to the above buyback, PSH has 199,473,827 Public Shares outstanding, or 205,242,709 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 11,482,923 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/20200423005782/en/ Contacts: Camarco Ed Gascoigne-Pees Hazel Stevenson +44 020 3757 4989, media-pershingsquareholdings@camarco.co.uk A Saudi activist in London was warned to expect 'the same fate as Jamal Khashoggi' after alerting the world to a tribe's eviction from land earmarked for the Crown Prince's new megacity. Alya Abutayah Alhwaiti claims she received death threats on the phone and on Twitter from people she believes are supporters of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It came after she raised international awareness about Neom - a planned city which will stretch across the Tabuk region's border with Jordan - the construction of which will force out the Howeitat tribe who have lived in the area for hundreds of years. 'We can get you in London,' Ms Alhwaiti told The BBC she was warned in a call. 'You think you are safe there, but you are not.' Alya Abutayah Alhwaiti says she received death threats after raising awareness of the construction of Neom (pictured in an artist's impression), a futuristic planned city backed by crown prince Mohammed bin Salman Alya Abutayah Alhwaiti claims she received death threats on the phone and on Twitter from people she believes are supporters of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (pictured), in response to her highlighting the tribe being forced out Ms Alhwaiti added that she was also threatened with 'the same fate that happened to Jamal Khashoggi'. She has reported the threats to the British police. Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and critic of the crown prince, was murdered by government agents inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. Intelligence agencies believe his murder was carried out on the prince's orders, which the Saudi government denies. It comes after Saudi Arabia last week admitted it killed a protester who refused to leave his home and make way for the Crown Prince's megacity project. Abdul-Rahim al-Howeiti was shot dead by security forces in Al-Khuraybah, near the Saudi border with Jordan, the government confirmed. He had posted videos online alerting the world that Saudi security forces were trying to evict him and Ms Alhwaiti later circulated the clips. Jamal Khashoggi (pictured), a Saudi journalist and critic of the crown prince, was murdered by government agents inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018 In the videos, al-Howeiti vowed to defy the government's eviction order. In one, he said he expected the authorities to plant weapons in his house to incriminate him. Government media claimed al-Howeiti had 'shot at security forces' and thrown Molotov cocktails to protect land he regarded as belonging to his Howeitat tribe. The government said al-Howeiti had 'shot at security forces while holed up behind sandbags at the top of the building'. Protester Abdul-Rahim al-Howeiti (pictured left) was shot dead after protesting against the construction plans last week The statement went on: 'He did not respond to appeals to surrender and as a result of continued shooting and the throwing of Molotov cocktails, security forces neutralised the threat.' Officials claimed that an arsenal of weapons which included machines guns, pistols and Molotov cocktails were found at the scene. This version of events was vigorously denied by Ms Alhwaiti, who insisted that Abdul Rahim al-Howeiti did not have any firearms. On Wednesday, she posted photographs and video footage from his funeral near the village of al-Khoraibah, which she said was well-attended despite the presence of Saudi security personnel. Ms Alhwaiti said of the tribe: 'They are not against the building of Neom. They just don't want to be forcibly evicted from a land their families have lived in for generations.' She said eight of Abdul Rahim al-Howeiti's cousins had been arrested for protesting against the eviction order, but that together with human rights activists in the West they were hoping to mount a legal challenge. Neom is a planned city which will stretch across the Tabuk region's border with Jordan and will function as both a tourist destination and a 'smart city'. The project is scheduled to be completed by 2025 and will cost an estimated $500billion. The Howeitat tribe have lived in the area for hundreds of years and were mentioned by T.E. Lawrence after he worked with them during World War I. The tribe has expressed dismay at being forced to relocate from the area where Neom is being constructed, allegedly without any consultation from the Saudi authorities. The Wall Street Journal reported in 2019 that up to 20,000 people could be forcibly removed from the area to make room for the Crown Prince's project. The head of the State Duma, or Russian lower chamber of parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, congratulated his Turkish counterpart Mustafa Sentop for the centenary of the Turkish parliament Thursday, Anadolu agency reports. "It is important that the cooperation between the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Grand National Assembly of Turkey contributes to the development of friendly Russian-Turkish relations in the interests of the citizens of our countries, Volodin said in a message sent to Sentop that was also published on the State Duma's website. I wish you, your colleagues and all Turkish citizens success and prosperity," Volodin said in a special message, also published on the State Duma's official website. Turkish parliament celebrates April 23 the centenary of the first session of the Grand National Assembly which coincides with the Turkeys National Sovereignty and Children's Day. The National Assembly met for the first time in 1920 in Ankara, the country's future capital, during the War of Independence to lay the foundations for an independent, secular and modern republic. (Photo : Image by Syaibatul Hamdi from Pixabay ) Advertisement Image by Syaibatul Hamdi from Pixabay Like Us on Facebook Advertisement The World Health Organization, through its spokeswoman Fadela Chaib, maintained that the novel coronavirus came from animals in China as suggested by all data it reviewed regarding the matter. It was not "manipulated" neither was produced in a laboratory as floated by swirling conspiracy theories at present. Chaib was speaking during a press briefing in Geneva. What is not yet clear at this point is how the virus jumped from animals to humans. But as to whether the host was an animal, it is almost certain. "It most likely has its ecological reservoir in bats but how the virus came from bats to humans is still to be seen and discovered," she emphasized. Chaib, however, refused to comment on the question of whether there is a possibility that the virus accidentally escaped from a laboratory. At the center of this undying conspiracy theory on the origin of the novel coronavirus detected in 2019 are two scientific laboratories in Wuhan. Many scientists are experimenting on viruses inside the state-run Wuhan Institute of Virology and the Wuhan Center For Disease Control. These two labs are just within 10 miles of the animal market where the coronavirus causing COVID-19 was first detected. The Wuhan Institute of Virology has long dismissed the issue as far back as February. It has negated time and again that the virus was artificially made or intentionally leaked from the facility. The said lab was launched in 2017 as part of China's plan to build between five to seven biosafety level-4 (BSL-4) across the mainland by 2025. The country said the lab is comparable to other best known around the world. Outsiders, however, floated some concerns at the time, saying the country may lack protocol to contain viruses it studies within the lab. Such concern was rooted in instances in the past years when the SARS virus escaped from high-level facilities in Beijing. One authority floating this concern was Richard Ebright, a molecular biologist at Rutgers University in Piscataway, New Jersey. To be clear, the same concerns are thrown at laboratories of BSL-4-lab built across the United States and Europe in the past 15 years. There are also questions about why these regions need a lot of such facilities. Meanwhile, no matter how authorities dismissed conspiracy theories on whether the novel coronavirus was manipulated inside a lab, they won't die down. This is because controversial public figures have been riding on this hoax. US President Donald Trump has always called the novel coronavirus as the Chinese virus. In one interview, Trump likely lean to the rumor that China made the novel coronavirus to demonstrate to the world its capacity to combat viruses. On Sunday, UK's equally controversial publication, The Daily Mail, reported that officials of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's government no longer discount the possibility that the virus was leaked from a lab. Advertisement TagsWHO, Coronavirus Origin, Lab Manipulation Akshay Kumar is one of the most versatile actors of Bollywood who is known for his non-stop releases at the box-office. From being a Khiladi to being a Rowdy police officer, Akshay Kumar has impressed fans by essaying different characters on the silver screen. In a career span of over three decades, the star has successfully managed to become a household name. He is also popular for essaying characters that protect the dignity of his leading lady on screen. Be it saving them from the Mafia or societal norms, Akshay Kumar has done it all. Here are a few movies where the star was seen saving his leading ladies. Airlift Airlift is a 2016 war zone drama movie helmed by Raja Krishna Menon. The movie features Akshay Kumar and Nimrat Kaur in pivotal roles. The movie revolves around the real-life story of Ranjit Katyal (played by Akshay Kumar) a Kuwait-based businessman, who helped to carry out the evacuation of 170,000 stranded Indians from Kuwait during the invasion by Iraqs Saddam Hussein. Airlift sees Akshay Kumar going out of his way for the protection of his family and many others. Rustom Rustom is a 2016 crime thriller movie helmed by Tinu Suresh Desai. The movie is loosely based on the real-life case of K.M Nanavati Vs State of Maharashtra. Rustom stars Akshay Kumar, Ileana DCruz and Esha Gupta in prominent roles. The movie portrays the story of a naval officer who returns home and finds out about his wifes affair. The officer murders the lover, however, later the case unfolds many hidden secrets of the Indian Navy. Rustom features Akshay Kumar protecting the dignity of his wife in front of the court and jury. ALSO READ| Akshay Kumar's Financial Help Offer Turned Down By Gaiety Galaxy Theatre Owner? Toilet: Ek Prem Katha Toilet: Ek Prem Katha is a 2017 comedy-drama movie helmed by Shree Narayan Singh. The movie sees Akshay Kumar and Bhumi Pednekar in the lead roles. Toilet: Ek Prem Katha is a satirical comedy movie that was made to support Indias government campaigns for improving sanitation conditions in India. Toilet: Ek Prem Katha highlights the eradication of open defecation, especially in rural areas. In the movie, Akshay Kumar can be seen on the verge of divorcing her wife to support her demand for having a Toilet in the house. ALSO READ| An Akshay Kumar Songs Playlist Will Get Your Wedding Guests Grooving In No Time Pad Man Pad Man is a 2018 comedy-drama movie helmed and written by R.Balki. The movie features Akshay Kumar, Sonam Kapoor and Radhika Apte in prominent roles. The plot of Pad Man revolves around the life of a man who sets out to create a sanitary pad machine upon realizing the harmful effects of women using clothes during menstruation. In the movie, Akshay Kumar invents the sanitary pad machine and distributes it to the women of rural India. ALSO READ| Kajol Starrer 'Yeh Dillagi' Is Her First Film With Akshay Kumar, Learn Interesting Trivia Mission Mangal Mission Mangal is a 2019 drama movie helmed by Jagan Shakti and was jointly bankrolled under the banners of Cape of Good Films, Hope Productions and Fox Star Studious. Mission Mangal was a multi-starrer movie with an ensemble cast. The cast includes Akshay Kumar, Vidya Balan, Taapsee Pannu, Sonakshi Sinha, Nithya Menen, Kirthi Kulhari and Sharman Joshi in pivotal roles. Mission Mangal is based on the life of scientists at ISRO i.e. Indian Space Research Organisation who contributed to the Mars Orbiter Mission, which was Indias first interplanetary expedition. Akshay Kumar can be seen motivating his team to pursue the mission of being the first nation to reach Mars. ALSO READ| Akshay Kumar Comes Out In Aid Of Iconic Theatre, Gaiety-Galaxy, Amid COVID-19 Lockdown 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 wearing of surgical masks will become more widespread GPs will need a bigger weekly supply of protective wear foll- owing a directive that health workers, including hospital staff, wear surgical face masks if they are within two metres of a patient. The National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) has widened the grounds for wearing surgical masks. Although many areas of the health service were already using the masks in such situations, the guidance now says that surgical masks should be worn by healthcare workers when providing care within two metres of a patient, regardless of whether they have Covid-19. Masks should be worn by all healthcare workers for all encounters of 15 minutes or more with other healthcare staff in the workplace where a distance of two metres cannot be maintained. Internal correspondence from the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) has warned that the directive has implications for the supply of protective wear to GPs, and it highlighted to the HSE that the current allocation of 50 masks per GP per week will not be sufficient. It means that GPs will wear surgical masks when examining pregnant women, immunising children and consulting patients with long-term illnesses. Hygiene "Once you don a mask, it must stay in place until you have finished seeing that group of patients," the advice says. "You must avoid touching the front of the mask. You must not pull the mask down from your face. "If you need to take a break such as a toilet break or refreshment, then you need to doff the mask in the correct manner, perform hand hygiene and then don fresh mask before seeing any more patients." The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO), which had campaigned for the wider use of masks, welcomed the move and said it should have been done weeks ago. "It will not only benefit frontline healthcare workers, but will reduce the risk of transmission," INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said. DANBURY This months state Superior Court pre-trial hearing of the Sherman man accused of murdering his husband last year has been rescheduled to June 3. James C. Maharg, 66, is facing murder and tampering with physical evidence charges after police found his 63-year-old husband, Thomas Conley, dead in the couples Sherman home last March. Authorities said the murder culminated after months of trouble for the couple, when Maharg called 911 and announced: My husband is dead. Maharg told police that he and his husband had stopped going into their Manhattan fashion retail supply business because it was failing, and as a result they were losing their 20-acre farmhouse to the bank and were dealing with it by drinking three bottles of tequila a day. Responders found empty tequila bottles in the couples house, as well as Conleys cold, naked body at the bottom of a staircase with two wounds to the top of his scalp. The victim walked into the kitchen and said something nasty to Maharg, and Maharg pushed the victims chest, causing him to fall backward into the kitchen cabinet shelf, according to a police affidavit. Maharg stated he must have struck the victim in the head at some point during this time, however, he could not provide us with the object or the exact time frame, the affidavit says. [He] stressed he must have struck him in the head with a significant object to create the large gash. Maharg is being held on $2 million bail at the Cheshire Correctional Institution. REGINA - Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says some businesses that were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic could reopen next month. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Scott Moe, premier of Saskatchewan, speaks at a COVID-19 news update at the Legislative Building in Regina on Wednesday March 18, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Michael Bell REGINA - Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says some businesses that were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic could reopen next month. In a televised address from the legislature Wednesday, a first for a Saskatchewan Party premier, Moe announced that his government has a five-phase plan to allow some businesses and services to open their doors. Moe said the province has managed to keep its infection rate low, which means it can look at relaxing some of the restrictions it introduced last month to slow the spread of the virus. "We know there are risks on both sides," he said. "If we move too quickly, we risk increasing the spread of COVID-19. If we move too slowly, we risk permanent damage to the livelihoods of thousands of Saskatchewan people." The province reported six new cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number to 326. There have so far been four deaths, and 261 people have recovered. Moe said Saskatchewan's cases are about 70 per cent below the national average, and its hospitalizations and deaths more than 90 per cent below the national figure. "What we are doing in Saskatchewan is working," he said. "We have flattened the curve." Saskatchewan is one of the provinces eyeing a reopening of some parts of its economy as spread of the virus becomes manageable. Moe said more details on what businesses and services will be allowed to reopen and when they can do so will be announced Thursday. In his speech, he said some of the reopenings are slated for May. "As businesses are allowed to reopen and employees return to work, they will have to follow stringent physical distancing and cleaning procedures, just like the grocery stores." Opposition NDP leader Ryan Meili said he's waiting to see the government's plan and will be looking for details on how the province would respond if there is a spike in cases. "We've seen Alberta think they were past the worst of it and now having a spike. We've got an outbreak in La Loche this needs to be done so carefully and so wisely." 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. Bars, restaurants, gyms, theatres and personal services such as hair salons were some of the businesses ordered closed after Saskatchewan recorded its first case of COVID-19 in March. Dental and physical therapy clinics have been permitted to perform urgent procedures, and daycares have been limited to eight children. Moe said restrictions around non-essential travel, visits to long-term care homes and large gatherings will stay put. He did not mention schools, but has said it's unlikely they would reopen soon. Meili said he wants to know what the government plans to do for parents who want to return to work but don't have child care options and whether there would be programs to support them. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 22, 2020. As many as 104 new coronavirus patients were detected in Pune since previous night, taking the tally of cases in the district to 985, a health official said on Thursday. Three COVID-19 patients died during this period. The death toll due to the pandemic now stands at 63 in the district. "In Pune municipal limits, 99 new cases were reported, four cases were added in the rural part of the district and one case was reported in Pimpri Chinchwad," the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Employers have applied to furlough 3.2 million workers in just three days under the government's coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Since the scheme opened on Monday, HMRC has received 435,000 applications from employers seeking government support to pay employees wages, with the total value of 3.75bn. There were 126,000 new claims from businesses on Wednesday, the prime ministers official spokesperson said. Under the scheme the government will refund employees for 80 per cent of wages up to 2,500 per month for staff who do not have work during the coronavirus pandemic. It has been widely welcomed by companies, many of which have seen their income fall sharply as a result of the pandemic and lockdown measures in place to slow the virus' spread. Around 8-9 million people are forecast to go onto furlough during the crisis, according to analysis by the Reolution Foundation. The think tank put the total cost to taxpayers at 30bn to 40bn over three months, however the chancellor has since extended the scheme for an extra month to the end of June. An estimated 3.4 million people are forecast to become unemployed during the crisis, a figure that could have risen to "catastrophic" levels without the Job Retention Scheme, the Resolution Foundation said. It came as the government faced calls to tighten up its support for small and medium-sized businesses after it emerged that banks had agreed just 2.8bn of state-backed loans. Business secretary Alok Sharma struggled to explain on Thursday why British banks had not approved more lending under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme. MPs on the House of Commons Business committee grilled Mr Sharma on why Switzerland, Hong Kong, Germany and other nations had been able to deliver multiple times the amount of emergency funding to businesses than the UK had. "In terms of the [Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme]... the latest figures being published today are showing that so far there are around 28,000 applications to date and 16,600 businesses have secured a loan, representing a total value of 2.8bn," Mr Sharma said. Switzerland has given out 98,000 loans - almost six times more than the UK, despite having a population one-eighth the size. India's plan to screen foreign direct investments from neighbouring countries has Chinese firms concerned that such scrutiny will affect their projects and delay deals in one of Asia's most lucrative investment markets. The tougher rules were not a surprise, as other countries are also on guard against fire sales of corporate assets during the coronavirus outbreak, but that they apply to investments from countries that share a land border with India raised eyebrows. Unlike neighbouring Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan, China has major investments in India. Chinese firms existing and planned investments in India stand at more than $26 billion, research group Brookings said in March, with the world's second-most populous nation emerging as a key market for everything from automobiles to digital tech. Chinese automakers Great Wall Motor and SAIC unit MG Motor have bet big on India while its tech giants Tencent and Alibaba have fuelled growth of Indian digital payments firms Paytm, grocer BigBasket and ride-hailing giant Ola. The new rules are to curb "opportunistic" takeovers during the coronavirus outbreak that has hit Indian businesses, but government sources have said they will also apply to greenfield investments. China has called the rules "discriminatory". Some Chinese investors have already "put things on hold" as they await further clarity on the rules, said Vaibhav Kakkar of Indian law firm L&L Partners. "Every Chinese investor is worried, any government approval could take months," said Kakkar, who advises several foreign companies and investors. This will affect India's digital businesses who are in dire need of funds to tide over the coronavirus crisis, he said. MG Motor and Great Wall are concerned about the policy and its possible implications on future investment plans, according to four sources familiar with the thinking. While MG started selling cars in India last year, it is yet to fully invest the $650 million it has committed to India. Great Wall is yet to start production in India but said in February it plans to invest $1 billion in the coming years. "Sentiment wise it's not been taken well but it will not change the investment plans for now," said one of the sources who works closely with Chinese automakers in India. MG Motor and Great Wall did not respond to a request for comment. Indian craft beer maker Bira's roughly $50 million of bridge financing round that involved Chinese investors could be delayed due to the new rules, said an industry source with direct knowledge. Bira did not respond to a request for comment. ANTI-CHINA SENTIMENT India's industries ministry is reviewing several queries received since the policy was made public over the weekend, but it has not been decided if further clarifications will be issued, a government official told Reuters. The new rules govern entities located in a country that shares a land border with India. Such foreign direct investments will now require government approval, meaning they can't go through a so-called automatic route, and will also apply on investments from Hong Kong, Reuters has reported. The policy risks souring relations between the two nations and furthering anti-China sentiment already festering in India before the coronavirus outbreak. Companies regularly battle consumer perception that Chinese goods are of inferior quality and those views have only worsened as the coronavirus epidemic spread from China around the world. Welcoming the investment rules, Ashwani Mahajan of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, a Hindu nationalist group close to India's ruling party, said domestic startups should not rely on any Chinese funding as there was enough local capital available. "We have even more reasons to oppose China now there is a general feeling against China, and secondly we have been saying Chinese goods are of bad quality," said Mahajan. Federal think tank Niti Aayog's chief executive Amitabh Kant defended the screening of investments and rejected the notion it was targeting China. "Nowhere have we said that we are going to constrain China's investment. They have been a big player in India's start-up story," Kant told the CNBC TV18 channel. In central Germany, a couple in their mid-sixties running a travel agency is seeing retirement drift at least a decade into the future. In a small town in southern Italy, a well-known restaurant is closing for good. And on France's northwestern coast, a bistro owner is concerned the majority of restaurants around him will simply disappear. The economic damage wrought by the coronavirus is clear in countless stories across Europe, from business owners furiously fighting to keep their firms afloat to those who see no hope. In France, where more than half of small firms fear bankruptcy, the crisis led to a public showdown on live television between entrepreneurs and the country's finance minister. Even with massive government financial support, countries face the prospect of countless businesses going under, destroying livelihoods and jobs, as well as weakening a key part of the economy. Europe's 25 million small and medium sized enterprises -- officially defined as having fewer than 250 staff -- employ more than 90 million people. "We can and should even massively support these businesses if only because they represent a huge source of job creation," said Nadine Levratto, a research director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research. "They really are a precious public good." Often with low margins and few reserves, small businesses are more vulnerable than bigger groups. SMEunited, an employers' association representing SMEs at a European level, showed in a recent survey that about 90% report being hit by the pandemic, with an EU-wide average 50% loss in turnover. Country-level data is similarly grim: France's small business federation CPME says 55% of small firms are concerned about bankruptcy, and a group representing Irish SMEs says close to 30% won't survive if the situation doesn't improve within the next two months. --- In Weimar, Germany, Guenter Conrad and his wife have scrapped plans to hand their travel agency to a successor after running it for three decades. With no money coming in, he says the mounting debt they'll have to take on will mean closing one of their two shops, cutting staff, and juggling most of the workload themselves to make their business viable. Germany has promised unlimited loan guarantees for struggling small businesses, alongside 50 billion euros ($54 billion) of free cash injections. In Italy, subsidies and loans have proven harder to come by, and some don't see a point in fighting on. They include Mariagrazia Ferrandino, a restaurant owner in the southern town of Apricena. She plans to keep her business shut and apply for unemployment support. "I don't need another mortgage," she wrote in an open letter to Italy's prime minister, Giuseppe Conte. The crisis raises grim questions for policy makers -- often keen to defend "the little guy" and hold up SMEs as the backbone of the economy, but hesitant to ramp up more debt and ultimately put the bill on the taxpayer. In France, the dilemma came to a head one night on national television. A gym owner, a construction entrepreneur, and a Michelin-starred chef bombarded Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire with questions, arguing that many small businesses will go bust if they are forced to pay rents or loans. Le Maire responded the government would consider tax forgiveness instead of just delays, but warned the cost for the state would be huge. "We will need to be able to help businesses with capital, what we call their solvency," Bank of France Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau said Thursday on BFMTV. "But that will have to be done with much more selectivity." Erasing debts could be justified both in terms of protecting jobs and the economy. One question is whether governments want to set conditions. In the U.S., for instance, small companies are able to receive forgivable loans that convert into grants if at least 75% of the funding is spent on payroll. Lucia Cusmano, who leads the SME and Entrepreneurship Division at the OECD Center for Entrepreneurship, says the scale of the challenge and the speed needed in interventions is such that conditionality is difficult to apply. But even with broad support, "some destruction of business as a result of the crisis is inevitable." A number of countries have begun easing tough restrictions, but the experience from China, where lockdown rules have been loosened since March, shows consumers are reluctant to go out and spend. Monthly revenues of Chinese SMEs are down about 60% from a year ago, according to a study by the PBC School of Finance at Tsinghua University. That's a worry for retailers, restaurants and bars. Hubert Jan, owner of the Bistrot Chez Hubert on the south Brittany coast in France, is also concerned about rules imposing bigger distances between diners. There will be no point in restaurants reopening if they can't break even at half the normal capacity, he expects. "We might find ourselves with a catastrophe of 60% of restaurants disappearing from one day to the next." But despite the threat that will linger even after restrictions are lifted, SMEunited Secretary General Veronique Willems is hopeful that many companies will show resilience, and is calling on governments to do their utmost to contain the pandemic. "We are now discussing recovery strategies already, but if the emergency strategies don't work out, we won't need recovery strategies for SMEs anymore because there won't be any left," she said. "It would be an economic massacre." The first production car with a recorded speed was the 1894 Benz Velo that had a top speed of just 12 mph. Few verified records exist from that point until around 1950, when the Jaguar XK120 set a production car speed record of 124.6 mph (not to be confused with the tuned prototype that managed to hit 133 mph) From this point on, it became a trend for automotive publications to do their own top speed test. Even the venerable McLaren F1 was tested by Car & Driver, and in 2005 we got our first government-official speed record set by the Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 and verified by German inspection officials in 2005. It was that moment when the official challenge between manufacturers kicked off, and since then there have only been a handful of cars up to breaking the record. This list covers the top 10 fastest cars in the world, ranked from slowest to fastest. Of all the cars in the world, only one has a verified top speed record above 300 mph LISTEN 12:22 McLaren Speedtail: 250 mph One of the newest cars on our list, the McLaren Speedtail, was introduced in 2019, and its considered a spiritual successor to the iconic F1. But thats mostly because it features a three-seat layout with the drivers seat in the center. Unlike other cars on this list, the Speedtail is a hybrid, combining a twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8 gasoline engine with an electric motor. McLaren says that the Speedtail is able to hit 250 mph, which makes it the companys fastest vehicle yet. However, the British firm has yet to release proof that the Speedtail is indeed capable of such speeds. McLaren Speedtail specifications Engine: twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8 hybrid Horsepower: 1,035 horsepower Torque: 848 pound-feet 0-60 mph: 2.5 seconds (estimate) Top speed: 250 mph (claimed) Price: $2.2 million Production: 106 Read our full review on the McLaren Speedtail: The fourth Bugatti on our list, the standard Veyron, is the first production car that surpassed the 250-mph mark. And it did it back in 2005 when it put an end to McLarens long-standing record set with the F1 in 1993. The Veyron, fitted with an early version of the 8.0-liter W-16, hit a top speed of 253.8 mph on April 19, 2005. Its record stood for two years, but it was recaptured by the SuperSport version and then by its successor, the Chiron. This is the only Bugatti in our list that generates less than 1,000 horsepower. The W-16 used in the original Veyron cranks out 987 horses and 922 pound-feet of torque. Bugatti Veyron 16.4 specifications Engine: quad-turbo, 8.0-liter W-16 Horsepower: 987 horsepower Torque: 922 pound-feet 0-60 mph: 2.8 seconds Top speed: 254 horsepower Price: $1.7 million Production: 178 Read our full review on the Bugatti Veyron: SSC Ultimate Aero: 256 mph The Ultimate Aero is the car that briefly stole the record from the Bugatti Veyron. Until the Veyron Super Sport came to take it back. SSC set its record in 2007 with a twin-turbo version of the car. The Ultimate Aero hit a top speed of 256.1 mph somewhere in West Richland and held the record until 2010. The Ultimate Aero was discontinued in 2013 after several limited-edition models, but SSC is now working on a new contender for the worlds fastest production car, the Tuatara. While the record car came with 1,183 horsepower and 1,094 pound-feet of tap, SSC increased power to 1,300 horses toward the end of production. It also switched the original 6.3-liter V-8 with a 6.9-liter engine. SSC Ultimate Aero specifications Engine: twin-turbo, 6.3-liter V-8 Horsepower: 1,183 horsepower Torque: 1,094 pound-feet 0-60 mph: 2.7 seconds Top speed: 256 mph Price: $600,000 Production: unknown Read our full review on the SSC Ultimate Aero: Koenigsegg Agera R: 260 mph The Agera RS may be the fastest of its kind, but the Agera R isnt far behind. Produced from 2011 to 2014, the Agera R featured the companys legendary 5.0-liter V-8 engine, capable of up to 1,124 horsepower and 885 pound-feet of torque. The Swedish firm used this car to set a handful of records for production cars in 2011, but these were eventually reset by the Agera RS. Although it didnt set a record for top speed, the Agera R was nearly as fast as the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport at 260 mph. This benchmark places it in fifth place on our list and makes it the second Koenigsegg to make our top 10. Koenigsegg Agera R specifications Engine: twin-turbo, 5.0-liter V-8 Horsepower: 1,124 horsepower Torque: 885 pound-feet 0-60 mph: 2.7 seconds Top speed: 260 mph Price: $2 million Production: 18 Read our full review on the Koenigsegg Agera R: Bugatti Chiron: 261 mph The standard Bugatti Chiron made it on our list as one of four Bugattis. Introduced in 2016 as a replacement for the Veyron, the Chiron retains the quad-turbo W-16 engine, but power was upgraded to 1,479 horsepower and 1,180 pound-feet of torque. The Chirons top speed is officially limited to 261 mph, which is a bit below the Veyron Super Sport. On the other hand, the Chiron Super Sport tops the list with more than 300 mph, so we know theres plenty of potential under the hood. Bugatti Chiron specifications Engine: quad-turbo, 8.0-liter W-16 Horsepower: 1,479 horsepower Torque: 1,180 pound-feet 0-60 mph: 2.6 seconds Top speed: 261 mph Price: $3 million Production: up to 500 Read our full review on the Bugatti Chiron: Bugatti Veyron Super Sport: 268 mph The Bugatti Veyron may be 16 years old as of 2021, but its still among the fastest supercars ever built. Actually, the record set by Bugatti in 2010 places the Veyron in fourth place with a top speed of 267.8 mph. This benchmark was achieved with a beefed-up model called the Veyron Super Sport. Bugatti built a special run of 30 cars called World Record Edition to celebrate the event, but these vehicles are limited to 258 mph to protect the tires. The Super Sport was also the most powerful version of the Veyron, with its 8.0-liter W-16 rated at 1,184 horsepower, 197 more than the regular model. Bugatti Veyron Super Sport specifications Engine: quad-turbo, 8.0-liter W-16 Horsepower: 1,184 Torque: 1,106 0-60 mph: 2.6 seconds Top speed: 268 Price: $2.7 million Production: 30 Read our full review on the Bugatti Veyron Super Sport: Hennessey Venom GT: 270 mph Hennessey Venom GT: 270 MPH Lacking traction control and airbags, this model wins the title of the least safe in this list. Would you dare racing it? The Venom GT was introduced in 2011 and remained in production until 2017. Despite the seemingly long run, only 13 cars were built. Based on the Lotus Exige, the extensively modified Venom GT features a twin-turbo, 7.0-liter V-8 engine under the hood. Based on General Motors LS7 V-8, the unit pumps out up to 1,244 horsepower and 1,155 pound-feet of torque. The Venom GT hit its highest top speed in February 2014, when it reached 270.4 mph on Kennedy Space Centers shuttle landing strip in Florida. Although the speed was higher than the world record at the time, it did not qualify for the Guinness Book of Records because Hennesseys run was in a single direction. Also, the limited production run of only 13 cars went against Guinness rules. Hennessey Venom GT specifications Engine: twin-turbo, 7.0-liter V-8 Horsepower: 1,244 horsepower Torque: 1,155 pound-feet 0-60 mph: 2.7 seconds Top speed: 270 mph Price: $1.2 million Production: 13 Read our full review on the Hennessey Venom GT: Koenigsegg Agera RS: 278 mph Koenigsegg Agera RS: 278 MPH The Swedish maker took the lead in 2017 with this more powerful version of the Agera, stripping Bugatti from its title The most powerful version of the Agera, the Agera RS, became the worlds fastest car on November 2017, when Koenigsegg hit an average speed of 277.9 mph. The record lasted less than two years, but the Agera RS still owns a handful of benchmarks, including acceleration from 0 to 200 mph, braking from 200 to 0 mph, and 0 to 200 mph and back to full stop. Unlike Bugatti, Koenigsegg didnt build a limited-edition version of the Agera RS to celebrate the record, but the RS itself was limited to 25 examples. Koenigsegg Agera RS specifications Engine: twin-turbo, 5.0-liter V-8 Horsepower: 1,341 horsepower Torque: 1,160 pound-feet 0-60 mph: 2.6 seconds Top speed: 278 mph Price: $2.5 million Production: 25 Read our full review on the Koenigsegg Agera RS: Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+: 304 mph The standard Bugatti Chiron is already among the fastest cars in the world with a top speed of around 261 mph, but the French firm wanted to set a new record, so it created an even more potent beast. Bugatti took the slightly more powerful engine from the Centodieci, rated at 1,578 horsepower (99 more than the standard Chiron), added longer gear ratios to the gearbox, and crafted a revised aerodynamic package that increases the cars length by almost 10 inches. The modified car hit a top speed of 304.7 mph on August 2. To celebrate the even, Bugatti is building a production model based on the prototype called the Chiron Super Sport 300+. This car is limited to 30 examples, enough to validate the speed record with the Guinness World Records. Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ specifications Engine: quad-turbo, 8.0-liter W-16 Horsepower: 1,578 horsepower Torque: 1,180 pound-feet 0-60 mph: 2.6 seconds Top speed: 304 mph Price: $3.8 million Production: 30 Read our full review on the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ SSC Tuatara: 316 MPH SSC Tuatara: 316 MPH On October 10th 2020, SSC took its new supercar to the Nevada desert and set an incredible new record Its not uncommon to see controversy surrounding top speed records, especially when it comes to breaking the once-mythical and downright impossible 300-mph barrier. It all started in October of 2020 when the SSC Tuatara supposedly hit a high speed of 331 mph, which would have made it the fastest car in the world by a long shot. It took mere hours before people started pointing out discrepancies in the videos and, sure enough, what would have been a record-breaking run just couldnt be verified. SSC is still anxious to prove that the SSC Tuatara is the fastest car in the world, and it made a second attempt. Unfortunately, that second attempt wasnt as good as the first, but it did set an official record of 282.6, pushing the Koenigsegg Agera RS out of the second position, leaving the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ as the current fastest car in the world. So, why have I put the Tuatara ahead of the Bugatti? Because its a fun twist and, lets be honest, I would be cool if the Tuatara really did set a new record. Until then, however, the Tuatara is technically out of place. SSC Tuatara Specifications Engine 5.9-Liter Flat-Plane Crank V-8 Horsepower 1,750 Horsepower Torque 1,280 Pound-Feet 0-60 MPH 2.5 Seconds (est) Top Speed 286 MPH (316 unverified) Price $1.6 Million Production 100 Read our full review of the SSC Tuatara Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Fastest Car In the World 2019? The fastest car in the world in 2019 was the Bugatti Chiron Sport with a top speed of 261 mph. It beat out the Mercedes-AMG Project One with a rating of at least 217 mph and the Lamborghini Aventador SVJ with a top speed rating of 217 mph. What Is The Fastest Car in the World 2020 Controversially, the SSC Tuatara was the fastest car in the world in 2020, a record that was set by combining a one-way run of 330 mph with a second run of 301 mph, averaging a Guinness-certified world record of 316 mph. However, this records validity has been called into question, so Koenigsegg Agera RS is still the official fastest car of 2020 What Is The Fastest Commercial Production Car In The World? In 2021, Bugatti unleashed the Chiron Super Sport 300+, which set a new and verified record of 304 mph How Fast Is The Fastest Car In The World? If you believe in unverified records, The SSC Tuatara is the fastest car in the world with a top speed of 331 mph and a record-setting average of 316.11 mph, however in terms of verifiable records, the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+ holds the current record. What IS The Fastest Street Legal Car In The World? The SSC Tuatara might not hold the fastest speed record, but it did manage to capture a verified two-run average of 282.9 mph, making it just a bit faster than the Koenigsegg Agera RS. Representative Image United States President Donald Trumps face-off with the governors of states under the Democrats went the predictable way, with the former backing off from intruding into federal domains. There is no likelihood of anything remotely similar happening in India as the chief ministers, even those from non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governed states, have stood resolutely behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi to observe the nation-wide lockdown. The Centre too has left it to the states to combat the COVID-19 pandemic their own way, within the broad guidelines set by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). That was only to be expected as health remains a state subject. However, the proposal by the high-level group of the 15th Finance Commission that it be brought under the concurrent list is a clear indication of the direction in which the Centre wishes to move. Quite a few state governments have done exceedingly well in fighting the outbreak. However, is the Centre working under the shadow of the pandemic to get control of this vital state subject? Unfortunately that is the impression the Centre is giving when it send two inspection teams to West Bengal to visit seven of its districts earlier this week. The state government protested and called the Centres action unilateral. Its another matter that the inter-ministerial central teams (IMCTs) also visited districts in Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh as well. Suspicions regarding the Centres intentions get accentuated as no central team visit was deemed necessary for other states struggling with COVID Gujarat, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Telengana, either BJP-ruled or governments that ally themselves with the BJP. Kerala, perhaps mindful of such a predicament, was quick to reverse its decision to ease lockdown norms in districts categorised to be in a green zone. 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 inevitably brings up the question whether the Centre has a plan or blueprint to ease India out of the 40-day lockdown after May 3. That is what was expected from the Centre soon after the Prime Minister held his video conference with the chief ministers of all states and Union Territories. Perhaps the Centre has a plan and it will be made known closer to May 3. In the meantime it must not be forgotten that tens and thousands of migrant workers are stranded in cities across India perhaps among the worst affected because of this lockdown. The national lockdown has delayed the outbreak across Indiabut has it eliminated the threat it poses? The virus could make a comeback once the current restrictions are eased. Will that push us into more lockdowns? It took 15 days for COVID-19 cases in India to go from 100 to 1,000, another 15 days to get to 10,000, and just eight days to touch the 20,000 mark. During this time the total recovered patients are about 4,000. This shows that till India completely eradicates the virus, there is always the danger of further waves of the pandemic hitting us. Each time the numbers rear up in a region in a state or two, the whole country cannot be expected to lock down in its entirety. That is, unless of course the virus once again spreads right across the country. The other challenge is that India may see a real spike in numbers when we ramp up our testing to reach beyond only those showing symptoms. Other challenges could be when travel within and outside the country resumes. This is where the grassroots-level approach works, where each state will be better placed to decide how best to do both ease the rigours of a local shutdown as well as revert to a lockdown-like situation depending on the ground reality. More than a macro or pan-India plan, a micro, state-level or district-level decision needs to be taken. The aim should be to contain future outbreaks to local clusters which do not bring the whole nation to a grinding halt. That is why health should remain a state subject and not in the concurrent list. The powers that the Centre enjoys are important, and so is the limited federal autonomy enjoyed by the states. The union of states that make India must not come under strain, concurrently or otherwise. Anyone in China caught stealing a manhole cover could now face the death penalty after the government increased the maximum punishment for the crime. The country's top judicial bodies - The Supreme People's Court, The Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Ministry of Public Security - released a joint statement instructing courts to begin issuing the harsher punishments. 'Manhole covers are often ignored, but they very much relate to people's lives, personal safety and property security,' said Wan Chun, an official from the Supreme People's Procuratorate. 'Stealing or destroying a manhole cover cannot be just identified as committing crimes of theft or destroying property. Instead, the offenders should be given harsher punishment.' Chinese courts can now charge people who steal manhole covers with the death penalty. Pictured: A road worker peers into a manhole cover in China to speak to his colleague while repairing cables as the roads lie empty in Beijing's central business district The maximum sentence for both damaging or stealing a manhole cover under Chinese law is now the death penalty, in the case where someone is killed or injured as a result. The guidelines to the courts say that anyone who removed a cover knowing it could harm others could be charged with either intentional homicide or intentional injury if someone is killed or hurt. As reported by China Daily, Chun added that 70 'tragedies' had occurred between 2017 and 2019 resulting from stolen or damaged manhole covers. One example given by officials was that of a woman in Dalian, Liaoning province in 2012. Suspected taxi drivers had taken a cover off to clean their vehicles, but forgot to put it back over the hole. The woman, blinded by rain and vapor, fell into the uncovered thermal well and died. Officials argued that holes left behind in the road are 'sufficient to overturn or destroy a car or tram,' and therefore anyone stealing a manhole cover or found damaging one is knowingly endangering transportation or endangering public safety. 'The legal document is urgent and essential, as it will better ensure people's safety when walking on roads or driving on streets,' said Xu Hao, a lawyer from Beijing Jingsh Law Firm. Hao argued that stricter punishments will improve public safety and act as a greater deterrent to those who may steal or damage manhole covers. Open manholes can pose a significant threat to vehicles and pedestrians, and officials argue that anyone who steals a cover is knowingly risking the lives of others Many of those who have stolen manhole covers have done so in order to sell them for scrap metal. Taxi drivers have also reportedly been removing the covers to access water to clean their cars. In 2019, the Global Times, another Chinese news outlet, branded people who stole manhole covers 'manhole maniacs', and the BBC has reported that there is even a sketch on the subject in China's annual Spring Festival gala. The new laws sparked a debate on Chinese social media networks. While some voiced their support, others would rather have seen the government deal with drink-drivers, a problem they perceive to be more dangerous on the country's roads. Archbishop Philippe Kpodzro, come to visit his foal, former Prime Minister Gabriel Agbeyome Kodjo who was arrested Tuesday (April 21) was subjected to several hours of interrogation. The former Archbishop of Lome returned home shortly before curfew began. Meanwhile, Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Togo (CET) have, in a collective statement, lamented the brutality and violence on the part of government security agencies in the arrest of the opposition leader, Agbeyome Kodjo and demanded his immediate release. The Episcopal Conference of Togo has learnt with dismay news of the arrest at his residence of Mr. Kodjo Agbeyome, on Tuesday, April 21, in circumstances of brutality and violence perpetrated by the Defense and Security Forces, who forcefully broke into his home by destroying the gate, the Bishops stated in their collectively signed letter, reported ACI Africa, a newly set up continental Catholic news agency. The Bishops urged judicial authorities to release Mr. Gabriel Kodjo Agbeyome immediately and condemned the recurrence of violence in the management of a situation which is above all, political. Thirty five people were arrested on Tuesday along with Gabriel Agbeyome Kodjo and are being held in cells at the Central Intelligence and Criminal Investigation Service since Wednesday evening. Other members of Kodjos movement were summoned to the intelligence and criminal investigation service (SCRIC) this Thursday 23 April. According to a statement by the public prosecutor, Essolisam Poyodi, the arrest of Gabriel Agbeyome Kodjo was made necessary by his refusal three times to respond to summons on the pretext of his poor health. This attitude constitutes nothing more and nothing less than contempt for the judicial authority and its auxiliaries, the prosecutor said. Also exempt from the order are members of the military and their children, as well as Iraqis and those from Afghanistan who obtain a visa by assisting military operations. The policy could, however, be expanded; Mr. Trumps top cabinet officials will convene in at least 30 days to review any restrictions on nonimmigrant visas, including visas for seasonal workers. While the president often rails against illegal immigration and promotes the construction of a wall along the southwestern border, the order is focused on the family-based immigration he and his allies have frequently assailed as chain-based migration. It would be wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced with new immigrant labor flown in from abroad, Mr. Trump said on Tuesday. We must first take care of the American worker. But as the pandemic touches every corner of daily life, including the economy, few employers are reaching out for workers at home or abroad. And critics have emphasized research that shows immigrants have a positive effect on the economy. Immigrants and their potential employers are also already subject to a certification process to ensure that there are an insufficient number of American workers to fill any potential job. Hes saying the system, the labor protections existing in the statute right now, are not good enough, said Theresa Cardinal Brown, the director of immigration and cross border policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center. The executive order means families will be separated, employers who have spent a lot of money and a lot of time to say, This is the person I need for my company, will not have that person, and I can imagine they will not take kindly to this, Ms. Brown said. Ruth's Chris Steak House announced Thursday it will return the $20 million it received in coronavirus small business loans. Ruth's Hospitality Group, which owns the Ruth's Chris Steak House brand, procured two $10million loans from the government's $350 billion Paycheck Protection Program this month. The chain was met with fierce criticism for using loopholes in the PPP system to secure funding, leaving the small business applicants it was designed for high and dry. 'We intended to repay this loan in adherence with government guidelines, but as we learned more about the funding limitations of the program and the unintended impact, we have decided to accelerate that repayment,' the President and CEO Cheryl J. Henry said in a statement. Ruth's Chris Steakhouse was among the public companies that received the maximum $10 million loan under the Paycheck Protection Program, receiving $20million in total The announcement came after the U.S. Treasury Department asked publicly traded companies such as Ruth's Hospitality Group to repay loans they'd received 'in good faith' by May 7. Shake Shack and Sweetgreen had already announced they would be giving back funds. In updated guidance issued Thursday, the Treasury Department said it was 'unlikely that a public company with substantial market value and access to capital markets' could demonstrate that the loan was needed. It called on them to 'pay back the money quickly' or the company 'could be subject to investigation'. Companies were given until May 7 to give the money back 'in good faith'. The multi-million dollar companies who received PPP loans intended for small businesses The Paycheck Protection Program was supposed to infuse small businesses with $349 billion in emergency loans that could help keep workers on the job and bills paid on time. But at least 75 companies that received the aid were publicly traded, the AP found, and some had market values well over $100 million. What is the small-business relief program? The Paycheck Protection Program exhausted its $350 billion in funding last week and many small businesses were unable to obtain loans they desperately need to stay afloat. Congress and the White House say theyre close to an agreement on that would give the program about $300 billion in fresh funds. The government program, which is overseen by the Treasury and administered by the Small Business Administration, limits loan recipients to businesses with fewer than 500 employees and revenue of less than $2.5 billion. But it makes an exception for restaurants and other food service businesses that employ fewer than 500 people per location, meaning that restaurant chains are as eligible for the loans as a neighborhood restaurant or bar. The small business lending program is part of the $2.2 trillion rescue package approved by Congress last month. Advertisement 'The intent of this money was not for big, public companies that have access to capital,' Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said at a news briefing Tuesday. The program was designed for companies with less than 500 employees, but restaurants and hotels were exempt from that limit if they had less than 500 employees per location. The owners behind large restaurants chains like Potbelly, Ruth's Chris Steak House and Taco Cabana were able to qualify despite employing thousands of workers and get the maximum $10 million in loans. Ruth's Chris Steak House brand operates more than 100 steakhouses across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Its parent company used its two subsidiaries to acquire two separate $10million loans. With fewer than 500 employees at each location, the company argued it met the eligibility requirements for the loan. In response, a petition was started calling on the money to be given back, drawing 250,000 signatures by Thursday. Ruth's said it is now taking actions to return the after the multi-million dollar company was criticized for taking much needed funds from struggling small businesses. Companies with thousands of employees, past penalties from government investigations and risks of financial failure even before the coronavirus walloped the economy were among those receiving millions of dollars from a relief fund that Congress created to help small businesses through the crisis, according to a new analysis. Funding for the PPP ran out last week, but on Tuesday Democrats and Republicans in Congress reportedly reached a deal to add $310 billion in small-business loans. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer claimed that of that funding, $125 billion will be sent 'exclusively to the unbanked, to the minorities, to the rural areas, and to all of those little mom and pop stores that don't have a good banking connection and need the help.' Overall, 25 percent of the public companies identified in the AP analysis as receiving PPP funds had warned investors months ago - while the economy was humming along - that their ability to remain viable was in question. By combing through thousands of regulatory filings, the analysis identified the 75 companies as recipients of a combined $300 million in low-interest, taxpayer-backed loans. Eight companies, or their subsidiaries, received the maximum $10 million. The size of the typical loan nationally was $206,000, according to U.S. Small Business Administration statistics. If companies meet benchmarks such as keeping employees on payroll for eight weeks, the SBA will forgive the loans. The public companies identified in the analysis is a fraction of the 1.6 million loans that banks approved before the program was depleted last week, but it is the most complete public accounting to date. Lawmakers from both political parties are negotiating an additional relief package that in large part would replenish the Paycheck Protection Program. Last Friday, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a written statement that 74% of the loans were for less than $150,000, demonstrating 'the accessibility of this program to even the smallest of small businesses.' The review also found examples of companies that had foreign owners and that were delisted from U.S. stock exchanges, or threatened with removal, because of their poor performance. Other companies had annual losses for years. Since launching April 3, the relief package has faced criticism about slow loan processing, unclear rules and limited funding that left many mom-and-pop businesses without help. By design, the Paycheck Protection Program was meant to get money out quickly to as many small businesses as possible, using a formula based in part on payroll size. Some other big companies that received loans appeared to have enough cash on hand to survive the economic downturn. On Thursday, it was revealed that the luxury hotel group that owns Marriott Beverly Hills and the Ritz Carlton in Atlanta was the biggest beneficiary of the coronavirus loan program receiving a staggering $59million intended for small firms, while its boss has pocketed millions in dividends during the pandemic. Ashford Inc., a hospitality real estate business with several subsidiaries, has already received $30million in loans from the US Paycheck Protection Program set up by the federal government to help small businesses keep paying their workers and bills. This is the biggest sum received by any public company from these loans and is around eight times the average amount granted to firms, according to analysis by the Wall Street Journal. Public filings show that the group's subsidiaries also took home $12.8 million in loans and subsidiaries of affiliate company Braemar Hotels & Resorts have been granted $15.8 million. This comes as CEO and chairman Monty Bennett, known for keeping exotic and endangered animals on his Dallas ranch, and other major shareholders including his father, have reportedly pocketed millions of dollars in preferred dividends as the coronavirus pandemic wages on. This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about others here. DAKAR, Senegal Abba Kyari, the chief of staff of Nigerias president and one of the most powerful men in the country, died on April 17 in a cardiology hospital in Lagos. He was said to be 67. The cause was complications of the new coronavirus, the Lagos state government said. Senior government officials attended his burial the next day in Abuja, the capital, and were criticized by medical officials and health workers for doing so and for not practicing social distancing. Mr. Kyari amassed more power than any previous chief of staff in Nigeria. Anyone who wanted to see President Muhammadu Buhari, including ministers and Nigerias influential state governors, had to go through him. The woman's body was found in a flat in Haywood Avenue, Belfast. Picture from Google Police and forensic officers at the scene of deathr in the Haywood Avenue area of south Belfast on April 22nd 2020 (Photo by Kevin Scott for Belfast Telegraph) A man was remanded into custody today charged with the murder of his mother in south Belfast. The body of Emma Jane McParland, 39, was found with stab wounds at a flat on Haywood Avenue in the early hours of Wednesday, April 22. Police charged her 21-year-old son, Jordan Kennedy, following a post mortem examination to establish the cause of death. Kennedy, of Haywood Avenue, appeared at Belfast Magistrates' Court via a video-link from a city centre police station. He spoke briefly to confirm that he understood the single charge of murdering his mother. The senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Darren McCartney, said he could connect Kennedy to the alleged offence. No further details were disclosed, and defence solicitor Adrian Harvey did not question the detective during the hearing. Mr Harvey also confirmed his client was not seeking bail. He told the court Kennedy is now in breach of his release on licence for a previous driving offence. "Papers are being prepared in relation to his recall on that licence, which has 18 months to run," the lawyer added. District Judge Mark McGarrity remanded Kennedy in custody to appear again by video-link in four weeks time. In a statement released afterwards, Detective Chief Inspector McCartney said: "My thoughts go out to the victim's family and friends at this tragic time. "I am keen to speak to anyone who was in the area of Haywood Avenue at around 1.30am (on Wednesday) and saw or heard anything suspicious to contact detectives from the Major Investigation Team at Ladas Drive Police Station on 101 quoting reference 106 22/04/20. "Alternatively, information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, which is 100% anonymous and gives people the power to speak up and stop crime. MCMINNVILLE, Ore., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- About TTR TTR, The Tax Research Company, provides everything sales, use, and transaction tax related. Access to tax laws, a best in class research system, tax charts, the most accurate tax rates and taxability rules available anywhere; with 10,000 companies and counting, TTR has become a "best practice" in the area of sales, use, and transaction tax. TTR also provides software solutions for companies and governments. TTR's revolutionary Artificial Intelligence Enabled Exemption Certificate Management System (ECMS), Tax Automation software, and proprietary nationwide GIS Tax Rate System allow businesses and states to Get Tax Right. To learn more, visit www.ttrus.com. TTR's GIS Tax System Using TTR's GIS Sales Tax System, companies can easily look up tax rates and also determine whether sales are taxable or exempt. TTR's GIS Sales Tax Lookup System provides up-to-date tax rates, accurate taxability rules (whether something is taxable or exempt), and an API code for access to tax rates and GIS-mapping. Participating state and local governments work with TTR to make this information available in a free to use format. Similar to free tax registration, tax return, and tax remittance portals offered by states and local governments many are now looking to make getting tax right easier than ever through TTR's GIS Tax System. "Hold Harmless" Audit Protection "Hold Harmless" audit protection simply means that if you are using TTR's tax rates and taxability rules your company will not receive an audit assessment (bill) for the use of this information. Several states are using TTR's GIS Sales Tax System to provide public access to accurate tax rates and taxability rules. Recently, several local governments in Alaska issued "hold harmless" protection for companies using TTR's tax rates and taxability rules. Other state and local governments have legislation in process to afford similar protections for companies using TTR's tax rates and taxability rules through TTR's GIS Tax System. TTR's Alaska system may be accessed using the following website: https://alaska.ttr.services/ Learn More To learn more about how your organization can use TTR to Get Tax Right, visit www.ttrus.com or call us directly: Kerry McGrauth 503.583.2910. SOURCE TTR About one in six American workers have lost their jobs in past five weeks, the worst string of layoffs on record. 26 million people have sought US jobless aid in the past five weeks since the coronavirus hit. About one in six American workers have lost their jobs, by far the worst string of layoffs on record. The head of the US agency in charge of developing a vaccine against the coronavirus says he was removed from his job for opposing the chloroquine treatment promoted by US President Donald Trump. The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) says there are worrying upward trends in early epidemics in parts of Africa and Central and South America, warning that the virus will be with us for a long time. More than 2.6 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with the coronavirus. The United Nations is warning global hunger could double as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, putting 265 million people at risk. Here are the latest updates: Thursday, April 23 23:13 GMT US immigration agency to test 2,000 detainees before deportation The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the countrys immigration agency, has announced on Thursday that it will conduct 2,000 coronavirus tests on detainees before processing their deportation. Dozens of people deported by the US to their homes countries, including Guatemala and Mexico have been found to have contracted the disease after arriving in their homeland. 22:50 GMT US Congress gives final approval on $484bn relief package The US House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a $484bn coronavirus relief bill, funding small businesses and hospitals and pushing the total spending response to the crisis to an unprecedented near $3 trillion. The measure passed the Democratic-led House by a vote of 388-5, with one member voting present. It now heads to the White House, where Trump said he would probably sign it later on Thursday. 22:10 GMT UK PM Boris Johnson to be back at work as soon as Monday: Telegraph British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is planning to return to work as early as Monday, the Telegraph reported. Johnson has told aides to schedule meetings with cabinet ministers next week to catch up and get up to speed, according to the report on Thursday. 20:52 GMT US House creates panel to probe federal response The Democratic-controlled US House of Representatives approved the creation of a special investigative panel to examine the federal governments response to the pandemic. By a partisan vote, with Republicans opposing the measure, the House signed off on the panel, which will have broad powers to investigate how federal dollars are being spent, US preparedness and Trump administration deliberations. It will be able to issue subpoenas as it conducts its probes. 20:45 GMT 80 countries limiting exports of face masks, other goods: WTO report Eighty countries and customs territories have banned or limited the export of face masks, protective gear, gloves and other goods to mitigate shortages since the outbreak began, the World Trade Organization (WTO) reported. It said the bans were imposed by 72 WTO members and eight non-WTO member countries, but only 13 WTO members had notified the global trade body as required by its regulations. 20:28 GMT Lawyers for ousted US health official say he will file whistleblowers complaint Lawyers for Rick Bright, the ousted director of a US agency responsible for the development of drugs to fight the coronavirus, said he will file a whistleblowers complaint with two government offices over his reassignment. In our filing we will make clear that Dr. Bright was sidelined for one reason only because he resisted efforts to provide unfettered access to potentially dangerous drugs, including chloroquine, a drug promoted by the administration as a panacea, but which is untested and possibly deadly when used improperly, his lawyers said in a statement. 20:12 GMT Bezos, Musk among billionaires gaining net worth in pandemic: report The combined wealth of Americas billionaires, including Amazon.com Inc founder Jeff Bezos and Tesla Inc chief Elon Musk, increased nearly 10 percent during the ongoing pandemic, according to a report published by the Institute for Policy Studies (IPS). Even as the broader economy faced a recession, tech and stay-at-home stocks like Zoom have rallied in recent weeks, due to a surge in usage of video conferencing and remote work technology, thus boosting the net worth of billionaire founders with holdings in those companies. During the period between January 1 to April 10 this year, 34 of the nations wealthiest billionaires have seen their net worth increase by tens of millions of dollars, the report said. 20:03 GMT Women bear brunt of US job losses Women have lost the lions share of US jobs, researchers said, as family responsibilities and the industries they dominate make them especially vulnerable. Two out of every three new jobless claims in the 17 US states studied were from women, said The Fuller Project, a US-based nonprofit journalism organisation. A man speaks with a library worker after receiving an unemployment form in Hialeah, Florida [Marco Bello/Reuters] 19:45 GMT Czech government seeks state of emergency extension The Czech government will ask the lower house of parliament to extend the state of emergency until May 25, news agency CTK reported. The state of emergency, set to expire on April 30, gives the government the power to limit peoples movement or close businesses. The government said earlier on Thursday it planned relaxing most restrictions between now and May 25. 19:34 GMT WHO warns malaria deaths in Africa could double amid pandemic The WHO has warned that the number of deaths caused by malaria in sub-Saharan Africa could double to 769,000, as efforts to tackle the disease face disruptions by the coronavirus pandemic. Read more here. 19:28 GMT South Africa to begin phased easing of lockdown on May 1 South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa said the government will allow a partial reopening of the economy on May 1, with travel restrictions eased and some industries allowed to operate under a five-level risk system. Ramaphosa said the National Coronavirus Command Council decided restrictions will be lowered from level 5 to level 4 from next Friday. International borders will remain closed while travel will be only allowed for essential services. South Africa is under restrictions requiring most of the population to stay at home apart from essential trips [Reuters] 19:26 GMT California suffers states deadliest day California recorded 115 deaths over the past 24 hours, the states deadliest day of the pandemic, Governor Gavin Newsom said. Newsom said the deaths came as the number of hospitalisations and intensive care unit patients suffering from COVID-19 dropped slightly. 19:00 GMT Dubai opens restaurants, shopping malls; resumes public transportation Dubai allowed cafes and restaurants to resume business, and shopping malls to be opened partially from 12 pm until 10 pm, but with a maximum capacity of 30 percent, Dubais media office announced in a statement. According to the statement, public transportation services including the metro will resume from April 26. People shop at The Dubai Mall in Dubai, UAE on March 12 [File: Satish Kumar/Reuters] 18:22 GMT Italy PM hails great progress by EU on economic response Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said that EU leaders had made great progress towards an acceptable economic response. In a Facebook post after an EU leaders video conference, Conte said a Recovery Fund to be set up by the European Commission must be large enough to allow the countries worst hit by the epidemic to protect their social and economic fabric. We have made great progress, unthinkable until a few weeks ago, Conte said. 18:04 GMT WHO to launch initiative to share drugs, tests and vaccines The WHO said it would announce a landmark collaboration to speed development, production and the use of safe, effective drugs, tests and vaccines to prevent, diagnose and treat COVID-19. In a brief statement, the Geneva-based agency said the initiative being announced with partners aims to make technologies against the disease accessible to everyone who needs them, worldwide. 17:46 GMT Doctors launch legal action against UK government Two doctors are launching legal action against the British governments guidance on personal protective equipment (PPE) in hospitals, their lawyers said. The two doctors, a husband and wife who are expecting a child, have been exposed to patients with COVID-19 and are concerned that current PPE guidance and availability are inadequate to protect them from infection. We are incredibly concerned at the ever-growing numbers of healthcare workers who are becoming seriously unwell and dying due to COVID-19, said the doctors, Meenal Viz and Nishant Joshi, in a statement issued by Bindmans, a law firm. It is the governments duty to protect its healthcare workers, and there is great anxiety amongst staff with regards to safety protocols that seem to change without rhyme or reason, they said. A medical worker wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) at the back of an ambulance outside Lewisham hospital in London [Hannah McKay/Reuters] 17:42 GMT Death toll in France close to 22,000 The number of people who have died from the coronavirus in France rose by 516 to 21,856, the health ministry said in a statement. The 2.4 percent increase is well below the more than four percent rate seen last week. 17:40 GMT Turkeys death toll rises by 115 to 2,491 Turkeys confirmed cases of the COVID-19 disease increased by 3,116 in the past 24 hours, and 115 more people have died, taking the death toll to 2,491, according to Health Ministry data. The total number of cases in the country now stands at 101,790, the highest total for any country outside Europe or the US. 17:25 GMT Testing programme can open way to lesser measures A mass testing and tracking programme to keep coronavirus transmission rates low in the UK can open the way to having less strict social distancing rules, health minister Matt Hancock said at a news conference. The UK is working on launching a programme to test and trace any new coronavirus cases. Test, track and trace, done effectively, can help to suppress the transmission in a way that allows you then to have lesser social distancing rules, Hancock said. 17:23 GMT UK deaths to decline faster in couple of weeks The death rate in Britain will only start to decline quickly in another couple of weeks, the countrys chief scientific adviser, Patrick Vallance, said. Although the number of patients in intensive care units is coming down slowly, the deaths remain at a plateau, coming down slightly, not coming down fast, he said. I would expect that to continue for another couple of weeks and we will then see a faster decline, he added during a news conference. 17:17 GMT UK to expand testing to cover all key workers Britains health minister Matt Hancock promised to expand coronavirus testing to all those considered key workers after the government faced criticism for failing to roll out mass checks. Previously only healthcare employees and those working in nursing homes have been able to get tests. The government classifies as key workers people working in jobs such as teachers, government employees and delivery drivers. 17:00 GMT New York test of 3,000 people finds 14 percent with antibodies New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said a random screening of 3,000 residents found that 13.9 percent tested positive for antibodies for the coronavirus, suggesting that some 2.7 million people across the state may have been infected. This means that more than one in five New Yorkers may already have had the coronavirus, suggesting infections are much higher than confirmed cases suggest. Cuomo said that the survey was preliminary and limited by other factors. He said the testing targeted people who were out in society shopping, meaning that they may be more likely to be infected than people isolating at home. A medical worker walks past people lined up at Gotham Health East New York, a COVID-19 testing center in the Brooklyn borough of New York [Frank Franklin II/AP] 16:25 GMT 26 million have sought US jobless aid More than 4.4 million laid-off workers applied for US unemployment benefits last week as job cuts escalated across an economy that remains all but shut down, the government said. About 26 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the five weeks since the outbreak began forcing millions of employers to close their doors. About one in six American workers have lost their jobs in the past five weeks, by far the worst string of layoffs on record. Economists have forecast that the unemployment rate for April could go as high as 20 percent. 16:20 GMT Italys daily death toll edges up, but new cases fall Deaths from COVID-19 in Italy climbed by 464, against 437 the day before, the Civil Protection Agency said, but the daily tally of new infections declined to 2,646 from 3,370. The total death toll is now at 25,549, the agency said, the second highest in the world after the US. The are 189,973 confirmed cases, the third highest global tally behind the US and Spain. 16:11 GMT Hospital admissions in Ireland fall 60 percent in three weeks Hospital admissions in Ireland have fallen from an average of around 100 per day at the start of April to around 40 now, Health Minister Simon Harris told parliament. The reproductive rate, or the number of people who become infected from each positive case of COVID-19, has fallen to a range of between 0.5 and one from a range of 0.7 and one a week ago, Harris said. 16:02 GMT Calls grow to reopen parts of Zimbabwes crisis-ridden economy With an economic crisis characterised by foreign currency shortages, deeply eroded disposable incomes, dwindling exports, high unemployment, low manufacturing output and a currency that is rapidly losing value, some economists say Zimbabwe simply cannot afford to idle some of its money-making industries, despite the health risks from the coronavirus. Read about it here. Zimbabwes lockdown could have disastrous consequences for the economy, say experts, but others warn against the potential human toll of reopening the economy too soon [File: Philimon Bulawayo/Reuters] 16:00 GMT Wall Street up again despite dreadful jobless data Major United States stock indexes sailed to the upside for a second consecutive day despite dreadful data showing another 4.43 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, all but confirming economists predictions that the US economy is experiencing its worst recession since the Great Depression. Read more here. 15:54 GMT Algeria rights groups say government cracking down on critics Prisoner rights group says dozens, including students and activists, were summoned by police amid coronavirus measures. Read about it here. Demonstrators wave the Algerian flag as thousands gather for a rally in Algiers [File: Toufik Doudou/AP Photo] 15:07 GMT Developing world needs $1 trillion debt write-off: UN agency Around $1 trillion of debt owed by developing countries should be cancelled under a global deal to help them overcome the economic fallout, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said. This is a world where defaults by developing nations on their debt is inevitable, said Richard Kozul-Wright, director of UNCTADs Division on Globalization and Development Strategies. 14:50 GMT ECBs Lagarde warns EU leaders of doing too little, too late European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde warned EU leaders against doing too little, too late to shield the economy from the effects of the pandemic, a source told AFP. Lagarde also said during a videolink summit of the leaders that the ECBs worst-case scenario was that the eurozone could lose 15 percent of GDP because of the impact of measures to slow the virus, the source said. ECB President Christine Lagarde warned EU leaders of doing too little, too late to shield the economy from the effects of the pandemic [Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters] 14:25 GMT US new home sales plunge 15.4 percent in March Sales of new single-family houses collapsed in March as the lockdowns to contain the coronavirus outbreak took effect, dropping 15.4 percent compared to February, according to released government data. Sales fell to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 627,000, 9.5 percent below the March 2019 pace, with the deepest decline seen in the Northeast and West. Median sales price fell to $321,400 from $330,100, according to the report. 14:20 GMT South Africas Dis-Chem found to have increased face mask prices by 261 percent South African pharmaceutical group Dis-Chem has been referred to the Competition Tribunal after an investigation following complaints from consumers about its pricing of dust and surgical masks, the commission said. This referral [to the Competition Tribunal] follows an investigation by the Commission which found that Dis-Chem has charged excessive prices on essential hygienic goods to the detriment of customers and consumers, the commission said in a statement. The competition body said the average price increases between February and March on the products ranged between 43 percent and 261 percent. 14:15 GMT UK death toll rises to 18,738 Britains COVID-19 death toll in hospitals rose by 616 to 18,738 in the 24 hours to 16:00 GMT on April 22, the health ministry said. As of 9 am 23 April, 583,496 tests have concluded, with 23,560 tests on 22 April. 425,821 people have been tested of which 138,078 tested positive, the ministry said. As of 5 pm on 22 April, of those hospitalised in the UK who tested positive for coronavirus, 18,738 have sadly died. 13:45 GMT Egypt keeps night curfew for Ramadan Egypt will keep a night-time curfew for the holy Muslim month of Ramadan to curb the coronavirus spread but will allow one extra hour of movement, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said. The curfew will start at 9 pm instead of the previous 8 pm and run until 6 am, he told a televised news conference. 13:30 GMT Englands hospital death rises to 16,786: health service The number of COVID-19 deaths in Englands hospitals rose by 514 to 16,786, the National Health Service (NHS) said. NHS England said that the people were aged between 31 and 100 years old, and that 16 of the patients, who were aged between 37 and 92 years old, had no known underlying health condition. ______________________________________________________________________________ Hi, this is Mersiha Gadzo in Doha taking over the live updates from my colleague Usaid Siddiqui. ______________________________________________________________________________ 12:59 GMT Epidemics, war have impacted Muslim worship throughout history The coronavirus pandemic has forced drastic changes across the world many people face unemployment, travel plans have been cancelled and public places are empty as some work from home, practise social distancing and self isolate. As most countries enforced restrictions on movement to curb the spread of the novel virus, at one point it was estimated 3 billion people were under some form of lockdown. Religous groups have adjusted to the new realities, including Muslims. Read more here. Crowds gathered on a pilgrimage at the Kaaba, the birthplace of Prophet Mohammed, Mecca, July 1889 [Hulton Archive/Getty Images] 12:55 GMT European firms step up COVID-19 vaccines work, UK team starts human trials Scientists in Britain began clinical trials of a potential COVID-19 vaccine as other developers across Europe also stepped up work on their own experimental shots against the disease caused by the new coronavirus. A team at Britains Oxford University dosed the first volunteers in a trial of their vaccine called ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 while Italys ReiThera, Germanys Leukocare and Belgiums Univercells said they were working together on another potential shot and aimed to start trials in a few months. Britains GSK and Frances Sanofi last week announced a similar agreement to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, with trials starting in the second half of the year. 12:40 GMT Half of all coronavirus deaths in Europe in nursing homes WHO The World Health Organization said Thursday that up to half of all coronavirus deaths across Europe have been in nursing homes, calling it an unimaginable tragedy. Speaking at a briefing in Denmark, WHO Europe director Dr. Hans Kluge said a deeply concerning picture was emerging of the impact of COVID-19 on long-term homes for the elderly, where care had often been notoriously neglected. He went on to say that health workers in such facilities were often overworked and underpaid and called for them to be given more protective gear and support, describing them as the unsung heroes of the pandemic. Volunteers from the NGO Proactiva Open Arms prepare to carry out emergency tests to determine if there is a possible outbreak of COVID-19 among patients in a nursing home in Barcelona, northeast Spain, April 2020 [Jose Colon/Al Jazeera] 12:20 GMT Indonesia to ban all domestic air, sea travel to early June officials Indonesia will temporarily ban domestic air and sea travel starting Friday, barring a few exceptions, to prevent further spread of coronavirus, Transport Ministry officials said. The ban on air travel will be in place until June 1, Novie Riyanto Rahardjo, Transport Ministrys director general of aviation said. The ban on travel by sea will be in place until June 8, sea trasportation director general Agus Purnomo said. Cargo transportation is exempted from the ban, the officials said. 12:05 GMT Sweden to limit online betting during coronavirus outbreak Sweden said it would introduce a limit on how much punters could gamble in online casinos for the duration of the coronavirus outbreak as isolated individuals increasingly turn to such sites for entertainment. With football and other organised sports shut down by restrictions in place to stem the spread of the new coronavirus, and many Swedes spending more time at home, the use of online slot machines and casino games has rocketed, government officials said. The government said it planned to limit the amount gamblers can transfer into online casino accounts to 5,000 Swedish crowns ($495) a week. A similar limit would apply to losses on online slot machines. 11:45 GMT Greece extends lockdown to May 4, delays migrant transfers Greece is extending coronavirus lockdown measures by a week to May 4, the government said, a move that will delay the planned removal of hundreds of migrants from congested camps. The country has managed to keep fatalities at a low level after registering its first virus death on March 12, despite a decade of cuts imposed on its public health system during the post-2010 debt crisis. Supermarkets, banks and food delivery restaurants are among the few businesses still operating, and Greeks must inform authorities when leaving their homes for necessities, or risk fines. Greek government implemented strict precautionary measures against spread of the coronavirus disease [File: Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters] 11:30 GMT Womens Euro 2021 tournament moved to July 2022 UEFA UEFAs Euro 2021 Womens Championship, to be held in England, will be played one year later in July 2022, European soccers governing body decided at an executive committee meeting. The tournament was moved after UEFAs Euro 2020 mens competition had to be postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The opening match will be held on July 6 with the final on July 31. 11:10 GMT British PM was like any other patient, say nurses who treated him for coronavirus Two nurses who were singled out for praise by Boris Johnson for their care while he was in hospital with the coronavirus said the British prime minister was treated like any other patient. New Zealand nurse Jenny McGee said she was unfazed by the task of caring for Johnson, who absolutely needed to be there, while Luis Pitarma, from Portugal, said the responsibility was quite overwhelming. There was a lot of media interest about him being in hospital and, to be honest, that was the toughest, McGee told TVNZ in an interview that aired on Thursday, her first public remarks since the episode. 10:30 GMT Tokyo deploys Marie Kondo in virus fight Worried about getting bored while stuck at home during holidays amid the coronavirus pandemic? The Tokyo governor has a solution: Decluttering with Marie Kondo. Governor Yuriko Koike told reporters the metropolitan government will share fun videos including those of the decluttering guru to keep Tokyo residents entertained at home during the forthcoming Golden Week holidays. I think there are people who want to declutter during the holidays, Koike said. With help of KonMari, we will upload videos in which she teaches us secrets of tidying up, she said, referring to the now world-famous decluttering guru. A Tokyo official added that other entertainment videos would be available for those who do not wish to spend their holidays clearing out their cupboards. 10:14 GMT German-funded mobile virus testing labs land in East Africa Uganda and Rwanda have taken delivery of two mobile diagnostic labs to help fight the coronavirus pandemic, the first in a network of German-funded units for East Africa, public investment bank KfW said. While the project to procure the labs and train staff has been underway since 2018, theyre arriving at exactly the right moment to help with fighting, the virus, KfW board member Joachim Nagel said in a statement. More of the mobile units for speedy and modern diagnosis of infectious disease will arrive in the six countries of the East African Community (EAC) region in the coming days, KfW said, for a total of nine in the first phase. 09:55 GMT China President Xi says to boost investments, employment China will step up investment in various sectors including 5G, artificial intelligence, transport and energy and boost employment, President Xi Jinping said, as the worlds second-largest economy reels from the coronavirus epidemic. The official Xinhua news agency reported that Xi, speaking during a visit to northwestern Shaanxi province, said the long-term trend of improvement in the Chinese economy has not changed but said Beijing will take steps to boost the real economy, especially the manufacturing sector. Xi said Beijing will focus on the employment of college graduates, migrant workers and retired veterans and boost employment and entrepreneurship via multiple channels. In this April 21, 2020 photo released by Chinas Xinhua News Agency, Chinese President Xi Jinping wears a face mask as he inspects a factory production line in Laoxian township in Ankang city in northwestern Chinas Shaanxi Province [Ju Peng/Xinhua/AP 09:40 GMT Spains death toll from coronavirus rises to 22,157 The Spanish health ministry said 440 people died from the coronavirus in the previous 24 hours, which brought total fatalities to 22,157. That was slightly higher than the previous day when 435 people died. The number of diagnosed cases rose to 213,024 from 208,389 the day before. 09:20 GMT French economy under anesthesia as virus lockdown takes toll Frances coronavirus lockdown has eroded economic activity to a bare minimum, the national statistics office said Thursday, as officials weigh the risks of trying to reopen businesses even as infections remain high. Like a person placed under anaesthesia, the French economy can now ensure only its vital functions, INSEE said, estimating that activity in the private sector, which makes up around three-fourths of total GDP, had plunged 41 percent overall. Some industries, like construction, restaurants and tourism, have effectively been at a standstill since the business closures and stay-at-home orders were announced in mid-March. Frances coronavirus lockdown has eroded economic activity to a bare minimum, the national statistics office said Thursday, as officials weigh the risks of trying to reopen businesses even as infections remain high. 09:00 GMT The UK activists creating multilingual coronavirus content A large number of people who have contracted the coronavirus in the United Kingdom have ancestry in other regions, and according to research, many who have died since the start of the epidemic were from ethnic minority backgrounds. While a nationwide campaign about the benefits of social distancing and proper hand-washing attempts to inform people how to limit the spread of the coronavirus, much of this information has been in English, meaning large sections of British society are unable to access important messaging and even services. Read more here. British Pakistani Saima Mohsin decided to create her own coronavirus resources in Punjabi and post them on her Twitter feed, followed by more than 225,000 people [Courtesy: Saima Mohsin] 08:40 GMT Unilever sees pandemic changing consumer demand Anglo-Dutch consumer giant Unilever reported Thursday a slight rise in first quarter sales and said the coronavirus has caused hygiene product sales to rocket while those of ice cream melted. The firm, which produces Magnum ice cream, Domestos household cleaner and Lipton tea among other things, said sales edged up by 0.2 percent to 12.4 billion euros ($13.3 billion) from the same period a year earlier. Unilever withdrew its outlook for the year however, and its shares fell sharply in Amsterdam. 08:10 GMT Pakistani doctors warn of catastrophic consequences of easing lockdowns. Pakistani doctors have warned the government of the possibly catastrophic consequences of easing a countrywide lockdown, asking that restrictions be enforced for several more weeks to avoid a collapse of the countrys healthcare system. The appeal comes as Pakistan registered its highest single-day rise in cases for the second time in three days, with 765 new cases taking the countrys tally to 10,513. The pace of the spread of the virus has increased in the last five days, with more than 500 new cases registered each day, according to government data. Addressing a press conference in the southern city of Karachi, senior doctors called for a continuing ban on all public gatherings, including those at shopping malls and at mosques. In a letter addressed to the government, a number of prominent epidemiologists and other doctors made special mention of the governments decision to reopen mosques this week, saying those gatherings could prove a significant vector for the spread of the virus. People attend evening prayers while maintaining a level of social distancing to help avoid the spread of the coronavirus at a mosque in Karachi, Pakistan [Fareed Khan/The Associated Press] 07:50 GMT- Singapore confirms 1,037 new COVID-19 cases Singapores health ministry said it had preliminarily confirmed 1,037 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, taking the Southeast Asian city-states total infections to 11,178. The health ministry said the vast majority of the new cases were migrant workers residing in dormitories, many of which are under government-ordered quarantine due to mass outbreaks. People wearing face masks as a prevention measure against the spread of the coronavirus show their identification card as they queue to enter a wet market in Singapore [Roslan Rahman/AFP] 07:35 GMT China to donate additional $30 million to WHO for COVID-19 China is to donate an additional $30 million to the World Health Organization (WHO) to support the global fight against COVID-19, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said. Hua said on Twitter the donation was aimed in particular at strengthening developing countries health systems and added that China had already donated $20 million to the WHO in March. China has decided to donate additional $30 million in cash to WHO to support its global fight against #COVID19, in particular strengthening developing countries' health systems. China already donated $20 million in cash to WHO on March 11. Hua Chunying (@SpokespersonCHN) April 23, 2020 07:18 GMT Malaysia coronavirus cases reach 5,532, over 3000 recovered foreign minister Malaysia now has 5,532 recorded cases, with 3,452 people recovered, Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said in a virutal meeting with other ASEAN foreign ministers and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. The morbidity rate was at 1.6 percent, the minister told ASEAN leaders. Just one month ago on 26 March, we were faced with a peak of 235 new cases recorded in a single day, the highest Malaysia has ever experienced. Today, I am proud that we have recorded only double-digit new cases for 5 days in a row, Hishammuddin said. I admit, these numbers look promising, but a full victory goes beyond just focusing on the statistics, he added. The Malaysian foreign minister went on to brief his counterparts about measures the country was taking, on the political, economic and social front to combat COVID-19. Malysian foreign minister in a virutal meeting with his ASEAN counterpart [Screenshot] 07:05 GMT US offers to Pakistan on fighting COVID-19 The United States has offered its support to Pakistan in aiding the fight against the countrys coronavirus outbreak, promising to provide ventilators and unspecified help in the economic arena, a Pakistani statement released after a telephone conversation between US President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan says. Prime Minister Imran Khan also highlighted Pakistans efforts to contain the spread of the virus. He emphasized that Pakistan was facing a dual challenge of overcoming the pandemic and saving people, particularly the most vulnerable segments of the population, from hunger due to lockdown, said the statement from Khans office. Khan, alongside other leaders from the developing world, has been calling for developed nations to offer debt relief to developing countries in the wake of a global economic slowdown due to the coronavirus. On Thursday, he will launch a $595 million appeal to fund Pakistans Preparedness and Response plan to COVID-19, mainly targeting international financial institutions and world powers. 07:00 GMT In shadow of coronavirus, China steps up manoeuvres near Taiwan Beijing has escalated the number and intensity of military drills around Taiwan in recent weeks, making risky manoeuvres that appear set to test the political waters in Taipei and Washington while signalling the mainlands continuing animosity towards Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen, who was re-elected in a landslide in January. While China has long held military exercises in Taiwanese territorial waters and airspace, this month the Peoples Liberation Army Airforce conducted a 36-hour endurance exercise. Read more here. 06:45 GMT French clashes this week unlikely to lead to scenes like 2005 riots minister French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said that he did not think that this weeks outbreak of violent clashes in French housing estates would result in scenes similar to the 2005 riots that broke out throughout the country. We are not in this sort of scenario, Castaner told BFM TV. 06:25 GMT Migrants in Greece shot after apparently breaking quarantine Two asylum-seekers on the Greek island of Lesbos were shot and injured after apparently violating coronavirus quarantine rules, officials said. The two men, an Iranian and an Afghan, reported to the camps infirmary with buckshot wounds late Wednesday, sources at the Moria camp said. They were taken to the local hospital but their condition was not deemed serious. 06:10 GMT Digital video game spending hits record high under virus lockdown Spending on digital video games hit a record high $10 billion in March as people stuck at home under coronavirus lockdowns turned to gaming, market tracker SuperData reported. Money spent on major console games leapt to $1.5 billion in March from $883 million in February, while spending on games played on high-performance personal computers climbed 56 percent to $567 million in the same comparison. Console and PC games tend to be popular in Europe and North America where restrictions on going out were ramped up in March due to the pandemic. 05:52 GMT Vietnam relaxes virus restrictions as cases plateau Communist Vietnam eased social distancing measures Thursday, with experts pointing to a decisive response involving mass quarantines and expansive contact tracing for the apparent success in containing the coronavirus. Despite a long and porous border with China, the Southeast Asian nation has recorded just 268 virus cases and zero deaths, according to official tallies. Although numbers tested for COVID-19 are relatively low and experts caution the authoritarian governments health ministry is the sole source for the figures, they also say there is little reason to distrust them. Market staff wear face shields while taking information from vendors and labourers at Long Bien market in Hanoi, Vietnam [Linh Pham/Getty Images] 05:35 GMT US sees 1,738 new coronavirus deaths in 24 hours: Johns Hopkins The United States recorded 1,738 deaths from the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, a lower toll than the day before, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University. The new deaths bring the total number of COVID-19 fatalities in the US to 46,583 since the outbreak began there, by far the highest figures recorded by any country caught in the global pandemic. 05:20 GMT Half of German firms using shortened working hours due to coronavirus Ifo Half of German companies are using the governments short-time work facility as most see a decline in revenues due to the coronavirus outbreak, a survey published by the Ifo economic institute showed. Short-time work is a form of state aid that allows employers to switch employees to shorter working hours during an economic downturn to keep them on the payroll. It has been widely used by industry, including Germanys car sector. Hello, this is Usaid Siddiqui in Doha taking over from my colleague Zaheen Rashid. 04:45 GMT Using pandemic to erode human rights is unacceptable Antonio Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations, has warned that the coronavirus pandemic risks becoming a human rights crisis with some governments using the outbreak as an excuse to adopt repressive measures for unrelated reasons. This is unacceptable, he says, unveiling a report on how human rights should guide the response and recovery to the health, social and economic crisis gripping the world. We see the disproportionate effects on certain communities, the rise of hate speech, the targeting of vulnerable groups, and the risks of heavy-handed security responses undermining the health response, he adds. 04:20 GMT Philippiness Duterte to decide whether to continue lockdown Little more than a week remains before the scheduled end of the Philippiness strict community quarantine measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus and the country is expected to find out how the government plans to transition out of the lockdown later on Thursday. But has the Philippines flattened its curve? Find out in this report from Ana P Santos in Manila. 04:09 GMT Australia says all WHO members should support virus inquiry Scott Morrison, the prime minister of Australia, said all WHO member nations should support a proposed independent review into the origins of the coronavirus and its spread. If youre going to be a member of a club like the World Health Organization, there should be responsibilities and obligations attached to that, Morrison told reporters in Canberra. Wed like the world to be safer when it comes to viruses I would hope that any other nation, be it China or anyone else, would share that objective. Beijing has fiercely rejected calls for an inquiry, describing the efforts as US-led propaganda against China. 03:38 GMT Red Cross calls for proper planning to handle dead bodies The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has urged governments across the world to prepare and plan for mass casualties from the coronavirus, warning the number of deaths caused by the new coronavirus could overwhelm local capacity to handle dead bodies properly. Failure to plan ahead risks people being buried in mass graves, with few records and little understanding of who died and where the body was taken. Mass fatality planning doesnt mean there will be mass fatalities. But its imperative that plans are made and, if needed, carried out to help lower the pain that families and broader society feel in the face of a high death toll, said Oran Finnegan, the head of the forensics unit at the ICRC. Relatives wearing face masks stand next to graves of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) victims at a cemetery area provided by the government in Jakarta, Indonesia, on April 3, 2020 [Willy Kurniawan/ Reuters] 03:24 GMT Top UK adviser says social distancing may last until year-end Professor Chris Whitty, the British governments chief medical adviser, has warned that social distancing measures in the United Kingdom may have to stay in place for the rest of the year. In the long run, the exit from this is going to be one of two things, ideally. One of which is a highly effective vaccine or highly effective drugs so that people stop dying of this disease even if they catch it, he says. Until we have those, and the probability of having those any time in the next calendar year are incredibly small and I think we should be realistic about that. Were going to have to rely on other social measures, which of course are very socially disruptive as everyone is finding at the moment. Ministers will have to decide what mix of measures will have to remain in place once the UK goes through the peak of the coronavirus and beyond, he adds. 01:50 GMT Italian cruise ship docked in Japan has 14 more coronavirus cases Japans NHK broadcaster reported that 14 more cases of coronavirus infections have been confirmed on an Italian cruise ship docked for repairs at Japans Nagasaki prefecture. The figure brings the total number of cases on the Costa Atlantica to at least 48. The Italian cruise ship is carrying 623 crew members and no passengers, officials say. An aerial view shows Italian cruise ship Costa Atlantica in Nagasaki, southern Japan April 21, 2020 [Kyodo/via Reuters] 01:25 GMT South Korea posts biggest GDP fall since 2008 financial crisis South Korea said its economy shrank 1.4 percent during the first three months of the year, the worst contraction since late-2008, reflecting the enormous shock unleashed by the coronavirus on domestic demand and trade. The Bank of Korea said domestic consumption decreased 6.4 percent from the previous quarter as people, while staying at home to avoid virus transmissions, spent less on restaurants, leisure activities, clothing and cars. Amid worldwide lockdowns, exports shrank 2 percent despite a seasonal rebound in shipments of semiconductors, one of the countrys major export items. 01:12 GMT China reports 10 new coronavirus cases in mainland Health authorities have reported 10 new coronavirus cases in mainland China, down from 30 a day earlier as the number of so-called imported cases involving travellers from overseas declined. The National Health Commission said six of the new COVID-19 cases confirmed on Wednesday were imported, down from 23 a day earlier. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases for mainland China now stands at 82,798. No new COVID-19 deaths were reported, leaving the toll unchanged at 4,632. 00:49 GMT Trump downplays threat of coronavirus returning Trump has played down the possibility that the coronavirus could be worse this winter in the northern hemisphere despite medical experts warnings that COVID-19 could combine with the flu to make a more complicated return to the US. Its not going to be what weve gone through, in any way, shape or form, Trump said. If it comes back, though, it wont be coming back in the form that it was. It will be coming back in smaller doses that we can contain, he continued. You could have some embers of corona (but) we will not go through what we went through for the last two months. 00:45 GMT Trump disagrees strongly with Georgias plan to reopen economy Trump said he told Georgia Governor Brian Kemp that he disagreed strongly with Kemps decision to begin allowing some nonessential businesses to soon reopen. The people of Georgia have been strong, resolute, but at the same time he must do what he thinks is right, Trump said of Kemp, a Republican. I want him to do what he thinks is right. But I disagree with him on what hes doing But I think (opening) spas and beauty salons and tattoo parlours and barbershops in phase one its just too soon. In addition to pushback from Trump, Kemps plan to begin cracking open the Georgia economy faces two key hurdles the state is struggling to increase testing for new coronavirus infections and boost tracking of those in contact with infected people. 00:19 GMT US vaccine expert removed for opposing Trump-backed chloroquine Dr Rick Bright, the head of the US agency in charge of developing a vaccine against coronavirus, said he was removed from his job for opposing the chloroquine treatment promoted by Trump. The director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) was moved to a lesser position in the National Institutes of Health on Tuesday. I believe this transfer was in response to my insistence that the government invest the billions of dollars allocated by Congress to address the COVID-19 pandemic into safe and scientifically vetted solutions, and not in drugs, vaccines and other technologies that lack scientific merit, he said in a statement. Bright said he will be asking the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services to investigate the Trump administrations politicisation of BARDA and its pressuring of scientists to favour companies with political connections. The full statement from Dr. Rick Bright, who says he was ousted for resisting hydroxychloroquine, is worth a read. Via @axios pic.twitter.com/IrCbdzHioE Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) April 22, 2020 00:13 GMT Canada provinces seek military help to combat pandemic Canadas Ontario and Quebec provinces have asked the military to help overwhelmed staff at elderly care homes hard-hit by the coronavirus pandemic. The requests came as Canada surpassed 2,000 COVID-19 deaths half of them at long-term care facilities. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said soldiers are needed at five of the most affected care homes in the province, saying the coronavirus in these places is spreading like a raging wildfire. Francois Legault, Quebec Premier, told reporters he asked Ottawa to send 1,000 troops, saying it will help us a lot to have lots of extra hands to do tasks that are less medical and help the staff. Hello, Im Zaheena Rasheed in Male, Maldives, with Al Jazeeras continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. You can find updates from yesterday, April 22, here. Two opposing factions armed with bats and bars had been fighting before the man was struck by the car This is the moment a 47-year-old man was lucky to escape with his life when he was mown down by an out-of-control driver as part of a brawl involving more than a dozen men. Seconds earlier, two opposing factions armed with bats and bars attacked each other on a green in the Fr Murphy Park estate in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, at around 8pm on Tuesday. The Herald can reveal that one faction had driven more than 30km from its base in Wexford town to "retrieve a drugs debt". However, when the gang arrived in Enniscorthy it was confronted by a number of other males in major, violent disorder. Arrested After the 47-year-old was mown down by the Silver Opel Meriva car, the gang fled the locality and drove to its Wexford town base where gardai suspect it "attempted to storm" a house in the King Street area. However, no one was injured in that incident and a short time later the Opel car the gang had been using was found partially burnt out in the South Slob area of the town. Later on Tuesday night, a man in his 20s was arrested and he was being held at Wexford Garda Station. More arrests are expected to follow. "The information is that this gang were on a debt collecting drive and they seem to be very short of cash because the Covid policing plan in the county has made it very difficult to move drugs," a source told the Herald. "However, they got more than they bargained for when they travelled to Enniscorthy and they were confronted, which ultimately led them to running over the 47-year-old local man." The victim, who is well known to gardai and has around 40 previous convictions mainly for minor offences, was "lucky to escape with his life", according to sources. It is understood he was still being treated last night at Wexford General Hospital for serious head and facial injuries, as well as "severe muscle damage". The gang suspected of carrying out the rampage on Tuesday is linked to a notorious grouping of local criminals, which was the target of a major garda undercover sting operation against street-level heroin dealing in Wexford in 2014 and 2015. Another associate of the gang is serving a life sentence for a brutal stab murder. "This gang are members of a notorious crime family who have been involved in drug dealing and serious violent crime for many years," a senior source said last night. Gardai yesterday appealed for information on what they described as an "affray and endangerment" incident. Advertisement By The Associated Press Apr. 23, 2020 | BOWLING GREEN By The Associated Press Apr. 23, 2020 | 11:31 AM | BOWLING GREEN The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review an appellate decision that mandates a new sentencing hearing for the man who tackled U.S. Sen. Rand Paul and broke his ribs. The Daily News reported the Supreme Courts denial this week doesnt constitute an opinion on the merits of the appeal by Rene Boucher, whose attorney argued that a re-sentencing hearing violates his constitutional rights. Last year, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals found that the 30-day prison sentence, which Boucher has already served, and a $10,000 fine imposed on him were too lenient, and didn't take into account the extent of the senator's injuries from the 2017 attack outside Paul's home. The case now goes back before Special Judge Marianne Battani, who imposed the initial sentence. United States top health officials have warned that a second wave of the coronavirus in the country could be even more destructive because it will likely collide with the beginning of flu season. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), called on Americans to use the coming months to prepare and get their flu shots. Reuters "There's a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through," he was quoted as saying in an interview with the Washington Post published. "We're going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time," he said. If that is the case, then it is likely to leave US in a very peculiar position with country's hospitals already overwhelmed as cases of COVID-19 continue to see a spike. The US, like other countries, has scrambled to secure enough ventilators and personal protection equipment for medical staff while the death toll mounts. AFP Redfield said that social distancing remained key to curb the spread of the virus and urged officials to keep stressing its importance even as restrictions on movement were lifted. He urged state and federal officials to step up tests to identify those who have coronavirus and the people they have had contact. Reuters US has recorded more than 800,000 coronavirus cases, while the deaths have topped 47,000, according to latest figures of John Hopkins University. Globally, the novel coronavirus infections surpassed 2.6 million while the death toll has gone above 180,000. Washington: American actor Scout Willis is opening up about her family`s living arrangements during the COVID-19 crisis. According to People magazine, the daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore appeared on the `Dopey` podcast where she spoke to the host, Dave, about being with her divorced parents while self-isolating at her childhood home in Idaho. Bruce`s wife, Emma Heming Willis, stays in Los Angeles with their two daughters, 8-year-old Mabel, and 5-year-old Evelyn. Scout has revealed that there is a simple explanation for why her stepmom and stepsisters did not join them. The 28-year-old actor told Dave: "It`s been so funny because to me they`re just like my super f*****g weird parents but to everyone else, they`re at this different level." She continued, "It`s actually been really cool. My stepmom was supposed to come up here with my little sisters but my younger sister, who is now about to be [6] years old, at a park, had never gotten the talk about not f*** with hypothermic needles that she found so she actually tried to poke her shoe with it and poked her foot." The `Bandits` star shared, "So, my stepmom had to be in LA waiting to get the results from taking her to the doctor so my dad came up here and then travel got crazy so my stepmom stayed in LA with my little sisters." Scout told Dave that the family is staying in Idaho which is where Scout and her sisters, 31-year-old Rumer and 26-year-old Tallulah, were raised by their parents before they divorced in 2000.The actor admitted that it has been really funny to have both of her parents in the house where they raised the kids. She found it really cute. Scout admitted. "They`re both such nerdy, adorable, 90s parents in a small town where they chose to have their kids and not be in LA. It's been pretty cute."The `Breakfast of Champions` star added: "It`s some divine timing too, of getting this much time to hang out with them." Description GIS 23 April, 2020 : A total of 8 304 fines for alleged breaches of Covid-19 lockdown laws were issued since the unprecedented emergency measures were announced on March 23 to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 in the country. However, despite the curfew measures and the Police Forces best efforts, it has been observed that many people have refused to follow instructions. Consequently, the Police Force will reinforce and reorganise its patrol operations and be stringent against the non-compliance of curfew order. In a televised broadcast, this evening, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Mr. Krishna Jhugroo, stressed that 70 checkpoints will be set up in strategic locations across the country to deal with individuals not adhering by the curfew order. Moreover, the number of patrols by the Special Mobile Force, the Special Support Unit and the National Coast Guard will also be increased. In addition, he stated that the CCTV cameras of the Safe City Project will be used to ensure that citizens are complying with the lockdown measure. DCP Jhugroo also recalled that a fine of Rs 500 is applied for non-compliance with the curfew order and may also lead to a six months imprisonment. It is also considered as an offence which will appear on the certificate of character of any offender. He again appealed to the population be more disciplined and responsible as well as to abide by the curfew order. Covid-19 situation report : Two new cases registered in the last 24 hours 266 successfully treated patients 331 positive cases 53 active cases (3 patients left for treatment abroad) 16 passengers under quarantine Nine Covid-19 related deaths Total number of tests carried out as at date stands at 12 835 #ResOuLakaz #BeSafeMoris 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 Today is the 50th Earth Day. You can tell Earth Day turned 50 because earlier today, Earth changed its hairstyle and bought a Corvette. JIMMY FALLON The big 5-0. And I gotta say, Earth is still looking good. Shes just getting hotter every year, even with the receding glaciers and putting on a little water weight around the coastline. STEPHEN COLBERT And you know, honestly, you gotta admit, man, Earth is having the best Earth Day ever. Because ever since coronavirus locked all of us in our homes, animals have been roaming free, the smog has cleared from the sky, the waters of Venice are blue again. Basically, as bad as coronavirus has been for humans, its been amazing for the Earth. In fact, I dont want to be a conspiracy theorist, but isnt Wuhan a part of the Earth? TREVOR NOAH And Earth is having kind of a moment right now because, with people staying home, the Earth is turning wilder and cleaner, with reduced CO2, better air quality, and animals roaming the city streets. Turns out the best present for Earth Day is the best present for Mothers Day: time away from her children. Just get all the unruly humans out of her hair so Mother Earth can sit in a bubble bath and watch Outlander. STEPHEN COLBERT *Transaction Will Introduce Digital Media Solutions as a Publicly Listed Company to Trade on the NYSE *DMS MarTech-Enabled, Diversified Business Model Proving Resilient in Current Environment *Institutional Investors Have Committed $100 million Cash in Private Placement to Close Concurrently with Transaction *Business Combination Expected to Close by July 2020 LONDON, UK & CLEARWATER, FLORIDA, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Digital Media Solutions Holdings, LLC (DMS or the Company) and Leo Holdings Corp. (NYSE: LHC) (Leo), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, announced today that Leo and DMS have entered into a definitive business combination agreement (the Business Combination Agreement). DMS is a martech-enabled business capitalizing on the secular shift of advertising dollars from traditional offline channels to online digital channels by helping connect consumers and advertisers with innovative performance-driven brand and marketplace solutions. DMS deploys a robust database of consumer intelligence and leverages significant proprietary media distribution to a diverse set of advertisers across a variety of end markets including but not limited to insurance, education, health & wellness, consumer finance and home services. Immediately following the closing of the proposed transaction (the Business Combination), Leo intends to change its name to Digital Media Solutions, Inc. (New DMS). The current DMS executive management team, led by co-founders Joe Marinucci and Fernando Borghese, will lead New DMS, which is expected to trade on the New York Stock Exchange. The Business Combination will introduce DMS to the equity capital markets as a publicly listed company with a total enterprise value of $757 million or 13.2x the Companys fiscal year 2020 expected Adjusted EBITDA of $57 million and 10.0x the Companys fiscal year 2021 expected Adjusted EBITDA of $75 million. The DMS management team currently owns 54% of the Company, with private equity funds managed by Clairvest Group, Inc. (TSX: CVG) (Clairvest) owning the remaining 46%. The DMS management team and the Clairvest private equity funds are expected to retain a significant continuing equity interest in New DMS, representing over 40% of the New DMS economic interests and over 50% of the voting interests in New DMS, assuming no redemptions by Leos public shareholders. This percentage is subject to change depending on the number of Class A ordinary shares of Leo that are redeemed by Leos public shareholders in connection with the Business Combination. DMS Company Highlights DMS leverages proprietary technology solutions, significant proprietary media distribution and data-driven processes to help large brands acquire their customers. DMS helps clients de-risk marketing spend across digital channels through its pay-for-performance model, meaning the Company is paid to deliver customers rather than impressions. The Company delivers results using a diversified portfolio of owned and operated vertical marketplaces, which match consumers with relevant offers within each vertical (e.g., insurance), as well as full-funnel customer acquisition programs where DMS attracts and converts customers on a brands behalf. DMS has developed significant barriers to entry including its proprietary, privacy-compliant database of over 150 million consumer profiles built via over $1 billion of ad spend on the DMS platform, and its white label software tools that embed DMS position inside marketing departments. The Company has consistently proven its ability to produce results for large brands, as evidenced by DMS 95% customer retention rate. We were quickly attracted to DMS combination of technology solutions, diversified blue-chip customer base and, most importantly, their high free cash flow conversion profile. While the current environment is presenting unique challenges to all companies, DMS is benefitting from marketers trying to reach growing audiences. DMS is well-positioned to take advantage of an ongoing, large-scale shift of marketing dollars to digital performance-based solutions, said Lyndon Lea, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Leo. Joe Marinucci, CEO of DMS, added: Over the past decade, we have been a critical partner to large global brands in acquiring new customers and deploying marketing spend efficiently. Weve built a diversified, sector-agnostic business model that counts Fortune 100 companies across the Insurance, Finance, Education, Health & Wellness and Home Services verticals as customers. Were thrilled to achieve this exciting milestone together with Leo, and look forward to further accelerating our growth as a public company. Addressing the macroeconomic volatility resulting from the COVID-19 crisis, Marinucci added, Our highly diversified, martech-driven business model is proving resilient. In todays environment, there is no greater decision that marketers face than the one on how to spend their dollars most efficiently. Our solutions are perfectly suited given they are 100% focused on return on investment with linear accountability to each dollar spent. Performance across our portfolio of verticals can be characterized in one of three ways: A significant portion of our revenue comes from verticals that are in the early stages of transition to digital and therefore continuing on an elevated growth trajectory like Insurance, Health & Wellness and Direct-to-Consumer products. Some verticals such as Education are counter-cyclical, with limited impact to client activity. Certain marketplace solutions have been impacted, particularly in Consumer Finance given the reduction in demand for credit card, lending and other personal banking services. Consumer Finance represented only approximately 11% of total revenue last year, and we are optimistic that banks will increase marketing spend as consumer demand returns following COVID-related disruption. We are nonetheless being disciplined on the cost side, and have multiple levers to align expenses with any changes in revenue. Key Transaction Terms Immediately prior to the closing of the Business Combination, Leo will domesticate as a Delaware corporation and additional investors will purchase $100 million of Class A common stock of Leo in a private placement at $10.00 per share. The Business Combination, which was approved unanimously by Leos board of directors and the Companys board of managers, is expected to close prior to July 31, 2020, subject to customary closing conditions, including U.S. antitrust clearance and approval of Leos shareholders. In addition, under the terms of the Business Combination Agreement, cash held in Leos trust account, net of redemptions, and the gross proceeds of the private placement must be no less than $200 million, and such cash will be used (i) to pay $30 million to DMS to be held on its balance sheet, (ii) to pay down $10 million of DMSs current credit facility, (iii) to pay the parties transaction costs and (iv) to pay the cash portion of the consideration payable to the current DMS equity holders. Upon closing, New DMS will introduce a high caliber Board of Directors, all of whom will possess highly relevant experience critical to driving the New DMS business forward. The Board will be chaired by Mary Minnick, formerly the Global President of Marketing, Strategy and Innovation at The Coca-Cola Co. Ms. Minnick currently serves on the boards of the Target Corporation, Glanbia, plc and Leo. In addition, the remaining Board members will include Robbie Isenberg (Managing Director, Clairvest Group), Lyndon Lea (Chairman & CEO, Leo), Robert Darwent (CFO, Leo), James Miller (General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Clairvest Group), Joe Marinucci (CEO, DMS) and Fernando Borghese (COO, DMS). For additional information on the Business Combination, see Leos Current Report on Form 8-K, which will be filed promptly, and other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which can be obtained, without charge, at the website of the SEC at www.sec.gov. Advisors Citigroup Global Markets Inc. acted as financial advisor, capital markets advisor and private placement agent to Leo. Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal counsel to Leo. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP acted as legal counsel to DMS. About Digital Media Solutions LLC DMS is a leading global martech company leveraging innovative, performance-driven brand and marketplace solutions to connect consumers and advertisers. DMS deploys a robust database of consumer intelligence and leverages its industry-leading digital media distribution to provide customer acquisition campaigns that grow businesses, offer visibility into the customer experience and provide accountability for every media dollar spent. About Leo Holdings Corp. Leo is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. Important Information About the Proposed Transaction and Where to Find It In connection with the Business Combination, Leo intends to file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 (the Registration Statement), which will include a preliminary prospectus and preliminary proxy statement. Leo will mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant documents to its shareholders. This press release is not a substitute for the Registration Statement, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus or any other document that Leo will send to its shareholders in connection with the Business Combination. Investors and security holders of Leo are advised to read, when available, the proxy statement/prospectus in connection with Leos solicitation of proxies for its extraordinary general meeting of shareholders to be held to approve the Business Combination (and related matters) because the proxy statement/prospectus will contain important information about the Business Combination and the parties to the Business Combination. The definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be mailed to shareholders of Leo as of a record date to be established for voting on the Business Combination. Shareholders will also be able to obtain copies of the proxy statement/prospectus, without charge, once available, at the SECs website at www.sec.gov or by directing a request to: Leo Holdings Corp., 21 Grosvenor Place, London SW1X 7HF, United Kingdom. Participants in the Solicitation Leo and its directors, executive officers, other members of management, and employees, under SEC rules, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies of Leos shareholders in connection with the Business Combination. Investors and security holders may obtain more detailed information regarding the names and interests in the Business Combination of Leos directors and officers in Leos filings with the SEC, including Leos Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, which was filed with the SEC on March 13, 2020, as well as in the Registration Statement, which will include the proxy statement of Leo for the Business Combination. Shareholders can obtain copies of Leos filings with the SEC, without charge, at the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Leos and DMSs actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as expect, estimate, project, budget, forecast, anticipate, intend, plan, may, will, could, should, believes, predicts, potential, continue, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, Leos and DMSs expectations with respect to future performance and anticipated financial impacts of the proposed Business Combination, the satisfaction of the closing conditions to the Business Combination and the timing of the completion of the Business Combination. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside Leos and DMSs control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, but are not limited to: (1) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement; (2) the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Leo and DMS following the announcement of the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated therein; (3) the inability to complete the proposed Business Combination, including due to failure to obtain approval of the shareholders of Leo or other conditions to closing in the Business Combination Agreement; (4) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement or could otherwise cause the Business Combination to fail to close; (5) the amount of redemption requests made by Leos shareholders; (6) the inability to obtain or maintain the listing of the post-business combination companys common stock on the New York Stock Exchange following the proposed Business Combination; (7) the risk that the proposed Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the proposed Business Combination; (8) the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of the combined company to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees; (9) costs related to the proposed Business Combination; (10) changes in applicable laws or regulations; (11) the possibility that DMS or the combined company may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; and (12) other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in the proxy statement relating to the proposed Business Combination, including those under Risk Factors in the Registration Statement, and in Leos other filings with the SEC. Some of these risks and uncertainties may in the future be amplified by the COVID-19 outbreak and there may be additional risks that we consider immaterial or which are unknown. It is not possible to predict or identify all such risks. Leo cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. Leo cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Leo does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. No Offer or Solicitation This press release is for informational purposes only and is neither an offer to purchase, nor a solicitation of an offer to sell, subscribe for or buy any securities or the solicitation of any vote in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Business Combination or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer or securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act and otherwise in accordance with applicable law. Non-GAAP Financial Measure and Related Information This press release references EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, which are financial measures that are not prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These non-GAAP financial measures do not have a standardized meaning, and the definition of EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA used by DMS may be different from other, similarly named non-GAAP measures used by others operating in DMS industry. In addition, such financial information is unaudited and/or does not conform to SEC Regulation S-X and as a result such information may be presented differently in future filings by New DMS with the SEC. Contacts: For Digital Media Solutions LLC Kathy Bryan 201-477-7727 KBryan@dmsgroup.com For Leo Holdings Corp. Sherif Guirgis (310) 800-1005 guirgis@lioncapital.com Only Scott Morrison - and not an accident-prone cabinet minister or a hardline attorney-general - can convince 40 per cent of Australians to sign up to the TraceTogether app. The Prime Minister's own government MPs, including a former police officer no less, are worried about the erosion of privacy and freedom as it's rolled out next week. So it's little wonder many Australians are concerned about giving the state more details on their everyday movements outside of their own homes. Police in recent weeks have taken advantage of the grey areas around the rushed COVID-19 public health orders to fine people for sitting on a park bench or eating a kebab after a workout - despite exercise being allowed during the lockdowns. Australians are now being told that if they want coronavirus restrictions eased, in as little as three weeks, they must sign up to a tracing app that uses Bluetooth technology to determine whether someone they have come in contact with has tested positive to COVID-19. Only Scott Morrison - and not an accident-prone cabinet minister or a hardline attorney-general - can convince 40 per cent of Australians to sign up to the TraceTogether app (pictured in Singapore where only 20 per cent of residents have downloaded it) Convincing 40 per cent of Australians to download the program is a big ask, considering just 20 per cent of people were prepared to do so in authoritarian Singapore, where the app was developed. This is why Mr Morrison, and not his embattled Government Services Minister Stuart Robert, needs to make the case for the app. This task can't be left either to Attorney-General Christian Porter, whose career has included taking a hard line on law and order in Western Australia and giving police the power to access encrypted data as part of last year's federal anti-terror laws. Mr Morrison also needs to explicitly explain why and how police and intelligence agencies will be prohibited from ever accessing the data under any circumstances so the public has confidence their data will not be used against them. He also needs to guarantee none of the TraceTogether data will be admissible in court - whether someone is charged with breaching a COVID-19 restriction or brought before the law for an unrelated offence. On March 24th, the day the business shutdowns saw tens of thousands lining up outside Centrelink, Mr Robert made the extraordinary and tone-deaf remark that he didn't realise coronavirus would cause so many job losses. Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured in Canberra on April 23, 2020) needs to explicitly explain why police and intelligence agencies will be prohibited from accessing the data so the public has confidence in the legal system Last week, he was even more unconvincing when he promised the data would be deleted after the pandemic was over. 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 no point does the commonwealth get the data, at all and when the pandemic's done, I delete the app and all data from my phone and then I the minister will blow away the national data store and therefore no data will be kept for individual citizens,' he said on April 18. Civil libertarians in Australia aren't the only ones concerned about privacy, with former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce and his Nationals colleague Llew O'Brien, himself a former Queensland police officer, declaring they would not install TraceTogether. Mr O'Brien, the deputy speaker, said was a 'snowflake's chance in hell' he would use the app. The regional MPs have taken an even more strident position against TraceTogether than even the Australian Council for Civil Liberties, which in fact supports that app provided police are banned from accessing the data. The Prime Minister's own government MPs are worried about the erosion of privacy and freedom. Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce (right) and his Nationals colleague Llew O'Brien (top), himself a former Queensland police officer, declared they would not install TraceTogether The government has heeded the concerns of leading civil libertarians like Terry O'Gorman, and flagged introducing legislation to restrict data access to healthcare professionals. 'Law enforcement agencies will not be provided access to information collected via the app,' Mr Porter told Daily Mail Australia. 'Specific regulatory action will be taken to prevent such access for law enforcement agencies at both the commonwealth and state/territory level.' Like the legal profession, opinion polls show Australians accept manual contact tracing is slow and cumbersome and want technology deployed to tackle the worst global pandemic since the Spanish flu killed 50million people worldwide between 1918 and 1920. Since late last year, COVID-19 has infected more than 2.6million people globally, killing 183,424 including 74 in Australia. 'There is a major plus in taking it up - it is a once-in-a-one-hundred year pandemic and the civil liberties council supported moves we otherwise would not have supported because of the extreme health dangers caused by it,' Mr O'Gorman said. This requires trust, consent and goodwill - which should not be abused. So it's little wonder many Australians are concerned about giving the state more details about their everyday movements outside of their own homes. Pictured are shoppers in Australia The Prime Minister and not embattled Government Services Minister Stuart Robert (pictured) needs to make the case for installing TraceTogether to combat COVID-19 Saying he wants to protect American workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic, President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order temporarily banning immigration into the United States. The order, first announced in a Monday night tweet, halts the issuance of new green cards for 60 days, except for medical professionals and workers connected to the food supply, including farmers. Trump noted Tuesday the restrictions on immigration applied to those seeking green cards, not entry on a temporary basis. Trump confirmed that he signed the order during Wednesdays coronavirus task force news briefing, and The White House announced the move on Twitter. President @realDonaldTrump just signed a proclamation temporarily suspending immigration into the United States. This will ensure unemployed Americans will be FIRST in line for jobs as our economy re-opens and preserve our healthcare resources for American patients. The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 22, 2020 Nobody ever takes care of farmers the way I take care of farmers, Trump said in the White House Wednesday. Trump added that the ban may be modified as we go along, with close attention paid to how the economy is fairing in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. Right now we have a very powerful immigration ban, he said. "But it may be modified, meaning it may be made tougher, or not as tough. Massachusetts lawmakers and Democratic leaders roundly criticized the president for the immigration ban, accusing him of scapegoating immigrants and using a public health crisis to advance a political agenda. In a statement, the Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service said the move would not help the economy. Economically speaking, the thinking behind this order plays into the patently flawed idea that American prosperity is a zero-sum game," Krish OMara Vignarajah, President and CEO of LIRS, said in a statement. "To the contrary, we see consistently that immigrants are essential, entrepreneurial, tax-paying and job-creating members of society, critical to the growth and vitality of our economy. The Administration seeks to restart the American economy, but how can we do that when businesses lack access to specially skilled employees the Department of Labor has already certified? More than 462,000 immigrants were granted green cards from abroad last year, according to the State Department, LIRS noted. Related Content: The logo of Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse, whose first quarter results came in better than expected. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images) Here are the top business, market, and economic stories you should be watching today in the UK, Europe, and abroad: Credit Suisse has set aside over 1bn Swiss francs (830m, $1bn) to cover expected losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The Swiss lender said on Thursday it had set aside an additional CHF 585m to cover potential credit losses linked to the pandemic. Provisions for loan losses were just CHF 81m in the first quarter of 2019. The bank also set aside CHF 284m to cover unrealised losses in leveraged lending and a further CHF 160m to cover unrealised losses on financing activity in Asia. I think its an appropriate response to what is obviously a very extreme macroeconomic outlook, chief financial officer David Mathers told journalists. We are dealing with probably the most severe macroeconomic crisis that the world has seen since the 1920s. Chief executive Thomas Gottstein said the ultimate impact of COVID-19 was difficult to asses and warned Credit Suisse may have to build further reserves to absorb losses in future. Gottstein also said losses could rise at the banks asset management division. However, Gottstein said the bank was in a robust capital and liquidity position and enjoyed a number of key advantages going into the crisis, such as a strong private banking division and historically lower risk exposure in its markets business. The additional provisions to cover losses came as Credit Suisse reported better-than-expected first quarter earnings. Net income rose 75% to CHF 1.3bn and net revenue rose 7% to CHF 5.8bn. UK firms have suffered their worst month of trading and job losses in decades as the coronavirus crisis has wreaked havoc in the economy, new figures show. Activity in services and manufacturing plunged at its steepest rate and to the lowest levels on record in a closely watched business survey published on Thursday. Story continues The latest figures show Britains dominant services sector, from banking to retail and hospitality to the creative industries, has been hit hardest with many firms forced to shut down. 81% of services firms said business had declined. Manufacturing has also seen activity plummet. Data provider IHS Markit and the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) released the latest flash figures from their monthly UK purchasing managers index (PMI) survey. The headline index figure for manufacturing and services combined sank to 12.9 in April, down from an already record-breaking low of 36 in April. The euro was under pressure on Thursday morning as closely watched private sector surveys suggested a historic contraction in the eurozone economy due to COVID-19. IHS Markits flash eurozone purchasing managers index (PMI) for April came in at 13.5, which was worse than economists had expected and the lowest reading since the survey began in 1998. The survey measures expectations of business activity within the private sector. April saw unprecedented damage to the eurozone economy amid virus lockdown measures coupled with slumping global demand and shortages of both staff and inputs, said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit. The extent to which the PMI survey has shown business to have collapsed across the eurozone greatly exceeds anything ever seen before in over 20 years of data collection. Oil futures rallied off multi-year lows on Thursday, after days of panicked selling in the market. International Brent crude futures (BZ=F) rose by 7.3% on Thursday morning to $21.87 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures (CL=F) were up 9.8% to $15.13. Analysts said the price revival was driven by a tweet from US President Trump saying he had instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea. Iran sits on the Strait of Hormuz, which is one of the most important sea passages for international oil trade. Flaring tensions in the region could put pressure on supply, which would support higher prices. The catalyst [for oil] seemed to be a tweet from President Trump, Deutsche Bank strategist Jim Reid and team wrote in a note to clients on Thursday morning. European stocks fall as investors assess stark impact of crisis European stocks fell on Thursday as investors examined emerging economic data and a raft of corporate earnings that underlined the scale of the coronavirus crisis. The pan-European STOXX 600 index (^STOXX) dipped into the red, while Londons FTSE 100 (^FTSE) was down by around 0.1%. Germanys DAX (^GDAXI) was down by around 0.4%, while Frances CAC 40 (^FCHI) gained around 0.2%. Markets here in Europe initially got off to a modestly positive start, however the really poor PMI numbers have taken some of the air out of the early positivity, with the early gains slipping away, said Michael Hewson, the chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK. What to expect in the US Futures were also pointing to a steady open for US stocks on Thursday. S&P 500 futures (ES=F), Dow Jones Industrial Average futures (YM=F), and Nasdaq futures (NQ=F) were all on the level. Volkswagen (OTC:VWAGY) said that it has reopened a factory in Germany that makes electric cars, aiming to gradually resume production around the world following shutdowns amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. Volkswagen said that its factory in Zwickau, Germany, resumed production of the ID.3 electric hatchback on Thursday, but at a much-reduced speed and with new measures in place to protect workers from COVID-19. VW said that the factory will produce 50 ID.3 vehicles per day, down from about 150 per day before the pandemic forced VW to idle the plant in mid-March. As a condition of reopening the factory, VW's management and labor representatives agreed on an elaborate set of measures to protect workers concerned about the coronavirus. Those include specific rules on keeping distance, a requirement to wear masks whenever it's not possible to stay at least 1.5 meters away from others, staggered shifts to reduce the number of people in the factory at any given time, and a request to workers to take their temperature every day before coming to work. Labor representative Jens Rothe said that the company agreed that workers' health is the highest priority right now. "We have reached agreement with the company on new measures to protect employees. One thing is clear: We will not be taking any risks, the health of employees has absolute priority, even if it means producing fewer cars," Rothe said. VW plans to reopen its other factories in Germany in stages over the next couple of weeks. It is also working to reopen its factories outside of Germany, including its assembly plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Chattanooga factory is set to resume production on May 4. New Delhi, April 23 : India is importing six SUV-sized high-speed testing machines for Covid-19, which are in high demand, from Swiss firm Roche Diagnostics in the US. The import is being facilitated by the Ministry of External Affairs, which is also coordinating India's collaboration with foreign agencies in research and development efforts related to Covid-19, official sources said. Roche's Cobas SARS-CoV-2 test provides "reliable and high-quality results for clinical decision-making for the improved management of Covid-19 patients and to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 (coronavirus) infection." Cobas 6800 can run up to 384 tests in an 8-hour shift and 1,536 tests in 24 hours, with only three user interactions per run and up to 8 hours of walk-away time, the firm claims. The upgraded model, Cobas 8800 System, as per Roche, can run up to 960 tests in an 8-hour shift and 4,032 tests in 24 hours, with only three user interactions and up to four hours of walk-away time per run. Official sources said India's research and development labs are in touch with labs in Israel and Germany, which are undertaking cutting edge work. The ministry facilitated the arrangements for an Indian subsidiary of a South Korean company, SD Biosensor, to start production of Covid-19 rapid anti-body testing kits in its plant in Manesar, Haryana, with a capacity of 5 lakh tests per week. The first batch has already been rolled out on April 19, sources said, adding that the company will ramp up production to meet the growing demand in India as well as other parts of the world. The Indian mission has also signed a contract on behalf of ICMR with another South Korean company to procure and supply 5 lakh corona testing kits. In the last two weeks, sources said, around 2 dozen flights departed for India from 5 cities in China carrying nearly 400 tonnes of medical supplies, including RT-PCR test kits, rapid antibody testing kits, PPE kits, thermometers etc. Around 20 more flights are expected to bring supplies from China in the coming days, sources said, adding that the supplies are likely to be stepped up considerably in the next few months. "This is an unprecedented investment to immediately address an unprecedented crisis. Inequitable access to resources is one of the root reasons why Detroiters have been disproportionately impacted by COVID19," said Dr. Nikolai Vitti, Superintendent of DPSCD. "As the Governor rightfully shifted learning this year to online learning from traditional face to face instruction, our District experienced another example of inequity in the fact that only 10% of students were accessing the District's online platform and learning materials. The District needed an at scale, immediate response and the business and non-profit community stepped up as true advocates of children, families, and traditional public education. I do not believe this investment would have happened had the newly formed District not made the improvements it has demonstrated over the last three years. This is not only an investment to address the digital divide so we can more effectively facilitate online learning throughout this shutdown, but it will rapidly accelerate our overall plan and efforts to increase the use of technology and improve student achievement over the next two years." The Connected Futures Project will enable 51,000 students and families to receive wireless tablets and internet access for in-home use; and to connect with DPSCD teachers utilizing online learning resources. The project would make LTE (wireless) enabled tablets available for all enrolled DPSCD students before the end of the 2019-2020 school year. These devices will include six months of subsidized LTE data, immediately connecting students without wired internet connections at home, and will be the property of the student and family. During this global pandemic, DPSCD is transitioning to online distance learning and has already infused more online learning in classrooms over the past three years. All academic resources are currently available online for students and families for grades PreK-12, in addition printed packets that are directly linked to the online lessons are now available for families to pick up at select school locations. In June, the tablets will be delivered to schools. Students in grades K-12 will benefit from online courses in all core academic areas, including art and physical education. High school students can continue to take dual enrollment courses and SAT prep. Students and teachers will continue to communicate through the Microsoft Teams platform and families will have access to student grades, progress reports and assignments. Although the District has developed an online platform to provide students and families with access, only 10 percent of families were able to take full advantage of the online learning after school and during the weekends. "By making our students the priority, we are creating educational opportunities that are unmatched, this is one of our next steps. We are grateful for the ongoing support of our business community," said Iris Taylor, DPSCD Board President on behalf of the Board of Education. An organized deployment strategy is planned for June once the devices arrive and will include families signing an agreement to ensure online participation is monitored. During the six months following the initial deployment of devices, the District plans to partner with the City of Detroit and the social enterprise non-profit, Human IT, to help families sign up for low-cost subsidized internet services. During this portion of the program, families will receive technical support on their new device, as well as navigation services that will help them take advantage of internet access. By the end of the subsidized data period, in December 2020, the District will support DPSCD families who are actively using the services for educational programming and are in socio-economic need of continued internet service. Students will be encouraged to bring their devices to school in the fall to continue the narrowing of the student to device ratio throughout the District. Over the next two years, DPSCD will shift to a one to one student to device ratio where home learning will be required online, and textbooks and workbooks are replaced by laptops and tablets. View the Frequently Asked Questions document here. Learn more about other partners who have made the commitment to connect our students at http://www.dpsfdn.org/connectedfutures/ About Detroit Public Schools Community District Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) is Michigan's largest public education system. It is governed by a locally elected, seven-member board with Dr. Nikolai Vitti serving as superintendent. The District's mission is to provide every student with a beneficial and rightful educational experience, preparing students to be career and college ready, and qualified to compete in the global market. The District has more than 100 schools and educates 51,000 children. For more information, visit detroitk12.org. About the DPS Foundation Launched in 2009, the Detroit Public Schools Foundation is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting DPSCD students, families and educators. Since its inception, the DPS Foundation has raised more than $21 million to create and enhance educational opportunities for the District. The DPS Foundation, Michigan's largest public school foundation, serves as a fundraising organization, a grantmaking entity, a facilitator/connector linking schools and programs with supporters and an information source, helping the general public understand the opportunities and resources needed to educate Detroit's children. Learn more at dpsfdn.org or follow us on Facebook , Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn . MEDIA CONTACT: Chrystal Wilson Cell: 313-212-3039 [email protected] SOURCE Detroit Public Schools Community District Related Links http://www.detroitk12.org All the way out in Seven Oats, Texas, a recent dangerous tornado was reported to have been ripping through the Polk County on Wednesday. The tornado was reported to have caused widespread of damage resulting in the deaths of two citizens as well as a dozen injured. The twister was labeled "extremely dangerous," according to the National Weather Service themselves. It was seen over the Seven Oaks territory, which is located about 9 miles to the north of Livingston. It was reportedly moving east at a speed of 45 mph. Officials have warned the residents living in that area to take immediate cover as the twister suddenly moved through. According to the Texas Department of Transportation themselves, the tornado actually also struck a certain subdivision located near Onalaska called the Yaupon Cove. Even FM 356 over in Onalaska was actually shut down due to the damage caused by the storm. Officials then warned people around the area to avoid certain areas that could still be in danger due to the tornado. The damage caused by the tornado Some photos were uploaded to Instagram taken really near the Onalaska High School that revealed substantial storm damage. A certain citizen named Amanda Price also said that her brother-in-law noticed that the very pressure they felt off and started holding onto the laundry door as the storm started to blow the back door right off of his own house. Price has said that he lives somewhere on Vince Drive located in Onalaska. A certain power company located in the affected area has reported that there were about 9,000 people that were suddenly left without power right after the tornado managed to damage several transmission lines. The company has also stated that the tornado managed to cause extreme damage to the power lines around the area and it is still really unclear how long until full repairs will be finished. The affected Polk County The Emergency Operations Center of Polk County has just recently been activated. The shelters over at the Onalaska junior and senior high schools are currently going through the process of opening up for those who are in need of emergency shelter. A certain Zachary Bolten had reported that he had just pulled over at a certain store when he suddenly saw the cloud. According to Bolten, he saw a mushroom cloud that slowly formed into a tornado. Read Also: [Breaking News] Poultry and Farm Products Fire Breaks in Licking County Ohio LIVE Now!! Bolten reported that he had just recently gotten off of work and that he decided to pull over at a certain store located on Highway 59, right after recording a video, he then proceeded to head to his grandmother's house that was located in Seven Oaks. According to Bolten, the trees suddenly snapped over and her roof was suddenly gone. He said that he is very thankful that his mother was not inside when the twister suddenly hit but he is also saddened that she cannot return to her home anytime soon. Read Also: Neo-Nazi Hacks WHO, NIH, and Gates Foundation: 25,000 Emails Used for Harassment Campaign and Coronavirus Conspiracies April Dong stared in disbelief at the oil price on her phone. The bank clerk in Chinas Hebei province had invested 40,000 yuan ($5,600) in U.S. crude futures through popular bank products, and she was watching it vanish in real time. It was Monday night in China, just about the time traders in New York were having their morning coffee. West Texas Intermediate had been sliding all day since it opened at about $18 a barrel. When prices hit $11, Dong closed out, having lost about half her money. Her pain has been felt throughout Asia this week by retail investors who thought they were buying the dip but instead got crushed by oils unprecedented collapse below zero. From Beijing to Seoul to Mumbai, the oil-tracking funds that offered cheap entry for the layperson suffered substantial losses. Im not an oil professional, its natural that I dont know the concept of negative pricing and rolling, Dong, 31, said in a phone interview. Oil should at least have some kind of value. Theres no way it should fall into sub-zero value. Investors are being rattled because of a rarely used but very important detail in the WTI contract: anyone holding futures after they expire could be forced to take delivery of crude in the U.S. oil hub of Cushing, Oklahoma. For the May contract, that expiration happened Tuesday night. Storage tanks there are nearing capacity as fuel demand is decimated by widespread lockdown measures to slow the spread of the coronavirus. With fewer people able to buy crude and store it, liquidity in near-term contracts dries up, making squeezes like Mondays more likely. Bank of China Dongs lucky she cashed out when she did. Most of her investment was in a Bank of China Ltd. product pegged to May WTI futures. That means her money was tied up in a contract that fell to as low as minus $40.32 a barrel just hours after she cut her losses. On Tuesday, Bank of China suspended trading for products linked to U.S. crude futures while it checked with exchange owner CME Group Inc. on settlement arrangements for negative prices. It then stopped allowing new positions in its U.S. and U.K. crude products because of market and settlement risks. The bank on Wednesday said on its website that the underlying settlement value for the May contract is minus 266.12 yuan a barrel, which, after accounting for some currency fluctuations, is roughly the Nymex Monday close of minus $37.63. Bank of China said in a statement Wednesday night that it settled the contracts in accordance with guidelines previously disclosed to clients. By Thursday, several other Chinese financial institutions had also suspended opening new positions on crude oil products. The chaos played out elsewhere in Asia this week. In South Korea, a brokerage saw its trading system freeze when prices went negative, leaving customers helpless as they watched losses pile up. Exotic structured notes in the country tied to oil were also at risk of massive losses. A Hong Kong exchange-traded oil fund with more than $500 million in assets as of Monday plummeted 46% Wednesday after it decided to sell its June contracts and repurchase more-expensive September derivatives. Total Loss The Hong Kong fund, Samsung S&P GSCI Crude Oil ER Futures ETF, warned that if it held onto June contracts the net asset value may drop to zero and investors may suffer a total loss in a worst case scenario. In India, clients of Motilal Oswal Financial Services Ltd. had outstanding dues of about $10 million, it said in an email, from losses on their WTI-linked oil futures on the Multi Commodity Exchange of India. The stand taken by the exchange is incorrect, illogical and unprecedented from the overall commodity derivative market eco-system perspective, it said, referring to allowing negative settlement prices. We hope the regulator will also look into this issue in the right perspective. The exchange, known as MCX, didnt respond to a request for comment. The United States Oil Fund, the biggest ETF tracking crude prices, took a series of unusual actions after losing a third of its value in two days. It had to suspend the issuance of new shares, an action that could leave it untethered from prices its supposed to track. Interactive Brokers Group Inc. on Tuesday announced an $88 million provisionary loss due to several customers who held long positions in the May WTI contract when it expired, triggering losses that outstripped the equity in their accounts. Retail Inflows Given the difficulty and costs of storing oil, even in normal times, investors typically never keep positions into expiration, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. said in a note. The surge of inflows to oil in recent weeks suggest that retail investors were likely still long May WTI contracts into this week, the bank said. For Dong, who studied alongside oil industry professionals in her MBA program, the experience has soured her on future investments in crude. If the underlying contract keeps rolling, then its a short-term product. But Im a long-term value investor, she said. I discovered from this incident that oil wealth products are not my thing. OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- For well over a month now, a group of Ocean Springs friends -- unable to get together in person -- has been enjoying each others company through daily online meetings. The brainchild of Ocean Springs resident Allison Doolittle, the virtual happy hour has allowed the friends, as many as a dozen or more, to stay in touch, visiting each day during the COVID-19 shutdown to discuss the days events, have a laugh and perhaps a few adult beverages along the way. We started this to hold our happy hour family together during all this, Doolittle said. Its been pretty successful. Thursday, however, a new element was introduced into the online get-togethers -- a sloth. Thanks to the Hattiesburg Zoo, the group spent 30 minutes online Thursday visiting with two of the zoos three sloths, accompanied by the zoos Jeremy Cumpton, Director of Conservation, Education & Wildlife, and Amanda Hargrove, Director of Marketing. The sloth encounter was the result of a friend telling Doolittle about a similar program in California. I thought instead of benefiting California, why not benefit a local zoo, Doolittle said. So I contacted the Hattiesburg Zoo. The zoo had no such program in place, but Hargrove liked the idea and took it to the zoos board of directors for approval, which was granted. Thursdays sloth visit with the Ocean Springs group was the first of what the zoo hopes will be a continuing program during the shutdown, perhaps beyond. Tuesday, the zoo announced the program to the public through its Facebook page. Theyve dubbed the program ZOOmy Bunch! -- a play on the Zoom online meeting program used by many for online meetings, although Thursdays meeting with the Ocean Springs group was conducted the the GoToMeeting app. We were the first group for them to do that, Doolittle said. It makes me feel good to know theyre now offering it to the public. During Thursdays meeting, the group met Mo and Chewy and learned, among other things, that the two-toed sloths can live up to 40 years in captivity, that their two biggest predators in the wild are anacondas and Harpy eagles, and that mating among sloths -- contrary to their normal slow-paced activities -- happens very quickly. In addition, a third sloth, Maple, is a baby and has been separated from the parents into a separate exhibit. Cumpton explained that sloths generally dont stay with the mother long because, if the young sloth remains too long, the mother can become aggressive towards her child. Cumpton told the group that currently the sloth encounter is the only one for which they are set up, but they are working to add others, including a jaguar online encounter. Like so many businesses across Mississippi and elsewhere, the zoo was forced to shutdown in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, closing its doors at the end of the day March 16, with only the essential employees needed to care for the animals coming into work. Because of the small staff currently on hand at the zoo, those wishing to schedule an online animal encounter should book the event at least 24 hours in advance by sending a message to the zoos Facebook page. The ZOOmy Bunch program is available for online meetings, classroom chats or, as in the case with the Ocean Springs group, a lunch with friends. If you dont have any online meetings scheduled, you can still visit with Mo and Chewy by logging in to the zoos Sloth Cam, where the zoo live streams footage of the two adult sloths in their habitat. (Newser) The coronavirus just hit too close to home for Elizabeth Warren. She announced Thursday that her oldest brother has died of the illness in Oklahoma. Don Reed Herring was 86, 16 years Warren's senior, and he was diagnosed with COVID-19 about three weeks ago, reports the Boston Globe. "Im grateful to the nurses and other front-line staff who took care of my brother, but it is hard to know that there was no family to hold his hand or to say 'I love you one more time," she tells the newspaper. "And now theres no funeral for those of us who loved him to hold each other close. I will miss my brother." story continues below Those familiar with Warren's 2020 run for the White House might remember seeing Herring in an ad featuring all three of her older brothers, notes the Hill. See the ad here. Herring had a long, decorated career in the Air Force, with the Globe reporting that he flew more than 280 combat missions in Vietnam. Wrote Warren: "He was charming and funny, a natural leader." (Warren, meanwhile, is open to being Joe Biden's running mate.) A Belfast academic has said making age a factor when deciding who will receive scarce resources during a pandemic could be seen as "a cull of elderly people". Dave Archard, Emeritus Professor at Queen's University in Belfast, said that there were three reasons why age should not be used to decide who should and should not receive potentially life-saving treatment. He was speaking out after another leading academic suggested in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) that age is an "important factor" when making the "terrible choice" over treatment. In a debate on whether it is wrong to prioritise younger patients with coronavirus, Arthur Caplan, Professor of Bioethics at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York, argued that age is a "valid criterion" when supported by data. But Professor Archard said that a simple "younger than" criterion was unsatisfactory because it cannot be said an 18-year-old is preferred to a 19-year-old on the grounds of one year's difference in age. This would be not much better morally than tossing a coin, or a crude 'first come, first served' principle using the time of arrival at a hospital to determine whether care is given, he added. Prof Archard said that while the "fair innings" argument - that everyone should have an opportunity to lead a life of a certain duration - had intuitive appeal, there was no agreement of what a fair innings amounted to. He added: "Someone who has had her fair innings may yet have much to give the world than another, who has not, may be unable to offer." To discriminate between patients in the provision of care on the grounds of age is to send a message about the value of old people, he said. Prof Archard said that such discrimination publicly expresses the view that older people are of lesser worth or importance than young people. "And it would be hard not to think - even if it was not intended - that a cull of elderly people was what was being aimed at," he added. Writing in the BMJ yesterday, Prof Caplan had said age had played a role for decades in limiting access to care when rationing life-saving treatments, such as access to renal dialysis and organ transplants. But he said that even in conditions of extreme scarcity "it would be discriminatory to simply invoke age to exclude those in need from services". Prof Caplan said that the key ethical question was whether age by itself was ever a "morally relevant factor" in deciding who gets care when rationing is unavoidable. However, if the goal is to save the most lives with scarce resources, then age may matter if there is a diminishing chance of survival with increased age, he added. Prof Caplan said: "Indeed, the relevance of old age as a predictive factor of efficacy - combined with the powerful principle of healthcare affording equality of opportunity to enjoy a life - makes age an important factor in making the terrible choice of who will receive scarce resources in a pandemic. "Ageism has no place in rationing, but age may." Yesterday, Tory former chancellor Lord Lamont urged the Government not to "discriminate" against the elderly when it comes to lifting the coronavirus lockdown. Speaking during a virtual question time, where peers have the opportunity to press ministers via video-link, the Conservative peer said older people "feel acutely" the enforced separation from loved ones during the current pandemic. However, responding, the health minister Lord Bethell stressed it was the disease which was the "discriminator", not the Government. Mr. George Kwaku Yeboah, a member of the Volta NDC communications team has complained bitterly about the poor nature President Nana Addo is handling issues of COVID-19 in the country. His full statement below As a country, it is important we are all critical about proactive measures to put in place in order to stop the spread of COVID-19. It is, therefore, worrying the way President Nana Addo is not doing things right at this critical moment. How should Nana Addo risk the lives of our security officers and their families like that? How on earth could a government deploy over 8,000 officers to enforce the presidential restriction on movement, without adequate personal protection equipment, and only now be asking them to self-isolate from their families and colleagues after 25 days? It must be noted that the same security officers returned to their families every single day after their duty. We all saw on television and social media how most of them were ill-equipped through the period of the partial lockdown. The President lifted the restriction on movement four (4) clear days ago, and the security officers returned to normal duty. We're looking at roughly a total of 25 days since they were deployed. Let's not forget that they returned home after every single shift. The kind of accommodation that our security officers and their families live in, is also no secret to any of us. Our security officers live in the most constrained operational housing units in our barracks all over Ghana. It is scandalous for any person not to know this. I grew up between two barracks (Airforce, Burma Camp and Police rented quarters, Kokomlemle, Accra). I'm no stranger to the living conditions of our servicemen and women. Trying to make meaning of the directive of the IGP, yesterday, now asking all the 8,000 security personnel to self-isolate, got me seriously thinking. Two things readily came to mind. I visualised how impossible that was going to be for many of them, knowing their living conditions. The other is, how very late this directive has come. The same officers have returned home to live with their families and other colleagues over the 21 days of the restriction on movement and since it was lifted four days ago. With all the high-powered planning that went into the decisions, as we are told by government communicators on a daily basis, did this not cross the mind of anybody? From my little layman's observation, there seems to be the poverty of proactiveness in most of the decisions so far. I can mention the shambolic and woefully belated food distribution to vulnerable groups by government, 8 days into the lockdown. The mode and manner of the distribution are bereft of any serious planning. The story of the "Kayayei", needs no telling. This feeds directly into my concern for this late directive for officers to self-isolate. It is important to state that President Nana Addo, must be on top of his job to make sure only the best of decisions are taken toward fighting the spread of COVID-19 in Ghana. EUGENE, Ore. -- As classes have turned to distance learning for students and staff across Oregon, families are searching for ways to remain connected, even during a pandemic. Here in Eugene, there is now an opportunity to do just that. Eugene School District 4J will be sharing stories of kindness and caring and connections throughout this pandemic under #4JBetterTogether, said spokesperson Kerry Delf. Its a campaign inviting the community to share their stories of positivity to showcase what theyve learned and accomplished and to keep the district united. The 4J district announced Wednesday a new way to honor the class of 2020 to shine a light during the pandemic. Its part of a nationwide campaign called Be the Light and schools are lighting stadiums to honor high school seniors. We also ask that people turn on their own porch lights and participate in honoring their senior, Delf said. If anyone wants to take a picture of their senior in front of their porch light, wed be happy to see that on social media. In Eugene, 4J high schools will be turning on their stadium lights every Friday through June 12 and the community is encouraged to turn on their own porch lights for 20 minutes and 20 seconds beginning at 8:20 on Fridays. The district will also soon be handing out special Class of 2020 yard signs for free to go up in yards, front doors or windows. Each high school will have a distinct color, logo and design, and the signs will be provided to every senior in the district. Digital images are available now, and families will soon get information about how and when they can pick up a physical sign early next month. For many high school seniors, the school year took a twist that no one expected. However, they said they will never forget how the community stepped up to honor the Class of 2020. RELATED: HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS LOOK TO UNCERTAIN FUTURE AFTER CLOSURES Feeling seen and kind of heard by the community is really valuable so even if its a yard sign, stuff like that, really does go a long way for us, said Michaela Kearney, Sheldon High School senior. Im just thankful that everybody is recognizing that this is hard and that something has been taken away, said Piper Matson, Sheldon High School senior. It's really cool that people are still looking to help us get through this. To join in on the 4J Better Together campaign, your stories and highlights can be shared through a Google form on the school districts website. A Houston restaurant owner has decided to defy Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgos order that closed many businesses, including restaurants and bars, until April 30. Owner-operator Matt Brice on Friday will reopen the Hedwig Village location of Federal Grill, which first opened its doors on February 24, at 8731 Katy Freeway, for in-dining service. I disagree with Hidalgos order. The government does not have the right to pick the winners and losers of this situation, said Brice. Until now, weve followed it 100 percent to make sure the city is safe. But the numbers are decreasing and it is time to get people back to work. Hidalgo in March ordered all bars and clubs in Harris County to close for the next 15 days, a move intended to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. The order also limits restaurants to pickup, delivery and drive-through orders. The restrictions apply to venues in Houston and throughout the rest of the county. Brice has put together a list of safety measures that will hang in the restaurant. Safety comes first. We plan to be more stringent than required, he said. That includes temperature checks for all employees before they begin their shift. They will also be required to wear a face mask and gloves, which they will change out regularly. An attendant will be placed in the entryway to the restroom area, allowing only one person to enter at a time. As well, the restaurant will operate with a reservation-only policy and several tables will be left empty in between parties for social distancing. We are only taking up to 30 percent of the restaurants capacity, said Brice. When it comes to paying the bill, patrons will have the option to pay hands-free via Paypal and Venmo. I feel confident that we will have our ducks in a row and systems in place. You will feel confident about having dinner here, said Brice. I ask that someone from the health department or government come in and be my guest. They can see first-hand the practices we are putting in place to ensure the safety of people. Brice stands firm in his decision,. I am not trying to ruffle feathers. But we are getting crushed and I cant afford to keep paying my staff, he said. I cant take it anymore. We have to survive. Federal Grill at 8731 Katy Freeway will open Friday evening for dinner service from 5 to 8 p.m. Curbside and delivery service will still be offered. As of now, Brice does not have plans to open the restaurants Washington Avenue location at 510 Shepherd Dr. marcy.deluna@chron.com Two Kashmiri labourers were attacked by a group of people in Himachal Pradesh's Bilaspur district, an official said on Thursday. After the incident, a case was registered at Barmana police station on Wednesday and two persons were arrested, said police spokesperson Khushal Sharma. Around six people had manhandled the two Kashmiri labourers, he added. Referring to the incident, Himachal Pradesh DGP Sita Ram Mardi said India is known for unity despite our diversity of region, religion, language and caste and we should avoid discrimination against anyone. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China has reported 27 new asymptomatic coronavirus cases, taking their total to 984, while a high-level committee headed by Premier Li Keqiang asked health officials to remain focussed on the targeted containment of the deadly virus. Asymptomatic cases refer to people who are tested COVID-19 positive but develop no symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat. However, they pose a risk of spreading the disease to others. Besides the 27 asymptomatic patients, 10 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, including six from Chinese returning from abroad, were reported in the country on Wednesday. The four other patients -- three from Heilongjiang province bordering Russia and one in Guangdong province -- were domestically transmitted, China's National Health Commission (NHC) said on Thursday. No death was reported on Wednesday, the NHC said. As of Wednesday, the overall confirmed COVID-19 cases in China increased to 82,798, including 4,632 fatalities and 1,616 imported cases, it said. Of the total imported cases, 37 are in critical condition, the NHC said. But more concerning factor for the Chinese authorities is the steady increase of asymptomatic cases among locals. The 27 new asymptomatic cases, including one from abroad, were reported on the mainland, the NHC said, adding that 984 such asymptomatic patients, including 166 from abroad, were still under medical observation. In a meeting on Wednesday, the Central Leading Group headed by Premier Li said considering the new circumstances and challenges at home and abroad, health official should stay focussed on targeted containment and detecting and reinforcing areas of weakness to forestall any resurgence of infection. The Central Leading Group is supervising the COVID-19 containment efforts since January. The meeting noted the recent occurrence of case clusters and cross infections in hospitals in a few Chinese cities, an official press release in Beijing said. It directed competent authorities to promptly send a working group consisting of disease control and medical experts to cities concerned to supervise local efforts in ascertaining causes and releasing information. The meeting also called for all-round progress in restarting work and full-capacity production and restoring normal life and work on the basis of regularized containment measures. Meanwhile, as of Wednesday, 1,033 confirmed cases, including four deaths, were reported in Hong Kong. Macao registered 45 COVID-19 cases and Taiwan 426, including six fatalities. A total of 678 patients in Hong Kong, 26 in Macao and 236 in Taiwan have been recovered. Alhakim Nunez was arrested April 23, 2020 and charged with involuntary manslaughter and related crimes for the shooting death of his 4-year-old daughter this passed Monday. Read more Detectives are still trying to determine who fired the fatal bullet that struck 4-year-old Kastari Star Nunez in the abdomen inside her Northeast Philadelphia home just before midnight Monday. But they believe that her father was conducting a drug transaction in the house at the time. That detail was revealed Thursday when District Attorney Larry Krasner said he had enough evidence to announce the arrests of the girls parents and another woman. The girls killing was unintended, however, it was not in any way, shape, or form accidental, because the shooting death resulted from a handgun which should have never been in the home of the father, Anthony Voci, the district attorneys homicide chief, said during a virtual news conference with Krasner. The father, Alhakim Nunez, 29, is barred from owning a gun due to three drug convictions, in Georgia, Virginia, and Bucks County, Voci said. The investigation revealed that the gun had been in the house for a number of months, and that both parents were there with the loaded and unsecured weapon at the time that their daughter was shot and killed, Voci said. Nunez was charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of children, both upgraded to felonies because of the girls age; corruption of minors; possession with intent to manufacture or deliver drugs; possession of a weapon by a convicted felon; obstructing justice, and related charges. He is jailed on a $1 million so-called Nebbia hold, which allows officials time to investigate the source of funds he may use to pay bail. The girls mother, Iris Rodriguez, 29, was charged with the same crimes except possession of a weapon by a felon and drug possession. She is jailed on a $500,000 Nebbia hold. Another woman who was in the house, Ashley Gushue, 31, was charged with unsworn falsification to authorities, tampering with evidence, and obstructing justice, all misdemeanors. Some of the charges relate to the defendants conduct after the shooting, Voci said. A man who was not named and was also in the house at the time of the shooting has not been charged. The prosecutors said they are awaiting more evidence to determine who shot the girl. Her 2-year-old brother was also in the house and was not injured. The shooting took place on the first floor of the two-story brick rowhouse on Secane Drive while the father was on the second floor dealing drugs, Voci said. When Voci and police arrived at the house, they found a large amount of blood. On a living-room sofa, they found an older-model .357 Smith & Wesson revolver with five live rounds and one spent cartridge casing, he said. The parents drove the girl to Jefferson-Torresdale Hospital, where she was pronounced dead within a half-hour. She would have turned 5 in June. Residents of Philadelphia are required to safely store firearms in households where minors also reside, Krasner said. Free gun locks are available by mail no questions asked by submitting a request to Temple Safety Net at www.templesafetynet.org/request-a-gun-lock. provides the strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the global Search Engine Optimization Services market. Description: New York, April 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Search Engine Optimization Services Global Market Opportunities And Strategies To 2023" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05888037/?utm_source=GNW Where is the largest and fastest growing market for the search engine optimization services market? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward? The global search engine optimization services market opportunities and strategies to 2023 report answers all these questions and many more. The report covers the following chapters Executive Summary The executive summary section of the report gives a brief overview and summary of the report. Report Structure This section gives the structure of the report and the information covered in the various sections. Introduction This section gives the segmentation of the search engine optimization services market by geography, by type of entity, and by end use industry covered in this report. Market Characteristics The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the search engine optimization services market. This chapter includes different goods covered in the report and basic definitions. Supply Chain The supply chain section of the report defines and explains the key players in the search engine optimization services industry supply chain. Service Analysis The service analysis section of the report describes the leading services in the market along with key features and differentiators for those services. Customer Information This chapters covers recent customers trends/preferences in the global search engine optimization services market. Trends And Strategies This chapter describes the major trends shaping the global search engine optimization services market. This section highlights likely future developments in the market and suggests approaches companies can take to exploit these opportunities. Regulatory Landscape This section provides recent updates related to search engine optimization services manufacturing in developed countries. Global Market Size And Growth This section contains the global historic (2015 2019) and forecast (2019 2023) market values, and drivers and restraints that support and restrain the growth of the market in the historic and forecast periods. Regional Analysis This section contains the historic (2015 2019), forecast (2019 2023) market value and growth and market share comparison by region. Segmentation This section contains the market values (2015 - 2023) and analysis for different segments in the market. Global Macro Comparison The global search engine optimization services market comparison with macro-economic factors gives the search engine optimization services market size, percentage of GDP, and average search engine optimization services market expenditure. Regional Market Size and Growth This section contains the regions market size (2019), historic and forecast (2015 - 2023) market values, and growth and market share comparison of major countries within the region. This report includes information on all the regions (Asia Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa). Competitive Landscape This section covers details on the competitive landscape of the global search engine optimization services market, estimated market shares and company profiles of the leading players. Key Mergers And Acquisitions This chapter gives the information on recent mergers and acquisitions in the market covered in the report. This section gives key financial details of mergers and acquisitions which have shaped the market in recent years. Market Background This section describes the web content, search portals, SEO services and social media market of which the search engine optimization services market is a segment. This chapter includes the web content, search portals, SEO services and social media market 2015-23 values, and regional analyses for the web content, search portals, SEO services and social media market. Conclusions And Recommendations This section includes conclusions and recommendations based on findings of the research. This section gives information on growth opportunities across countries, segments and strategies to be followed in those markets. It gives an understanding of where there is significant business to be gained by competitors in the next five years. Appendix This section includes details on the NAICS codes covered, abbreviations and currencies codes used in this report. Markets Covered: The global search engine optimization services market is segmented into - By Type Of Entity: Agencies; Freelancers By End-User: Professional Services; IT Services; E commerce; Hospitality; Recreation; Real Estate; Others Companies Mentioned: WEBFX; SEOimage.com; Moz, Inc.; The SEO Works Limited; WordStream Countries: Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Russia, Canada, Mexico, USA, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa Regions: Asia Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa Time series: Five years historic and forecast. Data: Ratios of market size and growth to related markets, GDP proportions, expenditure per capita Data segmentations: country and regional historic and forecast data, market share of competitors, market segments. Sourcing and Referencing: Data and analysis throughout the report is sourced using end notes. Reasons to Purchase Outperform competitors using accurate up to date demand-side dynamics information. Identify growth segments for investment. Facilitate decision making on the basis of historic and forecast data and the drivers and restraints on the market. Create regional and country strategies on the basis of local data and analysis. Stay abreast of the latest customer and market research findings Benchmark performance against key competitors. Develop strategies based on likely future developments. Utilize the relationships between key data sets for superior strategizing. Suitable for supporting your internal and external presentations with reliable high quality data and analysis Gain a global perspective on the development of the market. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05888037/?utm_source=GNW 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: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest shrines, has announced that the holy fasting month of Ramadan will start Friday as Muslims worldwide face unprecedented restrictions to counter coronavirus. "Based on the sighting of the new month's moon ... it has been decided that Friday is the start of the month of Ramadan," the royal court said Thursday in a statement cited by the SPA news agency. King Salman said he is saddened that Muslims cannot pray at mosques because of coronavirus restrictions. "I am pained that the holy month arrives amid circumstances that make us unable to perform group prayers and Taraweeh -- special Ramadan night prayers -- at mosques due to precautionary measures to protect the peoples' lives and health in combating the coronavirus pandemic," the king said in a statement cited by SPA. Observant Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk during Ramadan and gather with family to break the fast in the evening. It is also a month of prayers during which Muslims traditionally converge in large numbers at mosques especially at night. But due to the coronavirus, almost all Muslim-majority countries have closed mosques and asked people to pray at home in addition to imposing curfews to limit the spread of the deadly virus. Several Arab countries have eased restrictions on the occasion of the holy month with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and other countries reducing the duration of the lockdowns. The UAE said on Thursday it has decided to ease a total lockdown to an eight-hour nightly curfew and also moved to partially reopen malls and markets. The start date of Ramadan, the holiest Muslim month, is set by both lunar calculations and physical sightings which determine when one month ends and another begins. Casino workers and food bank volunteers package up items during a food distribution for casino workers at Harbor Square in Egg Harbor Township on Wednesday. Read more In announcing that Philadelphias coronavirus case total had passed 10,500, city officials said Wednesday that they encountered a surprise when they looked at their updated figures: When the pandemic was peaking earlier this month, they were underestimating the case counts. During that April 8 to 10 period, about 545 cases were confirmed daily, which was higher than what we previously thought, said Health Commissioner Thomas Farley. The new counts added 50 or more cases to each of those three days, the Public Health Department said. The city also announced 23 additional deaths. Of the 1,622 virus-related deaths in Pennsylvania, 419 have occurred in Philadelphia. New Jerseys toll passed 5,000 on Wednesday. But on a refreshingly clear day in terms of weather, the governors of both states talked at least mutedly about their plans for restarting their economies as the rates of case increase continue to decline. A reset couldnt happen soon enough for out-of-work Atlantic City casino workers. Hundreds of cooks, dealers, valets, housekeepers, and banquet servers waited in their vehicles, for hours in some cases, in a queue that backed up for miles to pick up food donated by the Community Food Bank of South Jersey. Officials in both states, however, continued to downplay any high expectations about the pace of reopening their economies. READ MORE: At the Jersey Shore, is social distancing even possible? New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said that when business resumes, spikes in coronavirus case numbers are likely. He said he is conferring with the governors of New York and Connecticut to start a robust contact-tracing program that would be a key component of coordinated reopenings. This puts us in position to be better prepared for potential spikes as we look to reopen, Murphy said. And for spikes many predict will continue through fall into winter. READ MORE: Philly businesses shuttered by coronavirus say they cant reopen until you feel safe leaving your house He also said that while New Jersey is grateful for the nearly $500 billion coronavirus stimulus package being finalized by federal lawmakers, the states need more. The choices we will have to make absent federal assistance are dire, Murphy said. We are dealing with an unprecedented public health crisis that will be followed by an unprecedented fiscal crisis, one that experts believe will dwarf the Great Recession. Murphy also signed legislation ordering hospitals to report demographic data on every person who is admitted to a hospital and dies from the coronavirus. It will be made publicly available and include age, ethnicity, gender, and race. Across the river, Gov. Tom Wolf said that areas of north-central and northwestern Pennsylvania might see restrictions lifted as early as May 8. Decisions would be based on a regions meeting guidelines outlined by the White House. They include an incidence of only 50 new cases per 100,000 people in a two-week period. It was not clear when the hard-hit southeast portion of the state would get its turn. READ MORE: Heres how low Phillys case count has to be for the state to consider reopening Southeastern Pa. The city had about 400 new cases confirmed Wednesday, Farley said, which is about level with the number of daily case totals reported in the last week. That would be a significant drop from the April 8-10 period. We hope it stays that thats the highest point, but well have to watch ... to see if the decline were seeing since then continues, he said. Still, though, over 400 cases a day is many cases, he said. The virus is still out there." Philadelphia did add 615 cases to its total on Wednesday; however, that included those confirmed through test results 10 or more days ago, and included people who had not yet been identified as Philadelphia residents, Farley said. The wait for normality has been especially painful for Philadelphias restaurants. Several are appealing for emergency loans, and several restaurateurs have shifted to takeout and delivery, hoping that someday their bars and dining rooms will reopen. Statewide and nationally, the situation is just as dire. The National Restaurant Association on Monday said that more than eight in 10 restaurant employees in Pennsylvania at least 332,000 people have been laid off or furloughed since the beginning of March. Those who are commuting to work on SEPTA did receive some good news Wednesday when Transport Workers Union Local 234 decided to postpone an action that could have disrupted service. SEPTA wants the city to meet a list of concerns to safeguard workers against the coronavirus, but after Mayor Jim Kenney intervened, union president Willie Brown he said he would allow for a couple days to find a resolution. No, Im not satisfied, but again, when the mayor comes in you cant just say no, Brown said. ASK US: Do you have a question about the coronavirus and how it affects your health, work and life? Ask our reporters. And renters will be getting a break. Philadelphias municipal courts will remain mostly closed through the end of May, and evictions typically processed by those courts are on hold for another month until June 1. READ MORE: Do I have to pay my rent? Renters rights in Philadelphia during the coronavirus pandemic. In the looking-up department, President Donald Trump announced that the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels would perform air shows across the country to pay tribute to the front-line workers combating the pandemic. This is a tribute to them, to our warriors because theyre equal warriors to those incredible pilots," he said. Staff writers Amy S. Rosenberg, Laura McCrystal, Erin Arvedlund, Michael Klein, Erin McCarthy, Diane Mastrull, Ellie Rushing, and Anna Orso contributed to this article. By Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO: Two people with the coronavirus died in California as much as three weeks before the US reported its first death from the disease in late February - a gap that a top health official said may have led to delays in issuing stay-at-home orders in the nation's most populous state. Dr Sara Cody, health director in Northern California's Santa Clara County, on Wednesday said that the deaths were missed because of a scarcity of testing and the federal government's limited guidance on who should be tested. The infections in the two patients were confirmed by way of autopsy tissue samples that were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for analysis. Officials said that the county coroner's office received the results on Tuesday. "If we had had widespread testing earlier and we were able to document the level of transmission in the county, if we had understood then people were already dying, yes, we probably would have acted earlier than we did, which would have meant more time at home," Cody said. ALSO READ| Under pressure from government, various US universities reject COVID-19 relief aid In the wake of the disclosure, Governor Gavin Newsom said he has directed coroners throughout the state to take another look at deaths as far back as December to help establish more clearly when the epidemic took hold in California. He declined to say whether the two newly recognised deaths would have changed his decisions about when to order a shutdown. He imposed a statewide one in late March. Officials said the two Santa Clara County patients died at home - a 57-year-old woman on February 6 and a 69-year-old man on February 17 - and that neither had travelled out of the country to a coronavirus outbreak area. The epidemic emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late December. Family members identified the woman as Patricia Dowd of San Jose, a manager at a semiconductor company who became sick in late January with flu-like symptoms. She appeared to recover and was working from home the day she died. Her daughter found her, the Los Angeles Times reported. Dowd travelled to various countries several times a year and had planned to visit China later in the year, her brother-in-law, Jeff Macias, told the paper. "Where did this come from if it wasn't her traveling?" Macias said. "Patricia may not be the first. It's just the earliest we have found so far. Let's keep looking so we know the extent of it. That's the greater good, for everyone else and my family included," he said of the virus. ALSO READ| Two pet cats in New York test positive for COVID-19 he first known death from the virus in the US was reported on February 29 in Kirkland, Washington, a Seattle suburb. Officials later attributed two February 26 deaths to the virus. The two newly reported deaths show that the virus was spreading in California well before officials realized it and that outbreaks were underway in at least two parts of the country at about the same time. "It shifts everything weeks earlier, extends geographic involvement, (and) further shows how our inability to test let this outbreak loose," said Dr Eric Topol, head of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in San Diego, in an email. Because it can take one or two weeks between the time people get infected and when they get sick enough to die, the February 6 death suggests the virus was circulating in California in late January, if not earlier. Previously, the first infection reported anywhere in the US was in the Seattle area on January 21. On March 17, authorities across the San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Clara County included, confined nearly 7 million people to their homes for all but essential tasks and exercise in what was at the time the most aggressive measure taken against the outbreak in the US. Three days later, California put all 40 million of its residents under a near-lockdown. What the newly reported deaths show "is that we had community transmission probably to a significant degree far earlier than we had known. And that indicates that the virus was probably introduced and circulating in our community, again, far earlier than we had known," Cody said. ALSO READ| Our pharma firms will play key role in fight against COVID-19: Indian envoy to US TS Sandhu Thousands of travellers from China and other affected regions entered the US before travel bans and airport screenings were put in place by the Trump administration in mid- and late January. Lack of widespread testing meant the country was flying blind to the true number of infections. County officials said the tissue samples from the two patients were sent to the CDC in mid-March. CDC officials did not immediately respond to questions about why it took a month to come back with the findings. Dr Charles Chiu, a researcher at the University of California at San Francisco who has been looking at genetic information from virus samples from patients, said it appears that the coronavirus was most likely introduced into the US by travellers from China and that it turned up independently in Santa Clara County and Washington state. Cody said the two deaths in California may have been written off as the flu because there were significant numbers of influenza cases at the time and it "had been extraordinarily difficult to pick out what was influenza and what was COVID". U.S. Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) confers with an aide during a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing, in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, on March 11, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Lawmaker to Introduce Bill Blocking Chinese Takeovers of US Companies Amid Pandemic Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) plans to introduce a new bill aimed at stopping China from scooping up companies vital to U.S. national security. Specifically, hes seeking to protect U.S. businesses that supply the equipment, systems, and technologies for our military from Chinese acquisition. China is looking to take advantage of the coronavirus crisis and gobble up distressed companies that are vital to our national defense while they are economically vulnerable and looking for capital, Green said in an April 22 statement. We cannot let this happen. The lawmaker didnt specify which types of firms the Chinese regime was eyeing, but said the United States will be vulnerable to attack and at a comparative disadvantage with China if U.S. supply chains arent secured. Green said he will introduce the SOS ACT (Secure Our Systems Against Chinas Tactics), which would set aside $10 billion from the CARES Act, the virus-related relief package, to incentivize Americas investors to invest their capital in vulnerable companies that are critical to our national security, Green said. Congress is currently in recess until at least May, as part of social distancing measures to prevent the CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, from spreading. On March 27, President Donald Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), a $2.2 trillion economic recovery package to provide economic relief for Americans and businesses affected by the pandemic. Green said the bill wouldnt require new funding but would reallocate existing funding in the rescue package. China seeks to use the pandemic to advance its economic goals, according to a March report by U.S.-based independent consultancy Horizon Advisory, which analyzed recent policies and notices announced by Chinese government agencies, regional governments, and research institutes. Recently, UK lawmakers also expressed concerns when Chinese state-owned investment firm China Reform sought to appoint four new directors to the board of Imagination Technologies, a leading British semiconductor chip designer. The firm was acquired by U.S.-based private equity firm Canyon Bridge in 2017, with the latter backed by China Reform. What we think is going on is the Chinese are trying to export the technology base from here to China, and thats inappropriate, British lawmaker David Davis told Reuters on April 14. Other governments around the world have also raised the alarm about Chinas desire to buy companies that are suffering financial losses due to the pandemic. Last week, India announced that investment from countries with which it shares a land border will need to obtain government approval, in an effort to curb opportunistic takeovers and acquisitions, according to Reuters. The new investment screening is widely viewed as focused on Chinese companies. Two unnamed senior Indian government sources told Reuters that investments coming from Hong Kong would also be screened. Meanwhile, Germany is on high alert over any possible attempts by China to exploit the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus to take over companies, Reinhard Hans Butikofer, a member of the European Parliament, told the Nikkei Asian Review in early April. Australias Foreign Investment Review Board also is wary about foreign takeovers, particularly by Chinese firms, of financially distressed local businesses, the Sydney Morning Herald reported on March 26. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, during a web conference with alliance countries defense ministers on April 15, said the geopolitical effects of the pandemic could be significant. Some may seek to use the economic downturn as an opening to invest in our critical industries and infrastructure, which in turn may affect our long-term security and our ability to deal with the next crisis when it comes, said Stoltenberg, without identifying specific countries. SARATOGA SPRINGS Anticipating a multi-million dollar shortfall to the citys 2020 budget, Commissioner of Finance Michele Madigan asked her fellow commissioners to offer suggestions for budget cuts. In an email sent to all the commissioners, who act as city department heads, she has requested they provide recommendations by April 29. We are all in this together, Madigan said on Tuesday at the City Council meeting where she announced her plan for reductions to every department. We are all aiming for the same outcome, an intact city with a sustainable plan. Madigan said the cuts were necessary to survive the financial fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. The decision to shutdown many businesses to slow the spread of the virus is wreaking havoc on city revenues including sales and occupancy taxes. It is also expected to impact financial aid from the state and New York Racing Association revenues all of which could mean a $14 to $16 million loss, or a quarter of the citys $48.7 million budget. She is asking for a 10 percent reduction in spending as a start. Ideally Id like to (then) to see where we are at, Madigan told the commissioners. If I have to come back to you and say we didnt go deep enough I will. At the meeting, Madigan said everything will be considered including layoffs, which she called the least palatable option. However, she said she is exploring options including a state Department of Labor Shared Work program where employees could collect partial unemployment if they reduce the hours they work. She is also considering wage deferrals and early retirement incentives that would replace higher salaried employees with lower salaried employees at the cost, she said, of losing expertise. She did not mention an increase in property taxes, which in weeks past, she said is too early to consider for 2021. The city is already experiencing a hiring and spending freeze, implemented on April 10. At the meeting, Commissioner of Public Safety Robin Dalton said it's not a pretty picture" and is concerned that she won't be able to hire new police or firefighters. Losing fire and police, in my opinion, is also not something we can do, she said. Commissioner of Public Works Anthony Skip Scirocco said that he likes the early retirement plan because he has a handful of people who are close to retirement. He said that his department can postpone more costly projects. There would be hits in the services, Scirocco said. Under the circumstances, we dont have a whole lot of choices. Madigan also discussed borrowing funds, using more of the fund balances - which totals about $8.5 million - as well as seeking relief from the federal government that is discussing a stimulus plan for municipalities. My appeals for aid are abundant and relentless and will be until the city has a plan that does not bankrupt our financial health or valuable employees, Madigan said. Commissioner of Accounts John Franck said much of what happens to the city depends on the Saratoga Race Course. A summer meet without fans would hit the city hard. But he thinks the city can get through the pandemic. Its far worse for most cities in the U.S. and New York State, Franck said. We are much healthier position than other municipalities. On Thursday, Madigan announced that the city ended 2019 with a $856,00 deficit. She blamed the shortfall, in part, on the New York Racing Association, which changed its calculation to its admission tax for the city. Madigan was expecting to bring in $723,000 in 2019 from the track, the same as 2018, but actually took in $429,000. She said that is equivalent to what the city received from NYRA in 2011. Phoenix, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2020) - SinglePoint Inc. (OTCQB: SING) announces the completion of an S-1 registration agreement to raise up to $7,000,000 with certain limitations on the amount of each sale, once the registration has been deemed effective. The Equity Agreement is on a look-back basis and there are no make-up provisions, a true non-toxic equity investment. "This has been a long time in the making and filing an S-1 with a leading financial firm represents achieving another significant milestone for SinglePoint. Filling the Form-10, becoming a fully reporting issuer, and uplisting to the OTCQB were all integral and essential steps that enabled us to access capital with a partner like GHS Investments at an attractive rate through this S-1 registration and equity agreement. This is a major step for SinglePoint and our shareholders as we now have access to lower cost financing which ultimately lessens dilution to the market. We see this financing as a potential catalyst for SinglePoint to bolster and accelerate expansion into new markets. Our recent acquisition, Direct Solar America, and our proprietary consumer product 1606 Hemp are both gaining traction and revenue growth and access to capital will only enhance the market opportunities for both", states Greg Lambrecht CEO and Chairman, SinglePoint Inc. The Company intends to use the net proceeds for product development, repayment of debt, including less favorable convertible notes, sales and marketing, working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate purposes. The Company is committed to having the ability to access capital in order to maintain and grow its existing core business units. As well as position itself to take advantage of incremental and accretive opportunities to increase revenue, footprint and market share while improving the balance sheet. SinglePoint became fully reporting in 2018 and most recently filed an annual report for the year ending in December 31, 2019 recording $3,343,833 representing a record in revenue and record gross profit of $990,777, the next strategic initiative was to select a financing partner that would enable the company to efficiently access capital markets. This capital will provide SinglePoint the ability to act opportunistically and support growth objectives. After considering various financial partners that met certain criteria, the Company selected GHS Investments, a leading private investment and management group providing financial solutions for high potential small cap enterprises. GHS has multiple successful portfolio companies and we look forward to SinglePoint being a part of that successful track record. "We are committed to taking decisive actions that improve the position of the Company for our employees, customers and shareholders. This is a proactive and strategic step to strengthen our financial flexibility," said Greg Lambrecht, CEO, SinglePoint Inc. "These measures will provide SinglePoint with additional liquidity and flexibility near term and long term as we emerge from this unprecedented time." About SinglePoint, Inc.: Founded in 2011 SinglePoint, Inc (OTCQB: SING) invests in and acquires brands and companies that will benefit from injection of growth capital and the sales and marketing expertise of SinglePoint. The company portfolio currently includes solar, hemp and technology applications. SinglePoint is working to grow the company to a multinational brand. Connect on social media at: https://www.facebook.com/SinglePointMobile https://twitter.com/_SinglePoint https://www.linkedin.com/company/singlepoint https://www.youtube.com/user/SinglePointMobile For more information visit: www.SinglePoint.com Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential future plans and objectives of the Company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Technical complications, which may arise, could prevent the prompt implementation of any strategically significant plan(s) outlined above. The Company undertakes no duty to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release. Corporate Communication SinglePoint Inc. 888-OTC-SING investors@singlepoint.com www.singlepoint.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/54796 Children face around three times more air pollution during the morning drop-off than throughout the rest of the day, due to cars idling outside the school gates. Levels of ultra-fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5, which are emitted from the exhaust pipes of vehicles lined up to drop off children in the morning, were found to be the main source of pollution around a Surrey school, air quality experts report. PM2.5 levels were three times higher during morning drop-off periods than the afternoon pick-up or during the school day, researchers found using smart sensors. Worryingly, PM2.5 levels rose slightly within the classrooms closest to the road during both morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times. However, the report found that school children are at risk from dangerous levels of microscopic matter from car tyres and exhausts throughout the day even in the classrooms. In summer, damaging effects on childrens lungs could be at their highest due to a dependence on natural ventilation through windows, which brings in unfiltered air. Children face a worrying threefold increase in air pollution during the morning school runs, causing air quality experts from Surrey to call for restrictions on the use of cars PM2.5 pollution has already been shown to be associated with increases in mortality from diseases such as heart disease and stroke in later life. The researchers now call for restrictions on the use of cars in the mornings during the frantic school drop-off period, particularly in built-up urban areas. The findings will be of great concern to parents locally and further afield, said Professor Prashant Kumar, director of the University of Surreys Global Centre for Clear Air research (GCARE). It goes without saying that our childrens health and wellbeing is of the highest priority in society and that is why we must protect them from the dangers of air pollution, including where the school can run now be seen to be directly impacting the school environment. In a Guildford primary school of more than 400 pupils, the research team installed air quality smart sensor kits in five key areas around the school the main road, pick-up point at the adjoining road, drop-off point, a classroom and the school playground. The sources of particulate matter are varied, ranging from road transport to fuel burning. The prevalence of cars during the school run in close proximity to school buildings is increasing the number of dangerous particles our children breath in, even during playtime long after they have been dropped off They recorded the concentration of fine and course particulate matter from 7:30am until 9:30am, and again in the afternoon, from 2pm until 4pm as well as carbon dioxide in the morning. BABIES IN LOW BUGGIES ARE EXPOSED TO THE WORST POLLUTION Babies are exposed to more air pollution when their being pushed along in their prams closer to the ground, GCARE previously reported in Environmental International. Infants as high as 2.6 feet from the ground in their pushchair breathe in 44 per cent more pollutants than the adult pushing them. Babies in the bottom of a double-seater pushchair, meanwhile, are exposed to nearly three quarters more pollutants than their fellow rider sitting just above. Parents and carers can help kids in buggies by keeping them as high from the ground as they can and reduce their exposure to busy traffic hotspots. Young children are among the most sensitive and vulnerable groups due to their higher breathing rates compared to that of adults. Advertisement The three-fold increase in PM2.5 concentrations during drop-off hours was from a dominant contribution of car queuing in the school premises. Coarse particles those between 2.5 and 10 micrometres were also found to be prevalent in the school playground. However, the fine particles 2.5 micrometres and below were found to be the dominant type in the school environment. Triple the amount of PM2.5 in the air during the morning drop-off compared to the afternoon pick-up was likely due to the latter being conducted from off-site parking areas. Pupils also took part in after-school activities, meaning pick-ups were more sporadic throughout the afternoon and early evening. The playgrounds close proximity to a main road which is common in British schools resulted in consistently high PM2.5 levels throughout the school day. The team recommended schools provide safe and accessible off-site parking drop-off points to help reduce air pollution. Busy parents may also want to rethink their tendency to drop their kids off at the school's front gates with the engine still running when school's reopen after the coronavirus lockdown. cars during the school run is increasing the number of dangerous particles our children breath in, even during playtime long after they have been dropped off, researchers said Alternatives could be making use of parking spots in an isolated green area away from the main road that's a short walk from the school. An even better option to benefit children's lungs could be walking the whole journey if the distance is manageable on foot. Green hedges can also act as natural barriers between the road and the school that block PM.2 and use excessive carbon dioxide in the air to emit oxygen. The head teacher of the Guildford school said he hopes parents reconsider journeys to and from school. 'Minimising air pollution exposure in and around the school has to be at the top of our agenda and we need to find practical but effective ways to reduce this exposure to air pollution in our school environment,' said Neil Lewin at St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School. The research has been published in Science of the Total Environment. GCARE also recently revealed that babies in pushchairs close to the ground are being exposed to more pollutants, due to them being around exhaust height. Infants as high as 2.6 feet from the ground in their pushchair breathe in 44 per cent more pollutants than the adult pushing them, they reported earlier this month in Environmental International. Dominic Danquah has reportedly been threatening and trailing the complainant, Nana Osei Bonsu, whom he perceives to be opposed to his preferred NPP candidate. Danquah, who would not tolerate any person he considers to be opposed to the man he is working for, Mr. Kumah, is being held by the KNUST Police. The complainant claims the suspect has been secretly following him, and he was afraid for his life. Whenever I pull up, he will also park either a motorbike or vehicle, not far from my car, he said. He has also been asking friends about my place of residence and it will be foolhardy to ignore or take things for granted. Police Inspector Eric Aglah, the Investigator, confirming Danquah's arrest in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said they had taken his caution statement. He would be put before court as soon as they were done with their investigations, he said. The race for the Ejisu NPP parliamentary ticket is between the incumbent, Mr Kwabena Owusu Aduomi and Mr Kumah. There is uneasy calm in the Constituency NPP with cracks appearing to be deepening. ---GNA Home Two wheelers Norton Motorcycles To Continue Production In The United Kingdom Says New Owner TVS Motors oi-Rahul Jaswal Chennai based auto manufacturer, TVS Motor Company, has announced, after it acquired British motorcycle manufacturer last week, that it had no plans of moving production of Norton Motorcycles to India. {photo-feature} Most Viewed Videos Taxi firm Vinasun reported a loss of VND16.8 billion ($718,300) in the first quarter as the new coronavirus pandemic slashes transport demand. This is the first quarterly loss the largest taxi firm in Ho Chi Minh City has reported since its establishment in 2003. In the first quarter last year, it recorded a profit of VND32 billion ($1.4 million). Its revenue fell 32 percent year-on-year to VND365 billion ($15.6 million), the lowest first quarter revenue since 2010. In the first three months, its number of employees fell by 602 to 5,188. The company said the 11-year low fuel prices helped it reduce costs, but this could not make up for the drastic slump in transport demand. Vinasun halted operations earlier this month following HCMC employing its social distancing campaign. The company is the second largest taxi firm nationwide in terms of vehicle numbers behind Mai Linh Group. Vinasun and other traditional taxi companies have faced rising competition from ride-hailing firms in recent years. Last year, its revenue fell to the lowest since 2011 at VND1.99 trillion ($85 million). Price of oil spiked despite growing evidence that no amount of output cuts will offset demand destroyed by coronavirus. Oil soared on Thursday, extending its rebound after major oil-producing nations said they would accelerate planned production cuts to combat the dramatic slump in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Crude prices have had one of their most tumultuous weeks ever. United States West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures closed at -$37.63 on Monday, in the worst selloff for that contract in history. Global benchmark Brent crude was slammed on Tuesday, hitting a two-decade low before rebounding. Since the start of the year, both benchmarks have lost more than two-thirds of their value. Fuel demand is down about 30 percent worldwide in April, and supply will outstrip demand for months to come due to the pandemic. Brent rose $1.08, or 5.30 percent, to $21.45 a barrel by 3:21pm Eastern Daylight Time (19:00 GMT), while WTI jumped $3.07, or 22.28 percent, to $16.85. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and other oil-producing nations, a grouping known as OPEC+, agreed this month to cut output by a record 9.7 million barrels per day, around 10 percent of global supply, to support oil prices, but prices continued to decline. Kuwait said on Thursday it had begun cutting oil supply to the international market, ahead of the May 1 date when the deal was supposed to take effect. Whether that will be sufficient to offset weak demand is unclear. Rystad Energy cut its forecast for oil demand in 2020 to 89.2 million bpd, a 10 percent decline from 2019. Last week, the energy consultant projected demand would fall to 90.3 million bpd in 2020. Russia is looking for options to cut its production and may go as far as burning its own oil, sources said. Its production has not changed much from March until now. The market was also higher after US President Donald Trump said he had instructed the US Navy to fire on any Iranian ships that harass it in the Gulf, although he added later he was not changing the militarys rules of engagement. Threats by US President Donald Trump to destroy Iranian gunboats if they harass US navy ships boosted the possibility of renewed tension in the Middle East, a major oil-producing region, which traders always translate to reductions in the regions production and exports if things escalate, said Bjornar Tonhaugen, head of oil markets at Rystad Energy. The head of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said Tehran will destroy US warships if its security is threatened in the Gulf. Iran also summoned its Swiss ambassador in Tehran, who represents US interests in the country, Irans Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said on Thursday, according to the IRIB news agency. This ratchets up tensions once again between the US and Iran. However, given the glut we have in the oil market, it is difficult to see this offering lasting support to the market, unless the situation does escalate further, said Warren Patterson, INGs head of commodities strategy. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 20:40:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LILONGWE, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The number of COVID-19 cases in Malawi has reached 33 after 10 new cases were reported Thursday. The country's Minister of health Jappie Mhango confirmed this Thursday morning in a daily update on the pandemic. According to Mhango, the new cases are from the suburbs of the Capital, Lilongwe, where five other cases were also confirmed in the past 2 days. "We had followed contacts and collected 24 samples and out of these 10 were confirmed to be positive," said the minister. The country has reported 3 deaths and 3 recoveries. However, he said all the active cases are in mild conditions and that health workers are still on the ground to ensure that all contacts are followed up and that all active cases are managed. The minister urged the public to continue with practising the preventive measures, which include staying home, and to consult a doctor when experiencing severe symptoms. Enditem Statistics Korea Commissioner Kang Shin-wook / Korea Times file Stocks to watch today: Here is a list of top stocks that are likely to be in focus in Thursday's trading session based on latest developments. Investors are also awaiting March quarter earnings that are scheduled to be released today. Companies set to announce their earnings are Britannia, Bharti Infratel, Hathway Cable & Datacom, Amal, Network 18, TV 18 Broadcast and Mahindra CIE Automotive. Share Market LIVE: Sensex rises 250 points, Nifty above 9,250; ZEE Ent, ONGC, Britannia, top gainers Key highlights on share market; check the latest stock market news -On Wednesday, BSE Sensex closed 742 points higher at 31,379 and NSE Nifty ended 205 points higher at 9,187. - Rupee ended stronger at 76.67 per dollar as compared to the last closing value of 76.84 on Wednesday. - The number of reported in India rose to 20,447 cases including 652 deaths and 3,959 recoveries -On a net basis, FIIs sold off Rs 1,326 cr and DIIs bought Rs 863.2 cr in equities on Wednesday Torrent Pharmaceuticals: Company said rating firm India Ratings has affirmed company's long-term issuer rating at 'IND AA', with 'Stable' outlook. TVS Motor Company: The company board plans to consider and approve the issuance of listed, rated, unsecured, redeemable, non-convertible debentures on a private placement basis on 28 April, 2020. Syngene International: The company board plans to consider and approve the audited results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2020 on May 12, 2020. Biocon: Company board plans to consider and approve the audited standalone and consolidated financial results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2020 on May 14, 2020. Sundaram-Clayton: Company board plans to consider and approve the issuance of listed, rated, unsecured, redeemable, non-convertible debentures on a private placement basis on 30 April, 2020. Reliance Industrial Infrastructure: The company board has recommended dividend of Rs 3 per share. HUL: Company board plans to consider and approve the audited standalone and consolidated financial results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2020 on April 30, 2020 Q4 Earnings: Britannia, Bharti Infratel, Hathway Cable & Datacom, Amal, Network 18, TV 18 Broadcast and Mahindra CIE Automotive are the companies that will be reporting their March quarterly earnings today. In the decision on Thursday, the justices similarly debated whether a traveler could be said to have simultaneously come from the train station, Baltimore and Europe and whether a recipe calling for adding drippings from meat to gravy made sense when the drippings were collected from a pan. Justice Stephen G. Breyer, writing for the majority, rejected both sides positions in the case as too extreme. The county and the Trump administration had argued that discharges into groundwater were never covered, while environmental groups suing the county said the law applied to discharges that actually and foreseeably reach navigable surface waters. The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, in San Francisco, ruled for the environmental groups, saying the law applied because pollution in the ocean was fairly traceable to the wells. That standard was too broad, Justice Breyer wrote. Virtually all water, polluted or not, eventually makes its way to navigable water, he wrote. The question courts should ask, he wrote, was whether the addition of the pollutants through groundwater is the functional equivalent of a direct discharge from the point source into navigable waters. The Ninth Circuits approach, he wrote, would require a permit in surprising, even bizarre, circumstances, such as for pollutants carried to navigable waters on a birds feathers, or, to mention more mundane instances, the 100-year migration of pollutants through 250 miles of groundwater to a river. But the opposite extreme, as argued by the county and the administration, would allow polluters to evade the law, Justice Breyer wrote. Why could not the pipes owner, seeking to avoid the permit requirement, simply move the pipe back, perhaps only a few yards, so that the pollution must travel through at least some groundwater before reaching the sea? he asked. In requiring the functional equivalent of a direct discharge, Justice Breyer listed several factors for courts to consider. Time and distance are obviously important, he wrote, but he listed five other considerations, too, including the material through which the pollutants travel and whether they are diluted or chemically altered along the way. The Marine Corps is preparing to select a maker for the service's new tropical uniform for hot and humid climates. The Marine Corps Tropical Combat Uniform is a rapid-dry, breathable uniform to be worn for prolonged periods in wet, jungle environments as an alternative to the current Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform and the Marine Corps Combat Boot. This month, Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC), published a request for proposals to industry to manufacture the uniforms, with plans to get them into troops' hands by the final quarter of this fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30. "This new tropical uniform allows Marines to be more comfortable and less fatigued while focusing on the mission at hand," Lou Curcio, MCSC's tropical uniform project officer, said in the release. The tropical uniform effort is a result of the U.S. military's increased emphasis on the Pacific region in an effort to prepare for a potential war with China. The Army finalized the design for its Improved Hot Weather Combat Uniform last year. Related: Army's New Hot Weather Uniforms Are About to Hit Shelves The trousers and blouse of the new uniform will be made of the same 50/50 cotton-nylon blend as the Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform and features the same camouflage pattern, the release states. The fabric will also be treated with permethrin to provide protection from insects. The difference is in the weave and weight, resulting in a lighter material that dries more quickly, according to the release. Hundreds of Marines participated in various user evaluations from June to September 2017 to assess the fit and durability of a prototype tropical uniform that's designed to dry faster and keep Marines cooler in warm climates, the release adds. "Many Marines said the [uniform] feels like pajamas, appreciating how lightweight it is," Curcio in the release. "They also noted how quickly the uniform dries upon getting wet." The boots, awarded on a separate contract, are also lightweight, with self-cleaning soles to improve mobility in a tropical environment, the release states. They are more than a pound lighter than the current Marine Corps boot. Marine Corps Systems Command awarded two contracts in August for up to 140,000 total pairs of tropical boots, according to Monique Randolph, spokeswoman for MCSC. One contract worth up to $11.1 million went to Atlantic Diving Supply Inc., for up to 70,000 pairs of Rocky brand tropical boots, and a contract worth up to $13.7 million went to Provengo LLC for up to 70,000 pairs of Danner brand tropical boots, Randolph said. The Corps plans to purchase 70,000 sets of the new tropical uniforms to support the fleet training or operating in tropical climates, the release states, adding that the MCSC procured more than 10,000 sets of blouses and trousers under a manufacturing and development effort. Based on January 2020 market research and responses to a November 2019 request for information, the Marine Corps estimates it should see a potential cost reduction of up to 60% per uniform, the release adds. "[The tropical uniform] will bring many advantages during training and combat in tropical environments," Curcio said in the release. "For all the sacrifices and challenges they endure, Marines deserve a uniform like this one." -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. Read More: After Lengthy Wear Tests, Army Won't Issue a Jungle Boot to Soldiers David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi, has asked local government officials to flog residents of the state who appear in public without wear... David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi, has asked local government officials to flog residents of the state who appear in public without wearing face mask. Speaking at a stakeholders meeting on Wednesday, in Abakaliki, the state capital, Umahi said it is important for residents to use face masks to halt the spread of COVID-19 in the state. Ebonyi has not recorded any case of COVID-19. Let me warn again that no face mask in Ebonyi State, no public movement, the governor said. If you dont have a face mask and you are out, I am directing the local government chairmen to use their men to inflict the minimum compliance which is the cane the cane. No face mask, you will attract cane, it doesnt matter who you are. If you are a big man and you are coming outside and you do not have a face mask, you will face trouble and the law is very clear about that. We have also emphasised, in fact, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) has also warned that the order of blocking must be maintained. The police must block the first point of the border, the army must give a safe distance and then block, then the other security agencies will now block and then after that, it is now the neighbourhood watch. On Wednesday, Umahi had barred two journalists from covering state functions for writing bad reports about the state. Two motorcycle-borne persons allegedly attacked journalist Arnab Goswami's car in Mumbai and tried to break its glass window while he and his wife were on their way home in the early hours of Thursday, police said. The incident took place on Ganpatrao Kadam Marg, while Goswami was returning from a studio located in Bombay Dyeing Complex in Lower Parel area, a police official said. The attackers overtook Goswami's car, stopped it and one of them allegedly tried to break the vehicle's glass window by repeatedly hitting it with his hands, the official said. The attackers were carrying a bottle of ink which they threw on his car, the official said. Goswami's security guards, who were behind in another car, caught hold of the two persons and handed them over to the N M Joshi Marg Police, he added. Both the attackers have been arrested, he added. In a video posted after the alleged attack, Goswami said he was told by his security guards that the attackers were allegedly Youth Congress workers. However, there was no confirmation of the same by either police or the youth outfit. Goswami has faced flak over his remarks aimed at Sonia Gandhi during a discussion on the Palghar lynching incident in which three persons, including two sadhus, were lynched. In Delhi, Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including party president J P Nadda, condemned the alleged attack on Goswami and targeted the Congress over the incident. WATCH: Was attacked while returning home, alleges Arnab Goswami "Shocking to see Arnab Goswami attacked after Congress CMs publicly threatened him. Sad to see such public hounding of a journalist for his freedom of speech. Congress shows it is the party that brought Emergency and continues its rich tradition of trampling free speech," Nadda tweeted. Law Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad sought action against those involved in the incident. "Deeply condemn the violent physical attack on senior journalist #ArnabGoswami and his wife. State Police must take lawful action against the attackers, " he tweeted. Another senior BJP leader and Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar also condemned the incident. "Every attack on any journalist is condemnable as this is against democracy," he said and sought action against the accused as per law. Objecting to Goswami's remarks on Sonia Gandhi, the Congress asked the information and broadcasting ministry to take action against the journalist and his TV channel, alleging that they violated broadcasting rules during a show. In a letter to Javadekar, Mahila Congress chief Sushmita Dev claimed that the content of a show broadcast on Republic Bharat on Tuesday with Goswami as the anchor was "vile, misleading and hateful in nature". "The broadcast in its entirety is a violation of the Programme Code prescribed under the Cable Television Network Rules, 1994," Dev alleged in her letter dated April 22. Delhi Congress president Anil Chaudhary on Thursday lodged a complaint with the police for registration of an FIR against Goswami. Nagpur police on Wednesday night registered an FIR against Goswami after a complaint filed by Maharashtra Power Minister Nitin Raut. The charges include giving provocation with intent to cause riot, promoting enmity between two groups on grounds of religion or race, deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs and defamation under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, police said. Meanwhile, the Old Students' Association of the Hindu College in Delhi condemned the alleged attack on college alumnus Goswami and termed it a "direct assault on the freedom of press'. "An attack on editors is an effort to intimidate the press, freedom of expression and the media. A vibrant democracy must ensure press freedom and not stifle it," it said in a statement. Ellen Pompeo faced criticism online Wednesday as a July 2018 clip of her comments on Harvey Weinstein and his accusers - saying it 'two to tango' - came under scrutiny as the clip went viral. The 50-year-old Grey's Anatomy actress did a Q&A session at Oxford Union in which she spoke about the scandal surrounding the producer, who's currently serving 23 years in his rape conviction in New York, and how the women he preyed upon figured into it. 'I think we bear some responsibility, not all, but it takes two to tango for sure,' said Pompeo, who plays Dr. Meredith Grey on the ABC medical drama. 'That's not to blame the victims, that's just to say ... I did go into a room with Harvey Weinstein, I sat at a table with him, I had probably two-and-a-half hours with him.' DailyMail.com has reached out to Pompeo via her rep for comment on this story. The latest: Ellen Pompeo, 50, faced criticism online Wednesday as a July 2018 clip of her comments on Harvey Weinstein and his accusers - saying it 'two to tango' - came under scrutiny as the clip went viral Pompeo, who shares daughters Stella, 10, and Sienna, five, and son Eli, three, with husband Chris Ivery, 53, said that Weinstein 'never said anything inappropriate to' her and 'never made any sort of physical advance' toward her. The Everett, Massachusetts native added that she 'wasn't in the room alone with' Weinstein, as was the case with many of the women who accused him of sexual misconduct. 'I had been sent there by an agent in the middle of the daytime,' she said. 'I didn't think there was anything wrong. I wouldn't have gone into that room at night ... but he did nothing inappropriate toward me.' Pompeo said she wouldn't have hesitated to fight back if the disgraced film producer had violated her boundaries. Fall from grace: The producer's currently serving 23 years in his rape conviction in NY Outspoken: Pompeo, who plays Dr. Meredith Grey on the ABC medical drama, is vocal when it comes to politics, gender and social issues Statement: Pompeo said she wouldn't have hesitated to fight back if the disgraced film producer had violated her boundaries 'I would have picked up that glass and smashed him across the side of the face with it,' she said. 'So I mean, it's all what we're willing to tolerate, and in our self-esteem, and what are we going to put up with, and what are we going to compromise to be liked, to be loved, to be accepted: How bad do we want to be in show business?' Earlier in the chat, which came less than a year after stories about Weinstein's behavior surfaced, Pompeo said that the revelations had caused a sea change in Hollywood, as sexual harassment had come under massive scrutiny with Weinstein and a number of other powerful figures exposed amid the MeToo movement. 'First, men need to understand that they will not get away with it; number one,' she said. 'Or women need to understand. I don't mean to be sexist about it. Everybody is capable of harassment of any kind, right? Point of view: Pompeo said that women needed to take responsibility 'for the signals that we put out, for the messages that we put and the way we present ourselves' Sea change: Pompeo said sexual harassment had come under massive scrutiny with Weinstein and a number of other powerful figures exposed amid the MeToo movement 'So people need to understand that it won't be tolerated and then I think people need to be educated about it. She said that women needed to take responsibility 'for the signals that we put out, for the messages that we put and the way we present ourselves.' She added: I'm not ashamed to say it, as an actor, you certainly, certainly, go into the room with the idea that this director needs to fall in love with me to give me this part. And so, as women, we flirt.' Reaction: On social media, a number of users had fiery criticism for the message they felt Pompeo was sending with her comments on the disgraced Hollywood producer On social media, a number of users had fiery criticism for the message they felt Pompeo was sending with her comments on the disgraced Hollywood producer. One user wrote: it takes two to tango. its all about what were willing to tolerate. yeah everyone thinks they would stop an abuser getting to them, but then you find yourself in that situation and it is NOT the same. believe women. believe survivors.' Another said that the actress was victim 'blaming thru this entire video & is acting like its the victims fault & as if the victim wanted it.' One social media user pointed out the remarks framed against the dozens of stories regarding Weinstein's predatory behavior as a top Hollywood player for decades. 'She really said that sexual harassment takes two to tango and then she proceeded to say how she wasnt victim blaming,' the user wrote. While some fans of the actress pointed to her track record of social consciousness and activism, others weren't so quick to dismiss the comments as a misunderstanding. 'Im cant believe people are saying its a mistake and she doesnt deserve the hate but she literally said that survivor of sexual assaults are as much as fault as the predators it takes two to tango,"' the user wrote. 'Thats just wrong and disgusting.' Four Indiana men have been arrested after they allegedly broke into a woman's home and held her at gunpoint while demanding she hand over money cashed from her government stimulus check. The shocking incident took place Sunday in the town of Lake Station, with the men reportedly holding the woman hostage for more than four hours. Paul Blankenship, Phillip Guzman, Christopher Henderson, and Jacob Baughman have been charged with burglary with a deadly weapon, attempted armed robbery, criminal confinement with a deadly weapon, burglary, and breaking and entering over the incident. Police say the assailants knew the woman had just received a $1200 stimulus check issued by the government amidst economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis. According to court documents, all of the men were known to the victim and they broke into her home around 1.30am using a spare key. Four Indiana men have been arrested after they allegedly broke into a woman's home and held her at gunpoint while demanding she hand over money cashed from her government stimulus check. Pictured: David Guzman (left) and Paul Blankenship (right) who have both been charged over the incident Jacob Baugman (left) and Christopher Henderson (right) have also been arrested and charged The group entered her bedroom and roused her from her sleep before demanding she hand over money. One of the men was armed with a gun and allegedly pointed it at the victim before threatening to shoot her, The Chicago Sun Times reports. The group were allegedly frustrated that they could not find any money in the house, which prompted Guzman to assault the victim. He was the restrained by the other three men. The four took the woman's phone so she was unable to call for help. They left her residence around 6am, and told her not to contact police. However, as soon as she was sure they were gone, the woman drove to the Lake County sheriff's office to report the incident. The men were arrested and detained a short time later. Guzman, Henderson and Baughman are each being held on $75,000 bond. Blankenship is being held without bond. Firefighters say theyre seeing more and more grass fires as we inch closer to warmer months. One of the main causes for fires in Southern Oregon during this time of year are private burns that get out of control. Oregon Department of Forestry is asking rural residents to hold off on burning because of our current dry and warm conditions. The smart advice is to postpone burning projects until this fall, said Brian Ballou, ODFs public information officer. Although it has not been declared to be fire season for Southern Oregon the conditions are right for fires to spread quickly. The problem is that spring is usually one of the few times for property owners to clear underbrush and burn fire fuels, creating defensible space around their homes. Ballou says its still a good idea to create burn piles and clear underbrush, they are just suggesting you wait until fall to burn. According to Ballou, if you start a fire that gets out of control you could be help financially responsible for firefighting costs. As we do get closer to fire season and firefighters warn of an early season, fire agencies are working to solve another problem; fire-fighting during a pandemic. COVID-19 has caused some changes for structural firefighters already and right now multiple agencies are working to identify ways to best protect firefighters, not only from the dangers of their job but also the dangers of the virus. Agencies are looking into what they can do to prepare for that. Its definitely going to be a challenge, said Prince. Ballou shared some of the steps that are being considered and implemented by ODF, Spacing, reducing the number of people who travel in the same vehicle, wearing facemasks when theyre all in the same vehicle, facemasks possibly when theyre out on the fire line, said Ballou, I think it's going to be a plan that's pretty fluid and refined as reality steps in and we try to figure out how to do our best." JOS, Nigeria, April 22, 2020 (Morning Star News) Muslim Fulani herdsmen killed four Christians in Kaduna state on Sunday (April 19), a day after an Anglican priest was kidnapped in southern Nigeria, sources said. Herdsmen attacked Angwan Magaji Kamaru village, near Kamaru in Kauru County, shortly after 6:30 p.m. for two and a half hours without resistance from police or other security personnel, survivor John Asaragi said in a text message. He identified those killed as Hannatu Joseph, 70, a member of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA); Sunday David, 45, a member of the ECWA; Sarah Sunday 40, a Catholic; and Jummai Sajeh, 75, a Catholic. Thirty-eight houses with 86 rooms were also razed down, while about 87 families are affected, Asaragi told Morning Star News. Luka Binniyat, spokesman for the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union, confirmed the attack and fatalities in a press statement, transliterating the village alternatively as Unguwan Magaji, Kamaru Chawai ward, Kauru Local Government Area (LGA), in southern Kaduna state. The invaders who came by at 6:45 p.m. from behind the hills that serve as the boundary of Kaduna state and Ganawuri, Plateau state, numbered over a 100, Binniyat said. They attacked from four flanks, causing confusion and pandemonium among unsuspecting villagers as village youths tried to fend them off. Four people were killed, Binniyat said, identifying them with some variation in the ages of three and the name of one: Hannatu Joseph, a 58-year-old mother of five children; Sarah Sunday, 40, mother of six; Sunday David, 47-year-old civil servant and father of seven children; and Dije Sajay, 55-year-old mother of six children. One of the assailants also was apparently killed as the local youths tried to put up a defense. Binniyat said police and soldiers found the corpse of the unidentified assailant on Monday morning (April 20) and took it away. Area residents had already recovered the assailants mobile phone and turned it over to police in hopes that it would reveal information useful for bringing the assailants to justice, he said. The herdsmen targeted stores of food and grains, burning as much as they could, Binniyat said. This is to ostensibly cause starvation, especially under this lockdown from the coronavirus, he said. So far, about 320 persons have been displaced from the attack and are in dire need of assistance. Earlier this month, he said, herdsmen also killed 42-year-old Ibrahim Atiga of Angwan Magaji Kamaru while he was on his way to his farm. Binniyat added that herdsmen also attacked Angwan Magaji Kamaru five years ago. On Nov. 13, 2015, armed herdsmen carried out coordinated attacks on Unguwan Magaji and five other neighboring villages in which 37 persons were killed, 202 homes razed and the only church, a Catholic church, was burned down, Binniyat said. Priest, Parishioner Kidnapped In southern Nigerias Delta state, a priest the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, and another member of his parish were kidnapped on Saturday (April 18) by armed men identified as Fulani herdsmen, residents told Morning Star News in text messages. They were reportedly released the next day after a ransom was paid. The Rev. Anthony Oyi was abducted along with his wife, children and the parishioner at about 8 a.m. as they worked on his farm at Issele-Mkpitime village, Aniocha North County. Area residents Paul Osa and Moses Darah told Morning Star News that the priests wife and children were released three hours later after being told to raise ransom money for the clergyman and parishioner. The Delta State Police Command confirmed the kidnapping, and the Sun newspaper reported both captives were freed on Sunday evening (April 19) after the priests family paid a ransom. The kidnapping comes on the heels of the killing of another pastor in Delta state, the Rev. Stephen Akpor, on April 10. Pastor of the Celestial Church of Christs Breakthrough Cathedral in Ibusa, Pastor Akpor was killed by armed herdsmen while praying and counseling at his church site. In the predominantly Christian Oshimili South County of Delta state, herdsmen killed Christian farmer Austine Nwaeke in the agrarian community of Albert Camp at about 3 a.m. on April 9, according to police. He left behind his wife, Jennifer Austine Nwaeke, and two children. The Roman Catholic Church in Nigeria has seen its priests kidnapped on several occasions in Delta state. On Nov. 7, 2018, armed Fulani herdsmen kidnapped four Catholic priests at Abraka, in Ethiope East County. The priests were later released. On Jan. 30, Christian Solidarity International (CSI) issued a genocide warning for Nigeria, calling 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. 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: Morning Star News CHICAGO, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Grainger (NYSE: GWW) today reported results for the 2020 first quarter. Sales of $3.0 billion in the quarter increased 7.2% versus the 2019 first quarter. On a daily basis, sales were up 5.5%. The first quarter had one more selling day than the prior year period. "During these challenging times, as an essential business, Grainger remains more committed than ever to achieving our purpose to Keep the World Working. We are focused on serving our customers well, ensuring the safety and well-being of our team members, and maintaining a strong financial position to support us through this crisis. By supporting customers who are saving lives and keeping communities safe, we are demonstrating the power of our products and solutions, deep customers relationships, and exceptional customer experience. Our strategy matters even more today," said DG Macpherson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "In the midst of the uncertainty, we delivered robust top-line growth, solid profitability, and continued to produce strong operating cash flow in the first quarter. We also bolstered our already solid financial position, maintaining our flexibility to continue making thoughtful investments for the future. We intend to persevere through this crisis and I am confident that we are well-positioned to come out stronger on the other side." 2020 First Quarter Financial Summary ($ in millions) Q1 2020 Q1 2019 Q1 Fav. (Unfav.) vs. Prior Reported Adjusted1 Reported Adjusted1 Reported Adjusted1 Net Sales $3,001 $3,001 $2,799 $2,799 7% 7% Gross Profit $1,121 $1,121 $1,095 $1,096 2% 2% Operating Earnings $159 $343 $363 $365 (56)% (6)% Net Earnings $173 $230 $253 $255 (32)% (9)% Diluted EPS $3.19 $4.24 $4.48 $4.51 (29)% (6)% Gross Profit % 37.4% 37.4% 39.1% 39.2% (180) bps (180) bps Operating Margin 5.3% 11.4% 13.0% 13.0% (770) bps (160) bps Tax Rate (30.4)% 25.6% 25.4% 25.4% 5580 bps (20) bps (1) Results exclude restructuring and income tax items as shown in the supplemental information of this release. Reconciliations of the adjusted measures reflected in this table to the most directly comparable GAAP measures are provided in the supplemental information of this release. During the quarter, the company recorded a $177 million write-down of goodwill, intangibles and long-lived assets from the Fabory business which was the largest contributor to the decline in reported operating earnings. Revenue Daily sales for the quarter increased 5.5%. Sales were composed of volume increases of approximately 7% and price and mix headwinds of around 2%. Foreign exchange contributed a 0.2% unfavorable impact. Gross Profit Margin Reported and adjusted gross profit margin for the first quarter of 2020 was 37.4%. This compares to reported and adjusted gross profit margin in the first quarter of 2019 of 39.1% and 39.2%, respectively. The variance was due primarily to business unit mix impact from higher growth in our lower margin endless assortment businesses as well as headwinds in our U.S. segment related to customer and product mix stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, and challenging year-over-year timing related to pricing actions in the first quarter of 2019. Earnings Reported operating earnings for the 2020 first quarter of $159 million were down 56% versus $363 million in the 2019 first quarter. Reported earnings in the 2020 first quarter included $184 million in restructuring and non-cash impairment charges, which were primarily related to the Fabory business in the Netherlands. On an adjusted basis, operating earnings for the quarter of $343 million were down 6% versus $365 million in the 2019 quarter. Reported operating margin of 5.3% decreased 770 basis points in the first quarter of 2020 versus the prior year quarter. Adjusted operating margin of 11.4% in the quarter declined 160 basis points versus the prior year quarter. The decline in operating margin was due primarily to lower gross margin, primarily in the U.S. segment, slightly offset by SG&A leverage. Reported earnings per share of $3.19 in the first quarter was down 29% versus $4.48 in the 2019 first quarter. Adjusted earnings per share in the quarter of $4.24 decreased 6% versus $4.51 in the 2019 first quarter. The decrease in adjusted earnings per share was due primarily to lower operating earnings which were partially offset by lower average shares outstanding in the current year period. Tax Rate For the 2020 first quarter, the company's reported tax rate was negative 30.4% versus 25.4% in the 2019 first quarter. The lower tax rate in the current year quarter was primarily driven by tax benefits related to the Fabory business. Excluding restructuring, net and impairment charges and non-recurring income tax items in both periods, the adjusted tax rates were 25.6% and 25.4% for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Cash Flow Operating cash flow was $244 million in the 2020 first quarter compared to $127 million in the 2019 first quarter. The increase in operating cash flow was primarily the result of favorable working capital in the current year period. Grainger returned $178 million to shareholders through $78 million in dividends and $100 million used to buy back approximately 336,000 shares in the first quarter of 2020. While we remain committed to returning excess capital to shareholders over time, we have temporarily paused our share repurchase program as we shift to conserve capital during the pandemic. 2020 Company Guidance Given the uncertainty around the depth and duration of this pandemic, and the related economic response, we are suspending our guidance for 2020. We intend to return to our normal guidance practices when appropriate. Webcast Grainger will conduct a live conference call and webcast at 11:00 a.m. ET on April 23, 2020 to discuss the first quarter results. The webcast will be hosted by DG Macpherson, Chairman and CEO, and Tom Okray, Senior Vice President and CFO, and can be accessed at invest.grainger.com. For those unable to participate in the live event, a webcast replay will be available for 90 days at invest.grainger.com. About Grainger W.W. Grainger, Inc., with 2019 sales of $11.5 billion, is North America's leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products (MRO) , with operations also in Europe, Asia and Latin America. Visit invest.grainger.com to view information about the company, including a supplement regarding 2020 first quarter results. Additional company information can be found on the Grainger Investor Relations website which includes our Fact Book and Corporate Social Responsibility report . Safe Harbor Statement All statements in this communication, other than those relating to historical facts, are "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by their use of terms such as "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "expect," "could," "forecast," "may," "intend," "plan," "predict," "project" "will" or "would" and similar terms and phrases, including references to assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about future strategic plans and future financial and operating results. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others: the unknown duration and economic, operational and financial impacts of the global outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19 pandemic) and the actions taken or contemplated by governmental authorities or others in connection with the pandemic on the company's businesses, its employees, customers and suppliers, including the uncertain duration of mandated shut-downs for our customers and suppliers, changes in our customers' product needs, our suppliers' inability to meet unprecedented demand for COVID-19 related products, the potential for government action to allocate or direct products to certain customers which may cause disruption in our relationships with other customers, and disruption caused by business responses to COVID-19, including working remote arrangements, which may create increased vulnerability to cybersecurity incidents; higher product costs or other expenses; a major loss of customers; loss or disruption of sources of supply; increased competitive pricing pressures; failure to develop or implement new technology initiatives or business strategies; failure to adequately protect intellectual property or successfully defend against infringement claims; fluctuations or declines in the company's gross profit percentage; the company's responses to market pressures; the outcome of pending and future litigation or governmental or regulatory proceedings, including with respect to wage and hour, anti-bribery and corruption, environmental, advertising, consumer protection, pricing (including disaster or emergency declaration pricing statutes), product liability, safety or compliance, or privacy and cybersecurity matters; investigations, inquiries, audits and changes in laws and regulations; failure to comply with laws, regulations and standards; government contract matters; disruption of information technology or data security systems involving us or third parties on which we depend; general industry, economic, market or political conditions; general global economic conditions including tariffs and trade issues and policies; currency exchange rate fluctuations; market volatility, including volatility or price declines of the company's common stock; commodity price volatility; labor shortages; facilities disruptions or shutdowns; higher fuel costs or disruptions in transportation services; pandemic diseases or viral contagions; natural and other catastrophes; unanticipated and/or extreme weather conditions; loss of key members of management; our ability to operate, integrate and leverage acquired businesses; changes in effective tax rates; changes in credit ratings or outlook; the company's incurrence of indebtedness and other factors which can be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent periodic reports filed on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, which are available on our Investor Relations website. Forward-looking statements are given only as of the date of this communication and we disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (Unaudited) (In millions of dollars, except for share and per share amounts) Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 2019 Net sales $ 3,001 $ 2,799 Cost of goods sold 1,880 1,704 Gross profit 1,121 1,095 Selling, general and administrative expenses 962 732 Operating earnings 159 363 Other (income) expense: Interest expense, net 21 19 Other, net (4) (7) Total other expense, net 17 12 Earnings before income taxes 142 351 Income tax (benefit) provision (43) 89 Net earnings 185 262 Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest 12 9 Net earnings attributable to W.W. Grainger, Inc. $ 173 $ 253 Earnings per share: Basic $ 3.20 $ 4.50 Diluted $ 3.19 $ 4.48 Weighted average number of shares outstanding: Basic 53.6 55.6 Diluted 53.8 55.9 Diluted Earnings Per Share Net earnings as reported $ 173 $ 253 Earnings allocated to participating securities (2) (3) Net earnings available to common shareholders $ 171 $ 250 Weighted average shares adjusted for dilutive securities 53.8 55.9 Diluted earnings per share $ 3.19 $ 4.48 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In millions of dollars) (Unaudited) Assets March 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 Cash and cash equivalents (6) $ 1,492 $ 360 Accounts receivable net 1,613 1,425 Inventories - net 1,615 1,655 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 129 104 Prepaid income taxes 65 11 Total current assets 4,914 3,555 Property, buildings and equipment net 1,357 1,400 Deferred income taxes 10 11 Goodwill (1) 361 429 Intangibles - net (2) 226 304 Other assets 309 306 Total assets $ 7,177 $ 6,005 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Short-term debt (3) $ 17 $ 55 Current maturities of long-term debt (4) 21 246 Trade accounts payable 863 719 Accrued compensation and benefits 177 228 Accrued contributions to employees' profit-sharing plans (5) 19 85 Accrued expenses 384 318 Income taxes payable 19 27 Total current liabilities 1,500 1,678 Long-term debt (6) 3,303 1,914 Deferred income taxes and tax uncertainties 99 106 Other non-current liabilities 245 247 Shareholders' equity (7) 2,030 2,060 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $ 7,177 $ 6,005 (1) Goodwill decreased $68 million primarily due to a $58 million Fabory impairment. (2) Intangibles - net decreased $78 million primarily due to a $74 million Fabory impairment (3) Short-term debt decreased $38 million primarily due to the repayment of the Company's foreign lines of credit. (4) Current maturities of long-term debt decreased $225 million primarily due to the repayment of the British pound term loan, Euro term loan and the Canadian dollar revolving credit facility. (5) Accrued contributions to employees' profit-sharing plans decreased $66 million primarily due to the timing of annual cash contributions and the reduction of the contribution rate in 2020. (6) Long-term debt increased $1,389 million primarily due to the draw down on the Company's revolving credit facility of $1 billion in March 2020 and the issuance of $500 million in unsecured senior notes in February 2020, partially offset by the repayments of international debt. (7) Common stock outstanding as of March 31, 2020 was 53,467,936 compared with 53,687,528 shares at December 31, 2019, primarily due to share repurchases. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (In millions of dollars) Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 2019 Cash flows from operating activities: Net earnings $ 185 $ 262 Provision for credit losses 6 4 Deferred income taxes and tax uncertainties (7) (4) Depreciation and amortization 45 57 Net losses (gains) from sales of assets and business divestitures 3 (2) Impairment of goodwill, intangible and long-lived assets 177 Stock-based compensation 9 5 Subtotal 233 60 Change in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable (217) (102) Inventories 19 20 Prepaid expenses and other assets (26) (30) Trade accounts payable 155 64 Accrued liabilities (36) (207) Income taxes, net (62) 64 Other non-current liabilities (7) (4) Subtotal (174) (195) Net cash provided by operating activities 244 127 Cash flows from investing activities: Additions to property, buildings, equipment and intangibles (50) (60) Proceeds from sale of assets 6 Other (2) 2 Net cash used in investing activities (52) (52) Cash flows from financing activities: Net (decrease) increase in lines of credit (36) 3 Net increase (decrease) in long-term debt 1,155 (14) Proceeds from stock options exercised 19 3 Payments for employee taxes withheld from stock awards (5) (3) Purchases of treasury stock (100) (135) Cash dividends paid (78) (76) Other, net 1 Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 955 (221) Exchange rate effect on cash and cash equivalents (15) Net change in cash and cash equivalents 1,132 (146) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 360 538 Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 1,492 $ 392 SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited) (In millions of dollars, except for per share amounts) The company supplemented the reporting of financial information determined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) with certain non-GAAP financial measures, which the company refers to as "adjusted" measures, including adjusted gross profit, adjusted gross profit margin, adjusted operating earnings, adjusted operating margin, adjusted net earnings, adjusted tax rate and adjusted diluted earnings per share. Adjusted measures exclude items that may not be indicative of core operating results. The company believes that these non-GAAP measures provide meaningful information to assist shareholders in understanding financial results and assessing prospects for future performance. Management believes adjusted gross profit, adjusted gross profit margin, adjusted operating earnings, adjusted operating margin, adjusted net earnings, adjusted tax rate and adjusted diluted earnings per share are important indicators of operations because they exclude items that may not be indicative of our core operating results, and provide a better baseline for analyzing trends in our underlying businesses. Because non-GAAP financial measures are not standardized, it may not be possible to compare these financial measures with other companies' non-GAAP financial measures having the same or similar names. These adjusted financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for reported results. These non-GAAP financial measures reflect an additional way of viewing aspects of operations that, when viewed with GAAP results, provide a more complete understanding of the business. The company strongly encourages investors and shareholders to review company financial statements and publicly filed reports in their entirety and not to rely on any single financial measure. This press release also includes certain non-GAAP forward-looking information. The company believes that a quantitative reconciliation of such forward-looking information to the most comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP cannot be made available without unreasonable efforts. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures would require the company to predict the timing and likelihood of future restructurings, asset impairments, and other charges. Neither of these forward-looking measures, nor their probable significance, can be quantified with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Accordingly, the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP measures are not provided. The reconciliations provided below reconcile GAAP financial measures to the non-GAAP financial measures: , adjusted gross profit, adjusted gross profit margin, adjusted operating earnings, adjusted operating margin, adjusted net earnings, adjusted tax rate and adjusted diluted earnings per share: In millions Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 Gross Profit % 2019 Gross Profit % Gross profit reported $ 1,121 37.4 % $ 1,095 39.1 % Restructuring, net and impairment charges 1 0.1 Gross profit adjusted $ 1,121 37.4 % $ 1,096 39.2 % In millions Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 Operating Margin % 2019 Operating Margin % Operating earnings reported $ 159 5.3 % $ 363 13.0 % Restructuring, net and impairment charges 184 6.1 2 Operating earnings adjusted $ 343 11.4 % $ 365 13.0 % SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION - CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS RECONCILIATION OF GAAP TO NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES (Unaudited) (In millions of dollars, except for per share amounts) In millions Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 2019 % Net earnings reported $ 173 $ 253 (32) % Restructuring, net and impairment charges 57 2 Net earnings adjusted $ 230 $ 255 (9) % Diluted earnings per share reported $ 3.19 $ 4.48 (29) % Pretax restructuring, net and impairment charges 3.38 0.04 Tax effect (1) (2.33) (0.01) Total, net of tax 1.05 0.03 Diluted earnings per share adjusted $ 4.24 $ 4.51 (6) % (1) The tax impact of adjustments is calculated based on the income tax rate in each applicable jurisdiction, subject to deductibility limitations and the company's ability to realize the associated tax benefits.The lower tax rate effect in the current year quarter was primarily driven by tax benefits related to the Fabory business. Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 2019 Bps impact Effective tax rate reported (30.4) % 25.4 % (5,580) Tax benefit related to the Fabory business 61.2 Tax impact of restructuring, net and impairment charges (5.2) Effective tax rate adjusted 25.6 % 25.4 % 20 SOURCE W.W. Grainger, Inc. Related Links http://www.grainger.com The Lagos couple arrested over death of their housemaid Policemen in Lagos have arrested a man and his wife following the death of their 19 year old housemaid. According to LIB, Mr and Mrs Fortune Stephens were arrested by Operatives of State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) of the Lagos State Police command for the death of Joy Okom Adole, at their home at number 18 Ogundola street, in the Bariga area of the state. The couple called the police to report that their housemaid had committed suicide at their home on April 20th following a misunderstanding. When the police arrived, Joy was found hanging from a rope in her room. The couple was taken to the station for questioning and during preliminary investigation, a different story emerged of how Joy may have met her untimely death. Her family believe that Mr and Mrs Stephens or only Mrs Stephens beat Joy to death and staged her death to look like suicide. Narrating what he believes happened to LIB, a cousin of late Joy, Philip Ejeh, said she worked for the couple for just four months, starting from 10th of January. She was being paid N15000 a month, but the money was paid to an agent who brought Joy to the couple and not directly to Joy. Ejeh said trouble started when Joy asked the couple to her salary directly to her What really happened is that on April 20th at about 4pm, I received a call from the village that our sister, Joy, is somewhere at Bariga where she is working as a househelp but that she is now dead. I never knew she was in Lagos. So I made enquiries and they sent the agents number that brought her to that place to me. I called the agent who narrated what happened. The agent said it was on Sunday evening April 19th that they called her that the girl is misbehaving and that she should come and take her away. Actually when the girl started working on the 10th of January, they began by paying her N10, 000. Subsequently the couple refused to pay her salary and she decided to stop working. Joy said she wanted them to open an account for her so they can be paying her salary to her directly and that if they are not ready to do that, she is no longer ready to work. They started complaining that the girl wasnt working as they expected her to work. On the 10th of April, they asked her to leave their house since she wasnt ready to work with them again. She packed her things and went to the bus stop but couldnt find a bus due to the lockdown. She had to go back to their house. The couple saw her and were like they had told her to go, why is she still hanging around. They called the agent who pleaded with them that since there is a lockdown, they should bear with her and manage Joy pending when there is free movement so she can come and move her away from their house. They allowed her to enter their house but on the 19th, they chased her again and were like if the agent doesnt come to pick her, they never want to see her around their house again. At that point, they were beating her again. They called the agent who pleaded with them to still keep her since there is no movement. She told them to please keep her until Monday April 20th that she would find her way to come and pick her up. The agent heard the husband telling the wife that she should stop beating the girl and that the beating is okay. In the process, the phone went off. On Monday April 20th around 7am, they called the agent and was trying to make some enquiries about the girl. The agent was like any information you need about the girl, ask her and she would supply you with the information. They continued to insist. It was around 11am that they opened up to her that Joy is dead. The agent was like what happened. Who killed her? What killed her? The couple said she was supposed to wake up and that she did not wake up so they had to go and check her room only to find her hanging. The agent was like this is not possible, you should tell me that you beat her to death. They told her that they were saying the truth and that at the moment, they have moved the corpse to the police station and then to the mortuary. They sent the photo where she hung herself. The agent forwarded the picture to us. he said Phillip said Mrs Fortune alleged that she found out that the deceased stole her indomie noodles and some of her other personal belongings. Joys family members are however insisting that their sister was killed by Mrs Fortune. They questionned how somebody can commit suicide by hanging and still have her legs touching the floor. Confirming the incident to LIB, the spokesperson of the state police command, Bala Elkana, said Our operatives at Bariga received a complain from a couple that their househelp committed suicide. That is the initial report that they got. The DPO led a team of Homicide detectives to the house and they saw the housegirl hanging on a rope but the way she stood on the rope raised an eyebrow because it actually looked like it was a stage managed event. The detectives went further to check for marks of violence and they saw a lot, fresh wound. She was actually tortured so there is a likelihood that she died and they tried to cover up by putting her on a rope to show she committed suicide. That informed the decision to launch an investigation into the case. The corpse was removed and taken to the hospital for autopsy. The couple were arrested and they are placed under investigation. The Homicide department has taken over the case under the Commissioner of Polices directive. The couple are in custody answering questions because that is not really a case of suicide at this preliminary stage he said At least six people were killed and dozens were injured when tornadoes swept through Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas on April 22, according to media reports. In a media release issued by the Texas governors office, Gov. Greg Abbot and Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy said a tornado in Polk County in East Texas killed at least three people. Polk County Emergency Management estimated that at least 20 to 30 people had been injured. The towns of Onalaska, Livingston and other communities in the county suffered severe damage. Damage was particularly significant in parts of Onalaska, the countys emergency management agency reported. Judge Murphy declared a local state of disaster in Polk County, and a shelter has been established for displaced residents of Polk County at the Dunbar Gymnasium in Livingston. Texas Division of Emergency Managements (TDEM) State Mass Care Coordinator, as well as the American Red Cross, are providing shelter coordination. Search and rescue efforts, debris clearing, and mass care efforts were underway throughout the night. Accuweather reported that in Oklahoma, the city of Madhill, located about 100 miles north of Dallas, Texas, sustained significant damage and at least 2 deaths have been blamed on twisters swept through the region. The town of Woodworth, in Central Louisiana was also reported to have been hit with structural damage from the severe storm system. One woman was reported to have been killed as a result of the outbreak. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Texas Louisiana Windstorm Oklahoma Municipal corporation workers sanitize a hotspot area of Hindpiri during the nationwide lockdown, to curb the spread of Coronavirus, in Ranchi. Jharkhand is ruled by the BJP. PTI photo New Delhi: The chief ministers of the Congress-ruled states on Thursday hit out at the central government, saying how will the country win the battle against COVID-19 if no financial assistance is provided to them. The chief ministers of Punjab, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry, demanded a financial package for the states to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said unless the central government comes forward to financially help states, "fight against COVID-19 will get weakened". "Unless there is a big financial package for states, how will normalcy return to the states post the lockdown," Gehlot said at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting through video conferencing. "We emphasised on rapid testing but unfortunately the test kits have failed...There is an urgent need for centralised procurement of kits, ventilators, so that availability, quality and quantity can be assured," he added. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh claimed that resources of Rs 4,400 crore of GST have not yet been released by the central government. "In place of 1 lakh rapid testing kits, we have received only 10,000 China-made testing kits and their authenticity is yet to be tested," he said. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said unless the Centre rises to the occasion and provides financial assistance to states, how will the fight against COVID-19 be won. Baghel said there is a deep concern in the state over return of students and migrant workers stuck in other states. "There needs to be a policy by the central government for return of migrant workers and students. Unfortunately, the central government is silent on the issue," he said. Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said the Centre did not given any assistance to the state. "How will the state survive in times of crisis...We are not enemies but have to act, work together," he said at the CWC. Narayanasamy said the central government has not given them Rs 600 crore of GST and Rs 2,200 crore of the Finance Commission's share. Lithium ion batteries have already become an integral part of our everyday life. However, our energy-hungry society demands longer life, faster charging, and lighter batteries for a variety of applications from electric vehicles to portable electronics, including lightening the load a soldier carries as numerous electronics become adopted by the Army. Can we get closer to such lighter and faster-charging batteries? The current generation of lithium ion batteries uses graphite as an anode, which has a relatively low capacity, and could be replaced with a silicon anode with high capacity and low environmental impact. This is a highly promising direction for research - yet elusive, as batteries with silicon anodes with a large particle size tend to have shorter lives, generally less than 50 cycles. When researchers tried using nanoparticles of silicon, aluminum, and bismuth, they found that these nano-sized alloy anodes still suffer short cycle life and high cost. Chunsheng Wang and his colleagues may have found a new direction for fixing this degradation problem: the electrolyte. The team from the University of Maryland and the Army Research Laboratory have made an electrolyte that forms a protective layer on silicon, which is stable and resists the swelling that occurs in silicon anode particles. The new electrolyte - rationally designed with underlying principles in place - gives the anode particles room for Si to swell insight the protected layer. The results were published in the journal Nature Energy on April 20, 2020. Dr. Ji Chen, a lead author of the paper from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Maryland, said, "Our research proves that it is practical and possible to stably cycle silicon, aluminum, and bismuth particles as lithium ion battery anodes, simply with a rationally designed electrolyte, which has been regarded as unachievable before." "The energy density of the battery is determined by the electrodes, while the performance of the battery is critically controlled by the electrolytes. The designed electrolytes enable the use of micro-sized alloy anodes, which will significantly enhance the energy density of the battery, " said Dr. Xiulin Fan, a co-first author from the University of Maryland, and now a professor in Zhejiang University, China. "Current efforts by combination of molecular modeling and experimental provided a clear path to a new direction to rationally design the electrolytes that enable long cycle life for high capacity silicon anodes opening a path to developing high energy batteries for a warfighter, " said Dr. Oleg Borodin, a collaborator from the Army Research Laboratory. Current electrolyte design for siliconi anodes aims to form a uniform polymer layer called the solid electrolyte interface or SEI that is flexible and strongly bonds with silicon. However, the strong bonding between polymer SEI and silicon forces the SEI to have the same volume change as the anode particles, so both the particles and the SEI crack during battery operation. "After extensive research on silicon electrodes, the battery community has reached a consensus that the micro-sized silicon anodes cannot be used in commercial lithium-ion batteries," said Chunsheng Wang, a professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Maryland. "We successfully avoided the SEI damage by forming a ceramic SEI that has a low affinity to the lithiated silicon particles, so that the lithiated silicon can relocate at the interface during volume change without damaging the SEI. The electrolyte design principle is universal for all alloy anodes, and opens a new opportunity to develop high energy batteries." Challenges still remain for the commercialization of the electrolyte, the voltage window of 4.2V still needs to be expanded, Wang said. KB Financial Group Chairman Yoon Jong-kyoo, and the Prudential Life Insurance Company of Korea headquarters in Seoul / Korea Times file By Park Jae-hyuk KB Financial Group is facing an intensifying protest over its decision to acquire Prudential Life Insurance Company of Korea for 2.3 trillion won ($1.8 billion), according to industry officials, Thursday. A council comprised of 10 representatives of unions of KB subsidiaries said in a statement Tuesday that it was considering taking legal action against KB Chairman Yoon Jong-kyoo and the board members for their alleged malpractice regarding the takeover. "Amid the skeptical market outlook concerning the winner's curse in the long run, our group employees have been forced to bear an excessive financial burden," the council said. "The management, which has caused a controversy over its expensive purchase and has promoted the deal as an achievement, seems to have started making preparations for the chairman's reappointment through the unreasonable M&A signed before the expiration of his term in November." The council cited KB's purchase price equivalent to 0.78 times Prudential's price-to-book ratio and the life insurer's declining number of contracts that dropped to 39,000 in 2018 from 110,000 in 2007 as reasons for the criticism. Management dismissed the claim, saying the recent deal was irrelevant to the chairman's reappointment. "We have continued to pursue our expansion in the non-banking sector for group growth," a KB official said. "It was appropriate to pay 2.26 trillion won to acquire a superior life insurer having 2.9 trillion won in equity." Even before the banking group won the bid for the takeover of the U.S. insurance giant's Korean subsidiary, the KB union opposed the acquisition. During the general shareholders meeting March 20, the leader of the KB Insurance union asked the chairman why the company was trying to acquire Prudential during an economic downturn. The chairman answered at that time that the outlook for the insurance business was good enough. On top of the KB union's protest, Prudential's financial planners also opposed the takeover. According to industry sources, some of them recently held a rally to protest the acquisition, wearing black ribbons to indicate that "Prudential is dead." Prudential has been led by college graduate planners who are known for their pride in expertise. "Having worked with the brand awareness of the global insurance company, the planners are feeling anxious about the fact that they will have to work for KB that has focused mainly on banking," a source familiar with this issue said on condition of anonymity. Promising job security to prevent the exodus of qualified financial planners, KB began preparing integration procedures to retake the leading financial group title from Shinhan Financial Group as soon as possible. On Thursday, KB announced it posted a 729.5 billion won net profit in the first quarter, down 13.7 percent from a year earlier, due to the growing financial market volatility caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its rival Shinhan will announce its earnings Friday. WASHINGTON - Its becoming a kind of daily ritual: President Donald Trump and a phalanx of doctors file into the White House briefing room each evening to discuss the coronavirus, producing a display of rhetorical contortions as the medical officials try to stay true to the science without crossing the president. The result can be a bewildering scene for Americans trying to understand how best to protect themselves from the virus. On Tuesday, for example, Dr. Deborah Birx aligned herself with Trumps positive comments about plans to reopen businesses in Georgia and suggested that beauty salons and tattoo parlours there might be able to safely operate by using creative forms of social distancing. But Birx, the White House coronavirus task force co-ordinator, later told Trump privately that Georgias reopening plan was too hasty. And the next day, Trump publicly denounced Georgias plans to start to reopen the state as coming too soon. On Wednesday, Trump opened his daily briefing by inviting Dr. Robert Redfield, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to say a couple words just to straighten out the doctors earlier comments that the viruss return in the fall could be even more difficult than the current outbreak. Redfield then tried to clarify his remarks by saying the return of the virus during flu season would be a difficult combination while allowing that his earlier comments had been accurately reported. Also Wednesday, a top government doctor said hed been ousted from his position for opposing politically connected efforts to promote a malaria drug that Trump touted without proof as a remedy for COVID-19. Dr. Rick Bright was sidelined for one reason only -- because he resisted efforts to provide unfettered access to potentially dangerous drugs, his lawyers said. Trump said he knew nothing about the matter. Health experts worry that it hinders the ability of medical professionals to provide frank advice to the president and the public. The doctors on the task force and the scientists more generally responding to the pandemic are constantly looking over their shoulders, said Lawrence Gostin, a public health expert at Georgetown University. There is a tug of war between the politicians and the public health officials. Its a very unhealthy dynamic. Besides being asked to provide updates on the spread of the virus and best practices for combating it, the doctors find themselves drawn into Trumps efforts to provide a positive take on his handling of the pandemic. Theyre keenly aware that the president has a record of bringing respected officials into his fold, talking up their credentials and then ultimately undercutting them or moving them aside. That happened with former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, former White House chief of staff John Kelly and former Defence Secretary James Mattis. Even Fauci hasnt escaped the need to massage his message after the fact to soothe a volatile president. Earlier this month, Fauci set off Trump when he told CNN that more lives could have been saved if the U.S. government had acted more quickly. If we had right from the very beginning shut everything down, it may have been a little different, he said. But there was a lot of pushback about shutting things down back then. Later that day, Trump retweeted a call to #FireFauci, raising questions about whether Faucis job was in jeopardy. The following day, Fauci took the podium at the briefing to say he had used the wrong choice of words. He added that the first and only time that he and Birx had talked to Trump about a national shutdown to mitigate the spread of virus, the president listened to the recommendation and went to the mitigation. Trump has largely listened to his team of medical experts. But he also sees them as his subordinates and doesnt want to be crossed. At Thursdays briefing, Birx was the only one of the medical experts advising the president in attendance. She spoke only briefly. Instead, Trump invited William Bryan, a senior Department of Homeland Security official, to detail ongoing research his agency is conducting on the impact warm temperatures and sunlight might have on killing the virus. Trump has kept an eye on the doctors media appearances and has told confidants that he is impressed with Birxs demeanour, according to three White House officials and Republicans close to the White House. The three spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about private conversations. Birx has generally tried to avoid splitting with Trump in public, generating some criticism for not speaking out more forcefully. Fauci, for his part, has been more blunt in diverging from the presidents message at times. Trump and some in his inner circle have grown frustrated at Faucis willingness to break with the president both in interviews and during the briefings. Although Trump has not discussed firing Fauci, despite a clamour from some on the right, he has expressed annoyance at Faucis positive press coverage and word was sent from the White House that the doctor should not participate in any more personal profile stories. The president also seethed over Redfields comments about the viruss potential threat this fall, though he later agreed with aides who said the CDC chiefs comments had been overblown. Because of his clashes with Trump, rumours about Faucis fate take off whenever he misses a briefing because of his other duties. Trump has denied there is any conflict. Birx, a political appointee from the Obama administration, has encouraged Trump to let the data inform his response to the crisis. At moments, shes also conspicuously heaped praise on the president. As the Trump administrations original 15-day guidelines promoting social distancing were set to expire at the end of March, she told a Christian TV network popular with Trumps evangelical base that she was confident that the president, like her, was a student of data. I think his ability to analyze and integrate data that comes out of his long history in business has really been a real benefit during these discussions about medical issues, Birx told CBN. Gostin said hes sympathetic of Birxs difficult position. But he said her public sidestepping of questions about how the Georgia governor wants to reopen businesses was problematic. It matters because in an ideal world, her only loyalty would be to science and public health, Gostin said. Michael Weinstein, who heads the AIDS Healthcare Foundation and got to know Birx professionally after she was named the global AIDS co-ordinator in 2014, said Birx is driven by her concerns for patients and public health. She knows that she cannot be an effective advocate for science if she doesnt have the presidents ear, Weinstein added. Im glad shes there, Weinstein said. Its very obvious that shes made a calculation what she must do to remain there, and thats, on balance, beneficial. Dr. Kavita Patel, an adult medicine physician and health policy expert who served in the Obama White House, said scientists who advise any president have to be thick-skinned. But he said the situation is particularly fraught under Trump, who has sometimes followed his own instincts over the factual information given to him by experts. It is clear he is only picking and choosing from that information, Patel said. There seems to be a revolving door of people in science and medicine placed in an uncomfortable position, said Patel. It feels a little bit like you put all the scientists on a Russian roulette board, and depending on where it lands, an individual could be pitted very publicly against the president. ___ Lemire reported from New York and Madhani reported from Chicago. Associated Press writers Mike Stobbe in New York and Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar in Washington contributed to this report. PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-23 03:39:02 TUV Rheinland Provides JD.com Free of Charge Protective Equipment Qualification Audit Services, Supporting Overseas Chinese and Students Phoenix Chen, TUV Rheinland Greater China Tel: +86 20 2839 1243 Phoenix.chen@tuv.com Eunice Wu, TUV Rheinland Greater China Tel: +86 21 6081 1868 Eunice.Wu@TUV.com Recently, Richard Liu and his wife Nancy Zhang, along with JD.com, donated 5 million masks, 50 invasive ventilators, and more than 600,000 pieces of protective clothing, goggles, medical gloves, and other medical supplies to the UK, which is one of the worst-affected countries by COVID-19 in Europe and has a large number of Chinese and Chinese overseas students. TUV Rheinland Greater China ("TUV Rheinland"), as one of JD.com's important partners in the field of testing and certification, provided qualification audit services free of charge for the protective equipment, including the surgical masks, medical protective clothing, goggles, gloves, ventilators, etc., supporting JD.com to strictly control the safety and quality of the donated medical supplies. This ensured the supplies could be imported into the UK at the fastest speed. JD.com took advantage of its own intelligent supply chain and logistics integration to quickly purchase and deploy a large amount of protective equipment in China. After being informed of JD.com's charity and needs, TUV Rheinland immediately mobilized resources in various fields, formed a specialized group that night, had a discussion with the relevant person in charge at JD.com overnight, and completed the qualification audit for the medical supplies the following morning, covering medical device production and business licenses, product registration certificates, declarations of conformity (DOCs), CE certificates, and other materials, winning valuable time for the certified-safe and compliant medical supplies to be smoothly imported into the UK. With the joint efforts of JD.com, TUV Rheinland, and other parties, part of the supplies have arrived in the UK so that many overseas Chinese and students have received free masks, with 120 per person distributed through application on the JD.com APP. In addition, a large amount of the donated materials will be sent to the British government and local hospitals with the assistance of the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom, the Chinese Charity Federation, the British Embassy in China, and the National Health Service (NHS) of the UK. In today's globalized world, in the face of the pandemic no country can become an "isolated island." Helping countries overseas to control the pandemic as soon as possible is helping China maintain its own hard-earned anti-epidemic results. During the global pandemic, TUV Rheinland will continue to provide JD.com with relevant support and services to help overseas Chinese and overseas students prevent infection. Since the coronavirus outbreak, TUV Rheinland has fully utilized its technical capabilities and advantages in the field of testing and certification, participated in government and enterprise support projects, and actively supported the prevention and control of the pandemic. As a Notified Body for the EU, TUV Rheinland can provide CE certification services for medical device products such as medical masks, medical protective clothing, and forehead thermometers. In addition, TUV Rheinland has also launched a series of new services in a timely manner, including CE certification for PPE eye protectors, fully supporting customers to conduct business and providing consumers with safe and reliable protective products. About TUV Rheinland TUV Rheinland is a global leader in independent inspection services, founded nearly 150 years ago. The group maintains a worldwide presence of more than 20,000 people; annual turnover is EUR 2 billion. The independent experts stand for quality and safety for people, technology and the environment in nearly all aspects of life. TUV Rheinland inspects technical equipment, products and services, oversees projects, and helps to shape processes and information security for companies. Its experts train people in a wide range of careers and industries. To this end, TUV Rheinland employs a global network of approved labs, testing and education centers. Since 2006, TUV Rheinland has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact to promote sustainability and combat corruption. Website: www.TUV.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200422006 BJP leaders, including party president J P Nadda, on Thursday condemned the alleged attack on senior journalist Arnab Goswami and targeted the Congress over the incident. "Shocking to see Arnab Goswami attacked after Congress CMs publicly threatened him. Sad to see such public hounding of a journalist for his freedom of speech. Congress shows it is the party that brought Emergency and continues its rich tradition of trampling free speech," Nadda tweeted. There was no immediate reaction from the opposition party. Two motorcycle-borne persons allegedly attacked Goswami's car in Mumbai and tried to break its glass window when he and his wife were on the way home in the early hours of Thursday, police said. Both the attackers have been arrested, they added. Senior BJP leader and Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar also condemned the incident. He said every attack on any journalist is condemnable as this is against democracy and sought action against the accused as per law. Several other BJP leaders also deplored the incident and took aims at the Congress. Goswami, the editor-in-chief and owner of Republic TV, said in a video posted after the incident that he was told by his security guards that the attackers were Youth Congress workers. There was no confirmation of the same by either police or the youth outfit. The journalist has invited sharp criticism from Congress leaders for his remarks aimed at their party president Sonia Gandhi during a TV discussion on the Palghar incident in which three persons, including two sadhus, were lynched. Senior Congress leaders, including chief ministers, slammed Goswami with the party's chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala alleging that it was "deeply disgraceful that PM and BJP eulogize this brand of TV anchors". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [April 23, 2020] iBIO Releases Four-week Totals for the iBIO COVID-19 PPE Response Fund iBIO, the Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization, today announced a summary of the iBIO COVID-19 PPE Response Fund's impact since its March 23 launch. The most noteworthy development in the last week is a $200,000 charitable contribution from the Lundbeck US Charitable Fund. The Lundbeck US Charitable Fund is a charitable organization established by Lundbeck LLC, one of several Illinois-based life sciences organizations that responded to the call to support the iBIO COVID-19 PPE Response Fund. Horizon Therapeutics, Astellas Pharma US and Baxter International Inc., also contributed to the iBIO Institute's program to support nurses, doctors and first responders throughout Illinois. Majority-owned by a non-profit research foundation, Lundbeck occupies a unique position in Illinois' life science community. "At Lundbeck, we are dedicated to giving back to the communities where we work and live. Here in Illinois, we are inspired by the frontline healthcare professionals and first responders who are working tirelessly to care for those affected by the coronavirus," said Peter Anastasiou, executive vice president and head of Lundbeck North America. "We are proud to support the iBIO COVID-19 PPE Response Fund, and we applaud iBIO's efforts to harness the collective commitment and resources of Illinois' life sciences community in the face of this crisis." In addition to bolstering the healthcare system's ability to respond to the pandemic, the Lundbeck US Charitable Fund has made significant contributions to response funds in communities where the company has a meaningful presence, includig Illinois, Seattle and San Diego. These contributions will enable local nonprofit organizations to provide interim housing and shelter, direct financial assistance, and primary healthcare and mental healthcare services to vulnerable community members. "Lundbeck has been a strong supporter of iBIO, the iBIO Institute and our state-wide life sciences community. This charitable contribution is the latest example of Lundbeck's leadership, and it will enable us to significantly expand the amount of PPE we can provide to Illinois' heroes on the front line in the battle against the coronavirus," said iBIO President and CEO John Conrad. iBIO directs monetary donations from corporations, foundations and individuals to its BIO Business Solutions lab supply partner, which places ongoing orders for PPE equipment to meet the urgent needs of first responders, nurses and doctors throughout Illinois. The purchased items are then sent to the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA), which distributes products to healthcare and emergency response systems statewide to ensure that the supply is equitable. The iBIO COVID-19 PPE Response Fund's impact during its first four weeks in operation: Monetary donations: $1,069,877 Items purchased to date with monetary donations: Goggles: 3,080 Protective Clothing: 13,740 Gloves: 93,100 Surgical Masks: 14,930 Testing Swabs: 21,200 IR Thermometers: 550 Product donations N95 Masks: 3,620 Surgical Masks: 2,430 Sanitizer: 2,430 Testing Viral Transport Medium: 85,000 To learn more and to make a monetary or unused-medical-product donation, please visit the iBIO COVID-19 PPE Response Fund. About iBIO The Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization (iBIO) is a life sciences industry association that represents the 85,000 life sciences employees at member companies, universities, service providers and venture firms. iBIO promotes the industry's value to the public and policymakers; connects innovators to investment and talent; stimulates collaboration and fosters the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs to transform patient lives through groundbreaking research and works to grow the Illinois economy. For more information, please visit www.iBIO.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005638/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Regulatory News: Tikehau Capital (Paris:TKO), the alternative asset management and investment group, today announces the creation of its first European Long-Term Investment Fund (ELTIF) dedicated to Banca March private clients in Spain. Banca March is the only 100% family owned Spanish bank, specialising in Private Banking, with close to a century of experience investing in the real economy, and more than 10 years co-investing in "real economy" projects alongside its clients. This ELTIF fund dedicated to the energy transition will be targeting all Banca March clients, offering them access to private equity investment solutions focused on energy transition. This will replicate Tikehau Capital's Energy Transition fund launched with Total SA in 2018 which offers a differentiated strategy, offering strong financial returns while accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy. The European ELTIF label was created in 2015 at the initiative of the European authorities and applies to Alternative Investment Funds (AIF) with the objective of providing long term financing solutions to the "real economy". Complementing Tikehau Capital's offer, it is designed to enable pan-European institutional and private investors, particularly savers, to invest in very long-term assets, including unlisted assets among which private equity. After Banca March's deep analysis and approval to proceed with this new co-investment project alongside its clients, and following the successful partnership with Fideuram Intesa Sanpaolo Private Banking, Italy's largest private banking network this is Tikehau Capital's second initiative specifically addressing private investors' needs. Carmen Alonso, Head of Iberia at Tikehau Capital, said: "We are pleased to partner up with one of the best reputed private banks in Spain, Banca March, with whom we share the same philosophy of co-investing alongside our clients and strong alignment of interests Thomas Friedberger, Co-Chief Investment Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Tikehau Investment Management added: "We are proud that Banca March has decided to partner with us to satisfy its private clients' demand for private equity investment supported by a strong ESG conviction. Driving energy transition through long-term initiative to create growth is a key focus for our company Juan Antonio Roche, Head of Products Area at Banca March, said: "It is our pleasure to announce the partnership with Tikehau, a leading investor in Europe that shares with us a common understanding of servicing clients as much as the financial opportunity behind energy transition. We could not think of a better time to move ahead with the changes in progress, a world that after the COVID-19 will reinforce and accelerate the shift towards a more sustainable energy system. Tikehau Capital's Energy Transition fund contributes with impact today while investing in already profitable companies that are active in this growing business." About Tikehau Capital: Tikehau Capital is an asset management and investment group with 25.8 billion of assets under management and shareholder equity of 3.1 billion (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 (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 About Banca March: Banca March is the parent company of one of the top financial groups in Spain and the only family-owned Spanish Bank. Focusing in private banking and corporate advisory services for businesses, family businesses and entrepreneurial families, its business model is based on prudence and long-term stakeholder relationships. The guiding principle behind the bank's strategy is customer, employee and shareholder alignment of interests with a clear commitment to shared growth. Banca March emerged as Europe's most solvent bank in the two stress tests undertaken by the European Banking Authority (EBA) in 2010 and 2011. It currently has the lowest NPL ratio in the Spanish financial sector and one of the highest solvency levels in Europe. Banca March's robust business model has received recognition from Moody's rating agency, which has upgraded the bank's long-term debt rating to A3, one of the highest rating in the Spanish financial sector and a better rating than the Spanish sovereign debt, which is currently rated Baa1. Banca March is one of the main shareholders in Corporacion Financiera Alba, which has significant shareholdings in Naturgy (indirect), Acerinox, Indra, Ebro Foods, BME, Viscofan, Euskaltel and Parques Reunidos, among other companies. www.bancamarch.es Disclaimer These funds are managed by TIKEHAU INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT SAS, a portfolio management company approved by the AMF since 19/01/2007 under number GP-0700000006. 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200422006087/en/ Contacts: Tikehau Capital Press: Tikehau Capital: Valerie Sueur +33 1 40 06 39 30 France Image 7: Florence Coupry +33 1 53 70 74 70 UK Finsbury: Arnaud Salla Charles O'Brien +44 207 251 3801 press@tikehaucapital.com Tikehau Capital Shareholders and Investors: Louis Igonet +33 1 40 06 11 11 shareholders@tikehaucapital.com Banca March Press: Isabel Lafont, Dir. Comunicacion Externa mlafont@bancamarch.es Telefono: 91 432 3109 Javier Canaves frcanaves@bancamarch.es Telefono: 971 77 91 27 Jose Luis Gonzalez jlgonzalez@kreab.com Hong Kong Leader Overhauls Cabinet By VOA News April 22, 2020 A key member of Hong Kong's Cabinet has been reassigned under a major reshuffling unveiled Wednesday. Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced that Patrick Nip, the head of the city's Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, will be replaced by Director of Immigration Erick Tsang. Nip is being replaced after apologizing earlier this week for conflicting statements about China's liaison office in Hong Kong. He will remain in Lam's Cabinet as head of the city's civil service office. Lam also announced new ministers for the offices of financial services, home affairs, innovation and technology. She said the reshuffling was undertaken to prepare Hong Kong to recover from the economic hit caused by the coronavirus pandemic, which originated in neighboring mainland China. The Cabinet reshuffling was approved by the central government in Beijing. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, Hong Kong was engulfed by several months of massive anti-government protests last year, initially sparked by a controversial extradition bill. The protests evolved into a demand for greater democracy for the semi-autonomous Chinese territory. Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of autonomy under the concept of "one country, two systems" since Britain handed the territory back to Beijing in 1997. But many Hong Kongers fear that autonomy is steadily being eroded by a central government that is increasingly meddling in its affairs. Fifteen pro-democracy activists were arrested last week on charges of illegal assembly, the biggest crackdown of its kind since last year's protests. The move came just hours after China's top representative office in the semiautonomous city declared it is not bound by restrictions in Hong Kong's constitution, the Basic Law, that bar Chinese government from interfering in local affairs. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We are happy to complete this acquisition as it brings us closer to our European customer base. Especially in this trying time where the need for properly architected, secure, remote service is so critical. ei3 has completed its acquisition of Copenhagen based NextIOT, marking a further expansion of its business operations into the European market. As part of the acquisition, NextIOT is being renamed ei3 Denmark ApS and will join ei3s existing Switzerland-based data science team as ei3s European operations. Founded in 1999, ei3 is the authority in secure manufacturing connectivity and AI solutions serving over 15000 clients in more than 100 countries. By acquiring NextIOT ei3 is now able to expand its sales and marketing activities to serve the growing number of European clients from an onshore location and support them with a multilingual growing workforce. The time-proven ei3 solution of guiding OEMs of any size along their journey towards digitization and the practical adoption of IIoT with limited investment and instant ROI remains the same. Recent events have once again proven the value of remote access and remote service, though the full value of IIoT clearly goes beyond that. "ei3 is the best choice for OEMs who want to provide secure remote service and support, which has now become more critical than ever. The safety of technicians and plant workers is increased by using remote service," says Spencer Cramer, Founder and CEO of ei3. "In the coming months, we will be rolling out a new product called Essential that will allow a secure and free method for data collection to enable quick adoption of the IIoT technology. We are happy to complete this acquisition as it brings us closer to our European customer base. Especially in this trying time where the need for properly architected, secure, remote service is so critical. ei3 provides an end-to-end IoT solution starting from edge device to secure private cloud to robust web-based apps to powerful and practical predictive maintenance tools. Earlier this year, ei3 announced that the solution has now been decoupled from the hardware and can be deployed separately. This gives ei3 customers the freedom and flexibility to choose where and how their data is managed. We look forward to working closely with our new colleagues in Copenhagen to deliver on the benefits of Industry 4.0 and Artificial Intelligence, says Dr. Stefan Hild, Managing Director ei3 Europe. To learn how ei3 can help you develop your plans for establishing secure remote connectivity or to request a demo of the ei3 solution, please visit http://www.ei3.com About ei3: Founded in 1999, ei3 Corporation delivers the world's most secure solution for connecting industrial machines to the internet. ei3 offers a suite of robust, no-code apps backed by the latest IIoT and AI technologies that customers can use to increase asset utilization, improve quality, reduce energy and enable predictive maintenance. Printing presses, injection molding machines, and packaging equipment are some of the market segments in which ei3 leads as the IoT provider of choice. ei3 is headquartered in New York with offices in Montreal, Copenhagen and Zurich. Learn more at http://www.ei3.com 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 Media Release Basel, April 23, 2020 Dufry announces the launch of a placement of shares by way of an accelerated bookbuilding and the offering of approximately CHF 300 million convertible bonds Share placement Dufry AG ("Dufry" or the "Company") launches the placement of up to 5,000,000 newly issued shares (the "New Shares"), sourced from existing authorized capital excluding the existing shareholders' pre-emptive rights, and up to 500,000 treasury shares (the "Treasury Shares" and together with the New Shares, the "Shares") via an accelerated bookbuilding. As a result, Dufry's share capital will increase by 9.9%. The issue price will be determined via an accelerated bookbuilding process and the Shares to be placed will be offered exclusively to professional investors in Switzerland (via private placement), outside of Switzerland and the United States to institutional investors (in reliance on Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act) and in the United States to qualified institutional buyers (in reliance on Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act) (the "Share Placement"). The placement price of the Shares will be announced upon completion of the bookbuilding process, which is expected later today. The New Shares are expected to be listed and admitted to trading on SIX Swiss Exchange on April 27, 2020. Convertible bond Dufry launches the placement of senior bonds with an aggregate principal amount of approximately CHF 300 million due 2023 and conditionally convertible into shares of the Company (the "Convertible Bonds"). The Convertible Bonds will be issued by Dufry One B.V., a subsidiary of the Company, and be guaranteed by the Company. The shares to be delivered upon conversion of the Convertible Bonds will be sourced from conditional capital or from existing shares. For this purpose, the Board of Directors will be seeking shareholders' approval at the next ordinary general meeting, scheduled for May 18, 2020, for the creation of conditional capital sufficient to enable the physical settlement of the Convertible Bonds upon conversion. If shareholder approval for the creation of conditional capital is not passed and registered before August 4, 2020, the Convertible Bonds will be redeemed in cash at the greater of 102% of the principal amount and 102% of the fair market value of the Convertible Bonds, plus accrued but unpaid interest, and otherwise in accordance with their terms. The Convertible Bonds will be issued at par with a denomination of CHF 200,000 and are expected to carry a coupon between 1.00-1.50%, payable semi-annually. Unless previously converted, redeemed, or re-purchased and cancelled, the Convertible Bonds will be redeemed at par at maturity on May 4, 2023. The Convertible Bonds will be convertible into shares of the Company at an initial price expected to be set at a premium between 15-20% over the reference share price which is expected to be equal to the offer price determined in the concurrent placement of the New Shares and the Treasury Shares and delta hedging transactions of individual convertible notes investors. The number of shares sold on behalf of delta hedging investors is estimated to be no more than c. 3 million shares. Dufry may redeem the Convertible Bonds at par, plus accrued interest (if any): No earlier than 21 calendar days after the second anniversary of the closing date, if the volume-weighted average price of the shares is at least 130% of the conversion price on at least 20 out of 30 consecutive trading days; or At any time, if less than 15% of the aggregate principal amount of the bonds is outstanding The two transactions have received very strong interest from existing shareholders as well as potential new investors. In addition, and as announced previously, Members of the Board of Directors and Management plan to participate in the Share Placement with a meaningful amount. Dufry agreed to a lock-up period of 180 days following closing of the Share Placement and Convertible Bonds issuance, subject to customary exceptions and waiver by the Joint Global Coordinators. For further information please click here. DISCLAIMER This press release is for information purposes only and is not intended to constitute or form a part of any offer or solicitation to purchase or subscribe for securities in the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Japan, or any other jurisdiction. The securities mentioned herein have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 ("Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold within the United States of America except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act. There will be no public offering of any of the Company's securities in the United States of America or in any other jurisdiction. The offers referred to herein, when made in member states of the European Economic Area ("EEA") and the United Kingdom, is only addressed to and directed to "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(e) the Prospectus Regulation ("Qualified Investors"). For these purposes, the expression "Prospectus Regulation" means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 on the prospectus to be published when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market, and repealing Directive 2003/71/EC, and includes any relevant delegated regulations. If located in a relevant state, each person who initially acquires any securities, and to the extent applicable any funds on behalf of which such person acquires such securities that are located in a relevant state, or to whom any offer of securities may be made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that it is a Qualified Investor as defined above. The offers of the Shares and the Convertible Bonds will be made pursuant to exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to produce a prospectus in connection with offers of securities. Solely for the purposes of each manufacturer's product approval process, the target market assessment in respect of the Shares has led to the conclusion that: (i) the target market for the Shares is retail investors, eligible counterparties and professional clients, each as defined in Directive 2014/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 May 2014 on markets in financial instruments (as amended, "MiFID II") and (ii) all channels for distribution of the Shares to retail investors, eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate. Any person subsequently offering, selling or recommending the Shares (a "distributor") should take into consideration the manufacturer's target market assessment; however, a distributor subject to MiFID II is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Shares (by either adopting or refining the manufacturer's target market assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels. Solely for the purposes of each manufacturer's product approval process, the target market assessment in respect of the Convertible Bonds has led to the conclusion that: (i) the target market for the Convertible Bonds is eligible counterparties and professional clients only, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) all channels for distribution of the Convertible Bonds to eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate. Any person subsequently offering, selling or recommending the Convertible Bonds (a "distributor") should take into consideration the manufacturers' target market assessment; however, a distributor subject to MiFID II is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Convertible Bonds (by either adopting or refining the manufacturers' target market assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels. The Convertible Bonds are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA and the United Kingdom. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II. Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the "PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling the Convertible Bonds or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA or the United Kingdom has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Convertible Bonds or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA or the United Kingdom may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation. For readers in the United Kingdom, this announcement is only being distributed to and is only directed at Qualified Investors who are (i) outside the United Kingdom or (ii) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) ("Investment professionals") of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") or (iii) certain high value persons and entities who fall within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) ("High net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.") of the Order; or (iv) any other person to whom it may lawfully be communicated (all such persons in (i) to (iv) together being referred to as "relevant persons"). The Shares and the Convertible Bonds are expected to only be available to, and any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire such Shares and the Convertible Bonds will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this announcement or any of its contents. This press release does not constitute a prospectus as such term is understood pursuant to Swiss Financial Services Act. This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements relating to the Company and its business. Such statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements. Readers should therefore not place undue reliance on these statements, particularly not in connection with any contract or investment decision. The Company disclaims any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. The Managers are acting exclusively for the Company and no-one else in connection with the offerings. They will not regard any other person as their respective clients in relation to the offerings and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to their respective clients, nor for providing advice in relation to the offerings, the contents of this announcement or any transaction, arrangement or other matter referred to herein. In connection with the offerings, the Managers and any of their affiliates may take up a portion of the Shares or Convertible Bonds in the offerings and/or may acquire securities as a principal position and in that capacity may retain, purchase, sell, offer to sell for their own accounts such Shares and Convertible Bonds and other securities of the Company or its group or related investments in connection with the offerings or otherwise. In addition the Managers and any of their affiliates may enter into financing arrangements (including swaps, warrants or contracts for differences ) with investors in connection with which the Managers and any of their affiliates may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of Shares, Convertible Bonds and/or other securities or derivate positions in such securities. The Managers and their affiliates do not intend to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligations to do so. None of the Managers or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, affiliates, advisers or agents accepts any responsibility or liability whatsoever for or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to the Company, its subsidiaries or associated companies, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith. For further information please contact: Renzo Radice Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Phone: +41 61 266 44 19 renzo.radice@dufry.com Sara Lizi Karen Sharpes Investor Relations Americas & Communications Div. 4 Global Media & Events Phone: +55 21 2157 9901 Phone: +44 0 208 624 4326 sara.lizi@br.dufry.com karen.sharpes@dufry.com Dufry Group - A leading global travel retailer Dufry AG (SIX: DUFN) is a leading global travel retailer with over 2,400 duty-free and duty-paid shops in airports, cruise lines, seaports, railway stations and downtown tourist areas. The Company, headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, operates in 65 countries in all six continents. Social Responsibility Dufry cares for children and supports social projects from SOS Kinderdorf in Brazil, Cambodia, Mexico, Morocco and Ivory Coast. SOS Children's Villages is an independent, non-political and non-demonstrational organization established for orphaned and destitute children all over the world. NEW DELHI: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership and his handling of the coronavirus pandemic in recent weeks. The Home Minister took to Twitter and tweeted in praise of PM Modi and said that Indians feel secure in the hands of PM Modi and the world community praises his efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Entire world is praising PM @narendramodi, the way he is handling COVID-19 global pandemic, taking care of Indians and helping the world community in such challenging times. Every Indian is feeling safe and trusts his leadership, Shah tweeted. Truth is self evident! Entire world is praising PM @narendramodi, the way he is handling COVID-19 global pandemic, taking care of Indians and helping the world community in such challenging times. Every Indian is feeling safe and trusts his leadership. pic.twitter.com/caq5y8Hjio Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 23, 2020 Minutes before Shah's tweet, Congress interim chief Sonia Gandhi lashed out on Centre for job losses and inefficient handling of the COVID-19 crisis. Sonia Gandhi said 12 crore jobs have been lost due to lockdown and since the economic activity is at a standstill, Rs 7,500 should be provided to each family to tide over the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. She added that the coronavirus has increased ''disturbingly both in spread and speed in the past three weeks'' as she called on the government to arrange 'for more testing kits, which she said are still in short supply and of poor quality. Sonia Gandhi made these remarks while addressing the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meet via videoconferencing. "Sections of our society face acute hardship-particularly our kisan-khet mazdoors, migrant labours, construction workers and in the unorganized sector. Trade, commerce and industry have come to a virtual halt and crores of livelihoods have been destroyed, said Sonia Gandhi, presiding over the CWC meeting. Addressing the CWC meeting, Sonia Gandhi said, "We have repeatedly urged the Prime Minister that there is no alternative to Testing, Trace, and Quarantine. Unfortunately, testing still remains low and testing kits are still in short supply and of poor quality. PPE kits number and quality are poor. Congress president said that the suggestions she gave to the government on tackling the COVID-19 crisis were only acted upon partially. At the CWC meeting, Sonia Gandhi said that large-heartedness and alacrity from the Central Government is conspicuous by its absence. The death toll due to COVID-19 has risen to 681 and the number of cases to 21,393 in the country on Thursday. According to the Union Health Ministry, the number of active COVID-19 cases stood at16,454, while 4,257 people have been cured and discharged, one patient has migrated. The total number of cases includes 77 foreign nationals. A total of 29 deaths were reported since Wednesday evening, of which 18 fatalities were reported from Maharashtra, eight from Gujarat, two from Rajasthan and one from Delhi, the ministry said. Of the 681 deaths, Maharashtra tops the tally with 269 fatalities, followed by Gujarat at 103, Madhya Pradesh at 80, Delhi at 48, Rajasthan at 27, Andhra Pradesh at 24 and Telangana at 23. The death toll reached 21 in Uttar Pradesh, 18 in Tamil Nadu and 17 in Karnataka. Punjab has registered 16 deaths, while West Bengal has reported 15 fatalities due to COVID-19 so far. The disease has claimed five lives in Jammu and Kashmir. Kerala, Jharkhand and Haryana have recorded three deaths each. Bihar has reported two deaths, while Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Assam have reported one fatality each, according to the ministry data. The project is also intended to provide at least a bit of employment for artists at a time when stage work has evaporated. Performed by a cast of nine local actors who, like the seriess design team, lost jobs when Round Houses season screeched to a socially distanced halt last month, Homebound will be written by a different Washington-area playwright each week and shot by the actors in their homes on their phones and tablets. There is no showrunner and no preordained arc to the 10-episode series, which will develop, relay style, over the course of the spring, with each writer handing off to the next. Assigned two actors, the writers are free to use their own voices and lead the story where they will, keeping an eye on continuity and character development. The progress of the pandemic will surely influence the shows shape, while its tone may be as variable as the emotional tenor of these lockdown days. Is it theater, though? As companies with darkened stages put productions online, questions of form and medium have become surprisingly contentious. Petri, for one, thinks of her episode a comedy about the disembodied weirdness of Zoom life and the solace of human connection as fundamentally a 10-minute play, but it happens to be set inside your computer. Round Houses artistic director, Ryan Rilette, is adamant, though, that the pieces that will make up Homebound are not plays, and the series is not theater. On the morning of Tuesday, February 25, Dr. Nancy Messonnier, the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, conducted a media telebriefing on the coming intensification of covid-19 outbreaks in the US. At the time, the country had just a few dozen confirmed cases. Still, Messonnier warned, Its not so much of a question of if this will happen anymore, but rather more of a question of exactly when this will happen. Markets, which had declined the previous day, tumbled further; the Washington Post, drawing on anonymous accounts from presidential aides, reported that Donald Trump believes extreme warnings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have spooked investors. Another CDC official professed the belief that the immediate risk here in the United States remains low. The day after Messonniers comments, Trump put Vice President Mike Pence in charge of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, and, as reporters observed, the CDCs voice seemed to take a back seat. Messonnier held four more coronavirus telebriefings, the most recent of which took place more than a month ago, on March 9. Nancy Messonnier told it like it is, Dr. Thomas Frieden, the former director of the CDC, told the New York Times before Messonniers last telebriefing. And she was 100 percent right, and they silenced the messenger. The Times requested interviews with CDC officials for a March 13 story on coronavirus death estimates, then reported that the center had declined interview requestsand referred a request for comment to the White House Coronavirus Task Force. ICYMI: A battered FOIA collides with the $2 trillion bailout A March 19 foia request from the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University asked the CDC for information regarding its policies concerning employees ability to speak with the press and the public. foia requires a response within twenty business days (thirty if unusual circumstances are invoked). The CDC responded with a projected release date of September 21; on April 2, the Knight Institute sued. There have been reports that messaging from President Trump and the White House has been inaccurate or missing important context, Stephanie Krent, a lawyer litigating the Knight Institutes case against the CDC, says. I think its now more critical than ever to understand what restrictions are put on CDC employees. Ultimately, the concern is the publics ability to understand exactly where information is coming from and to judge its accuracy themselves, a process in which the media is intrinsically involved. Restrictive press policies limit journalists access to federal employees who would otherwise want to speak out, she says. Sign up for CJR 's daily email DURING THE PANDEMIC, whether the CDCs voice has been silenced has become something of a story in itself. A March 25 story by NPR science reporter Nell Greenfieldboyce called the agency conspicuously silent, and quoted Tom Frieden, a former CDC director, who told her, We are less safe because the CDC doesnt have the voice and the role it needs to have. On April 1, citing a report from the New York Times that federal health officials were required to coordinate statements with Pences office, the Union of Concerned Scientists filed a scientific integrity complaint with the CDC, and urge[d] the CDC to allow its experts to speak with the media. Days later, in an interview for STAT, Helen Branswell asked CDC director Robert Redfield about an agency gone quiet, as a headline put it. Your agency is invisible, Branswell remarked at one moment. You may see it as invisible on the nightly news, but its sure not invisible in terms of operationalizing this response, Redfield replied. Concerns that CDC officials are being muzzled seem especially notable under an administration characterized by a brazen disregard for facts, science, and truth itself. (Throughout the pandemic, variations on the phrase the CDC did not respond to a request for comment have abounded. The CDC did not respond to a request for comment for this story, either.) However, journalists and health watchdogs warn that scientists at the CDC and other government agencies have been selectively silenced for years. In a 2015 report, the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists outlined challenges to transparency, access, and communication between journalists and government bodies. The report included a poll of journalists, more than half of whom believed that the public was denied necessary information because of barriers agencies are imposing on journalists reporting practices. One respondent replied that most of their interviews with CDC officials are monitored. Scientists, the report argued, need to have the freedom to speak candidly with journalistsand hence the publicabout their work. For example, if scientists at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have apprehensions about a new strain of influenza or a tuberculosis outbreak, the public needs to have confidence that these scientists are communicating openly with the press and that the CDCs response is based on science. Last month, at least one SPJ chapter renewed the call for transparency, imploring the Trump administration to end speech restrictions for government health officials. The SPJ and I have been working on this for a long time, Kathryn Foxhall, a veteran healthcare reporter, says. We couldnt get any traction on the issue, and suddenly now, with a pandemic, a few people are listening. The pandemic requires an unprecedented level of clarity at a moment of equally unprecedented restrictions on access to federal public health scientists, says Michelle Levander, the founding director of the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism. I dont know that theres been a time where that kind of effort at [narrative] control has been coupled with a public health emergency of this kind, she says. There is an urgency for really clear, evidence-based, honest communication. As journalists from all beats are reassigned to coronavirus coverage, the lack of access to information morphs into another kind of challenge. According to Levander, the number of journalists on health beats has declined in favor of general-assignment reporters, which means most are covering the pandemic without the depth of knowledge and source contacts that reporters with a specific beat cultivate. Journalists have been deemed as providing an essential service in this pandemic, and they need certain tools to provide that service. One is unhampered access to information and experts in our government, she says. Degrees of access changed as public relations took off, according to Foxhall. We began to get this stuff from agencies saying that you have to go through the press office, she remembers. I was in a newsroom then, and we were disturbed. As the 2015 SPJ report detailed, this practice has become commonplace, galvanized through public information officers who limit journalist access through preapproval processes, opening the door to political influence [that] slows down or reduces public access to information. Dr. Glen Nowak previously worked at the CDC as the director of media relations and communications director for the organizations National Immunization Program, a tenure that spanned from 1999 to 2013 and included the H1N1 pandemic. Over that period, Nowak says, journalists who wanted to talk to scientists would have to make a request, which ultimately ended up at the CDC Office of Media Relations. That system was there for a number of reasons, Nowak says, noting that, in the absence of a public directory, it can be difficult for journalists to identify whom to talk to in the first place. Over time, as elected officials turned over, Nowak says, each administration that came in often wanted to tighten access to the mediaa dynamic he attributes, in part, to campaign communications staff being appointed to government agencies. Those people are the talent pool they draw from, Nowak says. Foxhall, the healthcare reporter, began her career in the 1970s, in the earliest days of the hiv/aids crisis, in Washington, DC, where she resides today. When we wanted some expertise or just the slightest little answer to something, we picked up the phone and called someone at the CDC, she recalls. Nobody told you who you couldnt talk to. That would have been unthinkable. RECENTLY: A peoples history of a pandemic Correction: A previous version of this story misidentified STAT reporter Helen Branswell. CJR regrets the error. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Cinnamon Janzer is a Minneapolis-based journalist who focuses on lesser-told stories. She writes broadly about cities, politics, culture, economies, business, and travel. You can reach her at www.cinnamon-janzer.com. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is being treated at a hospital which is meant for exclusive use of his family, according to Daily NK, a South Korean internet news outlet specialising in North Korea news. The Hyang San hospital has long been maintained as special facility to deal with heart-related ailments, Daily NK further reported. The hospital was built in 1994, after the death of North Korea leaders grandfather, Kim Il-sung, who was in Hyang San (a place about 150 kilometres from capital Pyongyang) at that time. Kim believed that a hospital in the area would have saved him, the news outlet reported. It also said that there is one more reason to build a hospital away from capital Pyongyang: To keep the leader and his family away from any kind of surveillance. Daily NK further reported that the doctor who conducted Kims surgery is an expert in cardiovascular-related diseases and has even received training abroad. The doctor too is kept under tight security and moves around with his own guard, the news outlet reported. The medical equipment at the hospital is imported from Germany and Japan, reported Daily NK, which is run mostly by North Korean defectors. Daily NK had earlier reported thar Kim had undergone a cardiovascular procedure earlier this month triggered by heavy smoking, obesity and fatigue. CNN also quoted a US official as saying Kim was in grave danger after surgery. Speculation about Kims whereabouts started after he apparently skipped an annual visit to the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun last Wednesday on the occasion of the 108th birthday of his late grandfather and state founder, Kim Il Sung. Kim was last seen on April 11 in state media reports about his presiding over a political bureau meeting of the ruling Workers Party, where he called for strict national countermeasures to thoroughly check the infiltration of the virus. LONDON, April 15 (Reuters) - A Hong Kong-flagged tanker was briefly detained in Iran before being freed after armed Iranian guards in speedboats directed the vessel into its waters while it was sailing through the Gulf of Oman, maritime security sources said on Wednesday. The sources said the SC Taipei chemical tanker had been sailing in international waters on Tuesday when it was stopped by Iranian authorities. "The vessel was approached 48nm (nautical miles) offshore Fujairah and hailed by four skiffs carrying armed Iranian coastguard personnel," British maritime security company Ambrey Intelligence said. "The vessels crew were ordered to lower the ladder and were then boarded. The vessel was later directed to Kooh Mobarak, Iran, but quickly released with crew and vessel now confirmed safe." Two other maritime security sources also said the vessel had been briefly detained in Iran before being allowed to sail. Iranian and Hong Kong officials could not be immediately reached for comment . The vessel's Singapore-based manager SC Shipping was also not immediately available. The SC Taipei's last position on Wednesday was at anchor near to the United Arab Emirates with the UAE port of Fujairah listed as its destination, Refinitiv ship tracking data showed. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Tuesday that armed men had boarded an unnamed vessel at anchor in the Gulf of Oman but the ship was later released. The UKMTO said on Wednesday that Tuesday's episode was "assessed to be an isolated incident of state-based intervention, with no wider threat to maritime shipping in the region". Last year Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) detained a Swedish-owned tanker which was held for weeks in Iran after Britain had earlier detained an Iranian tanker off the territory of Gibraltar. Ambrey Intelligence said the IRGC had stepped up activity in recent weeks throughout the Strait of Hormuz, hailing ships via VHF radio systems and conducting brief interdictions. It added that such activity should be viewed in the context of "domestic pressures related to sanctions". The United States re-imposed tough sanctions on Iran in 2018 after Washington pulled out of a 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran, raising tensions and hitting the Middle Eastern oil producer's economy. (Reporting by Jonathan Saul, additional reporting by Dubai and Hong Kong bureaux Editing by Gareth Jones) WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., April 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- It's the time of the year when people get back tax refunds, and as well people are receiving their stimulus checks from the U.S. Treasury currently. South Floridians will not let the current pandemic to stop them just like they've survived and thrived through other disasters like hurricanes every year. Many though worry about changes in the economy and their jobs due to state shut-down orders, and they are trying to adjust to working from home and homeschooling their children. All these temporary changes can be stressful, and that leads people to sleepless nights! 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Emergency rooms were busy preparing for the predicted onslaught and likely missed some early virus-related deaths, and did not have the time or tools to verify infections on the fly, experts said. It was mid-March before teams at N.Y.U. and Mount Sinai began taking samples for testing in New York. On Thursday, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced results from antibody testing of grocery store shoppers which researchers warned were preliminary and could change that suggests one of every five New Yorkers may have been infected. The new findings from the model produce a range of possible outcomes for when the virus may have infected 10 people in each city. In New York, for example, the model shows that the first 10 infected people could have been walking the streets of the city as early as the last week in January, or as late as the middle of February. From there, the infections in the centers of the outbreak grew exponentially. Trevor Bedford, an associate professor at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and the University of Washington in Seattle, said it became clear in late February that community transmission an infectious outbreak was probably silently underway in Washington after a single test result came back positive for someone who had no symptoms. Whatever the precise scale of the initial outbreak, that same dynamic will accelerate once measures to mitigate the spread are relaxed without other public health measures in place, Dr. Burke said. When you take away social distancing, everything will go right through the roof, he said. Turkey to send medical aid to Palestine Coronavirus test kits, masks, special clothing and other basic equipment will be provided to the Health Ministry of Palestine, a statement said. Turkey has accepted Palestines call for medical and financial assistance in the fight against the novel coronavirus, according to an official statement Thursday. DECISION CAME AFTER AN EXTRAORDINARY MEETING Turkey announced an aid package for Palestine during an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said in a statement. Al-Maliki thanked his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu and the Turkish government for the assistance, it added. On Wednesday, the OIC held an extraordinary meeting to discuss measures in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Founded in 1969, the OIC is a 57-member bloc of Muslim countries. It is "the collective voice of the Muslim world" and works to "safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony." HOLYOKE More than six weeks before the first veteran at the Soldiers Home in Holyoke tested positive for COVID-19, the state Office of the Inspector General had begun an investigation into the state-run facility. Inspector General Glenn A. Cuhna began the investigation on Jan. 30. He recently announced he is expanding that ongoing investigation to include looking into the circumstances leading to the coronavirus crisis that has killed at least 55 residents and infected another 93 at the home, according to a spokeswoman for the state Executive Office of Health and Human Services. She did not release details about what investigators were originally looking into. A spokesman for the inspector generals office declined to comment, saying the office does not confirm or deny whether it is conducting any investigations. State lawmakers also said they have no information about why the investigation is being conducted. One of our frustrations about the Holyoke Soldiers Home is we are not included in the conversations because of the investigations, said state Rep. Aaron Vega, D-Holyoke. It is especially difficult because families of the residents have been contacting him and other lawmakers seeking information that they do not always have, he said. Vega said he did hear frequent complaints about a lack of funding and staffing shortages at the home under the last administrator, but Superintendent Bennett Walsh, who was appointed in 2016, has not brought the same issues to him. The inspector generals investigation is the fifth ordered since the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, acting on information about the coronavirus spreading at the home, sent a team of examiners to the Holyoke Soldiers Home on March 30. By late morning they had placed Walsh on paid administrative leave and tapped Val Liptak, a registered nurse and CEO of Western Massachusetts Hospital, to serve as director. The state assigned a clinical team of experts in different fields including infectious diseases and operations to the Holyoke Soldiers Home, and about 160 members of the Massachusetts National Guard are also working there now to augment the staff that is depleted because many of them have been infected with COVID-19. Walsh, who reported in a motion for a court injunction against his removal that he is believed to have contracted the coronavirus, has denied any mismanagement and called any accusations of wrongdoing as outrageous. His lawyer and uncle, former Hampden District Attorney William Bennett, said he had no information about the inspector generals investigation. The Soldiers Home board of trustees chairman Kevin Jourdain referred all questions about the investigation to the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. The other investigations are being conducted by Gov. Charlie Bakers office, state Attorney General Maura Healey and U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling. State legislators are also planning to hold a hearing on the issue when they can return to session. Related Content: MARPLE Wednesday marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and a casual glance around Delaware County showed nature holding its own. Foxes in Haverford, hawks in Marple, flora everywhere. Over the past 50 years, our area has seen the development of more parks and trails providing plenty of opportunities for residents to get out and experience nature. Bike trails were unheard of in 1970; now there are multiple bike and walking trails and land dedicated to nature preserves throughout Delaware County. These include Hildacy Farm Preserve in Marple, Haverford Preserve in Haverford, the Chester Creek bike trail and the Radnor bike trail, all of which have proved to be extremely popular with residents and families across the region. Our state has made great strides in providing cleaner air and cleaner water. While climate change is certainly a threat globally, on this particular day, lets look at the glass half full. People now understand the need to protect the environment. In fact, escaping to nature has been shown be a salve for our mental health, and one that is particularly welcome in these current times. Lets hope we see continued improvement over the next 50 years. Nokia is now rolling out Android 10 for its Nokia 2.3 in no fewer than 42 countries or regions. The company announced the rollout as of April 22 via its official community forums. The list of countries or regions includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, and France. Georgia, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Lebanon, and Libya are on that list as well. So are Lithuania, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Norway, Oman, and Pakistan. The list is rounded out by the Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Tunisia, UAE, Ukraine, and Yemen. The Nokia 2.3 was released worldwide so that list is not all-inclusive in terms of countries or regions that will eventually see the update. For instance, some markets such as the US arent included on the list just yet. Advertisement How are these Nokia 2.3 Android 10 waves going to work? Now, as noted above, some markets such as the United States not being on the list of regions doesnt mean the update wont arrive there. The Nokia 2.3, released to that region via pre-orders as of January, and should still receive Android 10. The company has outlined its two waves and just what the differentiator between those is at its website. The waves, Nokia indicates, typically occur a few weeks apart but not always. The first wave is simply the list of regions where approval has been given to roll out the updated build. The second wave is comprised of regions where approval hasnt been attained just yet. That also doesnt mean that the Nokia 2.3 wont get approval before a few weeks have passed. Nokia says that, in general, it tries to push updates as soon as approval is given after the first wave. Advertisement With regard to the first wave, Nokia indicates that as many as 60-percent of the markets listed above will have received the update by April 24. By April 26, all of them should and the rollout itself started April 22. But, with regard to individual devices, it can take up to five days for the software update to arrive for everybody in a given region. Wave two doesnt have a scheduled roll-out date just yet. Update now for a new stock experience Nokia 2.3 is an Android One program smartphone. So the experience with Android 10 on the device should land pretty close to stock Android 10, regardless of the region. Android One effectively means the handset runs stock Android with no overlays and no added bloatware. The experience is meant to be as close to AOSP as possible and the devices generally receive updates much more regularly than many others. Advertisement Android 10 delivers a number of optimizations and new features. So thats good news for Nokia 2.3 owners. Checking for the update is fairly straightforward too for those where it hasnt arrived OTA quite yet but should be rolled out. Users need to first navigate to their Settings app and then tap on the About phone option. Under that, there should be another option, labeled System update, available. The Check for update option will start the process. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison signalled Thursday he could allow the New Zealand Warriors into Australia to play in a resumed NRL competition, which rugby league officials hope will kick off next month. The NRL has been pushing hard to restart the league despite the virus shutdown, with officials reaffirming plans Wednesday for teams to begin training on May 4 and games to resume on May 28. Morrison -- a diehard Cronulla Sharks fan -- said the government had been "directly engaged in" discussions over New Zealand's involvement in a rebooted NRL, adding that border officials had already granted exemptions for some non-Australians to enter the country. "That is an area that I think we can look potentially favourably on provided all the other arrangements are in place regarding public safety," he told reporters in Canberra. "That's something we'll just work through patiently." Australia closed its borders to non-residents in late March in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, while also imposing bans on large public gatherings and internal movement. Reported plans to resume the NRL include having all 16 teams, including the Warriors, based in Sydney and playing their games under strict isolation restrictions. The Warriors are the only non-Australian side in the competition. Morrison said he had also spoken to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern about the possibility of a bilateral border reopening that would allow citizens -- including NRL players -- to travel between the two countries. "Now, if there is any country in the world with whom we can reconnect with first, undoubtedly that's New Zealand," he said. "And we have similar trajectories. Their restrictions have been far greater. Our case response has, you know, been the same, if not better than New Zealand. "So if there's any country where we can look to achieve that, then I would have thought New Zealand would be the obvious candidate and that's the nature of the discussions we've had." But Morrison would not give a green light to the NRL restarting on May 28, saying Australia's leaders would be guided by medical experts when they consider lifting restrictions next month. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) One of the two nurses singled out by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he was discharged from the hospital after his treatment for COVID-19, has admitted he was "nervous at first" when hearing who he was assigned to care for. Luis Pitarma, 29, who is originally from Aveiro in Portugal, said it was "quite overwhelming" but that his matron at St Thomas' Hospital in London told him to be himself. Pitarma, who has worked at the hospital for nearly four years, said in an interview published on the hospital's website, that Johnson made him "feel less nervous" when he asked to be called Boris. Pitarma said he was by Johnson's side during his three nights in the intensive care unit and that he was "extremely proud" Johnson thanked him. Johnson spent a week in hospital, leaving on April 12. On his discharge, he highlighted the care he received from Pitarma and his New Zealand colleague Jenny McGee. Johnson is still convalescing at his country retreat. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WASHINGTON - With a white scarf wrapped around her face, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., swooped into the well of the House and took out a green card, signed her name and voted yes. She then headed toward the back of the chamber, serving as a stern enforcer giving orders. When Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., lingered after casting her vote, Pelosi waved her hands, gloved in medical blue, at her close friend, ordering her to leave quickly. "Don't stand there," she yelled at DeLauro. So began one of the strangest set of votes in congressional history. First, House leaders knew they had to pass a $484 billion emergency relief bill to help small businesses get desperately needed loans and extend another $100 billion into the health-care system for hospitals. Second, they had to devise an intricate system that would allow nearly 400 lawmakers to trek to Washington despite health experts warning against nonessential travel for fear of further spreading the deadly coronavirus. Some parts of the day looked like any other on Capitol Hill - a sparsely crowded House chamber as lawmakers debated in heated partisan tones. But so much else looked different. There were many, many masks, and in some cases gloves. Sanitizing hand wipes were placed on every row. Signs on the chairs forbid lawmakers from sitting any closer than three seats apart. Most lawmakers wore masks inside the chamber, although quite a few Republicans declined to wear them at all, a point of tension for some Democrats who want everyone to don some face covering. When Pelosi spoke in the morning, she unfurled her scarf so she could speak clearly into the microphone. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., leading the GOP side of debate, thanked her for that example and encouraged most speakers to adhere to that practice, taking their mask off to speak and then returning it over their face. And finally, after more than five hours of debate, came the procession. Rather than the normal 15-minute vote - with several hundred lawmakers crammed into the chamber at once - House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., worked with GOP leaders to minimize the number of lawmakers on the floor. Hoyer's staff spent Monday and Tuesday doing walk-throughs of the House chamber, working with advice from the Office of Attending Physician, to delicately map out how best to separate the few dozen lawmakers who were on the floor during the debate. Shortly after 3 p.m., as the first vote began, the initial wave of lawmakers were ushered onto the floor almost one at a time, from either side of the House floor. They were greeted by a staffer and two hand sanitizer stations. Some wiped their hands, others reached into their pockets to pull out their voting card, sliding it into the electric slot and then pressing green (for yes) or red (for no). There were eight waves arranged alphabetically - the first group ranging from the As to the middle of the Cs, and so on. This being Congress, there was a ninth group, for those lawmakers who were late or could not figure out the system and missed their proper group for voting. As the first vote began, a pair of Democratic staff set up near the aisle to serve as ushers to guide lawmakers to their exit. But Pelosi, standing in the back, eyeballed the situation and immediately waved her arms outward - ordering the aides to step further away from the aisle to create more distance from the lawmakers. It marked the first time lawmakers cast a formally recorded vote since March 13, after which the House has been essentially shuttered aside from top-level negotiations on coronavirus rescue packages. Democrats had hoped to approve a temporary rule change to allow proxy voting from afar during the pandemic. That would allow lawmakers who felt at risk because of their age or preexisting conditions to avoid traveling, as well as those who are caring for sick relative and do not want to risk exposing them to the virus. But that fell apart amid partisan sniping. Instead a bipartisan working group is negotiating how to have the House function. The last time House members saw one another, March 27, they approved a sweeping $2 trillion collection of legislation that included a new program of loans backed by the Small Business Administration. That vote also used a historic avenue to try to keep members safe, having about 100 of them occupy seats in the spacious public galleries above that have been closed to the general public since March 12, and then approved that bill on a resounding voice vote. This time, with Republicans demanding a formal vote, Hoyer created the assembly-line approach, taking nearly 90 minutes to finish the first roll call, a party-line vote to create a select committee to oversee the more than $2.5 trillion already allocated to fight the virus. And just before 5 p.m., a crew of staff bolted through the chamber wearing masks and neon orange gloves, using Lysol wipes to cleanse everything from the microphones to the banisters in the public gallery above. The next, and final vote, then started. Just getting the lawmakers to Washington carried some risk, because many lawmakers fear that by traveling back and forth they could become vectors of transmitting the disease. Most found that the flights were nowhere close to half full, allowing them to steer clear of other passengers. "There were more on my flight than I was expecting, probably about 40 - but that's still on a plane that normally carries 160," Rep. Jason Crow, D-Colo., said in an interview outside the Capitol. Just past 3 o'clock, Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., took the floor to denounce some hiccups in the new SBA program that, as chair of the House Small Business Committee, she helped draft last month. Velazquez announced March 30 that she had covid-19 symptoms and her doctors told her to assume she had contracted the virus, just three days after standing directly behind Pelosi at a ceremony marking the passage of the $2 trillion legislation. She self isolated for two weeks and returned Wednesday, starting with a hearing for lawmakers to discuss their district's experience with the new Paycheck Protection Program, which had a troubling rollout. It remains in such demand that the new legislation pumped another $310 billion into it. She then got to close out the floor debate. Early in the first vote, Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., walked onto the floor, wearing a mask and black gloves, his first trip back to Washington since he finished up a three-week quarantine after he tested positive March 15 for covid-19. As he left the floor, he spotted a staffer he knew and flashed both thumbs up. An ex-tradie who quit his job to start an award-winning rum business has shared his secrets to success during the coronavirus crisis. Codie Palmer, 32, quit his job as an electrician in 2015 to establish Illegal Tender Rum Co in Dongara, on Western Australias Coral Coast. Operating the distillery and restaurant with his partner Hayley Wells, 31, the pair have overcome a number of hurdles to produce one of the best rums in the world. Mr Palmer told Daily Mail Australia: 'It was difficult for us to make that decision to go from having a safety net to having nothing at all.' Codie Palmer (pictured left) and his partner Hayley Wells (right) established a successful rum distillery in Dongara, on Western Australias Coral Coast, in 2015 Mr Palmer (pictured) quit his job as an electrician to found Illegal Tender Rum Co The Illegal Tender Rum (pictured) was named the Worlds Best Column Distilled Rum He said home-brewing had been a passion since he was 15-years-old that Ms Wells encouraged him to pursue professionally. 'We sold the house, sold the car, sold everything and put it all on black I guess you could say,' Mr Palmer explained. Mr Palmer spent nearly two years setting up the distillery on his father's property and lived there while the project was being completed. The distillery built up a local following and began promoting their rum in a closed Facebook group to get the company off the ground. Mr Palmer said the initial stages were 'difficult' but he 'had the money in the bank and the drive to succeed.' The first years of the company were extremely successful and Mr Palmer said Illegal Tender Rum Co was 'very lucky' to receive seven international World Spirit Awards. His rum was even named the 'Worlds Best Column Distilled Rum (Five Years Old and Under)' this year. Mr Palmer said: 'The success primarily would be from passion. This business wouldn't be here if I wasn't surrounded by people not as passionate as myself.' The company was in the middle of expanding its distillery premises when Australia was thrown into the COVID-19 crisis. Mr Palmer (pictured) credited his success to passion, luck and Australian ingredients The distillery also began producing hand sanitiser (pictured) to cope with the COVID-19 crisis 'Coronavirus really affected us quite heavily we saw absolutely no tourists. 'We had to make the decision to close everything and that was huge for us,' Mr Palmer said. Mr Palmer realised the business needed to adapt and change to stay afloat during the crisis. He explained: 'I'd been seeing everyone begging for hand sanitiser everywhere and the more we probed into it the more I realised it was a legitimate worry.' 'We thought "We can make the ethanol, can we make the hand sanitiser?" and this is now day 36 straight from that idea.' Mr Palmer said he began receiving email requests every two to three minutes after deciding to create the cleaning product. 'We've been working anywhere from 12-16 hour days to continue the production of not only hand sanitiser but our rum as well,' Mr Palmer said. 'To be able to pivot and not only assist our community but keep our business moving forward during this tumultuous time was a blessing in disguise,' he noted. The rum (pictured) has received seven prestigious World Spirit Awards Pictured: Mr Palmer and his partner Ms Wells celebrating the distillery's anniversary Mr Palmer had also previously been in contact with Dan Murphys about stocking Illegal Tender Rum Co products before the coronavirus hit. The liquor chain reached out Mr Palmer last month and asked if it would assist the brand to be 'fast tracked' onto their shelves. 'I said "lets do it" and we've been working our rear ends off ever since,' Mr Palmer explained. The process would normally take 12 months but three of Mr Palmer's rums will be stocked in Western Australian Dan Murphys stores by the end of May. 'It makes it much easier for our customers to just go to their local Dan Murphy's and all our products are there,' Mr Palmer said. The rum distiller credited his ultimate success to passion and a commitment to only using Australian ingredients. He said: 'Out of of all this Covid stuff there has been a focus that has come out on Australian products and it's great to see.' Mr Palmer also advised hopeful business owners to emotionally separate from products and take professional advice onboard. 'When you're producing something from a passion standpoint it has to become a business at some point,' he said. By PTI JAKARTA: Indonesia's most active volcano Mount Merapi erupted on Friday, shooting a column of ash some 5,000 metres (16,000 feet) into the air in its second major eruption this month. Ash and sand-covered areas several kilometres (miles) away from the peak of the rumbling crater near Indonesia's cultural capital Yogyakarta. But authorities did not raise Merapi's alert level. "There has been no reports of damage from the eruption. We urge people to stay calm and not panic," national disaster mitigation agency spokesman Agus Wibowo said. Merapi erupted earlier this month, shooting a massive ash cloud some 6,000 metres in the air. That eruption coated Yogyakarta and neighbouring city Solo with grey dust and forced an airport closure. Mount Merapi's last major eruption in 2010 killed more than 300 people and forced the evacuation of 280,000 residents. That was Merapi's most powerful eruption since 1930, which killed around 1,300 people, while another explosion in 1994 took about 60 lives. The Southeast Asian nation -- an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands and islets -- has nearly 130 active volcanoes. It sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire", a vast zone of geological instability where the collision of tectonic plates causes frequent quakes and major volcanic activity. In a significant move, the Union cabinet on Wednesday amended the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1987 through an ordinance in order to ensure safety of health workers at a time when there has been a spate of attacks on them. Any violence against health workers may now bring steep fines and even imprisonments of up to seven years. This move comes hours after Home Minister Amit Shah addressed Nina Medical Association through a video conference, assuring them of safety and urging them to withdraw the symbolic protest scheduled for later this month against incidents of violence on health workers pressed into CVID-19 duty. From now on, not just such violence is cognizable but also non-bailable offence. Additionally, it has provisions to provide compensation for injury to healthcare service personnel or for causing damage or loss to the property, the government said on Wednesday. K.S. Dhatwalia, Principal Spokesperson for the government, tweeted: "Ordinance would help protect healthcare service personnel and their living/working premises against violence". "This actually helps protect the entire health fraternity including doctors, nurses, paramedics up to ASHA workers, " said Union I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar. The Minister said the amendment was necessitated after incidents of violence were witnessed against them while discharging their crucial duty for the country. The amendment has ensured that the investigation takes place in a time-bound manner. A special provision is also made in the ordinance in case vehicles or clinics are damaged. In such cases, two times the cost will be recovered from assailants. Information on Ukraines need for financial, expert or logistical assistance to combat the coronavirus pandemic is collected and updated weekly through a single coordination mechanism. Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko said this during a video conferencing meeting with the leadership of the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) on April 22, according to the Government portal. The mechanism will improve interaction with all partners that support Ukraine. It is important that Ukraine also contributes to the fight against the pandemic by helping partners. Ukrainian aircraft continually deliver the necessary supplies around the world to fight the coronavirus, and Ukrainian distilleries are capable of producing record volumes of isopropyl alcohol for disinfectants. Coordination of these efforts, in particular through the world-wide Ukrainian communities, is critical to ensure the effectiveness of the measures taken and the timely response to the urgent needs, he stressed. Prystaiko informed UWC representatives that the Government was also working on additional mechanisms to support the economy, social and other sectors. The Government has been engaged in elaborating more strategic steps, including maintaining production of Ukrainian medical supplies and equipment, as well as support programs for micro and small businesses. The Government has recently approved a decision that will allow small businesses to receive loans at 0% interest. This would stimulate the production of medical and other necessary goods in Ukraine and allow preserving jobs, Prystaiko emphasized. He also thanked the leadership of the Ukrainian World Congress for their active participation and practical assistance to Ukraine and Ukrainians during the coronavirus pandemic. Ukrainians all over the world have supported each other in these difficult times. The pandemic has just proved that we are stronger when we act in synergy, Prystaiko stressed. On April 2, 2020, on the instruction of Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal, a single coordination mechanism was created to collect data and coordinate the provision of international humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Vadym Prystaiko was authorized to ensure overall coordination of this work. ish A family who were unable to see their father as he died from coronavirus spent 30 hours on the phone with him in the run-up to his death. Due to the severe infectiousness of the novel coronavirus, Abby Adair Reinhard was not allowed to visit her father, Don Adair, as he succumbed to the disease in hospital. However, in a touching gesture, a nurse offered to help the family say goodbye by putting a phone next to Mr Adair's ear. The phone call meant Ms Reinhard and her three siblings were able to talk to their father in the 30 hours leading up to his death. It was a huge blessing, Ms Reinhard told CNNs, Anderson Cooper. It allowed me to have some sort of closure. I was able to say what I needed to say, knowing it was the end, and even though I couldn't see him and I couldn't hold his hand, having that connection over the phone was incredibly valuable. The siblings live miles away from each other in Denmark, Texas, North Carolina, and New York, but were able to join together on the phone to comfort their father. They shared memories, sang songs to their dad, and expressed their love for him, Ms Reinhard told CNN. I thanked my dad, for being there for me, for loving me, she said. "I apologised for what I needed to apologise for, I forgave him for what I needed to forgive him for, and just started sharing memories and songs." Ms Reinhard told the outlet that the heartbreaking experience has caused her to realise what's valuable in life amidst the pandemic. It all just becomes crystal clear that it's about family and it's about love, she said. Li Zehua, who also goes by Kcriss Li, in a February 16 video alleging a cover-up in Wuhan, China. Kcriss Li/YouTube A reporter in Wuhan, China, who disappeared two months ago while investigating a coronavirus-related cover-up reemerged on Wednesday and praised the police who tracked him down. Li Zehua had interviewed people infected with the coronavirus and documented claims of a cover-up on his YouTube page. He disappeared on February 26. In a video published Wednesday, he said the police detained him on suspicion of disrupting public order but didn't charge him, placing him under supervised quarantine instead. "Throughout the whole process, police officers acted civil and legally, making sure that I was resting and eating well," Li said. "They really cared for me." In a video filmed before his disappearance, Li said, "I'm doing this because I hope more young people can, like me, stand up." Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Related Video: Why South Korea's Coronavirus Curve Looks Different From the U.S. A Chinese citizen journalist who vanished two months ago while investigating a coronavirus cover-up in Wuhan has reappeared, praising the police who detained him. In February, Li Zehua, who also goes by Kcriss Li, interviewed Wuhan residents infected with the coronavirus and was investigating allegations of a local effort to cover up new infections. He posted his reporting in videos on YouTube, Twitter, and the microblogging platform Weibo. (YouTube and Twitter are blocked in China, but many citizens use virtual private networks, or VPNs, to bypass censors.) Just before 6 p.m. on February 26, Li was followed home by a white SUV whose occupants were yelling at him to pull over. He made it home, 30 kilometers away, and started livestreaming a video about the chase. That was the last time he was heard for 56 days. But on Wednesday, Li posted a new video on his social-media accounts explaining what happened to him. Li said that after the car chase, officers in security uniforms and hazmat suits knocked on his door. He didn't respond, and the people went away. Story continues Three hours later, officers arrived at his apartment again and took him to a police station you can see this around the three-minute, 14-second mark in the video above. The officers then told Li he was being detained on suspicion of disrupting public order but chose not to charge him, Li said. A video showing police officers inside Li's apartment. YouTube/Kcriss Li Li said the police told him that because he had been in "sensitive epidemic areas," he had to go into quarantine. China has reportedly confined multiple whistleblowers and critics to house arrest under the pretext of quarantine during the pandemic. Li said he was let go on March 28 and had been spending time with family. But in stark contrast to the tone of his reporting from Wuhan, Li's latest video saw him heap praise on the police who detained him. Li Zehua. Kcriss Li/YouTube "Throughout the whole process, police officers acted civil and legally, making sure that I was resting and eating well. They really cared for me," Li said. "I had three meals a day, felt safe with guards, and got to watch the news every day." He added: "Thank you everyone who took care and were concerned for me! I hope that everyone suffering in the epidemic get well soon. May God bless China and people in the world unite." A video of Li working out while in quarantine posted on YouTube on Wednesday. YouTube/ Li Kcriss In several of his older videos, Li stressed that something had gone wrong in Wuhan and that he felt it was his duty to document citizens' grievances. "I don't want to remain silent or shut my eyes and ears. It's not that I can't have a nice life with a wife and kids. I can. I'm doing this because I hope more young people can, like me, stand up," he said in one video. Li's motto, splashed across graphics on his YouTube page, is "never give up." Li is among several journalists and whistleblowers in China who have been silenced after criticizing the government during the coronavirus crisis. Alexandra Ma contributed reporting. Read the original article on Business Insider Unity and cooperation are the international community's most potent weapon to overcome the pandemic People's Daily Online By Xi Jinping (People's Daily Online) 18:02, April 22, 2020 I. Viruses do not respect borders, nor do epidemics discriminate between races. Humanity is a community with a shared future. Only by cooperating and responding together can the international community overcome this pandemic. I have been saying that humanity is a community with a shared future. To overcome an epidemic affecting the safety of people of all countries, unity and cooperation are our most potent weapon. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation was quick to join the global response to the COVID-19 outbreak and has played an active role. I support cooperation between the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and relevant Chinese institutions. I also hope the international community can strengthen its cooperative endeavors to safeguard the health and wellbeing of humanity. Letter of reply to Bill Gates, February 20, 2020 Public health security is a common challenge facing humanity, and it calls for a collective response from all countries. As a responsible major country, China will continue to communicate effectively with the WHO, share disease prevention and control experiences with relevant countries, enhance international cooperation on the R&D of antiviral medicines and vaccines, and provide as much assistance as it can to countries and regions where the virus is spreading. Speech at a meeting to coordinate efforts to curb the COVID-19 outbreak and promote economic and social development, February 23, 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic has again shown that humanity is a community with a shared future. In this era of economic globalization, this will not be the last such major emergency, as various traditional and non-traditional security threats pose new tests. The international community must realize that as we are a community with a shared future, we must help one another, join hands to tackle risks and challenges, and build a better global home. Phone call with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, March 12, 2020 Humanity is a community with a shared future, and only unity and cooperation will allow us to respond to global risks and challenges. China, Italy, and the rest of the international community must join forces if we are to overcome current difficulties, achieve victory over the epidemic at an early stage, and protect the people of our two countries and the world. Message of sympathy and support to Italian President Sergio Mattarella regarding the COVID-19 outbreak in Italy, March 2020 Recently, the virus has spread to many countries around the world. Facts once again show that humanity is a community with a shared future. All countries must unite and cooperate to mount a collective response. Based on the vision of a global community with a shared future, China stands ready to work with other countries to strengthen international cooperation on fighting the pandemic, in order to respond collectively to common threats and challenges and safeguard global public health security. Phone call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, March 23, 2020 Viruses do not respect borders, nor do epidemics discriminate between races. In responding to this global public health crisis, there is all the more urgency and importance to building a global community with a shared future. Only by cooperating and responding together can the international community overcome the pandemic and protect the common home of humankind. China stands ready to work with all the countries of the world, including Kazakhstan, to strengthen the international fight against the pandemic and jointly safeguard global public health security. Phone call with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, March 24, 2020 Viruses respect no borders and pose a common challenge facing all humanity. No country stands apart or is exempt. In the fight against the pandemic, China and Germany, and indeed China and Europe, have demonstrated the strength of unity and cooperation and played a positive role. Phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, March 25, 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic once again shows that humanity is a community with a shared future. The international community should help one another and pull together. We are willing to work with the WHO and all countries to contribute to safeguarding global public health security. Letter of reply to Director-General of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, March 26, 2020 Epidemics do not respect borders, nor do they discriminate between races. They are a common enemy of humanity. The international community must respond together if it is to win this battle. Through the common efforts of all parties, we arrived at many points of agreement during the Extraordinary G20 Virtual Leaders' Summit on COVID-19 yesterday and achieved positive results. I hope all parties will strengthen coordination and cooperation and put into effect what was achieved at the summit, so as to provide strong momentum for enhancing international cooperation on fighting the pandemic and stabilizing the global economy. Phone call with President of the United States of America Donald Trump, March 27, 2020 This pandemic has again proved the importance and urgency of building a global community with a shared future. The Extraordinary G20 Virtual Leaders' Summit on COVID-19 sent out a positive signal of unity in the response to fighting the COVID-19 epidemic and safeguarding the stability of the global economy. China will continue to work with the international community, including Laos, to completely defeat this pandemic as quickly as possible. Phone call with General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and President Bounnhang Vorachith, April 3, 2020 II. Guided by the vision of a global community with a shared future, the Chinese government has maintained an open, transparent, and responsible attitude and held no reservations about sharing its best practices in prevention, control, and treatment of the virus with the WHO and the international community. It has actively engaged in international cooperation on fighting the pandemic to resolutely protect the lives and health of the Chinese people as well as the lives and health of the people of the world. Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus epidemic, China has adopted strict prevention, control, and treatment measures, released without delay relevant information on epidemic prevention and control, and reported to the WHO and relevant countries and regions on the epidemic in a timely manner. China is willing to work with the international community to implement an effective response to the epidemic and safeguard global health security. Phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, January 22, 2020 The international community is highly concerned about the development of the epidemic situation in China. We should actively respond to international concerns, tell the story of China's fight against the disease, and convey to the world our people's spirit of unity and solidarity. We need to do a good job in all diplomatic work related to epidemic prevention and control, continuing to effectively communicate and coordinate with the WHO and relevant countries and regions, promoting information sharing and coordination on control strategies, and working to gain the international community's understanding and support. Remarks at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee regarding the response to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus epidemic, February 3, 2020 The Communist Party of China and the Chinese government have adopted the most thorough and stringent virus prevention and control measures in line with their attitude of great responsibility toward the Chinese people and the international community. Our prevention and control effort is achieving encouraging results. The Chinese nation has emerged from great hardships in the past and China is confident and capable of winning this battle against the epidemic. We will continue to strengthen cooperation with all countries, including Cambodia, in an open and transparent manner for a concerted, effective response to the epidemic and to safeguard global and regional public health security. We will look after Cambodian citizens in China, including your students, like they were our own citizens, and protect their lives and health. Remarks during a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, February 5, 2020 We are guided by the vision of a global community with a shared future to be responsible not only for the health and safety of our own citizens but also for the public health of the whole world. China will continue to maintain an open and transparent attitude and strengthen virus prevention and control cooperation with Indonesia and all other countries, to maintain regional and global public health security. We will also continue to look after Indonesian citizens and other foreign nationals in China like they were our own citizens. Phone call with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, February 11, 2020 China is guided by the vision of a global community with a shared future to be responsible not only for the health and safety of our own citizens but also for the public health of the whole world. We are making a tremendous effort. China will continue to adopt an open and transparent attitude and cooperate with the UK and all other countries. Phone call with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, February 18, 2020 After the epidemic occurred, I proposed the general requirements of steadfast confidence, solidarity, science-based prevention and treatment, and targeted policies. We have mobilized the whole country to carry out virus prevention and control work and adopted unprecedented prevention, control, and treatment measures, which have yielded significant results. We have resolutely safeguarded the health and safety of the Chinese people and people around the world, and we are striving to contribute to global public health security. Letter of reply to Bill Gates, February 20, 2020 During this struggle to control and prevent the epidemic, we have always been guided by the vision of a global community with a shared future. In line with an open, transparent, and responsible attitude, we have shared timely information with the WHO and the international community, responded to the concerns of all parties, strengthened international cooperation, and strived to prevent the epidemic from spreading around the world. We have also adopted strong measures to protect the health and security of foreign nationals in China, including Cuban citizens. China's prevention and control efforts have been commended by the WHO and the international community. China hopes to continue engaging in exchanges and cooperation with Cuba in the areas of medicine and epidemic prevention and control. Phone call with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, February 28, 2020 Unity means strength. Under the current circumstances, China firmly supports the efforts of the EU to combat the pandemic and stands ready to assist the EU in achieving a swift victory against the virus. Guided by the vision of a global community with a shared future, China is willing to strengthen bilateral and international coordination and cooperation with the EU in order to collectively safeguard global and regional public health security and protect the health and safety of people in China and Europe and in all countries of the world. Message of sympathy and support sent to President of the European Council Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, March 13, 2020 There are outbreaks of the pandemic around the world. All countries must show solidarity and work together to combat the pandemic. China is guided by the vision of a global community with a shared future, and in line with our open, transparent, and responsible attitude, we have been quick to release information about the virus and to share our experiences of prevention, control, and treatment. China is willing to make a greater contribution to preventing the spread of the virus worldwide. And we will continue to provide support and assistance to Pakistan. Remarks during a talk with Pakistani President Arif Alvi, March 17, 2020 Through the painstaking efforts of the whole country, China's prevention and control measures have achieved encouraging results, and the country has moved past the most difficult and arduous stage. The pandemic is now spreading in many countries around the world. We in China stand ready to engage in international cooperation and provide any assistance we can. I hope that the international community will work together to seize opportunities amid the crisis and take open and cooperative practical actions to counter the pandemic and together safeguard international health security. Phone call with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, March 17, 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic has spread with alarming speed, and China has had to face difficulties and has been responding courageously, as its efforts concern not only the lives and health of the Chinese people but also the public health security of people worldwide. Through our painstaking efforts, we have managed to prevent and control the spread of the virus in China, and work and daily life are returning to normal. We have the confidence and ability to achieve ultimate victory in the battle over this virus. Based on the vision of a global community with a shared future, China is ready to work with Russia and all other countries, to strengthen international cooperation on prevention and control of the pandemic, to share our experiences in the areas of prevention, control, and treatment, to promote joint scientific research, and to address common threats and challenges, in the hope of safeguarding global public health security. Phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, March 19, 2020 Public health crises are a common challenge facing humanity, and unity and cooperation are our most potent weapon against them. Guided by the vision of a global community with a shared future, China is willing to continue sharing information and experience with Germany, to strengthen cooperation in the areas of disease prevention, control, and treatment as well as vaccine research and development, so that we can work together to safeguard the health and wellbeing of the people of our two countries and other countries of the world. Message of sympathy and support to German Chancellor Angela Merkel regarding the COVID-19 outbreak in Germany, March 2020 The pandemic has recently spread to many countries at an alarming rate. It is of the utmost importance that all countries strengthen cooperation. Guided by the vision of a global community with a shared future, and in line with our open, transparent, and responsible attitude, China has released information on the virus in a timely manner and not withheld any information from the WHO or international community on its practices of prevention, control, or treatment of the disease, and we are doing our best to provide assistance to all parties. Phone call with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, March 24, 2020 We must uphold the vision of a global community with a shared future, collaborate with relevant countries and international organizations, share our country's established prevention, control and treatment methods, and take action to safeguard global public health security. We should promote joint scientific research and strive to make breakthroughs in virus source tracing, research on transmission mechanisms, and vaccine and drug development at an early date. Speech at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on further coordinating COVID-19 prevention and control efforts with economic and social development, March 27, 2020 Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, in line with an open, transparent, and responsible attitude, we have kept the WHO and relevant countries, including the US, abreast of information regarding the outbreak, from releasing information on the genome sequence of the virus at the first opportunity to unreservedly sharing our experiences of prevention, control, and treatment with all parties. China is also doing all it can to provide support and assistance to countries in need. We will continue to do so and to work with the international community to defeat this pandemic. Phone call with US President Donald Trump, March 27, 2020 Guided by the vision of a global community with a shared future, we must comprehensively strengthen international cooperation. During the Extraordinary G20 Virtual Leaders' Summit on COVID-19, I proposed international cooperation initiatives to combat the pandemic and stabilize the global economy. On the basis of consolidating pandemic prevention and control results, China is returning to work and production nationwide, overcoming difficulties to prioritize the restoration of production and expansion of its capacity of medical and preventive supplies. We are also implementing strict quality supervision measures. This way we hope to provide the world with as much supplies and equipment as possible to combat the pandemic. Phone call with King Philippe of Belgium, April 2, 2020 III. In these times of adversity, China appreciates the understanding and support of the international community. The Chinese people shall not forget this, and the Chinese nation is grateful and knows how to reciprocate. China will always provide as much support as possible to the international community in combating the pandemic. The Chinese government and people are currently doing all they can to combat the novel coronavirus epidemic. In times of adversity people discover who their true friends are. During this extraordinary time, the Cambodian people have stood with us. King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk have expressed their sympathy and support to us, while you, Mr. Prime Minister, have repeatedly given your support to China. Your special visit to China today demonstrates our spirit of togetherness and the essence of China and Cambodia as a community with a shared future. Remarks during a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, February 5, 2020 One realizes who one's true friends are in times of adversity. Since the epidemic began, Indonesia and other neighboring countries have given us valuable support, reflecting our neighborly ethos of sharing in joy and hardships, of solidarity, and of mutual assistance. We hope that countries in our region will strive to maintain bilateral exchanges and cooperation while reasonably preventing and controlling the epidemic. This is in the common interests of both parties and all the countries in the region. Phone call with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, February 11, 2020 China appreciates the understanding and support given to us by the international community, especially from Malaysia and other friendly neighboring countries, including governments and people sending timely assistance, just like delivering much needed charcoal in the deadly winter. This is a vivid demonstration of countries in our region helping one another. We will continue to strengthen cooperation on epidemic prevention and control with Malaysia and other ASEAN countries, in an open and transparent manner to safeguard regional public health security together. We will continue to look after Malaysian citizens and other foreign nationals in China like they were our own citizens. Phone call with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad, February 13, 2020 A true friend is known in a time of adversity. China is not only safeguarding the lives and health of the people of China but also feels an acute sense of responsibility toward global public health security. China has mainly relied on the strength of the Chinese people to combat the epidemic, but we are also grateful to the international community for its assistance. China has from day one cooperated with all countries, including France, in an open and transparent manner to respond jointly to the epidemic. China stands ready to strengthen pragmatic cooperation with France in the field of health and to safeguard regional and global public health security together. Phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, February 18, 2020 Since the outbreak of the epidemic, the government and people across the society in the Republic of Korea have come forward to express their sympathy and to assist and support China. We are deeply grateful for this. China will continue to maintain an open and transparent attitude to strengthening communication and cooperation with the Republic of Korea, and all other countries, in order to respond jointly to the epidemic and promote the health and wellbeing of people around the world. Phone call with President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jae-in, February 20, 2020 China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic partners and have a long tradition of helping each other. After the outbreak of COVID-19 epidemic, Pakistan immediately offered support to us, overcame difficulties to provide valuable material donations, and maintained all normal contact between our two countries. A few days ago, the National Assembly and the Senate of your country passed resolutions fully supporting China in its fight against the epidemic. Today Mr. Prime Minister, you have called specially to express sympathy and support. These facts once again prove that China and Pakistan are true friends and brothers through thick and thin. We will look after our Pakistani brothers and sisters in China like they were our own citizens. Phone call with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, February 20, 2020 The Chinese government and people are making every effort to combat the COVID-19 epidemic, and we have received valuable support and assistance from the Mongolian government and people. As the first foreign head of state to visit China after the epidemic, Mr. President, you have come especially to express sympathy and support, which fully reflects the high priority you and Mongolia attach to Sino-Mongolian relations and your deep feelings toward the Chinese people. This vividly demonstrates the mutual assistance and solidarity between our two neighboring countries, and I wish to convey my appreciation for this. Remarks during a talk with Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga, February 27, 2020 China and the Republic of Korea are friendly neighbors who watch out for each other and pull together in times of difficulties. The government and people across the society in the Republic of Korea have come forward to express their sympathy and assist China in fighting the epidemic. You have specifically emphasized that China's difficulties are the difficulties of the Republic of Korea. This epidemic recognizes no borders. The countries of the world are a community with a shared future. The Chinese government and people empathize with the Republic of Korea regarding the epidemic and difficulties you now face. We in China will continue to provide whatever assistance we can to your country to combat the epidemic. And we stand ready to work with you to overcome the virus as quickly as possible to safeguard the lives and health of our two peoples and of people around the world. Message of sympathy and support to ROK President Moon Jae-in regarding the COVID-19 outbreak in the ROK, March 2020 China and Iran are comprehensive strategic partners, and our two peoples enjoy a tradition of friendship. The Iranian government and people have provided sincere and friendly support and assistance to China to combat the epidemic. To help Iran fight the epidemic, we are providing medical materials and sending a team of volunteer health experts. We are ready to strengthen cooperation on combating the epidemic with Iran and to continue to do whatever we can to assist Iran. We believe that the Iranian government and people will unquestionably be victorious in this battle to prevent and control the epidemic. Message of sympathy and support to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani regarding the COVID-19 outbreak in Iran, March 2020 China and Serbia are comprehensive strategic partners, and the ironclad friendship between our two countries and peoples has only become stronger as time has gone on. At a time when the Chinese people are making the utmost efforts to combat the epidemic, the Serbian government and people have provided China with strong support through practical actions. I would like to express my profound gratitude for this. China firmly supports Serbia's efforts to combat the epidemic. We will provide Serbia with assistance with regard to protective equipment and medical devices, and assist Serbia in sourcing urgently needed materials from China. We will also send a team of medical experts to your country to help improve the effectiveness of prevention and control efforts and to help safeguard the lives and wellbeing of your people. Message of sympathy and support to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic regarding the outbreak of COVID-19 in Serbia, March 2020 After the outbreak of COVID-19, the Polish government and all sectors of Polish society expressed their sympathy and support for China, and this imprinted itself in the minds of the Chinese people. As the saying goes, true friendship is always found in hard times. China firmly supports the efforts of the Polish government and people to fight the epidemic. Chinese health experts have also held a video conference with their counterparts from 17 Central and Eastern European countries including Poland to share timely information and relevant practices with regard to epidemic prevention and control. Guided by the vision of a global community with a shared future, we in China stand ready to strengthen cooperation on combating the pandemic with Poland and all other countries of the world to jointly safeguard the security of global public health. Phone call with Polish President Andrzej Duda, March 24, 2020 In the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, you expressed your sympathy and support for China, and the German government and German people from all walks of life offered a helping hand. The Chinese people will always remember this. At present, Germany is facing severe challenges in combating the pandemic, and the Chinese people have deep empathy for your situation. We in China firmly support Germany in fighting the epidemic and are willing to continue providing any assistance we can. Experts from the two countries have conducted video exchanges, and German experts have also visited China with the WHO expert team. We are willing to share our experiences of prevention, control, and treatment with you, to strengthen cooperation on vaccine and drug research and development, and to contribute to the health and wellbeing of our two peoples and the security of global public health. Phone call with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, March 25, 2020 Under your leadership, the World Health Organization is actively promoting international cooperation on combating the pandemic, which has been widely acknowledged by the international community. China will continue to firmly support you and the World Health Organization in playing an active leadership role in international cooperation on fighting against the pandemic. China has always actively supported the international community's efforts to combat the pandemic through concrete actions, and has provided assistance to international organizations including the World Health Organization and more than 80 countries. China will continue to provide as much support as possible to the international community in countering the pandemic. Letter of reply to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, March 26, 2020 At the most difficult moment in our fight against the outbreak, many members of the global community have offered sincere assistance and support to China. Such expressions of friendship will always be remembered and cherished by the Chinese people. Speech "Working Together to Defeat the COVID-19 Outbreak," at the Extraordinary G20 Virtual Leaders' Summit, March 26, 2020 I am very concerned and worried about the development of the epidemic in the United States, and also note that you are adopting a series of policy measures, Mr. President. The Chinese people sincerely hope that the United States will manage to control the spread of the epidemic as soon as possible and reduce the losses it inflicts on the American people. China has always taken a positive attitude toward international cooperation in prevention and control. Under the current circumstances, China and the United States should work together against this epidemic. The health departments and prevention and control experts of China and the United States have maintained communication on the international epidemic situation and on Sino-US cooperation in prevention and control. China is willing to continue sharing information and experiences with the United States without reservations. Some Chinese provinces, cities, and enterprises are providing medical supplies to the US. China understands the difficulties of the current situation in the United States and is willing to provide any support it can offer. Phone call with US President Donald Trump, March 27, 2020 After the COVID-19 epidemic occurred in China, you expressed your sympathy and support to me at the earliest possible opportunity. The Saudi government and Saudi people from all walks of life have extended a helping hand and provided much material assistance to China. China shall not forget this. The Chinese nation knows how to be grateful and to reciprocate. At present, Saudi Arabia is also facing severe challenges from the epidemic. China firmly supports Saudi Arabia's fight against the epidemic and is willing to provide any assistance it can, sharing its prevention and control experiences with Saudi Arabia and providing assistance for and facilitating Saudi Arabia's purchases of medical supplies, in the hope of safeguarding the health and safety of the people of our two countries and jointly maintaining the security of global and regional public health. Phone call with King Salman of Saudi Arabia, March 27, 2020 At the most difficult moment in China's prevention and control of the epidemic, African countries have provided a great deal of valuable support to China, and this has imprinted itself in our minds. I am very concerned about the current epidemic situation in Africa. China has overcome difficulties and actively provided material assistance to the African Union and African countries to combat the epidemic, and organized an expert video conference to share experiences, while Chinese companies and non-governmental organizations have also offered assistance to African countries. These are all true representations of the community with a shared future that has been formed between China and Africa. We will continue to intensify our efforts to provide assistance in combating the epidemic to Namibia and other African countries, share prevention and control experiences, strengthen cooperation in the health domain, and work with you to achieve final victory in the fight against the epidemic. We are confident that, by jointly fighting against this epidemic, our friendship with Namibia and other African countries will be further deepened. Phone call with President of Namibia Hage Geingob, April 3, 2020 IV. Public health security is a common challenge faced by humanity, and major infectious diseases are the enemy of all of us. Countries need to work together to comprehensively strengthen international cooperation and to bring together a powerful joint force to overcome the pandemic. The World Health Organization plays an important role in coordinating global health affairs. China attaches great importance to cooperating with the World Health Organization, and welcomes its participation in the prevention and control of the epidemic. Experts from the World Health Organization have already conducted a field visit to Wuhan. China is willing to work with the World Health Organization and the international community to jointly safeguard regional and global public health security. I trust that the World Health Organization and the international community can make an objective, fair, sober, and rational assessment of the epidemic situation. Remarks at a meeting with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, January 28, 2020 Public health security is a common challenge facing humanity and requires countries to work together. At present, outbreaks of COVID-19 have occurred in many countries. It is necessary to strengthen communication and exchanges with the WHO and to cooperate with relevant countries, especially countries badly affected, in the areas of tracing the outbreak's origins and in medicines, vaccines, and testing. With ensuring national security as a precondition, we should share scientific research data and information, jointly study and put forward mitigation strategies, and contribute ingenuity and energy to the building of a global community with a shared future. Speech "Providing Strong Scientific and Technological Support for Winning the Battle of Epidemic Prevention and Control," March 2, 2020 The last few weeks have seen outbreaks of the epidemic in many countries, and the situation calls for great concern. The international community should intensify its actions, carry out effective international cooperation in joint prevention and control, and bring together a powerful joint force to overcome the epidemic. China is willing to share its experience of prevention and control with relevant countries, conduct joint research and development of drugs and vaccines, and is providing what assistance it can to some countries where the virus is spreading. China supports the United Nations and WHO in mobilizing the international community to strengthen policy coordination, increase investment of resources, and especially help developing countries with weak public health systems to prepare for prevention and response. China has announced a donation of US$20 million to the WHO in order to support international action launched by the WHO to combat the epidemic. Phone call with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, March 12, 2020 We must strengthen international cooperation on epidemic prevention and control and work closely with the World Health Organization. We need to step up analysis and forecasting of developments in the global pandemic situation, and improve prevention and control strategies and policy measures to deal with risks coming in from beyond our borders. We need to increase exchanges and cooperation with relevant countries in epidemic prevention and control, and continue to provide whatever assistance we can. It is necessary to strengthen guidance and support for epidemic prevention and control with regard to Chinese citizens abroad, do well in all aspects of work, and safeguard their health and safety. Remarks at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, March 18, 2020 China and France both shoulder the heavy responsibility of safeguarding the security of international and regional public health. Our two countries should earnestly cooperate in order to advance joint research projects, strengthen cooperation on health and quarantine issues at national borders, support the WHO in its work, jointly help African countries with epidemic prevention and control, and strive to build a global community for public health. China is willing to work with France to encourage relevant parties to strengthen coordination and cooperation under frameworks like the United Nations and the G20, to carry out joint prevention and control, to improve global health governance, to help developing countries and other countries in need to strengthen capacity building, and to counter the impact of the pandemic on the world economy, thus allowing the bright rays of cooperation to disperse the shadows of the pandemic. Phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, March 23, 2020 Viruses know no borders or races, and we humankind can conquer them only if we work together. All countries should advance cooperation within the framework of the United Nations and the G20, strengthen information exchange and experience sharing, and enhance collaboration on scientific research. We should support the WHO so that it can play its proper role, and promote the improvement of global health governance. Countries should strengthen macroeconomic policy coordination, stabilize markets, maintain growth, safeguard people's livelihoods, and ensure that global supply chains are open, stable, and secure. I have every confidence that after defeating the pandemic, the mutual understanding between China and the UK will be deepened, consensus between our two countries will be broader, and our cooperation will usher in greater prospects for the future. Phone call with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, March 23, 2020 China and Brazil are comprehensive strategic partners. The two sides should maintain our strategic resolve, support each other's core interests and major concerns, speak to the international community in a voice of solidarity, and convey a positive message about working hand-in-hand in our response to the epidemic. At the same time, we should advance pragmatic cooperation in various fields, strengthen communication and collaboration within the multilateral framework of the G20 and BRICS countries, and jointly maintain and develop the China-Brazil comprehensive strategic partnership. I am confident that China and Brazil will be able to work together to overcome the epidemic and push our all-round cooperation to a higher level. Phone call with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, March 24, 2020 Major infectious diseases are the enemy of all humanity. As we speak, the COVID-19 outbreak is spreading worldwide, posing an enormous threat to the health and safety of the people and bringing a formidable challenge to global public health security. The situation is worrying. At such a moment, it is all the more important for the international community to strengthen confidence, act with unity, and work together in a collective response. We must step up international cooperation on all fronts and foster greater synergy so that humanity as one could win the battle against this major infectious disease. For that to happen, I would like to put forth four proposals. First, we need to be resolute in fighting a global war against the COVID-19 pandemic. The community of nations must move swiftly to curtail the spread of the virus. In this regard, I propose that a G20 health ministers' meeting be convened as quickly as possible to strengthen information sharing, carry out cooperation on medicine and vaccine research and development and epidemic control, and cut off cross-border infections. G20 members need to jointly help developing countries with weak public health systems to enhance preparedness and response capacity. I propose a G20 COVID-19 assistance initiative for better information sharing and coordination of policies and actions with the support of the World Health Organization. Guided by the vision of a global community with a shared future, China is more than ready to share its successful practices, conduct joint research and development of medicines and vaccines, and provide any assistance it can to countries hit by the growing outbreak. Second, we need to effectively mount a collective response to the pandemic at the international level. This is a virus that respects no borders. The outbreak we are battling is our common enemy. All countries must work together to build the most tightly knit global network of prevention and control the world has ever seen. China has set up an online COVID-19 knowledge center which is open to all countries. It is imperative that countries pool their strengths and speed up research and development of drugs, vaccines, and testing capabilities in the hope of achieving early breakthroughs to the benefit of all humanity. Discussions are also needed regarding the establishment of regional emergency liaison mechanisms to enable quicker response to public health emergencies. Third, we need to actively support international organizations in playing their proper roles. China supports the WHO in leading the global efforts to develop science-based, appropriate prevention and control measures and minimize cross-border spread. I call on G20 members to enhance anti-epidemic information sharing with the support of the WHO and to promote comprehensive, systematic, and effective control and treatment protocols. The G20 platform for communication and coordination may be used to increase policy dialogue and exchange, and a high-level meeting on global public health security should be convened in due course. China will be happy to join other countries and scale up support for relevant international and regional organizations. Fourth, we need to enhance international macroeconomic policy coordination. The outbreak has disrupted production and demand across the globe. Countries need to leverage and coordinate their macro policies to counteract the negative impact and prevent the world economy from falling into recession. We need to implement strong and effective fiscal and monetary policies to keep our exchange rates basically stable. We need to better coordinate financial regulation to keep global financial markets stable. We need to jointly keep the global industrial and supply chains stable. What China will do in this regard is to increase its supply of active pharmaceutical ingredients, daily necessities, anti-epidemic supplies and other products to the international market. What's more, we also need to protect women, children, the elderly, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups, and provide for people's basic needs. China will continue to pursue a proactive fiscal policy and a prudent monetary policy. We will remain committed to advancing reform and opening up, widening market access, improving the business environment, and expanding imports and outbound investment to contribute to a stable world economy. I want to call on all G20 members to take collective actionscutting tariffs, removing barriers, and facilitating the unfettered flow of trade. Together, we can send a strong message to the international community and bolster confidence for global economic recovery. The G20 needs to draw up an action plan and promptly set up communication mechanisms and institutional arrangements for anti-epidemic macro policy coordination. Speech "Working Together to Defeat the COVID-19 Outbreak," at the Extraordinary G20 Virtual Leaders' Summit, March 26, 2020 Now is a crucial moment, a time for us to rise to the challenge and act with swiftness. I am convinced that through solidarity and mutual assistance, we will prevail over this pandemic, and we will usher in a brighter future for humanity. Speech "Working Together to Defeat the COVID-19 Outbreak," at the Extraordinary G20 Virtual Leaders' Summit, March 26, 2020 At present, Sino-US relations have reached an important juncture. Cooperation between China and the United States is beneficial to both sides, while fighting is harmful to both. Cooperation is the only correct choice. I hope that the United States will take substantive actions to improve Sino-US relations. The two sides should make joint efforts to strengthen cooperation in areas such as combating the epidemic, and develop a relationship without conflict or confrontation that is based on mutual respect and mutually beneficial cooperation. Phone call with US President Donald Trump, March 27, 2020 V. China has taken timely, decisive, and effective measures in the fight against the virus, and it has not only been responsible for the health of its own people, but also contributed to global public health. China has made tremendous sacrifices to fight the pandemic, a fact that has been recognized by the global community. Under the centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee, thanks to the concerted efforts of all sides, prevention and control work is proceeding effectively and has earned approval from all sectors of society and the international community. During my meeting with the WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, he stated that the swift speed and large scale with which China acted have rarely been seen in the world, that this is a manifestation of China's institutional strength and something worthy of other countries learning from, and that he was confident the measures China has taken would bring the epidemic under effective control and eventually defeat it. Remarks at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee regarding the response to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus epidemic, February 3, 2020 China not only safeguards the health and safety of the Chinese people, but also safeguards the health and safety of the people of the world. We promptly notified the WHO and relevant countries and regions including the United States in an open, transparent, and responsible manner, and invited the WHO and relevant experts to go to Wuhan for field visits. We took timely, decisive, and effective measures, which were fully affirmed and highly praised by the WHO and many countries. Phone call with US President Donald Trump, February 7, 2020 In taking strong measures against the epidemic, China is not only being responsible for the health of its own people, but also contributing to global public health, and this has been fully affirmed by the WHO and countries around the world. Phone call with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad, February 13, 2020 In the wake of the outbreak, the international community has watched closely how China responds and how effective that response is. It has praised the strength, spirit, and efficiency demonstrated by the Chinese people, which reflected China's status as a responsible major country. Leaders of more than 170 countries and heads of over 40 international and regional organizations have expressed sympathy and support to China by telephone, letter and statement. It is recognized worldwide that while combating the epidemic in a comprehensive and effective way, China has actively cooperated and communicated with the WHO and the international community, quickly shared the whole genome sequences of some virus strains, developed rapid test kits, and worked hard to prevent the spread of the epidemic around the world. In doing so, we have not only shown ourselves responsible for the health and safety of the Chinese people but also contributed to the world's public health endeavors. The international community at large is also of the belief that the resolute and powerful prevention and control measures taken by China, and the remarkable capacities in leadership, response, organization, mobilization, and implementation it has shown are beyond the reach of other countries and have set a model for the world in epidemic prevention. Speech at a meeting to coordinate efforts to curb the COVID-19 outbreak and promote economic and social development, February 23, 2020 China upholds the vision of a global community with a shared future and has taken responsibility for safeguarding the lives and health of its people and for global public health. We have actively carried out international cooperation in the fight against the epidemic with an open, transparent, and responsible attitude, and this has been fully affirmed and universally recognized by the WHO and the international community. China will continue to strengthen cooperation with Mongolia and all other countries in order to jointly and effectively respond to the epidemic and to maintain the security of regional and global public health. Remarks during a talk with Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga, February 27, 2020 We have strengthened international cooperation on epidemic control. Recently, I have had many phone conversations with the leaders of many countries. Since January 22, I have had 26 calls with 22 foreign leaders and heads of international organizations. Yesterday I also attended the Extraordinary G20 Virtual Leaders' Summit on COVID-19. All parties have universally affirmed that we controlled the epidemic quickly and expressed their willingness to strengthen cooperation with China and work together under multilateral frameworks to meet the challenges faced in responding to the epidemic. Speech at a meeting of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee on further coordinating COVID-19 prevention and control efforts with economic and social development work, March 27, 2020 * These are excerpts about international cooperation on overcoming the pandemic from speeches and remarks made by President Xi Jinping, letters and messages sent by him to leaders of other countries and heads of international organizations, and phone conversations between them during January and April 2020. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Were simply describing the patients who came in and required hospitalization, she said. We are not comparing them to those who were positive and stayed out of the hospital, or who didnt get infected, or to patients with any other disease. The researchers reported that when patients first came to the hospital and were triaged, 17 percent had an abnormal respiratory rate of more than 24 breaths per minute, and 28 percent received supplemental oxygen. But fewer than one third of the patients had a fever, even though they were sick enough to be hospitalized, a similar observation to one noted by a large Chinese study. That has important policy implications, indicating that taking peoples temperatures in order to screen them for the coronavirus a measure that was used on cruise ships and as a way to detect illness in returning travelers at airports, and that has also been proposed for use in the workplace is likely to miss many people who are not only asymptomatic but also acutely ill. [Like the Science Times page on Facebook. | Sign up for the Science Times newsletter.] Nearly 60 percent of those hospitalized at the Northwell facilities had high blood pressure, 40 percent were obese, and about one-third had diabetes. Smaller numbers of patients suffered from other chronic illnesses, such as heart disease, kidney disease and chronic respiratory illnesses. Other smaller reports from New York City area hospitals have also highlighted obesity as a complicating risk factor. One hypothesis is that obesity causes chronic, low-grade inflammation that can lead to an increase in circulating, pro-inflammatory cytokines, which may play a role in the worst Covid-19 outcomes. Dr. Leora Horwitz, an associate professor at NYU Langone Health whose recent study of Covid-19 patients found that obesity was the most significant predictor of disease severity after age, said that the new paper described similar rates of chronic disease and obesity, but that it was descriptive, so it is hard to tell the relative importance of the various comorbidities. She noted that the obesity rate on Long Island is 24 percent, suggesting the hospitalized patients are disproportionately obese. The report adds new evidence of the greater susceptibility of men to the coronavirus: Men represented 60 percent of the hospitalized patients in the Northwell system, and an even greater share 66 percent of the patients treated in the intensive care unit. Packed to the Rafters will be returning to our screens in 2020, but Ryan Corr, who played Coby Jennings on the popular series, won't be taking part in it. Speaking to Now to Love on Wednesday, Ryan, 31, confirmed is not appearing in the Amazon reunion show, after writers decided to go in another direction. 'I've been in contact, but I'm not going to be involved with it,' he told the publication. 'I'm not going to be involved with it': Now Ryan Corr has revealed he will not be returning for the Packed to the Rafters reboot after Jessica Marais pulled out for 'personal reasons' 'I think we're focusing a little more on the nuclear family that started off the series,' he added. 'Everyone in the Rafters' cast are still dear friends of mine.' Back to the Rafters will follow Rebecca Gibney and Erik Thomson's characters, Dave and Julie, who have since created a life in the country with their daughter. Change of plans: Speaking to Now to Love on Wednesday, Ryan, 31, confirmed he won't appear in the Amazon reunion show, after writers decided to go in another direction The decision not to bring back Ryan's character may have come as a surprise to the star after he previously admitted he would jump at the chance for a reboot. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia in December 2018, Ryan said: 'I'd bring back Coby! I'd get the gang together as long as I didn't have to have the rat tail!' 'I had to walk around in my everyday life with that on my head. If I didn't have to have that again, I'd go back,' he added. 'I think we're focusing a little more on the nuclear family that started off the series': Ryan revealed the new series will instead focus on the Rafter's life five years on. Pictured: L-R: Hugh Sheridan, Rebecca Gibney, Erik Thomson, Jessica Marais and Angus McLaren Unfortunately fans hoping to see the entire gang back together will be bitterly disappointed. Other fan favourites Jessica Marais (Rachel) and James Stewart (Jake Barton) will also not be returning to the series. Jessica abruptly quit the series in February due to 'personal reasons', while her on-and-off-screen husband James was reported to be 'too tied up' with his gig on Home and Away. Jessica's abrupt departure days before filming was scheduled to commence meant Channel Seven had to replace her with look-a-like Australian actress Georgina Haig. In an operation described as the first of its kind during the ongoing lockdown, a Bengaluru-based air ambulance service brought a critically injured Indian engineer from Afghanistan to Hyderabad. International Critical Care Air Transfer Team (ICATT), a Bengaluru-based air ambulance service, said it received the call from the individuals insurer to carry out the evacuation, days after the 44-year-old engineer broke his hip in an accident on April 16. A source said the engineer, currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Hyderabad, has been given a routine Covid-19 check, in keeping with the protocol. It took substantial effort to get clearances from the Ministry of External Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Disaster Management and Ministry of Civil Aviation over the past four days to bring home this young engineer, said Dr Shalini Nalwad, CEO of ICATT. Alan Joy, an independent nurse who accompanied the medical flight, explained that the patient had been suffering from intracapsular hip (femoral neck) fractures that are contained within the hip capsule itself. The ambulance used was a Learjet outfitted with ICU equipment. Although the Indian Air Force has carried out evacuations of Indian nationals from other countries in the days leading up to the lockdown, an IAF spokesperson said the air force had not been intimated for evacuation in this specific case. Kolkata: The standoff between West Bengal Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha and the Inter Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) continues as the latter, despite given assurance of cooperation, rubbished state governments allegation that they were kept in dark about their arrival at Kolkata Airport on April 20. The central team leader and additional secretary Apurva Chandra claimed that the state government was informed immediately after they reached Kolkata around 10 am. Though, the central team members were allowed to visit some of the Covid-19 hospitals and quarantine centres on Thursday but there are couple of questionnaires (hinting towards death figures) sent by Chandra, which the state government is unlikely to respond as they alleged that the explanation sought by him resembles with the allegations made by the state BJP leaders. The bone of contention are pointers number a, c and j of serial number 4 in Apurva Chandras letter where he asked the state government to reply on the whether the level of testing in the state is adequate, protocol adopted for testing and the level at which conduct of a Covid-19 test is approved and the system of approval of cause of declaration of death for Covid-19 patients by a committee of doctors at the state level. The other explanations sought by Chandra from the state government are: Whether the testing facilities available in the state are being used in full, availability of oxygen beds, ICU beds, oxygen supplies and ventilators, the number of surveillance teams and the number of persons surveyed per day in hotspots and containment zones, instances of Covid-19 in health professional and protective measures in this regard for the health professionals and at the hospitals concerned etc. His letter also reads, The IMCT arrived in Kolkata on April 20, 2020 at around 10 am and immediately contacted you seeking your time as well as support of the state government for making the visit effective." Chandra claimed that they were not given time at the state secretariat for a detailed presentation regarding Covid-19 statistics and preparedness in West Bengal. Referring to the Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinhas letter (dated on April 21, 2020) to the central team assuring full cooperation, Chandra also wrote a letter to Sinha on April 22, 2020, reminded him that since the government has promised full cooperation, the team members would like to visit quarantine centres, Covid-19 hospitals, market places. I met the team members and I told them to visit the places where they want to. We will provide all assistance, Rajiva Sinha had said. Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee - while condemning central teams for keeping the state government in dark about their movements in Bengal to asses Covid-19 situation - wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and termed the entire act as breach of established protocol. She also expressed her dismay that Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed her over telephone about the central team around 1 PM but ground reality suggests that team already arrived in Kolkata around 10.10 AM special flight. Union Home Minister spoke to me over telephone at about 1 PM regarding visit of Inter Ministerial Central Teams to my state. Unfortunately, the teams had already landed at Kolkata Airport by special cargo flight 1701 at 10.10 am, which is much before our telephonic conversation. While I appreciate the pro-activeness shown by the central government in sending their teams to West Bengal, the same was done without prior intimation and hence is a breach of established protocol, her letter to PM Modi reads. Every year during the fasting month of Ramadan, Moustafa Fahour celebrates iftar the sunset meal during which Muslims break their fast with four generations of his extended family. The family then conducts evening prayers known as Tarawih, a form of Islamic meditation that involves reading long portions of the Koran. Fahour family members Hannah, Ali, Maysaa, Zackaria, Moustafa and Zayd are planning to break the fast via Zoom with their extended family rather than meet in person. Credit:Joe Armao This year the holiest month in the Islamic calendar, which starts on Friday, will be both no different and yet profoundly different in the shadow of the global pandemic. Mr Fahour will celebrate iftar with his family via the video conferencing app Zoom instead of in a hall and conduct Tarawih at home instead of attending Preston Mosque. Observers have long dreaded the arrival of an economic perfect storm in Wyoming, but not even the most pessimistic of the bunch imagined the epic collapse that a recent Legislative Service Office memo says is in store for the state. Its optimistic scenario shows a loss of $556 million through the 2021-22 biennium. On the other end of the scale, where no one in state government wants to stare, the pessimistic forecast is a $2.8 billion deficit. House Revenue Committee Chairman Dan Zwonitzer (R-Cheyenne) told WyoFile reporter Andrew Graham, who broke the story about the memo, that... Welcome to Strongman Medicine, a weekly column looking at how governments around the world are taking advantage of the pandemic for censorship, surveillance, and repression. Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned this week that against the background of rising ethno-nationalism, populism, authoritarianism, and a pushback against human rights in some countries, the crisis can provide a pretext to adopt repressive measures for purposes unrelated to the pandemic. That was certainly the case this week. Finishing the Job in Hong Kong Before the virus, the biggest international news story involving China was the months of mass protests sparked by Beijings attempts to meddle with Hong Kongs independent judiciary. Now, protesters have been forced off the streets by the coronavirus. The authorities appear to be taking advantage of this moment to carry out the kind of brutal crackdown they avoided when the protests were under global scrutiny. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fifteen high-profile activists were arrested this week in what the New York Times calls Hong Kongs biggest roundup of prominent opposition figures in recent memory. The activists, who included opposition lawmakers, lawyers, and a maverick media tycoon, were arrested on charges of taking part in unauthorized gatherings. The move comes amid increasing pressure from Beijing on the independence of the semi-autonomous city-states judges and may portend a broader crackdown. Beijings top official in Hong Kong has also called for the city to revisit a controversial national security law that would prohibit any act of treason, secession, sedition, subversion against the Chinese government. The law was previously shelved in 2003 after it sparked mass protests. Hong Kong opposition leaders hope to be able to get people back out into the streets by this summer for the one-year anniversary of the most recent protests. But that gives the authorities a lot of time to erode Hong Kongs independence without the kind of pushback they normally expect. Advertisement Advertisement Hong Kong isnt the only place in the region where China is stepping up the pressure. Amid tensions over its handling of the virus outbreak, China has also stepped up the number and size of its military drills around Taiwan. Europe Losing Hearts and Minds in Serbia Serbia provides a telling example of how China and Russia are pushing to their expand global influence in the coronavirus eraand how Western democracies are losing theirs. Before the pandemic, President Aleksandar Vucics government had been taking steps to neuter independent media and undermine the rule of law, but EU leaders were often reluctant to criticize Serbiaa candidate for membership in the unionfor fear of it falling into Moscows or Beijings orbit. The coronavirus may have tipped that balance decisively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ball was set in motion when European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on March 15 that the EU would be limiting the export of medical equipment outside the bloc. Vucic reacted furiously, saying in a televised speech to the nation, European solidarity does not exist. It was a fairy tale. I have sent a special letter to the only ones who can help. That is China. Soon after, China began sending aid as well as experts who are reportedly now directing much of the governments coronavirus response. Serbia also received help from Russia, which has sent medical aid throughout the world in the midst of this crisis in what the newspaper Novaya Gazeta calls the diplomacy of protective maskseven as its own outbreak has put strain on its medical system. Russia analyst Paul Goble notes that Moscows assistance to Serbia has been controlled from the start by the military, and Russian soldiers have been integrated into Serbian operations against the pandemic. Once the coronavirus threat eases, it seems likely the Russian military presence will nonetheless remain. Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Serbia has indefinitely postponed general elections that had been planned for April 26, so its unclear when voters will have a chance to weigh in on these developments. Vietnam Quietly Forced Facebook to Censor Content Vietnam has gotten less attention than other East Asian nations like South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore, but its coronavirus response has been similarly effective. With aggressive quarantine policies, a rigorous tracing program, and an impressive number of tests, Vietnam has had only 268 confirmed cases of the virus despite disadvantages including a border with China and dense cities. Advertisement Advertisement As David Hutt notes in Foreign Policy, the countrys normally very repressive Communist government has also showed an unexpected degree of openness in its response, providing frequent public briefings and timely information to the public. But that openness only goes so far: This week, Reuters reported that starting in mid-February, Vietnam took Facebooks local servers offline, slowing traffic on the site to a crawl, until the company agreed to restrict access to content which it has deemed to be illegal. The server shutdown began in mid-February and lasted until early April, when concerns about the coronavirus were spreading. No End in Sight for the Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines has, for weeks now, taken advantage of the crisis to entrench his own power and condone human rights violations. He has warned that anyone who violates social distancing regulations could be shot. Advertisement Advertisement This week, he threatened to use the military to enforce a martial lawstyle lockdown. I dont like it, but its necessary if the country will suffer because you have no discipline, he told the public, also vowing to identify Filipinos who have done nothing [but] criticize and find fault with the governments response. He said there is currently no end in sight for the lockdown on the countrys main island of Luzon. A leaked memo from the countrys air force this week ordered personnel to prepare for an expanded military role in the lockdown. Police in the Philippines have cited more than 133,000 citizens for violating the quarantine and filed charges against 30,000 of them. (Rights groups say the countrys homeless have been disproportionately targeted.) Human rights considerations aside, mass arrests would risk creating a new health crisis: A prison in Cebu City has become the site of a major new outbreak with 123 inmates infected in whats already one of the worlds most overcrowded prisons. YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian authorities have lifted the ban on interprovincial travel and also allowed the operations of certain types of businesses. Deputy PM Tigran Avinyan, who leads the Pashinyan Administrations Coronavirus Response Task Force, said that the checkpoints at provincial entry points will be removed and they will focus their efforts in the direction of implementing heightened control towards the remaining restrictions. Avinyan said they will consider potential lockdowns in individual communities in the event of risks. The remaining restrictions concerning the movement of people and public transportation will remain in force, he said. The types of businesses that are allowed to resume operations are some operations in the process manufacturing branch, wholesale trade, certain types of retail, automobile renovation, real estate operations, book publishing and others. Safety rules are defined for the business operations. Businesses not covered by the decision are entitled to apply for the possibility of being granted exception from the ban at https://covid19.gov.am/. Editing and translating by Stepan Kocharyan Standard Chartered has announced further details on how the group will provide both short-term relief, and longer-term assistance, for communities across its 59 markets via the recently launched $50m Covid-19 global charitable fund. The fund will operate in two distinct components.The group will provide $25 million of funding for immediate relief from the impact of Covid-19, with all funding commitments made by July 2020. To ensure funds are allocated on the ground where they can provide rapid and targeted impact, the Group has: Pledged $5 million of funding to the Red Cross for urgent medical support, including the provision of primary and secondary health care, communication of protection measures, provision of personal protection equipment (PPE) for Red Cross staff, and the distribution of food, care and education packages for those impacted by Covid-19. Pledged $5 million of funding to UNICEF for the immediate educational support of vulnerable children across 12 markets in Africa and South Asia. Funding will focus on the provision of remote education via TV, radio, online and mobile platforms and child protection measures, including alternative care arrangements and family tracing services for children separated from their families due to Covid-19, training for social workers to conduct home visits to vulnerable children for mental health support, and alternative care and protection services for children of parents or caregivers affected by Covid-19. Provided $15 million of funding to the Groups four Regions (ASEAN and South Asia, Africa and Middle East, Europe and Americas, and Greater China and North Asia) to disburse to local NGO partners. To date, $4.2 million of funding has already been committed across 17 markets. The group will provide $25 million of funding to protect employment and educational opportunities, aiding the long-term recovery of communities impacted by Covid-19. Funding will begin in August 2020 with a target to deliver projects by the end of 2021. Part of the $25 million will be donated directly by Standard Chartereds employees via a month-long giving campaign commencing on April 27. Training young people to regain employment, including identifying and training new health workers, and re-training young people who have lost their jobs for new opportunities. Funds will be disbursed in partnership with local NGOs specialising in these areas. Funding for micro and small businesses, including seed funding, training, or the adaptation of existing businesses to focus on new products or services. This funding is charitable and does not include commercial lending. Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive, Standard Chartered PLC, said: Working with UNICEF and the Red Cross, as well as local NGO partners, will be critical in allowing us to provide rapid and effective medical and educational help to some of the most vulnerable people in our societies. But we cant lose sight of the longer-term economic and health impact of Covid-19, and that is why our focus is also on supporting economic recovery and the protection of livelihoods. I am incredibly proud that my colleagues throughout the bank have indicated so strongly their intention to make personal donations as part of our funding commitments. Henrietta Fore, Executive Director, UNICEF said: Under Covid-19, nearly 190 countries have imposed school closures, affecting 1.5 billion children and young people. As the crisis continues to escalate, children confined at home are not only missing out on their education but on school meals and essential health and social-protection services. With so much at stake, UNICEF is grateful to Standard Chartered for their generous $5 million contribution to our Covid-19 response to ensure that children and young people receive the support they need at this extraordinary time. Mike Adamson, CEO at the British Red Cross said: The world is facing an unprecedented global emergency in coronavirus, and we are extremely grateful for the kindness Standard Chartered has shown through this generous donation. For over 150 years, the Red Cross has been helping people in crisis whomever they are and wherever they live. This virus does not respect borders and has already significantly impacted populations around the world. We know that our global response will only be as strong as the ability of the weakest public health system to respond, and this donation will help us deliver our vital work to the poorest and most vulnerable people. In addition to the above steps, the group has also put in place a comprehensive support programme for our clients and colleagues, including: $1 billion of financing for companies that provide goods and services to help the fight against Covid-19, and those planning the switch into making products that are in high demand to fight the global pandemic. A comprehensive support scheme for retail and business customers, including loan repayment holidays, fee waivers or cancellations and loan extension facilities. No colleagues have been asked to leave the Bank due to the impact of Covid-19, nor do we intend to make any layoffs as result of the pandemic. It has not furloughed any of its 84,000 colleagues across 59 markets, all of whom are working hard to support clients and customers. -- Tradearabia News Service Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State said that his administration has spent billions of naira in the fight against the spread of COVID-... Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State said that his administration has spent billions of naira in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the state. The governor did not declare the exact amount he has spent in waging war against the viral disease. Our correspondent reports that Ogun State has 20 confirmed cases of COVID-19, six of whom have been discharged. According to Abiodun the billions of naira were expended on setting up isolation centers, procuring equipment, sensitization, manpower development, surveillance and other logistics; especially the purchase food items that were distributed across the state to cushion the effects of lockdown on its citizen. In a statement on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, DAILY POST gathered that Abiodun disclosed this while he received the Director-General of the National Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, Chike Ihekweazu, in his Iperu hometown on Tuesday. The governor explained that, the molecular laboratories and other equipment used to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the state were procured through self-help. Abiodun stressed that the state will soon begin the first batch of distributing millions of face masks to residents of the state, to stop community transmission of Coronavirus. He informed that the state has procured equipment for drive-through testing in the local communities to ensure no stone is left unturned to curb the spread of the disease. Speaking further, he appealed to the Federal Government to assist the state financially so he can achieve more, asking the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to pay more attention to Ogun in the fight against the deadly virus. On the restriction order, Governor Abiodun said the lockdown has not been total in Ogun State, maintaining that this is so because of the peculiar situation of the state with, which he said is with the weaker capacity of citizens disposable income. He said many of the residents are largely living on daily income, unlike those in Lagos State and the Federal Capital Territory. We have had to manage the delicate balance between the peoples welfare and public safety. So far, we are on top to ensure community transmission is put under control, he said. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) commended Abiodun and the COVID-19 team in the state for measures put in place to fight the spread of the pandemic. The Director-General, NCDC, Dr. Chike Ihekweazu, after inspecting the first state fully funded molecular laboratory at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu and the 128-bed COVID-19 Isolation and Treatment Centre at Ikenne lauded the leadership of the State in giving directions to other states on how to deal with the Coronavirus pandemic. Negative views of women decrease with age for boys and girls -- but more benevolent, patronizing ones decline only for girls Children who hold seemingly positive, "benevolent" views about women are also likely to hold negative ones, a team of psychology researchers has found. Their results also show differences between boys and girls in how these views change over time: "hostile" sexist perceptions decline for both boys and girls as they get older, but "benevolent" sexist ones diminish only for girls. "It might seem cute when a boy acts in chivalrous ways toward girls, or when a girl pretends to be a princess who's waiting for a prince to rescue her," says Andrei Cimpian, an associate professor in New York University's Department of Psychology and one of the authors of the study, which appears in the journal Sex Roles. "Many times, this is just play, with no deeper meaning. But other times, these behaviors--even though they may seem inoffensive--might signal that children view women in a negative light, as weak, incompetent, and unable to survive or thrive without a man's help." "It is encouraging to note that this work also reveals how these attitudes evolve with age for boys and girls, albeit unevenly," adds first author Matthew Hammond, a senior lecturer in the School of Psychology at New Zealand's Victoria University of Wellington. Many understand the term "sexism" to refer to overtly negative attitudes toward women, Cimpian and Hammond observe. These could include perceptions that women are weak, incompetent, or overly emotional. However, they note, there's another aspect of sexism that is often overlooked--what researchers, notably Susan Fiske and Peter Glick, call "benevolent sexism." This consists of attitudes that may appear positive, but that are still undermining of and patronizing toward women--for instance, that women should be warm, caring, pure, and deserve to be put on a pedestal. Previous studies have shown that adults who hold sexist views that are hostile also possess ones that are benevolent. But less clear is whether or not children also simultaneously hold these perceptions--and whether or not these views change through childhood. To address this, the researchers looked at the attitudes of more than 200 children, aged 5 to 11, in two locations: New York City and Urbana-Champaign, Ill. They were asked if a series of statements were "right" or "wrong." The statements included both benevolent views (e.g., "Men need to protect women from danger") and hostile ones (e.g., "Women get more upset than men about small things"). In analyzing children's agreement and disagreement with these statements, the researchers found that children gave statistically distinct patterns of responses to the statements expressing hostile and benevolent views about women. Importantly, however, they also found an association between these types of views, meaning that if a child agreed with a hostile statement, then he or she was also likely to agree with a benevolent one. "This is something we did not know before about young children's gender attitudes," observes Cimpian. In addition, the findings showed that children's hostile sexism decreased with age for both boys and girls. However, benevolent sexism decreased with age only for girls--and not for boys. "Boys may be less likely to recognize that their benevolent attitudes toward women are, in fact, patronizing," Cimpian suggests. "For instance, they may hold on to the belief that men ought to protect women because this view is in line with social norms and may be reinforced throughout their upbringing." The study's authors see current circumstances as a chance to address concerns the study's findings raise. "Parents and kids are spending a lot of time together these days, so there are plenty of opportunities for conversation," says Hammond. "It could be worthwhile to spend a few minutes discussing what they think men and women should be." ### This research was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (BCS-1530669, BCS-1733897). Port Authority officials said two employees have died from the coronavirus, including a veteran PATH worker who lost his life Thursday morning, officials said. Robert Elijah worked for PATH as a power rail maintainer and literally kept the trains running during his 19-year career on the railroad, and died Thursday morning, said Kevin OToole, board chairman. He will be missed for his appearances and comments at board meetings, OToole said during the agencys month board meeting. Sharon James, a senior administrative secretary in the Construction Management Division of the Engineering Department who worked in the Port Authority Technical Center in Jersey City, died on April 7. She had been working remotely and was a 16-year veteran employee. James was remembered fondly by her co-workers as a cheerful and positive presence, who was always available to lend a hand and offer a wealth of knowledge, officials said. She leaves behind a son and a daughter. We are profoundly saddened, said Rick Cotton, Authority executive director Less than 200 employees have tested positive as of Thursday and four have been hospitalized, Cotton said. There are 354 workers who have self-quarantined, which is down from a high of 700, he said. Last month, 23 agency employees had tested positive for the coronavirus and more than 300 had self-quarantined, 164 had previously self-quarantined, got medical attention and returned to work, said Cotton, who was diagnosed positive for coronavirus in early March and returned to work after a two week quarantine. Officials also paid tribute to retired Inspector General Michael Nestor, who died April 9 after battling a terminal illness. A 27-year veteran of the agency, he was named inspector general in 2014 as the authority was embroiled in the Bridgegate scandal to close George Washington Bridge approach lanes in September 2013 as political punishment for the mayor of Fort Lee. The inspector generals office conducted its own probe into the role of Port Authority Police and civilian employees. He was one of the best, OToole said. A variety of measures continue to be taken to safeguard workers, including closing off the front and last cars on PATH trains to let crews socially distance themselves from riders. Employees who have direct contact with the public have been issued and directed to wear masks and other protective gear, Cotton said. We are having no supply problem, we continue to distribute (protective gear) to employees on the front lines, he said. OToole paid tribute to the agencys 8,000 employees, who are holding the region together making sure facilities are open to move essential workers and shipments of medical and other vital supplies are getting through to the hard-hit region. We cant thank you enough, he said. The agency could not be able to do what it can without our employees. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. She died at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital after battling some illness. Mr Peter Kwame, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Constituency Communications Director confirmed her death to GNA at Assin Homaho. The former DCE who was in her early 50s left behind three children and an over 90 years old Mother. She had been the Constituency Parliamentary Candidate for the NDC from 2008 to 2016. Mr Kwame denied rumours linking her death to either Covid-19 or tragic road accident, but explained that she had not been well for some time and was seeking medical attention frequently at the hospital. He described the former DCE as hardworking and a mother to all who was determined to bring development to all communities and worked with all persons regardless of one's political affiliation. ---GNA The event was jointly held by the Party Central Committee (PCC)s Commission for Communication and Education, the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, the PCCs Theoretical Council and the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences. The workshop is an opportunity to continue affirming Lenins scientific and revolutionary value for the world and Vietnamese revolution while applying his heritage to Vietnamese practice in a new context. Addressing the event, Politburo member, Secretary of the PCC and Head of the PCCs Commission for Communication and Education Vo Van Thuong said that "With his whole life dedicated to the revolutionary cause of the working class, working people and oppressed peoples all over the world, Vladimir Lenin has left us with a huge legacy. It is a hugely valuable legacy of ideology and theories, a noble example of morality, and a model of a true communist who strived to devote his life for the cause of national liberation, and the liberation of working class and all people from oppression and enslavement. Although time has passed and the world has seen great changes, the thought of Lenin remains a torch to guide the struggle for peace, national independence, democracy, social progress and justice all over the world," Thuong added. He also emphasised the significance of learning the common truths of Marxism-Leninism to be applied creatively to the current situation in Vietnam. On the same day, the Ministry of Information and Communications issued a stamp set to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. The set of stamps includes a sample designed according to the graphical method. The image features the portrait of Lenin on a red flag, with a hammer and sickle and the star of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation in addition to information about Lenin's full name and year of birth and death. The stamp measures 37x37mm designed by Vietnamese artist Pham Trung Ha from the Vietnam Port Corporation. Authorities in Madagascar should immediately release journalist Arphine Helisoa and halt the legal proceedings against her, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On April 4, authorities detained Helisoa, the director of the privately owned Madagascar-based Ny Valosoa (The Reward) newspaper, according to a report by French public broadcaster Radio France Internationale. Authorities, citing article 91 of Madagascars penal code, allege that Helisoa spread false news and incited hatred toward President Andry Rajoelina, according to the same RFI report and a statement posted on the Facebook page of the Madagascar Ministry of Communication and Culture. However, the publication cited in that ministrys statement as having caused the offense is an April 2 report in the France-based, privately owned news website Ny Valosoa Vaovao (The New Rewards). Ny Valosoa Vaovao stated in a post on its Facebook page that Helisoa in no way contributed to the report for which she was jailed. Helisoas lawyer, Willy Razafinjatovo, told RFI that Helisoa is only responsible for the written newspaper Ny Valosoa in Madagascar. If convicted under article 91 of the penal code, Helisoa could face up to five years in prison and a possible prohibition of additional rights, including voting, for up to 10 years, according to Madagascars penal code . Authorities in Madagascar should drop their ludicrous campaign against journalist Arphine Helisoa and halt efforts to intimidate the press, said Angela Quintal, CPJs Africa program coordinator. Helisoa should be freed immediately, and Madagascars laws should be reformed to ensure people can gather and distribute news and opinion without fear of imprisonment. Helisoas lawyers have applied twice for provisional release and been denied both times, and she had been moved from quarantined detention into the general prison population, Miary Rasolofoarijaona, secretary general of the Order of Journalists of Madagascar, a local press association, told CPJ via messaging app on April 17, citing communication with Razafinjatovo. CPJ called Razafinjatovo, but the connection was too poor to speak with him. According to RFI, Helisoa is detained in Antanimora Prison in Antananarivo, Madagascars capital. The April 2 Ny Valosoa Vaovao report, also posted to the outlets Facebook page , referred to Rajoelina as a killer for his alleged mismanagement of Madagascars COVID-19 response. Rasolofoarijaona told CPJ via messaging app that Helisoa had corresponded with the website administrator of Ny Valosoa Vaovao, but there was no formal relationship between the two publications, which simply have similar names. Rasolofoarijaona told CPJ that Helisoas arrest could be retaliatory for her criticism of the government. [It] is the will of the regime to intimidate all those who try to criticize it. Arphine is the ideal person, Rasolofoarijaona said. In 2019, Madagascar authorities prosecuted Helisoa and journalists Nadia Raonimanalina and Mahefa Rabearivony for defamation for a report alleging the improper use of military equipment, according to news reports . In that case, Helisoa was acquitted, but Raonimanalina and Rabearivony were fined 10 million ariary ($2,649), according to those reports. Odette Balsam Razafinoelisoa, the prosecutor in charge of the case, told CPJ via phone that she could not speak about the case. CPJs messages to Razafinoelisoa sent via messaging app on April 15 were marked as read, but received no response. This news release is not for distribution or dissemination in the United States of America TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2020 / GreenBank Capital Inc. (CSE:GBC)(OTCMKTS:GRNBF)(FRA:2TL) ("GreenBank or the Company") is very pleased to announce that Richard Beresford has joined its Board of Directors, having been voted onto the Board by the shareholders of the Company at the recent Annual General Meeting held on Wednesday 8th April 2020. Mr. Beresford is an entrepreneurial corporate lawyer with over 25 years' experience in the City of London. He is the driving force behind McCarthy Denning, a next-generation law firm, providing a radical new approach to the delivery of high-quality legal advice. The firm has international reach and experience and offers a full range of specialist expertise including employment, property, banking and debt finance, corporate, corporate finance, litigation, tax, competition and EU law. Richard has clients across several continents and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the GreenBank Capital Board. In 2017 Richard co-founded and became non-executive chairman of Rockpool Acquisitions PLC which is listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. Previously, Richard was a partner with McGuireWoods for over 4 years where he focused on M&A transactions (including those with cross-border elements). He earned his undergraduate law degree from the University of Warwick, and First Class Honors in his Solicitors Finals Exams at the City of London Polytechnic (now part of the London Metropolitan University). Mark Wettreich, Chairman of Greenbank Capital said, "We are delighted to welcome Richard to the Board of Directors. His international knowledge and relationships will be invaluable to the Company and together with Terry Pullen helps establish the global perspective which will be critically important in executing GreenBank Capital's strategy". About GreenBank GreenBank is a merchant banking business listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (trading symbols CSE: GBC and OTCMKTS: GRNBF and FRA: 2TL). GreenBank's 100% subsidiary GreenBank Financial Inc. is a merchant bank. GreenBank's portfolio companies comprise equity investments in 11 small cap businesses, namely; 52.5% of Blockchain Evolution Inc, owners of the world's first identification based blockchain, and developers of Xbook a user permissioned and revenue sharing social media platform; 22.6% of Ubique Minerals Limited, a zinc exploration company in Newfoundland, Canada; 47.7% of GBC Grand Exploration Inc, a gold exploration company in Newfoundland, Canada;; 59.5% of Kabaddi Games Inc, developers of a mobile application game based on the sport of Kabaddi;; 19% of Inside Bay Street Corporation, a financial news communications company; 34.8% of Gander Exploration Inc, a minerals exploration company in Newfoundland, Canada; 10% of Reliable Stock Transfer Inc, a Canadian small cap transfer agency; 25% of Buchans Wileys Exploration Inc, a minerals exploration company with interests in Newfoundland, Canada; 19% of Staminier Limited, a United Kingdom Merchant Banking firm, 10% of The Lonsdale Group LLC, a USA based private equity company focused on small cap investments;; and 11.2% of Minfocus Exploration Corp (TSXV: MFX), a mineral exploration company. For more information please see https://www.GreenBankCapitalinc.com or contact Mark Wettreich at (647) 693 9411 or by email Mark@GreenBankCapitalinc.com. Forward-Looking Information: This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business and trading in the common stock of GreenBank Capital Inc., the raising of additional capital and the future development of the businesses comprising GreenBank's investment portfolio. The forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by the company's management. Although the company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because GreenBank can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and GreenBank disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: GreenBank Capital Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/586678/GreenBank-Announces-that-Richard-Beresford-has-Joined-Its-Board-of-Directors The remaining 171 people at COVID-19 quarantine sites in Thua Thien-Hue Province completed their 14-day quarantine on Thursday, bringing the province's total to 6,380 cases finishing compulsory isolation. People receive quarantine completion certificates from Thua Thien-Hue Province'sMilitary Command on Thursday afternoon. They all returned to Hue from abroad (mostly from Laos) are in good health and returned to their hometown after completing isolation at concentrated quarantine areas in Hue City, Huong Thuy Township and Phu Vang District. There have been no new cases at quarantine sites from Thursday afternoon. Colonel Ng Nam Cuong, commander of the Military Command of Thua Thien-Hue Province, said they were assigned to take care of isolated people and did well in epidemic prevention as well as safety for soldiers on duty. The province has tested 9,000 people so far and found two positive cases with SARS-CoV-2. For over a month, there have been no cases of COVID-19 recorded in the province. VNS Life at concentrated quarantine sites Vietnam has established concentrated quarantine sites across the country to receive Vietnamese citizens and foreigners coming from the pandemic zones worldwide in order to take care of them and prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Lt Governor Anil Baijal on Thursday directed authorities to create a dedicated COVID-19 facility to treat infected Delhi Police personnel, officials said. The move comes in the wake of over 20 police personnel testing positive for the virus in the city so far. An official told PTI that the Lieutenant Governor has also directed setting up an exclusive testing centre for Delhi police personnel, besides providing personal protective equipment to those who are on COVID-19 duty. "There is a plan to set up a dedicated COVID-19 testing centre for police personnel at Shahdara Police Station, but a final decision is yet to be taken," a source said. According to a senior police official, the Delhi Police's strength is about 82,000 personnel. On Wednesday, police said that a head constable attached with the Special Cell tested positive for coronavirus, prompting authorities to order quarantine for 71 personnel. The head constable tested positive for the virus on Monday, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-23 23:48:50 Press Information Goldstein Market Intelligence 99 Wall Street ,Suite No- 527, New York, NY 10005 +44 7520 644482 Dennis Abraham Digital Marketing Research 07520644482 email https://www.goldsteinresearch.com # 524 Words 99 Wall Street ,Suite No-527, New York, NY 10005+44 7520 644482Digital Marketing Research07520644482 Microhospitals are acute care facilities that are smaller than the typical acute care hospital. In short, they're licensed hospitals that operate 24/7 in a fraction of the space of traditional acute care hospitals. They're equipped to respond to almost any medical issue, including those requiring critical care. While all micro-hospitals have a core set of services, the sites are also highly customizable, which allows organizations to adapt them to their target markets.Report is available at:- https://bit.ly/2VxMw2G Global Micro hospitals Market SegmentationBy Facilities Physical therapy Primary care Rotating specialists Surgery centres On-site x-ray, CT and ultrasoundBy Location Tier-1 Cities Tier-2 Cities Tier-3 CitiesBy End-User International Tourists Corporates IndividualsBy Geography North America (U.S. & Canada) Micro hospitals Market {Market Share (%), Market Size (USD Billion)} Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina & Rest of Latin America) Micro hospitals Market {Market Share (%), Market Size (USD Billion)} Europe (The U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Sweden & RoE) Micro hospitals Market {Market Share (%), Market Size (USD Billion)} Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of Asia) Micro hospitals Market {Market Share (%), Market Size (USD Billion)} Middle East & Africa (GCC, South Africa, North Africa, RoMEA) Micro hospitals Market {Market Share (%), Market Size (USD Billion)}Request for Sample Report at :- https://bit.ly/2XWex5l Covered in this Global Micro-Hospitals Market Report areGlobal Micro-Hospitals Market Research 2030 by Goldstein Market Intelligence contains detailed overview of Global Micro-Hospitals Market in terms of market segmentation by analysis basis, therapy type and geography. The Report highlights the competitive outlook of major global players that includes the business strategies, product portfolio, revenue distribution, financial analysis, R&D activities, and investments. The in-depth analysis of Global Micro-Hospitals Market report will help the clients to assess their business strategies as per the competitive environment in the market space.Companies covered in the Global Hospital Market report are: Emerus Hospitals SCL Health Baylor Scott & White Saint Lukes Health System Dignity Health Baylor Health Care System Christus HealthFurther , Global Micro-Hospitals Market Report encompasses the major trends & opportunities, market dynamics and other growth factors of the Global Micro-Hospitals Market Research also comprises of key challenges, risk analysis, BPS analysis, SWOT Analysis and Market Attractiveness. The report also highlights the expert analysis to provide a complete overview of the market including the PESTLE analysis of each region and country.About Goldstein Market IntelligenceGoldstein Market Intelligence helping businesses to be successful at strategy and take informed decisions to grow the business in future. Goldstein Market Intelligence is one of the leading professional services firms, providing Intelligence Services, Consulting & Advisory and research related services to clients. We, at Goldstein Intelligence Group (GIG) practice works side by side with chief executives and their teams to create effective strategies and secure alignment across the organisation. Goldstein Intelligence Group (GIG), a network of worldwide professional services firms, as a leading group with a strong commitment to establishing itself as a truly global-minded professional firm that can provide professional services across the world.Contact for more Info:Dennis Abraham(Global Sales Head)UK: +44 7520 644482Email Us :- dennis.abraham@goldsteinresearch.com Store it up: This logistics unit in Mulhuddart is being rented by Dunnes Stores One of Ireland's major retailers, Dunnes Stores, has done a rental deal to take a 325,000sqft logistics unit in Damastown Business Park, Mulhuddart, Dublin, owned by IPUT. The move comes as agents report a spike in demand for logistics rental property, especially from food and pharmaceutical companies. Demand also appears to have been boosted by the increase in online retail activity and e-commerce as delivery companies are playing an increased role in this sector of consumer trade. On March 31, The Property Price Register (PPR) showed the average annual rent on the Geodis building in Damastown at 2,562,994 which would equate to almost 7.89 a sq ft. However a spokesperson for IPUT said the PPR details "are historic and not accurate in respect of this letting. Additionally, IPUT will not be commenting on the annual rent roll for this letting". IPUT, one of Ireland's leading property companies, facilitated the letting to Dunnes by providing Geodis with an alternative unit at IPUT's Unit 1 Dublin Airport Logistics Park (DALP). IPUT previously announced in January that the 20-year lease on the 185,000sqft DALP unit will generate an initial rent of 1.6m a year. This rent will equate to an attractive income yield on cost of 6.6pc and a profit on cost of 12.6pc. This letting followed on from IPUT completing an extensive upgrade to the building. IPUT acquired the Damastown property in 2014 for about 36m by way of a sale and leaseback deal with Geodis, which originally developed it to meet its logistics requirements. Michael Clarke, head of investment at IPUT, said: "We are pleased to have been able to successfully facilitate the move of one of our existing occupiers and the expansion of another within our portfolio. "With a strong development pipeline, we are well positioned to meet the demands of our existing occupiers and attract further multinational companies over the coming years." The fund's logistics portfolio extends to over 2.4 million sq ft and accounts for more than 10pc of Dublin's modern logistic stock. It acquired more than 202,000sqft of these assets in 2019, has planning for an additional 280,000sqft of high bay logistics space and has potential for a further 620,000sqft on its existing land bank. City and county leaders re-emphasized the importance Wednesday of wearing cloth face coverings in public in situations where physical distancing is a challenge. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg said the city has received reports that many folks are walking into grocery stores and big box stores, and theyre not wearing their mask. Emergency orders issued by Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff call for fines up to $1,000 and jail terms up to six months for violations of COVID-19 restrictions. Officials have said only those who are repeatedly resist the mask mandate will be cited. We need you to wear your mask because we know that you are protecting others, potentially, from you if youre carrying the virus and may not even know it, the mayor said at the daily COVID-19 briefing. Dont make the grocery store workers or any other of those employees work harder to protect us from you. On ExpressNews.com: A timeline of COVID-19 in San Antonio At the root of the mask requirement is the threat posed by COVID-19 carriers who have no symptoms. Dawn Emerick, director of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, said 8 percent of those who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus have been asymptomatic. That figure is based on testing at nursing homes and other locations where outbreaks have occurred. In those places, officials tested everyone, whether or not they showed symptoms. But Emerick said the total pool of asymptomatic carriers is probably much larger, since testing of the general public has been limited to people with symptoms. Within the next week, health officials may craft a plan that uses scientific controls to better understand how many San Antonians are feeling healthy while carrying the potentially deadly virus, she said. That asymptomatic piece is something thats really important to us. We will be doing something about it, Emerick said. On ExpressNews.com: Almost no symptoms: San Antonians sickened by milder forms of COVID-19 She echoed Nirenbergs plea to the public to wear masks and she also emphasized that masks are not as effective as staying at least six feet away from other people, or better yet, staying home. Even as businesses are expected to reopen in the weeks ahead, Emerick advised the public to continue wearing a facial covering, such as a cloth mask, scarf or bandanna, over the mouth and nose. Im going to wear mine, probably every single day. Its the new normal, she said. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Bexar County rose by 46 Wednesday, to a total of 1,126. On ExpressNews.com: Distinguishing allergies from COVID-19 No new deaths were reported, leaving the toll at 39. Nirenberg said local hospitals were in good shape. The number of hospitalized COVID-19 patients stood at 79 Wednesday, three fewer than on Tuesday. Thirty-eight were in intensive care, down from 41 on Tuesday. The number of patients requiring ventilators was 22, the lowest figure in several days, leaving 81 percent of the local ventilator inventory available for use, the mayor said. Of 4,730 hospital beds in San Antonio, 1,752 (37%) were available, according to data posted on the Metro Health website. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio could see five more testing sites This is the first week that Bexar County residents have been required to wear a facial covering over the nose and mouth when venturing out in public. Its going to be really incumbent on all of us to protect ourselves, and to protect the people that well be seeing, Wolff said. Bexar County residents can call Metro Healths COVID-19 hotline for information in English and Spanish at 210-207-5779. shuddleston@express-news.net The Indiana police stumble on the skeletal remains of a woman that was found in the woods by accident. Shocking discovery of these remain opened a cold case that was closed a year earlier due to lack of evidence. Accidental discovery of the skeletal remains finally resolves what happened to the murdered woman, who went missing a year ago. The identity of the deceased The slain woman is identified as Flores, age 36 who had six kids and was nowhere to be found since February 2019 in Gary, Indiana. According to the Times, sources say that she was seen during late February in 2019 with another woman, who resurfaced later but was not seen for a while. It was found out in March 2019 her boyfriend Drew Carter lll got charges for her murder. A witness came forward and told the authorities that he shot Flores in the backseat of a car. It seems that Carter has motives against the victim. During a heated argument, she forbade him to have sex with no one else but her. Allegedly, the witness was the one whom the boyfriend wanted to have sex with. Things quickly escalated and Carter shot the victim in the back of the car. Her boyfriend informed the authorities that she was missing in late February. On that same day, the boyfriend's car was set on fire in Chicago, Illinois. According to the Times, the police found blood in the backseat and on the items owned by Flores. Court records reveal that Carter shot Flores right inside the car. Finding the remains of Flores More than a year after she went missing, Flores' remains were finally located in a covered and wooded area near 700 block of Clark Road. The coroner's office identified the remains as those of Flores by her dental records. The remains were discovered in the Northwest of Indiana, found by a city worker who discovered it by accident. Soon after the search was joined in by local police and a search dog, which found other remains in the crime scene. Dental records were used to determine if the remains were indeed Flores and no one else. Also read: Ohio Man Who Called COVID-19 a Ploy Dies from Coronavirus Trial for the murder of Flores Even before the trial began in September, the Lake County prosecutor's office wanted to drop murder charges so they can look over the evidence. Because of this, the case was dropped, but Carter was still liable for the charges. Instead of getting released, the police kept him for possession of two guns when U.S. Marshals arrested him for the alleged murder of Flores. This was not the first time that he had a run-in with the law, before this he was convicted for felony assault and weapons charges. It seems the crime was not so clean because citing court records, the Times revealed that another witness, was found riddled with bullets in his home in Gary Indiana. George Heath was found lifeless on March 19. If the witness was alive, he could point out the killer, without any doubt. His murder left too many questions unanswered. Other than small details about the homicide of Flores has yet to be revealed. But the skeletal remains of a woman, who trusted just ended up dead. Related article: Utah Couple Shot Dead in Home, Three Kids Left With Parents' Dead Bodies @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Nunavut Court of Appeal has quashed a key ruling in the lawsuit of a group of Ed Horne victims against their former lawyers, as the prolonged and convoluted lawsuit was dealt yet another twist last week. More than 100 victims are suing their former lawyers who represented them in a multimillion-dollar settlement with the government of the Northwest Territories. They allege Geoffrey Budden and Stuart Morris took too big a share of the settlement, and wrongfully charged HST. They launched the lawsuit in August 2015. But the lawsuit came to a halt in October 2016 after their new lawyer, Alan Regel, was himself sued over allegations of negligence in recuperating the HST. Budden and Morris's lawyer at the time, James Morton, argued Regel could have got the HST back from the federal government, rather than suing Budden and Morris for it. Because Regel had become a defendant in the case known as a third party notice he couldn't simultaneously represent his clients, because it put him in a conflict of interest. In June 2018, Justice Paul Bychok ruled the third party notice had merit, effectively leaving the victims without a lawyer. But last week, the Nunavut Court of Appeal quashed Bychok's decision, throwing yet another curveball into a lawsuit which hasn't seen any progress on the main issue in nearly four years whether the victims should get some of the settlement money back. Third party notice risked 'derailing' main lawsuit In its decision, the Nunavut Court of Appeal made two main points as to why it struck Bychok's third party notice. The first, it said in following the precedent set by other courts in Canada, was if Budden and Morris were defending themselves against the HST issue, and the plaintiffs could have gotten it by other means, the argument could be taken into consideration as mitigation if damages are awarded at the conclusion of the lawsuit. In essence, Budden and Morris don't have to sue the victims' lawyers for it, and it could just be deducted in any damages they may have to pay if the courts rule in the victims' favour. Thus, there is no need for a third party notice. Story continues The second, the three-judge panel ruled, was that this is not a lawsuit where issuing a third party notice would be appropriate because it could have the potential to affect the original lawsuit. "Here, the Third Party Notice runs the risk of derailing the main proceeding. Adding another party to the litigation, to engage one narrow issue, will complicate and delay the entire action," the panel wrote in its decision. "The HST refunds are only a small part of the overall claim. There is a danger that adding another defendant to address this small issue will undermine or delay the entire action, which can ultimately only prejudice the plaintiffs. It appears that no progress has been made in advancing the main claim since the Third Party Notice was filed on August 29, 2016." This is the first time in Nunavut's history its rules around third party notices have been interpreted by the Court of Appeal. The panel also pointed out that a rift has now formed between the plaintiffs and Regel because of the third party notice. So, what now? And who is representing the victims? The Court of Appeal, however, did not address the issue of who is now representing the victims. After the third party notice was issued, Bychok ruled Regel's firm could no longer represent the victims. However the Court of Appeal made a point not to address that question. A case management meeting between the lawyers and a judge is expected to be scheduled in the future to resolve the issue, before the lawsuit is back in court again. No date has been set for the meeting. John Gonzalez | gonzo@mlive.com Don't Edit BY JOHN GONZALEZ | gonzo@mlive.com and AMY SHERMAN | asherma2@mlive.com Are you curious what breweries in Kalamazoo and Southwestern Michigan are still open for carryout or curbside service during the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic? So are we! We reached out to the Michigan's Brewers Guild who provided us with some information, and we also called many other breweries to see who was still open. Many have closed temporarily after initially staying open after the Governor's initial order. Now many more have shut down to see how this all shakes out. We took a survey of breweries from Otsego and Fennville to Kalamazoo and Vicksburg and St. Joseph to Benton Harbor to see who was still making and distributing beer. If we missed your favorite place, and you know it's open, please email us: Amy Sherman is asherma2@mlive.com John Gonzalez is gonzo@mlive.com Get up to the minute coverage of the coronavirus in Michigan here. Don't Edit Courtesy of Bell's Brewery, Inc. Don't Edit Bell's Brewery, Inc. Eccentric Cafe 355 E Kalamazoo Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269-382-2338 Facebook bellsbeer.com Food, beer, music and more - all information available via Bell's Facebook page. Check out what they recently posted about Mango Oberon: While weve never done online reservations for specialty beer releases before, weve also never released a specialty beer during a time like this. Given the priority we are placing on safety, social distancing, and the need to avoid lines of any kind, we have decided to release the General Store Exclusive Mango Oberon through online purchase and timed curbside pick-up reservations only. How it works: - Thursday 4/23 at 12pm Eastern, head to the following link to place your order: https://bit.ly/2VtQiIR - Select your quantity (2 six-pack limit per person) - Select your curbside pick-up time and check out - Count down the minutes until your tasty beverage is ready for pickup - Call us when you arrive during your designated pick-up time and we'll bring it out to your car in our parking lot. Please have Valid ID ready. - Head back home and enjoy! Note: must be 21+ to purchase and pick up. All online sales are guaranteed. No walk-in or in-store pick-up available for this release, all six-packs must be purchased online for a reserved curbside pickup. FOOD They said: We recently added some new additions to our food to-go menu as well as a couple of limited time specials! - Family style meal for Friday/Saturday pickups only - Buy 2 sandwiches (burger, pulled pork, falafel, pastrami, or tacos) with an order of pimento cheese or hummus for $25. - Sunday brunch specials (details coming soon!) Give us a call at 269-382-2332 to place your order or call UberEats for delivery. Updated hours: Wed - Fri: 4pm - 8pm Sat: 12pm - 8pm Sun: 10am - 4pm Don't Edit Courtesy of Bell's Brewery, Inc. Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Three Blondes Brewing Don't Edit Three Blondes Brewing 1875 Phoenix St Suite B, South Haven, MI 49090 269-872-3911 Facebook threeblondesbrewing.com They said: Three Blondes Brewing in South Haven is open Wed/Fri/Sat from 5-8pm for "patio-side pickup". Beer - We have 6-packs and single 12oz cans available and can fill new growlers, crowlers, or howlers with any beer we have on tap. Please use our online ordering platform to view available beer and to place an order at https://threeblondesbrewing.dineloyal.com/. Beer orders can be placed online any time on Wed/Fri/Sat for pickup from 5-8pm on those days. Food - We have a limited "Quarantine Food Menu" which requires placing an order 24 hours in advance. Click here to see the Quarantine Food Menu and additional details. Pickup times are Wed/Fri/Sat from 5-8pm. Don't Edit Courtesy of Haymarket Brewing Don't Edit Haymarket Brewery & Taproom 9301 Red Arrow Hwy, Bridgman, MI 49106 269-266-5050 Facebook Curbside pickup, carry-out & delivery offerings! Don't Edit Courtesy of Haymarket Brewing Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Silver Harbor Don't Edit Silver Harbor Brewing Company 721 Pleasant St, St Joseph, MI 49085 269-281-7100 Facebook Order online, curbside pick up Saturday between 3-6p Don't Edit Courtesy of North Pier Don't Edit North Pier Brewing Company 670 N Shore Dr, Benton Harbor, MI 49022 269-57-7163 Facebook northpierbrewing.com Don't Edit Courtesy of Liquid Note Brewing Don't Edit Don't Edit Liquid Note Brewing 119 E Allegan St, Otsego, MI 49078 , Otsego 269-692-2337 Facebook liquidnotebrewing.com They said: We are open noon to 2pm Saturdays only. Patrons order beer on our website throughout the week and we fulfill curbside deliveries during the 2 hours we are open. They can place an order on our site: http://www.liquidnotebrewing.com/ Don't Edit Courtesy of Round Barn Don't Edit Round Barn Winery, Distillery & Brewery Various locations Brewery and tasting room 9151 First Street, Baroda, MI 49101 269-326-7059 roundbarn.com and Tabor Hill Winery They said: ROUND BARN BREWERY & PUBLIC HOUSE BIG INFORMATION Round Barn Brewery & Public House is located at 9151 First Street in Baroda, MI. We are open Wednesday through Sunday, 4 to 8 PM EST, for to-go orders only. Curbside pick-up. Guests can order either on the phone at (269) 326-7059 OR online (which is currently a POPULAR way to order): https://moerschhospitalitygroup.revelup.com/weborder/?establishment=8 I would highly recommend people follow us on Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/RoundBarnBreweryPub ) and Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/roundbarnbrewery/ ) for up-to-date/last minute information. We are offering to-go orders options for ALL of our products Food, beer, wine and spirits! We just released a NEW Flavor Trip flavor Wednesday Raspberry Lemonade. It is available online OR it can be picked up at the Public House in Baroda: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10157643255865129&set=a.140048215128 FOOD We offer a variety of food options We have appetizers, salads, entrees, sandwiches, wraps and pizza. Pizza is our most popular. Our popular food/beer deal is the 20% off Pizza + Growler Fills. Our Beer Cheese is to die for It's seriously the best thing ever. Here is our food menu: https://roundbarn.com/locations/public-house/#menu Weekly Food Specials (check social media pages for those weekly specials) BEER We are doing growler and howler pours. At this time, we are not allowing return howlers and growlers, so there is NOT the additional $4/order. The beer list of what is on draft is listed on our site. There is 16 beers on tap currently, and we are also doing fills our Round Barn's famous Sangria (white and red). Prices vary for each growler/howler pour. Would recommend looking at the menu. Beers for this sale Kolsch, Lake Michigan Light, Black Dog Porter, Local Yokel, Hop Dealer, Vacation, Indecision, Oronoco Cocoa ROUND BARN ESTATE Something that may be too late to include The Round Barn Estate is opening tomorrow (April 18) for curbside pick-ups only. The Estate will be open from 12-5PM EST. We will also be open again next Saturday, April 25). Guests can pre-order or order on site their favorite libations (beer, wine, spirit and sangria). We will also be donating money to the Southwest Michigan Cares Fund this weekend, which supports local COVID-19 response. The first 100 customers who visit us tomorrow/next week will receive a FREE 8oz hand sanitizer made by our distillery team. TABOR HILL, ROUND BARN ESTATE, FREE RUN CELLARS These three locations are closed, but we are selling our wine online! Stay Home, Stock Up Sale 30% off all wines, 50% off accessories Tabor Hill Demi-Sec and Demi-Red Mix and Match Case Sale = $6/bottle plus free shipping Round Barn Creams Mix and Match Case Sale - $15/bottle plus free shipping Round Barn Farm Market Cranberry Wine Case Sale - $7/bottle plus free shipping Buy One, Get One Case Sale of Select Flavor Trip Canned Wine Cocktails (Cherry Spritzer, Crantini, Red Sangria) - $45/case Tabor Hill Blueberry Franc - $14.99 Tabor Hill Sparkling Demi-Sec and Sparkling Demi-Red - $8 Round Barn Farm Market Cran-Apple and Cherry - $7 Don't Edit Courtesy of Olde Peninsula Don't Edit Olde Peninsula BrewPub 200 E Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269-343-2739 Facebook According to a message they sent us on Facebook: Olde Peninsula is open for takeout, curbside & delivery by our Team. We are doing Growlers both new & refills. Refills are $8 any beer with a CLEAN Growler. Thursday we do Growler Thursday where all new growlers are $1 OFF all day. New Growler pricing starts at $12.99 +tax & dep. Food: Tuesday $2 OFF all burgers 4p - close Wednesday: $2 OFF all Hand Held sandwiches 4p - close Thursday: $6.99 Basket Meal Deals includes American cheeseburger, chicken tenders, 1/2 lb. boneless wing & two chicken street tacos all day. All specials for takeout, curbside or delivery by our Team. Hours: We are open 11am - 8pm Tuesday - Saturday. Best selling beers: OP IPA, Pineapple IPA, Mr Smushy NE IPA & Double Blueberry Cream Ale. Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Paw Paw Brewing Don't Edit Paw Paw Brewing Company 780 S. Gremps St., Paw Paw, MI 49079 269-415-0145 Facebook pawpawbrewing.com From a recent post: Looking for some munchies today? PPBC has you covered! We can even bring them right to your door! Fried pickles, poppers, pork rinds, and more! PPBC is open daily from 11am-7pm, offering take-out and FREE local delivery for food and beer ($15 minimum food purchase for delivery, please tip your drivers!) Check out our website for our menu, current tap list, and up-to-date info during the Covid-19 crisis: pawpawbrewing.com To-go/delivery packaged beer available ($15 minimum food purchase required for delivery): 6-packs of Jake's Vanilla Bean Porter, Two Paws IPA, K.U.A. Extra Pale Ale, St. James Mild Amber, Coconut Porter, Black River Oatmeal Stout, Citra Melon, 4-packs of Gus Meister Amber Ale, and bombers of Black Talon IPA and King James Scotch Ale. Growlers and howlers available for on-tap beer. Please see website for current tap list: pawpawbrewing.com Don't Edit Courtesy of The Livery Don't Edit The Livery 190 5th St, Benton Harbor, MI 49022 269-925-8760 Facebook liverybrew.com Just posted: **FRIDAY FIRKIN ALERT** We had such a great time last week, we are bringing our traditional firkin tapping back again this week! Tune in tomorrow at 5:10pm as we go live on Facebook to tap the cask! This week, we bring you: "Munro Fashioned" - an Old Fashion inspired variant of Bier Munro (Rye IPA). This concoction has Bourbon Barrel Aged maple syrup, orange zest, and cherries added to push that cocktail profile! We are incredibly excited to try this one, and we cannot wait to share with you on Friday! FOOD **Mac-n-cheese Alert!!** We are bringing back our Mac-n-cheese this Friday! Heck, build your own with our plethora toppings! A little something to keep you drooling all week! Open Friday Noon to 8pm and Saturday 3pm to 8pm for food and beer service!** Don't Edit Courtesy of Waypost Don't Edit Don't Edit Waypost Brewing Co. 1630 Blue Star Hwy, Fennville, MI 49408 269-496-5096 Facebook waypostbeer.com Don't Edit Courtesy of Transient Don't Edit Transient Artisan Ales 4229 Lake St #9109, Bridgman, MI 49106 Facebook transientartisanales.com Current to go hours: Tuesday-Friday 2 PM - 7 PM Saturday-Sunday 12 PM - 7 PM No growler fills, but we do have some kegs for sale. All pickup/curbside/delivery are through our online store: http://transient-artisan-ales.square.site and people may also walk in during open hours Delivery is twice a week, rotating days/times, all updated in the store and on the pinned post on our Facebook page: http://facebook.com/transientartisanales We're still releasing beer; we just released Tiger Style, an American Rice Lager and last week released The Juice is Loose, a DIPA. We have some stouts that will be announced soon as well. Our to go list is always updated on our website: http://transientartisanales.com Current kegs for sale (pick up only): Cromulent - IPA - 30L ($140) A La Carte Reality - DIPA - 30L ($175) Honeystone - DIPA - 20L ($125) Moon Money - IPA - 30L ($140) Obligatory - IPA - 30L ($140) Draft equipment not included, no keg deposit/returns Electronic gift cards: https://squareup.com/gift/DBREYNYM5AJ8G/order Don't Edit Courtesy of Presidential Don't Edit Presidential Brewing Company 8302 Portage Rd, Portage, MI 49024 269-365-0008 Facebook presidentialbrewing.com They just posted: A month ago, we didn't know if we'd survive this. Yesterday, we made 100 deliveries. One. Hundred. Our first delivery day, we made 10 stops, and were amazed that 10 people would sign up to have beer delivered to their home. The next week was 40, and we nearly fell over with surprise. Then 50, and we hired another staff member back to help with deliveries. . Yesterday we made 100 stops all over the county. Nearly 300 crowlers. Sold out of ice cream. Sold out of most of our sodas. 7 delivery drivers got to come back to work. You brought us 3 times the sales volume we do on a normal Tuesday, when we're fully open. . I feel like all we do these days is blubber about how humbled and grateful we are, but hey, at least we're consistent right? . Thank you. For believing in us, for giving us a chance, for supporting us, and for helping us through this. We are forever grateful. Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Tapistry Don't Edit Tapistry Brewing 4236 Lake St, Bridgman, MI 49106 269-266-7349 Facebook They said: Hours: Monday and Tuesday 11am-3pm (Pickup/Grolwer fills if you bring a clean growler or packaged beer to go, Curbside pickup with food or beer to go, Grubhub limited menu with free delivery) $15 discount on full cases of canned beer, no mix and match. Friday and Saturday 11am-7pm (FREE DELIVERY of food and beer, Pickup/Grolwer fills if you bring a clean growler or packaged beer to go, Curbside pickup with food or beer to go, Grubhub option with limited menu with free delivery) $15 discount on full cases of canned beer, no mix or match. NOTE: We have Barrel aged beers in cans!! Call for availability as these have been popular To order call our taproom at 269-266-7349 Grubhub at:https://www.grubhub.com/restaurant/tapistry-brewing-company-4236-lake-st-bridgman/1660327 Don't Edit Courtesy of The Distant Whistle Don't Edit The Distant Whistle Brewhouse 118 S Main St, Vicksburg, MI 49097 269-475-5447 Facebook They said: We are doing growler and howler service with limited cans when we have them available (updates on availability on our Facebook and Instagram). Our online portal lists our sizes available as well as pricing at https://bit.ly/3e91Km0 Our current tap list can be found at www.distantwhistle.com/#whats-on-tap We are also offering curbside service and delivery on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons. Visit https://bit.ly/2ywNlQe for the NEW online/curbside/delivery options! We are open Tuesday-Friday from 4-7 PM, Saturday from 12-6 PM, and Sunday from 12-5 PM. Facebook: @distantwhistlebrew Instagram: @distantwhistle Twitter: @DistantWhistle Website: www.distantwhistle.com Untappd: http://untp.beer/yLyWL Dane Bosel The Distant Whistle Brewhouse Don't Edit Courtesy of The Distant Whistle Don't Edit Don't Edit Courtesy of Harbor Light Don't Edit Harbor Light Brewing 516 Phoenix St, South Haven, MI 49090 616-299-7760 Facebook harborlightbrewing.com Harbor Light Brewery is open for beer and cider takeout. No food Online ordering on the website. Don't Edit Courtesy of Final Gravity Don't Edit Final Gravity Brewing Company Two locations: 246 N Burdick St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 269-350-5136 Facebook-Kalamazoo 103 N Phelps St, Decatur, MI 49045 269-436-8052 Facebook-Decatur finalgravitybrew.com Don't Edit Courtesy of Final Gravity Don't Edit Don't Edit your growlers well, and theyll supply you with delicious beer for years to come. #sofreshsoclean Posted by Lucky Girl Brewing Co. Crossroads on Monday, April 20, 2020 Don't Edit Courtesy of Lucky Girl Don't Edit Lucky Girl Brewing Company 34016 M-43, Paw Paw, MI 49079 269-628-0054 Facebook luckygirlbrewing.com Check Facebook for hours. Additionally, they say: First responders, health workers and truckers receive a free meal during the Covid 19. Call us to place an order! TEL: 269.628.0054 25 % off of Growlers, Wine Bottles, Pizza with Wings or Nachos with Wings. Free Frisbee included! Don't Edit Kind of a BLT with a Love Monger sort of day, just sayin... https://briteeyesbrewingco.myncrsilver.com Posted by Brite Eyes Brewing Co. on Thursday, April 23, 2020 Don't Edit Courtesy of Brite Eyes Don't Edit Don't Edit Brite Eyes Brewing Co. 1156 S. Burdick St. Kalamazoo, MI 49001 269-220-5001 Facebook briteeyesbrewingco.com Brite Eyes One of our favorite breakfast stops whenever we're in Kalamazoo, where you can get eggs and a beer in the morning. Now they are bottling beer, too. Check out the online menus at https://briteeyesbrewingco.myncrsilver.com/ Don't Edit "It's Mine" (Because it's NACHOS!) is back on the menu! We are offering the nachos as a build your own at home or cooked ready to eat. Choose your own adventure and enjoy! Posted by One Well Brewing on Monday, April 20, 2020 Don't Edit Courtesy of One Well Don't Edit One Well Brewing 4213 Portage Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49001 269-459-9240 Facebook onewellbrewing.com One Well Brewing One of Michigan's Best New Breweries in 2016, One Well is always willing to try new things, and once again the Wizard is busy. Along with great food and beer, they have some fun merchandise. They posted: "We are going to start to offer more merchandise options for pickup when you swing by to get your fix! In honor of that we want to kick things off with a tye-dye auction. Post under each picture what you want to bid and the next person can up bid you. On Friday at 3pm we will close the bidding. For each shirt that sells for over $50 we will donate a meal to a first responder! The shirts are unisex and sizes will be listed with each picture. Feel free to ask questions. Info@onewellbrewing.com" In addition, they added Wacky Future in growlers. "(It) is a blend of 50% Pineapple IPA with Lactose and 50% Unflavored Seltzer. This makes for a lighter bodied IPA with a nice subtle pineapple tropical fruit flavor going on. At 6% it is sure to be a refreshing option for IPA drinkers looking for less calories." Food is always a big deal: "Back by popular demand!!! "I'm Cuban B" our Cuban sandwich has been liberated from the quarantine and back on our to go menu. Smoked pork, ham, stone ground mustard, pickles, and house made chips! The name references one of the Wizard's favorite movies of all times. Name that movie... " Food menu at onewellbrewing.com/food-to-go Beer and Cider at onewellbrewing.com/beer Don't Edit Courtesy of Guardian Don't Edit Don't Edit Guardian Brewing Company 3657 63rd Street, Saugatuck, MI 49453 guardianbrewingco.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/guardianbrewingco IG: @guardianbrewingco They said: FOOD - We are offering our full menu for carry-out, curb-side delivery, and delivery to Saugatuck and Douglas daily - Soup of the day is also updated on our website every few days - Our menu is updated regularly on our website: www.guardianbrewingco.com/menu - Our beer cheese and soft pretzel, Reuben sandwich, and housemade ice creams are very popular BEER, WINE, & CIDER - We have 22 beers on tap and are filling Crowlers (32oz can), Howlers, and Growlers from customers (all current beers on tap with prices on website) - We also sell our own growers and howlers (glass) if people do not own their own - We have non-Guardian bottles and cans of beer, wine, and hard cider for sale (check out menus online) - Some top-selling beers are Gator Bait Golden Ale, Nokken Raspberry Gose, Oogity Boogity Honey Vanilla Cream Ale, Gold Phoenix Session IPA, and Nessie Imperial IPA DEALS - Mondays feature $7 growler fills (specific beers chosen each week) - Tuesdays feature $6 Crowlers (any beer under 8.5% ABV) with purchase of a taco plate (pork carnitas or vegan Beyond Beef) - Wednesdays are All Day Happy Hour $8 Howler fills (any beer under 8.5% ABV) - Thursdays feature one $10 Growler fill (varies each week) - Saturdays & Sundays feature $4 off growler fills for First Responders, Police Officers, Healthcare Workers, Teachers, Residential Caregivers, and Truck Drivers HOURS Sun - Thurs: 2-8PM Fri & Sat: 12-8PM Don't Edit John Gonzalez Don't Edit Beer of the Week Earlier this year we debuted a new feature, Beer of the Month, and then we recently expanded it to Beer of the Week during the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic. Beer of Week Noon Friday - We announce the next beer of the week on our Michigan's Best Facebook page. (April 24) Monkey Mouth IPA - A tasty, balanced beer from Grand River Brewery in Jackson. (April 17) Jai Alai - Another great springtime beer from our friends at Cigar City in Florida. (April 10) It's our nod to Spring Break, which we didn't get to enjoy this year. Rainmaker - A pale ale from Stormcloud. (April 3) Oberon - An easy choice from Bell's. (March 27) Don't Edit MLive Don't Edit Virtual Happy Hour What are you doing at 5 p.m. Friday? We're hosting a virtual happy hour on Zoom for MLive subscribers. Not a subscriber yet? Subscribe here and you'll get an email invitation to join us. LEARN MORE: Join our Michigan's Best Happy Hour with Gonzo and Amy Don't Edit Don't Edit MLive Don't Edit More Beer At Odd Side Ales in Grand Haven, closing of its taproom has been profound PODCAST: The economics of a pandemic on the beer industry - Interview with John Burtka of Grand River Brewery PODCAST: John and Amy talk to David Ringler from Cedar Spring Brewing about the business of craft beer during a crisis. Don't Edit MLive Don't Edit Follow our Michigans Best adventures on social media: @mlivemibest on Twitter @mlivemibest on Instagram Facebook at MLiveMIBest. Join in by using the hashtag #mibest In addition: Amy Sherman is on Twitter @amyonthetrail, as well as Facebook and Instagram @amyonthetrail. John Gonzalez is on Twitter @michigangonzo, as well as Facebook and Instagram @MichiganGonzo. Note: This story has been updated from an earlier version. The Pennsylvania Department of Health has reported 1,369 new coronavirus cases, raising the statewide total to 37,053. In a news conference Thursday afternoon, Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine said there are 1,421 total COVID-19 deaths. There are 1,394 confirmed deaths due to COVID-19 and 27 probable deaths, according to the health department. The department released new data Thursday. The figures reflect cases and deaths reported as of midnight. In recent days, the state began tracking deaths involving confirmed cases - where a test revealed a positive result for the virus - and probable deaths tied to COVID-19. Levine said Thursday afternoon the state is dropping 201 probable deaths from its count, saying more investigation is needed before determining those fatalities are tied to the coronavirus. On Wednesday, the state said there were 1,622 coronavirus deaths, including confirmed cases and probable deaths. The data supplied Thursday indicates 69 new deaths involving patients who tested positive for the virus. All of the COVID-19 deaths in Pennsylvania involve adults, the health department said. More than half of the states deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, including nursing homes and personal care homes. Levine said the state has flattened the curve when it comes to new cases. The number of new cases today remains well below the one-day peak of nearly 2,000 on April 9. Statewide, 142,061 have tested negative for the virus, the health department said. Levine has said people need to continue social distancing measures to curb the spread of the virus. A closer look Cases have been reported in all of Pennsylvanias 67 counties. But the Philadelphia region, the Lehigh Valley and northeastern Pennsylvania have had the highest rate of infections. Philadelphia has hit a milestone as more than 10,000 people have contracted the virus, with 10,090 confirmed cases, according to the health department data. Neighboring Montgomery County has had 3,395 cases. Lehigh County has had 2,418 cases while in neighboring Berks County, 2,212 people have contracted the virus. In central Pennsylvania, Lancaster County leads area counties with 1,359 cases. Here is a look at the cases in other midstate counties: York (546); Lebanon (544); Dauphin (445); Cumberland (229); Franklin (151); Adams (95); and Perry (23). Nursing homes and hospitalizations The health department said Thursday 849 coronavirus deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities, including nursing homes and personal care homes. Across the state, 5,679 residents of those facilities have been infected, along with 673 employees. Cases have been found in 408 long-term care facilities. Statewide, 2,745 patients infected with the virus are being treated in hospitals, according to the health department. Those in hospitals account for about 7 percent of all those who have contracted the virus. Most of those who contract the virus can recover without hospital care. But those developing more serious symptoms should call their doctors, health care experts said. Seniors are especially vulnerable to developing complications. Reopening Pennsylvania Pennsylvania remains under a statewide stay-at-home order until May 8 but Gov. Tom Wolf announced steps to ease restrictions on daily life Wednesday night. The governor said northcentral and northwestern counties will likely be reopened first next month. Wolf said there would be three phases in lifting restrictions on daily life: red, yellow and green. Right now, the entire state remains in the red zone. The Wolf administration said it will move counties or regions into the yellow phase when there are fewer than 50 new cases per 100,000 residents. Some rural counties in Pennsylvanias northern tier have only a handful of confirmed cases. Heres a look at the Wolf administrations phases to reopen Pennsylvania. (The story continues below.) Gov. Tom Wolf has released this chart, which details the phases of reopening Pennsylvania. Wolf also announced construction activity can resume May 1, a move bringing relief to workers and trade groups. Republican lawmakers have been pressing Wolf to allow construction activity to resume. The health department has received criticism from some coroners regarding the tracking of COVID-19 deaths. Coroners in some counties said they arent aware of deaths being reported by the health department. Levine said her staff will continue to hold conversations to try to strike a better balance with county coroners going forward. The department defended its count of deaths as appropriate. More from PennLive Can we find those infected with coronavirus, so everyone else can get back to work, school and life? Construction in Pa. can begin before state reopens, Wolf says What will be allowed in the red, yellow, and green phases of Pa.'s coronavirus reopening plan? 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 Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Garcelle Beauvais is finally dishing the details of her messy divorce from ex-husband, CAA agent Mark Nilon. Garcelle admitted recently that talking about the nasty divorce was not something she was "looking forward to dredging up" however, given the reality show she stars in, it seems that the talking point would be inevitable. On last night's episode, while giving friend Ali Landry a tour of her house, Garcelle spoke about how she claims to have found out Mike had been allegedly having an affair for five years during their nine-year marriage. 'Five-year affair': The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Garcelle Beauvais is finally dishing the details of her messy divorce from ex-husband, CAA agent Mark Nilon "Mike Nilon and I were married for nine years. We were sort of like the Hollywood couple. I'm an actress, he's an agent, we'd go to fabulous parties, we had two boys," Garcelle explained to Ali. "Mike was reliable, he was sweet. I really thought this was my last stop." Ali admitted that she could sympathize with Garcelle, having gone through her own infidelity scandal, when ex-husband Mario Lopez admitted to cheating on her day before their wedding (which was annulled just two weeks later.) Garcelle continued: "One day nine years ago, I said, 'Hey Mike, can I use your phone' ...I look at your phone and see a text that says, 'I love you.' I say, 'What's this?' and his face changed. He said, 'I've been having an affair.' I said, 'How long?' and he said five years." In happier times: Garcelle admitted that she and her husband were once the perfect "Hollywood couple" with him being an agent, and she an actress. Telling-all: Garcelle talked about the divorce to Ali Landry, who could relate given her experience with ex-husband Mario Lopez Not having it: Garcelle let rip on last night's episode of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills "I'm a hot head, so that night I wrote an e-mail to friends and colleagues at Mike's work and the subject was 'What does Tiger Woods, Jesse James and Mike Nilon have in common?'" she admitted. "And that e-mail got leaked to the press." PEOPLE Magazine previously confirmed that Garcelle sent an e-mail to some of Mike's Creative Artists Agency coworkers with the subject line "Tiger Woods/Jesse James/Mike Nilon." The former NYPD Blue actress wrote to Nilon's co-workers, "What do they have in common ...I found out today that MY husband of almost 9 yrs has been having an affair for 5 yrs with some slut in Chicago. I am devastated!!!! And I have been duped!! Our boys dont deserve this!" 'I'm a hot head': Garcelle reacted to the alleged affair by e-mailing her husband's co-workers Family unit: The former couple are parents to 11-year-old twin sons Jax and Jaid (pictured above in 2008) Raising a hand: Garcelle got animated as she talked about standing up for herself and getting revenge Asked in the show if she knew what happened to the alleged 'other woman' Garcelle replied that she didn't but added: "I was devastated, so I didn't care what happened to her. My priority was taking care of my children and now I feel like it's my time." Neither Garcelle nor Mike responded to the allegations made in 2010, nor did they give an official comment. The former couple are parents to 11-year-old twin sons Jax and Jaid. WASHINGTON - A prosecutor on the Roger Stone trial team who abruptly resigned from the Justice Department because of a dispute over the recommended sentence has a new job. Jonathan Kravis will run a new public corruption unit for the District of Columbias Office of the Attorney General, which has jurisdiction over juvenile offences as well as misdemeanour crimes. The idea is to ensure that local, generally lower-level crimes that may otherwise fall between the cracks or go unpunished by the U.S. attorneys office, where Kravis worked until February, are prosecuted. Here in the District of Columbia, there are numerous local public corruption offences that are on the code book, in the DC code, that really are not enforced in this jurisdiction right now because the U.S. attorneys office properly is focused on federal corruption matters, Kravis said in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday. Those provisions dont get the attention that they need, he added. They include, he said, campaign finance violations and false statements on financial disclosure forms. D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine said the nations capital stands out as a jurisdiction that does not have a local prosecutor to reliably focus on local public corruption offences. He said the addition of Kravis, an attorney he said had significant stature in the legal community and good old-fashioned lawyering skills, will change that. The District of Columbia seeks to have a local prosecutor focused on local public corruption in the same way that every state in America does, Racine said in the interview. Racine and Kravis both said they expected the public corruption unit to work with the local U.S. attorneys office in a professional and collaborative manner Kraviss exit from that office notwithstanding. Kravis and the governments entire Stone trial team quit the case in February after Justice Department leaders, including Attorney General William Barr, overruled them and ordered the filing of a new sentencing recommendation. The department backed away from its initial recommendation for the ally of President Donald Trump, just hours after the president tweeted his displeasure with it. Barr has said he ordered the new filing hours before the presidents tweet because he was caught off guard by the initial sentencing recommendation and believed it was excessive based on the facts of the case. Filing a new one was a righteous decision based on the merits, he has told the AP. The team had recommended a punishment of between seven and nine years in prison for Stone, who was convicted in special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation of lying to Congress, witness tampering and obstructing a House probe into whether the Trump campaign co-ordinated with Russia to tip the 2016 presidential election. The presidents tweets about the case led to a brief flare-up between Barr and Trump. In their revised sentencing memo, department officials argued the initial recommendation could be considered excessive and unwarranted under the circumstances but did not specify a new recommendation. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jacksons eventual sentence of 40 months was notably lower than what the trial team had asked for. A press release from the D.C. attorney generals office described Kravis as having resigned over the Department of Justices handling of the Stone sentencing memo, through Kravis declined to discuss with AP why he had left or other aspects of the Stone prosecution. Im not really in a position where I can comment on my departure from the U.S. attorneys office, Kravis said. There are a variety of reasons for that. He added: The project that were talking about here, the formation of the public integrity section, this isnt really about me. This is about creating a unit within the office of the Attorney General that is going to provide a very valuable service to the people of the District of Columbia. Delhi to ease restrictions, if Covid cases come down in next 2-3 days: Health Minister Lata Mangeshkar health update: Doctor says,'She in ICU with Covid-19 and pneumonia, will be under observation' Cooperation between Centre, states key to tackle COVID-19: Manmohan Singh India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Apr 23: Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday stressed that the key to success in the combat against COVID-19 would be the cooperation between the Centre and states. Singh made the remark while addressing the Congress Working Committee (CWC) through video-conferencing, and said the success of the ongoing lockdown restrictions would be judged on the country's ability to tackle the outbreak. "It is necessary to focus on a number of issues in this fight and that will depend upon the availability of resources," added Singh. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi in his speech highlighted the issue of migrant workers. "Lockdown is a pause button. As a nation, we need to think of a transition from a complete lockdown to lockdown only in hotspots and commencement of activities in green zones," he added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, April 23, 2020, 18:53 [IST] Food Network star Willie Degel said Thursday he does not plan to immediately open his restaurant in Georgia when the state's coronavirus-related restrictions on his business are relaxed next week. "Being that we're more of a middle-serve, finer-dining restaurant, I'm going to wait on the sidelines and see how the customers are reacting," Degel said on CNBC's "Squawk Alley." Degel, the owner of Uncle Jack's Meat House in Duluth, Georgia, said the company has conducted outreach to customers through emails and an online poll to gauge their thoughts on reopening. The majority of people indicated they would be hesitant to dine in right away, he said, though some indicated they'd be willing to order takeout. About 35% to 40% said they would be ready to eat in with additional space between tables and other extra safety measures in place, Degel said. He said he viewed that level of support, at this point, as a positive sign. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced earlier this week that restrictions on businesses would be lifted on Friday. Tattoo parlors, gyms and hair salons can reopen then, if they adhere to social distancing and sanitary requirements. Starting Monday, restaurants can begin serving restricted dine-in meals and movie theaters can start selling tickets. Many public health officials have criticized Georgia's moves as being too soon, arguing they could lead to a second wave of Covid-19 infections. A Forest Grove renter filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against his landlord for allegedly using the Internal Revenue Service website to determine whether he had received his federal stimulus check. Austin Goodrich, 22, is accusing his property manager, TLC Bookkeeping and Tax Prep Inc., and property owner, 2275 W Burnside LLC, of invading his privacy by illegally using the IRS website to track the status of his stimulus check in an attempt to collect unpaid rent. Goodrich confirmed that TLC Bookkeeping and Tax Prep is run by his grandmother, but said he does not associate with her outside of their tenant-landlord relationship. Goodrich, who lost his job as a security guard due to the COVID-19 crisis, is one of nearly 300,000 Oregonians who were laid off or furloughed in the first weeks of the coronavirus outbreak. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown issued a temporary eviction moratorium on March 22 to protect renters dealing with the fallout from the crisis. Hours after receiving his stimulus check from the federal government on April 15, Goodrich received a text from his landlord and grandmother asking whether he planned to use the money to pay his April rent. She explained she had used his Social Security number and the numbers of several others to see whether their stimulus checks had arrived, according to a text message thread that Goodrich posted on social media. The IRS Get My Payment website allows users to track the status of stimulus checks by entering a Social Security number, date of birth and address. A message on the website says unauthorized use of this system is prohibited and subject to criminal and civil penalties. I initially remained anonymous on the issue for awhile but decided to use this opportunity to speak out on behalf of tenants that suffer abuses from their landlords/property managers that this is the time to put your foot down and demand fair treatment of your rights, said Goodrich in an email exchange with The Oregonian/OregonLive earlier this week. I also wanted to bring attention to the IRS vulnerabilities that would allow anyone with access to Social Security numbers to gain illegal access to their computer systems. Goodrich is being represented by Portland lawyers Michael Fuller, Alan Kessler, and Kelly Jones. One of the reasons we filed this is to send a message that tenants and vulnerable people are not going to be bullied during this crisis, Fuller said. That appears to be what happened here. Not only do I hope that the jury allows fair compensation for my client, but I hope that sends a strong message to other landlords and debt collectors that tenants are not going to be bullied. A representative for 2275 W Burnside LLC did not immediately respond to a call from The Oregonian/OregonLive Wednesday afternoon. The owner of TLC Bookkeeping and Tax Prep Inc. said she would not be commenting, based on advice from her lawyer. She declined to give her name, but referred to herself as Goodrichs grandmother, tax preparer and property manager. The lawsuit does not name her as an individual defendant. Goodrich said he signed a lease at the property managed by his grandmothers company after moving back to Oregon from California. He had hoped to work only with her business partner. When her business partner left, his grandmother became his landlord. This is an issue between a tenant and property management company, Goodrich said. Goodrich said he tried to resolve the issue with his landlord before filing the lawsuit. He asked her to waive all rent due until the end of his lease on June 30, waive all due and past-due amounts, return his security deposit and give him an excellent rental reference. When his landlord did not respond, he said he determined that his request was not being taken seriously and decided to file the lawsuit. Here is their text exchange. Completley outlandish. pic.twitter.com/cCaYR2RTZq Cascadian Resistance (@CasResistance) April 17, 2020 CORONAVIRUS IN OREGON: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter -- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. WASHINGTON - Top Republican leaders said Wednesday they want Congress to return to business as usual amid the coronavirus pandemic - in effect bringing hundreds of lawmakers, aides and support staff back to Capitol Hill despite the warnings of public health officials that reopening parts of the country too soon could cause a spike in the deadly disease. The calls from prominent members of both the House and Senate echo rhetoric from conservative activists and some GOP governors who have advocated loosening social distancing guidelines after weeks of lockdowns and the disease's devastating toll on the economy. Republicans said a largely shuttered Congress was abdicating its constitutional responsibility in the face of the most massive crisis in generations. "Congress is essential," House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., told reporters, asserting that social distancing and sanitation measures could keep those on Capitol Hill safe. "The American public needs to see that we're working. The American public has to understand that we could do it in a safe manner, so states and others could begin to open, as well." The pressure to reopen comes as Congress prepares to add another $484 billion in rescue spending this week to the more than $2 trillion it has already enacted over the past two months. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a radio interview that he was ready to reconvene the full Senate on May 4 - before a stay-at-home order for Washington expires May 15. "I haven't seen anything that would discourage me from doing that," he told conservative radio show host Hugh Hewitt. "And as soon as we get back in session, we'll start confirming judges again. We need to have hearings, and we need to confirm judges." Meanwhile, Republican objections in the House helped scuttle an initial step toward remote legislating this week. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., postponed plans to temporarily institute proxy voting on the House floor, which would have allowed members to designate colleagues from afar to cast votes on their behalf. Democratic congressional leaders have taken a much more cautious tack, arguing both that the health and safety of members and others on Capitol Hill is paramount and that Congress has a responsibility to set a good example for the nation. "It's not just about us. It's about the staff. It's about the press. It's about the security and about those who run the building," Pelosi told reporters Tuesday. "We care about them, but we also care about the people they go home to, their children in families, as well." At the same news conference, where he stood several feet away from Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said the congressional schedule should be "governed by the medical experts." "We set an example," he said. "So if we were to come back prematurely . . . that's a bad thing." Lynn Goldman, dean of George Washington University's Milken Institute School of Public Health, raised multiple red flags in an interview Wednesday. The Washington region does not currently have the testing and contact-tracing capacity to support the loosening of restrictions, she said, and the nature of the Capitol and the work of legislating stands to heighten the risk of covid-19 transmission, even with precautions. The overall tally of known coronavirus infections in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia climbed to 28,295 on Wednesday. There were a total of 1,185 known deaths. Goldman urged congressional leaders to think carefully about protecting the health and safety of aides, visitors and members themselves before plotting a return. "Many of them are over the age of 60. Many of them themselves probably have chronic medical conditions," Goldman said. "It's one thing to say, well, our nation needs to bring them together so they can see each other and deliberate. . . . But if they become ill or end up having to be isolated, then that could have a very serious impact on our government, and I think that needs to be considered as well." At least six members of the House and Senate have tested positive for the disease, with Rep. Ben McAdams, D-Utah, hospitalized for eight days. In a bid to strike a balance between safety and the need for Congress to conduct legislative business, Pelosi last week endorsed a proxy voting arrangement proposed by House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern, D-Mass. Members unable or unwilling to travel to Washington could designate a colleague to cast their votes for them as specifically authorized in writing. The arrangement would be temporary and specific to a "pandemic emergency" as declared by the House sergeant-at-arms. Democrats hoped to push through a rules change allowing for proxy voting while House members were in Washington on Thursday for the vote on the $484 billion relief bill, which passed the Senate by voice vote Tuesday. But Pelosi abandoned that plan Wednesday morning after a conversation with McCarthy, according to a senior Democratic aide and McCarthy's account. Instead, Pelosi told fellow House Democratic leaders on a conference call that the issue would be closely studied by a bipartisan group led by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., and McCarthy. Pelosi, D-Calif., had said in public comments this month that any rules change allowing for remote work would have to be strictly bipartisan, but Democrats over the past week moved forward with a proxy voting arrangement without securing consent from Republicans. McGovern released text of the proposal early Wednesday ahead of the expected Thursday vote - prompting immediate objections from Republicans who said they were not closely consulted, despite Pelosi's public assurances of bipartisanship. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., the senior Republican member of the House Administration Committee, said in an interview Wednesday that Democrats "cut us out of the process" in a rushed attempt to, in his view, consolidate the power of Pelosi and her deputies. "This was the Democrats' attempt to try and use this emergency to change 200 years of history," he said, noting that House Republicans eliminated proxy voting on the committee level in 1994 due to abuses by Democratic chairmen. The McGovern proposal would not allow members to assign a general proxy, as in the past, where chairmen used proxy authority to wield unfettered power. Instead, lawmakers would have to authorize each discrete proxy vote. But Davis, like many other GOP lawmakers, made another appeal for Congress to physically show up: Millions of other Americans - like his wife, a nurse - are doing their jobs in hazardous conditions during the pandemic. "They come home, and they don't quarantine themselves for 14 days after they go to work each day. They practice good hygiene. They follow the proper procedures, and they stay safe," he said. "Why can't Congress do the same?" That battle cry took flight on the Senate floor Tuesday, during the brief debate over the new relief bill. "This should be our duty station, working around-the-clock for people we represent, getting through these unprecedented times, being able to address challenges as they arise - and they are arising every hour, every minute," Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, said, calling for Congress to reopen. Sullivan dismissed concerns about the coronavirus spreading, saying careful measures could be taken to allow for social distancing: "We have heard about the difficulties that could come with voting and having members of Congress catch covid-19, but we can do this safely. We can vote safely." McCarthy made similar points Wednesday, noting that members voting on the relief bill Thursday will be staggered into nine groups to avoid close physical encounters on the House floor. He suggested that going forward, the House could operate with a skeleton crew consisting of members of key committees remaining in Washington to work, while others stayed in their home districts. Standing near McCarthy was Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, the No. 3 House Republican leader, who late last month warned that it could be months before Americans - and the House - could return to work, saying in an interview that she was being "realistic about what the future holds." On Wednesday, Cheney struck a different tone: "Great nations are not paralyzed by sickness. Together we have a job to do, and it's a job that includes ensuring that this never happens again. And it's a job that we in Congress must be convened to do." The first committee hearing in almost six weeks convened Wednesday evening, of the House Rules Committee, with most of its 13 members on hand. After a fierce debate, the panel approved the framework for Thursday's debate on the creation of a 12-member select committee to oversee the trillions of dollars spent on the coronavirus pandemic. Rather than the tiny room the panel uses on the third floor of the Capitol, the Rules Committee convened in an expansive hearing room in one of the office buildings. Lawmakers sat far away from each at a massive dais, usually reserved for the Ways and Means Committee, with Republicans and Democrats alike donning masks. Some wore gloves, including Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Ariz. This time two years ago, Givenchys artistic director Clare Waight Keller was in the final sprint of making Meghan Markles dress for her wedding to Prince Harry on 19 May 2018. Waight Keller had been tasked with creating Markles boat necked, long-sleeved gown a dress that made her an institution at Givenchy. The 49-year-old has undoubtedly had an illustrious career, yet she described the occasion as more significant than any other. After a three year stint at Givenchy, Waight Keller announced her departure from the fashion house on 10 April in a heartfelt Instagram post. Perhaps the artistic directors departure from such a pivotal point in her career has her feeling nostalgic, as she talks about working with Markle in detail in her latest Instagram posts. She was modern, with a fresh approach, warm and welcoming, completely disarming and joyful in every way. We struck it off instantly and a friendship began Waight Keller writes in her most recent Instagram post. The designer goes on to say: Fittings were always a special time to chat, just us, it was a time of getting to know each others history and there are many memorable moments. Read more: Meghan Markles first post-Megxit interview In an earlier post, Waight Keller spoke of their working relationship, she said: Through hours of conversation, meetings together, and research, slowly all the pieces of that story came together. Purity and simplicity were the guiding principles, a narrative of nature through the 53 florals of the Commonwealth to bring the world into the journey of the ceremony... Seven months after walking down the aisle, the former Duchess of Sussex presented Waight Keller with Womenswear Designer of the Year award at The Fashion Awards in London. Story continues Read more: Meghan Markle gives support to Grenfell survivors delivery service Markles fashion influence has been widely documented. Last year, she overtook the Duchess of Cambridge as the nations fashion icon on global fashion search platform, Lyst. Its no surprise, then, that many celebrities started wearing Waight Kellers designs as a result of the Meghan effect. Gal Gadot, Rachel Weisz, Rooney Mara, Charlize Theron and Julianne Moore have all walked the red carpet in her womenswear and couture designs. Read more: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle volunteer in LA Describing the process of creating Markles secret dress she said: So many emotions were running through me during those months leading up to the big day. A wedding dress is one of the most exquisite and beautiful moments for a designer, but also personally as an woman artist, creator there is a lot of sensitivity that flows through the process from the knowledge and understanding of the feelings that you have as a bride. Its a unique point of view when you have been through it yourself, as I did at my wedding to my beloved husband 20 years ago, you remember every moment so clearly and realise the significance of every detail and decision. Waight Keller described the royal couples wedding day as a very personal ceremony. She mentioned the many choices that reflected the pairs heritage as well as their unique way of being incredibly inclusive, genuine and generous. DETROIT A Canadian nurse could face up to 20 years in federal prison for attempting to smuggle more than 150 pounds of marijuana into the United States. Terri Leanne Maxwell, age 48, is a registered nurse from Amherstburg, Ontario. She was charged in a criminal complaint with conspiracy, possession with intent to distribute, and importing more than 100 pounds of marijuana into the United States from Canada, United States Attorney Matthew Schneider announced Thursday. At a time when health care professionals are working overtime to keep us safe, its really shameful that anyone would exploit their status as a nurse to smuggle any kind of drug into our country, stated United States Attorney Matthew Schneider. To stop the spread of the Coronavirus, our Canadian border is open only for essential travel and smuggling in marijuana simply isnt essential. According to the criminal complaint, Maxwell applied for admission into the United States and presented her Canadian passport and work permit at the Detroit Ambassador Bridge on April 22. Under the Trade NAFTA agreement, Maxwell showed she had valid status to work as a registered nurse and a placard issued by Canada Border Services Agency showing she was an essential worker and had reason to cross the border. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the border between Canada and the United States will remain closed to non-essential travel for another 30 days on April 18. Officers had Maxwell open her trunk for an enforcement exam and noticed that the trunk was full and that there was an odor of marijuana emanating from the trunk. Upon further inspection officers found 143 vacuum sealed bags of suspected marijuana with a total weight of approximately 153.69 pounds. Even during this pandemic, CBP remains vigilant in our mission to stop transnational criminal organizations who are attempting to exploit processes and essential personnel crossing the border," said CBP Director of Field Operations Christopher Perry. "This case exemplifies the professionalism, partnership and commitment we share with the U.S. Attorneys office to protect the American people and our communities in which we live and serve." Maxwell is set to appear in federal court in Ann Arbor on Thursday. After the investigation is completed a determination will be made whether officials will seek a felony indictment. The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) has commended the Government on the bold steps taken to fight the spread of the new Coronavirus in Ghana, especially the setting up of the COVID-19 Trust Fund. A statement signed by Mrs Beauty Emefa Narteh, the Executive Secretary of GACC, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, on Wednesday, also applauded the private companies, individuals, religious organisations, and civil society organisations, which had donated to the COVID-19 pool fund. The Board of Trustees of the Fund, which is chaired by former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, receives contributions and donations from the public to assist in the welfare of the needy and the vulnerable. The Public Trust is managed by an independent body of trustees to ensure public accountability and the proper deployment of the funds. It also lauded the State social intervention measures to ameliorate the effect of the ban on public engagements on commerce, and thus the livelihood of Ghanaians, particularly, the most vulnerable in our society. The GACC also expressed appreciation to the men and women working on the frontlines to return socio-economic lives to normalcy. It, however, urged the Government and all persons in charge of procuring goods and services to be guided by value for money considerations, and strictly abide by the emergency public procurement laws. The statement said the GACC and like-minded CSOs would lead the charge of citizens to demand accountability. It encouraged all and sundry to abide by the safety and hygiene protocols, and restrictions on movements, as instructed by the health experts, to minimise the spread and eradicate the virus. 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 Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan recognized 100 volunteers for April, National Volunteer Month, five of those honored are from Downriver. Among the dozens of women, men and organizations, are Jennifer Powers, of Romulus; LaTonya Pace, of Ecorse; Joseph Cochran and Emilia Vega, of Lincoln Park; and Denise Raich, of Taylor each received the Volunteer of Excellence Award and Appreciation Pin. Powers is the Troop Leader for Troop 76902. She is skilled in setting up and leading educational programs for the girls, and keeps activities girl led, while giving leaders the experience to guide girls in their interests. Pace is a committed troop volunteer for the Girl Engagement Initiative (GEI) Troop 89453 of River Rouge STEM Academy. She has volunteered for in-school and after school troop meetings, council and GEI events. Cochran has been a volunteer with Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan for 15 years. He currently serves as a co-leader for Troop 41667 and helps run the Downriver Cookie Cupboard, as well as several other council events. Vega is the Troop Leader for multi-level Troop 76275 of Wyandotte. She also serves as the Membership Engagement Coordinator in her GSSEM community, a Product Program Committee member, and a member of the Volunteer National Awards Committee. Raich is the Troop Leader for an older girl Troop 41135. Denise goes above and beyond for her girls and leaders in the area; her service and commitment helps her community thrive. The volunteers are the heart of this entire organization, said Liz Bogner, GSSEM Volunteer Lead. They are on the frontline delivering programs to girls, and offering them an empowering experience. Its so important to recognize them, as they are the ones directly making an impact in our girls lives. We couldnt thank them enough. The Volunteer of Excellence award recognizes those volunteers who have contributed outstanding service while partnering directly with girls in any pathway to implement the Girl Scout Leadership Experience through use of the National Program Portfolio or who have contributed outstanding service in support of the Councils mission delivery to girl and adult members. The Appreciation Pin recognizes an individuals exemplary service in support of delivering the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. This service, which has had a measurable impact on one geographic area of service, helps Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan reach and surpass the mission-delivery goals of the area. GSSEM will be doing online recognition of all award recipients in lieu of the recognition event which was cancelled due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. To learn more about volunteering for GSSEM, visit gssem.org/volunteers. To follow the activities of GSSEM, visit gssem.org. Submitted by Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan UPDATED at 11:31 A.M. EDT on 2020-04-23 Tibetan nomads in Chinas western Sichuan province have appealed to the Chinese government to drop a plan that would make Mandarin Chinese the official language of instruction in Tibetan schools in the Ngaba (in Chinese Aba) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. A delegation of nomads said in a letter Monday to authorities that moving from Tibetan to Chinese as the main medium of instruction would have an adverse impact on relationships between parents and their children and goes against regional ethnic laws. The nomads, herders who raise livestock and move their animals as seasons change, said the consequences of the switch would be far-reaching on future generations of Tibetan students with nomadic backgrounds. Their welfare and happiness depends on a sound Tibetan education through their mother tongue, it said. We therefore appeal that the medium of instruction of all subjects remain in the Tibetan language, the letter said. It was submitted to the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress. Instruction in Mandarin has been in effect in most middle and high schools in Tibet since the 1960s, but in the 2010s, many elementary schools and even kindergartens are now also teaching in Mandarin due to the educational policies of the regional government, a recent Human Rights Watch (HRW) analysis showed. RFA reported last week that Chinese was being promoted heavily in rural areas of the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) and other Tibetan areas, raising concerns among parents that Tibetan children becoming more proficient in Chinese than their native language native. The HRW analysis, publish last month, focused mainly on the TAR, but the New York-based rights watchdog noted the policies were also being promoted in Tibetan areas outside that regions boundaries. Chinas policies for Tibetan children in the TAR show decreasing respect for their right to use their mother-tongue or learn about and freely express Tibetan cultural identity and values in schools, it said. Rather, they embody an approach to schools and schoolchildren that appears to be eroding the Tibetan language skills of children and forcing them to consume political ideology and ideas contrary to those of their parents and community, it said. Several ethnic Tibetan scholars and activists said that the move to Chinese amounted to an erasure of the Tibetan language, and by extension its unique cultural identity. The nomads are most concerned that if such a change goes into effect, it will have an impact on their learning outcomes, a source in the region who requested anonymity for legal reasons told RFAs Tibetan Service. Education is key in building relationships, and the type of education students receive shapes their character, so this is a really big deal for many reasons, the source said. The nomads argue that if the Chinese government insists on changing the medium of instruction to Chinese, students who are currently being schooled in Tibetan would be at a disadvantage when taking national college-entrance exams. Without a good test score, they will not get into a good university. Without a college education, it will be difficult to get a decent job, said the source. The rights of children to an appropriate education is directly tied to career ambitions, so parents are genuinely concerned about the proposed changes, the source added. Shelge, a Tibetan former political prisoner living in Australia, told RFA that the delegates were representing Amoi, Meywa, and Serde villages in Ngaba. They have complained that the proposed change to the medium of instruction goes against Chinese law in general, and particularly the Regional Ethnic Autonomy Law, Shelge said. Article 36 of Chinas Regional Ethnic Autonomy Law says agencies in ethnic autonomous areas have the right to make decisions about education, including the language used in instruction, but only in accordance with state guidelines on education and in accordance with the law. When news of the proposed change emerged, many of the teachers in Ngaba, Zogue and Chungchu county spoke out openly against the proposal by writing dissenting views in article form and publishing them [on social media], Shelge said. Even though the Chinese government attempted to eliminate the views through [censorship] of social media, Tibetans from all over continue to express their dissatisfaction by writing about it in both Tibetan and Chinese, the former political prisoner added. Several of the nomadic delegates who signed the letter had published their opinions publicly in the preceding weeks. If the proposed switch to Chinese as the medium of instruction is true, then we, the peoples delegation have the responsibility to bring it up with our higher authorities to ensure the promotion and advancement of minority education remains in line with the Regional Ethnic Autonomy Law, wrote Nya Melong, a delegate from Meywa Dhona village, on April 13. If we fail to address this issue, then we will have failed in our responsibilities as the peoples delegation, he added. Another delegate, Juchoe Pal from Mewa Gongthang village, said that if such proposed changes becomes reality, this is willingly suppressing and trampling upon the culture and civilization of an entire race with nothing other than a show of contempt. Such a proposed change is against national law and will sow the seeds of disharmony among the ethnicity, he said, saying the scheme reflects shortsightedness of a few poorly educated authorities who disregard the laws of the land. HRW said the language policies are the result of increasing moves by the ruling Chinese Communist Party since 2014 to shift away from encouragement of cultural diversity, which had been the official policy towards minorities since the early 1980s. A recent poll on the proposed change in Ngaba, which was shared on the WeChat social media platform, shows the Chinese governments attempt to limit the scope of the Tibetan language goes against the wishes of the Tibetan people, Tibetan legal expert Dolma Kyab said. As of April 20, 27,270 people, which accounts for 97 percent of participants, said they were in support of keeping Tibetan as the medium of instruction, he said. Only 319 people, about 1 percent, voted against Tibetan as the instructional medium, the U.S.-based writer said. During a meeting of school administrators, the Ngaba government announced that it was the Tibetan peoples aspiration and wish to [be educated in Chinese], which is a blatant lie, added Dolma Kyab. Reported by Lobe, Takha Gyal and Sonam Lhamo for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Dorjee Damdul. Written in English by Eugene Whong. A missing man from Talladega County was found today at the Walls of Jericho trailhead in Jackson County, the authorities said. Jackson County Chief Deputy Rocky Harnen said the man, whose name hasnt been released, is OK. The man got lost along the trail after traveling there on Tuesday to take pictures. Family members reported the man missing late Wednesday because he hadnt returned to his home about 115 miles south of Walls of Jericho in the Lincoln area of Talladega County. Family members said the man might be traveling with an unidentified woman, but the sheriffs office determined the man was apparently alone when he got lost along the trail. Updated at at 11:50 a.m. on April 23, 2020. 'Medical detection dogs' can be utilised for screening the patients of COVID-19, said a veterinarian associated with sniffer dog department under Union Home Ministry New Delhi: 'Medical detection dogs' can be utilised for screening the patients of COVID-19, said a veterinarian associated with sniffer dog department under Union Home Ministry. Colonel (Dr) PK Chug, Consulting Director, Police K9 Cell, Ministry of Home Affairs, has stressed upon using 'medical detection dogs' for screening people as coronavirus surges, crossing the 20,000 mark in India and 25 lakhs globally. "Medical detection dog is about utilising dogs in identifying medical sickness. People know that dogs are successful in searching for explosives and drugs. But you would be amazed to know that dogs are used in various other things. Out of that, medical detection is an emerging topic, on which a lot of work has been done. In foreign countries, it has been utilised successfully in detecting different types of cancer," Colonel Chug told ANI. Colonel Chug has more than 26 years of experience in training police and military dogs. In order to detect, saliva, blood and urine samples are taken. Based on these samples, dogs detect and tell whether it is a positive case or not, he stated. "Whenever we fall sick, there are changes in our body, and the saliva odour or the urine odour gets changed... Based on this, these dogs are trained so that they can screen and tell you in a non-invasive way that a person is infected with a particular disease," Colonel Chug explained. So, can these trained dogs detect COVID-19? Colonel Chug explained, "Not just in our country, there is a big challenge to detect COVID-19 in the entire world. At London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Professor James Logan's team has started to work on this. They have earlier worked on malaria detection. They have worked with an organisation, named Medical Detection Dogs." He stated that the said team is hopeful that this might help in the screening process of COVID-19 since it is not possible to get all people tested at labs. "Although, it is at an early state. We are in touch with them. We have talked to Professor Logan's team. We also have thought about it and want to do some activity on this in our country. However, since it is in early stage, they have replied saying that they are validating this test. Once validation is done, they will share the outcome with us," Colonel Chug said. "We too are conscious about it and will try to work on this type of screening process in the future," he added. He said that "Professor Logan's team is first working on to see whether there is any change in our body odour due to COVID-19." "If there is a chance, then only it will be successful. In this, they are particularly focusing on body odour. For this, they would need positive samples. So, the face masks and clothes used by the positive patients will be screened and compared with the controlled ones," Colonel Chug said. "They will see whether dogs can distinguish successfully that which one is positive and which one is negative. This is because if their success is more than 90 per cent, only then they are used as there are fewer chances for error," he further said. Colonel Chug called it an "interdisciplinary approach". "Herein medical experts should be satisfied that these dogs can work on that level where we can rely on them and use them," he said. Asked whether there is a specific breed of dogs used, Colonel Chug said, "Generally, high-quality dogs are used, those dogs which have more prey drive." He stated that usually Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherd and Belgian Shepherd are used. "In the UK, more focus is on Springer Spaniel and Cocker Spaniel breeds because it is easy to train them fast," he said. Asked about the outcome, Colonel Chug said, "It would be difficult to say decisively what the outcome will be, but we are in touch with them, watching their study closely. Whatever positive results will come, we will decide our future strategy based on that." However, he emphasised that it is "100 percent possible and this is a promising field". "The government is bringing focus on this thing. A special Police K9 Cell has been formed and I have been assigned this task," he said. Delhi government has directed all hotels, clubs, restaurants and liquor vends not to sell alcohol during the nationwide lockdown. The move comes after the Excise Department found out that some establishments were smuggling liquor from their premises. Excise Commissioner Ravi Dhawan warned all licensees such as clubs, hotels, restaurants, wholesale and liquor outlets against indulging in illicit sale of liquor during the lockdown until further orders. In the revised guidelines on lockdown 2.0, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had asked district magistrates across India to enforce a strict ban on sale of liquor, gutka and tobacco products. As a result, the Delhi Police and the Excise Department were cracking down on those indulging in selling or transporting alcohol illegally. According to PTI, the excise department seized nearly 8,400 liquor bottles of different brands during the lockdown. In one such case, police intercepted an ambulance, which was illegally transporting 25 cartons of liquor. Earlier this month, the Excise Department raided a club in Punjabi Bagh area in west Delhi for selling alcohol at a higher rate during the lockdown. In a separate raid, the department seized 6,100 bottles, including some high-end brands. Delhi has over 860 liquor shops that have been closed since March 25. Delhi earns Rs 5,000 crore from liquor sale every year. Earlier, on April 14, the Delhi government was exploring the possibility of opening liquor shops in the city during the lockdown. As per the Food Safety and Standards Act 2006, alcoholic beverages fall under the definition of food, which is an exempted item under the national lockdown. However, the idea was dropped subsequently due to rising number of coronavirus cases in Delhi. As of April 22, Delhi reported 2,156 confirmed cases of coronavirus. And, the death toll stood at 47. A total of 611 patients have got recovered or discharged so far. Also read: Coronavirus India Live Updates: President approves ordinance against attacks on health workers; tally-21,393 Also read: BT Buzz: Mukesh Ambani, Mark Zuckerberg and the $700 billion kirana puzzle Thiruvananthapuram, April 23 : The Kerala government has submitted an affidavit in the high court stating that everything about the Sprinklr deal was done taking into consideration the exigency of the situation. The controversy has not gone down well with the CPI -- the second biggest ally of the Pinarayi Vijayan government, which feels all the good work done by the government in the state, where the first novel coronavirus case was reported in the country when a student from Wuhan reached Thrissur on January 1, 2020, has now been eroded. In its initial observation the court has slammed the Kerala government -- the IT department directly under the control of Vijayan. The major emphasis of the government in its affidavit was they were more concerned about lives. The Congress party has slammed the Vijayan government for doing things on the sly and taking cover under the extraordinary Covid-19 situation. It has even dragged the name of Vijayan's daughter-Veena, whose IT firm in Bengaluru allegedly has played a vital role in the data scam. There are now chinks appearing in the ruling Left Democratic Front's armour. CPI, state secretary Kanam Rajendran reached the CPI-M state party headquarters late on Wednesday and met Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, the CPI-M state secretary, and expressed his party's strong displeasure in the way the whole thing was kept under wraps. The cabinet is yet to take up the Sprinklr issue. The Sprinklr controversy erupted after the Congress accused the state government of not following due procedures in appointing the US-based firm and hence risking the transfer of crucial health data of the citizens to pharmaceutical companies. The opposition party questioned why the administration took the assistance of the US-based firm when there were institutions like the Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (CDIT) and Kerala State IT Mission could do the same job. The state government inked a deal with Sprinklr, a SaaS (Software as a Service) company owned by Ragi Thomas, an expatriate Keralite, that offers marketing, advertising and customer engagement services. The deal pertains to the personal health data of people in the state. The data with answers of various questions, including details of their symptoms and health conditions, was compiled by the workers at the grassroots level using a tool developed by Sprinklr to assist doctors and medical officials in making an informed choice about possible hospitalisation. The high court will take up the issue again on Friday. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Two key Madhesi parties in Nepal on Thursday merged and launched a new party named Janata Samajwadi Party, two days after President Bidya Devi Bhandari gave her assent to a controversial bill, allowing political parties to split. With the new bill coming into effect, leaders of political parties can split their party if they have 40 per cent support either in the central committee or in the parliamentary party. Samajwadi Party and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) on Thursday handed over a joint application to the Election Commission to notify about the unification of the two parties to form the new party. The new party has a combined strength of 34 members in the House of Representatives, making it the third largest force in the 275-member Parliament. Major political parties, including Nepali Congress, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, and the Madhesi parties have voiced strong opposition to the new bill and asked the government to withdraw it, saying it will bring political instability at a time when the country is fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Senior Madhesi leader Rajendra Mahato has slammed Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, saying the bill was brought with a view to splitting the Madhesi party at a time when the country needed unity and consensus to contain the outbreak of the coronavirus. Talking to journalists, Mahato said the remaining work relating to the party unification will start after the lockdown is over. The Nepal government has imposed lockdown across the country till April 27 to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic which has infected 47 people so far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The industrial revolution which made the United Kingdom the most powerful nation on earth in the 19th century experienced a very stiff opposition from the factory workers and their union leaders. The Luddites as the aforementioned were called fiercely resisted the industrialization as their fear was that the new machines would render them jobless. They fought with all their might the factory owners who they saw as evil as they wanted to hurriedly replace their labour with those of machines in a jiffy while they smile to the banks. Nothing can stop an idea whose time has come goes the old age aphorism by Victor Hugo and the Luddites were roundly crushed by the tide of the age. Not long after, some residents of London opposed the bid by the government to put street lights in the city. That also was roundly defeated. There have been rumours awash in the new media that there is a link of the 5G to the dreaded corona virus. The rumour mongers went on to town to say that the major raison detre by the government in locking down the city is that they want to lay down the cables for the 5G. This rumour was accentuated by the popular Founder of Christ Embassy, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome who lent credence to the thinking that went viral on the new and social media. Some Christian fanatics went on to opine that the end of the world was near quoting the Book of Revelations in the Holy Bible that the presence of the anti-Christ or the beast had come in the 5G. Their theory was that a micro chip would be implanted in every human being which was akin to the 666 number for the beast. This opinion is now the new mantra especially among the ill informed hoi polloi or proles who have access to cheap data which has made them an authority of anything scientific. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has come out repeatedly to debunk the 5G theory. They have told the public that there are no cables of the genre in the country and that there is no nexus between 5G and corona virus. The 5G theory is a brazen attempt to demonize China who is the major promoter of it. The once poor nation which is now standing shoulder to shoulder to Uncle Sam is feared for its growing influence in all spheres of life especially with its sturdy presence in the African continent which was hitherto the playground of the west. There is nothing permanent in life and change is the only thing which is constant and predictable. Once upon a time there was the 1G, then 2G, 3G and now 4G. Why didnt these inventions cause a worldwide ailment or come with the insertion of a bodily chip? The old sayings that If you think Education is expensive then try ignorance comes to play tragically here. Why should the 5G which will make the internet usage super fast be the source of hatred and nauseating misunderstanding? Why the link between one of the best inventions of man and the dreaded virus from Wuhan? How tragic! The 5G is a hundred times faster than the 4G and can download 10 gigabits per second. Think of the numerous things that we do online the downloading of movies, books, music, the use of the internet for browsing etc. The speed of this will make the internet a much more attractive thing to use. Think of the snail speed internet on some occasions that is our pain! All this will be history with the introduction of the 5G. Why do mortals especially lesser minds resist change when it is one of the few things in the life of man that is as constant as the Northern star apologies to William Shakespeare? Technology is not a bad thing even though it has some side effects. However the gains far outweigh the pains and so it is imperative that there must be a mass education of the masses that the 5G is indeed a blessing to the globe and it will be for their ultimate interest in liberating themselves from the stranglehold of poverty and destitution. The National Orientation Agency should see this as an opportunity to embark on a gargantuan education of the have nots and even some of the haves who have bought into the ridiculous school of thought. This is the 21stcentury and we cannot still be behaving like cave men or else we will be left behind and be forced to spend the rest of our lives in playing catch up. Thought leaders and opinion moulders should also not be left out in this mass education process as the same China that is being condemned is according to the rumour mills developing the 6G. If this is true it means that the 5G would enjoy a very short span in the market before it will be rendered obsolete no sooner than later. I wonder how the generations yet unborn will view us when they read the tales of the hatred for the 5G which they may not even see in their lifetime. Lets work assiduously together to ridding the nation of ignorance which is the forerunner of many societal ills. We hope that the covid 19 becomes history soon; it is inevitable that the 5G has come to stay as the ludicrousness of the masses cannot stop it. Let us embrace technological innovation which is ironically in the best interest of the Man on the Clapham Omnibus. Tony Ademiluyi wrote from Lagos and edits www.africanbard.com New nursing home rules get mixed reviews This week, the federal government announced new requirements for nursing homes to inform residents, their families or representatives, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about new COVID-19 cases. "Nursing homes have been ground zero for COVID-19, said Seema Verma, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) which regulates nursing homes at a White House briefing. It's important that patients and their families have the information that they need, and they need to understand what's going on in the nursing home." The rules drew praise from the American Health Care Association, the nation's leading industry group for nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other care providers. But many advocates said the rules don't go nearly far enough. AARP had pushed CMS to require the names of facilities with confirmed COVID-19 cases to be made public daily, which the new rules don't appear to specifically do. Given the urgency of the moment, it isn't fully clear how quickly or how frequently this information on nursing home cases and deaths to COVID will be shared with residents, families and the public, said Elaine Ryan, AARP vice president for state advocacy and strategy integration. Richard Mollot, executive director of the New York-based Long Term Care Community Coalition, worries that the government's online tool for collecting coronavirus data from nursing homes isn't ready yet. It is a little late in the game to first announce that a data reporting tool will be provided, he said by email. What are they waiting for? This should have been done weeks if not months ago." The slow response comes as the state-based regulators who typically monitor nursing home complaints have been kept out of the facilities for weeks because of the pandemic, further reducing transparency. Each state has a long-term care ombudsman who addresses complaints in the long-term care system, though those offices are now under new scrutiny. "In Maryland, nursing homes only need to be visited by a regulator once a year, said State Sen. Delores Kelley, who chairs the Maryland Senate's Financial Committee. The nursing home crisis shows that you've got to have more oversight and regular observation." A call for more virtual visits and more staff Much of the push for nursing home reform is directed at the nation's state houses. AARP state offices are pushing governors to require nursing homes to facilitate virtual visitations via videoconference platforms like FaceTime and Zoom, in light of the federal ban on most in-person visits. These video chats combat social isolation and provide a layer of family oversight. "We're very concerned about people being able to engage with their families remotely and get regular information on how they're doing, said Tammy Bresnahan, director of advocacy for AARP Maryland. In Washington, AARP wants Congress to require nursing homes and other long-term care facilities to support such visits and to provide federal dollars to help pay for the underlying technology. For some residents, these virtual visits can make the difference between life and death, the group said in a recent letter to CMS. Recent nursing home deaths also underscore long-standing staffing shortages, said George Linial, president and CEO of LeadingAge Texas, which represents nonprofit aging service providers. Some minimum staffing requirements are set at the federal level, but states can institute their own policies. Staffing levels are often influenced by Medicaid funding, which varies by state and pays for a huge portion of nursing home care. Linial wants such financial support to be tied to staffing benchmarks. Most nursing homes have been chronically underfunded for years, he said. There's a correlation between high staffing levels and good quality care." As the federal government has sought to rein in Medicaid reimbursements in recent years, some nursing home experts say care has suffered. If we contain Medicaid costs long-term, to what extent are nursing homes not receiving sufficient funding for staff needs? asked Larry Polivka, executive director of the Claude Pepper Center at Florida State University, which studies issues facing older Americans. Before the coronavirus outbreak, CMS had pushed to deregulate nursing homes, Polivka said. The agency proposed lifting requirements that nursing homes employ an infection preventionist at least part-time, and removing language requiring nursing homes to document resident grievances and investigations. Now, Polivka hopes CMS moves in the opposite direction. In an effort to assuage the financial devastation of COVID-19, the federal government designated an original $349 billion to small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program loan. The funds dried up quickly, however, leaving millions of small businesses emptyhanded. Now more funds are on the way, but beleaguered small businesses must act quickly to secure a share of the relief funds. On Tuesday, the Senate passed a bill to replenish the PPP fund by $320 billion. Sen. John Cornyn said that President Donald Trump plans to sign the bill, and small businesses should be ready to act when he does. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Tracking coronavirus: Interactive maps, charts show spread of COVID-19 across Houston, rest of Texas The PPP, part of the Cares Act, was intended to help struggling small businesses continue to pay their employees during the economic disruption of the COVID-19 crisis, but many larger companies were also able to secure the highly desirable loans, which contributed to the quick exhaustion of funding. Once the bill is signed, the banks will begin processing loans again. Cornyn recommends that small businesses be prepared to act immediately. My advice is that if you are interested (in a PPP loan), you need to contact your local lender and make sure that as soon as the next transfer of funding is available, which should be very soon- I think the President very likely will sign this bill tonight- that you get at the head of the line because it has literally been a first-come, first-served basis, Cornyn said. Tim Jeffcoat, district director of the U.S. Small Business Administration Houston District Office, stated that because the PPP loans come through banks, not the SBA, businesses interested in applying for the next round of PPP funds should reach out to a PPP lender now. I feel sure that right now, there are banks in Houston that would be happy to take your applications and submit as soon as this portal for PPP loans is opened again, he said. MORE FROM CLAIRE GOODMAN: Suffering from social isolation blues? Foster a local shelter pet Many small, locally owned businesses expressed frustration that the previous PPP loans dried up so quickly. Compounding their frustration- many larger companies did manage to secure the loans. Anita Mancini is the co-owner of Bugs, Incorporated in Katy. The company is family- owned, and Mancini is a devoted volunteer and donor to charities like Katy Christian Ministries. Her request for a PPP loan was one of millions that fell short of funding. She expressed frustration that her small business didnt get a loan, but other, much larger companies or entities did. I found out that our company would not receive the Payroll Protection loan and that three large corporations received millions, Mancini said. Our employees are like family to us, and they need their income, too, so we are making every effort to work every day and we are praying that funding will come through, and that all the verifiable small businesses in need can receive a fair and equitable share. Cornyn acknowledged that the loan is intended to help small businesses, and he expressed frustration that larger companies managed to circumvent some of the criteria, enabling them to secure part of the funding. COVID-19 IN FORT BEND: Fort Bend County releases COVID-19 data for race and ethnicity Theres been some news about some of the recipients of the PPP funds and questioning whether they really had a legitimate need for it, Cornyn said. This was designed to be a lifeline to small businesses, not to offer free money to people who are going to be just fine through this crisis and dont really need it. He added, For example, Harvard, in reference to the universitys $9 million stimulus grant. Because the loan allocation is handled by banks, and not the SBA, Cornyn advised small businesses to be aggressive in their preparedness. (Large companies) had the lawyers and accountants and all those folks to help them. We want to make sure all the mom and pop businesses get the help they need too, he said. Jeffcoat encouraged business owners to visit the SBA website, sba.gov, for more information on PPP loans or other COVID-19- related business information. Business owners can also find a bank that is approved for PPP loans through the website. We want you to get this funding. We want you to be able to get this in your hands so you can keep your businesses solvent while this disaster continues, said Jeffcoat. claire.goodman@chron.com Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said the priority of the government should be to provide food and livelihood to the destitute in this crisis. "Those earning their daily living are falling prey to starvation due to the COVID-19 lockdown. No problem can be solved with anger and hatred. In this crisis, it should be the priority of the government to provide food and livelihood to our destitute brothers and sisters," he said on Twitter. Gandhi attached a report claiming that the UN has stated that cases of starvation can rise during the coronavirus pandemic. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23 By Elnur Baghishov - Trend Other 90 people have died from the coronavirus (COVID 19) in the past 24 hours in Iran, said Kiyanush Jahanpur, spokesman for Iran's Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Trend reports citing Ministry. According to Jahanpur as many as 1,030 people got infected with the coronavirus over the past day. Jahanpur added that the condition of 3,105 people is critical. So far, more than 389,000 tests have been conducted in Iran to reveal the infected. Iran is one of the countries heavily affected by the rapidly-spreading coronavirus. According to recent reports from the Iranian officials, over 87,000 people have been infected, 5,481 people have already died. Meanwhile, over 64,800 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. HOLYOKE Ward 3 City Councilor David Bartley has joined two other candidates in the race for the 5th Hampden District House seat being vacated by state Rep. Aaron Vega. Bartley will be on the Sept. 1 primary ballot along with Patrick Beaudry and Patricia Duffy. An attorney, Bartley said the Holyoke registrar of voters certified his collected signatures. He plans to submit his nomination papers to secretary of states office by next week. Vega, D-Holyoke, announced in February that he would not seek a fifth term. Campaign announcements from Beaudry and Duffy, Vegas legislative aide, quickly followed. In an email this week, Bartley said, Im running for the state reps seat because I love public service. Ive been successful at the local level in terms of passing important legislation and promoting Holyoke. He added, My intention is to bring energy and enthusiasm to Boston and to serve as a strong advocate for the City of Holyoke. If elected, Bartley vowed to appoint a Spanish speaker to his legislative staff and continue the family legacy of public service. His father, David M. Bartley, was House speaker in the 1970s. The race is about one thing: Holyoke. My campaign is all about Holyoke, he said. In 2017, Bartley told constituents he would serve a fifth and final term on the City Council, where he chairs the Development and Government Relations Committee. Bartley ran an unsuccessful campaign in 2013 against Donald Humason for the 2nd Hamden-Hampshire District state Senate seat. In January of this year, Humason was sworn in as Westfields mayor, triggering another special election. That Senate race, between state Rep. John Velis, D-Westfield, and John Cain, a Republican business owner from Southwick, will be decided May 19. Candidates must submit their nomination papers to the secretary of states office by June 2. Campaigns have long relied on retail politics: rallies, fundraisers, door knocking and handing shaking. But under social distancing guidelines related to the coronavirus pandemic, a six-foot buffer now stands between the candidates and potential voters. Working around those obstacles to get signatures is a small challenge compared to all of the ways people have to make much more substantial adjustments in their lives, Duffy stated. She added, Im running because I believe Im best equipped to help them navigate what will certainly be lingering struggles when the next term begins. Duffy joined Vegas legislative staff in 2014 and served on the Holyoke and Massachusetts Democratic committees. Vega has endorsed her. She said her campaign will focus on affordable housing, educational equity and protecting worker rights. Beaudry, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commissions manager of public affairs, said he turned in his nomination papers last week. I am grateful to all of my family, friends, and supporters who joined me to fan out across our community and collect signatures from residents of every single ward in the city, Beaudry said. He added, Our strong start out of the gate allowed this campaign to secure more than enough signatures before the stay at home orders, ensuring we didnt put any of our fellow Holyokers in harms way to get on the ballot. Beaudry plans to connect with Holyoke residents by phone, a way to introduce himself and gauge the resources and support needed in these especially challenging times. He continues to volunteer with Western Mass Eldercares Meals on Wheels program, which serves a vulnerable population. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque dismissed speculations that President Duterte's previous order to shoot quarantine violators dead was behind a cop's decision to kill an army veteran in Quezon City Wednesday afternoon. "Wala sigurong ganoon... Wala pong relasyon ito sa kahit anong sinabi ng Presidente at hindi rin po sinabi ng pulis na ipinatutupad niya ang isang order ng Presidente," Roque said, calling such claims baseless and "not factual." [Translation: There's nothing like that... This is not related to anything that the President said, and the policeman also didn't say that he was implementing any order from the President.] Roque extended condolences to the family of the late Winston Ragos, a retired military officer who was shot dead by Police Master Sergeant Daniel Florendo, Jr. at a checkpoint in Fairview. Roque cited results of a preliminary investigation from the Philippine National Police that indicated a cop claimed he thought Ragos was pulling out a gun from his bag after a shouting match near the checkpoint at Barangay Pasong Putik. He dismissed allegations the policeman who shot the former army officer had been acting upon Duterte's April 1 pronouncement that police officers and soldiers should gun down quarantine violators who would put their lives in danger. PNP Chief General Archie Gamboa later on clarified that shooting is their "last resort" when dealing with violators. READ: 'Don't threaten the hungry with bullets': Groups, lawmakers condemn Duterte's order vs. lockdown violators "Nangangako ang gobyerno, ang Presidente na magkakaroon ng patas na imbestigasyon dito [The government and the President will ensure a fair investigation]," Roque said in a Thursday briefing, adding that it was sad to hear the victim was also a public servant. Ragos, 34, served during the 2017 Marawi siege and fought Maute rebels to reclaim the city in Mindanao. The victim's mother said her son had been suffering from post-traumatic disorder and had been dealing with some mental health issues. Gamboa said in a Thursday interview with CNN Philippines that Florendo exercised a "judgment call" at the scene, as he assumed that Ragos tried to draw his firearm to fight back. The top cop added that an administrative probe on the police officer is underway, noting that complaints will be filed should authorities find lapses. A witness said the victim did not have a gun inside his bag and only carried his quarantine pass. Another said that the police on site have been warned that Ragos was not in the right state of mind and asked for them to stand down, but to no avail. More than 27 million gallons saved LOS ANGELES, April 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Los Angeles-based Bliss Car Wash today announced the results of its fresh-water business and philanthropy programs. The company estimates it has saved 27.5 million gallons of fresh water because of its eco-friendly business practices. The company also has, thus far, donated seven fresh-water wells to needy communities in Africa. Bliss is a southern California chain of eco-friendly car washes sensitive to water usage and environmental factors. The brand is founded by David Delrahim, a California businessman and philanthropist. For Earth Days 50th anniversary, we want to celebrate our progress as we continuously work to respect the critical importance of fresh water on our planet, said David Delrahim. Our eco-friendly car washes reuse and save water right here in California, and our fresh-water well donations help communities in Africa to survive. Delrahim donates one fresh-water well to a needy village in Africa each time the company opens a new car wash. Delrahim and the Bliss team are working with the Wells Bring Hope nonprofit organization because of its mission to provide safe water to rural villages in Niger, West Africa. Each well provides enough water for about one thousand people on which to safely depend. The new Bliss car washes use technology that constantly monitors fresh-water usage, keeping it down to approximately 24 gallons per car wash, and using 70 percent reclaimed water. With seven new car washes operating, the company estimates a savings of 55 gallons of water per car. Based on our estimations, we have saved enough water for one thousand people per year, said Delrahim. Bliss also only uses cleaning products that are biodegradable, and utilizes low-energy consuming machinery. In 2020 there are seven car washes slated to open in the Los Angeles and Orange County. David Delrahims pledge to donate a well each time he opens a new car wash means seven more wells will be donated this year. Delrahim is committed to helping communities in Niger, West Africa gain economic opportunities by connecting them to clean potable water, recognizing water's crucial role in accomplishing the worlds development goals. Story continues Africa faces endemic poverty, food insecurity and pervasive underdevelopment, with almost all countries lacking the human, economic and institutional capacities to effectively develop and manage their water resources sustainably. Vahid David Delrahim is a Los Angles based businessman and philanthropist and has nearly three decades of experience in the car wash industry. About Bliss Car Wash Bliss Car Wash offers premium unlimited wash memberships at a great value. We are a refreshing car wash experience because we ensure that your car is cleaned responsibly, using cleaning products that are biodegradable and safe for the environment. We are water warriors, so we fight to protect it at every turn and closely monitor our usage. For more information, visit www.blisscarwash.com . The Akwa Ibom State Government has extended the lockdown imposed on the state till April 27 as part of measures to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic. The Secretary to the State Government, Emmanuel Ekuwem, announced this during a press conference on Thursday in Uyo, the state capital. Governor Udom Emmanuel had in a broadcast on April 2 announced an initial 14 days lockdown of Akwa Ibom state and later extended it by seven days on April 16. Mr Ekuwem, who is also the Chairman, COVID-19 Management Committeee, said the decision to extend the lockdown was painful but very necessary to curtail the spread of the pandemic. He said the coronavirus pandemic had affected all facets of life in the world. The pandemic has altered the programmes of various academic institutions around the world. This has necessitated the development of new initiatives to ensure that not much is lost by pupils and students. On our part as a government, we have also initiated a novel idea, school on radio, to help our students prepare for their final examinations in the junior and senior secondary schools. In view of the critical situation that we are in as a nation and as a state, it will become a disadvantage to relax the lockdown at this juncture. But given that we must ensure continuous safety of our citizens, the most ideal thing for now is to continue with the lockdown until Monday, April 27, 2020, thereafter evaluate lockdown, he said. READ ALSO: He noted that the pandemic has also adversely affected various facets of the global economy. As an integral part of the global community, Akwa Ibom state directly and indirectly has its share of the socio-economic impact of the pandemic, Mr Ekuwem said. The SSG said nine cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in the state, adding that three were discharged, five still active with one death. He said government would continue to put in its best human and material resources to curtail the spread of coronavirus in the state. Although we still have five active cases and one dead, the sincerity of our government in the fight against the pandemic has been acknowledged by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. Within a short period of time, the state government has a fully kitted Emergency Operation Centre, which comprises Call Centre, Situation Room and Isolation Centre at the Ibom Specialist Hospital, he added. He urged residents to continue to observe all personal hygiene guidelines earlier issued by the state government and experts as well adhere to the social distancing. Mr Ekuwem reminded residents that the lockdown order and other measures already announced to contain coronavirus were still in force, urging residents to cooperate with security agencies. (NAN) BOSTON Most young voters prefer Bernie Sanders, but that doesn't mean they won't vote for former Vice President Joe Biden in a November election against President Donald Trump, according to a new poll released Thursday by the Harvard Institute of Politics. Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, holds a 60%-30% lead over Trump among likely voters ages 18 to 29 years old, the poll found, only one point below a 62%-31% lead Sanders, the Vermont senator, would have among young voters if he were the nominee. The leads are similar even though the same poll found 50% of likely young voters view Biden unfavorably. Sanders is viewed favorably by 58% of young voters, compared with 42% for Biden. "This is less about Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden and more about Donald Trump," said John Della Volpe, director of polling at Harvard's Institute of Politics. "And I think there is a sense that at this stage, young progressives and the center-left really have really seemed to unite on that front." Poll: Two-thirds of voters support mail-in ballots for November The poll, a sample of 2,546 people ages 18-29, was taken between March 11 and March 23 as Biden was widening his delegate lead and before Sanders dropped out of the Democratic primary and endorsed Sanders. The poll, which was conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs, has a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points. Biden's ability to turn out young progressive voters to the polls is widely seen as one of his campaign's biggest weaknesses. But Della Volpe warned the new poll results do not mean Biden can afford to stop working for their votes. Former Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., right, greet one another before they participate in a Democratic presidential primary debate at CNN Studios in Washington, Sunday, March 15, 2020. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) In 2016, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton had an even larger lead among young voters against Trump at this point, 61%-25%, but she ended up with just a 55%-36% advantage among young people in the election over Trump, according to exit polls. It contributed to her defeat. "Currently, they are giving him the benefit of the doubt," Della Volpe said, referring to Biden. "There are a lot of young people who preferred Sanders, voted for Sanders, but are willing to say in a two-person match-up, they'd be with Biden right now. He cannot take that cohort for granted. And my read over his activities the last few weeks is that he's not taking them for granted." Story continues In this image from video provided by the Biden for President campaign, Democratic presidential candidate former Vice President Joe Biden speaks during a virtual press briefing Wednesday, March 25, 2020. Biden has been courting progressive Democrats who backed Sanders in the primary, this month unveiling policy proposals to lower the eligibility age for Medicare to 60 years years old and forgive college debt for millions of Americans. An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll of all voters released this week found Biden ahead of Trump among all likely voters, 49%-42%. Biden holds a 5.9 point lead in Real Clear Politics' average of polls. The Harvard poll also found the coronavirus outbreak now tops the concerns of young people, with 19% ranking it No.1, followed by health care, 17%, the economy, 14%, and the environment, 9%. Notably, the poll was taken before many states started imposing stay-at-home orders and the COVID-19 death count started to rapidly increase. "This is just another anxiety and stresser that young people are being forced to deal with," Della Volpe said, comparing it to issues like the Great Recession, school shootings and the increasing cost of living that have affected young people. "Now with this on top of it, this is a lens of which I think they're kind of engaging in politics in 2020." Follow Joey Garrison on Twitter @joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Biden fares almost as well with young voters as Sanders vs. Trump U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order temporarily suspending immigration into the United States during the coronavirus outbreak. "In order to protect our great American workers, I have just signed an executive order temporarily suspending immigration into the United States," the U.S. leader said at a White House briefing Wednesday. "This would ensure that unemployed Americans of all backgrounds will be first in line for jobs as our economy opens. It will also preserve our health care resources for American patients, Trump added. The order applies to those seeking permanent residence in the U.S. and will last for 60 days, at which point it will be reevaluated and potentially extended. Trump said he could change the order during the 60 days. The order will apply to foreign nationals seeking a green card who are outside the U.S. at the time of the order, excluding from the suspension those who are in the country seeking to change their immigration status. It also carves out exceptions for essential workers, including medical personnel, spouses and children of U.S. citizens, members of the Armed Forces, individuals designated by law enforcement, prospective foreign adoptees of U.S. citizens, and prospective "investor visa" users. Trump also noted Tuesday that the order would not apply to seasonal farm workers, who would seek seasonal guest worker visas. The order includes a provision for the secretaries of Labor and Homeland Security to review nonimmigrant visa programs in consultation with the secretary of State to "recommend to me other measures appropriate to stimulate the United States economy and ensure the prioritization, hiring, and employment of United States workers." By far, the largest category of immigrant visas are those granted to spouses and children of U.S. citizens. The hardest-hit category of immigrants will likely be those who seek green cards through their employers or on the basis of their professional merits. "It could be modified. Right now, we have a very powerful immigration ban, but it may be modified, meaning made tougher or made less tough," The Hill cited him as saying. Trump indicated that the primary goal of the order was to blunt the economic damage of the coronavirus, which has forced businesses countrywide to close and lay off workers. He acknowledged that his administration is also preparing a second order that he may later sign to further limit immigration but provided no further details on what shape it would take. Principal Economic Adviser Sanjeev Sanyal on Wednesday said more calibrated monetary and fiscal stimulus measures are on the anvil to deal with the economic fallout from COVID-19 and the consequent lockdown. He expressed hope that a significant part of the economy will be functioning, if not everything, by May 3. International passenger travel would remain shut for a long time, not for weeks but for months, he said citing examples of sectors which will continue to be non-functional. As far as internal economy is concerned, he said, it will be opened up in phases and efforts would be made to provide a cushion to the sectors hit hard by the lockdown through a series of measures from both fiscal and monetary sides. Sanyal said the RBI has already announced two stimulus packages and Governor Shaktikanta Das has hinted at more measures in the future depending on the requirement. To mitigate hardships faced by the poor, he said, the government last month announced a staggering Rs 1.70 lakh crore package to cushion the bottom of the pyramid by providing free food and ex-gratia. "We are willing to spend. We will spend a lot. We do have resources particularly on the monetary side but we will also make fiscal resources available...we will get a package sooner rather than later, which is already in preparation...we will do it in a calibrated way," he said while virtually addressing members of PHD Chamber here. Sanyal said the Indian model to tackle the problem has been appreciated the world over. "The world over people are now beginning to appreciate the approach we took. In fact, other countries are beginning to follow us. You have seen Singapore has gone back. So in many ways we are pioneers in this approach and well before the rest of the world would be out, the Indian economy will be opened," he said. Catch our entire coverage on the Facebook-Jio deal here. He said the world has also recognised the efficiency of India's administrative machinery in handling such kind of lockdown without much of a problem.Also read: Coronavirus News India LIVE Updates A super PAC raised $75,000 to attack a Republican U.S. House candidate in New Mexico over allegations that she opposed Donald Trump for president, federal records show. According to the Federal Election Commission, Citizens for a United New Mexico raised the money in the first three months of 2020 before it launched a recent advertising blitz against former state Rep. Yvette Herrell, R-Ruidoso. The ads alleged that Herrell sent emails in 2016 to undermine Trumps campaign for president and attended an anti-Trump soiree in San Diego claims that Herrell said are false and misleading. The ad refers to a story from The Associated Press about a March 2016 email from Herrell seeking to support U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas run for president. It also refers to another AP story about Herrell making comments on a podcast about the Republican-controlled Congress and the Trump administrations lack of leadership during Trumps first two years in office. The ad was meant to undermine Herrells principal argument in a three-person Republican primary that she is the most stalwart supporter of Trump. Herrell, oil executive Claire Chase and Las Cruces businessman Chris Mathys are seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic Rep. Xochitl Torres Small of Las Cruces in the general election. Records show the super PAC is registered to a northern New Mexico oil trucking company owner and a Massachusetts GOP operative. Election records also listed Carlsbad rancher George Brantley as one of the super PACs significant donors and showed he donated $25,000. He is married to Nancy Brantley, Chases campaign chairwoman. The Brantleys connection was evidence that the Chase campaign and the super PAC were illegally coordinating, the Herrell campaign said. There should be a fair and thorough investigation into this immediately, Herrell campaign manager Dakotah Parshall said. If Claire Chase and her super PAC are breaking the law, they need to be held accountable. George and Nancy Brantley did not return a phone message. Federal campaign laws dont prohibit spouses of campaign members from donating to super PACs. But under federal law, campaigns and super PACs arent allowed to coordinate. Records show that Josette Herrell, Yvettes mother, donated more than $3,500 to a pro-Yvette Herrell PAC during her bid for Congress in 2016. Chases campaign manager, Mike Berg, dismissed the accusation that anyone from the campaign was working with the anti-Herrell super PAC. Resecurity announces its partnership with Sapienza Universita di Roma. Resecurity is one of the leading global cybersecurity organizations offering a full suite of tools for risk management, threat intelligence, monitoring and analysis to help enterprise businesses and governments defend against current and future threats. This new partnership will help Sapienza Universita di Roma combat cybersecurity threats and better protect the institution's sensitive data. Sapienza Universita di Roma (https://www.uniroma1.it/it/) is one of Italy's most prestigious institutions. The university will incorporate Resecurity's Context and Risk platforms for better analysis and monitoring of cyber threats. Data disclosure plagues many organizations including universities, as data is a cyber-criminal's primary focus to later sell it on darknet markets. Using Context and Risk, Sapienza Universita di Roma will be able to prevent future data breaches, gain insight on darkweb data disclosure, analyze factors surrounding current data breaches, and leverage Resecurity's artificial intelligence to make better defense decisions. University IT staff already have some cybersecurity implemented, but they needed better insights and decision-making tools. With Context and Risk, Sapienza Universita di Roma will enable the university's IT team to better evaluate digital risk and analyze darkweb domains, IP ranges, email addresses and many other elements of cyber-criminal markets. Resecurity tools will categorize all 20 attack vectors as internal, external and cloud and send alerts to administrators who can take further action and review suspicious activity. Sapienza Universita di Roma will be able to analyze attacks such as: Potential data breaches Compromised accounts Botnet traffic Darkweb cyber-criminal activity Vulnerabilities in software and virtual services Retired and unused EC2 instances Public S3 buckets with misconfigurations exposing sensitive data "We are honored to offer our platform for the extremely important work and innovative programs that are happening at Sapienza Universita di Roma. Our commitment to improving Sapienza Universita di Roma's posture against cyber threats is unwavering and we'll continue to invest in and support the kinds of partnership they are doing," says Resecurity CEO Gene Yoo. About Resecurity Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, Resecurity (https://www.resecurity.com/) provides enterprise and government institutions with the artificial intelligence, monitoring and risk management tools to better defend against the world's most advanced threats. Resecurity's Risk and Context platforms combined give organizations a 360-degree overview of all network activity providing faster alerts during an ongoing cybersecurity event. For Academia partnership please contact edu@resecurity.com. English version https://web.uniroma1.it/infosapienza/new-partnership-between-resecurity-and-sapienza Italian version https://web.uniroma1.it/infosapienza/new-partnership-between-resecurity-and-sapienza View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005641/en/ Contacts: Gene Yoo, CEO at Resecurity, contact@resecurity.com The government on Thursday said that the coronavirus growth in India has been more or less linear and not exponential due to the success of certain strategies and the country had fared much better than developed countries like the United States and the UK on this count. Centre also noted that the countrys recovery rate of covid cases has been rising steadily to reach close to 20% with 4,257 people out of total 21,393 infections have been cured so far including 388 who were cured yesterday. An analysis of Indias containment strategy was presented during the daily briefing by the officials of health and home ministry, which was also attended by C. K Mishra. Mishra is the chairman of the second of the 11 empowered groups formed by the government to channelize countrys response to the contagion. The government officials pointed out another positive development seen in the addition of eight new names to the list of districts across the country that have not reported any new coronavirus case in the last 14 days. The list of such districts has now swelled to 78, said Lav Agarwal, joint secretary, health ministry. He added that a total of 1409 additional positive coronavirus cases were reported in the last 24 hours taking the total number of active cases to 16,454. Mishra said that the last 30 days of national lockdown indicate that Indias containment efforts have been successful to a large extent. We have been able to cut transmissions, minimize the spread and increase the doubling rate. We have also been able to consistently ramp up our testing and have utilized this time to prepare ourselves for the future challenges the virus may present, he said. He added that the percentage of positive cases vis-a-viz the number of tests conducted has stayed almost the same during the last 30 days in India which suggested that there was no exponential jump in infections. The growth of the virus has been more or less linear and not exponential due to certain strategies that have helped India contain the spread to a particular level, said Mishra. The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19 It is important to note that both the number of tests and positive cases have risen in the last month. The official said that India has far less number of positive cases per 5 lakh tests done compared to Italy, UK, US and Spain. He added that South Korea was one major country that had done even better than India on that parameter. Shedding further light on the containment strategy, the government official said that India had successfully decentralized its response to the virus by roping in the private sector and empowering districts to be at the forefront of disease fighting. We have expanded the testing base, expanded the test base and we have mobilized all resources in the public and private domain. We have decentralized our response to coronavirus by mobilizing the private and the private sector. We will expand our testing further to a much higher level in the days to come, the official said. He added that the governments first strategic goal is to ensure that people dont have to visit hospitals for treatment of coronavirus and it is achieved through social distancing, lockdown and taking care of the elderly. The governments second goal, he said, is to create enough infrastructure and health facility for every person who has to visit hospital for Covid care. For Coronavirus Live Updates EURO FORECAST: EUR/USD PRICE SINKS BELOW 1.08, EU LEADERS FAIL TO REACH CORONAVIRUS STIMULUS AGREEMENT EUR/USD price action spikes lower as the Euro comes under heightened selling pressure European leaders fail to agree on coronavirus stimulus measures despite Eurozone GDP facing a 5-10% contraction Spot EUR/ USD breaches the 1.0800 price level and could head for fresh year-to-date lows as risk aversion bolsters the US Dollar The Euro is driving lower as Thursdays trading session starts to wind down. Euro selling pressure appears sparked by news that European leaders failed to agree on much needed coronavirus stimulus measures aimed at offsetting economic turmoil caused by the pandemic. EUR/USD PRICE CHART: 5-MINUTE TIME FRAME (23 APRIL 2020 INTRADAY) EUR/USD plunged back below the 1.0800 handle after the troubling headlines crossed the wires, but spot prices have held above prior session lows around the 1.0760 mark so far. That said, EUR/USD price action and the broader Euro might be due for more weakness as focus shifts back onto the European Central Bank. The ECB is set to provide markets with its latest monetary policy update next week, and its hand could be forced to ramp up its own stimulus efforts following the lack of measures from EU governments. This could, in turn, steer spot EUR/USD lower, perhaps toward fresh year-to-date lows near the 1.0600 price level. Read More Euro Volatility Likely on EU Leaders Summit, Markit PMI Data -- Written by Rich Dvorak, Analyst for DailyFX.com Connect with @RichDvorakFX on Twitter for real-time market insight Inspectors shut another real estate project and fine developer for non-compliance during contingency Playa del Carmen, Q.R. Civil Protection Inspectors responded to citizen calls of a construction project being carried out during the coronavirus contingency. City officials inspected the Selvanova construction site where they found active masons and machinery. Since all non-essential activities around the state have been suspended, municipal Civil Protection inspectors proceeded to shut the 38th Avenue real estate project and fine the developer for non-compliance. On site masons who disagreed with the closure allegedly began to create problems for the inspectors, who were backed up by city police. Municipal Police officers arrived at the site and restored order among workers. On Wednesday, Mexico entered into its first full day of Phase 3 of the coronavirus contingency during which time, health officials say, the person-to-person spread of the virus is expected to increase significantly. A forensic scientist who worked on the Croydon Cat killer investigation has won a sexual discrimination case after her boss asked if she didn't like him because she is gay. Jo Millington- once part of the Met Police's murder team and a star of a recent BBC documentary - was 'upset and embarrassed' when Joe Arend confronted her and brought up her sexuality, an employment tribunal in Reading, Berkshire heard. Ms Millington, 46, working at the time as a senior forensics expert for a private company - had told him that she was worried she wasn't spending enough time with her wife. The tribunal heard Mr Arend responded by asking whether she had a problem with him 'because of her sexuality', pointing out he was 'big' and 'used to play rugby'. Jo Millington (right), once part of the Met Police's murder team and a star of a recent BBC documentary, was 'upset and embarrassed' when Joe Arend confronted her and brought up her sexuality Ms Millington - a leading expert in her field who lectures at a number of leading universities - has now won her claim for sex discrimination against the firm. The expert - who appeared in BBC's 2018 true crime documentary 'Conviction: Murder in Suburbia' examining the conviction of Glyn Razzell for the death of his wife Linda in 2002 - will now be entitled to compensation. The tribunal heard that Ms Millington - a blood pattern specialist who has worked for police forces across Britain in the past 25 years - started working for Oxfordshire-based ArroGen Forensics in 2012 as Lead Forensic Scientist. The 46-year-old's work mostly involved reviewing forensic evidence in criminal cases and appearing as an expert witness in court. In 2017, at her and another's scientist's suggestion the company launched a new venture in partnership with the University of Surrey specialising in veterinary forensics. Ms Millington was named Scientific Director and oneof her first jobs was to review the case of the so-called 'Croydon Cat Killer', suspected of killing up to 250 felines. However, a few months after launch, CEO Mr Arend started to voice unhappiness at how the new firm was doing and began to question Ms Millington's performance. In one conversation, the tribunal heard he described her salary and expenses as 'crazy' and 'crackers'. Ms Millington appeared in BBC's 2018 true crime documentary 'Conviction: Murder in Suburbia' examining the conviction of Glyn Razzell for the death of his wife Linda in 2002 Then, after she complained about his behaviour, at a meeting in December of that year the CEO - described by one witness as 'bad tempered' and 'out of control' - questioned her sexuality. The panel's judgment states: 'At one point in the meeting (Ms Millington) was talking about her work/life balance. She said she did not have enough time to spend with her family and her wife. 'A little while later, Mr Arend brought up the subject of the claimant's sexual orientation. He asked her whether she thought he had a problem with her because of her sexuality. 'He referred to the fact that he is big and used to be a rugby player. (She) found the question about her sexual orientation upsetting and unprofessional. 'She commented that she did not see the relevance of his question, and moved the discussion on to something else.' The tribunal noted that under cross-examination Mr Arend admitted he would not have asked about sexual orientation if a woman employee had commented about not having enough time to spend with 'my family and my husband'. Ms Millington was left 'very distressed' by the meeting and resigned shortly afterwards, the tribunal heard. The panel found the company liable for sexual orientation discrimination, constructive dismissal and breach of contract. It concluded: 'Mr Arend's question to the claimant about whether she thought Mr Arend had a problem with her sexual orientation was followed by a comment referring to stereotypes, when Mr Arend referred to himself being a former rugby player. 'The question introduced (Ms Millington's) sexual orientation into the discussion without there being any basis to do so, and...it implied that the claimant's sexual orientation might be a factor in her decision to make a formal complaint about Mr Arend. 'Miss Millington regarded her sexual orientation as a private matter (as she was entitled to do), and the question to her about it was upsetting and embarrassing. She would have preferred it not to have been asked. 'Her reputation and credibility underpin her career.' Care and Feeding is Slates parenting advice column. In addition to our traditional advice, every Thursday we feature an assortment of teachers from across the country answering your education questions. Have a question for our teachers? Email askateacher@slate.com or post it in the Slate Parenting Facebook group. My child is an autistic preschooler. With the extended cancellation of school and my child doing more online learning, Im finding that they have become more emotionally volatile. Normally my child is pretty mellow, but lately they seem to be getting all worked up over nothing at all. Do you have suggestions for how I can get them to cope? Advertisement Seeking Calm Dear Seeking, I dont really believe this is unique to your child as a result of their age or diagnosis. Most people are experiencing what Im going to call the Stay-at-Home Weirdnessa set of moods that range from depressive to anxious. Were all feeling a little off. The difference is how we handle it: Youan adult with coping strategies and knowledge of whats going onare able to engage in those coping strategies to self-regulate, while your preschoolera very young child who probably does not understand whats happeningis not self-regulating well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Your child can tell that things are off right nowtheyre not at school, youre home all the time. The first thing to do, if you havent already, is to talk to your child, in age-appropriate terms, about whats happening. There are tools to help you! StoryBots does an episode on viruses that explains how they get in you and how your body fights them. And here are two videos about COVID-19 aimed at young children. Ive talked about social stories before, and here is one I liked about the stay-at-home orders as well. If your child knows what is happening, they will be able to understand why things are different, and that may ease some of that Stay-at-Home Weirdness. Advertisement Advertisement Your preschoolerespecially if they struggle with self-regulation normallyneeds your help with how to cope with all of this change. One way you can do this is to maintain a predictable schedule. You also should try to help your child regulate their sensory system with some occupational therapy coping strategies. Here are three simple ways to do so. Dyed rice. We dye our rice with vinegar in the classroom, and then we mix in a few drops of essential oils to make it smell nice. The feeling of the cool, dry rice on your hands and even your arms is very relaxing, and a calming scent like lavender or vanilla can create a very peaceful playtime activity for kids (or for you!). It offers the same calming fun of playing with sand, with much easier cleanup. Advertisement Advertisement Sensory bottles. These require a few more supplies (which you should be able to buy online), but they are fun to make. The idea behind these is that when emotions are running high, your child can shake the sensory bottle, breathe, and watch the glitter settle. These bottles have a similar soothing effect to snow globes or going to the aquarium and watching the jellyfishhard to describe but distinctly calming! Advertisement Advertisement Deep pressure. I know I feel calmer and more grounded after a massage, and my sensory system is relatively regulated. Depending on how your child feels about touch, massage can have very calming effects on all children, especially sensory seekers. Give them a firm (harder than youd expect for a small child, but not hard-hard) squeeze starting at their wrist, and move up to their shoulder. Or start at their ankle and move up their leg. If your child likes playful touch, you can even try laying your belly across their body and monitor the amount of weight youre putting on them very carefully. Another idea: After bath time, take the biggest, fluffiest towel you have and wrap them like a burrito as tightly as you can. This can also be a nice time to teach your child about consent. Weve taught kids in my class to say squeeze or squish when they want us to apply pressure. And after each squeeze, we ask them, More or all done? (either using words or signs for my nonverbal students). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sensory strategies arent a cure for Stay-at-Home Weirdness. But if you equip your child with some of these, they may be able to cope more easily. My last suggestion is that, like adults, your autistic preschooler is probably seeking emotional validation. When they are calm, and when they are volatile, talk about their emotions. Just saying Wow, I see that youre sad. You are crying is powerful. So is Its OK to be angry, but you cannot bite your sister. You can stomp your feet and say I am angry! We always want kids to know that their emotions are valid and that there are appropriate and inappropriate outlets for those emotions, but doubly so at a time like this. Advertisement Advertisement Ms. Sarnell (preschool special education, New York) Im a high schooler in a district that has moved to distance learning for the rest of the school year. I generally do very well in school, but Im struggling with focusing on my schoolwork now. My home environment is pretty distractingI have three younger siblings, and thats not helping. Do you have any focus tips for a student trying to succeed in this weird half-school time? Advertisement Trying to Focus Dear Focus, First, I want to reassure you that everybody is struggling with focus right now, and I mean everybody. Feeling scatterbrained, depleted, and generally unlike yourself is a totally natural response to going through a lengthy period where your comforting daily routines have been upended, you cant access your community of friends and mentors, and current events feel tragic and threatening. The students I work with are struggling too. Most of themeven those like you who are hard workers accustomed to successreport feeling unmotivated, overwhelmed, distracted, and stressed. And the same goes for teachers! This is really hard, and everyone is feeling it. So my first tip is to be gentle with yourself. If youre getting enough rest, staying hydrated and nourished, and keeping a reasonably positive state of mind, youre already succeeding. Your most important (and, if need be, only) priority is to get through this with your mental health intact. Advertisement That said, I do have some ideas for how you can cope with the challenges of distance learning. I dont want to presume anything about your home environment, so rather than make suggestions for materials or physical space arrangements that may not work for you, Im going to recommend some work habits and mindsets that, hopefully, will be applicable in any scenario. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To start, I think its important to be mindful of your own default settings. What I mean by that is for you to think about your natural habits and set yourself up for success by working with them rather than fighting them. What makes you feel energetic, clearheaded, or purposeful? What exacerbates the feelings of distraction? Do you like to settle in to one long, sustained period of concentration, or do you work better in short bursts of productivity with frequent breaks? Does it feel cozy and comforting to work from bed, or do you function better sitting upright at a table or desk? When concentrating feels impossible, what helps to reset? A nap, a phone call, a shower, a walk outside? Be realistic about your own needs and preferences. If youre a night owl whos been sleeping until 2 in the afternoon, expecting yourself to be up and working at 8 a.m. will only make you feel more frustrated and defeated. Try to get to know yourself as a thinker and a worker without the structures imposed by school. Advertisement Speaking of structure, Ive heard from my students that the mental whiplash of the transition from the highly ordered nature of the school day to the endless unstructured time were now coping with has been one of the hardest things to figure out. Many of them have not yet learned how to independently manage their time and necessary tasks without the routine of bell schedules and imposed work periods like study hall. So I would also experiment with different systems for keeping track of your assignments (or, if your school is offering them, time-bound meetings such as virtual office hours). Some people like digital planning, preferring options like Google Calendar, which allows you to set appointments, make to-do lists, color-code your entries, and set reminder notifications. Others prefer creating to-do lists on paper. I have one student who writes all her assignments on individual sticky notes and brings only one sticky note at a time to the space where she works; this strategy helps her stay focused and avoid getting overwhelmed. Also, I know that some schools (or some teachers) are distributing materials weekly rather than daily. If thats the case for any of your classes, I would practice reviewing the assignment as soon as you have it and breaking it down into manageable chunks of work that you can complete at a reasonable pace, rather than attempting to complete a weeks worth of work the day before its due. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finally, if you can, be vocal about your needs and ask for support. Staying focused on your work is no easy feat with three little siblings hovering in your orbit. Can you coordinate with the adults who take care of you to finagle some quiet time? Or can you communicate the challenges of your learning environment to your teachers and ask for some accommodation? Most of the teachers I know have been thrown off-kilter too and are struggling to get the hang of assigning a workload that feels feasible and appropriateespecially if they arent getting any feedback from students. If you havent connected with your teachers individually too much, try reaching out and seeing what they can do for you. They are there for you. Advertisement Youre doing great, Focus. Keep trying, but understand that you might not be able to hit your normal high standards, and thats expected and OK. Hang in there! Ms. Bauer (middle and high school teacher, New York) While we are under a stay-at-home order, our sweet, smart first grader is being home-schooled right now by two parents with no teaching backgrounds who are also teleworking two full-time jobs. Shes doing really well, all things considered, and we are moving through her teachers suggested curriculum. Shes doing great with most of her subjects, but she does not like expressing herself in writing (she is an above-average reader and is capable of writing). We are trying to give her interesting topics to write aboutdo you like pandas or butterflies more, and why? But she writes one sentence and considers her project done. Is there a way to encourage her to put in more detail? Her teacher has also said this is something she should work on at home because she struggles to get her to fully complete writing tasks at school too. Also, her spelling isas would be expected for a 7-year-oldnot great. We do a phonics/spelling unit with her separately, but should I also be helping her correct her spelling when shes writing about a topic? Or should we ignore that and work on the written expression part? We would love some guidance on how to better help her learn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trying to Raise a Writer Dear TtRaW, I love this question. As a teacher for two decades and the author of several novels and a book of nonfiction, I am incredibly passionate about teaching writing and, more importantly, fostering a love for writing in children. Here are a few simple strategies to help your daughter fall in love with writing: All writersyoung and old, professional or amateurneed four things to be successful: time, audience, choice, and purpose. Time: Set aside a quiet time in your home for her to write. Start small with 510 minutes per day, and each week slowly increase the amount of time spent writing. Human beings arent born with writing stamina. It must be developed over time. Advertisement Audience: Find people willing to listen to your daughters work. Start with yourself. Drop everything in an instant if she wants to read something to you. Give her the chance to read to her teacher or relatives via videoconferencing. Gather some of her classmates on Zoom for a weekly share session. Find out whom she wants to share her work with, and find a way to connect the two. Choice: Give her permission to write whatever she wants. If she wants to write about the intricacies of her toenails or complex Minecraft strategies or why she thinks youre the meanest mommy in the world, let her. Theres nothing more stifling for any writer than forcing them to write about something they dont care about. Advertisement Advertisement Purpose: Help her find a sense of purpose for her writing. Writing for writings sake is a lovely thing, and there are some people in the world who find joy in the process. But for most people, writing becomes more pleasurable and desired when it is attached to a passion in the real world. If she loves movies, she could start reviewing films. If she loves food, allow her to write reviews of your meals. Does she love nature? Maybe shed like to write a poem about it. Advertisement A few additional recommendations: Dont look at the words that your child has written on the page. Spelling, punctuation, and handwriting are the things that parents often focus upon because they are simple to diagnose and easy to correct, but even mentioning these topics is an excellent way to spoil the joy of writing for any writer. These are mechanical issues that can be eventually be addressed. The goal now should be to get your daughter to love expressing herself. Rather than critiquing the appearance of the words on the page, insist that she read her work aloud to you first before looking at the page, and if you must look at the writing itself, dont make spelling, grammar, or handwriting any part of your commentary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Observe a ratio of three compliments for every comment that you make about your daughters work. Remember this: When we write, we offer a bit of ourselves on the page. For some, we bleed on the page. This is different than solving an addition problem or knowing the difference between democracy and communism. When we write, we place our thoughts into the world for all to see, so when those thoughts are criticized or rejected, the writer in many ways is rejected. So we must be kind to young writersall writers, really, but especially young writers. Writing is an act of faith and daring, so writers should be treated with kindness at all times. Finally, since youre looking for ways to help: Just as we model reading for our kids, try modeling writing for her, too. When shes working on her writing, sit down and write alongside her. Allow her to see you as a writer, too. If her stories are one sentence long, write stories that are a dozen lines long. Raise the bar, but not so high that its unattainable. Advertisement Advertisement No matter what, keep the joy of writing in the forefront of your mind. Your goal should be to foster a love of writing in your daughterespecially at this timewhile leaving the mechanics for her teachers. Mr. Dicks (fifth grade teacher, Connecticut) More Advice From Slate Recently my childs fifth grade teacher sent us an online survey asking parents questions that pertain to classroom environment and teacher performance. It was created by and sent by the teacher. This really wouldnt be a problem if I had great things to say, but shes a terrible teacher. What should I do? Understanding how Hannover Ruck SE (XTRA:HNR1) is performing as a company requires looking at more than just a years' earnings. Today I will run you through a basic sense check to gain perspective on how Hannover Ruck is doing by comparing its latest earnings with its long-term trend as well as the performance of its insurance industry peers. Check out our latest analysis for Hannover Ruck Could HNR1 beat the long-term trend and outperform its industry? HNR1's trailing twelve-month earnings (from 31 December 2019) of 1.3b has jumped 21% compared to the previous year. Furthermore, this one-year growth rate has exceeded its 5-year annual growth average of 2.0%, indicating the rate at which HNR1 is growing has accelerated. What's enabled this growth? Let's see if it is solely owing to industry tailwinds, or if Hannover Ruck has seen some company-specific growth. XTRA:HNR1 Income Statement April 23rd 2020 In terms of returns from investment, Hannover Ruck has fallen short of achieving a 20% return on equity (ROE), recording 12% instead. However, its return on assets (ROA) of 2.1% exceeds the DE Insurance industry of 0.9%, indicating Hannover Ruck has used its assets more efficiently. Though, its return on capital (ROC), which also accounts for Hannover Rucks debt level, has declined over the past 3 years from 3.7% to 3.5%. This correlates with an increase in debt holding, with debt-to-equity ratio rising from 28% to 30% over the past 5 years. What does this mean? Though Hannover Ruck's past data is helpful, it is only one aspect of my investment thesis. Positive growth and profitability are what investors like to see in a companys track record, but how do we properly assess sustainability? You should continue to research Hannover Ruck to get a more holistic view of the stock by looking at: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for HNR1s future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for HNR1s outlook. Financial Health: Are HNR1s operations financially sustainable? Balance sheets can be hard to analyze, which is why weve done it for you. Check out our financial health checks here. Other High-Performing Stocks: Are there other stocks that provide better prospects with proven track records? Explore our free list of these great stocks here. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the trailing twelve months from 31 December 2019. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. CALGARY, Alberta, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As COVID-19 continues to spread around the world, Calgary-based international charity, Operation Eyesight, is applying the organizations systems and experience in providing quality eye health care to meet the immediate need facing health care systems in developing countries. Diseases are not deterred by borders, and Canadians recognize the importance of providing support and expertise to the people in the world who need it the most, says Aly Bandali, President and CEO of Operation Eyesight. Any spread of COVID-19 in the world is a concern for Canadians and Operation Eyesight is using its existing network and partnerships to mitigate the spread in the countries where they work. In South Asia and Africa, Operation Eyesight is helping to address the new challenges to community health that have been caused by the coronavirus pandemic in an effort to help with global recovery. They are providing urgently needed help and supplies to effectively respond to the changing needs of these communities, including hygiene kits, hand-washing stations, educational materials and personal protective equipment for front-line community health workers. As with Operation Eyesights approach to improving the quality and delivery of eye health care in low- and middle-income countries, the key to providing support during the COVID-19 crisis is the empowerment of local citizens and local leadership. While the organization is currently working towards containing the spread of COVID-19 in some of the poorest regions in the world, ultimately the sustainability of these systems will lead to a more equitable and safer world. That benefits everyone, including Canadians. Kashinath Bhoosnurmath, VP of International Programmes based in Hyderabad, India, explains the importance of our current focus to respond to the communities the organization supports. Right now, the health care situation in the countries where we work is dire and will most likely worsen despite the efforts being made by local governments, says Bhoosnurmath. We need to address the basic needs of the communities that have no access or limited access to health services, and they need any support we can provide to get them to a state where they are facilitating better health outcomes for their citizens, including eye health. Story continues With support from donors in Canada, Operation Eyesight has already taken immediate steps to make a difference in addressing COVID-19. To learn more or make a donation to support their COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund, visit operationeyesight.com/covid-19 / . Media contact: Melissa Crocker Senior Marketing Specialist Operation Eyesight Universal Calgary, Alberta Phone: 587-602-2310 Email: CrockerM@operationeyesight.com About Operation Eyesight Operation Eyesight is an international development organization working to prevent blindness and restore sight in low- and middle-income countries. Founded in Calgary in 1963, the organization currently has eye health programs in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia and Zambia. In partnership with local hospitals and governments, Operation Eyesight invests in sustainable treatment, prevention and community development activities to address specific eye health problems as well as the root causes of avoidable blindness. To learn more, visit operationeyesight.com . Videos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/97ff76d8-405c-4c37-a809-8cb695a65edc https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a5d42d0d-bb32-4cad-ba37-522de1639439 Citing a lack of a coordinated national effort on contact tracing, two congressional Democrats whose states have among the highest cases of COVID-19 are proposing to create a "coronavirus containment corps" to assist state and local health departments with tracing potential victims. The proposal by Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Rep. Andy Levin of Michigan would require the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to submit a strategy to Congress on hiring, training and deploying people who can help health authorities do contact tracing. Under the proposal, the Labor Department would fund state and local workforce agencies, which would in turn help unemployed individuals find jobs as contact tracers and other related roles. Full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak It's a strategy that Warren and Levin, whose states are already implementing their own contact tracing initiatives, said they are working to get included in the next coronavirus relief package. "To confront a national crisis, we need a proactive nationwide strategy and the Trump administration is failing to come up with one," Warren said, adding that "we need a national contact tracing program that will stop the virus in its tracks, instead of us perpetually chasing it from behind." Levin added that to "defeat a virus that can jump from state to state with a plane or car ride, we need a national plan." He faulted the Trump administration, which he said "has spent months trying to catch up when we need to be thinking ahead." The proposal, which was shared with NBC News, also outlines rapidly developing guidance and training materials to support public health departments; the CDC providing additional, noncompetitive funds to those departments for use in future public health crises; ensuring tribal health departments are also included in funding availability and tracing efforts; and that individuals are hired from within the communities they live to better reflect diversity. Story continues Warren's support for increased contact tracing comes amid her announcement Thursday morning that her oldest brother, Don Reed, died Tuesday evening from the coronavirus. He was 86. "It's hard to know that there was no family to hold his hand or to say 'I love you' one more time and no funeral for those of us who loved him to hold each other close," she tweeted. "I'll miss you dearly my brother." The battle against the coronavirus has become front and center in Washington. Other Democratic members of Congress have proposed initiatives that include a "Health Force" to recruit unemployed Americans into public health careers and the use of members of AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps in contact tracing and other jobs. Governors this week have pointed out the need to ramp up contact tracing efforts, which involves first identifying infected people, logging where they went and with whom they've been in contact, then following up with those contacts about their health, if they have been tested and if they should quarantine. It's a daunting operation, but one that public health officials say is needed alongside testing in order to know where COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, has been spread in a community and if the cases are few enough that stay-at-home orders can be lifted and businesses reopened. Download the NBC News app for full coverage and alerts about the coronavirus outbreak A report this month from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials found that Congress would need to appropriate about $3.6 billion in emergency funding for contact tracing efforts, including for the hiring of 100,000 contact tracers, paid or volunteer. Funding levels for Warren's and Levin's plan are still being worked on, but the report notes how useful contact tracing has been to mitigate the spread of tuberculosis in the United States, while other countries, including South Korea, Taiwan, Germany and Iceland, are using it to help contain outbreaks of COVID-19. Image: (Mark Lennihan / AP file) The race is on for state and local health agencies to get contact tracing underway as CDC Director Robert Redfield warned this week that this fall and winter could be particularly hard on people with both the coronavirus and the flu going around and "we have to distinguish between the two." Redfield, whose agency's languid response to testing more Americans has faced criticism, told NPR earlier this month that it's "critical" to scale up contact tracing for those who test positive for COVID-19. "We can't afford to have multiple community outbreaks that can spiral up into sustained community transmission so it is going to be very aggressive, what I call 'block and tackle,' 'block and tackle,'" he said. He added that there's more than 600 people "in the field right now from CDC in all the states trying to help with this response, but we are going to have to substantially amplify that." Various governors also said this week that coordination is key. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday said former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will help fund contact tracing efforts in the region that includes New Jersey and Connecticut. Bloomberg is expected to spend at least $10 million. Cuomo told reporters that doing testing, contact tracing and isolating on this scale is uncharted territory. "So it is an intimidating exercise. But I say, so what? Who cares that you have never done it?" he said. "We have to put together a tracing army. We put together armies before, never a tracing army, but we can put together people, we can organize, we can train and we can do it." Other states' leaders have been cautious about such efforts. Gov. Tom Wolf said this week that Pennsylvania doesn't "have a lot of good leads on that at this point and we certainly do not have a budget." But that's where Warren and Levin say federal agencies can play a stronger role. "The federal government will need to step up and massively expand our health care workforce, make sure states and localities have the support they need, and ensure Americans' privacy is protected," Warren said. coronavirus Reuters California's Santa Clara County announced on Tuesday that two people who died in their homes in February were later confirmed positive for the new coronavirus. This data suggests the first US COVID-19 death occurred at least three weeks earlier than previously thought. The US recorded its first official death from COVID-19 on February 28. Santa Clara County said in a press release that the new COVID-19 cases were not detected sooner because the people "died at home during a time when very limited testing was available only through the CDC." Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. California's Santa Clara County on Tuesday announced that two people who died in their homes in February later tested positive for the new coronavirus, suggesting that the first COVID-19 death in the US occurred weeks earlier than previously thought. In a statement Tuesday, officials from Santa Clara County said the medical examiner tested three people who died in their homes for coronavirus. One person died February 6, another February 17, and a third on March 6. According to the statement, the tests were sent to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which confirmed on Tuesday that all three patients tested positive for coronavirus. The US recorded its first official death from COVID-19 on February 28 a man in his 50s in Washington state. The new data suggests the country's first death occurred at least three weeks prior. California confirmed its first coronavirus death on March 4 an elderly patient in Placer County, near Sacramento. Santa Clara County, which includes San Jose in the Bay Area, initially recorded its first death on March 9 a woman in her 60s. Santa Clara County said in a press release that the new COVID-19 cases were not detected sooner because the people "died at home during a time when very limited testing was available only through the CDC." Story continues It said the CDC at the time had restricted COVID-19 testing to only people with a known travel history to affected areas or those who reported specific symptoms associated with the illness. "As the Medical Examiner-Coroner continues to carefully investigate deaths throughout the county, we anticipate additional deaths from COVID-19 will be identified," the statement said. The US has been criticized for its slow testing per capita compared with other countries. The delay was initially blamed on test-kit shortages and faulty kits. The US Food and Drug Administration announced an expansion of its distribution of coronavirus testing kits on February 29, allowing hundreds of labs and hospitals around the country to conduct testing that had previously been limited by the CDC. President Donald Trump said during a Monday briefing that the US had tested more than 4 million people for the coronavirus, completing 150,000 tests a day. A comparison of testing per capita in six countries shows the US has finally caught up with other nations in its testing capacity, though it trailed behind other countries for weeks. Read the original article on Business Insider Nearly 250 British nationals and 101 Sri Lankan students who were stranded in India amid COVID-19 lockdown departed from Amritsar International Airport on Thursday. Earlier on April 21, a relief flight of British Airways had departed from Amritsar with 260 stranded passengers on board. Last week, the British High Commission said that 17 chartered flights will bring back people stranded in India due to the COVID-19 lockdown. READ | COVID-19: UAE To Operate Special Flights To Bring Back Emiratis From India Special relief flights to rescue foreigners Special flights from Bengaluru via Ahmedabad to London will be operated on April 23. The flights will also travel from Delhi to London on April 23, 25 and 27. Flights from Goa to London will fly on April 22 and 24 and a flight from Mumbai to London will operate on April 26. "We are working around the clock to arrange additional flights from locations where we know large numbers are still stranded and are extremely grateful for the support we are receiving from the Government of India and local authorities," said Jan Thompson, Acting High Commissioner to India. READ | 243 Canadians Repatriate From Amritsar On A Special Flight Amid Lockdown "101 Sri Lankan Nationals evacuated by a special Sri Lankan airlines flight. The plane landed at Amritsar International Airport this morning and has already taken off for Colombo. All the passengers were students of Lovely Professional University," KBS Sidhu, Special Chief Secretary, Punjab, tweeted. The relief flight took off with eight crew members, including two pilots and arrived in Katunayake on Thursday. Two more special flights from Sri Lanka will arrive in India to evacuate 117 Sri Lankans from Coimbatore and 93 from Katmandu. READ | COVID-19: SpiceJet Operates Freighter Flight Carrying Medical Supplies From Delhi To Myanmar The Centre, last month, had announced a suspension of domestic and international flight till May 3 to prevent the surging cases of COVID-19 infection. Due to this, thousands of foreigners stranded across various parts of the country. As of date, 16,454 active cases have been reported of the pandemic Coronavirus (COVID-19) - 4,257 have been discharged and Maharashtra reported the highest at 5,652. 681 deaths have been reported to date. READ | PIL Filed In SC For Complete Refund Of Flight Tickets Cancelled Due To COVID-19 Lockdown (With inputs from ANI) The New York health commissioner has overturned new guidelines urging emergency workers not to resuscitate anyone without a pulse when responding to 911 calls amid the coronavirus pandemic. A Department of Health spokeswoman told The Independent on Wednesday that commissioner Dr Howard Zucker overturned the orders because they did not "reflect New York's standards". The extreme guidelines outlined in a health department memo last week were said to be "necessary during the Covid-19 response to protect the health and safety of EMS providers by limiting their exposure, conserve resources and ensure optimal use of equipment to save the greatest number of lives." The move sparked outrage among first responders. The FDNY issued a letter on Friday telling emergency workers that revival attempts should continue, saying that "the NYC 911 system will continue to maintain a higher level of care". Before the guideline change issued by Dr Zuker's Bureau of Emergency Medical Service, the protocol was to spend 20 minutes working on patients in cardiac arrest. "This guidance, proposed by physician leaders of the EMS Regional Medical Control Systems and the State Advisory Council -- in accordance with American Heart Association guidance and based on standards recommended by the American College of Emergency Physicians and adopted in multiple other states - was issued April 17, 2020 at the recommendation of the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services, and reflected nationally recognised minimum standards," the Department of Health spokeswoman said in a statement. "However, they don't reflect New York's standards and for that reason DOH Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker has ordered them to be rescinded." L ockdown shouldnt be a time to put extra pressure on yourself. Forget those plans to write an epic novel and put away those unattainable exercise programmes times are tough enough out there already. A new hobby, though, is a good way to go. Plenty of things can be tried for the first time at home, many of them therapeutic and good for relieving stress. Weve put together a list of manageable activities to seek out during lockdown, from arts and crafts to cooking and meditation. Take an online art class Sarah Brown / Unsplash Grayson Perry will be starting his new role as the UKs art teacher next week, when his new show on Channel 4 will see him open up his art studio to the nation. The Turner Prize-winning artists programme, Graysons Art Club, begins on Channel 4 at 8pm on Monday April 27 and hopes to inspire artists of every ability level to try out something new during isolation its a good place to start. Elsewhere, Makings and Musings is offering online classes, all with a focus on mindfulness. Ask questions via the live stream and watch live demonstrations of new painting techniques. Its a good one for families too, with host Irene de Jong organising daily creative classes for kids, reading from a book and illustrating simultaneously. Get your needlework skills up to scratch Unsplash / Annie Spratt Get your creative and artistic juices flowing by taking up needlework, which is a fantastic way to relax and feel productive during quarantine. Learn on your own by purchasing beginners kits online, or take things a little more seriously with online classes. The Royal School of Needlework offers introductory classes on everything from Jacobean crewelwork to canvas work, with video instructions, written and photographic guides and online discussion boards. Prices start at 110. Give yoga and meditation a go Practice yoga or meditation to make some time for breathing Trying a new hobby or skill during these strange times doesnt have to be difficult trying yoga for the first time is as simple as clicking onto YouTube. Yoga with Adriene is one of the best accounts to try for newcomers, with a huge list of videos catering for different levels of experience and abilities, and a friendly, enthusiastic host in Adriene Mishler. The sessions are often mixtures of yoga and meditation, which makes them great for relaxing and managing anxiety. Set aside 20 minutes and give it a try. Take a one-to-one class with the wellness app Urban, which is helping people to up their yoga game during self-isolation. Its not just yoga, either check out the guided classes on everything from fitness, physio, and mindfulness, with practitioners on call to teach from home. The School of Meditation is another place to head for free half-hour sessions every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 11am. Everyone can take part, with the introductory classes designed to help people relax and relieve tension. Mix the perfect cocktail Vlad Tchompalov / Unsplash More people than ever are learning how to mix delicious cocktails from home at the moment Stanley Tucci being one of them. Instead of chucking your spirits in absentmindedly with your mixers, head online and make the most of your drinks cabinet with the Standards quarantine cocktail club, offering fresh and interesting ideas every week. Elsewhere, the Experimental Cocktail Club have launched a new weekly tasting once a week, couriers will ship over a box of miniatures, before hosting a tasting session and demonstration at 5.30pm every Saturday on Instagram. Camdens Ladies and Gentlemen bar is another one to keep an eye on during lockdown. Founder and cocktail expert William Borrell will be sharing his tips for the perfect tipple with a masterclass on Instagram Live every Friday keep an eye out on Mondays, when hell be sharing a list of required ingredients to get involved. Learn more about wine with virtual tastings If cocktails aren't your thing, try learning about wine during lockdown. The capital is a fantastic place to discover more about vino weve been to some cracking places over the past year to discover more but aspiring wine experts can still learn more from the comfort of their own home, too. One of the best places for masterclasses has moved things online, with 67 Pall Mall launching a series of sessions over Zoom. The series so far has involved actor and wine enthusiast Kyle MacLachlan, who hosted a session live from Los Angeles. Writer and Master of Wine Jasper Morris is also hosting webinars through his Inside Burgundy site, so keep an eye on Instagram for those. WineTrust100 is also hosting taste alongs events with Master of Wine Nick Adams, who will lead guests on a Sauvignon Blanc masterclass at 8pm on Friday May 1 over Zoom. For a more structured, virtual tasting, the West London Wine School is hosting virtual tastings and courses, helping people step up their game by achieving formal qualifications from home. Brush up on your cooking Cooking, cocktail and wine masterclasses you should be tuning into 1 /25 Cooking, cocktail and wine masterclasses you should be tuning into Bread Ahead The carb-loaded masterclasses that Bread Ahead usually runs at its London bakeries have gone online. Tutorials so far have included hot cross buns, amaretti biscuits and pain de Campagne. Prefer to read rather than watch? Theyve also released an online cookbook, available to download from their website for just 5. Officina 00 Have your local hoarders cleared the supermarket pasta shelves again? Old Streets favourite new fresh pasta haunt is spilling its secrets via online tutorials on its Instagram account. The restaurant kicked off its series last week with a how-to on making cavatelli and a cherry tomato sauce to go with it keep an eye on their Instagram feed beforehand, where theyll post all the ingredients you need to cook along. Ryan Chetiyawardana Ryan Chetiyawardana, also known as Mr Lyan, is known for his complex, time-consuming, ingredient-led cocktails but during the lockdown, hes focusing on giving us tips for making simple, but perfect drinks in our own homes. Hes recently made an appearance on paid-for tutorial programme Masterclass to share his mixological insight in-depth with Lynette Marrero. Alternatively, you can head to the Instagram account for his London bar Lyaness, where Chetiyarwardana is sharing tips on making DIY martinis and boozeless hot toddies (for free). Matt Writtle Pizza Pilgrims If you havent yet craved pizza during the lockdown, you will do pretty soon. Pizza Pilgrims has sadly had to shut up shop at all its restaurants, but its keeping fans fed in a roundabout way by teaching them how to make proper pizza on its Instagram account. Over the last week, its been dropping step by step videos showing how to make, cook and top its famous dough base, in what is now a four-part guide. Francesco Mazzei The chef behind Sartoria, Radici and Fiume will be partnering up with Grana Padano cheese to bring you a taste of Italian cooking via his Instagram account. Mazzei will host Fridays with Francesco, a series of Instagram tutorials over the month of April, covering the likes of making fresh pasta with cacio e pepe sauce, cooking with the kids and how to make the best of store cupboard ingredients. Andrew Wong Andrew Wong, the chef-owner of Michelin-starred A. Wong in Victoria, will be hosting a series of interactive masterclasses in collaboration with the South Westminster BIDS. Across three tutorials, the renowned chef will be demonstrating classic Chinese cooking techniques and dishes, including making char siu pork, dim sum dough and a range of marinades. Jason Atherton One of the UKs most celebrated restaurateurs may have had to close his seven London restaurants temporarily, but that hasnt stopped him cooking. Jason Atherton is now leading his followers on a daily cook-along from his home, in a series called Social Kitchen Isolation. Hell be showcasing recipes from around the world (and using up leftover ingredients from the previous nights cooking) with recipes having already included Filipino chicken adobo, Ibizan-style pork stew, and French paysanne soup. Humble Grape Wine bar mini-group Humble Grape is spilling all the secrets of top vineyards with a new series of Instagram Live wine tastings, with the winemakers themselves as special guests. The weekly Winemaker Chats can be enjoyed alongside a tasting case of six wines available to order from Humble Grape ahead of the Instagram Live. The first session will sample wines by Winzer Familie Gregor Schup in Austria, with Gregor himself guiding the tasting. Morty & Bobs Cheese toastie king Morty & Bobs are grilling, melting and squishing their way into your kitchen via Instagram, with tutorials on how to make its acclaimed sarnies. The series started with a classic cheese and onion affair, before branching out onto the sandwich shops signature mushroom and truffle toastie. Kerb This one is for the serious foodies. For those using the lockdown as a time to consider new professional pursuits, Kerb is hosting a series of business workshops about all things street food. The YouTube series will see the food market entrepreneurs talk through all the finance, operations and marketing quandaries involved in the process of setting up your own business, in conversations between members of its team and some of its food traders. 67 Pall Mall Wine-centric members club 67 Pall Mall is opening up its doors to all enthusiasts, by launching a free online series of masterclasses as part of a Virtual Club. Each hour-long session will be hosted by sommeliers and winemakers talking viewers through subjects such as the golden years of Burgundy and legendary Lebanese winery Chateau Musar, before finishing with an interactive Q&A. Paul Winch-Furness / Photographe Salvatore Calabrese Globally renowned London bartender Salvatore Calabrese otherwise known as The Maestro is imparting his considerable wisdom to all cocktail keenos who follow him on Instagram. Usually found heading up The Donovan Bar at Browns Hotel or working on his own Acqua Bianco liqueur, the former Dukes Bar legend is currently showcasing cocktail recipes from his home bar. Drinks masterfully made so far include a negroni, spicy fifty, and an eye-opening breakfast martini. The Booze Brain by The Savoy Some of the top mixological minds in London or indeed, the world are coming together to share their expert tips with budding and experienced bartenders. The Booze Brain is the work of Maxim Schulte and Jo Last, bartenders at the Savoys American Bar and Beaufort Bar respectively, and the new platform invites spirit company founders, brand ambassadors and fellow bartenders including The Connaught Bars Agostino Perrone to share their tips and thoughts on the industry. Quality Wines This wine shop and bar is a sibling venue to Clerkenwell stalwart The Quality Chop House, and also adheres to the same virtues of excellence. After a short closure, they are now all set up for making contactless wine deliveries, and are also hosting Instagram Live wine tastings, working their way through the nine cases of wines theyll be delivering. Were currently on Fine Fizz with more on the horizon. The Athenian Greek street food connoisseur Tim Vasilakis is coming to the rescue of all those gagging for gyros. The Athenians founder will be taking to the restaurants Instagram on a weekly basis to show followers how to make dishes from its menu, including its signature souvlaki fillings, Santorini tomato croquettes, and a chocolate mosaico dessert. Brewdog The popular craft brewery now has 12 bars across London if youre missing your local haunt, you can now head to Brewdogs Online Bar, which is hosting pub quizzes, Q&A sessions and tastings for its regulars. Events so far include a tasting of the non-alcoholic Brewdog AF range with Sober Girl Society and Brewdogs Sarah Warman, as well as a recipe and beer pairing with DJ BBQ. Getty Images Artesian Top London bar Artesian is heading from the glamorous surrounds of The Langham hotel to your living room, thanks to its new series of Instagram tutorials. Starting with step-by-step guides to making a margarita and an amaretto sour by its award-winning manager Anna Sebastian, Artesian will be getting its bartenders to show viewers how to make their personal favourite drinks. Tom Kerridge Michelin-starred pub chef turned TV favourite Tom Kerridge is on a mission to prove that cooking during isolation neednt be a bore. His Lock Down Dinners series sees him concoct simple, family recipes largely from store cupboard ingredients and whatever he has in the fridge. Think tuna pasta with some added avocado and feta, a stir fry that can be made with whatever veggies you have to hand, and a chocolate mousse for pudding. Hawkes Bermondsey cidermakers Hawkes is reinvigorating its London taproom post-lockdown by bringing it into the homes of its customers. Founder Simon Wright will host a series of online tastings featuring the companys various ciders the schedule will be posted in advance on its website, allowing those planning to tune in the chance to order the corresponding ciders for delivery from the Hawkes website. Now's the time to get more expressive than ever in the kitchens. The Standard has been speaking to chefs all over the city to get their isolation recipes and tips, all using ingredients readily available from supermarkets. Weve also been getting tips on how to make the most out of cupboard staples, like ketchup and peanut butter. For a more hands on experience, the likes of Bread Ahead and Puff the Bakery are hosting virtual masterclasses, helping guests to hone their baking, doughnut making and pastry prowess during these difficult times. Check our full guide here. Get into genealogy Juliane Liebermann / Unsplash Plenty of us are unable to see loved ones at the moment, and its a comfort to know we can all discover more about our families even when were not face to face. The National Archives are a good place for people interested in genealogy to begin, with census, military, immigration, naturalisation and land records all ready to explore. The Open University also offers resources to the public, with links to other services for more specific genealogical requests. An idle half hour online can easily turn into much more. Try your hand at calligraphy ( Ksenia Makagonova / Unsplash) / Ksenia Makagonova / Unsplash Try something meditative, relaxing and a little bit different from home with online calligraphy courses, designed to get peoples pen work up to task. Lettering artist Imogen Owen is currently offering a 15 per cent discount on online calligraphy lessons, which include watch along lessons and access to an exclusive discussion group. Sign up, order materials online and create your own designs from scratch. Join an online book club Reese Witherspoons latest book club pick is Lara Prescotts spy novel The Secrets We Kept Instagram is a great place for book lovers to join reading communities, and be recommended things they might otherwise never try. Weekly catch-ups online are a good way of adding structure to your reading, without placing too much unneeded pressure on yourself. Florence Welch of Florence and the Machine is the force behind one of the most popular clubs in the UK, Between Two Books, which is recommending one book a week, as well as hosting author Q&As. Rebel Book Club is the place to head for non-fiction fans, while Reese Witherspoons hugely popular Reeses Book Club is a chance to join in the discussion with more than 1.5m followers. Read the Standard's full guide here. Become a foreign-language film buff The 20 best foreign-language films to watch online right now 1 /25 The 20 best foreign-language films to watch online right now I Lost My Body Netflix This animated French fantasy film takes a sideways look at immigrant life in Paris with a unique narrative, focusing on a severed hand which escapes from a laboratory to be reunited with a young boy. The movie, which became the first ever animation to win the Nespresso Grand Prize at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, tackles themes of alienation and identity in a truly original way. Under the Shadow Netflix A mother and a daughter are haunted by a shapeless evil force in 80s Tehran in this strange and inspired supernatural horror. The threat of air-raids during the Iraq-Iran war looms large over the film, which is claustrophobic, affecting and unforgettable. A Fortunate Man Netflix This Danish drama set in the 19th century focuses on a young man, who turns away from his familys deeply religious life to follow a life in engineering and marry a Jewish woman against their wishes. Its well worth watching, even if for the resplendent choreography and period costume alone. Kaili Blues Amazon Prime Video This beautiful film originally released as Lu Bian Ye Can in 2015 features some of the most incredible cinematography on this list, and forms an arresting tone poem on rural China. The debut from Chinese director Bi Gan is a dreamlike film, which follows a doctor as he encounters figures from his past, blurring time and memory in the process. Adelheid Amazon Prime Video Frantisek Vlacils bleak drama takes a harrowing look at life in postwar Czechoslovakia, focusing on the tragic relationship between a Czech man and a German woman. As a historical document, its captivating. As a tale of love and loss, its devastating. 8 Amazon Prime Video The first movie Fellini released after the monumental success of La Dolce Vita saw him embrace touches of the surreal, as he focused on the life of protagonist Guido Anselmi an acclaimed director struggling with a creative drought. Le Corbeau MUBI Le Corbeau is one of the top selections currently on MUBI one of the best places to discover a rolling selection of foreign-language movies online, each made available for 30 days at a time. The 1943 French movie focuses on the inhabitants of a small town, who all receive letters containing damning information which threatens to tear the community apart. Toni Erdmann Amazon Prime Video German comedy, anyone? This film, directed, written and co-produced by Maren Ade, became a surprise international hit in 2016 after winning over audiences around the world. It tells the story of Peter Simonischeks Toni, a divorced father with a penchant for practical jokes, who makes a concerted effort to reconnect with his daughter. Sheherazade Netflix Zachary, a 17-year-old French boy, is released from prison and falls into the ganglands of Marseille the crime capital of France in this hard-hitting drama. The films seem him endure a life living on the streets, falling for a young prostitute, played by Kenza Fortas. The Platform Netflix This high-concept Spanish sci-fi is one of the more recent films on the list, having arrived on Netflix earlier this year. The movie takes place inside a prison, referred to as a "Vertical Self-Management Centre with more than 300 floors. Its occupants are fed by a platform, which is filled with food and slowly lowered from floor to floor. If you like your dramas dark and nihilistic, this is for you. The Salesman Amazon Prime Video This Iranian drama follows married couple Emad and Rana, whose lives are irrevocably changed after Rana is assaulted during a performance of Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman. It won the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards in 2017, beating the likes of Toni Erdmann. Infernal Affairs Netflix Hong Kong crime thrillers have become a sub-genre all of their own, with tales of the triads put to screen in the likes of The Mission, A Better Tomorrow and Hard Boiled all worth checking out. Infernal Affairs is one of the more compelling and stylish of its kind, dealing with deception and double-crossing. It was later remade by Martin Scorsese as the Departed in 2006. Roma - Netflix Alfonso Cuarons Roma is a stunning ode to Mexico, following a young housekeeper and the middle-class family that employ her in the early 70s. Its vast in scale, exploring both intimate relationships, family dynamics and expansive geopolitical themes. Theres a timeless beauty to the film, and its deeply moving and heartbreaking in parts. Atlantics Netflix This Cannes prize-winning debut from filmmaker Mati Diop tackles a challenging subject matter the tragic deaths of migrants at sea in a surprisingly life-affirming way, following a love story at the very edges of human capabilities. Its found an audience online after debuting in 2019. The Raid Netflix The Raid is a curious thing an Indonesian action movie directed by a Welsh filmmaker, Gareth Evans which features some of the most unforgettable action sequences of the past decade. The entire movie is essentially one extended fight sequence, following an elite team as they infiltrate a high-rise building run by a notorious drug lord. The incredible set-pieces hark back to Bruce Lee and the martial arts movies of the 60s and 70s, with added nastiness and visceral violence. The Lady without Camelias Amazon Prime Video Michelangelo Antonionis subtle and enigmatic 1953 drama The Lady without Camelias is one of the most interesting movies about the film industry from the turn of the century, and one of the most overlooked. The stylish movie sees a young Italian woman plucked from obscurity by a movie executive, only for her career to be compromised by her husband and exploitative producers. Divines Netflix This multi-faceted French drama from first-time director Houda Benyamina is part thriller and part romance, telling the story of two young women in love. Their relationship plays out against the tough streets of inner city Paris and the banlieues, with the couple harbouring dreams of making a life elsewhere. The Hunt Amazon Prime Video Mads Mikkelsen plays a kindergarten teacher in this unsettling Danish movie, who is falsely accused of sexually abusing one of the children in his class. The film proves Mickelsen as one of the finest actors of his generation, analysing how one lie can cause an entire life to unravel. Portrait of a Lady on Fire MUBI This stunning movie has emerged as one of the most compelling romances of 2020, with director Celine Sciamma creating something truly special. Noemie Merlant and Adele Haenal both deliver inspired performances as a young painter and her unruly subject, who enter into a passionate relationship. President Trump revealed Wednesday that he wanted some pomp and circumstance added to the country's current socially distanced circumstances, and has recruited the Air Force Thunderbirds and the Navy Blue Angels to do the job. Trump said at Wednesday's press briefing that the two prominent aerobatics teams 'will be performing air shows over America's cities,' and in some places that 'aren't major cities,' he added, in a salute to the country's frontline workers who have been combating the coronavirus pandemic. 'This is a tribute to them, our warriors,' the president said. President Trump announced Wednesday that the Blue Angels and the Air Force Thunderbirds would be performing in air shows around the country to salute the work of the coronavirus frontline workers Last year President Trump, holding the hand of first lady Melania Trump, started a new tradition by presenting the country with a 'Salute to America' on the lawn of the Lincoln Memorial The event featured flyovers including from the Blue Angels (pictures), which are about to tour the country giving air shows while most Americans are still having to stay at home thanks to the coronavirus pandemic The Air Force Thunderbirds, seen flying over the Mandalay Bay casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, will also particpate in the air shows, which will take place in the next few weeks While the president said he planned to host another 'Salute to America' he said this year's event would only have about 25 per cent of the crowd so they could stay spaced out to avoid a coronavirus outbreak Trump called the aerial performances 'dangerous flying.' 'That's dangerous work,' he said. The president also said that he planned to celebrate the Fourth of July by hosting another large event on the National Mall, complete with military flyovers. Last year, Trump added to the annaul fireworks display and concert by taking over the lawn of the Lincoln Memorial for his own show, the 'Salute to America.' Trump gave patriotic remarks and hosted a flyover. Air Force One, the next generation of Marine One, the Blue Angels and other military planes all participated. The president talked up last year's event 'even though it was pouring.' 'And on July 4 we'll be doing what we had on the Mall. Last year was a tremendous success,' Trump said. He added that he hoped that the tradition would endure beyond his presidency. 'And I would imagine we'll do it - hopefully I can use the term forever,' he said. Later in the briefing the president was asked if holding a crowded event on the National Mall would be safe, given that the country may still be experiencing outbreaks of coronavirus. Trump answered that he'd just have the crowd stay spaced out. 'We'll probably have 25 per cent of what we had last year,' the president said. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday sought to assure the industry owners that no FIR will be registered against any unit owner, who has been given permission to restart unit during the lockdown, if any of their worker contracts coronavirus Chandigarh: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday sought to assure the industry owners that no FIR will be registered against any unit owner, who has been given permission to restart unit during the lockdown, if any of their worker contracts coronavirus. From 20 April onwards, the government has decided to give conditional relaxations to the industries in select sectors outside the coronavirus containment zones to kickstart the economic activities amid the lockdown as per the Centre's guidelines. Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak Updating people about the Covid situation in the state and steps taken to control it, Khattar, in a televised address, touched upon the permission given to the industries while following conditions like ensuring social distancing and the number of people who can work in units at a given time etc. The chief minister informed that 1,800 units involved in production of items of essential need had earlier been given permission but now 106 more units have been given permission, which would employ nearly 18,000 workforce. Click here to follow LIVE news and updates on stock markets Khattar assured that all those units which restart functioning with due permission and following all laid down guidelines of the Centre and the state government need not worry. I want to make it clear that if any industry seeks permission to start their unit and if any employee working there tests Covid positive, no action or FIR will be registered against the owner. A rumour was spread that FIR will be registered against those unit owners if an employee working there tests positive, he said. Meanwhile, Khattar said Muslims should offer Namaz during Ramzan from their homes and not in mosques in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. The current lockdown, imposed to contain the spread of the deadly coronavirus, will be in force till May 3. With Ramzan beginning later this week, Khattar said, I appeal to all Muslim community members to follow social distancing norms by staying indoors... I request them to offer prayers from their home itself.. T his week the BBC launched Bitesize Daily, a huge offering for school-age children, which includes 200 professional teachers and 14 weeks of the summer curriculum, plus Sir David Attenborough on natural sciences and Danny Im getting a massive ruff Dyer on Tudor history. We said the BBC would be there for people through this crisis, and we meant it, said BBC education boss Alice Webb, with the kind of steadfast courage that must surely count for something in any future licence fee debate. Thank you for your service, Auntie Beeb. I dont know why it took us this long to work out that caring for children full-time while simultaneously working full-time would be not just very difficult, but utterly impossible. A person cannot be in two spaces at once; thats such basic physics that Professor Brian Cox probably teaches it in his Key Stage 1 Bitesize Daily class. We did already know it takes a village to raise a child, but London hasnt had that village-y vibe for several millennia, despite what the guy at Foxtons East Dulwich will tell you. Instead we have our TV sets, ready to share in the task of educating a generation, could we but overcome our snobbery. Rocketing audience numbers for the traditional channels suggest TV is already successfully cajoling teens down from their bedrooms, while socially distanced friends stay close by Zoom-watching their favourite shows together at the scheduled times. Now that all our relationships are mediated via a screen, the distinction between our favourite Gogglebox families and our real families has become purely theoretical. So, youll be relieved to know that the dad from the Siddiquis is fine. Hes just self-isolating away from his sons as a precaution, which explains his absence from the sofa in recent episodes. Still, giving TV the respect it deserves is easier for some than others. Class discourse aside, there is really only one relevant question here: Did you grow up eating dinner in front of the telly? Or are you posh? Since my partner and I were raised differently in this respect, he was aghast when, pre-Bitesize Daily, our four-year-old got big into the oeuvre of Russian YouTubers Nastya and Papa. This father-daughter duo have amassed over 50million worldwide subscribers 50 million! a beguilingly unoriginal mix of rampant consumerism, shaky camerawork and Disney Princess tat. I wasnt exactly delighted myself when the four-year-old responded to my dinnertime call with a firm nyet, but, I thought, at least shes learning a language. This is how it is in lockdown. The TV is to every family what the newly hired, slightly feckless au pair was to the Kensington super-rich in normal times. The difference is that we dont claim to treat TV like a much-loved member of the family; in our house, she really is. Daniel Day-Lewis could never J.Lo (Getty Images ) / Getty Images With the big film releases all pushed back to the post-corona never-never, cineastes have time to reflect on big, important questions. Like, will J.Lo finally nab her Oscar for The Godmother? Shes cast as Columbian cartel boss Griselda La Madrina Blanco, and La Lopez will of course give it her all. Cleanliness has always been next to godliness, but its even more critical during a pandemic. That's why Tom Williams Sr., the owner of Allentown's Cityline Construction, joined the fight against COVID-19 with a germ-killing approach. Williams purchased MediClean Germicidal Cleaner, a medical-grade sanitizing solution, from sources across the country and donated it to workers who are grappling with the coronavirus pandemic, according to a news release. As an emergency service provider, we often work alongside local police, fire and EMS personnel. After learning that many or our first responders do not have adequate virus-fighting protection during this pandemic, I knew I needed to do something to help keep them safe, Williams said. Trucking contractors were enlisted to quickly ship the solution to Citylines warehouse in Allentown. Cityline workers then disinfected the facility before rigging bottle-mixing stations capable of putting out 10,000 gallons a day while remaining socially distant, of course. Cityline, which specializes in rebuilding properties damaged by fires, storms and other disasters, initially reached out to the Lehigh County 911 center. Once the word spread, the company received calls from hospitals, nursing homes, county offices and others in need of the disinfectant. More than 40,000 gallons of the cleaner was distributed to essential operators in 16 Pennsylvania counties through Thursday. Recipients have enough solution to last a month, according to the release. Williams estimates the combined donation, between labor and materials, to be in the $300,000 range. 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. Kyle Craig may be reached at kcraig@lehighvalleylive.com. If theres anything about this story that needs attention, please email him. Follow him on Twitter @KyleCraigSports. TOKYO, April 23 (Reuters) - Fourteen more cases of coronavirus infections have been confirmed on an Italian cruise ship docked for repairs at Japan's Nagasaki prefecture, bringing the total to at least 48, public broadcaster NHK said on Thursday. As of Wednesday, 34 crew members on the Costa Atlantica had tested positive for the new coronavirus, raising concerns about the impact on the local community. Nagasaki prefecture will hold a press conference from 10:30 a.m. (0130 GMT), according to NHK. The Costa Atlantica infections come after the cases on the Diamond Princess in Yokohama two months ago, where more than 700 were found to be infected, although this time only crew members were on board. The Italian cruise ship is carrying 623 crew members and no passengers, officials have said. (Reporting by Kaori Kaneko; Editing by Chang-Ran Kim and Muralikumar Anantharaman) Since 2013, An Phat Bioplastics JSC (ticker symbol:AAA) has ventured into the research and development of environmentally friendly product lineups. At the time, AAA financed a project of a local university to create eco-friendly items. The project, however, ended at failure. Since then, the parent company (APH) has made research and development its priority investment field, a fresh and challenging area where no local firms have managed to post success. After two years of study, in 2015 AAA has reported initial success, becoming the first Vietnamese firm capable of producing compostable items that meet stringent global requirements. The companys products have made forays into markets around the world such as France, Romania, Italy, Australia, and the US. An Phat Holdings' compostable items are used widely by leading local and global brands On its home turf, APHs compostable items under the AnEco brand often carry a heftier price tag compared to most items on the market due to higher investment costs for material import, technology investment, R&D, and quality control. Making items more affordable has since been a primary target for APHs management. To solve the conundrum, in June 2019 APH teamed up with a South Korean partner to acquire the patents of compostable materials, which is a core part of production costs. Through acquiring the patent, APH aims to build a compostable material manufacturing plant in Vietnam, striving to significantly lower production costs. Currently, the groups compostable products are used by leading brands in Vietnam such as Highlands Coffee, Daewoo Hotel, Lotte Hotel, The Coffee House, Maian Bakers, Soc & Brothers, and can be seen at the shelves of diverse supermarkets and hotels like Vinmart, Circle K, AEON, and Lotte Mart, Vinpearl. With an ever-increasing number of partners are mulling over promoting the use of environmentally friendly items, APHs development prospects are looking bright indeed. According to Vo Duy Phu, Business and Marketing director at The Coffee House a loyal customer of APH the coffee chain has set forth the target of cutting the emission of hardly degradable plastic by up to 80 per cent. The engagement of The Coffee House reflects the sustainable development values the company aims for, while simultaneously inspiring customers to change their habits of plastic use, particularly single-use plastic items, said Phu. During 2020-2025, APH expects compostable bags will drive the development of this whole segment as traditional plastic items will be gradually replaced by fully compostable products. Currently, APH is building a factory to manufacture compostable items in the US, with the target of pushing up exports to North America in the near future. The opportunity for success is big as the US administration is offering better incentives to investors from other countries who engage in making green products. During 2020-2025, APH expects compostablebags will drive the development of this whole segment as traditional plastic items will be gradually replaced by fully biodegradable and compostable products. Promoting supporting industry as production shifts to Vietnam Aside with making green products, APH has been taking bold steps to venture into the supporting industry which is generally seen as a difficult area to invest for most local companies due to the large investment needed to ensure the necessary finance, science and technology capabilities. Five APH member units Hanoi Plastics JSC (NHH), Anh Trung Industries Co., Ltd. (ATI), Vinfast-An Phat Plastic Auto Part Co., Ltd. (VAPA), Vietnam Pattern Manufacture and Precision Mechanical Co., Ltd. (VMC), and Export Import Development Investment Co., Ltd. (Viexim) are expected to provide the fulcrum to deepen APHs engagement in the global supply chains. Along with this, NHH has developed a sound customer base in the auto-motorcycle industry such as Honda, Toyota, VinFast, and other famous brands in the electric and electronic industries like Panasonic and LGE, whereas AIT has signed contracts with Samsung and Brother. APH aims to double the production capacity of VMC factory in the near future Aside with making green products, APH has been taking bold steps to venture into the supporting industry which is generally seen as a difficult area to invest for most local companies due to the large investment needed to ensure the necessary finance, science and technology capabilities. Five APH member units Hanoi Plastics JSC (NHH), Anh Trung Industries Co., Ltd. (ATI), Vinfast-An Phat Plastic Auto Part Co., Ltd. (VAPA), Vietnam Pattern Manufacture and Precision Mechanical Co., Ltd. (VMC), and Export Import Development Investment Co., Ltd. (Viexim) are expected to provide the fulcrum to deepen APHs engagement in the global supply chains. Along with this, NHH has developed a sound customer base in the auto-motorcycle industry such as Honda, Toyota, VinFast, and other famous brands in the electric and electronic industries like Panasonic and LGE, whereas AIT has signed contracts with Samsung and Brother. In the field of moulding, VMC supplies the market with 200-250 moulds per year which will double to 500 units in the future, driven by ambitions to become one of the leading players in its field. Having a mould manufacturing factory will help APH take the initiative in design, manufacturing, and maintenance activities, curtailing the time and costs of parts and accessories production. APH started to see the sweet fruits of its investments in its member companies from 2019. Accordingly, last year NHH (the parent company of ATI, VMC, VAPA, and Viexim) raked in VND1.233 trillion ($53.6 million) in consolidated revenue, surpassing its annual target by 9 per cent and recording a nearly 20 per cent jump on-year. Its profit was up 12 per cent on-year, reaching VND68 billion ($2.96 million). The 2018-2019 period marked APHs great success as the group has become partner to a raft of global tech giants like Samsung and Brother, and attracted fresh partners such as Lear and STM. In the forthcoming time, APH aims to strengthen co-operation with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Samsung Vietnam, and Hai Duong authorities to deploy new plans on supporting industry development. According to APH executives, during the 2020-2025 period, all member units will ramp up efforts to master production technologies, ensuring that the factories be running at full capacity to optimise production costs. In addition, APH set out to list on the stock market and grab $250 million from its initial public offering (IPO) proposed to take place in the near future. The group aims to enact maximally 20 million stock in three rounds with the starting price not lower than VND25,000 ($1.09) apiece. The proceeds would be used to build a high-tech factory manufacturing biodegradable materials at Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park in the northern port city of Haiphong. Irans MFA called on the Ambassador of Switzerland, whose country represents the US interests in Iran, Tasnim reported. Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi said that the Swiss envoy was called in and notified of Tehrans strong protest over illegal and destabilizing presence of American forces in the Persian Gulfs northern waters and near Irans coasts. The ambassador was also told about the need to comply with international maritime standards and freedom of navigation. The Swiss ambassador was informed that Iran will defend its maritime rights with all its might and will give a appropriate response to any threat and wrong move by the US armed forces in the Persian and Oman gulfs. Earlier, Donald Trump said he had instructed to destroy Iranian warships chasing American ships. I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea, Trump tweeted. EUGENE, Ore. Eugene police are asking for the publics help in finding a woman who vandalized a vehicle last week by pouring a substance on it that caused significant damage. The incident happened April 14 in the 500 block of Hamilton Avenue. A man reported that the substance removed the paint on his vehicle, and that ongoing vandalism had been happening. The incident happened at 2:07 a.m. and was recorded on video. The suspect appears to be a white adult female with a medium build, wearing a dark, hooded lightweight jacket with hood up, a bandana-style face mask, dark leggings and dark ankle-high boots. The boots appear to have fur around the top. The suspect appeared to be wearing lightweight gloves, possibly latex gloves. The suspects hair is mostly concealed by the hood and mask, but is slightly visible in front. Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt. Michael Ware at the Eugene Police Department at 541-682-5150 and reference case number 20-06465. UW Professor is First Author of Study on Other Variables Affecting Coronavirus Numbers Worldwide Pejman Tahmasebi, an assistant professor in UWs Department of Petroleum Engineering, was lead author of a paper that was submitted, but has not yet been peer-reviewed and accepted, to the Journal of the Swiss School of Public Health. The paper studied correlations between a dozen environmental, economic and health variables with persons who contracted the novel coronavirus COVID-19 in 14 different countries. (UW Photo) A University of Wyoming researcher was part of a team that recently studied correlations between a dozen environmental, economic and health variables with persons who contracted the novel coronavirus COVID-19 in 14 different countries. More specifically, statistical analysis indicates that, among the 12 variables, the diabetes percentage of the total population and the extent of the population ages 65 and older in each country are correlated most strongly with the total number of deaths due to coronavirus in these countries. In this study, we looked at some other parameters that usually have not been considered in the current studies, such as the economic conditions, air pollution, age 65, diabetes, and so many other parameters, and suggested that age 65 and diabetes are the most important variables, says Pejman Tahmasebi, an assistant professor in UWs Department of Petroleum Engineering. Tahmasebi was first author of a paper, titled How Do Environmental, Economic and Health Factors Influence Regional Vulnerability to COVID-19, that was recently posted in preprint on medRxiv, an internet site that distributes unpublished manuscripts about health sciences. The paper has been submitted to the Journal of the Swiss School of Public Health, a peer-reviewed general medical journal. The paper has not yet been peer-reviewed. Other researchers involved in the study were from the Imperial College London, in the United Kingdom; the University of Manchester in Manchester, United Kingdom; and the University of Southern California. Other studies on the coronavirus have focused on measures, including social distancing, school closures, banning public gatherings and lockdowns at various levels that have been used to slow the pandemic, Tahmasebi says. In this study, we tried to look at this crisis from a different angle and say that it is not all about social distancing and other factors, he says. Some of the reasons that can increase the total number of deaths are uncontrollable, such as age, diabetes, etc. So, we are not saying that social distancing is wrong or ineffective, but there are some other parameters that define the vulnerability. For the parameters, we tried to select a combination of health, environment and economic, and came up with those parameters that are representative of those factors and may be related for COVID-19. Countries that were part of the study are: Belgium, Brazil, China, France, Iran, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. The countries were chosen because mortality statistics have been available to the public from the emergence of COVID-19. The variables looked at included prevalence of obesity among adults; diabetes; cancer; smoking; insufficient physical activity among adults aged 18-plus; high blood pressure; high total cholesterol among adults aged 25-plus; population aged 65 years or older; population ages 15-64; CO2 per capita emission; gross domestic product; and gross domestic income. For example, the reason for selecting CO2 emission is that particles in the air can carry the virus and expedite the spread. In some cases, those particles can help the durability of the virus even for a longer time, such as days, he says. As of the morning of April 23, there were nearly 2.65 million confirmed cases of the coronavirus worldwide and 184,643 deaths due to the pandemic, according to the report published by Johns Hopkins University. Persons can be exposed to the coronavirus through touching ones own face or contracting it from another through airborne measures, Tahmasebi says. He adds it also has been shown that someone who contracts the coronavirus and recovers can potentially get the virus again. The recovered cases will still have those unrecoverable symptoms of COVID-19 in their lungs and neural system, he says. However, as I mentioned, we tried to say that people with those other diseases and (certain) ages should take social distancing more seriously. Although the strength of the correlations between the variable and the total number of deaths may change as the ongoing pandemic evolves, and data become more transparent, the study highlights the importance of integrating regional-specific variables in the modeling efforts aimed at projecting how the spread of the virus may influence different parts of the world. Data for this study were provided by the World Health Organization, the World Bank and the Emission Database for Global Atmospheric Research of the European Commission. Couple were due to wed on May 29 but halted plans amid coronavirus pandemic Princess Beatrice has spoken of 'incredibly challenging times' as she made her first appearance since cancelling her wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi amid the coronavirus crisis. The Queen's granddaughter, 31, was set to wed the millionaire property tycoon, 37, at St James Palace on May 29, but the wedding was postponed earlier this month as the lockdown continues. Making her first public appearance since the news broke, Princess Beatrice shared a message of support with the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity, of which she is patron. In the clip, which was shared on the organisation's Twitter page, she urged followers to get in touch with the charity, explaining: 'This is an incredibly challenging time for the world and the United Kingdom.' Princess Beatrice, 31, spoke of the 'incredibly challenging times' facing the UK and the world as she made her first appearance since postponing her wedding to Edo, 36 The princess, who was diagnosed with dyslexia aged seven, has written about her struggles as a child, and how the support of her parents and the magic of stories helped her fall in love with reading. She became patron for the charity in 2013, and has spoken about the help she received from the centre during her years in school. Speaking in the video, which was released by the charity yesterday, Beatrice said: 'As patron of the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity, I just wanted to send this message to say the Helen Arkell charity is open for business. 'Yes, they are doing things online at the moment rather than face to face, but their incredible team of specialists is here to help whenever you need them. The video marks Princess Beatrice's first appearance in public since she postponed her May 29 wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi The royal added: 'Whether that is online courses, tuition sessions, or their online helpline, please get in touch. 'I would encourage you to look at their website and see what's available to you.' Beatrice, daughter of the Duke of York and Sarah, Duchess of York, was set to walk down the aisle in the Chapel Royal of St James's Palace in London. The princess was overjoyed after becoming engaged on a weekend trip to Italy last September, and the couple said they could not wait to be married. In the video clip shared by her patronage the Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity, Princess Beatrice urged people to reach out for resources But her nuptials were overshadowed by the scandal that has engulfed her father Andrew, with the date changing twice to accommodate the Queen's second son. The duke retired from public royal duties in November after his disastrous Newsnight interview about his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew has strenuously denied claims from Virginia Giuffre that he slept with her when she was 17 after she was trafficked by Epstein. As the granddaughter of a monarch, Beatrice would have been expected to wed in front of 800 guests in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, just like her sister Princess Eugenie, whose ceremony was televised and was followed by a carriage ride through the town. Princess Beatrice was due to marry Edo in a ceremony at the Chapel Royal in May, followed by a reception in the grounds of Buckingham Palace But, amid the controversy over her father, the princess opted for the more intimate, low-key option of the Chapel Royal and was due to invite 150 guests. Edo's son, Wolfie, from his relationship with architect Dara Huang, was set to be in the wedding party, alongside Eugenie as chief Bridesmaid. The Queen was to host the private reception in the grounds of her London residence. But plans were changed after the Government called on all people in the UK, particularly the over-70s, to avoid all non-essential contact and travel as part of unprecedented peacetime measures aimed at controlling the spread of Covid-19. The royal's nuptials were overshadowed by the scandal that has engulfed her father Andrew, with the date changing twice to accommodate the Queen's second son The Queen, 93, and the 98-year-old Duke of Edinburgh are at Windsor Castle, where they are socially distancing themselves. And in April, Boris Johnson put a ban on weddings as the virus raged through the UK public. Sources confirmed the wedding had been postponed earlier this month, telling People that the invitations were never sent out, due to complications with the virus. " " A slew of startups see mushrooms as an environmental game-changer able to replace some plastics, be used in meatless meats, and even eat through waste. Santiago Urquijo/Getty Images In college, Eben Bayer grew mushrooms under his dorm room bed. The mechanical engineering student, who had grown up on a Vermont farm, was convinced the fungus was one of nature's most effective "technologies" and could be used to overhaul the way we make a range of everyday products. Thirteen years later, his New York-based company Ecovative Design produces over a million pounds per year of its compostable mushroom-based alternative to Styrofoam. And Bayer is turning his mind to the next product on his list: fake meat. Bayer believes mycelium the network of tissue that makes up the body of many fungi, a broad category that includes mushrooms could be a great, eco-friendly meat alternative. The fermented slabs can even be cut thin enough to make a "very compelling bacon." "We could do a thousand and one things with mycelium," Bayer says. Bayer is not alone in his belief in the magical power of mushrooms. Much of their appeal comes from the plethora of potential solutions they seem to offer to our many environmental problems. " " Mmm. Is that bacon? Actually it's not. It's an eco-friendly meat alternative made from mushrooms. Ecovative Advertisement Is Fungi a Game-Changer? There is now a slew of startups touting fungi as an environmental game-changer, able to make the construction industry greener, replace animal products in our food and clothes, and even clean up pollution and eat through waste. They say mycelium's unique structure and chemical properties, combined with the fact that mushrooms are easy to grow, found all over the world and consume almost anything, make them the ideal building block for a wide range of applications. NASA is even thinking about building homes from fungus on Mars. But while the buzz around fungus is getting louder, its impact on the ground is still relatively hard to spot. Mushroom-based leather, for example, has drawn attention as an alternative to animal skins, but is still limited to a tiny range of designers. And while mushroom-based materials, like the ones produced by Ecovative, have been talked up as a replacement for plastic for a decade, global plastic production is still booming (or at least was before the coronavirus pandemic). For Peter McCoy, the author of "Radical Mycology: A Treatise on Seeing and Working with Fungi," it's strange that it has taken so long for fungi to gain attention given their status in nature. As neither plants nor bacteria nor animals, they can do certain things in the environment none of those groups can do, says McCoy, who is also the founder of a grassroots group working to spread awareness about the fungi field. One unique function is that their threadlike tissue grows fast and in tight networks, lending itself to light and strong material suitable for a range of purposes. But perhaps even more important, McCoy says, is that they produce a cocktail of chemicals when digesting food or protecting themselves. "That chemical soup which will vary by species or even the environment they're in leads to a whole range of compounds that we don't find anywhere else in the natural world," says McCoy, pointing to penicillin as an example of the powerful substances they generate. "Fungi are nature's greatest chemists." Deepening insights into these powers, combined with technological advances particularly in genetics have led to an explosion of interest in how to apply fungi's "chemical mastery" to human systems, says McCoy. That encompasses products we might use, for example, to package goods, build houses and feed ourselves; and also processes that can help clean up our world, for example by breaking down environmental toxins and consuming plastic. "For the first time in human history, we understand and can work with these organisms to greater degrees than has ever been possible," he says. " " Mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus that consists of a mass of branching, thread-like hyphae and several startups are using it to create products like insulation. Kichigin/Shutterstock Advertisement Building Blocks With Mycelium Ehab Sayed, the founder of U.K. biotech startup Biohm, shares that view. Scientists in the company's London lab work to develop new strains of fungi by exposing batches to stimuli like differing light or humidity levels. In this process, known as directed evolution, the fungi rapidly evolve, for instance creating new enzymes, Sayed says. And when these adaptations look like they'll be useful to humans in some way, the team clones the fungi and develops them further. One product to come out of this process is a mushroom-based building insulation, made by feeding waste to mycelium. The company plans to launch it commercially this summer as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic insulation materials, which Biohm says are carbon-intensive to manufacture, hard to recycle and pose a risk to health by emitting volatile organic compounds into buildings. Biohm's insulation will be expensive when it launches at around $30 per square meter (compared to an industry average of around $15). But the material will be cost-effective, according to Sayed, since its thermal conductivity is lower than conventional insulation, meaning less is needed to achieve the same result. The company also expects the price to fall quickly as it scales Biohm is turning an old paper mill in southwest England into a vertical mushroom farm and plans to expand to the Netherlands and Portugal next year. Working with mushrooms has key commercial advantages, Sayed says most obviously their ability to thrive on waste. Raw materials are usually a manufacturer's main expense, but Biohm grows its mushrooms using other companies' byproducts, such as timber shavings and grass clippings, which it is paid to collect, creating a "double revenue stream." Yet despite such selling points, making a success of fungal products in the real world is not always straightforward. In 2016, furniture giant IKEA announced plans to replace plastic foam with Ecovative's mushroom packaging to great fanfare, but has since quietly dropped the scheme. The retailer said in an email to HuffPost that "it was not possible to scale production to make it viable at industry level." " " Evocative is using mushrooms to replace packaging for all kinds of products, like this wine bottle mailer. Evocative Advertisement Commercial Uses for Mushrooms Part of the challenge, says Bayer, is to focus on areas where mushroom-based products can add value and be cost competitive, rather than trying to use them for everything. Attempting to displace throwaway plastic-foam cups mass-produced on an epic scale and value-engineered to be extremely cheap is a nonstarter, for example: "It's a horrible application for our technology. [It's] never going to be competitive. So someone else has to solve the cup problem," he says. But even when they believe they have the right solution, some startups have found a lack of appetite for investing in new products and processes in incumbent industries. Life Cykel is an Australian company that started out growing gourmet mushrooms off of waste coffee grounds collected from local cafes and has since expanded into the health field, with a range of mushroom extracts that claim to boost immunity. Customers include elite athletes and bee farmers, who feed the extract directly to their bees. Company founder Julian Mitchell believes Life Cykel could also help tackle the problem of waste in the fashion industry. In small-scale trials, he says, the team has successfully used mushrooms to break down discarded clothing. But Mitchell says that scaling this to the point where it could have an impact would need much greater investment from clothing companies and commitment to solving their waste problem than is currently visible. "It comes down always to capital investment and are those companies prepared to invest in that or are they happy just to send it off to landfill?" Udeme John Dickson, an environmental scientist at Nottingham Trent University in the U.K., has observed a similar challenge in the area of mycoremediation the use of fungi to break down pollution in soil or other environments. The idea that the all-consuming hunger of fungi can be harnessed to clean up waste already polluting land and waterways has excited scientists for decades. But Dickson says the remediation industry has so far failed to invest in refining the method to the point it can be widely commercialized. Both Mitchell and Dickson would like to see higher levels of government intervention to incentivize corporate investment in fungi-based approaches such as higher taxes on dumping waste in landfill. But others believe a more radical restructuring of our global manufacturing industry one that takes power away from big companies may be required to create a world where mushroom-based products flourish. Rather than "locking down" knowledge and production in the hands of a few companies, says Alysia Garmulewicz, a professor of the circular economy at Chile's University of Santiago, it would be much better to have a global network of local producers, sharing recipes and making materials from locally abundant resources. This, says Garmulewicz who is also co-director of Materiom, a platform providing open data on materials made from renewable resources would accelerate the spread and use of more sustainable approaches. "I think that's a mindset shift that needs to happen. Rather than thinking, this is going to be the next thing that takes us to a huge scale commercially, and we'll create this massive plant that's going to produce it for everybody, we need to think about disseminating the knowledge so that people in many locations can start making it," Garmulewicz says. It's a massive leap from where we are today, but the approach of some startups suggests they are beginning to think along these lines. Rather than setting up its own production facilities overseas, Ecovative, for example, is training others and licensing them to produce mushroom packaging themselves. "Ecovative isn't a company that can go set up a factory in France and hire French packaging salespeople we don't understand the culture, we don't understand the distribution, the supply chain, the language," Bayer says. "So what we're seeing is smaller, entrepreneurial packaging companies who come to us and are setting up those sites. I feel like we're on the cusp of an explosion of this." McCoy meanwhile says communities can start getting benefits from fungi without waiting for the market to develop fully. Grassroots groups, for example, could get together and work out how best to use mushrooms to clean up local pollution spots. He has started an online mycology school to help boost public awareness and bring fungi in from the fringe. The more we talk about fungus and normalize it, the better, says McCoy "the more we say, 'Hey there, they're critical to the environment, they're fascinating historically and culturally. They're not weird.'" This story originally appeared in HuffPost and is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story. T he whole world is waiting for a vaccine. It is the ultimate weapon against Covid-19, according to Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases in the US. Today there is some progress. The first British human trials are beginning, on a drug created by scientists at Oxford University. They were inundated with offers of volunteers willing to be guinea pigs. Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, says he is throwing everything at attempts to develop an inoculation; before the Government can end lockdown confidently we need to know we are protected. This week, Hancock announced 20 million in funding for Oxfords trials and 22.5 million for another vaccine project at Imperial College London. For scientists like Juan Andres, who is in charge of manufacturing a vaccine at biotech company Modernas lab in Massachusetts, it feels as if they are in a race. Pride is at stake. Scientists say with a smile that the spotlight on their work means theyve never been held in such high regard their children finally think their jobs are cool. Focused: Dr Anthony Fauci says a vaccine is the ultimate weapon / AP Creating a vaccine could be the success story of Covid and change the way labs work beyond this, says Dr Andrew Preston, reader in microbial pathogenesis at the University of Bath. Billions of pounds are being invested in research and discussions are being had at a high level about how our laboratories can work more effectively. Yet as the Governments chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance says, it might still be a long shot to develop a vaccine. So what do you need to know? The science At least 78 vaccine candidates are being worked on around the world, using at least eight different techniques. As well as Oxfords, four others are at the human trials stage: two in both China and the United States. There is an element of thinking if we throw enough mud hopefully some will stick, says Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading. While there is a lot of will to speed up the path to a successful vaccine, there are certain factors that cant be accelerated. Donald Trump might have pledged to slash red tape like nobody has ever done it before, but there is no way to get around the fact that clinical trials take six months and a vaccine has to go through three phases of tests to ensure it is safe and doesnt end up actually spreading the virus. It usually takes at least two years to make a new vaccine. Yet the process is being fast-tracked as much as possible, with plans to manufacture a successful one on a mass scale already under way. Scientists are thinking in new ways, says Preston. Much of the lab work is possible because of measures taken after the Ebola outbreak in 2014, which led to the creation of the UK Vaccine Network to co-ordinate work on vaccines for new infectious diseases what at the time was dubbed Disease X and Covid-19 fits this profile. All attempts at a vaccine start by looking at the genetic sequence of Sars-Cov-2, which causes Covid-19. It was published in January by Chinese scientists. The aim is to take a part of its genetic code which is less likely to be able to mutate and try to transport it into the cells of the person being vaccinated. There are different techniques for making the genetic code and for introducing it into the body. The first vaccines were developed in 16th-century China and are thought to have involved smallpox scabs being blown into the nose to provoke an immune response without risking infecting the person with the whole disease. Many vaccines, like the Oxford one, use inactivated or weakened versions of the virus. Oxfords is called a recombinant viral vector vaccine. It first puts the genetic code of a section of the Covid-19 virus into a different, harmless chimpanzee virus. A human is injected with that, provoking an immune response. Antibodies created from this should be able to fight Covid-19. Others, like the treatment at Moderna which is already being tested on humans, use a new type of vaccine called RNA. It works with a synthetic version of the virus. This could be cheaper, safer and more efficient. Vaccines used for Sars, also a type of coronavirus, could also work. US-based company Novavax is trying this. One concern is that the virus will mutate, changing its genetic code to become immune to a vaccine. Vaccine development has a high failure rate, says Preston. We dont yet have a vaccine for the common cold, which has coronaviruses in it. But we are in a better place than we could be. He says this is partly thanks to the independent non-profit Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), created in 2016 and based in Norway. The UK has eight Public Health England labs, as well as hospital labs. This is comparatively small Germany has 60. The money Money is no object. The Government has invested more than 20 million in six coronavirus research projects, and given 250 million to CEPI. Bill and Melinda Gates have donated $250 million towards treatment and a vaccine, much of it to be managed by CEPI, and Twitter founder Jack Dorsey has donated $1 billion to Covid-19 relief. These figures may sound enormous, but CEPI says developing vaccines as quickly as possible will cost $2 billion over the next 12 to 18 months, and then a new facility may be needed to store it. Sarah Gilbert, who is leading Oxfords research, has said that while their vaccine has an 80 per cent chance of succeeding soon, the UK may not have the facilities to manufacture and store it. New alliances are forming and companies that were previously competitors, such as GlaxoSmithKline and French company Sanofi, are teaming up to maximise capacity to manufacture. The chief executive of Sanofi, has said: No company can go it alone. Some of the money will be wasted, thats inevitable, says Clarke. But so what if its not terribly efficient? We dont have time to spend worrying about the best options. Any money lost needs to be set against economic damage from this pandemic. The attitude is lets do it and sort out money later, adds Preston. Many labs dont make a profit so couldnt risk getting into debt on vaccine projects without financial support. CEPI is concerned about access. A spokesperson said: With swine flu in 2009 the wealthiest countries monetised vaccine supplies. But governments do seem to realise that, for now, profit must be put to one side. There is consensus on the ethics, says Clarke. There will be serious political pressure if anyone is held to ransom. The pharma lobby might find it difficult. The teams Wahlburgers will start delivering coronavirus frontline workers meals starting today. Dorchester native Mark Wahlberg, actor and co-owner, said they want to give back to the heroes battling COVID-19 by providing them with warm meals. They will begin at Boston Fire Department in Allston at 11:30 a.m., and continue to deliver 2,000 meals to 32 fire stations, 11 police stations and three state police barracks. On Friday, the restaurant plans to start bringing food to staff at Carney Hospital, The Boston Home and UPS employees at the companys Norwood Facility. Next week, 100 meals will be delivered to Brigham & Womens Faulkner Hospital and 200 meals will be delivered to Beth Israel Deaconess and Mass General Hospital. It will also provide meals to the UMass Memorial Medical Center Covid-19 Testing Lab in Worcester and Worcester area firefighters, police, and EMS workers using its Wahlburgers Food Truck at Worcester Fire HQ. In March, Wahlberg also provided employees at Beaumont Hospital in Michigan lunch using his food truck, The Detroit News reported. This is part of the Wahlburgers #WhateverYouNeed campaign, a press release stated. And it will be the first of a multi-city initiative dedicated to supporting frontline workers in the communities they serve. Not being able to be fully operational these past several weeks has been heartbreaking for our entire organization, said Wahlberg. But that hasnt stopped our commitment to supporting the communities we serve however we can. Related Content: Draft constitutional reforms will be presented next year, said Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan amending the decision of February 12 to establish an expert commission on constitutional reforms, its personnel as well as approve the work procedure. The deadline for the development of the concept of constitutional reforms, which should be submitted for public discussion and submitted to the PMs office three months after the creation of the commission, has been extended until December 31. Also, the deadline for submitting a draft constitutional reform to the PMs office was extended until June 30, 2021. It should have been presented on September 1, 2020. In an effort to fight off fraudulent or misleading online ads, Google will require that all advertisers across its sprawling network prove who they are and where they operate, the company said in a blog post on Thursday. The names of the companies or people behind ads, as well as their countries of origin, will begin appearing on Google ads this summer, starting with several thousand advertisers a month in the United States before expanding worldwide. The measure, which could take years to implement, is designed as a defense against businesses and individuals who misrepresent themselves in paid online promotions, Google said. The move comes as Google tries to tamp down misinformation and scams related to the coronavirus pandemic. It expands a 2018 verification policy focused on political advertisers serving election ads. Broadening the policy will help support the health of the digital advertising ecosystem by detecting bad actors and limiting their attempts to misrepresent themselves, wrote John Canfield, who handles ad integrity for Google, in the blog post. Leimert Park Fire Damages Historic Vision Theatre During the early morning hours on Tuesday April 21, firefighters from the Los Angeles Fire Department extinguished flames that damaged part of the historic Vision Theatre located in Leimert Park. Firefighters extinguished the fire in about 25 minutes. The first reports of the fire came in around 4:35 a.m. on Tuesday. There were no reported injuries and the cause of the fire is still under investigation. In an interview with the Los Angeles Sentinel, City Council President Emeritus Herb Wesson hinted that a houseless or a homeless individual may have started the fire but nothing was confirmed as of press time. The fire department referred to it as a rubbish fire, said Wesson. Reports are that there are some kind of barbeque pit or some type of fire that was started by the individual that was staying right next to it (Vision Theatre). And its my understanding that authorities are trying to find him to have a conversation with him. ADVERTISEMENT The theater has been undergoing a years-long, multi-phase renovation. Wesson said the most important thing is that the fire did not delay the timeline of the scheduled reopening of the Vision Theatre. An exact date has not been set but the councilman said he is hopeful the revitalization project will stay on course for reopening at end of the calendar year. Were fortunate that the Vision Theatre basically escaped what could have been a catastrophe, said Wesson. When I was initially informed, my heart stopped because we had been working on this project for so long. In fact, the past three council people have been working on this project and now we can see the finish line. So, when I heard the news and saw some of the film, it was devastating. Reports are that the damage was done to the west portion of the marquee of the theatre and there may have been a small amount of smoke that entered the facility but initial investigation is that the structure and roof look to be sturdy and intact. The owners of the property adjacent to the Vision Theatre have boarded up that facility and this week the city sanitized and hosed down the theatre and surrounding areas affected by the flames. The venue opened as a cinema venue in 1931 under the name Leimert Park Theatre. It was purchased in 1990 by legendary actress Marla Gibbs, who gave it the Vision name. The city eventually took over the theater and turned it into a performing arts center. Marla Gibbs is a treasure to the community and her forethought to invest and create the Vision Theatre in the heart of the Black community will always be cherished and celebrated, said Danny J. Bakewell, Sr., executive publisher of the Los Angeles Sentinel and L.A. Watts Times Newspaper. She developed a creative space for African Americans to be proud of and showcase our talents. With the leadership of Council President Emeritus Herb Wesson, the Vision Theatre will continue to live and thrive for generations to come. Ben Caldwell, who runs the Leimert Park Art Walk and manages the Kaos Network, a for-profit community media lab next door to the Vision, assessed the damage. The damage on the property was mostly due to the homeless encampment that caught on fire. So, the box-wall that faced the vision theater burned down and the wall that faced the encampment burned down, Caldwell said in a social distanced interview. He says there may have been fires on the roof. I just hate to see that happen to my friends, there. ADVERTISEMENT Caldwell says he appreciated watching the people come together during a hectic time. It showed a community working together; we see how fast we were able to stop the fire, he said. There are elements in the community during these hard times that are hard to work with because of the cycle of social trauma, but I think this is a good wake-up call for us all to see what we can do about taking care of emergency things. Mr Joe Ghartey, the Minister of Railways Development, has donated relief items to some chiefs in the Greater Accra and Volta regions as part of efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The items include veronica buckets, small-size basins, gallons of liquid soap and detergents, alcohol-based hand sanitizers, bags of rice and gallons of cooking oil. The Minister also donated to the North Tongu District Assembly in the Volta Region; the Shai-Osudoku District Assembly, Ningo-Prampram District Assembly, and Kpone Katamanso Municipal Assembly (KKMA) all in the Greater Accra Region. The Minister, accompanied by Mr Kwaku Agyenim Boateng, a Deputy Minister, donated to the chiefs at their various traditional areas, during his second-leg tour of traditional areas along the eastern railway line; which is currently under construction. The eastern railway line runs from Tema in the Greater Accra Region through Krobo in the Eastern Region and crosses over the Volta River to Juapong in the Volta Region and then to Mpakadan in the Eastern Region. It would be recalled that early this month, the Eastern Region recorded its first case of COVID-19 in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality, when the patient, who is an Indian working with the company constructing the Tema-Mpakadan railway line, returned to Ghana after a visit to his home country. So far, the number of COVID-19 cases within the Region along the Tema-Mpakadan railway enclave has risen above 20, of which all have been quarantined at AFCON Camp B at Kpong in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality. Mr Ghartey, who first paid a courtesy call on the Manklalo of the Dorfor Traditional Area, Togbe Agbohla VI at Juapong, was met on his arrival by Pastor Johnson Aveletey, the Deputy Volta Regional Minister. In the Greater Accra Region, Mr Ghartey and his entourage were received by Mrs Elizabeth Sackey, the Deputy Regional Minister. The chiefs on whom Mr Ghartey called in the Greater Accra Region include Aadegbor Ngmogmowuyaa Kwesi Animle VI, Osudoku Mantse/President, Osudoku Traditional Council; and Nene Nonor Sodje V, Divisional Chief, Shai Traditional Council at Asutsure and Dodowa respectively. At the Ningo-Prampram District Assembly, the Minister met with Nene Tetteh Afutu Nartey III, Chief of Afienya, and Elder Geoffrey Tetteh Nartey, representative of the Chief of Ablekuma. He also met with Nii Tetteh Otu, Kpone Paramount Chief, at the Kpone Katamanso Municipal Assembly, and Nii Tetteh Oglie II, Chief of Saki. Mr Ghartey said the donation was the Ministrys small contribution towards containing the COVID-19 pandemic in the country and appealed to the traditional authorities to help educate the people on the disease. He urged Ghanaians to follow the preventive protocols such as social distancing, frequent hand washing with soap under running water, the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers and the wearing of facemasks. With regards to the construction works on the Tema-Mpakadan railway line, the Minister said due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 in one of the camps of the workers, work had been suspended. He said owing to the unfortunate situation, the scheduled deadline for the completion of the project in August, this year, would not be met. All the chiefs expressed their gratitude to MR Ghartey for the kind gesture and pledged their absolute support for the eastern railway construction project. The Osudoku Mantse lauded the Presidents efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and appealed to the Government for the rehabilitation of roads within his traditional area. Pastor Aveletey, who said the COVID-19 pandemic was a humbling experience for humanity, appealed to Ghanaians to fear God and uphold righteousness. Mr Richard Collins Arku, the District Chief Executive (DCE), North Tongu District Assembly; Mr Daniel Teye Akuffo, DCE, Shai-Osudoku District Assembly; Mr Jonathan Paa Nii Doku, DCE, Ningo-Prampram District Assembly; and Mr Solomon Tetteh Appiah, Municipal Chief Executive, KKMA, all expressed their gratitude to Mr Ghartey for the timely support. 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 Veteran Belfast councillor Jim Rodgers has called for a one-way system to be introduced in Ormeau Park after he received complaints about cyclists' behaviour. Mr Rodgers said there are "major problems with people on bikes taking control of the pathways" in the popular south Belfast park and "people out walking have been complaining bitterly". "I'm calling for the council to seriously consider having a one-way traffic system introduced," he said. "Cyclists must ride more carefully and give consideration to others. "They're riding alongside each other, ringing their bells and pumping their horns so lots of people are getting fed up with it because they can't walk through the park in peace." He added: "We need to look at this and see what can be done about it." A council spokeswoman said it is currently trying out a one-way system in Victoria Park with a view to extending the scheme to other locations. "Based on outcomes, we may explore how this might work in other parks. However, this will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, as each park would require separate review due to individual logistical considerations, such as number of pedestrian gates and the size of the area," she said. The Narendra Modi regimes bold new policy for foreign direct investment (FDI) from border sharing countries is now in force legally. The new law came into effect post a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) notification which was released late night on April 22. The government had announced its intentions a few days earlier via Press Note 3 of 2020, which had raised many eyebrows, as it mandated prior government approvals for FDI from Indias neighbours such as Pakistan, China and Bangladesh. Interestingly, the policy added that such an approval would also be required for deals where the beneficial or the ultimate owner of the investment, whether directly or indirectly, is from these neighbouring countries. Apart from investments in specific sectors, government nod was required only for investments originating from Pakistan and Bangladesh. Post investment by the Peoples Bank of China in domestic financial powerhouse HDFC, it wouldnt be naive to believe that through this revised policy, the government is keen to scrutinise capital flows from China into India and exercise discretion where deemed fit. Through this pre-emptive move, the government also wants to avoid predatory behaviour by companies or investors from bordering nations, especially China, who would be eyeing Indian targets, which are struggling at cheaper valuations after the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic. To track all live updates from the coronavirus pandemic, click here Not surprisingly, there was an immediate debate in the M&A advisory world on the timing of the move and its impact on fund raising abilities of Indian companies. More so, because the sudden step by the government was applicable to all sectors and not the traditionally sensitive ones like pharma, banking, defence and others. In the past few years, sectors like early stage tech, consumer internet manufacturing, renewable energy and auto have seen heightened interest from the land of the dragon. Also read: FDI policy change: While taming the dragon, India might be harming its baby elephants The Press Note 3 of 2020 also did not differentiate between majority and minority investments. Moreover, there were big question marks regarding the specific parameters based on which investors would fall within the purview of the law or be excluded. Thus, there was an opportunity to address multiple concerns in the fine print of the eagerly awaited FEMA notification. But key stakeholders, including M&A lawyers and investment bankers, are sorely disappointed and say the FEMA notification has not moved ahead substantially on the burning issue and still lacks key clarifications and a robust methodology. Revathy Muralidharan, Partner at Indus Law, who works with private equity funds, feels the wording of the FEMA notification is ambiguous and poses more questions than answers. What constitutes beneficial ownership lies at the heart of the matter. A threshold percentage or a test of control are possible yardsticks which can be used to determine beneficial ownership. The term has not yet been defined in the context of this new law and the government will need to clarify this as soon as possible, she adds. To be sure, beneficial ownership has been defined under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Companies Act, but the governments FEMA notification does not offer guidance on which one to follow. Dealmakers fear that a whole bunch of transactions may unnecessarily come under the purview of the new law leading to inordinate delays. Given that the Chinese have invested all over the world, in many cases as passive financial investors, this could effectively scale down the automatic route for FDI and subject many investments, particularly those by global funds that may have Chinese limited partners holding a minor investment, to government approval. The experience with government approvals for foreign investment, post closure of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), has been a time consuming exercise with approvals taking 6-12 months, says Ashwath Rau, Senior Partner, AZB & Partners. Rau believes the right balance between addressing the governments concerns and ensuring that FDI is not prejudiced can be achieved by adopting the definition of beneficial owner under PMLA. He added that the formation of a body like FIPB is critical to fast-track government approvals in such cases. Under rule 9(1A) of the PMLA, 2005, the term beneficial owner has been defined as: the natural person who ultimately owns or controls a client and/or the person on whose behalf the transaction is being conducted, and includes a person who exercises ultimate effective control over a juridical person. Raghubir Menon, Regional Practice Head, Mumbai (M&A & PE) at Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, highlighted the potential impact on existing minority Chinese investments in Indian companies, which are exploring further downstream acquisitions. Many Indian unicorns and tech startups have minority Chinese investments. The rules should not be interpreted as implying that such Indian entities are prohibited from undertaking M&A or investments in their ordinary course, while driving their own internal growth strategies, he warned. Another topic of uncertainty is the status of investors from Hong Kong, which is governed under the principle of one country, two systems. According to an earlier regulatory update by Khaitan & Co, The volume of applications from Chinese investors seeking the governments approval is expected to rise exponentially, which could increase timelines for transactions in this corridor, apart from adding the obvious new layer of regulatory uncertainty. While investments from China are subject to the requirements of the new Press Note, it does not fully clarify the status of investments from Hong Kong, which is a special administrative region. Based on official FDI data available on the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trades (DIPP) website, between April 2000 and December 2019, capital inflows from China stood at $2.3 billion while $4.2 billion came in from Hong Kong. One factor that needs to be kept in mind is that in many cases investments from China are routed through multiple, tax friendly jurisdictions like Singapore and Hong Kong. Interestingly, Singapore is Indias second largest source of FDI after Mauritius. Experts feel there are scenarios other than plain-vanilla FDI investments, which may also prove to be tricky. You need clarity on situations where Chinese investors are exercising pre-existing warrants or participating in rights issues of Indian companies to maintain their existing shareholding, Sudip Mahapatra, Partner at S&R Associates, said. The PBOC-HDFC example is not an isolated one. Globally, Chinese investors are on a buying spree and are beefing up their positions in the public equity markets in the US and Western Europe, much to the chagrin of local market participants in these regions. Back home, investment bankers closely tracking the Indo-China corridor believe a balancing act needs to be pulled off here. Karan Sharma, Executive Director and Co-Head of Digital & Tech Investment Banking at Avendus Capital, is one of them. Though the government has been sensitive as well as strategic regarding the protection of interests in Indian firms, it cant ignore the fact that Indian internet and tech companies are key generators of employment and overall economic push and would like to access global capital pools, including China. Business is getting back to usual in China and there is increased interest among Chinese investors, including strategic players and family offices, to diversify their portfolios towards India. The recent regulations will certainly extend timelines for deal approvals and mean higher information disclosure for potential investors. We expect the government to possibly continue this for a brief period , gradually ease it off as the Indian markets open up and limit such approvals to a few critical sectors, says Sharma. For instance, The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has adopted a sector-specific approach. In an interview to CNBC TV-18 , Amitabh Kant, CEO of government think tank NITI Aayog said the relevant notification from the government does not even mention China and added that Chinese investments were welcome. But Deal Street is clearly not convinced and its feedback is loud and clear. Over to the Finance Ministry and the Reserve Bank of India, which administers FEMA. Gujarats confirmed cases have tripled in a week. On 15th April, the state had 766 cases, and by the 22nd, there were 2,407 cases. According to the latest press briefing by the Health Ministry, 1,409 new cases and 388 recoveries were reported across the country in the last 24 hours. The total number of cases has risen to 21,700, with 4,324 cumulatively recovered. The health ministry also added that over five lakh tests have been conducted so far and that testing capacity has been increased 22 times since the lockdown began. Gujarat sees a surge in cases and deaths Gujarats confirmed cases have tripled in a week. On 15th April, the state had 766 cases, and by the 22nd, there were 2,407 cases. Similarly, deaths have multiplied as well; from 36 on the 15th to 103 by yesterday. The state is now second only to Maharashtra which has 5,649 cases and 270 deaths. Ahmedabad has the most cases within the state at 1,298, followed by Surat and Vadodara with 338 and 188 cases respectively. In more encouraging news, not one of the seven states in the Northeast has reported a case in the last five days. Private labs picking up; Maharashtra now has a majority of tests done in private facilities In Maharashtra, private labs conducted more than double the number of tests compared to government laboratories on Tuesday, and of the cumulative 41,794 tests in the state, 50.78% have been conducted in private labs. The surge in private lab tests has been attributed to widening the net of those who can get tested. Physicians are also recommending the test to asymptomatic people as the state fights to contain the virus. The Supreme Court ruling that dictated free tests for all in private labs initially reduced the capacity of the private sector as it came to terms with the decision. However, after the SC amended the ruling to include only Ayushman Bharat holders in its ambit, private labs jumped back into action. Over the last seven days, private labs conducted over 3,100 tests daily on average, whereas government labs conducted just over 2,100. Private sector contribution in Delhi is modest in comparison, with around 25% of the tests being conducted in private labs. Centre tells Maharashtra authorities to step up response in Dharavi Mumbais Dharavi, Asias largest slum, reported nine new cases today taking the total there to 189. The area is spread over two square kilometres and is home to over 8.5 lakh people - the fear is that an outbreak there could be catastrophic. An inter-ministerial central team (IMCT) that was sent to the area has told BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) to step up quarantine facilities from 1,000 to 3,000 beds. Further, local authorities have also been told to step up contact tracing in the area. So far, 680 people have been placed in institutional quarantine, of whom 210 have been released. For more information, read our article on When is an area considered a hot spot? 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. Queensland authorities have pointed to the strict social distancing restrictions put in place early in the pandemic, as the reason for the falling number of new cases. However, while there has been economic pain associated with the restrictions, there has also been emotional hardship. Lifeline, a crisis support and suicide prevention service, has been hit by "demand through the roof" during the novel coronavirus pandemic with 24,000 calls per week across the country. March saw the highest monthly total of calls in the organisations 56-year history. These numbers prompted Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to give the charity $3.5 million in state government funding to ensure they can answer as many calls from Queenslanders as possible. Lifeline spokesman Brent McCracken says the charity's op-shops have closed due to COVID-19 limits, as the support service experienced the highest number of monthly calls in 56 years during March. "Many are facing circumstances they could never have envisaged theyd be in," he said. "Many are feeling their life is becoming worthless." The charity has answered about 90 per cent of calls across the country, but they cannot predict high-demand periods, with 3000 calls coming in on Good Friday - which was the busiest day during the crisis. State Health Minister Steven Miles says Queensland paramedics have recorded a 12-15 per cent increase in cases related to depression, anxiety, suicide or self-harm. Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said even though there had only been eight positive tests in the past four days there was still no plan to relax social distancing measures. "The restrictions that are in place at the moment are onerous. I dont underestimate what it means for individuals, for families and communities to follow these restrictions, but we know theyve got to remain in place," Dr Young said. "We know we could rapidly unravel were we to change what we are doing in a way that didnt continue to maintain those restrictions." One restriction that has been relaxed is the number of people at funerals, which Dr Young announced on Thursday would be lifted from 10 to 20 people. Loading Dr Young has already granted a number of exemptions to funerals with more than 10 people, and said she had been encouraged to see there has not been major outbreaks or case spikes as a result. "We saw in South Korea, that [funerals] were actually one of the major drivers of their cases," she said. "[However], you can go and contact [trace] 20 people very quickly and manage it." The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in St. Francois County rose by two again, bringing the total to 26 on Wednesday. Three of the four new cases this week are associated with the Festus Manor situation, according to SFC Health Center Director Amber Elliott. The Jefferson County nursing home confirmed that 62 residents and 20 employees have tested positive for the virus. So thats something that is important to know, Elliott said. So we are able to mark those as being contacts to other confirmed cases. The latest case that we got, we are still investigating. The first COVID-related death was reported in Washington County on Wednesday. The county has seven confirmed cases. With much sadness and sympathy, the Washington County Health Department today is reporting the first death of a Washington County resident due to COVID-19, the health department said in a statement. The resident was a female in her 20s. The case was not travel-related. No one is currently hospitalized in St. Francois County with the virus and 21 of the cases have recovered, according to Elliott. The health center is aware of 363 residents that have been tested. We expect to see more cases, Elliott said. The concern is that as these orders relax, and they need to relax, we need to start reviving our economy. But were going to have to be really careful about how we do that. "Things are going to look different for a while. They already look different. We dont want to see a huge increase in cases to the point where we overwhelm the healthcare system and we end up right back where we started and need to go back to stay-at-home orders. Elliott said the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has told health departments that it has a panel of experts working on a plan for recovery right now. She thinks it will be released later this week or early next week. We havent heard exactly how thats going to come from the state level, Elliott added, whether thats going to be more of an executive order or whether its going to be just general guidance. "Now, I think that we can expect that the metro areas like St. Louis, Kansas City, those places are going to have different regulations, as they should. The transmission there is different there as it is here. She has been talking to Presiding Commissioner Harold Gallaher for the past couple of weeks about the countys plan for recovery. I think we need to use evidence-based resources to move forward, Elliott added. While there has been a lot of protest lately nationwide against the stay-at-home orders, Elliott said the orders have been effective. Nobody wants to be under these stay-at-home orders, Elliott said. Its not ideal for any one person. But it is what was necessary to prevent transmission and its worked across the country. 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. The Medical Guild says three of its members at Alimosho General Hospital and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, have tested positive for COVID-19. Chairman and Secretary of the guild respectively, Oluwajimi Sodipo and Ismail Ajibowo, made this known on Thursday in Lagos on the Instagram account of the guild. Medical Guild is an umbrella body of doctors under the employment of the Lagos State Government. Messrs Sodipo and Ajibowo said the three doctors had been admitted at different isolation facilities in Lagos for treatment. They said the medical conditions of their three members were stable, and were enjoying the support of the guild. The guild leaders also said that the doctors at Alimosho General Hospital, Ikorodu General Hospital, Lagos General Hospital and Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) had been exposed to COVID-19 cases. Since the incident, we have been working with our representatives in those centres, and the Medical Directors of the facilities to ensure testing of those involved. This is with a plan for care in the unfortunate incident of positive cases, they said. The guild leaders said they would engage the state government on the need to designate all doctors as the frontline workers, provide them with adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and incentives due to risks they were exposed to. They expressed optimism that the engagement with the government would be favourable. The leaders warned medical doctors against attending to patients without adequate PPE, due to the community transmission and varying symptoms of COVID-19, stressing that all patients were COVID-19 suspects. We should also adopt rational use of PPEs, while adopting the slogan of No PPE, No work, Messrs Sodipo and Ajibowo said. They expressed the guilds appreciation for the enormous sacrifice and efforts that members were making in the fight against COVID-19. This is in spite of the serious risk to every one of us, and most especially our families and the loved ones, the guild leaders said. They said regular updates will be made to members, appealing that unity of purpose was needed in handling the present situation and urged members to stay safe in the course of their duties. (NAN) - Governor Bello of Niger state has announced the lockdown of the state in a bid to contain the coronavirus pandemic in the state - The governor's action follows the confirmation of the state's first COVID-19 case on Friday - The lockdown comes into effect from Monday, April 13, just as all the religious activities in the state remain suspended Governor Abubakar Bello has declared the total lockdown of Niger state from Monday, April 13, in a bid to contain the coronavirus pandemic in the state. The Nation reports that Governor Bello also stated that all religious activities in the state should remain suspended until further notice. Legit.ng notes that the announcement of the lockdown follows the confirmation of the state's first COVID-19 case on Friday, April 10. Governor Bello locks down Niger over COVID-19 Source: UGC The state's index case came from Limawa Area in Minna, according to Niger state's commissioner of health, Dr Muhammad Maikusidi. Governor Bello has also reportedly directed the state's COVID-19 taskforce to isolate the area for 14 days. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! Meanwhile, the federal government has hinted that it may extend the lockdown in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun state to prevent the spread of coronavirus pandemic in the country. This emerged a few days to the end of the current 14 days of coronavirus lockdown. Legit.ng gathered that the chairman of the task force and secretary to the government of the federation, Boss Mustapha, that with what is happening in other countries, it could be easily deduced what the decision of the president would be on the lockdown. Mustapha said the team had briefed President Muhammadu Buhari on the assessment of the nations response so far, adding that more evaluation of the process continues. Similarly, the director-general of the Progressives Governors Forum, Salihu Mohammed Lukman, has called on the federal government to extend the COVID-19 lockdown nationwide. Appraising the success of the two weeks lockdown at the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Ogun states by President Buhari, Lukman expressed disappointment over the attitude of certain state governors. According to him, a national lockdown was necessary for the country not to throw away the gains achieved by its proactive measure of the last two weeks. In a statement sent to journalists on Saturday, April 11, the APC chieftain also expressed concern over the perceived distrust by the National Assembly towards federal agencies and committees saddled with the task of mitigating the effect of the lockdown announced by President Buhari. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better Coronavirus: Legit tv visits Lagos Isolation centre | - on Legit TV Source: Legit.ng In a major breakthrough, five United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) hardcore cadres has been apprehended by the Indian Army in a joint operation with Assam Police. There was an intelligence input about the presence of the heavily armed cadres, having infiltrated through the Indo-Myanmar Border, with an aim to reach Upper Assam and suspected to have come with an intention to target the security forces. "Based on intelligence inputs by the Indian Army and Charaideo Police which we were following for last one week, significant operational success has been achieved recently," Indian Army said in a statement to media. After receiving a specific input about the presence of few cadres in the Charaideo District, Army and police columns launched an operation to negate their nefarious design. The sustained and intense presence extended by the security forces with relentless operation prevented these cadres from getting in touch with their overground workers (OGW) and execute their task. In the operation, they were apprehended from Tairai village in Assam while trying to run away out. All the detained ULFA cadre revealed that they were also involved in recruiting new members for these areas. Seven minor boys were also rescued from the clutches of the rebels and reunited with there families. "Army and Assam Police busted a major recruitment racket of the banned rebel group ULFA (I) and apprehended four cadres along with six Over Ground Workers after two days of intensive operation in six districts of Upper Assam to include Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia," said Army. The insurgents were armed with three assault RIF MQ 81 with eight magazines and approx 323 live rounds as also 2 X Pistols and cache of explosives and warlike stores. These operations have further led to keeping our area of responsibility in Upper Assam incident-free and peaceful. Coronavirus Latest News Live updates: Day after announcing to bring an ordinance to end violence against health workers working during the coronavirus pandemic, Union Information & Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar today said the Centre wanted to facilitate "doctors, nurses, sanitation workers, police, bank and government employees", who were working very hard during COVID-19. He said attacks on frontline workers would not be tolerated. Meanwhile, The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in India have jumped to 21,700 and the death toll touched 686. Also Read: Delhi coronavirus: Hotspots rise to 89; check out complete list here Also Read: Coronavirus in India: 41 deaths in 24 hours as cases surge to 21,393 Also Read: Coronavirus in India: COVID-19 cases set to cross 20,000; check state-wise tally, deaths, list of testing facilities Follow BusinessToday.in for live updates on coronavirus in India and world: 10.10 PM: Dietician at Delhi hospital tests COVID-19 positive, mess temporarily shut A dietician associated with the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital mess has tested positive for coronavirus. The mess has been temporarily closed. 10.01 PM: Corona death: 75-year-old dies in Karanataka A 75-year-old woman from Bantwal passed away due to coronavirus today at Wenlok District Hospital in Dakshina Kannada, informed Karnataka Health Department. She had a history of hypertension, stroke and pneumonia. 9.44 pm: COVID-19 updates: Wadhawans sent into home quarantine A Satara court in Maharashtra has sent DHFL promoters Kapil and Dheeraj Wadhawan as well as 21 other members of their family into home quarantine till May 3 at their Mahabaleshwar farmhouse. Their insitutional quarantine got over yesterday, but the court ordered them to stay in Satara for now. 9.40 PM: Coronavirus in Rajasthan Rajasthan saw 76 new coronavirus cases today, reported State Health Department. This takes the total number of corona cases in the state to 1,964. 9.33 PM: Uttar Pradesh coronavirus cases Uttar Pradesh registered 61 new COVID-19 cases by 7PM today, informed State Health Department. The total number of novel coronavirus cases in the state now stands at 1,510, with 1,280 active cases, 206 discharged patients and 24 deaths. 9.14 PM: Coronavirus cases in Mumbai: COVID-19 cases cross 4,000-mark Number of COVID-19 cases in Mumbai have crossed 4,025, after 552 new cases coming to light. This has taken the tally of corona cases in Maharashtra to 6,427. 8.58 PM: Delhi COVID-19 hotspots: 3 more containment zones identified Delhi government has added three more areas to the list of containment zones, taking their total number to 92. Samshi Talab in Mehrauli including A-3 Lake view apartment, Gali number 1 band of Raj Nagar 2 in Dwarka, and house number 15 to 101 in Dayanand Vihar are the latest additions to the list of hotspots in Delhi. Samshi Talab in Mehrauli including A-3 Lake view apartment, gali number 1 band of Raj Nagar 2 in Dwarka & house number 15 to 101 in Dayanand Vihar have been identified as a containment zone, taking total number of the containment zones to 92: Government of NCT of Delhi pic.twitter.com/jRg72ty1ll ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 8.23 PM: Kerala traces, tests all Tablighi Jamaat attendees, says CM Vijayan Keralal CM Pinarayi Vijayan said that all denizens of Kerala who attended the Tablighi Jamaat event in Delhi have been traced and tested. I am particularly mentioning this because there is a conscious attempt to spread rumours about it, Vijayan added. 8.18 PM: Centre clears misinterpretations of corona lockdown guidelines In a letter to chief secretaries of all states, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla clarified "some apprehensions, based on wrong interpretation of the guidelines, raised in media and by some companies having manufacturing facilities". He clarified, among other things, that there is no provision of legal action against CEOs if their employees contract coronavirus. 8.07 PM: IIT-Delhi researchers achieve breakthrough in COVID-19 testing ICMR has approved a diagnostic assay for COVID-19 developed by researchers at Kusuma School of Biological Sciences under IIT-Delhi, reported ANI. ICMR has validated the assay with 100 per cent sensitivity and specificity. 7.41 PM: Free COVID-19 trearrment in West Bengal West Bengal government has directed private hospitals requisitioned by it to provide free treatment to coronavirus patients. The treatment charges for COVID-19 patients will be reimbursed to the hospitals, the state government said in an order. West Bengal Govt directs the private hospitals, which have been requisitioned by the govt for #COVID19 treatment, to provide free treatment to COVID-19 patients. "Govt has decided to reimburse charges to the hospitals for treatment of patients," the notification reads. pic.twitter.com/NofkDQ74Q8 ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 7.15 PM: Dharav corona cases Mumbai's Dharavi reported 25 new COVID-19 cases today, taking the number of coronavirus cases in Asia's biggest slum to 214, informed BMC officials. Death toll in the region is at 13. 7.05 PM: COVID-19 infections grow in Andaman and Nicobar Fiven new cases of novel coronavirus have been detected in Anadaman and Nicobar Islands, officials told PTI. This takes the total number of cases in the union territory to 11. 6.54 PM: Cricket in corona times ICC has said that it will review the disrupted Future Tours Programme till 2023. The global cricket governing body said it would reschedule as much of cricket postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic as possible. 6.43 PM: Coronavirus updates: UN proposes debt relief for developing countries United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has recommended debt relief for developing countries to reduce financial pressure on them amid coronavirus pandemic. A global debt deal would help the developing nations to avoid looming debt disaster, UNCTAD said in a statement. 6.33 PM: Punjab COVID-19 cases Punjab reported 26 new coronavirus cases today, taking the total tally of cases in the state to 283, informd the State Health Department. 26 persons have been tested positive for #COVID19 in Punjab today. Total positive cases in the state stand at 283: Health Department, Punjab pic.twitter.com/scZ79FYPtH ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 6.16 PM: Corona latest updates AA 92-year-old patient in Pune recovered from coronavirus despite suffering stroke seven months ago, PTI reported. The stroke had left one side of her body paralysed and even affected her ability to recognise faces. 6.12 PM: Uttar Pradesh COVID-19 news Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked senior officers to camp in the 15 worst-hit dkistricts of the state. These officers will implement containment measures in districts. 6.03 PM: Coronavirus in Gujarat Forty-five coronavirus patients in Vadodra were discharged today after recovery, reported ANI. All of them have agreed to donate blood plasma for plasma therapy, the news agency further said. 5.55 PM: Coronavirus in India The total number of coronavirus cases in India has reached 21,700, including 16,689 active cases, 4,324 cured or discharged patients, 686 deaths and 1 migrated patient, Health Ministry data showed. The country saw 1,229 new cases and 34 deaths in the past 24 hours. 5.45 PM: Jammu and Kashmir coronavirus updates Twenty new coronavirus cases have been detected in Jammu and Kashmir, 1 from the Jammu Division and 19 from the Kashmir Division, informed Principal Secretary (Planning) Rohit Kansal. 5.29 PM: Coronavirus cases in Jharkhand Four more coronavirus cases have been identified in capital city Ranchi, informed Jharkhand Health Secretary Nitin Madan Kulkarni. This take the total number of coronavirus cases in Jharkhand to 53. 5.25 PM: Karnataka coronavirus cases Karnataka reported 18 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, taking the tally of cases to 445, informed the State Health Department. So far, 17patients have succumbed to the virus and 145 others have been discharged. 18 new #COVID19 positive cases have been reported in Karnataka in last 24 hours. Total positive cases in the state stand at 445 which includes 17 deaths and 145 discharges: Health Department, Karnataka Govt pic.twitter.com/19OGESLyyn ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 5.20 PM: Maharashtra coronavirus updates MNS chief Raj Thackeray advocated opening liquor shops in Maharashtra, so that the revenue generated from them could be used to fight novel coronavirus. Thackeray raised the matter in a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. 5.15 PM: Coronavirus cases in West Bengal West Bengal saw 58 new cases in the past 24 hours, informed state's Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha. There are 334 active cases in the state, he added. 5.06 PM: WATCH: Very difficult to predict when COVID-19 will peak, says ICMR DG #WATCH: It is very difficult to tell that peak will arrive by 3rd May or when it will come. But it is very stable. Positivity rate has been 4.5% throughout, one can say we have been able to flatten the curve. However, difficult to predict it(peak): Dr Balram Bhargava, DG, ICMR pic.twitter.com/DyyAUvMxJn ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 5.01 PM: "We have created an environment of fear and panic -- we have to work to create a way to support the families and patients of those who are having COVID-19," says Dr Guleria. 4.50 PM: Director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Dr Randeep Guleria, thanks Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the ordinance passed yesterday. "Only less than 5 per cent (of total cases) will need ventilators and critical care," he adds. 4.44 PM: COVID-19 facilities Total facilities: 3,773 Isolation beds: 1,94,026 ICU beds: 24,644 Ventilators: 12,371 4.42 PM: CK Mishra: "We are at a half a million mark with testing cases. While the US did 5 lakh tests as on March 26, they found 80,000 positive cases. Italy found 1 lakh cases as on March 31." 4.41 PM: Need to do more testing: Govt "On March 23, we've done as many as 14,915 tests across the country & on April 22, we have done more than 5 lakh tests," says CK Mishra, Environment Secy and Chairman, Empowered Group-2. He added that if a rough calculation was done, it was about 33 times in 30 days. "This is not enough and we need to ramp testing in this country," he adds. 4.36 PM: Punya Salila Srivastava, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, says according to April 21's revised order for non-hotspot areas, electric shops, stationary shops, milk processing unit, and dal-atta mills will remain operational. "The MHA is getting feedback from industrial units," she said. 4.32 PM: As per the Ministry of Home, states that in-house care-givers of senior citizens, prepaid mobile recharge utilities and food processing units in urban areas, are exempted from lockdown restrictions. 4.28 PM: Coronavirus cases in 24 hours As many as 1,409 COVID-19 cases have been reported in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of positive coronavirus cases to 21,393, says the health ministry. 4.15 PM: Watch daily press briefing on COVID-19 here: In last 24 hours 1409 positive cases have been reported, which takes our total confirmed cases to 21,393: Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry #COVID19pic.twitter.com/TVCj5RxGgw ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 4.12 PM: IndiGo to roll back pay cut IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta told employees on Thursday that the airline has decided to roll back the pay cuts, which were announced earlier for senior staff members, for the month of April in deference to the "government's wishes". "However, your Excom (Executive Committee) members and SVPs (senior vice presidents) have volunteered to take pay cuts this month," Dutta told employees through an email. Also read: Coronavirus impact: IndiGo to roll back pay cut of employees in deference to 'govt's wishes' 4.7 PM: India to grow at slower pace: CII Amid the nationwide lockdown in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) on Thursday said that India's economy may grow at a slower pace, ranging from a contraction of 0.9 per cent to a growth of 1.5 per cent, in the financial year 2020-21. Also read: Coronavirus impact: CII pegs India's GDP growth between -0.9% to 1.5% for FY21 3.45 PM: Mumbai migrant crisis Ajit Pawar has asked Piyush Goyal to ensure special trains are operated from Pune and Mumbai to ferry migrant workers till the lockdown is imposed. 3.40 PM: Coronavirus in US updates US House of Representatives likely to give its nod to $484 billion coronavirus relief bill, bringing the unprecedented total of funds approved for the crisis to nearly $3 trillion. 3.35 PM: Coronavirus impact on economy Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) said that India's economy may grow at a slower pace, ranging from a contraction of 0.9 per cent to a growth of 1.5 per cent, in the financial year 2020-21. "In the base case, GDP growth is estimated at a negligible level of 0.6 per cent while in the optimistic scenario it is projected at 1.5 per cent. In the downside risk scenario, where the pandemic outbreak gets prolonged, thereby restricting full restoration of economic activity for an extended period, the GDP growth for FY21 could possibly contract by as much as minus 0.9 per cent," CII said in its latest report. 3.30 PM: China coronavirus update Chinese President Xi Jinping said that the country will step up investment in various sectors including 5G, artificial intelligence, transport and energy and boost employment as the economy reels under the impact of the coronavirus epidemic. Xi said Beijing will focus on employing college graduates, migrant workers and retired veterans and boost employment and entrepreneurship via multiple channels. 3.25 PM: Haryana coronavirus news Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij has asked police officials to penalise political leaders violating the lockdown. Vij said that crowd build up due to their visits and it is impossible to maintain social distancing. He said action will be taken against such leaders whether they are from the ruling party or the Opposition. 3.20 PM: LG Anil Baijal has asked authorities to set up a dedicated facility for police personnel. He also asked the authorities to set up an exclusive testing centre only for Delhi Police officials who are engaged in coronavirus duties. 3.15 PM: SpiceJet has decided to fly Asian Games Boxing Gold Medallist Dingko Singh from Imphal to Delhi for his lung treatment. The airline said that they would ferry the boxer free of charge. 3.13 PM: HSBC Global Search in its latest report has said a month of lockdown could cost India 5.4 per cent of gross value added (GVA). GVA is value of the total output, excluding intermediate consumption. The report said 50 per cent of the economy would be impacted due to a partial lockdown in contrast to 65 per cent in case of full lockdown. Also read: Coronavirus crisis: HSBC report warns 5.4% drop in GVA, fiscal deficit hitting 10% 3.11 PM: The government has reportedly suspended the provisions for triggering insolvency for six months through an amendment to Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) 2016 providing relief to small businesses facing insolvency threats amid coronavirus crisis. Also read: Coronavirus outbreak: Govt suspends insolvency process for six months 3.06 PM: State govt has decided to provide insurance of Rs 10 lakh each to all journalists who are reporting during coronavirus pandemic, says Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar. 2.55 PM: LG Anil Baijal has directed authorities to create a dedicated COVID-19 health facility for Delhi Police personnel.Baijal has authorised setting up of an exclusive 'COVID-19 testing centre' for the Delhi Police. - PTI 2.42 PM: Rajashtan reported 49 new cases of coronavirus today. This takes the total number of cases to 1,937. Out of the total cases, 27 patients have died, 407 recovered and 134 patients have been discharged from hospitals. - ANI 2.40 PM: Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi says he's confident that Muslims will fully adhere to lockdown and social distancing guidelines during Ramzan. 2.34 PM: Eighty new cases take COVID-19 tally in AP to 893; death toll rises to 27, says the government. 2.31 PM: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today inaugurated a mobile lab named Mobile Virology Research & Diagnostics Laboratory developed by DRDO for conducting COVID-19 screening and R&D activities. This mobile lab has the screening capacity of more than 1000 samples daily. 2.00 PM: Doctors and staff of LNJP hospital allege that a group of COVID-19 patients who were brought to the hospital through CATS ambulance today, threatened and manhandled them when the staff asked them to wait for a while. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today inaugurated a mobile lab named Mobile Virology Research&Diagnostics Laboratory developed by DRDO for conducting #COVID19 screening and R&D activities. This mobile lab has the screening capacity of more than 1000 samples daily. pic.twitter.com/uzn9ANWe7f ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 1.39 pm: India lockdown news: Got asks Army, Navy and Air Force to put weapon acquisitions on hold The central government has asked the Army, the Navy and the Air Force to put on hold all acquisitions for modernising their weaponry during the COVID-19 pandemic, Defence Ministry sources said. 1.34 pm: Gujarat coronavirus live updates: 3,000 tests everyday, says official Gujarat government is conducting 3,000 COVID-19 tests everyday and will not reduce it, a senior official said on Thursday, dismissing rumours that the state government has reduced testing. Gujarat government has also taken the decided to announce the coronavirus tests figures and deaths only once in 24 hours, rather than the present practice of giving details twice a day, state principal secretary (health) Jayanti Ravi told reporters in Gandhinagar. 1.29 pm: Coronavirus latest news: Centre freezes new rates of DA/DR The Finance Ministry announced on Thursday that Additional installment of Dearness Allowance (DA) payable to central govt employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to central govt pensioners, due from 1st Jan, 2020 shall not be paid. Additional installments of DA & DR from 1 July 2020 & 1 Jan 2021 shall also not be paid. (ANI reports) 1.25 pm: Coronavirus in United States: New York cats become first US pets to test COVID-10 positive Two pet cats in separate areas of New York have been tested positive for COVID-19. The cats had mild respiratory illness. A study indicated earlier this month that cats can get infected with coronavirus. (inputs from Reuters) 12.19 pm: Coronavirus map live updates: Check BusinessToday.In tracker to get state-wise tally of COVID-19 cases 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 1.15 pm: Corona Karnataka updates Karnataka recorded 2 fresh COVID-19 cases as of 8 am on April 23, according to Health Ministry. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases now stands at 427, with 131 recoveries and 17 deaths. 1.12 pm: Corona Tamil Nadu updates Tamil Nadu reported 33 fresh COVID-19 cases as of 8 am on Thursday, according to data released by Union Health Ministry. The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state have climbed to 1,629 including, 662 recoveries and 18 deaths. 1.04 pm: Coronavirus updates: Chidambaram lists '3 major issues' for India Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram listed "3 major issues" at the Congress Working Committee meeting on Thursday. The issues he thinks should be addressed in India's fight against the coronavirus pandemic, the party's chief spokesperson said. The issues are:- "Finances of the states are in dire straits. They need urgent assistance." "State of health infrastructure needs to be addressed." "A humane policy for return of migrant workers needs to be put in place." 12.57 pm: Coronavirus cases in Rajasthan: 47 new cases reported Rajasthan recorded 47 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, with the total count nearing the 2,000-mark. According to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the total number of confirmed cases in the state now stand at 1,890, including 230 cured/discharged/migrated and 27 deaths. 12.48 pm: Corona Maharashtra updates Mumbai has the highest number of COVID-19 cases at 3,906, followed by Pune with 660 cases, Thane-465, Nashik-96 and Nagpur-76 cases. Maharashtra remains the worst-hit state and is also the first in India to surpass 5,000 cases mark. 12.45 pm: Coronavirus live updates world status Global COVID-19 deaths cross 1,84,000, cases jump to around 2.6 million. UK deaths surpass 18,000, Italy toll at over 25,000. United States which is the worst-hit nation in the world, has more than 8 lakh with over 47,000 deaths. 12.39 pm: Maharashtra corona hotspots down to 5; cases jump to 5,652 Maharashtra recorded 431 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the state to 5,652, according to Union Health Ministry. Out of people infected as on date, 789 have recovered while 269 have passed away. 12.34 pm: Bihar coronavirus latest updates: 4 new cases reported in Munger Bihar Principal Health Secretary Sanjay Kumar said on Thursday that 4 fresh COVID-19 cases have been registered in Munger. Their contact tracing is being done. The total count of positive cases in the state now stands at 147, he added. 12.29 pm: Bengaluru coronavirus news: 16 fresh cases reported Karnataka government said on Thursday that 16 fresh COVID-19 cases comprising 9 were reported from April 22 (5 pm) to April 23 (12 pm) in Bengaluru. The total count of novel coronavirus cases in Karnataka stands at 443 till now including 17 deaths and 141 discharges. 12.24 pm: Coronavirus in China: Beijing extends quarantine for arrival from abroad to 3 weeks People arriving in Beijing from abroad will have to undergo one week of additional isolation apart from the two weeks period that was obligatory until now due to COVID-19 pandemic, according to authorities. 12.19 pm: Coronavirus live updates: COVID-19 pandemic is fast becoming a 'Human rights crisis', says UN chief UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that the novel coronavirus pandemic is a human crisis that is fast becoming a human rights crisis. He said in a video message that there is a discrimination in the delivery of public services to combat the virus. 12.15 pm: Coronavirus cases in Jharkhand 4 more people recovered on Thursday rising to 8 in the state, Jharkhand health department said. (ANI report) 12.09 pm: Uttar Pradesh coronavirus latest news 73 cops who came in contact with the rioters in the Nawabpura stone-pelting incident in Moradabad last week, were quarantined on Wednesday, after 5 of the accused tested positive for COVID-19, a police official said. The 5 accused are among the 17 people who were arrested following a mob attack on a team of healthcare workers in Nawabpura on April 15. 12.05 pm: Corona live updates: Railways working 24x7 to supply essential goods during lockdown Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday that "Railways is working 24x7 to maintain a seamless supply chain to transport essential goods during COVID-19 lockdown. 42 wagons of paddy are being transported to Korukkupet from Nidamangalam in Tamil Nadu." Railways is working 24x7 to maintain a seamless supply chain to transport essential goods during #COVID19 lockdown. 42 wagons of paddy are being transported to Korukkupet from Nidamangalam in Tamil Nadu: Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal pic.twitter.com/RR4LOoDlcB - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 11.59 am: Congress meet on coronavirus "Success of lockdown is to be judged finally on our ability to tackle COVID-19. Cooperation between the Centre and states is key to the success of our fight against the virus," Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh at CWC meeting on Thursday. Success of lockdown is to be judged finally on our ability to tackle #COVID19. Cooperation between the Centre & states is key to the success of our fight against COVID: Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh at CWC meeting (file pic) pic.twitter.com/RxhgMP1AKt - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 11.56 am: Lockdown live updates in India: Offer prayers at homes, maintain social distancing, says Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid If we follow govt instructions, we'll be able to eradicate #COVID19 soon. Holy month of #Ramzan is about to begin. Prayers have to be offered at homes itself and social distancing has to be maintained. By following it, we'll be able to protect everyone: Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid. If we follow govt instructions,we'll be able to eradicate #COVID19 soon. Holy month of #Ramzan is about to begin.Prayers have to be offered at homes itself&social distancing has to be maintained. By following it,we'll be able to protect everyone: Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid pic.twitter.com/tjxRihtNLU - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 11.53 am: Lockdown live updates from Delhi Police checks movement passes at Delhi-Noida border near Mayur Vihar, after Gautam Budh Nagar administration sealed its border with Delhi, with certain exemptions, to prevent spread of COVID19. Movement passes being checked at Delhi-Noida border near Mayur Vihar, after Gautam Budh Nagar administration sealed its border with Delhi, with certain exemptions, to prevent spread of COVID19. pic.twitter.com/14iVdQFbjp - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 11.47 am: Coronavirus cases live: US agency cuts India growth projection to 0.8% in FY21 Fitch Ratings cut India's growth projections on Thursday to 0.8% (April 2020 to March 2021). It also indicates towards what it said was an unparalleled global recession caused by COVID-19 restrictions. The ratings agency further stated that the growth is likely to rebound to 6.7% in the next fiscal. 11.38: COVID-19 in India: Over 5 lakh samples testes so far, around 21,000 positive Out of over 5 lakh samples that hae been tested so far in India, 21,797 have been found to be positive, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said on Thursday morning. 11.29 am: Total number of coronavirus deaths in India till now The death toll in India due to COVID-19 jumped to 681 on Wednesday, according to latest data by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 41 deaths were reported from across the country in the past 24 hours. Maharashtra has the highest number of coronavirus deaths at 269. 11.24 am: Number of hotspots in Mumbai: Drones monitor Dharavi round the clock Dharavi which is one of the worst-affected hotspots in Mumbai is put under a strict lockdown wherein drones monitor the moves of the slum's 1 million residents, out of which 1,25,000 people are living in hotspots. If they try to leave their homes, the police is alerted by the drones immediately. 11.19 am: Coronavirus cases live: Indians among worst-affected ethnic groups in England Indian origin people in the UK have emerged as the worst-affected ethnic group from the COVID-19 pandemic, as per an official data on coronavirus deaths in hospitals across England. Numbers released this week by the National Health Service (NHS) England show that out of the 13,918 patients who passed away in hospitals till April 17 after testing positive for COVID-19, 16.2% were of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background. Also, those identifying with Indian ethnicity made up 3% of the said figures. (PTI) 11.14 am: Congress CWC meet on coronavirus Congress President Sonia Gandhi flagged the shortage and poor quality of PPEs at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meet on Wednesday. Raising concern over poor quality testing kits and low testing she said that there is no alternative to Testing, Trace and Quarantine. "Unfortunately, testing still remains low and testing kits are still in short supply and of poor quality. PPE kits number and quality is poor," she added. 11.09 am: Corona live updates: Congress CWC meet Migrant laborers are still stranded, jobless and desperate to return home. They have been hit the hardest. They must be provided with food security and a financial safety net in order to survive this period of crisis: Congress President Sonia Gandhi. 11.05 am: Coronavirus India updates: Congress targets govt Farmers are facing serious difficulties too. The issues of weak and unclear procurement policies and disrupted supply chains need to be addressed without delay. facilities must be made available to the farmers for the next round of Kharif crops: Congress President Sonia Gandhi. 11.02 am: Corona updates: Congress CWC meet highlights "12 crore jobs have been lost in the first phase of the lockdown. Unemployment is likely to increase further as economic activity remains at a standstill. It is imperative to provide at least Rs.7,500 to each family to tide over this crisis," said Congress President Sonia Gandhi. 10.57 am: Congress meet on coronavirus "MSMEs employ close to 11 crore personnel today. They make up for one third of the GDP. If they are to be protected from economic ruin, it is imperative that a special package be announced urgently for their survival," Congress President Sonia Gandhi. 10.54 am: Corona news: Congress CWC meet updates Congress President Sonia Gandhi claims 12 crore jobs lost in first phase of lockdown. 10.51 am: Coronavirus in Kerala Locals in Kozhikode have been feeding stray dogs and cats in areas between Kuttiady and Nadapuram, amid COVID-19 lockdown. Kerala:Few locals in Kozhikode have been feeding stray dogs&cats in areas b/w Kuttiady&Nadapuram, amid COVID19 lockdown. Dr Soumya, an animal lover says,"We've been serving food to stray animals since first day of lockdown. We're receiving a lot of support from people around us". pic.twitter.com/9eVPIrUqLW - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 10.47 am: Coronavirus news: Congress CWC meet underway The Congress Working Committee meet is underway in Delhi. The meet is presided by party president Sonia Gandhi. CWC meeting begins. Smt. Sonia Gandhi presides. She says, "Since our meeting three weeks ago, the pandemic has increased disturbingly - both in spread and speed." - Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) April 23, 2020 10.44 am: Corona live updates Police and RAF deployed at DND Toll plaza to check movement of vehicles between Gautam Budh Nagar and Delhi after Gautam Budh Nagar administration sealed its border with Delhi, with certain exemptions, to prevent spread of COVID19. Police and RAF deployed at DND Toll plaza to check movement of vehicles between Gautam Budh Nagar and Delhi after Gautam Budh Nagar administration sealed its border with Delhi, with certain exemptions, to prevent spread of COVID19 pic.twitter.com/j7qB4kLizI - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 10.39 am: Telangana coronavirus updates: Admit only primary contacts in govt quarantine centres, says state chief secretary Telangana's chief secretary has told district collectors that only primary contacts of COVID-19 cases should be isolated in government-identified quarantine centres. In a letter to the collectors and other authorities, the chief secretary said that the secondary contacts who don't manifest symptoms are not to be testes but "identified, stamped and placed in strict home quarantine for a period of 28 days" and monitored daily. 10.29 am: Jharkhand coronavirus news 4 more COVID-19 patients in the state have recovered from the virus. The total number of cured patients here jumps to 8, Health department, Jharkhand said on Thursday. (ANI report). 10.22 am: Punjab coronavirus latest news Vegetable farmers in Ludhiana say that due to lack of availability of pesticides and fertilizers amid COVID19 lockdown the crop yield has gone bad. A farmer says," I have incurred a loss of minimum Rs 50,000. This has never happened before". Punjab: Vegetable farmers in Ludhiana say that due to lack of availability of pesticides and fertilizers amid COVID19 lockdown the crop yield has gone bad. A farmer says," I have incurred a loss of minimum Rs 50,000. This has never happened before". pic.twitter.com/aFXwHHePLo - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 10.14 am: Maharashtra coronavirus cases Maharashtra remains affected state with 5,652 confirmed COVID-19 cases at 5,652, according to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 269 people have succumbed to the virus in the state so far, which is also the highest in the country. 10.07 am: UK Corona news: Stephen Hawking's family donates his ventilator to hospital The family of Stephen Hawking, one of the world's well-known physicists, has donated his ventilator to a National Health Service (NHS) hospital in Cambridge, UK. Read more here: Coronavirus in UK: Stephen Hawking's family donates his ventilator to hospital 9.59 am: Coronavirus India updates A total of 5,00,542 samples from 4,85,172 individuals have been tested as on April 23, 2020, 9am. 21,797 samples have been confirmed positive: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). A total of 500542 samples from 485172 individuals have been tested as on 23 April 2020, 9am. 21797 samples have been confirmed positive: Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) pic.twitter.com/XXw1Ry9cTi - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 9.55 am: Gujarat coronavirus news: 229 new cases in 24 hours Gujarat reported 229 fresh COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. The state is the second worst-hit after Maharashtra with 2,407 cases and 103 deaths, according to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. 9.50 am: Punjab coronavirus latest news Punjab will return all Chinese rapid test kits to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) after 5 test kits gave incorrect results. The ICMR has asked states to temporarily stop using these kits. 9.40 am: West Bengal coronavirus updates Novel coronavirus spreads through mobile phones and a decision has been taken, as per WHO guidelines, to control the spread of infection. All doctors, medical staff, & patients must deposit their mobile phones outside and collect it while leaving the hospital: WB Chief Secretary. Novel #coronavirus spreads through mobile phones&a decision has been taken, as per WHO guidelines, to control the spread of infection. All doctors, medical staff, & patients must deposit their mobile phones outside and collect it while leaving the hospital: WB Chief Secy (22.04) pic.twitter.com/6hTMptCgPP - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 9.30 am: Containment zones in Delhi Campa Cola street and F-313 & F-274 Lado Sarai under South district have been added to the list of COVID-19 hotspots; the total number of containment zones in the city stands at 89 now. Delhi: Campa Cola street and F-313 & F-274 Lado Sarai under South district have been added to the list of COVID19 containment zones; the total number of containment zones in the city is 89 pic.twitter.com/HduZUnFoS2 - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 9.23 am: Coronavirus latest updates: President approves ordinance against attacks on healthcare workers President Ram Nath Kovind has given his nod to the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, which gives strict punishment for attacks against health workers, ANI reports. 9.16 am: Rajasthan coronavirus cases: 47 positive cases reported Rajasthan recorded 47 fresh COVID-19 cases on Thursday. 20 in Jodhpur, 12 in Jaipur, 10 in Nagaur, 2 each in Hanumangarh & Kota, 1 in Ajmer. Total number of positive cases in the state have jumped to 1935, including 27 deaths and 344 recovered: Rajasthan Health department. 47 #COVID19 positive cases have been reported in Rajasthan today so far - 20 in Jodhpur, 12 in Jaipur, 10 in Nagaur, 2 each in Hanumangarh & Kota, 1 in Ajmer. Total number of positive cases in the state rises to 1935, including 27 deaths and 344 recovered: Rajasthan Health dept pic.twitter.com/da0lUpKoQg - ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 9.07 am: Coronavirus live updates: COVID-19 pandemic an 'attack' on US, says Donald Trump US President Donald Trump has termed the novel coronavirus pandemic as an "attack" on United States. Speaking at a recent news conference on Wednesday, Trump said while answering a question about the national debt created by large stimulus packages. "We were attacked. This was an attack. This wasn't just the flu by the way. Nobody has ever seen anything like this, 1917 was the last time," Trump said. (PTI inputs) 8.59 am: Coronavirus cases India updates: Cases cross 21,000-mark The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases have jumped to 21,393 in India, according to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. These include, 16,454 active cases, 4,257 cured/discharged, 1 migrated and 681 deaths. Maharashtra remains the worst-affected state with 5,652 confirmed coronavirus cases and death toll at 269, which is also the highest in the country. 8.55 am: Kerala coronavirus cases Kerala government has said that all elected representatives in the state will take a 30% cut in their monthly salaries as well as honorariums for a year. This includes state ministers, MLAs, members of government boards and local self-government bodies. 8.47 am: Coronavirus cases worldwide Global COVID-19 deaths cross 1,84,000, cases jump to around 2.6 million. UK deaths surpass 18,000, Italy toll at over 25,000. 8.40 am: Coronavirus cases in India: Check BusinessToday.In tracker to get state-wise tally of COVID-19 cases 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 8.30 am: Hotspots in Delhi Delhi government added Lado Sarai area to the list of its red zones or containment zones, taking the total count of COVID-19 hotspots in the national capital to 89. 8.15 am: Coronavirus live updates: PM Modi to interact with CMs of all states on April 27 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak to chief minister of all states via video conferencing on April 27 morning on the way ahead in the fight against novel coronavirus. This will be PM Modi's third such virtual meet with all states' chief ministers. Mike Pompeo, the US Secretary of State, told Ahram Online that he is "incredibly impressed" with what Egypt is doing to confront the coronavirus pandemic, and its ability to tackle other challenges, such as security and economic challenges. In response to a question by Ahram Online, Pompeo said that, Every country has to take some of their energy and some of the time of their country leadership and their people and focus on protecting their own people from this virus. Certainly we have seen this in the United States, but it is true for every country." "That means," he continued, "there will be fewer resources available for other things, but I have been incredibly impressed by Egypt and other countries in the Middle East and their ability to continue in the faith of these challenges, the health challenges and the challenges presented by the tragic loss of lives, but also the challenges to their nations' economies, for their people to work and to generate wealth and to take care of their own people, their own families." "I have been very impressed by the ability to keep up their work on national security challenges all around the world. We still have conversations. We often begin them by talking about the virus, but we also spend a great deal of time continuing to work on problems that are all around the region and the Middle East," Pompeo said. Pompeo's remarks came during a press conference held via the Internet for a limited number of journalists from several countries in the Middle East in which Al-Ahram participated as a representative of the Egyptian press about how the coronavirus crisis will affect US relations with its strategic allies, like Egypt, and the need to cooperate internationally to combat the challenges posted by the corona crisis. In response to a question posed by Ahram Online, concerning if there is a deadline to reveal the results of US investigations into the causes of the coronavirus pandemic, Pompeo said, The deadline is upon us already. This is urgent." Understanding how this pandemic came to be, and from where precisely the virus emanated, is important, helping healthcare officials, epidemiologists and scientists to discern how exactly to address this challenge, he noted. "It needs to happen urgently, and we demand this of every country. We want them to be transparent, we want them to be open, if they want to be a part of civilised society, a part of the network of countries working cooperatively to deliver good outcomes for the world. They have to be prepared to be open and transparent. This is what happens in democracies. We hope to cooperate and we hope there will be the capacity to share information." On the World Health Organisation's determination that the coronavirus originated in an animal and not in a lab, Pompeo said, What we can say for sure is that the virus originated in China, and they suggested in a disinformation campaign that it began in Europe or was spread there by US soldiers." "This is dangerous," he said. This isn't political." "You have to know the nature and the path way that the virus took in order to save lives, and that didn't happen. They were too slow. The information didn't get to the world quickly enough. The World Health Organisation didn't demand it. The Chinese Communist Party didn't deliver it." "We continue to investigate. The whole world wants to know where this came from and how it got to the place where the virus could spread in this way. This isn't only about accountability. There will be a day for accountability, but this is ongoing. These labs in China, there are multiple labs where the Chinese Communist Party is working on various levels, and the labs are still open. The world is not permitted to go into these labs to evaluate security and their capacity to protect the objects studied from being released. It is important that there are global efforts to ensure the people who are working with dangerous substances have the capability to prevent accidental release." "So we and the world still did not have access to the Chinese labs. We think that will prove important, to be able to find answers to the questions presented. It is very important to get the answers, and not only is it a historical matter. But also so that we can prevent such a thing from happening again, and we can address ongoing challenges. That is, we can begin to understand the existing virus in a way that we can save lives as we move forward. The world is still suffering from this pandemic and it is time there is transparency and access, such that the world could evaluate this risk and respond to it appropriately, based on good science and good information," he added. On continued US pressure on Iran, Pompeo indicated that that, "Iran has coronavirus cases like any other country in the world, and America has offered to provide medical and technical assistance to the Iranian people. But Iran's leaders have rejected it, and we are continuing to offer aid, as we have done with many countries around the world. We will continue to work on that. The responsibility to protect peoples falls on the leaders of states, while Iran's leaders continue to assist Shia militias in Iraq and support the Bashar Al-Assad regime in Syria, and provide assistance and weapons to the Houthis in Yemen, and continue their programme of ballistic missiles, even during the last 48 hours." "They also continue to send battleships to harass ships of countries sailing in international waters, and they clearly have resources to care for their people. They have to change their priorities to put their people and their health in a higher position than their desire to participate in terrorist campaigns in other countries," Pompeo stated. The United States, Pompeo said, "will continue to do everything it can to prevent the Iranian regime from obtaining money and wealth to build these programmes. "Nothing has changed in this framework, and I believe that the whole world can see clearly that the Ayatollahs and leadership in Iran have wealth, resources and capabilities; they have to change their intentions and use their resources to take care of the health and safety of the people." On President Donald Trumps announcement that he give orders to the US Navy not to tolerate Iranian naval ships provoking American ships in the Gulf, Pompeo said that, The president's statement this morning made it clear that we will protect ourselves. Those Iranian ships violated international law. They came too close to our vessels which were operating in international waters. The president has always made it clear that we will do everything we need to do to make sure that our forces are as safe and secure as we can possibly make them." Search Keywords: Short link: The suburbs ring the city and, for the most part, require face coverings when visiting or working at businesses that are allowed to remain operating under the statewide stay-at-home order. Most exempt children younger than 5 or 2, and many do not require masks while walking, running or biking as long as 6 feet of social distancing in maintained. Falling visibility in three major African cities reveals that air pollution has increased significantly over the last 45 years - leaving citizens facing further short-term increases in man-made pollution due to increasing urbanization and economic development, a new study reveals. Africa is not well-equipped with air quality monitoring, so scientists have used visibility data for capital cities in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda as a substitute measurement. They discovered a significant reduction in visibility since the 1970s, where Nairobi shows the greatest loss (60%), compared to Kampala (56%) and Addis Ababa (34%) - due to increased particulate matter (PM) emissions from vehicles and energy generation. Correspondingly, PM pollution levels in the three cities are estimated to have increased by 182%, 162% and 62% respectively since the 1970s to the current period. University of Birmingham experts published their findings in Environmental Research Letters. They are now calling for a systematic approach to understand the causes and effects of air pollution in urban East Africa - allowing improvements in air quality to co-exist with sustainable future economic development. Report co-author Dr. Ajit Singh commented: "Evidence indicates that ambient air quality in urban African locations is often poor, because of high rates of urbanisation and population growth leading to large-scale construction, increased energy use, vehicle emissions and industrialisation. "PM air pollution is a major concern in East Africa because of its impact on human health. There are few air quality monitoring networks, resulting in little long-term air quality data, but visibility measured at major cities can be used as a proxy for PM pollution. "We're tremendously proud of our work in East Africa and the analysis techniques we developed to study Nairobi, Kampala and Addis Ababa are translatable to other parts of the world where air quality data is limited." The Birmingham team's work is funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) through the East Africa Research Fund (EARF) grant 'A Systems Approach to Air Pollution (ASAP) East Africa' and Digital Air Quality (DAQ) - East Africa funded via EPSRC Global Challenges Research Fund. Co-author Dr. William Avis commented: "Air pollution poses a major health, economic and social threat to cities around the world - inextricably linked to how we plan, manage and live in urban areas. East Africa is no exception to this, but lacks robust air quality data." Co-author and ASAP lead Professor Francis Pope said: "We need to understand the causes and effects of air pollution in these three cities, which are rapidly developing and will likely experience further increases in PM. Poor air quality acts as a brake on development through increasing expenditure on health, loss of labour productivity, and the impact of illness on education. "To date, no studies have been able to assess the role of socio-economic factors upon the evolution of air pollution in East Africa. Our work provides data that helps us understand this relationship and provides a much needed baseline for East African urban air quality that can help assess future air quality improvement interventions in the region." The researchers compared changes in pollution to population growth and GDP statistics - finding increased PM levels linked to increases in national GDP and populations in all three study cities. They also discovered distinct variations in seasonal visibility, which are largely explained by changing PM sources and sinks in rainy and dry seasons. Visibility was lowest during the dry months and highest in wet months. At all study sites, visibility was higher on Sundays - due to reduced traffic and industrial emissions. ### For more information, please contact Tony Moran, International Communications Manager, University of Birmingham on +44 (0)782 783 2312 or t.moran@bham.ac.uk. For out-of-hours enquiries, please call +44 (0) 7789 921 165. Notes to Editors * The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world's top 100 institutions, its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 6,500 international students from over 150 countries. * 'Visibility as a proxy for air quality in East Africa' - Ajit Singh, William R. Avis and Francis D. Pope is published in Environmental Research Letters. A copy of the research paper can be downloaded at https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1748-9326/ab8b12 - please feel free to include this link to the paper in any online article. ISELIN, N.J., April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Middlesex Water Company (MSEX) announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.25625 per share on its common stock payable on June 1, 2020 to holders of record as of May 15, 2020. Middlesex Water has paid cash dividends in varying amounts continually since 1912 and has increased its annual dividend rate for 47 consecutive years. Organized in 1897, Middlesex Water provides regulated and unregulated water and wastewater utility services primarily in New Jersey and Delaware through various subsidiary companies. To learn more about Middlesex Water, including information about its Investment Plan, visit the Investors section at Middlesex Water Company . This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, our long-term strategy and expectations, the status of our acquisition program, the impact of our acquisitions, the impact of current and projected rate requests and the impact of our capital program on our environmental compliance. There are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements including: general economic business conditions, unfavorable weather conditions, the success of certain cost containment initiatives, changes in regulations or regulatory treatment, availability and the cost of capital, the success of growth initiatives and other factors discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Contact: Bernadette Sohler, Vice President Corporate Affairs Middlesex Water Company (732) 638-7549 www.middlesexwater.com [April 23, 2020] CallSource and VinSolutions Announce a Deeper Integration and More Robust Partnership WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CallSource, the leader in call management and digital attribution, and VinSolutions, a leading automotive CRM, are excited to announce their enhanced integration to help dealers better understand their phone leads, streamline their processes, and provide more powerful analytics and reporting. With this new integration dealers can view the marketing source of the phone call providing the dealer context about the call and allowing them to prioritize which calls to answer first. "Phone calls are a valuable source of leads coming into a dealership and dealers have asked for an easier way to monitor these calls -- this integration was the perfect time to help make that happen," says Chase Abbott, VP of Sales at VinSolutions. "Not only has the classification changed but dealers can now see their CallSource reporting inside their Connect CRM." "The enhanced integration has been a priority for CallSource for a while now," states Pogo Parr, President of Automotive at CallSource. "Our mission is to help automotive brands and dealers improve performance on the phone, and we know the only leads that matter are those inside a dealer's CRM. This deep integration will help dealers set more appointments and ultimately drive more sales to their business. We win when our clients win. We are really excited to see this partnership come tgether." CallSource's inbound and outbound call tracking and analytics, missed opportunity notifications, result scoring, as well as enhanced reporting inside Connect CRM will drastically improve dealers' internal workflow by reducing multiple dashboards. Easy-to-use additions such as click-to-call, email notifications, and more will enable dealerships to improve their call-to-appointment ratio and increase their ROI while making it easier on employees. "CallSource and VinSolutions have been great partners for years, and we are so happy to finally have even more amazing features available now for clients to use to help increase their sales and have better procedures for improving their phone calls," says Kelley Koliopulos, Director of Retail Sales in Automotive at CallSource. CallSource and VinSolutions are excited about this upgraded integration and are continuously working on making the best possible solutions to enable dealers to perform their best on the phone and increase their sales. Customers interested in upgrading the CallSource integration with VinSolutions should contact their CallSource rep for detailed instructions. ____________________________________________________________________________ About CallSourceOwn Every Lead CallSource exists to help automotive brands and dealers improve performance on the phone. We help dealers by providing visibility into what is driving customers to call, text, chat, or click on your website. CallSource provides transparency into employee phone performance and tools to help dealerships improve and recapture missed opportunities. Our tracking numbers are text-enabled, and our digital attribution system tracks a customer's complete online journey. CallSource is the most reliable call tracking and phone performance company in the market. Our insights, tools, and integrations help dealerships perform better on the phone to convert more leads to appointments and ultimately sell more cars. About VinSolutions As the provider of Connect CRM, a leading dealership customer relationship management system, VinSolutions helps more than 5,000 dealers make every connection count. VinSolutions products integrate dealership systems, processes and tools to deliver a single view of the customer across the business so dealers can focus on building relationships throughout the sales cycle. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Mission, Kansas, VinSolutions fosters dealership success by providing a fully customizable suite of solutions, including equity mining, market pricing and desking tools, combined with the continuous, personal support of a designated Performance Manager. VinSolutions is OEM certified by every major manufacturer and is Autosoft, CDK, Reynolds & Reynolds and Dealertrack DMS certified. VinSolutions is a Cox Automotive brand. www.vinsolutions.com If you would like more information about CallSource, please call Kelli Conley at 888-376-0123 or email [email protected]. If you would like more information about VinSolutions, please call Lisa Aloisio at 404-725-0651 or email [email protected]. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/callsource-and-vinsolutions-announce-a-deeper-integration-and-more-robust-partnership-301045779.html SOURCE CallSource [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Stepping up its fight against coronavirus, the Odisha government imposed a curfew-like shutdown in three hotspot districts of Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur from 10 pm Thursday, to conduct active surveillance and contact-tracing. Announcing the decision, Chief Secretary A K Tripathy said all activities will remain suspended for 60 hours i.e. till 10 am on April 26 during the shutdown, which will be akin to curfew. During the period, all offices, shops and establishments in the three districts will remain closed except for hospitals, police department, fire and ambulance, railway and sea port cargo operation, water and electricity supply, goods carriers and vehicles used for combating the deadly virus. Goods vehicles on national highways passing through these places will remain open. Select petrol pumps, medicine stores and telecom, identified by the authorities, will be allowed to operate during the period, an order issued by the chief secretary said, adding all passes issued for the lockdown period will remain suspended during the shutdown. The ongoing coronavirus-prompted lockdown in the rest 27 districts of the state will remain in force with the existing rules. We are compelled to take the extraordinary step because of the grim situation created following detection of a high number of 29 COVID cases in a span of only five days in these three districts, the chief secretary said. Of the total 89 coronavirus cases reported so far in Odisha, 12 were detected in Jajpur, followed by 11 in Bhadrak and Balssore (10). Of the total, 33 patients have recovered, whereas a 72-year-old patient from Bhubaneswar has died. Almost all the confirmed COVID patients in the three hotspot districts had either returned from West Bengal recently or had come in contact with returnees. As one travels by train from Howrah to Puri, Balasore follows Bengal's Kharagpur junction; Bhadrak and Jajpur are in sequence after Balasore, while moving towards Bhubaneswar. Tripathy said a similar shutdown clamped earlier in Bhubaneswar for 48 hours in the first week of this month had yielded good results as not a single coronavirus case has been found from the state capital since April 14. Stating that the situation in these three districts has become a cause of concern for the state, Tripathy said since most of the patients have West Bengal links, concrete steps have been taken to seal the border with the neighbouring state. As many as 27 platoons (one platoon comprises around 30 personnel) of force have been deployed on the border and more police personnel will be sent if necessary to stop people from sneaking into Odisha territory, he said, adding many areas on Bengal border have also been barricaded. DGP Shri Abhay and senior officials have already reviewed the situation, he said, adding that active surveillance and contact-tracing will be undertaken during the period in these areas during the shutdown. Sample testing in these areas will be increased at least three times and all primary and secondary contacts will be subjected to COVID test, he said, adding all probable contacts will have to undergo coronavirus test. Action will be taken in accordance with the law against persons hiding information about his/her recent travel history and return from West Bengal, the CS said. As part of the new strategy to contain the spread of infection in the state, all institutions will be engaged in the exercise in which panchayat bodies will play a significant role in identifying people returning from West Bengal and their contacts, the chief secretary added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US should help own coronavirus-hit forces instead of threatening Iran: IRGC commander Iran Press TV Wednesday, 22 April 2020 4:34 PM The US government should focus on saving its own coronavirus-hit forces instead of threatening countries like Iran, says the spokesman for the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi. "Instead of bullying others today, Americans should put their efforts into saving their forces, who have contracted coronavirus," General Shekarchi said on Wednesday in response to a recent threat by US President Donald Trump. Exemplifying the the IRGC and the Iranian volunteer forces at the forefront of the battle with covid-19, he further called on the United States to "evacuate" their forces from West Asia and use them to "rescue their people in the crisis." The comments by the Iranian commander come after the US Navy announced on Tuesday that it has detected 700 cases with coronavirus symptoms among the sailors of the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier. As of Tuesday, 94% of the Roosevelt's crew has been tested for the coronavirus as the ship nears a month since it docked in Guam due to the outbreak aboard the ship. On Wednesday, Trump wrote on his twitter account that he has instructed the US Navy "to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea." Trump posted the tweet as a reaction to a recent confrontation between US warships and Iranian boats in the Persian Gulf. Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps released a video on Sunday that shows the IRGC Navy warning off a flotilla of US warships in the Persian Gulf as they try to approach the Iranian territorial waters. In the video, a personnel of the IRGC Navy warns the vessels to stop inspecting and detaining Iranian fishing or commercial ships in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman. He also warns them that they would face consequences according to the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran if they ignore this notice. Meanwhile, in a statement released on Sunday, the IRGC refuted the claims by the US that Iranian forces behaved in a dangerous manner when faced with US Navy vessels. The IRGC further blamed Washington as the main source of insecurity in the in West Asia region and called for the full withdrawal of all American forces. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Based on its efficacy and dosage, the medication for patients with COVID-19 is divided into three stages for the prevention, treatment and recovery of COVID-19 pneumonia alongside six types of usage. The medicine is approved by the medical communities in Laos and will be put in the clinical use to treat the patients contracted with the new coronavirus. To beef up frontline defenses against COVID-19 in Laos, a Chinese medical team of 12 top experts in infection prevention and control, intensive care, epidemics and laboratory testing, have been working with local health departments and several COVID-19 treatment centers to tackle the epidemic. To offer a comprehensive therapeutic procedure for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, the medical team developed a "Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Diagnosis and Treatment Scheme for Laos" as treatment guidelines based on the clinical records and data of the disease in China. The second trial version of the scheme has been approved by local officials, which have incorporated traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a potential treatment to alleviate COVID-19 symptoms. "Most patients infected with the virus in Laos are showing mild symptoms, and traditional Chinese medicine has played a critical role in improving patients' health and preventing deterioration", said Du Yibing, a TCM expert from the Chinese medical team in Laos. The State Drug Administration of China recently approved the supplemental drug application for new indications of Lianhua Qingwen capsules/granules. The additional indications include: Add "functional indications" to the previously approved indication: "For mild/common types of fever, cough, and fatigue in the conventional treatment of novel coronavirus pneumonia." Add "Administrate for 7 - 10 days for the treatment of mild novel coronavirus pneumonia" to "Dosage and Administration." The efficacy of the Lianhua Qingwen capsules (granules) in the treatment of COVID-19 has been evaluated through several comparative experiments and clinical studies. A multi-center, randomized and controlled clinical trial to test the efficacy of Lianhua Qingwen for the treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia conducted in 20 Chinese hospitals across nine provinces, found that Lianhua Qingwen can help alleviate several common clinical symptoms of COVID-19, including fever, fatigue and dry cough. Yiling Pharmaceutical has been leading the effort to combat the pandemic. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, it has donated a total of over RMB 3 million (475,000 USD) worth of Lianhua Qingwen capsules to Iraq and Italy. In March, The Company donated medical supplies valued at RMB 2 million (280,000 USD) to the China Red Cross as part of the relief effort to support global medical communities. SOURCE Shijiazhuang Yiling Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd. Related Links www.yiling.cn Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts announced on Thursday that her oldest brother, Donald Reed Herring, has died of COVID-19. He was 86 years old. 'My oldest brother, Don Reed, died from coronavirus on Tuesday evening,' the former Democratic presidential candidate tweeted on Thursday. 'He joined the Air Force at 19 and spent his career in the military, including five and a half years off and on in combat in Vietnam. 'He was charming and funny, a natural leader.' Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts (seen right alongside her oldest brother, Don Reed Herring, in Oklahoma City in December) announced on Thursday that Don Reed died of COVID-19 Warren announced Don Reed's (seen in the center) death on Twitter on Thursday. He is seen alongside his brothers David (far left) and John (far right) late last year in Oklahoma City Warren featured her three older brothers in a video released by her presidential campaign. From left: John Herring, Don Reed Herring, Warren, and David Herring Warren posted an undated file photo of her alongside her three brothers. Don Reed is seen far left; John is seen second from right; and David is seen far right According to The Boston Globe, Herring died on Tuesday night in Norman, Oklahoma. Herring, who tested positive for coronavirus three weeks ago, served in the United States Air Force for 20 years. Before Thursday, Warren did not reveal that a member of her own family had been infected with coronavirus. She confirmed Herring's death in a statement to the Globe. 'Im grateful to the nurses and other front-line staff who took care of my brother, but it is hard to know that there was no family to hold his hand or to say "I love you" one more time. Warren is seen far right as a young girl alongside her mother and her three older brothers. Don Reed is seen in the air force uniform 'And now there's no funeral for those of us who loved him to hold each other close,' Warren said. 'I will miss my brother.' Born in 1933, Herring attended the University of Oklahoma, according to the Globe. Before graduating, however, he enlisted in the military. As a pilot in the Air Force, he flew B-47 and B-52 bombers. During the Vietnam War, he flew 288 combat missions. Eventually, he was promoted to aircraft commander of a squadron of B-52s. Herring earned several citations and commendations during his service before he retired in 1973 with a rank of lieutenant colonel. After his military career, he opened up an auto-detailing business. What made him extra special was his smile quick and crooked, it always seemed to generate its own light, one that lit up everyone around him, Warren wrote of her brother During Warren's recently aborted campaign for the Democratic nomination, she routinely spoke of her three older brothers - Don Reed Herring, John Herring, 82, and David Herring, 78. Warren mentioned her brothers - two of whom, Don Reed and David, were Republicans - during the presidential campaign to boost her claim that she could appeal to middle Americans as well as those who did not support her party. All three of her older brothers appeared with the senator in a campaign video released in February. The video was filmed sometime before Christmas as Warren swung through her former home state of Oklahoma while on the campaign trail. It shows the four siblings gathered together in a home in Oklahoma City reminiscing about old time. 'You look good,' Don Reed is seen in the video telling his brother, John, who replies: 'I always look good!' In another segment of the video, Warren is seen leaning over toward Don Reed and reading his 'birth certificate' - a letter that their father wrote announcing that he was born. Warren was just three years of age when her 19-year-old brother, Don Reed, enlisted in the Air Force Before he died, Don Reed lived with his wife, Judith Anne Hart, in a small home in Newcastle, Oklahoma. According to 2010 censure figures, the population of Newcastle was just shy of 7,700 people. The family said that Don Reed was diagnosed with cancer years ago and underwent treatment. In February, he was hospitalized with pneumonia. Shortly afterward, he was moved to a rehabilitation center. Herring is believed to have contracted coronavirus in the rehabilitation center, though relatives have so far declined to identify the facility by name. During the Vietnam War, Herring flew 288 combat missions. Eventually, he was promoted to a B-52 squadron pilot and a squadron aircraft commander The family was told that other patients staying at the same facility were infected with coronavirus. In early April, Herring tested positive, though he did not show any symptoms for about 11 days. On April 15, Herring was rushed to Norman Regional Hospital, where he was placed in intensive care. Six days later, he died. Herring was not placed on a ventilator. Since his diagnosis, Warren spoke with her brother nearly every day, but she, his wife, and the rest of the family were unable to visit him due to the highly contagious nature of the pathogen. The senator last spoke with her brother on Sunday, when it seemed he was feeling better. Herring is survived by his two sons, John and Jeffrey. His first wife, Nancy McKelvain, died in 1982 of leukemia. The couple had been married for about 27 years when she died. Herring joined the military at age 19. At the time, Warren was just three years old. In her autobiography, she write: 'My first memory of Don Reed was when he left for the service and then of his wedding. 'He was adventurous and dashing, and his very existence was like a distant light.' At least nearly 2,900 people in the state have been confirmed with the coronavirus, and at least 170 have died, the Oklahoma State Department of Health reported Wednesday, up from about 2,800 cases an 164 deaths Tuesday. More than one-third of Oklahomas COVID-19 deaths, 61 in all, have been residents of nursing homes or long-term care facilities, according to Health Department data. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, a Republican, said on Wednesday that some businesses that were closed in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus will be allowed to reopen this week and others can reopen within 10 days. The governors plan was met with immediate resistance from the Oklahoma State Medical Association and Democrats in the state House of Representatives. Stitt's plan begins Friday, when barbershops, hair and nail salons, pet groomers and spas can reopen. The move is contingent on businesses practicing social distancing, and employees and customers must wear masks if they are within six feet of each other. 'Personal care businesses can reopen for appointments only if they adhere to strict sanitation protocols and are in communities that do not have more restrictions in place,' Stitt said. Restaurants, movie theaters, gyms and places of worship can reopen May 1. Nurseries tied to places of worship will remain closed. State Medical Association President Dr. George Monks said the governor is moving too fast. 'We are concerned Governor Stitts plan to reopen the state is hasty at best,' while health care providers are still treating the infected, Monks said in a statement. 'To increase the danger of widespread infection by opening prematurely not only discounts their efforts, but also the sacrifices made by their loved ones,' Monks said. Stitts plan 'comes from a place of fear,' according to House Minority Leader Emily Virgin, a Democrat. 'It is understandable for him to be worried about the long-term economic effects of this pandemic,' Virgin said. 'However, in this time of uncertainty, it is crucial not to make decisions hastily and out of fear but out of fact.' BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23 Trend: In accordance with the combat training plan for 2020 approved by the Azerbaijani minister of defense, live-fire training exercises are conducted with the Azerbaijani armed forces mortar battery crews at the training centers and at the firing ranges, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry told Trend. The units, firing at the targets of an imaginary enemy, fulfill the assigned tasks, the ministry added. Luis Sepulveda, a well-acclaimed Chilean writer who was exiled by Augusto Pinochet during the 80s, has recently died of COVID-19. Famous for his 1992 novel, "The Old Man Who Read Love Stories" and 1966's "The Story of a Seagull and The Cat Who Taught Her to Fly," Sepulveda is definitely a literary icon. The writer first started to show symptoms for COVID-19 late-February after he got back home to Spain from an event in Portugal. Then, on March 1, Sepulveda was confirmed to be the first COVID-19 case in the Asturias region, his home for two decades. According to Asturias president, Adrian Barbon, health care providers, and workers did everything they couLd to save the writer's life, but he was not able to recover. The government leader expressed his condolences to Sepulveda's family, as well. The Writer, Appreciated for his Simple Humor as Reflected in His Works Sepulveda work, appreciated for their representations of the South American life and humor, have mostly been translated in around 50 countries. His work ranges from screenplays and novels to children's stories. Sepulveda was famous in Europe, a place he had been since the 1980s. Born in Ovalle in 1949, he was also known as a political activist at a young age. His first participation in political activist movement was with the Communist Youth of Chile, then, with the Socialist party. In 1975, Sepulveda was imprisoned, reportedly for sedition for two-and-a-half years under Pinochet's military regime. The dictatorship of Pinochet lasted for 17 years, which was when roughly 38,000 people got tortured, and 3,200 either disappeared or got killed. Following mediation from Amnesty International, the renowned novelist was freed conditionally to house arrest. He then fled and lived underground for almost one year before he got captured again and penalized to 28 years of imprisonment. Sentence Changed to Eight Years in Exile After receiving support from the Amnesty, Sepulveda's sentence was lowered to eight years in deportee. While he was traveling to Sweden for a teaching job there, the writer escaped again while on a stopover in Argentina. From Argentina, he went straight to Paraguay. Sepulveda never went back to Chile to live there. He eventually lost his nationality until 2017. After he left his homeland, the renowned writer traveled within Latin America. It's in this region where Sepulveda formed theater groups in Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador. During the late 70s, the writer spent one year living with the native Shuar citizens in Amazon. Remarkably, they were featured in "The Old Man Who Read Love Stories," a novel with a uniting call for redefining the relationship of humans with nature. Available in more than 30 languages, his book became a worldwide success. Then, in 2001, Rolf de Heer directed the film edition, which featured Richard Dreyfuss. After 1982, the celebrated novelist lived in Europe, initially in Hamburg, where his career as a journalist started and sailed the seas with Greenpeace for many years. It was in 1996 when Sepulveda settled in Asturias with Carmen Yanez, his wife, a poet who had experienced some torturing under the Pinochet administration. Check these out! I'm not a candles-at-home kind of guy, not unless there's company. But a funny thing happened on the way to what feels like house arrest - orders to work from home and stay there as much as possible during the pandemic. I've gone through a box of matches, igniting fires small (votives) and large (outside) to accompany the many meals I've been ordering in or picking up since restaurants stopped seating diners but continued feeding us. For fancy takeout, place mats get placed and Aunt Carmen's china comes out. French onion soup looks better in a glass bowl than in two plastic cartons (one for the cap of cheesy bread, FYI). On the nights someone in a mask and gloves drops off fried chicken, meatloaf or pizza, paper towels serve as napkins and wine goes into tumblers. One recent cool spring evening, three of us dined alfresco, six feet apart from one another but basking in the glow of a newly acquired fire pit. When I shared my new routine with a friend, she texted back, "Must Maintain Civility." Later, it dawned on me: I was channeling the hearths of the warmest dining rooms. I've been playing restaurant, or at least trying to create the environments and rhythms most familiar and comfortable to me. Here's what stay-at-home orders look like to someone who has reviewed restaurants for more than three decades on both coasts: My fridge is strangely full, my dishwasher runs daily instead of weekly, and I haven't worn a suit since early March. I've forgotten most of the passwords for my multiple OpenTable and Resy accounts, but I've improved my home bartending skills. While I still hear plenty from readers, for the first time in my career, no one's emailing to complain about noisy dining rooms, indifferent waiters, bad tables, dirty restrooms, tipping on tax, out-of-date websites or (how quaint) the challenge of nailing a reservation. Gee, do I miss the good old days. And boy, am I trying hard to summon them from home. Honestly, though, my new acquaintances Caviar, Postmates and Uber Eats can never replace all the in-the-flesh servers and chefs who have made Washington a premier restaurant destination in recent years. It seems a lifetime ago that I had a desk downtown, knew where I'd be eating a month out and routinely came home from work - you know, dinner - when most people I know are off counting sheep. My last full week of reviewing found me squeezed into the hot new Albi, eating Japanese-style pizza at a low table with a colleague at Tonari, ducking into Makan for Malaysian with my partner, breaking bread with a wine collector at Maialino Mare and returning to Randy's Prime Seafood & Steaks, where the yards-apart tables were reassuring for reasons other than privacy and the cooking made it a candidate for the Top 10 list of my long-scheduled spring dining guide. Which isn't happening, obviously, although until restaurants were ordered closed, I was cautiously determined to introduce this year's bumper crop of new good places to eat. The business I know best is resilient, after all. Since I started covering them, restaurants have survived the recession, 9/11, tax changes in meal deductions, natural disasters, death-of-fine-dining stories, even reactionary Yelp reviews. Ultimately, no one at the office had to tell Pollyanna there wouldn't be a spring dining guide. As headlines grew more ominous, dining rooms got emptier. Lunch at the typically bustling Q by Peter Chang, at high noon on Sunday, March 15, spelled out the news. The food - pearly shrimp dumplings, glossy pea shoots fragrant with garlic, folds of pork tossed with green pepper and packed with chile heat - was some of the best I'd ever had there, and the servers couldn't have been more solicitous. Sadly, they were attending to six diners, strategically spread out in a dining room destined to fade to black. Since then, my restaurant impressions have all been from a distance. I got a lump in my throat when I drove by Bresca, its windows all but hidden behind plywood. Picking up dinner at Gravitas, it was sad to be greeted by a bottle of Purell and bags of food on a long table, in a hushed dining room where most of the furniture had been pushed to the sides. It's a luxury to still be eating meals from area restaurants, but even the best takeout is less when you subtract "Good evening" and a table with your name on it - some of the many fillips that make me grateful for restaurants and the people who animate them. Like wars and disasters, the coronavirus pandemic forces us to confront a new order. We're rethinking how we live our lives and what truly matters. I know I'm not alone in wondering how we'll approach restaurants when the welcome mats - or at least some of them - return. - - - The pandemic has robbed people of their lives, livelihoods and loved ones. So when I reach out to a noted grief expert, I tell him I'm embarrassed, given the sweep of the tragedy, to acknowledge how bereft I feel. His response is reassuring. "Grief is a no-judgment zone," says David Kessler, author of "Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief." "The idea that someone lost their job and you mourn the loss of not being able to go out" is not paradoxical. "Restaurants are the backdrop to our lives," good times and bad, says the self-professed food enthusiast, who lost his 21-year-old son in 2016. "I'm a bereaved parent, but I also grieve for restaurants" that are no longer welcoming diners. On his late son's birthday and the anniversary of his passing, Kessler honors him by visiting his favorite place to eat, Little Toni's pizzeria in North Hollywood. Kessler hasn't figured out when or if he'll have a place to celebrate a life this year. Restaurants are also big business. Before the pandemic cost so many of them their jobs, more than 15 million people were employed in the food service industry, about 10% of the private sector, according to the National Restaurant Association, which earlier this year forecast sales of nearly $900 billion. And the trade enjoys a built-in cheering squad: A 2016 Gallup poll found that the restaurant and computer industries tied for the best image that year, with 66% of Americans giving them a positive rating. Even if you don't eat out often, you know the significance of restaurants in special moments: First dates, anniversaries, major business transactions and even sad life markers - breakups, funeral receptions - often take place in one. "It's human nature to be together and forget about what's happening in the outside world," says Thomas Keller, whose empire includes two of the best-known restaurants in the country, the French Laundry in Northern California and Per Se in New York. He and his peers, "true nurturers," are aching under their inability to provide places of refuge right now. Instinctively, however, they go where they're needed. Every cook I know has at least a little Jose Andres in him. Chefs, all too familiar with slim profit margins and touch-and-go market turns, frequently tell me they cook less for the money than for the pleasure of feeding people. Consider Anita Jaisinghani, the owner of Pondicheri in Houston, popular for its creative Indian breakfasts and bold spicing. When she opened her first restaurant, Indika, in 2001, she was so uncomfortable charging people for her food, she hid the cash register. "I didn't want people to pay," Jaisinghani says. Her hope was to greet people as if they were guests in her home. (With years of experience behind her, she's now comfortable presenting a bill.) The devotion to any restaurant starts with an essential trust - someone you don't necessarily know is preparing something to go in your mouth. More practically, "people are not used to cooking three meals at home a day," says Christina Nguyen, owner of the hipster Vietnamese restaurant Hai Hai in Minneapolis. In fact, restaurants were not initially places to eat, but dishes to be eaten, says Rebecca Spang, author of "The Invention of the Restaurant." The word "restaurant" comes from a French verb that means "to restore"; restaurants were originally broths with purported health benefits. Patrons ate them at tables in private rooms and at flexible mealtimes, unlike at inns or taverns with their set schedule and communal seating. Centuries later, one of life's sustaining pleasures has been snatched from our daily routines. With art, you can at least Google images from galleries and museums. Movies you can stream online, and music you can download. With restaurants, well, they call it "dining out" for a reason: You have to be present to "win" - to partake not just of food, but of ambiance, service and the camaraderie of fellow patrons. Restaurants represent "a unique kind of human contact," says Andrew Haley, author of "Turning the Tables," which traces restaurants and the rise of the American middle class from 1880 to 1920. Dining rooms inhabit a space between public and private - "not on the street, [but] not in your home," the so-called third place. Attempts to re-create the experience from the confines of our own four walls have been error-prone, ingredient-deficient and without an artisan's grace notes. Zoom might be good for confabs with colleagues and chats with loved ones. But video conferences can't replace cooking aromas or sitting knee-to-knee with someone you care about. My efforts to summon normalcy at home go only so far. No matter what songs I play at dinner, they don't come close to the music of so many meals away from home. My partner is my partner is my partner. I love him, but he can't stand in for all the company - friends, colleagues, strangers - a diner encounters. Mere months ago, I complained about servers interrupting conversations and loud dining rooms. What I'd give now to have a punchline stepped on or a bachelorette party parked next to me! Yes, I just typed that. Life is smaller and less colorful without restaurants - more Kansas than Oz. I miss their luscious chaos. And yet I wonder if I'll be able to enjoy walking into a sea of eaters and drinkers with the zeal and anticipation I had before the coronavirus outbreak cleared everyone out. Besides depriving workers of their income and diners of places to make memories, the pandemic created Hitchcockian moments when seemingly harmless things - busy dining rooms, tight seating, once-ubiquitous "plates meant for sharing" - take on sinister tones. Tell me you haven't watched a pre-pandemic restaurant scene on TV and cringed when characters air kiss, lick their fingers or eat off one another's plates. - - - It's too soon to predict what will become of many restaurants, 3% of which had gone dark by late March, and 11% of which were expected to close for good by the end of April, says Sean Kennedy, executive vice president of public affairs for the National Restaurant Association. He says the road to recovery from what he calls "an 8-magnitude earthquake" starts with "clear and consistent guidance from both government and safety officials." In March, New York celebrity chef Tom Colicchio said 75% of U.S. restaurants could disappear, a figure the television personality based on his tenure in the business and comments by the CEO of a fast-casual corporation he declined to name. Colicchio has since lowered his estimate to between 40 and 50% and says recovery will require not just massive government financial support, but sacrifices from landlords, suppliers and others in the business. Those in the best position to recover, he told me, might be the "true mom and pops" operating with smaller staffs and lower rents. Several chefs told me that however and whenever they return to sit-down dining, takeout will remain. "Diversification isn't going to be a choice," says Jonathan Krinn, chef-owner of the upscale Clarity in Virginia, who envisions for his business "fine dining with a side of barbecue" - the latter being one of his new hits. Restaurants can't possibly return to their old selves, at least not immediately. I imagine fewer tables, longer lines outside restrooms, hand sanitizer where flowers used to be and shorter menus with fewer contributors. Among the many victims of the pandemic are some of the people who produce our food, such as the Pennsylvania sheep farmer, a source for Keller for more than two decades, who almost overnight lost 90% of his business. I worry about every lost position in the business, dishwashers - the linchpins of the restaurant kitchen - most of all. Colicchio's big question: "When will the public feel safe going into large spaces again?" I wonder about the small stuff, too. Will grateful diners ever feel comfortable shaking the hands of an owner or chef, or will nods and smiles have to suffice? "We'll figure this out. We have no choice," says Michael Schlow, whose restaurants in Boston and Washington include the Alta Strada brand. "I'm not whistling past the graveyard," the chef told me, but his industry comprises "a group of survivors." The owner of Hai Hai in Minneapolis agrees. "We won't fold our carts," says Nguyen. "People always have to eat, right?" Already, restaurants across the country are adjusting to a new normal. Vespertine, the avant-garde Los Angeles-area restaurant helmed by Jordan Kahn, has ditched its reality-suspending menu in favor of the Southeast Asian food Kahn cooked at the late Red Medicine. Grief must have meaning, says Kessler. Even if it's comforts we're losing, it's comforts we need now more than ever. Going forward, the author expects post-traumatic stress but also post-traumatic growth. For her part, Jaisinghani, the Houston chef, plans to keep her inventory low, streamline her menu and craft a better disaster/master plan for the unforeseen. She hopes the industry gains new respect. "Cooking at home might make the public more appreciative of restaurants" - the labor and thought involved - she says, adding that the pandemic might also humble some of her peers. "There's too much ego in the business." She might be right, but since the pandemic, humility has been abundant in every conversation I've had with chefs and others in the field. My spring guide was going to showcase the ongoing freshness of the dining scene, with an emphasis on young mom and pops, many of them international in flavor, that make Washington one of the best food cities in the country. Every year has plenty of good work to cheer, but 2020 was shaping up to include a lot of cherries on top. Maybe later this year - knock on wood and fingers crossed - I can still tell you why you ought to try Aracosia for Afghan, Hanumanh for Laotian and Thamee for Burmese. You'd think a food critic without any reservations in the foreseeable future might pine most for meals away from home. I'm still eating plenty of restaurant food. Wonderful as some of it is, however, it's missing a lot: dropped forks, squealing kids, ringing cellphones, the clink of toasts, "Happy Birthday." In other words, community. "The world as we know it is gone," Kessler told me. My inner optimist rebels against that, but the news backs him up. All I know for sure is this: I don't want to sit six feet away from the people I break bread with forever. Its not too likely for a senior member of the royal family to wind up with a modern name. Even the most progressive royals stick to traditional naming conventions steeped in history. For example, Queen Elizabeth used the centuries-old monikers Charles, Anne, Andrew, and Edward when selecting names for her children. But the name of her youngest son may have deeper meaning than that. Theres a good chance Her Majesty chose the name Edward as an homage to her uncle who abdicated the throne. After all, he is the man responsible for making Elizabeth the queen in the first place. Queen Elizabeth II with Prince Edward | Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Was Queen Elizabeth close with her Uncle Edward? For the beginning of Elizabeths life, she did not realize that shed grow up to become the longest-serving monarch in the nations history. Thats because her father didnt become king until his older brother, King Edward VIII, abdicated the throne to marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Queen Elizabeth, who was named after her mother Elizabeth, was only 10 years old when her father became king and she technically became heir presumptive. After her Uncle Edward abdicated, he married Wallis and lived in exile in France. Its presumed that Elizabeth did not see her uncle often after his departure from the royal family. But his actions would have an impact on the rest of her life. Edward VIII with his niece Princess Elizabeth | Laing/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images Elizabeth became queen because of her uncle Before Edward abdicated the throne, Elizabeth was third in the line of succession, directly behind her father. But no one ever expected that shed eventually become queen because Edward was young and could potentially have children who would bump Elizabeth further down the line. Thats not what happened. After Edward gave up his rightful role, Queen Elizabeths father Albert took on the name King George VI and the role he never expected to have. He died in 1952 and Elizabeth immediately became queen. Prince Edward was born in 1964 The queen had her second set of children more than a decade after her first. Prince Charles was born in 1948, Anne was born in 1950, and then Prince Andrew didnt come along until 1960. The baby of the family, Edward, didnt complete the family until 1964. Charles has complained that his mother was much colder and more distant with him and Anne compared to how she acted with Andrew and Edward. Plus, its widely believed that Edward is the queens favorite child. Queen Elizabeth II plays with Princes Edward and Andrew | Lisa Sheridan/Studio Lisa/Getty Images Could Elizabeth have named Edward after her uncle? Rumor has it that Elizabeth was never too fond of her aunt, Wallis. But she did reconcile with her uncle when she found out he was nearing the end of his life. Queen Elizabeth went to visit Edward in 1972 and apparently, he even made the effort to stand up from his deathbed to bow to her. Edward died 10 days after his niece the queen visited, on May 28, 1972. Queen Elizabeth doesnt share too many personal feelings or give interviews, so its impossible to know if she showed her uncle the former king respect by naming her youngest son Edward. And there were enough people named Edward in the royal lineage that it may have just been a coincidence that the queen chose her uncles name. Still, it would have made a kind gesture name Edward after her uncle considering hes the reason she fulfilled her destiny with a record-breaking reign. President Donald Trump vowed to sign Wednesday an order partially blocking immigration to the United States as health experts warned that a second US coronavirus wave could be even more destructive. And the World Health Organization said there was still a long way to go to defeat the virus, with most countries still in the early stages of dealing with the pandemic. Trump said his action was being taken "to protect American workers" after 22 million people lost their jobs in the United States alone in the devastating economic backlash sparked by unprecedented measures taken to halt the spread of the virus. With large swathes of businesses hurt in the crisis and employees forced to stay home or work shorter hours, the United Nations warned that the world is facing "a humanitarian catastrophe" with millions on the brink of starvation. Spread of coronavirus. By Simon MALFATTO (AFP) Nations around the world have been scrambling to fight the pandemic -- which has killed almost 178,000 people and infected more than 2.5 million worldwide -- while desperately seeking ways to limit the colossal damage inflicted on the global economy. "Make no mistake: we have a long way to go. This virus will be with us for a long time," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual press conference. Worst-hit region Europe saw its death toll climb to another grim milestone of 110,000, while Italy, the hardest hit country behind the United States, saw its fatalities top 25,000. Spain reported a slight increase for a second day running in the number of people who succumbed to the disease and parliament is expected Wednesday to extend a strict lockdown. But Germany, which this week cautiously began allowing shops to reopen, offered another glimpse of hope when it announced trials on human volunteers for a vaccine will start by next week. The trial, which was only the fourth to have been authorised worldwide, was a "significant step" in making a vaccine "available as soon as possible", regulator the Paul Ehrlich Institut said. 'Brink of starvation' But with months to go before a viable vaccine can be rolled out, more than half of humanity remains under some form of lockdown. US President Donald Trump says he wants to protect American workers. By MANDEL NGAN (AFP) Singapore extended its confinement for a month to June 1, as the Asian city-state which managed to keep its outbreak in check early on is hit by the onslaught of second wave of infections. The director of the US Centers for Disease Control also warned Americans to prepare for a more ferocious second wave. "There's a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through," Robert Redfield told the Washington Post. In South Africa, more than 73,000 extra troops were sent out to enforce a shutdown as authorities struggled to keep people indoors -- particularly in overcrowded townships. People line up in the Indian city of Hyderabad to receive free food distributed by a Hindu group during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown. By NOAH SEELAM (AFP) With businesses shuttered and millions of jobs lost, the world is facing its worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, and the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) said it would hit the least privileged the hardest. "I want to stress that we are not only facing a global health pandemic, but also a global humanitarian catastrophe," WFP executive director David Beasley told the UN Security Council Tuesday. "Millions of civilians living in conflict-scarred nations... face being pushed to the brink of starvation." The WFP said the number of people suffering from acute hunger was projected to nearly double to 265 million this year. 'Now they die alone' Standing in line in Bangkok's historic quarter for food donations of rice, noodles, milk and curry packets, Chare Kunwong, a 46-year-old masseur said: "If I wait for the government's aid then I'll be dead first." Among the hardest hit economically were also millions of migrant workers from South Asia and elsewhere who toil in the Middle East to send money back home to their families. Pupils take exams in Germany observing social distancing guidelines. By Tobias Schwarz (AFP) Remittances are expected to plunge by about 20 percent globally this year, the biggest decline in recent history, the World Bank said in a report of the money transfers that are lifelines to millions of families. The pandemic shutdowns mean even bodies of some migrant workers cannot be sent home, and are instead being buried or cremated in the country where they die -- often without any loved ones present. "Nobody comes anymore, nobody touches, nobody says goodbye," said Ishwar Kumar, manager of a Hindu cremation ground in Dubai. Before the pandemic, people would come "to grieve and bring flowers. Now they die alone". 'Wrong and unjust' In the United States, Trump said he would stop the issuing of green cards for 60 days, but exempt temporary workers such as seasonal farm laborers. "It will help put unemployed Americans first in line for jobs as America reopens," he said. Thailand's export- and tourism-reliant economy is forecast to see a contraction of 6.7 percent this year. By VIVEK PRAKASH (AFP) "It would be wrong and unjust for Americans to be replaced with immigrant labor flown in from abroad." The US -- with nearly 45,000 deaths and more than 800,000 coronavirus infections -- is the hardest-hit country, and healthcare infrastructure in major hotspots such as New York City has struggled to cope. Furious over the devastating epidemic, the US state of Missouri sued China's leadership, seeking damages over what it described as deliberate deception and insufficient action to stop the pandemic. The first-of-its-kind state lawsuit comes amid calls in Congress to punish China and a campaign by Trump to focus on Beijing's role as he faces criticism over his own handling of the crisis. It also sparked an angry rebuke from Beijing over what it described as an "absurd" claim. Away from the diplomatic barbs, doctors and nurses at the frontlines of the war against the pandemic voiced desperation at the endless fight. "The same thing every day... is draining," said Heather Isola, a physician assistant in New York. But the pandemic has also brought great courage to the fore, particularly among healthcare workers in the worst-hit places. Sharing their determination as they battle the disese in an intensive care unit in suburban Rome's Tor Vergata hospital, nurse Alessandro Iacchetti, 58, said his message to the world is: "Never give up." burs-hmn/txw A Derry company has donated Personal Protection Equipment to help the fight against coronavirus. Diamond Corrugated in Pennyburn manufacture printed packaging for a range of sectors including food and drink, pharmaceutical, e commerce and medical supplies. The PPE donated will be used by local community and voluntary groups who are working on the ground to deliver essential aid to vulnerable members of the community who are confined to their homes. The Mayor received the equipment from Company Director Niall Diamond at their Derry manufacturing plant where she praised the family run business for their generosity. "I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Diamond Corrugated for this generous and much needed package of Personal Protective Equipment which will be used immediately to aid the Coronavirus crisis relief effort on the ground," she said. "Hundreds of food boxes are being delivered to people shielding due to health concerns who haven't been able to access delivery services or are in critical need for financial reasons. "I have been heartened by the selfless manner in which our local community has rallied together to support each other and meet the unprecedented challenges presented by this crisis. "This donation from Diamond Corrugated is typical of the generosity we have experienced and the additional PPE equipment donated will help protect those delivering and receiving aid and help reduce the spread of the virus." Niall Diamond, Director at Diamond Corrugated added: "We understand that PPE can be difficult to source for key workers and volunteers in our community. "We very much appreciate their efforts and are thankful for the opportunity to assist the Mayor and community organisations in this way. "We hope that the PPE we have donated will help them continue to safely deliver valuable aid to the most vulnerable at this time." Hanoi resumes operations of buses on April 23 after three weeks of nationwide social distancing (Photo: VNA) Since the first case was detected three months ago, a total of 268 people have contracted the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 with 223 patients making full recovery. Of the confirmed patients, 160 people (59.7 percent) returned from abroad and the remaining 108 (40.3 percent) were infection cases in the community. On April 22, seven patients were given the all-clear, with the latest person being a six-year-old-boy in southwestern Tay Ninh province. Social distancing measures have been loosened in Hanoi, except its suburban Me Linh and Thuong Tin districts, and Ho Chi Minh City from 0:00 on April 23. Some nonessential services will be allowed to reopen. The northern border province of Ha Giang and the Red River Delta province of Bac Ninh were also named in the medium risk group. Another 59 provinces have been classified as low-risk, and are preparing for students to return to schools. As of April 23 morning, 68,081 people have been quarantined across the country, including 369 at hospitals, 18,600 at concentrated quarantine sites and 49,112 others at home. Giving a fitting reply to US President Donald Trump, Iranian military, on April 22, reportedly said that the American leader should concentrate on saving his own country from the major crisis that the pandemic has caused rather than making threats. Trump has previously ordered the US Navy to destroy all "Iranian gunboats" that harassed American ship in the sea. This has escalated the feud between the two countries that started after the US navy, on April 15, complained of Iranian vessels making dangerous manoeuvres in the Persian Gulf. 'Save your troops' Speaking to a news agency, Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, the spokesmans for Irans armed forces, reportedly said that instead of intimidating others, Americans should do better to save their troops infected by coronavirus. The pandemic has now infected 8,49,092 in the US. Meanwhile, the number of positive cases stand at 85,996 in the Islamic Republic. Read: US Navy Secretary assigned Aboard The USS Theodore Roosevelt Dies Unprofessional interaction' On April 15, US Naval Forces Central Command had said in a statement that Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessels repeatedly crossed the bows and sterns of the American vessels at extremely close range and high speeds. The US Navy said that its crew members issued multiple warnings via bridge-to-bridge radio, five short blasts from the ships' horns and long-range acoustic noisemaker devices, but received no response from the Iranian Navy. Read: Iran's Revolutionary Guard Says It Launched Military Satellite Into Orbit US Navy added that the IRGCN vessels responded to the bridge-to-bridge radio queries after approximately one hour and manoeuvred away from the American ships. Calling the actions dangerous and provocative, the US Navy said that it increased the risk of miscalculation and collision and were not in accordance with internationally recognised regulations and conventions. Read: Donald Trump Instructs US Navy To Destroy Any Iranian Vessel Harassing American Ship In addition to the tension in the sea, US has also warned Iran after its Revolutionary Guards reportedly launched its first military satellite into the Earth's orbit, describing it a successful launch after months of failure. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaking at a news briefing asserted that Iran "needed to be held accountable" for their action. Read: Iran Temporarily Releases 1,000 Foreign Prisoners Amid COVID-19 Pandemic Image credits: AP Microsoft has launched its Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions, which replace the companys existing Office 365 products. The new subscriptions are priced at the same rate as Office 365 Personal and Office 365 Home. Microsoft 365 Personal is available for R899 per year and can be used by one person, and Microsoft 365 Family is priced at R1,199 per year with support for up to six users. Each of these products offers 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage per user, as well as access to the full suite of Office applications. Office Home and Student 2019 is still available from the Microsoft website, priced at R1,999 for a one-time purchase. New features Microsoft 365 also brings a number of new features to the Office suite of apps, including an AI-powered Editor feature for Word and Outlook. This tool automatically checks for spelling and grammatical errors as well as offering suggestions to improve the clarity of your writing. Microsoft will also launch a new Family Safety App in the near future, which will allow parents to monitor their childrens screen time across devices. On the horizon, we have even more exciting news to debut, Microsoft said. Money in Excel will soon allow you to manage, track, and analyze all your money and spending in a single place. Also, in Excel, you will be able to make sense of your data with informative and interactive visualizations of everything from food to movies to Pokemon. The company said that additional benefits would be added to the Microsoft 365 subscriptions over time, including new features for the consumer version of Microsoft Teams. Microsoft 365 products are available to purchase from the Microsoft website. For users who are unable to purchase a Microsoft 365 subscription but would still like access to Office applications, Microsoft offers free web versions of a number of its apps, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Now read: Microsoft showcases updated Windows 10 design The Ruby Princess has departed NSW as Australia's Chief Medical Officer says it was likely a deadly COVID-19 outbreak in north-west Tasmania originated from the troubled cruise ship. The boat, which has been linked to 21 coronavirus deaths and more than 650 infections nationwide, was led out of Port Kembla, south of Sydney, at 5pm on Thursday, bound for the Philippines. The Ruby Princess departs Port Kembla on Thursday. Credit:Janie Barrett About 500 crew members remain aboard after another 300 disembarked on Thursday morning. More than 150 crew have also tested positive. While the Ruby Princess has departed Australia it remains the focus of a special commission of inquiry which on Thursday heard from the ship's hotel manager who said he expected NSW Health to board for a health assessment before allowing passengers to disembark. MLK and Centinela Hospitals Receive Big Donation of PPE and Masks Uniting to help others is one way to describe the massive donation of personal protective equipment (PPE) and masks to two local medical facilities. Freddie Figgers, an entrepreneur based on Florida, reached out to Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer of Faithful Central Bible Church and the result was Centinela and Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospitals receiving 750,000 masks and 250,000 PPE. Inglewood City Hall was also a recipient of some of the supplies. The initial shipment arrived at MLK and Centinela Hospital on April 17, and Ulmer presented the items to Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and Dr. Elaine Batchlor, MLK chief executive officer. Thank you Bishop Ulmer; this donation means the world to us, said Batchlor. Our staff is on the front lines of this pandemic and are here for the community every day. They really appreciate it and love the fact that the community is here for them. This is extremely important to all of us, we need to keep our healthcare workers safe. This is what keeps them safe. ADVERTISEMENT Offering a similar perspective, Ridley-Thomas said, What we have is a private-public partnership, a non-profit hospital that is essentially doing extraordinary work 24/7, 365 days a year. Frontline workers doing what needs to be done joined by a religious institution, Faithful Central Bible Church, giving first rate quality care. Ulmer was able to facilitate the donation after Figgers, founder of Figgers Communications, expressed his desire to help provide a safer working environment for hospital staff working at urban medical facilities. The staff at MLK and Centinela perfectly matched Figgers vision since they are critical team members in the fight against COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Also, the facilities patients are largely minority and that demographic is experiencing disproportionately higher infection and death rates compared to their percentage of the population. This donation is a result of the bigheartedness of Mr. Figgers, an African American businessman and philanthropist, who wanted to make sure his gifts would reach the inner cities of our country, and reach people in Los Angeles. It is an example of the connection between our government officials and the grassroots part of our community, and we just wanted to be a part of it, explained Ulmer. The essence of this donation is an example of partnerships and relationships. Our communities are so knit together the government, the faith community, the public and the medical community. Martin Luther King Hospital is on the front line fighting this pandemic, and Faithful Central Bible Church, as a part of this community, wanted to let them know we are supporting them and we are with them, added Ulmer. Describing MLK as L.A. Countys premiere campus, Ridley-Thomas insisted that alliances of this nature are sorely needed to survive the COVID-19 pandemic. The spirit of volunteerism, the spirit of community engagement, the spirit of generosity is being displayed by philanthropy, the faith community, all of this means a lot, noted Ridley-Thomas. We cannot win unless we have this kind of partnership. We will not be defeated by COVID-19. We are very grateful today. Punjab, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry demanded a financial package for states to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic A security personnel conducts thermal scanning of an employee of Reserve Bank of India before entering the building, during the nationwide complete lockdown, at Parliament Street in New Delhi. PTI photo New Delhi: The chief ministers of the Congress-ruled states on Thursday hit out at the central government, saying how will the country win the battle against COVID-19 if no financial assistance is provided to them. The chief ministers of Punjab, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry, demanded a financial package for the states to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said unless the central government comes forward to financially help states, "fight against COVID-19 will get weakened". "Unless there is a big financial package for states, how will normalcy return to the states post the lockdown," Gehlot said at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting through video conferencing. "We emphasised on rapid testing but unfortunately the test kits have failed...There is an urgent need for centralised procurement of kits, ventilators, so that availability, quality and quantity can be assured," he added. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh claimed that resources of Rs 4,400 crore of GST have not yet been released by the central government. "In place of 1 lakh rapid testing kits, we have received only 10,000 China-made testing kits and their authenticity is yet to be tested," he said. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said unless the Centre rises to the occasion and provides financial assistance to states, how will the fight against COVID-19 be won. Baghel said there is a deep concern in the state over return of students and migrant workers stuck in other states. "There needs to be a policy by the central government for return of migrant workers and students. Unfortunately, the central government is silent on the issue," he said. Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said the Centre did not given any assistance to the state. "How will the state survive in times of crisis...We are not enemies but have to act, work together," he said at the CWC. Narayanasamy said the central government has not given them Rs 600 crore of GST and Rs 2,200 crore of the Finance Commission's share. MARRAKECH, Nov. 19, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Patricia Espinosa, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), addresses the closing plenary of the Marrakech Climate Conference in Marrakech, Morocco, on Nov. 19, 20 Image Source: PK Bonn, April 23 : The world faces an unprecedented threat from Covid-19. It is a global crisis unlike any in recent history -- one that is spreading human suffering, destabilizing the global economy and upending the lives of billions of people around the globe, said UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa on Thursday. "The world will get through this crisis, but only if we act together in a spirit of solidarity, hope and resolve," she said in an open letter. "In unison with the UN family, while addressing the Covid-19 crisis, UN Climate Change continues its important work. Climate change and COVID-19 are not the same, but what is, is the concept of humanity working towards a common goal for the benefit of all people," she said. "Our work in 2020 is not, in any form, on hold. The climate emergency has not taken time off for the coronavirus. Nor will it prevent extreme weather events and other climate related impacts, which are already causing casualties. We all are working remotely, groups are meeting virtually, and we are maximizing our efforts to ensure that we continue to support global efforts to address climate change and reduce emissions. "2020 remains critical for making progress on climate change. We are reminded that planet earth registered its second-hottest year on record in 2019. This capped off a five-year period that ranks as the warmest span in recorded history. "In 2019, hurricanes, wildfires and floods cost the world $150 billion. Losses for business and the economy -- before Covid-19 hit -- were already expected to increase because of a decade-long rise in natural catastrophes with direct links to climate change," Espinosa said. "As UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says, now is not the time for retreat. Instead, never has the need for climate ambition been more crucial, specifically raising ambition on mitigation, adaptation and finance, including building on the work of the 2019 Climate Action Summit. "While Covid-19 may have postponed COP26, it has not postponed the need for Parties to accelerate work towards fulfilling commitments they have already made. Nor does it postpone the requirement for nations to submit or revise their national climate action plans -- known as NDCs -- in 2020. "The world's window of opportunity to address climate change is closing soon: time is a luxury we simply do not have," she said. From despair to hope. "In the midst of the pandemic, a window of hope and opportunity opens: an opportunity for nations to shape the economy of the 21st century in ways that are greener, cleaner, healthier and more resilient. In other words, a chance to recover better. "We urge governments, as they roll out their economic financial support, to make those plans as green and sustainable as possible. "Covid-19 has revealed the world's vulnerabilities, many of which intersect with the climate crisis. At the same time, it has highlighted the importance of expertise and science, cooperation, information and transparency. And it has, in many cases, demonstrated that societies can, when necessary, pull together to address a global challenge with bold responses. "UN Climate Change will draw upon these lessons as we adjust to the new reality. And we stand ready to support countries in their climate change efforts, now and beyond Covid-19," the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary added. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) The Blue Angels (six F-18s) fly overhead as people gather on the National Mall for the "Salute to America" Fourth of July event with President Donald Trump at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, on July 4, 2019. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images) Trump: Air Force, Navy Will Perform Air Shows as Tribute to Healthcare Workers President Donald Trump on April 22 confirmed that the U.S. Navy and Air Force will soon be conducting air shows over American cities to pay tribute to healthcare workers on the frontlines of the CCP virus pandemic. Trump said Wednesday that the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels will perform military flyovers over American cities and in some regions that arent major cities, as part of a plan formulated by military officials, named Operation America Strong. Were paying tribute to our frontline healthcare workers confronting COVID, and its really a signal to all Americans to remain vigilant during the outbreak, the president announced during the White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing. This is a tribute to them, to our warriors, because theyre equal warriors to those incredible pilots, all of the fighters that we have for the more traditional fights that we win, he continued. The Thunderbird and Blue Angel crews wanted to show support to the American medical workers, who just like military members in a time of war, are fiercely running toward the fight. I want to see those shows. Trump did not specify when the air shows will take place, or where they will be conducted. However, The Washington Post reported that the flyovers will be held over areas where people do not typically congregate, in keeping with social distancing measures. The president also announced plans for a July 4 event and military air show as part of Washington D.C.s Independence Day celebrations. Last years event on the National Mall cost $2.5 million, according to The Hill. Were going to be doing it again on July 4, Trump told reporters. On July 4 well be doing what we had at the Mall, as you know doing it last year was a tremendous success, I would imagine well do ithopefully I can use the term forever, Trump said. It was a great success. He said this years Independence Day gathering on the National Mall will probably have 25 percent of what we had last year. The president said social distancing would be encouraged at the event, to prevent the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. So ideally it would be wonderful if we could have it as it was last year, Trump said. Eventually we will have that. I think its important to know, eventually we are going to have that. SALT LAKE CITY, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nav , a free service that provides business owners the fastest, easiest and most trusted path to financing, launched a digital tool to instantly connect business owners with lenders that are taking SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) applications for funds available to small business owners under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). "Anyone that needs PPP funds should use Nav's QuickConnect tool," shared Greg Ott, Nav CEO. "As many small businesses didn't receive funds in the first round of the PPP, and we expect this round of funding to go even quicker, it is vitally important that business owners apply now for the funds that they need. I encourage all business owners, even those who previously applied with another lender, to use this tool." The QuickConnect tool, which takes only a few minutes to complete, instantly and freely matches business owners to one of Nav's PPP lending partners that are taking applications. In addition to the QuickConnect tool, Nav recently launched a CARES Act SBA Loan Calculator and COVID-19 Resource Center to help business owners understand how much they may qualify for. The calculator boils down the complex Paycheck Protection Program legislation into an easy-to-understand form. Additionally, a robust list of frequently asked questions and expert insights are also provided alongside the tool. As of today, more than 138,000 small business owners have used the calculator to determine how much PPP financing they may qualify for. "We're committed to giving small business owners free resources to decrease the confusion surrounding PPP loans. All of our resources are developed by our in-house experts that have decades of experience in the business lending industry. Nav's SBA tools are the perfect pairing of expertise and technology in order to streamline services that help business owners," explained Ott. Nav, which has 1.4 million customers, has matched tens of thousands of small business owners to SBA lenders and agents in the last three weeks. To learn more about Nav and access a wealth of free resources and information, visit Nav.com . About Nav Nav provides business owners the fastest, easiest and most trusted path to financing. The leading Business Financial Management app, Nav hosts a robust marketplace business financing products, and gives business owners free access to personal and business credit reports from major consumer and commercial credit bureaus including Dun & Bradstreet, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. The marketplace uses a unique, lender-neutral approach to help business owners find the best financing options for their needs. Nav's solution is also leveraged by other business service providers to enhance their customer experience. The company has offices near Silicon Valley, Philadelphia and Salt Lake City. To learn more, visit Nav.com . *Note: Although you can only accept funding of one loan, you can apply for a PPP loan with multiple lenders, which may increase the likelihood of being approved. Information and/or an application submitted to Nav or one of its partners, does not guarantee you will receive/be approved for a PPP loan. CONTACT: Amanda Triest Nav PR Manager [email protected] 801-890-5024 SOURCE Nav Related Links http://www.nav.com Two more persons died of COVID-19, while 128 more tested positive for the infection in the national capital on Thursday, raising the total number of the pandemic fatalities to 50 and infected cases to 2,236 here till date, said officials. The new corona-positive cases include those of a 12-member family, also comprising a two-month-old infant, of the Walled City area and 46 others of North Delhi's Jahangirpuri area found infected, they said. The number of containment zones in the city too rose to 92, said a Delhi Health Department's bulletin issued on Thursday The bulletin said 84 patients were cured of the infection and discharged on the day. It said since April 18, there had been a steep rise in the rate of recovery of COVID-19 patients with 735of the cured 808 patients recovering in a short span of only six days. The bulletin put the total number of active cases at 1,518 on Thursday. In wake of attacks on healthcare personnel, Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev constituted a six-member team to frame security protocol for medicare workers, officials told PTI. They said the police commissioner will also appoint two nodal officers who will take immediate action in cases of attacks on healthcare personnel. On Thursday, an ordinance that makes acts of violence against healthcare personnel or damage to property during an epidemic a cognisable offence came into effect. In the Walled City are of the national capital, 12 members of a family, including a two-month-old child, residing in a containment zone, tested positive for COVID-19 infection. All of them have been sent to the LNJP Hospital. A man in the family had returned from Uzbekistan last month but did not inform authorities. Later, he started having COVID-19 symptoms, like coughing and breathless, following which he was tested and found infected, they said. His test result came positive recently, following which 11 other family members living in Churiwalan area in the Walled City, were also tested and all of them tested positive for infection, said officials. In another case, 46 people tested positive for the infection in North Delhi's Jahangirpuri. They said the cases were detected in three streets of the H Block which was sealed by the district administration on April 14 after members of a family tested positive recently. "Forty-six people living in H Block of Jahangirpuri tested positive for COVID-19. This area has already been sealed after detailed screening was carried out and samples taken," North District Magistrate Deepak Shinde said. Earlier this week, thirty-one members of an extended family, including children, residing in Jahangirpuri area, had tested positive for the virus. With the coronavirus infection rising among the Delhi Police personnel, Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal directed authorities to create a dedicated COVID-19 facility to treat infected police personnel, officials said. The move came in the wake of over 20 police personnel testing positive for the virus in the city so far. An official told PTI that the lieutenant governor has also directed setting up an exclusive testing centre for the Delhi police personnel, besides providing personal protective equipment to those who are on COVID-19 duty. "There is a plan to set up a dedicated COVID-19 testing centre for police personnel at Shahdara Police Station, but a final decision is yet to be taken," a source said. According to a senior police official, the Delhi Police's strength is about 82,000 personnel. Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Vijay Dev has directed officials to take strict action against landlords asking migrants workers and students to pay rent amid the coronavirus-triggered lockdown. In the order issued on April 22, Dev said all district magistrates will run awareness campaigns in their respective areas, advising "affected persons" to lodge police complaints against such errant landlords. It stated that the Delhi government had issued an order on March 29, according to which, landlords have been asked not to demand rent for a period of one month from workers and migrants. The March 29 order had also stated that if any landlord forces labourers and students to vacate their premises, they would be liable for action under the Disaster Management Act. Passengers using the Delhi Metro, post resumption of operations, will have to take metallic items off their body before frisking, use face masks, have the 'Aarogya Setu' app, but those with flu-like symptoms won't be allowed, as per a proposal prepared by the CISF. The paramilitary force that guards the network running across the national capital region has formulated a 'business continuity plan' for security and safety of passengers and staffers working at the facility. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Leading from the home office Posted by Publisher Telecommunication Martin Krill, managing partner of Hager Unternehmensberatung, which specialises in executive search, has been working from home on most days since mid-March, as has his 110 employees. Like many other people affected, Martin Krill had to arrive in this new situation. At Hager Unternehmensberatung, home office is perfectly acceptable, only as a permanent workplace in an industry that works with personal contacts and highly sensitive data, not the everyday standard. However, the current phase, in which all companies worldwide are affected, is an extraordinary situation for everyone. Hager Unternehmensberatung is increasingly focusing on communication and trust in employees. \The health and also the safety of our employees, customers and business partners is a top priority for all of us, which is why we have taken numerous measures to maximize protection and minimize infection. These include additional cleaning and disinfection measures in all offices as well as the standardisation of the home office,\ says Martin Krill. On the IT side, Hager Unternehmensberatung already switched over to Microsoft Office 365, using Teams as a communication platform, about a year ago. All employees were given Surface Devices to work on, regardless of time or location. The hard work of the IT managers at Hager has really paid off today. In places where other companies were still in the process of converting and testing at short notice, this was already a tried and tested part of everyday life for us. But one challenge is dealing with this new situation from a technical point of view, the other is mastering leadership in a predominantly virtual time. \The most important thing here is regular communication both with your own employees and with clients and candidates. Especially in a time when many people are unsettled by headlines and mood swings, it is all the more important to stay in regular contact. Personally, I try to think positively and to look ahead even in these difficult times\, Krill continues.? A home office does not only mean staying in a private environment, but due to the current situation, it even means to experience the whole family intensively as well as being entrusted with school-related topics of the children. Normally, very few managers are at home during the day or are confronted with daily schoolwork. However, at the moment many parents are challenged in the home office to also take care of the school issues of their offspring and to support the so-called homeschooling of their children. \At the moment, it is a balancing act to also provide parental care in addition to the topics that help our company move forward. Binomial formulas and entrepreneurial visions, a special kind of multitasking\, says Krill. Virtual leadership challenge A dash of empathy, a pinch of optimism and a lot of adaptability that could be a simple recipe. In these uncertain times, it can be difficult for many employees to find meaning in what they do. As a leader, it\-\-s part of the job to work out a vision for the team. A clear, shared vision that everyone in the team agrees with can be incredibly motivating. It helps all team members to see a sense in the matter and also to find a focus and clarity in their daily work. All of this ultimately helps to maintain people\-\-s mood while ensuring that their attention is focused on positive business outcomes. Exchange with employees in person unfortunately it is not possible at the moment. Nevertheless, exchange is essential to get a feel for the mood in the company and to strengthen the team spirit. Virtual coffee breaks during working hours, joint lunches, cooking together (each in their own kitchen, using the same recipe) it is important that the feeling of cooperation is or remains strengthened. Rituals and regular team meetings to agree on goals and projects should be a matter of course for every manager in the current phase. Likewise, an open ear for the concerns and also personal problems of the employees. What is important under normal circumstances should now become even more important: responsibility for the team members. Confidence must be given to the employees in advance: everyone is an expert in their field and is responsible for them independently. When employees need support, they should know that they can always come to terms with their manager. \It is important to actively convey a feeling of \we\ to the employees and not to neglect them or to leave them completely to themselves. This motivates everyone and ultimately brings the company forward ? we all have a life after the coronavirus,\ concludes Martin Krill. Hager Unternehmensberatung was founded nearly 25 years ago and now employs around 110 people at its German locations. Due to its partnership with Horton International, Hager Unternehmensberatung is represented in more than 40 branches in the world\-\-s most important economic regions and is one of the top executive search consultancies internationally. With their extensive know-how in the field of digital transformation, the employees of Hager Unternehmensberatung are competent contacts when it comes to the digitalisation of companies. In the current surveys of the magazines WirtschaftsWoche and Focus, Hager Unternehmensberatung has repeatedly been awarded and listed as one of the best personnel consultancies in the executive search sector. Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or need further information. Want to keep updated with NEWS from Hager? Just register here: https://www.hager-ub.de/en/news/ On June 2, residents of Peculiar, Missouri will vote on the sale of the City of Peculiar utility system to Missouri American Water. The purchase price is to be $16.9 million up front with an additional $300,000 paid out over the next three years. A seven-year-old boy who was struggling with loneliness during lockdown has received over a hundred handwritten letters, after asking for pen pals. Harley Glen, seven, was lonely after his mother Ashley, 33, and stepdad Simone moved to Harrogate, North Yorkshire, from Edinburgh just before lock-down - meaning Harley wasn't able to meet any of his new classmates or say goodbye to his old ones. He missed his friends so much that his mother posted an online plea for other children to get in touch and she received an overwhelming response, from people ranging from 18-months to 80-years-old and from as far as Massachusetts, USA. Appearing on This Morning today, Harley thanked all those who have sent him letters and gifts and Ashley admitted she was 'overwhelmed' by the kind responses to their post. Harley Glen, seven, (pictured) has received 130 letters from around the world, after his mother Ashley, 33, used Facebook to find pen pals Harley (pictured) told his parents that he was struggling with loneliness in lockdown, after they moved from Scotland to North Yorkshire He appeared on This Morning with his mother Ashley (pictured) and stepfather where he thanked everyone who sent him letters Ashley told : We were living in Edinburgh and we had to move a week earlier than planned, as we saw how everything was happening. 'We couldnt say goodbye to our family and friends, we just had to up and leave. Iit snowballed from there. 'A lovely lady said why don't you get onto the local radio so we did and people reached out.' Harley added: 'I just want to say to everyone watching this thank you for sending me letters.' Ashley told hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip schofield (pictured) she received an overwhelming response, from people ranging from 18-months to 80-years-old and from as far as Massachusetts, USA Ashley received hundreds of messages on social media after asking parents if their children would want to become pen pals with Harley. Pictured: The seven-year-old posting a letter Among the post has been gifts such as photographs, sunflower seeds, books, hand woven key rings, handmade jewellery, drawings and stamps from around the world. Harley is now trying to write back to all 130 people who took the time to send a letter, including a number of elderly grandparents who contacted him to say they feel lonely too. Personal trainer Ashley joined a local Facebook group called Harrogate Mumbler and made a post asking if any other parents wanted their children to become pen pals with Harley. His mum Ashley, 33, admits she did not expect such a big response from her Facebook message. She said: 'I was completely shocked. Harley was really overwhelmed by them all - when you see them all together there are quite a few.' She continued:'We've had people from Australia and New Zealand send videos and Harley had a Skype call with a little boy in Osaka, Japan a few days ago. 'It's really really positive. The continued message we've had is 'don't feel down, you're not alone, people are thinking of you'.' As well as communicating online, Ashley asked people to post letters to Harley's new school, Western Primary School, as she did not want to hand out her home address. Harley (pictured) has been talking to his new classmates, since his school shared his address with parents of children in his year She said: 'We went to go pick them up from the school and I originally thought the lady said eight - but she actually said 89. 'I was completely shocked when she handed me the bundle. We never expected to receive so many.' Ashley let the school share her address with parents of children in Harley's year, so he could start talking to his new classmates before starting year two. Local families have since been hand delivering letters to Harley, who now has 120 pen pals to write back to. Speaking about his all of his new found pals, Harley said: 'I was happy when I found out people wanted to be my friend. Harley (pictured) spends around 20 minutes each day writing letters and then bikes to his nearby post box to send them to his new friends 'That's one of the things I like about lockdown.' It takes Harley 20 minutes to write each letter and he spends just under two hours each day keeping up with his correspondence. He then bikes to his nearby post box to send the letters back to his new friends. Ashley added: 'Harley's writing and reading has improved dramatically. He is getting used to sitting down and focusing on a daily basis. 'It's now part of his routine. He tended to avoid writing as it's not his strong point, so this creates a whole new dimension to the issue and finally he's really enjoying it. Ashley said Harley (pictured) has been able to learn so much, by getting to see so many different types of handwriting 'He is getting to see so many different types of handwriting and get to learn so much about so many people. It's also kept him away from YouTube for a bit.' Ashley urged anyone struggling with loneliness to start writing letters like Harley. She said: 'The time we have now to sit down, make a project out of it, walk to the big red box and post a letter is so much more personal and it'll mean so much more to the person receiving it. 'It's being kind beyond measure. I think it's just what we all need at the moment.' Anyone wishing to get in touch with Harley can message his mum on Instagram @theexploremoremum or write a letter to Miss Ward at Western Primary School, Cold Bath Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG2 0NA. A man has been arrested following a road rage incident reported on Monday in west Laredo, authorities said. The incident unfolded at about 6 p.m. when police officers responded to an accident with injuries report in the 3200 block of Santa Maria Avenue. Study: Bilingualism does not make you smarter Medical Express (RM) USGS releases first-ever comprehensive geologic map of the Moon Phys.org (The Rev Kev) #COVID-19 Bernie Sanders: The Foundations of American Society Are Failing Us. NYT. Important. DD: Did i miss this at NC? Moi: It is my fault that youre seeing this in Links for the first time, even though it was published on the 19th and I have compiled Links on all but one day since. Mea culpa. Top economist: US coronavirus response is like third world country Guardian. Joseph Stiglitz. Warren Demands Investigation Into Trumps Coronavirus Response, Saying He Put Political Expediency Before Public Health Common Dreams Coronavirus Will Change America Forever. Past Crises Offer Hints Of Whats To Come. Business Insider How Bad Might It Get? Think the Great Depression Bloomberg (LJ) It is disease that makes health sweet and good Asia Times. From earlier in the month; still germane. Pepe Escobar on Heraclitus. Gulf Widens Between States Over When to End Virus Lockdown Bloomberg Las Vegas mayor wont give businesses social distancing guidelines for reopening: They better figure it out. Thats their job CNN (The Rev Kev) Trump reverses course, says its too soon for Georgia Gov. Kemp to reopen state NBC, The deck: The president said he told Gov. Brian Kemp I disagree strongly with his decision to reopen nail salons and tattoo parlors but he wont stop him. Moi: Youre kidding me: risk further infections, death, decline, to open NAIL SALONS and TATOO PARLORS? We Should Be Adopting Stricter Measures, Not Loosening the Lockdown Der Spiegel. From earlier in the week; still germane. McConnell Says He Favors Letting States Declare Bankruptcy Bloomberg (The Rev Kev) Congress isnt going to overhaul the small business loan program to block publicly traded companies from getting loans CNN (The Rev Kev) Inside Americas unending testing snafu Politico (The Rev Kev) Virus shuts 96% of all global tourist destinations Asia Times 15 deaths in the airline industry in 9 days linked to coronavirus. Why are planes still flying? LA Times (Carla) If you imagine that a local business making surgical face masks is working 24/7, guess again Dallas Morning News (Katniss Everdeen) MOSCOW (Reuters) - Dozens of Russian communists defied Moscow's coronavirus lockdown on Wednesday by marching across Red Square to lay flowers outside Vladimir Lenin's tomb to mark 150 years since the birth of the Bolshevik leader. Led by Gennady Zyuganov, head of Russia's Communist Party, a small group of people, some holding red flags, marched to the granite mausoleum where Lenin's embalmed body lies to pay their respects. The ritual, which is observed annually on April 22, comes with Moscow in its fourth week of a lockdown aimed at slowing the spread of the new virus. MOSCOW (Reuters) - Dozens of Russian communists defied Moscow's coronavirus lockdown on Wednesday by marching across Red Square to lay flowers outside Vladimir Lenin's tomb to mark 150 years since the birth of the Bolshevik leader. Led by Gennady Zyuganov, head of Russia's Communist Party, a small group of people, some holding red flags, marched to the granite mausoleum where Lenin's embalmed body lies to pay their respects. The ritual, which is observed annually on April 22, comes with Moscow in its fourth week of a lockdown aimed at slowing the spread of the new virus. Muscovites are only allowed outside to buy food or medicine nearby, receive urgent medical treatment, walk the dog or take out the trash. A policeman guarding Red Square, which has been closed off to the public and was otherwise empty as it snowed on Wednesday, told Reuters the communists had received special permission to stage the event. The Moscow police and the mayor's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Speaking to reporters on Red Square, Zyuganov said the Russian authorities' efforts to contain the virus were no match for the Soviet approach to fighting a smallpox outbreak in Moscow in 1960. "Now they can't even produce masks in three months," he said, referring to the current Russian authorities. Some Russian regions have experienced shortages of protective gear for medical workers but the country has still exported equipment to countries including the United States, Italy and Serbia. Moscow, a city of more than 12.5 million, has been the hardest-hit of Russia's regions by the coronavirus outbreak and on Wednesday recorded 2,548 new cases, pushing the nationwide tally to almost 58,000. Similar events were held across the country to honour Lenin. The initiatives, however, have drawn criticism from people who say the communist events violate lockdowns. Vladimir Zhirinovsky, the outspoken head of Russia's nationalist Liberal Democratic Party, has said the people laying flowers on Lenin's tomb during lockdown should be arrested. Russia abandoned communism when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, but the tomb remains a popular attraction among tourists and Russian communists. Authorities shuttered the tomb and other attractions last month in a bid to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Lenin died of a stroke in 1924 and is said to have wanted to be buried alongside his mother in St. Petersburg. Attempts over the years to have his body transferred there have been thwarted by warnings that such a move could split society. (Reporting by Dmitry Madorsky and Shamil Zhumatov; Writing by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Alison Williams) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Claiming he only answers to God and President Donald Trump, a gun store owner in Middleborough is refusing to comply with Gov. Charlie Bakers order to close amid the coronavirus outbreak. John Costa, owner of The Gunrunner, said the store will remain open and that the state will have to drag him out of his location on Wareham Street if they want to close it. That guy is an idiot. Hes a liar. Hes a RINO [Republican In Name Only], said Costa, who spoke with MassLive for a brief interview before hanging up. And Ill tell you something right now, the attorney general has her hand so far up his butt that she can actually move his mouth. So no, I will not comply to this insane socialist governor. And thats why I wont close. The town of Middleborough issued a cease-and-desist order to the Gunrunner on April 2, citing Bakers order to close non-essential businesses. Three weeks later Costa said he continues to serve customers with curbside sales. State and local authorities may call on the assistance of State or municipal police to enforce the order. Violations may result in civil fine of up to $300 per violation, or criminal charges, officials said. Officials in Middleborough werent immediately available for comment. Costa said the only regulations he adheres to are in the Constitution, specifically the Second Amendment. Within The Gunrunners logo, below the name, two bullet holes serve as quotation marks surrounding the phrase, Dedicated To Your Second Amendment Rights. The last four digits of the business telephone spell GUNS on touchtone dials. This thing with the governor, all the rest of the country, most gun shops are open, Costa said. This governor, his plan is to shut down the gun shops, not because the spread of the pandemic, its all about taking away our rights. Its all about preventing the sales of guns. Costa has continued sales by approaching cars outside the shop to ask which guns theyd like to purchase. He then retrieves the requested firearm from inside to show the potential customer. They see the gun. If they like it, fine. I sell them the gun, Costa said. Everything is done at the vehicle. No one comes in here. Thats called curbside service. The Massachusetts Bureau of Firearms wasnt immediately available to provide comment on the legality of curbside gun sales. Costa compared it to services to those the state allows restaurants to perform. This is really funny, all the restaurants are doing curbside service yet nobody is telling them they cant do that, Costa said. Theyre all open. And what do they deal with? They deal with food. How the hell do you know if any of them people in that restaurant is not infected with the virus, meanwhile handling the food and giving it to us to take home. I wont buy a damned thing from these restaurants. Under Bakers latest executive order gun manufacturers, importers and distributors can continue to operate, but shooting ranges and retailers must remain closed to the public until May 4. The order allows for restaurants to offer takeout and delivery services. The Department of Labor Standards said 123 businesses at 355 locations in the state have been closed due to cease-and-desist orders under Bakers order. The agency also said 273 were reported to DLS with 54 still under investigation. When pressed on the language earlier this month, Baker made it clear gun shops should be closed. The only folks on the firearms side that have been essential in Massachusetts since we introduced the essential order are manufacturers, Baker said. Earlier in April, a coalition of gun store owners and customers filed a suit against the Baker administration, calling on a judge to reverse the states restrictions on gun sales during the state of emergency. Four store operators and six would-be gun owners, along with a handful of nonprofits, filed the suit in U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, requesting an order that blocks the state from banning gun sales, arguing it violates the Second Amendment. Costa was not part of the suit and wont follow the order. I will stick to my guns. I will stick to the Constitution which gives me every damn right to stay open, Costa said. My boss, I have two leaders, God and Trump. No one else. Related Content: Gov. Baker leaves door open for Massachusetts businesses to reopen before end of June if COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations decline Coronavirus: Gun Parlor in Worcester shouldnt have been open due to non-essential businesses order, Gov. Charlie Baker says Recreational marijuana companies, in lawsuit against Gov. Charlie Baker over essential business ban, denied preliminary injunction Register with JOC.com and receive 5 free pieces of content for the first thirty days. After thirty days, you will receive 3 pieces of content and after sixty days you will receive 1 piece of content. To receive full access, Subscribe Today . You can also subscribe to our daily newsletter. Register Although Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has not officially announced his presidential interest or bid, the writing seems to be on the wall. In fact from the moment his party, the All Progressives Congress, found its way to the centre in 2015, it seems Tinubu had kick started his presidential interest. Although he has neither come out to confirm it nor has he denied it, the only political position someone of his level would be eyeing is the presidency. Tinubus political goodwill still remains strong even though he hasnt occupied any elective position since 2007. His political tentacles have spread beyond Lagos making him a sort of a king-maker. With President Buhari constitutionally expected to end his tenure in 2023 and the south expected to pick up the baton, Tinubu seems poised to be the projected candidate. While it might seem Tinubu is well-positioned for 2023 presidency, below are four Yoruba politicians that can stall his presidential ambition for 2023. Bode George Bode George who is a former deputy national chairman of the PDP has vowed to contest against Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election. The former PDP chieftain and one of the founding fathers of the main opposition party has been a staunch opponent of Tinubu. Although all his attempts to wrestle Lagos out of the grip of Tinubu have been unsuccessful, he still remains a formidable opposition. Bode George has even vowed to exchange his Nigerian nationality for the Togolese one if Tinubu wins the 2023 presidential election. This to an extent hints at the level of opposition he is building against the APC national leader. Olusegun Obasanjo Former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, has largely been credited with Nigerias sustenance of democratic government in the country since Nigeria returned to democratic practice in 1999. After his second term in office, he tried to get the National Assembly to pass a bill for a third term option for political office holders but this failed. After that, the country conducted a Presidential election which was won by the late Umaru Musa YarAdua. It may be argued that Obasanjo has had a hand in every single person who emerged as president since he left power except for Muhammadu Buharis second term in office. He openly supported YarAdua in 2007, Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 and Buhari in 2015. This to a great extent proves the level of relevance and power he wields in Nigerias political landscape. Perhaps Tinubu would have been the unanimous Yoruba leader but for Obasanjo who some consider a more national heavyweight than Tinubu. The relationship between the two men cannot be summarily defined as their different political ideology between 1999 to 2007 pulled them apart. Obasanjo then reportedly withdrew allocation to Lagos after Tinubu expanded the states local government from 20 to 57. Although the two briefly united when Tinubu sought the support of Obasanjo for the APC and its presidential candidate, Buhari, things seem to have gone sour between them again as Obasanjo withdrew support for Buhari and the APC in 2019. If Tinubu plans to contest for presidency in 2023, getting the support of Obasanjo would be very difficult and without Obasanjos support, it may split the vote of the south west thereby jeopardizing the APC chieftains chances. While Obasanjo has said he has left partisan politics and has become a sort of an elder statesman, his relevance and influence cannot be undermined. Ayo Adebanjo Ayo Adebanjo who is a chieftain of the Yoruba socio-cultural and political group, Afenifere, has been one of those who have publicly spoken against a Tinubu presidency for 2023. The foremost Awoist who is also an influential and well-respected Yoruba leader has spoken against Buharis presidency and by extension Tinubus perceived political interest. Although the Afenifiere is not as influential in the south west as the Ohaneze Ndigbo is in the south east. However, people like Adebanjo who is an elder statesman command political respect especially among the Yorubas and can make things very difficult for Tinubu in 2023. Professor Yemi Osinbajo Although vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has shown that he is loyal to his political godfather, Tinubu, he still remains one of those Tinubu has to be wary of for 2023 presidency. Osinbajos exponential political rise is all down to Tinubus support as he rose from a relatively unknown commissioner under the APC chieftains governorship administration to becoming a vice president. However, his performance as vice president and as acting president during Buharis numerous absences has made him eligible for 2023 presidency. Many people now see him as a worthy candidate for 2023 presidency. While Osinbajo himself has not made any comments about his plan for 2023, his desirable figure particularly in the APC can cast a shadow over Tinubus image. If this happens, this can put a dent on Tinubus 2023 ambition as Tinubu himself knows too well the essence of a political partys support and if this support goes to Osinbajo, it can end Tinubus presidential ambition. Post Views: 21 There is not a ready off-the-shelf playbook for how you campaign in this environment if you a nonincumbent, so thats part of what youre seeing, said Erika Fowler, a government professor at Wesleyan University and the director of the Wesleyan Media Project, which tracks and analyzes political advertising. Were all being thrown into this new environment, where campaigns are going to need to reinvent, to some extent, how they go about things, how they going to go about reaching citizens. The year 2020 is one many of us would like to forget. Yet it marks the anniversary of important events in our efforts to safeguard the environment. Because clean air and clean water are essential to good health, all of us have a stake in combating pollution of every kind. The struggle for a clean and healthy environment is not unlike our fight against the deadly coronavirus. On April 22, we observe the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day. Because we cannot gather in groups to celebrate, the day will not get the recognition it deserves. Nevertheless, Earth Day 1970 was significant because it marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement. Then, there were national celebrations, but some argued they were staged to deflect attention from the unpopular Vietnam War. Others called it a communist plot because April 22, 1970 marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Vladimir Lenin. The year 2020 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environment Resources (DER). They were tasked with enforcement of federal and state environmental laws. The same year, the Environmental Rights Amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution won initial approval by the legislature. It would be ratified by a statewide vote. Twenty-five years ago, DER was split into the Department of Environmental Protection and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. One was tasked with enforcement of anti-pollution laws, the other with preservation of open spaces and operation of the state park system. Some say had we acted sooner to battled the coronavirus, many lives may have been saved. Maybe so; maybe not. We also have been warned about the threat of greenhouse gases and the dire consequences of global warning. Will we heed the warnings and act in time to save our planet? Maybe so; maybe not. John L. Taylor, Susquehanna Twp. OVIEDO, Fla., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Complete Care, LLC announces its "Keep it Local" campaign to support local restaurants impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. The COVID-19 crisis has impacted many businesses across the state and country and the restaurant industry has been among the hardest hit. While still allowed to operate for carry-out and delivery, most restaurants are not generating the revenue needed to survive and many are facing permanent closure. Complete Care, LLC, which operates 25 locations in 9 counties across Central Florida, is partnering with local restaurants in our business area to commit to making purchases from these small businesses that have been struggling to survive. Dr. Marc Ott, CEO of Complete Care, says about the program, "people may think that because restaurants are still allowed to sell through carry out and delivery, that they are doing ok during this time but that is not always the case. The small restaurant businesses we are partnering with have seen sales declines of up to 75% from their pre-crisis sales. These businesses need the help of the community to survive and we are committed to helping the community by keeping our purchases local where the money helps our neighbors and keeps people employed." The Keep it Local program initiated by Complete Care, LLC will direct their Business Development Representatives and any other employee making restaurant purchases to support the local restaurants in the program in the areas Complete Care is operating. The commitment is a long-term agreement between Complete Care and the partner restaurants that allows the restaurant to count on sales for a year while allowing Complete Care to manage costs through contracts and long-term planning. "It's a win/win for both" says Complete Care Chief Operations Officer Shelby Reid. Restaurants in the program will be highlighted on Complete Care, LLC media assets to help increase awareness and brand recognition for our partner restaurants in their local communities. For more information on Complete Care, LLC visit www.complete-care.com SOURCE Complete Care, LLC Related Links https://complete-care.com NEW YORK, N.Y. -- Donald Trump Jr. has effectively endorsed former Richmond County Assistant District Attorney Michael Tannousis over his GOP primary opponent Marko Kepi in the race for Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis seat, after Kepi spoke out against the presidents acting director of National Intelligence. Im told that Mikes republican primary opponent just called for the president to fire [Richard Grenell]. Sounds like @NewYorkGOP made the right call endorsing Mike in this race Trump Jr. said in a tweet. Grenell serves as the acting director of National Intelligence and concurrently as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany and the Special Presidential Envoy for Serbia and Kosovo Peace Negotiations. Kepi, an Albanian American who lists himself as the president of the nonprofit Albanian Roots, called Grenells rhetoric" regarding Serbia "dangerous and reportedly also called on him to resign. Im told that Mikes republican primary opponent just called for the president to fire Ric Grenell. Sounds like @NewYorkGOP made the right call endorsing Mike in this race. https://t.co/xO4BrLGzHR Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) April 23, 2020 However, Kepi would not confirm whether he explicitly called on Grenell to be fired, only telling the Advance in a statement: First of all no one is more supportive of President Trump than I am and as a U.S. Marine I would give my life to protect my Commander in Chief. That being said, I know too many families who lost loved ones in the Kosova war with Serbia and never want to see anything like that again. Ambassador Grenell's rhetoric regarding Serbia is dangerous, but more importantly, all of our US employees and diplomats should be focussed on this Pandemic and providing relief to the American people as I am in Staten Island and Brooklyn, not stoking the flames of war abroad - we have enough on our plates, he continued. Albanian news site Iliria News Agency reported Kepi as calling for Grennells resignation, according to a recent article translated from Albanian to English. Grenell has been leading Serbia and Kosovo Peace Negotiations and tensions have historically been high between Serbians and Albanians especially since the Kosovo War. Kosovo, has more than 90 percent ethnic Albanian population and declared independence from Serbia in 2008 about 10 years after NATO bombing drove Serbian forces out of the country, according to Reuters. I am thrilled to have the support of Donald Trump Jr. in my race for the 64th Assembly District. Our district needs an Assemblyman with the background and experience to take on the status quo in Albany, just like President Trump is in Washington, Tannousis said. I know that with the support of Don Jr., the Republican and Conservative Parties of Staten Island and Brooklyn, and grassroots supporters across the district, we will win in Junes Republican primary. Trump Jr. is not the first Trump to dabble in the Islands upcoming primary races. President Donald Trump tweeted out his Complete & Total Endorsement! for Malliotakis in February ahead of her June 23 primary race against Brooklyn Prosecutor Joseph Caldarera. They both been trying to closely align themselves with Trump in the closely watched congressional race against freshman Rep. Max Rose. Tannousis has won the endorsement of the Island Republican Partys executive committee as well as Brooklyn and Staten Islands Conservative Parties over Kepi. Kepi has close ties to former Rep. Michael Grimm, who initially served as Kepis campaign chairman and former GOP Rep. Joseph DioGuardi, who was initially set to work as his campaign treasurer. State Sen. Diane Savinos Deputy Chief of Staff Brandon Patterson, a Democrat, is also vying for Malliotakis seat. FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER. Romania has reportedly issued 200,000 fines for breaches of lockdown restrictions in less than one month a vastly higher number than other countries such as the UK, where an estimated 3,500 have been handed out. The Romanian fines, totalling 78 million (69 million), were given out between 24 March and 19 April, according to The Romanian Insider. Police forces across Britain, whose population is more than three times larger than Romania, gave out 3,500 fines of between 30-60 each over a similar period. It is unclear how many of the fines in Romania have been paid. Their total value is equivalent to the amount the country collected in corporate tax during February. Among those fined for breaching the Covid-19 rules was Robert Negoita, a mayor of one district of Bucharest. Mr Negoita was fined more than 1,800 (10,000 lei) after a video showed him going for a bike ride in one of the citys parks with his girlfriend, Euronews reported. He claimed he had merely been inspecting the bike but said he would accept the fine. Under lockdown guidelines, Romanians have to fill in a form before they leave their homes explaining their reason for doing so. If stopped by the police or the military, they must show this form as well as their ID. Klaus Iohannis, Romanias president, said the country would look to ease restrictions from 15 May, two months after the country declared a state of emergency. The confirmed number of infections in Romania rose by 386 to 10,096 on Thursday, with 527 deaths from Covid-19 recorded so far. For the next 48 hours, any PSNI officer intending to issue a fine for any breach of coronavirus restrictions must first seek the approval of a senior officer. The directive was issued by Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd in an e-mail to police officers and came into effect on Thursday morning at 7am. The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2020 introduced by the Northern Ireland Assembly states that no person may leave the place where they are living without reasonable excuse". In an e-mail to officers, seen by The Impartial Reporter newspaper, Mr Todd said the temporary and emergency powers place very real restrictions on the public". As such both the powers and our policing of them are under constant scrutiny and regular review. As a police service, we welcome that scrutiny and I continue to see on a daily basis that you exercise these extraordinary powers with professionalism and common sense. Mr Todd added: In order to assist me, in my role of continuing to quality assure our approach, review issues and report progress to key stakeholders, I am introducing a short term, 48 hour measure, to assist in our reporting and policy development. For the 48 hours commencing 0700 hrs Thu 23 April 2020, any officer intending to issue a CRN or Covid-1 FPN for any breach of the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions), must first seek the approval of the silver commander at the strategic co-organisation centre before proceeding. As stated, this is a short term quality assurance and reporting measure and will likely only involve a relatively small number of cases where the 3Es have been ineffective and a requirement to comply has proved unsuccessful. This measure is for your strict compliance, wrote Mr. Todd. One of the "reasonable excuses" listed in the legislation is "to take exercise either alone or with other members of their household". The PSNI can break up gatherings in breach of social distancing rules and issue fines of up to 960 for those who repeatedly disregard officer requests to disperse. There were 107 fines issued over three days across the Easter weekend, with officers breaking up barbecues and a small number of large house parties. Mr Todd previously said the forces approach will be engaging, explaining and encouraging the regulations before moving to enforcement. Police received 3,787 reports about social distancing adherence in six days. A number of the reports related to people allegedly not following guidance, rather than fully breaching the new regulations. These were described as including a person jogging within two metres of another person or someone exercising more than once a day. The world grappled with the economic pain of the coronavirus pandemic Thursday as bitterly divided EU leaders tried to hammer out a rescue package and US jobless claims soared to a staggering 26 million. European Central Bank boss Christine Lagarde warned her colleagues against "doing too little, too late" but Europe remains deeply split between virus-hit southern nations like Italy and Spain, and richer northern countries. Worldwide, governments are trying to balance pressure to ease lockdowns and repair almost unprecedented economic damage, against dire warnings that moving too fast could unleash a second wave of COVID-19 cases. Face masks made by Sheila Notewo, a young Cameroonian woman, from African fabric. By - (AFP) Other nations are still in the early stages of the fight against a disease that has killed more than 180,000 people and infected 2.6 million worldwide, even as it appears to be peaking in Europe and the United States. Despite the announcement of vaccine trials including one starting in Britain Thursday, experts warn that any real cure is more than a year away, and that confinement measures will be needed for a long time to come. 'Spirit of solidarity' In the United States -- the hardest-hit country on earth -- data showed another 4.4 million US workers filed claims for jobless benefits, bringing the total since the pandemic struck there in mid-March to 26.4 million. The total for the past week was a drop from the previous three weeks, but remains at stunningly high levels due to government-ordered shutdowns to stop a virus that has already killed more than 46,500 and infected nearly 840,000 Americans. In Europe, the worst-hit continent with 110,000 deaths, leaders are set to haggle via video conference on a giant economic recovery package estimated at around one trillion euros. A girl looks at a mural by artist Rachel List paying tribute to NHS staff in Britain. By Oli SCARFF (AFP) The fight has reopened the wounds of the 2009 economic crisis with debt-laden southern states like Spain and Italy, both badly hit by the disease, demanding help to get back on their feet. "With the pandemic, nobody calls," says Pedro Oran, a 53-year-old Spaniard who usually works by helping a plumber, as he lined up to collect food for the first time at a Madrid soup kitchen. But richer northern countries like Germany and the Netherlands, while saying they are ready to help for now, insist they will not take the long-term step of pooling debt with Mediterranean governments they accuse of profligacy. Making and using a homemade face covering to help prevent the spread of coronavirus. Advice from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By Gillian HANDYSIDE (AFP) "In the spirit of solidarity, we should be prepared to make completely different, that is to say significantly higher contributions to the European budget over a set period," German Chancellor Angela Merkel told lawmakers in Berlin. In a sign of how far apart the bloc's 27 countries are, leaders will not even issue their usual joint statement after the videoconference, a diplomat told AFP. Some European countries have slightly eased coronavirus measures but bans on large gatherings have been extended. 'Long way to go' Governments elsewhere are taking similar steps, with Vietnam's communist authorities easing social distancing measures as cases reached a plateau with no deaths, with experts saying the apparent success was down to aggressive containment and contact tracing. "We go to each and every alley, knocking on each and every door," said Nguyen Trinh Thang, a 72-year-old Hanoi resident who is part of a team tasked with zeroing in on any suspected cases. Yet World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday cautioned that the struggle is far from over. A face mask-clad shrine worker sweeps the ground before a Shinto ritual during the annual spring festival at the Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo. By Behrouz MEHRI (AFP) "Make no mistake: we have a long way to go. This virus will be with us for a long time," he said. The WHO and other health experts have warned that strict containment measures should remain until there is a viable treatment or vaccine for the coronavirus. The race is on around the world, with Britain's Oxford University launching a human trial of a potential coronavirus vaccine on Thursday, while Germany announced that similar trials will start by next week. The cruise ship Ruby Princess departs from Port Kembla in Australia after a few hundred virus-free crew members disembarked. By Saeed KHAN (AFP) Italy launched antibody tests in the badly-hit northern region of Lombardy, seeking information about coronavirus immunity. In France, meanwhile, scientists said nicotine may have a protective effect against coronavirus and will trial patches to see if it works. The theory is based on the low number of smokers among those hospitalised with the disease, according to various studies. China boosts WHO funding While the planet looks to science for a cure, the response to the coronavirus is becoming increasingly politicised. China announced on Thursday that it will donate another $30 million to the WHO to help fight the pandemic, days after US President Donald Trump said he would freeze funding to the UN body. Soldiers in Madagascar distribute masks and samples of a local herbal tea, touted by President Andry Rajoelina as a powerful remedy against the coronavirus. By RIJASOLO (AFP) Trump accused the WHO of covering up the seriousness of the COVID-19 outbreak in China before it spread around the rest of the world. The US is the WHO's biggest contributor. Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison called Thursday for the WHO to be given powers similar to UN-backed weapons inspectors, allowing their experts to enter virus-stricken countries to help prevent future pandemics. Morrison has already called for an independent investigation into the global response ot the contagion including the WHO's handling of the crisis and China's early response to the outbreak in Wuhan, where the virus emerged late last year. burs-dk/txw Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 09:37:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BUENOS AIRES, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Argentina on Wednesday officially proposed to restructure its 68.8 billion U.S. dollars in foreign debts, calling on creditors to accept a debt swap deal. The details of the plan -- which basically allows the South American country to issue foreign-law bonds in U.S. dollars and euros -- were published in the Government Gazette. "The proposal will let the state restore the sustainability of public debt issued in foreign-law bonds" and "allow it to service its debt in keeping with Argentina's payment capacity," the government said. According to a prospectus submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. dollar-denominated bonds issued would amount to no more than 44.5 billion U.S. dollars, and euro-denominated bonds to no more than 17.6 billion euros. The proposal calls for issuing 10 types of bonds that pay interest in U.S. dollars and euros at rates ranging from 0.50 to 4.875 percent, and expire in 2030, 2036, 2039, 2043 and 2047. Initial interest payments would not begin until May 2023. Argentina's debt restructuring plan includes a three-year grace period that allows the country to begin servicing the debt starting in 2023, shaves 5.4 percent off the capital payments, and cuts 62 percent off the interest payments. The government has given creditors until May 8 to accept the offer, though the deadline could be extended if the parties enter into negotiation. Enditem Despite a warning by the World Health Organization (WHO) that there is currently no cure for COVID-19, the president of Madagascar, Andry Rajoelina, on Monday launched a herbal medicine believed to cure and prevent the virus. The herbal medicine developed by Malagasy Institute of Applied Research and branded COVID-Organics, contains Artemisia- a plant on the Island used in the fight against malaria. President Rajoelina said, all trials and tests have been conducted and its effectiveness in reducing the elimination of symptoms have been proven for the treatment of patients with COVID-19 in Madagascar. Since school children in Madagascar returned to school on Wednesday, a presidential decree prior to their resumption stated that COVID- Organics is mandatory for them. The president also shared that the medicine had cured two COVID-19 cases. The COVID-Organics will be distributed free of charge to our most vulnerable compatriots and sold at very low prices to others. All profits will be donated to IMRA to finance scientific research, the president wrote on Twitter. Im convinced that, in fact, history will prove us, but today there are already two cases that have been cured with the COVID-organics, but well actually see what happens next. COVID Organics will be used in profilaxis, i.e. preventive, but clinical observations have shown a trend towards its effectiveness in curative, other clinical studies are currently underway, he stressed at the launch. Citizens rush herbal medication Citizens of Madagascar on Thursday rushed out in numbers to collect the herbal medicine launched by Mr Rajoelina on Monday. The AFP news agency showed Madagascans queuing for the medication, taking portions from officials in protective gear. The president said this remedy cures and we trust him so we drink it, one woman who received her dose told the media. When I discovered this drink, I hesitated as a parent. I said to myself: How come the sick people dont drink it, and why do we make students drink it? I hesitated a lot, another citizen quizzed. WHOs response In response to the launch of COVID-Organics, WHO told the BBC in a statement that they did not recommend self-medication with any medicines as prevention or cure for COVID-19. WHO had earlier on warned governments not to treat coronavirus patients with medications not scientifically proven to treat the virus. The Presidents Chief of Staff, Rosa Ranoromaro, said that although Mr Rajoelina was aware of WHOs warnings, he has a duty to Malagasy people. Madagascar has a total of 121 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 59 recoveries, and no death. In honour of St. Georges Day, were visiting a distillery named after Englands patron saint in the heart of the Norfolk countryside. Its home to those pioneers of English whisky, the aptly-named English Whisky Company. And weve produced some videos so that you too can visit from the comfort of your favourite armchair. Driving north to the St. Georges Distillery in Norfolk, you can see where the inspiration came from for the whisky because as far as the eye can see across the flat countryside there is barley, acres and acres of barley. Its the nearest that England gets to the great fertile plains of America or Ukraine. According to Andrew Nelstrop, his late father James Nelstrop always had the dream to make whisky. He describes his father as a restless spirit. The family were originally farmers in Lincolnshire but they moved around a lot with a stint in New South Wales and later his father farmed at Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave on the Baltic. It wasnt easy, according to Andrew, people kept stealing the light bulbs. Eventually the family settled into the farming life in Norfolk and thats when the distillery dream became reality. Andrew filled me in: originally the plan was to build a micro distillery and just make enough whisky to drink himself and supply friends. But back in 2005, the minimum size allowed by HMRC was 1800 litres, so we had to build a big one, he said. The Nelstrops were in the fortunate position of not needing external investors or to borrow money from the bank. Consequently, they could do things in their own time. Were a farming family so we have a long term mentality, said Andrew. At the time Andrew ran a building company, so they were able to draw up plans themselves. They received planning permission on 5 January 2006, and began work that very day. Stills came from Forsyths of Rothes and the head distiller came from Scotland too, Iain Henderson came down after finishing at Laphroaig for, as Andrew puts it, a last hurrah. The idea was to create a classic Lowland style single malt. The first release was in 2009. It got a lot of attention. We were surprised by the level of interest in our first whisky, Andrew said, We got lucky and were picked up by BBC newswire which led to world wide coverage. There was a queue of customers two miles down the road, waiting to buy a bottle. The other surprise is what a tourist attraction the distillery has been. They originally budgeted for 1500 visitors a year. By year four we had 30-40,000 visitors, Andrew said. They opened new visitor facilities in 2017. Here the Nelstrop family have shown their rural cunning. The glass was built for the University of Greenwich but it faced the wrong way so was useless. Andrew told me that he picked it up for a song. They now get about 80,000 visitors who just come to the shop and cafe, which has excellent food and local beers, including one from St. Peters in Suffolk aged in English whisky casks. The shop doesnt just sell the distillerys own products but probably has the best selection of whisky in East Anglia. Around 20,000 people a year take the tour. Sadly, James Nelstrop died in 2014 but at least he got to taste his own whisky. The site is called the St. Georges Distillery but the bottles were rebranded four years ago as the English Whisky Company to differentiate themselves from St. Georges Distillery in America. Andrew credits his wife Katy who looks after the marketing side of the business with this strong new look. Since 2008, distillation has been in the safe hands of David Fitt. Originally from Woolwich in south London, he was working at Greene King brewery in Suffolk before taking up his role at St. Georges. He worked with Ian Henderson for five months to learn how it was done. If you can make beer, you can distill whisky. Operating equipment is operating equipment, joked Fitt. He brings a brewers sensibility to whisky making, as well find out. The distillery was making peated whisky when we visited (it makes up about 10-15% of production) and the whole site smelt wonderfully like bacon. Fitt went through some of the technical side of his job. They have a one tonne mash tun and do a seven hour mash between 65 and 85C (mashing video here). It is cooled and then its into the 3 x 7500 litre washbacks. They pitch the distillers yeast in early, the idea is to get the fermentation going quickly before any wild yeasts get a chance to work some mischief, something thats a risk in Norfolks warm climate. They want quite a rapid ferment to create estery flavours of bananas and pear drops. It takes about 48 hours to produce a wash of 7-8% ABV but then David leaves it on the lees (dead yeast cells) for a day or two. This is like they do in Burgundy and other wine regions creating complex flavours like almond and hazelnut. This is another area where the distillery can take its time. Theres no hurry to create more spirit. Theres a wash still of 2750 litres and a spirit of 1800, the smallest that was allowed at the time the distillery was built. The idea is to create a light fruity new make so theres plenty of reflux from the bulge above the base of the spirit still, and the shell and tube condensers (distillation video here). Even with the peated spirit, the cut is taken early so that, as Fitt puts it, you lose heavy iodine notes and just get bonfire. Whats the point of replicating Laphroaig? Indeed. They produce around 50,000 litres of pure alcohol per year, or what Glenfiddich makes in 2.5 days, as Andrew put it. From those two stills, Fitt produces an extraordinary array of whiskies (as well as a selection of liqueurs). Most of the ageing is in ex-bourbon casks though they do have some sherry, wine, rum and also use some virgin American oak (maturation video here). These various whiskies are divided into two ranges: single malts known as The English, and grain whiskies called The Norfolk. There are also various limited edition whiskies like the Poppy produced for Remembrance Sunday or the Triple-Distilled released last year, many of which are available only from the distillery. Ive picked out a few whiskies to try below. Now that they have old stocks, the Original single malt was on fine form with fruit to fore but also the richness of more mature whiskies. I was also particularly taken with the Virgin Smokey, aged in new American oak and bursting with flavours of tobacco, orange peel, and bonfire smoke. But, I think the Norfolk range of grain whiskies are the distillerys true calling card. This is where Fitts experience as a brewer is telling, the flavour coming from the cereal more than the cask. Andrew said: David has extraordinary taste buds. He has a deep understanding of how different barleys behave. Look at what he does with different cereals in the Farmers which is made with crystal malt, oats, wheat and rye. I particularly loved the Parched, a tribute to an Irish single pot still made from around 35% unmalted to 65% malted barley. It majors on green apple, rather like Green Spot, but in a lighter zestier style. Then theres the Malt and Rye, perhaps the best non-North American rye I have tried. Norfolk Manhattan, anyone? Since the Nelstrop family began in 2006, English whisky has become a proper category which, according to Andrew, helps them enormously when marketing abroad. Theres now a shelf in a whisky shop for English whisky. But where most English distilleries are still finding their feet, St Georges feels like it has very much found them and theyre taking increasingly large strides. They have gone from making excellent Lowland-style single malts in England to developing a distinctive home-grown style. Here are three to try: The English Original Nose: Zesty orange, vanilla custard, grassy malt. Palate: Nuttier than the nose, with notes of almond and hazelnut. Milk chocolate, more orange. Finish: Rich barley and a handful of spices. The English Virgin Smoky Nose: Rich bonfire smoke, with a touch of oak spice, blueberry loaf cake and vanilla. Palate: Medjool dates, caramelised nuts and burnt toast, with lots of wood smoke in support alongside milk chocolate. Finish: A drizzle of honey and dry smoke, with oily citrus peel coming through at the end. The Norfolk Parched Nose: Melon and honey. Brown sugar, nutmeg and stewed pears. Palate: Zesty green apple, mint and creamy vanilla with a touch of baking spice. Finish: Juicy white grapes and lemon meringue. Representative image An investment firm backed by a member of Abu Dhabi's royal family has acquired around 20 percent stake in LuLu Group International for over $1 billion, according to a Bloomberg report. A company headed by Sheikh Tahnoon Bin Zayed Al Nahyan bought a holding in the company that runs one of the largest hypermarket chains in the Middle East, sources told the news agency. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the story. The Bloomberg report did not specify which company Sheikh Tahnoon has used for the investment, or if he has purchased the stake privately. "We don't want to comment on market rumours," V Nandakumar, LuLu's chief communications officer told Bloomberg. Sheikh Tahnoon is the chairman of Royal Group, which has invested in companies across sectors such as media, trade, financing and real estate. He is also the Chairman of First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC, which is the UAE's largest lender. Representatives for Royal Group have not yet responded to a request for comment. LuLu Group International was founded in 2000 by Yusuff Ali MA, a UAE-based businessman who hails from Kerala in India. The company also operates the LuLu International Shopping Mall in Kochi. The cost of the coronavirus pandemic on the US healthcare system could be hundreds of billions of dollars in direct medical expenses, a new study suggests. Researchers say the average cost of the infection alone is $3,045, four times higher than the flu and five times more than a case of whooping cough. With as much as 80 percent of Americans infected - and factoring in other medical costs such as ventilators, lung damage and other organ damage - the US could be facing a bill as high as $654 billion. What's more, the spread of the virus could require resources such as hospital beds and ventilators that may exceed what is currently available. The team, from the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, says its findings show how costs and resources can be cut considerably if the US reduces the spread of the virus. A model found that if 20% of the population became infected, the average cost would be $214.5 billion in direct medical expenses and if 80% were infected, the cost would be $654 billion Researchers found that the average cost of coronavirus infection alone is $3,045, which is four times higher than the flu. Pictured: An emergency room staff member tends to a coronavirus patient at St Joseph's Hospital in Yonkers, New York, April 20 The report also found that we could need up to 44.6 million hospital beds and 6.5 million ventilators, which is significantly less than the US has. Pictured: Two nurses assess the vital signs of a coronavirus patient using a ventilator on the ICU floor at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, April 21 'There is talk of the economic cost of social distancing measures, but not on the other side of the measure which is the impact of the virus and if different percentages of the population were to be infected,' senior author Dr Bruce Y. Lee, a professor of health policy and management at CUNY School of Public Health, told DailyMail.com. 'You see pictures [of hospitals], but you are not really hearing about the numbers. There is a need to quantify what these costs will be.' For the study, published in the journal Health Affairs, the team developed a computer model of what would occur if different proportions of the US population were to be infected. The simulation had different people developing different symptoms and needing different levels of care from an urgent care clinic to hospitalization. Then, researchers calculated the resources each patient would need including hospital beds, ventilators, treatment and time with doctors and nurses. Results showed that one symptomatic case of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, is $3,045 in direct medical costs. That's four times higher than a symptomatic flu case and 5.5 times higher than a symptomatic case of whooping cough. When costs from long-term effects were factored in, such as lung damage and other organ damage, the average cost rose to $3,994. 'Some people are still saying [coronavirus] is like the flu, and some say it's like a cold,' Lee said. 'That's the complete opposite. It's significantly higher than the flu in terms of costs.' He added that 'the costs extended beyond the acute infection' and, for a proportion of people, costs will continue after the infection itself is over. The model showed that, if 20 percent of the US population were to be infected, the average cost would be $163.4 billion in direct medical expenses, with factors pushing it up to $214.5 billion If 50 percent of the population were to become infected, the average cost would be $408.8 billion in direct medical expenses during the course of the infection. And, if 80 percent of the population were to be infected, it would cost an average of $654 billion. Lee says this shows what could occur if social distancing measures are relaxed too quickly and parts of the country begin to reopen. This could lead to infection rates soaring, which will lead to a rise in healthcare costs. 'Eventually these costs will have to be paid for by someone,' Lee said. 'It will eventually trickle down to business paying for [employees'] health insurance.' Additionally, the model found that there is a gap between what could be needed and what the US have. With 20 percent of the population infected, the US would need 13.4 million hospital beds and 2.3 million ventilators. With 80 percent infected, these numbers rise to 44.6 million beds and 6.5 million ventilators. However, according to the Society of Critical Care Medicine, there are only about 100,000 hospital beds and 62,000 mechanical ventilators in the US. 'Everything during this pandemic has to be driven by science and driven by data and facts,' Lee said. 'When you make decisions, or use economic factors of when we should reopen businesses or we should do [a] policy, it needs to include all both sides. 'You have to say: "Here's the cost of these businesses being closes, but here's of healthcare and let's find a balance."' * Euro zone, British PMIs sink to all-time lows * Japan's service sector shrinks at record pace in April * Australia's PMI survey also shows slump in service activity * South Korea's economy suffers biggest contraction since 2008 (Adds European data, changes dateline) By Jonathan Cable and Leika Kihara LONDON/TOKYO, April 23 (Reuters) - Global economic activity all but ground to a halt this month as government-imposed lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic took a particularly heavy toll on the world's service industry, surveys showed on Thursday. The outbreak, which has infected more than 2.6 million people and killed more than 180,000 globally, has also crippled manufacturing, shutting factories and upending supply chains. Meanwhile, with restaurants, bars and other leisure options closed, holidays canceled and travel restricted, the situation in the services industry was dire. To try and support economies reeling from the coronavirus pandemic, governments and central banks around the world have unleashed unprecedented amounts of fiscal and monetary support. But Asia's economic woes, seen in flash purchasing managers' indexes, were echoed in surveys from Europe. Data from the United States later on Thursday are expected to show massive contractions in the factory and services sectors there, too. In the euro zone, IHS Markit's Flash Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), seen as a good gauge of economic health, sank to 13.5, by far its lowest reading since the survey began in mid-1998 and considerably below all forecasts in a Reuters poll. Even the most pessimistic contributor to the poll had predicted a reading of 18.0. As countries began to shut down last month the index staged its biggest one-month fall on record in March, hurtling below the 50 mark that separates growth from contraction to 29.7. "As expected, the euro zone April PMI fell even further, confirming the deep contraction," said Bert Colijn at ING. Story continues "What does the survey really tell us that we don't already know from looking out the window and seeing empty streets and closed shops? Not that much actually." IHS Markit said the PMI was consistent with the bloc's economy contracting 7.5% this quarter. A Reuters poll published on Wednesday had a 9.6% contraction penciled in. It was an even grimmer picture in Britain, where coronavirus hit the economy with more force than any forecaster had feared as businesses reported an historic collapse in demand during a nationwide lockdown. Its PMI fell to a new record low of 12.9, and the scale of the collapse all but guarantees a huge contraction in the world's fifth-largest economy. That will add to doubts about whether the financial help offered by the government is reaching businesses quickly enough. Britain's economy will contract 13.1% this quarter, a Reuters poll predicted earlier on Thursday, which would be the biggest quarterly drop since World War Two. Stocks and other risky assets barely batted an eyelid on the PMIs, most of which is made up of backward-looking data, as caution set in ahead of a Eurogroup meeting to discuss joint stimulus measures. That caution also offset optimism over a fresh round of U.S. coronavirus aid and a rebound in oil prices. "The rather muted reaction relative to the amplitude of the misses proves the lack of surprise for markets, which are almost immune to data at the moment," said Olivier Konzeoue at Saxo Markets. ASIA SLUMP Japan's services sector PMI shrank at a record pace in April, as retailers took a hit from government requests for citizens to stay home and shops to close or operate at shorter hours than usual. The au Jibun Bank Flash Japan Services PMI plunged to 22.8, marking the lowest reading since the start of the services sector survey in September 2007. Its factory PMI fell to 43.7, its lowest since April 2009. "For now, we assume that the index will improve in May, after two seriously low readings, but we are prepared to eat our words, particularly as the new orders and new export orders indices fell further below 50 in April," said Miguel Chanco at Pantheon Macroeconomics. The gloomy data comes ahead of the Bank of Japan's policy meeting next week, at which the central bank is set to sharply cut its growth forecasts and take further steps to ease corporate funding strains. It was similarly painful in Australia where the IHS Markit flash services PMI slumped to a record low 19.6. The flash manufacturing PMI fell to 45.6 in April from 49.7 in March. Separate data on Thursday showed South Korea's trade-reliant economy, Asia's fourth-largest, shrank at its fastest pace since 2008 as self-containment measures kept shops closed and slumping global demand hurt exports. The International Monetary Fund said last week Asia would post zero economic growth this year for the first time in 60 years as the health crisis takes an "unprecedented" toll on the region's service sector. Even China, which is starting up again much earlier than other countries, will see its economy recover only slowly from its first quarterly contraction since current records began, according to a Reuters poll. (Reporting by Jonathan Cable and Leika Kihara; Editing by Sam Holmes and Hugh Lawson) SAN FRANCISCO, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Terminal , a company that builds world-class remote engineering teams for high-growth tech companies, today announced it has acquired talent-mapping software company ROIKOI. The acquisition combines Terminal's global reach, recruiting expertise and expansive engineering base with ROIKOI's AI-powered sourcing technology to identify and automatically engage with top talent. ROIKOI's talent acquisition platform will be available to all clients immediately, marking a critical advance in repairing the broken recruiting process with the most powerful hiring solution on the market. "Fast-growing startups turn to Terminal to quickly hire elite engineers that fit their precise needs, and with ROIKOI we continue to add new technology and services that do that better than anyone else," said Clay Kellogg, CEO of Terminal. "Given the economic pressures around COVID-19, companies are being extra selective to hire engineers who best fit their business needs. Terminal already accelerates the traditional hiring process by 40%; ROIKOI's AI technology adds rocket fuel to swiftly match startups with the ideal engineers to help achieve breakout velocity." Terminal's Engineer 2020 report released earlier this year found that nine in 10 engineers across North America think the hiring process is broken, with 70% noting disorganization and 42% citing long delays as problematic. ROIKOI's referral sourcing process helps startups hire engineers 10 days faster and retain employees twice as long. Its patent-pending Talent Graph enables Terminal engineers to easily identify and vote up top talent in their professional networks. ROIKOI then automatically matches the mostly highly ranked engineers with open positions across Terminal's hiring companies. Built-in outreach tools make it easy to start personalized conversations with candidates, achieving reply rates of up to 65%. "The best way to find the right hire is to work through terrific talent you already have, but most companies haven't found a way to successfully automate the process," said Andy Wolfe, founder and CEO of ROIKOI. "Terminal is a pioneer in building global engineering communities that are gold mines for activating incredible talent. By layering on ROIKOI's technology, we can unlock Terminal's world-class networks to help more engineers find jobs they love while helping startups find essential talent -- and avoid the cost and delays of blind outreach and outdated referral programs." ROIKOI founder and CEO Andy Wolfe joins Terminal to lead product and engineering, where he will drive the company's product roadmap and develop additional technology to advance Terminal's mission of streamlining access to talent. About Terminal Terminal is the world's first tech-enabled remote teams engine for fast growing companies. The company provides services and infrastructure in a complete solution that allows businesses to build world-class remote engineering teams faster than any other solution on the market. We hire, develop and retain talent by creating communities that take the guesswork out of remote and help startups thrive. Fast-growing tech companies such as Bluescape, Chime, Hims and Hers, NextDoor and more look to Terminal to build remote engineering teams based out of Terminal hubs across Canada and Mexico. Learn more about remote scaling at Terminal.io . SOURCE Terminal Related Links https://terminal.io/ Im grateful to the nurses and other front-line staff who took care of my brother, but it is hard to know that there was no family to hold his hand or to say I love you one more time, Warren said. And now theres no funeral for those of us who loved him to hold each other close. I will miss my brother. LAKE GENEVA, WIApril 22, 2020INmortgage Co.s Christine Clark Ranked as one of the Nations Top Originators in four categories with total volume of $50,019,907 and 212 closed transactions for 2019 by Scotsman Guide 2019 Top Originator. INmortgage Co.s Christine Clark and Tony Alivo, along with their dedicated loan team, have captured the attention of the mortgage industry on a national level. INmortgage Co. is a family owned and operated Independent Mortgage Brokerage located in Lake Geneva, Wi. INmortgage operates in all parts of Wisconsin, but has strong ties to Walworth, Kenosha, Racine and Sheboygan Counties. The team accredits their success to their years of experience, top of the line technologies, efficient processes and transparent lending along with the support of their communities, valued clients and many business partners. Christine Clark was Ranked Nationally by Scotsmans Guide in four categories; Top Originator- Overall Volume, Top Originator -Mortgage Broker, Top OriginatorFHA Volume, and Top Originator- Most Loans Closed. Clark put up big numbers with over $50,000,000 and 212 units in closed loan production for 2019. In addition to these National Rankings, Clark secured the #1 Top Originator- Mortgage Broker spot for Wisconsin. Scotsman Guide, the leading resource for mortgage originators, released its 11th annual Top Originators rankings on April 1. The list, which ranks the nations top mortgage producers, appears in Scotsman Guides April 2020 residential edition, and the rankings are available online at https://www.scotsmanguide.com/rankings/top-originators. Scotsman Guide has been trusted for over 25 years by mortgage and real estate professionals and is the only verified mortgage rankings in the industry. Clark was also awarded the high honor of the NAMMBA Top 100 where she was ranked nationally for units. Tony Alivo and Becky Vos clenched the Top 1% of Originators out of 32,0000 Mortgage Brokers awarded by United Wholesale Mortgage; top National Wholesale Lender. Angela Minor earned the Speed to Close award for maintaining an average turn time of 10 days or less for submission to closing from UWM. This dominate team of originators is supported by Barb Alivo, Operations Manager; Gabriella Hopf, Marketing Director, and Brittani Alfano, Loan Support and Process Manager. More information can be found at inmortgageco.com 262-729-4333. INmortgage Co. is an equal housing lender. Inmortgage Co. is a licensed mortgage broker by the State of Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions INmortgage Co. NMLS ID 1754501. Christine Clark NMLS ID 585464 Tony Alivo NMLS ID 577290 Becky Vos NMLS ID 281430 Angela Minor NMLS ID 404845. 820 Geneva pkwy 106, Lake Geneva, Wi 53147. The content of this advertisement is for informational purposes only. This is not an offer for extension of credit or a commitment to lend. (Bloomberg) -- South Africa is considering bailing out yet another state-owned company, at a time when it needs all the money it can get to revive an economy struggling to cope with the coronavirus. The National Treasury said Tuesday its mulling more aid for the nations largest agricultural lender, the Land and Agricultural Development Bank, in the form of a recapitalization and more guarantees on its debt. While the state-owned national airline failed to convince the government it needs extra financial aid, talks to find alternatives to save South African Airways continue. The Land Banks woes come as President Cyril Ramaphosas administration prepares to roll out a 500 billion rand ($26 billion) package to shore up an economy devastated by the fallout from the disease. The lender is seeking waivers from its creditors after missing a loan repayment, triggering a default that could leave the government liable for 5.7 billion rand -- a guarantee the state provided in February. The demands on National Treasury are enormous and unrelenting, said Jones Gondo, a credit analyst at Nedbank Group Ltd. The contingent risks are beginning to crystallize because these entities are unable to withstand this economic shock we are in. The choices have become binary: either bailout or closures. While Finance Minister Tito Mboweni has pledged to curtail financial support for cash-strapped state-owned companies, the Land Banks latest woes are a reminder of how difficult that task is. Mboweni has long cited his desire to shut companies draining the nations coffers, but has run into resistance from factions within the ruling party and its alliance partners in the South African Communist Party and labor unions. Mismanagement, Corruption Years of mismanagement and corruption have crippled state companies including power utility Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., arms manufacturer Denel SOC Ltd. and the national broadcaster. The government has guaranteed about 480 billion rand of debt issued by state-owned entities and is on the hook for 980 billion rand of contingent liabilities, according to the Treasury. Those liabilities are equivalent to about 60% of its total revenue. Story continues Assistance to the Land Bank would need to be accompanied by balance sheet optimization, while it would also have to correct the structural liquidity risk embedded in its books, the Treasury said in an emailed response to questions. The Land Banks failure could cause borrowing costs for farmers to surge and, if not dealt with fast enough, threaten food security, said Omri van Zyl, the executive director for AgriSA, the nations largest farmers group. The Land Bank funds about 30% of the industry. The Land Bank in 2017 signed a $300 million 10-year facility that was arranged by Standard Chartered Plc. The debt was backed by a guarantee from the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, the political risk insurance and credit enhancement arm of the World Bank, the Land Bank said at the time. It has 13.8 billion rand of bonds, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The lender in March appointed Ayanda Kanana as chief executive officer, a post that had been empty on a permanent basis since late 2018. Moodys Investors Services on Jan. 21 flagged governance issues when it downgraded the companys debt, also citing the governments diminishing capacity to help the lender. Each case is unique, but what is common is that SOEs have been in financial trouble for far too long -- given the governments slow pace of meaningful reform implementation, Nedbanks Gondo said. (Updates with coronavirus relief measures 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. Jess Wright, 34, has voiced concerns that she has 'left it too late' to have her desired four kids with her fiance William Lee-Kemp. Speaking to her former TOWIE co-star Bobby Norris, the songstress and reality personality, who became engaged to the businessman last month, admitted that while she's always wanted a big family she thinks she may be too old. Her worries are particularly poignant after Jess locked horns with her mum Carol on the ITVBe reality show in 2016 when the Wright family matriarch suggested she freeze her eggs when she was just 28. Her love: Jess Wright, 34, has voiced concerns that she has 'left it too late' to have her desired four kids with her fiance William Lee-Kemp Last month, Jess revealed her engagement to boyfriend William after he proposed during a romantic getaway to the French Alps. Shortly after the proposal Jess took to Instagram to show off her dazzling ring as she shared a sweet snap of the pair kissing before the snow capped peaks. She captioned the adorable shot: 'A million times YES! I love you so much x.' Jess and boyfriend William only went public with their romance in the summer, but have been dating since January 2019. Speaking to Bobby for New! Magazine from within lockdown with her beau, Jess said: 'Ive always wanted children so hopefully, please God, soonish... She said yes! Last month the TV personality accepted a mountain top proposal from businessman William and took to Instagram to show off her dazzling ring Hurtful: Her worries are particularly poignant after Jess locked horns with her mum Carol on the ITVBe reality show in 2016 when the Wright family matriarch suggested she freeze her eggs when she was just 28 (Carol pictured at the time) 'I appreciate when you have children its a massive deal and your life changes forever, but Im definitely getting to the age where Im ready. I think Im going to have to do it soon, arent I? On her age, the star conceded: 'Ive always said four, because my mums got four and I think its important to have lots of kids around you for when youre older. But because Ive left it quite late I think Ill be lucky to have two.' Jess' fertility has been a hot topic in the past after her mum objected to her romance with Ricky Rayment with the suggestion she should freeze her eggs - causing both Jess and Ricky to take great issue. Soon please! Speaking to Bobby for New! Magazine from within lockdown with her beau, Jess said: 'Ive always wanted children so hopefully, please God, soonish' Locking horns: Jess hit out at Carol for her fertility suggestion Ricky, then-23, discussed how the Wrights' putting down of his relationship with Jess, then-28, made him unhappy. He said: 'Carol my future mother-in-law is speaking to Jess and putting things in her head, saying "He might not be the one for you, you should freeze your eggs." I am sick and tired of having to jump over obstacles to prove myself to be a Wright.' He addressed the subject head on with Jess: 'I was really p**sed off when Carol said about the eggs, it hurts me as that could be my future mother-in-law'. Jess replied: 'My mum is so scared of losing me and committing to something more serious.' As well as Ricky's views on the subject, Jess went on to vent about her mum's suggestion due to her young age. Ricky and Jess split after two years of dating in 2014 after she said she had found flirty Twitter messages sent by him to other girls. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster says police have dealt with 4452 breaches since the lockdown began, including 423 in the past 24 hours. There have been 477 prosecutions, 3844 warning, 131 youth referrals during the alert-level four lockdown. "It's fair to say there has been more activity (by police) in recent days," Andrew. Andrew says the vast majority of New Zealanders have been law-abiding and have played their part during the lockdown. But he says the public must not get complacent as the shift to alert level three approached. "For the next five days we need to continue to stick to the rules." "Over the long weekend you need to remain in your bubble, don't go to your baches." He says police will be visible around popular beaches this weekend and will remain visible under alert level three. He says police recognised there needed to be a period of adjustment, but will take action against those who repeatedly breach rules "We understand some small and isolated communities feel more vulnerable, but we don't encourage local checkpoints." Andrew says over the course of level 4 there had been a decrease in crime in the area of assaults, road policing and theft. Family harm incidents saw a rise in the first few days but this has dropped back to usual levels. Police have been focusing on this area, he says. Civil Defence director Sarah Stuart-Black said the $30 million dollar announcment yesterday will provide authorities with more flexiblity to help, and increase the number of food parcels handed She says 40,000 Kiwis aged over 70 have been contacted to see how they were doing and about 1000 rough sleepers have been given accommodation. She says migrant workers were also being looked at to see what help could be given, and about 42,000 migrants have departed New Zealand recently. Sarah says there will continue to be significant restrictions in place under level 3, "for good reasons". "The restrictions are still strigent. We are not out of the woods yet." -RNZ Earlier: The All of Government COVID-19 National Response will provide a second update this afternoon. Director of Civil Defence Emergency Management Sarah Stuart-Black and Police Commissioner Andrew Coster will address the public live from Wellington at 3pm. The death toll for COVID-19 in New Zealand has increased by two. A woman in her 60s, who had been in a critical condition on Dunedin Hospital, has died. Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield says while her family had not been able to visit her in hospital, arrangements were made for them to be with her last night. He says the woman had an underlying medical condition. The second reported death today is that of a man in his 70s. "He was from Rosewood Rest Home but was not part of the group that had been transferred to Burwood Hospital. "While he had initially tested negative, the man was treated as a probable case and was being treated as if he had COVID-19. He had an underlying medical condition." Ashley says this is a reminder of how serious this illness is. Today, there are only three cases of the virus reported in the past 24 hours. This is made up of two confirmed cases and one probable case. Ashley says laboratories around New Zealand tested a record of 6480 test in the past 24 hours. He says of those tested, 0.05 per cent have returned a positive result. A total of 11277 COVID-19 tests have been conducted in New Zealand to date. A total of eight people remain in hospital, with one person in a critical condition in Middlemore Hopistal. The emergence of a two-tier accommodation system for asylum seekers is unsuitable and unsustainable, the Ombudsman, Peter Tyndall, has said. In his third annual report on dealing with complaints about the direct provision system, the Ombudsman said the Covid-19 crisis underscored the unsuitability of accommodation for asylum seekers. Mr Tyndall welcomed recent efforts by government agencies to move 300 asylum seekers out of emergency accommodation to ensure their safety during the pandemic, but said the Covid-19 outbreak highlighted how unsustainable it is to have three or more people living in the same room. The Ombudsman dealt with 168 complaints about direct provision last year, a 10% increase on 2018, which he attributed to the growing number of asylum seekers. The Ombudsmans office has not seen a surge in complaints during the Covid-19 crisis, but indicated that delays in transferring people and families between accommodation centres was emerging as an issue. A number of Covid-19 outbreaks have been identified in direct provision centres, where asylum seekers may have to share a room with up to three other people, who are not family members. Last year 4,782 people sought asylum in Ireland, a 30% increase on applications in 2018. The number of people living in direct provision grew from 6,592 in January 2019 to 7,667 at the beginning of 2020. Hundreds of applicants have been placed in emergency accommodation due to capacity issues. The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) added an extra 735 bed spaces last year, but also lost 220 spaces with the closure of Hatch Hall in Dublin. At the beginning of this year, 1,524 people were living in emergency hotels, guesthouses, and B&Bs in 37 locations. Current direct provision accommodation is not appropriate for anything other than short-term stay. Emergency accommodation is even more inappropriate. "It is unacceptable that people who have sought refuge here can find themselves in accommodation that is entirely unsuitable for a prolonged period up to 16 months and longer in some cases, Mr Tyndall said. The Ombudsman also said: With people staying in emergency accommodation for this length of time, there is a real risk of a two-tiered system becoming entrenched. "I recognise that IPAS is working hard to reduce the number of people in the emergency sector, but the facts on the ground remain that there are 1,372 people currently in unsuitable settings. He welcomed a commitment from the Department of Justice to reduce the number of people sharing a room to no more than three after the Covid-19 pandemic. He also welcomed confirmation that IPAS will examine the feasibility of building facilities, rather than the current practice of adapting existing buildings. He estimated that if the 1,500 people in emergency accommodation at the start of this year were accommodated in State-owned centres, costs could have been reduced by over 45m per year. As part of its remit to investigate complaints, staff from the Ombudsmans office visited 26 direct provision centres in 2019. The highest number of complaints related to transfers and accommodation. Issues were also raised about access to schools for children, food facilities, and access to GP services and medical cards. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Made Anthony Iswara (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 06:48 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3a5b0a 1 National Earth-Day,Indonesia,zoonosis,COVID-19,Walhi,LIPI Free COVID-19 should serve as a wake-up call for Indonesia to better preserve its natural environment, activists say, as scientists have linked environmental degradation to the spread of the zoonotic diseases. On Wednesday, the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) blamed the countrys capitalist economy and the greed of corporations and investors for the environmental damage that they said had caused COVID-19 to haunt the Earth. The group was referring to a 2016 United Nations Environment Program report, which found that the risk of emergent and fast-spreading diseases increased as encroachment upon natural habitats by mankind intensified. The proximity enabled pathogens found in wild areas to spill over into livestock and humans. Read also: Humans to blame for spread of coronavirus and other 'zoonosis' The mismanagement of our country and of Mother Earth has made us realize that the planet we live on is no longer safe; the Earth is no longer able to sustain the environmental damage of greedy investments, Walhi wrote in a statement on Earth Day. As the global community commemorated the 50th annual Earth Day on Wednesday, COVID-19 continued to cast a pall over most of the worlds countries, dampening the celebrations. Further research is required to determine all the factors that have caused the pandemic, but so far, much of the scientific world suspects that bats and pangolins have acted as carriers of SARS-CoV-2, said Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) microbiology researcher Sugiyono Saputra on Tuesday. SARS-CoV-2 is the coronavirus strain that causes the pneumonia-like disease, which has infected more than 2.4 million people worldwide and killed almost 170,000, according to World Health Organization data on Wednesday. A cartoon depicting Earth Day 2020. (JP/Budhi Button) The virus is believed to have first emerged in animals sold in a wildlife market in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, although newer studies have cast doubt on this assumption. Read also: Wuhan's 'wet markets' struggle after virus lockdown Indonesian researchers have urged the government to implement stronger measures against the cross-border wildlife trade to anticipate the possible spread of COVID-19. Animal rights organizations have also called on the government to close all markets that slaughter or sell illegal wildlife. A coalition of several animal rights groups wrote in late January that they had visited a good number of animal markets where the conditions are the same as those being described by scientists as the perfect breeding grounds for new and deadly zoonotic viruses, potentially exposing thousands of people in Indonesia every day to a variety of diseases originating from animals. Many rural communities across Indonesia still have an appetite for wildlife, such as bats, snakes, wild boar and dogs, putting those who eat them at risk of contracting zoonotic diseases. Read also: Monitor wildlife trade as certain animals 'have potential' as coronavirus carriers, warns LIPI The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), a panel of United Nations experts on biodiversity, estimates that zoonotic diseases kill about 700,000 people a year. The virus that caused the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) epidemic which also originated in China and killed about 800 people worldwide in 2002 and 2003 originated in bats, civets and raccoons. The virus that caused the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) outbreak, which killed 282 people in Saudi Arabia in 2014, was transmitted from camels to humans. Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) senior scientist Herry Purnomo urged urban dwellers to refrain from eating the cuisine of rural communities to keep interactions between wild animals and humans at a minimum and prevent such diseases from spreading in the future. When we do damage to nature, nature will find a new balance that humans may not like, Herry said on Wednesday. He also advised tightening protocols and certifications to ensure food safety in wild animal consumption but warned that illegal markets might thrive if the wildlife trade was banned outright. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said in New York that while the impact of COVID-19 was both immediate and dreadful, [...] there is another, even deeper emergency: the planets unfolding environmental crisis. We must act decisively to protect our planet from both the coronavirus and the existential threat of climate disruption, he said in a statement circulated on Wednesday. The current crisis is an unprecedented wake-up call. This diptych demonstrates the side effects of the physical distancing policy on air quality in Jakarta. The first photo (above) shows a view from Central Jakarta on March 11, with a hazy skyline. The second photo (below) shows the Jakarta skyline around Jl. Sudirman on April 3 with much clearer skies. ((above) JP/Dhoni Setiawan/(below) Antara/ Galih Pradipta) The pandemic has not been all bad news for the environment. Factory shutdowns and travel bans have curbed carbon emissions and made the skies clearer in many countries, including Indonesia. However, experts say the cleaner air may be short-lived as economies will likely try to make up for lost time. Reports of wild animals roaming some of the worlds biggest cities have also emerged as people retreat into their homes and more countries go under lockdown, AFP reported. Indonesia is still miles away from resolving its environmental and wildlife problems. National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) data shows that land and forest fires ravaged 942,484 hectares of the country in 2019, almost double the area in 2018 gutting natural habitats and biodiversity. Read also: Nature takes back world's empty city streets Terrorist who worked as a judge for ISIS arrested in Afghanistan India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 23: The security forces in Afghanistan have arrested a Pakistan-based terrorist of the Islamic State Khorasan province during a raid. The statement released by the National Directorate of Security said that the agencies had arrested Muneeb, a resident of Pakistan also known as Abu Hilal. He is a judge with the ISIS and is known for his close links with the Lashkar-e-Tayiba and Haqqani Network. NIA registers first case outside India and Kerala ISIS operative is prime suspect "Muneeb is a key member of the Central Council of ISIS Khorasan who was also in charge of shadow court, coordination and contact with the other groups including Lashkar-e Taiab, Haqqani Network, Sepa-e Sahaba, Jamiat-e Ulema-e Islam and the Peshawar Council of Taliban," the statement also read. It may be recalled that earlier this month, a terrorist of the Jaish-e-Mohammad arrested in Afghanistan had revealed that they had planned on launching major attacks in Kashmir and also target Indian assets in Afghanistan. It was also revealed that several Pakistan based terrorists were trained and then sent to Afghanistan to target Indian assets. They are also being trained to strike in Kashmir, investigations had also revealed. Advertisement Prince William, Kate Middleton and their children all wore NHS blue as they led the latest week of Clap for Carers this evening - as millions of Britons saluted key workers from their doorsteps. The royal couple stood alongside Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to put their hands together and praise everyone from NHS healthcare workers to shop assistants who are risking their lives to keep the country going. The Duke of Duchess of Cambridge's three children have been encouraged to take part in the Clap for Carers every week, and were joined by Prince Charles and Camilla who are currently staying at Birkhall in Aberdeenshire. The NHS and its staff is something that William and Kate have put at the heart of their private and professional lives, and this week announced a new initiative to support key workers by providing a dedicated mental health support system, Our Frontline. For the fifth consecutive week, people from around the country stood out on their doorsteps to clap for a minute as a thank you for the brave staff on the frontlines battling the coronavirus. Prime Minister Boris Johnson - who is still recuperating from the virus at Chequers - also joined in with fiancee Carrie Symonds. Dominic Raab, who is First Secretary with Mr Johnson away from duties, was also filmed clapping, as was Labour leader Kier Starmer. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their children clapping for NHS and frontline workers on Thursday The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall joining in 'clapping for our carers' outside the front door of their home at Birkhall in Aberdeenshire NHS nurses and occupational therapists help to unveil a rainbow floral display outside the University College Hospital today at Euston Road, in London to thank the public for their support during the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic An NHS worker reacts outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Hospital staff come out of Chelsea and Westminster and are greeted by a small but enthusiastic crowd, including several car loads of Met Police Officers Members of the emergency services take part in the nationwide clap to show thanks for the work of Britain's National Health Service NHS Workers outside of the Newham University Hospital in London clap along with millions of others nationwide as people recognise the work of frontline staff in the coronavirus pandemic Police officers and staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital applaud to show their appreciation for National Health Service workers A child holds a sign which says 'Thank you NHS and my mummy' at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport during the clap for carers Pedro from Tooting plays Tequila on the saxophone to show support for key workers during this week's clap for carers Residents in Tonbridge, Kent, United Kingdom, take part in the fifth Clap for Our Carers as the Coronavirus lockdown continues The picture of Prince William and his family clapping appeared in a comedy skit with Stephen Fry for The Big Night In - a fundraising telethon to raise money for key workers and those affected by coronavirus taking being shown on BBC One tonight. In the sketch, The Duke of Cambridge told Fry that homeschooling his children had proved 'a bit of a nightmare, really'. He added: 'By the way, have you seen anything good on TV? It's hell without EastEnders.' When Fry suggests Tiger King, the duke said that he 'tends to avoid shows about royalty'. Before getting up to take part in the clap for carers, he said: 'On my way, let me just see if I can find my socks, and my shoes, and my trousers.' Footage of the duke clapping outside his home with his family was then aired as the tribute to key workers began at 8pm. The first emotional Clap for Carers took place on Thursday, March 26, and has happened every week since, in an act of solidarity and praise for those who are dedicating so much during the pandemic. Tonight, people banged pots and pans, dressed up in silly costumes, and chanted their support for the NHS, while keeping a safe social distance, all across the country Emergency services vehicles blared their sirens and as they paid tribute to their colleagues, and others, while flashing their blue lights. Buildings were also decorated with signs, flags and banners - while the famous BT Tower in London was also lit up in tribute of frontline workers. Tower Bridge and the London Eye were also lit up, as were the famous brick towers of Croydon IKEA. The Countess of Wessex joined a video call with Thames Valley Air Ambulance this week, where she thanked crew members who have been redeployed to help their NHS colleagues working on the frontline A medical staff member applauds outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS this evening Health workers take part in a national 'clap for carers' along the banks of the River Thames to show thanks for the work people across the country Residents in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear applaud to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative to recognise and support NHS workers and carers fighting the coronavirus pandemic Crouch End residents take part in 'Clap For Carers' this evening banging pots with spoons and wearing colourful headwear Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab applauds to show his appreciation for National Health Service (NHS) staff working amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak A medic at St Thomas Hospital in London shows her support to National Health Workers while they are taking part in the Clap For Carers (left). Pictured right: An NHS worker applauds outside the Aintree University Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Liverpool NHS staff take part in a national 'clap for carers' to show thanks for the work of Britain's National Health Service (NHS) workers and frontline medical staff along the Thames A Fire Brigade boat crew shows their support to National Health Workers while they are taking part in the Clap For Carers during the Coronavirus outbreak in London People applaud outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) The London Eye turned blue during the 'Clap For Our Carers' campaign in support of Britain's National Health Service Tower Bridge is illuminated in blue during the 'Clap For Our Carers' campaign to support the National Health Service in London The famous BT Tower in London displays the message 'Tonight we are Clapping in Support' in support of Clap For Carers The famous brick towers of Croydon IKEA are lit up in blue to show appreciation for NHS workers looking after the UK's coronavirus patients A man is seen on a balcony in Hemel Hempstead next to a banner, during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS People applaud outside Queen Elizabeth Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS, as the spread of the coronavirus continues in Birmingham NHS workers react outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS as the spread of the coronavirus disease The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge previously shared footage of their children clapping and yesterday marked the second birthday of Prince Louis by releasing an adorable pictured of him with rainbows on his outstretched hands in tribute to the NHS. As well as the millions making it out onto the streets First Secretary of State Dominic Raab also joined in with the clap for carers applause in Westminster. Mr Raab, who is deputising for Boris Johnson while he recovers from coronavirus, said in a Twitter post: 'The weekly ClapForCarers and NHSHeroes is a brilliant demonstration of how the UK unites in moments of crisis. 'By coming together we will beat this virus.' Meanwhile, celebrities have been out in their numbers supporting the initiative, including former Saturday's singer Frankie Bridge and her husband, ex-Chelsea and Southampton football star, Wayne Bridge. Football manager Harry Redknapp, who won the nation's hearts and the I'm a Celebrity Crown in 2018, and wife Sandra, also joined in the nationwide clap from their home in Sanbanks, Dorset. Former Saturday's singer Frankie Bridge and her husband, ex-Chelsea and Southampton football star, Wayne Bridge, joined in the clap with their family and posted it on Instagram Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp and his wife Sandra join the tributes to NHS staff and carers on Thursday evening Journalist Kate Garraway, who featured in I'm a Celebrity the year after Harry Redknapp, and whose husband, Derek Draper, remains critically ill in intensive care battling coronavirus, also posted an emotional tribute on Instagram. Draper, 52, a former lobbyist and political adviser, has been in hospital since the end of March. Following Thursday night's Clap For Carers, TV presenter Garraway posted a message on Instagram in which she said 'where there is life there is hope'. Alongside a video, she wrote: 'Another emotional clapthecarers & never has it been more needed. If this pandemic lockdown is dragging on for us, imagine what it is like for them. Shift after endlessly long shift , bravely going to work, to battle the virus and give our loved ones a chance. Journalist Kate Garraway, who was I'm a Celebrity in 2019, and whose husband, Derek Draper, remains critically ill in intensive care battling coronavirus, posted an emotional tribute on Instagram Following Thursday night's Clap For Carers, the TV presenter posted a message on Instagram in which she said 'where there is life there is hope' 'None of those keeping my Derek alive have ever made me feel it's a chore, they want to win this as much as I want them to, but it must be so hard. He is still critically ill in intensive care, but where there is life there is hope. 'Thank you nhs from the bottom of my heart . Thank you too for all your wonderful messages and advice of how to get through this'. The Good Morning Britain presenter said she was 'gathering the things that have helped me' and would be posting them on clubgarraway.com, her wellbeing website, for free. The touching gesture of national solidarity came just hours after a virtual tribute to the NHS was traced across the skies of North Antrim just hours before the weekly clap for carers. Stephen Fry (pictured in the top right hand corner of the laptop screen) reprised his role as Melchett in Blackadder to take a Zoom call with Prince William (main) Stephen Fry (left) is pictured in his Blackadder role as Melchett on a Zoom call to Prince William (right) Stephen Fry went out on his doorstep to clap for the NHS at 8pm after his call with Prince William People and emergency responders stand on Westminster Bridge near to St Thomas' Hospital in London to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative Staff outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London join in the applause to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative Staff outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London join in the applause to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative NHS workers react outside Chelsea and Westminster Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues A healthcare worker applauds the Bessbrook Crimson Arrow Pipe Band after they played for staff outside Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry, Northern Ireland Members of Leicester's emergency services applaud during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of Britain's National Health Service NHS Workers pose for a photo outside of the Newham University Hospital in London during the fifth consecutive Clap for Carers Ambulance crews on Westminster Bridge show their support to National Health Workers while they are taking part in the Clap For Carers Police officers applaud during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of Britain's National Health Service (NHS) amid the ongoing coronavirus The Northern Ireland fixed wing Air Ambulance, operated by Woodgate Aviation, were behind the the initials on Thursday. The route taken by the King Air BE20 aircraft could be seen on flight tracking apps Planefinder and Flightradar as it flew at 15,000ft over Coleraine and Ballymoney. The Air Ambulance was on a proving flight following maintenance work at the Woodgate hangar at Belfast International Airport. Pilot Nick Byrne, from Bangor, Co Down, was at the controls during the solo flight. 'Completion of maintenance work on the King Air coincided with the weekly 'clap for carers' when people show their appreciation for NHS staff,' he said. People are seen on Westminster Bridge during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues Paramedics outside the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in London, join in the applause to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative An NHS worker applauds at St Mary's hospital in London during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Hospital workers hold a placard outside the Aintree University Hospital during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow applaud to show their appreciation for frontline workers amid the coronavirus pandemic NHS staff outside the Royal Derby Hospital to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers initiative NHS Workers outside of the Newham University Hospital in London mark clap for carers, which has now taken place for five weeks in a row Members of Leicester's emergency services applaud during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of Britain's National Health Service 'We decided we would try to write NHS in the skies which could be seen on aircraft tracking apps. 'I've never attempted anything like this before and although there was a little wavering, I'm delighted with the outcome.' Woodgate Aviation operations manager Keith McKay added: 'We have a long track record of working with the highly professional and dedicated staff in the NHS, and this was our way of applauding the tireless work they do in our hospitals. 'We all owe frontline staff such an immense debt of gratitude that we felt this would be a fitting and novel way of recognising their efforts on our behalf.' Meanwhile, a group of nuns, which include a well-known Newcastle United 'superfan' tonight joined in on the national celebration of key workers. The nuns, who live at St. Anthony's Convent of Mercy in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, stood on the street applauding in a moving show of solidarity with the nations key workers Sister Josepha Matthews, famous in the region for being a dedicated Newcastle United fan, played the guitar and sung three hymns while the rest of the nuns joined in The nuns, who live at St. Anthony's Convent of Mercy in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, stood on the street applauding in a moving show of solidarity with the nations key workers. Sister Josepha Matthews, famous in the region for being a dedicated Newcastle United fan, played the guitar and sung three hymns while the rest of the nuns joined in. The 67-year-old, who is the youngest nun in the convent, said: 'We are usually pretty quiet, we don't go out on the street making a noise. 'But I want everyone to know we are thinking of them. The nuns sang the hymns This Little Light of Mine, He's Got the Whole World in his Hands and Give me Joy in my Heart. The nationwide clap came as two thirds of Britons have said the UK should be given an extra bank holiday to celebrate medics and care staff who battle the coronavirus pandemic. Campaigns such as Clap for Carers has highlighted how much the UK values the NHS and care workers Firefighters applaud outside Hertford Fire Station during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of the NHS Ambulance staff at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital come outside to clap public for their support during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers Nursing staff at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital come outside to clap public for their support during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers Staff at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Glasgow applaud to show their appreciation for National Health Service (NHS) workers amid the coronavirus disease Healthcare worker clap along as the Bessbrook Crimson Arrow Pipe Band plays for staff outside Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry, Northern Ireland, to salute local heroes A piper from the Bessbrook Crimson Arrow Pipe Band plays for staff outside Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry, Northern Ireland NHS staff step outside to appreciate the public support for them at Worthing Hospital in Worthing, West Sussex Members of Leicester's emergency services applaud during the Clap for our Carers campaign in support of Britain's National Health Service Staff from the Royal London Hospital take part during the 'Clap for our Carers' campaign in support of Britain's National Health Service A London Ambulance worker takes a patient with an unknown condition from an ambulance outside of the Royal London Hospital on April 20 Two NHS workers are seen outside Queens Hospital this week wheeling in a patient on a stretcher As campaigns such as Clap for Carers, Captain Tom Moore's walking challenge and other fund raising appeals shine a light on how much the UK loves the NHS, many think health care workers deserve further recognition. So far in the UK it has been reported that over 100 NHS and care workers have died from the coronavirus, and the report suggests the public want more to be done to ensure the safety of key workers. BOY, 13, COMPLETES 12-HOUR CLAP CHALLENGE A 13-year-old boy who clapped continuously for 12-hours in support of NHS workers has raised more than 5,300. Theo Woods was applauding non-stop to show his appreciation for NHS staff and key workers from 8am until 8pm just outside of his home in Hartlepool, County Durham. Theo said: 'I really enjoy doing the clapping every Thursday and I wanted to raise money for the NHS and for what's going on. 'So I thought I would clap for 12-hours to try to raise money for them. 'All of the NHS workers do 12 hour shifts so that is what made me decide on 12 hours and it is going really well, I have been going for four hours. 'My hands are okay but my elbows and shoulders are starting to hurt! 'I never expected to raise so much, it is really really good. I am live streaming on Instagram and all the messages are keeping me going.' Incredible Theo has smashed his original 400 target. Proud mum, 48-year-old Christine Swift, a business coach, said: 'He has done so well, since we have been on lockdown he has enjoyed and thrown his heart into the 8 o'clock claps. 'Captain Tom Moore really inspired him raising all that money and we have close friends working on the frontline, Theo said he would love to do something. 'He said he just had the idea to clap for 12 hours so that's what he did, he has done the whole thing himself. 'He sorted the go fund me page and everything, I am immensely proud, I am in awe of him.' The mum of Theo and Nancy, seven, from Hartlepool, County Durham and a business coach, added: 'His hands aren't so bad because he has got marigolds on.' Advertisement A report by the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank revealed that Britons want a new bank holiday to celebrate both health and care workers. A YouGov poll found that almost two thirds of the population supported this proposal, compared to a quarter who opposed. The report also found that the UK supports more intervention from the UK government. The public wants more substantial support for workers putting their lives on the line to fight the coronavirus pandemic. 96 per cent of people polled agreed the government should introduce more support for healthcare workers' physical health. This is while 95 per cent of people supported more support for their mental health needs. 88 per cent were in favour of more generous pay and leave entitlements for them. The report also proposes a five point plan for a 'Care Fit for Carers'. The guarantees echo that made in the First World War. During that time there was a 'homes fit for heroes', the new report demands that the government must deliver such a package for NHS and care workers. The five guarantees would be: safety, accommodation, mental health, pay and care. It warns that if action is not take, there will be a serious strain on key workers. Chris Thomas, IPPR Health Research Fellow and lead author of the report, said: 'Our care heroes are making significant sacrifices to pull our country through this crisis. But government must ensure people's lives, livelihoods and security are not lost unnecessarily. That means taking urgent action' 'Care Fit for Carers is about giving the heroes of the coronavirus pandemic the protection, support and security they need. No one should have to put their health at risk because PPE is lacking. 'No one should face a mental health crisis because no support was there. And no one should face financial destitution while delivering our crisis response.' Kate Middleton wears a blue 129 floral Ghost dress as she joins Prince William and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to clap for the NHS at their Norfolk home By Jessica Rach for MailOnline The Duchess of Cambridge put on a stylish display in an 129 floral blue dress by Ghost as she joined Prince William, 37, Prince George, six, Princess Charlotte, four, and Prince Louis, two, to clap for the NHS tonight. In a new family picture released to the Kensington Palace Instagram account at 8pm on Thursday night to mark the weekly #clapfortheNHS, Kate, 38, opted for the Anouk Dress, which features fabric-covered buttons all the way down and romantic ruffles along the collar and hem, and is currently on sale for 90.30 and in stock. Wearing her hair perfectly blow-dried and accessorising with drop earrings, she matched Prince William, who coordinated in a blue sweater and shirt as they stood in front of Amner Hall, their Norfolk country home. Taking after her mother, little Charlotte was also seen wearing a pale blue paisle cotton dress, while Louis wore navy shorts, a collared shirt and dark blue jumper. George, mirroring his father in blue slacks, wore a check shirt much like the one Louis wore in his birthday pictures. The Duchess of Cambridge put on a stylish display in an 129 floral blue dress by Ghost as she joined Prince William, 37, Prince George, six, Princess Charlotte, four, and Prince Louis, two, to clap for the NHS tonight Kate, 38, opted for the Anouk Dress, which features fabric-covered buttons all the way down and romantic ruffles along the collar and hem, and is currently on sale for 90.30 and in stock Blue is said to have calming effect, and reprsents trust, loyalty, wisdom, confidence, intelligence, faith and truth. Earlier today Kensington Palace released picture of Prince Louis to mark his second birthday. The Duchess of Cambridge opted to dress Prince Louis in a 12 Tu check bodysuit from Sainsbury's to take the adorable pictures released for the royal's 2nd birthday today. Prince Louis can be seen beaming having smeared rainbow colours across his cheeks in an adorable unseen picture taken by Kate Middleton, 38, to mark her youngest child's special day. The snap, which was released on Kate Middleton, 38, and Prince William's, 37, official Kensington Royal Twitter page today, shows the adorable Prince grinning having covered his face in paint. And the little boy appears to be taking after his father, wearing the same checked navy shirt the Duke of Cambridge wore during a tour of Australia almost exactly six years ago to the day, in 2014. The Duchess of Cambridge opted to dress Prince Louis in a 12 Tu check bodysuit from Sainsbury's to take the adorable pictures released for the royal's 2nd birthday today Posting the cute image alongside one of the Prince showing off his rainbow painted hands, Kensington Palace captioned the post: 'Sharing a sneak peek of Prince Louis handiwork ahead of his second birthday! ''The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are pleased to share new images of Prince Louis, taken by The Duchess this April.' They then shared more of the little boy, writing: 'Instagram vs Reality. Thank you for all your lovely messages on Prince Louis second birthday!' The 100 per cent cotton shirt style bodysuit comes with a pair of black dungarees, and is still available in all sizes from newborn to 24 months. The pictures of Prince Louis were taken at Anmer Hall, their Norfolk home, this month by his doting mother Kate. fans quickly remarked on how much the little boy was taking after his father, wearing the same checked navy shirt the Duke of Cambridge wore during a tour of Australia almost exactly six years ago to the day, in 2014 (seen with George, far right) In the snaps, the young royal can be seen dressed in a smart, blue checked shirt, and has the same heart-shaped faces, rosy cheeks and enchanting gap-toothed smiles as his brother, Prince George, six. The image was shared after an initial series of charming photos showing the well behaved royal enjoying an arts-and-crafts session as he painted rainbows to celebrate the NHS. Pictures of rainbows started springing up up in windows across the country after schools closed in response to the coronavirus outbreak. They originated in Italy and quickly spread to the UK, where they are seen as a message of hope and something fun for children spot on their daily hour of exercise. Kate even carefully painted a rainbow on his hands to make a perfect print. Their three children are also encouraged to take part in the 'clap for carers' every week, which will take place again tonight at 8pm. The young prince raised his rainbow coloured hands to his face, that were carefully painted on him by his mother Kate Prince Louis looked absolutely thrilled with his rainbow coloured handprint to stick on the front window of the family home in Norfolk The playful Prince! As Louis celebrates his 2nd birthday today, his parents released this adorable snap of the youngster smearing rainbow paint across his cheeks in an outtake from his birthday photoshoot with mother Kate Middleton, 38 Adorable: With his little hands smudged with paint and a broad grin on his face, Prince Louis is clearly pleased with his artistic creation An extra 1,400 people in England and Wales are dying in their own homes per week during the coronavirus outbreak, figures show. Latest data from the Office for National Statistics revealed 4,117 people passed away at home in the week leading up to April 10. That's 1,392 more (51 per cent) than the week before the country became gripped by the pandemic. Many of the excess deaths are thought to be caused by the virus, but experts warn some will be due to people feeling anxious about going to hospital during the crisis. Health Secretary Matt Hancock yesterday begged seriously ill patients to keep using the NHS amid fears patients are scared of catching COVID-19 in hospitals. The ONS report also showed the numbers of people dying with the coronavirus in care homes had soared since mid-March. In the week ending March 20, two residents died; this rose to 20 the week after that, 187 the following week and 768 between April 4 and April 10. It comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) today announced that care home residents made up half of all COVID-19 deaths in Europe. An extra 1,400 Britons are dying in their own homes per week during the coronavirus outbreak. Some 4,117 people in England and Wales passed away at home in the week leading up to April 10. That's 1,392 more (51 per cent) than the weekly average before the crisis Thousands of cancers are being missed every week because patients are not going to their GP, a leading charity has warned. Above, ambulance crew deal with a patient at Royal London Hospital Tom Dening, professor of dementia research at the University of Nottingham, said there were many reasons for the spike in home deaths, 'including people not feeling able to attend their GP surgeries, call an ambulance or attend A&E. He added: 'Therefore, some serious conditions may present too late for effective treatment. CARE HOME RESIDENTS MAKE UP HALF OF ALL COVID-19 DEATHS IN EUROPE The World Health Organization (WHO) announced today that residents in long-term care facilities account for up to half of coronavirus-related deaths in Europe. Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said there was a 'deeply concerning picture' emerging of the impact COVID-19 is having on those in care. He told a press conference on Thursday that the way some care facilities operate is 'providing pathways' for the virus to spread within the population. Dr Kluge said: 'According to estimates from countries in the European region, up to half of those who have died from COVID-19 were resident in long-term care facilities. This is an unimaginable human tragedy.' Asked how many of Europe's care home deaths were from the UK, Dr Catherine Smallwood told the briefing the WHO has not yet been provided with the latest up-to-date figures. The sentiments echoed those shared by the Government's Chief Medical Officer, professor Chris Whitty, who said he was 'sure we will see a high mortality rate sadly in care homes, because this is a very, very vulnerable group'. He told reporters on Wednesday that the 826 deaths reported in England and Wales by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the week ending April 10 were 'an underestimate'. These latest figures bring the total number of Covid-19 care home deaths since the start of the outbreak to 1,043. Care home bosses have expressed concerns over acquiring personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing, and one said that some types of equipment are up to 24 times more expensive than they were before the pandemic. Dr Kluge said that PPE should be provided, and testing of any suspected cases in care facilities should be 'prioritised'. He said that staff working in care homes need to start being paid 'appropriately', as they are 'often overstretched, underpaid and unprotected'. Dr Kluge also told the briefing that 50 per cent of the world's COVID-19 cases - over 1.2 million - have been recorded in Europe and more than 110,000 people have died. Advertisement 'Another possibility is that some people with serious conditions, like cancer or chronic kidney disease, are either unable or unwilling to attend hospital on the usual regular basis, so their treatment regimes may lapse. 'Some people confined to their homes are likely to be drinking and smoking more, or eating less healthily, and this may also contribute to health problems, including accidents, around the home.' People with diabetes or high blood pressure may struggle to manage their condition if GP surgeries are closed, he added. Appointments have moved to over the phone or video call, but managing unstable conditions is much harder remotely than with face to face attention. Robert Dingwall, a professor of social sciences at Nottingham Trent University, said the strain of the outbreak on the NHS was resulting in heart attacks or stroke patients not being treated quickly enough. Figures show thousands of heart attack and stroke victims are waiting at least two hours and 20 minutes for an ambulance during the crisis. Emergency response times are the worst on record as paramedics face a surge in demand at a time when many are off sick. Patients with suspected heart attacks or strokes are bearing the brunt as they are bumped further down the priority list behind the growing number of virus call-outs. They are classified as 'category 2' calls and should have an 18-minute target response time. Professor Dingwall said some deaths may reflect an increase in suicides or stress-related physical disorders as a result of lockdown and unemployment. But he said it was too early to say this was the case for sure due to how those deaths are investigated. There are also concerns the disruption to daily life will drive people to drink more alcohol, smoke or eat unhealthily. Meanwhile, The Mail revealed yesterday that up to 2,700 cancers were being missed every week because patients were avoiding seeing their GP or not attending screening. Cancer Research UK said the numbers being referred by doctors for urgent hospital appointments or checks had dropped by 75 per cent since the start of the coronavirus outbreak. Sarah Woolnough, from the charity, said about 2,300 cancers were being missed every week as a result, and many patients' operable cancers would become inoperable if they remained undetected. Separate figures estimate that another 400 cancers a week are being missed because screening for breast, cervical and bowel cancer has been suspended. Sarah Woolnough, from Cancer Research UK (pictured), said about 2,300 cancers were being missed every week as a result of the coronavirus crisis. She warned many patients' operable cancers would become inoperable if they remained undetected Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said yesterday it was 'absolutely critical' for heart attack and stroke victims as well as children with asthma to continue to seek medical help. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced today that residents in long-term care facilities account for up to half of coronavirus-related deaths in Europe. Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe, said there was a 'deeply concerning picture' emerging of the impact COVID-19 is having on those in care. He told a press conference on Thursday that the way some care facilities operate is 'providing pathways' for the virus to spread within the population. Dr Kluge said: 'According to estimates from countries in the European region, up to half of those who have died from COVID-19 were resident in long-term care facilities. This is an unimaginable human tragedy.' Asked how many of Europe's care home deaths were from the UK, Dr Catherine Smallwood told the briefing the WHO has not yet been provided with the latest up-to-date figures. The sentiments echoed those shared by the Government's Chief Medical Officer, professor Chris Whitty, who said he was 'sure we will see a high mortality rate sadly in care homes, because this is a very, very vulnerable group'. He told reporters on Wednesday that the 826 deaths reported in England and Wales by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in the week ending April 10 were 'an underestimate'. These latest figures bring the total number of Covid-19 care home deaths since the start of the outbreak to 1,043. Care home bosses have expressed concerns over acquiring personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing, and one said that some types of equipment are up to 24 times more expensive than they were before the pandemic. Dr Kluge said that PPE should be provided, and testing of any suspected cases in care facilities should be 'prioritised'. He said that staff working in care homes need to start being paid 'appropriately', as they are 'often overstretched, underpaid and unprotected'. Dr Kluge also told the briefing that 50 per cent of the world's COVID-19 cases - over 1.2 million - have been recorded in Europe and more than 110,000 people have died. The news comes as the Government is trying to recruit thousands more people to work in social care as the sector faces ongoing pressures due to the pandemic. Job sites including Indeed and Monster have offered to help fill the vacancies. Minister for care, Helen Whately said: 'We want to bring together all those thinking they might work in care with social care providers looking for new recruits and to make it as simple as possible for the doors to open up for thousands more compassionate and committed people to work in care.' COOPERSTOWN N.Y.- Fire Departments, Ambulance Crews, and Law Enforcement Agencies from throughout Otsego County came together Wednesday evening to salute the health care workers working the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic at Bassett Medical Center. The groups of first responders got together at the Blue Trolley Parking Lot off of Linden Ave, and then made their way to Bassett, giving the doctors and nurses working there a salute. The first responders from Cooperstown and Otsego County turned on their lights and sirens outside the Hospital. Many of the healthcare workers came out onto the Hospital's front lawns to wave and take the thanks given to them from the Emergency Crews. Victor Jones, a member of the Cooperstown Fire Department, and the Assistant Coordinator for Emergency Services in Otsego County, says this was a great way to express how hard the doctors and nurses at Bassett have worked throughout the pandemic. "We (fire departments) talked about it among some local area fire chiefs, and decided that maybe this would be a good tribute to them (the healthcare workers)." said Jones. "To express all our appreciation and gratitude for all the efforts that they've (the Bassett workers) put forth." Jones added. John Harris, a Mailroom Employee who works at the Hospital feels the way the community turned out for the parade and salute is very supportive. "We live in a great, great community." said Harris. "We have great support all the way around for everybody. Our first responders support our Hospital, our Hospital supports our first responders, and we all work in conjunction with each other in a very, very good fashion." Harris added. To close off the parade and salute, the Fly Creek Fire Department left a sign thanking Hospital Workers on the fence in front of the Hospital's entrance. France is to bar companies headquartered in tax havens or with subsidiaries benefiting from low-tax regimes from receiving any government aid during the coronavirus crisis. The country has pledged to stump up billions to help companies avoid folding during the nationwide lockdown, which is set to be gradually lifted beyond essential sectors starting from May 11. But unions have warned that some bosses may seek to pocket state aid rather than using it to ensure employees keep their jobs. Bruno Le Maire, the French finance minister, said: "It goes without saying that if a company has its fiscal headquarters or any subsidiaries in a tax haven, and I insist strongly on this point, it will not be able to benefit from state aid." The COVID-19 shutdown has cost half of France's private sector's workers their jobs. Credit:AP France has already indicated that companies who buy back their own shares or pay dividends during the crisis will also be barred from state aid. An internal government memo says layoff notices may be issued to the civil service while the province is still exploring options about voluntary work-reduction and Employment Insurance work-sharing agreements. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. An internal government memo says layoff notices may be issued to the civil service while the province is still "exploring options" about voluntary work-reduction and Employment Insurance work-sharing agreements. "Our goal is to minimize actual layoffs but our collective agreements require notice periods," said the memo sent Wednesday on behalf of Michael Richards, deputy secretary of cabinet and Charlene Paquin, civil service commissioner. If the civil service doesn't come up with the workforce cost reductions that the provincial government requested, legislation will be used as a "last resort," the memo warned. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES "That's a brutal negotiating tactic," NDP Opposition Leader Wab Kinew said Wednesday. "That's a brutal negotiating tactic," NDP Opposition Leader Wab Kinew said Wednesday after calling for the house to reconvene so the government can be held accountable for its proposed public-sector cuts and looming layoffs. "It really is a heavy-handed approach to get people to agree to give up their incomes or jobs." The memo "terrified" public-service employees who've been waiting to hear the province's plans for voluntary work reductions and if its proposed Employment Insurance work-sharing scheme has been approved, the president of the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union said. "It absolutely is menacing," said Michelle Gawronsky, who said she has been taking calls from both union members and non-members with questions about the memo warning about layoff notices: "Aren't we in discussions? Are we going to be laid off anyway?" Province MIA in fight for business sector Click to Expand Premier Brian Pallisters focus during the pandemic has been on the health-care battle, while leaving the economic fight to the federal government. Posted: 7:00 PM Apr. 20, 2020 The focus of Manitobas COVID-19 efforts has, quite properly, been on slowing the spread of the virus and providing the necessary resources so we can enable our public-health system to properly treat all those who contract the virus. We seem to be doing well in that battle, for which the provincial government, our health-care workers and the entire community can take real pride. But there is another battle to be waged, which is just coming into focus and has the potential, if we dont win it, to be far worse in its impact than the health battle we have been fighting. Read Full Story Premier Brian Pallister's proposed civil-service cuts seeking up to 30 per cent cost reductions during the pandemic have produced panic among public-sector workers, drawn criticism from the opposition and dire warnings from prominent local businessman and former Manitoba Hydro chairman Sandy Riley. Concerns about layoffs during the COVID-19 crisis are economic, not just partisan, political or personal, the Conference Board of Canada said. At times like this, with the economy contracting and so much uncertainty, governments need to prime the pump, not take their foot off the gas, the non-partisan think-tank said. "Typically, when you have a very large shock to the economy, governments will increase spending to act as a buffer and absorb some of the impact," the Conference Boards associate director of economic forecasting Alicia Macdonald said Wednesday. "When you start reversing that and look at economic cuts, it tends to exacerbate the problem," said the Ottawa economist. Pallister has said it's time to cut spending in one part of the public service on non-essential workers to ramp up spending for essential front-line services battling the virus. "Some governments are making that argument," said Macdonald. "Money is still flowing into the economy but that doesn't provide the same stimulus as where they're ramping up spending to help the economy." There can be unintended consequences of trying to save money by laying off government workers in a recession. Before last centurys Great Depression, governments cut public-service spending to save money. "Instead of helping to buffer the economy, the government made it worse by taking more money out of the economy," she said. "One thing to remember when a sense of normalcy (returns) is the fewer consumers impacted, the better it will be for those businesses. Youre relying on people to come back and frequent your business. The more people who lost their jobs, the fewer the people who have money to spend and the more it will stall the economy." Economist Alicia Macdonald The Pallister government got approval in an emergency session of the house on April 15 to borrow $5 billion to respond to COVID-19 but remains intent on cuts to the public service. The premier has stated several times that the private sector has suffered the most as the result of the pandemic, while the public sector is providing less service during the pandemic, so layoffs are justifiable. Punishing the public sector may not help the private sector or the province in the long run, said Macdonald. "One thing to remember when a sense of normalcy (returns) is the fewer consumers impacted, the better it will be for those businesses. Youre relying on people to come back and frequent your business. The more people who lost their jobs, the fewer the people who have money to spend and the more it will stall the economy." Pallister's proposed cuts would hurt the economy and make things worse, Kinew predicted. "All these people facing layoffs, jobs cut, a reduced work week will have less money to spend on food-delivery services, grocery stores or to order something online form local businesses trying to survive," Kinew said. TREVOR HAGAN / FREE PRESS FILES "It absolutely is menacing," said MGEU President Michelle Gawronsky. The premier should follow the example of a fellow Conservative who helped Canada get through the last economic crisis. "Think back to 2008 when Stephen Harper stood up and said governments have to spend money during a recession," Kinew said. "He spent money to keep jobs and wages." 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. Rather than laying off government workers, the Pallister government could redeploy them across the economy to help Manitoba be the first province to safely and successfully reopen, Gawronsky said. "Instead of using the crisis as an excuse to lay people off, why isn't he looking creatively to harness people's skills and get through this?" In addition to casino workers redeployed to Liquor Marts to help with bottle delivery and COVID-19 sanitizing, government workers could be assigned to help the private sector as social-distancing monitors and ushers for businesses that reopen, for example, Gawronsky said. Instead of having a private firm such as Dynacare calling people who've tested negative for COVID-19, government workers already on the payroll could be making those calls, the union president said, adding they can be sent to help with essential services where workers are feeling swamped, she said. "We can all wash a floor, if that means I'm going to keep my paycheque," she said. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca The Berejilklian government is seeking advice on how it can ban the public display of Nazi symbols after a spate of recent incidences where swastika flags have been flown. NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman confirmed on Thursday he has requested the advice from the Department of Communities and Justice about a ban, which follows a flag being displayed from a Newtown home at the weekend. The NSW government is looking to ban Nazi flags after a swastika was flown on a Newtown house at the weekend. "These symbols of hatred and anti-Semitism are unacceptable anywhere in our community," Mr Speakman said. "They are deeply offensive and capable of traumatising survivors of genocide and their loved ones. The small but disgraceful minority who display these images insult the memory of the millions of victims of the Holocaust and those who died defending the world from this hatred." Labor frontbencher Walt Secord, who is also deputy chair of the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Israel group, urged the government to consider a ban and Liberal MP for Vaucluse Gabrielle Upton wrote to Mr Speakman on Monday. New-construction home sales were heading into what should have been a roaring year, with the second strongest March in 20 years, apart from the overheated month in 2017. But the head of the home builders association said he expects April will tell a far different story. Those (March) numbers are reflective of activity prior to the current stay-at-home requirements, said David Wilkes, CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD). Sales of new GTA homes rose 67 per cent year-over-year last month, based largely on condo transactions that soared 108 per cent year-over-year. Single-family homes a category that includes detached, semi-detached and town homes rose only 3 per cent in the same period. Prices on single-family homes also remained flat at a $1.12-million benchmark. But condos sold for 26 per cent more year-over-year, bringing the benchmark to $983,133. Altus Group, which tracks the new-construction home industry, did not have data on sales activity following the enforcement of COVID-19 restrictions in the middle of the month, said Patricia Arsenault, executive vice-president. But, she said, March sales were a result of the launch in February of 4,100 units in 15 condo projects the strongest February for new openings since 2000. Eight of those projects were launched in the last 10 days of February, so the sale of those condos wouldnt have been recorded as firm until March. But only two projects launched in March, both in the first week of the month, said Arsenault. By the middle of the month, builders were offering online appointments only or suspending sales. Given the above, we believe that the first half of March would have been much stronger than the second half, she said. Sales data for April is not yet available. But those numbers are expected to be much lower, Arsenault said. It is hard to say how the closures will affect project launches and sales for the rest of the year, she said. Probably people will take a bit of a wait and see. That is certainly what we saw in totally different circumstances during the recession in the latter 2000s. There werent a lot of projects being launched for several months, Arsenault said. The dearth of new launches in March brought the inventory of available homes down by 3,266 units available in pre-construction projects and those in progress or completed to 13,933 from 17,199 last year. Wilkes said the home-building industry is working with the Ontario government to try to prevent the COVID-19 health crisis from becoming a housing crisis. The province is allowing some construction to continue on homes close to occupancy as long as work sites maintain strict safety measures. There are growing concerns, however, about delays in newer housing projects the underground work in highrises, the grading of sites, laying of pipes and infrastructure for subdivisions. Those foundational aspects of home-building are the priorities when the province allows people to get back to work, he said. The delays will be felt down the road and the nature of that work is very seasonal. If we lose these key weeks and months, it will have a compounded effect, Wilkes said. He would not speculate on the long-term impacts on housing prices from the economic fallout of COVID-19. But, he noted, there was strong housing demand going into the crisis. What we, along with every other industry, will be monitoring, is consumer confidence coming out of this freeze on the economy, Wilkes said. Part of the demand that was fuelling the GTA growth was internal migration to urban areas, as well as immigration. Right now, with the restrictions on travel, were not seeing any immigration, so that will be another factor well be monitoring very carefully. [April 23, 2020] MaxLinear Announces Early Termination of Hart-Scott-Rodino Waiting Period for MaxLinear's Pending Acquisition of Intel's Home Gateway Platform Division MaxLinear, Inc. (NYSE: MXL), a leading provider of radio frequency (RF), analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits for the connected home, wired and wireless infrastructure, and industrial and multimarket applications, announced today that on April 21, 2020 the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC (News - Alert)) granted early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (HSR Act) with respect to MaxLinear's pending acquisition of Intel's (News - Alert) Home Gateway Platform Division. As previously announced on April 6, 2020, MaxLinear and its wholly owned subsidiary have entered into a definitive agreement with Intel Corporation under which MaxLinear would, subject to customary closing conditions, acquire Intel's Home Gateway (News - Alert) Platform Division assets in an all-cash, asset transaction valued at $150 million. The Home Gateway Platform Division comprises Wi-Fi Access Points, Ethernet and Home Gateway SoC products deployed across operator and retail markets. Termination of the HSR Act waiting period satisfies one of the conditions to closing of the proposed transaction. The closing of the transaction is also subject to other closing conditions, including local work councils. Subject to the satisfaction of these other conditions, the transaction is currently expected to close in the third quarter of 2020. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contins forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements with respect to the anticipated timing of the proposed acquisition. These statements are based on management's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may contain words such as "will be," "will," "expect," "anticipate," "continue," or similar expressions and include the assumptions that underlie such statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: the challenges and costs of closing the acquisition; risks and uncertainties arising from the global Covid-19 pandemic; and other factors affecting the business, operating results, and financial condition of either MaxLinear or the acquired business, including those set forth in MaxLinear's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as applicable, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements are based on the estimates, projections, and assumptions of MaxLinear management, as applicable, as of the date hereof, and MaxLinear is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. About MaxLinear, Inc. MaxLinear, Inc. (NYSE:MXL) is a leading provider of radio frequency (RF), analog and mixed-signal integrated circuits for the connected home, wired and wireless infrastructure, and industrial and multimarket applications. MaxLinear is headquartered in Carlsbad, California. For more information, please visit www.maxlinear.com. MXL and the MaxLinear logo are trademarks of MaxLinear, Inc. Other trademarks appearing herein are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005230/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Target employees say they are fed up with what they believe are inadequate coronavirus safety precautions, and are planning to call off work by the masses next Friday in protest. Target Workers Unite, a group for the retailers rank and file employees, announced the protest will be held on May 1, International Workers Day. Employees allege the foot traffic at Target stores has been atrocious, putting us at needless risk when greater safety measures are required to ensure social distancing," according to the post. Target has announced a number of safety precautions in recent weeks to abide by state and federal health guidelines. At the beginning of the month, stores began monitoring the number of customers who entered the store. The retailer announced at the same time that face masks and gloves would be provided for employees. Target said occupancy limits would vary based on location and store size. Since early March, weve introduced dozens of safety, social distancing and rigorous cleaning measures in our stores across the country. These include cleaning checklanes after each guest transaction and rotating the use of checklanes for deep cleaning, installing Plexiglass partitions at checklanes, actively monitoring, and when needed, metering guest traffic and implementing overhead audio messaging reminders, to name a few, a company spokesman said. With the safety of our guests and team members in mind, we continue to actively monitor the situation and make adjustments, as needed. For example, given CDC guidance on the role that masks can play in slowing the spread of the coronavirus and to keep our team and guests safe, we recently began requiring that team members wear masks or face coverings when working in our stores. The workers who run the Target Workers Unite website said part of the problem is shoppers who visit stores out of sheer boredom instead of necessity. If a worker contracts the coronavirus because of these conditions, their pay would not be enough to cover hospitalization or funeral costs, the employees argued. They do not respect our space, they are not coming to our stores exclusively for essential items, but are occupying our stores out of boredom and for fun, the post said. The guests desire for recreation are not more important than team members needs for safety. Since the coronavirus outbreak picked up speed in the U.S., Target has enhanced benefits for its employees, including two-week quarantine pay and the provision of bonuses for 20,000 people who supervise individual store departments. Employees who are 65 or older, pregnant or considered vulnerable by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were offered fully-paid leave for up to 30 days. "While we take them seriously, the concerns raised are from a very small minority. The vast majority of our more than 340,000 frontline team members have expressed pride in the role they are playing in helping provide for families across the country during this time of need. When concerns have been brought to our attention, weve taken additional action, including increasing the frequency of overhead announcements and adding more signage," the company spokesman said. READ MORE: Eminem feeds frontline workers at two Detroit hospitals with 400 portions of Moms Spaghetti Elizabeth Warrens brother, Donald Reed Herring, dies from coronavirus at 86 8 tigers, lions test positive for coronavirus at Bronx Zoo With largescale catastrophic events on the rise, a hardening market and greater challenges facing investment portfolios, it is increasingly critical to ensure commercial properties are insured to value. Many carriers have put in place co-insurance and margin clauses to limit loss exposure when properties are undervalued and, while this may protect the carrier, it can result in a negative customer experience that should be avoided, especially during a time of loss. The Centre has told the Delhi High Court that medical evacuation flights have been permitted since April 20 subject to the conditions that no more than two attendants accompany the patient and the state government gives its no objection. The submission was made by the Civil Aviation Ministry before Justice V Kameswar Rao during the hearing, via video conferencing, on a man's plea seeking permission to take his wife for cancer treatment to Chennai. The man had also sought reimbursement of the treatment costs under the Delhi Government Health Scheme (DGHS). On the reimbursement aspect, Delhi government additional standing counsel Gautam Narayan told the court that a committee was set up to examine the instant case and it has concluded that reimbursement of costs was not possible as hospital -- Apollo Proton Cancer Centre -- in question was not on the panel of DGHS or CGHS. On the patient's travel to Chennai by air ambulance, Narayan told the court that a no objection letter would be issued by the Delhi government. Taking note of the submissions, the court directed Delhi government to issue the letter by Friday and listed the matter for hearing on August 14 with regard to the issue of reimbursement. The court also asked the Centre to check whether the hospital in question was empanelled under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). According to the petitioner, his wife is suffering from carcinoma and has been advised proton therapy at the hospital in Chennai and he had forwarded to the Delhi government all the details, including estimated costs, for grant of requisite permission for the treatment. However, as he received no response, he had to approach the court, he has said in his plea. He has also said that as his wife needs the treatment at the earliest, he is willing to travel to Chennai and bear the therapy costs, but it should be reimbursed later in accordance with the health scheme rules. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A couple who spent almost a month sailing in isolated waters were shocked when they reached their destination to find out the deadly coronavirus had swept through the world, bringing their hometowns to a standstill. Elena Manighetti and Ryan Osborne have been sailing since 2017 and documenting their adventures though social media. The couple told the BBC they were travelling across the Atlantic ocean from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean last month with plans to dock on a small island in mid-March but by the time they got there, coronavirus had taken over and borders had closed. Elena Manighetti and Ryan Osborne spent a month at sea were shocked to learn the scale of coronavirus pandemic. Source: sailingkittiwake In February we'd heard there was a virus in China, but with the limited information we had we figured by the time we got to the Caribbean in 25 days it would all be over," Ms Manighetti told the BBC. "When we arrived we realised it wasn't over and the whole world had been infected," Mr Osborne added. The couple who live in Manchester when they arent sailing, had limited access to news from the outside world and had instructed family and friends not to send bad news, a common practice with sailors. "We told our shore contacts we didn't want to hear any bad news, which was a difficult job as it was pretty bad news," said Elena, whose family is from Lombardy, the worst-hit region in Italy. When the couple tried to dock at one of the French territories in the Caribbean they were informed the border was closed. "Even at that point we assumed it was a preventative measure due to the high season. We thought the islands didn't want to run the risk of a few tourists infecting the locals, Mr Osborne said. Russian servicemen disinfect Italian region of Lombardy, Elena Manighetti's home town. Source: AAP The couple sailed to Grenada to find an area where their 4G signal was good enough to contact a friend in Saint Vincent who explained to them they would be denied entry as Ms Manighetti was an Italian citizen. The couple were finally able to dock after proving they had been in isolation at sea for 25 days with their GPS tracking. Once the couple were on dry land they contacted family and discovered just how bad the pandemic had become. Story continues "Ryan and I hadn't realised how it had affected our families until we docked and I managed to call my dad, Ms Manighetti said. 'We're sandwiched between the hurricane season and the virus' the couple said. Source: sailingkittiwake "It was a hard conversation. He told me to not panic but our town had been one of the worst affected areas globally. He sent me a New York Times profile on our hometown, which made it all feel suddenly real. I was shocked. "It's a very macabre picture at home, there are no more coffins, no more cemetery space or room in the crematorium. My family is thankfully safe at home and have been in lockdown for over six weeks, but people we've known for years have died, she said. In the UK there have been more than 18,000 deaths and in Italy more than 25,000 from COVID-19. The couple are now waiting it out in Saint Vincent as nowhere is open but they hope to leave before a hurricane is due to hit at the beginning of June. We're sandwiched between the hurricane season and the virus," Ms Manighetti said 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. A Melbourne police officer is working to raise $2 million for the families of four colleagues who were killed on the Eastern Freeway on Wednesday evening. Narre Warren Senior Constable Steven Pope has launched a GoFundMe page which he hopes will raise $500,000 for each family. More than $38,000 had been raised within 14 hours. "This is a brutal reminder of the danger police face in the course of their service, every minute of every shift," Senior Constable Pope wrote on the fundraising site. "Whilst we mourn their loss, we grieve with their families and colleagues. The railroad also will hire more car-cleaning employees, hand sanitizers will be available in stations and on cars and the marketing firm working for the South Shore will help tell the public they can be confident returning to the trains, he said. WASHINGTON The official who led the federal agency involved in developing a coronavirus vaccine said on Wednesday that he was removed from his post after he pressed for rigorous vetting of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malaria drug embraced by President Trump as a coronavirus treatment, and that the administration had put politics and cronyism ahead of science. Rick Bright was abruptly dismissed this week as the director of the Department of Health and Human Services Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, and removed as the deputy assistant secretary for preparedness and response. He was given a narrower job at the National Institutes of Health. In a scorching statement, Dr. Bright, who received a Ph.D. in immunology and molecular pathogenesis from Emory University, assailed the leadership at the health department, saying he was pressured to direct money toward hydroxychloroquine, one of several potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections and repeatedly described by the president as a potential game changer in the fight against the virus. I believe this transfer was in response to my insistence that the government invest the billions of dollars allocated by Congress to address the Covid-19 pandemic into safe and scientifically vetted solutions, and not in drugs, vaccines and other technologies that lack scientific merit, he said in his statement. I am speaking out because to combat this deadly virus, science not politics or cronyism has to lead the way. Tankers can store "55-60 days of excess oil supply" Vortexa The world's tankers may have the capacity to store the excess production for 55 to 60 days, according to Vortexa, a UK analytics company specialising in waterborne oil markets. Cardston, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2020) -American Creek Resources Ltd. (TSXV: AMK) ("the Corporation") is pleased to report that its JV partner Tudor Gold Corp has initiated metallurgical studies for the JV flagship project, Treaty Creek, located in the Golden Triangle of north-west British Columbia. This study will focus on the mineral characteristics and the prospects of developing Treaty Creek as a bulk tonnage mining target using conventional processing techniques. The test work will be conducted on material selected from the extensive continuously mineralized drill core intervals encountered in the 2019 exploration program. The metallurgical test results will be used as part of the initial economic assessment for the project. The metallurgical study will be managed under the direction of Frank Wright, P.Eng., of F. Wright Consulting Inc, of Delta BC. The related laboratory test program will be conducted at Bureau Veritas Minerals - Metallurgical Division of Richmond, BC (BV). BV is a globally recognized and certified testing facility with customers ranging from small independent operators to large multi-national mining firms and consultants. Mr. Wright has over 30 years of experience consisting of both operations and consulting in the fields of mineral processing and hydrometallurgy. His career has included the last 20 years as a qualified independent professional engineer managing process advancement for projects worldwide, although primarily focused in BC. His work includes oversight of test programs leading to the selected process flowsheet and design criteria, related technical reporting, supervision of detailed engineering, and assisting in project commissioning. Tudor Gold also announced an agreement with RTEC (a joint venture partnership between ERM Consultants Canada Ltd. (ERM) and the Tahltan Nation Development Corporation (TNDC)), to begin preliminary baseline studies that will be required for provincial permitting of the Treaty Creek project. These baseline studies will focus on surface water quality, hydrology, atmospherics, wildlife and archaeology. Tudor Gold's Vice President of Project Development, Ken Konkin, P.Geo., states: "The metallurgical test work and baseline studies will provide crucial data to further our project development plans. These studies will serve as templates for on-going studies aimed to carry the project forward to more advanced stages. Both studies will begin in conjunction with the 2020 diamond drill hole exploration program that is planned to start this spring. In addition, our geologists will select representative composite samples from last year's drill holes as the basis for our preliminary metallurgical studies." The safety and wellbeing of Tudor Gold employees, contractors, and communities they work in is of upmost importance. Tudor Gold has developed new operational guidelines to reduce the chance of spread of the COVID-19 virus while conducting our work, which has been deemed as essential service by the Provincial Government. Tudor Gold's Covid-19 policy and guidelines are available on their website at: https://tudor-gold.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Tudor-Gold---COVID-19-Policy-Response-Plan-April-2020.pdf Walter Storm, President and CEO of Tudor Gold stated: "2020 is poised to be a transformative year for our company. The agreement with RTEC to begin preliminary baseline studies, necessary for potential future mine permitting, together with the initiation of the metallurgical studies, demonstrates our commitment to further advance the Treaty Creek project. These studies as well as the upcoming drill program are fully funded. We are particularly pleased that we were able to further strengthen our partnership with the Tahltan First Nations through the RTEC agreement." About the RTEC Joint-Venture partnership RTEC is a joint venture partnership between ERM Consultants Canada Ltd. (ERM) and the Tahltan Nation Development Corporation (TNDC). With more than 5,500 people, ERM is a leading global provider of environmental, health, safety, risk, social consulting services and sustainability related services. The Tahltan Nation Development Corporation (TNDC) is the business arm of the Tahltan Nation. TNDC pursues sustainable and responsible business and economic development opportunities in the region that lead to employment, training and business opportunities for Tahltan members. Qualified Person The Qualified Person for this news release for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 is the Company's Vice President of Project Development, Ken Konkin, P.Geo. He has read and approved the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this news release. Treaty Creek JV Partnership The Treaty Creek Project is a Joint Venture with Tudor Gold owning 3/5th and acting as operator. American Creek and Teuton Resources each have a 1/5th interest in the project creating a 3:1 ownership relationship between Tudor Gold and American Creek. American Creek and Teuton are both fully carried until such time as a Production Notice is issued, at which time they are required to contribute their respective 20% share of development costs. Until such time, Tudor is required to fund all exploration and development costs while both American Creek and Teuton have "free rides". Treaty Creek Background The Treaty Creek Project lies in the same hydrothermal system as Pretium's Brucejack mine and Seabridge's KSM deposits with far better logistics. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/682/54792_287016a3748179c5_001full.jpg About American Creek American Creek is a Canadian junior mineral exploration company with a strong portfolio of gold and silver properties in British Columbia. Three of those properties are located in the prolific "Golden Triangle"; the Treaty Creek and Electrum joint venture projects with Tudor Gold/Walter Storm as well as the 100% owned past producing Dunwell Mine. More information about the Treaty Creek Project can be found here: https://americancreek.com/index.php/projects/treaty-creek/home The Corporation also holds the Gold Hill, Austruck-Bonanza, Ample Goldmax, Silver Side, and Glitter King properties located in other prospective areas of the province. For further information please contact Kelvin Burton at: Phone: 403 752-4040 or Email: info@americancreek.com. Information relating to the Corporation is available on its website at www.americancreek.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. This news release contains forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the Corporation's management discussion and analysis filed with applicable Canadian securities regulators, which can be found under the Corporation's profile on www.sedar.com. The Corporation does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/54792 Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 16:29:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MANILA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Six Abu Sayyaf terrorists have been killed and eight soldiers wounded in a clash in the southern Philippines, a Philippine military spokesman said on Thursday. Major Arvin Encinas, the spokesman of the Philippine military's Western Mindanao Command, said the clash broke out around 6 p.m. local time on Wednesday in a remote village in Patikul town in Sulu province of the southern Philippines. Encinas said the bandits fled after a 30-minute firefight. The military claimed more terrorists were wounded in the clash. He said the Abu Sayyaf terrorists that clashed with the troops on Wednesday were part of the terrorist group that attacked the troops also in Patikul town on Friday last week that killed 12 soldiers and wounded 13 others. Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana, the Philippine military's Western Mindanao Command commanding general, said troops are hunting down the fleeing terrorists. Abu Sayyaf Group is considered the smallest but the most violent of the extremist groups in the southern Philippines. The group, which has an estimated 400 fighters, is active in the impoverished archipelagic provinces of Sulu and Basilan. The group is responsible for the series of kidnappings, deadly bombings, ambushes of security personnel, public beheadings, assassinations, and extortion in the Mindanao region. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 21:01:16|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Saud Abu Ramadan GAZA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- For this year's holy month of Ramadan, Ahmad al-Aydi, a 55-year-old Palestinian teacher from Gaza city, will not be able to go to the downtown market to buy soft drinks and green vegetables for his wife to prepare a tasty salad to break a daily dawn-to-dusk fast. That's all because of the travel restrictions imposed amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic which has cast a long shadow on tens of thousands of Gazans who will welcome Ramadan on Friday. "This year, the month of Ramadan is not as usual as it used to be. It will be different as there will be no prayers, no shopping, no invitations for mass meals and we will not be able to go to restaurants or cafes," al-Aydi told Xinhua while sitting on a chair just outside his home. Hotels, restaurants, cafes and public market will remain locked down, said Eyad al-Bozzom, spokesman of the Hamas-run Ministry of Interior, at a news conference in Gaza on Thursday. "More precautionary measures will be taken during Ramadan all over the Gaza Strip. All markets will be shut down and prayers at mosques will be banned and people are asked to pray at home," he noted. Since March 5, the Hamas-run health ministry has recorded 17 COVID-19 cases across the Gaza Strip including nine recoveries, with around 2,000 still in quarantine. Sheikh Abu Mohammad Halawa, a 65-year-old Imam in the main mosque in al-Mughazi refugee camp in central Gaza, said he hopes the authorities would keep mosques open during Ramadan. "It is the first time in my life that I can't lead prayers in the mosque," Halawa, who has been leading prayers in the mosque for more than 45 years, told Xinhua. Mahmoud al-Sa'eedi, a 25-year-old unemployed man who got married three months ago, said the coronavirus will deprive the Gazans of all the beautiful activities which are only carried out during Ramadan. "I'm unemployed, and I ran out of cash and I'm not able to pay my debts back," he told Xinhua. Enditem Around the world, photographs are popping up showing usually-polluted cities that now have blue skies and sunshine. While sheltering at home is an emotional and financial challenge for many of us, we're witnessing what a world with less pollution looks like. Obviously a pandemic is not the answer to our climate woes, but it is showing us what a big impact human action has on the environment. The question is: how do we keep doing good for the environment as the economy returns to normal? A lot of us want to transition to clean energy and move away from fossil fuels in our daily lives. Given the infrastructures (or lack thereof) in place, the process can seem daunting, even though we know that it's the direction the world needs to head in. Throughout much of the United States, you are often only given one option for energy. That's not going to cut it. Even residents that live in energy-competitive states are forced to exert a lot of effort to transition to clean energy. Given that Americans only spend an average of eight minutes every year thinking about their utility bills, we need an easy-to-understand process that works for the environment and our wallets. This is exactly why Arcadia was founded. Their automated platform helps members access green energy sources in their region. Thanks to their unique pooling of resources, many members even save money every month. https://www.youtube.com/embed/pi-RqXcg3lg As part of its smart rates feature, Arcadia negotiates with energy suppliers on your behalf to get you cheaper power rates. Because it represents many customers, Arcadia can often get cheaper rates than individuals would be able to on their own. That means some households in eligible states can save significantly, depending on the rates they paid before. All the while, Arcadia matches your energy usage with renewable wind energy. Even if you dont live in an energy-competitive state, you can still take advantage of their renewable energy match for free. That means the environment -- and by extension, you -- still wins. https://www.youtube.com/embed/M0WcpWYPoJk Simply enter your zip code on Arcadias website to find out what programs you're eligible for. After that, you'll connect your utility account and start matching your energy use with clean energy. If youre in an energy-competitive state, Arcadia will start looking for better rates for you. You can also pay your utility bill automatically through Arcadia -- as a bonus, you can pay with a credit card without any fees. People in eligible states can also join Arcadias community solar program at no cost. Even if you're not eligible for rooftop solar, community solar is a great option. You get all the benefits of solar power without the hassle, expense, or long-term contracts associated with rooftop panels. Saving money while helping the environment is a double win. Sign up today to receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card or four standard LED lightbulbs! A vial of the investigational drug remdesivir is visually inspected at a Gilead manufacturing site in the United States, in March 2020. (Gilead Sciences via AP) Remdesivir Study Ended Early With No Improvement for COVID-19 Patients An antiviral drug tested against COVID-19 in patients in China did not quicken their improvement or prevent death, according to results briefly posted online on Thursday. Remdesivir, developed by Gilead Sciences, is an experimental drug that some experts are optimistic can prove effective against COVID-19, a disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a novel coronavirus. But a study conducted in the country the virus emerged in last year showed use of remdesivir wasnt associated with a difference in time to clinical improvement or any clinical or virological benefit, according to a document posted on the website of the World Health Organization (WHO). The study involved 237 patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19 but was terminated prematurely, researchers wrote. The WHO described posting the information as a mistake that was quickly taken down. Gileads Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Merdad Parsey, said investigators running the study didnt give permission to publish the results. A medical staff member speaks with a patient infected by the CCP virus at Red Cross Hospital in Wuhan, Hubei province, China, on March 10, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Furthermore, we believe the post included inappropriate characterizations of the study. The study was terminated early due to low enrollment and, as a result, it was underpowered to enable statistically meaningful conclusions. As such, the study results are inconclusive, though trends in the data suggest a potential benefit for remdesivir, particularly among patients treated early in disease, he said in a statement. Gilead experts saw the results from its open-label study of remdesivir in patients with severe cases of COVID-19 at the end of April and the company expects data from a study looking at the drug in patients with moderate COVID-19 cases at the end of May. The trials saw 3,000 additional patients enroll earlier this month. Gilead has also distributed doses for use in hospitals to patients who cant take part in trials. Additionally, the company expects data from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases study of remdesivir. There are multiple ongoing Phase 3 studies that are designed to provide the additional data needed to determine the potential for remdesivir as a treatment for COVID-19, the statement read. These studies will help inform whom to treat, when to treat and how long to treat with remdesivir. 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) Gilead stocks dropped after the draft document was posted. This is pretty close to a worst case scenario as not only did the clinical effect not manifest, but there wasnt even an antiviral effect to explore, Bairds Brian Skorney wrote in a note. Others urged caution. The bottom line is that stating the trial flopped appears overly aggressive and premature, particularly in light of Gileads comments, Piper Sandler analyst Tyler Van Buren said in a note. Results from studies of existing drugs are highly anticipated because there is no vaccine or proven treatment for COVID-19. Remdesivir and hydroxychloroquine are perhaps the drugs that have shown the most promise in limited preprint or small studies, with one showing remdesivir helped patients with severe cases of the new disease. Remdesivir significantly reduced the CCP virus in monkeys. Other drugs being tested against COVID-19 include Kevzara, baricitinib, and Avigan. Angry youth in three communities in the Gambaga-Nalerigu Constituency in the North East Region on Wednesday hot afternoon allegedly chased out the Member of Parliament for the area, Hajia Alima Mahama and her entourage from the area. The MP who doubles as the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development and her followers had visited the communities to rally the support of party delegates in the upcoming parliamentary primaries. The Deputy North East Regional Minister and East Mamprusi Municipal Chief Executive including the women's organizer of the NPP in the constituency were part of the entourage that were allegedly chased out. Speaking to Citi News, one of the individuals who took part in the action, Abubakari Wasiwu explained their motive. She made a whole lot of promises before she was elected. And ever since she was elected up until today, we never heard from her. She has not been able to execute any of the promises she made. Nothing has happened until she returned yesterday. So we are also saying that once she made a promise, left and never returned again without any information on what was going on and its time for re-election, we are fed up. Once she doesnt want us, we also dont want her. But what happened was that once she arrived, they [angry youth] began crossing her with woods for her to return, So that was what they did and she sped off. MCE response But reacting to the story, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of East Mamprusi, Baba Danladi who was part of the entourage denied the claims that the MP was chased. The Minister wanted to speak to the people about the Coronavirus. She was moving with the Chiefs with some Veronica buckets to some vantage points. She was engaging the opinion leaders to tell the people about the need for them to practice social distancing. So we were doing that. We got to that community and after we engaged the people, a group of angry youth came around asking us if we had seen their roads. And we said yes because people were telling us about their roads. But, nothing of violence did happen, I am saying this based on what I saw there, the MCE said. ---citinewsroom Thiruvananthapuram, April 23 : Wayanad District Collector Adeela Abdullah on Thursday announced that a detailed probe will be carried out as to how a woman was able to travel from the state capital and pass through the check posts at Wayanad and enter neighbouring Karnataka. "Everything would be looked into and cases would be registered against those who may have helped her in anyway. Likewise, when she returns, a case would be registered against her also. She travelled using a pass issued by the police. "The police are not the competent authority for inter-state travel. Everything will be probed," said Abdullah. The Keralite is a school teacher with Kendriya Vidyalaya in the state capital, while her husband is working in Delhi. According to the reports, she travelled from here using a pass issued by an official attached to the narcotic wing of the Kerala Police. She arrived at the Kerala-Karnataka border in Wayanad district in a State Excise department vehicle and those at the check post allowed it to pass. She later got down from the vehicle and entered another waiting vehicle and drove away. Bella Hadid isn't going to let the coronavirus pandemic get in the way of her work ethic, which she proved on Thursday when she debuted a striking new fashion campaign that was shot over FaceTime in her home. The 23-year-old appears in a series of sizzling photos for high-end brand Jacquemus, in some cases posing completely nude, with just a large handbag to cover her modesty. While proudly sharing the photos on her Instagram account, the model also revealed behind-the-scenes footage from the FaceTime shoot, capturing photographer Pierre-Ange Carlotti directing her into different positions, before snapping the shots over the video call app. Quarantine suit: Bella Hadid has posed for a new fashion campaign for high-end brand Jacquemus while in lockdown at her mother Yolanda's home Dare to bare: The 23-year-old shot the images over FaceTime with photographer Pierre-Ange Carlotti, who directed her over the phone Smile! Bella described the shoot as being 'the best few hours' and said that she loved 'reconnecting' with Pierre-Ange Shady: Despite the unique setting of the shoot, Bella seemed to have no problem making the images look as professional as possible '@jacquemus 2020 @ Home / by my angel friends Simon & @blackpierreange...' Bella captioned the gallery of photos. 'Best few hours... Reconnecting....' In the photos, which were also shared by Pierre-Ange and the brand, Bella is seen modeling a series of looks, including a tiny neon yellow-and-orange crop top, which she is pictured wearing with a pair of matching neon yellow pants that have been left open at the waist. Another particularly risque shot shows Bella posing naked, with just a large brown patent leather handbag to cover her up. Making full use of the space around her, Bella, who is currently quarantining at her mother Yolanda's farmhouse, posed for the campaign in a variety of rooms, at one point lying down on a bed while modeling a green bikini top and matching green shades. In one other photo, she is pictured leaning back against the wall with one arm up in the air, wearing nothing but a netted crop top, while another handbag - a pink-and-straw beach design - is used to cover up her bottom half. Alright in white: The model showed off a range of designs from the brand's Summer 2020 collection, and posed for the images in a variety of locations Natural beauty: She also wore minimal makeup for the shoot, opting for a more effortless look that matched the setting and vibe of the campaign Super star: Social media users praised the campaign, complimenting Bella on her natural beauty, and paying tribute to both the model and the brand for their creativity Favorite: This is not the first time that Bella has posed for the brand; both she and Gigi modeled for Jacquemus at Paris Men's Fashion Week in January When it came to her beauty look, Bella embraced the relaxed nature of the shoot and went with an effortless vibe, wearing minimal makeup. Her hair meanwhile was styled in a few different ways, from a slicked-back updo to a simple loose style to more crimped waves. In the behind-the-scenes footage that Bella shared, she is seen chatting with photographer Pierre-Ange, striking different poses, and also holding up different looks, no doubt asking which one he would like to see modeled next. It is not the first time that Bella has worked for the brand - and the campaign actually comes just a few months after she and her sister Gigi Hadid hit the Jacquemus runway at Paris Men's Fashion Week in January. Jacquemus is one of several brands to have embraced a more low-key style when it comes to new fashion campaigns, with Zara recently calling on its models to shoot their own images at home in lieu of being able to do a professional photoshoot in a studio amid the pandemic. But despite the low-res nature of the Jacquemus shoot, Bella still manages to look like a billion bucks - with Instagram users going wild over their raw feel. Quirky: Bella got creative during the shoot, even enlisting a prop or two Working hard: Bella also shared a few behind-the-scenes clips from the shoot, showing the conversation between herself and photographer Pierre-Ange over FaceTime Decisions, decisions: In the videos, which were muted on Instagram, Bella is seen holding up different looks for Pierre-Ange to decide on 'Such a professional shooting from home and by herself, we stan a queen and a handsome collection!' one person commented on the images, while another added: 'Okay maam but you didnt have to slay us like that.' Her fellow model Elsa Hosk also chimed in to comment: 'Loooove.' Thursday was a day of double celebration for Bella who, hours before her Jacquemus shoot was unveiled, took to social media to pay tribute to her older sister Gigi in honor of her 25th birthday. Bella shared a sweet video of her beloved sibling on Instagram, showing Gigi wearing a silver tiara while blowing out the candles on a bagel cake, as well as numerous photos of the two sisters from over the years. 'Happy birthday to my built in best friend,' said Bella on social media. 'I celebrate not only today but every day.' Tribute: Hours before sharing her new campaign photos, Bella paid tribute to her sister Gigi Hadid, who turned 25 on Thursday Cheers all around: Bella shared a video of Gigi blowing out the candles on an impressive-looking bagel cake, while surrounded by her loved ones So many gifts: There were many bags with presents inside as they sat at the long table Then she added four red hearts and the note: 'Obsessed with you obviously.' While Bella's schedule is normally packed, the model has had a chance to enjoy some downtime with her family as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has seen Americans across the country hunkering down in their homes to stop the spread of the deadly virus. But the model has found plenty of ways to entertain herself during lockdown. On Saturday, Bella revealed that she had tried her hand at hairstyling in order to trim her own bangs - with the help of her close friend, hair guru Jen Atkin. The fashion star has also spent plenty of time soaking up the great outdoors, riding her horse, and spending time in the beautiful grounds surrounding her mother's farm house, where both she and Gigi are currently staying, while their younger brother Anwar is in London with his popstar girlfriend Dua Lipa. The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday arrested a newly recruited terrorist from Neehama area of Kulgam district in south Kashmir. Following a tip-off, a police party during a raid apprehended the terrorist at Neehama village. IGP Kashmir confirmed the arrest. Police identified the arrested terrorist as Shakir Ahmad Alie son of Mushtaq Ahmad Alie, a resident of DH Pora, Kulgam. Some arms and ammunition were recovered from the arrested person, he said. A case in this connection has been filed and further investigations initiated. Alie, according to police had joined terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen on April 14. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 03:05:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Most commodity prices are expected to drop in 2020 amid the global economic shock of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Bank said Thursday. "Almost all commodity prices saw sharp declines during the past three months as the COVID-19 pandemic worsened," the World Bank said in its April Commodity Markets Outlook, noting monthly average crude oil prices had plunged 50 percent between January and March. "Mitigation measures have significantly reduced transport, causing an unprecedented decline in demand for oil, while weaker economic growth will further reduce overall commodity demand," the report said. Crude oil prices are expected to average 35 U.S. dollars per barrel in 2020, a sharp downward revision from the October forecast and a 43 percent drop from the 2019 average of 61 dollars per barrel, the report showed, reflecting a historically large drop in oil demand. "The decline in crude oil prices has been exacerbated by uncertainty around production agreements among the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and other oil producers," the report said. Energy prices overall, which also include natural gas and coal, are expected to average 40 percent lower in 2020 but see a sizeable rebound in 2021, according to the report. The report also showed that metal prices are projected to decline more than 13 percent in 2020 before recovering in 2021, while food prices are expected to be broadly stable. "The economic impact of the pandemic will dampen demand and cause supply disruptions, negatively affecting developing countries that rely heavily on commodities," World Bank Group Vice President for Equitable Growth, Finance and Institutions Ceyla Pazarbasioglu said in a statement. "Policymakers can take advantage of lower oil prices by undertaking energy-subsidy reforms to help free spending for urgent pandemic-related purposes," she said, adding these reforms need to be complemented with stronger social safety nets to protect the most vulnerable segments of society. "Policymakers must resist the urge to impose trade restrictions and actions that put food security at risk, as the poor would be hit the hardest," added the World Bank official. FoMoCo launched the product last year and started accepting orders around the same time. The SUV is due in 2021, but Ford has made a few changes to the power specs. According to macheclub , some models are expected to receive increased power figures. There is no word on a price increase, so this is good news. The 2020 Mustang Mach-E is a very important product for Ford. The SUV is the first all-electric vehicle in the companys lineup and Ford decided to attach the iconic Mustang nameplate to it for some reason. This also makes it the first all-wheel-drive Mustang-badged car ever to leave Fords production line. No matter how small the power boost, it is always welcome Old Figures vs The New Figures The information was leaked from a Ford dealer that suggests that the Mach-E is set to receive a power bump. Previously, these were the declared power figures for the electric SUV: Standard Range Rear-Wheel-Drive 255 horsepower 306 pound-feet of torque Standard Range All-Wheel-Drive 255 horsepower 417 pound-feet of torque Extended Range Rear-Wheel-Drive 282 horsepower 306 pound-feet of torque Extended Range All-Wheel-Drive 332 horsepower 417 pound-feet of torque All these combinations have received an increase in horsepower and torque. The new power outputs are allegedly rated at: Standard Range Rear-Wheel-Drive 266 horsepower 317 pound-feet of torque Standard Range All-Wheel-Drive 266 horsepower 428 pound-feet of torque Extended Range Rear-Wheel-Drive 290 horsepower 317 pound-feet of torque Extended Range All-Wheel-Drive 346 horsepower 428 pound-feet of torque All the models have received an increase of 11 pound-feet of torque, and the highest horsepower increase 14 ponies is seen on the all-wheel-drive, extended-range variant. There is no word on the power figures of the GT and GT Performance models. As of now, the twins make 459 horses 612 pound-feet of twist. What Are The Battery Pack Sizes And How Much Range Do They Offer? The company will be offering the crossover with two battery packs: Standard Range 75.7-kWh battery pack Extended Range 98.8-kWh battery pack There is no information if the range is affected by the increase in power figures. Here are the range figures that we already know: Standard Range, Rear-Wheel-Drive 230 miles Standard Range, All-Wheel-Drive 210 miles Extended Range, Rear-Wheel-Drive 300 miles Extended Range, All-Wheel-Drive 270 miles What Is Fords Situation On The Charging Front? Ford has already taken care of the customers charging needs. The company is promising access to 75-percent of the EV charging facilities through the FordPass Charging Network. Thats roughly 12,500 charging stations all across the country. The network enables charging up to 150 kilowatts that can add 47 miles to the range in as little as 10 minutes on rear-wheel-drive models. The extended range, on the other hand, can be charged from 10-percent to 80-percent in just 38 minutes. The amount for the charging will be deducted from your FordPass account. To charge the Mach-E at home, Ford offers a Connected Charging station with a 240-volt line that can add 32 miles of range per hour. Ford also offers a mobile charger, which adds merely three miles to the range every hour when plugged into a 120-volt outlet. Not much, but good for emergencies, though. Ford also recently filed a trademark for a new charging solution known as Fastor Charge. Jokes about the name aside, should it become a reality, it would be a charging network that rivals that of Tesla in some regard. Final Thoughts The increase in power figures is welcome, but we hope that range isnt affected significantly. Itll be interesting to see if the GT trims also receive a power boost. After all, an increase is always an edge over the competition. Will these power boosts be applied via an over-the-air update or will they come from the factory? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below. Source: Mach-E Club PHILADELPHIA, April 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brandywine Realty Trust (BDN) today reported its financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2020. Management Comments As the current global health crisis and its economic impact continue to evolve daily, new challenges arise and Brandywine is rising to the occasion, with a swift response that prioritizes the health and safety of our employees, tenants, and other stakeholders, and includes clear plans for continued successful business plan execution. stated Gerard H. Sweeney, President and Chief Executive Officer for Brandywine Realty Trust. We are thoughtfully addressing the impact of the near-term realities, while preparing for a range of possible outcomes. Our operating and financial platform remains strong and secure, with excellent liquidity. Turning to our 2020 business plan, we began the year in great shape. First quarter leasing activity was robust and we experienced strong mark-to-market rent growth on both a cash and accrual basis. Despite our strong first quarter results, the uncertainty surrounding the current state of the healthcare crisis has our tenants and prospective tenants focused on their employees safety and business rather than new space requirements. We have carefully assessed our 2020 business plan and revised guidance to reflect the current state of uncertainty and have also reduced 2020 capital spending by approximately $50.0 million, including $20.0 million of leasing-related capital. In addition, we also took advantage of the capital markets dislocation to purchase $60.0 million of our common stock funded partially through an asset sale. After an exceptionally productive first quarter, but based on an uncertain business climate ahead, we are reducing our current 2020 FFO guidance range from $1.41 - $1.51 to $1.37-$1.45 and appropriately adjusting a number of other business plan metrics. First Quarter 2020 Highlights Story continues Financial Results Net income allocated to common shareholders; $7.9 million, or $0.04 per diluted share. Funds from Operations (FFO); $61.4 million, or $0.35 per diluted share. Portfolio Results Core portfolio was 93.3% occupied and 95.3% leased. New and renewal leases signed: 796,000 square feet. Tenant retention ratio: 76%. Rental rate mark-to-market increased 15.7% on an accrual basis and increased 7.9% on a cash basis. Same store net operating income: 2.7% on an accrual basis and 4.0% on a cash basis. 2020 Business Plan Revisions Year-end Core Occupancy and Leased Ranges: 92-93% occupied and 94-95% leased. Speculative Revenue: $5.0 million reduction to $26.0 million due to construction work stoppage and lower forward expected leasing volume; 96% achieved. Same Store Growth (accrual): 1-3%, as compared to previous 2-4%. Same Store Growth (cash): (1)-1%, as compared to previous 0-2%. Monitoring COVID-19 We continue to monitor events and are taking steps to mitigate the potential impact and risks of COVID-19 to Brandywine. While we currently are unable to completely estimate the impact COVID-19 will have on our financial condition, as of the date of this press release, we believe that the impact has been reasonably estimated in our updated 2020 business plan. We will continue to assess the ongoing effects to our business plan and our tenants and make and communicate timely adjustments, as appropriate. The following is a summary of our April 2020 consolidated cash base rent collections as of April 20, 2020: Approximately 95% of April total cash-based rent has been received from our tenants which includes 96% collection rate from our office tenants. We have received rent relief requests primarily from our co-working and retail tenants, who represent approximately 2.1% and 1.6%, of April billings, respectively. The relief requests have substantially all been in the form of rent deferral for varying lengths of time and we are currently assessing the merits of each request. For those tenants we believe require rent relief, we expect to grant deferrals and, in some instances, seek extended lease terms through favorable lease extensions. We can give no assurances on the outcomes of these ongoing negotiations, the amount of the rent relief packages and ultimate recovery of the amounts deferred. Recent Transaction Activity Disposition Activity During March 2020, we completed the sale of an office building located at 52 E. Swedesford Road in Malvern, Pennsylvania for $18.0 million. We received net cash proceeds of $17.5 million and recorded a $2.3 million gain on the sale. Acquisition Activity During March 2020, we acquired a 7.8-acre land parcel located in Radnor, Pennsylvania for a gross purchase price of $11.3 million. Development/Redevelopment Activity We commenced the redevelopment of 3000 Market Street, a vacant 64,000 square foot office building located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, into a life science building. 2020 Finance / Capital Markets Activity We have $50.0 million outstanding on our $600.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility as of March 31, 2020. We have $52.7 million of cash and cash equivalents on-hand as of March 31, 2020. During March 2020, we repurchased and retired 6,248,483 common shares at an average price of $9.60 per share, totaling $60.0 million, including $6.1 million of the common shares that were repurchased and funded subsequent to March 31, 2020. We partially funded the share repurchase with proceeds from a property disposition that was not in our 2020 business plan. The shares were repurchased through our existing $150.0 million share repurchase program, which has $83.0 million of remaining capacity. Results for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 Net income allocated to common shares totaled $7.9 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, in the first quarter of 2020 compared to a net income allocated to common shares of $4.4 million, or $0.02 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2019. FFO available to common shares and units in the first quarter of 2020 totaled $61.4 million, or $0.35 per diluted share, versus $60.1 million or $0.34 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2019. Our first quarter 2020 payout ratio ($0.19 common share distribution / $0.35 FFO per diluted share) was 54.3%. Operating and Leasing Activity In the first quarter of 2020, our Net Operating Income (NOI) excluding termination revenues and other income items increased 2.7% on an accrual basis and increased 4.0% on a cash basis for our 88 same store properties, which were 93.3% and 92.2% occupied on March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2019, respectively. We leased approximately 796,000 square feet and commenced occupancy on 312,000 square feet during the first quarter of 2020. The first quarter occupancy activity includes 88,000 square feet of renewals, 123,000 square feet of new leases and 101,000 square feet of tenant expansions. We executed on an additional 311,000 square feet of new leases scheduled to commence subsequent to March 31, 2020. We achieved a 76% tenant retention ratio in our core portfolio with net absorption of 62,500 square feet during the first quarter of 2020. First quarter rental rate growth increased 15.7% as our renewal rental rates increased 8.6% and our new lease/expansion rental rates increased 21.1%, all on an accrual basis. At March 31, 2020, our core portfolio of 89 properties comprising 16.0 million square feet was 93.3% occupied and, as of April 17, 2020, we are now 95.3% leased (reflecting new leases commencing after March 31, 2020). Distributions On February 27, 2020, our Board of Trustees declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per common share and OP Unit that was paid on April 21, 2020 to holders of record on April 7, 2020. 2020 Earnings and FFO Guidance Based on current plans and assumptions and subject to the risks and uncertainties more fully described in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings, we are adjusting our 2020 net income guidance of $0.26 - $0.36 to $0.16 - $0.24 per diluted share and 2020 FFO guidance of $1.41 - $1.51 to $1.37 - $1.45 per diluted share. This guidance is provided for informational purposes and is subject to change. The following is a reconciliation of the calculation of 2020 FFO and earnings per diluted share: Guidance for 2020 Range Earnings per diluted share allocated to common shareholders $0.16 to $0.24 Plus: real estate depreciation, amortization 1.21 1.21 FFO per diluted share $1.37 to $1.45 Our 2020 FFO key assumptions to include: Year-end Core Occupancy Range: 92-93%; Year-end Core Leased Range: 94-95%; Rental Rate Mark-to-Market (accrual): 17-19%; Rental Rate Mark-to-Market (cash): 8-10%; Same Store (accrual) NOI Range: 1-3%; Same Store (cash) NOI Range: (1)-1%; Speculative Revenue Target: $26.0 million, 96% achieved; Tenant Retention Rate: 50%; $0.19 per share quarterly dividend; Property Acquisition Activity: 250 King of Prussia Road, Radnor, Pennsylvania scheduled to occur 2H20; Property Sales Activity: $18.0 million, 100% achieved; One Development/Redevelopment Start: 3000 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Share Buyback Activity: 6,248,483 shares repurchased during first quarter 2020; Annual earnings and FFO per diluted share based on 174.0 million fully diluted weighted average common shares. About Brandywine Realty Trust Brandywine Realty Trust (BDN) is one of the largest, publicly traded, full-service, integrated real estate companies in the United States with a core focus in the Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Austin markets. Organized as a real estate investment trust (REIT), we own, develop, lease and manage an urban, town center and transit-oriented portfolio comprising 172 properties and 24.1 million square feet as of March 31, 2020, which excludes assets held for sale. Our purpose is to shape, connect and inspire the world around us through our expertise, the relationships we foster, the communities in which we live and work, and the history we build together. For more information, please visit www.brandywinerealty.com. Conference Call and Audio Webcast BDN management will discuss 2020 financial results and earnings guidance for fiscal 2020 on Thursday, April 23, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 1-833-818-6810 and providing conference ID: 3316979. Beginning two hours after the conference call, a taped replay of the call can be accessed through Friday, May 8, 2020, by calling 1-855-859-2056 and entering access code 3316979. The conference call can also be accessed via a webcast on our website at www.brandywinerealty.com. Looking Ahead Second Quarter 2020 Conference Call We anticipate we will release our second quarter 2020 earnings on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, after the market close and will host our second quarter 2020 conference call on Thursday, July 23, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. We expect to issue a press release in advance of these events to reconfirm the dates and times and provide all related information. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements can generally be identified by our use of forward-looking terminology such as will, strategy, expects, seeks, believes, potential, or other similar words. Because such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and contingencies, actual results may differ materially from the expectations, intentions, beliefs, plans or predictions of the future expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements, including our 2020 guidance, are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are difficult to predict and generally not within our control. Such risks, uncertainties and contingencies include, among others: risks related to the impact of COVID-19 and other potential future outbreaks of infectious diseases on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows and those of our tenants as well as on the economy and real estate and financial markets; reduced demand for office space and pricing pressures, including from competitors, that could limit our ability to lease space or set rents at expected levels or that could lead to declines in rent; uncertainty and volatility in capital and credit markets, including changes that reduce availability, and increase costs, of capital; the potential loss or bankruptcy of tenants or the inability of tenants to meet their rent and other lease obligations; risks of acquisitions and dispositions, including unexpected liabilities and integration costs; delays in completing, and cost overruns incurred in connection with, our developments and redevelopments; unanticipated operating and capital costs; uninsured casualty losses our ability to obtain adequate insurance, including coverage for terrorist acts; asset impairments; our dependence upon certain geographic markets; changes in governmental regulations, tax laws and rates and similar matters; unexpected costs of REIT qualification compliance; and costs and disruptions as the result of a cybersecurity incident or other technology disruption. The declaration and payment of future dividends (both timing and amount) is subject to the determination of our Board of Trustees, in its sole discretion, after considering various factors, including our financial condition, historical and forecast operating results, and available cash flow, as well as any applicable laws and contractual covenants and any other relevant factors. Our Boards practice regarding declaration of dividends may be modified at any time and from time to time. Additional information on factors which could impact us and the forward-looking statements contained herein are included in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. We assume no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events except as required by law. Non-GAAP Supplemental Financial Measures We compute our financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Although FFO and NOI are non-GAAP financial measures, we believe that FFO and NOI calculations are helpful to shareholders and potential investors and are widely recognized measures of real estate investment trust performance. At the end of this press release, we have provided a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measure. Funds from Operations (FFO) We compute FFO in accordance with standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), which may not be comparable to FFO reported by other REITs that do not compute FFO in accordance with the NAREIT definition, or that interpret the NAREIT definition differently than us. NAREIT defines FFO as net income (loss) before non-controlling interests and excluding gains (losses) on sales of depreciable operating property, impairment losses on depreciable consolidated real estate, impairment losses on investments in unconsolidated real estate ventures and extraordinary items (computed in accordance with GAAP); plus real estate related depreciation and amortization (excluding amortization of deferred financing costs), and after similar adjustments for unconsolidated joint ventures. Net income, the GAAP measure that we believe to be most directly comparable to FFO, includes depreciation and amortization expenses, gains or losses on property sales, extraordinary items and non-controlling interests. To facilitate a clear understanding of our historical operating results, FFO should be examined in conjunction with net income (determined in accordance with GAAP) as presented in the financial statements included elsewhere in this release. FFO does not represent cash flow from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) and should not be considered to be an alternative to net income (loss) (determined in accordance with GAAP) as an indication of our financial performance or to be an alternative to cash flow from operating activities (determined in accordance with GAAP) as a measure of our liquidity, nor is it indicative of funds available for our cash needs, including our ability to make cash distributions to shareholders. Net Operating Income (NOI) NOI (accrual basis) is a financial measure equal to net income available to common shareholders, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, plus corporate general and administrative expense, depreciation and amortization, interest expense, non-controlling interest in the Operating Partnership and losses from early extinguishment of debt, less interest income, development and management income, gains from property dispositions, gains on sale from discontinued operations, gains on early extinguishment of debt, income from discontinued operations, income from unconsolidated joint ventures and non-controlling interest in property partnerships. In some cases we also present NOI on a cash basis, which is NOI after eliminating the effects of straight-lining of rent and deferred market intangible amortization. NOI presented by us may not be comparable to NOI reported by other REITs that define NOI differently. NOI should not be considered an alternative to net income as an indication of our performance or to cash flows as a measure of the Company's liquidity or its ability to make distributions. We believe NOI is a useful measure for evaluating the operating performance of our properties, as it excludes certain components from net income available to common shareholders in order to provide results that are more closely related to a property's results of operations. We use NOI internally to evaluate the performance of our operating segments and to make decisions about resource allocations. We concluded that NOI provides useful information to investors regarding our financial condition and results of operations, as it reflects only the income and expense items incurred at the property level, as well as the impact on operations from trends in occupancy rates, rental rates, operating costs and acquisition and development activity on an unlevered basis. Same Store Properties In our analysis of NOI, particularly to make comparisons of NOI between periods meaningful, it is important to provide information for properties that were in-service and owned by us throughout each period presented. We refer to properties acquired or placed in-service prior to the beginning of the earliest period presented and owned by us through the end of the latest period presented as Same Store Properties. Same Store Properties therefore exclude properties placed in-service, acquired, repositioned, held for sale or in development or redevelopment after the beginning of the earliest period presented or disposed of prior to the end of the latest period presented. Accordingly, it takes at least one year and one quarter after a property is acquired for that property to be included in Same Store Properties. Core Portfolio Our core portfolio is comprised of our wholly-owned properties, excluding any properties currently in development, re-development or re-entitlement. BRANDYWINE REALTY TRUST CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited and in thousands) March 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 ASSETS Real estate investments: Operating properties $ 4,004,118 $ 4,006,459 Accumulated depreciation (992,997 ) (973,318 ) Right of use asset - operating leases, net 21,485 21,656 Operating real estate investments, net 3,032,606 3,054,797 Construction-in-progress 193,160 180,718 Land held for development 108,213 96,124 Prepaid leasehold interests in land held for development, net 39,490 39,592 Total real estate investments, net 3,373,469 3,371,231 Assets held for sale, net 10,698 7,349 Cash and cash equivalents 52,702 90,499 Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $284 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively 16,928 16,363 Accrued rent receivable, net of allowance of $7,484 and $7,691 as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively 175,277 174,144 Investment in Real Estate Ventures 119,998 120,294 Deferred costs, net 94,336 95,560 Intangible assets, net 75,670 84,851 Other assets 126,264 115,678 Total assets $ 4,045,342 $ 4,075,969 LIABILITIES AND BENEFICIARIES' EQUITY Mortgage notes payable, net $ 312,001 $ 313,812 Unsecured credit facility 50,000 Unsecured term loan, net 248,692 248,561 Unsecured senior notes, net 1,581,907 1,582,045 Accounts payable and accrued expenses 109,755 113,347 Distributions payable 32,692 33,815 Deferred income, gains and rent 34,673 35,284 Intangible liabilities, net 20,605 22,263 Lease liability - operating leases 22,606 22,554 Other liabilities 28,597 15,985 Total liabilities $ 2,441,528 $ 2,387,666 Brandywine Realty Trust's Equity: Common Shares of Brandywine Realty Trust's beneficial interest, $0.01 par value; shares authorized 400,000,000; 170,965,987 and 176,480,095 issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively 1,710 1,766 Additional paid-in-capital 3,140,194 3,192,158 Deferred compensation payable in common shares 17,012 16,216 Common shares in grantor trust, 1,117,783 and 1,105,542 issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively (17,012 ) (16,216 ) Cumulative earnings 812,578 804,556 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (10,195 ) (2,370 ) Cumulative distributions (2,350,733 ) (2,318,233 ) Total Brandywine Realty Trust's equity 1,593,554 1,677,877 Noncontrolling interests 10,260 10,426 Total beneficiaries' equity 1,603,814 1,688,303 Total liabilities and beneficiaries' equity $ 4,045,342 $ 4,075,969 BRANDYWINE REALTY TRUST CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share data) Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 2019 Revenue Rents $ 139,204 $ 138,098 Third party management fees, labor reimbursement and leasing 4,954 3,955 Other 930 1,843 Total revenue 145,088 143,896 Operating expenses Property operating expenses 37,461 39,500 Real estate taxes 16,787 15,783 Third party management expenses 2,662 2,117 Depreciation and amortization 52,038 51,444 General and administrative expenses 8,561 9,844 Total operating expenses 117,509 118,688 Gain on sale of real estate Net gain on disposition of real estate 2,586 Net gain on sale of undepreciated real estate 1,001 Total gain on sale of real estate 2,586 1,001 Operating income 30,165 26,209 Other income (expense): Interest income 575 525 Interest expense (20,009 ) (20,357 ) Interest expense - amortization of deferred financing costs (749 ) (666 ) Equity in loss of Real Estate Ventures (1,891 ) (1,358 ) Net gain on real estate venture transactions 259 Net income before income taxes 8,091 4,612 Income tax provision (4 ) (29 ) Net income 8,087 4,583 Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests (65 ) (60 ) Net income attributable to Brandywine Realty Trust 8,022 4,523 Nonforfeitable dividends allocated to unvested restricted shareholders (131 ) (119 ) Net income attributable to Common Shareholders of Brandywine Realty Trust $ 7,891 $ 4,404 PER SHARE DATA Basic income per Common Share $ 0.04 $ 0.03 Basic weighted average shares outstanding 176,069,968 175,857,358 Diluted income per Common Share $ 0.04 $ 0.02 Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 176,653,459 176,464,218 BRANDYWINE REALTY TRUST FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS (unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share data) Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 2019 Reconciliation of Net Income to Funds from Operations: Net income attributable to common shareholders $ 7,891 $ 4,404 Add (deduct): Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests - LP units 53 26 Nonforfeitable dividends allocated to unvested restricted shareholders 131 119 Net gain on real estate venture transactions (259 ) Net gain on disposition of real estate (2,586 ) Depreciation and amortization: Real property 38,353 35,606 Leasing costs including acquired intangibles 13,199 15,406 Companys share of unconsolidated real estate ventures 4,599 5,041 Partners share of consolidated real estate ventures (60 ) (53 ) Funds from operations $ 61,580 $ 60,290 Funds from operations allocable to unvested restricted shareholders (190 ) (214 ) Funds from operations available to common share and unit holders (FFO) $ 61,390 $ 60,076 FFO per share - fully diluted $ 0.35 $ 0.34 Weighted-average shares/units outstanding - fully diluted 177,635,093 177,447,089 Distributions paid per common share $ 0.19 $ 0.19 FFO payout ratio (distributions paid per common share/FFO per diluted share) 54.3 % 55.9 % BRANDYWINE REALTY TRUST SAME STORE OPERATIONS 1st QUARTER (unaudited and in thousands) Of the 94 properties owned by the Company as of March 31, 2020, a total of 88 properties ("Same Store Properties") containing an aggregate of 15.8 million net rentable square feet were owned for the entire three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019. As of March 31, 2020, one property was recently completed/acquired, and five properties were in development/redevelopment. Average occupancy for the Same Store Properties was 93.0% and 92.3% during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The following table sets forth revenue and expense information for the Same Store Properties: Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 2019 Revenue Rents $ 132,791 $ 129,558 Other 333 402 Total revenue 133,124 129,960 Operating expenses Property operating expenses 35,434 36,247 Real estate taxes 15,472 14,821 Net operating income $ 82,218 $ 78,892 Net operating income - percentage change over prior year 4.2 % Net operating income, excluding net termination fees & other $ 80,287 $ 78,200 Net operating income, excluding net termination fees & other - percentage change over prior year 2.7 % Net operating income $ 82,218 $ 78,892 Straight line rents & other (1,968 ) (3,222 ) Above/below market rent amortization (1,369 ) (1,472 ) Amortization of tenant inducements 296 219 Non-cash ground rent 211 215 Cash - Net operating income $ 79,388 $ 74,632 Cash - Net operating income - percentage change over prior year 6.4 % Cash - Net operating income, excluding net termination fees & other $ 76,825 $ 73,838 Cash - Net operating income, excluding net termination fees & other - percentage change over prior year 4.0 % Three Months Ended March 31, 2020 2019 Net income: $ 8,087 $ 4,583 Add/(deduct): Interest income (575 ) (525 ) Interest expense 20,009 20,357 Interest expense - amortization of deferred financing costs 749 666 Equity in loss of Real Estate Ventures 1,891 1,358 Net gain on real estate venture transactions (259 ) Net gain on disposition of real estate (2,586 ) Net gain on sale of undepreciated real estate (1,001 ) Depreciation and amortization 52,038 51,444 General & administrative expenses 8,561 9,844 Income tax provision 4 29 Consolidated net operating income 88,178 86,496 Less: Net operating income of non-same store properties and elimination of non-property specific operations (5,960 ) (7,604 ) Same store net operating income $ 82,218 $ 78,892 Company / Investor Contact: Tom Wirth EVP & CFO 610-832-7434 tom.wirth@bdnreit.com Globally remittances are projected to decline sharply by about 20 percent this year due to the economic crisis induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown. Washington: As a result of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, which has resulted in a global recession, remittances to India are likely to drop by 23 percent from $83 billion last year to $64 billion this year, the World Bank has said. "In India, remittances are projected to fall by about 23 percent in 2020, to $64 billiona striking contrast with the growth of 5.5 percent and receipts of $83 billion seen in 2019, the World Bank said in a report on impact of COVID-19 on migration and remittances released on Wednesday. Globally remittances are projected to decline sharply by about 20 percent this year due to the economic crisis induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown. The projected fall, which would be the sharpest decline in recent history, is largely due to a fall in the wages and employment of migrant workers, who tend to be more vulnerable to loss of employment and wages during an economic crisis in a host country, the bank said. Remittances are a vital source of income for developing countries. The ongoing economic recession caused by COVID-19 is taking a severe toll on the ability to send money home and makes it all the more vital that we shorten the time to recovery for advanced economies, said World Bank Group President David Malpass. Remittances help families afford food, healthcare, and basic needs. As the World Bank Group implements fast, broad action to support countries, we are working to keep remittance channels open and safeguard the poorest communities' access to these most basic needs, he added. Remittance flows are expected to fall across all World Bank Group regions, most notably in Europe and Central Asia (27.5 percent), followed by Sub-Saharan Africa (23.1 percent), South Asia (22.1 percent), the Middle East and North Africa (19.6 percent), Latin America and the Caribbean (19.3 percent), and East Asia and the Pacific (13 percent). In Pakistan, the projected decline is also about 23 percent, totalling about $17 billion, compared with a total of $22.5 billion last year, when remittances grew by 6.2 percent. In Bangladesh, remittances are projected at $14 billion this year, a likely fall of about 22 percent. Remittances to Nepal and Sri Lanka are expected to decline by 14 percent and 19 percent, respectively this year. Perceval (pictured) was born in 1909 and wrote journals documenting his life and his three major romances from 1925 to 1976 A diary found in a rubbish heap has revealed the romance between a British intelligence officer and a German woman whose sons fought for Hitler. The journals belonged to John Richard Perceval who wrote about his rocky relationship with a German woman, 21 years older than him, while he worked in Hut 3 at Bletchley Park on the team that cracked Germany's Enigma code. Perceval worked on the Enigma team at Bletchley Park during the Second World War, and wrote an extensive journal on his struggles with work and love. His notebooks were found discarded in Brighton and saved moments before they would have been taken to the dump. The finder Becky Edmunds said: 'My heart raced I knew that if I had walked down the street just a few minutes later this piece of history would have ended up in landfill,' said Becky. Perceval's journals cover the time period 1925 to 1976 and tell what is was like living and working at Bletchley Park, the effects of his work on his mental health, his account of VE Day and his love story with Sorina Eiche. MI6 codebreaker John Richard Perceval's journals were found in the rubbish in Brighton a year after his death in 1998. They give a fascinating insight into his life Eiche was a German woman with three sons from a previous marriage who all fought for Hitler. She had been married twice before she married Perceval in Singapore in 1936. When the Second World War broke out Eiche moved from the UK to Switzerland so she could be with her sons and left Perceval heartbroken. In 1940 Perceval wrote: 'I have not seen Sorina for over seven months, and I do not think I am likely to see her again until this war has ended. 'It left me to face the war alone, a time when the blessing of a loving wife would have meant so much to me.' After the war the couple were reunited and lived together in Germany. Becky studied the journals for years and has spent 21 years making a 21-episode web serious to tell Perceval's story. They show he fell in love with a German woman Sorina Eiche 21 year his senior whom he married in 1936. Here is a postcard Eiche sent to her husband during World War Two He was born in 1909 in Farnham to a wealthy parents, Sir Maj General Edward Maxwell Perceval and Lady Norah Perceval and had two siblings. Perceval's family was related to Spencer Perceval who was Prime Minister from 1809 1812. Perceval started journaling a year before he moved to Berlin in 1926 to study German where he met his first love Frieda. Perceval's sister, Diana (left), his mother, Norah (middle) and Perceval as a young boy (right) photographed at their family home in Farnham He wanted to be an author so he could afford to marry Frieda without his family's approval but none of his romance novels were published. He started working as a journalist and was writing for London art magazine Colour when he met the main character in his journals Sorina Eiche. Perceval was unemployed when the Second World War broke out and he volunteered with the Gunners where he was recruited as part of Bletchley Park's Enigma team. During his time at Bletchley park Perceval wrote about missing his wife, Eiche, who had moved to Switzerland to be with her sons. Perceval used photographs he had of his wife to write about her life. He documented most of her young life in Breslou and her moves to the Isle of Wight and London. Perceval wrote that she had changed once she moved and looked 'very elegant and fashionably dressed', 'very beautiful', and 'unbelievably youthful'. Perceval was a journalist who was recruited as a codebreaker at Bletchley Park (pictured) Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire (above) housed all of MI6's top secret WWII codebreakers Two former members of Syria's secret police go on trial Thursday in Germany accused of crimes against humanity for their role in a government-run detention center where large numbers of opposition protesters were tortured. The trial of Anwar R and Eyad A, whose last names weren't released because of German privacy rules, is the first time that two representatives of the Syrian government face trial abroad for war crimes allegedly committed during the country's years-long civil war. The men, who were arrested in Germany early last year, will face testimony from several Syrian refugees who allege they were tortured at the detention center known as Al Khatib, or Branch 251, near Damascus. Federal prosecutors allege 57-year-old Anwar R was in charge of the site and thereby responsible for crimes against humanity, rape and the murder of at least 58 people there. The indictment by German prosecutors accuses him of complicity in more than 4,000 cases of torture. Eyad A., 43, is accused of being part of a police squad that detained protesters and brought them back to Branch 251, where they were then mistreated. At least nine torture victims are represented as co-plaintiffs in the case, as allowed under German law, while several more are expected to be called as witnesses. They are supported by the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights. If convicted, Anwar R. could face life imprisonment. Eyad A. could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison if convicted of complicity in crimes against humanity. The defendants' lawyers declined to comment ahead of the trial, which is scheduled to last several months. The men, who themselves left Syria for Germany before their arrest in February 2019, remain in prison. The trial has been described as a pivotal moment in the effort to bring Syrian officials accused of crimes to justice. With other avenues for justice blocked, criminal prosecutions in Europe offer hope for victims of crimes in Syria who have nowhere else to turn,?said Balkees Jarrah, associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch. The trial in Koblenz shows that courts, even thousands of miles away from where the atrocities occurred, can play a critical role in combating impunity. The Koblenz regional court, where the trial is being held, has reduced the number of seats available to reporters and the general public by a third, due to social distancing rules to combat the coronavirus pandemic. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Luxury hotel group Ashford Inc. has received a staggering $59million intended for small firms, while its boss Monty Bennett (pictured) has pocketed millions in dividends The luxury hotel group that owns Marriott Beverly Hills and the Ritz Carlton in Atlanta and is ran by a major Donald Trump donor has been named as the biggest beneficiary of the coronavirus loan program receiving a staggering $59million intended for small firms, while its boss has pocketed millions in dividends during the pandemic. Ashford Inc., a hospitality real estate business with several subsidiaries, has already received $30million in loans from the US Paycheck Protection Program set up by the federal government to help small businesses keep paying their workers and bills. This is the biggest sum received by any public company from these loans and is around eight times the average amount granted to firms, according to analysis by the Wall Street Journal. Public filings show that the group's subsidiaries also took home $12.8 million in loans and subsidiaries of affiliate company Braemar Hotels & Resorts have been granted $15.8 million. This comes as CEO and chairman Monty Bennett, known for keeping exotic and endangered animals on his Dallas ranch, and other major shareholders including his father, have reportedly pocketed millions of dollars in preferred dividends as the coronavirus pandemic wages on. Bennett is a major Trump donor, giving money to his race for the White House back in 2016 and donating $150,000 in the last six months for his reelection campaign, according to Federal Election Commission records. A lender for subsidiary Ashford Hospitality Trust has slammed Bennett accusing him of committing a 'fraudulent scheme' and 'suspect insider transactions'. Ashford Hospitality Trust, which owns several luxury properties including the Marriott Beverly Hills and the Ritz Carlton in Atlanta (above), didn't have money to cover its debts in March, Bennett said The Marriott Beverly Hills. Bennett and his father pocketed around $2millions in preferred dividends payments from the Trust, while hospitality staff lost their jobs The expose marks the latest in a string of scandals, where huge multi-million dollar companies rushed to pocket the emergency money designed for small businesses, leaving those it was intended for without a dime. The PPP was created by Congress and designed to loan money to small businesses with 500 employees or less to help them survive the economic downturn during the coronavirus crisis, ensuring they can still pay their employees and bills, and avoid mass layoffs. Companies that use the money to avoid layoffs will not have to pay the money back. However, multi-million dollar public companies lined up for the federal loans and bled the pot dry, with the government announcing last week the money had run out before smaller, eligible firms could get a dime. Due to legal loopholes, some large public companies with thousands of employees and easy access to credit were able to claim relief dollars through the scheme, depriving smaller businesses of tax-backed funds that could save them from going under. Ashford Hospitality Trust has been buckling under debt and its share price is down 91 percent since April 2018 The program has a $10million limit, but large firms such as Ashford with its 7,000-plus workforce have been able to spread the claims over multiple subsidiaries with staff of less than 500 so that they can take home more of the funds. What is the small-business relief program? The Paycheck Protection Program exhausted its $350 billion in funding last week and many small businesses were unable to obtain loans they desperately need to stay afloat. Congress and the White House say they're close to an agreement on that would give the program about $300 billion in fresh funds. The government program, which is overseen by the Treasury and administered by the Small Business Administration, limits loan recipients to businesses with fewer than 500 employees and revenue of less than $2.5 billion. But it makes an exception for restaurants and other food service businesses that employ fewer than 500 people per location, meaning that restaurant chains are as eligible for the loans as a neighborhood restaurant or bar. The small business lending program is part of the $2.2 trillion rescue package approved by Congress last month. Advertisement To sidestep the rulebook, Ashford has pocketed the $30million payout via a baffling 42 loans to different subsidiaries, according to an April 21 public filing. Subsidiaries of Braemar Hotels & Resorts Inc., advised by Ashford Inc. and where Bennett also serves as chairman, had received $10.6million of its $15.8million as of Tuesday. The hospitality industry has been one of the hardest hit by the pandemic, as travel bans and stay-at-home orders have shuttered hotels. Bennett joined other major hotel groups in March in urging the federal government to provide financial support to keep the industry afloat. Ashford Inc. and its subsidiaries have laid off or furloughed 95 percent of its 7,000 employees. One subsidiary, Ashford Hospitality Trust, which owns several luxury properties including the Marriott Beverly Hills and the Ritz Carlton in Atlanta, has been buckling under debt and its share price is down 91 percent since April 2018. In March, Bennett said the Trust didn't have money to cover its debt payments. He has said that '75 percent or more of the proceeds' from the federal loan to the Trust 'will be used to bring our employees back to work with the balance to be used to pay utilities, rent, and debt service to lenders.' Table: Some of the public companies, listed in order of their market value, who have recieved loans from the Paycheck Protection Program set up to help small businesses The number of jobless claims in the United States has soared, with more than 4.4 million people filing for unemployment last week But while his hospitality staff found themselves out of work, Bennett has reportedly taken millions out of the ailing Trust in dividends. Bennett is the largest shareholder of Ashford Inc. and owns 6.9 percent of Ashford Hospitality Trust through shares and other securities, making him one of the company's largest shareholders, the Journal reported. Securities and Exchange Commission filings show that Ashford Hospitality Trust paid more than $10million in dividends to third-party preferred shareholders, with Bennett and his father receiving more than $2million in quarterly dividends from the trust's adviser. Bennett claims that paying the dividends to shareholders might complicate its efforts to raise more capital. Ashford Inc told DailyMail.com Thursday that 'dividends were declared and authorized to be paid on March 15 while the depth of the pandemic was not known to us - or anyone at that time. 'Even so, all common dividends were cut, and only some preferred dividends were paid,' the statement said. But Brookfield Asset Management, a lender on properties owned by Ashford Hospitality Trust, has slammed Bennett accusing him of committing a 'fraudulent scheme' by moving money from hotels to the parent company in the second week of March in a letter from its attorneys seen by the Journal. It alleges that Bennett has shown a 'pattern of suspect insider transactions designed to accelerate or disproportionately benefit insiders even as creditors are not being paid.' Bennett responded by claiming Brookfield is trying to bully the Trust into accepting unfavorable loan terms. He pointed out that his own salary has been slashed by 20 percent and 25 percent of his $2.3million cash bonus for last year has been deferred. It's not the first time the hotel boss has courted controversy, after he engaged in a public fight with a water district that wanted to lay a pipeline through his ranch. Several large companies have been slammed for taking funds from the PPP set up for smaller businesses hard hit by the pandemic. Research from Morgan Stanley shows that of the fund's $349 billion, $243.4 million of the loans was allocated to at least 90 publicly traded companies, which could have gone to help around 1,100 smaller businesses, causing public outrage. Large restaurant chains managed to navigate loopholes in the program more than most as they were exempt from the 500-employee cap if they had less than 500 workers per location Ruth's Hospitality Group Inc., owner of Ruth's Chris Steak House chain, received $20 million, the second highest amount after Ashford. Fiesta Restaurant Group, the parent company of the Pollo Tropical and Taco Cabana brands which employs more than 10,000 workers, claimed the maximum $10 million in loans. Other large restaurants chains like Potbelly and Ruth's Chris Steak House also secured the maximum $10 million. Burger chain Shake Shack agreed to return its $10million loan after facing a backlash from small and family-ran restaurant owners. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, 4,400 of the approved loans exceeded $5 million when nationally the typical amount requested from the program was $206,000. If the $243.4 million claimed by the corporate giants had been split fairly between typical businesses requesting money through the program, over 1,100 more businesses could have received funds. 'The intent of this money was not for big public companies that had access to capital,' Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said when addressing the issue during Tuesday's White House press briefing. The department also highlighted that 74 percent of the loans were for less than $150,000, saying this demonstrated that the loan is accessible 'to even the smallest of small businesses.' Lenders have approved 1.6 million loans from the PPP which depleted last week. One Democratic Senator, Gary Peters of Michigan, has called for an investigation into how funds from the Paycheck Protection Program were distributed. Peters sent a letter on Tuesday to Gene Dodaro, the comptroller general for the Government Accountability Office (GAO), asking for the investigation. In his letter, we wrote that 'a substantial amount of PPP loans have gone to large hotel and restaurant chains, rather than the struggling small and minority-owned businesses who may be forced to permanently close their doors without urgent assistance. 'I am concerned that PPP loans may not have gone to those who need them most,' he added. With the PPP funding now depleted, lawmakers are scrambling to pass new legislation that would see a further $331 billion available to small businesses as part of a wider $483 billion coronavirus relief package. Big national restaurant chains like Ruth's Chris and Potbelly also walked away with millions under the PPE program meant for small businesses President Donald Trump is urging swift passage this week. The Senate approved the bill on Tuesday and the House planned a vote on Thursday. Mitch McConnell said Tuesday, however, he won't consider another coronavirus stimulus package until the Senate reconvenes May 4, even though Donald Trump is pushing for another major relief bill and urging his party to support it. The bipartisan bill, Washington's fourth in response to the crisis, is not expected to be the last as lawmakers take unprecedented steps to confront the virus and prop up communities nationwide amid the health crisis. Most of the funding, $331 billion, would go to boost the small-business payroll loan program. There would be $100 billion for health care, with $75 billion to hospitals and $25 billion to boost testing for the virus, a key step in building the confidence required to reopen state economies. There is $60 billion for a small-business loans and grants. As part of the new agreement, around $60 billion has been set aside for - and divided equally among - smaller banks and community lenders, a nod to neighborhoods and rural areas under-served by banks. How big banks including Chase and Citi helped virtually all of their wealthiest clients get millions of dollars in pandemic aid while up to 94 percent of their smaller customers got none America's largest banks helped their wealthiest clients secure millions of dollars from the federal government's $349billion coronavirus relief fund while leaving the majority of small business customers it was intended to help out in the cold, a new report claims. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) offering emergency loans to businesses with fewer than 500 employees to help them cover bills and avoid layoffs was advertised as first come, first served. But a New York Times report published Thursday found that was hardly the case - as major banks including JP Morgan Chase, Citibank and US Bank prioritized their richest customers before turning to other loan seekers with shallower pockets. Half a dozen bank employees and executives who spoke to the Times on condition of anonymity described how big clients were given 'concierge treatment' as their loan applications were pushed to the front of the line. A New York Times report found that America's largest banks helped their wealthiest clients secure millions of dollars from the federal government's $349billion coronavirus relief fund while leaving the majority of small business customers it was intended to help out in the cold As a result, dozens of major corporations with thousands of employees - at least 75 of them publicly traded and some with market values well over $100million, according to an AP report - received the bulk of the relief fund before it dried up. The Times report outlines how businesses with enough money to meet the requirements for major banks' private and commercial arms received far more attention in the loan process than retail banking clients. Some banks enlisted representatives to walk their richest customers through every step of the application process and submit paperwork on their behalf. At Citi's private bank, where the minimum account size is $25million, bankers compiled paperwork and submitted applications directly so customers didn't have to use the overcrowded online portal. Similar methods were in place at Chase, the nation's largest bank. Chase's commercial and private clients - those with at least $10million in assets - were each assigned an employee to guide them through the loan application process. Nearly all of the 8,500 private and commercial banking clients who applied for a small-business loan through Chase received one. Among them were sandwich chain Potbelly, which received $10million, and pharmaceutical giant MannKind. Only 18,000 of more than 300,000 small-business banking customers - or one in 15 - who applied through Chase's retail bank received loans, the bank said. At Citi's private bank, where the minimum account size is $25million, bankers compiled paperwork and submitted applications directly so customers didn't have to use the overcrowded online portal (file photo) At Chase, the nation's largest bank, nearly all private and commercial banking customers who applied for a small business loan received one - while only one out of every 15 retail banking customers who sought loans was successful (file photo) Chase ended up doling out $14billion through PPP, more than any other bank but still less than half of the $36million sought by customers. 'We worked as quickly as possible in a race against time, volume and manual processes,' Patricia Wexler, a JPMorgan spokeswoman, told the Times in response to questions about how the bank handled loan requests. 'We will work diligently with the [Small Business Administration] and Treasury to serve as many small businesses as possible.' By the time the PPP fund ran out on April 16 - after being available for less than two weeks - many top clients already had their loans approved while smaller firms had barely made headway in the application process. That's because in many ways banks did not make it easy for smaller clients to access the application system. At Chase, a portal accepting preliminary requests to apply was only sporadically accessible when the program began on April 3. Customers were then left waiting to receive a call from a Chase representative about next steps. Some received calls days later, others not at all. Two employees in Chase's retail arm described how the bank's executives held a nationwide conference call to coach workers on how to handle loan-seeking customers. The workers were allegedly told not to get involved in the application process, even with customers they've dealt with for years. If business owners called to ask about their applications, employees were instructed to tell them not to worry and that their applications were in a queue and would be processed as soon as possible. Retail customers experienced similar problems with Citi. A week after the program was introduced, Citi's website offered retail customers only a chance to submit their name and contact information to express their intent to apply for a loan. The Times said only some of the customers were contacted and invited to submit full applications while thousands never got the chance. Citi ultimately distributed 6,573 loans under the PPP, worth a total of $1.1billion. A spokesperson said that five of those loans went to private bank clients, worth a total of $25million. Another 470 loans went to commercial bank clients, but the spokesperson did not specify how much those were worth. Data from the Small Business Administration (SBA) indicates that the first round of PPP funding was distributed in a manner that favored larger businesses of over smaller ones it was intended for. Loans exceeding $1million made up just four percent of those approved, but they accounted for 45 percent of the money distributed. Banks have vowed to assist more of their small customers when the program reopens. The Senate approved $320billion in new funding for the program on Tuesday, and the House is expected to approve it as well on Thursday. $60billion of the new funding will be set aside for loans through small banks and community development financial institutions in an effort to reach more mom-and-pop customers. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has eased some restrictions designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus, but said Tuesday that it's not yet time to fully reopen the state's economy. Starting this week, hospitals can resume elective surgeries and nonessential retailers can reopen, with restrictions. State parks will also be open to visitors. BREAKING QUARANTINE: Houston restaurant owner to disregard stay-at-home order with dine-in opening Abbott noted the number of Texans testing positive for the virus is "leveling off." On April 9, the state had more than 1,000 people test positive, but hasn't hit that number in 12 straight days. "Its not because COVID-19 is suddenly dispersed from the geography of the state of Texas," Abbott said. "The reason why it is leveling off is because our fellow Texans have done such a great job of reducing their interactions with others." The governor has assembled a panel of business executives and lobbyists charged with charting a course to reopen the state's economy. He plans to issue another executive order Monday outlining the next steps in the plan. Here's what you need to know about Abbott's plan to reopen the economy: - Retailers can reopen on Friday, but customers cannot enter the premises. The Department of State Health Services said all employees must be trained on disinfection and hygiene, then screened for symptoms shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, fever, close contact with person confirmed to have COVID-19 before entering the business. Customers can purchase items for pickup, delivery by mail, or delivery to the customer's doorstep. Payments should be done over the phone or online if possible. Contact should be minimized if remote payment is not available. Employees should put purchases in the trunks of customer vehicles when possible. Workers must wear face coverings and maintain at least 6 feet of separation from one another. - Non-emergency medical procedures can resume as long as those surgeries don't deplete medical resources. The restrictions on elective surgeries were intended to conserve supplies and free up bed space. MASK MANIA: Houstonians react to Harris County's mandate requiring face masks for public trips To resume surgeries, hospitals need to submit a letter to the states Health and Human Services Commission promising to reserve at least 25 percent of its capacity for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Also, facilities that resume elective surgeries cant request personal protective equipment, such as masks, from local, state or national stockpiles for the duration of the outbreak. - State parks re-opened Monday, two weeks after Abbott ordered them closed in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Some parks, including Mustang Island State Park near Corpus Christi, remained closed. Park visitors are required purchase permits and reservations online before travelling to a park. At the park, they must follow social-distancing rules of 6 feet or more and wear masks over their faces. - Texas schools are closed through the end of the 2019-20 school year. Teachers are encouraged to work remotely if possible, but may return to schools to conduct video instructions or carry out administrative tasks. - Abbott named a panel of business executives and lobbyists to advise him on restarting the economy. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff put together their own team to make recommendations for getting the local economy back up to speed. Mark Dunphy is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | mark.dunphy@express-news.net | @m_b_dunphy Furloughed Laura Ashley workers have gone back to work to aid Britain's fight against the coronavirus pandemic by using their skills to make scrubs for the NHS. The future of the iconic country-lovers label was placed into huge doubt back in March when it went into administration, leading to the permanent closure of 70 stores, with 721 employees set to lose their jobs. The brand name though has since been purchased by Gordon Brothers and some staff are set to return to work. After the Laura Ashley brand, famous for its home coverings and floral dresses (stock picture above), was rescued staff are now set to return to work to help the NHS Clothes and fabric workers want to offer their help to NHS workers by making scrubs and cubicle curtains for hospitals, in a move which would see staff restore their skill of making garments. The brand will manufacture 3,000 sets of medical uniforms in Newtown, Mid wales - with 41 staff members returning to the factory. Linda Andrew, a Laura Ashley supervisor, was on furlough when her manager called to ask if she would consider coming back to work. 'My boss explained they'd hatched a plan to sew scrubs and cubicle curtains for the NHS so of course I said yes,' she said. 'I don't have the skills to physically help out in a hospital, but this is something I can do. 'We have experience of making beautiful handmade curtains for Laura Ashley, but it has been a while since we made garments here in Wales. Laura Ashley went into administration back in March following the coronavirus outbreak 'But we're an adaptable bunch so I'm confident we'll be able to turn our hand to sewing scrubs. 'There are machinists volunteering up and down the country to make scrubs, masks, bonnets and bags to help protect those in the NHS - it's really helping with supply so I'm keen to get back to work to help make a difference too.' Laura Ashley's CEO Katharine Poulter hopes it is just the start of a British manufacturing resurgence following talks with the Welsh Government over the company's future. 'I am passionate about growing British manufacturing and bringing those skills and jobs back to our heartland in Wales for future generations of makers and Laura Ashley customers,' she said Although the brand has been rescued its UK operations including its stores are still for sale 'During my conversations with the Welsh Government, the urgent need for more NHS clothing and outerwear came to light and our teams jumped at the opportunity to lend their skilled hands. 'It fills me with enormous pride that, against a backdrop of such personal uncertainty, so many are willing to return to help our incredible NHS frontline workers who are caring for so many.' Following the buyout of the brand, Gordon Brothers are now looking to take on some of the shops. However, PwC, which is handling the administration, is still looking for a buyer for the stores and the rest of its Laura Ashleys UK operations including its online business and distribution network, and manufacturing operations. Celebrity fans included Diana, Princess of Wales who wore it through the 1980s. German Chancellor Angela Merkel briefs the media about measures of the German government to avoid further spread of the coronavirus on April 9, 2020 at the chancellery in Berlin. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the end of the coronavirus pandemic is not yet in sight and that we will have to live with the virus "for a long time." Speaking to Germany's Parliament, the Bundestag, on Thursday, Merkel said "we are not living in the final phase of the pandemic, but still at the beginning." "We have won time," Merkel said, according to a Reuters translation, adding that this had been used to bolster Germany's health-care system. Germany cautiously started to lift its lockdown restrictions at the start of the week, with smaller retailers of under 800 square meters allowed to reopen on Monday, as long as hygiene and social-distancing measures could be maintained. Larger car dealerships, bike shops and book shops have also been allowed to open their doors. Merkel's comments on Thursday reflected much caution in the government, however, and a desire to lift the lockdown slowly. Germany's economy is expected to contract 7% in 2020, according to the International Monetary's Fund's April outlook, before rebounding to expand 5.2% in 2021. "Things will remain very hard for a long time," Merkel also told lawmakers Thursday. By Express News Service MADURAI: In spite of reports of several media persons testing positive for COVI-19, newsmen in Madurai flouted social distancing norms during a media briefing of Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar on Thursday. The incident took place after the minister, along with Collector TG Vinay, Commissioner of Police Davidson Devasirvatham, and Corporation Commissioner S Visakan, carried out inspected shops on South Veli Street. Subsequently, media persons flocked around the minister for a briefing. A reporter, requesting anonymity, said, Cameramen of channels were huddling together. Media, which carry lessons on social distancing should practice them too, he added. However, a cameraman of a leading Tamil news channel said, When other channels are covering the briefing, we cannot skip it; we would be held accountable by our editorial. An official, who was present during the inspection, told TNIE that it was high time media persons got sensitised. A reporter or a cameraman meets many individuals and in the event of any of them getting infected, they could spread the virus, he said. Covering each and every inspection by ministers or officials is not necessary under these circumstances. At the same time, officials should avoid media briefing if they find prohibitory orders are violated, he said. Ministrys advisory The Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting issued an advisory to media houses on Wednesday. Field staff, including reporters, cameramen, and photographers were told to take due precautions. The ministry requested the management of media houses to take necessary care of their field and office staff. The dented Honda minivan pulled onto the shoulder of Interstate 70, just outside downtown Kansas City, Mo. Jenay Manley, in the passengers seat, had brought along her sister and their children to protest the difficulty of paying rent during the coronavirus epidemic #ProtectMOTenants read the paint on the windows. Less than three minutes later, a police car pulled up, and their attempt to make a statement from the roadside had become a potential act of civil disobedience. The police told them that they would get a ticket if they didnt move along. Ms. Manley left, frustrated. The police were worried about our safety on the side of a highway, she said later. Im worried about our safety in life. We are trying to bring awareness to the fact that people are going to be homeless. For weeks, civil rights activists around the country have grappled with a conundrum. With the economy shut down and tens of millions out of work, the energy for protest is high. Many are angry that black and Latino people are being disproportionately killed by the virus. Theyre angry that service workers already struggling with bills were the first to lose their jobs. Theyre angry that corporations are getting bailouts while small businesses wither. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviewed the functioning of the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) and their assistance to civilian authorities to contain the spread of COVID-19 at a meeting on Thursday. The meeting was attended by Defence Secretary Dr Ajay Kumar, Director General AFMS Lt Gen Anup Banerji, Director General (Organisation and Personnel) AFMS Lt General A K Hooda, Director General Medical Services (Navy) Surgeon Vice Admiral M V Singh and Director General Medical Services (Air) Air Marshal M S Butola. The team briefed the Defence Minister about various actions taken in terms of issuing advisories to Armed Forces personnel, providing assistance to civilian authorities in respect of quarantine facilities, provisioning of hospitals and healthcare in the prevailing situation. "On a request received from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, quarantine facilities for civilians were created and are currently functional at six stations for civilian evacuees from Italy, Iran, China, Malaysia and Japan," said a Defence Ministry release. "Standby quarantine facilities have also been created at other stations. Starting 1st Feb 2020 these facilities have housed 1,738 individuals." While appreciating various measures initiated by the Armed Forces Medical Services, the Defence Minister also directed them to extend all possible assistance to civil authorities to overcome the challenges posed by COVID-19. READ: COVID-19: Indian Army issues guidelines for personnel rejoining from leave/temporary duty READ: Coronavirus Live Updates: India's COVID tally soars 21393 with 4258 recovered, 681 deaths Defence Forces Directed To Put On Hold The Acquisition Processes The Indian Army has prepared a set of instructions for personnel rejoining from leave/temporary duty/courses to ensure any potential spread of the disease is contained among forces. All personnel in the Army will be classified as Green (who have completed 14 days quarantine period), Yellow (who need to undergo 14 days quarantine period) and Red (Symptomatic requiring isolation and further treatment in COVID hospital), the Army has said. Broad modalities/guidelines for rejoining have been planned in a phased manner considering the number of individuals rejoining from leave/temporary duty/courses and the requirement for smooth reporting, quarantine and onward dispersal to units, the Army said on Monday. READ: Ministry of Railways shares '5 Sutra to practice at work' to fight coronavirus READ: COVID-19: Indian Army issues guidelines for personnel rejoining from leave/temporary duty Hany Metwally sat at home for four days with chest pains, too tired to move from his easy chair. He already had a stent in his chest for a heart condition and knew he should see a doctor, but his fear of exposure to the coronavirus was greater than his fear of an oncoming heart attack. On the fifth day, his son, Mohammed, 22, loaded Metwally into his Lincoln Town Car and delivered his father to the nearest hospital, Sutters Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland. A day later, Dr. Junaid Khan spent five hours performing an open heart surgery that required three bypasses around Metwallys blocked arteries. I was afraid to have communication with anybody because I am 64 and high risk for the coronavirus, said Metwally, one week later and resting comfortably inside his apartment in Oaklands Fruitvale neighborhood. I would have come in sooner but I was suspicious that I would be near people who have the corona. Metwally, who is from Egypt and once taught physical education at Richmond High School, is not alone in exhibiting an apprehension of going to the hospital during the pandemic. People are avoiding hospitals because theyre worried about COVID-19 exposure or theyve heard that only COVID-19 patients are being admitted. As soon as the shelter-in-place order went into effect in March, Khan, 53, medical director of cardiovascular services at Alta Bates in Oakland, noticed that his patient count diminished by half. When patients do come in they are volunteering that they were scared of coming or they thought that they werent supposed to come in, Khan said. For stroke victims, time loss is brain loss, and for heart attacks, if you wait too long it limits the number of options we have to help you. Metwally ended up with a six-day stay in the hospital. Another patient with multiple blocked arteries required two weeks, and might still have irreversible organ damage. These are cases, doctors say, that can normally be dispensed in four days maximum. People are correct to be afraid, but their risk of delaying cardiac or stroke care puts them at much greater risk than the risk of acquiring COVID, Khan said. In his East Bay practice, Khan sees a high percentage of immigrants and poor people, two demographics where confusion about medical treatment runs the highest, he says. But the trend is regional and national. People are withstanding chest pain, shortness of breath and tingling limbs all obvious signals of heart attack and stroke because they have been led to believe that home is the only safe haven during the pandemic. Dr. Michelle Albert, a UCSF cardiology professor who is also president of the Bay Area American Heart Association board of directors, said there has been a 50% decline in cardiology inpatients and a 70% decline in admissions to cardiology intensive care at UCSF Parnassus. On a national level, there has been a decrease of 40% in activations of heart catheterization labs to treat acute heart attacks, she said, quoting a paper published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. We dont have a sense yet of who is dying at home and not making it to the hospital, but we certainly know that the people who do come in are coming in too late. Albert is also president of the Association of Black Cardiologists and said that demographic is both at a disproportionately high risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attacks and at high risk of not immediately calling 911. It could be trust, it could be circumstances, she said. The biggest reason might be that people think that hospitals are a petri dish for COVID. To counteract this, Sutter Health this month launched a Covid Advice Line (866-961-2889). It is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, is staffed by paid registered nurses and free to anyone regardless of insurance. We were telling people not to flood the emergency rooms, and they didnt, Khan said. People are not calling 911 or their doctor. It is dangerous. By the time Metwally started feeling chest pains he had been sitting in front of his TV for weeks watching news reports in several languages, all warning people to stay home. So he did. Then when his son finally dialed 911 on April 9 he was put on hold for 20 minutes. During the interminable wait he calculated that he could drive his father to Alta Bates Summit in that amount of time. He was wrong. He hadnt calculated for the drop in traffic. It took only 10 minutes. 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. When they arrived, Metwally expected to see tents and people wearing all the outer space gear just like I saw on TV. But he saw no tents and no space suits. The only thing he recognized from the TV reports was that everyone was wearing a face mask and/or a shield. We are taking every precaution to maintain more stringent distancing than out in the public, said Dr. Ronn Berrol, emergency room director for the Alta Bates Summit campus. Like hospitals everywhere, Summit separates out patients with COVID-19 symptoms as soon as they arrive. Security people in masks immediately hand each person a mask, then staff members perform an initial screening, which is outside in a tented triage area during busy daytime hours. The patients at risk for COVID-19 are immediately taken to a negative pressure area for evaluation. When Metwally mentioned his history and symptoms he was taken to a private room for an exam that revealed an acute myocardial infarction, requiring an angiogram in the catheterization lab, all within 45 minutes. He was then stabilized and moved to a room for surgery the next morning. During his six days in the hospital, Metwally had a private room and never got within 6 feet of another patient. He was not allowed to see family either. Most of his time was spent staring out his eighth-floor window and across San Francisco Bay. He could have been released sooner but declined to be transferred to a skilled nursing facility. He doubted the precautions for COVID-19 could be as stringent there as at the hospital. He finally, if reluctantly, went home last Friday. Mohammed picked him up in the Town Car and when they got home, Metwally walked up the stairs to his apartment under his own power for the first time in April. I took it easy, he said. One step at a time. Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @samwhitingsf Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) - Despite the efforts of the government to revive the economy hit hard by the pandemic, a leading businessman said it would not be advisable to prematurely reopen businesses after the lockdown. A lot of things have to be considered. I think the government is doing the right thing by weighing the peoples health and safety versus that of the economy, Globe Telecom CEO Ernest Cu told CNN Philippines The Final Word. The rate of decrease and increase for that matter of cases in a daily basis, I think we have stabilized pretty much, and the increase of testing," he added. "Signs are positive. Yet, Cu said that reopening of businesses once the enhanced community quarantine is lifted might lead to another lockdown. As a business person we would like to see the economy open up, but you know we dont also want to see it open up prematurely and go back to a lockdown soon after, he said. The Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine was extended until April 30 to further contain the spread of COVID-19. President Rodrigo Duterte will announce Friday whether it will extended again or relaxed. Some lawmakers are pushing for another extension of the lockdown. On the other hand, Presidential Adviser on Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion proposed a gradual resumption of operations of commercial establishments while enforcing social distancing. The Philippine Institute for Development Studies also recommended a gradual relaxation of quarantine restrictions to restart economic activity. The community quarantine also led to deferment of due dates for some services like water, electricity, and telecommunication. Globe is one of the companies that extended deadline of payments for its clients and subscribers. Cu admitted that the telecommunication company is under pressure for deferring due dates. But Globes good cash balance will let it weather lockdown, he said. That will definitely put pressure on Globe." he said. "However, we came into this lockdown and this crisis with a strong balance sheet...and telco, coming out of the ECQ, will be one of the industries that will perform quite well." Amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and global financial gloom, China seems set to launch the worlds first digital currency in the weeks ahead. The central bank digital currency or digital yuan, is officially referred to as the digital currency/electronic payment (DC/EP) project. Its not a new currency but a digitised version of the existing Chinese currency yuan, which will be disbursed via a digital wallet. The wallet doesnt need to be linked to any bank account or card. Five years in development, the DC/EP project has been largely shrouded in secrecy. Until now. A number of articles in Chinese media this month indicate that the currency could be launched as early as next month in restricted, small pilot projects. The government-affiliated Star Market Daily reported earlier this month that Chinas big four state-owned banks, the Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, the China Construction Bank, the Agricultural Bank of China and the Bank of China have begun testing the digital currency. On Thursday, another state media report gave details about the upcoming cautious launch of the currency. The Chinese central banks digital currency DC/EP project will be tested in Xiongan New Area in north Chinas Hebei province, with a trial run in local catering and retail industries including US coffee chain Starbucks, fast food chain McDonalds and the Qingfeng Baozi (stuffed bun) restaurant chain, the state-run tabloid Global Times reported. Employees from selected companies will be allowed to open digital wallets and operate them within the Xiongan New Area, a new development coming up about 100 km from Beijing. Three other cities Shenzhen in southern Chinas Guangdong province, Suzhou in eastern Chinas Jiangsu province, and Chengdu in southwest Chinas Sichuan province will also test the central bank-backed digital currency. The new digital currency falls in Chinas way toward becoming a cashless society where hundreds of millions make payments via WeChat or Alipay, which are linked to bank cards. The DCEP will be powered partially by blockchain technology and dispersed through digital wallets. What sets it somewhat apart, however, are features that allow the central bank to track the movement of the currency and even supervise transactions, the Reuters said in a report on DC/EP late last year. The head of the Chinese central banks digital currency research institute, Mu Changchun, told a public forum last year that it was almost ready. However, in September, Chinese central bank chief Yi Gang said there was no timetable for its rollout and that it still needed to meet requirements, such as anti-money laundering, the Reuters report said. FairPrice on Wheels grocery van. (PHOTO: NTUC FairPrice) SINGAPORE From Thursday (23 April), NTUC FairPrice will be using vans to bring basic essential grocery items to selected mature estates with higher concentration of low-income senior citizens. Called FairPrice on Wheels, the community initiative will be carrying items such as rice, bread, instant noodles, cooking oil, canned food, toiletries, fruits and vegetables on specially-outfitted vans. These vans will operate daily from 9am to 2pm and accept cash only. They are open to all, and seniors who visit these vans will also be able to enjoy discounts from the Pioneer Generation, Merdeka Generation and Senior Discounts schemes on its designated days. According to a media release by NTUC FairPrice on Wednesday, the vans will initially serve these five locations: Commonwealth Link (car park between Blocks 109 and 110) Telok Blangah Crescent (loading/unloading bay between Blocks 1 and 4) Telok Blangah Rise (car park between Blocks 29 and 32) Kampong Glam Community Club (car park in front of post office at Block 15) Jalan Kukoh (car park in front of Block 2) These five locations were specially selected based on demographic data where more than 30 per cent of residents are above the age of 60 years old and are living mostly in three-room HDB flats. Purchase limits, safe distancing measures The purchase limits per customer that was implemented across all FairPrice outlets on 27 March will also apply at FairPrice on Wheels vans. These purchase limits include: Paper products: two packs (toilet paper, facial tissues, kitchen towels) Instant noodles or pasta: two packs Rice: 10 kilograms Vegetables: $30 Fresh, frozen and processed poultry: $30 Eggs: three packs of 10 or one tray of 30 per customer Canned products: six cans (choice of meat, fish or vegetables) Cooking oil: five litres FairPrice has also put in place various precautionary measures to maintain safe distancing while shopping at the vans. These measures include maintaining safe distancing through cone markings and crowd control measures. Staff will be on the ground to facilitate queue management. Story continues All shoppers and staff are also required to put on a mask at all times when patronising the mobile store. Customers may also contact the van through a dedicated mobile number to check in real-time on the queue status before making their way down. While we encourage everyone to stay home during the circuit breaker period, we also understand that there may be people who do not have the option to have their groceries purchased on their behalf, FairPrice Group chief executive officer Seah Kian Peng said, Therefore, we aim to bring daily essentials closer to their homes, especially for seniors, so that they do not have to spend too much time away from home. We have also received feedback that some residents would also like to help their elderly neighbours purchase the groceries on their behalf and with this mobile van, it makes it that much more convenient for them to do this good deed for their neighbours. For more information, please visit FairPrices Facebook page or contact its customer service team at 6552-2722 or via email at general.feedback@fairprice.com.sg. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Other Singapore stories: COVID-19: S'pore crosses 10,000 mark with 1,016 more cases; confirms 8 new clusters and 12th fatality COVID-19: 16 malls with high traffic urged to conduct contact tracing of customers COVID-19: SAF to further suspend basic military training till 1 June COVID-19: Youth who danced and ranted against safe distancing rules in public, 5 others fined Nepal reported two fresh cases of the deadly coronavirus on Thursday, taking the total number of infections in the Himalayan nation to 47, according to the health ministry. A 19-year-old boy from Janakpur in Southern Nepal and a 55-year-old woman from Udaypur district in Eastern Nepal have tested positive for the coronavirus, the Ministry of Health and Population said in a statement. Two newly cured coronavirus patients from Kathmandu's Sun City apartment were discharged from a Teku-based government hospital after their successful treatment on Thursday. With this, nine coronavirus patients have been treated in Nepal, it said. Meanwhile, CG Foundation of Nepal's first billionaire and noted industrialist Binod Chaudhary has donated over 1,000 testing kits, 1,000 personal protective gears and as many N95 masks to various provincial governments across Nepal. As a part of its three phase initiative to respond to the pandemic, the first phase saw distribution of medical supplies including Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and treatment supplies to 48 centers in seven provinces. These supplies were handed over to Health Minister Bhanubhakta Dhakal recently at a function organised by the Ministry of Health. "Our endeavours have been receiving huge support from provincial governments," Chaudhary said. Nepal has intensified security near the NepalIndia border to stop cross border transmission of the coronavirus. Dozens of temporary security posts have been installed and thousands of police personnel have been mobilised to halt trans-border movement of people, according to officials. The Nepal government on Tuesday decided to extend the lockdown period till April 27 due to the rising number of coronavirus cases in the Himalayan nation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fatma Addar grew up in a Nubian family, connected to her ethnic minority's rich history through its tales of a bygone life on the Nile, though regaled less and less in their original language. She lives in the southern Egyptian city of Aswan and was schooled mostly in Arabic -- her only occasional brushes with her mother tongue are when she hears it spoken by the family elders. "I usually get asked how can I be Nubian when I can't speak my own language," the 23-year-old told AFP. "It was always a problem for me." The language, she says, is "unpractised by many in her generation", born decades after the mass eviction of Egypt's Nubians from their ancestral lands to make way for the construction of the Aswan High Dam on the Nile in the 1960s. Built under late president Gamal Abdel Nasser, the colossal projectaimed to harness the Nile's annual floods and provide electricity for the burgeoning nation. Nubian Egyptian women sell souvenirs in the village of Gharb Suhail near Aswan. By Khaled DESOUKI (AFP) But tens of thousands of Nubians were uprooted from their homes, according to rights and advocacy groups. Their villages were then inundated by Lake Nasser, the dam's massive reservoir, and today, only a handful of Nubian villages remain close to the Nile banks, attracting tourists. Since then, the ethnic minority has complained of systematic discrimination and cultural marginalisation -- and dreamt of returning to its lands and reviving its traditions and language. A need that faded Indigenous to modern day southern Egypt and northern Sudan, Nubians trace their roots to an ancient African civilisation that eventually ruled Egypt during the 25th dynasty, some 3,000 years ago. Amberkab, an entrepreneur, launched the initiative "Koma Waidi" (tales from the past), documenting stories told before Nubians were displaced for construction of the Aswan High Dam on the Nile in the 1960s. By Khaled DESOUKI (AFP) They built a life of lush verdant expanses, spacious domed mud-brick houses, clusters of palm trees, distinct customs tied to the Nile and spoke their very own language. But after their eviction, they were resettled in arid desert villages far from the Nile, forcing many to abandon agriculture and seek work in other cities across Egypt or abroad. Traditions closely tied to life along the Nile have waned and younger generations have become less acquainted with their mother tongue that was never taught in local schools. Although there are no official figures for today's Nubian community, advocacy groups estimate its number to be three or four million, out of Egypt's 100-million population. It is also unclear how many speak Nubian, a language that is not understood by non-Nubian Egyptians. "Our integration into Arabic-speaking communities caused the need to speak Nubian to fade over time," Addar said. 'Cultural marginalisation' In ancient times, Nubian was written using several different alphabets including Coptic, Greek and Meroitic, according to academic studies. Built under late president Gamal Abdel Nasser, the colossal dam aimed to harness the Nile's annual floods and provide electricity for a burgeoning nation -- but it saw tens of thousands of Nubians uprooted, say rights groups. By Khaled DESOUKI (AFP) But the written language was gradually abandoned and for centuries it was just passed down orally from one generation to the next. Among Nubians, it has lived on in Egypt as two spoken dialects, Kenzi and Fadiji, and those who use one dialect do not necessarily understand the other. During the 1973 Arab-Israeli war, the language was used as a military code after late president Anwar al-Sadat approved the idea put forward by a Nubian soldier. But Nubians have sought to revive the written form of the language in recent decades. Efforts have culminated in deriving a 24-letter alphabet, whose closest resemblance is the Greek one, according to Hussein Kobbara, a Nubian studies researcher. "It is such a shame that this ancient language is not taught in schools or universities. It's clear cultural marginalisation that undermines our ethnic identity," the 63-year-old said. Tales from the past Fluent speakers and academics have recently started holding language classes for the Nubian diaspora living in cities like Cairo and Alexandria. Nubian boys lead camels along an alley -- the Nubian language lives on in two dialects but the written language was gradually abandoned over centuries. By Khaled DESOUKI (AFP) Others have applied 21st-century ways to boost the language, using online videos and mobile applications. One Nubian entrepreneur, Hafsa Amberkab, launched the initiative "Koma Waidi" -- meaning tales from the past -- documenting stories told by elders and collecting dying expressions. Helped by Addar, she has compiled since last year a dictionary of some 230 words in the Kenzi dialect, written using Arabic letters to facilitate pronunciation for readers. It has also been transcribed into English, Arabic and Spanish. "We derive the expressions, as we film old Nubians telling tales of their old villages and the customs they practised," Amberkab said. One video shows an elderly woman carrying out an old ritual of baptising a child in the Nile waters seven days after he was born. The woman calls on God to guard the child's footsteps as she wipes his face with the Nile water and sprinkles sweets in the water. 'Like returning without our souls' In 2017, software developer Momen Taloosh created a mobile language learning application named "Nubi". "I am not fluent, having lived in Alexandria all my life," said Taloosh. "But I belong to Nubia and I want the language to live on." The application integrates the 24-letter alphabet and includes popular Nubian proverbs and songs in both dialects translated into Arabic, drawing some 3,000 active users and 20,000 downloads. The songs include those crooned at weddings as well as others reflecting a deep sense of longing for the Nubians' return to their lands. "My son, as you leave for the old village, remember me when you get there... and do not forget to greet it for me," are the haunting lyrics to one song. Nubians have long called for a return to their ancestral lands. In 2017, dozens set out on a singing march but the demonstration was swiftly crushed and at least 24 people were arrested. Nubian girls play outside their home in the village of Abu Simbel in Egypt's far south -- efforts to revive the language are boosting awareness of their ancient culture. By Khaled DESOUKI (AFP) Even before the eviction in the 1960s, smaller displacements had occurred in 1902, 1912 and again in 1933, to pave the way for the Aswan reservoir. Egypt's 2014 constitution recognised for the first time the Nubians' right to return to their lands, setting a time frame that ends in 2024. But so far the government has not taken any measures to deliver on its promise. Instead, earlier this year, it announced compensation packages for thousands of Nubians affected by the 1960s dam construction. It included providing social housing in other cities across Egypt, cash, or the option to benefit from the state's future development plans. Those Nubians affected by the earlier reservoir developments have been offered ownership rights of the land where they currently live, or temporary rights to use and benefit from those lands if located along the Nile. Nubians affected by reservoir developments have been offered land rights -- but activists insist that is no replacement for a right to return. By Khaled DESOUKI (AFP) Activists insist however that such offers are no replacement for a right to return. "This will always be the dream and we have to keep the language alive until we go back to our lands," said Amberkab. "Otherwise it will be like returning without our souls." HYDERABAD, India, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mr. Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, Engineer, Inventor, Entrepreneur and former Member of Indian Parliament, today announced a global breakthrough with the development of ICoVent, a 'rapidly manufacturable COVID-19 specific ventilator.' The ICoVent will help address the global shortage of ventilators. Speaking at the launch of the ICoVent, abbreviated for Indian COVID Ventilator, Mr. Reddy said, "The successful development of this ventilator is testament to the capabilities of Indian engineering to solve global challenges. An original design that is conceptually new, the components used for manufacture of the ICoVent ventilator are freely available in most countries including India. Its precision does not depend on expensive sensors and regulators. The ICoVent, a rapidly manufacturable COVID-19 specific ventilator will help to bridge the shortfall and benefit humanity." With the COVID-19 pandemic, governments and healthcare systems suddenly found they needed more ventilators than they had to save the lives of patients. The UK was the first country to come out with a set of specifications defining* 'the minimum clinically accepted criteria for a rapidly manufacturable ventilator to address the COVID-19 situation. 'The ICoVent meets the UK Government specifications. A patent for the technology and function has already been applied for. Citadel Research & Development Ltd. is open to explore partnerships to manufacture in UK. Only ICU ventilators can be used on COVID-19 patients in critical conditions/ARDS. But ICU ventilators are in short supply and cannot be manufactured quickly. The ICoVent Ventilator can be manufactured rapidly at a low cost. Most of the other ventilators especially those based on Mechanized Ambu bags provide no clinical benefits for use on COVID-19 patients, can potentially cause ventilator-induced lung injury and also put healthcare professionals under great risk as they release of a huge viral load into the ICU atmosphere. Many healthcare workers have succumbed to this. The ICoVent is specially designed for COVID-19 patients with ARDS which allows the doctor to precisely control volume and various pressures. All parameters like Peak Inspiration Pressure PIP, Plateau Pressure, PEEP, I:E Ratios, Tidal Volume, Modes, Triggers etc. can be controlled in the ICoVent Ventilator. About Citadel Research & Solutions: Founded in 1998, a design, development & engineering company with competencies in Information Technology, Electronics and Mechanical Engineering. www.citadelh.com About Mr. Konda Vishweshwar Reddy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konda_Vishweshwar_Reddy *https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/specification-for-ventilators-to-be-used-in-uk-hospitals-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/rapidly-manufactured-ventilator-system-rmvs Media contact: Email: Vishweshwar@citadelh.com Mobile Phone: +91-9849023345 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1159169/Mr_Konda_Vishweshwar_Reddy.jpg The pandemic has offered a rare opportunity to peek inside the homes of celebrities, politicians, journalists, and political pundits and at least one man is not particularly impressed with what he's seen. In response to stay-at-home orders, late night talk shows, news programs, and even benefit concerts are being recorded from inside people's homes, and Claude Taylor, a 57-year-old from Washington, D.C., has been rating their setups. On April 11, Claude started the Twitter account 'Room Rater,' where he shares screengrabs of famous people talking on TV from inside their homes, and offers each of them a rating from one to ten based on their makeshift 'studios'. How'd he do? A 'Room Rater' Twitter account is rating the rooms that celebrities are broadcasting from while at home He approves: Claude Taylor, a 57-year-old from Washington, D.C., has been rating their setups Keeping busy: He shares screengrabs of famous people talking on TV from inside their homes, and offers each of them a rating from one to ten based on their makeshift 'studios' Ranking them all: He has included world leaders like Vladimir Putin, politicians, and political pundits Tuning in: The One World: Together at Home concert gave him plenty of opportunities to see into celebrity homes Likes it: He thinks the room that the former first lady records herself is 'sophisticated' and 'elegant' Need a makeover? He was not so impressed with Conan O'Brien's setup Popular: His commentary, in particular, has tickled his nearly 100,000 followers 'Like a lot of people, I am probably watching more cable news than I'd like and watching all of the talking heads and pundits,' he told the Today show. 'My girlfriend and I started this account to offer our insights,' he added. 'We really just created this to have some lighthearted virus content. Just as a way to distract people and entertain them a bit. It's not really meant to be taken at all seriously. Just a little levity for the moment.' So far, he's rated the homes of quite a few celebrities, including Celine Dion, John Krasinski who has been hosting web series called 'Some Good News' Oprah, Ted Nugent, and several of the performers in the One World: Together at Home concert. He's taken on the late night talk show hosts too, including Conan O'Brien, Trevor Noah, Jimmy Fallon, and Jimmy Kimmel. Presidential: While watching ESPN's new series on Michael Jordan, he caught sight of former President Clinton and rated his room Low rating: He didn't have great feelings about Michael Moore's map backdrop Thumbs up: Trevor Noah scored well among the late night TV hosts Ladies love it: He also responds to 'requests' from followers Whoops! Ted Cruz got negative points for his awkward camera positioning Royally styled: Camila Parker Bowles has 'good balance' and 'nice shelves' A look outside: Elton John filmed his concert performance outside So rich: Claude made fun of Shark Tank's Mark Cuban's gold doorknobs Cramped: Claude wasn't crazy for James Corden's basement setup Cute! Glee star Jane Lynch set up a little studio inside her closet He's rated countless journalists, from reporters to anchors like Gayle King. Politicians from the left and right have also been rated on their rooms. So far, he's assessed the homes of everyone from Chris Christine Vice President Pence to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bill Clinton. World leaders have made the cut, too, including Russia's Vladimir Putin and Canada's Justin Truedeau. In addition to giving the rooms of rating out of ten, Claude provides funny commentary which has helped him earned over 79,500 followers so far. Nice spot: He thinks Ellen DeGeneres' home looks 'tranquil' and gave it 10/10 Tiny: He seems to think that Jimmy Fallon's home is too small for him No decorations: Jimmy Kimmel seems to have turned to his attic for a spot where he won't be interrupted On brand: Amy Klobuchar scored points for her 'mid western realism' Claude joked that Stacey Abrams's setup may hurt her chances of being picked for Biden's VP Busy: Gayle King went 'all in on the yellow wallpaper' Billions: Though Bloomberg got a good rating, Claude took the opportunity to make fun of his presidential run Not into it: Claude apparently isn't a fun of furry throw blankets like Chris Cuomo's Surprise! Elizabeth Warren has a whimsical swing seat in her home It works: Joe and Jill Biden's Skype room is 'predictable' but 'solid' Winner: Michael Jordon took the opportunity to show off his many trophies Tease: Senator Chuck Schumer has 'interesting wood inlay' and shows a 'hint of bookshelf' Intellectual: He likes Jane Goodall's 'classy and tasteful' shelves Professional: He found Stephen Colbert's setup 'too stage managed' 0/10: Claude used Bill O'Reilly's photo to remind everyone of his sexual assault settlements Need a fix? He's not a fan of Chris Christie's furniture, paint, or drapes Bling if you need help! He said Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's recording looks like a hostage video OKLAHOMA CITY A lawsuit was filed Thursday seeking to drop a requirement that absentee ballots be notarized during the COVID-19 pandemic. The suit was filed in the Oklahoma Supreme Court by the League of Women Voters of Oklahoma and two individuals. It names Oklahoma Election Board Secretary Paul Ziriax as the respondent. During the pandemic, an unprecedented number of voters will seek to cast ballots by absentee during the June, August and November elections, according to the lawsuit. Unlike voters in almost every other state, however, Oklahomans seeking to vote absentee must overcome a substantial obstacle, the suit said. Oklahoma is one of only three states in the entire country where at least according to the Respondent, the Secretary of the State Election Board an absentee ballot must be accompanied by an affidavit notarized in person by a notary public. The requirement for a notary to sign the absentee ballot puts a burden on those seeking to avoid contracting COVID-19, according to the suit. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that sewage plants and other industries cannot avoid environmental requirements under landmark clean-water protections when they send dirty water on an indirect route to rivers, oceans and other navigable waterways. Rejecting the Trump administrations views, the justices held by a 6-3 vote that the discharge of polluted water into the ground, rather than directly into nearby waterways, does not relieve an industry of complying with the Clean Water Act. We hold that the statute requires a permit when there is a direct discharge from a point source into navigable waters or when there is the functional equivalent of a direct discharge, Justice Stephen Breyer wrote for the court. The decision came in a closely watched case from Hawaii about whether a sewage treatment plant needs a federal permit when it sends wastewater deep underground, instead of discharging the treated flow directly into the Pacific Ocean. Studies have found the wastewater soon reaches the ocean and has damaged a coral reef near a Maui beach. The Environmental Protection Agency under President Donald Trump reversed the agencys position that Breyer noted has appeared to work well for more than 30 years. Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas dissented. Based on the statutory text and structure, I would hold that a permit is required only when a point source discharges pollutants directly into navigable waters, Thomas wrote. David Henkin, a lawyer for the environmental group Earthjustice who argued the case in the high court, said, This is unquestionably a win for people who are concerned about protecting clean water in the United States. Sewage plants and other polluters must get a permit under the Clean Water Act when pollutants go through a pipe from their source to a body of water. The question in this case was whether a permit is needed when the pollutant first passes through the soil or groundwater. Maui injects 3 million to 5 million gallons a day of treated wastewater into wells beneath the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility, which sits about a half-mile from the Pacific shoreline. Environmental groups in Hawaii sued Maui after studies using dyes to trace the flow showed more than half the discharge from two wells was entering the ocean in a narrow area. They won a ruling from the federal appeals court based in San Francisco. Breyer raised concerns during arguments in November that a ruling for Maui would provide a road map for polluters to evade federal permit requirements. Still, the court did not go as far as the federal appeals court, which adopted a standard that would have brought even more groundwater discharges under the clean water law. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 07:05:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PARIS, April 22 (Xinhua) -- French people are concerned about the government's plan to ease movement restrictions from May 11 as the coronavirus epidemic situation presented some encouraging signs after five weeks of lockdown, polls released on Wednesday showed. As of Wednesday, 29,741 people tested positive for the coronavirus were hospitalized, down by 365 in the last 24 hours, consolidating a one-week slowdown. The number of patients who need intensive care has fallen for the 14th consecutive day. An Elabe survey found that 66 percent of 1,000 respondents were concerned about the deconfinement, 34 percent were upbeat about post-lockdown life. On school reopening, 63 percent thought that the government had not well prepared the back-to-school-and-work measures. In another poll, conducted by Harris Interactive after Prime Minister Edouard Philippe presented the main pillars of a deconfinement plan on Sunday, a large majority of people were in favor of remote work even after the end of the confinement, while 60 percent of the interviewed found school reopening a bad decision. The French government is working on a plan to wind down confinement measures, enforced in mid-March and extended twice, with the aim to both avoid a resurgence of the virus and ensure a gradual return to normal life. "We are preparing a second stage, of which we do not know how long it will last," said President Emmanuel Macron earlier in the day during a visit to north-western France. "The ice is thin and we do not want to make steps backwards ... So we must not put into question this effort by a too hasty return or a desire to say 'it's all behind us,'" he added. Under the government's plan, cafes, restaurants, shops, cinemas and theatres would remain closed while festivals would be postponed to mid-July. Meanwhile, schools would be reopened in several stages and with much smaller classes. But questions over protective equipment and hygiene protocol to be implemented in education establishments remained unanswered, igniting concerns and unions critics. Enditem BANGALORE, India; WILMINGTON, Delaware and ADELAIDE, Australia, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Bugworks Research Inc, a global biopharma start-up designing novel broad-spectrum antibiotics, announced the completion of a $7.5M financing, led by University of Tokyo Edge Capital (UTEC) Japan and Global Brain Corporation (Global Brain) Japan,along with Acquipharma Holdings, South-Africa. The company has raised $19M till date and has 3one4 Capital as an existing investor. This investment enables Bugworks to complete Phase 1 studies for its GYROX series Intravenous drug candidate and advance an Oral lead towards clinical development. Bugworks' drug candidate, a dual-target gyrase-topoisomerase inhibitor, supported by CARB-X since 2017, is a novel broad-spectrum agent targeting critical bacterial infections implicated in serious hospital, community and biothreat indications. "UTEC led the Bugworks Series A in 2018, as we identified Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as one of the global issues of mankind, and facilitated Bugworks' collaboration with Japanese ecosystem. Bugworks has thoroughly impressed us with their scientific rigour, pre-clinical data, business development progress and commitment to saving lives. We are now proud to double-down our investment in Bugworks," said Tomotaka Goji, Managing Partner & President, UTEC. "As witnessed with COVID-19, infectious diseases are threatening human existence. AMR is a serious issue and Global Brain regards this as a big unmet medical need. We are proud to partner with Bugworks to bring highly differentiated solutions in AMR to the market. We consider India to be an important region, both from innovation and market perspective and are hence accelerating our investment activity in India," said Yasuhiko Yurimoto, Founder-CEO & General Partner Global Brain. "This new financing is an endorsement of our team and differentiated AMR assets, as we bring reputed global investors to aid our mission of pandemic preparedness by defeating superbug infections," said Dr. Anand Anandkumar, CEO of Bugworks. Investors Profile UTEC is a Tokyo-based early-stage VC with over $500M AUM with 11 successful IPOs and 11 M&As. UTEC invests in seed/early-stage startups that solve global issues of humankind using profound science and technology. Global Brain is a VC firm based in Tokyo with offices in San Francisco, London, Seoul, Singapore and Jakarta. With over $1.5B assets under management, Global Brain has invested in 200+ startups selectively from seed/early to pre-IPO startups and achieved 17 IPOs and 48 M&As. Acquipharma Holdings is a South-Africa based life-science boutique investment fund, who've invested in Bugworks since 2016. Bugworks Company contact: Leela Maitreyi [email protected] www.bugworksresearch.com SOURCE Bugworks Research Inc. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned all the countries that coronavirus will stay on the planet for a long time. He also added to make no mistake during this pandemic. The chief of the UN agency, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus recently hinted that COVID-19 will remain on the planet for a long time. To the countries where the number of cases was under control are currently experiencing a comeback of the virus. Moreover, there are many other countries whose recovery rate cant be predicted till now and the graph of number of cases is upwards, Tedros said in Geneva while attending a press conference. He also added, the stage of coronavirus cant be determined as some countries are still in their first phase of fight and other countries are now facing a resurgence of cases. He then warned all the countries, Make no mistake, the virus will be there with us for a long time. He added that WHO had warned a global emergency on January 30 itself considering the increasing number of cases for the countries to prepare and plan well. He said that US President Donald Trump also threatened the agency to withdraw the funding of WHO even after no facts and figures were hidden from Trump. Tedros said that the focus is currently on the battle against coronavirus so every country is advised to make no mistake during this pandemic. Also Read: Pakistan PM Imran Khan goes into self-isolation after meeting philanthropist who tested COVID-19 positive The global tally, the total number of cases has reached 2,636,989 with the death toll at 184,186. Governments across the globe are trying hard to control the spread of coronavirus that originated from Wuhan China in December 2019. The epicenter of coronavirus has now moved from China to the United States, which has the highest number of COVID-19 cases. For all the latest World News, download NewsX App Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media A retired family physician from Manchester who also served for two years as a doctor in the Navy died with COVID-19 on April 16, according to his obituary. Per his obituary, Alan F. Krupp, who served in the Navy in the 1960s, later was the head of the medical staff at Manchester Memorial Hospital. He spent his time there improving the quality of care for patients. Prithviraj Sukumaran and Blessy, the actor-director duo have been stranded in Wadi Rum, Jordan along with their crew members, where they were shooting for the much awaited upcoming project Aadujeevitham. The shooting of Aadujeevitham was canceled due to the curfew that was imposed by the government of Jordan to fight COVID_19. However, the latest reports suggest that Prithviraj and Blessy have finally resumed the shooting of Aadujeevitham in the same location, recently. As per the updates, the Jordan government has permitted the cast and crew members of Aadujeevitham to continue with the shooting, as the COVID_19 threat is gradually fading away from the country. If the reports are to be true, the cast and crew members of Aadujeevitham are planning to return to India only after completing the Jordan schedule of the movie. The lead actor and director of the project, Prithviraj Sukumaran and Blessy are expected to make an official confirmation on the same through their respective social media pages, very soon. The first and second schedules of Aadujeevitham, which is based on Benyamin's best-selling novel of the same name, were widely shot at the various location of Kerala and Jordan last year. Prithviraj, who plays the central character Najeeb Mohammed, has shed around 30 kilos for the perfection of his character in the movie. Aadujeevitham will mark the comeback of AR Rahman, the Academy award-winning musician to Malayalam cinema after a long gap of 2 decades. As per the reports, the legendary musician has already composed three singles for the movie. Amala Paul appears as the female lead in the movie, thus marking her first onscreen collaboration with Prithviraj Sukumaran. KU Mohanan, the veteran cinematographer, is the DOP. A Sreekar Prasad is the editor of the project while Academy award-winner Rasool Pookutty handles the sound design. Aadujeevitham is produced by KGA Films. A single care home where 11 out of the Isle of Man's 15 coronavirus deaths have occurred has had its licence suspended - after its director blasted the government over a lack of PPE. Abbotswood Nursing Home in Ballasalla had its license suspended on April 13 after nearly 40 residents tested positive for coronavirus. Eleven people are now reported to have died at the home - with six confirmed in the last 24 hours alone - while another resident died while being treated at Noble's Hospital. Health Minister David Ashford revealed the news in a media briefing yesterday in which he also said his 'heart goes out to the families and friends' of the victims and announced there were now 307 confirmed cases on the virus on the island. Abbotswood Nursing Home in Ballasalla (pictured) had its license suspended on April 13 after nearly 40 residents tested positive for coronavirus Director and chief nurse Zandra Lewis had earlier warned about a lack of PPE at the care home One in five Cumbrian care homes now infected with coronavirus Cumbria was an early outlier in terms of infection rates of Covid-19 and has recorded 17 care home deaths since April 1, with 74 more where the virus is suspected to have been a factor in the fatality, according to figures released by the Cumbria Local Resilience Forum (LRF) on Thursday. It said 23 out of 112 of the county's care homes have had suspected or confirmed Covid-19 cases, around 20 per cent. There are approximately 3,400 people living in the county's residential and nursing homes. The virus case distribution is anecdotally thought to have been higher in the county due to the relatively older and more affluent local population, with people returning to Cumbria from half-term skiing trips in northern Italy, the epicentre of the outbreak in Europe. A further 55 care home residents are confirmed to have Covid-19, with another 170 suspected cases, according to the LRF. The county currently has the eighth highest number of infections per 100,000 of the population out of 150 local authority areas in England, according to Public Health England figures. Areas with similar rates are all highly urban or cities. It is thought Cumbria's higher figures are likely to converge with other parts of the UK as the virus spreads further. Advertisement Director and chief nurse Zandra Lewis had earlier warned about a lack of PPE at the care home. She told Manx Radio: 'We've asked for help from the relevant public health authorities to give us the appropriate PPE to look after the rest of my staff, let alone the residents. 'And we've been given what I would call basic PPE. I'm really upset because any of my staff actually died from this, let alone residents, then I will feel the government has let us down. She added: 'Are we as a private nursing home, which has NHS residents in it, not as worthy as a hospital [for PPE]?' The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) took over the running of the care home last week. DHSC chief executive Kathryn Magson said the reasons behind the decision were 'confidential' but it was for the 'safety of the residents', according to the BBC. Some residents of the care home have been moved to a building on the Noble's Hospital site while the facility is given a 'deep clean' but they be moved back once that is completed. It comes amid growing concern over the impact of coronavirus on care homes. The National Care Forum (NCF), which represents not-for-profit care providers, has estimated that more than 4,000 people may have died after contracting Covid-19 across all residential and nursing homes before April 13. This is significantly higher than the official weekly figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), which recorded 217 care home deaths connected to the virus up until April 3. Director and chief nurse Zandra Lewis had earlier warned about a lack of PPE at the care home (pictured, a nurse in PPE speaks to a resident at the Wren Hall care home in Nottingham, Monday, April 20) The NCF collected data from 47 care homes which support more than 30,000 people across the UK, accounting for 7.4% of the care sector population. It found 299 confirmed or suspected Covid-19 deaths across those specific homes in one week between April 7 to April 13, which is almost three times the number of deaths in the preceding month, when they found 102 deaths between March 6 and April 7. When scaled up to reflect the UK's care home population, the NCF estimated that 4,040 people may have died of a coronavirus-related illness before April 13. The first offender within New Jerseys juvenile system has tested positive for the coronavirus, officials said Wednesday. The young man lives at the New Jersey Training School in Middlesex, the Juvenile Justice Commissions largest facility. He tested positive Sunday and is being monitored in medical isolation," according to state attorney general spokeswoman Sharon Lauchaire. The commission oversees about 285 young men and women who committed crimes as juveniles, excluding those on parole, but it has only tested 6. We are extremely concerned that they are not testing all the kids, Rev. Charles Boyer, a pastor and founder of the civil rights group Salvation and Social Justice, wrote in a text message. He said he was also concerned that staff must get their own tests. Lauchaire said University Correctional Health Care, the commissions medical provider, is following federal health guidelines by only testing those with symptoms. While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesnt prohibit testing people who appear well, it recommends prioritizing the sick. Twenty employees have also tested positive, according to the commissions public statistics. In a statement, the agency said its working hard to protect the health and safety of its residents." The commission previously made several changes amid the pandemic, including suspending visits, and it recently made masks available to all offenders, according to the statement. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage Dozens of people have been quarantined, including seven residents with symptoms that may be consistent with COVID-19. They are under medical supervision in isolation, Lauchaire wrote. Three who had contact with the one positive case have also been quarantined, even though theyre not sick. Sixty-seven staff have been told to quarantine at home because of possible exposure. None have had to return to work before 14 days passed, Lauchaire wrote, unlike some officers in the adult prison system whove had to break self-quarantine because of critical staffing levels. The commission employs almost 700 staff overall, including 347 officers. William Sullivan, president of PBA Local 105, said the commission has quickly addressed the unions concerns, including providing masks for staff and checking temperatures at entrances. The commission has tested residents at a higher rate (about 2%) than the adult prison system (less than .7%) or the general public (1.9%). No residents or officers have died of the coronavirus, Lauchaire said. The number of incarcerated juveniles in the state has dropped over the past decade, which could make it easier to social distance in each facility. While some residents are teenagers, many are allowed to stay in the juvenile system into their 20s. The average age at the end of last year was 18, according to the commissions public reports. Ten residents have also been released early by court order, Lauchaire wrote, in an effort to reduce pressure inside facilities. Prosecutors, public defenders and the Rutgers Criminal and Youth Justice Clinic continue to flag low-risk residents for possible release, she said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BCunninghamN. REGINASaskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says some businesses that were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic could reopen next month. In a televised address from the legislature Wednesday, a first for a Saskatchewan Party premier, Moe announced that his government has a five-phase plan to allow some businesses and services to open their doors. Moe said the province has managed to keep its infection rate low, which means it can look at relaxing some of the restrictions it introduced last month to slow the spread of the virus. We know there are risks on both sides, he said. If we move too quickly, we risk increasing the spread of COVID-19. If we move too slowly, we risk permanent damage to the livelihoods of thousands of Saskatchewan people. The province reported six new cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number to 326. There have so far been four deaths, and 261 people have recovered. Moe said Saskatchewans cases are about 70 per cent below the national average, and its hospitalizations and deaths more than 90 per cent below the national figure. What we are doing in Saskatchewan is working, he said. We have flattened the curve. Saskatchewan is one of the provinces eyeing a reopening of some parts of its economy as spread of the virus becomes manageable. Moe said more details on what businesses and services will be allowed to reopen and when they can do so will be announced Thursday. In his speech, he said some of the reopenings are slated for May. As businesses are allowed to reopen and employees return to work, they will have to follow stringent physical distancing and cleaning procedures, just like the grocery stores. Bars, restaurants, gyms, theatres and personal services such as hair salons were some of the businesses ordered closed after Saskatchewan recorded its first case of COVID-19 in March. Dental and physical therapy clinics have been permitted to perform urgent procedures, and daycares have been limited to eight children. Moe said restrictions around non-essential travel, visits to long-term care homes and large gatherings will stay put. He did not mention schools, but has said its unlikely they would reopen soon. Applications opened this week for Australians hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic to access up to $10,000 of their own superannuation savings. As of mid-week, some 456,000 applications, with a value of $3.8 billion, have been made via MyGov, approved by the ATO, and on-sent to the super funds for payment. The average request is for around $8,000. The government has not taken the decision lightly to allow early release of super. But for Australians whose finances have been significantly affected by COVID-19, accessing a limited amount of super today may outweigh the benefits of locking up savings all the way to retirement. In conjunction with other measures the government has announced, such as the doubling of Jobseeker and the $130 billion Jobkeeper package, this is the largest economic lifeline in Australias history. Of course, early withdrawal of super is a trade-off. WELLS, Nev.The operator of Bellas Hacienda Ranch, a legal brothel in Northern Nevada, today announced plans her business will adopt once Gov. Steve Sisolak gives the green light to reopen. Madam Bella told AVN that her plan involves several key procedural changes, including a plan to include COVID-19 testing as part of the weekly sex worker testing done at the bordello, which already includes mandatory tests for STIs. Madam Bella also will require customers to wear face coverings and everyone entering the establishment will be tested for elevated temperatures. It certainly wont be business as usual at the brothels when we open, Madam Bella said. Im announcing procedures for reopening in order to be proactive and transparent, so that customers know that the courtesans and I have every intention to reopen safely. At any given time, Bellas Hacienda typically had 8-14 courtesans on hand, but that number will shrink to eight. Hand washing and showers have always been a part of the business cleanliness protocol, but Madam Bella will make showers prior to a session mandatory for additional precaution. Customers will have peace of mind in knowing that the ladies are free of coronavirus, she said. Some customers are advancing in age and may be considered at-risk individuals with regard to the virus. Madam Bella said she figures Sisolaks green light will commence at Stage 2 of the states reopening, which includes the reopening of bars. I will predict we will reopen on or before May 15, Madam Bella said. I believe Sisolak is in a tight spot, but I also believe in cold and flu season and that well have this magic moment where well be done with this. Since the Nevada governors shelter-in-place directive to help stop spread of COVID-18 took effect last month, Bellas Hacienda has been closed for business, upending the finances of the bordello and leaving its courtesans in limbo. But despite a written policy that shuts out operations of a prurient sexual nature, Madam Bella earlier this month went ahead and applied for funding for her business through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. And to her delight, Madam Bella said she received a call from the SBA last week notifying her that her application for $70,000 had been approved by the bank. Later that day, however, the program had run out of money for the time being. Madam Bella, however, said shes all queued up when more federal money is available under additional phases. The banks approval signaled a clear victory for Madam Bellas business, as well as her industry, because a representative from her financial institution initially told her not to bother filling out the application because she would be denied. For Madam Bella, being approved for the $70,000 package comprised of a 25 percent grant and 75 percent loan was just beautiful. The Nevada State Bank told me that my business mattered in the community, Madam Bella said. Their approval for the loan gives this industry credibility because we are legitimate businesses. New Delhi, April 23 : The Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital in north Delhi has been sealed after 14 staff members tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, officials said. "The hospital has been sealed after 14 staff, including senior and junior residents, have tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday," an official told IANS. The 100-bedded multispeciality district hospital is situated in E-block, Jahangirpuri, in the North-West district Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 19:47:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PYONGYANG, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), sent a message to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad on Wednesday to thank the latter for his note on Kim's grandfather's birth anniversary, KCNA reported. On Wednesday, the DPRK marked the 108 birth anniversary of its founder Kim Il Sung, grandfather of Kim Jong Un. In his message, the DPRK leader said the DPRK-Syria friendly and cooperative ties would grow stronger, adding that he wished the Syrian president good health and greater success. Enditem A 55-year-oldsub-inspector of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service weapon in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, police said on Thursday. The incident took place on Wednesday evening at the Savargaon armoured outpost, located around 170 km from Nagpur, a police official said. Sub-inspector Chandrakant Shinde allegedly shot himself with a rifle in his room at the outpost, he said In a purported suicide note found at the spot, the victim, who was a native of Wanavadi in Pune district, said he was suffering from some health issues because of which he was taking the extreme step, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) MERRILLVILLE A fleeing vehicle led chase on Interstate 65, eventually crashing on U.S. 30 in Merrillville on Wednesday afternoon. Around 3 p.m. an officer with the Lake County Sheriff's Highway Interdiction Unit attempted to make a traffic stop on a vehicle that was traveling north on Interstate 65 near Route 2 at mile marker 240, said Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez. The driver refused to pull over and a chase ensued going northbound on the interstate. Indiana State Police were called at 3:47 p.m. to assist in the pursuit, Indiana State Police Cpl. Eric Rot said. Indiana State Police deployed Stop Sticks at mile marker 249 near 109th Avenue. The vehicle drove over the Stop Sticks, puncturing the tires, but kept driving on, Rot said. As its tires were deflating and disintegrating, the vehicle exited onto westbound U.S. 30, Martinez said. The vehicle ended up crashing on U.S. 30 near Broadway in Merrillville. Police arrested the man driving the vehicle, which authorities learned was rented out of Florida. The driver had a handgun and refused to identify himself to police, Martinez said. Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday reported 20 fresh Covid-19 cases, taking the total count in the UT to 427, officials said. Government spokesperson Rohit Kansal tweeted: 20 new cases reported today. One from Jammu division and 19 from Kashmir. Total count now 427 Jammu has 57 cases and Kashmir 370. Officials said of the new cases, 18 were confirmed at SKIMS laboratory in Srinagar, one each at CD hospital and Udhampur command hospital. In Kashmir, nine fresh infections were reported from Shopian, four in Kupwara, three in Baramulla, two in Bandipora and one Budgam district. So far, the UT has witnessed five deathsfour from Kashmir and one from Udhampur. Kashmiri businessman tests positive, shifted to Jammu hospital A businessman from Kashmir tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday. He was among eight persons who were clandestinely trying to reach Valley in a truck but were caught in Ramban. He was shifted to the government medical college and hospital in Jammu while others have been quarantined. However, in a major lapse, the patient had visited a shop adjoining Doda district hospital where he had given his samples on April 21. Ramban district commissioner Nazim Zai Khan said, The man along with others were headed to Kashmir in a truck. They had started from Delhi and then boarded a Kashmir bound truck but all of them were intercepted at Batote on April 16 and were kept in administrative quarantine. According to Batote tehsildar Mehboob Khan, three policemen including a head constable of Batote Police Station and a cook, who were attending these eight men in administrative quarantine, have also been sent to a quarantine centre in Batote. Protect our Frontline was formed in March to educate West Texans of this very possibility: COVID-19 breaching the ranks of our frontline health care workers. Because we are small in number and geographically isolated, we recognized early on in the pandemic that we have to work together to protect ourselves. Collectively, we are praying for our local physician colleague and his family members. We have been hearing for months from our colleagues on the East and West coasts about physician, nurse and other health care worker compatriots who have fallen ill and died. The CDC has reported that more than 9,000 health care workers have contracted COVID-19 and hundreds have died. We are a resilient group. We are humans who are willing to do just about anything within our means to help others. Many of us have spent hours reading, researching and discussing this pandemic and how to best prevent it and then, if necessary, treat it. All of us have spent countless hours caring for West Texans. Sometimes this puts us at risk or our families at risk. Although the hero narrative is well-intentioned, it can be distracting and detrimental by masking our humanity. We signed up to help others, but there is nothing heroic about preventable illness and deaths in altruistic people. And by preventable, I mean we understand how viruses are transmitted and spread: by being too close to people, not wearing masks in public and generally ignoring or downplaying advice of public health officials. Science and the basic rules of math govern infectious diseases. These facts and rules dont become less true or relevant because they are inconvenient. The CDC director warns us that the second wave of COVID-19 will likely be more devastating, and renowned epidemiologist Michael Osterholm has likened our current position with the virus to being in the second inning of a long nine-inning game. Nationally, there is still a shortage of PPE: especially gowns, N95 masks, swabs and chemical reagents needed to perform basic viral testing. Despite claims from various sources, reliable and accurate antibody testing is not widely available. We all understand the economic repercussions of COVID-19: Our practices are suffering, physicians have had to close their doors, and some have declared bankruptcy. We are not immune to this, either. And in the same breath, the economy will not recover until the virus is effectively corralled with antibody testing, an effective treatment and/or a vaccine. Until then, physical distancing, mask wearing and staying home as much as possible are our only hopes of protecting front line health care workers who then care for you and your families. The West Texas health care community is relatively small in relation to the population we serve. If more of us are sick or quarantined, who will care for you? Osama bin Laden planned to assassinate President Barack Obama to unsteady the United States by putting 'totally unprepared' Joe Biden in charge. Declassified documents seized from Bin Laden's Pakistan compound as he was killed in May 2011 reveal his plans to throw the U.S. 'into a crisis' by killing Obama while he traveled in a plane with U.S. military commander David Petraeus. The 45-page document, which were first reported by The Washington Post in 2012, is now available in full along with hundreds of others from the raid. Declassified documents seized from Bin Laden's (pictured) Pakistan compound as he was killed in May 2011 reveal his plans to throw the U.S. 'into a crisis' by killing Obama Osama wrote to Al Qaeda deputy Atiyah Abd al-Rahman: 'The reason for concentrating on them is that Obama is the head of infidelity and killing him automatically will make [Vice President] Biden take over the presidency, Biden is totally unprepared for that post, which will lead the U.S. into a crisis. 'As for Petraeus, he is the man of the hour ... and killing him would alter the war's path' in Afghanistan.' Osama's ambition was to have Ilyas Kasmiri, described by U.S. officials as Al Qaeda's military operations chief in Pakistan, shoot down the plane carrying Obama. The aspirations never developed into further planning, the U.S. intelligence service told The Washington Post. President Barack Obama, accompanied by General David Petraeus, at the White House in Washington, Wednesday, June 23, 2010 Detailing his plans Osama wrote: 'Please ask brother Ilyas to send me the steps he has taken into that work.' Kasmiri was killed by a U.S. drone strike shortly after Bin Laden was killed by the U.S. special forces. Atiyah Abd al-Rahman was reportedly killed by a CIA drone strike in August of 2011. In a description of the tense 2011 strategy session ahead of the raid which killed Bin Laden, told by Biden almost eight years ago during a retreat in Maryland for congressional Democrats, he recalled that he said: 'Mr. President, my suggestion is, don't go - we have to do two more things to see if he's there.' Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event on Friday in Independence, Iowa. He appeared to contradict himself regarding his role in the mission to kill Osama Bin Laden He has since changed his story about the Navy SEAL mission in a conversation with a Fox News reporter earlier this year. 'As commander in chief, if you were ever handed a piece of intelligence that said you could stop an imminent attack on Americans but you have to use an airstrike to take out a terrorist leader would you pull the trigger?' the reporter asked Biden. 'Well we did - the guy's name was Osama bin Laden,' replied Biden, who was vice president when bin Laden was killed. 'Didn't you tell President Obama not to go after bin Laden that day?' the reporter asked. 'No, I didn't,' Biden said. Obama later told Mitt Romney that 'Even some in my own party, including my current vice president, had the same critique as you did', confirming Biden's position against the strike on Bin Laden in 2011, reports Fox News. A grant of $300,000 from the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund (ICRF) has been awarded to Midwest Food Bank to support food procurement and distribution across Illinois. This grant will support Midwest Food Banks ongoing efforts to distribute food to our nonprofit partners across the state, said Monica Scheuer, executive director of Midwest Food Bank-Peoria Division. Our primary concern is ensuring local food pantries have full shelves as they face the additional strain of serving newly unemployed workers amid quarantine. The Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, chaired by former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, is providing flexible funding to nonprofit organizations across the state to supply essential resources to the individuals and households most impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Midwest Food Bank is receiving funds from a second round of grants. The second round of ICRF grants are going predominantly to large statewide or regional direct service providers that are addressing basic needs in multiple communities around the state. The ICRF grants have ranged from $25,000 to $400,000. ICRF has raised more than $30 million from more than 2,400 donors since its launch March 26. I am so proud to see Illinoisans stepping up and helping each other through these challenging times, Gov. J.B. Pritzker said in a recent news release. Thousands of Illinoisans have now contributed to this fund, and Im thrilled to see these resources going to organizations doing critical work in our communities. Midwest Food Bank has eight locations in the U.S, and one each in East Africa and Haiti. Its mission is to alleviate hunger by gathering and distributing food donations to nonprofits and disaster sites at no cost to the recipients. For more information, visit www.midwestfoodbank.org. For information about ICRF, visit www.ilcovidresponsefund.org. By PTI UNITED NATIONS: The United Nations General Assembly has rejected two resolutions on the coronavirus pandemic, one from Russia and the other from Saudi Arabia. It was the second defeat for a Russian resolution on COVID-19 by the 193-member world body. Under new voting rules instituted because the assembly isn't holding meetings during the pandemic, a draft resolution is circulated to member nations. If a single country objects before the deadline - in this case noon EDT on Wednesday - the resolution is defeated. Normally, assembly resolutions are adopted by majority votes or by consensus. General Assembly spokeswoman Reem Abaza confirmed objections had been raised against the Russian and Saudi draft resolutions. The original Russian resolution, which failed to win approval on April 2, called for abandoning trade wars and protectionist measures and said no unilateral sanctions should be applied without approval from the U.N.Security Council. The revised resolution, which was defeated Wednesday, kept the reference to ending protectionist practices and dropped the reference to unilateral sanctions. But it welcomed an April 3 statement by the main group of developing countries at the United Nations which includes a call on the international community "to adopt urgent and effective measures to eliminate the use of unilateral coercive economic measures against developing countries." Saudi Arabia currently chairs the Group of 20 major global economies and its draft would have welcomed their March 26 summit call for "effective and coordinated action" to fight COVID-19, and their statement "on injecting 5 trillion United States dollars into the global economy, as part of targeted fiscal policy, economic measures and guarantee schemes to counteract the social, economic and financial impacts of the pandemic." The General Assembly previously approved two resolutions on COVID-19, but the more powerful Security Council has not taken any action so far. After Wuhan, it's another Chinese city's turn now to go under lockdown as China prepares to fight off a second wave of coronavirus infections. This recent case has emerged from the city of Harbin where one woman reportedly infected over 70 others. According to Shanghaiist, the 22-year-old student returned to China from New York last month and was placed under a 14-day quarantine. and had tested negative for the virus. She did not exhibit any symptoms at the time, claim reports. Now, Harbin health authorities are claiming that the woman was a silent carrier of the disease which led to the spread of the infection to other people. Shanghaiist Her neighbours had reportedly hosted a get-together after which one of the attendees suffered a stroke and infections broke out at two local hospitals. The infection has now spread on to more than 70 people including other patients from Inner Mongolia and Liaoning province who were already present at these two hospitals for other treatments. Since March 12, this has been the first time that domestic transmissions of the virus surpassed imported ones in China. Presently, Harbin has reported 52 active COVID-19 cases and 23 asymptomatic infections. AFP So, in order to make sure that the infection doesn't spread any further, Harbin has placed under complete lockdown on all residential communities and villages. The communities and villages will be guarded at the gates and residents will have to show their health code, wear masks and have their temperature tested to enter or exit the premises. Anyone from outside the community/village will not be allowed to enter. All public gatherings like weddings, funerals and other events have reportedly also been banned. AFP Harbin residents have also been encouraged to report anyone who violates the lockdown protocol and is not quarantining themselves after returning to China. If such an incident is reported and turns out to be true, the complainant will be rewarded with 3,000 yuan (Rs 32, 250). Concerns of Rohtaks Kakrana villagers are mounting following the emergence of two Covid-19 cases in their area. Rohtak civil surgeon Anil Birla said they had collected samples of the 58-year-old cancer patient from Kakrana village, who was earlier tested positive for Covid-19 at a private hospital in Delhi, along with his 51-year-old wife. Their samples again tested positive at the PGIMS laboratory, he added. The retired MTNL employee had gone for his chemotherapy session at a private hospital in Delhi. Following the virus detection, he approached the district health department on Wednesday and revealed his case history, he said, adding that they have also collected samples of 13 people belonging to Kakrana village, which has a population around 5,500. Kakrana sarpanch Harbhawan said the residents have confined themselves to their homes. We are not sure how would people bring fodder for their animals. Even the threshing of wheat crop is yet to be done. All streets have been, meanwhile, sanitised three times today, he added. Rohtak deputy commissioner RS Verma, who reached the village to take stock of the situation, said they have declared the village as containment zone and area within its 7km radius as buffer zone. Fifteen teams of doctors, health workers and nurses have been engaged to conduct door-to-door checkups. Policemen have been deployed on the outskirts as well as within the village perimeter. No outsider, except administration officials, would be allowed to enter the village, the DC added. On being asked about crop procurement of Kakrana farmers, DC Verma said they will ensure lifting of wheat and mustard once the infected couple gets cured. Their son, his family isolated in Rewari After the Kakrana couple tested positive for coronavirus, the Rewari health department isolated their son, who is a lecturer at a government polytechnic college in a Rewari village , his wife and their son. The quarter where they lived on the campus has been sealed and their samples have been taken. The trio was sent to isolation ward of the local civil hospital. The lecturer was deployed on magisterial duty on Rajasthan border at Dharuhera. His close contacts have been asked to go into quarantine, an official privy to the development said. Deputy commissioner (DC) Pradeep Kumar Agrawal has sought public support in fighting against the Covid-19. He has appealed to all the residents of the district to immediately visit the nearest government health centre for checkup if they have signs such as cough, cold, fever and difficulty in breathing. Agrawal said that if doctors get to know about the disease early on time, they can start the treatment and also help in preventing the infection from spreading. He said that sometimes it becomes difficult for the health department officials to find patients with symptoms of suspected coronavirus and therefore, it becomes the duty of every citizen to keep officials well-informed about their health. He further said that the health department is also screening patients on their own and the facility of sampling is now available at all the government hospitals along with the Dayanand Medical College and Hospital. In view of the ongoing lockdown/curfew, and as per the directions of the Punjab government, relaxations have been given to industries to start their operations in the district. Agrawal said that the interested industrialists can apply at portal www.pbindustries.gov.in. He clarified that if any worker is found positive for the Covid-19, a proper inquiry will be conducted on him. If it is found that the industrialist failed to provide necessary facilities to the workers, then action will be taken against the industrialist concerned and if all facilities were provided, no such action will be taken against them, he added. DC has urged the industrialists to follow all directions and standard operating protocol (SOP) issued by the Punjab government. He said that to discuss the issue regarding opening the industries and to take suggestions, a Facebook live session will be held on the page of Ludhiana Police at 4pm on April 24. The session will be attended by officials from the industries department, labour department, the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees State Insurance (ESIC). The residents will be able to send their questions during the live session, the answers to which will be given on the spot. Meanwhile, Agrawal said that the Union government has now issued an ordinance that if any person misbehaves or attacks health department doctor or staff, then strict action will be taken against the defaulter. As the coronavirus pandemic drags on, financial losses are mounting at Oregons biggest zoo. The Oregon Zoo announced Thursday that its in a dire financial situation, and is now turning to the public in an emergency fundraising effort for a $1 million lifeline. Since closing to the public on March 17, weve lost our ability to generate revenue through admissions, events and sales, Don Moore, zoo director, said in a news release. We planned for the future. We had reserves in place but nobody was prepared for this level of catastrophe. In an instant, we lost 60% of our revenue. The Oregon Zoo is owned by regional government organization Metro, but it also gets funding from the Oregon Zoo Foundation, a nonprofit fundraising arm of the zoo. The foundation recently created an emergency fund that aims to raise $1 million to support zoo operations through the closure. Donations can be made online at oregonzoo.org/donate. Much of that money will go to caring for the zoos 2,500 animals, the Oregon Zoo said, including elephants, primates, big cats and birds, which a small staff of zoo employees still attend to. At the end of March, the Oregon Zoo laid off 262 temporary and seasonal workers, while Metro announced it was cutting 40 percent of its staff. Workers are still there to care for the animals, albeit with more precautions, including modified work areas and schedules to limit overlap between employees. The zoo had already required social distancing and N95 masks between people and primates, but extended the practice to all mammals following the reported COVID-19 infection of a tiger at the Bronx Zoo. Animal welfare remains our top priority, and were working around the clock to make sure the animals in our care have everything they need, said Bob Lee, who oversees the zoos animal care programs. We can get through this crisis, but only with the support of our community. --Jamie Hale; jhale@oregonian.com; 503-294-4077; @HaleJamesB Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. A Texas county judge has come under fire after making it mandatory to wear a face covering in public. Judge Lina Hidalgo announced Wednesday that from next Monday people must cover their nose and mouth in public for the next 30 days - except when eating, drinking or exercising or face a $1,000 fine. But the Lt. Governor and even law enforcement have criticized the move which affects 4 million in and around Houston and comes as businesses are beginning to reopen and a coronavirus hospital prepares to close. 'On the same day Harris County Commissioner's Court plans to close the $60 million-dollar pop-up hospital at NRG Park, because it wasn't needed, Judge Lina Hidalgo orders anyone over the age of 10 to wear a mask in public,' Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said began in a statement. Judge Lina Hidalgo announced Wednesday that from next Monday people must cover their nose and mouth in public for the next 30 days or be fined $1,000 Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said: 'Her abuse of the use of executive orders is the ultimate government overreach' Rep. Dan Crenshaw tweeted: 'Do not let commonsense guidelines lead to unjust tyranny' President of the Houston Police Officer's Union said crime rates were up and 'we are already stretched too thin without having to enforce this' 'Her abuse of the use of executive orders is the ultimate government overreach. These kind of confused government policies fuel public anger and rightfully so.' In Texas, there were more than 21,000 cases of COVID-19 in Texas and deaths were reported at 569. About a quarter of the cases come from Judge Hidalgo's Harris County. On Wednesday Hildago announced 41 new cases in the county outside Houston and one death. She encouraged the use of a bandanna, handkerchief, scarf or homemade mask over a medical or N95 mask which people on the frontline need. 'We have to use every tool in the toolbox,' Hidalgo explained in a media briefing alongside Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. 'If we get complacent, people will die. Those are the stakes.' The same measures have been enforced in Dallas, San Antonio and other major cities in Texas. 'We have to use every tool in the toolbox,' Hidalgo explained in a media briefing alongside Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. 'If we get complacent, people will die. Those are the stakes.' She is pictured March 5 President of the Houston Police Officer's Union (not pictured) opined that even though he wants everyone to wear a mask in public, it should be optional as law enforcement is already having a tough time coping with work load amid the pandemic. A police officer stands outside of a food distribution site at Reyes Produce April 13 in Houston, Texas The CDC advises wearing a face covering in public places where social distancing is not possible. But young children under age 2, or anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance, should not wear one. Use of simple cloth face coverings may 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 CDC says. President of the Houston Police Officer's Union opined that even though he wants everyone to wear a mask in public, it should be optional as law enforcement is already having a tough time coping with work load amid the pandemic. He said in Houston murders are up 35 percent and burglaries have increased by 30 percent recently. 'Everyone should be wearing a mask in public. I wear one everyday,' Jo Gamaldi tweeted. 'But making not wearing one punishable by law, and asking our officers to enforce it, will do irreparable damage to our relationship with the community. We are already stretched too thin without having to enforce this.' Above shows the number of coronavirus cases in Texas on Wednesday when the new measures were announced The map shows Texas is one of the states that is reopening amid the COVID-19 pandemic A statement from the Union said: 'Our officers work every single day to bridge the gap in our community and earn their trust, we will not stand idly by and allow Hidalgo to tear that down with her horrific leadership and echo chamber leadership.' The statement went on to tell officers to use discretion when enforcing the new rule. The Union also contacted the Attorney General's Office seeking opinion on the legality of imposing a criminal penalty or fine for anyone not wearing a face covering in public. 'It is clear the so-called leader of Harris County, lacks any critical thinking skills but let me assure the public out officers do! The last thing any of us need to do is kick our community while they're down.' Rep. Dan Crenshaw said he would never support a fine for not wearing a mask. He tweeted: 'No. No. No. Should guidelines for masks in confined spaces be emphatically promoted? Absolutely. 'Do not let commonsense guidelines lead to unjust tyranny.' Last week protesters took to the Texas State Capital building in Austin to join a protest organized by Infowars host Owen Shroyer. Many Texans and people across the country have taken to the streets to call for the country to be opened up despite the risk of the COVID-19. A protester holds up a sign that reads Prevent Economic Collapse at the Texas State Capital building on April 18 in Austin, Texas. The protest was organized by Infowars host Owen Shroyer Left, a protester wears a bag over their head, right a protester holds up a sign protesting wearing a mask during the Reopen America rally on April 18 Newton County is assessing damage after a tornado ripped through the area Wednesday evening. No fatalities or injuries were reported as of Thursday morning, County Judge Kenneth Weeks said. We have a couple of structures damaged, he said. I know one home has heavy damage. Our sheriff and his patrolmen are out making sure we didnt miss anyone last night. I havent heard a report back from him yet. As president of a neighborhood association, Linda Ellis gets to meet a lot of people in her community and develop relationships. During a time like this, though, that also means getting a front-row seat to the devastation caused by COVID-19. Ellis is president of the Northwest Neighborhood Planning Development Corporation and knows of at least seven deaths in the 46208 zip code, which surrounds Crown Hill Cemetery and stretches as far north as 64th Street. Nearly half of the residents are Black, and median income is about three-fifths of what it is in the rest of the state, according to census data. I feel that weve been neglected, Ellis said. This virus is nothing new. Its just uncovering the lack of resources and health care. African American residents in Marion County are almost twice as likely than whites to die from COVID-19, according to data released by the Marion County Public Health Department on April 20. African Americans are also three times as likely as whites to have a confirmed case of COVID-19 and 2 1/2 times as likely to be hospitalized. The county health department also released data about age and gender. It did not include raw numbers, only rates based on population size. For example, 20 African Americans have died per 100,000 African American residents. Thats compared to 11 whites per 100,000 white residents. Many in the medical community have pointed to preexisting health conditions hypertension, asthma, heart disease, etc. as a reason why African Americans are disproportionately harmed by COVID-19, but theres more to it than that. African Americans are more likely to have a job that doesnt allow them to work from home, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. African Americans are also insured at a lower rate than whites, an issue made worse right now by a health care system in which more than half of Hoosiers get employer-sponsored coverage, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Add in transportation, access to healthy food and any number of other issues, and African American communities across Indianapolis had good reason to expect a dreadful outcome. Obviously, people in poverty are gonna be the last to be tested, said Teddrick Hardy, who has been helping Haughville residents afford groceries and medication during the pandemic. Hardy said hes been lucky so far to not come across anyone whose life was in danger because of the virus. Ellis said her biggest request right now is to get mobile testing sites in her area. Testing has expanded since the start of the pandemic, but its still limited. Dr. Virginia Caine, director of the county health department, said in an interview medical racism is also a factor. She suggested providers receive ongoing training about the impact of social determinants such as where you live and what kind of economic opportunities you have. The minimum wage hasnt gone up in years, and those who do have health insurance might be on a plan they effectively cant use because the deductible is so high. These are issues some providers dont account for and then wonder why patients arent following their recommendations. They dont live in that world, Caine said. They base a lot of their assumptions on what resources they have, not what their client may have. Its not a problem with every provider and facility, Caine said, but its certainly prevalent enough to be an issue. In Detroit, for example, an African American man died in his chair at home from complications with COVID-19 after three hospitals turned him away when he complained about breathing difficulties and requested a test. Gina Fears, assistant director of recovery and community services at Public Advocates in Community re-Entry (PACE), said this is also an especially difficult time for those going through addiction recovery. Its difficult for staff at PACE and other organizations to maintain contact with people and make sure they have what they need because offices are closed for the most part, and many professionals, including Fears, have been working remotely. Fears got a call recently about a man who was mugged overnight and had his money and medication stolen. Hes not sure if he can go back to where he was living. Whats more, Fears said, the place the man is staying has had a high number of people who tested positive for the virus. This is the kind of situation that adds even more stress to an already burdensome recovery process. When we think of people that are just in a daily crisis with addictions or mental health issues, then this is the kind of stuff thats going on around them, she said. Gina Lewis Alexander is vice president of Hopeside Senior Communities, which offers housing for low-income seniors, and said its been troubling to watch the toll the coronavirus has had on the elderly residents, most of whom are African American. One resident lost her daughter in Chicago to the virus and is totally depressed, Alexander said. She hardly comes out of her apartment and doesnt answer the door. Anything that threatens life can be dramatic to the elderly, said Alexander, who is also first vice president of One Voice Martindale Brightwood. It creates a whole life or culture of fear. The new data for Marion County is part of a nationwide trend showing COVID-19 is disproportionately harming African Americans. In Marion County, African Americans are hospitalized at a rate of 106 per 100,000, compared to 43 per 100,000 for whites. The rate of confirmed cases for African Americans is 290 per 100,000, compared to 97 per 100,000 for whites. Information about race was not available for 37% of confirmed cases and 17% of deaths included in the data. A release from the county health department said the missing data is not significant enough to reverse the disparity. Contact staff writer Tyler Fenwick at 317-762-7853. Follow him on Twitter @Ty_Fenwick. SPRINGFIELD, Mo., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- BriteCore, the leading provider of next-generation core software solutions for insurers, is pleased to announce Beth Boettcher Finke and Glenn Weinstein have been elected to BriteCore's Board of Directors. Beth Boettcher Finke is the Senior Vice President of North America Applications Consulting at Oracle, leading their cloud consulting transformation in the US. She spent over 19 years at Accenture, where she helped pioneer the company's cloud consulting business. Beth helped to establish the first methodology to rapidly and predictably deploy SaaS applications and later led the first enterprise, global deployment of a SaaS solution. She played a pivotal role in the rapid growth of what is now Accenture's Cloud First business. Beth lives in Denver, CO, where she serves on the Board of Directors for Rocky Mountain Chapter of Junior Achievement. Glenn Weinstein is the Chief Customer Officer at Twilio. He was a co-founder of Appirio, one of the world's leading Salesforce and cloud computing consultancies. While at Appirio, Glenn built their consulting team and served as both CTO and CIO. During his leadership, the company grew from inception in 2006 to a $500M acquisition by Wipro in 2016. He also serves on the Advisory Board of Merivis, a nonprofit that prepares veterans for technology careers through training, mentorship, and job readiness. Glenn is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served as a commissioned officer in the United States Navy for 8 years. He lives in Marietta, GA. BriteCore CEO and co-founder Phil Reynolds commented, "We're delighted to welcome Beth and Glenn to our Board of Directors. Beth's experience managing large scale SaaS implementations and developing system integration partner programs will shape BriteCore's scaling strategy. Glenn's experience founding a successful organization and managing a fast-scaling service organization will give us a wider field of vision as we expand. I'm pleased to add their insight and guidance to our leadership team as we strive to deliver the best possible service to our customers." This announcement follows BriteCore's recent election of board member John Cavoores , who brings four decades of insurance experience as a CEO, board member, and advisor to the P&C and private equity industries to the company. ABOUT BRITECORE: BriteCore is a fully-managed core software platform for property and casualty insurers that supports digital transformation, emerging technologies, and new business models. BriteCore offers end-to-end insurance capabilities, including policy administration, claims management, underwriting rules and rating, agent quoting and inquiry, contact management, billing, imaging, printing, data warehousing, and reporting. Designed as a cloud-native solution, BriteCore is deployed using Amazon Web Services and is continually updated for maximum security, efficiency, and durability at scale. Insurance carriers, MGAs, and InsurTechs partner with BriteCore to gain a competitive edge through efficient operations, compelling customer experiences, and speed to market. For more information, please visit www.britecore.com . Contact Chastin Reynolds, VP Communications, BriteCore 417-773-8303 [email protected] SOURCE BriteCore Related Links https://www.britecore.com Stuttgart, Deutschland -- 21. April 2020 -- The German National Retirement Insurance Agency with its 16 institutions is one of the largest retirement insurers worldwide with over 56 million insured and 21 million retirees. Its approximately 60,000 employees are challenged to process 1.6 million new pension applications every year, as well as orphan's pensions, millions of rehabilitation applications, and much more. At the same time, legal changes, such as the If anyone asked what the most well-known street in Warkworth is, I think the answer would be unanimous Hill Street. But if we were asked how Hill Street got its name, many of us would make the incorrect assumption that it was because it is positioned on a hill. In fact, Hill Street has a more interesting origin than this assumption. Carlton Hollis James Hill was the son-in-law of John Anderson Brown, the founder of Warkworth township. Carlton Hill married Amelia Brown, and the name of Hill Street was given more in recognition of his marriage to Amelia, John Anderson Browns daughter, than for his own fame or achievements. Poor Carlton not respected for himself when the road name was chosen and certainly not a street name that is regarded with any warmth today! Perhaps if we learn more about him, we can improve his image. Carlton Hill was born in Wicklow, Ireland in 1823, but the next we know of him he is in New Zealand, working as a clerk in Auckland. And presumably, this is where he met Amelia Brown, because they married at St Pauls Church, Auckland, in 1855. Amelia was 19, Carlton was 29. Three years later they moved to the Mahurangi area where Carlton farmed with his father-in-law. The couple produced three daughters and seven sons, though not all their children survived to adulthood. Another move saw them living in Thames where Carlton is described as the Crown Ranger of that district, and where Amelia died of tuberculosis in 1876. Carlton himself died in 1893, but not before he remarried to Elizabeth Sutton, of Raglan, in 1887. Interestingly, Carlton Hills sister married Reed Brown, who was the only son of John Anderson Brown, so there was a strong family bond between the Browns and the Hills. The death notice of Carlton Hill described him as a gentleman so lets try to remember that as we face the next encounter with the tiresome Hill Street intersection. Another well-known street in Warkworth is Pulham Road, named after a very intrepid young man who experienced many adventures, Henry William Pulham. Henry emigrated to Tasmania with his family in 1840, when he was 10 years old. Four years later, he went to sea, working on sailing ships around the Australian coast and beyond, including working his passage to California to try his luck on the goldfields. The voyage to the United States and its return journey to Sydney provided more challenges for young Henry than he could ever have imagined. On the outward trip, the ships navigator died and the captain appointed Henry to take over this exacting task. At one stage, when the expanse of the Pacific was becoming too demanding for our young navigator, a whaler fortunately passed by and set them on the correct course again. On arrival in San Francisco, the ships contingent found that the gold rush was almost over, so they decided to return to Australia, but not before the captain unwisely went ashore, got into a cheating game of cards, was lynched and hanged. The task of captaining the ship back to Sydney fell to Henry Pulham, which he did safely and successfully. When he learned that his family had moved to New Zealand, Henry followed them and with his brothers in law, William Daldy and Walter Combes, worked in the busy and lucrative trade of shipping timber from Mahurangi to Auckland and further afield. Timber was in great demand for housing, boat building and wharf piles. Henry married a local girl of Mahurangi, Nicholas Darroch theirs was the first wedding of the area in 1854, and they built their home in what is now known as Pulham Road. Henry might have had a quieter life ashore compared to his bachelor days, but he was the father of nine children, was Warkworths first sale yard owner, hosted the first Presbyterian services in his home, and also managed to serve as a lay reader at the Anglican church down the road. Henry died in 1898 after 67 eventful years. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues his dominance on social media platforms as the most popular world leader. With 45 million plus likes on his personal page on Facebook, PM Modi beats his political counterparts from across the world and enjoys being most socially popular world leader online. Facebook Next to him is the President of the United States Donald Trump, with 27 million likes on his Facebook page. Third position is bagged by Jordan's Queen Rania with 16.8 million likes, as per the 2020 "World Leaders on Facebook" rankings by global communications agency BCW (Burson Cohn & Wolfe) Interestingly, while Trump lacks on the number of likes, he dominates the rankings for the most interactions by national leaders. Trump has 309 million comments, likes and shares on his Facebook page over the past 12 months. PM Modi is in third place in this regard, after Donald Trump and Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro. Modi has a total of 84 million interactions over the past 12 months on his Facebook page. (Representative Image: Reuters) Donald Trump, however, has constantly maintained that he is number 1 on Facebook. Before his visit to India back in February, this year, Trump bragged that his superiority on the social media platform was confirmed by none other than Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. He even congratulated PM Modi for being second in the list. The report gives interesting insights into the account of the world leaders. As per it, Modi reaches 1.7 million of his fans on average, representing 3.8 percent of his Facebook community. Same average stands at 877,000 for Donald Trump and 956,000 for the Brazil's President. The study also noted that in March, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, 13 million new page likes were added across the 721 pages of world leaders. Page of Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte more than doubled in likes in March 2020 alone. By Trend Tax incentives stipulate the use of a new economic model in Azerbaijan in the post-pandemic period, Azerbaijani MP Vugar Bayramov told Trend on April 22. The economic package approved by the Azerbaijani government envisages the support of entrepreneurs both during the pandemic and after it, the MP said. Therefore, the entrepreneurs will be provided with the opportunity to minimize costs in the pandemic and post-pandemic periods, as well as quickly restore the economic activity thanks to the tax incentives. The benefits cover almost all business entities, including microenterprises. A 50 percent discount on simplified tax is offered to the micro-entrepreneurs within the package, the MP added. The benefits are provided in the amount of 75 percent on income tax for taxpayers working in the regime of profit taxation." Bayramov emphasized that the main goal is to achieve the speedy recovery of economic activity. "Tax benefits can be regarded as indirect financial state support because the entrepreneur will pay less, the MP added. This will also contribute to the expansion of the activity, the MP said. The entrepreneurs will receive even more state support in the post-pandemic period upon the presidents instructions. A more liberal economy will be legalized and formed thanks to the new tax incentives. The steps which are taken and the benefits which are applied stipulate the introduction of a new economic model in Azerbaijan in the post-pandemic period." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Key Highlights Construction work has resumed in 250 projects following lockdown relaxations Disrupted supply of steel, cement and bitumen affecting highway construction Highway developers keep inventory of cement for 2-3 weeks and steel for 2-3 months Steel, cement companies cite shortage of workers, drivers for supply glitches Even as several highway developers kickstart operations, disrupted supplies of key inputs such as steel, cement and bitumen threaten to hamper construction work. Private developers have demanded these items should be included in essential category to ensure smooth passage of trucks carrying them. Inventory level for steel and cement varies from company to company. A highway developer usually keeps inventory of cement for 2-3 weeks while that of steel for 2-3 months. Some developers flush with working capital keep higher inventory to take advantage of low market price. "The supply chain for steel, cement and other items have been broken. There are issues related to inter-state movement of trucks carrying these items. The government may declare inputs for highway construction as essential items. An earlier decision would ensure construction activities pick up," said Rohan Suryavanshi, Head, Strategy & Planning, Dilip Buildcon. Steel and cement companies have cited shortage of workers and drivers for supply glitches. Economic activities, including highways sector, have come to a standstill following nationwide lockdown. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 14 extended the 21-day lockdown for another 19 days to May 3. However, he said some sectors would reopen from April 20 on compliance of strict social distancing norms and hygiene. Given the delay in highway projects could result in both time and cost overruns, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has emphasised on resuming construction work. "We already have bids under evaluation for more than 1,300 km of length, which can be awarded immediately. Another 1,500 km is ready for bidding," the Minister said recently. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) expected to resume work in nearly 400 road projects following the April 20 relaxations, but work has so far started in only 250 projects. Apart from supplies of steel and cement, the highway developers are also facing labour shortage as a large number of migrant workers returned to their native places after the lockdown was announced. The workers currently present at various project sites want to return home as soon as public transport is allowed. A senior executive of a large construction company said that work the firm has resumed work at many sites. The executive said 1,200 migrant workers had stayed back despite family pressure to return home. "There is family pressure on them to return but they (workers) would prefer to stay back at the sites till the onset of monsoon," he said. The executive said that his firm was currently not facing problems with regards to supplies of cement and steel but many players in the sector were grappling with the issue as they did not have enough stock before the lockdown. Also read: Coronavirus: Lockdown in India has affected 40 million migrants, says World Bank Also read: Coronavirus lockdown: Only 'negligent' employers to be penalised, clarifies govt A large number of people gathered around a police outpost in Jalalpur locality in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh city over the death of a vegetable vendor who was allegedly thrashed by two policemen for violating lockdown. The protesters, who were shouting anti-police slogans, were dispersed and the situation was brought under control after police reinforcements reached the spot on Wednesday evening. According to the family members of the victim, Luvkush was allegedly thrashed by the two policemen on Sunday for violating lockdown imposed across the country to contain the spread of coronavirus. The 18-year-old vendor succumbed to injuries on Wednesday morning, they said. SP Abhishek Kumar told media persons that an enquiry has been initiated into the incident and action will be taken if the charge of police excess is established. He said the cause of death will only be ascertained after his postmortem report comes. Kumar said a sample had also been taken to test whether the victim was suffering from coronavirus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The coronavirus has re-launched "human and social solidarity" in fighting "for our common home". Christians distribute aid to Muslims, solidarity without religious distinctions. Thousands of people follow mass every evening broadcast through the patriarchate's social media. Best wishes to Muslims for the beginning of Ramadan. Baghdad (AsiaNews) During the coronavirus emergency, even in Iraq "there have been episodes of great help and solidarity between Christians and Muslims", a "human and social proximity" that has materialized "in many ways: in the same neighborhood a richer person distributes food bags to the needy. This is what the Chaldean primate, Card Louis Raphael Sako, tells AsiaNews, recounting the situation of the Arab country in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has so far caused almost 1700 infections and 83 official victims. "Even the Iraqi Church - added the cardinal - worked hard by donating 90 thousand dollars, distributed to the various parishes and that the priests used to help people, without distinction of religion". Aid and solidarity that, in these weeks, run along a double track. Even some mosques and Muslims - Patriarch Sako says - are helping and their work has benefited some Christians. In an emergency, when a person comes to ask for help there is no discrimination. " He continues: "Aid has also favored a return to religion, or rather to faith ... There is a need for God, for supernatural help, for a reason for the meaning of life and the world. This also impels a conversion, a return to spiritual values ". Although the Baghdad government has loosened some closures, there is still widespread fear among people, who are frightened to go out. Many actually, Card Sako says, do not respect a law, but follow instinct and stay at home, using the internet and mobile phone to keep in touch, get news, follow liturgies such as the mass that we celebrate every evening and transmit on the Facebook page of the Chaldean patriarchate ". Thousands of families connect and follow mass. "The houses - explains the cardinal - have become real domestic churches, the spirituality has strengthened and also the link with the Chaldeans of the diaspora". On the occasion of Easter, the network and social networks made it possible to keep relationships with the community across the country alive, in a phase of imprisonment and distancing "because the virus knows no boundaries, even if the climate or other factors may have helped to limit the infections ". "For Easter - the patriarch confides - we received many letters and messages of good wishes, including from Muslim religious leaders and political authorities, including the Iraqi president and the new Prime Minister. Among the many greetings, one struck me in a particular way: a Muslim religious authority who used the word "feast of resurrection" and told me that "Christ is truly risen". I was very impressed. " The coronavirus emergency "will change reality, we will have to look for a new order, strengthen solidarity and respect life, just wars, weapons, take care of the environment and fight against pollution, take care of our common home" continues the Chaldean primate. "I am convinced - he adds - that in the future there will be no more wars of religion or civilization, but conflicts of an increasingly economic nature". That is why greater social justice, equality between nations will be needed, the poor can no longer be neglected. The world order desired by the US in the early 2000s is now over. " Lastly, Card Sako addresses Muslims for the beginning (today in Iraq) of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting and Islamic prayer. "Religion has a message, it comes from God and the center is man who must live in respect and dignity. Enough of violence and sectarian clashes, a society worthy of all citizens must be built. This is a time of love and mercy, not of violence. Christians, Jews, Muslims ... the religious message is not only for a specific group but is for everyone, every man must live his own spirituality with God". The Indonesian government will be banning all domestic and international air, land and sea travel with some exceptions, starting from Friday April 24, to prevent a further spread of the Coronavirus. Railway services will be closed until June 15, public land transportations other than railway wont operate until May 31. Air travels and sea transportations are banned until June 1 and June 8, respectively. Adita Irawati, a spokesperson for the Transportation Ministry confirmed this in a televised address on Thursday April 23. She also revealed that the government has banned the traditional annual exodus for Muslim holidays locally known as mudik (when people return to their hometown to celebrate Idul Fitri or the day after Ramadan). Irawati said; Sea, air, land and railway transportations are temporarily banned from entering or leaving areas where the large-scale social restrictions [PSBB] apply, the red zones of Covid-19 outbreak, Greater Jakarta and other affected areas. Transportations of logistics, basic commodities, and medical supplies, as well as fire trucks, ambulances and law enforcement vehicles are exempt from this ban. The regulation comes into force at 00.00 Indonesian western time on Friday. Starting tonight, all related agencies will move to enforce the regulation, whose main purposes are to ensure our safety and contain the spread of the Covid-19 disease across Indonesia. With all 34 provinces being affected by the outbreak, the travel restrictions basically apply nationwide. The latest measure will not apply to emergency, diplomatic or cargo transport. Other exceptions would include flights to repatriate Indonesian and foreign citizens, as well as travel by state officials, diplomatic staff and representatives of international organisations. As of Thursday, Indonesia had 7,775 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 647 deaths. 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 Newly published findings about the phylogenetics and systematics of some previously known, but also other yet to be identified species of Old World Leaf-nosed bats, provide the first contribution to a recently launched collection of research articles, whose task is to help scientists from across disciplines to better understand potential hosts and vectors of zoonotic diseases, such as the Coronavirus. Bats and pangolins are among the animals already identified to be particularly potent vehicles of life-threatening viruses, including the infamous SARS-CoV-2. The article, publicly available in the peer-reviewed scholarly journal ZooKeys, also pilots a new generation of Linked Open Data (LOD) publishing practices, invented and implemented to facilitate ongoing scientific collaborations in times of urgency like those we experience today with the COVID-19 pandemic currently ravaging across over 230 countries around the globe. In their study, an international team of scientists, led by Dr Bruce Patterson, Field Museum's MacArthur curator of mammals, point to the existence of numerous, yet to be described species of leaf-nosed bats inhabiting the biodiversity hotspots of East Africa and Southeast Asia. In order to expedite future discoveries about the identity, biology and ecology of those bats, they provide key insights into the genetics and relations within their higher groupings, as well as further information about their geographic distribution. Leaf-nosed bats carry coronaviruses--not the strain that's affecting humans right now, but this is certainly not the last time a virus will be transmitted from a wild mammal to humans. If we have better knowledge of what these bats are, we'll be better prepared if that happens." Dr Terrence Demos, Study Principal Author and Post-Doctoral Researcher, Patterson's lab "With COVID-19, we have a virus that's running amok in the human population. It originated in a horseshoe bat in China. There are 25 or 30 species of horseshoe bats in China, and no one can determine which one was involved. We owe it to ourselves to learn more about them and their relatives," comments Patterson. In order to ensure that scientists from across disciplines, including biologists, but also virologists and epidemiologists, in addition to health and policy officials and decision-makers have the scientific data and evidence at hand, Patterson and his team supplemented their research publication with a particularly valuable appendix table. There, in a conveniently organized table format, everyone can access fundamental raw genetic data about each studied specimen, as well as its precise identification, origin and the natural history collection it is preserved. However, what makes those data particularly useful for researchers looking to make ground-breaking and potentially life-saving discoveries is that all that information is linked to other types of data stored at various databases and repositories contributed by scientists from anywhere in the world. Furthermore, in this case, those linked and publicly available data or Linked Open Data (LOD) are published in specific code languages, so that they are "understandable" for computers. Thus, when a researcher seeks to access data associated with a particular specimen he/she finds in the table, he/she can immediately access additional data stored at external data repositories by means of a single algorithm. Alternatively, another researcher might want to retrieve all pathogens extracted from tissues from specimens of a specific animal species or from particular populations inhabiting a certain geographical range and so on. The data publication and dissemination approach piloted in this new study was elaborated by the science publisher and technology provider Pensoft and the digitisation company Plazi for the purposes of a special collection of research papers reporting on novel findings concerning the biology of bats and pangolins in the scholarly journal ZooKeys. By targeting the two most likely 'culprits' at the roots of the Coronavirus outbreak in 2020: bats and pangolins, the article collection aligns with the agenda of the COVID-19 Joint Task Force, a recent call for contributions made by the Consortium of European Taxonomic Facilities (CETAF), the Distributed System for Scientific Collections (DiSSCo) and the Integrated Digitized Biocollections (iDigBio). Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Jagat Prakash Nadda has said that public hounding of a journalist like Arnab Goswami is sad. Shocking to see Arnab Goswami attacked after Congress CMs publicly threatened him. Sad to see such public hounding of a journalist for his freedom of speech. Congress shows it is the party that brought Emergency and continues its rich tradition of trampling free speech, Nadda said on Twitter. Shocking to see Arnab Goswami attacked after Congress CMs publicly threatened him. Sad to see such public hounding of a journalist for his freedom of speech. Congress shows it is the party that brought Emergency and continues its rich tradition of trampling free speech. Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) April 23, 2020 His comments came after a police complaint was filed by Goswami claiming his car was attacked past midnight on Wednesday in Mumbai by two unknown people. In his police complaint, the Republic TV chief said that the attack took place around 12:15 am. Two men on a motorcycle overtook my car and tried to identify who was driving. They then blocked the path of my car with their two-wheeler. The pillion rider hit the right side driver window several times and after realising that the car windows were up, the pillion rider removed a liquid bottle from his pocket and threw liquid on the drivers side of the car where I was sitting, Goswami said in his complaint. Goswamis wife was also present in the car when the incident took place. Both of them escaped unhurt. In his complaint, Goswami pointed fingers at the Congress and mentioned a tweet by party leader Alka Lamba just three hours after the attack. On Wednesday, Congress leaders had complained against Goswami accusing him of attempting to communalise the death of three persons in Maharashtras Palghar. Congress leader Nitin Raut also lodged a complaint against him in Nagpur on Wednesday. It is an attempt to give religious colour to the incident by the media. Goswami is one of them. We have decided to request the CM to take action against him, said Raut. A person is transported into the emergency room of the Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, New York City, on April 22, 2020. (Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images) Most NYC Virus Patients Had Underlying Health Issues, Study Shows Most patients in New York City hospitalized with the CCP virus suffered from one or more underlying health issues, such as obesity or kidney disease, according to a new study. Researchers analyzed records from 5,700 patients and found more than 56 percent suffered from hypertension. Another 41 percent had obesity, while nearly 34 percent suffered from diabetes. Ninety-four percent of the patients had one disease while 88 percent had more than one, according to the study, which was published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA). Patients with diabetes were more likely to require breathing assistance from ventilators, treatment in intensive care units, or develop acute kidney disease. Of the 2,634 patients for whom outcomes were known, 14 percent were treated in ICUs, 12 percent received invasive mechanical ventilation, and 3 percent needed kidney replacement therapy. Twenty-one percent died, including about a quarter of those on ventilators and most patients 80 or older. The patients were hospitalized at hospitals run by Northwell Health, the largest academic health system in New York. They were admitted between March 1 and April 4. About six out of 10 patients were male and the median age was 63. Dr. Karina Davidson, one of the doctors who conducted the study, said in an emailed statement that the research revealed some surprising results. For example, just one-third of the patients triaged had signs of fever. Of those discharged or died, 16 percent were younger than 50, said Davidson, professor and senior vice president at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. We hope to explore further in our research, including going beyond the data collected from electronic health records to better understand the viruss effects, she added. New York state has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in the nation, as well as the most deaths and hospitalizations. COVID-19 is caused by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, also known as the novel coronavirus, which originated in China in 2019. Dr. Anthony Leno, director of Emergency Medicine at St. Josephs Hospital (L), and Dr. James Neuendorf, director of Medicine (R), look into an exam room where a patient with COVID-19 who went into cardiac arrest was revived, in Yonkers just outside New York City on April 20, 2020. (John Minchillo/AP Photo) State, City Data New York states Department of Health doesnt release detailed data concerning hospitalizations, such as comorbidities. Underlying health issues are included in fatality data. The department stated that 14,018 patients of the 15,740 who died with COVID-19 had at least one comorbidity as of April 22. The most common underlying health issue was hypertension, followed by diabetes and hyperlipidemia, or abnormally high concentrations of fats or lipids in blood. New York Citys Department of Health doesnt release details concerning underlying health conditions of those hospitalized with COVID-19 or people who died from the disease. The department states in a fact sheet that people most at risk of getting severe cases of COVID-19 are people 50 years of age or older and people who have other health conditions. The other conditions include lung disease, heart disease, obesity, liver disease, and cancer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that currently available information indicates older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Recommendations for people in those groups include continuing their medications, obtaining a supply of at least two weeks of medications, keeping vaccinations up to date, and not delaying getting emergency care for their underlying condition or conditions. (Newser) A Nigerian woman has become a first-time mother at age 68. Margaret Adenugaperhaps the oldest first-time mother in Africa, per the Timesunderwent three in vitro fertilization procedures before finding success with her fourth. She and husband Noah Adenuga, 77, then welcomed twins at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital on April 14, per CNN. The babies were delivered via C-section at 37 weeks by Dr. Adeyemi Okunowo. He describes possible age-related complications "such as the baby being born preterm" and notes a specialized team was involved. story continues below "As an elderly woman and a first-time mother, it was a high-risk pregnancy, and also because she was going to have twins, but we were able to manage her pregnancy to term," Okunowo tells CNN. Noah, a retired stock auditor, says the couple married in 1974 and had long wanted a child. They traveled from West Africa to the UK and "elsewhere" in their quest to conceive, spending their savings along the way, per the Times. "I am a dreamer, and I was convinced this particular dream of ours [would] come to pass," Noah tells CNN. (An Indian woman is thought to be the oldest to give birth.) Describing the coronavirus-induced recession as "unparalleled", Fitch Ratings has massively slashed its global growth forecast, saying the world economy is set to contract by a hefty 3.9 percent in 2020. The sharp downward revision is driven by a massive decline in Asian economies, led by China and India which are slated to post sub-1 percent growth this year. Several major economies have extended lockdowns of eight-nine weeks. This contrasts to the previous assumption of around five weeks. An extra month of lockdown will reduce the annual flow of income by around 200 basis points, Fitch said. "The world GDP is now expected to fall by 3.9 percent in 2020, a recession of unprecedented depth in the post-war period," Fitch Chief Economist Brian Coulton said in a note. "This is twice as large as the decline anticipated in our early April forecast and would be twice as severe as the 2009 recession," he added. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show The report also sharply cut the forecasts for emerging markets (EMs) primarily because of the sub-1 percent growth expected in the Asian growth engines of China and India. The problem of falling commodity prices, capital outflows and more limited policy flexibility are only exacerbating the troubles, it added. While Mexico, Brazil, Russia, South Africa and Turkey have all seen big GDP forecast adjustments, China and India are now expected to see sub-1 percent growth. "We expect an outright contraction in EM GDP in 2020, a development unprecedented since the 1980s. We expect supply responses and a relaxation of lockdowns to help oil prices to recover in 2H from the current lows, which are being exacerbated by storage capacity issues in the US and elsewhere," it said. The decline in global GDP equates to a $2.8 trillion fall in global income levels relative to 2019 and a loss of $4.5 trillion relative to Fitch's pre-virus expectations of 2020 global GDP. It expects the Eurozone GDP to decline by 7 percent, US by 5.6 percent, and British GDP by 6.3 percent in 2020. The biggest downward revisions are in the Eurozone economies, where the measures to halt the spread of the pandemic have already taken a very heavy toll in Q1. "We have cut Italy's growth to -8 percent following official indications that GDP already fell 5 percent in 1Q and after a recent extension of the lockdown there," it added. Italy has been on the longest lockdown as it has suffered the worst toll with over to 25,000 deaths so far. Official estimates also point to France and Spain experiencing near 5 percent declines in GDP in Q1, with the Spanish outlook hit particularly hard by the collapse in tourism, said Coulton. Even allowing for a slightly less negative outlook for Germany, where the headroom for policy easing is greater and the benefits of a recovery in China will be felt more directly, the Eurozone GDP is expected to shrink by 7 percent, Coulton added. "No country or region has been spared from the devastating economic impact of the global pandemic. We now anticipate that GDP in both the US and the Britain where lockdowns started a little later than in the Eurozone, will plunge by over 10 percent (not annualised) in 2Q, compared to forecasts of around 7 percent in our early April update. This will result in annual GDP declines of around 6 percent, despite aggressive macro policy easing," the report warned. "Macro policy responses have been unprecedented in scale and scope and will serve to cushion the near-term shock. But with job losses occurring on an extreme scale and intense pressures on small businesses, the path back to normality after the crisis subsides is likely to be slow. "Our forecasts now show US and Eurozone growth remaining below pre-virus 4Q of 19 levels through the whole of 2021," added Coulton. Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here Gaza, April 23 : Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are preparing to mark the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramzan from Friday amid a deteriorating economic situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 22, the Hamas-run Gaza government, declared a state of emergency, imposing a series of precautionary restrictions, reports Xinhua news agency. Since then, all mosques, universities, schools and restaurants have been shut down, and public gatherings have been prohibited. As a result, commercial activities in the coastal enclave's markets have been very limited, and merchants have been complaining about accumulation of goods in their warehouses. Ramzan, the holiest month of the year to Muslims, has special rituals and traditions in addition to the main religious practice, fasting from dawn to sunset. Decorating home and streets with lanterns is Ramzan's most common tradition. Ibrahim al-Jamal, who sells lanterns and toys at al-Zawia market in Gaza city, said, on days like these, the market should be crowded with children and their parents coming to buy lanterns. But now there is no such festive atmosphere, he said. In an attempt to mitigate the psychological impact of the current situation, especially on children, Gaza psychiatrist Sami Foad from Nuseirat refugee camp devised a simple method to make lanterns at home, which he started to teach children online. "Without lanterns, children won't feel the Ramzan atmosphere," he said. Children are not allowed to go to stores to buy lanterns due to the state of emergency and most families cannot afford lanterns this year, he added. Foad came up with the idea after dozens of parents complained to him about the psychological impact on their children who have been staying home for a long time. Making lanterns, he said, makes children happy "as they partake in the preparations for Ramadan," and helps them "release the negative energy through doing meaningful things". The psychiatrist says he spends hours on the social networking platform Skype, connecting with hundreds of children to teach them how to make lantern step by step. Foad makes the lanterns with cardboard paper, candles, glue and scissors, which are usually available at home. West Bank and Gaza have reported 474 coronavirus cases with four deaths. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Elena Girotto walks past the boarded-up West Elm store on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena on April 2, 2020. Nonessential businesses have shut down because of California's stay-at-home order, creating a surge in unemployment claims that is forcing the state to borrow from the federal government. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) California has been approved to borrow what is expected to be billions of dollars from the federal government to pay unemployment benefits to those left jobless by the coronavirus pandemic, raising concerns about the cost of repaying the debt. The state made the request as its reserves for paying unemployment benefits are being quickly depleted, requiring California to begin borrowing in just a few weeks, officials said Wednesday. We have protocols in place for difficult moments such as this to ensure critical safety nets remain in place, California Labor Secretary Julie Su said. With more than 2.7 million Californians filing new claims for unemployment benefits in the last month, experts say the state will probably have to borrow more than the $10.7 billion in loans it received from a federal trust fund during the Great Recession. Without the help of the federal government, we wouldnt be able to pay benefits unless we could come up with billions of dollars or dramatically cut benefits, neither of which is a positive scenario, said Maurice Emsellem, director of the Fair Chance Program at the National Employment Law Project in Berkeley. Its very likely that it is going to be more than we borrowed last time. On Wednesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom highlighted the unprecedented number of unemployment insurance, or UI, claims being paid to Californians who lost jobs in the month since he ordered them to stay home to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Just this last week, $2 billion of UI claims were dispersed, just in one week, in the state of California to help support the financial needs of those individuals that have been directly impacted by COVID-19, Newsom said. Under a decades-old program, states apply to the U.S. Department of Labor for access to an unemployment trust fund holding revenue from business taxes. The federal account can be tapped by states for loans whenever unemployment insurance claims exceed their reserves. Story continues California has submitted a request and has been authorized to borrow, said Loree Levy, a spokeswoman for the state Employment Development Department, which processes unemployment insurance claims. The states dont ask for a specific amount when they file applications, just for authority to borrow as needed to continue paying benefits, she added. The state expects to start drawing on the borrowing authority in the next couple of weeks, meaning the revenue coming into the fund from employer contributions will be outweighed by the benefit payments being made out of the fund, Levy said. California keeps a small reserve, but it is dwindling. Last year, before the coronavirus pandemic, the state government collected $5.9 billion in unemployment insurance taxes from employers and issued about $5.5 billion in total benefits. California was one of 36 states that had to borrow from the federal fund during the last recession. The state then ended up borrowing $10.7 billion, which it only finished paying back in 2018. The principal borrowed was paid back with higher taxes on employers, on behalf of each worker on payroll. More than $1.4 billion in interest was paid back from state general funds from 2011 through 2018. The higher taxes levied to pay the debt are a concern for businesses that will already face a huge financial burden of lost revenue during the shutdown. Robert Moutrie, a policy advocate for the California Chamber of Commerce, said the business group recognizes the importance of unemployment insurance to help residents meet living expenses. Business advocates are hoping Congress will act to reduce the negative impact of the repayment, with options including a reduction or waiver of extra taxes. Without federal or state legislation, Californias employers will end up paying for this shutdown for a decade or longer, and are likely to pay substantially more than the $10 billion that we paid after the 2008 recession, Moutrie said. Those UI costs are going to make it that much harder for businesses that are already struggling to rebuild when this shelter-in-place [order] is over. Tom Clavin is the bestselling author of more than 20 books in multiple genres from American and military history, sports, and entertainment. Several of his books have been #1 New York Times bestsellers. A native to the East End of Long Island, Tom resides in Sag Harbor where he has made his home for decades. He enjoys the quality of life that the East End has to offer, and after previously working as a newspaper editor and writer for the New York Times, he writes for the Sag Harbor Express. Toms newest release Lightning Down is... China has reported 27 new asymptomatic coronavirus cases, taking their total to 984, while a high-level committee headed by Premier Li Keqiang asked health officials to remain focussed on the targeted containment of the deadly virus. Asymptomatic cases refer to people who are tested COVID-19 positive but develop no symptoms such as fever, cough or sore throat. However, they pose a risk of spreading the disease to others. Besides the 27 asymptomatic patients, 10 new confirmed COVID cases, including six from Chinese returning from abroad, were reported in the country on Wednesday. The four other patients -- three from Heilongjiang province bordering Russia and one in Guangdong province -- were domestically transmitted, China's National Health Commission (NHC) said on Thursday. No death was reported on Wednesday, the NHC said. As of Wednesday, the overall confirmed COVID-19 cases in China increased to 82,798, including 4,632 fatalities and 1,616 imported cases, it said. Of the total imported cases, 37 are in critical condition, the NHC said. But more concerning factor for the Chinese authorities is the steady increase of asymptomatic cases among locals. The 27 new asymptomatic cases, including one from abroad, were reported on the mainland, the NHC said, adding that 984 such asymptomatic patients, including 166 from abroad, were still under medical observation. In a meeting on Wednesday, the Central Leading Group headed by Premier Li said considering the new circumstances and challenges at home and abroad, health official should stay focussed on targeted containment and detecting and reinforcing areas of weakness to forestall any resurgence of infection. The Central Leading Group is supervising the COVID-19 containment efforts since January. The meeting noted the recent occurrence of case clusters and cross infections in hospitals in a few Chinese cities, an official press release here said. It directed competent authorities to promptly send a working group consisting of disease control and medical experts to cities concerned to supervise local efforts in ascertaining causes and releasing information. The meeting also called for all-round progress in restarting work and full-capacity production and restoring normal life and work on the basis of regularized containment measures. Meanwhile, as of Wednesday, 1,033 confirmed cases, including four deaths, were reported in Hong Kong. Macao registered 45 COVID-19 cases and Taiwan 426, including six fatalities. A total of 678 patients in Hong Kong, 26 in Macao and 236 in Taiwan have been recovered. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Akshay Kumar shared a video with illustrations of doctors with Kesari's song Teri Mitti playing in the background People across the world are finding their own ways to thank doctors and medical practitioners for their tireless efforts in the fight against coronavirus. (Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak) Actor Akshay Kumar on Thursday announced the launch of a reprised version of the song 'Teri Mitti', as an act to pay tribute to the 'real heroes.' The 52-year-old star took to Twitter to announce the date and time of the song launch - Friday at 12:30 PM. Check out the post here With a background score of the original track from the movie Kesari, the actor shared a video with illustrations of doctors. "Sarhad pe jo wardi khaki thee, ab uska rang safed hua," the wordings flashed across the video. "A salute to the heroes, a tribute to our brave India,'' the lines further read. Towards the end of the 28-second animated video, the Housefull actor announced: "Teri Mitti tribute. Song out tomorrow at 12:30 PM." Meanwhile, ace filmmaker Karan Johar too shared the video on Instagram and wrote: "They are fighting to keep us safe and for that, we are forever grateful. A tribute from our hearts to theirs, #TeriMitti. Song out tomorrow at 12:30 pm" Here's Johar's post The Good Newwz actor has been informing people about the necessary precautions to be taken to stay safe amid the coronavirus outbreak through his social media handles. Earlier, the Mission Mangal actor joined hands with actors including, Kartik Aaryan, Tiger Shroff, Taapsee Pannu, Kiara Advani, and launched a hope anthem - 'Muskurayega India,' and made an attempt to pump up Indians with positivity amid the testing times of coronavirus. (With inputs from Asian News International) Despite health risks from coronavirus, economists say Zimbabwe cannot afford to idle crucial industries. Harare, Zimbabwe- A tall, medium build security guard stands behind a large steel gate at Boka Tobacco Auction Floors on the outskirts of Harare, his face partially covered by a white surgical mask and his hands encased in white surgical gloves. Al Jazeera observes from the safety of a car as he dispenses sanitising gel on the palms of people seeking entry to the premises he is watching over. After diligent vetting, he allows two people and a white land rover pick-up truck to pass through the gate. Zimbabwe is still in the midst of lockdown to stem the spread of coronavirus. Though the country has confirmed only 28 cases of COVID-19 and four deaths from the disease, according to Johns Hopkins University, a ravaged economy and crippled healthcare system make it woefully ill-equipped to gauge, let alone manage the healthcare crisis. The government of President Emmerson Mnangagwa has extended stay-at-home measures until at least May 3. But the virus causing untold suffering and death around the world is not the governments only fear. With an economic crisis characterised by foreign currency shortages, deeply eroded disposable incomes, dwindling exports, high unemployment, low manufacturing output and a currency that is rapidly losing value, some economists say Zimbabwe simply cannot afford to idle some of its money-making industries. The economy is coming from a background of economic decline in the prior year of around 7 percent by government estimates and above 10 percent by other estimates and general low production, Harare-based independent economist Victor Bhoroma told Al Jazeera by phone. Against such a background, the lockdown will have disastrous consequences for the economy. Despite the health risks, Mnangagwa is extending lockdown exemptions to key foreign exchange earning industries, including tobacco and mining. A city health worker in Harare prepares to disinfect a bus during a national lockdown to limit the spread of COVID-19 [File: Philimon Bulawayo/Reuters] Modifications to manage health risks Zimbabwe exported $507m worth of tobacco and $2.8bn worth of minerals in 2019, according to government figures. To allow this crucial trade to continue in the age of COVID-19, some modifications are being introduced in an attempt to limit public health risks. Boka Tobacco, one of the few companies in the country allowed to open for business, is being made to follow strict World Health Organizations COVID-19 guidelines. We are open to minimal staff only for preparation purposes. No visitors or farmers allowed at this stage, Chido Nyakudya, the chief executive of Boka Tobacco Auction told Al Jazeera. Farmers are also being forced to change routines as well. Rather than travel to Harare with their harvests, tobacco growers are being instructed to deliver their yields to provincial depots where they are asked to observe stringent social distancing rules. Still, auctions to sell tobacco, which were scheduled to resume on Wednesday, have yet to commence. They [the government] said we should be ready to start selling on short notice, Tobacco Industry Marketing Board chairman Pat Devenish told Al Jazeera by phone. All the tobacco auctions are ready. The industry has also put in place measures to limit transmission such as hand sanitising and social distancing. This is what we have been working on for the past three weeks. Zimbabwe Tobacco Association agriculture manager Casper Mlambo told Al Jazeera farmers are also anxious to get business moving again. We welcome the plan to open the auctions, said Mlambo. Farmers obviously want money to cover various costs associated with the business and to survive. Economic and health risks Zimbabwe was already in the throes of a deep economic crisis that had sorely compromised its healthcare system before the coronavirus pandemic struck a back footing that will make it that much harder for sectors of the economy to recover once the crisis ebbs. Bhoroma says the hardest hit industries will be tourism which is customer-facing and manufacturing, which relies on imported raw materials that cannot get through due to COVID-19 border closures. The Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) estimates that 25 percent of the countrys formal jobs and 75 percent of informal jobs are at risk from COVID-19 containment measures. Workforce will be made redundant as some businesses will not be able to adapt to the effects of Covid-19, the ZNCC wrote. If the total lockdown is extended without resorting to partial lockdown, some of the leisure and tourism operators might completely collapse. The Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI), a trade body that represents manufacturers, has warned that 82 percent of the countrys companies can only fund salaries for a month under lockdown, and is calling on the government to relax stay-at-home orders to allow firms to resume limited operations. In Europe, they have allowed production to continue including that of non-essential goods except in Italy and Spain, the CZI said. President Mnangagwa has tried to assure Zimbabwean businesses that he hears their concerns. Government is acutely aware of the need to keep the economy running albeit at subdued levels, he said in a televised speech on Sunday. But Zimbabwe still faces deep structural challenges, including a 90 percent unemployment rate that has driven most people into the informal economy, leaving many bereft of income during the lockdown. Zimbabwe cannot afford to lock down even for a week, Bhoroma said. But some analysts are warning against reopening even parts of the economy too soon. Zimbabwes is just a big tragedy, political analyst and human rights activist Rashwheat Mukundu told Al Jazeera. Our economy was already on its knees. Our health sector was also a mess. Its a double tragedy. Should COVID-19 infections rise, Mukundu warned that Zimbabwes cash-strapped government simply cannot count on wealthier foreign countries to help. Government will not be able to deal with an outbreak should cases rise, he said. The begging bowl will not fill up anytime soon. This is because everyone is dealing with the same problem in their own countries. TEHRAN, Iran The leader of Irans Revolutionary Guard warned on Thursday that he has ordered his forces to potentially target the U.S. Navy after President Donald Trumps tweet the previous day threatening to sink Iranian vessels. Iran also summoned the Swiss ambassador, who looks out for Americas interests in the country, to complain about Trumps threat coming amid months of escalating tensions between the two countries. While the coronavirus pandemic temporarily paused those tensions, Iran has since begun pushing back against the Trump administrations maximum pressure policy both militarily and diplomatically. The Guard on Wednesday launched Irans first military satellite, unveiling a previously secret space program. Speaking to state television Thursday, Guard Gen. Hossein Salami warned that his forces will answer any action by a decisive, effective and quick counteraction. We have ordered our naval units at sea that if any warships or military units from the naval force of Americas terrorist army wants to jeopardize our commercial vessels or our combat vessels, they must target those (American) warships or naval units, Salami said. The latest dispute comes after the U.S. Navy said last week that 11 Guard naval gunboats had carried out dangerous and harassing approaches to American Navy and Coast Guard vessels in the Persian Gulf. The Americans said they used a variety of nonlethal means to warn off the Iranian boats, which eventually left. Iran, meanwhile, accused the U.S. of sparking the incident, without offering evidence for the claim. Iran has had tense encounters at sea for years with the U.S. Navy in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of all oil passes. The U.S. has patrolled the area to protect global shipping for decades, something Iran describes as akin to it patrolling the Gulf of Mexico. Trump on Wednesday, facing a collapsing global energy market and the coronavirus pandemic amid his re-election campaign, tweeted out a warning to Iran, saying that he ordered the Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea. We dont want their gunboats surrounding our boats, and traveling around our boats and having a good time, Trump told reporters Wednesday evening at the White House. Were not going to stand for it. Theyll shoot them out of the water. The International Crisis Group, noting the tensions, urged both countries to create a deconfliction hotline to avoid a possible military confrontation. In the absence of a major diplomatic breakthrough, an indirect military communications channel could go some way toward ensuring, at least, that a single incident will not spark a wider conflagration, it said in a report Thursday. Iran in the past has rejected idea of a hotline. Meanwhile, the Guard surprised analysts by sending a satellite into space on Wednesday from a previously unused launch pad and with a new system. While Iran stresses its program is peaceful, Western nations fear such a program will help Iran build intercontinental ballistic missiles. State television on Thursday said Iran received signals from the satellite, without elaborating. While American officials have not acknowledged that the satellite reached orbit, open-source data from the U.S. military suggested the Noor, or Light satellite now orbited the Earth. Uzi Rubin, fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security and the founder of Israels missile defense program, said the launch showed the Guards further gain in wresting for power and in building its own state within a state. The very act of launching a military satellite in the midst of the coronavirus crisis that is affecting Iran too is a statement of self confidence and perseverance by the ayatollahs to the West but mainly to its own population, Rubin said. France said Thursday that it strongly condemns the launch and called on Tehran to immediately halt any activity related to the development of ballistic missiles designed to be able to carry nuclear weapons, including space launch vehicles. Given that the technology used for space launches is very similar to that used for ballistic missile launches, this launch directly contributes to the extremely troubling progress made by Iran in its ballistic missile program, France said. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova meanwhile rejected assertions that the launch violated the U.N. Security Councils resolution on Iran, noting that Iran has the right to develop its space program for peaceful purposes. ___ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writers Josef Federman in Jerusalem, Angela Charlton in Paris and Vladimir Isachenkov in Moscow contributed to this report. President Donald Trump claimed Wednesday that he had signed an executive order "temporarily suspending immigration into the United States." But experts say the order will merely delay the issuance of green cards for a minority of immigrants. Trump said his move, announced in a Monday tweet, was necessary to help Americans get back to work in an economy ravaged by the coronavirus. "This will ensure that unemployed Americans of all backgrounds will be first in line for jobs as our economy reopens," he said. But the order includes a long list of exemptions, including for those who are currently in the country and those seeking entry to work as physicians and nurses, as well as the spouses and minor children of American citizens. The 60-day pause also leaves untouched the hundreds of thousands of temporary work visas the country issues each year. That left partisans on both sides of the immigration battle suggesting the order was driven more by politics than policy during an election year. Trump ran in 2016 on promising to crack down on both illegal and legal immigration, making the case - disputed by many - that foreign workers compete with Americans for jobs and drive down wages because they are willing to accept lower pay. While many of Trump's efforts to dramatically upend the nation's immigration system, from travel bans to asylum restrictions, had been stymied by Congress and the courts, the pandemic has allowed him to move forward on certain changes. Like other world leaders, Trump has restricted travel from much of the globe, including China and large swaths of Europe. The borders with Mexico and Canada have been closed to all but "essential" travel. With consulates closed, almost all visa processing by the State Department has been suspended for weeks. And Trump has used the virus to effectively end asylum at U.S. borders, turning away migrants, including children, by invoking a rarely used 1944 law aimed at preventing the spread of communicable diseases. The green card measure will limit the ability of current green card holders to sponsor their extended families - a practice Trump has derided as "chain immigration" and tried to restrict. The final version was far less drastic than advocates on both sides of the issue had expected after Trump posted a tweet late Monday that sent businesses, would-be immigrants and administration officials scrambling. "In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!" Trump wrote. Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, said before the order was released that it would "have some very modest policy effect," but he said "it's actually not even that big a deal." He said "the primary function was political, to respond to people's concern that at this point, with maybe 15% of the labor force out of work, they had to do something." Frank Sharry, executive director of America's Voice, a liberal immigration reform group, agreed in part. "This announcement is more about grabbing a headline than changing immigration policy," he said Wednesday. "To me, it smacks of an electoral strategy, not a policy change, and it smacks of desperation and panic." Omar Jadwat, the director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Immigrants' Rights Project, accused Trump of launching a "transparent attempt to distract from his own failures" that "will cause real pain for families and employers across the country." Pivoting to immigration is a strategy Trump has used before. He often turns to immigration when he feels backed into a corner and is looking for an issue to rev up his base. Ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, for instance, Trump put immigration at the forefront, using migrant caravans in Latin America as a rallying cry as he ordered thousands of U.S. troops to the southern border to stop an "invasion." He also floated ending the Constitution's guarantee of birthright citizenship. In recent days, officials bolstered by their successful efforts to restrict travel at the country's borders had been discussing how they might seize the opportunity to enact additional immigration restrictions. Trump's tweet nonetheless took many across the administration by surprise. During the coronavirus crisis, Trump has found other ways to pivot to immigration. He used one of his task force briefings to highlight enhanced counternarcotics efforts to prevent smugglers from taking advantage of the pandemic - though he said there was no evidence of that - and has repeatedly invoked his border wall. "In the meantime, even without this order, our Southern Border, aided substantially by the 170 miles of new Border Wall & 27,000 Mexican soldiers, is very tight - including for human trafficking!" he tweeted Wednesday. Trump's team on Tuesday, however, denied he was using the virus to make good on a long-standing campaign promise during an election year. "This is common sense the American people can very well understand: When Americans need jobs, Americans must come first," said White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany. "The president's immigration policy just makes sense," agreed Trump campaign spokesman Tim Murtaugh. With 22 million Americans applying for unemployment, he asked, "Why would you in good conscience introduce brand-new competition for them?" Trump's campaign showcased the move in an email blast to supporters that read: "PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL SIGN AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO TEMPORARILY SUSPEND IMMIGRATION." Also read: Coronavirus effect: Trump threatens to terminate US-China trade deal Also read: Coronavirus in US: Trump bans immigration for 60 days The coronavirus pandemic continues to impact and shape every aspect of life across the world, having killed 183,454 people globally and infected 2.6 million. Here is your morning briefing of everything you may have missed overnight: Trump signs immigration order President Donald Trump has signed an order to temporarily block some foreigners from permanent residence in the US, saying he was doing so in order to protect American workers during the coronavirus pandemic. The order is to last for 60 days and then will be reviewed and possibly extended. In order to protect our great American workers I have just signed an executive order temporarily suspending immigration into the United States. This will ensure that unemployed Americans of all backgrounds will be first in line for jobs as our economy reopens, Mr Trump said at a news conference on Wednesday. The order includes a long list of exemptions, including for anyone who is currently in the country, those seeking entry to work as physicians and nurses, wealthy foreign investors, and the spouses and minor children of American citizens. The 60-day pause also leaves untouched the hundreds of thousands of temporary work and student visas the US issues each year. China cases four times greater than official figure, study suggests The number of people to have been infected in the first wave of Covid-19 in mainland China might have been four times greater than the official figures, according to a new study. Research by academics at Hong Kong Universitys school of public health estimates the country will have had 232,000 cases as of 20 February at a time when national authorities were reporting 55,000. The disparity in figures is a result of the changing definitions used for Covid-19. Chinas national health commission issued seven different versions between 15 January and 3 March, with the study concluding that these changes had a substantial effect on how many infections which were reported as confirmed cases. Vaccine unlikely to be available this year, says chief medical officer A vaccine is unlikely to be available before the year is out despite tens of millions of pounds being poured into UK trials that start imminently. After the government confirmed it was investing 41m in vaccine research taking place at Oxford University and Imperial College London, professor Chris Whitty, Englands chief medical officer, insisted the country needs to be realistic in its hopes of a quick-fix. He told reporters at the daily Downing Street press briefing that some social distancing measures would need to stay in place until there was a vaccine or drug which reduced the severity of Covid-19. Until we have those, and the probability of having those any time in the next calendar year are incredibly small and I think we should be realistic about that, were going to have to rely on other social measures, which of course are very socially disruptive as everyone is finding at the moment, he said. Italian cruise ship in Japan has 48 coronavirus cases Nearly 50 crew members on an Italian cruise ship docked for repairs in Japans Nagasaki have tested positive for Covid-19, raising concern about the strain on the citys hospitals if conditions worsen for those infected. Results on Thursday showed 14 more aboard, all either cooks or those serving food, were infected with the virus, bringing the ships total to 48. One patient who had been taken to hospital previously was now in serious condition and on a ventilator. The Costa Atlantica infections come after the cases on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama two months ago, where more than 700 passengers and crew were found to be infected, although this time only crew members were on board. Two pet cats test positive in New York state Two cats in New York have tested positive for coronavirus but there remains no evidence pets can spread the virus to humans, according to health authorities. The cats, from separate areas of New York state, had mild respiratory illness and are expected to make a full recovery. It is believed that they contracted the virus from people in their households or neighbourhoods, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Animals, pets, can get infected. ... Theres no evidence that the virus is transmitted from the pet to a human, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said at the daily coronavirus briefing. There are few known Covid-19 infections of pets globally. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, one cat in Hong Kong tested positive without displaying symptoms, while a cat in Belgium recovered nine days after falling ill. Other headlines and stories: He played teenage heartthrob Geoff Campbell on Home and Away more than a decade ago. And Lincoln Lewis was apparently so keen to reprise his role on the Channel Seven soap that he asked producers for his job back. 'I actually pitched a storyline for the Home and Away producers at the start of the year about reprising Geoff, but they ghosted me!' he said on Friday. Ready for a comeback? Lincoln Lewis was apparently so keen to reprise his role as teenage heartthrob Geoff Campbell on Home and Away that he asked producers for his job back Lincoln made the admission during a interview with Neighbours star Takaya Honda on his Tak Talks YouTube series. He continued: 'But it is what it is. That's the industry. That's just like going for an audition. You don't hear back. That's the way it goes.' Lincoln played Geoff Campbell, a student missionary, in 567 episodes of the Logie-winning series between 2007 and 2010. He recently shared a gallery of throwback photos to Instagram from his years in Summer Bay. 'I actually pitched a storyline, but they ghosted me!' Lincoln (right) made the admission during a interview with Neighbours star Takaya Honda (left) on his Tak Talks YouTube series on Friday 'I was lucky enough to work on such an iconic Australian show with this legendary lot,' he wrote in the caption. 'Working on gigs can be quite few and far between for a lot of us in the industry, even more so in the current circumstances.' The Tomorrow, When The War Began actor has since revealed he is taking acting classes after things slowed down in his career. Flashback: Lincoln played Geoff Campbell, a student missionary, in 567 episodes of the Logie-winning series from 2007 to 2010. Pictured with Todd Lasance, who played Aden Jefferies 'To be honest, the last 18 months or two years have been a bit slower,' Lincoln told The Daily Telegraph in June 2019. 'I know what it's like to not work and I'm trying to stay fresh and do classes, but I just want to get back on set.' Lincoln is open to both film and television roles because 'TV just keeps getting better and better' and is 'competing with some of the best films' these days. In the national debate over Americas energy future, one of the most important facts about technological innovation has become one of the most ignored -- fracking is used for more than 95 percent of new oil and natural gas wells in the United States. A study conducted by OnLocation for the American Petroleum Institute shows that if opponents of fracking get their way and politicians ban fracking, the consequences would be economically crippling. Consumers would be hit by higher energy costs across the board. Millions of jobs would be sacrificed. The economy would be thrown into reverse. Banning fracking would erase a generation of American progress and return the United States to the days of heavy reliance on foreign oil and natural gas. It is time to recognize that fracking is a critical resource that the U.S. must protect and nurture. Thanks in large part to this transformative technology, oil prices have dropped from an all-time high of $145 per barrel in July 2008 to less than half of that today. Despite OPEC efforts to kill the shale industry, companies are hanging in, though many are operating on tight margins and some might not survive. If Gov. Tom Wolf succeeds in clamping an additional tax on gas and oil production, it would be one of the worst things that could happen. Instead of shackling gas and oil producers with huge, growth killing costs, every effort should be made to save the shale industry. Today, smarter management if complex systems, data analytics, and automation are remaking the shale industry, enabling it to withstand global turbulence in energy markets. Though few people realize it, each year for the past decade new natural gas production has outpaced new domestic demand two to four times. The shale revolution has led to an 85 percent increase in gas reserves, providing cheaper and cleaner alternatives to coal and catapulting the U.S. into a major exporter of liquefied natural gas. Climate change affects us all. Instead of being discounted, natural gas must be the fulcrum by which the United States moves ahead in combating global warming. The mechanism for achieving this is already in place. It flows directly from the success of fracking, which is having a major impact on moderating greenhouse gas emissions. Its no wonder that the huge increase in natural gas production, along with the continuing switch from coal to gas, has reduced America carbon emissions to mid-1990s levels. And its why the International Energy Agency says that the US is reducing emissions faster than any other country. Rather than chase phantom substitutes for oil and gas, we should focus on what can be done to improve our economy, enhance our environmental well-being and energy security. It can be done if our country maintains a course of wise, sustainable action to make good use of fracking and our capacity for technological innovation. John J. Interval, Professional Petroleum Geologist, Pennsylvania Licensed Professional Geologist: PG-000673 Standard Road Improvements View Photo Sonora, CA The Tuolumne County Supervisors had already been planning to use set aside future road dollars to reconstruct and make ADA improvements along Standard Road, and today the board decided to additionally widen the road and add a bike lane. The initial work, estimated to cost $1.66 million, was tentatively scheduled to be completed by 2023. The revised project, widening the road, and adding a Class II bike lane, will cost $6.6-million, and be completed by 2027. The supervisors unanimously agreed that public safety would improve greatly by widening the road, and the bike lane can be utilized as an emergency third lane in the event of mass evacuations due to a wildfire. The board noted that Standard Road is one of the few north-south connectors in the county, it has various businesses situated on it, Curtis Creek Elementary is along it, and there are plans for an eventual housing subdivision, already approved, near Standard Park. In approving the revised plan, the board also directed staff to investigate available grant funding, since a school is located on Standard Road, to potentially help move the project along quicker. The supervisors stressed that road revenue for projects like this comes from the state, and it is not General Fund dollars. The supervisors are planning to discuss General Fund shortfalls, related to this year and next, this afternoon. Byron York asks a good question: How does Nancy Pelosi get away with blocking desperately needed aid? There is no dispute about what happened over the last two to three weeks, as thousands of small businesses were strugglingoften unsuccessfullyto stay alive. Nancy Pelosi blocked federal aid to those businesses in order to pursue unrelated political goals. Pelosi didnt stand in the way of aid for just an hour or two, or a day or two. She stonewalled for two weeks while small-business people across the country struggled to stay afloat in a time in which public fear of coronavirus and government stay-at-home orders reduced their business income to zero. *** From the very beginning, everybody knew Congress would have to act soon in days to replenish the money for PPP, so that other small businesses could have a lifeline. On April 7, more than two weeks ago, the White House sent a letter to Capitol Hill asking for $251 billion in additional funding. Again everyone knew it would be needed, and needed soon. That was the plan all along. The White House wanted quick action. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell hoped the Senate would approve a simple bill one that provided the $251 billion and did not do anything else on a voice vote. Thats when Pelosi came in, in tandem with Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer. Word got out that Pelosi and Schumer would demand billions more for health care, emergency food aid, and money to state and local governments. They would also insist that half the money be targeted toward women and minorities. April 8, 9, and 10 days in which Congress could have acted and the money gone out the door to businesses passed without action. On April 11 came reports there was a logjam on the legislation. There was talk of a bipartisan spending negotiation the kind of across-the-table horse-trading that can go on for days and weeks on Capitol Hill as businesspeople try to avoid going under. *** Pelosis answer was no and remember, as Speaker of the House, she is the power player in the relationship with Schumer, who doesnt control anything. As she blocked aid for businesses, Pelosi tried to burnish her image, going on late-night TV to show off her kitchen two very expensive-looking refrigerators fully stocked with expensive ice cream. The contrast between Pelosis giggly show-and-tell with her favorite goodies and the plight of struggling workers and businesses in the pandemic led the Trump campaign to make a quickie web ad with the punch line, Let them eat ice cream Nancy Antoinette. More days passed. *** Still, Pelosi held out. She appeared to feel a remarkable confidence that she would not be skewered in the national media for holding up urgently needed money. And indeed, she was not. In an impressive display of chutzpah, she blamed McConnell for the delay. And so more days passed. Republicans finally surrendered on the money, $75 billion for hospitals. They agreed to $25 billion for testing that Pelosi added to her demands. The GOP balked on money for states and local governments. This was a debate that was largely about nothing, Politico Playbook declared, accurately. The effect of the debate about nothing was to delay help for those millions of small business owners and employees who need it, while Pelosi played politics and showed off her ice cream stash. And it is still not done. The bill, now expanded to nearly $500 billion, has passed the Senate, with House passage expected Thursday. That will be April 23 16 days after the first letter to Capitol Hill. Why did it take 16 days for Congress to pass money for small business owners that could have been passed in a small fraction of that time? Because Nancy Pelosi stopped it. Pure and simple. Bhubaneswar, April 23 : The Odisha government announced a 60-hour complete shutdown in Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore districts from 10 p.m. on Thursday following a spike in Covid-19 positive cases in these districts. "In the past 5 days, 29 Covid-19 positive cases have been reported and 28 are from Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur. We have to move to a higher level of preparedness in these districts," Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy said as he announced imposition of a complete shutdown in these three districts till 10 a.m. on Monday. He said it will be a curfew-like situation as no person will be allowed to come out of house during the period. However, emergency services like selected medicine shops will be allowed. Also, goods transport passing on national highways through these districts for other districts will be allowed free movement. While testing will be increased three times in these districts, the government will take possible measures, including contact tracing, to detect other positive cases. Tripathy said the rising number of positive cases among returnees from West Bengal has become a concern. Police personnel have been deployed in the border areas with West Bengal. Besides, sarpanches have been asked to identify those with recent travel history to the neighbouring state. People with recent travel history should voluntarily come up failing which action will be taken against them as per the law, said Tripathy. "We appeal to residents of Jajpur ,Bhadrak and Balasore dists to observe Shutdown for 60 hours announced by Chief Secy. Police will be constrained to prosecute and take other legal action against those violating the shutdown," tweeted DGP Abhay. The government has appointed three Secretaries to oversee and monitor the Covid-19 situation in the three districts. Covid-19 positive cases in Odisha have increased to 89 after six more people - four from Jajpur and two from Balasore - tested positive for the virus on Thursday, said the Information and Public Relations Department. The General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP) John Boadu is very confident that a new voters register will be compiled ahead of the December 7, 2020 general elections despite the covid-19 scare. The Electoral Commission(EC) has postponed the compilation of a new voters register which should have taken off on April 18, 2020. But the NPP scribe John Boadu in an interview with Joy News monitored by Kasapafmonline.com that a compiling a new voters register is a necessity. There is no way we wont have a new register, you must understand this. By the middle of May or the end of May if the burden has come down then if the restriction is lifted then the Electoral Commission will also devise ways of ensuring that they do what they are mandated to do in a manner that will not put our people at risk, John Boadu added. But the General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) Johnson Asiedu Nketia stated that the party priority, for now, is the health of Ghanaians. In the Bible, they say seek he first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and all other things shall be added unto you. So let us focus on this, so those who think that they can be dealing, on one hand, trying to take unfair advantage of the elections and on the other pretending to put health first in the end they will suffer the consequences. But we think that the health of the people first. ---kasapafmonline A slight increase in testing for COVID-19 was reported to the Hale County/Hale County Health Department by 5 p.m. on Tuesday. The latest figures show the total number of tests reported to the Health Department is up to 120 and 102 of those tests have come back negative. Its an increase of three tests done between Monday and Tuesday. On Monday, the City of Plainview announced that the total number of confirmed cases reached 16. Eight people are considered recovered and four have passed way from virus complications. The recovered individuals include: two men and a woman between the ages of 21-40; two men and a woman between the ages of 41-60 years old; and two men 60 years or older. Seven of the reported recoveries are within the city of Plainview. The four deaths have each been individuals aged 61 years or older two men and two women. Four county residents still have the virus and are currently at home in isolation. Those individuals include: a man between the ages of 41 and 60; a woman between the ages of 21 and 40; and a man 61 years or older. Of the 16 reported cases, eight were a result of local transmissions, five were contracted outside of the county and the location of transmission of three are still undetermined. Thirty-six people are under monitoring as of Tuesday. Hale County is currently under a stay-at-home order meaning citizens are encouraged to: stay home except for essential activities; practice social distancing; practice good hand hygiene; and contact a doctor if they feel theyre experiencing COVID-19 symptoms shortness of breath, fever and coughing. The Health Department also issued a health advisory on Friday encouraging Hale County citizens to wear masks when out in public. The city of Plainviews COVID-19 webpage has links to tips on how to create a face cover with common household items. Those interested can visit www.plainviewtx.org/COVID19. Delta and United have reported their first quarterly losses in more than five years. Their competitors are also expected to release dismal results in the coming weeks. The next few months look even more painful for the sector as the coronavirus pandemic saps air travel demand during what is normally the most lucrative time of year. Air travel has dropped by more than 95% as the Covid-19 pandemic spreads around the U.S. Now, states hard-hit by the pandemic like New York are extending stay-at-home advisories for the next several weeks and canceling events through June in New York City, a sign that business isn't even close to returning to normal yet. Bleak economic data and a rising unemployment rate are increasing doubts about when travelers will return. "People are fearing for their homes, not their holidays," said Rob Morris, global head of consultancy at Ascend by Cirium, a U.K.-based aviation consulting firm. It's not just would-be vacationers who are staying home. Also absent are high-spending corporate travelers, a crucial customer base for network carriers, as companies suspend business trips because of the virus. Years to recover Delta's CEO, Ed Bastian, on Wednesday said that revenue in the current quarter looks to be 90% lower than expected and that it could take two or three years for business to recover. "We don't know when [the recovery] will happen, but we do know that Delta will be a smaller airline for some time, and we should be prepared for a choppy, sluggish recovery even after the virus is contained," Bastian said in a staff note. The airline lost $534 million in the first quarter, its first loss in just over five years. United Airlines earlier this week disclosed a $2.1 billion pretax loss in the quarter ended March 31 because of the coronavirus. The Chicago-based carrier hasn't yet set a date to report full quarterly earnings. American Airlines CEO Doug Parker last week told CNBC that the company's revenue is down 90% from a year ago, but that it appears to be as bad as it's going to get. "The real question is how long you stay at the bottom and when do we begin to recover. I don't think I know that better than anybody else," he said. The sentiment was echoed Tuesday by JetBlue Airways CEO Robin Hayes. A JetBlue Airways plane taxis next to American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Alaska Airlines aircraft at Reagan National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia, on Monday, April 6, 2020. Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images Even after the disease is contained, close to half of travelers will wait a month or two before flying, while 28% said they would wait six months or so, according to the results of a new survey of potential travelers in 11 countries by the International Air Transport Association, a trade group that represents most of the world's airlines. Just 14% said they would not wait at all to fly, down from the 22% who said they'd travel immediately in IATA's February survey. The pandemic has upended airline executives' plans for further growth in passenger demand. When the coronavirus began to spread overseas early this year, U.S. airlines had just posted their 10th consecutive year of profits and had staffed up to the highest levels in 17 years. Last year, they couldn't get new planes fast enough and now they're parking hundreds of planes, particularly older jets, as demand dries up. Faced with a dearth of passengers, airlines like American, Delta and United have started flying cargo-only flights. Job cuts? U.S. airlines cheered when Congress last month dedicated $50 billion in aid for the ailing sector. That included $25 billion in a mix of grants and loans that are solely dedicated to paying their roughly 750,000 workers and require airlines not to furlough or cut their pay rates though hours have been reduced through Sept. 30. But that might not be enough to avoid job reductions if demand remains low. The government aid "is helpful in the near-term because we can protect our employees in the U.S. from involuntary furloughs and pay rate cuts through the end of September," United CEO Oscar Munoz and president, Scott Kirby, who takes the reins next month, told employees on April 15. "But the challenging economic outlook means we have some tough decisions ahead as we plan for our airline, and our overall workforce, to be smaller than it is today, starting as early as October 1." Voluntary unpaid leave Around one-third of Delta's roughly 90,000 employees have already volunteered for unpaid leave. Thousands of employees at other airlines have also signed up for unpaid or partially paid leave. "We will do as many things through voluntary means as we can to get our costs in line over time, over the next 12 months, with our demand profile," Bastian said on a media call Wednesday, when asked whether involuntary furloughs or layoffs will be unavoidable. "If it turns that we're unable to do that and the demand is much slower in materializing than we expect at the present time we may be forced to make those decisions." Delta is also considering offering employees early retirement, Bastian said. Cowen and Co. airline analyst Helane Becker this month forecast job losses of between 95,000 and 105,000 in the U.S. airline industry, mostly at American, Delta and United "as the other carriers look to wait out the downturn in demand." Any costs left to cut? Airline executives have made deep cuts to their networks, in some cases cutting some 95% of flights to certain airports to better align with almost nonexistent demand. Carriers have also implemented hiring freezes, reduced executive pay and deferred capital expenditure projects. U.S. airlines as of April 15 had idled more than 2,700 planes, more than 44% of their fleet, according to Airlines for America, a trade group that represents the largest U.S. carriers. Some airlines are discussing delivery schedules with aircraft manufacturers which could mean deferrals of new planes. Airlines pay the bulk of an aircraft's price when they take delivery. That's bad news for airplane manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus. Delta said it expects to halve its daily cash burn rate to $50 million by the end of the second quarter. Measures include parking more than 650 planes, closing airport lounges and reduced workweeks around the airline, which is the least unionized of the four largest U.S. carriers. Shoring up cash Airlines have spent recent weeks drawing down on lines of credit and raising additional funding to help them weather the crisis. Delta, for example, said it raised $5.4 billion since the end of March, including a $3 billion term loan and $1.2 billion from aircraft sale leasebacks. It also drew down $3 billion of an existing credit facility and cut planned capital expenditures by the same amount. Late Wednesday, Delta said it plans to raise even more cash beyond government aid. It plans to offer $1.5 billion of secured notes due in 2025 and it also lined up a separate $1.5 billion term loan. Investors will be asking airline executives in the coming weeks what else is left in their arsenals to get through the crisis, particularly if demand remains weak. Some options include selling frequent flyer miles to banks in advance, or selling and leasing back planes, a move United announced this week. United on Tuesday turned to the equity markets for additional cash, announcing plans for a sale of 39.25 million shares, worth more than $1 billion. Health questions Kindhearted tribesmen living in the Thai mountains gathered fresh vegetables from their farms and donated them to residents who have been hit financially by the coronavirus lockdown. The indigenous hill tribe people distributed their groceries to residents in the town in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, on Thursday morning (April 23). Many of those in the are are struggling because of the downturn in the economy and tourist industry caused by COVID-19. They gave away bundles of cabbages, carrots, tomatoes, and white radishes with other assortments of food like eggs and rice. The goods were all carried down in six fully loaded trucks. The provincial governor said it was the tribesmen's idea to offer a little help to the locals down the hill. He said: "We provided help in moving the goods, but it was all their effort and we are grateful for it. "The tribes mainly work as farmers and they wanted to share their produce with the locals who are now facing the difficulties." Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay have had a phone call to discuss issues of trade and economic cooperation and implementation of joint projects, the Russian cabinets press service reported. It was noted that special attention was placed on issues of trade and economic cooperation and joint efforts to boost bilateral trade. They also touched upon the topics of implementing large-scale industrial and energy projects, including the construction of Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Turkey as well as operation of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline, TASS reported Mishustin and Oktay also agree to ramp up cooperation in transport and agriculture as well as other spheres that interest both parties, the service added. In addition, "Mikhail Mishustin and Fuat Oktay exchanged opinions on measures taken in Russia and Turkey to curb the spread of coronavirus infection and organization of work to return citizens of the two countries," the statement reads. More details were announced Wednesday for two coronavirus testing sites in Atlantic City. During a press conference streamed on Facebook Live, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. announced tthe testing sites - previously announced last week, at the former Bader Field airport and the Showboat Casino - will start next week, on April 27. They will be open to residents of the city, he said. The city is partnering with Reliance Medical Group to conduct the testing. The Bader Field location will be open Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., while the Showboat facility will be for walk-in patients on Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. for 2 p.m. It will be located on the vacant parking lot between Pacific, Atlantic, Maryland and Delaware avenues The testing sites will be available for four weeks. Currently, it is estimated that each site can test up to 50 people per day, a figure the mayor hopes to increase if more tests are appropriated. To be tested, residents have to have the symptoms of the virus and have a prescription from their doctor. If residents meet those requirements, they can go to the citys website to fill out information for an appointment, which can found by clicking here. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage Atlantic County has been testing people at a drive-thru facility at Hamilton Mall, which began testing April 13 after receiving state approval. Atlantic County reported Wednesday that 518 residents so far have tested positive for the virus, with 23 deaths. Also, 108 people have recovered from the coronavirus, and the COVID-19 disease it causes. When we first heard about this pandemic and the damage that it has caused worldwide, my administration wanted to be proactive, Small Sr. said. We were the first in the area to call for local testing. We said we wanted a testing site at Bader Field. Small Sr. said he made an impassioned plea to U.S. Sen. Cory Booker for funding for a testing site. The city received a $786,810 Community Development Block Grant to have the initiative funded, the mayor said. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Franklin Here may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com. The Department of Justice confirmed no more than three single people will share a room in a direct provision centre from now on. It says this policy will remain in place even when the Covid-19 crisis is over. "As part of our response to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has been positively acknowledged by the Ombudsman in terms of the speed of our response and specific actions taken, we have opened new accommodation and relocated over 600 residents to support social distancing in centres and cocooning measures for the most vulnerable," the Department said. "By doing this, we have ensured that a maximum of three single people are sharing a room in any of our centres. We were pleased to be able to confirm to the Ombudsman before the publication of his Report that we intend to continue this policy when the crisis is over." The Department says 600 residents have been relocated to allow for proper social-distancing during the pandemic. Ombudsman Peter Tyndall It was responding to concerns raised by the Ombudsman. Peter Tyndall has expressed his concerns over the unsuitability of accommodation in the direct provision system. He said the Covid-19 crisis further highlighted how unsustainable it is to have three or more people, who are not from the same family, living in the same room for a significant amount of time. "Current direct provision accommodation is not appropriate for anything other than short-term stay," Mr Tyndall said. "Emergency accommodation is even more inappropriate. It is unacceptable that people who have sought refuge here can find themselves in accommodation that is entirely unsuitable for a prolonged period up to 16 months and longer in some cases." Irish Refugee Council has welcomed the Ombudsmans annual report. "He clearly has grave concerns about the direct provision system which echo what we and many others have said for some time, the organisation said. His statement that it is simply unacceptable that people who have sought refuge in this country can find themselves in accommodation that is entirely unsuitable for their needs for a prolonged length of time, is striking. In particular the report raises serious concerns about the use of emergency accommodation and the problems people experience while living in it: location, schooling, food, sharing of rooms and laundry facilities. As an organisation we have been working with people living in such accommodation for the last year and a half and have also seen many of these issues." The Department of Justice noted: "that our programme of improvements must be continuous and that there is more for us to do. This includes our ongoing efforts to reduce the number of residents in emergency accommodation as well as the length of time that residents spend in emergency accommodation. " The Department said it is working with local authorities and the City and County Managers Association to assist direct provision residents to transition into mainstream accommodation. The Rivers State Government says it has concluded plans to re-open state-run universities and other tertiary institutions to online learning in the state. The state Commissioner of Education, Kaniye Ebeku, announced this in Port Harcourt on Thursday, shortly after his meeting with Vice Chancellors and Heads of other tertiary institutions in the state. He said the re-opening of tertiary institutions is in compliance with a directive of the Federal Ministry of Education. So, the meeting with state-owned public universities and other tertiary institutions was fruitful. Essentially, we explored the possibilities of re-opening through online platforms. We agreed that it is important to follow the directive of the federal ministry of education and re-open schools, universities and tertiary institutions online. READ ALSO: Mr Ebeku said the re-opening of schools online became imperative to mitigate the negative effects the continued closure of schools has had on students due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the country. So, the institutions have been directed to institute online platforms to enable them to conclude their existing academic year as well as commence the next academic year. To this end, students, parents and members of the public will be informed in the coming weeks of the resumption date of schools, he said. The commissioner added that the state government was again taking the lead to re-open tertiary institutions as a result of its commitment to education. (NAN) Nearly 25,000 email address and passwords belonging to staff at the World Health Organization, Gates Foundation and the National Institute of Health were obtained and posted online by right-wing activists. The data dump was discovered by SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks the online activity of white-supremacist and jihadist groups, which said the leak was an attempt by 'the far-right to weaponize the COVID-19 pandemic.' Although the origin is unclear, experts found the information on 4chan, a message board known for hateful content, as well as Twitter and the far-right extremist channel on the messaging app Telegram, the Washington Post reported. The information gathered by the hackers and neo-Nazi groups were taken with the sole purpose of sharing coronavirus conspiracy theories, including linking HIV to the virus. The World Health Organization confirmed to DailyMail.com that email addresses registered in external systems and applications were hacked and made public, but passwords have since been reset for the compromised accounts. Scroll down for video Nearly 25,000 email address and passwords belonging to staff at the World Health Organization, Gates Foundation and the National Institute of Health were obtained and posted online by right-wing activists A smaller amount of credentials were found to be associated with the Gates Foundationn, a private philanthropic group whose co-founder, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, last week announced $150 million in new funding to combat the pandemic. DailyMail.com has reached out to NIH and the Gates Foundation for comment and has yet to receive a response. The list for the World Health Organization (WHO) totaled to 2,732. 'Yesterday, on 21 April, WHO email addresses registered in external systems and applications were hacked and made public,' a WHO spokesperson told DailyMail.com. Although the origin is unclear, experts found the information on 4chan, a message board known for hateful content, as well as Twitter and the far-right extremist channel on the messaging app Telegram 'Out of 6,835 email addresses that were made public, there were 2,712 WHO email addresses, of which 457 are valid and active addresses. 'The WHO cyber security team ran a verification program to check the exposed email addresses and passwords against authentication services and found that none of the 457 WHO credentials had been compromised. 'As a precaution, passwords have now been reset for the 457 users whose email addresses were exposed.' SITE told Business Insider that the information was being used by the extremist groups to spread misinformation and conspiracy theories about the coronavirus. Rita Katz, SITE's executive director, said that 'neo-Nazis and white supremacists' published the information 'aggressively' across various online platforms, using it to call for 'a harassment campaign while sharing conspiracy theories about the coronavirus pandemic.' 'The distribution of these alleged email credentials were just another part of a months-long initiative across the far right to weaponize the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Keep in mind the targets of these lists: NIH, CDC, WHO these are exactly the types of organizations Neo-Nazis and white supremacists have been targeting amid the crisis.' The Thermo Scientific Cascadion SM Clinical Analyzer and Cascadion SM Immunosuppressants Panel now available for accurate measurement of four immunosuppressant drugs in whole blood VANTAA, Finland, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, announced today that it has expanded its European offering of pre-validated assays for the Thermo Scientific Cascadion SM Clinical Analyzer with the addition of the CE/IVD marked Cascadion SM Immunosuppressants (ISD) Panel. Clinical laboratories can now access a complete system developed to enable simultaneous testing of cyclosporine A, everolimus, sirolimus and tacrolimus from a single whole blood sample aspiration using gold standard liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technology. The Cascadion analyzer aspirates whole blood directly from qualified, de-capped blood collection tubes without the need for any manual pre-treatment steps. "Clinical laboratories need ISD assays that can deliver reliable and consistent results to aid efficient patient management," said Bill Ostman, vice president and general manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific. "The new Cascadion SM Immunosuppressants Panel is designed to do just that; demonstrating our commitment to expanding the capabilities of the Cascadion SM Clinical Analyzer to address our customers' most pressing analytical and clinical requirements." The Cascadion SM Clinical Analyzer with pre-validated assays offers clinical laboratories a fully automated system, providing multiple benefits for boosting laboratory efficiency and productivity. Pre-defined assay parameters and reagents on all Cascadion systems allow for standardization of testing conditions and results, while load up and walkaway operation can be performed by any qualified laboratory personnel with minimal training. Thermo Fisher Scientific products are distributed globally so uses, applications and availability of product in each country depend on local regulatory marketing authorization status. For more information about the Thermo Scientific Cascadion SM Clinical Analyzer and Cascadion SM Immunosuppressants Panel, please visit www.thermofisher.com/cascadion About Thermo Fisher Scientific Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue exceeding $25 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies or increasing productivity in their laboratories, we are here to support them. Our global team of more than 75,000 colleagues delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services and Patheon. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com. Media Contact Information: Julia Nisbet-Fahy Senior Manager - Global Marketing Thermo Fisher Scientific +44 (0) 7342 080967 julia.nisbet-fahy@thermofisher.com Jaime Grigorescu Marketing Manager - Global Marketing Thermo Fisher Scientific +1 (773) 431 0390 jaime.grigorescu@thermofisher.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1158064/Thermo_Fisher_Cascadion.jpg Coronavirus: While U.S. bans immigrants, Canada welcomes them Trumps new Executive Order temporarily suspending immigration highlights fundamental differences between Canada and U.S. Coronavirus: While U.S. bans immigrants, Canada welcomes them Trumps new Executive Order temporarily suspending immigration highlights fundamental differences between Canada and U.S. Coronavirus: While U.S. bans immigrants, Canada welcomes them Trumps new Executive Order temporarily suspending immigration highlights fundamental differences between Canada and U.S. Kareem El-Assal Shelby Thevenot Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Americas temporary ban on immigration is set to come into effect now that President Donald Trump has followed through with a promise he first made on Twitter Monday evening. Trump signed an Executive Order on Wednesday that takes effect at 11:59 PM EST on Thursday April 23. The Executive Order will suspend the processing of permanent resident applications made by those outside of the United States for 60 days. It contains some exemptions; for instance, the ban will not apply to health care professionals or researchers seeking to enter the U.S. as immigrants to help combat COVID-19. Trumps immigration ban is being criticized for having less to do with stopping the spread of coronavirus, and more to do with his own political agenda leading up to the presidential election this fall. Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs Cristobal Ramon, a senior policy analyst with the Bipartisan Policy Centre in the U.S., calls the move purely political given that the U.S. was already processing fewer immigration applications as a result of COVID-19. This de facto pause in U.S. immigration processing would, theoretically, have resolved itself in time without Trumps intervention. He is trying to come up with a narrative that allows him to assert control over the way people are perceiving his response to COVID-19 and I think what were seeing is that there is no coherent narrative, Ramon told CIC News. He is trying to find whatever works in order to stave off criticism. He also says the presidents move lacks intentionality in its approach, implementation, and messaging. Canada will not be adopting any similar immigration suspension, according to a Radio-Canada report. Despite the havoc the coronavirus has wreaked onto the global economy, Canada still recognizes that immigration supports the labour market and the countrys economic growth. Though Canada has also enacted temporary restrictions on foreign travel as part of its efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus, applications for permanent residence are still being approved and the government is still holding immigration draws to invite more people to submit permanent residence applications. Canadas per capita immigration intake triple that of U.S. Canada welcomes three times as many immigrants on a per capita basis than the U.S. Canada has a population of about 38 million and is now welcoming around 340,000 immigrants per year (0.9% of its population). The U.S. has a population of some 330 million and welcomes around 1.1 million immigrants per year (0.3% of its population). Nearly 60 per cent of Canadas immigrants arrive under the economic class, followed by 26 per cent under the family class, and 14 per cent as refugees. The U.S. admits about 10 per cent of its immigrants under the economic class, 70 per cent under the family class, and 20 per cent as refugees. Canadian provinces have more immigration powers than U.S. states Immigration is a matter of shared federal-provincial jurisdiction under Canadas constitution. This enables the provinces and territories to manage their own immigration programs so they can welcome newcomers that meet their economic needs. Just like Canada, the U.S., is a federation, and while U.S. states have strong powers under the countrys constitution, they do not have the authority to welcome immigrants. This distinction is important because whereas in Canada, the federal government cannot restrict immigration without facing pressure from the provinces and territories, the U.S. federal government has full authority over the countrys immigration system and does not need to respond to the desire of certain states to welcome more immigrants to address labour shortages. U.S. government gridlock Another major difference between Canada and the U.S. when it comes to immigration is their political systems. Canada has a parliamentary system of government, which means that a federal political party that wins a majority or a strong minority has significant control over the countrys policies. This enables Canada to enact new immigration policies and plans fairly easily. On the other hand, the U.S. has a presidential system, whereby power is shared equally between the president, congress, and senate. This has resulted in political gridlock in many policy areas, including in immigration, since the three branches of government need to reach consensus on major issues before enacting new policies and plans. Both the Democrats and Republicans have long agreed that U.S. immigration reform is necessary, but remain unable to agree on the nature of the reform. Canada has more control over its borders which is critical for public support Perhaps the biggest difference between the two countries is their ability to manage irregular migration. Given that control over who enters ones country is critical to maintaining public support for immigration, Canada tends to have higher levels of public support for newcomers than the U.S. Prior to coronavirus, Canada had seen higher levels of irregular migration than in recent history, with thousands of asylum-seekers crossing the Canada-U.S. border. However, Canadas asylum figures pale in comparison to the U.S., which has long had high levels of irregular migrants crossing into the country from its southern border in pursuit of refuge and economic opportunity. As a result, whereas immigration debates in the U.S. are dominated by discussions on national security, Canadian immigration debates tend to centre around how to enhance the economic benefits of immigration. Canadas unwavering commitment to immigration during coronavirus pandemic Despite the special immigration and travel measures Canada has also implemented in response to COVID-19, the country continues to demonstrate its commitment to the 2020-2022 Immigration Levels Plan that it announced in March 2020. Canada is still allowing exempt immigrants, international students, and temporary foreign workers to enter the country. It has also announced more lenient measures to help accommodate immigration applicants who are not able to submit their complete documentation to the federal government because of coronavirus-related disruptions. Perhaps the biggest indication of Canadas resounding commitment to welcoming immigrants, even despite the coronavirus pandemic, is that both the federal government and provinces continue to hold immigration draws to invite successful candidates to apply for Canadian permanent residence: Four reasons why Canada wont halt immigration Despite the unprecedented times we live in, there are four major reasons why Canada will not halt immigration: History: Canada is a country that was built by immigrants and its Indigenous peoples. Canadas history of accommodating people from around the world continues to guide its efforts to accommodate newcomers so they can continue to support Canadas economic and social vibrancy. Geography: Canadas geography is favourable when it comes to immigration since it can exercise strong control over who can enter the country. As mentioned above, this allows Canada to have high levels of public support for immigration and continue to welcome high levels of immigration. Policy: Stakeholders across Canada recognize immigration is critical to sustaining its high living standards. Canada has an aging population and low birth rate, which is constraining its economic growth and creating fiscal pressures. As a result, immigrants are predominantly welcomed under the economic class to stimulate Canadas economy and support its fiscal standing. Stakeholders work together to enact various policies to support the welcoming of immigrants and the integration of newcomers into Canadian society. Politics: Immigrants account for over 20 per cent of Canadas population and many citizens are second, third, and fourth-generation Canadians. Given that immigrants mostly reside in Canadas largest cities, Canadian political parties usually need to appeal to immigrants in order to win power. Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs 2020 CIC News All Rights Reserved NEW YORK, April 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) market worldwide is projected to grow by US$5.4 Billion, driven by a compounded growth of 6.3%. Hardware, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 5.8%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$3.5 Billion by the year 2025, Hardware will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03549667/?utm_source=PRN - Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 7.2% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$246.7 Million to the region's size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over US$249.6 Million worth of projected demand in the region will come from Rest of Europe markets. In Japan, Hardware will reach a market size of US$289.7 Million by the close of the analysis period. As the world's second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 6.1% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$925.1 Million in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders. Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies. - Competitors identified in this market include, among others, ABB Ltd. Emerson Electric Company General Electric Company Honeywell Process Solutions Omron Corporation Progea S.r.l. Rockwell Automation, Inc. Schneider Electric SA Siemens AG Willowglen Systems Inc. Yokogawa Electric Corporation Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03549667/?utm_source=PRN I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. MARKET OVERVIEW North America SCADA Market A Prelude to Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Global Competitor Market Shares Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Competitor Market Share Scenario Worldwide (in %): 2019 & 2028 2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS 3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS SCADA Market Growth Future of SCADA System Top Competitors Market Share Global Market Share by Type Global and Regional SCADA Market Size Global Market Revenue Regional Market Share 4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE Table 1: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Global Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 2: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Global Retrospective Market Scenario in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017 Table 3: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Shift across Key Geographies Worldwide: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 4: Hardware (Architecture) World Market by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025 Table 5: Hardware (Architecture) Historic Market Analysis by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017 Table 6: Hardware (Architecture) Market Share Breakdown of Worldwide Sales by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 7: Software (Architecture) Potential Growth Markets Worldwide in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025 Table 8: Software (Architecture) Historic Market Perspective by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017 Table 9: Software (Architecture) Market Sales Breakdown by Region/Country in Percentage: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 10: Services (Architecture) Geographic Market Spread Worldwide in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025 Table 11: Services (Architecture) Region Wise Breakdown of Global Historic Demand in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017 Table 12: Services (Architecture) Market Share Distribution in Percentage by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 13: Human-Machine Interface (HMI) (Component) World Market Estimates and Forecasts by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025 Table 14: Human-Machine Interface (HMI) (Component) Market Historic Review by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017 Table 15: Human-Machine Interface (HMI) (Component) Market Share Breakdown by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 16: Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) (Component) World Market by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025 Table 17: Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) (Component) Historic Market Analysis by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017 Table 18: Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) (Component) Market Share Distribution in Percentage by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 19: Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) (Component) World Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018 to 2025 Table 20: Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) (Component) Market Worldwide Historic Review by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017 Table 21: Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) (Component) Market Percentage Share Distribution by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 22: Communication System (Component) Market Opportunity Analysis Worldwide in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018 to 2025 Table 23: Communication System (Component) Global Historic Demand in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009 to 2017 Table 24: Communication System (Component) Market Share Distribution in Percentage by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 25: Other Components (Component) World Market by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025 Table 26: Other Components (Component) Historic Market Analysis by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017 Table 27: Other Components (Component) Market Share Breakdown of Worldwide Sales by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 28: Oil & Gas (Industry) Global Market Estimates & Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 29: Oil & Gas (Industry) Retrospective Demand Analysis in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017 Table 30: Oil & Gas (Industry) Market Share Breakdown by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 31: Water & Wastewater (Industry) Demand Potential Worldwide in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 32: Water & Wastewater (Industry) Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017 Table 33: Water & Wastewater (Industry) Share Breakdown Review by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 34: Transportation (Industry) Worldwide Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 35: Transportation (Industry) Global Historic Analysis in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017 Table 36: Transportation (Industry) Distribution of Global Sales by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 37: Telecommunications (Industry) Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country for the Years 2018 through 2025 Table 38: Telecommunications (Industry) Analysis of Historic Sales in US$ Million by Region/Country for the Years 2009 to 2017 Table 39: Telecommunications (Industry) Global Market Share Distribution by Region/Country for 2009, 2019, and 2025 Table 40: Food & Beverages (Industry) Global Opportunity Assessment in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 41: Food & Beverages (Industry) Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017 Table 42: Food & Beverages (Industry) Percentage Share Breakdown of Global Sales by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 43: Other Industries (Industry) Worldwide Sales in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 44: Other Industries (Industry) Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017 Table 45: Other Industries (Industry) Market Share Shift across Key Geographies: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 III. MARKET ANALYSIS GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS UNITED STATES Market Facts & Figures US Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share (in %) by Company: 2019 & 2025 Market Analytics Table 46: United States Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Architecture: 2018 to 2025 Table 47: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in the United States by Architecture: A Historic Review in US$ Million for 2009-2017 Table 48: United States Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Breakdown by Architecture: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 49: United States Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Component: 2018 to 2025 Table 50: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in the United States by Component: A Historic Review in US$ Million for 2009-2017 Table 51: United States Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Breakdown by Component: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 52: United States Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Industry: 2018 to 2025 Table 53: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Historic Demand Patterns in the United States by Industry in US$ Million for 2009-2017 Table 54: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Breakdown in the United States by Industry: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 CANADA Table 55: Canadian Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Architecture: 2018 to 2025 Table 56: Canadian Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Historic Market Review by Architecture in US$ Million: 2009-2017 Table 57: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in Canada: Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Architecture for 2009, 2019, and 2025 Table 58: Canadian Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Component: 2018 to 2025 Table 59: Canadian Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Historic Market Review by Component in US$ Million: 2009-2017 Table 60: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in Canada: Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Component for 2009, 2019, and 2025 Table 61: Canadian Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Million by Industry: 2018 to 2025 Table 62: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in Canada: Summarization of Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Million by Industry for 2009-2017 Table 63: Canadian Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Analysis by Industry: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 JAPAN Table 64: Japanese Market for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA): Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Architecture for the Period 2018-2025 Table 65: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in Japan: Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Architecture for the Period 2009-2017 Table 66: Japanese Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Analysis by Architecture: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 67: Japanese Market for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA): Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Component for the Period 2018-2025 Table 68: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in Japan: Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Component for the Period 2009-2017 Table 69: Japanese Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Analysis by Component: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 70: Japanese Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) in US$ Million by Industry: 2018 to 2025 Table 71: Japanese Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in US$ Million by Industry: 2009-2017 Table 72: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Shift in Japan by Industry: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 CHINA Table 73: Chinese Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Growth Prospects in US$ Million by Architecture for the Period 2018-2025 Table 74: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Historic Market Analysis in China in US$ Million by Architecture: 2009-2017 Table 75: Chinese Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market by Architecture: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025 Table 76: Chinese Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Growth Prospects in US$ Million by Component for the Period 2018-2025 Table 77: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Historic Market Analysis in China in US$ Million by Component: 2009-2017 Table 78: Chinese Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market by Component: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025 Table 79: Chinese Demand for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) in US$ Million by Industry: 2018 to 2025 Table 80: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Review in China in US$ Million by Industry: 2009-2017 Table 81: Chinese Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Breakdown by Industry: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 EUROPE Market Facts & Figures European Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market: Competitor Market Share Scenario (in %) for 2019 & 2025 Market Analytics Table 82: European Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Demand Scenario in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 83: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in Europe: A Historic Market Perspective in US$ Million by Region/Country for the Period 2009-2017 Table 84: European Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Shift by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 85: European Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Architecture: 2018-2025 Table 86: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in Europe in US$ Million by Architecture: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017 Table 87: European Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Breakdown by Architecture: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 88: European Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Component: 2018-2025 Table 89: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in Europe in US$ Million by Component: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017 Table 90: European Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Breakdown by Component: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 91: European Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Million by Industry: 2018-2025 Table 92: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in Europe: Summarization of Historic Demand in US$ Million by Industry for the Period 2009-2017 Table 93: European Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Analysis by Industry: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 FRANCE Table 94: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in France by Architecture: Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for the Period 2018-2025 Table 95: French Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Historic Market Scenario in US$ Million by Architecture: 2009-2017 Table 96: French Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Analysis by Architecture: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 97: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in France by Component: Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for the Period 2018-2025 Table 98: French Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Historic Market Scenario in US$ Million by Component: 2009-2017 Table 99: French Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Analysis by Component: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 100: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Quantitative Demand Analysis in France in US$ Million by Industry: 2018-2025 Table 101: French Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Historic Market Review in US$ Million by Industry: 2009-2017 Table 102: French Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Analysis: A 17-Year Perspective by Industry for 2009, 2019, and 2025 GERMANY Table 103: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in Germany: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Architecture for the Period 2018-2025 Table 104: German Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by Architecture: 2009-2017 Table 105: German Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Breakdown by Architecture: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 106: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in Germany: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Component for the Period 2018-2025 Table 107: German Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by Component: 2009-2017 Table 108: German Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Breakdown by Component: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 109: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in Germany: Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Industry for the Period 2018-2025 Table 110: German Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in Retrospect in US$ Million by Industry: 2009-2017 Table 111: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Distribution in Germany by Industry: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 ITALY Table 112: Italian Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Growth Prospects in US$ Million by Architecture for the Period 2018-2025 Table 113: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Historic Market Analysis in Italy in US$ Million by Architecture: 2009-2017 Table 114: Italian Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market by Architecture: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025 Table 115: Italian Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Growth Prospects in US$ Million by Component for the Period 2018-2025 Table 116: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Historic Market Analysis in Italy in US$ Million by Component: 2009-2017 Table 117: Italian Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market by Component: Percentage Breakdown of Sales for 2009, 2019, and 2025 Table 118: Italian Demand for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) in US$ Million by Industry: 2018 to 2025 Table 119: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Review in Italy in US$ Million by Industry: 2009-2017 Table 120: Italian Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Breakdown by Industry: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 UNITED KINGDOM Table 121: United Kingdom Market for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA): Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Architecture for the Period 2018-2025 Table 122: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in the United Kingdom: Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Architecture for the Period 2009-2017 Table 123: United Kingdom Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Analysis by Architecture: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 124: United Kingdom Market for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA): Annual Sales Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Component for the Period 2018-2025 Table 125: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in the United Kingdom: Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Component for the Period 2009-2017 Table 126: United Kingdom Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Analysis by Component: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 127: United Kingdom Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) in US$ Million by Industry: 2018 to 2025 Table 128: United Kingdom Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in US$ Million by Industry: 2009-2017 Table 129: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Shift in the United Kingdom by Industry: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 REST OF EUROPE Table 130: Rest of Europe Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Architecture: 2018-2025 Table 131: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in Rest of Europe in US$ Million by Architecture: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017 Table 132: Rest of Europe Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Breakdown by Architecture: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 133: Rest of Europe Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Component: 2018-2025 Table 134: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in Rest of Europe in US$ Million by Component: A Historic Review for the Period 2009-2017 Table 135: Rest of Europe Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Breakdown by Component: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 136: Rest of Europe Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Million by Industry: 2018-2025 Table 137: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in Rest of Europe: Summarization of Historic Demand in US$ Million by Industry for the Period 2009-2017 Table 138: Rest of Europe Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Analysis by Industry: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 ASIA-PACIFIC Table 139: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in Asia-Pacific by Architecture: Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for the Period 2018-2025 Table 140: Asia-Pacific Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Historic Market Scenario in US$ Million by Architecture: 2009-2017 Table 141: Asia-Pacific Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Analysis by Architecture: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 142: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in Asia-Pacific by Component: Estimates and Projections in US$ Million for the Period 2018-2025 Table 143: Asia-Pacific Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Historic Market Scenario in US$ Million by Component: 2009-2017 Table 144: Asia-Pacific Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Analysis by Component: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 145: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Quantitative Demand Analysis in Asia-Pacific in US$ Million by Industry: 2018-2025 Table 146: Asia-Pacific Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Historic Market Review in US$ Million by Industry: 2009-2017 Table 147: Asia-Pacific Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Analysis: A 17-Year Perspective by Industry for 2009, 2019, and 2025 REST OF WORLD Table 148: Rest of World Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Architecture: 2018 to 2025 Table 149: Rest of World Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Historic Market Review by Architecture in US$ Million: 2009-2017 Table 150: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in Rest of World: Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Architecture for 2009, 2019, and 2025 Table 151: Rest of World Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Component: 2018 to 2025 Table 152: Rest of World Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Historic Market Review by Component in US$ Million: 2009-2017 Table 153: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in Rest of World: Percentage Share Breakdown of Sales by Component for 2009, 2019, and 2025 Table 154: Rest of World Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Million by Industry: 2018 to 2025 Table 155: Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market in Rest of World: Summarization of Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Million by Industry for 2009-2017 Table 156: Rest of World Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Market Share Analysis by Industry: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 IV. COMPETITION ABB GROUP CGI GROUP DELTA ELECTRONICS EMERSON ELECTRIC COMPANY HONEYWELL PROCESS SOLUTIONS MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION HITACHI GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY OMRON CORPORATION PROGEA SRL ROCKWELL AUTOMATION SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC SA SENVION SA SIELCO SISTEMI SRL SIEMENS AG THALES GROUP XYLEM YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION WILLOWGLEN SYSTEMS INC. V. CURATED RESEARCH Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03549667/?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 The DPIIT in a tweet said that the conference with industry associations was 'to facilitate permits for industrial activities in order to boost economic activities.' New Delhi: Measures to "speed up" economic and industrial activities were reviewed on Thursday by a high-level group of officials comprising the Union home secretary and his counterpart in the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), a senior official said. A video conference was held between representatives of industry associations and the two senior bureaucrats so that those industrial activities, which are permitted during the ongoing lockdown period, keep functioning smoothly and economic activities speed up, joint secretary in the ministry of home Affairs (MHA) Punya Salila Srivastava told reporters here. Feedback is being taken from industrial units and their problems are being addressed, she said during a daily press briefing on measures related to the lockdown clamped in the country to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. "In this context, home secretary (Ajay Bhalla) and secretary DPIIT (Guruprasad Mohapatra) have talked to industry associations via video conferencing today," Srivastava said. The DPIIT, which is a department under the commerce ministry, in a tweet said that the conference with industry associations was "to facilitate permits for industrial activities in order to boost economic activities." Certain quarters of the industry and exporters have raised concerns over the revised guidelines issued by the MHA on 15 April, stating that it is difficult for them to implement those for partial resumption of their factory operations. Srivastava said progress in economic activities, especially in rural areas, is being witnessed, and added that road construction, brick kilns and cement manufacturing related works have also started. Till 22 April, more than 1.5 crore work days have been achieved under the MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) scheme, she said. State governments are working to operationalise industrial units in non-hotspot zones as the central government has given permission for exempting many essential services post April 20. These include food processing units, milk and bread processing factories, flour and pulses mills, Srivastava said. Those areas which are not hotspots or containment zones, especially rural areas, at such places agricultural and economic work should go on and hence, some permissions have been given (from April 20), she said. Talking about measures taken by the government to ensure protection to doctors and health workers in the frontline of the coronavirus battle, Srivastava said states have been asked to give adequate protection to these professionals whether they are working in hospitals, in quarantine centres or going for testing and collecting samples. If any incident of violence or unruly behaviour takes place against doctors or healthcare workers then strict action will be taken against the accused under the Disaster Management Act and as per the guidelines issued by the MHA to states and union territories, the officer said. These steps, she said, will ensure health workers are safe. The home ministry has suggested that nodal officers should be appointed at the state and district level and local chapters of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) should be consulted, so that doctors can work smoothly. States should also create awareness among the people in this context, she said. "We hope that with these steps, the lockdown will be successful and we will be able to break the COVID-19 chain," she said adding that the lockdown situation in the country, except at few places, is satisfactory. (Bloomberg) -- Indonesias ride-hailing and food-delivery giant Gojek has acquired a mobile point-of-sale startup called Moka for about $130 million, according to people familiar with the deal. The transaction, which has been under negotiations since last year, was completed about a month ago, said the people, who asked not to be named because the information is private. It hasnt been announced publicly. Gojek is taking advantage of a recent fundraising to cement its position in the countrys digital payments industry. The outbreak of the coronavirus is accelerating a shift away from cash as more people shy away from touching bills and coins. Jakarta-based Moka, present in more than 100 cities across Indonesia, provides point-of-sale and payments services to owners of more than 35,000 restaurants, coffee shops and retail outlets. The Moka app, which can be downloaded to a tablet or smartphone, lets merchants accept debit and credit cards or mobile wallets like WeChat Pay and GoPay. It also provides analytics to help track sales and inventory, run loyalty programs and manage employees. A Gojek representative declined to comment, while a Moka official wasnt immediately reachable. Gojek, Indonesias most valuable startup at $10 billion, said last month it had raised $1.2 billion for expansion, defying tech-sector turbulence and the coronavirus pandemic. Last month, Gojeks co-chief executive officers and senior management pledged to funnel 25% of their salaries over the next 12 months into a fund designed to support its drivers and merchants during the pandemic. Regardless whether its good times or bad times, you have to build a really solid foundation of the business, Aldi Haryopratomo, CEO of Gojeks e-payment unit GoPay, said in a Bloomberg TV interview this month. We are very lucky to have secured the funding as a group and we are in a position to execute it. 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. File photo The Federal Government said it has secured the release of 60 out of the 73 Nigerians serving various jail terms in Tanzanian prisons, The PUNCH reports. It said arrangements were being made by the Nigerian ambassador to Tanzania for their repatriation. The Head, Media and Public Relations Unit, Nigeria in the Diaspora Commission, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday. It said, Ever before COVID-19 pandemic, the Nigerian Mission had been working on repatriation of Nigerian prisoners in Tanzania. The Ambassador, Dr Sahobi Gada, was in Nigeria in January 2020, specifically for this purpose after having successfully secured a release of 60 out of 73 Nigerians in various prisons in Tanzania. Arrangements were then being made by the Ambassador for their repatriation. According to Balogun, most of the convicts are arrested for alleged drug-related offences, while a few of the offences bordered on immigration law violations. He explained that the mission had been visiting other custodial facilities in Tanzania to check other Nigerians who may be serving jail terms, adding that it had also canvassed for amnesty for the prisoners on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted, For each of the 73 Nigerians in the prison, the mission had paid 330, 000 shillings (N55,544) as court fees and was always represented in court. The mission had also successfully negotiated the repatriation of 60 prisoners. Balogun noted that a British citizen working with a non-governmental organisation had earlier complained to NIDCOM about the slow nature of the Tanzanian judicial system. It is disheartening to note that while the mission successfully sought a reprieve for 60 inmates, a Nigerian returning to Nigeria after working in Tanzania for three years was caught with hard drugs at Zanzibar and has since been charged before a Zanzibar High Court for possession of illegal drugs, the commission said. ANN ARBOR, MI -- Wilmas restaurant in downtown Ann Arbor is officially closing in response to the novel coronavirus. The space at 403 E. Washington St. started in 2011 as Babo: A Market by Sava, transitioned to Freds and later, Wilmas. The owner has decided its time close, though, due to challenges in reopening after the ban on dine-in service, aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, is over, according to a Facebook announcement. Theres some major factors were taking into consideration and one of them is the length of our lease, said Sava Farah, owner of SavCo Hospitality, the umbrella group for Savas, Aventura and Wilmas. Itll take a couple months to open our doors ... then eight to nine months to rebuild our losses. The bills stack up. Farah cited issues with her landlord, who was not willing to work with" her in renegotiating the lease terms, which led the landlord to file a lawsuit against her for leaving the lease early. This is a time to step up for your tenants. We are struggling and these loans and grants have a lot of red tape. Theyre not as available as you would think, she said. We havent even experienced the real hurt yet. Farahs husband and company lawyer William Farah said the landlord sent a letter demanding them to pay their full rent after asking for a rate reduction. Im shocked that within three days, they sent us a demand and I think it goes to show how they want to conduct business. A lot of the local landlords get it. Weve seen that (reduction) with one of our other landlords, William Farah said. There obviously was a lease. We asked for a reduction in the rate, which some of our landlords have done." But John Strockis of SmartStop Asset Management, the group that owns the property, said they did everything possible to try to keep them as tenants," including the nearby Subway. After Governor Whitmer issued the stay at home executive order, we immediately offered lease reductions to both restaurants. We wanted to do everything we could to help both businesses continue their operations, Strockis said in a statement. Subway accepted the rent reduction offer and will be reopening their business as soon as stay at home orders are lifted. The only response we received from Wilmas was a notification that they were vacating the space and subsequently removing all of their furniture, fixtures and equipment." Inside an empty Wilma's restaurant at 403 E Washington St. in Ann Arbor. The restaurant is permanently closing in response to the novel coronavirus.SavCo Hospitality Sava Farah applied for small business loans but they came with stipulations, such as rehiring 75-90% of the staff and only seating 50% of the dining room, on top of growing debt the restaurant is facing. Ive got three closed restaurants, she said. Looking out at the landscape, we have to be very choosy in how we manage our businesses. "I met so many amazing people there who Im going to miss serving in that building. Were all still part of this greater collective and were going to be focused on what were doing. Were going to be looking for opportunities to find new and innovative ways to serve that demographic. This is a part of business. Its letting go. Farah still plans to open Dixboro House, an under-construction modern American-fare restaurant in an old farmhouse at 5400 Plymouth Road, but construction was halted on the seven-acre site due to the stay home order, she said. The restaurant will have lounging spaces by a fireplace, communal seating and formal dining, outdoor benches and seating along the creek for a casual experience, a kids play area, and a grand dining room in a futuristic barn being built next to the current more than 100-year-old structure. Savas owner renovating old Dixboro farmhouse for new restaurant She anticipated opening it in June but the timing is uncertain due to the COVID-19 pandemic and whether guests and employees will feel comfortable. Its going to be delayed because its not being built at the moment, Farah said. "As soon as the restrictions are lifted, were going to complete the building of Dixboro House. I dont want to open a world-class restaurant with face masks. My business is hospitality and If I cant smile at my guests or pick up their body language, its going to cause a different relationship between the guest and the employee. Dixboro House is expected to accommodate carryout orders in a separate room, which may open ahead of the full restaurant grand opening, she said. My gratitude (is) for our guests and the support we received from our community at the business. I met so many amazing people there who Im going to miss serving in that building. Were all still part of this greater collective and were going to be focused on what were doing. Were going to be looking for opportunities to find new and innovative ways to serve that demographic. This is a part of business. Its letting go." Ann Arbor initiative looks to support restaurants, feed health care workers How Ann Arbors Duo Security went from a two-man operation to a $2.35 billion company New pharmacy opens in Dexter for curbside pickup, delivery The Marine Corps' top general has issued a rallying cry for leathernecks to unite around symbols that bring them together, rather than those that divide, as he moves to prohibit the Confederate flag on all installations. Commandant Gen. David Berger issued a letter to Marines on Thursday explaining his reasoning for banning all public displays of Confederate paraphernalia. It is a leader's responsibility, he said, to address anything that threatens unit cohesion head-on. "I am focused solely on building a uniquely capable warfighting team whose members come from all walks of life and must learn to operate side-by-side," Berger wrote. "This symbol has shown it has the power to inflame feelings of division. "I cannot have that division inside our Corps." Related: Top Marine Explains Why He's Banning Confederate Flags on Bases Berger's intent to bar Confederate flags and other items on base was included in a February memo on his top priorities. He told Military.com last month that anything that divides Marines needs attention. The decision to remove Confederate displays on base is "about focusing on how we can get better, how we can get better as an organization," he added. Berger's not alone in weighing the issue. Whether Confederate flags, statues and other items should remain has spurred a national debate in recent years, prompting state and local leaders to take down flags, change street names and remove statues from government buildings and property. The debate ramped up after a self-described white supremacist drove his car into a crowd of protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, killing a woman in 2017. That followed photos of a gunman who carried out a 2015 attack on a South Carolina church posing in front of a vehicle with Confederate license plates. Many see the flag as a point of pride in their southern heritage, which Berger acknowledged in his letter. "I am also mindful of the feelings of pain and rejection of those who inherited the cultural memory and present effects of the scourge of slavery in our country," the commandant wrote. "My intent is not to judge the specific meaning anyone ascribes to that symbol or declare someone's personally held view to be incorrect." Instead, he said he's focused solely on creating a warfighting team in which members from all walks of lives can operate alongside one another. "I must identify symbols or subcultures that degrade the cohesion that combat demands of us," Berger wrote. The military has struggled in recent years to address racist and extremist beliefs in the ranks, prompting members of Congress to require command climate surveys to start addressing the issue. Lawmakers have also held hearings on the problem, asking experts what more needs to be done to combat it. As of last month, Berger said, other service leaders had not asked about his decision to remove Confederate items from bases. Army officials told Task & Purpose in February that there were no plans to rename bases and facilities that honor Confederate leaders. Those names were selected "in a spirit of reconciliation, not to demonstrate support for any particular cause or ideology," an official said, according to the outlet. Berger on Thursday encouraged every Marine to see things through one another's eyes and to walk in each other's shoes. "We train, eat, sleep, sweat, succeed, or fail, together," he said. "... Team over self: That is how we must operate to fight and win." -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Read more: The Military Surveyed Troops on Extremist Activity Decades Ago. Here's What it Found [ Read our review. ] Image Little Eyes , by Samanta Schweblin. Translated by Megan McDowell. (Riverhead, May 5) Animal-shaped devices called kentukis have become the new fad. The toy is the conduit for a strange new relationship between its owner and its dweller, a user assigned at random to control the device. Dwellers can see their owners surroundings and hear them speak, raising uneasy new ideas about surveillance, intimacy and love. Schweblin, an Argentine writer known for short stories and her novel Fever Dream, examines these ideas in a series of a fast-paced chapters focusing on kentukis across the world: a dweller who sees snow for the first time, a woman alienated from her artist boyfriend who takes comfort in her toy and more. [ Read our Q. & A. with Schweblin. | Read our review. ] Image In 1924, Congress passed one of the most restrictive immigration laws on record, a measure aimed at making the country white, Protestant and Anglo-Saxon that curtailed southern and Eastern Europeans and banned people from nearly all of Asia. Yang, a deputy national editor for The Times, sketches the four-decade effort to reverse the legislation, which lasted throughout a major world war and the refugee crisis after the Holocaust, to create a new standard for immigration equality what ultimately became the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act. Along the way, she weaves in her own familys story, exploring how the idea of America as a land of immigrants wasnt always a given. Image Pelosi , by Molly Ball (Holt, May 5) Ball, a political correspondent for Time, traces how the speaker of the House fought sexism, harassment and hypocrisy to become the most powerful woman in American politics. As she writes in the afterword, If this book has a thesis, it is that you neednt agree with Nancy Pelosis politics to respect her accomplishments and appreciate her historic career. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 02:52:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Fighting around Tripoli and insecurity in Libya have triggered food price hikes, prompting the United Nations and its humanitarian partners to renew appeals for a ceasefire, a UN spokesman said on Thursday. "Our humanitarian colleagues warn that a cessation of hostilities is urgently required in the country," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "Ongoing insecurity and fighting around Tripoli are continuing to deepen civilian suffering." Half of the assessed cities reported food shortages and 86 percent reported food price hikes, Dujarric said. On average, a recent assessment showed the prices of food items increased by 27 percent, while those of hygiene items have gone up by 12 percent. "In response, we, along with our humanitarian partners, are supporting authorities and working on the frontlines to provide aid to internally displaced people, returnees, refugees and asylum seekers," the spokesman said. "And amidst the conflict, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Libya has increased to 60, and that includes one death." In the face of COVID-19, the UN secretary-general appealed last month for a global ceasefire to help fight the disease. Enditem Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriza Pinandita (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 14:10 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3cb8eb 1 World COVID-19,migrant-protection,migrant-workers,Malaysia,citizen-protection,TKI,mudik,mudik-ban,pekerja-migran-indonesia,coronavirus,virus-corona,virus-korona-indonesia Free The government says that of Tuesday, more than 64,000 Indonesian migrant workers an estimated 46,000 of whom traveled by sea had returned from Malaysia amid the countrys ongoing lockdown due to the COVID pandemic. According to the Indonesia Migrant Worker Protection Agency (BP2MI), an estimated 90,000 Indonesians are working in Malaysia, most of whom are employed in the informal sector. The lockdown officially known as the movement control order (MCO) in Malaysia has been effective since March 18, causing disruption in the Indonesian migrant workers livelihood. With Ramadan and Idul Fitri approaching, many of the migrant workers have chosen to return to Indonesia as they started to face hurdles in maintaining their income amid the lockdown. The decision goes against the Indonesian governments call for people to postpone travel plans. The government said that it had been actively delivering logistical assistance to the affected Indonesian citizens in Malaysia. The Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that the deliveries were supposed to be effective in preventing the migrant workers from going home. As of Tuesday, more than 172,000 staple food packages have been delivered to those in need, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Teuku Faizasyah in a press briefing on Wednesday. With the packages, we hope that our fellow Indonesians can have the basic necessities for the next two weeks or when Ramadan starts, he added. Read also: ASEAN must not neglect migrant workers, refugees in COVID-19 response: Activists The government has reiterated that it has no repatriation plan for the migrant workers and other Indonesian citizens in Malaysia, saying that the figures represent only those who have returned voluntarily. Unfortunately, not all returning migrant workers used legal routes to return home. Authorities in North Sumatra and Riau Islands recently caught dozens of Indonesian migrant workers returning from Malaysia, attempting to sneak past border authorities via illegal routes. The Indonesian Navy spotted and secured a fishing vessel carrying 22 undocumented Indonesian migrant workers from Malaysia in Tanjung Tumpul in Asahan regency, North Sumatra, on Monday. Last week, the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla) apprehended 47 migrant workers returning from Malaysia via illegal routes in the Nongsa waters of Batam, Riau Islands, on April 15. Faizasyah said the government would coordinate with Malaysian authorities to monitor the situation. Surveillance will be undertaken in places that have shown to be vulnerable to illegal entry, he added. Despite the massive influx of migrant workers in Indonesia, some ports in Malaysia have recorded a decrease in the number of outflowing Indonesian migrant workers. Read also: COVID-19: Govt repatriates, isolates more than 500 TKIs from Malaysia At Johor Baru Port, for instance, data from the Indonesian Consulate General in Johor Baru showed a decrease in the number of Indonesian migrant workers' departure compared to the early implementation of the MCO. During the early weeks of the lockdown, Johor Baru recorded an estimated 2,500 to 3,000 departures of Indonesians per day. However, the number has decreased to an average of 400 people since the beginning of this month. The number dropped to only 158 people on Tuesday alone, said Anang Fauzi Firdaus, the consulate generals head of information, social and culture, on Wednesday. Ethiopia Ends Blanket Protection for Eritrean Refugees By Simon Marks April 22, 2020 Ethiopia has stopped granting automatic asylum to Eritreans entering the country. The United Nations and aid groups say the previously unannounced policy change, which went into place about three months ago, put Eritreans trying to flee the country at the mercy of unscrupulous human smugglers. For years, Ethiopia had an "open-door" policy towards refugees from countries such as South Sudan and Eritrea, earning it widespread acclaim among international donors. But according to the United Nations and humanitarian aid groups, Ethiopia changed its policy in late January without making an official announcement. The government no longer offers automatic asylum for Eritreans trying to flee their home country. The Ethiopian Agency for Refugees and Returnee Affairs told donors and aid groups earlier this month that the previous approach resulted in a "high influx of unaccompanied minors, illegal migrants and others who do not fulfill the criteria laid [out] for refugee status determination under the international instruments," according to a letter seen by VOA dated April 9. Activists and aid groups say the new policy limits options for Eritreans trying to avoid forced conscription into Eritrea's national service program. Ann Encontre, country representative for the U.N. Refugee Agency in Ethiopia, said that in some cases, Eritreans could be forced into trafficking networks that smuggle Eritreans north through Libya towards Europe. "The concern is really underage children, minors, who don't have documentation. Those are the ones who are at risk because they get caught up in trafficking, in smuggling, in these illegal movements towards Europe and elsewhere. All persons who come and who can be heard and their status is determined, and they have legal documentation while they are here, then that really mitigates the risk for them to be caught up in these nefarious activities," she spoke to VOA via a messaging app. Officials at both the Agency for Refugees and Returnee Affairs and the Prime Minister's office declined to comment. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia and Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki struck a deal in 2018 to end the decades-long conflict between the two nations. Since that accord, the two leaders have met on a regular basis to discuss enhancing their bilateral ties. For Bereket Zemuy, a refugee from Eritrea and spokesperson for the Eritrean Refugees University Graduates and Students Association, anyone who is willing to flee their home in Eritrea is doing so because they feel their lives are at risk. "Every single Eritrean family is being affected by the dictator system of the country. So whoever is trying to escape and flee their own home country, they are just coming in fear of their own lives, even those unaccompanied minors, even those families, whoever. Those unaccompanied minors, once they get back home they will be considered as traitors." Beyond its new refugee policy, Ethiopia also has a plan to shut down the Hitsats Refugee Camp in the Tigray region, which is home to 10,000 Eritrean refugees. Encontre said closing the Hitsats cap during the coronavirus pandemic was not advisable, saying its residents could inadvertently spread the virus. Despite Ethiopia having locked down all land borders to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, the U.N. has seen around 2,000 asylum seekers enter Ethiopia from South Sudan in recent weeks. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Donald Trump's disdain for science has contributed to the administration's failure to respond to the coronavirus outbreak in a timely fashion. A New York Times article in March laid out in detail the Trump administration's negligence. The article noted that in January 2017, outgoing Obama administration officials presented to incoming senior staff of the Trump administration an extensive report identifying potential impacts of a pandemic. This study, along with a study conducted last year, made clear that the United States was not prepared for a pandemic like the coronavirus. The gross deomestic product (GDP) of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE are expected to contract this year due to the revival of Opec++ accord on oil output cut and the non-oil weakness, says a report. The Brent crude is likely to average $35/bbl this year despite the current market turmoil, but lower oil production could widen the states' twin deficits, says the Standard Chartered GCC economic outlook report. The potential need for deeper oil output cuts remains the key downside risk to the macro forecasts, it adds. SAUDI ARABIA The report said it now expect Saudi Arabias GDP to contract by 4.5% y/y in 2020 versus its previous expectation of 5% growth. "Our downward growth revision primarily reflects the revival of the Opec++ agreement and our expectation that Saudi Arabia will continue to shoulder a large share of the proposed output cuts. At the same time, ongoing pandemic-related economic disruption means domestic non-oil economic activity is likely to be weaker than be previously expected. The bank expects a recovery in the next few years, with growth rising to 1.9% in 2021 (1.3% prior) and 2.7% in 2022 (1.6% prior) as oil production curbs are gradually eased and the non-oil economy recovers from the shutdowns in 2020. Oil GDP to contract, risks remain skewed to the downside. Renewed oil output curbs are likely to see oil GDP contract y/y versus the bank's previous expectation of a sharp increase following the earlier collapse of the Opec+ agreement. Recent sharp price declines in the futures markets underscore growing market concern that while Opec++ production cuts will only kick in in May, near-term storage capacity is exhausted. Against this backdrop, the potential need for deeper output cuts by GCC oil producers led by Saudi Arabia cannot be ruled out. Further, output reductions pose downside risks to the growth forecasts for 2020. Lower Saudi oil production will widen twin deficits unless prices rebound, the report says. Notwithstanding the revival of the Opec++ agreement, the base case remains for Brent crude to average $35/bbl in 2020 given global oil demand-supply fundamentals. Ceteris paribus, lower Saudi oil production would mean lower oil earnings for the fiscal and current accounts (C/A). As such, the report expects a wider fiscal deficit of 14.8% of GDP (11.6% prior) and a C/A deficit of 4.8% of GDP (3.3% prior). "We note that a rise in oil prices would mean narrower twin deficits; while a deepening of output cuts or lower oil prices than we currently expect could mean wider deficits," it said. UAE The UAE's GDP is expected to contract by 4.6% y/y in 2020 (1.4% growth prior). The downward revision mainly reflects a revival of the Opec++ agreement. Oil output cuts under the agreement will likely see hydrocarbon GDP contract y/y. Lower UAE oil production is likely to adversely impact twin balances, particularly as non-hydrocarbon export earnings are hit by a global recession. Non-oil economic activity is likely to weaken on external, domestic demand. "We think non-oil economic activity could contract by 4.7% y/y in 2020. We expect the global economy to see its deepest contraction since the Great Depression. The ensuing hit to global trade, travel and logistics is likely to adversely impact external demand for the UAEs services-oriented economy. At the same time, locally, ongoing virus-related disruptions mean domestic demand is also likely to remain sluggish in the near term," it says. Businesses face this challenging operating environment with uncertainty over how long it might persist. To accommodate borrowers facing cash-flow challenges that could impact debt-servicing, the Central Bank of the UAE has announced up to $70bn (c.17% of GDP) in liquidity support to the banking sector. In addition, federal and emirate-level governments have announced targeted measures, particularly for SMEs, to ease near-term operating challenges (e.g., deferred rental payments, waiving fees, etc.). Taken together, these measures should help ensure business continuity as the economy gradually reopens, the report says. Looking beyond current disruptions, preserving underlying demand is key. The medium-term viability of private businesses in a range of sectors depends on how quickly and sustainably demand for goods and services recovers. This makes preserving employment a key priority. In this context, the authorities have allowed employers greater flexibility in amending contractual terms, in a bid to prevent outright job losses by under-pressure businesses. Ultimately, however, much will depend on how quickly and sustainably economic activity normalises, the report says. KUWAIT Kuwait's 2020 GDP is now expected to contract by 6.3% y/y (1% growth prior) mainly on a revival of the Opec++ agreement. Oil production cuts, as part of the accord, are likely to see Kuwaits oil GDP contract y/y, the report says. Meanwhile, Kuwait has extended its nationwide night-time partial curfew until May 28. These disruptions will lead non-oil economic activity to contract more than 4% y/y. The headline growth is expected to recover to 2.5% (1.7% prior) in 2021 as oil output curbs gradually ease, it says. It says lower oil production and weak prices will widen twin deficits significantly. The report expects Kuwaits fiscal deficit, based on the authorities accounting, to widen to 30.3% of GDP in FY21 (year ending March 2021;26.2% prior). Against this backdrop, it appears reasonable to expect budgeted capital spending to be cut. However, should overall expenditure cuts not materialise (for instance, due to higher emergency spending) the fiscal deficit could be wider still. Unlike its GCC peers, Kuwait has only issued one international bond, in 2017. Parliament continues to resist government efforts to pass a new debt law that would raise a self-imposed debt ceiling, allowing the sovereign to tap global capital markets. "In the meantime, the General Reserve Fund (GRF), part of Kuwaits sovereign wealth fund, continues to finance government deficits. While FY21 financing requirements may continue to be met by GRF financing, this is unsustainable in the medium term, in our view. However, without a new debt law, alternatives need to be considered. Media reports suggest that parliament has discussed suspending the mandatory transfer of 10% of state revenues into the Future Generation Fund (FGF), among other options, the report says. - TradeArabia News Service Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman has been criticised for an interview with Anderson Cooper, where she said the city could serve as a test study for ending social distancing measures. During an appearance on CNN on Wednesday, Ms Goodman said that Las Vegas should reopen its casinos and hotels, so that people can go back to work. I offered to be a control group and I was told by our statistician you cant do that because people from all parts of southern Nevada come in to work in the city, the mayor said. We would love to be that placebo side, so you have something to measure against. When asked by Mr Cooper how casinos would be able to enforce social distancing and stop employees and guests contracting Covid-19, Ms Goodman said: Thats up to them to figure out. I dont own a casino. Nevada governor Steve Sisolak, who ordered the closure of the areas casinos and hotels in March, criticised Ms Goodmans comments in a follow up interview with Mr Cooper. I will not allow the citizens of Nevada, our Nevadans, to be used as a control group, as a placebo, whatever she wants to call it, Mr Sisolak said. He added that the number of coronavirus related deaths in the state of Nevada increased after Mr Coopers interview with the mayor, and reiterated that now is not the time to reopen Las Vegas. Recommended Las Vegas casinos and hotels closing amid coronavirus pandemic We want to welcome everybody back to Las Vegas, he added. We want to welcome them back to the lights on the Strip. But its not today and its not tomorrow. Alexander Acosta, a bartender at the Caesar Forum Conference Centre, told NBC News that Ms Goodmans comments angered workers in the city. Were not test subjects. Were people. We are employees, he said. We try to live every day as we can. We shouldnt be test subjects. D Taylor, the president of trade union, Unite Here, told the outlet that the mayors comments are one of the worst things Ive heard. The union represents more than 300,000 hospitality workers in the US, and Mr Taylor added that employee safety should be a priority. Nobody wants people to go back more than I do, but everyone wants to go back to a safe and secure workplace and not be an experiment in a petri dish, he said. Despite the backlash, the mayor told the Las Vegas Review Journal that she has received an overwhelming amount of support and hate for her comments. According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, nationally there are upwards of 842,624 people who have tested positive for coronavirus. The death toll has reached at least 46,785. MBABANE Yesterday was Cabinet ministers turn to get tested for COVID-19. The process was conducted yesterday morning by health workers in the old conference room at the Cabinet Offices. Among the first to get tested was Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku, who said he felt duty-bound to test not only because Manzini North MP Macford Sibandze had tested positive, but because he was the Chairperson of the National Disaster Task Team. Journalists were also encouraged by members of Cabinet to test as they were also on the frontline covering news and were at risk of contracting the virus. The procedure lasted no longer than two minutes per person after their contact details, health history and history of travel were taken. The body temperature on the forms was also indicated, but was particularly highlighted if it was 37.5 degree Celcius and above. The procedure was simple as the health practitioners, who was in full personal protective gear, would use a cotton swab or Q-Tip which looked like an elongated cotton bud. The cotton swab is inserted into the throat and should not come into contact with the tongue. After a quick sweep of about 2-3 seconds, the procedure is done and the health practitioner returns the cotton bud into a personalised test tube, which is sealed. The health practitioner said the results would be available in the next 24-48 hours. Most of the ministers, including Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo, had an easy time undergoing the test save for Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo, who could not relax his tongue. Eventually, his sample was taken through his nostrils. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When will Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine reveal his plan for restarting the economy? DeWine has promised a roll out by May 1, a week and a day away. So were discussing what might be in that plan on This Week in the CLE. Listen online here. Editor Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour coronavirus news podcast, with help from editors Jane Kahoun, Kris Wernowsky and me. We answer many of the questions youve sent through our text message platform. Youve been sending Chris lots of thoughts and suggestions on our from-the-newsroom account, 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. And youve 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. When will Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine finally reveal his plan for restarting the Ohio economy starting May 1? We all want to know, and he and Lt. Gov. John Husted made veiled references to the plan Wednesday. , Jane says a lot of people want to know how this will work. And speaking of that, a bunch of influential business groups implored the governor to make bold steps to restart the economy. Who are some of them and what do they want. Jane says the groups include Ohio Business Roundtable, the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, The Ohio Manufacturers Association, The Ohio Council of Retail Merchants and the National Federation of Independent Businesses of Ohio. They are worried about unemployment hitting 1 million in the reports released today. The biggest news out of the statehouse Wednesday was that Gov. Mike DeWine will allow some needed elective surgeries. The lack of surgeries has actually hit hospitals hard, as theyve focused on coronavirus patients. University Hospitals announced its cutting the hours and pay of 4,100 workers not directly involved in patient care by 20 percent for 10 weeks. In Akron, Summa Health and Michigan-based Beaumont Health have paused their plans to merge as both hospital systems focus on responding to the coronavirus pandemic and related financial trouble. The good news is that the number of coronavirus patients hospitalized at any one point in time has been essentially flat for the last week - ranging from 1,010 to 1,082, Jane says. We have more news on the prisons, too. Kris details how a judge ordered the release of more than 20 inmates from the federal prison in Elkton because theyre vulnerable to the coronavirus. Jane breaks down the jaw-dropping news that the biggest coronavirus hotspot in the country is at the Marion Correctional Institution, an Ohio state prison. Also, teenager housed in a youth prison in Cuyahoga County has tested positive for coronavirus, Kris says. Wednesday was also big on cancelations. I list a whole lot of fun that got canceled Wednesday: concerts, fireworks and festivals at Lock 3 park in Akron. The Cleveland Race Week sailing regatta. The Tri-C Jazz Fest at Playhouse Square. The Cleveland Orchestra is trying to raise $6 million to fill the hole caused by coronavirus concert cancelations. With so many things closed, traffic accidents have dropped by half, Jane says. If youre driving and your license expires during the coronavirus shutdown, at least you dont have to worry about getting it renewed right away. Jane explains youll have a three-month grace period after the stay-at-home order is lifted. Thousands of Ohioans are filling their weekday afternoons with Gov. Mike DeWines statehouse news briefings. Jane gives us the scoop on just how big the audience is on the Ohio Channel. (Hint: in 38 days they had more watchers than in their biggest year ever.) Hooray! Tomorrow is Friday! Join us then. Meanwhile, find all our past episodes 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. And on PlayerFM, we are here. No country should have any concern over India's new policy for foreign direct investment from specific nations, government sources said on Thursday, in a clear message to China which strongly objected to the fresh norms for FDI. Around a week ago, India made prior clearance mandatory for foreign investments from countries that share land border with India to curb "opportunistic takeovers" of domestic firms in the wake of economic downturn triggered by the coronavirus pandemic. India's decision to tighten norms for FDI came amid reports of China eyeing to take over several Indian entities following fall in their valuation due to economic downturn in the wake of the pandemic. China criticised India for the new policy, calling it discriminatory. The neighboring country even demanded review of the policy. Government sources said there shouldn't be concern over procedural changes made in the FDI policy, asserting that it doesn't prohibit investment from any country with which India shares its border. They said many other countries have taken similar steps to protect their economies in view of the coronavirus pandemic. Asked about questions over effectiveness of coronavirus testing kits procured from China, the sources said the Indian Council of Medical Research is looking into the issue. On the issue of FDI policy, China said India's new norms violate WTO's principle of non-discrimination and are against the general trend of free trade. The impact of the policy was clear on Chinese investors, a Chinese embassy spokesperson said earlier this week. Chinese embassy spokesperson Ji Rong said China hoped that India would revise the "relevant discriminatory practices" and treat investments from different countries equally while fostering an "open, fair and equitable" business environment. The spokesperson said China's cumulative investment in India has exceeded USD 8 billion, noting it is far more than the total investments by countries sharing border with India. According to official data, around 1,000 Chinese companies are operating in India at present. Amid media reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is unwell, a South Korean government source told the JoongAng Ilbo on Tuesday that the reclusive leader is fine and is busy in his regular activities at a villa. I am aware Chairman Kim is staying at a villa in Kangwon Province and has been conducting undisclosed visits to nearby locations. Kim is also believed to have been at a location in Munchon, near Wonsan, where the North Korean military launched a cruise missile on April 14, said the source. On Tuesday, leading American news channel CNN had reported that Kim was in grave danger after undergoing a cardiovascular operation. A US official with direct knowledge said American intelligence was keeping a close watch over Kims health, reported CNN. On Monday, a South Korean online periodical from Monday had claimed that Kim had undergone heart surgery at a hospital near Mount Myohyang on April 12. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump wished Kim "well but did not make any comment on his health. "I can only say this: I wish him well," Trump told reporters at the White House, noting the "good relationship" he shares with the North Korean leader. "I just hope he's doing fine," Trump said, adding he "may" get in touch with Kim to find out about his well-being. "If he is in the kind of condition that the reports say, that the news is saying, it's a very serious condition," said Trump. South Koreas government, however, urged the people to not trust speculative reports. Blue House spokesman Kang Min-Seok on Tuesday told the media that there were no signs to confirm that Kim was unwell. The head of the South Korean National Assemblys Intelligence Committee, Rep. Kim Min-ki of the ruling Democratic Party, said that Kim was not ailing. U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) arrives at the U.S. Capitol on April 23, 2020 in Washington, DC. The House of Representatives is expected to vote later today on the latest economic stimulus package passed earlier in the week by the U.S. Senate. The House plans to pass a $484 billion coronavirus relief bill Thursday to replenish a small business aid program, fund hospitals and expand testing. The measure's expected approval in the afternoon will send it to President Donald Trump's desk for his signature. The Senate cleared the legislation on Tuesday in a unanimous vote. Congress will pile more money into an unprecedented rescue of the economy and health-care system that will approach $3 trillion in total with the plan's passage. The cash injection into the small business loan program, designed to keep employees on the payroll during the pandemic, will follow a government report Thursday showing more than 26 million people filed unemployment insurance claims over the latest five-week period. The bill the House plans to pass Thursday includes: $310 billion in new funds for the so-called Paycheck Protection Program, which gives small firms loans that could be forgiven if they use them on wages, benefits, rent and utilities. Within that pool, $60 billion will specifically go to small lenders, a priority Democrats pushed for after they blocked a $250 billion funding bill earlier this month. $60 billion for Small Business Administration disaster assistance loans and grants. $75 billion in grants to hospitals overwhelmed by a rush of Covid-19 patients. $25 billion to bolster coronavirus testing, a core piece of any plan to restart the U.S. economy. The proposal came together after days of talks between the Trump administration and Democrats, who sought money for hospitals and state and local governments on top of the small business aid. The GOP accused Democrats of harming companies and workers by rejecting a plan to put more money into the $350 billion program in the days before the funding dried up. While the government has committed all of the small business aid from the earlier package, it is unclear how much it has delivered to businesses during a tumultuous program rollout. Democrats did not secure aid for states and municipalities in this week's legislation. While both they and Trump have said they want to include grants in the next relief legislation, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Wednesday he would rather let states declare bankruptcy than send them more federal aid. House members, who traveled back to Washington for the vote Thursday, met at 10 a.m. ET. After debate, representatives will take two votes in the afternoon. The first is on whether to set up a select subcommittee on the coronavirus crisis. The panel would oversee the Trump administration's response to the pandemic, and specifically how it uses a $500 billion pool of money for corporations, states and municipalities created as part of the $2 trillion rescue plan last month. After considering whether to create the committee, the House will move to pass the nearly $500 billion relief bill. It scrapped a plan to vote on a rules change to allow lawmakers to vote remotely through a proxy if they cannot get to the Capitol during the pandemic. The House has studied various methods of how to safely legislate from outside of Washington after a handful of representatives tested positive for Covid-19. For now, the chamber plans to carry out votes in small groups to reduce infection risks, which means the voting process will take longer. Lawmakers will go to the floor in 10-minute blocks Thursday in groups based on alphabetical order. Between the votes on creating the committee and passing the bill, the House will recess for a half-hour for cleaning. House members shared photos of themselves traveling to Washington, donning face coverings in nearly empty airports and planes. Rep. Ben McAdams, a Utah Democrat and one of the lawmakers who recovered from Covid-19, showed security lines with virtually no passengers in them. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine, wrote, "I've never seen the airport so empty." Ben McAdams tweet Chellie Pingree tweet Debbie Dingell tweet John Garamendi tweet Jared Huffman tweet Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. Correction: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Wednesday he would rather let states declare bankruptcy than send them more federal aid. An earlier version misstated the day. The movie is adapted from a Booker Prize-winning novel by Peter Carey. If you havent read the book, you might wonder while watching the movie, THIS cold porridge won a Booker? Well, no. While Careys voice for Kelly does contain some commonplace language, the prose also has music and momentum (the narrative abjures commas but is still clear enough to flow coherently, no mean feat). It also allows Kelly some vivid similes, as in, Your Grandma was like a snare laid out by God for Red Kelly. Shaun Grants script rarely, if ever, avails itself of such riches; instead, the narration and dialogue teem with outlaw-movie cliches. Grant and Kurzels conceptions of the characters are so one-dimensional they seem to defeat the movies talented cast. As Kellys mother, Essie Davis, excellent in The Babadook and the upcoming Babyteeth, does little besides jut out her jaw while either sneering or smirking. Her trite defiance is exemplified when she remonstrates against a would-be teacher who would pollute young Neds mind with fancy books. As the adult Kelly, George MacKay seems content to run around with his shirt off and make faces while faux-punk songs adorn the soundtrack. For minutes at a time, you might think, and also maybe wish, that you were watching Trainspotting. True History of the Kelly Gang Rated R for violence, language and a bit of sexuality. In English and Latin, with subtitles. Running time: 2 hours 4 minutes. Rent or buy on Amazon, AppleTV and other streaming platforms, as well as pay TV operators. Ramadan wishes during coronavirus pandemic (Vicky Tennant, producer / Alex St-Denis, camera/editor) Assalamualaikum With the Holy Month of Ramadan upon us, I would like to wish all those observing a blessed month ahead. This Ramadan is very different from any we have experienced in our lifetime. A month that symbolizes coming together has now been characterized by families and communities separated by a global pandemic that has left no one unaffected. There will be very little congregation or group prayer. Many will not be able to break the fast with families and friends. Instead, most will dedicate the month to spiritual growth and deep reflection. For more than 70 million refugees and displaced persons, the concept of home is a distant reality. For some, separation from family, loved ones, and their communities has been part of their lives for years, if not decades. In this time of uncertainty and fear, I am inspired by the countless stories of hope, humanity, and generosity. Ordinary individuals are at the front lines supporting governments and institutions. UNHCR is with them working round the clock to contain this deadly outbreak and ensure that the most vulnerable are supported. Refugees themselves are stepping forward to help their host communities in every way they can. We have seen families delivering food to elderly neighbours; refugee-led businesses donating essential medical supplies to charities; and many other acts in support of the communities in which refugees find themselves. And host communities continue to demonstrate overwhelming generosity in providing shelter and sharing what little they have. It is important to remember that generosity is not only translated materially but through a kind gesture; a word of encouragement; a smile; a good deed. This pandemic reminds us that we are facing these challenges together. This month allows us an opportunity to reflect on the importance of the communities we live in and hold dear and our collective efforts to cope and overcome. While the spirit of human solidarity has been put to the test, I can confidently say: humanity will not be defeated. Ramadan Kareem An anti-abortion poster campaign in Northern Ireland is to go ahead after advertising regulators rejected complaints (Brian Lawless/PA) An anti-abortion poster campaign in Northern Ireland is to go ahead after advertising regulators rejected complaints. Billboards with the slogan ABORTION KILLS BABIES: Repeal Section 9, Sign the petition SPUC.org.uk/repeal were launched by the Society for the Protection of Unborn Children (SPUC). A major change liberalising access to terminations was introduced in March. Of course, people who want to sanitise abortion pretend that a foetus isnt a baby but it is an inescapable fact that every abortion kills a baby Liam Gibson, SPUC SPUCs Northern Ireland political officer, Liam Gibson, said: The design of the posters was very simple and in no way sensational. Abortion is a black and white issue and the ads reflect that by stating Abortion kills babies in white letters on a black background. Of course, people who want to sanitise abortion pretend that a foetus isnt a baby but it is an inescapable fact that every abortion kills a baby. An investigation was launched by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) after it received calls for the billboards to be banned. Some of the complaints challenged whether the use of the word baby was misleading as they understood that this was not a medically recognised term in this context. The ASA ruled against taking action and said the adverts comply with the Human Rights Act, which defends the right to freedom of expression. New official regulations allow terminations on request in Northern Ireland for the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and up to 24 weeks where there is a risk of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman or girl. Abortion will also be available in cases of severe and fatal foetal anomalies, with no gestational limit. MPs at Westminster legislated for the change while the Stormont Assembly was not sitting following a three-year row between powersharing partners Sinn Fein and the DUP which was resolved in January. Expand Close The Advertising Standards Authority launched an investigation after it received complaints about the anti-abortion billboards (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Advertising Standards Authority launched an investigation after it received complaints about the anti-abortion billboards (Niall Carson/PA) Grainne Teggart, Amnesty Internationals Northern Ireland campaign manager, said: The ad campaign is a shameful attempt to roll back our right but it will not succeed. Northern Ireland is a pro-choice society and this healthcare is now legal. During this pandemic, more than ever, women need accessible, safe abortion healthcare. Lockdown is an additional barrier which must be addressed by the Government allowing both abortion pills to be taken at home. She said interim early medical termination services are available through a new central access point. The Department of Health must urgently commission full abortion services as set out in our new regulations. Catholic Archbishop Eamon Martin has urged politicians at Stormont to urgently debate the matter. Stormonts two main parties are at opposite ends of the debate over abortion. The DUP has previously prevented legal change to its prohibition in almost all circumstances in Northern Ireland. Discussions in the divided ministerial Executive are continuing on the exact shape of provision. Women are able to travel to Great Britain for procedures. Journeys have been complicated by restrictions designed to limit the spread of the coronavirus. S ome 26 million people in the US have filed for unemployment benefits in five weeks since with the coronavirus outbreak forcing employers to close their doors. About one in six Americans have lost their jobs in the last five weeks and economists have forecast that the unemployment rate for April could go as high as 20 per cent. Just last week, more than 4.4 million laid-off workers applied for help, as job cuts escalated due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The enormous magnitude of job cuts has plunged the US economy into the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. New York's Coronavirus outbreak - In pictures 1 /34 New York's Coronavirus outbreak - In pictures The Supermoon rises behind the Empire State Building while it glows red in solidarity with those infected with coronavirus as the outbreak of the disease (COVID-19) continues in the Manhattan borough of New York City Reuters A nearly empty Times Square AFP via Getty Images Riders, some wearing masks and gloves as a protective measure over coronavirus concerns, enter a New York City subway train AP People try to keep a social distance while they enjoy a sunny day at Central Park Reuters Nadia, a 4-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo, that the zoo said on April 5, 2020 has tested positive for coronavirus disease WCS/Handout via Reuters People wear face masks AFP via Getty Images A man crosses a nearly empty 5th Avenue in midtown Manhattan Reuters US President Donald Trump looks on during the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House on March 31, 2020, in Washington, DC AFP via Getty Images Felix Hassebroek waves to his classmates, who he has not seen in 2 weeks through a livestream video meet up during the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Brooklyn, New York Reuters Friends and neighbors, Sarah and Elizabeth, talk about their weekends from opposite sides of the road as they maintain social distance in a neighborhood in Syracuse, New York Reuters Light morning traffic seen on the FDR drive on March 24, 2020 in New York City AFP via Getty Images A subway customer uses a tissue to protect her hand while holding onto a pole AP Workers construct what is believed to be a makeshift morgue behind a hospital during the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in the Manhattan borough of New York City Reuters Beds separated by black fabric are set up as a temporary field hospital for Covid-19 patients in Queens, New York AFP via Getty Images New York's Hart Island where the department of corrections is dealing with more burials Reuters Medical workers wait for patients at a special coronavirus intake area in New York Getty Images Patients wear personal protective equipment while maintaining social distancing as they wait in line for a COVID-19 test at Elmhurst Hospital Center AP The One World Trade Center tower in Manhattan is seen illuminated in blue light Reuters Pictures drawn by children as part of the Quarantine Rainbow Project in Brooklyn, New York Reuters U.S. Army National Guard personnel load boxes of free food provided by multiple New York City agencies into a taxi for distribution to local residents in the Harlem neighbourhood of Manhattan during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID19) in New York Reuters Traders work during the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on March 17, 2020 at Wall Street in New York City AFP via Getty Images A man in a wheelchair crosses a nearly empty 7th Avenue in Times Square in Manhattan Reuters Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images REUTERS Some economists have said the nations output could shrink by twice the amount that it did during the Great Recession, which ended in 2009. The number of people who are receiving unemployment benefits has reached a record 16 million, surpassing a previous high of 12 million set in 2010, just after the 2008-2009 recession ended. This has been a really devastating shock for a lot of families and small businesses, said Aaron Sojourner, an economist at the University of Minnesota. It is beyond their control and no fault of their own. The painful economic consequences of the virus-related shutdowns have sparked angry protests in several state capitals from crowds insisting that businesses be allowed to reopen. Some governors have begun easing restrictions, despite warnings from health authorities that it may be too soon to do so without causing new infections. But Donald Trump tweeted his support for coronavirus lockdown protests in parts of the coutnry as he called for three states to be "liberated" from stay-at-home orders. Colorado: Denver Stay at Home Rally 1 /21 Colorado: Denver Stay at Home Rally Health care workers stand in the street in counter-protest to hundreds of people who gathered at the State Capitol to demand the stay-at-home order be lifted in Denver, Colorado REUTERS Young girls stand in the sunroof of a car holding US flags as demonstrators gather to protest coronavirus stay-at-home orders during a "ReOpen Colorado" rally in Denver, Colorado AFP via Getty Images Health care workers stand in the street in counter-protest to hundreds of people who gathered at the State Capitol to demand the stay-at-home order be lifted in Denver, Colorado Reuters Demonstrators gather in front of the Colorado State Capitol building to protest coronavirus stay-at-home orders during a "ReOpen Colorado" rally in Denver, Colorado AFP via Getty Images Health care workers stand in the street in counter-protest to hundreds of people who gathered at the State Capitol to demand the stay-at-home order be lifted in Denver, Colorado, Reuters A protester waves an American flag during a car protest against the stay-at-home order issued by Colorado Governor Jared Polis to stem the spread of the coronavirus AP Demonstrators gather in front of the Colorado State Capitol building to protest coronavirus stay-at-home orders during a "ReOpen Colorado" rally in Denver, Colorado AFP via Getty Images A healthcare worker stands in the road confronting a protester during a demonstration against stay-at-home orders in Denver, Colorado Marc Zenn via Reuters A demonstrator wearing a Trump 2020 face mask gathers with others to protest coronavirus stay-at-home orders during a "ReOpen Colorado" rally in Denver, Colorado AFP via Getty Images Demonstrators gather in front of the Colorado State Capitol building to protest coronavirus stay-at-home orders during a "ReOpen Colorado" rally in Denver, Colorado AFP via Getty Images Health care workers stand in the street in counter-protest to hundreds of people who gathered at the State Capitol to demand the stay-at-home order be lifted in Denver, Colorado, Reuters Demonstrators protest coronavirus stay-at-home orders during a "ReOpen Colorado" rally in Denver, Colorado AFP via Getty Images Health care workers stand in the street in counter-protest to hundreds of people who gathered at the State Capitol to demand the stay-at-home order be lifted in Denver, Colorado, Reuters Demonstrators gather in front of the Colorado State Capitol building to protest coronavirus stay-at-home orders during a "ReOpen Colorado" rally in Denver, Colorado, AFP via Getty Images A masked demonstrator holds a 13-star "Betsy Ross" flag as he gathers with others to protest coronavirus stay-at-home orders during a "ReOpen Colorado" rally in Denver, Colorado AFP via Getty Images A man waves a US flag in front of the Colorado State Capitol building during a demonstration to protest coronavirus stay-at-home orders at a "ReOpen Colorado" rally in Denver, Colorado AFP via Getty Images In Georgia, gyms, hair salons and bowling alleys can reopen on Friday, and Texas has reopened its parks. In Florida, applications for unemployment benefits nearly tripled last week to 505,000, the second-highest total behind Californias 534,000. In Michigan, 17 per cent of the states workforce is now receiving unemployment benefits, the largest proportion in the country. It is followed by Rhode Island at 15 per cent, Nevada at 13.7 per cent and Georgia at 13.6 per cent. When the government issues the April jobs report on May 8, economists expect it to show huge losses. "Such abuse of litigation is not conducive to the epidemic response at home in the United States and also runs counter to international cooperation," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang at a daily briefing, adding that China's response is not under the jurisdiction of U.S. courts and it has provided updates on the outbreak to the United States since January 3. Missouri became the first U.S. state on Tuesday (April 21) to sue the Chinese government over its handling of the coronavirus, saying that China's response to the outbreak that originated in the city of Wuhan brought devastating economic losses to the state. The civil lawsuit filed in federal court alleges negligence, among other claims. Five trusts in England are in talks with Dutch firm Biozek Medical to buy thousands of its rapid finger-prick tests which give a diagnosis in a matter of minutes NHS trusts have resorted to buying coronavirus antibody tests overseas in a bid to get their staff back to work, after becoming increasingly frustrated with delays in obtaining kits from the Government. Five trusts in England are in talks with Dutch firm Biozek Medical to buy thousands of its rapid finger-prick tests which give a diagnosis in a matter of minutes. But hundreds of the tests have already been used on NHS staff in London, Manchester and Leicester as hospitals face a surge in demand at a time when up to a fifth of the workforce are off sick. A dental practice in London is offering Biozek's antibody test, which its makers claim is 96 to 98 per cent accurate, to customers who want their blood screened at a cost of 99. Britain lags behind the rest of the world when it comes to antibody testing, with most of Europe, the US and Asia all launching large-scale trials. Officials claim the tests they have looked at are not accurate enough to be used, but experts say even inaccurate tests are better than none because they help paint a better picture of how many people have been infected. The tests scour blood for antibodies, which the immune system makes once infected to combat the disease. If someone has COVID-19-specific antibodies, it means they have some form of immunity and can return to work. Dr Mohamed Roshan, a GP in Leicester and a professor at De Montfort University, who works in a group of five practices, has tested around 50 of his staff. The Biozek test was also seen advertised by the David Saitowitz Dentistry practice on a high street in Kilburn, north-west London, for 99 today He said: 'We have many staff off work at the moment, around 10 to 20 per cent, who may have COVID-19, and although they have been self-isolating, we need to know whether they have the acute infection or whether they have antibodies in their blood, which means they are no longer infectious, and this test allows us to check that. 'It's a simple fingerprick test, and the blood sample is put in a small cassette, and within 10-15 minutes, it gives a result. 'This speeds things up a lot, as with the swab test, they have to be sent to a lab. From what we've seen, it seems to be accurate, and, if so, it could be a game-changer in the current crisis.' GPs in Manchester have also been carrying out testing with the kit on around 200 NHS staff. 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 This week doctors at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital in south-west London have also started using the test to check medical and nursing staff. A spokesman for the London hospital said: 'We are trialling several devices at the hospital and we don't usually comment until we've taken a view on them.' The Biozek test was also seen advertised by the David Saitowitz Dentistry practice in Kilburn, north-west London, for 99 today. Dutch health authorities started using the kits in February and over 250,000 have been sold there. The company has supplied more than five million tests to countries including the Netherlands, Israel, India, Kuwait, Andorra and Nigeria, and is in discussions with other European countries, including France, Spain and Italy. It has been approved by the Dutch health authorities, and has now been approved by one of the biggest hospitals in Italy and in Portugal, Macedonia and Saudi Arabia. The Vatican has also ordered 700 test kits, says the company. The test is CE certified (to ensure it meets EU health and safety standards for marketing) and was approved last month by the Medical and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for use in the UK by health professionals. The company has been in the rapid testing field for ten years, and the test approvals in more than 30 countries. In the Netherlands, the ministry of defence is currently using the test to assess all of its staff. Irin Maini, director of Dawn Pharma, the UK distributor for Biozek Medical, one of nine companies in discussions with the Department of Health, said: 'We are in talks with five NHS Trusts so far, two in London, two in the north-west and one in the Midlands. 'They have all approached us and are looking to do their own deals as they are just frustrated with the time it has taken for NHS England to at least test their own staff. We have been offering free testing in Manchester and Leicester as a trial.' However, a DHSC spokesperson said: 'The antibody tests that have gone through validation are not accurate enough to be rolled out publicly. It is also a fact that no government in the world has yet rolled out a full antibody testing programme. 'We are continuing to work closely with UK and international partners to develop a reliable test as soon as possible, and rapidly scaling up the national effort to boost testing capacity, and have had an impressive response from companies coming forward. 'The DHSC has just launched a new business consortium, the UK Rapid Test Consortium, which includes Oxford University and a range of private firms working together to design and develop a new antibody test.' Finally, health chiefs launch mass testing scheme: 1,000 households to get antibody tests to trace how far the killer disease has already spread - and 20,000 homes will get swab tests within DAYS Health chiefs have finally launched a mass coronavirus antibody testing study to trace how far the killer disease has already spread in Britain. A thousand households will have their blood samples taken every month by a nurse or trained medic, the Department of Health last night announced. Antibodies are substances made by the immune system in response to an infection and can be picked-up by a simple finger-prick blood test. The announcement marks a step forward after months of the Government dragging its feet on a programme which scientists say is essential to ending lockdown because it's the only way of getting a true picture of the size of the outbreak. Antibody testing, which has been picked up on much larger scale in other countries, forms a vital part of the Government's 'five-pillar' testing strategy - but officials have so far only managed 4,900 tests and just 51 were done yesterday. Who takes responsibility for antibody testing remains unclear, with parts being done by Public Health England and the new scheme falling to scientists at the University of Oxford working on behalf of the Department of Health. The UK's scheme is dwarfed by one being carried out in the Italian region of Lombardy, for example, where medics now plan to do 20,000 tests per day. A separate scheme in the US will involve 40,000 healthcare workers, while Andorra has ordered enough antibody kits to test its population twice. British officials have also begun a separate scheme to carry out regular swab tests on 25,000 people, who will be tested around 15 times a year to see whether they have the disease, so the Government can keep track of its spread. Swab tests can only tell if someone is currently infected. They do not look for signs of past infection, like antibody tests. The Department of Health revealed up to 300,000 people are expected to take part in the swab testing scheme within the first year. A technician scanning test tubes containing live samples during the opening of the new COVID-19 testing lab at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow on Wednesday HOW WILL THE ANTIBODY TESTING SCHEME BE CARRIED OUT? A thousand households will have their blood samples taken every month by a trained medic, the Department of Health last night announced. Nurses from the private firm IQVIA will carry out the antibody tests, to reduce the burden on NHS resources and personnel. Antibodies are substances made by the immune system in response to an infection and can be picked-up by just a finger-prick of blood. Ministers have not announced which company manufactures the test - but the results will be analysed by scientists at Oxford University. A letter seen by the Press Association news agency says those participating in the antibody testing scheme will not receive their results. Britain's scheme is dwarfed by the programme in the Italian region of Lombardy, which is screening 20,000 blood samples each day. A separate scheme in the US involves 40,000 healthcare workers, while Andorra has ordered enough antibody kits to test its population twice. Health chiefs have yet to approve an antibody test for mass use, despite promises one would be available to buy from Amazon or Boots weeks ago. But officials claim the home tests they have looked at are not accurate enough to be used, saying they range from between 50 and 70 per cent. Ministers announced plans to enrol up to 20,000 people to carry out the immunity tests earlier this month, in its 'Pillar 4' plan. It is unclear when the scheme will be increased in size, or if officials have opted to carry out a smaller surveillance study. As well as the separate study, Public Health England has been analysing blood tests for antibodies since the beginning of April. Officials said they were expanding the programme during April 'so that we have the potential to test around 5,000 samples per week'. But with just a week until May, figures show fewer than 5,000 samples - including 51 on Tuesday - have been analysed at the Porton Down lab. Advertisement Antibody testing - known as the 'have you had it' test - is still a controversial subject in the UK and authorities have been accused of blocking out commercial tests which could be done at home en masse because they don't think they're good enough. The scheme has been slow to get off the ground because of the Government's insistence on high standards. The 98 per cent accuracy demanded by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is higher than the majority of tests on the market and higher than the commercial test approved in the US. The new testing round will be done by scientists at the University of Oxford on behalf of the Government. Professor Ian Jones, a virus expert at the University of Reading, said today: 'The newly announced tests should at last address the level of virus circulation in the community and, to a lesser extent, the level of past infections. 'The infectivity tests, the have you got it tests, are possible as a result of the scaled up testing facilities now operating in the Lighthouse Labs. 'The much lower number of antibody tests, the have you had it tests, reflect the fact that these tests are currently much less scalable, at least with an acceptable level of accuracy. 'Together they will give important data on how prevalent the infection is and has been. Where this has been done elsewhere the level of infection has been 20 to 50 times higher than the known positives and we must wait to see if this is also the case in the UK.' The hope for antibody testing is that, when widespread, it can give a clearer, faster picture of the size of the country's outbreak. Currently, the numbers of people in hospital is the most accurate day-by-day measure but this represents only a small proportion of patients and can be out of date because it may take a week or more for someone to end up in hospital. The Department of Health is funding the antibody and swab-testing study, which will be done alongside the Office for National Statistics (ONS). As well as the separate study, Public Health England has been analysing blood tests for antibodies since the beginning of April. Officials said they were expanding the programme during April 'so that we have the potential to test around 5,000 samples per week'. But with just a week until May, figures show fewer than 5,000 samples - including just 51 yesterday - have been analysed at the Porton Down laboratory. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: 'Understanding more about the rate of COVID-19 infection in the general population, and the longer-term prevalence of antibodies, is a vital part of our ongoing response to this virus. 'This survey will help to track the current extent of transmission and infection in the UK, while also answering crucial questions about immunity as we continue to build up our understanding of this new virus. 'Together, these results will help us better understand the spread of the virus to date, predict the future trajectory and inform future action we take, including crucially the development of ground-breaking new tests and treatments.' Israels use of phone tracking technology to track COVID-19 patients has come to a partial end. A parliamentary oversight committee has halted use of the tracking to enforce quarantines after raising privacy concerns. The privacy violations outweigh the benefits, committee member Ayalet Shaked said the phone monitoring tech doesnt help much when police already pay visits to COVID-19 patients to ensure theyre following the rules. Police have so far argued that the tool is effective, having arrested 203 people with the help of phone location info. Law enforcement conducted about 500 random location checks per day. The country is still using technology (believed to involve phone tracking) from the national security agency Shin Bet for contact tracing. It can both map previous movements of infected people and pinpoint others who might have come too close. That program appears to be relatively safe, in part as its team deletes all info after a week. However, its evident that the Israeli governments anti-coronavirus efforts have their limits. Like in other countries, Israel may have to strike a balance between total insight into the virus and respecting the desire to maintain some semblance of a private life. Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg via Getty TEL AVIVAfter three inconclusive elections in the past year, Israels political impasse came to a merciful resolution this week with a power-sharing agreement between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main rival, former military chief Benny Gantz. The coalition deal reached is, even by the low standards of Israeli politics, convoluted and unprecedented, with each individual set to serve for 18 months as prime minister, among a slew of other clauses and legalese. But Netanyahu, often nicknamed the magician, will of course be going first, marking a dramatic resurrection since last fall for a politician still facing three serious corruption indictments. In the process, Netanyahu managed to force Gantz into a humbling volte-face on his central election pledgejust not Bibiand smashed the opposition into pieces. By agreeing to sit in government with Netanyahu, Gantzs Blue and White party has also implicitly shielded the long-serving premier from any legal challenges to his continued rule. The annexation of West Bank settlements, per the agreement, looms as early as this summer. As recently as four months ago things looked very different. Coming out of the second election round in September of last year, Netanyahu had lost some 300,000 right-wing voters relative to the initial April ballot. His own handpicked attorney general formally indicted him on bribery, fraud, and breach of trust charges in late November, removing any question about whether Netanyahu was indeed going to trial. A few weeks later, a popular former minister would challenge Netanyahu for leadership of the Likud party. Forcing a third round of elections (as he did) was the best out of all the bad options available to Netanyahu back thenhoping for an electoral miracle that would extricate him from his legal troubles. Headlines touting the end of the Netanyahu era proliferated, while the foreign press began writing his political obituaries. Yet slowly but surely things began to turn. In late December, Netanyahu won the Likud leadership primary in a landslide, proving to all that no matter what transpired his political base wouldnt desert him. This was also the time period where the imperial King Bibi came down from his official Jerusalem residence and reconnected with the common folk, holding nightly Trump-style rallies across the country replete with supporters on stage as backdrop and extemporaneous musings on the microphone. Story continues Netanyahus momentum continued into the new year and general election, while Gantzs campaign only truly began in late January. We must move forward, Blue and Whites revised campaign slogan read, underwhelming nearly everyone. In reality, Gantz was regressing as a candidate for prime minister in his halting public appearances. A major assist to Netanyahu came with the unveiling of the Trump administrations Deal of the Century for Israel-Palestine, shifting the focus for the last month of the campaign onto diplomacy and world affairs, Netanyahus strong suits. Throughout, Netanyahu and his proxies openly called into question Gantzs sanity, sexual proclivity, and record as a military officer. Netanyahu was also meticulous in driving a wedge between his supporters and Blue and White, and he brought 200,000 voters back, Yossi Shain, a professor at Tel Aviv University, told The Daily Beast. Netanyahu is a great campaigner, and he had a very effective message but he also used nasty, nasty language of hate, primarily directed at Israels Arab citizens. The third election in early March still didnt return a clear winnerand certainly not Netanyahu, who along with his right-wing bloc of ultra-Orthodox and settler allies again failed to win a parliamentary majority despite gaining seats. Gantz, for his part, failed in a short-lived bid to form a minority government with the external backing of Arab-Israeli parliamentarians; two members of Gantzs own party scuttled the move, deeming Arab political support anathema. Gantz brought rightwing advisers, rightwing Knesset members, rightwing positions. But rightwing voters he wasnt able to bring, Channel 13 diplomatic correspondent Barak Ravid said at the time. Continued deadlock and the prospect of yet another election were in the offing, which is where the coronavirus entered the scene. Netanyahu, still caretaker prime minister, began making near-nightly primetime addresses, warning darkly of millions killed globally and an impending crisis worse than any of Israels wars. He called on Gantz to put politics aside and join forces for an emergency national unity government to combat the virus. Remarkably, Gantz acquiesced, agreeing to do what he had vowed hed never do: sit in government with Netanyahu as prime minister. These are unusual times and they call for unusual decisions, Gantz explained. The decision tore apart the Blue and White partya centrist alliance just over a year old, formed for the sole purpose of toppling Netanyahu. Gantzs partners in the Blue and White leadership, former Finance Minister Yair Lapid and former Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon, remained in opposition (former military chief Gabi Ashkenazi, the fourth member of the party leadership, went with Gantz). Benny Gantz surrendered without a fight and crawled into Netanyahus government, Lapid seethed. Another key figure in the anti-Netanyahu camp, former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, was even more blunt: Gantz has a lot of credit, but he doesnt understand anything about politics. We can begin referring to him in the past tense. In truth, Gantz didnt have many good optionsand the risk of yet another election at the helm of a rump party was among the worst. Netanyahus poll numbers were only rising amid a nationwide coronavirus lockdown and other emergency decrees; in a time of historic upheaval, polls have consistently shown majority support for Netanyahus handling of the crisis and the need for a unity government. After three weeks of tortuous negotiations, Gantzs capitulation was made official Monday night when the deal with Netanyahu was finalized. It was said of the American political system, it was designed by geniuses so it could be run by idiots. When it comes to the Israeli political system, you can say it was designed by idiots and you need to be a genius to run it, Jonathan Rynhold, a professor at of Bar-Ilan University, told The Daily Beast even prior to the agreement. The 14-page document signed by Netanyahu and Gantz appears, for all the world, like the ratification of this axiom. Among its many novelties is the creation of the post of Alternate Prime Minister whereby Netanyahu and Gantz will both be sworn in at the same time. If Netanyahu fails to uphold the premiership rotation deal and hand the reins to Gantz after 18 months, then new elections will be triggered, with Gantz taking over anyway as caretaker prime minister. There is nothing in the agreement, however, stopping Netanyahu from toppling the government one day after Gantz becomes prime minister. If the Supreme Court finds it within itself to disqualify Netanyahu from serving due to his criminal indictments, then new elections will be triggered automatically. Most analysts view such an outcome as extremely unlikely given Gantzs acquiescence and the future governments broad base of support (at least 72 out of 120 Knesset members). A package of legislation still needs to be passed to make the agreement legally palatable. Were reinventing our constitution for this ad hoc situation, Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, a non-partisan think-tank, told The Daily Beast. In ministerial terms the coming government will be the biggest in Israeli history, with over 30 ministers and possibly a dozen more deputy ministers divided evenly between Netanyahu and Gantzs respective camps. A sub-clause states that even the alternate prime minister will receive an official residence and full perksat a time when unemployment has ballooned to 25 percent, and in a government whose primary (stated) goal is to tackle the coronavirus crisis. Aside from the pandemic, there is no substantive policy agenda [in the agreement], but just a lot of mechanisms for sharing power and vetoing each other, Plesner explained. They have decided not to decide. This is likely due to the fact that Gantz already acceded to the issues most vital to Netanyahu. Per the agreement, Netanyahu will hold de facto veto power over the appointment of judges, raising the prospect he could choose who will sit in judgment of him if an appeal reaches the Supreme Court. The entire legal process could take years to play out until such a decision is reachedand in the interim, with Gantzs blessing, Netanyahu will have already set a precedent for serving as prime minister while on trial. In addition, the agreement waters down the quota for the conscription of ultra-Orthodox males into the military, a highly sensitive problem touching on relations between synagogue and state. Most perniciously, though, the sole policy issue outlined in detail is the annexation of settlements in the West Bankwhich Netanyahu can bring to a Knesset vote irrespective of Gantzs wishes as early as July 1. The only condition placed on this move is the agreement of the Trump administration. Right-wing Israeli politicians have for weeks been championing the historic window of opportunity available to them to make this happen before the U.S. general election in November and a possible Biden administration. Palestinian and international officials have already warned about the fallout of any such Israeli step, which could be the death-knell to any negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. No Palestinian leadership exists that can sit down with an Israeli government after annexation, one senior Palestinian official in Ramallah told The Daily Beast on Monday night. Taken to its logical conclusion, it could spell the end of Israel as both a Jewish and democratic state. For Gantz, his main pitch to the public is that he helped avert a dreaded fourth election and will work to keep the Israeli rights most extreme anti-democratic impulses in check. There is, too, the ongoing coronavirus crisis to handle. But on balance, the deal as outlined is nothing short of a sweeping Netanyahu victory. After three generals joined forces to topple him, after three elections that he failed to win, and after three corruption indictments, Netanyahu remains prime minister. Bibi is a once in a generation leader, he was chosen by God to lead the Jewish nation, one hardcore supporter told me at a Likud campaign event in early 2019, during the first election round. After a plague of biblical proportions paved the way for his main rivals surrender, even the non-believers in the Holy Land have to at least start wondering. 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. WASHINGTON - A man from California with a history of mental illness was sentenced Thursday to four years in federal prison for setting a fire last year inside the Comet Ping Pong pizza shop that had been linked to a conspiracy theory about a child sex ring. Ryan Jaselskis, 23, pleaded guilty in December to arson and assault on a police officer, a charge stemming from a fight with a U.S. Park Police officer who arrested him at the Washington Monument. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly in Washington accepted the sentence that was agreed to ahead of time by prosecutors and defense attorneys. In delivering his ruling, Kelly noted that the popular restaurant that features ping-pong tables had been targeted in an unrelated attack in 2016, when Edgar Maddison Welch entered with an AR-15 rifle seeking to investigate a viral Internet rumor of a child sex ring in the basement of the Chevy Chase eatery. The judge said the fire set against that backdrop made Jaselskis's crime "that much more damaging." While authorities have not been able to provide a specific motive behind Jaselskis's attack, prosecutors said his sentence should match the four-year sentence that Welch received. Assistant U.S. attorneys Dineen Baker and Andrew Floyd wrote in court papers that the cases are "similarly situated." Jaselskis's attorneys with the Federal Public Defender's office drew contrasts with Welch, saying their client wasn't drawn to Comet Ping Pong with a mission but rather was "suffering from a diagnosed mental illness." Thursday's sentencing brings closure to another bizarre chapter at the pizza shop. In 2016, it was thrust into the national spotlight when it became the subject of an Internet conspiracy theory known as "Pizzagate" that falsely asserted children were being held in tunnels under the restaurant. When Welch was sentenced to prison, Comet Ping Pong owner James Alefantis told the court that he hoped the incident would one day be remembered as an aberration when "lies were seen as real and our social fabric had frayed." Three years later, Alefantis' restaurant was targeted again, this time with a fire. "My cooks worked through the experience of a gunman, and then they worked through the experience of an arsonist." Alefantis told the court Thursday. "There is a sense of security that will no longer exist. "We have been consistently on guard for attacks," he said, noting his staff has had to "live in fear of customers walking through the front door." Jaselskis' attorney, David Walker Bos, said he couldn't "imagine being in the shoes of Mr. Alefantis" but asked the restaurant owner to understand his client "was somebody who at the time was laboring under pretty severe mental health issues." Bos said: "Even today he's not really sure what led him to Comet pizza that night. But he knows what he did was wrong." Jaselskis addressed the court by telling Alefantis how "so, so sorry" he was. "I am taking full responsibility for my actions," he said. "It has never been in my nature to harm anyone or engage in violence. . . . It breaks my heart that I acted in such a manner that goes completely against my upbringing and values." Jaselskis admitted to walking into the pizza shop the night of Jan. 23, 2019, as patrons were eating and playing games. He passed through the dining area and game room, and he headed into a back bar that was closed at the time and is typically used for birthday parties and other events. Surveillance video captured him crouching by a black curtain that covered a rear wall and dousing it with lighter fluid. His first attempt to light the curtain failed. He left the restaurant, then returned and successfully set the curtain on fire before walking out. A customer and two kitchen employees grabbed the burning curtain and put out the fire. Jaselskis was arrested two weeks later after he was in an unauthorized construction area at the Washington Monument, police said. During his arrest, he struck a Park Police officer, bloodying his nose. Brazil's new health minister has expressed doubts about projections that have guided governors' decisions on how to handle the coronavirus outbreak. In his first press conference in the new role, Nelson Teich said on Wednesday it is impossible that estimates for total death counts to vary so much, adding there needs to be a standard model of analysis. Teich took office on Friday after Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro fired the previous minister, whose repeated support for governors' stay-at-home measures that ran counter to Bolsonaro's position that the Brazilian economy needs to keep moving. Teich, who made his career on the business side of health care, said Brazil is already looking at ways to ease social isolation, despite the fact the crisis' peak is yet to come. Teich praised Brazil's fight against COVID-19 and stressed it had reported far fewer deaths per capita than Italy, Spain or the US. However, he did not explain that Brazil has not reached the peak of the pandemic yet. Many Brazilian governors and mayors have said official figures largely underreport the number of infections, as Brazil has yet to roll out mass COVID-19 testing. Brazil has reported more than 43,000 confirmed cases and more than 2700 deaths. 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. Good Morning, welcome to Information Nigerias Newspaper headlines for today, 21st April 2020. Here are the major headlines. If You Have The Pen, We Have The Koboko Umahi Threatens Journalists David Umahi, Ebonyi state governor. The Governor of Ebonyi state, David Umahi, says the state has the koboko (cane) to flog any member of the correspondents Chapel wing of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ebonyi state that publishes negative story against the state. Ramadan: Look Out For New Moon Sultan Tell Muslims The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Saad Abubakar, has directed Muslims to look for the new moon of Ramadan on Thursday, April 23. Governor Diri Extends Lockdown In Bayelsa Despite not recording a single case of coronavirus in Bayelsa, the state governor, Chief Douye Diri has further extended the lockdown of the state border by another 14 days. Fayemi Orders Release Of 30 Inmates In Ekiti The Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has ordered the release of 30 prisoners in the Ado Ekiti Correctional Centre as efforts to curb the spread of Coronavirus in Nigeria intensifies. Lockdown: Five Governors Denied Flight Approval Minister Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirka has revealed how he stopped several Nigerian Governors from traveling from their various states. Buhari Writes CJN, Demands More Prisoners Release President Muhammadu Buhari has written to Ibrahim Muhammad, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN) to free deserving inmates across Nigeria following the coronavirus pandemic. The president in a letter on Tuesday asked the state chief justices to immediately visit the prisons to free such inmates. Delta State Enforce Use Of Facemask In Public Places Delta State Government says residents would be made to compulsorily use face masks as part of measures to check the spread of COVID-19 in the state. Kaduna State Enforce Use Of Facemask In Public Places The Kaduna State Government has directed residents to wear face masks in public so as to reinforce the mandatory social distancing. If Your Area Has Confirmed Cases, You Can Be Tested NCDC The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) says anyone in an area that has recorded a confirmed case of coronavirus can now be tested. Governor Abiodun Frees 249 Inmates Ogun State Government has ordered the release of 249 inmates from five Correctional Centres across the state. 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 BEIRUT Aya, a pseudonym for a married Lebanese woman in her mid-20s with a little daughter, told Al-Monitor, Ever since quarantine began, my body has been bruised. Is this the body of a woman leading a normal life? My husband beats me for the silliest reasons, sometimes for not cleaning the house well or for being on the phone too long. She explained, He beat me even before the coronavirus broke out, but not as much as now. As he is not working at the moment and his patience is running out, as he claims, I have become his punching bag! Aya went on, I thought a lot about separation, but I have no place to go. I even contemplated committing suicide, but who would take care of my daughter? I left my husbands place once and went to my parents house a year ago. My mother told me that him beating me was better than being a drunkard or cheating on me! Sadly, this is how our society thinks. Aya is one of many women and girls who face domestic abuse in Lebanon from their husbands, fathers or family members. Domestic violence has surged since the Lebanese government imposed a mandatory quarantine to limit the coronavirus outbreak in the country. Domestic violence affects not only women but also children, and it ranges from verbal and psychological to physical and even sexual abuse. Recent reports indicate that the surge in domestic violence under lockdown is not limited to Lebanon, but part of a wide global trend. On April 17, a man shot his mother and sister dead in Jdita in the Bekaa Vally, according to a statement from the Lebanese army. On April 4, a woman was stabbed in Bar Elias in the Bekaa, and her family accused the husband of abusing her. The woman remains in the hospital. Another man beat his five-year-old daughter to death in Tripoli in north Lebanon. A source from the Internal Security Forces told Al-Monitor that calls to the domestic violence hotline increased by 110% in March 2020, with 97 complaints compared to 44 in March 2019. The source said, Complaints were on the rise as of the beginning of 2020, the same time as the quarantine, and perhaps due to the difficult living conditions. Lebanon broke out in mass protests in October last year over deteriorating economic and financial conditions in the country. But the protests have largely stopped because of the lockdown imposed by the government to stem the spread of the virus. The same source noted, Complaints vary in their level of danger. Some women call asking for shelter and they are advised to go to local organizations specialized in fighting violence against women. Others ask for guidance on filing a complaint. In some cases, they ask for security assistance to leave the house, in which case a military car is sent to aid them. Some women tell us there is imminent danger to their lives, and we raid the house in that case. We deal with each situation on a case-by-case basis. Many complaints have been lodged with organizations that deal with violence against women, but many women dare not speak out for fear of their aggressors. The National Commission for Lebanese Women was established in 1998 with the goal of achieving gender equality. With the cooperation of the Internal Security Forces, the commission launched a national campaign in early April to encourage women to report domestic violence, whether they experience or witness it. The non-governmental Abaad organization, established in 2011 to fight for gender equality, called on people to stand on their balconies April 16 and hang sheets with the number of the domestic violence hotline to show solidarity and reassure battered women that help is available. The campaign was dubbed #LockDownNotLockUp. Abaad director Ghida Anani told Al-Monitor, With quarantine and lockdown, domestic violence has increased. We received 25% more complaints during March compared to previous months. Domestic violence complaints have doubled, reaching 500 as of early 2020, compared to 270 complaints during the same time period of 2019. Anani noted that during the lockdown, women tend to seek three things from the organization: advice and psychological support, financial support and shelter at an average of four to six requests per week. Abaad provides baskets of supplies for women who take advantage of the organization's services. She noted, The government must add the domestic violence issue to its emergency plan on the [coronavirus] situation. This should be on its list of priorities. Abused women, for instance, should be exempt from the cost of health and psychological treatment, and they should have a national rescue plan. The accommodation capacity of shelters should also be boosted, as there are only six shelters now, and three of them are Abaads. One woman who called Abaad said her husband abused her verbally and physically. She said, I dont sleep at all. I am stressed and terrified. He has become angrier during the lockdown. I tried to leave, but I have no place to go to. Each day, he shouts and screams, barely provides food, and he might hurt [my son and me]. Kafa, a non-governmental organization established in 2005 to fight gender discrimination, expressed concern in a March report that domestic violence could increase in the coming weeks if the lockdown is extended and the economic situation continues to deteriorate. Lawyer Lina Zgheib told Al-Monitor, The 2014 domestic violence law that the Lebanese Parliament passed in 2014 promotes the rights of women and their safety and equality between men and women. However, it has a loophole in that it gives a limited definition of domestic violence and does not fully protect women. For instance, it does not criminalize or mention marital rape. Clinical psychologist Nabil Khoury told Al-Monitor, A harmonious couple can face the difficulties and obstacles of life, including the coronavirus and economic crises. If the couple isnt culturally and intellectually harmonious and the two people have to remain under one roof due to the lockdown, many problems arise. In a mail written to the employees on Wednesday, Rohit Kapoor, CEO for India and South Asia, OYO, noted the tough times the hospitality sector and the company is going through, and said that although there will be reduction in the fixed compensation, all other benefits will be provided. New Delhi: Hospitality major OYO has announced a reduction in salary of 25 per cent for all its employees in India for April-July 2020 and has also sent some employees on a leave starting May 4, whereby they would get limited benefits. "Today, our company is taking a difficult but necessary step for India, whereby we are asking all OYOprenuers to accept a reduction in their fixed compensation by 25 per cent. This will be effective for April-July 2020 payroll. All other benefits and terms of your contract will remain unchanged," said the email viewed by IANS. He further said that post the pay cut, the fixed compensation for any employee would not be less than Rs 5 lakhs per annum. "This ensures a large percentage of our colleagues at lower pay scales see no impact," Kapoor wrote. Further, the company has also decided to send some of its employees in India on leave, but with limited benefits starting May 4. "We had to also take the hard decision of placing some OYOpreneurs on Leave With Limited Benefits (LwLB) from May 4, 2020 for four months until August 2020. Those going on this leave will avail benefits such as continuation of medical insurance and parental insurance, school fee reimbursement and ex-gratia support. In addition, to our colleagues on LwLB, in case there is an unforeseen medical emergency, we will support beyond the insured amounts, if the need so arises," the CEO for India and South Asia operations said in his communication to the OYO employees. "All these colleagues remain integral to the OYO family and we hope we will be in a position to welcome them back into full-time roles sooner rather than later," he said. The decision comes a fortnight after OYO Founder and Group CEO Ritesh Agarwal announced furloughs or temporary leaves of 60-90 days for its employees in the US and select other international markets. Finance and Credit Bank's ex-owner Zhevago loses US$55.5 mln in litigation with central bank 20:10, 23.04.20 1345 The judgment handed down by the court of cassation is final and not subject to appeal. The Press Council of India on Thursday condemned the alleged attack on senior journalist Arnab Goswami and called for a report from the Maharashtra government over the incident. Two motorcycle-borne persons allegedly attacked Goswami's car in Mumbai and tried to break its glass window when he and his wife were on their way home in the early hours of Thursday, police said. Both the attackers have been arrested. In a statement, the Press Council of India (PCI) said it is distressed to know about the alleged attack on Goswami "purportedly for his views as a journalist". Every citizen in the country, including a journalist, has the right to express their opinion which may not be palatable to many but this does not give anybody the authority to strangulate such a voice. Violence is not the answer even against bad journalism, the PCI said. Goswami is the editor-in-chief and owner of Republic TV. The council condemns this attack and expects from the state government that it will apprehend the perpetrators of crime and bring them to justice immediately, the statement said While taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, the PCI chairman has asked the Maharashtra government, through the Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, to submit a report on the facts of the case at the earliest, the PCI said. The National Union of Journalists (India) also condemned the alleged attack on Goswami, saying if anybody is aggrieved about anything they should choose an appropriate path to show their protest instead of violence. The NUJ(I) also said that journalists and media houses should also never cross their limit at any cost and strictly stick to professional ethics. The journalist has invited sharp criticism from Congress leaders for his remarks aimed at their party president Sonia Gandhi during a TV discussion on the Palghar incident in which three persons, including two sadhus, were lynched. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum has endorsed Bobby Schilling in the Republican primary for Iowas second congressional district. A conservative from Pennsylvania who now works as a CNN political pundit, Santorum served in the U.S. Senate from 1995 until 2007. He won the Iowa caucuses in 2012. Bobby isnt like most politicians. He thinks like us. He talks like us, said Santorum, who served in Congress for 16 years. "Hes the only person running in this race we can count on to represent working families and working family values and vote accordingly. Santorum also knocked Schillings competition. The races best Republican challenger is Mariannette Miller-Meeks, a state senator from Ottumwa. As of March 31, Miller-Meeks had $397,324 in cash on hand and Schilling had $55,008. Unlike his opponent in this race, Bobby doesnt try to have it both ways on the most important issues, Santorum said. He has ALWAYS been an unapologetic defender of the unborn. He has ALWAYS been a believer in America First and Family First. And he has supported President Trump and his agenda from Day One. Iowas second congressional seat is held by U.S. Rep. Dave Loebsack, a Democrat who announced he will retire at the end of his term. The main Democratic candidate is Rita Hart, a former state senator from Wheatland. Santorum said Schilling is the right person to beat the radical Left in November. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 The UK's state-funded National Health Service (NHS) has issued additional guidance as a reminder for British Muslims to stay away from social gatherings during the holy month of Ramzan in view of the devastating coronavirus pandemic. As the social distancing measures remain in place to help curb the spread of COVID-19, the NHS said managers and staff working in hospitals and healthcare settings have also been issued advice to cover adjustments over working hours and fasting arrangements for Muslim colleagues. Ramzan is the holiest month in Islam, when devout Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. It is expected to begin this week, depending on the sighting of the moon. The government on Wednesday said that 759 more people with the coronavirus have died in the country's hospitals, taking the total toll to 18,100. T The UK's death toll due to the coronavirus is the fourth highest in Europe, behind Italy, Spain and France, all of whom have reported over 20,000 deaths. The whole of the UK is continuing to make huge efforts and sacrifices to delay the spread of the coronavirus. As Ramzan and Eid occur during the projected peak of COVID-19, the NHS has issued additional guidance as part of a package of wellbeing support for all NHS people, said Dr Habib Naqvi, NHS Deputy Director Workforce Race Equality Standard. This is another critical period when Muslims, along with other communities, should make use of online platforms and alternative approaches to communicate with family and friends and stick with government guidelines regarding social distancing. The coronavirus restrictions are still very likely to be in place by Eid, so the key message remains: stay at home, protect our NHS and save lives," he said. The NHS has a diverse workforce, with an estimated 3.3 per cent of the 1.4 million NHS workers being from a Muslim background. Fasting plays an important central feature in many major religions although there are a number of exemptions where adult Muslims do not fast during Ramzan. These include individuals with ill health and long-term health conditions such as diabetes and those who are pregnant, elderly or women undergoing menstrual cycles, the NHS advice notes. Under the UK's coronavirus lockdown, everyone must stay at home to help stop the spread of the deadly virus. This includes people of all ages even if someone has no symptoms or other health conditions. The only reasons allowed to leave your home is to shop for basic essentials only when really needed; to do one form of exercise a day such as a run, walk or cycle, alone or with other people you live with; for any medical need for example, to visit a pharmacy or deliver essential supplies to a vulnerable person; and to travel to and from work but only where this is absolutely necessary. The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), the UK's largest Muslim umbrella body with over 500 affiliated national, regional and local organisations, mosques, charities and schools, has also issued a set of guidelines for the holy month in the lockdown period, in place at least until May 7 before it is reviewed. Ramzan is usually a time for Muslims to gather with friends and family and in mosques to break the fast and pray together. The MCB's guidance advises ways in which Muslims across the UK can still make the most of Ramadan from home socially and spiritually, the MCB said. Its guidance includes advice on hosting and attending virtual iftars (meal at the end of fasting) to tuning in to their local mosque's livestreamed services. Many mosques across the UK have been ramping up their online presence, already offering daily sermons or prayers sessions, with Imams working to continue to engage with their communities and help keep up morale during these trying times. The message for this Ramzan is clear: fast and pray at home and share Ramzan digitally. This is the way to help save lives, said MCB Secretary General Harun Khan. Ramzan is about connecting to God through worship, reflection, compassion and giving back to others. It is important to use this time to reconsider, to reflect on the way we live our lives and the way we relate to our creator, our communities and those in need. We must be sure to celebrate Ramzan in the safest way possible: in our homes, he said. The MCB is also encouraging all Muslims to use the holy month of Ramzan to give back to their communities, both in the way of financial donations to their local mosques if they can afford it and getting involved in local initiatives if it is safe to do so. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A five-year-old Yemeni boy stands outside a site for internally displaced people in Marib, Yemen, where conflict has forced thousands to flee. UNHCR/Marie-Joelle Jean-Charles Millions of people who fled wars and violence are among those around the world preparing to observe the holy month of Ramadan, under the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 crisis. Refugees and internally displaced people are frequently among the most marginalized and vulnerable members of society and are particularly at risk during this pandemic. Together with the local communities that host them, they often have limited access to water, sanitation and health systems, and with scarce socio-economic resources to survive. Many of those observing Ramadan will be doing so without the certainty of food on the table at the end of the day to break their fast. "This year, we are entering the holy month of Ramadan at a time of great global suffering. But it is in the essence of Ramadan that many can find solace and hope. Everyone is vulnerable in the face of this pandemic but refugees, the internally displaced and impoverished host communities are among the most exposed. At a time when our collective humanity is being tested, they are in more need than ever of life-saving help and support," said Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Ramadan is a month of reflection, compassion and giving, a time for families and communities to come together. This year, as the world fights a pandemic which is forcing millions into confinement and social distancing, long-standing Ramadan traditions will have to adapt to measures designed to protect public health. Millions of refugees and IDPs observing Ramadan this year are already facing a difficult reality. Most refugees live a hand-to-mouth existence, reliant on casual labour opportunities that have now vanished, as restrictions of movement and other public health measures trigger a global economic downturn. Many have been displaced for years and are already heavily indebted are forced to skip meals, or to resort to child labour or forced marriages. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is working with governments and humanitarian partners to ensure that refugees and internally displaced people are included in national COVID-19 response plans, and is expanding cash and other forms of assistance . But urgent and additional financial support is needed now to help ensure that people can survive these challenging times. Coinciding with the holy month of Ramadan, UNHCR launched today a global fundraising campaign Every Gift Counts to help raise funds for the most vulnerable refugees and IDPs. Contributions are urgently required to prevent more people from slipping deeper into poverty in light of the COVID-19 crisis. Compassion, generosity and kindness the true values of Zakat giving are more fundamental today than ever before, added Grandi. The global Ramadan campaign aims to raise additional funds to provide vital support such as shelter, food, clean water and cash assistance to the most vulnerable refugees and IDPs, including orphans, female-headed households, the elderly in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Malian refugees in Mauritania and among Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. This campaign will provide supplementary funding to UNHCR, allowing it to continue its regular programming as well as provide much needed support to meet new mounting needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, please contact: In Amman, Rula Amin, [email protected] +962 790 04 58 49 +962 790 04 58 49 In the UAE, Raefah Makki, [email protected] , +971 508130594 B-roll available: https://media.unhcr.org/Package/2CZ7A24OG5Y2 About UNHCR: UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, leads international action to protect people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We deliver life-saving assistance like shelter, food and water, help safeguard fundamental human rights, and develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place to call home where they can build a better future. We also work to ensure that stateless people are granted a nationality. About the Ramadan Campaign Every year, UNHCR appeals to the public during the month of giving and generosity to help raise funds for refugees and internally displaced families in need. Every Gift Counts is UNHCRs second global Ramadan campaign, and focuses on the small but incredible changes individuals can bring to refugee families during this Holy month, and invites the public to transform the bittersweet reality of refugee and displaced families observing Ramadan far from their homes, often with little means. The campaign aims to raise funds, through donations including Zakat and Sadaqah, to help provide lifesaving support such as shelter, food, clean water and monthly cash assistance, to the most vulnerable refugee and IDP families in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh. donate Commuters make way at sealed down streets at Yarab Nagar at Banashankari, Bengaluru. (Photo: Satish B) Bengaluru: After a gap of two days, the COVID-19 positive in the state are pointing northward, with select pockets across Karnataka hitting the headlines again. Among the sixteen coronavirus positive cases reported since Wednesday evening, nine are from Bengaluru alone. With these nine cases, the total positive cases in the city touched 100 and the state tally is 443. Two each fresh cases have been reported from Mandya, Vijayapura, Hubballi and Dakshin Kannada. All the nine from the city have been reported from a slum pocket at Hongasandra, where one daily wage labourer was tested positive earlier. The new patients shared the same roof of patient P419, who was working as a labourer. He tested positive on Wednesday and the health bulletin revealed that he was suffering from Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI). Of the 2 cases reported from Vijayapura, one was in contact with a positive patient and contact tracing has been launched on the other. With Hongasandra outbreak and Malavalli in Mandya district reporting increase in fresh cases after a gap, it does look like community outbreak. However, state Health and Family Welfare Department has denied this. Department additional chief secretary Jawaid Akhtar said that all the nine new cases who have tested positive on Thursday are primary contacts of one earlier patient, known as P-419. The department was checking all his contacts as well as secondary contacts in the area. However, panic has already set in at the Vidya Jyothi Nagar in Hongasandra and sources claim that 188 have been identified as contacts of the P419 and have been quarantined at a government facility. The whole area is sealed down and more samples have been taken whose results are expected by Friday. The whole area is being sanitised by BBMP and security have been beefed up. Two cases from Hubli and two from Mandya are primary contacts of infected patients. The case from Dakshin Kannada is a 78-year-old female who is a primary contact of a positive patient. Ithaca, N.Y. Press Bay Alley is a hip retail corridor with an eclectic list of tenants that includes an apothecary/lingerie shop and even a circus school. But in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, the micro-retail development is pivoting to become a hub to connect area farmers and other food producers with shoppers. Five farms participated in the first week. This week, the food hubs fourth, that number is up to around 25. Melissa Madden, a manager at Urban Core LLC, the real estate development company that opened Press Bay Alley in 2014, leads the food hub. Madden said she came up with the idea as a way to utilize the unrented space in Press Bay Alley to help a growing need for food access in the community. Farmers are not charged to participate, nor does Urban Core pocket any money from the sales. Press Bay Alley in Ithaca, a microretail development, is now doubling as a hub to connect farmers with shoppers in a safe environment. Heres how it works: Shoppers visit the Press Bay Alley website to see a list of participating producers, which changes weekly. The selection ranges from fresh produce and meat, to cider, hot sauce and kimchi. Shoppers buy the products directly from the farms, who then deliver the purchases to the food hub, where the orders are collated and stored. Shoppers pick up their orders curbside on Thursdays from 3 to 7 p.m. Some current Press Bay tenants, such as Lucky Hare Brewing, which operates a tasting room there, and Luminous Coffee, which runs Press Cafe, are also participating. Madden said they had around 100 customers for the April 16 pickupmany of whom ordered multiple items from several different farms. Madden has a team of seven volunteers, plus two maintenance workers, to make it all possible. You might find Urban Core partner David Kuckuk there helping, or Jenn Smith, program director at Grow-NY, which holds a $3 million food and agriculture business competition. Andre Jacquet, executive chef at Agava restaurant in Ithaca, helps with receiving the deliveries from farms, Madden said. To have a head chef counting off one jar at a honey at a time shows theres a willingness to help, Madden said. Its really cool to see people rise up. The food hub has been successful, but Madden said it didnt leave much room for food justice, i.e., providing free food to those in need. So Press Bay Alley partnered with Friendship Donations Network, an organization that works with retailers such as Wegmans to rescue food that would otherwise go to waste, to establish a weekly food pantry. More than 35 people visited the first pantry this past Monday, an impressive number considering its creation was only announced two days prior. Those who visit are allowed to pick what they want. We wanted to make it joyful, Madden said, not something where people feel ashamed to get free food. Along with the food hub, Press Bay Alley expanded to add a weekly food pantry on Monday afternoons offering produce and other food free of charge to those in need. The pantry is held on Mondays from 3 to 5 p.m. Shoppers are asked to bring their own bags, wear a face mask and observe social distancing protocols. The April 27 pantry will have new items, including fresh cheese donated by Lively Run Dairy in Interlakenpart of an ongoing project the cheesemaker is undertaking to take in surplus milk that dairy producers are being forced to dump and turning it into cheese that will be donated to food banks and pantries across the state. A GoFundMe campaign to support the cause has raised more than $37,000. For Madden, who previously co-owned Good Life Farm/Finger Lakes Cider House and ran her own community supported agriculture program for 20 or so years, this project was both in tune with Urban Cores local food philosophy and right in Maddens wheelhouse as a farmer. Theyve [the pantry and food hub] been easier than I thought they would be, she said. Jacob Pucci writes on food, restaurants and all things gastronomic across Central New York. Contact him by email at jpucci@syracuse.com. A World Health Organisation vehicle carrying swabs from patients to be tested for coronavirus came under gunfire in Myanmar, killing the driver and seriously injuring a government official. The United Nations confirmed that 28-year-old Pyae Sone Win Maung died following the attack on Monday, local time, in Minbya in the state of Rakhine, northwest Myanmar. It did not say who carried out the attack in a region where fighting between the army and Arakan Army insurgents has intensified despite global calls for a ceasefire over the pandemic that has killed five and caused 119 infections in the country. The WHO colleague was driving a marked UN vehicle from Sittwe to Yangon, transporting COVID19 surveillance samples in support of the Ministry of Health and Sports, the UN office in Myanmar said. Pyae Sone Win Maung was killed in the attack. Source: Reuters Both Myanmars army and the Arakan Army denied responsibility for the attack and accused each other. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the attack, calling for a full and transparent investigation and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Government troops and insurgents from the Arakan Army, which wants greater autonomy for Myanmars western region, have been locked in fierce fighting for more than a year, but clashes have intensified recently. Why would the military shoot them? said Major General Tun Tun Nyi, a military spokesman, when Reuters asked about the incident. They are working for us, for our country. We have the responsibility for that... Everyone who has a brain knows that. If you are a Myanmar citizen, you shouldnt ask that. Another healthcare worker injured in the attack is being treated in hospital. Myanmar's outbreak has killed five people so far. Source: Getty, file. The drivers father, Htay Win Maung, said his son had worked for the WHO in Sittwe for three years. My heart is broken for him, he told Reuters by telephone. I am trying to calm myself thinking he died in serving his duty at the frontline. He went there in the midst of fighting when many people didnt dare to go. Story continues Britain, the United States and other countries have called for an end to fighting in Rakhine, not least to help protect vulnerable communities from the pandemic. The Arakan Army, along with two ethnic armed groups, declared a month-long ceasefire for April, citing the pandemic. The army rejected the plea, with a spokesman saying a previous truce declared by the government went unheeded by insurgents. 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 restaurant community, which in good times (and even now, in extremely bad times) lends a hand to various social causes, is on the ropes. The numbers of closings and idled workers are staggering. It is also not clear what the business will look like three months, six months, a year, or even two years from now. Here are a few things that you can do to help, in no particular order: Give regionally The Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association, the states representative to the National Restaurant Association, created a relief fund for hospitality workers. Hospitality Assistance Response of Pennsylvania (HARP), whose funding was seeded by Titos Vodka and Yuengling, opens its relief fund on April 23, distributing one-time $250 grants to jobless industry workers. Its first-come, first-served, and the immediate goal is $250,000 by early May. Donations 100% of which will go to the fund can be made online or by texting HARP to 44-321. READ MORE: If you can afford it, heres how to use your stimulus check to help Philly. Give nationally The James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Beverage Industry Relief Fund is awarding microgrants to small- and medium-size restaurants. It has $4 million in pledges so far. The first round of $15,000 grants went to 36 restaurants across the country. Buy food from a restaurant This is a fairly obvious benefit to a restaurant, whether it offered carryout and delivery before the crisis or whether it added the services later. With dining rooms and bars closed, and catering out of the question, food sales are their only source of income. For many, these bucks are keeping the lights on. Two tips: 1. Call in your order directly to bypass the apps (Grubhub, DoorDash, Caviar, etc.), which charge exorbitant fees. And 2. Tip staff lavishly, even if you never tip on takeout." READ MORE: Restaurants that are open for pickup and delivery in the Philadelphia area Give directly to a restaurants fund Contact your favorite restaurant and ask if theres a fund. Then donate. Many restaurants have GoFundMe campaigns and are selling gift cards, with proceeds going to staff or owners. Keep in mind that although many staffers may qualify for unemployment benefits, owners sometimes do not. They also will need money to reopen fully when the time comes. Dont use your gift cards right away You may have a card in your hot little hands, but hang on for a bit, Sparky. Use it later, as the restaurant becomes more solvent. Of course, its quite possible that some restaurants wont survive this crisis. In that case, consider your gift-card purchase a donation. (Tip: Erie Insurance is now covering gift-card losses on its homeowners policies.) READ MORE: Can I get the coronavirus from mail or food delivery? The risk is tiny, and you can make it even smaller. Buy merchandise That T-shirt or mug might help feed a restaurateurs family. Bug your elected officials How much political business is transacted in restaurants? Pretty much all of it. Call your or write your elected officials to endorse restaurant bailouts. Although the federal Paycheck Protection Program is pumping almost $700 billion in loans into the economy, its rules make it impractical for many restaurants. More than 1,700 people volunteer for controversial testing method, although no such trial is currently planned. An initiative has attracted more than 1,700 volunteers who say they would be willing to intentionally be infected with the coronavirus as part of a controversial testing method that advocates say could speed the development of a vaccine. The group, 1Day Sooner, says 1,754 people have signed up as volunteers for a so-called human challenge trials as of Thursday, according to its website. Advocates say the trials could vastly speed up development of a cure compared to a more standard approach, in which a large population is given potential vaccines or placebos and left to regular environmental exposures over a prolonged period, after which the rate of infections are compared. Although the human challenge trials would be voluntary, questions remain about the ethics of infecting individuals, even those believed to be at the lowest risk, with a virus that scientists have an incomplete understanding of, and that has proven deadly for some while only causing mild symptoms for others. In early March, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the global death rate for coronavirus was 3.4 percent, but countries and studies have since reported rates that vary greatly, largely depending on how widespread testing has been and the strength of healthcare systems. The vast majority of those who die from the disease caused by the virus, COVID-19, which has killed 183,000 worldwide with 2.6 million infections, are elderly or have pre-existing conditions. The groups cofounder, Josh Morrison, has said the initiative is not recruiting for a specific trial. The group says it is not affiliated with any companies currently developing vaccines or treatments, but is meant to create a pool of volunteers if the need arises. We want to recruit as many people as possible who want to do this, and prequalify them as likely to be able to participate in challenge trials should they occur, Morrison, who also serves as executive director of organ-donation advocacy group Waitlist Zero, told Nature magazine. At the same time, we feel that the public policy decisions around challenge trials will be better informed if they highlight the voice of people interested in participating in such trials. Human challenge trials are currently used in the study of some other infectious diseases, usually those considered less deadly and with more solid foundational understandings, including malaria. Why does vaccine testing take so long? Standard vaccine testing is a lengthy process that typically begins with preclinical testing, often on animals, before moving to humans. The WHO, according to its Draft landscape of COVID-19 candidate vaccines, reports as of Thursday at least six potential vaccines have moved into the clinical testing phase. At least 77 are still in the preclinical phase. The first human testing trial began in Seattle, Washington on March 16. A pharmacist gives Jennifer Haller, left, the first shot of the first potential vaccine for the new coronavirus to be tested on humans on March 16 in Seattle [Ted S Warren/AP] Standard human testing is typically composed of three phases: Initial small-group testing, usually involving about 100 participants, that assesses whether the vaccine is safe for humans; then a second phase that can last several months to several years, which involves several hundred subjects to evaluate the efficacy of the vaccine against the disease. Finally, in the third phase, thousands of people, often across several medical facilities, are tested to further assess the efficacy of the vaccine over a defined period. This phase can also last several years. Experts generally agree that a widely available vaccine for the coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, would take at least a year to a year and a half to develop. Some have suggested even that timeline is optimistic, while at least one team has said, with ideal conditions, their vaccine could be ready by the fall of 2020. Human challenge testing In a paper published in the Journal of Infectious Diseases at the end of March, bio-ethicist Nir Eyal and epidemiologists Marc Lipsitch and Peter G Smith argue that replacing the final phase of typical human testing with human challenge testing may subtract many months from the licensure process, making efficacious vaccines available more quickly. They argue that the risk borne by volunteers, some of whom would be given vaccines and other placebos in their theoretical study framework, is acceptable if they consent with a full understanding and those conducting the studies take all necessary precautions. That includes using volunteers who have been assessed to have a low risk of serious complications and who come from populations where the chance of natural infection is high. Volunteers would also be closely monitored and given first access to limited life-saving equipment if symptoms warranted. The authors likened the risk taken by volunteers for others direct gain as similar to those society asks volunteer firefighters to take every time they go into a burning building or the risk taken by those who donate organs to loved ones. Obviously, challenging volunteers with this live virus risks inducing severe disease and possibly even death, the trio wrote in the papers abstract. However, we argue that such studies, by accelerating vaccine evaluation, could reduce the global burden of coronavirus-related mortality and morbidity. The authors also note that potential vaccines that are harmful in themselves, such as past vaccines for MERS and SARS that may have caused more severe diseases in the animals infected during preclinical testing, would likely be ruled out before reaching the human testing phase. More recently, on Tuesday, Stanley Plotkin, a disease expert at the University of Pennsylvania, and Arthur Caplan, a bioethicist at New York University released an outline for a human challenge coronavirus trial in the journal Vaccine. Federal approval Questions also remain over whether federal drug agencies, in the US and across the world, would approve a vaccine tested through this method. In a letter to the US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and the Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn this week, 35 legislators urged the officials to adopt expedited procedures for testing, approval and use of COVID-19 vaccines. The letter specifically called for health officials to consider human challenge testing, among other expediting methods. This consideration must rest on a rational analysis of the risk/benefit ratio, based on the best available science, and be free of political interference, the letter said. Others have urged caution, with Seema Shah, professor of medical ethics at Northwestern University Medical School, who has written about the ethics of human challenge trials, telling the Vox news site in early April that for human challenge trials to have a justifiable benefit, they must be conducted with complete coordination between researchers, the different teams conducting trials and federal regulators. Several justice considerations, including whether the risks are fairly distributed, must also be considered, she told the news site. Were all looking for a Hail Mary, and its easy to see challenge studies as exciting and having a lot of promise, Shah said. But a lot of things need to fall into place to achieve that promise. The global death toll from the coronavirus is more than 184,000 with more than 2.6 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 COVID-19 developments in RFE/RL's broadcast regions. Georgia Dozens of members of Georgia's opposition Girchi party have rallied in Tbilisi, demanding the repeal of the state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic after it was extended by one month. Party leader Zurab Japaridze told reporters on April 23 that the extension wouldn't change anything, because the situation around the pandemic will not change in one month. According to Japaridze, the state of emergency must be cancelled in order "to reignite the economy," though regulations requiring the wearing of masks outdoors and social distancing may stay in place. The rally was held at the former hippodrome in the Georgian capital. Police detained about 10 protesters. Georgian health authorities said on April 23 that the number of coronavirus cases in the country was 420, including five deaths. Central Asia Human Rights Watch (HRW) says governments in Central Asia are failing to respect the rights of their citizens in their responses to the coronavirus pandemic. The rights group said in a statement on April 23 that while officials in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan have taken "important steps" to limit the spread of the outbreak, they have also used the restrictions put in place to target journalists, health-care providers, and activists, and have carried out quarantine measures in ways that have at times proven "arbitrary and disproportionate." All Central Asian governments have obligations to protect their citizens right to health by providing accurate information about COVID-19, said Hugh Williamson, HRW Europe and Central Asia director. Human rights should be respected while the emergency measures are in place, and during any future responses to the virus.... They should not use restrictions to muzzle journalists, health-care providers, and others attempting to inform the public or protect against rights violations, he added. HRW said that authorities in Turkmenistan, which along with Tajikistan has yet to acknowledge the existence of COVID-19 cases in their countries, "have sought to silence medical workers and others speaking out about the impact of the virus in the country." The statement notes that the situation in Tajikistan has reached a point where RFE/RL President Jamie Fly sent a letter to Tajik authorities chiding the Health Ministry and other agencies for refusing to answer questions regarding the spread of COVID-19. "By failing to deliver information about COVID-19 and repressing information about it, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan are gravely endangering their citizens health," the HRW statement said. By April 23, the largest number of registered coronavirus cases in the region was in Kazakhstan, with 2,207 confirmed positive tests and 20 deaths. In Uzbekistan, the latest number of coronavirus cases reported by the authorities was 1,716, including seven deaths. In Kyrgyzstan, there were 631 cases recorded, including eight deaths, as of April 23. Bulgaria Bulgaria has closed its border to prevent Bulgarian Turks in Turkey from entering the country during the first days of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. The Health Ministrys order applies from midnight on April 23 to April 27 in a bid to prevent travel due to the coronavirus pandemic. Ramadan begins on April 24. More than 300,000 Bulgarian citizens live in Turkey. Most of them are Bulgarian-born ethnic Turks who fled to Turkey in 1989 because of discrimination against the minority group under the former communist regime. The border closure came in response to information that many Bulgarian Turks in Turkey planned to visit relatives and their ancestral villages and towns in Bulgaria for Ramadan. Turkey has recorded around 100,000 coronavirus infections and 2,491 deaths, making it one of the hardest hit countries in the world. Turkish authorities on April 23 implemented a four-day lockdown in 31 cities including Ankara and Istanbul. Mosques will remain closed during Ramadan to stem the spread of the virus. Bulgaria has 1,097 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 52 deaths. The Chief Mufti's Office in Bulgaria announced that mosques would remain closed during Ramadan and services would be broadcast online. On the recommendation of the European Union, Bulgaria in late March closed the EU's external borders to third-country nationals. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church refused to close churches and monasteries for Easter on April 19. Uzbekistan A new 10,000-bed infectious-diseases hospital is being built near Uzbekistan's capital, Tashkent, to help tackle the coronavirus pandemic in the Central Asian nation of 32 million. A project contractor, Enter Engineering, said on April 22 that the medical facility's first phase in the Zangiota district will be officially opened in early May. "The facility is designed both to treat virus-infected residents and to house Uzbek citizens returning home from abroad who require quarantine," Shohrukh Sattarov, CEO of Enter Engineering said. RFE/RL's Coronavirus Crisis Archive Features and analysis, videos, and infographics explore how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the countries in our region. According to the contractor, the remainder of the complex will be completed within a month after the initial opening. Uzbek health authorities said in late March that they had started building the hospital, following the example of the authorities of the Chinese city of Wuhan, who earlier this year constructed the Huoshenshan Hospital to handle coronavirus patients in less than two weeks. Enter Engineering is working on the state-commissioned project together with the state railway company. As of April 23, the number of coronavirus cases in Uzbekistan was 1,716, including seven deaths. Iran In Iran, one of the countries worst hit by the coronavirus pandemic, authorities have closed mosques and shrines believed to have contributed to the initial spread of the virus. President Hassan Rohani said some sites may open on May 4. But Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has already suggested that mass gatherings may be barred throughout Ramadan over the virus. Iran has reported almost 86,000 infections and up to 5,400 deaths, but critics say the actual numbers could be considerably higher since the information flow is strictly controlled by the authoritarian regime and foreign media access has been all but banned. With reporting by RFE/RL's Bulgarian, Georgian, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Uzbek services, Reuters, Oil&Gas.com, Kun.uz, and Gazeta.uz A North Korean defector who was shot by Chinese guards while trying to cross the border this week is infected with coronavirus, a source has said. The man was taken to hospital after being shot while trying to cross the Tumen River that separates North Korea from China on April 20. When he arrived at hospital he was tested for the virus and found to be positive, and is now under quarantine, a Chinese source told Daily NK. His case provides the strongest evidence to date that North Korea is suffering from a coronavirus outbreak, despite Pyongyang publicly denying having any cases. A North Korean defector who crossed into China this week has tested positive for coronavirus, in the clearest evidence yet that the country is suffering an outbreak (file) Daily NK, which has a network of informants within North Korea, has previously reported on several suspected outbreaks within the country. The site reported last month that 180 soldiers had died from 'coronavirus-like symptoms' between January and February this year. It also reported that another 23 people may have also died of the infection - but with little or no state healthcare system within North Korea, confirming cases via testing has been virtually impossible. Last week, Radio Free Asia reported that lecturers have been privately telling North Korean citizens that there are cases in the country Citizens were told in late March that the virus was spreading in three specific areas of the country - the capital Pyongyang, South Hwanghae province in the south of the country, and North Hamgyong province in the north. But the lecturers insisted that North Korea has the fewest cases of coronavirus of any country in the world due to its 'superior socialist healthcare system'. The man was taken to hospital after being shot by a Chinese border guard while attempting to cross the Tumen River (file image), which separates the two countries Officially, Pyongyang has admitted to no cases and no deaths, insisting on April 1 that the country remains virus-free. Evidence that North Korea may be suffering an outbreak comes amid speculation about Kim Jong-un's health after he disappeared from public view. The Supreme Leader was absent from a Day of the Sun celebration marking his grandfather's birthday - a major public event since Kim Il-Sung is still technically the leader of North Korea, despite being dead. His last confirmed appearance came on April 11, at a meeting of the Worker's Party. American intelligence services are said to be monitoring reports that he is in grave condition following heart surgery, according to CNN. But South Korea has said it has detected no unusual activity from the North, and that Kim seems to be at the helm of the government despite not appearing in public. The government's economic team once again "shone with the flight of its mind;" the institution of banking secrecy, whose foundations are already shaken, is receiving a final fatal blow in Armenia. Edmon Marukyan, chairman of the opposition Bright Armenia party and head of the Bright Armenia faction in parliament, wrote this on his Facebook page Thursday. "A new bill () has been published today, by which banking secrecy is destroyed once and for all [in Armenia]. According to that draft, banks are obliged to provide information to the tax authorities on the bank accounts of individuals, the amount in the accounts. Previously, this was possible only with the permission of the court. We [Armenia] are already facing huge economic problems. And now we are expelling all economic entities, individuals who have kept financial resources in Armenias banks. The consequence of the adoption of this draft will be that everyone will withdraw their financial resources from the banks, will avoid doing business in Armenia. Is this what you want? Even the criminal regime did not resort to such an encroachment upon banking secrecy, he added in particular. Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 23, 2020 | BENTON, KY By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 23, 2020 | 10:41 AM | BENTON, KY Local residents are being asked to "Fill the Fence" at Community Financial Services Bank in Benton with photos of their favorite pandemic heroes. Benton Mayor Rita Dotson says community members are asked to send a photo of their favorite first responder or healthcare or essential worker. The city will then print, laminate and display it on the new Heroes fence at CFSB in Benton. Dotson says the city wants to make sure all of our heroes are honored, from doctors and nurses to police officers and EMS crews, grocery store workers, gas station attendants, bankers, ect. Photos can be emailed to rdotson@cityofbenton.org, or sent on Facebook to either Misti Drew or Rita Dotson. Dotson thanked Rogue Graphics, who printed and hung the banners for the project free of charge. She also thanked CFSB for supporting and hosting the project. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Alya Nurbaiti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 15:12 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3d1366 1 City COVID-19,coronavirus,virus-corona,virus-korona-indonesia,mudik-ban,jasa-marga,Jakarta-Cikampek-elevated-tollroad,road-closure,toll-road,Public-Works-and-Public-Housing-Ministry Free State-owned toll road operator PT Jasa Marga will close the Jakarta-Cikampek II elevated toll road following the governments ban on the Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) to curb COVID-19s spread in the country. The toll road operator said in a statement on Thursday that it had received a letter from the National Polices traffic corps demanding that the company close the toll road. Jasa Marga responded to the demand by coordinating with the Public Works and Housing Ministry, which has the authority to close off the road. According to Jasa Marga, the elevated toll road will be closed starting Friday at 12 a.m. Meanwhile, the toll road underneath will continue to operate with some road blockings in several locations. Read also: COVID-19: PT KAI suspends long-distance, local rail operations following mudik ban Jasa Marga is ready to support the Transportation Ministry and the police by blocking several points on the toll road we operate, Jasa Marga spokesperson Dwimawan Heru said in a written statement on Thursday. He also urged toll road users to obey the governments regulation to stay home and not to return to their hometowns. Jasa Marga will inform the public of the road closure with road signs on Greater Jakarta toll roads and its social media account. Millions of people return to their hometowns every year often traveling from urban centers to the countryside to celebrate Idul Fitri. However, with Jakarta being the countrys epicenter of the virus outbreak, the huge number of expected travelers has raised concerns about mass contagion. The home of a military commander was targeted by unknown attackers, who used an artillery shell, but only caused material damage reports Smart News. Unknown persons targeted the house of a local military faction commander using an artillery shell in the Syrian government-controlled province of Suweida, southern Syria. On Wednesday, local sources reported to Smart News that unknown persons targeted the home of the military commander, Mahran Obaid, who is close to the Syrian government security forces, using an RPG shell. The sources added that the shell only caused material damage. Areas controlled by the forces of the Syrian government are home to a general state of security absence, extensive use of unregulated weapons, and a high crime rate, robbery, and kidnapping for ransom, amidst an absence of the role of Syrian government security forces, while activists accuse the latter of facilitating the work of gangs and criminals. Suweida has become the home for kidnapping, stealing, and assassination incidents, amidst the spread of unregulated weapons. The residents accuse Syrian government forces-backed gangs of being responsible for such incidents. 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. T he Government is facing growing criticism over its handling of core aspects of the coronavirus pandemic. But experts say it is hard to pin the blame on certain individuals when the current apparent failures may have been years in the making. Here, we take a look at just how prepared the country really was for the crisis. Boris Johnson has been criticised for missing key meetings during the crisis / 10 Downing Street/AFP via Getty Was there much planning before the outbreak? Experts are torn on where the blame lies for the apparent failure to respond quickly to the crisis, and it helps to cast our eyes back a bit. In 2011, the Government set out its approach to a coronavirus-like pandemic in a UK Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Strategy, covering the need to stockpile medicines and equipment, and prepare hospitals for a surge in patients with the disease. Public Health Englands (PHE) Pandemic Influenza Response Plan was published in 2014 and highlighted procedures for rolling out stockpiles of PPE as well as the use of just in time procurement to supplement them. The UK Government has faced scrutiny over when it entered and plans to exit lockdown / PA Then in October 2016, the Government ran the three-day Cygnus exercise that tested the countrys ability to handle an influenza pandemic. The findings from the Cygnus exercise have not been made public, but reports have suggested that they revealed a shortage of critical care beds and PPE and that they fell on deaf ears. The Government has roundly dismissed those reports and said it was extremely proactive in implementing lessons learned from the past. But Dr Patricia Lewis, research director for international security at think tank Chatham House, said: The trouble is, if you dont know the results of it how do you know that the lessons learned were applied? She called for greater levels of scrutiny, such as a new legal requirement for the Government to report to Parliament every year on the state of national plans. Was the Government ill-prepared on PPE? Ministers and NHS frontline workers have been telling different stories on PPE supplies / PA The Government insists it has distributed millions of PPE items to health workers, but reports of shortages on the NHS front line have seen ministers face a barrage of criticism in recent weeks and calls to bolster supplies. Among them is why the Government did not sign up to the EU procurement scheme and why some domestic manufactures have had to discuss sending PPE abroad because the Government is not buying it from them Matt Hancock was forced to deny the claim that was made by top Foreign Office civil servant Sir Simon McDonald to the Commons foreign affairs committee on Tuesday that it was a political decision not to sign up. The Health Secretary added that checks were needed on offers from UK firms as not all opportunities had been credible". Dr Lewis said that PPE shortages were a really shocking state of affairs and were one of the basic issues that parliamentarians need to scrutinise. She said Parliaments National Security Strategy Joint Committee inquiry into preparing for emerging infectious diseases and bioweapons was forced to close last year as the general election was called. Dr David Oliver, an NHS consultant in geriatrics and acute general medicine and a Nuffield Trust trustee, added that Asian countries implementation of early aggressive contact tracing, testing the whole population and early lockdown does seem to have flattened the curve and worked. He said mixed messages on PPE had angered staff, with the situation yet to improve in the community or care homes, where a true picture of the deaths toll is not available. Was the Government too slow on testing? Another area in which ministers have been under fire is testing. On Wednesday Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, deputising for the PM, doubled down on Mr Hancocks pledge for 100,000 tests a day by the end of April. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab had defended the PMs coronavirus response / 10 Downing Street/AFP via Getty However, he admitted that currently - despite claiming the Government has 40,000 test capacity - only 18,000 tests are being carried out a day. Peter Openshaw, professor of experimental medicine at Imperial College, said really good preparations under previous Labour governments had helped the bioscience sector respond quickly to the current crisis. But he said there had been an under-investment in the public health infrastructure and devolution had fragmented what used to be a world class service. He added: I think the capacity weve got in terms of being able to test large numbers of samples would be better if we had scaled up rather than really squeezed the investment over the past few years. What about Boris Johnsons leadership? Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove was forced to defend the Prime Minister who is currently recovering from Covid-19 at Chequers - branding his leadership during the crisis as clear and inspirational. Boris Johnson is still recovering from Covid-19 / Getty Images The Government later hit back on Sunday following an explosive newspaper investigation with a furious rebuttal saying it is standard for different Cabinet ministers to chair Cobra. But the Sunday Times reporters behind it claimed there is no precedent in recent British political history of a PM being absent from Cobra consecutively during a national crisis. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said there was a pattern emerging in the Governments response, adding we were slow into lockdown, slow on testing, slow on protective equipment. In terms of lessons for the future, Dr Lewis said the Government should reinstate the position of Minister for Resilience, a role last held in 2018 by Conservative MP Caroline Nokes. Dr Lewis said: The trouble is, as were seeing, if you dont have anyone in charge, you end up with things falling between the cracks. Urgent Virtual Plenary Public session of Parliament about the state of affairs from the Minister of VSA regarding the mass illegal labor dismissals in connection with COVID-19 and elucidation on food packages distributed thus far by the Government PHILIPSBURG, Sint Maarten - The House of Parliament will sit in an Urgent Virtual Plenary Public session on Thursday, April 23, 2020. The Public meeting is scheduled for 11.00 hrs. The Minister of Public Health, Social Development, and Labour (VSA) will be in attendance. The agenda points are: 1. State of affairs from the Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labour (VSA) with regards to the mass illegal labor dismissals in connection with COVID-19 2. Elucidation on food packages distributed thus far to persons by the Government (IS/768/2019-2020 dated April 21, 2020) This meeting was requested by MP C.A. Buncamper, MP A.E. Arrindell, MP M.D. Gumbs, MP R.A. Peterson and MP C.T. Emmanuel. Due to measures taken to mitigate the coronavirus (COVID-19), the House of Parliament is currently closed to the general public until further notice. The parliamentary session will be held virtually and will be carried out live on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1 www.pearlfmradio.sx, via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, and Parliaments Facebook page: Parliament of Sint Maarten On Tuesday, the Trump administration told the last remaining American oil companies in Venezuela that they had until December to wind down operations in the country. The Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a new license that only authorizes limited maintenance of essential operations in Venezuela, with a wind down period ending on December 1. Companies affected include Chevron, Halliburton, Schlumberger, Baker Hughes and Weatherford International. Essentially, the companies can continue very limited operations in Venezuela but will not be able to export oil. They can only do the bare minimal to comply with contracts, but drilling and exporting are barred. Operations will have to end on December 1. The U.S. government slapped harsh sanctions on Venezuela a year and a half ago when it launched its regime change campaign, seeking to oust President Nicolas Maduro. Washington aimed to block most of Venezuelan oil exports as a way of strangling the country. But a handful of American oil companies, including Chevron, were repeatedly issued three-month waivers. The Trump administration thought that they could topple Maduro in short order, and they wanted American oil giants there to operate in a post-Maduro environment. Venezuelas oil laws would be rewritten to allow for private international companies to come in. But ousting Maduro has proved much more difficult than Trumps team thought. As Chevrons three-month waivers approached expiration, the U.S. government repeatedly weighed the pros and cons of extending. Hardliners, such as former national security adviser John Bolton, wanted to let them expire and force out the companies as a way of tightening the screws on Maduro. Others in Trumps orbit, warned that doing so would mean losing an American presence in Venezuela while also gifting those assets to Russia and China. The latter view won out. The same calculus was at play in regards to Tuesdays decision, although Trump is now leaning more towards forcing the companies out. But not entirely. Premium: The Oil Sector That Will Suffer The Most In our view, this may reflect a continuing Trump Administration intent to retain a U.S. footprint for a day one after Maduro scenario, ClearView Energy Partners wrote in a note to clients. The Trump administration also appears to be trying to prevent Maduro from earning revenue from the companies operations while blocking him from taking over their assets. But the new license does not call for Chevron and others to pack up and get out immediately. The directive limits Chevrons operations in Venezuela while attempting to maintain the companys footprint in the country so that Russia and China do not step into the void, ClearView argues. The Trump administration may also be allowing some leeway for Chevron to operate in order to prevent being nationalized by the Venezuelan government. At the same time, the December deadline does not guarantee a complete end of Chevrons operations in Venezuela. ClearView argues that the decision may have had the U.S. presidential election in mind anti-Maduro sentiment is strong in Florida, an important swing state. By promising to end oil operations for American companies in Venezuela, Trump may be aiming to avoid unflattering optics, ClearView said in its report. Trump is signaling escalation with Venezuela to ensure support from anti-Maduro voters in Florida, while also not going so far as to force out Chevron, at least for now. Its not clear if the U.S. government will be able to walk the tightrope successfully. Venezuela has been in dire straights for quite some time, but is now suffering from multiple crises at once. The economy has been in shambles for years, made worse by U.S. sanctions, but a public health crisis from the coronavirus pandemic and the worldwide collapse in oil prices dramatically increases the pain. Venezuelas oil production fell to 670,000 bpd in March, down by a third since the U.S. imposed sanctions at the start of 2019. By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: BERLIN Derided by many economists for years for insisting on a balanced budget and criticized for a health care system seen as bloated and overly expensive, Germany has found itself well equipped now to weather the coronavirus pandemic. Already applauded for early actions such as social-distancing regulations and aggressive testing seen as helping keep the death toll comparatively low, Europes largest economy has had the financial flexibility to launch a massive rescue plan to help businesses and keep workers paid. As the country moves to relax some restrictions this week, Chancellor Angela Merkel is pointing to the example of South Korea, which relied on its experience fighting a different coronavirus five years ago to combat COVID-19, as the way forward. Meantime in the U.S., some protesters have taken to the streets supported by President Donald Trumps tweets to demand an end to virus-related shutdowns to help the faltering economy, which has caused tens of millions to lose their jobs, even if it could lead to an increase in deaths as the health care system struggles. This is a crisis which, on the one hand, has probably hit the U.S. where it is most vulnerable, namely health care, said Carsten Brzeski, ING banks chief Eurozone economist. While at the same time it has hit the German economy where its the strongest. Brzeski was among those who argued for Germany to spend more to stimulate the economy as growth ground toward stagnation, but concedes now the country is in a fortunate position. For years, balanced budget proponents argued it was prudent during good economic times to bring Germanys house in order to be prepared for a crisis. So in announcing a 1 trillion euro ($1.1 trillion) rescue plan for the countrys 83 million people last month, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz was able to assure there was more money available, if needed. And while Italy and Spain were faced at the height of the crisis with having to decide whether to allocate precious ICU beds to elderly patients with the most urgent need or to younger patients with the greatest chance of survival, Germany has never had a shortage and has even taken in patients from other European countries. They had the means, but then they also had the political will, and also the very good analytical insights to use the means, Brzeski, said, noting Merkel was a scientist before entering politics. I cant imagine any government better than Angela Merkels to deal with this. Germany is now taking baby steps to ease restrictions, allowing smaller shops to reopen this week while sticking to strict social-distancing guidelines and requiring face masks on public transport and in stores. The effect will be analyzed after two weeks to see whether infections have again started to significantly climb. We must not overwhelm our health care system, Merkel said, warning restrictions could be snapped back. The best path is one that is careful, and not taken light-heartedly. The far-right Alternative for Germany party has criticized Merkels go-slow approach as ruining our country, but the chancellors popularity has been steadily rising and Germans overwhelmingly see her governments crisis management positively. Opening her Berlin toy store Wednesday for the first time in over a month, Galina Hooge said she had already received government aid and the process was surprisingly quick and uncomplicated. She said it only covered the stores rent and bills, but she felt relatively secure thanks to Germanys universal health insurance and strong social safety net. The main thing is that everyone stays healthy and the situation doesnt become like America, she said, referring to the large number of cases and deaths in the United States. Besides help for small businesses, Germanys aid package is designed to keep the unemployment rate down and allow workers to return quickly when possible. While Washington is sending out one-time stimulus checks to Americans, the German government plan pays at least 60% of the salary of employees who are on reduced or no hours. As restrictions are eased, Merkel has pointed to South Korea as an example of how Germany will have to improve measures to get ahead of the pandemic with more testing and tracking of cases to slow the infection rate. Experts say one reason South Korea has managed to avoid lockdowns or business bans was because of its aggressive testing and contact-tracing program that draws from its experience of fighting a different coronavirus MERS or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in 2015. Following that outbreak, which killed 36 people and sickened around 200, South Korea rewrote its infectious disease law to allow health authorities quick access to a broad range of personal information to fight infectious diseases. Amid criticism from privacy advocates, authorities have fully exercised such powers during the COVID-19 pandemic, aggressively tracing virus carriers contacts with tools such as smartphone GPS tracking, credit card records and surveillance video. Peoples movements before they were diagnosed are published on websites and relayed via smartphone alerts to inform others whether they have crossed paths with a carrier. The government is also using smartphone tracking apps to monitor the tens of thousands of people placed under self-quarantine at home and plans to use electronic wristbands on people who defy quarantine orders. South Korea on Wednesday reported 11 new cases of the coronavirus, the 21st day in a row that the daily jump in infections came below 100. The approach has meant South Korea has managed to slow the spread of the virus without imposing massive lockdowns or banning nonessential businesses, so there has never been any debate over reopening its economy. In the U.S., there has been growing impatience over virus-related shutdowns that have led tens of millions to lose their jobs, and the U.S. Senate on Tuesday approved nearly $500 billion in new aid for businesses, hospitals and testing, on top of a $2.2 trillion package passed last month in the country of some 328 million. Trumps administration has issued guidelines advising relaxation of restrictions only after prerequisites, like a two-week downward trajectory of cases, are met. Trump himself, however, has grumbled our country wasnt meant to be shut down and has tweeted support for anti-shutdown protests, and some states are moving ahead with plans to begin reopening as early as this week. The U.S. has registered more than 825,000 infections and 45,000 deaths so far, including some 15,000 fatalities in New York City alone. Often at odds with Trump, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has warned against relaxing restrictions too early and risking a new spike in infections, no matter how badly the economy is faring. Were not going to accept a premise that human life is disposable, Cuomo said. And were not going to put a dollar figure on human life. Germany has registered some 150,000 infections, not far behind the worst-hit European countries of Italy, with more than 180,000 cases, and Spain with about 205,000. But where around 5,000 people have died in Germany, Spains toll is nearly 22,000 and Italys has passed 25,000. At the height of the crisis in Spain and Italy the sheer numbers overwhelmed their health care systems, and painful decisions had to be made on who to treat. Domenico Arcuri, Italys extraordinary commissioner for the COVID-19 crisis, told reporters Tuesday that for the first time during the pandemic the nation now has more respirators than patients in ICU beds, and lamented the anguish officials faced deciding who to treat in the early weeks. Each night, we had to decide where to send these instruments, which, in the end, save lives, he said. Ill keep that with me for all my life, and I wouldnt wish anyone else to experience the dilemma of choosing which hospital received them. With the numbers of new infections now stabilizing, Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte confirmed Tuesday that Italy can start reopening on May 4, but he doused any hopes of a total loosening of some of the strictest lockdown measures in a Western democracy. Spain, which has turned hotels into makeshift hospitals and converted a Madrid skating rink into a morgue, has not yet announced plans on relaxing restrictions, with Health Minister Salvador Illa saying it will hinge on advances made in treatment and vaccines to ensure theres no second wave. Spain is still in a difficult place, with some hard weeks ahead, he said Tuesday. In announcing a tentative easing of restrictions in the Netherlands, allowing elementary schools to reopen with reduced class sizes starting May 11, Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he had faced devils dilemmas in trying to decide how to move forward. The Netherlands was projected to have a budget surplus of 3.4 billion euros in 2020, however, and Rutte said the government could afford to take a cautious approach as he ordered bars and restaurants to remain closed until at least May 19. Thanks to the governments good financial position, it can offer first aid to companies, independent business owners and affected sectors, his government said. ____ Frank Jordans in Berlin, Kim Tong-hyung in Seoul, South Korea, and reporters around the world contributed. Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev on Thursday constituted a six-member committee to frame a security protocol for healthcare personnel dealing with COVID-19 cases in the wake of recent attacks on them. A government official told PTI that the chief secretary has directed the committee, headed by the principal secretary of Delhi health and family welfare department, to frame the protocol within 48 hours. Dev also asked Delhi Police Commissioner S N Srivastava to nominate a state-level nodal officer not below the rank of special commissioner and district-level officer not below the rank of DCP who would be available round the clock to address any safety issues related to medical professionals. "They must take all necessary measures to ensure adequate protection for healthcare professionals and frontline workers and to prevent any incident of violence against them," the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Inter Miami consider move for James Rodriguez Real Madrid Have made contact with Florentino Perez Everything is pointing towards James Rodriguez departing Real Madrid in the summer, especially with his contract coming to a close in 2021, and MLS side Inter Miami have joined the list of suitors for the Colombian playmaker. Since returning to Real Madrid last summer, following an unsuccessful two-year loan spell at Bayern Munich, James has struggled for game time under Zinedine Zidane. According to Goal, Inter Miami part-owner David Beckham has already contacted Real Madrid president Florentino Perez to explore the possibility of signing James. Florentino, who has a good relationship with Beckham, is open the idea of selling the 28-year-old, although Inter Miami will face competition from Serie A and the Premier League. As such, everything is pointing towards James bringing his time in Spain to an end this summer. Alaska and Horizon have received $992 million in the form of a $725 million grant and $267 million loan, to be used exclusively toward continuing to pay employee salaries, wages and benefits. The funding will cover about 70% of budgeted payroll costs for both airlines through Sept. 30, 2020, and was based on similar costs reported by the airlines for the period of April through September 2019. "We're extremely grateful for the leadership of all federal government officials involved in enabling this direct support for aviation employees during this time of significantly suppressed demand and near-zero revenue," said Brad Tilden, Alaska Air Group's Chairman and CEO. "This support enables us to protect jobs and maintain critical transportation infrastructure while we work over the next few months to assess our business and make thoughtful decisions." Of the $992 million in PSP funding, $267 million is in the form of a loan and must be repaid to the government within a 10-year term. Additionally, the Treasury Department has received warrants to buy 847,000 non-voting shares of Alaska Air Group common stock at a price of $31.61 a share, which was the closing price of the stock on April 9, 2020. Under this program, Alaska and Horizon have agreed to additional conditions such as no involuntary furloughs and no reductions to rates of pay or benefits through Sept. 30, 2020; to continue suspension of dividends and share repurchases until Sept. 30, 2021; limits on executive compensation through March 24, 2022; and to maintain the minimum levels of air service as required under a Department of Transportation rule. Alaska and Horizon have separately applied for $1.1 billion in federal loan funding through a separate program authorized under the CARES Act. Funds loaned to both airlines through this program will support short-term liquidity needs and must be paid back in full. If finalized, the term of the secured term loan agreement would be five years, and provide for the Treasury Department to receive warrants to buy additional non-voting shares of Alaska Air Group common stock amounting to 10% of the loan value at a price of $31.61 a share. Discussions with the Treasury Department on this loan are still ongoing. Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Carriers in North America" in the J.D. Power North America Airline Satisfaction Study for 12 consecutive years from 2008 to 2019. Learn about Alaska's award-winning service at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK). SOURCE Alaska Air Group Some experts also said the scientists suffered from a lack of independence. While Professor Vallance has begun to show some daylight with the government he recently said SAGE would re-examine the governments decision not to advise people to wear masks his regular public appearances next to Mr. Johnson and other cabinet ministers have made him look too much like an agent of the government rather than an independent adviser, according to critics. On Thursday, the government said it would consider the latest scientific advice on masks and it seemed likely to encourage their use a decision complicated by the shortage of masks for people who work in hospitals and nursing homes. Some of SAGEs internal debates play out in competing research studies published by their authors. A few days after Imperial College released its dire projections about the deadliness of the virus, a team at Oxford University published a study that considered a scenario in which more than half of the population might already have been infected a theory that, if valid, would argue for a less draconian response. Scientists, of course, often disagree and change their minds, based on new data. To some, that is yet another argument for lifting the veil on the advisory group. The idea that a small group of experts can never make a mistake or miss out on any information is never right, said Sarah Wollaston, a former chairwoman of the House of Commons Health Select Committee. But you cant challenge the advice if other experts cant see what they are looking at. Sheri Fink contributed reporting from New York. Anna Joyce contributed research from Dublin. Twenty doctors and paramedics at the JLN Medical College at AMU here are being quarantined after a surgeon tested positive for coronavirus on Thursday, senior officials said. On Tuesday, 48 doctors and paramedics who had come in contact with a coronavirus patient were put in quarantine, severely hampering the functioning of the hospital which is one of the frontline hospitals for testing and treating COVID-19 patients in Uttar Pradesh. A doctor in the department of surgery at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College hospital at Aligarh Muslim University tested positive for coronaviruson Thursday, District Magistrate Chandra Bhushan Singh said. According to the president of the hospital's Resident Doctors Association, DrHamza Malik, the junior doctor who has tested positive was "in no way connected to the coronavirus isolation ward and had contracted the virus three days ago while performing surgery on a supposedly non-coronavirus patient". Officials said the patient from whom the surgeon contracted the virus was asymptomatic but it is now suspected that the patient has coronavirus and tests are being conducted to ascertain the same. A hospital spokesperson told PTI that as a first step about 20 odd doctors and paramedics who had come in contact with the infected doctor are being quarantined. The Resident Doctors Association has demanded that in view of Thursday's developments the hospital should be designated asa coronavirus-specific facility. In a statement, Dr Malik said if there is no secure system for protecting doctors including regular supply of PPEs, then the junior doctors who are presently working "without any concern for their own safety round the clock on the frontline will have no option but to stop work". He has demanded that issues related to problems of junior doctors should urgently be addressed so that the "ongoing efforts of medical professionals do not go in vain". When contacted AMU spokesman Professor Shafay Kidwai told PTI, "We are fully aware of the commendable role played by the medical fraternity including the junior doctors". He said the administration was addressing all their concerns but in the present circumstances it was not feasible to declare the hospital as a designated hospital just for coronavirus patients. "This hospital is catering to patients from about half a dozen districts in western Uttar Pradesh and we simply cannot shut our doors to other serious patients. Treating only COVID-19 patients would have serious implications for overall health services," Kidwai said. He added that the hospital was working on an "emergency regimen" under which any patient who enters the hospital premises would immediately be screened for coronavirus before being sent to the casualty zone. "By segregating normal patients from coronavirus suspects at the entry level we will be able toassure that there are nocross infections within the hospital complex," he said. The additional district magistrate (city) R.K. Malpani told PTI, "We are reviewing the entire procedure for admitting patients with the medical college authorities to address the concerns arising from today's development.We will urgently put in place a suitable arrangement. This medical collegeis catering to such a large pool of patients that we cannot afford to limit its functioning just for coronavirus patients". The district magistrate has urged the hospital staff to intensify precautionarymeasures for preventing the spread of this pandemic. Meanwhile, the district and the hospital authoritieshave stepped upemergency damage control steps. After Thursday's case, four COVID-19 positive patients have been identified in Aligarh city. One patient who was admitted in an advanced state of COVID-19 infection died at the JL Nehru hospital on Tuesday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WHO Chief: COVID Spread in Europe May Be Easing By VOA News April 22, 2020 The director-general of the World Health Organization said Wednesday that most coronavirus epidemics in Europe "appear to be stable or declining" but warned "the virus will be with us for a long time." During his daily COVID-19 briefing in Geneva, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus further cautioned that "most countries are still in the early stages of their epidemics" and that some that were hit early by the pandemic "are now starting to see a resurgence in cases." Tedros said lockdowns and other "physical distancing measures" had curbed the spread of the virus in many countries and that complacency was now "one of the greatest dangers we face." He urged countries to adopt public health measures the WHO has been recommending, including identifying, isolating and testing every case and quarantining everyone who has had contact with COVID-19 patients. Spain looks ahead Separately, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has targeted the second half of May as his country's "horizon of de-escalation," as his government and others start to plan an exit from strict coronavirus containment measures. Speaking to parliament Wednesday as he requested an extension of current lockdown orders through May 9, Sanchez said that when Spain does begin to ease restrictions, it will be a "slow and gradual" process. That would be in line with warnings from public health officials who in recent days have urged governments to be careful when lifting restrictions on businesses and public life, saying that moving too quickly would risk a resurgence of infections. Spain has been one of the world's hardest-hit countries, with 208,389 confirmed COVID-19 cases and at least 21,717 deaths as of Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University. A strict lockdown went into effect in mid-March. Some businesses have been allowed to reopen, and after public criticism the government said that starting Sunday, children under age 14 would be allowed to go outside for walks. With many countries around the world focused on testing programs to find the infected, isolate them and trace their close contacts, there are concerns about areas where widespread testing is not available and where people are living in close quarters. That includes refugee camps, and on Wednesday the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees reported the first confirmed case in a camp in eastern Lebanon. UNRWA said the person was a Palestinian from Syria and that she had been taken to a hospital in Beirut. The agency said it was doing everything necessary to aid her family members in isolating themselves, and that it was sending a team to the camp to carry out coronavirus tests. Governments are also eager to find a vaccine for COVID-19, a milestone that would help prevent future massive outbreaks. Second-wave warning Robert Redfield, director of the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told The Washington Post on Tuesday that a second wave of infections later this year just as flu season begins "could be even more difficult" and put a massive strain on the health care system. A COVID-19 death in California in February suggested the coronavirus was claiming lives in the U.S. weeks earlier than the administration previously thought. The first reported COVID-19 death was on February 26 in Seattle, Washington, but local officials in Santa Clara County, California, reported a death that occurred February 6. The person died nearly three weeks before the reported fatality in Seattle and more than five weeks before U.S. President Donald Trump issued national guidelines suggesting that people stop unnecessary travel and avoid gatherings of more than 10 people. Trump Wednesday tweeted, "Our Country is starting to OPEN FOR BUSINESS again," although the U.S. leads the world by far in confirmed cases (839,836) and fatalities (46,079), according to Johns Hopkins. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin predicted most U.S. economic sectors would be open again by late summer. Several states have already started to reopen businesses and ease travel restrictions, despite warnings from local elected officials and some health experts that those actions might be premature. The United States and China are among countries conducting trials of coronavirus vaccines, with officials cautioning it could take until at least early next year before a vaccine is available to the public. British health officials said the University of Oxford was set to begin testing a vaccine candidate on people on Thursday. "In normal times, reaching this stage would take a year," Health Secretary Matt Hancock told reporters. He cautioned that vaccine development was a process of "trial and error and trial again." There were more than 2,622,500 confirmed cases and over 182,300 deaths worldwide as of Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Schools in Green River, McKinnon and Granger wont be re-opening for the remainder of the school year. In an announcement last week, Interim Superintendent Jamie Christensen said the school year will conclude under the districts Adapted Learning Plan after discussions with local health officials. Students were allowed back into school buildings to collect their belongings. Uncertainty around a decision about the end of the school year seems to be creating more stress than simply making the decision and allowing parents, teachers, and students to plan for it, Steve Core, chairman... Luftglass, who previously directed information technology for the American Red Cross, was at the center of the sprawling school systems botched preparations for online learning over the past month. After two failed attempts, the district this week temporarily canceled face-to-face virtual instruction, announced it was moving away from its technology platform, Blackboard, and retained a law firm to conduct an independent review of the rollout. Mumbai, April 23 : In an unexpected fallout of the recent US oil price crash, the Multi-Commodity Exchange finds itself drawn into a legalbattle, with three brokerage firms, Motilal Oswal Financial Services, Religare Securities and PCS Securities jointly approaching the Bombay High Court against the bourse for settling crude oil contracts on the bourse at '-Rs 2,884 a barrel', post the historic rout in WTI crude on Monday. In their plea, the brokerages have said that crude futures contracts are settled in cash on the exchange and there is no delivery-based mechanism for these contracts in India and, therefore, these contracts can be traded at base price of Re 1 in case of an unprecedented eventuality. So, assigning a negative value is "arbitrary and illogical", it said. The petition said that as MCX closed at 5 p.m., investors were not able to cut their positions. If trade would have been open, traders would have had the opportunity to exit positions as the price of the contract on benchmark NYMEX was in positive territory till 10.30 p.m. (IST), it added. Motilal Oswal Financial Services, in a series of tweets, clarified its position. The brokerage firm said that it has many clients with exposure in crude and it was fully covered till the price was zero and even little more, but with the unforeseen movement and settlement occurring nearly 400 per cent lower there is no way any broker can have ample cover to take care of such risk. "We are confident of fully recovering the money from clients and also we are helping them with all possible legal recourse. Total dues from the clients are about Rs 80 crs," it said in one of its tweets. "There are no proprietary positions. We hope regulator will also look into this issue in the right perspective," it added. In an unprecedented price movement, the May delivery contract of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude went below zero dollars on Monday and shed more than 300 per cent to settle at -$37.63 per barrel on the NYMEX. The plunge in oil prices was largely due to the lack of demand and a supply glut in the US, leading to shortage of storage facilities. However, due to the nationwide lockdown, the exchange was active from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Indian Standard Time) and the Indian traders missed the opportunity to trade amid the volatility or square their positions as the losses increased. The closing price at 5 p.m. on April 20 was Rs 994 per barrel. The MCX issued a circular keeping the intermediate settlement price at Re 1 per barrel, which was agreed upon by the brokers and members. But, the next day the exchange put out another circular and set the settlement price at minus Rs 2,884 per barrel, exposing brokers to a potential loss of Rs 435 crore. The exchange paid out Rs 242.32 crore to members of Multi Commodity Exchange Clearing Corporation Ltd (MCXCCL). Apparently, the brokers were not informed about change in the mechanism. Experts said that as crude oil is not a deliverable contract in India, but is settled through cash, it cannot be settled at a negative rate. Currently, the June contract of WTI on the NYMEX is trading at $15.61 per barrel, higher by 13.28 per cent from its previous close. On the MCX, the May contract was trading at Rs 1,233 per barrel, higher by 31.59 per cent from its previous close. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 13:18:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CANBERRA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has launched a coronavirus testing blitz in an attempt to find every case of the virus in the region. The territory government on Thursday announced in a press release on its website that any residents with COVID-19 symptoms will be eligible for testing for 14 days from Friday. The testing will be conducted at two clinics, one of which is a drive-through facility, and everyone who is tested will be required to self-isolate until they receive a negative result. The ACT government is optimistic that the program will provide a clearer picture of whether there is widespread community transmission of the virus in Canberra, Australia's capital city. Rachel Stephen-Smith, the territory's Health Minister, said that she was not expecting the blitz to uncover a large number of cases. "This increased testing will give us some really valuable information as we make decisions about the way forward," she said. "Canberrans have been doing an incredible job in helping us stop the spread of COVID-19 and we have now only uncovered one confirmed case in the past nine days," said the minister. In total it has had 104 diagnosed cases, the second-fewest of any state or territory, and three deaths. The blitz represents the most radical expansion of the ACT's testing regime, which has been slowly expanded since mid-March. Authorities began randomly testing residents on April 6 but none of the 221 random tests conducted as of Wednesday had returned positive results. South Australia (SA) has already begun a similar testing blitz that has resulted in more than 2,000 tests being conducted every day. Enditem The past two months have included a lot of wellIve never seen that before kind of moments. Even in an environment of firsts however, probably the most unexpected was when the price of the front month WTI oil futures contract traded at a negative number. On the surface, this is not exactly about options (although if you keep reading, options will make an appearance later) but the pricing mechanics of futures and option contracts are significantly similar, so understanding the events of this week can actually help you gain a more complete understanding of how those markets work. First, let's do a quick rundown of the fundamentals. A Forward contract is an agreement between two parties to exchange an asset for a specific price on a specific date in the future. Futures is simply the term for a forward that trades on an exchange. There is evidence that some version of forwards have been traded for thousands of years and its easy to understand their value for buyers and sellers of assets like agricultural commodities who would like to reduce uncertainty about what prices in the future might be. Those who know they will be buying or selling weeks or months from now can hedge their risk by locking in a price. Exchange-traded futures have the advantage of standardized terms about quantities, dates and delivery options so that every market participant doesnt have to negotiate each and every term every time they make a transaction. When someone offers 10 July corn at $3.25, other traders know that they want to sell 10 contracts of 5,000 bushels each that expire on July 14th at a price of $3.25/bushel. The vast majority of the commodity futures contracts that are traded dont end up resulting in the physical delivery of the underlying asset. Most hedgers and speculators take advantage of price action while the contracts are trading, but then close their trades before expiration. Those transactions used to happen in person-to-person open-outcry trading pits, but now they occur almost exclusively in electronic markets adding a great deal of efficiency as well as instant price transparency for traders and investors around the globe. Story continues In the 1970s the Chicago Board of Trade and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange added futures contracts on financial instruments like bonds, currencies and stock indices, many of which were settled with cash payments rather than the physical delivery of the underlying asset. The CME bought the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) in 2008, adding a portfolio of energy futures and options products to its offerings, including the benchmark WTI contracts. Exchange clearing houses collect margin deposits from all participants before allowing them to trade and then act as the de facto counterparty between all buyers and sellers, ensuring that the solvency of any given counter party is never a factor. They reassess each account every day to be certain that all participants can meet their financial obligations to the market. With the clearing house acting as the buyer for every seller and vice-versa, each trader is assured that they will receive any money they are due. Despite the fact that most traders never intend to take or provide delivery, the possibility for actual exchange of assets is the foundation of these markets. The exchange specify one or more locations to which sellers can deliver their goods and where buyers are required to make arrangements to store or transport them away. Theres an age-old joke from the days of the Chicago trading floors that if a trader gets sloppy and forgets to close out a long contract before expiration, hell find himself with 5,000 bushels of corn dumped on his front lawn. Its funny, but its not even close to true. What would actually happen is that the trader would receive a receipt for that same 5,000 bushels at one of the 6 acceptable depots in and around Illinois that are detailed in the contract specs. That trader would then be responsible for the costs of storing and/or transporting that corn to another location. For market participants who dont have any relationships that would allow them to transport or store physical commodities, those costs add up quickly and will quickly dwarf any apparent profits from a futures trade, turning it into a huge loss instead. Among the many factors that caused the aberrant price movement this week, the delivery issue seems to have had the biggest impact. It has been reported that all the businesses that can typically be employed to transport or store crude oil in Texas and Oklahoma were at full capacity and not accepting new customers. Suddenly, traders who were long the soon-to-expire May futures contracts were facing the possibility that they would be forced to accept physical delivery and didnt have any options regarding what they would do with the oil. Some of them were willing to close their positions at a negative price. They were paying for the privilege of not owning a (formerly valuable) asset. CME executives had clarified earlier that futures prices could in fact be a negative number, even though it has never happened before. For a brief period, thats exactly what happened and with one day remaining until expiration, the May WTI contract closed at -$37.63/bbl. But thats not even the strangest part After clearing trades at negative prices and reporting a negative closing print, the CME announced that it would be possible to trade options with a negative strike price. It makes perfect sense. If a given price is possible for a futures contract, it stands to reason that some market participants would want to trade options at those strikes. It also presents a truly bizarre complication. Picture the mechanics of a put option with a negative strike price. Theoretically, you could sell it and collect a premium. Then at expiration, either it would be worthless and youd keep the premium you collected or the buyer would exercise it and youd receive 1,000 barrels of WTI crude and a cash payment in the amount of the options strike. I want to be absolutely clear that I am not recommending anyone sell naked puts on oil. The aforementioned issues regarding the price of storage and delivery could easily erase all potential profits and turn the trade into a big financial loss as well as a major headache. Id also like to point out that there are many other factors that are contributing to the incredible moves in oil prices weve been seeing that Ive left out for the purpose of brevity. The management of the (very popular) USO exchange traded fund which seeks to replicate the value of a near-term WTI futures contract most likely played a major role in the negative price environment. Heres the point I do want to make to options traders: Fundamentally, options trades break down to a few simple decisions. How much do I pay (or get paid) to enter the position? What are my rights or responsibilities? What assets or cash payments will I be entitled to (or owe) during the life of the trade? During unusual periods like were experiencing right now, examining the potential risks and rewards of options trades can be a very interesting exercise. Remember to be very careful before you trade, however. When something looks too good to be true, it probably is. -Dave Want to apply this winning option strategy and others to your trading? Then be sure to check out our Zacks Options Trader service. Interested in strategies with profit potential even in declining markets? Maybe our Short List Trader service is for you. Want more articles from this author? Scroll up to the top of this article and click the FOLLOW AUTHOR button to get an email each time a new article is published. Click to get this free report CME Group Inc. (CME) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Drug raids net 10 suspects, including two fugitives PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police have arrested 10 suspects in a slew of raids with more than 4,000 pills of methamphetamine (ya bah), 26 grammes of crystal meth (ya ice), 50 kilograms of kratom leaves, and two firearms and ammunition seized. crimedrugspolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Thursday 23 April 2020, 03:07PM The raids netted drugs, firearms and 10 suspects, including two fugitives. Photo: Phuket Provincial Police The raids netted drugs, firearms and 10 suspects, including two fugitives. Photo: Phuket Provincial Police The raids netted drugs, firearms and 10 suspects, including two fugitives. Photo: Phuket Provincial Police The raids netted drugs, firearms and 10 suspects, including two fugitives. Photo: Phuket Provincial Police The raids netted drugs, firearms and 10 suspects, including two fugitives. Photo: Phuket Provincial Police According to a report made available yesterday (Apr 22), the raids were led by Lt Col Jaran Bangprasert. The report did not confirm when each suspect was placed under arrest. Officers arrested Chakkrapong Joke Changlek, 38, and Khajonsak Tu Kraisarn, 41, on a street off Sakdidet Rd in Wichit after they were found with 4,010 pills of ya bah and 2.31g of ya ice. Police also seized a Toyota Revo pickup truck and nine other items of evidence that were not specified in the report. They were taken to Wichit Police Station and charged with possession of a Category 1 drug with intent to sell. Atthaphon Top Tengrang, 34, originally from Trang, was arrested after he was found with 8.34g of ya ice at a Muay Thai gym on Phra Phuket Kaew Rd in Kathu. Officers also found an 11mm gun, a .38-calibre gun, 47 11mm bullets and seven .38 bullets at his workers accommodation unit in Soi Saithong 2, on Wichit Songkham Rd. Officers also seized a Yamaha Nouvo motorbike and 19 other items of evidence. Atthaphon was charged with possession of a Category 1 drug with intent to sell, possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition, and violating the Emergency Decree by breaking the national nightly curfew from 10pm to 4am. Ornthima Na Saengthong, 32, was arrested with 10 pills of ya bah and 9.87g of ya ice and four other items of evidence. She was arrested near an 7-Eleven store on Wichit Songkham Rd, also in Kathu, the report noted. She was charged with possession of a Category 1 drug with intent to sell. Wichet Kai Kaewpharai, 44, originally from Satun, was arrested with 210mg of ya ice at a tree shop on Phra Phuket Kaew Rd, also in Kathu. He was charged with possession of a Category 1 drug. Sunee Gib Boonta, 30, originally from Chumphon, was arrested with one ya bah pill and 300mg of ya ice at a bus stop in front of Thalang Districts Public Health Division office on Thepkrasattri Rd in Moo 1, Thepkrasattri. Sunee was taken to Thalang Police Station and charged with possession of a Category 1 drug. Phuket native Udomphon Thae Sae-Ngo, 28, and Donlaya Cartoon Prathumsan, originally from Buriram, were arrested with 5.01g of ya ice and six other items of evidence at an apartment on Sakdidet Rd in Wichit. The report noted that Donlaya was wanted under Phuket Provincial Court arrest warrant no. 374/2562 issued on Dec 9, 2019, for the charge of possession of a Category 1 drug with intent to sell and money laundering. Udomphon and Donlaya were taken to Wichit Police Station and charged with possession of a Category 1 drug. Penpetch Jack Khlibngen, 25, was arrested with 50 kilograms of kratom leaves packed into six plastic bags at a house on Anuphas Phuketkarn Rd in Rassada. He was taken to Phuket City Police Station and charged with possession of a Category 5 drug. The last arrested suspect marked in the report was Chula Jack Changlek, 41, who was wanted under Phuket Provincial Court arrest warrant no. 804/2557 issued on Nov 4, 2014, for the charge of a possession of a Category 1 drug. Chula was arrested at a house on Lakkongsie Rd in Rassada, but was taken to Thalang Police Station to be charged, the report noted. In a concerted effort to address the upsurge in data demand amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Nokia Corporation NOK recently announced its collaboration with mobile network operator United States Cellular Corporation USM. With millions of people staying indoors, the latest move underscores the Finland-based equipment makers commitment to deploy its avant-garde fiber optic and wireless networks to help users avert exposure from the deadly virus. Last month, U.S. Cellular secured the Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) Special Temporary Authority to leverage additional spectrum to meet increased customer demand for mobile broadband during the coronavirus pandemic. Under this scheme, the network operator will be able to operate on a 60-day temporary spectrum, which is licensed to Advantage Spectrum in the AWS-3 Band. Nokia will be supporting U.S. Cellular with its Airscale Radio Access Network to shore up connectivity at 250 cell sites for customers dwelling in California, Wisconsin, Oregon and Washington. Apart from U.S. Cellular, tech giants like Verizon Communications Inc. VZ, T-Mobile US, Inc. TMUS and AT&T have also been granted Special Temporary Authority to ensure that U.S. citizens to enjoy seamless connectivity amid this pandemic. Of late, the FCC has been essentially helping Americans to work from home and connect remotely with health care professionals during this hour of crisis. To date, 185 broadband and phone service providers have joined the Keep Americans Connected pledge to help people stay connected for the next 60 days. The regulatory authority has also urged the operators to waive any late fees incurred by residential or small business customers and open Wi-Fi hotspots to anyone who needs them in these dire circumstances. With a significant rise in voice and data traffic, cyber racketeers are infecting numerous mobile devices with malware applications. In order to curb these illegal practices, Nokias much-acclaimed Threat Intelligence Lab aims to evaluate these potential cyber threats as well as ensure timely response for its accurate detection. In response to increased threat of malware attacks, U.S. Cellular also stated that it will be leveraging Nokias NetGuard Endpoint Security solution to monitor enterprise and consumer network traffic for any malware threats. These threats are mainly directed at aggravating the fear surrounding COVID-19 through various corona-related phishing campaigns. With the help of this application, U.S. Cellular will be able to detect the devices that are getting affected with these malwares and identify the specific type of malware application so that the carrier can undertake precautionary measures to protect its customers. Currently, Nokia is expanding its business into targeted, high-growth and high-margin vertical markets to address several opportunities beyond its primary markets. It had announced plans to accelerate strategy execution, sharpen customer focus and reduce long-term costs. This, in turn, should help the company position itself as a global leader in the delivery of end-to-end 5G solutions. However, macroeconomic dynamics and competitive pressure from arch-rivals, Ericsson and Huawei, are likely to create near-term pressure for the Finland-based vendor. Nokias shares have plunged 42.1% compared with the industrys decline of 22.2% in the past year. The Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock topped earnings estimates twice in the trailing four quarters but missed the same in the remaining quarters. It has a trailing four-quarter positive earnings surprise of 87.5%, on average. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 (Strong Buy) Rank stocks here. Story continues 5 Stocks Set to Double Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth. Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >> 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 Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) : Free Stock Analysis Report Nokia Corporation (NOK) : Free Stock Analysis Report United States Cellular Corporation (USM) : Free Stock Analysis Report T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research An anti-Naxal CRPF unit in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli has used hundreds of fresh cotton vests to prepare nearly 2,500 face masks for locals to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection in the area. The 191st battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force is deployed in an interior location in the Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-hit Gadchiroli district where the supply of regular goods was hampered after the country went into a lockdown from March 25. The paramilitary unit was directed to immediately begin relief work in the area and distribute hand sanitizers, soaps, detergent, face masks, dry ration and cooked food to the needy. "We had no masks. Supplies from outside would have taken some time to arrive. Then, we found we had 415 fresh vests in our unit canteen." "In normal times, these are meant to be used by our troops but this was an extraordinary situation," Prabhakar Tripathi, the Commanding Officer of CRPF's 191 battalion, told PTI over phone from Gadchiroli. We immediately put our tailors and other jawans on task and they cut these vests and stitched a total of 2,490 face masks that were distributed among the locals, the Commandant said. These came in handy in the initial days which gave the force time to source masks from outside, he said. This CRPF unit has been providing meal to about 600 villagers, including 40 members of two wedding parties, for close to a month now. The wedding party got stuck in this remote location due to the lockdown clamped to contain the spread of coronavirus infection in the country. The Gadchiroli district is one of the worst Maoist violence-affected districts in the country and the CRPF has been deployed there for conducting anti-Naxal operations. The units or companies (about 100 personnel each) of this battalion are deployed in remote locations, as far as 150-200 Kms from the district headquarters, like Etapalli (that borders the Abujhmaad area of Chhattisgarh), Hedri, Gatta(Jambia), Heliwada, Kasansur and Kotami. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Donald Reed Herring, the oldest brother of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, died in Oklahoma Tuesday after testing positive for coronavirus earlier this month. Herring, a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, was 86. Warren confirmed her brother's death from coronavirus in a statement. Im grateful to the nurses and other front-line staff who took care of my brother, but it is hard to know that there was no family to hold his hand or to say 'I love you' one more time. And now theres no funeral for those of us who loved him to hold each other close, Warren said. I will miss my brother. Warren said Herring joined the Air Force at 19, spent his career in the military, including five and a half years off and on in combat in Vietnam. "He was charming and funny, a natural leader. What made him extra special was his smile. He had a quick, crooked smile that seemed to generate its own light and to light up everyone around him," Warren said. Herring was hospitalized in February for pneumonia and moved to a rehabilitation center to recover, where he tested positive for the virus in early April. He remained asymptomatic for 11 days before falling ill and was moved to intensive care at Norman Regional Hospital, where he died eight days later, the Boston Globe reported. Warren said she spoke with him often, and last spoke with him on Sunday, when he seemed to be doing better. US Lawmakers Criticize YouTube for Removing CCP Virus Content Not in Line With WHO Several U.S. lawmakers are calling out video-sharing platform YouTube after its CEO said that content that goes against World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations will be removed. YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, in a recent interview with CNN, said that Anything that would go against World Health Organization recommendations would be a violation of our policy. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) responded in a tweet on April 22: Absurd: The WHO shamelessly broadcasts Chinese communist propaganda, and now YouTube is saying it will censor anything contrary to the WHO. The CCP shouldnt be running Silicon Valley, or trampling free speech in America. WHO The WHO has been under heavy criticism for its handling of the global pandemic caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus. The international health body was criticized for advising countries not to impose restrictions on international travel and trade as a means to curb the spread of the virus. The United States banned travelers from mainland China on Jan. 31 It also drew scrutiny for ignoring a warning from Taiwan officials in late December about the viruss risk of human-to-human transmission. The WHO initially repeated Beijings claim that there was no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission on Jan. 14. Beijing didnt admit the virus was contagious until Jan. 20. On April 17, President Donald Trump questioned the WHO for ignoring Taiwans December warning that the virus could be transmitted between humans. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) similarly called out the WHO for disseminating inaccurate information: The @WHO gave inaccurate information about the spread of the virus, still parrots Chinese propaganda, and fought @realDonaldTrumps China travel banIt is alarming that @YouTube now relies on the @WHOs biased recommendations to decide what video content to take down, she said in a tweet. Trump suspended U.S. funding for the WHO, pending a review launched on April 14. He called out the international health body for its China bias days earlier. According to State Department statistics, U.S. contributions exceeded $400 million to the WHO in 2019, while China provided $44 million in the same year. In response to Wojcickis comment, Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) expressed his concerns about big techs powerful role in society. Tech censorship threatens free speech, free markets, free elections and even public health! The @WHO repeated Communist Chinas propaganda as the #coronavirus spread around the world while @youtube removes dissenting views! This is why we need my Stop the Censorship Act, he tweeted. In July last year, Gosar introduced the Stop Censorship Act (H.R.4027), which would amend section 230 of the Communications Act of 1934. According to a press release, the bill would revoke the unprecedented and unwarranted immunities given to Big Tech for the censorship of objectionable content. Yellow Icons Beijings influence on YouTubes policies was under scrutiny after several videos about the virus outbreak published outside China were recently slapped with a yellow dollar sign. YouTube flags videos with the yellow dollar sign if it deems the video content not suitable for ads, meaning that creators of these videos are barred from most, if not all, ad revenue generated. Creators can request a manual monetization review to appeal for the yellow label to be removed. Most recently, on April 20, YouTube blocked a channel called Caijing Lengyan, run by a Chinese independent economist who calls himself Leng Yan, after the economist made a video that explained Chinas incentives for promoting digital currency, such as the ability to monitor peoples purchasing behavior. Two days later, he announced via his Twitter account that YouTube lifted its ban, thanks to media coverage by Chinese-language outlets outside China. However, he added that he lost about 2,000 fans during the ban. Speaking to the Chinese-language Epoch Times, he said that YouTube first removed his video on digital currency, but reinstated it after his appeal. He questioned what had driven YouTube to ban his channel completely. He suspected that Chinas fifty-cent armyinternet users who are reportedly paid a meager 50 cents by the CCP for every comment they leave on news articles and social media defending the Chinese regimemight have intentionally reported his channel to YouTube. He said his YouTube videos do not include incendiary speech or have marketing purposes, so it should not violate the video platforms terms and conditions. He called the ban on his channel a threat and betrayal to freedom of speech. NORTHVILLE, Mich., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CPS), a leading global supplier of sealing, fuel and brake and fluid transfer systems for transportation and industrial markets, today provided an update on its liquidity and announced the dates and details for its first quarter earnings release and conference call. As of March 31, 2020, Cooper Standard had total liquidity of $465 million, including $302 million of cash on hand and $163 million of availability under its senior asset-based credit ("ABL") facility as amended on March 24, 2020. There were no borrowings under the ABL as of the end of the first quarter. The Company expects to release full results for the first quarter 2020 after market close on Monday, May 11 and hold a conference call with the financial community on Tuesday, May 12 at 9 a.m. ET. During the conference call, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Edwards and Chief Financial Officer Jonathan Banas will discuss Cooper Standard's first quarter 2020 results, provide a general business update and respond to investor questions. A link to the live webcast of the conference call (listen only) and presentation materials will be available on Cooper Standard's Investor Relations website at http://www.ir.cooperstandard.com/index.cfm. To participate by phone, callers in the United States and Canada should dial toll-free 877-374-4041 (international callers dial 253-237-1156) and provide the conference ID 6274518 or ask to be connected to the Cooper Standard conference call. Representatives of the investment community will have the opportunity to ask questions after the presentation. Callers should dial in at least five minutes prior to the start of the call. Individuals unable to participate during the call may visit the investors' portion of the Cooper Standard website (http://www.ir.cooperstandard.com) for a replay of the webcast. About Cooper Standard Cooper Standard, headquartered in Northville, Mich., is a leading global supplier of systems and components for the automotive industry. Products include sealing, fuel and brake delivery and fluid transfer systems. Cooper Standard employs approximately 28,000 people globally and operates in 21 countries around the world. For more information, please visit www.cooperstandard.com. CPS_F Contact for Analysts: Contact for Media: Roger Hendriksen Chris Andrews Cooper Standard Cooper Standard (248) 596-6465 (248) 596-6217 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. Related Links http://www.cooperstandard.com YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. As part of coronavirus relief programs, the government of Armenia has approved its 14th Act aimed at eliminating the economic consequences of the pandemic. This measure will provide support to university students. Earlier the government had also initiated various relief programs for supporting unemployed citizens, pregnant women, businesses, vulnerable families and others. Editing and translating by Stepan Kocharyan Gap said on Thursday its existing cash fund may not be enough to sustain operations as the coronavirus pandemic continues to financially impact both the company and retail industry as a whole. The clothing company said in an SEC filing it has indefinitely suspended rent payments, which come to about $115 million per month in North America, and that some stores may permanently close. There are 28 Gap stores in New Jersey and 1,700 worldwide, according to the companys website. All of Gaps U.S. stores have been temporarily closed since March 19 due to the pandemic. We are currently negotiating with the counter-parties under those leases to defer or abate the applicable rent during the store closure period, to modify the terms (including rent) of our leases going forward after the stores reopen, or in certain instances to terminate the leases and permanently close some of the stores," Gap said in the SEC filing. Gap said it plans to take the following actions over the next year to help cash flow: Cutting jobs, reducing merchandise orders, financing debt, and extending the terms for payment of goods and services. The company has told its vendors to stop shipping items for its summer and fall seasons, according to a report by The Motley Fool. Items for the summer season will only be accepted if they are for online sales. In January, Gap shuttered two New Jersey stores, along with dozens worldwide, to "serve as a more appropriate foundation for brand revitalization. Gap also operates Banana Republic, Old Navy and Athleta. RELATED STORIES ABOUT RETAIL AND CORONAVIRUS: The retail chains weighing bankruptcy as coronavirus slams industry Nike, Adidas each holding big sales for at-home workout needs Forever 21 selling $5 face masks online, donating one to low-income families with every purchase Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Nicolette Accardi can be reached at naccardi@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter: @N_Accardi. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips The special clip marked the duos first new Little Britain sketch to air on television in more than 10 years. The special lockdown version of the comedy featured characters saw Lucas, 46, and Walliams, 48, perform from their homes using household objects as makeshift wigs and costumes. They brought back many fan-favourite characters from the original BBC comedy and donned toilet rolls, cardboard boxes and paper 'wigs' in order to recreate the look, which went down well with viewers. The duo did not attempt to soften the shows outrageous sense of humour, with one brief skit showing Andy (Lucas) telling his carer Lou (Walliams) that he wanted to eat a bat. As the pair reprised their infamous Im a lady sketch, Lucas suggested that the joke had not aged well, telling his co-star: Im also a lady but Im not sure we should be doing this sketch any more Lucas suggested the pair's 'I'm a lady' sketch had not aged well / BBC Walliams riffed on holidays cancelled during the coronavirus crisis as he performed as unhelpful travel agent Carol, telling a customer: You want to book a holiday somewhere hot? Computer says no. Lucas also brought back Fat Fighters boss Marjory Dawes, who suggested that anyone worried about putting on weight during the lockdown should try her signature snack, dust. Gavin and Staceys Ruth Jones also made a brief appearance as recurring character Myfanwy. Little Britain - In pictures 1 /30 Little Britain - In pictures BBC HBO BBC HBO PA BBC HBO PA bbc PUBLICITY PICTURE PA PUBLICITY PICTURE PUBLICITY PICTURE BBC BBC BBC PA PA Fans were thrilled to see Walliams and Lucas back together - albeit at a distance - with many calling for the pair to reunite in the future for more episodes. The double act previously joined forces last year for a Brexit-themed Little Britain special which aired on BBC Radio 4. The Big Night In, which raised funds for those affected by the coronavirus crisis, marked the first time that Comic Relief and Children In Need had joined forces. The three-hour telethon saw Dawn French reprise her much-loved role as the Vicar of Dibley, while Peter Kay introduced a special version of his 2005 Is This The Way To Amarillo video, with new clips from members of the public. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children also appeared during the broadcast to clap in support of the NHS and other key workers as part of the Clap For Our Carers initiative. Why You Should Create An Online Festival [KOSHA DILLZ] Indie hip hop artist Kosha Dillz did an online festival last week. Here is what he learned. We decided to make it on Sunday after I created an online streaming group with tons of artists. We made a Facebook group called Seder Stream because Passover is a big holiday for us, and it grew to over 1100 members in a week. By Wednesday we had the festival announced in Billboard Magazine with a playlist, and it landed us in Jewish Journal, the J Weekly, and also Culture Collide. 1. You could raise awareness and $$$ for a good cause. Whether you are helping 10-20 artists raise money for themselves (virtual tip jar) or foundations like Jazz foundation of America or ipadstohospitals, you are working on the good. Let us all be upfront and say doing good things makes you feel good, That works hand in hand with getting thru the coronavirus together. 2. You are helping other artists get out of their head and into their pockets People are looking to be part of things and all of us are wondering what we are gonna do with money. Some of us lost $5k. Some of us lost $20k. Some of lost $60k. But in the end, we can all agree we have lost. We are in our heads so much that our favorite Cranberries song is all too real. Think of it as a mental health day. It helps to make some money and keep our dreams alive. People are currently coming out of the woodwork to check in on people they followed 5 years ago. Lets find those people and bring them back to become our die-hard new supporters during Covid times. 3. Free content. Extra! Extra! The content game is crazy. I booked 20 some artists and now have footage and created a highlight real. Brands already want to be involved because they saw what we do and bring attention to something so quickly. We are re-creating an idea that attention is still valuable in a time when the billion-dollar live music world has stopped. Recap videos. Live stream videos. Youll be surprised who you meet on a live stream. We have been gifted some real gems every day! 4. Building something genuinely not about you. I am here making sure everyone is grasping this. As artists, we are all self-seeking. We want to pursue the best for our careers. This is the time in shifting where we cant be like that. We have to be a supportive community and be for others (more than last year.) This is a great time to collaborate. 5. Increase in online attention I cant imagine that my followers have been jumping through the roof and meeting so many new opportunities as I have, but my Instagram profile views have gone up 6000 ever since the festival, and I also have been contacted by other artists and made their fans followers of me for being helpful to their friends and collaborators. Use this time to bring it all in. The festival. The press. The Bandsintown and Facebook events. The Spotify playlist of all the artists. 6. Create a festival that brings the world together You might not be able to afford to do a festival IRL that is even a small production of regional bands. Now you can bring international bands to your audience from all over the world. Weve had acts like Ran Nir in Berlin and Vala Nirenberg from Uruguay perform at our Seder Stream festival, as well as rational reggae stalwarts from Ballyhoo! to Roots of Creation. Virtually, You can go on an Australian tour now. You can do. European Tour. You can do a Canadian tour. Now is the time to reach out and create connections with everyone, You can do this all from the comfort of your home!! Isnt that crazy??? Now that you read through this, take a second to think about who you have on your friend list on Facebook. Think about joining an organization like Stage it for live streams or getting a subscription to Streamyard for personal branding. Ask some people who will want to get involved. Put up a post on all of your social platforms from Twitter to LinkedIn and Instagram and throw in some of your favorite artists to a DM. Once you get a couple involved, arrange with a charity org some plans for social and contact Culture Collide or Billboard and other cool sites like Vulture to include your live streams. Kosha Dillz is a rapper that is based in TLV and Israel. He was supposed to go on tour with RDGLDGRN x Little Stranger this month, but Covid19 canceled 25 dates of awesomeness. Make sure you check out his Patreon and his Bandsintown for more virtual concerts. When you get a moment, listen to his new song with Matisyahu here and his new song w/ EDM star Kaskade. Reach out to him at rapperfriends(at)gmail dot com. Share on: Twenty-six years after Rwanda was torn apart by ethnic violence that left hundreds of thousands of dead, one of the major figures in the campaign of genocide remains a fugitive. Felicien Kabuga, a once-prominent Rwandan businessman, is wanted by an international court for his role in the genocide and the United States is offering a large reward for information leading to his arrest. Kabuga, born in 1935, was a prominent political supporter and financial contributor to elements in the Rwandan government bent on committing genocide. He is accused of helping to plan a campaign of extermination that resulted in approximately 100 days of violence in 1994. The allegations against him include giving violent extremist elements financial support for massacres, importing large quantities of weapons, and founding and directing the Radio Television Libre des Milles Collines, which broadcast messages inciting genocide. For these and other crimes the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, now known as the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, indicted Kabuga on charges of genocide and war crimes and issued a warrant for his arrest. The United States is cooperating with other governments, the United Nations, and the Residual Mechanism to make it harder for Kabuga and others to continue to elude justice. To achievethat end, the U.S. is offering a reward of up to five million dollars for information leading to his arrest. If you or anyone you know has information on Felicien Kabugas activities and whereabouts, you can provide it with complete confidentiality. Please visit the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate website to contact the Regional Security Office, email the U.S. War Crimes Rewards Program at WCRP@state.gov, or contact us via WhatsApp on +1-202-975-5468. You can also visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/warcrimesrewardsprogram or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/WarCrimesReward for photos of the wanted fugitives. All credible reports will be investigated and the identity of all informants will be kept confidential. The Icelandic Coast Guard rescued a humpback whale on the morning of April 22 that had been caught in a fishing boats gear. A patrol vessel, Thor, was called out to release the whale, which had become entangled in fishing gear attached to a boat near Langanes, Iceland. After a short while the crew was able to untangle the whale, the coast guard said, and a rescue boat followed it to ensure it was safe. The whale did not seem to be hurt and [was glad of its] freedom, they reported. Credit: Icelandic Coast Guard via Storyful Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. 3 cities account for one-third Covid-19 cases The ministry of health on Wednesday updated the number of cases of the Covid-19 across districts, showing that while the 18,000 patients are spread across 426 of the 731 districts in the country , just 12 districts account for half the cases in the country, indicating how the contagion has spread in clusters. Read more Tripura villagers clash with Mizoram police, security beefed up at inter-state border After a clash between few villagers and Mizoram Police along the Tripura-Mizoram border, the Tripura Police has tightened security and deployed large contingents of TSR jawans to avert any further tension. Read more States request use of ESI fund for wages amid Covid-19 lockdown A clutch of industries and a few states have written to the union ministry of labour and employment to allow the use of funds collected under the ESI or Employees State Insurance (ESI) scheme, to cover wages or part of the wages for employees during the lockdown. Read more After success in Tamil Nadu, government to roll out telesurvey to identify Covid-19 hotspots After a successful pilot in Tamil Nadu, the government has started a pan-India telesurvey to reach out to people without smartphones to conduct a Covid-related search. Calls will be placed from the phone number 1921 asking people questions about symptoms of the disease. Read more Thick blood clots in kidneys, lungs and brains of Covid-19 patients scare doctors As the novel coronavirus spread through New York City in late March, doctors at Mount Sinai Hospital noticed something strange happening to patients blood. Signs of blood thickening and clotting were being detected in different organs by doctors from different specialties. Read more World Book and Copyright Day 2020: History, significance, theme and quotes by famous authors World Book Day, celebrated by UNESCO and other related organisations, is the global celebration of books and reading material observed in more than 100 countries. Read more Manoj Bajpayees Aligarh paved the way for Ayushmann Khurranas Shubh Mangal Zyaada Saavdhan; it deserves a reappraisal Before there was Moonlight there was Aligarh. But unlike that film, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2017 and made $65 million worldwide, Aligarh came and went largely unnoticed by the star-crazy Hindi film industry, not even a juicy controversy enough to attract audience interest in its same-sex love story. Read more On this day: Chris Gayle scripted history, blew away Pune Warriors India The Indian Premier League (IPL) has seen a number of brilliant knocks over the years but none of them were as explosive as Chris Gayles unbeaten 175 against Pune Warriors in 2013. The destructive innings from the West Indies opener remains the highest score in the tournaments history and it was also the fastest T20 hundred at that point. Read more Watch| Virus with us for a long time: WHO warns against complacency in Covid battle Health officials from SAARC countries, including India, held a video-conference on Thursday during which they agreed to enhance cooperation to combat the COVID-19 pandemic at the regional level. The meeting, proposed by Pakistan, was chaired by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza and attended by all member states and SAARC Secretary-General Esala Ruwan Weerakoon, the Foreign Office said in a statement. The meeting comes over a month after India took the lead with Prime Minister Narendra Modi bringing the SAARC leaders together through a video-conference amid rising coronavirus cases in the populous region. The SAARC countries have recorded much lower infection rates in the region compared to the worst affected countries including the US, Italy, Spain, the UK, Iran and China. "Issues including real-time sharing of information and clinical data, capacity building and training of medical and paramedical staff, supply of medicines and medical equipment, research coordination and enhancing cooperation with front line international organizations including the WHO came under discussion," the Pakistan Office officials said in a statement. It said that all participants also presented their country's situations and efforts to contain the outbreak. "It was agreed to enhance cooperation in the health sector, particularly in the context of efforts to combat the virus at the regional level, the FO said. "Proposals to fast-track creation of linkages among medical universities, academia and research institutions came under review, it added. It said that Pakistan proposed greater coordination among health authorities of SAARC member states in the context of combating the pandemic and suggested activating the SAARC Technical Committee on Health and Population Activities. Mirza in his address underscored that South Asia was particularly vulnerable on account of its high population densities, fragile health systems and rudimentary disease surveillance. The uncertainties associated with the outbreak had left no room for complacency. However, it also posed an opportunity for South Asia to strengthen health systems, said Mirza. He briefed the participants about the containment and relief measures being taken by Pakistan and highlighted the country's strategy of smart lockdowns aimed at containing the virus while ensuring that economic activity was minimally impeded. The participants agreed to work together to adopt international best practices keeping in view the specific socio-economic circumstances of South Asia. Prof. Rajiv Garg, Director General of Health Services of India; Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Minister for Health and Indigenous Medical Services of Sri Lanka; Nabraj Raut, State Minister for Health and Population of Nepal; Wahid Majrooh, Deputy Minister for Healthcare Services of Afghanistan; Ugen Dophu, Secretary Health of Bhutan, Prof. Abul Kalam Azad, Director General of Health Services of Bangladesh and Maimoona Aboobakuru, Director General of Public Health of Maldives led their respective delegations. Founded in 1985, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation and geopolitical union of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Also Read: Coronavirus effect: Fitch cuts India's growth forecast to 0.8% for FY21 Also Read: Coronavirus impact: SEBI reduces restriction period to raise funds after buyback to 6 months Also Read: Coronavirus impact: CII pegs India's GDP growth between -0.9% to 1.5% for FY21 Premier Gladys Berejiklian has accused the NSW Teachers Federation of wanting to keep children home from school indefinitely, while the Education Minister says the union's proposal to return year 12 to school before other grades forgets that every child's education should be equally valued. The public stoush has erupted between the government and the federation over the government's plan to bring all public school students back to class for one day a week from May 11, bringing to the surface weeks of tension over how to transition back to full-time, face-to-face schooling. The question over closing schools has been the "messiest part" of the state's coronavirus response. Credit:Andrew Quilty The NSW Teachers Federation has been highly critical of the government's one-day-a-week plan, saying it "beggars belief" and fails to comprehend the massive logistical challenges it would cause. Some high-profile principals and teachers have also been arguing on social media that sending students back at all would put teachers' safety at risk. However, many parents are struggling with the pressure of supervising lessons at home while working full-time. (CNN) A landmark trial of a former high-ranking Syrian regime officer accused of overseeing the torture of thousands of prisoners began in the German city of Koblenz on Thursday. Colonel Anwar Raslan worked for Syria's intelligence services until he defected from the regime at the end of 2012, just over a year after the start of the country's uprising-turned-civil war. He was arrested in Berlin last February and charged by German prosecutors with crimes against humanity. Raslan and a former junior officer, Eyad A were arrested under the principle of universal jurisdiction, which gives a national court jurisdiction over grave crimes against international law, even when they were not committed on the country's territory. Attempts to set up an international tribunal have been hampered by Russian and Chinese vetoes at the United Nations Security Council. Raslan's trial in Koblenz is the first court proceeding against a senior member of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime, which has been repeatedly accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the course of the country's nine-year war. Another former junior regime officer, identified by German authorities as Eyad A, is also standing trial for crimes against humanity. Syrian officials have repeatedly denied the allegations, insisting they target terrorists and not peaceful protesters. CNN is trying to reach the lawyers of the two defendants. Raslan has been in Germany since 2014 and Eyad since 2018, according to the court statement. "What happened today is like a dream," Amer Matar, a 33-year-old Syrian who said he was tortured by Raslan, told CNN. "I had lost hope that we would ever be able to deliver justice to the regime." Matar, a journalist from Raqqa, was arrested just over two weeks after the start of Syria's March 2011 uprising. He said he was repeatedly beaten, while blindfolded with his hands bound, when he was jailed in al-Khatib prison, where Raslan headed interrogations. "In one of the interrogation sessions, someone ripped off my blindfold, and I saw Raslan who then punched me again and again," said Matar, now based in Berlin. "I was later beaten and kicked by a group of men. I couldn't walk for days after that." Raslan is accused of overseeing the torture of at least 4,000 prisoners between April 29, 2011 and September 7, 2012, according to a court statement. At least 58 of the prisoners died. Rape and sexual assault allegedly occurred in at least one case. At least three of Raslan's accusers were in court for the first hearing. Several more are expected to deliver witness testimony to the courts. Matar, who was unable to attend Thursday's hearing because of restrictions over the coronavirus, says he looks forward to taking the witness stand, and "looking (Raslan) in the eye." That the trial is happening at all is seen as a major victory for lawyers and investigators, including Syria's "document hunters," who smuggled hundreds of thousands of government documents out of war zones. The documents, compiled by the Commission for International Justice and Accountability (CIJA), have served as evidence at judicial proceedings. "This is a historic day for Syrians and all those fighting the absolute impunity we have been seeing for the crimes committed by the regime apparatus," Bill Wiley, founder and executive director of CIJA, told CNN. "There are other Assad officials who think they found refuge in European countries and CIJA is working to support more such prosecutions in the near future." "The systematic investigation of the Assad government's crimes -- particularly systematic and widespread torture -- is a start," said the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), which represents 17 plaintiffs at Raslan's trial. "The criminal proceedings are first of all important for the survivors involved in the trial. This trial is the first occasion on which they are speaking out -- not only in public, but before a court -- about what happened to them and what is still happening in Syria." Wednesday marked the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. American Gaylord Nelson launched the first Earth Day in 1970. His aim was to urge local action and increase peoples understanding of our planet and its environment. The creation of Earth Day is widely considered the beginning of the modern environmental movement. As climate activists marked the event this year, an unplanned experiment is changing the planet. Many people continue to stay at home to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. As a result, people are making less pollution, and the air has become cleaner. Smog stopped covering New Delhi, one of the worlds most polluted cities. Nitrogen dioxide pollution in the northeastern United States has dropped 30 percent. Air pollution levels in Rome have dropped 49 percent compared to a year ago. Stars seem more visible at night. People also report seeing wild animals in unusual places. Coyotes have been observed walking in downtown Chicago and near San Franciscos Golden Gate Bridge. A puma was seen in the streets of Santiago, Chile. Goats entered a town in Wales and showed no interest in leaving. When people stay home, the Earth becomes cleaner and wilder. Cleaner air Stuart Pimm is a scientist at Duke University in the United States. He says the stay-at-home orders worldwide are giving us this quite extraordinary insight into just how much of a mess we humans are making of our beautiful planet. Pimm told The Associated Press that the situation is providing a chance to see how much better it can be. Scientists, stuck at home like the rest of us, say they are interested in studying unexpected changes in plants, insects, weather, noise and light pollution. Researchers have been observing sharp drops in traditional air pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide, smog and tiny particles. These kinds of pollutants kill up to 7 million people a year worldwide, says Dan Greenbaum, president of the Health Effects Institute. Cleaner air has been most noticeable in India and China. On April 3, people living in Jalandhar, a city in north Indias Punjab, woke up to a sight not seen for many years: snow-covered Himalayan mountains more than 160 kilometers away. Cleaner air means stronger lungs for asthmatics, especially children, said Mary Prunicki. She is a doctor and director of air pollution and health research at the Stanford University School of Medicine in California. She noted early studies have linked coronavirus severity to people with weak lungs and those living in more polluted areas. Animals take over In Australia, police shared a video of a kangaroo on social media. It showed the animal jumping around a mostly empty neighborhood in downtown Adelaide. Several wild jackals recently occupied a city park in Tel Aviv, Israel. We are not being invaded, Dukes Stuart Pimm noted. The wildlife has always been there, but many animals only come out when people are not around. Human activity usually makes it difficult for sea turtles to leave their eggs on sandy coastlines. Nesting turtles need to be undisturbed. After they come out of their eggs, baby turtles might have problems finding their way to the water because of bright lights, said David Godfrey. He is executive director of the Sea Turtle Conservancy. But with lights mostly off and people in their homes, the sea turtle nesting seems much better this year -- from India to Costa Rica to Florida, Godfrey said. Theres some silver lining for wildlife in what otherwise is a fairly catastrophic time for humans, he added. I'm Ashley Thompson. The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English, with additional materials from the Learning English archives. George Grow was the editor. _________________________________________________ Words in This Story smog - n. fog mixed with smoke : a cloud of dirty air from cars, factories, etc., that is usually found in cities asthmatic - n. relating to or suffering from asthma (a physical condition that makes it difficult for someone to breathe) park - n. a piece of public land in or near a city that is kept free of houses and other buildings and can be used for pleasure and exercise nest - v. to build or live in a nest undisturbed - adj. not moved, changed, touched, etc., by anyone or anything catastrophic - adj. a terrible disaster silver lining - idiomatic expression. something good that can be found in a bad situation The Church of Bible Understanding makes millions from US business but allegedly runs shoddy orphanages in Haiti. For a limestone mantel from the Waldorf Astoria in New York City, the church that owns the Olde Good Things antique stores in asks for $8,500. But for the death of each child in a fire at a home it ran in Haiti, parents said the same church offered to pay just $50 to $100 in family compensation along with $150 for funeral-related costs such as new clothes and transportation. The wealth of the Church of Bible Understanding in the United States has long stood in contrast with the shoddiness of its two childrens homes in Haiti, which have faced years of infractions and failed two state inspections. But the gap came into even sharper focus on February 13, when the fire killed 13 children and two adult caretakers as described by the churchs lawyer. Authorities suspect the fire started because the home used candles instead of a functioning generator or battery in a country where power failures are frequent. The deaths have devastated parents like Eustache Arisme, 33, who put his two daughters in the home shortly after they were born because he has a withered left arm and cannot find work. His daughters Nedjie, 4, and Vanise, 3, died in the fire at the home, which is known as an orphanage in Haiti although many children have at least one living parent. Like Arismes daughters, the children in such orphanages are usually handed over, often as babies, by parents who struggle to support them and want them to at least get food and shelter. Parents generally keep custody and are allowed to visit. At first, I was happy to see the children growing up in the orphanage. But now I profoundly regret my decision, Arisme said. When we put our children in the orphanage, the owners welcomed us. Now, after this tragedy, they send a lawyer to deal with us. The lawyer for the church, Osner Fevry, said it is being unfairly singled out by critics in Haiti and overseas. The church may send less money to Haiti than some people would like, he said. But many other US groups solicit donations in the name of needy Haitians and only send a fraction to the country after staff salaries and overhead, he added. It happens to hundreds and thousands of American organisations working in Haiti, raising millions of dollars in the names of churches and NGOs in Haiti, he said. Fevry said the church members running the homes left for the US a few days after the fire not to avoid prosecution, but because they were hounded by police and local media. Along with compensation and spending money for the parents, the church is assuming the costs of funerals for the 15 victims. I dont think the church can endorse legal responsibility, but moral responsibility, yes, Fevry acknowledged. Morally, how come there was a candle to get light for those kids? The homes have run into problems before. A series of inspections beginning in November 2012 found they did not meet minimum health and safety standards, with overcrowding, unsanitary conditions and insufficient trained staff. Haitian authorities stripped them of accreditation. When the church members brought in outside experts, one declared them completely clueless about what is needed to take care of that many babies. Im shocked, she said. That no one has died. The orphanages failed another round of state inspections in 2017, but hired Fevry to fight closure, according to Haitian child welfare authorities. They said closing an orphanage can take months or years, particularly if the management has money or influence. Through its US-based spokeswoman, the church declined to comment on specific allegations of neglect and mistreatment at its childrens homes in Haiti. We are devastated by the tragic fire that took the life of our children at our Haitian orphanage. Words would fail to express our immense grief and heartbreak, the church said in a written statement. We are taking this very seriously and are moving forward to help all of those affected by this horrific accident. I cried bitterly On the night of February 13, 61 children were sleeping inside the churchs two-storey home in the town of Kenscoff in the mountains above the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, according to the Institute of Social Welfare. A 16-year-old boy living there told authorities that he and a caretaker went out to buy candles, which they lit in each of the rooms filled with children, then went to bed. A short time later, around 9pm, the smell of smoke filed the orphanage. Thirteen children, ages three to 18, died, along with a 39-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man. Among them was Tania Caristans six-year-old son, Ricardo. A woman reacts after the fire destroyed the orphanage in Port-au-Prince [Jeanty Junior Augustin/Reuters] Caristan makes a living selling items on the street and washing neighbours clothes. She moved back in with her parents, and said she had to leave Ricardo with her estranged husband. It was only two months later that she learned her former husband had put the boy in a Church of Bible Understanding home. Shocked, she went there with a copy of the birth certificate to get her baby back. But a white man told her through an interpreter that she couldnt take him because she was not one of the people who had given him to the orphanage, she said. I tried everything I could to convince the person in charge at the orphanage, she said quietly, as she watched her younger daughter play outside their shack. I cried bitterly. A security guard opened the gate and asked her to leave. One of her sisters later tried to get the boy back but also failed. But Caristan never lost hope. She always thought she would see her son again one day. She never did. The day after the fire, the boys father told Caristans sister he was dead. Caristan rushed to the hospital to see her sons face for the last time, but he had already been taken to the morgue. She said no one from the orphanage or state had contacted her since. Whatever my situation, it would have been better to have my son with me, she said. He would have eaten crumbs from my bit of bread If Id known his father was going to take him to an orphanage, I would have kept my child. Through its spokeswoman, the church declined to comment on Caristans story. Haitian prosecutors have begun a criminal investigation into the churchs homes, which held 154 children at the time of the fire, according to the national child-welfare institute. The institute finally shut down the homes after the fire, and took 28 children into custody to be reunited with parents or family members. More than 100 other children have fled. Some children raised in the orphanages say they were generally treated kindly. Others describe conditions as mentally and physically abusive, including social isolation and beatings. Anaika Francois, 19, told The Associated Press news agency that she entered the homes at age six because her parents were too poor to take care of her and her little sister. She said children with bed-wetting issues from about that age were physically punished. In bad cases, they were stretched across a table and spanked by the monitor or head of the orphanage, she said. That would often produce marks, in which case the monitor would give you a bath with warm salt water, she said. The marks would disappear in two or three days. Fedania Charles, 20, said that when she lived with the church, children were hit on the buttocks for wetting their beds and then washed with salty warm water. You could see the bruises for at least 24 hours, she said. James Dindin, 36, said he was given to the orphanage at around nine months old. He said that as a teenager, he would be put in a punishment room with a single window along with about a dozen other children for two or three weeks, and escorted to the bathroom by an employee. At times, he said, rebellious children were expelled and forced to sleep on the streets. He said the trauma remains for him and other children he grew up with in the homes. Every time I see one of the kids that I grew up with on the streets begging for money it would trigger back everything, he said. Almost every day. The church declined to comment specifically on the former residents allegations. Haiti has more than 700 orphanages housing more than 25,000 children, and only about 35 of the homes meet the standards of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children, according to the Haitian child welfare institute and the United Nations Childrens Fund, UNICEF. Defenders of Haitian orphanages say despite any defects, the homes help children who would otherwise be in far worse conditions with desperately poor parents unable to feed or clothe them. But child welfare advocates say the orphanages harm children by creating incentives to separate them from their parents. By one estimate, Haitian orphanages receive more than $100m a year in donations, but another study has shown that just a single grant of $220 can help a poor Haitian family maintain a child in acceptable conditions at home. No child should be placed in an orphanage, said Maria Luisa Fornara, UNICEFs representative in Haiti. Fornara asked: I would ask to any of these organisations coming in and supporting orphanages, would they want their children to be in those places? I dont think so. The Forever Family The Church of Bible Understanding was founded as the Forever Family in the early 1970s by Stewart Traill, a former vacuum cleaner salesman. In his mid-30s, he started preaching on the streets of Philadelphia and New York, creating a string of communal houses around the Northeast that drew young people and runaways. It wasnt a comfortable life. Former members said they were crammed into tightly packed rooms, slept on mats on the floor and discouraged from dating, attending school or doing anything outside of church activities. Members worked for church businesses, and, in turn, received small allowances. In September 1982, four members of the church were convicted in Philadelphia for beating Traills then-13-year-old son with a belt and a board, seriously enough that he was hospitalised. The Forever Family had 10,000 members at its peak in the mid-1970s, according to the Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects and New Religions. Traill, who died in 2018 at age 82, rechristened it as the Church of Bible Understanding in 1976, and the church is now believed to have 30 to 50 members. Over the years, the church ran a string of enterprises, including a carpet-cleaning company lampooned on a TV episode of Seinfeld about a sect-linked business hired by one of the main characters. Contracts to demolish old buildings evolved into a business selling vintage architectural features. People standing outside the Orphanage of the Church of Bible Understanding after the deadly fire broke out [Dieu Nalio Chery/AP Photo] That became Olde Good Things, which has a thriving online business and retail shops in New York, Los Angeles and at the headquarters in Scranton, Pennsylvania. They offer antique and vintage home decor such as crystal chandeliers for as much as $22,000. One of the least expensive items for sale this week is a pair of antique bronze door hinges for $55. Olde Good Things, which says on its website that it donates half of its profits to the churchs mission work in Haiti, announced plans last year to open a new flagship store on West 52nd Street in Manhattan this year. Public tax documents depict a church and business with considerable overlap. In its most recent filing, the church reported revenue of $6.6m and expenses of $2.2m. It reported a net loss of $125,537 from Olde Good Things, and the church loaned $3.7m to the business. The church listed $19m in assets. Those assets included a 12,000-square foot (1,115sq metre) house in Coral Springs, Florida where Traill lived with his wife, exempt from state property taxes on religious grounds, according to public records. The church says in its tax records that a large part of our operation is to fund our missionary work, operating the two homes in Haitis capital and distributing food in the countryside. The Olde Good Things website says, We appreciate our patrons and want them to understand that profits from their purchase go directly to supporting this worthy work. The church also received food grants worth more than $579,000 from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) between 2003 and 2012. USAID rejected the churchs grant application as non-competitive in 2013, the same year the Haitian government said its homes for children did not meet minimum standards. The grant has not been renewed. Former members and employees say the work in Haiti was always a central focus of the church and the business. Church members would frequently talk at Olde Good Things about their work in Haiti and would bring children from the homes to the US for medical treatment, said Rashida Lovely, who worked as an accounting clerk and supervisor for the company and said they treated her well. She recalled using a cheque from the business to buy toiletries and medical supplies for the childrens homes, which were then sent to the Caribbean country on a church-owned plane. Any problems at the homes, Lovely said, were likely a result of business revenues being strained or because most of the work in Haiti was done by older church members. They did the best they can do up until now and there are not enough young people to support it, she said. They are too old to be doing it anymore. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 14:05:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close XINING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese experts will build a survey telescope with wide field and high resolution in Lenghu (Cold Lake) Town, in northwest China's Qinghai Province, sources here said. On April 16, the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) signed a cooperation agreement with the Haixi Mongol and Tibetan autonomous prefecture in Qinghai province. They plan to build the telescope on top of Saishiteng mountain near the Lenghu Town, famed for being China's "Mars Camp" due to its eerily eroded desert landscape that closely resembles the surface of the red planet. The Wide Field Survey Telescope (WFST), featuring an advanced active zoom optical system and a 2.5-meter in diameter optical telescope, is expected to capture wide-field and high-resolution images of the sky. Kong Xu, deputy dean of the School of Astronomy and Space Science, USTC, said that equipped with the CCD detector of 750 million pixels, the survey telescope can survey the northern celestial sphere every three nights. A CCD detector is divided up into many small light-sensitive areas known as pixels, which can be used to assemble an image of the area of interest. The construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2021, and the survey telescope is expected to be put into operation in 2022. Kong said Chinese researchers hope to make breakthroughs in time-domain astronomy, celestial body search and near-field cosmology with the WFST. Located on the northwest edge of Qaidam Basin on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Saishiteng mountain observatory boasts ideal natural conditions for building a world-class observatory. Enditem The Nigerian Government has now finalized arrangement for the release of 60 out of the 73 Nigerians imprisoned in Tanzania on different charges. Their repatriation was made possible by the Nigerian ambassador to Tanzania. The Head, Media and Public Relations Unit, Nigeria in the Diaspora Commission, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, made this known through a statement in Abuja on Wednesday. Ever before COVID-19 pandemic, the Nigerian Mission had been working on repatriation of Nigerian prisoners in Tanzania. The Ambassador, Dr Sahobi Gada, was in Nigeria in January 2020, specifically for this purpose after having successfully secured a release of 60 out of 73 Nigerians in various prisons in Tanzania. Arrangements were then being made by the Ambassador for their repatriation, the statement read. Balogun further stated that most of the convicts are arrested for alleged drug-related offences, while a few of the offences bordered on immigration law violations. He explained that the mission had been visiting other custodial facilities in Tanzania to check other Nigerians who may be serving jail terms, adding that it had also canvassed for amnesty for the prisoners on account of the COVID-19 pandemic. He noted, For each of the 73 Nigerians in the prison, the mission had paid 330, 000 shillings (N55,544) as court fees and was always represented in court. The mission had also successfully negotiated the repatriation of 60 prisoners. Balogun noted that a British citizen working with a non-governmental organisation had earlier complained to NIDCOM about the slow nature of the Tanzanian judicial system. It is disheartening to note that while the mission successfully sought a reprieve for 60 inmates, a Nigerian returning to Nigeria after working in Tanzania for three years was caught with hard drugs at Zanzibar and has since been charged before a Zanzibar High Court for possession of illegal drugs, the commission said. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates Here are todays top news, analysis and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Rajnath Singh unveils DRDO-powered mobile lab to speed up Covid-19 screening Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday unveiled, via video conference, a mobile virology research and diagnostics laboratory (MVRDL) that will speed up coronavirus disease screening and other Covid-19-related research and development activities, the defence ministry said in a statement. Read more. Maharashtra deputy CM seeks trains for migrant workers, cites law and order Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar has written to railway minister Piyush Goyal seeking special trains to take migrant workers home as he fears a law and border problem. Read more. Centre freezes dearness allowance till July next year The Centre on Thursday announced that additional dearness allowance (DA) due to the central government employees from January 1, 2020, will not be paid due to the Covid-19 crisis. It also announced the freezing of dearness relief to pensioners from January 1. Read more. Had stuffed up for RCB two years ago: Shane Watson recalls redemptive ton for CSK in 2018 final Former Australia batsman Shane Watson on Thursday recalled his match-winning century for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League 2018 final. Read more. Anil Kapoor has told Abhishek Bachchan jo jo films daddy nahi karenge, send them to me Actor Anil Kapoor has found an interesting way to source roles in films. In a recent interview with Film Companions Anupama Chopra, Anil shared how he has roped in Abhishek Bachchan for the job. Read more. Bill Gates lauds Indias Covid-19 tracker Aarogya Setu: Heres how you use the app Microsoft co-founder and billionaire Bill Gates has praised the Indian government and PM Narendra Modi for the recently introduced Aarogya Setu app. Read more. Living a Zoom life? Here are some relatable memes thatll make you LOL Online video conferencing apps are popular instruments of communication for many these days. Among these apps is Zoom which not only helps people get on endless video calls, its also providing people with something else, hilarious memes. Read more. Deepika Padukone, Anushka Sharma, Katrina Kaif: Throwback to the best looks created by Sabyasachi From classic printed sarees to richly embroidered lehengas, from elegant ethnic suits to co-ords, the designers design narrative is an ode to nostalgia, heritage and classic art traditions. Read more. IIT Hyderabads CfHE invites applications for fully-paid fellowship program, check details Center for Healthcare Entrepreneurship (CfHE), Indian Institute of Technology- Hyderabad on Thursday invited applications for the Fifth Batch of its fully-paid Fellowship program. Read more. Mumbai to modify anaesthesia machines into ventilators for mild Covid-19 symptoms Maharashtra recorded 431 cases in the last 24 hours. The states total is now 5649. The BMC has decided to convert anaesthesia machines into ventilators to save time in procurement. These machines will be used as oxygen supply aids for Covid-19 patients. A panel of anaesthetics experts recommended this solution to the BMC Commissioner on Wednesday. Watch here. Coronavirus quarantine measures have been lifted early at an Austrian ski resort town believed to have acted as an early hotspot for the virus from which thousands of international cases have stemmed. Ischgl, a resort town near the junction of Switzerland and Italy, previously dubbed by some as the Ibiza of the Alps has since become known as something of a byword for mishandling the outbreak. Along with the surrounding resorts of St Anton am Arlberg, Solden and the Paznaun valley, it has been sealed off since the middle of March, after crowded apres-ski bars provided a breeding ground for Covid-19 likely throughout much of February. By the time the first person in Ischgl tested positive on 7 March, hundreds of foreign tourists from across Europe had been infected and returned home. While countries with infected returning citizens warned Austria there may be an outbreak on 1 March, the towns were not placed under quarantine until 13 March. The provincial Tyrol government which has acknowledged mistakes were made conceded in early April that after a testing offensive it had no choice but to extend the quarantines by a further fortnight until 26 April, with nearly one in five Ischgl tests coming back positive. But in a statement on Tuesday reported by the BBC, authorities announced the areas unique restrictions which confined residents to their homes would be lifted three days early, saying there had only been 10 new positive tests in the previous 12 days. For that reason, after consulting with the medical experts, it is no longer justifiable to keep these areas isolated beyond the federal [lockdown] regime, Tyrols government said. They will now be subject to the same lockdown rules as the rest of Austria, which is gradually easing restrictions. Outwith Tyrol, Austria has fared relatively well during the crisis. It has reported 491 deaths so far fewer than many larger countries suffer daily and claims to have flattened the curve, with confirmed infections rising by less than 2 per cent a day. It began to ease lockdown restrictions last week, allowing small shops to open. All shops are expected to reopen by the beginning of May, with restaurants to follow roughly a fortnight later. However, there is mounting discontent among thousands of citizens, both at home and abroad, who suspect they contracted the virus in Ischgl and its surrounding resorts. Some 5,000 people are now believed to have added their names to a possible class action lawsuit accusing authorities of prioritising profit over safety. Led by Peter Kolba of Austrian consumer protection watchdog, the VSV, the potential lawsuit alleges officials lack of action constituted an abuse of authority, creating a public danger, and spreading a reported illness. A description of the facts has been sent to the public prosecutors office in Vienna, which, according to the BBC, now has more than 3,400 signatories from Germany, nearly 400 from the Netherlands, and at least 120 from the UK. This number has grown from a reported 2,500 signatories at the start of April. Following the submission of the VSVs report, the Tyrol Criminal Police Office has been commissioned by the public prosecutors office to undertake investigations on suspicion of negligent endangerment of people by communicable diseases, part of which concern the allegation that a catering company covered up a workers positive coronavirus test in February. The office of Tyrol governor Gunther Platter told CNN that it will be important afterwards to put all measures worldwide and also in Tyrol to the test to see where mistakes have been made and, on the other hand, which structures need to be changed. Additional reporting by Reuters Innovative Industrial Properties (NYSE:IIPR) and Cresco Labs (OTC:CRLBF) have entered into the latest in a series of partnerships. The former, a specialty real estate investment trust, announced that it has bought a property in Michigan and Cresco has signed a lease agreement for it. This item of real estate is an industrial property comprising an aggregate 115,000 square feet. Innovative did not specify where it is located. The company paid $5.0 million for it, exclusive of transaction costs. It then entered into a triple-net lease agreement with Cresco, which is to utilize the facility for the cultivation and processing of cannabis product. Innovative will reimburse Cresco up to $11 million for improvements to the property. This is the fourth such arrangement between Innovative and Cresco. They have agreed on similar lease transactions for properties in Ohio, and in Cresco's home state of Illinois. Michigan and Illinois are among the 11 U.S. states that have legalized both recreational and medical marijuana. The sanctioning of recreational cannabis occurred relatively recently in both cases; this kicked into law late last year for Michigan, and in January in Illinois. With the purchase of the new Michigan real estate, Innovative's property count now stands at 55. All told, these locations comprise around 4.1 million rentable square feet. They are located in 15 states, including other geographies that have legalized both forms of the drug such as California, Nevada, and Massachusetts. Both marijuana stocks rose on Wednesday, with Cresco Labs' beating the gains of the overall equities market and Innovative's trailing behind them. The former stock advanced by 4.8% on the day, and the latter by just under 0.5%. Nicole Trunfio has been forced to apologise for uploading photos of herself posing with baby sea turtles to Instagram on Thursday. The Australian supermodel, 34, landed herself in hot water when she tried to celebrate Earth Day by sharing a glimpse of a past visit to a turtle conservation facility in Oaxaca Mexico. In the photos, the mother-of-three was seen posing in a skimpy bikini on the beach, while allowing the turtles to crawl on her body. 'I'm so heartbroken!' Nicole Trunfio, 34, has apologised after getting slammed for posting photos of herself touching baby turtles to celebrate Earth Day on Thursday Fans quickly informed the mother-of-three that touching baby turtles is actually dangerous for their survival. Baby sea turtles imprint themselves on the sand where they are born, before making their way to the ocean for the first time. If the imprinting process is disrupted by human touching, the turtles' nesting, feeding and mating habits can be hindered far into the future. Hands-on experience: The Australian supermodel, 34, landed herself in hot water when she tried to celebrate Earth Day by sharing a glimpse at her visit to a turtle conservation facility in Oaxaca Mexico Holiday album: In the photos, the mother-of-three was seen posing in a skimpy bikini on the beach, while allowing the turtles to crawl on her body 'Why did you put it on your stomach when its trying to get to the ocean?' one person commented, while another added: 'Releasing turtles is NOT bikini photo shoot time holding them & putting them on your body.' After one fan wrote: 'Oh no... this is basically a what not to do', Nicole quickly replied with a heartfelt apology. 'Just read up on this I dont know why they told us it was ok [sad face emoji]. Im so heart broken,' Nicole wrote. 'Why did you put it on your stomach when its trying to get to the ocean?' Fans quickly informed the mother-of-three that touching baby turtles is actually dangerous for their survival Rather than deleting her post, the jewellery designer proceeded to update the caption with an apology. 'While this experience provided beautiful imagery, I have just learned it is NOT OKAY to touch the turtles and is vital for their survival not to be touched,' she lamented. 'It saddens me that places will allow humans to touch the turtles for money, ESPECIALLY because the experience would have been just as good to WATCH them KNOWING me not touching them would offer them a better chance for survival.' Nicole said she would leave her regretful post on her page in the hopes that other people might learn from her mistakes. 'I don't know why they told us it was ok': After one fan wrote: 'Oh no... this is basically a what not to do', Nicole quickly replied with a heartfelt apology A ngela Merkel today warned coronavirus poses the biggest challenge to her country since the Second World War as she told Germans they will have to live with the disease for for a long time. The German chancellor said her fellow citizens would need to be clever and cautious as they battled to overcome the virus, and that maximum discipline would be required to avoid lurching backwards into repeated lockdowns. We must not waste what has been achieved already, she said. Its not the end phase but still just the beginning. We will be with it for a long time. In an address to Germanys Bundestag, she added: Its the biggest challenge since World War Two, for the life and health of our people. Ms Merkel added the decisions made by her government over how to tackle the virus have no historical model and that countries across Europe faced the same problem. The question of how we can prevent the virus from overwhelming our health system and subsequently costing the lives of countless people, this question will for a long time be the central question for politics in Germany and Europe, she said. Germany has had relative success so far in preventing loss of life. With nearly 150,000 confirmed cases, just over 5,000 people have died from Covid-19 far fewer than in Italy, Spain, France and the UK. Her comments preceded an EU meeting in which leaders were expected to back a 470 billion emergency fund to protect workers, businesses and countries hit by the virus. The video-conference summit was expected to draw up recommendations for EU countries on the tests they should apply before easing lockdown. Meanwhile, in France, interior minister Christophe Castaner downplayed the threat of wider disorder after recent disturbances in several banlieu suburbs of Paris. The protests, triggered by anger about alleged police mistreatment of ethnic minorities during the lockdown, led to baton charges and tear gas. Mr Castaner told BFM TV, he did not expect the clashes to match those of 2005, when there was widespread rioting. In Italy, relatives of people killed by coronavirus are demanding justice over alleged mistakes made by authorities. More than 45,000 people have joined a Facebook group created by Luca Fusco, whose father died of Covid-19 in Bergamo, as a means of gathering testimony. Finlands Prime Minister Sanna Marin was working from home today as a precaution against possible exposure to the coronavirus, her office said. ADEN, Yemen, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) yesterday responded to a distress call from the Yemeni government and began providing assistance to relieve Aden Governorate and rescue Yemeni citizens from flooding caused by torrential rains. Teams from SDRPY began work early in the day, implementing urgent measures to drain floodwater and open the main roads. Further work teams opened the Aqaba Road and the link between the Crater District and Al-Mualla District after the floods caused its closure. These work teams removed large quantities of water from the power stations in Mansoura, the stadium, Chinaz, and Hajif, as well as Block 80 in Mansoura, and also re-opened a number of damaged roads, including the Shoula Road and the Sheikh Ishaq Road, and carried out several other urgent interventions in Hafoun. SDRPY has helped prepare action plans to implement urgent interventions to assist the people of Aden in overcoming the consequences of the floodwater and torrential rains in various locations, including in Tawahi, Al-Mualla and the Crater District; Bir Ahmed Camp, Hosh Al-Majari Camp, the Saudi Agricultural Institute Camp, Ammar bin Yasser Camp and Hosh Othman Camp; the Al-Hamra highway and the main streets in Al-Mualla and Shabatt. Alongside this, SDRPY is intensifying its efforts to alleviate the suffering of the people of Aden Governorate by providing waste transport and bulldozer equipment, water withdrawal tanks and water displacement mechanisms. All of these efforts have been undertaken in partnership with the local council, the Cleaning Fund and civil society organizations in the temporary capital of Aden. It is worth noting that SDRPY always works to harness its capabilities to mitigate the damage caused by the floods and torrential rains that Aden is subject to from time to time. This comes as SDRPY continues its "Beautiful Aden" campaign for cleaning and sanitation, which has just completed its fourth week. More than 300 participants, 12 field monitors, 80 participants from civil society organizations and 40 participants from local farms have taken part in the campaign's activities. The hygiene and environmental sanitation teams are continuing this work, seeking to improve the level of public health and preventive measures in the province, and to reduce environmental and health hazards to which the governorate has been exposed. The hygiene and environmental sanitation campaign includes 10 districts in 8 directorates: Sheikh Othman, Mansoura (Abdel Aziz), Mansoura (Cairo), Dar Saad, Inma and Al Shaab, Brega, Khormaksar, Al Mualla, Al Tawahi and the Crater District, and works in cooperation with the Cleaning Fund in Aden. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1159021/Image_1.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1159022/Image_2.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1159023/Image_3.jpg The Republican-majority Michigan legislature will meet for session Friday to take up measures challenging Gov. Gretchen Whitmers response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On the agenda in the Michigan Senate are bills that would limit the governors authority to declare a state of emergency without input from the legislature by repealing the Emergency Powers of the Governor Act of 1945, and limiting the number of days the governor can unilaterally declare a state of emergency from 28 days to 14. Whitmer spokesperson Tiffany Brown said the governor will veto the Senate legislation if it gets to her desk. Governor Whitmer will not sign a bill that would diminish her authority to protect citizens of this state from a deadly disease that has already killed thousands of people in Michigan," she said. The votes will come ahead of the governors expected announcement on a path forward for reopening the economy as the COVID-19 situation in Michigan improves. On Wednesday, Whitmer said some form of a stay-at-home order would likely have to remain in effect past the end of the month. The current stay-at-home order in effect through April 30 has drawn heavy criticism from Republican lawmakers, and thousands of people showed up in downtown Lansing last week to protest the order with a traffic jam and rally on the Michigan Capitol lawn. The Michigan House will also convene Friday to create a joint oversight committee on how the administration has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senate is expected to concur in the resolution once it passes the House. Michigan needs to handle this pandemic seriously yet properly, House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, said on social media. Its what the people deserve, and we will see that it happens. Democratic lawmakers decried the decision to call the legislature into in-person session during the COVID-19 pandemic, calling it a political decision that puts lawmakers at risk of exposure. Republicans should save their stunts for a time when Michiganders lives arent on the line, Senate Minoirty Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, said in a statement. "The last thing Michigan needs is a bunch of senators in a room congregating, risking exposure and potentially taking the virus back to their constituents and communities. The decision to hold session was made without any input from Democrats, House Democratic Leader Christine Greig, D-Farmington Hills, said in a statement. She said the resolution proposed in the House pushes forward a false narrative of distrust in our governors response that will ultimately cost more lives. One progressive group, Progress Michigan, is considering litigation against House and Senate leadership for continuing to hold session in person during the COVID-19 pandemic instead of making accommodations to meet remotely. "Elected officials should not have to choose between their health and representing their constituents, the groups executive director, Lonnie Scott, said in a statement. Lawmakers last met April 7 to approve a 23-day extension of Gov. Gretchen Whitmers initial state of emergency declaration, extending the order through April 30. Only lawmakers, the presiding officer and essential staff were present on the floor at any given time, and many wore face masks and gloves. Similar precautionary measures to limit spread of coronavirus will be taken at Fridays session, said Amber McCann, spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clark Lake. As of Thursday, there have been 35,291 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Michigan and 2,977 deaths, according to state data. 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 of MLives coronavirus coverage: Thursday, April 23: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan New Michigan coronavirus cases up again, highest jump in 9 days Despite crashes, 820,000 of 1.1M Michiganders filing for unemployment have gotten paid Judge rejects bid by landscapers, garden shops to reopen immediately Michigan restaurants projected to lose $1.2B in April, survey indicates Dozens of bodies found in hospitals temporary morgue prompts Wayne County investigation As Michigan expands coronavirus testing, issues with test accuracy remain P ressure ramped up on ministers to explain how the lockdown will end today as senior Tory MPs warned that businesses around the country fear for their future and could pass the point of no recovery. Calls for the Government to give more clarity on its plans dominated a meeting of the executive of the 1922 Committee, which represents Conservative MPs, last night. Vice chairman of the committee Sir Charles Walker, speaking in a personal capacity, told the Evening Standard: The Government is worried about being seen to put the economy ahead of saving lives but the economy is lives. The idea that when this lockdown is lifted it will be a quick return to business as usual is wrong. The danger is that furlough becomes the limbo between employment and redundancy. Every Member of Parliament is receiving emails daily from business owners who fear for their future, and for the future of their staff. We have got to let people and business owners in on the decision-making. Tory Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown called on the Government to give businesses hope. The treasurer of the 1922 Committee told BBC Radio 4s Today: Weve got to think about the number of businesses, particularly small businesses, that unless they get some form of indication when they might be able to get back into business, that they are actually likely to cease trading. We have to, on behalf of the businesses of this country, begin to give them a little bit of hope as to when we might be able to get back to normality. MPs from across the Commons joined the calls. Former Brexit minister Steve Baker said courage was needed to address the trade-offs: When I look at business in my constituency and how they are struggling, I fear for mass unemployment. The Government will have my support and confidence, but I am certain they will need courage to navigate this moral maze. Labour former minister John Spellar said: The Midlands has suffered the biggest drop in output. Thats why I support Keir Starmers call for the Government to outline its programme for recovery. Meanwhile, Justice Committee chair Bob Neill said the spike in domestic violence showed that lockdown came with a medical cost. People are beginning to think about the economic consequences and also the medical consequences for people with health problems, cancers and mental health issues, he said. We do owe it to people to start having a grown up conversation with them about how we can gradually ease our way out of lockdown when it is safe to do so. Senior backbencher Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East, cautioned however that any easing of lockdown would not be straightforward. It may be hard to persuade many people to come out of lockdown because they will ask is it safe? The Government appeared to be moving towards a strategy of mass testing and tracing potential victims but has been cautious about spelling out its plans. Tory MP Kevin Hollinrake said on Twitter: Test, Trace, Treat has been so effective elsewhere at controlling the virus without the need to lockdown/ wreck the entire economy. He said Health Secretary Matt Hancock had the right approach. Ministers are expected to give support to wearing a face covering on the London Underground following new scientific advice that it could help slow the spread of infections. TODO: define component type apester London Mayor Sadiq Khan wants the Government to issue formal guidelines that masks or DIY coverings like scarves should always be worn on public transport. The BBC reported that ministers are only willing to support a voluntary system. Sources told the Evening Standard that compulsion backed by fines was not currently on the agenda. Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis told BBC Breakfast: Sage (the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) is meeting today... Theres no change at the moment. Loading.... New Delhi: The mob lynching of three men, including two saints Kalpavriksha Giri Maharaj, Sushil Giri Maharaj, in Maharashtra's Palghar on April 16 took a new twist on Thursday (April 23) as Zee News spoke to an eyewitness to ascertain the truth behind the whole incident. The eyewitness, who first reached the place where two sadhus along with their driver were beaten to death in front of the police on that day, is the Sarpanch, Chitra Chaudhary, of Garh-Chinchle village of Dahanu area. Chitra Chaudhary spoke to Zee News in Marathi and related the April 16 incident. "Around 8:30 pm, she came to know that a vehicle has been stopped at the check post where she reached in 15 minutes to see that the sadhus sitting inside the car," she told Zee News while adding that they greeted her from inside the car. Chitra said she also asked them who are they, and where do they want to go. While she was talking to them, the crowd punctured the tires of the car and overturned it. Chitra claimed that she strived hard to convince people till the police arrived. People were angry at her also but somehow she managed to calm them down for two-three hours. When the police reached the spot at 11 o'clock at night, two of the three people surrounded by the crowd managed to sit in the police car, but when the elderly monk came out of the forest post holding the hand of one policeman, the crowd went berserk and started beating him. Chitra claimed that while trying to stop the people, she was also hurt and somehow saved her life and reached home. When she reached the check post again at around 12 in the night, she saw the dead bodies of the monks and their driver. After this eyewitness account, the question arises who instigated the mob to kill the sadhus. When the video of this incident surfaced, allegations were that local leaders and activists of NCP, as well as CPM, were in the crowd. The name of one Kashinath Chaudhary, who is the district panchayat member of NCP, also came to fore. Sarpanch Chitra Chaudhary said that when Kashinath Chaudhary arrived, the crowd was charged taking his name. She claimed that she could not see as to how the murder took place, but the policeman and Kashinath were present there. Chitra said that as per her capability, she tried to stop the mob and even put the victims in police security, but the latter failed to perform their duty. She also added that Kashinath Chaudhary could have convinced the crowd but was surprised to see that the people rather started gathering weapons. Earlier before the camera, she had made the same statement that in this tribal area, there was a rumour that thieves come and take the children away. The same rumour was attributed to the killing of the sadhus. But in her testimony, she said that the crowd all of a sudden was charged with anger. The sudden mood swings of the mob hints that the real motive was rather to kill the sadhus. The role of police, however, is still under question as to why they became helpless in front of the crowd. and why did they virtually handed over the sadhus to the angry mob? Notably, Kalpavriksha Maharaj belonged to Vedpur village in Bhadohi district of Uttar Pradesh. His childhood name was Krishnachand Tiwari and his father's name was Chintamani Tiwari. He was the fourth among six brothers in the family and his four other brothers still live in Mumbai, while another died a few years ago. Krishnachand Tiwari decided to become a sadhu when he was in class three and came to Nashik where he learned Vedas and Puranas. A regular visitor at the Vanvasi Temple in Mumbai's Jogeshwari, Kalpavriksha Maharaj also visited Pimpleshwar Mandir in Kandivali to meet Sushil iIri, the other saint who was also lynched in Palghar. WASHINGTON, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A new nationwide study, released today by Builders + Backers and Her Corner, provides detailed insights into how women-owned businesses fared in pursuing loans from the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): Women business owners were not discriminated against during the application process. They were, however, passed over in several significant ways throughout the process that left them unable to take full advantage of the PPP. Nearly a quarter of all women-owned businesses surveyed never got their foot in the door to apply. Extrapolated nationally, 3 million women-owned businesses that needed funding critical to stay open likely never even had a shot at a PPP loan. Women relied heavily on large national banks and, when they did, their likelihood of obtaining a PPP loan plummeted. There were also substantial and troubling differences in how women fared between the various financial institutions. Women-owned businesses asked for and received less money than national averages despite evidence that women-owned companies are better investments for financial backers. The PPP loan process was a microcosm of the gender funding gap. From a system with a propensity to discourage them from applying to their own conservative tendencies or fear of being turned down and more, all the ways the financing cards are stacked against women were on full display in the PPP process. The survey results, full report and recommendations for lawmakers and the Small Business Administration, financial institutions and women business owners are available for download on the Builders + Backers website at buildersandbackers.com/ppp-survey-results. The study was conducted by Builders + Backers and Her Corner with support from Springboard Enterprises and HelloAlice through a random sample of each organization's membership and networks. The survey was conducted by email on April 17-22, 2020 and 337 usable responses were collected. Survey results were combined with testimonial anecdotes of hundreds of women business owner's experiences in order to shed light on what is happening to small businesses owned by women across the U.S. while also bringing recommendations, strategies and approaches that can help everyone involved in shoring up our nation's small businesses do so effectively and equitably. About Builders + Backers Builders + Backers exists to unleash a wave of ideation and experimentation to solve our country's greatest challenges and create a future where everyone, in every community, thrives. Created from three years of research, we share proven frameworks and tools with local entrepreneurial thinkers and doers to equip them to accelerate their communities' economic engines and stimulate flourishing. We scour the landscape looking for stories to inspire the nation to build, and we back the most promising ideas so they can have an impact at national scale. We believe we can come together by building together. To learn more, visit www.buildersandbackers.com About Her Corner Her Corner is a Washington, DC-based education-company committed to helping women grow their businesses. The company operates in six states, and has a network of nearly 1,000 businesses, including brick-and-mortar shops like bakeries and fitness studios, service providers like bookkeepers and website marketers, nonprofit organizations, and everything in between. We believe women can grow their businesses through the power of collective intelligence and our mission is to be part of that growth story. To learn more, visit www.hercorner.org About Springboard Enterprises Springboard's mission is to accelerate the growth of entrepreneurial companies led by women through access to essential resources and a global community of experts. The measure of our success is in the results. Since 2000, nearly 800 Springboard portfolio companies seeking financial and human capital for product development and expansion have created over $20B in value, are revenue generators and job creators. With 200 exits to strategic acquirers and 20 IPOs, Springboard Entrepreneurs are Transforming Industries. To learn more, visit https://sb.co/ About HelloAlice Hello Alice is a free, multichannel platform that helps businesses launch and grow. With a community of more than 100,000 companies in all 50 states and across the globe, Hello Alice is building the largest network of owners in the country while tracking data and trends to increase the success rate for entrepreneurs. To learn more, visit https://helloalice.com/ CONTACT: Enid Doggett 202-246-3982 [email protected] SOURCE Builders and Backers Related Links http://www.buildersandbackers.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Citra Handayani Nasruddin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 11:03 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3bb0e6 3 Opinion fiscal,pandemic,COVID-19,coronavirus,transparency Free President Joko Jokowi Widodos calls for greater transparency in the government response to COVID-19 has offered new hope in the face of national disaster. To improve public access to information, the government should consider harnessing open fiscal data that seamlessly ties the pandemic budget and aid distribution on the official website of COVID-19. Through the system, the government can also promote solidarity and collaboration with citizens in monitoring, executing and evaluating funding and response plans to overcome a humanitarian crisis of this magnitude. Thereby, the government can improve the accountability of the fund disbursement, step up efforts and save more lives. According to Law No. 24/2007 on disaster management, the Presidents recent declaration of the pandemic as a national disaster brings some consequences. Aside from bearing the responsibility for the funding, the government encourages community participation in the provision of funds. Moreover, aid management encompasses planning, use, maintenance, monitoring and evaluation of goods, services and national and international assistance funds. Read also: Explainer: Indonesia to finance coronavirus battle mostly through debt During the emergency, the government must provide and protect the citizens, especially the vulnerable community members. The supply of clean water and sanitation, food, clothing, health care, psychosocial service, accommodation and dwelling space, therefore, must be available for those who need it. In this matter, open fiscal data can support such aid delivery by creating an enabling environment that will boost government performance and promote greater citizen participation. First, a plan for the COVID-19 data integration, following the order of the President, can provide a head start for the government to improve its public services. Further, leveraging the official website of COVID-19 to serve as an integrated open data and budget portal, the government can bring transparency to another level. This initiative will enable the government to disclose its performance to the people by providing real-time progress of the planning, budgeting and spending over COVID-19 responses. Consequently, citizens can monitor the entire effort, holding the government responsible and accountable for the process. Transparency serves to provide accountability and legitimate citizen rights to proper outcomes from the government. While the people will be able to see where the bottlenecks are, public monitoring and pressure can also motivate the government to find the best solution, using a rigorous and data-driven approach in policymaking. The insights generated by this tool will also allow the government to align its spending and outcomes. With systematic analysis and reliable data in hand, it is more compelling for the government to justify and convince people on the solutions chosen and actions taken. As stated by the Overseas Development Institute, circumstances surrounding emergencies pose the risk of corruption. The pressure to disburse aid immediately, large-scale procurement processes and an expanding budget may create power imbalance and information asymmetry and thus presents opportunities for actors involved to corruptly divert the disaster aid. There lies a challenge to translate allocated funding into commensurate benefits on the ground. This open data mechanism, hence, can be a tool to eliminate the information asymmetries, align the interests of all actors and ensure the aid people receive is as what has been promised and initially planned. As a result, the government can work effectively. Moreover, in this extraordinary time, the government can show its best performance by exercising robust policies that can endure great shock and navigate turbulence despite a high degree of unpredictability. Despite all odds, the government needs to ensure that various measures implemented have addressed peoples needs. Read also: Indonesias COVID-19 stimulus playbook explained It must also guarantee that its pledge can be fulfilled, by immediately disbursing Rp 75 trillion (US$4.54 billion) for health care and Rp 110 trillion for social safety net programs, and accelerating other measures that are still in the pipeline to be delivered on time. Thus, the government must regularly assess and evaluate the program efficacy and, ultimately, improve the disaster response based on the evaluation findings. Second, through the open fiscal data, citizens can see how the COVID-19 disaster strategy is linked to funding and execution, and how the policy translates into practice and actions taken by the government. This way, the government can prove that it will take whatever steps needed to protect the people. The citizens can, then, rest assured that the government effectively responds to their concerns, and the substantial efforts to address their needs have been undertaken. Feeling secure and having their basic needs fulfilled, they can be convinced to act responsibly and support government efforts. As a result, they can participate in creating an atmosphere that is conducive to winning this battle together. After all, we can only expect citizens to act responsibly and rationally if they are well-informed, safe and sound. Moreover, the government can promote a feedback loop that empowers citizens to participate by supplying real-time feedback on the benefits delivery. For instance, they can verify once they receive the benefits, or report it if otherwise. They may also be facilitated to voice their concerns and influence the policy, including urging for more budget reallocation if such action is needed to further curb the virus spread. In turn, public participation through this system will grant citizens a strong sense of involvement in policymaking that generates the genuine rule of law and support to the government. Consequently, improved transparency may boost solidarity to the government endeavors in this turbulent time. Conversely, the lack of openness may perpetuate a false sense of security, misinformation and harmful actions. It could also trigger contagious anxiety, leading to the stigmatization of the COVID-19 victims and patients. However, transparency and accountability is only one element in good governance. It must come as a package deal with credible information, especially accurate data on case numbers and fatality rate, as was highlighted by the President in a Cabinet meeting last week. It also has to be a part of a policy mix that addresses every root cause specifically, under effective emergency management that works closely with experts and professionals and collaborates with other countries. Ultimately, establishing transparency requires decisive policymaking to communicate the policy and actions effectively and consistently. ___ Communications strategist of the Finance Ministry. The views expressed are her own. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Universities could face a 2.5 billion funding 'black hole' amid predictions that 121,000 fewer students from abroad will enter higher education during the coronavirus pandemic, a report has warned. Tens of thousands of jobs risk being lost if the Government fails to take urgent action to mitigate the impact of the crisis, according to research carried out for the University and College Union. The union is calling on the Government to underwrite any funding lost from a drop in student numbers to ensure universities are not 'damaged' when conducting research into Covid-19. Nearly three in four universities across the UK - which amounts to around 91 institutions - could be left in a 'critical financial position' amid the pandemic, the report suggests. Already a number of prestigious universities, like Imperial College London, have announced cost-saving measures in a bid to protect finances The total numbers expected not to take up university places is 230,000, according to the report, with 110,000 from the UK, and 121,000 from abroad. Chinese students make up 40% of that, so figures suggest 48,000 fewer travelling from China to attend university in the autumn. Universities that cater for a large number of international students, who pay more in tuition fees, are set to be hit hardest by a drop in income in the next academic year. The analysis, by London Economics for the University and College Union (UCU), warns that a fall in student numbers will lead to 2.5 billion of fee and teaching grant income being lost. Universities that cater for a large number of international students, who pay more in tuition fees, are set to be hit hardest by a drop in income in the next academic year. Pictured: The Bodleian Libraries, at the University of Oxford, is deserted during coronavirus lockdown The report also warns that an estimated 30,000 university jobs are at risk, and a further 32,000 jobs are under threat throughout the wider economy, without Government intervention. The total economic cost to the country from the reduced economic activity generated by universities amid a loss in income is estimated at more than 6 billion, the analysis suggests. It comes after vice-chancellors warned this month that universities were likely to face 'financial failure' amid the Covid-19 crisis without emergency Government funding of at least 2 billion. Universities UK (UUK) said the sector could face major financial risks in the next academic year amid a predicted sharp fall in international students and a rise in home student deferrals. Already a number of prestigious universities, such as Oxford and Imperial College London, have announced cost-saving measures in a bid to protect finances. Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, said the government must take 'urgent action' to provide support to universities Jo Grady, UCU general secretary, said: 'This alarming report shows that university staff and students are now staring over the edge of a cliff and desperately need the government to step in and protect the sector.' She added: 'Our world-renowned universities are doing crucial work now as we hunt for a vaccine and will be vital engines for our recovery both nationally and in towns and cities across the UK. It is vital that the government underwrites funding lost from the fall in student numbers. 'These are unprecedented times and without urgent guarantees, our universities will be greatly damaged at just the time they are needed most.' Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, said: 'The union is absolutely right to warn of the knock-on impacts this would have for jobs, regional economics, local communities and students. 'Government must take urgent action to provide the support which can ensure universities are able to weather these very serious challenges, and to protect students, maintain research, and retain our capacity to drive the recovery of the economy and communities.' Rebecca Long-Bailey, shadow education secretary, is calling on the Government to underwrite all institutions to secure their future and their role in the country's economic recovery. She said: 'The Government must step in to support universities and mitigate their funding shortfall to prevent the significant economic impact this report predicts. 'UK universities must be valued as part of the frontline response to the coronavirus pandemic, supplying students to the NHS and conducting world-class research into the virus.' But Nick Hillman, director at the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), said the research should not be regarded 'as the final word' on how coronavirus may affect student numbers. He said: 'The report assumes higher education will be considerably less attractive in 2020-21 but, in a deep recession, there are good reasons why people opt to delay the end of their formal education. 'The crisis may nudge people who have just left school (or indeed have just graduated) but were undecided about what to do next to stay on in education.' Jess Bunting remembers one particular night well. Sitting in bed holding her newborn son, Ms Bunting desperately wanted the advice that plagues all new mums - how to settle a crying baby. Ms Bunting turned to the internet and found a lifesaver in the SleepWellBaby app, developed in consultation with leading early parenting organisation, Tresillian. Jess Bunting with her five-month-old son William. She has been using the SleepWellBaby app. Credit:Louise Kennerley It has helped Ms Bunting track feed and sleep patterns for William, now five months old, as well as offer her vital pieces of advice and support that she cannot access from her mothers' group since isolation rules came in. "I'm a teacher and so I really struggled with not having a schedule at first so I needed something like this because it gave me a plan to work with," Ms Bunting said. The veteran of the likes of AXA XL and Equitas, who was also a partner at Coopers & Lybrand, has been welcomed by John Fowle, the firms CEO. He has a wealth of insurance experience gained over a three-decade career in the industry, which will be a great addition to the collective expertise of the current team, said Fowle. I am sure that Pauls expertise and insight will be invaluable as we continue our development as a leading specialty international (re)insurance group. Stooke meanwhile was also recognized by Fowle after almost a decade with the firm. He originally joined as non-executive director and then moved into the chairman role he was referred to as integral to the development of the firm, including as a member of The Hanover Insurance Group and then China Re. Chris Stooke has been a wonderful chairman to work with, said John Fowle. He has successfully guided Chaucer through a transformational decade with great care, competency and commitment. He has been a trusted member of the team and hugely liked by all. He has become a friend to many and will be greatly missed. I wish him all the very best in his future endeavors. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Thu, April 23, 2020 08:05 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3a6fc3 2 Food Chefs,celebrity-chef,cookbook,restaurant,food,coronavirus,COVID-19 Free Publishing house Penguin Random House has collected recipes from celebrity food personalities like Dan Barber, Bobby Flay, Samrin Nosrat and Alison Roman to launch a digital-only cookbook that will help support the millions of out-of-work restaurant workers. Called "Family Meal," the ebook features 40 family and pantry-friendly recipes such as shrimp and chorizo white bean stew, miso milk bar pie and, in keeping with the newest trend in quarantine bread baking, Ligurian focaccia. The original recipes are contributions from their roster of published chefs and writers and provide insight into what the food personalities are cooking in their homes right now. Read also: New cookbooks to inspire your quarantine kitchens this spring One hundred percent of the proceeds will go towards the Restaurant Workers' Covid-19 Emergency Relief Fund to help restaurant workers in America. The Restaurant Workers' Community Foundation was founded in 2018 to help workers in the food service industry, 40 percent of whom live at or just above the federal poverty line. And that was before the global health pandemic shut down the entire industry. "This book is one humble attempt to do our part to support the restaurant industry. As chefs and publishers, but above all as enthusiastic eaters and customers, we hope this contribution makes a difference," wrote Penguin Random House CEO Madeline McIntosh in an excerpt from the book. "Until the day when we can be there in person, we're wishing you all the best." "Family Meal" will be released May 5 for $5.99. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now. Voters who live in the 25th congressional district, spanning several valleys in north Los Angeles County, have a decision on their hands: Should their House seat remain under Democratic Party control, or would a Republican be a better fit to represent the region? Ex-Congresswoman Katie Hill's former district includes Simi Valley, Porter Ranch, Santa Clarita, and the Antelope Valley cities of Palmdale and Lancaster -- along with a piece of eastern Ventura County. It's an area that's part suburban and part rural, with many residents spending hours commuting on the 5 into L.A. The district's demographics are shifting younger and more diverse as families move here from the big city, attracted by relative affordability and good schools. That transition helped propel nonprofit executive Hill to victory in 2018, part of the "blue wave" that swept Republicans out of seven historically red California House seats. WHY A SPECIAL ELECTION? The news hit like a bombshell: Hill announced in October she would resign after nude photos of her were posted online without her consent and she faced a House Ethics investigation over allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a congressional staffer, which she denied. She has since talked openly about the mental health effects of cyber exploitation. The vacancy left voters in the district with both a special election to fill the last seven months of Hill's term and a regular primary contest to pick the next representative to take office in January 2021. The field was crowded with attention-grabbing names -- but on March 3, two candidates captured the top spots in both races: Democratic Assemblywoman and former Newhall School District board member Christy Smith (campaign website) (campaign website) Republican businessman and Navy veteran Mike Garcia (campaign website) Since no one won more than 50% of the vote in the special election, Smith and Garcia will meet in a runoff on May 12 and then again in the Nov. 3 general election. If the free-for-all primary weren't enough, the race has taken on a new dimension: A global pandemic has shoved a stick in the spokes of the economy. Congress now plays a central role in deciding the amount and direction of coronavirus relief funding that will shape the nation's recovery for years to come. Nonpartisan analysts at the Cook Political Report and Sabato's Crystal Ball recently classified the race a toss-up -- the latter called it possibly Republicans' "best opportunity to claw back some of their lost California turf." HOW TO VOTE IN THE MAY 12 ELECTION Health and safety concerns prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign an executive order requiring counties to send mail-in ballots to every 25th district voter -- so even if you aren't signed up as a permanent absentee voter, you should be getting one. Ballots began hitting mailboxes last week. If you just turned 18 or you're new to the district, you can register to vote here. You don't have to venture out in a crowd on May 12 to get your voice heard. The L.A. County Registrar is encouraging people to vote from the safety of their homes by mailing back the ballot or dropping it in one of 22 drop boxes (find locations here). Be sure to postmark that signed envelope no later than election day so it will count. California Assemblywoman Christy Smith, a candidate for the House of Representatives 25th District, speaks to supporters Tuesday, March 3, 2020. (Elly Yu/LAist) If you absolutely must vote in person, nine vote centers will be open starting May 2. They will be staffed by election workers using personal protective equipment, enforcing social distancing and regularly disinfecting ballot marking machines, according to the county. You can find the locations here. Most are open for 10 days, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and will let you register the same day or vote in person if you lost your mail-in ballot. Let's get into the issues: Right now, what's top of mind is the candidates' positions on how to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. (We broke down Smith and Garcia's takes on other issues in a previous story.) WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN RIGHT NOW TO SAFEGUARD THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF ALL AMERICANS? MIKE GARCIA: The former fighter pilot turned Raytheon executive said he would prioritize adding funds to the CARES Act Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the $350 billion in relief money set aside for small businesses that was exhausted last week. "If we can't get those small businesses whole there's going to be folks losing jobs every day," Garcia said. (The Senate this week passed a $484 billion package including funding for PPP, and the House passed it Thursday.) He applauded measures taken by the government to combat coronavirus, like the Trump administration's decision to shut down most travel from China in late January. "That was an aggressive move that was criticized at the time for being xenophobic," he said. CHRISTY SMITH: The Assemblywoman, whose 38th district overlaps the 25th congressional district, said the public should follow health officials' advice. "The most important thing we can do is to remind people to continue to stay safe at home until their respective county or community orders expire," Smith said, adding anyone who must make trips out should wear a face covering in public. She said she will work in the Assembly to ramp up the state's testing capacity, part of Newsom's 6-point plan to reopen California -- including supporting research and securing supplies of nasal swabs and other testing components. More on Smith's to-do list: expanding lab capacity and maintaining hospital surge capability in case of a virus rebound. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S PANDEMIC RESPONSE SO FAR? MIKE GARCIA: Garcia disagrees with critics of the Trump administration who have called the feds' rollout of testing too slow and blasted the decentralized, state-by-state procurement of personal protective equipment (PPE). He said the federal government has ramped up production of ventilators, and pushed to expedite potential therapies and vaccine trials. "We are realizing infection and death rates that are well below what were being modeled in the February and March timeframe," Garcia said. "It's a shame that it's become a political and a very partisan argument." "This is an uncharted crisis. This is something our nation hasn't seen before, similar to 9/11," he said. "So it's easy for pundits and politicians to sit on the sidelines and throw spears." CHRISTY SMITH: The Assemblywoman called the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus outbreak "scattershot." "By now, I would have hoped to see the deployment of the National Defense Production Act so that we could have streamlined, on a national scale, access to PPE and equipment like ventilators that we already had in supply and get those out more rapidly," Smith said. (President Trump said on Sunday he would invoke the DPA, which dates back to the Korean War era, to produce medical swabs used in testing, weeks after warnings about shortages.) She also criticized the President's decision to halt U.S. funding of the World Health Organization. Smith added more investment is needed in the CDC and "our research infrastructure that we are going to need to shore up testing, and to have systems in place that allow us to establish whatever the new normal will be." CA-25 Republican congressional candidate Mike Garcia (left) talks to a voter after a Feb. 8 debate in Simi Valley. (Libby Denkmann/LAist) AS A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT INCLUDED IN THE NEXT ROUND OF FEDERAL RELIEF? MIKE GARCIA: The priority should be funding the Paycheck Protection Program, money for the Small Business Administration and economic injury disaster loans and grants, Garcia said. "That's where the jobs are being either lost or maintained." "It depends on what the governors do at this point. If we can start turning the lights back on and ramping up, then I do believe it's recoverable," he said. "I do see right now a very clear need for more money being put into that small business bucket," Garcia said. "And hopefully ... not adding more pork into the package." CHRISTY SMITH: Smith also highlighted the need to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program. "The shop on Main Street needs to be getting those resources right now to keep employees on payroll," Smith said. "But Democrats continue to fight to have that be a program that has supervision, monitoring and transparency around it so that we know where those resources have rolled out to," she added. The Assemblywoman emphasized her position that the economic recovery after the pandemic should be more broad-based than what happened after the Great Recession. "This recovery can't just be about the big guys who are already well capitalized," she said. HOW DO WE OPEN BACK UP SAFELY WITHOUT A REBOUND OF THE VIRUS? MIKE GARCIA: "This is where the health experts need to be consulted and listened to," Garcia said. "If we don't monitor things correctly -- don't continue to test and the infection rates start climbing again -- we run the risk of going back up another curve," he added. Garcia supports the Trump administration's plan to restart the economy, which includes three phases stepping back up to "normalcy" for most Americans. But it moves faster than the CDC recommendation, which includes more specific benchmarks and requirements to see reductions in cases and deaths over a longer period of time. Garcia admits the pandemic may force a permanent shift in cultural norms -- like hand washing and wearing masks in public when you're sick. "These things don't torpedo an economy," he said. "They're adjustments we can make to hopefully mitigate future occurrences." T he Mayor of Las Vegas has been slammed for an "outrageous" plan to reopen the city's casinos as a "control group" for coronavirus. Mayor Carolyn Goodman said she wanted to reopen Las Vegas while leaving casinos and other private businesses to sort out safety measures for themselves. She said she believed competition within free enterprise would wipe out any business that contributed to the virus spread. Ms Goodman made the remarks while being interviewed by Anderson Cooper on CNN. The comments sparked outrage, with one union leader slamming them as "outrageous". Las Vegas is currently under lockdown / Reuters The Las Vegas Mayor told Mr Cooper that she offered Las Vegas as a "control group" I offered to be a control group and I was told by our statistician you can't do that because people from all parts of southern Nevada come in to work in the city", she said. We would love to be that placebo side so you have something to measure against." The New York-New York Hotel & Casino after the Las Vegas Strip resort was closed / Getty Images Geoconda Arguello-Kline, the secretary-treasurer of the casino workers' Culinary Union, told The New York Times that Ms Goodman's comments were outrageous considering essential frontline workers have been dealing with the consequences of this crisis firsthand. She added: Workplaces need to be safe and healthy, not a petri dish, Lights go out in Las Vegas during Coronavirus 1 /12 Lights go out in Las Vegas during Coronavirus A sign at an entrance at the Tropicana Las Vegas displays a message after the Las Vegas Strip resort was closed Getty Images A sign at an entrance at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino displays a message after the Las Vegas Strip resort was closed Getty Images The marquees at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino, Park MGM and the Aria Resort & Casino display messages after the Las Vegas Strip resorts were closed as the coronavirus continues to spread across the United States Getty Images A sign at an entrance at MGM Grand & Hotel & Casino displays a message after the Las Vegas Strip resort was closed Getty Images The marquee at MGM Grand & Hotel & Casino displays a message after the Las Vegas Strip resort was closed Getty Images An exterior view shows the New York-New York Hotel & Casino after the Las Vegas Strip resort was closed as the coronavirus continues to spread across the United States Getty Images Ana Gabriel-Ramos cleans a pedestrian overpass at Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard as the coronavirus continues to spread across the United States Getty Images Police vehicles and security personnel are shown at the porte cochere at MGM Grand & Hotel & Casino after the Las Vegas Strip resort was closed Getty Images The marquees at the New York-New York Hotel & Casino, Park MGM and the Aria Resort & Casino display messages after the Las Vegas Strip resorts were closed as the coronavirus continues to spread across the United States Getty Images It came as President Donald Trump signed an order banning immigration to the US. The executive order temporarily suspends immigration. President Trump claimed it would mean Americans would be "first in line" to gain employment as the economy reopens. WASHINGTON With congressional approval of the latest emergency pandemic measure sealed on Thursday, the focus is quickly shifting to an escalating battle over whether Congress will provide hundreds of billions of dollars to states staggering under the costs of the coronavirus outbreak. Anxious governors on the front lines of battling the pandemic have been clamoring for more federal help, saying their budgets are being stretched to the breaking point and their revenues are collapsing as they pour resources into health care while their economies are shut down. But the latest measure contained no new state aid, as Republicans resisted extending help even as state officials described their situations as increasingly dire. Many states are already reporting precipitous declines in revenues that fund state services in health care, education, public safety, transportation and other vital programs, members of the National Governors Association wrote to congressional leaders this week. States and local governments need robust support from the federal government as we navigate the response to this pandemic and to help foster the economic recovery that is ahead. Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, alarmed and angered state officials on Wednesday when he said he wanted to approach the next round of pandemic legislation more deliberately. He said he was opposed to shipping money to state governments if they were going to apply it to fiscal problems unrelated to the pandemic, such as shoring up underfunded pension plans for public workers. Amarnath Yatra 2021: Registration of pilgrims to start from April 1, How to do online? We will soon take decision on conducting Amarnath Yatra: Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha Jammu and Kashmir govt cancels Amarnath Yatra, then withdraws note India oi-Deepika S Jammu, Apr 22: The Jammu and Kashmir government has withdrawn a press release that said the annual yatra to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas has been suspended this year due to the coronavirus outbreak. A press note released earlier today said the pilgrimage scheduled from June 23 to August 3 was cancelled by the Amarnath shrine board during a video conference meeting. Such an order was passed probably for the first time that pilgrimage started. Even during the peak of terrorism in Kashmir, Amarnath Yatra continued. The decision to this effect was taken at the 38th board meeting of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) which met under the chairmanship of Lt Governor G C Murmu at Raj Bhavan here, the spokesman said. However, the board decided that 'Pratham Pooja' and 'Sampann Pooja' would be done with traditional fervour. The 42-day-long annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine was scheduled to commence on June 23. A City of Philadelphia public service advertisement lights up the side of a bus stop shelter for the "Stay at Home Order" as the coronavirus pandemic continues. Read more Gov. Tom Wolf has unveiled a color-coded system that will serve as a road map for the reopening of Pennsylvania counties, all of which are currently shut down due to the coronavirus. I am attempting to provide as much certainty as I can," he said Wednesday evening, even though the virus ultimately controls the calendar for each and every one of us. For some more-rural areas that are less affected by the virus (read: not Philadelphia or its surrounding suburbs), the gradual, phased reopening process could begin in about two weeks around Friday, May 8. He said Thursday southeastern Pennsylvania will be among the last areas to ease restrictions. Still a little confused? Want more information on exactly what each phase will look like? Let us answer some of your questions. What are the phases? Wolf calls them red, yellow, and green. Red marks the most restrictive phase, the one were in now, during which nonessential businesses are closed and Pennsylvanians are advised to stay put except for absolutely necessary outings. The yellow phase is less restrictive than red, and allows for some businesses that cant operate remotely to call employees back to the workplace as long as they practice social distancing and follow public health guidelines. In this phase, people can travel more freely and see relatives and friends in small group settings. Businesses like gyms, theaters, and restaurants (takeout and delivery are allowed) would remain closed. The green phase comes with no restrictions, although individuals and businesses will still have to follow state and federal recommendations, including to wear a mask in public. So what has to happen before we can enter the yellow phase? An area would have to see a declining number of cases for a two-week period before moving from the red to yellow phase or from yellow to green, and the regions hospitals must have adequate capacity. When will this happen for the Philadelphia region? Its unclear. Wolf has said northwestern and north-central parts of the state will likely be the first to reopen, and southeastern areas will be among the last. According to his plan, case numbers and hospital capacity are to be assessed county-by-county." Wolf reiterated this in a conversation with reporters Thursday, saying the reopening would not be regional. Hours later, Health Secretary Rachel Levine appeared to directly contradict the governor, saying the process will occur region by region. We might have a county where the rest of the region is having significant rates of COVID-19, but they might meet that [reopening] criteria. We would not open that region," she said. "Its not going to be isolated county by county. It is going to be actually region by region. We will reopen by county, but then look at the region as a whole, a Health Department spokesperson said to clarify the discrepancy in statements. READ MORE: Whats allowed to be open in Pennsylvania? Wolf has also indicated the reopening will happen in a similar way to how the shutdown was implemented last month. In the Philadelphia region, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties were placed under stay-at-home orders the same day. After talking with officials from Philadelphia and its collar counties Thursday, Bucks County Commissioner Bob Harvie said the regions leaders wanted more clarity on whether theyd all reopen at one time or be on different timelines. In looking at whether an area can reopen, state officials will measure the rate of infection per capita. An area will be considered for reopening if it has had an average of 50 or fewer new cases per 100,000 residents over a 14-day period. But even if a place meets this criterion, it could be deemed unfit to reopen if its near a hot spot" in another county. The White House and city officials have disagreed over whether Philadelphia should be considered a hot spot. County officials will also have a say in whether an area can move to the next phase, the governor said. Montgomery County, with a population of nearly 831,000, has in recent days reported 50 or fewer new cases per 100,000 residents. Yet Val Arkoosh, chair of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners and a physician, said last week the county doesnt plan to reopen until the number of cases falls to zero or near zero." Philadelphia-area hospitals, while not at capacity, have also been among the most taxed in the state. Can I see a fuller breakdown of whats allowed and whats not allowed in each phase? For sure. In the red phase: Only life-sustaining businesses are open. Long-term care facilities, prisons, and other group-living settings have restrictions. All schools are closed for in-person classes, and most child-care facilities are closed. Stay-at-home orders are in place and large gatherings are prohibited. Restaurants are limited to takeout and delivery. Only travel if absolutely necessary. FAQ: Your coronavirus questions, answered In the yellow phase: Businesses that have to operate in-person can reopen with safety guidelines in place. Elsewhere, remote work should continue. Stay-at-home restrictions are lifted. Gatherings of more than 25 people are prohibited. Gyms, spas, casinos, theaters, and other similar health and entertainment establishments must remain closed. In-person retail stores can open but curbside and delivery shopping is preferable." Child-care facilities can open with safety restrictions. Long-term care facilities, prisons, and other group-living settings still have restrictions. All schools must remain closed for in-person classes. Restaurants are still limited to takeout and delivery. In the green phase: All businesses can open. There are no social or work restrictions. Individuals and businesses must still follow federal and state health guidelines. Once an area enters a certain phase, is that permanent? No. If cases spike after orders are relaxed, an area may have to go back to a previous stage and its tougher restrictions. Staff writer Anna Orso contributed to this article. Porterville, CA (93257) Today Mainly sunny to start, then a few afternoon clouds. High 66F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Cloudy skies. Low 43F. Winds light and variable. File photo of U.S. sailors on the flight deck of the USS Theodore Roosevelt while transiting the South China Sea, April 10, 2018. The Philippines filed two diplomatic protests against Beijing on Wednesday, saying it violated international law through recent actions in the South China Sea, including by declaring parts of the disputed waters as Chinese districts, according to Manilas top envoy. The protests were delivered to the Chinese Embassy in Manila after office hours, Philippine Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said. They were for the pointing of a radar gun at a Philippine Navy ship in PH waters and for declaring parts of the Philippine territory as part of Hainan province, Locsin posted on Twitter. He said both actions constituted violations of international law and Philippine sovereignty. China created Nansha district under the jurisdiction of Sansha city, akin to something we already protested in 2012, the foreign secretary added. Old hat but bears repeating in the protest. Locsin did not elaborate on the alleged radar-gun incident. Late Wednesday, officials from the Philippine Navy and the armed forces declined to comment. Chinas embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to phone calls from BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. Manila made the accusations against Beijing as the U.S. Pacific Fleet announced that an Australian frigate, the HMAS Parramatta, joined three U.S. Navy ships during exercises in the South China Sea on April 18. It is great to be operating with the Australians again, the Pacific Fleet quoted Capt. Kurt Sellerberg, commanding officer of the USS Bunker Hill, as saying in a statement. The guided missile-cruiser was with an amphibious U.S. assault ship and another warship, USS America, during the maneuvering exercise with the Australians, which was observed or participated in by over 3,000 sailors, it said. This comes after the USS America and Bunker Hill sailed near the Chinese survey ship Hai Yang Di Zhi 8, which is operating at the site of recent oil exploration inside Malaysian waters. On Tuesday, the USS America was within 60 nautical miles of the West Capella, the Malaysian-contracted drill ship being shadowed by Chinas survey vessel and coastguard, according to vessel-tracking software. According to Patrick Buchan, a former Australian government official and the director of the U.S. Alliances Project at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, this latest joint effort by their navies demonstrates the closeness of the alliance between the United States and Australia. This is yet another example of Australia increasing its interoperability with the U.S. Navy on the high seas, but its particularly gratifying to see Australia operating with U.S. vessels at this time in the South China Sea, he said. Australia has participated in freedom of navigation and freedom of flight exercises in the South China Sea, but has a neutral stance on the various claims made by states in the area. Nonetheless, Buchan emphasized that Australia has a stake in the stability and openness of the region. Australias top trading partners are all in Northeast Asia, he pointed out. Its critical for its trade links that no single country dominates the South China Sea, he said. Manila, Hanoi, US criticize China The Philippines lodged the new diplomatic protests barely two weeks after Manila joined Hanoi and the United States in criticizing China over the alleged sinking of a Vietnamese fishing boat by a Chinese coast guard ship near the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea. The statement of solidarity from Manila rebuked Beijing for the incident, and said it was an act of needless provocation at a time when countries in the region were busy trying to contain a pneumonia-like virus, which has killed thousands and left millions sick around the world. In the wake of the April 2 sinking, China claimed that the Vietnamese boat sank itself by ramming into its coast guard ship. Locsin issued his statement about the diplomatic protests three days after Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte had a one-on-one call with U.S. President Donald Trump, during which the two discussed bolstering bilateral ties as their countries continued to battle the COVID-19 pandemic. Both leaders agreed to continue working together as long-time allies to defeat the pandemic, save lives and restore global economic strength, the U.S. Embassy in Manila said on Monday. The two leaders also discussed how the United States and the Philippines can continue building upon the strong and enduring economic, cultural and security ties binding the two nations, it said. On Tuesday, the U.S. military said it had sent an amphibious assault ship and a guided missile cruiser to the site of an ongoing survey by a Chinese vessel in Malaysian waters in the South China Sea, signaling Washingtons support for other countries in the region as Beijing pressed its advantage in the middle of the coronavirus outbreak. Lt. Cmdr. Nicole Schwegman, spokeswoman for the Hawaii-based U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, confirmed that the USS America and USS Bunker Hill had been deployed to the South China Sea. Through our continued operational presence in the South China Sea, we are working with our allies and partners to promote freedom of navigation and overflight, and the international principles that underpin security and prosperity for the Indo-Pacific, she wrote in an email. The U.S. supports the efforts of our allies and partners to determine their own economic interests. Satellite imagery from Tuesday provided by the European Union through the EO Browser service confirmed that the USS America was then less than 60 nautical miles from the West Capella, a Malaysian-contracted oil exploration vessel. In close proximity, there were a combination of Chinese survey vessels, coast guard and maritime militia ships, according to vessel tracking software. The Chinese survey vessel, named the Hai Yang Di Zhi 8, arrived in Malaysian waters on April 16 and was last tracked surveying an area within Malaysias exclusive economic zone, between the West Capella and Malaysias coast. As of Tuesday morning (local time), the Hai Yang Di Zhi 8 was around 180 nautical miles from the Malaysian coast but only 100 nautical miles from the Luconia Shoals, which are claimed by both China and Malaysia. On April 17, the Hai Yang Di Zhi 8 was also within 200 nautical miles of Indonesias Natuna Islands. China has said that the Hai Yang Di Zhi 8 was conducting normal activities. At the weekend, announced two new administrative districts for South China Sea and released a new map naming all the islands and reefs it claims in the contested region. The United States, for its part, in recent week had withdrawn key military assets from the Western Pacific region. The aircraft carrier the USS Theodore Roosevelt had to be pulled out of active deployment on March 26 due to dangerous rates of coronavirus infections among its crew. On April 17, the U.S. Air Force announced that it would stop deploying strategic bombers to its base on the Pacific island of Guam. China claims most of the South China Sea on historical grounds, including areas that reach the shores of its smaller neighbors. Apart from the three countries, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims over the region. Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. Education Secretary: Its Inexcusable 85 Percent of 8th Graders Dont Know Enough About US History Eighth-graders scores on U.S. history and geography tests declined from 2014 to 2018 while making no progress in civics, according to the latest National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results released Thursday. Except for the very top-performing students, scores in U.S. history dropped among nearly all eighth-grade students on the NAEP, commonly known as the Nations Report Card. Only about 15 percent of a national sample of 43,000 test-takers in 2018 performed at or above NAEPs proficient level. On a 500-point scale, the national average score in U.S. history has now fallen from 267 to 263, which was summed up by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos when she said that students dont know what the Lincoln-Douglas debates were about. Scores also fell in geography, largely due to a downturn in the performance of the lowest-performing students, while middle- and higher-performers managed to maintain their level. In 2018, 25 percent of eighth-graders scored at or above the NAEPs proficient level. This means about one in four students are able to use information from maps to describe the role a region plays in economy, culture, and politics. Civics is the only one of the three subjects in which the students scores remain flat. In 2018, only about a quarter of eighth-graders reached NAEP proficiency, meaning the rest have trouble understanding and explaining how and why there are checks and balances among legislative, executive, and judicial branches in U.S. government under the Constitution. The results are stark and inexcusable, said Betsy DeVos in a statement. A quarter or more of Americas 8th graders are what NAEP defines as below basic in U.S. history, civics and geography. In the real world, this means students dont know what the Lincoln-Douglas debates were about, nor can they discuss the significance of the Bill of Rights, or point out basic locations on a map. And only 15 percent of them have a reasonable knowledge of U.S. history. DeVos urged all Americans to take the opportunity to think about the concerning implications for the future of the country, saying, We need to fundamentally rethink education in America. It is the only way our nations students will be in a position to lead our nation and the world. These results are another indication that the achievement of already low performing students has been declining relative to higher-performing students, said Lynn Woodworth, a commissioner at National Center for Education Statistics, which runs the NAEP. This pattern raises another important issue for education researchers and policymakers to investigate as American school children are missing a considerable amount of classroom instruction this year, which islikely to have a larger impact on lower-performing students. Al Sayyah & Sons Investment has announced the donation of 250,000 meals worth Dh2 million ($544,000) to the UAEs biggest food distribution drive that aims to support communities affected by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in the UAE. The 10 million meals campaign, launched on Sunday, enables individuals and institutions to make financial and in-kind donations towards providing meals and food parcels to low-income individuals and families across the country throughout the holy month of Ramadan. Marwan Al Sayyah, executive vice chairman at Al Sayyah & Sons Investment, said: The 10 million meals campaign reflects the UAEs values cemented in less than half a century since its foundation to become a global model of tolerance and coexistence. He added, And the nation today, through the 10 million meals campaign, reinforces again its leading capability to transform crises into an inspiring social solidarity movement, demonstrating a pioneering response to challenges. Besides complementing other humanitarian projects that aim to beat hunger in these exceptional circumstances, the 10 million meals campaign reflects our leaderships vision that puts people first before anything else, he added. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced on Sunday the launch of the 10 million meals campaign to support families and individuals affected by the Covid-19 pandemic that left many facing unemployment and income reductions. The campaign will be led by his wife Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of UAE Food Bank. Within the first two days of the 10 million meals campaigns launch, more than 15,000 individuals, entrepreneurs and companies pledged online and SMS donations of 450,000 meals. Thousands of other financial and in-kind donations poured into the campaigns other two channels of bank transfers and call centre. TradeArabia News Service Its a tough time to be a kid. Amid the coronavirus outbreak, schools are closed. Libraries are closed. Playgrounds are closed. As my 4-year-old said: Everything is closed. Little symbols of hope -- like teddy bears and rainbows -- have been popping up in windows across neighborhoods nationwide. Small community gestures meant to keep kids entertained while adhering to social distancing. Bethlehem area neighborhoods have been creating their own windowsill teddy bear hunts, inspired by the book Were going on a bear hunt. Bethlehem Township resident Nancy Getting distributed letters to her neighbors urging them to join the hunt and within two days more than 100 bears popped up in the windows. She hopes to spread the word to other Lehigh Valley communities, so they too can get in on the hunt. It also gives the community a way to contribute in a positive way to help make this time more Bearable," Geeting wrote in a email. Check out photos of bears in Bethlehem. 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. Police have arrested thirty alleged peodophiles in just one Virginia county over the course of this month as part of 'Operation COVID Crackdown'. The undercover investigation, designed to protect youngsters using the internet to take classes has seen a total of 68 felony charges put on 30 potential predataors. Officers at Fairfax County Police found the pedophiles starting 'explicit conversations' with the decoy children online before trying to 'initiate sex' with them. The alleged phedophiles, all male and aged 20 to 74, were arrested at the locations they had agreed to meet the 'underage children', who were actually police officers posing as chidren. The phedophiles, all male and aged 20 to 74, were arrested at the locations they had agreed to meet the 'underage children' All thirty arrested now face more than one count of solicitation of a minor and attempted indecent liberties or soliciting a minor for prostitution. Major Ed OCarroll, Bureau Commander of Major Crimes for the department said in a statement: 'Our detectives have remained vigilant and they recognized the increased threat posed by online predators in recent weeks.' 'I commend their ability to adapt during this unprecedented public health pandemic and to do so in the interest of protecting our children and bringing justice to those who commit these repugnant crimes.' Major Ed OCarroll, Bureau Commander of Major Crimes for the department said in a statement: 'Our detectives have remained vigilant and they recognized the increased threat' The men arrested were either from Virginia county or had travelled from Maryland, West Virginia or Washington D.C. More than 50 million children in the United States are at home due to the coronavirus pandemic that forced the shut down of schools, restaurants and bars, and other businesses deemed non-essential. While states are developing plans to slowly reopen, it's unclear if that will take weeks or months, which means children will likely be at home for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school. With many taking online classes this could mean they are spending more time on the internet and are therefore more exposed to dangers posed by peodophiles who use the internet to exploit children. Names of those arrested in Virginina this month for alleged phedophilia: You can hate him or love him, but you cant ignore controversys favourite child Arnab Goswami, Editor-In-Chief of Republic TV. Last year, Arnab Goswami was arrested by the Raigad police in connection with an old abetment to suicide case. He had been arrested for allegedly abetting the suicide of a 53-year-old interior designer. Anvay Naik, an architect and interior designer had named Goswami in his suicide note and had accused Republic TV of not paying him his dues after he designed the channel's office interiors. The senior journalist was sent to 14-day judicial custody by the Alibaug court. However, landing in controversies is not new for Arnab Goswami. In fact, there are several unexplored facts about Arnab, that many people may not be aware of Here is a list of six interesting facts about this fierce journalist that perhaps the nation wants to know: 1. He Was Accused Of Faking A Car Attack In 2017, Rajdeep Sardesai had written: Wow! My friend Arnab claims his car attacked next to CM Res in Guj riots! Truth: he wasn't covering Ahmedabad riots!!" Wow! My friend Arnab claims his car attacked next to CM Res in Guj riots! Truth:he wasn't covering Ahmedabad riots!! https://t.co/xOe7zY8rCp Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) September 19, 2017 He also tweeted: Fekugiri has its limits, but seeing this, I feel sorry for my profession." The incident was actually described by Sardesai in his book 2014: The Election That Changed India. He wrote, The gang wasn't willing to listen. 'Hamein chief minister se matlab nahi, aap log apna identity dikha' (We don't care about the chief minister. Show your identity cards). I showed my official press card and got my cameraperson, Narendra, to play a clip from the interview with Modi. 'Look,' I shouted, 'look at this interview. Can't you see we are journalists?' After fifteen tense minutes and after watching the tape, they seemed to calm down a bit and we were finally allowed to go. Our trembling driver Siraj was in tears. My own fear at a near-death experience was now replaced by a seething rage. If, just a few kilometres from the chief minister's house, Hindu militant gangs were roaming freely on the night of 2 March, then how could the chief minister claim the situation was under control? We were unnerved and visibly shaken. Images of those crazed faces and their shining weapons haunted me for days afterwards." 2. His Wife Is Also A Journalist Samyabrata Ray Goswami, the wife of Arnab, is also a journalist and news producer who is currently the editor and co-owner of Arnabs channel. She began her career as a print media journalist and has worked in several publications, such as Anand Bazaar Patrika, Tehelka and Down to Earth. She worked with ABP till Arnab launched Republic TV. She is also known for breaking the news of Sheena Bora being the daughter of Indrani Mukerjea and not sister. 3. He Has Y Category Security Arnabs 'Y' category security includes round-the-clock protection from around 11 personnel and 1 or 2 armed commandos for close proximity protection. 4. His First Interview Was With Sonia Gandhi Being a journalist, Arnabs first-ever interview was with Congress leader, Sonia Gandhi. It is this interview that got him accolades for bringing the otherwise reticent Sonia Gandhi for an interview. However, on being asked about the one person he tried to interview but failed so far, he said, As a young reporter, I was able to get Sonia Gandhis interview on the tarmac of the Palam Airport. Some short interactions in the years after that. But I would really like the opportunity for a sit-down interview with her." 5. Debating Was His Passion Right From School Known for his aggressive style of anchoring, Arnab revealed in an interview that debating was his school hobby. Earlier, in the studio, I used to have very calm, quiet discussionsso I used to really miss debating. Later, when I got the chance to start a new channel of my own, then I really came back to my old habits. And the last 7-8 years, my hobby, school hobby of debating, has become my career. And I have never enjoyed myself more on a daily basis, he told a radio channel. 6. He Loves Bollywood & Occasional Reading In one of his earlier interviews with Scroll.in he mentioned that he loves Bollywood besides news. He said, I love Bollywood. I watched Tanu Weds Manu Returns and loved it. I read, but not as much as I should. Fiction is not really my cup of tea. I am currently lapping up Coomi Kapoors book on the Emergency. 7. He Hails From A Political Family Arnab's father, Manoranjan Goswami is a retired Indian Army officer and a BJP member, who has contested as a BJP candidate in the general election, from Guwahati. His paternal grandfather, Rajani Kanta Goswami was a lawyer and Congress leader. And his maternal grandfather, Gauri Sankar Bhattacharya was a communist and leader of the opposition for many years in Assam. However, on being asked about his political leanings, he said, I never describe myself in definitions because its very difficult to do that. The reason Im telling you this is because socially, Im very progressive. Im for LGBT rights, etc. On issues related to India, Im very conservative. On issues related to the economy, Im for the free market. On issues related to religion, I myself go to all places of worship, so Im truly secular in that sense. Im neither AAPtard, Congi or Sanghi; Im Arnab. I dont want to waste my time trying to define myself. Meanwhile, besides the charges of abetment to suicide, Arnab's arrest also comes in the middle of Republic TV's row with the Mumbai Police over its investigation into a ratings scam and allegations that Republic TV is among the three channels involved in manipulating TRPs or Television Rating Points by bribing households metred for viewership. Republic TV recently said in a statement: "Arnab Goswami's arrest has been made part of a larger vindictive exercise against an independent journalist and news network." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) President Rodrigo Duterte will convene the task force leading the government's COVID-19 response on Thursday evening to guide his decision on the fate of the Luzon-wide quarantine, his Spokesperson Harry Roque said. Duterte will meet members of the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases at 6 p.m., Roque said, as he has received the body's suggested decision-making tools on whether to extend or relax strict stay-at-home rules covering some 57 million people in the island bloc. Among the IATF's recommendations was to classify Luzon into low, moderate, and high-risk areas for infections, which could be the basis for a shift to a modified community quarantine. Duterte may seek clarifications or more updates during the meeting, Roque said. Based on this, areas considered as high-risk would have no relaxation of the enhanced community quarantine. Instead, the focus would be in improving the capacity of local healthcare facilities, Roque said. Those deemed of moderate risk may see a modified quarantine and a partial resumption of public transport, while observing strict social distancing measures. Meanwhile, the lockdown may be lifted in low-risk communities where public transport may be restored, based on the IATF decision tool. Medical experts from former health secretaries to epidemiologists recommended a modified community quarantine, which will allow the easing of the Luzon lockdown in areas with few or no COVID-19 infections. Even the World Health Organization advised the gradual lifting of lockdown restrictions. Special adviser to the COVID-19 national task force and health reform advocate Dr. Tony Leachon suggested that Metro Manila the region with the most number of cases in the country should remain on lockdown until May 15. He added other parts of Luzon can opt for a modified quarantine, particularly in provinces considered as COVID-19 hotspots outside the metro, such as Calabarzon and Central Luzon. He said these measures to control movement will further control the spread of COVID-19 in the country. The decision tool suggested by the IATF involves five stages. First, it a set of minimum health standards for residents and workers as well as ample capacity in the local healthcare system must be established. Next, the President must consider the geographic risk of outbreaks, then assess age and health-related risks. After than, Duterte must consider which essential sectors can resume operations, and then think about the possible resumption of public transport, Roque said. "Lahat po 'yan ay rekomendasyon pa lamang for approval of the President. Ang huling narinig ko sa kalihim ng Department of Transportation ay tinitignan nila ang posibilidad na sa areas na posibleng ma-relax ang ECQ, baka up to 30 percent (ang maibalik)," Roque said during a Thursday media briefing. "Kung ikaw po ay nasa ECQ pa rin, baka 'yan ay hindi applicable." [Translation: All of these are recommendations for the approval of the President. Last I heard from the Secretary of Transportation is that they are looking at the possibility of bringing back up to 30 percent of public transportation capacity in areas where the ECQ may be relaxed. If your area is still under ECQ, that may not be applicable.] This would entail the "new normal," where strict spacing will be observed in buses, trains, and while in line to commute, he added. Roque also revealed the IATF's flowchart, which splits the decision-making process into three facets: health, geography, and transportation. Roque said the task force does not recommend to ease the strict quarantine measures if hospitals and quarantine centers in a certain community would not be able to attend to patients who may contract the disease, judging from the estimated rate of reproduction of infections. Areas with a more than 70 percent occupancy of critical care facilities and are projected to see cases double in less than a week are deemed in an "acceleration" mode, which merits a sustained ECQ. "Kapag wala pa ring kapasidad ang health sector to provide medical assistance, acceleration, ECQ pa rin. Kapag ECQ pa rin, walang pinag-uusapan na modification as far as transportation and what-have-you is concerned," said Roque. Based on the 2018 national data, Metro Manila contributes the largest share of the countrys economy at 36 percent, that is followed by the Calabarzon region with 17 percent, then comes Central Luzon with a share of the countrys gross domestic product at almost 10 percent. These three regions also have the highest number of COVID-19 patients. All the health experts tapped to advise Duterte are not recommending a total lockdown over Luzon, the country's biggest island with over 57 million people. Despite the recommendations, the decision remains on Duterte's hands. Senator and former presidential aide Bong Go said the announcement will be made today, but no other details were provided. The President usually addresses the public in a pre-recorded message aired late at night. Roque said he last spoke with the President on Tuesday, adding that he is not sure if Duterte will proceed with the important announcement today. "Si Senator Bong Go ang nagsabi na magdedesisyon siya today. Ang narinig ko pong huli sa bibig mismo ng Presidente, it could have been yesterday, it could have been on April 30 depending on his decision dahil kapag siya ay nag-desisyon na may mga areas na magre-relax ng ECQ ay baka maglabasan ang tao," the Malacanang spokesman said, noting that Duterte will make use of the "best advice" from the Cabinet as well as medical experts. [Translation: It was Senator Bong Go who said that he (Duterte) will decide today. What I last heard from the Presidents mouth is that his decision could have been (made) yesterday, it could have been on April 30 depending on his decision, as he feared that people might go out of their homes if he decides to lift the ECQ in some areas.] There's also a tool proposed by the IATF to determine a population's vulnerability to the disease based on age and preexisting medical conditions, Roque added. IATF Spokesperson Karlo Norales earlier said that local officials will be more confident to revise the current lockdown guidelines if testing capabilities continue to go up. There are only 17 accredited testing centers nationwide, which can test over 3,000 samples daily. The Philippines now has 6,981 cases of COVID-19. The country has also been seeing a rise in the number or recoveries, which is now at 722. The death toll has risen to 462. Roque has repeatedly said that while the ECQ has proven to be effective in slowing down infections, authorities know that concerns on public health must be balanced with the need for people to return to their jobs and make a living. Diversified business entity ITC Ltd on Thursday called for more clarity from the government on where manufacturing is allowed during the lockdown, while seeking that companies be allowed to sell to consumers whatever is being produced. The Kolkata-based firm, which has a total of around 120 manufacturing units, including third-party owned, said 70-80 of them are currently functioning with capacity utilisation ranging between 20-60 per cent. Speaking to reporters through a video conference, ITC Chairman and Managing Director Sanjiv Puri said the coronavirus pandemic will have a significant impact on the economy as well as on the company in the first quarter of the current fiscal, but it is difficult to make a business forecast at the moment. "What would be helpful there is that some clarity on where manufacturing can be allowed. There are some definitions that are being put, but the reality is that most of the manufacturing units are in the perimeters of urban centres. Those need to be allowed (to function)," he said. Puri was responding to a query about what more steps are required from the government for industries for hassle-free resumption of manufacturing activities during the lockdown. He further said, "Even when we allow all industries that are located at the perimeters of urban centres, provided they are outside containment zones, when they operate, it will take a long time for capacity to build up to a reasonable level." This is because "sometime you may find that the odd vendor is in a containment zone or sometimes you may find that your factory is outside containment zone, but all of your employees are in containment zones", he added. Puri also stressed on the need for allowing entire manufacturing value chain -- from raw material supplies to reaching the end consumers -- to operate to help kickstart economic activity again. "All the activities where manufacturing has been allowed, it is pretty broadbased. So we have to get the whole value chains to work. Whatever is getting manufactured has to reach the end consumer, otherwise you cannot simply manufacture to create inventory," Puri said. He, however, praised various steps taken by the government in the fight against coronavirus pandemic, saying things could have gone out of control without the "proactive measures". Commenting on the company's current manufacturing operations, Puri said out of a total of around 120 manufacturing units, which includes third-party units, around "70 to 80 would be operational". "Capacity utilisations are in the region of 20-25 per cent to 50-60 per cent depending on the location. Even within factories that are running, we are right now running lines where we see immediate visibility of demand. We are not running lines where the visibility of demand is not there right now," Puri added. Asked if he also supported various industry bodies' demand for stimulus package from the government, Puri said the government would need to support sectors like MSMEs, travel and tourism industry which generate a lot of employment. When asked about the impact of the health crisis on the company, he said it is difficult to give a forecast and a lot would depend on how the country's GDP fares in the first quarter. "Depending on how much of economic activity is revived would really determine the extent of the impact. It appears to be quite substantive in this quarter," he said. The impact is not unique to any specific sector and is broadbased, he said, adding that "it is not just to do with our verticals, but it is right across the economy. It is not unique to any specific sector. Whatever is running, is running at a low capacity and lot of areas and activities are almost or at complete standstill. From that perspective it is not good news". Puri, however, said the health crisis has also brought new opportunities which the company will tap going ahead, including "evaluating acquisitions" at the right time. During the lockdown, the company had tied up with unlikely partners like Domino's, Zomato and Swiggy for home deliveries of its products, which could be continued in future as well. He said the company continues to have aspiration to garner revenue of Rs 1 lakh crore from FMCG business despite the impact of COVID-19, although "the timelines may get pushed further". In 2015, ITC had set a target of garnering a revenue of Rs 1 lakh crore by 2030 from its FMCG business. Puri, however, said ITC will not launch many new products during the coronavirus pandemic and only those health and hygiene products which are essential for consumers will be introduced in the market, like the hand sanitiser introduced under its Savlon brand. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media TORRINGTON A former Torrington High School varsity swimmer who excelled in the backstroke died of COVID-19 complications April 13, according to his obituary. Edward J. Ryan Jr., 79, swam from 1955-59 and could trace his family back to Tipperary and Clare in Ireland. PLANS to light up Henley Bridge have suffered another setback. Entrepreneur Clive Hemsley has been trying to find a permanent way of attaching lights to the Grade I listed structure. With the help of friend and Henley jeweller David Rodger-Sharp, a planning application for LED lights was submitted to Wokingham Borough Council and South Oxfordshire District Council in February. The two authorities share governance for the site and this was the second attempt to go through the planning process. However, Wokingham has rejected the application again due to concerns about the potential harm to the 18th century bridge, which is owned by Oxfordshire County Council. It says: The proposal includes insufficient information to properly assess the potential harm to the significance of designated heritage assets. There is no clear and convincing justification for any potential harm and it is not clear that the proposal would conserve or enhance the character and special architectural interest of the Grade I listed bridge and surrounding conservation area. The district council was supposed to have made a final decision by April 7 but has instead recommended a holding objection subject to receipt of further information. It also says the application has an absence of any positive information in respect of the impacts that any new modern fixings would have on the bridge. The council said: The submitted heritage appraisal and impact assessment does not consider these aspects in a meaningful way that could be considered to be proportionate to the very high importance of the Grade I listed bridge. Henley Bridge forms part of the architecture of a market town within a rural setting and does not share the urban connotations of London. The bridge itself is a polite form of architecture and it is unclear how the very modern LED lights can enhance or be consistent with its architectural and historic character. Mr Hemsley, of Hart Street, attached strings of fairy lights to the bridge without permission in March 2018. More than 2,400 people signed a petition calling for the lights to stay, but heritage groups and residents opposed. During the consultation for the latest application, the district council said: The previous method of glueing the lighting to the stone as a means of avoiding mechanical fixings was not acceptable. A secondary concern is the impact that any new fixings would have longer term by opening the joints and by means of weathering which may exacerbate the decay of the stonework. Last year, Mr Hemsley had a similar application turned down by the borough council, which said that drilling into the mortar surrounding the five arches of the bridge posed potential harm to the stonework. It also said there was no evidence that the lights would conserve or enhance the bridges architectural value. The application was modified to include a type of adhesive fixing, which the applicant said would not cause any damage. The lights would be attached with cable ties every metre and fastened with the silicone compound. The concerns of Wokingham Borough Council were shared by a number of other organisations, including Historic England. Rachel Fletcher, inspector of historic buildings and areas, said: There is no justification for this. There is no need to light the bridge and there are other methods of doing it, such as using a wash of light from spotlights mounted on the bank. Mr Hemsley and Mr Rodger-Sharp said they wanted to light up Henley Bridge to boost trade and tourism in the town. The white lights would be controlled privately and could change colour for high-profile events, such as Henley Royal Regatta and the Thames Traditional Boat Festival. Mr Hemsley described the lastest decision as frustrating and would not confirm whether he would resubmit the application. He said: Both councils were invited to two meetings. One which we arranged with the architects and with the London bridge community and the other with myself and David just before the lockdown and they did not turn up. We had the lights that we were proposing as a strip to show how it wouldnt damage the bridge. It really is frustrating because you go to all that effort and none of them even bothered to apologise. David did a detailed diagram on how the lights would be fixed. Mr Rodger-Sharp said: We are not only disappointed that Wokingham have refused permission but surprised that they have been able to come to this conclusion. The local authority should have requested further information if they thought there was insufficient information to be able to assess. There are sufficient grounds to appeal. He added: Gavin Jackson, a local architect with over 35 years experience, is now consulting on the project, so we havent given up yet. Henley Town Councils planning committee had recommended that the lights were approved but the Henley Archaeological & Historical group was against the plan. Chairman John Whiting said: A many coloured bridge lighting scheme might do well in places of highly-lit towns, such as Blackpool or London, but Henley has a quite different character. Saying that Henley needs bridge illuminations because London has them is simply fatuous and irrelevant. Bridge picture by Roger Hanner One man is dead after he was shot in the head early Thursday morning, according to San Antonio police. At around 1:30 a.m., three men in a white sedan were stopped at an intersection near Whispering Creek and Argonne Drive when they saw a vehicle with multiple people inside drive past them and park some distance away, police said. Transport and local authorities have not yet been given information on the future of Cork infrastructure projects such as the Dunkettle interchange and Macroom bypass after Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said major capital projects could be deferred. Mr Donohoe, in an interview with Newstalk, said that capital plans under Project 2040 may have to be deferred, although his intention is to "preserve as much of our big capital commitments as I can". Wen asked about the immediate future of major Cork projects such as the Cork-Limerick motorway, Dunkettle upgrade and Macroom bypass, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) said: "The overall schedule impact on national road projects under construction, in relation to Covid-19, is not known at this time." Cork County Council said that "no such communication has been received from TII, Government or any state body" in relation to the major capital projects in the county. Cork Chamber president Paula Cogan said now is not the time to back away from capital projects, but rather to double down on them. "We must take the learnings from the 2007 - 2008 global financial crisis and the years of austerity that followed, and avoid repeating the measures that stifled economic, community and social resilience," Ms Cogan said. She added: "The global financial crisis saw Government in the subsequent years focus away from public transport and housing as the construction sector crashed. These are critical areas that in recent years weve been grappling with. "These issues will be waiting for us after we move through our health crisis into an economic suppression. Its so important that as we navigate the beyond phase of this crisis that we do so in a way that supports public spending and investment in essential services but also the fundamental building blocks of strong communities and thriving economies." Sarah glanced at the clock on the wall inside Meighen Manor. The young nurse working at the COVID-stricken care home felt her own forehead she had a slight fever. She knew the likely reason. She had contracted the virus. But she had one more thing to do before she left the facility for what would likely be weeks. She suited up and prepared to enter the room of a woman in her early 70s. She had known the woman for more than five years, since she started working at the long-term-care home near Yonge and Davisville in midtown Toronto. The resident had an ulcer and needed the bandages changed. Sarah, a registered practical nurse, cleaned her wound and dressed it carefully. She knew it would likely be days before someone else had time to change it again. I was the last regular nurse on my floor, the last one standing, she said. It was extremely heartbreaking to leave, not knowing what was going to happen to these residents. A lot of them are going to die. According to the Salvation Army, which runs the 168-bed home, 74 residents and 26 staff have tested positive for the virus as of Thursday. Twenty-two residents have died. As of Thursday evening, according to the Stars tally, there have been at least 468 deaths in long-term-care homes in Ontario, with 3,423 residents and staff testing positive. There have been 147 coronavirus outbreaks in more than 600 homes. But weeks before coronavirus exploded in long-term-care homes in Ontario and the virus was just starting to make its appearance among residents executives at Meighen Manor were not doing enough to prevent an outbreak, say Sarah and her colleague Morgan. The Star is not using Sarah and Morgans real names, because they expressed fear for their jobs for speaking to a journalist. Morgan, a registered practical nurse, recalled imploring managers two weeks ago to test all residents. Morgan said they responded that the policy was to only test residents if they showed symptoms. Morgan was incredulous. This is not the way to deal with infection control. Its not the way we have been taught in school. You shouldnt be taking any chances. Salvation Army spokesperson Major Rob Kerr said the home follows provincial testing guidelines for long-term-care homes. Those health ministry guidelines state the homes must test residents who show COVID-19 symptoms. On Wednesday, the province announced it would test every resident in a long-term-care home. It also called on the federal government to bring in the army in five especially hard-hit homes. Kerr said all residents at Meighen Manor were tested Saturday and that the organization was working with Sunnybrook hospital to test care home staff as well. By Saturday, 10 people at the home had died from COVID-19. But Sarah and Morgan believe the outbreak at Meighen Manor could have been prevented if the Salvation Army had acted sooner. In response, Kerr said in an email that the Salvation Army has been adhering to all public health guidelines throughout the development of the pandemic and as new directives have been issued and communicated they have been implemented within the Meighen Manor. As recently as last week, Morgan said management at Meighen Manor was only providing personal protective equipment (PPE) to staff working in units with confirmed cases. Those in other units were given fabric masks. Then on Sunday, Morgan read about the residence in the news with horror. More than a dozen workers had coronavirus; 10 residents were dead. Morgan believes staff may have unwittingly spread the virus from resident to resident, unit to unit. Once there was one person tested positive, everyone should be in PPE, said Morgan. How else are you going to stop a virus like this? Kerr confirmed Meighen Manor first discovered COVID-19 in the facility April 4. He also confirmed staff were given fabric face masks to wear when caring for residents who were not exhibiting symptoms. Working with supplies that were available and obtainable at the time, Meighen Manor purchased and issued fabric masks to all staff for use in non-COVID positive areas of the facility in mid-March, he said in an email to the Star. He also said staff are at the home are not shared between positive and non-positive COVID-19 areas, and that staff are being asked to limit their work to only one location, in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 across facilities in the city. But Morgan pointed out that before all the residents were tested on Saturday, staff had no way of knowing which residents had COVID-19 and which ones did not, unless they were showing symptoms. Dianne Martin, CEO of the Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario, said fabric masks are not appropriate for a health-care facility. Workers should at the very least be wearing medical masks to protect themselves and residents, said Martin, who worked as a nurse in Toronto during the 2003 SARS outbreak. Martin said she has heard wide-ranging stories about working conditions from her organizations 15,000 members. Some are in homes that have been proactive and contained COVID-19 outbreaks quickly. Others work in places like Meighen Manor, where widespread testing among residents was not conducted until after residents started dying from COVID-19. Eatonville Care Centre in Etobicoke, Anson Place Care Centre in Hagersville and Hawthorne Place in North York are in such dire straits that the Service Employees International Union is asking the government to take over operations in those care homes. At Eatonville, more than half of the residents have tested positive. At Meighen Manor, Kerr said 74 of 168 residents just under half have tested positive. Sarah said she believes that those in charge at Meighen Manor are trying their best. Were not trying to crucify this facility. But its been a difficult month for Sarah, who said nursing feels like I am living my life and this is what Im supposed to do. Sarah said last week, four residents who lived in the same unit were coughing. I had to beg to get those residents swabbed, she said. She also asked for permission to test the other 24 residents living in the unit. She said was told no, unless they had symptoms. The four tests Sarah conducted were positive. I just know there is something wrong happening. Twenty-six workers at Meighen Manor have fallen ill with the virus. In Ontario, 889 workers in long-term-care homes have tested positive as of Thursday, according to Public Health Ontario. Its very hard for me to watch the price that is being paid by the nurses that are present, said Martin of the Registered Practical Nurses Association. Sarah has COVID-19. She received the test results Monday. She said she has a bit of a cough, a headache, and some dizzy spells. The worst part so far is that she hasnt been able to taste anything. Before getting sick, she had worked 16-hour days at the home, caring for dozens of residents. She had not taken a day off this month, because many staff had stopped coming to work after the home discovered its first case in early April. Many fell ill it is now known some had COVID-19 and others didnt want to risk working so close to the virus. Kerr acknowledged the care home had seen a reduction in its workforce in recent weeks. Last week, nurses from Sunnybrook arrived at the home to help. We are committed to ensuring our residents receive the care they require during this time and our remaining staff are working very hard to see this through, said Kerr in an email. At home, Sarahs phone buzzed. It was a co-worker: two more nurses had tested positive. Nineteen people in one of the units she worked in had the virus. Only five had escaped, so far. On Thursday, the Salvation Army sent out a news release with updates from the last 24 hours two residents had died and 11 workers had tested positive for the virus. We are doing everything possible to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of all our residents and staff, the release read. Sarah spends most of her days in bed, worrying about the woman with the ulcer, and all the other people she used to see every day. Im lucky because I am starting to get better but they would probably get progressively worse, she said of the elderly residents. A lot of them will be confused and alone. Microsoft Surface Earbuds will launch in Europe on May 6, priced at 199 Microsoft's entry into TWS earbuds - the Surface Earbuds - will finally go on sale in European countries on May 6. The buds will cost 199, placing them slightly above the 169 Samsung Galaxy Buds+ and way below the 279 Apple AirPods Pro. Microsoft's Surface Earbuds will cost CHF 220 in Switzerland, while their US price is $249, but there's still no word on availability stateside. The Microsoft Surface Earbuds bring 8 hours of listening time with an additional 16 hours through the charging case. They offer active noise cancellation, Spotify and Office 365 integration and touch controls on the large outer surface of each bud. Source Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he'd rather use persuasion than force with companies that are defying health regulations to curb the coronavirus pandemic. At least 15% of large companies in Mexico have flouted the emergency restrictions, many in the auto industry, according to the Health Ministry. Lopez Obrador told reporters that he won't force businesses to close, but will call them out Monday. "Nothing by force, everything by reason and law. Convince, persuade," he said in a news conference this week. According to government guidelines, only factories producing essential equipment can stay open, but the rules have sometimes been ignored. The president said he would begin naming and shaming such companies, but "very affectionately, so that nobody gets offended." Mexico's government at first eschewed strict lockdowns of the kind imposed elsewhere in the region, and in the early days of the pandemic Lopez Obrador continued to travel and shake hands with his supporters. His softly-softly approach has provoked criticism as some workers got infected and died, and sparked protests in industrial areas near the U.S. border. In Chihuahua state, which borders Texas and New Mexico, most of the people who died worked in assembly plants, according to health authorities. The coronavirus death toll at factories known as maquiladoras in Ciudad Juarez - an industrial city that shares a border with El Paso - has risen to at least 13 according to state officials. On Tuesday, Mexican daily El Diario de Chihuahua reported the that number may be as high as 18. The Health Ministry initially threatened fines for companies breaking the rules, before the president advocated his less-confrontational approach. Despite the president's rhetoric, authorities have shut down some factories temporarily after deeming them non-essential, according to Animal Politico. Some businesses are probably abusing the rules deliberately, but others are probably confused by the government's failure to communicate clearly, said Carlos Petersen, a New York-based analyst at Eurasia Group. "When this was announced, it was far from clear if they were mere recommendations or if they should be enforced by all," Peterson said in a written message. Mexico's factories are often key to U.S. supply chains, and pressure is coming from Washington to keep some plants open. In a news conference, Ellen Lord, the U.S. defense undersecretary for acquisition and sustainment, said she is asking the Mexican government to help reopen some plants, including ones that are important for U.S. airframe production. The discretion Mexico is leaving to companies over whether to implement the rules leaves the country vulnerable to a more rapid spread of the virus, said Javier Martin Reyes, a professor at the Economic Research and Teaching Center (CIDE) in Mexico City. "The measures are not going to be as effective in health terms, and that's why I think we'll see more coronavirus cases and more deaths," he said in a phone interview. Australian PM Wants UN-Inspired WHO Inspectors Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison told SkyNews on April 23 that he wants to grant new powers to the World Health Organisation (WHO) to enable it to more quickly alert the world to future outbreaks that have the potential to become pandemics. During an interview on Paul Murray Live, the prime minister said the powers that hes suggesting would be similar to those of United Nations (UN) weapons inspectors. The powers would grant the WHO the authority to investigate threats to global health without restrictions. Morrison also expressed hope that the WHO would learn lessons from the current pandemic. While at the same time, he acknowledged that the WHO did not change after the Ebola outbreak, even though it had received many recommendations from an independent review that followed. Had the WHO alerted the world to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic sooner: That could have potentially saved thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of lives, Morrison said. In recent days, Australias foreign affairs minister Marise Payne said the government will call for an independent review Chinas and the WHOs handling of the outbreak, and how critical information was disseminated to other countries. Morrison said Payne had his strong support. However, since this independent review is a long way off, Morrison wants to implement changes now. Speaking to World Leaders Following conversations with world leaders, Morrison wrote a chain of remarks on Twitter, saying they discussed the WHO, vaccines, and the economy. Morrison said, Theres a clear view that we need to have a transparent and independent process to look at whats gone on here. We also talked about the @WHO & working together to improve the transparency & effectiveness of international responses to pandemics. Australia & the US are the best of mates & well continue to align our efforts as we work towards the recovery on the other side of this virus. Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) April 22, 2020 In his interview with SkyNews, Morrison said the WHO needed to be able to function in a way that other countries are given the critical global public health information they need without interferencealluding to Chinas influence over the WHO, which has been raised as a concern recently by different countries. The Australian government has been increasingly critical of the WHO over its handling of the pandemic. While the U.S. has suspended its financial contributions to the WHO, Australia will continue to support the organisation because of joint projects in the Pacific region. The government has also ruled out the WHO carrying out the independent review of the initial outbreak of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus. Epoch Times reporter Caden Pearson contributed to this report. Follow Caden on Twitter @CadenPearson SAN FRANCISCO, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Dama Financial announces its CashToTax service offering to cannabis businesses in Sacramento, California. The offering was rolled out in February in conjunction with the City of Sacramento Finance Department and the Office of Cannabis Management to provide cannabis businesses with a safe and convenient way to electronically pay taxes and licensing fees. While shelter-in-place is still in effect due to COVID-19, cannabis businesses are having to wait in line outside of banks to make large cash deposits, thereby increasing risk to both the public and to the individual. "Cash is inconvenient, expensive, unsafe, and especially high risk for those handling cash during COVID-19. With CashToTax, the City of Sacramento is prioritizing the safety of the cannabis businesses and its citizens, as well as providing cannabis related businesses a new and efficient method to pay their taxes and permit fees," said Eric Kaufman, Dama Financial Chief Revenue Officer. A licensed cannabis business with a CashToTax account can arrange for cash to be picked up by armored courier and deposited into a dedicated account for online tax and fee payments, accessible the next business day. The City of Sacramento will cover the cost of one armored courier cash pick up per month per permit holder. To learn more or apply, visit cashtotax.com. About the City of Sacramento Finance Department: The City of Sacramento Finance Department Revenue Division is located in New City Hall, 915 I Street, Room 1214. Office hours are from 8:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Monday Friday. For questions regarding cannabis business tax, please contact Ranelle Kawasaki at [email protected] or (916) 808-1251. About the City of Sacramento Office of Cannabis Management (OCM): Find more information about Cannabis Business Operating Permits on the OCM's webpage at cityofsacramento.org/cannabis by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at (916) 808-8955. About Dama Financial Dama Financial provides transparent, sustainable banking and payment solutions to cash-intensive industries. Using innovative technology and data, Dama Financial exceeds the compliance and regulatory requirements for servicing high-risk businesses. Payments industry experts have come together to enable the cannabis industry, an unbanked category, to achieve their potential by removing the barriers that exclude them from accessing fundamental financial solutions. For more information, visit www.DamaFinancial.com. Press Contact: Jenna Romo 1-877-401-3262 [email protected] https://www.damafinancial.com SOURCE Dama Financial Related Links https://www.damafinancial.com Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Budget carrier Vietjet is scheduled to begin daily flights on the Van Don Ho Chi Minh City route from May 1, while Vietnam Airlines will operate four weekly flights on this route from May 16, and Bamboo is to operate daily flight from June 1. Vietnam Airlines will operate three flights linking Van Don and Da Nang per week from May 16. In the afternoon the same day, the airport welcomed 298 Vietnamese passengers returning from abroad. All of them underwent medical check-up and was put under quarantine in line with regulations. Another flight carrying experts from the Republic of Korea also landed at Van Don the same day. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19, the airport has been one of the few in the country to receive flights from pandemic-hit areas with over 5,300 passengers. Photo: Michael Howe-Ely/Flickr Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in New York City. NYC to temporarily freeze bodies of coronavirus victims instead of burying them on Hart Island Bodies of coronavirus victims in New York City will be stored in freezer-trucks until they can be collected by family. Read the full story on New York Daily News. Cemetery races to keep up as New York virus deaths mount As the pandemic's death toll charges past 10,000 in New York City, funeral directors, gravediggers and others who tend to a body's final chapter are sprinting to keep up. Read the full story on NBC 7 San Diego. Medical volunteers return from helping in New York A medical team from Heart to Heart International returned Tuesday evening from volunteering their services in New York. Read the full story on KMBC. Here are 20 independent Brooklyn restaurants still waiting on a federal loan These Brooklyn restaurants and wholesalers applied for but never received funding from the Paycheck Protection Program. Read the full story on Eater NYC. Some NYC Council members questioning whether remote meetings lead to lawsuits As the City Council prepares to conduct official business Wednesday through online meetings for the first time in its 82-year history, some members are questioning whether any action taken remotely will hold up in court. Read the full story on New York Post. This story was created automatically using data about news stories on social media from CrowdTangle, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. The staffing crisis in nursing homes is escalating as the promised redeployment of personnel to tackle Covid-19 is not happening. That is according to Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) which said the heralded redeployment of staff to private nursing homes promised by the Government is not manifesting on the ground. The organisation said that a huge crisis is now emerging and is likely to be further exacerbated arising from mass testing for the virus now being undertaken in nursing homes. It emerged on Wednesday that, of the 769 deaths notified to date across the country, 348 (just over 45%) were in nursing homes. An NHI snapshot survey of private and voluntary nursing homes across the country undertaken on Wednesday revealed large numbers of nursing, care, and other staff are now unavailable due to Covid-19. Asked if personnel had been made available and redeployed by the HSE to support the staffing complement during the crisis, 96% of nursing homes (227 of 236 responses received) replied no. Just nine nursing homes (4%) said they had received extra staff. The survey also found: 60 nursing homes surveyed had 107 senior nurses absent due to Covid-19; 102 nursing homes informed the survey of 223 nurses being absent, while four nursing homes said in excess of 10 nursing staff were absent because of the virus; 158 nursing homes reported 427 healthcare assistants being absent due to Covid-19, with 29 nursing homes reporting in excess of 10 healthcare assistants absent; 122 nursing homes informed the NHI that 281 staff members from other disciplines were absent. NHI chief executive Tadhg Daly said many nursing homes were now at a crisis point in terms of having enough staff to meet the Covid-19 challenge. Our nursing homes are a vital element of the health service and the commitment to redeploy health staff needs to manifest, he said. The challenge is likely to escalate as mass testing is undertaken within nursing homes across Ireland and the number of staff unavailable increases. In some instances, large numbers of nursing home staff are becoming unavailable and this is placing a huge strain upon nursing homes and the staff available to them. This is about care of our older people during a national health emergency. We simply cannot get this wrong. Mr Daly said the HSE is informing nursing homes that the required staff are simply not available and are being redirected towards the use of agency staff. It is absolutely vital the promise that healthcare staff will be redeployed to support nursing homes start translating into feet on the ground within our nursing homes. The support committed by the State is very welcome, with private and voluntary nursing homes providing care to 25,000 people across the country, he said. At Wednesdays briefing of the National Public Health Emergency Team, the HSEs group lead for older persons, Dr Siobhan Kennelly, said that far more people recover than die from Covid in nursing homes, its important to remember that. More than 1 million Texans have lost their jobs in the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, and with that comes the loss of many employer-sponsored insurance plans. Early estimates from Health Management Associates, a health care research firm, show that up to 3 million Texans could be out of health insurance by the end of the pandemic due to company shutdowns and layoffs. Many who were let go have also lost their employer-paid health coverage at a time when they need it most, said John Ford, the associations spokesman. Here are your options for health insurance if youve lost your job. Where to start First, check for any communications from your employer about COBRA or state continuation eligibility. You can begin looking at plans yourself if you elect not to take federal or state-continued coverage, or dont have that as an option. Registered health insurance agents (you can check if they have a Texas license on the Texas Department of Insurance website) and TDI representatives can help individuals navigate plans. The state health coverage line is 800-252-3439. COBRA Those who have lost their employer-sponsored insurance can apply for continuation of health insurance under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA. Its applicable to plans administered by employers with 20 or more employees, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Employers must notify workers of continuation eligibility within 14 days of termination. Workers have to sign up for COBRA coverage within 60 days of job loss. And if you waive the coverage within 60 days but decide during that same period youd like to hop aboard, you can do so. MORE HOW TO: Have a family member or roommate with coronavirus? Houstons doctors weigh in on how to care for them COBRA allows employees and their beneficiaries to continue on the plans they had before for 18 months. If youre sticking to a certain doctor or provider for any given reason, and the plan was worth the cost, its worth staying on with COBRA. You should also consider COBRA if youve already met your deductible for the year, said Tonya Booth, president of the Texas Association of Health Underwriters, which represents health insurance agents in the state. However, people enrolling in COBRA likely will face steeper charges. Employers may elect to stop paying the coverage, sticking the former employee with the full bill. State continuation Texas offers nine months of health insurance continuation for those not eligible for COBRA. The nine month enrollment period of state continuation can be especially beneficial for those planning to job hunt, Booth said. If youre getting a plan from May to the end of the year, youll know whether youll get back to work, Booth said. If not, you look at that point in time for open enrollment for a true exchange plan. Before opting for other coverage, double check if your employer has allowed furloughed workers to keep their benefits. Some insurers, such as Humana, are temporarily dropping conditions that would prevent furloughed workers from getting their health benefits. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have relaxed our requirement for employees to be actively at work in order to be eligible for coverage, said Marvin Hill, a Humana spokesperson. People who have exhausted the 18-month COBRA coverage can receive an additional six months of continuation. Under state continuation, the planholder must pay the full premium. The marketplace In a few cases, the Affordable Care Act health exchange for private health insurance plans is open outside of the open enrollment period to those who have lost coverage, said Ben Gonzalez, a spokesman for the Texas Department of Insurance. If you were getting your insurance through work, then you lost it, thats a qualifying event that will allow you to go to healthcare.gov and shop for a plan, Gonzalez said. Dozens of policies are still available on the marketplace. For people who plan to shop the marketplace, its important to consider the costs of a plan that would also cover the care of any beneficiaries, like children or grandparents. Consult with an insurance agent or a Texas Department of Insurance representative about which plans are right for the family. Medicaid or CHIP If financial times are really dire, the states Medicaid, Medicare and Childrens Health Insurance Program (CHIP) programs are enrolling people. Those who are pregnant, parent of a dependent child under age 19, blind, have a disability or a family member who is disabled or are 65 and older can enroll in Medicaid. CHIP is available for Texas children 18 or younger. A family of four must make $50,985 or less a year to qualify for Medicaid in Texas a condition that could be helpful for those who have lost the job that provides benefits, but still sees some income. They shouldn't be ignored because we think everybody does better with some kind of health coverage, Gonzalez said. Short-term health plans If you dont have any other health insurance options, short-term health plans could be useful as a stopgap while searching for work. This is an option worth considering if youre healthy and dont have pre-existing conditions. Those plans are great if youre between jobs, coming off your parents plan or in the waiting period with a new employer, Booth said. RISKY BUSINESS: Buying health insurance in the new age of deregulation But people with health issues requiring more medical care may not be covered by short-term health plans. Researchers said that the plans are more likely to leave patients with higher out-of-pocket costs. Some short-term plans are also not regulated by the state, meaning that theyre not subject to guidance issued by the Texas Department of Insurance. For instance, while a state-regulated employer-sponsored plan would have to cover coronavirus-related illnesses, short-term health plans have no obligation to do the same. You have to be very careful about what youre purchasing and know who you're purchasing from, Gonzalez said. gwendolyn.wu@chron.com twitter.com/gwendolynawu Publisher of Our Daily Manna devotional, Bishop (Dr.) Chris E. Kwakpovwe and his wife, Rev. (Mrs) Flora E. Kwakpovwe visited Ogudu Orioke in Lagos State on Monday, 20th April 2020, to distribute food items to members of their ministry and people residing in the community. The community chairman, police force & few journalists were present to ensure order amongst community members who trooped out in their large numbers to recieve food items. Several bags of rice, groudnut oil, palm oil and other food items were distributed to everyone present. The police made sure they were properly lined up, observing social distancing before the sharing of food items to the people commenced. The police were on ground to enforce social distancing before we shared food items to members of Ogudu community. We dont joke with social distancing because this is one of the major ways to limit the spread of this virus. the bishop said. The man of God encouraged them to wash their hands regularly and maintain all safe practices to avoid contacting coronavirus. Speaking about the current lockdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Bishop (Dr.) Chris E. Kwakpovwe pleaded with Nigerians to look out for those who do not have enough foodstuffs or cash, and strive to lend a helping hand. Be your brothers keeper, help somebody. People are suffering. Be a blessing to somebody. We bought bags of rice & tins of oil but seeing the crowd here today, we had to share it into several different bags so that it will reach everyone present. he said. The lockdown may be extended, but this is a time for everyone to draw nearer to God. We might not be able to reach every nigerian out there now but once the lockdown is over, those who do not have can come to our daily manna mountain at Ogudu, the little we have, we shall share with them. Bishop (Dr.) Chris added. See more photos below; Tyson Foods Inc. plans to indefinitely suspend operations at its largest pork plant in the United States to contain the rapid spread of the coronavirus, the company said on Wednesday. It said the Waterloo, Iowa plant had already been working at reduced capacity, adding that the 2,800 workers at the plant, to be compensated during the closure, would be invited to come in later this week for coronavirus testing. The announcement marks the latest disruption to the U.S. food supply chain from the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed at least 177,000 people across the globe. Despite Virus Outbreak, Midwest States Work to Keep Meat Plants Open Governors in the Midwest are working to keep large meatpacking plants operating despite coronavirus outbreaks that have sickened hundreds of workers and threaten to disrupt the nations supply of pork and beef. Learn more. Iowa Pork Plant Reopens as Another Begins Testing Tyson Foods resumed limited operations at its pork processing plant in Columbus Junction, where more than 200 workers have become infected and at least two have died. In northern Iowa, Wright County officials reported Monday that 16 employees at a pork processing facility run by Prestage Foods of Iowa have tested positive. Smithfield Foods, the worlds biggest pork processor, has also shut a U.S. plant indefinitely following cases of COVID-19 among employees and warned the country was moving perilously close to the edge in supplies for grocers. The combination of worker absenteeism, COVID-19 cases and community concerns has resulted in our decision to stop production, Steve Stouffer, group president of Tyson Fresh Meats said. Earlier this month, the company shut an Iowa hog slaughterhouse after more than 24 cases of COVID-19 involving employees at the facility. (Reporting by Praveen Paramasivam in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli) Photo: The Tyson Foods pork processing plant in Columbus Junction, Iowa, is viewed Thursday, April 16, 2020. Two employees have died after a coronavirus outbreak at the plant. The plant has been shut down since April 6. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette via AP) Topics COVID-19 USA Iowa Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 18:43:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KUWAIT CITY, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait on Thursday reported 151 new cases of COVID-19 and one more death, bringing the total infections to 2,399 and death toll to 14, the health ministry said in a statement. Among the new cases were 12 Kuwaiti citizens who returned from the United Arab Emirates, Britain, Turkey and Egypt, the statement said. A total of 132 new cases were contacts with infected patients, it said, adding the cause of the infection for the other seven is still under investigation. The new death case was a 41-year-old Kuwaiti citizen, it noted. So far, 1,887 patients are receiving treatment, including 55 in ICU, according to the statement. Meanwhile, Kuwaiti Minister of Health Bassel Al-Sabah announced the recovery of 55 from the coronavirus, raising the total number of recoveries in the country to 498. On April 4, Kuwait reported the first death case of COVID-19. The Kuwaiti government has imposed a nationwide curfew to contain the spread of the coronavirus. On March 13, Kuwait suspended all commercial flights. The government also closed stores, malls and barbershops as precautionary measures to curb the virus' spread. Enditem Fuel Your Pipeline. Close More Deals. Our full-service marketing programs deliver sales-ready leads. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee! Learn more Cuffless blood pressure measuring is coming to the Android world. Samsung on Tuesday announced that South Korean authorities have approved its Health Monitor app for use on the Galaxy Watch Active2. The app will be available in the third quarter of this year. High blood pressure has been associated with increased risk of brain, kidney and heart problems, including stroke and coronary disease. By helping users measure and track their blood pressure, the Health Monitor app supports more informed decision making that can lead to healthier lives, Samsung said. The Samsung Health Monitor app has the potential to help millions of people around the world who are affected by high blood pressure, Senior Vice President Taejong Jay Yang remarked. Prior to use, the app has to be calibrated with a traditional blood pressure cuff. After that, you can tap measure in the app, and it will display your blood pressure. The watch measures blood pressure through pulse wave analysis, which is tracked with the devices Heart Rate Monitoring sensors, Samsung said. The app analyzes the relationship between the calibration value and the blood pressure change to determine the blood pressure. To ensure accuracy, you need to calibrate the device with a blood pressure cuff at least once every four weeks. Challenging Limitations Out of the gate, the Samsung Health Monitor faces some challenges. The need to recalibrate every four weeks is one of them, pointed out Jeff Dachis, CEO of Informed Data Systems, the New York City-based maker of OneDrop, a diabetes management app for iOS devices. Still, consumer grade blood pressure checks available at a glance are helpful in enabling and empowering people to be more aware of what their bodies are doing in real time and enabling them to make better choices, he told TechNewsWorld. For the everyday person trying to keep an eye on their health and their wellness, this isnt going to be super exciting for them, said Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for mobile devices at IDC, a market research company based in Framingham, Massachusetts. A D V E R T I S E M E N T The reason for that is that it has only been approved for use in South Korea, but more importantly, it requires the use of a cuff-based, blood-pressure monitor, he told TechNewsWorld. Thats not what folks are hoping for, he said. They want to measure blood pressure on their wrists without any additional tools. Health and Fitness Sells Watches Measuring blood pressure on the wrist without supplemental tools isnt here yet, but its coming, Ubrani said. Before its done on the wrist, it likely will be done in the ear, he continued. In order to get a good blood pressure reading, you need to be very stationary, Ubrani explained. Your ears are far more stationary than your wrist. Getting high grade health and fitness applications is important to smartwatch makers because its important to smartwatch buyers. Forty one percent of current smartwatch owners think health tracking was one of the most important features in their smartwatch purchasing decision, said Jessica Montgomery, research analyst at 451 Research, a research and advisory company based in Boston. Moreover, 55 percent of planned smartwatch buyers think health tracking is one of the most important features in their smartwatch purchasing decision, she told TechNewsWorld. So many of the dominant use cases for wearables are in health and fitness tracking, noted 451 research vice president Christian Renaud. In fact, what were beginning to see is a little bit of a split between Im wearing this because I want to see how Ive done on my treadmill workout and This is something my doctor gave me because they want to monitor me,' he told TechNewsWorld. Pandemic Could Drive Demand Ironically, Apple didnt recognize how important health and fitness apps were to wearables when it launched Apple Watch, Ubrani said. When they launched the initial Apple Watch, it was more of a communication tool than a health and fitness tool.Then with the second and third generation, they realized that health and fitness should be in the forefront, he recalled. Every wearable maker out there has realized the same thing: Its important to have health and fitness features baked into your watch, Ubrani added. Health and fitness is going to be even more important in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the environment were in now, people want to be able to monitor their health on a daily basis and in real time. Wearables can play a big role in that, Ubrani said. Were not there yet, but theres research now into making wearables more useful, he noted. By adding more and more sensors and better software, well get there in the next couple of years. Apple Dominance As innovative as Health Monitor may be, Samsung has a lot of ground to cover before it challenges Apple in the smartwatch market. Apple accounts for 64 percent of smartwatch owners, compared to 18 percent for Samsung, according to 451 Research. The Apple Watch is a superior, integrated, well-designed user experience that many people find valuable to their health and fitness regimens, maintained OneDrops Dachis. Also, smartphone compatibility attracts consumers to Apple Watch over other smartwatches, 451s Montgomery pointed out. Smartwatches are one of those things that people want compatible with their smartphone, especially if you want cellular capabilities with your watch, she said. Apple has done a good job tying its watch into its overall ecosystem, said IDCs Ubrani. You can get iMessages on your watch, for example, he noted. You cant get iMessages anywhere else. Whats more, Apple integrates services like Apple Music into its watch. You dont see that kind of lock-in with Samsung, Ubrani said. That may be why attachment rates for the iPhone are expected to balloon in the coming years. Almost one in 10 iPhone owners had an Apple Watch in 2019, according to Loup Ventures. By 2025, it expects that number to mushroom to 40 percent, which means about 12 percent of Apples revenue would be from its watch. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said he disagrees with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's decision to move quickly to reopen parts of the state's economy, but said the final call belongs to the governor. "I told the governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, that I disagree, strongly, with his decision to open certain facilities, Trump told reporters, saying the state's coronavirus case numbers don't meet the threshold needed to reopen under the White House's guidelines. At the same time, Trump added, Kemp "must do what he thinks is right." Kemp said he appreciated Trump's critique and praised his "bold leadership and insight during these difficult times" but would stick with a plan in which businesses re-open carefully with restrictions designed to limit the spread of the coronavirus. "Our next measured step is driven by data and guided by state public health officials," Kemp said in a series of tweets. "We will continue with this approach to protect the lives and livelihoods of all Georgians." Earlier today, I discussed Georgia's plan to reopen shuttered businesses for limited operations with @POTUS. I appreciate his bold leadership and insight during these difficult times and the framework provided by the White House to safely move states forward. (1/3) #gapol Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) April 22, 2020 More: Plans to reopen Georgia get backlash from mayors, mixed support from businesses Kemp, a Trump ally, announced a plan this week that would allow nail salons, massage parlors, bowling alleys, gyms and other businesses to open Friday. Church services can resume this weekend, and restaurants and movie theaters can follow suit in limited ways starting on Monday. Story continues Disputing that plan, during a news briefing at the White House, Trump said it's "just too soon" for places like "spas and beauty salons and tattoo parlors and barber shops." "I love them, but they can wait a little bit longer," Trump said. "Just a little bit, not much." Defending his decision in a television interview on Wednesday, Kemp said the state is urging business owners to be careful as they open back up. "I think one of these things that has gotten out of control on the national level is people think we are throwing the keys back to these businesses and that's it's going to be business as usual and it's not," Kemp told FOX 5 of Atlanta. More: Trump's new guidelines for states are aimed at reopening parts of US, lifting coronavirus restrictions President Donald Trump Kemp added that: "If we have a hot spot that pops up in another part of the state like we had in Albany, you know, I can do a countywide order or take different kinds of actions." Trump's criticism of Kemp was something of a contrast to statements he made Tuesday. Asked about the governor of Georgia and his reopening plans, Trump said "he's a very capable man" and "knows what he's doing." A neighboring lawmaker, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he agreed with Trump's critique of Georgia, saying it is going "too far too fast" with reopening businesses. A GOP supporter of both Kemp and Trump, Graham said the administration has "given us a sound road map on how to safely reopen the economy. I strongly suggest, as a nation, we follow it." Mayors and lawmakers in Georgia have criticized his plan to reopen the economy, saying it will lead to increases in coronavirus infections and deaths. "I am perplexed that we have opened up in this way," Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms told CNN. "As I look at the data and as I talk with our public health officials, I dont see that its based on anything thats logical." Trump has encouraged states to reopen their economies, but only in phases and if they are seeing steady reductions in coronavirus cases and deaths. During his daily news briefing at the White House, Trump said Georgia is not meeting those guidelines so far. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told reporters that Georgia and other states cannot simply flip a switch and tell their business people to "go." Asked what he would advise Kemp, Fauci said: "I would tell him he should be careful." Contributing: John Fritze This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Trump disagrees with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on reopening As the coronavirus spreads, public and private companies as well as government entities are requiring employees to work from home, putting unforeseen strain on all manner of networking technologies and causing bandwidth and security concerns. What follows is a round-up of news and traffic updates that Network World will update as needed to help keep up with the ever-changing situation. Check back frequently! UPDATE 4.27 According to the April 22 Verizon Network Report, overall data volume across its networks has increased 19% compared to pre-COVID levels. While data usage remains elevated, the changes in how people are using the network has stabilized, the company stated. In the United States, there has been a notable decline in peoples movements during the course of the global pandemic. Mobile handoffs the times when a data session moves from one cell site to another as users walk or drive around have reduced by 27% nationally compared to typicalpre-COVID levels. And, measured by mobile handoffs, the U.S. has seen a decrease in movements since March 1. Verizon said that the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions appear to have the most people in the nation staying at home. Verizon stated it expects usage to continue at sustained higher levels, even as movements begin to shift in the coming weeks and months as stay-in-place restrictions begin to lift . We believe all trends point to sustained network usage at this higher level for the foreseeable future, said Kyle Malady, Chief Technology Officer for Verizon. In its fifth report tracking internet speeds across the top 200 most populous U.S. cities, Broadbandnow reported networks were slowly adjusting to the new demand placed on them. But as of April 22 despite these adjustments, internet speeds in some cases slowed to a crawl. Over the past week, 67 cities (33.5% of the top 200) experienced median upload speed decreases of 20% or greater below range of previous weeks in 2020. Through April 15, the number was 61, or 30.5%. In turn, 51 cities (25.5%) have recorded download speed dips of 20% or greater, compared to last weeks 52. Mohamed Tano has been executed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham for blasphemy, although other claim that he was accused of criticising the groups leader reports Zaman Al-Wasl. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has executed a 19-year-old man in northern Aleppo province over claims of blasphemy, the militant group said Tuesday. Activists have denounced blasphemy allegations, saying the young man was executed due to messages found on his phone criticizing Abu Mouhamed al-Jolani, the head of the al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria. Mohamed Tano was arrested a few months ago by Tahri al-Sham at the Bab al-Hawa border crossing after being deported from Turkey along with hundreds of others Syrians. Tano is originally from Darret Eza town, one of Tahrir al-Shams powerful strongholds in the western countryside of Aleppo. In early April, Tahrir al-Sham also executed a former member of the Syrian parliament over links with the regime army. Rifaat Mahmoud Daqa, 68, was detained in May 2019 by Tahrir al-Sham over a leaked recording revealing that the former MP was providing the regime army with information and data about rebel groups operating in the northern Idleb province and coastal province of Lattakia. Like the Islamic State, Tahrir al-Sham wants to create an Islamic state of its own in Idleb and parts of Aleppo. Formerly-known as Jabhat al-Nusra, the group has detained and killed most of its opponents including citizen journalists and human rights advocates. 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 atmospheric temperature is increasing at an unprecedented rate the weather is getting increasingly variable from year to year. These days, you cant say hot, cool, wet or dry vintage any longer. Weather has become totally unpredictable, with extremes even within one growing season, began Diego Tomasi, director of the Centro di Ricerca per la Viticoltura e Enologia di Conegliano (CRA-VIT) in Italy. To emphasise his point, he projected onto a screen several graphs; one showing the increased variability of harvest dates in Burgundy in the past 15 years compared to the previous two centuries. What we now call climate change used to be called global warming. The experts introduced the change in name in order to emphasize that there are actually two things that we need to be aware of:Both of these things are happening simultaneously.Much of the evidence for both of these phenomena actually comes from agriculture, because we have good written records about harvest dates of various crops, often over centuries. These records show both of the patterns: harvest dates getting earlier and earlier on average, but also with erratic harvest dates from year to year.I have written before about Grape harvest dates and the evidence for global warming . In that post I discussed several datasets from around the world, which all show the same patterns. In particular, the grape harvest dates for Burgundy are valuable, because of the 700 years over which they have been collected, from 1350 CE. I noted: there has been a dramatic change in harvest date in recent years, with the earlier and earlier harvests since 1984 being attributed to global warming.The other weather pattern has also been emphasized in the wine industry recently ( The dirt on wine ):So, the obvious thing for me to do here is re-visit the Burgundy data, to show you the big picture.I have used exactly the same dataset as in my previous post, containing a complete record of the official start of the Burgundy grape harvest for every year from 1370 to 2018 CE, inclusive. Last time, I calculated a running average of 9-year blocks of harvest dates, but this time I calculated the standard deviation of the harvest dates, instead. This calculation describes how variable the harvest dates were, across each 9-year period a larger standard deviation indicates more variation from year to year (see my post on Statistical variance and global warming ).I have graphed the data above. Each dot represents one 9-year period. The horizontal line is simply the median value half of the standard deviations are below the line and half are above it. The dashed lines show the inter-quartile range half of the values are between the two dashed lines.For our purposes here, I have highlighted the final 32 values the final 16 are shown in red (since 2000) and the 16 before that in green. Note that red values are almost all above the upper dashed line (ie. in the top 25% of the variation) while the green ones are all below the lower dashed lines (ie. in the bottom 25% of the variation). This means that the recent harvest dates (this century) have been much more variable from year to year than were the ones immediately before that (the end of last century).This emphasizes the quote above from Diego Tomasi the Burgundy grape harvests are now much more variable than they have been within living memory.However, as I noted in my previous post on the Burgundy harvests, the graph also illustrates that there have been recordings of previous large variations in the weather; indeed, on occasion even more extreme than we are observing now. In that sense, the current change in the weather is not necessarily unheard of, although it is definitely unusual.This is what the climate-change skeptics are on about, and they are right when they point out that rapid changes in long-term weather have occurred before in our recorded history. This does not mean that the effects of the climate change will be any less, or that we do not need to respond to them. Our recent agricultural practices will have to change, irrespective of whether the current weather patterns have occurred before or not.This point is emphasized by a recent study of soil moisture over the past 1,200 years (see Climate change: US megadrought already under way ). The recent 20 years of relatively dry conditions is the fourth such period found by the study, so in that sense this is not unexpected (the previous megadrought ran from 15751603 CE). However, the authors also note that, while the current drought may be a natural event, it is being made much worse by climate change. That is, the effects of the natural event are being exacerbated. I have the impression they are trying to silence everything, Ms. Capelli said on Thursday. Now its a moment of common pain, but for the future, I want justice. She added that, at this point, she would not know whom to sue. Diego Federici, 35, said that his mother had the coronavirus and died on March 25 after doctors in a hospital in Treviglio, near Milan, decided not to intubate her. His father, who was never admitted to an intensive care unit, had died four days earlier. Mr. Federici said he had joined the NOI Denunceremo Facebook group, adding that he could not accept that two healthy people had died within four days. Nobody is going to give me my parents back, he said, but if someone did something wrong, they should pay for it. Luca Fusco, the founder of the Facebook group, initially posted his email address for members to send their stories anonymously, but dozens of members soon started directly publishing their testimonies every day. The authors do not directly accuse health care workers of malfeasance. As the painful stories of the epidemic pile up on Facebook, the judiciary authorities began searching for someone to blame. Prosecutors started an investigation into what they call an involuntary epidemic at a hospital in Alzano, near Bergamo, where the virus spread through the medical wards. Maria Cristina Rota, Bergamos prosecutor, told the news agency Ansa that a pool of prosecutors would take care of all the investigations about the epidemic in the Bergamo area. The Euro US Dollar (EUR/USD) exchange rate rose on Thursday, leaving the pairing trading at around $1.0833. The US Dollar fell against the Euro after record US jobless claims which saw over 26 million Americans apply for unemployment benefits over the last five weeks. This confirmed that all jobs created during the US employment boom were wiped out in a month due to the coronavirus pandemic. The US Labour Department said that over 4 million people applied for unemployment benefits for the first time last week. However, last weeks data sparked some optimism that the worst maybe over as this marked the third straight weekly decline in new jobless claims. Scott Anderson, chief economist at Bank of the West noted: The US economy is haemorrhaging jobs at a pace and scale never before recorded. It compares to a natural disaster on a national scale. The Euro was able to make gains against the US dollar ahead of today's meeting between European Union leaders where they are expected to discuss the blocks coordinated response to the economic chaos caused by the coronavirus pandemic. However, the single currency remained under pressure as an EU official noted that it could take until summer or longer for officials to agree on how exactly to finance the aid in order to help economies in the Eurozone recover. This is this is due to continuing major disagreements between countries in the bloc. Markets will continue to be wary as it is unclear how far the blocs governments will cooperate in financing a recovery from what is likely to be a deep recession for the Eurozone. Meanwhile, the single currency was able to make gains despite data showing manufacturing and service sector activity in the blocs largest economy slumped in April. The headline flash German composite PMI fell from 35 in March to 17.1 in April, the lowest reading since comparable data was first collected 22 years ago. Commenting on the disappointing data, Phil Smith, Principal Economist at IHS Markit noted: Aprils PMI surveys reveal the full effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown on Germanys economy, showing business activity across manufacturing and services falling at a rate unlike anything that has come before. Compared to a low of 36.3 during the financial crisis, the headline PMIs reading of 17.1 paints a shocking picture of the pandemics impact on businesses. The short-term work scheme is having the desired effect of curbing job losses, with employment falling much less than output during April. Still, redundancies and contract cancellations have led to a record drop in workforce numbers as firms look to cut costs and position themselves for a hard slog in the months ahead. The Euro to US Dollar Outlook: US Durable Goods Orders in Focus Looking ahead to Friday, the Euro (EUR) could suffer some losses against the US Dollar (USD) following the release of Ifos Business Climate. If business climate in Germany declines further than expected in April then it will leave the single currency under pressure. Meanwhile traders will be looking to Marchs US durable goods orders which are likely to plummet. if orders plummet further than forecast, this could dampen risk appetite and cause the Euro US dollar (EUR/USD) exchange rate to edge higher. Partners from New Jersey, New York and Connecticut can once again accompany expectant mothers into labor and delivery rooms in the St. Lukes University Health Network. The network confirmed the visitor policy change Wednesday, based on new guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. St. Lukes had been prohibiting visitors from those states under a policy that took effect March 30, as part of efforts to halt the spread of the coronavirus illness. As of Wednesday, the CDC on its travel advisory page no longer singles out states as COVID-19 hotspots. Warren County freeholders opposed the visitation ban on behalf of residents scheduled to deliver babies during the coronavirus pandemic at hospitals across the river in the Lehigh Valley. St. Lukes spokesman Sam Kennedy said the new policy was adopted prior to the freeholders resolution calling for the ban to be overturned. That resolution, championed by Freeholder James Kern III and approved April 8, labeled the ban particularly discriminatory against Warren County couples, as neither hospital in Warren County offers maternity services, leaving expectant parents no choice but to use medical facilities outside of the county. Lehigh Valley Health Network continues to prohibit visitors from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut from visiting its labor and delivery/mother-baby units. We are continuing the visitation restrictions we announced earlier for labor and delivery and mother/baby patients and all of our other visitation restrictions for the safety of our patients, our community and our caregivers, LVHN spokesman Brian Downs said Wednesday. We continue to discuss the topic and will notify the community when the restrictions are lifted. There is no timetable for that at the moment. Warren County as of Wednesday reported 708 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 50 deaths. Between Northampton and Lehigh counties, 126 new coronavirus cases were reported Wednesday, bringing their total to 3,965 confirmed cases with 44 deaths in Northampton County and 49 dead in Lehigh County. Statewide, there were 1,156 new coronavirus cases reported across Pennsylvania on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases to 35,684 with 58 new deaths pushing the toll to 1,622. The coronavirus death toll in New Jersey increased Wednesday to 5,063 residents, with 95,865 total cases statewide, as officials announced another 314 deaths and 3,551 positive tests. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. 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. For more information on the coronavirus, consult your state health department at health.pa.gov or covid19.nj.gov and the website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover or a personal story you want to share. A clash over the lack of vetting for COVID-19 treatments pushed by President Donald Trump may have played a role in the ouster of the doctor heading the federal agency developing a coronavirus vaccine, the doctor and his attorneys alleged on Wednesday. Dr. Rick Bright, whos led Department of Health and Human Services Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) since 2016, was dismissed and transferred to a different job at the National Institutes of Health this week. Bright was also dismissed from his role as the deputy assistant secretary for preparedness and response, and he alleged in a statement to The New York Times that the move was in response to my insistence that the government invest the billions of dollars allocated by Congress to address the Covid-19 pandemic into safe and scientifically vetted solutions, and not in drugs, vaccines and other technologies that lack scientific merit. I am speaking out because to combat this deadly virus, science not politics or cronyism has to lead the way, he added. Bright said that his career working with vaccines has prepared me for a moment like this to confront and defeat a deadly virus that threatens Americans and people around the globe. To this point, I have led the governments efforts to invest in the best science available to combat the Covid-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, this resulted in clashes with H.H.S. political leadership, including criticism for my proactive efforts to invest early into vaccines and supplies critical to saving American lives," The Times reported. Bright also said he resisted efforts to fund potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections, namely chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, which Trump had encouraged Americans to try based on anecdotal evidence and some overseas studies that did not include a control group, according to multiple public health experts. Dr. BRIGHT: Specifically, and contrary to misguided directives, I limited the broad use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, promoted by the Administration as a panacea, but which clearly lack scientific merit..." 1/ Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) April 22, 2020 Trump has not touted the drug recently, though previously he pushed for its expedited approval for clinical trials and frequently told Americans, What do you have to lose? Researchers recently looked at 368 male veterans infected by the coronavirus at all Veterans Health Administration medical centers in the county. The study, which was not yet peer-reviewed, showed about 28% of those who were given hydroxychloroquine, in addition to usual care, died. That figure was more than double the 11% of veterans who received only normal care and died. Brights attorneys, Debra Katz and Lisa Banks, called the Trump administrations move retaliation plain and simple. In a statement, the lawyers said they want investigations by the Health and Human Services inspector general and by the Office of Special Counsel, a nonpartisan independent federal agency charged with protecting whistleblowers. Trump said hed never heard of him, when asked about Bright during his daily news briefing on coronavirus. Guy says he was pushed out of a job, maybe he was, maybe he wasnt, Trump said. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, told reporters he knew Bright but was not familiar with the situation that led to his removal from BARDA. Fauci was asked whether public health experts in the Trump administration felt able to speak out. Here I am, said Fauci, whos frequently disagreed with the president publicly, including on treatments such as hydroxychloroquine. Fauci said he couldnt comment on Brights particular gifts or expertise, but said that, to his knowledge, Bright would be responsible for the development of diagnostics, which is very important. Trump, who expressed frustration with the reporter who mentioned Brights gifts, said, if I let (Fauci) speak, I let anyone speak. Related Content: The U.S. is grappling with the complex tension between efforts to contain COVID-19 on the one hand and efforts to rejuvenate the nation's economy on the other. There is not much argument about the ultimate importance of either of these goals. The tension arises from competing perspectives on the relative priority each should receive. Public leaders are in the position of attempting to assess scientific and economic data and making complicated projections about the future. Leaders are trepidatious about loosening mandates in fear that the public will misinterpret or exploit the relaxed standards and move too quickly. But leaders also run the risk of the public beginning to ignore the mandates if they believe those mandates are misguided or unjustified. It is a precarious tightrope. Several states have begun the process of reopening their businesses this week, but most other states are still in the planning stages of deciding when and exactly how they will begin to loosen virus-related restrictions. The average American is unequipped to make scientific judgments on virus-related matters. Americans are better able to make judgments on the financial and economic impact of the shutdowns. But regardless of the underlying source or accuracy of their beliefs, public opinion on these matters is critically important. Americans' definition of the situation defines the reality of how they react to it. Social distancing mandates have enjoyed remarkable compliance to date, but they are essentially unenforceable and rely on the people's acceptance of the premise that they are warranted and worthwhile. Underlying Concerns About Virus Risks and Financial Risks The direct impact of the virus (that is, impact on health) remains starkly evident in public opinion data. Polls asking about "worry" and "concern" vary in their wording (worry about spread, concern about catching the virus, worry about getting infected, etc.), but Gallup data show that over half of Americans are very or somewhat worried that they'll get the coronavirus; some other polls show higher levels of worry. There is evidence that public worry has leveled off or is even beginning to moderate. A Gallup analysis of trend data collected through April 12 concluded: "Americans Less Pessimistic About COVID-19 Situation," and data updated since that article was published show optimism is continuing to increase. As many Americans now say the coronavirus situation in the U.S. is getting better as say it is getting worse. A trend compilation by FiveThirtyEight also shows a definite drop in the percentage of Americans "very" concerned about getting infected. And new Gallup data show that Americans are modestly less likely to worry about hospital capacity than they were the prior week. My colleague Jeff Jones' recent analysis of Americans' views on the pandemic's economic and personal financial toll finds that Americans have negative expectations for what's to come. The percentage saying their financial situation is getting worse has increased to 50%, the highest in Gallup's trend by one point. Americans' assessment of their current financial situation is down, although not yet dramatically so. The percentage rating their personal financial situation as excellent or good is at 49%, compared with 56% a year ago. While other Gallup data show that a majority of Americans (55%) say they can continue following social distancing practices without significant financial hardship for "as long as is necessary," 8% say they're already experiencing significant financial hardship, and another 14% say they will within a few more weeks. A new Washington Post-University of Maryland poll shows that half of Americans say the virus situation has caused their household some financial hardship. Looking ahead at the next 12 months, a quarter of U.S. workers now say it's very or fairly likely that they will lose their job, the highest Gallup has ever measured -- even higher than it was after the Great Recession. The number of working Americans who report having been temporarily or permanently laid off is still low, and not much has changed since the end of March. But significant percentages of workers report that their companies have instituted hiring freezes and are cutting hours or shifts. We have seen an expected -- and substantial -- negative shift in Americans' views of the national economy. Americans have gone from an ebullient view of economic matters just a few months ago to a sharply pessimistic view. The number of Americans saying the economy is getting worse has more than doubled since February and is now at its highest level since 2009. Other Gallup questions have asked separately about "getting the coronavirus" and "experiencing severe financial hardship as a result of the disruption caused by the coronavirus." Gallup's initial report of these data showed that the former evoked a modestly higher level of worry than the latter; more recent updates show a slight narrowing of the gap between the two concerns. As of the week ending April 19, 54% of Americans are worried about getting the virus, and 50% about experiencing severe financial hardship. These results confirm that Americans continue to have fundamental concerns about the spread of the virus, although those concerns may be abating slightly -- and that Americans have a particularly negative projection about the future impact of the situation on their finances and on their jobs. Direct Questions Asking About Reopening Some pollsters have attempted to ask Americans directly about tradeoffs between these two issues -- containing the virus and restarting the economy. These efforts to get respondents to choose between the two courses of action in a single question are complicated because the underlying issues are complicated. The structure and wording of these questions can have a significant bearing on how they are interpreted. NBC News/Wall Street Journal question from April 13-15, 2020 An NBC News/Wall Street Journal question on loosening restrictions is the most recent example of this type of question. The question begins by asking, "Which worries you more about responding to the coronavirus and restrictions that require most Americans to shelter in place and only leave their homes for essential needs?" and then provides two alternatives to choose from. The first alternative is "that the United States will move too quickly in loosening restrictions and the virus will continue to spread with more lives being lost." The second alternative is "that the United States will take too long in loosening restrictions and the economic impact will be even worse with more jobs being lost." These two alternatives in part give respondents a choice between saving lives and saving jobs, and, along with a presumption of inertia for the status quo, it is perhaps not surprising that 58% of respondents in the survey choose the first alternative and 32% the second. This introductory statement assumes people are worried by asking them which of two alternatives "worries them more," not leaving much of an alternative for respondents who a) might want to say they are not worried about either, or b) might want to say they are worried about both. If it were offered, I assume that some unknown percentage of respondents might opt for a middle alternative -- one that says they worry more about the U.S. not doing both things at the same time in a measured way. Pew question from April 7-12, 2020 Pew Research recently asked a similar question, but one that doesn't attempt to provide justifications for the two alternative courses of action: "Thinking about the decisions by a number of state governments to impose significant restrictions on public activity because of the coronavirus outbreak, is your greater concern that state governments will lift the restrictions too quickly (or) not lift the restrictions quickly enough?" Like the NBC News/Wall Street Journal question, the Pew Research question confers legitimacy on the restrictions, in this instance by telling respondents that the restrictions are the result of "the decisions by a number of state governments." The question also assumes that respondents have concerns about those decisions. The responses are similar to those from the NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, with 66% choosing the first alternative and 32% the second. But again, the lack of a middle alternative is noteworthy. Respondents may not be concerned about either of these alternatives, but rather concerned that there won't be an effort to lift the restrictions while at the same time getting the spread of the virus under control. Pew's subhead summarizing the results -- "Wide concern that states will lift COVID-19 restrictions too quickly" -- may not be as descriptive as would be optimal, given that the question doesn't really measure the "wideness" of concern, but rather a forced choice between two concerns put in front of them. Gallup question from April 3-5, 2020 A Gallup question about resuming normal activities included a middle alternative: "Once government restrictions on social contact are lifted and businesses and schools start to reopen, how quickly do you think you would return to your normal activities, including interacting with people in public: immediately, wait to see what happens with the spread of the virus before resuming (or) continue to limit your contact with other people and daily activities indefinitely?" This question structure is somewhat different than the NBC News/Wall Street Journal and the Pew questions, assuming as it does that restrictions have been lifted and then asking about the public's quickness in returning to normal daily life. The two end-point alternatives offered to respondents are pretty extreme -- "immediately" versus "continue indefinitely" -- which makes the middle alternative more attractive, particularly because the wording of the middle option seems prudent and appealing ("wait to see what happens with the spread of the virus before resuming"). Given these choices, seven in 10 Americans choose the middle option. Gallup question from March 30-April 5, 2020 A separate Gallup question along the same lines gave respondents more choices about returning to normal activities: "If there were no government restrictions and people were able to decide for themselves about being out in public, how soon would you return to your normal day-to-day activities?" At that point, 42% of Americans chose "after the number of new cases declines significantly," while 38% chose "after there are no new cases for a period of time." The remaining small percentages either selected "right now" or "after a coronavirus vaccine is developed." CBS News question from April 7-9, 2020 A CBS News poll question shows that when given the chance, a large percentage of Americans opt for a middle alternative. The structure of this question is different in form from those above, not asking Americans about their concerns or worries, but about their thinking: "For you, personally, what are you thinking about more these days: the health risks from the coronavirus outbreak, the economic and financial impact from the coronavirus outbreak (or) both equally?" The responses show that 49% choose the "both equally" option, with 26% choosing the "health risks" option and 19% the "economic and financial impact" option. Obviously, from the people's perspective, the situation is not an either/or choice. Bottom Line There are positives and negatives associated with any course of action relating to the coronavirus, as is true of almost all political decisions. Most Americans, I think it is safe to assume, want to prevent deaths from the virus and want a vibrant economy that provides jobs and incomes. Political leaders are in the difficult position of attempting to balance the benefits and risks of advocating actions aimed at both objectives. An assessment of public opinion, as we have seen, does not provide leaders with a precise mandate on exactly how to proceed. The public clearly (and not surprisingly) supports the concept of saving lives by containing the virus, and if forced to choose between that and economic matters, opts for the former. But it is also clear that Americans are highly worried about the direction of the economy and about their personal finances and job security, underscoring how the choice is not simply one of focusing on one thing at a time. The data show that Americans want their leaders to do what is hardest -- balancing both objectives and moving forward on parallel tracks, addressing the virus and addressing the economy simultaneously. North Wales GPs call for second home use to be illegal during pandemic This article is old - Published: Thursday, Apr 23rd, 2020 Senior doctors want the Welsh Government to outlaw all second home use until the coronavirus pandemic has subsided. The open letter, which has been signed by 15 clinicians from across Wales, urging the First Minister to make holiday home use illegal and outlines the danger of non-essential travel in relation to the current public health emergency. Mark Drakeford has already hinted that regulations on people travelling to Welsh second homes could be tightened, with an announcement expected by the weekend. All non-essential travel, including to second homes, is already illegal under the existing coronavirus guidelines. But according to the open letter, there are concerns that the existing rules contained within The Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Wales) Regulations 2020 are insufficient and need bolstering. According to the senior GPs, covering authorities from Anglesey to Wrexham, Bridgend and Ceredigion, the Welsh Government should: Make second home use illegal until the risk posed by Covid-19 has abated, even when lockdown restrictions begin to ease in other areas of Wales and the UK, in order to prevent a second peak. Prolong lockdown measures in rural tourist hotspot areas of Wales, specifically targeting non-essential travel into these areas. Empower police to enforce the above, with the power to compel those breaching these restrictions without reasonable excuse to return to their primary residence. The letter adds: Tourism and holiday home use facilitate non-essential movement into rural areas, increasing the population and thus placing additional pressures on local health and emergency services, states the open letter, warning that north and west Wales could see a second peak unless such measures are followed. This could happen at the very worst of times when staff resilience will be at rock-bottom, after weeks and months of pressure, and when global supplies of medical and personal protective equipment have been depleted. We appreciate the economic value of tourism, but this cannot be at the cost of the health of our rural population. We hope that the Welsh Government will show the value of devolution by being prepared to act in a swift, innovative, agile and decisive manner to safeguard the people of Wales. Where necessary this must diverge from Westminster to meet our nations unique needs and challenges. Let history show that the Government of Wales acted when it mattered the most. Arfon AM, Sian Gwenllian, has added her voice to those calling for stricter guidelines on those using second homes in Wales during the Covid-19 outbreak. She said: The Labour Government has said they would be guided by the science. So now they must listen to the clinicians and act quickly to protect local communities in Wales. While the vast majority of people have taken a sensible approach, staying in the primary residences, for weeks we have been calling for tougher measures to stop the few irresponsible individuals who have ignored the rules travelling. It is a shame that the Labour Welsh Government has taken so long to react that senior doctors now feel it necessary to go public in order for them to be listened to. We are asking our front line NHS heroes to work night and day, putting their lives on the line to fight this virus. Mark Drakeford and Vaughan Gething must now listen to them and act quickly to keep them and our constituents safe. The Welsh Government has been asked to comment. By Gareth Williams BBC Local Democracy Reporter (more here on the LDR scheme) One year ago, two Australian hackers found themselves on an eight-hour flight to Singapore to attend a live hacking competition sponsored by Dropbox. At 30,000 feet, with nothing but a slow internet connection, they decided to get a head start by hacking Zoom, a video-conferencing service that they knew was used by many Dropbox employees. The hackers soon uncovered a major security vulnerability in Zooms software that could have allowed attackers to covertly control certain users Mac computers. It was precisely the type of bug that security engineers at Dropbox had come to dread from Zoom, according to three former Dropbox engineers. Now, Zooms video-conferencing service has become the preferred communications platform for hundreds of millions of people sheltering at home, and reports of its privacy and security troubles have proliferated. Zooms defenders, including big-name Silicon Valley venture capitalists, say the onslaught of criticism is unfair. They argue that Zoom, originally designed for businesses, could not have anticipated a pandemic that would send legions of consumers flocking to its service in the span of a few weeks and using it for purposes like elementary school classes and family celebrations for which it was never intended. I dont think a lot of these things were predictable, said Alex Stamos, a former chief security officer at Facebook who recently signed on as a security adviser to Zoom. Its like everyone decided to drive their cars on water. The former Dropbox engineers, however, say Zooms current woes can be traced back two years or more, and they argue that the companys failure to overhaul its security practices back then put its business clients at risk. Dropbox grew so concerned that vulnerabilities in the video-conferencing system might compromise its own corporate security that the file-hosting giant took on the unusual step of policing Zooms security practices itself, according to the former engineers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss their work. As part of a novel security assessment program for its vendors and partners, Dropbox, in 2018, began privately offering rewards to top hackers to find holes in Zooms software code and that of a few other companies. The former Dropbox engineers said they were stunned by the volume and severity of the security flaws that hackers discovered in Zooms code and troubled by Zooms slowness in fixing them. After Dropbox presented the hackers findings from the Singapore event to Zoom Video Communications, the California company behind the video-conferencing service, it took more than three months for Zoom to fix the bug, the former engineers said. Zoom patched the vulnerability only after another hacker publicized a different security flaw with the same root cause. Zooms sudden popularity nearly 600,000 people downloaded the app on a single day last month has opened it to increased scrutiny by researchers and journalists and forced the company to grapple with a rash of security incidents. Three weeks ago, the FBI warned that it had received multiple reports of trolls hijacking public school classes on Zoom to display pornography and make threats malicious attacks known as Zoombombing. Last week, Vices Motherboard blog reported that security bug brokers were selling access for $500,000 (U.S.) to critical Zoom security flaws that could allow remote access into users computers. Separately, hackers put up more than half a million Zoom users passwords and user names for sale on the so-called dark web. On April 1, Eric S. Yuan, Zooms chief executive, said the company would devote all of its engineering resources for the next 90 days to shoring up security and privacy. Last week, the company announced a revamped reward program for hackers who find security flaws in its code. Stamos said Zoom was also working on design changes to reduce the potential risks of security flaws and abuses like Zoombombing. In a statement, Zoom said that it appreciated the researchers and industry partners who have helped and continue to help us identify issues as we continuously seek to strengthen our platform. It added that the company was proactively working to better identify, address and fix issues. In a statement, Dropbox said it was grateful to Zoom for being the first to participate in its vendor bug bounty program. It added that Dropbox itself used the video-conferencing service for internal meetings and that Zoom had become a critical tool in keeping our teams connected. Before Zooms initial public offering in 2019, Dropbox made a $5-million investment in the company. Separately, Bryan Schreier, a Dropbox director, is a partner at Sequoia Capital, which made a $100-million investment in Zoom before the initial offering. Even critics acknowledge that Zoom remains the most user-friendly video-conferencing service on the market and has become a crucial communications tool during the pandemic. Security researchers also praised Zoom for improving its response times quickly patching recent bugs and removing features that presented privacy risks to consumers. Zoom is hardly the first tech company whose sudden surge in popularity exposed its problems. Microsoft, Twitter, Google, Facebook and Uber have all settled federal charges related to consumer security or privacy. What is different about Zoom is the unusual role that another tech company Dropbox played in pushing the video-conferencing service to address its security weaknesses. Details on Dropboxs role have not been publicly reported before. Many companies, including Zoom, have bug bounty programs in which they pay hackers to turn over flaws in the companys own software code. But Dropbox, which has integrated its file-sharing services with Zoom, did something novel. Starting in 2018, Dropbox privately offered to pay top hackers it regularly worked with to find problems with Zooms software. It even had its own security engineers confirm the bugs and look for related problems before passing them on to Zoom, according to the former Dropbox engineers. Hackers have reported several dozen problems with Zoom to Dropbox, the former employees said. These included moderate problems, like the ability for attackers to take over users actions on the Zoom web app, and more serious security flaws like the ability for attackers to run malicious code on computers using Zoom software. Dropbox also put in its own controls to ensure that its integration with Zoom did not present risks to Dropbox users. Zooms reputation for security weaknesses began to spread within Dropbox, the former engineers said. As part of an annual company-wide hacking competition in 2018, Dropbox engineers created a knock-off of Zoom they called it Vroom and challenged employees to hack it. The Dropbox employees successfully obtained Vroom meeting codes, which would have allowed them to crash hypothetical Vroom meetings. The idea of the exercise, former Dropbox employees said, was to teach Dropbox engineers to avoid making some of the security mistakes that Zoom had made. Some former employees said Dropbox also prompted Zoom to introduce additional security measures, including a virtual waiting room feature that now allows meeting organizers to vet participants before letting them into a video conference. I have no doubt that Zoom was better able to address the current zoombombing craze thanks to Dropboxs early involvement, Chris Evans, a former head of security at Dropbox, wrote in an email to a reporter. Dropbox employees werent the only ones finding problems. In late 2018, David Wells, a senior research engineer at Tenable, a security vulnerability assessment company, uncovered a serious flaw in Zoom that would have allowed an attacker to remotely disrupt a meeting without even being on the call. Among other things, Wells reported that an attacker could take over a Zoom users screen controls, enter keystrokes and covertly install malware on their computer. Wells also found the vulnerability allowed him to post messages in Zoom chats under other peoples names and kick people off meetings. Wells, who reported his findings directly to Zoom, said Zoom quickly patched the flaws. In early 2019, Dropbox sponsored HackerOne Singapore, the live hacking competition. To put pressure on Zoom to take security more seriously, former Dropbox engineers said, Dropbox included the video-conferencing service among companies for which it offered bug bounties at the event. Even before the event began, one hacker reported a major vulnerability to Dropbox that could have allowed attackers to pose as Zoom over Wi-Fi and secretly observe users video calls, the former Dropbox engineers said. Soon after, the two Australian hackers, an engineer and executive at Assetnote, a security company, uncovered the flaw that would have allowed an attacker to covertly take complete control of certain computers running Apples macOS, according to a blog post published by the hackers. The discovery was particularly jarring because attackers could have used the Zoom vulnerability to gain access to the deepest levels of a users computer. But Zoom did not quickly address the flaw. Instead, the company waited more than three months until a third researcher independently uncovered and publicized a separate, less serious issue, with the same underlying cause. Yuan, Zooms chief executive, subsequently wrote a blog post in July apologizing for the delay. We misjudged the situation and did not respond quickly enough and thats on us, Yuan wrote. He added: We take user security incredibly seriously. For the duration of the COVID-19 crisis, Please Explain is coming to you five days a week. In today's episode of Please Explain, national editor Tory Maguire is joined by chief political correspondent David Crowe to discuss the rush of Australian businesses registering for the JobKeeper program and how the government systems will keep up with demand. Become a subscriber Our supporters power our newsrooms and are critical for the sustainability of news coverage. Bengaluru, April 23 : Covid infection spread to nine more people from a 55-year-old man in the city, an official said on Thursday. "The 55-year-old man is suffering from Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI). He and the other people who got infected were living in close proximity," said a health official to IANS. Designated as 419th positive case, the 55-year-old man was living in a small hutment in Hongasandra near Bommanahalli with at least four other men. On Thursday, details of nine men contracting the virus from the 419th case emerged, prompted the authorities to seal off a radius of more than 100 metres in Hongasandra. "All the people infected through the 55-year-old man are isolated and being monitored in Victoria hospital in the city," the official said. The man from Bihar reached the city only two months back. The Hong Kong protests were among the first to feel the chilling effects of the virus. The protests began in June, to oppose a bill that would have allowed extraditions from Hong Kong to mainland China. They soon spiraled into some of the largest in Hong Kongs history, with millions marching to denounce police brutality and Beijings growing influence over the city. But in January, as news spread of a mysterious virus in China, many grew leery of crowds. The freeze became official in March, when officials banned public gatherings of more than four people. Since then, police have arrested attendees of sporadic protests. What can we do? said Max Chung, an activist who was arrested last July after organizing a protest of hundreds of thousands of people. When the time is right, of course I will organize another protest. But it is impossible right now. A combination of top-down mandates and grass-roots hesitation has paralyzed protests elsewhere. In Algeria, twice-weekly street protests that roiled the country for more than a year dried up in March, as protesters agreed to focus on fighting the virus a decision solidified by the countrys new ban on public demonstrations. As awareness of the virus spread in Beirut, protesters at first donned masks to chant against corruption and religious sectarianism. But they dispersed in the face of a nationwide lockdown, and last month, security forces dismantled encampments where protesters had slept, held teach-ins and danced to revolutionary anthems. Attempts to defy the restrictions have met backlash from not only the government but also allies. After opponents of an anti-Muslim law in India said they would continue protesting during lockdown, even supporters criticized them as reckless. MUSCATINE A case of COVID-19 was found Friday at the Kraft-Heinz plant in Muscatine. It is unknown how long the employee has had symptoms, according to Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs Michael Mullen. The employee was last at the plant on Friday, April 17, and is self-quarantining at home. The Human Resources Department at the plant contacted other employees who had been in close proximity with the person through contact tracing. The area where the employee worked was also shut down, deep-cleaned and disinfected. There are no other known cases from the plant at this time. As always, the health and safety of our employees is our top priority, Mullen said, From the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, we have asked any employee who feels unwell to stay home and seek medical assistance. He said Kraft-Heinz had contingency plans in place to keep all of its plants in operation while some of its employees stayed home sick. Mullen said they had implemented safety measures and continued to do so in coordination with the CDCs current guidelines. That includes encouraging employees to wear face coverings. PORTAGE With signs like "Keep Working Hard" and "I'm So Proud of You," a group of Portage elementary educators and staff surprised their students Thursday in a caravan of encouragement. The teachers, bus drivers, paraprofessionals and more drove up and down the streets of Portage nearest Aylesworth Elementary School in a parade to offer support during coronavirus-driven school closures. Portage Township Schools first told parents on March 13 it would be closing buildings and offering e-learning for four weeks. Later, executive orders from Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb extended the closures through the end of the school year. Aylesworth Principal Taria Taylor said teachers have been keeping up with the elementary's K-5 classes in the last few weeks through a combination of videos, emails, phone calls, class Facebook pages and educational applications. "Our teachers are going a really great job of working to give families what they need," Taylor said. "They're the real MVPs." Her team began planning the parade a couple of weeks ago, Taylor said, with between 40 and 50 planning to attend. "We're really trying to reach out in fun ways," Taylor said. Dr. Elizabeth ClayborneBy RACHEL SCOTT and BRIANA STEWART, ABC News (CHEVERLY, Md.) -- In a Maryland emergency room under siege by the coronavirus, three pregnant doctors are fighting to save patients, while protecting the lives growing inside them. Dr. Elizabeth Clayborne, Dr. Tu Carol Nguyen and Dr. Michele Callahan are expecting mothers and physicians on the front lines of the emergency department at the Prince George Hospital Center in Cheverly, Maryland. The medical facility has seen an uptick of COVID-19 patients following a surge of cases since early April. I'm definitely visibly pregnant now, so as soon as I walk in the room, a lot of people are like, what are you doing? Why are you here? Clayborne told ABC News. Well, I'm Dr. Clayborne and Im here to take care of you today, she often replies. Months before there were known U.S. coronavirus cases Clayborne, Callahan and Nguyen realized they were all expecting their second child around the same time. We were excited and then we found out we're all having girls, having summer babies. So we're really giddy and excited about this experience and we're going to share as mothers, Clayborne said. But when the pandemic hit, they felt a call of duty to stay on the front lines, six to seven months pregnant. We sat down, actually, the three of us as a group to talk about what we wanted to do. We decided that we were going to continue working to support our colleagues, we knew that they were going to need our help, Clayborne said. "It's what we signed up for, and we want to be there or else we wouldn't be there," Callahan said. Management at Prince Georges Hospital Center told the doctors they could take an unpaid leave of absence, encouraging them to take it one shift at a time. We do have a policy where our physicians have the option, particularly those who are expectant mothers and those who are in other vulnerable populations, to not work on the front lines. But we definitely [appreciate] those workers who choose to stay and their bravery is definitely applauded and were so thankful, Jania Matthews, senior director of media relations and corporate communications at the University of Maryland Capital Region Health, said. Their colleagues have also stepped up to perform medical procedures like intubations on their behalf, in hopes of limiting their exposure to severely ill patients. Even with the added support and personal protective equipment, close contact with patients has become nearly impossible as cases spike throughout the state. At the epicenter of Marylands COVID outbreak: Prince Georges County With an upswing in cases, Prince Georges County has become the states hotspot with more than 4,000 COVID-19 cases, the most of any county in the state. To meet the new demands, Prince George Hospital Center has set up tents outside the medical facility to accommodate more patients. The administration has also opted to cancel elective and procedural surgery to free up staff and beds. I worked a shift last week and realized that almost all the patients that were surrounding me in the immediate area were COVID positive. And that's an unprecedented experience to have as a provider, Clayborne said. Serving in a majority-black county, Clayborne said she has seen firsthand the alarming impact on African American residents. To date, blacks make up 37% of coronavirus cases in Maryland, comprising 5,550 cases of the 14,775 cases in the state. Emerging reports from states across the country have revealed the pandemics significant impacts on minorities. Early data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals blacks make up a disproportionate number of fatalities, totaling 33% of overall cases. When they get sick, they're getting sick faster. They're getting more sick and they're more likely to die. And it really is tragic because we are seeing it play out in such a severe form, Clayborne said. As the number of cases spike, the doctors are inching closer to their due dates. Each day, they individually weigh their decision to continue to work. I'm getting a little more nervous because the number of sick COVID positive patients that we're seeing is increasing and it's becoming more difficult for me to not see the sick patients and do not have to do procedures like intubations, Clayborne said. Still, she is on a mission to help lessen the impact of the health disparities and soften the mistrust of the medical system among minority communities. When they see a face like mine, where they hope that I identify with their struggle, that I understand why they have a mistrust of the system -- we are starting to build some bridges, Clayborne said. On the frontlines while expecting: I'll feel her kick during patient examinations Being on the frontlines while expecting is not without frequent trips to the bathroom, shortness of breath and the occasional kick from their baby girls inside the womb. I'll be like trying to lean over to examine a patient and I'll feel her kick. And I'm like, oh, I'm not here by myself, Clayborne said. The personal protective equipment critical for doctors in the battle against coronavirus can be uncomfortable for the women as they continue to work through their pregnancies. When you're wearing these N-95 masks or anything else, it's basically you're being suffocated for like 10 hours, 11 hours a day, Callahan said. With their faces covered for hours, staying hydrated and nourished has proven to be a challenge. Because we're wearing N-95 masks like constantly, I do forget to drink water. And then I'm like, oh, I'm feeling really parched, Nguyen said. Expecting mothers face anxiety with limited data on adverse outcomes of COVID-19 exposure Thirty-four weeks along, Callahan fears being separated from her infant, if she tests positive. When I go in for labor, they're going to test me at my hospital. If I test positive, there's a potential that they'll take my baby for two weeks, Callahan said. Limited data on the effects of coronavirus and pregnancy has also brought unease and anxiety for expecting mothers across the nation. We do not have a lot of data on the relationship of pregnancy, especially early trimester pregnancy, with COVID infection, Dr. Rahul Gupta, senior vice president, and chief medical and health officer at March of Dimes, told ABC News. We have tools that do not encourage us to use surveillance and other types of data in real-time and be able to be proactive, Gupta said. Groups like March of Dimes have stepped up to provide free advice for expecting and new mothers but experts are challenged with a lack of information, raising questions about whether maternal infection could lead to troubling and detrimental outcomes. Even with full personal protective equipment, Clayborne admits she could be exposed just weeks before delivery. I could not only jeopardize my life but could jeopardize the life of my baby girl who I'm carrying inside of me. And it's really scary but it's my kind of natural instinct to go towards problems sometimes and face them head-on, Clayborne said. Even after being surrounded by death and pain, there are moments of joy about the lives they will soon bring into the world, the playdates their girls will share and the example they hope to have set. There's always going to be challenges that lie ahead in her life and the lives of human beings forever and always. And so how we respond to those challenges is really important. And I hope that she likes the example that I gave her of rising to the occasion, Clayborne said. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. The Russian central bank on Thursday said it would offer 500 billion roubles ($6.7 billion) at an overnight repo auction on Friday, adding that current liquidity levels in the banking sector were sufficient to support the financial system, Reuters reports. Earlier on Friday, the central bank said Russian banks had made a net profit of around 190 billion roubles in March, 34% higher than the average monthly net profit for banks in 2019. Chron.com is following the latest headlines on the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects on the Houston area. LATEST: Tomball ISD announced Wednesday its plans for in-person graduation ceremonies, per 'Laredo Morning Times' Alvaro Montano. The district is aiming to have seniors at Tomball High School and Tomball Memorial High School walk in July at the Berry Center. MALLS OPENING: Five Houston-area malls are opening for retail-to-go shopping The district officially closed campuses for the remainder of the school year following Texas Governor Greg Abbotts orders Friday to extend closures of all Texas schools. But Tomball ISDs main concern throughout the COVID-19 crisis has continued to revolve on how to safely honor its 2020 graduating senior classes.' The district plans to celebrate both schools by coming together as a community if they are able, taking into consideration social distancing and any other requirements or limitations. We are hopeful and excited to share that Tomball ISD has secured a location and date for an in-person graduation ceremony for each of our high schools this summer, Superintendent of Schools Martha Salazar-Zamora stated in a letter to families. -- Following Wednesday's face mask order, the Harris County Precinct 1 Constable's Office is partnering with Houston faith-based leaders to host several free face mask and glove giveaways over the next week. Residents are not allowed to walk up to giveaway sites and must enter through drive-thru only queues. Only the first 100 cars will be served. Each giveaway will run from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. The giveaway dates and locations are as follows: Saturday, April 25: Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, 902 W. 8 Street Sunday, April 26: Cliffdale Baptist Church, 854 Enterprise Street Tuesday, April 28: New Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, 9126 Jensen Drive Thursday, April 30: Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church, 7104 Homestead Road Saturday, May 2: Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, 908 E. 32 1/2 Street As noted in the face mask mandate, people who have mental or physical health issues are exempt from wearing masks. Those that are driving, eating or exercising alone also do not have to wear a mask. During a Wednesday press conference, city and county leaders stressed that the order does not require N95 masks or medical masks, which should be preserved for healthcare workers on the frontlines. Bandanas, scarves, T-shirts or homemade masks are fine to use. -- Authorities confirmed a COVID-19-related death at a Richmond state home for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, which is one of the largest in the state. BREAKING QUARANTINE: Houston restaurant owner to disregard stay-at-home order with dine-in opening Fort Bend County Judge KP George confirmed the death, which occurred to a resident at Richmond State Supported Living Center. The case was one of two confirmed cases previously reported at the RSSLC, one of 13 state-run homes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Richmond facility is the states second largest facility and home to approximately 320 residents. Check back for updates as they come in. Tracy Becker was mesmerized when the Hubble Space Telescope released pictures of the Eagle Nebula. The colors were so vivid. It was not like the vast, dark outer space shed imagined as an elementary school student in Freehold, N.J. On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, Pippa Molyneux hung that same picture in her bedroom in Nottingham, U.K. The Pillars of Creation, perhaps Hubbles most iconic image, shows newborn stars amid tendrils of cosmic dust and gas against a bright blue backdrop. Today, Becker and Molyneux, 33 and 34, respectively, are using the telescope that inspired their careers. Currently studying the frozen waters of Jupiters moons and the composition of asteroids, the San Antonio researchers are among a generation of scientists who grew up inspired by Hubble and, 30 years after its launch on April 24, 1990, are continuing its decades-long tradition of discovery. I think everybody would remember the first time that they get to use the Hubble telescope, said Becker, who works with Molyneux at Southwest Research Institute. I called all my family. Orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 340 miles, Hubble is uninhibited by Earths atmosphere and the nasty way it distorts light. It has helped provide clarity on the formation of galaxies, existence of black holes and characteristics of planets orbiting stars hundreds of light-years away. The latest exoplanet: Scientists find potentially habitable planet that had been hidden in NASA data The telescope was initially expected to last about 15 years. But five space shuttle visits, the last in 2009, helped to extend its life and upgrade its technology. And while some parts are wearing down, the observatory remains productive and in high demand. Three of its six gyroscopes, the devices used to point the telescope, are still functioning. Hubble only needs three gyroscopes for normal operations and can do most of its science with just one. Last year set a new record, as more than 1,000 peer-reviewed papers cited Hubble data. This years demand is equally high as more than 1,000 projects have requested time on the telescope. Just one out of every five proposals will be approved, said Tom Brown, who oversees Hubble science operations at the Space Telescope Science Institute. Hubbles flight operations are at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center. Hubble is going to continue doing exciting science, Brown said, including science that was not anticipated when it launched. Hubbles origins In 1946, 11 years before the first satellite was launched, a research paper discussed having a telescope in space. In 1969, the National Academy of Sciences provided its support. After nearly a decade of political and budget wrangling, the project got funded and began in 1977. David Leckrone, however, had started a year earlier. To him, it was the most important thing an astronomer could do. There had been telescopes launched into space, but those lacked sophisticated cameras. And ground-based telescopes have always been handicapped by the Earths light-distorting atmosphere. Thats why stars appear to twinkle even though they emit a steady stream of light. Humans for thousands of years had been looking up at the stars and had never seen stars clearly, said Leckrone, who would spend 33 years working on Hubble, including 17 years as the Hubble Project's lead scientist. Astronomers dont want to see stars twinkling. He was in Florida when space shuttle Discovery launched the telescope. And he remembers the anticipation. The feeling that, after 14 years, the project was finally starting. But that optimism would be quickly deflated. Hubbles early photos came back blurry, caused by a manufacturing error that ground off too much glass from the telescopes primary mirror. The science community came up with a fix, building replacement instruments and corrective mirrors to counter the flaw. These were installed by a space shuttle crew in 1993, and every instrument since then has been built with this correction. We lost over three years, Leckrone said. We did good science, but it wasnt the expected science. Newfound clarity Since 1993, however, Hubble has beamed down images both beautiful and insightful. One of Hubbles achievement came from examining a much-disputed question: At what speed is the universe currently expanding? Scientists were surprised to learn the universes expansion was speeding up. They had thought it should be slowing down. This discovery won a Nobel Prize in 2011. Hubble has also been instrumental in studying planets orbiting other stars. At the time Hubble launched, researchers didnt know of any planets outside the Earths solar system. Since then, ground- and space-based telescopes have discovered the prevalence of exoplanets, and Hubble has allowed researchers to learn more about them, such as the size of these planets and what makes up their atmospheres. More exploration: NASA shares its vision for creating sustained human presence on the moon And a third major finding is a glimpse into the universes past. It was controversial at first, using 10 days of precious telescope time in 1995 to stare at a nearly empty patch of sky, but the project revealed galaxies fainter and farther than had previously been seen. Some of the light captured by Hubble in 1995 traveled for more than 10 billion years before reaching Earths orbit. Youre looking at objects that, at this moment, dont look like that anymore, Brown said. Youre looking to a time shortly after the big bang. Hubble has since continued this research, peering back even farther to galaxies emitting light when the universe, now 13.8 billion years old, was only a few hundred million years old. And according to Leckrone, such iterative research has been one of Hubbles greatest strengths. Researchers have been able to use Hubble again and again, answering new questions that arise with each study. Ultraviolet For Becker and Molyneux, with the Southwest Research Institute, a main benefit of Hubble has been examining the cosmos through its capability to observe in the ultraviolet part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Electromagnetic energy travels in waves that span a continuum from very long radio waves to very short gamma rays. The human eye can only see a small section of this spectrum, visible light, whereas other machines like radios and X-rays use other portions of the spectrum. Hubble can study visible light, ultraviolet and infrared. Chemical elements and molecules have unique signatures that show up as different patterns of light and dark at different wavelengths. But due to Earths atmosphere, its impossible to study the universe at ultraviolet wavelengths using ground-based telescopes. Hubble is completely vital for that, Molyneux said. Becker and Molyneux know that frozen water, for instance, lights up in a very specific way when examined in ultraviolet. But some of the moons around Jupiter, which non-ultraviolet observations have shown to have ice, dont light up as expected. Thats likely due to either radiation from Jupiter or having other substances mixed into the frozen water. More funding: Advocates seek more for science in proposed $25.2B NASA budget With Hubble aging, theyre motivated to conduct their research quickly. The next major space telescope, James Webb, wont have an ultraviolet capability. It will use infrared wavelengths to study the universes early days. Brown expects researchers will be able to use both telescopes for a while. James Webb is slated to launch next year, and he expects Hubble will survive past 2025. Leckrone said it could even be providing insights to the year 2030, or beyond. All my experience tells me that Hubble wont just die suddenly, Leckrone said. Itll keep doing wonderful science. It will have some overlap with James Webb, maybe many years with James Webb. andrea.leinfelder@chron.com twitter.com/a_leinfelder The United States House of Representatives on Thursday voted 388 to 5 to approve legislation aimed at providing $484bn for small businesses, hospitals and a national COVID-19 testing strategy . The bill was approved unanimously by the US Senate on Tuesday after bipartisan negotiations with the White House, and will now go to US President Donald Trump for his signature. Trump is expected to sign the bill quickly. The COVID-19 pandemic is ravaging America. Small businesses are shuttered. Thousands have died. Millions of Americans are unemployed. Rome is burning. We can either put out the fire or watch our great nation go down in flames, Representative Hakeem Jeffries, a Democrat, said in urging the legislation forward. This is a strong step in the right direction, Jeffries added. The emergency spending package adds approximately $320bn to a programme designed to help small businesses keep employees on their payrolls until the US economy can be reopened again. Congress provided $350bn in March for small businesses under the so-called Paycheck Protection Program, but the money was quickly exhausted by overwhelming demand. The programme was designed to help companies with fewer than 500 employees, but a number of larger companies found ways to obtain funds through their banks in the first round. The new bill seeks to compensate for inequities in the US financial system by channeling $60bn of the new funding through community lenders in under-banked neighbourhoods and rural areas. More than 26 million Americans have lost their jobs since the coronavirus pandemic forced businesses to shut down. The bill also includes $75bn for hospitals hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic and another $60bn for economic disaster assistance, as well as $11bn for states, according to a summary of the legislation. The impact of the coronavirus is starting to be felt personally by members of Congress. Senator Elizabeth Warren announced on Twitter that her older brother had died, and Representative Maxine Waters said during House debate that her sister was lying in a hospital bed dying of the disease. My oldest brother, Don Reed, died from coronavirus on Tuesday evening. He joined the Air Force at 19 and spent his career in the military, including five and a half years off and on in combat in Vietnam. He was charming and funny, a natural leader. https://t.co/b8m0xKzAmM Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 23, 2020 We are in the middle of this global pandemic. This isnt a Republican virus or a Democratic virus. It doesnt recognize the colour of your skin, or the country of your origin, doesnt know what god you worship. Were in this together, Representative Ami Bera, a Democrat, said. The House followed unusual procedures during the debate and voting on the $484bn measure, wearing masks and entering the House chamber to debate and vote in small groups by alphabetical order. The legislation allocates $25bn for testing for the coronavirus that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other Democrats sought, and calls on the Trump administration to define a strategy to provide nationwide testing focused on boosting capacity by increasing the availability of testing supplies. Coronavirus testing has been inconsistent between locales in the US and often restricted to those seeking care at hospitals. Epidemiologists say testing must be much broader to enable a successful reopening of the US economy. More than 4.5 million coronavirus tests have been administered in the US to date, and some 846,000 cases of COVID-19 the disease caused by the novel coronavirus identified, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University. Nearly 47,000 Americans have died from the disease. New York City, the financial and cultural capital of the United States, folded in on itself amid the coronavirus pandemic [File: Bloomberg] Trump tweeted on Tuesday that he supported the negotiated agreement with Democrats and would sign the bill. Republicans complained that Democrats had delayed the new small business funding by two weeks with their demands for funding for hospitals and testing. Todays legislation is the fourth bill Congress has passed to address the coronavirus outbreak and adds to the more than $2.2 trillion in emergency spending previously approved. The House also voted on Thursday to create a new oversight panel to track the unprecedented federal spending. Republicans and Democrats were unable to reach agreement on changes to House rules that would effectively allow for remote voting and committee meetings, postponing action on the proposals. Rank-and-file members on both sides are growing increasingly frustrated that Congress is not convening in regular session to address the virus. The two parties are already bickering over funding priorities for a fifth bill. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer suggested a fifth bill should equal the previous $2.2 trillion package in size and scope. Democrats want the next bill to include bailout funds for states and cities whose budgets have been decimated by the loss of tax revenue. But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, said on a conservative radio talk show on Wednesday that he would prefer states declare bankruptcy rather than rely on federal bailouts, a proposal that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo assailed as one of the really dumb ideas of all time. Cuomo, in his daily briefing on Thursday, decried the divisive politics coursing through the response to the pandemic. If there was ever a time to stop your obsessive political anger now is the time, Cuomo said. Photo: The Canadian Press Premier John Horgan says people who are sick must stay away from work after an outbreak of COVID-19 at a chicken processing plant in Vancouver. Horgan said Wednesday workers should not go to work when they are sick because they fear losing wages, and he was planning a meeting with Labour Minister Harry Bains and WorkSafe BC officials to discuss sick pay issues. Horgan said health investigators arrived at the United Poultry Co. Ltd. plant on Monday after one worker tested positive for COVID-19 and discovered more than two dozen other employees had the disease. "The lesson that I've learned from the limited information I have on the poultry facility is that workers were coming to work because they were fearful that they would lose wages and not be able to meet their expenses," Horgan told a news conference. "We can't have people putting others at risk for fear of economic consequences for themselves." Horgan said the presence of COVID-19 at a B.C. workplace signals the province cannot let down its guard in the fight against the disease. "The outbreak in the poultry facility is a warning call that we can't get too complacent," he said. "We need to make sure that our workplaces are safe, even those essential workplaces." British Columbia reported 71 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday, in a surge Health Minister Adrian Dix said reflected the outbreak among workers at the poultry plant. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said during her daily news conference on Wednesday that employers are expected to pay attention to the health of their staff, without penalizing them for calling in sick. She said employees feeling sick must stay away from work. "Employers need to understand than an outbreak in your business has affects on all of us," said Henry. "It also can have significant financial impact, both for the business and for your employees." The plant has been closed and Vancouver Coastal Health authority and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency are investigating the outbreak. The health authority said in a news release on Tuesday that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has determined a recall of chicken products from the plant is not required. WorkSafe BC media spokesman Craig Fitzsimmons said in a statement Wednesday that a prevention officer has been assigned to investigate the situation at the poultry plant. "We will be discussing this outbreak with the premier and minister of labour, including any and all measures that can help reduce exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace," he said. The Olymel plant in Quebec, Harmony Foods near Calgary and the Cargill plant near High River, Alta., have also been closed because of COVID-19 outbreaks. Hydroxychloroquine 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. Hydroxychloroquine, sold under the brand name Plaquenil, may treat COVID-19 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? Hydroxychloroquine is one of the first drugs to be trialled in the Principle study. It involves high-risk patients in primary care, aged between 50 to 64, who have COVID-19 symptoms and a chronic health condition such as heart disease, asthma or cancer. It is unclear how many patients are taking part, and the study will run until March next year. So it will be a while before results are clear. The study is being at the University of Oxfords Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences. Hydroxychloroquine is also 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 What are the brand versions of the drug? Kaletra and Aluvia. What does it treat? Lopinavir/ritonavir, marketed under the brand names Kaletra and Aluvia, is an anti-HIV medicine It is an anti-HIV medicine given to people living with the virus to prevent it developing into AIDS. HIV patients were prescribed either Kaltra or ritonavir alone around 1,400 times in 2018. 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. Is it being tested in the UK? It is not prescribed on the NHS for coronavirus because it hasn't been approved - but will be used in the Recovery trial, a massive study run by the University of Oxford for COVID-19 patients already in hospital. The trial started enrolling patients on March 23, with the aim of reaching COVID-19 patients in more than 150 UK hospitals within two weeks. The drug is also being trialled on coronavirus patients in China and at the University of Nebraska. What are its side effects? Known side effects include diarrhea, headaches, upset stomachs, drowsiness, dizziness, a bad taste in the mouth, and trouble sleeping. What do the experts think? The drugs have been described as 'promising' by experts. But there has been some hesitancy about the drug combination due to the NEJM study. Dexamethasone is a steroid drug is used to treat allergies and asthma, as well as some types of cancer Dexamethasone What are the brand versions of the drug? Ozurdex and Baycadron. What does it treat? The steroid drug is used to treat allergies and asthma, as well as some types of cancer. Who makes it? Baycadron is made by Wockhardt Usa, Llc, while Ozurdex is made by Allergan, the manufacturer of a commonly used textured breast implant. What have studies shown? No studies have yet to prove dexamethasone can treat SARS-CoV-2 - but it has been tested on patients with MERS and SARS, two different coronaviruses. One retrospective study of critically-ill patients with MERS found that almost half of the people that received steroids needed additional treatments such as assistance in breathing, drugs to increase blood pressure, and a form of dialysis. Those given steroids were found to take longer to clear the virus from their bodies. Other studies found that the virus was still present in SARS patients who took the drugs up to three weeks after infection. How does it work? 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. Is it being tested in the UK? Dexamethasone is one of the drugs being used in the RECOVERY trial launched by the University of Oxford. It will include patients at more than 130 NHS hospitals across the UK. What are its side effects? The drug is known to cause an increase in appetite and heartburn, as well as muscle weakness and insomnia. What do the experts think? In a piece in prestigious medical journal The Lancet, three experts warned: 'No unique reason exists to expect that patients with 2019-nCoV infection will benefit from corticosteroids. 'And they might be more likely to be harmed with such treatment. 'We conclude that corticosteroid treatment should not be used for the treatment of 2019-nCoV-induced lung injury or shock outside of a clinical trial.' Azithromycin is an antibiotic which has shown signs of promise when used in conjunction with hydroxychloroquine Azithromycin What are the brand versions of the drug? Z-Pack and Zithromax What does it treat? It's widely used to treat chest infections such as pneumonia, infections of the nose and throat such as sinus infection (sinusitis), skin infections, Lyme disease, and some sexually transmitted infections. Azithromycin is used in children, often to treat ear infections or chest infections. Who makes it? Pfizer What have studies shown? Some clinicians have seen limited success in COVID-19 patients when adding it to chloroquine and/or hydroxycholoroquine. There is little concrete evidence for this however and it remains a controversial topic. Last month, big pharma firm Pfizer announced positive data for the use of its azithromycin (Zithromax) drug as a coronavirus treatment. Hydroxychloroquine was given to 20 COVID-19 patients, and six also received azithromycin. The rate of cure was highest in people who received hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, the study reported. How does it work? The drug itself is an antibiotic and therefore ineffective against viral infections. However, some experts think combining it with the old anti-malaria drugs can improve the prognosis for the sickest patients. It is unknown how or if the drug itself can be effective against a virus directly. Is it being tested in the UK? Azithromycin is one of the four drugs featured in the University of Oxford's Recovery Trial. This programme currently ha more than 5,000 participants who are all coronavirus patients currently in British hospitals. What are its side effects? Common side effects include nausea, diarrhoea or vomiting, losing your appetite, headaches, dizziness or changes to taste. More serious side effects which are far rarer include chest pains, yellowing skin/eye whites, tinnitus or vertigo. What do the experts think? Controversial scientists, such as French doctor Didier Raoult, claim the drug, iwhen used in partnership with hydroxychloroquine can help fight coronavirus. However, experts are almost universally of the opinion that the antibiotic on its own will offer no protection from the viral infection. Economy minister says Welsh Government is rising to challenge of supporting businesses hit by coronavirus but admits recession is unavoidable This article is old - Published: Thursday, Apr 23rd, 2020 The Welsh Government is rising to the challenge of supporting businesses hit by the coronavirus pandemic, according to Economy Minister Ken Skates. It was announced last month that a 500m crisis fund was being made available to provide extra support to companies and charities experiencing a sharp drop in trading. The Welsh Government recently opened up applications to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Business rates relief has also been offered with local authorities across Wales already processing a large number of applications. Although he admitted that a recession was unavoidable, the Clwyd South AM said it showed the government was delivering on its promise to assist those affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Speaking at yesterdays governments daily press conference, he said: There can be no doubt of the scale of the economic challenge that lies ahead of us as a result of coronavirus. The Office of Budget Responsibility reference scenario depicts UK GDP falling by 35% in the second quarter of this year, so there is no avoiding a recession. But to avert a major depression, it is imperative that governments across the UK do everything in their power to shelter businesses through this storm and to protect workers from the very great threat of unemployment. As a Welsh Government, we have made a commitment to play our part in that work and that is why we have re-examined our budgets and made tough decisions across every area of government to put in place a new 500 million economic resilience fund. Yes, we are a small country with a small nimble government facing a giant challenge, but we are rising to that challenge. Mr Skates said grants of up to 10,000 were available for micro businesses, as well as payments of between 25,000 and 200,000 for SMEs. He added that bespoke support was available for larger businesses of vital strategic importance. The funding support available through the economic resilience fund is additional to that provided by the UK Government. Local authorities have already made available 35,000 business rate grants totalling 441m to Welsh businesses, while around 7,500 applications have been made for support from the economic resilience fund. In just seven days, the Development Bank of Wales has also processed 1,500 applications in comparison to 500 in an average year. Mr Skates said: As a Welsh Government, we have attempted to focus our support where the UK governments package of support is seeing companies and individuals fall through the cracks. To put into context the scale of support the Welsh Government is providing in terms of business support, it represents 2.7% of our GDP a huge commitment buy us. In fact, our direct support is now reaching almost one in five Welsh businesses complementing the UK Government schemes for job retention and self-employment support. And I do believe that this commitment shows that we are standing by our firms and their employees when they need help most in return. For those looking for Welsh Government business help, check out their dedicated website here. You can view the briefing from yesterday along with the Q&A session below: The British government has announced it is providing funding for clinical trials of a coronavirus vaccine, one starting this Thursday. Australia, says it is just weeks away from their own human trials, but experts agree that a final product is at least 12-18 months away. UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said at the government's daily press briefing on Tuesday that the U.K. is at the "forefront of the global effort" to find a vaccine and will provide financial assistance for the research being conducted at Oxford University and Imperial College London. "Both of these promising projects are making rapid progress and I've told the scientists leading them we will do everything in our power to support," he told reporters. The project at Imperial College will receive 22.5 million pounds while Oxford's will be granted 20 million pounds. The Oxford study is slated to start with healthy volunteers on Thursday. Oxford, where the team is being led by Professor Sarah Gilbert, has said it hopes to have at least a million doses of its vaccine ready in September, while Imperial hopes to start clinical trials in June. Hancock conceded it was "uncertain science" but said he was confident the UK would throw "everything we've got at developing a vaccine". Investing in manufacturing Hancock also said that the government will invest in manufacturing capacity "so if either of these vaccines safely works, then we can make it available for the British people as soon as humanly possible." The UK currently sits behind Italy, Spain and France in the total number of coronavirus deaths in Europe, with 17,337, 823 people died in hospitals in the past 24-hours. Trials to begin in Australia In Australia, several research initiatives to find a vaccine and treatments for covid-19 are underway. One team, headed by Nikolai Petrovsky, professor of medicine at Flinders University in Adelaide, says they are hoping to start clinical trials on humans within eight weeks. He told France 24 television on Tuesday that their research ten years ago on animals for the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) virus has provided a good base for research in humans. Meanwhile, the US-based clinical-stage biotechnology company Novavax will work with Australian based Nucleus Network to commence Phase 1 clinical trials for the first confirmed covid-19 vaccine trial outside of the US. Nucleus Network says it will recruit a small sample of healthy volunteers who will be injected with some of the virus' surface. The hopes are this will generate an immune response without exposing participants to the live virus. Infectious diseases physician and microbiologist Dr Paul Griffin believes the trial due to start in Brisbane and Melbourne in the coming weeks, looks "really promising". Drugs and diagnosis The Australian health minister, Greg Hunt, said last week that the federal government would provide 3 million dollars for research into treatments and diagnosis. Some of that funding will help researchers from the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne who say they are also just "a few weeks away" from finalising clinical trials involving drugs which would reduce the deadliness of the coronavirus. The trial, beginning at the Royal Melbourne Hospital will involve recruiting patients who are hospitalized with covid-19 from 70 hospitals in Australia and New Zealand. "As a 'new disease' there are currently no treatments with established effectiveness for COVID-19. However, there are multiple treatment options, and combinations, that may be effective," according to a media statement released by the Institute on Tuesday. "Laboratory tests have shown that lopinavir/ritonavir, which is currently used to treat HIV, and hydroxychloroquine, used to treat arthritis and prevent and treat malaria, can stop SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in its tracks." Associate Professor Steven Tong said that while the World Health Organization considers both these drugs to be promising treatments for covid-19, more research is needed to be sure they are safe and effective in humans. Other trials are in place to evaluate the validity of so-called 'herd immunity' in which individuals' resistance to the virus is spread. BBB still on the job for you daily The Better Business Bureau of Coastal Carolina is committed to help consumers and business owners cope with the current COVID-19 pandemic that continues to disrupt business supply chains, customers, and the health and lives of employees. Our focus remains on serving our consumers and the business community throughout this crisis and into the future. And at this time while our doors may be locked, our staff is telecommuting, remaining devoted and available to assist you. Many businesses are temporarily suspended, closed or not operating as usual and they may not be able to respond to your requests or complaints. With the constant updates and changes to business, our website, bbb.org, provides you with updates on scams and Business Profiles that reflect the most current information that is available to us. As well, you can find all sorts of BBB information. Its important to remain calm, stay informed and take proactive measures while keeping the health and safety of everyone a top priority. Almost daily, new programs are being added to assist both consumers and businesses. That material, as well as other information on the pandemic is regularly being updated on bbb.org/coronavirus-business. Nearly three quarters of NHS staff who have died from coronavirus are from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. Latest figures show that 111 health and social care workers have been killed by the virus, and the overwhelming majority of these have been from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities. People from such backgrounds make up 44 per cent of doctors in the NHS and 24 per cent of nurses. But analysis by Sky News found 72 per cent of fatalities among health and social care workers were from these minorities. Pictured: The NHS workers who have died during the coronavirus pandemic, above and below The Government has launched an investigation into the 'devastating disparity' which means BAME patients are at disproportionately high risk of becoming critically ill with coronavirus. Latest NHS England figures show that of the 16,272 people who have died in hospital, 18 per cent are BAME. But they make up only 15 per cent of the general population in England. Scientists say the disparity may be because they are more likely to suffer from conditions including diabetes and high blood pressure. Social and demographic factors also play a role, as BAME people are more likely to live in densely populated areas which may make social distancing harder. The British Medical Association (BMA) also suggested that BAME doctors may feel less able to raise concerns about inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE), as they report higher levels of bullying and harassment in the workplace. Latest figures show that 111 health and social care workers have been killed by the virus, and the overwhelming majority of these have been from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA chairman, said a survey showed doctors from ethnic minorities were three times more likely to feel pressured to treat patients without adequate PPE. He said: 'These figures are staggering. They are worrying and disturbing. In fact these doctors have come from other parts of the world to provide vital care and save other people's lives in our health service and now they have sadly paid the ultimate sacrifice.' Among those to die are NHS consultant Dr Medhat Atalla, 62, who had devoted his life to treating the elderly across three continents. Dr Atalla, who was described as a 'very special human being' and a 'real NHS hero', died on Tuesday at Doncaster Royal Infirmary where he worked as a geriatrician. The father of one moved to Britain from Egypt almost 20 years ago and has treated patients across the North of England. The Government has launched an investigation into the 'devastating disparity' which means BAME patients are at disproportionately high risk of becoming critically ill with coronavirus rofessor Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, said: 'It's critical that we find out which groups are most at risk so we can help to protect them' The first ten doctors in the UK to die from coronavirus were all of BAME background, with many born overseas. They included Dr Alfa Saadu, 68, a retired doctor who had returned to the NHS to help fight coronavirus. Dr Abdul Mabud Chowdhury, 53, died three weeks after writing to the Prime Minister asking him to 'urgently' ensure PPE was available for 'each and every NHS worker in the UK'. Dr Habib Naqvi, the NHS director for workforce race and equality, said: 'The fact that a high number of black and minority ethnic staff are dying from this pandemic is a worry for us.' Professor Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer, said: 'It's critical that we find out which groups are most at risk so we can help to protect them.' A Department of Health spokesman said: 'We have commissioned work from Public Health England to understand the different factors that may influence the way someone is affected by this virus.' Silent divide that is truly alarming Commentary by Anish Patel, Consultant Psychiatrist in Bristol When the first patients started dying in British hospitals from Covid-19, their loss seemed initially to represent no more than a desperately sad series of personal tragedies for the individuals and their families. But as the weeks have passed and as more details and photographs of the victims have emerged, those of us from an ethnic minority background could not ignore an unsettling truth that a disproportionate number of these men and women of all ages were not white, but from a variety of black, Asian and minority communities (BAME). It is too early in this pandemic to draw any conclusions, but the statistical evidence is certainly disturbing. According to research published yesterday, people from ethnic minority backgrounds make up 44 per cent of doctors in the NHS and 24 per cent of nurses. And yet 72 per cent of fatalities among health and social care workers were from these minorities. If true, it would suggest that politicians and medical experts must face up to a stark fact: that ethnicity is a key factor governing an individual's chances of surviving this pandemic. As a British doctor of Indian heritage who works in a general hospital, I am naturally alarmed by how many minority clinical staff doctors, nurses, paramedics and healthcare workers have died in the past weeks. But while it is vitally important the Government takes exceedingly seriously any ethnic disparity underpinning Covid-19 cases, this must not distract from the overall campaign to contain the spread of this virus. From day one of medical school, we were taught to be wary of making grand assertions from limited data. And at this point in time, limited data is unfortunately all we have to work with. More over, we know that there are a number of reasons why BAME people could be more vulnerable to Covid-19. One obvious factor could be that ethnic minorities are over-represented in occupations that involve high risk of exposure; this includes health and social care, public transport, essential shop work and other key worker roles. Another contributing factor is that overall, ethnic minorities in Britain are more likely to live in areas of social deprivation where poverty, poor housing, over-crowding. Cultural beliefs can also affect individuals desires to seek medical help. More pertinent, perhaps, is the fact we know certain ethnic minorities are more likely to suffer from pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Both are prevalent in the black population black people of African descent are three times more likely to have Type 2 diabetes than Caucasians and occur at a younger age, and both are linked to a higher Covid-19 death rate. Meanwhile, Asian households may contain three or even four generations of one family, which increases the risk of inter-generational infection and is especially dangerous for elderly relatives. It is also possible that the data is skewed as Covid-19 hit London first and hardest, and the capital has a larger minority population than the rest of the country. All of which means the picture is far from complete. After all, even the term BAME is an umbrella category that, for the purposes of data analysis, unsatisfactorily binds together a very disparate and heterogeneous group. For example, a refugee from Myanmar, a new immigrant from Ghana and a third-generation British citizen from Bangladesh could all be said to be of BAME background. Yet in health terms, they probably have nothing in common. And in socio-economic terms, they are also likely to have very different life experiences. All of this isn't to say that we shouldn't take the racial distinctions of Covid-19's impact very seriously. Without doubt, we should. But unlike age, which we know with more certainty is a determining factor in Covid-19 mortality, we simply cannot say the same for ethnicity at this point. Looking forward, it will be highly instructive to observe how the pandemic has advanced through India and the Caribbean, and compare the data to that of our cities with high proportions of immigrant communities. At the same time, of course, we will have to take into account a range of dynamic factors such as the respective health of the communities, and different health care systems. We have to accept that we will not fully understand the particular dangers of Covid-19 to various populations until the pandemic has run its course. Only then will we know with any certainty whether ethnicity really is the silent divide that could determine whether a Covid-19 patient lives or dies. Until then, let us continue to focus on asserting our common humanity to fight this terrible scourge. A US pharmaceutical company is disputing reports that its experimental antiviral drug failed to help patients patients with severe cases of the novel coronavirus. On Thursday, the World Health Organization (WHO) prematurely posted a draft summary of a trial of the drug remdesivir, made by California-based Gilead Sciences. 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. Early results from a study in China found that remdesivir neither improved the conditions of coronavirus patients nor reduced the virus' presence in their bloodstreams. However, the drugmaker said the draft document contained 'inappropriate characterizations' and called the study's findings 'inconclusive.' The WHO prematurely posted a draft summary of a Chinese trial being conducted on coronavirus patients using the drug remdesivir. Pictured: A vial of the investigational drug remdesivir is visually inspected at a Gilead manufacturing site in the US, March 2020 The document said remdesivir neither improved the conditions of coronavirus patients nor reduced the virus' presence in their bloodstreams. Pictured: Two nurses assess the breathing ability of a coronavirus patient using oxygen on the ICY floor at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, April 21 But Gilead Sciences (pictured) said the document contained 'inappropriate characterizations' of the study, which was terminated early due to low enrollment Gilead shares fell more than four percent after the data was inadvertently released and first reported by the Financial Times. Interest in remdesivir has been high because there are currently no approved treatments or preventive vaccines for COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, which has sickened more than 871,000 and killed more than 49,000 in the US. Doctors have been desperate for anything that might alter the course of the disease that attacks the lungs and can shut down other organs in extremely severe cases. In the Chinese trial for remdesivir, which was given by intravenous infusion, the drug failed to improve patients' conditions and to reduce the pathogen's presence in the bloodstream. But details were thin and suggested limitations in interpreting the data that has not yet been fully reviewed. A screenshot of the WHO posting, captured by STAT News before it was taken down, said the trial enrolled 237 patients with 158 receiving remdesivir compared with 79 who got a placebo. The rate of death was similar at 13.9 percent for remdesivir versus 12.8 percent in the control group. 'It's still not that large of a study and therefore the statistics coming out of the trial aren't exactly robust,' Mizuho analyst Salim Syed said in a research note. Gilead said the WHO's posting included inappropriate characterizations of the study, which was terminated early due to low enrollment and, as a result, cannot be used to make statistically meaningful conclusions. 'We regret that the WHO prematurely posted information regarding the study, which has since been removed. The investigators in this study did not provide permission for publication of results,' a Gilead spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC. 'The study results are inconclusive, though trends in the data suggest a potential benefit for remdesivir, particularly among patients treated early in disease.' The company did not immediately reply to DailyMail.com's request for comment. Other analysts drew some conclusions anyway. 'This Chinese controlled dataset will drive the prevailing view of remdesivir, which is that it likely isn't working in severe patients,' said Raymond James analyst Steven Seedhouse. Despite Gilead stating that the results were 'inconclusive,' some analysts drew conclusions anyway. 'This Chinese controlled dataset will drive the prevailing view of remdesivir, which is that it likely isn't working in severe patients,' said Raymond James analyst Steven Seedhouse. Doctors have speculated that an antiviral drug like remdesivir would likely be most effective when administered as early as possible in the course of the disease as it is designed to help keep the virus from replicating in the blood. 'Once the horse is out of the barn, it is really hard to bring in,' said Dr Kevin Grimes, an infectious disease specialist at Houston Methodist Hospital who was not involved in the study. 'If you can catch it before it has left the barnyard it is a lot easier to deal with.' The WHO said the draft manuscript is undergoing peer review before it will be officially released. The news comes days after another report detailed rapid recovery in fever and respiratory symptoms in some patients with COVID-19 who were treated with remdesivir at the University of Chicago Medicine hospital. Gilead is testing remdesivir in multiple trials, with results from a study involving 400 patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19 expected later this month. Expectations for that trial may now be dampened somewhat by the leaked data from the Chinese study. A separate trial in China testing the drug in patients with more moderate symptoms last week was also suspended due to a lack of eligible patients. Scientists are asking farmers to send GPS data collected at harvest to assess whether flower-rich margins, hedgerows or tree lines are helping improve yield. The data will be integral to a study linking the biodiversity found just beyond the field with variations in yield within it. In return for their help, researchers will provide farmers with a summary of their findings, including tips on how they might increase production. Dr Helen Metcalfe, who is collating the data for Rothamsted Research, said different types of field boundaries could help to reduce the yield decline at field edges. By linking the yield monitor data collected by GPS enabled combine harvesters with the presence of different landscape features, we will try to determine whether yield decline towards the edge of fields is associated with certain types of boundaries. Likewise, we will also identify whether features known to support pollinators and other beneficial wildlife are having a positive effect on yield in the nearest parts of the crop. Wed be really grateful it if any farmers with yield monitor data from their combines would share it with us. The EcoStack project is hoping that information on the location, quality and quantity of landscape features such as hedgerows or wildflowers linked to yield maps will give the clearest indication yet on the benefit of on-farm biodiversity. Data from any sort of crop, from any part of the UK will be useful, she added, stressing that no farmer data will be shared beyond this project. We wont publish maps or use them in presentations without prior consent, and the way the data will be pooled and processed before publication means nothing identifiable will be detectable from it. T wo cats in separate areas of New York have tested positive for the coronavirus after showing symptoms of a mild respiratory illness, experts have said. They are believed to be the first pets in the US to contract the disease and are thought to have caught it from people in their households or neighbourhoods, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said. Both cats are expected to recover from their illness. While other pets around the world have tested positive for Covid-19, scientists believe they cannot spread the disease to humans. Dr Casey Barton Behravesh, a CDC official who works on human-animal health connections, said she did not want pet owners to rush to test them en masse. We dont want people to panic," said Dr Barton Behravesh. "We dont want people to be afraid of pets. Theres no evidence that pets are playing a role in spreading this disease to people. Loading.... The finding comes after positive tests in some tigers and lions at the Bronx Zoo, which adds to a small number of confirmed cases of the virus in animals worldwide. Despite no evidence showing pets can transmit the disease to humans, the CDC is still recommending people prevent their pets from interacting with people or animals outside their homes by keeping cats indoors and dogs out of dog parks, for example. Coronavirus testing for pets is not recommended unless an animal has been exposed to a person with Covid-19, the animal has symptoms of the disease and tests have ruled out more common possible causes, said Dr Jane Rooney of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Dr Barton Behravesh said the animal tests are done at veterinary labs and use different chemicals than human tests, which have been in short supply during the crisis. Scientists studying the virus have been looking closely at links between human and animals. New York's Coronavirus outbreak - In pictures 1 /34 New York's Coronavirus outbreak - In pictures The Supermoon rises behind the Empire State Building while it glows red in solidarity with those infected with coronavirus as the outbreak of the disease (COVID-19) continues in the Manhattan borough of New York City Reuters A nearly empty Times Square AFP via Getty Images Riders, some wearing masks and gloves as a protective measure over coronavirus concerns, enter a New York City subway train AP People try to keep a social distance while they enjoy a sunny day at Central Park Reuters Nadia, a 4-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo, that the zoo said on April 5, 2020 has tested positive for coronavirus disease WCS/Handout via Reuters People wear face masks AFP via Getty Images A man crosses a nearly empty 5th Avenue in midtown Manhattan Reuters US President Donald Trump looks on during the daily briefing on the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House on March 31, 2020, in Washington, DC AFP via Getty Images Felix Hassebroek waves to his classmates, who he has not seen in 2 weeks through a livestream video meet up during the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Brooklyn, New York Reuters Friends and neighbors, Sarah and Elizabeth, talk about their weekends from opposite sides of the road as they maintain social distance in a neighborhood in Syracuse, New York Reuters Light morning traffic seen on the FDR drive on March 24, 2020 in New York City AFP via Getty Images A subway customer uses a tissue to protect her hand while holding onto a pole AP Workers construct what is believed to be a makeshift morgue behind a hospital during the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in the Manhattan borough of New York City Reuters Beds separated by black fabric are set up as a temporary field hospital for Covid-19 patients in Queens, New York AFP via Getty Images New York's Hart Island where the department of corrections is dealing with more burials Reuters Medical workers wait for patients at a special coronavirus intake area in New York Getty Images Patients wear personal protective equipment while maintaining social distancing as they wait in line for a COVID-19 test at Elmhurst Hospital Center AP The One World Trade Center tower in Manhattan is seen illuminated in blue light Reuters Pictures drawn by children as part of the Quarantine Rainbow Project in Brooklyn, New York Reuters U.S. Army National Guard personnel load boxes of free food provided by multiple New York City agencies into a taxi for distribution to local residents in the Harlem neighbourhood of Manhattan during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID19) in New York Reuters Traders work during the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on March 17, 2020 at Wall Street in New York City AFP via Getty Images A man in a wheelchair crosses a nearly empty 7th Avenue in Times Square in Manhattan Reuters Getty Images Getty Images Getty Images REUTERS While a consensus is still evolving, the leading theory is that infection among humans began at an animal market in China, probably from an animal that got the virus from a bat. Scientists are working to understand the potential for transmission to animals in homes, farms and elsewhere. Dr Rooney said that so far it does not appear that livestock or poultry are susceptible. The USDA and CDC have recommended pet owners with Covid-19 avoid petting, snuggling or other contact with their animals as much as possible, including wearing a face covering while caring for them. There have been a handful of reports outside the US 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 pet dogs and cats could not pass the virus to human beings but could test positive if exposed by their owners. Tiger tests positive for coronavirus in New York A tiger at the Bronx Zoo had what was believed to be the first confirmed coronavirus case in an animal in the US or a tiger anywhere. The 4-year-old Malayan tiger, named Nadia, was tested after starting to showing signs of illness on March 27, 11 days after the zoo closed to the public because of the virus. Three other tigers and three lions later showed symptoms. Tests subsequently confirmed they all had the virus, as did another tiger that shares their exhibit but did not show any signs of illness. "Our cats were infected by a staff person who was asymptomatically infected with the virus or before that person developed symptoms," said the Wildlife Conservation Society on Wednesday. Firms could be asked to stagger shift start times and introduce weekend working to avoid a rush-hour surge in people travelling to work once the coronavirus lockdown is lifted. The Government is said to be considering asking for more flexible working to be introduced by firms that do not already operate it. The current lockdown is due to run until May 7 and there are ever-stronger calls from some businesses and politicians to get the economy fired up as soon as possible. But ministers are keen to avoid a dreaded 'second peak' of coronavirus deaths and have been alarmed by scenes from the London Underground of people continuing to cram into carriages to get to work. Options being examined include shifts starting at 7am, 10am, and 1pm, according to the Mirror. Health Secretary Matt Hancock resisted demands for more transparency about how the lockdown would be ended today. At the daily press conference he said: 'I understand the thirst for knowledge ... of course, monitoring what is happening and making sure that we move at the right time is absolutely critical. Crowds of commuters board a Jubilee line train at Canning Town station on the London Underground this morning Health Secretary Matt Hancock resisted demands for more transparency about how the lockdown would be ended today 'But the message remains the same - that people need to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives. 'The reason that we have clarity on that message is that it has succeeded in bringing down and flattening the curve, but we are not through that yet and there's an awful lot of work that still needs to be done, and we are absolutely determined to avoid a second peak.' The possible strategy on getting London back on the move follows Mayor Sadiq Khan warning Transport for London has about a week's worth of cash to keep itself running, and militant RMT union chiefs saying there is 'zero chance' of their members getting back on the buses and trains without personal protective equipment (PPE). Tory MPs have warned the Government it must spell out in detail how it intends to ease the lockdown to give businesses hope of survival, with senior backbenchers on the 1922 Committee meeting to discuss the response. They said it is 'silly' for ministers not to be totally frank with the public given how well most of the population has stuck to social distancing measures and stressed 'there has got to be an economy to go back to' as they sounded a warning which will be heard loud and clear in Downing Street . This afternoon the Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance suggested there could be a two or three week difference in the progress of coronavirus across the country. This afternoon the Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance suggested there could be a two or three week difference in the progress of coronavirus across the country Construction employees are pictured working on a building site this morning in Lewisham, South East London 'What we have done is really suppressed the numbers, this isn't a natural peak, this is a suppressed peak,' he said. 'I think London is ahead of the rest of the country maybe by a couple of weeks but there is quite a lot of synchrony right across the country, it's not massively different. 'I can't be absolutely sure about this but I think two or three weeks is the sort of order where you might expect to see some differences across the country.' Sir Patrick said there 'may be up to two or three weeks differences in some places - so it's not that London is two weeks ahead of everywhere'. 'There's actually a lot of similarities across a number of areas, including big urban areas, and so I don't think you should take the message at all that there is two weeks difference between London and the rest of the country.' He said reducing lockdown measures was 'not as straightforward as saying that because you hit the peak two weeks early you can release things two weeks early'. An immunology expert has said that increased testing is needed before restrictions can be eased as he believes that at present only one in 10 cases is being identified. Paul Moynagh, professor of Immunology at Maynooth University told RTE radios Morning Ireland that if restrictions were lifted without increasing the level of testing then it was inevitable that cases of the virus would continue to increase. I believe that we're only picking up one in ten cases, we need to address that, he said. While antibody testing is helpful, he said, it cannot replace the current Covid-19 test. It can be useful as a means of identifying levels of people who have been exposed to the virus, he said. Prof Moynagh also warned that there are many Covid tests available and these need to be validated especially when relying on test-based assessments. Meanwhile, Dr Liam Glynn, a professor of General Practice at the University of Limerick and a GP from Co Clare, who has been tracking he rate of infection of Covid-19 has advised against the immediate lifting of restrictions. I think we can certainly be planning it at this point, he told Newstalk Breakfast. The thing to be clear about though is this is the first wave of Covid-19 and we probably have achieved something like 10 per cent immunity in the population with this particular wave. But as night follows day, if we release all restrictions tomorrow we will get another significant surge in Covid-19 infections - that's the thing everybody's got to bear in mind. We need to go through this in a controlled way. We can start to plan easing restrictions ... it's like a wartime situation. We have to know ourselves and we have to know our enemy - and we get this knowledge from testing. We have the capacity to ease restrictions and everybody wants that to happen, but we have to also have the capacity to generate the data we need to know what the effect of easing those restrictions are and whether we need to change our approach," he warned. US Secretary of state Mike Pompeo and his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar on Thursday discussed bilateral and international cooperation to combat the coronavirus outbreak, the US state department spokesperson said in a statement. They also spoke about ensuring the availability of pharmaceutical and medical supplies, the spokesperson added. Coronavirus outbreak: Full coverage India supplies upwards of 40% of over-the-counter and generic prescription drugs sold in the United States. And it is one of the largest manufacturers in the world of the antimalarial drug Hydroxychloroquine that President Donald Trump has embraced and advocated as a game-changer in the treatment of Covid-19, despite sufficient evidence to support its efficacy. India lifted export curbs earlier this month to allow a consignment of the drug after a request from President Trump to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On 20 April, Executive Council again discussed the issue of fishing against the backdrop of the need to protect our borders and the wider corona virus threat. Recognising the particular difficulties for fisherfolk Executive Council agreed the following clarifications and amendments to the decision made on the 18th April 2020. First in the week beginning 20 April all fishers licensed or unlicensed will be able to retrieve catch from fish traps and secure any gear that is at sea if they so wish. Fishers wishing to take up this opportunity must do so between the 21st and 24th April between 5.00 am and 5.00 pm. These arrangements have been agreed with the Police Commissioner in compliance with the Emergency Regulations. Fishers should note two points: All fish caught during this period may be kept or sold by the fisher; Should they wish to bait traps during these four days they may do so. However, going forward all fishers must comply with the requirements set out in paragraph 4, including being in possession of a license. Secondly, a phased return to fishing. In the first instance, beginning on 30 April, fishers holding a valid licence as at 18 April 2020 will be permitted to fish under the following four conditions: Their vessel is equipped with a GPS tracking device issued by the Department of Fisheries and fitted by a person authorized by the Police Commissioner. Once fitted, the GPS device must not be tampered with and no action taken which might cause it to lose power or signal. This applies whether the vessel is at sea, or on its secure mooring. Fishing can only take place to the North of Anguilla. Fishers must not cross the longitudes marking the eastern and western ends of Anguilla. For the avoidance of doubt, this means no fishing in the waters between Anguilla and St. Martin. Fishers must leave from and return to one of two harbours Island Harbour or Sandy Ground. They must notify the RAPF of the harbour that they have chosen to operate from before their first trip to sea. And this can only be changed with the Police Commissioners prior written authorization. Fishing can only take place between the hours of 5 am and 5 pm and on the following days allocated to each of the two harbours from which fishers must operate: Island Harbour Mondays and Thursdays; Sandy Ground Tuesdays and Fridays. Thirdly, all fishers who are unlicensed as at 18th April 2020 can apply for a fishing licence from the 22nd April, 2020. They can resume fishing, other than on the 21st to 24th April, as soon as they meet the conditions set out in paragraph 4. Executive Council believes these arrangements strike a balance between protecting the border and allowing some fishing. The GPS system will allow the Government to monitor the location of all boats which must remain away from the vulnerable southern coast. Any breach of any of the four conditions noted above will be dealt with in accordance with the law. Executive Council will keep this issue under careful review. It is possible if conditions permit that further fishing may be allowed. In the interest of transparency, it is possible that these restrictions may be tightened if the circumstances require it. We want to remind all unlicensed fishers that they must apply for a license. The Fisheries Department will be open from 8 am on Wednesday, 22 April. Unlicensed fishing will not be allowed. All fishers should note that the possession of a licence will not while the current COVID-19 restrictions remain in place guarantee the right to fish. That will depend on meeting the requirements set out in paragraph 4, including the fitting of a GPS device, and the situation on the ground. Source: Beatcovid19.ai The Donald Trump administration is expected to provide slightly more COVID-19 relief to Yemen after cutting $73 million in humanitarian aid for the war-torn country last month. But Washington has yet to spell out its game plan for ensuring that assistance reaches the majority of the Yemeni population given Trumps recent decision to end funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US refusal to administer assistance in Houthi-controlled territory. The United States is carefully monitoring the situation in close coordination with Yemeni health officials, the United Nations and other donors, a State Department spokesperson told Al-Monitor. We are working with our partners to adapt existing programs, as necessary, to address additional needs and are determining how we can most effectively and responsibly provide additional support for COVID-19 preparedness and response efforts. Last week, the State Department announced an additional $500,000 in coronavirus-related aid for Yemen a mere 1% of the $40 million in stabilization assistance Congress appropriated for Yemenis this year. But a senior State Department official told Reuters this week that the United States is preparing a substantial contribution to help Yemen fight the pandemic. While there has only been one confirmed coronavirus case in Yemen so far, public health experts fear that the lack of testing and the countrys crumbling health infrastructure, coupled with a significantly immunosuppressed and malnourished population, is a recipe for disaster. The Trump administration cut off the lion's share of assistance for Houthi-controlled areas last month to an impasse on negotiations with the rebels to ease their onerous aid restrictions. While the United States is still providing $12 million in Yemen aid and continues to operate in the south, most of the impoverished countrys population lives in the north, which is largely under Houthi control. While we have reduced certain program that have become untenable due to ongoing Houthi interference, we continue to support the most critical life-saving activities in northern Yemen, said the State Department spokesperson. Trumps decision to eliminate more than $400 million in funding for the WHO amid the coronavirus pandemic has also complicated any potential COVID-19 relief efforts in Yemen, as it precludes USAID Washingtons foreign aid agency from working with the international body to deliver assistance. USAID Acting Administrator John Basra told reporters Wednesday that the Trump administration would make a final decision on WHO funding and cooperation after a two-to-three-month review. The administration spurned the humanitarian NGOS, and then they spurned the WHO, a nongovernmental organization representative working on Yemen told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. Im not sure whos left for them to provide this funding. Hopefully USAID will realize that it needs to change course and grant far more lifesaving exemptions form the aid suspension. Basra noted that USAID is looking for other partners to implement activities that previously fell under WHOs purview. Even before the onset of this pandemic, USAID was working, piloting a new partnership initiative to look for other regional community-based partners outside of the normal menu of people we work with, said Basra. I look forward to next week expanding the new partnership initiative in a more formal manner, but what were doing right now is were looking for different partners. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 15:56:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SHANGHAI, April 23 (Xinhua) -- A research team of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has made a breakthrough in increasing the photosynthesis efficiency and yield of plants under heat stress. Heat stress as a result of global warming leads to a reduction in global grain yield and threatens food security worldwide. The research led by Guo Fangqing of the National Key Laboratory of Plant Molecular Genetics under the CAS is aimed at exploring food security prospects under climate change. The team members spent six years developing transgenic plants of Arabidopsis, tobacco and rice. They found heat stress suppresses the photosynthesis of plants and results in severe loss of the D1 subunit protein in chloroplasts, which dramatically reduces the photosynthesis efficiency and reduces the grain productivity consequently. Through trans-genetic and cloning methods, the team developed the new plant strains which proved to have better photosynthesis efficiency, heat resistance ability and higher productivity than wild species. A paper on the research was published in the latest issue of the international journal Nature Plants on Tuesday. Guo recorded the transgenic rice in two of the team's breeding bases in east China's Shanghai and the southern tropical island province of Hainan had yields 8.1 percent and 21 percent higher than their wild species, respectively. "We built a dual pathway mechanism for synthesis of D1 protein in the plants. The first one is the plant's natural chloroplast pathway, and the other one is a gene-modified nucleus pathway. By adding one more synthesis pathway, we will provide the plants with sufficient D1 protein to improve photosynthesis efficiency and crop yield," said Guo. The mechanism was also used on Arabidopsis and tobacco, which proved to have the same effect. Enditem TOLOnews.com, April 21, 2020 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) dropped Afghanistan from 121st to 122nd place in its newly-released 2020 Press Freedom Index, calling Afghanistan Pakistan, Philippines and Bangladesh the "worlds deadliest countries for journalists and bloggers." RSF in its report mentioned concerns that press freedom, along with other freedoms, "could be sacrificed in the course of international efforts to restore peace in Afghanistan." According to the report, no journalist was killed in the country so far this year, but for Afghanistans journalists, 2018 was the deadliest year since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001. A total of 15 journalists and media workers were killed in a series of bombings that began early in the year, nine of them in a single day. Many others were constantly threatened by the various parties to the conflict. The war imposed by the Taliban and Daesh and constant abuses by warlords and corrupt political officials constitute a permanent threat to journalists, the media and to press freedom in Afghanistan, the report says. Women journalists are a favorite target, and are especially vulnerable in those regions where fundamentalist propaganda is heeded, the report says. Internationally, 10 journalists were killed in 2020, according to RSF. Tunisia: Ramadan to start tomorrow, Mufti No observation of new moon due to coronavirus (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, APRIL 23 - Friday will be the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan in Tunisia, marking the first day of Ramadan of year 1441 of the Hegira, said the Mufti of the Republic, Othman Battikh. He added that this year, due to the coronavirus emergency that has led to measures banning social gatherings, it will not be possible to carry out the traditional observation of the crescent moon. The start of the holy month, explained Battikh, was therefore based on scientific data from the National meteorological institute. The Mufti has also urged Tunisians to abide by social distancing measures and urged people whose health is at risk not to fast. Battikh moreover explained that the prayer of Tarawi is not an obligation, urging people to stay at home. Tunisian authorities, in agreement with the ministry for religious affairs, have in fact closed mosques for over a month to avoid the spread of the virus.(ANSAmed). Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 00:54:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BERLIN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- After around five weeks of shutdown due to the coronavirus crisis, Germany's largest car manufacturer Volkswagen restarted production in two of its plants on Thursday. Volkswagen's vehicle plant in Zwickau, Saxony would "cautiously resume" production of its all-electric model ID.3, according to the company. "We all have a historic task to accomplish," said Thomas Ulbrich, Volkswagen brand board member for e-mobility. "That task is to protect the health of our employees and at the same time get business back on track responsibly." Volkswagen announced that with an initial production of 50 vehicles per day, operations were restarted "at reduced speed." Before COVID-19, production volumes at the plant had been around three times as high. To ensure the health of its employees, Volkswagen introduced new rules at the workplace, such as an obligation to wear mouth and nose protection when keeping the minimum distance of 1.5 meters between employees was not possible. On Thursday, Volkswagen engine plant in the city of Chemnitz also began gradually ramping up production. Next Monday, a plant in Dresden would follow with production at reduced capacity, according to the German carmaker. Another major German car maker Daimler had already restarted production in some selected plants earlier this week. BMW on the other hand extended the shutdown of its plants in Europe and North America until the end of April. So far, the German luxury carmaker has not yet provided details of the planned restart of its production. Although Germany's car manufacturers are just restarting production in their local factories, BMW's largest site in China, Shenyang plant, had already been running again since mid-February. "In China we are seeing the first signs of recovery with a strong order intake," said BMW Pieter Nota, member of the board of management of BMW AG responsible for customer, brands and sales. Volkswagen also announced on Thursday that that production had already been resumed at "almost all Volkswagen plants in China." Enditem People take part in a protest for "Michiganders Against Excessive Quarantine" at the Michigan State Capitol in Lansing, Michigan on April 15, 2020. JEFF KOWALSKY/AFP via Getty Images A Wisconsin GOP official begged people organizing and attending an anti-lockdown rally in Madison this week not to bring Confederate flags and firearms to the event. "Ok folks, I implore you, please leave Confederate flags and/or AR15s, AK47s, or any other long guns at home," Brian Westrate posted in a private Facebook group, The New York Times reported. Westrate added: "I well understand the Confederacy was more about states rights than slavery. But that does not change the truth of how we should try to control the optics during the event." Several similar protests, many of which have featured Confederate flags, pro-Trump gear, and assault rifles, have popped up in other states as conservatives and those on the far-right assail stay-at-home orders as an attack on their civil liberties. The vast majority of US states have some form of a stay-at-home order in effect to try to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus outbreak. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Related Video: What Could Be the Fastest Way to End the Coronavirus Crisis? The Wisconsin Republican Party's treasurer asked people organizing and attending a rally in Madison this week not to bring Confederate flags and firearms to the event. "Ok folks, I implore you, please leave Confederate flags and/or AR15s, AK47s, or any other long guns at home," Brian Westrate posted in a private Facebook group, The New York Times reported. "I well understand that the Confederacy was more about states rights than slavery. But that does not change the truth of how we should try to control the optics during the event." (The main goal of the Confederacy was to preserve slavery, as Confederate leaders explicitly laid out in their constitution.) Westrate acknowledged writing the post in an interview with The Times and added that it might be pointless to ask rallygoers to limit what they bring to the event. Story continues "Ideally, people should leave Trump stuff at home," Westrate said. "But you can't hold a rally in favor of the First Amendment and then become over-draconian in terms of telling people how to dress." The goal of the Madison rally, which will take place on Friday, is to protest Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers' decision to extend the state's stay-at-home order through May 26 to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Many Republicans and those who support President Donald Trump have decried Evers' order and other similar mandates from governors across the US as an attack on civil liberties. The Times reported that "thousands" of people have indicated that they will attend the Madison rally, potentially making it the largest anti-lockdown protest so far. The US is currently the global epicenter of the novel coronavirus outbreak. The World Health Organization declared the virus, which causes a disease known as COVID-19, a pandemic last month. Public health officials have repeatedly urged the public to stay inside as much as possible to mitigate the spread of the disease. Governors in almost every US state have mandated some form of social distancing or stay-at-home order, though the Republican governors of five states North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Arkansas are still refusing to impose statewide lockdowns. As of Thursday, more than 840,000 people have been infected in the US and over 46,000 have died. Business are shuttered, hospitals are overwhelmed, and more than 26 million people have filed for unemployment in the last five weeks. Trump has put out contradictory statements on how the country should move forward as it grapples with the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, he blasted out several tweets calling to "LIBERATE" Minnesota, Virginia, and Michigan, a move many saw as fomenting dissent against stay-at-home orders. But on Wednesday, the president said during the daily coronavirus briefing that he disagreed "strongly" with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's decision to start reopening some businesses in his state as early as Friday. Trump's announcement came one day after he praised Kemp, and after CNN reported that he and Vice President Mike Pence called Kemp on Tuesday night expressing support for his decision. "I think it's too soon," Trump said on Wednesday, referring to Kemp's plan to reopen certain businesses. "And I love the people. I love them. But they can wait a little bit longer, just a little bit, not much, because safety has to predominate. We have to have that. So I told the governor very simply that I disagree with his decision, but he has to do what he thinks is right." Read the original article on Business Insider When Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo, a Democrat, suggested recently that the state might use residents cellphone data to trace the spread of the coronavirus, opponents on both the left and right were aghast.The American Civil Liberties Union raised the specter of an intrusive government prying into peoples personal lives. Republican state lawmakers drafted a letter imploring the governor not to attempt to track personally-identifiable cellular phone location data, absent specific user consent or a judicial warrant.Several other states, including Colorado, North Dakota and Utah, are considering voluntary cellphone tracking as a step toward reopening their economies. Other countries, including China, Israel and Singapore, have used cellphone data for contact tracing.There also is a low-tech strategy for tracking the virus: calling people who are infected and asking them about their movements and encounters with others. Arkansas, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Rhode Island and Washington are among the states employing it.New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, said Wednesday he was looking to build a tracing army, with the help of neighboring New Jersey and Connecticut and a financial contribution of at least $10 million from former Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg.But Cuomo noted that New York would need thousands of investigators to make the system effective. And the information gleaned from personal interviews is based on sometimes faulty memories.Contact tracing via cellphone doesnt have those shortcomings, but it does raise privacy concerns.The ACLU, in a recent white paper , cautioned that any system using cellphone data must be voluntary, encrypted, time-limited with a specific end point to the data collection, and conscious of the rights of privacy and free association.The ACLU said technology-assisted contact tracing or TACT is useful only if those who learn of possible exposures to COVID are able to do something about it: get tested, get counseling, get treatment, or take measures like self-isolation. The lack of adequate and equitable social and public health support systems would limit the effectiveness of any TACT system potentially risking peoples privacy without bringing them benefits.Raimondo has said Rhode Islands cellphone tracking would be opt-in, meaning cellphone owners would have to agree to be tracked.The State is developing an app that would allow for real-time monitoring of symptoms and would assist our contact tracing efforts in order to contain the spread and help prevent future outbreaks, Raimondo press secretary Josh Block said in an email. This app will operate on an opt-in basis, meaning no data will be collected without the users consent.But thats not reassuring enough for some.Every American should have been concerned about privacy even before coronavirus, said Rhode Island House Minority Leader Blake Filippi, a Republican who spearheaded the letter to Raimondo. Voluntary systems sometimes get turned into involuntary systems. If its true its going to be voluntary, its a waste of resources. No one is going to be voluntarily tracked.In Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, issued a stay-at-home order on March 25 and set up a voluntary system to track people with symptoms of the COVID-19 virus. People who are feeling sick can fill out an online form and provide cellphone information that allows the state to record their GPS data. Health officials can follow up with them.Earlier, the state had used metadata gathered anonymously from phones to pinpoint areas where people were heeding stay-at-home orders.And North Dakota rolled out a new app, Care19 , that allows phone users to record their own movements. Other states are expected to follow.Kansas is among several states using cellphone data to see where people are obeying stay-at-home orders and where they are not. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is using a dashboard from Unacast, a location data and analytics firm, that compiles phone GPS data.That data is anonymous but can give officials an idea of areas where large numbers of people may not be heeding stay-at-home laws. The data led state officials to ramp up their pleas for people to stay at home.Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, a Republican, questioned the use of the data and asked state officials to provide all records of the states use of a third-party data collection program (such as Unacast) to track the movement of individuals through their cell phone data.Apple and Google announced they are developing an app that would use Bluetooth to trace smartphone users proximity to other users. The app will be designed to work with apps run by public health authorities. The functions will require users to opt in, the companies said. White House officials are in talks with the companies about how the data would be used.Even health experts acknowledge that cellphone tracing, while effective, raises privacy concerns.On Snapchats Good Luck America , Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a member of the White House coronavirus task force, said privacy under such circumstances creates sticky issues.You know, you could look at somebodys cellphone, and say, You were next to these 25 people over the last 24 hours, Fauci said. Boy, I gotta tell you, the civil liberties-type pushback on that would be considerable. Even though from a purely public health standpoint, that makes sense.A Pew Research Center survey this month found more than half of adults said it was at least somewhat acceptable for the government to track the cellphones of people who tested positive for the coronavirus. Some 45% said it was acceptable for the government to track people who may have had contact with someone who tested positive.But the survey found less support for monitoring smartphones to make sure people are following social distancing guidelines, at 37%.And 60% of the more than 4,900 U.S. adults Pew surveyed said tracking people by cellphone wouldnt help stop the spread of the virus, while just 38% thought it would. (The Pew Charitable Trusts funds both the Center and Stateline.)Americans should be aware that the vast majority of the cellphones they carry already have GPS applications that keep track of where the phone owners have been, said Greg Kelley, chief technology officer of Vestige, a digital forensic and cybersecurity company headquartered in Cleveland.That capability can be disabled, he said, but most users dont do that. Even when you disable it, Ive seen instances where its still stored on the phone, he said in a phone interview. I was able to tell when this individual got up in the morning, went to school where he went in the school, when he came back home, went to a restaurant, and home again.It wouldnt take much for software companies to make that data available to outside entities, he said. Thats where you get into civil liberties, he said, adding that opt-in apps would address some of the concerns.He noted that China has started requiring an app on phones that lights up with a specific color when the owner has been cleared to engage in certain activities, such as riding the subway. That might be problematic in this country, however.Juliette Kayyem, senior lecturer in international security at Harvards Kennedy School of Government, said for the next two years or so, the nation may have to place a greater emphasis on societal needs than individual privacy rights.Much like rules require vaccination to enjoy certain privileges (like public school) we will get a version of that, she said in an email. If you want your total privacy, then you will lose privileges. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the nursing home investigation on Thursday Governor Andrew Cuomo has launched an investigation with the Attorney General into nursing homes across New York who have violated executive orders by not telling residents' families of known cases of COVID-19. Cuomo announced the probe on Thursday as outrage over how nursing homes across the country have been handling the pandemic grew. There is mounting concern that the true number of deaths among nursing home patients is far higher than is being reported. The virus strikes most viciously in nursing homes, wiping out dozens of vulnerable elderly at a time. Families are not allowed to visit their elderly loved ones in the homes, meaning they have been cut off from outside contact for weeks. With ongoing fears surrounding staffing shortages and a lack of PPE equipment for staff, there are fears elderly residents are not being properly looked after. In New Jersey, an anonymous tip led to police discovering 17 bodies piled up in one nursing home's morgue. Cuomo has faced repeated questions over what the state is doing to help nursing homes through the crisis. On Thursday, his answer was firm: it is their responsibility to care for their residents, not the state's. 'Nursing homes are a top priority. They have been from day one. These are private facilities. They get paid to provide a service and are regulated by state government. 'There are certain rules they must follow. Staff must have appropriate PPE, temperatures must be checked before they go in, there are no visitors coming in which is a tremendous hardship but it is necessary to protect public health. 'The nursing home is responsible for providing appropriate care. If they can't provide that, they can't have the resident in their facility, period. 'We're going to undertake an investigation to make sure they're following the rules,' he said. Ambulance workers pickup an elderly man from Cobble Hill Health Center, the nursing home in New York that recently registered an alarming amount of Covid-19 deaths EMTs wheel a man out of the Cobble Hill Health Center nursing home during an ongoing outbreak of the coronavirus disease on April 17. There are now at least 55 deaths at the home Members of an Infection Control Team from the Georgia Army National Guard disinfect the Wellstar Atherton Place senior care facility from possible contamination of the coronavirus on Monday. More than 10,700 coronavirus deaths across the country are linked to care homes He said he will work with Attorney General Letitia James and that any homes which are found to be violating the rules will have to pay fines and potentially have their licenses taken from them. At least 10,700 deaths nationwide have been linked to coronavirus outbreaks in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, a staggering rise in just the past two weeks. The latest count is up from about 3,621 deaths reported just ten days ago with some states revealing that more than 50 percent of total coronavirus deaths were linked to a nursing home. There have been more than 4,800 facilities hit across at least 35 states and infections of residents and staffers now exceeds 56,000. But the true toll among the one million mostly frail and elderly people who live in such facilities is likely much higher, experts say, because most state counts don't include those who died without ever being tested for COVID-19 or facilities have not reported all deaths suspected to have a link. Industry experts have warned that greater access to testing is drastically needed for residents and staffers to detect and curb outbreaks as patient advocates call for more transparency for families. A Wall Street Journal survey has found that there have been at least 10,700 deaths in care facilities across more than 35 states where information was made available. Facilities in the north east have been the hardest hit with New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey reporting more than 1,000 coronavirus-linked deaths among residents and staffers. Nursing home deaths account for a startling majority in states such as Massachusetts where efforts are being made to ramp up testing. The hard-hit state reported Wednesday that 55 percent of its 2,182 coronavirus-linked deaths were in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Of these, at least 55 were residents in a veterans' nursing home in Holyoke. The number could be even higher, however, as the state only reports cases in these facilities when the resident is a confirmed positive case. In New Jersey, which has reported 2,050 deaths linked to care facilities, both confirmed cases and those suspected of being related to coronavirus are included in the final tally. The fatality rate for nursing home residents is even higher in Minnesota were 131 of the state's total 179 deaths are linked to long-term care facilities. Exact numbers on deaths in such facilities are not available in states such as Ohio and Washington where data has not been reported. The Life Care Center of Kirkland in Seattle, Washington, was the country's first coronavirus hotspot linked to at least 40 deaths. Some states such as California are reporting details on facilities while others may report nursing-home and assisted-living centers but exclude numbers from other adult-care centers. Medical workers load a patient from Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation Center in New Jersey. Care homes in the state have been some of the hardest hit with more than 1,000 deaths reported among residents and staff who tested positive or were suspected to have the virus Pictured is Gene Campbell, 89, who contracted coronavirus disease at Life Care Center of Kirkland, the country's first hotspot, in early March but left hospital on Monday. National coronavirus infections of care home residents and staffers now exceeds 56,000 A recent move to release more information on facilities in New York, Florida and California came as patient advocates and others protested against the lack of transparency for families. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced at the weekend that it would now require coronavirus cases in homes to be reported directly to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and it plans to make information available on its Nursing Home Compare site for families in the future. Yet the extent of the outbreak in facilities is still unclear as a lack of testing has left more homes vulnerable to exposure. With the lack of testing for staff, and visitors including family banned, it is thought that outbreaks may have been caused by staff members positive for coronavirus who were not showing symptoms. 'If we don't know where it is, and we don't identify the asymptomatic residents and staff, then we have no ability to implement effective infection prevention and curb the transmission,' said Morgan Katz, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University. She warned that in testing she had administered, 60 to 70 percent of care home residents who tested positive haven't had obvious Covid-19 symptoms The lack of testing is a major cause of concern for Cobble Hill Health Center in Brooklyn where 55 deaths have been tied to coronavirus. The New York facility has become yet another glaring example of the nation's struggle to control the rapid spread of the coronavirus in nursing homes that care for the most frail and vulnerable. The nursing home's death toll has surpassed not only Kirkland's but the 49 deaths at a home outside of Richmond, Virginia, 55 dead at a veteran's home in Holyoke, Mass., and five other homes in outer boroughs of New York City that have at least 40 deaths each. 'We had great difficulty in obtaining tests for our residents,' Donny Tuchman, chief executive of Cobble Hill Health Center, told the Wall Street Journal. A greater access to testing will also allow homes to decide on a reopening plan. If states are to begin opening up businesses in the coming weeks, bans on visitors to homes could be maintained if the risk of a further outbreak is present. As it stands, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requires nursing homes to tightly restrict who is allowed inside with family members banned even if residents are sick or dying. 'In nursing homes, we definitely need better testing before we can reopen, and until we have that, they should not be on the list,' said Patricia Stone, a professor at the Columbia University School of Nursing. States such as Massachusetts and West Virginia have attempted to increase testing as the deaths in facilities worsened in an attempt to curb the spread. Massachusetts attempted a self-testing drive with the help pf the National Guard in early April but less than a third of kits were returned and many that were could not be properly tested due to leakages and other issues. On Friday, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice issued an executive order that all resident and staffs in nursing homes would be tested. A 100-year-old World War-II veteran has died of the new coronavirus a century after his twin brother was killed in the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic, US media reports said. Philip Kahn fought at the Battle of Iwo Jima and helped with aerial surveys after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Newsday said on Wednesday in its online edition. Kahn and his twin Samuel were born in December 1919 and Samuel died of the Spanish flu not long after, the Long Island newspaper said, quoting his family. His grandson Warren Zysman said Kahn had been afraid of another pandemic coming along during his lifetime. "It was something he brought up quite frequently," Zysman told CNN. "I would have conversations with him, he would say to me, 'I told you history repeats itself, 100 years is not that long of a period of time.'" Kahn experienced coronavirus symptoms such as coughing before his death on April 17 and knew he might have it, Zysman told CNN. "He talked about his brother a lot in the last few days," Zysman said. Kahn enlisted in the US Army Air Corps pilot training program in 1940, and after the United States entered the war he served in the Pacific -- at the Battle of Iwo Jima and later in the firebombing raids over Japan, Newsday said. He was awarded two bronze stars. "War is terrible," he told Newsday on his 98th birthday in 2017. "Soldiers get killed, but the civilians suffer, too, and the women and children suffer the worst." Kahn was buried Monday at New Montefiore Cemetery in West Babylon, Long Island, Newsday said. Kahn is not the only person to die from the new coronavirus after losing a sibling to the 1918-19 Spanish flu. A 96-year-old woman who died in San Antonio, Texas on April 14 lost an older sister to the pandemic, News4SA reported, although she never knew her sibling. The deadliest pandemic in modern history, Spanish flu killed an estimated 50 million victims and infected around 500 million around the world. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Laman Ismayilova Over 120 Ministers of Culture worldwide have participated in virtual conference to discuss the culture sectors response to the impact of COVID-19 and find ways of supporting artists and creators. In his speech, Azerbaijani Minister of Culture Abulfaz Garayev highlighted the measures taken in Azerbaijan during the coronavirus pandemic under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva as well as relevant orders signed by the head of state. Thanks to the activities of the Operational Headquarters under the Azerbaijan Cabinet of Ministers, the situation with the pandemic in Azerbaijan was taken under control and the wide spread of this virus was prevented. The Minister also informed about various social programs implemented by the state under the special quarantine regime, including more than 20 projects organized by the Cultural Ministry. The campaigns "Stay at home, create at home", "United by Culture", "Learn to work at home" are among them. The minister also emphasized that Azerbaijan has joined UNESCO`s ResiliArt global movement, aimed at supporting artists during COVID-19. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz (Natural News) Americans have had enough. They want to return to work. They want their children to get back to school. They want to be able to socialize with friends and family. They want everything to go back to exactly how it was before COVID-19 took over the world. This desperation for a return to normalcy is totally understandable. But attempting to do so without the necessary tools being put in place to keep the enemy at bay could spell eventual defeat. Experts have repeated over and over again that the only way for any country including the United States to safely return to some semblance of normalcy at least until a treatment or vaccine is developed is to test as widely and as accurately as possible. This will enable public health officials to quickly and effectively identify outbreaks while they are still small flames, rather than when they have become raging fires, impossible to douse. In other words, the entire future of the American response to the pandemic hinges on testing. But what if the tests being used to make life and death decisions are not reliable? NBC News recently reported that several states are using tests from China that were not approved by that countrys National Medical Product Administration, the Chinese equivalent of the FDA. These tests are so unreliable, in fact, that China has barred their export. (Related: Coronavirus tests are still incredibly difficult to access unless youre rich or famous.) Unreliable testing could lead to the wrong decisions Testing is being widely touted as the sure way to reopen the economy the only way, in fact, to determine which employees are healthy and can return to work. But unreliable tests which provide either false negative or false positive results could seriously undermine efforts to lift lockdown restrictions and get people back to work safely. The United States has conducted close to 4.2 million tests, according to sources like Worldometers.info. But, as impressive as this may sound, the number of tests conducted becomes irrelevant if those tests are not reliable. NBC News reported: Two U.S. companies Premier Biotech of Minneapolis and Aytu Bioscience of Colorado have been distributing the tests from unapproved Chinese manufacturers, according to health officials, FDA filings and a spokesman for one of the Chinese manufacturers. Many of the unapproved tests appear to have been shipped to the U.S. after the FDA relaxed its guidelines for tests in mid-March and before the Chinese government banned their export just over two weeks later. Some of these tests have reportedly been used by public health departments in both Los Angeles and Denver, and have also been provided to urgent care centers in North Carolina and Maryland. And health officials are concerned about the possible implications of the use of these unreliable tests. (Related: Did CDC deliberately delay testing kits, allowing the coronavirus to spread?) NBC News reported further: Officials at the Association of Public Health Laboratories have expressed concern about the reliability of the numerous antibody tests being sold or used across the country with little scrutiny. Scott Becker, the associations chief executive, told NBC News that FDA officials are working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to evaluate the performance of the tests. While reigniting the economy is of utmost importance and needs to happen as quickly as it is safe to do so, healthcare officials need to ensure that the tests used to determine just how widespread COVID-19 is within the United States, as well as who can safely get back to work, are 100 percent reliable. If not, we might be left facing disaster on a scale we can hardly imagine. Stay informed, stay alive. Bookmark Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: NBCNews.com Worldometers.info The assessment will help determine a persons COVID-19 risk and provide data to health and government officials with data to monitor the spread of coronavirus. Once testing sites are live, those who are the most at risk, including front-line medical workers, caregivers and those who are symptomatic, have been around someone who tested positive or visited an area with widespread coronavirus activity, will be scheduled for a test at a drive-through location. According to Region 22 emergency manager Tim Newman, the contact between the state and businesses provides for half a million tests in the state. Were excited that well be able to expand testing, Schnell said. Additionally, there are tests already available in the district for those who feel they may have COVID-19, she said. Panhandle residents who feel they may have COVID-19 can visit any healthcare provider in the district for a test, which will be sent to the state public health lab using a Health Alert System. Even after four days of the governments initiative for a staggered lift of the lockdown for industries and resumption of partial production, there has been no response from industries across the state. Stringent guidelines of the government for running an industrial unit have proved to be a deterrent for industrialists. On Thursday evening, however, there was some assurance from the Centre to India Inc to roll back the FIR clause in the guidelines. Industry associations are opposing the guidelines, including lodging of an FIR against the factory owner if any of his employee tests positive for coronavirus. Highlights MSMEs are the lifeblood of the Indian economy. They employ a workforce of around 120 million, contributing 33.4 per cent of Indias manufacturing output and making up 45 per cent of Indias exports. In Uttar Pradesh, MSMEs contribute to around 45 percent of total export from the state. If the government is able to address major concerns of the industry, then from coming Monday onwards we can see resumption of some industrial activity in Uttar Pradesh. The government has assured to roll back the FIR clause in the guideline, said Pankaj Kumar, national president, Indian Industries Association (IIA). After directives from the Centre, the Yogi government had permitted industries to resume production from April 20 onwards. For this, the government had made following of guidelines in all industrial units mandatory to check spread of coronavirus. Barring industrial units in essential goods category, all are shut across the state. Out of an estimated nine lakh micro small and medium enterprises (MSME) registered with the Indian Industries Association (IIA), an industry lobby body of MSMEs, only a handful of around 7000 were operational across the state on Thursday. Even these were working on half the capacity and facing problems in continuing production. No MSME has resumed production across the state. Only those listed in essential goods category are operational. We have come across three cases in which FIR has been lodged against factory owners, said Manmohan Agarwal, general secretary, IIA. One case is of Kasna industrial area, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh and the other two are of Thana district, Maharashtra, added Agarwal. Ministry sources in the state government said that they were also looking at ways to address problems of the MSMEs but could do little as the guidelines had been framed by the Centre and they were in no position to dilute them. Any relaxation in guidelines has to come from the Centre. The union MSME ministry has to take a decision in this regard, said a state government official. The biggest challenge for small business owners is dwindling operating capital. The 19-year-old was sentenced to one year of reformative training on Thursday (23 April) on 10 proceeded charges, including cheating, deserting the SCDF, and criminal breach of trust. (PHOTO: Getty Images) SINGAPORE While dressed as a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officer, a full-time national serviceman (NSF) rented camera equipment on two occasions and later sold the items. In fact, Muhammad Nadhir Kadir Maideen was an national service deserter at the time he committed the offences. The 19-year-old was sentenced to one year of reformative training on Thursday (23 April) on 10 proceeded charges, including cheating, deserting the SCDF, and criminal breach of trust. Another 18 charges of a similar nature were taken into consideration for sentencing. Nadhir was supposed to report for duty at the SCDF HQ from 18 April 2018 until further notice. However, he failed to turn up from 26 December 2018 to 30 January last year and continued to be absent with an intention to remain permanently absent. He was arrested on 31 January. While absent from NS, Nadhir used his SCDF uniform to cheat two different victims of their cameras and equipment. Used uniform in crimes In January last year, Nadhir contacted a 29-year-old film producer via online marketplace Carousell to rent a DSLR camera. At about 3pm on 21 January, he met the film producer while dressed in his SCDF uniform. He had lied about needing the camera for an SCDF event and had forgotten to bring his wallet with him. Nadhir then showed the film producer a photograph of his 11B identification card on his handphone and claimed that his supervisor would pay him via bank transfer. Trusting Nadhir, the film producer rented him a camera and its accessories, worth $5,350, at a rate of $50 a day. Nadhir was supposed to return the items on 22 January. However, Nadhir sold all the items for $550 to the Black Market Camera shop at Peninsula Shopping Centre. The film producer later lodged a police report after Nadhir failed to return the rented items. The items were sold off by Black Market Camera, and none were recovered or returned. Nadhir cheated another party a mere three days later. On 24 January last year, he contacted a shop named Little Tot Wonder via the Carousell marketplace app to rent a digital camera and its accessories. The items were worth $949 in total. Story continues He turned up at Little Tot Wonder in his SCDF uniform and paid a fee of $50, including a refundable deposit of $30. He claimed that he needed the camera urgently for an SCDF event. The next day, Little Tot Wonders customer service staff contacted Nadhir to remind him to return the camera. Nadhir lied that he was already on his way, but failed to show up. He then became uncontactable and blocked Little Tot Wonder on his WhatsApp messaging app. Little Tot Wonder then lodged an electronic police report on 29 January. Meanwhile, Nadhir sold the camera and its accessories for $100 at Treasurelux Traders, a camera shop at Peninsula Plaza. Only the lens kit was recovered after police raided the shop with Nadhir in tow. Treasurelux Traders had sold the rest of the rented items before the raid. Other victims Nadhir also cheated others, including a teenage girl he met through the Tagged friend-finder app. On their first meeting, he asked to borrow her mobile phone but later stole it and sold it for $1,000. Nadhir was arrested and produced in court on 1 February. He was bailed out on 4 June and meant to report for duty at the SCDF HQ from 6 June 2019. He again disappeared from 24 June to 25 September 2019. Meanwhile, Nadhir returned to his cheating ways. He cheated an unemployed 20-year-old woman into signing up for three handphone lines at telcos M1, StarHub and SingTel. He claimed he would pay for the incurred bills. However his aim was to simply get his hands on the three handphones that came with the lines. Nadhir was arrested on 26 September. A probation officer found that Nadhirs offences had been motivated by greed for easy monetary gains, lack of self-control and poor consequential thinking. He had resorted to crime to get money quickly so he could visit nightclubs with friends at least three times a week. He reported that since the victims whom he met on dating applications were willing to meet up for casual sex, it was all right for him to cheat them by using their identification cards to get mobile phones via phone plans and selling the phones for money, another specialist noted. In sentencing Nadhir on Thursday, District Judge Marvin Bay said it was severely aggravating that he had perpetrated his crimes under colour of duty as an SCDF officer, while he was a deserter from the force. Nadhir also had a troubling lack of empathy for his victims and exploited them without remorse, the DJ noted. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore More Singapore stories: FairPrice on Wheels aims to bring groceries closer to low-income seniors COVID-19: 6 weeks' jail for man who went to eat bak kut teh while on Stay-Home Notice COVID-19: Two more foreign worker dorms declared isolation areas; total at 21 We are facing innumerable challenges because of the COVID-19 crisis. In these unprecedented times, our normal social and civic activities are disrupted. As a former Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Director, I am concerned that among the disruptions we face will be our ability to participate in decision-making about our public lands. BLM regularly holds in-person public meetings to gather suggestions from the people who use public lands before the agency makes decisions about management. From ranchers, hunters, anglers, horse-packers, rock climbers, business owners and scores of other public land users, the agency engages with locals on planned activities that would impact their public lands. Importantly, the agency also consults with tribal nations whose ancestral lands are now the public lands we all enjoy. In my experience, these in-person interactions are crucial to making good, informed decisions. Instead of pausing or extending public processes until we are all able to fully participate, Secretary David Bernhardt has directed the Department of the Interior to move forward with agency actions as if nothing has changed. While many places in the country are employing virtual meetings, these will not work in Wyoming because many in our state lack reliable internet access. Wyoming ranks 46th for broadband for internet access in the country. Moreover, the federal governments trust and treaty obligations with tribal nations will be significantly impacted by Bernhardts decision. Less than half of households on tribal lands have access to fixed broadband service. Replacing meetings with online options at this time is totally inadequate. Additionally, many lives have been upended by this crisis and the focus of our citizens is understandably elsewhere. This spring, BLM plans to release a draft management plan for the Rock Springs Field Office that will determine how 3.6 million acres of our public lands will be managed for the next two decades. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for people to weigh in about proposed management for the Greater Little Mountain region, the Northern Red Desert and the Red Desert-to-Hoback mule deer migration corridor. Therefore, I urge Secretary Bernhardt to delay releasing this plan until every member of the public has the ability to attend meetings, ask questions of BLM officials and discuss the proposals with their community leaders and with their neighbors. When I was with the BLM, I was committed to making decisions fully informed by the people affected. I have seen this process lead to better, fairer decisions. We have a longstanding tradition in Wyoming of engaging with local communities on management decisions for public lands. But if the Rock Springs plan is released during this pandemic, Wyomingites will not be able to meaningfully engage and we risk unbalanced decisions. The plan cannot adequately address public concerns when the public cant air those concerns. I also worry about my former colleagues who may be sick, caring for loved ones or dealing with economic anxieties. Just like millions of Americans, they have other priorities right now in addition to their jobs as stewards of our public lands. I know the staff in Rock Springs will want to hear from their community. They take that commitment seriously, but without a delay of the plan release, they would have to follow politically motivated directives to pursue a public engagement process when the public simply cant engage. I join the Sweetwater County Board of Commissioners and others who are asking the BLM to not release the Rock Springs plan, as well as other major plans and projects that are not needed to protect public health and safety, until after the pandemic subsides and people can fully engage in the process. I know how crucial it is for the federal government to hear from all stakeholders about the management of landscapes encompassed in the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan. Acting as if nothing has changed would be a disservice to the tribal nations who have deep connections to these lands and a disservice to all who cherish Wyomings public lands. Mary Jo Rugwell retired as the Wyoming State Dirwector in 2019 after a 35-year career with the BLM. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Its a time of year when homeless and isolated people in the Middle East can count on hot meals and friendly conversations with strangers. Many could experience neither this Ramadan because of coronavirus lockdowns. And those who do will depend on volunteers willing to risk their health to reach the vulnerable. Shuttered mosques, curfews and bans on mass prayers from Iray to Morocco have overshadowed Islams holiest month which begins on around Friday. Some 320 million Muslims in countries like Iran and Tunisia will face enforced separation at a time when socializing is almost sacred. Restrictions on gatherings have forced those organising community iftars - the evening meal in which Muslims break their fast - to find new ways to reach those in need from Syrian refugees to laid-off migrant workers in Gulf Arab states. In the United Arab Emirates where summer temperatures climb above 50 degrees, Ramadan fridges stocked by residents are normally placed in car parks and shopping malls allowing laborers to grab food and drinks as needed. Not this year. Roadside Ramadan tables that would groan under the weight of samosas and meat dishes for passersby unable to afford their own meals are banned in many North African countries to curb the virus. In Egypt, where ten million people live in slums and survive on the streets, the meals can be a lifeline. #FEED_YOUR_BROTHER I went through one Ramadan while I was on the street and thank God I managed to fast, said 40-year-old Hamdi Ali of the homeless Cairo charity, Together to Save a Human. There were kind souls who would come to me at iftar and give me food. There were Ramadan tables where I could eat, and a mosque where I could go to use the bathroom. This year will be harder for homeless people than ever before, he said. Across the Arab world, people are using hashtags like #Feed_Your_Brother to encourage others to help the hungry and to leave home-cooked Ramadan meals on their doorsteps for the homeless. In Morocco, dozens of informal workers renting rooms in the southern city of Inezgane found themselves living on the streets when coronavirus measures forced their employers to close shop. A local homeless charity acted fast: turning a disused gym hall into a shelter to house the workers during Ramadan. With transport halted, they werent able to return to their own cities so we rounded them up and gave them shelter, medical care and other basic needs, said Ibrahim Naja, president of the Association for Good. Others are turning to bicycles with hundreds of volunteers in Cairo heading out on donated bikes to deliver meals to those in need in the Arab Worlds largest city. COUNTING ON KINDNESS Beyond cities, travel restrictions make reaching people in remote farming villages nearly impossible. Hurghada Gives, an Egyptian charity that organises donations to poor rural families, is headquartered in a seaside city where well-stocked supermarkets prepare Ramadan donation bundles containing rice, sugar and pasta. But the communities the group serves are a five-hour-drive down highways that are blocked by police. Ramadan traditionally has been very busy for us - unfortunately not this year, said founder Zoe Shutler. Millions in the Middle East living on the edge of poverty will depend on neighbours and friends to get by, said Alaa Hamed, founder of New Life, an online movement that helps Egypts homeless. There are people who would rather have a free meal instead of spending they could save for other necessities, said Hamed. Poverty is so widespread these days, there are people who will rummage through garbage to eat. But Ramadan brings out peoples kindness - everyone will do something to help. (This story has been published from a wire agency without modifications to the text) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter The Progressive Conservative government has corrected a legal snafu that stripped Ontarians of the right to fight tickets during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Star has learned. Under fire for hastily implemented legislation that made it impossible to contest a provincial offence, Attorney General Doug Downey is suspending any limitation periods in statutes and regulations during the state of emergency. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the state of emergency, court operations and public counters are limited during this time, Jenessa Crognali, Downeys press secretary, said Wednesday night. Defendants who are charged with an offence during this period and wish to exercise their options on the back of a ticket will have an opportunity to do so once the state of emergency is lifted and statutory timelines resume, she said. The move, which is retroactive to March 16, came as the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) expressed concern about the government rushing to judgment when scofflaws face pandemic-related fines ranging from $750 to $100,000 plus a year in jail. In the rush to pass and enforce emergency orders and bylaws, the province and municipalities have failed to ensure that procedures are in place for individuals charged under these orders, the CCLAs Cara Faith Zwibel wrote in a letter to Downey and other ministers earlier Wednesday. Instead of establishing a COVID offence process first, after which enforcement took place, municipalities and provincial officials did the opposite, wrote Zwibel, noting courthouses and municipal offices are closed. With the administration of justice all but frozen by COVID, charging and ticketing people means they have no due process, no fundamental justice. This requires urgent correction, none of which will rectify those charges rendered unconstitutional by the provinces failure to get the horse before the cart. Under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act, which was activated by Premier Doug Ford on March 17, police and bylaw officers have sweeping powers to issue tickets for a wide variety of new offences. It is currently illegal to gather in groups of more than five people unless they all reside under the same roof. All indoor and outdoor recreational facilities are closed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Last week, Toronto criminal lawyer Dylan Finlay was slapped with a $750 ticket from a bylaw officer for stopping to do some chin-ups while jogging in Centennial Park. With a 20 per cent victim surcharge that fine balloons to $880. Others have been penalized for roller blading with their children in a deserted parking lot. Zwibel said the government had to act to ensure anyone charged under the Provincial Offences Act gets a fair hearing. Currently an individual is deemed not to wish to dispute the charge if at least 15 days have elapsed after they were served with the offence notice and they have not given notice of an intention to appear, requested a meeting with the prosecutor or pled guilty, she wrote. However, in many cases the means by which an individual must give notice of their intention to appear is by delivering the notice to a court office. Currently, almost all of these offices are closed, and your government continues to urge people to self-isolate at home. Equally problematic was that the tickets do not contain any information about how to contest a ticket in light of current circumstances. This is resulting in confusion and frustration for those who do wish to appear to contest their tickets and has prejudiced those who have paid their tickets fearing the consequences of delay. The current state of emergency, in place since March 17, is slated to expire May 12, though the premier said that could be extended. Crognali said if anyone previously charged with a provincial offence has questions about the adjournment of their case or would like to exercise their option to request a new court date, they should contact the municipal court office responsible for their matter. The defendant should not go to the courthouse. Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie Read more about: Two Tennessee brothers who stockpiled 17,700 bottles of hand sanitizer have avoided prosecution and a fine, but wont recoup the thousands of dollars they spent on the supplies under the terms of a price-gouging settlement that the state attorney general announced this week. The brothers, Matt Colvin and Noah Colvin, donated the supplies last month to people in Tennessee and Kentucky, which the authorities said on Tuesday was acceptable as restitution and was a factor in the settlement terms in the highly publicized case. The siblings, who live outside Chattanooga, were widely vilified after Matt Colvin, 36, told The New York Times last month that he and his brother, who is 21, had canvassed dollar stores and other retailers across Tennessee and Kentucky for hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic. Mr. Colvin said at the time that he had sold 300 bottles of hand sanitizer on Amazon for $8 to $70 each, multiple times higher than what he had paid. The next day, Amazon pulled the additional items that he had listed from its retail platform, along with those of thousands of other sellers. Police have fined two campers in Staffordshire who said they had stopped off on their way to the Peak District during the nationwide lockdown. The couple claimed they were only making the trip because a friend in Harrogate, who had apparently agreed to host them, had come down with coronavirus symptoms. Officers in Leek found the pair camping in the Staffordshire Moorlands on Wednesday afternoon. The man had recently flown into the UK from Berlin, police said. The couple then travelled via Harrogate and Wigan to reach the West Midlands, with plans on heading to the Peak District after, according to Staffordshire Police. The areas Chief Inspector Mark Thorley said: Now is not the time for people to be travelling unnecessarily into our rural communities and to our beauty spots for dog walking, exercise, camping or picnics. He said: I am pleased that the majority of people understand this but for those making journeys from far and wide to places like the Moorlands we will continue to use the discretion and good judgement of our officers in deciding whether or not your journey is considered 'reasonable' or not. People in the UK have been ordered to stay at home unless it is essential, for example to get food or go to work, in a bid to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. Staffordshire Police said they had come across visitors from London and Nottinghamshire in the Moorlands over the last week despite the nationwide lockdown. Three Londoners were also fined last week after being caught camping on the Welsh coast. Mr Thorley from Staffordshire Police said: Our beauty spots and rural areas will be here when this is over lets make sure we stick together and do what is necessary so we can get back to normal as soon as possible. The UK has extended the lockdown until early May as it battles with Covid-19, which has infected around 133,500 people in the country to date. The death toll for hospitalised coronavirus patients stood at 18,100 on Tuesday afternoon, according to the UK health ministry. The livestream concert is to raise money for the United Nations Foundations COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization. On top of the livestream, Google is matching all donations up to $5 million. If you're thinking to yourself "why the hell would I wanna watch Post Malone cover Nirvana songs?", then we understand you. That was our initial reaction, until we found some videos of Post performing "All Apologies" live. Watch it below. Apple Inc is planning to fix a flaw that a security firm said may have left more than half a billion iPhones vulnerable to hackers. The bug, which also exists on iPads, was discovered by ZecOps, a San Francisco-based mobile security forensics company, while it was investigating a sophisticated cyberattack against a client that took place in late 2019. Zuk Avraham, ZecOps' chief executive, said he found evidence the vulnerability was exploited in at least six cybersecurity break-ins. An Apple spokesman acknowledged that a vulnerability exists in Apple's software for email on iPhones and iPads, known as the Mail app and that the company had developed a fix, which will be rolled out in a forthcoming update on millions of devices it has sold globally. Apple declined to comment on Avraham's research, which was published on Wednesday, that suggests the flaw could be triggered from afar and that it had already been exploited by hackers against high-profile users. Avraham said he found evidence that a malicious program was taking advantage of the vulnerability in Apple's iOS mobile operating system as far back as January 2018. He could not determine who the hackers were and Reuters was unable to independently verify his claim. To execute the hack, Avraham said victims would be sent an apparently blank email message through the Mail app forcing a crash and reset. The crash opened the door for hackers to steal other data on the device, such as photos and contact details. ZecOps claims the vulnerability allowed hackers to remotely steal data off iPhones even if they were running recent versions of iOS. By itself, the flaw could have given access to whatever the Mail app had access to, including confidential messages. Avraham, a former Israeli Defense Force security researcher, said he suspected that the hacking technique was part of a chain of malicious programs, the rest undiscovered, which could have given an attacker full remote access. Apple declined to comment on that prospect. ZecOps found the Mail app hacking technique was used against a client last year. Avraham described the targeted client as a Fortune 500 North American technology company but declined to name it. They also found evidence of related attacks against employees of five other companies in Japan, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Israel. Avraham based most of his conclusions on data from acrash reports, which are generated when programs fail in mid-task on a device. He was then able to recreate a technique that caused the controlled crashes. Two independent security researchers who reviewed ZecOps discovery found the evidence credible but said they had not yet fully recreated its findings. Patrick Wardle, an Apple security expert and former researcher for the U.S. National Security Agency, said the discovery aconfirms what has always been somewhat of a rather badly kept secret: that well-resourced adversaries can remotely and silently infect fully patched iOS devices. Because Apple was not aware of the software bug until recently, it could have been very valuable to governments and contractors offering hacking services. Exploit programs that work without warning against an up-to-date phone can be worth more than $1 million. While Apple is largely viewed within the cybersecurity industry as having a high standard for digital security, any successful hacking technique against the iPhone could affect millions due to the device's global popularity. In 2019, Apple said there were about 900 million iPhones in active use. Bill Marczak, a security researcher with Citizen Lab, a Canada-based academic security research group, called the vulnerability discovery scary. Catch our entire coverage on the Facebook-Jio deal here. A lot of times, you can take comfort from the fact that hacking is preventable, said Marczak. With this bug, it doesn't matter if you've got a PhD in cybersecurity, this will eat your lunch.Also read: Coronavirus News India LIVE Updates He's been entertaining his fans with a virtual art club during the coronavirus lockdown. But Noel Fielding has also revealed some of the unorthodox ways he's passing the time in isolation, including meditating with Russell Brand. The Great British Bake Off host, 46, told Lorraine Kelly he's been honing his cake skills with the help of Paul Hollywood, as they baked a banana loaf last week with his young daughter. Hilarious: Noel Fielding revealed he's been passing some of the more unorthodox ways he's passing time during the coronavirus lockdown As he spoke to Lorraine about his online art club, Noel revealed he'd been keeping a level head by meditating during the lockdown The Never Mind The Buzzcocks star added he'd collaborated with several stars, including veteran comedian Russell. He explained: 'Me and Russell Brand occasionally meditate together, but I laugh and can't take it seriously, what an image that is me and Russell meditating.' Busy: The presenter revealed he's been meditating during the lockdown with the help of Russell Brand (pictured January 2020) Fun: Noel chatted to Lorraine Kelly about his virtual art club, which has seen him displaying some of his fans' best paintings Noel then told Lorraine he'd also been embracing some of the skills he'd learned as the host of Bake Off, and even had a go at making bread with the man himself Paul Hollywood. 'I made one loaf with Paul Hollywood, it was very much Paul's loaf, even when I was kneading his big mahogany hands over my ET-like hands, it was quite sensual!' he told Lorraine. The Mighty Boosh host added he'd got his daughter Dali, two, involved with the baking, when they weren't having costume tea parties. Noel said: 'She paints she's very good as well, we dress up as well so we have tea parties, with banana bread and lemon drizzle cake and we dress up, I normally dress up as Macca Pacca.' Passing the time: Noel then told Lorraine he'd also been embracing some of the skills he'd learned as the host of Bake Off, and even had a go at making bread with Paul Hollywood Messing around: The Mighty Boosh host added he'd got his daughter Dali, two, involved with the baking, when they weren't having costume tea parties Filming for The Great British Bake Off was due to commence this month, but has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The new series will see Matt Lucas join Noel as hosts of the show, after Sandi Toksvig announced she had quit the show to focus on other work commitments. Following his appointment, Noel also told Matt that he told Channel 4 bosses he should audition for the job, after witnessing their partnership in a dream. Noel has also been hosting a virtual art club for fans so they can get creative during the lockdown, and has even been joined by guest judges such as Joe Lycett and Bake Off winner Rahul Mandal. Lorraine airs during Good Morning Britain from 9am on ITV. Micheal Martin has queried whether the public should wear face masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus (Jane Barlow/PA) SERIOUS concerns over the transparency of decision making in the coronavirus crisis have been raised by Labour leader Alan Kelly. He has posed a series of questions about the role of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) chaired by Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan which was convened to respond to the outbreak. The NPHET has been at the centre of the State's response to the emergency and has been heavily involved in the health measures introduced as well as the extraordinary restrictions on everyday life. Speaking in the Dail Mr Kelly thanked the government, NPHET and the HSE for their work but also said he is "seriously concerned about transparency in decision making in this crisis". Mr Kelly said the terms of reference for the NPHET being convened to deal with the separate CPE superbug last year were longer and more detailed than those for its response to Covid-19. He said the membership of NPHET has grown substantially since it was set up and questioned if the government agreed to all the new members and if not, who appoints them. Mr Kelly also said that only notes are recorded of meetings. He questioned if they are the minutes and if they're not why not. He said there is a difference as minutes must be agreed by participants at the beginning of the next meeting while notes could be a subjective view of what happened. Future generations will want to know where people stood on decisions, Mr Kelly said adding "for me it's not transparent". He asked why notes have not been published since end of March despite the group meeting twice weekly and he said this isn't acceptable. He claimed that no disagreements on decisions have been recorded. Mr Kelly said all decisions will have a historical review at some stage and he said the issues arising in nursing homes is the most obvious example. He said the last published notes from March show that the NPHET discussed a paper on childcare for health workers but they don't record why the proposals were not agreed to and do not transparently say what decision was made. Mr Kelly said this issue of childcare for health workers is something the government is still "grappling with". He asked how many sub-groups are in NPHET with 11 listed in the National Action Plan. "There are little, or actually no minutes published for most of them he said. "What are they doing, and can we see minutes? Or are there actually any minutes?" Mr Kelly asked why the Department of Health secretary general and HSE director general are not attending the meetings. "I would have thought that they would be intrinsic members of this committee. What happens if either or both disagree with a decision of NPHET?" He asked about the CMO's decision to set a target of 15,000 coronavirus tests a day by May 5 and if this was done with the agreement of the HSE which would be ultimately responsible for putting it in place. Mr Kelly asked if the HSE has raised concerns with the government over the decision making in the crisis. He asked: "Who is NPHET ultimately accountable to on a day-to-day basis. "I understand they advise the government. Who makes the final decisions? "Do NPHET have to consult with you or the Minister for Health before making formal announcements that affect all the citizens of this country?," he asked the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. "I presume they do. But how does that happen?" Mr Kelly said he wants to make sure there is "democratic accountability and scrutiny". He said TDs have so far "fully trusted everyone and continue to do so" "But the lack of information on processes and decision making... means I have to ask these questions on behalf of everybody out there in the public." "Ultimate decision making cannot be in the hands of the few. Elected office cannot be subservient even in this crisis," he said. Mr Varadkar responded to Mr Kelly saying he accepts the points made by TDs about the need for greater transparency but added that he would ask for understanding. "People are really busy, theyre really swamped, theyre struggling to read their emails and important documents that have been sent to them every day from people all over the country who really wants to help and make good suggestions. "This is a rapidly changing situation. Facts, data changes by the day." Meanwhile, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has sought clarity on whether members of the public should wear face masks as part of measures to halt the spread of coronavirus. His remarks came as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that everything must be done to avoid a "deadly second wave" of Covid-19 as restrictions are eased. He said that "extreme vigilance" is required to limit the increase of new cases and prevent more deaths. Mr Martin raised the issue of face masks for the public - which has not yet been recommended by health authorities here - during a Dail debate on the crisis. He said "more clarity" is needed on the issue as some experts elsewhere have advised that they could help slow the spread of the virus. Mr Martin said that use of masks should not take supply away from the health service but the issue should be reviewed. He also criticised the situation in nursing homes which have seen a high proportion of the coronavirus deaths. He said the new supports announced for the homes are "too bureaucratic" and asked what proportion of resident have been tested. Read More Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald was also critical of the response to what she called the "heartbreaking crisis" in nursing homes where she said more than half of deaths have occurred. She suggested spare capacity in private hospitals should be used to support nursing homes. Visit our Covid-19 vaccine dashboard for updates on the roll out of the vaccination program and the rate of Coronavirus cases Ireland Green Party leader Eamon Ryan said the situation in nursing home is a "raging epidemic". Mr Varadkar opened a Dail debate saying that 16,671 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Ireland and sadly 769 people have lost their lives. He said they were people with lives and stories who made a contribution. Mr Varadkar said the good news is that the reproduction rate for the virus is now between 0.7 and 1.0 and more people have recovered from coronavirus than are still suffering from it. But he conceded that it has not been possible to slow the transmission of the virus in every setting saying that the impact on long-term care residential facilities including nursing homes has been great. Mr Varadkar insisted action is being taken to control outbreaks and minimise transmission to protect as many people as possible. Earlier he said: "Our collective national effort is working" but said the country has been "battered by a wave of destruction but as a people we have endured". Mr Varadkar said there has been an "enormous cost" and there is anxiety about health job losses and business closures. He said the same energy to responding to the crisis must be brought to rebuilding the economy. But he warned that if people become lax "we could lose control over the spread of the virus". He said efforts are being made to expand testing to 100,000 per week as part of the plans to ease restrictions. Mr Varadkar said it will be a significant increase in testing and it may not be possible "but we will pull out all the stops to make it happen". He said that after each phase of easing restrictions, time must be taken to assess its impact and he warned that stricter social distancing may have to be reintroduced as happened in Japan in recent days. "We must do everything we can to avoid post peak wave or a deadly second wave" which he said happened during the H1N1 and Spanish Flu pandemics. He said when it's over "we will awaken our society and our economy". Mr Varadkar said the actions to do this must happen in a safe and appropriate way. In New York City apartments, behaviors that were once perfectly normal a Friday night dinner party, taking the dog for a walk, or inviting a sibling to visit for a while are suddenly deviant, and potentially dangerous, leaving property owners and building managers struggling to figure out when and how to keep tenants in line as they attempt to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. As landlords, co-op boards and property managers step up cleaning protocols and shut down gyms and roof decks, theyre also changing policies about everything from dog walkers to house guests. As some buildings consider taking the temperatures of workers who enter the property, others are wringing their hands about whether or not to send out a memo when a tenant gets sick. Some properties have restricted large-package deliveries, even as delivery services have become a lifeline for the homebound, while others havent changed mail and delivery policies at all. Residents are finding themselves on the receiving end of a patchwork of restrictions that vary from one property to the next and may seem draconian, nonsensical or bafflingly lax. Image Dan Wurtzel, president of FirstService Residential New York, said some of the restrictions imposed on residents because of coronavirus are hard things to get used to. Some restrictions are difficult to just sort of jump into, said Dan Wurtzel, the president of FirstService Residential New York, which manages 550 co-ops, condos and rental buildings in the city. The first time you tell someone that every amenity in their building is closed, or they shouldnt ride the elevator with another person, those are hard things to get used to. Trumps ploy proves that systemic failures in the UN system only garner attention when they impact the developed world. If ever there was any doubt about the ill-fated trajectory of current United States politics, the ploy by President Donald Trump to defund the World Health Organization (WHO) in the middle of the worst global pandemic of our lifetimes offers yet another dose of evidence. The WHO, and the United Nations system to which the health body belongs, are far from perfect. Those of us working in health and humanitarian sectors across the developing world know full well the many colossal failures over its 75-year existence. Many of the challenges faced by the UN system are institutional and systemic. And calls for UN reform are almost a permanent agenda item at the UN General Assembly. But it is curious and important to note the move by the Trump administration, as well as the tone and approach it is taking in dealing with this world body. In defunding the WHO and calling for the resignation of its chief, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the US is displaying its privilege and illustrating yet another example of Western exceptionalism where a problem is only paid attention to when it inconveniences or threatens certain lives. Across the Global South, disease outbreaks, natural disasters, ongoing conflict and high poverty levels have meant that, for the most part, the UN system has been essential. In as much as individual countries through their governments are responsible for the health of their citizens, the WHO plays a critical part in coordinating the efforts of different actors. A global pandemic warrants a global response and, as it stands, can only be coordinated by the WHO and other multilateral institutions. In the case of the coronavirus pandemic whilst the WHO continues to face criticism it has in fact done well to provide global leadership and warn countries to prepare for what, only a few months ago, was an unknown disease. Within four weeks of the first alert, the WHO had declared COVID-19 a public health emergency of international concern, and in less than three months it was declared a pandemic. Compared to the previous inertia displayed by the WHO in other disease outbreaks, particularly in the developing world, the speed with which it moved for COVID-19 was commendable. Deep flaws in the system But the multilateral institutions governing global responses have always had deep flaws, and deserve criticism. In Rwanda in 1994, the UNs peacekeepers stood by as over 800,000 Tutsi were massacred in a genocide. The UN mission was mandated to keep the peace and even though it was clear that a genocide was happening in April 1994, the peacekeepers stood by as hundreds of thousands of people were killed, maimed, raped and tortured. The UN later apologised for failing to protect the Rwandan people, but for those who lost loved ones, the apology by the Secretary-General was an empty one. No one was held accountable for this gross failure. And no one called for the defunding of the UN, either even though almost a million people died. From 2012, the UN in Myanmar downplayed human rights violations against the Rohingya community and ignored warning signs of a run-up to a genocide that commenced in August 2017. A UN-commissioned report by Gert Rosenthal concluded that the failure to act by the UN to stop the genocide was due to systemic failures. This of course became a leeway through which individuals escaped accountability. As another independent analyst remarked about the UN response: Dealing with UN officials during this period was like dealing with members of a dysfunctional rich family who despise each other. Indeed, they fiddled while Rome burned. Yet, again, no call was made to stop funding for any organisation, even though today almost one million Rohingya people have been forcibly displaced and are living in horrid conditions in refugee camps in Bangladesh. In March 2014, the humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders (Medecins Sans Frontieres, or MSF) warned about an unprecedented Ebola outbreak in Guinea as a total of 80 cases were reported with some of them in the capital, Conakry. The WHO downplayed the outbreak, claiming that there was no need to panic. In later evaluation reports, it was found that the slow-paced reaction of the WHO contributed to the failure to contain the outbreak, which infected over 28,000 people and killed more than 11,000 of them. Still, no one called for the defunding of the WHO. In the case of coronavirus, if we accept as we must that every life matters, then the question about the WHOs alleged failure deserves attention. But it is particularly concerning that at such a crucial time for global health, Trump chooses a route that is inward-looking and self-consumed at the expense of the greater good. A call for reform On the face of it, it appears that when the lives of people who are viewed as lacking agency are impacted by the failures of these multilateral institutions, it is regarded as an occupational hazard. But when the lives of those who matter are impacted, at least according to President Trump, real action must be taken. But the question of what action is an important one. And as many of us who have worked within and around the system will agree, the answer is reform, not defunding. The UN, like many other multilateral institutions including the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, continues to escape responsibility because of weak accountability mechanisms. Calls for UN reform go back over two decades. But these calls for change have come from countries not represented in the Security Council, whereas the rich and powerful countries have repeatedly blocked any challenge to the power that they currently enjoy. A reform process underpinned by global solidarity and recognition of the added value of other countries is long overdue. The UN and other multilateral institutions cannot continue to be a replication of global economic and colonial power structures and expect to get away with it. If the UN fails to undergo this process, it will continue to be in a state of paralysis when confronted by crises. If anything, COVID-19 has shown that more funding must be made available for global health and for building health systems not less. For us to return to life as we knew it, and be able to live as a global community, the reopening of travel and trade routes depends on all countries managing to contain this pandemic together. The WHO should continue to coordinate multiple actors and governments towards the control and containment of COVID-19. The decision to stop funding the WHO at this critical time is therefore not only irrational, but also a threat to the very people the decision claims to protect. COVID-19 has exposed the danger of ensuring access to health for only a certain part of society. It has shown that if only some people do not have access to adequate healthcare, then the collective is at risk. With more than 800,000 coronavirus cases and climbing, the US should know that best of all. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Doctor: Hundreds of COVID-19 Patients Recover With 3-drug Regimen Dr. Vladimir Zelenko from New York announced that over 400 of his high-risk patients with COVID-19 have recovered. All were treated with his 3-drug regimen of hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, and zinc. The doctor said two patients died, but the other 403 recuperated completely from COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. But critics are skeptical of the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine. The U.S. government is still testing the drug on patients with the virus, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved it as treatment for COVID-19, according to agency. Dr. Zelenko said thats beside the point. If it was peacetime, we could spend months doing studies, lets say for four months doing a clinical study, figuring out which bullet is the shiniest and works the best, which medication has the least side effects. he said in an interview with NTD News. And then we can use it. Unfortunately, we dont have time. Paramedics take a patient into the emergency center at Maimonides Medical Center during the outbreak of the CCP virus in the Brooklyn borough of New York, on April 14, 2020. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters) Promising But Unapproved The FDA has allowed the use of hydroxychloroquine based on successful anecdotal evidence. And that evidence is mounting. But several studies have also concluded that the drug is ineffective or dangerous, like one published this month by NYU Langone Health. In its study, 84 adult patients were treated with a combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin. It was reported that 41 percent of them had longer QT intervals, which could lead to irregular heartbeats. Eleven percent were at risk of arrhythmia. And based on that test and others, the National Institutes of Health has not recommended this combination to treat COVID-19. But there are differences between this study and Zelenkos treatments. For one, they dont use the same drugs. Langones study did not use zinc, which the doctor said stops the virus from growing. And by the way, its not magic, I mean theres a reason behind it, said Zelenko. The virus is inside the cell, the zinc cannot get inside the cell for biochemical reasons, so the hydroxychloroquine opens the door and lets the zinc in. Thats all it does, in this context. Meanwhile, the antibiotic, azithromycin, protects the patient from secondary infections. Losing the Window of Opportunity The doctor emphasized how crucial it is to treat patients immediately. He said clinical studies take time to do and test results take time get. His reasoning for allowing widespread use of his drug regimen echoes what President Donald Trump said on April 6: Id love to do that. But we have people dying today. Despite his burning desire treat people immediately, options are limited in New York. The governor has prohibited pharmacies from dispensing hydroxychloroquine to patients who havent tested positive for the virus. A pharmacist at the Northside Pharmacy in Brooklyn, New York, on June 18, 2014. (Samira Bouaou/Epoch Times) This means patients that are CCP virus positive have to go out-of-state to get the drug. From the group of infected high risk patients he treated, two thirds were diagnosed, and the rest tested positive. The doctor said the pandemic will be studied in the future, like other monumental historical events. There were people advocating common sense intervention with medication to alleviate death and human suffering, and there are those that got in the way of doing that. New York hospitals are testing hydroxychloroquine on patients, and results were to be submitted to the FDA on Monday. From NTD News India on Thursday joined a virtual meeting of the ministers and senior health officials of the eight SAARC nations on the Covid-19 crisis, although it was convened by Pakistan. New Delhi responded to the invitation by Prime Minister Imran Khans government in Islamabad and participated in the virtual meeting, even as Pakistan recently boycotted a series of webinars India arranged to train the healthcare professionals of the SAARC nations in managing the Covid-19 pandemic. Follow latest updates on the COVID-19 pandemic here Dr Rajiv Garg, Director General of Health Services, represented the Government of India in the video-conference, which was chaired by Khans advisor and de facto Health Minister of Pakistan, Dr Zafar Mirza. Like India, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Maldives too were represented by senior health officials. Sri Lankan Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi represented her nation in the virtual meeting. The junior ministers represented Nepal and Afghanistan. A source in New Delhi said that India decided to join the video-conference convened by Pakistan as it had always been emphasizing on regional cooperation to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. A press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi underlined that the video-conference convened by Pakistan on Thursday had followed an earlier video conference India hosted on March 26 with senior health professionals of all the South Asian nations. Dr Garg briefed his counterparts from other SAARC nations about Indias comprehensive response to the Covid-19 pandemic, including its move to augment production of essential materials and medicines and enhancing capabilities in research on drugs and vaccines. He also highlighted the successful use and promising future of new and innovative technology-based solutions developed by India, such as the mobile app Aarogya Setu, to maximize community outreach and intervention. Pakistan on April 8 boycotted a video-conference India had organized for the trade officials of all the SAARC nations to discuss ways to minimize the impact of the curbs imposed to contain the pandemic on regional commerce. Besides, Khan Government in Islamabad also boycotted a week-long online capacity-building programme New Delhi organized from April 17 for the healthcare professionals of the SAARC nations to train them in dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak. It stated that it had decided to stay away as the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu had no role in organizing the two events. The SAARC Secretary-General, Esala Ruwan Weerakoon, participated in the video-conference convened by Pakistan on Thursday. It is good to see that Pakistan Government finally realized the merit of regional cooperation in the fight against Covid-19 pandemic, the source in New Delhi said. A spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan Government on Thursday said that the ministers and senior health officials of the SAARC nations had discussed real-time sharing of information and clinical data, capacity building and training of medical and paramedical staff, the supply of medicines and medical equipment, research coordination and enhancing cooperation with frontline international organizations including the World Health Organization. They also discussed proposals to fast-track the creation of linkages among medical universities as well as academia and research institutions in the South Asian region. Pakistan proposed greater coordination among health authorities of SAARC member states in the context of combating the pandemic and suggested activating the SAARC Technical Committee on Health and Population Activities The SAARC (South Asian Association for convening Regional Cooperation) was in limbo for almost three-and-a-half years, primarily due to tension between New Delhi and Islamabad over continued cross-border export of terror from Pakistan and territories under illegal occupation of Pakistan to India. New Delhi, however, breathed fresh life into it on March 15 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding a virtual summit of the SAARC leaders to work out a coordinated response to the Covid-19 pandemic in the region. Though Modi was joined by the leaders of six of the seven other SAARC nations, Khan did not attend it and instead assigned Dr Mirza to represent Pakistan. Islamabad on April 9 conveyed to Weerakoon, the Secretary-General of the SAARC, that all proceeds of the Covid-19 Emergency Fund must be administered by the secretariat and the modalities of managing it should be finalized through consultations with all the members in accordance with the charter of the organization. The SAARC Covid-19 Emergency Fund was set up last month after India had initiated it with a voluntary contribution of $ 10 million and was followed by Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Afghanistan, which contributed altogether $ 8.43 million more. After much dilly-dallying, Pakistan on April 9 pledged $ 3 million to the fund, but with riders attached. The fund was set up to help any SAARC nation to meet the emergency expenditure to deal with the pandemic in its territory. The sentiment of cooperation and solidarity in the region intensified by Prime Minister Modis video conference with SAARC leaders on March 15 has led to much progress in the fight against Covid-19 through a series of concrete follow-up measures aimed at easing the suffering of the people in the region, the MEA said in New Delhi, subtly underscoring that Pakistan had on Thursday just started following up on what had been started by India. A spokesperson of the MEA said that India had developed an electronic platform SAARC COVID19 Information Exchange Platform (COINEX) for use by all the SAARC countries. As the next major step, the platform will be launched for exchange of specialized information and tools on COVID-19 among designated health professionals in the region. (The) COINEX will also offer and facilitate various online training resources and e-learning modules, he said. A lawyer from Nazareth pleaded guilty for stealing more than $2.7 million from his clients, who thought the money was being used for investments, federal authorities said. From 2012 to 2019, Todd H. Lahr, 60, conspired to scam clients of his Allentown law firm out of money invested in two companies THL Holdings LLC and Ferran Global Holdings Inc. to finance aspects of his personal life, including his homes mortgage, childs tuition, utility bills and more, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Authorities said Lahr kept the operation going by using money from new investors to pay others involved in the scheme. Lahr pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud, two counts of securities fraud and four counts of wire fraud. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 3. READ MORE: State police justified in shooting at wood-wielding man who nearly hit a trooper with his car: district attorney Food heist, spitting, store rampages all part of increasing coronavirus frustration in Philadelphia Cause of 3-month olds death still unknown; mother admits past use of meth, pot: police The state of Missouri filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the Chinese government over the coronavirus, alleging that nation's officials are to blame for the global pandemic. The lawsuit, filed in federal court by the state's top lawyer, alleges Chinese officials are "responsible for the enormous death, suffering, and economic losses they inflicted on the world, including Missourians." Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt in a written statement said the Chinese government lied about the dangers of the virus and didn't do enough to slow its spread. "The Chinese government lied to the world about the danger and contagious nature of COVID-19, silenced whistleblowers, and did little to stop the spread of the disease," he said. "They must be held accountable for their actions." It's unclear whether the lawsuit will have much, if any, impact. U.S. law generally prohibits lawsuits against other countries with few exceptions, said Chimene Keitner, an international law professor at University of California, Hastings College of the Law. "If China responds, as I expect it would, and claims sovereign immunity, then it would be for the judge to perform the legal analysis required, and I anticipate that that analysis will eventually lead to dismissing this suit," said Keitner, who recently wrote a blog titled "Don't Bother Suing China for Coronavirus." Missouri Democratic Party Executive Director Lauren Gepford called the lawsuit a "stunt" by a Republican attorney general who is up for re-election this year. China, meanwhile, slammed the lawsuit on Wednesday, calling it "very absurd." Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the legal action has "no factual and legal basis at all" and repeated China's defense of its response to the outbreak, which has largely subsided in the country where it was first detected. The number of Missouri deaths statewide rose by 16 Tuesday to 215, according to Johns Hopkins University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering. The number of cases rose by 156 to 5,963. 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. WASHINGTON In a surprise move on Wednesday night, the authorities in Texas abandoned their fight to include abortion in a list of medical procedures that must be delayed during the coronavirus pandemic. During the weeks of legal wrangling that went all of the way to the Supreme Court, Texas had argued that abortion was like any other elective surgery, and should be delayed to preserve the personal protective equipment needed by medical workers exposed to the virus. Lawyers for abortion clinics said the state was using the pandemic to advance its own political agenda, and took the state to court. Abortion access in Texas swung wildly for a month, with clinics canceling dozens of appointments and rescheduling them days later, as the case bounced through the court system. Texas residents scrambled, with some traveling long distances to clinics in nearby states like Kansas and Colorado. At least six other states Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma and Tennessee have tried similar abortion restrictions, often through emergency orders by their governors. But hospitals around the country have been under financial strain after postponing often lucrative elective surgical procedures to make way for coronavirus patients, and last week, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas eased the restrictions on some surgical procedures. Operations can now be performed in facilities that certify in writing that they will reserve at least 25% of their capacity for coronavirus patients and that they will not request personal protective equipment from any public source. The changes took effect at midnight Tuesday, and lawyers for the clinics said that by Wednesday morning, all clinics had complied with the order and were starting to perform abortions again. Still, the lawyers were wary, pointing out that the state had a case before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in which it had largely prevailed. As late as Monday, the court had sided with the state, saying that even medication abortion, which involves taking two pills early in pregnancy, could be prohibited. Finally, women in Texas can get the time-sensitive abortion care that they are constitutionally guaranteed, said Nancy Northup, president and chief executive of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which represents some of the clinics. Women never should have had to go to court to get essential health care. Dyana Limon-Mercado, the executive director of Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, an advocacy group in Texas, said, The past month has been an unthinkable nightmare for Texans who have been forced to travel out of state just to access essential health care. On Wednesday afternoon, a spokeswoman for state Attorney General Ken Paxton did not say whether abortion would be included in the new relaxing of the rules. But hours later, a court filing in a federal court in Texas provided the answer. In a 23-page filing, the attorney generals office made clear that there was no legal basis for the clinics to seek relief because they had clearly met the criteria to resume activity under the governors new order. Every plaintiff clinic has certified to HHSC that it meets the requirements of the new exception, the state said in the court document, referring to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Jacinda Ardern has found herself in the middle of a heated debate with her former principal over the decision to reopen schools amid the coronavirus pandemic. Morrinsville College principal John Inger warned of the 'potential disaster' of sending children back to classrooms once New Zealand's level four lockdown is lifted next week. The country will move to alert level 3, at 11.59pm on Monday April 27, allowing for schools and early childhood education centres to reopen. Jacinda Ardern (pictured) has found herself in the middle of a heated debate with her former principal over the decision to reopen schools amid the coronavirus pandemic Morrinsville College principal John Inger (pictured) warned of the 'potential disaster' of sending children back to classrooms once New Zealand's level four lockdown is lifted next week Parents are being encouraged to keep their kids at home if possible and continue at-home learning. Reopening schools means those who need to attend school - including children whose parents are essential workers - are able to, Ms Ardern said. Mr Inger blasted the decision to allow schools to reopen in a school newsletter, accusing the Government of passing on child-minding duties to teachers, Stuff reported. He said some parents might be sending children back to school simply because they are a 'pain in the neck' at home. He said it was still risky having children at school during the pandemic. 'Children can contract Covid-19 and pass it on when asymptomatic, and they can die. New Zealand will move to alert level 3, at 11.59pm on Monday April 27, allowing for schools and early childhood education centres to reopen on a voluntary basis Schools were closed when New Zealand went into lockdown in March 26. The country had already shut its borders on March 19 'Young people all over the world have been dying from Covid - they are just less likely to die than those of us who are adults, so do not think that your child could not die if they became infected.' During a press conference on Wednesday, Ms Ardern laughed off the comments. 'I can't help but wonder if Mr Inger is reflecting that I would have been one of those students returning to school, with my father being a police officer and my mother working at the school, so perhaps he had me in mind when making that judgment call,' she said. Schools were closed when New Zealand went into lockdown in March 26. The country had already shut its borders on March 19. As a result, the country has seen only 1,105 confirmed cases and 12 deaths in total, with only a handful of new infections recorded in recent days. This diagram shows the daily number of new infections in New Zealand (in yellow), which has fallen to only a handful per day, and the daily rate of increase (in red) The Level 4 restrictions have seen Kiwis stuck in their homes for the past four weeks. They have only been allowed to leave to do food shopping, to seek medical care or for exercise. Supermarkets remained open but all other food stores, such as cafes and restaurants were forced to close. Ms Adern announced this week the government will be rolling back its lockdown rules. The maximum Alert Level 4 will be lifted from April 27, dropping to Level 3 which means some schools can re-open and gatherings of up to 10 people will be allowed for event such as weddings and funerals. The new rules mean people can expand their 'immediate household bubble' to 'reconnect with close family' or support isolated people. Businesses in the construction, manufacturing and forestry industries can return to work, while shops and restaurants will remain shut but takeaways can resume. CALGARY, Alberta, April 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Questor Technology Inc. (Questor or the Company) (TSX-V: QST) provides several announcements in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and current market conditions. These include COVID-19 risk mitigation, changes to activity outlook and updated strategic priorities. COVID-19 The safety of Questor's employees, customers, vendors, their families and the communities that we work in, is our number one priority. Questor has implemented several measures to protect both our field and office employees while ensuring business continuity during this difficult time. Questor has reduced staffing levels at all locations to essential personnel only and has implemented remote work procedures for the majority of office staff as part of its business continuity plan. We have banned non-essential travel and have implemented standards for interacting with clients, third-party contractors and visitors to minimize risk of exposure. ACTIVITY OUTLOOK COVID-19, combined with the oil price war, have affected our customers and will therefore have a significant effect on our 2020 business results. It is difficult to predict how long these market conditions will continue to affect activity levels. Demand for Questors equipment and services is constantly changing. Questors largest customer in North Dakota has served notice that it intends to return all equipment under rent over the month of April, stating that at the current oil prices they are required to reduce or shut-in production. In Colorado, customers who have already reduced capital expenditure plans have now started to suspend drilling programs. STRATEGIC PRIORITIES Questor's strong financial position has been accomplished through managing costs and maintaining capital discipline while providing best in class equipment and services to our customers. Our focus has not changed and remains consistent despite this downturn. We will continue to provide exceptional service to our customers while efficiently managing our costs. This disciplined strategy is focused on preserving positive operating cash flow in order to maintain our strong balance sheet during these uncertain times. The realities of a significant decline in demand for our equipment and services has been challenging. We intend to retain the operational experience throughout our company. One key outcome of our strategies is to be strongly positioned coming out of this downturn. During this time, we will be focusing on gaining market share, educating our customers around our solutions for combating emissions, diversifying out of oil and gas and expanding our waste heat to power offering into other industries and applications. To support this effort a corporate rebranding is underway. We will continue to build our digital capability focused on an emissions platform that will eventually enable us to credibly quantify emission reductions for our clients and guarantee a zero emissions site, with the end goal of monetizing the emission reduction offsets. Questor believes that the clean technology industry will remain an integral component of resource development over the medium to long term and that the Company will be well positioned given its focus on top-tier service, quality, logistics management and technology to meet our clients emission commitments in the future. The resilient companies that survive these challenging times will continue to focus in the medium to long term on addressing the commitments they have made to their investors and the public, which includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Questors proven, cost effective technology solutions will play an instrumental role in enabling these companies to meet their goals and targets. As these companies ramp up and return to normal activity levels, Questor will be ready. The following key cost and discretionary spending plan adjustments will be implemented during the month of April: Companywide reduction of personnel costs; the measures consist of reduced work week, layoffs, furloughs and salary reductions; Reduction in discretionary costs in all categories; Closure of the Florida ClearPower Systems facility; Reduction of capital expenditures; Suspension of all non-essential travel; and, Modified work schedules to provide increased flexibility to respond to fluctuating demand for the Company's services, while reducing personnel costs. The Company expects these fixed cost reduction measures will reduce year over year fixed costs by approximately 20%. While these cost reductions are significant, the Company will continue to look at all aspects of its business for further business optimization opportunities in these uncertain times. The Federal Government of Canada announced a new wage subsidy program recently and we will assess how this and other available programs can be utilized to reduce the impact of this downturn on our staffing levels going forward. Regarding the above announcements, Questors CEO, Audrey Mascarenhas stated: Questor extends our thoughts to those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We will do our part to minimize the spread of this very dangerous virus. Our top priority is the safety of our people, our clients personnel and the communities where we work. We have taken measures to make sure that their health is not compromised while we continue to provide best in class emissions control equipment and service to our valued customers. Financially, the progress we have achieved over the last three years leaves Questor well positioned to navigate this challenging environment. Our balance sheet demonstrates the financial strength of the Company and we will continue to ensure that our liquidity needs are not compromised. With future industry activity levels uncertain, the strategic priorities announced today will continue to ensure Questors financial flexibility. We will manage the business accordingly and will continue to operate at the highest efficiency to further protect the interests of all our stakeholders. On April 17, 2020, the federal government announced it will invest $1.7 billion to clean up abandoned and inactive natural gas and oil wells in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. In addition, the federal government will also establish a $750 million Emission Reduction Fund, with a focus on methane, to create and maintain jobs through pollution reduction efforts. The $750 million emissions reduction fund relief package is framed as jumpstarting efforts to cut methane emissions, including those enacted under the Federal Regulations Respecting Reduction in the Release of Methane and Certain Volatile Organic Compounds which came into effect on April 26, 2018, and Albertas Methane Emission Reduction Regulation, which came into force on January 1, 2020. These regulations respectively set targets for reducing methane emissions by approximately 20 mega tonnes by 2030, and by 45% relative to 2014 levels by 2025. The Company is pleased that the federal government is committed to reducing methane emissions in a substantive way. This goes a long way toward indicating the federal government does understand the importance of this industry and the struggles its currently facing. Questor is currently evaluating its opportunities to offer its products and services to support the initiatives and is excited to potentially play a role to show case its abilities. ABOUT QUESTOR TECHNOLOGY INC. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Questor has a trained workforce who provide specialized waste gas incineration products and services that may be required for the exploration, development and production of oil and gas reserves. There are a number of methods for handling waste gases at upstream oil and gas facilities, the most common being combustion. Flaring and incineration are two methods of combustion accepted by the majority of provincial and state regulators. Historically, the most common type of combustion has been flaring. Flaring is the igniting of natural gas at the end of a flare stacka long metal tube up which the gas is sent. This causes the characteristic flame associated with flaring. A correctly operated incinerator can yield higher efficiencies through proper mixing, gas composition, retention time, and combustion temperature. Combustion efficiency, generally expressed as a percentage, is essentially the amount of methane converted to CO2, or H2S converted to SO2. The more converted, the better the efficiency. Questor designs, manufactures and services proprietary high efficiency waste gas incineration systems. The Companys incineration product line is based on clean combustion technology that was developed by the Company and patented in both Canada and the United States in 1999. Questor has continued to evolve the technology over the years making a number of improvements from the original patent. The Company currently has five new patent filings that are currently pending. Questors highly specialized technical team works with the client to understand the waste gas volume and composition. The Companys technical team determines the specific incineration product specification to achieve 99.99 percent combustion efficiency. The incinerators vary in size to accommodate small to large amounts of gas handling, the range is 50 mcf/d to 5,000 mcf/d. The incinerators also range in automation and instrumentation depending on the clients requirements. Questors incinerators are used in multiple segments of the Oil and Gas industry including: drilling, completions, production and downstream. The Company has three primary revenue streams; incinerator sales, incinerator rentals and incinerator services. Incinerator services include incinerator hauling, commissioning, repairs, maintenance and decommissioning. The Company offers incinerator products for purchase or for rent. Questors current key incineration markets are Colorado, North Dakota, Mexico, Pennsylvania, Texas and North East BC. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued regulations to reduce harmful air pollution arising out of crude oil and natural gas industry activities with a particular focus on the efficient destruction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and has recently introduced methane emission reduction legislation. In conjunction with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations, Colorados Regulation 7 mandates the use of enclosed combustion (incinerators) and now targets methane, resulting in a statewide focus on the responsible management of potentially fugitive hydrocarbons. North Dakota also has additional requirements that reflect some of the unique and specific needs that extend beyond the EPAs requirements. Over 90% of the Companys incinerator rental fleet is located in Colorado and North Dakota where regulation supports demand for its proprietary high efficiency waste gas incineration systems. The Company services its key markets with field offices in Brighton and Fort Lupton, Colorado; Watford City, North Dakota and Grande Prairie, Alberta. The infrastructure at the field offices consist of field technicians, maintenance technicians and administration. The facilities generally include, office space, maintenance shop and a yard to store incinerators. Questor personnel based out of the Companys head office in Calgary, Alberta include Officers of the Corporation, management, engineering, technical sales, accounting and administration. Questor trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol QST. Audrey Mascarenhas Dan Zivkusic President and Chief Executive Officer Chief Financial Officer Phone: (403) 571-1530 Phone: (403) 539-4371 Facsimile: (403) 571-1539 Facsimile: (403) 571-1539 Email: amascarenhas@questortech.com Email: dzivkusic@questortech.com Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, the words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "seek", "propose", "estimate", "expect", and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements with respect to, among other things, business objectives, expected growth, results of operations, performance, business projects and opportunities and financial results. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the Companys current views with respect to future events based on certain material factors and assumptions and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, changes in market, competition, governmental or regulatory developments, general economic conditions and other factors set out in the Companys public disclosure documents. Many factors could cause the Companys actual results, performance or achievements to vary from those described in this news release, including without limitation those listed above. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in this news release and such forward-looking statements included in, or incorporated by reference in this news release, should not be unduly relied upon. Such statements speak only as of the date of this news release. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This document is not intended for dissemination or distribution in the United States. Olive oil: Tunisia's exports grow in first trimester of 2020 146,000 tons with revenues worth 282 mn euros (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, APRIL 23 - Despite the coronavirus emergency, revenues from Tunisian olive oil exports have registered a record growth, according to the National office of Tunisian oil (Onh). The organization said that Tunisia exported 146,000 tons of olive oil in the first trimester of 2020 with revenues worth 896 million Tunisian dinars (approximately 282 million euros) compared to the 80,000 tons worth 740 million dinars recorded over the same period in 2019. The president and CEO of Onh, Chokri Bayoudh, stressed that, despite a slowdown in exports during this epidemic, the commercialization of Tunisian olive oil has been relatively successful in continuing its activity and reaching foreign markets. Olive oil exports have reached 300,000 tons since the start of November 2019 until March 31 this year, considering the set goal of exceeding 250,000 tons of exported olive oil for revenues estimated to exceed 2 billion dinars. Commenting these good results, Bayoudh stated that, thanks to olive oil exports, Tunisia has registered a surplus in its agri-food trade balance. (ANSAmed) BRUSSELS, April 22 (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Wednesday it had approved generic drugmaker Mylan NV's planned purchase of Pfizer's off-patient branded drugs business Upjohn, subject to conditions. The Commission, which oversees competition policy in the European Union, said its investigation had focused on genericised medicines, which are sold to pharmacies and hospitals, with overlaps in a number of fields. Mylan and Upjohn have offered to divest Mylan's certain generic medicines across 20 countries in the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom, the Commission said. Pfizer announced the deal in July as part of a strategy allowing it to focus on its more profitable newer medicines. [ nL4N24U2ON] (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop) The Islamic holy month of Ramadan began Thursday night and would normally involve a late-night community reading of the Quran, but many traditional observances will be set aside this year because of the novel coronavirus pandemic that has swept the globe. Islam follows a lunar calendar and the month of Ramadan begins based on the new moon. The birth of the moon has happened, said Ashfaq Taufique, president emeritus of the Birmingham Islamic Society. Tonight at sunset will mark the first day of Ramadan. Tomorrow (Friday, April 24) will be the first day of fasting. Muslims are required to fast from sunrise to sunset during Ramadan. At sunset, its customary to gather for a community breaking of the fast. Tomorrow night would be the first night of communal breaking of the fast, Taufique said. At sunset, people would congregate and break the fast together. That wont happen. People will have to observe the occasion in their homes with family. Birmingham Islamic Society mosques have been closed since March 13, when the weekly Friday gathering for prayer was suspended. There are an estimated 10,000 Muslims living in Alabama, with about 3,000 to 5,000 living in the greater Birmingham area. The breaking of the fast at the Hoover Crescent Islamic Center typically draws about 700 participants nightly during Ramadan. Its not a requirement, but it gives an opportunity to meet in community, Taufique said. They come to the communal breaking of the fast as more of a social thing, with spiritual benefits. Its an opportunity for us to meet new Muslim families that have moved here. Taufique said that for him, it will be the first time since he was a youth in Pakistan that he did not take part in communal fast-breaking during Ramadan. Growing up in Pakistan, we did the breaking of the fast at home with a family dinner, Taufique said. The communal break-fasting is now more common, but is not required. Even though some families observe it at home, communal breaking of the fast is usually available at mosques and Islamic community centers. This is probably the first time in our lifetimes were going to have a Ramadan with no community breaking of the fast and no congregational prayer at night, Taufique said. Hopefully this will end soon. We are psychologically affected, but keeping the spirits high. Normally during Ramadan, the entire Quran would be recited in nightly sections in late-night community prayer gatherings called the Taraweeh. That is required to be done in community. Instead, many people will follow along with a YouTube broadcast. We can get the spirit of the Taraweeh by listening to the recitation of the Quran, Taufique said. The daily call for prayer will also be broadcast on YouTube. The Hoover Crescent Islamic Center, where community breaking of the fast and nightly prayer meetings would normally happen during Ramadan, is closed to only the few people allowed in to broadcast the daily prayer and reading of the Quran. The mosque is on lockdown, Taufique said. It may not reopen until June or July, he said. We are going to rely on instructions from our government, which we hope is going to be based on what the healthcare professionals are telling them, he said. We are following whatever rules are given to us by government and the healthcare profession. Were not going to take any chances. Friday, April 24, marks the sixth consecutive Friday that that weekly mid-day community prayer, called the Jummah, has been suspended. Its very important for us to prevent the spread of this disease, Taufique said. The spiritual imperatives of prayer and charity remain, he said. The blessings, virtues and benefits of Ramadan do not diminish because of this epidemic, Taufique said. We have been secluded in our homes, but we can turn something negative into positive. We can seek connection with God in private. I ask our community to reflect on God individually and pray. This is a month of prayer. Prayers are important. Congregational prayer is encouraged, but one can do it at home. We can make our own congregation at home. Its a time for reflection on our individual connection with God. "We pray that humanity is saved from this disease. As Ghana prepares for the forthcoming general elections, John Mahama and his henchmen have their eyes on something else. They would rather achieve political power through the backdoor. Is it any surprise that member of parliament for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is preaching violent upheaval in Ghana? Just hear him; "Ghana is headed for an Arab spring if the country does not immediately usher in a new economic paradigm anchored on social justice and genuine empowerment of the masses." Okudzeto Ablakwa continued that equity does not exist in Ghana and that will be the fall of the country because the citizens have over the years not been given priority. We should not think we are far from an Arab spring scenario if we do not immediately usher in a new economic paradigm anchored on social justice and genuine empowerment of the masses. He said. 'Arab Spring' in Ghana? I would have dismissed this as one of those propagandist brouhaha that find their way unto the public space but for the source and medium from which we have been availed with the said tantrums. Okudzeto Ablakwa's recklessness and shenanigans are all rooted in Mahama's inordinate quest for power. It also reflects his insatiable thirst for bloodshed and proclivity to political cannibalism. And Mahama is prepared to sacrifice the peace and stability of Ghana for political power. Otherwise, what on earth will make a man who once ruled this country attempt to return with this kind of mindset? I dont want to sound condescending; however, I am amazed by the shallowness of the Ablakwa and his boss in trying to go on this path. Was the preceding the reason why Mahama launched his "First Coup D'tat" through a book? Well, let it be known to Mahama that he may have succeeded in "toppling" Mills in his second 'Coup d'tat' but he will fail woefully with his third attempt by way of destabilising this country for political power. Like our colonial masters, some NDC politicians and Mahama mistake the Ghanaian public for injudicious preschoolers in need of parental tutelage. Unbeknownst to them, the Ghanaian public has maturated, and understands the implications of politics even better, than some of these unqualified politicians who have swamped the centre of power for economic paybacks and kickbacks. Ghana is enjoying political and economic stability under President Akufo-Addo. Regardless of whether you like him or not hes doing exactly what the people elected him to do. He was given a mandate from the people in a democratic election and hes following up on his campaign promises. President Akufo-Addo promised to run a transparent and accountable government. Many challenges still confront us as people but he is definitely laying the solid foundation necessary to attain the objective of a transformed industrialized nation. No one is interested in Mahama and what he's offering by way of violence. I shall be back. This spring, customers will be able to visit the Boucher Nissan of Waukesha service center to take advantage of the three Spring Service Packages that the dealership is offering. These three special service packages include the Good Spring Service Package, the Better Spring Service Package and the Best Spring Service Package. All three of these special service packages expire on June 30, 2020. The Good Spring Service Package includes a group of maintenance services that will help customers to prepare their vehicle for spring driving in the state of Wisconsin. This service package includes an oil and filter change, a brake inspection, wiper blade replacements, a tire rotation, a multi-point inspection and some fuel additives to improve engine performance. The Good Spring Service Package is available for $139.95 plus tax. The Better Spring Service Package includes all of the same services available with the Good Spring Service Package. On top of these services, the Better Spring Service Package also includes a fuel induction service as well. This service package is available for $329.95 plus tax. Finally, the Best Spring Service Package offers all of the services from the Good Spring Service Package and the Best Spring Service Package while offering a few more additional services as well. The additional services available with the Best Spring Service Package include a four-wheel alignment and a wheel balance. The Best Spring Service Package is available for $499.95 plus tax. Customers who are interested in exploring the Spring Service Packages available at Boucher Nissan of Waukesha can contact the dealership directly. The dealership may be reached by phone at 800-504-6619, online at http://www.waukeshanissan.com, or in person at 1451 East Moreland Boulevard in Waukesha, Wisconsin. [April 23, 2020] Gaia Klen Acquires Worldwide License and Distribution Rights for the Ergofito Bioremediation Product Line Gaia Klen, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, www.gaia-klen.com, with operating offices in High Point, North Carolina, recently entered into an historic agreement with Mavu Bio, a Capetown, South Africa company, that has revolutionized the bioremediation industry with environmentally-friendly products that supercharge nature's power to clean the earth's precious resources. These products were formerly marketed under the brand Ergofito. Dr. Adnan M. Mjalli, the Executive Chairman of Gaia Klen and a celebrated scientist with multiple successes building companies in the pharmaceutical space, applied his knowledge and experience to examine the science behind the Ergofito bioremediation product line and found the applications for this technology to be endless. "This exciting break-through partners specific microorganisms having complementary appetites for contamination into a proprietary cocktail that boosts their natural cleaning capabilities," stated Dr. Mjalli. "I immediately recognized the value and opportunities for further development of the technology. We wil be the exclusive worldwide provider of this proprietary and novel 100% natural earth-driven microorganic-base technology inspired by the vermi-compost found in soil for transforming the breakdown of waste into natural fertilizer (humus) which creates a healthier earth and more productive soil. Gaia Klen will use natural elements to return severely damaged land and water to productive, healthy, and valuable ecosystems. We solve large-scale complex industrial and environmental problems with our proprietary natural product including oil products desulfurization, soil restoration for increased agriculture yield and resilience, purification of salt and fresh water for aquaculture, and offer a natural fire suppression system for jet fuel and intense heat fires." Dr. Mjalli added that the product is certified by the European Union, South Africa, and the United States. Mr. John R. Thompson, now a principal and Vice-President, Business Relationships for Gaia Klen, has been passionate about the products for several years through its development phases. "I am ecstatic about the acquisition and opportunities to bring this product line to the world stage. So far, these innovative products can be used for fast and cost-effective removal of oil deposits from water and soil and for cleaning sulfur from crude oil; cleaning chicken coops and piggeries of dangerous pathogens and smells to allow for healthier food supplies; disinfecting residential and commercial waste-water facilities to alleviate water scarcity; and safer, faster fire suppression," says Mr. Thompson. He adds that "with Dr. Mjalli at the helm, we will see research and development to expand on these applications." One of Mavu Bio's owners and lead scientists, Alvaro Tangocci, commented, "I am excited about the distribution channels expected to open for the products and for the sophisticated business and science acumen that will be applied to support Dr. Mjalli's company's ultimate goals to contribute to a cleaner, healthier planet for everyone and for all nations to better handle the crushing weight of environmental contamination. Our goal is to bring nature back to nature bio organically without any chemicals. We are excited and committed to a long partnership with the Mjalli Investment Group so we can all make a difference for better healthier life." View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005940/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Texas Supreme Court acted to let stand Gov. Greg Abbotts ban on certain releases at jails and prisons amid the coronavirus pandemic. The high court halted an injunction by a lower court, which had said in its ruling that the governor had violated the constitutional separation of powers. The Supreme Court found that criminal court judges who sued over the ban were not harmed by it; therefore, they did not have sufficient grounds to try to block it. The case will now proceed before a District Court judge. The lawsuit by civil rights groups and the entire misdemeanor bench in Harris County said it was unlawful for Abbott to ban judges from doing their jobs and exercising discretion to grant no-cost bail or parole for a large swath of defendants. Attorney General Ken Paxton, who appealed the injunction, applauded the findings, saying in a statement that the court rightfully ruled in favor of protecting the health and safety of Texans from the unlawful release of potentially thousands of dangerous individuals into our communities. Andre Segura, attorney for the Texas ACLU, said it was eminently clear that Abbott overstepped his authority with a ban that trampled on precedents in state law and the Constitution. Importantly, the court found that neither the governor nor the attorney general has any teeth by which to enforce this executive order and that prosecuting judges for following the Constitution would raise serious problems, Segura said. A judge in Travis County earlier issued an injunction halting the governors sweeping March 29 executive order, which prohibited the release of many inmates. State District Judge Lora Livingston said keeping Abbotts order in place would cause irreparable harm. The injunction stemmed from a civil rights complaint brought by Harris Countys 16 misdemeanor judges, the ACLU of Texas and other civil rights groups that said Abbott surpassed his authority and improperly removed judges discretionary powers protected under state law. Executive Order No. GA-13 suspends parts of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure regulating the use of personal bonds. It prohibits such bonds for anyone with a prior violent conviction or a conviction involving the threat of violence and halts the release of prison inmates with prior violent convictions on electronic monitoring. Regarding prison inmates, Abbott suspended portions of the state criminal code related to commuting sentences for anyone convicted of violence or threats. gabrielle.banks@chron.com Christian leaders demand access to COVID-19 relief loans for business owners with criminal record Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Evangelical and Catholic leaders are calling on federal lawmakers to make legislative changes to allow coronavirus relief loans to be given to business owners who have criminal records as Congress works to pass a second relief bill this week. On Monday, the leaders of nine evangelical and Catholic organizations signed on to a letter sent to Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. The letter called on him and other lawmakers working to pass a second relief package to correct a Small Business Administration interim rule that disqualifies people with certain criminal records from accessing the emergency, low-interest, and in some cases forgivable loans made available by the CARES Act. Each year, more than 600,000 state and federal prisoners are released and face significant barriers to successful reentry including occupational licensing and meaningful employment, the letter states. Small businesses provide a vital opportunity for those with a criminal record to contribute to society, to earn an honest profit, and to give back to others. Under the interim SBA rule, business owners with certain criminal records or those who are subject to judicial proceedings are denied access to the $350 billion Paycheck Protection Program created to help businesses and organizations pay their employees and other costs as states shut down the economy. As businesses across the country have been forced to shutter or lay off employees in response to state lockdowns to combat the coronavirus pandemic, faith leaders have warned that denying loans to business owners because of their criminal history not only hurts them but also hurts their employees. CBS News reports that some business owners with criminal records have already been denied PPP loans. Lawmakers are working on another relief package that would reportedly add over $310 billion more in additional PPP loans for businesses. The measure has already passed in the Senate and the House of Representatives is also expected to pass the legislation. It's unclear whether the new bill will fix the interim rule. Among leaders who signed the letter are: Russell Moore, head of the Southern Baptist Conventions Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; National Association of Evangelicals President Walter Kim; Anthony Granado of Catholic Charities USA; Gabriel Salguero of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition; and Heather Rice-Minus, the director of government affairs for Prison Fellowship, the nations largest evangelical prison ministry. Other organizations represented in the letter include the Catholic Mobilizing Network, Catholic Prison Ministries, the Center for Public Justice, and the Jesuit Conference of the United States. Specifically, the interim final rule states that businesses can be excluded from the program if 20% or more of the equity of the applicant is incarcerated, on probation, on parole, subject to an indictment or arraignment or other means by which formal criminal charges are brought in any jurisdiction. Additionally, the rule excludes companies with owners who have been convicted of a felony within the last five years. The faith leaders argue that the SBAs policies go against the intent of the [CARES Act] legislation and go against the bipartisan desire shared by the Trump administration to support second chances for former prisoners who have paid their debts to society. The faith leaders warned that it would be counterproductive to exclude people with criminal records. They also criticized the rule for excluding individuals who have never been duly convicted of a crime. The faith groups are calling for the PPP exclusion to be replaced with narrowly tailored guidelines that exclude only those with recent fraud convictions. The faith leaders contend that the rule would judiciously use federal dollars without prohibiting access to funds by valuable small businesses. An estimated one in three Americans has a criminal record, the letter reads. Because so many employment barriers exist for people with a criminal record, many start their own business to support themselves and their families. The exclusions listed in the aforementioned rule are far too broad and endanger the economic welfare of people with a criminal record and the Americans they employ. Prison Fellowships Rice-Minus joined leaders of eight other justice organizations in sending a separate letter to congressional leaders and heads of the U.S. Treasury and Small Business Administration to voice their concerns with the interim rule. Such a policy, they say, fails to recognize successful rehabilitation. The organizations argue that such a restriction was not included in the statute authorizing the PPP and it need not be part of the Interim Final Rule. The letter was sent by a coalition of organizations headed by Americans for Prosperity and Right on Crime, an organization that supports conservative solutions for reducing crime, restoring victims, reforming offenders, and lowering taxpayer costs. Several conservative leaders signed onto the letter, including Tim Head from the evangelical conservative grassroots organization Faith & Freedom Coalition, Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform, and David Safavian of the American Conservative Union. The leaders are calling on the Trump administration to tailor the final interim rule to reflect common-sense. They contend that unless the criminal record at issue is related to the fraud of federal programs or past SBA violations, past criminal charges should not be relevant to qualifying for assistance under the PPP. Abandonment of these small businesses and their employees in a time of national economic crisis is not an acceptable outcome for our entrepreneurs, their workers, or the economy as a whole, the letter asserts. Justice-involved people who have overcome the odds and successfully started businesses should be recognized as successes, the letter adds. But at a minimum, they should not continue to be penalized for having a criminal history, particularly when that history bears no relation to their business operations. In short, they should not be excluded from the PPP. S Sudan Parliament Operating Illegally But Presidency Is Silent "...their disregard for the law, regulations and the agreed principle is astoundingly worrisome. What I dont really know is if their disregard for institutionalism and constitutionalism is out of ignorance or sheer stubbornness." By Kuir e Garang* In a letter dated April 16, 2020, Timothy Tot Chol, the first deputy speaker of the now expired South Sudanese legislative assembly, summoned South Sudan's minister of defense, Angelina Nyajany Teny. In that letter, Mr. Timothy argued that The Transitional National Legislature Task Force in its meeting 1/2020, dated 7 April 2020 discussed impact and challenges in implementing the preventive measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 in the country. In response, however, Madam Angelina argued that she couldnt appear before the legislature until a reconstituted Transitional National Legislative Assembly is formed. However, she added I recognize your concern regarding the impact of COVID-19 pandemic. Given the uncertain realities engendered by the COVID-19 pandemic, a provision could have been offered to allow parliament to continue operating if the selection of new MPs under the revitalized agreement will be taking too long to materialize. However, there is no such a provision so any words coming out of the South Sudanese legislative assembly is overruled by the agreement. Failing to strategize and anticipate future problems of governance will continue to cripple Africa and South Sudan especially. Without such a foresight, problems will continue to mount as they always do. Essentially, one of the main problems with South Sudanese politicians is their inability to follow state laws, agreements, and protocols. As people who are supposed to guide how issues are operationalized within the country, their disregard for the law, regulations and the agreed principle is astoundingly worrisome. What I dont really know is if their disregard for institutionalism and constitutionalism is out of ignorance or sheer stubbornness. While Minister Angelina could have complied given the circumstances the world is in, she acted within the mandate given by the agreement, so she has a strong ground on which she can reject parliamentary summons. Mr. Timothy, however, has no such a ground even if he could have relied, with an understandable regulatory framework, on the new realities created by COVID-19. Since the 2018 agreement spells out in section 1.14 the manner in which the Transitional Legislative Assembly is to be reconstituted, Mr. Timothy is acting outside the acceptable agreement provision. Section 1.164.6 states that The duration and terms of the reconstituted TNL shall run concurrently with the RTGoNU, as per the terms of this Agreement, until elections are held. Mr. Timothy is therefore acting with a parliament that has not been reconstituted according to the provisions of the agreement. However, the problem is not just this incident. South Sudanese state officials have a knack for acting outside their institutional mandate. They feel more powerful than their institutional and constitutional provisions allow them to. It is either Mr. Timothy did not read the agreement provision, or he doesnt care what the agreement says. In South Sudan, sadly, as long as you are not defying the president and his men, not much thought is given to how state officials bully other officials. What is even more ominous is that this attitude will continue throughout the interim period. Ministers and MPs feel more powerful and act outside accepted regulatory and legal provisions without any consequences. Even when Minister Angelina wrote a letter explaining why she couldnt appear before an assembly whose mandate has expired, the reconstituted cabinet and the president didnt respond. The government and the president should tell the TNL leader that their mandate has expired and inform them about when the new legislative assembly would be reconstituted. Sadly, there is a deafening silence even when the presidency knows the parliament is acting outside the agreement provisions. Kuir e Garang is the editor of The Philosophical Refugee. Follow him on twitter @kuirthiy Regulatory News: Faced with the current health and economic crisis, Cegereal (Paris:CGR) first wishes to express its solidarity with all those who have been affected, either directly or indirectly, by the Covid-19 epidemic. Since early March, the Company has adopted a number of measures to ensure the health and safety of its teams, partners and clients and, at the same time, maintain its operations. A robust business model to weather the crisis Cegereal remains attentive to its tenants' needs and is carefully examining how the crisis is affecting their respective businesses. This close and collaborative dialogue will enable us to better manage this challenging period by offering solutions tailored to their ways of working. As an office focused REIT with a strong international tenant base, Cegereal was able to collect approximately 90% of rents and service charges in the second quarter of 2020. Moderation of the dividend payout Even if the operational performance of the second quarter of this year is good and the financial position of the company strong enough to face the current health crisis, it is still too early to accurately measure the impact that this crisis will have on the Company's annual financial results. In order to maintain its operational and financial agility in this uncertain time, the Board of Directors will ask shareholders at the upcoming General Shareholders' Meeting to approve an adjusted dividend of 0.75 per share, compared with the 2.30 initially proposed. The proposed dividend is sufficient to meet the Group's distribution obligations for the 2019 financial year as per the SIIC regime. General Shareholders' Meeting confirmed Cegereal has decided to hold its June 16, 2020 General Shareholders' Meeting at the Company's registered office (42 rue de Bassano, 75008 Paris, France) for now. The General Shareholders' Meeting may be convened remotely and shareholders will be notified by Cegereal of any change. Cegereal recommends, however, that shareholders participate in the Meeting by voting remotely or by appointing the Chairman of the General Shareholders' Meeting as proxy. For further information, shareholders are invited to regularly visit the "Regulated information" section of the Company's website. Investor Calendar May 15, 2020 First-quarter 2020 revenue June 16, 2020 General Shareholders' Meeting June 23, 2020 Dividend payment July 29, 2020 First-half 2020 results About Cegereal Created in 2006, Cegereal is a listed property company that invests in prime office properties in Greater Paris. The total value of the portfolio is estimated at 1,464 million at December 31, 2019 (excluding transfer duties). Thanks to its strong commitment to environmental, social and governance issues, Cegereal achieved first place among listed companies in Europe in the 2019 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) ranking. Its entire portfolio has achieved NF HQETM Exploitation and BREEAM In-Use International certification. Cegereal is a REIT listed on Euronext Paris since 2006, in compartment B (ISIN: FR0010309096). The Company had a market capitalization of 601million at April 22, 2020. www.cegereal.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200422006032/en/ Contacts: Media Relations Alienor Miens Alexandre Dechaux +33 7 62 72 71 15 cegereal@citigatedewerogerson.com Investor Relations Charlotte de Laroche +33 1 42 25 76 38 info@cegereal.com One of the victims in Nova Scotias weekend massacre had been living in a home that was once at the centre of a court battle involving the man who would kill her. Its a small detail one of several to emerge in the picture that is slowly forming of the man responsible for Canadas deadliest mass shooting. Gabriel Wortman, it seems, had a history of contentious property disputes. At the time of the shooting last weekend, he owned six properties in Nova Scotia: three on Portland Street in Dartmouth, including his denture clinic there, and three in Portapique, N.S. He was also involved, for a time, with a fourth property in Portapique; one that triggered an acrimonious dispute with his uncle a property that was ultimately bought by Lisa McCully, who is now among 22 people killed in a rampage that has stunned the country. In November 2010, Wortmans uncle, Glynn Wortman, purchased 135 Orchard Beach Dr. in Portapique. It was right across the road from 136 Orchard Beach Drive, a property his nephew bought a month later. According to a court affidavit filed by Glynn Wortman, he needed help with financing. That money was provided by his nephew, and both their names went on the title. According to Glynn Wortman, his nephews name went on the title as a security interest, meaning Gabriel Wortman had recourse in the form of the property if his uncle defaulted on the loan, as opposed to an outright partial ownership of the property. Seven months later, Glynn Wortman transferred $150,000 to his nephews account as repayment for the financing. But to his chagrin, Gabriel Wortman refused to remove his name from the title. For the next three years, as his uncle tried to convince him to remove his name, Gabriel Wortman found one reason after another not to. According to Glynn Wortmans affidavit, the house was eventually sold in September 2014, and the proceeds were held in trust pending the outcome of the title battle. Eventually, Glynn Wortman took the case to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, which ruled in July 2015 that Glynn Wortman was entitled to the full proceeds from the sale of the home. Lisa McCully eventually bought the property at 135 Orchard Beach Drive from Glynn Wortman. On Sunday, she was among the first victims of the mass shooting that began in Portapique on Saturday. The Beach Driver property was not the first that had placed the shooter at odds with others. In 2004, Steve Zincks property dispute with Gabriel Wortman resulted in him losing the Mineville, N.S., home his dad built. Ive been trying to forget about it for 15 years. That was my home and my entire life, the repairman told the Star on Wednesday. Zinck said that in 2004, he was unable to renew the mortgage payment on the Mineville home. He claims Wortman, whom hed met through a friend just six months earlier, tricked him into signing over ownership of his home. He seemed nice, but he knew exactly what he was doing, Zinck said. He took everything. Zinck said that because Wortman seemed like a successful, smart man, he sought advice about his mortgage situation. The denturist then made what Zinck believed was a good faith offer to front him $38,000. Zinck said Wortman told him that money would help get the bank to approve the renewal of his mortgage. They agreed later that Zinck would pay back the debt by paying $650 every month until he reached the total amount, plus interest, which totalled $50,000. But events quickly spiralled from there. Zinck said he only learned that Wortman had taken full ownership of his home when Wortman sent him an eviction notice. He somehow changed the paperwork to make him the sole owner of my property, Zinck said. In a May 26, 2004 ruling by Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, it was decided that Wortman, whose name was on the deed, was Zincks landlord, that Zincks $650 per month was rent, and that since Zinck was refusing to give Wortman access to the property, Wortman could evict him. Zinck said hed hoped to fight for his home, but couldnt afford the $25,000 retainer for a lawyer. A month later, Zinck was still in the house and Wortman got a sheriff to evict him. Zinck said Wortman brought in 18-wheelers and moving trucks to haul away all his belongings, including clothing and furniture, then auctioned them off in town. I had absolutely nothing left. I lost my home. I had no money, Zinck said. He conned me right in, took advantage of me big time. He said he pleaded with Wortman to at least give him the proceeds from the auction of his properties, but Wortman refused, citing the cost of the moving trucks. He acted like a friend. It took a lot of years for that go away, Zinck said. Hes smart, he knew exactly what he was doing. You dont lose money on land. With files from Ted Fraser SM Steve McKinley is a Halifax-based reporter for the Star. Reach him via email: stevemckinley@thestar.ca or follow him on Twitter: @smckinley1 Read more about: If you're following news accounts of states and hospitals trying to secure needed mask and gowns amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it would appear that the market for acquiring personal protective equipment is the second coming of drug trafficking. State governments trying to acquire personal protective gear and tests are facing shortages, markups, a confusing supply chain and a patchwork of federal rules, according to experts, lawmakers and some former federal officials. In some case, conflicting mandates and foot-dragging by the Trump administration are further complicating the situation. That emerging federal mixture of COVID response capabilities --including increasing leverage of the Defense Production Act, bolstering the federal stockpile and pursuing law enforcement and customs concerns about price gouging -- is driving cloak-and-dagger deals by state governments and medical institutions. In a New England Journal of Medicine report, Baystate Medical Center chief physician executive Dr. Andrew Artenstein said his hospital faced questioning from the FBI about whether a huge shipment of PPE from China it negotiated was bound for the black market. Artenstein said he was also concerned the Department of Homeland Security might divert the shipment to others destinations in the U.S. He said the gear was sent to his Massachusetts hospital in semi-trucks disguised as food service vehicles to avoid interference. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan said at an April 20 news conference that he navigated a web of federal red tape to get 500,00 COVID test kits into the U.S. from South Korea. Hogan said he and his Korean-born wife had personally negotiated with South Korean test kit suppliers for the shipment. Yet after spending almost a month vetting and setting protocols with state agencies and doctors, he said, at the last minute the shipment faced "clearances across multiple U.S. agencies, including the FDA, the USDA, and Customs and Border Patrol" to complete. The Chicago Sun Times reported on April 15 that Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzger planned to acquire millions of masks and gloves from China and bring those supplies back to the state on chartered jets. Pritzger said he is keeping details of the deal secret for fear that the cargo might be seized by the Trump administration for the federal stockpile. Former Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske told FCW via email that he's been helping local governments and hospitals navigate the importation process for PPE goods. Kerlikowske said he had helped Tufts Medical Center and the Miami Police Department with separate orders for medical masks from China. The shipments were stopped and held by CBP at the port of entry because an FDA order determined the masks did not meet certain standards. Both orders were ultimately released, said Kerlikowske. The FDA ultimately adjusted those importation protocols for the masks and other PPE in mid-April. Some lawmakers and federal officials said the extraordinary efforts by state governments were illustrative of the Trump administration's tardiness in deploying the Defense Production Act to speed manufacture of needed items -- and also in naming a central federal point of acquisition and distribution for the gear. "Early on the president said 'we're not shipping clerks,'" Jeh Johnson, former secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, said April 21. "That is the federal government's central roleto insure states get adequate supplies of PPE, ventilators and masks. That's its number one priority." "If someone is depending on their wife to get test kits, it shows the federal response is a patchwork," said Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee. "We should be doing better. With a national disaster, we should be in a position to allocate through the Defense Production Act" and through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, he said. "FEMA's principle role" during a national crisis, "is to provide resources," Johnson agreed. Some federal procurement executives speaking to FCW on background conceded that the White House's relatively late response to the pandemic is pushing states to such extremes. However, they said supply and demand was bound to enter the picture too, especially as needs escalated. "Earlier coordination may have mitigated some of this," said one official. "FEMA and the Defense Logistics Agency are the central sources" for PPE gear from the federal government. DLA has been sharing PPE inside and outside the military, according to Ellen Lord, the Defense Department's top acquisition official. At an April 20 briefing, Lord said DLA has moved 1.8 million N95 masks along with surgical masks, gloves, gowns and 8,000 ventilators across the military services and to other federal agencies. As a whole, Lord said, the DOD has provided 10 million N95 masks to HHS and FEMA, with 10 million more on the way from DOD stockpiles. Those agencies are moving on two fronts to procure PPE federally, which can conflict with individual efforts by states to satisfy their immediate needs, they said. The first federal front is to build the national stockpile for PPE. FEMA decides how to dole out those supplies to states based on demand. The second is for new PPE, which can involve the use of the Defense Production Act (DPA). Although it took some time, Trump has used the DPA to compel federal contractors to produce PPE and other gear, such as ventilators. One procurement expert noted that the DPA can't force companies to make things. Companies must accept federal work before the act can be invoked, they said. Those companies can then get prioritized federal procurement orders that can jump ahead of commercial contracts. Lord noted at her briefing that a $133 million effort under the Defense Production Act is underway to increase U.S. production of N95 masks. Two drugs being studied by Bay Area doctors for use in fighting coronavirus infections may keep more COVID-19 patients alive and out of the hospital if proved effective. One of the drugs, colchicine, is a cheap and common anti-inflammatory treatment for gout. UCSF is using it in a clinical trial of COVID-19 patients that is occurring entirely remotely. Patients receive colchicine or placebo pills in the mail and do not need to be seen in person. The other drug, leronlimab, is a newer experimental treatment that was originally developed for use on HIV patients before being tested more recently on some people with breast cancer. Leronlimab is a monoclonal antibody made by the Vancouver, Wash., company CytoDyn, whose chief science officer is based in San Francisco. Doctors have already seen success in using the drug on some coronavirus patients. It is administered through shots similar to how patients get insulin. Researchers are conducting clinical trials to further test how leronlimab affects people with COVID-19. Both drugs seek to reduce deaths and hospital stays associated with the pandemic by preventing or alleviating the cytokine storm, a medical term describing how a persons immune system goes into overdrive and begins attacking the bodys healthy cells. Cytokine storms are believed to play a major role in deaths from COVID-19. Its too early to say if either drug will make a decisive dent in the severity of the pandemic, but local doctors involved with studying them are hopeful. In the case of colchicine, the drugs low cost and widespread availability would make it an attractive treatment option if it is shown to work well on coronavirus patients. Dr. Priscilla Hsue, a UCSF cardiologist and professor of medicine who is overseeing the California portion of the trial, said colchicine could be readily used in countries with limited access to very sophisticated health care systems. The drug has no major safety issues and it could help doctors everywhere intervene early, she said. By the time a patient with COVID-19 makes it into the hospital, theyre already quite sick, Hsue said. Anything thats going to prevent patients from getting sicker and needing to go the hospital is going to have a huge, tremendous impact. The colchicine trial is primarily being led by the Montreal Heart Institute in Canada, but UCSF and the New York University School of Medicine are serving as the first two U.S. sites. Researchers are hoping to enroll 6,000 people to see how the drug affects deaths and hospital stays over the 30 days they take the pills. A major benefit to colchicine is that it would not be hard to manufacture on a large scale. Unlike more complex drugs that are very, very specific to one inflammatory mechanism, colchicine is easy to make, said Dr. David Waters, another UCSF cardiologist involved in the colchicine trial. But Waters cautioned against setting expectations too high. Theres no magic bullet thats going to come along, I would bet, that you just give it to everybody and three days later, theyve gone back to work, he said. Leronlimab has already shown promise in treating some people suffering from COVID-19. The drug was authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as an emergency investigational new drug, meaning doctors can seek approval to use it on a case-by-case basis. CytoDyn, the drugmaker, has sought to have the drug approved for compassionate use, which would allow it to be prescribed more widely for patients in intensive care units. Results from the first 36 coronavirus patients who took leronlimab have been broadly promising, said Dr. Jay Lalezari, a San Francisco physician who is CytoDyns chief science officer. About 30 more patients have been enrolled in clinical trials that Lalezari hopes will eventually grow to nearly 400 people. Lalezari said he believes that leronlimab can effectively treat COVID-19. I dont know if this is a double, a triple or a home run, he told reporters in an interview on Tuesday. Based on his research, he said the drug restores immune balance and lowers the cytokine storm. One of the patients who has already been treated with the drug is Samantha Mottet, a 55-year-old resident of Seal Beach (Orange County). She fell ill, primarily with exhaustion, shortly after her husband returned from a trip to the East Coast last month. She was eventually admitted to the hospital at UCLA, where she received an organ transplant 14 years ago, after testing positive for the coronavirus. 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. Her condition worsened in the hospital and she was placed on a ventilator. The first round of drugs Mottet was given did not improve her COVID-19 symptoms. Then, with her husbands approval, her doctor administered leronlimab. Mottet told The Chronicle that the drug was her last hope and it worked. Within 24 hours, she needed less oxygen, and she was taken off the ventilator a few days later. She said she has experienced no side effects. All I know is Im just thankful to be here today, Mottet said. This drug worked for me and I hope it works for other people. Dr. Warner Greene, a senior investigator with the Gladstone Institutes who has been studying the coronavirus, said leronlimab appears to be more surgical in its effect. Colchicine, though well known and widely used, seems like a blunt instrument for the job at hand, he said. Greene said leronlimab is a more targeted kind of drug that would be interfering with a fundamental part of the process that is causing the trouble. Colchicine may be doing that, but its having its effect all over the body, he said. That said, if it blocked the cytokine storm ... that would be wonderful. Doctors studying leronlimab think it could be broadly effective. While CytoDyn would like to use the drug on ICU patients, its greatest benefit will likely be on patients in earlier stages of COVID-19 hospitalized people with symptoms more severe than mild shortness of breath, said Lalezari of CytoDyn. Dr. Bruce Patterson, CEO of the San Carlos single-cell diagnostic company IncellDx that has been working on leronlimab, said the drug is exciting because it appears to impact some of the most essential elements of the viral disease, not just a piece of what COVID is all about. This is the ideal drug to meet everybodys needs about reopening the country, Patterson said. If we had something that we could say we can treat the severe (patients) and we can keep the mild-to-moderates from getting severe, then it becomes the flu. Then were not so scared of people getting infected. J.D. Morris is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris Finance Minister Conor Murphy during the daily media broadcast in the Long Gallery at Parliament Buildings, Stormont on Thursday. Photo by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye. Finance Minister Conor Murphy has said comments made by the Bishop of Derry, Dr Donal McKeown, regarding the reopening of Northern Irelands cemeteries were regrettable. Bishop McKeown told BBC Radio Foyle on Thursday that politicians were struggling to get things right and wished to see the logic behind the decision to close cemeteries. Speaking during Thursday afternoons daily Covid-19 conference at Stormont Castle, Sinn Feins Mr Murphy stated that the Bishop had characterised the differing views between the parties on cemeteries as political infighting. He added that if Bishop McKeown reconsidered his choice of words he might come up with something different. The Executive discusses these things on a very regular basis, Mr Murphy said. What were grappling with here in terms of these decisions are issues of life and death, probably issues that no Executive since the Good Friday Agreement has dealt with. These are very challenging issues and they challenge us all individually and they challenge us collectively as an Executive. We debate these out with the overarching principle to try and do the best we can to save lives. That is our guiding principle in this. Expand Close Bishop Donal McKeown / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Bishop Donal McKeown The Newry and Armagh MLA added that the Executive is hugely sympathetic to those who want to visit their loved ones graves. The key message has been stay at home to save lives, only make necessary journeys and if you do so practice social distancing, and we are told and the evidence shows that that key message and approach has worked, continued Mr Murphy. We have always built into the regulations that we have room for review and we continue to review that. We also take into account the pressures that undoubtedly that puts individuals in society under and, of course, I have no doubt we will discuss that tomorrow. These are very serious issues and they shouldn't be done an injustice by trying to characterise them as squabbling within the Executive or political infighting. These are some of the most important decisions any Minister, certainly in the last 20 or 25 years, has partaken in this institution. The federal governments stimulus checks were meant to help people exactly like Krystle Phelps of Owasso, Oklahoma. She and her husband, Christopher, who have two children, recently lost their incomes after Oklahoma shut down the bars near Tulsa that she cleaned and that he supplied with vending machines. But when Phelps, 33, went to the IRS website to check on the status of her familys stimulus funds, she learned someone else had filed taxes on her husbands behalf and used his identity to obtain their $3,400 payment. I cried all day, said Phelps, who is about a month away from being unable to pay her mortgage and has cut out everything but the basics, canceling cable and eliminating snacks for the kids. It is a little relief, and then you find out it isnt happening. With the government doling out trillions of dollars to blunt the economic pain of the coronavirus pandemic, these are good times for thieves and dangerous times for those who actually need the money. Ive been in this space for over 30 years, and I have not seen anything like this in my entire career, said Eva Velasquez, chief executive of the Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit based in San Diego that helps victims. The scope, the scale, the speed and the efficiency of the scams is breathtaking. In recent weeks, criminals have used peoples Social Security numbers, home addresses and other personal information much of which was available online from past data breaches to assume their identities and bilk them out of their stimulus checks and unemployment benefits. As a result, calls to Velasquezs organization were 850% higher in March than a year earlier, she said, and are still soaring. The scale of the fraud has been enormous, fueled by the economic crisis and the confusion surrounding the $2 trillion stabilization plan that President Donald Trump unveiled last month. That has been compounded by the governments own lack of security measures for people claiming stimulus payments, with those going through the IRS website to get their checks needing to input just a few pieces of information that scammers can readily obtain. The Federal Trade Commission recently reported that it had gotten four times as many complaints about identity fraud in the first few weeks of April as it had received in the previous three months combined. And law enforcement agencies have issued warnings about the daunting array of ways that criminals are exploiting the coronavirus. Even before the outbreak, losses from identity theft were enormous. Criminals made around $16.9 billion from identity fraud last year, the highest total in the last half decade, according to data firm Javelin. Many peoples personal information is readily accessible to hackers, amassed from dozens of data breaches over the past few years. Last month, Experian, the credit reporting agency, found a fresh batch of stolen data for 3 million people, containing all the pieces of personal information that a scammer would need to file for their stimulus checks. The coronavirus has made it even easier for fraudsters to get more information. Many are bombarding Americans with emails and phone calls that use the uncertainty around the virus to distribute malware and get people to divulge their bank information and other data, which can then be used to defraud the same people. Google said it intercepted 18 million such emails last week. Now criminals are deploying those troves of information to get their hands on the checks that the federal government is sending to needy Americans. Over the last month, more than 22 million people have filed for unemployment benefits. Stimulus funds are separately expected to go out to around 150 million people. While the Treasury Department electronically deposited the money for around 80 million people who have bank accounts on file with the government, the IRS created an online portal for the 70 million or so other recipients who did not have that information on file. The portal allows people to enter a new bank account address for the government to send them their money. But it requires only a few pieces of data for verification: a Social Security number, an address, a phone number and a date of birth. Security experts said that the IRS had opened up the door to fraud by requiring so little data to claim the money. The stimulus site is a little bit like ringing the dinner bell for hackers, said Brian Stack, vice president for dark web intelligence at Experian. The IRS did not respond to request for comment. On forums on the darknet, where criminals gather to buy and sell identity information and discuss tactics, fraudsters have openly discussed the opportunities presented by the stimulus funds and unemployment benefits. Just a little warning that when that $1,200 drops in your account keep your eyes peeled because I am coming for that! lol, said one message on a thread this month about the stimulus checks that was found by security firm Sixgill. Over the last month, 4,305 malicious website domains were set up to take advantage of people looking for new forms of government support, according to security firm Check Point. The fake sites, with names like whereismystimulus and 2020reliefprogram, generally ask people to input their personal data with the promise that they can get information about their checks. But hackers then use the data against those who fall for the trick. This is El Dorado for hackers and pure hell for the victims, said Adam Levin, founder of CyberScout, a firm that helps companies protect against and manage identity theft. Unlike many previous victims of identity theft who were often hit at random, those getting targeted now are in particular need of the money. Colin Chaplain, 21, in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, found out he had lost his unemployment benefits to a scammer the day after he was put on indefinite leave from his construction job this month. He made the discovery when he logged into the state website to create a new profile and claim unemployment. To his surprise, when he entered his Social Security number, the site responded Welcome back. It also showed the last two letters of the street name of the person who had already claimed his check, he said. Chaplain has since waited more than 10 days for a police report, which he needs to start the process of correcting things with the unemployment office. He said he has had trouble getting through. I just let it ring, and two hours go by and nothing, said Chaplain, adding that he only has enough savings to get him through the next few weeks. I dont know what else to do. Cortlyn Taylor, 19, who lives in Fishers, Indiana, has also been trying to get help after she was laid off from her job at Walmart last month. When she applied for unemployment benefits, she learned an identity thief had beaten her to it. On the IRS site, she found that the same person had grabbed her $1,200 stimulus check, which she needed to pay her mounting bills. For the past few weeks, Taylor has been trying to get a response from the IRS. After not hearing back, she spent 10 hours one day driving to all three IRS offices in Indiana, where she still could not find anyone to help. Taylor lives with her mother, 56, who doesnt work and who has been recovering from the coronavirus. On Tuesday, Taylor said they were down to $4 in her checking account. She said local police told her they were hearing from lots of other people in the same situation. But with all of the backlogs and closed offices, she was told, the glacial speed at which identity theft cases are normally resolved was likely to be even slower. I kind of have to pause everything, she said. I cant get a car in my name like I planned. Im not going to be able to do a lot of things that I planned to do. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Delhi to ease restrictions, if Covid cases come down in next 2-3 days: Health Minister Lata Mangeshkar health update: Doctor says,'She in ICU with Covid-19 and pneumonia, will be under observation' No country should have any concern over India's new FDI policy: Govt India pti-PTI New Delhi, Apr 23: No country should have any concern over India's new policy for foreign direct investment from countries sharing border with it, government sources said on Thursday, in a clear message to China which called the fresh norms "discriminatory" and "barriers" for free trade. Tightening its FDI norms, India last week made prior clearance mandatory for foreign investments from countries that share land border with India, in a move aimed at curbing "opportunistic takeovers" of Indian companies by Chinese firms following fall in their valuation due to economic downturn triggered by the coronavirus crisis. China criticised India for the new policy, calling it discriminatory. The neighbouring country even demanded review of the new policy. Government sources said there shouldn't be concern over procedural changes made in the FDI policy, asserting that it doesn't prohibit investment from any country with which India shares its border. Changes in FDI policy notified by Finance Ministry They said many other countries have taken similar steps to protect their economies in view of the coronavirus pandemic. Asked about questions over effectiveness of coronavirus testing kits procured from China, the sources said the Indian Council of Medical Research is looking into the issue. On whether India was looking for an investigation into the origin of coronavirus amid allegations of China's culpability over it, a source said: "India is focusing on battling the pandemic at this point. We can always revisit this question once this pandemic is behind us." On the issue of FDI policy, the sources said India's decision is unlikely to impact trade with any of the countries with whom India shares borders. China has called the new norms violate WTO's principle of non-discrimination and are against the general trend of free trade. The impact of the policy was clear on Chinese investors, a Chinese embassy spokesperson said earlier this week. Chinese embassy spokesperson Ji Rong said China hoped that India would revise the "relevant discriminatory practices" and treat investments from different countries equally while fostering an "open, fair and equitable" business environment The spokesperson said China's cumulative investment in India has exceeded USD 8 billion, noting it is far more than the total investments by countries sharing border with India. According to official data, around 1,000 Chinese companies are operating in India at present. While nearly 210 countries and territories globally are grappling to contain the deadly coronavirus pandemic, Turkmenistan has reported no cases, insisting that its official data was true and that it has nothing to hide. While speaking at a news briefing, Turkmenistans Foreign Minister Rasit Meredow said that if the country had even a single case of COVID-19 infection, the authorities would have informed the World Health Organisation (WHO). Meredow further added that the country is not hiding anything. Meanwhile, the Healthcare Minister Nurmukhammed Amannepesov, at the same briefing, said that the country has 30,000 test kits at its disposal and has ordered 40,000 more from Russia, Turkey and Germany. Amannepesov also informed that approximately 151 people, who were mostly Turkmen citizens working as long-haul truck drivers and ship crew members, remained in quarantine zones. READ: Sick Of Working From Home? German Hotels Offer Office Rooms Turkmenistan reopens border crossing point While most countries around the world still remain under lockdown, Turkmenistan had reportedly reopened most of its border crossing points. According to an international media outlet, the country is now also preparing to reopen remaining borders including the Iranian border. READ: Swiss Court Dismisses Al-Khelaifi Bid To Recuse Prosecutors Ban on coronavirus Earlier this month, the country had also ordered to ban on the usage of the term coronavirus. As per reports, the officials had also arrested people who were caught using the term. In a report published by media watchdog Reporters Without Borders, the authorities in Turkmenistan had resorted to this move to blacken any information around the pandemic. Turkmenistan, the secretive country that ranked at the bottommost of the World Press Freedom Index in 2019 beating even North Korea to it, has reported zero cases of COVID-19 in the country and removed the word from public information sources. However, numerous cases have already been reported in neighbouring nations of Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and Iran. In March, the Turkmen President reportedly ordered the government to fumigate the country with a herb that is known to have psychedelic effects on ingestion. He claimed that the smoke would annihilate the virus that is "invisible to the naked eye", as per international media. (Image source: AP Representational) READ: COVID-19: Nepal Reports 3 Fresh Cases; 24-yr-old Indian One Of Them READ: Amid Pandemic, Charities And Nonprofits Face Huge Challenges Workers plant sunflowers on a farm in Oxnard on April 1. (Los Angeles Times) To the editor: Columnist George Skelton crows that Gov. Gavin Newsom is doing right by undocumented immigrants in including them in a coronavirus financial relief program. Really? By no rational standard is California behaving ethically or morally when it supports and perpetuates a thoroughly broken immigration system that allows a vast pool of underpaid workers to continue hiding in the shadows where entire industries take advantage of them. Instead of starting a program that allows 1.7 million workers and their 600,000 dependents to tread water through token payments, the governor should declare his measure for what it is at best a stopgap while at the same time showing some political guts by proposing a comprehensive immigration policy to the nation. Why not do something more consequential than stick another thumb in President Trump's eye? J. Timothy Meador, San Diego .. To the editor: We must ensure all Californians, including immigrants, are included in the state's Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC). One of the most vulnerable populations in California who are struggling to make ends meet during this time of uncertainty are immigrants without status. Because many undocumented immigrant workers file their taxes using an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number instead of a Social Security number, they are not only excluded from the federal stimulus package, but also from the CalEITC. Newsom has acknowledged that his public-private partnership to distribute emergency relief funds to undocumented immigrant families is not enough. The CalEITC could provide immediate relief to an additional 600,000 immigrant workers and their families. Now it is even more critical to support immigrant workers who are in dire need of financial assistance and healthcare. Everyone in our state, including immigrant workers without status, needs to be fully included in our investments to fight poverty and the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. Sasha Feldstein, Los Angeles The writer is economic justice policy manager at the California Immigrant Policy Center. NHLANGANO Some local liquor outlets are recording their biggest sales ever due to an influx of South Africans cashing-in on the alcohol ban in that country. Apparently, the ban on the sale of liquor in the neighbouring country has created a network of entrepreneurial elements, comprising South Africans who collude with locals to smuggle the alcohol into SA through informal crossings. The alcoholic drinks are then allegedly sold in the locations or townships and from local homesteads situated closer to the borderline at massively inflated prices. The restriction on the sale of alcohol in the Republic of South Africa was introduced alongside other precautionary measures meant to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, which has already claimed the lives of 58 people, and with over 3 000 registered cases in that country. While the ban on the sale of liquor has succeeded in transforming the behaviour or habits of some South Africans, reports from that country indicate that it has also created a few problems like burglaries targeting some of the closed liquor outlets, while at the same time creating a flourishing black market. Enterprising merchants are said to have massively stocked up on the eve of the ban, but the notoriously high rates of binge drinking, especially at the locations or townships, have resulted in the underground supplies drying up. This caused a potentially volatile situation for the Kingdom of Eswatini, where the dreaded virus might find a conduit through the porous borderlines or informal crossings where the alcohol is being smuggled. Culprits The alcohol is bought in bulk from selected local liquor shops. Information gathered was that the culprits usually hired vans from locals residing closer to the borderlines, who help them to travel to nearby towns where the alcohol is bought in large amounts. A security guard stationed at one of the liquor outlets around Big Bend, which is frequented by the border jumpers from South Africa, disclosed that the foreign nationals were buying a lot of cases of beer and many bottles of spirits per individual. Of late the place is frequented by many South Africans who are buying large amounts of alcohol. These people were buying from as many as 15 bottles of hard liquor. I understand that some were from Manyiseni, which is located on the foothills of the Lubombo Mountain, while others come from places in northern KwaZulu-Natal such as Ntuthukweni location, explained the witness. The massive purchasing of the liquor is said to have started a few days after the neighbouring country closed its taverns and bottle stores. This resulted in a situation where stocks ran out for some bottle stores as locals had also resorted to panic buying, after reports that alcohol sales could come to a halt locally as well. Following the tip-off about the illegal cross-border trade in alcohol, this publication interviewed a few residents from places located closer to the borderline such as Mshololo, who confirmed the underground activities. A young man from Zombodze Emuva (where Mshololo is located) said he was aware of places close to the borderline, where liquor was sold illegally. He said of late the place was frequented by imbibers from the neighbouring Ntuthukweni location, which is situated on the South African side of the border. Covid-19 is a plague affecting millions of people. In the UK, everyone knows or knows of someone who has died and our lives have dramatically changed for the foreseeable future. This dreadful crisis has brought out the best in the British - while Americans angrily demonstrate for their right to get infected because many value earning money over saving lives - in the UK an army of volunteers are helping the isolated and vulnerable. Businesses have stepped up to offer their expertise to produce protective clothing and urgently needed ventilators, while restaurants and pubs are offering free food to the needy. All over the UK, communities are coming together to fund raise for our NHS. NHS staff are unquestionably doing a fantastic job and many of them are displaying incredible bravery on the front line. But others could be doing so much more if only the bureaucrats would let them. The TikTok video of the NHS nurses dancing might be entertaining, but it wont be so amusing to anyone watching with advanced bowel or breast cancer, who medical experts have decided to temporarily forget in the rush to focus on stemming the awful death toll from coronavirus Our NHS is in crisis because consecutive governments burdened it with a cumbersome bureaucracy, while key services were underfunded along with front line staff. Politicians of all parties have backed away from introducing a targeted tax for health care - which most voters agree with. A hapless Health Minister and an army of scientists are currently shambling their way through a crisis, which thankfully appears to be slowing down. But the fallout from the pandemic will continue for years and result in thousands of unnecessary deaths, people who have never contracted coronavirus. Im talking about cancer patients. This week, a study published in the European Journal of Cancer, conducted by three distinguished Universities in London, Belfast and Split, Croatia, concludes that were facing a cancer epidemic, with more preventable deaths from cancer than from Covid-19. A study published in the European Journal of Cancer concludes that were facing more preventable deaths from cancer than from Covid-19. Pictured: Nic Murray, who has terminal bowel cancer and has had his treatment interrupted by coronavirus The reason is simple - in the rush to focus on stemming the awful death toll from coronavirus, the UKs medical experts decided to temporarily forget about cancer victims, thousands of people who had already started treatments like chemotherapy. The NHS big wigs decided to forget about the bowel, breast and cervical patients who were waiting for scans to see whether they had the disease and if so, how far it had progressed, people who had already waited months to be referred to specialists by their GPs. Cancer affects more people in the UK than coronavirus ever will. Half of us will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage in our lives, according to Cancer Research UK. Four hundred and fifty people die every day from the disease - 165,000 a year. If caught early, half of those diagnosed will live for more than ten years, and great work in diagnosis and treatment is seeing survival rates increase. Clever campaigning and extensive NHS testing means that Prostate and bowel cancers are no longer an embarrassing secret. Surely the under-used Nightingale hospitals could be turned into chemotherapy and screening facilities for cancer patients, and some minor surgery could take place in sterile zones? A thousand new cases of cancer are diagnosed every day - at least there were in the UK, before coronavirus diverted our attention and all the resources. Its all very well NHS Clinical Director Peter Johnson urging the public to contact our GPs if we feel ill or have worrying symptoms, but what then? Pop a couple of paracetamol and hope that a suspicious new lump shrinks of its own accord? Theres not a single day when I dont think about cancer and how it has affected the people I love. My sister died of lung and brain cancer, and one of my closest friends is currently battling a rare form of lung cancer, and has had several bouts of surgery. Just before lockdown, a biopsy confirmed I had a cancerous growth on my face. Surgery has been cancelled for the foreseeable future, and so I am worried, even though I was told my condition was not life threatening. I cannot imagine the horror for breast, bowel and lung cancer patients whose treatment has been mothballed. Even after lockdown ends, it could take 6 to 9 months for services to return to normal. Experts say a delay in bowel cancer scanning can be a death sentence. So why do we care more about covid-19 than a disease which could affect (and potentially kill) half of us? Cancer charities say donations have plummeted - all were thinking about is coronavirus and fund-raising for the wonderful NHS. According to leading expert Professor Karl Sikora (a former director of the World Health Organisations cancer programme), the NHSs decision to stop screening, delay surgery, and postpone chemotherapy will lead to far more deaths than coronavirus - over the coming years, as many as 50,000 victims could have had a good chance of life, if theyd been diagnosed and treated swiftly. According to Professor Sikora, cancer sufferers are collateral damage in the current war against the virus. Surely the under-used Nightingale hospitals could be turned into chemotherapy and screening facilities for cancer patients, and some minor surgery could take place in sterile zones? Its scandalous that these facilities remain empty white elephants at a time when cancer sufferers are worried sick about whether their lives are being put at risk. In a nutshell- for many cancer victims, death has inched a whole lot closer. As the NHS has also co-opted many private hospitals and facilities to cope with the virus, why - now the peak has passed - cant they be used to resume abandoned cancer treatments? The TikTok video of the NHS nurses dancing might be entertaining, but it wont be so amusing to anyone watching with advanced bowel or breast cancer. Cancer victims pay the same taxes as everyone else, so why have they been shunted to the back of the queue for medical services? If Boris Johnson and co need any help with their plans to come out of lockdown, why not start with the NHS itself? At the moment, our NHS is only serving one kind of customer. Police in Jerusalem are investigating a possible terror attack after a massive fire broke out at Jerusalem's City Hall on Wednesday afternoon. Given multiple building at the sprawling complex were shown in local media reports set ablaze, it appears the result of an arson attack. Unconfirmed Israeli media reports say a suspect was seen hurling molotov cocktails at the buildings before fleeing on foot. Fire in the Jerusalem City Hall, unknown if anyone is trapped inside. pic.twitter.com/akN8Wm3FAj Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) April 22, 2020 The Jerusalem Post reports that a 40-year-old man from East Jerusalem has been apprehended, even as firefighters at the scene continue battling the blaze. A second fire was started in another building in the Jerusalem City Hall complex. pic.twitter.com/xrlzAOLc5O Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) April 22, 2020 JPost reports the following: The Jerusalem City Hall spokesperson said that once the fire was detected emergency procedures were activated and police and firefighters were called to the scene. The cause of the fire is still unknown. Eight teams of firefighters are currently at work putting out the fire and searching for anyone who might be trapped in the building. Police arrested a 40-year-old man for allegedly starting the fire. The man is reportedly a resident of East Jerusalem. Staff from Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion's office were seen evacuating, as well as other city hall employees, though it's as yet unknown if anyone is trapped inside the burning complex. Any potential casualties or injuries are also unknown, but early reports suggest everyone escaped uninjured. "Multiple reports state that an eyewitness has told police that he witnessed someone throwing a molotov cocktail into the building," a separate local Israeli media report indicated. "A spokesperson for City Hall tells the media in a written statement that Police have arrested a suspect," the report said. By the evening hours (local time) the blaze was reportedly subdued, however, damage to the building appeared substantial and far-reaching. Firefighters have put out a fire in Jerusalem's City Hall. A man was arrested on suspicion of arson. (Photos by TPS) pic.twitter.com/k7I1FZDHD9 TPS - Israel's News Agency (@TPS_News_co_il) April 22, 2020 The attacker's motive is also as yet unclear. It may be related to the ongoing Arab Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which has led to continually tense situations in East Jerusalem. Fire department says no danger of building collapse Photos from inside the Jerusalem City Hall after the arson attack. pic.twitter.com/BJ15MASndy Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) April 22, 2020 Or the attack was possibly connected with Israel's draconian coronavirus lockdown - seen as among the most aggressive police-enforced 'stay at home' mandates in the world, itself recently driving local protests and even riots among both Arab residents of Jerusalem and ultra-Orthodox Jews. Ms Kate Szilagyi is the Education Manager as well as the Principal of Open Mind Schooling Budapest. This education centre provides after-school tutoring at its headquarter in Budapest, where students are said to "improve very fast" as the one-to-one teaching is "goal-oriented and very effective". The school also helps students to be more self-confident as they get individual care, the school atmosphere is family-centered, lively and warm. All the tutoring services are also available online from the students' homes. Kate says she, "Controls the adherence of the teaching methodology, overviews teachers' daily tasks with the students, manages the day to day operation and monitors the improvement of the students". Among their one-to-one tutoring services students can choose from the subject tutoring in the IB, IGCSE, A-level and AP systems. They also provide English language tutoring from Beginner to Advanced levels for students to catch up and reach the required levels of international schools. Looking to the future, she plans to expand their tutoring services into other parts of Europe. 1. Where did you grow up? I am pleased to be born and raised in Budapest, Hungary. 2. If you could be an expat anywhere in the world, where would you choose? I worked in the UK for 1 year then lived in Uzbekistan then in the USA for 2 years studying different teaching methodologies. After all this time, having experienced so many cultures, I can say that I would truly be happy anywhere my work would take me. After those years it is good to be back. 3. What would you miss most if you moved away from Hungary? The smiling of my team members, our culture, our language, and family. 4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do? Go around the city on a hop-on, hop-off bus, then taking a walk at the Normafa, indulging in the Gellert Spa, get to explore the breathtaking downtown architecture. Budapest by night is a must see. Walk across the Chain Bridge, take a boat trip on the Danube, and try some authentic food. Finally visit us at Open Mind.:-) 5. What is your favorite food? Csirkepaprikas of course! 6. What is your favorite sport/form of exercise? Swimming lifts my spirit. 7. What is your favorite place in Hungary? Castel District. 8. What career other than yours would you love to pursue? Honestly, I wouldnt see myself in any other career. I am grateful to manage and direct an organization that gives us the joy to change peoples lives, starting with students, inspiring them, building self-confidence, teaching them to become successful and happy young adults in their future, this is what gives me great satisfaction. 9. Whats a job you would definitely never want? One which would hurt others. 10. Where did you spend your last vacation? In south Florida, Miami a place mixed with a lot of different nationalities and cultures. I also had the opportunity to learn about their Education system, which inspired me to expand our network, open the first Open Mind branch in the USA, and provide them with our unique and perfect tuition methodology. 11. Where do you hope to spend your next one? Japan. To experience their culture, their food, look at their beautiful landscape, Including the sakura blooming, and to gain new fresh ideas. 12. What was your favorite band, film, or hobby as a teen? Swimming was favorite hobby and I took it very seriously. When it comes to music, at the time, I had always found myself inspired by all kinds of music and sounds that somehow drove me to be more focus on pursuing my dreams and goals in the future. Films related to biographies are what used to catch my attention the most. To learn about someones path and how they made a significant discovery that improved the actual world we live in today. 13. Apart of temptation what can't you resist? To keep working on students academic goals! 14. Red wine or white? I dont drink alcohol. I prefer flat mineral water. 15. Book or movie? Readingprimarily biographies. 16. Morning person or a night person? Impossible to agree to any of them, since my mind never stops working. 17. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about? No matter what situation we are in, we should always help each other. This is what makes the essence of having a real wealthy life. 18. Buda or Pest side? Buda at sunrise, Pest at sunset. 19. Which achievement in your life are you most pleased about? Having created a unique institution that has been applying unique tutoring techniques helping students reach their maximum potential which is highly beneficial to their future academic goals! 20. What would you say is your personal motto? Accomplishment and prosperity don't just find you. You have to go out, get it, and inspire others. Prosecution and defense attorneys agreed Wednesday to proceed with the trial of a South Jacksonville man charged in his mothers 2018 stabbing death. Glenn C. Van Avery, 26, of South Jacksonville was arrested shortly after his mother, Ruth Van Avery, 53, was found dead June 13, 2018, in her South Jacksonville home. He also was charged with trying to kill his then-20-year-old brother, Garrick Van Avery, the same day. Garrick Van Avery suffered multiple stab wounds and collapsed in a driveway several houses away from his mothers South East Street residence. Glenn Van Avery has pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial. A Springfield-based psychologist determined in 2018 that Glenn Van Avery was unfit to stand trial because he was unable to understand or provide rational assistance in his defense. The Illinois Department of Human Services agreed with that assessment in January 2019 and Glenn Van Avery since has been receiving treatment at the states Chester Mental Health Center. During a hearing Wednesday, both sides agreed to the contents of a fitness evaluation by the Illinois Department of Human Services that said Glenn Van Avery now is fit to stand trial. Glenn Van Averys attorney, Tom Piper, said his client wanted to proceed. (He) has stated prior his desire to be found fit, Piper said. He knows that is a condition to move forward with trial. We are willing to stipulate to the contents of the report and move forward. Piper said concerns he had during past visits with Glenn Van Avery have been resolved. States Attorney Gray Noll said the last three reports from the state have supported that. Glenn Van Avery will remain in the custody of the Illinois Department of Human Services and continue treatment. Two other first-degree murder cases, those of Dustin A. Finlaw and Nathan Henson, have been continued to June 17 to determine fitness of the accused. Finlaw, 19, of Meredosia faces first-degree murder charges in the stabbing death of Robert L. Utter, 42, of Rushville, who was found May 24, 2018, in a car in Meredosia. Finlaw, who was found unfit for trial in October 2018, also is facing charges of aggravated assault on two police officers, resisting arrest and obstructing justice/destroying evidence. Henson, 35, is charged with first-degree murder and intentional homicide of an unborn child in the 2017 death of his pregnant wife, Jessie. Henson has been held at a Department of Human Services facility and the court had been receiving regular updates from fitness evaluations since he first was found to be unable to aid in his own defense in October 2017. He was arrested Sept. 5, 2017, after emergency medical personnel arrived and performed CPR on Jessie Henson at an East Elm Street house in Waverly. She had suffered blunt-force trauma and stab wounds. According to court records, Jessie Henson was stabbed with a knife and beaten with a bat. She was pronounced dead at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield a little more than an hour after being found. W&M Board of Visitors Executive Committee considers emergency actions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic Responding to COVID-19: The Board of Visitors and administration concurred that, due to the impact of the pandemic on admitted students and their families, the Board would roll back a previously adopted 3% tuition increase for incoming in-state undergraduates in fall 2020. This would achieve a zero increase for tuition and mandatory fees for all students. Photo by Stephen Salpukas Photo - of - Hide Caption BOV intends to reverse fall 2020 tuition increase at its May meeting, keeping all tuition and mandatory fees flat next year The Executive Committee of the William & Mary Board of Visitors met today virtually to hear presentations and updates by President Katherine A. Rowe and senior leadership on the universitys response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This was the second virtual meeting in response to Virginias declared State of Emergency. The meeting included updates on the status and rollout of classes, as 2000+ William & Mary courses continued in distance modes. Campus communications and plans to enable an on-campus fall semester were discussed. Updates from leadership on the financial impact of COVID-19 included emergency support for students and flexible work guidelines for staff and faculty. Assistance has included direct cash rebates on W&M room and board, emergency relief contributions from W&Ms Student Assembly, and philanthropic gifts to support students in need; many W&M students have donated their rebates towards emergency funding for their peers. W&M is in the process of determining how to distribute the federal CARES Act relief funds to support the most vulnerable students, officials said. Importantly, the Executive Committee heard reports on the preliminary financial impact of COVID-19 on the current and upcoming fiscal years. Following these presentations, the Board of Visitors and administration concurred that, due to the impact of the pandemic on admitted students and their families, the Board would roll back a previously adopted 3% tuition increase for incoming in-state undergraduates in fall 2020. This would achieve a zero increase for tuition and mandatory fees for all students. The future action to undo the tuition increase is part of the universitys planful response to the COVID-19 pandemic one among several emergency actions the university will take. A full meeting of the Board will take place in May, when the administration will recommend its 2020-21 budget. This pandemic presents so many new challenges for our students and families that we must rethink our planning. William & Mary is focused now and for next year on ways to help flatten the curve of financial impact on our university and our communities, Rowe said. I am so grateful for the Boards steady guidance and support in that effort. We also understand that each institution must determine their own solutions based on their unique situation. This approach is the right one for us. In November 2019, as part of its six-year plan, the Board approved a 3% increase for new in-state undergraduates arriving in the fall 2020 and no increase for rising in-state sophomores, juniors and seniors. Tuition and fees for out-of-state undergraduates and for graduate students are established each spring as part of the Boards budget resolution. The Board anticipates taking no action regarding students in these categories in May, ensuring that all tuition and mandatory fees will stay flat next year. Rector John Littel said the Board has encouraged the university to look for ways to mitigate the financial impact of COVID-19 on students and families. I am grateful for the work of the president and the leadership team to consider the impact of this pandemic on our community and how we can navigate these challenges together, Littel said. It is prudent to reconsider any increases in costs at this time, so as to lessen the financial impact on students and families. In response to the pandemic, the administration has already implemented several immediate measures to limit near-term spending until more is known about long-term financial impacts. The university instituted a hiring freeze, filling only positions that are required to maintain continuity of operations. For the remainder of the fiscal year, employees have been asked to curtail all purchases not considered mission critical, with the exception of externally funded research and expenses. Rowe also said that a planning team which includes faculty, staff and students from across the institution has been charged with exploring scenarios related to possible COVID-19 impacts over the next 18 months. It will work swiftly to bring ideas to the president and community by June. William & Mary has been here for 327 years and we intend to be here for all times coming, Rowe said. We are asking the whole of the university to plan prudently. Our planning ahead effort will focus on opportunities and lessons learned. We will bring our best thinking to find creative ways to help to ensure that students and their families, staff, and faculty can continue to pursue our core mission of teaching, learning and research. I am enormously proud of the powerful sense of shared purpose I see everywhere in the W&M community. Coming out of this crisis, we will be stronger as a result of the challenges we surmount together. WASHINGTON More than 4.4 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week as job cuts escalated across an economy that remains all but shut down, the government said Thursday. Roughly 26 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the five weeks since the coronavirus outbreak began forcing millions of employers to close their doors. About one in six American workers have lost their jobs in the past five weeks, by far the worst string of layoffs on record. Economists have forecast that the unemployment rate for April could go as high as 20%. The enormous magnitude of job cuts has plunged the U.S. economy into the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Some economists say the nations output could shrink by twice the amount that it did during the Great Recession, which ended in 2009. The painful economic consequences of the virus-related shutdowns have sparked angry protests in several state capitals from crowds insisting that businesses be allowed to reopen. Thursday's report, showing that the pace of layoffs remains immense, could heighten demands for re-openings. Some governors have begun easing restrictions despite warnings from health authorities that it may be too soon to do so without causing new infections. In Georgia, gyms, hair salons and bowling alleys can reopen Friday. Texas has reopened its state parks. Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter Yet those scattered re-openings wont lead to much rehiring, especially if Americans are too wary to leave their homes. Most people say they favor stay-at-home orders, according to a survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs and believe it wont be safe to lift social distancing guidelines anytime soon. And there are likely more layoffs to come from many small businesses that have tried but failed to receive loans from a federal aid program. The number of people who are receiving unemployment benefits has reached a record 16 million, surpassing a previous high of 12 million set in 2010, just after the 2008-2009 recession ended. This figure reflects people who have managed to navigate the online or telephone application systems in their states, have been approved for benefits and are actually receiving checks. In some states, many laid-off workers have run into obstacles in trying to file applications for benefits. Among them are millions of freelancers, contractors, gig workers and self-employed people a category of workers who are now eligible for unemployment benefits for the first time. This has been a really devastating shock for a lot of families and small businesses, said Aaron Sojourner, a labor economist at the University of Minnesota. It is beyond their control and no fault of their own. In Florida, applications for unemployment benefits nearly tripled last week to 505,000, the second-highest total behind much-larger California's 534,000. Florida has had trouble processing many of its applications. Its figure suggests that the state is finally clearing a backlog of filings from jobless workers. In Michigan, 17% of the state's workforce is now receiving unemployment aid, the largest proportion in the country. It is followed by Rhode Island at 15%, Nevada at 13.7% and Georgia at 13.6%. Just about every major industry has absorbed sudden and severe layoffs. Economists at the Federal Reserve estimate that hotels and restaurants have shed the most jobs -- 4 million since Feb. 15. That is nearly one-third of all the employees in that industry. Construction has shed more than 9% of its jobs. So has a category that includes retail, shipping and utilities, the Fed estimated. A category that is made up of data processing and online publishing has cut 4.7. When the government issues the April jobs report on May 8, economists expect it to show breathtaking losses. Economists at JPMorgan are predicting a loss of 25 million jobs. That would be nearly triple the total lost during the entire Great Recession period. A $2 trillion-plus federal relief package that was signed into law last month made millions of gig workers, contractors and self-employed people newly eligible for unemployment aid. But most states have yet to approve unemployment applications from those workers because theyre still trying to reprogram their systems to do so. As a result, many people who have lost jobs or income arent being counted as laid-off because their applications for unemployment aid haven't been processed. Among them is Sasha McVeigh, a musician in Nashville. Having grown up in England with a love of country music, she spent years flying to Nashville to play gigs until she managed to secure a green card and move permanently two years ago. McVeigh had been working steadily until the city shut down music clubs in mid-March. Since then, shes applied for unemployment benefits but so far has received nothing. To make ends meet, shes applied for some grants available to out-of-work musicians, held some live streaming concerts and pushed her merchandise sales. By cutting expenses to a bare minimum, McVeigh said, Ive managed to just about keep myself afloat. But she worries about what will happen over the next few months. The Associated Press Subscribe to our Oregon coronavirus newsletter: Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar has written to railway minister Piyush Goyal seeking special trains to take migrant workers home as he fears a law and border problem. In the letter, the deputy CM says that the migrant workers who have been staying at shelter camps will likely take to streets on May 3 on completion of the second phase of the lockdown. This could lead to the law and order problem, like it happened in Bandra in Mumbai on the last day of the first lockdown, read the letter. On April 14, nearly 1000 out-of-work migrant labourers gathered outside a railway station in Mumbais Bandra, hours after Prime Minister extended the lockdown to May 3 to check the spread of the coronavirus infections, demanding for trains to take them home. The Railway ministry should plan well in advance for the special trains for these workers to various parts of the country. The trains should be operated from Pune and Mumbai, the minister wrote. On Sunday, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray assured migrant labourers in the state that his government would ensure that they are sent home once the lockdown is lifted. I give you my word that the Maharashtra government will take you to your homes, the day this crisis ends. I believe that when you go back to your homes, you should go back happily and not out of fear, said the CM. . SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash., April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Key Tronic Corporation (KTCC), a provider of electronic manufacturing services (EMS), today announced the temporary closure of its Juarez, Mexico production facilities as a result of new restrictions by the Mexican government, which could potentially last until May 30, 2020 (unless further extended). On Tuesday, April 21, 2020, the Mexican government began closing certain manufacturing facilities in Mexico that it believes do not manufacture essential products that are sold directly to Mexican government agencies or businesses within Mexico. Although under U.S. regulations Key Tronic has been classified as an Essential Critical Infrastructure Employer (as defined by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) and its Juarez facilities do manufacture essential products which are sold back into Mexico, the Mexican governments shutdown included the Companys Juarez facilities. Like some other companies similarly situated, the Company is petitioning the Mexican government to have its Juarez facilities reopened as soon as possible. Depending on the length of the closure of the Juarez facilities, the Company's financial results could be materially and adversely affected due to the shutdown. The Company plans to report on, among other things, this development and its potential effects, as well as its financial results for and condition at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2020, on April 28, 2020. About Key Tronic Key Tronic is a leading contract manufacturer offering value-added design and manufacturing services from its facilities in the United States, Mexico, China and Vietnam. The Company provides its customers full engineering services, materials management, worldwide manufacturing facilities, assembly services, in-house testing, and worldwide distribution. Its customers include some of the worlds leading original equipment manufacturers. For more information about Key Tronic visit: www.keytronic.com. Story continues Some of the statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, words such as aims, anticipates, believes, could, estimates, expects, hopes, intends, plans, predicts, projects, targets, or will, similar verbs and other future tense or conditional verbs, or nouns corresponding to such verbs, which may be forward looking. Forward-looking statements also include other passages that are relevant to expected future events, performances, and actions or that can only be fully evaluated by events that will occur in the future. Forward-looking statements in this release include, without limitation, the Companys statements regarding closure of its Juarez facilities and related matters, actions by and relating to the Mexican government affecting the Companys manufacturing facilities, its financial condition and results (including regarding third fiscal quarter of 2020 and future periods), and actions of its customers and other third parties. There are many factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted or projected in forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: the impact of continuing and new governmental legislation, regulation and other action, including manufacturing restrictions in Mexico and other countries, tax reform, tariffs and related activities, such as trade negotiations and other risks, including those related to COVID-19 response; the future of the global trade and economic environment and its impact on our customers and suppliers, particularly during the COVID-19 health crisis; the availability of components from the supply chain; the availability of the Companys manufacturing facilities for production and of a healthy workforce; the accuracy of suppliers and customers forecasts and needs for our services; development and success of customers programs and products; timing and effectiveness of ramping and servicing of new programs; success of new-product introductions; acquisitions or divestitures of operations or facilities; technology advances; changes in pricing policies by the Company, its competitors, customers or suppliers; and other factors, risks, and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Companys SEC filings. Attica Bank S.A. (ATH:TATT) shareholders should be happy to see the share price up 11% in the last month. But will that repair the damage for the weary investors who have owned this stock as it declined over half a decade? Probably not. Five years have seen the share price descend precipitously, down a full 98%. So we don't gain too much confidence from the recent recovery. The fundamental business performance will ultimately determine if the turnaround can be sustained. While a drop like that is definitely a body blow, money isn't as important as health and happiness. View our latest analysis for Attica Bank There is no denying that markets are sometimes efficient, but prices do not always reflect underlying business performance. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). Attica Bank became profitable within the last five years. That would generally be considered a positive, so we are surprised to see the share price is down. Other metrics might give us a better handle on how its value is changing over time. In contrast to the share price, revenue has actually increased by 55% a year in the five year 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. You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). ATSE:TATT Income Statement April 23rd 2020 It is of course excellent to see how Attica Bank has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on how its financial position has changed over time. A Different Perspective While it's certainly disappointing to see that Attica Bank shares lost 3.8% throughout the year, that wasn't as bad as the market loss of 17%. Of far more concern is the 56% p.a. loss served to shareholders over the last five years. While the losses are slowing we doubt many shareholders are happy with the stock. 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 1 warning sign with Attica Bank , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. Story continues For those who like to find winning investments this free list of growing companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on GR 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. New York, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Europe Smart Mining Market to 2027 - Regional Analysis and Forecasts by Component ; Mining Type" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05887372/?utm_source=GNW Increasing middle-class population and urbanization in countries such as Germany, Russia, and the UK are offering ample opportunities for key market players in the smart mining market. Rapid technological developments, government support, growing digitalization, and rising disposable income among middle-income class population are the major factors helping economy to move forward from the developing to a developed phase. Additionally, among worlds top 40 mining companies, close to half of the number reside or closely tied up with the region. The mentioned factors are anticipated to contribute to the growth of European smart mining market. The European mining industry excels in the underlying implementation and development of smart mining techniques enabling sustainable extraction and ore processing under technically and economically viable conditions by meeting stringent environmental standards. Such factors are anticipated to contribute to the growth of European smart mining market. The European smart mining industry is considered one of the most innovative mining sectors. Mining activities across the European region requires research and development processes. As the consumption of industrial minerals and metals in Europe has increased in the past few years, high-level smart mining technologies are introduced which supports mining extraction, exploration, and beneficiation. The mining industry also promotes advancements in the areas of environmental, health, and safety protection. Based on component, hardware segment led the European smart mining market with a decent market share.Wearable devices have been noted to find applications in the mining industry to regulate production processes in hard rock mines, health and safety management in coal mines, and monitor environmental quality in industrial mineral mines. For example, a smart safety helmet has been developed with methane and carbon monoxide gas sensors to warn underground coal mine workers when the concentration of harmful gases exceeds a given limit. The overall size of the European smart mining market has been derived using both primary and secondary sources.The research process begins with extensive secondary research using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the European smart mining market. It also provides an overview and forecast for the smart mining based on all segmentations provided with respect to the European region.Also, primary interviews were conducted with industry participants and commentators in order to validate and analyze the data. The participants who take part in such a process include industry experts such as VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, and national sales managers, and external consultants such as valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leaders specialized in the smart mining industry. ABB Ltd, Alastri, Caterpillar Inc, SAP SE, Trimble Inc, and Hitachi Ltd are some of the key players present in the European smart mining market. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05887372/?utm_source=GNW 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. __________________________ The Volta River Authority (VRA) has presented a cheque for GH2 million to the National COVID-19 Trust Fund. The gesture was to bolster the governments efforts to combat the spread of the deadly contagious virus in Ghana. Ghana currently has recorded 1,154 cases since the outbreak of the novel Coronavirus with nine persons confirmed dead. Handing over Presenting the cheque, the Board Chairman of the VRA, Mr Kweku Andoh Awotwi, said the donation formed part of the commitment of the energy generation firm to lend a strong support to the national response to stop the spread of the disease. For his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Mr Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa, urged Ghanaians to strictly adhere to the stay-home directive and also observe every hygienic protocols to contain the virus. They were joined by the National Executive Member of the VRA Senior Staff Association, Mr Martin Adjoe. Appreciation The Chairperson of the National COVID-19 Trust Fund, Mrs Justice Sophia Akufo, who received the donation on behalf of the Trustees, expressed the gratitude of the VRA for the gesture. She described the gesture by the authority as a clear demonstration of citizenship, and pledged that every penny of the money would be put into the fight against the COVID-19. We want to assure you that every penny is going to go into the fight against the spread of the Coronavirus, she assured. 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 extremely rare 1,000 year old penny coin depicting a child King of England has sold for 11,160. The ancient silver coin showed the face of Edward the Martyr who ruled Saxon Britain in the 10th Century, aged 13, before he was assassinated three years later. It was found by a metal detectorist in a field on the Isle of Wight and has sold for 4,000 more than its maximum estimated pre-auction value. Part of the proceeds will be donated to NHS Charities Together which works with more than 250 UK organisations. A rare coin from the short reign of the boy king Edward the Martyr 1,000 years ago Experts said the coin was exceptionally rare and appeared 'almost as struck' by the Saxons when it was unearthed in March 2018. King Edward the Martyr, crowned in 975, is depicted as a very young king wearing a royal band known as a diadem that signified he was monarch. Coin specialists say the silver piece is an example of Britain's early unified coinage. It would have been accepted throughout the kingdoms of Britain and even throughout the world due to its previous metal value. It was minted in Canterbury in Kent where the teen prince had the support of the church for his claim to the throne when his father King Edgar the Peaceful died. The Saxon penny sold for 11,160 in an online live auction at Dix Noonan Webb which specialises in international coins, medals, banknotes and jewellery. Nigel Mills, antiquities expert at the auctioneers, said: 'The price realised for the Edward the Martyr penny exceeded our expectations. 'It reflects the quality and rarity of the coin combined with the fact that it is a new discovery and it is the first time that it has been offered for sale.' The penny was discovered on a ploughed field by a 68-year-old retired council worker using a Minelab E-Trac metal detector. A 19th century painting by James William Edmund Doyle. Edward the Martyr is offered a cup of mead by Elfthryth, widow of the late Edgar just before Elfthryth's attendant murders him Frustrated at only finding three 22 lead bullets on one spot and ready to give up for the day, the metal detectorist, who wished to remain anonymous, then got another signal and dug down four to five inches to uncover the Saxon penny. On one side of the silver penny are the words 'EDPEARD REX ANGLORX' which translates as 'Edward king of the English. On the reverse is a small cross in the centre with the words 'AELSTAN M'O CANT' - Aelfstan moneyer of Canterbury - written around the edge. There were 39 mints operating around the country at the time with three moneyers working at Canterbury. The front and back of the coin from the short reign of the boy king Edward the Martyr King Edward rose to the throne aged just 13 and was murdered three years later, some say on the orders of his half-brother who succeeded him aged ten and became known as Ethelred the Unready. Nigel said: 'Because Edward was the eldest by a few years, he took to the throne and was crowned king. But there were a lot of disputes going on between the family regarding who was or should be king. 'Edward had gone to see his half brother at Corfe Castle where he was murdered. They dragged him off his horse and stabbed him. 'He was apparently then taken away on the horse and dragged for some distance.' The online auction comprised 692 lots and saw only four unsold. Another notable highlight was an Australian coin which was one of the first coins to have been made for circulation in the new colony of New South Wales in 1813. Otherwise known as a Dump, the coin was from the Collection of British Colonial Coins formed by the late John Roberts-Lewis. Valued at Fifteen Pence and comprising a circular centre segment from the Five Shilling Holey Dollar, it had been estimated to fetch 2,000-3,000. But after significant interest, it was snapped up by an Australian collector fetching a substantial 6,820. Peter Preston-Morley, specialist and associate director at Dix Noonan Webb, said: 'The phrase dump is an Australian colloquialism invented in the late 19th century. 'The piece is from an old collection of British Colonial coins that DNW are offering, the previous owner bought it 58 years ago for 4. 'There are about 800 pieces known, so it isn't that rare as such, but of the 800 only about 120 or so are in the sort of condition that this one is. 'Most were used until they wore out and were melted down for silver in late Victorian times.' You are here: China Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Wednesday inspected the city of Xi'an during his trip to northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Xi visited the Shaanxi Automobile Holding Group, Xi'an Jiaotong University and a commercial street in the city to learn about the reopening of business and the return of normal life order. India's plan to screen foreign direct investments from neighbouring countries has Chinese firms concerned that such scrutiny will affect their projects and delay deals in one of Asia's most lucrative investment markets. The tougher rules were not a surprise, as other countries are also on guard against fire sales of corporate assets during the coronavirus outbreak, but that they apply to investments from countries that share a land border with India raised eyebrows. Unlike neighbouring Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal and Bhutan, China has major investments in India. Chinese firms existing and planned investments in India stand at more than $26 billion, research group Brookings said in March, with the world's second-most populous nation emerging as a key market for everything from automobiles to digital tech. Chinese automakers Great Wall Motor and SAIC unit MG Motor have bet big on India while its tech giants Tencent and Alibaba have fuelled growth of Indian digital payments firm Paytm, grocer BigBasket and ride-hailing giant Ola. The new rules are to curb "opportunistic" takeovers during the coronavirus outbreak that has hit Indian businesses, but government sources have said they will also apply to greenfield investments. China has called the rules "discriminatory". Some Chinese investors have already "put things on hold" as they await further clarity on the rules, said Vaibhav Kakkar of Indian law firm L&L Partners. "Every Chinese investor is worried, any government approval could take months," said Kakkar, who advises several foreign companies and investors. This will affect India's digital businesses who are in dire need of funds to tide over the coronavirus crisis, he said. MG Motor and Great Wall are concerned about the policy and its possible implications on future investment plans, according to four sources familiar with the thinking. While MG started selling cars in India last year, it is yet to fully invest the $650 million it has committed to India. Great Wall is yet to start production in India but said in February it plans to invest $1 billion in the coming years. "Sentiment wise it's not been taken well but it will not change the investment plans for now," said one of the sources who works closely with Chinese automakers in India. MG Motor and Great Wall did not respond to a request for comment. Indian craft beer maker Bira's roughly $50 million of bridge financing round that involved Chinese investors could be delayed due to the new rules, said an industry source with direct knowledge. Bira did not respond to a request for comment. Anti-China Sentiment India's industries ministry is reviewing several queries received since the policy was made public over the weekend, but it has not been decided if further clarifications will be issued, a government official told Reuters. The new rules govern entities located in a country that shares a land border with India. Such foreign direct investments will now require government approval, meaning they can't go through a so-called automatic route, and will also apply on investments from Hong Kong, Reuters has reported. The policy risks souring relations between the two nations and furthering anti-China sentiment already festering in India before the coronavirus outbreak. Companies regularly battle consumer perception that Chinese goods are of inferior quality and those views have only worsened as the coronavirus epidemic spread from China around the world. Welcoming the investment rules, Ashwani Mahajan of the Swadeshi Jagran Manch, a Hindu nationalist group close to India's ruling party, said domestic startups should not rely on any Chinese funding as there was enough local capital available. "We have even more reasons to oppose China now there is a general feeling against China, and secondly we have been saying Chinese goods are of bad quality," said Mahajan. Federal think tank Niti Aayog's chief executive Amitabh Kant defended the screening of investments and rejected the notion it was targeting China. "Nowhere have we said that we are going to constrain China's investment. They have been a big player in India's start-up story," Kant told the CNBC TV18 channel. ALSO READ: Coronavirus India Highlights: Delhi demarcates 3 more hotspots; COVID-19 cases in Mumbai cross 4,000 ALSO READ: Sweden: The world champion of 'herd immunity' in fight against coronavirus STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Sundog Theatre, a performing arts organization based on Staten Island that provides music, dance, theater, art, and literacy classes to more than 40 schools in New York City, helps make learning come alive in performance spaces in theaters, schools, parks, churches, colleges, museums, zoos and cultural centers. As of March 16 when city schools were forced to shut down and more than 60,000 Staten Island public school students began learning while sheltering at home, Sundog Theatre staffers acted quickly and devised a way to provide arts classes online. They contacted their approximately 30 teaching artists in the borough and throughout the city to make sure they were ready to deliver classes as quickly as possible. The organization wanted to ensure artists were able to continue to make a living, as well as keep the continuity of classes going. Sundogs teaching artists make their livings as professional artists and arts teacher and some also work for the hospitality industry, professions that were virtually decimated by the shutdown, explained Susan Fenley, Sundogs executive director. Despite their own odds, they came through in this rough situation. They did what artists do saved the day through their art and creativity. Some said that continuing to teach helped their own wellbeing. Since the decision to close schools was made so rapidly, time was of the essence. We had about a week to deliver, Fenley added. Some of our arts education classes last through the end of the school year. Others were only just beginning. Madison L'Insalata, Miss Staten Island 2020 and students at PS 65. (Courtesy/Madison L'Insalata)Staten Island Advance The Sundog deadline was self-imposed. Schools had all they could handle with transferring their own lessons online and making sure students and teachers knew how to manage new learning methods. Sundog wanted to ensure minimal class disruption and make it easy for schools to continue arts education. One by one, principals welcomed the addition of arts classes to their online curriculum. Sundog teaching artists provided remote classes ranging from dance that could be done in a living room and visual arts lessons with household items, to literacy-through-theatre that included puppet shows and vocabulary quizzes. The artists filmed and taught from their homes. One Sundog teaching artist, Madison LInsalata, even brought her dog into the videos as a visitor that captivated young viewers. LInsalata, a professional performer who graduated from LaGuardia High and NYUs Tisch arts program is also Miss Staten Island 2020, teaches choral music and dance. Madison, who teaches first and second graders, came on board in January and is educating students in the Bridge Preparatory Charter School located on the campus of the Petrides complex. The school was originally created for children with dyslexia and other disabilities but mainly reading disabilities its believed having the arts interwoven into the students curriculum is a beneficial learning tool. Says LInsalata, During this time of social distancing, people are turning to art, music, books, movies, television, and dance to get them through, while most if not all of students arts programs have been suspended. It's been beautiful to see art teachers of all varieties across Staten Island, in response, continuing to offer classes virtually. Our city may be at a pause right now, but art, as it always does, has persevered. Art gives us a sense of community. Like the rainbows we've been seeing on front doors, it brings us joy, and it teaches us about ourselves and the world. Students deserve to have an education integrated and flourishing with art all the time, but especially right now. Madison L'Insalata, Miss Staten Island 2020, teaching a student at the Staten Island Dance and Arts Center in Tottenville, during better times. (Courtesy/Madison L'Insalata)Staten Island Advance Fenley sums it up: Sundog uses the arts to help make education come alive. And because people turn to the arts and creative activities during times of trouble, Sundog is doing its best to provide remote arts learning opportunities for as many children as possible. Not only do the arts educate creatively, they boost spirits and keep people creating. Two men have been charged over an alleged attempt to kidnap Sydney party boat operator Joe Elias and hold him for ransom. Mr Elias, 53, was driving along Victoria Rd, Drummoyne on Friday March 6 when another car collided with the back of his vehicle in an alleged staged accident. Party boat operator Joe Elias, centre, in October 2019. Credit:Yianni Aspradakis The cars turned into the nearest cross street and Mr Elias exited his vehicle to assess the damage, before two men from the other car physically assaulted him. It is alleged the men tried to pick up Mr Elias by his hands and feet and carry him into their Toyota Hilux, however he managed to escape and run to the nearest cross street. PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-23 09:05:01 KKR Becomes a Shareholder in Mirastar to Grow European Logistics Platform For enquiries: KKR: Finsbury Alastair Elwen Tel: +44 20 7251 3801 kkr@finsbury.com KKR, a leading global investment firm, and Mirastar, a specialist developer, investor and manager of industrial and logistics (I&L) assets in Europe, announced that KKR has acquired a strategic stake in Mirastar from M7 Real Estate. The transaction will further expand KKRs presence in European I&L real estate. To date, KKR and Mirastar have acquired a 49,000 sqm forward funding project in the Netherlands and aim to continue assembling a high-quality portfolio of assets and development projects in gateway cities across Western Europe. Mirastar will be the primary platform for I&L real estate transactions in Europe. KKR has a significant recent track record in the I&L real estate market across Europe, having acquired c.800,000 sqm of I&L space over the last 24 months across France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, and Ireland. The investment in Mirastar was made through a European real estate fund managed by KKR. Mirastar was co-founded in 2019 by Ekaterina Avdonina, Chief Executive Officer, and Anthony Butler, Chief Investment Officer, with initial platform backing from M7 Real Estate. The team currently comprises 15 senior real estate professionals and has offices in London, Madrid and Rotterdam. Guillaume Cassou, Partner and Head of European Real Estate at KKR, commented: Logistics real estate continues to be an attractive market for KKR, despite the challenges of the current market environment, with strong investment fundamentals and future growth drivers. We look forward to building on our existing relationship with Mirastar to leverage these trends, investing in the continued supply of high-quality assets to meet the growing tenant demand evident across Europe and further building KKRs footprint in European logistics. Ekaterina Avdonina, CEO of Mirastar, commented: Against the difficult market backdrop prompted by the outbreak of Covid-19, our conviction in the underlying, long-term structural forces behind the growth of logistics real estate remains. Since launching last year, we have demonstrated our ability to execute our strategy and, by extending our strong working relationship with KKR, we look forward to building on that further. We have identified an attractive pipeline and are well placed to act on opportunities in the market. Anthony Butler, CIO of Mirastar, commented: We are grateful to M7 Real Estate for the initial backing and now that our platform is more established we will continue to expand across more geographies with the support of KKR, as both shareholder and primary investor. Due to our combined development and investment expertise along with backing of a world class investor the future looks very exciting as the logistics sector continues to strengthen at a faster pace. Richard Croft, Executive Chairman of M7 Real Estate, commented: Backing new ventures has always been a passion of M7s and having supported Ekaterina and Anthony with the launch of their business, it is pleasing to see them move into the next phase of growth with KKR. We wish them well on their future journey. ENDS Note to Editors: About KKR KKR is a leading global investment firm that manages multiple alternative asset classes, including private equity, energy, infrastructure, real estate and credit, with strategic partners that manage hedge funds. KKR aims to generate attractive investment returns for its fund investors by following a patient and disciplined investment approach, employing world-class people, and driving growth and value creation with KKR portfolio companies. KKR invests its own capital alongside the capital it manages for fund investors and provides financing solutions and investment opportunities through its capital markets business. References to KKR's investments may include the activities of its sponsored funds. For additional information about KKR & Co. Inc. (NYSE:KKR), please visit KKR's website at www.kkr.com and on Twitter @KKR_Co. About Mirastar Mirastar is a specialist pan-European developer, investor and manager of big box logistics co-founded in 2019 by Ekaterina Avdonina, Chief Executive Officer, and Anthony Butler, Chief Investment Officer with initial platform backing from M7 Real Estate. Mirastar has a high-quality portfolio of assets/development projects across the Netherlands with an exit GDV in excess of 100 million and is currently expanding into the UK and Spain. Mirastar comprises a team of 15 senior real estate professionals with over 210 years of total experience and has offices in London, Madrid and Rotterdam. For additional information please visit Mirastars website at www.mirastar.eu View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005 UPDATE: When will the coronavirus shutdown end in the Lehigh Valley? Data gives us a clue. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday night detailed the conditions for reopening parts of the states economy following efforts to halt the spread of the coronavirus. Wolf outlined a three-tiered approach, color-coded by red for the current, most restrictive approach to yellow and, finally, green. The earliest that communities might move to yellow is May 8, Wolf said, and those are likely to be in the states north-central and northwestern regions. The initial benchmark to reach a yellow-phase reopening is an average of less than 50 new cases per 100,000 people over the course of 14 days, Wolf said. As of Wednesday, the Lehigh Valley was seeing cumulative rates of 658 cases per 100,000 people in Lehigh County -- the highest in Pennsylvania -- and 528.7 cases per 100,000 people in Northampton County. Both Wolf and state Health Secretary Rachel Levine sought to brace Pennsylvanians in hard-hit areas like the Lehigh Valley for continued sacrifice in the fight to slow the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus illness. Even in areas that might reopen first, a resurgence in cases would mean a return to red-phase restrictions, the officials said during a live-streamed news conference that began at 7 p.m. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, outlined this three-tiered approach to reopening the state, color-coded by red for the current, most restrictive approach to yellow and, finally, green.Courtesy image | For lehighvalleylive.com The virus has infected more than 35,000 people in Pennsylvania and killed more than 1,600, but Wolf, a Democrat, says the state has made sufficient progress in its fight against COVID-19 to begin a gradual loosening of restrictions. Republicans are pressing for a more aggressive timetable. After directing non-life-sustaining businesses to close March 19, Wolf phased-in stay-at-home orders in the worst-hit southeastern counties March 23. The Lehigh Valley was ordered to stay home except for non-essential, life-sustaining business March 25 and the order was expanded to all 12.8 million residents statewide April 1. The order was initially set to expire April 30, but was pushed back this week to May 8 at the earliest. That phased-in approach helped to avert what could have become a much, much worse tragedy such as New Jersey is seeing, with 95,865 confirmed cases and 5,063 related deaths. "I know that some of you are becoming weary," Wolf said, acknowledging six weeks of being unable to do things like visit family, browse stores or hit the gym. Schools have been closed since March 16 and will remain so for at least the rest of this school year. Unemployment is at unprecedented levels. Wolf said he recognizes the sacrifices Pennsylvanians have made are difficult, and that it continues to be tough not knowing when to begin making plans for the coming months. "Because when you go through a rough patch, having something to look forward to really helps," Wolf said. Just as restrictions were rolled out from region to region, the approach to reopening Pennsylvania also has to be phased-in, Wolf said, and some milestones are within reach. Online auto sales resumed this week, and all construction statewide is set to resume May 1. Leadership of the Republican-controlled state House responded to the plan offered up by Wolf by saying lawmakers look forward to working with the administration on rebuilding and recovering the economy on a path to a safe and prosperous future for every resident. Our members have heard from thousands of Pennsylvanians frustrated by a lack of transparency in the decision-making by the Wolf Administration throughout this pandemic," House GOP leaders stated. "We are pleased that tonight, Gov. Wolf pulled back the curtain and provided direct and measurable guidelines his administration will follow to allow Pennsylvanians to safely return to work and provide for their families." Levine on Wednesday night urged the public to continue to follow preventative steps like good hygiene and social distancing, as officials balance the ability to return toward normalcy safely while continuing to tamp down the virus spread. "We have to be very careful to balance the needs of our economy with our public health needs and I strongly believe this plan does exactly that," Levine said. Pennsylvania officials are partnering with Carnegie Mellon University to create a data-driven decision support tool aimed at striking that balance between maximizing the strengthening of the economy while minimizing public health risks. The standards for reopening Wolf announced last week remain the focal point for the comprehensive plans announced Wednesday, officials said: "The approach will be data driven and reliant upon quantifiable criteria to drive a targeted, evidence-based, regional approach to reopenings in Pennsylvania. "There will be guidance and recommendations for employers, individuals, and health care facilities and providers for assured accountability as we reopen. "Reopening necessitates that adequate personal protective equipment and diagnostic testing are available. (Officials announced the new mass-testing site at Mohegan Sun Arena in Luzerne County is now accepting pre-registered symptomatic people of any age, not just 65 and older, thanks to additional testing supplies that have been obtained.) "Reopening requires a monitoring and surveillance program that allows the commonwealth to deploy swift actions for containment or mitigation. "Protections for vulnerable populations must remain steadfast throughout the reopening process, such as limitations on visitors to congregate care facilities and prisons. Limitations on large gatherings unrelated to occupations should remain in place for the duration of the reopening process. Editors note: This article was updated to correct the initial benchmark to reach a yellow-phase reopening is an average of less than 50 new cases per 100,000 people over the course of 14 days, not cumulative cases. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. 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. For more information on the coronavirus, consult your state health department at health.pa.gov or covid19.nj.gov and the website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover or a personal story you want to share. The latest dispute comes after the U.S. Navy said last week that 11 Guard naval gunboats had carried out dangerous and harassing approaches to American Navy and Coast Guard vessels in the Persian Gulf. The Americans said they used a variety of nonlethal means to warn off the Iranian boats, which eventually left. Iran, meanwhile, accused the U.S. of sparking the incident, without offering evidence for the claim. Inside Hook About a year ago, global auto brand Daimler decided to end the sale of Smart cars in the U.S. We were sad to see the fun-to-drive (and park!) microcars leave the market, but it wasnt a surprise in the era of the SUV and crossover. After that move, we didnt expect to hear about the Smart brand ever again. Then on Wednesday morning, a pint-sized Smart car appeared in the most unlikely of places: a high-speed police chase. As Fox 10 Phoenix reported, police from the town of Gilbert, Arizona responded to reports of a suspicious man screaming in the parking lot of a Walmart. When they arrived, the man got into his Smart Fortwo and took off, refusing to pull over, running red lights and leading to a full-blown freeway chase. NAGRA launches NexGuard ClipMark forensic watermarking to protect valuable short content assets Industry-first solution allows content owners and post-production houses to detect any source of pre-release leaks on very short video clips, down to thirty seconds in duration Cheseaux, Switzerland, and Phoenix, AZ( ) NAGRA, a Kudelski Group (SIX:KUD.S) company and the world's leading independent provider of content protection and multiscreen television solutions, announced today the launch of NexGuard ClipMark, the industry's only forensic watermarking technology designed to detect the source of pre-release content leaks on very short video clips, down to thirty seconds. The launch marks a significant milestone for the movie and TV industry as it enables content owners and post-production houses to supplement existing NexGuard watermarking technologies for pre-release workflows and extend those capabilities to all types of high-value pre-release assets. "NexGuard ClipMark is a game changer in the fight against pre-release leaks, enabling traceability of short form assets that previous watermarking technologies could not protect," said Jean-Philippe Plantevin, Vice President Anti-Piracy at NAGRA. "While being very short in duration, most dailies, trailers and scenes extracted from proxy deliveries of full features or TV series are just as valuable as the mezzanine and master files. With NexGuard ClipMark, content owners and post-production houses have an extra tool to actively fight any pre-release leaks." NAGRA has partnered with industry-leading transcoder vendors to make NexGuard ClipMark available on premise and in the cloud in transcoder plug-ins. These partnerships ensure the seamless deployment into existing workflows, while leveraging the cloud-based NexGuard Detection Service for fast, highly scalable and fully automated detection of watermarks on any type of assets. NexGuard ClipMark is the latest addition to the suite of NexGuard forensic watermarking technologies designed to deter and combat leaks during premium content production, post-production, promotion and distribution, including for direct-to-consumer services. It is a key component of NAGRA's comprehensive line-up of solutions to guard against service and content piracy. For more information on our virtual NAB showcase, visit dtv.nagra.com/virtual-NAB-2020 . About NAGRA NAGRA, the digital TV division of the Kudelski Group (SIX:KUD.S), provides security and multiscreen user experience solutions for the monetisation of digital media. The company provides content providers and DTV operators worldwide with secure, open and integrated platforms and applications over broadcast, broadband and mobile platforms, enabling compelling and personalized viewing experiences. Please visit dtv.nagra.com for more information. Follow us on Twitter at and LinkedIn. Eielson AFB welcomes F-35A Lightning II By Airman 1st Class Aaron Guerrisky, 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs / Published April 22, 2020 EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFNS) -- It was a historic day for Eielson Air Force Base as the installation received its first two F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft April 21. With the arrival, Eielson AFB is now Pacific Air Forces' first base to house the fifth-generation fighter aircraft. "This first aircraft is a milestone," said Col. Benjamin Bishop, the 354th Fighter Wing commander. "Making the first aircraft arrival possible has been a long path, but it's also just the first step in a journey that will continue at Eielson Air Force Base for decades to come." With a total of 54 F-35As scheduled to arrive by December 2021, Alaska will be the most concentrated state for combat-coded, fifth-generation fighter aircraft. The state will also continue to be a premiere training location as home to the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex's 75,000 square miles of airspace. "When you station the F-35 at Eielson (AFB) and you have the F-22 Raptor down at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, working together in the JPARC with our 18th Aggressor Squadron and ground training assets, you have the perfect training field for the F-35 to develop," Bishop said. Maj. Kathryn Damron, the 354th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander, knows what this aircraft arrival signifies not only for her squadron, but for the base as a whole. "We get to establish what the standard looks like for PACAF's F-35s," Damron said. "It's a huge responsibility, and we don't take it lightly." After months of preparation and support from units around Eielson AFB, the recently reactivated 356th Fighter Squadron is now ready to begin the journey to full operational capability. "We recognize that when you do something big, like bring in a new mission and stand up a combat capability in a wing, that everybody on the base has a part to play in it," said Lt. Col. James Christensen, the 356th Fighter Squadron commander. Everybody is not limited to Eielson AFB personnel, but also includes the surrounding communities and their support as well. "We as Airmen and families are part of the greater Fairbanks North Star Borough community and part of the Alaska community," Bishop said. "To see the community come together to support this new mission is truly inspiring." The arrival of the F-35 at Eielson AFB turns a page in the history of airpower and in the history of the 354th Fighter Wing. "We have a new mission," Bishop said. "It's here and we're going to grow that mission as we continue to invest in our people, families and community. We won't look back as we pioneer the airpower frontier." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press Release Nokia to publish first-quarter report on April 30, 2020 April 23, 2020 Espoo, Finland - Nokia will publish its first-quarter report on April 30, 2020 at approximately 8 a.m. Finnish time (EEST). The financial report will be made available on the Nokia website immediately after publication. Nokia only publishes a summary of its financial reports in stock exchange releases. The summary focuses on Nokia Group's financial information as well as on Nokia's outlook. The detailed segment-level discussion will be available in the complete financial report available at www.nokia.com/financials . Investors should not solely rely on summaries of Nokia's financial reports, but should also review the complete report with tables. Nokia's analyst conference call will begin on April 30, 2020 at 3 p.m. Finnish time. A link to the webcast of the conference call will be available at www.nokia.com/financials . Media representatives can listen in via the link, or alternatively call +1-412-717-9224. 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:?press.services@nokia.com A federal appeals court has upheld a New Jersey school districts firing of a teacher who allegedly taught his high school history students denial of the Holocaust and conspiracy theories linking the United States to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The teacher, Jason Mostafa Ali, alleged that his dismissal from Woodbridge (N.J.) High School in 2016 was discriminatory based on his race and his perceived religion. Ali is of Egyptian descent and is described in court papers as a nonpracticing Muslim. He alleged that staff members at the school had made disparaging remarks about him based on race and religion. But both a federal district court and a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, in Philadelphia, ruled for the school district. There are no nuances to be discerned regarding the Holocaust. It is a historic fact, the 3rd Circuit court said in its April 22 decision in Ali v. Woodbridge Township School District . That tragic event in human history along with the 9/11 terrorist attacks lie at the center of this matter. Ali began work as a history teacher at Woodbridge High in September 2015, and by the following May reports were trickling up to the school administration that the teacher was offering unorthodox views about the Holocaust and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. One student wrote in a paper submitted in Alis class that Adolf Hitler ... is looked at as a bad guy but in reality brought Germany out of its great depression. Another of Alis students wrote that what they claim happened in the concentration camps did not really happen and that Jews ... had a much easier and more enjoyable life in the camps. For a lesson on 9/11, Ali posted links on a school website for his students to access articles from Egypt and Saudi Arabia that suggest the United States was involved in the attacks and that it planned a similar attack on ISIS in 2015 using Al-Queda terrorists. In September 2016, after a TV news reporter questioned school administrators about the 9/11 materials, the school district dismissed Ali. He sued the district and administrators in state court, alleging violations of New Jerseys Law Against Discrimination as well as a federal law that bars race considerations in contracting. The school district removed the suit to federal court. In a deposition, Ali was asked about some of the conclusions his students had come to about the Holocaust as expressed in papers they wrote. For example, Ali was asked about whether he taught his students to question the facts as to whether Hitler chose to brutally abuse, take advantage, starve and murder Jews for absolutely no reason at all. Ali said he taught his students to question everything. When asked in the deposition whether he encouraged his students to come to different views than the traditional understanding of what World War II and the Holocaust and Hitler were about, Ali responded Yeah, its called debate. A federal district court issued summary judgment to the defendants, and the 3rd Circuit panel upheld that decision with its ruling this week. The appeals court said Ali failed to offer evidence that racial or religious bias motivated administrators to fire him and that the district had legitimate reasons for its action. Evidence such as the students assignments ... and Alis deposition testimony show that Ali permitted conspiracy-theorist and Hitler-apologist presentations in his class and encouraged students to develop these opinions, the court said. Comments that Ali alleges certain staff members had made to him, such as Hey Arabia Nights and Hey, Big Egypt, were offensive, the court said, but were not so pervasive as to alter his working conditions to support a discrimination claim. The appeals court also rejected Alis claim that posting links to articles containing alternative views on the 9/11 attacks was protected by the First Amendment. Based on our case law, Ali did not have a right to decide what would be taught in the classroom, the court said. Advertisement Armed anti-government protesters descended on the state capitol in Kansas while supporters of President Trump did the 'MAGA dance' near a large float outside the governor's mansion in Lansing, Michigan, on Thursday as protests continued against state-mandated closures of businesses during the pandemic. Hundreds of people protested Thursday against Kansas Governor Laura Kellys stay-at-home order for the state, many waving signs on sidewalks while others drove slowly around the Statehouse in Topeka. Similar protests have been held across the country, with participants contending stay-at-home orders are damaging the economy and violate their civil rights. Health and government officials argue the orders are the best way to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Armed veterans demonstrate in front of the state capitol building demanding that businesses be allowed to open up, people are allowed to work, and lives return to normal in Topeka on Thursday The protest was part of a growing national movement against stay-at-home orders designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus A Trump supporter wears a t-shirt with the president's likeness while holding signs calling Democratic Governor Laura Kelly a 'socialist' and a 'dictator' who 'rules like Putin' Demonstrators drive by the state capitol building as they demand that businesses be allowed to open in Topeka on Thursday About 150 people stood on the south side of the Statehouse or walked around the building with signs and American flags as at least 200 cars drove slowly around the building. Many of the participants carried signs or waved flags supporting the re-election of President Donald Trump. Other participants were anti-vaccine activists, members of the tea party movement and gun-rights supporters. One vehicle was festooned with a Confederate flag; one protest sign promoted a far-right conspiracy theory. But a recent Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey showed that Americans remain overwhelmingly in favor of stay-at-home orders and other efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus. At the Statehouse, a few local nurses stood silently in scrubs to thank health care workers and counter-protest. The protests came as the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Thursday reported 2,482 confirmed cases, up from 2,211 reported Wednesday. The state reported 112 people have died, two more than reported Wednesday. The number of infections is likely higher because many people have not been tested and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick. To help medical personnel respond to the cases in health care facilities and nursing homes, Kelly on Wednesday signed an executive order that suspends requirements that doctors supervise physician assistants, advanced practice practical nurses and licensed practical nurses. The order also allows nurses with inactive or lapsed licenses to provide services and permits medical or nursing students to volunteer to work in health care facilities. Our health care facilities need as much flexibility as possible as we approach our projected peak infection rate in the coming days to ensure that hospitals do not become overwhelmed, Kelly said during a news conference Wednesday. A man on horseback takes part in the anti-lockdown protest as he carries an American flag in Topeka on Thursday A military veteran armed with an M-16 assault rifle is seen above in front of the state capitol building in Topeka on Thursday A protester waves an American flag while holding signs demanding that the state lift stay-at-home orders in Topeka on Thursday 'Rights are not a form of business,' reads the sign held by a demonstrator in front of the state capitol building in Topeka on Thursday A small counter-protest staged by three health care workers is seen above in front of the state capitol building in Topeka on Thursday Kelly signed another order Wednesday that allows sales of alcoholic beverages that are not in their original containers. The order applies to bars and clubs but also would allow people to buy single drinks for takeout at restaurants. In order to prevent drinking while driving, the drinks must be inside a plastic bag that is tamper-proof before patrons can take it from the restaurant. State officials also announced the first confirmed cases at the Topeka Correctional Facility and the Kansas Neurological Institute. One female inmate tested positive at the prison for women in Topeka, and two male staff members had confirmed cases at the state hospital for developmentally disabled. The protests came as the Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Thursday reported 2,482 confirmed cases, up from 2,211 reported Wednesday Armed veterans pose in front of the state capitol building in Topeka, Kansas, on Thursday The state on Thursday reported 112 people have died, two more than reported Wednesday. The number of infections is likely higher because many people have not been tested and studies suggest people can be infected and not feel sick Other participants were anti-vaccine activists, members of the tea party movement and gun-rights supporters One vehicle was festooned with a Confederate flag; one protest sign promoted a far-right conspiracy theory Wesley Ralston of Dodge City, Kansas stands with protesters in front of the state capitol building in Topeka on Thursday A masked demonstrator walks in front of the state capitol building as protesters demand that businesses be allowed to open up Marian Stevens sells toilet paper in front of the state capitol building in Topeka on Thursday A woman tapes a sign to her car in front of the state capitol building in Topeka on Thursday State Senator Kevin Braun speaks to demonstrators in front of the state capitol building in Topeka on Thursday In Lansing, a group of protesters stood outside Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmers official residence, waved American flags and pro-Trump banners, and signs denouncing the Democrat. The centerpiece of the protest was a large parade float, also known as the Trump Unity Bridge, which had the words TRUMP and UNITY written in giant letters. There was also a large makeshift wall with the words Build the Wall written on it. The bridge, which measures some 50 feet long and more than 13 feet tall, weighs approximately 9,000 pounds. Driven by a Michigan resident and ardent supporter of the president, it has made appearances in several high-profile events, including Trumps inauguration and the Womens March in Washington, DC. Several of the presidents supporters stood in front of the float and did the MAGA dance where they sang and moved to the tune of the Village People hit YMCA though they changed the lyrics and letters to fit the acronym of Trumps signature slogan make America great again. The protest on Thursday appeared to be significantly smaller than the demonstration held last week outside of the State Capitol in Lansing. Large crowds of protesters gathered last week at the urging of Trump, who encouraged his followers to liberate Michigan as well as other states including Minnesota and Virginia. The Michigan protest was dubbed by organizers online as Operation Queens Castle. The event page on Facebook featured a photoshopped image of Whitmer wearing a crown. Theyre doing the MAGA dance now pic.twitter.com/fwXDnDBGqm Kara Berg (@karaberg95) April 23, 2020 In Lansing, Michigan, Trump supporters stand in front of the governor's mansion and do the 'MAGA dance' in front of the 'Trump unity bridge' - a 50ft float driven by a backer of the president who lives in Michigan A small caravan of protesters drive in the afternoon near Governor Gretchen Whitmer's official residence on Thursday A small group of protesters held signs and waved flags while demonstrating in front of Whitmer's official residence in Lansing on Thursday A group of open-carry advocates from Illinois chat with a Michigan State Police Trooper on Thursday in Lansing Trump supporters wave flags and banners praising the president during Thursday's demonstration in Lansing Several photographers and television camera people were on hand to document the protest in Lansing on Thursday A Michigan State Police Trooper patrols while a small caravan of protesters circle a neighborhood near the Michigan governor's mansion in Lansing It encouraged protesters to meet near the taxpayer-funded mansion to advocate re-opening Michigan NOW, as well as ask Whitmer why she does not follow her own order and Stay Home, Stay Safe? Officials in Michigan announced on Thursday that there were 1,325 new cases of COVID-19 and 164 new deaths. That brings the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the Wolverine State to 35,291 cases. The confirmed number of deaths stands at 2,977. Whitmer made clear on Wednesday that she will extend her stay-at-home order beyond April 30 and that some form of it will be in effect for a long time in Michigan, hinting that people age 65 and older and those with chronic lung problems may face restrictions longer than others. The governor said she hopes to say more on Friday about the loosening of business limits to restart parts of the economy during the coronavirus pandemic. People will have to stay home unless they are explicitly permitted to leave under what is expected to be a revised measure, she said. There will be a need for an extension of some sort, Whitmer told reporters. We know that even when we get to a stable moment, people who are compromised, who are vulnerable to COVID-19, are still going to need to stay home. Some version will be in effect for a while. Republicans who control the Michigan Legislature said they will meet Friday to pass bills to rein in Whitmers emergency powers and create a committee to oversee the states response to the coronavirus outbreak, a dramatic strike against the Democrat amid the health crisis. A spokeswoman for Whitmer promised a veto and said Republicans were playing dangerous partisan games while the governor is focused on saving lives and controlling the spread of the virus. Republicans are unhappy with the breadth of Whitmers stay-at-home order, though polling shows the public believes she made the right calls. Ships in Aberdeen Harbor, Scotland, April 3, 2020. (Gregor Schmatz/The New York Times) Stanley Reed For decades, the oil rigs rising out of the North Sea off Scotland provided Britain with hundreds of thousands of jobs in a thriving industry and billions in tax revenue. Much of that now seems a memory. The collapse in oil prices from the coronavirus pandemic, coupled with infections aboard the drilling rigs, are imperiling the vast industry that sprawls across the waters off Scotland and Norway. Oil companies are shelving investments worth billions of dollars. Staffing on the rigs has been cut, partly to reduce costs but also to provide some degree of social distancing on the often crowded platforms, putting those jobs at risk. At least two offshore workers have tested positive for the coronavirus. We have gone through commodity swings and cycles of that nature, but this one is different, said Jim House, chief executive of Neptune Energy, a private equity-backed oil and gas firm with production in both British and Norwegian waters. We have never seen a world completely shut down, he added. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show More important, though, may be the impact on the future of the North Sea oil and gas industry. Its health depends on finding new undersea fields and bringing them into production, but if prices remain low, as some analysts think likely, that wont happen. Follow our LIVE Updates on the coronavirus pandemic here The price of Brent crude, which was named for a North Sea oil field, has fallen by about 70% this year to just over $20 a barrel. Another type of crude, West Texas intermediate, shocked the industry when it fell into a negative price earlier this week. There are a lot of undeveloped fields in the North Sea, said Alexander Kemp, a professor of petroleum economics at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. At the very low prices seen this year, he said, a lot of them wont be viable. If so, the vast network of businesses that depend on the industry, from drillers and undersea pipe layers to providers of offshore living quarters known as floatels, could atrophy. A longer-term concern is perhaps jobs will be deemed not necessary, said Dave Stewart, a senior executive at Wood, an Aberdeen-based energy services company that employs more than 10,000 people in Britain. At $30 oil, you are not going to see a lot of investment. Innes Auchterlonie, co-founder and managing director of Imrrand, which crunches data to help streamline maintenance on offshore platforms, said he is faring well in the most turbulent conditions that the oil industry has seen in decades. Still, two of his contracts for work in the North Sea were recently canceled, and he worries about what may lie ahead for his company, which employs 45 people. My fear is, how long can we sustain it? he said, noting that oil companies are even cutting services like his that could save them money. I know what its like when you are hemorrhaging cash, he added. The crash in prices is likely to have wide-reaching implications for tax revenue, employment and the prosperity of oil-dependent cities like Aberdeen. Since the 1960s, the former fishing port, with distinctive granite buildings ringing a busy harbor, has thrived as an oil hub. The city, with a population of about 200,000, and its surrounding region outpaces both Scotland and Britain overall in metrics like economic output per capita and employment. Now local leaders say the oil industrys second steep downturn in six years may accelerate changes already underway. Some workers are relocating to offshore oil projects in places like Brazil or Angola, where their skills are valuable in newer fields. Others are turning to cleaner energy, like offshore wind and hydrogen. Everyone accepts there will be a big impact, said Barney Crockett, a Labour Party politician who serves as lord provost, or mayor, of Aberdeen. We will definitely see a bigger emphasis on nonfossil energy. British waters are still productive, producing 1.7 million barrels a day three-quarters of Britains oil consumption and half its natural gas needs. But veterans of the North Sea oil industry now say that the world that emerges after the lockdowns may be different less reliant on driving, flying and other habits that stoke the need for oil. Demand will come back, but it wont come back fast, said Mike Tholen, director of sustainability at Oil and Gas UK, which represents the North Sea industry. We may be in an era of having seen peak oil demand, he added. Analysts say that governments will likely continue to promote measures to tackle climate change by cutting carbon-dioxide emissions, which means reduced demand for oil. Crises tend to bring forward trends that were already in place, said Martijn Rats, an oil analyst at Morgan Stanley, an investment bank. Already, oil companies are delaying projects that represent the regions future. Siccar Point a drilling company backed by Blackstone, the giant fund manager, and Royal Dutch Shell, Europes largest oil company recently delayed what was anticipated to be the British North Seas premier project this year: the estimated $3 billion first phase of a field called Cambo. It makes sense to hold off final approval until some normality returns to the market, said Siccars chief executive, Jonathan Roger, in a statement. Analysts at Rystad Energy, a consultancy, had estimated that the project would require around 1,000 engineers and technicians. Projects are being postponed not just for economic reasons but because of worries about safety, analysts say. Offshore platforms are a focus of unease amid the coronavirus pandemic. Workers are flown out by helicopter and spend two- to three-week shifts on the rigs, sleeping in small rooms sometimes shared with a colleague. The industry has begun conducting health checks at the heliports and reducing numbers on the platforms. Usually about 11,500 workers are on the platforms at any time; that number has been cut by about 4,000, partly to ease crowding, but workers say it is still not easy to maintain the recommended social distancing rules. Oil workers are very concerned about being offshore, said John Boland, a Scotland regional officer of the Unite union, which represents industry employees. On April 2, a worker who became ill and later tested positive for the coronavirus was flown by helicopter from Clair Ridge, a BP field in waters north of Scotland. BP temporarily halted drilling in order to isolate others. (The worker has since been released from the hospital.) The pandemic is the second shock to the region in just six years. After oil prices crashed in 2014, Britains North Sea operators slashed costs and profits rose, but investment is about one-quarter of 2014 levels. The number of jobs supported by the oil industry about 270,000 is just 60% of what it was in 2013. Neivan Boroujerdi, an analyst at Wood Mackenzie in Edinburgh, Scotland, said investors are now shying away from oil, especially from British waters, where production costs are relatively high. Companies like Chevron and ConocoPhillips had sold stakes in the area before the latest price collapse. The North Sea has a challenge to attract any kind of capital, Boroujerdi said. Operators in Norwegian waters within easy reach of Aberdeen are also slashing costs, but Boroujerdi said that Norway had more oil and gas left in its fields than Britain. The handful of companies that dominate in this area, led by state-controlled Equinor, would likely try to protect Norwegian investments, cushioning the blow of market turmoil, he said. Oil and gas was once a major source of tax revenue for Britain, but no longer. Annual tax revenues paid to the British government dwindled from about 11 billion pounds to just over 1 billion pounds last year. Analysts say the industry, facing steep financial losses, may not pay any taxes on production this year. Most British oil and gas fields are in what would likely be Scottish waters if the independence movement there succeeds. Scottish nationalists once argued that gaining control of the tax revenues would be a boon from independence, but that argument is dead now. Sir Ian Wood, who helped establish the North Sea as a vital source of oil, has been trying for several years to prepare the region for the inevitable decline of the industry he helped create. In the late 1960s, just as drilling began in the region, Wood, who worked for a family ship repair business, started to service oil equipment. He built the company now called Wood into a global energy contractor and became one of Scotlands richest residents. Wood, 77, who has retired as chairman, is now looking beyond oil. Through his family foundation he is financing an organization called Opportunity North East that aims to make the most of the regions skills in new areas like offshore wind and hydrogen. That should in theory carry on forever if renewable energy is what it is, he said. c.2020 The New York Times Company A U.S. Air Force member was arrested at his base in Arizona on Tuesday in the murder of a Mennonite woman who disappeared from her New Mexico home at the end of January, authorities said Wednesday. Mark Gooch, 21, an airman first class, was arrested at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale and booked at the Maricopa County Jail on charges of premeditated first-degree murder, first-degree murder during the commission of a crime, kidnapping and theft in connection with the disappearance and death of Sasha Marie Krause, according to the San Juan County Sheriff's Office in New Mexico. Image: Sasha Krause. (San Juan County Sheriff's Office) Krause, 27, was last seen leaving her Crouch Mesa, New Mexico, home at 8 p.m. on Jan. 18. Her body was discovered in Coconino County, Arizona, more than 270 miles away, about a month later. San Juan County Sheriff Shane Ferrari said the case was peculiar from the start because Krause disappeared from a "very secluded" Mennonite community that revolved around a church and a bookstore. "They have a business, they live on site, and we never respond there very often for anything, so it struck us as very odd that we had someone missing, especially because you see them out in a group and having someone gone was very strange to us," the sheriff said. After Krause's body was found, the investigation was considered criminal, and a $50,000 reward was offered for information in the case. "Over the last few months, San Juan County has lived in fear, not knowing if we had a predator living inside of our community or somebody that was preying upon it," Ferrari said Tuesday. "I can assure you, we have our man." Mark Gooch, 21, an Airman First Class with the U.S. Air Force. (San Juan County Sheriff's Office) "The Sheriff of Coconino County and I are committed to making sure that Mark Gooch receives a max sentence for these horrible crimes, and yes, Arizona still has the death penalty," Ferrari said in a video statement. "We have the right person responsible for this horrendous crime." A statement from the Coconino County Sheriffs Office said its investigation determined "during the time Sasha Krause went missing, Gooch had traveled from Luke Air Force Base, where he lives, to Farmington, New Mexico," and "further investigation placed Gooch near Sunset Crater in Coconino County where Krauses body was located." It's unclear if Gooch has a lawyer. Neither the U.S. Air Force nor a representative for Luke Air Force Base immediately responded to requests for comment. Pairing wine with food has come to symbolize much of the intimidation, apprehension and pretension that, for many people, intrude on the elemental enjoyment of a good bottle. Why? Because the notion that you require books, apps and arcane charts and graphs to determine which sort of wine will mesh with the characteristics of a particular dish suggests that without a method, you can make a mistake. You might be wrong. You could be embarrassed. We all know how that goes: Doubt. Anxiety. Shame. Why even risk it? Here at Wine School we believe we know that wine is a pleasure to be enjoyed without fear. We lament the real feelings of discomfort that people have toward wine. We seek to determine the causes and eliminate the problems. One major reason for such anxiety is the feeling among many people that in order to enjoy wine, one must understand everything about it first. That requires long-term study. Photo credit: Earl Gibson III - Getty Images From Oprah Magazine Beyonces BeyGOOD will donate $6 million to mental health facilities across the United States. The initiative has partnered with Jack Dorseys #startsmall to provide aid to people suffering from the effects of the coronavirus. Beyonce has joined in the mission to raise awareness and funds for COVID-19 relief. The Grammy Award winner, through BeyGOOD, her charitable initiative, has partnered with Twitter CEO Jack Dorseys #Startsmall, donating $6 million to aid organizations that provide mental wellness services. The recipients include health facilities supported by UCLA, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (particularly in New York, Houston, New Orleans, and Detroit), the United Memorial Medical Center, Bread of Life, Mathew 25, and more. Since the coronavirus outbreak, many groups have been created to help small businesses, scientific research, and child welfareboth locally and nationally. Bey, however, is focusing on communities in metropolises that have been especially hit hard. In our major cities, African-Americans comprise a disproportionate number of workers in these indispensable occupations, and they will need mental health support and personal wellness care, including testing and medical services, food supplies and food deliveries, both during and after the crisis, read a statement released by Beyonces representatives. Her act of generosity follows other celebrities who have pledged substantial monetary aid. They include her husband, Jay-Z, as well as Rihanna, Demi Lovato, and Dorsey, who sparked these charitable efforts with his $1 billion donation. Like Beyonce, all are committed to helping those in need during this trying time. Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij on Thursday asked the police to act against political leaders violating the lockdown to contain the coronavirus outbreak, PTI reported. Referring to recent visits to grain markets by opposition leaders, who have alleged mismanagement in the wheat procurement, Vij said it came to the fore that crowds build up due to their visits and social distancing is not being maintained. Vij, however, said he does not want to point out any particular leader. Action will be taken against any political leader, whether from the ruling party or the opposition if found ... Officials in the northern China city of Harbin have underreported cases of the CCP virus during the second wave of its local outbreak, according to internal government documents obtained by The Epoch Times. Meanwhile, one major hospital in Harbin has stopped accepting new patients because of overcapacity and infections among medical staff. Some workers were being observed for symptoms at quarantine centers. In early April, authorities in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang reported another wave of infections in several cities, the most severe in Harbin, the provincial capital. When Chinas initial outbreak became severe in January, Harbin designated 24 hospitals for treating patients with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus. The Epoch Times also obtained an internal warning notice issued by the Heilongjiang government on April 13, in which it admitted that the outbreak in Harbin was in an aggregated, explosive situation. Real Figures The Epoch Times obtained a statistical data sheet from Daowai, one of 18 districts in Harbin, which recorded the newly diagnosed patients in the district on April 10. The sheet listed 34 peoples names, ID numbers, cellphone numbers, antibody test results, and other information. All patients who were tested were close contacts of confirmed patients, though its unclear whether they were close contacts of the same patients. All of them were counted as domestic infections, which means they werent contacts of people who had returned to China from another country. Heilongjiang authorities require that all suspected patients receive a nucleic acid diagnostic test, antibody blood test, and a CT scan. An expert will then confirm whether the patient has the virus. While the data sheet only showed the results of the patients antibody blood test, officials determined all 34 to be diagnosed patients on April 10. Of the group, 20 were being treated at Harbin No. 2 Hospital, while the other 14 were sent to four quarantine centerssites usually converted from hotels. Government policy is to treat all diagnosed patients at designated hospitals in China; confirmed virus patients staying at quarantine centers may indicate that local hospitals have become fully occupied with patients. The Chinese regime hasnt announced the true situation of the outbreak since day one, so we have to think about the worst-case scenario, said U.S.-based China affairs commentator Tang Jingyuan in an interview. When hospitals are full, patients with mild symptoms may have to stay at quarantine centers. Official Data For April 10, Harbin only announced one infection: an 87-year-old man, named Mr. Chen, who lives in Daowai. Harbin authorities claimed he was the citys second domestic infection in the second-wave outbreak. Meanwhile, internal data demonstrates far more infections that day. Harbin authorities also said that the first infection in the citys second wave was diagnosed on April 9, identifying the patient as a 54-year-old man surnamed Guo from Daowai. They also found that Guo had been in close contact with 24 people. Authorities later announced that close contacts of Guo were asymptomatic, while several close contacts of Chen later tested positive. Chen has spread the virus to a total of 78 people, who were from Harbin, other cities in Heilongjiang province, as well as one from Liaoning province, and two from Inner Mongolia, state-run Beijing Daily reported on April 22. They had come into contact with Chen at the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University and Harbin No. 2 Hospital, where Chen was being treated. The 78 people were either receiving treatment at the hospital or relatives of patients at the hospital. However, none of the announced 78 patients, nor Chens close contacts announced by authorities as virus patients, match the patients listed on the data sheet obtained by The Epoch Times. The 34 patients diagnosed on April 10 arent contacts of Guo or Chen, so how they became infected is a mystery. Severe Situation Two doctors and six nurses were diagnosed with the virus at Harbin No. 2 Hospital, and were being treated at designated hospitals, state-run newspaper Yangtze Daily reported on April 22, citing the Heilongjiang provincial health commission. Meanwhile, 216 medical staff from the hospital were under observation at quarantine centers; 189 others were sent home to self-quarantine. Only about 130 remain at work in the hospital. Harbin No. 2 Hospital announced on April 20 that it would not take any more new patients because there are too many coronavirus infections in our hospital recently. Harbin residents told the Chinese-language Epoch Times that they are very nervous about the viruss spread. The alert level in Daowai district is very, very high. Its horrible Some residential units, residential buildings, and residential compounds were locked down, said Mr. Li, a Daowai resident. Li said that authorities lock down a unit if a member of the household is confirmed to have the virus. When several units have infections, the whole building will be locked down. When several buildings within a complex have infections, the whole residential compound will be locked down. He thinks there are far more infections that authorities have admitted. The government hasnt announced the truth, he said. Another resident of Harbin, Mr. Yu, told the Chinese-language Epoch Times that he heard of outbreaks in Qiqihar, a city to the north. Qiqihar authorities havent announced new diagnoses in recent weeks. From The Epoch Times Reopening Yellowstone National Park is going to be a lot more difficult than it was to shut it down a month ago as the coronavirus pandemic spread. Were figuring out the best way to shape a clear path forward in a very unclear situation, Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly said in a Tuesday conference call. For example, although no date for reopening the park has been set, the parks seasonal staff has already been cut in half in order to provide separate quarters for each employee. Another 200 to 300 park seasonals that are usually hired are being kept in a holding pattern, Sholly said, and may not ever be brought in depending on how the summer goes. Total park seasonal employment, which includes concessionaires like Xanterra Travel Collection and Delaware North, which operate many of the larger hotels, stores and restaurants, runs to about 3,500 to 4,500 employees from around the nation and world. Decisions The parks decision to provide separate housing for its seasonal workers is one of many moves that park managers have been discussing while trying to figure out what reopening the park might look like. Their discussion also highlighted the many unknowns that the park staff faces: When will surrounding states lift their travel restrictions? How many people would come if Yellowstone reopens? Will there be many international travelers this summer, or will it be mostly regional? How much notice do businesses outside the park need to prepare for a reopening? Although lodging reservations are strong for August, how many of those people will cancel? Should tour buses be banned since they make it more difficult to social distance? Although high tourism in past summers has prompted discussions about capping the parks daily visitation, or initiating a reservation system, Sholly said that is not a tactic now being considered. We have no plans right now to substantially incorporate reservation only or cap visitors coming into the park once we get to that opening point, he said. So what I would say is we will adapt as we go. Questions about only opening the park to locals gets complicated, Sholly said, in defining who is local and who is not. Cooperation For certain, Sholly stressed, any reopening would be done only with full cooperation from surrounding state, county and local officials as well as those involved in the tourism industry. I want to really stress what critical and important partners you are to all of us, he said. There was a clear consensus among those people that Yellowstone should close, which occurred in late March, to lessen the spread of COVID-19, Sholly said. But cracks are beginning to show in that accord, he added, although a majority still support remaining closed through April and into May. Protests have been held recently across the country with people calling on governors to lift restrictions on business closures as unemployment reaches record highs. Tourism spending alone has dropped 85%, according to the U.S. Travel Association and the analytics firm Tourism Economics, with 8 million tourism employees projected to be out of work by the end of April, about one-third of the nations total unemployment. Whats up next When Yellowstone does invite tourists back, heres what travelers might expect. Sholly said it could be a phased-in approach with very few services available, including limited store hours, no lodging at hotels and a staggered opening of campgrounds. The plan also has to be flexible to possibly reduce visitation if there are coronavirus outbreaks related to travel into Yellowstone, he said. No. 1 for us is to have confidence in the plan that we develop about what we want to do, how we want to communicate with visitors that are coming in, what type of mitigation actions were taking both in the park or in the communities, some level of, for lack of a better term, expectations that we have of people traveling to this area, Sholly said. I dont know exactly what that looks like but I think thats got to be a combined gateway, Yellowstone, state, plural effort thats as consistent as possible. Plowing Last Friday, April 17, would have been the usual spring opening of many Yellowstone roads and some services following the winter season. So road plowing has continued. Were working to be as ready as possible for reopening, Sholly said. However, Sholly said he would leave it up to Cooke City residents to decide whether they want the park to plow the plug along Highway 212 between the town and Highway 296 near the base of the Beartooth Scenic Byway. Sholly suggested the road could be plowed and then closed with concrete barriers so that, when the community was prepared to reopen, the route would be ready. Right now, travel to Cooke City and Silver Gate, near the Northeast Entrance to the park, is being discouraged since the only route there is through Yellowstone and services in the towns are minimal. Likewise, the Montana Department of Transportation has begun plowing its side of the Beartooth Pass even though the parks opening date is uncertain. It typically takes MDT well over a month to clear the Beartooth Pass, and so even though we are working on clearing the road now it wont be ready to be opened until Memorial Day weekend, said Lori Ryan, MDT public information officer, in an email. We have been in contact with the National Park Service and they want (to) be ready for when the park opens. NPS is planning on opening the Wyoming side of US-212 on the regularly scheduled Memorial Day weekend too. Construction Although the decision on when to allow tourists back into the park is still unknown, Sholly said he is allowing some construction projects to proceed. These include a $100 million contract to improve the road between Tower Junction and Mount Washburn, a road that dates back to the 1930s. The contractor is being required to provide the park with COVID-19 plans, he said. An employee housing project near Mammoth Hot Springs is also underway. Other projects that werent as far along or could be pushed back have been idled for now, Sholly said. Were trying to be as prudent and judicious as possible. Brigadier General Hossein Salami, deputy commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, speaks during a conference on the approaching 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in the capital Tehran on Dec. 29, 2018. ( Atta Kenare/AFP/Getty Images) Top Iran General Warns US Ships Will Be Destroyed If They Threaten Irans Security The leader of Irans Revolutionary Guards Corps warned that American ships will be destroyed if they are considered a threat to Iranian security in the Persian Gulf. Major General Hossein Salami, the commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Guards, threatened to attack any U.S. warship that it believes is a threat to an Iranian vessel or its military. We have also ordered our military units at sea that if a vessel or military unit of the navy of the U.S.s terrorist military seeks to threaten the security of our civilian ships or combat vessels, they should target that (enemy) vessel or military unit, he told state-run media, adding that we are fully determined and serious in defending our national security, maritime borders, maritime interests, maritime security and security of our forces at sea. Salami then claimed any (wrong) move (by enemies) will meet our decisive, effective, and prompt response. His comments come a day after President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter that he told the Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea. Soldiers in facemasks guard a road leading to a COVID-19 quarantine facility in Sukkur, Iran, on March 17, 2020. (Shahid Ali/AFP/Getty Images) Iran earlier this week said it launched its first military satellite into orbit. Today, we are looking at the Earth from the sky, and it is the beginning of the formation of a world power, Salami said Wednesday, according to the state-backed Fars news agency. The U.S. military also said that 11 Iranian vessels made dangerous and harassing approaches at Coast Guard and Navy ships in the Persian Gulf area last week. Tensions between Washington and Tehran have been high after Trump withdrew from the 2015 Obama-era nuclear deal with Iran and several other countries. Late last year, Iranian-backed proxy militia groups launched an attack that killed an American contractor in Iraq, causing the U.S. to carry out airstrikes in the country. Then, Iraqi Shiite militia groups attempted to storm the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad before the White House authorized a drone strike to kill top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani in January. At the time, top Defense Department officials said Soleimani was planning attacks in the area, while also noting that forces loyal to him in the region killed scores of American soldiers. Days later, Iran launched a barrage of missiles on two Iraqi airbases housing American troops, causing minor injuries to more than 100 soldiers. Tensions, however, have appeared to ease in the wake of the strikes and the surge in CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus cases in Iran and later in the United States. In March, rockets were fired at several bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) The countrys biggest island-group, Luzon, might experience a massive and widespread economic meltdown as it endures a 45-day lockdown. The country is expected to have an estimated loss of P767.19 billion, or 3.85% of the gross domestic product (GDP), according to a recovery plan prepared by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). Acting Socioeconomic Planning chief Karl Chua confirmed on Wednesday the estimates on the copy of recovery plan obtained by CNN Philippines. The 94-page document indicates CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) region will be hardest hit, with the lockdown denting its economy by P314.6 billion or 10.71% of GDP. Rounding up the top three heavily buffeted by the crisis are Metro Manila (P269.2 billion losses or 3.6% of GDP) and Central Luzon (P103.8 billion or 5.6% of GDP). The estimated losses were based on three separate surveys conducted by NEDA from April 5 to 8. The respondents were from 44,097 companies from micro and small retailers to large businesses 6,863 farmers and fisherfolk, and 390,093 consumers. Business losses are in the billions with the majority reporting zero sales in March and April. Retailers reported P97.9 billion in revenue losses, while restaurants, hotel and tourism industries, a combined P30.6 billion. Even private schools are not spared. They expect losses mainly through tuition fees -- of up to P142 billion if they remain closed by August. The impact will be at a softer P55 billion if schools reopen by that month. As production except food grinds to a halt, factories (P525.2 billion), miners (P16.5 billion) and builders (41.7 billion) take a major hit, missing out on hefty revenue at over half a trillion pesos combined. Farmers said they lost P73 million because their crops were not sold. And close to home, household debts are expected to pile up. Small businesses that shut down are unable to pay back cash they borrowed as capital. Thirty seven percent of consumers polled say they had lower income because they lost their jobs. So banks are looking at P368 billion in loan defaults. These are survey results and were actually fielding a second bigger survey to understand better the quantitative because the first survey that we launched is more qualitative. Its a fast survey to help us understand what is really happening and what are the general directions and we know from those that most businesses are affected, Chua said in a CNN Philippines TV interview on Wednesday. Thats why we launched the support quickly, he said. In a nutshell, the proposed economic plan allows the economy to slow down because of the lockdown to contain COVID-19, but losses will be tempered by massive government assistance. The government is already working on its assistance to different sectors affected by the crisis. They include cash dole-outs to the poorest, wage subsidies to the jobless, tax relief and loan guarantees for small businesses, and, getting the national ID system up and running to target who needs aid the most. The COVID-19 pandemic is probably the most significant shock of the century," said NEDA. "Worse, the only solution, at the moment, is to slow down economic activity." The recovery blueprint also said the global disruptions coupled with the travel restrictions, weaker business and consumer confidence, as well as the enhanced community quarantine, could reduce domestic economy growth to 1.0 to 0.0 percent in 2020. Chua, in a Tuesday virtual media briefing, said the economy could teeter between zero growth and a 0.8% contraction. Although the recovery plan did not propose a lockdown extension, it suggested a need for community quarantines in certain periods. Furthermore, NEDA said that flexible work arrangements and social distancing even in the workplace will be part of the new normal. Mass transport, once resumed, will have fewer passengers or in technical parlance, reduced load factor. Travel and mass gatherings will remain restricted. NEDA also wanted the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to draw up a detailed action plan to boost the health system capacity. Longer wish list Big and small businesses have welcomed the NEDA-drafted recovery plan which aimed at steering them out of the COVID-19 crisis. But their wish is longer. [The recovery plan] is very short term and will need, at another stage, structural changes to deal with the many millions of unemployed, a foreign investor from a foreign chamber group said in a mobile phone reply. Businessman-lawyer Perry Pe, who is also a former president of the Management Association of the Philippines, said the Department of Finance may need to rethink its earlier plan of cutting tax incentives which he noted harms exporters. Taking away their incentives may no longer work post-COVID, he said. Senate finance committee head Sonny Angara said the government should spend more on information technlogy infrastructure. I would just add expanding and protecting bandwidth and assisting smaller establishments to expand their online presence," the senator said in a mobile phone reply. "Thats where things are going so we must be inclusive otherwise only big guys will benefit." Franchisers emphasized the need to rebuild business confidence. Very important is mental health of the entrepreneurs, said Butz Bartolome, founder of the Association of Filipino Franchisers. They have to rebuild that confidence again because a lot of them have lost confidence in terms of where will I go? How will I restart? I lost a lot." said Bartolome. "Even paying debts, they need to be taught well how to restructure their debt payment," he also said. "Its not a doleout. Because if its a doleout, youre not doing them a favor. Deepika Padukone, who was last seen in Chhapaak, has actively spoken about the importance of mental health. Bollywood star Deepika Padukone has announced that her conversation with World Health Organisation (WHO) Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on mental health during the coronavirus pandemic has been called off for the moment. The actor was set to discuss mental health issues amidst the coronavirus pandemic with the United Nations (UN) health agency chief on Thursday. (Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak In a statement on her Instagram Story on Wednesday, Deepika said the chat has been "put on hold" due to "highly unavoidable circumstances". "I regret to inform you that due to unforeseen and highly unavoidable circumstances the conversation, ''prioritising mental health during the pandemic and beyond'' between Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO and I, schedule for April 23rd, 2020 has been put on hold until further notice," the actor said. "Having said that, mental health is a very real and valid aspect of this pandemic; one that I hope we prioritise and nurture through these unusual time and beyond," she added. The Chhapaak star, who was diagnosed with depression in 2014, had announced on 19 April that she will engage in a discussion with Dr Tedros with the aim to prioritise mental health during the pandemic. NEW YORK After two months and more than 10,000 deaths that have made the nations nursing homes some of the most terrifying places to be during the coronavirus crisis, most of them still dont have access to enough tests to help control outbreaks among their frail, elderly residents. Neither the federal government nor the leader in nursing home deaths, New York, has mandated testing for all residents and staff. An industry group says only about a third of the nation's 15,000 nursing homes have ready access to tests that can help isolate the sick and stop the spread. And homes that do manage to get a hold of tests often rely on luck and contacts. "It just shows that the longer that states lapse in universal testing of all residents and staff, we're going to see these kinds of stories for a very long time," said Brian Lee of the advocacy group Families for Better Care. "Once it's in, there's no stopping it and by the time you're aware with testing, too many people have it. And bodies keep piling up." That became clear in some of the nation's biggest nursing home outbreaks. After a home in New York City's Brooklyn borough reported 55 coronavirus deaths last week, its CEO acknowledged it was based entirely on symptoms and educated guesses the dead had COVID-19 because they were unable to actually test any of the residents or staff. At a nursing home in suburban Richmond, Virginia, that has so far seen 49 deaths, the medical director said testing of all residents was delayed nearly two weeks because of a shortage of testing supplies and bureaucratic requirements. By the time they did, the spread was out of control, with 92 residents positive. While Oregon has so far been spared some of the worst-case scenarios of coronavirus outbreaks that have played out in New York City and other cities, senior care homes in the state continue to face a particular threat. About half of all coronavirus deaths in Oregon are people from nursing homes, assisted living centers and a retirement community. As of last Friday, 33 homes had at least one confirmed case. Related: They were going down fast Families describe coronavirus chaos and death at SE Portland nursing home Mark Parkinson, CEO of the American Health Care Association, which represents long-term care facilities, says "only a very small percentage" of residents and staff have been tested because the federal and state governments have not made nursing homes the top priority. "We feel like we've been ignored," Parkinson said. "Certainly now that the emphasis has gone away from hospitals to where the real battle is taking place in nursing homes, we should be at a priority level one." Two-thirds of U.S. nursing homes still don't have "easy access to test kits" and are struggling to obtain sufficient resources, said Chris Laxton, executive director of The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. "Those nursing home leaders who have developed good relationships with their local hospitals and health departments seem to have better luck," said Laxton, whose organization represents more than 50,000 long-term care professionals. "Those that are not at the table must fend for themselves." Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter Public health officials have long argued that current measures like temperature checks aren't sufficient. They can't stop workers with the virus who aren't showing signs from walking in the front door, and they don't catch such asymptomatic carriers among residents either. What is needed is rigorous and frequent testing "sentinel surveillance," White House virus chief Deborah Birx calls it to find these hidden carriers, isolate them and stop the spread. The U.S. is currently testing roughly 150,000 people daily, for a total of 4.5 million results reported, according to data compiled by the COVID Tracking Project. Public health experts say that needs to be much higher. "We need likely millions of tests a day," said Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute. The federal Health & Human Services Department told The Associated Press that "there are plenty of tests and capability for all" priority categories and that all should be tested. The agency noted that federal help has been dispatched to some nursing homes. Only one governor, West Virginia's Jim Justice, appears to be mandating testing for all nursing homes without conditions. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan ordered tests at all 26 nursing in the city, using new kits that can spew out results in 15 minutes. Massachusetts abruptly halted a program to send test kits directly to nursing homes this week after 4,000 of them turned out to be faulty. New Hampshire teamed with an urgent-care company to test care workers. Several states including Colorado, Florida, Maryland, Tennessee and Wisconsin have dispatched National Guard testing strike teams. "It's a snapshot," New Hampshire Health Care Association President Brendan Williams said of the national piecemeal approach. "We need a motion picture." While the federal government promised this week to start tracking and publicly releasing nursing home infections and deaths, which could help identify hotspots, that work was only beginning. In the meantime, The AP's own tally from state health departments and media reports put the count at 10,217 deaths from outbreaks in nursing homes and long-term care facilities nationwide. About a third of those are in New York. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has described COVID-19 in nursing homes as "fire through dry grass," said he would ideally like to see any resident, staffer or visitor seeking to enter a nursing home take a rapid test that would come back in 20 minutes. But, he said, "that's millions of tests." Dr. Roy Goldberg, medical director of a nursing home in New York City's Bronx borough that this past week reported 45 deaths, said his facility still can't test asymptomatic patients because of shortages that have limited testing to those showing fever or a cough. "This isn't what anyone signed up for," Goldberg said. "It just breaks my heart that the long-term care industry is going to end up being totally scapegoated on this." Amid the tragedies have emerged hopeful cases in which early and aggressive testing has made huge difference. After the first of two deaths at a Sheboygan, Wisconsin, nursing home and other residents and staffers started falling ill, administrator Colinda Nappa got on the phone and pleaded with state officials: "I got to know what is going on,." A 65-member National Guard testing unit soon showed up, donned head-to-toe protective suits and quickly tested nearly 100 residents and 150 staffers. In all, 19 residents and staffers tested positive and all are either now housed in a special section of the building or quarantined at home. There have been no more deaths. In the Seattle area, which had the nation's first major nursing home outbreak that eventually claimed 43 lives, health officials are targeting their testing efforts on homes that have shown little sign of the disease. Their plans for testing at 19 such facilities are aimed at trying to head off hotspots by quickly identifying and containing cases. In conjunction with ramped-up capacity for tracing contacts of patients, it's considered an important prerequisite to reopening he economy. This past week, medical professionals led by the University of Washington's Dr. Thuan Ong went room by room through a nursing home in a highly orchestrated ballet of swabbing and bagging. In all, 115 residents were tested and results came back the next day as all negative a development that drew cheers from the facility's staff. "One of the greatest values," Ong said, "is to catch it before it spreads." The Associated Press Subscribe to our Oregon coronavirus newsletter: The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) on Thursday said it has recognised eight new hybrid maize varieties as promising for release in different seasons and agro-ecologies in the country. These maize varieties have been identified after discussion with farm scientists through a digital workshop of the All India Coordinated Research Project (AICRP) attended by 150 participants from across the country. Addressing the workshop, the country's premier government research body ICAR Director General Trilochan Mohapatra appreciated the efforts of maize scientists for continuing with the research work amid the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. He asked the Ludhiana-based ICAR-Indian Institute of Maize Research (ICAR-IIMR) to carry out basic, strategic and applied research for enhancing production, productivity and sustainability of the crop. AICRP on maize needs to play a leadership role to make maize as the future crop of the country, he said. "In this workshop, eight new maize hybrids have been identified as promising for the release in different seasons and agro-ecologies of the country," ICAR said in a statement. The standard operating protocols (SOPs) for conducting various research projects in AICRP on maize were also discussed and finalised during the workshop, it said. On this occasion, a bilingual mobile app called 'Makka' was launched for the benefit of farmers, industries and other stakeholders in maize. This app (English and Hindi) has video, static and dynamic features on the crop varietal selection, pest and fertiliser solution, fertiliser/pesticide calculation, crop cultivation practices, mechanisation, news/updates and advisories to the farmers, ICAR added. That apart, the workshop recommended zero-tilled maize after rice, sensor-based nitrogen management, post emergence herbicide for weed control -- for increasing the farm profitability, input use efficiency and reducing drudgery in maize production. The outbreak of pest attack Fall Armyworm (FAW) that had threatened maize crop last year was also discussed in the workshop. To contain the pest disease, the ICAR said as many as 102 training programmes were conducted in the country, benefiting over 10,000 stakeholders for management of FAW. The demos were conducted in over 1,500 hectare on improving maize productive practices in various parts of the country. Maize or corn is a very important crop used as poultry and animal feed and raw material in starch industries besides use as food. The crop also has potential for green fuel (ethanol) production and cultivated in all states of the country. Specialty maize such as sweet corn, baby corn and popcorn are also gaining much popularity and being developed by the ICAR. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Montana's churches can hold services on Sunday and some businesses will be able to reopen Monday as long as they practice social distancing, Gov. Steve Bullock said Wednesday in easing coronavirus restrictions. Restaurants, bars and casinos can reopen on May 4 with reduced capacity and an 11:30 p.m. closure time. Schools have the option to return to in-classroom instruction on May 7, but districts can choose to continue distance learning, as well, Bullock said. During the first reopening phase, people over age 65 and those with underlying health conditions are asked to continue to stay at home. Senior and assisted living facilities must prohibit visitors, and people are asked to avoid gathering in groups of more than 10 people if the situation does not allow for social distancing. Residents are asked to minimize non-essential travel and to self-quarantine for 14 days after returning to the state. Gyms, pools, movie theaters and bowling alleys will remain closed during the first phase of reopening. The Montana Hospital Association is lifting its March 26 recommendation that hospitals cancel elective procedures to ensure they could adequately provide care for people who contracted COVID-19, as long as they have adequate protective equipment for staff and patients and have the flexibility to react if there is an increase in COVID-19 cases. Employers are asked to encourage telework, offer staggered scheduling to improve social distancing, to monitor workers for symptoms and to close common areas, such as break rooms. County health departments reported two more deaths because of COVID-19 on Wednesday. Toole County announced its sixth death, a man in his 70s, while Flathead County announced its second death, raising the states total to 14. Flathead County officials say the person who died was over the age of 65 and had underlying health conditions. Montana reported two more COVID-19 cases from 342 tests that were run on Tuesday, raising the states total confirmed cases to nearly 439. Thirteen people remain hospitalized. Symptoms of COVID-19 can include fever, cough and trouble breathing. Most develop only mild symptoms. But some people, usually those with other medical complications, develop more severe symptoms, including pneumonia, which can be fatal. Face masks are becoming a necessity in a lot of states. Getty From boiling masks in pots to washing them in dishwashers to charring them in microwaves, many people are cleaning their masks in unusual ways. Officially the CDC advises people to throw their masks in the washing machine, and clean them routinely, while more delicate masks may require handwashing. When cleaning a mask, remember that heat is key, because viruses just can't take the heat. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal's Office are urging locals not to use their microwaves in a flaw attempt to sterilize face masks. The agency posted two photos of charred masks to their Facebook page, which they said came from residents who tried to cook their masks clean. Other people have taken to boiling their masks in a large pot or dishwasher and even a rice cooker. Some reseach found that high heat can shorten the life of the new coronavirus Research has found that past coronaviruses, like SARS, do not like the heat. One study, published in the Lancet, found that the SARS-CoV-2 lasted up to two weeks in a test tube with a temperature of 39 degrees Fahrenheit, but with a temperature of 99 degrees Fahrenheit, the virus only lasted a day. Research into other coronaviruses found that heat shortened the virus' life. A jump from 68 degrees to 86 degrees Fahrenheit slashed the amount of time the SARS virus lasted on surfaces in half, according to a study published in The Journal of Hospital Infection. But, that does not mean a microwave is more effective than hot water. It will probably just burn or cook the mask. Related: The Right Way to Clean, Disinfect Surfaces Against COVID-19 How you should wash a face mask Face masks should be routinely washed, and people should be careful when they're handling face masks that have been used near other people, not touching their eyes, nose or mouth, and washing their hands. According to the CDC, putting a cloth face mask in the washing machine should be enough to sterilize it. Story continues The director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab suggested that face masks should be washed with hot water in a washing machine and dried on high heat, while more delicate masks might require handwashing with soap. The key is using hot water, because viruses cannot live if they are exposed to hot water. Previous research has found that water heated to 140 degrees Fahrenheit has been effective at degrading most viruses. When washing your mask, use a detergent with bleach or other active ingredients to ensure you are killing any microbes that may be on the mask. "Changing out or laundering a cloth mask should follow the same routine as underwear," Darrell Spurlock, director of the Leadership Center for Nursing Education Research at Widener University told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "Change them daily and when soiled." Insider Globally, over 2.65 million people have now been infected with COVID-19, and more than 185,400 have lost their lives. Over 2.65 million people have now been infected with COVID-19, and over 185,400 have lost their lives. In another reality check, the ratings agency Fitch said that the world would experience the worst post-war recession and the situation would be twice as bad as the global recession of 2009. Here are some major developments from across the world. The US approves first home testing kit The FDA has given the nod to the first at-home testing kit made by the company LabCorp. To begin with, the kit will only be available to frontline health workers. An online questionnaire and approval from a physician are required to access the kit, which is then mailed to the home address. The kit includes swabs, a collection tube and box to send back to the company who will test the sample and post the results securely online. The cost of the kit will be $119, and it is expected to hit the market in the coming weeks. The hope is that at-home testing will improve diagnostics and increase the number of people who get tested. Further, since the test can be self-administered, it will also lower the chances of health workers getting infected. China steps up funding to the WHO after US withdrawal China said it would donate an additional $30 million to the WHO after the US recently froze its funding to the program. China had donated $20 million in March as well. The US donates the most money to the WHO; between 2018-19, the figure was $893 million, compared to $86 million by China. President Trumps decision to temporarily suspend funding has sparked international condemnation, especially given the grave situation the world currently is in. Twitter will remove dubious posts about COVID-19 and 5G Twitter has broadened its policy on posts that make false claims about 5G technology and COVID-19. Posts that incite violence, damage or destruction to critical 5G infrastructure, or include information that could lead to widespread panic and disorder will be removed. Infrastructure in some parts of Europe has been destroyed by mobs after the absurd claim of 5G causing COVID-19 gained popularity. Twitter said that it wont be able to remove every post, but only the most incendiary ones that directly threaten lives. A quiet Ramadan Countries around the world have adopted various measures to respect physical distancing during the holy month of Ramadan. The WHO, in an interim guidance document, recommended virtual services streamed on televisions or computers. Egypt has banned group iftars (the evening meal after the fast is broken). Jordan and Iran have banned congregations and prayer meetings as well. Saudi Arabia has ordered prayers to be shortened and has banned public attendance at the holy mosques of Mecca and Medina. Pakistan has allowed congregational prayers but attendees must respect physical distancing and stay two metres apart from each other. 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. The US has so far repatriated over 4,000 Americans from India and efforts are being made to bring back about 6,000 more from the country, a senior US official has said. The US Department of State has coordinated the repatriation of 65,000 American citizens and family members from 122 countries on 687 flights so far. This includes over 1,000 US citizens from Pakistan. "In India, we've already coordinated the repatriation of more than 4,000 US citizens. We have four more flights scheduled in the coming days," Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Ian Brownlee told reporters at a press conference here on Wednesday. Brownlee said some 6,000 Americans are being repatriated from India in the coming days. "Looking across the entire world, we're tracking the greatest number (of Americans) are still in South Central Asia, India and Pakistan. And the vast bulk of those are in India -- its like 6,000 or so. (In) Western Hemisphere, were tracking somewhere in the 4,000 range. Africa comes next with about 3,000," he said. Brownlee noted that getting people to New Delhi and Mumbai, the outbound hubs for those flights, is no small feat in the midst of a nationwide lockdown. "But Mission India team is up to this challenge. They are actively coordinating with passengers arriving on feeder flights and buses from all across this huge country," he said. Referring to the Pakistan government's ban on internal travel, Brownlee said it has also posed "significant challenges for us". "All internal domestic flights are grounded and all ground transportation is banned for vehicles holding more than three people. Our team in Pakistan is making every effort to help people get to Islamabad and Karachi to board our repatriation flights and will continue to do so," he said. Brownlee strongly encouraged US citizens in India, Pakistan and elsewhere to register at step.state.gov and also to monitor embassy websites carefully for the latest information on the special repatriation flights. "Consular sections around the world are consistently sending out detailed messages about the status of repatriation flights and local health conditions via STEP as well as through our embassy websites and social media accounts," he said. The surge in arson attacks on mobile phone masts based on claims that 5G is spreading coronavirus highlight the dangerous and harmful consequences that conspiracy theories are having in our society. Nor can we ignore the scale of people being exposed to such misinformation. According to a recent Ofcom report, half of UK adults have already come across false or misleading information about coronavirus. Of course, conspiracy theories are nothing new; they attempt to offer explanations of significant social and political events that many find attractive or compelling. Some 60 per cent of Americans continue to believe conspiracy theories around John F Kennedys assassination. Many insist the Establishment had a hand in the murder of Princess Diana, and that Neil Armstrong didnt really walk on the moon. But it is wrong to treat all conspiracy theories as equal or harmless, particularly in an era of social media. Those that incite hatred, violence and terrorism, or undermine critical public health guidelines can and do have serious consequences. Conspiracy theories linking 5G to coronavirus have provided a stark example of this. Research by Dr Daniel Allington, in conjunction with the Centre for Countering Digital Hate, found a link between those who believed coronavirus was connected to 5G mobile phone masts and those who are ignoring social distancing rules. Some far-right extremists on message boards have been encouraging attacks on 5G masts. Government ministers, Ofcom and infectious disease professors have been at pains to explain the scientific impossibility that 5G could be related to coronavirus. Yet it is during times of uncertainty and instability like the Covid-19 crisis that conspiracy theories and misinformation can gain significant traction. Lockdown is necessary but there is concern that with increased isolation, increased internet usage and other factors, there will be a greater consumption of conspiracy theories and exposure to online extremist material. Socioeconomic decline may further a sense of injustice and grievance where scapegoats, often minorities or old ideological enemies, are identified and blamed. Such factors are exploited by extremists who under a climate of fear propagate extremist material to further contribute to confusion, hatred and division. This has certainly been the case in the last few weeks. White supremacists have promoted vile anti-Jewish conspiracy theories, blaming Jews and Israel for creating the virus. The Community Security Trust has highlighted how extremists are engaging in both hateful and violent extremism encouraging people to deliberately spread the infection to Jews. In an attempt to spread anti-Muslim prejudice, far-right activists have shared old videos falsely claiming that Muslims are congregating during the lockdown. Islamists are using Covid-19 to promote anti-democratic and anti-western narratives. Yet despite longstanding concerns about the harms of such conspiracy theories which is exacerbated at an unprecedented scale via social media, we still struggle to develop an effective response. Governments and social media companies need to take the threat of dangerous conspiracy theories more seriously. We need to invest in research to help develop evidence-based policy, including establishing a more meaningful way of classifying conspiracy theories based on the serious harm they cause. We need to examine whether our laws are proportionate in penalising and deterring those who are inciting hostility against others through such dangerous conspiracy theories. As it stands, there is insufficient research on what is known to be successful in countering dangerous conspiracy theories or how to show them to be false. This is no easy task. Some research evidences that suggesting a conspiracy theory is false can actually backfire and strengthen believers convictions. Other research suggests that encouraging analytical thinking over intuitive thinking can be effective. Campaigns such as #dontspreadthevirus also play an important role. As individuals we all have a responsibility to help reduce the spread of misinformation by refusing to share conspiracy theories on our social media accounts. While longer-term work goes on to understand the mechanics of these theories we can all help to limit the damage they do. What we cannot do is ignore those dangerous conspiracy theories which continue to harm our society, most of all at times of national crisis. Sara Khan is lead commissioner at the Commission for Countering Extremism Flash Greece welcomed on Wednesday the donation by China to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus at hosting facilities, where thousands of refugees and migrants are accommodated. Chinese Ambassador to Greece Zhang Qiyue delivered to Alternate Migration and Asylum Minister Giorgos Koumoutsakos 20,000 surgical masks to be distributed to reception centers for asylum seekers on the Aegean Sea islands and wherever deemed necessary. More than 38,500 people are currently in overcrowded camps on five islands, according to the latest data provided by the Greek government. "Five thousand of the 20,000 masks that we received today will go straight to Kranidi," Koumoutsakos told media during the event at the Greek ministry. More than 150 coronavirus cases were confirmed this week at a hotel hosting 470 asylum seekers in the southern Greek town. The hotel has been sealed off and a 14-day curfew has been imposed on the entire town. "We thank you, and this is also a message of good cooperation between the countries to counter a common threat, the pandemic that has affected the entire world..." Koumoutsakos said. "We know that this is a critical time for the prevention of COVID-19, so we are happy to be of help," the ambassador told journalists. The ambassador also praised Greece for its efficient response to the pandemic. On March 21, China delivered the first large shipment of medical supplies to Greece to help it fight the pandemic. The total number of COVID-19 infections in Greece now stands at 2,408, with 121 deaths. The country's first case was confirmed on Feb. 26. A businessman who nine years ago went bankrupt owing 33 million is now embroiled in a High Court fight over money with his estranged wife who insists he has more 'financial resources' than he claims. The man, who has now been discharged from bankruptcy, says he has suffered a 'spectacular fall from grace' and is still nearly insolvent. But his estranged wife says he has more money at his disposal than he claims and has not made 'full, frank and complete disclosure of his past and present financial circumstances'. A judge based in the Family Division of the High Court in London is analysing the dispute, ruling neither party can be named in the media. Mrs Justice Roberts said the couple had been together for about a decade, shared a home in St John's Wood, north-west London, and enjoyed an 'extremely high, if not exorbitant' standard of living. The judge said the couple's marriage 'was followed by 10 years of more or less unbridled expenditure on property, yachts and discretionary lifestyle choices' (file photo) The judge, who considered a number of issues at a recent private hearing, has not named the man or woman in her ruling and said neither can be identified in media reports of the case. She said the man is in his 60s and the woman in her 50s. The judge has yet to make decisions relating to how much the woman should walk away with. She indicated that she would consider the woman's claim for a 'lump sum' at a further hearing. Mrs Justice Roberts said the couple married in 2001, and separated in early 2011, months before the man was made bankrupt. 'Their marital standard of living was extremely high, if not exorbitant,' said the judge in her ruling. 'Their wedding in 2001 was celebrated with an expensive party costing several million pounds at which guests were entertained by several famous musical performers. 'It was followed by 10 years of more or less unbridled expenditure on property, yachts and discretionary lifestyle choices.' A judge based in the Family Division of the High Court in London is analysing the dispute The judge said that, in 1998, the man sold most of his shares in an 'international business' for more than 80 million. She said he was declared bankrupt in July 2011. 'At that time, he owed some 33 million to unsecured creditors,' she said. 'He was subsequently discharged a year later, although his trustee in bankruptcy, a well-known firm of accountants with international experience, spent the next five years investigating his financial affairs. 'That lengthy inquiry cost over 500,000 and led to the recovery of no more than a negligible sum of less than 20,000.' Mrs Justice Roberts said the man had been accused of not revealing information. 'At the heart of this case lies an allegation on the part of the wife and her legal team that the husband has failed to make full, frank and complete disclosure of his past and present financial circumstances,' said the judge. 'Whilst he presents the court with a narrative which, on its face, appears to show a spectacular financial fall from grace and an ongoing position of near personal insolvency, the wife claims that he has, or should be treated as having, financial resources at his disposal.' Rajesh Asnani By Express News Service JAIPUR: Amidst the coronavirus crisis, politics have intensified between BJP led central government and non-BJP ruled states. Rajasthan Government has alleged that the Central Government is not helping them to fight the pandemic efficiently. Health Minister of Rajasthan, Raghu Sharma revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi bluntly refused help during the video conference with state Chief Ministers recently. "When our CM asked for help, PM Modi said don't ask us for anything. Moreover, he asked us to not work too as the issue would be dilluted in the newspapers within couple of days," remarked Raghu Sharma while addressing a regular Press Briefing of AICC in Delhi via video conferenece on Wednesday. "Please tell us, what do we do? Modi ji replied when Rajasthan CM Gehlot had sought financial help of 1 lakh crore Rupees for each state. " CM had also asked for the loan limit to be increased from 3 per cent to 5 per cent," added Sharma. This statement by the Health Minister of Rajasthan is now seen as a big attack on Narendra Modi led central government. The current situation has worsened the financial position of the states. There are 14 states currently without the money to pay salary to its employees. "The central government is capable of helping the state governments 14 of which are now in wage and means category. There are 4 states which are in overdrafts with RBI. We want the financial package to revive industries, help farmers and workers along with MSMEs. This is the only way that the states can generate revenue again through GST and CST," he added. Rajasthan CM, Ashok Gehlot, commented on the turmoil and said, " whatever suggestions we give fall to deaf ears or they take it as criticism. I urged the PM to give us a package soon to help the people in the lockout and later to revive the economic conditions. I hope the government is working on it." Due to the lockdown, Rajasthan has received 18,000 crores less in revenue in the last month. The state government has deferred 60 per cent of the salaries of about 6 lakh government employees for the month of March. The example is being set from the top with the CM and his cabinet taking a 75 per cent cut in their salaries. But the State BJP unit denies the allegations and say they are baseless. "Gehlot is trying to put the blame on the centre but I want to ask him to release the details of whatever expenditure has been incurred. The public will decide who is telling the truth. The centre has already sent 17,230 crore Rupees along with 40,000 metric tonnes of wheat. The NREGA scheme in the state has received 7100 crore Rupees of last year and 2870 crore Rupees for this year," said Leader of Opposition, Gulab Chand Kataria. Representative Image Pune-based 21- year-old Aditi Jajodia was looking forward to pursuing a Master's programme in the United States for the fall semester, slated to begin in August. However, now the university has indicated that the programme could be initially offered online due to the coronavirus outbreak. "The whole point of enrolling for postgraduate programmes at a US university is the experience of being in the campus. While I have time till mid-May to decide on the enrollment, I am no longer keen to pursue an online programme," she said. The upcoming fall semester in the United States is scheduled to begin from August 2020. Considering that average education costs for a year in the US is around Rs 30 lakh, both students and parents are wary of opting for an online programme. While online programme modules are being offered for individuals who are unable to travel to the host country to enroll into the problems, students seem to be wary. On one hand while there is no clarity on when students will be allowed to get to the campus, on the other there is no clarity on how will the fee be refunded if classes are suspended, or are moved completely online. 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 Georgia Institute of Technology has said that international students who cannot obtain their visas and who are admitted into a Master's degree programme that has an online option may start their programme in the online option. The student can then choose to either continue in the online option or transfer to the Atlanta campus the following semester after receiving their student visa. The biggest concern for students is that since foreign education involves taking large loans, some payment flexibility must be given. Also Read: Live updates of the Coronavirus outbreak in India Varun Vohra, a design programme aspirant, immediately checked with two institutes where he has been shortlisted, one in Italy and the other in the United States about the refund policy. But both refused to offer any clarity. "I was told that no decision has been taken yet on reducing the fee. The institutes said that the fees are used to support a lot of campus and student activities and hence there is little possibility of a decrease. But I need to apply for a Rs 25 lakh student loan and would need clarity on what are the chances of the course commencing and if a later decision could be taken on financial aid," he added. Moneycontrol had reported that a revival of academic activities in campus involving physical lectures looks feasible only by January 2021. On one hand, while regions like Australia, New Zealand and Japan could see higher interest from 2021 onwards, consultants said that US and UK could fall out of favour for the time-being. A few institutes have stated that they are on schedule as of now, but the evolving COVID-19 situation may force a lot of academic calendar changes and postponements. Boston University said in a statement on its website that it is planning to resume its on-campus residential programme in the fall of 2020. However, as per its recovery plan, the university said that in the unlikely event that public health officials deem it unsafe to open in the fall of 2020, then the contingency plan envisions the need to consider a later in-person return, perhaps in January 2021. "It also accepts the possibility that international students are likely to face unique burdens, such as travel restrictions and interruptions in the processing of visas, and it suggests that some popular masters programs may have to be offered remotely, said the statement. A few international institutes are also facilitating some flexibility for the students who are enrolling into the programmes. Ravneet Pahwa, Deputy Vice President (Global Engagement) and CEO (South Asia) of Australias Deakin University told Moneycontrol that for new students, the institute has started Deakin degrees online. "While being in their home country itself, these students can start their education and enroll in a few subjects rather than wasting time. Their credits will be transferred to their on-campus education as soon as it opens up," she said. Australia usually enrolls new students in July every year. But this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak, no new physical enrollments are being done. About 100,000 Indians study in Australia. Pahwa added that Deakin is doing provisional enrollment of students where they can provide the final college marksheets before a cut-off date in August. If a student does not wish to continue or has seen a delay in result declaration, there is also a provision for 100 percent refund of the fee paid for the subjects studied online. Currently, almost 1 million Indian students are estimated to be studying across universities in US, UK, Europe, Australia and parts of South-East Asia. This is across undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here This article was written for Fethiye Times by Sian Midgley 14 Days To Go Despite it not being a requirement (no we dont know why either) myself and mommy dearest decided to completely self isolate for 14 days on our return to the UK from New Zealand. As this is the first time weve lived together in 33 years Ive found myself automatically reverting back to the stroppy teenager I once was, except this time its a double whammy now Im not just a stroppy teenager, Im a menopausal stroppy teenager! Ive settled into the role quite easily though; spending more time than I should in my pjs and eating chocolate for breakfast. Of course I worry about mum getting bored, after all she can only entertain herself by passing wind for so long. But she seems ok, having developed an obsession for knitting woolly hats. Although I realised I was getting on her nerves when she told me off one morning, quite sternly, for opening the curtains too loudlyits proving to be a long 14 days. However, Im finding ways to entertain myself. I start the day with a bit of exercise thanks to Koc Fitness running all their classes online. And before you ask, no Ive not always managed to change from pjs to lycra beforehand! Im catching up on all the rubbish TV I cant get in Turkey, Im making friends with the neighbours cat and Im eatinga lot. Keeping fit with my buddies in Fethiye Freedom Fast forward two weeks and I finally find myself able to leave the house. I emerge from the front porch like a badger leaving its sett, a bear waking after hibernation, a butterfly emerging from its cocoon I take a deep breath, which I intend to hold until I return from my trip to Morrisons, and off I go wearing those unfamiliar things we call shoes. The highlight of my first taste of freedom was the sight of a beautiful young man waiting to be served in front of me at the till. For a minute I forgot I was 50, dressed in yesterdays clothes and in need of a shower and a pit shave and smiled at him. He returned my smile with a huge grin and twinkly eyeshad I found the only cute young guy who had a penchant for scruffy middle aged women with excess body hair and a faint whiff about them? Maybe, but unfortunately the two metre ban had me at a disadvantage and he was gone. After this crushing disappointment I returned home, having stocked up on the essentials, quite happy not to go out into this strange new world again for another week. Shopping for the essentials Miles From Home Of course, Im not the only one who didnt make it back to Turkey in time. We quite often hear the word stupid when people refer to those of us stuck away from home. We had plenty of warning this was going to happen didnt we? Well the word surprised might be more accurate no-one; not me, not the airline industry, not the Government, actually expected or predicted that everything would shut down quite so speedily or for almost all flights to cease quite as quickly as they did. Hindsight is a wonderful thing as they say. I Am Not Alone To pass the time Ive been catching up with friends who live in Turkey but found themselves elsewhere when everything went pear shaped. Friends like Barbara and Malcolm who popped back to the UK to freshen up their rental property whilst it was empty. They now find themselves reliving their student days, thankful to their kind neighbours who have lent them 2 chairs and a blow up mattress, accompanied by a nice bottle of Merlot (and 2 straws Im presuming). Malcolm discovering the delights of decluttering Or Steve who spends his summers in Cals and his winters driving trucks around the UK. He has, very admirably, simply decided to keep on trucking and get vital supplies to their destinations until he can rejoin his wife. Steve, keeping the UK going Then theres Lorraine and Paul who were working the ski season in France and who are now hiding out in a beautiful but deserted ski resort waiting for the end of lockdown. Paul in France so much snow but nowhere to go And we should spare a thought for dear Anita who went over to California to visit her 99 year old mother. She told me herself about her situation: I came over for just one week and my mother had been ill but was better. I was hoping she would make the big 100 in October. Five days in to my visit she went into her last slumber and died eight days later. Nobody was allowed to go to the mortuary or to have a funeral. She was cremated. Then I waited three weeks for the Death Certificate and now I must wait maybe another two months for the paperwork to be completed as government offices closed. Anita still smiling Sitting It Out However, for the most part weve accepted our fates and are simply getting on with life; waiting, drinking wine, eating chocolate, slouching around in our pjs, opening curtains too loudly. But others are desperate to get back to their children, their loved ones, their homes, their lives. We know its only a small proportion of our lives. We know that holiday flights wont start for a long time but we also hope that residency holders may be allowed to return soon. We know it will be a while yet but if you do see us posting travel questions on Facebook, be gentle with us, please. Or as the saying goes #BeKind Read the first two installments of Sians story: Stranded One Step Closer BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 23 By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend: Uzbekistan and Russia are preparing to sign a declaration on comprehensive strategic partnership, Trend reports citing the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan. The document may be signed during the visit of Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Russia scheduled for the second half of June 2020. The visit agenda includes business and media forums and other events. Foreign Ministers of Uzbekistan and Russia Abdulaziz Kamilov and Sergey Lavrov discussed the preparation of the visit as planned in a telephone conversation on April 22, the message said. The sides agreed to continue work on the preparing the agenda as well as on drafting bilateral documents. "The prospects for cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia within the framework of the country's presidency in the CIS were considered. The ministers also exchanged views on holding the third meeting of foreign ministers of Russia and Central Asian countries in Russia in +5 format," the report said. The foreign ministers also discussed the situation around coronavirus in the world and expressed interest in continuing close cooperation in preventing and overcoming the consequences of the disease. --- Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 06:52:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, April 22 (Xinhua) -- With the China-U.S. relations rattled by the COVID-19 pandemic, a panel of experts has urged the two governments to enhance cooperation on vaccine development and assistance to developing countries, in order to better cope with the global crisis. At a video discussion themed "Risks of U.S.-China 'Decoupling'" on Tuesday, part of the Bloomberg New Economy Conversation series, former Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd said the U.S.-China relationship has deteriorated rapidly "at virtually every level" amid the pandemic, but he hopes there is a "tactical pause in hostilities." Rudd, who now serves as president of the Asia Society Policy Institute, called on the two countries to focus on concrete collaboration on vaccine development and collaboration in third countries. Echoing his remarks, former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Susan Shirk said that despite soured public opinion toward each other, the United States and China must work together because strengthened cooperation is a "lifesaver," which could save more lives in America, China and the rest of the world. "There will be a second and third wave of this pandemic that we need to get ready for," said Shirk, who is a professor at the University of California, San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy. Shirk urged the two governments to enhance high-level communication, and bolster cooperation on ensuring the free flow of medical supplies, helping the developing world, as well as vaccine development and distribution. The former U.S. official noted that now is the right moment for the two countries to have an agreement on how to fairly share the vaccine after it's developed. Asked how she views the U.S. government's decision to suspend immigration, Shirk said the Trump administration's immigration policies are "alien" to American tradition, which values global talent, including Chinese talent, who has been a vital ingredient in American innovation. "It would be so self-destructive for the United States to make Chinese students feel afraid to come here because they see that this inflamed anti-China sentiment right now in the United States is jeopardizing Chinese Americans as well as (those) from China," she said. Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai, who also joined the discussion, said he hopes for "a serious rethinking of the very foundations of this important relationship." Noting that the virus has had such a big impact on China, the United States and the rest of the world, Cui said the two countries should think really hard about the real threats to the global community, as well as their true common interests. "So hopefully this pandemic will really teach all of us a good lesson," said the ambassador. "And China-U.S. relations could be based on a more realistic, forward-looking foundation." Cui cautioned against politicizing the COVID-19 outbreak and the "anything-but-China" mindset. As COVID-19 began to emerge outside China, including European countries, China extended a helping hand, but the country's kindness was described as geopolitically-motivated, Cui said. When China adopted new measures for quality control to make sure donated equipment met international standards, some again accused China of blocking exports of medical supplies, Cui continued. "I would call it the ABC mindset, anything but China. I'm really worried about that," he said. In response to a question on the political bickering between Washington and Beijing amid the COVID-19 spread, Cui said there should be a distinction between those who are "narrowly politically motivated," and the general public in China and the United States. "I think all this stigmatization and blame game are played out by the small number of such politicians," Cui said. "But if we look at the relations between the two peoples, I think that we have had a longstanding friendly relationship." When China confronted the outbreak, "we got a lot of support and understanding from American people, American businesses, American institutions, or even individuals ... We appreciate this very much," Cui said. "And now the United States is confronting this outbreak. There's some outpouring of donations, supplies from Chinese provinces, cities, or businesses," he said. "So I think the two peoples are still helping each other." "I can see a deep-rooted, friendly sentiment between the two peoples and I still trust this and hopefully the wish of the people will eventually prevail," Cui said. Enditem (Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles Police Department officers responding to a car accident late Wednesday afternoon shot and killed a man on the street with an "edged weapon," according to the agency. About 5:30 p.m., officers from the Newton station arrived at the accident scene near 32nd and San Pedro streets and soon encountered the man holding the weapon, according to the LAPD. The man was hit by gunfire, fell to the ground and died at the scene, the LAPD said. The edged weapon was recovered at the scene, according to the agency. The LAPD released only minimal information Wednesday evening about the shooting and will provide a more detailed report, probably in four days, an agency spokesman said. Two people involved in the traffic accident were taken to a hospital and were in stable condition. The shooting occurred about half a mile from where Alex Flores, 34, , was shot and killed by police in November. A flight from China chartered by the U.S. government touched down at Chicago OHare International Airport on Wednesday last week. Inside were nearly 6 million surgical masks and some respiratory equipment. But the supplies on board werent tucked into the national stockpile or distributed by the federal government among cities hardest hit by novel coronavirus despite the average taxpayer bill of $750,000 to $800,000 per flight. Instead, the masks and other life-saving equipment were owned by Medline, one of the nations largest privately held manufacturers and distributors of medical supplies. They were loaded onto cargo trucks and driven to the companys warehouse in suburban Chicago. It was up to Medline to decide who gets the protective gear and what price they would pay. The sole federal requirement imposed on Medline was that it would promise to sell half its cargo to designated "hot spots" facing outbreaks of the coronavirus. Medline says it is currently selling protective gear at a loss and isn't charging extra for the expedited processing. "All the product is ours, until it goes to our customers," a Medline spokesperson told ABC News. The April 15 flight from Shanghai was part of a new unprecedented public-private partnership called "Project Airbridge," which is raising questions about whether the Trump administration is doing enough to address dangerous hospital supply shortages and ensure health care workers get what they need to fight a fast-moving and deadly virus. The program, championed by White House adviser Jared Kushner and run by Rear Adm. John Polowczyk, is being hailed by the Trump administration as an innovative way to help the industry overcome logistical hurdles to supply the nations 4,700 hospitals and other front-line responders. MORE: More than 300 US hospitals warn of supply shortages in coronavirus fight, watchdog says Kushner told reporters this month that his mandate was to break down barriers for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which is coordinating the federal response to novel coronavirus. Story continues "This is an effort where the government is doing things that the government doesnt normally do, where we are stretching. Were acting very quickly," Kushner said. PHOTO: White House senior adviser Jared Kushner looks on as President Donald Trump leads the daily coronavirus response briefing at the White House in Washington, April 2, 2020. (Tom Brenner/Reuters, FILE) But Project Airbridge also has become a new focus for Democrats who question whether the federal government has gone too far in deferring to the industry amid a nationwide pandemic and given contractors an outsized role in controlling the nations supply chain. "The supply chain was broken to begin with, and theyre putting these (materials) back into the supply chain with no idea where its going" even as health care workers recycle face masks, said Rep. Ted Deutch, a Florida Democrat. Rep. Angie Craig, a Minnesota Democrat who previously worked in health care manufacturing before joining Congress, said she thinks the program is probably well-intentioned but also "chaotic." "We have literally wasted six weeks getting ourselves ramped up because we stood on the sidelines and allowed the private sector to manage itself instead of coming up with a centralized strategy," Craig told ABC News. FEMA insists it has enough visibility into the supply chain because it tracks final deliveries at hospitals. The agency also says it doesnt want to interfere with existing relationships between suppliers and medical customers. "Im not here to disrupt a supply chain," Polowczyk told reporters earlier this month. Tune into ABC at 1 p.m. ET and ABC News Live at 4 p.m. ET every weekday for special coverage of the novel coronavirus with the full ABC News team, including the latest news, context and analysis. The Big 6 Project Airbridge grew out of a White House March 29 meeting between President Donald Trump and the countrys biggest medical supply distributors and delivery companies. By that point, it had been two months after the diagnosis of a Washington state patient with novel coronavirus, and health care workers already were facing shortages in protective masks and gowns. Compounding the problem was that many of the supplies originated in China, the first country crippled by the virus. Trump seemed reluctant to use to the full force of his executive powers under the Defense Production Act, preferring to invoke that power only when contractors were seen as difficult or needed federal money to boost production lines. PHOTO: President Donald Trump arrives with Vice President Mike Pence for the daily coronavirus task force briefing at the White House in Washington, April 22, 2020. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) In attendance at the White House meeting were shipping giants UPS and FedEx, along with five medical supply companies: Medline, Cardinal Health, McKesson, Henry Schein and Owens & Minor. Concordance Healthcare was later added to the group, now referred to as the "Big 6," because it represents more than 90% of the medical supply chain. The White House and the companies struck a deal: Distributors would pay 100% for supplies originating from overseas, while the federal government would pick up the tab per flight -- averaging $750,000 to $800,000 -- to bring supplies to the U.S. faster than by cargo ship. This federal "airbridge" would shave off days or weeks in delivery time. In exchange, the distributor agreed to sell half of their supplies to certain hard-hit counties, designated by the government as "hot spots," and leaving the destination of the other half to the company's discretion. Smaller companies were not invited to participate because they "dont command significant upstream inventory and leverage in commercial markets," FEMA told ABC News. Companies like McKesson said it opted to participate so it could help address the crisis. "Our ongoing work with government officials and agencies at the federal, state and local level reflects our commitment to helping meet the extraordinary challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic," McKesson, a Texas-based delivery company said in a statement. MORE: Trump signed the Defense Production Act 'in case we need it.' But what is it? The commercial invoices for each flight though remain secret. That irks Rep. Deutch, who has called on FEMA to release more data to help Congress discern whether the administration is favoring certain contractors and where the supplies are going. "Thats an enormous benefit to these companies," Deutch said of the agreement. "Theres no reason why we dont know the rest." Five dozen flights, 52 million surgical masks and 600 million gloves Project Airbridge has run some 70 federally chartered flights originating from places like China, Honduras, Thailand and Malaysia and landing at airports in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami and Columbus, Ohio, as of Wednesday. According to a FEMA document obtained by ABC News, these "prioritized distributor supply chains" have helped to rapidly move some 50 million surgical masks, 760,000 N95 respirators, 608 million gloves, 7 million gowns, 2 million thermometers and more than 562,000 face shields. MORE: As Trump pushes economic reopening, health risks and key questions unanswered The agency, as of Tuesday, has spent some $5.7 billion in the federal response to coronavirus. In a statement provided to ABC News, it says shortages of protective gear for medical workers continues and will likely take "months" to fill. "The shortages are massive and the supply chain effects are going to be pervasive for months to come," the agency said. What to know about coronavirus: How it started and how to protect yourself: coronavirus explained What to do if you have symptoms: coronavirus symptoms Tracking the spread in the US and Worldwide: coronavirus map Kushner-backed program chartering flights to address hospital shortages raises questions in Congress originally appeared on abcnews.go.com A method to detect COVID-19 which will significantly reduce the cost of testing, making it affordable for a large population in the country, developed by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi has got the approval from the ICMR, officials said on Thursday. IIT Delhi is the first academic institute to have obtained the ICMR approval for a real-time PCR-based diagnostic assay. The development also comes against the backdrop of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) halting the testing for COVID-19 cases through China-made test kits because of massive variation in test results, compounding the challenge to check and contain the pandemic. The current testing methods available are "probe-based" while the one developed by the IIT team is a "probe-free" method, which reduces the testing cost without compromising on accuracy, officials said. "The test method has been approved by ICMR. The assay has been validated at ICMR with a sensitivity and specificity of 100 percent. This makes IITD the first academic institute to have obtained ICMR approval for a real-time PCR-based diagnostic assay," a senior official told PTI. "This is the first probe-free assay for COVID-19 approved by ICMR and it will be useful for specific and affordable high throughput testing. This assay can be easily scaled up as it does not require fluorescent probes. The team is targeting large scale deployment of the kit at affordable prices with suitable industrial partners as soon as possible," the official added. Using comparative sequence analyses, the IITD team identified unique regions (short stretches of RNA sequences) in the COVID-19 and SARS COV-2 genome. RNA or Ribonucleic Acid is one of the major biological macromolecules that is essential for all known forms of life. It performs various important biological roles related to protein synthesis such as transcription, decoding, regulation and expression of genes. "Using comparative sequence analysis, we have identified unique regions in COVID-19. These unique regions are not present in other human coronaviruses providing an opportunity to specifically detect COVID-19," Professor Vivekanandan Perumal, lead member of the team told PTI. "Primer sets, targeting unique regions in the spike protein of COVID-19, were designed and tested using real time polymerase chain reaction. The primers designed by the group specifically bind to regions conserved in over 200 fully sequenced COVID-19 genomes. The sensitivity of this in-house assay is comparable to that of commercially available kits," he added. The team at IIT claims that their test can be performed at a much cheaper cost and hence will be affordable for general public. The research team includes PhD scholars Prashant Pradhan, Ashutosh Pandey and Praveen Tripathi, post-doctoral fellows Drs Parul Gupta and Akhilesh Mishra and professors Vivekanandan Perumal, Manoj B Menon, James Gomes and Bishwajit Kundu. According to the Union Health Ministry, the death toll due to COVID-19 climbed to 681 and the total number of coronavirus cases to 21,393 in the country on Thursday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Adresta, a Zurich based start-up, digitally connects watch manufacturers with their retailers and end users by transforming the timeless paper certificates into encrypted digital certificates and so be able to follow the high-end timepiece during its whole lifecycle. According to the Federation of the Swiss watch industry FH: Fake watches account for 9% of customs seizures, placing watches second only to textiles as the most counterfeited products.1. Large sums of money are invested to counter forgeries. Founders of Adresta Adresta Adrestas watch portfolio is a tamper-proof solution that makes the history of every produced watch accessible, providing trust and transparency. Every step from manufacturing, guarantees, certificates, to servicing and the passing on to the next owner or inheritor can be securely stored in a distributed ledger. Adrestas approach comes with several benefits to the involved stakeholders. A direct communication channel allows the manufacturer and retailer to interact with specific customer groups and provide them with a new range of customer experience. From the watch owners perspective, the benefits are multiple: They can easily travel and cross borders with their watches without the risk of incurring in problems and time waste at customs when not carrying their watches certificates with them; they can track their watch- es servicing; they can even retrieve and identify stolen timepieces and have insurance proof; finally, the seamless history of the watch results in a higher value of the timepiece in the pre-owned market. Adresta Application Czapek & Cie Czapek & Cie, a renowned brand in the haute horology segment, is the first watchmaker to partner with Adresta. The discussions between the two companies started in 2019. The connection and collaboration with Czapek & Cie, a historical Swiss watchmaker reborn as a start-up, was immediate, comments Nicolas Borgeaud, co-founder of the Zurich team. The company was already considering going digital for their high-end watch certificates. We just had to show them the efficiency of our approach. Adresta Application Czapek & Cie For years watchmakers have feared that digitization would spoil the passion for beautiful mechanical timepieces, says Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie. Today, digitization is put at service of Haute Horology to protect items that defend the state- of-the-art of mechanical intelligence and craftsmanship. We invite all watchmakers to join this journey with Adresta for the benefit of the whole watch loving community. Adresta Application Czapek & Cie Adrestas platform for Czapek will be officially released next summer. Adrestas adventure started in the Helvetia Insurance incubation program. The jury found the problems addressed by Adresta very important, and that they can be solved by its team and technology. During their journey, the founders had the honor to talk to the well-known, forward-thinking watch guru Jean-Claude Biver, who appreciated the idea and helped the team shape it. Mr Biver was a valuable endorsement and source for understanding the watchmaking industry and its needs, says Nicolas Borgeaud. To see a demonstration of how Adrestas solution works, visit adresta.ch/explainer. To see an example watch portfolio, visit demo.adresta.ch. 1 https://www.fhs.swiss/eng/stopthefakes.html About 40 health workers in Nigeria have, so far, tested positive for COVID-19, the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has said. Mr Ehanire made this known at the daily Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 briefing on Thursday. He cautioned health workers to ensure safety precautions are taken when treating any patient. This warning has become necessary due of the number of health workers who have tested positive for COVID-19, They are over forty now. He said apart from the over 40 health workers, there are others who have been quarantined in the last 2 weeks due to exposure and have not been able to contribute to efforts of the health sector. The federal government had earlier barred private hospitals from treating COVID-19 cases, saying many of the health workers there are not trained to handle such a disease. At least 17 private hospitals in Lagos have admitted that their staff have been exposed to COVID-19 through patients. The hospitals were subsequently bared from admitting any patients while their buildings are disinfected. The federal government has now asked private hospitals willing to treat COVID-19 patients to register with their states health ministry and ensure proper training of staff. Nigeria currently has 873 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Of these, 197 infected people have recovered and have been discharged while the death toll is 28. Healthcare workers at risk Healthcare workers are at risk of exposure to COVID-19 virus as they are the first responders to patients. On April 4, Aliyu Yakubu, a medical doctor aged 60, died at the Nigeria Air Force Reference Hospital, Daura, Katsina State, after contracting the deadly virus. A week later, his wife and children tested positive for COVID-19. Due to their vulnerability to this disease, health workers have been advised to take extra precautions in handling suspected cases. Earlier, some health workers working at isolation centres across affected states expressed their dissatisfaction over the lack of necessary insurance and other welfare policies despite the risk involved in their profession. Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, Blessing Israel, who works at the Lagos isolation centre, said: While we care for the patients, nobody cares for us. Despite being the backbone of the health sector in this period, there is nothing like a welfare package or insurance for us. Life Insurance Following the complaint by the health workers and their unions, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha said life insurance for health workers is being planned considering the danger they are exposed to during this COVID-19 pandemic. In recognition of the danger to which our frontline health workers are exposed to, the government is working with other stakeholders to structure medical and life insurance cover for their protection. READ ALSO: I, therefore, wish to assure them of our commitment and urge them to put in their utmost best as they battle to save us from this ravaging disease, Mr Mustapha had said. While the federal government is yet to conclude on the incentives for its health workers, the Lagos State Government has increased the hazard allowance of all its health workers from N5,000 to N25,000. PPE Advertisements Meanwhile, Mr Ehanire said the government will continue to provide health workers with necessary personal protective equipment (PPE). He advised that no patient should be treated without adequate PPE. He urged health workers to take all necessary precautions for their own safety. The government will continue to provide you with the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE). I urge you to take all the necessary precautions for your own safety, he said. Sens. Mitt Romney and Kyrsten Sinema are raising alarms that the federal government is behind the curve in tallying the scope of the coronaviruss spread in the United States, pressing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to quickly devise a real-time national system for tracking the pandemic. The Utah Republican and Arizona Democrat sent a letter to CDC Director Robert Redfield on Thursday laying out the challenges the United States is facing in trying to assess an accurate national picture for the diseases creep across the country. So far, more than 850,000 Americans have contracted the virus and over 43,500 have died. The bipartisan pair conclude that they are deeply concerned about the state of affairs in tracking how many people have it and where, according to a copy provided to POLITICO. In an interview on Thursday, Romney bluntly laid out his worries about the federal governments inability to get a grip of the scope of the disease in real time. He said earlier this spring he spoke to Redfield and asked for information on the ages and conditions of people being put into intensive care units. Senate Security and Governmental Affairs Committee member Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., listens to witnesses during a hearing on 2020 census on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, July 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) Redfield was unable to provide almost any information on that front, Romney said, explaining the patchwork reporting system that hospitals and states use to report coronavirus infections. Some of them are done in pen and pencil which struck me as the kind of thing that I would have expected from the 1960s, not the 2020s, Romney said. We have one eye closed and the other eye is clouded over instead of having a clear, real time dashboard of all the patients in the country," Romney said. Romney made clear he was not blaming Redfield, the CDC or even President Donald Trump and his administration, even though Romney has been the GOP senator most critical of the president over the past year and voted to remove him from office during the Senate's impeachment trial. He laid the current predicament at the feet of lackluster, long-running funding from Congress and lack of focus from several administrations. Story continues I blame, if you will, Congress and administrations, all of us who are responsible for public health not blowing the whistle on this, Romney said. Notably, Congress on Thursday was finalizing approval of $25 billion for testing for coronavirus as part of a $484 billion coronavirus relief measure. But that's only a piece of the puzzle, the senators say. Even if testing expands, policymakers and politicians can't make informed decisions without a treasure trove of data. In the letter, Sinema and Romney indicated how problematic it could be for decisions to be made to reopen economies without a clear picture of what is happening nationwide. They expressed concern that there isnt standardized data from each state and asked the CDC for a comprehensive look at state-by-state case information, hospitalization rates, patients treatment status, ICU statistics and demographics. Here we are at the end of April, weve had this now for a quarter of a year or longer and were still not quite certain who is getting impacted and why, Romney added. Its very hard to make clear-eyed decisions without full data on where the disease exists. In a statement, Sinema said shes also urging the CDC to implement a contact-tracing system that will keep Arizonans safe and help save lives. Sinema might have some extra sway on the matter, as she was named by Trump to a congressional task force on reopening the economy. Romney was the only Republican senator to be left out and Trump said it was because he holds a grudge against Romney's impeachment vote. Oh, I dont worry about those things, Romney said with a chuckle. By Trend Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops 23 times, Trend reports referring to Azerbaijani Defense Ministry on April 23. 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 the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding regions. The director Martha Stephens, working from a script by Shannon Bradley-Colleary, handles this material smoothly, creating a solid, tangible sense of place with landscapes, gusts of wind and a blue sky that feels more confining than sheltering. Stephens, whose movies include Land Ho! (directed with Aaron Katz), is particularly sensitive to Iriss surroundings, her familys weather-beaten house and barn, and the dusty road where Maggie rescues her. In one scene, Maggie and Iris take off down that road in a car, enjoying a much-needed if frustratingly brief escape. Then its back to their mean little town with its small-minded dictators and frustrated, hothouse desires. Its always nice to see characters break free, but you need to care whether they do. One insurmountable problem with this story is that Iris just isnt interesting enough and certainly not developed enough either as a character or in terms of the performance. She isnt simply closed off, like a turtle in lockdown; shes devoid of spark, personality, and it leaves you searching for someone to care about. Maggie fits that role for a while. But the movies great missed opportunity can be found at a beauty parlor, where another loner, Hazel (a very good Adelaide Clemens), styles hair and opens up another world with a few words, darting looks and gentle, seductive grace. To the Stars Not rated. Running time: 1 hour 49 minutes. Rent or buy on Amazon, Apple TV and other streaming platforms and pay TV operators. After a successful pilot in Tamil Nadu, the government has started a pan-India tele-survey to reach people without smartphones to conduct a Covid-19-related search and trace potential cases of the disease. Calls will be placed from the phone number 1921, asking people questions about symptoms of the disease. Follow latest updates on coronavirus here The tele-survey, announced late on Tuesday, will be done by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), and is intended to help the government detect areas where the Coronavirus has spread. An interactive voice response system (IVRS), back-ended by a NIC team, will be rolled out. Analysis of call data will be done by other wings of the government, said officials. A senior official of the IT ministry said the tele-survey is expected to reach out to 900 million feature phone users across the country. Officials said of the 1.2 billion mobile phone users in India, only 350 million have smart phones. Just as the Aarogya Setu is reaching out to smartphone users, the tele-survey will collect details from feature phone users, an official said on condition of anonymity. The call will lead to successive prompts for SMSes on the users feature phone, and seek answers to a set menu of questions. The systems are being readied and will be rolled out by the weekend, officials said. The service will be available in languages such as Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi. The tele-survey was initially piloted in Tamil Nadu a fortnight ago with the help of the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, simultaneously when the IT ministry was rolling out Aarogya Setu. Another ministry official, wishing anonymity, told HT the pilot was successful and helped authorities find the next area of spread. It helped us find the next red zone or containment zone, said the official. During the pilot, 15,000 people were screened through the tele-survey, helping authorities finalise a list of people suspected to be infected by the Coronavirus. State authorities would then reach out to them for necessary action, said an official. The number 1921 was selected as the number 1922 is a toll-free service for people to listen to the prime ministers popular radio programme, Mann ki Baat, the first official quoted above said. In a statement, the government said calls placed to mobile phones are aimed to enable proper feedback of the prevalence and distribution of Covid symptoms. It added, Please be aware of any other calls by pranksters or or calls from any other number in the guise of such similar survey. Click here for complete coronavirus coverage CALGARY - WestJet Airlines Ltd. says it will lay off 3,000 people and cancel more than 4,000 domestic flights weekly in May as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hammer the airline industry. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A pilot taxis a Westjet Boeing 737-700 plane to a gate after arriving at Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C., on Monday February 3, 2014. WestJet Airlines Ltd. says it will cancel more than 4,000 domestic flights weekly in May as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hammer the airline industry. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck CALGARY - WestJet Airlines Ltd. says it will lay off 3,000 people and cancel more than 4,000 domestic flights weekly in May as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hammer the airline industry. The company said it will remove some 600 daily flights from its schedule between May 5 and June 4 about 18,000 trips in total due to "significantly reduced guest demand." "The reality of this crisis continues to require WestJet to make mission-critical decisions to ensure the sustainability of our airline," WestJet President and CEO Ed Sims said in a statement Wednesday. "With less than five per cent of our pre-COVID-19 guest loads, work is simply not currently available. "These decisions, while difficult, are being thoughtfully and methodically made so that we can weather this crisis and be ready for a future where we can provide inactive WestJetters with fulfilling employment once again." The Calgary-based carrier said all international flights, including to the U.S., remain suspended through June 4. 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. Sims said WestJet appreciates Government of Canada programs during the pandemic and will use the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy to retain people on the payroll and to ensure they remain connected to the company. "We continue to work with our employee and labour groups on ways to maintain employment through the crisis." Last week, Air Canada halted most international flights until June, while Air Transat and Sunwing Airlines Ltd. cancelled all trips until May 31. The decisions extended the suspension of more than 160 Air Canada routes as well as Air Transat and Sunwing trips by another month as closed borders and vanishing demand ravage the travel sector. WestJet and other airlines offer two-year vouchers for trips they've cancelled, though advocates argue travellers should be entitled to refunds for flight services paid for but not received, as in the United States and the European Union. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 22, 2020. Harvard University will not accept nearly $9 million in COVID-19 relief funding, a reversal that follows complaints, including from President Donald Trump, that an institution with a $40 billion-plus endowment would take taxpayer funds amid a pandemic. In a statement, the Cambridge school noted that like most colleges and universities, Harvard has been allocated funds as part of the (Coronavirus Aid, Recovery and Economic Security ACT Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund). Harvard did not apply for this support, nor has it requested, received or accessed the funds. We are concerned that intense focus by politicians and others on Harvard in connection with the program may undermine participation in a relief effort Congress created and the president signed into law for the purpose of helping those whose financial challenges may be most severe," the university said. While the funding was provided to the university according to statute, the university decided not to seek or accept the funds. The school also noted that the government has issued evolving guidance on the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. Trump earlier this week complained that an institution with such a large endowment would receive money as part of the CARES Act. But Trumps complaints arose amid discussion of the Paycheck Protection Program, a separate portion of the $2.2 trillion legislation geared toward keeping small businesses afloat. The president insisted Tuesday that the university, which was widely criticized after being awarded $8.6 million through the CARES Act, pay the money back. But the school had initially said it would accept the funds because they were part of the education portion of the relief package. The university added, however, President Trump is right that it would not have been appropriate for our institution to receive funds that were designated for struggling small businesses. Earlier this week a spokesperson for the university, whose endowment stood at around $40.9 billion in 2019, told MassLive all the money awarded to the school through the CARES Act would be given to students struggling financially during the pandemic. Related Content: Complacency, laxity has crept in: Stern warning by MHA to states on COVID-19 appropriate behaviour MHA clarifies pre-paid mobile recharge utilities, food processing units exempt from lockdown India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 23: The Union Home Ministry has clarified to the states that the in-house care givers of senior citizens in urban areas are exempt from the lockdown restrictions. It has further been clarified that the pre-paid mobile recharge utilities and food processing units in urban areas are also exempt from the lockdown restrictions. The MHA also said that if there is a violence against the medical staff and frontline workers, then stringent action should be taken. This should be publicised, the MHA also said. Gradually, more restrictions will be lifted, the MHA said. The MHA also said that the lockdown will give positive results. Further, it was also informed that Union Home Minister, Amit Shah interacted with senior doctors and representatives of the Indian Medical Association. He assured them of their safety. The Home Ministry has written to the states and instructed that they perform their duties with respect to the security of medical professionals. The states have been told to work with the local IMA chapters and taken required steps for the security of healthcare workers, the MHA also said. The MHA also said that a video conference meeting was held with industry associations, on facilitating permitted industrial activities and boosting economic activities. 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. You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa 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 | April 23, 2020 Governor Tom Wolf announces plans to reopen Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, it turns out 82 ex employees were getting free health insurance from the Harrisburg School District, costing more than $800,000. Speaking of losing money, Pennsylvania hospitals are slated to lose upwards of $10 billion from the coronavirus pandemic. The spotted lanternfly is back, and you know what that means -- its time to exterminate those bugs. Those are the stories we cover in the latest 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. Todays 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 00:39:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The latest batch of massive medical supplies donated by China to 12 African countries and regions arrived on Thursday in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa through the Ethiopian Airlines Caro Services. High-level officials and representatives of national and international offices as well as diplomats and representatives of the African Union (AU) and the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) attended the arrival and delivery ceremony held on the premises of the Ethiopian Airlines Cargo terminal in Addis Ababa on Thursday afternoon. Noting the rapid increase of COVID-19 across different parts of the African continent, the high-level officials and experts attending the arrival ceremony hailed the donation for its great contribution to deal with the epidemic across the African continent. The medical supplies include facial masks, disposable protective clothing, forehead thermometers, medical protective goggles, gloves and shoe covers for medical use, among other equipments, it was noted. Tan Jian, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, said during the occasion that the COVID-19 outbreak "has dragged the whole human race into a fierce war on a global scale. The virus is new and highly infectious. The attack is sudden and unprecedented." "A friend in need, is a friend indeed. The China-Africa cooperation in fighting COVID-19 is a telling testament to our friendship," the ambassador affirmed. Noting that China "has received heart-warming help and support from Africa at the most trying stage of China's fight against the outbreak," Tan stressed that the "profound friendship will always be remembered and cherished by the Chinese people." The medical supplies are expected to be transferred to 12 African countries and regions that are Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Djibouti, Lesotho, Madagascar, Namibia, Niger, Rwanda, Somalia as well as Tanzania's Zanzibar. Ethiopia has already received medical supplies from China recently, while more is said to be on the way to the East African country, while another batch of China-aided medical supplies has been shipped to some other African countries via Accra, Ghana earlier this month. According to the Africa CDC, the death toll from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on the African continent reached 1,242 as the number of confirmed cases hit 25,937 as of Thursday afternoon. Dawit Yirga, Director General of Asia and Oceania Affairs at the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also stressed that Africa and China are "all weather friends and the Sino-Africa strategic partnership has shown vitality and strength in this time of unprecedented challenges." China, which is also presently fighting against COVID-19 at home, is winning acclaim from across the African continent for its solidarity and support to African countries and regional organizations in the continent's fight against COVID-19 pandemic. As part of China's support to Africa's efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, Chinese experts and officials from health and customs departments also shared information and experience about COVID-19 in a video conference with officials and healthcare specialists from the African Union (AU), the Africa CDC as well as various African countries, showing commitment to sharing experience and supporting Africa in the fight against the pandemic. Tewolde Gebremariam, CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Group, also commended the solidarity demonstrated to Africa by the Chinese government as well as Chinese companies and civil societies on the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO also stressed that the airlines' successful partnership with different actors in delivering the life-saving medical supplies across the African continent is showed the true African integration in line with the AU Vision 2063. Ajay Jethi, a Barcelona-based Indian actor, who hails from Punjab says, My role in the popular online show Money Heist is a small character, but I didnt expect to get this much love. He is referring to the fourth season of La Casa De Papel or Money Heist and his role as the Pakistani hacker Shakir who guides the Professor and his team during an impossible mission. Jethi adds, I never thought I would become world famous. I have been getting calls from back home, Canada and even from Pakistan. Punjabis are proud of me because they feel Im one of them. Pakistanis were proud because my character helps the Professor. A still from the show Money Heist Ask him how he landed the role, and Jethi says he had previously collaborated with creator Alex Pina for a movie. The production house and casting directors were familiar with my work. So, they didnt ask me to audition for the role. When I got a call for my manager, I thought it was like any other project for me. I shot for my portions alone, and didnt get a chance to meet the rest of the cast, he says adding that he hasnt seen the show yet. I dont have a TV, so I havent watched the show. I always thought that it was a Spanish show and had no idea it would be available in English subtitles. But, I have downloaded the app on my phone and plan to catch it soon, he says. The actor, who arrived in Spain in 2005 on a work visa and worked as a construction labourer is also a distributor of Hindi and Punjabi films in Spain and Portugal. I have been distributing Punjabi films for past couple of years. My first Hindi film was Kesari Bharat, War and Dabangg 3, says Jethi who has acted in a few Punjabi movies, and aspires to explore Hindi cinema. I would love to be a part of Bollywood. I want to be a part of films like Angrezi Medium, Andhadhun (2018) and Pink (2016). I think its time for me to work in my country, Jethi signs off. Two former members of Syria's secret police go on trial Thursday in Germany accused of crimes against humanity for their role in a government-run detention center where large numbers of opposition protesters were tortured. The trial of Anwar R. and Eyad A., whose last names weren't released because of German privacy rules, is the first time that two representatives of the Syrian government face trial abroad for war crimes allegedly committed during the country's years-long civil war. The men, who were arrested in Germany early last year, will face testimony from several Syrian refugees who allege they were tortured at the detention center known as Al Khatib, or Branch 251, near Damascus. Federal prosecutors allege 57-year-old Anwar R. was in charge of the site and thereby responsible for crimes against humanity, rape and the murder of at least 58 people there. The indictment by German prosecutors accuses him of complicity in more than 4,000 cases of torture. Eyad A., 43, is accused of being part of a police squad that detained protesters and brought them back to Branch 251, where they were then mistreated. At least nine torture victims are represented as co-plaintiffs in the case, as allowed under German law, while several more are expected to be called as witnesses. They are supported by the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights. If convicted, Anwar R. could face life imprisonment. Eyad A. could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison if convicted of complicity in crimes against humanity. The defendants' lawyers declined to comment ahead of the trial, which is scheduled to last several months. The men, who themselves left Syria for Germany before their arrest in February 2019, remain in prison. The trial has been described as a pivotal moment in the effort to bring Syrian officials accused of crimes to justice. ``With other avenues for justice blocked, criminal prosecutions in Europe offer hope for victims of crimes in Syria who have nowhere else to turn,''?said Balkees Jarrah, associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch. ``The trial in Koblenz shows that courts, even thousands of miles away from where the atrocities occurred, can play a critical role in combating impunity.'' The Koblenz regional court, where the trial is being held, has reduced the number of seats available to reporters and the general public by a third, due to social distancing rules to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Search Keywords: Short link: Tributes have been paid following the death of DUP founding member Charlie Poots, father of agriculture minister Edwin Poots (Niall Carson/PA) Tributes have been paid to the father of agriculture minister Edwin Poots, who has died. DUP leader Arlene Foster led the tributes to Charlie Poots, who was a founding member of the party. Mr Poots served as a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly in the 1970s and as a local government councillor in Lisburn before retiring in 1997. His son Edwin is now a frontline member of the DUP and is currently serving as agriculture minister. Having been involved in caring for Charlie over recent years, I know how difficult it was not to be close to him as he approached the end of his life Arlene Foster Mrs Foster extended her sympathies to the Poots family. My heartfelt sympathies are with my friend and executive colleague Edwin and the wider Poots family at this most difficult of times, she said. Having been involved in caring for Charlie over recent years, I know how difficult it was not to be close to him as he approached the end of his life. The current circumstances make it difficult for us all to express our thoughts directly with those who have lost someone. However, I hope they can take some comfort from the very many people who will have been impacted by Charlies life and work and who will feel his loss. NEW YORK Unemployment in the U.S. is swelling to levels last seen during the Great Depression of the 1930s, with 1 in 6 American workers thrown out of a job by the coronavirus, according to new data released Thursday. In response to the deepening economic crisis, the House passed a nearly $500 billion spending package to help buckled businesses and hospitals. More than 4.4 million laid-off Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, the government reported. In all, roughly 26 million people the population of the 10 biggest U.S. cities combined have now filed for jobless aid in five weeks, an epic collapse that has raised the stakes in the debate over how and when to ease the shutdowns of factories and other businesses. In the hardest-hit corner of the U.S., evidence emerged that perhaps 2.7 million New York state residents have been infected by the virus 10 times the number confirmed by lab tests. A small, preliminary statewide survey of around 3,000 people found that nearly 14% had antibodies showing they had been infected, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. Just in New York City, with a population of 8.6 million, Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot said as many as 1 million may have been infected. In Washington, many House lawmakers wore face masks and bandannas and some sat in the otherwise vacant visitors gallery to stay away from others as they debated the latest spending package. A near-unanimous vote sent it to President Donald Trump in the evening. Anchoring the bill is the administrations $250 billion request to replenish a fund to help small- and medium-size businesses with payroll, rent and other expenses. Trump said the bill will help small businesses to keep millions of workers on the payroll. Abroad, there was mixed news about the epidemic. Some countries, including Greece, Bangladesh and Malaysia, announced extensions of their lockdowns. Vietnam, New Zealand and Croatia were among those moving to end or ease such measures. In Africa, COVID-19 cases surged 43% in the past week to 26,000, according to John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The figures underscored a recent warning from the World Health Organization that the virus could kill more than 300,000 people in Africa and push 30 million into desperate poverty. Brazils health ministry confirmed 407 deaths due to the outbreak in the last 24 hours, a daily high for the country. Huge lines have formed at food banks from El Paso, Texas, to the Paris suburbs, and food shortages are hitting Africa especially hard. At a virtual summit, European Union leaders agreed to set up a massive recovery fund to help rebuild the 27-nation blocs ravaged economies. While no figure was put on the plan, officials said 1-1.5 trillion euros ($1.1-1.6 trillion) would be needed. The coronavirus has killed over 190,000 people worldwide, including more than 100,000 in Europe and nearly 50,000 in the United States, according to a tally compiled by John Hopkins University from official government figures. The true numbers are almost certainly far higher. In the U.S., the economic consequences of the shutdowns have sparked angry rallies in state capitals by protesters demanding that businesses reopen, and Trump has expressed impatience over the restrictions. Some governors have begun easing up despite warnings from health authorities that it may be too soon to do so without sparking a second wave of infections. In Georgia, gyms, hair salons and bowling alleys can reopen Friday. Texas has reopened its state parks. Few Americans count on Trump as a reliable source of information on the outbreak, according to a survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About 23% said they have high levels of trust in what he tells the public, while 21% said they trust him a moderate amount. On the economic front, few experts foresee a downturn as severe as the Depression, when unemployment remained above 14% from 1931 to 1940, peaking at 25%. But unemployment is considered likely to remain elevated well into next year and probably beyond, and will surely top the 10% peak of the 2008-09 recession. Janet Simon, laid off as a waitress at a Miami IHOP restaurant, said she has just $200 and is getting panic attacks because of uncertainty over how she will care for her three children. Simon, 33, filed for unemployment a month ago, and her application is still listed as pending. Im doing everything to keep my family safe, my children safe, but everything else around me is falling apart, Simon said. But they see it, no matter how much I try to hide my despair. Corey Williams, 31, lost his warehouse job in Michigan a month ago and saw his rent, insurance and other bills pile up while he anxiously awaited his unemployment benefits. That finally happened on Wednesday, and he quickly paid $1,700 in bills. It was getting pretty tight, pretty tight, he said. It was definitely stressful for the last few days. In northern Colorado, a major meatpacking plant that closed because of an outbreak that claimed the lives of four workers was set to reopen Friday after a two-week disinfection, even as some questioned how employees can maintain social distancing inside the facility. While the health crisis has eased in places like Italy, Spain and France, experts say it is far from over, and the threat of new outbreaks looms large. The question is not whether there will be a second wave, said Dr. Hans Kluge, the head of the WHOs Europe office. The question is whether we will take into account the biggest lessons so far. German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized some German states for moving too briskly in trying to reopen their economies. Germany has been praised for its approach to the pandemic and has a much lower reported death toll than other large European countries. Were not living in the final phase of the pandemic, but still at the beginning, Merkel warned. It would be a shame if premature hope ultimately punishes us all. Governments are bearing that risk in mind with the onset of Ramadan, the holy month of daytime fasting, overnight festivities and communal prayer that begins for the worlds 1.8 billion Muslims with this weeks new moon. Many Muslim leaders have closed mosques or banned collective evening prayer to ward off infections. The virus has already disrupted Christianitys Holy Week, Passover, the Muslim hajj pilgrimage and other major religious events. Authorities in the capital of Indonesia, the most populous Muslim-majority nation, extended restrictions to cover all of Ramadan. Turkey banned communal eating during the holiday. ___ Garcia Cano reported from Washington, and Charlton from Paris. Associated Press reporters from around the world contributed. ___ Follow AP coverage of the pandemic at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) President Rodrigo Dutertes decision on whether to extend or relax the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine will be known Friday morning, his spokesperson Harry Roque said. Roque said Dutertes announcement on the six-week long quarantine in the country's largest island, home to 57 million people and large industries, will be aired Friday at 8 a.m. The televised address would come after a meeting with select Cabinet officials, including Roque, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista, Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and COVID-19 response chief implementer Carlito Galvez Jr. The Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases earlier provided Duterte with a decision-making tool on what to do with strict stay-at-home rules. According to Roque, the decision tool suggested by the IATF involves five stages. First, a set of minimum health standards for residents and workers as well as ample capacity in the local healthcare system must be established. Next, the President must consider the geographic risk of outbreaks, then assess age and health-related risks. After that, Duterte must consider which essential sectors can resume operations, and then think about the possible resumption of public transport. This would entail the "new normal," where strict spacing will be observed in buses, trains, and while in line to commute, Roque added. The task force also recommended to classify areas in Luzon into low, moderate and high-risk areas for infections, after a consensus emerged in an earlier meeting with health experts that the stringent quarantine does not have to cover the entire island bloc. The lockdown may be lifted in low-risk communities where public transport may be restored, the task force added. Health experts suggested that the quarantine should only continue in areas with a high concentration of COVID-19 cases, like Metro Manila, Calabarzon, parts of Bulacan province, along with Cebu City in the Visayas and Davao City in Mindanao. Dr. Tony Leachon, special adviser to the COVID-19 national task force and health reform advocate, suggested that Metro Manila the region with the most number of cases in the country should remain on lockdown until May 15. He added other parts of Luzon can opt for a modified quarantine, particularly in provinces considered as hotspots outside the metro, such as Calabarzon and Central Luzon. Health experts, including the World Health Organization, have warned that hastily lifting quarantine restrictions which include the suspension of mass transportation and the imposition of stay-at-home orders may lead to a second wave of infections, just like in Singapore which initially arrested the spread of COVID-19, but later faced a resurgence of the viral disease. Based on 2018 national data, Metro Manila contributes the largest share of the countrys economy at 36 percent, followed by the Calabarzon region with 17 percent, and Central Luzon just north of Manila with a 10 percent share of the national output of goods and services. These three regions also have the highest number of COVID-19 patients. To date, the country has recorded 6,981 cases of COVID-19, including 722 recoveries and 462 fatalities. Gaps in the supply of coronavirus tests are propelling initiatives to fill them across the country. At the Georgia Institute of Technology, bioscience researchers are burning midnight oil to produce key components for tests in the state of Georgia. The goal is to supply a broad initiative by the governor's office involving multiple universities and partners to rapidly produce and administer more tests. At least 35 volunteers at Georgia Tech, while adhering to social distancing, are reorienting labs normally used for scientific discovery to do larger-scale production of biochemical components. We are inventing new ways of doing things like an electronic buddy system so people can be alone - but not alone - while they work in the lab. The technical part is actually the easiest. The logistics of testing, data security, and regulatory considerations - those things are more challenging," Loren Williams, Professor, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology Williams and the researchers are supporting Georgia Governor Brian Kemp's COVID-19 State Lab Surge Capacity Task Force, which is a project managed through the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI). GTRI is also leading the coordination and integration of data management across the lab surge effort. "We are providing technical and project management of the effort which is focused on increasing the state's ability to expand testing beyond current limitations," said Mike Shannon, GTRI's lead in the project and a principal research engineer at GTRI. Exoplanets and coronavirus The science behind coronavirus testing is complementary to the researchers' usual work. That includes understanding proteins associated with glaucoma, figuring out how RNA and DNA evolved in the first place, or whether ribosomes - lumps of RNA and protein key to transcribing genetic code into life - may exist on exoplanets. Williams' research team studies the last topic, and some of their work is related to the core of coronavirus testing, a chemical reaction that amplifies the virus' genetic fingerprint. It is called a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and it transcribes trace amounts of coronavirus' RNA code into ample amounts of corresponding DNA in the lab for easy analysis. "His lab members are very familiar with RT-PCR, and when the lack of tests became apparent, they swung into action. The group grew from there, based on the technical needs for the project," said Raquel Lieberman, another leading scientist in the effort and also a professor in Georgia Tech's School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Every day, very talented, hardworking people with perfect skill sets come out of the woodwork and ask to help," Williams said. The group has teams that engineer the production of enzymes or other chemicals needed for RT-PCR to work: Two central enzymes are reverse transcriptase, which converts RNA to DNA and Taq polymerase, which rapidly replicates DNA. Another important component is ribonuclease inhibitor, which slows coronavirus RNA decay. Global scientific collaboration Other researchers develop processes for mass production or implementation of COVID-19 safety procedures; the list goes on. Some colleagues telework; others work in labs but spaced far from each other while they wear masks. "The group is planning to produce enough enzyme components for hundreds of tests per day," said Vinayah Agarwal, an assistant professor in Georgia Tech's School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and School of Biological Sciences. "Using these components, we will also build cheaper and more robust testing kits going forward." Instructions already exist for some of the ingredients for the test, but they are not readily available because the rights to them are exclusive. "Intellectual property and other proprietary issues hinder our effort," Lieberman said. "But we have received help from scientists all over the world to piece together protocols on how to make what we need." The state wants to increase current testing capacities by 3,000 more tests per day. The task force also includes teams from Augusta University Health System, Georgia State University, Emory University, University of Georgia, and the Georgia Public Health Laboratory. The task force lead is Captain Kevin Caspary who is with the Georgia National Guard. Burma Myanmars Chin State Extends COVID-19 Village Lockdown A Chin State government official visited Keptel village in Tedim Township on April 14, providing food and drinks at the entrance of the village. / IPRD Tedim Mandalay The Chin State government has imposed a further week of lockdown on Keptel village in Tedim Township, where one of the countrys first COVID19 cases was confirmed. Tedim has confirmed five cases. Keptel has been under quarantine since March 23 after a 36-year-old bridegroom returned from the United States and attended a prayer service ahead of his wedding. The man has tested positive six times since March 21 and all five other positive cases had contact with him. One more confirmed case in Tedim on April 20 is a man from Tedim who had contact with him [the bridegroom]. There was a gathering in Keptel with the first confirmed case so we decided to increase the lockdown period for the village, said U Soe Htet, Chin States municipal minister. The minister said rice and other commodities were sent to the village on Tuesday. The bridegroom is still in isolation in Tedim hospital. He is in good health. His mother and three others who had contact with him are also there and they are also in good health, U Soe Htet said. The area in Tedim around his mothers house is also in lockdown. The opening hours of the towns market have been limited. We are afraid that we will not be able to handle large numbers of patients effectively as we have limited numbers of medics, beds and equipment if there is an outbreak, U Soe Htet added. The minister said about 60 people in Tedim are under home quarantine and over 50 are being held at a quarantine center in a Tedim high school. Meanwhile, in Kale Township, Sagaing Region, which borders Tedim Township, there are six confirmed cases related to the Chin bridegroom. The patients are in a stable condition under surveillance at Kale General Hospital. According to the Ministry of Health and Sports, Myanmar has 127 confirmed COVID-19 cases with five deaths and nine recoveries. You may also like these stories: Four Civilians Including Two Children Killed in Shelling of Myanmar State-Owned Bank India Suspends Coronavirus Antibody Tests Amid Questions Over Reliability Myanmar & COVID-19 Courts Send COVID-19 Curfew Breakers to Prison in Myanmar Police on patrol in Pathein. / The Irrawaddy PATHEIN, Ayeyarwady RegionLocal courts in Ayeyarwady Region have sentenced 24 people who broke the areas overnight curfew to one month in prison. The regional COVID-19 Control and Response Committee imposed a curfew across 26 townships in the region on April 18, banning people from going out between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. They broke the curfew by going outside at night, so police detained them and township administrators filed lawsuits against them, Ayeyarwady Region Police Force spokesperson Police Lieutenant-Colonel Tun Shwe told The Irrawaddy. Since the curfew was imposed on Saturday, police and ward administrative bodies have carried out night patrols across 26 townships in the region. All 24 people who have been sentenced violated the order on Saturday and were detained. Township administrators filed lawsuits against them under Section 188 of the Penal Code the following day. The violators were sent to prisons in Hinthada, Maubin and Pyapon townships on Sunday. Violation of Section 188, which prohibits deliberate disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant, is punishable by one month in prison, a fine or both. According to the police, among the curfew violators are five people from Yangon and 12 local residents in Hinthada, as well as five local residents in Myanaung and one each in Bogale and Nyaungdon. The curfew is necessary for public security and to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as it is highly contagious, and many prisoners have been released on amnesty. People should abide by this order, said Pathein-based lawyer U Zaw Win Aung. The curfew does not affect government staff on duty, sick individuals seeking health care services and family members of the deceased who are arranging funerals. No COVID-19 cases have been reported in Ayeyarwady Region despite the fact that one month has passed since the first cases in Myanmar were reported. Some people with possible COVID-19 symptoms have sought care at public hospitals in Pathein, Hinthada, Labutta and Myaungmya but all of them tested negative for the virus, according to the regions health department. There have been 127 COVID-19 cases in Myanmar as of Thursday, including five deaths and nine recoveries, according to the Ministry of Health and Sports. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. You may also like these stories: Over 200 People Exposed to COVID-19 Patient in Myanmars Shan State Factories in Myanmars Ayeyarwady Region to Close Ahead of COVID-19 Checks Myanmar President Orders State, Regional Govts to Battle Hate Speech Amid COVID-19 Fight Lebanon became the first Arab country to legalize cannabis farming in the hopes that sales from the plant will provide some relief to its debt-ridden economy. Despite pushback from the Shiite Islamist group Hezbollah, the Lebanese parliament passed legislation legalizing marijuana cultivation for medicinal and industrial purposes. Recreational use of marijuana will remain illegal. Consultants hired by Lebanon from the New York-based global consulting company McKinsey had estimated the cultivation of cannabis in Lebanon could generate up to $1 billion per year in government revenue. After Morocco and Afghanistan, Lebanon is the third-largest source of cannabis resin worldwide, according to the United Nations. Although growing the crop was illegal, farmers in the fertile Bekaa Valley have been cultivating the plant for centuries. Minister of Agriculture Abbas Mortada told Al-Monitor a government team will now study which soil in which regions is most suitable for cannabis farming. He added that a cannabis cultivation body will oversee planting, harvesting and manufacturing. The move is expected to generate badly needed revenue for Lebanons ailing economy, which is experiencing its worst downturn since the 1975-1990 civil war. For the first time in its history, Lebanon defaulted on its debt in early March. Nationwide anti-government protests over perceived government corruption, high youth unemployment and a lack of basic services erupted in October. Prime Minister Hassan Diab, who has promised to address the concerns of the protesters, pledged a wide-reaching rescue plan that his office says will include commitments to long-stalled reforms. On Tuesday, protesters took to the streets of Beirut in their cars, resuming the popular movement that had been stalled amid the coronavirus outbreak, which has so far killed 22 people in Lebanon and infected more than 680. A Palestinian woman from Syria became the first refugee in one of Lebanons camps to be treated for the coronavirus, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency said today. The mammalian cell lines that are engineered to produce high-value recombinant-protein drugs also produce unwanted proteins that push up the overall cost to manufacture these drugs. These same proteins can also lower drug quality. In a new paper in Nature Communications, researchers from the University of California San Diego and the Technical University of Denmark showed that their genome-editing techniques could eliminate up to 70 percent of the contaminating protein by mass in recombinant-protein drugs produced by the workhorses of mammalian cells -- Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells. With the team's CRISPR-Cas mediated gene editing approach, the researchers demonstrate a significant decrease in purification demands across the mammalian cell lines they investigated. This work could lead to both lower production costs and higher quality drugs. Recombinant proteins currently account for the majority of the top drugs by sales, including drugs for treating complex diseases ranging from arthritis to cancer and even combating infectious diseases such as COVID-19 by neutralizing antibodies. However, the cost of these drugs puts them out of reach of much of the world population. The high cost is due in part to the fact that they are produced in cultured cells in the laboratory. One of the major costs is purification of these drugs, which can account for up to 80 percent of the manufacturing costs. In an international collaboration, researchers at the University of California San Diego and the Technical University of Denmark recently demonstrated the potential to protect the quality of recombinant protein drugs while substantially increasing their purity prior to purification, as reported in the study entitled "Multiplex secretome engineering enhances recombinant protein production and purity" published in April 2020 in the journal Nature Communications. "Cells, such as Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, are cultured and used to produce many leading drugs," explained Nathan E. Lewis, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Bioengineering at the University of California San Diego, and Co-Director of the CHO Systems Biology Center at UC San Diego. "However, in addition to the medications we want, the cells also produce and secrete at least hundreds of their own proteins into the broth. The problem is that some of these proteins can degrade the quality of the drugs or could elicit negative side effects in a patient. That's why there are such strict rules for purification, since we want the safest and most effective medications possible." These host cell proteins (HCPs) that are secreted are carefully removed from every batch of drug, but before they are removed, they can degrade the quality and potency of the drugs. The various steps of purification can remove or further damage the drugs. "Already at an early stage of our research program, we wondered how many of these secreted contaminating host cell proteins could be removed," recounted Director Bjorn Voldborg, Head of the CHO Core facility at the Center of Biosustainability at the Technical University of Denmark. In 2012 the Novo Nordisk Foundation awarded a large grant, which has funded ground-breaking work in genomics, systems biology and large scale genome editing for research and technology development of CHO cells at the Center for Biosustainability at the Danish Technical University (DTU) and the University of California San Diego. This funded the first publicly accessible genome sequences for CHO cells, and has provided a unique opportunity to combine synthetic and systems biology to rationally engineer CHO cells for biopharmaceutical production. "Host cell proteins can be problematic if they pose a significant metabolic demand, degrade product quality, or are maintained throughout downstream purification," explained Stefan Kol, lead author on the study who performed this research while at DTU. "We hypothesized that with multiple rounds of CRISPR-Cas mediated gene editing, we could decrease host cell protein levels in a stepwise fashion. At this point, we did not expect to make a large impact on HCP secretion considering that there are thousands of individual HCPs that have been previously identified." This work builds on promising computational work published earlier in 2020. Researchers at UC San Diego had developed a computational model of recombinant protein production in CHO cells, published earlier this year in Nature Communications. Jahir Gutierrez, a former bioengineering Ph.D. student at UC San Diego used this model to quantify the metabolic cost of producing each host cell protein in the CHO secretome, and with the help of Austin Chiang, a project scientist in the Department of Pediatrics at UC San Diego, showed that a relatively small number of secreted proteins account for the majority of the cell energy and resources. Thus the idea to eliminate the dominant contaminating proteins had the potential to free up a non-negligible amount of cellular resources and protect drug quality. The authors identified and removed 14 contaminating host-cell proteins in CHO cells. In doing this they eliminated up to 70 percent of the contaminating protein by mass and demonstrated a significant decrease in purification demands. These modifications can be combined with additional advantageous genetic modifications being identified by the team in an effort to obtain higher quality medications at lower costs. Four Manitoba health-care workers have contracted the novel coronavirus and more than 700 have been tested for COVID-19 in the past seven days. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Four Manitoba health-care workers have contracted the novel coronavirus and more than 700 have been tested for COVID-19 in the past seven days. Shared Health chief nursing officer Lanette Siragusa said Wednesday that four new cases of the virus have been identified among the provinces health-care staff in the last week. Two of the individuals were infected with the virus while at work, Siragusa said, while public-health investigators continue to determine how the other two contacted the contagion. Overall, 25 health care workers eight nurses, five medical staff, and 12 allied health and support service employees have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and 15 have returned to work, Siragusa said. Most of the cases involve workers from the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority. Two were identified in the Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority. Personal protective equipment had been available to the staff members, Siragusa said, and the individuals were wearing the appropriate gear while at work. Siragusa said she could not describe what level of contact the health care workers had with the public, either during or outside working hours. However, 789 staff members have been tested for the virus in the past seven days. "It sounded like they were all using PPE and theyre feeling pretty good about the spread, that it probably was very minimal, but theyre doing the contact tracing now and will be able to confirm," Siragusa said during the province's daily press briefing. Manitoba Association of Health Care Professionals president Bob Moroz said the number of health-care staff tested in the past week is not surprising as individuals are being swabbed for seasonal sniffles and closely screened for symptoms at their workplace. However, new cases of COVID-19 among health-care workers emphasize the need for all staff to be outfitted with personal protective equipment, Moroz said. "We know that there are shortages of PPE, we know there are people using PPE much longer than they should for a shift," Moroz said. "It's fine to say you have PPE but if it becomes completely ineffective after a certain period of time, in the case of a procedure mask like those being supplied, then is it really PPE at that point any more, or are they checking a box? "If people have the correct PPE, I'm wondering how it is we're seeing workplace exposures and workplace positives," Moroz said. Meanwhile, chief public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin announced two new cases of the virus Wednesday, bringing the province's total of confirmed and probable cases to 257. Seven people are currently in hospital three in intensive care while 154 people are considered to have recovered from the virus. Public health officials have tied roughly 53 per cent of the province's COVID-19 cases to travel, Roussin said, while 35 per cent are close contacts to confirmed cases, and 13 per cent are of unknown acquisition, or considered to be contracted through community transmission. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Roussin reiterated the province's expanded COVID-19 testing criteria now includes all symptomatic employees and volunteers who are still attending work outside of the home, including those working in construction, transportation, manufacturing, grocery stores and daycares. "If you are in an industry that was not required to close as part of the public health orders and you're symptomatic, you are eligible for testing," Roussin said. "I want to encourage any Manitoban with respiratory symptoms, even if they are mild, who meet our criteria to get tested." The expanded testing criteria is key to better understanding the extent of community transmission of COVID-19, prior to relaxing current physical distancing strategies or reopening businesses, Roussin explained. "We want to ensure that were picking up on any community-based transmission prior to opening up our economy," he said. "We want to make absolutely sure that we are picking up on that, and we know that when you open up the economy there is that chance were going to start seeing more cases. "We're going to reopen things, we're going to do so very cautiously, and follow our numbers." danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (19) (CNN) -- Editor's Note: A version of this story appeared in CNN's Work Transformed newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here. Tell me: When was the last time you really stepped away from work and took some time just for yourself? Shut out all the noise -- the email, the Slacks, the texts, the Twitter notifications, the constant worry about that big project -- and just took a moment for yourself to regroup and refocus? I'll wait. Still thinking? Here's the thing: Workplace burnout doesn't solely happen when you're putting in long hours at the office. It's also a risk when you're working from home, camped out at your kitchen table in your sweats. In fact, the risk could be even greater given our current situation. One expert told me the suddenness with which so many of us were forced to start working from home -- while also losing our childcare in many cases -- combined with a global pandemic that seems to have no end in sight, means the risk of burnout has intensified. Not great news. We've got enough on our plates to worry about. So here are the signs of burnout and what you can do about it. Work-life imbalance. When you were going into an office every day there was a clear distinction between your work life and personal time. But now that you don't have a commute to mark the beginning and end of your day and your office could now be in your kitchen, you can end up working all the time if you're not careful. How to fight it: Set your work hours, communicate them with your boss and colleagues and then stick to them. (Yes, there will be times when you will work late, but try to make that the exception, not the rule.) It can also help to create a signal that it's time for you to switch gears to personal time: Some people change into more comfortable clothes, go outside and hit Wiffle balls, while others go for a run or workout. Lack of control. Employees who feel that they lack control over their schedules, interactions and time management are at risk of burning out. How to fight it: Create a schedule that designates time for work, family and yourself -- and then be sure to stick to it. Missing social connections. Even if you're in a crowded house, your family members might not offer the same support your colleagues did when it comes to issues with work. How to fight it: You have to be more deliberate with your social interactions when working from home. It takes a little more effort, but continue to reach out to your co-workers: Slack them, set up a quick video check-in and lean on them the way you would at work. Hospitals turn to VR to train doctors and nurses Hospitals across the globe are getting an assist from virtual reality to help fill staffing shortages. CNN's Samantha Murphy Kelly reports that hospitals are using virtual reality to help teach skills like how to assess a patient's symptoms or perform CPR while wearing protective gear. This allows doctors and nurses with expertise in other fields, like knee surgery or neurology, but little or no experience in treating infectious diseases, to help with Covid-19 patients. Just like that: $350 billion gone in a flash Well, that didn't take long. It took less than two weeks for the government's $350 billion forgivable small business loan program to be fully tapped out. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was created under the $2 trillion stimulus package and offers loan guarantees for small businesses as the economy remains on hold. The first-come, first-served program officially launched on April 3rd and was plagued by problems from the start. A lack of guidance from the government left banks and small business owners confused. The quick depletion wasn't unexpected: Lenders had tens of thousands of small businesses waiting to apply before the program launched. Read this report from CNN's Jeanne Sahadi on what small business should do now. There is some good news. Congress seems to be very close to adding more funds to the program. In the meantime, here are four free resources that small business owners can take advantage of right now. Still haven't gotten your stimulus check? If you are still waiting for your check to arrive from Uncle Sam -- don't panic. Around 60 million Americans still haven't received their payments yet, according to CNN's Katie Lobosco. The government sent out checks to roughly 80 million people last week, starting with those who filed their federal taxes in 2018 or 2019 and were due a refund and authorized direct deposit. If you are wondering where your check might be, check out these five reasons you might not have received your money. Making your small space functional...and beautiful Being stuck inside your home for the majority of the day is tough. And when your home is small (raises hand), it can feel as if every day the walls are moving in. But don't worry. There are easy things you can do to make your "cozy" space more livable during the lockdown. From tricks on how to create more privacy for all those video calls, to maximizing lighting and limiting distractions, check out this Q&A with designer and author Azby Brown. Also, this interview with designer Kelly Wearstler gives design hacks on how to divide up spaces so you can separate work and personal areas without having to put up any walls. It also recommends some design elements you should embrace to make your home more work-friendly. Coffee Break Want to have a llama join your next video meeting? Even barn animals are looking to get in on the videoconferencing craze. An animal sanctuary in California is offering an array of farm animals, including a cow, sheep, goat, llama or turkey, to make an appearance on your next live video call. For $65, you can get a 20-minute virtual farm tour for up to six participants, and $100 will get you a 10-minute animal cameo on a corporate meeting with unlimited people. This story was first published on CNN.com, "WFH burnout is real. How to avoid it." Searches are being held on Thursday morning at the home of Yulia Kuzmenko, the children's heart surgeon suspected of assassinating journalist Pavlo Sheremet, as well as at her relatives, lawyer Taras Bezpaly has said. "Searches of Kuzmenko's flat and at her relatives are taking place," Bezpaly said on Facebook page on Thursday morning, adding they began at 06:20 in the morning. The lawyer said the searches were sanctioned by the decision of the investigating judge of Pechersky District Court of Kyiv in the framework of the criminal proceedings involving Sheremet's murder. "There's no evidence in the case. They are looking for something, at least," he said. As reported, journalist Sheremet was killed in a car explosion in central Kyiv on July 20, 2016. The explosion occurred when Sheremet was driving a vehicle that belonged to Ukrayinska Pravda co-founder Olena Prytula, who was not in it at the time. The journalist died at the scene shortly following the bomb blast. On December 12, 2019, police conducted a number of searches and notified several people of their status as suspects in the Sheremet assassination case. Later in the day, the National Police and Interior Ministry held a briefing, at which President Volodymyr Zelensky also spoke, to inform the public about a number of interim investigation findings and the suspects' names. Military nurse Yana Duhar, volunteer and children's doctor Yulia Kuzmenko, and musician and veteran of the antiterrorist operation in Donbas Andriy Antonenko were officially notified of being suspected of killing Sheremet. The spouses Vladyslav and Inna Hryshchenko, also Donbas war veterans, were detained as suspects in a different case but were named as possibly having relation to the killing of Sheremet as well. Ukrainian National Police deputy chief and criminal police chief Yevhen Koval said the investigation was inclined to assume that the primary motive of Sheremet's assassination was an attempt to destabilize the sociopolitical situation in the country. Hatchling Season Nesting season has been very busy here in Juno Beach, FL. We are having a record breaking season with 17,849 nests to date! To see this unforgettable experience, sign-up for a hatchling release while dates are still available: bit.ly/2w7NkyT Posted by Loggerhead Marinelife Center on Monday, August 14, 2017 In recent weeks, its been observed that during the coronavirus lockdown, various wildlife species have been flourishing in ways we havent seen in many years. Fox 13 reports that among those positive observations are the loggerhead sea turtles on a 9.5 mile stretch of South Florida beach that encompasses Juno Beach. According to the Loggerhead Marinelife Center, the area is one of the most densely nested sea turtle beaches in the world, says Fox 13. Here, according to an April 18 Loggerhead Marinelife Center Facebook post, 79 leatherback and loggerhead turtle nests were discovered by its staff. The Facebook post said, some 76 of the nests were leatherback turtle nests and three were loggerhead nests. A blog post on April 17 said the first leatherback nest was documented by Loggerhead Marinelife Center staff at the start of February, Fox reported. This was an encouraging report, since around this time last year the staff had discovered just 41 nests, Fox said. Hatchlings are here and ready to be adopted! Each year over 1,000 hatchlings are cared for at our sea turtle hospital. Find out more about adopting these cute hatchlings at: http://bit.ly/2tqixvo Posted by Loggerhead Marinelife Center on Saturday, July 8, 2017 What are the biggest threats to leatherback sea turtles and why are they now flourishing? Leatherback turtles are listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Natures Red List, and are threatened by tourism and recreation areas, among other threats, reports Fox 13. However, according to Fox, the World Wildlife Fund notes that many subpopulations of leatherback turtles, such as in the Pacific and Southwest Atlantic, are critically endangered. A statement by David Godfrey, executive director of the Sea Turtle Conservancy, said For sea turtles across the globe, humans have made it difficult to nest on sandy beaches. The turtles need to be undisturbed and emerging hatchlings get confused by beachfront lights, quotes Fox 13. Godfrey further stated, But with lights and people away, this years sea turtle nesting so far seems much better from India to Costa Rica to Florida. Theres some silver lining for wildlife in what otherwise is a fairly catastrophic time for humans, he says. READ MORE: 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. When the unnamed 1915 hurricane laid waste to the glass-roofed Horticultural Hall in Audubon Park, it was mourned by many as the last building standing from New Orleans ill-fated, but still memorable, first worlds fair in 1884. Some smaller relics remain from what was formally known as the Worlds Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition. Theres the now-famous Audubon Park meteorite, for example which was really a chunk of iron ore from the Alabama exhibit. Theres a monolithic terracotta pedestal for the statue Peace, the Genius of History that now stands in Gayerre Place in Treme. Theres even Exposition Avenue, a walking path hugging the eastern boundary of Audubon Park. What many might not realize, though, is that the Horticultural Hall all 116,000 square feet of it, located roughly around the site of the labyrinth in Audubon Park, just northeast of the Tree of Life wasnt actually the last surviving building from New Orleans first worlds fair. Quoth Yoda: No. There is another. You just have to travel a bit to see it. When President Chester Arthur opened the worlds fair via telegraph from Washington, D.C., on Dec. 16, 1884, it marked New Orleans participation in what many consider the golden age of worlds fairs. It wasnt the biggest or the fanciest. Londons fair in 1851, Philadelphias fair in 1876, Paris in 1889, and Chicagos in 1893 all surpassed New Orleans in notoriety. But while the 1884 expo had its problems from its tangled finances to the fact that the fairgrounds werent even complete on opening day it was a big deal in the Crescent City. Arriving just shy of 20 years after the end of the Civil War, it was intended to showcase the dazzling agricultural technology at work in the postwar South. Featuring exhibits from all 38 states in the then-preserved Union, and at least seven U.S. territories that would later become states, it was also meant to signal a certain postwar unity. Due to financial and time constraints, fair organizers realized early on it would be nearly impossible to outshine other fairs architecturally. They did, however, have a lot of land at their disposal. So, the fairs seven main buildings not counting utility buildings, a livestock arena or its race course were spread out over 249 newly created park-like acres, stretching from St. Charles Avenue to the Mississippi River. Of the few foreign governments to commit to significant exhibits at the fair was Mexico, whose pavilion was hailed as one of the fairs finest. (Its) small in comparison to the various other Exposition structures, yet this building of most beautiful and exquisite design, of the costliest workmanship, presented a striking and attractive feature, wrote Herbert S. Fairall in his 1885 book-length recollection of the 1884 Exposition. Credited to engineer Jose Ramon Ibarrola and topped with a glass cupola, it stood out for its eye-catching Moorish design, adorned as it was with a wealth of intricate decorative flourishes. During the fair, that earned it the nickname The Alhambra Palace, after the Moorish landmark in Granada, Spain. It was also known as the octagonal building, for its shape. Inside, visitors were treated to a display of various minerals mined in Mexico, including gold, silver, copper and zinc, as well as a collection of precious stones. The building was also ingeniously designed for a specific purpose: Made mostly out of cast iron panels, the whole thing could be disassembled, moved and reassembled elsewhere. Which is how, after the 1884 Worlds Fair in New Orleans ended in May 1885, the Alhambra Palace reappeared in Mexico City, where it for a time was reportedly the site of the drawings for Mexicos national lottery. Its also how visitors to Mexico City can see it today, standing as the centerpiece for a park in Mexico Citys Colonia Santa Maria la Ribera neighborhood. Designated a National Artistic Monument in 1972 by Mexicos National Institute of Anthropology and History, its now known as El Kiosko Morisco, or the Moorish Kiosk, and has become something of a national treasure. New Orleanians with an appreciation for history, however, will treasure it for an entirely different reason: as the last building still standing from the citys 1884 Worlds Fair. Know of a New Orleans building worth profiling in this column, or just curious about one? Contact Mike Scott at moviegoermike@gmail.com. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 01:12:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SANAA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi rebels on Thursday said they "reject any fragmented solutions or agreements," in reference to the last call of nationwide cease-fire in Yemen asked by the United Nations Security Council. "The (Houthi) Supreme Political Council, in its meeting today (Thursday) chaired by the President of the Council Mahdi Al-Mashat, affirmed its rejection to any fragmented solutions or agreements," the Houthi group said in a statement aired by the group's al-Masirah television. "The Supreme Political Council expressed surprise at the Saudi-led coalition's claim of the two-week cease-fire initiative, while it is escalating fighting and mobilizing forces at the same time," the group said, referring to the Saudi-led coalition cease-fire initiative that began two weeks ago and was scheduled to end on April 23. The Houthis accused the coalition of misleading the international community by claiming it carried out its unilateral two-week cease-fire in Yemen. "The Saudi-led coalition has launched 57 overland attacks and around 500 airstrikes on Yemen over the past two weeks," the Houthi said in the statement. Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition has made no comment yet on the Yemeni Houthis' claim. Yemen has been mired in civil war for five whole years, pitting the Iran-allied Houthi rebels against the Saudi-backed government forces of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Saudi Arabia has been leading a coalition force defending the internationally recognized Yemeni government against the Houthi rebels. On April 8, the Saudi-led Arab coalition declared a unilateral two-week cease-fire in Yemen for fear that the raging coronavirus pandemic may reach the country which is witnessing the world's biggest humanitarian crisis. The coalition's move came in response to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' March 25 call for a nationwide cease-fire in Yemen in the context of a possible outbreak of COVID-19. Yemen has so far reported one laboratory-confirmed coronavirus case in the southeastern province of Hadramout. On April 17, the Security Council welcomed the announcement of the unilateral cease-fire by the Saudi-led military coalition, which is fighting the Houthis in Yemen. They welcomed the Yemeni government's positive response to the cease-fire call, and called on the Houthis to make similar commitments without delay. UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths has asked the Yemeni warring parties to seize the opportunity for peace, a nationwide cease-fire, confidence-building measures, and the restart of the political process as soon as possible. However, the fighting has been escalating on multiple frontlines. Enditem WA Police gave billionaire mining and media mogul Kerry Stokes and his wife an exemption from mandatory hotel quarantine rules on medical grounds after they returned to Perth from the United States on their private jet two weeks ago. The exemption, granted by WA Police after advice from the State Health Incident Coordination Centre, meant Mr and Mrs Stokes could self-isolate in their Dalkeith home rather than be locked down in a hotel room like thousands of other West Australians returning from overseas. Media mogul Kerry Stokes and his wife Christine Simpson Stokes were both granted exemptions to WA's tough hotel quarantine rules. WA Premier Mark McGowan used tough rhetoric at the end of March stating there would be no exemptions "for all Australians" to strict hotel quarantine rules. The couple arrived in Perth on April 8 aboard their Bombardier BD-700 Global Express, which arrived from the United States and transited through Hawaii. The Sydney Morning Herald's CBD column reported just days after the quarantine rules came into force on March 28 that Mr Stokes had been locked down in Beaver Creek, Colorado, where he owns a $15 million penthouse, about 150 kilometres from the Aspen ski fields. A senior Tory minister was unable to say how many people have been tested for coronavirus as the government faces a race against time to meet an ambitious pledge for 100,000 daily tests. Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, came unstuck during an interview with ITV's Good Morning Britain, where he failed to answer repeated questions on the number of individuals who've received Covid-19 tests. Mr Lewis also admitted it was "dreadful" that more care workers have not been tested for the virus but insisted that the government was on track to hit the 100,000-test daily target by the end of the month. Ministers are under pressure to scale up daily testing from around 40,000 to 100,000 by May, following a pledge from the health secretary Matt Hancock. But the number of tests carried out is far lower than capacity at around 22,000, as NHS staff appear to be struggling to get to testing sites miles from their homes. Drive-through sites have been pictured lying almost empty, while some staff could be isolating needlessly or passing on the virus unwittingly at work. GMB presenter Piers Morgan challenged Mr Lewis if he knew how many people had been tested out of the 22,000 tests that took place on Wednesday - as multiple tests can be carried on one person. Mr Lewis responded: "No, the only thing I have got is the number of tests that we did, the number of tests that were available." Mr Morgan pressed him again: "You don't actually know how many people you tested out of the 22,000 tests?" The cabinet minister said: "We did 22,000 tests. How many individual, different people that was I don't have that data in front of me." Mr Morgan said the government's testing programme was a total "shambles", saying: "Shall I tell you? 13,000." Mr Lewis replied: "The focus is about making sure that people who require the test, the people who need that test, get access to those tests. "That's what we've been doing. The NHS, the employers, will put people forward to have tests they believe need those tests. "One of the things we're looking to do is make more people able to access those tests as individuals, rather than through their employer, which again will speed up and increase the number of people who can get access to it." With high numbers of deaths expected in care homes, the senior Tory also admitted that more staff should be able to get access to testing. High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Show all 18 1 /18 High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Najaf, Iraq A man holds a pocket watch at noon, at an almost empty market near the Imam Ali shrine Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Bangkok, Thailand Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram (The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, part of The Grand Palace) Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Prague, Czech Republic An empty street leading to the historic Old Town Square Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Washington DC, US Lawn stretching towards the Capitol, home of Congress Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Jerusalem's Old City A watch showing the time in front of Damascus Gate Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world London, UK The Houses of Parliament seen from Westminster Bridge Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Wuhan, China Empty lanes in the city that saw the first outbreak of disease Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Havana, Cuba The Malecon road and esplanade winds along the city's seafront Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Cairo, Egypt A little busier than elsewhere: midday traffic in Tahrir Square Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Berlin, Germany The Brandenburg Gate, the only surviving city gate in the capital Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Caracas, Venezuela Bolivar Avenue, opened in 1949 and the site of many demonstrations and rallies Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Moscow, Russia Spasskaya Tower (left) on the eastern wall of the Kremlin, and St Basil's Cathedral Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Istanbul,Turkey The harbourside Eminonu district is usually buzzing with activity Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world New Delhi, India Rajpath, a ceremonial boulevard that runs through the capital Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Amman, Jordan The Roman amphitheatre that dates back to the 2nd century AD Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world New York City, US The main concourse of Grand Central station in Manhattan Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Kiev, Ukraine Maidan Nezalezhnosti, the site of many political protests since the end of the Soviet era Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Accra, Ghana The odd walker out in the midday sun on Ring Road Central Reuters He said: "I think it's dreadful that we can't get more people tested. "That's why it's important we do upscale the ability for people to access these tests, both with more test centres, the ability to have the tests at home, and the ability to apply for them directly rather than having to apply through their employer, which has been slowing things down." The latest figures show the government is still less than a fifth of the way towards its 100,000 tests target, with eight days to go. Some 18,206 tests were carried out in the 24 hours up to 9am on Tuesday in England, Wales and Scotland, while capacity stood at 41,398. Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State on Thursday disowned the audio and video recordings in the social media claiming he allegedly banned two journalists for life for publishing false reports. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the government had been having running battles with the Vanguard and Sun correspondents in the state over alleged publishing of certain reports about the state. Chijioke Agwu of Sun newspapers was arrested by security operatives on April 19 over his report on Lassa fever ravaging the state while Peter Okutu of Vanguard was arrested on April 21 over his report on the invasion of Ohaukwu LGA by the military. The governor, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Francis Nwaze, described the audio and video recordings as doctored and aimed at misleading the public. Mr Nwaze said the two journalists reports raised alarm and caused panic in the midst of the fight against COVID-19. There is no case of confirmed death caused by Lassa fever recently in Ebonyi, and neither was there any killing by the Nigerian military last weekend in the state. The reports were ill-conceived and have no truth in them as both newsmen were never embarrassed, intimidated or harassed to the knowledge of the governor at any government event. The governor never ordered such ban and he called the attention of the NUJ leadership in the state on April 15 and April 22, advising it to ensure that its members always verified their reports in the interest of the state and nation, he said. Mr Nwaze, in the statement, called on the NUJ and the public to discountenance the false reports, as well as audio and video recordings as they were figments of imagination of the bearers. It is a delicate attempt to smear the hard-earned reputation and good relationship of the governor with the media, the statement reads. (NAN) Who is the best Standardbred of the modern era to never win a Horse of the Year title? It could quite possibly be a horse born on this day 20 years ago. Mr Muscleman was foaled on April 23, 2000 in Versailles, Ky. Bred by Brittany Farms and Spar J Stables, Mr Muscleman (Muscles Yankee - Meadowbranch Irene) was a $2,000 yearling purchase by Pamela Wagner of Fairfax, Va. at the Tattersalls Select Yearling Sale in September 2001. Wagner sold the rookie trotting gelding to Adam Victor & Son Stable just two starts into his 2002 freshman season. Trained by Noel Daley and driven primarily by Ron Pierce, four-time divisional winner (three wins in the U.S. and one in Canada) Mr Muscleman raced from 2002 through to 2007. Taking into account international earnings and Canadian conversion Mr Muscleman is the fourth richest North American trotter of all time with $4,032,206 in purses, trailing Moni Maker, Arch Madness and Bee A Magician. He recorded 37 wins out of 69 starts, finishing off the board only eight times in six seasons of racing. In 11 starts as a two-year-old in 2002, Mr Muscleman had five wins, including the Bluegrass and Harold Dancer Memorial. The following year, victories in the Breeders Crown, Canadian Trotting Classic and Kentucky Futurity contributed to Mr Muscleman being voted 2003 Three-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year in the U.S. His earnings of $1,350,917 were at the time the most ever by a three-year-old trotting gelding. In 2004, winning the Maple Leaf Trot and American-National helped earn Mr Muscleman the title of Older Trotter of the Year in both the U.S. and Canada. In 2005, five-year-old Mr Musclemans victories included the Breeders Crown, Maple Leaf Trot, Titan Cup and Classic Series, where he set his record 1:51.1s at Woodbine Racetrack. His seasons earnings of $1,528,900 were the most ever by an older Standardbred gelding and made Mr Muscleman the first Standardbred to earn $1 million in two non-consecutive seasons of North American racing. He was voted 2005 Trotter of the Year and Older Trotter of the Year in the U.S. After being shelved for the majority of 2006, Mr Muscleman returned to the track in 2007. Seven-year-old Mr Muscleman finished a close second in Swedens Elitlopp and won all four of his North American starts. Persistent leg issues forced his retirement in 2008. "He was the best horse I've ever driven, stated Ron Pierce after Mr Muscleman's retirement. The toughest, the classiest, the gutsiest. He had the manners and covered the ground so easily. He was very much like Moni Maker, a long striding, big powerful horse who needed three strides to get where all the other horses needed four. I have to give credit to Noel Daley and Mike Vanderkemp for all the good work they did with him, Pierce added. They are the ones who kept him going. The Victors are the ones who put me up. They deserve all the credit, not me." Mr Muscleman has been a resident of the Kentucky Horse Parks Hall of Champions since October 2009, the first Standardbred trotter to receive the honour. The members of the Harness Racing Museum elected him to harness racings Hall of Fame in the U.S. in December 2016. Several of the confirmed cases in Zimbabwe have been amongst people returning to Zimbabwe from countries which had a widespread of COVID-19. So, it is really in the public health recommended good to have a close monitoring of anybody who is returning to Zimbabwe at this time from such countries. So, this monitoring or quarantine could be voluntary or mandatory, he said. ABC News Tennis world No. 1 Novak Djokovic is apologizing for an "error of judgement" related to an in-person interview he conducted last month after being exposed to COVID-19 as he continues to fight to stay in Australia and compete in the first major of the year. Djokovic, who is tied for first all time with 20 major wins, released a new statement Wednesday midday local time in Melbourne explaining the timeline of several public appearances around when he tested positive for COVID in December -- which he says should allow him to compete in the Australian Open despite apparently not being vaccinated. "I want to address the continuing misinformation about my activities and attendance at events in December leading up to my positive PCR COVID test result," he wrote in an Instagram post. Digital technologies and infrastructures, like 5G, present many new opportunities for economic growth while also challenging the security of digital communications. For the past 30 years Huawei has maintained an unwavering focus, rejecting shortcuts and easy opportunities that dont align with our core business. With a practical approach to everything we do, we concentrate our efforts and invest patiently to drive technological breakthroughs. This strategic focus reflects our core values: staying customer-centric, inspiring dedication, persevering, and growing by reflection. We will move ahead and aim to forge an ever-stronger partnership with our European partners to build a fully connected, intelligent world. Tomorrows digital world will be powered by ultra-fast 5G networks. Applications range from connected cars to intelligent homes and cities. As the research effort reaches the final stages, with 5G roll-out expected for 2020, a massive upgrade of network infrastructure is required to complete this deep transformation. Huawei is the world leader in 5G. And its not just Huawei that says that. The European Commission - in its March 2019 report by its internal think tank, the European Political Strategy Centre - recognizes Huawei as an industry leader regarding standards and the top 5G equipment vendor in the world. Supporting a competitive market in the EU Huawei is not only leading the way to accomplishing the EUs targets by building fast and reliable networks with all major European operators and investing in research and development. Huawei has also boosted Europes economy by 12.8 billion euros through its economic activity in 2018, supporting almost 170,000 jobs either directly or through the supply chain, according to a study by Oxford Economics. is the digital foundation of the industry. Huaweis direct contribution to European GDP of 2.5 billion euros in 2018 has more than doubled since 2014, representing annual growth of 19 percent per year in real terms. Over the same period, the total employment supported by Huawei rose by an average of 13 percent a year while the total tax revenue it generated increased by 17 percent a year. Along the entire value chain, Huawei uses its leading information and communications technology and products to help its European partners maintain the global competitiveness of advantageous industries in the process of digitization. Together, we are building Europes own digital infrastructure. Huaweis presence in France signals new stage of partnership To further enhance its footprint in Europe, Huawei recently announced plans for a new wireless communication manufacturing facility in France. This highly automated and intelligent factory will specialize in 4G and 5G equipment and will primarily manufacture supplies for European customers. A planned investment of over 200 million euros has been announced for this new plant, which will be used for the plot of land, construction, and equipment. Construction will utilize some of the world's most advanced production equipment and tools from leading local partners. The plant will also have a demo center, showcasing the wireless base station production, software loading, and testing process. The facilities will be open to carriers, governments, and related authorities, demonstrating Huawei's positive stance on Europe's call for digital sovereignty. We support Europes efforts for digital sovereignty Together, Europe and Huawei have already achieved a lot in during the 3G and 4G eras of the past 20 years. We successfully helped Europe to launch its first 4G network. Now we are ready to bring the same success to Europe for 5G. Recently, there has been a lot of talk about the trustworthiness of such networks. It is our strong believe, that we should continue to work together, building these network technologies in a way that ensures trust, security, safety and the protection of fundamental rights including protection against arbitrary interference with privacy. Digital Sovereignty can and should be a win-win situation for both Huawei and Europe. In doing so, it is about staying true to principles of openness, competitiveness and fair trade values which Huawei shares. These principles have contributed to interconnected, global markets for which 5G is perfectly designed. Kevin Liu, Huawei Technologies By ANI NEW DELHI: AIIMS Director Randeep Guleria on Thursday made an appeal to the people to not stigmatize the patients who have recovered from COVID-19 as it is creating problems in the society. "I would like to appeal to everyone that we should look at how we can support the families and patients who have had COVID-19 rather than stigmatize them and not accept them in the society," said Guleria. "The majority of the patients are coming alright and coming out and these are actually are symbols of hope that they have had COVID-19 and have come out and yet we have stigmatized them to a large extent. It is creating a panic; it is creating problems as far as society is concerned," he added. Addressing a press conference here, Guleria said that the stigmatization is making people not report to the healthcare authorities in case they have symptoms. "Not only that, but it is also actually causing an increase in morbidity and mortality. Because of the stigma that is happening many patients who have COVID-19 or flu-like symptoms are not coming to health care facilities," Guleria further said. He also said that the coronavirus infection is not that serious as the majority of the people are recovering from it. "This is a disease which is not that serious, 90-95 percent people recover, if we have that stigma and we don't come forward then we may land up in a situation where because of our delayed treatment we may have higher mortality." Meanwhile, India's count of COVID-19 has climbed to 21,393 after 1,409 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours, said the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare today. It was a balmy 11 degrees outside Tuesday afternoon, and the sun was warming the sidewalk on Corydon Avenue. In years past, weather like this a signal that spring is finally here, maybe would have been met by a bombastic patio crowd at Bar Italia, eager to seize the most out of the first taste of what some locals would call "shorts weather." Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. It was a balmy 11 degrees outside Tuesday afternoon, and the sun was warming the sidewalk on Corydon Avenue. In years past, weather like this a signal that spring is finally here, maybe would have been met by a bombastic patio crowd at Bar Italia, eager to seize the most out of the first taste of what some locals would call "shorts weather." Instead, the only person on the Cockburn Street pad was a regular named Mario, who had retrofitted the sliding plexiglass doors to add a walk-up window to the village staple, which for nearly 40 years has survived on the strength of patrons staying a while. "It is extremely bizarre," said Rhea Collison, the restaurants managing partner, whose roots to Bar Italia go back 35 years. But when a patio door is forced to close, opening a window seems like a logical option. Restaurants across the city have been left no choice but to close or adapt, of late. It could mean developing an in-house delivery service, as Wall Street Slice has done via bicycle, setting up a pickup table outside, as Eadha Bread on Ellice Avenue has. In many cases, it has meant begrudgingly registering with second-party delivery services. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The total cost of what Rhea Collison calls the "MacGyvered window" came out to about $1,000. As the duration of physical distancing is unknown, the physical appearance and mechanics of the restaurant industry have begun to shift; there is no clear answer to when dine-in options will get the green light. For any establishment, its a startling proposition, especially for those as dependent on foot traffic as Bar Italia. Sals struggling Local favourite Salisbury House is another example of a local legacy restaurant dealing with the closure of its ever-busy dining areas. click to read more Local favourite Salisbury House is another example of a local legacy restaurant dealing with the closure of its ever-busy dining areas. Six Sals locations, including the King Edward, Lombard, Ellice, Plessis, and Matheson shops in Winnipeg, have been temporarily shuttered, as has the Steinbach location. Six others have been converted to serve only take-out and delivery. Meanwhile, the Sals store on Route 90 remains open for wholesale purchases of Sals products, as well as prepared meals for warming up at home. Close After closing the indoor seating area to the public, the restaurant had set up a plexiglass divider in its entry area where pickups could be made. But Collison realized this was a temporary solution to what likely would be a long-term concern, so she got the ball rolling on the patio window. The carpenter sketched out a plan; it was installed three days later. He was back Tuesday to install an exterior countertop to further improve the pickup process. The total cost of what Collison calls the "MacGyvered window" came out to about $1,000. In a time of uncertain revenue, its not an expense to sneeze at, she said. "But we have to try." DAVID LIPNOWSKI / FREE PRESS FILES In years past, warm weather would bring out the patio crowd at Bar Italia and restaurants across the city. A similar investment was made at Santa Lucia Pizza, a few blocks west at the intersection of Corydon and Wentworth Street. Related Items Click to Expand Poll Loading... How has the pandemic affected the amount that you order takeout food? Less: I don't eat takeout anywhere near as much as before. No change: I eat takeout food just as much as pre-pandemic. More: I'm eating takeout food much more now than I did before the pandemic. How has the pandemic affected the amount that you order takeout food? Less: I don't eat takeout anywhere near as much as before. 59% (503 votes) No change: I eat takeout food just as much as pre-pandemic. 28% (239 votes) More: I'm eating takeout food much more now than I did before the pandemic. 13% (108 votes) Total Votes: 850 View ResultsHide Results Manager Theodoros Chatziathanasiadis said the restaurant refitted a shuttered window on the Wentworth side two weeks ago as a way to protect both customers and the remaining staff; about half of the locations workforce has been laid off. "To be honest, I always go grab coffee at the drive through, so I thought, if we had a window, it would be better," he said. It cost roughly $1,000, and Chatziathanasiadis said it's the type of investment that was needed to continue operating the restaurant, whose large dining area has been dormant for 35 days. "Its not easy, but its something we can do," he said. Try our Dish The latest on food and drink in Winnipeg and beyond from arts writers Ben Sigurdson and Eva Wasney. Dish arrives in your inbox every other Friday. See sample. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Manager Theodoros Chatziathanasiadis said Santa Lucia refitted a shuttered window on the Wentworth side two weeks ago as a way to protect both customers and the remaining staff. As Chatziathanasiadis expected, the restaurant has seen a drop in sales, but so far, the window appears to have struck a chord with customers who are more than willing to stand outside and wait. On Friday night, a physically-distanced line-up to the small window actually snaked its way to the corner, he said a small silver lining in whats been a trying time for restaurateurs, especially ones with less local clout as Santa Lucias accrued over decades. In a time of uncertainty, the only things restaurateurs can afford to be is nimble. Back at Bar Italia, that also means pondering delivery options and expanding its marketing efforts in the most traditional way possible: window displays. On the front of the building, artist Pat Lazo painted decals advertising iced coffee, and above the new food-delivery portal, he spray-painted, Bar I Walk-Up Window to alert the public that it was there. And once they built it, the customers came, even if patio season remains out of reach. For now. ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca Novartis announces data showing Jakavi (ruxolitinib) more effective than best available therapy in acute graft-versus-host disease Details Category: Small Molecules Published on Thursday, 23 April 2020 11:32 Hits: 1520 Data from Phase III REACH2 study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, demonstrate Jakavi can improve outcomes for patients with acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) who do not respond to first-line steroid treatment 1 Results show 62% overall response rate with Jakavi at Day 28, the primary endpoint of the study, compared to 39% for best available therapy 1 GvHD is a serious and common complication of allogeneic stem cell transplants with a one-year death rate as high as 80% in its acute form2-4 BASEL, Switzerland I April 22, 2020 I Data from the Phase III REACH2 study published today in The New England Journal of Medicine show Jakavi (ruxolitinib) improves outcomes across a range of efficacy measures in patients with steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) compared to best available therapy (BAT). The results of REACH2, the first Phase III study in acute GvHD to have met its primary endpoint, reinforce findings of the previously reported Phase II REACH1 study. The new data was also selected for presentation at the Presidential Symposium of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) Annual Meeting, to be held 30 August to 2 September in Madrid. In REACH2, patients treated with Jakavi experienced significantly greater overall response rate (ORR) vs. BAT (62% vs. 39%; p<0.001) at Day 28, the primary endpoint of the study. For the key secondary endpoint, patients treated with Jakavi maintained significantly higher durable ORR (40% vs. 22%; p<0.001) at eight weeks. Additionally, Jakavi was associated with longer median failure free survival (FFS) than BAT (5.0 months vs. 1.0 months; hazard ratio 0.46, 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.60), and showed a positive trend with other secondary endpoints, including duration of response1. Patients with acute graft-versus-host disease face life-threatening challenges with limited treatment options, particularly for the nearly half of individuals who do not respond to initial steroid therapy, said Robert Zeiser, University Hospital Freiburg, Department of Haematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Freiburg, Germany. "These new data from REACH2 showing superiority of Jakavi over current standard-of-care therapies add to a growing body of evidence on how targeting the JAK pathway can be an effective strategy in this difficult-to-treat condition. No new safety signals were observed in REACH2, and adverse events (AEs) attributable to treatment were consistent with the known safety profile of Jakavi. The most common AEs were thrombocytopenia, anemia and cytomegalovirus infection. While 38% and 9% of patients required Jakavi and BAT dose modifications, respectively, the number of patients who discontinued treatment due to AEs was low (11% and 5%, respectively)1. Compelling results from REACH2, the first successful randomized Phase III trial in patients with steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host-disease, give us confidence in the potential of Jakavi to confront this difficult condition," said John Tsai, Head Global Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer, Novartis. We look forward to initiating discussions with ex-US regulatory authorities. In 2019, the US Food and Drug Administration approved ruxolitinib (marketed by Incyte Corporation in the U.S. as Jakafi) for the treatment of steroid-refractory acute GvHD in adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older based on results of the single arm Phase II REACH1 trial5. The Phase III REACH3 study in patients with steroid-refractory chronic GvHD is ongoing and results are expected in the second half of this year. About Jakavi (ruxolitinib) Jakavi (ruxolitinib) is an oral inhibitor of the JAK 1 and JAK 2 tyrosine kinases. Jakavi is approved by the European Commission for the treatment of adult patients with polycythemia vera (PV) who are resistant to or intolerant of hydroxyurea and for the treatment of disease-related splenomegaly or symptoms in adult patients with primary myelofibrosis (MF) (also known as chronic idiopathic MF), post-polycythemia vera MF or post-essential thrombocythemia MF. Jakavi is approved in 101 countries for patients with MF, including EU countries, Switzerland, Canada, Japan and in more than 75 countries for patients with PV, including EU countries, Switzerland, Japan and Canada. The exact indication for Jakavi varies by country. Additional worldwide regulatory filings are underway in MF and PV. Novartis licensed ruxolitinib from Incyte Corporation for development and commercialization outside the United States. Ruxolitinib is marketed in the United States by Incyte Corporation as Jakafi for patients with PV who have had an inadequate response to or are intolerant of hydroxyurea, for patients with intermediate or high-risk MF, and steroid-refractory acute GvHD in adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older5. The recommended starting dose of Jakavi in PV is 10 mg given orally twice daily. The recommended starting dose of Jakavi in MF is 15 mg given orally twice daily for patients with a platelet count between 100,000 cubic millimeters (mm) and 200,000 mm, and 20 mg twice daily for patients with a platelet count of >200,000 mm. Doses may be titrated based on safety and efficacy. There is limited information to recommend a starting dose for MF and PV patients with platelet counts between 50,000/mm and <100,000/mm. The maximum recommended starting dose in these patients is 5 mg twice daily, and patients should be titrated cautiously5. Jakavi is a registered trademark of Novartis AG in countries outside the United States. Jakafi is a registered trademark of Incyte Corporation. The safety and efficacy profile of Jakavi has not yet been established outside of its approved indications. Jakavi Important Safety Information for Treatment of Myelofibrosis (MF) and Polycythemia Vera (PV) Jakavi can cause serious side effects, including a decrease in blood cell count and infections. Complete blood count monitoring is recommended. Dose reduction or interruption may be required in patients with any hepatic impairment or severe renal impairment or in patients developing hematologic adverse reactions such as thrombocytopenia, anemia and neutropenia. Dose reductions are also recommended when Jakavi is co-administered with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors or fluconazole. Use of Jakavi during pregnancy is not recommended, and women should avoid becoming pregnant during Jakavi therapy. Women taking Jakavi should not breast feed. Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) has been reported. Physicians should be alert for neuropsychiatric symptoms suggestive of PML. Hepatitis B viral load (HBV-DNA titer) increases have been reported in patients with chronic HBV infections. Patients with chronic HBV infection should be treated and monitored according to clinical guidelines. Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) has been reported in Jakavi treated patients. Periodic skin examination is recommended. Very common adverse reactions in MF (>10%) include urinary tract infections, anemia, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, hypercholesterolemia, dizziness, headache, alanine aminotransferase increased, aspartate aminotransferase increased, bruising and weight gain. Common adverse reactions in MF (1 to 10%) include herpes zoster and flatulence. Uncommon adverse reactions in MF include tuberculosis. Very common adverse reactions in PV (>10%) include anemia, thrombocytopenia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, dizziness, alanine aminotransferase increased and aspartate aminotransferase increased. Common adverse reactions in PV (1 to 10%) include urinary tract infections, herpes zoster, weight gain, constipation and hypertension. Please see full Prescribing Information available at www.jakavi.com. About Novartis Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend peoples lives. As a leading global medicines company, we use innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the worlds top companies investing in research and development. Novartis products reach nearly 800 million people globally and we are finding innovative ways to expand access to our latest treatments. About 109,000 people of more than 145 nationalities work at Novartis around the world. Find out more at https://www.novartis.com. Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at https://twitter.com/novartisnews For Novartis multimedia content, please visit https://www.novartis.com/news/media-library For questions about the site or required registration, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. References Robert Zeiser, M.D., et al. Ruxolitinib for Glucocorticoid-Refractory Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease. New England Journal of Medicine. 2020. Von Dalowski F, et al. Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Treatment of Acute SteroidRefractory Graft Versus Host Disease: Clinical Responses and LongTerm Outcome. Stem Cells, 2016 34(2): 357-366. doi.org/10.1002/stem.2224 Shapira MY, et al. Regional intra-arterial steroid treatment in 120 patients with steroid-resistant or -dependent GvHD. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2017 52(10): 1416-1422. doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2017.120 Pidala J, et al. Mycophenolate mofetil for the management of steroid-refractory acute graft vs host disease. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2010 45(5): 919-924. doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2009.252 Jakavi (ruxolitinib) tablets: EU Summary of Product Characteristics. Novartis; Mar 2015. SOURCE: Novartis The Trade Group, an award-winning, event marketing and experiential design firm, is pleased to announce that Exhibitor Media Group, publisher of EXHIBITOR Magazine, has included the company on its third annual Find It Top 40 list, which honors the top exhibit houses in the United States and Canada. Exhibitor Media Group President and COO Randy Acker describes the Find It Top 40 as the most exclusive list of U.S. and Canadian exhibit providers in the industry and serves as the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval when it comes to the companies behind many of the most successful trade show stands in the world. Find It Top 40 nominees undergo a rigorous evaluation process scrutinized by an esteemed panel of corporate exhibit managers. Selection of the Find It Top 40 honorees is based on multiple criteria in five categories, including: Company and Capabilities Honors and Awards Thought Leadership and Industry Participation Service and Reliability Creativity and Key Differentiators More than 100 exhibit houses applied for the Top 40 recognition. The panel considered over 50 individual criteria during the selection process, which EXHIBITOR Magazine says was designed to reflect how EXHIBITOR readers and Editorial Advisory Board members value them when vetting and selecting potential partners. The panel also surveyed the applicants current clients and reviewed past projects, selling points and innovations. According to Chris Stone, President and CEO of The Trade Group, We are delighted to be selected by EXHIBITOR as a Find It Top 40 honoree once again. Inclusion as a Top 40 exhibit producer in the Find It Marketplace allows us to showcase our work in a highly respected forum. It also connects us with event marketers and exhibition managers who may be unfamiliar with our exhibit design, fabrication and other event marketing services and solutions. To learn more about The Trade Groups exhibit design, event marketing and experiential design solutions for trade shows and live events, please call 214-343-2000 or visit http://www.tradegroup.com. ABOUT THE TRADE GROUP: The Trade Group is an award-winning, full-service event marketing and creative design firm, specializing in trade shows, esports events and activations, corporate events, brand activations, retail merchandising, commercial graphics and experiential solutions. Since 1986, the companys team of live event, design and engineering experts has helped thousands of clients amplify their brands and successfully navigate a wide range of events and experiences. Clients rely on The Trade Group for: event ideation, creation and production; esports expertise; exhibit design and fabrication; graphic design and production; strategic marketing solutions; technology integration and more. Press Contact: Becca Richardson Marketing Manager The Trade Group 214-343-2000 brichardson@tradegroup.com The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) revised downwards the assessment of the pace of real GDP of Ukraine for 2020 from 3.5% growth to 5% decline, while improving the expectations for its growth in 2021 from 4% to 4.3%. "The adverse impact of the pandemic on the Ukrainian economy is expected to be relatively short-term, but strong. The quarantine has already affected business activity, consumption, and employment. A decrease in global demand has also limited export opportunities for Ukraine," the central bank said. According to NBU estimates, the effect of these factors will be the most pronounced in Q2 2020. "A gradual lifting of quarantine restrictions will allow the economy to recover in H2 2020. Loose fiscal and monetary policies will contribute to the economic recovery. An increase in budgetary spending by the government to overcome the crisis, along with the NBU's actions to support the banking system, will mitigate the negative impact the pandemic has on the economy," the NBU said. The economy of Ukraine will resume growth at round 4% in the following years, the regulator said. The UK government has been urged to ban the import of cotton sourced from the Chinese province of Xinjiang, a region where Uighur Muslims are being put to work in factories in conditions that amount to forced labour. A 60-page document submitted to HMRC by lawyers and a rights group on Wednesday amounts to overwhelming and credible evidence concerning the scale and gravity of the forced labour regime in Xinjiang, its authors said. Named in the submission were some the UKs best-known brands, including H&M, Ikea, Muji and Uniqlo, known to have used Xinjiang cotton in their products in the past year. Some have done so openly: Uniqlo boasted in an advertisement that cotton from the province, used in its shirts, was famous for its superb quality. However, the UN believes Xinjiang to be the site of potential systemic human-rights abuses against Muslim minorities. Since 2017, China is widely reported to have detained more than a million some estimates put the figure at three million Uighur Muslims in detention facilities that Beijing has described as vocational training centres. The Chinese government insists the centres are voluntary, and a necessary step to quell a violent Islamist insurgency in the countrys northwest. But rights groups say those who graduate from such centres are being shifted into factories as part of a central government scheme, made to live in on-site dormitories under 24-hour supervision, and refused permission to return to their own homes. Cotton is big business for China. The country provides between a fifth and a quarter of all global supplies and, of that, 84 per cent comes from Xinjiang, according to a report by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. In writing their letter to the UKs customs authorities, the World Uighur Congress (WUC) and the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) argued that current cotton imports from China involve forced labour on such a scale that they violate a number of UK laws, including 19th-century legislation prohibiting the importation of prison-made goods, and should be halted. The letter also argues that by allowing the import of cotton from Xinjiang, a region witnessing what the authors call the largest mass detention of an ethnic group since the Second World War, the UK government may be guilt of conduct ancillary to crimes against humanity. Dearbhla Minogue, a legal officer with GLAN, told The Independent that the letter does not carry any legal weight on its own beyond setting out the legal basis for [HMRC] to stop the imports. But because they are a public body, all their actions are subject to judicial review by the High Court. So while given the UKs approach to this date were really hoping they will willingly take up the issue, it does lay out the basis for a potential case later on down the line if that was necessary. The letter notes that several brands including Ikea and H&M have previously admitted that some of their cotton may come from Xinjiang, but that the companies said this was sourced in collaboration with the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), a global non-profit organisation that carries out checks on suppliers to ensure standards of sustainability and workers rights are met. However, the BCI recently withdrew its seal of approval from all Xinjiang cotton, announcing on 11 March that the operating environment prevents credible assurance and licensing from being executed in the province. Muji, the Japanese clothing and homeware brand, launched a whole Xinjiang Cotton range last spring. It was announced, coincidentally, the day after the publication of a major Wall Street Journal investigation focusing on conditions for workers at a mill in Xinjiang supplying several international retailers. Muji continues to offer Xinjiang Cotton branded products on its website today. Rahima Mahmut, the UK project director for the World Uighur Congress and a UK resident, said the persecution of minority Muslims in Xinjiang since 2016-17 has been almost a genocide. I lost contact with my entire family since January 2017, and all the Uighurs like myself living in exile are living in hell, not knowing what happened, she told The Independent. The brands should consider when they are making money from these products, whether they came from Uighur [forced] labour, she said. They should refuse to use such products that is all I can ask. We have tried every way possible to raise awareness, telling our stories and presenting the evidence to the UN, to the EU and to governments. Besides just raising concerns, nothing has been done. I think that [banning Xinjiang cotton] may be the only way to push the Chinese government to change their behaviour, if they start to lose money. In a statement to The Independent, a spokesperson for Ikea said that the company had historically been using BCI-licensed cotton on a global scale including [from] Xinjiang but that it supports the BCI decision to suspend its assurance activities in the province. Since the harvest from the cotton season 2020-21 will not be approved by BCI, Ikea has taken the decision to stop sourcing cotton from Xinjiang, China, the spokesperson said. We want to create a positive impact in the world of cotton, and we know that with our size and volumes, we have the possibility to make a difference. Ikea will continue to work towards improving the cotton industry from within and create a movement towards better cotton and better working conditions for those working in the industry. H&M likewise said that up until now, our suppliers have sourced cotton from farms connected to BCI in the [Xinjiang] region. China destroying Uighur burial grounds Show all 6 1 /6 China destroying Uighur burial grounds China destroying Uighur burial grounds Teywizim cemetery in Hotan (before and after) China is destroying burial grounds where generations of Uighur families have been laid to rest, leaving behind human bones and broken tombs in what activists call an effort to eradicate the ethnic group's identity Earthrise/AFP/Getty China destroying Uighur burial grounds A cemetery in Xayar (before and after) Earthrise/AFP/Getty China destroying Uighur burial grounds A graveyard in Aksu (before and after) An image of a graveyard in Aksu in 2015, where Uighur poet Lutpulla Mutellip was buried and the same view in 2018 and then again in 2019 showing a new park called "Happiness Park" Earthrise/AFP/Getty China destroying Uighur burial grounds A cemetery in Xayar (before and after) Earthrise/AFP/Getty China destroying Uighur burial grounds Sulanim cemetery in Hotan (before and after) Earthrise/AFP/Getty China destroying Uighur burial grounds A cemetery in Xayar (before and after) Earthrise/AFP/Getty However, BCI has now decided to temporarily suspend licensing of BCI cotton in Xinjiang," a spokesperson said. "This means that for our production, the suppliers we work with will not buy BCI cotton from Xinjiang for the coming season. Considering the complexity of the situation, we are in close contact with human-rights experts, other brands, and stakeholders, to evaluate how we can further strengthen our due diligence and responsibly address the situation and in accordance with the UN guiding principles. A spokesperson for Uniqlo said the company was "deeply troubled by reports and articles raising serious concerns on the situation for Uighurs in China". Uniqlo said its "production partners must commit to our strict company code of conduct, which covers human and worker rights". "Through mechanisms Uniqlo has in place to identify potential violations of human and worker rights, we have not learned of any of the issues raised in past reports or articles. "We continue to communicate with our production partners about the workforce in their supply chains, in order to ensure our products are being produced in ethical environments." Muji did not respond to a request for comment before publication. A spokesperson for Ryohin Keikaku, Muji's parent company, told Australias ABC News late last year that Xinjiang was one of the world's finest cotton-producing areas. We do not disclose any names of suppliers, the spokesperson said. However, in response to the recent inquiries, we have started conducting a review of the situation in the Xinjiang area for farms that cultivate cotton as well as spinning factories that produce yarn the products of which are applied in our cotton products. We will announce the results of the review when necessary. It is unclear whether that review has been completed. MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Muskegon County has risen by 13, and health officials have released more information about a rise in elderly patient deaths. There were 173 positive cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Muskegon County as of Wednesday, April 22, according to data released on the state of Michigan health department website. There have been 11 deaths related to COVID-19 in Muskegon County. Since Sunday, Muskegon County has seen an uptick in elderly patient deaths as well as confirmed cases related to coronavirus. Out of the six deaths in Muskegon County the local health department reported since Sunday, five one man and four women were over the age of 80, a county public health spokesperson told MLive Tuesday night. Muskegon County health officials on Wednesday reported the deaths of five residents of two assisted living facilities in Norton Shores. Four residents of Seminole Shores Assisted Living Center died from COVID-19, as did one resident of DaySpring Assisted Living, according to a news release issued by the Muskegon County Public Health Department. Health officials did not say when those patients died or how old they were. The county health department said it is monitoring confirmed positive coronavirus cases at assisted living facilities in Muskegon County, but has not released information about how many positive cases have been identified or where. Statewide, the number of positive cases increased by 999 to 33,966, according to data published by the state of Michigan. The number of deaths jumped from 2,700 to 2,813 on Wednesday, health officials reported. Twenty-four of the total 165 confirmed positive cases in Muskegon County are patients over the age of 70, according to data released by the county health department on Tuesday, April 21. That compares to 11 cases of patients over age of 70 reported a week earlier, on April 13. There are 27 reported patients ages 60-69, 36 patients ages 50-59, 26 patients ages 40-49, 24 patients ages 30-39, 23 patients ages 20-29 and four patients under the age of 19. Women make up about two-thirds of all coronavirus cases in Muskegon County, data shows. Forty-two percent of coronavirus patients are black residents and 33 percent are white residents, while 23 percent are an unknown race, according to data on the Muskegon County health department website. Browser does not support frames. Muskegon County Public Health Officer Kathy Moore told MLive Wednesday that the county is beginning to track hospitalization rates and recovery rates of patients, and she hopes to soon be able to report that data. In Oceana County, the number of cases remained unchanged, with four confirmed coronavirus cases and one related death. Newaygo County health officials reported one new positive case, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 13 with zero deaths, according to the district 10 health department website. Ottawa County has had 149 cases and seven deaths, the state reported on Wednesday. MLive has complete coverage on coronavirus COVID-19, including maps of known cases, at mlive.com/coronavirus. PREVENTION TIPS Michigans State Emergency Operations Center is coordinating state-government resources and the response to the coronavirus spread. It has shared the following tips: What you can do to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases: Always cover coughs or sneezes with a tissue or sleeve. Stay home if you are sick and advise others to do the same. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, if soap and warm water are not available. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces (computers, keyboards, desks, etc.). Its not too late to get your flu shot! While the influenza vaccine does not protect against COVID-19 infection, it can help keep you healthy during the flu season. For statewide and national information on the virus, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus or CDC.gov/Coronavirus. More on MLive: Muskegon County sees spike in elderly deaths from coronavirus Two Muskegon-area assisted living centers report 5 coronavirus deaths Coronavirus at Muskegon area group living facilities confirmed by health department BISHKEK -- Two former Kyrgyz prime ministers convicted on corruption charges stemming from their involvement in a 2013 project to modernize the Bishkek Thermal Power Station have been transferred to different penitentiaries. The State Penitentiary Service (JAMK) said on April 22 that former Prime Minister Sapar Isakov, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison, was transferred to the Correctional Colony No. 8 in the northern village of Petrovka, while another former Prime Minister Jantoro Satybaldiev was sent to serve his 7 1/2-year prison term to the Correctional Colony No. 47 on the Bishkek outskirts. The former chief of the electric stations company, Salaidin Avazov, who was also convicted in the high-profile case and sentenced to 11 years and 3 months, was transferred from a detention center in Bishkek to the Correctional Colony No. 27 in the village of Moldovanovka in the northern Chui region. It was not immediately clear as to why the men were moved. Isakov's lawyers said on April 22 that their client's transfer was illegal as another case against him and former officials is pending. The three men were sentenced in December 2019. The high-profile corruption trial has implicated several former top Kyrgyz officials who allegedly are close associates of former President Almazbek Atambaev, who is currently on trial as well. The probes against Isakov were launched amid tensions between Atambaev and current President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, a former prime minister who was tapped by Atambaev as his favored successor in Kyrgyzstan's October 2017 presidential election. Atambaev was arrested in August last year after he surrendered to police following two days of violent resistance following his refusal to show up at police headquarters for questioning in an investigation into his alleged involvement in the illegal release of a jailed organized-crime boss in 2013. Atambaev and the 13 codefendants in the case were charged with murder, attempted murder, threatening or assaulting representatives of authorities, hostage taking, and forced seizure of power. Photograph: Joshua Roberts/Reuters US corporations are cracking down on unionization efforts as workers try to organize under the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic. Companies, including grocery chains Trader Joes and Whole Foods, airport concession operators, local authorities and even a furniture company owned by the billionaire Warren Buffett have moved to control efforts to unionize as workers become increasingly concerned about workplace safety during the emergency. The Trader Joes chairman and CEO, Dan Bane, sent a letter to all employees on 31 March opposing labor unions, and calling attempts to recruit staff a distraction, the latest in a series of memos and actions taken by the company to suppress union organizing efforts calling for hazard pay and adequate protections for grocery store workers during the pandemic. Related: 'I don't want this job to kill me': why have 68 New York transit workers died during the pandemic? Its a blatant anti-union letter, said a Trader Joes employee in New Jersey who requested to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation. Its in bad taste and shows the greed this company has instead of taking proactive measures to keep the crew and customers safe. A Trader Joes spokesperson told the Guardian in an email, Because a union has chosen to inject itself into the lives of our crew members during this time of crisis even as we follow and lead in best practices in compensation, benefits, safety and sanitation we have no alternative but to remind and share the facts with our crew members. As workers on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic have organized protests and strikes, several employers have responded by stepping up attempts to oppose unionization, repeal workers rights won in bargaining, and fire workers en masse who had recently publicized intent to organize a union in their workplace. Concession workers at Orlando international airport have filed official complaints against their employer, HMSHost, over the lack of coronavirus safety protections, which included continuing to hold anti-union captive audience meetings during the pandemic. A union election for workers to join Unite Here scheduled for late March was delayed and is currently being rescheduled due to the pandemic. Story continues I tried to refuse to go because we were short-staffed, said Rosanny Tejeda, a Starbucks barista at Orlando international airport for about one year before recently being furloughed. Tejeda claimed the meeting did not adhere to social distancing or take into account any coronavirus safety precautions, and she was targeted throughout the meeting for wearing a union pin. They didnt care about our health when they sent us to those meetings, said Tejeda. To them, the union was a more important issue than the coronavirus. They made sure to give us papers about the union, but didnt give us training or protective equipment for us in the stores. A spokesperson for HMSHost said in an email: During these difficult times, we continue to prioritize the safety and well-being of our teams and travelers. As we try to serve the few passengers that are still traveling, we are educating our associates daily with updated guidance according to the CDC recommendations. Citing the pandemic, the manager of Clark county, Nevada, unilaterally suspended all union contracts with the county. The decision affects about 9,000 workers, including hospital workers at University Medical Center of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas. A spokesperson for University Medical Center told the Guardian due to the rapidly evolving nature of this global pandemic, we simply do not have time to delay urgent decisions. The Teamsters union has filed federal unfair labor practice charges of unlawful termination against CORT furniture, a subsidiary of billionaire Warren Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway, accusing the furniture rental company of retaliating against workers for supporting unionization just as the pandemic broke in the US. Anthony Salcedo, a driver at the warehouse for nearly four years who was laid off, said: Theyre telling us the reason why they terminated us is because of work reduction, but how is there work reduction if you are hiring contractors to do our work? Its obvious why we were terminated. It wasnt because of work reduction, it was because we were supporting a union. CORT furniture declined to comment, citing pending litigation. Several other companies have been accused of opposing union organizing efforts among workers during the pandemic. Amazon-owned Whole Foods is using a data-powered heat mapping tool to monitor unionization risks among its over 500 stores throughout the US, as workers have held sick-out protests in response to a lack of protections for workers during the pandemic. Workers at the online clothing retailer Everlane and the art logistics company Uovo have filed federal labor charges accusing the companies of firing workers during the pandemic for union organizing. Its an absolute disgrace they would take advantage of a pandemic to frustrate workers ability to organize and get better representation for themselves so theyre not risking their lives to perform essential services, said Celine McNicholas, government affairs director at the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). According to a December 2019 EPI study, in over 40% of union organizing campaigns an employer violates the law. This is an extreme moment were in, but unfortunately this is the traditional employer playbook in opposing workers efforts to organize and collectively bargain for better pay and better health and safety provisions, added McNicholas. PHILADELPHIA A Springfield man has been charged by federal indictment with child pornography production and distribution offenses, according to a release from U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Those who produce and disseminate child pornography pose a serious threat to the safety of our youth and our communities, said McSwain in the release. Even in these trying times especially in these trying times federal prosecutors will not rest in our constant efforts to protect children. Peter Gilbert, 36, of the 400 block of Doe Run Lane, is facing one count of manufacturing and attempting to manufacture child pornography, as well as one count of distributing and attempting to distribute child pornography. Prosecutors claim Gilbert personally produced sexually explicit images of a child that he previously had access to and distributed them to an undercover federal agent over the Internet. The agent posted an ad March 15 to a website where forum users discuss and trade child pornography and child erotica, according to the indictment. The ad read: Any other young dads home with the fam and lil running around? Looking to meet other young taboo perv dads, spy/creep dads, and included the agents KIK screen name. Gilbert responded to the agent under the screen name wrongisbetter and the two exchanged numerous messages, according to the indictment. Gilbert allegedly sent several lascivious images of a 5-year-old girl and his own penis to the agent. The wrongisbetter screen name was traced through KIK subscriber information and internet provider records to Gilberts Springfield address. During an exchange on Monday, Gilbert allegedly indicated to the agent that he would be alone with the child the following evening, but law enforcement intervened and served a search warrant Tuesday. Gilbert admitted in a recorded statement to using the wrongisbetter handle and engaging in the KIK messenger chats with the undercover agent, according to the indictment. If convicted, Gilbert faces a statutory maximum sentence of 50 years incarceration with a 15 year mandatory minimum sentence of imprisonment, a lifetime of supervised release and a $500,000 fine. Adults who use their access to children for their own sexual gratification are both a danger and a disgrace, said Michael J. Driscoll, Special Agent in Charge of the FBIs Philadelphia Division. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will never stop working to put predators who harm children behind bars. These are incredibly disturbing cases to investigate, but each time were able to step in and protect a child victim from further sexual abuse, its a good day. The case is being investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division, as well as the Ridley Township, Sharon Hill, Newtown Square, Upper Darby and Springfield Township police departments. Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Harrell is prosecuting. GLADWIN COUNTY, MI -- The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Michigan has charged a Gladwin County tax preparer with wire fraud. Mark Alan Patterson, 51, appeared in federal court Thursday and was released on bond, according to a news release from the office of U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider. The charges against Patterson are related to his work with Schuster Tax Service in Beaverton, where he allegedly stole parts of clients tax refunds between 2015 and February 2020. He allegedly deceived his clients by giving them unfiled versions of their returns that omitted the refund money he took from the final versions, according to the release. Schuster Tax Services owner told police of the apparent fraud in late February after she found roughly 120 returns Patterson allegedly siphoned funds from into bank accounts he controlled. She estimated more than $400,000 was taken from Pattersons clients, according to the release. Patterson faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted, according to the release. Prosecutors will decide whether to pursue a felony indictment after completing an investigation into the alleged crimes. Stealing client tax refunds is a serious crime that hurts innocent taxpayers," said Sarah Kull, the IRS Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge of the case, in the release. "IRS-CI works tirelessly to hold those that commit refund fraud accountable for their actions. When reached, an employee at Schuster Tax Service declined to comment. Read more: Mid-Michigan farmers markets experiment with online sales, drive-thru format FBI raids Detroit-area medical spa amid accusations of coronavirus treatment fraud Midland Balloon Festival grounded due to coronavirus pandemic The Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group in formation, January 25, 2020. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kaylianna Genier The US Navy has finished testing the entire crew of the coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, the service announced Thursday. Since the outbreak began a month ago, 840 sailors assigned to the carrier have tested positive for the virus. The carrier is mostly empty at the moment, as around 88% of the crew has been moved ashore in Guam, where the ship has been sidelined for weeks. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. One month after the first coronavirus cases appeared on the USS Theodore Roosevelt, the US Navy has finished testing all of the roughly 4,800 sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier. The Navy reported Thursday that "100% of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) crewmembers have been tested for COVID-19" and 840 sailors aboard the deployed warship have tested positive. The service is still awaiting the results of about 10 tests. Eighty-eight of those infected have recovered, the Navy said. Four of the sailors who have not yet recovered are currently in the hospital in Guam. Since the outbreak began, the virus has claimed one life aboard the ship, that of 41-year-old Aviation Ordnanceman Chief Petty Officer Charles Robert Thacker Jr. The Navy reported Thursday that 4,234 sailors, approximately 88% of the crew, have been moved ashore in Guam, where the ship has been sidelined by the outbreak. US sailors assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt depart the ship, April 10, 2020. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chris Liaghat The first three cases aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt, which deployed to the Pacific in January, were announced on March 24. In the days that followed, the number of coronavirus cases aboard the flattop quickly multiplied. Two days after the first cases were announced, Navy leadership revealed plans to test all of the sailors aboard the carrier. "We found several more cases on board the ship," then-acting Secretary of the Navy Thomas Modly said. "We are in the process now of testing 100% of the crew of that ship to ensure that we're able to contain whatever spread might have occurred there." Story continues On March 30, Capt. Brett Crozier, the ship's commanding officer, wrote a letter warning that the situation aboard the carrier was worsening and urging the Navy to quickly evacuate the crew. "Sailors do not need to die," he wrote. Crozier, who pushed for the evacuation of roughly 90% of the crew, was relieved of his command after his letter leaked to the media. Capt. Brett Crozier, addresses the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt during an all-hands call aboard the shio, November 14, 2019. US Navy/MCS 3rd Class Nicholas Huynh Modly, who resigned less than a week after Crozier was relieved, said earlier this month that "we cannot and will not remove all the sailors from the ship," explaining that the plan with regard to the carrier was to "remove as much of the crew as we can while maintaining for the ship's safety." The majority of the crew has since gone ashore in Guam, where most are in isolation in hotels and other facilities. The sailors still on board the carrier have been working to thoroughly disinfect the ship as well as maintain important systems. The Navy has reported a total of 1,366 cases of coronavirus among its personnel, with the majority of those among sailors assigned to the USS Theodore Roosevelt. A Navy official told Insider that there is currently no clear timetable for when the carrier will be ready to set sail. Read the original article on Business Insider Leading real estate investment and advisory firm JLL has announced the approval of its science-based target by the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) as aligned to the 1.5C ambition of the Paris Agreement on Earth Day (April 22). The target commits JLL to reduce its scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 68% by 2034 from a 2018 base year. The drive covers emissions from the more than 400 offices in over 40 countries occupied by JLL globally and JLLs facilities management and engineering fleet, including company cars. JLL has also committed to reduce scope 3 emissions from the properties that it manages on behalf of clients by 53% per square foot over the same period, said the advisory firm in its statement. "As the world navigates the coronavirus pandemic, responding to immediate needs and mapping a path to recovery, it is vital we also maintain focus on the long-term global risks posed by climate change. Notwithstanding the current temporary falls in emissions, 2020 remains a critical year for climate action, said Christian Ulbrich, JLL CEO. "JLL is determined to play its full part, working with our clients in shaping the future of real estate for a better world," remarked Ulbrich. "Our ambitious science-based target will cut carbon emissions from our own operations by almost 70%, and we are investing in scaling our specialist tools, skills and knowledge to help our clients drive down their emissions to deliver on their sustainability goals," he added. The science-based target will be delivered by four main actions across Scope 1 and Scope 2 including: *Taking on highly efficient office space and driving energy efficiency across JLLs existing office portfolio *Reducing emissions from vehicle fleets by moving to electric, low emissions and alternative fuel vehicles *Using renewable energy in JLLs office portfolio *Where renewable energy is unavailable, purchasing renewable energy certificates JLL said it will deliver the Scope 3 SBT by partnering with its top 50 clients, focusing on energy efficiency and emissions reduction programs. Through Building a Better Tomorrow, JLLs global sustainability program, the company has achieved or is on track to meet all existing sustainability targets across the four pillars of the program: Clients, People, Workplaces and Communities, it added. "In 2019, our sustainability professionals worked with over 90% of our 50 largest clients to drive sustainability improvements in their portfolios," remarked Ulbrich. Last year, JLL achieved the worlds first double platinum building standards for its Shanghai office at HKRI Taikoo Hui. This was followed by JLLs Hong Kong office at One Taikoo Place receiving the highest score for the city in energy and environmental design. JLL continues to provide employees with healthy, sustainable workplaces, and is globally recognized as a top employer for diversity, particularly leadership in female representation and advancement, he added. According to Ulbrich, through Building a Better Tomorrow, JLL encourages employees to support causes that matter most to them, guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In the UK, JLL has supported 1,200 homeless people into housing. In partnership with Feeding America, JLL is on track to provide one million meals for those in need in the United States. In India, JLL employees are providing skills training for 16 to 21-year-old women and enabling adolescents in rural communities to access vocational skills. By the end of 2020, JLL employees are on track to volunteer 15,000 days, a record contribution, he added. JLL Global Chief Sustainability Officer Richard Batten said: "Weve already achieved much to be proud of through our Building a Better Tomorrow program. But to tackle the worst impacts of climate change, we need to be increasingly bold and ambitious." With the validation of our science-based target by the SBTi, we are committing to far-reaching climate action. The successful delivery of our sustainability strategy will not only positively impact JLL and our clients, but also will bring significant benefits to all our stakeholders, he stated.-TradeArabia News Service San Francisco, April 23 : Keeping the high demand for video meetings in mind as people work from home, Google has introduced 4 new features in its enterprise conferencing Meet app, including a Zoom-like gallery view. Previously, only four people were seen on-screen at a time, but with an expended tiled layout, you'll be able to see 16 call participants at once. "More updates are coming for larger meetings, better presentation layouts, and support across more devices," informed Smita Hashim, Director of Product Management, Google Meet, Voice and Calendar. Users will now have the option to present a Chrome tab (instead of just presenting their window or entire screen). "If you need to share high-quality video with audio content in meetings, select this option for the best experience for remote viewers. The 'present a Chrome tab' feature is rolling out to general availability as of today," Hashim said in a statement late Wednesday. Google Meet can now use AI to automatically adjust video to make you more visible to other participants in sub-optimal lighting conditions. This feature is currently rolling out to mobile users, and will be available to web users in the future. "To help limit interruptions to your meeting, Meet can now intelligently filter out background distractions. Noise cancellation will begin rolling out in the coming weeks to G Suite Enterprise and G Suite Enterprise for Education customers starting with web users and later to mobile users," informed Hashim. Google said that Meet uses the same protections that Google uses to secure user data and safeguard privacy. "Over the past few weeks, we've extended advanced Meet features to all G Suite customers so that they can get the most out of Meet. We've also ramped up engineering support for Meet," said Google. In times of crisis, Americans look for strong presidential leadership, and typically give presidents the benefit of the doubt. People "rally around the flag" and look for solace and a path ahead. A few months into the covid-19 crisis, however, that yearning is going unmet, and public doubts about President Donald Trump are multiplying, according to an online survey of 2,195 registered voters conducted by our firm in mid-April. Much will change between now and November, but at this point, the polls suggest Trump is quickly losing America's confidence when it comes to battling the pandemic. At the same time, despite brutal recent economic numbers - 26 million Americans have filed unemployment claims over the past month - our survey respondents give Trump slightly better marks on managing the economy than on his performance with respect to the coronavirus (or overall). His fate on Election Day in November could hinge on whether that confidence in his economic management holds up, and whether it can counterbalance criticism related to the pandemic. The "rally around the flag" effect is well known: President Jimmy Carter's approval rating soared 21 points shortly after Iran seized U.S. hostages, and George W. Bush's rose 35 percentage points after 9/11. But Trump's approval rating showed a much smaller boost after the novel coronavirus struck: It went from 53% disapprove, 44% approve on March 11, to 49% disapprove, 47% approve on March 27. The latest figures show it at 51% disapprove, 46% approve. In short, he lost most of his bump in a matter of weeks. Other world leaders, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, also saw their initial approval gains decline as the coronavirus crisis dragged on, but Trump's poor standing is particularly notable, as his gain was smaller and then evaporated. At the broadest level, we found the expected political polarization: Overall, only 43% approved of Trump's performance in handling the coronavirus. A mere 6% of Democrats approved, as did 39% of independents - while 92% of Republicans held a favorable view. But Trump really needs those independents, who made up fully 32% of the electorate, compared with 38% for Democrats and 31% of Republicans - and he seems to be losing them. Beyond partisanship, we looked closely at what factors were undermining Trump's job performance, examining various aspects of presidential leadership during the coronavirus crisis. We presented people with 16 qualities that a leader might bring to the fight against the pandemic and asked them to rank their top four. Fifty-two percent chose "follows the advice of scientists and other experts" as one of their top four qualities; 48% picked "communicates truthfully to the public"; 42% selected "doing what's right even if it is unpopular"; and 35% went with "acts quickly." (Other choices included displaying compassion and offering comfort, learning from mistakes and making bold decisions.) There was rough agreement across party lines on which leadership qualities mattered, even if Democrats and Republicans ranked them slightly differently. (Democrats were more likely than Republicans to value a leader who listens to experts while Republicans were more likely to cite doing what's right, regardless of popularity.) Many people believe that Trump lacks the qualities they most value. Sixty-eight percent of those who said it is very important that a leader "follows the advice of scientists and other experts," said this does not describe Trump "very well" or "well" (as opposed to "not very well" or "not well at all"). Sixty three percent who want truthful communication said Trump fails to provide it. Fifty-two percent of those who want their leaders to "act quickly" said that Trump doesn't. He did better on "making bold decisions" (84% of those who consider that a key attribute said it describes him well), "holding people accountable for delivering help" (66% said it describes him well) and "willing to do what's right even when unpopular" (59%) - but fewer voters picked those qualities, and they skewed heavily Republican The main negative findings are driven not just by the views of Democrats but also independents, who combined make up 70% of the electorate. A lopsided 67% of independents say the United States could have done a better job on handling the pandemic - and a majority blames Trump for the shortcomings. Moreover, Trump's aggressive push to "open up the country for business" - over efforts to contain the virus - is something only Republicans endorse (and even they have mixed feelings). Although a big majority of Americans are understandably concerned about the economic impact of the pandemic, fully 68% of those we polled disagree with the statement, "We need to ease up on coronavirus restrictions in order to get the economy working again, even if means spreading the virus." For Democrats, there's a catch, however. Despite his vulnerabilities, Trump still retains a good deal of the public's trust on managing the economy. We found that Trump's 47% job approval rating on the economy is 3 points higher than his 44% job approval overall. In fact, he was tied with Biden on the question of who would better manage the economy - even though 50% said they would vote for Biden, versus 42% for Trump. In national online focus groups of registered voters we conducted, to supplement the survey, many swing voters said they trust Trump to fix the economy because of his business background and because he oversaw a strong economy before the covid-19-related crash. It is hard to know whether such views about Trump's economic prowess will endure six more months of high unemployment and sharp economic distress. But one can imagine that, by the fall, while the economy will be in deep trouble, the pandemic may have waned to some degree. In that context, many voters may cast their ballot based on who will be best at getting America back to work. Unless Biden and the Democrats start crafting a clearer and more compelling economic narrative, they may find - to their shock - that Trump could win reelection despite voters thinking he bungled the response to the pandemic. - - - Greenberg is a partner at Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, a global polling and political strategy firm. Rosner is a partner at GQR, a Democratically affiliated polling, digital and political strategy firm. London: For the first time in living memory, the Last Post will not sound at Australian war memorials in Europe on Anzac Day. There won't be a dawn service at Gallipoli in Turkey or at Villers-Bretonneux in northern France or in London. But commemorations will go ahead despite the coronavirus pandemic, with the Australian High Commission to stream the Canberra dawn service live, and again nine hours later at sunrise in the UK. Villers-Bretonneux Australian memorial and cemetery will be silent on Anzac Day. Credit:Mike Bowers High Commissioner George Brandis and acting New Zealand High Commissioner David Evans will then lead a special commemoration service that will be streamed from their respective homes from 11am local time. ntry should have any concern over India's new policy for foreign direct investment from specific nations, government sources said on Thursday, in a clear message to China which strongly objected to the fresh norms for FDI. Around a week ago, India made prior clearance mandatory for foreign investments from countries that share land border with India to curb "opportunistic takeovers" of domestic firms in the wake of economic downturn triggered by the pandemic. India's decision to tighten norms for FDI came amid reports of China eyeing to take over several Indian entities following fall in their valuation due to economic downturn in the wake of the pandemic. China criticised India for the new policy, calling it discriminatory. The neighboring country even demanded review of the policy. Government sources said there shouldn't be concern over procedural changes made in the FDI policy, asserting that it doesn't prohibit investment from any country with which India shares its border. They said many other countries have taken similar steps to protect their economies in view of the pandemic. Asked about questions over effectiveness of testing kits procured from China, the sources said the Indian Council of Medical Research is looking into the issue. On the issue of FDI policy, China said India's new norms violate WTO's principle of non-discrimination and are against the general trend of free trade. The impact of the policy was clear on Chinese investors, a Chinese embassy spokesperson said earlier this week. Chinese embassy spokesperson Ji Rong said China hoped that India would revise the "relevant discriminatory practices" and treat investments from different countries equally while fostering an "open, fair and equitable" business environment. The spokesperson said China's cumulative investment in India has exceeded USD 8 billion, noting it is far more than the total investments by countries sharing border with India. According to official data, around 1,000 Chinese companies are operating in India at present. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 05:24:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Psychiatrist Sami Foad makes traditional Ramadan lanterns at Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip on April 15, 2020. Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are preparing to mark the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan that falls on April 24 amid a deteriorating economic situation due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) by Sanaa Kamal GAZA, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Palestinians in the Gaza Strip are preparing to mark the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan that falls on Friday amid a deteriorating economic situation due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. On March 22, the Hamas-run Gaza government, declared a state of emergency, imposing a series of precautionary restrictions. Since then, all mosques, universities, schools and restaurants have been shut down, and public gatherings have been prohibited, especially in the marketplaces. As a result, commercial activities in the coastal enclave's markets have been very limited, and merchants have been complaining about accumulation of goods in their warehouses. Ramadan, the holiest month of the year to Muslims, has special rituals and traditions in addition to the main religious practice, featuring fasting from dawn to sunset. Decorating home and streets with lanterns is Ramadan's most common tradition. Ibrahim al-Jamal, who sells lanterns and toys at al-Zawia market in Gaza city, said, on days like these, the market should be crowded with children and their parents coming to buy lanterns. But now there is no such festive atmosphere, he said. In an attempt to mitigate the psychological impact of the current situation, especially on children, Gazan psychiatrist Sami Foad from Nuseirat refugee camp devised a simple method to make lanterns at home, which he started to teach children online. "Without lanterns, children won't feel the Ramadan atmosphere," the 35-year-old father of two said. Children are not allowed to go to stores to buy lanterns due to the state of emergency and most families cannot afford lanterns this year, he added. Foad came up with the idea after dozens of parents complained to him about the psychological impact on their children who have been staying home for a long time. Making lanterns, he said, makes children happy "as they partake in the preparations for Ramadan," and helps them "release the negative energy through doing meaningful things." The psychiatrist says he spends hours on the social networking platform Skype, connecting with hundreds of children to teach them how to make lantern step by step. Foad makes the lanterns with cardboard paper, candles, glue and scissors, which are usually available at home. "Making handmade lanterns is not only meant to overcome the difficult situations, but also to encourage children to make use of material at home to create toys they are interested in," Foad said. Wesam Farahat, 30, from Gaza city, found in the general recession an opportunity to make money by making handmade lanterns. The young man who lost his job as a waiter at a local restaurant told Xinhua that he sells handmade lanterns at a much lower price than the common market price. He said he used to make a lot of money selling handmade lanterns during the Ramadan, but there are not many customers this year. "Now, I will not be able to make ends meet for a few months." A pair of whistleblower lawsuits accuse a Jersey City nursing home of covering up coronavirus cases, failing to take basic safety measures, and retaliating against staff members who spoke out. Both suits filed Wednesday in Hudson County Superior Court allege Alaris Health at Hamilton Park failed to provide proper safety equipment to nursing staff until late March, even as patients and staff in the building began getting sick. When positive test results started to come back, Alaris management covered them up and pressured staff to come into work, even as they began exhibiting symptoms, according to the lawsuits. And when medical staff voiced concerns, the suits claim, they were fired. Alaris continued to suppress information about patients and staff that tested positive for COVID-19 even as they continued to die, one complaint states. Matt Stanton, an Alaris spokesman, declined to address the allegations in the lawsuits, which were filed by Jersey City-based Matsikoudis & Fanciullo. We do not comment on pending litigation, Stanton said. The complaints, filed on behalf of two former Alaris nurses, LaDawn Chapman and Carlenia Milanes, allege the nursing home continued to house sick patients in the same rooms as healthy ones as late as April 1, even as 14 nurses were allegedly out sick. Alaris did not inform nursing staff about the illnesses, the suits state. Alaris intended staff, including Plaintiff, to rely on such misrepresentations so that they would continue to work at Defendants facility, and, once there, continue to work with insufficient PPE and protective measures, according to one complaint. Chapman and Milanes are suing for lost wages, punitive damages, and compensatory damages. Dollar amounts were not given. Many of the allegations contained in the lawsuits were first made public in a report by The Jersey Journal. Jersey City then stepped in to test all residents for coronavirus. The nursing home has had 22 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic, of which 14 were confirmed coronavirus cases. When Milanes began experiencing symptoms and attempted to call out sick, she was told that Alaris was not accepting callouts, one suit alleges. The complaints also allege that both Chapman and Milanes, as well as other staff members at Alaris, were pressured to work even if they were showing symptoms of COVID-19. When Chapman and Milanes refused to come into work, for fear that they had contracted the virus, both were fired. Milanes was told she was fired for expressing negative concerns," according to a complaint. Later, she reportedly tested positive for the coronavirus. By its various acts and omissions, Alaris exposed Plaintiff to and caused Plaintiff to contract COVID-19, and, at a minimum, Alaris engaged in such acts and omissions with the substantial certainty they would cause Plaintiff to contract COVID-19, Milanes suit states. Needless to say, Plaintiff did not consent to being exposed to or contracting COVID-19. Independent TD for Laois-Offaly, Carol Nolan, has written to the Minister for Health, Simon Harris, asking him to investigate if General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) guidelines are creating delays in the care of nursing home residents by GPs. Deputy Nolan was speaking after she was informed that staff at a nursing home in the south of the country were told that they must use specific digital editing technology to blur out patients faces when sending photographs to GPs for consultation and diagnosis: If it can be established that such editing requirements are in place for GDPR compliance then I really do think we need to re-examine that while also ensuring that privacy rights and consent are still being protected. "From what I have been told, some of the staff who have been told to blur the faces of nursing home residents are simply not equipped to use the technology and where they are, it is just slowing things down. "This could potentially add an entirely avoidable level of stress to already over-stretched staff and management who are tasked with oversight around GDPR compliance. "GPs are providing excellent care to residents in nursing home and other care settings through remote consultations. "It would be very disappointing if these GPs could not readily access photographs, that may be vital in arriving at a swift assessment or diagnosis. "I am aware that there are exemptions drawn up by the Health Research Consent Declaration Committee that offer guidance in situations where consent cannot be obtained, but that appears to apply only to health research and not to the kind of patient care that is happening in a nursing home scenario. "For the sake of clarity it would preferable if the Minister provided clarity and understanding to all nursing homes on this matter, concluded Deputy Nolan. Signal Mountains government will wait until the upcoming council meeting on Monday to decide about if or how the town will re-open. We will have a council meeting on Monday and I cant really speak for the council until that meeting, said Signal Mountain Mayor Dan Landrum. Well make any decisions we need to make then. However, even if the council were meeting later today, they would not be able to make a decision. The mayor said the council needs to receive more information before they can come to a decision. What we need to do is get the governors order, which wont be released until probably Friday, said Mayor Landrum. And we need to review what guidelines the state park is doing. So we have to go over that as a council, and then well decide. Tuesday saw Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger announce Hamilton County would follow Governor Bill Lees lead and re-open on May 1. Earlier today, several municipalities of the county such as Red Bank and Soddy Daisy announced they too would be opening once again. Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke had announced that Chattanooga would remain closed until more information was available. He did not specify the criteria that would need to be met in order to reopen Chattanooga. Signal Mountain Mayor Dan Landrum posted the following message on his Facebook: Tennessee Governor's Bill Lee's latest order excludes Hamilton County, so it directly changes nothing for Signal Mountain, but it is a fair inflection point for discussing our next steps. It seems reasonable to ask if we will follow Chattanooga Mayor Andy Burke's lead. "The nature of our council-manager form of government dictates a different approach from that of Chattanooga's Mayor. The position of Mayor in Signal Mountain is chosen by the Town Council, rather than a popular vote. The Mayor only speaks for the Town when doing so by a majority resolution of the council, with few exceptions. The Mayor chairs and guides the Council meetings, and that's where these decisions will be made along with input from Town Staff. "I've been in ongoing discussions with the Town Manager, as well our Town Attorney, to explore and lay the preliminary framework for defining our new normal, including what it means for our recreation areas and what we, as a council, need to decide. I anticipate this topic to be the primary focus of next week's council meeting. There are also Federal and State laws that guide and limit what we can and can't do. We need to have open discussions about solutions for our parks that respect the science of how coronaviruses spread through human contact. Through these discussions, we can hopefully reach well-reasoned answers. "Think about this as a tornado. There is a precise time when everyone in the path needs to shelter in place, and there's also a time when everyone can help with the cleanup. We're somewhere in the middle of an ongoing storm and need to discuss the next steps. We're no longer at "shut it all down," but neither are we at "open it all up," though both of those viewpoints have supporters. "Social distancing is going to be with us for a long time as we enter the resurgence and abeyance cycle of COVID-19. "As to observing social distancing rules, some do, some don't, and therein lies the ongoing dilemma. I'm hopeful that positive messaging, modeling of healthy behavior, and gentle nudging over shaming of our peers can prevail in Signal Mountain, but know the new normal is going to face some defiant pushback and will likely fail if enforced by fiat. VANTAA, Finland, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Thermo Fisher Scientific, the world leader in serving science, announced today that it has expanded its European offering of pre-validated assays for the Thermo Scientific Cascadion SM Clinical Analyzer with the addition of the CE/IVD marked Cascadion SM Immunosuppressants (ISD) Panel. Clinical laboratories can now access a complete system developed to enable simultaneous testing of cyclosporine A, everolimus, sirolimus and tacrolimus from a single whole blood sample aspiration using gold standard liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technology. The Cascadion analyzer aspirates whole blood directly from qualified, de-capped blood collection tubes without the need for any manual pre-treatment steps. "Clinical laboratories need ISD assays that can deliver reliable and consistent results to aid efficient patient management," said Bill Ostman, vice president and general manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific. "The new Cascadion SM Immunosuppressants Panel is designed to do just that; demonstrating our commitment to expanding the capabilities of the Cascadion SM Clinical Analyzer to address our customers' most pressing analytical and clinical requirements." The Cascadion SM Clinical Analyzer with pre-validated assays offers clinical laboratories a fully automated system, providing multiple benefits for boosting laboratory efficiency and productivity. Pre-defined assay parameters and reagents on all Cascadion systems allow for standardization of testing conditions and results, while load up and walkaway operation can be performed by any qualified laboratory personnel with minimal training. Thermo Fisher Scientific products are distributed globally so uses, applications and availability of product in each country depend on local regulatory marketing authorization status. For more information about the Thermo Scientific Cascadion SM Clinical Analyzer and Cascadion SM Immunosuppressants Panel, please visit www.thermofisher.com/cascadion About Thermo Fisher Scientific Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue exceeding $25 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, improving patient diagnostics and therapies or increasing productivity in their laboratories, we are here to support them. Our global team of more than 75,000 colleagues delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services and Patheon. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com. Media Contact Information: Julia Nisbet-Fahy Senior Manager - Global Marketing Thermo Fisher Scientific +44 (0) 7342 080967 julia.nisbet-fahy@thermofisher.com Jaime Grigorescu Marketing Manager Global Marketing Thermo Fisher Scientific +1 (773) 431 0390 jaime.grigorescu@thermofisher.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1158064/Thermo_Fisher_Cascadion.jpg Related Links http://www.thermofisher.com SOURCE Thermo Fisher Scientific Housebuilders were stacking up gains yesterday as investors hoped construction workers would soon be heading back to work. Taylor Wimpey was the top riser on the FTSE 100 after it said it was still selling homes virtually, adding its order book was at 2.7billion at the end of last week, up from 2.4billion the same time last year. It also began setting out its plans for site managers to return to work on May 4, to prepare for the first subcontractors restarting on May 11. Taylor Wimpey was the top riser on the FTSE 100 after it said it was still selling homes virtually, adding its order book was at 2.7bn at the end of last week It wouldn't be business as usual, the firm was keen to point out. For tasks involving more than one person, Taylor Wimpey said it had designed its own personal protective equipment and had written a Covid-19 Code of Conduct. Shares climbed 9.4 per cent, or 12.7p, to 147.8p, lifting the rest of the sector. Barratt Developments was close behind, up 8.7 per cent, or 41.3p, to 515.8p, and Persimmon was up 8.4 per cent or 169p at 2189p, helping the FTSE 100 climb 1 per cent or 55.98 points to 5826.61. The stocks which have been benefiting from the coronavirus lockdown namely Sainsbury's and Tesco, Ocado and Just Eat Takeaway acted as a drag on the index, as it seemed Britons was finally preparing to reemerge from their homes. Stock Watch - Loungers Cafe bar chain Loungers climbed as investors snapped up a chunk of new shares. The company needed some cash to help it keep operating through the coronavirus lockdown. And despite the tough environment for the restaurant sector, shareholders obliged, buying 9.3m new shares for 90p each. This was a 16.1 per cent premium to the share price the previous day, and raised 8.3million for the company. Shares jumped 29 per cent, or 22.5p, to 100p. Sainsbury's was down 3 per cent, or 6.05p, to 198.85p, as analysts at Bernstein warned of a looming recession risk. Tesco slipped 2.3 per cent or 5.4p to 234.7p, Ocado fell 2.1 per cent, or 34p, to 1590.5, while Just Eat which managed to raise 350 million as it went to shareholders to help pay down debt was down 2.2 per cent, or 174p, at 7726p. The housebuilders' success was mirrored on the FTSE 250 (up 1.3 per cent, or 207.9 points, to 15794.04), where Vistry formerly Bovis Homes climbed 11.5 per cent, or 83.5p, to 810p. In its own Covid-19 update, it said it was planning to recommence work on 90 per cent of its sites developed in partnership with local authorities and a 'significant number' of housing sites from April 27. In a tagline reminiscent of Donald Trump's 'Make America great again', Vistry tweeted: 'Let's get Britain building again.' Its enthusiasm helped to bump up Redrow (up 11.2 per cent, or 45.2p, to 448.4p), building supplier Grafton Group (up 10.1 per cent, or 55p, to 600p), Bellway (up 10.1 per cent, or 243p, to 2662p), masonry firm Forterra (up 9.8 per cent, or 20p, to 224.5p) and Crest Nicholson (up 8.5 per cent, or 20p, to 255p). But the real winner of the day was investment platform AJ Bell, which shot up 15.4 per cent, or 46p, to 345p. The firm said customer numbers had shot up 22 per cent over the last 12 months to 262,179. In the first three months of the year, investors ploughed in 1.3billion more than they pulled out. And although the assets it manages for investors were down 12 per cent over the three months, as markets tumbled, they still hit 42billion, up 3 per cent over the last year. Chief executive Andy Bell said: 'This quarter was without doubt one of the most dramatic we've witnessed. 'We had to move quickly to keep our people safe from Covid-19 and comply with the Government lockdown. I'm pleased that we were able to do that effectively whilst remaining open for business as usual during a very busy tax year end period.' Bell added that the company would also be donating 50,000 from its charitable trust to organisations fighting coronavirus, while he would donate three months' salary. Aston Martin was also motoring upwards as it announced plans to reopen its St Athan manufacturing facility in South Wales, where the 007 carmaker is producing its first SUV. Shares accelerated 12 per cent, or 5.75p, to 53.75p. By Amanda Fries, Times Union (Albany) Albany, N.Y. State fiscal watchdogs Wednesday provided a sobering picture of New Yorks finances that have been decimated by the coronavirus pandemic, with the revenue shortfalls extending for years. State leaders are anticipating as much as a $10 to $15 billion shortfall in this years budget, but the Citizens Budget Commission estimates New York may have to grapple with an even larger deficit as high as $26 billion in future years In looking back on past economic recessions, Dave Friedfel, the budget commissions director of state studies said: The second year is more often worse than the first year in projection of revenues. The budget commission estimates a $13 to $23 billion revenue shortfall next year and a shortfall between $14 and $26 billion in fiscal year 2023. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomos budget Director Robert Mujica on Wednesday said the state has spent $2.8 billion so far on the pandemic response. That does not factor in the loss of other revenues for state and local governments with the economys virtual shutdown. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli also warned in an economic report released by his office that the fiscal impact will be felt for years to come, and this years budget will require cuts to an extent that remains uncertain because of the unknowns of additional federal aid. What is clear is that Washington must do more to help stabilize state and local government finances to avoid drastic cuts that would hurt hospitals, schools and vital services, DiNapoli said in a news release. The executive and Legislature passed a budget under very difficult circumstances to address our immediate needs, but we must be mindful of the bigger picture. DiNapolis report notes that tax revenues will be lower, noting the state extended the filing deadline for tax returns to July 15, which could hold up as much as $10 billion in revenue during that period. The impacts on tax revenues could be seen beyond this year, too, the comptroller said. While New York received about $3.8 billion in Coronavirus Relief Fund resources earlier this month, additional federal assistance will be necessary its a question of how much, which still is unclear, DiNapoli said. The state also was already grappling with a budget gap this year largely due to Medicaid overspending. While Cuomo tasked experts to find $2.5 billion in savings for the health care program, meeting those targets amid a public health crisis remains unclear. Beyond the sweeping authority the governor has to make mid-year adjustments with the budget, the final spending plan also included $21.4 billion in new and increased state-supported debt authorizations, including $11 billion for cash flow or deficit financing, DiNapoli said. While short-term borrowing can offset delayed revenues, he urged lawmakers to avoid longer-term borrowing. He stressed the state should ensure its building up its rainy day reserves. Other measures that may need to be considered to address the deficit include reducing school aid to wealthy districts, cutting economic development spending, and decreasing workforce costs, the Citizens Budget Commission recommended. Friedfel said other options may need to be considered, including raising rates on sales tax and the millionaires tax, deferring some payments or tapping pockets of money held by state authorities. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources He has watched coronavirus victims gasp for breath: Its like theyve been hit by a train Reopening NYS schools this academic year will be very difficult due to coronavirus, Cuomo says As coronavirus spread, a Fayetteville retirement community became a hotbed Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com T he UKs largest care home provider HC-One said costs were rising due to Covid-19 crisis but welcomed Government moves to funnel more money into the sector. Care homes have come under strain due to the costs of having to buy more PPE to protect staff from infection. Higher levels of staff than normal are also absent due to self-isolation, meaning homes must rely on more expensive agency workers to fill gaps. HC-One, which has 300 nursing homes around the country and was co-founded by Chai Patel, is the flagship operator in the industry. A spokesperson said PPE costs have increased significantly, driven by a higher usage rate of PPE as homes tackle outbreaks, after being contacted for comment by the Evening Standard. With some colleagues unable to work weve also been more reliant on agency workers, and the increased costs of using them, they said. Four Seasons, the UKs second largest operator which recently went through a complex restructuring, declined to comment. It is expected to discuss performance when it updates debt investors next month. The Government has unveiled 1.6 billion of funding for councils, who partially fund care homes, to help ease the strain on the sector. HC-One welcomed the move. PM Modi has implemented Lockdown 2 amidst the nationwide corona crisis. In view of the situation arising out of the novel coronavirus, the three services of the defense have been ordered to stop the new arms deal. There are chances of budget cuts for defense. MP: Another corona case reported after Seven days in Khandwa In a letter written by the Department of Military Affairs, the three forces have been asked to stop all the deals related to the purchase and sale of weapons till the end of the Covid-19 crisis. The Indian Air Force was yet to pay France for 36 Rafale aircraft and Russia for the S-400 air defense weapon system. The Indian Army is also purchasing tanks, guns and rifles from various countries including the US and Russia. Navy has recently signed a deal with the US to buy 24 Chopper. The economic pressure on the government has increased amidst the ongoing war of Covid-19. 5 ULFA(I) militants arrested in Assam; arms and ammunition seized In the critical situation caused by the virus, the Ministry of Defense is monitoring the preparedness of the armed forces towards dealing with the epidemic. The three armed forces have already implemented the policy of 'no movement'. Under this, almost all the bases other than some important operational matters and strategic monitoring branches have been completely locked down. This airport became hub of supply of medicines and equipments in war against Corona Like a puppy chasing its tail, some new investors often chase 'the next big thing', even if that means buying 'story stocks' without revenue, let alone profit. But as Peter Lynch said in One Up On Wall Street, 'Long shots almost never pay off.' If, on the other hand, you like companies that have revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested in China Resources Beer (Holdings) (HKG:291). Now, I'm not saying that the stock is necessarily undervalued today; but I can't shake an appreciation for the profitability of the business itself. Loss-making companies are always racing against time to reach financial sustainability, but time is often a friend of the profitable company, especially if it is growing. See our latest analysis for China Resources Beer (Holdings) China Resources Beer (Holdings)'s Earnings Per Share Are Growing. If a company can keep growing earnings per share (EPS) long enough, its share price will eventually follow. That makes EPS growth an attractive quality for any company. It certainly is nice to see that China Resources Beer (Holdings) has managed to grow EPS by 23% per year over three years. This has no doubt fuelled the optimism that sees the stock trading on a high multiple of earnings. I like to take a look at earnings before interest and (EBIT) tax margins, as well as revenue growth, to get another take on the quality of the company's growth. China Resources Beer (Holdings) maintained stable EBIT margins over the last year, all while growing revenue 4.2% to CN33b. That's progress. The chart below shows how the company's bottom and top lines have progressed over time. Click on the chart to see the exact numbers. SEHK:291 Income Statement April 23rd 2020 Fortunately, we've got access to analyst forecasts of China Resources Beer (Holdings)'s future profits. You can do your own forecasts without looking, or you can take a peek at what the professionals are predicting. Are China Resources Beer (Holdings) Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders? Story continues As a general rule, I think it worth considering how much the CEO is paid, since unreasonably high rates could be considered against the interests of shareholders. For companies with market capitalizations over CN57b, like China Resources Beer (Holdings), the median CEO pay is around CN6.2m. The China Resources Beer (Holdings) CEO received CN3.9m in compensation for the year ending . That seems pretty reasonable, especially given its below the median for similar sized companies. While the level of CEO compensation isn't a huge factor in my view of the company, modest remuneration is a positive, because it suggests that the board keeps shareholder interests in mind. I'd also argue reasonable pay levels attest to good decision making more generally. Is China Resources Beer (Holdings) Worth Keeping An Eye On? Given my belief that share price follows earnings per share you can easily imagine how I feel about China Resources Beer (Holdings)'s strong EPS growth. With swiftly growing earnings, it probably has its best days ahead, and the modest CEO pay suggests the company is careful with cash. So I'd venture it may well deserve a spot on your watchlist, or even a little further research. However, before you get too excited we've discovered 1 warning sign for China Resources Beer (Holdings) that you should be aware of. You can invest in any company you want. But if you prefer to focus on stocks that have demonstrated insider buying, here is a list of companies with insider buying in the last three months. Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction. If you spot an error that warrants correction, please contact the editor at editorial-team@simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. Simply Wall St has no position in the stocks mentioned. We aim to bring you long-term focused research analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Thank you for reading. Over the past few days there have been noisy, threatening demonstrations at various statehouses demanding an end to COVID-19 lockdowns. The demonstrations havent been very big, with at most a few thousand people, and involve a strong element of astroturfing that is, while they supposedly represent a surge of grassroots anger, some of them have been organized by institutions with links to Republican politicians, including the family of Betsy DeVos, the secretary of education. And polls show that an overwhelming majority of Americans including half of Republicans are more worried that restrictions will be lifted too soon than that they will be kept in place too long. But the demonstrators have received huge favorable coverage from right-wing media; Donald Trump called them very responsible people; and they were praised by White House economic adviser Stephen Moore, who compared them to Rosa Parks. That last bit caught my eye, and not just because some of the demonstrators were waving Confederate flags. The grotesqueness of the comparison aside, why are we still hearing from Stephen Moore? After all, Moore whom Trump tried but failed to install as a member of the Federal Reserve Board isnt just a bad economist with a history of misogynistic outbursts. More to the point, hes a quack, with a long history of misrepresenting or inventing facts to support his ideological agenda. Among his greatest hits was a number-filled screed about the relationship between tax cuts and jobs framed, as it happens, as an attack on yours truly in which not a single number was remotely close to the truth. On second thought, however, Moore fits right in. One thing the coronavirus has thrown into sharp relief is the centrality of quackery confident pronouncements on technical subjects by people who have no idea what theyre talking about to the whole enterprise of modern conservatism. We know, for example, that Trumps call for an early end to the economic lockdown was inspired in part by the writings of Richard Epstein, a conservative legal scholar who decided that he understands epidemiology better than the epidemiologists and confidently predicted that COVID-19 would kill no more than 500 people. (Its currently killing four times that many every day.) Or consider how Fox News responded to the unwillingness of Dr. Anthony Fauci to do what it wanted and support an early reopening of the economy. To provide an alternative view, the network turned to Dr. Phil, whose expertise, if he has one, is in pop psychology. But why is there such a close alliance between modern conservatism and quackery? One answer is that a political movement that demands absolute loyalty considers quacks more reliable than genuine experts, even if those experts currently support the movements policies. As Ive noted in the past, there are quite a few serious economists who also happen to be conservative, but they have been largely frozen out by the GOP in favor of people like Moore. Why? Because serious economists might turn out to have principles, rejecting outlandish policy claims or changing their views in the face of evidence. And we cant have that. Another answer is that the modern right is driven in large part by the grievances of white men who dont feel that theyre getting the respect they believe they deserve, and Fox-fueled hostility to elites who claim to know more than guys in diners which, on technical subjects like epidemiology, they do is a key part of the movement. Finally, there has historically been a strong association between right-wing extremism and grifting, including snake-oil and get-rich-quick schemes. Alex Jones may attract an audience by peddling conspiracy theories, but he makes money by selling nutritional supplements, which he is now claiming offer protection against the coronavirus. All of these factors making modern conservatism a happy hunting ground for fake experts have reached a kind of apotheosis under Donald Trump, a grifter president whose whole political strategy is based on catering to white male grievance, and who both disdains expertise and always values loyalty above competence. And one result is the wildly premature push to reopen the economy. The good news is that many governors will probably ignore this bad advice. But others wont, and the result will probably be many additional, avoidable deaths. If that happens, understand it for what it is: death by quackery. @paulkrugman Everything from law enforcement and culinary arts to firefighting and automotive technology. Fifty-eight high school and four college students across Michigan, who overcame obstacles and stereotypes to succeed in career and technical education (CTE) programs, have received 2020 Breaking Traditions Awards, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) announced. Six of them are from Macomb County. Building talent has long been a priority in Michigan and we take time to recognize such positive achievements, said Michael Rice, State Superintendent. These 62 students overcame perceived barriers to achieve success in career and technical education programs that are nontraditional to their gender, which makes them role models for their peers who may be considering such a career path. Michigan benefits from Breaking Traditions Awards through an increasingly diverse workforce necessary to meet the challenges when we start the recovery process of the current COVID-19 pandemic, Rice said. There were three award levels recognzied: Excellence, Merit, and Recognition. The highest secondary and post-secondary winner received the Excellence Award, which included a $250 scholarship from the Michigan Occupational Special Populations Association (MOSPA) along with a certificate and letter of recognition. Merit and Recognition Award winners each received a certificate and letter of recognition. The award criteria included: Completion of a CTE program nontraditional to their gender; Enrollment in a Michigan high school, career center, or post-secondary program this year; Nomination by a teacher, counselor, administrator, or other staffer employed by the students school or career center; Have satisfactory academic standing, acceptable citizenship, and disciplinary history; and Contribute to awareness of nontraditional careers through successful participation in one or more of the following activities: Exemplary completion of a program considered nontraditional to the students gender; Successful competition in a program-related event or contest; Participation in a CTE Student Organization; Recruitment of other students into programs nontraditional for their gender; Mentor other students in CTE programs nontraditional for their gender; or Make significant contributions to the students CTE program. Along with two letters of support, each student wrote a brief narrative explaining the career obstacles they faced and key accomplishments. MDEs Office of Career and Technical Education oversees high school instructional programs that teach students skills in a specific career cluster. Most programs offer early college credit opportunities to provide a seamless transition to post-secondary education. The Breaking Traditions Awards extend beyond individual students. These awards also represent the quality of the school culture, said Brian Pyles, MDEs Director of CTE. Clearly, these schools embrace an inclusive student-focused instructional environment supported by staff, students, and community. Breaking Traditions 2020 Merit Award (Secondary Level): * Pamela Fickle, Calhoun Area Career Center, Lakeview High School, law enforcement Breaking Traditions 2020 Certificate of Recognition (Secondary Level): * Veronical Braeckevelt, Romeo High School, machine tool technology * Emily Brock, Lincoln High School, culinary * Danielle Ellis, Center Line High School, Center Line High School firefighting program * Samantha Hurst, Warren Woods Tower High School, digital TV production program * Shainah Wilson, Fitzgerald High School, automotive technology program Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan onceagain shot off a letter to his Maharashtra counterpart Uddhav Thackeray, seeking his intervention in ensuring better isolation and quarantine facilities for the nurses from the southern state. In a letter sent on Thursday, Vijayan said six Keralite nurses, working in the Jaslok hospital, have tested positive for the virus, and were now under treatmentat the Seven Hills Hospital in Mumbai. The remaining 24 nurses, out of whom 15 are from Kerala, have been shifted to a dormitory by the Mumbai Municipal corporation for isolation, he said. Though the nurses are getting food and medicines, the conditions in whichthey are now living need much improvement. They have to be put in a place where there will be effective isolation and quarantine. The place has to be clean and with provision for separate bathrooms, Vijayan said in the letter, a copy of which was released to the media here. The Kerala CM wanted Thackeray to intervene in the matter and ensure the health and wellbeing of the nurses who spend all their time engaged in treating and taking care of their patients. "I hope you will agree that they deserve special attention asthey are the foot-soldiers of our healthcare system," he said. Vijayan had earlier written to Thackeray on April 6 on the issue of nurses. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) San Francisco Weeks before there was evidence that the coronavirus was spreading in U.S. communities, a 57-year-old woman developed flulike symptoms and abruptly died in her San Jose kitchen, triggering a search for what had killed her. Flu tests were negative. The coroner was baffled. It appeared that the woman had suffered a massive heart attack. But tissue samples from the woman, who died on Feb. 6, have now shown that she was infected with the coronavirus a startling discovery that has rewritten the timeline of the virus' early spread in the United States and suggests that the optimistic assumptions that drove federal policies over the early weeks of the outbreak were misplaced. The finding makes clear that the virus was circulating in the Bay Area of California as early as January, even before the federal government began restricting travel from China on Feb. 2. It also raises new questions about where else the virus might have been spreading undetected. With little local testing throughout February in part because of botched testing kits from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with strict guidelines that limited who could get tested officials were not aware of the virus transmitting locally in the country until Feb. 26, in Solano County, California. Previous cases had involved people who had traveled to China, where the outbreak began, or who had been exposed to someone who was ill. But the Feb. 26 case in Solano County was of unexplained origin. Other cases of community transmission were quickly identified in Santa Clara County, which includes San Jose, as well as in Washington state and Oregon. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. The new test results made public late Tuesday show that even this timeline failed to reveal how long the virus had been circulating. The woman in San Jose had not recently traveled outside the country, the authorities said, and yet she died a full 20 days before the earliest recorded case of community transmission. Another previously unconnected death in Santa Clara County, on Feb. 17, has also now been linked to the coronavirus. "Each one of those deaths is probably the tip of an iceberg of unknown size," Dr. Sara Cody, Santa Clara County's medical officer, said in an interview. Gov. Gavin Newsom of California said on Wednesday that there could be "subsequent announcements" as investigations across the state further examine the early origins of the virus. He said investigators are looking at coroner and autopsy reports going back to December in some counties. Donita Jose By Express News Service HYDERABAD: The officials have identified about 7,200 migrant workers in three mandals of Mulugu Venkatapuram, Kannaigudam and Wazeedu who had come to the district for chilli harvest season. Now that the chilli harvest season has come to an end, these tribals, who are primarily from Chhattisgarh, want to return to their State for Mahua or Ippa Puvvu harvest season. They are seasonal agricultural labourers, who come to Telangana between February and March to earn up to Rs 20,000 and return to their village in April for Mahua harvest season. It is learnt that the group of labourers with whom the 12-year-old deceased tribal child had left Mulugu on foot had done so to avoid missing out on the livelihood opportunities back in their hometown. Given this, the Mulugu district officials have to focus on intensifying vigilance to prevent migrant tribal workers from leaving Telangana. "The Chhattisgarh tribals have been following this cycle of labour work for years. They work here for 2-3 months from February and leave to collect Mahua flowers in April-May. If they miss a season, they will lose their livelihood in their native place and so, many have been leaving without informing the employers despite the lockdown," informed an official. ALSO READ | Telangana sees drop in coronavirus cases, but officials feel the heat in Suryapet Since they arrive here seasonally, the district Labour Department does not have much information on them. "The main labourers who visit the State work at brick kilns and ginning mills, which function for many months in a year. The agricultural labourers are restricted to the river bank and border areas. As they come and go, it becomes hard to keep a tab on them," admitted an official from the Labour Department. Experts note that lack of information on these labourers has been the underlying issue and if the extent of their contribution in the rural economy was known and their system of functioning identified, they could be given suitable compensation packages to encourage them to stay. "Register them as inter-State migrant workers and use funds from the Centre to set up welfare boards and draw more resources to help them," noted MV Foundation's national convenor R Venkat Reddy. Measures to keep workers safe The group of labourers with whom the 12-year-old deceased tribal child had left Mulugu on foot had done so to avoid missing out on livelihood opportunities back in their hometown. Given this, Mulugu district officials must intensify vigilance The World Health Organization chief said Wednesday he hopes the United States will reconsider its freeze in funding for his agency and vowed to keep working on saving lives despite calls from some U.S. lawmakers for his resignation. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he hopes the U.S. believes the agency is an important investment, not just to help others, but for the U.S. to stay safe amid the pandemic. President Donald Trump last week announced a temporary halt to U.S. funding for the U.N. agency, alleging a WHO cover-up and missteps handling the outbreak. The U.S. is the Geneva-based agency's biggest donor, providing hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of support each year. In Washington, officials said Wednesday the halt involved new funding for the WHO, and was expected to continue for 60 to 90 days. A group of Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives last week suggested that Trump should condition any voluntary U.S. contributions to the WHO this year on Tedros' resignation. Asked about whether he was considering that, Tedros said: I will continue to work day and night because this is a blessed work, actually, and responsibility saving lives, and I will focus on that. Dr. Mike Ryan, the WHO's emergencies chief, said the U.S. pause would impact core agency activities like child immunizations, efforts to eradicate polio, and essential health services and trauma management in some of the most vulnerable populations in the world. I very much hope that ... this is a 60-day stay on funding, and no more, he said. That's why you don't see me complaining, because we just need to get on with it. At a news conference in Washington on Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced a new tranche of U.S. assistance to specific countries, bringing the total of virus aid this year to more than 700 million. Other U.S. officials said the suspended money for the WHO would be used for the same purpose, just distributed to individual groups eliminating the agency as a conduit. Also read: Sweden: The world champion of 'herd immunity' in fight against coronavirus Also read: Coronavirus India Live Updates: Total corona cases breach 21,000-mark, death toll nears 700 Adorable footage shows beavers larking around a National Trust estate in Exmoor after being reintroduced to help with flood management and improve biodiversity. Two pairs of beavers were put into two enclosures on the Holnicote Estate in Exmoor, Somerset, as part of the so-called 'Riverlands' project. This programme aims to restore the river catchment to a more natural, wetland state that will slow the water flow and create habitats for other wildlife. The webcam footage shows the beavers feeding and grooming as they settle into their new surroundings. Scroll down for video BEAVERS HELP TO ENHANCE BIODIVERSITY Water from the dams beavers build flood large areas, creating shallow ponds that harbour lots of invertebrates, like insects and crustaceans. The trees they fell create open spaces in the forest where young saplings can grow. When beavers leave a pond and their dams break, the previously flooded area is rich in nutrients and can become a meadow. Advertisement Beavers went extinct in mainland Britain in the 16th century due to hunting, but are now present in a handful of sites across the country including a small wild population living on the River Otter in Devon. The beavers released in Somerset were relocated from wild populations living on the River Tay catchment, in Scotland. Riverlands project manager Ben Eardley said that the venture is 'exciting', with the beavers engaging both the public and staff. Both of the two sites are around three hectares (seven acres) in size, with one having old mill ponds which provide the deeper water that beavers prefer. The animals are expected to develop the pond network in the future. The other site is located on a fast-flowing river, where logs were installed to partially dam the watercourse for the beavers. Here, the semi-aquatic rodents have already started to create deeper and more extensive ponds. 'There are lots of signs of feeding at the fast-flowing site theyve created a larder of food and dragged across lots of woody vegetation into the ponds,' Mr Eardley said. There are also indications that the beavers at the other site are feeding and storing up food in the deeper water. The beavers are getting quite habitual, coming out at certain times and the rangers have caught them all on camera and know they are doing well, Mr Eardley added. Beavers were once native in Britain, but were hunted to extinction in the 16th century. They have made a return to the wild in some parts of the country, however, including in Scotland and a small number on the River Otter in Devon. Pictured, a beaver on a dam Beavers are found throughout the UK. The animals live as far north as Bamff, Scotland and as south as Nankilly Water in Cornwall As part of the project, the Trust wants to create a viewing area at one of the sites so that people can see the change that the beavers make as they turn the area into a wetland landscape. Drone flyovers will capture the changes to vegetation in the landscape and University of Exeter experts will monitor the beavers' impact, which will change both the flow of water through the site and its quality. The National Trust said that the Riverlands project will also see work undertaken to restore rivers and streams to a so-called 'stage zero' state where they flow through multiple channels, pools and shallow streams as they would have done naturally. It is hoped that both the restoration scheme and the beavers' work will slow the flow of water, reducing the risk of flooding further down the catchment and tackling drought by holding more water in the landscape as well as boosting wildlife. BEAVERS: 'FRIENDS' OR 'FOES'? There is some contention as to whether Beavers should indeed be released into the wild. The points on either side of the argument include the following: FOR REINTRODUCTION The UK's wetland fauna and flora evolved alongside beavers. They reduce siltation, which can pollute waterways with silt and clay. Their dam-like habitats help to reduce downstream flooding after heavy rain. Beavers make ponds, which are needed by two-thirds of UK wildlife. The public is in favour of restoring the animals to the wild. AGAINST REINTRODUCTION UK rivers have changed dramatically since beavers went extinct. British waterways are in poor health, potentially putting beavers at risk. Beavers can spread a foreign tapeworm to both humans and dogs. They can damage both infrastructure and local forests. Dams can sometimes exacerbate, rather than prevent, flooding. Advertisement The beavers released in Somerset were relocated from wild populations living on the River Tay catchment, in Scotland (stock image) 'The beavers are part of an approach we are taking through the river catchment.' said Mr Eardley. 'When you give water more space, youre essentially slowing the flow through the catchment,' he added. 'The whole purpose is to work with natural processes to develop benefits for people and nature.' 'Beavers are part of that theyre a tool to create a greater richness of wildlife, more diversity, more complexity and help improve the natural function of the river catchment.' Tottenham stars Serge Aurier and Moussa Sissoko were forced to apologize on Tuesday after flouting government guidelines on social distancing during the coronavirus. Ivory Coast defender Aurier had posted a video of himself training with club team-mate Sissoko on Instagram earlier in the day. The 27-year-old, who was wearing a mask, has since deleted the videos, which showed him running shuttles and sitting next to France midfielder Sissoko, disregarding the current social distancing advice. READ ALSO Tottenham Forward, Son Heung-Min Begins Military Training Spurs said they would speak to Aurier and Sissoko about their behavior. Just hours later, the pair released a statement accepting they were in the wrong and pledging to donate to the National Health Service. [April 23, 2020] Cadence Bancorporation Announces 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to Be Held in Virtual Format Only Cadence Bancorporation (NYSE: CADE) (the "Company") today announced a change in location for the Company's 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") via the filing of additional proxy materials with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC (News - Alert)"). In order to mitigate potential risks to the health and safety of the Company's stockholders, employees, community and other stakeholders during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Company will hold its Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 7, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. CST in a virtual meeting format only, via live audio webcast, in order to provide a consistent and convenient experience to stockholders, regardless of location. Stockholders will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting physically in person. The Company has determined the virtual meeting format is appropriate this year in light of the coronavirus pandemic but, at this time, does not intend to adopt a virtual format for future annual meetings. Stockholders as of the close of business on March 12, 2020 are entitled to attend and participate in the Annual Meeting at the virtual meeting website located at www.cstproxy.com/cadencebank/2020. Stockholders of record must enter the 12-digit control number found on the proxy card or notice previously received from Continental Stock Transfer & Trust. Beneficial owners who hold shares through an intermediary, such as a bank or broker, must register in advance to attend the meeting by following the instructions set forth in the additional proxy materials filed today with the SEC. Stockholders participating in the virtual meeting will be in a listen-only mode. However, virtual attendees will be able to vote and submit questions during the meeting using the virtual meeting website. Stockholders will also have the option to listen to the virtual meeting by telephone (but will not have the ability to vote or submit questions) by calling the numbers set forth in the additional proxy materials. Information on technical support can also be found in the additional proxy materials. The Company urges all stockholders to vote and submit proxies in advance of the Annual Meeting by one of the methods described in the proxy materials for the Annual Meeting. A replay of the Annual Meeting will be available on the virtual meeting website until August 31, 2020. About Cadence Bancorporation Cadence Bancorporation (NYSE: CADE), headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a regional financial holding company with $17.8 billion in assets as of December 31, 2019. Cadence operates 98 branch locations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas, and provides corporations, middle-market companies, small businesses and consumers with a full range of innovative banking and financial solutions. Services and products include commercial and business banking, treasury management, specialized lending, asset-based lending, commercial real estate, SBA lending, foreign exchange, wealth management, investment and trust services, financial planning, retirement plan management, personal and business insurance, consumer banking, consumer loans, mortgages, home equity lines and loans, and credit cards. Clients have access to leading-edge online and mobile solutions, interactive teller machines, and more than 55,000 ATMs. The Cadence team of 1,800 associates is committed to exceeding customer expectations and helping their clients succeed financially. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005847/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-23 22:03:08 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 399 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Cloud-hosted ad tracker RedTrack addresses the needs for media-buyers and publishers to track their media buying and lead generation activities in response to major browsers' privacy policies changes.VILNIUS, LITHUANIA / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2020 / Google Chrome, Safari, and Firefox said they no longer support 3rd-party cookies to protect their users' privacy. While users most likely won't notice the change, digital marketers and media-buyers have to completely review their routine. The Tracking Pixel Method is no longer available, workarounds are prohibited, the access to the data is limited.In response to this, RedTrack came up with effective solution. 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The old methods are losing their relevance fast as technology landscape changes.With RedTrack's ad-tracking solutions marketer no longer need to rely on using 3rd party cookies or pixels and can solve four key issues effectively:Transparency: lack of unified view on media -buying and outcomesSpeed: lack of real time insightsAlignment: lack of KPI measurement consistency across teamScale: lack of automation tied to dataIt is one of the most effective technologies that allow you to diligently monitor the journey of an advertisement from the impression to click to conversion(s) across all your channels, teams and activities.About the companyRedTrack is a cloud-hosted ad tracking and conversion attribution solution based in Vilnius, Lithuania. RedTrack.io helps customers to consolidate data across their media buying activities and turn insights into actions through real-time notifications and campaign optimization rules. No 3rd party cookies required. The company is famous for being a multiple winner of various international Customer choice and Best Support awards for software companies.Media Details:Name: RedTrackEmail: info@ redtrack.io Website: https://redtrack.io/ SOURCE: RedTrack Washington, April 23 : US President Donald Trump said that he had instructed the US Navy to destroy any Iranian gunboats if they harass US ships at sea. "I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea," Trump tweeted on Wednesday, without providing other details, reported Xinhua news agency. Deputy Secretary of Defence David Norquist said later at a Pentagon briefing that "all of our ships retain the right of self-defence and people needed to be very careful in their interactions to understand the inherent right of self-defence." John Hyten, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, added at the same briefing that the US forces will respond with overwhelming lethal force to defend themselves if necessary. "So if you cross that line, we know what that line is and we will respond. We don't need any more direction in order to do that. I think the president's message was crystal clear and we don't need any more actions," he said. The US Navy said last week that 11 Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy vessels "repeatedly conducted dangerous & harassing approaches against US naval ships operating in international waters of the North Arabian Gulf." The IRGC Navy, however, accused the U.S. naval forces of repeatedly "unprofessional" manner in the Gulf during recent weeks, threatening regional peace and given rise to new risks. In a statement carried by Press TV on Sunday, the IRGC Navy said that the "illegal" presence of US forces in the region is the source of insecurity in West Asia. "The only way to establish sustainable security in this region is the complete withdrawal of Americans from West Asia," said the statement. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao, on Wednesday, joined Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) staffers for lunch. He was briefed about sanitation initiatives in the city during the luncheon meeting at the Disaster Response Force (DRF) training centre, Necklace Road. Rama Rao appreciated efforts by entomologists and sanitation staff workers who are working hard to combat the spread of Coronavirus. The Minister stated that their service was equivalent to that of medical health professionals and the police. Rama Rao was also seen serving food to sanitation workers and enquiring about their well-being. He asked the workers to take precautionary measures while discharging their duties. He informed them that the State government was paying staffers in sanitation, DRF and the entomology wing their full salaries along with incentives. He appealed to them to explain to their neighbours, the importance of maintaining hygiene and social distance, to contain the spread of Covid-19. The Minister also directed the entomology wing to prepare an action plan to combat the mosquito menace during the monsoons. ALSO READ: The KTR interview | 'COVID crisis has told us we are one and very alike' GHMC website connects donors with the needy GHMC developed an easily navigable website Covid123.in using which volunteers can locate and contact a person in need. Citizens, too, can donate money, essentials and clothes on the portal. This apart, volunteers and NGOs can call on the GHMC helpline, 040-21111111, to make donations. Meanwhile, GHMC Commissioner DS Lokesh Kumar visited containment zones at Khairtabad and Charminar. Also, the civic bodys control room received 510 calls Akshaya Patra mega kitchen inspected MAUD Principal Secretary Arvind Kumar inspected the Mega Kitchen being run by The Akshaya Patra Foundation at Narsingi on Wednesday. Arvind Kumar enquired with the staff about the arrangements made for serving lunch and dinner for free in the GHMC limits. The foundation members said before the Covid-19 outbreak, they were serving lunch to over 45,000 people through its 150 canteens in the city. Now, the foundation scaled up its operations by three times and was serving over 1.5 lakh people every day through 200 Annapurna centres, including mobile centres. The Principal Secretary toured around the kitchen and enquired about the food distribution and supply procedures. He later inspected the works being taken up by the Hyderabad Growth Corridor Limited (HGCL) near Narsingi Circle. He instructed the officials to plant saplings to increase greenery in the area within a week MIGDAL HA'EMEK, Israel, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PV Nano Cell, Ltd. (OTC: PVNNF) ("PV Nano Cell" or the "Company"), an innovative provider of inkjet-based conductive digital printing solutions and producer of conductive digital inks, today announced that it has appointed Mr. Dov Farkash as its new Active Chairman of the Board. For the past two decades, Mr. Farkash served in a variety of business executive roles (including Vice President of Sales, Vice President - Business Development and GM of Novas Strategic Software Business) at Nova (NVMI) a leading innovator and key provider of dimensional and materials metrology solutions in semiconductor manufacturing. In his last role at Nova, Mr. Farkash served as Executive VP Strategic Development & Partnerships and was responsible for creating new markets, initiating disruptive products, forging strategic alliances and leading all OEM business-related activities, leading the company business growth. Mr. Farkash holds an MBA with honors and BSc in Computers Engineering, both from the Technion Israel Institute of Technology. Mr. Farkash commented, Im honored to be elected Active Chairman of the Board at this exciting time for the company, I look forward to working together with Fernando and the talented PV Nano Cell team to accelerate business growth, establish new partnerships, and drive sustainable profitability. PV Nano Cells Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Fernando de la Vega, commented, We are very excited about Dov joining us as our Active Chairman of the Board. As PV Nano Cell is creating exciting new opportunities and is forming strategic alliances, we will benefit greatly from Dov's experience and business knowledge. I am sure Dov's guidance, valuable insights and extensive network of connections will prove very beneficial to the growth of the company. We further expect to enter additional territories, formalize more key partnerships and serve new market applications and customers. Story continues As previously published, PV Nano Cell announced that it has successfully submitted to the Israeli Innovation Authority, through its fully owned subsidiary DigiFlex, a proposal to develop a breakthrough protective technology that will protect people from being infected by the Coronavirus and possibly other viruses. Since then, the company was appointed an examiner from the Israeli Innovation Authority, which reviewed the proposal and will soon present it to the approval committee at the authority. PV Nano Cell, Ltd. PV Nano Cell (PVN) offers the first-ever complete solution for mass-produced inkjet based, printed electronics. The proven solution includes PVNs proprietary Sicrys, silver-based conductive inks, inkjet production printers and the complete printing process. The process includes ink properties' optimization, printers parameters setup, printing modifications & tailored printing instructions per application. In the heart of PVNs value proposition lies its unique and patented conductive silver and coper inks - Sicrys. Those are the only inks made of Single Nano Crystals which allows the inks to have the highest stability and throughput required to drive optimal mass-production results for wide range of applications. PVNs solutions are used all over the world in a range of digital printing applications including: automotive, photovoltaics, printed circuit boards, flexible printed circuits, antennas, sensors, heaters, touchscreens and other. For more information, please visit http://www.pvnanocell.com/ DigiFlex A fully owned subsidiary of PV Nano Cell, provides cost efficient printing solutions for graphic arts and low volume and prototyping in electronic manufacturing. For more information, please visit https://www.digiflex-print.com/ Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forwardlooking statements. The words or phrases "would be," "will allow," "intends to," "will likely result," "are expected to," "will continue," "is anticipated," "estimate," "project," or similar expressions are intended to identify "forwardlooking statements." All information set forth in this news release, except historical and factual information, represents forwardlooking statements. This includes all statements about the Company's plans, beliefs, estimates and expectations. These statements are based on current estimates and projections, which involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forwardlooking statements. These risks and uncertainties include issues related to: rapidly changing technology and evolving standards in the industries in which the Company operates; the ability to obtain sufficient funding to continue operations, maintain adequate cash flow, profitably exploit new business, and sign new agreements. For a more detailed description of the risks and uncertainties affecting PV Nano Cell, reference is made to the Company's latest Annual Report on Form 20-F which is on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the other risk factors discussed from time to time by the Company in reports filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Except as otherwise required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Click here to read the full article. TIME TALES: As the watch industry grapples with the challenge of launching new products during the coronavirus, Cartier is not skipping a beat, and through a recently created online platform is presenting three timepieces on Friday: a retooled Pasha, the Santos-Dumont and the Maillon, which carries a prominent new design. Reading the time is secondary, noted Marie-Laure Cerede, director of watchmaking for Cartier, explaining her approach to design for timepieces at the storied French label. Its all about aesthetics, she added, pointing out that she generally doesnt wear watches that are on-time set to the proper time. The luxury executive started her career at Cartier before a 12-year stint at Harry Winston where, as creative director, she moved the brand into jewelry watches and large complications. She returned to Cartier in 2017 as deputy director of watchmaking before rising to her current post, which she has held for three years. Reflecting the age-old struggle of the high-end watchmaking industry, that is, to draw on a houses tradition while introducing fresh relevance for a current audience, Cerede describes it as paying homage to the brands legacy while introducing a new vocabulary for the future at once daring, forward-looking but also timeless. I dont believe in opposing the past and the future or being forced to choose between the two I am convinced that a new product only carries meaning if the heritage is mastered, she said, illustrating the evergreen challenge of labels that operate in the hard luxury sphere. The idea behind Maillon which carries a chunky, chain bracelet, skewed to the side was to pay homage to the Panthere watch, even if the results are entirely different. The bracelet carries a certain volume, for a sculptural and assertive look. The house tweaked the Pasha, a model from 1985 that sits between sportier watches and streamlined, dressier timepieces, modernizing it by rearranging design elements with just four, prominent numbers. Story continues The Pasha doesnt fit in any of these categories it defies the rule of perfect circles by adding other elements, Cerede said. As it did with the Panthere launch, Cartier is offering services for owners of previous models of the watch, including upgrading the movement in some cases. The Pasha is set to launch in China over the summer and the rest of the world in September, while the Santos-Dumont watch is debuting on Tmalls Luxury Pavilion. The launch coincides with the kickoff of the Watches & Wonders fair, formerly known as SIHH and held in Geneva, which was canceled because of COVID-19. Dominated by labels belonging to Compagnie Financiere Richemont, the industry show has set up an online space to introduce products. Best of WWD Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (25) From a harm standpoint, we must view this through the lens of the experiences people of color have had with the police, especially black and brown residents of Cook County, Rabbitt wrote. Given the history of systemic racism and shortcomings of police accountability, especially in Chicago, could this increase the risk of harm? Does this resolution actually ensure the safety of residents? A Stanford student group accelerated its demands Thursday for the university to provide pay and other benefits to all campus workers through the end of the spring quarter in mid-June. The group, Stanford Students for Workers Rights, held a virtual news conference to express its frustration. Were doing this to highlight Stanfords ongoing refusal to take responsibility for its workers, in particular its contracted workers, during the COVID-19 crisis, said Nizhoni Begay, a member of the student group. In every respect that matters, they are Stanford workers and we, as Stanford students, feel an obligation to fight with them so they are treated with the respect they deserve. Seventy-three custodial workers and 37 food-service workers have been laid off at Stanford, according to union and student leaders, since the school moved to online instruction last month in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Those workers are employees of subcontractors such as UG2 (janitorial) and Bon Appetit (food service). Another 57 contracted workers are scheduled for layoffs next week, said Denise Solis, Northern California director for SEIU-USWW. Stanfords academic mission depends upon the many employed and sub-contracted staff who provide needed support services to our community every day, a school spokesman said in a statement emailed Thursday to The Chronicle. While the need for work performed by many of these contract firms has been significantly reduced, we remain committed to working with the contract firms whose employees provide services at Stanford. These firms will be supported in maintaining income and benefits for their employees through June 15, through university resources and resources offered by the government. Stanford Provost Persis Drell made a similar pledge in an email to students April 14. But Stanford Students for Workers Rights insisted the university has not followed through and is offering benefits and legal service but not wages to these workers. Thursdays news conference included several notable Stanford alums voicing their support for campus workers. Among those imploring the university to extend protections were Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs; Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas; former San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim; state Senate candidate Jackie Fielder; and Julian Castro, former U.S. secretary of housing and urban development. 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. Kim and other speakers vowed not to donate to Stanford until the university makes a commitment to provide protection, including hazard pay and sick leave, to all workers. Im a proud Stanford alum, and I want to join thousands of others who have called on Stanford to do the right thing, Julian Castro said. There are a lot of people hurting out there right now. Stanford has an obligation to make sure people who work hard every day as janitors and groundskeepers ... to take care of them in this time of crisis. Castro noted Stanfords large endowment, valued at $27.7 billion as of Aug. 31. That put Stanford third in the nation at the time behind only Harvard and Yale, according to U.S. News & World Report. Mostly because of that endowment, Stanford announced Wednesday it would not accept more than $7.3 million in federal funds awarded to the school as part of the Cares Act passed last month by Congress. Ron Kroichick is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rkroichick@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ronkroichick Melbourne, April 23 : In a bizarre turn of events, an Australian jockey has headbutted a rival rider, breaching social distancing rules in the process and has subsequently been given a six-month ban. Luke Tarrant injured Larry Cassidy during an altercation after a race at Doomben, as per a BBC report. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, racing in Australia has continued behind closed doors and with strict protocols. A stewards' report said Tarrant's helmet "made contact with the nose" of Cassidy and caused him an injury, the BBC Sport report says. The statement from officials at the Brisbane track said they took into account "significant contact to jockey Cassidy and the breach of Covid-19 social distancing protocols, and the potential for his actions to have an adverse effect on the racing industry". Previously, Manchester City defender Kyle Walker faced disciplinary action from the club after tabloid The Sun reported he breached Britain's lockdown rules by hosting a party during the coronavirus pandemic. The Sun had said that the England international Walker, 29, had also invited two call girls to the party at his Cheshire home. Walker had apologized for his actions in a statement to the newspaper on Sunday, saying he had let down his family, friends, club, supporters and the public. PHILIPSBURG:--- Prime Minister and Chair of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Silveria Jacobs hereby updates the general public for today, Monday, April 22, 2020, as part of the process to keep the community of St. Maarten informed about the latest developments and the Governments COVID-19 containment, mitigation and response measures. COVID-19 Cases Based on the latest available data, as updated by CPS Epidemiologist Eva Lista-de Weever, the counts for April 22, 2020 as of 4:00 PM are as follows: Self-Quarantine: 130 Self-Isolation: 95 Number Hospitalized: 8 Number Tested: 266 (+8) Number Positive: 73 (+2) Male: 51 Female: 22 Number Negative: 169 (+28) Number Pending: 23 Inconclusive: 1 Deceased: 12 (+1) Recovered: 22 (+10) Active Cases: 39(+1) Today, April 22, 2020, the St. Maarten Medical Centre Outbreak Management Team has updated that the works on the Intensive Care Unit ICU tent have been completed and that the tent is ready for its first patients. Moving forward, any COVID-19 suspected or a confirmed patient requiring ICU care will be admitted to the tent which will be manned by Medical and Nursing personnel provided by the Ministry of Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport (VWS) via AMI Healthcare. On April 22, 2020, a meeting was held with Prime Minister Jacobs and Emergency Support Function 10 to receive updates and further deliberations concerning the effects of COVID-19 on the business community. Considering that Governments stimulus plan was launched this week and that certain businesses cannot qualify for the payroll subsidy, ESF 10 is considering allowing these businesses to be open, through limited opening hours effective next week. The Inspectorate of the Ministry of TEATT conducted controls today and closed businesses that were operating in contravention to the published National decree of April 18, 2020. The government urges businesses not to engage in such as they will be fined. Prime Minister Jacobs has decided to allow freight, shipping, and cargo companies to make deliveries to all their clients and not just emergency and essential services. Veterinary clinics and the St. Maarten Marine Trade Association (SMMTA) have also sent in their waiver requests to resume their operations in order to provide services to the public and these are being considered. The Windward Islands Bank will have 3 branches open as of next week to facilitate the month-end traffic and payments of pension, social welfare & payroll. The third branch will be announced at a later date. Prime Minister Jacobs encourages persons to visit the branch closest to their home and to continue to practice social distancing. Lastly, the waiver or Certificate of Exception also known as Form C is usually granted for persons traveling for work, urgent medical appointments, or doctor visits. Though it is not stated on the waiver, it is allowed for persons to travel across the border to Dutch St. Maarten for banking purposes as well They should state their reason. I encourage each and every one of you to pray and continue checking up on each other virtually via the internet and phone. Use this time, to reach out to your neighbour, family, and friends. Let's be mindful that there is no one size fits all policy to address all the challenges associated with the COVID-19 virus and the challenges to come. However, rest assured that the EOC, Council of Ministers, and their respective teams are working tirelessly as one team; Team St. Maarten, to mitigate and contain this deadly virus. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is that the people of St. Maarten love one another and are strong and resilient people. I cannot stress enough. Continue to be blessed St. Maarten, concluded Prime Minister Jacobs. Secretary of state Mike Pompeo, has claimed that the US may never return to the World Health Organisation (WHO), amid criticism of their response to the coronavirus pandemic. President Donald Trump announced last week that the US would suspend its WHO funding, so that they could review the organisations response to the coronavirus outbreak. The reality is the WHO failed to obtain, vet and share information in a timely fashion, Mr Trump said. The WHO failed in its basic duty and must be held accountable. Speaking to The Ingraham Angle host, Laura Ingraham, on Fox News, Mr Pompeo said that the US needs to take a real hard look at the WHO and what we do coming out of this. He said on Wednesday that the US reformed the organisation in 2007 and added that this is not the first time we have had to deal with the shortcomings of this organisation that sits inside the United Nations. We need a fix, we need a structural fix for the WHO, the secretary of state added. Ms Ingraham asked Mr Pompeo, if a condition on the countrys return to the organisation, was director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, no longer being involved. Mr Pompeo replied Thats right and even more than that, it may be the case that the United States can never return to the underwriting, to having US tax dollars going to the WHO. He added: We may need to have even bolder change than that, and Ms Ingraham replied: Yeah, make our own organisation. Earlier in the day, at a press conference, Mr Pompeo criticised the Chinese Communist Party for not reporting the outbreak sooner. We strongly believe that the Chinese Communist Party did not report the outbreak of the new coronavirus in a timely fashion to the World Health Organisation, he said. The CCP still has not shared the virus sample from inside of China with the outside world, making it impossible to track the diseases evolution, Mr Pompeo added. According to a tracking project hosted by Johns Hopkins University, nationally there are upwards of 842,624 people who have tested positive for coronavirus. The death toll has reached at least 46,785. Free Derry corner with a message thanking the NHS and Key workers added during the Coronavirus pandemic. PICTURE BY STEPHEN DAVISON There have been a further 13 deaths in hospitals in Northern Ireland from Covid-19, the Department of Health has confirmed. The latest figures show that the death toll has now reached 263. From Wednesday a further 1,006 tests were carried out on 858 patients with an extra 142 positive cases. An additional 118 tests were carried out at national testing sites. There have now been 3,016 positive cases of Covid-19 in Northern Ireland. Speaking at the Executive's daily press briefing Economy Minister Diane Dodds said she supported the reopening of cemeteries in a "controlled manner", with ministers set to discuss the issue tomorrow. She also criticised the "regrettable intervention" of Sinn Fein junior minister Declan Kearney who said "some unionists" and "right wing" elements in the UK Government wanted to put the economy before public health. "This is not a matter of lives versus the economy, saving lives is our utmost priority but we too must protect the economy and plan for a safe and phased and step by step transition back to normality," Mrs Dodds said. She said that for every month the UK remains in lockdown it will lose 2 to 3% of GDP. The Economy Minister described it as a "significant recession". Follow our live coverage of today's main developments They recently dressed up to the nines to celebrate their first anniversary. And Coronation Street's Alan Halsall and girlfriend Tisha Merry once again donned their glad rags on Wednesday for a fancy-dress themed quiz night. The actor, 37, donned a smart suit and flat cap for his Peaky Blinders outfit, while Tisha, 26, rocked an off-the-shoulder black dress for her Burlesque-inspired ensemble. Looking good: Coronation Street's Alan Halsall and girlfriend Tisha Merry donned their glad rags on Wednesday for a fancy-dress themed quiz night The couple appeared in great spirits as they posed outside their luxury '750k home' in Salford, Manchester for the Instagram snap. Alan looked dapper in a grey checked jacket, white shirt and black tie, teamed with his grey flat cap. While Tisha oozed glamour in her ruffled, lace number with a corseted back. Captioning the picture, Alan said: 'Burlesque & Peaky blinders is the outfit of Choice for tonights fancy dress Quiz night !!' Fancy: The actor, 37, donned a smart suit and flat cap for his Peaky Blinders outfit, while Tisha, 26, rocked an off-the-shoulder black dress for her Burlesque-inspired ensemble However, Alan, who plays Tyrone Dobbs in the soap, later took to Instagram stories to reveal the 'reality' of their picture. He posted another zoomed out picture which showed him in fact wearing shirts while Tisha posed barefoot. The star later posted a snap of their laptop screen which showed the couple fully immersed in the quiz with their pals, who also donned fancy dress. Earlier this month, the pair posed for a loved-up snap after putting on their best outfits to celebrate their first anniversary in their living room. 'Reality': However, Alan, who plays Tyrone Dobbs in the soap, later took to Instagram stories to reveal the 'reality' of their picture, with him wearing shorts while Tisha is barefoot Fun times: The star later posted a snap of their laptop screen which showed the couple fully immersed in the quiz with their pals, who also donned fancy dress For the celebration, Tisha looked gorgeous in a black and white dress with pretty lace embroidery as she posed with beau Alan who looked smart in an all-black ensemble. The couple held champagne glasses in hand as they prepared to celebrate their anniversary in their home. In the caption Alan wrote: ''All dressed up with nowhere to go.'' 'Not really how I imagined spending our first anniversary, but it was lots of fun getting dressed up to sit at our own dining table it didnt matter one bit.... Great company makes a great night @missdrewmerry93 xxxx.' Just a day earlier Alan paid a sweet tribute to girlfriend Tisha for their one year anniversary by sharing an Instagram post about how happy she has made him. Romantic: Earlier this month, the pair posed for a loved-up snap after putting on their best outfits to celebrate their first anniversary in their living room Nice: The couple posed for a loved-up snap after putting on their best outfits to celebrate their anniversary in their living room Alan best known for playing Tyrone Dobbs in the ITV soap, penned: '1 year. 12 months. 52 weeks. 365 days. 8760 hours. 525,600 minutes. 31,536,000 seconds.......& Ive loved every second . 'What a difference a year makes & what a difference you make to my life!! Happy anniversary. I love you x.' Tisha, 26, met Alan on the Corrie cobbles when she played Steph Britton. Alan shares his daughter Sienna with ex Lucy-Jo, 36, who he was married to for almost a decade before the actors parted ways in 2018. He publicly announced his relationship with Tisha in May 2019, and the inseparable pair regularly take to social media to share their special moments. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category A family in Jharkhands Ramgarh district is allegedly facing social boycott over a coronavirus rumour for the past five days. The family of four has alleged that they are not even allowed to use water from village tube-wells or wells. The incident came to light when a video of the kids crying in hunger went viral on social media. On Thursday, chief minister Hemant Soren took cognisance of the incident and asked Ramgarh deputy commissioner (DC) to take immediate action and provide relief to the family. My appeal to people is do not pay attention to rumours. In this epidemic situation, we can fight the coronavirus and rumour only with social support, the CM tweeted. The incident took place at Murudih village under Gola police station. Geeta Devi, the mother of two children, said, I have been working in Didi Kitchen run under Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) and feeding the poor during this period of lockdown. Many families in the village were suffering due to lack of PDS ration, I helped them get ration. On April 18, when she was serving food to the poor through Didi kitchen, few villagers came and alleged that she was coronavirus positive. I asked them how? One of them alleged that my brother-in-law came from Chhattisgarh and he is suffering from Covid-19. I tried to convince them that nobody came from anywhere at my home. But, they did not allow me to serve food, said Devi, whose husband Ishwar Kumar Mahto is a labourer. The husband is presently jobless due to nationwide lockdown in place to check the spread of the coronavirus disease. The next day, when Devi went to a nearby tube-well for water, villagers stopped her from drawing the water. No food was cooked that day for lack of water. In a bid to prove villagers wrong, all in the family went to Gola for coronavirus check up on April 19. The report came negative but the health officials asked us to remain in home quarantine for 14 days, she said. Despite the negative coronavirus report, the family, she alleges, was asked to leave the village. The next day on April 20, my LPG cylinder needed refilling, but the villagers did not allow it. They are not allowing us to even come out of the house for any necessity, Devi said, adding, I went to Gola police station on April 21. The police visited the village on Wednesday evening. The family was in deep crisis. We helped them to get water from the village tube well and convinced the villagers to not pay heed to rumours. If the family is tortured again, we will lodge a case against the villagers, said Gola police station in-charge, Dhananjay Kumar. Devi said, I have filled all my containers with water. So, I did not go out to take water today (Thursday). But, I do not find any change in the behaviour of villagers. We are living in fear that we may be beaten, if we go outside. A section of villagers questioned as to why the family needed to be tested if they were not carrying the disease. The family went for a Covid-19 check up. If they did not have coronavirus, why did they go for the test? said a villager who did not wish to be named. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Greece, Cyprus Lash Out at Turkey for 'Illegal' Drilling in Eastern Mediterranean By Anthee Carassava April 22, 2020 Turkey has been flying F-16 fighter jets over the Libyan coast as it steps up its intervention in the country's civil war. It also has sent a vessel to drill for oil off the coast of Cyprus, angering the island republic and its sister state, Greece. The two EU members states have placed their militaries on alert for fear of what they call further provocations from Turkey as the government of Recep Tayyip Erdogan faces trouble back home. In a stinging statement, the Greek Foreign Ministry has accused Turkey of behaving in what it calls "delinquent" fashion defying international rules and sending an exploratory vessel to drill for oil in waters for which Cyprus alone has rights. The government in Nicosia, the capital of Cyprus, says the Turkish move is part of what it calls Ankara's "illegal expansionist designs." It plans to raise the issue with its European Union partners at a meeting of foreign ministers today. Cyprus' president also will take up the matter with his EU counterparts at a summit later this week. He says the EU needs to step in and stop Turkey from conducting the controversial drill its sixth attempt this year alone. European leaders repeatedly have advised Ankara to show restraint. But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan insists his government is not breaking any rules. Instead, he insists his country also has legitimate and sovereign rights in the oil and mineral rich eastern Mediterranean and in the Aegean Sea. "Turkey will continue to defend these rights," he said, after a Cabinet meeting. "It's this decisiveness that makes Turkey strong." While both NATO allies, Greece and Turkey have been at loggerheads for ages over conflicting claims to air and sea rights in the Aegean, the vast waterway that divides the two nations. Relations between Athens and Ankara have been strained since Turkey invaded Cyprus, a military offensive that has left the Mediterranean island divided into Greek and Turkish sections for nearly half a century now. Massive gas reserves discovered off the coast of Cyprus in recent years have come to complicate relations. Regional countries, including Egypt, Greece and Israel, have formed key energy alliances, leaving Turkey alone, insisting it, too, is entitled to a share of the multi-billion-dollar profits because it controls the Turkish occupied section of northern Cyprus. With the Turkish economy now crumbling, and the country struggling to contain the spread of the coronavirus, experts like Angelos Syrigos warn that Ankara will continue to behave provocatively. "It wants to deflect attention from its domestic troubles," he says. "Turkey wants to keep showing it remains a regional superpower." That's the reason, he explains, that Turkey has been provoking the West in recent days, sending rafts of illegal refugees to Greece. Fighter jets also have been ordered to soar through Greek airspace, engaging in risky chases and aerial stunts with Greek fighter jets The tactics may be helping Turkey keep up its regional superpower appearances, but experts warn this could result in an accident where tensions spill over into a full-blown conflict. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Researchers say an experimental cancer drug may be able to block people from being infected by the novel coronavirus. The drug is a synthetic DNA piece called 'aptamer' that binds a protein called nucleolin found on the surface of cells. Previous studies have shown that aptamer prevents various cancer from ''hijacking' the nucleolin, replicating the disease and infecting other cells. The team from the University of Louisville in Kentucky says the technology could be used to prevent the virus from replicating itself and spreading throughout the body. Researchers from the University of Louisville says it has a treatment that could prevent the novel coronavirus (pictured) from spreading throughout the body A synthetic DNA piece called 'aptamer' binds a protein called nucleolin found on the surface of cells and has been used on cancer patients to prevent the disease ''hijacking' the nucleolin and replicating itself (file image of UW Medicine, April 17) The aptamer was discovered by a team led by Dr Paula Bates, a professor of medicine at the University of Louisville. 'Like many scientists, as soon as I heard about the new coronavirus, I wanted to help and started to think about how my area of research might intersect with coronavirus research efforts,' she said in a statement. Bates plans to work at the University Louisville's Regional Biocontainment Laboratory, one of only 12 regional and two national biocontainment labs in the US. The lab contains Biosafety Level 3 facilities that protect researchers from being exposed to the pathogens they are examining. Bates said she has been testing the drug in cells but hopes to soon begin clinical trials in humans. 'Typically developing a drug from scratch takes many, many years and you would have to do a lot of animal testing to try and show it's safe,' she told WSMV. 'Then you test for safety in humans, and then you test if it works in humans. And then the whole process takes years. 'Because this has already been tested in humans, in cancer patients and we would plan to use it and dose it in a very similar way for patients who have COVID-19 we're hoping we can kind of chop a lot of time off there,' she said. She says she hopes her team receives US Food and Drug Administration approval quickly to begin trials. Because a vaccine could take between 12 and 18 months before arriving on the market, she says treatments could help slow the spread. 'They could get this early to kind of stop the virus from spreading in their bodies and that would stop them hopefully from getting seriously ill from this but also for people who have already gotten seriously ill,' Bates said. 'There are some evidence to believe that if you can kind of reduce the amount of virus in the body, reduce the spread further, you might be able to benefit them.' In the US, there are more than 856,000 confirmed cases of the virus and more than 48,000 deaths. As an Army wife, Jessica Henninger is used to her husband deploying and being away from the family. So, it was a surreal experience for the nurse who had been out of the workforce to be the one saying goodbye while her husband prepared to take care of their five kids as she left for a different kind of war the fight against COVID-19. "For a military spouse who's used to the attention always being on my husband and [people saying] 'Thank your husband for his service,' for people to be saying that to me now is so weird," said the 38-year-old Henninger, who left over the weekend to help overwhelmed health care workers in New York City, the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. Henninger put her own career on hold 18 months ago to take care of the couple's kids, who are 16, 14, 5, 1 and 4 months. But before that, she spent 20 years working in health care. Ten of those were as a nurse working in intensive care and with patients on ventilators in respiratory units. So, she's perfectly cut out for the battle against COVID-19, and, once the crisis started ramping up, she knew she had to do something. "There was this drive, I guess, just hearing all of the stories about how bogged down the nurses were and the atrocious nurse-patient ratios," Henninger said. "I thought, 'I have these skills, and they're not being used.' I can be helpful. I can't just sit here on these skills doing nothing." She found a position as a travel nurse one who fills in at hospitals with short-term staffing needs and was so focused on helping that she didn't contemplate having to leave her family behind. (U.S. Army/Courtesy Photo) "It wasn't until it got real it got to me the night before I was going to leave that all of a sudden I started realizing, 'I'm going to have to leave my baby,'" Henninger said of her 4-month-old son. "That's when it really started getting emotional for me. The morning I left, I was a mess." Henninger's husband, Army Staff Sgt. Alex Henninger, is a broadcast specialist. During his 12-year Army career, he's been away from his family on deployments and other assignments for a fourth of that time. So, she's aware of what her family is in for. "I knew it was going to be difficult for them, me being gone, but for me, it was just we're nurses, and it's what we do," Henninger said. Her husband understood. "I was immediately on board with Jess's decision," Staff Sergeant Henninger said. "Her going to New York to do this is the same as me deploying to film in a combat zone. Both scenarios put us in the crucible of our training and experience. It's what we've prepared for our entire careers. I couldn't be more proud." By April 13, Jessica was in Manhattan at an orientation, getting up to speed on what's going on at the hospital where she'll be working for the next eight weeks. "Essentially, they're using the hospital that I'm at as an overflow for [COVID-19] patients as they start to stabilize and get a little less acute," she said. "They're not as critical, at this point, as they were when they first got sick." She said her role will be a bit different from that of the average travel nurse, considering that the workers at the hospital which she's been told not to name don't usually work with patients suffering from COVID-19 symptoms. "Normally, as a traveler, you go in and you're the new guy on the block, and you're looking to the more established staff to be, like, 'OK, you're my resource here,'" said. "But the [hospital] staff members will more than likely be looking to us, since we've done all of these types of things before." She doesn't yet know if she'll have a set schedule for her time in New York. What she has been prepared for, though, is the need to stay flexible. "They say that they're getting updates every single day as to what the changes are and how we're proceeding with things, so everything is just a really fluid situation, and we just have to be ready for anything," Henninger said. At first, she said she was a little nervous because she hadn't practiced in a while, but after that first day, she felt much more prepared. "Going through the orientation process has reinforced for me that, even though this is really an extraordinary time where we don't know what to expect, all of the things that I know how to do and that are just a part of who I am as a nurse, none of that stuff has gone away," Henninger said. She's finding comfort, too, in the fact that when it comes to this virus, everyone is the new kid on the block. "We're all in this together, learning new things and doing new things together," Henninger said. Keep Up with the Ins and Outs of Military Life For the latest military news and tips on military family benefits and more, subscribe to Military.com and have the information you need delivered directly to your inbox. Other schools are taking similar approaches. Texas Christian University has asked students to put together videos about life on the Fort Worth campus. And at Tulane, students are sending in videos describing what they love and miss about the university. Some Colleges Were Already Online The spring scramble that took college classes off campus and into Zoom was less chaotic for some schools than others. At more than 800 American colleges, a majority of undergraduates were already taking some or all of their classes online, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). That includes major public universities like the University of Central Florida where almost 60 percent of the nearly 60,000 undergraduates are enrolled at least partly in online courses and community colleges such as Indianas Ivy Tech. About half of Ivy Techs nearly 70,000 students typically take online courses. When the college went completely online after spring break, about 80 percent of students and instructors in face-to-face classes transitioned to an existing online class or began using online content developed by systemwide curriculum groups, said the provost, Kara Monroe. Faculty members who did not convert their courses were given training in how to continue their classes through Zoom and Canvas. Obviously we do have an incredibly strong foundation, Dr. Monroe said. All of those tools are already in our toolbox. Concern that schools fall semesters could start remotely has some prospective students looking into online access. In a survey of 573 high school seniors by the market research firm SimpsonScarborough, 47 percent of undecided students said the coronavirus pandemic might cause them to rethink their top choice of school. The top two ways these seniors said they would make their decisions were to observe colleges online classes and make virtual campus visits. Local and provincial governments in Canada have said very little so far about their plans for easing COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions but they are having closed-door discussions about how to best move forward. Ontario Premier Doug Ford has promised to release a draft of the provinces life after lockdown plan later this week, acknowledging the province is likely to be behind at least some others (British Columbia, for one, is expected to lift its regulations earlier on). And while senior Toronto politicians and health officials are showing optimisim the citys coronavirus curve is starting to flatten, Mayor John Tory has also declined to pick a date to return to business as usual. Some countries, however, are well ahead of Canada, having spent, on average, about month under strict quarantine rules that varied based on location. The impact and onset of COVID-19 also varied across those geographies. This graphic shows how countries had been affected by the virus through April 21 and how that matches with the first day restrictions were lifted. And as they start down the long delicate road of reopening, public health officials around the globe have urged there will be much discussion about how much is enough, how little is too much and, overall, how to balance the dynamics of public health, economy and public trust. Heres a look at the strategies employed by a handful of countries that have decided its time to starting thinking about a post-pandemic world in the midst of a health crisis that continues to threaten the globe. The curfew would now start one hour later at 9pm each evening Egypts nationwide curfew will be shortened by one hour to begin at 9pm each day, the prime minister said on Thursday. The curfew, part of a slate of measures imposed to counter the spread of the coronavirus, will run from 9pm to 6am during Ramadan, which starts on Friday, said Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly. The move is aimed at reducing overcrowding in the hours before the curfew begins, he said. The curfew was introduced in March; initially, it began at 7pm, but it was subsequently moved back to 8pm. Madbouly also said that the government will slowly take steps to help return life to normal after the Eid Al-Fitr religious holiday, which marks the end of the holy month. He cited efforts by countries around the world to gradually re-open their economies, due to major losses and increasing unemployment caused by the shutdowns. The government is also considering resuming domestic tourism, a sector which employs millions of Egyptians, he said. Shops and malls will be allowed to open during the weekend until 5pm, to allow citizens more time to buy necessities, he said. Previously, they were only permitted to open on weekdays. Restaurants will be allowed to run delivery and takeout services throughout the week. The Islamic world is set to see a Ramadan like never seen before this year as restrictions to contain the pandemic are expected to take a toll on the cherished rituals of Islams holiest month. Egypt has banned all public religious gatherings during Ramadan including public iftars fast-breaking meals and the communal Taraweeh prayers. The ban will also include the itikaf ritual in which believers seclude themselves in mosques for an extended period. A decision to slash the number of state employees going to work will be extended for two more weeks to lower the risk of virus transmission, the prime minister also said. Some of the government services suspended by the state will resume as of next week, including licensing new vehicles and limited official registration services. Courts will only be allowed to hold inheritance hearings. Egypt has so far recorded 3,659 confirmed coronavirus cases, including 276 fatalities. The prime minister said the number of infections is expected to rise, but assured the public that the government is able to contain the virus. Numbers are very likely to increase and surpass 200 [a day], but so long as they are in line with expectations we will still be capable of dealing with the issue, which remains under control. If the rate of infections surges significantly and becomes out of control, the government will take immediate measures that will be harsher than those currently in place, he said. On Wednesday, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi urged Egyptians to follow public health policies during the holy month. Please be alert with us and help us more with the culture of distancing, disinfection and keeping away from gatherings, he said. Madbouly stressed that the government seeks to keep work going in important sectors like construction and industry, while making sure that health measures are applied. Experts argue that the coronavirus will continue to exist in societies through the upcoming period, and the world should therefore find a way to live with the pandemic until there is a treatment or a vaccine. Madbouly urged citizens to continue to consider restrictive measures and social distancing an integral part of their lives, even if life goes back to normal, as long as the pandemic continues. He said coronavirus patients who have responded to treatment or show no symptoms are now kept at hotels, university hostels and other facilities to alleviate the burden on health care workers at hospitals and give priority to patients in medium or critical condition. The dates of the final exams of high school, technical diplomas and university will be announced in the second half of Ramadan, he added. Search Keywords: Short link: A rescued Rohingya waits outside the Bangladesh-Myanmar transit center in Teknaf, in southeastern Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar district, before boarding a truck to be taken to a refugee camp, April 16, 2020. Fishing boats carrying hundreds of Rohingya refugees were spotted off southeastern Bangladesh and sailing toward its coast, a local border-police commander said Wednesday, as Amnesty International called on the South Asian nation to take them in. Fishermen told Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB) and coast guard authorities that they saw two trawlers filled with Rohingya south of Teknaf, a sub-district of Coxs Bazar, which sits on Bangladeshs border with Myanmar. Trawlers carrying Rohingya are coming toward Bangladesh. Patrols at the border and along the coast have been stepped up after receiving the reports, Lt. Col. Mohammad Faisal Hassan Khan, commander of the BGBs Teknaf-2 Battalion, told BenarNews. Locals have been asked to be vigilant so no new Rohingya can enter. Earlier in the day, global rights watchdog Amnesty International urged Bangladesh to allow the approximately 500 Rohingya on the boats to come ashore. In a statement, AI said the two trawlers were turned away from Malaysia over concerns about the coronavirus. In contrast to the cruel indifference demonstrated by other governments, who have actively pushed away boats, Bangladesh has maintained its positive record of giving sanctuary to people who have lost their homes and suffered horrific crimes, said Biraj Patnaik, the groups South Asia director. We hope that Bangladesh will continue to welcome Rohingya refugees in these difficult times. The international community has an obligation to help the Bangladeshi authorities in this task, including in supporting efforts to set up quarantine centers and provide refugees the immediate medical assistance they require to recover from the journey and to protect them against the spread of the COVID-19 virus, he added. Despite the reports from fishermen, the commander in charge of Teknafs coast guard station said no trawlers had been located. Some people have said that they can see it near Shahpari Island, Lt. Cmdr. M. Sohel Rana told BenarNews, referring to an island on the southern tip of Teknaf. Bangladesh Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner Mahbub Alam Talukder also said he did not know about the trawlers. My role is to ensure humanitarian assistance if anyone comes to Bangladesh or to our refugee camps. In the end, if anyone gets here, we will take care of them, he told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. Asif Munir, an immigration and refugee affairs analyst, blamed an international human trafficking group for the plight of the refugees. Not being able to identify or eradicate them is not a failure of any single country, it is a failure of the international policing forces, including Interpol, he told BenarNews. Human trafficking is a multinational problem that requires combined and long-term action. Hundreds rescued The report about the sighting of the boats came a week after Bangladesh authorities on April 15 rescued nearly 400 Rohingya, who told horror stories of being at sea on a fishing trawler for almost two months and being refused entry to Malaysia. They were starving. They were floating for 58 days and over the last seven days [the boat] was moving in our territorial waters, Sohel Rana, the coast guard commander, told BenarNews at the time. Survivors said dozens died and their bodies were thrown into the sea after the Namaz-e-Janaza [Muslim funeral prayer] was said. The next day, the Royal Malaysian Air Force announced it had stopped an attempt by another trawler carrying about 200 Rohingya to enter the country. It said air force spotters notified the navy, which sent ships to escort the trawler from Malaysian waters but not before delivering food on a humanitarian basis. Previously, Malaysian officials said they arrested 202 Rohingya on April 5 after their boat was found adrift near the northern island of Langkawi, according to media reports. The refugees were turned over to the immigration department. On March 31, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) intercepted a boat carrying nearly five dozen Rohingya near the same island. MMEA officials at that time said the Rohingya were to be handed over to the state immigration department because they were found within Malaysian waters and without valid documents. They also said they were showing leniency on the principle of humanity. AI said nations should not use the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretext for governments to abandon their efforts toward refugees. All countries in the region have a responsibility to ensure the seas do not become graveyards for people seeking safety. Bangladesh cannot be left to address this situation alone, AIs Patnaik said. The fact that it is upholding its own obligations is not an excuse for others to abandon theirs. Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. By Alayna DeMaritni COLUMBUS Viruses have been increasingly shifting from animals to people, a recent trend that has researchers at The Ohio State University closely studying a pig virus that can survive in human cells. Spillover events The rise in viruses jumping to other species, so-called spillover events, is spurred by people, particularly in the developing world, cultivating land that was once isolated forests. In clearing those areas, people are exposing themselves to the viruses of wild animals that once lived secluded in those forests, said Scott Kenney, an assistant professor of veterinary preventative medicine at the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES). Kenneys research focuses on viruses that spread between animals and people. Exotic live animal markets are another place where animals, some of them infected with viruses, mingle with people who are handling them or eating around them. Someone in that marketplace might touch the waste, spit or blood of a live animal and then consume the virus by not washing their hands before eating or simply by touching their face. The pathogen can then multiply inside the new host, overcoming the persons immune response. Once in the infected person, the virus can then change to become transmittable from person to person. One of many COVID-19 is but one of many diseases in recent years that started in animals before it shifted to people. Before the novel coronavirus that has triggered a world pandemic, Ebola possibly coming from bats or primates in Africa transferred to people, now killing 70% or more of the people it sickens. Other examples include severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), both coronaviruses that likely started in bats. The SARS coronavirus moved into a small Asian mammal called the palm civet, the MERS coronavirus moved into camels, and then both made the jump into people. SARS kills about 10% of the people it infects; MERS, about 30%. Every year, another familiar virus spills over from animals to people: the common flu. Arriving in migratory birds that fly from Asia, the flu virus is spread among birds, including chickens, and among mammals, including pigs and humans. Coronaviruses are particularly adept at jumping species because, unlike many other viruses, they can recombine and change quickly, adapting to be able to overcome the natural barriers to moving into a different species. One coronavirus, the porcine deltacoronavirus, is especially concerning to Kenney and other researchers at CFAES, which is why they are closely watching the progression of the virus. So far found only in pigs, the porcine deltacoronavirus has the potential to shift to humans, Kenney said. First identified in 2012 in Chinese pigs, the virus later caused an outbreak of diarrhea in Iowa, Illinois and Ohio pigs, killing some of them. In 2018, Kenney, along with colleagues from CFAES and the Netherlands, showed that the porcine deltacoronavirus can bind to and enter human cells. Researchers have yet to determine if a pig infected with the deltacoronavirus has sickened other animals, such as chickens, or has passed it on to humans. Similar pig coronaviruses known about since the 1940s have not triggered diseases in people. Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi exchanged seasonal greetings on Thursday with the leaders of a number of Arab countries ahead of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. El-Sisi exchanged greetings with Tunisian President Kais Saied, the Sudanese Transitional Military Council Chairman Abdel Fattah El-Burhan, Iraqi President Barham Salih, King Abdullah of Jordan and King Salman of Saudi Arabia. The president congratulated the other leaders on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan, and wished their countries prosperity, progress and stability. Ramadan will start in Egypt on Friday. Observant Muslims are required to fast from dawn to dusk during the holy month. A number of normal Ramadan practices, including communal mosque prayers, will not take place this year due to the coronavirus. Egyptian authorities have also instituted a nationwide curfew, which will begin at 9pm during the holy month. Search Keywords: Short link: Maybe you are like me - the coronavirus has consumed my attention since this crisis exploded six weeks ago. And maybe due to that, youve missed some of the other things happening across Michigan that arent directly linked to COVID-19. Consider this the in case you missed it edition of my column. Because before and during the coronavirus crisis, MLive has had reporters working on other topics - many of which impact you and your family. Let me recap some of the best of that work since the beginning of 2020: Great Lakes water levels Theres simply too much water. With that sentence, MLive environmental reporter Garret Ellison captured a slow-motion ecological force record high-water levels across all five Great Lakes that is eroding shorelines, destroying homes, and impacting communities and commerce to the tune of tens of millions of dollars. Ellisons report had experts agreeing: The culprit, largely, is climate change. While that may be open to conjecture among average people in social media channels, it is accepted in the scientific community. There is very little scientific doubt that we are seeing a strong response to our increasing temperatures, said Richard B. Rood, a professor in U-Ms Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering. The authoritative package was shared on social media by advocacy groups and policymakers alike, including Liesl Eichler Clark, director of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and has been used as teaching material by educators via Google Classroom. Mental health struggles, in their own words MLive is in the middle of a year-long project on the serious failings in Michigans approach to dealing with mental illness and mental health care. Weve documented that one in five Michiganders is suffering from some mental health issue at any given time, and that it takes on average 19 calls to find an open care bed. Our next phase of the project was extremely powerful: The human toll that mental health issues cause, in the words of those affected. We asked for essays, and ended up publishing 40 from people willing to come out of the shadows and talk about their experiences to help shed the stigma and educate us all. State Rep. Mary Whiteford and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell were among those who wrote essays; Washtenaw and Muskegon county health departments, which have been working on mental health advocacy, also shared and participated. Dale Robertson, a Grand Rapids man featured in the project, shared my thanks and appreciation for MLive taking on the entire project and doing it in a way that made it personal so that readers could truly connect. Changing skyline in downtown Ann Arbor Quirky and quaint, Ann Arbor is known for its unique and varied downtown and nearby neighborhoods. All that is changing as city leaders embrace development proposals that include high-rises. Project reporter Ryan Stanton calls it perhaps the most debated and divisive issue in Ann Arbor politics: new development and the densification of the city. The series of stories showed the most comprehensive and contextual look yet at the issue: 1960s-era retrospective photos; data-driven reporting; interviews with residents who affected; an interactive map; and before-and-after slider views. The series surely helped everyone who cares about these issues to put the bigger picture into focus and offered food for thought as the city further considers zoning and development matters, Stanton said. Ex-offenders struggle with housing Journalism looks at issues across the whole spectrum of society, and that includes the most vulnerable, regardless of circumstances. In Grand Rapids, one group that is struggling is ex-offenders, whose path to rehabilitation is often blocked by an inability to find housing once they are released. Its an issue in many communities, but Grand Rapids housing market is hot, and higher prices make it tougher for recently released felons. Cheyna Roths reporting uncovered the hardship has become so extreme for those getting out of prison that its hindering them from turning their lives around, said Eric Gaertner, the editor on the project. These ex-offenders who are unable to fully integrate back into society are more likely to fall back into old habits, and possibly commit new crimes. Thats when we knew we had a story that would be important to the entire community. Kayla Rolland, 20 years later As a society, we sadly have become numb to gun violence at schools. But sadder still is that 20 years after a shooting that shocked America to its core, there has been little movement to solve the crisis. That is a key takeaway in reporter Ron Fongers somber, thorough revisiting of the shooting death of 6-year-old Kayla Rolland at the hands of a 6-year-old classmate. There has not been much progress in Michigan, said Linda Brundage, executive director of the Michigan Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, which is pushing for laws that would create new criminal penalties for failing to store a firearm resulting in injury or death. If a child has a gun, they got it from an adult, she said. If youre not using (a gun), it should be locked up (because) most guns that (end up in) schools are obtained from the home. Fongers reporting shares two characteristics with all the work I shared today how elusive progress can be, regardless of the cost of an issue; and, how its incumbent on professional journalists to keep shining the light on problems, and to seek solutions. We havent taken our eye off that responsibility, even as we respond to a different kind of crisis. John Hiner is the vice president of content for MLive Media Group. If you have questions youd like him to answer, or topics to explore, share your thoughts at editor@mlive.com. As the Great Lakes surge to record levels, shoreline areas face a time of reckoning Finding their voices: Michigan residents confront mental health Ann Arbors small-town look fading as downtown reaches for the sky Ex-offenders struggle to find housing in Grand Rapids hot market 10 years after Kayla Rolland: The fatal first-grade shooting that sparked a national debate Australia will keep its borders closed to foreign visitors for at least three more months to prevent the introduction of coronavirus cases into the country. The international situation at the moment is such that any relaxation of border measures would be very risky, Australias chief medical officerA Brendan Murphy told a government inquiry on the countrys handling of the pandemic. Murphy said border restrictions could be the last mitigation measure to be lifted, and would remain in place even if Australia succeeds in reopening businesses and relaxing social-distancing rules. Australia has seen an infection growth rate of less than 1 percent for the past 11 days, and as of Thursday had recorded about 6,500 cases with 67 deaths. The government on Tuesday said its lockdown measures, in which public gatherings are mostly limited to two people and various businesses have been closed, have led to a sustained and consolidated decrease in the number of new coronavirus cases. Various nations around the world have implemented restrictions on entry of foreign visitors, including the U.S. The Trump administration has halted non-essential travel across its borders with Canada and Mexico, and has banned foreign citizens from entering the U.S. from E.U. nations and China. President Trump also signed an executive order on Wednesday halting certain types of immigration to the U.S. for 60 days. More from National Review WSU Names 2020 Brady Distinguished Professors April 23, 2020 OGDEN, Utah Two Weber State University professors, acclaimed for contributions to their disciplines of history and zoology and who share a passion for conservation, have been named Weber State Universitys 2020 Brady Presidential Distinguished Professors. Sara Dant, professor and chair of the history department, and zoology professor Christopher Hoagstrom, will be honored at this years graduation event, which is now scheduled for Aug. 29. The honor was established in 2006 to recognize WSU faculty members who have demonstrated the highest quality teaching, scholarship, research and community service. A generous gift from Rodney and Carolyn Mitzi Brady made recognition funding possible. The late Rodney Brady served as WSU president from 1978 to 1985. Sara Dant History professor Sara Dant is an author and presenter whose work focuses on environmental politics in the United States with an emphasis on the creation and development of consensus and bipartisanism. She began her career at Weber State in 2001 after earning her masters and doctoral degrees in American studies and history respectively at Washington State University, where she was recognized as an outstanding scholar and teacher. Dant has published dozens of articles, book chapters and reviews. Her most recent book, Losing Eden: An Environmental History of the American West, dissects the interaction between people and nature over time. The work, which was well reviewed in scholarly journals and popular periodicals, led to numerous podcasts, public radio interviews, invited lectures and book signings. Dant has also authored several prize-winning articles on western environmental politics and published two chapters on Utah history: The Lion of the Lord and the Land: Brigham Young's Environmental Ethic (2019) and Going with the Flow: Navigating to Stream Access Consensus (2014). She co-authored the two-volume Encyclopedia of American National Parks (2004). Dant has served as an expert witness in two environmental law cases in Utah. One of the cases involved public access on the Weber River. Dant had the task of documenting historical evidence of commercial use of the river research that determined jurisdiction over and access to the waterways. Ultimately, her research and testimony were so compelling, the district court decided in favor of public access, a decision later upheld by the Utah Supreme Court. A popular teacher, Dants lectures combine wit and scholarship that students say give them a new appreciation of history. I firmly believe people care about what they know, which makes history as relevant today as ever, Dant said. My students know my favorite question is, At what cost? Who or what pays the price for the decisions we've made in the past and how does that play out over time? To me, its a terrific shorthand for getting at the essence of history the study of change over time and thinking deeply about how we secure a sustainable future in which both humans and nature can thrive and endure. Dant was selected as the 2019-20 John S. Hinckley Fellow at Weber State for excellence in scholarship, teaching and service and has twice received the universitys Faculty Sustainability Research Award (2015, 2017). Chris Hoagstrom Zoology professor Christopher Hoagstrom, has spent a lifetime researching and writing about freshwater fish and the rivers in which they reside. He wants students to understand connections between everyday life and conservation and how both fish and humans depend equally on an adequate, clean water supply. People are ultimately in the same puddle as the fish we affect, Hoagstrom explains. As more and more water is used and polluted, we are remiss to take this resource for granted. Thus, efforts to conserve freshwater fish not only seek to preserve our natural resources but also make us more aware of and more knowledgeable about issues with our own water supply. Hoagstrom, who earned his doctoral degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences from South Dakota State University in 2006, joined WSUs zoology faculty the same year, serving as department chair from 2012 to 2019. He has overseen teams of undergraduate students conducting multi-year field research in northern Utah. In 2016, Utahs Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) enlisted Hoagstroms assistance with a problem at their community fisheries. Trout stocked into the ponds are easy targets for fish-eating birds, especially the voracious double-crested cormorant. Hoagstrom and a revolving group of undergraduate research students have made extensive observations of the birds at the ponds and have provided recommendations to assist UDWR in mitigating the problem without harming either fish or birds. Hoagstrom and his students have also done an extensive sampling of trout populations in the canyon streams of the northern Wasatch Front in cooperation with UDWR. Their documentation of troutless streams helped facilitate several reintroductions of native Bonneville cutthroat trout. Hoagstroms students have since monitored the success of reestablished populations. Hoagstrom was a WSU 2012 Gwen S. Williams Prize honoree for extraordinary work by faculty. In 2019, he was presented the Office of Undergraduate Research College of Science Outstanding Mentor Award. I do my best to help students connect fundamental concepts with applied subjects and problems, Hoagstrom said. Because it's exciting to understand complex topics with real-world relevance, I try to give students that experience. Hoagstrom has served in leadership roles for both the Desert Fishes Council and the Ogden Nature Center. In addition to more than 20-peer reviewed articles, he co-edited a multi-authored volume to be published by the University of Chicago Press this year, "Standing Between Life and Extinction, Ethics and Ecology of Conserving Aquatic Species in North American Deserts." For photos, visit the following link: wsuucomm.smugmug.com/Press-Release-Photos/2020-photos/2020-Distinguished-Professors/ Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University. JACKSON, MI Dan Huntoon slept in a sleeping bag on a concrete floor to monitor the temperature of his barbecuing meat all night long. That was back in 1985, at the start of Huntoons West Texas BBQ. He had built his own cooker and was selling the meat at the corner of Francis and Prospect streets from a truck, his sister Danette Flamm said. I can remember when the cooker was finished, and we tested it and it worked, lifelong friend Butch Colvin said. We hooked the cooker up to the pickup truck and Dan got on the cooker and we drove around the back lot down there and he had his hat waving around. He looked like Slim Pickens out of that one movie. That was the start. Huntoon died April 16, at age 63, just two days short of his next birthday. He had spent two weeks at Henry Ford Allegiance Health with respiratory issues. He tested negative for COVID-19, Colvin said. His current West Texas BBQ restaurant, 2190 Brooklyn Road, opened in 1991 and will not close. It remains open for takeout during the stay home order, aimed at preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus, and will reopen for dine-in service when able, Colvin said. Michigans Best BBQ: Reaction to West Texas BBQ being named best in Michigan Huntoon and Colvin were friends for 48 years, he said. I would say my best memory of him is just the length and strength of our friendship throughout the decades, Colvin said. He traveled with me. We worked together. Theres adventures that I cannot tell you, that should not go in the newspaper or anywhere else decent people gather, but thats what makes it. They met when Colvin, an Oklahoma native, was selling Bibles door-to-door. The cowboy boots, hat and belt were out of place in Jackson, but the friendship took off from there. Dan brought the same traits to the barbecue joint as he did to his friends, Colvin said. Dedication, loyalty and a demand for the barbecue joint perfection, and understanding that his friends had imperfection. Dan was always there to help. Huntoon and Flamm were born and raised in Jackson County. They attended Vandercook Lake Public Schools, and no matter where Huntoon traveled, he always came back home, Flamm said. When I would come home to visit, and I live in Arizona, he would open his heart and his arms, Flamm said. "He would always make sure I had everything I wanted and needed. His generosity was way big as his integrity. Huntoon started cooking when he was young, including a big dinner at around age 14 for Flamm and all her friends when she graduated from high school. Dan Huntoon, the owner of the West Texas Barbeque Co., in 1995.JACKSON CITIZEN PATRIOT Huntoon spent about a year and a half in Texas, learning the barbecue style there, he said in an interview in October 2018 with John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman of MLives Michigans Best. He came home and perfected it, Flamm said. "He made my mamas macaroni and cheese. He tweaked it just a little bit and made it his own. It was fabulous. Huntoon also traveled to Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arizona, to learn more barbecue techniques. I used to buy every barbecue book I could find, Huntoon told Gonzalez and Sherman. Ive still got VHS videos that I bought about barbecue. They were hard to come by, hard to find. Then I traveled a lot. West Texas BBQ won MLives Best BBQ in 2012 and made the Top 10 in 2018. These are the 10 best BBQ restaurants in Michigan He was one of a kind, no doubt about that," Colvin said. "You hear that about a lot of people, but its true in this case. Huntoons demand for perfection still influences Cornell Sample more than 15 years after working with him. Sample was required to stack the wood in a straight line when he started at West Texas BBQ. If it wasnt straight, Huntoon would knock it over and make him start again. Everything I know about barbecue came from Dan, Sample said. He had a way he wanted it done and if it wasnt done that way, dont do it at all. After a year, Huntoon told Sample he had learned everything he could, and it was time for Sample to start out on his own. Sample now owns Mr. Pit Master Barbeque in Romulus. He was just good people, Sample said. Flamm was able to get home to Jackson to say goodbye. I was able to get here and be with him right until the very end, she said. A memorial service for Huntoon will be scheduled after the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions are lifted. He is also survived by his father, Howard Huntoon. I can over the span of four careers count on one hand the number of people I would trust with my back," Colvin said. Dan Huntoon was the No. 1. Its a void that just wont be filled. READ MORE JACKSON NEWS: Art, Beer, Wine Festival at Ella Sharp Park rescheduled due to coronavirus Furloughs coming for 100 Jackson County employees due to coronavirus pandemic Jackson County wont tell businesses to reopen early, but formally blasts Whitmers stay-at-home order Former state rep returning as Jackson County commissioner CANTON, Ohio, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- TimkenSteel Corp. (NYSE: TMST) will release its 2020 first-quarter financial results on Thursday, May 7, after the market closes on the New York Stock Exchange. The company will host a conference call at 9 a.m. ET on Friday, May 8 to discuss its financial performance with investors and securities analysts. The financial results will be available online at investors.timkensteel.com. TimkenSteel earnings call information: Conference call Friday, May 8, 2020 9 a.m. ET Toll-free dial-in: 833-238-7951 International dial-in: 647-689-4199 Conference ID: 6597933 Conference call replay Replay dial-in available through May 15, 2020 800-585-8367 or 416-621-4642 Replay passcode: 6597933 About TimkenSteel Corporation TimkenSteel (NYSE: TMST) manufactures high-performance carbon and alloy steel products in Canton, OH serving demanding applications in automotive, energy and a variety of industrial end markets. The company is a premier U.S. producer of alloy steel bars (up to 16 inches in diameter), seamless mechanical tubing and precision components. In the business of making high-quality steel primarily from recycled materials for more than 100 years, TimkenSteel's proven expertise contributes to the performance of our customers' products. The company employs approximately 2,500 people and had sales of $1.2 billion in 2019. For more information, please visit us at www.timkensteel.com . SOURCE TimkenSteel Corp. Related Links http://www.timkensteel.com Before embarking on this new era of voting because of COVID-19, we must initiate procedures to ensure citizens have a safe way to vote. And one way to protect our voting constituency is through mail-in ballots. This will lessen the threat of massive COVID-19 infection. Unfortunately, partisan fears are being stirred up by those perpetuating a false narrative that mail-in balloting will increase voter fraud, which is simply not true. No proof exists that voting through mail-in ballots favors Democrats. Safeguards can be put in place. One suggestion is making it a criminal offense for any person to tamper with a ballot or even help someone fill out a ballot form. I truly believe no person wakes up in the morning, and says, Im going to commit voter fraud today. I base my assumption on the Latin phrase cui bono? meaning, to whom is it a benefit? And those who imply that mail-in ballots would encourage voter fraud are merely throwing a red herring to distract us. There is no proof someone would commit voter fraud, and if it were to occur, the result would be miniscule at best. How do I know voting by mail works? Because it is nothing new. The military has been doing it for decades. During the 1860s, almost 150,000 of the approximate 1 million Union soldiers voted absentee by mail. At the time, the Democratic Party (not the Democratic Party of today) was staunchly against it, using the same red herring arguments of today. Currently five states Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Utah and Washington vote by mail elections. Ballots are sent to every registered voter without them having to request one. Other states, such as Arizona and California, allow registered voters to request being added to the vote-by-mail permanent list. Nebraska allows counties of less than 10,000 people to send vote-by-mail ballots to all voters (many of them Republicans) but prohibits it in large urban areas (where the majority of Democrats live). In fact, voting by mail makes some Democrats nervous. Studies conducted by Amelia Showalter, director of digital analytics for President Barack Obamas 2012 campaign, found that black and Latino voters, two key groups in the partys base, are less likely to embrace voting by mail than white voters. Brian Dunn, an Obama campaign alumnus, has said, There is justified concern that Democratic-leaning voters may be disadvantaged through vote-by-mail systems, which encourages voters to sign up to receive mail-in ballots in states that allow it. In addition, political science professor Charles Stewart III of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology argues that the evidence on which party benefits has been inconclusive, citing numbers from the 2016 North Carolina election showing Republicans were more likely to vote by mail than Democrats. Texas already allows no-excuse absentee voting for people 65 or older another group that skews the count for Republicans. We are already halfway there. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and reasonable fears of infection from our constituency, not implementing universal vote by mail would be tantamount to outright voter suppression. Our citizens deserve to vote in a safe and secure manner, and we, as duly elected representatives in the state Legislature, should do our best to make it happen. I believe Gov. Greg Abbott should convene a special session to address this issue. And, of course, we have a legislative responsibility to come up with a secure and fair solution to safeguard against voting fraud. But lets not allow false narratives of potential voter fraud be an excuse to not move forward. Leo Pacheco is the state representative for District 118, and former adjunct professor of public policy and public administration for the University of Texas at San Antonio and San Antonio College. State and Federal Elected Fight For COVID-19 Funds for Black Community As the country faces unprecedented health and economic crises, Black state and federal elected officials are making sure that issues important to African Americans are addressed in the battle against COVID-19. In a briefing with African American media on April 16, Karen Brown Wilson, executive director of California Black Media, brought together U.S. Congresswomen Karen Bass and Barbara Lee, Assemblymember Shirley Weber and Board of Equalization member Malia Cohen to outline the societal and budgetary concerns that they are advocating for on both the state and federal level. Bass (D- Los Angeles), who chairs the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), also serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs where, she chairs the subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations. Lee, the only African American woman in Democratic leadership, serves as co-chair of the Policy and Steering Committee. In this capacity, she works to ensure that committees reflect the diversity and integrity of the Democratic Caucus. Weber (D- San Diego) chairs the California Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Public Safety. She is also a member of the Assembly Standing Committees on Education, Higher Education, Elections, Budget, and Banking and Finance. Cohen, who was elected in 2018, is the first African-American woman to serve on the BOE. Previously, she served from 2010-to-2014 on the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco. ADVERTISEMENT The powerful officials covered a range of issues impacting Blacks as a result of COVID-19, such as the disproportionate number of deaths, the lack of testing among African Americans, and delays in funding to assist minority-owned businesses. We have a list of demands that were fighting for, insisted Bass, who noted that some media are advancing the position that the underlying health issues and refusal to follow health protocols have led to a higher incidence of COVID cases in the Black community. But they did not say that the reason White young people are getting COVID is because they were vacationing in Florida, responded Bass. We are recommending to reject both of those lines of argument and to focus on comprehensive testing in areas, where there are large Black populations. Were also calling for the essential workforce to have its protection because we know that is one of the reasons why the death rate is so high amongst African Americans is, because were the ones on the front lines delivering the mail, at your grocery store, etc. and were demanding data from the Center for Disease and Control and it should be given directly to community-based organizations to provide the public education that we need, she said. Bass urged people not to devote time to conspiracy theories about why Blacks are impacted by COVID-19 at rate that is nearly double their population. Instead, she recommended that such distractions be avoided and the concentration must remain on testing, testing, testing, and also making sure that people get the health care that they need. Further emphasizing the importance of testing, Lee said that the CBC has established a Health Brain Trust focused on health strategies like mobile testing units that community-based organizations can utilize to deliver health care services. We need comprehensive testing with rapid results so we can make sure that the virus is not transmitted in disproportionate rates as it is now, Lee said. We introduced bills to mandate that the Department of Health and Human Services disclose race-specific data of the victims of this pandemic. ADVERTISEMENT We need this data to stop the rapid transmission of this virus and the unfortunate deaths that are occurring. On a statewide level, Weber announced that the California Black Caucus is meeting regularly with Governor Gavin Newsom and his staff to outline the specific outcomes for the Black community that impact economic, educational and health care recovery. The goal, she said, is to match resources with the programming and budget allocated to aid African Americans. Another area of importance is assistance to minority-owned businesses and educational resources for Black children to ensure that youth are not negatively affected by lack of instruction. The Black Caucus is collaborating with Black Chambers of Commerce and educational nonprofits to hold forums on these topics to educate the community. Wed like an inspector general to make sure that there is oversight as to how many African Americans not just people of color, but African Americans are actually getting the support thats essential in terms of rescuing their businesses and doing a better job, said Weber. Were also focusing on education because clearly thats going to be a major challenge. Our schools, up and down the state, have no consistent program of expectations or outcomes expected. Kids will have lost six weeks of instruction prior to the school closure that begins at the end of April. We are asking for a different kind of educational structure for the summer months and into the fall that could include freedom schools to make sure that the achievement gap is not permanent, Weber added. Cohen shared that California has extended the filing deadline to July 31 for small businesses with $1 million or less in sales. Also, she urged businesses, nonprofits and individuals struggling to pay property taxes to contact their county offices for assistance. This is important to Blacks because a lot of our wealth is tied to our property, along with churches, who have nonprofit arms. We need to have an elevated conversation about our finances and how we can protect them, Cohen said. The officials also outlined their efforts to assist the homeless in light of the pandemic. Lee explained that the CBC requested and received $4 billion in funding for homeless women, men and children in the first CARES package that Congress passed in March for coronavirus relief. An additional funding request is included in the legislation that is currently being debated. Homelessness has been a priority for the CDC for years and we are definitely focused on that. Its a pandemic upon a pandemic, said Lee. Connected to homelessness is the 2020 census, which Bass said that that demographic must be counted and the CBC has formed a Census Task Force to ensure that people complete and submit the census form. In California, we are projected to lose a congressional seat, but if we do a real strong count, that wont be the case. People need to understand the significance of the census for resources and representation, Bass said. Based on the response of the audience, the press briefing was well received and appreciated by the African American media. Wilson of the CBM said more briefings would be presented in the future. Want to add your business? If you would like to have your business included, this service is offered at no charge due to support from our sponsors. You can sign up at cognitoforms.com/Wehaa/BuyLocalGiftCardDirectory. Be sure to choose "Times-News" as your publication. Businesses can also apply for the Times-News Local Marketing Grant Program, which offers matching marketing funds to local businesses whose livelihood has been impacted by the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. Grants will range from $250 to $15,000 each month and will be awarded in April, May and June. Apply online at magicvalley.com/pages/local-marketing-grant.html. Louisville church drops lawsuit after mayor allows drive-in worship services Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment On Fire Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, has come to an agreement with city officials to end its lawsuit against an order that banned churches from holding drive-in worship services. Mayor Greg Fischer has agreed to allow churches to hold drive-in worship services so long as they abide by social distancing guidelines established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, according to attorneys representing the church. The agreement comes after On Fire Christian Church was granted a temporary restraining order against Fischers April directive temporarily prohibiting churches from holding in-person and drive-in worship services to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus. The church claimed that the directive violated its constitutional rights to assemble. We are grateful to Mayor Fischer and Louisville city officials who worked with us to ensure their policies are both consistent with the Constitution and the CDCs guidelines, Roger Byron, an attorney representing the church from the First Liberty Institute, said in a statement. During this challenging time, we need to see more of this kind of cooperation between government officials and the religious community. With stay-at-home orders in place statewide, the church had been hosting drive-in church services consistent with CDC guidelines in its parking lot for several weeks. During those services, cars were instructed to park six feet apart and congregants were asked to remain in their cars with the windows no more than half-open. On April 18, a federal judge granted On Fire Christian Church a temporary restraining order preventing the city from enforcing the mayors directive until the merits of the case were settled. The restraining order allowed the church to go through with its planned drive-in Easter service. On Tuesday, the churchs attorneys filed a motion with the federal court to enter an agreed order that would end the judicial proceedings. We are pleased that the mayor was willing to work together with our client to find a solution that protects religious liberty exercised in a responsible manner, Matthew Martens, another attorney representing the church from the law firm WilmerHale, said. Like everyone, On Fire Christian Church looks forward to the day when they can meet together in-person again without being restricted to their cars. In a statement Tuesday, Fischer thanked On Fire Christian Church and pastor Chuck Salvo for recognizing the need for social distancing to battle this deadly pandemic." "My goal all along has been to protect the citizens of Louisville Metro from this dreadful COVID-19 virus, and I believe this Agreed Order accomplishes that goal," Fischer said in a statement. In his temporary restraining order, Trump-appointee U.S. District Court Judge Justin Walker claimed that the mayor criminalized the communal celebration of Easter. Walker argued that Fischers directive was beyond all reason unconstitutional. In an interview with the Louisville Courier-Journal in response to the restraining order, Fischer claimed that his directive was only strongly suggesting that churches not hold drive-in or in-person worship services. Fischer said that he did not direct any law enforcement activity against churches holding services. "I regret that the judge did not allow us to present evidence that would have demonstrated there has been no legal enforcement mechanism communicated," Fischer said. While some churches across the nation have shifted worship services from the sanctuary to the parking lot in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, some churchgoers and pastors in Kentucky and other states have faced citations and fines for taking part in services deemed to be violations of state and local stay-at-home orders. Elsewhere in Louisville, a church that held a controversial in-person service for Easter filed a lawsuit against Gov. Andy Beshear, seeking a temporary restraining order against the governors order prohibiting mass gatherings. The lawsuit filed by Maryville Baptist Church claims that Kentucky State Police troopers recorded license plate numbers of vehicles attending Maryvilles Easter service and placed notices on vehicles about how attendees will have to self-quarantine. The churchs request for a restraining order was denied by a federal judge last Saturday. U.S. District Judge David Hale denied the motion on grounds that the governors order does not discriminate on the basis of religion since it bans all mass gatherings. Churches have filedlawsuits in other states, challenging bans on mass gatherings. In California, three churches sued in an attempt to block Gov. Gavin Newsoms stay-at-home order. In recent weeks, pastors in the state have received citations and could face fines of up to $1,000 for holding in-person services. Last week, the mayor of Greenville, Mississippi shifted course and allowed drive-in services after churches filed a lawsuit following the issuing of $500 tickets to parishioners who attended a Wednesday drive-in service at Temple Baptist Church. (Natural News) Sometime in June 2001, while browsing the Wall Street Journal, I stumbled upon an item on an inside page all the way at the bottom. It was no more than 75 words in a box. It covered a CIA security announcement concerning an increase in internet and cell phone traffic among suspected terrorists from suspect areas in the Arab world. I canceled a Fourth of July trip downtown because of it. (Article by William L. Gensert republished from AmericanThinker.com) I assumed that if an attack was coming, it would be on Americas premium self-celebratory holiday, the Fourth of July. When nothing happened, I took off my tinfoil hat, ascribing my worries to my suspicion of Islam suspicions I had carefully curated from prior events such as the first World Trade Center attack, the Cole, the embassy bombings, and the killing of Americans soldiers in the 1983 bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut. It has become accepted knowledge that Americas intelligence agencies missed 9/11 warning signs but thats not entirely true. Signs were seen, but they impelled no action. We were so convinced that the fall of the Soviet Union as the end of history precluded any need for urgency. Yet, even if there had been, no one, at that point, knew how to react. I dont think I need to remind everyone of what happened on 09/11/2001. I share this vignette as a means of showing that there are always signs. We, for whatever reason, miss them, or we ignore them for political purposes, or we refuse to believe them because they contradict the core tenets of our belief system. I believe that Chinas actions today may be telegraphing an intent we are choosing to ignore. They show all the signs of a nation preparing to attack America. China seeks a bespoke world run by China with Chinese characteristics a dream that under Trump was drifting away. China appears to be laying the groundwork for a justified attack on the United States, perhaps in the South China Sea or perhaps elsewhere. It will be a military attack, not an act of terrorism, and the excuse will be Americas deliberate transmission of COVID-19 in Wuhan. When the Chinese became accusatory, its telling that they didnt blame the CIA, always the usual suspect. No, they blamed it on American soldiers. American military deliberately infecting China is an act of war worthy of a military response. In October, the 2019 World Military Games were held in Wuhan. Chinese media triumphantly trumpeted the Americans winning just eight medals, while China won 239. It was then that we supposedly infected Wuhan citizens with the American virus. China is now defenestrating foreign media, sending home reporters from the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Washington Post at just the opportune moment. No nation wants journalists around when it is planning a sneak attack. And with its economy ravaged by Trumps trade war and the virus shutdown, and now back at full production, while Americas economy is in total shutdown and in the grip of an active pandemic, there will never be a better time to attack. Here in America, the Democrats along with corporate media eagerly buy Chinas lies surrounding the nascence of the worldwide pandemic, the propaganda blaming America, the stories of Chinese benevolence, and the efficiency of Chinese methods in getting control of the virus at home. They are actively supporting Chinas version of the truth. China has every reason to believe they will continue to do so. Read more at: AmericanThinker.com Mangaluru, April 23 : With the sighting of the crescent moon in a clear summer sky on Thursday night, a leading local priest declared the month-long Ramadan fasting from Friday in coastal Karnataka. "As the crescent moon was sighted tonight (Thursday) over the coastal region, Qazi Twaka Ahmed Musliayar declared the start of the holy month of Ramadan, with fasting from Friday in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kodagu districts across the southern state's west coast," an official told IANS quoting the priest. In view of the extended lockdown in force since April 15 up to May 3, the Qazi advised all the devout Muslims to offer prayers (namaz) and break the fast in the evening at home and not in mosques or darghas (shrines) where congregations have been banned to ensure physical distancing and prevent the virus spread. In Kerala too, Ramadan begins on Friday. In the rest of Karnataka, Ramadan fasting will begin on Saturday after sighting of the moon on Friday night. As the sacred ninth month in the Islamic calendar, based on new moon's sighting, Ramadan begins 11 days early every year and its fasting (roza) is observed from dawn (fajar) to dusk (maghrib) and ends in the evening. Special night prayers (taraveeh) are also offered during the holy month. On April 16, the state Wakf board also advised all Muslims across the state to offer congregational prayers (salat) and break their fast (iftar) in the evening in their homes due to lockdown extension and ban on religious gatherings. The Wakf board chief executive has also directed the imams to announce in three languages (Urdu, Hindi and Kannada) four times a day through public address system that devotees should not to visit mosques for Ramadan sahri, fasting iftar and taraveeh prayers till May 3. Netflix recently released a very timely trailer of their new topical series, Coronavirus: Explained. The documentary will explore the 2020 health crisis that forever changed the world. COVID-19 is a respiratory illness that ravaged across the world in a few months since health officials first reported its existence in December 2019. To date, it has infected more than 2,6 million worldwide, with more cases expected to add to the tally in the coming months. Coronavirus, Explained will offer an in-depth view of the outbreak that caused people around the world to hit pause and hunker down. It also provides viewers an insight into the efforts of medical researchers and scientists to combat the devious virus. The limited series is expected to touch base with how the virus came into existence and how it might come to an end. Netflix's docuseries is a definite must-watch amid the ever-growing fear and panic of the pandemic of the century. Coronavirus, Explained will premiere on the streaming giant on April 26. Watch the haunting trailer below: In January, Netflix released a very chilling medical docuseries discussing previous pandemics that crippled the world and the economy. The series, aptly named as Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak, shines a spotlight on front-liners who fought deadly influenza cases. The streaming platform released the documentary back in January. While it initially failed to rack up viewers, the new isolation policies skyrocketed the series to become one of the most popular searches in the past month. Pandemic's first three episodes were filmed in 2019 before Chinese health officials reported the first novel coronavirus case. The events explained how viral outbreaks begin and how it's transmitted across nations. The docuseries mentions previous pandemics, including Ebola and the 1918 Spanish Flu, both of which are equally terrifying. Ebola 2014 - 2016 In 2014, several urban areas in West African countries suffered a lethal outbreak of the Ebola virus. The virus is a rare, severe illness known to attack a patient's immune system. It causes extreme fluid loss, internal and external bleeding. Ebola claims its victims within a week after initial symptoms, on average. The Ebola outbreak put local and global health care systems to the test. Many criticized the World Health Organization for its slow response to the outbreak. By the end of 2015, the virus claimed more than 11,300 people. Spanish Flu 1918 - 1920 The 1918 Spanish Flu is considered one of the worst influenza outbreak in the world's history. The flu affected both young and old, healthy, and not. The mortality rate also varied between different age groups, making it harder for health workers to treat patients at the time. More than 500 million people were infected in its two-year rampage. By the end of its spree, it killed 50 million people worldwide. Coronavirus Theory Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak starts with a very alarming theory: the world is due for a new and fast-moving lethal virus. The series, according to one of its executive producers, aimed to inform people of another dangerous pathogen before it emerged. It has a very inspiring and visually stunning narrative that introduces viewers to multiple heroes, such as health workers, scientists, and disaster experts. Pandemic will move its audience to tears as it features the dedication of front-liners---with dying and murdered. It highlights the overworked medical staff, the workers who rarely see their families, the researchers grinding hours looking for possible vaccines and cures. All of it shows that the cooperation between people from different walks of life can make significant advances in winning against a massive virus. Watch the trailer for Pandemic: How to Prevent an Outbreak below: Check out other COVID-19 news: Cash-strapped Pakistan has received an emergency loan of USD 1.39 billion from the IMF to boost its foreign exchange reserves in the wake of the further economic downturn due to the coronavirus crisis. The USD 1.39 billion loan is in addition to the USD 6 billion bailout package that Pakistan has signed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in July last year to stave off a balance of payment crisis. "SBP (State Bank of Pakistan) has received $1.39 billion under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) from the IMF," the central bank said in a tweet on Wednesday. Pakistan in March had requested the global money lender for a low-cost, fast-disbursing loan under its Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) to deal with the adverse economic impact of COVID-19. The RFI is used to provide financial assistance to IMF member countries facing an urgent balance of payments need without requiring them to put a full-fledged programme in place. According to a report in The Express Tribune, the USD 1,39 billion loan will push Pakistan's foreign currency reserves apparently to a one-month high above USD 12 billion. The IMF executive board approved the low-cost emergency loan last week to help Pakistan meet the urgent balance of the international payment needs in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent IMF statement. With the latest recovery of Rs 0.76 in the inter-bank market on Wednesday, the rupee has cumulatively regained Rs 7.53, or 4.5 per cent, in the past two weeks to a one-month high at Rs 160.36 to the US dollar, the SBP said in a statement. Earlier, the foreign currency reserves had dropped to a four-month low at USD 10.97 billion on April 10, 2020, according to the central bank's weekly update on Thursday last week. The reserves had partly depleted due to capital pullout worth around USD 2.69 billion by short-term foreign investors from Pakistan's debt market over the past five to six weeks. Many of them sold premature treasury bills and long-term Pakistan Investment Bonds in panic following the fast spread of the coronavirus across the world. Foreign debt repayments also consumed the foreign currency reserves in the past four months. Pakistan has also approached other multilateral donors for additional funds to fight the pandemic and its economic implications. The World Bank has earlier approved USD 1 billion and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) USD 1.5 billion for Pakistan to keep its economy afloat. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Jharkhand minister Anosh Ekka was on Thursday sentenced to 7 years' rigorous imprisonment and slapped with a fine of Rs 2 crore by a Ranchi court in connection with a money laundering case, officials said. The quantum of sentence was pronounced by special PMLA judge Anil Kumar Mishra, they said. Ekka was being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) case against former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda and others. He was convicted on March 21 by the same court in Jharkhand's capital Ranchi. "The court convicted Anosh Ekka for being guilty of offences of money laundering to the tune of Rs 20,31,77,852 as defined under Section 3 of the PMLA and punishable under Section 4 of the PMLA," the ED had said in a statement after his conviction. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Renault may turn to a teenager if Daniel Ricciardo leaves the team for 2021. Ricciardo, whose contract runs out this year, has been linked with a move to Ferrari and he also says one should "never say never" to a return to Red Bull. If the Australian does go, 18-year-old Christian Lundgaard appears to be first in line. The Dane is the most prominent Renault 'academy' driver, and he will be in Formula 2 this year. "Our goal in having him in the academy has always been to get him into Formula 1 with us," Mia Sharizman, boss of the academy, told BT newspaper. "For now he has to be in Formula 2 first to collect enough points for the super licence that you need to be in Formula 1," he added. "But we believe that with what we have seen from him in Formula 3 and Formula Renault, he will take that further step with us. We hope for that, but the final step into Formula 1 is also about having a really good season in Formula 2." (GMM) Dubai, April 23 : Amid the Indian government's travel restrictions, a pregnant Dubai-based Indian expat has decided to take her case to the Supreme Court, so that she can fly home for her delivery, a media report said. Athira Geetha Sreedharan, 27, from Kerala, filed a writ petition seeking help to return home following the suspension of flights to India as part of precautionary measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, said the Gulf News report. Sreedharan, who lives in Dubai with her husband Nithin Chandran, said she wanted to return home for the much-needed support following the birth of her first baby, due in the first week of July. However, owing to standard flight restrictions during pregnancy, she has submitted to the court that she can travel up till the first or second week of May. Speaking to Gulf News on Wednesday, the engineer-couple said the case was filed with the help of the youth wing of UAE-based expat organisation Incas, among a host of Indian community groups campaigning for the repatriation of stranded Indians here. Athira hoped her petition will also likely help other pregnant women who wish to fly home like her. UAE-based lawyer Devanand Mahadeva, however, said the decision to fly her home to India may not lie with the Supreme Court of India but with the government. "There is a limitation with the Supreme Court when it comes to such matters... Matters related to aviation and airports - all fall under the Union government. "So in effect, if there is an Indian citizen living abroad and wants to return home for personal reasons - the Supreme Court cannot get involved in that," Gulf News quoted Mahadeva as saying. However, Hyderali Thattathazhath, president of Incas Youth Wing, said the advocates arguing Athira's case are hopeful that the court will consider her plea on humanitarian grounds. US crude futures crashed on Monday with a glut of supply and lack of storage forcing pricing into the negative. The slump in demand for crude oil triggered by the coronavirus pandemic has led some in the United States to call for shipments from Saudi Arabia to be blocked. US Senator Ted Cruz told the Saudis to turn the tankers the hell around on Wednesday. About 40 million barrels of Saudi oil are on their way to the United States and due to arrive in the coming weeks, piling more pressure on markets already struggling to absorb a glut of stocks, according to shipping data and sources. Data shows 19 supertankers, each capable of carrying two million barrels of oil, were sailing to key US terminals, especially in the US Gulf. Three separate tankers, also chartered by Saudi Arabia, were currently anchored outside US Gulf ports. US crude futures crashed on Monday with the front-month May contract, which expired on Tuesday, settling at negative $37.63 a barrel. Amid the slump, traders have scrambled to get out of the contract to avoid taking delivery of barrels because of a lack of storage. The imminent arrival of the cargo comes at a time when the main US storage hub in Cushing, Oklahoma, the delivery point for West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude, a grade of crude oil used as a pricing benchmark in the country, is expected be full within weeks. President Donald Trump said on Monday he would look at possibly stopping Saudi shipments to the US. While last week Frank Fannon, the assistant secretary of state for energy resources, said tariffs were a possibility. In a tweet on Wednesday, Cruz, who represents Texas, was more direct. 20 tankersfilled w/ 40mm barrels of Saudi oilare headed to the US. This is SEVEN TIMES the typical monthly flow. At the same time, oil futures are plummeting & millions of US jobs in jeopardy. My message to the Saudis: TURN THE TANKERS THE HELL AROUND. https://t.co/gYoQzvHAEQ Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 21, 2020 Saudi Arabia exploring alternatives Shipping sources told Reuters news agency that Saudi Arabia tried to halt deliveries by seeking storage options for the cargo from tanker owners when the ships were chartered last month, but many pushed back citing booming rates and not wanting to tie up vessels. Two sources said Saudi Arabia was looking into whether it could re-route the tankers elsewhere if the US halts imports. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabias state oil company, Saudi Aramco, has said it is committed to its long-term contracts with customers with deliveries of crude shipments for April, May and June. Aramco also offers its larger customers with refineries in multiple regions of the world optionally to take their crude purchases from Aramco into the region, the company said in a statement. Changes in ship destinations are routine in the course of our business, particularly in a company of our scale. Oil traders active in European and Asian markets said there was expectation the Saudis would look to divert the cargo to other markets if a US ban was imposed, which would then put huge pressure on storage tanks in those two regions. Europe looks full, but surely if the Saudis offer it at really cheap levels, buyers would take it, a source with an international trading firm said. Some still have storage spaces or may agree to float it for some time. In an unprecedented decision, Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund has shut six of its open-ended debt funds, effective April 23. All these schemes followed the high-risk, high-return credit risk strategy. The fund house will now sell the underlying securities of all these funds over time and pay off their investors in a staggered manner. Due to the on-going novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, pandemic, liquidity in the bond market has dried up. Yields of debt securities have risen sharply and that has materially diminished the abilities of companies to service their debt. Mutual funds have also been getting a lot of redemption requests. We felt it best under these circumstances to wind up these funds and return the money to investors, Sanjay Sapre, President, Franklin Templeton India, said. To track all live updates from the coronavirus pandemic, click here These six schemes are:- Franklin India Low Duration Fund (FILDF),- Franklin India Dynamic Accrual Fund,- Franklin India Credit Risk Fund,- Franklin India Short Term Income Plan,- Franklin India Ultra Short Bond Fund, and - Franklin India Income Opportunities Fund (FIIOF). 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 Ever since the COVID-19 was declared a pandemic in early March, equity markets all over the world as well as in India and bond markets here have collapsed. Foreign investors sold equities and debt securities in Indian markets because back home, companies faced a liquidity crunch. The massive sell-off in debt markets led to a crash in prices and rise in yields. Further, as economies got impacted by the slowdown caused by novel coronavirus, bankers stopped lending, especially to companies with weaker credit ratings. The demand for debt scrips, especially lower-rated companies fell. This led to a crisis of confidence as investors stayed away from both equity as well as debt markets, leading to a drastic fall in volumes. There are apprehensions in the market that due to the slowdown, there could be more defaults. In uncertain and fearful times, investors become risk averse and stay away from low credit rated companies, long considered the playing ground for Templeton funds. Meanwhile, credit risk funds like the ones run by Templeton continued to see redemption. To meet redemptions, the fund house either dips into its cash reserves or sells its underlying scrips. For Templeton, Sapre said, even that wasnt enough. The extension of the lockdown has heightened redemption volumes and reduced inflows to unsustainable levels. The schemes even resorted to borrowings within permissible limits, in line with market practice to fund redemptions. But given the situation, we felt that it would not be prudent to leverage the schemes further, he explained. As the schemes have been wound up, investors in these schemes will not be able to withdraw their money, immediately or on their own. Instead, they will have to wait almost as long as the duration of the underlying scheme. For instance in Franklin India Low Duration Fund, the Macaulay duration as of March was 1.2 years. In simple words, it means the weighted average effective time period to get the cash flows back. Its investors will therefore have to wait around a year and 73 days to get all their money back from this scheme. Similarly, Franklin India Income Opportunities Funds Macaulay duration as of March-end was 3.22 years. This means that FIIOFs investors will have to wait for close to three years and 80 days to get all their money back. Since investors in some of these funds had invested for the long term, it shouldnt matter if they have to wait to get their entire proceeds back because it will take some time to liquidate all the underlying holdings, Sapre said. He hopes the pandemic would come under control soon and the markets revive. In such a scenario, he added that there is a possibility of early liquidation of portfolios, in which case investors may get their monies sooner. In the meantime, Templeton will keep trying to liquidate its portfolios as much as it can. Of the money it receives, Sapre has assured that the fund house will keep paying all investors, big or small, proportionately and in instalments. In short, you will have to wait for the fund house to keep coming to you with bits and pieces of your redemption proceeds, periodically. There is nothing much you can do in the interim. Sapre said the fund will not charge asset management fee with effect from April 24, the winding date, for as long as it takes for them to redeem the funds completely. Meanwhile, the segregated portfolios of these schemes will continue independently. Sapre said that these segregated portfolios that were created last year-and-a-half back for some of the schemes illiquid underlying securities, where companies had defaulted, will continue to try and recover these investments too. As and when we get back our money from these companies, the segregated portfolios will pay investors who were eligible to receive the units, he stated. Since Templeton has stopped subscriptions and redemptions, your systematic investment plans (SIP) will stop automatically. If you had enrolled for systematic transfer plans (STP; a facility wherein you invest a lumpsum in a debt fund, preferably a low risk one, before you transfer equal amounts once a week or month in an equity fund of your choice), your money is stuck. Your STP has just gone for a toss as the transfers to your equity funds will now not happen. If you still want to go ahead and invest in the equity fund of Templeton, you will have to arrange for a fresh pot of money. Your Templeton debt fund will pay back your money, but as and when it gets to sell its portfolio and realise the money. Follow our complete coverage on Franklin Templeton India here. Amazon is no Alley Cat Books. That's what Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Andrew Sean Greer reminded viewers as he urged them to support the indie Mission District bookshop at a virtual reading and fundraiser on Wednesday afternoon. Like many other local businesses, the eight-year-old bookstore and its sister locations at Dog Eared Books are in dire straits due to the pandemic. They're asking for the public's aid in helping them re-open again through GoFundMe campaigns and virtual events like this one. "When we come out of this, we're going to need Alley Cat Books," said Greer. "It's not the same experience as Amazon, which has nothing for you. When you go to Alley Cat or Dog Eared, a whole new world opens up." Joined by Andrea Lawlor, a Dog Eared Books alum, and Miah Jeffra, founding editor of Foglifter Press, the writers collectively raised $1,300 in proceeds from the virtual reading for Alley Cat Books. It's part of an ongoing initiative spearheaded by We Love Bookstores, a new organization hosting online events to raise money in support of a different Bay Area bookshop each week. Contributions donated at next week's event will directly go back to Dog Eared Books. MORE: Why books are so important right now: SF bookstore owner tells us what people are reading During Wednesday's conversation, the authors read from their own work, answered a few questions from readers, and discussed the importance of keeping brick-and-mortar bookshops alive. I asked why the survival of Alley Cat, specifically, was so crucial to them. Lawlor responded with a book recommendation: Sarah Pinsker's "A Song For a New Day." Alley Cat Books proprietor Kate Razo had suggested it to Lawlor when they last visited the shop in January, and the sci-fi feature about a global pandemic rendering public gatherings illegal turned out to be surprisingly apt. They loved it. "It's bananas, and it's entirely about our situation," said Lawlor. "Plus, I live with booksellers! Alley Cat is a sibling to Dog Eared, and Dog Eared is a sibling in my home life." Wearing a bubblegum pink wig to spice up the conference call, Miah Jeffra said it was the sense of community that drew him to Alley Cat Books. "Its the heart of what independent bookstores were, and its kind of what has kept San Francisco a badass city," he said. Greer just wants San Francisco's brick-and-mortar bookstores to survive in spite of the shelter-in-place order and the shop's digital counterparts. "In my fantasy, San Francisco sheds some of the things that its gained in the past decade, and what still remains are places like Alley Cat that are unlike any other place." MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here. Amanda Bartlett is an SFGATE associate digital reporter. Email: amanda.bartlett@sfgate.com | Twitter: @byabartlett Donald Trump has announced that two US military aerial demonstration teams will tour American cities to champion national unity during the coronavirus pandemic. The US Air Forces Thunderbirds and US Navys Blue Angels will combine to perform over some cities and conduct separate air-shows over others. Announcing Operation America Strong on Wednesday, President Donald Trump compared the incredible performance pilots to the nations frontline healthcare workers. This is a tribute to them, to our warriors, because theyre equal warriors to those incredible pilots and all of the fighters that we have for the more traditional flights that we win, said the president. On Tuesday, the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels were seen practising together over Pensacola, Florida, near to the Blue Angelss base. It is the first time since June 2017 that the two flight demonstration teams have combined. The Thunderbirds meanwhile paid tribute to health workers earlier this month with a show over Las Vegas, close to their home at Nellis Air Force Base. President Trump said military members proposed the idea and wanted to show [their] support to the American medical workers who just like military members in a time of war are fiercely running towards the fight. The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that senior military officers at the Pentagon had been planning the tour as a bipartisan show of support to those pitching in during the coronavirus pandemic. This is just a sincere thank-you, said one senior military official, speaking on the condition of anonymity before the announcement. Its one way to acknowledge those who are pitching in. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed last week that more than 9,000 US health care workers had contracted Covid-19 and at least 27 had died to date. The Zambia Police Service has summoned George Bester, a man seen in a video making rounds on social media slapping his son, for allegedly producing poor school results. In the said video, Bester is seen slapping the boy, while complaining about the money he has spent on the boy for school books and tuition fees. A voice of a woman, believed to be his wife, is heard pleading with Bester to stop beating the boy. According to a call-out, Bester was required to report to the Child Protection Unit offices at the Ministry of Community Development for purposes of inquiries. Police, however, assured him that he would not be detained more than was necessary. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates ManorCare Health Services has more than 100 COVID-19 patients at three of its Lehigh Valley facilities, the company confirmed. More than half of the cases, 57, are at ManorCare Health Services-Easton, 2600 Northampton St. in Palmer Township, followed by 28 cases at ManorCare Bethlehem, 2021 Westgate Drive in Bethlehem, and 23 cases at Old Orchard Health Care Center in Bethlehem Township, spokeswoman Julie Beckert said. Arden Courts, which is also on the Bethlehem Township campus, does not have any cases, she said. We are not releasing deaths since many of our patients have significant underlying health issues or may be on hospice. COVID may or may not be related, Beckert said. As of Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 30 nursing home facilities in the Lehigh Valley had coronavirus cases, with 482 residents and 44 employees testing positive. The state reported there have been 42 COVID-19 deaths at local nursing homes. It was almost a month ago that ManorCare confirmed it had a presumptive positive case of the coronavirus at the Palmer Township facility. The company operates nursing homes, assisted living facilities and rehabilitation centers in 27 states. All centers abide by universal masking, symptom and monitor checking and safe hygiene practices, Beckert said. If ManorCare is notified by the Department of Health about a positive case or it believes someone has been exposed, airborne isolation precautions are put into place, Beckert said. The company has an Airborne Isolation Unit (CAIU) as part of its infection control and treatment plan, which houses patients who meet isolation criteria (higher risk patients). The unit includes: Barriers to keep higher risk patients in a focused treatment area Special cleaning, disposal, laundry and sanitizing measures Personal protective equipment dedicated to the unit Where possible, dedicated staffing for the unit in CDC-approved Personal Protective Equipment. We know that the frail and elderly are especially susceptible to this virus. Thats why we are in close communication with our local health department, (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) to ensure we have the latest information and resources available, Beckert said. The health and well-being of our patients and employees remains our top priority. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. UK officials press ahead with plan to broker trade deal by end of 2020, despite disruption unleashed by coronavirus. London, United Kingdom For three and a half years, Brexit seemed to eclipse almost every other talking point in the United Kingdom. Then coronavirus took over. The global pandemic has upended life nationwide; killing tens of thousands of people and prompting a strict social lockdown that has triggered a major economic slump. In its wake, the UKs move to detach itself from the European Union has drifted to the sidelines of public focus and political debate. 200421125350128 But its complications and consequences have rumbled on in the background and are now coming to a head once more amid mounting concerns that the coronavirus crisis could derail efforts to finally settle the Brexit saga born out of the UKs June 2016 referendum on EU membership. Calls for delay grow As it stands, the UK is set to leave the EUs single market and customs union at the end of this year, when the Brexit transition period is scheduled to expire. The transition period came into effect upon the UKs formal departure from the EU, on January 31, and is aimed at offering negotiators on both sides time to hammer out a trade agreement while Britain remains bound to the blocs rules in the interim in order to minimise disruption to either party. It can be extended, if both parties jointly sign off on such a move by the end of June. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, currently absent from front line politics while recovering from a coronavirus infection, wants to broker a comprehensive free trade agreement similar to Canadas deal with the EU, and complete negotiations within the next eight months. He has repeatedly ruled out prolonging the transition period, and won a landslide election victory in December after running a campaign singularly focused on a pledge to Get Brexit Done. But with officials in London and throughout the EU now overwhelmingly focused on the coronavirus pandemic, calls have grown in recent weeks for that option to be activated in order to buy negotiators more time and avert the UK stumbling into a so-called no-deal departure at the end of this year a scenario that threatens damaging economic implications for both sides. Among those pressing for the government to seek a delay have been former government figures from the UKs ruling Conservative Party, as well as several prominent opposition MPs. David Liddington, a former cabinet minister and deputy to Johnsons predecessor, Theresa May, this week called on the prime minister to delay in order to focus efforts entirely on the coronavirus pandemic. There is not enough bandwidth to pay attention to Brexit in Whitehall, the European Commission and other major capitals, he told Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad on Sunday. 200422201757008 A day later, former Conservative chancellor Phillip Hammond warned it would be unwise for the government to stick to the December 31 deadline, advising ministers to strike an interim trade agreement instead, while the coronavirus crisis continues. Meanwhile, there has been a litany of pleas from business leaders for the government to buy more negotiating time and reduce uncertainty amid the crisis, including from International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief Kristalina Georgieva. The IMF has warned the global pandemic is likely to cause the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s and do lasting damage to the global economy. It is tough as it is. Lets not make it any tougher, Georgieva said last week, when urging Britain to ask for an extension to the transition period. The British public, too, appear sympathetic to the idea of an extension, with nearly twice as many people in favour of the prime minister amending his December 31 deadline than those opposed to such a move, according to YouGov polling. British officials stick firm to Brexit However, despite the calls for the government to reconsider its position, Johnsons administration has refused to budge. 200302115443478 His chief Brexit negotiator, David Frost, has instead doubled-down in recent days on the prime ministers pledge to execute the UKs departure from the EU by the end of 2020. Transition ends on 31 December this year, Frost said in a Twitter post on April 16. We will not ask to extend it, he added. [And] If the EU asks, we will say no. But the governments bullish rhetoric has done little to banish uncertainty over how Brexit will end, with no substantial progress on a deal to date, and both parties distracted by a public health crisis wreaking havoc throughout Europe and the rest of the world. Coronavirus just makes everything so much harder, Maddy Thimont Jack, a specialist Brexit researcher at the UKs Institute for Government, told Al Jazeera. Obviously the government is prioritising its response to that and using a lot of resources in that area, which absolutely makes sense, but the question is how, then, are they planning to still do everything they were planning to on Brexit. Theres a practical limit on how much energy the government can focus on it [at the moment] thats the nub of the issue. 200420174059768 Responding, a government spokesperson from the prime ministers office told Al Jazeera that officials top priority was to slow the spread of the coronavirus, protect the NHS and keep people safe. While we have ensured that civil service resources are correctly allocated to best deal with the coronavirus crisis, negotiations with the EU are continuing and we have a committed, agile team in place to coordinate our exit from the EU, the spokesperson added. The transition period ends on 31 December 2020 and the prime minister has made clear he has no intention of changing it. Ongoing uncertainty UK-EU negotiations restarted virtually this week, as part of a revised timetable for the next three rounds of talks. The resumption came after the coronavirus pandemic forced official talks scheduled for last month to be ditched when Frost was required to self-isolate with coronavirus symptoms, and Michel Barnier, his EU counterpart, fell ill after contracting the virus. 200423074102823 The delay has heightened pre-existing concerns voiced by EU officials and opposition UK politicians that the existing transition period does not offer enough time for a settlement on post-Brexit relations to be reached. Anand Menon, director of the UK in a Changing Europe think tank, said the prospect of a deal had only ever been 50-50 at best given the deep divisions between Brussels and London on a range of issues. Among the existing points of divergence are each sides stance on fisheries agreement on which the EU has said is a pre-condition for any overarching free trade deal and level playing-field conditions concerning the environment, labour, taxation and state aid. But there are also very, very deep differences of [each sides] philosophy about this; one of which is that the EU wants everything resolved under a single institutional umbrella whereas Britain sees this as a series of separate arrangements dealing with different issues in different ways, Menon told Al Jazeera. And it is harder to get a deal now than it would have been had it not been for the pandemic, because at a minimum, at least the two sides would have been able to sit together and talk face to face. 200421070641302 Should London and Brussels fail to strike an agreement, Britain will crash out of the bloc at the end of this year in a no-deal Brexit. The UK would then have to follow World Trade Organization rules to do business with the EU, unless and until any deal is struck, ushering in the imposition of financial tariffs, quotas and other regulatory barriers. The measures could be hugely disruptive for businesses and very costly for the British economy, which is already reeling from the coronavirus fallout with the country now in its fifth week of lockdown. Moreover, even if a breakthrough in negotiations were achieved, the transition period as it stands is unlikely to allow sufficient time for implementation of any newly agreed trade rules, the Institute for Governments Thimont Jack said. The real challenge for business is just this ongoing uncertainty they dont know what theyre planning for, she added. Hopefully, when we get closer to June, were going to get a better sense of what the governments actually going to do. Politics is king The EU, for its part, has made no secret of the fact it would be open to prolonging the transition period. Daniel Ferrie, a spokesperson for the EU Commission, told Al Jazeera the body had always said it stood ready to discuss an extension. But for officials in Brussels, it is up to the UK government to start the discussion. Securing an extension could deliver practical advantages for Britain namely giving businesses breathing space and the government time to work on a deal, while protecting existing frictionless trade arrangements under which the UK imports vast quantities of medical supplies, fresh food and other goods from EU member states. However, any delay also threatens political drawbacks for a prime minister who has repeatedly pledged to deliver his Brexit promise to the British electorate and take the UK out of Brussels orbit by the end of this year, come what may. Ultimately, Menon said, the choice he has is clear; keep to a self-imposed political timetable or bend to the economic realities of the current moment. Its politics versus economics, he said. And I think politics is king for now. Congress offered a lifeline to college students facing financial insecurity in the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic, but the Trump administration is restricting who can receive help. Guidance issued Tuesday by the Education Department narrows student eligibility for the nearly $7 billion in emergency grant aid set aside in the stimulus package. Only students who can participate in federal student aid programs can receive money, a stipulation that effectively shuts out undocumented and international students. BY THE NUMBERS: These Harris County ZIP codes have the most confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far Collectively, that's at least 1.5 million college students, according to the latest available data. And that's not accounting for the scores of others who could be left in the lurch because of the way the guidance is written. The department said students who have not submitted the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, can still receive grants, but it is requiring colleges to confirm details, such as registration with selective service, that are most readily found on the form. "I don't know what school would ever use anything but a FAFSA to be able to say that students meet all of the eligibility requirements outlined in the FAQ," said Justin Draeger, president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators. "There are a significant number of people who don't fill out the FAFSA, and those people certainly accrued expenses related to covid disruptions. I don't see how they'll qualify." Asked about the new eligibility parameters, Angela Morabito, a spokeswoman for the Education Department, said, "Congress set Title IV eligibility under the Higher Education Act, and we are using that criteria." Critics of the department's guidance say the agency is being inconsistent. The funding agreement colleges have been asked to sign says the department "does not consider the emergency financial aid grants to constitute federal financial aid under Title IV of the Higher Education Act." If that is the case, it makes no sense to use the statute to determine eligibility, said Sara Goldrick-Rab, a professor of higher education policy and sociology at Temple University. "The authorizing legislation and the certification agreement clarify that this is not Title IV aid," Goldrick-Rab said. "But that didn't stop [Education Secretary Betsy DeVos] from waiting until the last minute and then unnecessarily excluding . . . some of the most vulnerable individuals from this support. It is nothing short of cruel and unnecessary." MASK ORDER: Houstonians react to Harris County's mandate requiring face masks for public trips The Cares Act directs schools to give students money to cover expenses such as food, housing, technology, child care and health care, but the legislation left it to the Education Department to flesh out the terms. And the department initially passed the responsibility onto schools. But the lack of clear guidance from the agency about who was eligible for the money and how it could be disbursed gave colleges and universities pause. Many were concerned about the legal ramifications for their institutions and students if any missteps were made. Higher education groups urged the department to develop a Frequently Asked Questions document to clear up the confusion. Higher education leaders and advocacy groups had hoped the broad language of the Cares Act provision left open a window for colleges to help undocumented students receiving immigration benefits under Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the Obama-era program for immigrants brought to the United States as children. Despite a 1996 welfare law barring such students from getting federal assistance, some thought the provision in the stimulus law could supersede the prohibition. "It's unfortunate that institutions won't be able to directly support DACA and international students with this aid," said Luis Maldonado, vice president for government relations at the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. "They are members of the academic community and contribute to the important work of learning on campus." Nearly 5,000 colleges and universities will benefit from the stimulus funding. Public institutions will receive the most, $4.5 billion, while private, nonprofit schools will get about $1.2 billion. For-profit schools will receive more than $500 million, according to the Education Department. The department reported Tuesday that nearly 50% of schools that are slated to receive aid have applied, nearly double the amount the agency reported last week. The program was off to a rocky start. The website where colleges had to submit documents was down for hours at a time, and some schools that had never used the portal had trouble registering. Even schools that successfully completed the process said they were still waiting for the money. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) speaks on the floor of the House of Representatives at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on April 23, 2020. (House Television via AP) House Passes Nearly Half-Trillion-Dollar COVID-19 Stimulus Bill The House of Representatives on April 23 passed a stimulus bill with $484 billion in funding for the battle against the CCP virus and financial relief for American workers and businesses affected by shutdowns related to the pandemic. The Senate had approved the bill two days earlier and the president has signaled his intent to sign it. The bill approved by the House on April 23 is the fourth such measure passed as part of the governments response to the outbreak of COVID-19 and its impact on the economy. The three prior bills already amounted to the largest stimulus in U.S. history. Only a handful of Republicans and Democrats had voted to oppose the bill by the time affirmative votes cleared the two-thirds threshold necessary to pass the bill. The stimulus package includes $310 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which was created as part of the third stimulus package but quickly ran out of funds. By providing $310 billion for PPP, this bill allow the program to reopen and more small business to secure capital and keep employees on payroll, Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) said the House floor on April 23. Both Democrats and Republicans have expressed concerns about large companies receiving funding through the PPP. President Donald Trump said large companies shouldnt be taking the money. Velazquez said more than 80 publicly traded companies received loans via the program, and a number of companies, including Shake Shack, Ruths Chris Steak House, and Sweetgreen, have already returned the loaned funds. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has said that more than a million small businesses with less than 10 employees each received loans through the PPP. Trump had urged the House to pass the bill. The measure also includes $60 billion for disaster relief loans and grants, $75 billion for hospitals and health care providers, and $25 billion for testing for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, commonly known as the coronavirus. The $25 billion in funds for CCP virus testing will cover research, development, manufacture, purchasing, and administration of tests as well. The funds will be divided between states and localities, the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health, among others. Companies and nonprofits that have fewer than 500 workers can apply for PPP loans of up to $10 million to cover two months of payroll along with other expenses. Under the deal, borrowers that retain workers and dont cut wages will have most or all of their loans forgiven by the government. The Treasury Department said last week that 1.6 million PPP loans had been approved. The program ran out of money a week prior to the House vote. The Senate moved quickly to replenish the funds, but passage of the bill was held up for days in both houses as Democrats and Republicans negotiated the details. This bill is 16 days too late, Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) said on the House floor on April 23. It got held up for all sorts of extracurricular stuff and we should have come together. It was delayed. Real people lost their jobs as a result. The April 23 measure brings total rescue funding over the four measures, as measured by the cumulative deficit impact of spending proposals and tax cuts, to $2.4 trillion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Among the candidates for aid in the next bill is the U.S. Postal Service, which has more than 600,000 workers, but is getting clobbered by COVID-19-related revenue losses. In a related matter, the House used a party-line 212182 vote on April 23 to establish a special committee to oversee how the Trump administration spends the huge sums of money Congress is providing to battle the coronavirus. Republicans accused Democrats of playing politics with the crisis, but Democrats said Congress needs to keep an eye on the effort. The Associated Press contributed to this report. EDITORS NOTE: This article was updated to correct the amount Congress initially set aside for the Paycheck Protection Program. Small businesses that werent able to apply for a forgivable federal loan program earlier this month may be about to get a second chance. But those who havent already applied for a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program may have to move fast, and some experts believe it may be too late already. Its going to be a race, and its going to be a fast one this time, said John Garcia, director of the U.S. Small Business Administrations New Mexico district office. Congress has moved swiftly this week on a measure that includes an extra $310 billion for the PPP, after the first $349 billion approved in March ran out less than two weeks after it began accepting applications. The House passed a roughly $480 billion bill, which also includes money for hospitals and to expand COVID-19 testing, on a 388-5 vote Thursday. The bill already passed the Senate and now is headed to President Trump, who has indicated support for it. However, Garcia said many banks have a lot of unprocessed applications sitting on their desks, which will take first priority once new funding is approved. Wryan Capps, a partner at Axiom CPAs in Albuquerque, said its possible there wont be any money left over for new applicants once the backlog is exhausted. Those pending applications should eat up the funds first, he said. In New Mexico, Garcia said 8,277 program applications from small businesses totaling $1.5 billion were processed from April 3 to April 16, when the money ran out. During that period, many businesses that tried to apply were unable to find a lender willing to work with them. Many others that had an application approved are still waiting for funds. One issue was poor communication between lenders and businesses. Capps said Axiom submitted an application early in the program for a loan to help keep its approximately 20 employees on payroll. He didnt learn from his lender, Bank of America, that his companys loan wasnt approved until the funding was gone. Justin Taibbi, owner of Atlas Electrical Construction, was also frustrated by a lack of communication. We feel like we lost about a week in just trying to understand which lender we could submit the application to, said Taibbi, who applied through Wells Fargo and is waiting for his application to be approved. Garcia said the SBA has worked to correct these and other issues that plagued the program during the first round of funding. He said the organization has worked with banks to streamline the documentation process. The online portal SBA used to process loans, which crashed multiple times during the first round, has been upgraded to better handle what he said was likely to be a tsunami of new applications. The proposed funding includes a $60 billion pot of money earmarked for smaller, regional lenders, a group not specifically identified in the first round. DreamSpring, a New Mexico microlender, is urging New Mexico businesses to apply immediately through its website. Even with the new adjustments, Michelle Coons, New Mexico regional president for Washington Federal Bank, said its unclear whether businesses that didnt apply during the first round will stand a chance at getting funding now. Coons said her own bank has more than 1,000 businesses in line to receive funding. It will be very interesting if that money lasts more than a day, she said. Russell Wyrick, state director of New Mexicos Small Business Development Center network, said businesses should apply as soon as possible. There is a high likelihood that theyll get left behind, if theyre not ready when the opportunity comes, Wyrick said. In unparalleled global recession underway, world GDP is expected to fall by 3.9% in 2020 unparalleled global recession Fitch Ratings has made further large cuts to global GDP forecasts in its latest Global Economic Outlook (GEO) in response to coronavirus-related lockdown extensions and incoming data flows. Fitch Ratings is updating its global economic forecasts more frequently than its usual quarterly publication cycle, given the speed at which the coronavirus crisis is evolving. World GDP is now expected to fall by 3.9% in 2020, a recession of unprecedented depth in the post-war period, said Brian Coulton, Chief Economist at Fitch Ratings. This is twice as large as the decline anticipated in our early April GEO update and would be twice as severe as the 2009 recession. Fitchs Economics team, led by chief economist Brian Coulton, analyses global macroeconomic trends and their impact on credit markets around the world. The team publishes global macroeconomic research, forecasts and commentary focusing on 20 major advanced and emerging economies. The decline in GDP equates to a USD2.8 trillion fall in global income levels relative to 2019 and a loss of USD4.5 trillion relative to our pre-virus expectations of 2020 global GDP. Fitch expects eurozone GDP to decline by 7%, US GDP by 5.6%, and UK GDP by 6.3% in 2020. Unparalleled global recession more visible in Eurozone The biggest downward revisions are in the eurozone, where the measures to halt the spread of the coronavirus have already taken a very heavy toll on activity in 1Q20. We have cut Italys 2020 GDP forecast to -8% following official indications that GDP already fell 5% in 1Q20 and after a recent extension of the lockdown there. Official estimates also point to France and Spain experiencing near 5% declines in GDP in 1Q20, with the Spanish outlook hit particularly hard by the collapse in tourism. Even allowing for a slightly less negative outlook for Germany where the headroom for policy easing is greater and the benefits of a recovery in China will be felt more directly eurozone GDP is expected to shrink by 7% this year. Story continues No country spared as unparalleled global recession gets underway No country or region has been spared from the devastating economic impact of the global pandemic. We now anticipate that GDP in both the US and the UK where lockdowns started a little later than in the eurozone will decline by more than 10% (not annualised) in 2Q20, compared to forecasts of around 7% in our early April update. This will result in annual GDP declines of around 6%, despite aggressive macro policy easing. A notable feature of this update is sharp further downward revisions to GDP forecasts for emerging markets (EM). Falling commodity prices, capital outflows and more-limited policy flexibility are exacerbating the impact of domestic virus-containment measures; Mexico, Brazil, Russia, South Africa and Turkey have all seen big GDP forecast adjustments. With China and India both now expected to see sub-1% growth, we expect an outright contraction in EM GDP in 2020, a development unprecedented since at least the 1980s. Fitch Ratings expects supply responses and a relaxation of lockdowns to help oil prices to recover in 2H20 from current lows, which are being exacerbated by storage capacity issues in the US and elsewhere. Several major economies recently have extended lockdown measures, and we now need to incorporate national lockdowns of around eight or nine weeks as a central case assumption for most major advanced economies. This contrasts to our previous assumption of around five weeks. An extra month of lockdown would, all else being equal, reduce the annual flow of income (GDP) by around 2pp, as outlined in our previous GEO update. Lockdown episodes contributing to unparalleled global recession which is underway In addition, incoming data including official flash GDP estimates for 1Q20, monthly activity indicators for March and weekly labour market data point to a daily loss of activity through lockdown episodes of closer to 25% than the 20% assumed previously. This is consistent with the recently released outturn for growth in China when GDP declined by 10% qoq in 1Q20, a period encompassing entry to and exit from a five-week lockdown. Macro policy responses have been unprecedented in scale and scope and will serve to cushion the near-term shock. But with job losses occurring on an extreme scale and intense pressures on small and medium-sized businesses, the path back to normality after the health crisis subsides is likely to be slow. Our forecasts now show US and eurozone GDP remaining below pre-virus (4Q19) levels through the whole of 2021, added Coulton. Near term jobs losses to be more impactful as unparalleled global recession gets underway According to the latest Economics Dashboard from Fitch Ratings the near-term job losses from the coronavirus crisis might be more impactful than implied by the GDP contraction. Following the adoption of stringent lockdown measures in some of the largest developed economies, job losses have surged as some sectors have seen a virtual standstill in activity. The sectors hit hardest by lockdown measures are highly labour-intensive and are larger contributors to employment than they are to GDP. Labour market dislocation could amplify the medium-term impact of the crisis, said Marina Stefani, Director at Fitch. Fitchs economics team has looked at the composition of employment and economic output by industry in the US, the UK and the four largest Eurozone economies to understand the lockdown impact on jobs. The service sector, likely worst affected by the crisis, is by far the largest employer in all the above mentioned economies except Germany, and accounts for more than 50% of total employment. Within services, the travel, tourism and retail sectors employ more than 20% of the national workforce, reaching almost 30% in Spain. However, the contribution of these sectors to GDP is significantly smaller. The GDP impact of the lockdown might therefore not reflect the full extent of potential job losses. The post Unparalleled global recession underway, warns Fitch Ratings appeared first on iCompareLoan Resources. Voters who cast their ballots for Donald Trump in 2016 are more likely than voters who cast their ballots for Hillary Clinton to say that they have cheated on social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic and much less likely to say they will continue to obey their states lockdown order as long as its in effect. According to the latest Yahoo News/YouGov poll, which was conducted from April 17 to 19, most Trump and Clinton voters claim they havent broken the rules of social distancing. But the share of Trump voters who say they havent cheated (63 percent) is 10 points lower than the share of Clinton voters who say the same, while the share of Trump voters who say they have cheated (26 percent) is 6 points higher than the share of Clinton voters (20 percent) who are willing to confess. Thats a net difference of 16 percentage points. When it comes to complying with lockdown measures going forward, the divide between the two camps is even more pronounced. A full 82 percent of Clinton voters say they will adhere to their states stay-at-home orders for the duration; only 54 percent of Trump voters say the same. Thirteen percent of Trump voters openly admit they wont; another 13 percent say theyre not sure. (Twenty percent of Trump voters say they arent under lockdown orders.) Trump voters are also 19 points less likely than Clinton voters to say they have strictly obeyed existing stay-at-home regulations and 8 points more likely to describe their level of compliance as not strict at all. These disparities provide a window into a larger phenomenon. According to the Yahoo News/YouGov survey, Americans in Trump Country and Clinton Country are experiencing and reacting to lockdown in very different ways. Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: AP (3), Getty Images Its logical to wonder whether such differences simply reflect different circumstances in the communities where Trump and Clinton voters tend to live: i.e., red, rural, inland America (where the coronavirus has spread less rapidly) vs. blue, urban, coastal America (where the deadly pathogen has hit hardest), respectively. Story continues But the poll suggests this isnt necessarily the case. In fact, Trump voters and Clinton voters are equally likely at 61 percent and 59 percent, respectively to say they live in communities where most people are staying home, even if the share of Trump voters who say theyre not under lockdowns (20 percent) is higher than the share of Clinton voters who say the same thing (13 percent). Greater economic hardship doesnt seem to explain the higher levels of resistance to lockdown among Trump voters, either. Asked how much the shutdown has affected their income over the last month, 36 percent of Trump voters say their earnings have decreased. Thirty-five percent of Clinton voters say the same thing. The share of Clinton and Trump voters who say they have been laid off because of the pandemic is also the same (10 percent vs. 9 percent). Yet while almost no Clinton voters (a mere 7 percent) agree with the view that stay-at-home orders are an example of the cure being worse than the disease, a full 41 percent of Trump voters say just that. Thats 9 points higher than Republicans overall and 20 points higher than registered voters more broadly. Why? Because many Trump voters seem to have concluded that the coronavirus isnt much of a worry for them. In fact, only 18 percent of them say they are very worried; among Clinton voters that number is nearly 30 points higher (47 percent). Meanwhile, a full 43 percent of Trump voters say theyre not very worried or not worried at all higher than the number of Americans (26 percent), Clinton voters (9 percent) or even Republicans (35 percent) who say the same thing. A note about methodology: YouGov selects a national representative sample of poll respondents from its opt-in panel a large database of Americans whove said theyre open to being regularly surveyed and then interviews them online. To characterize someone as a Trump or a Clinton voter, the firm relies on how that respondent said they voted when they were first polled after the election. If they joined the panel later, YouGov asks them to recall how they voted in 2016. This means that while there is a lot of overlap between self-identified Republicans and self-identified Trump voters as well as self-identified Democrats and self-identified Clinton voters they arent necessarily the same thing. A Democrat might have voted for Trump; an independent might have voted for Clinton. Asked whether they believe the threat of COVID-19 has been exaggerated, Clinton voters are close to unanimous; 88 percent say no and only 7 percent say yes. Trump voters are evenly divided, with a narrow plurality (45 percent) saying the threat has, in fact, been exaggerated an assertion that even half of Republicans (50 percent) disagree with. Closer to home, three-quarters of Clinton voters feel the threat to their communities is either about the same as elsewhere (50 percent) or more serious (24 percent). Trump voters dont share that sentiment. Nearly half (49 percent) characterize the threat to their communities as less serious than elsewhere, while only 34 percent say its about the same. This means Trump voters feel that the coronavirus is less of a risk to their personal health than Clinton voters, with a majority saying its either one of many risks I face (39 percent) or not a risk at all (19 percent). As a result, Trump voters are 5 points more likely than Republicans overall and 22 points more likely than Clinton voters to agree that most Americans are overreacting to the actual risks of the virus. Omar Rodriguez organizes bodies in the Gerard Neufeld funeral home in Queens, N.Y., on Wednesday. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) That makes a certain kind of sense: The less threatened you personally feel, the more likely you are to think that others are overreacting. But this effect the sense among Trump voters that the pandemic is overblown appears to extend to more empirical questions about its scale and duration as well. Experts and epidemiologists agree, for instance, that the coronavirus is likely to kill at least tens of thousands more Americans than the 47,000 or more who have already died; that it is likely to spread until a vaccine comes to market in another 12 to 18 months; and that there are likely to be subsequent spikes in infection between now and then. Yet 35 percent of Trump voters estimated that fewer than 50,000 Americans will die from COVID-19 a milestone the U.S. might have already passed, given the lag in reporting. Only 10 percent of Clinton voters (and 27 percent of Republicans) said the same; the consensus pick among other groups was 50,000 to 100,000 fatalities. Likewise, a majority of Clinton voters (66 percent) and a wide plurality of Americans overall (48 percent) said that COVID-19 would be a serious problem for you and your community for longer than three months. Only 34 percent of Trump voters agreed, with two-thirds instead predicting that COVID-19 would be a serious problem only for either a few more weeks (11 percent), one month (17 percent), two months (24 percent) or three months (14 percent). At the same time, the percentage of Trump voters who said a resurgence of the coronavirus was very likely if the economy reopened now (34 percent) was 43 points lower than the percentage of Clinton voters who expressed the same fear. The upshot is that Trump voters are less open than Clinton voters to measures meant to slow the spread of the virus. Consider face coverings. A majority of both Trump and Clinton voters say theyve started wearing masks but theres a 19-point gap between the two groups on the question (56 percent and 75 percent, respectively). Geography and local government messaging likely plays a part here. But even when told that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends that everyone wear a cloth mask in public, only 41 percent of Trump voters say they will wear one; 29 percent still say they wont. Among Clinton voters, those numbers are 59 percent yes and 10 percent no. Going forward, disagreements over distancing are likely to grow as will the larger political divisions over Americas coronavirus response. Only 42 percent of Trump voters say they would continue to wear a mask in public after lockdown ends, compared with 67 percent of Clinton voters. And nearly 40 percent of Trump voters say they wont continue to practice social distancing after official restrictions are lifted (14 percent) or theyre not sure (25 percent). Among Clinton voters, those numbers are both 10 points lower. Testing and tracing the two main techniques for containing future coronavirus outbreaks could be a sticking point as well. Half of Clinton voters and nearly 40 percent of Republicans say they would install a contact-tracing app of the sort being developed by Apple and Google on their phones; only 29 percent of Trump voters say the same. Majorities of Americans (57 percent), Republicans (54 percent) and Clinton voters (77 percent) say they would support being tested regularly and repeatedly for COVID-19 to limit its spread after lockdown ends. That number is significantly lower (48 percent) among Trump voters. By the same token, a full third of Trump voters say their community is ready to reopen either now (12 percent) or by May 1, the presidents preferred deadline (21 percent). In contrast, only 1 percent of Clinton voters say now and only 5 percent say May 1. People practice social distancing as they wait in line at Someones Son restaurant in Coral Gables, Fla., on Wednesday. (Lynne Sladky/AP) Asked which statement comes closest to their view about when America as a whole should reopen, 60 percent of Trump voters say as soon as possible to prevent further economic damage; 92 percent of Clinton voters say when public-health officials are fully able to test and trace new cases and outbreaks. A wide majority of Americans (71 percent) and even a narrow majority of Republicans (51 percent) sided with the Clinton voters. And Trump voters were the only group in which a majority say they are more concerned about lifting restrictions too slowly (51 percent) than too quickly (49 percent). Ninety percent of Clinton voters, 71 percent of Americans overall and 56 percent of Republicans say the opposite. Likewise, a plurality of Trump voters (42 percent) say they support right-wing protesters calling on governors to lift the lockdowns in their states. A majority of Americans (60 percent) and a plurality of Republicans (47 percent) oppose the protests. The Yahoo News survey was conducted by YouGov using a nationally representative sample of 1,597 U.S. adult residents interviewed online between April 17 and 19, 2020. This sample was weighted according to gender, age, race and education. Respondents were selected from YouGovs opt-in panel to be representative of all U.S residents. The margin of error is approximately 3.0 percent. _____ 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 refer to the CDCs and WHOs resource guides. Read more: Mumbai, April 23 : TV personality and actress Bani J says she was "dangerously dehydrated" while shooting for the second season of "Four More Shots Please!" in Udaipur. Bani shared a photograph of herself along with co-stars Sayani Gupta, Kirti Kulhari and Maanvi Gagroo. "Udaipur with my girls! It was literally 4500 degrees and I don't know how we didn't collectively melt into these steps. Edit: Also if you zoom in close enough you'll see what was at the start of this shoot a beautiful flower from the Champa tree near us but that had wilted away in seconds because of the aforementioned heat," she wrote. "Which is why it also looks like a soiled tissue... or what I saw at first glance - a tiny wittle creature trying to escape from Kirti's hand. I blame the heat for this, I was dangerously dehydrated that day," she added. Produced by Pritish Nandy Communications Ltd and created by Rangita Pritish Nandy, the second season of "Four More Shots Please!" sees four women making radical choices in love, career and friendship. The web-series airs on Amazon Prime Video. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday that will temporarily halt the issuance of certain green cards as he uses the coronavirus pandemic to push long-stalled immigration measures during an election year. While Trump says the move is designed to preserve jobs for American workers in an economy ravaged by the coronavirus, it is widely viewed by partisans on both sides of the immigration battle as driven more by politics than policy. The 60-day pause, which Trump announced he had signed before his daily briefing Wednesday, leaves untouched the hundreds of thousands of temporary work visas the country issues each year. And it includes a long list of exemptions, including for those who are currently in the country and those seeking entry to work as physicians and nurses, as well as the spouses and minor children of American citizens. Trump nonetheless characterized the move as a sweeping "temporary suspension of immigration into the United States." That will be popular with Trump's most loyal political supporters as he heads into what is expected to be a brutal reelection fight. "This will ensure that unemployed Americans of all backgrounds will be first in line for jobs as our economy reopens," he said Wednesday. Trump ran in 2016 promising to crack down on both illegal and legal immigration, making the case disputed by many that foreign workers compete with Americans for jobs and drive down wages because they are willing to accept lower pay. While many of Trump's efforts to dramatically upend the nation's immigration system, from travel bans to asylum restrictions, had been stymied by Congress and the courts, the pandemic has allowed him to move forward on certain changes. Like other world leaders, Trump has restricted travel from much of the globe, including China and large swaths of Europe. The borders with Mexico and Canada have been closed to all but "essential" travel. With consulates closed, almost all visa processing by the State Department has been suspended for weeks. And Trump has used the virus to effectively end asylum at U.S. borders, turning away migrants, including children, by invoking a rarely used 1944 law aimed at preventing the spread of communicable diseases. The green card measure is likely to limit the ability of current green card holders to sponsor their extended families a practice Trump has derided as "chain immigration" and tried to restrict. Trump's order is certain to be challenged in court. But the final version was far less drastic than advocates on both sides of the issue had expected after Trump posted a tweet late Monday that sent businesses, would-be immigrants and administration officials scrambling. "In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!" Trump wrote. Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, said the change "will have some very modest policy effect," but he said "it's actually not even that big a deal." He said "the primary function was political, to respond to people's concern that at this point, with maybe 15% of the labor force out of work, they had to do something." Frank Sharry, executive director of America's Voice, a liberal immigration reform group, agreed in part. "This announcement is more about grabbing a headline than changing immigration policy," he said Wednesday. "To me, it smacks of an electoral strategy, not a policy change, and it smacks of desperation and panic." It's a strategy Trump has used before. He often turns to immigration when he feels backed into a corner and is looking for an issue to rev up his base. current-affairs-trends Coronavirus pandemic | How tribal quarantine rituals helped Arunachal Pradesh become COVID-19 free Tribal groups in Arunachal Pradesh had implemented their own customary rituals which are equivalent to a lockdown, much before the lone COVID-19 case was reported in the state Mumbai, April 23 : Actress and and ardent animal lover Richa Chadha finds it "idiotic" that people are abandoning pets due to the COVID-19 scare. She says just like there are stringent measures for adopting a child, the same should be done with pets. Richa, who has always campaigned for "adopt and not shop" for pets and herself has cats at home, told IANS: "It's really idiotic. If somebody in your family gets COVID-19 will you throw them out? I think there should be a basic assessment of people's mental state before they go and (get animals home). Just like when you want to adopt a child, you have a lot of stringent measures to follow, similarly with an animal it should be the same, I think." The actress, who has often voiced concern for stray animals on social media, cannot believe that people are abandoning pets in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Who the hell abandons animals? It's not about being an animal lover. You need to have humanity at a time like this. This time is teaching us to be in harmony with each other. The planet belongs to everybody, not just human beings. If human beings are going to overstep and behave like they are the kings of the planet, then nature will come down with all force and teach them a lesson or two," she said. Richa urged everyone to stay in harmony with nature. "Right now, the whole world has paused because of a micro-organism. Nature doesn't need us, we need nature. We are a part of it," she concluded. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed The suspect of the murder of a Utah couple has been identified. The pair, were shot mercillesly inside their West Jordan home early Sunday morning. Last Monday, a presscon was held by the West Jordan Police Sergeant J.C. Holt, who revealed the killer of Tony and Katherine Butterfield. According to the police reports, they visited the homestead in a suburb in Salt Lake City at about 1:15 in the morning after a neighbour contacted 911. Said neighbor reported hearing gunshots and horrific screams as unlawful elements invaded the Butterfield home. Reports say that their children were in the house when their parents were shot by remorseless killer, leaving the children with the shot-up corpses of their parents. Authorities were relieved that the children were not harmed. Killer is identified West Jordan Police Sergeant J.C. Holt confirmed they are after the suspect who is 31-year-old Albert Enoch Johnson, who was identified with an overwhelming evidence from the crime scene. The suspect is described as 5 ft. and 10 inches tall, weighing about 270 pounds. The suspect is riding a dark grey 2008 Toyota Corolla that has a Utah license plate (V46-4MW) confirmed by police. Soon after the presscon held by Police Sergeant J.C. Holt, the suspect's wife was nabbed for helping her husband escape justice. Johnson's wife is 29-year-old Sina Johnson, who helped him escape and she is charged on several counts of obstructing justice and tampering with evidence. According to Sgt. Holt,"Officers developed information that Mrs Johnson had spoken to Mr Johnson just prior to and just after the suspected homicide occurred and that she had been untruthful with officers about his whereabouts and involvement." He added that the wife was involved with attempts to destroy evidence and discard it, from the crime scene. Also read: Wife Accidentally Kills Husband in Utah But Further Investigation Reveals a Different Story What the police found the murder scene Police arrived after getting the 911 call from the concerned neighbour. What they saw was 31-year-old Tony Butterfield in the backyard, dead from a gunshot to the body. But Johnson was not satisfied with shooting Tony in cold-blood. He went in and shot his wife, 30-year-old Katherine Butterfield. She died not far from her husband inside their house. Apparently, the killer got scared off which was good because the children were unharmed. The kids, a six month old baby, a two year old toddler and a four year old, were seen safe upstairs. The investigators saw clues to a scuffle when Enoch and Tony struggled. Tony got shot for protecting his family. Enoch forced his entry into the Butterfield house based on evidence. The place was in disarray as the double murder suspect was looking for something to steal. The police released a photo of suspect Albert Enoch Johnson. Sergeant Holt said that Johnson did know the couple and it was not just a random crime. It is done with an intention. Related article: Disturbed Woman Beheads Mom, Then Carries Head in Bag Like Nothing Happened @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 2 1 of 2 Steve Gonzales, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Show More Show Less Bank of America has partnered with 23 Houston-area nonprofits to support local relief efforts related to the coronavirus pandemic. The bank has invested $1.4 million locally to help its partners provide basic and essential services such as rental assistance, medical services, homelessness prevention and hunger relief. Houston local nonprofits are doing incredible work supporting our residents in need and responding to significant challenges in the face of the coronavirus crisis, Bank of America Houston Market President Hong Ogle said in an announcement. By partnering with leading local nonprofits as they deploy critical resources to address some of the most basic and pressing needs, our Bank of America team is able to help make a difference in the communities we serve." More than 40 percent of New Jerseys coronavirus victims occupy nursing homes, and it is especially heart wrenching that the worst outbreaks and highest casualties occurred among those who risked their lives in defense of our country, brave souls lost to what could be appalling institutional failures. The torrent of tragedy in two of our states three veterans homes continued to build yesterday with 46 residents dying in Paramus and 34 in Menlo Park and most experts suspect lapses in infection protocols, the lack of supplies, staffing levels, and unprepared leadership. It is unclear whether there is a quantifiable difference in care at these veterans facilities vis-a-vis other long-term facilities, but one thing is certain: The failure of the largest hospital network in the US which serves 9 million vets, most of them older and at increased risk merits a massive untangling and the attention of anyone who values a veterans sacrifice. This crisis also demands a wider investigation to ascertain whether these outbreaks resulted from an atrocious federal response, inadequate funding, management failure on the local level, or a combination of all three. Accordingly, two members of our congressional delegation, Reps. Josh Gottheimer (5th Dist.) and Bill Pascrell (9th Dist.), began seeking answers from Veterans Affairs last week. They called on the VA to investigate whether these homes are adequately equipped and staffed. Gottheimer added yesterday that he has asked FEMA to allocate resources from the National Guard and Health and Human Services to make sure the VA homes are more secure, because it should be obvious that were in the eye of the storm here. There are other constructive measures that need quick execution. With VA staffers protesting dire shortages with signs that read, Say no to one mask per week, the supply-chain breakdown is criminal negligence. Production of personal protective equipment is still lagging, which could have been avoided had President Trump enforced the Defense Production Act and prioritized the manufacturing of masks, gowns, and gloves for all health care providers before April 2. Yet were still relying on citizens to supplement the need for billions of masks and other PPE. The state is in the process of sending surveyors out to facilities to determine whether they are compliant with outbreak protocols, but they should also examine whether the nursing staffs especially the scandalously underpaid Certified Nursing Aides, who are on the front lines of this war and often work multiple jobs are receiving adequate support. And while New Jersey health commissioner Judith Persichilli said Monday that there will be a much larger roll-out of testing at these facilities in the next two weeks, the condition of these facilities probably deserve a quicker reaction. On a federal level, it is critical to learn why the VA did not issue a Covid response plan until March 23. That means it was only one month ago that hospitals were instructed to use dedicated employees to care for COVID-19 patients. Gottheimer asks, How many caregivers were going from a COVID wing to a non-COVID wing in these nursing homes? Indeed, many questions go to the top. Bloomberg News reported Saturday that the political appointees who ran the VA known as the Mar-A-Lago 3 because they frequented the Trump resort rejected funding from Congress in early March to buy protective gear for medical staff at its 170 hospitals and 1,074 clinics. Right now we don't have a President but a man pretending to be a President for a TV audience. My op-ed in the Ledger today unpacks what America needs now and my anger at what we're getting. https://t.co/Jon1xZpEW9 Bill Pascrell, Jr. (@BillPascrell) March 25, 2020 The Wall Street Journal published an internal memo that said the VA only has a two-week supply of masks on hand. Another report from Government Executive magazine said the VA has forced staffers exposed to the virus to work, and threatened to withhold pay for those who stayed home. One staffer at a New Jersey VA facility even told the Bergen Record that there was no training for a pandemic, and that workers were initially told not to wear masks or glove because it would scare the residents. Sen. Joe Vitale, the Health Committee Chairman, hopes that all 375 long-term care sites re-examine their Covid response. He reminds us that the 2018 Wanaque Center disaster the viral spread of an adenovirus that took the lives of 11 children and infected 36 more should have been an alarm bell, particularly after inspectors found that infection control guidelines were not followed. Wanaque was a textbook failure, a fire drill for the next thing, he said. This is the next thing. Vitale responded with a bill that required every LTC to have a comprehensive outbreak response plan, with penalties for non-compliance. It was signed by Gov. Murphy last August. Since then, Vitale has reached this conclusion: Leaving compliance up to the owners of these nursing homes does not work. No one can be completely prepared for this catastrophe. But we can give relief to the suffering, comfort to the families of those we lost, support for the healers, and assurances that we will learn from the mistakes along the way. The time to start is now. Sign up for text message alerts from NJ.com on coronavirus in New Jersey: Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. If you would like updates on New Jersey-specific coronavirus news, subscribe to our Coronavirus in N.J. newsletter. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. NEW ORLEANS The man convicted of killing former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith has asked for a new trial because the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that split verdicts are unconstitutional in state criminal cases. Appeal attorney Eric Santana filed a request Wednesday asking for a new trial for Cardell Hayes based on the 6-3 decision handed down Monday, news outlets reported. Jurors split 10-2 when they found Hayes guilty in 2017 of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter in a shooting that also injured Smith's wife, Raquel Smith, after a traffic accident a year earlier. Smith was on the Saints team that lifted the citys spirits after Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005 and won the 2010 Super Bowl. Image: Cardell Hayes in a booking photo released by the New Orleans Police Department (New Orleans Police Department / Reuters file) Hayes, a former semi-pro lineman who owned a tow-truck company, said he shot in self-defense, after Smith shot at him. A state appeals court rejected that argument. But on Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that criminal state court verdicts must be unanimous and that such cases that are still under direct appeal are eligible for a new trial. Santana wrote that because Hayes' case "is in the pipeline, he is eligible for relief, WWL-TV reported. District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro said Hayes' appeals ran out when the Louisiana Supreme Court refused without comment on March 9 to hear the case, The Times-Picayune / The New Orleans Advocate reported. The request for a new trial said Hayes is well within the 90 days allowed to ask for a U.S. Supreme Court hearing after the state's high court rules. Hayes was 29 when he was sentenced in April 2017 to 25 years in prison for Will Smith's death and 15 for wounding Raquel Smith, to run at the same time. Surveillance video from the night of the shooting showed Smith's Mercedes SUV possibly bumping Hayes Hummer, then driving off. Hayes followed them and rammed his vehicle into Smith's. Both then got out and argued in the street. Tajik Father Stunned By Son's Arrest In Germany On Terror Charges By Farangis Najibullah, Mahmudjon Rahmatzoda April 22, 2020 KULOB, Tajikistan -- Vali Karimov, a taxi driver from the southern Tajik district of Muminobod, thought his son was living a respectable life in Germany with a wife he met there and the two children they've had together. That all changed on April 16 when Tajik investigators knocked on their door to ask about his 24-year-old son, Sunatulloh Karimov. That's when the family learned that Sunatulloh was one of five Tajiks arrested in Germany for allegedly plotting Islamic State (IS) terrorist attacks. In fact, the news of their arrests -- announced by German prosecutors on April 15 -- also came as a surprise to the authorities in Tajikistan. That's because the suspects had never been listed by the domestic security services as potential terrorists, sources say. Vali Karimov tells RFE/RL that his son moved to Germany in 2016 and married a "German" woman there. The third of Vali Karimov's four children, Sunatuloh was born and raised in the remote rural district of Muminobod near the border with Afghanistan. His father says Sunatulloh left their village for Tajikistan's capital, Dushanbe, in search of work in 2012 because the family didn't have enough money for him to continue his studies. Still a teenager, Sunatulloh found a job at a private shop selling automobile parts in Dushanbe. According to his father, Sunatulloh also became interested in learning languages and became "quite fluent in English and Russian." Sunatulloh traveled to Germany four times along with his Dushanbe-based business partner between 2012 and 2016 to restock the shop, his father recalls. 'We Call Her Aisha' Sunatulloh's last business trip to Germany was in 2016. But he didn't return home. Instead, Sunatulloh told his parents that he'd decided to stay in Germany permanently. Back in Tajikistan, Sunatulloh's family knew little about his new life in Germany, other than a few scarce details he shared during telephone conversations. Sunatulloh told his parents that he met his future wife -- an intern at a dental clinic -- when he sought treatment for a toothache. He told them the woman converted to Islam and changed her name to Aisha. "We call her Aisha. We don't know what her original name was," Vali Karimov says about the daughter-in-law he has never met. Shocked by the news of Sunatulloh's arrest, his father says the family contacted Aisha for an explanation about what had happened. He says Aisha told them the arrest was a "mix-up" and that "he will be freed" soon. She also told the family not to worry. He says Aisha told them the couple had been due to move into an apartment under a German social-housing project following the birth of their second child. Until his arrest, Sunatulloh was believed to be still actively involved in his old business in Dushanbe, sending spare parts from Germany. RFE/RL obtained contact details for Sunatulloh's business associate, identified by sources as Nurmuhammad M. But he did not respond to phone calls and has not been present at his workplace for several days. Alleged Leader Of IS Cell The government in Dushanbe hasn't publicly commented on the arrests. Tajik officials and diplomats say they have yet to receive official notification from Germany about the case. But Tajik sources told RFE/RL that law enforcement agencies in the Central Asian country began their own investigation after international media reported about the arrests. Those sources said there were still many things that domestic intelligence services do not know about the five suspects arrested in Germany. German prosecutors have released only the first names and last initials of the suspects -- identifying them as Azizjon B., Farhodshoh K., Muhammadali G., Sunatulloh K, and Ravshan B. and that they ranged in age from 24 to 32. German authorities also said Ravshan B. was thought to be the ringleader of an IS cell in Germany. Four of the suspects were arrested at different locations in the western German state of North Rhine Westphalia during police raids that involved some 350 officers early on April 15. German police said Ravshan B. has been in custody since March 15, 2019. Sources in Tajikistan told RFE/RL that the alleged ringleader's full name was Ravshan Boqiev. They said he had lived in Dushanbe prior to leaving for Russia several years ago. According to the German authorities, all of the suspects arrived in Germany as asylum seekers. North Rhine Westphalia Interior Minister Herbet Reul said German police "have had the suspects in [their] sights for a long time." German officials allege that the five men pledged allegiance to IS in January 2019 and had been getting instructions from two high-ranking IS figures in Syria and Afghanistan. The 30-year-old Boqiev is alleged to have been a contact person between a Germany-based cell and IS. He also allegedly distributed instructions to the others on how to make explosive devices. German news weekly Der Spiegel has reported that Boqiev came to the attention of the German intelligence services in December 2018. German officials say the group's initial plan was to return to Tajikistan to stage terrorist attacks there. But authorities charge that the suspects subsequently decided to plot attacks in Germany on U.S. military facilities and on an unnamed individual that the group deemed as being critical of Islam. The German officials say the suspects had already started collecting firearms, ammunition, and bomb-making materials. They say they also began surveillance of their potential targets. Authorities said the men collected money in Germany to finance their terrorist plans and to send to IS extremists fighting in Syria. Boqiev also accepted $40,000 to carry out an assassination in Albania, according to German media reports. Those reports say Boqiev and an accomplice traveled to Albania to carry out the contract killing, but returned to Germany after their plan failed. Many Unknowns Back in southern Tajikistan, Vali Karimov says he doesn't know anything about Boqiev or the other alleged associates of his son in Germany. RFE/RL has established that a third suspect is Muhammadali Ghulomov from the Rudaki district, about 17 kilometers south of Dushanbe. RFE/RL correspondents have yet to obtain further information about Ghulomov and his life in Tajikistan. Nothing is yet known about the other two suspects, identified as Azizjon B. and Farhodshoh K. Germany's Federal Public Prosecutor says the suspects are currently in pretrial detention and that each is being represented by defense lawyers. Tajikistan's IS Connections The government in Dushanbe says about 2,000 Tajik nationals have traveled to Syria and Iraq in recent years to join IS militants. Some of them have returned to Tajikistan, taking advantage of an amnesty offered by the government. Dozens of IS extremists were captured by Iraqi, Syrian, Kurdish, and Turkish forces after the fall of the militant group in Syria and Iraq. The exact number of Tajiks killed in fighting and air strikes is not known. Some Tajik nationals are thought to have joined an IS affiliate in neighboring Afghanistan, while the IS group has claimed responsibility for the killing of four Western cyclists in Tajikistan in July 2018. Deadly riots at Tajik prisons in November 2018 and May 2019 have also been claimed by the IS group. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/tajik-father- stunned-by-sons-arrest-in-germany-as -alleged-terrorist/30570541.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 (Bloomberg Opinion) -- Israels new coalition government seems to be contemplating massive annexations of occupied Palestinian territories in the coming weeks. The person dictating the timetable may not be an Israeli at all, but President Donald Trump. Article 29 of the national unity government agreement between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus Likud party and Benny Gantzs Blue and White coalition explicitly opens the door to annexations. Trumps so-called Peace to Prosperity proposal announced on Jan 28 gave Israel license to permanently appropriate all existing settlements in the West Bank, plus the strategically crucial Jordan Valley. This would completely encircle any potential Palestinian entity within a greater Israeli state. Netanyahu, fighting not only for reelection but also to avoid a criminal trial on corruption charges, leapt at the chance to announce that he would immediately annex much of the West Bank. Trump and his son-in-lawand advisor on the Middle EastJared Kushner warned Netanyahu to wait. Gantz adopted an incoherent policy in favor of annexation but only in coordination with the international community, whatever that means. During weeks of negotiations to form a government, Gantz insisted his party would not support unilateral annexation. But the new agreement marks his complete capitulation. Netanyahu appears determined to go forward for personal, political and ideological reasons. And Gantz is no longer inclined to stop him. There is an additional incentive for Netanyahu and his allies to move quickly: Trump is in big trouble politically. The coronavirus pandemic has decimated the U.S. economy, depriving the president of his main reelection pitch, and his poll numbers are sinking badly. Moreover, he will have to face the centrist veteran Joe Biden, a more formidable opponent than the avowedly socialist Bernie Sanders. None of the leading Democrats have embraced the Trump proposal. So it would be reasonable for Netanyahu to conclude that this opportunity for Israel to seize large swaths of Palestinian territory with American approval may never be on offer again. Once the deed is done, it would be extremely difficult for another president, whether Biden or anyone else, to force an Israeli withdrawal. Story continues Netanyahu may be willing to bear the costs annexation would impose on Israel, including another bloody conflagration with the Palestinians, serious damage to relations with Jordan, for long Israels closest ally in the Arab world. He may be willing to risk recent improvements in relations with other Arab states. If anything gives the prime minister pause, it may be the knowledge that annexation would create another major headache for Trump, who has plenty of crises on his plate right now. Trump may not care if there is an explosion of Palestinian anger, and the Arab states are unlikely to direct their anger at him. But an annexation drive would set off a debate within the U.S. over the nature of American support for Israel, which is neither in the interest of the president nor of the prime minister. Few Democrats, including Jewish supporters of Israel, favor the annexation plan; internationalist Republicans in the Senate are also skeptical. On the eve Trumps re-election bid, it would be politically awkward to abandon a decades-long bipartisan consensus for a two-state solution, with very limited domestic support and widespread anxiety about the consequences. Much depends now on the signal Trump sends to Netanyahu. A green light would allow Israel to move rapidly on annexation, with only the current coronavirus crisis serving as any kind of brake. A clear red light is unlikely: It would be hard for Trump, having essentially endorsed annexation earlier this year, to now do a volte-face. But he might be able to hold up the process by asking Netanyahu to wait for the Israeli-American mapping committeewhich is to determine exactly which areas of the occupied West Bank Israel can be permanently annexedto complete its task. The committees deliberations can then be dragged out until Trump feels politically secure enough. A third possibility is a flashing yellow. Trump might quietly encourage Netanyahu to take something small for now, like the Israeli settlement of Maale Adumim, which most Palestinians assume will eventually become part of Israel anyway. This would set the precedent, both in Israel and in Washington, without actually setting off a conflagration. Having thus laid the groundwork at little political cost, Trump and Kushner could make the annexations a second-term project. That might make the implementation of Article 29 of the Netanyahu-Gantz deal contingent on the outcome of the U.S. election in November. The question is whether the prime minister and his hardliners are prepared to risk waiting. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Hussein Ibish is a senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. 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. [April 23, 2020] FreeCast's SelectTV Adds RT, The Hope Channel, and More Networks from the European Television Guild ORLANDO, Fla., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- FreeCast is pleased to announce the addition of several channels to the company's SmartGuide thanks to an expanded partnership with the European Television Guild. The channels, including The Hope Channel, Esperanza TV, RT (formerly Russia Today), RT en Espanol, RT Documentary, and SonLife Broadcasting are now available on the company's flagship SelectTV service and other television systems powered by the company's SmartGuide. The Hope Channel and Esperanza TV are distributed to millions of faith-based audiences through online distribution platforms, cable, broadcast, and satellite platforms globally. RT is an award winning global, round-the-clock news network of eight TV channels, broadcasting news, current affairs, and documentaries. RT has a total weekly audience of 100 million viewers in 47 of the 100+ countries where RT broadcasts are available. The European Television Guild is a leading voice in the television and OTT spaces, providing consulting service to clients around the world and publishing Rapid TV News, an industry news outlet that FreeCast has been a long-time consumer of and contributor to. CEO William Mobley of FreeCast talked about the role that his company can play in distributing these types of networks to new audiences: "This is really the big advantage of online distribution. A service like ours can cater very effectively to specialized channels, in a way that big cable and satellite providers or even broadcast TV cannot. So from religious networks to international and foreign language programming, our platform is fantastic for connecting the right viewers with the right content." https://FreeCast.com https://EuroTVGuild.com https://SelectTV.com This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/freecasts-selecttv-adds-rt-the-hope-channel-and-more-networks-from-the-european-television-guild-301045865.html SOURCE FreeCast [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts vacated the decades-old case against Anthony Mazza, who was found guilty of killing and robbing a man in Boston in the 70s. Mazza was convicted in 1973 of strangling Peter Armata to death in the summer of 1972, stealing some of the victims belongings and attempting to use his credit card, according to court records. New evidence cast doubt about Armatas guilt, though. The states key witness, Robert Anderson, had lied about Mazzas role in the mans death, and a recently discovered statement a witness made to police that provided details incriminating Anderson, Justice Kimberly S. Budd wrote in her ruling. Over the course of 35 years, Mazza filed a series of motions for a new trial. On Tuesday, his sixth appeal for a retrial - which was previously denied by the SJC in 2011 - was granted, reversing the courts earlier decision and vacating Mazzas first-degree murder and robbery convictions. The case against the defendant was far from overwhelming. Robert, an admitted participant in handling, controlling, and plotting to dispose of the victims body, was the only witness who maintained that the defendant was guilty of murder, Budd said. The case against Mazza almost entirely relied on the testimony of Anderson, who claimed that shortly before 3 a.m. on July 1, 1971, he walked into his Dorchester apartment to find Mazza inside standing over Armatas body, according to Budds ruling. Andersons brother, William, later testified at trial that when he went to Roberts apartment on July 2, Robert unlocked his closet door to show William the victims body. Robert also gave William a ring belonging to Armata, Budd wrote in her ruling. William told police on July 10, 1972 that when he visited Roberts apartment, his brother asked for help moving Armatas body and gave William a knife to cut a nylon stocking wrapped around the victims mouth. William refused, according to court documents. When William continued to resist helping with the body, Robert said he planned to put it in the automobile and dump it in the river. He did not tell William how the body came to be there. William then departed and never saw the body again, Budds ruling said. Budd wrote that Mazza did not receive Williams statement to police until 2005. The jury could have reached a different verdict about his guilt had the evidence been admitted at trial, she said. Indeed, Williams statement contained highly inculpatory details of Roberts handling of the victims body, details that were not mentioned in Williams testimony and that would have been particularly beneficial to the defendants case, Budd wrote. The justice noted that Robert Andersons reliability as a witness was put into question during his cross-examination at Mazzas trial. Many times, Anderson gave different answers to the same question, according to Budd. Mazzas attorney at one point asked Anderson whether he knew the difference between telling the truth and lying to which he later answered he did not. Anderson claimed he did not know whether his previous testimony was real or fabricated, court documents said. Outside of Roberts testimony, the Commonwealths case against the defendant consisted of an eyewitness identification of the defendant near the scene on the same night as the killing, and the defendants subsequent possession of the victims drivers license and bank identification card and attempted use of his credit card," Budd wrote. She added that Mazza had an alibi the night Armata was killed. William Atwood, who shared an apartment with Mazza, testified in 1973 that he and Mazza were going to multiple bars and restaurants the night Armata was killed. Atwood claimed the two returned to their apartment around the time Anderson alleged he saw Mazza standing over the victims body, Budd wrote. According to Atwoods testimony, the following morning, Anderson shook Mazza awake and started bragging about having convinced a guy to [go to] his house who he later killed and robbed, the justices ruling said. Related Content: KardiaMobile 6L Device By combining AliveCors advanced technology with our proven software and workflow platform, we are enabling our customers to continue developing new medical treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of whether trial patients have physical access to investigative site personnel ERT, a global data and technology company that captures critical endpoint data while minimizing uncertainty and risk in clinical trials, today announced a first-of-its-kind partnership with AliveCor, the leader in AI-based, personal ECG technology. The partnership enables ERT to capture digital cardiac safety data with KardiaMobile 6L, the only FDA-cleared personal ECG for patient-administered 6-lead data collection. By combining AliveCors advanced technology with our proven software and workflow platform, we are enabling our customers to continue developing new medical treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of whether trial patients have physical access to investigative site personnel, said Ellen Street, Executive Vice President of Cardiac Safety of ERT. The devices ease of use, combined with ERTs centralized overread and data collection methodology make it an ideal solution for ensuring patient safety during ongoing clinical trials. KardiaMobile 6L is a hand-held, 6-lead personal ECG that records Lead II data without the attachment of electrodes. Data captured from the device will be integrated into ERTs software and workflow platform and read by ERT cardiologists to ensure patient safety during the clinical development of new medical treatments. ERT provides high quality measurements for QTc, QRS, and other ECG intervals that enable efficacy and safety monitoring during clinical trials. ERTs experience in analyzing millions of ECGs and their dedication to patient safety make them the gold standard in clinical trial cardiac safety assessment, said Priya Abani, CEO of AliveCor. We look forward to this partnership and to delivering the innovative solutions and valuable data that clinical trial sponsors require. Click here to learn more about ERTs virtual clinical trial capabilities. About ERT ERT is a global data and technology company that minimizes uncertainty and risk in clinical trials so that its customers can move ahead with confidence. With nearly 50 years of clinical and therapeutic experience, ERT balances knowledge of what works with a vision for whats next, so it can adapt without compromising standards. Powered by the companys EXPERT technology platform, ERTs solutions enhance trial oversight, enable site optimization, increase patient engagement and measure the efficacy of new clinical treatments while ensuring patient safety. In 2019, 75% of all FDA drug approvals came from ERT-supported studies. Pharma companies, biotechs and CROs have relied on ERT solutions across 15,000 studies, spanning more than four million patients to date. By identifying trial risks before they become problems, ERT enables customers to bring clinical treatments to patients quickly and with confidence. For more information, go to ert.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. About AliveCor AliveCor, Inc. is transforming cardiological care using deep learning. The FDA-cleared KardiaMobile 6L device is the most clinically validated personal ECG solution in the world. KardiaMobile provides instant detection of Atrial Fibrillation, Bradycardia, Tachycardia, and Normal rhythm in an ECG. Kardia is the first AI enabled platform to aid patients and clinicians in the early detection of atrial fibrillation, the most common arrhythmia and one associated with a highly elevated risk of stroke. AliveCor's enterprise platform allows third party providers to manage their patients and customers' heart conditions simply and profitably using state-of-the-art tools that provide easy front-end and back-end integration to AliveCor technologies. AliveCor was named the No.1 artificial intelligence company in Fast Company's Top 50 Most Innovative Companies. AliveCor is a privately-held company headquartered in Mountain View, Calif. "Consumer" or "Personal" ECGs are ECG devices available for direct sale to consumers. For more information, visit alivecor.com. Britain faced calls to accept its share of lone migrant children stuck in Greek camps last night after a string of European cities vowed to take in thousands. Barcelona, Amsterdam and Nuremberg were among the cities that said yesterday they were 'stepping up' to take a 'fair share' of more than 5,000 unaccompanied minors. Labour peer Lord Dubs, himself a former child refugee, led calls for Britain to follow suit. He told the Mail: 'This is a great development and it's the humanitarian thing to do. It gives these children, who are living in a terrible and dangerous situation, a chance at life.' Refugee kids with masks in the crowded Moria Detention Center, there is no possibility of social distancing. The masks are given by Danish NGO, Team Humanity It comes after the Mail highlighted the plight of children in squalid conditions on the Greek island of Lesbos, calling on Brussels to do more. Lord Dubs, who arrived in the UK in 1939 after fleeing the Nazis, added: 'We are not the worst country in Europe, but we can do a lot better. Charities say conditions have worsened for migrant children amid the coronavirus crisis, with lockdowns on camps leading to an increase in violence. In a joint letter to European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, the mayors of the ten cities in the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium and Germany wrote: 'We can provide these children with what they now so urgently need: to get out of there, to have a home, to be safe, to have access to medical care and to be looked after by dedicated people.' The pledges are subject to agreement by the countries' governments. But children could start arriving in Germany within two weeks as Berlin has already agreed to take in unaccompanied minors from Greek camps. EU leaders have failed to agree reforms to the bloc's asylum policy for more than three years, with charities saying the deadlock has let conditions worsen. A migrant family wearing handmade protective face masks stand next to their tent in the camp of Moria in the island of Lesbos on March 28, 2020 as the country is under lockdown Countries on the front line, such as Greece and Italy, have for years been calling for the EU27 countries to take a fairer share. Beth Gardiner-Smith, of charity Safe Passage International, called on the UK to join the initiative, saying 1,400 places had been identified. She said: 'At times of international crisis the UK has a track record in leading by example and offering sanctuary to some of the most vulnerable refugees. 'With increased risk to children in overcrowded camps due to Covid-19, that UK leadership is needed today.' Between 2010 and last year, Britain took in 41,396 asylum seekers and refugees under 18. A woman helps a child with a mask after members of NGO "Team Humanity" gave out handmade protective face masks to migrants and refugees in the camp of Moria But only 27 per cent of these, or 11,338, were lone children. In December the Mail revealed how thousands of youngsters in the Moria camp, in Lesbos, were being exposed to violence, forced to go without medicine and bed down in paper-thin tents in freezing temperatures. Yesterday Dr Apostolos Veizis, director of medical programmes in Greece for Medecins Sans Frontieres, said the Greek government's lockdown on camps had caused violence, explaining: 'You have people spending more time together in a crowded situation and of course, if you have lack of resources that brings an increase of violence over those resources and between the different communities, including domestic violence but also sexual violence.' Princess Leonor of Spain and sister Princess Sofia made a rare appearance via video link today, to read a famous piece of Spanish literature from Zarzuela Palace in Madrid. King Felipe and Queen Letizia's eldest daughter and first-in-line to the throne Leonor, 14, kicked off the story, as she joined sister Sofia, 12, on a plush cream sofa in their home. Dressed in a pink and blue blouse and white and black jeans, the siblings - who haven't been seen since the coronavirus pandemic - were perfectly poised as they read an extract to camera. The reading of the famous novel was organised by Circle of Fine Arts, to pay tribute to those at the frontline of Covid-19 and to the author Miguel de Cervantes and the most universal work written in Spanish. Princess Leonor of Spain and sister Princess Sofia made a rare appearance via video link today, to read a famous piece of Spanish literature from Zarzuela Palace in Madrid King Felipe and Queen Letizia's eldest daughter and first-in-line to the throne Leonor, 14, kicked off the story wearling a pale shirt and white jeans The novel, published in two parts, in 1605 and 1615, is described as the most influential piece of literature published in the Spanish Golden Age and the entire Spanish literary canon. Labelled 'the first modern novel', Don Quixote centres around character Alonso Quixano who attempts to become a knight and revive chivalry under the name Don Quixote de la Mancha, after reading too many romantic novels. This is the first time Spain's youngest princess - who turns 13 next week - has been heard reading, and a rare glimpse inside their home. Leonor and Sofia haven't been spotted since last February 3 , when they accompanied their parents to the opening session of the new legislature in Congress. The pair have been attending online classes after their school was shut down on March 11, when a case of coronavirus was detected there. King Felipe and Queen Letizia's eldest daughter and first-in-line to the throne Leonor, 14, kicked off the story, as she joined sister Sofia, 12, on a plush cream sofa in their home Last week millions of Spain's non-essential workers, such as factory and construction personnel, were allowed to resume their jobs after a two-week ban. The two-week 'hibernation' of non-essential business was imposed on March 30, making the lockdown even tougher than in Britain where people have been able to travel if they cannot work from home. Police were handing out millions of masks at Spanish metro stations last week as some people returned to work, although the wider coronavirus lockdown remains in force. Like many other European royals, Letizia, 47, and Felipe, 52, have adapted to carrying out engagements remotely as their country deals with the coronavirus crisis. This is the first time Spain's youngest princess Leonor - who turns 13 next week - has been heard reading, and a rare glimpse inside their home 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) - Commerzbank looks for silver prices to rise in the second half of the year and reiterated its 2020 outlook for $18-an-ounce metal by the end of 2020, according to a report released Thursday. Silver weakened early in 2020 due to its role as an industrial metal, Commerzbank said. Industrial base metals like copper also fell sharply on worries that the COVID-19 pandemic would hurt demand as the economy weakens. However, silver eventually began acting like a precious metal again, Commerzbank said, with strong demand coming from exchange-traded funds. As soon as the coronavirus or pandemic is under control, the global economy should recover, which we expect to happen in the second half of the year, said the Commerzbank report, written by analyst Daniel Briesemann. As a precious metal with an industrial character, silver should also benefit from this. In line with the recovery in base-metals prices that we expect, silver prices should also rise accordingly if industrial demand regains strength. Since gold should not fall significantly or sustainably, we see silver as being supported from this side as well. The bank called for silver prices to average $16 an ounce in the second quarter, $17 in the third and $18 in the fourth. As of 9:30 a.m. EDT, spot metal was at $15.25 an ounce. Inflows into silver-backed ETFs have totaled 714 metric tons so far in April, a rise of 3.5%, Commerzbank said, citing Bloomberg data. ETFs trade like a stock but track the price of the commodity, with metal put into storage to back the shares. Since the beginning of the year, the inflows into silver ETFs now add up to 2,021 tons (+10.7%), which corresponds to just under a month of global silver mine production, Commerzbank said. Holdings are thus at a record high of almost 21,000 tons. For the whole of last year, inflows amounted to a good 2,570 tons, which was itself a high figure (the largest inflows in 10 years). ETF buying interest has thus risen sharply again this year. Investors were attracted to silver both due to its low price that hit an 11-year low in March, as well as the metals underperformance against gold, Commerzbank said. The gold-silver ratio got as high as 124 last month, meaning it took 124 ounces of silver to buy an ounce of gold, the bank pointed out. It was precisely at this point that the above-mentioned inflows into silver ETFs began, which we believe underscores the attractiveness of silver, the bank continued. Commerzbank said retail investors, rather than institutional ones, tend to buy silver and silver ETFs. Analysts expect these buyers to hang onto their holdings, as in the past. So from this side, there should not be much selling pressure on silver, they said. Meanwhile, speculators in the futures market have low net-bullish positioning. Thus should they jump on the bandwagon, silvers price rise may intensify, Commerzbank said. Demand for silver coins has also been strong, the bank continued, noting that U.S. Mint sales in March of 5.5 million ounces were the most since January 2016. However, the bank added, coin sales only account for a small part of silver demand compared to the ETF inflows. Analysts cited a Silver Institute report Wednesday calling for industrial demand to be weaker in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This consumption accounts for roughly half of all silver demand. However, investment demand is expected to rise, while mine supply is expected to decline, with a number of temporary mine closures occurring over the last couple of months. Thus, the consultancy Metals Focus, which compiles data for the Silver Institute report, looks for the supply/demand surplus to fall to around 14.7 million ounces this year from 31.3 million last year. A day after landing in Borstal Jail in Ludhiana, an inmate attempted to end his life by hanging himself. The inmate was identified as Jaspal Singh of Jalandhar. The jail staff rescued him and rushed him to the hospital. Sensing his critical condition, the doctors referred him to Christian Medical College and Hospital, where his condition was stated as serious. The Jalandhar police had arrested him for drug peddling and sent him to jail on Wednesday. On the same afternoon, he went to the bathroom and hanged himself with the grille with his Parna (a piece of cloth that is wrapped around the head). The jail officials saw him and raised an alarm. They cut the cloth and rescued him. Mohammad Shareef, superintendent of Borstal Jail, said, I informed the police about the incident for further proceedings. I am also investigating to know about the reason behind this extreme step. At least 10,700 deaths nationwide have been linked to coronavirus outbreaks in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, a staggering rise in just the past two weeks. The latest count is up from about 3,621 deaths reported just ten days ago with some states revealing that more than 50 percent of total coronavirus deaths were linked to a nursing home. There have been more than 4,800 facilities hit across at least 35 states and infections of residents and staffers now exceeds 56,000. But the true toll among the one million mostly frail and elderly people who live in such facilities is likely much higher, experts say, because most state counts don't include those who died without ever being tested for COVID-19 or facilities have not reported all deaths suspected to have a link. Industry experts have warned that greater access to testing is drastically needed for residents and staffers to detect and curb outbreaks as patient advocates call for more transparency for families. Pictured is Gene Campbell, 89, who contracted coronavirus disease at Life Care Center of Kirkland, the country's first hotspot, in early March but left hospital on Monday. National coronavirus infections of care home residents and staffers now exceeds 56,000 Judie Shape, center, who has tested positive for the COVID-19 coronavirus visits with her family outside the window on March 11 at Life Care Center in Kirkland, Washington. The care home was the first to be hit by coronavirus but now more than 4,800 are affected Medical workers load a patient from Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation Center in New Jersey. Care homes in the state have been some of the hardest hit with more than 1,000 deaths reported among residents and staff who tested positive or were suspected to have the virus A Wall Street Journal survey has found that there have been at least 10,700 deaths in care facilities across more than 35 states where information was made available. Facilities in the north east have been the hardest hit with New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey reporting more than 1,000 coronavirus-linked deaths among residents and staffers. Nursing home deaths account for a startling majority in states such as Massachusetts where efforts are being made to ramp up testing. The hard-hit state reported Wednesday that 55 percent of its 2,182 coronavirus-linked deaths were in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Of these, at least 55 were residents in a veterans' nursing home in Holyoke. The number could be even higher, however, as the state only reports cases in these facilities when the resident is a confirmed positive case. In New Jersey, which has reported 2,050 deaths linked to care facilities, both confirmed cases and those suspected of being related to coronavirus are included in the final tally. The fatality rate for nursing home residents is even higher in Minnesota were 131 of the state's total 179 deaths are linked to long-term care facilities. Exact numbers on deaths in such facilities are not available in states such as Ohio and Washington where data has not been reported. The Life Care Center of Kirkland in Seattle, Washington, was the country's first coronavirus hotspot linked to at least 40 deaths. Some states such as California are reporting details on facilities while others may report nursing-home and assisted-living centers but exclude numbers from other adult-care centers. A recent move to release more information on facilities in New York, Florida and California came as patient advocates and others protested against the lack of transparency for families. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced at the weekend that it would now require coronavirus cases in homes to be reported directly to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and it plans to make information available on its Nursing Home Compare site for families in the future. Adrina Rodriguez (L) talks with a nurse through a window as she visits her father who is a patient at the Gateway Care and Rehabilitation Center in California on April 14. Patient advocates have called for greater transparency for families regarding coronavirus infections Members of an Infection Control Team from the Georgia Army National Guard disinfect the Wellstar Atherton Place senior care facility from possible contamination of the coronavirus on Monday. More than 10,700 coronavirus deaths across the country are linked to care homes Yet the extent of the outbreak in facilities is still unclear as a lack of testing has left more homes vulnerable to exposure. With the lack of testing for staff, and visitors including family banned, it is thought that outbreaks may have been caused by staff members positive for coronavirus who were not showing symptoms. 'If we don't know where it is, and we don't identify the asymptomatic residents and staff, then we have no ability to implement effective infection prevention and curb the transmission,' said Morgan Katz, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University. She warned that in testing she had administered, 60 to 70 percent of care home residents who tested positive haven't had obvious Covid-19 symptoms The lack of testing is a major cause of concern for Cobble Hill Health Center in Brooklyn where 55 deaths have been tied to coronavirus. The New York facility has become yet another glaring example of the nation's struggle to control the rapid spread of the coronavirus in nursing homes that care for the most frail and vulnerable. EMTs wheel a man out of the Cobble Hill Health Center nursing home during an ongoing outbreak of the coronavirus disease on April 17. There are now at least 55 deaths at the home Ambulance workers pickup an elderly man from Cobble Hill Health Center, the nursing home in New York that recently registered an alarming amount of Covid-19 deaths The nursing home's death toll has surpassed not only Kirkland's but the 49 deaths at a home outside of Richmond, Virginia, 55 dead at a veteran's home in Holyoke, Mass., and five other homes in outer boroughs of New York City that have at least 40 deaths each. 'We had great difficulty in obtaining tests for our residents,' Donny Tuchman, chief executive of Cobble Hill Health Center, told the Wall Street Journal. A greater access to testing will also allow homes to decide on a reopening plan. If states are to begin opening up businesses in the coming weeks, bans on visitors to homes could be maintained if the risk of a further outbreak is present. As it stands, the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requires nursing homes to tightly restrict who is allowed inside with family members banned even if residents are sick or dying. 'In nursing homes, we definitely need better testing before we can reopen, and until we have that, they should not be on the list,' said Patricia Stone, a professor at the Columbia University School of Nursing. States such as Massachusetts and West Virginia have attempted to increase testing as the deaths in facilities worsened in an attempt to curb the spread. Massachusetts attempted a self-testing drive with the help pf the National Guard in early April but less than a third of kits were returned and many that were could not be properly tested due to leakages and other issues. On Friday, West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice issued an executive order that all resident and staffs in nursing homes would be tested. Rajesh Kumar Thakur By Express News Service PATNA: Days after poll strategist Prashant Kishor questioned the issuance of the pass to a BJP MLA to bring back his son from Kota, Bihar BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand on Thursday accused Kishor of illegally travelling to Kolkata. Anand accused Kishor of illegally travelling from Delhi to Kolkata by hiding in a cargo flight amid the nation-wide lockdown. "If the details of Prashant's visit are not made public, I will demand an inquiry," he said through a statement to the media. Although, Anand didn't mention the date of the journey but questioned Kishor, who gave him permission to travel amid the lockdown during this coronavirus pandemic. He also said that Prashant Kishor is not a medical worker, doctor, expert of any kind or even not a cargo pilot or co-pilot or baggage porter, then from which authority, he went Kolkata from Delhi. Anand categorically demanded that Kishor, the West Bengal government and Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee should make public the documents related to the permission for this visit. He further said that if the documents related to this visit were not made public, he will ask the Airport Authority of India and the Ministry of Civil Aviation to investigate this secret trip of Kishor. In response to the allegations, Kishor said: "Just ask him (Nikhil Anand) if true he should share the details. I mean which flight, when, from where to where? If he shows the details and that happens to be true, I will retire from public life. Or else people like him should apologies". The government has been urged to get spending projects "shovel ready" to help Northern Ireland construction firms get back on their feet after the lockdown. Research today says confidence has plummeted in the construction industry here with firms fearful about the impact of social distancing on their work. The report from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and law firm Tughans said members expect profit margins and workloads to fall because of the impact of the lockdown. Tim Kinney, a partner at Tughans, said the lockdown was having a profound impact on the sector's ability to work on site, as well as on the availability of labour and the supply of materials. "Government support measures are clearly vital at present and this may need to be stepped up in the weeks and months ahead," he said. "These are very difficult times, but it is important that everything possible is done to safeguard and protect the industry, its skills and its potential for the future." But Jim Sammon, a spokesman for RICS, said: "One of the key things government could do is to gear up for the post-lockdown period by working now to get as many projects shovel ready as possible for when that time comes." Members of RICS in Northern Ireland said they also expected hiring will come to a standstill over the next year. Many anticipate both workloads and profit margins to be lower this time next year. But the industry had been more upbeat in quarter one up until the lockdown, though the outlook became more gloomy afterwards. Up until then, workloads had improved, with both housing and private commercial projects up. The outlook was positive for private commercial work for the first time since the end of 2018. However, private industrial and infrastructure workloads were down. Mr Sammon said it may not be easy to return to where the industry had been pre-Covid-19 when the lockdown is eased, due to uncertainty about the state of the economy. IRGC shoots Iran's first military satellite into orbit Iran Press TV Wednesday, 22 April 2020 11:55 AM Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has successfully launched and placed the country's first military satellite into the orbit. The elite force fired the satellite dubbed Nour (Light)-1 aboard Qased (Carrier) satellite carrier during an operation that was staged in Dasht-e Kavir, Iran's sprawling central desert, on Wednesday, the Corps' Sepah News reported. The satellite was placed into the orbit 425 kilometers above Earth's surface. The Tasnim News Agency, meanwhile, carried a report outlining some details of the launch and the country's space activities. The report described Nour-1 as Iran's first multi-purpose satellite with application in the defense industry among other areas. The launch operation, it noted, was carried out by the IRGC's Aerospace Division from a launch station situated in the desert plain's Shahroud region. The report specified Qased as the country's first three-stage satellite launcher to successfully pass all its tests. The agency said the country's aerospace program was expected to gather pace following the launch. Over the next several years, it said, the country was expected to deploy its military space activities towards taking care of its relevant telecommunication purposes, including promotion of reconnaissance and safe communication capabilities. 'IRGC now a space force' Speaking on the launch, IRGC Chief Commander Major General Hossein Salami said, "Today, we can observe the world from space," congratulating Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and the Iranian people on the Islamic establishment's achievement. The launch, he said, served as an acknowledgment of the "empowerment approach" that has been advised by the Leader. General Salami noted that the development showed that the Islamic Republic was capable of securing "remarkable" achievements that warranted international acclaim in whatever area that the country would choose to explore. "The satellite's successful launch enhanced new aspects of the Islamic Republic's defensive might. By God's grace, the Corps turned into a space force today," the commander said. General Salami further characterized the achievement as a strategic gain that expanded "the realm of our capabilities." Setting foot in the space was a "necessity" for a powerful defense force like the IRGC, he added. The success translates into a "mutation" in expansion of the country's intelligence reach and command, General Salami said, noting that the orbiter could now come to the country's assistance in "intelligence warfare." Salami hailed that all the components of both the satellite and the carrier had been produced indigenously and despite the US's sanctions. The launch conveys the message that not only have the sanctions failed to impede Iran's progress, but have also "turned on the engine propelling the novel technologies that turn us into a great power in the region and on the international stage in the foreseeable future," the commander said. Leader congratulates IRGC on founding anniversary The announcement was made on the day when the elite military force is marking the anniversary of its establishment on April 22, 1979 upon an order by the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini. Marking the occasion, Ayatollah Khamenei expressed his gratitude towards the IRGC for its performance. IRGC General Mohammad Shirazi, the head of the Leader's Military Office, relayed the congratulatory message of the commander-in-chief of the Iranian Armed Forces to General Salami, the IRGC's chief commander. "Convey my regards to the IRGC personnel and their respectable families on the occasion of its founding anniversary," the message noted. "I extend gratitude to them for their good performance and efforts. My prayers are with them." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address No cause for panic, new media rules will benefit all: Javadekar Will raise our climate ambitions but not under pressure: Javadekar Now Ferraris and Lamborghinis can test in India: India gets Asias longest high speed track 'Cheap politics': BJP on Sonia Gandhi's remarks India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Apr 23: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday slammed Sonia Gandhi accusing her of "spreading the virus of communal hatred" at a time it should be fighting coronavirus pandemic. "We are not creating communal divisions. We are unitedly fighting COVID-19. We request them to not do cheap politics. They must not indulge in small politics," Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said, shortly after Sonia Gandhi took on the ruling party at a Congress leadership meet. In her opening remarks at a Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, Sonia Gandhi said the BJP was doing "grave damage" to social harmony when everyone should be fighting coronavirus unitedly. "Let me also share with you something that should worry each and every one of us as Indians. When we should be tackling the coronavirus unitedly, the BJP continues to spread the virus of communal prejudice and hatred," said the Congress chief. "Grave damage is being done to our social harmony. Our party, we will have to work hard to repair that damage", Gandhi also said. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and top Congress leaders attended the meeting through video conference. The law that took effect on April 21 states that a political force may refuse from state funding for a quarter; previously, the parties enjoyed the right to refuse from it until the end of their presence in the Parliament state budget Open source None of Ukrainian political parties turned to the NAPC, the National Agency for Prevention of Corruption on the matter of refusal from state funding. Oleksandr Novikov, the head of the National Agency for Prevention of Corruption said so in his interview for RBC-Ukraine. When the reporter asked if there were any statements from parties, including Servant of the People, which would ask to relieve them of the state funding, Novikov replied: "Not a single party turned to us". He also noted that until April 21, the parties enjoyed the right to refuse from being funded from state budget until the end of their presence in the Parliament. However, the law that took effect on April 21 states that a political force may refuse from state funding for a quarter. Previously, Servant of the People party claimed it would refuse from state funding of the party's activity in 2020, which is foreseen by the law. The overall sum allocated for the state funding of political parties in 2020 makes roughly 7.5 million U.S. dollars. How did hackers do it? FBI Sounds Warning Against BEC Attacks In a recent highly targeted BEC attack, hackers managed to trick three British private equity firms into wire-transferring a total of $1.3 million to the bank accounts fraudsters have access to while the victimized executives thought they closed an investment deal with some startups.According to the cybersecurity firm Check Point, who shared its latest investigation with The Hacker News, nearly $700,000 of the total wire transferred amount has permanently lost to the attackers, with the rest of the amount recovered after researchers alerted the targeted firms in time.Dubbed ',' the sophisticated cybercrime gang behind this attack, "seems to have honed their techniques over multiple attacks, from at least several years of activity and has proven to be a resourceful adversary, quickly adapting new situations," the researchers said.'The techniques they use, especially the lookalike domains technique, present a severe threat not only to the originally attacked organization but also to the third-parties with whom they communicated using the lookalike domain.'The security firm said previous spear-phishing campaigns launched by the same group of hackers mainly targeted the manufacturing, construction, legal, and finance sectors located in the US, Canada, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, and India, among others.The investigation follows Check Point's previous report published last December, which described a similar BEC (business email compromise) incident that resulted in the theft of $1 million from a Chinese venture capital firm.The amount, which was seed funding intended for an Israeli startup, was instead routed to a bank account under the attacker's control via a carefully-planned man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack.The fraud scheme, which has since caught three UK and Israeli based finance firms in the net, works by sending phishing emails to high profile individuals in the target organization to gain control of the account and carry out extensive reconnaissance to understand the nature of business and the key roles inside the company.In the next phase, the attackers tamper with the victim's Outlook mailbox by creating new rules that would divert relevant email to a different folder, such as the RSS Feeds folder, that's not commonly used by the individual in question.Aside from infiltrating the high-level corporate email account and monitoring messages, the hackers register separate lookalike domains that mimic the legitimate domains of the entities involved in the email correspondences they want to intercept, thus allowing them to perpetrate a MITM attack by sending emails from the fraudulent domains on behalf of the two parties.'For example, if there was a correspondence between 'finance-firm.com' and 'banking-service.com,' the attackers could register similar domains like 'finance-firms.com' and 'banking-services.com,' the team said.Put differently, the Florentine Banker group sent one mail each from the spoofed domains to the counterparty, thus inserting itself into the conversation and deceiving the recipient into thinking that the source of the email is legitimate.'Every email sent by each side was in reality sent to the attacker, who then reviewed the email, decided if any content needed to be edited, and then forwarded the email from the relevant lookalike domain to its original destination,' Check Point researchers said in a separate blog post on BEC scams Armed with this set-up, the attackers then begin injecting fraudulent bank account information (associated with accounts located in Hong Kong and the UK) in the emails to intercept money transfers and initiate new wire requests.Business email compromise (BEC) attacks have surged in recent years as organized cybercrime groups try to profit off email scams directed against big businesses.Last month, Palo Alto Networks' Unit 42 threat intelligence team examined BEC operations working out of Nigeria, uncovering that the group dubbed ' SilverTerrier ' carried out an average of 92,739 attacks a month in 2019.According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's 2019 Internet Crime Report , BEC-related scams alone accounted for 23,775 complaints amounting to losses of over $1.7 billion.In an advisory published by the FBI early this month, the agency warned of cybercriminals conducting BEC attacks through cloud-based email services, adding the scams cost US businesses more than $2.1 billion between 2014 and 2019.'Cybercriminals analyze the content of compromised email accounts for evidence of financial transactions,' the FBI warned. 'Often, the actors configure mailbox rules of a compromised account to delete key messages. They may also enable automatic forwarding to an outside email account.'The bureau also issued a separate warning highlighting how crooks are updating the profitable scam technique to capitalize on the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and perform fraudulent wire transfers.In the face of such ongoing threats, it's recommended that users turn on two-factor authentication to secure their accounts and ensure fund transfer and payment requests are verified through phone calls confirming the transaction.For more guidance on how to mitigate the risk, head to the FBI's alert here Congress is approving still more money to address the health and economic fallout of the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic. But the pandemic rages on - claiming a disproportionate number of lives among staff and residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, and jeopardizing the lives and livelihoods of health care providers and patients alike with problems not related to COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. And the messaging from the White House is getting even more confusing as President Donald Trump and his science advisers seem to have different playbooks. This week's panelists are Julie Rovner of Kaiser Health News, Joanne Kenen of Politico, Jennifer Haberkorn of the Los Angeles Times and Alice Miranda Ollstein of Politico. Among the takeaways from this week's podcast: The latest COVID relief bill expected to pass the House by Thursday afternoon - provides additional funding for hospitals in the hope of easing liquidity problems at those facilities that have been slammed by a lack of revenue because they can't perform elective or nonemergency procedures. Public health officials have been forced into a "verbal minuet" at the daily White House press briefings as they seek to provide accurate and helpful information on the COVID pandemic but also not embarrass or anger the president. But the gap between their views and the president's and the evolving understanding of the virus is leading to confusion among the public, which seeks clear advice. Nursing homes are among the most regulated health care facilities in the country, yet about a quarter of the COVID-related deaths across the country have been in nursing homes or other long-term care facilities. That is partially explained because they house the most vulnerable people those who are older or disabled. Yet many of these facilities are not well staffed and don't handle infection effectively. Many of these long-term care residences are not well equipped to fight infectious diseases. In an effort to make them feel less institutional, many were redesigned to create a more home-like environment, with big open spaces and communal dining, which can work against efforts to stop an outbreak. Public health experts say blood tests to show whether an individual has developed antibodies to the coronavirus are imperative before the U.S. economy can reopen. Although there are many tests on the market, some are proving unreliable. That is partly because the Food and Drug Administration told test manufacturers they could sell their tests first and prove they work later. Even if the tests accurately pinpoint the presence of antibodies, which signify that the individual had a coronavirus infection, it's not yet clear if that means the person will be immune from the disease or how long the immunity might last. The battle over whether abortion should be banned along with other elective procedures during the COVID crisis continues in many states. The Texas fight - in which court rulings have toggled between making abortion either available or unavailable almost on a day-by-day basis has evaporated for the moment because the governor relaxed the ban on nonessential procedures, abortion included. But as of now abortion is prohibited in Arkansas. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists recommend their favorite health policy stories of the week that they think you should read too: Julie Rovner: The Atlantic's "Why Some People Get Sicker Than Others," by James Hamblin Joanne Kenen: The Center for Public Integrity's "When Nursing Home Workers Feel Like Lambs Led to Slaughter," by Susan Ferriss Jen Haberkorn: The Los Angeles Times' "How Trump Let the U.S. Fall Behind the Curve on Coronavirus Threat," by David S. Cloud, Paul Pringle and Eli Stokols Alice Miranda Ollstein: Politico's "Trump Coronavirus Response Feeds Distrust in Black and Latino Communities," by Laura Barron-Lopez To hear all our podcasts, click here. And subscribe to What the Health? on iTunes, Stitcher, Google Play, Spotify, or Pocket Casts. The announced resumption of police probes into incidents from Northern Irelands troubled past has been welcomed. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Chief Constable Simon Byrne announced last month that legacy investigations and reviews would be paused during the coronavirus pandemic to free up officers. On Thursday, it was announced that the suspension was to be lifted. Victimss Commission Judith Thompson welcomed the decision. Legacy reviews and investigations to recommence pic.twitter.com/WXJo7DVrvV Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) April 23, 2020 The PSNIs Legacy Investigation Branch is dealing with more than 1,000 unresolved cases. Deputy Chief Constable Mark Hamilton said officers and staff will resume duties from May 1. Legacy Investigation Branch was one of a number of functions within PSNI that were redeployed in order to provide immediate resilience to PSNIs critical functions, he said. Following a meeting of the PSNIs Service Executive Team on Wednesday April 22, it was agreed that this temporary suspension would be lifted and that officers and staff within Legacy Investigation Branch would resume their normal duties with effect from May 1 2020. Having implemented a range of social distancing measures, we have been able to limit the numbers of Covid-19-related absences to levels which have allowed us to sustain service delivery across the organisation and in this case return officers who had been providing resilience to those functions to their core roles. Expand Close Victims Commissioner Judith Thompson. PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Victims Commissioner Judith Thompson. Mr Byrne earlier updated members of the Victims and Survivors Forum on the matter. I welcomed the opportunity this afternoon to join the Victims Commissioner and members of the Victims and Survivors Forum to discuss a range of issues about legacy investigations, he said. We were able to announce first-hand the restoration of legacy investigations from May 1. Some of the commentary and personal narrative was very powerful and underpins my commitment to provide a service to victims of the Troubles which is not only fair and transparent, but also done with compassion and empathy. Ms Thompson also welcomed the chief constables meeting with victims and survivors to discuss legacy matters. She said Mr Byrne indicated that he is looking into setting up a dedicated family liaison team within the Legacy Investigation Branch and was committed to trauma training. It was most important that the commission and the victims and survivors met with the chief constable today to discuss legacy matters, and the vital need for a victim and survivor centred approach in relation to ongoing legacy investigations, she added. Two medical doctors, Zakiya Syed and Trupti Katdare, who were pelted with stones by a mob in a dense settlement in Indore, returned to the spot a day later along with their team of health workers to screen people for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). I am injured, but not scared at all. This wont deter me from doing my duty, said the intrepid coronavirus warrior, Dr Syed. Responding with alacrity to the strike call by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) against such attacks on health workers, the Union government, on Wednesday, approved an ordinance to amend, and strengthen, the Indian Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, making offence against doctors and nurses cognisable, non-bailable and carrying imprisonment terms from six months to seven years. Earlier, distressed with a series of such attacks in hospitals and testing zones, the IMA called for a two-day strike by the doctors on April 22 and 23. It was only after the assurance of the Union home minister that the strike was called off. Corona warriors, at the vanguard of our battle against the pandemic, have a stupendous job at hand. In hospitals, they are treating the patients, while outside, they are screening possible Covid-19 cases putting their lives on the line. A number of them have already contracted the coronavirus. As per available reports, 1,700 health workers in China were infected with the coronavirus. Across the world, many doctors and nurses have died combating the disease. Prime Minister Narendra Modi rightly reserved the highest praise for Indias doctors, nurses and other health care workers by calling them frontline soldiers. And yet, distressing reports of doctors and health workers being attacked on duty kept pouring in. Even the international media took note and mentioned that such attacks have been witnessed from Australia to the Philippines, but none with the severity as seen in India. Will a tough law act as a deterrent? Yes, if an enabling environment is created, through supplementary measures for its implementation. Two issues the paucity of policemen, and more important, the speed of response are critical. Hence some further measures are imperative. First, hospitals need to be secured firmly. Instead of deploying scarce policemen in hospitals, the government should appoint special police officers (SPOs) for each hospital. The provision for appointing SPOs is given in Section 17 of the Police Act, which can be invoked at a time of emergency to make up for the shortage of police personnel. Each hospital, however, has several private security guards, who can be appointed as SPOs. Once declared SPOs, they have the powers of the police and can work in the same fashion. In case of attacks on doctors and nurses, they can immediately take action. One liaison officer from the local police station can be designated for each hospital for coordination. This will raise the morale and confidence of the doctors, and bring order to the proceedings in the hospitals. The SPOs will have to be given personal protective equipment (PPE) and arm bands for acting without fear in times of need. An honorarium can be fixed for them for the time they perform duties as SPOs. In rural areas, the village kotwals should be made SPOs. Odishas chief minister has already taken a historic decision of giving powers of a collector to sarpanches to enforce the quarantine measures. Empowering panchayats and local bodies will help fight the epidemic better and other states should follow Odishas model. Second, doctors have demanded security at home and while commuting to work and back. A few overzealous resident welfare association (RWA) office-bearers have displayed hostility towards the resident doctors treating Covid-19 patients, while some have been attacked outside hospitals. Arrangements must be made for such health workers who require temporary accommodation and transport. Some hotels have already volunteered to host them at their venues. More guest houses and public venues need to be requisitioned to accommodate all those who desire these facilities. In addition, a team of police, municipal and revenue officials should caution and rein in these RWA officials against any moves to oust the doctors from society premises and, if necessary, take stern action. Such doctors should also be given helplines to contact in case of need. Third, the demand of the doctors for high-risk allowance during this unprecedented period should be accepted. The Delhi government has announced Rs 1 crore compensation for the family of a fallen corona warrior, which includes not only doctors but policemen and others who are battling the pandemic. Such a move should be emulated by other states too. Fourth, a clear message needs to go from the state governments against those attacking the lifesavers. To tackle the problem of attacks in clusters, where health teams go for check-ups, the National Security Act can also be used. The Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh governments have used it in case of attacks on doctors and policemen in Indore and Moradabad respectively. Figures of arrests under the above Acts are compiled at the state and central level daily. These statistics need to be projected in the vernacular media daily to show the governments intent and deter trouble-makers. Fifth, states have to brace for a future scenario when the lockdown is eased in a phased manner and hotspots have to be contained and monitored. Extensive screening will have to be resorted to. Clusters to be covered should be approached by teams of municipal, police and revenue officials to dispel any rumour about the methodology of testing or the state of quarantine centres. Each police station has a list of opinion leaders of the areas and they should be used for such exercises. And finally, the authorities will need to closely monitor social media, since it is often the site of hate speeches and rumours. Some of their accounts will require forcible closure and action against some to give the right message to the social media users. Yashovardhan Azad is a former IPS officer and Central Information Commissioner The views expressed are personal Thoroughbreds, the 2018 debut feature of the playwright Cory Finley, was not to every taste, but for acid wit and gliding camera moves, it could hardly be beat. Finleys second feature, Bad Education, which airs Saturday night on HBO, traffics in a kindred casual misanthropy. The movie offers an agreeably slick account of an early-2000s scandal in which a former superintendent of schools in Roslyn, N.Y., pleaded guilty to stealing $2 million from his district. And like the character played by Hugh Jackman, the superintendent Frank Tassone, Bad Education initially keeps its cards close, playing tricks with viewers sympathies. Frank, his hair gelled back and his face always wrenched into a grin, goes out of his way to be presentable. He remembers details about students from years earlier or recognizes their siblings. He meets with a parent who pushes for accelerated treatment for her third-grader. He maintains (or at least fakes) an interest in the lives of his teachers. He even welcomes an unscheduled interview with a school newspaper reporter, Rachel (Geraldine Viswanathan), encouraging her to dig deeper on a story about a school construction boondoggle. This, it turns out, is one of his less sharp moves. (The real-life student journalist who helped break the story of the scandal wrote about her experiences for The New York Times.) Fresh Afghan Fighting Kills Dozens of Combatants By Ayaz Gul April 22, 2020 Clashes between government forces and Taliban insurgents have killed about 60 combatants on both sides, officials in Afghanistan said Wednesday. In a major pre-dawn attack, the Taliban raided army and police outposts in two districts of the northern Sar-e-Pul Province. Provincial governor Abdul Qadir Ashna told VOA the attack killed at least 11 security personnel and wounded 17 others. He said the ensuing serval hours of clashes also inflicted heavy casualties on insurgent assailants but shared no further details. Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Afghan Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has confirmed an overnight Taliban attack in the eastern Logar Province killed at least eight security personnel. Qadir Mufti said insurgents targeted security outposts around Aynak, a region containing Afghanistan's largest copper deposit, about 40 kilometers southeast of the national capital, Kabul. Taliban fighters also carried out attacks against security outposts in southern Kandahar province, killing at least eight police personnel. Provincial officials claimed the overnight fighting killed at least. 28 insurgents. At least 70 Afghan forces have died in intensified insurgent battlefield raids this week, dealing a fresh blow to a U.S.-initiated peace plan seeking political reconciliation between Afghan parties to the war. The Taliban spokesmen are usually quick to claim responsibility for attacks on Afghan forces, but they have neither denied nor accepted credit for this week's violence. The United States signed a deal with the Taliban February 29 that commits American and coalition troops to withdraw from Afghanistan by July 2021 in return for Taliban counterterrorism guarantees. The agreement called for the Afghan government to free 5,000 Taliban prisoners in return for 1,000 detainees in insurgent custody to pave the way for peace negotiations between the two foes. But the prisoner swap has been extremely slow. At the current pace of releases, analysts say, it will be weeks if not months, before intra-Afghan talks could begin. Kabul so far has released more than 430 insurgent inmates in phases, and in return, the Taliban has freed 60 government hostages, although Afghan officials say the freed men are mostly civilians. The insurgent group has ruled out participation in talks with Afghan stakeholders until all 5,000 Taliban prisoners are set free. Kabul, which was not part of the U.S.-Taliban agreement, insists it will free the prisoners according to a government plan that seeks a reduction in insurgent violence and opening of productive intra-Afghan peace talks. Washington has been pressing both sides to accelerate the prisoner swap and reduce violence, fearing the current situation would further delay the crucial intra-Afghan talks that were originally scheduled for March 10 under the U.S.-Taliban pact. The recent increase in hostilities comes as Afghan's spring fighting season nears, and the war-ravaged country continues dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. Afghanistan has recorded nearly 1,200 patients afflicted with the COVID-19 disease that has killed 40 people. Critics and officials acknowledge the low number of cases are because of small-scale testing, and say the actual numbers could be much higher. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The body of a police constable being escorted down an empty highway from the scene of a horror crash that killed four officers has been captured in a tragic photo. Four officers were killed when a truck ploughed into them at 5.40pm on Wednesday on the Eastern Freeway near Kew in Melbourne. Police had pulled over 41-year-old mortgage broker, Richard Pusey, who had been travelling at 140km/h around 4.50pm on Wednesday. Nearly an hour later, the truck then veered into the emergency lane, smashing into two police cars and killing one female and three male officers who were standing at the roadside. One of the four officers killed is seen being escorted by police down the Eastern Freeway away from the scene of the horror crash Emergency services took the bodies of the four police officers away from the scene Mr Pusey allegedly fled the scene on foot before being arrested at Chemist Warehouse in Collingwood about 9.30am on Thursday. Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Constable Glen Humphris, Senior Constable Kevin King and Constable Josh Prestney were all killed. Mohinder Singh Bajwa, the driver of the truck - who had a 'medical episode' and passed out at the scene remains under police guard in hospital. In a moving tribute to the fallen officers, police, recruits and staff at the Victoria Police Academy stood in a minute's silence on Thursday morning. Victorian Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton alleged Pusey took photos of the scene and posted them on Facebook. Pusey has 13 previous criminal charges against him, including theft and criminal damage charges he was due to face court over in the next two months. This morning Police and Protective Services Officer recruits, instructors and staff at the Victoria Police Academy formed up on the parade ground (for a minute's silence) to pay their respect and honour their fallen friends and colleagues The police car that arrived at the scene was crushed by a refrigeration truck - killing four police officers who were standing by the roadside One of the victims has been identified as constable Josh Prestney, who only graduated from the academy in November (pictured) Richard Pusey, 41, the driver at the centre of a crash that killed four police officers, is a mortgage broker with an extensive criminal history 'They were members of our Road Policing Drug and Alcohol Section and Highway Patrol. They were our colleagues, our friends, our squad mates, our family,' Commissioner Ashton said. 'As chief commissioner, to have four officers killed last night with someone who has clearly been driving erratically on the freeway with an extensive criminal history it disgusts me. 'Today, when I'm spending time with the family members of those deceased officers, I can tell you it will absolutely disgust them.' Richard Pusey, 41, was pulled over for travelling at 140km/h on the Eastern Freeway in Melbourne around 4.50pm on Wednesday Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews also paid tribute to the four officers. 'To live a life in the service of others is a deeply impressive thing. To lose your life in the service and protection of others is a tragedy,' he said. Josh Prestney, a 28-year-old constable who had only started in the road policing department on Tuesday was killed at the scene. Mr Prestney only graduated from the academy in November, and was working a short stint in the unit before he was to be transferred to Kew police station in Melbourne's eastern suburbs. Another officer had reportedly been part of the team for eight years - leaving behind a devastated wife and children, his cousin, Trevor, told 3AW on Thursday. A GoFundMe campaign has been launched by a member of the Narre Warren Police Department in Victoria to support the families of the victims. Senior Constable Steven Pope is aiming to raise a total of $2million, or $500,000 for each family. Emergency services were called to the scene to remove the truck, as well as the three crushed cars FILE PHOTO: A worker spreads rice for drying at a rice mill on the outskirts of Kolkata By Eileen Soreng BENGALURU (Reuters) - Rice export prices in India eased from a eight-month peak this week on the rupee's record fall, while the coronavirus lockdown has raised concerns about a shortage of labour to harvest the summer crop in neighbouring Bangladesh. Top exporter India's 5 percent broken parboiled variety was quoted $374-$379 per tonne this week, down from $375-$380 per tonne quoted last week. "The lockdown has been limiting the movement of paddy and milled rice," said an exporter based at Kakinada in southern state of Andhra Pradesh, adding that demand from African countries had been good. India extended a lockdown on its 1.3 billion people until at least May 3 as the number of coronavirus cases exceeded 20,000. The Indian rupee hit a record low this week, increasing traders' margin from overseas sales. In Bangladesh, where the lockdown has been extended until May 5, harvesting of the summer rice crop varieties could be affected due to a shortage of labourers. If this persists, Bangladesh could miss its target of 20 million tonnes for the "Boro" summer variety rice crop this season, agricultural ministry officials said. Boro contributes more than half of Bangladesh's typical annual rice output of around 35 million tonnes. Meanwhile in Vietnam, rates were nominal since exporters were not ready to sign new contracts, given uncertainty over whether they can ship the rice due to the government's export quota, a Ho Chi Minh City-based trader said. However, prices for 5% broken rice were quoted at $440-$450 per tonne - their highest in nearly two-years. "Buyers are not willing to sign contracts as they are not sure if they can buy," the trader said. The Vietnamese government said on Wednesday it would raise its white rice exports quota for April to 500,000 tonnes from 400,000 tonnes. Traders said the 500,000 tonnes of rice to be exported this month were not enough to cover contracts signed before the government introduced a ban on rice exports in March. Thailand's benchmark 5-percent broken rice prices were quoted at $530-$556, wider from last week's $530-$538. Story continues Traders say rice prices have not fluctuated much as demand has been steady with no major deals in sight. "Many Thai exporters are waiting to see how the return of rice exports from competitors like Vietnam will impact prices and demand, after the disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic," a Bangkok-based rice trader said. Disruptions to sale by major exporters like Vietnam and India earlier this month raised the price of Thai rice to their highest level since April 2013. Concerns over possible shortages of rice supply due to the ongoing drought continue to impact prices as well, traders said. (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai, Ruma Paul in Dhaka, Khanh Vu in Hanoi and Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok; Editing by Mark Heinrich) Turkey could return to business as usual after the end of Ramadan in late May, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said as the number of coronavirus cases in the country neared 100,000. We aim to ensure the highest level of compliance with the measures throughout the month of Ramadan, and hopefully, the transition of our country to normal life after the feast, he said during a video meeting of party officials Tuesday. Erdogan said the difference between Turkey and other countries is that we have both a strong health infrastructure and take the necessary precautions over time. He said Turkey was facing its biggest economic crisis since World War II. Turkish health officials have reported 98,674 confirmed coronavirus cases in the country, with a death toll of 2,376. The number puts Turkey ahead of China, which previously had the most confirmed COVID-19 cases outside of Europe and the United States. After reporting its first confirmed case of the virus March 10, Turkey began imposing restrictions on movement and public gatherings in late March. The government recently announced a four-day lockdown on 31 of Turkeys most populated provinces beginning Thursday. Such weekend lockdowns are expected to continue during the month of Ramadan, according to Erdogan. Essential businesses in those provinces can continue operating, and residents are permitted to leave their homes to buy food and other necessities. According to the Ahval news outlet, other Ramadan restrictions include limiting the hours that bakeries can sell their special holiday bread, and conducting temperature checks at cemeteries for those entering to pay their respects. If you have been following Scotts Coronavirus In One State series, you know that the shutdown in Minnesota is an extreme case of the overreaction to the virus that has been general across the country. Our governor has turned what might legitimately be a crisis in the states nursing homes into an economic disaster that so far has unemployed more than 500,000 Minnesotans. The state now has an unemployment rate of 20%, the highest since the Great Depression. My organization, Center of the American Experiment, has swung into action to try to persuade our governor to lift his extreme order when it expires on May 4. We have set up the web site Back2WorkMN.com, where you can send an email to Governor Tim Walz asking him to end the disaster that his shutdown order has caused. If you live in Minnesota and enter your zip code, emails will also go to your state senator and representative. The web site features this simple video, in which Minnesota small businesspeople explain how Walzs order is destroying their livelihoods. I shot one of the segments: The web site is being promoted on social media and by digital ads targeting Minnesotans across a broad range of web sites. We are testing a number of Facebook ads, including this one: We also have bought electronic billboards at the ten most heavily traveled highway locations in the Twin Cities: If you live in Minnesota, please hurry over to Back2WorkMN.com and sign the letter to Governor Walz. Even if you dont live in Minnesota, I encourage you to do the same. A shutdown that devastates one states economy hurts us all. Likewise, the courageous governors in Tennessee, Georgia, and Colorado who are letting their citizens resume their lives (not to mention states like South Dakota, where the governor never imposed a shutdown order at all) are benefiting all Americans, not just those states residents. Lets put Minnesota, and America, back to work. UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. Spring is always a busy time on the family farm, but this year is presenting unique challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to an agricultural safety specialist in Penn States College of Agricultural Sciences. Because schools and daycare services are closed, youth are at home all day, said Linda Fetzer, extension associate in agricultural safety and health. Children who live on farms may have more opportunities to be exposed to farm hazards and risks as their families continue with operations. She pointed out that nearly a quarter of Pennsylvania farm fatalities in 2019 involved youth under the age of 18, which underscores the need for extra vigilance, especially at this time. Children and youth are often untrained, inexperienced and emotionally or physically immature for many agricultural work tasks, she said. That is why it is so important that farming families have top-of-mind awareness when hiring youth or assigning chores to children. Fetzer shared the following safety tips and resources: Handwashing is a must. Farms are continuing normal operations, which means that operators will be interacting with workers and others who will come on the farm to conduct business, she said. It is especially important for adults to wash their hands or use hand sanitizer before touching or interacting with their children. Tractor safety is paramount. Farm tractor accidents continue to be a major cause of fatalities in Pennsylvania, noted Fetzer. It is important to keep young children away from tractors, and older teens driving tractors need to be old enough and have the maturity to operate them safely. Keep close tabs on younger children. Children should stay at least 10 feet away from farm equipment so that the operator easily can see them. Adults should make sure children are away from work areas, preferably in a fenced yard with an adult or older child to watch them. Be selective when assigning chores for youth. If your children are old enough to be active in the farm operation, make sure they are doing age-appropriate tasks, she said. Youth doing work that doesnt match their developmental level and abilities can increase the risk of injury. She pointed to the Agricultural Youth Work Guidelines from the National Childrens Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety as an excellent resource for families. Prevent the spread of COVID-19. Social distancing, hand hygiene and covering ones nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing are a few ways to keep families healthy, said Fetzer, who encouraged families to learn more about COVID-19 by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Pennsylvania Department of Health websites. We understand farm families are navigating unique circumstances due to the pandemic, Fetzer said. But one difficulty they should never have to face is having a child injured on the farm. Being mindful of good safety practices can help to avoid a tragic outcome. Penn State extension offers an array of agricultural safety and farm emergency training programs. Courses on animal handling, farm emergency rescue, farm equipment and structures, protective gear and disaster preparedness are among the topics covered. One program that focuses on young people is the Safety in Agriculture for Youth project, which is a clearinghouse of curriculum and resources to teach farm safety for 4-H and FFA educators. Another is the National Safe Tractor and Machinery Operation Instructor Program, which trains instructors to teach tractor and machinery safety to 14- and 15-year-old youth. More information on farm safety and rescue training can be found on the Penn State extension website at extension.psu.edu/business-and-operations/farm-safety. "As companies big and small consider internship next steps, we encourage them to adapt by offering remote options rather than canceling internships altogether." Yello, the leader in early talent acquisition software, today debuted the findings from a recent survey of college students that gauges how the COVID-19 outbreak has affected their upcoming internship opportunities. As employers adjust to remote work, adapt budgets to reflect the current reality, and transition to an all-virtual recruiting model, Yellos research shows that student internships have also been affected by the global pandemic. 35% of students who have already accepted a 2020 summer internship have learned that it will be canceled, while 24% have been informed that their internship will be virtual. Yello expects these numbers to increase further within the next few weeks. We remember how difficult the 2008 recession was for both employers and student job seekers, and we know that the COVID-19 outbreak poses similar challenges, says Yello Co-Founder and CEO, Jason Weingarten. The good news is that todays technology makes hiring, onboarding, and remote work easier than ever before. As companies big and small consider internship next steps, we encourage them to adapt by offering remote options rather than canceling internships altogether. Continuing to invest in early talent development is crucial to the success of the future workforce, and is key to ensuring a lasting talent pipeline for your organization. Top findings from the survey include: 35% of students have already learned their summer internships will be canceled. 24% of students have been informed their summer internship will be virtual. Of the employers who canceled internships, 64% offered no compensation. Only 3% offered some compensation, and 11% postponed internships to a later date. Students are sympathetic to COVID-19s impact on employers. Of the students whose internships were canceled, 70% say theyre disappointed but understanding of the situation, while 26% say theyre upset and 4% are relieved they wont have to work onsite. 85% of students dont plan to list canceled internships on their resume, citing lack of gained experience as their main reasoning. For students who have been offered a virtual internship, top concerns are: that the experience wont be as good, that they wont be able to prove their value enough to receive a full-time offer, and that they wont get to meet their team in person. Of the students with virtual internships, 67% want daily check-ins with their manager. Most say a 5 to 10-minute daily check-in is sufficient, with a longer meeting once a week. 72% of students say they prefer video conferencing to communicate with co-workers. Only 6% say they prefer a phone call or instant messaging. When asked about virtual programming and professional development for the entire intern class, 76% agreed that these events should take place no more than weekly. The study also found that when it comes to going virtual, student preferences vary by major. Were finding that business and computer science students want to connect with each other via virtual happy hours, while engineering majors prefer social media groups or team trivia events, says Yello Co-Founder, Dan Bartfield. Its important for employers to provide the right opportunities for students to connect, depending on the types of interns they have. Weingarten adds that including canceled internships in job applications may actually benefit students in the long run. We understand the hesitation students may have in listing canceled internships on their resume, Weingarten says. But we encourage young job seekers to consider including them, at least until they secure another internship or full-time offer. Even though no work was completed, these canceled internships show that an employer was interested in you, and that you stood out from other candidates. You earned a coveted spot at that company, and thats worth noting when applying for future roles. To learn more about Yellos virtual internship study, please visit: https://yello.co/blog/virtual-internship-statistics About Yellos Virtual Internship Study: Yello partnered with SurveyMonkey to survey 913 current college students in the United States and Canada. The survey was conducted from April 10-15, 2020. About Yello: Yellos talent acquisition platform allows the worlds leading brands to deliver personalized candidate experiences to every job seeker, resulting in quality hires and faster fills. The centralized platform is easy to use, enabling recruiters to collaborate with one another to attract and engage top talent. Key hiring statistics provide meaningful insights that lead to more accurate, data-driven decisions while staying on budget. For more information about Yello, visit https://www.yello.co. Several Rohingya men pass food supplies dropped by a helicopter to others aboard a boat drifting in Thai waters in the Andaman Sea on May 14, 2015. UNHCR/Christophe Archambault UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is urging greater coordination and responsibility-sharing by states to address the maritime movements of refugees and asylum-seekers in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea. We are increasingly concerned by reports of failure to disembark vessels in distress and of the grave immediate risk this poses to the men, women and children on board. Search and rescue, along with prompt disembarkation, are life-saving acts. The dire and, in many cases, fatal predicament of thousands of refugees and migrants in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea in 2015 ultimately demonstrated the critical, humanitarian imperative for solidarity and joint action to address threats to life at sea. The 2016 Bali Declaration embodied these principles and outlined the way forward to prevent another crisis in the Andaman Sea. We must not return to such life-threatening uncertainty today. In the context of the unprecedented current COVID-19 crisis, all states must manage their borders as they see fit. But such measures should not result in the closure of avenues to asylum, or of forcing people to return to situations of danger. UNHCR stands ready to support Governments in carrying out responsible disembarkation procedures and quarantine measures to ensure that public health issues are addressed. The challenge of irregular movement is not unique to Asia. Refugees and asylum-seekers move through unofficial and often inherently risky channels because it is the only option available to them. The reality for many refugees is that persecution and threats to their lives and well-being are more immediate than COVID-19. UNHCR notes and is encouraged by the Association of South East Asian Nations clear commitment to joint action and a whole-of-society approach in the context of COVID-19. Leaving no-one behind is the only lasting means of ensuring that we collectively beat this global challenge, and we are all only as strong as our most vulnerable members. Saving lives at sea must be a collective effort, in which any one state that rescues and disembarks refugees can draw on resources pooled from other states in the region. Predictable disembarkation and safe pathways for refugees in distress strengthen public health by ensuring that whatever the manner of arrival, people go through appropriate health screening. It safeguards prevention measures rather than risking that people will instead seek clandestine points of entry without going through proper quarantine procedures. Rescue at sea and allowing the persecuted to seek asylum are fundamental tenets of customary international law, by which all states are bound. Beyond the current COVID-19 crisis, a predictable and humane disembarkation approach will remain critical. UNHCR is calling on all states to uphold these life-saving obligations to refugees and asylum-seekers. Media Contacts In Bangkok: As Muslims around the world will begin observing Ramzan amid a devastating COVID19 pandemic, UN chief has said the Islamic tradition of hospitality and generosity is a remarkable lesson at a time when people in conflict zones and vulnerable populations face dire consequences. Ramzan is the holiest month in Islam, when devout Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. It will begin this week, depending on the sighting of the moon. "This will, of course, be a very different Ramzan. Many community activities will naturally be affected by measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Wednesday in his Ramzan message. He said as millions of Muslims around the world begin observing the holy month of Ramzan, many people in conflict zones will once again be tragically marking this month with war and insecurity all around. Underscoring that Ramzan is about supporting the most vulnerable, Guterres expressed appreciation for governments and people throughout the Muslim world who live by their faith, supporting those fleeing conflict in the best Islamic tradition of hospitality and generosity a remarkable lesson in this world where so many doors have been closed to those in need of protection, even before COVID-19. Recalling his recent appeal for an immediate global ceasefire to focus on the novel coronavirus, the world's common enemy, Guterres said he repeats that appeal as he quoted words of the Holy Quran and if they incline to peace, then incline to it. Muslims around the world will observe the holy month of Ramzan under lockdown and tight restrictions due to the coronavirus outbreak that has paralysed entire world. The COVID-19 has so far infected more than 2.6 million people and killed over 183,330. Because of the pandemic, which has spread to 185 nations, many countries this year have advised citizens to avoid large gatherings and have suhoor and iftar individually or with family at home. During Ramzan, Muslims wake up early to eat a pre-dawn meal called suhoor, and break their fast after sunset with a meal called iftar. Congregational prayers are banned in several countries, and many mosques have been temporarily closed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [The stream is slated to start at 5:45 p.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.] Members of the coronavirus task force are expected to hold a press briefing Thursday as additional economic relief legislation moves through the House. The $484 billion package will replenish a small business aid program that ran dry, provide funding for hospitals and expand testing. President Donald Trump is expected to sign it into law. But state and local governments reeling from lost tax revenues are warning of a wave of layoffs after getting left out of the package. Claims for unemployment benefits are surging, with Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia among the states with the most concentrated spikes in jobless claims since mid-March, when employers began mass layoffs. Meanwhile, the coronavirus continues to spread in some of the hardest-hit states. An estimated 13.9% of the New Yorkers have likely had Covid-19, according to preliminary results of coronavirus antibody testing released by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Thursday. And despite efforts to curb the virus, the World Health Organization said the pandemic will be a long-term problem, as cases level off or decline in some countries, peak in others and resurge in areas where it appeared to be under control. "Make no mistake, we have a long way to go. This virus will be with us for a long time," WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. Task force members include Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases; Vice President Mike Pence; Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar; Dr. Deborah Birx, White House Coronavirus response coordinator; and Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among others. The outbreak has spread to dozens of countries globally, with more than 2.6 million confirmed cases worldwide and over 183,820 deaths so far, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. There are at least 842,600 cases in the United States and at least 46,785 deaths, according to the latest tallies. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. Richard Gere, 70, and Alejandra Silva, 37, have welcomed their second child together. According to Spanish magazine Hola! the pair are now the proud new parents of a baby boy. The couple are understood to be enjoying the new addition to their family at their ranch outside New York. Proud new parents: Richard Gere, 70, and Alejandra Silva, 37, have welcomed their second child together, a baby boy (pictured in 2017) Reports that Richard and Alejandra were expecting their second child first surfaced in November, but the immensely-private couple never officially confirmed the news. The couple married in April 2018, and announced they were expecting their first child together in August that year. Alejandra and Richard, who met in 2014 at a luxury Italian boutique hotel Alejandra bought with her former husband, welcomed son Alexander in February 2019. Ahead of the birth, Richard said he was 'not all at' worried about becoming an older parent, and wanted to be a 'hands-on dad.' Building their brood: The couple are already parents to 14-month-old son Alexander, and the family are said to be isolating together at their ranch outside New York (pictured in 2019) The couple announced they were expecting their first child in a very unique way. Alejandra shared a photo of herself and husband meeting the Dalai Lama - who put his hand on her bump to bless the unborn child. Richard is a long-term friend of the Dalai Lama, Tibets exiled spiritual leader. A Buddhist himself, Richard is a prominent advocate for human rights in Tibet - something he says led to him being blacklisted in Hollywood. His support for the state also led to him being banned from entering China. Sweet: Alejandra and Richard welcomed son Alexander in February 2019. Ahead of the birth, Richard said he was 'not all at' worried about becoming an older parent (pictured in August) The pair also have children from their previous relationships. Richard shares son Homer, 20, with ex-wife Carey Lowell, who he divorced in 2016 after 14 years of marriage. Prior to his, he was married to first wife Cindy Crawford for four years between 1991 and 1995. Meanwhile, Alejandra has a seven-year-old son called Albert with her ex-husband Govind Friedland, who she was married to for three years until 2015. Throwback: Back in 2018, the couple announced they were expecting their first child in a very unique way. Alejandra shared a photo of the Dalai Lama blessing the unborn child Alejandra, who is the daughter of a former Real Madrid vice-president, has admitted in the past to being 'a little lost' when she met Richard and has described him as 'my hero in real life.' Meanwhile, Richard told Hola! magazine that he was 'the happiest man in the universe' after marrying Alejandra. He gushed: 'I'm the happiest man in the universe and how couldn't I be! I'm married to a beautiful, sensitive, funny woman who's committed to helping people and is a great mother.' Hero: Alejandra has admitted in the past to being 'a little lost' when she met Richard and has described him as 'my hero in real life' (pictured in 2017) Taapsee Pannu has been sharing interesting stories from the making of her films along with unseen pictures from life amid the lockdown. The actor has now shared a picture from an ad shoot and mentioned how it taught her to accept her flaws. Sharing a picture in a blue saree while sporting short curly hair and a bindi on her forehead, she wrote, This is like a BTS from a shoot I did for Gaurang. I remember how I was concerned that my short hair wont suit the sarees he makes Coz they r so traditional but he was so nonchalant about it n said we will use your original hair length, colour, texture, everything natural, everything YOU. That really made me think sometimes you just have to embrace how you look only then the world will embrace it. Shying away from how you look is never going to help you grow in life. The day I accepted my flaws was the day I came into my true self n my flaws helped me get a unique identity #Throwback #Archive #QuarantinePost. However, this is not the first time Taapsee has accepted being conscious about her curly hair. Some of her recent posts are proof how much the actor loves her hair. She recently shared a picture from the days of her film Manmarziyaan. She wrote how she coloured her hair red for the character of Rumi. She wrote, Typical Anurag Kashyap prep..... last minute ! Got the idea of colouring the hair red after I landed in Amritsar. This is the first time I felt the skin of Rumi , that is, 2 days before we went for shoot. A few weeks ago, she shared about experimenting with her hair by colouring them in shades of blue and purple. She wrote, My hair experiments ! I have always been very experimental with my hair. Right from the twelfth standard when I secretly got my hair straightened thinking no one would notice...to this stage a few years back when I got them coloured blue/purple coz well... black is overdone ...this was fun for a FEW days but the colour maintenance gave me nightmares ! My partner in crime @kantamotwani is the one who gets my crazy ideas to life everytime ! Some patience we have. Statutory warning: please dont try this at home.... or anywhere, if you cant spend hours pampering your hair. Also read: Sanjay Leela Bhansali to demolish Gangubai Kathiawadi sets to save its rent during lockdown? Taapsee was recently seen as a housewife in Anubhav Sinhas Thappad. She was in the role of Amrita who chose to walk out of her marriage after her husband slapped her at a party. Follow @htshowbiz for more (Newser) When Philip Kahn was just weeks old, his twin brother died in the 1918 flu pandemic. As Kahn grew older, he often spoke of the possibility of another pandemic striking during his lifetime, grandson Warren Zysman tells CNN. "He would say to me, 'I told you history repeats itself, 100 years is not that long of a period of time.'" When the novel coronavirus did arrive, the 100-year-old World War II veteran was only too aware, paying close attention to news reports. Then he started coughing. Kahn, from Great Neck, NY, ultimately died at his home on April 17, knowing he may have contracted the virus, though his positive test result wasn't returned until after his passing. "He talked about his brother a lot in the last few days," says Zysman. story continues below "Knowing that you had a twin that you ultimately never got to know because of a pandemic really affected him," granddaughter Corey Karlin-Zysman tells CBS New York. "He definitely put two and two together and saw the irony in this." The fear he carried doesn't seem to have held him back. The Air Force co-pilot flew missions in Japan, receiving two Bronze Battle Stars. He then became an electrical foreman and helped build the World Trade Center. Though a military ceremony was performed, Zysman says the family wasn't able to give Kahn the large military funeral he wanted. But "one silver lining is that my grandfather will finally have the opportunity to meet his twin brother," he tells CBS. (These sisters also died a century apart.) One of the widespread problems in the world, including Azerbaijan, today is cyber attacks, namely, individuals and legal entities, online sales and others, official representative of Kaspersky Lab company in Azerbaijan Mushvig Mammadov said in an interview with local media. More than 5,000 suspicious resources were revealed in the first quarter of this year, representative of the company added. There is such statistics and it is associated with the coronavirus. Amid a pandemic, many hackers today are trying to attack many different organizations. Clones of official organizations' websites are created, malicious letters, SMS are sent and other targeted attacks are made against the users, Mammadov said. We can not compare this statistics with the period of last year as it was formed on the basis of a pandemic that began in December 2019. Of course, there are hacker attacks, but in this case, cybercrime has gained wide coverage, in particular, in the field of gaining unauthorized access to various confidential information of individuals and legal entities, he said. The cases of hacker attacks that would harm the organizations or individuals have not yet been detected in Azerbaijan but in many countries such cases do occur, the representative added. As for the fact that hackers spend more money on developing viruses and other vulnerabilities than antivirus laboratories and companies do... of course, the costs of hackers will be big if their targeted attacks are aimed at big companies, Mammadov said. But even such well-prepared hacker attacks can be prevented if the companies install high-quality security systems and conduct appropriate training with the staff, the representative said. The human factor is also of great importance in preventing such threats. Therefore, we recommend entrepreneurs working in the small, medium-sized enterprises and big organizations to periodically conduct training with the organizations staff on the topic of cyber attacks," Mammadov added. A cashless payment system in the 21st century is completely safe, the representative said. The cards which are issued by banks today comply with international security standards. It's the human factor, the irresponsible actions of the card holder that can create problems and lead to financial losses. "Kaspersky Lab today cooperates and ensures the security of many legal entities both in Azerbaijan and worldwide, the representative said. We are ready to ensure security at any level by providing appropriate technical solutions and conducting training. It is worth highlighting the Kaspersky Safe Kids solution, which allows parents to be aware of the childs actions and changes in his/her friends list on social networks, as well as to track the child's location in real time, the representative said. Thanks to this solution, parents may protect their child from inappropriate content and other online threats, Mammadov said. Today most children have their own gadget when they start to go to school, and it is especially important for parents to be in touch with them, Mammadov said. Approximately 30 percent of children aged 7-10 have own smartphone or tablet while among teenagers aged 11-14 this figure reaches 67 percent in Azerbaijan. I would also like to stress the new Kaspersky Small Office Security solution within the small business support, which helps to safely conduct online financial transactions, creates and reliably stores passwords that are resistant to cracking, blocks virus attacks and creates automatic backup copies of all files, the representative said. [April 22, 2020] Global Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Industry NEW YORK, April 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Managed Mobility Services (MMS) market worldwide is projected to grow by US$37.8 Billion, driven by a compounded growth of 30.5%. Government, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 26.1%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$6.9 Billion by the year 2025, Government will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03646053/?utm_source=PRN - Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 28.3% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$1.6 Billion to the region's size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over US$1.4 Billion worth of projected demand in the region will come from Rest of Europe markets. In Japan, Government will reach a market size of US$183 Million by the close of the analysis period. As the world's second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 35.8% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$8.8 Billion in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders. Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies. - Competitors identified in this market include, among others, Accenture Plc AirWatch AT&T Inc. Deutsche Telekom AG Digital Management, Inc DXC Technology Fujitsu Ltd. Honeywell International Inc. International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) Orange Business Services Stratix Corporation Tangoe, Inc. Telefonica S.A. Vodafone Group Plc Wipro Limited Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03646053/?utm_source=PRN I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. MARKET OVERVIEW The Mobile Mindshift: The Building Block of Mobility Services Recent Market Activity MMS: Market Scenario Outlook Developed Markets: Key Revenue Contributors Emerging Markets: Hotspots for Growth Global Competitor Market Shares Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Competitor Market Share Scenario Worldwide (in %): 2020 & 2029 2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS Accenture Plc (Ireland) AirWatch (USA) AT&T Inc. (USA) Deutsche Telekom AG (Germany) Digital Management, Inc. (USA) DXC Technology (USA) Fujitsu Ltd. (Japan) Honeywell International Inc. (USA) International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) (USA) Orange Business Services (France) Stratix Corporation (USA) Tangoe, Inc. (USA) Telefonica S.A. (Spain) Vodafone Group Plc (UK) Wipro Limited (India) 3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS A Peek into Factors Providing a Solid Foundation for the Adoption of MMS Globalization of Businesses & Workforce Decentralization Ranking of Key Benefits of a Mobile Workforce Workforce Decentralization Spurs the Need for Enterprise Mobility Key Business Areas Targeted for Mobility Over the Next Few Years Ranked by Priority Attached by Enterprise IT Departments Key Elements Targeted for Managed Mobility Deployments in the Short-Term Ranked by Priority Attached by Enterprise IT Departments Enterprise Mobility & End-Use Sector Perspective: A Snapshot Robust Appetite for Smartphones & Tablets Spurs Interest in Hassle Free Mobile Management Growing Consumption of Enterprise & Productivity Apps Enterprise Apps for Sales Side Functions Confluence of the Above Factors Stimulates the BYOD Trend, the Baseline for Growth in the MMS Market Key Factors Encouraging BYOD/COPE/COBO Trend among Enterprises Ranked by Importance Attached by Enterprises Other Noteworthy Trends & Drivers Complexity of Enterprise Mobility Drives the Need for Managed Mobility Services What are the Major Complexities Surrounding Mobility? Managed Mobility Services to the Rescue SMEs Intensify Adoption Curve Cloud-Based Enterprise Mobility Management Grows in Prominence Over Traditional Managed Service Asia-Pacific: A Lucrative Market for Enterprise Mobility-as-a- Service Key Challenges Lack of Awareness Use of Open Platform Solutions 4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE Table 1: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Global Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 2: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) arket Share Shift Table 3: Government (End-Use) Global Opportunity Assessment in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 4: Government (End-Use) Percentage Share Breakdown of Global Sales by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025 Table 5: Manufacturing (End-Use) Worldwide Sales in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 6: Manufacturing (End-Use) Market Share Shift across Key Geographies: 2019 VS 2025 Table 7: Retail (End-Use) Global Market Estimates & Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 8: Retail (End-Use) Market Share Breakdown by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025 Table 9: Financial Services (End-Use) Demand Potential Worldwide in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 10: Financial Services (End-Use) Share Breakdown Review by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025 Table 11: Healthcare (End-Use) Worldwide Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 12: Healthcare (End-Use) Distribution of Global Sales by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025 Table 13: Other End-Uses (End-Use) Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country for the Years 2018 through 2025 Table 14: Other End-Uses (End-Use) Global Market Share Distribution by Region/Country for 2019 and 2025 III. MARKET ANALYSIS GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS UNITED STATES Market Facts & Figures US Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share (in %) by Company: 2020 & 2025 Market Analytics Table 15: United States Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018 to 2025 Table 16: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Breakdown in the United States by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 CANADA Table 17: Canadian Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018 to 2025 Table 18: Canadian Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Analysis by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 JAPAN Table 19: Japanese Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Managed Mobility Services (MMS) in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018 to 2025 Table 20: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Shift in Japan by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 CHINA Table 21: Chinese Demand for Managed Mobility Services (MMS) in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018 to 2025 Table 22: Chinese Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Breakdown by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 EUROPE Market Facts & Figures European Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market: Competitor Market Share Scenario (in %) for 2020 & 2025 Market Analytics Table 23: European Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Demand Scenario in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 24: European Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Shift by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025 Table 25: European Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018-2025 Table 26: European Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Analysis by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 FRANCE Table 27: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Quantitative Demand Analysis in France in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018-2025 Table 28: French Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Analysis: A 7-Year Perspective by End-Use for 2019 and 2025 GERMANY Table 29: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market in Germany : Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by End-Use for the Period 2018-2025 Table 30: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Distribution in Germany by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 ITALY Table 31: Italian Demand for Managed Mobility Services (MMS) in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018 to 2025 Table 32: Italian Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Breakdown by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 UNITED KINGDOM Table 33: United Kingdom Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Managed Mobility Services (MMS) in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018 to 2025 Table 34: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Shift in the United Kingdom by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 SPAIN Table 35: Spanish Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018 to 2025 Table 36: Spanish Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Analysis by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 RUSSIA Table 37: Russian Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018 to 2025 Table 38: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Breakdown in Russia by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 REST OF EUROPE Table 39: Rest of Europe Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018-2025 Table 40: Rest of Europe Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Analysis by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 ASIA-PACIFIC Table 41: Asia-Pacific Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 42: Asia-Pacific Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Analysis by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025 Table 43: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Quantitative Demand Analysis in Asia-Pacific in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018-2025 Table 44: Asia-Pacific Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Analysis: A 7-Year Perspective by End-Use for 2019 and 2025 AUSTRALIA Table 45: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market in Australia : Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by End-Use for the Period 2018-2025 Table 46: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Distribution in Australia by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 INDIA Table 47: Indian Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018 to 2025 Table 48: Indian Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Analysis by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 SOUTH KOREA Table 49: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market in South Korea: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by End-Use for the Period 2018-2025 Table 50: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Distribution in South Korea by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 REST OF ASIA-PACIFIC Table 51: Rest of Asia-Pacific Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Managed Mobility Services (MMS) in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018 to 2025 Table 52: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Shift in Rest of Asia-Pacific by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 LATIN AMERICA Table 53: Latin American Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Trends by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018-2025 Table 54: Latin American Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Region/Country: 2019 and 2025 Table 55: Latin American Demand for Managed Mobility Services (MMS) in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018 to 2025 Table 56: Latin American Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Breakdown by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 ARGENTINA Table 57: Argentinean Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018-2025 Table 58: Argentinean Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Analysis by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 BRAZIL Table 59: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Quantitative Demand Analysis in Brazil in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018-2025 Table 60: Brazilian Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Analysis: A 7-Year Perspective by End-Use for 2019 and 2025 MEXICO Table 61: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market in Mexico : Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by End-Use for the Period 2018-2025 Table 62: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Distribution in Mexico by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 REST OF LATIN AMERICA Table 63: Rest of Latin America Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018 to 2025 Table 64: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Breakdown in Rest of Latin America by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 MIDDLE EAST Table 65: The Middle East Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 66: The Middle East Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Breakdown by Region/Country: 2019 and 2025 Table 67: The Middle East Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018 to 2025 Table 68: The Middle East Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Analysis by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 IRAN Table 69: Iranian Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Managed Mobility Services (MMS) in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018 to 2025 Table 70: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Shift in Iran by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 ISRAEL Table 71: Israeli Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018-2025 Table 72: Israeli Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Analysis by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 SAUDI ARABIA Table 73: Saudi Arabian Demand for Managed Mobility Services (MMS) in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018 to 2025 Table 74: Saudi Arabian Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Breakdown by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Table 75: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market in the United Arab Emirates: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by End-Use for the Period 2018-2025 Table 76: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Distribution in United Arab Emirates by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 REST OF MIDDLE EAST Table 77: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market in Rest of Middle East : Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by End-Use for the Period 2018-2025 Table 78: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Distribution in Rest of Middle East by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 AFRICA Table 79: African Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by End-Use: 2018 to 2025 Table 80: Managed Mobility Services (MMS) Market Share Breakdown in Africa by End-Use: 2019 VS 2025 IV. COMPETITION Total Companies Profiled: 135 Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03646053/?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/global-managed-mobility-services-mms-industry-301045550.html SOURCE Reportlinker [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] British businesses that bought insurance covering them for forced closure due to disease are set to sue insurer Hiscox for refusing to pay their coronavirus claims. The 'Hiscox Action Group', a collection of over 200 firms plan to take the veteran Lloyds of London insurer to court, arguing that their business interruption policies should cover coronavirus-related closures. The insurer is refusing to pay despite policies that refer specifically to firms being unable to use premises because of 'contagious disease'. One business owner, Duncan Murray, who runs Lewtrenchard Manor hotel in Devon (pictured below) told This is Money that he was informed his claim was rejected because coronavirus was not reported at his hotel specifically. Devon's Lewtrenchard Manor hotel has had to close its doors but its insurer has refused to pay out - despite the insurance specifically protecting against 'human contagious disease' Policy documents seen by This is Money state cover includes firms' 'inability to use the insured premises due to restrictions imposed by a public authority during the period of insurance following an occurrence of any human infectious or human contagious disease, an outbreak of which must be notified to the local authority'. The group has appointed legal council and enlisted a litigation funder to underwrite the class action suit. Hiscox describes itself as 'one of the oldest, biggest and most successful' insurers, and has built a reputation for specialist cover and higher premiums but a better record on paying out claims. According to insurance claims experts Mactavish, nearly half of all British firms say there's a good chance they will be forced into administration over the next year because of the impact of Coronavirus. Many will diligently pay insurance premiums for policies that cover business interruption each month, but are now finding they aren't covered for coronavirus disruption under the terms of their insurance contracts. In most cases their insurance policy wordings won't specifically refer to things like pandemics. This means that, as frustrating as it may be, they are not technically covered. But in some cases, including for many Hiscox policy holders, who believed they were covered by an insurer with a reputation for higher premiums but better policies, insurers are refusing to pay out on policies that specifically mention cover for contagious diseases. The policy wording implies we are covered Duncan Murray owns Lewtrenchard Manor hotel in Devon and bought business interruption insurance from insurer Hiscox in February, when the coronavirus epidemic was already in full swing in China. Mr Murray's policy documents, seen by This is Money, specifically state that cover is provided for the 'inability to use the insured premises due to restrictions imposed by a public authority following an occurrence of any human infectious or human contagious disease.' I'm not looking for an awful lot of money from Hiscox, just enough to get me through Duncan Murray However, after the Government ordered hotels and restaurants to close, Duncan says Hiscox denied his claim on the grounds that the coronavirus was not reported at his hotel specifically. He said: 'We shut on Monday the 23rd and we've been shut since. It has caused a cash flow issue we're just coming out of winter which is the hardest time for us financially. I had enough to pay my staff and suppliers but now there's no more money in the bank account. 'In the meantime I've had to apply for a business interruption loan. 'The Hiscox policy wording seems to imply that we are covered. I took it out in February I saw it in the policy wordings and thought that we were covered. 'Unless I get this loan I won't be able to pay the suppliers. What happens when we reopen and try to buy food again? 'It's a very frustrating time. I'm not looking for an awful lot of money from Hiscox, just enough to get me through until we can reopen.' Mark Killick and his team are leading the suit against Bermuda-based insurer Hiscox Duncan is not the only Hiscox customer to have a claim turned down. Other firms' insurance also contained the 'public authority' clause which appears to protect against closures resulting from health pandemics. Mark Killick is the creative director of PR firm Media Zoo, which set up the legal action group. He told This is Money: 'Hiscox's failure to support British businesses at a time of crisis is unbelievable. 'Our Hiscox Action Group is growing by a dozen firms a day. We think there's around a quarter of a million firms who have the same public authority clause. Every third party who we've spoken to says that clause has been triggered [by coronavirus]. 'The stories from these firms are tragic. For a lot of small businesses this insurance is the difference between going under or not. They're not all going to survive.' It's not just Hiscox in the firing line - Mark suggests that other insurers include similar policy wordings but are still denying claims. 'We have been approached by other policyholders with other insurers and some of the stories are unbelievable. Some of the policies are very similar, and some other insurers have a lot to answer for too.' Most businesses aren't covered for coronavirus under the terms of their insurance policies In a market update this week Hiscox said that it itself has 'substantial reinsurance cover in place' - a sort of insurance for insurers, which insulates them from mass claim events. A spokeswoman for Hiscox said: 'We understand these are incredibly difficult times for businesses and we are paying claims that are covered by the policies we issue fairly and quickly. 'We review every case individually, and if any customer has concerns about the application of their policy, we encourage them to get in touch with us directly.' New and renewed policies are seeing cover trimmed Mactavish says around one in five registered businesses - over 500,000 in total - will have renewed their insurance at the end of March and beginning of April, but because of Coronavirus, many will have seen cover removed from their policies and faced increased premiums. They warn insurers are not only removing cover associated with infectious diseases going forward, but also retrospectively. Birkenhead firm H Newton Hale & Sons were told not even to bother trying to claim And it's not just business interruption cover that's affected - professional indemnity, which covers against legal action taken against a firm, and directors and officers insurance, which protects higher ups if they are sued by their employees, are also seeing pandemic clauses stripped from policy wordings. Bruce Hepburn, chief executive of Mactavish, said: 'There has been talk of insurers potentially excluding cover linked to the fall-out of infectious diseases from commercial insurance policies, and we are beginning to see this unfold. Firm told: 'Don't bother trying to claim' One firm worried about the impact of coronavirus is H Newton Hale & Sons in Birkenhead, a family-owned wholesaler to the retail trade, which employs 65 people and has been running for 91 years. Stephen Hale, who runs the firm, told This is Money: 'We bought business interruption as part of everything else that we needed to. 'It was sold to us on the basis that we would be covered if our business was interrupted. But our broker is now refusing to make a claim for us they say there's no point as we aren't covered for coronavirus. 'We've paid our premium every month, and then when we really need it they're not there for us. It's disgraceful, it's unbelievable, and it's immoral.' 'Over the past few weeks, businesses up and down the country would have received insurance offers and accepted them, but at the last minute, just days or even hours before renewal, elements of their cover were removed. 'With premiums also rising, remuneration for brokers is increasing at this very difficult time. We have customers getting less cover and paying more for this, whilst insurers and brokers are seeing their financial rewards increase. It doesn't feel like insurers and brokers are sharing the pain of businesses across the UK.' A spokesman for the Association of British Insurers told This is Money: 'Insurers know that this is a very worrying time for businesses. While most business insurance does not cover for pandemics, overall UK insurers expect to pay over 1billion in Covid-19-related claims. 'Unfortunately, no country in the world has an insurance market that is able to offer widespread pandemic cover. Forcing insurance companies to pay for risks that aren't covered in contracts would be a shortcut to their insolvency. 'Given the sheer scale of economic impact, extensive pandemic insurance cover can only happen with some form of government support, and we need a debate about how this can best be achieved in the future.' The ABI confirmed last month that most firms will not be covered for coronavirus disruption Hyderabad, April 23 : Turning more student-friendly in view of the prevailing coronavirus induced lockdown, International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIIT-H) has decided to conduct the spring 2020 semester entirely online. It also decided to do away with formal final examinations and instead distribute its weightage to less stressful and more hands-on components like assignments, projects, quizzes, reports, etc. IIIT-Hyderabad director Prof P.J. Narayanan said this strategy was adopted to conclude the semester quickly to remove the cloud of the lockdown and the weight of the semester's courses from the students' heads. He said this would allow graduating students not to worry unnecessarily about delays. "Conducting long final exams is tricky if done online, considering the highly variable situations the students may find themselves in where they are. Evaluations based on more hands-on application of concepts will stress students less, though the work on the teachers may increase. Undesirable sharing is possible for such work, but we adopted it. It is good to not obsess excessively about every possible violation, as long as serious and hard-working students get their due," Narayanan said. The institution has also decided to award a W (or Withdraw) grade in place of an F (or Fail) grade for courses. Both serve the same purpose as the student must meet the requirements later, said the institution. Students will be awarded only A, B, C, and W grades for courses, leaving out A-, B-, C-, and D grades. He noted that the online classes commenced on March 23 and are held for nearly all courses, and attendance in them is around 80 per cent which is on par with the institute's normal average. The faculty members have adopted their teaching style to suit the online requirements. "The institute used that week to test and train the faculty on the various technological solutions out there, Microsoft's cloud-based solutions for email and other services we had adopted earlier. That included a supported version of Teams, a tool suitable to run online classes. A big plus was the ability to record the classes including audio, video, slides, digital blackboards, etc. Students could access the video later even if they couldn't attend the live classes. Faculties were requested to keep notes and other study material on the LMS platform Moodle for students to access at will," he said "We are aware that a small fraction of the students has poor to no access to online technologies. However, an overwhelming majority of the students are highly comfortable with technology and have adequate access." The institute's academics team and tech-support team worked hard to train the faculty, who reciprocated enthusiastically. "Students who could not take part meaningfully in the online phase of the courses due to poor connectivity, sickness to self or family etc will be evaluated separately whenever it is safe. A combination of alternate evaluation and grading methods will be employed for them with a combination of assignments, projects, oral examinations, reports, etc. They will not be disadvantaged in any manner by this," Prof. Narayanan said. Stating that cooronavirus shocked and seriously disturbed everyone including the educational institutions, he noted that most of the institutions including IIIT-H could send the students back safely in the middle of March when the alarm of transmission was low enough. "It was quite clear to us that the students weren't coming back for at least two months. Nearly all regions of the country need to be safe, and travel has to be safe before students return. Running the semester in an online mode was the only option, if it was feasible." He is confident that the ongoing spring semester will be concluded completely by the end of May. The graduating B.Tech and M.Tech students will have their requirements completed practically on schedule. Technavio has been monitoring the household wipes market and it is poised to grow by USD 1.01 bn during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of almost 7% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005567/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Household Wipes Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire) Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request Latest Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impact The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. 3M Co., Kimberly-Clark Corp., S. C. Johnson Son Inc., The Clorox Co., and Unilever Group, are some of the major market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Increase in demand for disinfecting wipes has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Household Wipes Market 2019-2023: Segmentation Household wipes market is segmented as below: Distribution Channel Offline Online Geographic Landscape APAC Europe MEA North America South America To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR31510 Household Wipes Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our household wipes market report covers the following areas: Household Wipes Market Size Household Wipes Market Trends Household Wipes Market Industry Analysis This study identifies introduction of eco-friendly biodegradable cleaning wipes as one of the prime reasons driving the household wipes market growth during the next few years. Household Wipes Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the household wipes market, including some of the vendors such as 3M Co., Kimberly-Clark Corp., S. C. Johnson Son Inc., The Clorox Co., and Unilever Group. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the household wipes market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Household Wipes Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023 Detailed information on factors that will assist household wipes market growth during the next five years Estimation of the household wipes market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the household wipes market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of household wipes market vendors Table Of Contents : PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT 2.1 Preface 2.2 Preface 2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysis PART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing 2018 Market size and forecast 2018-2023 PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL Market segmentation by distribution channel Comparison by distribution channel Offline Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Online Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Market opportunity by distribution channel PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison North America Market size and forecast 2018-2023 APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Europe Market size and forecast 2018-2023 South America Market size and forecast 2018-2023 MEA Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Key leading countries Market opportunity PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challenges PART 11: MARKET TRENDS Increased preference for scented wipes Access to online distribution and steadily growing online sales Introduction of eco-friendly biodegradable cleaning wipes PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruption Competitive scenario PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors 3M Co. Kimberly-Clark Corp. S. C. Johnson Son, Inc. The Clorox Co. Unilever Group PART 14: APPENDIX Research methodology List of abbreviations Definition of market positioning of vendors PART 15: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005567/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Photo Courtesy of Explore Fairbanks Explore Fairbanks is showcasing five brand new virtual experiences including an exhilarating dog sled ride through a snowy pristine forest, a float down the Chena River on that perfect summer day and a panoramic mountain scene from nearby Murphy Dome Grab a front row seat and start your virtual vacation now. Explore Fairbanks is showcasing five brand new virtual experiences including an exhilarating dog sled ride through a snowy pristine forest, a float down the Chena River on that perfect summer day and a panoramic mountain scene from nearby Murphy Dome. In addition, you can virtually experience the midnight sun, the northern lights and other extraordinary views of the Fairbanks region. If armchair traveling is on your to-do list, Explore Fairbanks immersive 360-degree stills and videos have the power to virtually transport you to Alaskas Golden Heart and actively explore like never before. Additional virtual immersive assets include a visit to Eagle Summit where the sun never dips below the horizon on June 21 (Summer Solstice), a captivating aurora show, the iconic downtown Fairbanks antler arch and more. Sure, it might not be the same as being here, but its the next best thing while you wait to visit Fairbanks when the time is right. Another one-of-a-kind way to delve into virtual-type reality is via the Midnight Sun Tracker. The onset of the Midnight Sun Season was April 22 when the Midnight Sun Tracker took center stage on the Explore Fairbanks website. The Tracker calculates the number of daylight hours, including civil twilight, which people can experience in the sub-Arctic and Arctic areas of Fairbanks, Coldfoot and Utqiagvik (formerly known as Barrow). For 70 straight days during Midnight Sun Season, Fairbanks experiences 24 hours of light. The Midnight Sun Tracker allows users to change the calendar and/or location and realize the radical shift in light throughout the year. Visit explorefairbanks.com to access the Midnight Sun Tracker, which is compatible with all devices including smartphones, tablets and desktops. In August, as the Midnight Sun Season winds down, the focus turns to the Aurora Tracker which predicts northern lights viewing in six different locations. ### About Explore Fairbanks Explore Fairbanks is a non-profit marketing and management organization whose mission is to be an economic driver in the Fairbanks region by marketing to potential visitors and optimizing the visitor experience. Explore Fairbanks markets Fairbanks as a year-round destination by promoting local events, attractions and activities to independent travelers, group tour operators, travel agents, meeting planners and the media as well as by developing public policy and infrastructure to achieve marketing objectives. Find out more at https://www.explorefairbanks.com/. This project to address maternal and infant morbidity and mortality due to hypertensive disorders in pregnancy is a great example of how technology can support more proactive and preventative management of a condition that is a public health crisis across the US. Boston Medical Center (BMC) today announced a partnership with Rimidi, a cloud-based software platform that enables a more efficient model of care for patients with chronic conditions, to remotely monitor blood pressure for women experiencing high-risk pregnancies. Healthcare experts in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at BMC, including recent medical school graduates, will be the first to use Rimidis platform, which has been integrated into the academic medical centers electronic health record, Epic. Women who have gestational hypertension or preeclampsia are considered high-risk during and after pregnancies, and can benefit from close monitoring, said Christina Yarrington, MD, FACOG, an obstetrics and gynecology physician and director of labor and delivery at Boston Medical Center. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, adding the capability to remotely monitor blood pressure in these patients is especially pressing, as we are trying to limit their exposure to healthcare settings. The team at BMC will use Rimidis cardiovascular disease platform view, which combines relevant EHR data, with patient-generated blood pressure data from a cellular-connected blood pressure cuff. This allows physicians to manage better outcomes based on actionable, real-time information. According to Yarrington, who is also an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Boston University School of Medicine, the remote monitoring program will start with a cohort of approximately 60 patients. Adverse cardiovascular outcomes like heart attack and strokewhether pregnancy-related or notare one of the most preventable causes of mortality in the United States, said Lucienne Ide, MD, PhD, founder and chief health innovator at Rimidi. This project to address maternal and infant morbidity and mortality due to hypertensive disorders in pregnancy is a great example of how technology can support more proactive and preventative management of a condition that is a public health crisis across the US. With the risk of COVID-19, healthcare systems are taking extra precautions in treating their patients. The adoption of Rimidis platform will not only allow physicians at BMC to cut back on fear of exposure by monitoring their patients remotely, but also add in an extra layer of medical support when patients need it most. To learn more about Boston Medical Center and the steps its taking during COVID-19 to better monitor patients, including its visitor policy, visit http://www.bmc.org. For the latest news and information about Rimidi and its technology, including its COVID-19 triage and monitoring application, visit http://www.rimidi.com. About Boston Medical Center Boston Medical Center is a private, not-for-profit, 514-bed, academic medical center that is the primary teaching affiliate of Boston University School of Medicine. It is the largest and busiest provider of trauma and emergency services in New England. Boston Medical Center offers specialized care for complex health problems and is a leading research institution, receiving more than $97 million in sponsored research funding in fiscal year 2018. It is the 15th largest funding recipient in the U.S. from the National Institutes of Health among independent hospitals. In 1997, BMC founded Boston Medical Center Health Plan, Inc., now one of the top ranked Medicaid MCOs in the country, as a non-profit managed care organization. Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine are partners in Boston HealthNet 14 community health centers focused on providing exceptional health care to residents of Boston. For more information, please visit http://www.bmc.org. About Rimidi Rimidi is a cloud-based software platform that enables personalized management of health conditions across populations. Created by doctors, Rimidi avoids the disconnect in connected care by combining patient-generated health data with clinical data from the EHR to drive patient-specific clinical insights and actions. The net effect is a better health system with optimized clinical workflows that enable better decisions, better relationships, better outcomes and ultimately a better healthcare system. For more information, visit rimidi.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Media Contacts: Cortney Williams ARPR, on behalf of Rimidi (855) 300-8209 cortney@arpr.com Jazmin Holdway Communications Associate, Boston Medical Center (617) 638.6838 Jazmin.Holdway@bmc.org Life for Australians won't return back to normal for two years due to the coronavirus pandemic, a top health expert has claimed. Gerry Fitzgerald, a public health professor at Queensland University of Technology and Queensland's former chief health officer, has shared his step-by-step timeline for loosening the restrictions introduced to control the spread of COVID-19. The number of coronavirus cases across the nation have significantly dropped following the introduction of the strict social distancing rules. 'It's probably worth having a nice clear perspective on where we are. We've seen a very significant reduction in cases,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'The value for that for us as a country, its controllable. We have enough capacity to track the contacts and monitor. 'If we can get to the stage where it is eliminated or quite well controlled, we can start opening things up.' A top health expert has claimed it will take two years for the world to return to normal. Pictured: Two police officers on horses patrol on The Bay Run, in Sydney's inner west Gerry Fitzgerald, a public health professor at QUT and Queensland's former chief health officer, has shared his step-by-step timeline for loosening the restrictions introduced to control the spread of COVID-19 Dr Fitzgerald said opening society would be 'gradual' to ensure there isn't a spike in cases. The first step would be students returning to the classrooms, retaillers opening shops and workers heading back to the office. '[We should] Move to get schools operational as soon as possible,' he said. 'The advantage of schools, you know who's there. It's in a controlled environment.' Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan is hopeful schooling will return to normal during the second term. 'From a commonwealth government's perspective, what we're hoping to see is a transition back to full classroom teaching during Term 2,' federal Education Minister Dan Tehan told ABC TV on Thursday. 'That's very much our desire. It's very consistent with the approach of the medical expert panel, that's the chief medical officer of the Commonwealth, plus all the states and territories.' Chief medical officer Brendan Murphy has consistently said the advice is schools are safe for children to attend and, while teachers are more at risk from the virus, effective mitigation measures can be put in place. Dr Fitzgerald suggests social gatherings, like small dinner parties at home, could be allowed within three months. Within the next month or so, Dr Fitzgerald believes students will return to classrooms. Pictured: A student receives a piano lesson on Zoom at her Brisbane home 'We could start loosening things up things that are small groups,' he said. 'It's about a balanced risk, the risk of the disease against the risk of closure. 'If we're closing things down and people lose jobs, they can't afford things. There's a cost to closing down.' He has also proposed the reopening of dog parks, playgrounds and gyms around the same time frame, 9News reported. The return of restaurants, cafes and pubs would follow next but they would be required to implement strict social distancing measures, Dr Fitzgerald suggested. 'Then larger groups carefully. Restaurants, things like that. With enhanced hygiene and social distancing where possible,' he said. This could include spacing tables at least 1.5 metres apart and checking the temperature of diners. Timeline on how Australia COULD loosen coronavirus restrictions ONE MONTH Students return to classrooms and workers return to the office. Retaillers open THREE MONTHS Small dinner parties at home The reopening of dog parks, gyms and playgrounds FOUR MONTHS Pubs, cafes and restaurants open but enforce social distancing measures THREE TO SIX MONTHS Domestic travel and trips to New Zealand SIX MONTHS Mass gatherings like concerts and sport matches ONE YEAR International travel TWO YEARS World returns to life as it was before coronavirus According to Dr Gerry Fitzgerald Source: 9News Advertisement Domestic travel and trips to New Zealand could be allowed within three to six months, the professor has hypothesized. 'If we can get our domestic holiday up again. It will be a good time to visit Australia,' he said. But mass gatherings like concerts and sport matches at stadiums aren't likely to be on the cards for at least six months due to the sheer volume of people in close proximity. Dr Fitzgerald suggested it would take at least a year for travel and two years for the world to return to normal following the health crisis. 'I think international travel will be on hold until the world returns to normal,' he said. 'If the virus goes away in Australia, we need to control our borders until it goes away across the world.' The number of coronavirus cases across the nation have significantly dropped following the introduction of the strict social distancing rules. Pictured: A woman wears a face mask out the front of Centrelink Dr Fitzgerald praised public health workers for controlling the coronavirus outbreak across the nation. 'It's a secret army here, it's the private health workers here doing the heavy lifting,' he said. Based on Australia's population and the fatality rate in other parts of the world, Dr Fitzgerald said we have saved somewhere between 5,000 and 15,000 lives. 'If we had the population death rate of Italy, we would have had 10,000 deaths,' he said. 'The benefit we've got from the price we've paid.' Dr Fitzgerald said it all comes down to testing and tracking outbreaks. 'The main effort has been in the case identification, contact tracing, testing, testing and re-testing,' he said. 'The bottom line is lets open things up now but carefully... Surveillance is the most important.' Disney's world theme parks may not reopen until 2021 due to strict social distancing measures in force because of coronavirus, ultimately impacting profitability. Some of Disney's largest and best-known theme parks may have to wait for a coronavirus vaccine to be found before they can reopen, despite some sites advertising bookings as early as June. Social distancing, travel restrictions and recession brought on by the global pandemic are factors that contribute to the business becoming 'less profitable', until such time as a vaccine is 'widely available'. That is a financial analysis of Disney by investment banking group UBS, in a report called, 'The Eye of the Storm'. The Walt Disney Company announced in April it had ceased paying 100,000 staff to save $500 million a month after a five-week shut down due to coronavirus, impacting more than 50 percent of its workforce. Pictured: Walt Disney World Resort, Florida, one of the many sites shut down in mid-March A guest seen with a family reaching for hand sanitizer in the Downtown Disney District shopping mall Disney began shutting down its theme parks in mid-March, with major sites like Disney World Florida, Disneyland California and Disneyland Paris all affected, according to a report in The Sun. Despite online bookings for Disney World still being advertised as early as June 1, experts warn the theme park, and others, may not receive any business until 2021 because of the pandemic. That timeline would seem to tie in with predictions by the scientific community that a coronavirus vaccine will take some 18 months to develop, and even then social distancing rules will remain in place until it is proved effective. Indeed, experts advising the British Government on the matter say the only true 'exit strategy' is a vaccine or cure. 'The economic recession plus the need for social distancing, new health precautions, the lack of travel and crowd aversion are likely to make this business [Disney] less profitable until there is a widely available vaccine,' explained UBS analyst John Hodulik to The Sun. Hodulik added Disney's parks could 'regain their recent operating cadence in less than 18 months, coinciding with the earliest expectations for a widely available vaccine for Covid-19'. Pictured: The main gates of Disneyland Paris which was also shut down in the middle of March Pictured: The entrance to the Magic Kingdom at Disney World as seen on the first day it closed Some experts, however, believe Disney's June restart could be possible, though attendance will be down. 'I think you have to assume international visitors are not going to be the first ones who come back to Disney World,' said JP Morgan analyst Alexia Quadrani to financial news site Barrons. She added that while international customers account for just 20 percent of footfall, other guests will likely be 'financially strapped', further impacting attendance. In order to make guests feel safer, Disney is considering the use of temperature checks at its gates not dissimilar to the ones commonly used at airports around the world. 'Just as we now do bag checks for everybody that go into our parks, it could be that at some point we add a component of that that takes people's temperatures,' said Disney boss Bob Iger. Due to the high number of people going through the gates however, this could be difficult to implement. Disney is also considering the use of virtual queues, which are already in place in certain areas of the parks. Many of Disney's now unpaid workforce join an estimated 22 million Americans out of work in the last four weeks. The tweets posted by a person impersonating an Omani princess were aimed at disturbing social harmony in India and disturbing New Delhis ties with countries in West Asia, people familiar with developments said on Thursday. Sayyida Mona bint Fahd al Said, the Omani princess whose name was used by the impersonator, issued a clarification on Wednesday that she had no connection to the tweets regarding the purported expulsion of Indian workers from Oman. The people cited above, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also said it was deeply regrettable that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was levelling accusations of Islamophobia against India. They described these accusations as factually inaccurate and misleading. Earlier this week, a Twitter user apparently based in Pakistan had changed the name of the account to that of the Omani princess and tweeted that Indian workers in Oman would be expelled if the Indian government doesnt stop the persecution of Muslims. This account was subsequently deleted. There was also an instance of a Twitter user posing as a Saudi princess to tweet similar content, the people said. In a statement in Arabic, Princess Sayyida Mona said: First of all, I thank you for your concern to verify what was published through an account impersonating me, which you are sure that I have no connection with. Noting that such activities are not acceptable to the Omani society, she added her presence on social media was restricted to two accounts on Instagram and Twitter. One of the people cited above said the princess clarification made it clear there is a deliberate design to disturb social harmony within India and impact the special relations between India and West Asian countries. The heads of Indian missions in West Asian countries have appealed to Indian expatriates not to be swayed by such malicious propaganda, the person said. The people said it was deeply regrettable the OIC continues to make factually inaccurate and misleading statements about the harassment of Muslims in India. The OIC shouldnt communalise the global fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, they said. The people said the repatriation of Indian nationals stranded in West Asia would not be possible at this point of time as the country continues to be under lockdown. The issue can be considered if there is a review of the lockdown, and Indian missions are in touch with the host governments regarding the welfare of Indian workers, they said. The situation continues to be dynamic and the government will continue to support the stranded Indians, the people said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Hoover student wins 1st place WATERLOO -- Hoover Middle School Expanded Learning Program sixth-grader Kaitlyn Hall won first place at the Invent Iowa Competition. Hall invented a hat to hold her cochlear implants so she could "play outside in the winter and not get cold." She will participate virtually in the 2020 National Invention Convention. Expo named PBIS school WATERLOO Expo Alternative Learning Center was recognized by the state of Iowa and Central Rivers AEA as a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Banner Plus School. The school will celebrate and receive a banner at a later date yet to be determined. Youth program to raise funds INDEPENDENCE -- As part of its Community Partnership for Protecting Children initiative, Building Direction for Families is asking for assistance from the community to support youths in foster care in Buchanan, Delaware and Fayette counties who are preparing for high school graduation and to transition out of foster care. Businesses, churches, organizations and area residents are asked to give a gift, a service or make a donation related to graduation, including senior photos, invitations, cakes and refreshments, as well as any items for college or a first apartment. For more information, contact Beth Ownby or Susie Galpin at Building Direction for Families, 105 Second Ave. N.E., 334-5105, or by email at communityliaison@bdfempowerment.org. Donations by check should be payable to Building Direction for Families with Graduation Celebration written on the memo line. Receipts will be provided for all donations. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 NEW YORK, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Botify, the leading enterprise SEO platform , today released the findings of Forrester's Total Economic Impact (TEI) of Botify, a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Botify. The study revealed that organizations leveraging Botify's platform and proprietary five-step search methodology achieve a return on investment (ROI) of 584% percent over three years. Search engines miss, on average, more than half of an enterprise brand's website, which means a significant missed revenue opportunity. With Botify's modern approach to SEO and enterprise-grade platform, CMOs, heads of ecommerce, and other executive decision-makers can unlock the true growth potential of their website. Powered by its unified data model, prescriptive insights, and automated processes, Botify delivers end-to-end SEO management, speed, and scale for sustainable, long-term, profitable growth. Forrester conducted in-depth interviews with multiple Botify customers across a variety of industries. Their research and subsequent financial analysis revealed the following benefits to organizations: - Substantial revenue growth: Organizations experienced benefits of $2m over three years versus costs of $292,034, adding up to an ROI of 584%, with a payback period of less than 3 months - Significant organic traffic growth. Organizations experience a 52% increase in unique annual organic search traffic after implementing changes based on Botify's recommendations. - Consistent traffic retention. Businesses retained 99% of organic traffic they would have lost due to ongoing website updates and search engine algorithm changes without the use of Botify. - Expedited site-wide analyses. Pulling sitewide actionable insights from analyses took less than a day, whereas other tools not only took longer - over a month as one interviewee indicated - but also required significant computer processing power to complete. Prior to using Botify, the interviewed organizations faced common challenges including falling traffic and conversions from poor SERP performance, inefficient and incomplete website analyses, poor website rendering, and difficulty in getting the search engines to index their most mission critical pages, underscoring their need for a holistic, enterprise-level solution. One Botify customer interviewed for the study, head of SEO in the travel industry, said "As we got bigger and our site grew to 25 million pages, our needs for SEO tools changed. Some of the tools we were using on a weekly basis could only provide data and insight to a handful of pages at a time, and they weren't able to crawl enterprise scale websites." In addition to the quantified benefits, organizations interviewed for the study indicated a number of unquantified benefits as significant to their business as well, including: Communicating the importance of SEO to senior executives Improved customer experiences with website Risk mitigation and safeguarding of their website "Botify is founded on the principle that SEO isn't simply a means to uncover website traffic, but rather an essential strategy for driving predictable and long-term revenue," said Adrien Menard, co-founder and CEO, Botify. "We're pleased to see that the findings of the Forrester study underscore, in our opinion, the SEO opportunity, and reinforces our mission to deliver measurable ROI to our customers. "Now, more than ever, SEO is critical to a brand's ability to understand consumer behavior and pivot quickly to address needs. Those brands who stay the course with their SEO strategy will be in a much better position to respond quickly to changes in buyer behavior as the economy shifts," concluded Menard. The Total Economic Impact is a methodology developed by Forrester to help companies demonstrate and realize the tangible value of IT initiatives to both senior management and other key business stakeholders. To learn more about the findings from the Forrester Total Economic Impact study, watch the webinar, hosted by Botify's Frank Vitovich featuring Forrester Senior Analyst Collin Colburn and Research Consultant Corey McNair or download the study . Download the study . About Botify Founded in 2012, Botify built the interface and methodology that automatically connects enterprise websites with all the major search engines to drive sustainable and profitable results from the organic search channel. Botify's unified data model, prescriptive insights, and automated processes are used by hundreds of the world's largest enterprises spanning industries including e-commerce (REI, Macy's, Farfetch), e-travel (Expedia, TUI), media (Axel Springer, Conde Nast, Refinery29), marketplace/classifieds (eBay, RetailMeNot, Monster), and digital agencies (Merkle, iProspect, GroupM). A fast-growing, VC-backed, SaaS company with $27M in funding, Botify has offices in New York, Seattle, Paris, and London. For more information on Botify, visit www.botify.com. SOURCE Botify Related Links www.botify.com More than 80 million Americans were expected to receive coronavirus relief checks last week, according to the Treasury Department, as part of the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. An estimated 171 million payments are expected to go out overall, but with some 26 million Americans now requesting unemployment benefits since the coronavirus pandemic, scammers are looking to take advantage of people desperate to get their funds quickly. According to a memo from the House Ways and Means Committee, the IRS would begin issuing paper checks this week at a rate of about 5 million per week, which could take up to 20 weeks, starting with people with the lowest incomes. Download the TODAY app for the latest coverage on the coronavirus outbreak. If youre still waiting for your check, its important to remain vigilant during the process. Follow these precautions: 1. Beware of counterfeit checks. With relief checks going out by mail as of April 20 to an estimated 101 million people, be on the lookout for counterfeits. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, if your check comes in the mail with an odd amount, particularly if there are extraneous cents, your check could be counterfeit. Additionally, if the check asks you to call a number or verify information over the phone in order to cash the check, the CFPB says that is a sure sign of counterfeit, since the IRS will never ask you to say your personal information over the phone. If this has happened to you, the CFPB says you can notify the IRS at phishing@irs.gov. The Secret Service in partnership with the Treasury Department has issued guidelines on how to spot counterfeits. Genuine checks have a Treasury seal to the right of the Statue of Liberty, with security ink that bleeds and turns red when moisture is applied, among other measures. (United States Secret Service) In partnership with the Treasury Department, the Secret Service explained how to identify a genuine check. Look for the following features: Treasury Seal: This new seal can be found to the right of the Statue of Liberty and says Bureau of the Fiscal Service. It replaces the old seal that said Financial Management Service" (which will remain in rotation until stock runs out). Bleeding Ink: The Treasury seal, located to the right of the Statue of Liberty, uses black security ink that will run red and bleed when moisture is applied to it. Watermark: All U.S. Treasury checks are printed on watermarked paper. The watermark showing U.S. TREASURY can be seen from both front and back when held up to a light. Any check without this watermark, which can't be reproduced with a copier, is likely a counterfeit or a copy. Ultraviolet Overprinting: Genuine checks have a protective UV pattern that is invisible to the naked eye, consisting of lines of FMS bracketed by the FMS seal on the left and the U.S. Seal (eagle) on the right. The pattern can usually be found under the payee information and dollar amount area. The FMS pattern and seals can be seen under a black light. As of 2013, the Treasury Department introduced a new UV pattern that says FISCALSERVICE" across four lines. Either one of these UV patterns can be seen. Microprinting: As the name suggests, microprinted words appear so small that they look like a line to the naked eye. A genuine Treasury check has the microprinted words USAUSAUSA" on the back. When a check is counterfeited, this will often show up as a solid line or series of dots. Economic Impact Payment: These checks will have the following information located on the lower right side of the Statue of Liberty: Economic Impact Payment President Donald J. Trump. Story continues 2. Never give out your personal information. The IRS has issued relief payments, dubbed economic impact payments," to taxpayers using direct deposit. The government agency is able to do this by looking at the bank information it already has on file when depositing tax refunds. If you don't already have direct deposit information on file, the IRS will send you a paper check in the mail. "The IRS isn't going to call you asking to verify or provide your financial information so you can get an economic impact payment or your refund faster," said IRS Commissioner Chuck Rettig in a statement. So if someone calls asking for your personal bank information, don't give it to them. The same rule goes for fishy text messages or emails. If scammers are able to obtain your personal information, they could access more than your stimulus check. Related: According to the Treasury Department, more than 80 million Americans were expected to receive payments via direct deposits last week. 3. Don't respond to threatening phone calls. Everyone has received unsolicited phone calls or blocked a sketchy number. Keep that same guard up should anyone call you about your relief check. The Federal Communications Commission has audio samples of calls from scammers, including ones "claiming to be from the 'FCC Financial Care Center' and offering $30,000 in COVID-19 relief," according to the agency's site. Some will even claim to have information about student loans or free, at-home test kits you can purchase. If you are receiving repeated threatening phone calls, the FCC recommends you contact law enforcement or your bank immediately. 4. Don't believe claims that a "processing fee" will speed up the check retrieval process. According to the Better Business Bureau, any message that claims you can get your money faster by entering your personal information for a small "processing fee" is a scam. "A real government agency will not ask you to pay an advanced processing fee," according to the nonprofit's site. There is an official list of government grants you can access here. There have also been reported cases of landlords harassing or threatening tenants for rent payments now that stimulus checks have been distributed. Anyone can access the Get My Payment tool launched by the IRS and Treasury Department since it only requires that basic information like your birthdate, street address, name and Social Security number. Because of this, landlords have been able to access information about their tenants' checks from information that they had previously provided upon signing a lease or applying to rent. Horrifying text exchange between a landlord and tenant. This landlords going to jail (and getting sued): pic.twitter.com/SwHMtFLOn0 Joshua Browder (@jbrowder1) April 19, 2020 According to the IRS, unauthorized use of the tool, which includes inputting someone elses personal information to check the status of a relief payment, is illegal. If this happens to you, consider filing a police report. SAN FRANCISCO The thought of getting on a plane is far from most peoples minds at the moment, as they shelter in their homes. But some people have no choice but to fly now, whether its returning from a long trip or rushing to leave a country as a visa expires. In the days of the coronavirus, travelers are often taking extreme precautions to protect themselves. They wear anything from plastic ponchos to laboratory goggles to biohazard suits. They wipe down tray tables and arm rests with disinfectant. Some passengers say they avoid using the lavatory, even on long transcontinental flights, believing there is a higher risk of infection there. Many pack their own food and keep their protective gear on even as they sleep. Lacking definitive information about how long the virus might linger on clothing or even ones own hair, they reasoned that more protection was better than less. When Billy Chan flew home to Hong Kong from London in mid-March, he wore a disposable protective suit, goggles and an N95 mask. He changed his mask twice during the 13-hour flight, using hand sanitizer each time. I didnt see anyone go on or off the plane without a mask, said Chan, who needed to return to Hong Kong to renew his visa to Britain. Most passengers, he reported, wore goggles or sunglasses as well. I didnt eat, I didnt drink, I didnt wander around on the plane, he said. Stacie Tan, who flew to her home in Malaysia from Oregon on April 1, wore goggles, gloves and a mask on the plane. I knew that someone might look at me and laugh, Tan said. Its better than lying in the hospital, right? The model Naomi Campbell posted a photo of herself on Instagram accessorized in pink surgical gloves, a turquoise face mask and baggy white coveralls, the kind normally worn when removing asbestos. Linsey Marr, an expert in airborne disease transmission at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, said it made sense to wear protective gear on an airplane, given the tight quarters. I think the most important thing to do would be to wear a face covering, a mask of some sort, said Marr, who studies how viruses spread in the air. Goggles arent a bad idea, especially if they will prevent you from touching your eyes. While a full-body protective suit cant hurt, she said, the most important thing is to cover your nose and mouth, wash your hands a lot and avoid touching your eyes. Certainly, I wouldnt want to sit next to, or right in front of, or right behind someone else, Marr said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not explicitly advise against flying, but it does warn that crowded travel settings could increase a persons chances of infection, and there are few travel settings as crowded as a sold-out flight. Depending on your unique circumstances, you may choose to delay or cancel your plans, the agency says. What it means to fly safely in the face of the coronavirus threat is likely to evolve in the coming months. Emirates, the Dubai-based airline, announced last week that it had begun conducting rapid coronavirus tests on passengers waiting to board and said it hoped to scale up the practice to cover more flights. Alaska Airlines says it is keeping all middle seats vacant in economy class on its flights through May. American Airlines and United Airlines, the two largest U.S. carriers, did not respond to queries about their policies or recommendations concerning personal protective gear. Brian Parrish, a spokesman for Southwest Airlines, said the most common protective gear worn by its staff were face masks and gloves. Customers traveling with Southwest are welcome to wear personal protective equipment, Parrish said. The only exception to this policy would be any equipment that might interfere with the safe operation of the aircraft or the safety and comfort of other customers. Vicky Ding, who traveled with her mother and brother to Beijing from New York by way of Hong Kong on March 18, wore a rain jacket, hairnet, a mask and goggles. Her mother brought plastic shower curtains to place on the seats, but they didnt end up using them. The airlines were still serving food, but half the people didnt eat it, Ding said. She drank a protein shake through a straw. Brian Campbell, who visited his parents house in Oklahoma from California in mid-March, said he wore a mask for the entire journey, starting from his ride to the airport, to avoid bringing the virus with him. His taxi driver in Oklahoma commented on the mask and questioned whether it was necessary. We dont have a culture of wearing a mask around, Campbell said. Hopefully, now well move more in that direction. Chan, who flew to Hong Kong in March, said he felt the precautions he had taken were justified when the Hong Kong government announced, two days after he landed, that five people who were on his flight had tested positive for the virus. It was tough wearing the N95 the whole time, and suffocating, he said. I looked really weird and awkward. But in hindsight, he said, it was all necessary. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. The United States has suspended the export of nuclear byproducts under a blanket general licensing system to Pakistan, whose history of nuclear proliferation has been a concern and has led to the blacklisting of many of its government agencies and private contractors. The decision announced in the government gazette called the Federal Register on Wednesday does not prohibit export of these nuclear materials that are used as radionuclides embedded in devices altogether, but make it mandatory for exporters to seek governments permission every time and for every specific consignment. Also read: After proxy war in Kashmir, Pak launches cyber war against India and PM Modi Radionuclides are radioactive elements used widely, among other fields, in medicine and for irradiation of food. The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is issuing an Order suspending the general license authority under NRC regulations for exports of byproduct material to Pakistan, said the announcement in the register. Exporters are no longer authorized to use the general license to export byproduct material to Pakistan and now must apply for a specific license pursuant to NRC regulations. It did not ascribe any specific reason other than that the Trump administration has determined that the suspension is necessary to enhance the common defense and security of the United States and is consistent with the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act. The order did not say so, but under relevant rules, a countrys proliferation record can be ground for cancellation of export license. The Commission will closely monitor these countries and may at any time remove a country from a general license in response to significant adverse developments in the country involved, says the code of federal regulations for the energy sector. A key factor in this regard is the nonproliferation credentials of the importing country. A response was awaited from the US Nuclear Regulator Commission (NRC) to a request for the reasons for the suspension. Also read: Optics aside, Pakistan and US ties are still fragile | Opinion The announcement came after President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan talked on phone about the coronavirus pandemic. Trump mentioned the call at the daily briefing of the White House task force but gave no details. It would not be ascertained if the nuclear export development figured in their discussion. Pakistans history of nuclear proliferation has been a major concern for the United States, as for the rest of the world. The nuclear black market established by AQ Khan, who built Pakistans nuclear bomb with stolen technology that he then passed on to Iran, Libya and North Korea, is thriving. The Trump administration has continued to pursue Pakistani government agencies, private contractors and fronts, who have sought to find a way around US rules and conditions, with unmitigated urgency and unchanged priority. The immediate trigger for Wednesday could not be ascertained. But Joshua White, a former top White House official for South Asia who first flagged the Federal Register announcement, said, We cant be certain what prompted this move by the NRC. It may have been undertaken in response to a series of technical violations or regulatory oversights, or it may be in response to broader US concerns related to Pakistans nuclear programs or non-proliferation commitments. The US justice department indicted five Pakistani and Pakistani-descent men in January for using front companies to procure American goods for Advanced Engineering Research Organization and the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, both Pakistani government agencies that are on the US Entity List of exporting destinations whose activities have been declared contrary to US national security or foreign policy interests. In 2018, seven Pakistani organizations were added to the US Entity List, a US commerce department blacklist of governments, government agencies, private companies and individuals viewed as a threat to US national security and the export of sensitive US material to whom are tightly controlled and are subject to specific government clearance. The Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, a non-partisan, and non-profit body that seeks to end proliferation by tightening export control regimes in source countries such as the United States, said in a report in September 2019, that since 2014, the US commerce department has added 40 Pakistani or Pakistani-related entities to that list. CBS News is reporting that liberal groups are calling on Joe Biden to release a list of potential Supreme Court nominees and copy the playbook of Donald Trumps 2016 campaign. At first glance, this seems like a useful idea. Trumps SCOTUS list was a highly effective campaign maneuver, shoring up wobbly support from originalists and social conservatives. Before the election, I was highly skeptical that Trump would adhere to his promises on judges, but he has, and for many of us, these picks are the most important legacy of his first term. But what does Biden gain from assembling such a list? Probably not much. In fact, it could hurt him. While its true that the liberal base is animated by resisting conservative justices, contemporary Democrats have never been exceptionally troubled by the philosophical disposition of their judges, mostly because their presidents never make mistakes. Of course, its easy to make the right call when youre picking from a group whose only unifying ideology of jurisprudence is malleably partisan. There is no Federalist Society laying down intellectually consistent cases on the left, because there cant be any consistency. There is virtually no space between the Lefts conception of Constitution and the Lefts constantly evolving views and policy goals. And those goals increasingly lay outside the limits of traditional constitutional governance. Liberal judges exist to justify, literally, those policy goals, and in the vast majority of cases, they do. As former president Barack Obama once explained to an audience at Planned Parenthood an organization, not so incidentally, built on a concocted right invented by a liberal Supreme Court at the heart of the progressive conception of justice isnt blindness, but empathy (though definitely not for the unborn). This is partly why theres not a single instance in recent history in which liberals have been dissatisfied by the Supreme Court pick of their party. Most Democratic nominees are easily confirmed, and most rule largely as expected. Story continues Conservatives, on the other hand, have to deal with a long history of justices evolving, as the media might put it, and disappointing them. William Brennan, Harry Blackmun, David Souter, John Paul Stevens, and to a lesser extent, Sandra Day OConnor and Anthony Kennedy come to mind. (Ramesh Ponnuru made this point earlier in the year.) Many conservatives are angered (I think somewhat unfairly) by the rulings of John Roberts. But its also worth remembering that Samuel Alito is only on the bench because the GOP revolted against George W. Bushs ill-advised nomination of Harriet Miers. A list is a helpful way to avoid this turmoil, not only by mollifying the concerns of conservative voters before the election, but by nudging GOP administrations to live up to explicit promises. Republican voters might not blame a president for failing to foresee the leftward ideological journey of a onetime conservative jurist, but they will surely blame the president if he ignores the names on a list that he himself offered as a campaign promise. Moving forward, I assume every GOP presidential candidate will be sharing a list of SCOTUS picks. A Biden list, as Carrie Severino points out, will likely remind some conservatives that Biden was one of the architects of modern day smear campaign against originalist SCOTUS nominees, creating the template for the Brett Kavanaugh hearings. And, as we know, the Kavanaugh debacle, for many conservatives, was a galvanizing moment in which they were reminded that scorched-earth partisanship and media corruption are not weapons reserved for use only against Trump. More than that, Bidens list will be predicated on a delicate balance of gender, race, and sexual orientation which holds the possibility of needlessly upsetting one of the many factions within his party. A list populated by milquetoast Merrick Garlands a moderate who would have voted with the left-wing block 90 percent of the time would irk progressives. Biden has already pledged to name a black woman to the Supreme Court. But what about a gay justice? What about a Latino justice? What about a trans justice? Etc. Most conservatives would be happy with Martian justices as long as they protected religious liberty, the Second Amendment, and so on. Bidens list would offer Republicans an opportunity to highlight, with great specificity, the kind of radicals the Democrats would appoint. Democrats would once again accuse those critics of homophobia, misogyny, and racism. But thats nothing new. On balance, the topic of constitutional philosophy has far more traction on the right than the left. Any Biden list, in fact, is likely to scare conservatives more than placate liberals. Which is perhaps why its conservatives, rather than liberals, who should be clamoring to demand Biden release one in the name of transparency. More from National Review Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announces plans to reopen Oklahoma businesses after COVID-19 closures, Wednesday, April 22, 2020, in Oklahoma City. Sue Ogrocki/AP Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announced plans to start reopening the state on Friday, starting with personal care businesses like hair salons and nail salons. It's the fourth state to announce reopening plans, following Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association called the reopening plan "hasty at best." Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Oklahoma has become the fourth state to announce plans to reopen its economy, but some say the decision is premature in a week when the state saw a spike in new cases. The plan will start with businesses like hair salons and pet groomers reopening first on Friday, followed by churches and movie theaters on May 1. Gov. Kevin Stitt pointed to charts showing a downward trend in hospitalizations and cases plateauing in the state, but doctors and Democrats say that's not enough. Dr. George Monks, president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association, told The Oklahoman newspaper that the plan is "hasty at best." "Even without widespread testing, Oklahoma has seen an ongoing growth in the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths in the past week alone." Monks said that the White House advises states should not start reopening until they've seen a two-week downward trend in coronavirus cases. "We're far from that point," he concluded. In fact, this week saw a spike in cases. On Tuesday, the Oklahoma State Department of Helath reported 127 new cases, the largest one-day increase since April 9. Oklahoma House Minority Leader Emily Virgin also disagrees with the plan, saying Oklahoma does not meet the criteria for reopening set by the CDC. "Furthermore, since the beginning of this crisis, we have failed to administer proper testing or tracing that is needed to ensure Oklahoma meets the CDC guidelines," Virgin told The Oklahoman. Story continues "Reopening without proper data and against the scientific community (recommendations) puts Oklahoma workers in a dangerous position to have to choose between their safety and their job. We urge the governor to reconsider until better data is available." During a press briefing on Tuesday, Stitt said the state's reopening plan was based on the guidelines set out by the White House last week. Starting Friday, he says personal care businesses like hair salons, barber ships, nail salons, spas, and pet groomers can reopen so long as they operate by appointment only. They would also have to follow social distancing and sanitation guidelines put out by the state's Department of Commerce. State parks will be reopened on Friday as well, while grocery stores are being asked to continue operating special hours for vulnerable groups. Then on May 1, churches, movie theaters, sporting venues, gyms, and tattoo parlors can begin to reopen. However, bars and schools will remains closed, and visits to nursing homes will be prohibited. "We are making decisions for Oklahomans that are based on the data in our state and to protect the health of Oklahomans," Stitt said at the press conference. "There is light at the end of the tunnel and it's starting to get brighter every day as we continue to do testing and watch those curves flatten," he added. "Thank you Oklahoma for taking this seriously and doing your part in getting us to this point." Read the original article on Business Insider MILWAUKEE, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of MGIC Investment Corporation (NYSE:MTG) today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.06 per share. The dividend is payable on May 29, 2020, to shareholders of record on May 11, 2020. MGIC Investment Corporation will release its 1st quarter 2020 financial results after the market closes on Thursday May 7, 2020. A conference call/webcast has been scheduled for May 8, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results for the quarter ended March 31, 2020. Individuals interested in joining over the phone should dial 1-855-493-1443 ten minutes before the conference call begins. The call is also being webcast and can be accessed via the company's website http://mtg.mgic.com under Newsroom. A replay of the webcast will be available on the company's website through June 8, 2020. About MGIC The principal subsidiary of MGIC Investment Corporation is Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation, or MGIC (www.mgic.com), which serves lenders throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and other locations helping families achieve homeownership sooner by making affordable low-down-payment mortgages a reality. At December 31, 2019 MGIC had $222.3 billion of primary insurance in force. From time to time MGIC Investment Corporation releases important information via postings on its corporate website, and via postings on MGIC's website for information related to underwriting and pricing and, intends to continue to do so in the future. Such postings include corrections of previous disclosures and may be made without any other disclosure. Investors and other interested parties are encouraged to enroll to receive automatic email alerts and Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds regarding new postings. Enrollment information for MGIC Investment Corporation alerts can be found at https://mtg.mgic.com/shareholder-services/email-alerts. For information about our underwriting and rate changes, see https://www.mgic.com/underwriting. SOURCE MGIC Investment Corporation Related Links http://www.mgic.com JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. You should upgrade or use an You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser Police on Thursday took in custody around 100 people who entered the city while travelling from Mumbai on way to their native places, including in North India, during the coronavirus-enforced lockdown, said officials. These people, numbering around 100 and including women and children, were coming from Mumbai, around 200km from here, on foot during the lockdown and entered Nashik city in the evening, they said. Police swung into action when they were spotted on a flyover on the Mumbai-Agra Highway, which passes through the city, the officials said. When questioned, some of them told the police they were going to their hometowns in North India, they said. Some of them were natives of other districts of Maharashtra, the officials said. They were travelling in violation of government orders related to implementation of the coronavirus-enforced lockdown and hence were taken into custody, they said. The police later sent them to a Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC)-run shelter home in Anandvalli. Till now, more than 800 people, who were passing through Nashik during the lockdown, have been taken into custody and kept in various shelter homes in the city, they said. One of them was later found to be coronavirus positive and is receiving treatment in hospital, they added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 100-year-old New York man who fought in Japan during World War II succumbed to the coronavirus on Friday more than a century after his twin brother was lost to another pandemic. Philip Kahn, of Great Neck, New York, was born in 1919 but never got to know his twin brother, Samuel, because he contracted the Spanish flu shortly after birth and died, People reported. Kahn was laid to rest during a small funeral on Monday due to social distancing restrictions. Corey Karlin-Zysman, speaking on behalf of Kahns grandson, said the 100-year-old was a decorated Air Force veteran who was awarded several battle stars and medals while serving in Japan during World War II. Newsday said he fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima, was part of Japans deadly raids and helped with aerial surveillance of the damage done by the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. After returning from the war, Kahn was an electrical foreman during construction of the Twin Towers in New York City. He also did work on the first New York City Blood Bank, according to Newsday. He married and raised two daughters in Queens, then Great Neck. His wife Rose died in August at the age of 96, Kahns family told the news outlet. It is such a blessing to have learned so much from him about the history he lived through and his wisdom which he shared with us through teaching us life lessons, his family wrote on Facebook. He has helped shape his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren into very resilient, hard working and loving individuals. Posted by Warren: Today my Grandpa Philip Kahn died of the Covid-19 virus at the age of 100. His twin brother died of... Posted by Corey Karlin Zysman on Friday, April 17, 2020 Karlin-Zysman told CBS never knowing his brother, yet being pandemic bookends with him weighed on Kahn. Knowing that you had a twin that you ultimately never got to know because of a pandemic really affected him, she said. He was completely with it at the end. He knew what was going on, and he definitely put two and two together and saw the irony in this. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has labeled the Spanish flu the most severe pandemic in recent history. Health officials estimate about 500 million people, or one-third of the worlds population, became infected. At least 50 million people died worldwide between 1918-1919, with about 675,000 deaths occurring in the United States, according to the CDC. Unlike the coronavirus, the Spanish flu killed a high number of people under the age of 5, people in their 20s, and those 65 or older, the CDC said. The one silver lining is that my grandfather will finally have the opportunity to meet his twin brother after 100 years," Warren Zysman told CBS. Newsday reported that Kahn is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. READ MORE: By one measure, all South Central Pa. counties will be eligible for yellow status sooner rather than later in Wolf reopening plan Some GOP lawmakers in Pa. want to revoke Wolfs emergency powers, but it probably wont work Sports organizations hope to be able to play this summer, but prepare for cancellations EDITORS NOTE: NJ Cannabis Insider is a premium weekly trade journal that features exclusive content geared toward entrepreneurs, lawyers and realtors. View a sample issue. About six in 10 New Jersey voters say they will vote yes to legalize marijuana when the issue appears on the ballot in November, according to a new poll. The Monmouth University poll released Thursday found 61% of respondents said they would vote for the measure, while 34% said they would vote against it. Another 5% had no opinion. New Jersey lawmakers tried several times to legalize weed, but fell short of the necessary votes in the state Senate. Instead, they moved to pose the issue to voters on Novembers ballot as a constitutional amendment. While 61% of respondents said they would vote in favor of the ballot question, only 48% said they thought allowing those over 21 to purchase small quantities of marijuana for their own use from businesses licensed was a good idea. In contrast, 30% thought it was a bad idea and 22% had no opinion. Support for the marijuana ballot measure is widespread in part because many who have no opinion on whether legalization is a good idea and figure they might as well vote for it, Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute, said in a statement. Legal weed advocates have taken issue with the referendum process, worrying that a brief question will fail to address racial and social justice issues tied to marijuana, as well as tax revenue. Currently, the question reads as follows: Do you approve amending the Constitution to legalize a controlled form of marijuana called cannabis? Only adults at least 21 years of age could use cannabis. The State commission created to oversee the States medical cannabis program would also oversee the new, personal use cannabis market. Cannabis products would be subject to the State sales tax. If authorized by the Legislature, a municipality may pass a local ordinance to charge a local tax on cannabis products. If voters pass the question, pot wont become immediately available. State lawmakers will still have to work out the details and pass enabling legislation to launch the industry. Some worry that without those details in place, voters may be wary of green lighting legal weed. The poll numbers show that there is a lot of work to do to ensure success in November, said Bill Caruso, an attorney who represents various cannabis-related clients and is a founding member of New Jersey United for Marijuana Reform. The problem is the details of this proposal arent defined because the statute hasnt passed yet. Thats going to be a problem going into the fall to try to explain to the public what will come If legalization happens. Its not the first time a complicated issue has landed on the ballot in a diluted form. In 2016, voters overwhelming rejected a ballot question that would have expanded gambling to North Jersey. The question did not address how much the new casinos would pay in taxes and where they would be built. But two years earlier, when asked to consider an amendment on the complex issue of bail reform, voters said yes. That came after lawmakers and former Gov. Chris Christie had passed legislation that worked out many of the details. Taking a similar route with legal marijuana could give voters a clearer picture of the tax revenue the industry could bring, as well as the reparations that would be made to communities ravaged by the war on drugs. In March, activists and stakeholders launched a campaign coalition to support the ballot measure, advocating for legislation that takes a racial and social justice approach. The question has stronger support along party lines, with 74% of Democrats and 64% of independents in favor, compared to just 40% of Republicans. When asked about legal weeds impact on the economy, 62% of respondents said they believed it would help, while 10% said it could hurt the economy. Another question asked voters if legalizing would increase or decrease other drug related arrests, and 46% of respondents said they believed it would have no impact, while 27% predicted an increase and 22% believed arrests would decrease. The poll, conducted between April 16 and 19, surveyed 704 residents over the age of 18. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Amanda Hoover may be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj. Facebook agreed to censor posts that criticised the Vietnamese government after the country slowed its online traffic to a crawl. The restrictions, which two unidentified sources told Reuters were carried out by state-owned telecommunications companies, knocked the servers offline for around seven weeks, meaning the website became unusable at times. 'We believe the action was taken to place significant pressure on us to increase our compliance with legal takedown orders when it comes to content that our users in Vietnam see,' the first of the two Facebook sources told Reuters. In an emailed statement, Facebook confirmed it had reluctantly complied with the government's request to 'restrict access to content which it has deemed to be illegal'. An internet user browses through the Vietnamese government's Facebook page in Hanoi, Vietnam December 30, 2015 Vietnam's foreign ministry, which handles requests from foreign journalists for comment from the government, did not respond to a Reuters request. State telecoms firms Viettel and Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) also did not respond to requests for comment. Commenting on the Reuters report, human rights group Amnesty International called on Facebook to immediately reverse its decision. 'Facebook's compliance with these demands sets a dangerous precedent. Governments around the world will see this as an open invitation to enlist Facebook in the service of state censorship,' the group said in a statement on Wednesday. Facebook has faced pressure to take down anti-government content in many countries over the years. In Vietnam, despite sweeping economic reform and increasing openness to social change, the ruling Communist Party retains tight control of media and tolerates little dissent, ranking 175th of 180 countries on Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index. To that end, it keeps a close watch on Facebook, which serves over 65 million users as the main platform for both e-commerce and expressions of political dissent. Early last year, Vietnam accused Facebook of violating a new cybersecurity law by allowing users to post anti-government comments on the platform. In the months that followed, Amnesty International said at least 16 people were arrested, detained or convicted for such posts. In November, state media reported that five more had been jailed. The cybersecurity law requires foreign companies such as Facebook to set up local offices and store data in Vietnam - although Facebook says it does not store user data in the country. The Facebook sources said the company typically resists requests to block access to user posts in a specific country, but the pressure of having its local servers impeded had forced it to comply. Logos of Facebook Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, Snapchat and Twitter are seen in Ankara, Turkey on January 14, 2020 'To be clear, that does not mean we will be complying with every request that the government sends us. But we did commit to restricting significantly more content,' one source said. Facebook's statement said: 'We believe freedom of expression is a fundamental human right, and work hard to protect and defend this important civil liberty around the world ... 'However, we have taken this action to ensure our services remain available and usable for millions of people in Vietnam, who rely on them every day'. Since 2016, Vietnam has become of one of Facebook's biggest markets in Asia. According to Ants, a Vietnam-based market researcher, digital advertising revenue in Vietnam amounted to around $555million (446million) in 2018, 70 per cent of which went to U.S. social media giants Facebook and Google (GOOGL.O). The server shutdown began in mid-February and persisted until early April, the sources said, at the same time as concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus were intensifying. With Facebook usage so widespread in Vietnam, users began to notice that access was slow to Facebook as well as its Messenger chatting app and its picture-blogging site, Instagram. State media at the time blamed the slowdown on maintenance to undersea cables, and state telecoms firms apologised for unstable access to Facebook. 'VNPT and partners are actively working to check and rectify the problem,' VNPT said in a statement at the time. But behind the scenes, as Facebook struggled to maintain its services, it was talking to the government, the sources said. 'Once we committed to restricting more content, then after that, the servers were turned back online by the telecommunications operators,' one source said. The second source contrasted the drop in traffic in Vietnam with a surge elsewhere as dozens of countries put in place restrictions on movement that encouraged separated friends and families to turn to Facebook. 'Vietnamese telcos were unique in restricting access at a time when people need services like Facebook. It was a sharp contrast with other places in the world,' they said. 'Thankfully, that's now resolved'. MANZINI We will be affected, but the partial lockdown is necessary. This approval was expressed by a lot of entrepreneurs who feared for their livelihoods, especially because many people failed to adhere to the regulations of social distancing, among others. As thousands submit to governments persuasion to stay at home - away from their workstations, tea parties, nightclubs and salons the business community approves of the Prime Minister, Ambrose Mandvulo Dlaminis governments move of saving the lives of employees. Lockdown The premier had declared a National Emergency which was subsequently followed by a partial lockdown. The partial lockdown was later extended by three weeks in a relaxed manner. Such an action drew scorn from the public and various sectors as they felt the virus would spread easily. In retrospect, when Dlamini yesterday updated the nation on COVID-19, he said government would revert to the stringent conditions that were implemented when the initial partial lockdown was introduced. To this, businessman and Deputy President of the Federation of Eswatini Business Community (FESBC), Hezekial Mabuza, said the return of the initial conditions of the partial lockdown would affect the business community badly, but to avoid contracting the deadly coronavirus, it was essential. Mabuza said if it were his way, government would implement a total lockdown for at least a week before re-introducing a partial lockdown. This, he said, would make the public understand the need to stay at home and stop gallivanting in city centres. If you can go to any town right now, people are going about engaging in their business with little or no care at all for the partial lockdown. This will spread the virus and may end up crippling the economy we are concerned about, Mabuza said. Relaxed The entrepreneur said since the terms of the partial lockdown were relaxed, the curve in new infections seemed to be on the rise. He said worth scrutinising was the fact that most of the new infections had no history of travel outside the countrys borders. In his opinion, Mabuza said the contributing factor to such a pattern in the new cases could be travelling freely within the kingdom. He said within the public transport, people stood a high risk of being infected and or infecting others as the virus was not easily detectable in its early stages. There is a need to restrict travel such that one has a permit or dire need to travel to avoid large gatherings and interactions in city centres as commuters practise minimal precautionary measures. He said this posed a major risk to companies human resource, as they were likely to contract the disease through interaction with such individuals. Mabuza said employees who had minimal risk of contracting the disease were those who were being ferried by their employers as it minimised travel and interaction. This was an appropriate decision as the objective is to save lives. The health of the nation is essential in order for it to rejuvenate the economy once the effects of the virus have subsided. Given what had been happening following the extension, Mabuza said the mentality of society was not cognisant of the challenges. 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 iTunes, Spotify, Alexa and Google. Episodes are available every day on syracuse.com. Subscribe/Follow and rate the podcast via your favorite app. syracuse.com Morning Flash Briefing | April 23, 2020 Here are the stories were discussing in todays podcast: Cuomo to coronavirus lockdown protesters: Want to work? Get essential job Farmers donate 7,700 free gallons of milk at Destiny USA dairy drive (video) Hundreds mourn Westhill High School senior who died in car crash Le Moyne College cancels all on-campus classes, events through July 31; online learning continues Like much of Hollywood, the Dr. Phil Show was forced to suspend taping due to the coronavirus but with a little ingenuity and some creativity, the show has been able to pick right up in lockdown. Dr. Phil McGraw and wife Robin are working together to not only keep the show up and running but also their respective podcasts, along with the help of some dedicated crew members working from their homes all over Los Angeles. The couple sat down exclusively with DailyMailTV to chat about how they're making it work, what they're doing in their downtime and how much they miss 'the grandbabies' right now. New normal: Dr. Phil and Robin McGraw sat down exclusively with DailyMailTV to chat about how they're putting their shows together in quarantine, what they're doing in their downtime and how much they miss 'the grandbabies' As homebodies, Dr. Phil and Robin couldn't have been more prepared to go into self-isolation, which they've been strictly adhering to for over two months. 'It would just be shameful to complain,' Dr. Phil said. 'We have each other and we're in a great spot here. We're both feeling good, we're both healthy. And, to be honest, we're such homebodies I'm not sure we've noticed that much because we don't ever go anywhere.' 'It's true. It's true,' Robin agreed. 'I feel like we're just spending our days like we always do just at home together, taking care of business, doing what we need to do in a normal day.' In many ways the pair really are continuing with business as usual, just isolated at home. The teams behind the Dr. Phil Show and their podcasts Phil in the Blanks Mystery & Murder: Analysis By Dr Phil, and I've Got a Secret are busy putting out new shows from quarantine. Robin, in particular, has risen to the occasion and stepped into about a dozen different roles from podcast host to camera person. 'It would just be shameful to complain,' Dr. Phil said. 'We have each other and we're in a great spot here. We're both feeling good, we're both healthy. And, to be honest, we're such homebodies I'm not sure we've noticed that much because we don't ever go anywhere.' Work from home: The teams behind the Dr. Phil Show and podcasts Phil in the Blanks Mystery & Murder: Analysis By Dr Phil, and I've Got a Secret are busy putting out new shows from quarantine Dr. Phil gushed: Robin has been hair, makeup, wardrobe, lights, camera, set, design, everything. So, it's been amazing watching her do all this stuff with my very able team, which is scattered all over LA and even some back in Texas.' Dr. Phil gushed: Robin has been hair, makeup, wardrobe, lights, camera, set, design, everything. So, it's been amazing watching her do all this stuff with my very able team, which is scattered all over LA and even some back in Texas.' 'You know what? It just takes me back to something I said a lot of times about myself that people don't know, and that's that: 'Don't underestimate me,' Robin added. For her part, the ever energetic mother of two didn't bat an eyelash at the challenge and is extremely grateful for the support of the Dr. Phil Show crew under the guidance of executive producer Carla Pennington. 'If not for John Perry walking me through everything ... I'm doing a few shout outs -- Max, and Michelle with prompter, she said. So, I'm not doing it by myself!' 'You know what? It just takes me back to something I said a lot of times about myself that people don't know, and that's that: 'Don't underestimate me,' Robin said Behind the scenes: Robin didn't bat an eyelash at the challenge of helping put The Dr. Phil Show together and is extremely grateful for the support of the crew under the guidance of executive producer Carla Pennington (Pictured in May 2019) From home! As executive producer, Carla is leading the team including John Perry the co-executive producer and director, Max Rich the special projects associate producer, Michelle Thomasy on teleprompter and host Dr. Phil from their respective homes 'If not for John Perry walking me through everything ... I'm doing a few shout outs -- Max, and Michelle with prompter, Robin said. So, I'm not doing it by myself!' John Perry is the director and co-executive producer, Max Rich the special projects associate producer, Michelle Thomasy on teleprompter and the whole team is led by behind the scenes by Phil's longtime executive producer Carla Pennington. Both Dr. Phil and Carla also serve as executive producers for DailyMaiTV. The Dr. Phil show has been solely focused on coronavirus in recent weeks but the talk show host revealed that viewers can expect a return to pre-COVID-19 content starting next week. 'We're going to start running some of the shows that we had completed just before the lockdown because we think people are really ready for some normal content,' he explained. 'I think people want a break, I think they want to be refreshed by seeing some of the things that we normally would do on Dr. Phil.' Robin is also producing and recording her I've Got a Secret podcast from home as well which she said was an easier transition. Crisis coverage: The Dr. Phil show has been solely focused on coronavirus in recent weeks but the talk show host revealed that viewers can expect a return to pre-COVID-19 content starting next week 'We're going to start running some of the shows that we had completed just before the lockdown because we think people are really ready for some normal content,' he explained. 'I think people want a break, I think they want to be refreshed by seeing some of the things that we normally would do on Dr. Phil.' Secret is out! Robin is also producing and recording her I've Got a Secret podcast from home and recently Robin brought on Camila Alves McConaughey as a virtual guest 'It's really a matter of just switching from my office to my home and setting up the microphone, essentially, and the camera, because we do record video when I do a podcast, she explained. Recently Robin brought on Camila Alves McConaughey as a virtual guest and her next guest, she teased, is someone very special. 'I'm really excited because this week my guest on my podcast [is] sitting right here,' she smiled, gesturing at her husband. Dr. Phil also stepped up as the crew for Robin's podcast, though she isn't letting him fill in as hair and makeup. 'I actually did help with getting the backdrop in place and some stuff like that. So I was a stagehand, but she didn't let me do any hair, makeup, wardrobe,' he laughed. Doing his part: Dr. Phil also stepped up as the crew for Robin's podcast as her 'stagehand' though he she didn't let him return the favor of doing her hair and makeup Downtime: Meanwhile, the couple is enjoying their time together at their beautiful home in Los Angeles, catching up on shows, playing games and cooking meals 'We're very competitive. So we play a lot of games,' Robin laughed. Dr. Phil chimed in: 'And she wins a lot of games! We play a lot of games and she wins a lot of games. I don't know what it is, I think the dice are loaded or something.' It was at this part in the conversation that Robin mentioned she had seen videos online of husbands helping to color their wives hair in quarantine. 'I'm game if you're game,' Dr. Phil told her. 'You'd better be sure it washes out.' Meanwhile, the couple is enjoying their time together at their beautiful home in Los Angeles, catching up on shows, playing games and cooking meals. 'We're very competitive. So we play a lot of games,' Robin laughed. Dr. Phil chimed in: 'And she wins a lot of games! We play a lot of games and she wins a lot of games. I don't know what it is, I think the dice are loaded or something.' 'I think one of the favorite games, so far now, has become hide-and-go-seek,' Robin cheekily added with a laugh. 'I think it's important to do normal things. Look at other news, look at sitcoms, look at some things that give you a break,' Dr. Phil said. 'It's okay to laugh in quarantine.' During this time, Dr. Phil expressed the need for people keep things normal for the sake of their mental well-being. 'I think it's important to do normal things. Look at other news, look at sitcoms, look at some things that give you a break,' He said. 'It's okay to laugh in quarantine.' 'It's also okay to take care of yourself and relieve the stress through exercise and finding some humor, escaping into a book or a movie or something like that. You have to take care of yourself so you can take care of others.' The couple has been keeping in touch with their family, eldest son and producer Jay McGraw and wife Erica Dahm as well as rockstar son Jordan McGraw, through FaceTime and Zoom but they're looking forward to being able to see each other once again. Staying connected: The couple has been keeping in touch with their family, through FaceTime and Zoom but they're looking forward to being able to see each other once again, especially their grandchildren London and Avery 'I think we'll get the entire family together and hold hands, say prayer, break bread,' Dr. Phil said.'We're from the south and in the south, you love people with food. So, I suspect there are some big dinners in the future' As soon as quarantine is over, the duo, who has been married for four decades said that the first thing they're going to do is see their family, especially their beloved grandchildren London and Avery. 'I sure would like to wrap my arms around them and just take a sniff of their little hair and their little necks and plant some kisses,' Robin said affectionately. 'I think we'll get the entire family together and hold hands, say prayer, break bread,' Dr. Phil said.'We're from the south and in the south, you love people with food. So, I suspect there are some big dinners in the future' The Dr. Phil Show airs Monday through Fridays, new episodes of Phil in the Blanks drop Tuesdays, episodes of I've Got a Secret on Wednesdays and Mystery & Murder: Analysis By Dr Phil on Thursdays. 'I think we'll get the entire family together and hold hands, say prayer, break bread,' Dr. Phil said.'We're from the south and in the south, you love people with food. So, I suspect there are some big dinners in the future' (Dr. Phil, Robin, son Jay McGraw and wife Erica Dahm with their two children London and Avery McGraw) Medicaid has often been the target of budget cutting at the federal and state levels. Among the services perennially at risk is the care people receive at home and in their communities the care that older Americans increasingly say they need and want. While Medicaid must pay for those eligible to receive care in a nursing facility, states are not required to pay for assistance in one's home or for services in the community. "At the state level, we're very focused on making sure that older Americans can age in their homes, Sweeney says. Eleven governors seats are up for grabs in November, and the makeup of state legislatures will directly affect whether, for example, states that haven't expanded Medicaid will do so and which states will use the new block grant option. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), passed 10 years ago, called on states to expand Medicaid to more low-income families; so far, roughly three-quarters have done so. Medicaid expansion efforts are underway in three more states (Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma), either through ballot initiatives or by the state legislature. But a lawsuit now before the Supreme Court challenges the constitutionality of the ACA. A federal appeals court struck down the ACA individual mandate and asked a lower court to review its decision that the entire law is unconstitutional. The Supreme Court will hear arguments in the fall. Depending on the outcome, Medicaid expansion under the ACA could be in jeopardy. "Voters should ask candidates what they are going to do to make sure that the program isn't eroded, says Megan O'Reilly, AARP vice president for federal health and family issues. They should let them know that they'll hold them accountable for protecting their benefits. Premier Mark McGowan has shot down a suggestion his government would provide financial assistance to the AFL for a quarnatine hub to be based in WA. Premier Mark McGowan will not put up cash for an AFL quarantine hub. League bosses are expected next week to announce the resumption of the reduced 17-game season in early June, with quarantine hubs likely across three cities, hosting six teams. The AFL would favour WA being a hub due to its containment of COVID-19 cases and flexibility to fixture matches at different facilities and at night, with Optus Stadium and the WACA two venues likely to be used for matches and training bases. A day after saying an AFL hub would "boost morale" in the WA community, Mr McGowan scoffed at a suggestion his government might finance the move. "I hadn't considered that... obviously if we can put in place a regime which provides for self-isolation for the players when they come to WA, that meets the condition of the health advisers, that would be something we'd want to do," he said on Thursday. "In terms of providing money for it to happen, that's really not on our agenda. "I think teams coming here subject to self-isolation would be a good thing but um, I would've thought the AFL can afford to [fund the hubs]." Mr McGowan also rebuked the suggestion AFL players and staff would be considered "essential workers" if they were granted permission to enter WA, given the state has border closures in place that are expected to remain for months. Loading "We do allow for workforces to come into the state, subject to doing the self-isolation when they come here," he said. "A whole bunch of companies, who have people from over east who need to come here, have either moved their workforces here or, on rare occasions, come here and self-isolated for 14 days. "Football is actually a job for the players, and it may well be that the same arrangement can be put in place for football players." The AFL has held talks with WA government officials on how a quarantine hub might work and operate but Mr McGowan would not be drawn on any final decision. "The AFL would have to decide and then they would seek our permission and we would hand it to the police commissioner and the chief health officer to make a final decision." Over the years, Kleeberg weathered the stiff competition from video, the rise of huge multiplexes and the explosion of online streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu. Through it all, he kept his prices low. He charged $2 a ticket when he opened in 2002. Then he cut the price to $1. Last year, he made the rare decision to charge $3.99 per ticket still a deal for movie buffs. We were doing it as a bargain theater because not everybody can afford $10 and $20 to see a movie, Kleeberg said. He never envisioned it would be COVID-19 something completely unseen that would close his doors. We were thinking video, Netflix and Disney+ was going to take us out and while were looking one way, all of a sudden the silent enemy came and just knocked us out, Kleeberg said. The EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell on Wednesday said he regrets that the United States has blocked the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from assisting Iran in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Borrell also expressed regret that the United States has refused European Union's call to ease its sanctions on Iran and allow help to the most affected country in the Middle East. "We supported first to soften the sanctions and second, the request by Iran to the International Monetary Fund for financial help," Borrell told reporters after a video conference of EU foreign ministers on Wednesday. Iran's Central Bank applied to the IMF on March 12 for an emergency $5 billion loan to combat coronavirus. It was the first time since 1962 that Iran asked the international organization for emergency funding. "I regret that the Americans are, at this stage, opposing the International Monetary Fund from taking this decision. From a humanitarian point of view, this request should have been accepted," he said. Iran was the second country in the world to have a massive coronavirus outbreak. Since February when the first cases emerged, more than 5,300 people have died in the country of COVID-19. The pandemic and closure of businesses has deepened Iran's sanctions-hit and foreign currency-starved government even further. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani has criticized the United States for preventing the payment of the IMF loan and said the Instex mechanism set up by the European powers to make humanitarian trade with Iran possible does not fulfill Iran's needs. Since the mechanism was created a year ago only one transaction through Instex has been completed so far due to technicalities arising from the need to ensure U.S. sanctions are not broken. U.S. President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo have in recent weeks made it clear that the United States will not ease its "maximum pressure campaign" against Iran. The pressure is applied through sanctions that the United States re-imposed in 2018 by withdrawing from the 2015 nuclear agreement between six world powers and Iran. Trump has offered some humanitarian assistance to Iran, but Iranian officials have rejected the offer, saying Washington should instead lift the sanctions, which Rouhani on April 8 equated to economic and medical terrorism. One thing we could say about the covering analyst on New Wave Group AB (publ) (STO:NEWA B) - they aren't optimistic, having just made a major negative revision to their near-term (statutory) forecasts for the organization. Both revenue and earnings per share (EPS) estimates were cut sharply as the analyst factored in the latest outlook for the business, concluding that they were too optimistic previously. After the downgrade, the consensus from New Wave Group's one analyst is for revenues of kr5.5b in 2020, which would reflect a painful 20% decline in sales compared to the last year of performance. Statutory earnings per share are anticipated to tumble 96% to kr0.20 in the same period. Before this latest update, the analyst had been forecasting revenues of kr6.8b and earnings per share (EPS) of kr3.80 in 2020. Indeed, we can see that the analyst is a lot more bearish about New Wave Group's prospects, administering a measurable cut to revenue estimates and slashing their EPS estimates to boot. See our latest analysis for New Wave Group OM:NEWA B Past and Future Earnings April 23rd 2020 Taking a look at the bigger picture now, one of the ways we can understand these forecasts is to see how they compare to both past performance and industry growth estimates. These estimates imply that sales are expected to slow, with a forecast revenue decline of 20%, a significant reduction from annual growth of 8.8% over the last five years. By contrast, our data suggests that other companies (with analyst coverage) in the same industry are forecast to see their revenue grow 5.2% annually for the foreseeable future. It's pretty clear that New Wave Group's revenues are expected to perform substantially worse than the wider industry. The Bottom Line The most important thing to take away is that the analyst cut their earnings per share estimates, expecting a clear decline in business conditions. Regrettably, they also downgraded their revenue estimates, and the latest forecasts imply the business will grow sales slower than the wider market. After a cut like that, investors could be forgiven for thinking the analyst is a lot more bearish on New Wave Group, and a few readers might choose to steer clear of the stock. Story continues Even so, the longer term trajectory of the business is much more important for the value creation of shareholders. At least one analyst has provided forecasts out to 2023, which can be seen for 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. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to threaten millions of people across the globe, and lockdowns appear set to remain in place in many countries amid rising death tolls, as governments decide whether to extend restrictions aimed at reducing the spread of the virus. Now, a new study reveals that the novel coronavirus has mutated into at least 30 different genetic variants, affecting different parts of the world. The team of researchers, spearheaded by Chinese scientists Professor Li Lanjuan and her colleagues at the Zhejiang University in China, has found within a small pool of patients many mutations not previously reported. These mutations include rare changes that scientists had never imagined could happen. The novel coronavirus, now officially called the severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is an RNA virus, just like the viruses that cause measles and flu. These viruses are more prone to changes and mutations compared to DNA viruses. As the SARS-CoV-2 ripples across the globe, scientists worry that the virus will mutate into something deadlier and become a more significant threat to humanity. Mutations and rapid spread To arrive at their findings, the researchers analyzed the strains from the 11 randomly chosen COVID-19 patients from Hangzhou in China, where there had been 1,264 confirmed cases. They tested how the virus can effectively infect and kills the cells in the body. The team identified more than 30 different mutations of the virus, wherein 19 were never seen before. Some of the mutations boosted the ability of the virus to spread, while others strengthened its ability to invade cells. The team found that the deadliest mutations were seen in the ones spreading in Europe and New York. On the other hand, weaker strains were seen in some parts of the United States, such as Washington State. Current genomic survey data suggest that single nucleotide variants (SNVs) are abundant. However, no mutation has been directly linked with functional changes in viral pathogenicity, the researchers wrote on the paper. The paper, which was published in the online journal MedRxiv, highlights how studying the mutations can help provide a basis for vaccine development. The tricky part is with more mutations happening. It will take some time before a vaccine can be developed. This is the first study to provide an insight into how a mutation could impact the severity of the disease. For instance, the virus in New York is stronger and more aggressive, and it has the highest infection toll in the country. MERS Virus Particles Colorized scanning electron micrograph of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome virus particles (yellow) attached to the surface of an infected VERO E6 cell (blue). Image captured and color-enhanced at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility in Fort Detrick, Maryland. Credit: NIAID However, the weaker mutation did not mean a lower risk for the population. Take, for example, two patients in the study in Zhejian, who are in their 30s and 50s, had contracted the weaker strain of the virus but became severely-ill. Though the patients had recovered, they required admission in the intensive care unit (ICU). The team also revealed that some of the most aggressive strains of the coronavirus were able to generate 270 times the viral load of the weaker strains. Further, potent strains kill human cells fastest. Therefore, we provide direct evidence that the SARS-CoV-2 has acquired mutations capable of substantially changing its pathogenicity, the team added. The team believes the previous mutations that were not reported could be the reason behind the high death tolls in some parts of Europe and New York. The United States now has the highest number of confirmed cases and deaths, with 840,897 and 46,611, respectively. SARS-CoV-2 viruses are binding to ACE-2 receptors on a human cell, the initial stage of COVID-19 infection. Conceptual 3D illustration credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock Effect of many mutation variants With many mutations occurring in the virus, it may become more challenging to develop a vaccine that is effective in preventing the coronavirus disease. Patients with COVID-19 are being treated in hospitals using one treatment, regardless of the strain they have. The researchers suggest that knowing the different mutations can aid in providing the right treatment to patients. Also, they can determine actions to battle the virus. Though the need for treatment or vaccine is urgent amid the coronavirus pandemic, it is essential to take into consideration the accumulating mutations. Globally, the death rate topped 177,000, while the number of confirmed cases has reached a staggering 2.56 million people. The United States and some countries in Europe, such as Spain, France, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Turkey, have reported the highest number of cases. Important Notice medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. A special electric bus is delivering audio messages of love and kindness via loudspeaker to Brussels residents who are confined to their homes during the coronavirus outbreak. People who wish to send a special message to someone they cannot meet up with in person - such as a loved one, a friend or relative, or perhaps a key worker - can do so upon request to the 'Voices of Brussels' bus. Mother and daughter Asuncion Mendez and Carmen Diaz were surprised when they opened their window to receive a message of love from Lorena, Mendez's grandchild and Diaz's daughter. 'Voices of Brussels' bus driver Axel Vandecasteele said people seemed to appreciate that others were still thinking about them, despite the fact that they could not go out or see each other in person. The special bus initiative will run until Friday, April 24, according to the Voices of Brussels website. 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. (Representative Image) Hospitals should be allowed to restart elective procedures immediately, according to a letter from an Alabama Congressman to Gov. Kay Ivey. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, and other Congressional representatives from Alabama were asked by Gov. Ivey to submit reports on reopening the economy closed for almost two months by the coronavirus pandemic. In his report, Aderholt said he believed hospitals should be able to operate on a non-crisis basis, accompanied by a robust testing program for at-risk healthcare workers. Aderholt said the recommendation originated from a task force he formed to advise him on reopening plans. The group was made up of 13 representatives from the medical, retail, hospitality and restaurant, banking, transportation, engineering and manufacturing industries. The hospital administrator in the group said elective procedures should be allowed to be restarted immediately because current restrictions have severely reduced income while, at the same time, they are treating few, if any, COVID-19 patients. There are two hospitals in my district that are on the verge of closure and must increase their revenue to stay open, Aderholt said. Aderholts 4th Congressional District includes Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Fayette, Franklin, Lamar, Lawrence, Marion, Marshall, Walker and Winston counties, as well as parts of Blount, Cherokee, Jackson and Tuscaloosa counties. Aderholt said he is in favor of a measured plan to reopen the economy in phases and should focus on a county-by-county basis. I feel that the state, where appropriate, should work on a regional or county basis to modify these criteria to fit the local circumstances. After all, what will work for Tuscaloosa County may not work for DeKalb County, Aderholt said. You can read the complete letter here. Alabama U.S. House members begin providing recommendations to reopen state biz to Ivey At least 83 MTA workers have died of coronavirus with more than 3,000 confirmed cases, the transport authority's chairman said Wednesday. Patrick J. Foye pointed to New York being the epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis in the United States as he attempted to defend his organizations response to the pandemic. He once again blamed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, telling reporters he 'regrets' that the federal agency did not tell people to wear masks sooner. Foye said: 'I regret that the CDC and the World Health Organization gave the advice that they did. I do regret that they gave that advice to the entire country. I think that everybody in the country regrets the failings of the CDC.' The MTA followed initial CDC guidance which said its 71,000 workers did not have to wear face coverings. At the beginning of March workers were banned from wearing their own masks, Politico reports. As the death toll among MTA workers continued to rise, masks were eventually given to staff on March 27. The CDC said people should wear a mask on April 8. At least 83 MTA workers have died of coronavirus with more than 3,000 confirmed cases, the transport authority's chairman said Wednesday. A worker is pictured in a mask Wednesday MTA chairman Patrick J. Foye pointed to New York being the epicenter of the COVID-19 crisis in the United States as he attempted to defend his organizations response to the pandemic Foye said earlier this month: 'The only 'sluggish' response has been on the part of the [WHO and CDC], whose guidelines against widespread use of masks the MTA (a transportation organization, not a medical provider) initially followed but has since disregarded.' Of the confirmed cases 2,636 work on the subway or buses, as do all but three of those who have died. Foye, who is among those who has tested positive for the virus, said Wednesday: 'New York is the epicenter of the pandemic. The transit workers who have passed away are, the data suggests, primarily male. 'Many of them have underlying medical conditions, which the public health officials tell us is an issue with respect to the ability to survive this. No one knows, in the public transit world, how the virus was spread, under what conditions in was spread.' New York state and city officials ordered anyone who doesn't have an 'essential job' to stay home. As a result subway ridership fell 93 per cent. Transit workers are among those who are deemed essential employees and are still required to go to work despite the ongoing pandemic. The death toll in New York City was confirmed to be 9,944 Wednesday, with a further 5,052 probable deaths. Transport Workers Union Local 100 president Tony Utano told The New York Daily News: 'The risks transit workers face every day, and the sacrifices that have been made, demand they receive hazard pay from the MTA.' It was announced last week that families of Metropolitan Transportation Authority staff who have died from the coronavirus will receive $500,000. The funds were part of the line-of-duty death benefits that union leaders pressed MTA heads to provide. The benefits - part of the MTA labor contract - had been held up as the MTA wanted the federal government to pay. A negotiation was reached after several days. The MTA is planning to cover the health insurance of spouses and their dependents for three years in addition to the lump $500,000 payment. Families will not be required to prove that the virus was contracted while the transit worker was on the job. Elvin Gonzalez, an MTA bus driver has his temperature taken before starting his shift at the West Farms Bus Depot on April 10 An MTA transit worker cleans a nearly empty Times Square - 42nd street subway station following the outbreak of coronavirus disease To keep trains from getting too crowded, New York's MTA says it has sought to keep up normal service on the most-used routes. There are also police directing people on subway platforms to less crowded sections of trains. Riders are urged to cover their faces and to report situations where social distancing is not being observed. But one worker told The New York Post: 'It's like they're making it up as they go along. They're giving the operators N95 masks labeled single-use, and they're giving them instructions on how to clean them, saying they're supposed to keep it for five days.' Sarah Feinberg, the interim president of New York City Transit: 'I'm proud that we've been the most aggressive transit agency in the country in acting quickly and decisively to protect our workforce.' As a result of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, which has resulted in a global recession, remittances to India are likely to drop by 23 percent from USD 83 billion last year to USD 64 billion this year, the World Bank has said. "In India, remittances are projected to fall by about 23 percent in 2020, to USD 64 billion a striking contrast with the growth of 5.5 percent and receipts of USD 83 billion seen in 2019, the World Bank said in a report on impact of COVID-19 on migration and remittances released on Wednesday. Globally remittances are projected to decline sharply by about 20 percent this year due to the economic crisis induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown. The projected fall, which would be the sharpest decline in recent history, is largely due to a fall in the wages and employment of migrant workers, who tend to be more vulnerable to loss of employment and wages during an economic crisis in a host country, the bank said. Remittances are a vital source of income for developing countries. The ongoing economic recession caused by COVID-19 is taking a severe toll on the ability to send money home and makes it all the more vital that we shorten the time to recovery for advanced economies, said World Bank Group President David Malpass. 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 Remittances help families afford food, healthcare, and basic needs. As the World Bank Group implements fast, broad action to support countries, we are working to keep remittance channels open and safeguard the poorest communities' access to these most basic needs, he added. Remittance flows are expected to fall across all World Bank Group regions, most notably in Europe and Central Asia (27.5 percent), followed by Sub-Saharan Africa (23.1 percent), South Asia (22.1 percent), the Middle East and North Africa (19.6 percent), Latin America and the Caribbean (19.3 percent), and East Asia and the Pacific (13 percent). In Pakistan, the projected decline is also about 23 percent, totalling about USD 17 billion, compared with a total of USD 22.5 billion last year, when remittances grew by 6.2 percent. In Bangladesh, remittances are projected at USD 14 billion this year, a likely fall of about 22 percent. Remittances to Nepal and Sri Lanka are expected to decline by 14 percent and 19 percent, respectively this year. H-E-B and Favor are now offering a new express service that will deliver essential groceries to customers in two hours or less, according to a joint news release. The new express delivery service allows customers to order products from H-E-B, Central Market and Joe Vs stores in Texas through the Favor app or favordelivery.com. The services are available from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily. CURBSIDE: An updated list of San Antonio restaurants offering takeout and delivery Customers can choose up to 25 items from a selected list of groceries and essentials, such as dairy, meat, produce, beer and wine, the release said. Each order will have a dedicated Favor Runner who will contact the customer regarding any substitutions that may occur. All deliveries will be placed at the customers doorstep for a contactless experience. Customers will also receive a notification that tells them when their Favor runner has arrived at their door. For a limited time, the express delivery will include a $4.98 two-hour delivery fee (regularly $9.95) and a $10 tip. H-E-B Curbside and home delivery are still available for customers. RELATED: H-E-B to extend pandemic-adjusted hours of operations, will be open until 10 p.m. Jag Bath, H-E-B chief digital officer and Favor CEO, said in the release that the new service is just another way the two companies are responding to the "unprecedented demand" that has occurred during the coronavirus pandemic. H-E-B also has a delivery service for senior shoppers (60 and older) to utilize through the Favor app, which is available 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Participants can order online here or by calling 833-397-0080. In addition to the delivery and curbside options, H-E-B shoppers will have more access to groceries in the future as the company will extend its pandemic-adjusted hours of operations from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m starting Monday. The hours are currently 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Fifteen years ago, thousands of Blockbuster Video stores occupied buildings like this all over the country, renting DVDs and selling popcorn. Today, there's only one (it's in Bend, Ore). The company's shares once traded for nearly $30. Now the parent firm is gone, scooped up (and then erased) by the DISH Network in a bankruptcy auction. Obsolescence isn't always so complete, but emerging technologies and changing practices spell the end for many familiar items, practices and even jobs. COVID-19 is having abrupt effects, too, the consequences of which are still unfolding. Here are 13 items that will soon fade to black. Touch Screens Getty Images Businesses will have to rethink public touch screens as more customers see shared surfaces as an infection risk, no matter how often they're cleaned. ATMs, fast-food ordering terminals, displays in rental cars, airline kiosks and the like will get less use. Some people will carry special pens to tap the screens. Many firms will tout frequent cleaning or even offer free screen protectors to each user. Customers will turn to their smartphones instead. That gives many firms an opportunity to push their mobile apps, which figure to be in heavy demand. Voice commands and gesture recognition are potential substitutes but their utility is limited. Voice commands may not work in a crowded, noisy environment. Hand gestures can be inaccurate. The Handshake Getty Images As you can't socially distance and shake hands, that culturally entrenched behavior that marks both the opening and conclusion of so many business transactions is, well, locked down for now. Health experts as well as those who study social behaviors say it might not come back, even when we're once again able to get closer than 6 feet. Notably, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told The Wall Street Journal in April that "I don't think we should ever shake hands ever again, to be honest with you." Story continues Whether handshaking recovers will depend on the balance between the messaging from health authorities like Fauci and Americans' interest in following it. Potential non-contact replacements for now (and maybe later) include a range of waves from the Emily Post Institute to a small bow (already a thing in much of East Asia) to a sort of pledge-like hand-over-heart gesture to a foot bump (pictured here). But those substitutes will struggle to send the signal of "cooperative intent" that the handshake provides in the business world. SEE ALSO: 20 Retailers That Have Amended Their Return Policies Due to COVID-19 Keys Courtesy Kwikset Keys, at least in the sense of a piece of brass cut to a specific shape, are going away. At the office, most of us already use a card with a chip embedded to get access. But for getting into your house (and your car), the technology that will kill off the physical key is your smart phone. Connecting either via Bluetooth or the Internet, your mobile device will be programmed to lock and unlock doors at home, at the office and elsewhere. The secure software can be used on any mobile device. So if your phone runs out of juice, you'll be able to borrow someone else's device and log in with a fingerprint or facial scan. Phone stolen? Simply log in and change the digital keys. For the car, a variety of "connected car" services such as Audi Connect and GM's OnStar already let you unlock and lock the car remotely and even start it with a phone app -- but you still need your keyfob to drive off. Next up: Allowing you (or someone you authorize) to drive without even the keyfob, just your phone. Some Volvos and Teslas offer this feature, but look for it go more mainstream soon. SEE ALSO: Worst Things to Keep in Your Wallet Trading Commissions Getty Images Imagine a time (it was even before Blockbuster) when if you wanted to buy 100 shares of a stock trading around $50, you'd have to call a stockbroker to get it done -- and then pay about $60 for the service. Those charges, called commissions, have been dropping since the 1990s, and in late 2019 hit zero at most of the biggest brokers, including Charles Schwab, TD Ameritrade, E*Trade and Fidelity. Not everything is included -- many brokers still charge commissions for mutual fund trades, and in general, foreign shares, bonds, options and other more esoteric trades will still incur fees -- but "zero commission" is proving an appealing pitch that could lower trading costs for those as well. SEE ALSO: How to Beat Pesky Fees Ink Signatures Did you spend some time in say, your early teens, working out a snappy, distinctive signature? Sorry to say, no one's much interested in your graphological flourish these days, and the social distancing imperative of COVID-19 may spell the end of the already-declining "wet" signature -- physically putting pen to paper on a document. The changeover to digital signatures was set in motion 20 years ago with the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN Act). Most states followed suit through another acronymic agreement called the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA). But there have been holdouts for the wet signature, including personal documents that have to be filed with courts (such as divorce decrees) and as well as some business documents (particularly in real estate) that have to be recorded. With stay-at-home and lockdown policies limiting the ability to people to get together and coronavirus making a pen look more like a a disease vector than a writing implement, federal and state authorities have been scrambling to change rules to let business continue. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York, for example, is now taking electronic signatures on loan documentation. "With the expansion of eSignature use in the current climate," lawyers at Proskauer Rose LLP wrote in a recent blog, "such practices will likely continue to be used once life gets back to normal and offices reopen." SEE ALSO: You Can Still Buy and Sell a Home During the Coronavirus Outbreak Fast-Food Workers Thinkstock Burger-flippers have targets on their backs as fast-food executives are eager to replace them with machines, particularly as minimum wages in a variety of states rise to $15. Diners will notice reduced staffing up front as outlets such as Panera (PNRA) and McDonalds' (MCD) turn to apps and (perhaps to a lesser degree in the wake of the coronavirus) kiosks for order placing. Behind the scenes in the kitchen, industry giants like Middleby Corp. (MIDD) and boutique startups like San Francisco's Momentum Machines are all hard at work for devices that will take on tasks like loading and unloading dishwashers, flipping burgers, and cooking french fries. Humans won't be totally out of the picture -- the machines will require supervision and maintenance, and dissatisfied customers will need appeasing. But jobs will plummet. SEE ALSO: 20 Best Stocks to Invest In During a Recession Reusable Bags Getty Images "Wait a minute," you say. "Didn't I just get shamed into buying like 10 of these bags that I can never remember to actually bring into the store?" Yes, well, things have changed. An increasing number of state and local governments have instituted temporary bans on customers bringing their own reusable bags to grocery stores and other retail outlets. The thinking: Such bags potentially could be contaminated with the coronavirus. Illinois, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, San Francisco (yes, even there!) and other locales across the country have instituted bans on reusable bags. And statewide bans on single-use plastic bags slated to go into effect this year in New York and Maine have been put on hold. More localities may follow suit. Citing environmental concerns, state and local governments for years have been trying to wean the public from its plastic bag habit, either by requiring customers to pay a few cents to purchase single-use bags at checkout or instituting outright bans. Such moves have become a growing threat to the plastics industry -- and the fight over bags has been fought at culture-war intensity. But since the pandemic took hold, the industry has been lobbying the federal government to proclaim that plastic bags are more hygienic. The science around reusable bags and their potential to spread disease is contentious. An often-quoted 2011 study by researchers at the Universities of Arizona and Loma Linda found that reusable plastic bags can contain bacteria. But the study was funded in part by the American Chemistry Council, which represents major plastics and chemicals manufacturers. The study recommends that shoppers simply wash their reusable bags, not necessarily replace them with plastic bags. Dial-Up Internet Thinkstock If you want to hear the once-familiar beeps and whirs of a computer going online through a modem, you will soon need to do that either in a museum or in some very, very remote location. According to a study from the Pew Foundation, only 3% of U.S. households went online via a dial-up connection in 2013. Thirteen years before that, only 3% had broadband (Today, 70% have home broadband). Massive federal spending on broadband initiatives, passed during the last recession to encourage economic recovery, has helped considerably. The need to provide distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted remaining pockets (often in disadvantaged urban areas) where broadband adoption is low. Some providers will continue to offer dial-up as an afterthought for those who can't or don't want to connect via cable or another broadband means. But a number of the bigger internet service providers, such as Verizon Online, have quit signing up new dial-up subscribers altogether. The Plow Thinkstock Few things are as symbolic of farming as the moldboard plow, but the truth is, the practice of "turning the soil" is dying off. Modern farmers have little use for it. It provides a deep tillage that turns up too much soil, encouraging erosion because the plow leaves no plant material on the surface to stop wind and rain water from carrying the soil away. It also requires a huge amount of diesel fuel to plow, compared with other tillage methods, cutting into farmers' profits. The final straw: It releases more carbon dioxide into the air than other tillage methods. Deep plowing is winding down its days on small, poor farms that can't afford new machinery. Most U.S. cropland is now managed as "no-till" or minimum-till, relying on herbicides and implements such as seed drills that work the ground with very little disturbance. Even organic farmers have found ways to minimize tillage, using cover crops rather than herbicides to cut down on weeds. Your Neighborhood Mail Collection Box istockphoto The amount of first-class mail people are sending is plummeting -- particularly when it's coming from an individual tacking a stamp to an envelope. So, around the country, the U.S. Postal Service has been cutting back on those iconic blue collection boxes. Since it costs time and fuel for mail carriers to stop by each one, the USPS monitors usage and pulls out boxes that don't see enough traffic. Some boxes will find new homes in places with greater foot traffic, such as shopping centers, public transit stops and grocery stores. But on a quiet corner at the end of your street? Better dump all your holiday cards and summer-camp mail in it, or prepare to say goodbye. Your Privacy Thinkstock If you are online, you had better assume that you already have no privacy and act accordingly. Every mouse click and keystroke is tracked, logged and potentially analyzed and eventually used by Web site product managers, marketers, hackers and others. To use most services, users have to opt-in to lengthy terms and conditions that allow their data to be crunched by all sorts of actors. The list of tracking devices is set to boom, as sensors are added to appliances, lights, locks, HVAC systems and even trash cans. Other innovations: Using Wi-Fi signals, for instance, to track movements, from where you're driving or walking down to your heartbeat. Retailers will use the technology to track in minute detail how folks walk around a store and reach for products. Transcription software will be so good that many businesses will soon collect mountains of phone-conversation data to mine and analyze. And think of this: Most of us already carry around an always-on tracking device for which we usually pay good money -- a smart phone. Your phone is loaded up with sensors and GPS data. Is it linked to a FitBit perhaps? Now it has your health data. The latest frontier: Using phones to track the spread of COVID-19. Thanks to Bluetooth, your phone can track who you've been near and for how long. One reason not to fret: Encryption methods are getting better at walling off at least some aspects of our digital lives. But living the reclusive life of J.D. Salinger might soon become real fiction. SEE ALSO: 20 Amazing Ways Your Life Will Be Different in 2030 The Clutch Pedal Getty Images Every year it seems that an additional car model loses the manual transmission option. Even the Ford F-150 pickup truck can't be purchased with a stick anymore. The decline of the manual transmission (in the U.S.) has been decades in the making, but two factors are, ahem, accelerating its demise: Number one: Automatics are getting more efficient, with up to 10 gear ratios, allowing engines to run at the lowest, most economical speeds. Number two: Among high-performance cars, such as Porsches, "automated" manual shifts are taking hold. They use electronics to control the clutch instead of your left foot. You can select the gears with paddles, or just let the computer take care of that, too. The result: The computer shifts faster than the most talented clutch-and-stick jockey, improving the cars' acceleration numbers. Even the biggest of highway trucks are abandoning the clutch and stick for automatics, for fuel-efficiency gains and to attract drivers who won't need to learn how to grind their way through 18-plus gears. Some price-leader economy models, such as the Nissan Versa and Ford Fiesta, will list manuals on their cheapest configurations (though few will actually sell), and a segment of enthusiast cars, such as the Ford Mustang and Mazda Miata MX-5, will continue to offer the traditional three-pedal arrangement on some models. "It will be reserved for the 'driver's vehicle,'" says Ivan Drury, senior manager of insights for Edmunds.com. But finding one will be a challenge -- those holdout drivers had better be prepared to special-order their clutch cars. SEE ALSO: Best Cars for Senior Drivers Blackouts Thinkstock Frustrating power outages that leave people with fridges full of ruined food are on their way out as our electrical grid becomes increasingly intelligent - and resilient. Two factors are at work: slow, incremental "smart grid" improvements to the system that delivers electricity, and the rapidly expanding use of solar energy in homes and business. The breakthrough product here is the home battery. Developed by electric-car maker Tesla (TSLA) and others, will become cheap enough to store surplus solar power during the day and discharge it overnight, helping to better balance electricity supply and demand - and run a home for days during a blackout. LED lighting and more efficient appliances are helping, too, by reducing load on the system, whether the grid is or a backup system is running. Utilities are also deploying huge banks of batteries, from suppliers like AES (AES), in storm-prone areas to make sure the power stays on for everyone. EDITOR'S PICKS Copyright 2020 The Kiplinger Washington Editors The Punjab government has ordered a detailed audit of every coronavirus death, Chief Minister Amarinder Singh told Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday. He said the detailed audit has been ordered to understand and check the high mortality rate in the state. The government is also strengthening its pandemic containment measures under the guidance of an expert panel, he told the Congress president in a video conference. The state has so far reported 16 deaths. According to a statement, the chief minister said the mortality rate in the state was largely high due to co-morbidity (additional medical conditions) and a lack of health-seeking behavior (patients come late to a hospital). The chief minister, however, said Punjab had to be compared with Kerala and Gujarat, which were states with high NRI population. Punjab is doing significantly better than Gujarat, he said, adding that in terms of cases per 10 lakh population, the numbers were even lower than Kerala (nine/million in Punjab against 12/million in Kerala), he said. Punjab currently has 257 positive cases, including 16 deaths and two critical patients, while 53 have been cured, said the CM. Singh informed the party leadership that the state government was being guided by a group of experts, including former PGIMER Director K K Talwar, in handling the COVID-19 crisis. In percentage terms, cases in Punjab have steadily declined from 2.57 per cent of the total cases in India (as of March 31) to 1.22 per cent in three weeks (till April 22), claimed the CM. The CM also cited an example of SBS Nagar, which was formerly known as Nawanshahar, as a case of effective containment that has been "appreciated" by the Centre as well as the media. In SBS Nagar, which was one of the first hotspots in the country, all 18 patients have recovered and discharged, he claimed, adding that no case has been reported in the district since March 26. SBS Nagar had reported one fatality last month when a Germany-returned 70-year-old man died. The chif minister said the state has three containment zones--Jawharapur in Mohali, Safabadi Gate in Patiala, and Budhlada-- from where over 15 deaths have been reported. Three districts of Ferozepur, Fazilka, Bathinda are green zones with no coronavirus case. With respect to testing, the CM said 7,887 tests have been done so far. At present, the testing rate in the state, at 248/million is slightly lower than the national average of 309/million (excluding rapid testing). Regarding the rapid testing, the chief minister said 3,502 cases were tested before the Indian Council of Medical Research suspended such tests. The state currently has 10,500 rapid testing kits supplied by the ICMR while 10,000 have been ordered by the state government, with deliveries in progress. The government has also floated a tender for another 50,000 kits, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As a measure to curb the spread of coronavirus, the Osun State Government has announced the mandatory use of face masks in public places effective from tomorrow, April 24. The State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, who made this known in a statement released by his chief press secretary, Ismail Omipidan, on Thursday in Osogbo, added that the decision was part of the resolutions reached by the South-west Governors at its virtual meeting last week. Mr Oyetola noted that the states were the first to make the wearing of masks mandatory and that the regulation would remain in place till they get rid of the pandemic. The governor, who warned residents against complacency, urged them to cover their noses and mouths with the mask whenever they step out of their homes. Mr Oyetola said the sit-at-home order was still in place and that other precautionary measures of social distancing and regular washing of hands must be observed. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Nigeria currently has 873 confirmed cases of coronavirus with 197 persons discharged and 28 deaths. As Nigeria grapples with containing the spread of the disease, the number of confirmed cases has continued to increase with Lagos topping the chat with the highest number of cases. Carol Lue, MBA03, isnt afraid to switch things up. When her career in corporate social responsibility hit an unexpected snag, Lue moved back home to Jamaica and founded a green nonprofit that promotes renewable energy and supports local farmers on the island. Lue had previously worked in Toronto for Sears, Roebuck and Co., but in 2011 financial turmoil at the iconic company forced the elimination of her entire department. Making the most of the setback, Lue decided to reevaluate her professional goals and ultimately try her hand at entrepreneurship. When you reach a certain point in your career, youre looking for that personal fulfillment as well, said Lue. And Ive always had an interest in development issues, particularly in Jamaica. Lue founded the biogas nonprofit CaribShare in 2012. Drawing inspiration from similar projects in Canada, the organization uses food waste from resort hotels in Montego Bay to produce biogas, a renewable fuel used for clean electricity generation. Having never started a business before prior to Sears, she negotiated product sourcing for two other companies Lue initially thought she could have CaribShare up and running in a couple of years before returning to Toronto. I thought, Ill do a business plan. How difficult can it be? she joked. People produce biogas all over the world. I didnt think it would be so difficult. If I did, I dont know if I would have gotten myself into it. Lue quickly learned some of the challenges that come with running a nonprofit unforeseen obstacles, elusive funding, implacable bureaucracy and costly learning curves, to name a few. But she persisted, cutting through seemingly impenetrable red tape, hiring dedicated staff and securing the funding CaribShare needed to stay afloat. Lues grit and creativity have kept investors interested. She started out with a $200,000 grant in 2012 from the Inter-American Development Bank. In 2015, Lue won a pitch competition held by the Branson Centre an incubator for Jamaican startups founded by British airline executive Sir Richard Branson. The prize for best social project earned CaribShare another grant worth 1 million Jamaican dollars (or about $86,000 at the time). More recently, Lue has secured grants from the Development Bank of Jamaica, Environmental Foundation of Jamaica and United States Agency for International Development. Biogas digesters require two main ingredients: food and a biological reactor like manure. Securing those materials turned out to be relatively easy for Lue, who negotiated with all the resort hotels to pick up their food waste. Her manure supply comes from local farmers, who Lue said are often overlooked on the island but have proven to be an important partner for CaribShare. In exchange for manure, CaribShare provides the farmers with a share of the food waste from the resorts, which the farmers use to feed their animals. The biogas digesters also produce a byproduct rich in nutrients that can be used as a potent fertilizer, which Lue also shares with the farmers. By necessity, Lues plans for the future remain flexible. She credits Brandeis International Business School for teaching her the importance of being persistent and for viewing business opportunities through a socially conscious lens. When youre an entrepreneur, you have to be flexible, said Lue. But when youre flexible, every challenge is an opportunity. House lawmakers passed a bill that would enable lawmakers to collect more data and explore which parts of the state, if any in particular, have been shortchanged when it comes to coronavirus testing and treatment. The bill, H.4672, imposes daily data collection requirements from the state Department of Public Health and creates a diversity task force that would develop policy recommendations for the states COVID-19 response. The 13-member task force would include lawmakers and leaders that represent diverse geographic, cultural, ethnic, linguistic and disability populations, according to the bill. The House bill passed unanimously Thursday afternoon. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. Lawmakers and community advocates across Massachusetts have raised concerns about gaps in the states COVID-19 data since the state started collecting the information. For weeks, the daily reports lacked a breakdown by race, ethnicity and municipality. DPH started publishing a breakdown by race and ethnicity after revising its reporting protocols and instructing labs to share that information. State officials initially resisted calls to release town-by-town data, arguing the information could out patients in communities with few numbers of cases. Lawmakers who called for the data argued it helped increase transparency and identify potential clusters of cases in certain regions of the state. Theres stigma attached to all sorts of communicable diseases, and there were several individuals very early on who tested positive through social media were identified locally, and they were really cyberbullied, Sudders said last month. Last week, Sudders announced the state would publish weekly reports of COVID-19 cases broken down by municipality. Under the bill, the state Department of Public Health would need to share daily statistics on new tests, confirmed cases, deaths within 24 hours, as well as overall totals. The data would need to be broken down by race, ethnicity, gender, municipality and other demographics. The bill also requires that the state report cases broken down by long-term care facilities and state and county correctional facilities. House lawmakers also passed a bill that implements a diversity task force that can make policy recommendations to address disparities for underserved populations, including racial, ethnic and linguistic minorities as well as people with disabilities. Unless otherwise specified, members of the task force shall be knowledgeable in public health or healthcare and appointments shall give consideration to individuals who have experience addressing health care disparities in underserved or underrepresented cultural, the bill states. The bill comes as Springfield officials raise concerns about disparate access to testing. Gov. Charlie Baker and Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders announced on Wednesday that 12 community health centers will receive COVID-19 test kits from the state to expand testing in historically underserved communities. None of those community health centers hail from Western Massachusetts. When asked about testing in the region, Sudders said on Thursday that the state is working with Caring Health Center in Springfield to expand testing. Sudders also noted that the Big E has a drive-thru testing site and that she spoke with lawmakers earlier on Thursday to discuss expanding testing options. Sudders said she asked for recommendations for EMS companies in the region that could send out a mobile testing van, similar to the van that Boston-based Cataldo Ambulance plans to launch. Massachusetts recorded 3,079 new positive tests on Thursday, the highest number in a single day. Overall, 46,023 people have tested positive statewide, and 2,360 people have died. Black and Latino residents in Massachusetts are among the hardest hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Chelsea, a majority-minority, working-class city just north of Boston, has 1,447 cases and 84 deaths. The Black and Latino Legislative Caucus called on Baker to increase testing in urban neighborhoods. When asked about the rate of COVID-19 cases among Black and Latino residents, Baker said coronavirus can be more difficult to contain in cities with higher density. Its part of the reason why weve been so aggressive about expanding our program with the community health centers because they are, in many cases, the most important care asset in many of those communities, he said. Related Content: Walmart Adopts One-Way Aisle Policy to Curb COVID-19 Spread Walmart said in an April 21 announcement that it would be launching one-way aisles in its stores to encourage customers to practice social distancing to help curb the spread of COVID-19. The new foot traffic arrangement will be effective on Thursday, Walmart Center said in a statement on Facebook. One-way aisles are designed to increase social distancing and give customers more space on each aisle, the company said, adding that floor decals would be applied to help guide the movement of people in its stores. The move was hailed by some and criticized by others. Thank you. Ive been avoiding shopping because its hard to keep safe. Im high risk. Everyone may not appreciate it but I do, one person wrote under Walmarts Facebook post. I have found that it increases shopping time, causes congestion in areas of high interest, and forces people close together in groups as some of us want to pass or move around slower people and get blocked. I understand the idea behind it, but I dont think it works very well, said another. Walmarts move comes after Publix, a supermarket chain, introduced one-way aisles earlier this month. The health and well-being of our customers, associates, and communities are our top priority, the Lakeland-based company said in a statement. To help with customer traffic flow, we have added directional markings, company wide, to our aisles. This will allow customers and associates to better distance themselves while on the aisle. Publix said in addition to decals on aisle floors to help direct foot traffic, it would also put up signs and broadcast public announcements in stores to remind customers and associates of the importance of social distancing. Walmarts one-way aisle announcement comes after the company unveiled a new policy last Friday that requires employees to wear masks to help stem the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus. Starting Monday, associates at Walmart and Sams Club, as well as both distribution center and corporate office employees, have been required wear masks or other face coverings, according to a news release. We believe it is simply in everyones best interest to use masks or face coverings to curb the spread of this disease, Walmart noted. Shoppers are also being encouraged to wear masks, the retail giant said in the release. The CDC announced new mask guidelines in early April, citing research that shows a high transmission rate in people who have the virus but do not show 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, the agency noted. Walmart said wearing masks is an additional health precaution and encouraged its associates to remember the mnemonic 6-20-100. Were asking them to remember three numbers: 6, 20 and 100, the company said in a separate release. Six feet is the amount of space people should keep from others, when possible, to maintain social distancing. Twenty seconds is the amount of time people should take to wash their hands with soap and water. And 100 is the temperature that someone should stay home with, Walmart said. As of Thursday, according to a Johns Hopkins tally, there were 842,624 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States. The death toll from the virus nationwide was over 46,785. Rijuta Dey Bera By Express News Service CHENNAI: A 36-year old schoolmaster and his disciples, challenged the tyranny of the British Raj, and for a few glorious days, threw off the yoke of imperial servitude. They paid a heavy price. But a tinder had been struck, and a group of young Bengali men and women had briefly managed to attack and capture British strongholds. I am referring to the little-known saga of the Chittagong Armoury Raid and the ensuing Battle of Jalalabad Hills, led by Masterda Surya Kumar Sen, former president of the Indian National Congress Chittagong branch. My grandfather Suresh Chandra Dey was one of the 65 members of the Chittangong branch of the Indian Republic Army, who raided the local armoury and cut off the communication systems to isolate the important port city. A few days later, a regiment of more than 20,000 British troops struck back. During this fierce battle, my grandfather was shot. He managed to survive the injury and was helped by his comrade Shanti Nag, who carried him down the hill to safety. Dey was eventually arrested and jailed without a trial, incarcerated as a political prisoner. When his tormentors could not extract information from him through coercion and torture, they tried bribing him, offering to send him to England and fund his higher studies as a barrister. He did not give in and was eventually released and placed under house arrest. So much so, when my grandfather wed my grandmother Kironmoyee Dey, it was in the presence of British soldiers. He then made his way westward, and eventually founded a the first Sreeleathers store in Jamshedpur in 1952. My grandfather had chosen to dedicate his life to the idea of an independent India. But the pocket of earth on which he and his comrades bled into was cleaved away at partition, first as East Pakistan and then as Bangladesh. It falls upon all of us to remember our forebears, and cherish the country that was founded on the blood sacrifice of so many forgotten heroes. Photo: sebastiaan stam/Unsplash Here's what you need to know about what's happening in Detroit. Nurse sues hospital for firing her after speaking out on poor conditions A veteran Detroit nurse was fired for speaking out on staffing ratios and poor conditions at a hospital amid the pandemic, a lawsuit claims. Read the full story on New York Post. Police search for 56-year-old man missing from home on west side Mart Garrett was last seen around 1 p.m. Tuesday leaving his home in the 8000 block of Marlowe Street. Read the full story on Graham Media: ClickOnDetroit. Tracking coronavirus cases in nursing homes around Metro Detroit Nursing homes remain a top priority in the fight to stop the spread of the coronavirus, especially in the city of Detroit. Read the full story on Graham Media: WDIV Detroit. Governor: Some version of stay-at-home order will be in effect for long time Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said the state's Stay-At-Home Executive Order will likely need another short-term extension, and that some form of that order will be in effect for a long time. Read the full story on www.theoaklandpress.com. Woman faces multiple charges after fatal crash A Detroit woman is facing multiple charges in connection with a crash that killed an 82-year-old man on April 14. Shemeeka Walthall is charged with second-degree murder, reckless driving causing death and leaving the scene when at fault causing death. Read the full story on CBS Detroit. 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. [April 23, 2020] Cambridge Bancorp Condenses Annual Meeting of Shareholders To protect the health and safety of employees and shareholders through the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cambridge Bancorp ("Cambridge") has decided to substantially condense its annual meeting of shareholders to be held at 8:30 a.m., Eastern Time, on Monday, May 18, 2020 and to move the meeting to the Cambridge Trust Wealth Management office at 75 State Street, 18th Floor, Boston, MA 02109. We ask that shareholders utilize the proxy voting procedures as outlined in the proxy statement for the meeting and promptly submit their proxy by telephone, Internet or by signing and returning the proxy card by mail. To comply with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ("CDC") as well as orders issued by the governor of Massachusetts, Cambridge is strongly recommending against attendance this year. The meeting is anticipated to be completed in less than 10 minutes, and the customary information provided at Cambridge's annual meetings will be made available following the formal meeting. Attending the meeting will greatly increase the risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 as well as the risk that others will become infected with the disease. In order to comply with the Massachusetts Governor's order prohibiting the gathering of 10 or more people, if an eligible shareholder is considering attending, Cambridge asks they contact Cambridge as soon as possible at (617) 520-5520 to register to attend the meeting. Shareholders who do not register prior to the annual meeting will not be permitted to attend the meeting. In the event the ban on gatherings of 10 or more people is rescinded prior to the date of the annual meeting, shareholders will be permitted to attend regardless of whether they registered in advance. In addition, if an eligible shareholder is considering attending the meeting, Cambridge asks that they closely monitor the CDC's, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health's and the Massachusetts Governor's guidance and restrictions regarding traveling and public gatherings since the situation with respect to COVID-19 is changing rapidly. About Cambridge Bancorp Cambridge Bancorp, the parent company of Cambridge Trust Company, is based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Cambridge Trust Company is a 130-year-old Massachusetts chartered commercial bank with approximately $2.9 billion in assets and a total of 16 Massachusetts and New Hampshire locations. Cambridge Trust Company is one of New England's leaders in private banking and wealth management with $3.1 billion in client assets under management and administration. The Wealth Management group maintains offices in Boston, Massachusetts and Concord, Manchester, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Forward-looking Statements Certain statements herein may constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements about the Company and its industry involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Statements other than statements of current or historical fact, including statements regarding the Company's future financial condition, results of operations, business plans, liquidity, cash flows, projected costs, the impact of any laws or regulations applicable to the Company, measures being taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's business are forward-looking statements. Words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "forecasts," "intends," "plans," "projects," "may," "will," "should," and other similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Such statements are subject to factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from anticipated results. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the following: the current global economic uncertainty and economic conditions being less favorable than expected, disruptions to the credit and financial markets, changes in the Company's accounting policies or in accounting standards, weakness in the real estate market, legislative, regulatory or accounting changes that adversely affect the Company's business and/or competitive position, the Dodd-Frank Act's consumer protection regulations, the duration and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on levels of consumer confidence, actions governments, businesses and individuals take in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and actions taken in response to the pandemic on global and regional economies and economic activity, the pace of recovery when the COVID-19 pandemic subsides, challenges from the integration of the Company and Optima resulting in the combined business not operating as effectively as expected, disruptions in the Company's ability to access the capital markets, the businesses of the Company and Wellesley may not be combined successfully, or such combination may take longer than expected, the cost savings of the merger with Wellesley may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected, operating costs, customer loss and business disruption following the Wellesley merger, including adverse effects on relationships with employees, may be greater than expected, governmental approvals of the merger with Wellesley may not be obtained, or adverse regulatory conditions may be imposed in connection with governmental approvals of the merger, and other factors that are described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year end December 31, 2019, which the Company filed on March 16, 2020. The Company does not undertake, and specifically disclaims any obligation, to publicly release the result of any revisions which may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances after the date of such statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005045/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. President Donald Trump and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on April 22 discussed the global coronavirus pandemic and efforts to blunt its spread, the White House and the Pakistani leader's office said. The two also discussed the U.S.-led effort to bring peace to Afghanistan, Khan's office said in a statement distributed by the Pakistani Embassy. Trump and Khan spoke by telephone following talks last week that U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad held with Taliban negotiators in Doha and Pakistani officials in Islamabad on the stalled peace process. A February 29 U.S.-Taliban deal for a phased U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan called for the opening by March 10 of intra-Afghan negotiations on a settlement to decades of war. But differences between Kabul and the Taliban over prisoner releases, a feud between Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his main political rival, and a surge in Taliban attacks have stalled the peace initiative, raising concerns it could collapse as the coronavirus spreads. U.S. officials say Pakistan wields considerable influence over the Taliban by providing the militants with sanctuary on its side of the border and other support. Pakistan denies those allegations. In his call with Trump, Khan "reaffirmed Pakistans support for facilitation of the Afghan peace process and underscored the importance of next steps leading to the earliest commencement of intra-Afghan negotiations," the Pakistani statement said. Afghanistan and Pakistan, impoverished countries with poor healthcare systems, are confronting growing cases and deaths from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus. The United States, also fighting rising cases and deaths, last week announced more than $8 million of aid to help Pakistan battle the pandemic. Trump and Khan "discussed developments in the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and agreed to continue working together on a coordinated response to defeat the virus and minimize its economic impact," White House spokesman Judd Deere said. The Pakistani statement said Trump reassured Khan "of U.S. support to Pakistan in the efforts to combat COVID-19 including by making available ventilators as well as in the economic arena." Trump, it said, offered to send "the latest rapid testing machine for COVID-19" to Khan after hearing that the Pakistani leader was tested for the disease. Khan was found to be negative, according to Pakistani news reports. SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- Staff at McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center in Springfield are getting their hands on new personal protective equipment thanks to some generous donors and their 3D printers. The donations are part of a collaboration of people in the community with the resources and knowledge to print face shields out of plastic. Donald Goerz, a University of Oregon graduate student, delivered a batch of the shields to the hospital Wednesday morning. In the last five days, he has 3D-printed about 150 plastic face shields for the hospital, using his own money as well as donations. I believe if people have the ability to do something in an emergency to help their fellow man, then they need to do that, Goerz said. Robert Asumendi, Goerzs partner on the project, turned to Facebook to jumpstart the project with donations, providing thousands of dollars for the materials necessary to make the shields. Like Goerz, Asumendi has a 3D printer and said he wanted to help out health care workers. I had the capacity to do it and a little bit of time and so I dont know what could be more important than trying to protect our frontline medical professionals, Asumendi said. Desi Shubin, Chief Nursing Officer for McKenzie-Willamette, said the face shields protect medical workers from splatter and also prevent staff from accidentally touching their faces. The shields can also be cleaned and reused and are more comfortable than traditional shields. One of the reasons we like these so much is theyre easily wiped down, Shubin said. The pieces can be taken apart and they can be cleaned and the other ones that get shipped to us are just one-time use and we have to toss them. Asumendi and Goerz said they plan to donate more shields to hospitals as they raise more money. They have organized a GoFundMe to pay for the supplies necessary to print the shields which you can find here. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 15:38:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- China's tourism sector is seeking long-term development to offset losses brought by the COVID-19 epidemic, with smarter infrastructure and live broadcast provided by many scenic spots. Statistics show that consumers who used to be price-sensitive are shifting to focus more on safety, making travel safety a priority when they pick desired destinations. According to Qunar, flight bookings on the travel platform for business class and first-class cabins, which enjoy lower passenger density, increased 46 percent from February, over 10 percent higher than that of the economy class. Hotel data released by Qunar reflects a similar trend. Consumption of star hotels with quality service and higher safety standards has picked up remarkably since March. The number of people staying at four-star hotels or above in March was over two times the number in February after businesses gradually resumed. First-tier cities like Shenzhen and Guangzhou saw a faster growth in terms of the number of guests at star hotels than that of budget hotels in March. The concept of consumption, travel experience and consumption frequency will be different from what they used to be before the outbreak of COVID-19, said Ma Yong, a tourism and hospitality expert with the Hubei University. "Tourists will give more priority to 'fitness' and 'individuation,'" Ma said, adding that self-driving tours, overseas study tours, and family tours are expected to rise by leaps and bounds, and the frequency of customized leisure tours will also go up. Services in scenic spots are also provided in a more intelligent way to improve travel experience and prevent the epidemic. On April 13, nationwide tourist attractions were required to complete their booking systems to avoid crowd gathering during rush hours. Travel agencies and scenic areas were urged to adopt smarter management measures. China's largest online travel agency Trip.com Group launched online booking access earlier this month to support real-name ticket reservations, monitor tourist flows and take care of after-sales service. Yu Xiaojiang, vice president of the travel company, said that there is an urgent need for scenic spots across the country to go intelligent and allow online booking. Trip.com will take advantage of its sophisticated service system to jointly build "smart tourist attractions" with interested partners, Yu said. Digitalization, together with capital, knowledge, innovation and other factors, is activating traditional culture and tourism resources, which forms new engines of the industry, said Dai Bin, head of the China Tourism Academy. In recent months, a large number of tourist sites started to respond to the latest live-streaming craze by allowing eager tourists trapped at home to turn to online guided tours to catch a glimpse of the early spring. Livestreaming platforms and travel agencies team up with tourist sites to make online sightseeing more accessible. Celebrities from popular social media platforms are invited to spice up the tours. On April 15, Ke Jie, the 22-year-old known as the world's best Go player, attracted over 3 million viewers in less than two hours in a travel promotion livestreaming in the city of Lishui, east China's Zhejiang Province. Since March, museums, galleries have staged online exhibitions of their rare treasures on popular livestreaming and video platforms such as Mafengwo.com and Kuaishou.com in an attempt to get a slice of the potentially lucrative market. "As the epidemic weakens, the contained travel demand will be released gradually, and business players who have embraced digital market strategies will be the first to see success," said Zhao Lei in charge of Fliggy.com's consumer operations, an online travel agency owned by Alibaba. Washington, April 23 : US President Donald Trump said that the US "had no choice" but to pour trillions of dollars into fighting the coronavirus pandemic, adding that "this was an attack... this wasn't the flu". "This was an attack. This wasn't just... This wasn't the flu, by the way," The Hill news website quoted Trump as saying on Wednesday at a White House press briefing, despite comparing COVID-19 to seasonal influenza before the outbreak reached pandemic proportions. "Nobody's ever seen anything like this," he added. Trump's comments come as the House prepares to pass more than $300 billion in further coronavirus economic rescue and medical response funding and Democrats push for another massive stimulus bill. Trump and Congress have already approved more than $2.2 trillion in economic relief to counter more than 22 million job losses caused by the pandemic and the efforts to slow it. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also said on Wednesday that the US must be willing "to spend what it takes to win the war" despite concerns about the $24 trillion national debt, according to The Hill news report. As of Thursday, the US has reported 842,376 confirmed coronavirus cases in the world, with 46,785 deaths, both figures are currently the highest in the world. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text White House National Economic Director Larry Kudlow believes that American businesses should be protected from 'false lawsuits' by removing liability if employees or customers contract coronavirus. Speaking on CNBC Wednesday evening, the economic adviser said that businesses must be shielded from coronavirus-related lawsuits in order to give them to confidence to reopen while states and cities ensure that safety standards are still met. The idea of removing liability for businesses was also pushed by President Donald Trump Monday after the U.S. Chamber of Commerce published an open letter calling coronavirus exposure liability 'the largest area of concern for the overall business community'. The letter asked that businesses not be subject to the same Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards regarding the supply and training in personal protective equipment used to prevent the spread of coronavirus. It comes as staff in food processing plants that are now shut down due to coronavirus outbreaks detail the failure of their companies to provide adequate protective equipment and more than 40 grocery store workers die from the illness. Scroll down for video National Economic Director Larry Kudlow believes that U.S. businesses should be protected from 'false lawsuits' by removing liability if employees or customers contract coronavirus White House National Economic Director Larry Kudlow said that businesses should not be held liable if employees become sick with coronavirus as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reveals that there have already been number corona-virus related lawsuits filed by employees. Front line workers have placed themselves at risk of exposure including grocery store workers Pictured an employee restocks the meat section in a Florida supermarket. There are at least 3,000 grocery store workers showing symptoms and more than two dozen have died from the virus. Economic adviser Larry Kudlow believes employers should not be liable Kudlow spoke on CNBC's 'Squawk Box' Wednesday night, voicing support for the removal of liability for coronavirus exposure as the administration looks toward reopening the country. 'Businesses, particularly small businesses that don't have massive resources, should not be held liable should not be held to trial lawyers putting on false lawsuits that will probably be thrown out of court,' Kudlow told CNBC. 'You have to give the businesses some confidence here that if something happens, and it may not be their fault I mean, the disease is an infectious disease.' Kudlow referred to May as a 'transition month' when it came to reopening the U.S. economy and said the country 'may be coming down the homestretch' but he is worried about the effect that liability claims could have on businesses. He said that states and cities are doing a 'very good job' of monitoring businesses and will be able to ensure safety standards are maintained if liability is removed. 'If something happens, you can't take them out of business,' Kudlow added. 'You can't throw big lawsuits at them. And I think liability reforms and safeguards are going to be very important part of this. Some of this we can do probably on a regulatory basis. Part of it may require some additional legislation. 'But that's a very important point here. Someone has to defend the businesses.' The move has been supported by Trump who addressed the issue in the White House Monday stating that the administration is looking at ways to rid companies of liability, shielding them from lawsuits and other legal problems that could emerge if coronavirus affects employees and customers. Kudlow appeared on CNBC on Wednesday evening stating that he hoped to protected businesses from false lawsuits that could emerge from coronavirus exposure The University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation has released a new map projection that reveals when each US state could potentially start relaxing measures 'We just don't want that because we want the companies to open and to open strong,' Trump said during the press briefing. The comments came after the U.S. Chamber of Commerce lobbied last week for protection from liability if customers or employees are sickened when business activity resumes. The lobby group, which advocates for businesses, called exposure liability 'the largest area of concern for the overall business community' and outlined a series of ways in which they believe they can be protected from exposure-related lawsuits. In a letter called 'Implementing a National Return to Work Plan', the group revealed there have already been numerous filed as a result of COVID-19 and that more are expected as states begin to reopen. It called for clarity in who was responsible for providing personal protective equipment if all employees are now going to be required to wear it regardless of their industry and asked that the federal government make clear that PPE recommended specifically to combat the spread of COVID-19 is not subject to the normal OSHA requirements around workplace PPE. The letter also named exposure liability as 'perhaps the largest area of concern for the overall business community'. 'The threat of exposure-related lawsuits also will deter some businesses from reopening even after it is determined that they could safely operate by following the guidance of appropriate health authorities,' the group claimed. A decision to remove liability has been met with criticism from some economists, however. Justin Wolfers, an economics and public policy professor at the University of Michigan, posted a widely shared tweet that called the decision 'bad economics and bad policy'. 'The whole point of making employers liable for risking the lives of their staff is to prevent them from exposing their staff to undue risk,' he wrote. 'Businesses are asking for the right to expose their workers to fatal risks with no consequences.' Justin Wolfers, an economics and public policy professor at the University of Michigan, posted a widely shared tweet that called a lack of liability 'bad economics and bad policy' Trump predicted earlier this month that the economy would take off like a 'rocket ship once we get back to business.' But experts say the recovery will be far slower. 'It'll be a very gradual process regardless of what a governor says or the president says,' said Dr. Robert Blendon, a Harvard professor of health policy and political analysis. He said the history of lockdowns, particularly the quarantine of more than 25,000 people around Toronto in 2003 to slow the spread of SARS, shows that it will take weeks, even months, for people to develop the confidence to resume normal activity. Blendon also warned that a predicted second wave of COVID-19 could reverse any gains made in the interim. It's not just government, but individual businesses that will need to convince employees and consumers that it's safe to return, once they decide to reopen. Staff at Amazon, McDonald's and construction workers all staged walkouts in early April protesting against poor safety conditions as employees fell ill and protesed that proper protective equipment was not provided. Hundreds of Amazon workers planned a 'mass call out' Tuesday over claims the trillion-dollar company has placed warehouse staff at 'increased risk and exposure' to coronavirus. The protest will see workers from Tuesday call out of work 'en masse across the country' as they demand better protection from the killer virus. Coronavirus cases have been confirmed at more than half of the company's US warehouses and at least one worker has been killed by the virus, according to United for Respect. Workers in the country's food processing plants have also voiced concerns as the close working conditions cause them to become coronavirus hotspots and at least nine major factories close or reduce their opening. An employee at Smithfield's Sioux Falls plant, the location of one of the country's worst coronavirus clusters with more than 760 employees infected, posted this picture of their equipment. Employees claim they were given hairnets instead of masks to cover their faces At Smithfield's Sioux Falls plant, the location of one of the country's worst coronavirus clusters with more than 760 employees infected, staff claim they were given hairnets instead of masks to cover their faces. Workers at the Kraft Heinz food plant in Holland, Michigan, claim that the company has been slow in providing personnel protective equipment as two workers there test positive. Grocery store workers are also showing massive numbers of infection as they continue to work through the crowds of shoppers. There are at least 3,000 grocery store workers showing symptoms and more than two dozen have died from the virus. 'The 95 percent of them, and higher, believe they are going to catch the virus because of what is happening in those stores because people aren't doing social distancing,' warned Marc Perone, International President of the United Food Commercial Workers International Union. The headquarters of the biotechnology company BioNTech in Rhineland-Palatinate, Mainz, Germany. (Andreas Arnold/picture alliance via Getty Images) The Paul Ehrlich Institute, Germanys regulatory authority for vaccines, has given its approval to start trials of a potential coronavirus vaccine on healthy human volunteers. The vaccine has been developed by Mainz-based BioNtech (BNTX) in cooperation with US pharma giant Pfizer (PFE). The Institute said that granting approval came after a careful assessment of the potential risk/benefit profile of the vaccine candidate, and noted that the drug is only the fourth vaccine trial in the world to get testing approval so far. Testing, it said, could take up to five months, before larger, clinical trials could begin. The speed with which we were able to move from the start of the program to trial initiation speaks to the high level of engagement from everyone involved, said Ugur Sahin, BioNTech CEO and co-founder. The vaccine will be tested first on 200 healthy adults aged between 18 and 55. The following phase would see it tested on a coronavirus risk group people over 55 and those with pre-existing health conditions of around 500 people. Read more: Merkel warns 'we mustnt think for one second that we are safe' as restrictions are eased Albert Bourla, Pfizer chairman and CEO, said in a statement that they are looking forward to and actively preparing for the potential start of this unique and robust clinical study program in the United States in the near future. The UK will also begin its first human trials of a vaccine developed at Oxford University this week. Health secretary Matt Hancock said that the government was allocating 20m ($25m) to help fund the research, and another 20m to vaccine research taking place at Imperial College London. Governments and health experts agree that while curfews and lockdowns are helping to tackle the rampant spread of COVID-19, there is no way to ensure that infections wont surge again without a vaccine. The race to develop a vaccine caused tension between Berlin and Washington last month, after the US government was accused of trying to acquire German medical company CureVac, with the goal of ensuring its vaccine in development would be developed exclusively for the US. Story continues Read more: Munich cancels Oktoberfest as risks too high Germanys health minister Jens Spahn responded that a US takeover of CureVac was off the table, and that if CureVac made a vaccine it should be available for the world, not for individual countries. Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche (RHHBY), said this week that it is unlikely to have a vaccine available before the end of next year. It plans to launch an antibody test in May, that will indicate if someone has already had coronavirus. Watch the latest videos from Yahoo UK These days, you don't need a TV critic to tell you that teenagers are hard to love. Harder still when they're charged with first-degree murder and seem coldly indifferent to the outcome, like 14-year-old Jacob Barber (Jaeden Martell), the little creep at the center of Apple TV Plus's sluggish and deeply dour miniseries "Defending Jacob" (premiering Friday). Based on William Landay's best-selling 2012 novel, the series opens on what begins as a typical morning in Newton, Massachusetts, which appears to be caught in one of those never-ending, drizzly Gloom-o-Vision weather spells that descend on mediocre mystery dramas. The body of a dead teenage boy, Ben Rifkin, is discovered amid the fallen leaves on an incline in a neighborhood park. He was stabbed repeatedly. A brash (so brash!) prosecutor, Andy Barber (superhero moviedom's Chris Evans), begins working alongside police detective Paula Duffy ("Get Out's" Betty Gabriel) to identify suspects - which includes interviewing students at the middle school where both the victim and Andy's son, Jacob, are eighth-graders. Does that strike you as inappropriate, given that the prosecutor is too close to the case? Well, just wait until he starts throwing away key evidence. If you came to "Defending Jacob" with even the tiniest understanding of due process, you may as well excuse yourself now; the series oversteps so many real-world legal boundaries, with an inexcusably crummy plot and lots of stiff dialogue, that it becomes ridiculously agitating, going far past the genre's usual dance with plausibility. The eighth-graders being interviewed by Andy and the police can tell it's entirely inappropriate, as their texts and social media accounts swirl with rumors that Jacob murdered Ben. It's here that Andy and his wife, Laurie ("Downton Abbey's" Michelle Dockery), begin to notice the way their son exhibits little in the way of sympathy for the town's shared grief; he's evasive with answers, and, oh look, he's hiding a professional-grade hunting knife in his sock drawer. (Kids!) The case for watching "Defending Jacob" is thin indeed, even at this peculiar cultural moment when viewers are willing and able to watch just about anything. Dockery overcomes creator-writer Mark Bomback's clunksome scripts, once more proving that she has much to offer beyond "Downton," while Evans' performance is as weak and uninspired as can be - rivaled in its flatness only by Martell's empty take on a troubled teen. To make matters just a little more worse, "Defending Jacob" drags another two terrific actors down with it: Cherry Jones as Jacob's defense attorney, and J.K. Simmons as Andy's estranged, imprisoned father. It takes forever and then some for "Defending Jacob" to get where it's going, in eight episodes that could easily have been four - leaving plenty of time for me to wonder why so many of Apple TV Plus's original shows fail to impress. It's not as if Apple isn't following the same recipe as it competitors, bringing out lavishly produced shows with expert polish and big stars, looking for all the world like something a binge viewer would readily watch. Yet, as with "Defending Jacob," the result is imitation-flavored television - a chronic occurrence, six months after the streaming service's launch. There's a larger mystery there, and someone needs to solve it. - - - "Defending Jacob" (eight episodes) premieres Friday on Apple TV Plus with Episodes 1-3. New episodes will stream weekly. Australians could soon be allowed to spend more time at their local shopping mall with a small group of friends as coronavirus restrictions begin to ease in mid-May. Since the last week of March, it had been illegal to gather in groups of more than two people in public or leave home for purposes other than buying groceries or medicines. Supermarkets and chemists have been busy as other areas of shopping malls have remained eerily quiet. Australians could soon be allowed to spend more time at their local shopping mall with a small group of friends as coronavirus restrictions are eased in three weeks. Pictured are three women shopping at George Street in downtown Sydney Nick Coatsworth, one of the federal government's four deputy chief medical officers, has flagged relaxing social gathering rules from May 11. This could see Australians being allowed to spend more time going shopping with friends, provided COVID-19 infection rates stay low. 'If the numbers stay low and that's the critical thing, then we're going to look at those social restrictions and we're going to have a wide-ranging look at them,' Dr Coatsworth told Sydney radio 2GB broadcaster Alan Jones on Thursday. 'We'll look at the number of people we want in gatherings, we'll look at retail stores, remembering Alan we never closed retail stores but we will want to see people moving about society again.' Australians will still be required to maintain a 1.5-metre gap in public. 'They'll be moving about with all those new behaviours we've put in,' Dr Coatsworth said. Nick Coatsworth, one of the federal government's four deputy chief medical officers, has flagged relaxing social gathering rules from May 11. This could see Australians being allowed to spend more time going shopping with friends, provided COVID-19 infection rates stay low 'Keeping a distance, washing our hands, cough etiquette.' 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 Since March 25, cafes have been banned from serving customers at tables but they have been allowed to provide takeaway cappuccinos and food. Six days later, state governments banned residents from leaving their home, except to buy groceries and medicines under temporary COVID-19 public health orders that allowed travel for work, caring duties and funerals. This has seen most specialty shops selling fashion and books struggle for customers, even though they weren't specifically banned from trading - unlike gyms and cinemas. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on March 29 declared Australians would only be allowed to gather in groups of two in public, beyond their immediate household. The measures appear to be working. As of 3pm on Wednesday, there had been just four new COVID-19 cases across the country in the previous 24 hours, federal Department of Health data showed. This is despite testing being ramped up, with more than 12,000 conducted nationwide in the past day. Madam Edwina Okuoadjo 23.04.2020 LISTEN The lifting of the lockdown necessitated by the Coronavirus pandemic came as a great relief to many who were badly affected. The period saw the distribution of food, foodstuffs, and relief items to vulnerable groups across the country by state institutions, benevolent organizations, and philanthropists. To the President of the African Women for Peace and Development (AWOPEDEC), Madam Edwina Okuoadjo, who is also a philanthropist, though it was an unfortunate occurrence, the lockdown provided Ghanaians with the privilege to show their love to each other. It was a rare privilege to express our love to each other and to be reminded of the fact that we are each others keeper, she stated as she looks back at how the period exposed the difficulties many vulnerable persons face in their day-to-day lives. During the period, Madam Okuadjo, a Philanthropist and Educationist, took time off to distribute food to the staff of LEKMA Hospital at Teshie Tsui Bleoo, some Persons with Disability (PWDs), residents along the Teshie beach, among others. I was shocked at the way the lockdown affected many people, some of whom were considered well-to-do. It was a learning experience that should remind us of our responsibility towards each other in society, she disclosed. On some occasions during our distribution of food, we were overwhelmed by the numbers that came to pick packs of food. The Police and Soldiers had to come in to restore order and maintain social distancing, Madam Okuadjo recalled. She appealed to government, organizations, and individuals to capitalize on the opportunity to reinforce their social responsibilities and to maintain a continuous programme to support the underprivileged in society. Two specific cell types in the nose have been identified as likely initial infection points for COVID-19 coronavirus. Scientists discovered that goblet and ciliated cells in the nose have high levels of the entry proteins that the COVID-19 virus uses to get into our cells. The identification of these cells by researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, University Medical Centre Groningen, University Cote d'Azur and CNRS, Nice and their collaborators, as part of the Human Cell Atlas Lung Biological Network, could help explain the high transmission rate of COVID-19. Reported today (23rd April) in Nature Medicine, this first publication with the Lung Biological Network is part of an ongoing international effort to use Human Cell Atlas data to understand infection and disease. It further shows that cells in the eye and some other organs also contain the viral-entry proteins. The study also predicts how a key entry protein is regulated with other immune system genes and reveals potential targets for the development of treatments to reduce transmission. Novel coronavirus disease - COVID-19 - affects the lungs and airways. Patient's symptoms can be flu-like, including fever, coughing and sore throat, while some people may not experience symptoms but still have transmissible virus. In the worst cases, the virus causes pneumonia that can ultimately lead to death. The virus is thought to be spread through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and appears to be easily transmitted within affected areas. So far the virus has spread to more than 184 countries and claimed more than 180,000 lives*. Scientists around the world are trying to understand exactly how the virus spreads, to help prevent transmission and develop a vaccine. While it is known that the virus that causes COVID-19 disease, known as SARS-CoV-2, uses a similar mechanism** to infect our cells as a related coronavirus that caused the 2003 SARS epidemic, the exact cell types involved in the nose had not previously been pinpointed. To discover which cells could be involved in COVID-19 transmission, researchers analysed multiple Human Cell Atlas (HCA) consortium datasets of single cell RNA sequencing, from more than 20 different tissues of non-infected people. These included cells from the lung, nasal cavity, eye, gut, heart, kidney and liver. The researchers looked for which individual cells expressed both of two key entry proteins that are used by the COVID-19 virus to infect our cells. Dr Waradon Sungnak, the first author on the paper from Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: "We found that the receptor protein - ACE2 - and the TMPRSS2 protease that can activate SARS-CoV-2 entry are expressed in cells in different organs, including the cells on the inner lining of the nose. We then revealed that mucus-producing goblet cells and ciliated cells in the nose had the highest levels of both these COVID-19 virus proteins, of all cells in the airways. This makes these cells the most likely initial infection route for the virus." Dr Martijn Nawijn, from the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands, said, on behalf of the HCA Lung Biological Network: "This is the first time these particular cells in the nose have been associated with COVID-19. While there are many factors that contribute to virus transmissibility, our findings are consistent with the rapid infection rates of the virus seen so far. The location of these cells on the surface of the inside of the nose make them highly accessible to the virus, and also may assist with transmission to other people." The two key entry proteins ACE2 and TMPRSS2 were also found in cells in the cornea of the eye and in the lining of the intestine. This suggests another possible route of infection via the eye and tear ducts, and also revealed a potential for fecal-oral transmission. When cells are damaged or fighting an infection, various immune genes are activated. The study showed that ACE2 receptor production in the nose cells is probably switched on at the same time as these other immune genes. The work was carried out as part of the global Human Cell Atlas consortium which aims to create reference maps of all human cells to understand health and disease. More than 1,600 people across 70 countries are involved in the HCA community, and the data is openly available to scientists worldwide. Dr Sarah Teichmann, a senior author from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and co-chair of the HCA Organising Committee, said: "As we're building the Human Cell Atlas it is already being used to understand COVID-19 and identify which of our cells are critical for initial infection and transmission. This information can be used to better understand how coronavirus spreads. Knowing which exact cell types are important for virus transmission also provides a basis for developing potential treatments to reduce the spread of the virus." The global HCA Lung Biological Network continues to analyse the data in order to provide further insights into the cells and targets likely to be involved in COVID-19, and to relate them to patient characteristics. Professor Sir Jeremy Farrar, Director of Wellcome, said: "By pinpointing the exact characteristics of every single cell type, the Human Cell Atlas is helping scientists to diagnose, monitor and treat diseases including COVID-19 in a completely new way. Researchers around the world are working at an unprecedented pace to deepen our understanding of COVID-19, and this new research is testament to this. Collaborating across borders and openly sharing research is crucial to developing effective diagnostics, treatments and vaccines quickly, ensuring no country is left behind." ### Notes to editors NHS advice about COVID-19: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ * https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-51235105 ** The molecular mechanism of COVID-19 entry is via a lock and key effect, where a spike on the outside of the virus acts as a key to unlock an ACE2 receptor protein on the human cell. [Zhou et al 2020 Nature] confirmed that the 2019-nCoV uses the same cell entry receptor--angiotensin converting enzyme II (ACE2)--as SARS-CoV. Then, the virus uses a second protein inside the cell - the TMPRSS2 protease - to finish its entry and to allow the virus to reproduce and transmit itself. The Human Cell Atlas: The Human Cell Atlas (HCA) is an international collaborative consortium, which aims to create comprehensive reference maps of all human cells--the fundamental units of life--as a basis for both understanding human health and diagnosing, monitoring, and treating disease. The HCA is steered and governed by an Organising Committee, which is co-chaired by Dr Sarah Teichmann of the Wellcome Sanger Institute (UK), and Dr Aviv Regev of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard (USA). http://www.humancellatlas.org The Human Cell Atlas Lung Biological Network is a consortium of 71 scientists who collaborate on mapping the airway cells in our body. This group is coordinated by Drs Martijn Nawijn, Pascal Barbry, Alexander Misharin and Jayaraj Rajagopal. Further HCA research on COVID at: https://www.humancellatlas.org/covid-19/ The data from this research is available at: https://www.covid19cellatlas.org Appendix with further quote: Professor Jayaraj Rajagopal, a pulmonologist in the Department of Internal Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, associate member at the Broad Institute, and a Member of the Human Cell Atlas Lung Biological Network, said: "The cellular basis of disease often does not receive as much attention as the molecular basis of disease, even though molecules and cells are inseparably linked. In the case of COVID-19, knowing the cells that act as portals of viral entry and possible viral reservoirs helps us think about why a virus can be transmitted easily between people and why only some people progress to a lethal pneumonia. Most studies of coronaviruses don't use cells from the actual tissues that are infected in patients. The HCA hopes to point both virologists and physicians toward the right cells and tissues for study." Selected websites: University Medical Center Groningen The University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) is one of the largest academic hospitals in the Netherlands and hosts the medical faculty of the University of Groningen, an international top-100 research university. Research at the UMCG is characterized by both fundamental and translational biomedical research. Within the UMCG, the Groningen research Institute on Asthma and COPD (GRIAC) focuses on multidisciplinary, translational research into respiratory disease; its inception, remission and treatment. https://www.umcg.nl/EN/corporate/The_University_Medical_Center/Paginas/default.aspx Universite Cote d'Azur and CNRS Universite Cote d'Azur and CNRS develop ambitious interdisciplinary research programs to explore the living world and its environment, and meet the major societal challenges of today and tomorrow. More information at univ-cotedazur.fr/en and http://www.cnrs.fr or by following @uca_research and @INSB_CNRS. The Wellcome Sanger Institute The Sanger is one of the world's leading genome and biodata institutes. Through its ability to conduct research at scale, it is able to engage in bold and long-term exploratory projects that are designed to influence and empower science globally. Institute research findings, generated through its own research programmes and through its leading role in international consortia, are being used to develop new diagnostics and treatments for human disease and to understand life on Earth. Find out more at http://www.sanger.ac.uk or follow @sangerinstitute About Wellcome Wellcome exists to improve health by helping great ideas to thrive. We support researchers, we take on big health challenges, we campaign for better science, and we help everyone get involved with science and health research. We are a politically and financially independent foundation. http://www.wellcome.ac.uk Porsche Driver Arrested After Melbourne Freeway Crash A drug-affected driver has been arrested more than 12 hours after fleeing a truck crash which left four Victoria Police officers dead. The 41-year-old man, who is known to police, is being interviewed by homicide detectives on April 23. Police have located the driver of a Porsche believed to be involved in the fatal collision involving the death of four police members in Kew yesterday, a police statement reads. The police investigation into the exact cause of the collision remains ongoing and a coronial investigation into the fatal incident will start. Coroner Darren Bracken will run the investigation and has told Victoria Police to compile a coronial brief of evidence. The arrested man was behind the wheel of a Porsche pulled over by officers on the Eastern Freeway on Wednesday evening and he had tested positive to drugs. More officers were called to impound the car and while all four police were standing by the side of the road, a truck ploughed into them. The Porsche driver ran from the scene and its alleged he took photos of the crash and shared them on social media. Flags are flying at half-mast across Victoria on Thursday in honour of the female senior constable, male senior constable and two male constables, one of whom recently joined the force. It is an unprecedented event for us to lose so many officers in one event. Officers just doing their work, just doing their job, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton told reporters on Thursday. Two of the officers had pulled over the black Porsche 911, after it was clocked at 140km/h on the freeway about 4.50pm on Wednesday. The crash happened about 50 minutes later. The truck driver had a medical episode after the crash, blacked out and is in hospital under police guard. Police raided the truck drivers Cranbourne home on Wednesday night and are yet to reveal what they found. Trevor, a cousin of one of the deceased officers and who drives a truck similar to the one in the crash, told Melbourne radio 3AW he was shocked by the tragedy. It hasnt hit home yet, but the job they do, I dont think is respected enough, he said. Police Association Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt said the deaths were felt across the state and hopes we never have another day like this. There is nothing ordinary about pulling on the police uniform. The jobs is a hard one, a tough one, he told reporters. We become normalised because we do it every day, but when our members do that every day they are sacrificing a little part of their safety. Premier Daniel Andrews asked all Victorians to pause and honour Victoria Police officers for the work they do. To live a life in the service of others is a deeply impressive thing, to lose your life in the service and protection of others is a tragedy, he said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison called it a dark day for the police force. More than $44,000 has been raised towards a $2 million target for the families of the deceased police officers via a GoFundMe page. The semitrailer was removed late on Thursday morning and the freeway remains closed between Bulleen Road and the Chandler Highway. By Christine McGinn and Uli Izquierdo iStock/Totojang(NEW YORK) -- BY: EDEN DAVID and SASHA PEZENIK Antibody tests, which reveal whether someone has been infected with the novel coronavirus, have been touted as key to reopening the economy and restoring a sense of stability to quotidian life. The hope is that people who've been infected by and develop antibodies may be able to ward off future reinfections, confidently returning to everyday life. But for now, it's just that: a hope. Medical experts have said it's premature to rely on antibody testing as a singular solution to reopening the economy. One crucial step will be determining whether antibodies indeed confer immunity and protect an individual from further reinfection, which experts said could take years to determine. Experts studying this new virus still don't know if these antibodies indicate protection -- and, if so, for how long, to what extent? "This outbreak is moving much more rapidly than previous coronavirus outbreaks have -- it's more widespread, with a greater number of patients," Dr. Aneesh Mehta told ABC News. His team at the Division of Infectious Diseases at Emory University School of Medicine has now helped launch a COVID-19 antibody testing initiative. Results so far have been telling, but time's required to gauge the strength and longevity of the average person's antibody response. "We believe that the antibodies that we're detecting do confer some level of protection, but we want to know how much and how long that protection lasts," Mehta added. Studying previously documented immune responses that included antibody production may help researchers better understand the properties of antibodies produced against COVID-19. But not all antibodies are created equal -- tremendous variance is seen in immune system responses to different viruses. Some antibodies confer early and long-term immunity, while others take longer to develop and are short-lived, providing a limited period of protection. It's now known that antibodies produced in patients who contracted SARS, which emerged less than two decades ago and belongs to the same coronavirus family as COVID-19, confer protective immunity for several years. Medical professionals are hopeful antibodies produced in response to COVID-19 offer similar protection. Preliminary studies on monkeys suggest COVID-19 antibodies provide partial, short-term protective immunity to reinfection, but, as Harvard epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch recently wrote for The New York Times, these early results are just "educated guesses." Antibody tests primarily are used to develop more robust surveillance systems to estimate the scope of disease spread, and while useful for estimating infection and mortality rates, the tests hopefully soon can be used to identify which antibodies provide recovered COVID-19 patients with immunity, scientists said. This approach was used in identifying protective antibodies for MERS and SARS. As government officials spearhead mass antibody testing initiatives, science and medicine are rushing to catch up. "We're kind of racing the clock," Dr. David Koch, director of clinical chemistry, toxicology and point of care testing at Grady Memorial Hospital, told ABC News. U.S. experts are looking to data from other countries that are ahead of the curve, such as Italy and South Korea, for glimmers of insight on COVID-19 antibodies. And, as Koch noted, with some viruses reinfection is always possible. "Other viruses and infections that produce antibodies, the person is liable to get the same illness again later, like the common cold," Koch added. Select preliminary studies from other countries suggest COVID-19 reinfection is possible, but more research is required to determine whether a patient's second positive test is a new infection or remnants of the first. And if the virus mutates, would those who endured an earlier iteration still be protected? "It's going to take people who have known antibodies to COVID-19 to be re-exposed and find out if their protective antibodies come back to elevated levels and protect them -- or not," Dr. Carmen Wiley, president of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry, told ABC News. "It'd be nice to know all these answers tomorrow," Koch added. "But nobody's a magician, nobody's a savant about these things. Even Dr. Fauci. People as experienced as he is are still rather befuddled. You go back to late January, February, even the experts were making misstatements." The quality of antibody tests for COVID-19 also has come into question. Although they've skyrocketed in number, only four have received an Emergency Use Authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. Others have been approved for manufacturing in case they're proven effective. Experts told ABC News there's concern tests of dubious quality could make it to market without being properly vetted. "Each antibody test tells a different story," Koch said. At Beaumont Health, researchers have said they want to test all 38,000 employees, whose jobs place them at a higher risk of COVID-19 infection, for related antibodies. The study's aim is to monitor the rate of infections, as well as the longevity and long-term effectiveness of the antibodies produced. This week in California, USC and the LA County Department of Public Health released preliminary results from a collaborative study that showed virus spread among the local population may be more widespread than previously thought. Although immediately worrisome, perhaps it's good news for the at-large antibody quotient. But the World Health Organization has cautioned against relying too heavily on a single study. So much more data remains to be collected. "I wish I could tell you how long it would take to produce that longevity," Mehta said. "Not only do we feel this pressure externally -- we feel this pressure because we want to help people. We have to make the best decisions we can in the environment we're in." Mehta excused himself to check on a recovering patient, adding: "We're always improving." Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. London: The British government insists it will reach its target of 100,000 coronavirus tests a day despite trailing a self-imposed deadline, as the coronavirus pandemic reaches its peak after claiming tens of thousands of lives. Health Secretary Matt Hancock told an unprecedented virtual sitting of Parliament on Wednesday that the United Kingdom had experienced the worst of the outbreak and daily deaths - along with admissions to hospital and intensive care units - were now falling. A National Health Service worker is tested by a soldier at a drive-through testing centre in a car park at Chessington World of Adventures near London. Credit:AP The formal death toll has reached 18,100 following a further 759 deaths in hospitals. However the true figure will be much higher once thousands of coronavirus-linked deaths in care homes and private houses are factored in. During a barrage of forensic questioning by new Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and his renewed opposition team, Hancock stressed an easing of the country's lockdown was not imminent and could only occur once public health authorities were able to conduct mass testing and contact tracing. The Nigerian government is planning to evacuate some stranded students in Khartoum, Sudan, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The citizens will be evacuated without having to pay, the minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has said. The government earlier announced it plans to evacuate some of its citizens abroad due to the lockdown many nations have imposed as part of measures to limit the spread of the virus. The citizens would, however, be made to pay for the cost of evacuation back home, an official had said. Mr Onyeama, while responding to questions at the daily Presidential Task Force briefing on Wednesday, explained that the government had to find resources to fund the students return because they are young children. The financial aspect of this is one that we are also very mindful of. You know, we have some students who are stuck in Khartoum, Sudan. Of course, we have to bend backwards because they are students, young children to find resources to pay for their return and also for their two weeks isolation, he said. Mr Onyeama, however, said such magnanimity cannot be extended to others that are to be evacuated because of the paucity of funds. But unfortunately, for all the others, we just dont have the financial resources. As you can see, there is a huge amount of money that we have to pay for various aspects of the challenge. It is a source of great regret to the government that we are not in the position to pay. If we have the resources, we would be more than happy to pay for anybody to come home free of charge, pay for their stay in the isolation centre for two weeks. But the reality is we just dont and that is just the situation for now, he said. The minister did not state the number of stranded students in Sudan. Sudan has already recorded 107 cases of COVID-19 including 12 deaths. Returnees On the possibility of increasing the numbers of returnees who can be evacuated at a time, the minister said the committee is only following medical advice. We got medical advice and we asked the medical people what was possible and the figure we were given was 200 in Lagos and 200 for Abuja. Of course, this is much less than the numbers that are waiting to come back. But we are constrained by the facilities that are available and unfortunately, we have the internal challenges as you can see the figures are going up all the time, he said. He said the number of evacuees will be increased when adequate facilities are available to deal with needed challenges. So we have a great responsibility to also ensure that these facilities are also there to deal with the needed challenges we are facing. But if opportunities present itself and we find that more facilities become available, then of course we would look at the possibility of expanding and increasing the numbers of people we can bring back. But at this moment, this is the framework that we have been told we can operate, he said. Vietnam's "LOTUSat-1" Earth observation satellite image (c)NEC "GroundNEXTAR" software package for satellite control and operation (c)NEC TOKYO, Apr 23, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - NEC Corporation today announced that it received an order from Sumitomo Corporation for the manufacture and launch of the "LOTUSat-1" Earth observation satellite system for the Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC)(1). The order also includes development of a ground system and local human capacity building programs related to satellite development processes, and is expected to be worth approximately 20 billion yen.The satellite is scheduled to launch around 2023 and will contribute to measures against natural disasters and climate change in Vietnam as the first satellite system that NEC provides outside of Japan.The LOTUSat-1 Earth observation satellite(2) will be equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and developed based on NEXTAR, a standard satellite system that leverages NEC's long-standing expertise and enables rapid delivery times, reduced costs, and high functionality. The LOTUSat-1 will also feature systems modeled after the ASNARO-2 radar observation satellite(3) that is currently in operation.NEC will provide a completed ground system, including a 9 meter-diameter parabolic antenna, satellite control center, and mission data utilization center and user interface which is based on NEC's "GroundNEXTAR"(4) software package. The system will be installed at a space center in Hoa Lac being established and operated by the VNSC.NEC will also support the development of local human resources by providing training in technology related to satellite development and operation processes, which will contribute to improving monitoring capabilities and enhancing the ability to forecast natural disasters.This is the first satellite project by a Japanese company using Official Development Assistance (ODA) funds from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under its Special Terms for Economic Partnership (STEP) program.Vietnam's "LOTUSat-1" Earth observation satellite image (c)NEC"GroundNEXTAR" software package for satellite control and operation (c)NECAppendix: PDFImage samples taken by ASNARO-2, a similar satelite system to the LOTUSat-1(1) Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC)Understanding the importance of space technology in the advancement of the nation, the Government of Vietnam approved "THE STRATEGY ON RESEARCH INTO, AND APPLICATION OF, AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY UP TO 2020" in 2006, with the goal to better position Vietnam in the region. The plan has the following main objectives:- Building and completing the legal and regulatory framework for the research and application of space technology- Building the infrastructure for space technology- Scientific research of space technology- The applications of space technologyIn order to facilitate "THE STRATEGY ON RESEARCH INTO, AND APPLICATION OF, AEROSPACE TECHNOLOGY UP TO 2020" and move towards taking command of the technology for building small satellites, the Government of Vietnam founded the Vietnam National Satellite Center under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) on September 16, 2011, with the goal to manage, and implement the Vietnam Space Center project. The Vietnam National Satellite Center changed its name to the Vietnam National Space Center on July 17, 2017(2) About the LOTUSat-1 Earth observation satelliteThe target of the "LOTUSat-1, Equipment and Capacity Development" package for the Vietnam Space Center Project is to develop and put into use successfully the Earth observation satellite LOTUSat-1, making use of synthesized aperture radar. LOTUSat-1 has capability to capture Earth images with high definition under all climate conditions day and night. The images received from LOTUSat-1 will meet the urgent need for satellite images, providing accurate and timely information for reducing the influence of natural disasters and climate change, managing natural resources and monitoring the environment, serving socio-economic development; Implementing and putting into use a ground station, satellite management center, satellite data processing center and IT infrastructure; Simultaneously, high quality human resource training will be conducted through an advanced satellite training course in satellite manufacturing facilities and a satellite image application training course.Satellite OverviewMain instruments: X-band synthetic aperture radarSatellite-bus: NEXTAR NX-300LSize: 4.0 x 4.0 x 3.9 (unit: meter)Mass: 580 kgObservation mode:-1. Spotlight mode: Resolution 1m or less, observation range: 10km or more-2. Strip Map Mode: Resolution 2m or less, observation range 12km or more-3. Scan SAR mode: Resolution 16m or less, observation width 50km or moreOrbit: Sun-synchronous subrecurrent orbitDesign life: 5 years(3) About the "ASNARO-2" radar observation satelliteNEC developed the radar observation satellite as the second in the Advanced Satellite with New system ARchitecture for Observation (ASNARO) series. ASNARO-2 was successfully launched in 2018, and the X-band synthetic aperture radar installed on board continues observations regardless of day/night or weather. ASNARO-1, the first optical observation satellite in this series, was developed by NEC. It was launched in 2014 and is a small satellite with a ground resolution of 50 centimeters or less. This satellite continues to operate at present. Both satellites are currently owned by NEC and are used to expand the space utilization business through sales of acquired satellite images, etc.(4) GroundNEXTARGroundNEXTAR is a high-quality ground system package developed by NEC based on the expertise the company has acquired through approximately 60 years working on the development and production of satellites and construction of ground systems. In addition to the primary operational functions provided by GroundNEXTAR, the system also offers visualization of satellite operations, especially 3D animation visualizations, and a distribution function for images.About NEC CorporationNEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of "Orchestrating a brighter world." NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com.Source: NEC CorporationCopyright 2020 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Reuters Swedish activist Greta Thunberg joined calls for a combined effort to tackle coronavirus and the climate crisis, saying the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on Wednesday was the time to choose a new way forward. Dramatic improvements in air and water quality as coronavirus lockdowns have cut pollution have prompted calls for a low-carbon future, but the need to get millions back to work is clouding the picture for the future. Thunberg, taking part in a streamed event to mark Earth Day, said the extraordinary measures to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus did not mean the climate crisis had gone away. We need to tackle two crises at once, she said. Whether we like it or not the world has changed, it looks completely different from how it did a few months ago and it will probably not look the same again and we are going to have to choose a new way forward, the teenager said. With economies round the world shut down, wildlife has returned to some city streets, with wolves, deer and kangaroos spotted on thoroughfares usually teeming with traffic. Fish have been seen in Venice canals no longer polluted by motor boats, while residents of some Indian cities have reported seeing the Himalayas for the first time in decades. Satellite imagery has shown significant air quality improvements across Europe and Asia, including China, where the coronavirus pandemic emerged at the end of last year. Residents in some of Chinas most smog-prone cities said they feared blue skies would not last as the worlds second biggest economy got back to work, however. In the second half of the year, when the epidemic eases, the weather will slowly be worse after factories reopen, said Tang Zhiwei, 27, a resident of Shanghai. Try your best to enjoy the blue sky now. Shanghai saw emissions fall by nearly 20 percent in the first quarter of 2020, which also saw Chinas economy contract for the first time on record. Together U.N. chief Antonio Guterres echoed Thunberg, urging governments to use their economic responses to the pandemic to tackle the even deeper emergency of climate change. With battle lines emerging between investors backing green stimulus measures and industry lobbyists aiming to weaken climate regulations, Guterres cautioned governments against bailing out heavily polluting industries. On this Earth Day, all eyes are on the COVID-19 pandemic, Guterres said. But there is another, even deeper emergency, the planets unfolding environmental crisis. US Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, who on Wednesday was endorsed by two of his partys most prominent climate change campaigners, including former vice president Al Gore, said green jobs can be the very thing that helps us get through this existential threat to our economy. In November, Biden will run against President Donald Trump, who wants to re-open the U.S. economy to get the 22 million Americans who filed for unemployment benefits in the past month back to work. Trump has touted a strong economy as one of the biggest reasons why he should be re-elected. Peter Betts, a former lead climate negotiator for Britain and the European Union, said although there was now pressure for coronavirus economic stimulus packages to be low-carbon, climate-smart, the effort faced strong headwinds. A risk, clearly, is that for some governments around the world there will be a huge premium on getting the economy moving, getting people back into jobs, Betts, now with the Chatham House think-tank in London, told Reuters Television. Hottest on record The environmental stakes have been rising. Last year was the hottest on record in Europe, extending a run of exceptionally warm years driven by unprecedented levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, according to a study released on Earth Day. Of Europes 12 warmest years on record, 11 have occurred since 2000, the European Unions Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) said. This warming trend is now unequivocal anywhere on the planet. And as a consequence of that, the frequency of these record-breaking events is going up, C3S director Carlo Buontempo told Reuters. The coronavirus pandemic is expected to drive carbon dioxide emissions down six percent this year, the head of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said, in what would be the biggest yearly drop since World War Two. But thats not enough to stop climate change, the WMO said. COVID-19 may result in a temporary reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, but it is not a substitute for sustained climate action, the WMO said in an Earth Day statement. In a general audience at the Vatican streamed over the internet, Pope Francis prayed for the protection of the planet. This is an occasion for renewing our commitment to love and care for our common home and for the weaker members of our human family, Francis said, and urged children to take to the streets to teach us the obvious: we have no future if we destroy the very environment that sustains us. NEW DELHI: Interim Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said that the coronavirus has increased ''disturbingly both in spread and speed in the past three weeks'' as she called on the government to arrange 'for more testing kits, which she said are still in short supply and of poor quality. Sonia Gandhi made these remarks while addressing the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meet via videoconferencing. "Sections of our society face acute hardship-particularly our kisan-khet mazdoors, migrant labours, construction workers and in the unorganized sector. Trade, commerce and industry have come to a virtual halt and crores of livelihoods have been destroyed, said Sonia Gandhi, presiding over the CWC meeting. Addressing the CWC meeting, Sonia Gandhi said, "We have repeatedly urged the Prime Minister that there is no alternative to Testing, Trace, and Quarantine. Unfortunately, testing still remains low and testing kits are still in short supply and of poor quality. PPE kits number and quality are poor. Congress president said that the suggestions she gave to the government on tackling COVID-19 crisis were only acted upon partially. At the CWC meeting, Sonia Gandhi said that large-heartedness and alacrity from the Central Government is conspicuous by its absence. Sonia lamented that "12 crore jobs have been lost in the first phase of the lockdown. Unemployment is likely to increase further as economic activity remains at a standstill. It is imperative to provide at least Rs.7,500 to each family to tide over this crisis. However, she added that the doctors, nurses, paramedics, health workers, sanitation workers, essential service providers, NGOs and the lakhs of citizens providing relief to the neediest all over India should be applauded for their efforts. Their dedication and determination truly inspire us all, she said. There are a few success stories and we should applaud them. Most of all we should salute every single Indian leading the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic despite the absence of adequate personal protection equipment, the Congress chief said. The Congress president had written a series of letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on different issues related to the coronavirus pandemic since March 23. In her letters, she has welcomed PM Modis decision to provide free 5 kg ration to a person in addition to the entitlements under the National Food Security Act from April to June, and offered suggestions to help counter the adverse impact of the lockdown on the livelihoods of the people. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 91 new cases of COVID-19 in eight states and the federal capital territory. ... The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 91 new cases of COVID-19 in eight states and the federal capital territory. The agency announced the development via its Twitter handle on Wednesday night. A breakdown of the cases showed that 74 were recorded in Lagos, five in Katsina, four in Ogun, two each in Delta and Edo, and one each in Kwara, Oyo, FCT and Adamawa. Also three more deaths had occurred, raising the fatalities to 28, while those discharged remained at 197. As of 11:25 pm on April 22, 2020, 873 confirmed cases of COVID-19 had been reported. 74 in Lagos 5 in Katsina 4 in Ogun 2 in Delta 2 in Edo 1 in Kwara 1 in Oyo 1 in FCT 1 in Adamawa As at 11:25 pm 22nd April there are 873 confirmed cases of Discharged: 197 Deaths: 28 91 new cases of #COVID19 have been reported;74 in Lagos5 in Katsina4 in Ogun2 in Delta2 in Edo1 in Kwara1 in Oyo1 in FCT1 in AdamawaAs at 11:25 pm 22nd April there are 873 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria.Discharged: 197Deaths: 28 pic.twitter.com/oDazHLpLp0 April 22, 2020 Earlier on Wednesday, at the media briefing of the presidential task force on COVID-19, Osagie Ehanire, the minister of health, said all patients would be treated in the states in which they tested positive for COVID-19. He also warned unauthorised private facilities not to attempt to treat suspected COVID-19 cases, and emphasised the role of primary healthcare facilities, especially with the evidence of community spread. We have passed that era when people used to think that the coronavirus infection was something for big men and women who came from abroad, and because it came from abroad, they are the ones who would suffer for it, he said. Now that it has gone to community level, it is really down at the grassroots and the role of the primary healthcare comes into play. In light of the nationwide lockdown, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles (DICV) has announced a two-month extension for warranties and extended warranty repairs. BharatBenz vehicles with warranty/extended warranty contracts ending between 15th March 2020 and 15th May 2020, or having their next service schedule during this period, now have an extra two months leeway. This will also be of great benefit to customers with vehicles lying idle during the lockdown. Satyakam Arya, Managing Director and CEO, Daimler India Commercial Vehicles, said, Even during the lockdown, some of our BharatBenz customers are transporting essential commodities in order to support the community. To support them in turn, we decided to extend both service and warranty repairs by two months. In an additional move to support BharatBenz customers, DICV tied up with Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) to support stranded drivers who can dial the always-active, toll-free number (1800-120-380380) and request basic support. BharatBenz collects information on the drivers requirements, which include secured parking, water, fuel, bathing and shelter. This information is then passed on to the nearest HPCL team, who contacts the driver and offers the required support. BharatBenz has always been at the forefront when it comes to supporting customers, especially in times when they require it the most. We were one of the first to extend the service and warranty repairs period to answer customer needs during this crisis. We are proud to tie up with HPCL to support our truck driver fraternity who may be away from their home location by providing support for their immediate basic requirements, says Rajaram Krishnamurthy, Vice President Marketing and Sales, BharatBenz. Also Watch: [April 23, 2020] Media Alert - Businesses May Face Unexpected State Income Tax, Even in States Where They Don't Have Physical Locations Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting: What: Businesses with employees working from home because of state Covid-19-related stay-at-home orders likely face corporate income tax nexus in states or territories where they don't have physical locations. Why: Employers that now have employees working from home as the result of Covid-19-related stay-at-home orders in states in which they don't have a physical presence need to be very concerned about taxing authorities now asserting corporate income tax nexus. This nexus requires businesses to file income tax returns and pay income taxes due. Most states have not passed legislation or issued guidance that would give businesses not physically located in their states a pass on these restrictive requirements. Tax experts have been working closely with state governments and their taxing authorities to convince them to provide relief to businesses and their employees from the nexus rules that are now in play due to Covid-19-related stay-at-home orders issued by states. These orders have resulted in many employees working fromhome in locations where their businesses do not have physical locations. If these rules weren't in place, and employees weren't forced to work from home in these states, these businesses would not have income tax nexus there. However, much of the states' reluctance to grant such relief is driven by the enormous revenue shortfalls most of them are now experiencing and that will only get more extreme. To date, Indiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Jersey, and North Dakota have formally indicated that they will not assert the nexus based on employees who are working from home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please note that this list could change frequently as additional states adopt and officially communicate such provisions. Unofficially, Pennsylvania's Department of Revenue and the District of Columbia's Office of Tax Revenue have said they don't plan to assert nexus because an employee is working remotely as a result of COVID-19 state orders. However, until official guidance in writing is issued, businesses can't rely on these unofficial verbal statements. Who: Tax expert and influencer Mark Friedlich, CPA, Esq., Senior Principal, Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting North America, is available to discuss issues. PLEASE NOTE: The content of this article is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. The information is provided with the understanding that Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services. Contact: To arrange interviews with Mark Friedlich and other federal and state tax experts from Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting on this or any other tax-related topic, please contact: View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005144/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Photo: Jason Murphy/Flickr Read on for the most recent top news you may have missed in Philadelphia. Police search for woman accused of spitting on 2 people in separate incidents According to police, on Sunday, April 19, around 11:30 a.m. on the 1700 block of Chestnut Street, the woman bumped into someone and words were exchanged about adhering to social distancing. Read the full story on FOX 29. Governor releases plan for reopening Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf wants to begin easing some pandemic restrictions on May 8 in areas of Pennsylvania that have been lightly impacted by the new coronavirus. Read the full story on FOX 29. Search on for 17-year-old boy missing from Southwest Philly for nearly a week Police say Samir Smith was last spotted on the 6200 block of Eastwick Avenue on April 16 around 3 p.m. Read the full story on FOX 29. Philadelphia icon Suzanne Roberts dies at 98 Suzanne Roberts, a Philadelphia philanthropist, television host, award-winning actress and advocate died Monday of natural causes. Read the full story on (SPC) South Philly CommUNITY. 2 new apps offer food delivery and a chance to volunteer For Philly and Your Neighbor Good are helping Philadelphians in need. Read the full story on Billy Penn. 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. Today provided more answers to questions that arose out of Gov. Tom Wolfs press conference Wednesday night that laid out his plan for reopening the state. The governor released a color-coded chart detailing the phases of his plan, borrowing the colors from a traffic light to make it easier to understand. All 67 counties remain in red," the most stringent of the three phases, keeping all 12.8 million residents under stay-at-home orders and all non-life-sustaining businesses remaining closed. As conditions improve, counties and regions will have fewer restrictions, moving from red to yellow and, eventually, from yellow to green, Wolf said. Assessing the numbers, it first appeared that southcentral Pennsylvania fell into the yellow phase. But a further explanation of the chart this afternoon showed that most midstate counties would not meet its threshold for moving to less-severe social distancing and economic closures if the measurements were being made today. Either way, it appears that the Philadelphia area, which has been a hot spot for several weeks, likely will be last. Meanwhile, the governor today confirmed that all construction projects performed by private and public companies in Pa. will be able to restart on May 1. But he noted that companies will still have to adhere to some rules. The idea is that all construction will be able to start May 1st and we are working with the industry to make sure there are strict guidelines regarding safety, social distancing, wearing of masks, [so] that we can do this in a safe way, Wolf said during a news conference with reporters. While this discussion was occurring, Cumberland County was announcing that it planned to furlough 156 county employees beginning Sunday, as a way to offset falling revenues and rising expenses surrounding efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Here are other coronavirus stories on PennLive that we dont want you to miss: Number of coronavirus deaths in Pa. shrinks as department of health revises its figures: Today in Pa. Penn State Hershey Medical Center celebrates 63-year-olds recovery from COVID-19, departure from hospital Sea turtles are flourishing on a Florida beach amid coronavirus lockdown Disney World, Disneyland may stay closed until 2021, according to one analyst Cumberland County to furlough 156 employees Rolling Stones drop new song they hope would resonate through the times that were living in right now You can make your own Waffle House hash browns at home while quarantined during the pandemic 8 tigers, lions test positive for coronavirus at Bronx Zoo Pa. health department revises coronavirus death toll to 1,421, dropping 201 probable deaths Target employees staging sick-out to protest unsafe working conditions during coronavirus WWII veteran dies from coronavirus 100 years after losing twin brother to Spanish flu: reports Blue Angels, Thunderbirds could fly over Pa. but not this week as part of Trump plan to show support Giant hiring additional 3,000 workers to meet surging demand Relief fund set up to help Pa. hospitality workers who have lost jobs Chinese officials have imposed new limits on movement in some northern parts of the country following a spate of new coronavirus infections, in a sign of how difficult it will be to fully recover from an outbreak that virtually paralyzed the country. The restrictions imposed over the past week include the city of Harbin, a city of 10 million in northeastern China where a number of new infections have been reported. Other cities in the region have also imposed restrictions, which include preventing outsiders from visiting other neighborhoods and warning residents to stay away from high-risk areas. The new limits came after the authorities reported dozens of new infections, according to Chinese state media, all of which experts said were linked to the return of Chinese nationals from Russia and the United States. Though the numbers officially disclosed have been modest so far, it is not clear that the spread has been entirely contained. The restrictions do not go as far as the lockdowns that paralyzed Wuhan, the city where the coronavirus outbreak emerged, and then spread to much of the rest of China, bringing the worlds No. 2 economy to a virtual halt. China is gradually reopening its factories and offices and lifting travel restrictions in an effort to get back to normal. The Enugu State Government has announced the arrest of at least 150 travellers for defying the governments lockdown order. Recall that the State Government had imposed border restrictions as part of measures to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic in March after recording its first case. Also Read: Man Arrested For Allegedly Poisoning Bags Of Garden Eggs In Enugu This was followed by the 36 state governors collectively agreeing to implement inter-state lockdown for two weeks as part of efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19. Some of the affected commuters claimed that hunger drove them away from their states after being apprehended by security operatives. For Earth Day, U.N. chief urges 'green recovery' in response to coronavirus by Matthew Green April 23,2020 | Source: Reuters United Nations chief Antonio Guterres urged governments to use their economic responses to the coronavirus pandemic to tackle the even deeper emergency of climate change, in a message for the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. With global battle lines emerging between investors backing green stimulus measures and industry lobbyists aiming to weaken climate regulations, Guterres cautioned governments against bailing out heavily polluting industries. On this Earth Day, all eyes are on the COVID-19 pandemic, the biggest test the world has faced since the Second World War, Guterres, a former Portuguese prime minister, said in a statement. But there is another, even deeper emergency, the planets unfolding environmental crisis. A landmark in the emergence of the environmental movement when it first took place in 1970, Earth Day, which falls on Wednesday, has prompted calls from many companies, politicians, and economists for governments to pursue green recoveries. So far, massive economic stimulus packages launched by the United States, China and European governments have focused mainly on staunching the damage to existing industries and staving off the threat of a global depression. Nevertheless, in the past week, ministers from Germany, France and other EU members have signalled their support for subsequent interventions to align with climate goals, a theme taken up by climate campaign groups around the world. In an early example of governments linking post-virus rescue packages to climate goals, Austrian environment minister Leonore Gewessler said last week that state aid for Austrian Airlines should support climate policy targets. Conditions could include a significant reduction in short-haul flights, the use of eco-friendly jet fuel and adjustments to the flight tax, a ministry spokesman said. Guterres, who has made climate change his signature issue since he took over as U.N. secretary-general in January, 2017, said governments should use their fiscal firepower to drive a shift from the grey to green economy. Where taxpayers money is used to rescue businesses, it needs to be tied to achieving green jobs and sustainable growth, Guterres said. Public funds should be used to invest in the future, not the past, and flow to sustainable sectors and projects that help the environment and the climate. 2020 Reuters. All Rights Reserved. Theme(s): Others. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 20:51:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday called for swift action by governments to save lives from malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. The UN health agency urged countries to move fast and distribute malaria prevention and treatment tools amid COVID-19 outbreak in sub-Saharan Africa, and strive to safely maintain these essential malaria control services. "Severe disruptions to insecticide-treated net campaigns and in access to antimalarial medicines could lead to a doubling in the number of malaria deaths in sub-Saharan Africa this year compared to 2018," WHO said in a new modeling analysis released ahead of World Malaria Day to be marked on Saturday. According to the World Malaria Report 2019, sub-Saharan Africa accounted for approximately 93 percent of all malaria cases and 94 percent of deaths in 2018. More than two-thirds of deaths were among children under the age of five. According to the WHO, the number of reported cases of COVID-19 in sub-Saharan Africa to date has represented only a small proportion of the global total, though cases are increasing every week. "This means that countries across the region have a critical window of opportunity to minimize disruptions in malaria prevention and treatment and save lives at this stage of the COVID-19 outbreak," said WHO. The analysis considers nine scenarios for potential disruptions in access to core malaria control tools during the pandemic in 41 countries, and the resulting increases that may be seen in cases and deaths. "Under the worst-case scenario, in which all insecticide-treated net (ITN) campaigns are suspended and there is a 75 percent reduction in access to effective antimalarial medicines, the estimated tally of malaria deaths in sub-Saharan Africa in 2020 would reach 769,000, twice the number of deaths reported in the region in 2018," WHO said. This, WHO said, would represent a return to malaria mortality levels last seen 20 years ago. It said mass vector control campaigns should be accelerated, ensuring protection for both health workers and communities against COVID-19 transmission. According to the WHO, preventive therapies for pregnant women and children must be maintained, adding that the provision of prompt diagnostic testing and effective antimalarial medicines are also essential to prevent a mild case of malaria from progressing to severe illness and death. WHO and partners have developed guidance to ensure that those suffering from malaria can safely receive the care they need within the package of essential health services to be delivered in COVID-19 settings. Enditem Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride believes it could be "years" until the true Covid-19 death toll in Northern Ireland will be known. He was speaking after the Department of Health announced yesterday that the number of deaths here linked to coronavirus had risen by 34 to 250. The department outlined that eight deaths had occurred in hospitals on Tuesday and that a further 26 deaths that had been previously unreported had now been added to the official record. Separately, it was announced last night that the Republic of Ireland had recorded a further 49 deaths. This took the all-island death toll to 1,019. Speaking during the daily Covid-19 conference at Stormont Castle yesterday, Health Minister Robin Swann said "we have never walked these paths before" and that there will be more deaths in the weeks ahead. Meanwhile, the chair of Stormont's Health Committee, Sinn Fein MLA Colm Gildernew, criticised the previously unreported death figures and stated steps had to be taken to "ensure an error like this never happens again". Dr McBride explained that it will only be "when we see from a distance" in the years ahead that the true impact of Covid-19 will be fully realised. This will be based on individuals who have died directly as a consequence of the virus, those whose lives were shortened by it and by looking at the data supplied by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). "For the purposes of our monitoring and tracking of the spread and impact of the virus, we have seen that our actions and the decisions that have been taken, we have seen a flattening of the curve," he continued. "We have seen the number of admissions stabilise and begin to decline and we have also seen the number of admissions to intensive care stabilise and flatten and begin to dip." North Antrim MLA Mr Swann said that he understood that the extra 26 deaths that had previously gone unreported would "cause some alarm" but said that came down to the "timeline" of the NISRA's report. Mr Swann added that the report of the extra deaths would always have been released to the public. "The overall number of Covid-19-related deaths recorded by our local Health and Social Care Trusts has now risen to 250," the Ulster Unionist politician stated. "This is a significant increase which includes the eight deaths which occurred [on Tuesday] and also a number of deaths in recent days which have now been added to the official record. "I appreciate that this latest overall total will cause some alarm. These daily figures are compiled for surveillance purposes to help us track the virus and keep the public as informed as is possible. "It's always important to remember that each of these numbers is an individual, a family bereaved and a life lost." Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Mr Gildernew said he will be raising the issue of the previously unreported deaths directly with the Health Minister at today's Assembly Health Committee meeting. "The scale of the human tragedy of these deaths and the number of families grieving loved ones is staggering and brings home the extent of the pandemic crisis we are facing," he stated. "More than 1,000 people have lost their lives as a result of this pandemic across the island, including 250 in the north. "It is deeply worrying, however, that weeks into this crisis that such an error can be made in terms of reporting the number of deaths. "These are people with families who have been plunged into grief by their loss, not mere statistics. "The Health Minister and department need to take steps to ensure an error like this never happens again." Mr Swann also revealed yesterday that testing for Covid-19 will be expanded to frontline workers in the private sector. He said that employees in supermarkets, the telecom industry and Royal Mail will all now be able to be tested for coronavirus if they think they are eligible as part of the expansion into testing, as well as their families if they are showing symptoms. "Whilst our priority must remain on helping those who are sick now, as well as supporting the staff who are so heroically looking after them, we must also look to how we will respond to the virus in the days and weeks ahead," he added. "That will include a rigorous programme of testing, tracing and tracking. "That is why today I am announcing a further expansion of our testing to now include additional frontline workers and symptomatic members of their households. "Importantly this now includes frontline workers in the private sector with a focus on staff delivering key medical, energy, utility, transport and food supplies." A man who poses a potentially serious risk to the community was stopped outside an AIB bank in Cork with three knives in an open position, a tin of butane gas and he had a lighter taped to his left hand. Judge Sean O Donnabhain imposed a three-year jail term, with the final year suspended, on Noel Cambridge of 22 Willow Park, Douglas Road, Cork, who pleaded guilty to a charge that on last August 21 he went to the Allied Irish Bank branch on Douglas Road and attempted to commit a robbery. What he was going to do, nobody really know. He was in a very florid, potentially very dangerous state, with knives in his possession. He is potentially a very serious risk to the community. He has a history of addiction to drugs and alcohol and a history of mental illness and is well known to the services. He is like everyone being dealt with by care in the community, he said. Judge O Donnabhain has frequently commented on the concept of care in the community translating as a lack of support and a lack of care for the individual who needs it. The judge acknowledged in Cambridges case that there were members of his family who were active in trying to care for him. Garda Barry Lawton previously testified at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that Noel Cambridge arrived at the counter of AIB on Douglas Road, Cork, on August 2, 2019 and put a bag-for-life on the counter and told the cashier to put cash in it. The cashier asked, Is this a joke? The defendant then said, I have blades, Garda Lawton said. Cambridge left the scene empty-handed. From CCTV in the area he was seen going to a petrol station on South Douglas Road and in to Nemo Rangers. He went to the gym for a period of time. He returned to the AIB later that same day, Garda Lawton said. Fortunately, Garda JP Twomey who was off-duty at the time was present in the bank. Garda Twomey phoned for the assistance of colleagues and when he was there he searched Noel Cambridge. The defendant had three knives in an open position, He had glass wrapped in plastic, a Tesco bag, a tin of butane gas, a water bottle cut in half. On his left hand he had a lighter taped with duct tape, Garda Lawton testified. In a follow-up search of his car there was a balaclava, a large knife and a BB gun for shooting ball-bearings. Paula McCarthy, defence barrister said the accused clearly had psychiatric issues at the time. Ms McCarthy BL said the defendant was suffering a psychotic episode on the particular day. The judge said it was very fortuitous that Garda Twomey happened to be in the bank on the day. In suspending the last year of the three-year sentence the judge required Cambridge to comply with the directions of the probation service for a year after his release from prison. - This story was updated at 8.23pm Premiere dates for The Real Housewives of Potomac and Million Dollar Listing L.A. have been pushed back. Both Bravo series were scheduled to return in early May. RHOP was scheduled to premiere on May 3 and Millon Dollar Listing on May 5. RHOP just announced the series wont drop until this summer. Meanwhile, fans can still look forward to Million Dollar Listing, season 12 to debut on May 24. Monique Samuels, Karen Huger, Ashley Darby, Andy Cohen, Gizelle Bryant, Candiace Dillard Bassett, Robyn Dixon |Charles Sykes/Bravo Bravo quietly shifted Million Dollar Listing back a few weeks without explanation. The trailer ceremoniously dropped and the debut date was locked in. But suddenly, the date was moved back to the end of May. The date shift for RHOP arrived with more information about why some of Bravos signature series are being moved back. The pandemic is messing with programming According to People, the pandemic is the reason why some series launch dates are being delayed. People reports that the new RHOP season will likely begin in late summer after seeing how long productions are having to take a pause. Bravo producer Andy Cohen is currently hosting his nightly talk show, Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen from home. Guests are teleconferenced in and the show still has a lively spark. However, Cohen is now also shooting reunion shows virtually too, which he isnt overly in love with doing. Listen, this is obviously not how we would prefer to do, it but life is not how we prefer it right now, Cohen shared on his SiriusXM radio show, People recounts. We want to be in the same room, but we cannot risk the health and safety of our Housewives and our incredible crew in Georgia. We need to reset the table with the ladies in Atlanta, he added. If we wait for this pandemic to be over for when we all are in the same room, its going to delay everything. We need to move forward. We need to live in reality right now, and reality right now is if were going to do this, were going to do this virtually. Cohen recently shared he was going to shoot the Summer House reunion virtually too. Reunions will likely be without pants (or in sweatpants) Cohen shared that he was prepping to shoot the Summer House reunion and revealed his complete outfit. Im about to do the Summer House reunion, Cohen said. Look okay on top, sweats on the bottom. Cohens shirt and jacket looked very smart. He continued, Thats how it goes here! He also revealed that he had a run-in with his face bronzer too. I had a little mishap, he remarked. Ive been doing the self-tanner this week to give myself a little bronze. But look, I kinda dyed my beard funny. Anderson [Cooper] just pointed it out on a FaceTime that it looks bad. I dont know what to do about it. Oh well. Bravo hasnt made an announcement yet about reunions for other shows like Family Karma and Below Deck Sailing Yacht. Family Karma season finale is on Sunday, April 27. Since it aired last week, Piers Morgans Good Morning Britain interview with care minister Helen Whately has received nearly 2,000 Ofcom complaints. In the interview, Morgan repeatedly corrects Whatelys figures on the number of NHS staff who have died from the coronavirus. Morgan called Whatelys claim that just 19 NHS staff members had lost their lives working on the front line during the pandemic nonsense. The former Mirror editor claimed that the figure was much higher, using newspaper reports to back up his point. Following the broadcast, the television regulator received 1,900 complaints from viewers who claimed the politician was treated unfairly. This morning, Morgan took to Twitter to call on his fans to back him. The 55-year-old wrote: Apparently nearly 2000 people have now complained to @Ofcom about me grilling Care minister Helen Whateley too unfairly when she couldnt answer even basic questions. If you think I should continue grilling ministers in the way Ive been doing, please tell @OFCOM. Thanks. A number of people came to his defense. One wrote: At a time when thousands are dying each week in the UK from Covid-19, we must have journalists holding Gov Ministers to account, particularly when they dont understand their brief or evade and dodge reasonable questions. This @Ofcom is what Piers Morgan is rightly doing. Responding to his accusations, Whately replied: I dont get my data from newspapers, I have to get it from the NHS and our scientists. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up In a statement following the interview, Ofcom confirmed that it had received a number of complaints and was investigating them. It read: We are assessing the complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate. Morgan invited Whately onto the programme for a second interview and she agreed. A further 214 complaints were launched off the back of this follow up after Morgan raised the question of the number of people who had died in care homes, and criticised the minister for apparently not knowing the answer. He said: You come back on this programme after what many people thought was a car-crash interview at what point do you come back and have an answer? Bringing up the reported figures once more, he continued: There is a very good reason to believe that its over 41,000 people, including thousands and thousands in care homes, and that is your job to know this stuff. I find it incredibly insulting that the care minister has no idea how many people are dying in our care homes. These are elderly and vulnerable people, dying of Covid-19, and you are not taking their deaths seriously enough. Two motorcycle-borne persons allegedly attacked journalist Arnab Goswami's car in Mumbai and tried to break its glass window when he and his wife were on their way home in the early hours of Thursday, police said. Both the attackers have been arrested, he said. The incident took place on Ganpatrao Kadam Marg, when Goswami was returning from a studio located in Bombay Dyeing Complex in Lower Parel, a police official said. The attackers overtook Goswami's car, stopped it and one of them allegedly tried to break the vehicle's glass window by repeatedly hitting it with his hands, the official said. The attackers were carrying a bottle of ink which they threw on his car, the official said. Goswami's security guards, who were behind in another car, caught hold of the two persons and handed them over to the N M Joshi Marg Police, he added. In a video posted after the alleged attack, Goswami said he was told by his security guards that the attackers were Youth Congress workers. There was no confirmation of the same by either police or the youth outfit. Goswami has faced flak over his remarks aimed at Sonia Gandhi during a discussion on Palghar incident in which three persons, including two sadhus, were lynched. Senior Congress leaders, including chief ministers, slammed Goswami, the editor-in-chief and owner of Republic TV, with the party's chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala alleging that it was "deeply disgraceful that PM & BJP eulogize this brand of TV anchors". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A prominent New Jersey meat supplier is making a substantial donation to a non-profit organization that will help people in need of food during the coronavirus pandemic. DArtagnan, a meat supplier based in Union, will donate 44,000 pounds of meat valued around $430,000 to the non-profit Table to Table. The donations, which began this week, will go to people in Bergen, Hudson, Essex, and Passaic counties and provide 68,000 meals. DArtagnan has long applauded and supported Table to Tables efforts in our community, DArtagnan CEO Ariane Daguin said in a statement. We believe that during times like these, its crucial to come together all for one and one for all to support our neighbors. Were pleased to be able to help in any way possible, especially during a time when people are struggling to get protein. Table to Table will be picking up the meat and distribute it to the families in North Jersey who need the food now more than ever, with the coronavirus causing a strain on food banks across the state due to a lot of businesses and employers being closed. The current crisis has overwhelmed local food banks with an unprecedented need for food donations, especially protein, Table to Table Executive Director Ilene Isaacs said in a statement. We, along with our community partners, are beyond grateful for this meaningful contribution from our friends and neighbors at DArtagnan. It will be redistributed safely and will provide protein for more than 68,000 meals. Have you seen an inspiring story in your community during this troubling time? Tell us about it. See more uplifting stories in #TogetherNJ. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Franklin Here may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com. Oil prices recovered from earlier losses overnight, but it might not be a rebound and could simply be markets taking a "breather," analysts said, warning that crude prices could turn negative again. That's because the underlying issues with weak demand and storage running out have not been resolved, and will continue to put pressure on energy prices. U.S. oil prices as well as international benchmark Brent crude have see-sawed this week. The May contract for U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate dived deep into negative territory earlier this week, for the first time in its history, and traded at negative $37.63 per barrel. That meant producers had to pay traders to take the oil off their hands. While the Brent tumbled overnight to its lowest since 1999, at $15.98, it did not enter into negative territory. Overnight, however, the June contract for WTI surged 19% to settle at $13.78 per barrel. Analysts attributed that to tensions in the Persian Gulf as U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to "shoot down and destroy" Iranian gunboats if they "harass" American ships. Trump tweet "I'm not even calling this a rebound. I think oil prices are taking a breather," Vandana Hari, founder of Vanda Insights, which provides analysis on global energy markets. WTI last traded at $15.66 per barrel on Thursday afternoon, a far cry from levels around $60 at the beginning of this year. "As it happened, it's not really managed to prop prices up too much," she told CNBC on Thursday, referring to the U.S.-Iran tensions. "I think the geopolitical tensions element ... at this point to the markets is extremely small." News that President Trump had ordered the Navy to shoot down Iranian gunboats may have been the spark that started the rebound. But the backdrop is poor with weak demand and rising inventories. John Bromhead ANZ Research Instead, Hari pointed to the key factor of global lockdowns as the current pandemic continued to take its toll, which would continue to weaken demand and hurt oil prices. "The downward pressure on oil prices still remains immense. What has turned dramatically in terms of market sentiment, especially this week ... is that the demand sentiment has turned much more negative because of the continuing lockdowns," she said. "Countries that have found a flattening of the curve ... are being extremely cautious. A lot of countries are seeing some sort of a resurgence in infection rates. Essentially, what we have is a picture of a world that doesn't know its way out of this pandemic and the associated lockdowns." ANZ Research's John Bromhead also said in a note on Thursday: "News that President Trump had ordered the Navy to shoot down Iranian gunboats may have been the spark that started the rebound. But the backdrop is poor with weak demand and rising inventories." Could crude prices turn negative again? Oil demand has been badly hit as travel restrictions remain in place in many countries and people are told to stay home. Both air and vehicular travel have come to a virtual standstill, among other factors. That plunging demand has caused oil supply to rapidly build up and main storage facilities are quickly running out of capacity. It has hit U.S. crude particularly hard, with the country's main storage facility at Cushing, Oklahoma set to be full within weeks. Tanks in that facility, a major trading hub for crude oil, are likely to reach full tank capacity by mid-May, according to an estimate by American global investment management, BlackRock. The lack of storage is one main factor pushing down the nearer-term May contract for WTI, which expired on Tuesday, to negative. The collapse of WTI into negative prices is unprecedented. In the near term, unless production is cut, the limited capacity to store oil will likely put pressure on crude prices, analysts say. It could even bring the June contract for U.S. crude which has last above $15 a barrel into negative levels as well, according to them. "There is a possibility that the circumstances seen early this week could repeat itself for the June WTI contract, given the oil storage issues plaguing the market that look to persist, at least in the short term," Peter Kiernan, lead analyst for energy at The Economist Intelligence Unit, told CNBC in an email. Unless global lockdown measures are eased, or a further production cuts are agreed upon, there is a very real possibility that we'll see a free-fall in the price of Brent Oil futures, and a chance that it will trade at a negative price in the short term. Nemo Qin senior analyst at investment platform eToro, HMRC has received more than 300,000 claims from firms for the furlough scheme. (PA) UK firms could be billions of pounds out of pocket as they wait for a government grant to refund wages paid to furloughed workers, according to analysis by fintech payroll lender MarketFinance. More than 300,000 firms have already applied for cash grants to cover the wage bill for more than 2.2 million workers across the UK. Some estimates indicate millions more have already been furloughed, but employers have not yet all filed claims. The governments coronavirus job retention scheme opened to applications on Monday, with the aim of keeping at-risk staff on payroll on 80% of their wages. Staff cannot work while furloughed. HMRC hopes the first applicants will receive grants within six days, but many firms have already paid staff or are doing so imminently for Aprils payroll. READ MORE: UK government gives newly hired workers false hope of furlough grants Business surveys show cashflow is a major worry for a large proportion of firms, as many have seen their income dry up overnight but still owe wages, rent and other costs. Analysis by MarketFinance suggests the hole on companys balance sheets could be as high as 20bn ($24.6bn) in furloughed workers wages. The figure is based on estimates by the Resolution Foundation think tank that 8 million workers have been or will be furloughed. The government will cover 80% of employees pay up to a cap of 2,500. MarketFinances calculation assumes 8 million workers have been furloughed and taken home 2,500 this month. Many workers will earn less than this figure however, with low pay widespread in hospitality, retail and other UK industries among the hardest hit. READ MORE: 2,200 claims a minute flood in as HMRC job retention scheme portal opens to claims Not all analysts expect furlough numbers to skyrocket so high. Many firms have also received business rate holidays, council grants and rent reductions or holidays. Firms have been encouraged to apply for the governments coronavirus business interruption loan scheme (CBILS), with interest-free loans for 12 months largely guaranteed by the government. Story continues Some will be using the loans to plug the gap. But the UK government and banks have come under fire for not disbursing loans quickly enough, just as many firms wanted furlough grants sooner. MarketFinance recently began lending to firms to cover the delay in getting furlough rebates, on top of its regular business in advancing cash on outstanding invoices. READ MORE: Millions of furloughed workers set for an extra months pay Anil Stocker, CEO of MarketFinance, said the HMRC application process had to be smooth and cash distributed fast. Any delay would exacerbate the cash crisis many companies are facing and could threaten jobs and the survival of these businesses. Emma Loisel, co-founder of coffee wholesaler Volcano Coffee Works, said her company was about to pay its second month of wages to furloughed staff while still waiting for the government subsidy. With 90% of its customer base closing their doors, she said two-thirds of workers had been furloughed and her team was now forced to monitor cashflow on a daily basis. This is causing a huge dent in our cash flow and makes it hard to focus on everything else we need to do to ensure the business gets through this, she added. President Donald Trump listens as Dr. Deborah Birx, White House coronavirus response coordinator, speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Wednesday, April 22, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Read more Before White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx utters one well-versed word during President Trumps task force meetings, we cant help but notice her scarves. The pretty floral wraps tied loosely around her shoulders or worn close to her neck like a cravat bring a welcome bit of brightness to whats become our daily dose of bad news. It is her signature accessory, noted Andre Mitchell, a longtime Philadelphia fashion insider and manager of the Center City boutique Skirt. Mitchell describes Birxs fashion choices as a sweet spot in his otherwise mundane day. While delivering bleak and dire information, her fashion gives us hope. Dr. Birxs daily scarf choice seems to be the only high fashion-driven conversation allowed right now, when discussing the details of someones wardrobe feels unnecessarily glib. But the scarves have found a cult following. In March, Fort Worth, Texas-based marketing executive Victoria Strout launched the deborahbirxscarves Instagram account. There, almost 30K followers debate Birxs knot-tying skills and gush over how Birx contrasts her scarves that she started wearing years ago in the same way her male colleagues wore ties with her sweet shirtwaist dresses. Heres why scarves have become the fashion we need right now: They telegraph strength President Donald Trump and Dr. Anthony Faucis messages differ at times, but both men display the same authoritative image in traditional dark-hued suits and contrasting ties. This standard man-in-power uniform lacks authenticity and individuality, yet our culture instructs us to revere them at first glance simply because of the crispness of their classic attire. Its clear that Birx often the only woman on the podium intuitively understands how to telegraph her strength through sartorial choices in ways men just cant. Like former British Prime Minister Theresa May, Birx wears her silky accessory around her neck like a boss. Like May, she fancies neckwear from the French luxury brand Hermes, alongside other designer labels like Pucci, Ann Hand, and Randall Darwall. Theyre relatable While Birxs scarves are certainly expensive, many women can connect to Birxs power accessory because a silk (or silk-like) scarf is not hard to find, and reasonable facsimiles can easily be bought at Marshalls or Burlington. That makes Birxs accessory of choice more relatable than, say, a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes or a Chloe bag. Competent women we trust drape themselves in scarves: our moms, our aunts, our teachers, and our own doctors (including our own Pennsylvania Health Secretary, Dr. Rachel Levine). Theyre functional Going forward, scarves promise to be fashionable as well as functional because even when we return to our daily lives, we will have to cover our noses and mouths indefinitely. So during these spring and summer months, a decorative scarf will clearly come in handy. We are going to want to have something thats pretty and feels better on our face than a medical mask, says Karen Giberson, president and CEO of the New York-based trade organization the Accessories Council. Personally, Ive been wearing them when I go out now. Women like them because they are versatile. READ MORE: U.S. retail sales plunge by record 8.7% in March amid coronavirus shutdown They work for video calls Our steady stream of video calls is likely continue for some time. And because they limit the frame, the only way to show style is by having swanky surroundings and looking good from the neck up. Giberson also predicts an uptick in statement jewelry especially necklaces and earrings as well. Its about jazzing up that space between your head and shoulders thats on camera all the time now, said Atiya Angela Havens, designer and owner of West Philadelphia-based Amatullahs Treasures, which specializes in modest womens clothing. Ive noticed a small pickup of my online sales in all fabrics from silk to jersey. READ MORE: How to look better in video meetings: Tips from Philly TV news people Gabrielle Mandel, the designer behind the West Philadelphia-based Supra Endura, has revved up production of her silk scarves that come in two sizes 20-by-20-inch silk handkerchief and 70-by-30-inch full-length scarves in several styles and prints. Shes preparing for what she hopes will be a decent Mothers Day season. Mixed in with the mask wearers, Mandel has seen a lot of people wearing kerchiefs. Its another way to extend wearable art, and its interesting how they are having a moment right now," Mandel said. Facebook's USD 5.7 billion investment in Reliance Jio in the midst of coronavirus pandemic is a reflection of the faith that foreign companies have in Indian economy's potential and future growth, a top US-based India-centric business advocacy group has said. In an interview to PTI, US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) president Mukesh Aghi said the COVID-19 crisis has offered India the best opportunity to attract foreign investment and replace China as the world's manufacturing hub. "I strongly feel that once the COVID-19 crisis ends, India will have the best opportunity to attract hundreds of these (foreign) companies into the country," Aghi told PTI. It will not only create jobs but also bring in investments and keep the Indian economy's momentum going. The multi-billion-dollar investment announced by Facebook in an Indian company in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic shows that India is still a very attractive market on the digital commerce side, he said. "The partnership between Facebook and Jio is a win-win value proposition for not only for both companies but also for citizens and consumers in India. It also reflects the faith of foreign companies in the potential of India's economy and future growth," Aghi said. It is important that "India builds confidence" among foreign companies by assuring them of providing a "level playing field" as well as "transparency and stability" in policy making, Aghi said. According to Aghi, India has brought in reforms in its corporate tax structure but it must look at its labour laws and land reform as well. The momentum has to keep moving in the right direction to build the confidence of foreign investors, he asserted. Because of the bitter experience that the US companies are having in China during this pandemic, wherein they cannot move their goods because of the many restrictions imposed by Beijing on them, the sentiment among these companies is: "We have to look beyond China and very fast," he said. Observing that tensions between China and the rest of the world are going to rise in future due to the COVID-19 crisis, Aghi referred to the USD 2 billion package announced by Japan for its companies to move their manufacturing base away from China. "You will see more and more of that happening," he said. The COVID-19 crisis has shown that India can take up the role of global economic leader as it is taking care of its citizens while also helping its friends and people across the globe, he said. "It has shown that in time of need, India as a friend can step up. So, from a global leadership perspective, I think the stature of India has gone up," Aghi said. He further said that USISPF has estimated that for India to become a USD 5 trillion economy, it needs roughly USD 100 billion-dollar investment on an annual basis. At the moment, not only US companies but other companies too are looking for an alternative to China, he said. "And If India plays its cards right, a lot of that (companies) can move into India, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former NSW arts minister Don Harwin is selling his Elizabeth Bay apartment, with his colleagues expecting the Liberal Party elder to leave politics after quitting cabinet over a holiday house scandal. Mr Harwin, 55, is selling his Sydney home just a fortnight after he was forced to quit when it was revealed he had been commuting to his Pearl Beach holiday home during the COVID-19 crisis. Former arts minister Don Harwin is selling his Sydney apartment, prompting speculation he will quit politics. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer A source close to Mr Harwin confirmed the apartment would be for sale from Friday. Another source said Mr Harwin had taken a "significant pay cut" after his ministerial salary of about $345,000 was reduced to that of a backbencher's, approximately $170,000. Several colleagues told the Herald Mr Harwin was "considering his options". One said they believed Mr Harwin, a long-time Liberal strategist, would leave Parliament within months. Employees at American retail chain Target are planning a mass 'sickout' on May 1 to protest unsafe work conditions as they slam the company for acting 'as if we're disposable'. Staff are among the essential workers continuing to man retail stores as other businesses close amid the coronavirus pandemic. Dozens are said to have signed up for the sickout as they fear they are being put at 'needless risk' because of 'atrocious' guest behavior and a lack of guidelines on protective equipment such as face masks. They join Amazon workers who are also staging a mass 'sickout' this week with more than 350 workers in 50 locations pledging to call out from their jobs from last Tuesday. Target employees are planning a sickout on May 1 to protest against 'atrocious' guest behavior and the lack of social distancing in stores which they believe is putting them at 'needless risk' Target employees will join those from Amazon, pictured here in March, who have pledged to call in sick this week in protest over their working conditions amid the coronavirus outbreak. There are said to be 350 employees across 50 locations pledged to protest At least 30 grocery store workers have died of coronavirus across the country and 3,000 have called out sick. Three Target employees tested positive in a Chicago store as of Wednesday and other cases were reported in a store in Michigan Tuesday. Target's mass sickout is being coordinated by Target Workers Unite, an independent initiative run by rank and file Target team members, and will run in parallel with International Worker's Day. The decision to protest comes as states look to reopen and relax social distancing guidelines. 'Now is the time to fight for MORE safety, not less!' Target Workers Unite said in a tweet. 'We can't let them reopen the economy and put us at more risk.' The group has criticized the company for not putting requirements in place regarding face masks and for allowing too many customers into stores. 'At Target the foot traffic and guest behavior have been atrocious, putting us at needless risk when greater safety measures are required to ensure social distancing. Workers nor guests have been required to wear masks,' the group said in a statement on its website. 'Our maximum capacity of guests have been set too high, their demeanor is also casual and reckless. They do not respect our space, they are not coming to our stores exclusively for essential items, but are occupying our stores out of boredom and for fun. More than a dozen Target stores are said to have signed up for a 'sickout' on May 1 Target Workers Unites claims workers must ask for more protection is states reopen 'The guests' desire for recreation are not more important than team members' needs for safety,' it added. 'Our pay and compensation are not adequate enough to cover the costs of hospitalization or funeral expenses related to COVID19.' Target first reduced its store hours in mid-March and began supplying face masks to employees at the start of April but staff are under no requirement to wear them. The company started limiting the number of customers allowed in a store from April 4. It also announced Thursday that it will continue a $2 an hour temporary wage increase until May 30 to support employees. 'It's important to us that Target team members feel comfortable sharing their concerns and we provide opportunities for them to do so,' Target said in a statement. 'We're focused on supporting our team and recognizing the important role they're playing for families and communities across the country amid the coronavirus.' But workers disagree with the level of protections implemented and say more is needed. 'The safety measures that Target has rolled out are half-measures, and they haven't done enough to prioritize safety. They're more concerned about the sales then protecting us workers,' Adam Ryan, a liason with Target Workers Unite, told USA Today. He claims that conditions have only worsened since stimulus checks have arrived as more shoppers head to stores to stock up once more. 'People aren't taking it seriously,' Ryan, who works part-time for Target in Virginia, added. 'It's almost like we're in a pre-COVID situation right now and not in the middle of a pandemic. 'If we don't push them further, they're not going to take further measures. We can't afford to wait. If we don't push for greater restrictions, it's going to keep going like this. He says that more than a dozen stores have signed up and he expects more to join before May 1. According to the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, least 30 grocery store workers have died after being exposed to the virus in the U.S., and another 3,000 have called out of work after showing signs of illness or other possible coronavirus-related complications. The announcement of Target's sick day comes as Amazon workers began a week of mass action in which more than 350 Amazon warehouse workers in 50 locations pledged to call out from their jobs, according to Athena, a coalition of local and national organizations representing workers. Workers from Tuesday have called out of work 'en masse across the country' as they demand better protection from the killer virus. Fears have been mounting for Amazon staff ever since New York warehouse worker Chris Smalls organized a protest in March over a lack of protective gear for staff. The company has since introduced a number of measures to better protect workers, including daily temperature checks and regular face mask distribution for warehouse workers. The company has also increased the pay rate for US employees by $2 an hour, doubled overtime pay, and established a $25 million relief fund for partners like contract delivery drivers. Founder Jeff Bezos said in a letter to shareholders last week that he is considering mass coronavirus testing for all staff. But United for Respect has warned that workers' lives are still being put at risk by the company, with at least 130 warehouses now plagued by outbreaks of the deadly virus. Workers are demanding any warehouses where staff test positive for COVID-19 must 'immediately close down' and provide testing and two weeks of pay for workers during that time. They are also calling for the retail giant to provide paid sick leave, guaranteed healthcare for all Amazon associates, regular deep cleaning and sanitation, to eliminate rate-based quotas 'that make hand-washing and sanitizing impossible' and to pledge not to retaliate against workers who speak out about conditions. Workers at stores like Whole Foods, which is owned by Amazon, have also staged walkouts and protests in response to concerns over the deadly flu-like virus, also known as COVID-19. Whole Foods was among the chains to have switched some stores to delivery and curbside pickup business models. While converting to curbside pickup and delivery service is favorable, it's not a perfect solution to concerns. 'Workers would still have exposure if they are delivering goods or if they are in the supermarket,' says Charlane Obernauer, executive director of the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health. A sign outside a Whole Foods in Cambridge, Massachusetts, shows where customers can pick up their purchases after the Amazon-run company switched some of its stores to curbside-pickup and delivery to protect workers from exposure to the coronavirus Hundreds of workers have protested against the company marking its biggest labor unrest in its history (pictured at walkouts in March). A sickout is taking place this week Amazon told DailyMail.com in an email statement Tuesday that the workers' claims are 'simply unfounded'. 'These accusations are simply unfounded. Nothing is more important than the safety of our teams. Our employees are heroes fighting for their communities and helping people get critical items they need in this crisis,' said Amazon spokesperson Rachael Lighty. '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. 'The truth is the vast majority of employees continue to show up and do the heroic work of delivering for their communities every day. We encourage anyone interested in the facts to compare our overall pay and benefits, as well as our speed in managing this crisis, to other retailers and major employers across the country.' This marks the first nationwide walkout by Amazon warehouse workers, following a series of walkouts at facilities in New York, Detroit and Illinois over the last month. The company's corporate employees are rallying in support of their warehouse colleagues, with many muted to take part in a 'virtual sick out' Friday to protest the treatment in warehouses and pressure the firm to reinstate fired workers. Every morning, Lomax Middle School teacher Jill Lambert wakes at her usual time, gets dressed and goes to see her students. Of course, in the age of COVID-19, she only sees and speaks to pupils virtually from her home; but although the learning environment has changed, she said teachers aim to ensure kids success remains unaltered. We foster them to be self-directed in their learning. So, our kids have to set daily goals and make a plan regarding how they can meet those goals, said Lambert, a sixth-grade English, language arts and reading teacher at Lomax in the Pasadena Independent School District, which has approximately 53,000 students. And how have they settled in so far? Theyve transitioned really well, Lambert said. Im extremely proud of all my students. Lambert, along with fellow Pasadena ISD educators Josh Prater, an 11th-grade U.S. history teacher at Sam Rayburn High School, and Ca-Lishea Woods, a pre-AP math educator for seventh- and eighth-graders at Thompson Intermediate School, spoke about the challenges and unexpected benefits of students learning from home. Lambert said her charges often take the initiative to seek help. Our kids dont feel awkward or shy about talking to us about concerns they have, she said. They know how to ask for and use a video workshop or take part in a one-on-one mentoring (session). They know which ways of learning work best for them. Students juggling home, school responsibilities Woods said, for her, its been somewhat nerve-wracking as students apply at home the lessons learned all year in the classroom. That part is a little scary, watching them do what weve been teaching them to do all year, like make a schedule, write it in a planner and then get it done, she admitted. Shes also watched as some of them have been forced to juggle school work with additional home responsibilities. Some of these kids, theyre not only trying to work their way through their curriculum, but some are caregivers, as well, taking care of their younger siblings, Woods said. Prater has seen perspective changes from his high school students, particularly those who previously had expressed how much they hated school but now say they would love to return. This has been difficult for a lot of them, because in high school a lot of what we do is foster relationships with these kids, he said. Its hard for the teachers, too, not being able to talk to our kids every day and shake their hands. Kids writing memoirs about the pandemic But as teachers often do, Prater is looking on the bright side. I think once all this is done, were all going to value interpersonal connections much more. The students miss the day-to-day communication; so this experience really reinforces how much they need the support and structure of school. For now, however, virtual smiles, lessons and conversations will have to do, and these Pasadena ISD teachers are determined to make the best of it and work with the tools they have, all while creating learning opportunities based on the current circumstances. Lambert said some of her students are writing memoirs based on their experience of living through a pandemic. Thats helped, she said. For his students, Prater said the online work is useful preparation for university-level courses. This is a trial run of what they will see in their future, because lots of kids will be doing online work in college, he said. Learning gaps anticipated Still, despite their best efforts and the hard work of the kids, educators are realistic there may be some learning gaps when children return to school. We are all concerned about that, Woods said. But we know everyone will have those gaps; so we just need to anticipate that and prepare for it next year. But at the same time, this experience has taught us, both parents and teachers, how much more responsible students can be. (With parents teaching kids at home) they are seeing their kids do things they didnt know they could do. Lambert agreed. I like seeing the habits of success in action at (the kids) homes, coming to fruition in a different way, she said. Im very impressed. MIAMI, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CharityHowTo is offering a number of free live and recorded online webinars to the nonprofit community during the novel Coronavirus Pandemic. Webinars are taught by nonprofit experts and consultants from all over the globe who bring their deep knowledge and expertise to the nonprofit community as they try to navigate this tricky time. Live webinars will continue to run for the next few weeks, and recordings of all sessions will be available on the CharityHowTo website for those who are unable to attend the live trainings. To sign up for any of CharityHowTo's free Coronavirus nonprofit webinars, visit their resource page . Various nonprofit specific topics are covered, such as: "What You Need to Know About Postponing and Canceling Events" "Fundraising in the Time of Coronavirus: How to Manage and Modify Your Fundraising" "The CARES Act: A Step By Step Guide To Applying for Funding now!" "Virtual Engagement: How to Create Participatory Virtual Experiences that Keep your Donors Engaged in Times of Crisis" "How to Plan for #GivingTuesdayNow on May 5 " " And more The nonprofit community has already shown great support and appreciation for these free webinars, with thousands of nonprofit professionals signing up for each free training that is offered. The CharityHowTo Coronavirus webinars are calming, helpful, and include tactical information that can be implemented immediately. About CharityHowTo: CharityHowTo brings the highest quality trainings to nonprofit professionals to help them succeed in their careers and create a bigger impact for the causes they care about. CharityHowTo is the premier online training center for nonprofit professionals around the world. Kelly Kulp CharityHowTo [email protected] SOURCE CharityHowTo Related Links https://www.charityhowto.com/ President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that it is necessary to create a state-owned airline in Ukraine, the fleet of which will consist of domestic-made aircraft. "We must create a state-owned airline. It is my dream to establish a modern state-owned airline at the level of Turkish Airlines or Singapore Airlines. The state is ready to allocate money for this," he said in the documentary The Year of President Zelensky, which was shown on TV Channel Ukraine 24. He criticized the large state-owned enterprise Antonov as it had not built a single aircraft in recent years. I do not understand why our planes do not operate on domestic flights. Where are our ANs (aircraft manufactured by Antonov)? We have agreed with them, now we are developing a program, and we will do it, the president emphasized. He added: "We will build a state-owned airline, and we will make an order to our state-owned Antonov, and we will attract many jobs." At the same time, Zelensky reminded that as part of privatization program carried out in Ukraine, all strategic objects should remain in state ownership. iy A pair of Mexico City cops put their lives on the line when they prevented a 29-year-old coronavirus patient from jumping off a roof hours before he succumbed to the deadly disease. The hero police officers were pressed into action after they were alerted by the staff at Enrique Cabrera Hospital General on Wednesday, the Secretariat of Public Security said. The patient had been hospitalized after contracting the ravaging COVID-19, which eventually led to an emotional breakdown, doctors said. Two police officers from Mexico City subdue a COVID-19 patient who tried to jump off the roof at Enrique Cabrera Hospital General on Wednesday. Unfortunately, he succumbed to the deadly disease in his room hours later A police officer (pictured) assigned to Enrique Cabrera Hospital General in Mexico City rescued a man who threatened taking his life by leaping off the roof on Wednesday He abandoned his room and went up the emergency stairwell before making it to the roof. He subsequently stood on the ledge while the cops, who were assigned to the hospital beat, engaged him in a conversation for nearly 15 minutes in an attempt to convince not to take his life. Despite the dangers that the infected patient presented, they went up to the hospital roof and were able to subdue him. He was taken back to his hospital room and tragically was declared dead hours later due to complications from the disease, according to Radio Formula. As of Thursday, the coronavirus epidemic has killed 970 people and sickened 10,544. Cops at Enrique Cabrera Hospital General in Mexico City were hailed for disregarding the risk of contracting the coronavirus and convincing a 29-year-old man not to jump off the roof. However, the COVID-19 patient was declared dead in his room due to complications from the disease If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). For confidential support, call the Samaritans at 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See www.samaritans.org for details. HBOs drag makeover series Were Here is not about putting on a show. At least, not entirely. Yes, the show does put people in drag and have them perform a number with three fan-favorite RuPauls Drag Race alums. And, okay, yes, one participant in the first episode does express interest in pursuing a career in drag. But the wigs and the heels and the makeup are not the point, the shows stars and producers say. The person who exists beneath all that, and the life they go back to when they step off the stage, thats the point. It never felt to me like [the drag] was the most significant part of it, said series director and showrunner Peter LoGreco. Theres having the courage to take that leap. But to me, its more about what taking this leap could mean for their own lives Why is this important for them as a person, beyond just getting dressed up? Also Read: 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Alums Make Over Small Towns in HBO's 'We're Here' Trailer (Video) Co-created by Stephen Warren and Johnnie Ingram, each episode of Were Here sees Bob the Drag Queen, Shangela and Eureka OHara traveling to a different part of small-town America. They partner with a local, get to know them and their families and provide a crash course in show(wo)manship. It all culminates in a glitzy one-night-only lip sync performance, complete with dancers and costumes and the occasional guest appearance. But Were Here does not dwell on scenes of the fledgling queens doing things like tucking for the first time or learning to walk in heels. In fact, the majority of the show sees the queens out of costume, spending time with their drag daughters and getting to now them person-to-person. Whether thats a young queer man feeling trapped in his hometown or a mother hoping to reconnect with the daughter she had a falling out with or a straight father looking to challenge his own ideas of masculinity. We're Here HBO Its a different side of Bob, Shangela and Eureka than what fans got to see on Drag Race, but the trio adapts well to the role, and to hear them tell it, its a natural fit. Story continues The majority of my life is not competing on RuPauls Drag Race, so if anything, that was unusual, Bob said. This is just interacting with people as a human, which is what Ive been doing for 33 years now. So it didnt seem weird at all. Also Read: 'RuPaul's Drag Race' Celebrity Spinoff Gets Premiere Date at VH1 (Video) At first, I was a little worried, added Eureka. I do like to give advice Im better at giving it than taking it but I was nervous at first. I was like, Oh, my God, Im not a psychologist, Im gonna try to help these people and end up fing them up but I kind of live and thrive off my interactions with people; its kind of what I was built for. And I didnt realize it until I started doing the show. All three are originally from small towns themselves, and each said they can relate to the experience of feeling out of place in your hometown. Looking around, I never saw anyone that I thought was like me, said Shangela, who grew up in the 25,000-person city of Paris, Texas. I was a small, gay black kid in a very rural community. Even in television and film, I didnt see anyone that was out and flamboyant, a little boy doing Beyonce choreography. We're Here HBO Were Here takes its title from the LGBTQ activist organization Queer Nations famous chant from the 1990s HIV/AIDS protests: Were here, were queer, get used to it. So while it can be interpreted as a rowdy greeting from three larger-than-life personalities crashing a small town in showgirl costumes, it can also be read as a raise of the hand, a reminder that queer communities and outsiders of all stripes exist and have the right to feel welcome in all parts of the country. It extends to anyone who doesnt feel seen. Anyone who feels like their voices arent being heard in the mainstream, said Warren. Added Ingram, Were coming into your town and were putting on a drag show, and were going to bring you into our world and were going to tell your story to your community through this counterculture. Also Read: 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' Sets Special Edition at Showtime These are all things that drag has already been doing for decades, but with its recent explosion in popularity (thanks almost entirely to RuPauls Drag Race) drag is ready to move beyond counterculture and leverage its confrontational roots during this moment of mainstream attention. Were Here is not a conflict-driven show, but there is something inherently imposing about a drag queen who stands about seven-feet tall in full get-up showing up at your local diner and forcing you to reckon with the reality of their existence, says LoGreco. Once someone is faced with the actual person of Eureka or Shangela or Bob, and they see this person, who they know, wanting to participate in something like this with them, that can really change their perception, he said. You can disarm anyone when youre in chaps and a rhinestoned cowboy hat and carrying a whip and just kind of own it. Still, the show is not out to change the world overnight. Were not fairy godmothers. We cant come in, wave a wand and, yay, everything is great, said Shangela. Our job is to come in, partner with these people and go on that journey of self-realization with them. How much strength do you really have? Lets dig for it. And then through the art of drag, lets showcase it. And, yes, at the end of the day, put on a show. We're Here HBO Were Here premieres Thursday, April 23 at 9 p.m. on HBO. Read original story RuPauls Drag Race Alums Talk Changing Lives From the Outside-In on HBOs Were Here At TheWrap A federal appeals court has halted a judge's ruling that inmates at a geriatric prison outside Houston should have expanded access to masks and soap and a plan for testing for COVID-19. A three-judge panel from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals critiqued the injunction by a veteran Houston judge , saying his order last week regulates in minute detail the cleaning intervals for common areas, the types of bleach-based disinfectants the prison must use, the alcohol content of hand sanitizer that inmates must receive, mask requirements for inmates, and inmates access to tissues surpassing CDC guidelines. STATE CHALLENGE: AG opposes federal court order for widespread testing, sanitizer at Texas prison The appeals court judges stayed U.S. District Judge Keith P. Ellisons ruling, pending an expedited appeal of whether the injunction is valid. They found the state prison system was likely to prevail on the merits because the lawyers for the inmates did not show a substantial risk of serious harm amounting to cruel and unusual punishment. The panel also found the lower court erred in applying case law. The 5th circuit said the staff at the 1,300-person prison did not show deliberate indifference to inmates, according to the ruling. The judges found harm to Texass prison system was particularly acute because Ellisons order interfered with the rapidly changing and flexible system-wide approach that the Texas Department of Criminal Justice has used to respond to the pandemic. Attorney General Ken Paxton lauded the courts findings, which his office sought to block because it offered unfettered access to face masks, hand sanitizer and cleaning supplies, required testing every single inmate, and halted transfers. State lawyers argued the ruling was absurd because it prioritized the needs of inmates over those of front lineworkers. I thank the Fifth Circuit for prioritizing the needs of medical professionals and blocking the unreasonable demands the district court imposed on the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Paxton said in a statement. TDCJ has already diligently implemented measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and our medical professionals and those suffering from this health crisis are in desperate need of personal protective equipment, supplies and testing kits. Lawyers for two inmates who brought the civil rights class action were not able to comment. Jeff Edwards, who sued along with John Keville of Winston & Strawn LLP, previously said Ellisons ruling was in sync with public health directives that seek to protect everyone from a contagion. The idea that this order is anything but supportive of the medical providers and the correctional officers on the front lines is a false narrative, Edwards said previously. By protecting the inmates, you necessarily protect the people who are taking care of the inmates. Ellisons order called for widespread COVID-19 testing and hand sanitizer for all inmates at the Pack Unit in Navasota. TDCJ previously prioritized testing for inmates who appear to have symptoms of COVID-19. Ellison also mandated cloth masks for all inmates and gave prison officials three days to come up with a plan to test all staff and inmates in the unit. An inmate at the unit died April 11 of suspected COVID-19 complications, and many more were under medical restriction. gabrielle.banks@chron.com Russia's M-22 Tsirkon or Zircon anti-ship hypersonic missile will be test-fired at least 10 times in the next few months before it is inducted into service by 2022. According to Russian news agency TASS, Tsirkon, which had travel at speeds up to Mach 9 (over 11113 kilometres per hour), will be fired from naval warships and submarines as part of the trials. TASS quoted a Russian defence source and reported that all the 10 trials will take place in 2020-2021 out of which seven to eight will be carried out from Admiral Gorshkov frigate. The remaining two to three test-firing will take place "from the Severodvinsk submarine with at least one of them while submerged". Russian Navy's K-560 Severodvinsk belong to the Yasen class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine All of Tsirkon's test-firings will be against targets on the ground and at sea. According to Russian defence officials, Tsirkon can strike targets on land and at sea over 1,000 km away and its hypersonic speed helps in evading all air defence systems currently operational. Russian Defence Minister Army General Sergei Shoigu on March 25, 2020, had revealed in the country's Parliament that Tsirkon was undergoing test launches. Former Russian deputy defence minister Vladimir Popovkin had in early 2011 announced the plans to develop a ship and submarine-launched hypersonic missile system. While the first test launch of Tsirkon officially started in 2015, some Russian media reports claim that the missiles were also test-fired from the Tupolev Tu-22M3 supersonic bomber in 2012. Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2019 announced that Tsirkon's development was progressing as per schedule. The missile has been designed by NPO Mashinostroeniya Military-Industrial Corporation, which is in Reutov near Moscow. Russia and India are also jointly developing a hypersonic version of the BrahMos missile. Indian Army, Indian Air Force and Indian Navy have already inducted the BrahMos missile, which is capable of hitting targets with pinpoint accuracy 300 km away at a speed of almost Mach 2.8-3 (about 3704.4 kmph), in their arsenal. CSC received Mizuho Innovation Award The Mizuho Innovation Award is an award given quarterly to support the growth of innovative companies by selecting eligible companies based on the superiority of their business model, team strength, and growth potential. Based on their vision of "creating a safe and secure cyberspace that people around the world can use with peace of mind," Cyber Security Cloud (CSC) is highly regarded as a leading company in the cybersecurity industry, which is expected to grow further in the future. CSC was awarded this because of the superiority of their business model of providing cloud-based cybersecurity services on a subscription basis, the continued development of functions and service improvements using AI technology to provide safe, secure and comfortable cybersecurity services to their customers, the teamwork to build their services and their track record of providing these services to many companies in Japan and overseas. The number of cyber-attacks is increasing every year, and its threat has become a serious issue that directly affects businesses. In the need of this, CSC plans to continue to contribute to the promotion of the information revolution by focusing on the development of services to create a safe and secure cyberspace that people around the world can use with peace of mind. About Cyber Security Cloud, Inc. With an aim to create a safe and secure cyberspace that people around the world can use with peace of mind, Cyber Security Cloud provides web application security services worldwide using the world's leading cyber threat intelligence and AI technology. CSC is also certified as the 7th AWS WAF Managed Rules Seller in the world by AWS (Amazon Web Service) which boasts a 47.8% global cloud market share. *1 As a leading cybersecurity company, CSC plans to continue to strive to improve and develop new technologies and aim to be a company that can deliver effective security solutions to contribute to the information revolution. *1: Gartner(July 2019)Worldwide Iaas Public Cloud Services Market Share, 2017-2018(Millions of U.S. Dollars) *The company names and service names described in this release are registered trademarks of the respective companies. *Amazon Web Services and AWS are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Todays expanding digital footprint makes it critical to have mobile device threat visibility, a massive blindspot within enterprises. The launch of Cybereason Mobile and our managed service is a cybersecurity industry game-changer, said Lior Div, CEO and Cofounder, Cybereason. Cybereason today announced the expansion of its award-winning Cyber Defense Platform with the introduction of Cybereason Mobile, a new cloud-based offering designed to help enterprises prevent, detect and respond to both mobile device and traditional endpoint risks by connecting disparate threats in a single and complete malicious operation (Malop). Cybereason Mobile launches alongside the companys new Cybereason Mobile MDR, a fully managed mobile threat defense offering designed to detect and prevent suspicious activity before damage occurs. While leveraging Cybereason Mobile MDR, enterprises have access to a team of security analysts to monitor for advanced mobile threats 24x7x365 across Android and iOS devices for a more efficient process when discovering, triaging and mitigating incidents. Cybereason Defense Platform acknowledges the reality of todays most common ways of doing business. Protection from your mobile endpoints all in a single console made easy to deploy, configure, prevent, detect and respond, said Phil Hochmuth, Program VP, Enterprise Mobility, IDC. Todays expanding digital footprint makes it critical to have mobile device threat visibility, a massive blindspot within enterprises. The launch of Cybereason Mobile and our managed service is a cybersecurity industry game-changer. It automates the mobile device detection and prevention process and cross-correlates threats across all endpoints from workstations, servers, cloud and mobile. Cybereason is giving security analysts and security operations teams the industrys deepest visualized cloud services and the ability to stop targeted threats to their networks, said Lior Div, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Cybereason. Cybereason Mobile features include: Built-for-mobile, autonomous protection Cybereason Mobile provides a single, scalable, and lightweight sensor giving immediate insights, response actions, and on-device detection to prevent known and unknown zero-day threats from reaching the endpoint. Cybereason Cross-Machine Correlation By correlating all incidents through the Cybereason Defense Platform, security analysts can leverage the revolutionary cyberattack defense engine with machine-learning algorithms able to connect disparate malicious events. Multi-Faceted Visibility at the Application, Network, Operating System (iOS and Android), Device Level Cybereason Mobile not only provides visibility to all primary attack vectors of mobile endpoints, but can also prevent, detect, and remediate against them. Cybereason Mobile generates a baseline of normal vs. abnormal, potentially malicious, behaviors to uncover a breadth of use cases in real time. Cross-platform compromise context across all phases of the attack lifecycle Cybereason Mobiles nondeterministic detection approach, aligned with the MITRE ATT&CK lifecycle framework, enables security analysts to connect disparate attackers activities, across traditional and mobile devices, into a single and complete malicious operation (Malop). Cybereason Mobile MDR The Cybereason Mobile MDR provides a fully managed mobile threat defense offering that security analysts/defenders use to prevent threats before damage is done. From real-time prevention, complete compromise investigation, to system configuration and policy management, Cybereason Mobile MDR provides 24x7 coverage. Recent Accolades Regarding Cybereason Cybereason recently gained wide recognition as the top-ranked current offering in the recently published The Forrester Wave: Endpoint Detection & Response, Q1 2020. In addition, Cybereason received a strong rating in NSS Labs Inc.s recent Advanced Endpoint Protection (AEP) Test with a AAA rating in the Resistance to Evasion category by detecting and blocking 100 percent of the malware and exploits used during the test. The Cybereason Defense Platform is used by more than 600 of the worlds largest and best-known enterprises. Collecting and analyzing trillions of security events and threat indicators each day, Cybereason Mobile, fully embedded into the Cybereason Defense Platform, benefits from this robust and scalable architecture and executes on the same promise of precise detection and accelerated response. About Cybereason Cybereason, creators of the leading Cyber Defense Platform, gives the advantage back to the defender through a completely new approach to cybersecurity. Cybereason offers endpoint prevention, detection and response and active monitoring. The solution delivers multi-layered endpoint prevention by leveraging signature and signatureless techniques to prevent known and unknown threats in conjunction with behavioral and deception techniques to prevent ransomware and fileless attacks. Cybereason is a privately held, international company, headquartered in Boston, MA with customers in more than 30 countries. Learn more: https://www.cybereason.com/ Follow us: Blog | Twitter | Facebook Media Contacts: Bill Keeler Senior Director, Global Public Relations Cybereason bill.keeler@cybereason.com (929) 259-3261 Tahir Hussain charged under anti-terror law for murder of IB staffer,former Cong councillor booked India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Apr 23: Suspended Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor, Tahir Hussain has been booked under the anti-terror law in connection with the murder of Intelligence Bureau (IB) staffer, Ankit Sharma. He has been charged under the stringent provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. It may be recalled that he was arrested in connection with the murder of Sharma last month. The police have accused Hussain of rioting, murder and arson during the deadly riots that broke out in Northeast Delhi in February. Further, the police have also arrested two former Congress councillor, Ishrat Jahan and activist, Khalid Saifi in connection with the case. IB Staffer Murder: Suspended AAP councillor Tahir Hussain arrested, sent to 4-day police custody Meanwhile, the Special Cell of the Delhi police has booked JNU student leader, Umar Khalid under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The police have also booked Jamia student member, Meeran Haider and media coordinator of the Jamia Coordination Committee, Safoora Zargar under the same provisions in connection with the Northeast Delhi riots that took place in February. Akram Khan, Haider's counsel said that the police have added UAPA against his client and others named in the FIR. Initially, they were booked under Sections 147, 148 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code. Later the police had added charges under Sections 124A (sedition), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion). Zargar, it may be recalled was arrested on April 13. The police said that she was among those who organised the anti-Citizenship law protest and road blockage. The protest, it may be recalled had turned violent. A Delhi police source told OneIndia that the reason for them adding UAPA was due to the links with the Popular Front of India. The first FIR was registered in March based on the information provided by sub-inspector, Arvind Kumar. He had said that the violence was a pre-meditated conspiracy alleged hatched by Khalid, Danish and two others. Khalid is alleged to have given provocative speeches at two different places. He had appealed to the citizens to come out on the streets and block roads, at a time when US President, Donald Trump was visiting India. The intent was to spread propaganda at an international level, the police also said. Delhi violence: Money laundering case against suspended AAP leader Tahir Hussain The FIR says that Danish was given the responsibility of gathering the people from different places to take part in the violence. Women and children were made to block the roads to create tension. "While investigating Jamia and NE riot cases, Delhi Police has done its job sincerely and impartially. All arrests have been made based on scientific and forensic evidence," the Delhi police had tweeted on April 20. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Riza Roidila Mufti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 15:24 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3d33b0 1 Business Indonesia,COVID-19,infrastructure-project,delay,budget-reallocation,Public-Works-and-Public-Housing-Ministry,Galang-hospital Free The Public Works and Public Housing Ministry will suspend a number of infrastructure projects following the ministrys decision to reallocate a large part of its budget funds to efforts to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public Works and Public Housing Miniser Basuki Hadimuljono said Tuesday said the postponed projects included overhauling the irrigation network in Baro Raya in Pidie, Aceh, revamping the waterfront area in Pariaman, West Sumatra, and building the Sp Tohpati - Tjokroaminoto bridge in Denpasar, Bali. The postponed projects will become priorities in 2021 and will be put up for auction in October 2020, said Basuki during a meeting with House of Representative commission V on Tuesday. The budget changes will also cause a delay in several other projects, such as the development of the Way Sekampung Dam in Lampung, the Jragung Dam in Central Java, the Temef Dam in East Nusa Tenggara, the Kuningan East Ring Road in West Java and the construction of the Brebes Ring Road in Central Java. The ministry has also postponed supporting activities, such as project surveys and detailed engineering design plans. The reallocation is also based on the postponement of nonphysical activities, such as survey work and detailed engineering design work," said Basuki. The ministry reallocated Rp 44.58 trillion, 37 percent of its 2020 budget, to finance infrastructure for COVID-19 emergency measures, including the construction of Galang Hospital in Riau Islands at the former camp for Vietnamese refugees fleeing the Vietnam War. The hospital, which began operations in early April, is used as a quarantine and medical facility to handle COVID patients. Budget funds were also used to convert the athletes village in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, into a COVID hospital and to transform Gajah Mada Universitys academy hospital into a COVID referral hospital in Yogyakarta. The COVID-19 crisis has also affected the construction of other infrastructure projects in Indonesia, including the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed railway project that is expected to be delayed. Railway developer PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) had planned to finish the project and start operations in 2021. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 23 Trend: Head of the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, MP Tural Ganjaliyev has sent a letter of protest to members of the US Congress, Trend reports. Ganjaliyev condemned the sending of a "congratulatory letter" to the illegal regime created by Armenia in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan by members of the Congress Frank Pallone, Jackie Speier, Gus Bilirakis and Adam Schiff who are supporting the Armenian lobby. The Azerbaijani community was forcibly expelled from their homelands, deprived of basic human rights as a result of the occupation by Armenia of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and seven adjacent regions of the country, which has been going on for more than 28 years in violation of the basic principles of international law, United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and decisions of other international organizations," Ganjaliyev said. He stressed that in this context, the attempts to "legitimize" the elective show in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan on March 31 and April 14 are extremely irresponsible. The entire international community, including the US, resolutely rejected this show, declaring their solidarity with Azerbaijan. "Thus, the international community unequivocally declared the non-recognition of the illegal occupation of Azerbaijani territories and the consequences of ethnic cleansing, the head of the community added. Ganjaliyev noted that in order to prove their adherence to human rights, universal values and the rule of law, these representatives of the Congress should urge Armenia to refrain from illegal actions that only further complicate the situation, leave the occupied territories and take a constructive approach to peace negotiations to resolve the conflict. However, contrary to the basic principles of the US state policy based on respect for fundamental human rights and universal values, they supported the ethnic cleansing policy pursued by Armenia against Azerbaijanis. Unfortunately, the actions of these individuals only further encourage those who continue to spread legends in Armenian society about the superiority of one ethnic group over others. This does not bode well for either Armenia or the future of the region as a whole, the head of the community added. These persons are not even concerned that the holding of this show exposed those living in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan to a high risk of contracting a coronavirus infection. This shows that they do not attach any importance to the safety of the residents of the occupied territories, but only serve the interests of a particular political group. Unfortunately, the facts indicate that this 'congratulatory letter' was initiated for personal gain, to the detriment of all moral and political principles, Ganjaliyev stressed. The head of the community also noted that the irresponsible "congratulatory letter", demonstrating disrespect for the sovereignty of Azerbaijan and propagating a discriminatory approach towards Azerbaijanis, does not withstand the slightest criticism both morally, legally and politically. Ganjaliyev said that the best that members of Congress can do is to take steps to support the fundamental rights of all internally displaced persons and contribute to the peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, which will contribute to the peaceful coexistence of the Armenian and Azerbaijani communities. I want to emphasize that the Azerbaijani community is doing everything possible to peacefully resolve the conflict and ensure the peaceful coexistence and development of both communities of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. We express our gratitude to the international community, including those in the US who support our fair struggle, and urge those who oppose justice to refrain from such a wrong approach, the head of the community concluded. 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 the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts. NEW YORK, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Urinary Catheter Market is expected to grow from USD 1,389.43 Million in 2018 to USD 2,485.06 Million by the end of 2025 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 8.66%. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05871595/?utm_source=PRN The positioning of the Global Urinary Catheter Market vendors in FPNV Positioning Matrix are determined by Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) and placed into four quadrants (F: Forefront, P: Pathfinders, N: Niche, and V: Vital). The report deeply explores the recent significant developments by the leading vendors and innovation profiles in the Global Urinary Catheter Market including are B. Braun Melsungen AG, Hollister Incorporated, J and M Urinary Catheters LLC, Medline Industries, Inc., Teleflex Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation, C.R.Bard, Inc., Coloplast, Cook Medical, and Medtronic. On the basis of Product, the Global Urinary Catheter Market is studied across External Catheters, Foley/ Indwelling Catheters, and Intermittent Catheters. On the basis of Application, the Global Urinary Catheter Market is studied across Benign Prostate Hyperplasia, Spinal Cord Injury, and Urinary Incontinence. For the detailed coverage of the study, the market has been geographically divided into the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa. The report provides details of qualitative and quantitative insights about the major countries in the region and taps the major regional developments in detail. In the report, we have covered two proprietary models, the FPNV Positioning Matrix and Competitive Strategic Window. The FPNV Positioning Matrix analyses the competitive market place for the players in terms of product satisfaction and business strategy they adopt to sustain in the market. The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies. The Competitive Strategic Window helps the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. During a forecast period, it defines the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisitions strategies, geography expansion, research & development, new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth. Research Methodology: Our market forecasting is based on a market model derived from market connectivity, dynamics, and identified influential factors around which assumptions about the market are made. These assumptions are enlightened by fact-bases, put by primary and secondary research instruments, regressive analysis and an extensive connect with industry people. Market forecasting derived from in-depth understanding attained from future market spending patterns provides quantified insight to support your decision-making process. The interview is recorded, and the information gathered in put on the drawing board with the information collected through secondary research. The report provides insights on the following pointers: 1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on sulfuric acid offered by the key players in the Global Urinary Catheter Market 2. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and new product developments in the Global Urinary Catheter Market 3. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyzes the markets for the Global Urinary Catheter Market 4. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new products launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments in the Global Urinary Catheter Market 5. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players in the Global Urinary Catheter Market The report answers questions such as: 1. What is the market size of Urinary Catheter market in the Global? 2. What are the factors that affect the growth in the Global Urinary Catheter Market over the forecast period? 3. What is the competitive position in the Global Urinary Catheter Market? 4. Which are the best product areas to be invested in over the forecast period in the Global Urinary Catheter Market? 5. What are the opportunities in the Global Urinary Catheter Market? 6. What are the modes of entering the Global Urinary Catheter Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05871595/?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 A patient is loaded into the back of an ambulance by emergency medical workers outside Cobble Hill Health Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on April 17, 2020. (John Minchillo/AP Photo) Doctors Warn CCP Virus Might Cause Strokes in Young Adults Some doctors in New York have warned that COVID-19 might cause sudden strokes in adults in their 30s and 40s who arent otherwise seriously ill. Those patients, doctors said in a new report this week, might not call the hospital or 911 because they have heard that medical facilities are overwhelmed with patients. The researchers have found that COVID-19, caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, might cause blood to clot in some patients, leading to a stroke or other health problems. Dr. Thomas Oxley, a neurosurgeon at Mount Sinai Health System in New York, told CNN that he and his colleagues treated five people under the age of 50 who had mild symptoms of the virus or no symptoms at all. The virus seems to be causing increased clotting in the large arteries, leading to severe stroke, Oxley said. He added: Our report shows a seven-fold increase in incidence of sudden stroke in young patients during the past two weeks. Most of these patients have no past medical history and were at home with either mild symptoms (or in two cases, no symptoms) of Covid. Medical staff move a patient into the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center emergency room in Brooklyn, New York, on April 7, 2020. (Angela Weiss / AFP/Getty Images) Oxley said that they all tested positive for the CCP virus, and two of them delayed calling an ambulance. Elaborating further, Oxley said he and his colleagues usually record fewer than two strokes per month in people who are aged 50 or under. However, in two weeks, they have treated five stroke patients. They will publish their findings in the New England Journal of Medicine in the near future, he said. Strokes in general and large-vessel strokes, namely, arent common among people between the ages of 30 and 40. For comparison, our service, over the previous 12 months, has treated on average 0.73 patients every 2 weeks under the age of 50 years with large vessel stroke, Oxley and his colleagues wrote to the New England Journal of Medicine, according to CNN. Oxley added that the best treatment for large vessel stroke is clot retrieval, but this must be performed within 6 hours, and sometimes within 24 hours, meaning that for those who delay treatment, it could be fatal or life-altering. His comments come after some doctors said that skin rashes may also be a rare symptom of the CCP virus, a type of novel coronavirus that emerged last year in Wuhan, China. Dr. Joanna Harp, a dermatologist at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, told ABC News about COVID-19 patients having red rashes legs, arms, and buttocks. It is not yet known what causes the clotting tendency in these patients, but there is some suggestion that the virus may overstimulate the immune system in certain patients, Harp explained. And this overzealous immune response could somehow trigger a downstream clotting tendency. NEW YORK, April 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Tetrahydrofuran (THF) market worldwide is projected to grow by US$1.7 Billion, driven by a compounded growth of 6.6%. Reppe Process, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 7%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$2 Billion by the year 2025, Reppe Process will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03449668/?utm_source=PRN - Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 5.6% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$60.7 Million to the region's size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over US$52.1 Million worth of projected demand in the region will come from Rest of Europe markets. In Japan, Reppe Process will reach a market size of US$95.6 Million by the close of the analysis period. As the world's second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 9.8% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$478.3 Million in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders. Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies. - Competitors identified in this market include, among others, Ashland Inc. BASF SE BioAmber Inc. Dairen Chemical Corporation INVISTA MilliporeSigma Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation Penn A Kem LLC Saudi International Petrochemical Company Shanxi Sanwei Group Co. Ltd. TCC Chemical Corporation Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03449668/?utm_source=PRN I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. MARKET OVERVIEW Tetrahydrofuran (THF): Expanding Applications Fuel Market Growth Recent Market Activity Myriad Uses of Tetrahydrofuran in Varied Forms Benefit Market Expansion PTMEG: The Largest and the Fastest Growing End-Use Segment of Tetrahydrofuran THF as a Resin Solvent Magnetic Tape Coatings Adhesives PVC Cements Cellophane and Vinyl Films Specialty Coating-Systems THF as a Reaction Solvent Pharmaceutical Solvent Applications Laboratory Usage Reaction Medium Extractant Starting Material in Syntheses Asia-Pacific at the Forefront of THF Consumption Stable Chemical Industry Provides Opportunities for THF Market Production Scenario Competitive Landscape Global Competitor Market Shares Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Competitor Market Share Scenario Worldwide (in %): 2020 & 2029 2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS Ashland, Inc. (USA) BASF SE (Germany) BioAmber, Inc. (Canada) Dairen Chemical Corporation (China) INVISTA (USA) MilliporeSigma (USA) Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Japan) Penn A Kem LLC (USA) Saudi International Petrochemical Company (Saudi Arabia) Shanxi Sanwei Group Co., Ltd. (China) TCC Chemical Corporation (Taiwan) 3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS Increasing Focus on Green Chemistry: A Strong Growth Driver for 2-MeTHF ecoMeTHF?: A Truly Green and Cost-Saving Alternative Bio-based Poly (Tetrahydrofuran) THF1000: Advantages Over Petro-based THF Production Scenario Major End-Use Market Segments THF Fortunes Intrinsically Tied to Dynamics in Butanediol (BDO) Market Growing Use of Spandex in Textile and Other Applications Drives Demand for THF-Derived PTMEG Favorable Trends in Succinic Acid Strengthens Market Prospects for Derivatives THF and BDO Major Applications of Succinic Acid and Succinic Acid Derivatives Cyclopentyl Methyl Ether (CPME): An Eco-Friendly Alternative for THF? 4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE Table 1: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Global Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 2: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Global Retrospective Market Scenario in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017 Table 3: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Shift across Key Geographies Worldwide: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 4: Reppe Process (Technology) World Market by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025 Table 5: Reppe Process (Technology) Historic Market Analysis by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017 Table 6: Reppe Process (Technology) Market Share Breakdown of Worldwide Sales by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 7: Davy Process (Technology) Potential Growth Markets Worldwide in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025 Table 8: Davy Process (Technology) Historic Market Perspective by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017 Table 9: Davy Process (Technology) Market Sales Breakdown by Region/Country in Percentage: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 10: Butadiene Process (Technology) Geographic Market Spread Worldwide in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025 Table 11: Butadiene Process (Technology) Region Wise Breakdown of Global Historic Demand in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017 Table 12: Butadiene Process (Technology) Market Share Distribution in Percentage by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 13: Propylene Oxide (Technology) World Market Estimates and Forecasts by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025 Table 14: Propylene Oxide (Technology) Market Historic Review by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009 to 2017 Table 15: Propylene Oxide (Technology) Market Share Breakdown by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 16: PTMEG (Application) Worldwide Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 17: PTMEG (Application) Global Historic Analysis in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017 Table 18: PTMEG (Application) Distribution of Global Sales by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 19: Solvents (Application) Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country for the Years 2018 through 2025 Table 20: Solvents (Application) Analysis of Historic Sales in US$ Million by Region/Country for the Years 2009 to 2017 Table 21: Solvents (Application) Global Market Share Distribution by Region/Country for 2009, 2019, and 2025 Table 22: Other Applications (Application) Global Opportunity Assessment in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 23: Other Applications (Application) Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017 Table 24: Other Applications (Application) Percentage Share Breakdown of Global Sales by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 III. MARKET ANALYSIS GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS UNITED STATES Market Facts & Figures US Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share (in %) by Company: 2020 & 2025 Market Analytics Table 25: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in US$ Million in the United States by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 26: United States Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Retrospective Analysis in US$ Million by Technology: 2009-2017 Table 27: United States Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown by Technology: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 28: United States Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 29: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Historic Demand Patterns in the United States by Application in US$ Million for 2009-2017 Table 30: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown in the United States by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 CANADA Table 31: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Analysis in Canada in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 32: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Canada: Historic Review in US$ Million by Technology for the Period 2009-2017 Table 33: Canadian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown by Technology: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 34: Canadian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 35: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Canada: Summarization of Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Million by Application for 2009-2017 Table 36: Canadian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Analysis by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 JAPAN Table 37: Japanese Medium & Long-Term Outlook for Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 38: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Japan in US$ Million by Technology: 2009-2017 Table 39: Japanese Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Percentage Share Distribution by Technology: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 40: Japanese Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Tetrahydrofuran (THF) in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 41: Japanese Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 42: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Shift in Japan by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 CHINA Table 43: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Estimates and Forecasts in China in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 44: Chinese Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Retrospective Market Scenario in US$ Million by Technology: 2009-2017 Table 45: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in China: Percentage Share Analysis by Technology for 2009, 2019, and 2025 Table 46: Chinese Demand for Tetrahydrofuran (THF) in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 47: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Review in China in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 48: Chinese Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 EUROPE Market Facts & Figures European Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market: Competitor Market Share Scenario (in %) for 2020 & 2025 Market Analytics Table 49: European Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Demand Scenario in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 50: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Europe: A Historic Market Perspective in US$ Million by Region/Country for the Period 2009-2017 Table 51: European Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Shift by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 52: European Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Assessment in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 53: European Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Historic Market Review in US$ Million by Technology: 2009-2017 Table 54: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Europe: Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Technology for 2009, 2019, and 2025 Table 55: European Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025 Table 56: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Europe: Summarization of Historic Demand in US$ Million by Application for the Period 2009-2017 Table 57: European Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Analysis by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 FRANCE Table 58: French Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 59: French Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by Technology: 2009-2017 Table 60: French Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown by Technology: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 61: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Quantitative Demand Analysis in France in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025 Table 62: French Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Historic Market Review in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 63: French Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Analysis: A 17-Year Perspective by Application for 2009, 2019, and 2025 GERMANY Table 64: German Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 65: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Germany: A Historic Perspective by Technology in US$ Million for the Period 2009-2017 Table 66: German Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown by Technology: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 67: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Germany: Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Application for the Period 2018-2025 Table 68: German Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Retrospect in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 69: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Distribution in Germany by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 ITALY Table 70: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Estimates and Forecasts in Italy in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 71: Italian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Retrospective Market Scenario in US$ Million by Technology: 2009-2017 Table 72: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Italy: Percentage Share Analysis by Technology for 2009, 2019, and 2025 Table 73: Italian Demand for Tetrahydrofuran (THF) in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 74: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Review in Italy in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 75: Italian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 UNITED KINGDOM Table 76: United Kingdom Medium & Long-Term Outlook for Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 77: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in the United Kingdom in US$ Million by Technology: 2009-2017 Table 78: United Kingdom Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Percentage Share Distribution by Technology: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 79: United Kingdom Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Tetrahydrofuran (THF) in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 80: United Kingdom Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 81: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Shift in the United Kingdom by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 SPAIN Table 82: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Analysis in Spain in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 83: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Spain: Historic Review in US$ Million by Technology for the Period 2009-2017 Table 84: Spanish Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown by Technology: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 85: Spanish Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 86: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Spain: Summarization of Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Million by Application for 2009-2017 Table 87: Spanish Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Analysis by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 RUSSIA Table 88: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in US$ Million in Russia by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 89: Russian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Retrospective Analysis in US$ Million by Technology: 2009-2017 Table 90: Russian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown by Technology: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 91: Russian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 92: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Historic Demand Patterns in Russia by Application in US$ Million for 2009-2017 Table 93: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown in Russia by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 REST OF EUROPE Table 94: Rest of Europe Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Assessment in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 95: Rest of Europe Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Historic Market Review in US$ Million by Technology: 2009-2017 Table 96: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Rest of Europe: Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Technology for 2009, 2019, and 2025 Table 97: Rest of Europe Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025 Table 98: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Rest of Europe: Summarization of Historic Demand in US$ Million by Application for the Period 2009-2017 Table 99: Rest of Europe Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Analysis by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 ASIA-PACIFIC Table 100: Asia-Pacific Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 101: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Asia-Pacific: Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by Region/Country for the Period 2009-2017 Table 102: Asia-Pacific Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Analysis by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 103: Asia-Pacific Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 104: Asia-Pacific Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by Technology: 2009-2017 Table 105: Asia-Pacific Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by Technology: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 106: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Quantitative Demand Analysis in Asia-Pacific in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025 Table 107: Asia-Pacific Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Historic Market Review in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 108: Asia-Pacific Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Analysis: A 17-Year Perspective by Application for 2009, 2019, and 2025 AUSTRALIA Table 109: Australian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 110: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Australia: A Historic Perspective by Technology in US$ Million for the Period 2009-2017 Table 111: Australian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown by Technology: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 112: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Australia: Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Application for the Period 2018-2025 Table 113: Australian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Retrospect in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 114: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Distribution in Australia by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 INDIA Table 115: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Analysis in India in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 116: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in India: Historic Review in US$ Million by Technology for the Period 2009-2017 Table 117: Indian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown by Technology: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 118: Indian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 119: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in India: Summarization of Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Million by Application for 2009-2017 Table 120: Indian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Analysis by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 SOUTH KOREA Table 121: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in South Korea: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Technology for the Period 2018-2025 Table 122: South Korean Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by Technology: 2009-2017 Table 123: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Distribution in South Korea by Technology: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 124: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in South Korea: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Application for the Period 2018-2025 Table 125: South Korean Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 126: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Distribution in South Korea by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 REST OF ASIA-PACIFIC Table 127: Rest of Asia-Pacific Medium & Long-Term Outlook for Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 128: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Rest of Asia-Pacific in US$ Million by Technology: 2009-2017 Table 129: Rest of Asia-Pacific Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Percentage Share Distribution by Technology: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 130: Rest of Asia-Pacific Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Tetrahydrofuran (THF) in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 131: Rest of Asia-Pacific Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 132: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Shift in Rest of Asia-Pacific by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 LATIN AMERICA Table 133: Latin American Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Trends by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018-2025 Table 134: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Latin America in US$ Million by Region/Country: A Historic Perspective for the Period 2009-2017 Table 135: Latin American Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Region/Country: 2009, 2019, and 2025 Table 136: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Estimates and Forecasts in Latin America in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 137: Latin American Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Retrospective Market Scenario in US$ Million by Technology: 2009-2017 Table 138: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Latin America : Percentage Analysis by Technology for 2009, 2019, and 2025 Table 139: Latin American Demand for Tetrahydrofuran (THF) in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 140: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Review in Latin America in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 141: Latin American Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 ARGENTINA Table 142: Argentinean Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Assessment in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 143: Argentinean Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Historic Market Review in US$ Million by Technology: 2009-2017 Table 144: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Argentina: Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Technology for 2009, 2019, and 2025 Table 145: Argentinean Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025 Table 146: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Argentina: Summarization of Historic Demand in US$ Million by Application for the Period 2009-2017 Table 147: Argentinean Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Analysis by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 BRAZIL Table 148: Brazilian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 149: Brazilian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by Technology: 2009-2017 Table 150: Brazilian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown by Technology: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 151: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Quantitative Demand Analysis in Brazil in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025 Table 152: Brazilian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Historic Market Review in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 153: Brazilian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Analysis: A 17-Year Perspective by Application for 2009, 2019, and 2025 MEXICO Table 154: Mexican Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 155: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Mexico: A Historic Perspective by Technology in US$ Million for the Period 2009-2017 Table 156: Mexican Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown by Technology: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 157: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Mexico: Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Application for the Period 2018-2025 Table 158: Mexican Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Retrospect in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 159: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Distribution in Mexico by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 REST OF LATIN AMERICA Table 160: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in US$ Million in Rest of Latin America by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 161: Rest of Latin America Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Retrospective Analysis in US$ Million by Technology: 2009-2017 Table 162: Rest of Latin America Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown by Technology: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 163: Rest of Latin America Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 164: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Historic Demand Patterns in Rest of Latin America by Application in US$ Million for 2009-2017 Table 165: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown in Rest of Latin America by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 MIDDLE EAST Table 166: The Middle East Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 167: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in the Middle East by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2009-2017 Table 168: The Middle East Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown by Region/Country: 2009, 2019, and 2025 Table 169: The Middle East Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Analysis in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 170: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in the Middle East: Historic Review in US$ Million by Technology for the Period 2009-2017 Table 171: The Middle East Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown by Technology: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 172: The Middle East Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 173: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in the Middle East: Summarization of Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Million by Application for 2009-2017 Table 174: The Middle East Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Analysis by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 IRAN Table 175: Iranian Medium & Long-Term Outlook for Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 176: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Iran in US$ Million by Technology: 2009-2017 Table 177: Iranian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Percentage Share Distribution by Technology: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 178: Iranian Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Tetrahydrofuran (THF) in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 179: Iranian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 180: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Shift in Iran by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 ISRAEL Table 181: Israeli Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Assessment in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 182: Israeli Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Historic Market Review in US$ Million by Technology: 2009-2017 Table 183: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Israel: Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Technology for 2009, 2019, and 2025 Table 184: Israeli Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025 Table 185: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Israel: Summarization of Historic Demand in US$ Million by Application for the Period 2009-2017 Table 186: Israeli Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Analysis by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 SAUDI ARABIA Table 187: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Estimates and Forecasts in Saudi Arabia in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 188: Saudi Arabian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Retrospective Market Scenario in US$ Million by Technology: 2009-2017 Table 189: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Saudi Arabia: Percentage Share Analysis by Technology for 2009, 2019, and 2025 Table 190: Saudi Arabian Demand for Tetrahydrofuran (THF) in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 191: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Review in Saudi Arabia in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 192: Saudi Arabian Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Table 193: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in the United Arab Emirates: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Technology for the Period 2018-2025 Table 194: United Arab Emirates Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by Technology: 2009-2017 Table 195: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Distribution in United Arab Emirates by Technology: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 196: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in the United Arab Emirates: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Application for the Period 2018-2025 Table 197: United Arab Emirates Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 198: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Distribution in United Arab Emirates by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 REST OF MIDDLE EAST Table 199: Rest of Middle East Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 200: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Rest of Middle East: A Historic Perspective by Technology in US$ Million for the Period 2009-2017 Table 201: Rest of Middle East Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown by Technology: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 202: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Rest of Middle East: Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Application for the Period 2018-2025 Table 203: Rest of Middle East Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in Retrospect in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 204: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Distribution in Rest of Middle East by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 AFRICA Table 205: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market in US$ Million in Africa by Technology: 2018-2025 Table 206: African Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Retrospective Analysis in US$ Million by Technology: 2009-2017 Table 207: African Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown by Technology: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 208: African Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 209: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Historic Demand Patterns in Africa by Application in US$ Million for 2009-2017 Table 210: Tetrahydrofuran (THF) Market Share Breakdown in Africa by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 IV. COMPETITION Total Companies Profiled: 30 Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03449668/?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 Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Medical Suction Device Market Research Report, By Types (Electric Powered, Battery-Powered, Dual, Manual), By Applications (Surgical, Research, Others), By Suction Parts (Vacuum Pump, Bacterial Filter, Vacuum Gauge, Moisture Or Debris Trap, Suction Catheter And Others), By End Users (Homecare, Hospitals, Clinics)- Global Forecast Till 2023. Medical Suction Devices Market is Booming In around the world. The global Medical Suction Devices Market is expected to grow at a steady CAGR of 4.5% during the forecasted period. Medical Suction Devices are introduced into healing centers for various medicinal reasons. In pharmaceutical, gadgets are some of the time important to make suction. Suction might be utilized to clear the aviation route of blood, spit, upchuck, or different discharges so a patient may relax. Suctioning can avert pneumonic desire, which can prompt lung contaminations. In pneumonic cleanliness, suction is utilized to expel liquids from the aviation routes, to encourage breathing and avoid development of microorganisms. A Medical suction gadget utilized as a part of respiratory conditions when emission of mucous and serum must be expelled from the body. At the point when the patient cant oust serum or mucous out of the body, these gadgets help them to evacuate it physically. They are also used during different surgical procedures such as respiratory surgery, delivery of baby, and others. Increasing prevalence of respiratory diseases, increasing birth rate and rapid development in technology drive the growth of the market. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 32% of all deliveries in America was caesarean. In addition to this, rising geriatric population, increasing pollution, and increasing need for the advanced technology fuel the growth of the medical suction device market. Huge Companies Involved: Siemens Healthcare Private Limited (Germany), Olympus Corporation (Japan), Medico, Inc. (US), SSCOR, Inc. (US), ATMOS MedizinTechnik GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Allied Healthcare (UK), Drive Medical (US), INTEGRA Biosciences AG (Switzerland), Precision Medical, Inc. (US), ZOLL Medical Corporation (US), Labconco (US), Amsino International, Inc. (US), Welch Vacuum (US), and Laerdal Medical (Norway). Regional analysis: The Asia Pacific locale is the quickest developing business sector inferable from the nearness of colossal patient populace, expanding predominance of the respiratory sicknesses, high birth rate, and the nearness of quickly creating economies. Europe is the second biggest market took after by Asia Pacific because of expanding government bolster and changing repayment arrangements in Europe. Then again, the Middle East and Africa is required to have a restricted however unfaltering development over the anticipated period. Market Segmentation: However, stringent reimbursement policy for suction devices may hamper the growth of the global medical suction device market over the forecast period. The global market of medical suction device market is segmented on the basis of types, applications, suction parts and end users. On the basis of types the market is segmented: electric powered, battery-powered, dual, manual and others. Suction parts, it is segmented: vacuum pump, bacterial filter, vacuum gauge, moisture or debris trap, suction catheter and others. End users the market is segmented into homecare, hospital, clinics, and others. Applications, the market is segmented into surgical, research and other. Surgical is further segmented into respiratory diseases, childbirth and others. Browse Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/medical-suction-device-market-546 . Browse other healthcare-related reports cancer diagnostics market Bone Densitometers 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. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Puffing of food is done by using high temperature, pressure, or extrusion. In puffing process expansion of seed is carried out and at that period the vapor pressure escapes through the micropores of the grain structure due to high pressure or thermal gradient. There are different methods of puffing viz. dry heat, sand and salt treated, hot air popping, gun puffing, popping in hot oil, and microwave heating. A wide range of cereals and millets used for puffing such as rice, wheat, corn, sorghum, and ragi. Puffed food has a primary role in human consumption. Consumer demand is increasing for puffed foods due to various health benefits such as weight loss., therefore increasing the market share of puffed food market. Increasing demand for flavor food products is expected to increase the puffed food market over the forecast period. Consumers believe in ready to eat products which have high nutrients like popcorns and cheetos. The growing puffed market attributed to the shift in consumer demand for various flavors and nutritious food. Get Sample Copy Of This Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/16663 Market Segmentation Puffed food segmented by category type, application and region. By category, puffing comes in wheat, rice, corn, sorghum, and ragi. Puffed wheat is prepared by heating wheat grains under pressure and then rapidly releasing pressure when the superheated steam in the grain expands grain is puffed. It is a good source of copper, protein, and iron. Puffed rice used in breakfast cereal or snack foods served as popular street food. It is made by heating rice kernels under high pressure in the presence of steam. Puffed food is segmented by applications as Bakery Industry and Snacks Industry. In bakery it uses in in making puffed backed pancake, puffed baked potato and others. Puffed food market is further segmented by region such as Latin America, North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and Asia Pacific. Latin America and North America possess significant potential, whereas Europe and other developing markets such as Asia-Pacific and MEA possess the growth opportunities for quinoa over the forecast period. There is a high consumption of puffed food in Asia-Pacific regions like India and China as growing young population prefers street food and snacks like cheese doodles. Drivers: Puffed food provides a multitude of health benefits, as these are rich source of protein, fiber, magnesium, iron, and potassium, and which are anticipated to contribute to the growth of global puffed market over the coming years. Puffed food has low calories which easily gets digested and absorbed quickly which acts as one of the factors of popularity among consumers. Increasing demand for healthy snack food in breakfast is fuelling the market for puffed food. The shift is now leading to growing demand for nutritious street food. Thus puffed food are expected to see higher market share related to its various health benefits. Puffed food market is also growing due to its innovations in packaging. Packed puffed foods attracted consumers to buy the products such as Popcorns, Cheetos, etc. due to different packaging style which is also fuelling the demand for puffed food market. Online shopping among consumers is increasing which gives manufacturers an opportunity to start selling puffed food through online channels. The big challenge for puffed products is product recalls, a defect in product is the biggest problem for manufacturers. Retrieving product from consumer and providing those consumers with compensation is a loss to the manufacturer. As a result, safety concerns over a manufacturing defect in the product may harm its user. Another challenge for manufacturer is inadequate infrastructure and storage facilities for puffed foods. Request For TOC @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/16663 Key Players If you have recipes or tips to share, or a request, send to Conversations with Gin, P.O. Box 334, Clute TX 77531 or ginscolumn@hotmail.com. [April 23, 2020] INVESTIGATION REMINDER: The Schall Law Firm Announces it is Investigating Claims Against United States Oil Fund, LP and Encourages Investors with Losses of $1,000,000 to Contact the Firm The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of United States Oil Fund, LP ("USO" or "the Company") (NYSEArca: USO) for violations of the securities laws. The investigation focuses on whether the Company issued false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose information pertinent to investors. USO issued its registration statement on March 23, 2020, stating in part "USCF does not anticipate letting USO's Oil Futures Contracts expire and taking delivery of the underlying commodity. Instead, USCF will close existing positions, e.g., when it changes the Benhmark Oil Futures Contracts or Other Oil-Related Investments or it otherwise determines it would be appropriate to do so and reinvests the proceeds in new Oil Futures Contracts or Other Oil-Related Investments." But despite that statement, the Company held 25% of the market on May WTI contracts. Trading was halted on April 21, 2020, as shares of USO dropped 25.1% to close at $2.81, a record low. USO is down 96% since the inception of the fund. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 1880 Century Park East, Suite 404, Los Angeles, CA (News - Alert) 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected]. The class in this case has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005698/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Marianne Faithfull has been discharged from hospital more than three weeks after being admitted with symptoms of coronavirus. The musician, 73, tested positive for the virus in early April and later contracted pneumonia. At the time, her management said she was stable and responding to treatment. On Wednesday (22 April), a post on her official Twitter account announced: We are really happy to say that Marianne has been discharged from hospital today, 22 days after being admitted suffering from the symptoms of Covid-19. "She will continue to recuperate in London. Marianne thanks you all for your kind messages of concern which have meant a great deal through what is a such a difficult time for so many. "She is also very grateful to all the NHS staff who cared for her at the hospital and, without doubt, saved her life. JK Rowling, Gary Kemp of Spandeau Ballet, Ghostpoet and Pulp were among those to delight in the news of Faithfulls recovery. Faithfull has had numerous health issues throughout her life. She suffered from anorexia in the Seventies, and later had breast cancer, hepatitis C and arthritis. While in hospital for coronavirus, Faithfull was announced as a participant in an ongoing daily online reading of Samuel Taylor Coleridges The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, alongside such stars as Tilda Swinton and Jeremy Irons. File photo At least four persons have been killed and properties worth millions destroyed following a bloody confrontation between the people of Odekpe and Alla communities in Anambra West Local Government Area of Anambra State. Nigerian Tribune reported that many of the affected communities have began fleeing their homes for fear of further attacks despite security presence. The spokesperson of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC, Anambra State Command, ASC Okadigbo Edwin, who confirmed the incident in a statement to newsmen in Awka on Thursday, said, the NSCDC Anambra West Divisional office was alerted of the bloody clash between the two communities over the lingering boundary dispute. According to him, preliminary investigation revealed that on April 20, 2020, the two communities clashed and in the process, four persons allegedly lost their lives, one other kidnapped while most houses were burnt and properties destroyed. Meanwhile, the State Commandant, Mr David Bille, has dispatched operatives of Peace and Conflicts Unit, Intelligence Unit and other tactical squads of the command to the area to avert further clashes in the area and in the maintenance of law and order. He said the commandant has also ordered for a discreet investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. He called on the people of the area to remain calm as the command is on top of the situation. IT comes as no surprise for government to revert to the initial partial lockdown, as the relaxed version had become an openly regretful joke. From the initial announcement of the relaxed partial lockdown, I knew that it was going to be received by the public as freedom from the chains that had been binding them. This change in perspective highlighted the main issue with the way in which some decisions are being taken in the country, as there seems to be an inability to be firm, hard and direct. The COVID-19 pandemic requires the mastering of the ability to stick to your guns and shy away from any form of indecisiveness. Decision I would have loved to be a fly on the wall at Hospital Hill during the time in which the decision to relax an already partial lockdown was taken. What really prompted this? Is it the plight of the less privileged? Or threats to down tools by the public transport operators, or maybe, just maybe, the slow increase in the number of COVID-19 positive individuals? These all seem like valid reasons to relax a lockdown. However, did anyone consider how news of a relaxed partial lockdown would come across to the typical liSwati. After being forced to stay indoors and only leave when necessary and or when one provides an essential service, the implementation of a relaxed lockdown definitely seemed like the opening of floodgates. Some people didnt even bother reading or listening to the rest of the announcement, all they saw or heard was clothing stores would now be open and public transport would operate as per usual, and that alone was enough for all hell to break loose. Loitering Children were seen running willy-nilly on streets and teenagers jamming to the latest music on their phones while loitering and people going to town, not for essential or even non-essential work, but simply because they could. It was a damn near travesty of what the relaxed partial lockdown aimed to achieve, it was just another step down the deep, dark rabbit hole. Nonetheless, our leaders were probably inundated with calls and messages from the public, pleading with them to at least bring back the partial lockdown. From residents snitching on the local running club to the police, to the elderly crying foul about the implementation of a relaxed lockdown that could possibly be detrimental to their well-being, seeing as they are more susceptible to contracting the coronavirus. My dear grandmother in Nhlangano was absolutely livid and told me of how in Nhlangano town it was business as usual, further requesting for a mask to at least hinder any coronavirus threat. The partial lockdown is not a comfortable predicament for anyone and its not meant to be. It is, however, far better than a total lockdown, and it will do far less harm. A relaxed partial lockdown, on the other hand, is similar to putting an adhesive plaster on a gunshot wound, a disaster waiting to happen. The fight for a COVID-19 free world still continues and we need to soldier on and realise its always darkest before dawn. EmaSwati are pretty resilient and can come back from anything, therefore, now is the time to go back to the drawing board and come up with a solid as nails plan. We need active food programmes, a proactive relief fund, innovation from SMEs and to finally put to practice the agriculture lessons we were taught in high school to aid with the food crisis. Unfortunately, this pandemic wasnt on anyones 2020 agenda and it took us all by surprise, hence there will be trial and error but through it all let us maintain a united front and work together, we owe ourselves that much. A Luta continua; a Vitoria e certa, this impeccable Portuguese adage, which simply means the struggle continues; victory is certain, should be embedded in our hearts from now on. This fight is not ours but Gods. A luta continua! Kanye West: Christians have a right to righteous anger Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Music and fashion mogul Kanye West recently commented on the view that Christians are seen as "judgmental" and noted that Christians should be held accountable by other believers. "I feel that we all have sin, and when certain sins are worn more on our sleeves, its easier for Christians who are not Christ, but are human beings, to be able to channel judgment at what they see in front of them," he told GQ magazine. "The other thing is, if anyone claims to be Christian, theyre accepting accountability to other Christians. "But people dont realize that Christians are loud. That we have a right to righteous anger. That Jesus flipped tables. They think that all of a sudden you believe in Christ, so were not even supposed to speak up. And if we speak up, people will say, Oh, youre being judgmental. And its like, Oh, now, because Im Christian, I dont even have an opinion anymore? Im Christian and I still have an opinion. But my opinion is based on the Word. Although he believes in biblical accountability, the hip-hop artist said he is happy that his popular Sunday Service events are a no judgment zone. I feel that the church that most people grew up in as kids had a negative environment. The greatest thing for me, as someone whos given their life to Christ, is knowing that other people have that as an anchor and a form of healing, he said of his Sunday Service gatherings. The husband and father of four affirmed that he's "definitely born again" and maintained that those who are not in service to God are in service to everything else. To live inside of sin, its going to cost you more than you can pay, West added. You dont want to continue to sin with no repentance. I understand that people feel that Ive made some cultural sins. But the only real sins are the sins against God, and you dont want to continue to sin against God. Part of his outspokenness has always been his support for Donald Trump and the Yeezy founder once again said he will be voting for the 45th president come November. I will not be told who Im gonna vote on because of my color, he told GQ. Im definitely voting this time. And we know who Im voting on. West's album, Jesus Is King, made history on the Billboard charts, ranking No. 1 on five charts upon its release. It is the rappers first faith-based album and it topped the all-genre Billboard 200 in November, Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, Top Rap Albums charts, Top Christian Albums and Top Gospel Albums. Experts Warn: Loss of Smell or Taste Alone Could Indicate a Silent Spreader of CCP Virus Puerto Morelos mayor announces road closures, zero tolerance as country enters Phase 3 Puerto Morelos, Q.R. They mayor of Puerto Morelos says now that the country has officially entered Phase 3 of the coronavirus, additional mobility measures will be enforced in the municipality to prevent any virus spread. Laura Fernandez Pina says what is achieved today in a forceful way with everyones participation, will be essential to getting out of the health emergency well, while announcing stricter measures will be reinforced to minimize the presence of people on streets to deal with the health emergency. Puerto Morelos is one of the municipalities in Mexico with low or no transmissions. Continuing this trend will help us to regain normality sooner than expected, but that depends on what we do today. We need stay at home to prevent an outbreak of the disease in our communities because we are not exempt from that happening, she warned. Laura Fernandez recalled that there is only one case assigned to the municipality and it was not registered in the town, but was a resident who returned to Mexico from Europe where she received the diagnosis while in Mexico City where she remains. Laura Fernandez announced that beginning Thursday, there will be permanent closure of roads throughout the municipality to inhibit vehicular circulation, asking that people only take to streets to purchase food and / or medication. She noted that 24-hour pharmacies will not be able to sell non-health products after 6:00 p.m. adding that hardware stores, which are another essential business, will not be able to sell construction material. It will be strictly prohibited for more than one person to enter supermarkets per family and for children, pregnant women and older adults to enter. We will also impose restrictions on public transport to avoid contact between people who, due to belonging to an essential activity or who come to supply themselves with food and medicine, have to leave home, she indicated. Laura Fernandez pointed out that the presence of people in the municipal public parks will not be allowed for any reason. In order to enforce these provisions, she announced that the Quintana Roo Police of Puerto Morelos and Inspection personnel will increase their surveillance routes, explaining that those who do not abide will be subject to arrest, administrative sanctions and even closures. The priority right now is to save lives and protect the most vulnerable, so we must reduce social mobility as much as possible and respect each one of the measures put in place. We must become aware of the importance of staying at home and continuing with hygiene habits. Todays sacrifices will be tomorrows rewards, she concluded. Most viral test kits rely on labor- and time-intensive laboratory preparation and analysis techniques; for example, tests for the novel coronavirus can take days to detect the virus from nasal swabs. Now, researchers have demonstrated an inexpensive yet sensitive smartphone-based testing device for viral and bacterial pathogens that takes about 30 minutes to complete. The roughly $50 smartphone accessory could reduce the pressure on testing laboratories during a pandemic such as COVID-19. The results of the new multi-institutional study, led by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign electrical and computer engineering professor Brian Cunningham and bioengineering professor Rashid Bashir, are reported in the journal Lab on a Chip. "The challenges associated with rapid pathogen testing contribute to a lot of uncertainty regarding which individuals are quarantined and a whole host of other health and economic issues," Cunningham said. The study began with the goal of detecting a panel of viral and bacterial pathogens in horses, including those that cause severe respiratory illnesses similar to those presented in COVID-19, the researchers said. "Horse pathogens can lead to devastating diseases in animal populations, of course, but one reason we work with them has to do with safety. The horse pathogens in our study are harmless to humans," Cunningham said. The new testing device is composed of a small cartridge containing testing reagents and a port to insert a nasal extract or blood sample, the researchers said. The whole unit clips to a smartphone. advertisement Inside the cartridge, the reagents break open a pathogen's outer shell to gain access to its RNA. A primer molecule then amplifies the genetic material into many millions of copies in about 10 or 15 minutes, the researchers said. A fluorescent dye stains the copies and glows green when illuminated by blue LED light, which is then detected by the smartphone's camera. "This test can be performed rapidly on passengers before getting on a flight, on people going to a theme park or before events like a conference or concert," Cunningham said. "Cloud computing via a smartphone application could allow a negative test result to be registered with event organizers or as part of a boarding pass for a flight. Or, a person in quarantine could give themselves daily tests, register the results with a doctor, and then know when it's safe to come out and rejoin society." There are a few preparatory steps currently performed outside of the device, and the team is working on a cartridge that has all of the reagents needed to be a fully integrated system. Other researchers at the U. of I. are using the novel coronavirus genome to create a mobile test for COVID-19, and making an easily manufactured cartridge that Cunningham said would improve testing efforts. Study co-authors with Cunningham and Bashir were Fu Sun, Anurup Ganguli and Matthew B. Wheeler, of the U. of I.; and Ryan Brisbin and David L. Hirschberg, of RAIN Incubator; Krithika Shanmugam, of the University of Washington; and veterinarian David M. Nash. The National Science Foundation and the Center for Genomic Diagnostics at the U. of I.'s Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology supported this research. Bashir also is the dean of the Grainger College of Engineering at Illinois. Cunningham also is affiliated with bioengineering and materials science and engineering, the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, the Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Lab, the Carle Illinois College of Medicine and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at Illinois. Cunningham serves as a consultant to and owns stock in Reliant Immune Diagnostics, the company that licensed the technology described in this news release. Coronavirus: Spain, kids under 14 to go out 1 hour a day Starting on Sunday, government says (ANSAmed) - ROME, APRIL 23 - After a number of changes, the Spanish government on Thursday announced new rules allowing minors under 14 to leave the house, starting on Sunday. Kids under 14 will be allowed to go out for an hour a day between 9 am and 9 pm, always accompanied by an adult from their household - usually parents or older siblings - at a maximum distance of one kilometer from their home. The announcement was made by Spanish Health Minister Salvador Illa and Deputy Premier Pablo Iglesisa. The deputy prime minister apologized to kids for the contrasting versions of the measure that were leaked prior to the final announcement and explained that children who live in rural areas can walk in the countryside and woods. Kids will also be allowed to play outdoors but they will not be able to go to parks, which will remain closed. (ANSAmed) Shi herself didnt think the lab-accident theory was so crazy. In March, she told Scientific American that, when questions about the labs link to the outbreak arose, she frantically searched her labs records to uncover any mishandling of experimental materials. In February, her lab was first to publish that the novel coronavirus likely came from bats. The closest related known virus was in her lab, called SARSr-CoV-RaTG13, but it is not directly related to the one that produces covid-19. In early February, Shi sent a message to her friends on WeChat that said, I swear with my life, [the virus] has nothing to do with the lab. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of consultations with chief ministers and opposition leaders over the past month on how they could and should work together to combat the coronavirus crisis, it was believed the term "cooperative federalism" popularised by him, had finally become a reality. Genuine efforts were made by both sides to see that the Centre and the states were on the same page in managing the pandemic. Though the state governments had their share of grievances with New Delhi over the lack of resources, testing kits and, most importantly, the issue of migrants, these differences were not allowed to degenerate into political name-calling. The overwhelming view was that the Centre and states must set aside their differences and put up a united front in this hour of crisis. If the Modi government was willing to extend an olive branch to the states, the latter were quick to reciprocate. Both had their compulsions: since health is a state subject, the Centre had to work in tandem with chief ministers. On their part, the states depend on the Centre for allocation of additional resources to handle the coronavirus outbreak. However, this spirit of mutual bonhomie and unity proved to be short lived when the Modi government suddenly decided to play "big brother" and send inter-ministerial teams to four states to monitor how they were handling the Covid-19 pandemic and whether they were implementing the lockdown guidelines laid down by New Delhi. Of the four states, three (West Bengal, Rajasthan and Maharashtra) are in the opposition camp. Madhya Pradesh is the only BJP-ruled state to be included in this list. Technically, the Modi government could not be accused of interfering in the functioning of state governments since it has invoked the Disaster Management Act which gives it necessary powers to oversee operations and issue directions to states on containing the pandemic. But the choice of the states clearly indicates that federal cooperation had been forgotten and that politics was at play once again. Or maybe, it was an opportunity for Modi to put his personal stamp on the ongoing management of Covid-19, especially since chief ministers were being increasingly lauded for the deftness with which they were managing this public health emergency. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee was quick to cry foul as she accused the Centre of deviating from federal principles and trampling on the powers of state governments. The team's visit resulted in a face-off between the two sides and though their differences were eventually resolved, it was, at best, an uneasy truce. Trinamool Congress leaders charged that opposition states were being targeted, while states like BJP-ruled Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, which has a friendly political party at the helm, were left out though the number of coronavirus cases here are consistently going up. There is some merit in the argument. It is no secret that the BJP has been working to put down roots in West Bengal for the past several years now and has succeeded in expanding its footprint here. The saffron party is clearly eyeing next year's assembly polls and believes the pandemic is yet another opportunity to discredit the Mamata Banerjee government. As it is, the West Bengal chief minister took control of the narrative during the protests against the new citizenship law and the proposed National Register of Citizens. The BJP's local unit was no match for the Trinamool Congress which successfully convinced the people that the Centre's move would deprive them of their citizenship. With news coming in that Trinamool Congress cadres were being deployed to distribute rations during the current coronavirus crisis, the BJP felt the need to step in. Or else it would be advantage Mamata Banerjee once again. While West Bengal was the chief target in this latest exercise, the Centre's decision to include Rajasthan in the list of states requiring monitoring has raised eyebrows. So far, the Rajasthan government has been praised for its management of the pandemic, while the "Bhilwara model" has been adopted by other states. Here again, political motives cannot be ruled out. After the BJP successfully captured power in Madhya Pradesh, it is speculated that the desert state is next on its radar. Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot and his deputy Sachin Pilot are locked in a turf war and the BJP obviously wants to take advantage of this internal tussle in the Congress. It is perhaps for this reason that Gehlot has expressed his suspicion about the unnecessary delay in the Rajya Sabha election, ostensibly due to Covid-19. But the real reason would well be something else. And finally, this entire exercise has answered the oft-repeated question: Where is Home Minister Amit Shah? He may not be his usual visible or vocal self during the current crisis but Shah obviously has his hands full ensuring that the BJP's political agenda is not neglected. (Author is a senior journalist. Views are personal) A worker at Amazons Bolton-area warehouse has tested positive for COVID-19, the company has confirmed. In a text message sent earlier this week to all warehouse employees and seen by the Star, Amazon said the worker was last on night shift April 8. The site has undergone enhanced cleaning and other health protocols, according to the message. Amazon spokesperson Timothy Carter said in a statement that the company is supporting the individual who is recovering. We are following guidelines from health officials and medical experts, and are taking extreme measures to ensure the safety of employees at our site, the statement said. The Star reported last month on warehouse workers fears over what they described as Amazons delayed response to implementing pandemic precautions at its GTA facilities as online orders surged. Photos provided to the Star showed crowded work spaces in warehouses, and workers expressed concern over lack of face masks, limited access to paid sick days and confusion over quarantine leave. Amazon is paying warehouse workers an extra $2 an hour during the pandemic and has doubled overtime pay for its warehouse employees in Canada. It has also implemented a variety of physical-distancing measures including staggering shift start times, cancelling team meetings, implementing daily temperature checks and distributing face masks to workers, the company said. All employees diagnosed with COVID-19 or placed into quarantine receive up to two weeks pay according to company policy. Warehouse workers are also being given unlimited unpaid time off until the end of April. Labour advocates have called for the province to legislate seven paid sick days for all workers and 14 paid emergency-leave days during the pandemic. Amazons sick-leave policy currently provides four accrued paid sick days for permanent employees, and unpaid days for temporary workers. A petition circulated by the Brampton-based Warehouse Workers Centre at the start of the pandemic says if Amazon workers dont have fully paid leave, it means they cant feed their families or pay their bills. This means that workers either come in sick, or they isolate themselves without pay. In both cases, it leads to crisis. Gagandeep Kaur, a spokesperson for the Warehouse Workers Centre, said warehouse staff are worried the company is not doing enough amid the pandemic. The Canadian government must ensure that workers at Amazon feel safe and protected, she said. Earlier this month, a warehouse worker at one of Amazons Ottawa-area facilities and at an Alberta-based warehouse also tested positive for the virus. The federal government recently announced a partnership with the company to help manage the distribution of personal protective equipment and supplies, purchased by the government, to support the COVID-19 response. Amazon is providing the service at cost, without profit, according to Ottawa, using delivery partners like Canada Post. The company said it was proud to ship critical supplies to front-line professionals across the country. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has raised concerns over the deal, which it says may be rewarding Amazon Canada for creating stressful, precarious jobs, and ignoring workers demands for health and safety. Read more about: The Lagos State government has converted its Cardiac and Renal Hospital to an isolation centre for patients of COVID-19, an official in the ministry of health has said. Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, the director of press and public affairs, told PREMIUM TIMES it was part of the governments commitment to fighting the deadly disease. The government has simply shown its commitment to protect the people against this notorious virus. You need to know that at a time like this, you dont wait to be hit before you act. The governor is being proactive, and that is what is needed at this time. The facility, which was built by the administration of a former governor, Babatunde Fashola, at N5.6 billion, and located within the premises of General Hospital, Gbagada, was abandoned by his successor, Akinwunmi Ambode. PREMIUM TIMES had in July 2019 exclusively reported the corruption allegations and intrigues that caused the facilitys abandonment, especially among the principal stakeholders, including Mr Fashola, Mr Ambode and the promoter of the contractor- Deux Project Limited Tunji Olowolafe, among others. Following the report, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu set up an inter-ministerial committee to investigate the circumstances that led to the abandonment and how the facility can be resuscitated to achieve its purpose. Mr Ogunbanwo, however, could not confirm if the committee by the governor had submitted its report. PREMIUM TIMES learnt the state may formally inaugurate the facility during the week, especially considering the rising number of positive cases in the state. The decision to convert the facility to an isolation centre, PREMIUM TIMES learnt, is targeted at attracting prominent Nigerian patients of Coronavirus disease, and discourage them from patronising private hospitals. PREMIUM TIMES had reported at the weekend how private hospitals in Lagos have been flooded by the elites and socialites who may have been suspected of the disease. A member of the states COVID-19 committee had confided in our reporter how the containment efforts of the government were being frustrated by the attitude of these VIPs, who he noted view themselves as being too big for public facilities. Confirming this report, the states commissioner for health, Akin Abayomi, on Sunday announced that out of 14 Coronavirus-related deaths recorded in the state, only two were recorded at public isolation centres. On Tuesday, the state announced two more deaths but failed to disclose where these deaths occurred. The commissioner, however, said a total of 17 private hospitals have had contact with patients that were confirmed of Coronavirus. Lawmakers support The state House of Assembly also mandated its standing committee on health to probe the abandoned facility. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the report of the inter-ministerial committee indicted some contractors connected with the project. According to a legislator, who represents Kosofe 2 state constituency, Tunde Braimoh, the report recommended sanctions against culpable contractors but failed to do the same for colluding civil servants. Mr Braimoh, who is the chairman of the assemblys committee on information and strategy, in a short message to our reporter, revealed that during the reports consideration on the floor, the committee was asked to reconsider its report by also recommending appropriate sanctions for culpable workers, who may have compromised in the execution of the project. He, however, noted that the conversion of the super tertiary facility to an isolation centre is a temporary reaction to the raging pandemic, and that it would not discourage the parliament from sanctioning indicted individuals and organisations. Mr Braimoh said the committee was doing further work on the probe before the Coronavirus outbreak and that as soon as normalcy returns, the matter would be revisited. He said; The committee had since concluded investigations and submitted its reports for the consideration of the whole House. During the considerations, the House observed that the committee while recommending severe sanctions against culpable contractors appeared to ignore colluding staffers of the state who ought to have exposed the negligence denoted earlier. The House then directed the committee to probe further into what roles played by who of the staffers and recommend appropriate sanctions. Committee was at further work before the advent of COVID-19, which foisted helplessness on it in the meantime. The parliamentarian added that the use of the facility as an isolation centre has received a boost through massive rehabilitation and upgrading of its facilities. Advertisements He added; Isolation centres are not permanent places. They are spontaneous reactions to the pernicious pandemic. They are makeshift centres. Even hotels and event centres are being used all over the world. Using a specialised place of convalescence for a seasonal disease control does not preclude it from reverting to its original purpose later. The pandemic of COVID-19 requires that we deploy all resources at our disposal to repel and repress it. You just need to visit the centre now and see the level of the upgrade. Controversial centre Worried by the rising cases of non-communicable diseases (NCD), and particularly cardiac and renal-related ones, dominating major health interventions in the state, Mr Fashola established the Cardiac and Renal Hospital. But officials said there was no evidence of competitive bidding after the state government awarded the contract for the facilitys construction to Deux Project Limited, in 2008. Speaking on the procurement process leading to the contract award, a source at the states ministry of health who requested not to be quoted, said the procurement act had not been fully domesticated in the state then. The source said; What was in vogue was just the tenders board and cabinets approval. Deux Project Limited, since the days of former governor Bola Tinubu, was almost the states sole contractor, especially in the health sector. It constructed and equipped all the maternal and child care buildings across many general hospitals in the state. It also built the Bola Tinubu Diagnostics, a private diagnostic centre located within the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, and its burns unit located inside the General Hospital, Gbagada. Apart from construction and equipment, PREMIUM TIMES also learnt that the company was also in charge of facility maintenance at the various public hospitals in the state. So at the time, it was not surprising that the same company was awarded the construction of the centre which was meant to be the first of its kind in West Africa, the source added. Meanwhile, according to the states health ministry, apart from the purchase of equipment and installation, the building construction was originally awarded at the sum of N1.4 billion. But soon, an increase of N796 million, more than half of the contract award cost, was approved and paid to the contractor. However, neither the government nor the contractor has been able to give reasons for such variation. Though the government through the health ministry promised to make the reasons for such variation cost available to our reporter, it did not, after many weeks. The contractor, on his part, bluntly refused to talk, saying it had, and still has nothing to do with the project. Christians and Muslims in the country have pledged to support President Akufo-Addo to stamp out the spread of the coronavirus from the country, believing that it is the least they can do in these times of national crisis. Christian Perspective We are behind what the government is doing and we will do it such that at the end of the day, we will all rejoice for it that we stood together, we were in it together, and we have battled to win together and that the church can join in the celebration after all, the Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG), Rt. Rev. Kwabena Boafo, said on Tuesday during a meeting at the Jubilee House in Accra. The President met the Christian leaders as part of broad consultation with key stakeholders in the fight against the spread of the COVID-19, which is wreaking havoc on the economy. Muslim Support On Wednesday (yesterday), the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, together with key Muslim leaders, also conferred with the President on the way forward in the fight against the pandemic. On Tuesday, Rt. Rev. Boafo, while acknowledging existing relations between the church and the state as an institution, was appreciative of the fact that the fight against the pandemic had been stepped up for the greater good of Ghanaians. Prayers & Fasting He hinted that the Christian community has thus resolved to fast and pray from Friday, April 24 to Sunday, April 26 to beseech the covering of God over Ghana and His intervention to arrest the spread of COVID-19 on the land. President Akufo-Addo expressed appreciation to the 'people of God' for their sense of dedication and commitment to the nation 'in these trying times'. You are major actors in the struggle; the banning of public gatherings that affects the churches affects each one of you. I felt that with all of this as the background, with the role that you have already played, and continue to play, it would be a good moment for us to meet again and exchange views as to the way forward for our country, the President stated. He explained the infection rate and the rigorous testing regime to them and gave an assurance that government would not back down until the virus is defeated. He said the virus had affected every facet of human life, especially the health hazards, socio-economic impact and the political impact and was confident the good Lord will lift His hand to save his children. Present were Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams, Bishop Charles Palmer Buckle, Reverend Father Andrew Campbell, Reverend Joyce Aryee, Reverend Owusu Bempah, Bishop Agyinasare, Apostle Dr. Opoku Onyina, Reverend Dr. Michael Boadi Nyamekye, Reverend Dr. Asante Antwi, Gifty Afenyi Dadzie, and a host of others. Muslim Fasting The Chief Imam, leading the Muslim support, pledged their commitment to follow all protocols relative to the fight against the COVID-19 during the period of Ramadan (fasting) which is expected to begin very soon. The Spokesman for the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, who spoke on behalf of the Chief Imam, gave an assurance that Muslims would this time round leave out a considerable established tradition and norms during the Ramadan in order to prevent the spread of the virus. For the first time, we are going to see Ramadan without the normal routines we see in Ramadan, he said during a meeting with President Akufo-Addo alongside Vice-President Bawumia. We want to assure you as Muslim leaders that the situation is something that we will really acknowledge. Our religion is a flexible religion, it is moderate, it contextualizes issues, so whatever situation that it is, I am sure we will be behind you, he said. The Chief Imam, therefore, requested of the President to assist them through the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) to carry out some of their activities, particularly the daily prayer session from 12 noon to 1 pm live on television. President Akufo-Addo considered the request for the live television broadcast of the afternoon prayers during the month of Ramadan as being in order, for which reason he promised to work it out for them. ---Daily Guide A record number of 23 cremations are now taking place every weekday at Roselawn amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal. New figures also show that a further 20 cremations are being undertaken at Northern Ireland's only crematorium every Saturday. It is understood that some services are being wrapped up in just 20 minutes and, due to the Covid-19 restrictions that are now in place, no family members are permitted to attend. The crematorium is now operating from 8am until 8pm from Monday to Friday and additional staff are understood to have been redeployed to assist with the recent surge in demand. A Belfast City Council spokeswoman said the current daily rate of 23 cremations represents an increase of six on the "normal" figure. Former Lord Mayor of Belfast Jim Rodgers described the figures as "astonishing". "I don't ever remember there being so many cremations per day," said Mr Rodgers, who has been a councillor for 27 years. "It brings home the threat that this deadly virus presents to each and every one of us. "My heart goes out to each individual who has suffered the loss of a loved one in recent times." Mr Rodgers called for "some kind of recognition for people working on the frontline at Roselawn". "The crematorium has been getting busier every year but the numbers have recently soared due to the virus," he said. "The staff are working under enormous pressure and they should be rewarded for the stress and strain they're confronted with every day." Councillor Tom Haire also said that Roselawn employees "need to know how much they are appreciated". "The crematorium is under tremendous pressure and staff are working extremely hard in very difficult circumstances," the DUP man said. "We must come up with a way of saying thank you to them - whether financially or in some other way - because like binmen and the emergency services, they are willing to put themselves on the line to provide the services that are most needed in these critical times we are facing." A spokeswoman said that Belfast City Council "regrettably took the decision to close the chapel at Roselawn crematorium and associated facilities to mourners on March 23 due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic". She also confirmed that, while cremations are still being carried out, "unfortunately no family can be in attendance". The spokeswoman said that the council is "at the moment undertaking around 23 cremations from Monday to Friday", adding: "This normally stands at 17." She said the crematorium "operates from 8am until 8pm", adding that extra resources had been drafted in to address current demand. "Some additional staff have been redeployed to the crematorium in order to ensure that staff are trained in relevant roles, enhancing resilience and protecting the service," she said. "City of Belfast Crematorium is a regional service providing cremation services for Northern Ireland as well as being accessible to people from the Republic of Ireland. "It is the only facility in Northern Ireland and it is essential that we maintain the ability to operate this facility effectively in the coming months." She added: "Council wishes to express its deep sympathy to all families who face the passing of a loved one during these very difficult circumstances." Human intrusion and marine pollution have made dugong sightings in southern Thailand rare in recent years. Bangkok: It's rare to see a threatened species of sea mammal in shallow waters in southern Thailand but thanks to travel restrictions that have stripped popular destinations of crowds of tourists, a large group of dugongs has made their presence known. Drone video footage released by the Department of National Parks shows a 30-strong herd of dugongs on Wednesday off Libong island in Trang province. They were feeding on sea grass and occasionally surfaced to breathe. Naturalists report other marine animals are also taking advantage of the tourism slump that is leaving coastal regions tranquil and undisturbed. Human intrusion and marine pollution have made dugong sightings in southern Thailand rare in recent years. It's quite unusual, marine scientist Thon Thamrongnawasawat told The Associated Press on Thursday when asked about the dugongs. This species of mammal is very sensitive to speed boats and people. When they are gone, they feel free to gather in a large group and come close to shore. Dugongs closely related to the manatee or sea cow are officially classified as vulnerable. They can grow up to 3.4 meters (11 feet) in length. Thailand's population is put at around 250. Last year a record number of dead dugongs were found in Thai waters. Their fate captured attention last June after images circulated of Thai veterinarians cuddling an ailing baby dugong and hand-feeding her with milk and sea grass. Despite the care, she died two months later. An autopsy found a large amount of plastic waste in her intestines that had caused gastritis and blood infection. Thon said there were also reports this week of large schools of sharks coming unusually close to shore in several places in southern Thailand, and a sighting of a pod of false killer whales. Video from park rangers on Phi Phi island shows 70-100 blacktip sharks in the shallow waters of the Maya Bay, made famous in the Leonardo DiCaprio movie The Beach. The bay was closed to tourists in June 2018 for ecological recovery, and the island's entire national park has been shut since March to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Park rangers also counted 10-15 false killer whales, another protected species, near the popular tourist island of Koh Lanta, the first time they have been seen in that area. In a joint statement, the bishops of the Amazon region of Peru highlight the plight of the indigenous people of the Amazon and call for a meaningful and adequate response by the Peruvian government. By Fr. Benedict Mayaki, SJ The bishops of the Amazon region in Peru have issued a joint statement calling on the government to establish health strategies appropriate to the indigenous and rural reality of the Amazon. The eight-point statement, published on the website of the Pan-American Church Network (REPAM) on 23 April, touched on important issues faced by the people living in the Amazon area, such as social inequality, poor healthcare and poverty. Call for care for the vulnerable In the statement, the Peruvian bishops recognize the efforts of the government in the fight against coronavirus. They however note that social inequalities leave the weakest unprotected, making them more vulnerable to Covid-19. In this regard, the bishops called the attention of the government to the plight of the thousands of people who have migrated from rural areas in search of work due to poverty. Many of them are living in overcrowded conditions on the outskirts of the cities and have become victims of exclusion by the state with poor health coverage, which is more evident in the face of the pandemic, the statement reads. There are also some indigenous people of the Amazon who went to work in agricultural regions on the coast and are temporarily stuck there due to the pandemic. Many of them cannot return to their communities as they no longer have an economic income. The bishops called on the government to support them in returning to their communities following the necessary precautionary health measures against coronavirus. Another affected group, the bishops noted, are the many poor people who do not have access to government benefits because they were not included in the countrys census. Suitable health care response In the light of the difficult realities facing the indigenous people of the Amazonian region, the bishops call on the government to provide emergency health strategy appropriate to the indigenous and rural reality of the Amazon. This should take into account the cultural diversity, existing heterogeneity and indigenous knowledge, and ensure food and hygiene products to confront the pandemic. The Church The prelates encouraged the people of God to strengthen the domestic church in every home as the family is the basis of society and the believing community. They also enjoined the people to live this Easter season in solidarity with the vulnerable by complying with the directives given by health authorities to stem the spread of coronavirus. To contribute to efforts against the pandemic, the bishops announced that they would make available some of the Churchs physical spaces to health authorities. The Church is also offering human and economic resources to alleviate the crisis. President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja via teleconference participated in extraordinary summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit was convened by the regional leaders to deliberate on the COVID-19 pandemic which has continued to ravage humanity worldwide. In his remarks at the event, the Chairman of the ECOWAS and President of Niger Republic, Mahamadou Issoufou, raised alarm over the devastating effects of the deadly virus on human and economies of the member-states. He, therefore, for called for collaborative efforts among the member-states to combat the pandemic, which he said had already claimed many lives in the region and beyond. The Nigerien president, who spoke in French, also advocated for total debts cancellation for African countries to enable the African continent to survive the post-coronavirus era. While commending the World Bank and Africa Development Bank (AfDB) for their contributions so far towards fighting the spread of the deadly Coronavirus, Issoufou urged the two financial institutions to do more for the African continent so as to save more lives. The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel (SRSG), Mohamed Ibn Chambas, reiterated the determination of the UN to continue to partner with the African Union the ECOWAS in fighting the deadly Coronavirus. He also called for debt cancellation for African countries as part of palliatives to cushion the effects of the virus on their various economies. NAN reports that the President of ECOWAS, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, had earlier in April in a statement announced financial donations and equipment to its member states in support of their fight against the ravages of the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Kassi Brou reaffirmed the commissions solidarity with member states as they battle to contain the COVID-19 scourge. NAN reports that about 13 ECOWAS leaders, including President Buhari, are participating in the teleconference as at the time of filing this report. The president of Guinea Bissau, Umaro Embalo, also participated in the ECOWAS summit for the first time since he assumed the mantle of leadership of his country in February. (NAN) US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday accused Beijing of destroying samples of the novel coronavirus it gathered during the early stages of the outbreak in China, and called on the Chinese government to share more data to help health authorities elsewhere better understand the pathogen that causes Covid-19. "We strongly believe that the Chinese Communist Party did not report the outbreak of the new coronavirus in a timely fashion to the World Health Organisation," Pompeo said in a briefing in Washington. "Even after the CCP did notify the WHO of the coronavirus outbreak, China didn't share all of the information that it had. "Instead it covered up how dangerous the disease is," Pompeo continued. "It didn't report sustained human-to-human transmission for a month until it was in every province inside of China. It censored those who tried to warn the world in order to halt the testing of new samples, and it destroyed existing samples. "The CCP still has not shared the virus sample from inside of China with the outside world, making it impossible to track the disease's evolution." The WHO, the United Nations' public health agency, also came in for criticism in the briefing as John Barsa, the acting administrator for United States Agency for International Development's (USAID), said that an investigation of WHO would "get into all manners of management operation questions". USAID is in charge of disbursing US aid earmarked for the WHO and other foreign entities. "There's numerous questions in terms of the management of the WHO, how they have been operating holding member states accountable in their actions," Barsa said. President Donald Trump announced his intention to suspend US funding of WHO on April 14, pending a three-month review, accusing the agency of "severely mismanaging and covering up the spread of the coronavirus". Story continues The WHO has defended its response, noting that it alerted the agency's member states in January about the spread of the new coronavirus in China. Pompeo's comments marked the second time in a week that he has called on Beijing for more transparency concerning Covid-19; last Wednesday, in a phone conversation with Yang Jiechi, China's top diplomat and director of the Communist Party's office of foreign affairs, he pressed for a complete accounting of China's handling of the coronavirus outbreak. The Chinese embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment. But a foreign ministry spokesman on Monday said that "China has been attacked by the virus and is also a victim of the virus. We are not the culprit, nor the accomplice of the virus." While Pompeo made China's actions at the start of the coronavirus pandemic a focus of his briefing, he also addressed other issues on which the State Department is clashing with Beijing " including a round-up of pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong and incidents in the South China Sea. Beijing, Pompeo said, was "exploiting the world's focus on the Covid-19 crisis" to push its agenda. "Amidst increased efforts by Beijing to erode [Hong Kong's] autonomy, law enforcement authorities have arrested pro democracy activists, including 81-year-old Martin Lee [Chu-ming]," he said. Last week, Hong Kong police arrested at least 15 pro-democracy figures in a swoop that netted, among others, Lee and media tycoon Jimmy Lai Chee-ying for their roles in anti-government protests last year that did not have police approval. Lee, the most senior barrister in Hong Kong, was dubbed the city's "father of democracy" by the pro-democracy camp as he co-founded Hong Kong's Democratic Party in 1994. "We've also seen that the Chinese Communist Party is exerting military pressure on Taiwan and coercing its neighbours in the South China Sea, even going so far as to sink a Vietnamese fishing vessel," Pompeo said. On April 3, a Vietnamese fishing boat with eight crew members on board sank after colliding with a Chinese coastguard vessel near the disputed Paracel Islands. Vietnam's foreign ministry said that the Vietnamese vessel had been rammed and sunk by the Chinese vessel. The Chinese coastguard claimed that the fishing boat had been fishing illegally in waters near the Paracel Islands, which China claims as its territory, and had refused to leave after repeated warnings. 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 originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright 2020 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Copyright (c) 2020. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Some states in the U.S. are now ready to partially reopen their economy under Phase 1 after President Trump announced the plan of reviving the country's economy in three phases. President Donald Trump Announced 'Opening Up America Again' Trump announced during the White House Press briefing his plan to reopen the country's economy in three phases based on the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak in each region, as previously reported by Latin Post. Days after Trump's announcement, Gov. Gregg Abbott of Texas signed an executive order that mandates to slowly reopen his state under strict guidelines. It is stipulated in the executive order that social distancing of six-feet from each other must be observed in parks and other areas. Moreover, Abbott also said that the gatherings of more than five people would not be allowed and the schools across the state are to remain closed for the remainder of the academic year. Additionally, people are strictly obliged to wear face masks. The other States That Are Reopen Under Phase 1 The nation's economy is now showing signs of life. More than a dozen states have signaled that they will be partially reopening their business after more than one month of isolation and lockdown. Hearing the words from Trump, state governors immediately outlined how they will strategically reopen their states under Phase 1. Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina announced its plans on Monday to bring their states' economies closer to full force, but they need to make sure that they too pass Phase 1 and Phase 2. Under Phase 1, states planning to reopen their economy must make sure to strictly observe social distancing and non-essential travels should be avoided. Here are some states that are ready to reopen their economies under Phase 1 and when they plan to do it: Alabama The state has a population of about 4.9 million. The current number of unemployed individuals in the state is around 3.5 percent. Gov. Kay Ivey plans to reopen businesses by phases starting May 1. Arizona The state has a population of about 7.3 million, and around 5.5 percent of the state's total population is unemployed. Gov. Doug Ducey is very optimistic that the state will reopen its economy before this month ends. However, Jessica Rigler, Arizona Department of Health Services Assitant Director, said that the state needs to meet specific standards like seeing the decreasing number of COVID-19 hospitalization cases before they can adequately reopen the state. Arkansas The state has an estimated population of 3 million, and currently, 4.8 percent of them are unemployed. State Governor Asa Hutchinson said the part of the plan of the state is to remain schools closed for the rest of the academic year. Public places like gyms, bars, and restaurants will stay closed as well. Colorado The state has an estimated population of 5.8 million, and around 4.5 percent of them are unemployed. Gove. Jared Polis plans to ease its restrictions on April 26. Polis added that they would reopen the state's economy slowly by dividing the employees into different shifts or constructing barriers between employees to control the spread of the virus. Florida The state has an estimated population of more than 21.5 million and 4.3 percent of them are unemployed. Gov. Ron DeSantis has shown no indication of extending its stay-at-home order that will expire on April 30. DeSantis is expected to establish a task force that will assess and evaluate on how to reopen the state strategically. Meanwhile, there is also a possibility that schools will be reopened in May if conditions will get well. Georgia The state has a population of 10.6 million and 3.2 percent of them are unemployed. Gov. Brian Kemp plans to reopen gyms, salons, bowling alleys, and other businesses starting April 24. Movie theaters and restaurants will also be allowed to resume their operation on April 27. Other states that are poised to reopen are Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Wyoming. Read related articles: Our divergent views on every Public Policy decision in Ghana makes one begin to understand why former President John Mahama a few years ago opined to some officials of the New Patriotic Party not to criticize him since they were not in his position as President. Upon sober reflection, even though it may sound undemocratic, one could comprehend that in as a much we all have opinions, the decision-making table in Ghana cannot make available seats for everybody and accommodate all ideas shared by the citizens. I could not agree better with the American newspaper columnist, George Ade, when he asserted that, the cream of all jobs is to perch on the fence and tell the other feller how to saw woods. Decision making in Ghana somehow not difficult but when opinions try to take the seat of evidence and facts, it worsens decision implementation. Looking back in school days lectures on Governance and Politics of Public Policy, an interesting debate on how governance is a serious business whereas those who are not on playing field sees it as a walk in park. The pronouncement by President Akufo-Addo regarding the lifting of the ban on the partial lockdown may have come as a surprise to Ghanaians but it is important to consider the reasons behind his decision which was cleverly outlined in his speech, supported by data and science with forward looking proposals including the mandatory wearing of mask to cover both nose and mouth and enforcement of social distancing. Remember, the decision to unlock the affected regions could not have been as an easy one and it is not every policy that requires comments from everyone but experts without addressing it with political spectacles. Since the lockdown started, there have been countless of cases of recalcitrance including market centers, commercial vehicle drivers, churches, food vendors and with some, it took the intervention of the security personnels to put the fear of God in them before they adhered to the Presidents directives. People even travelled to regions that were not experiencing lockdown and for crying out loud if they were carriers of the virus which unknowingly, affected those they came into contact with because most of the covid 19 cases are asymptomatic and the virus moves when we move. I begin to contemplate why we should struggle with a decision that is meant for the general good of the people. We have cried because of the restricted movement posed by the lockdown but we are the same people questioning the President of why he lifted the ban. In as much as we are scared of the increasing covid 19 cases in the country, the time is due for us to prepare and do the right thing to support decision making. Meanwhile, a statement issued by the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council on April, 20, 2020 specified their support for the President in relaxing the 3 weeks lockdown especially for the many Ghanaians who are in the informal sector of the economy. Additionally, the Trade Union Congress, TUC, has also indicated that, it was a right decision given the dire economic consequences of prolonged restriction. Be that as it may, covid-19 has found its way to more than 100 countries and till date, no proper medication has been found by even the greatest scientists and virologists in the world. This however shows that, coronavirus is and will continue to live with us for some time and innovative strategies including the precautionary measure by World Health Organization must be deployed by Ghanaians in order to comfortably sit with the virus and dine on the same table without the fear of being infected. We must tighten our boots very well because the journey of fighting the virus is very far a distance! South Korea, on April 15, 2020, had their Presidential and Parliamentary elections and one would wonder how they were able to successfully conduct the election despite the concern of coronavirus outbreak. The election, according to StraitsTimes.com had the highest voter turnout for the past 20 years. If you asked me, I will say, they had a good strategy which was implemented with discipline by the citizens. At the time of the election, South Korea had recorded 10,591 of covid-19 cases and 225 deaths but they were able to adhere to the strict measures put in place by the government such as 2m social distance and disinfection of the booth and stamp after every vote. Provisions were made for every citizen who qualified to cast their ballot including those affected with the corona virus. Ghanaians can easily practice discipline if we are committed to doing so and we should not allow the fear of indiscipline to take away our capabilities of exercising what is best for us as a people. It is said that, when the going gets tough, the tough get going, so Ghanaians must begin to put into action the discipline, sacrifice and above all, limit our persistent attitude of complaining in all matters and support the President in discharging his duties at this tough moment. When the decision to partially lockdown the Greater Kumasi and Accra some 21 days ago, a lot of Ghanaians for some reasons best known to them came up with strong concerns to either support or denounce the President instructions. There is no denial about its implications on business and other economic activities and this is the time to rethink new ways of doing things with discipline. No matter how much we lambast the President for lifting the stay-at-home order, he has already done so, and we have to look ahead as we prepare to live together with the virus whiles we continue to undertake our daily economic and social activities, discipline should guide our endeavors because the President has done his part and the onus lies on us as citizens to put our discipline to reality check. Therefore, be a citizen not a spectator expression, is not applicable to this issue if you are not an expert so let us shelve our opinions for now and allow data and evidence to do the talking because the devil we are dealing with is purely scientific. The I think we should do this and that must stop for the mean time for the President to think through and make right decisions informed by science, data and the experience of medical professionals so to save lives and get the country back to work!! By: Jeffrey Agyemang Duah Email: [email protected] Parking App Collects Donations to Support Communities and Restaurants Impacted by COVID-19 VANCOUVER, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, PayByPhone, a leading global provider of mobile parking payment solutions, today announced it will partner with World Central Kitchen to help support the non-profit's COVID-19 initiative. The #ChefsForAmerica effort is now serving 100,000 meals every day across the United States. Founded by Chef Jose Andres and his wife Patricia nearly a decade ago, World Central Kitchen and its partners are working to safely distribute individually packaged fresh meals in communities across the nation that need support. The effort enables children and families to pick up and take-home meals and includes delivering food to seniors who cannot venture outside. The endeavor also includes putting restaurants that otherwise might be temporarily closed or restricted to pickup orders back in business through a coalition of restaurants and tech companies working to feed the hungry. "Other than helping American families in need, it's a blessing to join forces with other corporations across the country to deliver fresh, hot meals to feed frontline healthcare workers in hospitals and clinics so critical in this time," said Erich Broksas, chief strategy officer, World Health Kitchen. "The outpouring of help from such a wide variety of partners like PayByPhone has been nothing short of amazing." PayByPhone is using its parking platform to collect donations across the United States to bolster the #ChefsForAmerica effort. PayByPhone users in Miami, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C. can log into the app and donate by using designated parking zone number 19. To stretch each donation, PayByPhone will match a portion of user donations through its app to the #ChefsForAmerica initiative. Please note, donors will not receive tax receipts for contributions made to World Central Kitchen. "We want to do our part to help the communities we serve weather this storm," said North American CEO Roamy Valera. "Our customers are looking for ways to help too, and this partnership lets them contribute in an easy way. Making a meaningful impact can happen right in the palm of your hands." For more information visit, paybyphone.com/parkitforward. About PayByPhone PayByPhone is one of the fastest growing mobile payment companies in the world, processing over 125 million transactions annually, totaling more than $550 million USD in payments. Through the company's mobile web, smartphone and smartwatch applications, PayByPhone helps millions of consumers easily and securely pay for parking without the hassles of waiting in line, having to carry change or risking costly fines. A subsidiary of Volkswagen Financial Services AG, PayByPhone is leading the way in the creation of the mobile future. SOURCE PayByPhone Technologies Inc. Related Links paybyphone.com The Bergen County man accused of bringing gasoline cans and lighters into St. Patricks Cathedral in New York a year ago died by suicide last week after he was released from jail due to coronavirus concerns. Marc Lamporello, 38, of Hasbrouck Heights, was released March 20 from Rikers Island in New York amid the public health crisis, his family told the New York Post. Lamporello was arrested in April 2019 after police said he brought two canisters of gasoline, two bottles of lighter fluid and lighters into St. Patricks Cathedral. He told police he was cutting through the cathedral to get to his car on Madison Avenue and claimed had run out of gas. Police didnt believe his story and charged him with attempted arson, reckless endangerment and trespassing. Two days earlier, Lamporello had been arrested for refusing to leave Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark, according Essex County authorities. Before his legal troubles, Lamparello was a philosophy instructor who taught at New York Citys Lehman and Brooklyn colleges and Seton Hall University in New Jersey. Lehmans website listed him as a Ph.D. candidate at the City University of New Yorks Graduate Center. He was terminated from his teaching positions after his arrest in New York City. Lamporellos mother, Dolores, told the New York Post her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia and had tried to seek mental health counseling at a Paramus hospital. But she said the hospital initially rejected him and that her son went a month without treatment before the hospital accepted him. Lamporellos obituary states he graduated in 2004 from Boston College with a degree in philosophy and went on to the University of Pennsylvania where he completed his master's degree. He also studied for a semester at Oxford University in Oxford, England, the obituary states. Marc was a talented pianist, writer, and professor, and his intellect and creativity were evident in his professional and personal pursuits, the obituary says. Most importantly, Marc was a kind, loving, sensitive, and generous person who never hesitated to help anyone in need, and who always strived to make everyone around him happy. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. 'The economic impact of this lockdown is evidently huge.' 'Its impact on the livelihood of vulnerable sections of the society is immeasurably bigger,' observes Mahesh Vyas. IMAGE: Women wait outside a bank to withdraw money from their Jan Dhan accounts during at Gandacherra in Dhalai district, Tripura, Wednesday, April 22, 2020. Photograph: PTI Photo In the week ended April 12, 2020, the unemployment rate rose to 24 per cent. This estimate is based on 10,355 responses during the week. In the last week of March, which was the first week of a national lockdown, the unemployment rate had shot up to 23.8 per cent. This was a steep rise from an unemployment rate that ranged between 7 and 8 per cent in the preceding year. This sudden, over-3x increase was sustained in the second week of the lockdown, which was the first week of April. The unemployment rate during this week was 23.4 per cent. Now, in the third week of the lockdown, the unemployment rate continues to remain high at 24 per cent. The sustained high levels of unemployment are somewhat surprising. We had not expected the unemployment rate to rise. In the last economic shock of demonetisation, the unemployment rate had declined. The expectation was that under conditions of severe curtailment of economic activities, the unemployed would move out of the labour markets in acknowledgement of the fact that there are no jobs on offer. This is what had happened after demonetisation. At that time, an estimated 11 million unemployed left the labour markets. Unemployed people do not continue to hang around for long in search of jobs during an economic crisis. They quit labour markets -- as discouraged labour, causing a drop in the unemployment rate. During such a crisis, when certain types of employed lose their jobs, they do not join the ranks of the unemployed. They too, quit the labour markets. This is because India's labour force comprises mostly people employed informally in the unorganised sectors. There are no paid leaves or any job security for these workers. Their employment is conditional upon circumstances. Think of agricultural labourers, construction site workers, other daily wage workers and even small self-employed entrepreneurs. At the time of demonetisation, the initial loss of employment was high. But, these jobs came back and the sustained loss was only about 3 million jobs. Later, the combination of GST with demonetisation worsened the loss of jobs. In the current lockdown, there has been a huge exit of the employed and the unemployed from the labour markets. The labour force participation rate (LPR) has dropped sharply. In February 2020, the LPR was 41.9 per cent. This itself is very low. It remained around this level in the first three weeks of March 2020. Then, in the last week of March when the lockdown came into force, it fell to 39.2 per cent. In the first week of April, it fell sharply to 36.1 per cent and in the second week of the month it fell even further to 35.5 per cent. This fall is along expected lines. Six per cent of the working age population has quit the labour markets. Around 42 per cent of the working age population was engaged in the labour markets before the lockdown. By the end of three weeks, this ratio was down to 36 per cent. This is a much bigger fall than the fall seen after demonetisation which had led to a shrinking of the ratio by only 1.9 percentage points, compared to 6 post the lockdown. If this shrinking of the labour force is mostly because of an exit of the unemployed, then the unemployment rate declines. This is what happened after demonetisation. This time, in the lockdown, the labour force has shrunk because of an exit of the unemployed and of the employed who lost their jobs, from the labour markets. The latter is evident from the greater fall in the employment ratio compared to the fall in the labour participation rate. While the labour force participation rate has declined by about six percentage points in three weeks, the employment ratio has declined by 10 percentage points. The employment ratio fell from 38 to 39 per cent before the lockdown to 27 to 28 per cent after the lockdown. This fall again in the employment rate in the lockdown is much steeper than the fall during the demonetisation period. The fall in the employment rate then was only 0.7 percentage points. Finally, even after a very sharp fall in the labour force participation rate we see a big jump in unemployment. This means that although fewer people are looking for jobs today than before, many more of them are unable to find jobs. Before the lockdown, 42 per cent of the working age population was looking for jobs and 7 to 8 per cent were not finding jobs. Now, only 36 per cent of the working age population is looking for jobs and yet, nearly a quarter of them cannot find jobs. But this is by design. The economic impact of this lockdown by design is evidently huge. Its impact on the livelihood of vulnerable sections of the society is immeasurably bigger. For many of them, this is not a lockdown, it is a knockout. Mahesh Vyas is MD & CEO, CMIE WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - PulteGroup, Inc. (PHM) said, given the the uncertainty relating to government efforts to restart local economies, the company has decided to withdraw its previous guidance for 2020 financial results. The company has also elected to suspend all stock repurchase activities. First quarter earnings per share was $0.74 compared to $0.59, a year ago. Home sale revenues increased 14% to $2.2 billion. Net new orders increased 16% to 7,495 homes. The company ended the quarter with $1.9 billion of cash, which includes the receipt of $700 million in connection with the company's decision to draw on its revolving bank facility in March. 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. Nursing homes that fail to comply with mandatory reporting requirements in relation to COVID-19 cases could face a fine up to $5,000 for each violation, according to a new executive order by Gov. Ned Lamont. The order requires all managed residential communities, including assisted living facilities, and all nursing homes to provide daily status reports to the state. The order also subjects nursing homes that fail to comply with the mandatory reporting requirements of this order to civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, the order states. This order comes the day after the states chief medical examiner told Hearst Connecticut Media that he has been spending a lot of time investigating deaths of nursing home residents because the homes are not all properly reporting cases of the coronavirus. The state has yet to release new data on the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths at nursing homes across the state. The team is still working to scrub that data, as described previously, its an incredibly manual process, said Josh Geballe, chief operating officer for the state, during Gov. Ned Lamonts press conference Thursday. He said the governor would also issue an executive order forcing assisted living facilities to report their infections to the state, and that state health officials have completed 115 planned visits to nursing homes. In a statement released Thursday night, Mag Morelli, president of LeadingAge Connecticut, said the state nursing home data must be used to inform and prioritize the delivery of resources to nursing home providers, that are in need of protective equipments and tests, particularly as nursing homes statewide have assumed increased responsibilities in caring for COVID-19 patients. The nonprofit supports nursing homes and other senior care services in the state. Dr. Albert Ko, a member of the governors team working to reopen the state and a professor of epidemiology and infectious diseases at Yale University, noted that a majority of those infected do not show symptoms. Thats how infections are being brought into these vulnerable sites, vulnerable settings and vulnerable populations, he said during the press conference. Nursing homes across the country have seen violent epidemics with large numbers of cases and deaths from COVID-19, he said. I think the idea here is we need to raise the bar up in terms of how were going to protect the residents of nursing homes as well as the vulnerable the people who have comorbidities or that have multiple medical conditions that are in our hospitals, Ko said. A week ago, the governors office released data showing 375 residents of nursing facilities had died after contracting COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Pedro Zayas, a spokesman for New England Health Care Employees Union District 1199 SEIU, said Wednesday there are 387 resident deaths attributed to the disease across 61 of the 67 homes where the union has members. The death toll from the union represents only a fraction of reporting from all the nursing homes in the state, and is already higher than the 375 deaths reported by the governors office a week ago. Zayas estimates that by the time the state releases updated figures the number will likely be over 700 and represent about 50 percent of the overall COVID-19 deaths in Connecticut. That estimate comes alongside revelations this week that 35 residents have died at Kimberly Hall North, a nursing home in Windsor, where only nine deaths had been reported by the state a week ago. Av Harris, a spokesman for the Department of Public Health said Wednesday the discrepancy between the number of deaths reported by officials from Kimberly Hall Norths parent company, Genesis HealthCare, versus the figure from the state was likely due to several factors. More deaths may have occurred between when the state published their numbers and when Genesis officials announced the 35 deaths Tuesday, Harris said, and health officials have also received new guidance from the Centers For Disease Control. DPH is now being told to attribute a death to COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, if the medical evidence points in that direction, even in the absence of a positive test, Harris said. So that means many deaths that may not have been previously reported as COVID-19 may now get reclassified as such, the DPH spokesman said. James Gill, the states chief medical examiner, said not all nursing homes have reported deaths attributed to the virus to his office, leading the state to have to investigate deaths in order to update the statewide data. Nursing home deaths that are not reported to us can be very time consuming, he said. This is because we then have to track down medical records or speak to the treating physician to get clinical information. We sometimes also need to perform a swab to test for COVID-19. A spokeswoman for Genesis HealthCare, the homes parent company, confirmed the 35 deaths and said the home has had 58 residents who tested positive or are presumed positive, along with 28 staff members. At Kimberly Hall North, we care for largely frail, elderly seniors with multiple health conditions who are already more susceptible to the common cold, not to mention this deadly, highly contagious virus, said Carolyn Blackman, senior vice president of medical affairs for Genesis HealthCare. Matthew Barrett, president and CEO of the Connecticut Association of Healthcare Facilities, which advocates for nursing homes, said the spread of the disease among the states homes is reflective of the pernicious character of the virus, and not the care provided at homes. The data continues to tell us that nursing home operators and employees who are doing all the right things are seeing firsthand how highly contagious and insidious the virus is for the residents they serve, Barrett said. This major new product release now opens up the power of geocoding to businesses of all sizes serving the world market. - Geoff Grow, CEO, Service Objects Service Objects, the leading provider of real-time global contact validation solutions, is pleased to announce the release of DOTS Address Geocode International. This new service aggregates numerous datasets from around the world to return the best latitude, longitude and address location details possible for international addresses. Address Geocode International works with any address worldwide, returning coordinates indicating where this address is located, together with address data ranging from locality data to Census information for US addresses. It is capable of following conventions for each countrys postal system for parsing and storing addresses and returns latitude and longitude results at one of 16 levels of precision based on available data. A few map links, such as a Google map URL, are provided for mapping purposes or to quickly test that the result mapped properly. This new product integrates with leading business automation platforms via API interfaces, and supports REST, SOAP, GET and POST requests over HTTPS as well as outputs in JSON and XML formats. It also employs a dynamic interface that provides for expanded future capabilities while preserving existing implementations. In addition, Address Geocode Internationals technology improves Service Objects existing capabilities for geocoding US and Canadian addresses, including the introduction of property/rooftop level matches for many cases as well as improved location data for rural addresses. Geocoding has an increasingly important range of global applications nowadays, including mapping client locations, targeted marketing, government compliance and much more, said Geoff Grow, CEO of Service Objects. This major new product release opens up the power of geocoding to businesses of all sizes serving the world market. As with all of Service Objects data quality products, Address Geocode International comes bundled with industry-leading 24/7/365 technical support, expert implementation assistance, and guaranteed 99.999% uptime with the industrys only financially-backed service level agreement. To request a free trial key or demo for Address Geocode International, please visit our website. About Service Objects Founded in 2001, Service Objects is the leading provider of contact validation solutions, validating online transactions in real-time, including contact name, address, phone, email, and device. Using Service Objects global validation and location web services, businesses can identify potentially fraudulent contact records, append additional contact information, and process transactions in a more efficient manner. Service Objects has validated over 4 billion contacts, and major brands such as American Express, LendingTree, and Amazon rely on Service Objects for their data validation needs. For more information about Service Objects real-time web services, contact sales@serviceobjects.com. Advertisement Sunbathers flocked to Florida's Cocoa Beach on Thursday after it reopened to allow chairs and blankets on the sand. Families were seen laden down with backpacks, beach towels and coolers, while friends stripped down to their swimsuits to soak up some Vitamin D following the lifting of restrictions that were implemented on April 2. Cocoa Beach and neighboring Satellite Beach, which also reopened Thursday, are requiring that sun-seekers still practice social distancing and keep groups to a number smaller than five. Both beaches are located in Brevard County, which has more than 220 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 7 reported deaths. Sunbathers flocked to Florida's Cocoa Beach on Thursday after it reopened to allow chairs and blankets on the sand Families were seen laden down with backpacks, beach towels and coolers at the reopened Cocoa Beach Cocoa Beach and neighboring Satellite Beach, which also reopened Thursday, are requiring that sun-seekers still practice social distancing The beaches are located halfway between Florida's two largest cities - Miami and Jacksonville - which are both handling the coronavirus outbreak very differently Miami, 200 miles to the south, has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly 15,000 confirmed cases in the area. The city's famous beaches remained closed for the forseeable future. However, in Jacksonville, 200 miles to the north of Cocoa Beach, beaches were reopened last Friday. Despite being the largest city in Florida, Jacksonville has only recorded 909 cases of coronavirus - about 4% of the state's total cases. Those stats prompted officials to allow the beaches to reopen from 6- 11 am and 5- 8pm for residents to walk, swim and fish. However, sunbathing at Jacksonville beaches is still prohibited. One sunseeker looked delighted to be able to open out her chair at Cocoa Beach Thursday One Floridian was seen taking precautions as she strolled across the sands of Cocoa Beach- wearing a protective covering across her face Groups of beach goers kept a social distance between each other at Cocoa Beach A lifeguard kept a watchful eye on Cocoa Beach Thursday. Sunseekers generally obeyed social distancing guidelines as they spent time on the sand Beaches that have opened or are set to open in Florida According to the following list compiled by the Miami Herald, the following beaches that were closed are now either open or scheduled to reopen in Florida, with varying time and activity restrictions: Flagler County on Florida's East Coast reopened for limited recreational activities on Wednesday, NBC 6 reported. Bay County beaches in Florida's Panhandle will open Friday, April 24, with restricted hours of 6 a.m.-9 a.m. and 5 p.m.-8 p.m., WJHG 7 reported. Bay County includes Panama City Beach, a popular spot for spring breakers. Gulf County beaches opened at 5 p.m. Wednesday with the same hours that neighboring Bay County will enforce. Okaloosa County will open its beaches on May 1 from 6:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. It's home to Destin, a popular beach resort. Satellite Beach and Cocoa Beach in Brevard County are open with social distancing rules intact, Florida Today reported. Advertisement However, despite the sunbathing ban, photos showing scores of residents descending upon Jacksonville beaches sparked outrage and prompted the hashtag #FloridaMorons to trend on social media. 'Can't we just spatial distance this whole State? #FloridaMoron,' one user tweeted. Another person wrote: 'Life's a beach--then you die. #FloridaMoron.' A third user tweeted: 'I understand the push to get back to work. We all have bills to pay. I don't remotely get the rush to the beaches in some sort of childish own-the-libs hissy fit. Especially since engaging in this behavior endangers being able to get back to work. #FloridaMoron.' While Myrtle Beach in South Carolina has also reopened for sunbathers, most beaches in coastal states remained closed amid the coronavirus pandemic. Drone footage captured on Thursday shows miles of empty sand along the beaches of Ocean City, Maryland. The city closed its beaches and boardwalks on March 22, and have no immediate plans to reopen them. Across the country more than 850,000 Americans have tested positive to COVID-19, and more than 40,000 have died. Scores of residents descending upon Jacksonville beaches sparked outrage and prompted the hashtag #FloridaMorons to trend on social media.Busy Jacksonville Beach is pictured Sunday Different state, different story! Drone footage captured on Thursday shows miles of empty sand along the beaches of Ocean City, Maryland Ocean City closed its beaches and boardwalks on March 22, and have no immediate plans to reopen them Prayagraj : , April 23 (IANS) Sewa Bharti, an affiliate of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will distribute around 50,000 'gamchhas' (cotton stoles) among the poor and homeless people in Prayagraj region so that they can cover their faces to save themselves from the coronavirus. It is noteworthy that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had underlined the use of easily affordable 'gamchhas' as a protective gear for millions of ordinary people to fight against corona infection. Mahanagar President of Sewa Bharati, Sujeet Singh said: "We have brought around 20,000 'gamchas' from Jalalpur in Ambedkar Nagar which will be distributed among the needy and poor families on Thursday and Friday. We will be distributing around 50,000 'gamchhas' in the coming days." RSS vibhag pracharak Krishna Chandra said, "The 'gamchha' is a perfect homemade option to cover face as a replacement for masks. People, especially those who cannot buy masks, can use gamchha to fight coronavirus". Nearly 3,000 RSS volunteers are working in the Corona crisis, delivering food packets among the poor and homeless people. The RSS volunteers have made an area-wise list of poor people where food packets and other essential commodities are being distributed. The Prayagraj wing of Sewa Bharti said that they have distributed ration and essential commodities among 48,000 families in the lockdown period. The Sewa Bharti has set up 35 distribution centres in trans-Ganga and trans-Yamuna pockets in the city for distribution of ration and food packets among the poor. Vietnam strictly bans all cyber attacks against organisations and individuals in any form, said the Foreign Ministrys Deputy Spokesman Ngo Toan Thang at the ministrys regular press conference on April 23. Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Responding to reporters queries about the US cyber security firm FireEyes statement that Vietnam assisted the APT32 hacker group in conducting cyber attacks targeting international government units and businesses, Thang said cyber attacks and security threats should be strictly condemned and punished in line with law. He added that the Vietnamese National Assembly ratified the Law on Cyber Security and is completing legal documents to prevent cyber attack behaviours. Vietnam is ready to partner with the international community to combat cyber attack behaviours in any form, he affirmed./.VNA Immediate, one-time funding available for Personal Protective Equipment OTTAWA, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Food Processing Skills Canada announces new enhancements to the funding of both the BC Post-Farm Food Safety Program and BC On-Farm Food Safety Program. These changes permit personal protective equipment (PPE) as an eligible expense for processor and farmer participants. This funding will provide a one-time payment, of up to $7,500 for On-Farm participants, or up to $15,000 for Post-Farm participants, to better support the increased need for safety precautions in the agri-food sector resulting from COVID-19. Eligible processor and farm businesses can access funding to purchase PPE, and other approved safety supplies, for use at their facilities to maintain a safe workplace and mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. Including personal protective equipment purchases is an important addition to both programs. BC businesses, similar to businesses across Canada, are adapting to production in difficult times and that means maintaining the highest standards of food safety and health safety for front line workers. The requirement for PPE has significantly increased and this funding will help BC businesses, said Jennefer Griffith, Executive Director, Food Processing Skills Canada. The On-Farm and Post-Farm Food Safety programs are delivered by Food Processing Skills Canada in partnership with the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture and Province of British Columbia. Both programs support activities which directly encourage strong food safety practices. In 2019, the programs were fully subscribed and 2020 applications are now open. Ensuring the protection of our industries staff is critically important, said James Donaldson, CEO of BC Food & Beverage. This update to the Post-Farm Food Safety program will be a major benefit to assist companies in combating the escalating cost of personal protective equipment that is essential to continuing safe production. Story continues For more information on the BC programs or to apply go to Post-Farm Food Safety Program or On-Farm Food Safety Program . Food Processing Skills Canada Food Processing Skills Canada is the workforce development and skills organization for Canadas food and beverage manufacturing industry. Through our industry and government partnerships we provide internationally-recognized resources and programs that support food and beverage businesses in developing their workforce, and people in building their careers. Our labour market analysis and workforce development resources - FoodSkills Library, FoodCert & Canadian Food Processing Institute are training the next generation of people and improving the industrys workplace culture. To learn more about the organization please visit fpsc-ctac.com . Media Contact Biden Wants Michelle Obama as Veep Is a return to the White House by the Obama family in the cards? It can happen if former First Lady Michelle Obama would accept a public invitation from former Vice President and presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden. On Tuesday, April 21, Biden said Obama tops his list of potential vice presidential candidates, and the country would be better served if she joined his ticket. ADVERTISEMENT Neither Obama nor her husband, former President Barack Obama, have commented on Bidens statements, which he first made on KDKA television in Pittsburgh. Remarkably, the comments have not yet gained traction in the media, but a KDKA source pointed NNPA Newswire to the video clip that the station says has gained a lot of momentum in the Pittsburgh area. Id take her in a heartbeat, Biden said of Michelle Obama in the video viewed by NNPA Newswire. Shes brilliant. She knows the way around. She is a wonderful woman. The Obamas are great friends, he said. Tempering any enthusiasm of a Biden-Obama ticket, Biden added that, I dont think she has any desire to live near the White House again. He concluded that its still too early to select a running mate. During the most recent debate in Washington, D.C., in early March, Biden pledged to select a woman as his running mate. That promise sparked a national discussion about who would best serve as vice president. Among the names bandied about in the media have been California Sen. Kamala Harris, former Georgia Rep. Stacey Abrams, and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. ADVERTISEMENT In terms of who to pick, were just beginning the process, Biden told KDKA. Well shortly name the committee to review this and begin to look through the backgrounds of the various potential nominees. And thats just getting underway. Ill commit to that it will be a woman because it is very important that my administration look like the public, look like the nation. And there will be, Im committed that there will be a woman of color on the Supreme Court, that doesnt mean there wont be a vice president, as well, Biden said. I think its really important now that we establish once and for all, we should have had a woman president already, in Hilary (Clinton), in my view, Biden added. There are a number of qualified women out there. https://cbsloc.al/3asBeAO Watching the sun come up as you stroll down a beach is no doubt a great experience. If you visit Phu Quoc as I did last July, 5:45am is the time to catch the first rays of the day on the east side of the island. The feeling, for me anyway, was satisfying, like conquering your laziness and savouring a glorious sight as a reward. But thats not the case for everyone, and for Nguyen Van Minh, sunrise is nothing new as he heads off for the fisherman's equivalent to a nine to five. I mean, literally. Goi ca trich (herring salad) is a specialty of Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island. Photo dulichvietnam.com.vn Every day at 4am, Minh sets off in his small fishing boat. I go out there when the fog is still thick, so seeing the sun come up is a daily routine for me, said the veteran fisherman. For me, the real dawn is seeing fish in my baskets. About 10km from the shore near the reef, Minh anchors his boat and gets ready for the big morning ahead. Among the many kinds of fish like barracuda and cobia, herring provide me the most income, especially in Lunar July when its herring season. Herring live in schools along the coast, and they feed near the many reefs. They leave tiny ripples wherever they go, which help the fishermen find them. To catch them, I just drop a basket in and wait for 30-60 minutes before pulling it up, Minh said. Herring can be used to make many mouth-watering dishes. Photo dienmayxanh.com That morning was another successful trip for Minh, and he was able to fill his 12 baskets. Looking at the shiny silver fish, I never thought the process of sorting, chopping, and preparing them for me to savour would be so fast until I saw raw herring mixed with grated coconut and spices served right in front of me. Yes, its herring salad, the Vietnamese sashimi. Watching the latest catch being hauled up the beach, resort owner Trinh Cong Phat knew exactly what to do. To make a delicious dish to please my customers, I have to be really quick and careful selecting the best fish as the earlier I do it, the better quality the herring will be, Phat said. High-quality herring have more meat, and their meat is excellent. Thats really important because its eaten raw, so when the customers see and eat the fish, they recognize the quality at first sight. After cleaning, scraping off the scales, cutting off the tail, head and intestines, the fish are sliced and chopped into bite-sized fillets. The next step isnt frying or grilling, it's dipping them in vinegar and lemon juice for five minutes before garnishing with spices and a side dish of rice paper, cucumber and herbs. While preparing the side dish, put the fish on ice. The sauce can be made with vinegar or lemon, but for a strong taste, the secret is to use guava vinegar which is very famous on Phu Quoc, with salt and a little sugar, Phat said. As soon as the fish is ready, it's time for the garnish. It isnt banana or grated papaya like many southern salads, but grated coconut. It seems like a strange combination because coconut is normally used as a topping for desserts, but thats not the case for herring salad, especially in Phu Quoc. Just line the fish at the bottom of the dish, and evenly sprinkle the grated coconut with roasted peanuts, onions and herbs, and you have your herring salad, but there's one more step. Herring grilled over charcoal is so tasty that many visitors to Phu Quoc take some home. Photo thuysanxunghe.com Ha Tuan Tai, the owner and producer of Duc Tai Fish Sauce, is the sixth generation of his family to involved in the fish sauce business. The dipping sauce for this dish is fish sauce, and when talking about excellent fish sauce in Vietnam, Phu Quocs got to be on top, said Tai. We have the best anchovies the main ingredient of fish sauce, and with a secret recipe we create one of the best fish sauces in the world, he said. To enjoy this salad, you need rice paper. Wrap the fish together with herbs, coconut and roasted peanuts to sense the chewiness in each bite, Phat explained. Wow! That was literally my friend Dau Minh Thangs expression after just one bite, and theres no denying that the fish sauce does boost the flavour to the next level. The sweetness with a little sourness of the soft herring was so good it melted in the mouth. The taste seemed to envelop the tastebuds as the crispy coconut, onion and roasted peanuts blended together, and thanks to the sauce, the whole experience is heightened. It might be a simple dish, but believe me, try it with your eyes closed and imagine you're on a boat watching fishermen pull their catches in. VNS By Hoang Ho The attraction of sea tourism in Vietnam Accounting for 70% of tourism activities in Vietnam, sea and island tourism is one of the countrys most popular types, attracting more foreign tourists each year. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- As Ohio restaurateurs and diners alike prepare for what could be a partial lift of Gov. Mike DeWines restaurant shutdown, only one thing is certain: Ohios dining industry will be a different landscape after the coronavirus crisis. Many restaurant owners and chefs have spent the past few weeks preparing for their dining rooms to reopen, stocking up on needed supplies to protect employees and customers from coronavirus transmission. Others have spent that time changing their business offerings, creating takeout menus and promoting delivery services. Its been a tough road for many Cleveland restaurants to navigate, with DeWine providing only vague instructions so far, with few actionable protocols to follow. It doesnt help that many restaurants financial resources have been stretched thin. The devastation to our industry can NOT be overstated, the Ohio Restaurant Association stated in an update on April 18. According to the organizations data, 51% of Ohios restaurants have closed, and many owners believe they wont be able to reopen again. For restaurants that are still open for delivery and carryout orders, survey data showed that sales have declined by 20% to as much as 90%. Perhaps the most glaring data showing restaurant industrys damage comes in the form of unemployment claims. Unemployment rates are soaring across the country, and restaurant workers make up a large chunk of that. More than 855,000 claims have been filed in Ohio in the past few weeks. Some of Northeast Ohios restaurants look forward to dining rooms reopening as a glimmer of hope. However, looming regulations and instructions have created a puzzle for many restaurant owners to piece together, making their own guesses on what to expect. Theyre preparing for a new world of dining -- and its a world that will look quite different. Jenn Wirtz, who owns Der Braumeister in Clevelands West Park neighborhood, said shes taking her time to find the best format for her restaurants dining-room reopening. "We will not be opening right away, Wirtz said. So much of what has happened over the last month has been a constant stream of reactionary decisions. When it comes to the business, I am not a reactionary business person. I like to think of myself as being a lot more strategic, really thinking things out, really talking things out. Some of Wirtzs strategies will include spreading out tables in the large Der Braumeister building, utilizing multiple points of entry and takeout orders. Workers will wear gloves and follow social distancing protocols -- but specific plans are still being discussed, she said. Other restaurants are utilizing collaborations with other Northeast Ohio food makers. Rood Food and Pie owner Brian Ruthsatz welcomed local pop-up Burial Grounds Bakery into his restaurants kitchen, and will work with the small business to create brand-new brunch and lunch takeout offerings. Ruthsatz hopes that the shift will help Rood Food survive the financial strain of coronavirus, and help keep customers safe. Initially, I thought there was no way I would be able to reopen, he said. Now, if something else goes crazy, I cant answer that, of course. But I feel like we will be able to weather the storm. It has taken a lot from me to figure out how to do this. Meanwhile, Ruthsatz planned ahead while waiting for DeWines official guidelines for reopening Ohio restaurants. He measured distances between tables inside Rood Food and is confident he could serve about 50 people at a time with six-foot social distancing rules in place. When dining rooms reopen, Rood Food will be prepared. Ruthsatz will give face masks and gloves to all employees, take daily temperature checks and increase sanitization practices. Customers may also be encouraged to order takeout from Rood Foods indoor food-truck station, and to bus their own tables if they eat inside the restaurant. Its still our DNA, but a more streamlined, simpler concept, Ruthsatz said Its kind of reinvented temporarily until we get to 2021, when theres a vaccine, when people are being safe, making reservations again. Though the coronavirus crisis presents a difficult challenge for Rood Food and Pie -- and every other Cleveland restaurant -- Ruthsatz said hes received support from other businesses, including fellow members of Cleveland Independents, a local restaurant promotion organization. Were not cutthroat; we care, we want everybody to survive. I think youll see us do what we can to help each other out. The Cleveland group of restaurants will weather this horrible storm very well, Ruthsatz said. I think youll see more reinvention than closures. One reinvention, for downtown Cleveland restaurant Mallorca, comes in the form of pricing updates. Mallorca owner Laurie Torres adjusted her restaurants menu to reflect current spending habits in the time of coronavirus. "The economy is going to change; the prices will have to come down," she said. "People will not want to pay outlandish fees. They'll still want to go out and they'll still want to celebrate, but they'll be conscientious of money. They will realize how volatile and how delicate your financial situation is." Though all restaurant owners are speculating what they can do, many are anxious to hear what rules DeWine ultimately says they have to follow. "I want to be optimistic, but the more I think about it, this is going to be very difficult, Cleveland restaurateur Zack Bruell said. "If you want to stay in the business, you're going to have to be flexible. This is what I know." Bruell is caught between speculating and preparing for the unknowns of a changing dining landscape -- changes that will affect his restaurants Parallax, LAlbatros, Cowell & Hubbard, Alley Cat Oyster Bar and more. He thinks, as a result of coronavirus precautions, restaurant capacity could be cut by 50% -- a number that could have devastating consequences on his establishments. Were not going to break even until were able to get back to 100% capacity, he said. At this point, of course, I'm not throwing the towel in by any means. I'm coming back, and I think a lot of people won't." The restaurateur plans to implement new practices in his restaurants to help with sanitization efforts, including using paper menus instead of bound, reusable ones. Bruell is understanding of DeWines measures in Ohio and his slow-but-steady pace of reopening, but he has been hoping to see details outlined by state advisors. "What do you have to do? We need some guidance from the state. What do they want us to do? Bruell said. You can't just say 'open up tomorrow' without some sort of guidance. The same questions plague Karen Small, the owner of The Flying Fig in Ohio City. Small has honed in on her flagship business, putting her new development -- a breakfast eatery called Juneberry -- on hold, and is uncertain about the restaurants future. Small, instead, wants to know what she can do with the Flying Fig -- but with little direction from DeWine, shes had a hard time preparing for the restaurants future. I think that Mike DeWine did a fantastic job of shutting the state down and containing the virus, and were probably one of the healthiest states in the country for it, Small said, but if hes going to keep throwing out there that were going to be opening up on May 1, thats literally 10 days away. We need something, we need some sort of guideline, specifics, and Im not getting them. Small predicts a few measures -- she primarily expects enforced reductions in restaurant capacity. As a result, she has pivoted to develop a new Flying Fig takeout program to launch on Wednesday, April 29. The plan is to offer rotating Flying Fig entrees and sandwiches, along with groceries, beer, cheese and wine at Market at the Fig, her small shop next door to the Flying Fig. Small didnt give specifics on a plan for the Flying Figs dining space; shes waiting to hear what DeWines regulations might be before she moves forward with plans -- but she knows that the restaurant will likely change. We might not be able to be what customers expect us to be, because its not viable, Small said. Im preparing for reduced capacity. This goes back to the whole idea of reinventing yourself -- maybe we cant be a full-service restaurant anymore, if thats the case. Maybe we have to find other options. Those other options will revolve around the new takeout menu -- and potentially other avenues like expanded wine sales and catering, Small said. I think its likely going to change our industry forever, Small said. I wish everybody the best. Maybe this will solidify a local food system; maybe really good things will come out of this. But right now, I just dont know. Takeout and promotion have proved to be crucial for restaurants hoping to weather the storm of coronavirus. Akin Affrica, the owner of Angies Soul Cafe and Sunshine Cafe, kept his restaurants open for takeout and delivery, and even expanded hours at Sunshine Cafe to capitalize on evening takeout orders. Other restaurant owners, Affrica said, have had trouble making changes. I think the restaurants that survive this thing will have to adapt to new changes and the way we do business, Affrica said. The 12 to 15 different restaurateurs Im talking to every day, were all down on our numbers, but about half (are) surviving based on carryout and delivery services, and the other half (are) not -- its way under. Affrica has chatted with business owners who are raking in as much as $5,000 a day -- and others who are scraping by with only $200 of income per day. For Affrica, business has been down 62% at his restaurants. However, Affrica has been proactive about enacting measures to keep Angies Soul Cafe safe for staff and customers. Lines, drawn at six-foot intervals on the restaurants floor, mark spacing for takeout customers waiting to pick up food. Signs encourage customers to wear masks, and some employees have chosen to wear masks too, though Affrica hasnt required it. The restaurant owner has required daily temperature checks for staff, and installed a plastic shield in front of Angies cashier station. The restaurants cashless approach has also helped reduce potential contamination spread; customers slide their own credit cards or pay by phone apps at Angies, with no cash option available at the restaurant. Affrica thinks the system has helped limit contact between employees and customers. Affrica said his proactive measures are likely the same practices he would keep in place once DeWine opens dining rooms. We adapted very quickly, and adapted to what we needed to adapt to, and were making it work to the best of our ability, Affrica said. Were surviving; were not making any money, but were blessed to survive. Those of us whove been staying home to help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus and who support officials decisions to shut down nonessential businesses have every reason to be angry at those people who are flouting social distancing recommendations and those who are gathering in crowds to demand that officials open the economy all the way back up. People are dying of COVID-19: across the world, across the United States and across Ohio. People who are going about their daily activities as if nothing has changed are likely adding to that death toll. And protesters who want the government to step back and let the market do what it wants appear to be unbothered by the spike in deaths that would likely accompany a lifting of restrictions. Hundreds of people showed up at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus Saturday afternoon to tell the world, We are not sheep! Indeed, sheep are likely smarter than the people who showed up demanding that everything immediately go back to the way it was. There was plenty of skepticism that the spread of the virus is even serious despite the numbers available Saturday indicating that 10,222 Ohioans had been infected with coronavirus and 451 people had died. One protester drove a car painted with the message, Pandemic, Scamdemic. Also: DeWine is a Globalist Puppet. At least one person carried a sign decorated with a swastika. It read, No Room For Fascists. Perhaps Ive misunderstood history, but Ive not heard of a fascist official whos shown as much concern and done as much to protect the health and well-being of the people as Gov. Mike DeWine has. Saturdays protest was organized by Ohio Gun Owners. Gun rights have nothing to do with the states stay-at-home order, so why is this gun rights group leading a charge to force the state to fully re-open? Because both issues are fueled by paranoia. Gun rights activists are forever claiming that the government seeks to control them, enslave them, even. In this case, the government is exerting extraordinary control. But imagine the hospitals, morgues and obituary sections if the government did not. If a governments primary function is defense of its people, then that government must make it is its business to protect its residents from a spreading virus. Thats why governors across the country have enacted orders designed to keep their death tolls as low as possible and to avoid a tidal wave of cases that could cause their hospitals to run out of medical personnel, personal protective equipment, hospital beds, ICU beds and ventilators. But the governors whove made those calls have been heckled by protesters. Thereve been protests in Michigan, in Kentucky, in Virginia and Louisiana. Theres a consistent theme in all those protests: The government has gone too far and its cure is worse than the disease. It sucks that people die, but they do, we cant stop that, a 44-year-old woman from Clark County, Ky., told the Lexington Herald-Leader. At this point were putting every Kentuckian in a place of vulnerability because they cant feed their families. That woman is wrong when she says we cant stop that. While its true that the government doesnt have the power to stop everybody from being infected by the virus or dying from the complications it can cause, it is also true that good public health policies limit the number of people who die. Good policies save lives if theyre followed, that is. Theres a lot of room between the government not being able to save everybody and the government not being able to save anybody, and its inability to not save everybody should not be used to argue that the government shouldnt do anything. In just about every other situation where people are demonstrating total disregard for public health or public safety measures, a good many of us would be longing to see them learn their lesson the hard way. But in this case, when the public health measures have been enacted to slow down the spread of a contagious virus, theres some public benefit to them not learning their lesson. If the protesters get sick, then theyll likely spread it to people who werent protesting, and theyll likely spread it to even more people. So even though protesters are tempting fate by gathering and dismissing the severity of the threat, its better for all of us if they dont get the comeuppance that is their due. Its hypocritical that people who are forever shouting Give me liberty or give me death! are demanding the right to activities that could hasten their neighbors demise. Its ironic that the people waving the Gadsen flag (with its message DONT TREAD ON ME) are by their very actions increasing the likelihood that other people will get infected and die. You may have seen on social media that, in response to multiple protests, somebody recently had the idea to change the words on that flag. They replaced DONT TREAD ON ME with I DONT UNDERSTAND EPIDEMIOLOGY. I dont understand it, either, but I trust that there are public health officials who do. People deferring to their lead arent sheep. Theyre intelligent adults exhibiting good sense. Jarvis DeBerry is a columnist at Cleveland.com and a member of the editorial board. Reach him at jdeberry@cleveland.comor on Twitter at @jarvisdeberry. US President Donald Trump Wednesday said he instructed US navy in Persian Gulf to shoot and destroy any Iranian gunboats found harassing US ships. Trump made the remark on Tweeter amid renewed tension between the Islamic Republic and its global arch foe after Iran Wednesday said it successfully put its first military satellite into orbit. The launch sparked fear among western countries including the U.S which believe that the space program can enable the Islamic Republic to upgrade its ballistic missile program which has been the bone of contention between Washington and Tehran. Last week Washington accused Tehran of provocation after a dozen of gunboats of powerful Revolutionary Guards went close to U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf. The Revolutionary Guards instead accuse the U.S of unprofessional behavior in the Gulf which is an important route for oil tankers. Iran blamed the U.S for obstructing early this month the passage for Shahid Siavoshi, an Iranian vessel despite warnings, TSA reports. Just 14,000 of the Australian men and women who signed up to fight Hitler, Mussolini and the Japanese military are left standing, as the nation prepares to mark 75 years since the end of World War II. Large-scale commemorations to mark the anniversary of Victory in the Pacific in August are still being planned despite a wide-spread shutdown triggered by the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced the cancellation of hundreds of community Anzac Day ceremonies this weekend. Plans for a large scale public commemoration to mark the end of World War II are being planned. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The war was Australia's largest-ever military commitment, with almost one million Australian men and women enlisting in the forces during the bloodiest conflict in history, which largely defined the 20th century. More than 500,000 Australians were dispatched overseas to the deserts of North Africa, in the skies over occupied Europe, and in the jungles of New Guinea. A medical professional administers a coronavirus test at a drive-through location run by staffers from University of California, San Francisco Medical Center (UCSF) in the parking lot of the Bolinas Fire Department. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) Its galling that celebrities, professional athletes and politicians without symptoms were able to use their connections and wealth to score COVID-19 tests early in the pandemic, when physicians and hospitals didnt have enough to go around for the sick patients who probably did have the disease. For that reason, some people might feel irritated with one Northern California community that launched a large-scale, self-funded effort Monday to test all of its residents, sick or not. But dont hate Bolinas, the unincorporated west Marin County seaside community in question. This is a case not of rich people bogarting a scarce supply of tests, but of a historically civic-minded community (whose residents are not all wealthy, by the way) leveraging its resources to do us all a favor. And we all should be thanking this little town's residents profusely for conceiving, funding, launching, volunteering and offering up their bodies for the nations first community-wide COVID-19 viral and antibody testing study something governments in the United States have yet to figure out how to do. Oh, and for putting it together in just a few weeks. Although there have been a smattering of large-scale testing studies in the U.S., they all focused on either chemical analyses that detect active COVID-19 infections or antibody tests that determine if someone had previously contracted and overcome the virus. Not both. But experts say that the key to lifting stay-at-home orders is having reliable data from testing of both types done on a high percentage of the local population. This will help epidemiologists better understand infection and exposure rates as well as how the virus moves through a community. The study was conceived by two Bolinas residents, a venture capitalist and a pharmaceutical executive, who were inspired by the northern Italy town of Vo, which was able to test all of its 3,000 residents and effectively stop the virus's spread. They reached out to other community members for support and to the University of California, San Francisco infectious disease researchers to see if they would help them do the testing program, which is free for all of Bolinas' 1,600 residents and funded by donations. Story continues UCSF researchers said yes, seeing the epidemiological value of such a broad study. Separately, UCSF has developed a companion testing study for San Francisco's Mission District that's slated to begin Saturday and will provide another community-wide snapshot of COVID-19 for comparison. The two communities are different in important ways. Surrounded by water and rugged coastline, Bolinas is rural and geographically isolated theres only one main road in yet it's a tourist destination that continued to admit visitors during the lockdown. The Mission District is a dense urban neighborhood with no physical borders. The samples gathered from both studies will be tested by UCSF labs and the results analyzed by UCSF researchers. Positive cases will get further support and contact tracing. As soon as next week, aggregate data about active infections will be shared publicly so that health officials in other places can use the information to better understand how infections spread. The data from the antibody testing will take about four weeks to be ready for public consumption. Not only will this effort give us important data about COVID-19 upon which other communities can build to develop public health strategies, it's a blueprint they can follow to do their own studies. And they should. Ideally, the financial burden of testing should be borne by the government, not by communities members. Not every city or neighborhood has the wherewithal of Bolinas. But as public health experts make clear, until we have a vaccine for COVID-19, which will not be for at least a year, and effective medicine to treat sick people, our best hope for getting the nation back to work is testing, testing and more testing. Bolinas is giving us our first glimpse at what such a systematic approach looks like. This expanded lender-of-last-resort function is necessary and appropriate; if anything, the Fed may be too cautious in the face of the expanding economic meltdown. In addition to the risk of not doing enough, the Fed faces the risk of favoritism and arbitrary selection, actual or perceived, in the allocation of credit. Anyone who doubts this risk is real needs only read some of the 2,000 interest-group comment letters the Fed has received on its initial plan. The gist of most: We love the plan, but it would be even better if it advantaged us more. The higher-education lobby wanted access for colleges and universities. The independent oil and gas industry pleaded for flexibility to use lower-cost Fed loans to pay off its old borrowings. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, not surprisingly, chafed at limits on stock buybacks and corporate compensation. Financial reform groups, meanwhile, insisted, understandably, that the Fed stiffen guarantees that firms will use the money to keep workers on payroll. Groups all across the board raised technical concerns, such as the Feds imposition on banks of a new interest-rate benchmark instead of the more familiar London Interbank Offered Rate. Abba Kyari Several complimentary commentaries have been shared with regard to the recently deceased Chief of Staff to the president, Abba Kyari. These included glowing tributes from a current minister who was singlehandedly appointed by Kyari, not by his state or APC or the president, but solely on the basis of their personal friendship. Other tributes are from schoolmates etc some of whom claim Kyari was merely misunderstood. In law, such witnesses are called character witnesses. Character witnesses are usually called when a convicted person is seeking mercy from the court with regard to a lighter sentence. During this allocution stage, when a defendant may speak in his own behalf, others may be invited to speak on his behalf extolling his good sides so that justice is tempered with mercy. In law we also have fact witnesses. These are people who testify to actual happenings around the matter at issue. Unlike character witnesses, they do not speak on extraneous or historical issues but directly on the case at hand. Most times, they are eyewitnesses. Having heard character witnesses of Kyaris earlier days and deeds, let us now look at other witnesses whose stories we saw play out on the national stage during his very specific tenure as Chief of Staff which is the particular matter at issue right now. 1. Oyo Ita Former Head of Service in an altercation with Kyari claimed that she warned them not to reinstate wanted pension scandal fugitive Abdulrasheed Maina. She was removed as HOS and criminal charges of fraud slammed on her. 2. Justice Walter Onnoghen Former CJN, confirmed by Acting President Osinbajo, who a ghost Tribunal mysteriously removed on trumped up charges to install a northern Muslim. 3. Matthew Seiyafa Former Acting DG DSS appointed by Acting Prez Osinbajo served for just three weeks till the presidency sent him on early retirement so a northern Muslim could replace him. 4. Babatunde Fowler Former head of FIRS and supposed acquaintance of VP Osinbajo unceremoniously booted, disgraced and replaced by a northerner. 5. Ibe Kachikwu Former minister of state for petroleum dumped after exposing $25B oil deal discrepancy by a northerner Baru in NNPC. 6. Prof Isaac Adewole Former minister of health stripped of funding for health services because he suspended the indicted Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Prof. Usman Yusuf a Muslim northerner. Kyari moved Health procurements to the ministry of Agriculture and Adewole was dumped as minister. Agric ministry reportedly supplied animal medication to the health ministry. 7. Omoyele Sowore Once an ardent pro-Buharist, the Activist reporter was framed for treason, serially arrested and detained and injected with unknown substance by a northern lawyer despite court ordered bail. It took pressure from USA to secure his release months later. 8-9. Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and John Okoro Supreme Court judges, whose doors were broken at midnight and were arrested and detained by DSS just because they refused entreaties by the presidency to rule in favour of APC in election appeals. 10. Major General Life Ajemba Rtd distinguished military doctor denied approval by Nigeria upon his nomination by USA to head a West African pandemic response isolation centers for Ebola/corona etc because the presidency preferred a northerner instead. APART FROM THE AFOREMENTIONED SOUTHERNERS WHO ERRONEOUSLY BELIEVED IN ONE NIGERIA AND IN BUHARIS ANTI-CORRUPTION STANCE, A FEW NORTHERNERS SUFFERED IN KYARIS HANDS TOO: 11. DSP Tijjani Bulama Investigating police officer detained in DSS custody for months for daring to investigate a contract scam involving Abba Kyari. Also posted out of Abuja on punitive reassignment. 12. Bako Waziri Kyari A cousin of Kyari detained by the DSS for months for reporting he was duped of 300m in a contract scam by Kyari. Kyari abused his office and used the DSS to get him locked up. 13. Sambo Dasuki Ex-NSA detained for five years despite numerous court orders on allegations of sharing weapons funds even though Buhari was a beneficiary of two vehicles from the same funds. 14. AVM Jon Ode Headed military arms corruption probe panel and after finding links to senior Buhari aides was marked for elimination along with other members of the panel (some of whom have died or escaped death or in hiding.) 15. El Zakzaky 1000 of his followers were killed, his sect banned and branded terrorists and he and his wife detained for five years despite court ordered bail. 16. AVM Morgan & Gen. Aliyu Chief and Deputy Chief of Defense Intelligence both removed from office for chairing a panel of investigation into US- based international human rights lawyer Emmanuel Ogebe and refusing to wrongfully indict him as directed and were subsequently retired from service. Replaced with a northern Muslim. KYARI & THE CABALS THREATS EXTENDED TO EVEN HIGHLY PLACED PERSONS 17. VP Osinbajo The VP was marginalized for confirming Onnoghen as the first Southern Christian CJN in 30 yrs, for firing cabal chieftain Lawal Daura and appointing a Christian as acting DG DSS. Both appointments were reversed and replaced by northern Muslims. VP was stripped of his aides and portfolio and his constitutional headship of the economic council undermined by the creation of a counterfeit council and a new ministry. 18. Prominent northern religious ruler Reported that efforts were in the works to depose this top cleric but for the intervention of a foreign leader who had bankrolled the presidents past campaigns. 19. Aisha Buhari Presidents wife badly marginalized. Nicknamed suicide bomber, and a surrogate female SA was appointed to stand in for her on most occasions including traveling with president abroad. Aisha was infamously locked out of villa apartment, denied cash transfer funding for poor in her state and an attempt made to marry another wife for the president in the person of a current cabinet member. 20. Muhammed Dauda Acting DG NIA was removed for allegedly refusing to share the recovered $40 million Osborne loot recovered from ex-DG Oke. He was replaced by Ahmed Rufai a deputy director reported to have failed promotion exams and retired from service but was now translator to Buhari. New DG NIA also northern Muslim of Chadian roots. 21. Governor Ortom Benue state Chief executive was subjected to an attempted impeachment orchestrated from the presidency by the DSS because of his anti-grazing bill to stem herdsmen massacres of his statesmen. 22. Sanusi Lamido Emir of Kano dethroned overnight and banished for criticising forex corruption at CBN and retrogressive almajiri practice in the north. Kyari received the replacement Emir less than 24 hours after Sanusis removal in Abuja. These are but a few examples of travesties that occurred during the tenure under examination due to limitation of time and space. It is telling that the EU Nigeria Head of Delegation, Ambassador Ketil Karlsen, in a tribute, said: He became a friend and was an inspiration with his passionate approach to the development of Nigeria in general and the north in particular. It is hard to see how we could have conceivably misunderstood all the horrors we experienced. Whatever the case, suffice it to say therefore that Kyari was a good man except for the terrible things he did as Chief of Staff. The wise would take a hint, at this juncture, to chart a new progressive and inclusive course right now since the alleged Wizard of Oz is no more. For instance, Major General Buhari would rekindle hope in one Nigeria and reunite the nation if he appointed someone from the southeast or south south as Chief of Staff. There is simply no one from those regions in the top echelon of government. More easily, Buhari should release VP Osinbajo from enforced lockdown. It has been the historic lot for Buhari to have been made to look good by able Yoruba adjutants. Tunde Idiagbon made him look good as military dictator. The fact is Osinbajo made him look good while Kyari made him bad. The presidents wife, Aisha, who is liked for her forthrightness should also emerge from the oppressive alienation which the cabal foisted between her and her husband. Nigeria needs, nay requires, leaders who are competent to run their personal homes at the very least. For all of us humans, we are enjoined thus, live well so the pastor wont have to lie at your funeral. A word is enough for the wise. *** By Emmanuel Ogebe Source: PM News India Post has extended the last date for online application of Uttar Pradesh Postal Circle Recruitment 2020 till 7 May. There applications have been invited for recruitment to 3,951 vacant posts of Gramin Dak Sevak India Post has extended the last date for online application of Uttar Pradesh Postal Circle Recruitment 2020 till 7 May. There applications have been invited for recruitment to 3,951 vacant posts of Gramin Dak Sevak. The date of registration, fee payment and submission of online application has been extended due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Candidates will first have to register themselves before filling the online application available on indiapostgdsonline.in. Once the registration is completed, candidates will receive a registration number after which they have to fill in the application form, upload documents, choose preferences and take the print of application. Vacancy details Total vacancies - 3,951 Unreserved - 1,814 OBC - 1,000 EWS - 314 PWD-A - 29 PWD-B - 24 PWD-C - 09 SC - 750 ST - 11 Educational Qualification Candidates must have passed Class 10 with passing marks in Mathematics and English from any recognised Board of School Education to apply for the post of a Gramin Dak Sevak. Applicants should have studied the local language at least up to Class 10. Age limit The minimum age to apply for Gramin Dak Sevak posts is 18 years, while the maximum is 40 years. There is an age relaxation of five years for SC/ST applicants, three years for OBC, 10 years for PWD, 13 years for PWD + OBC and 15 years for PWD + SC/ST. "We conducted a comprehensive nationwide search for a leader who combined a deep commitment to the Catholic faith with the expertise to re-envision Catholic Charities' mission and impact for its next century of service to people and families in need," said Janice R. Klich, M.D., chair of the Catholic Charities Board of Directors. "Our search committee found in Sally Blount a heart for the mission of Catholic Charities and the vision to help it thrive amid a growing need for its services and a challenging fundraising environment. We were pleased to unanimously recommend her to Cardinal Cupich." A record-setting fundraiser and transformational builder, Blount served as dean of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University from 2010-2018. Blount sits on the boards of directors for Abbott Laboratories, Ulta Beauty, the Joyce Foundation, and the Economic Club of Chicago, and serves on the advisory board for the Aspen Institute Business and Society Program. Since 2014, she has been a member of the Finance Council of the Archdiocese of Chicago, where she co-chairs the People and Talent Development Committee. "I am pleased to accept the recommendation of the Catholic Charities search committee and appoint Sally Blount as the organization's chief executive officer," said Cardinal Cupich. "Sally has contributed much to the Church through her service on the Archdiocese Finance Council and her work in priest development. With her organizational and leadership expertise, profound faith and strong commitment to social justice, she is the ideal person to lead Catholic Charities at this exciting and challenging time." Prior to Kellogg, Blount was dean of the New York University (NYU) Stern College of Business for six years. Under her leadership, Stern received a $15 million gift, the largest in its history. An award-winning instructor, she served on the faculties of NYU and the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago for nearly two decades. She will retain her appointment on the Kellogg faculty, teaching on a part-time basis. Blount is a sought-after speaker and commentator on leadership development, board governance and organizational transformation. She is author of two books and more than 30 peer-reviewed academic publications in negotiations and behavioral economics and is a two-time recipient of National Science Foundation research grants. Blount holds a Master of Science and Doctorate in organizational behavior from Northwestern University, and a Bachelor of Science in engineering from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Princeton University. "I'm grateful to Cardinal Cupich and the Catholic Charities Board for offering me this opportunity to use my gifts to serve the Church in such a foundational way," said Sally Blount, incoming CEO of Catholic Charities of Chicago. "Becoming the first lay person to lead this century-old organization is not something I take lightly. The sense of honor I feel is profound. And I'm energized to work with Kathy Donahue and the talented and dedicated team at Charities to enact a smooth transition and set a trajectory that deepens the organization's mission and impact for decades to come." Catholic Charities began in 1917, when Chicago business leaders petitioned Cardinal George Mundelein to create a central organization to relieve the charity care burden on Catholic parishes. The times were desperate, with World War I and a global influenza pandemic causing widespread illness and death. Waves of immigrants arrived every month, fleeing starvation and devastation in their homelands. Over the decades since, Catholic Charities has met different challenges presented by world wars, economic recessions, family instability, income inequity and other societal factors. A century after its founding, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is once again providing basic human necessities during a pandemic, the course and duration of which remain unknown. Catholic Charities has persisted in serving our communities despite an economic environment that has caused a disruption to its usual funding sources and a marked increase in requests for its services. The organization is committed to meeting the needs of a rapidly growing population, including, food, housing and legal assistance while taking the proper precautions to keep guests and workers safe. About Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago Helping people in need since 1917, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is one of the largest private, not-for-profit social service agencies in the Midwest. Annually, it assists more than 700,000 people in Cook and Lake Counties without regard to religious, ethnic, or economic background. Catholic Charities strives to be efficient: 92 cents of every dollar raised goes directly to its programs. About the Archdiocese of Chicago The Archdiocese of Chicago, the third largest in the United States, serves more than 2.2 million Catholics in 316 parishes in Cook and Lake Counties, a geographic area of 1,411 square miles. The Archdiocese, pastored by Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, has more than 15,000 employees in its systems and ministries, including Catholic Charities, the region's largest nonprofit social service agency. The Archdiocese also has one of the country's largest seminaries. The Archdiocese's 205 elementary and secondary schools comprise one of the largest U.S. private school systems. It has garnered more U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Awards than any system of any type. SOURCE Archdiocese of Chicago Ha Won realized that he could have a good night's sleep since someone is with him through the night. He asked Seo Woo to visit and stay in his place anytime. Seo Woo wishes to return the AI box (Ji Soo) in Soon Ho's apartment. She doesn't want Ha Won to know she took it and listens to Ji Soo's voice. Seo Woo thought of Ha Won as she reached her home. Ha Won's words lingered to her mind. "Stay with me. I need you. I miss you, and I want to hold you." Those words filled Seo Woo's heart with joy that she chose to live and stay with Ha Won this time. In-Sook confesses with Soon Ho that his wife has died, and he misses her terribly. Playing the song relieves his loneliness and reminds him of Ji Soo. In-Sook started to do his first single piano recording. Soon Ho is proud of him and cannot wait to release it to the public. The day has come, Seo Woo finished to polished the song, and it is ready to be released. In-Wook smiled with his latest achievement. Though alone in his house, he felt good now after a long time of grief. Soon Ho, together with Seo Woo, celebrated as the single was released. Seo Woo shared it with Ha Won and friends. They congratulated her work and the start of more projects to come. Ha Won cooked dinner to celebrate Seo Woo's achievement as a music engineer. After their meal, they sit together, looking at the sky with evening tea. Seo Woo asked Ha Won why he didn't want to see the snow nor hear the sounds of the snow. Ha Won shared that his mother died due to the heavy blizzard. Since then, life in Oslo has changed his heart. In-Wook heard Ji Soo's voice at the studio while Seo Woo turned on the AI box. He rushed to check, but Seo Woo hid it right away. She went out, leaving In-Wook behind. He felt depressed thinking of his wife. Soon Ho invited him to go out and talk in one of the shops near the studio. In-Wook confessed that his wife disliked him when he admitted an accident that he got involved with. Ha Won's mother died not because of the blizzard, but when In-Wook told her to go in another direction to find her son - Ha Won. Ji Soo felt depressed about hearing the truth. Ha Won never knew the real reason until she died. Ha Won found a letter from Ji Soo. It says about reasons for his mother's death. But Ji Soo tells the story in the next letter where he can't find it. Ji Soo knew that her husband In-Wook had inadvertently killed Ha Won's mother when he was still in high school back in Oslo. He misled Ha Won's mother to a different location, and she got stuck until a blizzard caught her. Since then, no one knows the reason but only In-Wook. In-Wook married Ji Soo and they transferred to Seoul when In-Wook received an invitation to play his music live. In-Wook shared with Ji Soo the incident, which led to their painful breakup. Soon Ho and Ha Won are relatives, and they knew Seo Woo. Soon Ho knew In-Wook as a musician but not as the husband of Ji Soo. Ha Won knew In-Wook as one of the musicians who use their studio but hasn't met him. He never knew that In-Wook is the husband of Ji Soo. Soon Ho is not aware that In-Wook is the person they are looking for. (CNN) Lady Gaga released the track list for her upcoming album on Wednesday and one song collaboration has got K-pop fans screaming. The album, titled "Chromatica," has a track titled "Sour Candy," which features none other than the queens of Blackpink. Blackpink which consists of members Jennie, Lisa, Rose and Jisoo has consistently dominated the music charts not only in South Korea, but also in the US, with hits like "Kill This Love" and "DDU-DU-DDU-DU." Gaga's new 16-track album also includes "Stupid Love," which has already been released, and a song featuring Elton John called "Sine From Above." Another song, titled "Rain On Me," features Ariana Grande. But many people sounding off in response to Gaga's tweet appear to be big Blackpink fans. "Yes GagaPink is coming, the Queen of pop and the Queens of kpop," one comment reads. The song with Gaga isn't the first time the K-pop group has worked with a Western artist. Their song with Dua Lipa called "Kiss and Make Up" made it onto the Billboard Hot 100 in 2018. "Chromatica" was initially scheduled for release on April 10, but Gaga announced in March that she was postponing its launch due to the coronavirus. "This is such a hectic and scary time for all of us, and while I believe art is one of the strongest things we have to provide joy and healing to each other during times like this, it just doesn't feel right to me to release this album with all that is going on during this global pandemic," she posted on Twitter at the time. While Gaga hasn't announced the new date for her album's release, there's no doubt that when it comes out, the songs will be epic. Lancaster County prosecutors have decided state police were justified last year in shooting at a man who led them on a high-speed chase across multiple towns, before he tried to run a trooper over with his car in a Turkey Hill parking lot, authorities said on Thursday. Boyette L. Graham Jr., 40, was not injured during a shooting which took place at the end of an encounter on May 6, 2019 between himself, local and state authorities. East Lampeter Township police tried to pull the Coatesville resident in the early hours of the morning when they noticed him speeding down Route 30. Instead, Graham turned onto the highways westbound lanes and accelerated to speeds of at least 116 mph, according to the Lancaster County District Attorneys Office. Graham made a series of turns from there in an attempt to evade police moving from Route 30 to the westbound, then eastbound lanes of Route 283; then onto Route 230 and Church Street in East Hempfield Township, district attorney Heather Adams said. The conduct illustrated an extreme indifference to the value of human life, specifically police and civilians, Adams said. Over the course of the chase, Graham evaded polices spike strips, ran several red lights and stop signs, and drove at speeds of more than 130 mph. The ordeal lasted about 45 minutes, according to authorities. In East Hempfield, Pennsylvania State Police tried to box Graham into a Turkey Hill parking lot on East Main Street, the district attorneys office said. In defiance of orders to surrender, Graham reversed his vehicle in toward a trooper, then put it in drive and hit an occupied police cruiser on his way out of the lot, Adams said. At this point, the trooper on foot and another fearing for their safety fired at least five shots toward Grahams car. Three were found to have made contact with the vehicle, according to the district attorneys office. Adams said the shots caused Graham to crash into a lumber yard, pick up a two-by-four piece of wood and begin swinging it at the officers, who had to use Tasers to take him into custody. It is likely that this life-threatening conduct would have continued had he not crashed his vehicle, the district attorney said. Graham was charged with numerous offenses, including felony aggravated assault and fleeing, and misdemeanor charges of DUI, reckless endangerment, disorderly conduct and simple assault, as well as traffic violations. He is being held in the Lancaster County Prison on $500,000 bail. READ MORE: Food heist, spitting, store rampages all part of increasing coronavirus frustration in Philadelphia Balloon release marks 4th birthday of Alabama girl abducted from party, killed Amish bishop charged with failing to report suspected sex abuse of girls The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) has announced that 13 flights will be arranged to bring Vietnamese citizens home from 11 countries amid the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. The Consular Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 18 sent a document to CAAV regarding the repatriation of overseas Vietnamese citizens with essential traveling needs. In its response, the CAAV said it has arranged 13 flights operated by three Vietnamese carriers to bring the citizens home. Specifically, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines will operate ten flights to transport Vietnamese nationals from Japan, the U.S., Canada, the UAE, France, Russia, Spain, and Thailand. Low-cost carrier Vietjet Air will carry out two flights from Singapore and Indonesia to Vietnam. Meanwhile, Bamboo Airways will fly Vietnamese citizens home from the Philippines. The CAAV said the 13 flights will depart from and land in either Hanoi, Quang Ninh Province, Ho Chi Minh City or Can Tho City. On Wednesday afternoon, a representative of Vietnam Airlines informed that the carrier had cooperated with Japanese authorities in bringing home nearly 300 Vietnamese citizens. The citizens are either sick, pregnant women, workers, or students with expired work permits. Amid the suspension of commercial air routes between Vietnam and many parts of the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnamese authorities and foreign diplomatic missions have been organizing charter flights to transport Vietnamese citizens back home. Priority is given to children under 18 years of age, the elderly, the sick, and those in exceptionally difficult circumstances. All arrivals are subject to mandatory 14-day isolation. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe By Manuela Tobias California has more than 35,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 but understanding precisely who has been tested and treated remains shrouded in mystery -- and is key to ensuring equal access, according to advocacy groups seeking more transparency from the Newsom administration. The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California wrote Gov. Gavin Newsom earlier this month asking for release of the demographic details of people who have died, as well as those who have been tested and hospitalized. The group is sending a second letter this week, backed by more than 65 advocacy groups across the state. "California has a known history of discrimination towards black and brown folks. Without data, we're unable to assess whether we have equal access to resources and treatment," said Abre' Conner, staff attorney with ACLU in Fresno. "What is the state hiding?" Beyond data on race and ethnicity, the ACLU is asking for disaggregated zip codes as well as the number of people who are LGBTQ, disabled, or essential workers. The idea is to assess the impact of the coronavirus on traditionally marginalized groups, the ACLU says. State officials have said that patient privacy laws prevent them from releasing such data. But ACLU lawyers argue what they are requesting abides by California's privacy laws. The state currently publishes data on the race, gender and age group of positive cases and deaths. As of April 17, data on race and ethnicity was complete for 67% of cases and 90% of deaths. According to that data, African Americans have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. They make up about 6% of the population, but 12% of COVID-19 deaths. In response to an email from The Fresno Bee asking about the ACLU's petition, a spokesperson for the California Department of Public Health said they were "working to provide more data on how COVID-19 is impacting Californians. As we have more information to share, we will let you know." Conner said the state needs to step up efforts to help communities better understand the information they should release publicly. "The state has not said much of anything," she said. "It's been left to counties and cities across the state to try to figure out how to best serve their communities because the state is not leading." 'ARE YOU WAITING FOR ME TO GET SICK?' Conner said her organization is concerned black people and other groups are not being tested proportionally because of what she said are systemic inequalities in the health care system. Christian David, a 30-year-old African American man from Fresno, said he was exposed to two people who are now hospitalized for COVID-19. He lived with one of them and was taking care of the other person. But he hasn't been able to access testing. He asked to be tested at the Accelerated Urgent Care and at Omni Family Health but was turned away because he is not showing symptoms. He said the Fresno County Health Department advised him to self-quarantine. "I don't know if I have it, I don't know if I had it and didn't show any symptoms," he said. "It's kind of nerve-wracking. Do I have to be gasping for breath? Are you waiting for me to get sick?" Fresno County Interim Health Officer Rais Vohra said during a press conference Monday that the county is short on tests, so health care workers and people living in congregate settings, like a homeless shelter, are prioritized. But guidance from the state has called for asymptomatic individuals to be tested, too, and patients can be tested on a non-urgent basis, according to Vohra. He added that whether a person gets tested often depends on the health care facility. Larger hospitals with ample resources and staff can move forward with testing on their own while smaller facilities may have to wait on the county for resources. Fresno County last week began publishing race, gender and age group information of patients who tested positive. Black people have accounted for about 24 out of every 100,000 cases in Fresno County. About 25.5 were Asian, 27.5 were Hispanic and 24.6 were White, according to the data. But the data is limited. About a third of COVID-19 patients have their race listed as "other" on the dashboard. According to the county, that could mean American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, or multiple races. But it could also mean the patient did not disclose their race, as it is self-reported. The county has not made available data on who has been tested. Vohra said some data is collected at testing, and additional data is collected if that person tests positive. Information on sexual orientation was not being collected, he said. "Right now, we're not ready to share these trends you're asking about," Vohra said at a news briefing Friday. "I would say, stay tuned on that. We're trying to report as much good data as we have, and beyond that, we're certainly paying attention to the kinds of recommendations people are making, such as the state, the ACLU, etc. about reporting things out." Faith in the Valley Regional Faith Leadership Coordinator Bryson White said his organization signed on in hopes the numbers will help advocates understand where the public health system may be failing to mobilize change. "I don't think the numbers in and of themselves change anything," he said. "We know that society is unequal based on gender, race and class. But what the numbers are is a tool to organize people in order to frame for folks what's actually taking place within the Valley and state." Eric Payne, executive director of the Central Valley Urban Institute, said he hoped detailed local data would also help make more real the threat of the virus. "I have an uncle who lives here who is literally fighting for his life at the VA hospital because he tested positive for COVID-19," Payne said. "I just don't think it's become real for folks until they're on a ventilator, and it's too late." Manuela Tobias is a reporter with the Fresno Bee. This article is part of The California Divide, a collaboration among newsrooms examining income inequity and economic survival in California. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) President Rodrigo Duterte said he hopes the Muslim community will spend the month of Ramadan for "contemplation." Duterte wrote to Muslim Filipinos on Thursday, a day before they observe the holy month as announced by the Bangsamoro regional government. Ramadan is celebrated as the month in which the prophet Mohammed received the first of the revelations that make up the Quran. The coming month will be devoted to fasting, wherein Muslims are not allowed to eat or drink during the day. Duterte wished that the faithful may be inspired to "lead a life of purity and clarity" and spark unity "regardless of faith or creed" as they read the sacred text and honor Allah. "Let this occasion give us peace amidst the adversity and challenges we face each day," the President said in his written message. "As you embody the religious insights and epiphanies you have gleaned from this undertaking, may you be moved to advance our collective resolve to eschew misguided ideologies so that we may achieve a truly progressive and inclusive society." This year's observation of Ramadan comes as the Philippines struggles to fend off the COVID-19 pandemic, which has infected 6,710 people and led to 446 deaths. Some 693 patients have recovered as of Wednesday afternoon. Earlier this month, authorities in the Bangsamoro region temporarily suspended congregational prayers in mosques to prevent the spread of the disease. Rituals performed on bodies of Muslims who have died have also been relaxed to protect those who would handle the cadavers. A community quarantine has also been enforced in the region limiting the movement of residents, similar to quarantine efforts in place all over the country. There are nine confirmed cases in the Bangsamoro region as of Monday, according to data from the Department of Health. Three of them have died. A Democratic politician has announced he is stepping down from a state assembly after facing a fierce backlash over his endorsement of Donald Trump. Vernon Jones, a state representative in Georgia, announced his resignation in a statement released to Atlanta station CBS 46. Turn the lights off, I have left the plantation. Someone else can occupy that suite, the statement read. Therefore, I intend not to complete my term effective April 22, 2020. However, I will remain woke and vigilant in educating and fighting for my people. Mr Jones revealed he is stepping down because he has grown tired of receiving criticism for his political beliefs. Recommended Ivanka Trump accuses Joe Biden of sexism for Dr Fauci comments Im sick and tired of me and my family being attacked and harassed by the Democrat Party for putting my country before my party. I take pride in being an independent thinker, he said. My first amendment right to freedom of speech is under siege, Mr Jones added. On Wednesday, speaking to the Rashad Richey Morning Show, on Atlanta radio station WAOK, the 59-year-old said that he will not leave the Democratic party, despite his resignation as a congressman. I dont plan to leave the Democratic Party because somebodys got to be in there to hold them accountable hold them accountable to how they are treating black people, root out the bigotry, he said. Recommended Elizabeth Warren endorses Joe Biden for president Last week, Mr Jones endorsed Mr Trump for reelection, and reasoned that he doesnt think the presumptive Democratic candidate, Joe Biden, will be positive for the black community. I endorsed the white guy (Donald J Trump) that let blacks out of jail, and they endorsed the white guy (Joe Biden) that put blacks in jail, he said. Mr Jones added: The results speak for themselves. With his hand on the wheel, the stock market broke record after record, wages and job growth exploded and unemployment dropped down to record lows. Given his track record, President Trump is best prepared to lead our economy back to record highs after we beat the Covid-19 pandemic. Recommended Joe Biden gets backing of Congressional Black Caucus PAC Earlier this week, the The Congressional Black Caucus PAC endorsed Joe Biden for president. The groups chairman, Democratic congressman Gregory Meeks, noted: Theres no question in my mind that there needs to be an agenda that pushes forward black America. He added that Mr Biden is the leader to do that, as he has a vision to bring us together and have an agenda of significant importance for the black community. A CAR launched to the world today signals the shape of things to come on two fronts. It marks the world debut of the new hybrid Yaris Cross compact crossover/SUV from Toyota. And it surely heralds a major switch to online rollouts of new cars due to the impact of the virus pandemic restrictions on travel and crowds. We are indeed in crossover mode on two fronts. Expand Close Toyota's new hybrid Yaris Cross compact crossover/SUV / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Toyota's new hybrid Yaris Cross compact crossover/SUV Ordinarily, hordes of motoring journalists from all over the world would by now have descended on a spacious European arena in this case the unveiling was planned for the Geneva Motor show in early March. There, reporters would have been be vying for information and pictures, sitting in and pushing buttons, lifting bonnets, opening doors, talking to experts and generally busying themselves making closer acquaintance with the likes of this major new motor from one of the biggest automakers around. Expand Close Toyota's new hybrid Yaris Cross compact crossover/SUV / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Toyota's new hybrid Yaris Cross compact crossover/SUV Instead I am bringing you this report from home as I watch the car being launched online. This is how things will be done for some time. Who knows for how long? The virus changes everything. The new Yaris Cross hybrid a mix of SUV and urban hatch - is due here in the second half of next year. It is tempting to speculate on how much our world will have changed by then. Expand Close Toyota's new hybrid Yaris Cross compact crossover/SUV / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Toyota's new hybrid Yaris Cross compact crossover/SUV But for now... Absolute musts for potential buyers of these small crossovers are smart design, higher driving position and loads of infotainment and connectivity access. Toyota went to serious lengths to tick those key boxes as they take on the likes of the Nissan Juke and Ford Puma. Their experience in coming up with the looks for European tastes, for example, highlights the extent of their getting-to-know-you research. The process involved teams from studios in Europe and Japan. Lance Scott is design general manager at Toyotas EDD studio in Nice. He tells us: From the very beginnings of the design concept, we had the European customer in mind, but needed to understand more about them. So we went out and interviewed real customers to understand their lifestyle, what they liked, what their daily activities were and how they enjoyed themselves. The result is a smartly profiled Yaris Cross crossover. Well have to wait to see it in the flesh to be sure to be sure but initial views are promising. Technically, the new car is based on the firms new GA-B compact platform which allows for a roomier interior within compact dimensions. And it is powered by the brands fourth-generation hybrid technology. There will be a front-wheel-drive and All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) options. The former is more likely to be in keener demand here but mixing AWD with raised ground clearance is seen as strengthening SUV undertones as well as giving better grip and traction on difficult road conditions. The electric all-wheel drive system weighs less than its mechanical counterparts. Normally the system drives the front wheels. As the smallest SUV in the Toyota range, the Yaris Cross will join the larger C-HR and larger again RAV4. Like the new Yaris hatchback, it is to be built in France. Toyota say the Yaris-badged models are expected to eventually account for one-third of its European sales. The new SUV is also among the first to benefit from the brands latest 1.5 hybrid system which derives from the larger 2-litre and 2.5-litre powertrains in the likes of the Corolla, C-HR, RAV4 and Camry. The new hybrid system develops a total of 116hp. The 3cyl 1.5 Atkinson-cycle petrol engine is claimed to produce impressive pulling power (torque) at low engine speeds and excellent fuel efficiency. Correlated NEDC figures indicate that the front-wheel drive model has emissions starting below 90g/km with the AWD version under 100g/km. Those figures change under tougher, and imminent, WLTP test data which put the front-wheel-drive model below 120g/km and from under 135g/km for AWD (these are all provisional figures). With todays launch at digital arms length we have to take their word for now that it drives as well as it looks. From a driving point of view, the higher driving position will attract buyers; it is, as I said earlier, the key reason so many people opt for these urban crossovers. This has the same 2,560 mm wheelbase as the new Yaris hatchback (due here this year) but is 24mm longer overall (to 4,180mm); 60mm has been added to the front overhang and 180mm to the rear to provide that extra interior space. Ground clearance is 30mm higher; the car is 90mm taller and 20mm wider than the hatch. A few practical elements we can expect. Theres an electric tailgate which opens at the swipe of your foot, an adjustable deck height to give the option of an underfloor compartment or increased boot space for larger loads. You can split the deck board too if you want increased space. The boot has 390 litres of space (depending on model) but the 40:20:40 rear seats fold to give more if you need it. The brands Safety Sense system also comprises a range of driver assistance functions to avert common accident risks. Toyota Ireland chief executive Steve Tormey says they are looking forward to the arrival of this car in the second half of 2021. How much will our world have changed and been re-shaped by then? Rep. Baek Hye-ryun, center, of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea speaks during a meeting between lawmakers and government officials at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday, to discuss responses to online sex crimes. /Yonhap By Kim Se-jeong The government and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) vowed Thursday to pass bills to criminalize the downloading and circulation of child pornography and abusive sexual videos on computers and snmartphones, and to redefine the age of consent, in an effort to protect minors from sexual exploitation. Under Korean law, a 13-year-old is considered mature enough to have consensual sex lawmakers are pushing to raise the age to 16. They are also seeking to impose sanctions on internet business operators who fail to remove such video clips from their websites and those who advertise and promote them online. When it comes to the proceeds from circulating child pornography, lawmakers want law enforcement bodies to confiscate them from alleged offenders even before they go on trial. "Online sex crimes, as proven, are serious crimes which can destroy a person's life completely," said Rep. Baek Hye-ryun of the DPK, who is leading the legislative effort among lawmakers, during a meeting with government officials Thursday. The push for legislative changes against online sex crimes comes in the wake of the Telegram sexual abuse and exploitation case in which Cho Ju-bin, 24, blackmailed women and minors to make sexually explicit videos of themselves and distributed paid access to them in Telegram group chat rooms. Several legislators from both sides of the aisle have proposed bills to curb online sex offenses, and the meeting between the government and legislators was intended to show their determination to complete the legislative change before May 31, the last session of the 20th National Assembly. In June, newly elected lawmakers will take office and all proposed bills from the previous session will be discarded. Earlier this month, Cho was indicted on multiple charges including blackmailing women to create the sexually explicit videos. Police said he initially lured the women by offering to pay them a lot for making the sexually explicit footage. After receiving the videos, he threatened to release the videos to their friends and families unless they complied with his requests to make more explicit and abusive clips. He circulated the videos in a group chat called "Baksa" (Korean for a doctoral degree holder) and collected payments via cryptocurrency from his clients. His group chat had thousands of paid members and the police said he created a separate group chat for active participants only and offered them "tailor made" videos. The prosecution said 74 victims have been identified, among whom 16 were minors. The case has also led the judiciary to come up with tougher sentencing rules for offenders such as Cho. Earlier this week, the Supreme Court's sentencing commission held a meeting and agreed to come up with new guidelines for these offenses. SECO, a leading company in the hi-tech sector, specializing in computer miniaturization, backed by FII Tech Growth managed by Fondo Italiano dInvestimento SGR, today announced a partnership with IBD, an innovative Italian company operating in the biomedical market, for the development of Respira, a new non-invasive pulmonary ventilator created in response to the current health emergency of the COVID-19 pandemic. Respira was developed by a team of Italian doctors with direct and extensive experience on the front lines of the pandemic. SECOs technological capabilities in combination with IBDs knowledge and competencies in the medical sector, have brought Respira to life. Respira is a compact and portable high-flux, pulmonary ventilator for patients with COVID-19-related pneumonia in both domestic and hospital environments. The new ventilators, which bypass the need for invasive intubation, are equipped with touchscreen displays for easy and intuitive use. It gives me great pride that in such difficult times two Italian industry leaders like SECO and IBD have brought together their technological competencies to provide a tangible contribution to the healthcare system and its patients, through an innovative, non-invasive and portable solution for pulmonary ventilation, said Massimo Mauri, Chief Executive Officer for SECO. Established in 2014, IBD designs and develops biomedical devices with the goal of innovating on portability, user-friendliness for healthcare personnel and patients, for both domestic and hospital applications. Following the concepts of Less is More and Lean Startup, IBD has developed, in a timely fashion and with limited resources, extremely innovative biomedical devices, said Dr. Corrado Ghidini, MD of IBD. As Italy has always been a leader in the biomedical field, the partnership with SECO provides the perfect complement for the realization of an industrial plan that can contribute in relaunching Italy on a global scale. In addition to ventilating patients affected by COVID-19 without intubation, Respira can also be used in immunodepression cases as well as those that require oxygenation in both pre-and post-intensive care. Designed in Italy and manufactured in the USA, the new pulmonary ventilators are expected to start deliveries between late May and early June 2020. Assisted pulmonary ventilation is considered by most to be the only effective therapy for those patients affected by COVID-19-related respiratory deficiency. The innovative ventilators developed by SECO and IBD will contribute in increasing the availability of these fundamental medical devices, currently only available in limited amounts, at very high prices and exclusively used by intubated patients in ICUs. About SECO SECO is an Italian group with a leading global position in the sector of embedded technology and Internet of Things (IoT). Since 1979, it has been designing and producing embedded systems industrial computers that are integrated into a clients machine or tool, activating its functions and permitting interaction through touch/video interfaces. SECO collaborates with a broad network of strategic suppliers in the international high-tech panorama (including Intel, AMD, NXP, NVIDIA, Wind, and Telenor), as well as with universities, research centers and innovative start-ups, and operates on a global scale with offices in Italy, Germany, the U.S., India and Taiwan, employing more than 380 people. The industrial sectors in which SECO products are utilized range from biomedicine to wellness, industrial automation to transportation, and it has clients that are market leaders, such as Cimbali, Esaote, Evoca, and Technogym. http://www.seco.com About FII Tech Growth FII Tech Growth, with a fundraising target of 150 million, is the first Italian late-stage technology investment equity fund. It is managed by Fondo Italiano dInvestimento SGR and is dedicated to invest in the growth of small and medium-sized Italian companies with high-tech business models. The fund announced its first closing in September 2017 with Cassa Depositi e Prestiti as cornerstone investor. Fondo Italiano d'Investimento SGR currently manages a total of eight investment funds, dedicated to institutional investors, for a total of about Euro 3 billion of Assets Under Management. http://www.fondoitaliano.it IBD IBD is a biomedical devices manufacturer company conceived in London and founded in Italy in 2014. Guided by a team with +10 years of experience in dialysis and medical device design, IBD has raised so far over 1 million in funding by angel investors and grants. It is now facing a new round of funding. http://www.ibdbiomed.com Future of Media Conference transitions to digitised online events Arena Events has announced that the Future of Media Conference will go ahead as a series of digitised online events instead of a physical conference that would take place on 1 October. "We can't predict the easing of the current lockdown, so transitioning this eagerly anticipated industry event to an online series is the most sensible way to move forward. This also ensures that media and marketing professionals will continue to have a platform for engagement on industry issues and innovation," says Taryn Westoby, head of Arena Events Panellists in the discussion, moderated by Pearl Sokhulu (managing director, Vuma 103 FM), include Bronwyn Williams (trend translator and future finance specialist, Flux Trends), Chris Botha (group managing director, Park Advertising), and Claire Luella Denham-Dyson (head anthropologist, Demographica). The Future of Media Conference is directed towards the media, advertising and marketing sectors, where the paradigm shift that's happening in the media environment. The Future of Media digitised series kicks off at 10am on 29 May 2020. The Ukrainian side in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on the peaceful settlement of the situation in Donbas once again denied the possibility of enshrining the special status of ORDLO in the Constitution of Ukraine. This was discussed at the regular meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group, which was held through video conferencing on April 22, the press service of the Presidents Office reports. "The Ukrainian side once again categorically denied the possibility of fixing the special status of the ORDLO in the Constitution of Ukraine," the report reads. During the work of the political group, Ukraine emphasized the need to implement the agreements the leaders of the Normandy Four reached at the Paris summit in order to hold the next meeting in Berlin in the near future. In addition, the Ukrainian party initiated the creation of a working group within the TCG with the participation of representatives of the border and customs services of Ukraine and Russia and the OSCE mediators to develop a mechanism for restoring Ukraines control over the state border. The possibility of creating such groups is envisaged in paragraph 13 of the Complex of Measures on the Fulfillment of the Minsk Agreements. As part of the work of the security group, the Ukrainian party shared concerns of the OSCE representatives about the fact that the work of the OSCE SMM was blocked in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and insisted on the unconditional and unhindered access of observers to the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas. Also, the work to identify the next disengagement areas was continued within the security group. The humanitarian group continued to work on the lists for the next phase of the mutual release of detained persons. The achievements of the Ukrainian party in the humanitarian demining of social objects, including schools, kindergartens, hospitals, cemeteries, etc., were also noted. In addition, taking into account humanitarian criteria, the TCG participants agreed on the need to intensify preparations for the opening of new checkpoints at the delimitation line. ish Yesterday we woke up to a piece of news that definitely took us by surprise. We found out that Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg decided to take a 9.9 percent stake in Reliance Jio for a whopping Rs 43,574 crores. It's being touted as the largest foreign-direct investment by a technology company in an Indian firm, which is huge from an economic perspective. Reuters This investment made Facebook the largest minority shareholder in Jio, and the deal is touted by Reliance Jio as the largest FDI minority stake by a tech company ever. And surely it was something that one couldnt have anticipated -- especially since COVID-19 has almost crippled everything in the world. And surely people are looking at this from different perspectives. Some saw this as a good move as it would help more people to be employed while aiding smaller businesses, whereas some felt its just another way for Facebook to collect and misuse user data from people of India. Anand Mahindra too spoke about it, but with way more optimism, showing how India would be even more relevant globally, post COVID-19 crisis is over, or at least once it's a bit more tamed. Twitter He tweeted stating, Jios deal with Facebook is good not just for the two of them. Coming as it does during the virus-crisis, it is a strong signal of Indias economic importance post the crisis. It strengthens hypotheses that the world will pivot to India as a new growth epicentre. Bravo Mukesh! And this is actually happening. Due to COVID-19, various tech brands have lost faith in China and have started to move their business markets elsewhere. Leading tech giants from Japan or the US are moving their manufacturing business from China to other developing countries like India, Vietnam, Thailand. Heck, Japan is actually paying brands to shift manufacturing facilities back in the country. Reuters Today, India has strengthened its grip on smartphone manufacturing. Were seeing iPhones being made in India, even Samsung established the worlds largest smartphone manufacturing facility in Noida. What do you feel about the collaboration between Facebook and Reliance Jio? Tell us in the comments below. Remember the time when you would hear someone cough and you would ask them if they are okay? Now, that has changed to maintaining as much physical distance from the person, instead of offering them a cup of hot ginger tea. The novel pandemic Coronavirus has taken over people's lives and made them anxious and fearful, and looking at the current situation, it doesn't seem like people are going to get back to their normal way of life anytime soon. From using masks to washing hands for more than 20 seconds, everyone is taking preventive measures to keep themselves safe from the infection. Apologies in advance to be the bearer of bad news, but researchers have discovered that there is a possibility of another function of our body - aside from coughing - being contagious. And that's farts Medium No, we are not fart-ing around with you. It's true! A new body of research is suggesting that farts might be the latest form of transmission to spread the infection. If you thought farts could just stink, think again. The research During a podcast, an Australian doctor mentioned the research to warn the citizens about the dangers of farting in the time of coronavirus. He said there was a possible link between flatulence and the spread of the infection. He said that farting, especially without wearing clothes, could lead to the spread of the virus. TOI He advised people to follow social-distancing protocol and not fart while being close to another person. He said, I think that what we should do in terms of social distancing and being safe is that you dont fart close to other people, and that you dont fart with your bottom bare." Even though we don't really fart when we are close to other people (I really hope so), Dr Andy Tagg, the lead Australian researcher for the study took to Twitter to share the information. He pointed out that just like faeces, farts also contain aerosol particles which can be possible carriers of disease. Andy Tagg (@andrewjtagg) April 6, 2020 In order to make sure his research is accurate, Dr Tagg carried out tests on COVID-19 positive patients and came to find out that 55 percent of them had the virus present in their stool. Transmission of disease through faeces is something experts have already warned us about and we know we shouldn't come in contact with it. However, now people will need to be extra careful of the silent fart as well. Past studies have revealed that farts have the potential to fuel germ growth which further helps them reach longer distances and spread diseases further. However, no conclusive evidence was found related to viral growth. iStock Also, there is no published data in the world which proves that flatulence alone can impose any risk of transmission, especially in a clothed person. The researcher emphasizes on the importance of how clothing is keeping us safe and cutting down the risk of transmission by suppressing the farts. So, no bare-bottom farting please! The Chinese wing of Centres of Disease Control and Prevention also made the same claim earlier this year when the virus was initially starting to spread. Andy Tagg (@andrewjtagg) April 6, 2020 Will public places will have 'No farting' signs now? The head of the Democratic Party of Otero County alleged two Otero County officials violated New Mexicos Inspection of Public Records Act. In the complaint filed April 21, Jeff Swanson alleged he was blocked from a Facebook page managed by Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin where county commission business was being discussed. If a public servant uses a private email account or social media account for public business, it is subject to being inspected through the state Inspection of Public Records Act, New Mexico Foundation for Open Government Executive Director Melanie Majors said. Swanson said he was blocked because of his political views and opinions, a move that constitutes viewpoint discrimination and violates his First Amendment rights, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit also names County Executive Assistant Sylvia Tillbrook, who serves as records custodian for the county. A second cause of action cited in the complaint alleged Tillbrook violated IPRA by failing to produce public records requested by Swansons attorney A. Blair Dunn on March 29. In it, Swanson requested the names of individuals blocked from Griffins personal Facebook account, copies of Facebook Messenger conversations about public business sent or received by Griffin and all posts published by Griffin about public business for a 12-month period. The countys response to the request was a screenshot of a list of blocked accounts, according to the complaint. The complaint also alleged that Griffin deleted Facebook posts containing discussions of public business. Among the relief requested in the lawsuit are compensatory and punitive damages and a request for Otero County to better enforce public record laws. The Alamogordo Daily News reached out to both Tillbrook and Griffin. I feel like our country has much bigger focuses right now, Griffin said. Our country is in a time and place that its never been before. An email to Tillbrook was not answered Wednesday afternoon. Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's holiest shrines, has announced that the holy fasting month of Ramadan will start Friday, as Muslims worldwide face unprecedented restrictions to counter coronavirus. "Based on the sighting of the new month's moon ... it has been decided that Friday is the start of the month of Ramadan," the royal court said Thursday in a statement cited by the SPA news agency. King Salman said he is saddened that Muslims cannot pray at mosques because of coronavirus restrictions. "I am pained that the holy month arrives amid circumstances that make us unable to perform group prayers and Taraweeh -- special Ramadan night prayers -- at mosques due to precautionary measures to protect the peoples' lives and health in combating the coronavirus pandemic," the king said in a statement cited by SPA. Observant Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn to dusk during Ramadan and gather with family to break the fast in the evening. It is also a month of prayers during which Muslims traditionally converge in large numbers at mosques, especially at night. But due to the coronavirus, almost all Muslim majority countries have closed mosques and asked people to pray at home in addition to imposing curfews to limit the spread of the deadly virus. In Yemen, the International Committee of the Red Cross delegation in Sanaa noted that Ramadan comes as the country struggles with war and affliction. "People across Yemen will mark Islam's holy month this year amid ongoing conflict, seasonal diseases, floods and rising prices, in a country where the economic situation doesn't allow two thirds of the population to access or afford enough food," the ICRC said in a statement. The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen called for the cessation of hostilities in a war which has killed tens of thousands of civilians. "To the parties to the conflict, I say: be guided by the spirit of the Holy month and put an end to the suffering of your people," Martin Griffiths said. "Put down the arms. Release all those who lost their liberty due to the conflict. Open humanitarian corridors. Focus on coordinating your efforts to help your country respond to the pandemic outbreak and other emergency needs," he added. Most Arab countries including Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan and Bahrain have announced Friday as the first day of Ramadan. Several countries have eased restrictions on the occasion of the holy month with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt and other countries reducing the duration of the lockdowns. The UAE said on Thursday it has decided to ease a total lockdown to an eight-hour nightly curfew and also moved to partially reopen malls and markets. The start date of Ramadan, the holiest Muslim month, is set by both lunar calculations and physical sightings which determine when one month ends and another begins. bur-oh/cm A small group of Muslim clerics gather for prayer before looking for the crescent moon which will signal the start of the month of Ramadan in Seapoint on April 23, 2020, in Cape Town; Muslims around the world are preparing to celebrate the start of the fasting month of Ramadan Lakhs of students from various universities in Madhya Pradesh have sent over one crore messages to their acquaintances to make them aware about coronavirus and ways to contain spread of the disease. The students took the initiative after Madhya Pradesh Governor Lalji Tandon recently appealed to them through their university administration to spread awareness about COVID-19 among their contacts during the lockdown period. "Nearly 23.16 lakh students of 21 universities across the state sent over 1.34 crore messages about coronavirus and steps to stay protected against it to their contacts through e-mails, WhatsApp and SMS," the governors secretary Manohar Dubey said. The agriculture and veterinary universities in the state also sent such awareness messages to farmers, he said. During a video conference on March 25, Tandon directed vice-chancellors of various universities in the state to undertake public awareness activities so as to prevent the spread of coronavirus. (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 Tri Indah Oktavianti (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 20:20 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3ea764 1 National kamisan,rally,protest,online,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,PSBB,Twitter,Instagram Free As the COVID-19 pandemic forces people to stay indoors, human rights activists have embraced digital platforms to have their voices heard and express their demands. Kamisan, a weekly silent protest held every Thursday in front of the Presidential Palace complex, is one such movement that has shifted to social media. "Online Kamisan will continue to accommodate the struggle against violations of human rights amid the pandemic," the head of the impunity watch division of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), Dimas Bagus Arya Saputra, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. According to Dimas, who is also one of the coordinators of the Kamisan protest, the online version of the silent protest has been conducted since March 19, mainly on Twitter and Instagram. Through an online graphics template posted every Thursday on the @AksiKamisan official Twitter account, Twitter users are able to write in comments and demands relating to human rights issues. This week's Kamisan rally took womens empowerment as the theme in accordance with the Kartini Day celebration. In response to the recent arrest of human rights activist Ravio Patra, Twitter users adopted this weeks Kamisan protest to voice their opinions. "Ibu Kartini would have wept to see her children who fought against injustice being arrested one by one," wrote Twitter account @trisnabayuzzz. In addition, online Kamisan also conducts live Instagram streaming every Thursday at 4 p.m. with different speakers discussing different issues every week. One of the @AksiKamisan social media account administrators, Ahmad Sajali, said a live Instagram streaming could attract up to 1,800 views. "Posts on #kamisanonline have been uploaded hundreds of times through Twitter and Instagram combined," he said. "We have seen more engagement as compared with the usual on-street Kamisan protests during this pandemic." Maria Katarina Sumarsih, a doyen of the Kamisan protest, said the digital rally mostly targeted the younger generation as elderly people rarely used social media. "The Kamisan protest on the street was much more tangible as we could share our voices and demands face to face. I just wish the pandemic would be over soon so we can meet again at the usual Kamisan rally," she told the Post. However, she added that the spirit of the Kamisan protest remained as she still routinely wrote to President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, demanding justice for her son, the victim of a past human rights violation, and other unaddressed contemporary human rights issues. These facilities are ticking time bombs, and in many ways, they are like the closed-in quarters of a cruise ship, said Miriam Krinsky, executive director of Fair and Just Prosecution, which has advocated for decreasing prison and jail populations during the pandemic. If we know there are individuals we believe did not commit the crimes theyre serving time for, its incumbent [on] us, morally and ethically, to be sure they have the ability to vindicate their claims, and not receive a death sentence while waiting for that to happen. At least 60% of immigration detainees who have been tested nationwide have the virus that causes COVID-19, according to federal data. According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 425 of its 32,309 detainees have been tested for the new coronavirus as of Tuesday. The numbers from ICE reveal that only 1.32% of its detainees have been tested. Out of those 425 tests, the agency says on its website that 253 people tested positive as of Wednesday, meaning that 59.5% of people who were tested have the virus. That number could be higher because ICE does not update its website in real time. In the past few weeks, officials have delayed by up to a week in posting the number of confirmed cases on its COVID-19 webpage. ICE does not report on its site how many tests have been administered. The Miami Herald obtained those numbers from an agency official on Wednesday. One of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) highest priorities is the health and safety of those in our custody, ICE said in a statement on Wednesday. Detainees are being monitored and tested for COVID-19 in line with CDC guidance, and in conjunction with the recommendations of state and local health partners. Last week, a federal lawsuit was filed in Miami federal court citing national health experts who said the opposite. According to the sworn statements, health experts say U.S. immigration officials are violating federal guidelines by grouping inmates together by the hundreds if they have COVID-19 symptoms or have been exposed to the coronavirus, a measure that the agency calls cohorting. ICE directly contradicts [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidance in several ways, including, most critically, that ICE officials describe cohorting as the planned response to a known COVID-19 exposure, not a practice of last resort, said Joseph Shin, an assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine, a founding member of the Cornell Center for Health Equity, and past medical director for the Weill Cornell Center for Human Rights, in a sworn statement that is part of the lawsuit. On Tuesday, ICE told a federal judge that 350 detainees more than half of the detainees inside Krome, an immigration detention center in southwest Miami-Dade County have been exposed to COVID-19. But those numbers are likely to be much greater, experts say, due to a lack of testing and the agencys transfer practices. A recent example includes at least 50 Guatemalans being transferred between an airport and detention centers at least 13 times within the last eight days. ICE is also not testing people who have shown serious symptoms, federal sources inside detention centers say. If people are coming and going, and leaving and then coming in, then the number of people that have actually been exposed is way more than 350, Dr. Ashish Jha, director of Harvards Global Health Institute, told the Miami Herald. The idea that you have all these transfers from center to center or to airports, each one of them requires officers and a number of people that you have to interact with, Jha added. Its very risky under the context of coronavirus. So by cohorting people, all you are doing is spreading it among everyone, including people that may not have it. And because we are not testing, there is no way of knowing. 2020 Miami Herald After a sweeping state-wide 'antibody testing' in New York, state Governor Andrew Cuomo, on Thursday, revealed that preliminary estimates show a 13.9% infection rate of Coronavirus (COVID-19), at his daily press briefing. He revealed of the regions affected in the state, New York city topped with 21.2%, long Island at 16.7%, Westchester at 11.7%, and rest of state at 3.6%. Cuomo stated that 3,000 antibody samples have been collected from 40 locations in 19 counties. New York Governor Cuomo announces coronavirus antibody testing Cuomo: 13.9% of New York state affected NEW: The first phase of results from a statewide antibody study are in. We collected approximately 3,000 antibody samples from 40 locations in 19 counties. Preliminary estimates show a 13.9% infection rate. Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 23, 2020 Single-day death toll in New York falls below 500 mark for first time in nearly 3 weeks: Cuomo New York state-wide antibody tests On Sunday, Cuomo had announced state-wide anti-body testing to find out ' what percent of the population actually has had the coronavirus'. Sunday- incidentally, had been the first day that New York reported less than 500 deaths - 478 fatalities, in a single day from the coronavirus in nearly three weeks. Currently, New York has reported 2,68,512 cases with 20,792 deaths. Coronavirus Live Updates: 'India has flattened the curve' says ICMR, case tally at 21393 Cuomo and Trump lock horns Cuomo has often locked horns with Trump, criticising his delayed response to the pandemic. While Cuomo had publically appealed the US government to provide 30,000-40,000 ventilators, Trump has rubbished it. Later, after Trump announced a 3-step plan to 'open the United states', Cuomo formed a regional working group with states like New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts to work out a reopening plan. While Trump has called for 'liberating' several democratic-controlled states, Cuomo , who has extended shutdown in New York till May 15, has saif reopening must be based on 'data, not politics'. Trump and NY Guv Cuomo lock horns over 'opening up US' as New York sees 671 COVID deaths Trump and Coronavirus Trump who had earlier downplayed Coronavirus's effects - terming it a 'Chinese virus', has now called it the 'worst thing to hit the US'. The USA which has overtaken China in the number of positive cases has emerged as the epicenter of the pandemic with 8,66,105 cases and 48,809 deaths. While initially, Trump claimed to have the country 'up and running by Easter', he extended its social distancing restrictions till April 30. The White House, which has forecasted over 1,00,000- 2,40,00 deaths in the US, claims to have started flattening the curve. New Delhi, April 23 : Airline major IndiGo will not institute any pay cuts for the month of April barring only the seniormost leadership. In an email to employees, IndiGo's Chief Executive Ronojoy Dutta informed that there will not be any pay cuts for the month of April. However the leadership team comprising of SVPs and above are taking a 'voluntary' cut to aid the company in dealing with the economic fallout of Covid-19 on the airline. The airline sector is suffering from the lockdown which has been implemented to curb the spread of Covid-19. Significantly, IndiGo will be the only airline to initiate such a step. Earlier, the airline decided to repay the full amount of cancelled tickets to customers who had booked tickets for travel from May 15 onwards. Last month, IndiGo had instituted a pay cut for the majority of its employees. Accordingly, Dutta that time had said: "I am afraid that the impact of the coronavirus on the aviation industry has been particularly severe... Governments across the globe have issued travel advisories which have resulted in a virtual shutdown of all our international flights." In the last instance, Dutta had taken a 25 per cent pay cut. Similarly, senior vice presidents and above took a 20 per cent cut followed by VPs and cockpit crew at 15 per cent, AVPs, Bands D along with cabin crew at 10 per cent and Band Cs at 5 per cent. Commuters are reflected on an advertisement of Reliance Industries' Jio telecoms unit, at a bus stop in Mumbai By Sankalp Phartiyal and Nivedita Bhattacharjee NEW DELHI/BENGALURU (Reuters) - Facebook is set to spend $5.7 billion (4.6 billion pounds) to buy a 9.99% stake in Reliance Industries' digital arm, as it looks to roll out services for India's grocers and small businesses by capitalizing on WhatsApp's extensive reach in the country. The deal announced on Wednesday is Facebook's biggest since its $22 billion buyout of WhatsApp in 2014 and will give the Menlo Park, California-based firm a stake in Jio Platforms - the digital services entity that houses Reliance's telecoms arm Jio Infocomm, as well as its news, movie and music apps, along with other businesses. The transaction is also the eighth largest deal in Asia this year based on deal value, according to Refinitiv data, and comes at a time when the coronavirus outbreak has stifled mergers and acquisitions activity globally. To kick off the partnership, Facebook's WhatsApp messenger, which counts India as its biggest market with about 400 million users, will help fuel the growth of Jio's new retail venture, JioMart, the two companies said. "In the near future JioMart ... and WhatsApp will empower nearly 30 million small Indian kirana (grocery) shops to digitally transact with every customer in their neighborhood," Mukesh Ambani, Reliance chairman and Asia's richest man, said in a video statement. JioMart, the e-commerce venture of Reliance's retail arm, offers customers free express grocery deliveries from neighbourhood mum-and-pop stores. It is yet to be launched across India, and is likely to pose a formidable challenge to Amazon.com's local unit and Walmart's Flipkart, which are also betting big on groceries to grow. For Reliance, the deal will help the oil-to-retail group, which bet over $30 billion on the Jio telecoms venture, reduce its debt load. FACEBOOK INDIA ROADMAP Story continues The companies said the potential benefits of the deal were manifold, but shied away from giving details. "We will really look to explore multiple areas of collaboration," Ajit Mohan, the India head of Facebook, told journalists on a call. "And the spirit of it will be - can we open new doors? Can we open new avenues?" The investment, according to tech and retail analysts, will give Facebook new means to expand in India, its biggest market outside of the United States. Facebook's offerings such as WhatsApp Business, which allows businesses to catalogue products and send automated replies, and a payment service, could be handy tools for millions of small retailers and customers that Reliance wants to tie together. The alliance with Jio, which has over 380 million subscribers, could also help WhatsApp evolve into an Indian version of Chinese internet giant Tencent's <0700.HK> WeChat, which allows users to chat, make payments and book flights and hotels, a source with direct knowledge of the deal said. "The idea is to turn the Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram ecosystem into something like that. What Facebook don't want to do is go out and deal with the physical task of building warehouses, keeping inventory. They don't want to be a Walmart or an Amazon," the source added, declining to be identified as details of the deal were private. RELIANCE'S SWAY The perceived closeness between Reliance chairman Ambani - who has net worth of $49.2 billion, according to Forbes - and India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party could also ease Facebook's struggles in country which has taken Big Tech to task over issues such as misinformation and data privacy, sources said. WhatsApp's payments service has been awaiting regulatory clearances for nearly two years, and India has previously blamed WhatsApp for the spread of misinformation and fake news. Facebook's Mohan, however, played down the idea of the deal being aimed at smoothing regulatory issues, saying it was squarely focused on meeting the needs of small business owners. Reliance has always pitched Jio as a technology company and it is using its financial muscle to build smart homes, which could rival Amazon's Alexa-based solutions, connected cars and security systems. For all of those, it could potentially tap into Facebook's tech prowess. "They (Reliance) have great ambition. As they try to build a retail business on top of the core Jio base, this deal provides them with a mechanism for not having to go through a hit and trial method, but leverage some technologies that are proven," said Atul Kunwar, a former Chief Technology officer at one of India's biggest IT firms, Tech Mahindra . Shares in Reliance ended 10% higher after rising as much as 12% earlier on the news, contributing nearly half the gains on the NSE Nifty 50 index on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley acted as financial adviser for Reliance, while AZB & Partners and Davis Polk & Wardwell acted as legal counsel. Facebook was advised by Bank of America. (This story corrects paragraph 2 to say Facebook is based in Menlo Park, California, not Cupertino, California) (Reporting by Sankalp Phartiyal in New Delhi and Nivedita Bhattacharjee in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Bhargav Acharya and Subrat Patnaik in Bengaluru, Nidhi Verma in New Delhi, Katie Paul in San Francisco, Sumeet Chatterjee and Sayantani Ghosh in Singapore; Editing by Edwina Gibbs, Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Mark Potter) Ghanas gross international reserves is projected to decline to 2.7 months of imports by end of this year. This is assuming exceptional financial support of about US$1.3 billion by the International Monetary Fund and other international financial institutions. The declined in the foreign reserves might pose some pressure on the stability of the cedi. Ghanas gross international reserves declined by GH168 million in January 2020. According to the Bank of Ghana, the gross reserves stood at GHS8.249 billion in January 2020 from GHS8.418 billion in December 2019. The report said the January 2020 cash and other reserve assets held by the central bank was 3.94 months of imports cover. This meant that in case the country experiences any shock, it could fund imports by only 3.94 months. The IMF said the coronavirus pandemic posses threat to inflows and commodity prices particularly crud oil. A more extensive and prolonged domestic COVID-19 outbreak would have severe human consequences and lead to a steep economic contraction in 2020 and lower recovery in 2021. Food insecurity would rise with disrupted trade and markets, and poverty would worsen. Globally, a slower-than-expected recovery could lead to further declines in oil and cocoa prices and a reversal of gold price increases., it explained. In December 2019, Ghanas gross international reserves was 4.05 months of import cover. --- classfmonline.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Alya Nurbaiti and Riza Roidila (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 22:32 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3ec63c 1 National COVID-19,coronavirus,virus-corona,virus-korona-indonesia,transportation-ministry,mudik,mudik-ban,passenger-service,suspension,idul-fitri-exodus Free The Transportation Ministry will restrict all passenger travel starting on Friday as the government attempts to prevent citizens from participating in the annual Idul Fitri tradition of mudik (exodus) to curb the spread of COVID-19. The ban will not apply to cargo transportation or to vehicles serving special purposes, such as ambulances and fire trucks. The ban will apply to all types of public and private transportation by air, sea, land and railway, except for vehicles carrying leaders of state institutions, police and military vehicles, ambulances, fire trucks, hearses and vehicles transporting logistical supplies, staple goods and medicines, ministry spokesperson Adita Irawati said in a statement on Thursday. She added that the ban would apply to vehicles entering and leaving regions that had imposed large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) and those that had been declared COVID-19 red zones. The ministry's air transportation director general, Novie Riyanto, said all passenger transportation to domestic and overseas destinations both commercial and chartered flights would be suspended starting Friday at midnight until June 1. Read also: 'I need to protect my family': Jakartans nix homecoming trips following COVID-19 'mudik' ban The ban does not apply to flights carrying leaders of state institutions or foreign envoys, nor does it apply to aircraft engaging in special repatriation operations for Indonesians or foreign nationals. Air cargo transportation will also be permitted. Air navigation services will remain in operation. Meanwhile, airports will stay open to serve aircraft as they take off and land, said Novie. The ministrys land transportation director general Budi Setiyadi said toll, national and provincial roads would remain open. However, checkpoints would be set up at several locations, guarded by police and military personnel as well as ministry officials. The restriction on land transportation will apply until May 31. Zulfikri, the ministrys train director general, said all train service until June 15 would be canceled and that passengers who had already purchased tickets would receive full refunds. Passenger transportation by sea will be suspended until June 8. Ships are permitted to transport only goods until that time. Adita said anyone found breaking the mudik ban would be sanctioned, as the ministerial decree on the ban stipulated punishments for violators. The punishments ranged from being ordered to return to the point of departure to fines. Your phone soon might know if you have spent time near someone with the COVID-19 virus. Thats the premise behind new apps that developers worldwide are racing to write to aid in contact tracing finding and alerting people whove been exposed to the coronavirus so they can break the chain of transmission, such as by getting tested and quarantining themselves. Public health experts and Gov. Gavin Newsom say widespread testing and contact tracing are key to easing current restrictions on social and commercial life. Bay Area counties and other locations are already doing traditional contact tracing, which involves calling newly diagnosed people and interviewing them about their past two weeks of activities, and then calling all those with whom they had extended contact. Harnessing smartphones, which the Pew Research Center says are used by 81% of adult Americans, could supplement and speed up the painstaking process. It could help find people even when an infected person didnt know their names or forgot spending time with them. We believe we can accelerate the detection of the virus, said Micha Benoliel, CEO of Nodle.io, a San Francisco company that spun out a nonprofit, Coalition Network, to write a tracing app called Coalition. This is a tool to protect you and give you information as soon as possible if you have been in contact with it. If we want things to get back to normal, this is the fastest way to do it, said Tina White, a Stanford doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering, who originated Covid Watch, an app being developed by dozens of volunteers. Its also altruistic, so your friends and family get informed earlier and can take the right actions. Its a very pro-social thing to do. Efforts by developers got a huge boost this month when Apple and Google, in a rare instance of collaboration, said they will build technology into iPhones and Android phones to enable widespread tech-enabled contact tracing while maintaining user privacy. The two companies will release software tools for developers in May to harness Bluetooth signals for contact tracing. The short-range wireless technology is built into most modern smartphones. Apple and Googles involvement is very, very helpful, said Rhys Fenwick, a founding member of the Covid Watch team. There have been a few problems with the nitty-gritty guts of how the app works and how to get devices to talk to one another over Bluetooth. Apple and Google can fix those issues; they have fundamental access to the phones in a way we dont. To ensure that they uncover as many contacts as possible, smartphone apps need widespread adoption. App developers say they are talking to public health authorities in cities, counties and entire countries who would like to roll out the technology for their citizens. Most of the apps are free, the underlying software code released as open source. Some apps from different developers may be able to talk to one another to safely and privately exchange contact data. Even though all the U.S. app developers pledge strict privacy controls, its a big hurdle to ask people to install apps that will monitor their movements and contacts. Some could be wary knowing that China, Israel and Singapore have used contact-tracing apps that were decried as invading privacy. But some public-health experts think that citizens might become amenable to monitoring, considering the alternatives. This could be your ticket out of shelter in place, said Josh Michaud, associate director for global health policy at the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation, which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. If we see large-scale transmission or rapidly increasing deaths again, it could be that psychology would change, he said. People would understand that for us to have a functional society and achieve some level of normalcy, that theyd need to make the small sacrifice of downloading an app and keeping it on their phone and monitoring. Ben Bartlett, a Berkeley city councilman, made similar points. If it comes to being locked in your house all the time, not making any money, not having human contact versus having an app on your phone that helps you integrate back into the community, I think the choices are pretty clear, he said. Bartlett held an online town hall Wednesday to introduce his constituents to Coalition. The city hasnt yet officially vetted that app or others, Bartlett said, but he wants to give people hope for a homegrown solution, a smarter way to engage this problem. Other Bay Area cities say they are open to contact-tracing apps. I think all avenues should be pursued, said Dr. Susan Philip, director of disease prevention and control for the San Francisco Department of Public Health. Nothing beats good old-fashioned being able to talk to health professionals who can answer questions and provide assistance, but there are definitely roles to be played by these tech applications. If they can complement the work our in-person team is doing, were happy to look at them. Besides privacy concerns, the digital divide could be an issue. Heavy reliance on apps could worsen the current disparity in risks and adverse outcomes for COVID-19, said Dr. Dan Diekema, director of the division of infectious diseases at the University of Iowas Carver College of Medicine. The people more likely to be early adopters and users of apps would be higher socioeconomic strata. Benoliel said Coalition is working on an app for flip phones and other non-smartphone models still used by roughly 1 in 7 Americans, according to Pew to address this. There are two ways the apps work: Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Bluetooth Coalition and Covid Watch both rely on Bluetooth, which is the short-range wireless technology that Google and Apple are using for their software. An app uses Bluetooth to perform proximity sensing, recording everyone nearby whos carrying the same app or a compatible one. It makes this anonymous by using random numbers to identify those contacts. If any of those people later test positive for the coronavirus, they notify the app and it in turn notifies you, without revealing the identity of the virus case. Although exact parameters can be easily adjusted, spending 10 minutes or more within 6 feet of someone is an example of the time and distance for which an app might be set to track proximity. The records would go back two weeks, to capture the average virus incubation period another factor that could be adjusted as scientific understanding of the virus evolves. Benoliel said Coalition has a leg up on this technical challenge. His previous company wrote FireChat, a peer-to-peer chat app that lets smartphones communicate via Bluetooth without a cellular network or the internet. It has been used by protesters in Iraq, India, Ecuador and China; by people at the Burning Man festival and by disaster workers. Covid Watch said it guards against false reports of infection by providing an app to doctors that will generate a unique number for people who test positive to enter when they self-report. GPS Another approach uses GPS, a satellite-based position detection technology, to track where you go, storing that data on your phone. The data can generate a heat map with time stamps showing how long you spent at each location. If you test positive for the coronavirus, public health authorities would ask you to share that location information so they could anonymize it and then reach out to others who spent time at those places. Even if you didnt have the app, as long as your phone had location services turned on, health officials could upload Google Maps record of your movements. Then, that information could be used to track down those who were near you. A team with more than 900 volunteers centered at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is working on the GPS approach, viewing it as an infrastructure that others can build upon. Covid Safe Paths is the user app, and web software for public health authorities is called Safe Places. Safe Paths also will use Bluetooth for proximity sensing. We call it the infectometer, like a dosimeter for radiation, said Ramesh Raskar, an MIT Media Lab professor who has spearheaded the effort. Hes a veteran of Facebook, Apple and Google. You need to know, did I get too much exposure? Its an early warning system. Susan Garfield, principal in health sciences and wellness at consulting firm Ernst & Young, who is volunteering with Safe Paths, said using the apps will benefit society. It asks people to join the collective fight against coronavirus, she said. It isnt something were going to beat with folks sitting down and doing nothing and acting like we all have before. These technologies are part of the request to have us all in this together and do our part to both learn about our exposure, and limit the risk we present to others. Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid Iran Says It Put Military Satellite Into Orbit By VOA News April 22, 2020 Iran's Revolutionary Guard said Wednesday it successfully launched the country's first military satellite into orbit. The was no immediate independent confirmation of the launch, which followed several failed attempts. The Guard said it launched the two-stage Noor satellite from the country's central desert. The United States has raised objections to Iran's satellite program, alleging it is being used to develop ballistic missiles that could one day carry nuclear warheads. Iran has rejected the allegations and said its nuclear program was only for civilian purposes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Communavirus: Brazilian government believes COVID-19 is a Communist plot (and Nazism a Communist ideology) 23. 4. 2020 / Fabiano Golgo cas cteni 5 minut Photo: Brazilian PM Jair Bolsonaro and his foreign secretary Ernesto Araujo The Brazilian government published an official note on coronavirus. It was not a guideline for tackling this which is the worst health crisis in history, but a warning about the need to fight Communism: "Coronavirus makes us awaken again to the Communist nightmare. Comunavirus has arrived", the text warns. Signed by the Minister of Foreign Relations, Ernesto Araujo, it argues that "Marxists have been hiding for thirty years: globalism replaces socialism as a preparatory stage for Communism. The coronavirus pandemic represents an immense opportunity to build a world order without nations and without freedom," said the Brazilian minister, on behalf of the government of Jair Bolsonaro. "Since the fall of the Berlin Wall, when Communism did not die, but only provided itself with new instruments, globalism became the new path of Communism", wrote the minister. "The virus appears, in fact, as an immense opportunity to accelerate the globalist project. This was already being implemented through environmentalism, gender ideology, politically correct dogmatism, immigrationism, racialism and the reorganization of society by the principles of race, antinationalism and scientism. They are efficient instruments, but the pandemic, putting individuals and societies in the face of the panic of imminent death, represents the exponentialization of all of them", said the Brazilian in name of former army captain turned far-right populist president Bolsonaro. "On the pretext of the pandemic, the new Communism is about building a world without nations, without freedom, without spirit, ran by a central agency of solidarity, charged with watching and punishing. A state of permanent global exception, turning the world into a great concentration camp," warned the head of Brazilian diplomacy. "In view of this we need to fight for the health of the body and for the health of the human spirit, against coronavirus but also against the Communavirus, which tries to seize the destructive opportunity opened by the former, a parasite of the parasite", completed the minister, who in the past wrote that Donald Trump came to power because he is a direct envoy of Jesus... For the minister, the Left has "hijacked" the concept of solidarity to implement this project of saving the world from COVID-19. "Solidarity is another noble and dignified concept that the Left intends to kidnap and pervert, corrupt from within, to serve its libertine purposes. They have already done or tried to do the same with the concepts of justice, tolerance, human rights, with the very concept of freedom," he wrote. "Transferring national powers to WHO, under the (never proven!) pretext that a centralised international body is more efficient at dealing with problems than countries acting individually, is only the first step in building planetary Communist solidarity". "At the expense of the destruction of the jobs that allow the dignified and minimally autonomous survival of millions and millions of people, at the price of dismantling their freedom and their livelihood, a world is attained in peace with itself. Communism has always stated that its goal is peace and emancipation of all humanity. Now, in a deserted city, without jobs, without life, where each one is a prisoner in his cubicle, under the supervision of a supreme authority that is not even the government of his own country (which may well be dictatorial, but at least still has a face and a flag), but an anonymous and unattainable global agency, there is the perfect configuration of so-called peace and Communist emancipation" , insisted, in a reference once again, to the possibility of a government led by WHO and other international entities. He also claims again that Nazism was a Communist ideology: "Those who still do not believe that Nazism was simply a route deviation from Communist utopia, and not its opposite, need perhaps this important element of reflection." "According to Marxism, Arbeit macht frei is the correct motto of the new era of global solidarity that is coming as a result of the pandemic, and what differentiates this new world from the Auschwitz camp is that now it will be used by this horrible lie surrounding isolation because of the virus, which perverts and humiliates two sacred values of humanity: work and freedom. The Communists will not repeat the mistake of the Nazis and this time they will make the correct use of this power that emanates from fear. How? By convincing people that it's for their own good that they'll be trapped in this concentration camp, devoid of dignity and freedom. Nazis are Communists who did not bother to deceive their victims, while COVID-19 provides an opportunity to correct that mistake", he wrote. His insistence on linking Communism to Nazism led the German embassy to issue a note of repudiation, repeating that Nazism is a far-right ideology and that Communists were the first to be persecuted by Hitler. It was the sixth time the embassy in Brasilia, which this Tuesday commemorated 60 years since its inauguration by president Juscelino Kubitschek, with the futuristic architecture of communist Oscar Niemeyer, had to issue such a statement clarifying that Nazism is not Communism. Of course the official text had to end with an attack on political correctness. "Now, political correctness incorporated the item of sanitarily correct, even more powerful", he wrote. "It grabs you, handcuffs you and threatens you: If you do not act in a specific way, sanitarily, you put at risk the whole of society. If you pronounce the word freedom you are a subversive who wants to cause your entire population to die you are expected to just and only respect the rules. They want to control the language to kill the spirit, here is the essence of current Communism, this Communism that suddenly found in coronavirus a treasure of oppression. I have also said before and repeat: the real enemy that Communism wants to slaughter is not Capitalism, the enemy of Communism is the human spirit, in its complexity and beauty. It is the human spirit that this ideological virus has come to destroy," he finished. Bolsonaro added emojis of hands clapping to Araujos text and posted it in his official government pages and social media, for his dozens of millions of followers. 0 Members of the Pacific economic inspection tour party from Japan yesterday afternoon paid unofficial calls upon the Lord Mayor of Melbourne and the Premier of Victoria. On each visit they were accompanied by the honorary Consul for Japan, Mr. D. York Syme. The Lord Mayor, Cr. Wales, received the visitors in his private rooms at the Town Hall and friendly greetings were exchanged. From the Town Hall the Japanese party went to the State Government offices and were introduced to the Premier by their leader, Dr. K. Abe. The spokesman for the party, Mr. K. Sato, after explaining that the main purpose of the mission to Australia was to promote happy trade and general relationships between the two countries, said members of the party desired to learn all they could about Australia and her people, and to educate the people of Japan in the knowledge of Australia. Soon after their return to Japan they would organise exhibitions of Australian primary and secondary products in Osaka and Tokio, and later they would arrange for larger exhibitions of Australian and New Zealand goods. They would be very gratified if the Premier would interest Australian manufacturers in these exhibitions, in order to ensure that the displays should be as representative as possible. The newspaper company (Osaka "Mainichi") with which he and Dr. Abe were associated intended to undertake a nation-wide campaign for the promotion of a better understanding between Japan and Australia. After their return home it would issue an Australian photographic supplement of from fifty to 100 pages, with an issue of about 5,000,000 copies, for circulation throughout the world. The Premier (Mr. Dunstan) thanked the visitors for their courtesy in calling upon him, and expressed the hope that the cordial relations between Australia and Japan would long continue. Their visit, he was sure, would strengthen the ties of friendship that already existed. He appreciated the spirit which prompted the promotion of exhibitions of Australian goods in Japan and the printing of a special supplement, on such a large scale, to commemorate the visit to Australia. Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (28) eclipse_images If you're awaiting a federal stimulus payment and you haven't filed tax returns, beware: Hackers have set their sights and sites on your $1,200 check. Scammers have set up more than 180,000 coronavirus-themed websites in an attempt to steal data or misinform consumers, according to data from Checkphish by Bolster. The security firm has spotted more than 149,000 suspicious domain registrations with the term "stimulus check" in them. Last week, the IRS began distributing its economic impact payments to households all over the country. Individuals are eligible for up to $1,200, while those who are married and file jointly can get up to $2,400. Households are also eligible for $500 per child under age 17. The IRS determines what you get based on the adjusted gross income reported on your 2018 or 2019 tax return. Single filers with an AGI between $75,000 and $99,000 ($150,000 and $198,000 if you're married and filing jointly) get smaller payments. Non-filers people who don't submit tax returns because they don't earn enough money to be required to do so are also eligible for stimulus checks. They must enter their personal data into a website hosted by the IRS to have the money direct deposited into a bank account. Therein lies a massive security problem, data security experts said. "The IRS is asking consumers for their mailing addresses, email addresses it's all appropriate information," said Rivka Little, senior vice president of marketing and strategy at Socure. "But all of those points of data are out there; they're already breached and attainable," she said. Data breaches Getty Images: Marco Piunti In 2019, there were 7,098 data breaches, exposing more than 15.1 billion records, according to data from Risk Based Security. In some cases, individuals themselves offer their own data on a silver platter via social media. This is why you shouldn't share your birthday, full name, email address and other details. Armed with this data, scammers could try grabbing non-filers' stimulus payments and routing the cash elsewhere. "Now, it's fraudsters entering consumers' information in order to divert the money," Little said. "It's important for financial institutions to watch for a rise in new bank accounts. "Are you looking at the activity that happens after this new account is established?" Impersonating the IRS Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Arya Dipa (The Jakarta Post) Bandung Thu, April 23, 2020 08:23 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3a7e62 1 National COVID-19,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,West-Java,PSBB,Greater-Jakarta,Greater-Bandung,large-scale-social-restrictions,mudik,coronavirus,virus-corona,virus-korona-indonesia Free The West Java health agency has said that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the province will continue to rise even as cities and regencies in the province begin implementing large-scale social restrictions (PSBB). In accordance with our initial prediction and with the efforts that have been made, we will see the peak occur between April 22 and May 29, agency head Berli Hamdani said on Tuesday. The Health Ministry approved requests from the Bogor and Depok administrations on April 11 to implement PSBB in the areas, and the restrictions were officially enacted on April 15. The Greater Bandung region enacted PSBB on Wednesday. Berli said the PSBB policy would be evaluated on a daily basis. West Java is the nations second-hardest-hit province behind Jakarta with a total of 762 confirmed cases, or about 10 percent of the countrys official count of 7,418 as of Wednesday. Berli called on people in West Java to follow social restrictions in an orderly fashion. We must be disciplined in maintaining distance and avoiding crowds. Gatherings that are usually carried out during Ramadan should be limited, and we should remain at home, said Berli. Read also: COVID-19: West Java distributes cash, food to Greater Bandung residents prior to PSBB West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil has asked 27 regents and mayors in West Java, including those who have not requested PSBB implementation, to expand COVID-19 rapid testing. Berli said the administration had distributed 93,000 rapid testing kits throughout the province and that his agency had received 71,000 test results, 1,664 of which were positive for COVID-19. He said that those who had tested positive later underwent the more accurate, though slower, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, which resulted in 397 confirmed cases of COVID-19. We have submitted the data to the Health Ministry and the number has been included in the national case report, said Berli. West Java COVID-19 task force secretary Daud Achmad said he strongly agreed with President Joko Jokowi Widodos decision to ban the Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) prior to Ramadan. We have appealed to the public not to go home, not to go on holiday, said Daud. Hopefully, the ban can suppress and eventually cut off the spread of COVID-19. The West Java Transportation Agency reported that about 253,000 people had already returned to their hometowns in the province, based on data on arrivals registered at airports, seaports, train stations and bus terminals. Last year, the agency recorded 3.6 million people entering West Java in the weeks before Idul Fitri. (syk) VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2020 / FinCanna Capital Corp. ("FinCanna") (CALI.CN)(FNNZF) a royalty company for the U.S. licensed cannabis industry is pleased to announce that its portfolio company, QVI Inc., a cannabis-infused product manufacturer located in Sonoma County, California and doing business as "The Galley", has been issued its Distribution Type 11 license by the California Bureau of Cannabis Control. The Type 11 Distribution license is an important addition to QVI receiving its Manufacturing license announced last week, as it positions the facility to deliver a full spectrum of licensed services further supporting the QVI value proposition as a "one-stop shop" for both in and out-of-state brands. The Type 11 License authorizes the transporting of cannabis goods between licensees including delivery to retail outlets, arranging for testing of cannabis goods and conducting the quality assurance review of cannabis goods to ensure compliance with all packaging and labeling requirements. The Galley facility is built to FDA and CDPH standards and is focused on high demand areas of production; Edibles, Topicals, Tinctures, Chocolates, Hard Candies, Gummies, Beverages, Vapes, Pre-Rolls and Flower Packaging. Annie Holman Co-Founder of QVI said, "This Distribution license allows us to deliver additional important services to our clients, greatly simplifying their transport and logistics requirements allowing them to focus on what they do best which is to build great brands. We are currently onboarding new co-manufacturing clients at our state-of-the-art facility and are pleased to now provide all distribution related services in becoming a true "one-stop" service provider. "The acquisition of the Distribution license is another important accomplishment for QVI as they have now, under one roof, connected the licensed supply chain from cultivator to retailer. This end-to-end capability further enhances their value proposition to cannabis brands looking to scale their business," said Andriyko Herchak, CEO of FinCanna Capital. "QVI's superior competitive positioning supports long-term growth as they continue to build on the strong demand for their services they are currently experiencing." Story continues QVI expects to be shipping finished products from its 8,300 square foot state-of-the-art co-manufacturing facility to the market within the next three to five weeks. Under the Royalty Agreement, FinCanna will receive a tiered corporate royalty, adjusted based on revenues, ranging from 15% to 6% of QVI's total revenues, with the top royalty rate of 15% on the first US$20 million of annual sales until cumulative royalties to FinCanna of US$10 million are achieved. In addition, FinCanna is entitled to earn a Supplemental Payment, when coupled with the royalty, will now ensure FinCanna receives a minimum of 35% of the annual after-tax net income from QVI. The supplemental payment will accrue annually and be paid out upon certain triggering events, including a change of control, an initial public offering or certain other specified events of QVI. About QVI QVI, which stands for Quality, Value and Integrity, is located in Sonoma County, California. Their purpose-built facility known as The Galley is differentiated from other contract manufactures by its automated capabilities to produce virtually all high-value cannabis products at large volumes under one roof. The facility is built to FDA and CDPH standards and is focused on high demand areas of production; Edibles, Topicals, Tinctures, Chocolates, Hard Candies, Gummies, Beverages, Vapes, Pre-Rolls and Flower Packaging. QVI's immediate goal is to become the premier contract manufacturer in California, the largest single market in North America and, upon success, to license products nationally and globally. About FinCanna Capital Corp. FinCanna is a royalty company that provides growth capital to rapidly emerging private companies operating in the licensed U.S cannabis industry. The company earns its revenue from royalties paid by its investee companies that are calculated based on a percentage their total revenues. FinCanna's scalable royalty model provides an attractive alternative or complement to debt or equity financing for its investee companies. FinCanna is focused on delivering high-impact returns to its shareholders by way of a strategically diversified investment portfolio. For additional information visit www.fincannacapital.com and FinCanna's profile at www.sedar.com FinCanna Capital Corp. Andriyko Herchak, CEO & Director Investor Relations: Arlen Hansen Kin Communications 1-866-684-6730 CALI@kincommunications.com Forward-Looking Information Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements about the market for, and effectiveness of, QVI products or services, the ability of QVI to commence and expand operations and generate sales, revenues profits and positive cashflows, the results of operations of QVI and the timing thereof, QVI's client lists, FinCanna's ability to fund and source future projects, and FinCanna's ability to earn and realize revenues from its investee companies. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the risks identified in the CSE listing statement available at www.SEDAR.com and other reports and filings with the applicable Canadian securities regulators. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made, and the respective companies undertake no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. SOURCE: FinCanna Capital Corp. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/586573/FinCanna-Portfolio-Company-QVI-Inc-Receives-California-Cannabis-Distribution-License Earlier, an apparent tornado killed three people and injured 20 to 30 more in and around the Southeast Texas town of Onalaska. Suspected twisters destroyed 46 homes and damaged another 245 in the surrounding area, according to Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy. The judge told the Beaumont Enterprise on Thursday that the dead included a woman in her 20s, a man in his 50s and another man whose age they dont know. For iOS users, the most exciting thing about the October events is perhaps not the launch of a new lineup of devices, but the OS upgrade, which can make every iPhone feel like a brand new one. This time there are a ton of new features, and we have rounded up the most useful ones right here. Hey Sirish If you want to check out the new local sounding Siri voice, go to Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Speech > Voice > English (India) > Rishi. Boost your battery life One of the bad habits that ruins battery life is keeping the phone plugged in overnight. iOS 13 has a feature that predicts when you are going to wake up, and stops charging the battery beyond 80 percent. To turn the feature on, go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health and toggle Optimised Battery Charging. However, this is a measure that can be iffy, especially if you have unpredictable sleep timings. It is better to invest in a wall charger with a programmable timer for a few hundred bucks to achieve better results. Low data mode This is a new setting that allows you to limit the amount of data use, and can be particularly useful towards the end of the billing cycles of your service provider. Go to Settings > Mobile Data Options and toggle Low Data Mode. Keep watch on the kind of apps you use, as some applications aggressively download data despite the phone being in low data mode. Speed up copy pasting This is an incredibly useful and intuitive new gesture, which makes you think why it hasnt been implemented for ten years. After selecting a chunk of text, pinch with three fingers to copy it. When you want to paste it, simply do a reverse pinch with three fingers. Make exceptions to DND iOS 13 now supports allowing a selection of your contacts to get through to you, even when the Do Not Disturb mode is enabled. There are two ways to go about doing this, as a group or individually. For the group approach, go through your contact list, and tap on the ones that you want to take calls for even in DND mode, then, tap on Add to Favourites. Now go to Settings > Do Not Disturb > Allow Calls From > Favorites. You can also allow calls from people individually, without adding them to the Favorites group. To do this, go to the contact, then Edit > Ringtone and toggle on Emergency Bypass. You can also set a custom and distinct ringtone for each person in the contact list, so you know exactly who is calling. Full page screenshot This is a really useful feature that lets you capture entire web pages, and even save long articles as PDFs which you can later pursue at your leisure. To do this, capture the screenshot as you regularly would, using the volume up button and the side button, or the belly button and the side button. Then simply tap on the Full Page tab. You can add annotations anywhere on the page before saving. You can also export the file as a PDF to other third party apps, including Google Keep, Discord or WhatsApp. Automatically close Safari tabs If you dont have the habit of closing Safari tabs, they tend to accumulate and generally slow down the phone. Apple offers an option to automatically close down old tabs. Go to Settings>Safari>Close Tabs and select a duration. The options are daily, weekly and monthly. Anonymise sign ins Some applications will offer a new Sign in with Apple option, which is great as you get granular control over the type of information you want to share with the developer. Additionally, if the application requires an email address, but you do not want to give it your personal address, then Apple allows you to create a random address on the spot. Be careful though, while useful, the emails get forwarded to your iCloud email account. Schedule the dark mode Yes, the iPhone now has a dark mode, a feature for which more than 3 billion eyeballs are thankful for. There is a way to schedule as well. Go to Settings > Display & Brightness and toggle Automatic. Now, there are two options available. You can either set the dark mode to track the local sunrises and sunsets, or set up a custom schedule. To set up the custom schedule, tap on Options then select the time at which Light Appearance starts, and the time at which Dark Appearance starts. This is distinct from the Night Shift settings, which displays a warmer tone on the screen after the Sun goes down. Prevent auto filling passwords If you are one of those who can remember constantly evolving multiple passwords, the new randomised password creation feature can be painful. This is because you actually have to repeatedly delete the password that Apple automatically fills in. Go to Settings > Passwords & Accounts and toggle AutoFill Passwords to prevent Apple from filling in passwords automatically. Note that choosing this option also prevents the device from automatically entering in your saved passwords. There is currently no way of preventing the iPhone from only generating new passwords. Stream to multiple airpods This is perhaps the most obscene trick in the list, but we will try to not be judgemental and just tell you how to do it. First, go to paired Bluetooth devices and connect the device to a second pair of AirPods as a guest device. Then head to AirPlay, and select the additional pair. Now, up to four people can listen to the same song using the AirPods. 3D touch 3D touch is on its way out and none of the new devices support it. It had a clunky implementation right from the beginning, with Apple never fully committing to the feature. As a result, the UI does not really require it. In some of the older phones, the persistence of 3D touch can cause all sorts of unwanted options to crop up in the UI. Now, Apple offers a simple way to disable 3D touch altogether, even if the hardware supports it. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > 3D & Haptic Touch and toggle 3D Touch to turn it off. This panel also allows you to fine tune the controls for 3D touch, including adjusting the sensitivity and duration for a 3D touch detection. Right at the bottom, you can test the sensitivity to make sure that you have tweaked the settings just right. Track food delivery with a single tap Over regular usage of your apps, frequently repeated behavior shows up as Actions in the Shortcuts app, provided the app supports it. One of the nifty features is the ability to track an order from Swiggy with a single tap. Just create a new Shortcut, and then select the Track status of your order Action. Then, tap on next to select a name and a custom icon for the Shortcut. Tap on Done. Now every time you swipe left from your home screen, you will see a box with all the shortcuts. From here, you can just tap on the shortcut to directly track an order on Swiggy. Micromanage your battery This shortcut is based on shortcuts by Reddit users wexford001 and Enclavean, and is particularly useful for devices with low battery health. The phone enters into low power mode at 80 percent charge itself. If the battery reduces to below 20 percent, the device shows an alert, and then sets brightness to zero, turns off Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and mobile data. All the values used in this shortcut can be tweaked according to requirements. We are providing one example here to show the complexity and depth of the Shortcuts app. Get Battery Level If Battery Level is less than 80 Turn Low Power Mode On If Battery Level is less than 20 Show alert Go Dark Set Brightness to 0% Turn Bluetooth Off Turn Wi-Fi Off Turn Mobile Data Off Otherwise Turn Bluetooth On Turn Wi-Fi On Turn Mobile Data On End If Otherwise Turn Low Power Mode Off Turn Bluetooth On Turn Wi-Fi On Turn Mobile Data On End If Share a shortcut If you have created a shortcut that you are really proud of, and want to share them with your near and dear ones, or the internet at large, Apple offers an easy way to do so. Just tap on the three dots on the top right of the shortcut, and then the share icon along the bottom. For example, the shortcut for battery micromanagement shown above can be downloaded from https://dgit.in/btrymgmt. This menu can be used to duplicate a shortcut, to make variations of it. Get more shortcuts There are a lot of helpful shortcuts out there, and the r/shortcuts subreddit has a steady stream of new and interesting ones. If you need help troubleshooting a shortcut or automation that you have created, then that is best done through the very helpful community on the Discord server (https://discord.gg/2rtJnn). Macstories has a very helpful and curated list of shortcuts, sorted by various sections. These can be viewed at: https://dgit.in/msst. Use Automations The Shortcuts app also allows you to set up automations, which are triggered automatically when certain conditions are met. We set up an automation where every time the camera is opened, the screen brightness is set to maximum, the phone is set to airplane mode (so that there are no calls even from those who can get past the DND mode), with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi turned off. This allows you to dedicatedly record videos without any interruptions. However, Automation and the Shortcuts app currently do not allow the closing or exiting of an app as a trigger. A workaround is to use another action to revert all the changes, such as toggling the airplane mode or turning on Wi-Fi. All new Camera app The Photos and Camera apps both have got significant reworks. The Camera app is now much more powerful, with a video editor thrown in. The video editor allows you as much freedom and control as the photo editing app, including options to straighten and rotate, which were so far only available in third party applications. There are white balance adjustments now available, but they are split up into two options next to Vibrance, called Warmth and Tint. The Warmth slider goes from blue to yellow, while the Tint slider goes from green to magenta. Additionally, every time you tweak an option, there is a circular indication that persistently shows the position of the slider. You can directly tap on a particular option, say Warmth or Vibrance, to toggle them being applied with a single tap. There are new sliders for Sharpness, Definition (great for documents) and Vignette. As grocery shopping has become equal parts essential and fraught during the coronavirus crisis, safety responses have varied from chain to chain. One retail juggernaut has gone as far as temporarily shutting down certain stores in New Jersey. Walmart has closed four of its 71 New Jersey locations for one day each over the last two weeks, in order for for third-party cleaning and to restock merchandise according to spokesperson Phillip Keene. The Garfield store closed on April 9, the Freehold location was closed on April 17 and both the Secaucus and Kearny locations were shut down on April 20. In all four cases, the stores reopened the next day without issue. Positive COVID-19 tests among staff members, inadequate staffing numbers and stocking issues are all among the considerations that can trigger a one-day shutdown at a Walmart location, Keene said. Walmart is initiating the closings, with no outside input from health departments. Were assessing a number of factors in stores in hot zones like New Jersey and the New York metro area for issues that we want to correct in terms of customer service, Keene said. It could be that were assessing stock levels, or the scheduling for associates and how were being able to serve customers to our standards in those stores. And then, of course, were not immune to COVID." Walmart is not disclosing specific cases and is not announcing when staff members test positive, citing privacy issues. Even if they were sharing it, Keene would not confirm if there were COVID-19 cases at the four New Jersey locations. How stores are handling coronavirus cases among staff members has varied throughout New Jersey. ShopRite has been transparent, announcing cases on their stores specific Facebook pages, while Kings Food Market emails loyalty club members at individual stores to disclose cases. Stop and Shop confirmed it had staff members test positive and is disclosing them to local health departments but not announcing them publicly citing privacy concerns. Keene says the closures are proactive, and that New Jerseys location in the coronavirus epicenter makes them necessary. He noted that a Long Island location had the same type of closure, and wouldnt rule out more New Jersey stores shutting down for a day as the pandemic continues. Those stores are in areas of the country where you know COVID is prevalent," Keene said. Youre trying to do your very best to stay ahead as much as anybody can of any sort of issues, you know, COVID-related or staffing-related or stock-related. It would make sense that you would make that sort of decision in those in those locations... Whats the very best we can do? Part of the answer to that is closing the facility for a day and getting caught up, and then being able to open up the customers and serve the community." 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. Jeremy Schneider may be reached at jschneider@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Schneider. 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. Pine Labs has announced that it has opened the application programming interface (APIs) of its Android-based remote payment application ePOS by Pine Labs for developers. Pine Labs ePOS allows merchants to download the app and convert their Android phone into a payment acceptance device for cards, UPI and wallets. Currently popular UPI and wallet payments including Amazon Pay, Airtel Money and PhonePe are supported on ePOS by Pine Labs. Developers can build innovative fintech products for their customers in retail, grocery, transportation space using the remote payment APIs of ePOS. Sanjeev Kumar, Chief Technology Officer, Pine Labs said, Our ePOS app has got positive response from the merchant community. In less than a month of making it available on our website and Google Play Store, we have seen nearly 14,000 downloads. It uses our stringent payment protocols that have been the hallmark of our offline payment products. With the need for contactless and remote payment modes, we invite developers in all industry sectors to use it to provide value added services to their customers. They need not worry about payment related regulatory compliance and security features as these are already embedded in ePOS. Developers can use the open APIs in many different scenarios. ePOS APIs may be integrated into home delivery applications, share economy applications, or paid productivity solutions. These may also be pulled into chat apps to enable payments via chat applications. The open APIs of ePOS by Pine Labs can be accessed here https://developer.pinelabs.com/android/epos/docs Prisons Are Petri Dishes 'Imminent Danger' to Guards Is It Safe to Release? Balancing an Entirely New Concern Earlier this month, Cook County Jail in Chicago was home to the nations largest outbreak of coronavirus cases. Its since been surpassed by Marion Correctional Institute in Ohio, which has more than 2,100 cases, including three-quarters of its inmate population.Its a problem all over the country. In Arkansas, prisoners accounted for 262 of the 304 new coronavirus cases reported throughout the state on Tuesday. More than 4,000 prisoners are infected at more than 50 prisons in Florida. More than four dozen federal and state prisoners have died.The risk from the disease spreading through jails, prisons and immigration detention centers has led to hunger strikes, prison protests and numerous lawsuits. Its also touched off one of the thorniest policy debates of the coronavirus crisis whether releasing inmates early (or not incarcerating them to begin with) is necessary to protect public health, or whether early releases pose too great a risk to society.Already, dozens of inmates released in response to outbreaks have reoffended, including at least one alleged case of murder in Florida. A half-dozen prosecutors in New York City where at least 50 released prisoners have been arrested again for committing new crimes warned that across-the-board release policies pose a high risk of public safety. One Iowa prosecutor took to Facebook to complain that defense attorneys were employing the pandemic as a get out of jail free card.The folks who are cheering this on the most are people who have been cheering on inmate release laws for 10 years, said Michael Rushford, president of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, a nonprofit group in Sacramento that supports the rights of crime victims.But, as with everything else, policymakers recognize that the coronavirus presents unique challenges when it comes to prison health. From California to New Jersey, hundreds of prisoners have been released early due to health concerns.No ones sentenced to die in a pandemic, even if their crime and conviction is a serious one, said Nicole D. Porter, advocacy director for the Sentencing Project, a progressive group that promotes decarceration.With the disease jumping from prisoners to correctional officers, coronavirus is likely to exacerbate problems with overcrowding. There may not be enough correctional officers to maintain safety. At Rikers Island in New York, 300 inmates have been infected, but more than 400 staffers have tested positive. Over the weekend, both the head warden and the medical director at Raymond Laborde Correctional Center in Louisiana died.The virus doesnt care if youre an officer or a prisoner, said David Fathi, director of the ACLU National Prison Project. If a prisoner has it today, the officers will have it tomorrow and the officers family will have it the day after that.The reason coronavirus is spreading rapidly through lockups is obvious. Prisons and jails are examples of congregate living places where people eat, sleep and sometimes work together. One of the best ways of viewing them is as landlocked cruise ships, except theyre worse, said Marc Stern, an expert on prison health at the University of Washington.Disease outbreaks in prisons are common. They are at the center of an ongoing outbreak of hepatitis A. Inmates make up 1 percent of the U.S. population, but account for 35 percent of the nations caseload of hepatitis C. Prison populations are rapidly aging, with high counts of heart disease and diabetes. You have on the one hand an environment where the spread (of coronavirus) is going to be much more rapid because of the congregate living environment, and on the other hand a population thats seriously ill and dying, Fathi said.Prisons afford no privacy. Conditions are rarely sanitary and theres no abundance of hand sanitizer or even ready access to soap. Prisoners, leaving aside those in solitary confinement, cant practice social distancing. Where they can, facilities are trying to put inmates into single cells, but not every place has the space.Its part of the routine intake process in prisons and jails to check for flu, scabies and other communicable diseases. But prisons arent set up to check and then isolate inmates by the hundreds. Prisoners who become gravely ill consume valuable medical resources as theyre transferred to hospitals for intensive care.Normally, infection management is limited to a small number of people, said Donna Strugar-Fritsch, a prison health-care consultant in California.The already-high incidence of coronavirus has corrections staff concerned. Unions have filed grievances and imminent danger reports due to workplace safety and health issues. Seven staff members, along with 47 inmates, have tested positive at Tomoka Correctional Institution in Florida. Obviously, the facility is kind of like a gated community on its own, James Baiardi , president of the state correctional officers chapter of the Police Benevolent Association, told the. Staff and inmates are in close quarters together. Its a bad situation in that these officers have contracted the virus and we are concerned.Already, a dozen states have prison staff vacancy rates above 20 percent. Vacancy rates at some facilities are twice that high. As more guards get sick and even die, replacing them will be no easy feat, especially if prisons and jails are viewed as death traps.The same goes for the medical staff treating prisoners, who are always in short supply.We dont hear a lot about how operations will be carried out when theres no staff, Strugar-Fritsch said. Anybody that feels like stepping into the fray to work, to volunteer their services or come out of retirement, the last place theyre going to go is a prison.When it comes to releasing prisoners, there are many decision points. Inmates have been released by governors, parole boards, judges and sheriffs. The criteria vary, but typically the likeliest candidates are those whose crimes were nonviolent, whose sentences are running out and who, perhaps because of age, present the least risk of reoffending.Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a former federal prosecutor, has asked the state parole board and Department of Corrections to identify and review nonviolent offenders due for release within the next six months. These individuals will be carefully evaluated and considered for release due to the public health emergency, Hutchinson announced on Sunday.The federal stimulus package known as the CARES Act allows inmates to be placed under home confinement even if they have more than six months remaining on their sentences, the usual standard. The federal prison release program has been implemented in fits and starts, with the U.S. Department of Justice altering its guidance. Last week, prosecutors said that Dean Skelos, the former New York Senate majority leader convicted in 2018 on corruption charges, would be cleared for release into home custody. On Monday, the U.S. attorneys office said the release of the 72-year-old Skelos, who is positive for coronavirus, now appears unlikely.Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear commuted the sentences of 186 inmates and identified 743 others within six months of serving out their sentences who are being screened for release. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has signed an order granting early release to more than 700 prisoners. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has halted prison intakes from county jails and his administration is speeding the release of up to 3,500 prisoners.Nationwide, one in four new admissions to state prisons are due to technical infractions, such as missing appointments with parole officers, according to the Council of State Governments . Last month, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered the release of 1,100 parole violators.Most governors have resisted broad release programs. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott has blocked judges and local officials from releasing inmates who are unable to afford bail, saying that releasing dangerous criminals in the streets is not the solution.Its a problem anytime you release known criminals early, said Rushford, of the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation. Here in our state, Im sure theyre laughing on their way out the door.Rushford says its naive to expect criminals to shelter at home, since criminals by their nature dont follow the rules. Theres already a dumping dispute between county officials in California over an infected prisoner who was instructed to self-isolate on release but ended up living at an aunts mobile home park more than 500 miles away.There may be a public safety risk involved in releasing prisoners, but theres also a safety risk due to the coronavirus, said the ACLUs Fathi. Already, the coronavirus death toll in the U.S. is triple the annual number of murders, he noted. If were thinking about public safety, COVID-19 is arguably a greater threat to public safety than homicides, he said.He warned that the combination of close living quarters and prisoners with underlying conditions will lead to a very high death toll in prisons absent significant numbers of releases. The U.S. Supreme Court has upheld that prisoners are entitled to health care, no matter their crime. The immediate goal is managing down prison populations during this pandemic so social distancing can be managed better and for the people who are left behind, their health can be maintained as well as possible, said the Sentencing Projects Porter.The coronavirus presents a novel challenge to policymakers, suggested Stern, the University of Washington public health professor. Normally, judges, prosecutors and other actors have to make decisions about incarceration and release based solely on public safety. Does a prisoner pose a risk of violence? Are they a flight risk?Now, Stern, said, there has to be a third factor the threat to public health if they arent released.If we dont manage the prisons properly, he said, were posing a risk to the public health outside of the prison. Latest News Card transactions hit record in November With debt accruing interest up, can Australians afford the credit? Sydney property prices might not drop yet, as planning problems persist NSW planning approvals have fallen off a cliff since October, showing that the supply crisis might yet continue The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the urgent need for the industry to eradicate its remaining clunky and high-risk manual processes, according to the primary technology provider to the mortgage lending industry. NextGen.Net chief customer officer, Tony Carn, highlighted that outdated systems are no longer viable if financial services hopes to be part of Australia's gravitation towards a compliant, secure and virtually-enabled world. As such, the lending industry has been called to embrace the widescale digitisation sweeping the country. The speed at which Australians are embracing technology is unprecedented; and it has many structural implications to the current lending landscape, said Carn. NextGen.Net have preached the importance of tech long before the spreading virus and social distancing measures threw a wrench into the normal processing of the industry. Both the groups Document Verification Service (DVS) and e-Sign solutions were launched before the pandemic to further digitise the loan application process within the secure environment of ApplyOnline. Now, not long after its launch, the DVS has become more crucial than ever as it enables lenders and brokers to undertake borrower identification digitally and respect social distancing measures. The DVS facilitates, checks and validates relevant identity documents on all 22 government databases in a millisecond, said Carn. e-Sign allows for the sourcing of digital signatures, eradicating duplication and error, minimising fraud and saving time by eliminating the need to print an application form and collect a wet signature. Customers can sign documents quickly regardless of their location reducing time to approval, said Carn. This is NextGen.Net being proactive in order to make lending a simple and easy process from any location and on any device. DVS and e-Sign are necessities in a robust, safe, compliant and efficient infrastructure; and increasingly so in a world where no-physical-contact customer solutions are now the norm." A heartbreaking photo of an English bulldog looking longingly at the children he used to play with before the coronavirus pandemic has gone viral with thousands of fans admitting that they can relate to his quarantine woes. Costume designer Rashida Ellis, 38, from Atlanta, Georgia, took to Twitter on Tuesday to post a snapshot of her three-year-old dog Big Poppa looking dejected while sitting on their balcony. 'Big Poppa has been so sad today, I think he miss[es] playing with the kids in the building. He just watches them from the patio,' she captioned the image, which has attracted the attention of Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres. Scroll down for video Heartbreaking: Rashida Ellis, 38, from Atlanta, Georgia, took to Twitter on Tuesday to post a snapshot of her three-year-old dog Big Poppa looking sad So sad: Rashida (left) said her dog misses playing with the kids from their building, and when she took his photo, he was staring at two young brothers 'Not being dramatic but I would literally die for Big Poppa,' Maisie, 23, tweeted, and she wasn't the only one who has fallen in love with the sad pooch. Since Tuesday, Rashida's photo of her crestfallen dog has been retweeted nearly 50,000 times and has received more than 450,000 likes. 'Big Poppa' even became a top trending topic in the U.S. 'We need to make the world a better one for Big Poppa,' author Jessica Valenti commented, while John Paul Brammer wrote: 'I detest the world that hurt Big Poppa.' Ellen, meanwhile, was among those who stressed the importance of social distancing and staying quarantined so the dog can be reunited with his pals as quickly as possible. No luck: The costume designer said she has been trying to make Big Poppa feel better to no avail. She even bought him a new doggie bed 'Stay inside. Flatten this curve. Do it for Big Poppa,' the comedian tweeted. Rashida explained in the comments that she has been trying to give her beloved pet hugs to make him feel better to no avail. 'I've been trying but he loves children more than anything and not being able to play with them daily but he can see them... I think it's taking a toll on him,' she admitted. She later posted a video of Big Poppa still looking sad while lounging in his new doggie bed on their balcony. Going viral: Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams and talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres were among those who commented on the photo of the sad pooch 'I bought Poppa a new bed during lockdown,' she explained. 'It arrived too small but he wouldn't get out of it.' Big Poppa's @popthebulldog Instagram page has amassed more than 18,900 followers and features plenty of photos of the dog moping around during the global crisis. 'The sad thing is we have to social-distance even him,' Rashida told BuzzFeed News. 'When he's inside, he just walks out to the patio looking for people. He's sleeping more. He's a little sluggish. I can tell he's not as happy and excited as he usually is. He's probably tired of just me playing with him.' She also revealed her viral photo of Big Poppa has a tear-jerking back story. The dog was staring at two young brothers playing in the courtyard when she snapped the picture of him looking depressed. Famous pooch: Big Poppa's @popthebulldog Instagram page has amassed more than 18,900 followers Hard to handle: Many of the quarantine pictures show him looking forlorn because he can't play with anyone else besides his owner even when they're on walks Too cute: After his photo went viral, Rashida shared a heartwarming throwback photo of Big Poppa as a puppy 'He kept making noises to get their attention, but we're six stories up and they can't hear him," she recounted. 'I was like, Oh my god, he's really sad.' Many people have shared photos of their forlorn dogs in the comments of Rashida's post to let her know that Big Poppa isn't the only one who is feeling down and out in quarantine. 'My bulldog is also kinda bored but is enjoying the quarantine cuddles. But on HIS terms,' one person wrote while sharing a photo of his dog laying on his leg. 'Same energy from my girl, Large Marge,' someone else captioned a picture of his sad pup on the couch. And one woman shared a picture of her dog looking miserable, writing: 'Charlie understands.' Democrat Joe Biden has an eight-point lead in Michigan, one of the three swing states that propelled President Donald Trump to the White House in 2016. Biden leads Trump 49 per cent to 41 per cent, with 10 per cent of voters still up for grabs, according to a Fox News Channel poll that was released Wednesday. The poll also finds that Michigan's Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is more popular than the president, who called her out last week for enforcing shutdown measures that were too restrictive to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Joe Biden has an eight-point lead in Michigan, one of the three states that won the White House for President Trump in 2016 President Trump's approval rating in Michigan is lower than the Democratic governor's numbers. Forty-seven per cent of Michigan voters currently approve of the job the president is doing, while 51 per cent disapprove Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has the support of 63 per cent of Michigan's voters, while another 35 per cent don't approve of the job she's done On Friday, Trump tweeted to 'LIBERATE MICHIGAN!' throwing a bone of support to protesters who were demonstrating against Whitmer's stay at home order. Polling shows, however, that 57 per cent of voters in the state believe Whitmer's order was 'about right' Sixty-three per cent of registered voters in the state approve of the job Whitmer is doing, while 35 per cent disapprove. Forty-seven per cent approve of Trump, while 51 per cent disapprove. Whitmer's increasingly national profile has made her a much-discussed vice presidential pick. However, when she's added to the ticket with Biden the race narrows in the state. When voters were asked if they would choose Biden-Whitmer versus Trump-Pence, 49 per cent chose the Democrats - which is the same amount of support Biden gets by himself in the state - while 43 per cent chose the Republican ticket, earning Trump and Vice President Mike Pence an additional two points. Last Friday, Trump tweeted 'LIBERATE MICHIGAN,' throwing a bone of support to the protesters - many of whom sported Trump-Pence gear - who had assembled at the state capital to demonstrate against Whitmer's lockdown order. But a majority of registered voters in the state support Whitmer's policy to flatten the coronavirus curve. The poll found that 57 per cent believe Whitmer's order was 'about right,' while 33 per cent found it too restrictive. Another 9 per cent believed Whitmer's policy didn't go far enough. A majority of Michigan voters - 59 per cent - told pollsters that they believed Trump was too slow to respond to the pandemic. Another 38 per cent said the president's response has been 'appropriate.' While some conservative voices have opined that opening the economy should be a priority, 61 per cent of Michigan voters said they wanted to wait to open back up businesses until the virus threat subsides. Under a quarter, 24 per cent, said businesses should be reopened even if the virus persists. And that's with 51 per cent of respondents saying that someone in their household has lost a job or had work hours reduced because of the coronavirus crisis. Pollsters talked to 801 Michigan voters. The poll has a plus or minus 3.5 per cent margin of error. [April 23, 2020] Physicians' Group Gives a 'Thumbs Up' to Loyalty Health INDIANAPOLIS, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Loyalty Health, a medical industry service provider headquartered in Indianapolis, was recently named a Featured Corporate Member by the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management (PAHCOM), a certification authority for medical office personnel. Such recognition is granted to companies demonstrating superior customer care in delivering services to doctors and other healthcare professionals. "We're proud to have earned this honor with our cost-effective products and services," says Chris Kazor, the company's Chief Executive Officer. "In an era of rapid change our digital marketing, merchant processing and H.R. payroll solutions are providing medical offices with very real operational advantages." These include website upgrades, proactive social media assistance, cutting edge digital marketing tools and other essential office services, he adds. "Loyalty Health gives medical professionas a state-of-the-art online presence," Kazor says. "And this is increasingly important in building and maintaining a medical practice's patient base in today's tech-savvy marketplace." Media reports suggest that growing numbers of consumers rely on Internet searches to make consumer choices, and that medical services are not immune to this reality. "Staying competitive, maintaining online credibility and turning up in search resultsare increasingly important for physicians continually transitioning their patient base to younger generations more familiar with the Internet," adds Kazor. "Our specialty is knowing all that is new online and how to adapt it to each physician's unique needs." Learn more about Loyalty Health's full range of services and business solutions online at www.LoyaltyHealth.com or by phoning them at 800-411-6022. Related Images image1.png View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/physicians-group-gives-a-thumbs-up-to-loyalty-health-301045721.html SOURCE Loyalty Health By Alexandra Alper WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lawmakers and former officials are making a last-ditch push to persuade the Trump administration to halt plans to invest billions of federal employee retirement dollars in Chinese companies that Washington suspects of human rights abuses or threatening U.S. security, according to sources and documents seen by Reuters. The campaign, which includes letters and calls from Republicans and a sharply worded memo shared with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, coincides with heightened U.S.-China tensions over the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. At issue is whether administrators of the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), a retirement savings fund similar to a 401(k) for federal employees and members of the military, should allow its $50 billion international fund to track an index that includes some China-based stocks of companies under scrutiny in Washington. Among the Chinese companies in the index that have drawn the ire of some in Washington who see China as America's biggest economic and geopolitical threat is surveillance firm Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology, which was placed on a trade blacklist last year because its technology is used in detention camps for China's Uigher Muslim minorities. The fund would also invest in telecoms equipment company ZTE , which was penalized by the U.S. government for violating American sanctions, as well as aircraft and avionics company Aviation Industry Corporation of China, which provides weapons for the Chinese military. For China hardliners, the matter has taken on greater urgency because administrators have begun opening custodial accounts abroad to make investments due in the second half of 2020. "Are we very soon going to witness ... federal employees ... being, in effect, unwittingly compelled to fund with their retirement dollars a number of Beijing's most egregious corporate national security and human rights abusers?" asked Roger Robinson, a former White House official in the Ronald Reagan administration who has tracked the issue closely. Story continues The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) which administers the TSP, said all of its peers are making similar investments and that it "would be a lagging outlier amongst retirement savings plans" if it doesn't expand its investments, according to spokeswoman Kim Weaver. The White House did not respond to requests for comment. Trillions of dollars worldwide passively track benchmarks which are compiled by third-party index providers based on a range of criteria, including companies' market capitalization, as opposed to fund managers picking the stocks themselves. When a consultant cited higher returns were possible, the FRTIB decided in 2017 to switch the benchmark for its international stock fund in 2020 to the MSCI All Country World ex-U.S.A. Investable Market Index, which represents 99% of world equities, including Canada, China and other emerging markets. The plan hit speed bumps last year when Republican Senator Marco Rubio and Jean Shaheen, a Senate Democrat, proposed legislation that would prevent investments in China, flagging insufficient levels of accounting and financial disclosure at Chinese companies, in addition to national security and human rights issues. But the legislation languished, spurring a final campaign to prevent the change. A person familiar with the matter said a handful of former government officials provided to former congressman Meadows a memo dated March 7, the day after President Donald Trump tapped him to be White House chief of staff. The memo argued that if Trump did not act, by replacing FRTIB board members or through an executive order, his critics would claim Trump took no action to avoid "federal employees being compelled to invest in Chinese and Russian companies that have undisclosed material risks due to their roles in threatening our national security and abusing human rights." Meadows, who had sponsored companion legislation to Rubio's bill in the House of Representatives, did not respond to a request for comment through the White House. Top lawmakers have raised the issue directly with the administration, according to people familiar with the matter. Rubio discussed the issue with Trump in the last few months, a congressional aide said. Republican congressmen Mike Gallagher and Jim Banks have addressed letters to Eugene Scalia, secretary of the Department of Labor, which oversees the board, two aides said. In one dated April 6, Banks called on Scalia to explain how the agency plans to inform investors of the risks of owning shares in companies that don't comply with U.S. financial disclosure requirements and the implications of investing in firms that are under U.S. sanctions. "I urge you to do everything in your power to reverse the TSP Board's decision," Banks wrote. "The department received the letter and appreciates the concerns raised by Rep. Banks and others," a Labor representative said. (Reporting by Alexandra Alper; Additional Reporting by Michelle Price; Editing by Chris Sanders, Grant McCool and Jonathan Oatis) Environmental activists patrolling Prey Lang forest in Cambodias central plains said Thursday that authorities interfered with their work and even tried to arrest them after they documented a local company conducting extensive illegal logging in the protected area. A group known as Lovers of the Environment, which is mostly comprised of youth activists, launched a campaign on Wednesday to drive their motorbikes through Prey Langs wildlife sanctuary areas of OAnamai, ORomany, OKrak, OSgnuot, and Red Mountain over the course of five days to monitor for illegal logging activities. Heng Sros, one of the groups campaigners, told RFAs Khmer Service on Thursday that over the course of just two days he saw hundreds of people in the forest illegally cutting down old-growth trees and transporting them to sawmills run by Think-Biotech Co., Ltd. on the outskirts of Prey Lang, where they were processed and sold for around U.S. $225 per cubic meter. Meanwhile, felled logs lay unprocessed and awaiting transport throughout the areas the group monitored, he said. But while Lovers of the Environment worked to document the illegal logging, according to Heng Sros, local authorities followed the group throughout the forest closely watching its activities and seemingly working in conjunction with forestry officials to try to arrest its members. The authorities not only didnt stop the illegal loggers, but they tried to stop our activities and attempted to arrest us, even though we are defenders of the environment who have been working hard and sacrificing our lives to prevent Cambodias forests from disappearing, he said. They should be ashamed. The authorities must guarantee that no one can cut down the supposedly protected forest areas of Prey Lang. In two days, he said his group located more than 2,000 felled old-growth logs in five different locations that it documented with photos and videomost of which are resin-producing trees that local residents rely on for their livelihood. We were looking specifically for giant trees aged hundreds of years old, he said, adding that hired workers used 100200 trucks to transport the logs. I interviewed the workers and they told me that they transport the logs to sell to Think-Biotech Co., Ltd. They said if they didnt sell the logs to Think-Biotech, the authorities and forestry officials would seize them and they would have to pay a fine. Heng Sros suggested that authorities are receiving bribes from Think-Biotech to shadow his group and threaten them with arrest. Protect our remaining forests Repeated calls by RFA seeking comment on Heng Sross claims from Commission of National Prevention and Suppression Against Forest Crime spokesperson Eng Hy and Agriculture Ministry spokesperson Srey Vudh went unanswered Thursday. However, Ministry of Environment spokesperson Neth Pheaktra told RFA that while it is the right of Lovers of the Environment to carry out their campaign, the ministry [only] supports a properly registered nongovernmental organization conducting activities to protect natural resources, suggesting the group should have first asked for permission to enter the forest from local authorities or the Interior Ministry. Internationally-recognized environmental activist Leng Ouch, who is chairman of local watchdog Cambodian Human Rights Task Force and a member of the campaign against forest crimes, told RFA that members of his group are willing to lay down their lives to protect the countrys forests, which he called the natural heritage of our ancestors. He appealed to all government authorities and members of the armed forces to protect the countrys remaining forests. We are not involved in any struggle or revolution for powerall we really want is to preserve and protect our remaining forests, he said. We arent doing this for our own interests, but the [authorities] are taking action against us. Think-Biotech did not respond to repeated calls for comment on Thursday. An illegally felled old-growth tree in Prey Lang forest, April 22, 2020. Credit: Lovers of the Environment Forest under attack Prey Lang has been ravaged by deforestation caused by illegal logging, with much of the illicit timber smuggled outside the country. In a report released last year, the Prey Lang Community Network (PLCN) found that the area lost 56 square kilometers (22 square miles) of forest in 2017 alone. In late February, masked, armed rangers deployed by the Ministry of Environment blocked hundreds of community members, monks, and environmental activists from entering parts of Prey Lang to join an annual tree-blessing ceremony organized by the PLCN to promote conservation efforts against deforestation. Last week, Ida Theilade of the University of Copenhagens Faculty of Science, issued a statement saying that documentation compiled by PLCN that corresponds with satellite imagery from the EU Joint Research Centre and Global Land Analysis & Discovery (GLAD) - University of Maryland showed increased illegal logging within the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary in recent months. Based on weekly satellite imagery at a 30-meter (100-foot) resolution, GLAD issued approximately 1,000 forest loss alerts for Prey Lang per week since the beginning of 2020, Theilade said, noting that during one week at the end of February, when the Ministry of Environment controlled access to the forest, the number of forest loss alerts spiked to more than 11,000. We are concerned that the PLCN tree blessing ceremony was banned due to government sanctioned illegal logging of protected resin trees in the area, the statement said. PLCN is still banned from entering the forest and is currently unable to conduct patrols and collect data on forest crimes, biodiversity and climate change. PLCN members can only watch as illegal loggers freely enter Prey Lang and convoys of trucks transport timber out of the forest. Anniversary of slaying Also on Thursday, Cheuy Oudom Reaksmey, the son of slain Cambodian environmental activist Chut Wutty, told RFA his family plans to hold an event in Prey Lang forest on Sunday to commemorate the 8th anniversary of his fathers still-unsolved murder. Shot to death on April 26, 2012 while investigating illegal logging in Koh Kongs Mondul Seima district, Chut Wutty had been active in organizing communities to protect Cambodian forests against land grabs. He had also campaigned against the governments granting of land concessions in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. During the commemoration ceremony, Chut Wuttys family will demand justice from authorities as his killers have yet to be brought to justice, Cheuy Oudom Reaksmey said. They also plan to launch a social media campaign to remind the public about the activists work and sacrifice. An official investigation into Chut Wuttys death was closed in October 2013 when a court in Koh Kong province abruptly ended its proceedings, prompting Cheuy Oudom Reaksmey to vow at the time to continue to fight for justice in his fathers case. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Sokry Sum. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. LEBANON, Ore. A trailer fire is under investigation after fire crews responded to the 3000 block of Berlin Road Wednesday night. The Lebanon Fire District said when they arrived, they noticed several trees were at risk of catching fire. Fire crews eventually laid out 300 feet of hose from the road to the fire in order to get it under control. It took fire crews about twenty minutes to get the fire under control and they stayed for an extra hour to cool hot spots on trees and inside the trailer. No people were hurt. Fire officials said the only victim was the trailer owners dog. Fire investigators dont believe the fire was suspicious. TORONTO, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fura Gems Inc. (Fura or the Company) (TSXV: FURA, OTC: FUGMF and FRA: BJ43), a gemstone mining and marketing company with emerald, ruby and sapphire assets in Colombia, Mozambique and Australia, respectively, is pleased to announce that it has received formal approval from the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy of Mozambique (MIREM) and has completed the previously announced acquisition of SLR Mining, Limitada, a Mozambican mining company holding 100% of each of ruby mining concession 8955C and ruby exploration licence 7414L. In accordance with the share purchase agreement dated February 4, 2020 entered into by a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company and GemRock Company Ltd. (GemRock), as amended, (the Share Purchase Agreement) Fura paid GemRock US$2.1 million upon completion of the acquisition. Please see the Companys press release dated February 10, 2020 for more information about the transactions contemplated in the Share Purchase Agreement (the Acquisition). The Acquisition is an arms length transaction for the purposes of the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) and the Company understands that the Acquisition qualifies as an Exempt Transaction under TSXV Policy 5.3. Fura is not paying any finders fees in connection with the Acquisition. The only material condition remaining for completion of the Acquisition is obtaining formal approval from MIREME for the acquisition of the 20% free carried and non-dilutive participating interest in Ibra Moz SA, a Mozambican mining company holding ruby mining concession 8921C. Fura is currently in the process of completing the purchase and sale of interests in three additional ruby prospecting licences/concessions in Mozambique as follows: (i) a 70% interest in ruby mining licence 5030L through the acquisition of 70% of the issued and outstanding shares of Rubies Resources SA, (ii) a 80% interest in ruby mining concession 8921C through the acquisition of 80% of the issued and outstanding shares of Ibra Moz SA; and (iii) a right to earn a 65% interest in mining concession 8955C under a joint venture agreement (collectively, the New Energy Assets). Please see the Companys press releases dated November 29, 2018 and February 11, 2020 for further details regarding the terms of this proposed acquisition. The transaction remains subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. Story continues For more information about Fura Gems Inc., please contact: Fura Gems Inc. Dev Shetty President & Chief Executive Officer Tel: +971 (0) 4 240 8760 dev.shetty@furagems.com Rupak Sen Vice President Marketing and Sales Tel: +1+(778)386-1313 rupak.sen@furagems.com Public Relations Tavistock (UK) Jos Simson / Barney Hayward Tel: +44-207-920-3150 fura@tavistock.co.uk About Fura Gems Inc. Fura Gems Inc. is a gemstone mining and marketing company which is engaged in the mining, exploration and acquisition of gemstone licences. Furas headquarters are located in Toronto, Canada and its administrative headquarters are located in the Gold Tower, Dubai. Fura is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol FURA. Fura is engaged in the exploration of resource properties in Colombia and owns a 76% interest in the Coscuez emerald mine in Boyaca, Colombia. Fura is involved in the exploration and mining of sapphires in Australia through its 100% interests in two mining permits (EPM 25973 and EPM 25978) and three mining licences (ML 70419, ML 70447 and ML 70451), and rubies in Mozambique through its 80% effective interest in four ruby licences (4392L, 3868L, 3869L and 6811L) and its 100% interest in ruby licence 5572L. Regulatory Statements This press release may contain 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 Companys ability to complete the Acquisition and obtain the MIREME approval for the acquisition of the 20% free carried and non-dilutive participating interest in Ibra Moz SA, the Companys ability to complete the acquisition of the New Energy Assets, the mineralization and prospectivity of the New Energy Assets and the areas covered by the licences described herein, the Companys exploration activities and mining activities and the Companys performance. 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 to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of exploration activities; regulatory risks; risks inherent in foreign operations, legacy environmental risks, title risks and other risks of the mining industry. 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 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. A constable fired at least 15 rounds from his rifle inside a police camp at Jhargram, about 170 km southwest of Kolkata on Thursday, a police officer said. The constable who has been identified as Ratan Kumar is said to have climbed to the terrace of the building and opened fire from his rifle. No one has been injured but there could be some senior officers trapped inside the building, the official said. The shooting started around 1:30 pm. The top brass of state police including the Director General, ADG and superintendent of police of Jhargram remained tightlipped on the incident. The constable allegedly went berserk after he was denied leave. He had two magazines with him. A large police contingent rushed to the spot. Drones and armoured anti-mine vehicles were brought in. The constable fired even at the drones and vehicles. It is not known if the reinforcement that was sent in, engaged the policeman. Villagers initially thought that elephants have raided the village which is why crackers were being burnt to ward off the animals. The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has unanimously agreed to the implementation of an inter-state lockdown in the country over the next two weeks to mitigate spread of the virus from state to state. A limited lockdown of Lagos, Ogun and the FCT will expire next Monday. NGF chairman, Kayode Fayemi said the governors agreed on the measure at their virtual meeting on Wednesday. In a communique issued at the end of the 6th videoconference, the governors also called for the decentralisation of COVID-19 response as the best chance of nipping the spread of the virus in communities in the country. Fayemi said that the call was imperative with over 25 states now affected by spread of the virus and increasing evidence of community transmission. Following an update from the NGF Secretariat on the number of COVID-19 cases in the country, members expressed serious concern over the rising spread of the virus among health workers. The governors resolved to work with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to ensure that health workers are adequately provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) and are constantly trained on the use of protective gears. In order to strengthen coordinated implementation of necessary public health recommendations across states, Governors resolved to set up COVID-19 Committees at the regional level, headed by their State Commissioners of Health. Regional Committees will continue to interface with the State Task Force Committees on COVID-19 already established in each state. The Forum also received briefing from the Governors of Lagos, Bauchi, Oyo and Ogun states who shared their experiences and lessons from the fight against COVID-19. Governors unanimously agreed to the implementation of an inter-state lockdown in the country over the next two weeks to mitigate spread of the virus from State to State. Only essential services will be permitted, he said. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates By Associated Press WAHSINGTON: For weeks, the Trump administration played up the dangers of the coronavirus as it sought to persuade Americans to disrupt their lives and stay home. Now, as President Donald Trump aims for a swift nationwide reopening, he faces a new challenge: convincing people it's safe to come out and resume their normal lives. It's a defining question for a cloistered nation - and a political imperative for Trump, whose re-election likely rides on the pace of an economic rebound. Can the country move beyond a crippling fear of the virus and return to some modified version of its old routines, doing what's possible to mitigate the risk of COVID-19, but acknowledging it may be a fact of life for years to come? "We need to create the kind of confidence in America that makes it so that everybody goes back to work. And that confidence is going to require testing and confidence that your workplace is a healthy place, but also confidence in the economy," said Kevin Hassett, a White House adviser and former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers. ALSO READ| Coronavirus pandemic is quickly becoming a 'human rights crisis': UN chief Antonio Guterres At the White House, officials believe they've entered a new chapter of the pandemic response, moving from crisis mode to sustained mitigation and management. It began last Thursday with the release of guidelines to governors for how to safely reopen their states. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence celebrated Americans for successfully "flattening the curve" of the epidemic. A day later, a phalanx of the administration's top medical officials sought to reassure the nation that there were plenty of tests available to safely begin easing restrictions. Governors have been lifting restrictions each day since then, including aggressive moves announced Wednesday in Montana and Oklahoma. The Montana governor gave schools the green light to open their doors in early May, and Oklahoma will allow salons, barbershops, spas and pet groomers to reopen Friday. Trump, in his evening news conference, did take issue with Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's bold reopening plans. "I disagree strongly. I think it's too soon," he said. The governors' moves coincided with lingering bleak news around the country. The death toll in Massachusetts eclipsed 2,000 on Wednesday, doubling from just a week earlier. About 16,000 people remained hospitalized across New York. ALSO READ| Coronavirus warnings comes for Ramzan as some shutdowns see relaxations due to pandemic ease A meat plant in Iowa that is vital to the nation's pork supply is the latest slaughterhouse to shut down because of outbreak. With the economy in for a long, brutal slump, Congress was on the verge of passing an almost $500 billion relief bill to bolster small businesses. Trump flatly promised Americans that there will no repeat of the national lockdown. "We will not go through what we went through for the last two months," he said. It's a sharp shift in rhetoric after Trump and allies stressed the threat of an "invisible enemy" to persuade people to abide by social distancing recommendations. The American people have also been scarred by the daunting death toll and images of body bags piled up in refrigerated trailers. Moving from fear to acceptance will take confidence in government, medical professionals and businesses at a time when faith in those institutions is low. White House aides say restoring confidence will require the same "whole-of-America" approach that slowed the virus spread. "It's one thing for government to say, 'OK, it's safe to go out. If people don't believe it's safe, they're not going to go,'' New York Gov. Democrat Andrew Cuomo said on Tuesday. While there have been isolated protests in states aimed at lifting aggressive stay-at-home measures, most Americans don't believe it will be safe to ease the restrictions anytime soon, according to a new survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Trump predicted earlier this month that the economy would take off like a "rocket ship once we get back to business". However, experts say the recovery will be far slower. "It'll be a very gradual process regardless of what a governor says or the president says," said Dr. Robert Blendon, a Harvard professor of health policy and political analysis. He said the history of lockdowns, particularly the quarantine of more than 25,000 people around Toronto in 2003 to slow the spread of SARS, shows that it will take weeks, even months, for people to develop the confidence to resume normal activity. ALSO READ| Can dogs detect COVID-19? British canines in training to sniff out virus Blendon also warned that a predicted second wave of COVID-19 could reverse any gains made in the interim. It's not just government, but individual businesses that will need to convince employees and consumers that it's safe to return, once they decide to reopen. Delta Airlines CEO Ed Bastian on Wednesday warned his employees to be prepared for a "choppy, sluggish recovery even after the virus is contained". National Economic Council director Larry Kudlow said that the White House expects businesses "will advertise to the public" about the safety measures they are putting in place when they reopen. He said that the White House is also considering asking Congress to provide liability protection for employers in case their workers or customers fall sick. "We want small businesses to have some confidence that if they do reopen, they'll stay open," Kudlow said. The outbreak has infected over 2.5 million people and killed about 180,000 around the world, including more than 45,000 in the US, according to a tally compiled by Johns Hopkins University. [April 22, 2020] RxMx Builds Chameleon Technology Platform on InterSystems IRIS for Health to Accelerate the Safe Use of Medicines Globally InterSystems, a creative data technology provider dedicated to helping customers solve the most critical scalability, interoperability, and speed problems, today announced that fast-growing global healthtech company RxMx has built its new Chameleon platform on InterSystems IRIS for Health, enabling pharmaceutical companies to more efficiently support the safe use of medicines around the world and powering a new COVID-19 testing and monitoring solution, Certify Covid Clear, for U.S. employers. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200422006047/en/ (Photo: Business Wire) The RxMx Chameleon platform delivers automated risk management to keep patients safe, integrating with clinical laboratories and other data sources to analyze information in real time. Portals and apps tailored to the needs of doctors, care teams and patients call attention to critical action-requiring items and provide a community of support for patient monitoring. RxMx leveraged Chameleon - built on IRIS for Health - to rapidly develop Certify Covid Clear in partnership with physicians, public health experts and leading clinical laboratories It provides access to diagnostic testing, providing U.S. employers with a secure digital platform to track and manage clinical data to verify which employees are safe to return to work and when. RxMx also offers configurable platforms for pharmaceutical companies to support specialty medicine regimes requiring regular testing and monitoring of patients. These systems typically detect at-risk patients and provide reminders and notifications to doctors, nurses and patients via emails, texts and mobile apps. InterSystems (News - Alert) IRIS for Health is the world's first and only data platform engineered specifically for the rapid development of healthcare applications to manage the world's most critical data. It empowers healthcare organizations with a unified data platform that combines analytical and transaction processing with native interoperability for all data types. With the ability to rapidly scale and manage both heterogeneous data and fast data, InterSystems IRIS for Health accelerates development cycles to meet the data demands of the modern organization. With Chameleon, RxMx has placed greater focus on being a product-based company with a single agile platform that can be configured to meet each client's requirements without software development. Underpinning this is InterSystems IRIS for Health and its ability to readily integrate with a comprehensive range of healthcare data sources. The combination of Chameleon and InterSystems IRIS for Health allows RxMx to more quickly deliver solutions for clients, reduce deployment cost for smaller markets, easily scale its secure cloud infrastructure for large numbers of data sources and volumes, and innovate more rapidly. The company is growing rapidly and saw a year-over-year revenue growth of 366% in 2019. RxMx CEO George Hunnewell said "Our partnership with InterSystems is very important to RxMx. IRIS for Health is the foundation of our Chameleon product and we rely on it for the majority of our pharmaceutical clients around the world." "There has definitely been a paradigm shift," said Matt Smallcomb, Product Director for RxMx. Turnaround time from client engagement to deployment, which previously included three months of software development, has been significantly reduced. "Being able to deploy more quickly, depending on the complexity of the treatment, is really opening up the market." "When we talk to new customers, we are the most scalable and flexible provider," said Smallcomb. "With InterSystems IRIS for Health, we can work with HL7, CDA, FHIR and other healthcare data and integrate it for real-time analysis with no limitations on the number of connections or the volume of data. We can also scale down to meet the needs of smaller markets and cost-effectively support patient treatments in more countries." InterSystems IRIS for Health also supports RxMx's product innovation with the ability to easily integrate medical and wearable devices, for example, or behavioral science and machine learning platforms. Areas of product development include medication adherence tracking, with InterSystems IRIS for Health integrating with smart pill bottles or devices that clip onto blister packs. Algorithmic analysis based on machine learning using RxMx historical data and third-party datasets could also warn of potential unexpected outcomes and suggest appropriate clinical workflows, said RxMx CTO Ben Rhodes. "The machine learning will help clinicians pick up on something they may have missed before." "RxMx has grown and developed enormously since InterSystems first partnered with them," said Luciano Brustia, Regional Managing Director, Asia Pacific at InterSystems. "The company has gone from introducing clinically proven technology to support the safe use of medicines in one country to a global healthcare technology leader and innovator working with some of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies." About InterSystems InterSystems is the engine behind the world's most important applications. In healthcare, finance, government, and other sectors where lives and livelihoods are at stake, InterSystems is the power behind what mattersTM. Founded in 1978, InterSystems is a privately held company headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts (USA), with offices worldwide, and its software products are used daily by millions of people in more than 80 countries. For more information, visit InterSystems.com/au. About RxMx We've built our business on the idea that by automating certain tasks, we empower healthcare professionals to safely administer treatments without increasing their burden, so they can focus on patient care. Our technology solutions deliver cost savings and better outcomes to our partners and benefit patients by ensuring they can access the best treatments science offers while simplifying their care journey. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200422006047/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Oregon unexpectedly withheld $600 federal bonus checks for more than 10,000 laid-off Oregonians this week, the latest stumble in a series of mistakes at the troubled employment department. The Oregon Employment Department withheld the $600 bonus check for some workers this week because it had accidentally paid workers an extra check in a prior week, according to Gail Krumenauer, the departments communications director. A bunch of people got double-paid that first time, so they got paid $1,200 instead of $600, Krumenauer said. To correct that mistake, she said, the department didnt pay the $600 federal bonus this week. However, Krumenauer said the department did not issue a broad notification of why laid-off workers did not receive the $600 they expected this week. After inquiries from The Oregonian/OregonLive Wednesday, she said the department will post information about its error on its website. Its not clear just how many jobless Oregonians missed their expected $600 bonus checks this week but Krumenauer said Its big. Its more than 1,000. Its more than 10,000. Complicating matters, Krumenauer said some workers were paid appropriately in prior weeks and received regular $600 checks this week. And others who had their checks withheld this week may receive an additional $600 check in the future because the state plans to waive the standard one-week waiting period before laid-off workers receive benefits. Oregon is working to adapt its ancient computer systems to enable the waiver and plans to pay workers benefits for that first week retroactively. Adding to the confusion, several unemployed Oregonians immediately disputed the departments explanation. Some have claims documents that appear to indicate they were not double-paid at any point -- but but had their $600 withheld this week anyway. The department said Thursday it will look into that issue. Congress funded the $600 weekly checks for laid-off workers last month as part of the CARES Act coronavirus rescue package. Oregon began distributing the federal money to laid-off workers earlier this month. For the past two weeks we have received the extra $600 as an adjustment to our claim, and were all anticipating receiving the same money this morning, Shelley Bowers, 38, wrote in an email Wednesday. But it is not there, said Bowers, 38, who lost her bartending job March 16. There is no explanation as to why on the website. I am assuming it is a glitch, but getting through to talk to someone about it is pretty much impossible. The missing checks are the latest setback for the Oregon Employment Department, which has been laboring under a deluge of jobless claims and antiquated computer systems throughout the outbreak. Even before the $600 checks went missing this week, the state owed laid-off Oregonians at least $100 million in unpaid benefits. Thats partly because the state has yet to begin processing claims from contractors and self-employed workers, who are newly eligible for benefits under the CARES Act. The employment department is adapting its computer systems to handle those applications. Oregon has denied many other claims erroneously, in large part because its computer systems which date to the 1990s cannot handle many situations where a worker has an unusual work history or other complications. The department has added hundreds of workers to its staff to speed claims processing but many laid-off workers still cannot reach the department to resolve problems. For workers whose phone calls get through, the average hold time is around two hours. Gov. Kate Brown has stood by the employment department throughout the crisis, asking laid-off Oregonians for patience. However, members of Oregons congressional delegation and the Legislature have been highly critical. On Wednesday, the office of House Speaker Tina Kotek said She is frustrated for Oregonians who need their benefits. The speaker understands the administrative challenges facing the department, but is not satisfied, according to a statement from her office. The statement said Kotek wont be satisfied until self-employed workers receive their benefits and there is no longer a backlog of applications and Oregonians have received the benefits they are due. In a separate statement, Senate President Peter Courtney said No one could have predicted the employment situation we are in now, but here we are. People are hurting. The only way we can help them is by getting more employees working to process the claims, Courtney wrote. The Legislature stands ready and willing to help the Employment Department in any way we can. This article has been updated to note that some beneficiaries appear to have had their weekly $600 withheld despite not being double-paid in prior weeks. -- Mike Rogoway | mrogoway@oregonian.com | twitter: @rogoway | Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Remittances from labor migrants to Ukraine amount to $16 bln World Bank 22:50, 23.04.20 3773 Ukraine is Europe's largest recipient of such money transfers. [April 23, 2020] CMIC Group Supports Clinical Trials and Manufacturing of Influenza Antiviral Drug "Avigan Tablet" and Contributes to Accelerating Provision for COVID-19 Patients CMIC HOLDINGS Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Tokyo, Minato-ku, Representative Director & CEO Kazuo Nakamura, hereafter "CMIC") announced today that CMIC is providing monitoring services as a CRO (Contract Research Organization) for "Avigan Tablet" (generic name: favipiravir), a product that FUJIFILM Toyama Chemical Co., Ltd. (hereafter "FUJIFILM") gained approval in Japan for manufacture and sale as an influenza antiviral drug, phase III clinical trial in Japan and will support for manufacturing the product as a CDMO (Contract Development & Manufacturing Organization). Recently, FUJIFILM announced the start of clinical trials of Avigan in Japan and overseas as one of the drug candidates for COVID-19. In addition, the Japanese government plans to stockpile two million treatment courses* of Avigan, as part of the Japanese government's emergency economic package. On the back of the efforts to fight against COVID-19 pandemic, CMIC group supports the phase III clinical trial at CMIC Co., Ltd., a pioneer CRO in Japan. Also, CMIC CMO Co., Ltd., a leading CDMO in Japan, will manufacture "Avigan Tablet" at their main plant to contribute that FUJIFILM Corporation accelerates the production. CMIC group will continue to show our strong supports to pharmaceutical companies and medical professionals and contribute to the medical care and health of people suffering from COVID-19. By using our unique business model "Pharmaceutical Value Creator (PVC)" which covers the value chain of pharmceutical companies, CMIC group will work to contribute to providing COVID-19 related services below. COVID-19 Clinical Trial/Research Related Services Consulting service, monitoring, data management, statistical analysis, medical writing, pharmacovigilance and audit/quality assurance for clinical trials and clinical research of medicine and vaccine for targeting COVID-19 Establish and operate diseases database Dispatch specialists who have accumulated experiences in works of clinical operations Support of clinical research and clinical trial in medical institutions as SMO (Site Management Organization) Customer Support for Clinical Trial/Research of COVID-19 For inquiries, please contact our customer support below. Email: [email protected] *A treatment course is the amount of Avigan Tablet described by the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases in its guidance for a regimen of favipiravir to treat COVID-19. This 14-day treatment regimen includes: two loading doses of 1800 mg each on Day 1, followed by two maintenance doses of 1000 mg each on Days 2 through 14. For more information about CMIC Group and services, please click here About "Avigan Tablet" Avigan Tablet was approved for manufacture and sale in Japan in 2014 as an influenza antiviral drug for novel or re-emerging influenza virus infections. Japanese government has a certain stock pile of the drug as a countermeasure against such influenza viruses. About CMIC Group CMIC Group was founded in 1992 as the first Contract Research Organization (CRO) in Japan. Today CMIC Group is the largest clinical CRO in Japan with global footprint, providing comprehensive services in drug development, clinical site management, clinical to commercial GMP manufacturing, regulatory consulting and contract sales & marketing solutions. We can help pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies to enter Japan market, to conduct clinical trials in Asia, or to bridge drug development and manufacturing needs in the US, Europe, Japan and broader Asia. CMIC Group has over 7,000 employees and 25 sites globally. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200422006136/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] DETROIT, Mich., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Earlier this week, the Michigan Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal in a negligence lawsuit against the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids (Catholic Diocese). The lawsuit accuses the Catholic Diocese of negligence in the sexual abuse of a then 15-year-old male student, Brandon Bowman, who was repeatedly sexually assaulted by his then 34-year-old female teacher, Abigail Simon. Over three months in 2013, Simon sexually assaulted Bowman on multiple occasions. Simon was assigned by her employer, Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School/Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids, to tutor Bowman in order for him to remain eligible to play high school sports. Later that year, Simon was arrested for criminal sexual conduct (CSC), stood trial in 2014, and was convicted of CSC and sentenced to eight to 25 years in prison, a sentence she is currently serving. In 2015, Bowman filed a civil suit against the Catholic Diocese and claimed it responsible for the assaults due to the negligent hiring of Simon and in the lack of appropriate supervising of her. Discovery in the civil lawsuit uncovered that multiple teachers and administrators expressed concerns about Simon's behavior with young men who she was tutoring. One teacher reported the following statements to the school principal. Ms. Simon has been showing signs of impropriety this entire school year. I felt she could be a danger to our students. He also discussed with the principal "not leaving her (Simon) alone with kids after school, if possible." In late 2016, despite the evidence, the Kent County Circuit Court trial judge dismissed the Catholic Diocese from the lawsuit and ruled the Catholic Diocese was unaware of any conduct toward Bowman that would have put them on notice of Simon's eventual sexual assault. In 2018, the Michigan Court of Appeals agreed with the trial court's dismissal of the Catholic Diocese and held there was no evidence that the diocese knew Simon abused Bowman or any other child. Bowman then appealed to the Michigan Supreme Court and after nearly two years, earlier this week, the court released its decision not to hear this case in a four-three ruling. "This is an absolute travesty of justice, especially in that April is Child Abuse Prevention Month," said Ven Johnson. "We have written and verbal evidence that proves before Brandon's sexual abuse began, the Catholic Diocese knew of Simon's predatory behavior and did nothing about it. In cases of sex abuse against children, allowing the employer of the abused to escape liability due to the alleged lack of knowledge of any prior sexual abuse behavior is unconscionable." Ven Johnson Law will file a Motion for Reconsideration because they believe the Supreme Court should hear the case and allow it to proceed to a jury trial where all evidence against the diocese can be presented. For more information, visit www.venjohnsonlaw.com or call 855-VEN-FIGHTS. SOURCE Ven Johnson Law Related Links https://www.venjohnsonlaw.com Chernobyl forest fire still smoldering as nearly 1,400 rescuers work at site People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 16:37, April 22, 2020 KIEV, April 22 (Xinhua) -- A total of 1343 rescuers and 299 vehicles are still working on putting out the smoldering remaining at the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) stated on its official website on Tuesday. "As of 7 am on April 21, SESU continues to assist the State Agency on Exclusion Zone Management in putting down the fires at the territory of Korogodsky, Lubyansky, Paryshivsky, Dityatkovsky, and Denysovichsky forestry... 1343 people and 299 vehicles, including three helicopters, which carried out 189 water discharges, equal to about 378 tons of water on April 20," the message published by the Emergency Service reads. Currently, the rescuers are using SESU heavy machinery and an additional eight Armed Forces trucks to create firebreaks in the exclusion zone. Head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine Mykola Chechetkin informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on April 14 that the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone fire has been extinguished, while the rescuers will need a few more days to put out smoldering. Overall, the firefighters have been working for three weeks, trying to quench the blaze that started on April 4 some two hours north of the country's capital of Kiev, near the border with Belarus. While investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the forest fire, police have detained two people suspected of triggering the blaze by setting dry grass on fire in the area. The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant is located some 110 km north of Kiev and witnessed one of the worst nuclear disasters in human history on April 26, 1986. After a meltdown and explosion of the plant's reactor, a large tract of land around the facility was designated as a forbidden zone. After radiation levels decreased, the 30-square-km area around the plant was officially opened to tourists in 2010. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address It's so heartwarming to see people who are privileged are doing their part and standing up for those in need. Many Bollywood celebrities have donated money to aid the victims and healthcare workers in these grave times, others are providing meals to migrant workers. Some of them have also made their offices and hotels available for COVID-19 warriors and laboueres to rest. One among them is Bollywood actor Sonu Sood. BCCL In order to ease the pain of the unfortunate ones, Sonu Sood is providing food to 25,000 migrant workers during the holy month of Ramadan. According to a report on Pune Mirror, someone reached out to him explaining the plight of migrant workers -- belonging to different states -- who were stuck in Bhiwadi. In no time, he agreed to help and deliver meals. Ive assured them that their requirements for the holy month will be taken care of. In these difficult times, it is important for each one of us to stand up for the other," he was quoted as saying. BCCL/Representational Image Apart from this, Sonu has already been feeding 45,000 people in Mumbai daily. He tied up with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to reach those who need help. "Some of us are blessed to have food and shelter in these tough times, but there are many who have not had meals in days. To help them, I've started a special food and ration drive, Shakti Annadanam, which is named after my father. I hope I am able to help as many people as possible," he was quoted as saying by Mid-Day. BCCL/Representational Image Not only this, Sonu had also offered his Juhu hotel to COVID-19 warriors. He opened the doors of his six-storey hotel in Juhu to accommodate the medical staff treating COVID-19 patients. BCCL Its my honour to be able to do my bit for the doctors, nurses and para-medical staff of our country, who have been working day and night to save peoples lives. They hail from different parts of Mumbai and need a place to rest. We have already approached municipal and private hospitals and informed them about the facility," he was quoted as saying by Bombay Times. We are all in this together. Let's support each other! During a month that has brought many business operations to a halt in response to COVID-19 social distancing measures, Main Squeeze Juice Company a Houston juice and smoothie bar franchise whose ownership group includes current New Orleans Saints punter and native Houstonian Thomas Morstead is finding ways to give back to the community. Main Squeeze, partnering with Triumph Over Kid Cancer Foundation, donated 600 immune-boosting shots to the frontline staff at Memorial Hermann Sugar Land Hospital. As a company, they have delivered more than 4,600 of their immune boosting cure shots in the last month to hospitals in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and Houston and plan to continue delivering shots to surrounding hospitals. As Congress finalizes a new round of the Paycheck Protection Program to free up $320 billion in cash for businesses to retain workers during the coronavirus pandemic, Connecticut banks are middle of the pack nationally in amounts approved with one of the states biggest lenders vowing this week to up its game. The PPP program was among the early relief packages intended to keep pay flowing to workers during the outbreak of COVID-19, along with expanded unemployment compensation for those who lost their jobs. Under PPP, businesses with less than 500 employees can apply for loans to cover payrolls and other expenses for up to eight weeks, with the loans forgiven if they keep their people on board. The Connecticut Department of Banking has information on the program online at portal.ct.gov/dob. Banks received details on the program from the U.S. Department of Treasury only hours before they were authorized to begin processing loans on April 3, causing delays for some lenders overwhelmed at the outset with a flood of applications. Complaints surfaced of banks approving loans for existing customers at the expense of newcomers who lacked a relationship. The Small Business Administration has not posted updated numbers for PPP approvals since last week, when it tallied the state-by-state totals for 98 cents of every dollar disbursed nationally under the initial $349 billion program, which was drained in less than two weeks. As of last Thursday, more than 18,400 Connecticut entities received applications stamped for $4.15 billion, averaging out to $225,000 in assistance for each. That left Connecticut outside the top half of states for loan dollars disbursed alongside New York and New Jersey, as calculated on a per capital basis based on total employment in each state as of mid-March. While that figure could be influenced by small business demand for PPP, the head of Waterbury-based Webster Bank admitted his company can improve its performance in getting money into the hands of loan applicants. Certainly we wanted to help every small business borrower and customer of Webster that we could, said CEO John Ciulla, speaking Tuesday on a conference call. We got through approximately 30 percent applications approved (and) 30 percent funded, plus or minus a few percentage points on both sides of that. We fully expect to drive those numbers significantly higher over the next few days as weve got internal approvals. Webster Bank has the third biggest base of deposits in Connecticut, offering both traditional savings and loans accounts as well as a health-savings account business that is among the largest in the nation. On Tuesday, Webster bolstered its HSA Bank subsidiary with the acquisition of 24,000 health-savings accounts from State Farm totaling $140 million. Ciulla said Webster tasked 300 people to work on applications, with some loan officers freed up after PPP approvals resulted in declining numbers of commercial borrowers asking the bank for flexibility on existing loans with payments coming due. Were going to work our butt off to make sure that when the funds ... open up again, that we close that gap a little bit, Ciulla said. On Tuesday, Webster announced it had set aside $76 million to cover possible losses on loans outstanding, up from $6 million for the purpose in the final three months of 2019. Websters head of finance said Tuesday he does not expect the bank to reserve a similar amount for credit losses covering the current quarter. I think our reserves and our provision in second quarter will depend less on a (second quarter) shock, and more on the expected duration and severity of the economy over the next one or two years, said Glenn MacInnes, chief financial officer of Webster. We have to assess the impact of the stimulus programs and our own loan-modification programs, and then well evaluate that over the next couple of weeks. But I dont see it as anywhere near where we were in (March). Includes prior reporting by Emilie Munson and Luther Turmelle. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman SAN FRANCISCOWeeks before there was evidence that the coronavirus was spreading in U.S. communities, a 57-year-old woman developed flu-like symptoms and abruptly died in her San Jose kitchen, triggering a search for what had killed her. Flu tests were negative. The coroner was baffled. It appeared that the woman had suffered a massive heart attack. But tissue samples from the woman, who died on Feb. 6, have now shown that she was infected with the coronavirus a startling discovery that has rewritten the timeline of the virus early spread in the United States and suggests that the optimistic assumptions that drove federal policies over the early weeks of the outbreak were misplaced. The unexpected new finding makes clear that the virus was circulating in the Bay Area of California as early as January, even before the federal government began restricting travel from China on Feb. 2. It also raises new questions about where else the virus might have been spreading undetected. With little local testing throughout February in part because of botched testing kits from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with strict guidelines that limited who could get tested officials were not aware of the virus transmitting locally in the country until Feb. 26, in Solano County, California. Previous cases had involved people who had travelled to China, where the outbreak began, or who had been exposed to someone who was sick. But the Feb. 26 case in Solano County was of unexplained origin. Similar cases of community transmission were quickly identified in nearby Santa Clara County, which includes San Jose, as well as in Washington state and Oregon. The new test results made public late Tuesday show that even this timeline failed to reveal how long the virus had been circulating. The woman in San Jose had not recently travelled outside the country, the authorities said, and yet she died a full 20 days before the earliest recorded case of community transmission. Another previously unconnected death in Santa Clara County, on Feb. 17, has also now been linked to the coronavirus. Each one of those deaths is probably the tip of an iceberg of unknown size, Dr. Sara Cody, Santa Clara Countys medical officer, said in an interview. Gov. Gavin Newsom of California said on Wednesday that there could be subsequent announcements as investigations across the state further examine the early origins of the virus. He said investigators are looking at coroner and autopsy reports going back to December in some counties. The earliest case discovered this week, friends and family members said, was of a woman who worked at a Silicon Valley semiconductor manufacturing company with offices worldwide, including in Wuhan, China, the city where the outbreak began. A longtime friend said that on Feb. 2, the woman had complained of flu-like symptoms. Four days later, he said, she was working from home, still feeling under the weather. Her daughter came home and found her collapsed at the breakfast bar in her kitchen, according to the friend, who asked not to be identified because he did not want the womans identity to be disclosed. Family members said they initially had wondered if she had been suffering from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Her work as a company auditor for her firm, they said, brought her into contact with employees from all over the world and involved frequent travel. Across the country, doctors and public health officials have reported earlier cases of serious illnesses and deaths that preceded official diagnoses of the coronavirus. Only now are some of them being examined, and the new findings in Santa Clara County suggesting that these suspicious earlier cases were instances of community transmission shed light on the understated public health response to the widening outbreak. Had there been earlier proof that the virus had already found a foothold in the United States, experts said, public health officials would have had more urgency to ramp up testing, prepare hospitals and assemble protective gear that might have prevented infections among health care workers and others. Instead, the focus in February was on quarantining thousands of travellers who were returning from China in the hope that infections could be identified, isolated and contained. What in the end was that really going to accomplish if it was already here? said Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease specialist and senior scholar at Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Officials in Santa Clara County said on Wednesday that the new cases were among more than a dozen deaths in the county that the medical examiner had suspicions about and ordered investigated. Dr. Michelle Jorden, the Santa Clara County medical examiner-coroner, said the case of the San Jose woman had piqued her curiosity, leading the county to examine it further. It was when we were looking at the microscopic tissues and we decided whoa! this still looks infectious, and we are going to send the tissue to the CDC, she said. Tissue samples were sent to Atlanta for testing in mid-March, but the results confirming the coronavirus did not come back until Tuesday. It is unclear how the virus reached the people in these earliest deaths. In January, health officials identified a series of people who had travelled from China and then tested positive for the virus, but those cases were largely contained. At the time, President Donald Trump said he did not think the virus would become a pandemic and declared that public health authorities have it totally under control. Federal health officials initially limited testing largely to those who had travelled from Wuhan, then expanded it to people coming from mainland China. Trump ordered travel restrictions, including health screenings for U.S. residents returning from mainland China, that began on Feb. 2. By Feb. 26, Trump claimed that the limited number of cases in the country within a couple of days is going to be down to close to zero. Thats a pretty good job weve done. That was the same day community transmission began to emerge, first in California, then in the Portland, Oregon, area, and near Seattle. Cody led the effort to issue the nations first stay-at-home orders on March 16. But she said she would have issued them even earlier had she known about the February deaths. I think if we had had widespread testing earlier and if we had been able to document the level of transmission in the county, if we had understood then that people were already dying, we probably would have acted earlier than we did, Cody said. She said officials had been hearing about a lot of people who were ill but did not meet the criteria for testing. It was just sort of this understanding that the testing capacity at the CDC was very, very, very limited, she said. When doctors would call them with suspicious cases, she said, county health authorities would have to explain that the cases did not qualify for testing. It got increasingly uncomfortable, right? she said. It didnt make any sense. How are you going to detect community transmission if youre only testing people with a travel history? Well youre not. There have been signs that the virus established itself long before community transmission was recognized. Researchers believe that cases circulating in New York probably began in mid-February. Trevor Bedford, a scientist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center who studies the spread and evolution of viruses, has estimated that an outbreak in the Seattle area likely has roots back to about Feb. 1, or perhaps could be linked to the first reported case in the United States a man who flew from China to the Seattle area on Jan. 15 and later tested positive. But, until now, the first known deaths from the coronavirus were recorded in the Seattle area on Feb. 26. Whether and how the early cases might be related to later cases remains unclear. CDC scientists are attempting to discern the genetic sequences of the virus from the three cases, which can be challenging when tissues are obtained after death. So far, only relatively short pieces of genetic material have been obtained, said Kristen Nordlund, a spokeswoman for the agency. That was enough to confirm the diagnosis, but not large enough to detect the specific subtype of the virus, which could help identify potential links to other cases. Dr. Charles Chiu, who has been examining the genetic signatures of the viruses circulating in the Bay Area, had previous suspicions about the Santa Clara cases. While many of the viruses landing in the United States have several mutations compared with the original strain in Wuhan, one of the cases examined at the end of February in Santa Clara had only one mutation. That indicated that the cases there had a strong link to the original Wuhan strain. It suggested that it was an early introduction, Chiu said. Even still, he was surprised that a virus-related death occurred as early as it did in February. He is interested in seeing the genomic sequence of the new cases, although he suspects they are likely connected to the larger cluster in Santa Clara linked by the same signature mutation. The virus has an incubation period of up to 14 days, and people can be infectious before symptoms begin. Because the person who died on Feb. 6 had been ill for several days, it is possible that she could have transmitted the infection to others as early as January. This offers evidence of what many of us in the field had been saying, said Adalja, the infectious disease specialist. That restricting testing was going to miss cases that could have a chain of transmission that ended up with somebody dying. By Ofeliya Afandiyeva Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree to improve the activities of veterinary departments under the Ministry of Agriculture and to abolish veterinary points that are part of these departments until late 2022, presidential website reported on April 22. The decree was issued on April 22 in a bid to improve animal health services and organize a phased transition to the provision of veterinary services in the country through private veterinary services, the report reads. In line with the decree, the ministry must also approve a sample contract between the Agency for Agrarian Services and veterinary entities within two months in order to organize veterinary services funded from the state budget against special dangerous animal diseases. In order to coordinate the activities of veterinary entities, the ministry must ensure the formation of a Veterinary Services Monitoring subsystem within a year, which provides registration of veterinary entities in the Electronic Agricultural Information System (EAIS) and electronic monitoring of the implementation of contractual obligations. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Azerbaijani Food Safety Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan have been instructed to submit proposals to the President of Azerbaijan within three months to increase the professionalism and number of veterinary entities in order to ensure healthy competition in the field of veterinary services. .--- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Boston, which reported its second case of COVID-19 on March 2, may actually have had some 2,300 infections by the start of that month, according to Northeastern University researchers. A team led by Alessandro Vespignani, a professor in its College of Science, estimated that COVID-19 was likely spreading in a number of American cities by Feb. 1 when much of the focus was still on China. Its modeling suggests that there could have been a combined total of some 28,000 infections by March 1 in Boston, Seattle, Chicago, San Francisco and New York when the official combined total for these five cities at the time was reported as just 23 confirmed cases. The study estimated 2,300 cases in Boston by March 1 and another 2,300 in Seattle. It also estimated 3,300 cases in Chicago and 9,300 in San Francisco by that date. New York City is estimated to have had 10,700 undetected cases by March 1. Massachusetts confirmed its first case Feb. 1 involving a University of Massachusetts-Boston student who had traveled to Wuhan. It confirmed its second case on March 2 with a woman who had traveled to Italy. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased restrictions on who could be tested for COVID-19 March 2, though a lack of high volume, rapid testing continue to allow for widespread testing. The modeling done by Vespignanis team, highlighted in the New York Times, was run with different variables. Those variables included where outbreaks occurred, where movement restrictions were in place, where people traveled and what was known about the virus, including its possible spread by infected people without symptoms. Other research, some based on genetic testing of the coronavirus, supports growing evidence for earlier-than-thought spread in the United States during February and possibly January and that such undetected spread in parts of the Northeast was due to cases imported from Europe rather than China where the novel virus was first identified at the beginning of the year in the city of Wuhan. The first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the United States was reported Jan. 21 in a young man in Washington State who had visited Wuhan. Enhanced health screenings of travelers from Wuhan for the infection expanded then from New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco airports to airports in Atlanta and Chicago. The first outbreak of the respiratory illness in Europe was reported in Italy on Feb. 23 with 150 cases in a town in northern Italy. On March 15, President Donald Trump barred all travel into the United States from European countries with the exception of Britain for 30 days. Just about everyone can agree that there is no place like home, and that holds true even for Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. Over the past few years, her career as an actress as well as her role as the Duchess of Sussex have taken her to some of the most exotic places in the entire world, and fans couldnt help but be a bit envious. After landing her breakout role as Rachel Zane in the legal drama Suits, Meghan lived for a few years in Toronto, Canada, where the show was filmed. It was after she met Prince Harry, who lived in London, that she realized just how difficult it was to carry on a long-distance relationship. As the couple grew more serious, Meghan moved to England to live at Kensington Palace. After getting married, however, they surprised everyone and moved to Windsor. Meghan and Prince Harry have been on the move for quite a few years, and now, a royal source says that she feels like herself in Los Angeles, where they have recently settled. The royal exit that shocked the world It is easy to assume that royal life would appeal to anyone, but for Meghan, it was anything but that. As soon as she and Prince Harry went public with their relationship, the relentless British tabloids began to harass Meghan to no end. Things got so bad that Prince Harry felt compelled to release a statement in her defense, but that certainly did not stop the media from continuing to voice their opinion. Add in the fact that Meghan was dealing with extensive family drama when she and Prince Harry got married, and it seemed that the duchess just couldnt catch a break. She and Prince Harry moved to Windsor, much to everyones surprise, in hopes that they would be out of the spotlight. It didnt get any better, and finally, according to Insider, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced that they would be resigning from their roles as senior working royals. Deciding where to call home Meghan Markle | Chris Jackson/Getty Images After extensively renovating Frogmore Cottage, their home in Windsor, England, it is safe to say that Meghan and Prince Harry still werent happy. According to The New Daily, she was finding royal life to be pretty overwhelming. Although she received her fair share of attention when she was an American actress, it was nothing compared to what life as the wife of Prince Harry brought. Meghan and Prince Harry wanted nothing more than to live a private life with each other and their young son, Archie, and after splitting from the royal family, they spent quite a bit of time in Canada. It even got to the point where more than a few fans thought that the couple would choose to stay there permanently. However, it wasnt too long ago that they surprised everyone and decided to move to Los Angeles, Meghans former home, and a far cry from London. A royal source says that Meghan feels like herself now Although we havent seen many pictures of Prince Harry and Meghan out and about in Los Angeles, according to US Weekly, the duchess is starting to feel like herself again.She is back in familiar surroundings, and close to her mother, Doria Ragland. Theyve been looking forward to [moving], and theyre very content and happy to finally be all settled in, an insider said. And of course, Meghan feels more at home too and shes really starting to feel like herself again. Meghan and Prince Harry have been looking forward to this big move for quite some time now, and they are relieved to finally be exactly where they want to. Chances are, Meghan is happy to be away from the negativity that she has faced for the past several years and be back in the place where she grew up and loved as a child. Recently, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were spotted in L.A, dressed casually and sporting face masks, delivering meals for Project Angel Food. Two persons were arrested on Thursday morning for allegedly attacking Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami and his wife Samyabrata Ray in Mumbai. Two persons were arrested on Thursday morning for allegedly attacking Republic TV editor-in-chief Arnab Goswami and his wife Samyabrata Ray in Mumbai. "Two people have been arrested for attacking Arnab Goswami and his wife. The FIR has been registered at the NM Joshi Marg Police station under Sections 341 and 504 of the Indian Penal Code," Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Zone 3, Avinash Kumar told ANI. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Prakash Javadekar, condemned the attack saying that this is "against democracy". "We condemn the attempt to attack renowned journalist Arnab Goswami. Essentially, we condemn every attack on any journalist. Because this is against democracy," the union minister told ANI. "It is really ironical that those who preach tolerance have become so intolerant. Therefore, we condemn this attempt. We appeal to the collective wisdom that this is undemocratic. As per present law, definitely, police takes action, if there is a complaint," said Javadekar. Goswami in his complaint to the police has alleged that he and his wife were attacked by Youth Congress workers when they were driving back home from the Republic TV Headquarters in Worli. "At around 12:15 am, when we reached Ganpatrao Kadam Marg, two men on a bike followed our car and tried to overtake it. These 2 men first tried to identify who was driving the car. They stretched out their arms, pointed their fingers at me, and then blocked the path of my car with their two-wheeler," he said in the complaint. "The pillion rider hit the right side driver window several times and then, these attackers realized that the car window was up and they couldn't break through and immediately the pillion rider removed a bottle from his pocket and threw liquid all over the car on the driver's side of the car where I was sitting. All through, both were shouting and abusing in Hindi while making violent gestures," read the complaint. The senior journalist said that the attackers were later apprehended by the Mumbai Police. Goswami stated that Shivaji Hosmani, who is deputed for his personal protection informed him that "the attackers had identified themselves as members of the Youth Congress who had been sent by higher-ups to teach me a lesson". Goswami claimed that he had to make "multiple requests" to get an FIR registered regarding the incident. "Congress leader Alka Lamba tweeted 'Yuva Congress Zindabad' using her verified social media handle. This celebration of the attack on me further reinforces my belief that this attack on me and my wife Samyabrata Ray has been orchestrated by Sonia Gandhi and her close circle of Congress leaders at a time when we have raised serious questions about her accountability in several cases, including the attack on Hindu monks in Palghar on 16th April," Goswami stated. He also alleged that there is "considerable" evidence that top Congress leaders have been carrying out an attempt to incite towards a "violent attack" on him and the Republic Network. "Senior Congress leaders, in fact, have suggested the 'modus operandi' of the attack on me. So it cannot be a coincidence that a physical attack on me follows a series of threatening and violence laced comments by leaders loyal to Sonia Gandhi," read the complaint. The journalist stated that a "series of orchestrated" FIRs have been filed against him for asking questions directly from the Congress interim chief on her silence on the Palghar issue. "As journalists, personally we will not be cowed down by such assaults and my team at Republic are determined to ask the question that makes the Vadra Congress and Sonia uncomfortable, as we do, of all. I hope this matter will not be covered up and investigated and I'm ready to cooperate to follow up in any way. I would also like to place on record that if there is any untoward incident or harm to me or those associated with me, I will hold Sonia Gandhi and the Vadra family personally responsible given the history of their malice and violence towards me and my team," the complaint said. In a video message after the incident, Goswami said: "...Sonia Gandhi, you tried to carry out an attack on me when I was driving back from work. Sonia Gandhi bring it on. Maybe you did not like it. But nobody is scared of you anymore. Get your goons out, attack me, stop my car, do the hell what you can. We are not going to scared of you and your monstrous measures." "I hold you personally responsible for any consequences of any attack on me. If anything happens to me, it is Sonia Gandhi who is responsible. Sonia Gandhi and Vadra family who cannot take my questions right now. I have asked legitimate questions," he said. The senior journalist alleged that Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has tried to spread fake news regarding the segregation of COVID-19 patients in Gujarat on 15 April. "I have questioned and exposed the lies of Sonia Gandhi and her daughter Priyanka Vadra who had tried to spread fake news regarding segregation of COVID-19 patients in Gujarat on 15 April. I suspect and am concerned that there could be an attempt to conceal the fact that this was a clear attack orchestrated by Sonia Gandhi and the Congress leadership on me and my wife," read the complaint. Half of the UKs woefully inadequate COVID-19 testing capacity is going unused, while thousands of virus tests and millions of antibody tests have proved unreliable. The government claims to have established a daily testing capacity of 40,000 but only half that number is being carried out. Health Secretary Matt Hancock sought to blame the lack of testing on staff that havent wanted to come forward. In fact, the government is solely to blame for the ongoing catastrophe. Britains 29 regional drive-through testing centres are not located outside or even near hospitals or town centres. Instead they are in city suburbs, off motorways and at airports. This means that those hoping to be tested cannot use public transport or be driven by anyone other than members of their household. There are numerous reports of health care workers having to drive hundreds of miles to reach their nearest site. A National Health Service worker is tested by a soldier for COVID-19 at a drive-through testing centre in London London. (Image Credit: AP Photo/Matt Dunham) Geographical problems are combined with other strict limitations. Testing is by appointment only and limited to those who have already been self-isolating at home. Tests must be done within three days of symptoms first showing. Only last Friday were testing centres opened to firefighters, prison officers, the police, and the judiciary, as well as National Health Service (NHS) staff. The British governments testing strategy has never been based on organising the mass manufacture and distribution of tests throughout the populationbeginning with health care and other frontline workers. They have instead been focused on the mass manufacture and distribution of lies. An important chronology of the UKs coronavirus response produced by the Byline Times testifies to this reality. On March 11, NHS England announced plans to increase the rate of testing to 10,000 tests a day. One week later, Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to increase testing to 25,000 a day. At that time, the daily rate was roughly 4,000. Johnson continued to pull numbers out of thin air, which he knew full well were not going to be achieved. On March 25, he told a press conference, We are going up from 5,000 to 10,000 tests per day, to 25,000, hopefully very soon up to 250,000 per day. In the previous 24 hours, the UK had carried out just 6,583 tests. It had at this time still failed to reach for a single day the original daily target of 10,000almost a month after the first death in the UK on February 28. On April 2, Hancock announced that 100,000 tests would be being carried out daily by the end of the month. Three days later, just 13,069 tests were carried out. Two days ago, on April 21, only 22,814 tests were performedthe highest total so far. Britain is currently ranked 15th out of the 17 countries (with available data) with the worst epidemics for the number of tests per thousand population. At 5.54 per thousand, the UK ranks only above Peru and India. The only conclusion that can be drawn from the chronic lack of testing is that the Johnson government is still set on imposing its policy of herd immunitythrough the mass infection of millions of people. Local councils employ 5,000 environmental health workers with experience in contact tracing, which is crucial to breaking the links of transmission of viruses in the early stages of an epidemic. This critical resource was never deployed. Instead, Public Health England (PHE) made use of just under 300 staff until mid-March, when they abandoned contact tracing altogether. On March 12, the government switched from a claimed policy of testing every possible case to only testing cases in hospitals. This policy directly contributed to the horrific situation in the UKs care homeswhere thousands of mainly elderly people have diedand to the scores of deaths among key workers. On April 1, when just 2,000 out of 500,000 frontline NHS workers had been tested, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Professor Jonathan Van Tam admitted to ITV News that testing is a bit of a side issue to be truthful with you. In fact, according to a Daily Telegraph report Wednesday, Public Health England have told labs to stop using the departments original test and switch to a commercial test. A PHE memo dated April 11 referred to quality assurance difficultieswhich means that thousands of NHS workers could have been sent back to work with a false negative, while still infected and infectious. The Daily Mail noted yesterday, NHS labs will continue to use the method but must double check all uncertain results until they can switch to commercial tests. Allan Wilson, president of the Institute of Biomedical Science, spoke to Wired about the governments approach to expanding testing capacity: There seems no coordination of this ... in fact it seems almost uncoordinated. Theres a lab I know in England that had staff in over the [Easter] weekend making DIY swab test kits, because theyd run out. Another NHS lab in Northern Ireland had to crowdfund 112,000 to purchase a DNA purification machine which will quintuple their ability to process tests. Several experts told the Guardian this week that the testing which is currently being carried out is not necessarily helpful from a public health perspective. Professor Sheila Bird, a former member of the Medical Research Council at the University of Cambridge, explained that the failure to break down the numbers by tests of hospital patients, critical workers and family members of critical workers made it impossible to accurately assess the outbreak in the UK. While ignoring the urgent advice of medical professionals to test, quarantine and contact trace, the government jumped ahead of scientific advice as it advocated a game changer antibody test. This was advanced as a magic bullet solution which could be used to justify a rapid return to work and shore up the profits of big business. The government admitted earlier this month that it had ordered 17.5 million antibody testing kits, none of which were accurate enough for use. At least 3.5 million unreliable tests have been paid for, with 16 million reportedly given for an order of 2 million kits from China. Recent research from the UKs National Covid Testing Scientific Advisory Panel found that the performance of home antibody tests is inadequate for most individual patient applications. Even if a highly accurate test were to be found, on the basis of several preliminary studies, the World Health Organisation estimates that not more than 2-3 percent of the global population have been infected with the virusrising to perhaps 14 percent in Germany and France. Even a small percentage of false positives (informing people who have not had the virus that they have) would therefore give a false and dangerous all clear to huge numbers of people. There is nowhere near sufficient data to prove that these tests would confirm a persons immunity to reinfection by the virus. Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHOs technical lead on COVID-19, said April 17, Right now, we have no evidence that the use of a serological test can show that an individual has immunity or is protected from reinfection. With Boris Johnson still ensconced at the prime ministers country residence, Chequers, after nearly dying of COVID-19, Britains ruling elite are relying on former Labour prime minister Tony Blair to argue that these concerns should not get in the way of orchestrating a return to work. He told Good Morning Britain yesterday, Even if there is some inaccuracy, I still think the antibody test is a vital part of what were trying to do. His Institute for Global Change has published a strategy for reopening the economy with a politically manageable death rate, while new Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer continues to press the government for a lockdown exit strategy. Jammu and Kashmir LG G C Murmu on Thursday lauded the J&K police and other security agencies, fighting against the spread of coronavirus in the Union Territory and called for maintaining a close watch on all inimical elements. While chairing a high-level security review meeting at Raj Bhawan in Srinagar, Lieutenant Governor discussed the overall security scenario measures. He lauded the role of police and security forces in combating the spread of COVID-l9. The meeting was attended by LG s advisors Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar and Baseer Ahmad Khan, Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam, Director General of Police Dilbag Singh, Corps Commander, 15 Corps, B S Raju, CRPF s Special DG Zulfiqar Hassan, Principal Secretary (Home) Shaleen Kabra, ADGP CID B Srinivas, IB's Joint Director Mahesh Dixit and other officials. Kashmir's Divisional Commissioner P K Pole, IGP Vijay Kumar, Additional Commissioner S B Rakesh Bansal too attended the meeting. While briefing about the prevailing security scenario in Kashmir valley, DGP gave a detailed overview enunciating the security measures initiated for ensuring peace and stability in the Valley. The DGP also briefed lieutenant governor about the measures being taken by the J&K police and other security forces in containing the spread of COVID-l9. The lieutenant governor reiterated the importance of maintaining a close watch on all inimical elements. He also appreciated the role of J&K Police and other security forces in conducting successful anti-militancy operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic while also working tirelessly to contain its spread in the valley. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Governments like to persuade dissenting journalists that their efforts are too puny and marginal to influence or otherwise affect the powers that be. Yet there is no doubting the huge impact of the media on public opinion: Donald Trump would not be in the White House if he was not an expert in making sure that his words and actions top the news agenda every day. The departure of Britain from the EU would surely not have happened without most of the print press urging millions of readers for decades to blame Brussels for their troubles. But how far is it possible for individual journalists to resist and contradict this tidal wave of information and misinformation pumped out on a daily basis? The aim of good journalism should be to tell the public what they need to know in order for them to reach informed decisions and to judge intelligently the performance of those in authority. But what if those same journalists conclude that the news propagated by the rest of the media is dangerously mistaken? Is there anything they can do about it, or should they throw up their hands in despair as many do, convinced that in opposing conventional wisdom, they will only be battering their heads against a series of brick walls without making a serious dent in it? SHANGHAI, April 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 20, 2020, the first phase of Connell Chemical Industry Ltd.'s 600 KTA MTO complex, a 300 KTA MTO plant, successfully started up and produced on-spec ethylene and propylene. This plant was built by Wison Engineering (SEHK stock code: 2236) through an EPC contract. This project is the first large-size chemical project brought online during period when China is in the process of restarting the economy while fighting COVID-19 pandemic. The MTO plant started feed-in at 8:18 AM on April 15, produced on-spec propylene at 7:00 AM on April 18, and produced on-spec ethylene at 4:00 AM on April 20. This plant is deployed with Honeywell UOP's advanced MTO/OCP reaction technologies and Wison Engineering's olefin recovery and separation technology "Pre-cutting + Oil Absorption" process. The project was built by Wison Engineering through an EPC contract. The integrated process with UOP MTO/OCP technology and Wison Engineering's olefin recovery and separation technology is the most advanced MTO process in the world, featured by advantages of high feedstock yield and low catalyst consumption. This commercialization is the 10th successful commercial application for Wison Engineering's olefin recovery and separation technology. This successful startup has once again proved the reliability of this olefin separation technology and Wison Engineering's leading capability in MTO technology and engineering. Timeline In July 2016 , Wison Engineering was awarded an EPC contract for Connell Chemical Industry's 300 KTA MTO project. At the same time, Wison Engineering and Connell also signed a licensing agreement on process design package (PDP) contract for Wison's proprietary olefin separation technology. Wison Engineering was responsible for engineering design, procurement and construction of MTO reaction and concentration unit, olefin separation unit, olefin cracking unit and additional auxiliaries. Following the contract signing, site construction started in the same month. , Wison Engineering was awarded an EPC contract for Connell Chemical Industry's 300 KTA MTO project. At the same time, Wison Engineering and Connell also signed a licensing agreement on process design package (PDP) contract for Wison's proprietary olefin separation technology. Wison Engineering was responsible for engineering design, procurement and construction of MTO reaction and concentration unit, olefin separation unit, olefin cracking unit and additional auxiliaries. Following the contract signing, site construction started in the same month. In October 2016 , Honeywell UOP and Connell signed the licensing agreement on MTO+OCP technology. , Honeywell UOP and Connell signed the licensing agreement on MTO+OCP technology. In September 2017 , the project handover ceremony for 300 KTA MTO plant was successfully held at project site. On April 20, 2020 , 300 KTA MTO plant successfully started up and produced on-spec ethylene and propylene. About Wison Engineering Wison Engineering (SEHK Stock Code: 2236) is a global leading service provider for energy and chemical industry, including oil refining, petrochemical, syngas chemical, oil and gas field services, LNG and power generation. From technology selection, project planning and consultation to engineering, procurement and construction management, as well as commissioning and start-up services, we can provide customized solutions covering entire project cycle with flexible service approaches. Our business has already covered more than 20 countries and regions. For more information, please visit: www.wison-engineering.com, or follow us on LinkedIn @ Wison Engineering Ltd. Contact: Media Relations HOPE HUANG Tel: (86) 21-2030 6967 Email: [email protected] Investor Relations CHARLES CHAN Tel: (852) 2116 4313 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Wison Engineering Related Links http://www.wison-engineering.com Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Adrian Wail Akhlas (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 17:30 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3e1248 1 Business Asian-Development-Bank,ADB,loan,COVID-19,coronavirus,Sri-Mulyani-Indrawati Free The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US$1.5 billion loan to support Indonesias efforts to combat the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on public health and the economy. ADB president Masatsugu Asakawa said on Thursday the pandemic had a devastating health, social and economic impact on Indonesia, urging the government to respond to the crisis through strong and well-coordinated economic and fiscal measures. ADBs budget support will help the government address the challenges posed by COVID-19, with a strong focus on the poor and vulnerable, including women, Asakawa said in a statement. The quick-disbursing financing is part of a larger support package ADB will provide to help Indonesia respond to COVID-19, in close coordination with other development partners. Read also: Indonesia to get $7b loan from World Bank, ADB, AIIB The loan will be used to finance the governments social assistance programs, boost resources for pandemic prevention and control, as well as to safeguard productive sectors and workers from economic meltdown. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that ADBs support would help the government to mitigate the adverse COVID-19 effects. We appreciate ADBs response to help fulfill Indonesias urgent needs, she added. Indonesias economy is expected to grow by only 2.5 percent this year, the lowest in decades, from last years 5.02 percent, following weaker domestic demand as the countrys key trading partners suffer, according to a government projection. ADBs loan is part of the broader $7 billion loans expected collectively from the World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), as well as to finance the country's fight against COVID-19. The UN's special Middle East envoy, Nickolay Mladenov, on Thursday warned Israel not to annex parts of the West Bank, saying such a move would be a "devastating blow" to the internationally-backed two-state solution. In a video briefing with the Security Council, which holds a meeting each month on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Mladenov hailed what he called "inspiring examples of cooperation across conflict lines" in the coronavirus battle. But he warned that in the past month, there has also been "continued confrontation and fighting, as the human toll of war continues to rise." "The dangerous prospect of annexation by Israel of parts of the occupied West Bank is a growing threat," Mladenov said, warning that such a move would violate international law. The envoy said annexation would also "deal a devastating blow to the two-state solution, close the door to a renewal of negotiations, and threaten efforts to advance regional peace." A peace plan unveiled earlier this year by US President Donald Trump -- which was rejected by the Palestinians and condemned by much of the international community -- gave Israel the green light to annex Jewish settlements and other strategic territories in the occupied West Bank. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and parliament speaker Benny Gantz struck a power-sharing deal this week, after three inconclusive elections in less than a year. Netanyahu has heralded the Trump plan as a historic opportunity for Israel but Gantz has been more cautious. Mladenov called on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to "seize this moment to take steps towards peace." He also urged them to "reject unilateral moves that will only deepen the wedge between the two peoples and undermine the chances for peace." Protesters 'gridlocking' downtown Topeka over stay-at-home extension TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNT) - Protesters are attempting Thursday morning to lock up downtown Topeka in defiance of the Kansas governor's stay-at-home order. The Convention of States Kansas is hosting "Operation Gridlock Topeka!" The 12 p.m. protest organized on Facebook asked people to gridlock streets around the state capitol building on Southwest 10th Avenue, Harrison Street, [...] Here's the best roundup we can find of today's state capital drama and more evidence of resistance against the current lockdown . . . Take a look: An NHS chief has claimed that hospitals in the UK are stock piling personal protective equipment in order to make sure their staff have the correct provisions to treat patients with the coronavirus. Estimates suggest that frontline workers currently need around 60,000 masks a week to treat Covid-19 patients. It was revealed this week that 24,000 containers used to deliver provisions such as masks, gowns and visors had not been returned. Rachel Repper, a senior official at the body that buys kit for the health service, the NHS Supply Chain, said trusts across the country appeared to have been hoarding various products including disinfectants. Staff from the London Fire Brigade sort PPE at a location in south London ahead of its distribution across the capital An ambulance crew wear PPE as they deal with a patient at Royal London Hospital in London At a presentation earlier this week she said the fact containers were not being returned and being used to store PPE was concerning. 'It indicates that there is stockpiling going on locally because that is where product is being held within hospital estates'. Ms Repper also claimed there had been a 335 per cent increase in demand for disinfectant wipes, with the demand being 'significantly higher' than any consumption model had previously suggested. Rachel Repper (pictured above) said trusts were hoarding equipment 'We urge our customers to really examine the level of ordering that is coming out of your organisations and make sure that it is proportionate to the requirement', she added. This is while the chief of defence staff, General Sir Nick Carter, told The Times that supplying PPE across the country was the 'single greatest logistical challenge he had experienced in 40 years' of service. So far the military has been helping the fight against the coronavirus by helping the NHS expand its distribution network from 240 trusts to over 50,000 hospices, care homes and GP surgeries. According to the chairman of the Health Care Supply Association, Mark Roscrow, NHS workers in Wales are currently getting through 'three million surgical masks a week'. Pharmacist Raj Matharu (left) and his colleagues working at the Broadway Pharmacy in Bexleyheath, Ken Wales accounts for around five per cent of NHS staff and the three million figure from the region indicates the national average could be around 60 million per week. In order to stretch provisions, the NHS is using smaller amounts of respirator masks and the government had previously urged health officials to make sure they were using provisions correctly in order to avoid waste. The government has face criticism in recent weeks after medics on the frontline complained of a lack of PPE. A shipment arriving from Turkey was delayed and it had only been carrying half of the consignment which was supposed to have transported over 400,000 gowns. Stanford announced Wednesday that it will not accept more than $7.3 million in federal funds it was due to receive as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act passed last month by Congress. The school contacted the U.S. Department of Education on Monday to ask that our application for relief funds be rescinded, according to a statement posted on the schools website. Stanford joins Princeton and Harvard in declining the grant. In response to strong criticism from President Trump, Harvard turned down more than $8.6 million. Harvard has the largest endowment fund of any university in the world (about $40 billion), with Stanford at $27.7 billion as of Aug. 31, 2019. The school was in line for a grant of $7,376,668 from the Cares Act, according to a full list of the allocations. The bill included about $14 billion in funding for higher education nationwide, with amounts based mostly on a schools enrollment of Pell Grant students. Like all universities, Stanford is facing significant financial pressures during this time of unprecedented uncertainty, the school said in its statement. The combination of lost revenue, increased costs and a market downturn that could have a substantial impact on our endowment are all expected to negatively affect the universitys finances for some time to come. However, we realize this crisis represents an existential threat for many of the smaller colleges and universities that are such a critical part of the fabric of higher learning in the United States, the statement read. We believe strongly in the importance of keeping these institutions viable in order to provide access to higher education for as many students as possible, and we concluded this should be a priority. 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. Schools were required to use at least 50% of the grants on emergency financial aid for students. Stanford, in Wednesdays statement, sought to reassure our students that we remain fully committed to the financial aid that has been promised to them. Several Bay Area universities will receive tens of millions of dollars from the Cares Act, with UC Berkeley ($30.4 million), San Jose State ($28.7 million) and San Francisco State ($28.7 million) landing the largest federal assistance. Ron Kroichick is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: rkroichick@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ronkroichick BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 13 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. 13. The Armenian armed forces were using sniper rifles. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 18:55:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KAMPALA, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations agencies in Uganda on Thursday issued a 316.4-million-U.S. dollar emergency appeal to respond to COVID-19 and its impact on the east African country. Rosa Malango, UN Resident Coordinator in Uganda launched the appeal that aims to support an estimated 12.8 million most vulnerable people in the country for the next six months. The appeal is a collective effort of 15 UN organizations, Uganda Red Cross Society, 20 national and international non-governmental organizations, including youth and women's organizations. "Unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. Today, we stand here to present the UN Emergency Appeal and the organizations participating," said Malango. "It is a shared burden. We invite our partners to invest in this appeal as it enables us to scale up our support to the government and people of Uganda," she said. Mary Karooro, the minister in charge of general duties, Office of the Prime Minister who is leading Uganda's fundraising drive appealed to the international community and donors to support the UN's emergency appeal. The appeal focuses on health, food security, livelihoods and nutrition, life-saving services and social protection, refugees and displacement, immediate economic support and innovation, as well as common services. "We are in a very critical time in human history. We, the people of the world, are facing an unprecedented health threat with severe implications for society's most vulnerable," said Malango. She said the COVID-19 pandemic puts all people in Uganda at risk and requires an urgent and robust response, including through the intensification of surveillance, detection and containment measures, as well as case management and community engagement. "The preventive measures have come at a very high cost to this developing nation; essential services are strained as human and financial resources are diverted to respond to this rapidly expanding public health emergency," said Malango. Uganda is currently under a three-week extended nationwide lockdown as a measure to contain the spread of the disease, with a total of 63 cumulative confirmed cases so far. At least 45 patients have been discharged after recoveries, according to the ministry of health. Enditem Doctors and engineers have together developed an electric stocking to prevent loss of muscle mass in bed-ridden patients. During the coming months, the stocking will be tested on Danish Covid-19 patients at intensive care units in Denmark. Doctors and engineers have together developed an electric stocking to prevent loss of muscle mass in bed-ridden patients. During the coming months, the stocking will be tested on Danish COVID-19 patients at intensive care units in Denmark. Muscle loss is a major problem for intensive-care patients, who are totally inactive in hospital beds for long periods of time. As much as 10-20 per cent of the muscle mass in the legs can be lost in just 5-10 days, and at the moment this is a serious problem for the many COVID-19 patients, who are often in hospital for several weeks. For this reason, in a new project, researchers from Aarhus University and the University of Copenhagen are seeking a technology-based solution to make it possible to stimulate patients' muscles while they are lying in bed. The research group consists of doctors and engineers, and together they have developed a special biocompatible electrode which can be integrated and 3D-printed onto textiles - for example compression stockings. "One characteristic of COVID-19 patients is long-term intensive admissions and long periods on a respirator, often for up to three weeks. It may take months or years to recover from the treatment, and some patients will never fully recover. The idea behind the project is to retain the muscle mass, so that patients are in approximately the same condition when they leave hospital as when they were admitted," explains Professor Charlotte Suetta from the University of Copenhagen, who is leading the clinical trials for the project at Bispebjerg Hospital and Herlev Hospital in Denmark. The project goes under the name "a solution to counteract muscular atrophy in COVID-19 patients", and it has now received DKK 1 million (EUR 134.000) in support from the Lundbeck Foundation. Production of the first 50 pairs of electric compression stockings has already been started. Biocompatible electrodes do not irritate the skin, and can remain in contact with the skin for days or even weeks. The 3D printing technology also makes it possible for the researchers to rapidly scale up production as required. "We're already 3D printing electrodes and wires onto the first stockings. The electrodes have three ultra-thin layers, which make it possible to stimulate the muscles through the stocking with minimal irritation. We expect to have the first 50 prototypes ready for testing by patients in a month," says Shweta Agarwala, tenure track assistant professor and printed electronics specialist at the Department of Engineering at Aarhus University. Today, compression stockings are often used after surgery to counteract blood clots in the legs. Therefore, it is easy to incorporate the new stockings in work-flows in Danish intensive care units without problem. "Now, we're starting up tests of the stockings on Corona patients. Among other things, we need to measure how well patients maintain their muscle mass during hospitalization, and whether there is any discomfort. This gives us good opportunities to optimise the technological design later," says Peter Hgh Mikkelsen, associate professor at Aarhus University School of Engineering. The stocking technology has already been patented by the research groups involved. If the trials with the COVID-19 patients show the reduction in muscle loss that the researchers expect, the universities are ready to produce 500 extra pairs of stockings by as early as the autumn, when Danish Health Authority expects the next wave of the Corona epidemic. "We've started this project because we're convinced that the technology can help patients. It really costs a lot of time, money and not least patient wellbeing to recover from long-term hospitalization, and we already know that electric stimulation can help to keep muscles going," says Professor Charlotte Suetta. ### The world is bracing for a massive hit to the global economy in the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Experts have warned of a US$1-2 trillion shortfall in global income this year, while world trade could contract by between 13 and 32 per cent. As countries take drastic measures to fight the spread of the disease, we are seeing borders and businesses closed, domestic and international travel scaled back, and a totally transformed way of life due to social distancing. Currently, 2.6 billion people across the world are affected by their workplace closing. The result is a sweeping drop in economic activity, a much less active workforce, on top of growing global insecurity for the future. Without ample government bailouts, poor developing countries and small states remain the most vulnerable in the face of the pandemic. cs webarticle_0.jpg However, history has shown that with the right policies and support measures in place, the Commonwealth as a whole will eventually be able to overcome the economic fallout though extremely bleak times lie ahead. In particular, gradually reviving trade flows amongst 54 member countries worth more than an estimated US$700 billion in 2019 - can play a fundamental role in boosting economic recovery, while harnessing the benefits of Commonwealth ties. Recovering from the crisis Given the unprecedented nature of current pandemic, I am cautious in comparing economic-induced and biological-induced crises. However, the 2008-2009 global financial crisis can offer some insights about the Commonwealth's possible performance. Over the years following the global financial crisis, the Commonwealth's overall exports of both goods and services grew at a faster rate than the world average. From 2010 to 2018, the Commonwealth's exports in goods, which make up 70 per cent of its trade, grew by around 8 per cent, compared to only 5.5 per cent for the world. In fact, during the global trade slowdown of 2012 to 2016, the Commonwealth's services exports were especially resilient, expanding by 7 per cent, on average - more than twice the growth rate for the rest of the world. Rapid population and per capita income growth (especially in Asia) are part of the driving forces behind the Commonwealth's buoyancy. With 2.4 billion people, 60 per cent of whom are under the age of 30, these drivers are unlikely to slow anytime soon with or without coronavirus. Commonwealth Advantage Moreover, Commonwealth countries share historical ties, familiar legal and administrative systems, a common language of operation (English) and large dynamic diasporas, which help make trade and investment more convenient and efficient. While not a formal trading bloc, this 'Commonwealth Advantage' enables member states to trade up to 20 per cent more with each other than with non-members, at a 21 per cent lower cost, on average. Our research also shows that these countries invest up to 27 per cent more within the Commonwealth than outside of it - almost tripling investment levels five years ago, which stood at 10 per cent. The potential benefits have not been lost on countries, even as we prepare to face a severe slowdown of the global economy brought on by COVID-19. The slowing of the Chinese economy (a major trading partner), the decline in tourism and travel, as well as plunging oil prices will certainly cause economic strain to members. However, investment flows to sectors such as e-commerce, digital technologies, cybersecurity, healthcare and biotechnologies could shore up, as business migrates online, and countries race to find a vaccine and other medical treatments. Strengthening the connectivity among our countries is therefore critical, so that trade flows remain resilient during times of crisis. Digital connectivity will be especially key, as the need to interact virtually now will transform the way people trade and do business. It is already a major area of focus for the Commonwealth, under its flagship Connectivity Agenda. While being extremely watchful of the pandemic's economic impacts, I am cautiously hopeful about the potential for intra-Commonwealth trade to act as a lifeline during the darkest of times. By leveraging the Commonwealth Advantage and robust policy responses, countries can bolster vital trade and investment flows, to eventually emerge at the end of the tunnel. The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 54 independent and equal sovereign states. The Commonwealth is home to 2.4 billion people and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. More than 60 per cent of the Commonwealth's population is under the age of 30. Thirty-two of our members are small states, many of which are island nations. Our shared values and principles are inscribed in the Commonwealth Charter. Member countries are supported by a network of more than 80 intergovernmental, civil society, cultural and professional organisations BRUSSELS When European finance ministers agreed on a half-trillion euros worth of joint measures to shore up their economies in the face of the coronavirus, it felt like an accomplishment. But two weeks later, when European Union leaders met to approve that package, the deal already looked like too little, too late. While the leaders of the 27 member nations did approve the aid package in a teleconference on Thursday night, they also shifted their attention to what more still needs to be done, asking the blocs executive arm to come up with a proposal for a recovery fund from what is set to be an economic calamity unseen on the continent outside wartime. But what that fund will do, how big it will be, when it will be introduced and virtually every other detail pertaining to its function is still to be determined, and those gaping blanks lay bare just how far away the blocs leaders are from agreeing on a bolder joint effort. A recovery experienced evenly across the 27 member nations population 440 million, wealth $20 trillion, forecast recession this year 10 percent is crucial for the European Union to continue functioning as a single market for goods and services, its main purpose. It is also crucial to the stability of one of the worlds most important currencies, the euro, which is shared by 19 European Union countries. Florida and Georgia archaeologists have discovered the location of Fort San Anton de Carlos, home of one of the first Jesuit missions in North America. The Spanish fort was built in 1566 in the capital of the Calusa, the most powerful Native American tribe in the region, on present-day Mound Key in the center of Estero Bay on Florida's Gulf Coast. Archaeologists and historians have long suspected that the fort, named for the Catholic patron saint of lost things, was located on Mound Key. Researchers have been searching for concrete evidence in the area since 2013. "Before our work, the only information we had was from Spanish documents, which suggested that the Calusa capital was on Mound Key and that Fort San Anton de Carlos was there, too," said William Marquardt, curator emeritus of South Florida archaeology and ethnography at the Florida Museum of Natural History. "Archaeologists and historians had visited the site and collected pottery from the surface, but until we found physical evidence of the Calusa king's house and the fort, we could not be absolutely certain." The Calusa were one of the most politically complex groups of fisher-gatherer-hunters in the world and resisted European colonization for nearly 200 years, Marquardt said. They are often considered to be the first "shell collectors," using shells as tools, utensils and jewelry and discarding the fragments in enormous mounds. They also constructed massive structures known as watercourts, which acted as fish corrals, providing food to fuel large-scale construction projects and a growing population. The Calusa kingdom controlled most of South Florida before being devastated by European disease. Researchers believe that by the time the Spanish turned Florida over to the British, any remaining Calusa had already fled to Cuba. Researchers continue to question how the Spanish survived on Mound Key and met their daily needs despite unreliable shipments of minimal supplies from the Caribbean and strained relations with the Calusa -- whose surplus supplies they needed for survival. The only Spanish fort known to be built on a shell mound, Fort San Anton de Carlos was abandoned by 1569 after the Spaniards' brief alliance with the Calusa deteriorated, causing the Calusa to leave the island and the Spanish to follow shortly after. advertisement "Despite being the most powerful society in South Florida, the Calusa were inexorably drawn into the broader world economic system by the Spaniards," Marquardt said. "However, by staying true to their values and way of life, the Calusa showed a resiliency unmatched by most other Native societies in the Southeastern United States." Researchers from the University of Florida, the University of Georgia and students from UGA's archaeological field school used a combination of remote sensing, coring, ground-penetrating radar and excavations to uncover the walls of the fort and a few artifacts, including ceramic shards and beads. The fort is also the earliest-known North American example of "tabby" architecture, a rough form of shell concrete. "Tabby," also called "tabbi" or "tapia," is made by burning shells to create lime, which is then mixed with sand, ash, water and broken shells. At Mound Key, the Spaniards used primitive tabby as a mortar to stabilize the posts in the walls of their wooden structures. Tabby was later used by the English in their American colonies and in Southern plantations. Marquardt said that while the team uncovered a substantial amount of the walls they found, it is still only a small sample of the entire fort, and there is still much more to learn and excavate. Discovery of the fort has the potential to reduce archaeologists' dependence on Spanish reports for information about ancient Floridian history, he said. "Seeing the straight walls of the fort emerge, just inches below the surface, was quite exciting to us," Marquardt said. "Not only was this a confirmation of the location of the fort, but it shows the promise of Mound Key to shed light on a time in Florida's -- and America's -- history that is very poorly known." The Florida Museum's Karen Walker, Amanda Roberts Thompson of UGA and Lee Newsom of Flagler College also co-authored the study. National Geographic provided funding for the research. Additional support for the project came from a faculty research grant from the University of Georgia, the John S. and James L. Knight Endowment for South Florida Archaeology and the National Science Foundation. The Revolutionary Guard directs all of Irans key military operations under the authority of the countrys supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But the Guards influence has been further bolstered during the coronavirus crisis, which has claimed more than 5,000 lives in Iran according to the countrys official death toll. Many outside experts, however, say the real tally could be higher. 'The virus of trust deficit seems to be taking a toll of the friendship built over the years by succeeding leaderships of the two countries,' notes Rup Narayan Das. IMAGE: Medical workers hug at the Wuhan Tianhe international airport after travel restrictions to leave Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province and China's epicentre of the coronavirus disease were lifted. Photograph: Aly Song/Reuters It was only less than six months ago that Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Mamallapuram in October last year at their second informal meeting. The photo opportunity exuded bonhomie and camaraderie. Together they discussed events to be organised by both countries on the occasion of commemoration of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries this year. Xi also invited Modi to visit China for the third round of their informal meetings. Then came the deluge -- COVID-19. During the critical period, the two countries maintained the channel of communication which helped evacuate the Indian community stranded there in Wuhan and other places of China. India also as a mark of humanitarian gesture despatched medical supplies consisting of masks and protective medical gears to China at a time when there is demand for such items in the country. Modi wrote to Xi, who in turn expressed his gesture to India at a critical time. There was also exchange of letters between External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Then there seems to be a pause. An eerie silence. Sometimes, silence is louder than words. This seems to be happening in the narrative of the relationship between the two countries. April 1, which marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, passed off quietly without any event, courtesy COVID-19. The ministry of external affairs said due to the COVID-19 pandemic, India and China have not been able to prepare and carry out various activities that had been planned to celebrate the 70th anniversary. Even as both countries continue to address the challenges posed by the pandemic, the MEA said they remain engaged in discussion on commemorating the anniversary in a manner truly reflective of its significance and the common aspirations of their peoples. President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar wrote letters to their counterparts. In his message to Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, Modi noted that the 'COVID-19 pandemic was a reminder to us of the interconnected nature of our world today and the need therefore to adopt a truly global response to it.' Modi said he was looking forward to working together to 'further deepen and strengthen the Closer Developmental Partnership and take it even to greater heights.' After that, there has been some disquiet. IMAGE: A woman receives a nucleic acid test for COVID-19 on a street in Wuhan, April 13, 2020. Photograph: Aly Song/Reuters What needs to be read between the lines is that Prime Minister Modi, who is a consummate communicator, spoke to almost all world leaders recently, but not to a top Chinese leader -- neither President Xi nor Premier Li, suggesting the disquiet in the relationship between the two countries. The postings on social media in India reflected the peeve of the Indian people. The mood of the nation was aired by the government's decision, when the ministry of Hhome affairs reiterated its earlier advisory not to use the video conferring software Zoom by officers and officials presumably on the suspicion that some of its encryption keys were routed through China-based servers. In another move, the Government of India reviewed its FDI policy on April 17 to pre-empt an opportunistic takeover and acquisition of Indian companies during the COVID-19 pandemic. The move was triggered by the People's Bank of China increasing its share in the Housing Development Finance Corporation Ltd. The Chinese bank's share in HDFC increased from 0.87% to 1.01% The virus of trust deficit seems to be taking a toll of the friendship built over the years by succeeding leaderships of the two countries. To remedy the trust deficit, China needs to demonstrate and convince the world at large and India, in particular of its sincerity. Had China shared the information about the outbreak of the coronavirus well in advance, perhaps things would have been much better. Preventive measures could have been put in place. China needs to be more transparent if it wants to earn the goodwill and trust of other countries. Soft power is not doling out money alone. Trust and transparency are perhaps the most potent soft power. It is time that China sheds Sun Tzu's dictum of deception as part of its strategic culture. IMAGE: A street scene in Wuhan, April 13, 2020. Photograph: Aly Song/Reuters Be that as it may, diplomacy is the art of possibility and there can always be a new beginning. It must not be forgotten that the two countries are neighbours and one can choose one's friends, but not one's neighbours. The destiny of the two countries is intertwined seamlessly. People-to-people contact between the two countries has increased manifold over the years. Trade and commerce have increased. While Chinese companies have invested in India, Indian companies have also invested in China. Many in China and India earn their livelihood through trading between the two countries. If you visit Kunming airport in China's Yunnan province -- which is about a two hour flight from Kolkata -- one can see Indians with huge bags full with trading commodities. Indian students study in China. Similarly, Chinese students -- though much fewer in number -- study in India. Nationals of both countries work in China and India. Bilaterally, a number of institutional mechanisms -- the most important being the Special Representative talks -- need to function. There are multilateral organisations like BRICS, the SCO, which India is hosting this year, the ASEAN Forum, the G-20, where the leaders of the two countries have to interact and engage with each other. All these outreach platform demand a conducive and congenial atmosphere. The fact remains that the coronavirus, which originated from China, willy-nilly has brought death and devastation to hundreds of thousands of people all over the world. India rose to the occasion to mitigate the suffering not only through its medical help, but more importantly by providing the drug hydrochloroquine to countries rich and poor, which has certainly enhanced India's prestige in the world. India is certainly not a rich country like China, but certainly it has a rich heart. We may not partake in the world's prosperity benefiting from global trade, but we can always be there in the times of need. Rup Narayan Das, PhD is a senior fellow at the Indian Council of Social Science Research at the Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi. Indonesia Papua Shootings In this Friday, March 6, 2020 photo, villagers board a bus as they flee their homes following clashes between security forces and a rebel group, in Tembagapura, Papua, Indonesia. The attacks between gunmen and security forces near the world's largest gold mine in Indonesia's easternmost region has caused nearly 2,000 villagers to flee, officials said Saturday. (AP Photo/Sevianto Pakiding) TIMIKA, Indonesia (AP) Indonesian security forces shot and killed three separatist rebels who were suspected in an attack that killed a New Zealander near the worlds largest gold mine in the easternmost province of Papua, police said Saturday. Clashes near the Grasberg copper and gold mine began Feb. 29 and had left two security personnel and four rebels dead. On March 30, eight gunmen shot and killed New Zealand miner Graeme Thomas Wall when he and six employees of PT Freeport Indonesia were in a parking lot at the companys office in the restive province. Two Indonesian miners were in critical condition while four others suffered minor injuries. The West Papua Liberation Army, the military wing of the Free Papua Organization, claimed responsibility for the attacks. Spokesman Sebby Sambom warned mine employees to leave the area that the group declared a battle zone. Rebels in Papua have been fighting a low-level insurgency since the early 1960s, when Indonesia annexed the region that was a former Dutch colony. Papua was formally incorporated into Indonesia in 1969 after a U.N.-sponsored ballot that was seen as a sham. The mine, which is nearly half owned by U.S.-based Freeport-McMoRan and is run by PT Freeport Indonesia, is seen by separatists as a symbol of Indonesian rule and has been a frequent target. The current violence caused about 2,000 villagers to flee to neighboring Timika city. Local police chief Era Adhinata said security forces on Thursday raided a house owned by a security guard of PT Freeport Indonesia, who also was a rebel supporter. They shot and killed two suspected rebels in a gunfight, arrested the owner, and seized weapons and a morning star flag of the separatist movement. Adhinata said the two slain rebels had been identified as gunmen in the shooting of the New Zealander and the others. He said security forces killed another rebel during a shootout on Friday in the Mount Botak of Tembagapura mining district, and seized an assault rifle and ammunition. A National Liberation Army of West Papua commander, Lekagak Telenggen, confirmed the police claim in a statement released Saturday. He called on the U.S. and Indonesia to stop the gold mine operations in Papua. Story continues We have sacrificed a lot ... but we will keep fighting for the freedom of Papua, he said. _____ Associated Press writer Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Galih Gumelar (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 The staggering increase in capital punishment verdicts last year has fueled criticism of Indonesias justice system, with activists accusing judges of ignoring basic human rights and underlining the ineffectiveness of the death penalty in reducing crime. As many as 80 death penalties were meted out by Indonesian judges in 2019, a 66 percent increase from 48 such sentences in 2018, according to an annual report by Amnesty International published this week. Sixty of the sentences were handed down for drug-related crimes, while is serious criminal offenses such as terrorism, murder and sexual abuse against children account for the rest. 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 The BJP on Thursday accused the Congress government in Rajasthan of being soft on Tablighi Jamaat people due to its appeasement policy. The party also hit out at the state health minister, blaming him for making misleading statement against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The party's state president Satish Poonia held Tablighi Jamaat people responsible for the spurt in coronavirus positive cases in the state and alleged that the state government was soft on them. The state government is not strict against Tablighi Jamaat people and this is the reason the coronavirus has spread in the state. They are being shielded by the Congress government and they are even attacking health workers, Poonia told reporters in a video conference. FIRs are being lodged against BJP MLAs and workers when they raise voice against the government's inaction, he said. Poonia also accused the health minister of giving misleading statement against the prime minister saying he was dreaming of becoming a national leader. Leader of opposition Gulabchand Kataria said the state government was running relief activities through the centre's fund and demanded from the state government to clarify as to how much fund from the state's exchequer was used for relief works. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Flash floods in Yemen's second city Aden has left streets submerged and destroyed homes. By Nathan Morley The United Nations is working with the government of Yemen to assess the needs of 14,700 internally displaced people who have been caught up in the floods in Aiden. The government has now declared the southern port city a disaster zone. Hundreds of vehicles were stranded in the middle of flooded streets, and in one part of the city a news report showed a boy sitting in a styrofoam box using it as a plank to row across a thoroughfare. The country is currently at war with the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Since 2014 Houthi rebels have been fighting the Yemeni government with military support from a coalition led by Saudi Arabia. More than 3 million Yemenis are displaced due to the conflict. Most are currently in camps and especially exposed to the risk of spreading diseases such as cholera and malaria. Meanwhile, at least 36 people have died and 42 others were injured by floods in the Democratic Republic of Congo. the DRC's Eastern provinces have been hard hit by heavy rains in recent days. As per the United Nations estimates, more than 1.2 million people have been displaced by the catastrophe and are in dire need of food as well as the other basic amenities. Oxfam has said that it was extremely worried about the recent storms which have also hit other provinces across the region. In a statement they said people have died, houses have been damaged and the flooding may accelerate the spread of cholera. Australia's coronavirus death toll has climbed to 76 after an elderly woman died at a COVID-19-stricken nursing home. The 79-year-old died at Penrith's Newmarch House in Sydney early on Thursday morning. Anglicare Sydney, the nursing home's operator, said the woman was suffering from pre-existing medical issues during her battle against COVID-19. The woman is yet to be formally identified. 'I have talked directly to the immediate family of the resident and conveyed our sincerest condolences,' said Grant Millard, CEO of Anglicare Sydney. The 79-year-old woman died at Penrith's Newmarch House in Sydney early Thursday morning There have been three other deaths at the facility following an outbreak which saw more than 40 staff and residents testing positive to COVID-19 earlier this month. A staff member who worked for six consecutive days with mild symptoms, primarily a sore throat, introduced the virus to the facility earlier this month. A further two members tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. There have been several accusations the nursing home has been unable to provide the care its residents need during the coronavirus restrictions. Mr Millard blamed the home's problems on a staff shortage and a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE). 'Because of the need to dress in full personal protective equipment (PPE), continue our stringent hygiene regime, and maintain social isolation while providing care it takes our staff at least five times longer to deliver the care our residents and their families expect,' Mr Millard told Daily Telegraph. There have been three other deaths at the facility following an outbreak which saw more than 40 staff and residents testing positive to COVID-19 earlier this month (stock) Family members of the residents have described what they said were horrendous conditions. Anthony Bowe said his 76-year-old mother Pat Shea pressed the panic button after a nasty fall and it took two hours for a staff member to attend to her. 'She fell in the bath and cut her arm open, they patched her up but she's been lying on her bed in blood covered sheets for four days, it's disgusting,' he said. Marie Watson said her mother Alice Bacon, 93, would not die from the coronavirus but rather from the 'lack of care' at the home. 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 Matt Steele took to social media to after his 101-year-old grandmother was unattended for two hours after falling. Mr Millard said the home is taking the feedback onboard and said they will work to improve and that the Commonwealth will provide them with all PPE required. 'We are grateful the Commonwealth government has been working closely with us to find the best staff across the sector to provide us with the high levels of care all our residents have come to expect,' he said. Australia has reported a total of 6,652 cases of coronavirus with 4.932 recovered. The infection rate has dipped to 0.08 per cent in the past week as the nation recorded just seven cases on Wednesday. NSW recorded five positive cases on Thursday with two including an ambulance paramedic in southwest Sydney and a nurse at the Sydney Adventist Hospital. The paramedic at the Liverpool Superstation is undergoing hospital treatment. 'In health facilities, we have a good record system so it does allow us to track any patients the paramedic may have come into contact with inadvertently, particularly prior to symptom onset ... that's our usual course,' Dr Kerry Chant said. The reopening of Inspira Medical Center in Woodbury was a priority of the state Department of Health a little over a month ago in the wake of a surging coronavirus pandemic. This week, it was not immediately clear when the hospital will reopen, or if it will be needed at all. New infections and hospitalizations statewide have been on the decline for the past week and state officials said it appears the worst-case scenario of a massive hospital bed shortage has been averted. Meanwhile, the hospital in Woodbury which closed in December after Inspira opened a newer facility in the Mullica Hill section of Harrison in Gloucester County, now sits fallow. The facility had housed a satellite emergency department, behavioral health services, and outpatient services including imaging and lab work. We have Woodbury on reserve, Department of Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said Tuesday. Its ready to go at a moments notice, and thats exactly how we wanted it to stand up. I want to thank Inspira; theyve emptied it out. Its in very good shape. We have beds in reserve, if we have to bring them up then we will. Donna Leusner, Department of Health director of communications, said Inspira would need to answer a request for how much the renovation cost and who is paying to operate the facility now. A request for comment from Inspira on Wednesday about how the effort was funded and who is paying for it now were not immediately returned. Woodbury Mayor Jessica Floyd said hospital officials promised to keep her in the loop for what happens next. Our folks circled back to them and asked Have you heard anything?" Floyd said Tuesday. They were like, Nope, youll be the first to know once weve heard anything." Floyd said Woodbury, the seat of Gloucester County, has not funded any of the effort to prepare the hospital to reopen. Gov. Phil Murphy said Tuesday that he had toured an Army field hospital in Atlantic City. He said that facility may not be needed either but he wanted to be prepared. Frankly, its there if we need it six or nine months from now, Murphy told Chris Cuomo on CNN. I dont want to go into this again with one arm tied behind my back. The effort to slow the rate of increase in cases - often referred to flattening the curve - appears to be working, Murphy said Wednesday. We continue to see the curve of new COVID-19 cases remains significantly flat," he said. "But again, while we consider this a positive step in our fight, were not even close to even consider claiming victory. Gloucester County has had 856 COVID-positive cases with 29 deaths. The epicenter of the pandemic in New Jersey in Bergen County has had 13,686 cases and 876 deaths. Staff writer Matt Arco contributed to this report. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. A Nobel prize-winning economist has said that the United States looks like a 'third world' country on course for a second Great Depression because of how President Donald Trump was handling the coronavirus pandemic. Joseph Stiglitz delivered the harsh criticism of Trump's handling of the crisis as he described how millions of Americans were turning to food banks and having to work due to lack of sick pay while also dying because of health inadequacies. 'The numbers turning to food banks are just enormous and beyond the capacity of them to supply,' the American economist said in an interview with the Guardian. 'It is like a third world country. The public social safety net is not working.' Joseph Stiglitz delivered the harsh criticism of President Donald Trump's handling of the crisis while describing how Americans had been impacted 'The numbers turning to food banks are just enormous and beyond the capacity of them to supply,' the American economist said. 'It is like a third world country. The public social safety net is not working' A long-time critic of Trump, Stiglitz said that 14 per cent of the population was dependent on food stamps. He also said that the social infrastructure could not cope with an unemployment rate of 30 per cent. He continued: 'We have a safety net that is inadequate. The inequality in the US is so large. This disease has targeted those with the poorest health. In the advanced world, the US is one of the countries with the poorest health overall and the greatest health inequality.' The economist slammed Republicans for rejecting proposals to give those affected with the virus 10 days' sick leave. A long-time critic of Trump, Stiglitz said that 14 per cent of the population was dependent on food stamps. He also said that the social infrastructure could not cope with an unemployment rate of 30 per cent 'The Republicans said no because they said it would set a bad precedent. It is literally unbelievable,' said Stiglitz. 'The safety net is not adequate and is propagating the disease. There is very weak unemployment insurance and people don't think they can rely on it.' Stiglitz felt that the United States was clearly headed to the direction of another Great Depression. 'Yes is the answer in short,' he said. 'If you leave it to Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell we will have a Great Depression. If we had the right policy structure in place we could avoid it easily.' He blamed Trump's mismanagement for the closure of the White House office responsible for pandemics, the cutting of CDC funding, and for the lack of test kits ready to test coronavirus patients. Stiglitz also decried the protest that he felt was spurred by Trump and encouraged an environment where the virus would be transmitted even more. Members of the 128th Brigade Support Battalion of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard work loading boxes of food into cars at a distribution for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank 'In those circumstances it won't be the government enforcing the lockdown, it will be fear. The concern is that people are not going to be spending on anything other than food and that's the definition of a Great Depression,' he said. 'We were unprepared but, even given the degree of unpreparedness, Trump's decision to make this about politics rather than about science has meant we have responded far more poorly.' The economist said that Trump losing in November and Democrats winning both houses of Congress could help get the country back on track. He did assert, however, that Republicans would fight dirty. 'There is voter suppression and gerrymandering,' he said. 'The Republican party knows it's a minority party and there is a no-holds-barred struggle going on to make sure a minority party rules America.' Straight Outta Compton star Jason Mitchell was arrested on Wednesday in Mississippi and faces four felony weapon and drug charges, according to official police records. The actor, who played Eazy-E in the 2015 N.W.A biopic, is facing two felony charges for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, as well as two more felony charges for possession of a weapon by a felon, including a Glock19 and a Mini Draco. According to local paper Sun Herald, Harrison County Sheriff Troy Peterson said in a press release that a background check upon Mitchells arrest showed he had a previous felony conviction. Mitchell was released from Harrison County Jail later on Wednesday, according to authorities. While Mitchells reps have not yet responded to TheWraps request for comment, a spokesperson for the actor told TMZ, Jason is at home with his family right now, working on an amazing new project. News stories move fast and oftentimes without all of the facts. This misunderstanding will be resolved shortly. We trust that the court systems blind justice will protect Jasons rights and allow him to tell his story. Also Read: Jason Mitchell Says Former 'The Chi' Showrunner Used #MeToo Movement as a 'Really Ugly Weapon' Against Him Authorities in Harrison County, Mississippi, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But local police told TMZ that Mitchell was found with two pounds of marijuana and 1,300 doses of MDMA in his possession when he was stopped at a traffic light. According to Mississippi law, its a felony to sell more than 30 grams of marijuana, punishable by one to three years in prison. Mitchell could face four to 16 years for attempting to sell two pounds, or 900 grams, of marijuana. On the weapons charges, its unclear what prior felony convictions Mitchell has on his record. Mitchells other recent credits include Zola, The Mustang, Tyrel, Mudbound, Detroit and Kong: Skull Island. He is currently in preproduction on The Scarecrow Bandits, on which he also serves a producer. Mitchell is represented by TCA Mgmt and The Glenn Toby Film Company. Read original story Straight Outta Compton Star Jason Mitchell Arrested on Felony Drug, Weapons Charges At TheWrap With the right approach, statistics can be used to reliably track the growth and fall in daily new cases of Covid-19 in China, raising hopes that similar approaches could more accurately predict the spread of the virus in other nations Efforts to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic are now the top priority of governments across the globe. As they make these life-saving decisions, it is particularly crucial for policymakers to accurately predict how the spread of the virus will change over time. Through research published in EPJ Plus, Ignazio Ciufolini at the University of Salento, and Antonio Paolozzi at Sapienza University of Rome, identify a clear mathematical trend in the evolution of daily new cases and death numbers in China, and use the same curve to predict how a similar slowdown will unfold in Italy. By aligning their strategies with predictions made by the curve, policymakers could be better equipped to draw out scientifically robust plans and timescales for their containment measures. Ciufolini and Paolozzi based their approach around a function commonly used in statistics to track changes in the total values of specific quantities over time. After fine-tuning the parameters defining the shape of their curve, they found that it closely approximated the evolution of daily new cases and deaths in official data from China, where Covid-19 has now been largely contained. The researchers then used the same approach to predict the evolution of the two values in Italy, by fitting the initial part of their curve to the official data available as of March 29th. This allowed them to make informed predictions of when numbers of daily new cases and deaths will peak, and then begin to fall significantly. Furthermore, the duo strengthened the reliability of these predictions by incorporating their mathematics into Monte Carlo computer simulations, which they ran 150 times. Ciufolini and Paolozzi acknowledge that their approach cannot account for real-world factors like numbers of daily nasopharyngeal swabs, social distancing, or the fact that real case numbers are likely far higher than those reported. They are now improving their algorithm's predictions by considering how the number of individuals tested by swabs is now far higher in Italy than at the beginning of the infection. If the necessary precautions are taken by governments, and curve parameters tailored to specific nations, they hope that it could become an important part of monumental global efforts to reduce the human cost of the global pandemic. ### Reference I. Ciufolini, A. Paolozzi (2020), Prediction of the time evolution of the Covid-19 Pandemic in Italy by a Gauss Error Function and Monte Carlo simulations, Eur. Phys. J. Plus 134:355, DOI 10.1140/epjp/s13360-020-00383-y Medics wearing protective suits seen in the premises of LNJP hospital while members of Tablighi Jamaat are shifted from hospital to quarantine centre during nationwide lockdown in Delhi. PTI photo New Delhi: The entire Muslim community cannot be held responsible for one group's "crime", Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said on Thursday while reacting to instances of Muslims being blamed for the spurt in COVID-19 cases after Tablighi Jamaat congregation here, and asserted that most of the minority community members have condemned the group's action. In an interview to PTI, Naqvi also expressed confidence that Muslims will abide by lockdown guidelines during the holy month of Ramzan. He said across the India, imams, Ulema and Muslim organizations have unanimously decided that during Ramzan (the Islamic holy month), Muslims will not congregate in mosques, religious places and perform all rituals like 'Iftaar' (breaking of fast) and 'taraweeh' (special prayers) at home keeping in mind social distancing norms. Naqvi said he has spoken with state waqf board officials, social and religious leaders, imams on adherence to the lockdown and social distancing guidelines during the Ramzan month starting Friday or Saturday evening and they have begun creating awareness among the people. Asked about some people blaming Muslims for the spread of the pandemic after a large number of cases were found linked to the Tablighi Jamaat event at Nizamudddin here, Naqvi said the whole community cannot be held responsible for the "crime" of one organisation or one person. "Whatever that organisation did, criminal negligence or crime...most Muslims have strongly reacted to it, condemned it and called for action against it. Entire community cannot be held responsible for one person or one organisation's crime," he asserted, adding that this has always been India's culture. Last week, the Union Health Ministry had said 29.8 per cent of the total COVID-19 cases 4,291 out of 14,378 COVID-19 infections in the country were linked to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation in March at the group's headquarters in Delhi following which some sections of the society severely criticised Muslims, and blamed them for the spread of the pandemic in the country. Naqvi's comments also assume significance in view of the 57-member prominent international Mulim grouping, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), asking India to take "urgent steps" to protect the rights of its minority Muslim community and stop the incidents of "Islamophobia" in the country. Hitting out at the OIC, the minister had said the country is "heaven for Muslims" and those trying to vitiate the atmosphere of prosperity cannot be friends of Indian Muslims. Naqvi said those targeting Muslims are few isolated people who are trying to spread "misinformation" and "we should be united and isolate such elements". On the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions during Ramzan, Naqvi said no Muslim wants to stay away from mosques during the holy month, but everyone has resolved to win this battle against coronavirus. During this month, everyone should pray to God that not only India but also the entire world is freed from this COVID-19 pandemic, he said. Asked whether Muslims have followed lockdown and social distancing guidelines till now, Naqvi said, "absolutely, the entire country is standing united in this fight against coronavirus." "When Prime Minister Narendra Modi had appealed to people with folded hands, he had appealed to 130 crore Indians, it was not based on caste or religion. And everybody responded to his appeal and acted on it," he said. People have faith that whatever Prime Minister Modi does is for the health and safety of the people, Naqvi said. Asked about the role of the Opposition in the fight against COVID-19 and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi's suggestions, Naqvi said,"some people have criticized, but that is their habit, we don't take any offence to it." By Akbar Mammadov Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Leyla Abdullayeva has slammed Armenian foreign ministers statement that Yerevan will not return any of Azerbaijans occupied territories that is required for the step-by-step settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Addressing a presser on April 22, Abdullayeva said: The foreign minister of the aggressor country, that is, Armenia, obnoxiously declares the problems of security and free expression of will. What kind of security can be talked about under the conditions of military occupation? The very fact that one state occupies the territory of another state is a constant source of a security threat. It is impossible to talk about the security and free will of the population of Karabakh when its third part is forcibly expelled from their places of permanent residence and for about 30 years deprived of the opportunity to return to their homes and participate in a free expression of the will concerning the future of their region." Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan during a video-conferecne with his Azerbaijani counterpart on April 21, said that Armenia would not liberate any territories around Nagorno-Karabakh, citing security reasons. Mnatsakanyan was commenting on Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovs statement about the step-by-step settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Lavrov had said that the first stage of the settlement requires the solution of the most pressing problems the liberation of a number of areas around Nagorno-Karabakh and the unblocking of transport, economic and other communications. Abdullayeva said that Lavrovs suggestion about the step-by-step approach is confirmed and has been repeatedly and consistently voiced by all co-chairing countries of the OSCE Minsk Group in all stages of the conflict resolution process. Furthermore, Abdullayeva reminded that both Azerbaijan and Armenia are full-fledged participants in the documents of UN Charter of 1945, the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 and the Paris Charter of 1990. We recall once again that participating states must refrain in their actions from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. We also emphasize once again that, with regard to the principle of self-determination, member states must act in accordance with the goals and principles of the UN Charter and relevant norms of international law, including those that relate to the territorial integrity of states, as set out in the above-mentioned Helsinki Final Act and then reaffirmed by the Paris Charter, she added. The spokesperson reminded that Armenias occupation is temporary. The sooner Armenia realizes this and stops engaging in self-deception, deceiving its own population and trying to mislead the world community, the more chances the country will have to avoid further bloodshed and aggravation of its already depressing situation. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Friendswood resident Zach McAllister never imagined a situation where he or any individual would ever need massive quantities of hand sanitizer. As the owner of the Custom Chemicals and Coatings company in Pearland now producing that product in gallon jugs, 55-gallon drums and 250-gallon totes, McAllister, 33, has learned that COVID-19 is changing the way people think about products and supplies. I used to think, What am I going to do with 24 boxes of something? and now I wish I had stockpiled those things, he said. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Coronavirus live updates: Hidalgo sued by GOP activist over mask order, 280K+ file for unemployment In early March, as the increasing threat of the novel coronavirus pandemic created greater demand for cleaning and germ-fighting products in retail stores, McAllister started manufacturing hand sanitizer in bulk from his warehouse in Pearland for emergency responders, including hospitals, police and fire and EMS agencies in the region that includes Brazoria and Galveston counties. Customers include the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. The first 5,000 gallons sold out quickly, and demand took off. One month into the shutdown, McAllister estimates his company has supplied 30,000 gallons to the local first responder community, and the company has expanded the products availability to the public via online orders and in-person pickup at the Pearland location. A single gallon sells for $60. SIMPLE FIX: How to make your own hand sanitizer McAllisters company produces thousands of gallons of hand sanitizer daily and plans are to continue as long as the need is there. More Information Hand sanitizer manufacturer Custom Chemicals and Coatings is producing hand sanitizer for sale to entities and individuals. What: Hand sanitizer is available for $60 per gallon or through bulk orders. How to buy: Visit www.chemicalsandcoatings.com. The company will send a confirmation number by email along a pickup window location at the facility. The pick-up process adheres to social distancing protocol. Where: 1927-A County Rd., 129 Pearland How hand sanitizer works:https://bit.ly/3cFmmAt See More Collapse The thing is when people have it, they use it, he said. Product idea stemmed from Little League discussion Custom Chemicals and Coatings is a contract chemical company that makes a brine-and-salt remover called Salts Gone as well as hard-surface cleaners and customized products for businesses. Someone (or a company) will approach us with an idea, and we have a team of chemists to create the product for them long-term, he said. The transition to producing sanitizer was unexpected and quick, said McAllister. The idea for making hand sanitizer occurred one week before the shutdown while McAllister was attending a meeting of the Friendswood Little League, of which he is a board member. We were talking about ways to help the kids keep playing, and one of the things we needed was hand sanitizer, McAllister said. I said, I bet I can make hand sanitizer so thats how it started. MORE FROM YVETTE OROZCO: Pearland food pantry adapts amid virus pandemic Within days, McAllister was producing, labeling and shipping the new product. As I got into it, I had this false idea in my head that the government and hospitals had what they needed (during the pandemic) and was rudely woken to the fact that our first responders in the community didnt have the supplies they needed, he said. At the beginning it was smaller places and as things have continued, it was larger hospitals like where the state believed there will be allocations coming in and they didnt. Its been left up to the private sector to fill in the gaps. Custom Chemicals and Coatings started to produce massive amounts of hand sanitizer that McAllister says exceeds World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention standards for surgical-grade sanitizer in gel form. It is distributed to healthcare organizations and police and fire departments. Other companies, like hotels, where supplies have dwindled during the pandemic, have also purchased the product in bulk. Price for ingredients has surged What makes hand sanitizer hand sanitizer? The primary ingredient, isopropyl alcohol, McAllister says, has become the hot commodity on the market, which is why hand sanitizer is so hard to find in stores now. Bolstered by hydrogen peroxide, isopropyl alcohol is the main agent that kills the germs but it can also dry and crack skin. Hydroxyethyl cellulose is a thickening agent which provides viscosity so that the sanitizer is not watery. The last ingredient, glycerin, acts as a hydrating and smoothing agent to offset the adverse effects of the harsher chemicals on peoples skin. There is some chemistry involved in getting the right mixture, volume and balance to be appropriate for public use. As he expands his product to the greater Houston area and to the general public, McAllister is determined to remain as local as possible, which he says will be important as communities begin to resume business. MORNING REPORT: Get the top stories on HoustonChronicle.com sent directly to your inbox There was just such a demand that what started off as an innocent thing, in order to continue to maintain it in the Houston market, has actually been a huge investment, he said. Our product is made locally by people who are working, and its all locally purchased in Houston from the people making the raw materials, the bottles and caps to the vinyl labels, which is going to be a big part of our recovery. Over the last month, McAllister said he has put thousands of dollars into obtaining the necessary ingredients. Everything has just surged in pricing from the isopropyl alcohol to the bottles to you name it, he said. McAllister said he continues to provide tens of thousands of gallons to customers, and as the state ponders the possibility of re-opening, small businesses are going to need supplies. Private businesses are going to need it as well to get back on their feet, and Im very sensitive to private businesses as I am one, he said. Being part of the effort in keeping the essential business community operating has been eye opening for McAllister Just meeting all these people and understanding all the different impacts of what makes the world go around. McAllister said he has learned two essential lessons during the pandemic. As a local business owner, he now sees his role as a sustaining force in the local and greater economy more distinctly. As a parent, consumer and resident, McAllister said he is witnessing a life-altering cultural shift. This is our kids 9/11, where were going to walk through and be expected to sanitize at public places, just like we got used walking through security and showing our ID everywhere, he said. The world will be a little different after this with regard to what peoples expectations of each other are. yorozco@hcnonline.com President Trump is making sweeping changes to regulations and pushing controversial new policies. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) Even as the coronavirus crisis has brought most of the country to a screeching halt, President Trump has begun to turbocharge his administration's efforts to slash business and other regulations, and to pursue other long-held policy goals, with consequences that are likely to outlive the pandemic. Labor groups, environmentalists, immigration activists and other critics say the White House is cynically using the nation's medical emergency and economic devastation as political cover to undermine or overturn rules put in place long ago to protect the public. When you weaken a rule, its very difficult to get it reinstated, said Dennis Kelleher, president of the consumer advocacy group Better Markets. Federal regulators, he said, are bending over backwards" for industry groups. In the most dramatic example, Trump this week vowed a blanket ban on immigration. He later signed a proclamation to restrict some people seeking green cards from entering the country for at least 60 days, a less draconian measure but one that escalated his hard-line efforts to curb even legal immigration. Asked if he was using the coronavirus to further his political goals, Trump portrayed immigration as a threat to U.S. workers, a contention most economists reject. "I want our citizens to get jobs," he said. "I dont want them to have competition. The Environmental Protection Agency has stopped enforcing some rules on air pollution and water quality during the crisis, moves that fit the administration's efforts since Trump took office to relax regulatory enforcement. The EPA said the coronavirus shutdown was affecting government laboratories where samples are analyzed, impairing its ability to determine whether companies are violating pollution rules. The agency asked industry to "act responsibly under the circumstances in order to minimize the effects and duration of any noncompliance caused by COVID-19." Similarly, the Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has curbed workplace inspections even though the coronavirus has increased concerns about safety on the job. OSHA said its goal was to "protect workers while also taking appropriate diligence to protect our own personnel." Story continues Labor unions have expressed alarm because OSHA already had fewer inspectors making the rounds than in decades. "Theyre not enforcing safety protections across the board," said Rebecca Reindel, safety and health director for the AFL-CIO, the country's largest federation of labor unions. The people who are working right now dont have what they need to be safe. The Federal Reserve has started allowing large banks to keep less cash on hand to cover potential losses, overriding a rule created after the financial crisis in 2007-08 sparked the Great Recession. Trump has broadly opposed strict rules on the financial industry. In another move, the Treasury Department is considering imposing tough terms on an emergency $10-billion loan to the troubled U.S. Postal Service, another longtime Trump target, the Washington Post reported Thursday. Trump has berated the Postal Service for years, claiming it is exploited by Amazon and other e-commerce sites, and has sought to change how much it charges to deliver packages. Conservative advocates and corporate lobbyists are dusting off wish lists for loosening other rules, and the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, which reviews federal rules, has been churning through the possibilities. "OIRA is working overtime. The White House counsel's office is working overtime," said Paul Winfree, a former White House official who now works at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that has compiled its own list of recommendations. The group wants to pause enforcement of regulations on small businesses during the crisis, although it doesn't say which ones. Winfree said the White House has already been adept at slashing regulations, and now is the time to push forward. "They already have that process in place," he said. "What our suggestion is juice it up and take advantage of it." The administration's approach is hardly new to American politics. "You never want a serious crisis to go to waste," Rahm Emanuel, President Obama's first chief of staff, quipped after the 2008 election. "And what I mean by that is an opportunity to do things that you think you could not do before." In addition to easing regulations, the coronavirus crisis may allow Trump to achieve other goals he has sought for years. He's pushing again for massive investment in roads, bridges and other public infrastructure, a 2016 campaign promise that he has yet to deliver. The idea has gained bipartisan traction as lawmakers look to get Americans back to work, although Senate Republicans are not yet on board. Central American migrants return to Mexico via the international bridge at the U.S-Mexico border. (Christian Chavez / Associated Press) Trump took office pledging to cut regulations, and early in his presidency said he would require that two rules be eliminated for every one added. He stocked his White House with aides who view the regulatory state with disdain. "The people around him are very thoughtful economists with a well-worked-out deregulatory agenda," said John Cochrane, an economist at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, a conservative think tank. "Trump himself doesn't stay up at night thinking section 236-B-slash-2 could use a better enforcement mechanism." Trump's critics say the changes could be fast-tracked with little transparency. In some cases, public comment periods were extended by a few days, although many Americans and public interest groups are facing stresses that limit their ability to meet deadlines to express their opposition. Amit Narang, the regulatory policy advocate for Public Citizen, a left-leaning consumer rights group, noted that the EPA, in allowing companies to avoid clean-water and emissions rules, is not requiring them to publicly disclose which rules they are skipping. They should be at least making clear to the public that this nonenforcement policy is not resulting in harmful pollution, he said. Narang said some narrow rule changes like allowing doctors to treat patients by phone or video make sense during the pandemic. But he said Heritage and other groups with ties to the administration are using the economic collapse to lobby for broader changes like pausing small-business regulations or curbing the ability to sue reopened businesses if their workers or customers get infected. They are absolutely trying to take advantage of this crisis to try to push forward partisan ideological agenda items that they wanted to accomplish before the crisis, Narang said. They want to convince the public that regulation is making the pandemic worse, but that is just flat-out not true. Celine McNicholas, director of government affairs at the Economic Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, said the administration's priorities are also evidence of regulations they're not pursuing. For example, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended wearing masks and maintaining distance from other people, but OSHA hasn't turned those guidelines into rules for the workplace. "The failure to act at this moment says every bit as much as what they're doing," she said. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has dealt a major blow to nearly every industry, but perhaps none has been hit quite as hard as travel. The United States is expected to lose $519 billion in travel spending this year, resulting in a total economic loss of $1.2 trillion in economic output nationwide, according to a new study by the U.S. Travel Association and analytics firm Tourism Economics. The massive losses represent more than nine times the impact that 9/11 had on travel sector revenue. Data shows that of the $519 billion in lost travel spending: $128 billion will be lost in food services; $112 billion will be lost in lodging; $97 billion will be lost in air transportation; $78 billion will be lost in other transportation; $54 billion will be lost in recreation and amusement; $49 billion will be lost in retail. Travel sector revenue will be most impacted during April and May, where it is expected to be 81% lower than usual, according to the study. Gradually lessening declines are expected in the summer, as travel restrictions are loosened regionally. However, losses will continue through the rest of the year, states the study. The reduction in travel spending will also result in $80 billion in lost tax revenue throughout 2020. With all lost revenue accounted for, the travel industrys losses are expected to result in a cumulative GDP impact of $651 billion in 2020, decreasing the industrys economic value by 45% over 2019, data shows. LOSS OF JOBS According to the study, the precipitous drop in travel spending will result in 8 million of the countrys 24 million total anticipated job losses by the end of April, meaning travel-related job losses will account for one-third of all jobs lost. Of the 8 million jobs lost as a result of declining travel, 6.9 million will be employees who work directly in the travel industry. It is predicted that job losses will peak in April and May, but continue throughout the entire year, with nearly 3 million formerly employed travel workers still out of a job in December. *** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK *** INTERNATIONAL IMPACT Over 20% of the travel-related losses will be driven by a decline in international travel, with 43 million fewer travelers expected to visit the United States this year, the study says. This drop in tourism will result in a loss of $116 billion in international spending, a 60% decrease from last year. The decline in international visitors will span all reaches of the globe, though Europe and Asia will see the highest drops in travelers visiting the United States, with reductions of 68% and 63%, respectively. MITIGATED DOWNTURN The study presents a mitigated downturn scenario in which various efforts could be put forth to lessen the drastic impact on the travel industry. These include opening of travel businesses on a region-by-region basis, enhanced traveler safety measures, and a robust array of marketing campaigns to encourage travel among low-risk U.S. residents, according to the study. If properly implemented, the mitigated downturn could result in travel spending losses of just $401 billion, as opposed to the initially forecasted $519 billion, improving the outcomes for all other travel-related losses. Total economic benefits of mitigating the expected losses in travel would tally $147 billion in GDP, $18 billion in taxes, and 1.3 million jobs restored by the end of the year, according to the study. IMPACT ON NEW YORK New York is particularly susceptible to travel-related job loss due to the city and states reliance on both foreign and domestic tourism as a major cog in the local economy. James Parrott, director of economic and fiscal policies at the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School, told the New York Times that the city is likely to lose up to 500,000 travel-related jobs. Among the industries most likely to be impacted are hotels, restaurants, for-hire vehicles, museums and other cultural institutions, according to Parrott. Fred Grapstein, chairman of the Hotel Association of New York City, told the Times that the citys hotels have been forced into massive layoffs due to the drastic drop in tourists and business travelers. What youre seeing, unfortunately, is the layoff of all personnel -- both union and management, Grapstein said. LOCAL TRAVEL AGENTS Staten Island travel agents and local tourism professionals told the Advance last month that their businesses are completely on hold due to the coronavirus. Our business is essentially in triage mode at the moment, with rightfully concerned clients contacting us around the clock to postpone their vacations, many of which have been planned for more than a year, said Thomas Mottola, co-owner, Mottola Family Travel, Independent Agents with Glass Slipper Concierge, in Westerleigh. Heather Pastore, owner of the Castleton Corners-based Manhattan Greeterz Walking Tours, recently said her tourism business has seen a dramatic decrease in business. Tourism is extremely impacted by this because all our major destinations in New York City that are tour-related are shut down because of the coronavirus. Its impacting us because most walking tour companies are independently or family-owned and operated, she said. We are forced to scale back or rearrange our schedules. UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. The public is invited to hear the latest on the spotted lanternfly during a Penn State Extension webinar Spotted Lanternfly Update 2020: How We Are Fighting It and What You Need to Know planned for noon, May 5. Emelie Swackhamer, horticulture extension educator based in Montgomery County, will describe the situation that has been unfolding in Pennsylvania and surrounding states over the last five years. She will discuss management options, explain regulations in place to slow the pests spread and give an overview of current research. The spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect from Asia that first was found in North America in Berks County, Pennsylvania, in 2014. The pest since has spread to at least 26 Pennsylvania counties, as well as to New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Economists warn that this insect, if not contained, could drain Pennsylvanias economy of at least $324 million annually and cause the loss of about 2,800 jobs. At risk are $18 billion worth of agricultural commodities including grapes, tree fruit, nursery plants and hardwood lumber as well as natural habitats, parks and backyards. To register for the webinar, visit attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4509353777787557134. More information about the spotted lanternfly, the state-imposed quarantine in Pennsylvania, management techniques and how to report a sighting is available on the Penn State Extension website at extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly. For the local TV news viewers in Pittsburgh, Joe Biden offered a dash of dad humor, making a play on the state's nickname: "Pennsylvania is not only the Keystone State, it is the key" to winning the White House, he said. Speaking on a broadly aired Hispanic radio show based in Los Angeles, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee promised that on his first day in office he'd push for an overhaul to the country's immigration rules, a topic he has rarely addressed. And early Wednesday morning on "The Late Late Show with James Corden," the 77-year-old provided some insight on whether he'd run for a second term if he won a first. The decision on a second term would be made "three years out," he said. Homebound at his estate in Wilmington, Delaware, Biden's quarantined campaign is adjusting to a new reality in which the prime-time TV slots that would carry his rallies and speeches under normal conditions are now largely dedicated to subjects other than the 2020 presidential campaign. Making matters worse for Biden, President Donald Trump dominates each evening with his coronavirus task force briefings, which mostly are carried live by cable and can have the feel of a daily campaign rally. That's left Biden with little choice but to spread his message around - bracketing the president by offering himself to local newscasts in battleground states that run his interviews while viewers wait for Trump's briefings and hamming it up on radio or late night (or late, late night) TV. Biden's appearances tend toward relatable and soft, in contrast to Trump's more contentious evening performances. But they also aim at groups of voters that Biden must attract to win in November, including suburbanites, younger voters and nonwhite voters. "Joe Biden is counterprogramming by finding precisely the local and demographic niches he needs to connect with," said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., who endorsed Biden this week after initially supporting Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. "This is a contest in the electoral college. And it will come down to the handful of swing states, where Joe Biden is focused like a laser beam." Still, the approach leaves Biden operating on the fringes of the national stage, where he's less likely to be blotted out by Trump. Polls show Biden has struggled to make his message about the virus become, well, viral, although overall results are mixed. More than 40 percent of respondents in a recent NBC News/Wall Street Journal national survey were not aware or had no opinion of what Biden had said about the coronavirus, which has recently become the thrust of his campaign message. The same poll found that Biden led Trump by nine points when respondents were asked who would be better at responding to a crisis, and by the same margin when asked specifically about handling the coronavirus. "There is not a ready off-the-shelf playbook for how you campaign in this environment if you're a nonincumbent, so that's part of what you're seeing," said Erika Fowler, a government professor at Wesleyan University and the director of the Wesleyan Media Project, which tracks and analyzes political advertising. "We're all being thrown into this new environment, where campaigns are going to need to reinvent, to some extent, how they go about things, how they're going to go about reaching citizens." While it would be better for Biden to compete on an even field with Trump, she said, "I think we're at a stage of this event where people are starting to feel coronavirus fatigue. So it seems like to me that the local television news strategy and reaching around is probably a good one at this point." That reach took Biden early Wednesday to CBS's "The Late Late Show" - a program watched by about a million viewers, according to Nielsen's April survey. "I'm just glad I'm not in your car, because I can't sing worth a damn," Biden joked, referring to Corden's popular carpool karaoke segments. Biden stayed on through two commercial breaks and spent much of the appearance trying to drive his message about the coronavirus. Namely, he said the Obama administration's warnings to Trump's advisers about the threat from pandemics fell on deaf ears, that he recognized the threat posed by the virus far sooner than the president did and that he would have responded more effectively. "Everything with him is slow motion," Biden said, referring to the president. "We have to move quickly, quickly." He's also made similar pitches in recent weeks on NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live." Each one included some banter, and some turn-of-the-screw scooplet, but remained largely focused on what Biden described as his competence compared to Trump's haphazard response to the crisis. Biden's local television appearances are designed not to compete with Trump but to slide onto the airwaves ahead of the president. On Sunday night, Biden's campaign staffers reached out to local reporters in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan to offer 5 to 7 minutes of the former vice president's time. The choice of outlets was obvious - Biden spoke directly to audiences in the three usually Democratic states that Trump breached when he won the 2016 election. If the point needed underlining, Biden referred to Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin as "pivotal to winning the electoral college in November" in a fundraising appeal Monday. Kate Bedingfield, Biden's deputy campaign manager, said local television has "been a cornerstone of our media strategy." "People put tremendous faith in their hometown outlets, and we always want to meet people where they are," Bedingfield said in a statement to The Post. "Sometimes that means bypassing the national media narrative of the day and talking to people in their own backyards." And with people across the country shut in during the pandemic and eager for news, ratings for local TV have skyrocketed. "It's colossal," said Kim Voet, WDIV-TV Detroit's news director, who said that their viewership jumped to levels not seen in 15 years. Biden's campaign had been pitching surrogates to the Detroit station for weeks - only to be rebuffed by the news organization, which wanted to hold out for an interview with the candidate. The strategy worked for both sides: The Biden interview ran as part of the 11 p.m. news show. There's another, more traditional, reason to go straight to veteran local reporters - to bypass what the campaign sees as Beltway concerns. "Campaigns and political operatives have been trying to leapfrog the national press into local markets for a long time," said Mark Longabaugh, who was an adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders', I-Vt., 2016 presidential campaign. "The coverage can be more straightforward." Indeed, over the course of four interviews Biden was not asked by anyone about a reported allegation of sexual assault made by a long-ago aide. (He also wasn't asked about it on late-night TV.) The questions range significantly in difficulty. On the softer side, veteran political reporter Jon Delano from Pennsylvania's KDKA-TV opened his Biden one-on-one with this softball: "When you think of Pittsburgh, what do you think of?" "I like it a lot," gushed Biden. "They're the people I grew up with. They're the middle class, working-class folks who bust their neck and did well, but went through some really tough times." But local interviewers also press on issues that the national media can ignore. The Pittsburgh interview included a question on whether Biden would end fracking, a critical industry in the must-win state that the liberal wing of the Democratic Party fiercely opposes. "I would not shut it down, no," Biden said, explaining that his position is to ban new leases on federal land, which he hastened to add was only a tiny percentage of the industry. In Michigan, WDIV's Mara MacDonald tried to pin him down on coronavirus aid: Should Washington's Kennedy Center and public television receive federal help? The institutions were awarded $25 million and $75 million respectively in the $2.2 trillion relief package Trump signed into law. "I get it," Biden said. "It's not where it needs to go. It needs to - we need to focus on small businesses, hospitals and the basic fundamental people who hold our society together." Biden's virtual three state tour included some rough patches. While speaking to a Pennsylvania TV station, Biden referred to the state's Democratic governor, Tom Wolf, as "Dale." (Dale Wolf was the governor of Delaware in the early 1990s.) He answered in the affirmative when a TV reporter asked if he would name his vice presidential pick by Memorial Day. Later in the interview, Biden clarified that he thought the reporter had asked about Labor Day. And during another interview, he briefly struggled to recall if the state needed N95 respirators or a hypothetical N96 model. Several of the miscues were noted by Republican operatives who amplified the errors. "Joe Biden sat down for a few interviews from his basement and demonstrated yet again that he simply doesn't what have it takes to run the country," wrote Trump campaign spokesman Andrew Clark in a blast email that highlighted several of the verbal errors. Trump campaign spokesman Ken Farnaso dismissed Biden's effort as "still struggling to stay relevant from his basement" while Trump and his various campaign efforts are seen by millions nightly. Indeed, for Biden, even a concerted effort to reach around the president and the virus can still prove difficult. "We are awaiting today's briefing from the coronavirus task force - when that briefing begins we will bring it to you live," announced Pittsburgh's WTAE-TV news anchor Shannon Perrine, making it clear what the main story of the night would be before introducing their interview with the former vice president. "Now," she said, "up-to-the-minute information as we go one-on-one with Joe Biden." Four north east Wales charities benefit from emergency fund to help during coronavirus crisis This article is old - Published: Thursday, Apr 23rd, 2020 Fourth charities in north east of Wales have received a share of emergency funding to help during the coronavirus crisis. Hafren Dyfrdwy has paid out 30,000 to 10 charity and community groups in Wales as part of its commitment to donate to organisations on the front line of supporting communities through the coronavirus crisis. The company created the fund to support the charities and community organisations which are making a difference to those most affected by the virus. Liv Garfield, Hafren Dyfrdwy CEO, said: Looking after each other is so important right now, and while our workers continue to keep the water flowing for everyone, we wanted to go above and beyond to help those helping others by creating the fund. Its so, so important that everyone does their bit now which is why Im absolutely delighted weve been able to get nearly 30,000 straight to those incredible community groups on the front line, which are helping those who need it most providing much needed peace of mind and assistance during this uncertain time. Among the groups that have benefited in the Hafren Dyfrdwy region, are Age Connects North East Wales, Mid and North Wales Mind, Wrexham Foodbank and Womens Aid. While we dont know how long well be in this situation, we knew we wanted to support those groups delivering food parcels, making sure families have essentials or supporting the most vulnerable and were sure this money will be used extremely where its needed the most, said Liv. Maria Heron, Deputy CEO, at Age Connects North East Wales: The current situation with the Covid-19 pandemic is challenging for us all but especially for our older population. With everyone over 70 and/or with an underlying health condition being advised to self isolate, getting vital supplies like shopping and prescription collections is difficult. Age Connects North East Wales is supporting older people in Flintshire and Wrexham with these essential tasks, as well as providing telephone information and advice, and telephone befriending to help reduce the feelings of loneliness and isolation and offer reassurance. The funding kindly donated by Hafren Dyfrdwy will help our staff and volunteers to continue to support older people during this period and to meet growing demand for these services, thank you. If you or someone you know needs our support please call 08450549969. Womans Aid CEO, Gaynor McKeown, added: We know that lock-down presents everyday difficulties for everyone. The advice from Government is to stay at home, however for those affected by Domestic Abuse staying home does not represent staying safe. This is a time when our services are needed more than ever, and our staff are working as normal to support new and existing clients. Without donations from people like Hafren Dyfrdwy, we would not be able to support so many people in our communities, it is now more than ever that we really appreciate their support. Please get in touch if you or someone you know needs support; we are here to help you during this crisis. More information about how to contact us can be found on our website. Google warns that nation-backed hackers are exploiting the COVID-19 pandemic to organizations involved in the fight against the pandemic. Google is warning that nation-state actors are exploiting the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic to target health care organizations and entities involved in the fight against the pandemic. Googles Threat Analysis Group (TAG) shared its latest findings related to state-backed attacks and revealed that it has identified more than a dozen state-sponsored groups using COVID-19 lures. Hackers frequently look at crises as an opportunity, and COVID-19 is no different. Across Google products, were seeing bad actors use COVID-related themes to create urgency so that people respond to phishing attacks and scams. reads the post published by Google. Our security systems have detected examples ranging from fake solicitations for charities and NGOs, to messages that try to mimic employer communications to employees working from home, to websites posing as official government pages and public health agencies. Recently, Google announced that its anti-malware solutions implemented to defend its Gmail users have blocked around 18 million phishing and malware emails using COVID-19 lures within the last seven days. The IT giant also announced to have blocked more than 240 million spam messages related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Examples of lure include fake solicitations for charities and NGOs, messages that mimic employer communications to employees working from home, and websites posing as official government pages and public health agencies. The following image shows location of users targeted by government-backed COVID-19 related attacks. One notable phishing campaign observed by Googles experts targeted personal accounts of U.S. government employees. Attackers used American fast food franchises and COVID-19 messaging as lures, the messages offer free meals and coupons in response to COVID-19, others instruct recipients to visit bogus web sites disguised as online ordering and delivery options. Upon clicking on the links included in the email, victims were presented with phishing pages designed to trick them into providing their Google account credentials. Fortunately, most of the messages were automatically filtered as spam, Google blocked the bogus websites asking for Google credentials. Were not aware of any user having their account compromised by this campaign, but as usual, we notify all targeted users with a government-backed attacker warning, continues the post. Weve also seen attackers try to trick people into downloading malware by impersonating health organizations. In other attacks observed by Google, state-sponsored hackers attempted to trick recipients into downloading malware by impersonating health organizations. Experts noticed some COVID-19 themed targeting of international health organizations, Google attributes them to the Charming Kitten Iran-linked APT group. Our team also found new, COVID-19-specific targeting of international health organizations, including activity that corroborates reporting in Reuters earlier this month and is consistent with the threat actor group often referred to as Charming Kitten. continues Google. The team has seen similar activity from a South American actor, known externally as Packrat, with emails that linked to a domain spoofing the World Health Organizations login page. Google is proactively adding extra security protections to more than 50,000 accounts that could be targeted by nation-state hackers. The IT giant explained that it is not observing an overall rise in phishing attacks by government-backed groups, APT groups are only changing tactics using COVID-19 lures. As the world continues to respond to COVID-19, we expect to see new lures and schemes. concludes Google. Please give me your vote for European Cybersecurity Blogger Awards VOTE FOR YOUR WINNERS https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe8AkYMfAAwJ4JZzYRm8GfsJCDON8q83C9_wu5u10sNAt_CcA/viewform Pierluigi Paganini (SecurityAffairs Google, Coronavirus) Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 02:42:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BRUSSELS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) leaders in a video summit on Thursday tasked the European Commission to shape the bloc's collective response to the coronavirus pandemic and link a recovery fund against the pandemic with the EU's next long-term budget starting next year. Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, said EU leaders agreed a recovery fund is needed and urgent. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a briefing that it is clear to everyone that the EU needs such a recovery fund. No specific amount was given, however. French President Emmanuel Macron said disagreements over the size and shape of the rescue package remained. Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, said the EU's executive arm would start working on the details. "Based on proposals from the European Commission, we will work constructively on a joint strategy for the recovery phase, linked to the multi-year budget," Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Twitter. Enditem Mumbai, April 23 : Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund on Thursday announced it was closing six of its credit funds due to liquidity issues amid the coronavirus crisis. The funds which will be shut are Franklin India Low Duration Fund, Ultra Short Bond Fund, Short Term Income Plan, Credit Risk Fund, Dynamic Accrual Fund, Income Opportunities Fund, the company said in a statement. "There has been a dramatic and sustained fall in liquidity in certain segments of the corporate bonds market on account of the Covid-19 crisis and the resultant lock-down of the Indian economy which was necessary to address the same," it said. The fund house further said that mutual funds, especially in the fixed income segment, are facing continuous and heightened redemptions. The statement noted that the Trustees of Franklin Templeton Mutual Fund in India, after careful analysis are of "the considered opinion that an event has occurred, which requires these schemes to be wound up and that this is the only viable option to preserve value for unitholders and to enable an orderly and equitable exit for all investors in these unprecedented circumstances". It said that individual emails are being dispatched to the unit holders regarding the closure of the schemes. The trustee or the people authorised by it will continue to realise or dispose-off the assets of the schemes in the best interest of the unit holders. The sale proceeds after discharge of all liabilities and expenses will be paid to the unit holders in proportion to their respective interests in the assets of schemes. Saudi Arabia may have to borrow as much as $58 billion this year to cover a budget shortfall caused by the oil price slump, Bloomberg reports, citing Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan. Al-Jadaan told media this week that the Kingdom might issue bonds worth $26.57 billion (100 billion riyals) this year in addition to an earlier issue of $31.88 billion (120 billion riyals) worth of debt. Saudi Aramco, for its part, is considering a $10 billion sale in part of its pipeline business, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. The kingdom went through similar crises in its history maybe even worse and was able to pass through them, Al-Jadaan said. This is not an exception. Most observers note that this price crisis is like no other in history. The unique combination of excess supply and a 30 percent drop in demand weighs heavily on oil-dependent economies throughout the world, and even low-cost Saudi Arabia is not exempt. The oil market is indeed flooded. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week, citing Saudi oil officials, that at least one in every ten VLCCs, each capable of carrying 2 million barrels of oil, is used for floating storage with many holding Saudi crude. Some of that, the sources said, had yet to find buyers. Saudi Arabia is bracing for the inevitable blow. In March, the government asked state agencies to cut their budgets by at least 20 percent, Reuters reported, citing sources in the know who declined to be named. That was before OPEC+ agreed to implement cuts of 9.7 million bpd in hopes this would help prices. It didnt. Now, according to an analyst with an Egypt-based investment bank, the Saudi deficit could widen to 15 percent of GDP, Bloomberg notes. That would be less than the 17 percent recorded for 2016, but it would still be quite brutal for the Kingdom that had to roll back austerity measures it implemented during the 2014-2016 crisis pretty quickly as bureaucrats rebelled. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The federal government has said it will not accept any form of discrimination against Nigerians and other Africans residing in China. Speaking at the daily Presidential Task Force briefing on Thursday, the minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said the recently alleged inhumane treatment of some blacks in China is unacceptable. He said the government will be working with leaders of other Africa countries to take definitive steps against China. I have received reports and we told them that it is unacceptable and we are also engaging with other African countries to decide and work together definitive steps and measures that we will take because of this situation, he said. Amidst the fallouts of the COVID-19 pandemic in China, several videos were circulated on social media showing Chinese authorities harassing Africans, including Nigerians, throwing them out of their homes and forcing them to sleep on the streets of Guangzhou, in Guandong Province of China. The videos drew a hashtag #ChinaMust Explain as Nigerians on social media prevailed on the government, as well as the foreign affairs ministry, to intervene. Though the Nigerian government blamed the action on poor communication between the Chinese authorities and African consulates in Guangzhou, China, it said necessary action will be taken. READ ALSO: In reaction, the Chinese government said it has concluded plans to protect Africans in the country and will not tolerate discrimination against them. Red line Mr Onyeama said the government will fight to the very end to ensure justice is served. He said the Nigerian consulate in Guangzhou has been directed to systematically detail every single case of discrimination, loss or damage suffered by any Nigerian. He noted that every single case will be followed robustly and compensation and damages will be done where required. So for us, as I said, it is a red line and we are going to fight it to the very end. We are extremely disappointed because we have excellent relations with the government and people of China that such a thing can happen at this stage, he said. He explained how the government, out of solidarity refused to place a ban on China when the pandemic started in Wuhan. When there were calls for travels to be banned to China when they had the outbreak in Wuhan, we went along with the World Health Organisation (WHO) advice not to place a ban on China and we showed real solidarity. But really we are deeply wounded by what has happened to Nigerians and other Africans in China and of course, Mr Onyeama said. Compromise Meanwhile, Mr Onyeama said the government will not compromise the dignity of Nigerians and the entire black race on the altar of economic cooperation with China. There have been some comments in the public domain that we are somehow held hostage by the fact that we have received a lot of economic cooperation from China in the past. But I can assure you we are going to pursue to the very end irrespective of whatever economic cooperation that we have with China because, in the world of today, we will not tolerate any form of racism or discrimination against Africans. It behoves on us to be in the front line in defending the divinity of blacks and Africans everywhere in the world, he said. CHICAGO, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Berlin Packaging today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed William J. Hayes as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and President and a member of the Board of Directors, effective no later than July 13, 2020. Hayes is currently CEO and President of BrandSafway. Michael Grebe, Executive Chairman of Berlin Packaging, stated: "On behalf of the Board and our sponsors, I am extremely proud to welcome Bill Hayes to Berlin Packaging. We are excited to have someone of Bill's caliber and experience join Berlin Packaging at such an important time in our history." Grebe stated further: "Bill is a true leader with a proven track record of strong execution and extraordinary results. As a CEO, he currently leads a global, highly distributed, private equity-sponsored business with annual revenues of $5 billion. Bill is well-known to be a servant leader, and brings the same customer focus to Berlin Packaging that has made us so successful as the world's leading hybrid packaging supplier. We have a fantastic team here at Berlin Packaging that has come to be known for delivering customer and employee thrill. Bill is a great addition to our team, with the same core values, and will add a renewed leadership to successfully implement our strategies and further capitalize on the considerable global market opportunities ahead." Hayes said, "It's truly a privilege to have been given the opportunity to lead Berlin Packaging, a clear market leader with a great team, a proud and successful past, and a very bright future having numerous growth opportunities globally. I'm looking forward to working with Mike, the leadership team and all the Berlin employees to deliver even more value to our customers and our investors. I'm also looking forward to working with the Board and our world-class sponsors. We're going to make history in this very strong and important industry." Bill's experience is marked by growing companies and transforming industries. Bill grew Safway from a nearly $1 billion North American business in 2012 to a $5 billion global industrial services business in 2020, with 38,000 employees across 340 locations in 30 countries, following a transformational combination with Brand. Prior to BrandSafway, Bill was President of Honeywell Safety Products, where he drove growth from $600 million in 2008 to $2 billion in 2012, creating the largest Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) player at that time. Bill's earlier career experience includes leadership roles at Nitto Denko, Brady, and Johnson & Johnson. Bill, a Chicago native who graduated from Northern Illinois University (BA) and Northwestern University/Kellogg (MBA), currently lives in Lake Forest, IL and will be based out of Berlin Packaging's corporate headquarters in Chicago. Berlin Packaging is a portfolio company of Oak Hill Capital Partners (Oak Hill) and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments). About Berlin Packaging Berlin Packaging is the only global Hybrid Packaging Supplier of glass, plastic, and metal containers and closures. The company supplies packaging solutions for large and small customers across a broad range of products, along with package design, financing, consulting, warehousing, and logistics services for customers across all industries. Berlin Packaging brings together the best of manufacturing, distribution, and income-adding service providers. Its mission is to increase the net income of its customers through packaging products and services. See BerlinPackaging.com for more information. About Oak Hill Oak Hill is a private equity firm managing funds with approximately $15 billion of initial capital commitments and co-investments since inception. Over the past 33 years, Oak Hill and its predecessors have invested in over 90 private equity transactions across broad segments of the U.S. and global economies. Oak Hill applies an industry-focused, theme-based approach to investing in the following sectors: Consumer, Retail & Distribution; Industrials; Media & Communications; and Services. Oak Hill works actively in partnership with management to implement strategic and operational initiatives to create franchise value. For more information, please visit: www.oakhill.com. About CPP Investments Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) is a professional investment management organization that invests the funds not needed by the Canada Pension Plan (CPP) to pay current benefits in the best interests of 20 million contributors and beneficiaries. In order to build diversified portfolios of assets, investments in public equities, private equities, real estate, infrastructure and fixed income instruments are made by CPP Investments. Headquartered in Toronto, with offices in Hong Kong, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, New York City, San Francisco, Sao Paulo and Sydney, CPP Investments is governed and managed independently of the Canada Pension Plan and at arm's length from governments. At December 31, 2019, the CPP Fund totaled C$420.4 billion. For more information about CPP Investments, please visit www.cppinvestments.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter. Additional information may be found at: www.berlinpackaging.com/insights/news/. Media Contact Emily Campbell, Chief Marketing Officer, [email protected]. SOURCE Berlin Packaging Related Links https://www.berlinpackaging.com CALGARY - Trucking, logistics and oilfield services firm Mullen Group Ltd. says it has temporarily laid off about 1,000 people because of the impact of measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Mullen Group Ltd. logo is seen in this undated handout photo. Trucking, logistics and oilfield services firm Mullen Group Ltd. says it has temporarily laid off about 1,000 people because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its business. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, Mullen Group *MANDATORY CREDIT* CALGARY - Trucking, logistics and oilfield services firm Mullen Group Ltd. says it has temporarily laid off about 1,000 people because of the impact of measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Chairman and CEO Murray Mullen says the Calgary-based company was outperforming its year-earlier performance until mid-March, when demand for its services turned lower. He says there's been a sharp decline in the demand for discretionary consumer goods as well as in commodity-based industries but its less-than-truckload and large diameter pipe transport businesses are doing well. Mullen says the company has established a $5-million family assistance fund to help staff affected by the downturn. 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 company reported net income of $4.7 million or four cents per share on revenue of $318 million in the three months ended March 31. That's down from net income of $11.6 million or 11 cents on revenue of $320 million in the first quarter of 2019. "The bottom line is that this health crisis is hurting a lot of people," Mullen said in a statement. He added: "We will see business decline, perhaps quite significantly in the short-term, however, I believe we will weather this crisis and come out of it stronger." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 22, 2020. Companies in this story: (TSX:MTL) 23.04.2020 LISTEN Original Afrobeat Badman, Kelvynboy, has called for concerted effort to ensure that afrobeat as a genre of music is given the necessary support to thrive in Ghana. Responding to a question in an interview with Amansan Krakye on Radio Central, he was asked whether it's difficult or easy to make a mainstream breakthrough with afrobeat, Kelvynboy said "It's not hard or difficult to breakthrough with Afrobeat. It's not hard for you the artiste. That's what we are used to all these years. "That's what the likes of Osibisa did and it was inspired by highlife. That's what we have been listening to. No wonder we now have Afrobeat as a category in the VGMA. "It's just about we accepting it and last year 2019 during the year of return, everyone was talking about Afrobeat during most of the concerts. "Even in Nigeria and internationally, it's widely accepted. If it's difficult doing Afrobeat I won't have survived in the music industry. "I don't do hip-pop, dancehall or JAMA and that's what has been keeping us going ever since we hit the limelight through the mainstream. Most people contend that afrobeat is the next genre of music to take the world by storm with Shatta Wale claiming lately that hiplife is not recognized globally as compared to afrobeat. Qualcomm had introduced the Snapdragon 855 Plus in July last year. The company was expected to do the same with the Snapdragon 865 Plus this year, but that wont happen, it seems, at least according to Meizu official. Meizu CMO claims the Snapdragon 865 Plus is not coming this year The information that Qualcomm wont announce the Snapdragon 865 Plus, at least not this year, comes from Meizu CMO. His name is Wan Zhiqiang, and he revealed the info via Weibo. To make things interesting, a well-known Chinese tipster suggested that the chip is coming. So, who to believe? Well, the Meizu CMO does seem like a more credible source. Advertisement Qualcomm still did not confirm anything, though, so well have to wait for some sort of official confirmation in order to be sure. Nothing is certain yet, but it seems like the Snapdragon 865 Plus is not in Qualcomms plans. Meizu CMO did not share any additional information regarding the Snapdragon 865 Plus, though. So we can only speculate at this point, but the recent outbreak may have something to do with it. The Snapdragon 865 Plus would be just an iterative update over the regular model This is just a wild guess. Its possible that Qualcomm didnt plan to announce a new chip either way. The Snapdragon 865 Plus would have been an iterative upgrade over the Snapdragon 865 anyway, as was the Snapdragon 855 Plus to the 855. Advertisement The Snapdragon 855 Plus did bring some gaming-related improvements, but other than that, it was almost the same as the regular model. Qualcomm could have easily skipped its launch entirely. Many smartphone companies did decide to use the Snapdragon 855 Plus in the second half of last year, though. That is not surprising as they wanted to utilize the best Qualcomm had to offer at the time. Speaking of Qualcomms chips and Meizu, the company is actually expected to announce a new flagship on May 8. Meizu will launch the Meizu 17 5G and 17 Pro 5G, and the company already revealed the design of the Meizu 17 5G. Advertisement Those two phones will be fueled by the best Qualcomm has to offer, the Snapdragon 865. The device will also include LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.0 flash storage if rumors are to be believed. The device is said to sport a large 90Hz display, which will be flat, by the way. The phones bezels will be quite thin, while a display camera hole will sit in the top-right corner. Were once again expecting offerings from Qualcomm, Apple, and Huawei to lead the SoC market in H2 2020. Samsung will be there with its Exynos chip as well, though, and MediaTek will try to get a piece of the pie as well. Yves here. A point we fell compelled to add every time the topic of inequality and health arises: Highly unequal societies impose a health cost even on the very rich. If you slip from your economic perch, you lose many if not all of your social ties. You are no longer able to afford the same summer rentals or second homes, patronize the same charities, belong to the same clubs. You may even have to move to a less tony neighborhood and take your kids out of private school. Knowing that what passes for your friendships in fact depend upon you being in their spending league exacts a toll. And thats before worrying that the help or your retainers are stealing from you. That level of underlying stress exacts a toll, believe it or not. For example, Jeff Bezos is the exception to the general rule that a high end divorce will take a big chunk out of the wealthier spouses net worth, even before you factor in that rich people can afford to get into protracted and therefore even more emotionally draining legal battles. That isnt to say that the very well off deserve all that much sympathy when they take money and status hits, but to illustrate how remarkably short-sighted their desire to remain well apart from the plebes is. By Liz Theoharis, a theologian, ordained minister, and anti-poverty activist. Director of the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights and Social Justice at Union Theological Seminary and co-chair of the Poor Peoples Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, she is the author of Always With Us? What Jesus Really Said About the Poor. She teaches at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Originally published at TomDispatch. My mom contracted polio when she was 14. She survived and learned to walk again, but my life was deeply affected by that virus. Today, as our larger society attempts to self-distance and self-isolate, my family has texted about the polio quarantine my mom was put under: how my grandma fearfully checked my aunts temperature every night because she shared a bedroom with my mom; how they had to put a sign on the front door of the house that read quarantine so that no one would visit. Growing up with a polio survivor, I learned lessons about epidemics, sickness, disability, and inequality that have forever shaped my world. From a young age, I saw that all of us should be valued for our intrinsic worth as human beings; that there is no line between the supposedly deserving and the undeserving; that we should be loved for who we are, not what we do or how much money we have. My mom modeled for me whats possible when those most impacted by inequality and injustice dedicate their lives to protecting others from what hurts us all. She taught me that the dividing line between sickness and wellbeing loses its meaning in a society that doesnt care for everyone. Heres the simple truth of twenty-first-century America: all of us live in a time and in an economic system that values our lives relative to our ability to produce profits for the rich or in the context of the wealth we possess. Our wellness is measured by our efficiency and a particular lesson in the age of the coronavirus our sickness, when considered at all, is seen as an indication of individual limitations or moral failures, rather than as a symptom of a sick society. About 31 million people are today uninsured in America and 14 states have not even expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The healthcare system is seemingly structured in defiance of the people it should serve, functioning as yet another way to maximize profits at the expense of millions. In this coronavirus moment, many more Americans are finally awakening to the bitter consequences, the damage, wrought when even a single person does not have access to the resources he or she needs to live decently or, for that matter, survive. With the spread of a pandemic, the cost to a nation that often treats collective care as, at best, an afterthought should become apparent. After all, more than 9,000 medical workers, many not adequately protected from the disease, have already contracted it. For decades, both political parties have pushed the narrative that illness, homelessness, poverty, and inequality are minor aberrations in an otherwise healthy society. Even now, as the possibility of a potentially historic depression looms, assurances that the mechanics of our economy are fundamentally strong (and Covid-19 an unexpected fluke) remain commonplace. And yet, while that economys productivity has indeed increased strikingly since the 1970s, the gains from it have gone to an increasingly small number of people (and corporations), while real wages have stagnated for the majority of workers. Dont be fooled. This crisis didnt start with the coronavirus: our collapsing oil and gas industry, for instance, points to an energy system that was already on the brink and a majority of economists agree that a manufacturing decline had actually begun in August 2019. The Cost of Inequality It should no longer be possible to ignore the structural crisis of poverty and inequality that has been eating away at American society over these last decades. Historic unemployment numbers in recent weeks only reveal how expendable the majority of workers are in a crunch. This is happening at a moment when its ever clearer how many of the most essential tasks in our economy are done by the least well-paid workers. The ranks of the poor are widening at a startling clip, as many more of us are now experiencing what dire insecurity feels like in an economy built on non-unionized, low-wage work and part-time jobs. In order to respond to such a crisis and the growing needs of millions, its important to first acknowledge the deeper history of injustice and pain that brought us all here. In the last years of his life, Martin Luther King, Jr., put it well when he said that the prescription for the cure rests with an accurate diagnosis of the disease. To develop a cure not just for this virus but for a nation with the deepest kind of inequality at its core, whats first needed (as with any disease) is an accurate diagnosis. Today, more than 38 million people officially live below the federal poverty line and, in truth, that figure should have shocked the nation into action before the coronavirus even arrived here. No such luck and heres the real story anyway: the official measure of poverty, developed in 1964, doesnt even take into account household expenses like health care, child care, housing, and transportation, not to speak of other costs that have burgeoned in recent decades. The world has undergone profound economic transformations over the last 66 years and yet this out-of-date measure, based on three times a familys food budget, continues to shape policymaking at every level of government as well as the contours of the American political and moral imagination. Two years ago, the Poor Peoples Campaign (which I co-chair alongside Reverend William Barber II) and the Institute for Policy Studies released an audit of America. Its centerpiece was a far more realistic assessment of poverty and economic precariousness in this country. Using the Census Bureaus Supplemental Poverty Measure as a baseline, which, among other things, measures family income after taxes and out-of-pocket expenses for food, clothing, housing, and utilities, there are at least 140 million people who are poor or just a $400 emergency from that state. (Of that, there are now untold examples in this pandemic moment.) As poverty has grown and spread, one of the great political weapons of politicians and the ruling elite over the past decades (only emphasized in the age of Trump) has been to minimize, dismiss, and racialize it. In the 1970s, President Richard Nixons Southern Strategy coded it into Republican national politics; in the 1980s, in the years of Ronald Reagans presidency, the fabricated image of the welfare queen gained symbolic prominence. In the 1990s, President Bill Clintons welfare reforms enshrined such thinking in the arguments of both parties. Today, given the outright racism and xenophobia that has become the hallmark of Donald Trumps presidency, poor has become a curse word. It is, of course, true that, among the 140 million poor people in the U.S., a disproportionate number are indeed people of color. The inheritance of slavery, Jim Crow, never-ending discrimination, and the mass incarceration of black men in particular, as well as a generational disinvestment in such populations, could have resulted in nothing less. And yet the reality of poverty stretches deep into every community in this country. According to that audit of America, the poor or low-income today consist of 24 million blacks, 38 million Latinos, eight million Asian-Americans, two million Native peoples, and 66 million whites. Those staggering numbers, already a deadweight for the nation, are likely to prove a grotestque underestimate in the coronaviral world we now inhabit and yet none of this should be a surprise. Although we couldnt have predicted the exact circumstances of this pandemic, social theorists remind us that conditions were ripe for just this kind of economic dislocation. Over the past 50 years, for instance, rents have risen faster than income in every city. Before the coronavirus outbreak, there was not a single county in this country where a person making a minimum wage with a family could afford a two-bedroom apartment. No surprise then that, throughout this crisis, there has been a rise in rent strikes, housing takeovers, and calls for moratoriums on evictions. The quiet fact is that, in the last few decades, unemployment, underemployment, poverty, and homelessness have become ever more deeply and permanently structured into this society. Covid-19 and the Descent Into Poverty Over the years, one political narrative has been trumpeted by both parties: that we dont have enough to provide for every American. This scarcity argument has undergirded every federal budget in recent history and yet it falls flat when we look at the 53% of every federal discretionary dollar that goes to the Pentagon, the trillions of dollars that have been squandered in this countrys never-ending war on terror, not to speak of the unprecedented financial gains the wealthiest have made (even in the midst of the current crisis). Of course, this economic order becomes a genuine moral scandal the moment attention is focused on the three billionaires who possess more wealth than the bottom half of society. Since the government began transferring wealth from the poor to the very rich under the guise of trickle-down (but actually gusher-up) economics, key public institutions, labor unions, and the electoral process have been under attack. The healthcare system has been further privatized, public housing has been demolished, public water and sanitation systems have been held hostage by emergency managers, and the social safety net has been eviscerated. In these same years, core government functions have been turned over to the private sector and the free market. The result: levels of poverty and inequality in this country now outmatch the Gilded Age. All of this, in turn, laid the groundwork for the rapid spread of death and disease via the Covid-19 pandemic and its disproportionate impact on poor people and people of color. When the coronavirus first became a national emergency, the Fed materialized $1.5 trillion dollars in loans to Wall Street, a form of corporate welfare that may never be paid back. In the following weeks, the Fed and a congressional bipartisan stimulus package funneled trillions more in bailouts to the largest corporations. Meanwhile, tens of millions of Americans were left out of that CARES Act: 48% of the workforce did not receive paid sick leave; 27 million uninsured people and 10% of the insured who couldnt even afford a doctors visit have no guarantee of free or reasonably priced medical treatment; 11 million undocumented immigrants and their five million children will receive no emergency provisions; 2.3 million of the incarcerated have been left in the petri dish of prison; three million Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients saw no increase in their benefits; and homeless assistance funds were targeted at only about 500,000 people, although eight to 11 million are homeless or housing insecure. Such omissions are guaranteed to prove debilitating, even potentially lethal, for many. They also represent cracks in a dam ready to break in a nation without a guaranteed living wage or universal healthcare as debt mounts, wages stagnate, and the pressures of ecological devastation and climate change intensify. Recently, news reports have made it far clearer just where (and whom) Covid-19 is hitting hardest. In New York City, now the global epicenter of the pandemic, for instance, the areas with the highest rates of positive tests overlap almost exactly with neighborhoods where the most essential workers live and you undoubtedly wont be surprised to learn that most of them are poor or low-income ones, 79% of them black or Latino. The five zip codes with the most coronavirus cases have an average income of under $27,000; while, in the five zip codes with the least, the average income is $118,000. Across the Black Belt of the southern states, the poor and black are dying from the coronavirus at an alarming rate. In many of those states, wages are tied to industries that rely on now interrupted regular household spending. They also have among the least resources and the most vehement anti-union and wage-suppression laws. That, in turn, leaves so many Americans all that more vulnerable to the Covid-19 crisis, the end of which is nowhere in sight. Chalk this up, among other things, to decades of divestment in public insitutitions and the entrenchment of extremist agendas in state legislatures. The Black Belt accounts for nine of the 14 states that have not expanded Medicaid and for 60% of all rural hospital closures. Nor are these the only places now feeling the consequences of hospitals being bought up or closed for private profit. In Philadelphia, for instance, Hahnemann Hospital, which had served that citys poorest patients for more than 170 years, was recently bought and closed by a real-estate speculator who then attempted to extract a million dollars a month from the local government to reopen it. Now, as the coronavirus ravages Philadelphia, Hahnemanns beds sit empty, reminiscent of the notorious shuttering of New Orleans Charity Hospital in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In fact, lessons from the catastrophe of Katrina resonate heavily today, as the poor suffer and die while the rich and their political allies begin to circle the ruins, seeing opportunities to further enhance their power. After Katrina, many poor and black residents of New Orleans who had to evacuate were unable to return, while the city became a laboratory for a new onslaught of neoliberal reforms from health care to housing. One state legislator was overheard telling lobbyists, We finally cleaned out public housing in New Orleans. We couldnt do it, but God did. It hardly takes a stretch of the imagination to envision similar braggadocio in the post-coronavirus era. Inescapably Bound Together The dual crises of pandemic and inequality are revealing ever more clearly how the descent into poverty is helping to destroy American society from the inside out. In a remarkably brief span of time, these crises have also highlighted our collective interdependence. One of my earliest memories is of helping my mom walk when I was younger than my youngest child is now. As we slid down the wintry streets of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, my small hand in hers, she suddenly fell and I went down alongside her. I had been unable to keep us from crashing to the ground. And yet, even when I couldnt do what needed to be done alone, I recognized, with the clarity that perhaps only a child can have, how much we as a family (and, by extension, as a people) were inescapably bound together that when one of us falls, so many of us fall. And thats why, whatever Donald Trump or Jared Kushner or the rest of that crew in Washington and across the country may think, we can no longer tolerate leaving anybody out. Hasnt the time finally come to reject the false narrative of scarcity? Isnt it time to demand a transformative moral agenda that reaches from the bottom up? If the wealthy were to pay a relatively modest amount more in taxes and we shrank our war economy to support the common good, then universal health care, living wages, and a guaranteed income, decent and affordable housing, strong programs for the poor, and even more might finally be within reach. This crisis is offering us a striking demonstration of how an economy oriented around the whims of the rich brings death and destruction in its wake. A society organized around the needs of the poor, on the other hand, would improve life for all of us and especially in this Covid-19 moment, exactly this might be possible. Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine on Social Affairs Yulia Sokolovska has said that in the near future the government will consider the issue of additional funding for the fight against COVID-19 by UAH 15.8 billion. "These funds will be used to pay for the activities of mobile teams, additional payments to emergency doctors who work with patients infected with coronavirus. In addition, it will be possible to finance inpatient hospitals that are redeveloped to host patients with COVID-19," the presidential office's press service said following the meeting, which was held on Thursday with mayors and heads of regional state administrations headed by President's Office head Andriy Yermak on behalf of President Volodymyr Zelensky. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) on Wednesday defended Floridians who went to beaches after they reopened, saying they didn't deserve the backlash they received on Twitter. Photos showed thousands of people filling the beaches over the weekend, despite the coronavirus continuing to spread across the state. People online shared the pictures, adding the hashtag #FloridaMoron. Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry on Monday said beachgoers were all following the rules, which allowed them to exercise but not gather in large groups or sunbathe. During his press conference, DeSantis praised Curry and "the people of Jacksonville," saying they are "doing a great job. And to those who say you're morons, I would take you over the folks who are criticizing you any day of the week and twice on Sunday." The city has done "a great job of keeping folks out of the hospital, particularly the vulnerable, and I think that they deserve credit," he added. The Florida Department of Health on Wednesday reported 440 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of cases up to 28,309. The department also reported 26 new deaths, with the death toll now at 893. More than 90 percent of tests in the state are being completed by private labs, and health experts say that because it can take up to two weeks for those results to be reported by the Florida Department of Health, the state's total number of cases is likely much higher. More stories from theweek.com Cuomo rips McConnell's 'blue state bailout' by noting 'your state is living on the money that we generate' Trump adviser suggests reopening economy by putting 'everybody in a space outfit' The Trump administration reportedly wants control over U.S. Postal Service in return for emergency loan All the ordinary resolutions and 14 out of 15 extraordinary resolutions approved Two new Committees: Compliance and Ethics Committee and Corporate Social Responsibility Committee Regulatory News: Gecina's (Paris:GFC) Combined General Meeting, chaired by Mr Bernard Carayon, was held as a closed session on April 23, 2020, taking into account the context of the Covid-19 epidemic, the measures adopted by the French Government to prevent this virus from spreading and the Board of Directors' decision from March 31, 2020. It approved all of the ordinary resolutions and 14 out of 15 extraordinary resolutions. Only the twentieth resolution, concerning the amendment of Article 9, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the bylaws ("Disclosure thresholds Information"), was rejected. All the other resolutions were adopted, including: The partial asset contribution by Gecina to GEC 25, a fully-owned subsidiary, creating the residential subsidiary of the Group The appointment of Mr Jerome Brunel as a Director, and The renewal of Ms Ines Reinmann Toper and Mr Claude Gendron as Directors. The terms of office of Mr Jerome Brunel, Ms Ines Reinmann Toper and Mr Claude Gendron as Directors will run for four years through to the end of the General Meeting convened to approve the financial statements for 2023. The Board of Directors met with a videoconference following the General Meeting and appointed Mr Jerome Brunel as Chairman of the Board of Directors, replacing Mr Bernard Carayon, whose term of office as Chairman was due to end. Mr Bernard Carayon will continue to serve as a Director of the Board. The General Meeting and the Board of Directors would like to sincerely thank Mr Bernard Carayon for his contributions and his actions during his time as Chairman of the Board of Directors. Mr Jerome Brunel's expertise, particularly in terms of governance, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and public affairs, represents a significant asset, complementing the expert capabilities that are already in place within Gecina's Board of Directors. Jerome Brunel is an Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris graduate, has a master's in public law from Universite de Paris-Assas, and attended both ENA (1980) and INSEAD (AMP 1990). After joining Credit Lyonnais at the end of 1990, Jerome Brunel held several operational leadership positions in France, Asia and North America, before becoming its Head of Human Resources in 2001. When Credit Agricole and Credit Lyonnais merged in 2003, he was appointed Head of Human Resources for the Credit Agricole Group. He was then Head of the Regional Banks Division, Head of Private Equity, Head of Private Banking and Head of Public Affairs for Credit Agricole S.A. He served as the Group's Corporate Secretary until he retired at December 31, 2019. As recommended by the Governance, Appointments and Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors has also decided to create two new Committees, alongside the Audit and Risks Committee, the Governance, Appointments and Compensation Committee and the Strategic and Investment Committee: A Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Committee; and A Compliance and Ethics Committee. These two areas were previously covered by either the Audit and Risks Committee or the Strategic and Investment Committee. In February 2020, the Board of Directors considered that these two essential areas needed to be addressed with a more detailed approach by specialized Committees. The creation of the CSR Committee illustrates Gecina's strong commitment to position CSR stakes at the heart of its value creation model and strategy, and the strong expertise of the Directors appointed to it represent a clear asset for Gecina to position these stakes at the highest level. This Committee will be responsible for providing the Board of Directors with recommendations on the Group's CSR commitments and policies, their consistency with the expectations of its various stakeholders and the monitoring of their deployment. The creation of the Compliance and Ethics Committee will enable Gecina to align itself with market best practices and the distribution of standards relating to anti-corruption. Its members' expertise will make it possible to cover these fields in line with leading industry standards. This Committee will be responsible for providing the Board of Directors with recommendations on all matters within Gecina relating to anti-corruption compliance and ethics, as well as personal data protection. Composition of the Board of Directors The Board of Directors has 11 members, with 45% women and 64% independent Directors: Mr Jerome Brunel (1) , Chairman , Chairman Ms Meka Brunel, Chief Executive Officer Mr Bernard Carayon (1) Ms Laurence Danon Arnaud (1) Ms Dominique Dudan (1) Ms Gabrielle Gauthey (1) Mr Claude Gendron Ivanhoe Cambridge Inc., represented by Mr Sylvain Fortier Mr Jacques-Yves Nicol (1) Predica, represented by Mr Jean-Jacques Duchamp Ms Ines Reinmann Toper(1) (1) Independent Directors Composition of the Committees The Board of Directors decided to review the constitution of the other Committees, taking into account the creation of the two new Committees as mentioned above. The composition of each Committee will be as follows: Strategic and Investment Committee (4 directors, including 1 independent director) Mr Sylvain Fortier, permanent representative of Ivanhoe Cambridge Inc., Chairman Mr Jerome Brunel (1) Ms Meka Brunel Mr Jean-Jacques Duchamp, permanent representative of Predica Audit and Risks Committee (6 directors, including 4 independent directors) Ms Gabrielle Gauthey (1) , Chairwoman , Chairwoman Ms Laurence Danon Arnaud (1) Ms Dominique Dudan (1) Mr Claude Gendron Mr Jean-Jacques Duchamp, permanent representative of Predica Ms Ines Reinmann Toper(1) Governance, Appointments and Compensation Committee (3 directors, including 2 independent directors) Ms Dominique Dudan (1) , Chairwoman , Chairwoman Ms Gabrielle Gauthey (1) Mr Claude Gendron Corporate Social Responsibility Committee (4 directors, all independent) Mr Bernard Carayon (1) , Chairman , Chairman Mr Jerome Brunel (1) Ms Laurence Danon Arnaud (1) Mr Jacques-Yves Nicol(1) Compliance and Ethics Committee (3 directors, all independent) Mr Jacques-Yves Nicol (1) , Chairman , Chairman Mr Bernard Carayon (1) Ms Ines Reinmann Toper(1) (1) Independent directors Chief Executive Officer's compensation As a solidarity measure in response to the serious health crisis faced today, Ms Meka Brunel, Gecina's Chief Executive Officer and Director, decided to propose to reduce her fixed compensation for her position as Chief Executive Officer by two months for 2020, representing around 17% for this year. This proposal was approved by the Governance, Appointments and Compensation Committee on April 21, then by the Board of Directors, which praised this initiative (following its previous praise for the initiative by Gecina's Directors, who proposed that the Board of Directors should decide not to pay any remuneration for the Board meetings linked specifically to Covid-19). Gecina has decided to donate an amount equivalent to these two months of salary and the corresponding payroll tax savings to the Gecina Foundation to support charities working to combat Covid-19. Dividend To align itself with the French Government's recommendations concerning the moderation of dividends paid, Gecina's Board of Directors decided on March 31, 2020 to submit a proposal at the General Meeting to limit its dividend for 2019 to 5.30 per share (versus 5.60), with this amount covering the Company's legal obligations under the SIIC tax system. The General Meeting approved the payment of a dividend of 5.30 per share for 2019. As a 2.80 interim dividend was paid out previously on March 6, 2020, the balance of 2.50 per share will be paid in cash on July 3, 2020. The voting results will be available shortly on the Group website: www.gecina.fr. Gecina, at the heart of urban life Gecina owns, manages and develops property holdings worth 20 billion euros at end-2019. As a specialist for centrality and uses, the Group is building its business around Europe's leading office portfolio, with nearly 97% located in the Paris Region, and a diversification division with residential assets in particular. Gecina has put sustainable innovation at the heart of its strategy to create value and anticipate the expectations of around 100,000 customers and end users, thanks to the dedication and expertise of its staff, who are committed to an understated, fluid and inclusive city. To offer its customers high-quality services and support their changing needs, Gecina has launched YouFirst, its relational brand. Gecina is a French real estate investment trust (SIIC) listed on Euronext Paris, and is part of the SBF 120, CAC Next 20, CAC Large 60, Euronext 100, FTSE4Good, DJSI Europe and World, Stoxx Global ESG Leaders and Vigeo indices. In line with its community commitments, Gecina has created a company foundation, which is focused on protecting the environment, supporting all forms of disability, preserving heritage and facilitating access to housing for as many people as possible. www.gecina.fr View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005765/en/ Contacts: GECINA CONTACTS Financial communications Samuel Henry-Diesbach Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 52 22 samuelhenry-diesbach@gecina.fr Virginie Sterling Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 62 48 virginiesterling@gecina.fr Press relations Julien Landfried Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 65 74 julienlandfried@gecina.fr Armelle Miclo Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 51 98 armellemiclo@gecina.fr Retail holding company L Brands (NYSE:BBWI) has had a rough ride since the coronavirus pandemic arrived in North America. Already struggling, but with a deal struck to sell its troubled Victoria's Secret chain giving it a boost, the company's stock has taken a nosedive since stores were closed in mid-March. Now comes word that the sale of Victoria's Secret may be in peril. Sycamore Partners, the private equity firm that agreed in February to purchase a majority stake in the lingerie retailer, has had second thoughts in light of recent events. Sycamore sued L Brands in a Delaware court on Wednesday, seeking a judge's approval to back out of the deal, and L Brands said that it will fight the suit. L Brands, like many other brick-and-mortar retailers, has been scrambling to cut costs and preserve cash since mid-March. While analysts differ over whether Sycamore's suit is likely to succeed, most seem to agree: If L Brands has to hold on to Victoria's Secret (and specifically, the leases for its shuttered stores), it'll be bad news for the company. Several analysts weighed in on Thursday morning, making arguments for and against the stock. They're worth a look as we get our thoughts around the company's situation. Jefferies: Insolvency is now on the table In a note on Thursday morning, Jefferies analyst Randal Konik said that questions around L Brands' solvency are "now on the table." Konik noted that Victoria's Secret has over $2.5 billion in leases across more than 1,000 stores, and said that investors were hoping that Sycamore would take on that burden. If L Brands is left holding that bag, the pressure, combined with the cash drain from its shuttered Bath & Body Works stores, could push the company into insolvency later in the year. Konik maintained his rating on L Brands' stock, the equivalent of sell, with an $8 price target. Barclays: Win or lose, the case will burn time and cash Barclays analyst Adrienne Yin weighed in with her own note, downgrading L Brands to the equivalent of hold from buy, and cutting her price target to $10 from $30. Her concern in a nutshell: The Sycamore suit limits L Brands' options. Yin thinks the case could succeed, given that L Brands did breach covenants in the transaction agreement when it closed Victoria Secret's stores and moved to preserve cash. While the agreement did exclude pandemics as a reason to terminate the deal, Yin thinks that Sycamore might be able to argue that the steps taken by L Brands are far outside of past practice, giving them another reason to terminate the deal. But whether Sycamore wins or loses, Yin said, the dispute will take considerable time and money to resolve, and will almost certainly delay the transaction's closing, leaving L Brands stuck with costs from Victoria's Secret awhile longer -- and at a moment when the company's access to capital is severely limited. B. Riley FBR: Bath & Body Works makes the stock a buy no matter what On the other hand, wrote B. Riley FBR analyst Susan Anderson in a Thursday note, L Brands' shares might be attractive even if the sale of a majority stake in Victoria's Secret doesn't happen. She points out that at the stock's closing price on Wednesday, even assuming that Victoria's Secret is valued at zero, L Brands' Bath & Body Works chain is trading at five times its enterprise value-to-EBITDA -- too low, she thinks. Anderson thinks that a valuation of seven times enterprise value-to-EBITDA is more appropriate, which would put the stock at about $20 even before assigning any value to the lingerie chain. She thinks that Victoria's Secret is probably worth $1 to $3 per share, and has set her price target for L Brands' stock at $23. One last view Here's my take: L Brands has been struggling for a long time. The fact that it was willing (even grateful) to unload a 55% stake in Victoria's Secret for a modest price suggests that it had given up hope of saving the chain, even before the coronavirus crisis. Now? Anderson might have a point -- that Bath & Body Works is worth more than L Brands' stock is trading for today. But I agree with Yin's take: Whether the suit eventually succeeds or fails, it looks likely that L Brands is going to be stuck with the leases for Victoria's Secret for at least a few months while the issue is litigated, costing it precious cash. I think retail-minded investors looking for bargain-bin buys right now can do better elsewhere. R yanair has told passengers it will not pay refunds for cancelled flights until the coronavirus crisis "is over". The budget airline has offered customers who had flights cancelled because of the Covid-19 outbreak vouchers or an alternative flight at a later date. However, if passengers want cash refunds for the flights, they have been told to wait in a queue to be paid once coronavirus restrictions are lifted. UK and EU law states that airlines and package providers must fully refund customers' money within 14 days if their trip is cancelled. The Dublin-based airline cut wages of some staff last month. It also placed pilots and cabin crew on the Irish Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme similar to the UK Government's furlough scheme. Ryanair said it ha a large backlog due to social distancing measures, and while they are still processing refunds, some customers will not receive their money back until this crisis is over. Ryanair customers some of whom have already been waiting for more than five weeks for a refund have taken to social media to express their disappointment. One person wrote on Twitter: "So @Ryanair have decided to give me a voucher despite me being in a queue for a refund for a month! And if I want to get a proper refund I need to wait online to speak to a chatbot, which is only available during the day. Give me my money back." Another shared a photograph of the frequently asked questions page of Ryanair's website, writing: "What nonsense is this? @Ryanair - four weeks after I've already requested a refund, you're telling me I'm not entitled to my own money?" Another customer wrote: "Scandalous behavior and attitude from @Ryanair. Applied for a refund 5 weeks ago for flights that were cancelled and got 3 emails back asking to bear with them as they were overwhelmed with requests. (Fair enough) They then send an email today offering a travel voucher." An email sent to customers by Ryanair reads: "Please note that as our customer care agents are required to work from home to limit the spread of Covid-19 virus, payment security restrictions prevent us from processing refunds as quickly as we would like to." A Ryanair spokesperson said: "For any cancelled flight, Ryanair is giving customers all of the options set out under EU regulations, including free moves and refunds in the form of cash or vouchers. "The process time for cash refunds is taking longer due to the fact we are having to process 10 times the usual volume and have fewer staff available due to social distancing measures. "Ryanair is offering vouchers and free moves as these are automated and would give customers an alternative. "Customers who choose not to accept a free move or voucher will be refunded in due course, once this unprecedented crisis is over. "We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and we thank our customers for bearing with us." A month ago, Birdfish Brewing Co. had two locations in Columbiana, Ohio. Now, its down to one. The up-top location, on Main Street, was a casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current stay-at-home orders, said Josh Dunn, one of the owners. Right now, agritourism-related businesses arent able to offer the on-site experience that they normally try to give customers. Instead, its carry-out, delivery and retail, while states remain shut down. Events, like live music and wine tastings, have been canceled or postponed. Closed Thats why Birdfish closed its Main Street location. Under the stay-at-home order, they cant serve beer on-site. The Main Street location didnt can beer, and the other one does, so they are handling all carry-out orders there. They decided to close the Main Street location permanently at the end of March. We had to make the decision to either keep paying rent and not know how long, or focus on our other location, Dunn said. If we had some sort of flexibility with our landlord for a couple of months, we probably would have still tried to keep it open. Retail Some are counting on retail sales to cover the lost on-site service income. Business, naturally, is down dramatically, said Breitenbach Wine Cellars president Dalton Bixler, of Dover, Ohio. Retailers are carrying our business right now. Tony Debevc, of Debonne Vineyards, said hes not sure if wine consumption has gone up overall, but wine retail sales have certainly gone up. This could stem partly from restaurant closures. This has been a big change for us, Debevc said. Many wineries and breweries are offering carry-out in addition to leaning on retail sales. Dunn said Birdfish has been busy on weekends with curb-side sales, but its hard to make up for the lost in-house sales that they relied on. Richard Kauffman, of Kauffmans Bakery, in Millersburg, Ohio, said while his bakery has been able to stay open, business has taken a hit. Local business is good in the mornings, but I have no tourist business, Kauffman said. Our business is probably 70-75% tourists, so you can imagine how that is affecting us. The hotels and restaurants his bakery normally sells to have canceled orders. Grocery stores and mini-markets are still buying, and some of the locals are still ordering cakes and other baked goods. But Kauffman has had to reduce hours and cut staff by about half. Far from normal Even as Ohio approaches the scheduled end of its stay-at-home order, May 1, business owners believe that things are a long way from going back to normal. Even if businesses do start re-opening May 1, Dunn assumes breweries will be some of the last to reopen. The Main Street location was a place where people gathered in groups. It relied heavily on some of the large events Columbiana held on Main Street. Debevc is expecting some social distancing guidelines to continue. I would anticipate that they would have to use some kind of guideline, he said. I think were going to be scrambling for ideas on how we can make money as a service industry. Breitenbach had to cancel its Dandelion Festival for this year, which Bixler said usually kicks off the tourist season in his area of Amish Country at the beginning of May. The winery has some dedicated local customers, but if the tourist season is slower this year, that could make things challenging. Being in the tourist business, we are very dependent on that new customer coming in, Bixler said. Federal aid? Kauffman applied for the Paycheck Protection Program, a loan program to help small businesses keep their workers employed during the pandemic, on the second day applications were open. It was a six-hour-long process. On April 15, he was told that his application was held up because of a few minor mistakes, which he then fixed. Then, on April 17, Kauffman heard the program was out of money. His bank said he was approved, but he isnt sure if he got the funding. We were kind of counting on the funding from the [Paycheck Protection Program], Kauffman said. I can go maybe a month yet, and then I probably cant make it or Im gonna have to furlough a lot of workers and cut it back even more. Long term At 80 years old, Bixler said he has never seen anything like this. No matter what the outcome of the pandemic, he expects changes. Im still concerned that people take this pandemic as a glitch in the process, he said. Theyre saying itll come back; everythings gonna be fine and dandy. And Im an optimist, and I believe that things will be fine and dandy, however, were gonna have to do it differently. Debevc is already having meetings with consultants and others in the industry to come up with a game plan going forward. Hes been in the business for almost 50 years, and his wineries are financially stable right now. But he expects tough times ahead for the industry. Social distancing constraints, if they continue, could make it hard to host events or afford live music, Debevc said. But its hard to say what things will look like down the road. If the state or federal government does keep some social distancing rules in place, or limit how many people can be in a business at once, Dunn says, he may need to hire more staff to help ensure compliance. We think about it every day, but no one knows whats going to happen, Dunn said. Bixler and his family, who are involved with the business, have been discussing ways to keep the winery going. These ideas include a drive-thru and local deliveries. We do plan on existing on for many generations, Bixler said. Theres too many generations of family dependent on this business, and Im determined that its going to survive. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told his Southeast Asian counterparts on Thursday that China is taking advantage of the world's preoccupation with the coronavirus pandemic to push its territorial ambitions in the South China Sea. Pompeo made the accusation in a meeting via video to discuss the outbreak with the foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Beijing's expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea conflict with those of ASEAN members Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia, and are contested by Washington, which has an active naval presence in the Pacific. "Beijing has moved to take advantage of the distraction, from China's new unilateral announcement of administrative districts over disputed islands and maritime areas in the South China Sea, its sinking of a Vietnamese fishing vessel earlier this month, and its 'research stations' on Fiery Cross Reef and Subi Reef," Pompeo said. He also accused China of deploying militarised ships to intimidate other claimant countries from developing offshore gas and oil projects. Most other participants focused in their statements on health, economic and social problems resulting from COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. "The Foreign Ministers exchanged views on the COVID-19 situation in their respective countries, as well as information and best practices on dealing with the outbreak from a public health perspective," Singapore said. "They noted the grave socio-economic impact of COVID-19, and emphasised the need for ASEAN and the US to work closely together on a forward-looking approach to address post-pandemic economic recovery." Pompeo thanked Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia for their material aid in fighting the outbreak and noted US financial assistance. "To date, the United States has released more than USD 35.3 million in emergency health funding to help ASEAN countries fight the virus, building on the USD 3.5 billion in public health assistance provided across ASEAN over the last twenty years," he said, announcing also a new project to promote ASEAN health security through research, public health and training. Pompeo also called on China to close its wildlife markets. It is generally believed the coronavirus originated at one such "wet market" in Wuhan in China, though blame for the epidemic has become a hot debate between Beijing and Washington. Pompeo said the US was also concerned by a recent scientific report "showing that Beijing's upstream dam operations have unilaterally altered flows of the Mekong," endangering the livelihoods of tens of millions of people living downstream in Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) George Poikayil By Express News Service KASARGOD: Even when the COVID graph was rising in Kasaragod -- 0 to 155 in 25 days -- the district administration was always ahead of the curve. It never pressed the panic button though half of the infected patients in Kerala were from Kasaragod. With people's participation and the carrot and stick policy of the police, it was just a matter of time, the rising graph stopped and then stooped. Here's how Kasaragod beat, or almost beat, COVID-19. On March 21, Kasaragod's collector D Sajith Babu got a phone call from a senior advocate. The lawyer asked the top district official to immediately send in cops to his house. "My son is flouting the quarantine and is chatting away with my other children and wife. Take him away," the advocate told the collector. Soon, the erring son -- who had returned from the UAE -- was picked and put up in a lodge, which the district administration turned into a quarantined facility. "I was amazed at the involvement of the public in fighting COVID," Sajith Babu said. One cannot fight an epidemic of COVID's proportion without people's support, he said. The district had raced from zero positive cases on March 15 to 155 cases in 25 days on April 9. On that day, the district accounted for 60% of the 257 active cases in the state. There was panic in the rest of Kerala, but by then the government had mobilised its entire machinery and the district administration was on top of its game. The numbers were rising as per the script, said the district surveillance officer Dr A T Manoj. "We knew where the cases were coming from and where the graph was headed for," he said. Spotting the Naif connection early On March 20 evening, collector Sajith Babu put out a press note. "All those who arrived from Naif in Dubai should immediately report to their nearest primary health centre or community health centre," it said. Anybody with symptoms of COVID would be tested. Before the note, not many in Kasaragod or Kerala have heard of Naif, a commercial hub and a densely populated area in the historic Deira district of Dubai. Sajith Babu's note was a 'super saver' in the battle against COVID in Kasaragod. Of the 172 confirmed cases in the district, all but three were linked to Dubai, and specifically, Naif, said Dr Manoj, the surveillance officer. When he put out the note, Kasaragod had only two active cases, both linked to Naif. "I was informed by a source in Naif about the situation there. He even WhatsApped me the passport details of those arriving from Naif," the collector said, explaining the reason. To be sure, the Dubai administration put Naif under lockdown only on March 31, eleven days after Kasaragod flagged Naif. Acting on the tipoff Kasaragod saw an influx of NRIs from Dubai on March 19, 20, 21, and March 22, the last day before all flights were grounded. The district administration kept a tab on the people arriving at the four airports in Kerala. But the international airport in Mangaluru was a weak link. The district administration posted an official there on March 20, and ran six buses for three days -- three in the morning and three in the evening -- to bring passengers to the district. "In the three days, we managed to bring in around 750 passengers from Dubai without them coming in contact with the public," said Dr Manoj. The 750 persons were immediately put in quarantine. Considering a COVID patient can infect three persons, the move potentially saved 2,250 people from the contagion. Made Wuhan Experience Count These small acts in infection control and contact tracing came with the early experience of treating the first COVID patient from Wuhan. The medical student from Wuhan tested positive on February 3 and recovered on February 16. The disease surveillance team traced 189 primary contacts of the students. "The first case prepared us well," said Dr Manoj. The District Health Service trained the surveillance teams in the primary health centres -- every panchayat has at least one -- to trace contacts of suspects. The team comprises accredited social health activists (ASHA) and health inspectors who are good at asking needling questions. Helpdesks were set up right at the entrance of all primary health centres, community health centres, government, and primary health centres. Patients could go to the out-patient (OP) wing only after a round of rigorous questioning: whether they came from abroad, whether any relative of their came from abroad, or if they came in contact with anyone from abroad. "We had to do it to ensure hospitals did not become an infection-point," he said. Nurses and doctors in private hospitals were also trained to spot a potential COVID patient, considering that the symptoms are too common and could be missed, said Dr Manoj. All the training and preparation helped. Exactly one month after the patient from Wuhan recovered, Mohammed Farras arrived from Dubai. He went straight to a private hospital in Kasaragod. "All he had was a runny nose but we referred him to the General Hospital to test for COVID," said a nurse. He tested positive on March 16. The district administration immediately quarantined the doctor and 10 nurses of the private hospital as a precaution. The second job was to trace the contacts of Farras. "Since the virus is virulent, we had quite a task at hand. We nosed around and quarantined 46 members of his family," said collector Sajith Babu. Twenty-three of them tested positive, possibly the highest number of infections from a single source in Kerala. "But we had it covered as all of them were in quarantine," he said. No community spread Of the 172 cases in the district, 107 are imported cases and the remaining 65 are cases of local transmission. Of the 65, nine persons are the source for 50 cases, said the surveillance officer. Of the nine, the first patient was the source for 23 cases and all of them were immediate family members, and all of them were in quarantine. "So at no point was there a threat of community spread," said Dr Manoj. The collector also formed Awareness Committees in every ward in all the 41 local bodies in the district. They were responsible for ensuring people who came from abroad and their relatives remain in quarantine. "We dropped the word home quarantine and started using room quarantine. The ward-level committees helped build enormous social pressure to ensure compliance," he said. At the peak, 11,087 persons were in quarantine in the district. Twelve patients, who recovered from Covid on April 13, pose for a photograph at the District Hospital at Kanhangad in Kasaragod Aggressive containment and policing Along with the social and health strategies, the police too came in with their effective 'carrot and stick' policy. On March 20, when six persons tested positive for COVID, the district collector imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to restrict mingling and movement of people. Kasaragod was the first district to go into lockdown. "By May 3, Kasaragod will be in lockdown for 42 days," said the collector. On March 23, when 19 cases were reported, the government sent a police team of four officers led by Kochi police commissioner Vijay Sakhare to strictly implement the lockdown. On March 27, when 34 cases were reported, the government sent in the principal secretary of industries and Kochi Metro MD Alkesh Kumar Sharma as a special officer. Together, they identified seven hotspots where most of the cases are reported from -- Kasaragod municipality; Madhur, Chemnad, Pallikkara, Chengala, Mogral Puthur, Muliyar gram panchayat. 20,000 houses were in quarantine. "At any point of time, only 150 persons were allowed in Kasaragod town," said district police chief P S Sabu. Those from the hotspots were not allowed to venture out of the zone. "Police launched cash on delivery scheme to deliver food provision and medicines in these areas," he said. Vijay Sakhare ordered the installation of COVID Safety, a tracking app on the phones of all those in quarantine. Those violating quarantine were picked up and lodged in isolation facilities. "We were asked to harass even people who were out for genuine reasons. It was a deliberate ploy to keep people in," said a sub-inspector. "We got some bad press but its ok," he said. In the meantime, the police made the lockdown rules more stringent. One officer was posted to monitor 10 houses in hotspot areas. Drones were deployed to capture images of those violating lockdown and quarantine. Alongside the "ruthless policing", panchayats and municipalities ran community kitchen, delivering food at home. Most of their beneficiaries were migrant workers, palliative patients, the elderly living alone. Ramping up the infrastructure At the same time, a virology lab was started in the Central University of Kerala, which could test up to 87 samples a day. The General Hospital was turned to a COVID Care Centre (CCC) with 222 beds. Another full-fledged CCC was started in under-construction medical college building at Ukkinadka in record four days. "When the second case was reported, we had 903 beds ready," said the collector. Now, it has been ramped up. Tata is building a 540-bed CCC at Thekkil Ruling out community transmission Though the number of active cases has dropped to 27, the administration is not pausing a bit. The District Health Service said it has launched a door to door survey in the hotspots to find if there are any persons with symptoms of COVID. The health officials have visited 16,000 houses, met 90,000 persons in six panchayats and a part of Kasaragod town. "We found 320 persons with symptoms and took their swabs. It could be common cold but we do not want to leave anything to chance," said an official in the survey team. Preparing for the next round of influx The district administration has also launched a door to door survey to find out how many persons were now abroad and how many were likely to return once the lockdown was lifted. According to the Economic Survey, 67,000 persons from the district are abroad. "But the reality could be more than 1 lakh," said an official. "At least a quarter of them may return," he said. The district administration is arranging rooms to quarantine them as soon as they arrive. Bank staff working in branches, call centres and those still turning up in head offices are getting top-up payments from their employers. Permanent TSB is paying its branch staff an extra 1,000 a month, with Bank of Ireland paying 300 a month. Permanent TSB said it was paying an extra 50 each day, which works out at around 1,000 a month, to its branch and call centre staff. "To assist the bank to keep branches and call centres open for customers through the crisis at a time when most retail outlets are closed, PTSB has agreed to pay frontline, customer-facing staff (in branches and call centres) a customer support allowance of 50 gross per day from the last week in March to the end of May." Around 700 staff will benefit from the payment. Bank of Ireland has introduced a Covid-19 allowance of 300 a month for staff required to work on its premises in key roles. The bank said it was important that it keep offering its services. Critical "This means that some colleagues are continuing to work from branches, contact centres and buildings in key roles, providing critical services for customers including branch services, payments systems, card services, fraud, mortgage support and managing other Covid-19 customer assistance," Bank of Ireland said. AIB, which is largely owned by the State, said it has given staff a voucher to recognise the fact there has been a surge in calls and extra work as personal and business customers seek arrangements as they are unable to make their regular payments. Ulster Bank is paying an extra 5.50 a day to its front-line staff. Ulster Bank said it was also covering the cost of lunchtime meals for staff, or providing complimentary lunchtime food and drink in locations where it provides catering facilities. KBC said it does not comment on the pay arrangements of its employees. The Covid-19 pandemic is badly damaging developing countries' economies in a number of ways. The world is experiencing a sharp deterioration in economic performance, due to the continuing coronavirus pandemic. Developing countries are certain to be hit hard by what the International Monetary Fund, and others, warn will be the worst downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s. Almost every country on the planet is being affected. The IMF expects 170 nations - rich and poor - to experience a decline in economic activity per person this year. That means falling average living standards. Developing economies are being hit in distinctive ways by the pandemic: Commodity prices Many are exporters of commodities used by industry. The shutdown of many factories around the world means there is less demand for those commodities, so their prices have fallen, sharply in some cases. Oil is the starkest example. The loss of demand has been especially severe, as the crisis has led to a massive reduction in demand for transport fuels, more than 90% of which are made from crude oil. The situation was exacerbated for a period by what was in effect a price war between the two biggest exporters, Russia and Saudi Arabia. There has been an extraordinary situation where some oil prices have been below zero. It is not a general feature of the oil market, but it does highlight the huge imbalance between supply and demand. Other commodities have also seen sharp price falls, although not generally on the scale of oil. Copper, for example, is now about 18% cheaper than it was in mid-January, and zinc's price is more than 20% lower. These price falls are hitting businesses and government revenues in countries that export these commodities. International investment Developing countries have also had to contend with international investors pulling money out. The IMF's chief economist Gita Gopinath says the appetite for risk among international investors has waned. This means they are more inclined to sell investments seen as relatively risky, including bonds and shares in emerging markets, and pull money back to what they regard as safer bets, such as the US, Europe or Japan. She says the result has been "unprecedented reversals in capital flows". In a blog published by the Brussels think thank Bruegel, Marek Dombrowski and Marta Dominguez-Jimenez set out a number of financial indicators showing the strains that have built rapidly in some emerging economies. They show how the difference between bond yields - which are a measure of borrowing costs in financial markets - in the US and in developing nations has widened in many cases. This is often a sign that investors believe there is an increased risk of borrowers, including governments, defaulting on their debts. Another sign of this is the increased cost of getting insurance against a default (that is, the price of financial instruments called credit default swaps). And then there have been sharp declines in currency values for many countries. That is another sign of investors wanting to get their money out. Foreign debt That also raises another issue - foreign debt. A decline in the value of a national currency makes it more expensive to repay, or pay interest on, debts in other currencies. At a time when developing country government budgets are under pressure to deal with the health crisis and its economic consequences, debt payments could be a serious diversion of scarce resources. So there is a vigorous campaign to address developing countries' debt problems. The IMF and the world's leading economies have taken some steps to ease this burden, by providing relief from the burden of debt interest and repayments over the next few months. The IMF agreed to cover the payments due from 25 countries, mostly in Africa, over the next six months, from a trust fund financed by donations from member countries, including a recent pledge of $185m (150m) by the UK. In effect those payments have been cancelled. The G20 leading economic powers agreed to defer - not cancel - debt payments from May to the end of the year for a larger group of the poorest nations. This decision covers debt payments to G20 governments from a total of 77 countries. It means that cash can be diverted in the coming months to dealing with the crisis rather than making those payments. But it does mean they will need to make the payments in the future. So campaigners for developing country debt relief think the G20 and others should go further. The Jubilee Debt Campaign, for example, described the G20 move as a first step, but called for the payment obligations to be cancelled altogether. They also point out that the G20 deal does not address payments to private sector lenders. The G20 merely encouraged those creditors to offer similar payment deferral to the poorest countries. The Jubilee Debt Campaign wants the rich countries to make changes to the law to prevent private creditors using the courts to sue poor countries that miss payments. It is particularly relevant to New York and the UK whose laws govern most developing country debt contracts. Informal work Dealing with the health issues presents particular problems in densely populated urban areas in developing countries. Social distancing is especially difficult in that context. So is staying at home for people who work in what's called the informal economy. Many need to go out to work to feed themselves and their families. Oksana Abbouda runs StreetNet International, an organisation that represents street vendors around the world. She recently spoke to the BBC's Business Daily radio programme about what the people the organisation represents are saying about their situation. "We have to make this horrible choice, either to put ourselves at risk [from infection] and continue our informal job, or put our families at risk because they will be starving," she says. "This is the reality for billions of people around the world informal is normal in developing countries." Remittances Developing countries are also likely to be affected through a decline in money that migrant workers send to their families at home. These remittances, as they are known, are often sent from rich to poorer countries, and they can be a very important support to a family's standard of living. A new report by the World Bank warns that they are likely to fall by as much as 20% this year due to the pandemic. Migrant workers, the bank says, tend to be particularly vulnerable to losing jobs and incomes. It adds that remittances enable people to eat better, to spend more on education and to reduce child labour. BBC 08:16 Sun light, heat and humidity can create conditions that are less favourable for the spread of coronavirus, a public health official of the Trump administration has said. The results of a just concluded scientific study conducted by the Science and Technology Directorate of the US Department of Homeland Security, announced during a White House news conference on coronavirus, could be good news for India in its fight against COVID-19. "Coronavirus dies at a much more rapid pace when exposed to sunlight and humidity. The virus dies the quickest in direct sunlight. Isopropyl alcohol will kill the virus in 30 seconds," Bill Bryan, the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Science and Technology told White House reporters in the presence of President Donald Trump. "Our most striking observation to date is the powerful affect that solar light appears to have on killing the virus both surfaces and in the air. We have seen in a similar effect with both temperature and humidity as well where increasing the temperature and humidity or both is generally less favourable to the virus," Bryan said. The deadly coronavirus which has so far killed more than 188,000 people globally and infected 2.6 million, "is dying at a much more rapid pace just from exposure to higher temperatures and just from exposure to humidity," he said referring to the study. "We know that summer-like conditions are going to create an environment where the transmission can be decreased. And that's an opportunity for us to get ahead," Bryan said. Sunlight, high temperature of more than 95 degrees Fahrenheit (or 35 degrees Celsius), and humidity cuts the half-life of the virus on surfaces from up to 18 hours to a matter of minutes, the study said. According to the US Weather Channel the maximum temperature in New Delhi on Friday is expected to be 98 degrees Fahrenheit. When the virus is exposed to sunlight, in addition to temperatures above 75 degrees with a humidity of about 80 degrees, it can die in minutes, Bryan said. However, he clarified that he was not suggesting or making any recommendations on the social mitigation guidelines which includes social distancing. "Mr. President while there are many unknown links in the COVID-19 transmission chain we believe these trends can support practical decision-making to lower the risk associated with the virus," Bryan told the president. This, he said has a number of some practical applications. "For example increasing the temperature and humidity of potentially contaminated indoor spaces appears to reduce the stability of the virus and extra care may be warranted for dry environments that do not have exposure to solar light," he added. Bryan said his department is also testing disinfectants, readily available. "We have tested bleach, we have tested isopropyl alcohol on the virus specifically in saliva or respiratory fluids," he said. "Bleach will kill the virus in five minutes, isopropyl alcohol will kill the virus in 30 seconds and that is with no manipulation no rubbing, just spring it on and leaving it go. You rub it and it goes away even faster." "We are also looking at other disinfectants specifically looking at the COVID-19 virus in saliva," he added. The study, he said has identified some of the weak links in the chain that the transmission of the virus depends upon. "We identified that heat and humidity is a weakness in that chain. We've identified that sunlight, solar light, UV rays is a weakness in the chain," he said. -- PTI Taryn Harvey moved to New York City in January, hoping to break into the citys competitive modeling market after working in Toronto (her hometown) and Cape Town. It took her three years to secure a work visa for the move, she said. By February, she was walking in New York Fashion Week. By March, the world had changed. I felt like I just got here, and then coronavirus happened, said Ms. Harvey, 34. Ms. Harvey was one of 212 working models who participated in a survey organized and released Wednesday by Model Alliance, a labor rights nonprofit. The results of that survey, analyzed by the Worker Institute at Cornell University, detail how the coronavirus has affected the modeling industry. Models have long faced unpredictable working conditions. Typically classified as independent contractors, they miss out on the benefits and legal protections of full-fledged employees. But like millions of people and the rest of the fashion industry models are feeling even more financially vulnerable these days. Mexico, the largest recipient of U.S. gasoline exports, is seeking to cancel imports of the fuel from at least one U.S. company amid the rippling effects of the coronavirus on demand. Petroleos Mexicanoss trading unit, PMI, declared force majeure on imports of gasoline as an armada of vessels unable to discharge the fuel idles on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The legal term force majeure typically describes an unexpected, external event that makes it impossible for a party to fulfill its obligations under a contract. Fuel consumption at gas stations fell by as much as 50% as Mexicans follow the stay-at-home order from President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The logjam is about 60 vessels waiting, said Erick Tapia, an independent Mexico oil consultant and former PMI employee. Each vessel carries on average 300,000 barrels, bringing the total on the water to about 18 million barrels. This will be a very complicated situation for them to unwind themselves from, he said. Pemex didnt immediately return email seeking comment. PMI imports boutique gasoline that has specific limits on aromatics and benzene that make it difficult to sell outside of Mexico,a person familiar with the matter said. The bulk of it is of so-called Free On Board purchases, FOB, which means PMI is responsible for picking up the cargo at foreign ports with its own vessels. The plunge in demand caught up with Pemex as the state oil company had its inventories full ahead of the Easter holidays, when travel picks up. Unable to discharge fuel into storage tanks, PMI has been racking up penalty fees for the late return of ships. The so-called demurrage fees are of about $25,000 a day, which means PMI is paying $1.5 million daily in fees. Last year PMI changed its business model following the landslide victory of Lopez Obrador. PMI which used to buy 40% of its fuel in the spot market, moved to a model where the majority of purchases are made in long-term contracts, Tapia says. That means that PMI had less wiggle-room to adjust to the slump in demand brought by the pandemic. Mexico is home to Latin Americas largest refining complex after Brazil. After years of mismanagement and lack of maintenance, the oil-rich country now consumes more gasoline thats produced overseas than domestically. 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. New Delhi, April 23 : Jaguar Land Rover on Thursday said it plans to gradually resume production from May 18. The company will start manufacturing at its plants in Solihull in the UK as well as in Slovakia and Austria. "In China, we are beginning to see recovery in vehicle sales and customers are returning to our showrooms. Our joint venture plant in Changshu has been in operation since the middle of February," the company said in a statement. "As countries are relaxing distancing guidelines and retailers are reopening around the world, the restart of production at our other plants will be confirmed in due course." As per the statement, the company continues to monitor the Covid-19 situation. PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-23 07:06:01 Press release Embargo until 23 April 2020 at 7:00 am Regulated information Financial information for the first quarter of 2020 Solid Q1 EBITDAaL growth Updated dividend in the COVID-19 context Mobile postpaid customer base +3.9% yoy on quarterly net-adds of 9k Convergence customer base +40.0% yoy on quarterly net-adds of 21k Q1 Revenues 1 +1.9% yoy / Retail service revenues 1 : +4.6% yoy Q1 EBITDAaL1 +7.6% yoy COVID-19 impact Lockdown impacted commercial and operational dynamic. Temporary closure of shops has impacted the acquisition of new customers for mobile and convergence, as well as handset sales. However, churn has improved. Additionally, roaming and SMS traffic as well as ICT projects have decreased, whereas voice traffic has increased. Temporary closure of shops has impacted the acquisition of new customers for mobile and convergence, as well as handset sales. However, churn has improved. Additionally, roaming and SMS traffic as well as ICT projects have decreased, whereas voice traffic has increased. Uncertainty remains in regards to the COVID-19 measures and the impact on the Belgian economy. in regards to the COVID-19 measures and the impact on the Belgian economy. Currently, Orange Belgium expects the COVID-19 context to have a negative moderate impact on 2020 revenues, and a more limited impact on 2020 EBITDAaL thanks to low EBITDAaL impact of handset, SMS and roaming revenues, as well as cost control. The 2020 eCapex should moderately decrease due to some limitations during the lockdown period. thanks to low EBITDAaL impact of handset, SMS and roaming revenues, as well as cost control. due to some limitations during the lockdown period. Orange Belgium will consider an update of its 2020 financial guidance after the Q2 period, with more visibility on the COVID-19 context. Taking into account the current context and uncertainty, the Board of Directors recommends to the AGM not to increase the 2019 dividend to 0.60 per share as initially foreseen and to adopt an unchanged dividend of 0.50 per share. Q120 Belgium operating highlights Strong convergence net-adds confirm attractiveness of the Love Duo/Trio offers. Orange Belgium added 21k subscribers (+8.1% yoy) and reached 280k Love customers (+40% yoy). Love Duo still represents one third of the gross adds. The convergent mobile subscriber base represents 17.4% of mobile postpaid customers, up 470 bp vs Q119. Due to the delay in installation time, the COVID-19 impact on Q1 March sales will materialise mainly in Q2. Orange Belgium added 21k subscribers (+8.1% yoy) and reached 280k Love customers (+40% yoy). Love Duo still represents one third of the gross adds. The convergent mobile subscriber base represents 17.4% of mobile postpaid customers, up 470 bp vs Q119. Due to the delay in installation time, the COVID-19 impact on Q1 March sales will materialise mainly in Q2. Mobile postpaid customer base grew despite competitive environment and COVID19 impact. The mobile postpaid customer base grew by 9k to 2.6m subscribers (+3.9% yoy). The launch of the new GO mobile portfolio in March, introducing the first family mobile offer in Belgium, has been impacted by COVID-19 lockdown measures. The mobile postpaid customer base grew by 9k to 2.6m subscribers (+3.9% yoy). The launch of the new GO mobile portfolio in March, introducing the first family mobile offer in Belgium, has been impacted by COVID-19 lockdown measures. B2C convergent ARPO decreased slightly by 1.9% yoy to 75.9 as the result of the growing Love Duo customer base with a lower price point, which already represents 14% of Love customers. as the result of the growing Love Duo customer base with a lower price point, which already represents 14% of Love customers. Mobile-only postpaid ARPO declined slightly by 2.5% yoy to 20.3, as a result of lower out-of-bundle revenues due to EU regulation for international calls, as well as COVID-19 effects on SMS and roaming, partly offset by migration to higher tariff plans. Orange Belgium: key operating figures Q1 2019 Q1 2020 change Mobile postpaid customer base (in 000) 2,490 2,588 3.9% Net adds (in 000) 21 9 -58.3% Mobile only postpaid ARPO ( per month) 20.8 20.3 -2.5% Convergent customer base (in 000) 200 280 40.0% Net adds (in 000) 20 21 8.1% B2C convergent ARPO ( per month) 77.4 75.9 -1.9% Convergent mobile customer as % mobile contract customer base 12.7% 17.4% 470 bp Q120 consolidated financial highlights Revenues increased by 1.9% yoy 1 to 333.9m mainly driven by improved retail service revenues (+4.6% yoy 1 ) supported by higher convergence services (+35.8% yoy), compensating lower wholesale revenues (-2.1% yoy). Wholesale revenues decreased mainly due to lower incoming SMS revenues (-4.8m) which have no impact on EBITDAaL, partially compensated by higher MVNO revenues. mainly driven by improved retail service revenues (+4.6% yoy ) supported by higher convergence services (+35.8% yoy), compensating lower wholesale revenues (-2.1% yoy). Wholesale revenues decreased mainly due to lower incoming SMS revenues (-4.8m) which have no impact on EBITDAaL, partially compensated by higher MVNO revenues. EBITDAaL increased by 7.6% yoy1 to 62.2m, mainly thanks to increasing retail service revenues, improved cable operations and cost efficiencies as a result of our Bold Inside transformation plan. Cable operations EBITDAaL had a positive result of 2.5m this quarter vs a 1.1m loss in Q119, but negative cash flow of -6.3m (vs -13.4m in Q119). Orange Belgium Group: key financial figures reported comparable1 comparable reported in m Q1 2019 Q1 2019 Q1 2020 change change Revenues 318.2 327.7 333.9 1.9% 4.9% Retail service revenues 205.7 214.9 224.8 4.6% 9.3% EBITDAaL 58.0 57.8 62.2 7.6% 7.1% margin as % of revenues 18.2% 17.6% 18.6% 100 bp 38 bp eCapex -36.9 -36.9 -35.1 -4.8% -4.8% Operating cash flow2 21.1 20.9 27.0 29.6% 27.9% Net financial debt 252.1 229.0 -9.2% Comparable base includes BKM 2019 before acquisition Operating cash flow defined as EBITDAaL eCapex Michael Trabbia, Chief Executive Officer, commented: Everybody has been profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this global crisis context, our main priority is the protection of our employees, our customers, suppliers and subcontractors, as we comply fully with the decisions and recommendations of the competent authorities. In addition, we concentrated our efforts on ensuring service continuity as connectivity is more than ever critical for Belgian consumers, businesses, hospitals and administration. Finally, we believe we have an important societal role to support the country in this difficult time. We proactively promoted the StayHome message, we supported our customers with a dedicated platform and additional data, and we helped the government monitor mobility via anonymised data. We also provided concrete and meaningful support to hospitals and nursing homes, with masks, cyber-security and communication solutions. Orange Belgium together with the members of its Executive Committee in their personal capacity made a joint donation to finance a COVID-19 middle care unit. On 9 March, we launched GO, our revamped mobile portfolio, introducing exclusive mobile family discounts, and confirming once again our Bold Challenger position. Our Love Duo and Trio convergent offers continued to attract many new customers. However, the lockdown measures have impacted our sales, with the temporary closure of the shops, only partially mitigated by the increase of other channels, mainly digital and telesales. We are preparing to reopen our shops when it becomes possible, with all the necessary protection equipment and sanitary measures. In April, the regulator submitted its draft decision on the wholesale cable tariffs to the European Commission, including amongst others, a major change in the methodology of cost recovery compared to the last draft decision that would be massively detrimental for customers. This major change in the final steps of the process would mean significantly over-compensating cable owners actual costs. In addition, the assumptions made lead to a far excessive and unjustified increase of the wholesale tariffs by up to 25% over time. As such, the draft decision would necessarily lead to significant price increases year after year in the Belgian broadband market, although it is already amongst the most expensive broadband markets in Europe. In the interest of Belgium customers, we urge the European Commission and the regulators to materially improve the draft decision, based on the reality of the costs and avoiding any overcompensation. Arnaud Castille, Chief Financial Officer, stated: The measures taken following the pandemic crisis will impact on the companys financial performance. The first quarter of this year was impacted for a period of about two weeks, so it is too early to say how this will impact the rest of the year. But we can imagine an impact on revenue, caused by lower gross adds in mobile and convergence partially offset by a reduction in churn. The decrease in handset sales will have an impact on the topline but may also see a rebound after the crisis. Therefore, we managed to adjust our costs, which were also reduced through the decrease of the customer acquisition cost. Hence, we only expect a limited impact on EBITDAaL over the year. We will re-evaluate the COVID-19 impact and the potential change to our guidance after the second quarter. Additionally, Orange Belgium has a robust balance sheet with a leverage of 0.8. The launch of our new mobile portfolio will not only lead to simplicity for our customers, but will also help to streamline our processes aiming at lowering the costs for managing those portfolios. In the light of the Bold Inside programme we have continued to make the necessary efforts to control our costs, which provided its results with stable costs versus last year in a revenue growth context. The confirmation of the competition authorities that no additional interim measures are needed anymore for the execution of the mobile network access sharing agreement with Proximus has enabled us to transfer employees to the newly created joint venture, MWingz and to start the implementation of our agreement. Attachment Representative Image The government has issued a notification via the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) that foreign direct investments from Indias neighbouring countries will be subject to approval, giving it the force of law after notifying in a press note a few days ago. The FEMA notification was broadly among expected lines and did not vary significantly from the press note. This is a step the government has taken since the start of this week after Housing Development Finance Corp. Ltd (HDFC) said that the Chinese central bank, the Peoples Bank of China (PBOC), had raised its stake in the home lender from 0.8 percent to 1.01 percent in the March quarter through open market purchases. Although China is not named in the amendment, it is the main reason for this update. More importantly, the notification is not restricted to prior approval for direct investments by Chinese firms and also restricts any transfer of investments/future FDI resulting in beneficial ownership falling with Chinese firms. Entrepreneurs, investors and policy experts were also hoping that the FEMA note would take a few more days, giving startups more time to close any ongoing funding rounds from Chinese investors and plan their capital structure, people told Moneycontrol. While this move was triggered by PBOCs investment in HDFC, it will also impact Indian startups, for whom China has been a stable source of capital. Alibaba and Tencent, Chinas largest listed firms, are shareholders in over a dozen Indian startups, collectively worth tens of billions of dollars in companies such as One97 Technologies (Paytm), OYO, Dream11, Snapdeal and BigBasket. Besides strategic investors such as Alibaba, Tencent and ByteDance, Chinese venture capital firms have also been ramping up their presence in India. Some of Chinas largest VCs such as Qiming, CDH and Morningside have all made early stage bets in India. However, three lawyers Moneycontrol spoke to said that the fine print needed to be read before understanding its full impact. For instance, Foreign Venture Capital Funds registered with SEBI and investing under Schedule VII seem to be exempted from this amendment, said one of the lawyers cited above, requesting anonymity. [We will update this copy as clarity emerges on the subject.] The National Human Rights Commission has partnered with civic groups to unveil a new digital platform that would aid the reporting of human rights abuses in Nigeria. The platform, https://report.nhrc.gov.ng, can be used to document, report and investigate human rights violations in Nigeria, according to a Wednesday night statement announcing the service. Shehu Musa YarAdua Foundation, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room, Department for International Development (UKAID) and Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) are amongst the organisations that developed and sponsored the project. The app would let users upload pictures of events, with an indication of location, time and nature of violations. The user is also able to input other information like the name of the alleged violator(s) and victim(s) and other real-time information that can be further verified by the responders. The online platform is also able to collate, analyse and generate results and data for the reports and provide dash-board information for the public. Nigeria has been gripped by decades of rights abuses, a situation that has failed to improve despite the governments efforts. Technology has helped amplify some of the abuses in recent years, as visual details of gruesome assaults by security agents are regularly uploaded online. Security agencies have been linked to dozens of rights abuses and deaths since the recent outbreak of coronavirus, some of which ignited outrage on social media. A recent NHRC report showed that Nigerian security agents enforcing the coronavirus lockdown have killed more citizens in two weeks than the deadly virus. The latest project, in line with NHRCs core mandate of monitoring and investigation of human rights violations, would make reporting of abuses easier for citizens, from where responsibility towards redress would shift to the commission. The NHRC, which is an independent government agency, also publishes an annual state of human rights report for the country, a role that the platform would help make more efficient and effective. The online platform will not just help victims report abuses and abusers, it will bring the individuals and agencies behind any human rights violation to account, the promoters said. The platform will also be used by the commission to scale up its efficiency and effectiveness in the performance of its functions. CSO partners and citizens are encouraged to file reports. With blaring horns and Trump flags waving in the air, a parade of protesters in motor vehicles drove by Gov. Charlie Bakers home in Swampscott Thursday morning as a form of protesting his closure of the states economy. As the cars drove by Bakers home, three Massachusetts State Police Troopers stood by the sidewalk in front of the home. Some of the drivers shouted about sanctuary cities and fake media as they passed the home. We want to talk to the governor. We want to open up, one woman shouts from the window of a vehicle as it drove by. The protest follows as hundreds from a conservative group known as the United Cape Patriots gathered in Cape Cod last weekend to protest the lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, President Donald Trump started tweeting on Friday with messages encouraging Americans who have been protesting stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 crisis. In separate posts, the president tweeted LIBERATE VIRGINIA and save your great 2nd Amendment. It is under siege! as well as LIBERATE MINNESOTA and LIBERATE MICHIGAN." According to researchers at Harvard University, Rhode Island is currently the only state conducting enough COVID-19 tests to safely reopen the economy. Coronavirus in Mass.: Cases, maps, charts and resources Happening now in Swampscott, Massachusetts. This group is parading in front of Governor Charlie Bakers house to re-open the Massachusetts economy. (Baker is in Boston right now) #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/Ql08aNIVJN Meghan Ottolini (@Meghan_Ottolini) April 23, 2020 Some Liberate Massachusetts protesters are near the governor's house in #Swampscott. pic.twitter.com/g73DKhYByk Carl Stevens (@carlwbz) April 23, 2020 Related Content: Amid the COVID-19 spread, a large number of crows and three dogs were found dead in and around Poompuhar area in Nagapattinam district on Thursday triggering panic among the local populace. On Thursday, carcasses of three dogs and that of 50 crows were spotted at many places in Poompuhar. Sasikumar, panchayat president of Kaveripoompattinam village, lodged a complaint with the Nagapattinam district animal husbandrydepartment. Officials from the department visited the spot and collected samples from the carcasses. They said the cause for the death would be known only after analysis. Meanwhile, Poompuhar police have also started an investigation to ascertain if the deaths were due to poisoning. The incident has occurred at a time when concerns have been raised over whether the infection caused by the Sars-CoV2-2 virus can be transmitted between animals and humans. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS- CoV-2) is the virus strain that causes COVID-19, a respiratory illness. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) London: The UK government on Thursday laid out a series of measures to be put in place to ramp up testing for the novel coronavirus as the daily COVID-19 hospital death toll spiked by 616 to hit a total of 18,738. UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that though the daily rise in the toll was lower than previous days, it was important not to forget any one of the victims of the deadly virus and continue to strictly follow the social distancing norms in place to control its spread. They will not be forgotten. We must retain our resolve and follow social distancing rules they are working. To lift the measures too soon and to risk a second peak will be a mistake and undo all the hard work that has been done," Hancock said during the daily Downing Street briefing on Thursday. The minister, who has set a 100,000 coronavirus tests to be carried out daily by the end of this month, said that testing capacity has increased to 51,000 a day as he laid out a test, track and trace formula to be applied as the lockdown measures are gradually eased across the country. "From tomorrow (Friday), any essential workers who need a test will be able to book an appointment on Gov.uk themselves, directly. This also applies for people in essential workers' households too who need a test. It's all part of getting Britain back on her feet, said Hancock. Results of these tests will be sent out by text, with people who cannot go online able to apply for the free of cost tests through their employer. There will be more than 30 test sites across the UK, with home tests kits also being introduced as well as 48 mobile testing sites for the more vulnerable such as care homes with the help of the Armed Forces. Hancock said the government is putting the infrastructure in place to be prepared to roll out contact tracing, or someone's exposure to the virus, on a large scale when it is time and a new National Health Service (NHS) contact tracing smartphone app is also being tested for that purpose. "If you become unwell, you'll be able to tell the NHS with this app and then this will send an alert to other users," said Hancock. Professor John Newton, Director of Health Improvement at Public Health England, joined the Cabinet minister to explain the kinds of tests that are being put in place. He said there are mainly two types of test the swab test to assess someone for the novel coronavirus and the treatment they might require if they are positive, and an antibody blood test, which determines if someone has already had the virus and may be immune to it. Newton said the current focus is on the swab test to try and control the spread of the virus until a proven antibody test is found. "Testing capacity has been increased exponentially, said Newton, who is the UK's national coronavirus testing coordinator. Meanwhile, Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK's Chief Scientific Adviser, said at the briefing that it is clear that transmission rates are down and social distancing measures are having a "very big" effect. "I would just urge as we enter the phase where the plateau has been reached, slight decrease we can see, we continue to make sure that we enrol patients in clinical trials so we get the answers to the critical questions about which medicines may work," he said. A north Belfast family have expressed their anguish after both parents died within three days of each other after contracting Covid-19. Ignatius O'Connell (89) died on April 14. His wife Mary (86) also passed away at their Strathmore Park home on April 17. Mr O'Connell was the first lay principal of St Mary's University College, while Mrs O'Connell was a former teacher and award-winning water-colourist. The couple would have been married 60 years this year after they met in the 1950s while teaching in Ballycastle. They had two children. Speaking to The Irish News, their daughter Bronagh said their deaths were "just the nightmare of Covid-19". "One week we have our mummy and daddy and the next, within three days, we have nobody because of this disease," said the community midwife, who was diagnosed with coronavirus the day after her father's death. Mr O'Connell, who had Alzheimer's, and his wife, who had survived cancer three times, fell sick within days of each other. It was initially believed they had chest infections. Despite being treated with oxygen in his home, Mr O'Connell died at 7am on April 14. Mrs O'Connell's death came at 7pm on April 17. They were laid to rest together on Monday in the village of Carrigart in Co Donegal where they enjoyed many summers together. "We are living in a bubble at the moment," continued Bronagh. "We went into their house the other day and the peace I felt when I sat in my daddy's chair, there was a serenity. "It was nearly as if all their health issues and pains and all my daddy's mental torment had all gone. "The thing that makes me very sad is that my parents were such wonderful people and nobody had a chance to tell us the stories that we want to hear or show their respects. "It is heartbreaking. We are completely numb." She added: "I look at people who are so dismissive of the guidelines. Look what we are living now. No mummy. No daddy. They are gone completely. "There is a whole generation of our family gone in three days. The void will never be filled again." Chairs are stacked up in the Naf Naf Grill in Philadelphias Wynnefield Heights section due to the citys ban on dining in in restaurants. Read more About 4.4 million Americans filed new unemployment applications last week, federal figures showed Thursday, as the historic economic crash caused by COVID-19 reached new depths. The pandemic response has now claimed 26.5 million jobs nationwide in five weeks. More than 198,000 Pennsylvanians filed a claim in the week ending April 18 after losing their jobs or getting hours reduced, bringing the states total in five weeks to nearly 1.5 million, or 23% of the workforce. In New Jersey, the five-week total has climbed to 817,000, or 18% of the labor force. More than 139,000 New Jersey workers filed new claims for assistance last week, according to data released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor. The job losses since mid-March have effectively erased a decade of employment gains. Though the number of new claims in the states and nationwide declined this week from previous weeks, joblessness now runs so deep and wide that that economists say it will take years to recover. The apex of the hit to the economy is now, in April, said Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moodys Analytics in West Chester. He expects the jobless rate will spike to between 15% and 20%, and then will subside to around 8% to 9% by years end as some economic sectors begin to reopen. This is the worst of the hit right here, and then I would expect some business re-openings starting in May, accelerating in June going into July, and we get a pop to growth, a temporary pop to growth, he said. The coronavirus has killed more than 44,000 Americans, including at least 1,622 in Pennsylvania as of Thursday. READ MORE: Couldnt get Pa. unemployment benefits? You might be eligible for this new coronavirus program. Pennsylvanians last week filed about half the number of applications they submitted during the last week of March, when the states weekly unemployment filings peaked with more than 400,000 claims. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor ascribed the latest reduction to fewer layoffs in the arts, entertainment, and recreation, other services, and agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industries. The reduction of workload might provide some relief to state labor officials, who have been undermanned and overwhelmed by a record number of applications. More than 80 unemployed workers co-signed a letter this week, organized by the Philadelphia Unemployment Project, to urge Gov. Tom Wolf to redeploy a thousand laid-off state workers to the Department of Labor to handle telephone calls from frustrated applicants. We know the state has been overwhelmed with new claims and new guidelines from the recent federal stimulus bill, but people need to know if they can expect help or not," said Ted Kelly, an organizer with the project. Providing no information is creating great stress for laid-off workers. Small businesses in the region are about to get a second chance at emergency financial relief to keep their companies afloat, as the House gave final passage Thursday to a measure that would provide more than $300 billion in new funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, a Small Business Administration initiative that was meant to help firms keep employees on payroll during the pandemic. Banks quickly burned through the first round of funds, lending all $349 billion available in a matter of days. Zandi said the economy will remain in quicksand until a coronavirus vaccine is developed and consumer confidence is restored. Travel and tourism, performing arts, movie theaters, restaurants, and big retailers will be slow to reopen or attract large crowds. And many businesses will remain cautious, declining to hire or expand aggressively. Business are also are going to remain on high alert because they dont know how this all is going to play out, Zandi said. They dont know whether theres going to be a second wave and they have to shut down again. READ MORE: How a 3rd-generation Philly-area business is surviving the coronavirus pandemic: Whatever it takes Nationwide, the cumulative 26.5 million unemployment claims 16% of the U.S. workforce represents a job loss unprecedented in quickness and rivaling only the Great Depression in depth, though that epic downturn endured for a decade. The governments official unemployment rate will be announced in May and lags real-time data, but two economists who are conducting surveys of jobless Americans with the aim of producing a more timely metric for policy makers say the U.S. jobless rate is already over 20%. We find an unemployment rate of 20.2% during the first week of April, compared with 4.5% in the second week of March, the economists, Alexander Bick of Arizona State University and Adam Blandin of Virginia Commonwealth University, said in their report. More than half of the unemployed workers in their survey reported being temporarily laid off, suggesting that many could return to work quickly if conditions improve. I didnt expect the number to be so stark, but its pretty much in line with the unemployment claims data, which we get every week, Bick, a labor economist, said. Their survey of 1,118 respondents was conducted April 8 and 9, and a second survey is underway. Hours worked per working-age adult declined 25% from the second week of March, and half of the decline was due to reduced hours rather than job loss, according to the survey. More than 60% of work was conducted at home, compared with about 10% before the pandemic. The job loss was most pronounced for workers who were female, older, and less educated, who tend to dominate the types of service-sector jobs that were most affected by lockdown orders. READ MORE: Why does Pennsylvania have so many more unemployment claims than even larger states? Wolf on Wednesday announced a tiered, color-coded system for relaxing restrictions on businesses and residents now under a lockdown aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus. The sectors that Zandi identified as most likely to resume operations initially construction, manufacturing, mining, agriculture and financial services tend to be dominated by male employees. Zandi said some small stores might also reopen because they can control the number of people in their stores. READ MORE: Philly businesses shuttered by coronavirus say they cant reopen until you feel safe leaving your house State data on the impact on specific economic sectors is limited, but Zandi said that proprietary survey results he has reviewed indicate the job losses are broad-based. Its not just small companies that are getting creamed and are at high risk because they dont have any financial cushion, he said. But big companies are laying off en masse now too. So its companies of all sizes." The Deceased and her family The husband of late Mrs Nkiru Alagbu has called out doctors of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital UNTH, Ituku Ozalla, Enugu state for watching his wife die because of fear of coronavirus. The 40-year-old man, Mr Alagbu Nwachukwu Chuks, has accused medical doctors of killing his wife due to the fear of Coronavirus even when the tests she ran allegedly proved she didnt have the disease. According to reports, the woman, aged 38, who was said to be hypertensive, suddenly fell sick on Wednesday and was initially taken to one St. Patricks Hospital in Enugu where she went through several tests but none suggested that she had COVID-19. Her medical condition had been waxing and waning, especially after every treatment. In January 2020, my wife developed the following symptoms: fever, breathlessness, chest pain, morbid weakness, and excessive sweating and loss of appetite. Her illness made my lovely wife visit so many hospitals until Tuesday (14th April 2020) when she had to be referred to a diagnostic Clinic in Enugu for some investigations. Right there, the good-spirited Consultant in that Clinic promptly referred her to a cardiologist for immediate attention when he noticed her major health challenge was cardiovascular disease. This action heralded our travails. For the avoidance of doubt, my wife and I had not traveled outside Enugu and Anambra States in the last five years. We had never come in contact with anyone diagnosed or suspected of having COVID-19. Unfortunately, by the period we got to the private hospital in Enugu in the morning on 15-04-2020, we were directed to Enugu State University Teaching Hospital Parklane GRA, Enugu. At ESUTH Parklane, they informed us their hospital did not have a functional Trolley or wheelchair to wheel my wife to the ward and that the hospital wards were full without empty beds. In frustration, I immediately took her to UNTH, Ituku/Ozalla. That was where the worst happened. A doctor came and from a prescribe social distance asked some few questions. Quickly, he concluded that, it was a case of COVID-19. Immediately myself, my brothers wife and a family friend who offered to accompany us to the hospital started crying because none of the medical personnel on duty in the hospital Emergency cared to assist after my late wife was tagged a COVID-19 case. At this time my wife whispered to my ear, that I should not allow her die. I saw my wife in pain and she kept telling me that she would not die. I cried my eyes out when i learnt that the consultant cardiologist called UNTH, informing them to admit my wife for him. That he was coming to take over her treatment, but they ignored him, saying my wife was a Coronavirus patient. Within a short while, after the doctor made that COVID-19 proclamation, all the medical personnel disappeared. No one bothered to come close to her while she was lying in the car helpless. And after waiting for more than 30 minutes, I saw my brothers wife ( A Consultants wife) crying uncontrollably, and handing her phone to a doctor so that the husband could explain the health situation of my wife to him. My brother later informed me what the doctor said. He said that they had started making efforts to contact the COVID-19 medical team that would handle the case of my wife. He told me that the doctor he spoke with on the phone was so rude and that UNTH doctor started accusing him of threatening him after informing him that he had to make efforts to sustain the sick alive while they make their efforts at confirming or ruling out the COVID-19. All attempts made by my brother to convince them that my wife was not a COVID-19 case proved abortive, Alagbu added. I have never felt so incapacitated like this since I was born some 40 years ago. I saw my wife die like a fowl in a hospital, and the doctors turned their backs at her and walked away without pity or compassion, he wept. They allowed my wife to die unattended to, all in the name of fear of COVID-19. Medical doctors watched my wife die like a soulless being. I thought it was a local movie playing when I could not get help from the Government Hospital, simply because the doctors felt my wife had COVID-19 symptom. I knew the worst could have happened. But, I kept calm. To my most considerable chagrin, it took the person of the Chief Medical Director of the hospital to attend to her personally and certified her dead after the sick had been in the hospital for hours without the desired attention. It is a sad history in my whole life watching the mother of my children died like a fowl. The hospital could not open a folder or card. She came to the hospital, died after about three hours while in a car. At that point, Nkirus body was taken away from UNTH Enugu to a private mortuary. While calling on Enugu state governor, Chief Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC), to urgently intervene on the matter, Mr. Alagbu, asked if indeed the case was a COVID-19 case, how come there were no efforts put in place for sample collection even after death, what measures did the hospital put in place to safeguard the mortuary staff?, Why did it take the hospital hours to wear their PPE and attend to the patient? What is the hope of ordinary men in our Nigeria hospital today? How come the whole fear of COVID-19 disappeared as soon as the patient died? I am heart-wrecked because my wife died leaving behind four children, the eldest is 11 year old. These wicked doctors watched my wife die like a fowl for a purported fear of COVID-19, he cried via telephone. #JusticeForNkiruAlagbu The National Coordinator of Nasara Club, a wing of the governing New Patriotic Party, has congratulated National Chief Imam, Osmanu Nuhu Sharabutu on the occasion of his 101st birthday anniversary. Abdul Aziz Haruna Futa in a birthday message described the Chief Imam as a pillar of hope, a peacemaker, a unifier, a spiritual leader and above all exhibited the love for humanity. As today marks your 101st birthday anniversary, on behalf of the New Patriotic Party, I wish you a happy birthday, the Nasara leader wrote. He also commended the leadership qualities of the centenarian which he said is worth emulating by Ghanaians and the world while praying for good health and the blessings of Allah to him. The Islamic Cleric was born on April 23, 1919. The influential Muslim leader is also an acclaimed Islamic Instructor and Philanthropist. 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 Britains competition regulator cleared online food delivery company Takeaway.coms takeover of rival Just Eat, saying the 7bn deal would not reduce competition. Takeaway immediately made a move to raise 400m in cash by issuing shares and convertible bonds. Amsterdam-based Takeaway.com beat tech investment giant Prosus in a battle to buy Just Eat in January. Takeaway and Just Eat, operating separately until last week, have each said they saw an initial shock from the coronavirus outbreak, but orders are recovering. Britains Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigated the deal to see if Takeaway.com would have been likely to re-enter the UK market without the acquisition, thereby creating competition to Just Eat and the likes of Uber Eats and Deliveroo. It concluded there was not a material likelihood of that happening if it blocked the deal, and it therefore gave it the green light. Renamed Just Eat Takeaway.com, Europes largest takeaway delivery service, moved quickly to shore up its finances with an overnight share and convertible bond issue. Takeaway said on Thursday it had raised 400m, representing a 3.2% dilution of its stock base, from an accelerated overnight offering to institutional investors. Shares were issued at 87 per share, a 3.7% discount to its closing price. Takeaway shares, which trade in Amsterdam, traded at 87.98 in the latest session. The company also issued 300m in convertible bonds. The money will be used to pay down credit facilities used by both Just Eat and Takeaway and for general corporate purposes" as well as to provide the company with financial flexibility to act on strategic opportunities. In this case, we carefully considered whether Takeaway.com could have re-entered the UK market in future, giving people more choice, CMA mergers director Colin Raftery said in a statement. But after gathering additional evidence which indicates this deal will not reduce competition, it is also the right decision to now clear the merger. By Akbar Mammadov Head of Nagorno-Karabakhs Azerbaijani Community Tural Ganjaliyev has described as irresponsible some US senators' recent congratulatory letter over the illegal elections held in Azerbaijans Armenian-occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region. US Representatives from the Congressional Armenian Caucus - Frank Pallone, Jr., Jackie Speier, Gus M. Bilirakis, and Adam B. Schiff earlier congratulated the separatist regime in Nagorno-Karabakh on holding illegal elections in occupied Nagorno-Karabakh. It is indeed very irresponsible to try to legitimize the election show' in Azerbaijan's occupied territories that took place on March 31 and April 14 as the international community, including the United States, unanimously took the side of law and justice by strongly rejecting the 'election show' and standing in solidarity with Azerbaijan. This sends a very powerful message that the international community will not accept the results of ethnic cleansing and illegal occupation of Azerbaijan's territories," Ganjaliyev noted in a letter addressed to the US House of Representatives on April 22. He reminded that Nagorno-Karabkhs Azerbaijani community has been forcibly displaced from their homes through ethnic cleansing and have been denied basic human rights in the past 28 years as a result of the occupation. The irresponsible letter that disregards Azerbaijan's sovereignty, and encourages discrimination approach to the Azerbaijani community is wrong morally, legally and politically, Ganjaliyev said. Ganjaliyev urged the US senators to promote peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict instead of aggreviating the situation with their self-serving and irresponsible stance. This is a wrong message, and emboldens those in the Armenian society who are promoting discriminatory policies and historically notorious narratives about superiority of one and inferiority of other ethnic groups, that blatantly violate every humanitarian and human rights laws and principles. This is nowhere for the future of people of Armenia and the wider region", he added. Furthermore, Ganjaliyev reminded that the so-called elections were held amid the COVID-19 outbreak in the world, thereby endangered residents in the Nagorno-Karabakh. Unfortunately, convincing arguments suggest the real motivation in sending such a letter is to personally gain by pleasing some members of the Armenian community residing in the US at the expense of moral principles and political dignity. Ganjaliyev noted that Karabakhs Azerbaijani community works towards promoting the peaceful coexistence and prosperity of the both communities of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. It should be noted that international organizations, including the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, of which the United States is also represented by the Co-Chair Andrew Schofer, rejected the so-called elections earlier. The OSCE Minsk Group issued a statement, saying "Nagorno-Karabakh is not recognized as an independent and sovereign state by any of the Co-Chair countries or any other country. In addition, a number of other countries, including France, Germany, Turkey, UK, Canada, Australia, Norway, Pakistan, Latvia, Ukraine, Estonia, as well as major international organizations such as the EU, NATO, OSCE, OIC, GUAM, Visegrad Group, TURKPA reiterated their support for Azerbaijans territorial integrity and condemned the elections in Nagorno-Karabakh. Brussels: European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to revamp the EU's long-term budget and set up a massive recovery fund to tackle the impact of the coronavirus and help rebuild the 27-nation bloc's ravaged economies, but deep differences remain over the best way to achieve those goals. With more than 100,000 Europeans known to have died from the virus, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, and business only slowly starting to open in some countries, the urgent need for funds in hard-hit countries like Italy and Spain has never been starker. European Council President Charles Michel speaks during a media conference on the European Union's response to the COVID-19 crisis at EU headquarters in Brussels. Credit:AP "This pandemic is putting our societies under serious strain. The well-being of each EU member state depends on the well-being of the whole of the EU. We are all in this together," European Council President Charles Michel told reporters after chairing the leaders' video-conference summit. The uneven impact of the virus on countries with very different budgetary means has eroded trust, with Italy and Spain notably lacking confidence that relatively wealthier northern EU partners like Austria, the Netherlands or Germany - who have suffered less from the disease - are willing to take swift, sweeping measures backed by real economic firepower. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ohio State University will study the impact of children and teens using e-cigarettes, thanks to a $5.5 million grant from the American Heart Association. A two-year project will examine the short and long-term impact of e-cigarettes on the brain, lungs and heart, as well as regulation to reduce youth addiction to e-cigarettes and methods to help those addicted quit. Were pleased to receive this grant that will allow us to continue our work examining the health impacts of e-cigarettes and vaping. E-cigarettes are now the most commonly used tobacco product among youth, and there needs to be more research on youth e-cigarette use and addiction and ways to help users quit, Peter J. Mohler, vice dean of research at The Ohio State College of Medicine said in a press release. The study will delve deep into the impact e-cigarettes have on the body and mind, including nicotine form, concentration and flavors. Researchers will seek to develop a regulatory standard to decrease addiction and a comprehensive cessation program, including phone and online support and nicotine replacements therapy, according to the release. A National Institutes of Health survey found about 37% of 12th graders reported vaping in 2018, compared with 28% in 2017. Although there were a rash of hospitalizations reported in 2019 for severe lung disease in e-cigarette users, likely due to a contaminant, how vaping links to lung damage and lung disease is still largely unknown, wrote Dr. Robert H. Shmerling for the Harvard Health blog. The addictive properties of nicotine have been long established, but researchers dont know what substances may cause lung disease and whether younger individuals are more at-risk, Shmerling writes. The coronavirus pandemic adds another layer to the research. Those with lung irritation and damage are more likely to experience more severe side effects from infection, so more exploration on the impact of e-cigarettes on the lungs could provide more information of whos at risk. Smokers are currently listed among at-risk groups, but not e-cigarette users. Researchers at Boston University and Yale University also received awards. Berlin: Crowds flocked back to the streets of Berlin on Wednesday, as the German capital lifted its lockdown and shops reopened for the first time in a month. Even the street performers were back: on Wilmersdorfer Strasse, a mime artist wearing a long fake nose and white robes made faces at shoppers. Rihan, 5, leads his father Erdem while shopping in a toy store that was opening for the first time since March, in Berlin. Credit:Getty Images The city authorities waited until two days after most of Germany had lifted restrictions before allowing shops to reopen, and officials implored people not to see the move as an "excuse for a stroll" or a "starting signal" for a return to normal life. But after a month of lockdown frustrated Berliners poured back on to the streets and there were heavy traffic jams on the main routes into the city centre. The Uttarakhand health department conducted a screening of a film production team including actors Manoj Bajpayee and Deepak Dobriyal at a resort in Ramgarh in Nainital. They are stranded at the resort amid the nationwide lockdown. The two actors came to the Ramgarh area of Nainital in the first week of March for the shoot of a film and could not go back to Mumbai due to the lockdown. Manoj is stranded here with his wife Shabana and daughter Ava while Deepak is alone. The actors were here to shoot an unnamed film helmed by director Ram Reddy and could shoot for only a week before the lockdown was imposed. With the production crew staying here for so long, a medical team of the health department reached Woodhouse Resort and screened the actors and other film crew members on Wednesday. Also read: Saif Ali Khan reveals how son Taimur is dealing with the lockdown After the screening, Manoj praised the health teams work and said, Doctors are doing great work by saving the lives of people. We highly appreciate the efforts of the doctors and entire team members who came to check on us amid the lockdown. The actor further said that he is visiting Ramgarh for the first time with his wife and daughter. My wife Shabana and daughter love this location. I wake up to the chirping of birds and go to different locations with my family in the afternoon. I take a walk and have tea. As I am fond of writing, I am using this time to write poems and stories, he said. Follow @htshowbiz for more In the middle of pandemic some bloggers, media persons and even famous politicians, who never dealt not only with any virology, but also with medicine, in general, are dramatically against an antiviral drug with active substance Proteflasid. During few weeks of massive media campaign the newly found experts managed to turn upside down all the facts from virology, antiviral drugs and their action. As a result, before published scientific information on Hromashevsky Epidemiology Institute at National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine findings that the medication potentially can slow down the coronavirus replication, was turned into a basis for jokes about alcohol tincture. Meanwhile almost nobody was interested in NAMS of Ukraine or developers of active substance position. Anatoliy Novik, Ecopharm company president told Obozrevatel that reasons for such neglect are on the surface: Pandemic is a prosperous time for pharmaceutical market shadow players. It offers income for this business, and business is always connected with politics in our country. So, game rules are identical to morals in the political market. Concurrence is high, bets are huge. Of course, we are under influence of customized and senseless campaign. They do not make scientific discussion with us. Neither Medical Academy experts, nor we, developers, have somebody to polemicize with. Because other side does not have a single specialist only bloggers, showmen and armchair scientists! One of the proven drug mechanisms is multiplying suppression of DNA and RNA viruses. And SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus is exactly a RNA virus. If you can stop the maximal viral pressure to organism in time during disease development, immune system without overwork would perform its natural task it would synthetize immunoglobulin and overcome the virus on itself. That is the first and foremost aim of active substances with direct antiviral action, Novik emphasized. (According to official classificatory, Proteflasid belongs to group J05, direct antiviral action medications, which is noted in Ministry of Health approved instruction. Hromashevsky Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases Institute at NAMS of Ukraine scientists have directly checked and proven on coronaviruses this active substance property. In response to first informational attacks, Academy of Sciences had published an evidence base [for Proteflasid characteristics research], but it was difficult or not profitable to imagine for somebody that Ukraine still has living science, Anatoliy Novik said. Discrediting drug with active substance Proteflasid campaign has started after Ecopharm leaders announced their readiness to provide Ukrainian clinics with the medication for free, in the first place to prevent medical workers from coronavirus infection. The most recent edition of the Harness Racing Alumni Show is now available for listening. Jim Gagliano, the president and CEO of The Jockey Club, discusses the recent federal indictments in the United States and the intricate investigations that led to them. While signaling that there is still a lot more to come, Gagliano also discusses his overwhelming support of Jeff Gural, USADA and the Horseracing Integrity Act. (With files from the Harness Racing Alumni Show) U.S. should stop playing political games under excuse of COVID-19 People's Daily Online By Zhong Sheng (People's Daily Online) 19:20, April 22, 2020 Some American politicians just played their same old trick again, making irresponsible remarks on multiple occasions that the novel coronavirus originated from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV). They declared, in a high-sounding manner, to make an investigation, and such ridiculous remarks were even hyped by Fox News. Anyone with conscience can see through the groundless and vicious accusation that totally goes against science. However, politicizing science issues, disseminating conspiracies and stigmatization are in essence attempts to impede the global solidarity and cooperation, which will cause huge damages especially when the world is currently facing extremely urgent challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Seeking the origin of the virus is a serious and rational issue that calls for science-based and professional approaches. The so-called assumption that the virus came from a lab had long been dispelled by global scientists. Chief of the World Health Organization (WHO) reiterated that there's been no evidence showing the virus was produced in labs or for the purpose of making bioweapons. On Feb. 19, 27 medical experts from 8 countries issued a joint statement on The Lancet, making strong condemnation on conspiracy theories suggesting that COVID-19 does not have a natural origin. The statement said that "Scientists from multiple countries have published and analysed genomes of the causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), 1 and they overwhelmingly conclude that this coronavirus originated in wildlife as have so many other emerging pathogens. This is further supported by a letter from the presidents of the US National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine13 and by the scientific communities they represent." Such opinion was later expressed again by a research team consisting of scholars from the U.S. Scripps Research Institute, Columbia University, Tulane University, the University of Edinburgh and the University of Sydney. The research team stressed in an article they published on journal Nature Medicine that the novel coronavirus originated from natural evolutionary process, and is not a laboratory construct. The U.S. politicians cooking up anti-science stories have their secret political goals. They just can't wait to stir up troubles, divert attention and shift responsibilities, from accusing Beijing for not informing Washington about the epidemic in a timely manner, to stigmatizing China by associating the virus with the country, and to hyping the relations between the virus and the WIV. However, anyone that is rational and respects science would scoff at such farce staged by these American politicians. Scientific and professional issues need to be addressed with science-based and professional approaches. "We have no argument to claim that this virus would have escaped or been manufactured in a laboratory," said Belgium's spokesperson for COVIN-19-related issues and virologist Emmanuel Andre, adding that the genetic structure of this virus is natural. The hypothesis that a virus was created in a lab in Wuhan sounded "a conspiracy vision that does not relate to the real science," said Jean-Francois Delfraissy, an immunologist and head of the scientific council that advises the French government on the COVID-19 pandemic. Well-known academic journal Nature from the UK pointed out that "Continuing to associate a virus and the disease it causes with a specific place is irresponsible and needs to stop." Lies can never outrun justice. The repeated politicizing of the pandemic by American politicians, which impedes the international cooperation on COVID-19 containment, has aroused huge indignation from the international society. On April 2, the Communist Party of China issued a joint open letter with 230 political parties from over 100 countries, saying "We call for science-based professional discussions on issues like prevention measures and the origin of the virus. We strongly oppose the politicization of public health issues and the stigmatization of other countries under the excuse of COVID-19. We stand firmly against all discriminatory comments and practices against any country, region or ethnic group." Global challenge calls for global cooperation. Initial results of a UN initiative to help decide the future direction of the Organization have revealed overwhelming support for international cooperation, which has grown significantly since COVID-19 began spreading around the world. The results indicate that cooperation and solidarity remain a mainstream voice when the world is threatened by major public health crisis and infectious disease. The pandemic once again proved the importance and urgency of building a community with a shared future for mankind. The "presumption of guilt" that runs afoul of science will never be admitted by genuine scientific and professional spirit. Anyone that challenges science will not end up well. The American politicians had better stop playing the ridiculous political games that run counter against science, stop politicizing the pandemic, and join international cooperation to fight the disease with concrete actions so as to dispel the dark clouds of the pandemic with the light of cooperation. This is for the lives and health of Americans, as well as the public health security of the world. All human beings dwell in the same community with a shared future, so it's better to do more to secure the homeland. (Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People's Daily to express its views on foreign policy.) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address With now more than 1.6 million confirmed coronavirus cases across the U.S., everyone is looking for answers. Communities across the country are sheltering in place, and most non-essential businesses have either closed or changed their modes of operation. In order to reduce the spread of coronavirus across New York state, which has reported 257,216 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 15,302 deaths as of Thursday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is in talks of putting together a tracing army. When you find a positive person, trace it back and isolate, Cuomo said in a Wednesday briefing. The New York governor will work with former New York City mayor and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg to lead the effort in the tri-state area. The effort to create a tracing army will be coordinated with New Jersey and Connecticut, which account for a large number of commuters into New York for work. It all has to be coordinated. There is no tracing that can work with one jurisdiction, Cuomo said. The announcement comes just one day after New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced plans to trace and isolate cases in the city, too. So what exactly is a tracing army? The tracing program will essentially be implemented by tracking down every person who has contracted the virus, and following up with them to conduct interviews about every person they came in contact with. The goal of tracing is to treat and isolate individuals who have contracted or been in contact with the virus for 14 days in an effort to reduce its spread across the state, all of which will be done through widespread expansion of diagnostic testing. The program is being designed with the help of Johns Hopkins University and Vital Strategies and the governor is starting to build a great force of tracers. There are currently just 500 tracers across the state, with plans to add thousands more. The program will draw from 35,000 medical field students at state and city universities, from the state health department, and from other agencies, according to ABC News. Story continues A report from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials estimated that approximately 100,000 contact tracers will need to be added to the public health workforce. The effort would require approximately $3.6 billion in emergency funding in Congressional funding. In order to effectively track down people with COVID-19, the state will also have to implement widespread testing. The White House has agreed to help ramp up testing efforts in New York, as Cuomo plans to double the amount of daily tests in the state from 20,000 to 40,000, ABC News reports. Germany, Singapore, and South Korea have all implemented tracing programs of their own, and are experiencing a lower rate of infections and fewer deaths as a result, Cuomo said in his briefing. You dont have months to plan and do this, he said. You have weeks to get this up and running. Bloomberg and his charitable giving network Bloomberg Philanthropies have pledged to donate $10.5 million to the effort. The federal government has also agreed to pour $1.3 billion into the state to help with funding for the tracing program. Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here? Trump Is The Worst Leader For Coronavirus Pandemic A Handy Guide To The Cuomo Family Tree Why Trump Is Backing Away From His Immigration Ban Two cats in New York State have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, marking the first confirmed case of the COVID-19 infection in pets in the US, according to health authorities. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) said on Wednesday that the two cats, who live in separate areas of New York state, have become the first pets in the country to test positive for coronavirus. "These are the first pets in the United States to test positive," the two agencies said in a joint statement. The agencies said that both pets had mild respiratory illness and are expected to make a full recovery. COVID19 infections have been reported in very few animals worldwide and mostly in those that had close contact with a person with COVID-19. Even as public health officials are still learning about the virus, there is no evidence that pets play a role in spreading coronavirus to humans in the United States. Therefore, there is no justification in taking measures against companion animals that may compromise their welfare. Further studies are needed to understand if and how different animals, including pets, could be affected, the statement said. Routine testing of animals is not recommended at this time, it said, adding that if other animals are confirmed positive for coronavirus in the country, the USDA will post the findings. State animal health and public health officials will take the lead in making determinations about whether animals should be tested for SARS-CoV-2, the agencies said, using the virus's official name severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2'. The two agencies said that in the New York cases, a veterinarian had tested the first cat after it showed mild respiratory signs even though no individuals in the household were confirmed to be ill with COVID-19. It is likely that the virus may have been transmitted to the cat by mildly ill or asymptomatic household members or through contact with an infected person outside its home. Samples from the second cat, whose owner had tested positive for COVID-19, were taken after it showed signs of respiratory illness. Another cat in the household has shown no signs of illness. Both cats tested presumptive positive for coronavirus at a private veterinary laboratory, which then reported the results to state and federal officials. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) considers coronavirus an emerging disease, and therefore USDA must report confirmed US animal infections to the OIE. The CDC has recommended that pets not be allowed to interact with people or other animals outside the household, cats should be kept indoors when possible to prevent interactions with other animals or people. It is also recommended that pet owners avoid dog parks or public places where there is a large crowd. Owners should also wear a cloth face covering and wash hands before and after they interact with their pets. The CDC also noted that while additional animals may test positive as infections continue in people, performing animal testing does not reduce the availability of tests for humans. The United States has conducted more than four million COVID-19 tests, more than France, the UK, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, India, Austria, Australia, Sweden, and Canada combined. According to estimates by Johns Hopkins University, more than 842,000 people in the US are infected with the virus and over 46,000 people have died in the country due to COVID19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SIU School of Dental Medicine Dean Bruce Rotter, DMD. We are thrilled to be embarking on this next great phase in the growth of the School of Dental Medicine. The Advanced Care Clinic, created in response to recent challenges in the provision of healthcare, underscores our dedication to patient care in our region." With a ceremonial bite from a trackhoe, the Southern Illinois University School of Dental Medicine (SDM) began construction in April on the site that will house its new Advanced Care Clinic (ACC) on the Alton campus. Drone footage captured the launch of demolition, making way for the $11.5M facility, which has an anticipated completion of June 2021. The innovative clinical space will provide state-of-the-art accommodations for the SDM to facilitate treatment for its most vulnerable patient population, children who require general anesthesia for the completion of care. Additionally, the ACC will allow the SDM to expand and enhance its postdoctoral specialty programs. We are thrilled to be embarking on this next great phase in the growth of the School of Dental Medicine. The Advanced Care Clinic, created in response to recent challenges in the provision of healthcare, underscores our dedication to patient care in our region, said SIU SDM Dean Bruce Rotter, DMD. By adding general anesthesia capabilities in two medical operating suites, the SDM will be able to offer more comprehensive, predictable and safe treatment, allowing for the timely completion of care, particularly for children and patients with special dental care needs. Rotter extended his gratitude to Delta Dental of Illinois and the Illinois Childrens Healthcare Foundation for their generous financial support in making the ACC possible. He also thanked general contractor Poettker Construction Co. and a host of other supporting construction service providers for their contributions to the projects success. The SIU School of Dental Medicine is preparing future dental professionals who will shape a changing world through their important work as clinicians and service to the community, said SIUE Chancellor Randy Pembrook. The new Advanced Care Clinic will allow our students to develop their skills in a top-level facility, with important focus placed on the care of vulnerable patient populations. The ACC project involves demolishing the former Multidisciplinary Lab Building 283, which is no longer in use. The new clinic will be constructed on that site, and serve dental students and residents. The clinic will serve a comprehensive range of patient dental needs through existing, expanded and new post-doctoral programs. The SIU School of Dental Medicine students manage approximately 35,000 patient visits each year at its patient clinics in Alton and East St. Louis. In addition, students offer oral health treatment, screenings and education to more than 10,000 people annually through a wide variety of off-campus community outreach events. These opportunities provide students the training they need to graduate and become highly skilled dentists. The School of Dental Medicine is a vital oral health care provider for residents of southern and central Illinois, and the St. Louis metropolitan region. The Indian automobile industry, already dented by a protracted slowdown before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, is now staring at a severe and prolonged disruption due to domestic and global lockdowns and supply chain interruptions, a report said on Thursday. Currently, India sources 80-85 per cent of components for all vehicle segments domestically, mainly from clusters such as the National Capital Region (NCR, including Gurgaon, Manesar, Faridabad and Greater Noida), Pune (including Chakan, Talegaon and Ranjangaon) in Maharashtra, Mysuru in Karnataka, and Sriperumbudur and Hosur in Tamil Nadu. The rest is sourced through imports. "If rising COVID-19 infections lead to the lockdown being extended again in NCR and Pune clusters, there would be a material disruption in component supplies to vehicle makers - both sourced locally and imported," Ajay Srinivasan, director at rating agency Crisil Research, said. "Any extension of lockdown would dramatically increase the sourcing risk for products such as cast engine parts and transmission drives because major capacities are located in the Pune and Delhi-NCR belts. Passenger vehicles and two-wheelers will be particularly impacted since these two clusters are their major source of components," he added. According to Crisil, while tractors, which have medium-to-high dependence on NCR and Tamil Nadu, also face supply risk, the commercial vehicles are unlikely to be affected much because they source across clusters. As for imports, India is dependent on China for critical components such as electronic control chips, engine control units and sensors. If logistics between the two countries remains disrupted for longer, it may translate into higher procurement costs due to airlifting, the rating agency said in its report. Also, imports of engine components and drive transmission from the US and Germany are likely to be adversely impacted if manufacturing in these regions takes time to bounce back. For other components, there is a moderate dependence on imports. These include alloy wheels, which are mostly imported from countries in south-east Asia and China, it said, adding the two-wheeler players dependent on such imports could be affected. Going beyond these counts, logistics is also expected to cause some anxiety for vehicle makers, which mostly use the JNPT, Chennai and Mundra ports, and have about 95 per cent of goods transported from ports to manufacturing plants through roadways, according to the report. "Congestion following slower clearance of goods at ports stemming from labour shortage and lack of significant uptake in export volumes are expected to push up shipping freight rates, and also extend the turnaround times via road. This will drive up the cost for supply chains in the short term," said Hemal N Thakkar, associate director, Crisil Research. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Study after study shows that the United States is woefully behind when it comes to preparing our work force for the jobs of the 21st century. Some of these roles in software development or cybersecurity, for example historically required post-college degrees. But the skills for many growing jobs including home health care aides, occupational therapy assistants and solar panel installers can now be obtained through targeted training. Successful examples of this model already exist, including a Google/Coursera partnership that has enrolled 130,000 individuals for software training that is recognized by multiple employers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that nearly half of the occupations with the highest rate of expected growth over the next decade do not require a college degree. These roles, most of which can be held by young workers or seniors, can be achieved through discrete, targeted online programs and are projected to provide annual income averaging almost $70,000 per year. Our involuntarily idled workers can take advantage of their down time to train for the jobs of the future. We need a National Work Force Development Initiative administered in partnership with a private sector consortium, appropriate government agencies and leading digital education providers, including Coursera, Arizona State University, Skillsoft, edX and others that will not only prepare workers for better, higher-paying jobs, but also help America fill the millions of jobs the country will need over the coming decade. This initiative would have four elements: targeting, training, credentialing and hiring. First, a partnership of private-sector employers and government agencies overseeing existing budgets for job retraining should identify the essential and attractive jobs of the future that can benefit from online, modular training programs. Second, the worlds best online professional development and work force training should be made available at little or no cost. This content should include both publicly available materials offered by schools with the best outcomes for adult learners, as well as proprietary programs offered by companies to their employees or clients. Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. Health care workers across the country do not have enough masks and other equipment to protect themselves against the novel coronavirus. And yet they are still going to work trying to help save us, making them incredible heroes. These two ideas are practically boilerplate at this point in the pandemic. But being called a hero instead of receiving adequate gear and support has been frustrating for many front-line hospital workers. And its starting to get pushback, including from Jillian, a nurse in Brooklyn who brought a sign to a protest in Harlem earlier this month that read: Please dont call me a hero. I am being martyred against my will. Defense Production Act now! The Defense Production Act is a law that creates supplies for combat and could be used to secure more personal protective equipment, or PPE, for workers fighting the coronavirus. Its a tool Trump has been resistant to usingthe administration finally invoked it at the beginning of April to acquire N95 masks from 3M. Its too little and too late to fix the current shortage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I talked to Jillian about why she doesnt want to be called a hero, who she thinks are the worst offenders in shelling out empty praise, and what she thinks of all the clapping. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity, and we are withholding her last name for privacy. Advertisement Advertisement How has the PPE situation been at your hospital in Brooklyn? We get one N95 per day. We can replace it if it becomes soiled. From what Im hearing from other nurses across the country, thats the best-case scenario for most hospitals right now. Theres a lot of hospitals where medical staff are using the same N95 for five shifts. Before these times, these interactions with patients in isolation, tuberculosis patients, for examplewe would change our masks with every patient interaction. Were not following the guidelines that we were following before COVID. But my hospital has PPE. Advertisement What made you go to that protest in Harlem? Solidarity with other nurses, to show support for nurses there who were not receiving adequate PPE. If its happening to one nurse, its happening to all of us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want to hear more about the sentiment on your sign. What made you write that? I woke up at 7 in the morning and I made that sign. I was seeing a lot of people calling nurses and health care workers in general heroes. I understand the sentiment. I think most people do that with good intentions. But the wartime rhetoric allows for things to seem like the deaths of health care workers and the illnesses of health care workers were inevitable, and unavoidable, when really were being sacrificed by the refusal of the federal government to up its manufacturing of PPE. There are so many health care deaths now that its hard to keep track. Calling us a hero isnt going to fix thatactually it makes it worse. It makes it almost excusable, like we went to war and fought for you. But we went to war without a gun, and thats not what I was asking for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ones that really bother me are when companies like Walmart call us heroes when theyre not protecting the health of their essential workers. Jillian Why arent stories about what health care workers are facing being met with more outrage? Why arent people madder? I mean, why arent people madder about children being locked up at the border? Have you been bringing the same signs to other protests? The last one I brought said, Nurses fighting for our lives support worker safety at Amazon, MTA, Delta, Whole Foods, USPS, Instacart, Trader Joes, FedEx, FreshDirect, NYC Schools. The other side said, All essential workers are care workers. As soon as an essential worker demands they have a mask or sick time to get over COVID or hand sanitizer, they become a health care worker. Theyre preventing cases. When you stand up for your rights like that, in my mind, you become a health care worker. Advertisement Who do you think in particular should stop calling health care workers and essential workers heroes? Advertisement The ones that really bother me are when companies like Walmart call us heroes when theyre not protecting the health of their essential workers, and theyre essentially giving us more patients. When a company does it, I think its incredibly insulting. Do not use my situation to advertise when youre doing so poorly on behalf of your workers. Advertisement Theres a huge explosion of cases in Iowa meatpacking factories, and I read the governor is not shutting down these factories [to take the time to] sanitize them. These are the people that, when they call me a hero, it offends me. Not my aunt. Advertisement How do you feel about sidewalk chalk messages and the clapping thats been happening at 7 p.m.? Does that stuff annoy you? [laughs] I just would like to challenge people who are doing that It is nice. We appreciate the support that were getting from the community. We feel left behind by the federal government, but were receiving a lot of support from our community in terms of food, thank-yous and donations. But I do challenge people who are clapping, writing in sidewalk chalk, to go a step further. A lot of clapping is actually happening in public housing. People are clapping because their family members have died. They know what were going through. I think theres a different feeling when a wealthy person who is not doing anything more to help our cause and is not experiencing what the working class people of New York are experiencingthats when I have a problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What should people be doing to go a step further? Call your political representatives to support the Defense Production Act, support the extension of social distancing measures, wear a mask in public, donate your stimulus check if you dont need it, support labor movements within the world of essential workers, be kind to your neighbors and to essential workers. I encourage people to give gifts to their USPS and FedEx peoplelittle things like if you have extra masks, extra hand sanitizer, give it to those workers who are keeping their lives moving. For more on the impact of COVID-19, listen to What Next. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23 By Elnur Baghishov - Trend Swiss Ambassador to Tehran Markus Leitner, who represents the US interests in Iran, has been summoned to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, said Abbas Mousavi, the ministry spokesman, Trend reports citing the foreign ministry of Iran. According to Mousavi, the Swiss ambassador was given a note of protest in connection with the recent actions of the US Navy in the Persian Gulf. Mousavi added that the protest note called on the US government to comply with international maritime safety regulations. "The note of protest warns that the Islamic Republic of Iran will respond appropriately to illegal actions in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to protect the country's maritime rights," he said. India is amending its emergency epidemic law to make attacks on healthcare workers punishable by up to seven years in prison, after a spate of incidents involving violence towards those on the frontline of the countrys coronavirus response. Doctors, nurses and community health workers have been spat on, stoned and beaten with sticks in dozens of seemingly daily incidents reported from across the country since India went under national lockdown a month ago on 24 March. Healthcare workers have faced non-violent discrimination as well, with doctors evicted from their homes by landlords worried they could be Covid-19 carriers. In an incident in Chennai this week, 20 people were arrested after a mob of locals stopped a family from burying the body of a well-known doctor who died with coronavirus, fearing it would spread the disease in their neighbourhood. Prime minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly used his national addresses during the crisis to appeal to people to respect and honour healthcare and emergency workers people he has described as coronavirus warriors. But the incidents have continued, and Mr Modis cabinet on Wednesday approved an executive order updating the colonial-era 1897 Epidemic Diseases Act to provide additional protections for all healthcare professionals, from community Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers to consultants, information minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters. Under the new law, those who assault health workers will face a jail term ranging from three months to five years, and a fine of up to 200,000 rupees (2,100). If the attack results in serious injury, the maximum jail sentence rises to seven years and the fine up to Rs 500,000. Mr Modi said the amendment manifests our commitment to protect each and every healthcare worker who is bravely battling Covid-19 on the frontline. It will ensure safety of our professionals, he wrote on Twitter. There can be no compromise on their safety! The order comes after the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the largest national body representing healthcare workers, threatened to stage nationwide protests over the attacks on their members. A letter calling 22 April and 23 May as protest days described the incident involving the doctor denied a funeral in Chennai as the last straw. Home minister Amit Shah met with representatives of the IMA on Wednesday and said he assured doctors that the Modi government is committed to their cause. The IMA later said it was withdrawing its protest, citing the immediate high level response of government. Not all doctors are happy with the ordnance, however. In an interview with The Independent, Dr Sumit Ray, head of an ICU department at a hospital in Gurgaon just outside the capital Delhi, said the law risked adding to a confrontational [relationship] between healthcare workers and the people. I condemn violence against healthcare workers, absolutely but we have to look at long term solutions to these things. This ordnance is within the Epidemic Disease Act, and as soon as that is withdrawn so will this order. But the violence towards doctors will not end with the end of the epidemic. What attacks have there been? The incident involving neurosurgeon Dr Simon Hercules body in Chennai happened on Sunday night, when his friends and family took his body to a burial ground. People living in the area attacked the funeral party, police said, despite federal guidelines saying that the burial of people infected with Covid-19 is safe as long as precautions are followed. Local media reported that the mob attacked Dr Hercules friends and family with wooden sticks and metal rods. Two ambulance drivers were also injured in the incident, which the Tamil Nadu state health minister described as condemnable. Earlier in the month, a video went viral on social media from an incident in the central Indian city of Indore, where a crowd threw stones at two female doctors who were wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE). The pair had gone to check on a woman suspected of having Covid-19 when they were attacked. One of them, Dr Zakiya Sayed, told the BBC the assault came completely out of the blue. We were on our usual round to screen suspected cases. We had no reason to suspect that people would be agitated against medical teams, she said. I had never seen scenes like that. It was frightening. We somehow fled from the mob. I am injured but not scared at all. Many incidents have not involved high-ranking doctors, but rather community workers under the ASHA programme who have been carrying out contact tracing and door-to-door collection of swabs for testing. On Tuesday this week, a 39-year-old ASHA worker was attacked in Faridabad, another satellite city outside Delhi, while going door-to-door surveying households about coronavirus symptoms and contact history. Rekha Sharma said the violence began after she visited a Muslim household and asked if anyone there had any links to an event organised by an Islamic missionary group in the capital in late March. The event has been linked to positive cases in several states but an intense focus on it from officials and media is also believed to have contributed to a rise in Islamophobia. I am supposed to ask [about the event], Ms Sharma told reporters. But they got furious after I asked them that and started abusing me. She and senior medical officers called the police, and in the clashes that followed five police officers were also injured. Why are healthcare workers under attack in India? Dr Ray said the fact Muslims had become even more isolated, ostracised and stigmatised during the pandemic was clearly a contributing factor in the rise in attacks on health workers. But the attacks are far from just being perpetrated by Muslims there is also this fear [among all communities] that those who are named as suspected cases or diagnosed with Covid-19 will themselves get stigmatised or ostracised, that people around them will make it difficult for them to live. So they dont want to be detected and they are lashing out, he said. The root cause of the violence, according to Dr Ray, is an underlying lack of trust and faith in the healthcare system in many states, particularly from lower class communities and religious minority groups, that dates back decades. Like many he cites Kerala as a positive example. The state has one of the best-funded and staffed healthcare systems in India, after many years of strong management and the devolution of spending on health matters to local town and even village councils. Why arent attacks happening in Kerala? he asks. Its because the people in Kerala believe that the government, when it is going around quarantining, testing and contact tracing, it is not doing so out of bias. That isnt to say discrimination against healthcare workers is limited only to certain communities, however. Dr Ray admits that even at his own hospital, a private facility in a relatively affluent area, several junior doctors have effectively been rendered homeless by landlords who have thrown [them] out, asked them to leave overnight or with one or two days notice. The only proper solution, he says, is to rebuild public trust. In the long run we have to gain the confidence of the people and improve the public health system, he says. Wherever there is good quality, accountable healthcare and I use the NHS as an example the fact is that the trust is there. People in the UK wait in NHS queues they obviously become pissed [off] while standing there, but you never see them [lash out], because they believe that the people [working] there are trying to do the best they can in the situation. And that is the crucial thing. TANZANIA, Tanzania - U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday that the coronavirus pandemic is a human crisis that is fast becoming a human rights crisis. The U.N. chief said in a video message that there is discrimination in the delivery of public services to tackle COVID-19 and there are structural inequalities that impede access to them. Guterres said the pandemic has also seen disproportionate effects on certain communities, the rise of hate speech, the targeting of vulnerable groups, and the risks of heavy-handed security responses undermining the health response. He warned that with rising ethno-nationalism, populism, authoritarianism and a push back against human rights in some countries, the crisis can provide a pretext to adopt repressive measures for purposes unrelated to the pandemic. In February, Guterres issued a call to action to countries, businesses and people to help renew and revive human rights across the globe, laying out a seven-point plan amid concerns about climate change, conflict and repression. As I said then, human rights cannot be an afterthought in times of crisis and we now face the biggest international crisis in generations, he said. The secretary-general said he was releasing a report Thursday on how human rights must guide the response to the virus and recovery from the pandemic. Neither he nor the report name any countries or parties responsible for human rights violations. Guterres said governments must be transparent, responsive and accountable, and stressed that press freedom, civil society organizations, the private sector and civic space are essential. The report said governments also need to take action to mitigate the worst impacts of COVID-19 on jobs, livelihoods, access to basic services and family life. Guterres said any emergency measures including states of emergency must be legal, proportionate, necessary and non-discriminatory, have a specific focus and duration, and take the least intrusive approach possible to protect public health. Emergency powers may be needed but broad executive powers, swiftly granted with minimal oversight, carry risks, the report warned. Heavy-handed security responses undermine the health response and can exacerbate existing threats to peace and security or create new ones. The report said the best response is proportionate to the immediate threat and protects human rights. The message is clear: People and their rights must be front and centre, Guterres said. Amid the lockdown, veteran actor Richard Gere has welcomed his second child with wife Alejandra Silva. According to Spanish magazine Hola!, they are now parents of a baby boy, reports dailymail.co.uk. It is believed that they are enjoying the new addition to their family at their ranch outside New York. The reports that Gere, 70, Silva, 37, were expecting their second child first surfaced in November. The immensely-private couple never officially confirmed the news. The couple got married in April 2018, and announced they were expecting their first child together in August that year. Also read: New Avengers Endgame theory drastically changes Captain America storylines emotional ending Silva and Gere, who met in 2014 at a luxury Italian boutique hotel Silva bought with her former husband, welcomed son Alexander in February 2019. Ahead of the birth that time, Gere said he was not all at worried about becoming an older parent, and wanted to be a hands-on dad. Follow @htshowbiz for more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON LAFAYETTE, La. Ernie Andrus has always preferred running to walking. Now at 96 years old, he is running coast to coast, including a stretch through Louisiana that led him from Krotz Springs to Billy's Boudin about 3.8 miles west on Highway 190. Andrus' next stop, Bada's Bar along Hwy 190, features a sign saying "Ernie's Finishing Point." He averages 13 miles a week on a run that he expects to finish in the next four years. The World War II veteran is running across the country to raise money to sail the fully restored military landing ship, the USS LST 325, to Normandy for a D-Day anniversary. The idea to run coast to coast started when Andrus heard about a man from Great Britain running across every country. This inspired Andrus to plan a run across the U.S., but first he had to make sure he could do it. He started running long distance relay races. At 88, Andrus ran his first Ragnar 200-mile relay. Attention was drawn to Andrus when he was featured in "Ragmag" magazine. "People were asking for my autograph and wanting pictures taken with me," he said. "I thought if an 88-year-old gets this much attention, how about a 90-year-old running coast to coast." Ernie Andrus, 96, runs through the town of Krotz Springs, Louisiana, on April 21 on his coast-to-coast trek to raise funds for the restoration of a World War II era landing ship. At first, the countrywide run was just for "the adventure and the fun of it." But it occurred to him that he could raise money for a dream he thought was impossible: take the LST 325 back to Normandy. "This was a dream a few of my shipmates and I had which we figured could never happen," he said. Andrus was a Navy corpsman whose job was to keep wounded Marines alive until they were brought to a hospital. "God was good to me," he said. "I never lost a patient during the entire war." During WWII, Andrus served on the USS LST 124, identical to the repaired LST 325. Some of his shipmates spent years searching for a military ship to use as a floating memorial. Three years of red tape, an act of Congress, and the president's signature, the shipmates were able to start work on the LST 325, the only one that looked like it could be made seaworthy. Story continues "A group of us old salts flew to the Isle of Crete and spent four months restoring it," he said. Andrus made history with his first cross-country run, becoming the oldest person to run the distance. He finished one day after his 93rd birthday, on Aug. 20, 2016. Since then, he decided to do the run again, this time East to West. Every day starts at 3 a.m. with a few exercises recommended by Kaiser Hospital to get the heart pumping. Next is a cup of coffee, then shave. By 5 a.m., breakfast is finished and Andrus spends the rest of the day rotating between naps and screen time. He is always accompanied by John Martin, Louisiana native and retired firefighter who met Andrus on his first run. Marin helps with driving, shopping, laundry, and planning Andrus' runs. On days that he runs, Andrus postpones breakfast. "A shower, a nap and back to the usual," he said. "I usually retire around 9 p.m. just after I lift weights to keep my leg muscles strong." Since restrictions have been put in place during the coronavirus pandemic, Andrus has not been able to host meet-and-greets or book signings. His running schedule hasn't been affected, but his treks are far more lonely now. "I have very few friends running with me," he said. "I miss those hugs and handshakes." He is also getting far fewer sponsors and donations. Although monetary support through PayPal and merchandise is appreciated, more than anything Andrus wants support through running buddies. "I'll run, you can walk. My pace is slow," he said. Follow Victoria Dodge on Twitter @Victoria_Dodge This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: 96-year-old World War II veteran running across USA for second time Advice on setting up a legal failsafe against falling ill while observing coronavirus lockdown and social distancing rules has been issued by the official oversight body. You can secure your finances in case you can no longer handle them by appointing someone you trust as attorney, usually a family member or friend, to take control of your affairs if necessary. The Office of the Public Guardian warns that registering lasting power of attorney might start taking longer than the usual eight weeks during the current crisis, but suggests some temporary workarounds which are explained below. Planning ahead: You can secure your finances in case you can no longer handle them by appointing someone you trust as your attorney It also cautions people who are attorneys - or deputies, who do the same job for people lacking an attorney - that their normal duties remain the same, but they must obey official guidance on social distancing and self-isolation. The OPG says attorneys and deputies are not allowed to step down temporarily, only permanantly, but warns: 'You should think carefully before doing this, as it may leave the person without the support they need.' The OPG, an arm of the Ministry of Justice which oversees the system and investigates any abuses, explains what to do during the coronavirus crisis here. This includes the following advice. What if you can't get hold of the OPG? It is getting a high number number of calls but has fewer staff in the office, so attorneys and deputies can refer to the following online resources for guidance on their duties, mental capacity and becoming a deputy. Lasting power of attorney helps families keep control if illness or accident strikes Why do you need this and how do you set it up? Read more here. What happens if you or a family member fall ill without an LPA in place? Read more here. 'If you have an urgent safeguarding referral which means someone is in imminent danger, then contact the police.' it adds. How do you set up an LPA while in lockdown? The OPG says you can still do this while observing government guidance on social distancing and self-isolating - and also 'shielding', which refers to the stricter lockdown rules for people at the gravest risk from Covid-19. But it adds that if possible, you might want to delay until after social distancing rules are relaxed, and use the time to discuss and think about your wishes, and prepare the paperwork. If you must go ahead, you should not go into anyone elses house to get them to sign the LPA or ask anyone to visit your house. You can post it, or walk it round to people who can sign, but you should stay two metres away from them and wash your hands before and after handling the LPA document. Everyone has to sign the single paper document, which must remain intact and not include pages that are scanned or photocopied. You cannot use digital signatures - the document must be signed by hand with a black pen. The OPG stresses that it is very important that the document is signed in the right order, because if not it won't be registered and you will have to start again. Make sure that you choose an attorney who is absolutely trustworthy and who will act in your best interests Emily Deane of the STEP trade body of inheritance professionals It normally takes about eight weeks for registration, including a four-week waiting period required by law. This time is intended to allow anyone you have notified about your LPA to object if they want. You can read the OPG's full guidance on making and registering an LPA during the coronavirus outbreak here, including rules on the signing order, witnessing and who can be a witness. What if you need short-term options for health, welfare and financial decisions? The OPG says you can only make an LPA or do the things below if you have mental capacity. - Write down your wishes and feelings about your future health and welfare or your property and financial affairs - but this is not legally binding. - Speak to your bank or building society about creating a third party mandate to authorise someone else to carry out transactions for you. - Set up a 'general power of attorney' which authorises someone to manage your financial affairs or do certain things on your behalf while you have the mental capacity to tell them what you want. Help! My aunt with dementia has a solicitor attorney charging 760 an hour He has racked up a bill of 40k to date and now he wants to sell her flat at an 83k loss... Read our legal expert's response to a This is Money reader, including how the Office of the Public Guardian handles complaints of this kind. - Make an 'advance decision' or living will to let people know your wishes about your future health, welfare and medical treatment. These can be legally binding and the NHS has more on this here. - Create an 'advance statement' that sets down your preferences regarding your future care, but these are not legally binding. - Set down an 'advance care plan' with your healthcare team, but again this is not legally binding. If you lose mental capacity and don't have an LPA someone can apply to be your deputy, but this can be a complicated and expensive process. The OPG gives more detail on the options above here. What should you do if you are an attorney or deputy in the current crisis? Your role and responsibilities remain the same during the coronavirus outbreak, but you must follow official guidance, says the OPG. You can consult someone who is self-isolating about urgent matters by phone or video call, or have a care worker pass on the information, it suggests. You could also think about decisions made in the past to see if that can help. If you are self-isolating or shielding yourself, you still have to make decisions for the person you are the attorney or deputy for, warns the OPG. But you can make a decision and then ask someone else to carry it out. The OPG has more detail here. What if someone is at risk? The OPG says the most serious and significant safeguarding risks are being prioritised, and it is trying to carry out a risk assessment on all new referrals within two working days and complete investigations within 70 working days. Read more here about how the OPG deals with any complaints against people holding power over others' affairs, which some sadly exploit. What do legal and financial experts say? How do I make a valid will while following virus lockdown and social distancing rules? A person creating a will and two witnesses have to be in the same place to sign. Lawyers are pressing the Government to relax the rules during the virus crisis Find out their suggestions to safely sign a will now, like enlisting neighbours, here. We asked for feedback on the OPG's advice, and practical tips for people trying to set up power of attorney or carry out attorney duties right now. People are at high risk of being taking advantage of in their own homes 'Arguably there has never been a more important time to have a power of attorney in place,' says Rachael Griffin, tax and financial planning expert at Quilter. 'However, if you hadnt one in place ahead of Covid-19 for the past few weeks there has been difficulty as the OPG had not clarified if and how people could put one in place. 'Finally, several weeks into our new reality and we have some clarity. The balancing act for the OPG is finding a way to allow people to appoint an LPA at this time, without sacrificing security. 'The compromise seems sensible, but it is not as watertight as it could be. 'With the current lockdown there are high risks of people being taking advantage of in their own homes. 'While the OPG is still requiring a certificate provider [the person who certifies someone has mental capacity] must talk to the donor about the LPA to make sure the donor understands it and is not being pressured to make it, currently these conversations arent happening face-to-face as often. 'Professionals such as providers and attorneys need to be on high alert to ensure anyone registering an LPA is not being forced to do so. 'If you are looking to appoint an LPA you should not rush into the decision. You need to think carefully and choose someone you trust implicitly. 'Remember as well that you have the opportunity to nominate different people for your financial welfare and your health and welfare.' Griffin adds: 'You want to be very careful about who you allow to access your financial affairs, property and healthcare. Remember that scammers are capitalising on the current environment.' Do not rush into making an LPA unless you have a trustworthy attorney 'The Office of the Public Guardians advice reinforces that the original LPA form, which is approximately 20 pages, must be completed, signed and witnessed and that photocopied or scanned pages will not be accepted,' says Emily Deane, technical counsel at the STEP trade body of inheritance professionals. 'The form can be posted to the parties for signing in the correct order (donor, certificate providers, attorneys, replacement attorneys) and the parties signing and their witness should all adhere to the governments social distancing measures, including the two-metre distance, gloves, different pens and washing of the hands. 'Although this process may be lengthy and inconvenient, the OPG is reinforcing these safeguards in order to prevent potential fraud or abuse of the vulnerable. 'You can still use a professional to set up your LPA even though you cannot meet them in person. 'They may wish to take your instructions over FaceTime or Skype, which will enable them to assess your capacity and ensure that you are not subject to any undue influence. 'It would be prudent to instruct a professional to ensure that the LPA is completed and registered properly and that no mistakes are made that would render it invalid. 'As ever, if considering making a LPA, make sure that you choose an attorney who is absolutely trustworthy and who will act in your best interests. 'Do not rush into making a LPA if you do not have an attorney that you trust implicitly with your health and/or financial wellbeing.' Attorneys must ensure people are safe and have basic essentials as well as care 'If youre acting as an attorney or deputy, the gov.uk guidance reminds us that your duties and obligations continue, regardless of the current crisis,' says Holly Chantler, board member at Solicitors for the Elderly. 'However, there are some restrictions to carrying out your duties in the current climate, such as not being able to visit the person you are an attorney or deputy for. 'In these cases, you should consider alternative ways of keeping in contact and ensuring the person is safe and has everything they need this includes basic essentials as well as care. 'To ensure your loved one has continued care during this difficult time, you may need to involve the use of increased video conferencing or phone calls with the person, their carer or their care home, along with arranging deliveries by online shops or activating and involving local neighbourhood networks. 'Instigating such processes will still require social distancing as per the government guidelines, but the added discussion with their healthcare teams and/or neighbours will help you as their attorney or deputy to ensure your loved one is still getting the level of personal and physical care required. 'Should you have any concerns or safeguarding queries, its important to remember that the Office of the Public Guardian is still open and working. 'It is currently still possible to make a lasting power of attorney, seeking advice from a specialist lawyer should you wish to do so. 'The legal profession is adapting to the current environment much like other sectors. As such, lawyers are continuing to work and can still meet with clients digitally, and where crucial, in person although still exercising social distancing rules.' The mammalian cell lines that are engineered to produce high-value recombinant-protein drugs also produce unwanted proteins that push up the overall cost to manufacture these drugs. These same proteins can also lower drug quality. In a new paper in Nature Communications, researchers from the University of California San Diego and the Technical University of Denmark showed that their genome-editing techniques could eliminate up to 70 percent of the contaminating protein by mass in recombinant-protein drugs produced by the workhorses of mammalian cells -- Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells. With the team's CRISPR-Cas mediated gene editing approach, the researchers demonstrate a significant decrease in purification demands across the mammalian cell lines they investigated. This work could lead to both lower production costs and higher quality drugs. Recombinant proteins currently account for the majority of the top drugs by sales, including drugs for treating complex diseases ranging from arthritis to cancer and even combating infectious diseases such as COVID-19 by neutralizing antibodies. However, the cost of these drugs puts them out of reach of much of the world population. The high cost is due in part to the fact that they are produced in cultured cells in the laboratory. One of the major costs is purification of these drugs, which can account for up to 80 percent of the manufacturing costs. In an international collaboration, researchers at the University of California San Diego and the Technical University of Denmark recently demonstrated the potential to protect the quality of recombinant protein drugs while substantially increasing their purity prior to purification, as reported in the study entitled "Multiplex secretome engineering enhances recombinant protein production and purity" published in April 2020 in the journal Nature Communications. "Cells, such as Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, are cultured and used to produce many leading drugs," explained Nathan E. Lewis, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Bioengineering at the University of California San Diego, and Co-Director of the CHO Systems Biology Center at UC San Diego. "However, in addition to the medications we want, the cells also produce and secrete at least hundreds of their own proteins into the broth. The problem is that some of these proteins can degrade the quality of the drugs or could elicit negative side effects in a patient. That's why there are such strict rules for purification, since we want the safest and most effective medications possible." These host cell proteins (HCPs) that are secreted are carefully removed from every batch of drug, but before they are removed, they can degrade the quality and potency of the drugs. The various steps of purification can remove or further damage the drugs. "Already at an early stage of our research program, we wondered how many of these secreted contaminating host cell proteins could be removed," recounted Director Bjorn Voldborg, Head of the CHO Core facility at the Center of Biosustainability at the Technical University of Denmark. In 2012 the Novo Nordisk Foundation awarded a large grant, which has funded ground-breaking work in genomics, systems biology and large scale genome editing for research and technology development of CHO cells at the Center for Biosustainability at the Danish Technical University (DTU) and the University of California San Diego. This funded the first publicly accessible genome sequences for CHO cells, and has provided a unique opportunity to combine synthetic and systems biology to rationally engineer CHO cells for biopharmaceutical production. "Host cell proteins can be problematic if they pose a significant metabolic demand, degrade product quality, or are maintained throughout downstream purification," explained Stefan Kol, lead author on the study who performed this research while at DTU. "We hypothesized that with multiple rounds of CRISPR-Cas mediated gene editing, we could decrease host cell protein levels in a stepwise fashion. At this point, we did not expect to make a large impact on HCP secretion considering that there are thousands of individual HCPs that have been previously identified." This work builds on promising computational work published earlier in 2020. Researchers at UC San Diego had developed a computational model of recombinant protein production in CHO cells, published earlier this year in Nature Communications. Jahir Gutierrez, a former bioengineering Ph.D. student at UC San Diego used this model to quantify the metabolic cost of producing each host cell protein in the CHO secretome, and with the help of Austin Chiang, a project scientist in the Department of Pediatrics at UC San Diego, showed that a relatively small number of secreted proteins account for the majority of the cell energy and resources. Thus the idea to eliminate the dominant contaminating proteins had the potential to free up a non-negligible amount of cellular resources and protect drug quality. The authors identified and removed 14 contaminating host-cell proteins in CHO cells. In doing this they eliminated up to 70 percent of the contaminating protein by mass and demonstrated a significant decrease in purification demands. These modifications can be combined with additional advantageous genetic modifications being identified by the team in an effort to obtain higher quality medications at lower costs. ### Article cited: Kol, S., Ley, D., Wulff, T., Decker, M., Arnsdorf, J., Schoffelen, S., Hansen, A.H., Gutierrez, J.M., Chiang, A.W.T., Masson, H.O., Palsson, B.O., Voldborg, B.G., Pedersen, L.E., Kildegaard, H.F., Lee, G.M., Lewis, N.E. Multiplex secretome engineering enhances recombinant protein production and purity. Nature Communications, in press (2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15866-w This study was supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation (NNF10CC1016517), the National Institutes of Health (R35 GM119850), and a fellowship from the Government of Mexico (CONACYT) and the University of California Institute for Mexico and the United States (UC-MEXUS). A patent based on this work has been led with authors B.O. Palsson, B.G. Voldborg, and L.E. Pedersen as inventor. The International Patent Application No. is EP20160166789. All other authors declare no competing interests. Congress delivered a nearly $500 billion infusion of coronavirus spending Thursday, rushing new relief to employers and hospitals buckling under the strain of a pandemic that has claimed almost 50,000 American lives and one in six U.S. jobs. The measure passed almost unanimously, but the lopsided tally belies a potentially bumpier path ahead as battle lines are being formed for much more ambitious future legislation that may prove far more difficult to maneuver through Congress. Lawmakers face masks and bandannas added an somber tone to their effort to aid a nation staggered by the health crisis and devastating economic costs of the pandemic. Unemployment in the U.S. is swelling to levels last seen during the Great Depression of the 1930s, with 1 in 6 American workers thrown out of a job by the new coronavirus. More than 4.4 million laid-off Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week. In all, roughly 26 million people the population of the 10 biggest U.S. cities combined have now filed for jobless aid in five weeks, an epic collapse that has raised the stakes in the debate over how and when to ease the shutdowns of factories and other businesses. In other developments today: Theres no evidence pets are spreading the new coronavirus to people. However, there have been a few cases worldwide where animals likely got the virus from humans, according to federal officials. A 4-year-old tiger tested positive at New York Citys Bronx Zoo, and officials think a zookeeper with the virus got the feline sick. Two house cats in different homes in New York have also contracted the virus, likely from their owners or someone in the neighborhood. More evidence is emerging that far more New Yorkers have had the coronavirus than the number confirmed by lab tests. A state survey of about 3,000 people found that nearly 14% had antibodies, suggesting they had been exposed to the virus, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. In New York City, the epicenter of the pandemic in the U.S., 21% of the people tested had antibodies. Cuomo cautioned that the data was preliminary. The Rolling Stones have unveiled a new song the band thinks is perfect for these coronavirus times. The band released the four-minute slow-burning bluesy and harmonica-driven Living in a Ghost Town on Thursday. Im a ghost/Living in a ghost town/You can look for me/But I cant be found, sings frontman Mick Jagger, who wrote the song with guitarist Keith Richards. After two months and more than 10,000 deaths that have made the nations nursing homes some of the most terrifying places to be during the coronavirus crisis, most of them still dont have access to enough tests to help control outbreaks among their frail, elderly residents. Neither the federal government nor the leader in nursing home deaths, New York, has mandated testing for all residents and staff. The governor of North Carolina is still considering a request to allow NASCAR to race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in May. Gov. Roy Cooper on Thursday extended the states stay-at-home order because of the coronavirus through May 8 and said he would gradually open the state in three phases. NASCAR has been hoping to hold the Coca-Cola 600 as scheduled on May 24 without spectators and has made its request to Cooper. The coronavirus pandemic is cutting off the worlds 1.8 billion Muslims from their cherished Ramadan traditions as health officials battle to ward off new infections during Islams holiest month. Ramadan, a month of daytime fasting, overnight festivity and communal prayer and giving, begins with the new moon this week. Heather Espinal is one of 1,900 Veterans Affairs health care workers who have become sick with the coronavirus, according to agency documents obtained by The Associated Press. Twenty have died. An additional 3,600 of the 300,000-plus VA health care employees are quarantined and unable to work because they have been exposed to the virus, according to VA figures. For more summaries and full reports, please select from the articles below. Scroll further for helpful tips, charts tracking testing and more. This coverage is being provided free as a public service to our readers during the coronavirus pandemic. Please support local journalism by subscribing. A D-Day veteran, a paramedic who worked pitchside at Crystal Palace and a media executive have been named among the latest Londoners to die with suspected Covid-19. Second World War hero Len Brace, 95, from Ilford, who was with the forces storming the Normandy beaches in 1944, died in King George Hospital after contracting coronavirus about three weeks ago. His death was followed by media analyst Sara Santos, 33, who passed away at home in Croydon while suffering from suspected symptoms of the virus. Her family said she had not wanted to burden doctors but called an ambulance at about 5pm on Saturday, struggling to breathe. When paramedics arrived almost two hours later they were unable to revive her. Meanwhile, friends and colleagues at Crystal Palace paid tribute to Ian Reynolds, 53, the third London paramedic known to have died with Covid-19. Mr Brace, who had seven children, 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, served as an Army driver in the 11 Air Formation Signals Regiment and provided line communications for 83 Tactical Air Force after the landings at Gold Beach as part of Operation Overlord on June 6, 1944. Five years ago he received the Legion dHonneur, in recognition of his contribution to the liberation of France. Paramedic Ian Reynolds with his wife Sian His son Martyn, 52, said: Dad was a war hero and he was my hero. He was a very spritely 95-year-old but we knew as soon we found out he had the virus that his chances werent good. He got his nurse to text us just before he passed away to tell us he was going to die, that he loved us and that he was proud of us. It was a very hard message to read. After the war Mr Brace worked for Ford in Dagenham for 38 years. Because of the restrictions on funeral guests, his family hope to hold a memorial service for him after the pandemic. His son added: My dad went through a lot in his life. He told us about rowing towards the beaches at Normandy with the bombs and bullets around him, writing out his will on a scrap of paper. It must of been absolutely terrifying. He was great man. Mr Brace often revisited Normandy for the annual commemoration services. He worked with the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans. Tributes were also paid today to media analyst Ms Santos. Her sister Diana, 26, an insurance worker in Manchester, said Ms Santoss health had deteriorated before this following a kidney infection three weeks earlier and a diagnosis of gall stones. Media analyst Sara Santos She added: She told us she didnt want to be a burden at a time of pandemic. Diana also expressed concern about the lengthy wait for an ambulance to arrive, and added: She was a ray of light. She was the warmest, funniest person. She loved her family and did everything to support her family and friends. Her death has left a huge hole on our lives. Ms Santos moved to London from Portugal in 2013 to take up a job at the British Museum before becoming a media analyst for Cision. Her friend, Miriana Greco, said: Her family and friends want to raise awareness that if you feel really ill, you should go to a doctor. No one should die so young and alone at home waiting for an ambulance. The London Ambulance Service said: We would like to express our sympathy to the family at this very difficult time. We were called at 5.37pm to reports of a person unwell at an address in Croydon. We sent an ambulance crew to the scene which arrived at 7.34pm. Sadly, a person died at the scene. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace FC paid tribute to Mr Reynolds a much-loved colleague and friend who had been a paramedic for 32 years based at the New Addington ambulance station in Croydon. He is survived by his wife Sian and two sons, one of whom, Jack, also works as a member of the Crystal Palace stretcher crew. Loading.... 'Where will industry have funds when they open up?' Though the MSME sector contributes around 30% of India's GDP and almost half of India's exports, it has been suffering the most during the current national lockdown and earlier. MSMEs took a hit with demonetisation, which was followed by the faulty implementation of GST. The month-long nationwide shutdown has added to the MSME sector's woes. V Sundaram is former president of the Coimbatore Small Scale Industries Association. He is also the owner of Thunder Auto LLP and Sundar Enterprises. One manufactures auto parts, the other manufactures components to agriculture pumps. "The prime minister asked all entrepreneurs to pay wages to all employees. But when I spoke to many entrepreneurs, they said though they wanted to do it, they had no money," Sundaram, below, tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier. The first of a two-part interview: How has the lockdown affected an entrepreneur like you and the sector as a whole? Prior to the lockdown itself, the market was not good. Business was not doing well. People were trying to maintain the turnover of last year because if the turnover reduces, the bank manager will reduce your working capital the very next day. All the small-scale industries here (in and around Coimbatore) were requesting the finance minister to extend credit to the industry. She had announced a 25% ad hoc loan to existing industries for their survival. Was it lack of demand that affected the sector? Or GST? You cannot pinpoint any one reason. The whole world was doing very badly for the last many months. People have gone into the mood of saving money and not spending, mainly because people did not feel confident about their jobs. This was the scenario prior to the lockdown. We were looking for ad hoc loans from the banks and the process was going on. Were banks not willing to start lending because of the NPA crisis? For banks, only their own business matter; not the economy or the nation. For each bank, it is its business and its profit that matters. In fact, the FM was to come in the first week of April to Coimbatore and meet bankers to urge them to support the MSME sector. All of a sudden, the lockdown happened. It was also the financial year ending; only a week before, we were winding up for the year. That was when it happened. If you take a typical small-scale industry, it would have run out of its working capital by March, the year end. Everything will be in 'work in progress' mode, which means the material on the floor would be ready to send to the customer, waiting for the payment to come in the next 45 to 60 days. It also means he would be on the brim as far as money is concerned; he would have just enough to pay wages, the electricity bill, rent, etc in the first week of April. That is all the money he would have then as he had spent the rest of the capital. Unfortunately, the lockdown came all of a sudden, without any warning. So, nobody was able to plan anything and had no idea what to do next. I will give you an example. Here is an entrepreneur who has Rs 50 lakhs credit in the bank. As he was operating with his own funds, he had also put in another Rs 50 lakhs. So, he had Rs 1 crore as working capital in his company. And, he may be having 3% to 4% of turnover a year. His profit may be 5% to 7% of all the expenses. After paying the bank loan etc, 5% is a decent margin. But imagine, 20% to 30% of the funds is lying inside the factory and there is no return on investment till you get paid. He only has reserved money for the wages and bills for April. And the government has compelled everybody to pay the wages for the entire month. Now the question is, what happens in May? The commitments are so huge that for 95% of the industry when it opens up, there will be nothing in their bank accounts. Only a few banks have not done this auto debit; most of the banks have already deducted the EMI. So, it is going to be a very scary scenario in May... Yes. It will be a horrible scene in May. Where will industry have funds when they open up? Once you open up, you need to clean up your factory because you just left it unfinished. And it will take 2 to 3 days to do that. Then, you will have to make the payment to the employees within three days. But you don't have money. You will have to run behind banks asking for more money to manage the wages. On the other side, there is material lying on the floor half finished; it has to be completed. Then, you are not sure whether the customer is going to take it or not because he is also going through the same problem. In fact, most of the customers would have cancelled the orders by then. They would not have cancelled, but diplomatically said, 'Please hold on the material until we give you further notice.' Whatever it is, you are not getting your money. This is going to be the grim scenario once we open up in May. I am not saying we shouldn't have had the lockdown. That was the only option we had, and it was an excellent decision by the prime minister. The prime minister asked all entrepreneurs to pay wages to all the employees. But when I spoke to many entrepreneurs, they said though they wanted to do it, they had no money. Stimulus checks were sent out to most Americans last week. And according to a very informal poll of Hearst Connecticut readers, most of that money is going towards rent or mortgage payments in the Nutmeg State. We asked Connecticut residents to tell us how they spent or plan to spend their stimulus checks. Out of about 40 people who responded, 38 percent said they would spend some or all of it on rent/mortgage payments. The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warned Tuesday that without urgent action and funding, hundreds of millions of people will face starvation and millions could die as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. WFP Executive Director David Beasley told the UN Security Council that in addition to the threat to health posed by the virus, the world faces multiple famines of biblical proportions within a few short months, which could result in 300,000 deaths per daya hunger pandemic. Beasley said that even before the outbreak, the world was facing the worst humanitarian crisis since World War II this year due to many factors. He cited the wars in Syria and Yemen, the crisis in South Sudan and locust swarms across East Africa. He said that coupled with the coronavirus outbreak, famine threatened about three dozen nations. According to the WFPs 2020 Global Report on Food Crises released Monday, 135 million people around the world were already threatened with starvation. Beasley said that as the virus spreads, an additional 130 million people could be pushed to the brink of starvation by the end of 2020. Thats a total of 265 million people. Boxes of food are distributed by the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, at a drive thru distribution in downtown Pittsburgh, 10 April, 2020 [Credit: AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar] The regions suffering the most in 2019 were Africa (73 million people in crisis or worse) and the Middle East and Asia (43 million people), beset not only with poverty, but also with conflicts and the impact of natural disasters, economic crises and climate change, with the worst locust swarms in decades in East Africa putting 70 million people at risk. Beasley pointed out that there are already 821 million food-insecure people in the world, a record number. If we dont prepare and act now to secure access, avoid funding shortfalls and disruptions to trade, he warned, the result could be a humanitarian catastrophe. The 10 worst affected countries are Yemen (15.9 million people in crisis or worse), Democratic Republic of the Congo (15.6 million), Afghanistan (11.3 million), Venezuela (9.3 million), Ethiopia (8 million), South Sudan (7 million), Syria (6.6 million), Sudan (5.9 million) northeast Nigeria (5 million) and Haiti (3.7 million). All of these countries are the victims of more than a century of imperialist oppression and exploitation that continues to the present. Most, if not all, continue to suffer from US-led military interventions, economic sanctions or political intrigues that have had devastating social consequences. In the 55 food-crisis countries that are the focus of the report, a staggering 75 million children are stunted and 17 million suffer from wasting. Beasley said, Millions of civilians living in conflict-scarred nations, including many women and children, face being pushed to the brink of starvation, with the spectre of famine a very real and dangerous possibility. African countries affected by conflicts are particularly at risk, including the Central African Republic, Chad, Nigeria and South Sudan, as well as countries hosting large numbers of refugees such as Lebanon and Uganda. More than half the population of Yemen and South Sudan, which have endured years of wars, already face acute food shortages even before the virus reaches them. At least 14 million Yemenis are on the brink of famine, while 80 percent of the countrys 24 million people rely on food aid. Save the Children estimated last year that at least 75,000 Yemeni children under the age of five have starved to death since the onset of the Saudi-led and US-backed war. Nearly 3.6 million people have been displaced by the conflict. In South Sudan, there are more than five million people facing starvation and reliant on food aid to survive, and 1.7 million women and children are acutely malnourished. More than 30 of the worlds poorest countries could experience widespread famine and in 10 of these countries, there are already more than one million people on the brink of starvation. The WFP said that lockdown measures in the poorest countries, with fragile health care systems and crowded and unsanitary living conditions, would not suffice to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, while depriving millions of workers of an already meagre livelihood and leading to an economic and humanitarian disaster. The near global restrictions on all but essential work and travel are affecting farm workers and disrupting supply chains. Millions of farmers in Africa and other low-income countries, already facing high levels of food insecurity, are at risk of not being able to work their land and produce food. Of the 257 million hungry people in Africa, most live in rural areas. The Ebola epidemic in West Africa provides a stark example of what is at stake. Small farmers were unable to work their land, sell their products or buy seeds and other essential inputs, leaving more than 40 percent of the agricultural land uncultivated. The WFP also noted that many of the poorest countries have been hard hit by the collapse of the travel and tourism sectors, with villages in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, for example, almost entirely dependent on tourists and hikers for survival. Others will suffer from the catastrophic fall in remittances (up to 20 percent, according to the World Bank), as migrant workers are furloughed or laid off. This will affect conflict-torn states such as Somalia, Haiti and South Sudan, and small island nations such as Tonga, with remittances sometimes accounting for more than 30 percent of gross domestic product, as well as larger states such as India, Pakistan, Egypt, Nigeria and the Philippines, where remittances have become a crucial source of external financing. Flows to sub-Saharan Africa are predicted to fall by 23 percent. Those particularly at risk include refugees and displaced people living in camps and settlements in cities, as well as the elderly, young children, pregnant and lactating women, and the disabled. For those whose lives already hang by a thread, the economic impact of the pandemic will push them over the edge. Already there have been reports of food hoarding and price gouging in several sub-Saharan African countries, making food both scarce and unaffordable for those most in need. Anger over food shortages has triggered violent protests across South Africa in the last two weeks, while protests have also started in Lebanon. In northeast Nigeria, almost three million people are already facing hunger and 440,000 children under five are severely malnourished due to the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency. The risk of hunger is already high in India, Bangladesh and Myanmar, while in the Philippines police are enforcing lockdowns at the point of a gun and the government is preparing for a military lockdown as unrest mounts. In the face of this global catastrophe, Beasley urged the UN Security Council to come forward with a measly $2 billion of aid already pledged but not delivered. He warned that another $350 million was needed just to set up the logistics network to get food and medical suppliesincluding personal protective equipmentto where it was needed. This pathetic plea will fall on deaf ears. These sums are a tiny fraction of the trillions the US, the European and other imperialist powers are pouring into tax-dodging corporations and financial institutions to keep them afloat. The only spending the major powers will allocate in relation to the oppressed nations will be to strengthen their military forces for colonial-style interventions to rob these countries of their natural resources and police rising social discontent among workers and poor farmers. If millions of lives are to be saved in the poorest countries of the world, workers everywhere must take up the struggle to end capitalism and establish a global socialist system based on planned production for need. The development of a socialist political movement of the working class directed against the ruling classes in the imperialist centres and their local agents in the oppressed nations is the only way that the worlds most vulnerable people can be protected against the terrible impact of the pandemic. TORONTO - When COVID-19 started sweeping across Canada, Pete and Chris Neal swung into action, splitting the workers at their Richmond Hill, Ont.-based snack food production business into two teams to help stop the pandemic's spread. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Space available signs are shown on storefronts on Queen Street in Toronto on Thursday, April 16, 2020. COVID-19 worries appear to be easing for some businesses. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette TORONTO - When COVID-19 started sweeping across Canada, Pete and Chris Neal swung into action, splitting the workers at their Richmond Hill, Ont.-based snack food production business into two teams to help stop the pandemic's spread. They also offered lunches for Neal Brothers Foods staff and arranged Uber rides for anyone concerned about using public transit, but the brothers were always fretting about how the pandemic would impact them next. "I was worried that stores would start closing and because there was this crazy hoarding, it would put a stress on our supply chain, which is very precarious," said Pete Neal. It's only now, roughly a month into the pandemic, that some of his worries have finally been assuaged as hefty orders from supermarkets continue to come in. The emotional shift Pete experienced comes as many businesses are starting to see some of their burdens eased. Some, who pivoted to providing new services or launched curbside pickup or delivery options, have grown comfortable with the evolving additions to their product lines and processes. Others have more clarity around what government subsidies are available. Some business owners already have that money in hand, helping them avoid immediate layoffs or closing their doors for good. "They have figured out what are they going to do and what they need to do to go through this crisis," said Pierre Cleroux, the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)'s chief economist. "I think it's a bit more clear in their heads how they're going to get through this very difficult period." A BDC survey of more than 900 entrepreneurs conducted online between April 14 and 16 revealed 79 per cent of Canadian entrepreneurs are "very worried" about the pandemic's impact on their business. That's down from 83 per cent who reported that level of worry two weeks prior to the latest survey, but on par with the 79 per cent who were fretting when physical distancing was implemented a month ago. The survey also shows more entrepreneurs are worried about the Canadian economy than they are about their own business. According to the polling industrys generally accepted standards, online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population. Cleroux was surprised to see the slight dip in "very worried" entrepreneurs because many are still grappling with layoffs, contemplating insolvencies and figuring out how to deal with sinking demand for their products and services. "We've never experienced something like that before. It's very hard to understand what will happen," Cleroux said. "Are consumers going to go back, are businesses going to invest and is the economy going to recover quickly or not? There's a lot of worry." Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, said what BDC found is a "very modest" reduction in the level of panic. "It wouldn't surprise me that there's been a levelling off of that just as there has been a levelling off of the virus itself," said Kelly, who represents 110,000 small and medium businesses across the country. The first weeks of the pandemic and physical distancing brought about mass uncertainty because people didn't know how long COVID-19 would last, how deep it would cut and how much government help they would get. Entrepreneurs are still worried, Kelly said, but now they know a lot more about the new needs of their consumers and what supports are open to them. Some are feeling better amid signs that the number of COVID-19 cases in Canada is plateauing. Politicians and public health officials are starting to plan for reopening elements of the economy. Try our Dish The latest on food and drink in Winnipeg and beyond from arts writers Ben Sigurdson and Eva Wasney. Dish arrives in your inbox every other Friday. See sample. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. But that doesn't mean small business owners are free from the stresses of COVID-19, Kelly said. "In ordinary times we get 50 calls a day from business owners, and that is now 800 to 1000," he said. "A lot of the questions that we're getting are related to the various programs (from the government and its agencies) and people that are slipping through the cracks of many of the programs that are there." Kelly has found service providers such as nail salons or barbers tend to be the hardest hit, as well as microsized businesses. For them and many other struggling businesses, there has been no drop in worry, he said. "They are the ones we are hearing from the loudest," Kelly said. "They are unfortunately not getting access to the very good support programs that are designed for businesses." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 23, 2020. The DAG, a modern and contemporary gallery, has raised Rs 1 crore for Covid-19 relief work by selling 51 works by masters, including Nandlal Bose, MF Husain, Krishen Khanna, Jamini Roy and Krishna Reddy, among others. The amount will be sent to either the PM CARES fund or the Chief Ministers relief fund, depending on the buyers discretion. Among the 51 works all owned by the gallery were oils, acrylics on canvas, serigraphs, works on paper and board, as well as a photograph and a sculpture. The online fixed sale which began April 20 was slated to end on April 30, but all the works were sold within a couple of days, DAG managing director and CEO Ashish Anand said. The works were all priced lower by between 25-35% to facilitate the sale, Anand said. In all 32 buyers picked up the works, which ranged between Rs 50,000 and Rs 500,000. HT spoke to Anand regarding the sale, and the pandemics likely impact on the Indian art market. Read edited excerpts. Q. What did you think about the sale, as it happened during the pandemic? A. It was a fixed price sale, not an auction. So the sale was a combination of the quality of work and competitive pricing and also because all of us have been hit by Covid, and we were in a mood to contribute. Q. Lets unpack the phrase, competitive pricing. Are these the prices that would have been fixed if we hadnt been hit by a pandemic? A. Our gallery prices are higher. So for example, if were selling the Nandlal Bose for Rs 250,000, probably at the gallery, it would have been priced about Rs 350,000. So we also brought the prices down to make it lucrative for anyone to buy. The decision became so much easier for people, as they would have realised they are getting a good deal and the money is going towards the efforts of nation building. The prices of all works were reduced in the range of 25-35%. All the work sold in the first 48 hours. Q. What, according to you, is the impact the pandemic could have on the art market? A. In the short term, there will be a lull in the market. But it will gain its momentum. A lot of business, in the art market too, will move online. People will start having virtual exhibitions, online viewings, and that means a larger base will view the works... and the market will expand. How many people come and view exhibitions in a brick and mortar gallery? A handful. Art is an underpenetrated asset class. There are not more than 2,000 buyers who buy art in India, and the market is less than Rs 1,500 crore. Thats small for a country like India. Q. How would DAG pivot itself in the future, if as you predict, the market expands, the base of buyers increase? Were also looking at a recession in the near future. A. People have lost a lot of wealth across all the asset classes. Temporarily yes, the impact [on the art market] will be visible. There will be a temporary lull. I think it boils down to democratising art. If more and more people get involved, galleries do virtual exhibitions, more people start looking at art as an asset class, I dont see any impact on prices. Art remains isolated from impact of this kind because the market is very small. When you have such a small number of buyers, the prices may come down its an immediate shock but the only way is up. It should be the first asset class to pick up. An NHS Trust has been criticised for a tweet celebrating a gift of 1,500 Krispy Kreme doughnuts for staff. A picture of the gesture was put on social media by the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust - who run services and hospitals throughout the capital. The image shows white branded boxes piled high with sugary doughy treats for hard-working medical professionals battling the coronavirus pandemic at Barnet Hospital. The tweet said: 'You guys at @krispykremeuk Enfield sure know how to put a smile on our staff's faces! 1,500 doughnuts delivered to our staff at Barnet Hospital #glazeamaze'. But it sparked a row on social media as some medical professionals said advertising 'junk food' on the NHS was a mistake, while other people praised Krispy Kreme for their kind gesture. The tweet posted by Royal Free London shows boxes of Krispy Kreme doughnuts stacked up Dr Aseem Malhotra, a cardiologist and author, tweeted: 'Absolutely disgraceful. Feeding junk food to already overweight and obese NHS staff? 'I will forward this to the CEO of @NHSEngland Simon Stevens personally and I can assure you he won't be impressed especially as THESE foods a root cause of increased death rates from #COVID19. Dr Kohilathas, described the gift from the donut and coffee house chain as a 'marketing ploy.' He tweeted: 'Ultimately my aim as a doctor is to look after my patients and my staff. 'With this marketing ploy under the guise of 'lifting morale' and 'gift' you are harming both. I see your Trojan horse. 'Please find a better way to support us or do nothing at all.' And Dr Nikhil Patel, a consultant radiologist, tweeted: 'The NHS providing free publicity for high sugar, low nutritional foods since 2020! Not everyone was in agreement, and some social media users such as Jen Chady praised the gesture from Krispy Kreme 'What would impress me is if Krispy Kreme used their facilities to produce other products, e.g. using the produce that wholesalers are unable to utilise given the closure of restaurants.' Other tweeters backed up the healthcare professionals view, with a user called Matt Hancock (not the Health Secretary) said: 'Wouldn't it be nice to see a company offer health food to the NHS? 'I'm sure that's something we would all agree is better. And Steve D said: 'Great idea - lets make those on the front line even more vulnerable than they already are. Forget PPE, lets make them fatter!' But not everyone was in agreement. A Twitter user called Ed Pool said: 'What a lovely gesture, that'll perk folk up in the middle of their long shift. And Jen Chady said: 'Ooh @krispykremeuk if you have any more, the community nurses and therapists in Hertsmere will take them off your hands. Well done - such a lovely gesture to all the hard working staff at Barnet who are a pleasure to work with.' And a user called Bill and Thomas Dog said staff should 'just enjoy the doughnuts'. . Two inmates who were released from jails in California because of the coronavirus outbreak were rearrested and accused of committing additional crimes shortly after being freed, including one who was in custody just 40 minutes later. Rocky Lee Music, 32, walked out of Santa Rita Jail in Dublin at around 8pm on Sunday. Before 9pm, he had allegedly carjacked a motorist and was hauled off back to jail. That holding facility has seen 16 inmates test positive for COVID-19, the Alameda County Sheriffs Office reported. Rocky Lee Music, 32, was arrested on Sunday night for allegedly committing a carjacking 40 minutes after he was released from Santa Rita jail in California The jail in Alameda County has seen 16 inmates test positive for COVID-19 Also Wednesday, Owen Aguilar, 27, of Selma in central California was charged with setting nine fires less than a week after his release from the Fresno County Jail. Thousands of inmates have been released from county jails throughout California under an April 13 emergency order by the state Judicial Council cutting bail to zero for those charged with low-level offenses. The order aimed to combat the potential spread of the coronavirus within packed lockups. Other inmates have had weeks or months shaved off their release dates to reduce jail populations. In general, only those suspected of serious or violent crimes currently are being charged and held at jails. The judicial order is expected to continue for 90 days after Gov. Gavin Newsom lifts a statewide stay-at-home order. Owen Aguilar, 27, was charged with setting nine fires less than a week after his release from the Fresno County Jail While some prosecutors and sheriffs say the order is a limited and proper approach to dealing with COVID-19, others have expressed concerns that potentially dangerous people are being allowed back on the streets. Music is accused of stealing a Toyota Prius Sunday night from a man in Dublin a mile from the Santa Rita Jail near a BART station, driving it to San Ramon, abandoning it and trying to carjack another victim at a gas station, reported The Mercury News. He ran after getting caught trying to open the door of a building and was arrested with help from a police dog, whom he kicked after getting bitten, authorities said. Music had first been arrested 12 hours earlier in Oakland on suspicion of car theft but after being taken to the jail for processing he was cited and released on zero bail. The 32-year-old now faces more than a half-dozen criminal charges, including carjacking, assault with force, second-degree burglary, grand theft, receiving stolen property and unlawful driving or taking of a vehicle. Music's criminal record stretches back to at least 2012 and includes convictions for felony unlawful driving, burglary and assault. Aguilar was charged with starting nine fires on April 16, including torching a tent occupied by a homeless man, several commercial dumpsters and a shopping cart, which caused a fire that spread to some brush and debris, authorities said. No injuries were reported. As of Thursday afternoon, there were more than 49,000 coronavirus-related deaths nationwide, including 1,442 in California He reportedly admitted to starting eight of the fires in a span of 30 minutes while riding a green bicycle, reported Fox 26. Aguilar had been facing a charge of felony animal cruelty when he was released from jail on April 10, the Fresno County district attorneys office said. If convicted on felony arson charges, he could face nearly 46 years in state prison. Early this month, a man charged with a series of school burglaries in Fremont was released without bail, then rearrested and accused of another spate of crimes in Santa Clara County that included stealing 23 cars from a San Jose car rental agency with the help of three other people, police said. All four were arrested on April 16, booked and then released on zero bail, authorities said. Others have been rearrested on accusations ranging from indecent exposure to burglary. DETROIT - Two Detroit-area men who served nearly 20 years in prison for murder are free after prosecutors asked a judge to erase their convictions due to police misconduct. Kevin Harrington and George Clark were convicted of a fatal shooting in Inkster in 2002. The Wayne County prosecutors office said it took a fresh look at the case and found a disturbing pattern of behaviour from the original lead detective that involved threatening and coercing a number of witnesses. Harrington and Clark did not receive a fair trial, the prosecutors office said Thursday, after a review by Valerie Newmans conviction integrity unit. Prosecutors declined to publicly identify the detective because he will be investigated. Harrington was released from prison Tuesday. Clark was granted bond by a federal judge on April 8 after Newman said a dismissal was possible. Clark was fighting to undo his conviction by making constitutional claims in federal court. He was fortunate to get out of Lakeland prison: There have been at least 208 coronavirus cases and eight deaths there. Harrington was at a prison in Macomb County, which has reported 84 cases and four deaths. An actually innocent person may now be confined at Lakeland Correctional Facility and exposed to prison conditions that promote the spread of COVID-19, U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts said on April 8. Roberts said a woman identified by police as a key witness in the fatal shooting of Michael Martin had recanted multiple times. Harrington was represented by the University of Michigan law schools Innocence Clinic. Attorneys from the Jones Day firm in Columbus, Ohio, represented Clark. Our criminal justice system fails society when the police fabricate and hide evidence to grease the skids for a conviction, said Detroit-area attorney Wolfgang Mueller, who is representing the men in an effort to get financial compensation from the state and others. ___ Follow Ed White at http://twitter.com/edwhiteap The Jammu and Kashmir police on Thursday defended filing of cases against three journalists in the valley saying two of them have been booked for making seditious and incendiary comments on social media. Inspector General of Police (Kashmir) Vijay Kumar, reacting to journalist bodies' criticism of the police action, said before making broad generalisations like freedom of press is being curtailed, people should ascertain the facts. "Only one journalist has been questioned about a journalistic work as only one FIR of instigating people for violence has been registered over an encounter in Shopian at Police Station Anantnag. Remaining two persons have not been booked for any of their journalistic works but because of the reason that they have posted explicitly seditious, incendiary and incriminating texts on social media, challenging sovereignty and integrity of India and attempting to instigate people for violence," Kumar said. Three journalists -- The Hindu correspondent Peerzada Ashiq, freelance journalist Gowhar Geelani and photojournalist Magray Zahra -- have been booked by police. Ashiq has been booked for his follow up report on Shopian encounter in which two militants were killed. "One of them in the recent days had also met IGP Kashmir along with 3-4 members of the Kashmir Press Club, Srinagar and accepted the mistake claiming ignorance of the relevant laws and assured not to repeat the same in future," he said. Without naming any of the three journalists, Kumar said there are written complaints against one of them as he has exposed life of some peaceful and law-abiding citizens to grave risk by posting incriminating and provocative adjectives against them on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. "The content of these specific complaints discloses a criminal act and law will take its course and the written complaints against this individual will be investigated as mandated by law," he added. The IGP said J&K Police has "always maintained highest regard for the freedom of press. "Media persons and other relevant organisations are expected to issue statements only after ascertaining the facts,. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vow ASA will release a trading update for the first quarter of 2020 on Tuesday 28 April 2020 at around 08:00 central European timeand on the company's web site www.vowasa.com . At 11:00 CET on the same say, the company's CEO Henrik Badin will host an online video conference. After a brief introduction, the audience will be invited to a questions and answers session. The presentation will be held in English. A replay of the webinar will be made available on www.vowasa.com shortly after. To register and join the webinar, please copy and paste the following link into your browser and fill in the required information: https://www.vhgo.no/vow/ The form is also available on Vow's website www.vowasa.com . Alternatively, you may send an email to erik.magelssen@vowasa.com . Once you have registered you will receive an email with further details about how to join the webinar on Tuesday 28 April at 11:00 CET. For further information, please contact: Erik Magelssen, CFO Vow ASA Tel: +47 928 88 728 Email: erik.magelssen@vowasa.com About Vow ASA In Vow and our subsidiaries Scanship and Etia we are passionate about preventing pollution. Our world leading solutions convert biomass and waste into valuable resources and generate clean energy for a wide range of industries. Cruise ships on every ocean have Vow technology inside which processes waste and purifies wastewater. Fish farmers are adopting similar solutions, and public utilities and industries use our solutions for sludge processing, waste management and biogas production on land. Our ambitions go further than this. With our advanced technologies and solutions, we turn waste into biogenetic fuels to help decarbonize industry and convert plastic waste into fuel, clean energy and high-value pyro carbon. Our solutions are scalable, standardized, patented and thoroughly documented, and our capability to deliver is well proven. They are key to end waste and stop pollution. Located in Oslo, the parent company Vow ASA is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker SSHIP, VOW from 13 January 2020). This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. Irish explorer Tullow Oil has sold all of its assets in Uganda for $575m to French group Total. Processes of the sale will go towards the companys target of raising over $1bn to reduce its debt, strengthen its balance sheet and secure a more conservative capital structure, according to its chairman Dorothy Thompson. The cash consideration consists of $500m to be paid on completion of the deal and $75m payable following final investment decision of the Lake Albert development project. Additional cash may be received by Tullow in the form of contingent payments, which will be payable on upstream revenues from the Lake Albert project, depending on the average annual Brent price once production commences. The transaction is subject to approval by Tullow Oil shareholders. The company has already consulted with shareholders holding approximately 27.5pc of Tullow's issued share capital, and they have indicated their support. Ms Thompson said: "This deal is important for Tullow and forms the first step of our programme of portfolio management. It represents an excellent start towards our previously announced target of raising in excess of $1bn to strengthen the balance sheet and secure a more conservative capital structure. Under the deal Tullow has sold its interests in Blocks 1, 1A, 2 and 3A in Uganda and the proposed East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) system. Tullow is currently the operator of Block 2. Total Uganda is operating Block 1 and Block 1A and CNOOC Uganda (CNOOC) is operator of Block 3A. Earlier this week Tullow appointed Rahul Dhir as its new chief executive. Elsewhere, the group said it has identified a further $85m in savings to reduce its capital expenditure to $300m this year. In the first three months of this year Tullow's realised oil price was around $56 a barrel, including the benefit of circa $27m of net hedge receipts during the period. BEIJING, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese authorities on Wednesday called for efforts to enhance the capability and widen the range of COVID-19 infection testing. Measures should also be taken to further resume the economic and social order under the conditions of normalized epidemic prevention and control, they said. The instructions were given at a meeting of the leading group of China's COVID-19 epidemic response, which was chaired by Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee. As infections caused by gatherings and cross infections reoccurred lately in some places, it must be ensured that all confirmed and suspected cases, asymptomatic cases and close contacts are traced, to block the channels of the spread of the virus and fill the loopholes in COVID-19 prevention and control, according to the meeting. The group called for large-scale nucleic acid and antibody tests, which should cover key groups and units and venues where people gather amid work and production resumption. Such large-scale testing helps with targeted prevention and control, the reasonable mobility of the population and comprehensive work and production resumption, they said. More support should be in place for border cities in terms of the personnel, facility and goods for epidemic control, and convenience in customs should be provided for epidemic control goods bound for foreign aid or export, according to the leading group. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and deputy head of the leading group, attended the meeting. The Massachusetts Department of Correction is failing to provide adequate daily reports about coronavirus cases within each of the agencys 16 facilities and has yet to provide missing data dating back to April 3, according to the Public Defender Agency of Massachusetts. The claim comes after the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts ruled earlier this month that pretrial inmates who have not been charged with violent crimes could be released amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. In its decision, the court also asked the department to provide public officials and the Public Defender Agency with reports detailing the number of positive coronavirus cases among inmates, correction officers and other staff members as well as how many prisoners have been released because of the SJC ruling. In key respects, that is not happening, the Public Defender Agency wrote in a complaint filed Tuesday. The DOCs reports in this litigation have never included facility-specific information on the overall incarcerated population; the number of COVID-19 tests of incarcerated individuals; the number of COVID-19 tests of correctional officers, other staff, and contractors; or the number of people released as a result of the decision. Both the lawsuit that led to the SJCs ruling and the complaint filed Tuesday were brought forth by the Public Defender Agency - also called the Committee for Public Counsel Services - as well as the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts and the Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. CPCSs complaint alleged that in the first week after the courts decision on April 3, DOC did not share the number of cases per prison but instead gave the overall numbers for the entire correction system, making it impossible to assess testing, outbreaks, or releases in any single facility, the organizations claimed. On April 13, the agency for the first time listed the number of incarcerated individuals who tested positive for COVID-19 at each prison. However, it did not provide data about how much testing was being done nor the number of correction staff with the disease, according to the Public Defender Agency. DOC posted facility-specific coronavirus data about prisoners again on April 14 but still failed to provide information about department staff to CPCS, despite sharing that information with the public radio station WGBH. A day later, the department started providing information about cases of the viral respiratory infection among agency employees to the Public Defender Agency, according to Tuesdays complaint. However, the organizations claimed, DOC failed to send daily reports from April 11 to April 12 and from April 18 to 20. The agency again provided news outlets with updated information from April 20 but did not give CPCS that data. The failure to furnish this facility-specific information during a growing pandemic puts incarcerated people, prison staff, and the surrounding communities at greater risk from an outbreak, the organizations wrote in their complaint. It prevents incarcerated people and their lawyers from giving complete information to courts about the spread of COVID-19 within the Commonwealths prison system. The complaint added, And it prevents this Court, the Petitioners and the public from meaningfully assessing the impact of the April 3, 2020 Order at the facility level and evaluating any necessary response. To date, seven incarcerated individuals in the state prison system have died from the coronavirus, according to DOC. As of Wednesday, 127 inmates and 53 correction staff in Massachusetts have been infected with the disease. Related Content: He will be based out of the Corporate Office of Fortis in Gurugram, Haryana Fortis Healthcare Limited (Fortis) announced the appointment of Anil Vinayak as its new Group Chief Operating Officer (GCOO). He will lead operations for Fortis at a group level. He will be based out of the Corporate Office of Fortis in Gurugram, Haryana. Mr. Vinayak is a seasoned professional with a career spanning 32 and has held senior roles in global as well as Indian organizations and is a well-respected leader in the industry. He has strong experience in operations management, team building, organizational transformation, product development, business development and partnerships, which will undoubtedly enable him to be effective in this role. Speaking on the appointment, Dr Ashutosh Raghuvanshi, MD & CEO, Fortis, said, We are delighted to welcome Mr. Anil Vinayak, as our new GCOO. With a proven track record as a successful leader in operations, he has consistently delivered results over the years. Mr. Vinayak also has a deep understanding of marketing operations. I have tremendous confidence in Mr. Vinayaks capability to align Fortis's world-class patient care with global best strategies to drive and extend the next phase of Fortis's market leadership. Anil Vinayak said, This is a challenging period for the entire nation, and particularly for the healthcare industry. I am assuming responsibility at a time when we have a significant role to play in supporting the government and our communities in handling the pandemic. I am honored to have this opportunity and look forward to building on the strong foundation of a reputed brand such as Fortis, highly committed clinical and non-clinical talent, strong values and pan-India hospital network to achieve our objectives. Mr. Anil Vinayak has previously worked with Asian Paints (India) Limited, American Express Bank Ltd, Mastercard International and Europe Assistance India. His last assignment was with Max Healthcare Institute Limited as Senior Director & Chief Operating Officer Cluster 1. The man at the centre of a Gold Coast siege continues to elude authorities, more than 12 hours after escaping from a surrounded unit, slipping through a police cordon and going on the run. The man wielded an axe while inside the unit and there was uncertainty on Wednesday around whether he took the axe with him. The police cordon on Brookside Road, Labrador, during the siege on Wednesday. Credit:Nine News Gold Coast - Twitter However, police said on Thursday that they do not believe he is still armed and it was believed officers recovered the axe inside the unit during their search. Police were first called to the unit complex on Brookside Road in Labrador about 8am on Wednesday after reports of a disturbance. NEW DELHIWhen U.S. President Donald Trump announced via a late-night tweet that he would suspend immigration to protect U.S. jobs from an economic tailspin caused by the coronavirus, Priyanka Nagar prepared for the worst. For more than a decade, Nagar, an Indian citizen, had steadily built a life in the United States, but she was now back in India, awaiting a visa extension. She and her husband, who works for Microsoft, have applied for green cards. They hung an American flag from their balcony in their home in Washington state, where Nagar had given birth to the couples five-year-old daughter. But when Nagar read Trumps tweet posted late Monday, while separated from her family in the United States, the thought of leaving her hard-forged life behind without even a goodbye was devastating, she said. I beg the government not to think of us as enemies, Nagar, 39, a software developer, said. I want the U.S. to prosper. It has given us so much. By Tuesday, Trump had ordered a 60-day halt in issuing green cards to prevent people from immigrating to the United States, backing away from his harder-edged plans to suspend guest-worker programs after business groups erupted in anger at the prospect of losing labour from countries like India. But as millions of Americans file for unemployment, flooding food banks and hospitals, foreign workers worry that the pandemic will uproot them sooner rather than later. Immigrant groups warn that driven by what they call the Trump administrations protectionist impulses, the United States could purge some of its most talented workers, cutting into the vibrant multiculturalism that has made the United States such an attractive destination for decades. I cannot tell you the panic this has caused in the legal immigration community, Nandini Nair, an immigration lawyer based in New Jersey, said of Trumps upending of life by a tweet. Further immigration restrictions could have particularly acute consequences for India, which sends thousands of highly skilled workers to the United States every year and counts a four-million-strong diaspora in the country, representing one of the largest contingents of immigrants to the United States. Visa programs like H-1B help fill specialty positions at companies like Google, Apple and Facebook. Indian-Americans are some of the countrys most successful and wealthiest immigrants, with a particular stronghold in Silicon Valleys startup scene. These days, Harkamal Singh Khural, 34, a software developer living in an Atlanta suburb, said he was barely sleeping. Even if the government did not push him out, he said a volatile job market meant his immigration status was already tenuous. The company that sponsors his H-1B visa has already let go of half of his team. His two daughters are U.S. citizens, meaning it was possible that his family could get separated. I am afraid of losing everything, Khural said. This is not really about a job. It is about dreams. For now, programs like H-1B are unlikely to be immediately affected by the new restrictions. But Tuesday, Trump left open the possibility of extending the ban on new green cards based on economic conditions at the time. He suggested that he may also introduce a second executive order that could further restrict immigration, brushing aside studies showing that a flow of foreign labour into the country has an overall positive effect on the U.S. workforce and wages. We must first take care of the American worker, Trump said, insisting that newly jobless citizens should not have to compete with foreigners when the economy reopens. Rights groups say the immigration process has become increasingly complex and frustrating in recent years, with Trump fanning the flames of anti-immigrant sentiment by pushing for an extensive wall along the Mexican border and labelling a group of African nations shithole countries. For Indian citizens, building a more permanent base in the country was never easy. Most of the 800,000 immigrants currently waiting for a green card are Indian citizens. Because of quotas that limit the number of workers from each country, Indians can expect to wait up to 50 years for a green card since their representation among immigrants is so high in the United States. Last summer, the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act, which sought to address the backlog by eliminating country quotas, sailed through the House. But it stalled in the Senate, where critics like Sen. Dick Durbin argued that the bill would not solve the problem because it does not increase the overall number of green cards. Many Indian citizens said the back and forth was exhausting. I likely wont receive a green card in this lifetime unless the laws change, said Somak Goswami, an electrical engineer who applied for a green card in 2011. I have colleagues who came to the U.S. in 2017 and have a green card already. My only fault was I was born in India. Analysts said immigration restrictions could strain the delicate but increasingly amicable relationship between India and the United States, the worlds most populous democracies. In recent months, Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India have sought to build an even stronger alliance, trading compliments about each other onstage at glittering events in Houston and Ahmedabad, India. Milan Vaishnav, the director of the South Asia Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, said, Any action that appears to infringe on the mobility of Indians or Indian-Americans will be strongly resisted. Suffice it to say, this will not go over well in India, he said of stricter immigration controls. Prime Minister Modi has made outreach to the diaspora community in America and elsewhere a cornerstone of his foreign policy. In India, Nagar, who is staying with her parents in the state of Uttar Pradesh, said she was trying to remain hopeful, telling herself to live today and wait for tomorrow. But with international airspace largely closed, embassies shut for visa processing and the added stress of immigration restrictions, Nagar worried that the extension of her H-1B visa might be delayed by many more months, prolonging the separation from her family and raising the possibility that they may have to leave the United States entirely. Over a video call, Nagars daughter, a kindergarten student, told her: Mommy, when the virus dies, youll come. Ill wait for the virus to die. When video conversations with her daughter end, Nagar said she sometimes lies in bed and cries. In the U.S., you have the whole world working together toward a common goal, she said. You cannot find that diversity anywhere else. I love this country. Read more about: Essential workers and their families will be able to book a coronavirus test on the government website from Friday, as ministers scramble to reach their target of 100,000 tests per day in seven days' time. Expanding the criteria of those who can be tested for covid-19, Matt Hancock said all vital workers will be able to book an appointment, with the ultimate goal of providing tests to "everyone" in the country who could "benefit from a test". It comes as the government faces escalating criticism over the number of daily tests conducted across the country with just 23,000 swabs taken in the last 24 hours, despite a capacity now exceeding 50,000 tests per day. The health secretary also announced he would be hiring 18,000 people to start testing-and-tracing for the virus in the community, including public health specialists and 3,000 clinicians. He gave no date for the process starting with pressure to be ready for any easing of the lockdown at the start of May but said the government would be training up contact tracers over coming weeks. How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities Show all 6 1 /6 How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities Milan, Italy REUTERS How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities North Jakarta, Indonesia REUTERS How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities Jakarta, Indonesia REUTERS How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities Venice, Italy REUTERS How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities New Delhi, India REUTERS How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities Islamabad, Pakistan REUTERS Speaking at the No 10 daily press conference, Mr Hancock said the governments 100,000 tests per day target by the end of April was challenging, as announced the expansion of new groups of workers eligible for tests. We are now able to expand who can get the tests, he said. Our ultimate goal is that everyone who can benefit from a test, gets a test. But of course we have to start by prioritising patients, in hospital, followed by NHS and social care colleagues and those in care homes. He continued: We can make it easier, faster and simpler for any essential worker in England who needs a test, to get a test. From today employers of essential workers will be able to go on gov.uk to get a test for any of their staff who need a test. From tomorrow any essential workers who need a test will be able to book an appointment on gov.uk themselves directly. This applies for people in essential workers households too who need a test. Its all part of getting Britain back on her feet. The health secretary said those considered essential workers can enter their details on the governments website and they will be invited to an appointment. Once the test is completed, the results will be communicated by test, he added. I want to make as easy as possible for people to get a test, not least because we are talking about people who are ill. The shadow health secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, said it was crucial that greater numbers of critical workers are now able to access testing, adding Labour will continue to hold the government to account for the promise it has made. Yesterday we urged the government to do more testing and we have consistently questioned why ministers were not moving to a test and trace strategy, he said. It is welcome ministers now recognise the importance of testing and tracing. RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, April 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute kicks off by hosting an exclusive virtual event on April 23rd, moderated by entrepreneur and futurologist, Dr. Peter H. Diamandis. This inaugural meeting marks the start of the FII Institute Series, bringing together an influential group of leaders looking beyond the COVID-19 pandemic to explore its systemic implications on the global economy and the potential of AI and cutting-edge innovation to aid in a worldwide response. The FII Institute Series will be a year-round regular event series feeding into the Future Investment Initiative in October 2020. A first-of-a-kind illustration of interactive and immersive event technology, this event will highlight the most important lessons learned from the current crisis and outline a clear roadmap for action for the future, generating concrete solutions and long-term recommendations out of the sessions. "With an ambitious vision to empower the brightest minds to shape a better future for ALL and with ALL, the FII Institute will bring together global leaders and experts to collectively cultivate and support the implementation of innovative solutions," Chairman of the Board of the FII Institute His Excellency Yasir Al-Rumayyan comments. "The FII Institute is a new generation of not-for-profit foundation that curates and enables ideas that can solve today's global challenges by using technologies that have the potential to positively impact humanity," CEO and Board Member of the FII Institute Richard Attias explains. The FII Institute will initially focus on four key impact areas that have the power to positively impact humanity: Healthcare, Sustainability, Robotics and Artificial Intelligence. To achieve its mission, the FII Institute can count on the extensive experience from its Board of Trustees, including chair of the board H.E. Yasir Al-Rumayyan, H.R.H. Princess Reema Bint Bandar Al Saud, Senator Matteo Renzi, Mr. Mohamed Alabbar, Professor Tony Chan, Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, Professor Adah Almutairi, and Mr. Richard Attias. To keep up with the latest news and to learn more about the Future Investment Initiative Institute, please follow the FII Institute on Twitter and LinkedIn and visit the FII Institute website https://fii-institute.org/ About the FII Institute: The FII Institute is a new generation of global foundation that ensures the world's brightest ideas find their way to materialize, scale and create positive sustainable impact on humanity. With an ambitious vision to empower the brightest minds to shape a better future for ALL and with ALL, the FII Institute will bring together global leaders and experts to collectively curate and enable concrete ideas that can solve today's most pressing societal issues while creating long-term platforms to reshape the future of humanity. Social Media Platforms Twitter: @FIIKSA LinkedIn: Future Investment Initiative YouTube: Future Investment Initiative Instagram: @FIIKSA Flickr: Future Investment Initiative #CallToImpact and #ImpactOnHumanity Website: https://fii-institute.org/ Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1158839/FII_Institute_Logo.jpg SOURCE The Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute Related Links https://fii-institute.org Reuters Even as some polls show a majority of Americans are not satisfied with Donald Trump's coronavirus response, the president remains in a dead heat with his apparent Democratic challenger in a handful of key swing states. In fact, in six battleground states that political experts say will decide November's election, Mr Trump leads former Vice President Joe Biden. Though the lead is narrow, just a single point, it shows that voters are not ready to oust Mr Trump from the White House even as over 45,000 Americans have died from a virus about which the incumbent was warned was headed to the United States early this year. Democrats, including Mr Biden, have accused Mr Trump of not taking warnings from US intelligence and public health officials seriously. His lukewarm response, they continue to say, has led to over 826,000 confirmed nationwide cases, a sparse testing strategy and a shortage of potentially life-saving medical equipment. Now, Democrats are accusing Mr Trump of pushing states to end their lock downs too early and even of encouraging armed protesters to put pressure on governors to get the country up and running to salvage an economy he needs to improve as he seeks a second term. Voters in Arizona, Florida, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, however, despite joining Americans in other states by reporting displeasure with the Trump administration's Covid-19 response, are not ready to hand the federal keys to Mr Biden. In those states, Mr Trump leads the former Democratic VP 48 per cent to 47 per cent, according to a poll conducted by Change Research. Mr Trump is underwater among voters in those half-dozen states for his response to the pandemic, with 52 per cent expressing displeasure compared to 48 per cent who approve. Notably, in five of the six, the state's governor is considered more trusted to take on the coronavirus than the president. Only in Florida, where Mr Trump is trusted more than GOP Governor Ron DeSantis (45 per cent to 42 per cent), did the president get higher marks than a state leader. Story continues The president has held several political events this year in North Carolina, where he defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016 by 3.6 points. But Democratic Governor Roy Cooper is more trusted to deal with Covid-19 by a wide margin over Mr Trump, 12 points. Trump campaign aides acknowledge they need to hold every state they won last time if he is to win a second term. During his nightly coronavirus press conference, the president was again bullish for states to start revving up their economies. "Since we announced our guidelines on opening up America, as we call it, I say opening up American, and we add the word 'again,'" Mr Trump said. "But that is what it is we are [doing], opening up America again. "Twenty states representing 40 per cent of the US population have announced that they are making plans and preparations to safely restart their economies in the very near future," he said. "They are moving along pretty quickly. Three announced today, as you know. And they're going to be doing it safely. They are going to be doing it with tremendous passion." Despite polling data that suggests Americans are more concerned with their families' health and safety, Mr Trump then declared: There is, they want to get back to work. The country wants to get back to work." But the Change Research survey suggests, in those six states, Americans remained concerned about beating the virus even if their worries about the respiratory disease appears to be waning. Bucking the president's desire to begin returning to normalcy even as the virus begins overrunning rural hospitals, the polled found 62 per cent of people are concerned about opening the country too quickly. Seventy-two per cent of those surveyed say they are more concerned about their families health than any financial impacts from the virus and the lockdown. Just 28 per cent ranked a financial a more grave concern. Social (distancing) unrest But there are significant signs that Americans' patience in those battlegrounds with the national shutdown and one another is slipping. For instance, two weeks ago 42 per cent of those surveyed by Change Research reported others taking social distancing and other anti-Covid measures too far. Now, that figure is over half: 52 per cent. Meantime, as the Trump administration and some Democratic governors and congressional leaders spar daily over the pace of testing, availability of testing kits, and the federal government's proper role in testing, voters in the six swing states have major concerns. Seventy-one per cent of those surveyed have serious concerns about testing even though Mr Trump and Vice President Mike Pence have said this week the country has enough kits on hand and is testing people as a rapid enough rate to defeat the virus. The testing rate is now about 150,000 daily; some experts say it needs to be as high as 500,000. The president and his public health team say, as the widely respected federal infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci put it, "testing isn't everything." On Tuesday evening, Mr Trump appeared fixated on the total number of tests administered, rather than what Democrats and health experts say is a more accurate barometer: Per capita testing rates. Asked by a reporter "what went wrong with the testing," the president got a little testy. "Ready? Are you ready? Again, I will say it for the fifth time. We have tested more than any country in the world, and some of the countries are very big, okay?" he snapped back. "More than any country in the world," he contended. "We have one of the most successful, if you call mortality rates because one person and I always say ... one person is too many, but we have done very well. Our testing. If you add them all up, we have tested more." The answer is one among a handful of stock statements the president has taken to repeating over and over when asked about testing kit availability, when he was first warned about the virus, his opting against a national testing strategy, and other daily questions. 'Testing, testing, testing' Top Democratic leaders have hammered the president on testing, but remain without the votes -- read: ample leverage -- to force his hand on the issue. "Our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have an unease with science. If they didn't, we would have long ago come to testing, testing, testing, testing in its fullest way. Testing, contact tracing, isolation much sooner than we did," Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters on Tuesday. "Their delay and denial caused death because they didn't respect science and they don't favour governance," the California Democrat said. "Now, they have to get used to the idea that the path to the future, to opening up our economy and our society again, is through science, science, science and governance, governance, governance." Yet, many states with Republican governors are moving their territories closer to opening up. One GOP governor, Greg Abbott of Texas, said his residents are ready to take care of "vital needs" like their hair. "Either later this week or early next week, we will be talking about a broad-based opening up in the state of Texas, making sure that all of retail and, get this, it's about time a lot of people in the state of Texas are going to have the opportunity to go to a hair salon and start taking care of their vital needs," he told Fox News. "But, most importantly, we want these entrepreneurs, these small businesses, to have the opportunity to open up." Midland County added four new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, bringing the total to 51 cases and three deaths. Bay County reported nine new cases and no deaths, totaling 102 overall cases and two deaths. Both Gladwin and Isabella counties maintained their numbers on Thursday, reporting no new overall cases or deaths. Gladwin stands at 10 cases and one death while Isabella has 54 cases and seven deaths. Saginaw County now has 507 COVID-19 cases an increase of 33 from Wednesday and reported three more deaths, bringing its death toll to 38. The state added 1,325 new cases and 164 deaths on Thursday. Overall, Michigan is at 35,291 cases and 2,977 deaths. The average death age is 74.2, according to the state website, mich.gov, with the deceased ranging in age from 20 to 107. The state lists 39% of the deceased as 80-plus and 28% age 70-79. State statistics show 55% of coronavirus deaths are male and 45% are female. The state lists the total recovered at 3,237 cases, as of April 17, which represents COVID-19 confirmed individuals with an onset date on or prior to March 11, 2020, according to the state website, mich.gov. During this response, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is reviewing vital records statistics to identify any laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases who are 30 days out from their onset of illness to represent recovery status, according to the state website. The numbers will be updated every Saturday. The state lists the majority of races in positive cases as 33% Black/African American; 31% Caucasian and 23% unknown, and the top three races in deaths as 40% Black/African American; 44% Caucasian and 10% unknown. The total positive cases are 45% men, 54% women and 1% unknown. 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," said Fred Yanoski, Midland County Public Health director/health officer. "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 e-mail: 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. by Francis Khoo Thwe The Archbishop of Yangon backs the pontiff and the UN secretary general who have called for an end to armed conflicts to save people from the pandemic. The prelate calls on Myanmars military and armed ethnic militias to favour dialogue and openness to avoid a health catastrophe. Military action by anyone will destroy the country. The cardinal slams Chinas Communist Party. Yangon (AsiaNews) Card Charles Maung Bo, Archbishop of Yangon, issued a statement yesterday evening. In it he joins Pope Francis and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in demanding a global ceasefire, made that more urgent by the ongoing pandemic. The pandemics consequences are catastrophic for public health and for social and economic life, he writes. This is no time to escalate conflict. This is especially true for Myanmar, where fighting between armed ethnic militias and Myanmars military have increased in Shan State and with the Chin in Rakhine. I am convinced, the cardinal goes on to say, that continued military operations, precisely when the whole nation is suffering a crisis, will have catastrophic consequences for our nation. In fact, many international organisations fear that Myanmar is at risk of a health catastrophe, as it lacks basic health facilities. This explains Card Bos plea. Now is the time for decisions that will build Myanmar as a united, peaceful, prosperous nation and member of the family of nations. Conflict makes Myanmar especially vulnerable. The countrys national and ethnic leaders are able to choose between the path that seeks trust and cooperation for the good of all and so unite the nation, and the path of continued conflict, which surely will only lead to overwhelming consequences of deeper disaster for those who already greatly distressed. Citing State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on the importance of protecting the people from the epidemic, the archbishop expressed his appreciation for some of the steps taken in that direction by the Ministry of Health, but added that heightened military operations, by whatever sides, contradict all these enlightened initiatives. At present, Soldiers are unnecessarily endangered by exposure to the unseen viral assassin. Civilians are endangered, even by bombardments purportedly aimed at military targets. Peace negotiations are endangered by continued aggressive threats. An economy under severe strain is put at risk by military adventures. Any spike in contagion in IDP camps, among detained persons, or in crowded spaces, gravely threatens the surrounding populations as well. To back his point, Card Bo cites that case of certain armed groups in countries like Cameroon, the Philippines, Yemen, and Syria who have already accepted to reduce violence because of the pandemic threat. Urging the warring parties to lay down all weapons and [stop] acts of aggression", he mentions past meetings organised by Religions for Peace, which have shown that dialogue in coordinated ways among all parties is possible and fruitful. To this end, the Catholic Church is ready at all times to encourage and mediate a new and timely dialogue among diverse parties". Lastly, with respect to the coronavirus crisis, Card Bo a few days ago launched a scathing attack against China for its role in the pandemic. It is probable that when he criticised Beijing, he also had this appeal for peace in mind: China, in fact, sells weapons to both rebel groups and the Myanmar military. The clergy that led the funeral of Lyra McKee a year ago have commended politicians for finding a way to re-establish the power-sharing Executive. In a joint statement from the Dean of Belfast, the Very Rev Stephen Forde, and Father Martin Magill, Parish Priest of St John's Parish, they praised First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill for "seizing the moment" of Lyra's funeral to find a way to set up a government. Friday marks the first anniversary of the journalist's funeral which was held in a packed St Anne's Cathedral. Lyra was shot dead while covering an attack on the PSNI in the Creggan area of Londonderry on April 18 last year. During her funeral, Fr Martin asked why it took Lyra's death to get NI's leaders together. "At the request of Lyra's family, we were privileged to lead Lyra's funeral service in St Anne's Cathedral, Belfast, one year ago, on April 24, 2019," said Fr Martin and Rev Forde. "It was an emotionally charged service for all who attended, including the Irish President and Taoiseach, the British Prime Minister and the leader of the opposition. "Also in attendance were the leaders of all the political parties in Northern Ireland - then deadlocked in their inability to re-establish the Northern Ireland Assembly. "The cathedral was packed, inside and out, with those of Lyra's post-Troubles generation, who wanted to build a new and different community to one of sectarian division and deep-seated bigotry." The clergy said the partnership between Ms Foster and Ms O'Neill is a "fitting tribute" to Lyra whose passion was to bring people together. "Their working together, along with the Executive ministers, health professionals and ordinary people from every background, has been essential to support this community through this unprecedented coronavirus crisis," they continued. YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian sent a letter of condolences over the death of famous ethnic Armenian philanthropist Aso Tavitian, the Presidential Office told Armenpress. I felt a deep pain by learning the news about the death of President of the Tavitian Foundation, philanthropist, my friend Aso Tavitian. Aso Tavitian was a unique bridge of the homeland-Diaspora ties. He was not born in Armenia, was not living in Armenia, but was always living with Armenia, visiting the country many times and supporting the homeland with all means. The vision of advanced and developed Armenia was a priority for Mr. Tavitian, which he was implementing by providing funding to various projects, especially educational programs. Thanks to the Tavitian Foundation many Armenian young people studied or trained at leading US universities, in particular the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. During our numerous meetings, also at various international platforms Aso Tavitian was always talking about the necessity to assist Armenia and its people with all means, considering the homeland and the Diaspora one body and one soul. I offer my condolences to Aso Tavitians family and friends, the Armenian Presidents letter said. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has leveled more charges at the World Health Organization, saying it needs to be held 'accountable' for failures tracking the coronavirus. Pompeo's attack, delivered on conservative Fox News host Laura Ingraham's show, follows President Donald Trump's own blasts at the organization, and the president's announcement he would withhold all U.S. funds for the group pending a review. Pompeo even said the U.S. may never return to the funding the group, for which it has been the greatest contributor. 'It may be the case that the United States can never return to underwriting' the WHO, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday 'It may be the case that the United States can never return to underwriting, having U.S. taxpayer dollars go to the WHO. We may need to be have even bolder change than that,' Pompeo told Ingraham. The WHO has a biannual budget of less than $5 billion, which can vary based on whether there is a global health outbreak like the one occurring now. The U.S. contributed $400 million last year, about 15 per cent of its budget. Pompeo's comments come after Trump announced the halt in funding earlier this month, saying: 'With the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have deep concerns whether America's generosity has been put to the best use possible.' Pompeo blasted the WHO for failing to get accurate information out of China about the rapid spread of the virus. Pompeo made the comments to conservative host Laura Ingraham, who told him the WHO had WHO's 'complicity' in China's 'cover-up' of the virus WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus defended the organization after President Trump suspended U.S. funding The WHO was created in 1948 as part of the UN and is headquartered in Geneva President Trump has called for holding back U.S. funds for the WHO pending a review WHO head Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised China's transparency in the early days of the crisis as did President Trump on Twitter. U.S. officials continue to complain China has not allowed sufficient access to learn as much as possible about the spread of the disease that has leveled the world economy and killed 45,000 Americans and counting. 'Even today, the Chinese government hasn't permitted American scientists to go into China, to go into not only the Wuhan lab but wherever it needs to go to learn about this virus, to learn about its origins,' Pompeo said. He said the virus began in a lab although health officials say the most likely path is that the disease jumped between species, fueled by wet markets in China that allow for the sale of live animals. 'Look, we know it began in Wuhan but we need to figure this out. There's an ongoing pandemic. We still don't have the transparency and openness we need in China,' Pompeo said. During the interview Ingraham called Trump's halt to aid 'great news' because of the WHO's 'complicity' in China's 'cover-up.' Pompeo responded that the halt in funds was 'completely appropriate.' 'It is the World Health Organization's responsibility to achieve that transparency. They're not doing it. They need to be held accountable,' Pompeo said. 'And what's been great is to see other countries around the world to begin to recognize the WHO failures as well,' he added. Ingraham asked Pompeo whether Dr. Tedros should have to step down before the U.S. provides aide. Pompeo dodged, saying the U.S. would 'take a hard look a real hard look at the WHO and what we do coming out of this.' When the interviewer noted Pompeo was not ruling out insisting the departure of the WHO head before resumption of aid, he responded: 'No, I think that's right.' He added: 'Even more than that, it may be the case that the United States can never return to underwriting having U.S. taxpayer dollars go to the WHO. We may need to be have even bolder change than that.' 'Make our own organization,' Ingraham added afterward. Dr. Tedros this week defended the agency's response even as the organization seeks to battle a global health crisis. 'Looking back, I think we declared [the] emergency at the right time and when the rest of the world had enough time to respond,' he said, adding, 'We triggered the highest level of emergency when the rest of the world only had 82 cases and no deaths.' He said experts only reached agreement on January 30 on the nature of the public health emergency. Pompeo's shot is the latest in a long-running battle between to Trump officials and the organization. Trump tore into the organization April 7 at his daily press briefing. ''We're going to put a hold on money spent to the WHO. We're going to put a very powerful hold on it and we're going to see,' Trumps said. 'They called it wrong. They call it wrong. They really, they missed the call,' he said of the WHO. China first informed the WHO that it was aware of a novel coronavirus on Dec. 31, 2019. WHO tweeted Jan. 14th based on information from Chinese researchers there was 'no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission' something which proved to be dangerously false. On January 30, the WHO declared a global health emergency. Both the WHO and Trump vouched for China's transparency in January although U.S. officials now believe China was holding back information about the extent of the spread. On March 9, Tedros said: 'Now that the coronavirus has a foothold in so many countries, the threat of a pandemic has become very real.' Trump compared a national emergency in the U.S. March 13. Trump regularly holds up his decision to stop visits from China Jan. 31. U.S. nationals from China were exempted. The WHO responded that 'restricting the movement of people and goods during public health emergencies is ineffective in most situations and may divert resources from other interventions.' He also accused it of being 'China-centric' and said, 'The WHO really blew it.' Immediately after Trump's criticism, Tedros, an Ethiopian who is the first African official to head the body, responded by saying: 'No need to use COVID to score political points. You have many other ways to prove yourself. If you don't want many more body bags, then you refrain from politicizing it.' Sen. Patrick Leahy, the Vermont senator who is a senior Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, last week slammed the decision to withhold funds. 'Withholding funds for WHO in the midst of the worst pandemic in a century makes as much sense as cutting off ammunition to an ally as the enemy closes in. The White House knows that it grossly mishandled this crisis from the beginning, ignoring multiple warnings and squandering valuable time, dismissing medical science, comparing COVID 19 to the common cold, and saying "everything will be fine,'' he said. But when you perform a stand-up routine like the one you did at this years Golden Globes, you dont have to look over your shoulder when the night is over? No, the world hasnt changed. No one looks at me differently. And Ive got nothing against those people, really. I think thats the mistake people make: They think that every joke is a window to the comedians soul because I wrote it and performed it under my own name, that thats really me. And thats just not true. Ill flip a joke halfway through and change my stance to make the joke better. Ill pretend to be right wing, left wing, whatever wing, no wing. Ive got to go after the richest people in the room, and NBC and the Hollywood Foreign Press [Association, which organizes the Golden Globes]. Ive got to be a court jester, but a court jesters got to make sure that he doesnt get executed as well. Ive got to make all the peasants laugh at the king, but the kings sort of got to like it. [Laughs.] A lot of political conservatives became fans of yours after that performance because they felt youd finally stuck it to the Hollywood elite. Do you think any were driven away after they learned you didnt share their viewpoints on other issues? I didnt notice that on Twitter until a couple of disgruntled liberal elites suddenly said, Oh, Gervais is alt-right now. And I went, what? Whats right-wing about taking the mickey out of the richest, most powerful corporations on the planet? But Ive had this before. People that followed me, if they were far right, theyre probably not atheists like me. They probably dont like some of the language that I use. They probably dont agree with my anti-trophy hunting stance. In general, I think most normal people follow a person for a particular reason or two. If the tweets I hate outnumber the ones I like, Ill unfollow him. No one has to be perfect to have friends. They just have to be, on balance, OK. The themes of death and how we deal with loss are pervasive in After Life. Does that make it any more attuned to the current moment? Or does that make it harder to watch? Believe it or not, there are 105 Netflix originals ranked higher than the popular thriller Ozark. Thats according to a new list from Rotten Tomatoes based on its Tomatometer" which ranked the 153 best Netflix originals of all-time. Ozark" is certified fresh at 81 percent after jumping 15 spots up the list with the launch of the third season. Rotten Tomatoes criteria for this list is that each show had to be at 60 percent fresh or higher and have at least 10 reviews. Tiebreakers are based on the number of reviews and then alphabetically if review quantity is the same. Here they are, the top 20 Netflix originals from Rotten Tomatoes. 20. Mindhunter (97% fresh) Released in 2017, this crime thriller is set in the late 1970s. It follows two FBI agents trying to catch serial killers by getting inside their minds and trying to figure out how they think. Along the way they develop a new way to profile the types of killers they are trying to catch. There are two seasons. 19. Lovesick (98% fresh) Released in 2014, this British romantic comedy follows a 20-something man looking for love. Along the way, he contracts a sexually transmitted disease. Now, he must contact everyone he has ever slept with to tell them what he has. Every time he meets up with one of his former mates, the show flashes back to the defining moment of their relationship theyd like to forget. There are three seasons. 18. Nailed It (98% fresh) Now in its newly released fourth season, this reality baking show puts everyday home bakers in a competition to try and recreate some rather difficult treats. If youve ever tried to make something epic and would up with an epic fail, this is the show for you. The baker who comes closest to making what they were supposed to will win $10,000. 17. Tuca & Bertie (98% fresh) Released last year on Netflix in its one and only season featuring 10 episodes, this animated comedy follows the friendship between two 30-year old bird women who live in the same apartment building. Youll follow their adventures in the metropolis of Bird Town. This show is not for kids. Tuca and Bertie are voiced by Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong. 16. Wild Wild Country (98% fresh) Released in 2018 with one season of six episodes, this crime thriller follows a cult leader who builds a utopian city in the Oregon desert. The result brings on a huge conflict with local ranchers which leads to the first bioterror attack in the United States. 15. Happy Valley (98% fresh) Released in 2014, this award-winning crime drama follows a Yorkshire police sergeant who is looking for the man who assaulted her late daughter. What she doesnt know is that he is also part of a secret kidnapping plot. This show has two seasons with six episodes each. 14. Unbelievable (98% fresh) Released in 2019, this crime drama is inspired by true events. It follows a young woman who reports to police that she was raped. But shes accused of lying and recants her statement, even though it was true. Meantime, two female detectives, states away, could uncover the truth as they investigate similar crimes. There is one season with eight episodes. 13. American Vandal (98% fresh) Released in 2017, this half-hour true-crime satire follows an aspiring sophomore filmmaker who investigates a high school prank which left 27 faculty cars vandalized with obscene images on them. Did the school expel the right student? There are two seasons, each with eight episodes. Season two is another true-crime satire which looks at a mystery at a high school even more bizarre than in season one. 12. Alias Grace (99% fresh) Released in 2017, this crime-drama follows Grace, a poor Irish immigrant and domestic servant in Canada in 1843. Shes accused and convicted of murdering her employer and his housekeeper. The stablehand is also convicted. Hes hanged while she receives life in prison. Meantime, a psychiatrist looks at whether Grace should be pardoned due to insanity. This is a six-part miniseries. 11. One Day at a Time (99% fresh) Released in 2017, this sitcom is a remake of the 1970s Norman Lear TV series. This version follows the life of Penelope, a newly single Army veteran, and her Cuban-American family. Penelope is now a nurse who is raising her teen daughter and tween son with the help of her old-school mother. There are three seasons. 10. Crazyhead (100% fresh) Released in 2016, this wacky British comedy is a bit like Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It follows a young woman who must take out demons. Along the way, she cracks a few jokes. There is one season with six episodes. 9. The Confession Killer (100% fresh) Released in 2019, this crime-drama docuseries follows Henry Lee Lucas. He confessed to hundreds of murders bringing closure to many unsolved cases and grieving families. However, DNA results contradict his confessions and could expose the biggest criminal justice hoax in U.S. history. 8. Dirty Money (100% fresh) Released in 2018 with season two newly released, this documentary looks at various stories of corporate greed, corruption and crime through the global economy. There are six episodes about an hour each. 7. Giri/Haji (100% fresh) Released in 2019, this crime-thriller set in Tokyo and London, looks at the butterfly effect of a murder across two cities. The story follows a Tokyo police detective who risks his job, family and honor when he travels to London to search for his long lost brother. What he ends up discovering is the secret which tore them apart. This show has one season with eight episodes, each about one hour. 6. Ugly Delicious (100% fresh) Released in 2018 with season two new in 2020, this travelogue stars James Beard Award-winning chef David Chang as he goes on a journey to culinary hot spots around the world. Each episode highlights a dish or concept and explores how it is made in different regions and how it evolves. Numerous celebrities appear throughout each season. Season one features eight episodes while season two has four. 5. Chewing Gum (100% fresh) Released in 2015 but debuting on Netflix in 2016, this quirky British comedy follows Tracey, a 24-year old who was raised in a religious family and is now ready to live her own life without restrictions. Her first big goal is to lose her virginity as she learns more about the world. Both seasons one and two have six episodes each. 4. Feel Good (100% fresh) Released in 2020, this dramedy follows comedian Mae Martin, who stars as herself. Shes a Canadian living in London dealing with two big things happening in her life: The messy new relationship with her girlfriend and the challenges of dealing with sobriety. There are six episodes, each about a half hour. 3. Mystery Science Theater 3000 (100% fresh) Released in 2017, this comedy, with a cult following, is back. This time it stars Felicia Day, Patton Oswalt and Jonah Ray as they, along with their robot friends, watch cheesy B movies and poke fun at them. And when we say cheesy B movies, were talking about absolutely horrible movies. There are two new seasons to enjoy on Netflix. 2. Big Mouth (100% fresh) Released in 2017, there are now three seasons of this animated adult comedy from real-life best friends Nick Kroll and Andrew Goldberg. The show is about the horrors of a teenager going through puberty. Also lending their voices in this series are John Mulaney, Maya Rudolph and Jordan Peele. Season one has 10 episodes, season two also had 10 episodes and season three has 11. 1. Master of None (100% fresh) Released in 2015, this comedy stars Aziz Ansari and is loosely based on the comics real-life experiences. Ansari plays Dev, a New York-based actor struggling with both his personal and professional life. The show also stars Ansaris real-life parents. Both seasons one and two feature 10 episodes, each about a half hour. More shows from the Rotten Tomatoes list: 21. Russian Doll (97%) 22. Lady Dynamite (97%) 23. Five Came Back (97%) 24. Elite (97%) 25. The Keepers (97%) 26. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (96%) 27. A Series of Unfortunate Events (96%) 28. When They See Us (96%) 29. She-Ra (96%) 30. Cheer (96%) THE FULL LIST: Rotten Tomatoes ranks the best 153 Netflix originals MORE FROM MLIVE: 10 of the best NETFLIX DOCUMENTARIES not named Tiger King 20 of the best shows on NETFLIX to binge-watch if youre stuck at home 25 of the best AMAZON PRIME original series to binge-watch while safe at home 2020 Annual General Meeting Notice Notice is hereby given that the 2020 Annual General Meeting of BW Energy Limited will be held at Washington Mall Phase 2, 4th Floor, Suite 400, 22 Church Street, HM 1189, Hamilton HM EX, Bermuda, on 19 May 2020 at 13:00 (Bermuda time). Please see the attached documents in relation to the Annual General Meeting: Chairmans Letter Notice of the 2020 AGM Form of Proxy Appendix I of the Notice Guidelines for the Nomination Committee Appendix II of the Notice Amended Bye-laws For further information, please contact: Knut R. Sthre, CFO BW Energy, +47 91 11 78 76 ir@bwenergy.no About BW Energy: BW Energy is a growth E&P company with a differentiated strategy targeting proven offshore oil and gas reservoirs through low risk phased developments. The Company has access to existing FPSOs to reduce time to first oil and cashflow with lower investments than traditional offshore developments. The main assets are 73.5% of the producing Dussafu Marine Permit offshore Gabon and a 95% interest in the Maromba field in Brazil, both operated by the Company. Total net 2P+2C reserves are 247 million barrels at the start of 2020 and gross average production from Dussafu was 11.8 kbopd in 2019. BW Energy is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act. Attachments A former NHS nurse who returned to the frontlines to help fight the coronavirus pandemic has shared the moment she held an elderly woman's hand during her last breaths so she didn't die alone from the virus. Victoria Meynell, a cardiac nurse who works in the British Heart Foundation's Service Engagement Team, was one of the hundreds of thousands who answered the call for doctors and nurses to return to work. Earlier this month, she worked for four days on a hospital ward for the first time in 10 years, which she described as "eye-opening". But Ms Meynell said she felt an "incredible sense of pride" that she was able to comfort an elderly patient while her family could not be there due to visiting restrictions. Victoria was kitted out in PPE for her four days on a Covid-19 ward / British Heart Foundation "I received handover and the nurse told me about one elderly lady who was very poorly," she explained. "Her care plan had now changed to end of life care, and we were delivering supportive care to keep her comfortable in her last days of life. "Within 90 minutes of my first shift, I held her hand as she passed away." Ms Meynell said the patient's family had been comforted by the fact she had held her hand during her last breaths. "Due to visiting restrictions, no family could be with her," Ms Meynell said. "It was extremely sad that she couldnt have her relatives around her at a time like that. 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 "However, I did feel this incredible sense of pride and I was humbled that I was able to be there with her and to comfort her. "Another nurse phoned her relative to explain that she had passed away and they told the nurse that they were comforted by the fact that someone was there with her to hold her hand during her last breaths." Ms Meynell said she went into "autopilot mode" when she applied to join the frontline of the pandemic. "I had seen the news about Covid-19 and the pressure it was putting on the health service, so I just felt compelled to help and had the skills to do so," she said. "Before I started my first shift, I did feel anxious. I was assigned to a Covid-19 ward on my first day." She added: "Being back on the wards was eye-opening. There was a sombre tone throughout, and it brought home how serious the situation is. Ms Meynell said her time on the Covid-19 ward was an eye-opening experience / British Heart Foundation "There were nurses and staff who had been redeployed from other departments and were understandably anxious at being in a completely new environment. "But what shone through for me was the sense of camaraderie on the ward. "Everyone is truly in it together and was devoted to giving the best care they could, even in the tragic circumstances we were all facing." The thought of contracting Covid-19 bothered Ms Meynell and her biggest fear was passing the illness to her three children and her husband. "When I arrived home from work each day, Id undress at the door and throw all the clothing in the wash," she said. Ms Meynell said she was worried about passing the virus to her family / British Heart Foundation "My family knew to leave the door unlocked for me and to make sure that all the doors I would need to walk through to get to the shower were open." She added: "I started to feel quite sick after my first two shifts and struggled to shake that feeling away. That concerned me and I began distancing from my family as a precaution. "But when I mentioned this to another nurse, they said they had felt the same symptoms too, and that this was probably because of the face masks we had to wear." Gorakhpur : , April 23 (IANS) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday directed officials to extend all possible help to the family of the 38-year-old labourer who died in Delhi and was symbolically cremated in Gorakhpur, his native place. The dummy of Sunil, a migrant labourer, was cremated on April 17. The family had to take this step as they were unable to bear the cost of bringing back the body which was Rs 25,000 then. The Chief Minister has asked the nodal officer in Delhi to make arrangements to send the body from Delhi. District Magistrate Vijyendra Pandiyan visited the grieving family on Wednesday evening and handed a cheque of Rs 2 lakh to the wife of the deceased labourer and assured all help. The government also transferred Rs 30,000 in Poonam's bank account under National Family Benefit Scheme. The District Magistrate said that Poonam will get widow pension and a job as per her qualification and capabilities. The family will also be given land for farming. A house will also be given to the family under the CM Awas Yojana and children will be admitted to school. Sunil is survived by five children -- four daughters and a son. Sunil (38) of Dumrikhurd village under Chauri Chaura tehsil of Gorakhpur, had died at a Delhi hospital on April 14. His family conducted a symbolic cremation on April 17 and the deceased one-year-old son lit the pyre on which an effigy had been placed. Sunil's father, Radhey Shyam, said that the labour contractor had called the family on April 11, telling them that Sunil was unwell. A policeman called the family from Sunil's phone on April 14, informing them that he had died. "We were not able to bring back the body as the charges were Rs 25,000 and we could not pay the amount," the father said. Sunil's wife Poonam sent a letter through Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Arpit Gupta to Delhi Police, asking them to conduct a post-mortem and the cremation. Two days after Sunil's death, the family decided to hold a dummy cremation and Sunil's one-year-old son lit the pyre. Panaji, April 23 : The Association of All Goa Muslim Jamaats on Thursday issued a pre-Ramzan advisory urging Muslims in the state not to organise community iftars and pray for frontline health workers, police and those involved in combating the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Jamaat urged community members to strictly follow government directives related to the ongoing lockdown and restrict movement outside homes and to follow social distancing norms. "No iftar should be held at any masjids across the state of Goa. Do not arrange iftar parties at home or neighbourhood localities for relatives and others," the advisory stated. "In these trying times please remember the entire Ummah, our nation, all the doctors, the frontline health workers, police and all involved in fighting this pandemic in your duas (prayers)," the advisory said. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Dalmia Cement (Bharat) Limited, Indias leading cement company for over eight decades, has launched a digital engagement programme, Dalmia Cares for its dealers and channel partners across the country. The programme offers cement dealers multiple ways to engage in social responsibility, wellness and family activities using digital and in home/ near home activities. Speaking about the launch, Ujjwal Batria, Chief Operating Officer, Dalmia Cement, said: We have prided ourselves on being the first to market with various digital tools over the years. These tools help dealers make day to day business interactions easy, quick and cost-efficient. With the lockdown in force to overcome Covid19, we have launched several activities to keep morale up, help local communities and increase life satisfaction during this difficult time. Pramesh Arya, Executive Director- Marketing, Dalmia Cement, said: Many of our dealers are community and business leaders, and have already undertaken a number of social activities in their local areas. With Dalmia Cares, we wanted to create a larger social movement, helping give shape to a more focused effort to help communities and families. The Dalmia Cares programme includes daily task-based activities, including showcasing hidden talents, fitness activities at home, culinary challenges, puzzles, feeding local communities, helping stray animals among others. Dealers completing these tasks earn reward points, which they can redeem against a range of exciting prizes, including gadgets and household appliances. Dealers were also encouraged to donate to the PM-CARES fund and other charitable organisations of their choice. These funds raised by Dalmia Cement dealers are in addition to the 25 crore and 1.6 crore donated by Dalmia Bharat Group, and its employees respectively. Dalmia Cement is one of the largest producers of speciality cement products in India, offering individual and institutional customers a wide variety of products across the country. The brand also offers products under the Dalmia DSP and Konark brands in key markets. The programme has received hundreds of entries from the states Dalmia Cement operates in, with dealers delighting families and local communities with their contributions. The company will extend the programme as long as the effects of the lockdown remain in force around the country. Samuel Corum/Getty Mitch McConnell had a clear message on Wednesday to state and local governments anxiously waiting on Washington for more relief aid to cope with the coronavirus: Dont look at me. I mean, we all represent states. We all have governors regardless of party who would love to have free money, McConnell told conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. My guess is their first choice would be for the federal government to borrow money from future generations to send it down to them now so they dont have to do that. Thats not something Im going to be in favor of. McConnell (R-KY) may be the Senate Majority Leader, a powerful lawmaker tasked with shaping legislation with national concerns in mind. But, as he noted to Hewitt, McConnell does indeed represent a stateand his comments echoed loud and clear there. It was kind of like a punch in the stomach to read, Joni Jenkins, the Democratic minority leader in Kentuckys state House of Representatives, told The Daily Beast. She explained that Kentucky, like nearly every state and local government in the country, is staring down an unprecedented fiscal squeeze. With normal business and commerce ground to a halt, sales tax revenue is drying up; skyrocketing unemployment rates mean that state income tax revenues will crater, too. The Kentucky legislature, which just recessed for the year last week, passed a one-year austerity budget in response to the coronavirus economic damage. The functions of government are getting hard-hit: the University of Kentucky, for example, announced this week it faces a $70 million budget shortfall and is furloughing employees. Jenkins said that the legislature will have to reconvene if state revenues dip by more than 5 percent, which is likely. Many of us were hoping for federal help, she said. I dont see how we get out of this downward spiral without some help from the federal government. Coronavirus Is Building an Invisible Border Wall Between Kentucky and Tennessee Story continues A similar feeling was expressed by the states Democratic governor, Andy Beshear, at a press availability on Wednesday. Asked about McConnells comments, Beshear said he hoped to discuss the matter with him personally. But, said the governor, every state in the country is going to be in desperate need of federal aid. If the federal government doesnt provide that aid, itll further exacerbate the recession we are in It will make restarting the economy that much more difficult. With McConnell on the ballot in his home state this Novemberand facing a well-funded Democratic opponent his inclination to cut off state and local governments during a crisis might seem like a puzzling political move. But McConnell, as canny a political operator there is in Washington or anywhere, might have different parochial political considerations in mind. The GOP leader has framed federal assistance to state and local governments as blue state bailoutspartially because the coronavirus outbreak has disproportionately affected heavily Democratic states like New York and New Jersey. The $2.2 trillion CARES Act passed in March contained a $150 billion relief fund to state, local, and tribal governments, with funding levels largely tied to population. Efforts from Democrats to replenish that fund were swatted down by the GOP in the nearly half-trillion dollar package the Senate passed on Tuesday. Taking a stand against sending further aid to these states could play well politically with Kentuckys conservative voters, even if it means state and local governments in the commonwealth see less aid, said Stephen Voss, a professor of political science at the University of Kentucky. Hes the head of the Republican Partysupposed to be the fiscally conservative choicebut he and the Republicans in Congress have been signing off on massive amounts of money to try to combat the effects of COVID, Voss told The Daily Beast. McConnell signaling a tightening of purse strings on state and local funds, he said, lets him straddle the need to act and the need to show theyre not spending frivolously. But McConnells pursuit of the perception of fiscal responsibility rankles his critics, who note that before the senator motioned to turn off the tap for federal aid to states, he spent the lead-up to his reelection campaign flexing his ability to deliver billions of dollars to Kentucky, in the CARES Act and elsewhere. After the CARES Act passed in March, McConnells campaign began running ads in Kentucky touting his role in securing the legislation. America is in crisis like never before. And in times of crisis, we look to leaders, the ad said. Mitch McConnell led the passage of the biggest economic rescue package in history. If hes going to take credit for spending $2.2 trillion of federal tax dollars and then $484 billion in federal tax dollars, and then try to make the argument this is not the federal government's role, why the hell did he do it? asked Rep. John Yarmuth, Kentuckys lone Democratic congressman. Hes already taking credit for it here, the ads are running every day. Its nonsense. And after Congress passed a year-end spending bill last December, McConnell returned to his home state to tout nearly $1 billion in direct federal spending for Kentucky. In recent months, McConnell has announced his role in securing millions in federal money for local infrastructure projects, medical supplies, and a program at the University of Louisville, home to the political science center that bears his name. For states and localities tasked with squaring an impossible fiscal circle because of COVID-19, McConnell suggested to Hewitt on Wednesday other remedies: raising taxes, and bankruptcy. States, which nearly all have statutory requirements to balance their budgets every year, currently cannot pursue bankruptcy. McConnell told Hewitt that should change. The leaders suggestion came across as salt in the wound to officials in Kentucky. I dont want to be in that situation whatsoever, Beshear said on Wednesday. We ought to be working with the federal government with the stimulus that theyre providing to make sure we can continue to operate state government, not deepen any economic hardships we are facing. The remark also earned McConnell harsh criticism from members of his own party, though not in Kentucky. Rep. Peter King, a Republican who represents a Long Island district near the diseases epicenter in New York City, called the bankruptcy remark shameful and indefensible. To say that it is free money to provide funds for cops, firefighters, and healthcare workers makes McConnell the Marie Antoinette of the Senate, said King. The Daily Beast reached out to several GOP officials in Kentucky to ask for comment, but none responded. And Democrats like Yarmuth wondered what would happen if state and local entities have to cut down on essential services like emergency medical responders, firefighters, police, and transportation. If the city isnt getting any revenue, which right now it basically is not, how are they going to pay their first responders? asked Yarmuth, who represents the Louisville area where McConnell lives. Whether youre in an urban or rural area, if you call the police and they dont show up because they are short-staffed, if you call an ambulance and they dont show up because theyre short-staffed, said Jenkins, this affects you no matter where you live in the state. McConnell and like-minded allies have implied that states have been fiscally irresponsible and that any further appropriation of funds from Washington amounts to a federal bailout of bad decision-making. States should always plan for a rainy day just like any business, tweeted former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley on Thursday. I disagree that states should take Fed money or be bailed out. This will lead to taxpayers paying for mismanagement of poorly run states. McConnell specifically mentioned public employee pension obligations in his interview with Hewittsomething that has become a defining feature in Kentucky politics in recent years. The state governments enormous public-employee pension obligation has threatened to consume Kentuckys budget; the austerity-driven response from former GOP Gov. Matt Bevin is seen by many as a major reason why Beshear ousted him in 2019. If youre ticked off about the Republicans trying to deal with budgetary shortfalls by figuring out ways to lessen pension obligations in Kentucky, youre already ticked off at Republicans, said Voss. It doesnt cost [McConnell] that much to signal to people who might not want money flowing to those places to realize hes holding the line. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Aston Martin, B&Q and housebuilder Taylor Wimpey are among a number of UK companies making plans to get staff back to work after halting their operations because of safety concerns. Retail, construction and manufacturing each face their own challenges when trying to work during a pandemic. All three companies say that they have used the period of closure to assess how to properly implement social distancing guidelines, but how will they ensure they keep staff and customers safe? B&Q DIY retailer B&Q is reopening 61 of its 155 of its stores after closing them when the government announced the lockdown last month. The company is allowed to open as its designated as an essential business. Services like paint mixing, timber cutting and key cutting have been suspended. Customers will not be able to pay with cash and are advised to use contactless card payments where possible. How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities Show all 6 1 /6 How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities Milan, Italy REUTERS How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities North Jakarta, Indonesia REUTERS How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities Jakarta, Indonesia REUTERS How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities Venice, Italy REUTERS How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities New Delhi, India REUTERS How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities Islamabad, Pakistan REUTERS Checkouts have been fitted with Perspex screens and 2m markers placed on the floor. A spokesperson said: Similar to shopping at a supermarket, were strictly limiting the number of customers in store at any one time, and so customers are typically queueing before entering stores. All stores have a designated queueing area outside and these have two metre markers to help remind everyone to respect each others personal space. Aston Martin Aston Martin Lagonda announced that it will resume operations at its St Athan facility, in Wales, on 5 May as it starts to gradually bring back the 75 per cent of its workforce currently furloughed. The luxury car maker says it is following guidelines from Public Health Wales and Public Health England to protect its workforce and will take learnings in terms of health and safety into account when it reopens its main car plant in Gaydon, Warwickshire, at a later date. Both sites have been closed since 25 March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Only a few people will start at St Athan on the first day of reopening, most of whom will be managers who will work through safety procedures. Aston Martin plans to bring back more workers in stages, giving time to iron out any issues. Staff will have their temperature checked when they arrive for signs of fever and must wear masks at work. They will be provided with all necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), and 2m spacing will be marked on the floor, the company said. The firm also announced that its senior leadership team have agreed to a reduction in pay. Taylor Wimpey For construction firms like Taylor Wimpey the challenges of working during a pandemic are different but no easier to deal with. There has been no government ban on construction work but the housebuilder closed its sites, show homes and sales centres last month, as a precaution. There had been a number of reports of other construction companies not operating proper social distancing measures. Taylor Wimpey plans to restart building on 4 May after meticulously planning how to modify working practices to enable workers to return to safely to sites. Taylor Wimpy said it had created detailed new site operating protocols developed in compliance with strict social distancing requirements. The company said it had assessed each and every aspect of site activities to comply with guidance issued by the Construction Leadership Council (CLC). All employees, subcontractors and visitors will have to sign up to a new code of conduct. Workers will also be issued with bespoke PPE which the company has designed in house for jobs that require two people to work together. The Health and Safety Executive, a government body, will monitor safe processes on-site. Sales centres, show homes and regional offices remain closed with employees working remotely while Taylor Wimpey monitors the latest guidance. The number of crimes prosecuted in England and Wales hit a record low last year, figures have revealed, with even fewer criminals being charged since then because of the coronavirus lockdown. Only 7.1 per cent of the offences recorded by police resulted in a charge or summons in 2019, down 8.3 per cent 47,300 offences on the previous year. The figures were released amid warnings that the criminal justice system is going into meltdown because of the Covid-19 outbreak. With half of courts closed and those still operating hearing urgent matters only, many trials have been delayed indefinitely and a backlog of at least 38,000 criminal cases is mounting. Guidance issued by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) last week said the unprecedented circumstances must be considered when deciding whether charges are in the public interest or a proportionate response. Prosecutors may now discontinue proceedings or stop cases by offering no evidence against defendants, or accept guilty pleas to some charges or less serious ones to avoid trial. They can also choose to refer cases back to police to be dealt with using fines, cautions or community resolutions, which do not require a court hearing. The CPS said the change would not affect most serious or violent types of crime, which will still be deemed in the public interest to prosecute. According to the new figures, only 1.5 per cent of recorded rapes were prosecuted in 2019, 3.3 per cent of all sexual offences, 7 per cent of violent incidents and robberies, and 5 per cent of thefts. The highest proportion of charges were for weapons possession, standing at 35 per cent, followed by drug offences at a quarter. Some criminals are even less likely to be prosecuted because of the coronavirus outbreak (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) (Getty) Campaigners have said the response to rape amounts to a decriminalisation of the crime, amid controversy over demands to see victims mobile phones and personal records. Yvette Cooper, chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, said: Its extremely concerning that the number of crimes resulting in a charge has fallen again. Public confidence in the criminal justice system cant be sustained if fewer crimes are dealt with each year. It is particularly worrying that the charging rate for rape is so low. Victims of rape must be supported in coming forward and need to have the confidence that perpetrators will be prosecuted and convicted. Last Tuesday, High Court judges refused permission for a legal challenge over allegations that the CPS had encouraged prosecutors to remove weak rape cases from the system which it denies. The authority said it does not hesitate to prosecute cases that meet its legal tests, and considers any crime referred by the police. The drop in the number of cases going to court mirrors the reduction in files passed to us from the police, a CPS spokesperson added. At the same time, we are seeing more complex cases, as well as increasing volumes of digital material which can lead to longer investigations. More than 12,000 phones and other digital devices are currently being held by police in England and Wales, and some forces admitted that examinations can take more than a year. Officers have accused the CPS of demanding greater amounts of digital material in the wake of a 2017 scandal over a series of rape trials that collapsed when crucial evidence was discovered late. While the number of police officers has fallen by more than 20,000 since 2010, the CPS has also been hit by budget cuts and announced plans to hire 400 more prosecutors earlier this year. In December, the government announced a new royal commission on the criminal justice system that it said would deliver a fundamental review of key issues and make it more efficient and effective. A Downing Street document made no mention of the budget cuts imposed on police and the Ministry of Justice since 2010, which are now starting to be reversed. Boris Johnson pledged to recruit 20,000 extra police officers in three years, but the drive has been hit by the coronavirus, which has forced the closure of training and assessment centres. Police leaders have insisted their response to crime is business as usual despite staff absences caused by the coronavirus, after overall reported offences falling by 28 per cent year-on-year during the early weeks of the lockdown. Alberta is in the final stage of testing a new contact-tracing app that people will be able to download to their cellphones, the province's Chief Medical Officer of Health said at a news conference on Thursday. "Albertans will have the choice about whether to download the app," Dr. Deena Hinshaw said. All information collected will be stored on people's personal phones, not by the government, she said. "This app uses Bluetooth to note if you came into contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19," Hinshaw said. "The app does not track Albertans' geographic locations." The app will speed up information gathering to support the contact-tracing work public health workers are already doing. Similar apps have already been used effectively in Singapore and South Korea, Hinshaw said. Moving health into 21st century "This is simply taking our decades-old public health approach into the 21st century, and providing more efficient means for Albertans to work with public health in tracing contacts of cases. "I want to again emphasize that this is a voluntary app and Albertans will be able to choose whether or not to download it." The government has spoken with the Information and Privacy Commissioner about the app, she said, and no concerns were raised. "We expect it will be available to all Albertans in the coming weeks once the trials are finished." Soon after the news conference, Information and Privacy Commissioner Jill Clayton issued a statement saying her office has yet to receive detailed information about the app, despite receiving a "high-level overview about the goals of this program" earlier this month. "The Government of Alberta has committed to providing a privacy impact assessment on this initiative, and we look forward to reviewing it when it is received," Clayton said. Clayton said it will be important for the government to provide users of the app with a "clear, easy to understand description of privacy practices." Story continues "Knowing in plain language what types of personal information may be collected, how that information will be used and in what circumstances it will be disclosed will assist people in choosing to opt-in to using the app," Clayton said. "Outlining what if any information is retained, for how long it is retained, and stating when this program will end will also help build the public's trust in using the app." Two more people in Alberta have died from COVID-19, both in the Brooks area, and the province reported 319 new cases on Thursday, Hinshaw said at her news conference. The total number of deaths is now 68, and the total number of cases sits at 3,720. Of that, 1,357 people have now recovered from the illness. No summer festivals By now, people have grown accustomed to bad news, and Hinshaw had more for those Albertans who may be looking forward to summer festivals or time spent at the cabin. "We need to remember that a single case of COVID-19 can spread like wildfire in large groups of people," she said. "That is why today I want to clarify that the mass gathering restrictions currently in place also apply to all summer events or festivals in Alberta. "Those restrictions prohibit gatherings of more than 15 people and require people gathered in groups of fewer than 15 to maintain a distance of two metres from one another. "Albertans are prohibited from attending any event that would violate these orders," Hinshaw said. "I know summer festivals and events are incredibly important for many people. This decision was not made lightly, but we must do everything we can to prevent the spread of COVID-19. "We have seen that festivals and large gatherings hold the potential to be super-spreader events, where one sick person can expose many others to the virus, spreading COVID-19 across households, communities and even large geographical distances." Better access to protective gear Hinshaw also said Alberta Health Services has developed a new, easier approach to ensure personal protective equipment (PPE) is available to all community specialists, including ophthalmologists, surgeons, radiologists and other specialists. "Effective immediately, community specialists are able to order PPE for their clinics through their AHS zone's point of contact," she said. The regional breakdown of cases as of Thursday was: Calgary zone: 2,633 Edmonton zone: 454 South zone: 373 North zone: 157 Central zone: 80 Unknown: 23 For weeks now, Albertans have been absorbed in the daily numbers of the COVID-19 pandemic watching each day to see how many more people have died, how many more cases have been reported. To offer a longer view of what's happening in the province, CBC News looked at the numbers for a eight-day period, starting April 16 and ending Thursday. During those eight days, 18 more people in Alberta died of COVID-19. During that same period, 1,562 new cases were reported and more than 23,000 people were tested, bringing that total to 112,162. Kathmandu, April 23 Nepal Tarun Dal, the youth wing of main opposition Nepali Congress, has demanded that former government secretary Bhim Upadhyaya be released. Police in Lalitpur had arrested the former bureaucrat, reportedly on the charge of writing various statements against Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his government on Wednesday. Whereas the police have claimed that some of his statements amount to cybercrime, the NTD says the accusation was false. In a statement on Thursday, the NTD president Jeet Jang Basnet demands an unconditional release of Upadhyaya. By Express News Service BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh Police arrested a person accused of raping and bliding a six-year-old girl at Banshipur village under Jabera police station limits in Damoh district of the state. The cops nabbed 21-year-old Sachin Sen who later admitted to committing the crime. He has been booked for rape and abduction under various IPC sections, besides the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act 2012, Damoh SP Hemant Chauhan said. The accused admitted that he lured the minor girl into the abandoned house in the pretext of giving her sweets. He then tied up her hands with a rope and raped her while pressing his hands on the girls eyes making her almost blind, said Chauhan. After rounding up around 30-40 suspects, the police zeroed on five suspects and during the grilling the cops succeeded in finding the actual culprit - Sachin Sen - who hailed from the same village. The incident came to light on Thursday morning, when the villagers spotted the minor lying unconscious with her hands tied in an abandoned house in her native village. The girl was missing since Wednesday evening. The girl is now hospitalised at the Jabalpur Medical College in Jabalpur, where the swelling of the eyes is slowly subsiding. Once the the swelling subsides completely, the surgeon will perform the surgery, the SP said. Earlier, a bounty of Rs 10,000 was announced for the information leading to the accused's arrest. Shocked over the gruesome incident, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan termed it "shameful and unfortunate". "Directions have been issued to arrest the accused promptly and sternest possible punishment would be given. Best possible treatment would be provided to the little girl," tweeted Chouhan. The European Commission will grant Tunisia a 600 million loan to help the country limit the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. Tunisia is part of ten European Union enlargement and neighborhood partners for whom the European Commission proposed a 3 billion macro-financial assistance (MFA) package. Tunisia has forecast an economic recession estimated at 4.3 per cent due to the pandemic, which has forced the government to put the country on lockdown, suspending most economic activities. In the tourism sector, the countrys second largest GDP contributor after agriculture, the Tunisian government projected about $1.4 billion-loss in terms of revenues and the loss of some 400,000 jobs. The North African has confirmed over 900 cases including 38 deaths. The 600 million loan from the European Commission adds to 250 million pledged by the European Union, 50 million by Italy and $745 million already approved by the IMF. The European Commissions proposal comes on top of the Team Europe strategy, the EUs robust and targeted response to support partner countries efforts in tackling the coronavirus pandemic, the commission said in a press release. The MFA funds will be made available for 12 months in the form of loans on highly favorable terms to help these countries cover their immediate, urgent financing needs. Together with the International Monetary Funds support, the funds can contribute to enhancing macroeconomic stability and creating space to allow resources to be allocated towards protecting citizens and mitigating the coronavirus pandemics negative socio-economic consequences. Under the agreement with the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), Etihad Cargo will provide dedicated cargo services between Abu Dhabi and Australia, leveraging bellyhold capacity of its fleet of Etihad Airways passenger aircraft to deliver essential supplies into the Australian market, and facilitate bi-directional trade to further ensure continuity of fresh imports to the UAE from Australia including meat, fish and seafood, fruits, and vegetables. The initiative has been established by the Australian Government to accelerate delivery of agricultural and fisheries exports into key overseas markets, with over 560 Australian businesses already registering their interest in utilising the International Freight Assistance Mechanism. Abdulla Mohamed Shadid, managing director cargo and logistics at Etihad Aviation Group, said: In this time of crisis, the facilitation of international trade and delivery of essential supplies is more important than ever. Australia has been a longtime and vital trading partner for the UAE and we are pleased to be able to continue to provide this lifeline connecting our countries and enabling the movement of goods that is helping to save peoples lives, supporting Australias produce exporters and continuing to support the UAEs food security programme. Federal Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said this new network would be crucial to coordinating international freight out of Australia until commercial passenger flights were restored. Around 90 per cent of our air freight, usually goes out in the bellies of passenger aircraft. With very few international passenger flights leaving Australia at present, our exporters are facing major hurdles, Minister Birmingham said. Through the better coordination of freight out of Australia, we can restore key freight routes and establish more frequent flights to our key markets so our agricultural and fisheries exporters can deliver their products to customers on time. Weve moved quickly to establish this network and are now getting on with the job of supporting our exporters to get their products flowing again. With a network of some of the worlds largest airlines and most reputable freight forwarders in place, were injecting more reliability into the system that will also help our smaller exporters to aggregate their freight into volumes so they dont miss out on export opportunities. Donald Trumps top economic adviser said the administration will look at limiting liability for businesses over the spread of the coronavirus. I think liability reforms and safeguards are going to be a very important part of this, Larry Kudlow, director of the White Houses National Economic Council, told CNBC in an interview Wednesday morning. Thats a very important point here somebodys got to defend the businesses. Trump has indicated the administration is looking to limit liability in cases where workers, or possibly customers, fall ill from the virus. We have tried to take liability away from these companies, the president said Monday at a White House news conference. He added that he would seek a legal opinion on the matter but said details of an approach hadnt yet been discussed. Businesses Fear Lawsuits from Sick Employees, Patrons After Reopening Whenever U.S. stores, restaurants and theaters reopen from coronavirus shutdowns, they may face an unexpected problem: lawsuits from sick patrons and workers. Learn more. Businesses Press Congress for Immunity When States Lift Coronavirus Lockdowns Businesses want to make sure that they are not held liable for policy decisions by government officials, should employees or customers contract COVID-19 once operations resume. Learn more. Speaking to CNBC Wednesday, Kudlow described the potential measure as a guardrail, particularly aimed at small businesses. That is very important here regarding safeguarding, guard-railing liability insurance lawsuits, which I am quite concerned about, he said. Businesses, particularly small business that dont have massive resources, should not be held liable, should not be held to trial lawyers putting on false lawsuits that will probably be thrown out of court. Kudlow said there would be constant monitoring of the virus, although Trump has said its up to states to take the lead on testing. Governors have repeatedly sounded the alarm that the U.S. continues to face a widespread shortfall of testing and testing supplies. Photo: Employees clean shopping carts and baskets outside a Whole Foods Market Inc. store in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. Some workers at Whole Foods Market stores across the U.S. called in sick on Tuesday, part of a coordinated action to demand more sick pay and protections for grocery store employees working through the coronavirus pandemic. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics COVID-19 Claims USA Published: 23 April 2020 Innovation expenditure grew in 2018 from two years ago Over 60 per cent of enterprises employing at least 10 persons were involved in innovation activity in 2016 to 2018. Good one-third of enterprises introduced new or improved products to the market and nearly one half renewed their business processes. Compared with the previous survey of two years ago, EUR 760 million more innovation expenditure was now reported. The data appear from the statistics on enterprises innovation published by Statistics Finland. Enterprises innovation activity is still, particularly as concerns product development, more common in manufacturing enterprises than in service industries. Forty per cent of manufacturing enterprises made product innovations in 2016 to 2018 and 34 per cent of enterprises in service industries introduced new or improved products to the market. Processes related to business activities were renewed by nearly an equal share of manufacturing and service enterprises. Renewal of production processes is more common in manufacturing than in service industries. For other business functions, activity was renewed almost as generally with regard to information technology and administration systems and business practices and external relations slightly more often in service industries than in manufacturing. Prevalence of innovation activity in manufacturing (B-C-D-E) and services (G46-H-J-K-M71-M72-M73) in 2016 to 2018, share of enterprises Around two-thirds of the combined turnover of the surveyed enterprises were generated in 2018 in enterprises that had had product innovations in 2016 to 2018. In 2018, the turnover derived from product innovations represented altogether 22 per cent of the turnover of those having reported product innovations. This is 14 per cent of the combined turnover of all enterprises in the survey. A total of EUR 760 million more innovation expenditure was recorded in 2018 than in the previous survey in 2016. Expenditure amounted to nearly EUR 6.8 billion. Growth was mostly recorded in enterprises located in service industries. The majority, 66 per cent, of innovation expenditure reported in Finland was generated from research and development. In Finland enterprises reported fairly little expenditure on other innovation activity. Although innovation expenditure grew mainly in service industries, over one-half, 58 per cent of expenditure in 2018 was generated in manufacturing, where innovation expenditure totalled EUR 3.9 billion. Thus, the share of service industries was 42 per cent and EUR 2.9 billion. Twenty-nine per cent of those with innovation activity used public financial support for financing innovation activity. The most common form of support was government financial support. Financing obtained through equity finance was used for research and development or other innovation activity by one-tenth of those with innovation activity and debt finance was also directed to innovation activity by around 10 per cent of those with innovation activity. Data protection legislation is challenging from the viewpoint of innovation activity. Of the sub-areas of legislation presented in the inquiry it was assessed clearly most often as having an effect on innovation activity, above all as a factor hampering innovation activity. Lack of skilled employees in the enterprise and different priorities within the enterprise as well as too high costs were found to be the most essential of the factors hampering actual innovation activity. Over 40 per cent of those with innovation activity assessed lack of skilled employees at least a medium high factor hampering innovation activity. The inquiry examining innovation activity inquired about enterprises development potentials more widely from enterprises that did not have innovation activity in the reference period of the survey. There were features promoting renewal in enterprises even if the activity was not realised in the reference period into work aiming at innovations. For example, nearly 30 per cent of enterprises that did not report innovation activity in 2016 to 2018 acquired technical services and over one third renewed their stock of machinery, equipment and software. Source: Innovation 2018, Statistics Finland Inquiries: Mervi Niemi 029 551 3263, Heidi Pirkola 029 551 3246, tiede.teknologia@stat.fi Director in charge: Mari Yla-Jarkko Publication in pdf-format (600.0 kB) Updated 23.4.2020 Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Innovation [e-publication]. ISSN=1797-4399. 2018. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 12.1.2022]. Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/inn/2018/inn_2018_2020-04-23_tie_001_en.html At a time when most of the countries around the world have imposed a lockdown to curb the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus pathogen, it is important to protect yourself and the people around you by knowing the facts of the COVID-19 and taking suitable precautions. The virus has spread to more than 200 countries since it was first reported from China in December 2019. It is highly contagious and there is no prescribed vaccine to cure the disease. What are the symptoms: * Fever * Tiredness. * Dry cough. * Aches and pains. * Nasal congestion. * Runny nose. * Sore throat. * Diarrhoea. What are the precautions to take: * Seek medical attention. * Follow the directions of your local health authority. * Dont touch your eyes, nose or mouth. * Cover your nose and mouth with your bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. * Clean your hands often. Use soap and water, or an alcohol-based hand rub. * Maintain a safe distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing. * Stay home if you feel unwell. * Avoiding unnecessary visits to medical facilities allows healthcare systems to operate more effectively, therefore protecting you and others. The lockdown that was necissitated was put into effect from midnight of March 25 up til April 15 but then it was extended till May 3. Except for essential services everything has else has been shutdown and everyone has been asked to stay at home. While they are several things that a person can do when at home here are few tips to keep yourself calm amid this crisis. Tips if you are feeling anxious * Maintain work/life balance. * Stay in regular contact with friends/family, and use technology creatively to do this. * Practice mindfulness, exercise or meditate. * Regulate your news media monitoring, especially TV news. Read articles, instead. Meanwhile, in India the total number of COVID-19 cases surge to 21, 393 which includes 16,454 active cases, 4,257 cured and 681 deaths, as on 8 am Thursday (April 23). Government forces killed at least six suspected Abu Sayyaf militants in a gunbattle that also left eight soldiers wounded in the southern Philippines, the military said Thursday. The clash on Wednesday near Patikul town in Sulu province occurred five days after gunmen led by overall Abu Sayyaf leader Hatib Hajan Sawadjaan killed 11 soldiers and wounded 14 others in a firefight in the same province, officials said. The brief, but intense firefight on Wednesday lasted for less than an hour, after which the Abu Sayyaf fled towards different directions under cover of darkness, Maj. Gen. Corleto Vinluan Jr., chief of the militarys Joint Task Force Sulu, said in an incident report. Troops recovered three bodies and some of equipment that the gunmen left behind. The three were identified as Guro Khalid, Udal Muhamadar Said and a third only by his alias, Budah. Based on reports, three more enemies were killed and many others were wounded, Vinluan said, bringing the Abu Sayyaf death toll to six. The eight soldiers wounded in the gunbattle were airlifted to Zamboanga city, where they were treated at a military hospital. They were believed to be out of immediate danger, the general said. It was not immediately known if the Abu Sayyaf unit they had clashed with included Sawadjaan. Philippine officials have accused him of masterminding a string of bombings on Jolo island last year, including a suicide attack that killed 23 at a church. Sawadjaan took over the reins of the Abu Sayyaf faction from Isnilon Hapilon, who was killed in the city of Marawi. Hapilon led hundreds of local Islamic State-linked gunmen, backed by Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern militants, in taking over the southern city three years ago. The siege precipitated a five-month battle with government forces in which 1,200 people were killed, most of them militants. The clash on April 17 that inflicted heavy casualties on the government side, including the deaths of 11 soldiers, was among the biggest in recent years. Troops retaliated and, at the weekend, killed a militant identified as Vikram, a grandson of Radullan Sahiron, the only original leader of the Abu Sayyaf who is still alive, officials said. Sahiron is believed to be hiding somewhere in Jolo under the protection of Sawadjaan, military intelligence officials said. Congressman Adam Schiff, co-author of the US congressional resolution on the recognition of Armenian Genocide, told the Voice of America that they have made significant progress in recent months, as the Armenian Genocide has been recognized by both parties in Congress, and they hope that the President will also recognize the Genocide, given such serious support in Congress. Schiff added that it is an important step if we want to be a leader in ethics. Asked what changes can be expected in US policy after the Armenian Genocides recognition by the Congress, Adam Schiff said he hoped that the Congress would recognize the Genocide at every session and that they would move on to the matters of reparations and justice. He said this year he would call on the US President to follow the example of the Congress and recognize the fact of the Armenian Genocide without following Turkey's demands. The congressman also touched upon the US assistance to Armenia. He said the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide about $1.1 million in assistance to Armenia in the fight against coronavirus, but they received positive information from the State Department that some other funds could be provided to Armenia for democracy and economic development. Adam Schiff stressed, however, that now the main goal is to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 in Armenia and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh). UNITED NATIONS, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The United States has recently attempted to block a UN resolution on equal access to COVID-19 supplies only to find that the document was already adopted under a temperary procedure, media reports said Tuesday. The resolution was adopted by consensus on Monday by the 193-member United Nations (UN) General Assembly. Its adoption was made known on Tuesday. According to the Agence France-Presse (AFP), the United States failed to block the resolution as its objection came late after a so-called "period of silence" expired on Monday. Under normal circumstances, the UN General Assembly adopts resolutions by consensus or majority votes through physical meetings. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has set up a temporary decision-making procedure, which allows its member states to veto any text of a proposed resolution during the "period of silence." In its report, the AFP quoted diplomats as saying that the United States did not voice objections before Monday's deadline, but did so just afterward. The adopted resolution requests the UN secretary-general to help promote and ensure access to and distribution of preventive tools, laboratory testing, reagents and supporting materials, essential medical supplies, new diagnostics, drugs, and future COVID-19 vaccines, with a view to making them available to all those in need, particularly in developing countries. It calls on member states and other relevant stakeholders to immediately take steps to prevent speculation on and undue stockpiling of essential medicines, vaccines, personal protective equipment and medical equipment that is required to effectively address COVID-19. During a virtual news briefing on Monday, Stephane Dujarric, spokesman of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said the secretary-general wants a vaccine for COVID-19 to be available to all people around the world. "We want to make sure that the vaccine does not exacerbate the issues of inequality when it actually arrives and that it is shared for the benefit of all," Dujarric said. The Health Minister has urged people to stay home this weekend, saying that restrictions would not be eased at all in the coming days, given where Ireland finds itself. Speaking in the Dail today, Simon Harris said that he understands the focus on the relaxation of restrictions, but says that as a country "the next 12 days are crucial" in suppressing Covid-19. Mr Harris said that the country's Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan had told him that if asked to make a recommendation given the current situation in Ireland, he would recommend that the current restrictions continue as is. Mr Harris said that he would like to give some certainty to the country, but was not in a position to. I wish I could tell you what the future holds, but it's too soon. The coming days matter. Mr Harris told the Dail that the reproductive rate of the illness - the number of people who each infected person had in turn infected - was now down to between 0.5 and 1.0. Sinn Fein's health spokesperson Louise O'Reilly, however, criticised the Minister for "mixed messages" on vigilance. She said that it was he who, in a Sunday newspaper interview had raised the question of the easing of restrictions. Mr Harris told the Dail that the reproductive rate of the illness the number of people who each infected person has in turn infected is now down to between 0.5 and 1.0: Im very pleased to inform the house today that the reproductive rate has fallen even further to between 0.5 and 1.0. What that means for every one person who contracts Covid-19, we now expect that they will spread it to no more than one other person. The model shows that at the beginning of April, around 100 people per day were being admitted to hospital with the virus. Im pleased to inform the house today that the modelling shows that that figure has fallen to around 40 people a day a significant reduction. The number of people in intensive care is also falling and the number of people being discharged from ICU is rising. Fianna Fails health spokesman Stephen Donnelly said nursing homes were left out of the planning for the Covid-19 outbreak. He said that the National Public Health Emergency Team had first discussed nursing homes at its 12th meeting on March 10. He said even then it was to say visitor restrictions taken by some homes were unnecessary: In fact, they closed playgrounds a week before they closed nursing homes. Mr Donnelly said that nursing homes do not have a seat on the National Public Health Emergency Team and asked Mr Harris if he would rectify this immediately. The minister said nursing homes are represented by their regulatory body, HIQA. He said that Mr Donnelly has pushed for representation for nursing home owners, but not their frontline staff. Mr Harris said the head of the HSE met nursing home representatives on February 19 to discuss preparedness. He said the meeting came more than a month before the WHO released its guidance on infection control. LOS ANGELES, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the COVID-19 crisis, free daily meditation and relaxation programs are offered to a global audience by M.T.O. Tamarkoz Association. These Instagram Live sessions are conducted by the world's top Tamarkoz instructors in English, Spanish, Hebrew, French, Farsi, German, Arabic and Italian. The purpose of these sessions is to provide stress management and assist in reducing anxiety during this historical time. M.T.O Tamarkoz Association M.T.O Tamarkoz Association The Tamarkoz method is rooted in the 1400-year-old practice of Sufi Meditation. It includes deep breathing, guided visualization, deep relaxation, heart concentration and Movazaneh - slow meditative movements. Currently, Tamarkoz classes are offered for units of academic credit to students at various universities including UC Berkeley and UC Davis. A pilot study on effects of the Tamarkoz method at Kaiser Permanente Hospital demonstrated statistically significant decline in depression amongst participants (Crumpler, 2005). Further, scientific research shows that this method significantly decreases perceived stress and heart rate, while significantly increases positive emotions. (Bahadorani, 2017). In addition, its techniques have been shown to enhance sleep, reduce pain, and increase creativity (Hoffart, 1999). M.T.O. Tamarkoz Association, which is affiliated with M.T.O. Shahmaghsoudi School of Islamic Sufism, also has an application available on iOS and Android devices, called M.T.O. Tamarkoz App. During these trying times, the app is offering free guided meditation exercises to help with overall balance, stress relief, better focus and sleep. "We are excited to be a part of this important global response to the pain and stresses caused by the current ongoing crisis," says Tamarkoz instructor Dr. Lynn Wilcox. One of the live session attendees, Ed Selbe, says "I am very grateful for these workshops that have helped me regain peace and balance during these uncertain days." For more information, please contact Dr. Bozorgzadeh at [email protected] or (773) 480-0148 or visit www.instagram.com/tamarkozapp/ or www.tamarkozapp.com . SOURCE M.T.O Tamarkoz Association Related Links http://www.tamarkozapp.com Shibu BS By Express News Service KOCHI: Any other time, this would have been an occasion for family get-togethers for iftar in which sharing food and embracing each other, hailing brotherhood, would have been the norm. Not this time. Amid the Covid-19 lockdown, Muslims all over the state are set to observe Ramzan fasting from Friday as the new moon (Masa Piravi) was sighted on Thursday evening. The spiritual heads of the community have already asked devout Muslims to adhere to social distancing and stay away from namaz at mosques. Due to the regulations imposed as part of the nationwide lockdown, the mosques have also shut its doors as a precaution. In most of the mosques, only the muezzin (one who recites the adhan) will be there. Even the penultimate line of the adhan, Hayya Ala swalah (come for the prayer), has been replaced with Asalat fi Beyootikum (pray at home) in the wake of the pandemic. Instructions were given to all mahal committees at the time of Covid-19 outbreak to strictly adhere to the norms issued by the government. We all know how important it is to keep social distancing to fight the pandemic. The devout Muslims consider it as a blessing to do charity during the holy month. These works, especially distribution of food packets, are usually coordinated through the mosques in respective areas. All such work may get affected, said Muhammed Faizy Onampilly, general secretary, Samastha Kerala Jam-Iyyathul Ulama (Ernakulam district). Meanwhile, grand mufti of India Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar has already issued a statement, asking the devout Muslims to perform namaz including Tarawih (the additional ritual prayers performed during Ramzan after the Isha namaz) at home itself. He also urged the people in his community to donate to the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). Zakat is the religious obligation of every Muslim under which a certain portion of the wealth they generate each year should be diverted to charity. Since Ramzan is the holy month, many people consider it an apt time to donate. This year, supporting the state in its fight against the pandemic is the priority. That is why Kanthapuram Musliyar has asked people to donate to the CMDRF, said Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS) Ernakulam district general secretary Ismail Saqafi Nellikuzhi. With over a month left for Eid-Ul-Fitr, the devout Muslims hope that the Covid-19 scare would subside by then, enabling them to celebrate the day with gusto after 30 days of fasting. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi discussed efforts to curtail the spread of the coronavirus with his Romanian Counterpart Klaus Lohannis on Thursday, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement. The two leaders discussed ways to boost cooperation in the fight against the pandemic by exchanging experience and strengthening coordination between the healthcare sectors of the two countries. El-Sisi and Klaus Lohannis also tackled means to boost economic ties and trade relations between the two countries as well as a number of regional issues. Search Keywords: Short link: T he spread of coronavirus through the UK population will be tracked with the help of a new study that the government hopes will help pin down immunity levels and infection rates. Some 20,000 households in England are being contacted to take part in the first-wave of the research, with initial findings expected in early May. All participants will provide a nose and throat swab to test for whether or not they currently have the virus. Adults in some 1,000 of the households will provide a blood sample to find out what proportion of the population has developed antibodies to Covid-19. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), leading the study with the Office for National Statistics (ONS), said participants will form a representative sample of the UK population by age and geography. Those selected will provide samples taken from self-administered nose and throat swabs and answer a few short questions during a home visit by a trained healthcare professional. Swab tests will show whether or not participants currently have the virus. All you need to know from the April 22 UK coronavirus briefing They will be asked to take further tests every week for the first five weeks, then every month for a year. In total, the Government says some 25,000 people will take part in the pilot phase with plans to extend it to up to around 300,000 over the next 12 months. Scientists will also analyse blood samples from adults in around 1,000 households to determine how many people have developed antibodies to the virus. One month since UK lockdown - In pictures 1 /14 One month since UK lockdown - In pictures The M5 motorway, looking south towards Devon PA A nearly-deserted Reuters Square in Canary Wharf PA A popular riverside walk alongside the Thames near London's Tower Bridge is almost empty PA The concourse of London's Waterloo station is almost devoid of travellers PA Empty streets and pavements surround Little Ben, a cast iron miniature clock tower, situated at the intersection of Vauxhall Bridge Road and Victoria Street PA Horse Guards Parade in London is empty as tourists stay away PA Liverpool waterfront is practically deserted PA Empty streets in Newcastle upon Tyne PA An empty shopping arcade at Windsor Station PA King's Parade, with King's College (left) and the Senate House (distance) in Cambridge PA A view of a near-deserted Waterlooville town centre in Hampshire PA Antibody testing is considered crucial in providing an exit pathway from the current lockdown, and also providing data to those developing a vaccine. England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty said at Wednesday's daily Downing Street briefing that there is currently not a test available that Public Health England (PHE) has enough confidence in. Scientists at Oxford University are in the process of validating an antibody test, also known as an Elisa test, which will be used in this study. They are on track to have a "fully validated and an accreditation compliant test" in place by May 4 according to Professor Derrick Crook, who is among those co-ordinating the programme of work at Oxford. This laboratory test will be used in the study by DHSC and ONS, but Prof Crook said there is capacity to process well over 20,000 tests a day should there be such a demand for testing. Participants in the antibody test will be asked to give further samples monthly for the next 12 months. Loading.... The Government says nose and throat swabs will be taken from all participating households, whether their members are reporting symptoms or not. Blood for antibody tests will not be taken in any households where someone has symptoms of Covid-19 or is currently self-isolating or shielding. TODO: define component type apester The study will involve the University of Oxford, data science company IQVIA UK and the National Biosample Centre in Milton Keynes. DHSC said healthcare workers will use recommended precautions to protect themselves and everyone in the household from getting the virus, and tests will be undertaken by the IQVIA nurse in the participant's own home. Loading.... Loading.... Although swab test results will be given to participants via their GP, a letter seen by the PA news agency says that those participating in the antibody test will not receive their results. The de-identified blood samples will be sent to Oxford University to be tested for antibodies, while infection testing swabs are to be sent to UK Biocentre. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: "This survey will help to track the current extent of transmission and infection in the UK, while also answering crucial questions about immunity as we continue to build up our understanding of this new virus. By Tuesday, Donald Trump had ordered a 60-day halt in issuing green cards to prevent people from immigrating to the United States, backing away from his harder-edged plans to suspend guest-worker programmes after business groups erupted in anger at the prospect of losing labour from countries like India New Delhi: When President Donald Trump announced via a late-night tweet that he would suspend immigration to protect US jobs from an economic tailspin caused by the coronavirus, Priyanka Nagar prepared for the worst. For more than a decade, Nagar, an Indian citizen, had steadily built a life in the United States but she was now back in India, awaiting a visa extension. She and her husband, who works for Microsoft, have applied for green cards. They hung an American flag from their balcony in their home in Washington state, where Nagar had given birth to the couples five-year-old daughter. But when Nagar read Trumps tweet posted late Monday, while separated from her family in the United States, the thought of leaving her hard-forged life behind without even a goodbye was devastating, she said. I beg the government not to think of us as enemies, Nagar, 39, a software developer, said. I want the US to prosper. It has given us so much. By Tuesday, Trump had ordered a 60-day halt in issuing green cards to prevent people from immigrating to the United States, backing away from his harder-edged plans to suspend guest-worker programmes after business groups erupted in anger at the prospect of losing labour from countries like India. But as millions of Americans file for unemployment, flooding food banks and hospitals, foreign workers worry that the pandemic will uproot them sooner rather than later. Immigrant groups warn that driven by what they call the Trump administrations protectionist impulses, the United States could purge some of its most talented workers, cutting into the vibrant multiculturalism that has made the United States such an attractive destination for decades. I cannot tell you the panic this has caused in the legal immigration community, Nandini Nair, an immigration lawyer based in New Jersey, said of Trumps upending of life by a tweet. Further immigration restrictions could have particularly acute consequences for India, which sends thousands of highly skilled workers to the United States every year and counts a 4 million strong diaspora in the country, representing one of the largest contingents of immigrants to the United States. Visa programmes like H-1B help fill specialty positions at companies like Google, Apple and Facebook. Indian-Americans are some of the countrys most successful and wealthiest immigrants, with a particular stronghold in Silicon Valleys startup scene. These days, Harkamal Singh Khural, 34, a software developer living in an Atlanta suburb, said he was barely sleeping. Even if the government did not push him out, he said a volatile job market meant his immigration status was already tenuous. The company that sponsors his H-1B visa has already let go of half of his team. His two daughters are U.S. citizens, meaning it was possible that his family could get separated. I am afraid of losing everything, Khural said. This is not really about a job. It is about dreams. For now, programmes like H-1B are unlikely to be immediately affected by the new restrictions. But on Tuesday, Trump left open the possibility of extending the ban on new green cards based on economic conditions at the time. He suggested that he may also introduce a second executive order that could further restrict immigration, brushing aside studies showing that a flow of foreign labor into the country has an overall positive effect on the US workforce and wages. We must first take care of the American worker, Trump said, insisting that newly jobless citizens should not have to compete with foreigners when the economy reopens. Rights groups say the immigration process has become increasingly complex and frustrating in recent years, with Trump fanning the flames of anti-immigrant sentiment by pushing for an extensive wall along the Mexican border and labelling a group of African nations shithole countries. For Indian citizens, building a more permanent base in the country was never easy. Most of the 800,000 immigrants currently waiting for a green card are Indian citizens. Because of quotas that limit the number of workers from each country, Indians can expect to wait up to 50 years for a green card since their representation among immigrants is so high in the United States. Last summer, the Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act, which sought to address the backlog by eliminating country quotas, sailed through the House. But it stalled in the Senate, where critics like Senator Dick Durbin, D-Illinois, argued that the bill would not solve the problem because it does not increase the overall number of green cards. Many Indian citizens said the back-and-forth was exhausting. I likely wont receive a green card in this lifetime unless the laws change, said Somak Goswami, an electrical engineer who applied for a green card in 2011. I have colleagues who came to the US in 2017 and have a green card already. My only fault was I was born in India. Analysts said immigration restrictions could strain the delicate but increasingly amicable relationship between India and the United States, the worlds most populous democracies. In recent months, Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India have sought to build an even stronger alliance, trading compliments about each other onstage at glittering events in Houston and Ahmadabad. Milan Vaishnav, the director of the South Asia Programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, said, Any action that appears to infringe on the mobility of Indians or Indian-Americans will be strongly resisted. Suffice it to say, this will not go over well in India, he said of stricter immigration controls. Modi has made outreach to the diaspora community in America and elsewhere a cornerstone of his foreign policy. In India, Nagar, who is staying with her parents in the state of Uttar Pradesh, said she was trying to remain hopeful, telling herself to live today and wait for tomorrow. But with international airspace largely closed, embassies shut for visa processing and the added stress of immigration restrictions, Nagar worried that the extension of her H-1B visa might be delayed by many more months, prolonging the separation from her family and raising the possibility that they may have to leave the United States entirely. Over a video call, Nagars daughter, a kindergarten student, told her: Mommy, when the virus dies, youll come. Ill wait for the virus to die. When video conversations with her daughter end, Nagar said she sometimes lies in bed and cries. In the US, you have the whole world working together toward a common goal, she said. You cannot find that diversity anywhere else. I love this country. Kai Schultz and Sameer Yasir c.2020 The New York Times Company The Vietnam-linked cyberespionage group tracked as APT32 carried out hacking campaigns against Chinese entities to collect intelligence on the COVID-19 crisis. Vietnam-linked APT group APT32, also known as OceanLotus and APT-C-00, carried out cyber espionage campaigns against Chinese entities to gather intelligence on the COVID-19 crisis. The APT32 group has been active since at least 2012, it has targeted organizations across multiple industries and foreign governments, dissidents, and journalists. Since at least 2014, experts at FireEye have observed APT32 targeting foreign corporations with an interest in Vietnams manufacturing, consumer products, and hospitality sectors. The APT32 also targeted peripheral network security and technology infrastructure corporations, and security firms that may have connections with foreign investors. According to FireEye, the nation-state hackers targeted the Wuhan Government and the Chinese Ministry of Emergency Management with spear-phishing attacks. From at least January to April 2020, suspected Vietnamese actors APT32 carried out intrusion campaigns against Chinese targets that Mandiant Threat Intelligence believes was designed to collect intelligence on the COVID-19 crisis. reads the report published by FireEye. While targeting of East Asia is consistent with the activity weve previously reported on APT32, this incident, and other publicly reported intrusions, are part of a global increase in cyber espionage related to the crisis, carried out by states desperately seeking solutions and nonpublic information, FireEye points out. The first attack spotted by the researchers took place on January 6, 2020, the attackers targeted the Chinas Ministry of Emergency Management with messages using the subject (translation: Report on the first quarter results of office equipment bids). The content of the messages includes a tracking link containing the recipients email address, that allowed the attackers to determine whether the email was opened. The experts discovered additional tracking URLs that revealed the nation-state actors targeted Chinas Wuhan government and the Ministry of Emergency Management. Experts noticed that the libjs.inquirerjs[.]com domain was already used in December as a C2 for a METALJACK phishing campaign targeting countries in South Asia. APT32 attackers likely used COVID-19-themed attachments to infect systems of Chinese speaking targets. The attackers employed a version of the METALJACK loader displaying a COVID-19 decoy document having the filename written in Chinese. The document shows a copy of a New York Times article to the victim while launches the malicious payload. The malware also loads shellcode in an additional resource, MD5: a4808a329b071a1a37b8d03b1305b0cb, which contains the METALJACK payload. The shellcode performs a system survey to collect the victims computer name and username and then appends those values to a URL string using libjs.inquirerjs[.]com. It then attempts to call out to the URL. If the callout is successful, the malware loads the METALJACK payload into memory. continues the report. The report includes technical details of the attacks such as Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) and the MITRE ATT&CK technique mapping. The COVID-19 crisis poses an intense, existential concern to governments, and the current air of distrust is amplifying uncertainties, encouraging intelligence collection on a scale that rivals armed conflict. FireEye concludes.National, state or provincial, and local governments, as well as non-government organizations and international organizations, are being targeted, as seen in reports, Please give me your vote for European Cybersecurity Blogger Awards VOTE FOR YOUR WINNERS https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe8AkYMfAAwJ4JZzYRm8GfsJCDON8q83C9_wu5u10sNAt_CcA/viewform Pierluigi Paganini (SecurityAffairs Facebook, hacking) Share this... Linkedin Share this: Twitter Print LinkedIn Facebook More Tumblr Pocket Share On Altogether 58 people tested positive for COVID-19 in West Bengal on Thursday, the highest spike in a day so far, taking the total number of active cases in the state to 334, a senior official here said. Twenty-four people were discharged from hospitals after they were found to have recovered from the disease, Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha told reporters at the state secretariat. No new death due to COVID-19 was reported since Wednesday evening, he said. Taking into account the fresh cases, the total number of people who tested positive for the disease in West Bengal stands at 452, according to the state health department. Of them, 103 people have recovered and 15 succumbed to the disease, it said. The Union Health Ministry, however, put the total figure in the state at 456. In the last 24 hours, 953 samples were tested for coronavirus in West Bengal, while the total number of samples examined so far in the state has touched 7,990. "Of these 58 fresh cases, 22 hail from a family where one person had tested positive for the disease in the past. Among the other 36, some have been reported from five areas that come under the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), while the rest are mostly from Howrah, North 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipore and Hooghly districts," Sinha said. The chief secretary, however, expressed satisfaction over the fact that the number of cases was gradually going down in the districts of Howrah, North 24 Parganas and Hooghly. "Kolkata is a challenge for us. We are trying to formulate a special plan for Kolkata so that the disease does not spread any further. Currently, there are 150 containment zones in KMC (areas), while in Howrah the number is 60-70, North 24 Parganas 40 and Purba Midnapore five," Sinha said. He also emphasised that most COVID-19 patients in the country are asymptomatic. "In India, close to 70 per cent cases are asymptomatic and doctors are concerned over identification of such cases. If the lockdown is lifted on May 4, this will be a big challenge (for us)," the chief secretary said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) If you enter Indonesia and don't immediately self-quarantine for 14 days, beware: you might be locked up in a haunted house. With 647 Covid-19 deaths so far in Indonesia, an area of Java is taking this peculiar measure to make sure people follow the social distancing rules. According to The Jakarta Post: Sragen regency head Kusdinar Untung Yuni Sukowati says she issued the unusual edict this week to deal with an influx of people to the area after lockdowns in the capital Jakarta and other major cities Sukowati instructed communities to repurpose abandoned houses that were feared to be haunted tapping widespread beliefs in the supernatural, which play a key role in Indonesian folklore. "If there's an empty and haunted house in the village, put people in there and lock them up," Sukowati told AFP Tuesday when asked about the rule. Officials in Sepat village chose a long-abandoned house and outfitted it with beds placed at a distance and separated by curtains. So far, five victims, er, people have been scared straight with the haunted house treatment. Image: PickPik By Niklas Pollard STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Sweden's AB Volvo on Thursday warned of stalling truck orders and a challenging adjustment to a "new normal" of feebler demand after reporting a smaller-than-expected fall in quarterly operating earnings helped by service sales. The rival to Germany's Daimler and Volkswagen subsidiary Traton <8TRA.DE> said its net order intake had turned negative since the end of March as customers rushed to cancel planned truck purchases due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Gothenburg-based manufacturer last suffered a demand downturn on a similar scale during the 2008 global financial crisis when cancellations outpaced new orders for a full quarter. Volvo shares fell 6.65% by 0850 GMT. Already facing a cyclical slowdown before the outbreak brought markets and production to a halt in Europe and North America last month, the slump is set to test Volvo which in the past has struggled to handle violent swings in demand. "In the coming quarters, it will be challenging to reduce costs with the same speed and magnitude as revenues are decreasing," CEO Martin Lundstedt said in a statement, adding he expected demand for services to suffer too. Adjusted operating profit at the maker of trucks, construction equipment, buses and engines fell to 7.1 billion Swedish crowns ($704 million) from 12.7 billion but topped the 6 billion expected by analysts, Refinitiv Eikon estimates showed. Volvo last month shelved plans for an extra shareholder payout though it said on Thursday it still intended to pay its ordinary dividend for 2019. One of Sweden's biggest private sector employers with a global workforce of 100,000, the company said it aimed to "cautiously restart" manufacturing in Europe, North America and Brazil at low levels at the end of April and beginning of May. "Everyone is struggling with what the ramp-up and new normal will look like," Lundstedt said in a conference call. "Our current estimate is that the gradual return will be slow and activities in the Volvo group need to be adjusted." Story continues While factories may be stirring back to life, uncertainty lingers as to how much demand will be there to meet the output. Order intake of its trucks under brands such as Mack and Renault as well as its own name fell 16% in the first quarter but Volvo warned the decline had been 75% in March versus February and net negative since then. Volvo, which in January saw the market falling by just under 15% in Europe and by nearly 30% in North America this year, said it was now not meaningful to try to forecast. "It was rather expected that they wouldn't give forecasts ... since uncertainty is so big and visibility almost none," Handelsbanken Capital Markets analyst Hampus Engellau said. (Reporting by Niklas Pollard; additional reporting by Helena Soderpalm; editing by Jason Neely and Keith Weir) Seven UB students win NSF Graduate Research Fellowships The fellowships which provide students freedom and funding are one of the most competitive for graduate students in the U.S. BUFFALO, N.Y. Seven University at Buffalo students have been awarded the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship. The highly sought-after award provides a three-year annual stipend of $34,000 and a $12,000 cost of education allowance for tuition and fees paid to students institution. The fellowship provides recipients with the freedom to conduct the research of their choice, a valuable incentive that has helped make the program one of the most competitive and prestigious for U.S. students in the sciences. Inspired by life experiences that range from laboratory research to volunteering abroad, this years UB fellowship winners plan to pursue research in areas that range from designing low-cost water desalination systems to developing technologies for plasma propulsion engines in space vehicles. It is deeply gratifying to see so many students from UB win this prestigious award. It confirms what we already know about our students immense potential and talent, says Graham Hammill, PhD, vice provost for academic affairs and dean of the Graduate School at UB. Fellowships like the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship recognize our students achievements and will help them succeed in their education and beyond. UB students are applying for these programs at higher rates and winning at higher rates, says Elizabeth Colucci, director of UBs Office of Fellowships and Scholarships. We had 35 students apply this fall, and we mentor many of those students. Even the ones who dont win find the experience rewarding. They learn how to write about themselves and to write about science things they will be doing for the rest of their careers. Chris Gnam, a first-year PhD student in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, is among NSF fellowship winners who benefited from an applicants workshop run by Coluccis office. He says Colucci, faculty mentors and others helped him develop a higher quality application, working with him through multiple revisions. Gnam grew up in a rural area of Upstate New York, where wide-open night skies inspired his ambition to study aerospace engineering: You look out my back window, and you can see for 30 miles, he says. Because the sky is so clear out there, you dont have any lights. You can see the Milky Way and satellites and all of that extremely easily. Of this years seven awardees, Gnam and two others are members of the UB School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Nanosatellite Laboratory (Nanosat Lab), in which students work with the Air Force Research Laboratory, NASA and Moog Inc. to build satellites from concept to launch with guidance from John Crassidis, PhD, Samuel P. Capen Professor and SUNY Distinguished Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. The UB Nanosat students are all volunteers who put in a tremendous amount of effort to build, test and deliver real satellites, Crassidis said. The students typify the best-of-best in the country, as evidenced by three of them being given this highly prestigious award. Congratulations to our Nanosat team members, and to all the UB students who have earned the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship this year through their impressive achievements. UBs seven NSF Graduate Research Fellowship winners are: Nicholas Bartelo, from Williamsville, New York, is a senior in the Department of Physics. He will pursue an MS in computational biology from Cornell University. His research interests involve using machine learning to make more reliable predictions about whether a drug will cause harmful side effects in patients. An Honors College student in mathematical physics, Bartelo is a two-time recipient of the UB physics departments Dr. Stanley T. Sekula Memorial Scholarship. He is a member of Sigma Pi Sigma, the national physics honor society. He has conducted research at UB and at Cambridge University on topics that connect data science with medicine and health. He has engaged in teaching activities that include tutoring university athletes in mathematics, and volunteering at an afterschool program for K-12 children in Buffalo. Jonathan Bessette, from Johnson City, New York, is a senior in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. He will pursue a PhD at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Bessettes research interests involve designing low-cost desalination systems that aid in the mitigation of global water shortages. Bessette, a UB Honors College student, was a recipient of the U.S.-U.K. Fulbright Scholarship, which enabled him to spend a summer in Scotland studying art and technology. Separately, he traveled to India to study architecture, including water distribution systems, and led a trip to the Dominican Republic to teach English. He has conducted research in settings that include the Design of Open Engineering Systems Lab at UB, Corning Inc. and Stanford Geophysics. Bessettes diverse research and service experiences in Buffalo, the U.S. and abroad have inspired his interest in developing affordable technologies for underserved communities. Ian DesJardin, from Williamsville, New York, a senior in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, will pursue a PhD in aerospace engineering at the University of Maryland College Park. DesJardins research interests involve developing control and system identification schemes for plasma propulsion systems, which could be used to produce engines for space vehicles. DesJardin has conducted research in the UB Center for Computational Research, the Control and Automation Laboratory, and the Nanosat Lab, where he managed teams that designed, built and tested components of student-made satellites. He took part in an NSF-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates program at Texas A&M University, and later spent a summer working on the Orion space capsule as a contractor at NASAs Johnson Space Center. DesJardin has volunteered as a mentor to middle and high school students through a number of science programs, including the Science Olympiad and summer camps tied to the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Chris Gnam, from the outskirts of the Town of Penfield in Monroe County, New York, is a PhD student in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Gnams research interests involve developing new techniques for spacecraft optical navigation. He earned a BS in aerospace engineering and a BA in mathematics from UB, where he conducted engineering research in labs including the Nanosat Lab, where he has also served as a mentor to undergraduate leaders. He was a Daniel Acker Scholar, a member of the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) and a Presidential Fellowship recipient at UB. Outside the university, Gnam served as a student trainee at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and interned for NASAs Goddard Spaceflight Center and Johnson Space Center. In addition, Gnam worked as an instructor in the University of Rochesters Science and Technology Entry Program and in UBs Educational Opportunity Program, both of which help students including many from disadvantaged or underrepresented groups advance their educational goals. In the personal essay he sent to the NSF as part of his fellowship application, Gnam wrote that, As a Hispanic male, I was able to connect with many of (the EOP students) on a personal level, allowing me to provide more individual guidance. Especially for a country like the United States that has such a diverse population, adequately reflecting that population in academia is important, Gnam says. Joshua Hazelnis, from Fallsburg, New York, is a senior in the Department of Chemistry and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering. He will pursue a PhD in chemistry at the University of Michigan. Hazelnis research interests involve understanding molecular interactions that could improve the performance of redox flow batteries, a promising technology for storing energy produced by renewable sources such as wind and solar. Hazelnis, a Provost Scholarship recipient at UB, conducted research in UB chemistry and chemical engineering labs, with a focus on optimizing the performance of redox flow batteries. His presentation on this technology won first place in the 2019 Transforming Our Tomorrow competition at UB. Hazelnis chose to attend UB as an undergraduate in part because he wanted to be in a diverse environment. He hopes to pursue a career as a research professor, and has shared his passion for science with other young people by volunteering at a UB sustainability camp for middle school students, developing demos for science classrooms, and mentoring fellow UB undergraduates, including students he tutored while serving as a resident adviser. Grant Iraci, from Phelps, New York, is a PhD student in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering. His research interests involve improving the design of programming languages used in embedded computers, found in technologies that range from coffee makers to medical devices. Iraci graduated summa cum laude with a BS in computer science and a BA in mathematics from UB, where he conducted engineering research in the Nanosat Lab and did hands-on work with students in Buffalo Public Schools science classes through the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Partnership led by UB. Iraci was a Presidential Fellowship and Presidential Scholarship recipient and Honors College student at UB. He spent a summer at the Institute for Software Research at Carnegie Mellon University, where he took part in an NSF-funded Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. Iraci has also volunteered in STEM outreach programs through local libraries in the rural area where he grew up. Zachary Kralles, from Irondequoit, New York, is an MS student in the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering. He will pursue a PhD in environmental engineering at UB. Kralles research interests involve the investigation of how nitrogen pollution and water disinfection contribute to the formation of highly toxic drinking water contaminants called haloacetonitriles. In a personal essay sent to the NSF as part of his fellowship application, Kralles discussed how he overcame addiction and mental health barriers, returning to school to complete his undergraduate degree after leaving his studies twice. Though it took me seven years to complete my undergraduate degree, I have stayed clean since Jan. 27, 2016 and am now confident about my career in environmental engineering, Kralles wrote. Graduate school had not been my plan, but through recovery I rediscovered my passion for learning and problem-solving. I am grateful for the second chance that life has given me. Kralles received a BS in environmental engineering from UB in 2018 and will defend his MS thesis this summer. He researched disinfection byproduct risks for algal impacted surface waters with guidance from Ning Dai, assistant professor of civil, structural and environmental engineering, and served as research assistant in a collaborative project between UB, the Buffalo Water Authority and consulting firms. Kralles served as a mentor in UBs CSTEP and Science is Elementary programs, both of which target underserved communities. The Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Lifter is the ideal solution to increase efficiency and improve health and safety conditions in food processing industries and bakeries. New to Packline Ltd and Ultrasource LLC is the stainless-steel mixing bowl lifter designed for the handling and forward tipping of commercial mixing bowls found in the food industries. 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This lifting solution is supported by a full bespoke design service ensuring that the right solution can be made to suit most makes or sizes of mixing bowl. Specifications: Maximum Attachment Lift Capacity: 140kg (308.65lbs) Load Centre (Centre of Gravity): 545mm (21.46) from column Attachment Mass: Stainless Steel and anodised aluminium. Also available as a manual tipping solution, with emptying of ingredients by means of a lever system. This Mixing Bowl Lifting Attachment has been designed for the handling of food industry mixing bowls, such as the Hobart 140-quart mixing bowl. The design offers impressive strength and durability with ease of operating and is entirely suitable for the food industry and other hygienic applications as the solution is manufactured in stainless steel. All Packline attachments are fully interchangeable and can be easily fixed or removed from any model of Packline Compac lifting machine that is fitted with the quick release system. The lifting capacity of this attachment is 140kg (308lbs), but higher capacities may be possible depending upon model. The purpose-designed compact framework, positioning of handlebars and addition of an optional remote-control device provide improved maneuverability and ease of use for the operator. The small footprint makes this roll handling equipment highly maneuverable and a natural choice for todays narrow production lines and demanding lifting requirements. For further information on the Mixing Bowl Tipper, or the full range of lifting and handling equipment, please contact Packline Materials Handling, or contact Ultrasource LLC in the USA for more information on the EZ Lift. Packline Ltd Unit 28 Newtown Business Park Ringwood Road Poole, Dorset BH12 3LL, UK https://www.packline.co.uk/ USA Distributor: Ultrasource USA LLC 1414 West 29th Street Kansas City, MO 64108-3604 (O): 816.360.2034 | Ext 2034 https://www.ultrasourceusa.com/ez-lift-film-roll-material-handling-equipment.html For a full list of worldwide distributors please visit Packlines website. Product portfolio progresses well The third path to fight Covid-19: Prevention Solid financial visibility Videoconference today in English at 3:00 pm CEST: https://invest.medincell.com/fr/conference/ Regulatory News: MedinCell (Paris:MEDCL): Product portfolio progression MedinCell's portfolio of long-acting injectable products based on our BEPO technology progresses well despite the crisis and its operational constraints. MedinCell and its partners continue to closely monitor the evolving situation to adapt business continuity plans and minimize any delays if necessary. > Clinical stage products Our partner Teva Pharmaceuticals has not communicated changes in clinical trials Interim analysis of the current phase 3 clinical trials of the lead asset, mdc-IRM (maintenance treatment of schizophrenia) is expected during the second half of 2020 contingent upon the projected recruitment rate and patient relapse events. 1 mdc-TJK (antipsychotic) is in phase 1. The results of this study, expected during 2021, will inform future development. 1 Our partner plans to go directly into Phase 3 before year end for mdc-CWM (post-operative pain and inflammation) Phase 2 for mdc-CWM is now completed. Our partner expects favorable results. For strategic and competitive reasons these results will not be communicated for the time being. Our partner expects to meet with FDA this summer to confirm the clinical strategy. > Next potential candidates for clinical development We confirm that the following four programs have reached or are expected to reach their lead formulation in 2020: As announced earlier this week, mdc-WWM (contraception), developed with the support of the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation, has entered regulatory development following the selection of the candidate formulation. Preclinical activities and phase 1 clinical studies will be fully funded by a up to $19 million over four years grant from the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation granted in November 2019. 2 The three other programs which should also achieve this key stage in 2020, based on the results of the ongoing studies, are mdc-GRT (organ transplantation), mdc-NVA (pain) and mdc-KPT (animal health pain). NB: The creation of a joint venture with Cornerstone Animal Health has been suspended due to their difficulties in raising funds in the current context. This has no impact on the advancement of animal health programs, which remain the property of MedinCell. > Other recent developments in the product portfolio The analyzes of the first preclinical studies are in progress for mdc-CMV (surgical anesthesia and 3 days of postoperative analgesia). They will serve as a basis for further development and be used to update of the next program milestones, which will also depend on the evolution of the current situation and the priorization of the portfolio. In March 2020, MedinCell received a grant of up to $6.4 million over three years with global health agency Unitaid. The grant aims to fund the formulation and preclinical activities of a 3-month acting injectable ivermectin a drug used to treat many types of parasitic infections to neutralize the transmission vector of Malaria. 3 Start of activities for a product aiming at preventing HIV infection, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with the support of the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation.4 The third path to fight Covid-19: Prevention MedinCell announced on April 6, 2020, its Covid-19 project launched a few weeks ago5. This program aims at developing a long-acting injectable Ivermectin formulation for several months to protect people who are not infected with Covid-19 in order to break the virus chain of transmission. Such a tool could play a decisive role in the management of Covid-19 pandemic, by enabling many people around the world, especially those most exposed and at risk, to protect themselves. "This is a third way between a treatment and a vaccine," explains Christophe Douat, CEO of MedinCell. "Historically, the time to develop vaccines has been very long. We will probably have to wait several years, and we don't know for sure the research will succeed. To date, no vaccine has ever been developed for a Coronavirus, and a virus can mutate, making the vaccine ineffective. Our product is based on a concept already used in HIV to protect populations at risk. " Ivermectin has long been considered a safe and effective drug to treat some parasitic diseases. Its action on viruses such as SARS, rabies, influenza, HIV, Dengue or the West Nile has been proven in vivo or in vitro in the past, suggesting a potential against Covid-19. On March 29, 2020, researchers from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia published results from a laboratory cell study showing that Ivermectin can kill the coronavirus in less than 48 hours.6 Studies have been carried out by research institutes for the past few months to assess the effectiveness of treatment using Ivermectin on hospitalized patients with Covid-19. MedinCell published last January data showing that Ivermectin can be formulated with our BEPO technology as a long-acting for varying doses and durations of up to several months.7 The company is already developing a long-acting injectable Ivermectin formulation for several months to neutralize the malaria vector. The success of this program is conditioned in particular by the results of future in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies. The objective of these studies will be to validate the efficacy and safety of Ivermectin against Covid-19 for prophylactic (preventive) action in humans and to determine the dose required. At this stage, the Company is not in a position to communicate a schedule for this program and is evaluating several scenarios for future developments. The strong international mobilization to deal with the Covid-19 crisis makes it possible to foreseen accelerated developments, all the more so since Ivermectin is a molecule already widely documented and used, and that our BEPO technology is already in several clinical trials in other indications. In case of positive results of the current and future studies, MedinCell's know-how, and its connections with large industrial groups and the lead organizations and foundations for health in the world, could make it possible to eventually offer a large-scale solution to the fight against the pandemic. Actions taken in response to the Covid-19 crisis The Company is facing the current situation with the health and safety of our employees as first priority. As a preventive measure and in accordance with the directives of the health authorities, MedinCell introduced a travel ban and a policy of remote working since early March 2020. As part of the business continuity plan, the Company office in Jacou, near Montpellier (France), has been organized so that laboratory operations can continue while ensuring the protection of its employees. Given the uncertainties about the extent of the crisis, its duration and its consequences, the Company took budgetary savings measures: operations linked to strategic research and development programs are maintained, the other activities have been postponed with as a consequence the implementation of a partial activity plan. The Company still have solid financial visibility, which it estimates to be greater than 12 months. At the same time and in order to secure its cash, MedinCell is actively working on the various aid systems put in place by the French administration to deal with the current crisis, in particular the State Guaranteed Loan (PGE). The Company could also release a remaining line of credit of 5 million euros with the European Investment Bank. 1 Press Release December 3, 2019; 2 Press Release April 22, 2020; 3 Press Release March 25, 2020; 4 Press Release September 5, 2019; 5 Press Release April 6, 2020 6 The FDA-approved Drug Ivermectin inhibits the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro Leon Caly, Julian D. Druce, Mike G. Catton, David A. Jans, Kylie M. Wagstaff Antiviral Research, 3 April 2020 7 BEPO: Bioresorbable diblock mPEG-PDLLA and triblock PDLLA-PEG-PDLLA based in situ forming depots with flexible drug delivery kinetics modulation Christophe Roberge, Jean-Manuel Cros, Juliette Serindoux, Marie-Emerentienne Cagnon, Remi Samuel, Tjasa Vrlinic, Pierre Berto, Anthony Rech, Joel Richard, Adolfo Lopez-Noriega Journal of Controlled Release, Volume 319, 10 March 2020, Pages 416-427 MedinCell's last 12-month newsflow (all press releases are available on invest.medincell.com) MedinCell has designed, tested and selected with the support of the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation the candidate formulation which can now enter preclinical development - April 22, 2020 MedinCell has launched a COVID-19 research initiative based on its experience to formulate long-acting injectable Ivermectin April 6, 2020 MedinCell receives 6.4 million grant from Unitaid to fight Malaria - April 6, 2020 US Pharma Development Veteran Dr. Richard Malamut Joins the Medical Advisory Board of MedinCell January 28, 2020 MedinCell receives $19 million grant for its mdc-WWM program - November 29, 2019 MedinCell announces that mdc-CWM progresses as planned - September 25, 2019 The MedinCell General Meeting votes to include the "Raison d'etre" of the Company in its articles of association - September 10, 2019 MedinCell receives a new grant to develop a best-in-class longacting injectable product for HIV PrEP - September 5, 2019 MedinCell partners to address the untapped financial potential in Animal Health - August 28, 2019 Long-acting injectable antipsychotic using MedinCell's technology receives FDA IND clearance to initiate clinical activities - August 26, 2019 MedinCell receives 7,5 M from the European Bank of Investment (EIB) - July 23, 2019 Third long-acting injectable antipsychotic using MedinCell's technology enters preclinical development - July 9, 2019 MedinCell wins the LetsgoFrance 2019 trophy in the category "France, a model of sustainable economy" - April 5, 2019 About MedinCell MedinCell is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company that develops a portfolio of long-acting injectable products in various therapeutic areas by combining its proprietary BEPO technology with active ingredients already known and marketed. Through the controlled and extended release of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, MedinCell makes medical treatments more efficient, particularly thanks to improved compliance, i.e. compliance with medical prescriptions, and to a significant reduction in the quantity of medication required as part of a one-off or chronic treatment. The BEPO technology makes it possible to control and guarantee the regular delivery of a drug at the optimal therapeutic dose for several days, weeks or months starting from the subcutaneous or local injection of a simple deposit of a few millimeters, fully bioresorbable. Based in Montpellier, MedinCell currently employs more than 130 people representing over 25 different nationalities. This press release may contain forward-looking statements, especially on the Company's progress of its clinical trials. Although the Company believes that its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, any statements other than statements of historical facts that may be contained in this press release relating to future events are subject to change without notice, factors beyond the Company's control and the Company's financial capabilities. These statements may include, but are not limited to, any statement beginning with, followed by or including words or phrases such as "objective", "believe", "anticipate", "foresee", "aim", "intend", "may", "anticipate", "estimate", "plan", "project", "will", "may", "probably", "should", "could" and other words and phrases of the same meaning or used in negative form. Forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties beyond the Company's control that may, if any, cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those anticipated or expressed explicitly or implicitly by such forward-looking statements. A list and description of these risks, contingencies and uncertainties can be found in the documents filed by the Company with the Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) pursuant to its regulatory obligations, including the Company's registration document, registered with the AMF on September 4, 2018 under number I. 18-062, as well as in the documents and reports to be published subsequently by the Company. In addition, these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ materially from those anticipated by the forward-looking statements, including in the event that new information becomes available. The Company's update of one or more forward-looking statements does not imply that the Company will make any further updates to such forward-looking statements or other forward-looking statements. This press release is for information purposes only. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe for the Company's shares in any jurisdiction, in particular in France. Similarly, this press release does not constitute investment advice and should not be treated as such. It is not related to the investment objectives, financial situation or specific needs of any recipient. It should not deprive the recipients of the opportunity to exercise their own judgment. All opinions expressed in this document are subject to change without notice. The distribution of this press release may be subject to legal restrictions in certain jurisdictions. Persons who come to know about this press release are required to inquire about and comply with these restrictions. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200422006067/en/ Contacts: MedinCell David Heuze Communication leader david.heuze@medincell.com +33 (0)6 83 25 21 86 NewCap Louis-Victor Delouvrier Investor relations medincell@newcap.eu +33 (0)1 44 71 98 53 NewCap Nicolas Merigeau Media relations medincell@newcap.eu +33 (0)1 44 71 94 98 Tara OToole, a biosafety expert who was the Obama administrations undersecretary of homeland security for science and technology, made a similar recommendation in an interview: The world needs scientists to do research on these viruses, and we need to be sure that research is done in containment as safely as possible. . . . The appropriate move would be to assemble an international team of experts to review safety and security practices at labs and to make the findings public. Photo: The Canadian Press The crashed car of 60-year-old Horst Stewin who was shot in the left side of the head by someone in a passing car is shown in this undated court handout photo. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for a teen who shot a German tourist in 2018. A judge has sentenced a youth to 21 months for shooting a German tourist in the head on a highway west of Calgary in 2018. Last October, the judge in the case convicted the teen from the Stoney Nakoda First Nation, who was 16 at the time, of aggravated assault and recklessly discharging a firearm into a vehicle. Court heard Horst Stewin was driving a black SUV on the First Nation's land in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with his family when someone in a passing car shot him. Judge George Gaschler accepted a joint submission from the Crown and defence for 21 months, which includes a 14-month custodial sentence and an additional seven months of house arrest. Because the teen, who is now 18, has been in custody for the last 15 months, his incarceration is over. A victim impact statement from the victim's son says his father is still suffering from the bullet fragments removed from his brain and requires constant care. Nearly 90 per cent of all coronavirus patients placed on ventilators in New York's largest health system died, according to a study. The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on Wednesday, examined the electronic health records of 5,700 patients hospitalised with COVID-19 at Northwell Health. Final outcomes were known for 2,634 patients, and overall, roughly 20 per cent of COVID-19 patients died. But of those placed on ventilators, 88 per cent died. For those over the age of 65, the mortality rate after being put on a ventilator rose to 97 per cent. Approximately 12 per cent of patients in the study needed ventilators, CNN reports. Figures for the UK are similar - more than two-thirds of patients who need ventilation in the NHS succumb to the disease. The New York study also found that 94 per cent of those who were hospitalized had some sort of underlying health condition. It was found that 57 per cent had high blood pressure, 42 per cent were obese and 34 per cent had diabetes. Nearly 90 per cent of all coronavirus patients placed on ventilators in New York's largest health system died, according to a study. In comparison, two thirds of patients in the UK die if they are on a ventilator, figures from intensive care units show The study found that overall, roughly 20 per cent of COVID-19 patients treated at Northwell Health died. Of those placed on ventilators, 88 per cent died The study also indicates that those who have become the most severely ill have had some sort of underlying condition: 57 per cent had high blood pressure, 41 per cent were obese and 34 per cent had diabetes 'Of the patients who died, those with diabetes were more likely to have received invasive mechanical ventilation or care in the ICU compared with those who did not have diabetes,' researchers wrote. Men were also shown to die more often than women, according to the study. No one under the age of 18 died. About a third of all patients arrived with fevers while 17 per cent were breathing too fast and another 30 per cent needed extra oxygen. Patients were sent home after four days on average. Roughly 14 per cent were treated in intensive care, three per cent needed intensive dialysis and 21 per cent died. 'This study reported mortality rates only for patients with definite outcomes (discharge or death), and a longer-term study may find different mortality rates as different segments of the population are infected,' the Northwell Health team wrote. 'This is a very serious disease with a very poor outcome for those who have severe infections from it,' Karina Davidson, one of the studys authors and senior vice president for the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, which is part of the Northwell Health system, told Time. 'We want patients with serious chronic disease to take a special precaution and to seek medical attention early, should they start showing signs and symptoms of being infected. That includes knowing that theyve been exposed to someone who has this virus.' Meanwhile, a report by the Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre (ICNARC) shows that two thirds of patients in the UK who go on ventilation die Of a 1,795 cohort of critically ill patients on ventilation across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 1,209 (67 per cent) died. The figures may be lower than the New York study because patients in the UK are prioritised for ventilation if they have a high chance of survival. Duncan Young, professor of intensive care medicine, University of Oxford, said ventilation is unable to save patients because the virus is still untreated. 'Ventilation does not treat the underlying virus infection,' he told MailOnline. 'It simply allows doctors to get more oxygen into a patients blood when simpler measures are no longer effective. The progress of the viral infection is not altered. 'In most diseases ventilation can be used to keep a patient alive while a treatment has time to work, such as antibiotics to treat bacterial pneumonia. 'In COVID infections there is no treatment that stops the viral infection. Patients who recover from a period of artificial ventilation do so because their immune system has overcome the virus. 'The patients who die on ventilators are dying of COVID-19 infections that their bodies cannot overcome.' He emphasised that people are not dying due to ventilation, but because their disease is progressed. 'The only obvious thing to avoid ventilation is a drug to treat the virus or a vaccine to prevent it,' he added. Panaji, April 23 : The 66 Goan seafarers stranded onboard the ship 'Marella Discovery', currently anchored at Mumbai port, have started their disembarkation process and will be brought to Goa in accordance with the central government protocol, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Thursday. Sawant said that 123 Goan sailors on two other vessels off Mumbai were next in queue for completing signing off procedures at the Mumbai port, following which they too would be brought back to Goa. "I am happy to inform that sign-off of seafarers on Marella has started at Mumbai port," Sawant said in a statement. "Karnika vessel is on anchorage and Angriya vessel is docked. Goan seafarers will be tested at Mumbai port after which they will be brought to Goa in accordance with the protocol of the government of India," Sawant said. According to state government figures , nearly 8000 seafarers of Goan origin are currently stranded in different ports-of-call across the world including the seas of India, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Sawant has said that the stranded seafarers would be brought back in a phased manner, in co-ordination with the central government agencies and quarantined in special facilities set up by the Goa government. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment There is an unsettling insouciance fermenting in America: a casual acceptance of centralizing governmental powers. Dont get me wrong. I applaud the wise and necessary steps that the President has taken in this unprecedented public health crisis. Like so many of my countrymen I delight in seeing the all-too-rare vision of, e.g., the liberal Democratic Governor of the great State of California working hand-in-hand with a Republican White House. Federalism at work for the good of all in such a dangerous hour is nothing short of inspiring. Not since World War II has our nation galvanized public and private resources for a historic demonstration of wartime determination to defeat an enemy. These anxious weeks have tested our national will. In so many ways we have born the battle as one People, with heroes and heroines in lab coats and scrubs, with badges, in camouflage, at check-out counters, and sporting truckers caps, leading the way. Unless mistaken, I have sensed a strengthening of churches in this pandemic. Pastors leading mid-week Bible studies, and evening hymn-sings over Zoom remind many of an America we thought was long-gone. Palm Sunday liturgies from Anglican, Lutheran, and Presbyterian, converge with Easter services from Methodist, Baptist, and every imaginable expression of Independent congregations, turning Facebook, YouTube, and Vimeo into veritable Christian broadcasting networks. Indeed, there has been so much good, and so much unity, that we might have missed the lengthening shadow of an old enemy of the Church: Statism. Statism is a philosophy and innate predilection of governments no, a deadly virus itself that offers security for liberty. Statism is a beast of Revelation that persecutes the Church. Dutch Reformed commentator, Dr. William Hendriksen (1900-1982) wrote, The beast that comes up out of the sea is Satans persecution of Christians, embodied in world governments and directed against the bodies of believers (Hendriksen, 1998. p. 26). The beastly powers of Statism are a constant danger to the Church and to the God-given rights of human beings. History demonstrates this fact. Friedrich A. Hayek (18991992), Austrian-born Nobel-prize-winning economist, who became a British subject, after fleeing the threat of Hitlers maniacal conquest, joined with the entire Free World to applaud and marvel at the indispensable leadership of Prime Minister Churchill in those years when Great Britain stood alone against what seemed to be an indestructible German National Socialism. However, it is said that Dr. Hayek counseled the courageous Churchill that while centralization of powers served Britain well in the great national emergency the same consolidation of powers in peacetime would cripple the country. He penned his most famous work in 1944: The Road to Serfdom to describe the tragic path to national poverty as a result of the unchecked State. Hayeks premise is historically and undeniably proven: the abdication of ones liberty to the State in exchange for a supposed security is a regrettable reoccurrence in the story of human history. The exchange is a suckers deal. The State and the elite who run it are rewarded at the expense of an imprisoned population. Our system of English law was shaped by centuries of the ebb and flow of the interminable encroachment of Statism centralized power in the government and the indomitable pursuit of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The longing for self-determination might be suppressed for a sorrowful season, but like the mythical Phoenix, the human spirit invariably takes flight from the bondage of dictators, despots, and collectives. Though too late for the generations who endured the bondage, a new burst of freedom eventually appears like the hopeful, golden glow of a morning sun after a long, gray winter. As Churchill reminded us in his History of the English-speaking Peoples (1900).King Alfreds Law (911) was based on Scriptural principles of government, and guaranteed the individual his God-given rights. In 1066 the Norman regent, William the Conquerer, invades England. Alfreds law is abandoned for the calculated promises of the Normans protection. The degradation of human rights would endure until the missteps of King John and landholders demands for limited government resulted in the Magna Carta (1215). Again, the usurping of the Peoples representatives in the House of Commons by Charles I led to the English Civil War. The great Scottish Presbyterian minister and professor of divinity, Samuel Rutherford, wrote Lex, Rex (The Law is King), and by his compelling arguments from the Bible, English Laws long history of rule by the consent of the governed was upheld. So, then, these principles of liberty soon flowered in the United States Constitution. The great legacy of English Law is built upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ: And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free (John 8:32). Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17). If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (John 8:36 KJV). The COVID-19 crisis is a valid example of how the People grant rights to their elected representatives to provide crucial centralized leadership in certain emergencies. I applaud the President and so many governors around the Union in exercising leadership with wisdom, balancing rights with public health, and by Presidential proclamation, with national prayer (March 14, 2020). There are, however, ominous Orwellian signs among us that a new kind of contagion lurks. The Daily Caller reported (White, 2020) that Elizabeth, New Jersey major J. Christian Bollwage is deploying drones from Chinese-based company DJI to monitor American citizens to ensure social distancing protocols. Violators will hear a menacing robotic voice from overheard, Stop gathering, disperse, and go home (White, 2020). How very troubling. Conversely, the Governor of South Dakota has not allowed public health to diminish her oath to liberty: Governor Kristi Noem was resolved in her position: "I took an oath when I was in Congress, obviously, to uphold the Constitution of the United States. I believe in our freedoms and liberties. So, there is hope, always hope. But freedom requires vigilance. Just as we do not receive Christ as Savior and then forget the Bible, worship, prayer, fellowship, and witness the hallmarks of discipleship so, too, we must guard the freedoms won at so high a price. Surely, as the days wear on, and the sunlight of a brighter season begins to eviscerate the deadly virus among us, let us resist any pressures to cede liberties in exchange for personal security. It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1). References New American Standard Bible Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. Churchill, Winston (1900). A History of the English Speaking Peoples. Vol. l. Dod, Mead, & Co. Federer, W. J. (2013). Change to Chains: The 6000 Year Quest for Global Control. Amerisearch. Hayek, F. A. (1944). The Road to serfdom. Routledge. Hendriksen, W. (1998). More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation. Baker Publishing Group. https://books.google.com/books?id=Zb5QEOI4XbQC Stanley, E.G. (1997). On the Laws of King Alfred: The End of the Preface and the Beginning of the Laws, in J. Roberts, J. Nelson, M. Godden (eds), Alfred the Wise (1997). Cambridge. Chris White. (2020, April 18). One US City Is Deploying A Chinese Firms Drones To Police Americans Who Are Not Social Distancing. Daily Caller. https://dailycaller.com/2020/04/18/china-coronavirus-surveillance-drones-dji-new-jersey/ Storms continued to move across parts of Alabama on Thursday evening, but they were losing steam and a severe thunderstorm watch has been canceled. GOOD NEWS: Based on recent trends, the severe threat has diminished for the remainder of the evening. Therefore, we have CANCELLED the Severe Thunderstorm Watch for all remaining counties. No watches/warnings are currently in effect across Central AL. #alwx NWS Birmingham (@NWSBirmingham) April 23, 2020 The severe weather threat has diminished and all watches have been cancelled. #mobwx https://t.co/wVju6BjjEk NWS Mobile (@NWSMobile) April 23, 2020 The weather service has issued multiple severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings today, starting early this morning when Round 1 of storms moved in before daybreak. Round 2 of storms was not as intense as feared and was moving eastward toward the Georgia state line as of 6 p.m. Todays storms have downed numerous trees and power lines and also brought along heavy rain. A flash flood warning continues for southeastern Dale, eastern Geneva and Houston counties until 6:45 p.m.: Flash Flood Warning including Dothan AL, Hartford AL, Taylor AL until 6:45 PM CDT pic.twitter.com/fCabKuc5JW NWS Tallahassee (@NWSTallahassee) April 23, 2020 The National Weather Service said at least 6 inches of rain had already fallen in that area today. Todays storms left a trail of downed trees and power lines in their wake. Heres an early look at storm reports from the Storm Prediction Center as of Thursday evening: There have been several reports of wind damage in Alabama from today's storms. Trees and power lines have been reported in the Coffeeville area in Clarke County and in Choctaw County in southwest Alabama. The National Weather Service in Birmingham has gotten a report of significant tree damage in southern Hale County from Gallion to Newbern. Many roads in that area were reportedly impassable because of downed trees. Numerous trees were also knocked down in northern Perry County and in the city of Marion. Two houses were damaged by falling trees there as well. Fallen trees and power lines have also been reported in Calhoun and Cherokee counties. Two first responders were reportedly hurt by falling trees in Calhoun County, according to a report given to the weather service. There were also gusty winds on the backside of this mornings rain farther north. Downed trees and power lines have also been reported in Marshall and DeKalb counties, according to the weather service in Huntsville. If you thought it was quite windy last night and this morning, you'd be right. Below are the highest measured wind gusts over the last 12 hours across North Alabama and Southern Middle Tennessee. Several sites saw gusts in the 25-40 MPH range. #HUNwx pic.twitter.com/4lAulTQsWm NWS Huntsville (@NWSHuntsville) April 23, 2020 A drier day is expected on Friday, with another chance for rain and storms on Saturday. He was a natural, Ms. Sobol said in an interview. He practiced law on a whole different level from most of us. Mr. Sobol often said that his greatest defeat was his failure to convince the Supreme Court in 1972 that juries should be required to reach unanimous decisions. The court revisited the issue recently and, in a triumph that he did not live to see, ruled on Monday that jury decisions involving serious crimes had to be unanimous. Mr. Sobol practiced primarily in Louisiana and Washington, D.C. But he preferred working in the trenches in Louisiana than on antitrust cases for the white shoe firm in Washington that employed him. In a description of his early career which he wrote as a chapter for Voices of Civil Rights Lawyers (2017), edited by Kent Spriggs he said that most of his work in Washington never came to anything, certainly not to anything one could be proud of. By contrast, he wrote, within 10 days of arriving in Louisiana in 1965, he won a school desegregation case that allowed black children to attend white schools. I saw the impact one lawyer, familiar with federal litigation practice, could have, he wrote. He stayed in Louisiana longer than he had initially planned. And across the decades he made a difference in scores of cases, big and small. He devoted his life to seeing that justice was done, George Cooper, a retired professor from Columbia Law School, who met Mr. Sobol in the early 1960s and worked on cases with him, said in a phone interview. He was one of the legions of young lawyers who went South in the 1960s to help with the civil rights movement, Mr. Cooper said. But unlike so many others, he stayed on the ground and saw it through. In the process, he won notable cases but also gave a whole segment of the population a chance for justice that they might not have had otherwise. C oronavirus has hit at least 185 countries and territories around the world, making it a truly global pandemic. Official cases have topped 2.5 million, according to Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the global spread of Covid-19. Commentators have made comparisons between the effectiveness of countries' handling of the virus, as various national governments have taken different approaches. But with testing relatively low in most countries, are these comparisons useful? Below we look at how different countries are reporting coronavirus cases. UK ambulance workers / Getty Images The UK At the time of writing this article The UK has the sixth-most confirmed cases of coronavirus and the fifth-most deaths, according to Johns Hopkins. But the Government cannot be sure of the true number of cases in the country, because of a shortage of tests. The aim is for 100,000 tests to be completed per day by the end of April, although less than a fifth of that number were being done towards the end of the month. Deaths related to coronavirus are also unclear as a result. The official figure, updated every day by the Government, only includes people who have died in hospital. This means it is significantly smaller than the weekly figures released by the Office for National Statistics, which include all reported deaths. Analysis by the Financial Times in late April even suggested that the true number of deaths linked to Covid-19 might be more than double the official Government figure. A pedestrian in Beijing / REUTERS China China, where the outbreak began in late 2019, seems to have controlled its cases - with around 84,000 by late April and about 4,500 coronavirus-related deaths, significantly below countries where Covid-19 appears to have hit hardest, like the US and Italy. But doubts have been raised about the accuracy of China's coronavirus reporting. China changed the criteria for what it counted as a coronavirus case several times in January and February, prompting concerns that figures may have been omitted from official statistics. One researcher told the Financial Times in February that reported cases were "just the tip of the iceberg". China began counting people who had tested positive for the virus but not shown symptoms in late March. Italy Testing in an Italian supermarket / Reuters Italy has the second-highest number of deaths related to coronavirus in the world, and the third-highest number of confirmed cases. As in many other countries confirmed cases may be significantly fewer than the real number. Italy began by testing extensively throughout the population, but as the coronavirus crisis deepened, tests were reserved for people with severe symptoms. As a result, like other countries Italy may have a much higher death rate than officially reported, with local officials and healthcare workers noting a big rise in care home deaths among untested people. The country also has a higher official death rate for Covid-19 than many others, perhaps due to an aging population - but the figure may be because of how deaths are reported. Professor Walter Ricciardi, an Italian Government adviser, told The Telegraph: "The way in which we code deaths in our country is very generous in the sense that all the people who die in hospitals with the coronavirus are deemed to be dying of the coronavirus... "On re-evaluation by the National Institute of Health, only 12 per cent of death certificates have shown a direct causality from coronavirus." Spain A woman wearing a face mask sits on a train at the Atocha Station in Madrid / AFP via Getty Images Spain is the third-worst hit country in terms of coronavirus deaths, and the second for confirmed cases. Like Italy, official deaths may be much higher than the confirmed figure, with fatalities in the community often not reported as related to coronavirus due to testing shortages. Spanish newspaper El Pais published a study by the Carlos III Health Institute that showed there may be up to three times more people dying of Covid-19 outside hospitals than was being reflected in official numbers. And Reuters calculated in April that the real death toll from the virus may be as much as 49 per cent higher than Government statistics - although a leading Spanish epidemiologist cautioned that it was impossible to know the true figure. United States A nurse in the US / Getty Images The US has by far the most confirmed coronavirus cases and has reported the most deaths related to the virus. The US Centre for Disease Control publishes a daily total death tally covering the entire country. But as elsewhere, the true number of Covid-19 cases in the US may be significantly higher than official statistics show, as different states struggle to meet demand for testing, as well as differing rules for reporting cases and deaths in various parts of the country. Jennifer Nuzzo, who helps run the Johns Hopkins coronavirus tracker, told the New York Times that there are "definitely" Covid-19-related deaths that have not been counted. South Korea Election officials wearing masks and other protective equipment to count ballots in South Korea's parliamentary election / AP South Korea has had a relatively low number of confirmed cases, with around 10,700, and 238 deaths related to the virus. This has been attributed to an aggressive regime of mass testing, contact tracing and quarantining people confirmed to have had the virus. The quick response may in part be a reaction to South Korea's poor response to, another coronavirus, MERS, in 2015, when it had 38 virus-related deaths and was criticised by the World Health Organisation. Staff join in the applause at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne to salute local heroes during Thursday's nationwide Clap for Carers to support NHS workers. (PA) A new bank holiday that celebrates the work done by the NHS should be introduced from next year, according to a think tank. The proposal, which The Sun says is backed by two thirds of the country, would see an extra day off for Britons in 2021, in honour of the frontline staff battling coronavirus. The idea, suggested by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) think tank in its report Care Fit For Carers, is also being backed by medical, nursing and care leaders. Staff put a sign on the windshield in support of the NHS at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne. (PA) Britons currently come together at 8pm every Thursday to applaud the NHS in the Clap for Carers campaign during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are eight bank holidays a year in England and Wales, while Scotland has nine and Northern Ireland has 10. 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 The report also suggests giving NHS staff a 10% bonus, that could be worth up to 3,000 for a newly qualified nurse. Its author Chris Thomas said: Our care heroes are making significant sacrifices to pull our country through this crisis. It is imperative the government does not allow their efforts to become a modern Charge of the Light Brigade. The weekly applause for NHS workers was met with some controversy last week after the country's most senior police officer was filmed clapping for carers on a crowded Westminster Bridge. Metropolitan Police commissioner Dame Cressida Dick led dozens of officers in the weekly applause for key workers at 8pm on Thursday. A video posted to the force's Twitter account shows her standing in front of officers, who are lined up with gaps in front of police vehicles along the bridge near parliament. But the gesture drew criticism from some after another video, which has been viewed millions of times online, emerged showing groups of people, near police officers, apparently ignoring social distancing guidance. Story continues The prime minister's official spokesman said: "We would ask that everyone takes responsibility and adheres to social distancing rules so that we can safely show our appreciation for those who are working so hard to fight coronavirus. Coronavirus: what happened today Click here to sign up to the latest news, advice and information with our daily Catch-up newsletter Gov. Kate Brown reiterated to business leaders Wednesday that she doesnt set the timeline for reopening the state, the coronavirus does. But her chief of staff said the state may be in a good position to start a phased reopening of Oregons economy in the next few weeks. That is far sooner than some of the medical modeling of the pandemics course in Oregon have suggested, and a spokesman later clarified that there is no set timeline. That decision, he said, will be driven by solid, county-by-county data on the spread of the disease and the ability of communities to meet the criteria that Brown has set out. Brown was speaking Wednesday in an online meeting convened by the states largest business organizations to provide an overview of the framework guiding her decisions about reopening. There were more than a thousand participants, and judging by their questions -- and comments in an accompanying chat room -- Brown faces pressure to reopen the economy sooner, to give businesses more input on the process and to do more to reduce economic impacts on business, by suspending the states new education tax on corporations, for instance. Brown acknowledged that the last five weeks have been incredibly painful, both emotionally and financially, for the business community. Oregonians have filed 290,000 unemployment claims in the last five weeks, she said, already double the level submitted during the great recession. But she said Oregonians compliance with her stay at home order and social distancing protocols had worked and were flattening the curve. We have done a good job flattening the curve, but we havent crushed it, and we need to crush it, she said. Nik Blosser, Browns chief of staff, gave a high-level overview of the phased reopening plan that the governors office has been developing in tandem with California and Washington. He said there were a number of prerequisites for the governor to greenlight a limited reopening. They include a declining growth of active cases, sufficient personal protection equipment, hospital surge capacity, and a robust program in place statewide for testing and contact tracing. Were feeling pretty good about being able to meet these criteria in the next couple weeks, he said. Blosser said the governors office and state agencies were putting together a detailed testing and contact tracing plan this week, though there are still shortages of testing kits and protective gear, he said. He said the state team is also having detailed discussions with businesses in specific sectors to determine what conditions must be in place for them to reopen. Those include restaurants, retail, personal services, childcare, transit and outdoor recreation. Blosser said that once those conditions are in place, Brown can go ahead with a limited reopening, then wait for 14 days to see if theres a resurgence in infections. If not, she can move to a wider opening. Were going to be living with this virus in our communities until there is immunity, Blosser said. Going back to business as usual is not going to happen. Its a sobering fact that we have to live with. One of the most persistent questions from businesses was why Brown isnt moving to suspend the new corporate activities tax that kicked in Jan. 1. Brown responded that the tax only applied to businesses with annual in-state revenues of more than $1 million, so it doesnt apply to truly small businesses. She also said the revenues were critical investments in the states future workforce and the money spent now will help children recover some of the learning they are losing today. She did say the state wont be assessing penalties on businesses that dont have the capacity to make the first quarterly payment. Businesses also wanted to know what progress was being made in unclogging the backlog of unemployment claims. Brown and her staff members said the Oregon Employment Department was well on its way to doubling the number of employees fielding benefit claims, to 800, and would be opening a new facility to house the new employees. She reiterated that the state will be eliminating the one-week waiting period before laid-off workers are entitled to receive benefits. However, Brown did not say how the department would accomplish that, as it will reportedly take 8,000 hours of programming on its antiquated technology platform. Christian Gaston, a policy adviser, said the department is mostly up to date with simple claims from workers with a single employer, but still had a substantial backlog of more complex claims. He also said the state would start processing claims next week for self-employed workers, contractors and gig workers newly eligible for benefits. I promise you that Oregonians will get every single cent due to them, Brown said. Brown said she was likely to call a special session of the Legislature after the next state revenue forecast is issued May 20. The purpose, she said, would be to rebalance the state budgets and make some of the cuts that will be necessary due to increased spending in some areas and revenues that she said were cratering. She said the states normal reaction to a revenue downturn delaying technology purchases, suspending non-essential travel and freezing hiring werent necessarily working this time around, as the state is seeing increased technology spending to facilitate working at home, and has had to surge employment in several areas, such as the employment department. We would really appreciate your suggestions about how we can streamline state government, she said, at a time when demand for safety net and other services is surging across the state. -- Ted Sickinger; tsickinger@oregonian.com; 503-221-8505; @tedsickinger Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. US Navy Has Authorities to Translate Trump's Warning to Iran Into Lethal Action - Pentagon Sputnik News 16:55 GMT 22.04.2020 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US Navy commanders have all the necessary authorities to translate President Donald Trump's warning to Iran into lethal action, Defense Department officials said during a press briefing on Wednesday. "Every capability that we deploy, every ship that deploys in harm's way has an inherent right to self-defence. What that means is if we see a hostile act, a hostile intent, we have the right to respond up to including lethal force," Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff John Hyten told reporters. "But nobody should doubt that the commanders have the authority right now to respond to any hostile act or hostile intent." Hyten praised Trump's message to Iran, saying, "That's perfect. We know how to translate that into the rules of engagement." However, Hyten refused to elaborate on the rules of engagement and said they mean that a commander cannot let an enemy vessel "get in a position where it can threaten your ship." Deputy Defence Secretary David Norquist agreed that Trump issued an important warning to Iran. "What he was emphasizing is that all of our ships retain the right of self-defence," Norquist said. The apparent warning comes one week after Iranian fast boats harassed US Navy ships in the Persian Gulf. Earlier in the day, Trump said via Twitter that he has directed the US Navy to attack and destroy any Iranian gunboats that approach and intimidate US warships at sea. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address By Trend The state support for the entrepreneurs during a pandemic can be rendered in Azerbaijan in two ways, Director of Baku Reporting Center Mehdi Babayev told Trend on April 23. Tax benefits will cover even the next few years, the director added. One of these ways is rendering assistance to the entrepreneurs, and this process is already being completed. This includes the issuance of part of the salaries, lump-sum assistance, Babayev said. The second way is the reduction of the obligations of entrepreneurs to the state, including tax, social and other payments. These obligations will cover the post-pandemic period for an entrepreneur to continue the activity. On the other hand, amendments to the Tax Code and the Law on Social Insurance have already been prepared, the director said. These amendments will cover three spheres. The first sphere is tax exemption, the second sphere - tax benefits, and the third sphere - tax holidays, that is, deferrals for entrepreneurs in connection with tax payments. The assistance will be rendered in 2021, 2022 and even the next few years. The proposed amendments mainly cover the post-pandemic period. Babayev also commented on the issue of full tax exemption. These concessions are envisaged for those entrepreneurs who have been greatly affected by the pandemic, the director said. These entrepreneurs are exempted from property tax and land tax in 2020, the director said. Moreover, it is planned to reduce the income tax for such entrepreneurs by 75 percent in 2020. This will be a powerful impetus for the continuation of the entrepreneurial activity. Moreover, there are also such taxpayers for whom 50-percent-privileges are envisaged, Babayev added. The entrepreneurs must understand that all these benefits and exemptions apply only to those who have been greatly affected by the pandemic. An 8-percent-tax rate was applied for entrepreneurs operating in the field of public catering, such as restaurants, cafes and wedding houses. It is planned to reduce this figure to four." The privileges are also envisaged for the entrepreneurs operating in the field of passenger transportation, the director said. "The tax rates which are paid by these people for the number of passengers are also reduced. However, there are benefits that are envisaged for all micro-entrepreneurs regardless of whether they suffered from a pandemic or not, Babayev added. If the simplified tax payments for such entrepreneurs previously were equal to two percent, presently, it is proposed to reduce this figure to one percent. Moreover, 50-percent-benefits are envisaged in connection with the social insurance payments, the director said. For example, if a hairdresser in any district, along with paying a certain monthly tax, also paid the amount worth 62.5 manat [$36.8] as a social insurance contribution, this amount has been already reduced to 15 manat [$8]. Babayev also touched on tax incentives for entrepreneurs. The conditions will be created for such people to pay tax liabilities for April a little later, in the following months, the director said. "For example, there is a current form of payment on income tax and property tax, Babayev said. The concessions will be made this year for entrepreneurs to pay taxes not quarterly, but at the end of the year. Besides the tax benefits, tax holidays are also envisaged. During this period, the entrepreneurs tax reports will not be required. That is, in general, this can be called a tax reduction, as well as the opportunity to pay reduced taxes later, the director added. This is an extremely important step to continue the activity of entrepreneurs. There are even such taxes that have been deferred until 2026. This mainly refers to the micro-entrepreneurs." (1 USD = 1.7 AZN on April 23) A training programme on management of coronavirus pandemic for healthcare professionals from SAARC countries is meant for connecting, collaborating and exchange of best practises for combatting the infection, the External Affairs Ministry said. The training was imparted by the ministry under its prestigious Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. T S Tirumurti, Secretary (Economic Relations), Ministry of External Affairs, thanked all participants in attending the first e-ITEC training programme on COVID management. "It is indeed wonderful to see a large number of participants from SAARC countries and your continued enthusiasm resulting in a vibrant and robust interaction after each session," he said in his valedictory address. "At Ministry of External Affairs we are happy to be implementing PM Narendra Modi's vision of connecting and collaborating in this time of crisis and uncertainty. This programme is meant for connecting, collaborating and exchange of best practises for all of us to help combat COVID-19," he said. He thanked AIIMS, Raipur for organising an effective series of webinars on relevant and appropriate topics and for the doctors in taking out time for these sessions. "We will be continuing our COVID Management e-ITEC courses and hope to see you and your fellow colleagues participate," he said. At an India-initiated video conference of SAARC leaders on March 15, Modi suggested that healthcare professionals of the SAARC nations could come together to jointly fight the coronavirus pandemic. India has already proposed setting up of a common electronic platform for all SAARC nations to share expertise and best practices to jointly combat the pandemic. India initiated a series of measures to help the countries of the grouping to contain the pandemic in the region. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) is a grouping comprising Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. All the SAARC member nations are reeling under adverse social and economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2020 / NAVION CAPITAL INC. (TSXV:NAVN.P) (the "Corporation"), a capital pool company, is pleased to announce that it has signed a letter of intent dated April 20, 2020, (the "LOI") with Daizee Diapers Corp. ("Daizee"), a private Canadian company incorporated in British Columbia. Established in 2018, Daizee was formed to design and market a premium baby-care diaper product line for affluent, environmentally aware parents and their babies. Daizee's initial product line, "Hybrid Diaper", will be directed for sale specifically to physical retailers with in-store and online points of sale. Initial product trials have been concluded with consumer end-users, and the packaging and logistics systems are substantially complete, allowing Daizee to begin commercialization of their products (collectively, the "Business"). The LOI outlines the general terms and conditions pursuant to which the Corporation and all its constituent companies intend to complete a transaction that will result in a reverse take-over of the Corporation by the security holders of Daizee and is intended to constitute the "qualifying transaction" of the Corporation under Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"). The Corporation expects to be classified as an Industrial Issuer upon completion of the transaction. The transaction is expected to result in the security holders of Daizee exchanging all securities, consisting of 9,663,336 common shares (not including common shares issued pursuant to the Concurrent Financing, as defined below), 250,000 stock options, 190,000 special warrants (exercisable into common shares of Daizee upon payment of $0.05 per share) and 2,973,000 purchase warrants (exercisable into common shares of Daizee upon payment of $0.10 per share) for 9,663,336 common shares (not including common shares issued pursuant to the Concurrent Financing, as defined below), 250,000 stock options, 190,000 special warrants and 2,973,000 purchase warrants of the Corporation, on the same terms, at a deemed price of $0.10 per share for a total deemed consideration of $966,334 (not including the Concurrent Financing, as defined below). The transaction will be structured by way of a plan of arrangement, amalgamation, merger, takeover bid, reorganization or other similar form of transaction, as determined following a review of all relevant legal, regulatory and tax matters (the "Transaction"). The LOI contemplates the Corporation and Daizee entering into a definitive agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") prior to May 15, 2020 (or such other date as may be agreed to by the parties). The Transaction is conditional upon the parties completing successful due diligence reviews of each other, the completion by Daizee (with the assistance of Navion) of an interim financing yielding at least $1.5 million in gross proceeds, requisite regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSXV, and standard closing conditions, including the approval of the Transaction by directors of each of the parties Corporation and those conditions outlined below. The legal structure for the Transaction will be confirmed after the parties have considered all applicable tax, securities law and accounting efficiencies although it is not anticipated that the Transaction will require shareholder approval. The Corporation is incorporated under the provisions of the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) with its registered and head office in Calgary, Alberta and is a "reporting issuer" in the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. The Transaction is not a Non-Arm's Length Qualifying Transaction within the meaning of the policies of the TSXV. Trading in the shares of the Corporation on the TSXV has been halted and will remain halted pending receipt by the TSXV of applicable documentation. Terms of the LOI and Conditions to the Transaction The LOI provides that completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions including: A concurrent private placement to raise a minimum CDN$1.5 million in additional funds by the issuance of common shares of Daizee (the " Concurrent Financing ") at an effective price of $0.10 per share. The proceeds of the Financing will be used by the Resulting Issuer for the marketing and commercialization of the Daizee products, the purchase of equipment, and general and administrative expenses. The Financing will be offered to persons who qualify as "accredited investors" or who similarly qualify in the jurisdiction in which they reside to purchase subscription receipts on a prospectus-exempt basis. ") at an effective price of $0.10 per share. The proceeds of the Financing will be used by the Resulting Issuer for the marketing and commercialization of the Daizee products, the purchase of equipment, and general and administrative expenses. The Financing will be offered to persons who qualify as "accredited investors" or who similarly qualify in the jurisdiction in which they reside to purchase subscription receipts on a prospectus-exempt basis. The completion of satisfactory due diligence by each party by May 15, 2020; The approval of the Transaction by the board of directors of each of Daizee and Navion; The Corporation will have obtained all necessary approvals, consents and acceptances, including all necessary approvals from the applicable securities regulatory authorities. The parties will prepare a filing statement or information circular in accordance with the rules of the TSXV, outlining the terms of the Transaction. Daizee will obtain the requisite security holder approvals, as applicable, for the Transaction. All requisite regulatory approvals relating to the Transaction, including, without limitation, meeting the minimum listing requirements of the TSXV and obtaining TSXV approval. It is a further term of the LOI that upon completion of the Transaction the resulting issuer's board will be comprised of directors that will be nominated by Daizee and Navion jointly. About Daizee Diapers Corp. Daizee Diapers Corp. is the maker of the patented Hybrid Diaper, and with great comfort and fit, this disposable diaper has an excellent environmental profile that helps reduce garbage levels. Daizee intends to work with a network of retailer partners and their online and instore sales channels to grow unit sales while helping to reduce carbon emissions. To learn more, please visit www.daizeediapers.ca. Further information relating to Daizee and its subsidiaries, including financial information, will be included in a subsequent press release in connection with the Transaction. Commenting on the recent developments, Daizee Diapers C.E.O., Matthew Keddy, states: "We are extremely excited about this latest chapter in the evolution of Daizee Diapers. Through the Letter of Intent with Navion Capital, Daizee's shareholders will benefit from the addition of capable partners to collectively participate in the tremendous growth opportunity presented by the new Hybrid Diaper category. There is no doubting it: today's new parents - who are predominantly part of the millennial generation - are driving trends with ingredient transparency, and the need to reduce garbage levels from innovative new baby care brands." Sponsorship Sponsorship may be required by the TSXV unless exempt in accordance with TSXV policies. The Corporation is currently reviewing the requirements for sponsorship and intends to apply for a waiver from the sponsorship requirements. There is no assurance that a waiver from this requirement will be obtained. The Corporation intends to include any additional information regarding sponsorship in a subsequent press release. All information contained in this news release with respect to the Corporation, Daizee and its subsidiaries was supplied by the parties, respectively, for inclusion herein, and each party and its directors and officers have relied on the other party for any information concerning the other party. For further information regarding the Transaction, please contact: Livio Susin Tel: (604) 789-2410 Email: liviotravel@gmail.com Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and, if applicable, pursuant to the requirements of the TSXV, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder and regulatory approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of the Corporation should be considered highly speculative. This press release is not an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The securities described in this press release have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended) absent registration or an exemption from registration. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any jurisdiction where such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful. 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 press release. 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. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the terms and conditions of the proposed Transaction; the terms and conditions of the proposed Financing; future developments and the business and operations of the "Resulting Issuer" after the proposed Transaction. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will proceed and that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Corporation and Daizee disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. SOURCE: Navion Capital Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/586397/Navion-Announces-Letter-of-Intent-and-Intention-to-Complete-Its-Qualifying-Transaction THE World Bank on Thursday, April 23, 2020, announced that it has approved a US$100 million (P5 billion) loan to help the Philippines fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The loan will support the Department of Healths Covid-19 Emergency Response Project, which aims to meet urgent healthcare needs in the wake of the pandemic and bolster the countrys public health preparedness. The project will help strengthen the essential healthcare delivery system for critical medical services in the face of increased demand in the coming months. Boosting the countrys capacity to respond to Covid-19 will save lives. The government has taken quick and decisive action in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic and the World Bank is proud to support its efforts. Right now, no other investment offers greater return, Achim Fock, World Bank acting country director for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand, said in a statement. The project will focus on providing personal protective equipment such as goggles, gloves, gowns; drugs such as antivirals, antibiotics and essential medicines; and medical supplies such as intensive care unit equipment and devices such as mechanical ventilators, cardiac monitors, portable x-ray machines; laboratory equipment and test kits. The project will also support the necessary logistics and supply chains to help ensure that the equipment will reach frontline health facilities without delays. It will also fund the expansion of the countrys laboratory capacity at the national and sub-national levels for prevention and preparedness against emerging infectious diseases. The funding will also support the retrofitting of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine as well as the six sub-national and public health laboratories in Baguio, Cebu, Davao and Manila. It will also finance the construction and expansion of laboratory capacity in priority regions that currently do not have these facilities. The Philippines is one of the countries in the East Asia and the Pacific region hit hard by Covid-19. On April 9, 2020, the World Bank approved $500 million in financing to help strengthen the Philippines capacity to address disaster risks as well as address urgent needs created by the Covid-19 crisis. The World Bank Group is helping developing countries strengthen their pandemic response. It is deploying up to $160 billion in financial aid over the next 15 months to help countries protect the poor and vulnerable, support businesses and bolster economic recovery. (CSL) On Monday, the United States Supreme Court did something it had not done for nearly a decade: It denied a motion by the solicitor general to participate in oral argument in a case to which the federal government is not a party. It shouldnt wait 10 years to do so again. Argument time at the Supreme Court is one of the scarcest resources in the American legal system. Its the only time that litigants can be certain that the justices hear their perspectives. An outside group thats not a party to the lawsuit must seek permission to argue as an amicus, or friend of the court. In theory, anyone can receive approval. In practice, as we have documented, this privilege is granted almost exclusively to the solicitor generalwho is appointed by the president and represents the federal government at the Supreme Court. In the 2010 through 2019 terms, the justices granted 307 requests from the solicitor general and only 14 from anyone else. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This favoritism toward the presidents advocate erodes the Supreme Courts independence. The solicitor generals opinion is widely respected, so much so that he is often called the Tenth Justice. By statute, the solicitor general must represent the interest of the United States. But that interest isnt defined anywhere. As a result, the solicitor general can lend his credibilityand the efforts of the lawyers in his officeto the side of his choosing. The problem arises when the solicitor general uses this power to weigh in on cases that advance the presidents political agenda but have little connection to the interests of the federal government. Take the case from Mondays denial, two consolidated lawsuits that pit a corporation against consumer interests. In one, Adam Bandemer, a Minnesota resident, was riding in the passenger seat of a car manufactured by Ford. When it crashed, the airbag failed to deploy, leaving him with a severe brain injury. He tried to sue Ford in Minnesotawhere he lived, where the airbag failure occurred, and where the car was purchased. Advertisement Advertisement Ford insists that because the car was purchased used, the case couldnt be heard in Minnesotaeven though Ford sells cars in Minnesota. Instead, Ford argues, it must be fought in courts potentially hundreds of miles away in North Dakota, where the car was sold to its first owner; Michigan, where it was designed; or Canada, where it was built. (The other case had similar facts but was filed in Montana.) If the Supreme Court decides in Fords favor, consumers could have to travel across the country to vindicate their rights in court, likely resulting in fewer claims. Advertisement What does that have to do with the interest of the United States? In his brief to the Supreme Court, Solicitor General Noel Francisco offered a confusing explanation for why he should be allowed to argue before the Supreme Court in favor of Fords position. First, he wrote that the United States seeks to ensure that plaintiffs have access to efficient forums to sue corporationsa position that would seem to place the government on the side of protecting consumers interests. But in the next sentence, he noted an interest in protecting against risks to interstate and foreign commerce posed by state courts unduly expansive assertions of jurisdiction, and that the government defends federal officials in court. Franciscos claim appears to be that because federal officials sometimes get sued in federal courtswhich often face similar personal jurisdictional restrictions as corresponding state courtsthe federal government has an interest in limiting the jurisdiction of state courts over corporations. But the federal government is protected under very different rules around possible liability and immunity than a corporationsuch as the one at the center of this caseis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court seemed to recognize the federal governments interest here was not as great as Francisco claimed and rejected his bid for argument time. For roughly the last decade, though, the justices have permitted the solicitor general to weigh in on any case he wants. And solicitors general have employed that discretion to opine on many issues in cases that involved interests of states more than of the federal government, like certain abortion, affirmative action, and free speech in public schools cases. Advertisement Advertisement Our research reveals that the Supreme Courts willingness to listen to the solicitor general in virtually any case is a modern phenomenon. In the early 1900s, the solicitor general requested amicus oral argument almost exclusively to defend federal statutes or actions by federal agencies. And the court let him speak. Advertisement Advertisement But, over time, the solicitor general increasingly entered political cases with little relevance to the federal government. During the 1970s and 1980s, the justices became skeptical about the reasons solicitors general were offering to request argument time as amicus, intimating that sometimes they expressed a political or policy preference as much as a legal view. During that period, the Supreme Court denied almost one-fifth of amicus oral argument motions from the solicitor general, and justices criticized those requests in private memoranda. Its too soon to tell whether Mondays denial is the beginning of a trend. But those who care about the Supreme Courts independence should hope that it is the first of many. National Guard troops give food to residents of New Rochelle in Westchester County, N.Y., on March 12, 2020. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images) Trump on Growing Debt from CCP Virus Response: Do We Have a Choice? President Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested that the United States didnt have a choice in spending trillions of dollars in federal funds in response to the CCP virus pandemic, as concerns mount over the growing national debt and damage to the economy. The president said that while the growing national debt was of concern, the United States has to fix this problem, referring to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, which has been attributed to at least 840,000 cases and 46,688 deaths in the United States, according to a tracking map from Johns Hopkins University. Do we have a choice? We were attacked, Trump said during the White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing on Wednesday. This wasnt the flu, by the way, they like to say the flu. Nobody has ever seen anything like this. The Paycheck Protection Program is now available! #CARESAct Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources: https://t.co/lfe1wbsSNA pic.twitter.com/eosegomf38 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 3, 2020 The presidents remarks come after the Senate on Tuesday negotiated a $484 billion CCP virus relief package, which includes aid for small businesses, hospitals, and funds for increased CCP virus testing. The nearly half-trillion-dollar package comes shortly after Congress passed a $2 trillion rescue package to mitigate the economic effects of the pandemic. A record 22 million Americans have filed claims for unemployment benefits over the past month, wiping out almost all the job gains since the 2009 recession. Trump said Wednesday that pouring money into fighting the CCP virus is a move necessary to be able to reopen the economy. We had the greatest economy in the history of the worldand we had to close it. Now were going to open it again, the president said. Were going to be just as strong or stronger. But you have to spend some money to get it back open. According to projections by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CFRB), exploding federal spending prompted by the U.S. governments response to the CCP virus pandemic will force the annual deficit to at least $3.8 trillion this year. Our latest projections find that under current law, budget deficits will total more than $3.8 trillion, 18.7 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), this year and $2.1 trillion (9.7 percent of GDP) in 2021, the CFRB said in a statement last week. We project debt held by the public will exceed the size of the economy by the end of Fiscal Year 2020 and eclipse the prior record set after World War II by 2023, the group stated. The national debt is currently $24.3 trillion, according to the U.S. National Debt Clock, and the currently projected value of the economy is $22.3 trillion. The debt figure doesnt include unfunded future benefits the government is liable for under the Social Security ($37.6 trillion) and Medicare ($52.7 trillion) entitlement programs. The group cautioned, however, that the actual numbers are likely to be worse at the end of the current fiscal year on Sept. 30 since they assume no further legislation is enacted to address the crisis and that policymakers stick to current law when it comes to other tax and spending policies. In addition, the group said its projections also assume the economy experiences a strong recovery in 2021 and fully returns to its pre-crisis trajectory by 2025. Assuming a slower and weaker recovery (but no changes in law), we estimate debt would grow to 117 percent of GDP by 2025, it said. Previously, the highest federal deficit as a percentage of GDP came in 1943 during World War II when it reached 29.6 percent, according to the CFRB. Trump told reporters on Wednesday that he believes that the United States economy will be back stronger than ever, noting that he feels more optimistic than he did two or three days ago. Were going to be within two weeks at a level nobody has ever even seen before, the president said. Were going to be bigger and better and stronger than ever before. Mark Tapscott contributed to this report. English French Note on COVID-19: The statistics published in this press release reflect sales that were concluded between January 1 and March 31, 2020, a period that was relatively unaffected by COVID-19. To learn more about the current impact of the pandemic and our forecasts for the coming months for Quebec's real estate market, watch for the upcoming release of our analysis. LILE-DES-SURS, Quebec, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Quebec Professional Association of Real Estate Brokers (QPAREB) has released its most recent residential real estate market statistics for the province of Quebec , based on the real estate brokers Centris provincial database. In total, 27,817 residential transactions were concluded in the first quarter of 2020, a notable 18 per cent increase compared to the first quarter of last year. This was the 23rd consecutive quarterly increase in sales and the largest first-quarter sales result since the real estate brokers Centris system began compiling market data in the year 2000. Sales In total, 18,709 single-family homes (+17 per cent), 6,885 condominiums (+18 per cent) and 2,127 plexes (+27 per cent) changed hands across Quebec in the first quarter of 2020. Geographically, the agglomerations of Sept-Iles (+59 per cent), Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts (+52 per cent), Sorel-Tracy (+50 per cent), Granby (+46 per cent) and Salaberry-de-Valleyfield (+44 per cent) stood out with the strongest residential sales increases. (+59 per cent), (+52 per cent), (+50 per cent), (+46 per cent) and (+44 per cent) stood out with the strongest residential sales increases. As for the provinces six census metropolitan areas (CMAs), Quebec City registered the largest increase in sales at 34 per cent, followed by Gatineau at 24 per cent. The Trois-Rivieres CMA also stood out with an increase of 21 per cent. registered the largest increase in sales at 34 per cent, followed by at 24 per cent. The CMA also stood out with an increase of 21 per cent. The Sherbrooke , Montreal and Saguenay CMAs also posted notable sales increases of 14, 13 and 4 per cent, respectively. Prices The median price of single-family homes for the province as a whole increased by 8 per cent to reach $275,000. In the metropolitan areas, the largest increases in the median price of single-family homes were in the Gatineau and Montreal CMAs (+11 per cent), followed by the Sherbrooke CMA (+7 per cent). Outside of the metropolitan areas, the largest price increases for single-family homes were in the agglomerations of Mont-Tremblant (+32 per cent), Sainte-Adele (+29 per cent), Riviere-du-Loup (+24 per cent), Sept-Iles (+17 per cent) and Saint-Sauveur (+14 per cent). (+32 per cent), (+29 per cent), (+24 per cent), (+17 per cent) and (+14 per cent). Provincially, the median price of condominiums increased by 8 per cent to reach $250,000, while that of plexes jumped by 11 per cent, reaching $425,000. Active listings The downward trend in supply continued for a seventeenth consecutive quarter. Between January and March 2020, there was an average of 48,787 properties for sale in the real estate brokers Centris system, down 21 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2019. The decrease in the number of properties for sale over the past year was particularly pronounced in the Gatineau (-37 per cent), Montreal (32 per cent) and Sherbrooke (-24 per cent) CMAs. Market conditions and selling times Once again, market conditions have tightened in the vast majority of the provinces regions. Selling times across the province shortened compared to one year earlier: it took an average of 93 days (11 days) to sell a single-family home, 79 days (-22 days) to sell a condominium and 96 days (-3) to sell a plex. With nearly 28,000 transactions (+18 per cent), the first quarter of 2020 marks the peak of the resale market in Quebec. However, this will be a sharp contrast to the decline that we are expected to in the second quarter of the year, due to the application of social distancing measures and the suspension of so-called non-essential economic activities imposed by the government," said Julie Saucier, president and chief executive officer of the QPAREB. "This market vitality, which has been artificially halted since mid-March, suggests resilience for the coming months, added Charles Brant, director of the QPAREBs Market Analysis Department. It thus bodes well for a significant latent demand from buyers while the supply of residential properties on the market should continue to be relatively limited in many areas." For more detailed market statistics for the province, click here . About the Quebec Professional Association of Real Estate Brokers The Quebec Professional Association of Real Estate Brokers (QPAREB) is a non-profit association that brings together more than 13,000 real estate brokers and agencies. It is responsible for promoting and defending their interests while taking into account the issues facing the profession and the various professional and regional realities of its members. The QPAREB is also an important player in many real estate dossiers, including the implementation of measures that promote homeownership. The Association reports on Quebec's residential real estate market statistics, provides training, tools and services relating to real estate, and facilitates the collection, dissemination and exchange of information. The QPAREB is headquartered in Quebec City and has its administrative offices in Montreal. It has two subsidiaries: Centris Inc. and the College de l'immobilier du Quebec. Follow its activities at qpareb.ca or via its social media pages: Facebook , LinkedIn , Twitter and Instagram . About Centris Centris.ca is Quebecs real estate industry website for consumers, grouping all properties for sale by a real estate broker under the same address. Societe Centris provides real estate industry stakeholders with access to real estate data and a wide range of technology tools. Centris also manages the collaboration system used by more than 13,000 real estate brokers in Quebec. Click on the links below to consult the regional press releases: Montreal CMA RMR de Quebec Agglomeration de Granby Agglomeration de Joliette Agglomerations des Laurentides Agglomeration de Saint-Hyacinthe For more information: PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-23 15:00:47 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 740 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2020 / PowerBand Solutions Inc. (TSXV:PBX)(OTCQB:PWWBF)(FRA:1ZVA) ("PowerBand", "PBX" or the "Company") announces that it intends to rely on the temporary blanket relief ("Relief") for market participants from certain regulatory filings published by Canadian securities regulators on March 23, 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This Relief provides the Company with a 45-day extension to file its Financial Statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the "Annual Filings") and its Financial Statements and MD&A for the period ended March 31, 2020 (the "Q1 Filings"). PowerBand expects to file the Annual Filings on or before June 15, 2020 and the Q1 Filings on or before July 16, 2020.The Company confirms that its management and other insiders are subject to an insider trading black-out policy that reflects the principles in section 9 of National Policy 11-207: Failure-to-File Cease Trade Orders and Revocations in Multiple Jurisdictions, such that they are in a black-out period until the end of the second trading day after the Annual Filings have been disclosed by way of a news release. The Company also confirms that since the filing of its condensed interim Financial Statements for the period ended September 30, 2019 there have been no material business developments other than those disclosed in prior press releases.About PowerBand Solutions Inc.PowerBand Solutions Inc., listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the OTCQB markets, is a fintech provider disrupting the automotive industry. PowerBand's integrated, cloud-based transaction platform facilitates transactions amongst consumers, dealers, funders and manufacturers (OEMs). It enables them to buy, sell, trade, finance, and lease new and used, electric- and non-electric vehicles, on smart phones or any other online digital devices, from any location. PowerBand's transaction platform - being trademarked under DRIVRZ - is being made available across North American and global markets.For further information, please contact:Richard Goldman, VP Corporate DevelopmentP: 1-866-768-7653rgoldman@ powerbandsolutions.com FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTSThis news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company, are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated.Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by Canadian securities law.Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, unless an exemption from such registration is available.SOURCE: PowerBand Solutions Inc. Photo: (Photo : GoFundMe) According to the Detroit Free Press, a 56-year-old black man, Gary Fowler died sitting on a recliner beside his wife in Grosse Pointe Woods on April 7. This was only a few hours earlier, his father, David Fowler, also died after testing positive to the coronavirus. Keith Gambrell, Gary's stepson, said that his stepdad tried to seek access to COVID test kits but was denied three times from three different hospitals. He said that his dad died because the hospitals sent him away. Gary started showing COVID symptoms after visiting his dad David in late March. The family thought that David only had the flu, but when he passed out in the bathroom, they sent him to the hospital. Gary was placed on a ventilator when he had tested positive for the coronavirus. Gambrell said that when his stepdad had cough and fever weeks after visiting David, the family sent him to Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit Receiving Hospital, and the Beaumont Hospital. But even though Gary showed all symptoms including shortness of breath, all three hospitals did not allow him to receive any test or treatment. Gambrell told CBS This Morning that his stepdad was begging for his life but hospitals kept sending him away, saying that the fever could be caused by bronchitis, and at the same time, they would give him a piece of paper telling him to act like he has the virus. He believed that because his father was black so hospitals did not take his step dad's symptoms seriously. The operator of Detroit Receiving Hospital, Detroit Medical Center said that they did not have any record of Gary Fowler going into their hospital to be treated. The representative from the Beaumont Hospital said that the number of COVID-19 cases in Southeastern Michigan is high so they are doing their best to care for their patients to evaluate and triage for their patients with the information that they know. They even said that they do not promote discrimination on race, gender, or any factor, and they grieve the loss of any patient to any type of illness. The vice president of integrated communications of Henry Ford Health System, Brenda Craig, said that whether patients meet their criteria for admission or not, the emergency department will provide care and assessment to them. But for COVID-19 cases, they follow a multi-step triage process. All patients arriving at their emergency department would be screened for the coronavirus and would be sent home if they have mild or moderate symptoms and do not meet the admission criteria. However, they are strictly instructing patients to return immediately once their symptoms worsen. She added that their thoughts and prayers are with Fowler and all the families that have been affected by the coronavirus and confirmed that they do not take any concern lightly but they keep patient's records confidential. Craig added that they have been following CDC guidelines regarding the coronavirus pandemic. To have his two brothers, Troy and Ross, tested for COVID, Gambrell contacted his cousin Karen Whitsett, a State Representative. Sadly, his two cousins were positive. According to the GoFundMe campaign, Gambrell's mom, Cheryl Fowler, was hospitalized on the same day that her husband died. After her recovery and release, Cheryl was admitted again due to COVID and pneumonia. The family has already raised $13,000 out of the $50,000 goal as of writing. Stories of Africans in Guangzhou, in their own words Foreign media have falsely accused Guangzhou, south Chinas Guangdong province, of discriminating against Africans in the city amid the pandemic. What is the real truth of the situation? No one knows the answer better than Africans themselves. Alex learns to write Chinese characters from a child. Alex, who comes from Johannesburg, South Africa, is a teacher in Zengcheng District, Guangzhou. When he found out that the Guangzhou government had designated 16 hospitals to conduct nucleic acid testing for foreigners on April 16, the 31-year-old immediately went to get tested. My community requires residents to wear masks and takes their temperatures to control the spread of the virus, said Alex, adding that he feels safer as a result of Chinas anti-pandemic measures. As South Africa has been reporting confirmed cases, he often shares the preventive measures that Guangzhou has taken with his family and friends back home, such as wearing masks and avoiding social gatherings. Cai Jingqian, a Ghanaian businessman who came to Guangzhou 10 years ago, married a Chinese woman and started a family here. He didnt return to Ghana when the epidemic broke out, choosing instead to stay in Guangzhou. After the pneumonia outbreak, the Chinese government launched a video to publicize anti-pandemic knowledge, said Cai, adding that he is confident that China is able to contain the epidemic. Cai Jingqian and his wife. Guangdong boasts plenty of opportunities, Cai pointed out. He is now getting in touch with clients and suppliers in preparation for the China Import and Export Fair, which will be held online from June 15 to 24. Cai said that he is fond of Chinese culture and food, and in order to better fit in to society here, he is learning Mandarin with the help of his wife. A Bin, head of the chamber of commerce of the Republic of Congo in Huadu District, Guangzhou, has lived in the city for 15 years and speaks fluent Chinese. A Bin (first from left) visits other Africans in Guangzhou along with community workers. A Bin has been working as a volunteer during the pandemic, and often talks with other Africans to promote related policies and measures. Im willing to help the community with epidemic prevention and control and help my compatriots understand that self-isolation is for the sake of others as well as themselves, he said. Bigg Boss 13: Television actor Karan Kundra has denied the reports of participating in Bigg Boss 14. The actor said that he doesn't know where the reports are coming from. Amid the coronavirus lockdown, Karan Kundra has found himself in the news without intending to do so. It all started with a speculation that his and Anusha Dandekars relationship has hit the rock bottom and the couple are living separately now. This was followed by a speculation that the actor has been approached for the next season of one of Indias most controversial reality shows Bigg Boss. After clarifying that he and Anusha are still very much together, Karan has now rubbished the reports of participating in Bigg Boss 14. In a recent interview with a news portal, Karan Kundra said that he has no idea where such stuff is coming from. He has heard multiple rumours about himself during the quarantine period. These include his breakup rumours and participating in Bigg Boss. Earlier, Bigg Boss 11 finalist Vikas Gupta had expressed that he would love to see Karan Kundra in Bigg Boss 14. Ever since they have become best friends, he has been asking Karan to go in the Bigg Boss house. Vikas, however, added that Karan would not be able to stay in the Bigg Boss house for a long time because he is very short tempered. He will get evicted in two days for beating someone. Also Read: Shama Sikander opens up about her battle against mental illness, says meditation helped her in depression Reacting to his break up rumours, Karan Kundra told a news portal he and Anusha dont live together. They have different houses in Mumbai and stay together when their schedules permit. He was shooting in Haryana before the lockdown was announced. After coming back, he decided to stay at his own house to avoid risking anyone elses health. Karan added that just because they are living separately, people have assumed that they have broken up. Also Read: Coronavirus lockdown: Hina Khan shares glamorous photos from pre-corona days, says woh bhi kya din the Also Read: Coronavirus lockdown: Sidharth Shukla ends friendship with Paras Chhabra? For all the latest Entertainment News, download NewsX App GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- Florida and Georgia archaeologists have discovered the location of Fort San Anton de Carlos, home of one of the first Jesuit missions in North America. The Spanish fort was built in 1566 in the capital of the Calusa, the most powerful Native American tribe in the region, on present-day Mound Key in the center of Estero Bay on Florida's Gulf Coast. Archaeologists and historians have long suspected that the fort, named for the Catholic patron saint of lost things, was located on Mound Key. Researchers have been searching for concrete evidence in the area since 2013. "Before our work, the only information we had was from Spanish documents, which suggested that the Calusa capital was on Mound Key and that Fort San Anton de Carlos was there, too," said William Marquardt, curator emeritus of South Florida archaeology and ethnography at the Florida Museum of Natural History. "Archaeologists and historians had visited the site and collected pottery from the surface, but until we found physical evidence of the Calusa king's house and the fort, we could not be absolutely certain." The Calusa were one of the most politically complex groups of fisher-gatherer-hunters in the world and resisted European colonization for nearly 200 years, Marquardt said. They are often considered to be the first "shell collectors," using shells as tools, utensils and jewelry and discarding the fragments in enormous mounds. They also constructed massive structures known as watercourts, which acted as fish corrals, providing food to fuel large-scale construction projects and a growing population. The Calusa kingdom controlled most of South Florida before being devastated by European disease. Researchers believe that by the time the Spanish turned Florida over to the British, any remaining Calusa had already fled to Cuba. Researchers continue to question how the Spanish survived on Mound Key and met their daily needs despite unreliable shipments of minimal supplies from the Caribbean and strained relations with the Calusa - whose surplus supplies they needed for survival. The only Spanish fort known to be built on a shell mound, Fort San Anton de Carlos was abandoned by 1569 after the Spaniards' brief alliance with the Calusa deteriorated, causing the Calusa to leave the island and the Spanish to follow shortly after. "Despite being the most powerful society in South Florida, the Calusa were inexorably drawn into the broader world economic system by the Spaniards," Marquardt said. "However, by staying true to their values and way of life, the Calusa showed a resiliency unmatched by most other Native societies in the Southeastern United States." Researchers from the University of Florida, the University of Georgia and students from UGA's archaeological field school used a combination of remote sensing, coring, ground-penetrating radar and excavations to uncover the walls of the fort and a few artifacts, including ceramic shards and beads. The fort is also the earliest-known North American example of "tabby" architecture, a rough form of shell concrete. "Tabby," also called "tabbi" or "tapia," is made by burning shells to create lime, which is then mixed with sand, ash, water and broken shells. At Mound Key, the Spaniards used primitive tabby as a mortar to stabilize the posts in the walls of their wooden structures. Tabby was later used by the English in their American colonies and in Southern plantations. Marquardt said that while the team uncovered a substantial amount of the walls they found, it is still only a small sample of the entire fort, and there is still much more to learn and excavate. Discovery of the fort has the potential to reduce archaeologists' dependence on Spanish reports for information about ancient Floridian history, he said. "Seeing the straight walls of the fort emerge, just inches below the surface, was quite exciting to us," Marquardt said. "Not only was this a confirmation of the location of the fort, but it shows the promise of Mound Key to shed light on a time in Florida's - and America's - history that is very poorly known." ### The Florida Museum's Karen Walker, Amanda Roberts Thompson of UGA and Lee Newsom of Flagler College also co-authored the study. ALBANY - As the state nears 20,000 deaths from the coronavirus, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Thursday revealed preliminary results of statewide antibody testing that began this week indicating 13.9 percent of the 3,000 who gave blood samples had antibodies associated with COVID-19. The latest data indicates 2.7 million people have been infected statewide - an infection rate of about 13.9 percent - which means the rate of fatalities from the infectious disease is about 0.5 percent, Cuomo said. However, the antibody sampling is a small portion of the states 19 million people, and the fatality rate does not include individuals who died at home and were not initially counted as having contracted the illness. "If the infection rate is 13.9 percent, then it changes the theories of what the death rate is if you get infected," Cuomo said. "It also supports the decision that we talked about in having a regional analysis. New York City accounted for the highest percentage of those tested with the antibodies at 21.2 percent, according to statistics compiled by the governor's office. Long Island is the second highest at 16.7 percent. Across upstate, the study indicated that 3.6 percent of the population are carrying the antibodies that may help prevent a person from being re-infected. The metropolis accounted for 43 percent of the 3,000 tests performed while Long Island received 14.4 percent of the tests and Westchester and Rockland counties got 9.8 percent. The rest of the state accounted for nearly 33 percent of the tests done. The preliminary results also showed men and people of color more often tested positive for the antibodies. The tests were administered by the state Department of Health and collected randomly at public sites around the state, including a grocery store in the Capital Region. People who volunteered to participate in the testing were not asked to provide any medical information, including whether they have had any flu-like symptoms. "We are going to continue this testing on a rolling basis, Cuomo said. "We're going to have a larger and larger sample. I want to see snapshots of what is happening with that rate. It can really give us data to make decisions. New York has been the epicenter for COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, accounting for roughly half of all the deaths in the United States. However, in the last week the state crossed its apex and hospitalizations have trended downward, giving hope that a slow reopening of the economy is in sight. Cuomos current statewide shutdown order is scheduled to last through May 15. While the governor initially insisted upon a statewide approach to reopening the economy, he is now amenable to the process being done on a regional basis. Elected officials and residents across upstate have called for communities that have not been hit as hard by the virus to reopen. More Information File a confidential complaint about nursing homes to the Attorney General online or by calling 833-249-8499. See More Collapse Widespread testing remains a key component to reopening, and Cuomo has said massive contact tracing will be done in New York City and its suburbs as well as New Jersey and Connecticut. Cuomo also announced Thursday that the state is collaborating with Attorney General Letitia James to ensure nursing homes, which have been hard hit by the pandemic, are following all state and federal guidelines for handling COVID-19 cases. "The state has very strict guidelines on privately run facilities. They get paid to take care of a resident. That resident, that patient, must have a state-directed level of care," Cuomo said. "If they cant provide that, they cant have that resident in their facility." The number of deaths from the virus continued to decline Wednesday, with 35 of the 438 deaths occurring at nursing homes, state figures show. While total hospitalizations have declined over the last 10 days, the number of new hospitalizations remained relatively stagnant 1,359 Wednesday. That is slightly lower than Tuesdays 1,366 new hospitalizations, according to Cuomos office. Intubations also are down. Nursing homes, which are often private entities regulated by the state Department of Health, could face fines or lose their license to operate if its found facilities are not following protocols, Cuomo said. The governor also took the opportunity to criticize U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, who had suggested this week states should file for bankruptcy rather than the federal government provide funding to help local governments stay afloat. McConnell specifically targeted blue states. Cuomo asserted McConnell is making the public health crisis political, with the federal government refusing to financially assist Democratic states battered by the pandemic. If there is ever a time for humanity and decency, now is the time, the Democratic governor said. You want to politically divide this nation now, with everything that is going on? How irresponsible and how reckless. Centaurs haven't been studied directly, but some scientists suspect they may look like this asteroid, called Mathilde. A cache of interstellar asteroids may have been hiding under scientists' noses for billions of years, researchers say. That's according to new research focused on a handful of strange space rocks known as Centaurs , which orbit the sun in the neighborhood of Jupiter and Saturn. Astronomers have long been puzzled by Centaurs because their orbits are very unpredictable, with simulations suggesting that they should bang into things or fly out of the solar system . The new research suggests that's because they were stolen by our solar system when it was very young. With so much less expansion under the universe's belt, stars were closer together. "The close proximity of the stars meant that they felt each others' gravity much more strongly in those early days than they do today," Fathi Namouni, lead author of the study and an astronomer at Observatoire de la Cote d'Azur in France, said in a statement . "This enabled asteroids to be pulled from one star system to another." Related: Photos: Asteroids in deep space The new research focused on 21 objects in the outer solar system: mostly Centaurs and a few other strange space rocks. Using a computer program, the scientists virtually cloned these objects tens of thousands of times over to understand likely scenarios for their escapades. According to the researchers, that analysis suggests that the Centaurs' strange-but-steady orbits are a hint they were born beyond our solar system and trapped here. Scientists have long hypothesized that objects move between solar systems, and saw the first confirmed interlopers in our neighborhood in the past few years, with 'Oumuamua and Comet Borisov . Both of those objects only passed through our solar system and weren't caught by the sun's gravity. The scientists on the new research think early asteroids may have been more likely to wander into other star systems and get stuck because in the early days of the solar system, with more than 4 billion years less of expansion , things were closer together. And identifying originally interstellar asteroids in our cosmic neighborhood is important because they are much easier to study than objects in distant solar systems. "The discovery of a whole population of asteroids of interstellar origin is an important step in understanding the physical and chemical similarities and differences between solar system-born and interstellar asteroids," co-author Maria Helena Morais, an astronomer at Universidade Estadual Paulista in Brazil, said in the same statement. "This population will give us clues about the sun's early birth cluster, how interstellar asteroid capture occurred, and the role that interstellar matter had in chemically enriching the solar system and shaping its evolution." The research is described in a paper published today (April 23) in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Email Meghan Bartels at mbartels@space.com or follow her @meghanbartels . Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook . House Speaker Dennis Bonnen has proposed 5 percent budget cuts to all state agencies as Texas begins to reckon with the financial fallout from the coronavirus. The outgoing speaker told Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick earlier this month that revenue shortfalls are expected later this year, and likely into 2021 and the next biennium budget cycle, according to a letter he sent April 9. "While it is true that we do not have an immediate funding need or a lack of COVID-related emergency funding, all indications are that we will most certainly have a future state revenue concern due to lagging economic conditions," Bonnen wrote. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox He said a "small 5 percent course correction" now is "far more achievable" than one larger cut in the next biennium, which begins in fall 2021. Taking action now could significantly reduce the need for more draconian cuts a year from now, he wrote. State Comptroller Glenn Hegar, who Bonnen said he consulted with, acknowledged earlier this month that the state had entered a recession, though officials wont have their first real glimpse into the slowdown until June. Texas is combating the coronavirus pandemic and reeling from a global price war in the oil sector that has slashed profits. Early on, economic forecasts predicted a short and deep recession. Hegar has since warned about a longer downturn, one that could last several months to over a year, according to Bonnen. It is unclear whether Patrick or Abbott have considered the cuts. The Texas Tribune first reported on the letter Wednesday. In Italy, therapists say lockdown makes victims harder to reach at a time when their need for help is greater than ever. Maria* crept out of her apartment, under the guise of throwing out the rubbish, and locked herself in her car. Still shaking, she dialled 1522, a national helpline for victims of family violence which redirected Maria to the first available psychologist. Eliana DAscoli, from the southern Italian city of Foggia, answered her call. Thank you for being there, Maria told her. For 14 years, DAscoli has been there, speaking to victims of domestic violence and offering them the moment of relief she believes they are looking for. Marias husband had just beaten her for not setting the table properly. His violence was nothing new. But the beatings were becoming more frequent and more severe now that they were in lockdown together. Its a nightmare, its like living in a cage, Maria told DAscoli. DAscoli listened as she talked through her emotions, described the guilt she felt, explained how something as simple as forgetting a napkin could be enough to set him off, how he told her constantly how stupid she was. As Maria spoke, her voice became lighter, and that alone was enough to remind DAscoli why she does this job. Helping women is a mission to her, one she has pursued since 2006, when she first started as an intern at Telefono Rosa, the Rome-based association that runs the 1522 hotline. Among other things, Telefono Rosa provides legal and psychological support, shelter and training for female victims of domestic violence. When Italy went into a nationwide lockdown on March 9, DAscoli began working from home, answering calls from women like Maria on her mobile phone. The silence As people around the world battle the boredom of quarantine, for people experiencing domestic violence, staying at home represents an entirely different kind of battle sometimes one just to stay alive. Social workers who deal with the repercussions of domestic violence fear rates will be soaring as people are forced to stay at home with their abuser while access to informal support systems friends, extended family, work colleagues is removed and options for seeking help seem ever more remote and dangerous. Gabriella Carnieri Moscatelli, the president of Telefono Rosa, explains that after holidays when families are typically expected to spend more time together calls to the 1522 hotline usually increase by 30 percent. During the first two weeks of the lockdown Telefono Rosa registered a 47.7 percent drop in calls, compared to the same period last year. This silence does not mean that there is no violence, but that women cant find a way to reach us, explained Antonella Veltri, the president of the NGO Donne in Rete against Violence (D.i.Re), which coordinates support centres for female victims of domestic violence and their children across the country. We are very concerned, she added. D.i.Res latest report reveals that between March 2 and April 5, more than 2,800 women contacted one of its centres, a 75 percent increase compared to the monthly average in 2018. However, only 28 percent were getting in touch for the first time, compared to 78 percent in 2018. The lockdown prompted NGOs across the country to adopt new strategies, such as offering psychological and legal assistance via text message and having psychologists work double shifts, to ensure counselling was available 24 hours a day. 191215103237588 The government has also launched a campaign to promote the 1522 number via its social media channels as well as promoting it in pharmacies, one of the few public spaces still open. Throwing [out] the garbage, grocery shopping, going to the pharmacy we are trying to send the message that each of these activities can be an escamotage [ploy] to exit the apartment and get in contact with us, Veltri said. Every 15 minutes In Italy, 6.8 million women aged 16-70 have experienced a form of physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, according to data compiled by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT). According to the latest report by the Italian state police, 82 percent of the violence committed against women in 2019 took place within the home. In the month of March last year, there was a report of gender violence against a woman every 15 minutes. Of course, such numbers are only the tip of the iceberg as the vast majority of victims do not report their abusers. According to the 2018 ISTAT report prepared for the parliamentary inquiry committee on gender violence, only 11.4 percent of Italian women took legal action after being the victim of violence. In 2018, of the 142 femicides, 85 percent were committed by a family member and 75 percent by a partner. A similar pattern is emerging this year. There have been seven femicides in Italy since the beginning of March all but one by a family member or partner. One of the victims was Lorenza Quaranta, a 27-year-old medical student from the southern city of Messina who was strangled by her boyfriend, who accused her of infecting him with coronavirus. Time bombs The first thing Giovanna* did was to apologise for calling back late. She had phoned 1522 earlier and was immediately given DAscolis number. But it was four hours until she could call her. Her father had disconnected the phone and internet after flying into a rage and physically assaulting Giovanna and her mother. Only today after two weeks locked in one space with my father, did I realise that he is a violent man, Giovanna explained as DAscoli struggled to make out what she was saying over the noise of the television she had turned up loud so that her father would not hear her. Many of the calls to the helpline described similar scenarios: pre-existing tensions exacerbated by the sudden removal of escape valves in the form of work, school, friends and extended family. There is no doubt that in situations that are already inclined to violence, if you add limited space, no privacy, children confined at home with no friends and the anxiety of losing your job well, these are time bombs, explained Chiara Saraceno, a sociologist. People who were already used to exerting violence will find new excuses to do it. Domestic abuse can take multiple and often overlapping forms, including physical, psychological and sexual violence, as well as economic control. In its latest survey published in 2018, D.i.Re analysed the cases of 20,137 women who used their centres across the country. Its findings showed that the most recurrent form of abuse was psychological (73.6 percent), followed by physical violence (62.1 percent), economic control (30.7 percent), stalking (16.1 percent) and sexual violence (13.5 percent). She must vanish Ending an abusive relationship often requires a great deal of planning. DAscoli described advising women to stuff their belongings into rubbish bags and to leave under the pretence of throwing the rubbish out. Once out of the perpetrators reach, any previously scheduled plan, like a doctors appointment, has to be cancelled, she explained, to avoid their abuser being able to locate them. 200405070704160 They have to vanish into thin air, said DAscoli, adding that the first advice she always gives abused women is to get hold of identification documents before they leave. That is not always easy, especially for foreign women whose husbands may have possession of their documents. While the majority of victims of domestic violence in Italy are Italian women, 19.8 percent are foreign. The proportion reverses when looking at femicide, where non-Italian women represent 67 percent of all cases, according to a police report. For a non-Italian woman who does not have a residence permit and is fleeing an abuser, the law grants a two-year permit on humanitarian grounds, which can be extended. The state also guarantees three months fully paid leave for any female victim of gender violence in order to allow enough time for a judge to ban a perpetrator from approaching the victims workplace. DAscoli believes that victims of abuse will be less likely to try to flee during the coronavirus pandemic. With everything that is happening outside, women do not find the strength to question their condition and flee home, she said. What they are looking for is mostly psychological support to open up a space to breathe. The phone call becomes a way to spill the beans and feel less lonely. Despite the difficulty of getting in touch, some, like Giovanna and Maria, find a way; others call just to send a signal. No thank you, we are not interested. That was what psychologist Alessandra Barone heard when she answered a call to Telefono Donna, a Milan-based association helping female victims of violence. That was all the woman said before ending the call. Operators have to be particularly receptive to hidden messages in calls, Barone explained. When she feels someone is trying to get a message to her but cannot talk freely, she will try to monitor their situation calling back from an anonymous number, pretending to be a salesperson or to have dialled the wrong number if someone else answers the call. If she speaks to the victim, she will ask questions that only require a yes or no answer. We basically start an alternative path of support compared to the traditional one, Barone said. The spiral Please, I need you to help me understand what Im doing wrong that makes him so angry, DAscoli recalled one woman asking her several years ago. The woman was in her 50s, and had been subjected to physical, psychological and financial abuse for 20 years. This is a classic dynamic, where the woman is convinced that the mans anger is triggered by her own faults. And this is because her self-esteem has been destroyed to the point that she believes that her way of cooking, eating, thinking, everything she does, is wrong, DAscoli explained. This erosion of self esteem can be a gradual process that is woven through the various stages and types of abuse from the verbal, emotional and financial to the physical, she added. DAscoli described a typical pattern of abuse. At first, the abuser creates an atmosphere filled with tension and negativity. This may be by smashing a door or staring at his victim. Then the attack takes place. This might be a beating, rape, an act of humiliation or a threat to take away her children. In the case of financial control, the outburst might take the form of the abuser tightening their grip on the victims financial resources, perhaps by revoking a credit card. A period of remorse often follows. They [will] say they wont [behave] like this anymore, said DAscoli. But then they also tell the victim that they should have not provoked them in the first place. 200406065737864 A period of relative serenity may follow, but the cycle soon begins again becoming more intense with each turn as the time between outbursts shortens. The further into that spiral a woman is, typically the lower her self esteem, DAscoli said. She is concerned that the stress, uncertainty and anxiety triggered by the pandemic and lockdown could amplify and accelerate cycles of abuse. Three weeks ago, she received a call from a worried father who could not find his 20-year-old daughter. She had returned to her abuser, against whom she had already filed a lawsuit after he put her in hospital three times. I missed him too much, she told her father. From childhood to adulthood DAscoli recalled one counselling session from 2010. The woman was seeking refuge. As she was talking to DAscoli, her two-year-old son entered the room and began searching for sweets in his mothers bag. When he could not find any, he kicked his mother in the shin and spat in her face. This is what the father teaches him, the woman said. Its simply a tragedy, said DAscoli. According to data from ISTAT, 22 percent of men who witnessed their father being violent towards their mother will become abusers themselves. If he, himself was abused as a child, that rises to 35.7 percent (if his mother was the one to abuse him) and to 30.5 percent (if it was his father). Sixty-four percent of women who witnessed their mother being abused or who were abused themselves as children will be victims of domestic violence as adults. Standstill What makes the lockdown more ominous is the fact that support systems for victims have also been weakened by it. These systems have a role to play throughout the often long and contorted process of a victim leaving their abuser from the point where they first begin to identify the behaviour as abusive through to eventually taking legal action against them. When a woman comes to us and begins narrating what is happening at home, that is when she slowly starts to realise that what she is going through is actually a very dangerous situation, explained Stefania Bartocetti, the founder of Telefono Donna. They are so used to resisting violence and bearing it as part of their daily routine that the risk factor does not exist to them. Bartocetti first counselled a victim of domestic violence in 1992. At the time, there was little discussion of domestic violence in Italy, she explained. Her phone has kept ringing in the almost 30 years since. Today, the association has around 80 volunteers who support almost 400 victims of gender violence and seven shelters. Helping people escape abusive relationships entails more than just psychological counselling, legal advice and emergency shelter it also in some instances involves longer-term support in the form of training to enter the labour market, assistance in securing permanent accommodation and so on. All of this is critical to ensuring that those who do take the often dangerous step of leaving an abuser, do not find themselves in a position where they feel forced to return. These are life-changing steps that require a supported months-long process to rebuild the womens self esteem and to get them ready for a new life, Bartocetti explained. But [despite advice and support still being available by phone or online] this whole process came to a standstill [with the lockdown]. It is not only the additional logistical challenges that discourage women from leaving their abusers during the crisis. [The coronavirus] becomes an excuse to redimension once again their own personal problems retracting into the domestic sphere where family, and not her own ambitions, comes first, said Bartocetti. 200410143527001 Gender roles and financial dependence Sociologist Chiara Saraceno believes violence springs from societally defined gender roles. Everything is pegged to the identification with gender roles. If someone was raised with the idea that males should command and women must obey, then he will grow up feeling its his right to dominate, and she will assume that she has to endure, she explained. The lockdown and subsequent economic fallout from the pandemic is only likely to further reinforce rigid gender roles that confine women to the domestic sphere, she explained. The gender pay gap in Italy is 5 percent according to ISTAT, but this data is misleading as it only considers full-time workers. If you add other indicators, such as part-time work and the employment rate, it rises to 43.7 percent, according to Eurostat. In Italy, the female employment rate stands at 49.5 percent the second-lowest in Europe, where the average is 63.3 percent. A lack of economic resources can make it harder and more daunting for a woman to leave an abusive partner, Saraceno explained. A family affair Since the beginning of the lockdown, not a single domestic violence case has landed on Paola Di Nicolas desk. She used to get at least three a week. A judge from the court of Rome, Di Nicola started a cultural battle inside courtrooms in 2011 by being the first in Italy to add the feminine article in front of the noun judge when signing her sentences. There are convicts who discussed my signature more than the punishment I had just given them, Di Nicola said, highlighting how audacious the move was. Female judges were only allowed in Italy in 1963. Today there are 4,255 female judges, 56 percent of the total, and around 20 of them refer to themselves as La giudice. Di Nicola started to follow domestic violence cases alongside mafia and other organised crime cases that she had handled since the beginning of her career in 1996 prompted by a desire to understand why such cases, while telling different stories, were always following the same pattern, she said. What was also similar in most cases, she added, was the authorities lack of understanding. A woman who has survived an abusive relationship could end up in a court with a judge questioning her behaviour, blaming the woman for her partners violence, Di Nicola explained. A light punishment or acquittal creates distrust, forcing women back into the abyss, she added. A cultural and judicial shift needs to take place in Italy, the judge explained. As a state, we persecute the perpetrator, but we dont safeguard the woman. We dont have a protection programme like the one we grant to witnesses of the mafia, for example. This is not happening because violence against women is considered a minor crime, a family affair rather than one of the most serious forms of violence, she said, adding that this is the case in courts across the world. Funding for shelters The only way to contain the impact of domestic violence under lockdown, Di Nicola believes, is by giving more funding to centres supporting the victims, as they are the only ones providing a safety net at the moment. The government has made an exception to the lockdown for domestic violence victims escaping to a refuge. But most are full as they have been so depleted of funds over the years that they are ill-equipped to deal with ordinary circumstances, let alone extraordinary times like these, Veltri explained. In 2017, the Ministry of Equal Opportunities allocated 12.7 million euros to centres and shelters, less than one euro per day for each of the 43,467 women who used the services of a support centre or shelter that year. The funding is given to regional administrations to hand out. But in 2017, only 34 percent of the total budget reached the centres and shelters and in 2018 it was only 0.39 percent, according to Action Aids annual report. To respond to the coronavirus crisis, on April 2, the Minister of Equal Opportunities, Elena Bonetti, signed a decree to speed up the delivery of 30 million euros that were allocated to support centres in 2019. The money has not yet arrived. Di Nicola is expecting a flood of cases once the lockdown is lifted. Lawyers, judges, the authorities will have to be prepared to face what will happen after the quarantine. Philadelphia School District Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. said students will likely be required to wear masks whenever they return to school. He also said the district will be unable to purchase enough mobile hotspots to get all students online. Read more Whenever children are allowed to return to schools, they will almost certainly need to wear masks, Philadelphia Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. said Thursday. Referring to the color-coded system Gov. Tom Wolf introduced this week for reopening the state amid the coronavirus pandemic, Hite, in a call with reporters, said the directions were clear. In the governors plan, it had the wearing of masks into the late fall, said Hite. We are planning as if we would need masks for young people to show up for school. Pennsylvania officials have ordered in-person classes canceled for the remainder of the school year, and its not yet clear whether students who qualify will be able to attend in-person summer school or even whether school doors will open in the fall. READ MORE: Read more: I would call this emergency remote learning: How schools are adjusting during the coronavirus shutdown Hite also said Philadelphia, which has distributed 75,000 Chromebooks to students to date, will not be able to purchase enough mobile hot spots small, portable devices that create a wireless connection by using the data of a smartphone, computer or tablet. Some families who lack internet access will be able to get connected for free, but some students, particularly those who live in homeless shelters or in other situations where wireless networks cannot be installed, will have trouble connecting to their teachers via the internet. Hite said numbers are not yet firm, but estimated that thousands will be in that category. READ MORE: As coronavirus closes schools, wealthier districts send laptops home with students. What about poorer districts? But due to short supplies of mobile hot spots and fierce competition among buyers, the demand will outstrip the supply. The district has been told if we were lucky, we could get a couple of thousand, Hite said. Students who cannot access materials online will still have access to paper packets of work, and the district will not penalize children for circumstances beyond their control, the superintendent said. Formal, teacher-led digital learning began in Philadelphia this week. New material will be introduced beginning May 4. Hite, in the media briefing, also warned that the pandemic is changing the districts budget picture significantly. ASK US: Do you have a question about the coronavirus and how it affects your health, work and life? Ask our reporters. The district has a healthy fund balance this year and will likely be able to absorb revenue hits it is already taking, but should the state choose to use federal stimulus funds to fill its budget gap rather than distribute new funds to school districts and others, Philadelphia might have to cut its budget. The district could receive up to $130 million of federal stimulus funds, Hite said. Its 2020-21 budget is projected to be $3.4 billion. The superintendent and Chief Financial Officer Uri Monson will present the districts full budget later Thursday. No historian who wrote about the Spanish influenza epidemic of 1918 failed to mention its juxtaposition with the conclusion of World War I on Nov. 11, 1918. The most telling comparison is that an estimated 11 million military personnel and 7 million civilians, of all participating nations, died in that conflict between 1914 and 1918. No doubt that 18 million lost lives is a significant and tragic number. By comparison, though, an estimated 20 million to 40 million people worldwide died in the influenza pandemic of 1918-19, equally significant and tragic. The United States suffered about 116,000 combat fatalities in the war, and in the two-year period of 1918-19, 675,000 U.S. citizens died of the flu, which is more than the total number of Americans killed in all the wars fought in the 20th century. In New Mexico, the figures are that 93 military people were killed in World War I, and as many as 5,000 New Mexicans died from the flu out of 50,000 cases. Some sources show the number as 1,000, out of a population of 360,350, per the 1920 census. These figures are at such a variance because there was no system for record-keeping at the time. In 1918, New Mexico had only been a state of the union for six years, and it was the only state in the union that did not have a health department any health department. What that meant was there was no mechanism, and no personnel, available to fight the spread of the disease that ran its course from early October until early November. New Mexico Republican Gov. Octaviano A. Larrazolo (1859-1930), who served in office in 1919 and 1920, created a health department when he signed a house bill on March 15, 1919. Historian Richard Melzer has correctly called the 1918 epidemic a truly dark and terrible moment in New Mexico history. Selected sources: Lauren Gray, Influenza Epidemic in New Mexico, 1918, Office of the New Mexico State Historian. Richard Melzer, A Dark and Terrible Moment: The Spanish Flu Epidemic of 1918, New Mexico Historical Review, July 1983. Clifford M. Rees, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Spanish Influenza in New Mexico, 1918, AB Health eSource, December 2005. (Don Bullis is a Rio Rancho resident, New Mexico centennial historian and award-winning author. He was named the Best Local Author in the 2018 Rio Rancho Observer Readers Choice contest. Ellos Pasaron por Aqui, translated as They Passed by Here, appears on the third Sunday of the month.) NEW YORK (AP) The tourists and conventioneers who once filled the rooms of The New Yorker hotel are long gone, driven away by the coronavirus, but its lobby is still bustling. The big, art-deco hotel in midtown Manhattan is one of several across the U.S. that have become barracks for an army of health care workers deployed to fight COVID-19. You come home, get your dinner, take a shower, get to sleep and then do it all over again the next day, said physician assistant Shadoe Daniels, through his mask, in a ballroom converted into an intake area, where shoe sanitizing stations are a must-stop before guests head to the elevators. The Honesdale, Pennsylvania, resident likened his workday to going to war. More than 15,000 of the nations 56,000 hotels and motels are now offering rooms for emergency and health care workers, according to Chip Rogers, president of the American Hotel and Lodging Association. Some health care workers have snagged free rooms at the Sophy Hyde Park hotel in Chicago or the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel New York. Others, like Daniels, are being put up by staffing agencies hired to quickly bring reinforcements to overwhelmed hospitals. At another time, hotels packed with out-of-town workers on a shared mission might have been buzzing like a college dorm, with nurses or doctors sharing drinks at the bar after shifts or heading out to a Broadway show. But several healthcare workers staying at The New Yorker told The Associated Press that they are too exhausted after 12-hour workdays to do much more than shower, eat, exercise, read and sleep. Shuttered bars, restaurants and businesses limit options. Zuri Longoria, a nurse from Aransas Pass, Texas, said she relieves stress from tending to dying patients by chatting with other medical volunteers like herself. You cant share that type of bond with anybody else, Longoria said. In the hotel's ballroom, sanitizing materials rest on a table and prayer cards and handwritten well wishes from the community hang from a bulletin board. Thank you for helping others in their time of need!" reads one. One note acknowledged how inadequate words, prayers and small contributions seemed for the workers. It's not a lot and way less than you guys deserve! Please be safe!" it said. Nathan Shapiro-Shellaby, a nurse anesthetist from Seattle, said he runs outdoors and meditates before boarding a shuttle bus for work at Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, which has been ground zero for the crisis. After work, he's sharpening his Facetime and Zoom skills to maintain relationships. Thats been one of my favorite things to do to kind of release stress and hear about family and friends from all around the world," Shapiro-Shellaby said. Daniels said immediately after a shift he sanitizes his shoes, wipes down anything he carries with Clorox wipes and drops his clothing in a laundry bag at his room. Then I jump right in the shower. My bedroom is like COVID-free, as much as it can be," Daniels said. Daniels, Longoria and Shapiro-Shellaby were recruited to New York by Krucial Staffing, which advertised that three-week stints for 400 nurses starting in mid-April would pay $10,000 per week. Two weeks ago, the Mariott hotel chain announced it would provide $10 million of free Rooms for Responders in New York City, New Orleans, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C. and Newark, New Jersey. In less than two days, 6,200 nights in rooms had been booked, with 53% of them in the New York area and 34% in Los Angeles. Hilton and American Express also teamed up to donate up to 1 million hotel room nights nationwide. Rogers estimates that half of the hotels in the country are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. And most of the rest are operating with skeletal staffs. Hotel authorities say most hotels still up and running are housing workers, while some have offered space for hospital operations or to provide rooms for the homeless or quarantined individuals. Its a win, win, win, said Kim Sabow, president of the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association. She said 300 Arizona hotels had volunteered to house medical workers. This is just a wonderful way in which the hotels can keep their doors open and give back at this horrific time of crisis. Some hotels volunteered after Californias governor threatened to use the powers of the state to take over hotels. Hotels were rightfully concerned. At the same time, we had already heard hotels saying: Look, if this starts getting worse, they can use our hotel if they need to, Rogers recalled. Michael Jacobson, president of the Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association, said Chicago and state officials asked hotels in early March to identify locations that could be used. Some offered free rooms; others at cost. Tight security ensures nobody breaks social distancing rules. Rather than housecleaning, linens and towels are left outside rooms, along with meals. Hotels arent making a profit out of this. It is allowing them to at least maintain some basic operations and frankly, keep at least a portion of their staff employed, Jacobson said. I knew folks would step up, theres no question about it, but I also knew that every hotel owner I know of is hurting right now, and hurting bad. Donald Kennedy, a neurobiologist who headed the Food and Drug Administration before becoming president of Stanford University, where he oversaw major expansions of its campus and curriculum and weathered a crisis over research spending, died on April 21 in Redwood City, Calif. He was 88. His death, at a residential care facility, was caused by complications of the new coronavirus, his wife, Robin Kennedy, said. He had suffered a severe stroke in 2015. Stanford had been Dr. Kennedys life since 1960, when, not yet 30, he joined its faculty as an assistant professor of biology. And except for a stint in the late 1970s as head of the F.D.A. under President Jimmy Carter, he remained wedded to the university, becoming provost and then president in 1980, beginning an 11-year tenure. It was a productive one. During his presidency the university opened the Stanford Humanities Center and campuses in Oxford, England; Kyoto, Japan; and Washington; diversified the Western culture curriculum; and raised $1.2 billion in a five-year centennial campaign, although by the end of the decade the university was facing deficits. The Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Landing (NIRSAL) has called on smallholder farmers and other agricultural stakeholders to enroll in a new programme it has launched to ease access to finances, training, inputs and other incentives in the sector. NIRSAL said the package has a target of enrolling eight million farmers across the country with the hope of producing about 12 million metric tonnes of Grain Product Equivalent (GPE) on a yearly basis over the medium to long term. The agency disclosed this on its Twitter account Wednesday. The exercise aims at creating 16,000 Agro Geo-Cooperatives (ranging from 10 hectares to 20,001 hectares and above) on 4 million hectares of farmland and enrolling about 8 million farmers across Nigeria who are expected to produce about 12 million metric tonnes of Grain Product Equivalent (GPE) annually over the medium to long term, the statement said. READ ALSO: Anne Ihugba, NIRSALs head of corporate communications confirmed the post. To achieve this, the agency urged eligible agricultural stakeholders who are domiciled in or have access to their communities and farmers to take advantage of the opportunity as a means of employment and a source of income generation. NIRSAL is a non-bank financial institution established by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in 2013 with the mandate to stimulate the flow of affordable financial investment into the agricultural sector, by de-risking the agribusiness finance value chains. This is done through its five strategic pillars- Risk sharing, insurance, technical assistance, incentive and rating. It advised interested stakeholders to enroll via https://nirsal.com/agrogeocoop/ EU leaders have to unleash the blocs full financial firepower to help economies reeling from the Covid-19 crisis to get back on track. The warning from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar comes ahead of crunch talks today about a potential 1.5 trillion package to tackle the fallout from the pandemic. "Id be strongly of the view that Europe needs a much stronger economic response that weve had from the European Union to date, and that involves money," he said. And thats what were going to have to talk about how we can use the European Unions financial firepower to assist countries in real trouble, particularly Mediterranean, but also every country in the European Union is going to need help to get their economies back on track, he said In an inherent criticism of Germany and the Netherlands, which have blocked proposals to help other countries, Mr Varadkar said now is the time for Europe to stand together. But we are, of course, running into those same difficulties. "But we always have when it comes to these questions, some countries not wanting to share a debt, some countries not wanting to pool our borrowing capacity, and Ireland is very much among those countries that believe that if theres ever a time for the European Union to stand together, ever a time for us to assemble our firepower and to mutualise some debt, even if its only for the purposes of the pandemic and healthcare, now is the time, he said. Ireland also desperately needs the EU to agree on a recovery package after the Department of Finance and the IMF pointed to Irish unemployment rising and staying at multiples of the levels of Britain or Germany. The Government faces its budget deficit widening at a minimum to 23bn this year, according to its own figures. The outcome will be a lot worse in the absence of an EU recovery package. Mairead McGuinness, vice-president of the European Parliament, told the Irish Examiner that the eyes of the world were on the EU leaders. If it is only a piecemeal recovery, it will not meet anyones needs, said Ms McGuinness, citing Irish food producers who rely on markets across Europe. Ben Tonra, professor of international relations at UCD, said it appears that EU leaders have not yet grasped the nettle to agree on ways to fund the recovery programme. The stakes have never been higher, he said. We are in the middle of this crisis which is having huge political and economic ramifications. If the Union cant step up to this in political and economic terms, I dont think it collapses but it would rob it of meaning and purpose. However, fears are rising that EU leaders will defer the decision on ways to fund the package. Sources in Brussels indicated that key divisions between northern and southern European states on finding ways to share the burden of the costs will be deferred to April 29, or maybe for many months longer. However, Mr Varadkar said that a lot of proposals were being put forward. Some people have put forward a proposal of using our existing European funding mechanisms, he said. That would allow the European Commission to borrow on behalf of the European Union as a whole if you like, that would free up money that could be used to stimulate economies and then be paid back at a European level. Meanwhile, the death toll from Covid-19 in the country has risen to 769 after a further 49 deaths were notified to the Department of Health. Of these, 412 (53%) related to either long-term residential care settings or nursing homes. 995582[/readmore[ Consumer complaints over arbitrary price hikes and other manipulative conducts against products and service consumers now have a dedicated platform for redress, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has said. The Commission said on Wednesday that its current operational priorities remain to address key competition and consumer protection issues related to and arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. On consumer protection, the Commission identified the most prevalent consumer complaints to include failed electronic banking transactions and associated delays in restoration, reconciliation or resolution; slow speed/throttling of internet connectivity/speed as well arbitrary and inexplicable charges for data by telecommunication companies. The other complaints include restricted access or delayed signal release after payment for payTV services; continuing irrational and excessive increases in prices of certain medical devices (infrared thermometers). They also include arbitrary price hike on basic relevant hygiene products (Sanitizers, Facemasks) and certain medications (Chloroquine and Vitamin C), and food items; continuing insufficient supply of electricity and arbitrary billing. The FCCPC Chief Executive Officer, Babatune Irukera, noted that some suppliers and retailers have demonstrated circumspection in compliance with the agencys enforcement directives and updates on these issues. However, he said there were yet others who have continued to unduly exploit the current restriction to their advantage, by carrying out unfair and unreasonable price increase prices on various products and services during this period. He said the Commission was already pursuing criminal charges against some of the companies, particularly the flagrant or repeat violators. Besides, he said the Commission was expanding its investigations into other players and industries found to have indulged in similar malpractices. The Commission restates its determination (including retrospectively after the pandemic) to hold violators to the appropriate weight of the law. Recently, the Commission said it was getting set to prosecute four supermarkets and their proprietors in Abuja for alleged arbitrary hike of prices of sanitizers, hand-wash liquids, disinfectants and other anti-bacterial hygiene products. READ ALSO: To further its special COVID-19 focus and response, Mr Irukera said the Commission has created a dedicated platform for the pandemic related complaints. The Commission is operating with limited capacity to address the mirage of complaints and recognizes that many industry players are experiencing similar limitations. But, we will still encourage producers and providers to prioritize compliance with consumer protection laws and responsiveness to their customers, he said. He said the COVID-19 related complaints and or feedback, may be filed at the dedicated COVID-19 complaint portal: https://covid19.fccpc.gov.ng or via calls 07086159973. He said other COVID-19 related violations, such as scams and misleading advertisements about vaccines, therapies or cures for COVID-19 should also be addressed to the dedicated portal and would be met with stiff penalties. The FCCPC boss said the Commission would continue to provide further guidance on its operations and how stakeholders can engage the Commission or conduct their business with the Commission during this period. The Commission again advised consumers to avoid large gatherings, including markets/stores to make needless or non-essential purchases, and to practice the strongest discipline in staying at home and enforcing social distancing measures. HOME > Married at First Sight 'Married at First Sight: Australia' Season 7 to air on Lifetime beginning in May By Steven Rogers, 04/22/2020 : Australia is coming to America. ADVERTISEMENT Lifetime has announced it will air Season 7 of : Australia -- which premiered in Australia in February and aired it's finale Down Under earlier this month -- beginning next month. : Australia's seventh season will air on Lifetime as two-hour episodes twice a week on Wednesday and Thursday nights at 9PM ET/PT beginning May 27. : Australia's seventh season featured 12 new couples -- including one same-sex couple -- and will air on Lifetime immediately follow new episodes of : Couples' Cam, The matchmaking experts on Season 7 of : Australia are John Aiken, Mel Schiling, and Dr. Trisha Stafford. Like the American version of , : Australia features couples getting "married" to a stranger, going on honeymoons, and then moving in together and attempting to form a new life together. However, unlike the American version, : Australia's couples do not get married legally. Instead, the couples "marry" at a commitment ceremony and then participate in subsequent regular commitment ceremonies in which each partner must decide whether they want to continue with the relationship or end it. : Australia's seventh season originally aired in Australia four nights a week between February 3 and April 5 and consisted of 36 episodes. 's American version is produced by Kinetic Content, a Red Arrow Studios company. : Australia is produced by EndemolShine Australia, and the format is distributed worldwide by Red Arrow Studios International. The tenth season of , which was filmed in Washington, D.C., aired its Below are the 12 couples starring on : Australia and their Lifetime-supplied descriptions: FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! - Aleks and Ivan Aleksandra, born and raised in Perth, grew up in a strict Serbian household and although her parents disagree with her participation in the experiment, she feels the dating pool in her town is too small to meet Mr. Right. Driven, fiery and outspoken, Aleks knows exactly what she wants in a relationship and is ready to get married and settle into the life she has always imagined for herself. Ivan is a Ukrainian-born straight shooter with traditional family values. The Sydney-based real estate agent is hard-working and ambitious with strong opinions. Although he is direct, underneath his tough exterior is a sentimental romantic who believes in true love. - Tash and Amanda Tash, a bartender and yoga teacher from Adelaide, can come off as intimidating to others considering her dark hair and striking tattoos. She hopes to find someone who is affectionate and expressive with their emotions. Amanda, a self-proclaimed alpha-female from Melbourne, is searching for a woman to love deeply and equally. Her European family has not always been accepting but more than ever, Amanda is ready to find her soulmate. - Cathy and Josh Cathy, a logistics investigator from New Zealand, is living in Sydney away from her family. Despite her glamorous appearance, she is down-to-earth and friendly and is looking for an honest and loyal partner she can finally let her guard down with. ADVERTISEMENT - Connie and Jonethen Connie is an aspiring marine biologist from Melbourne who has been single for five years. Uncomfortable around men, she spends her time focusing on studying to avoid feeling invisible. Although her mother is against her being part of this experiment, she is determined to find her soulmate, with or without her family's blessing. Jonethen is a fun-loving guy living on the Gold Coast with a job that he feels has inhibited his ability to find "the one." He has found it difficult to maintain any relationship beyond a few months. Jonethen is one of five boys from a close-knit family and he now believes it is time to mature and find a girl to settle down with for the long term. - Hayley and David Melbourne native Hayley suffered from a drug addiction ten years ago but has since turned to health and fitness to pull her out of darkness. Although this has had a huge impact on her life and relationships, she is ready to show her vulnerability and be loved by someone who accepts her, past and all. David is a former boxer from Melbourne who now drives trucks for a living. When he isn't working, he is training his two horses on his farmland. David's parents are traditionalists who are skeptical of his participation in this experiment. Although their approval is important to him, he is willing to try anything to find a special connection again. - KC and Drew KC worked as a dancer in Los Angeles for 10 years before making the decision to move back home to Sydney with the hopes of finding love. Although she enjoyed her Hollywood lifestyle mixing and mingling with A-listers, she is finally home and ready to find someone to settle down with. Drew, a musician with a big heart, enjoys a simple life and loves his laid-back lifestyle in Cairns, where he runs a mental health charity. Although he receives no shortage of attention from woman, he hasn't allowed himself to be vulnerable with anyone since his called off engagement four years ago. - Lizzie and Seb Lizzie, who appeared on a previous season of : Australia, is back for a second chance at finding love after being betrayed by her husband. Although she tried to make it work with her previous groom, Sam, she later found out he was cheating on her with another bride in the experiment. Sebastian, a semi-pro ALF player and personal trainer from Newcastle, NSW, has been single for eight years and has only had one serious relationship. As a sensitive soul and deep thinker, he is really hoping to get to know someone on a deeper level. ADVERTISEMENT Mishel, a young-in-spirit mother of two grown kids from Brisbane has suffered her fair share of heartache, including her divorce 15 years ago. She openly shares details of her dating disasters, admitting she has been cheated on in seven of her past eight relationships. Mishel finds the dating landscape increasingly difficult to navigate at her age and is hopeful the experiment will put an end to her quest to find a man who embraces her for who she is. Steve, a cancer survivor from Melbourne is originally from the UK. He's lived in Australia for the past 18 years and has a son in his 30s who still lies in England. He feels his life is sorted out other than his constant fear of spending the rest of his life alone and that has him finally making a change. - Natasha and Mikey Natasha is an outspoken and bold businesswoman from Sydney who has always dated men who are significantly older than her, including her ex-fiance. Determined to break the cycle of feeling like she is just arm candy, Natasha is looking for a good man who will treat her as their equal. Mikey is from Sydney and has a solid work ethic, recently stepping in to help run his family's business, a nursing home founded by his grandfather. Mikey carries a self-assured facade but lacks confidence when it comes to interacting with women. - Poppy and Luke Poppy, a mother of two-year-old twin boys from Wollongong, has endured her fair share of heart-crushing disappointment when it comes to love. Self-deprecating, outspoken and funny, she often uses comedy to hide her pain. Since her number one priority is her sons, Poppy decided to do the experiment to find a soulmate and a good and dependable man to be a role model for her sons. Luke, a hard-working single dad of two teenage daughters from Melbourne, has his work cut out for him when it comes to finding time for dating. Previously married for 10 years, he is focused on providing a solid life for his daughters as he continues to put his family first and prioritizes homelife above everything else. Luke is finally ready to put his heart on the line for someone else. - Stacey and Michael Stacey, a law graduate from Adelaide, has two kids and a broken engagement, and has been scared to let someone else in because of her past family trauma. Now, she finally feels ready to let her walls down and give herself another chance at love. Michael is a single dad from Adelaide who became a billionaire at 24. He's now ready to enter a relationship with a woman who will help keep him in line and be able to handle his sense of humor. ADVERTISEMENT Vanessa, a pharmacy manager from Perth, shields herself from hurt by rejecting men before they reject her. She hopes the experts can find her someone to look past the scars and love her the way she wants to be loved back. Chris, a single dad of two young boys from Adelaide, has always pictured the perfect family unit for himself, much like his parents who have been married for 38 years. Heartbroken following two failed engagements, Chris is determined to find the woman who will complete his ideal family portrait. About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON GOOGLE NEWS : Australia is coming to America.Lifetime has announced it will air Season 7 of : Australia -- which premiered in Australia in February and aired it's finale Down Under earlier this month -- beginning next month.: Australia's seventh season will air on Lifetime as two-hour episodes twice a week on Wednesday and Thursday nights at 9PM ET/PT beginning May 27.: Australia's seventh season featured 12 new couples -- including one same-sex couple -- and will air on Lifetime immediately follow new episodes of : Couples' Cam, which debuts May 20 at 8PM ET/PT.The matchmaking experts on Season 7 of : Australia are John Aiken, Mel Schiling, and Dr. Trisha Stafford.Like the American version of , : Australia features couples getting "married" to a stranger, going on honeymoons, and then moving in together and attempting to form a new life together.However, unlike the American version, : Australia's couples do not get married legally.Instead, the couples "marry" at a commitment ceremony and then participate in subsequent regular commitment ceremonies in which each partner must decide whether they want to continue with the relationship or end it.: Australia's seventh season originally aired in Australia four nights a week between February 3 and April 5 and consisted of 36 episodes.'s American version is produced by Kinetic Content, a Red Arrow Studios company.: Australia is produced by EndemolShine Australia, and the format is distributed worldwide by Red Arrow Studios International.The tenth season of , which was filmed in Washington, D.C., aired its "Decision Day" episode last week and boasted the highest-rated finale in franchise history with 2.1 million total viewers.Below are the 12 couples starring on : Australia and their Lifetime-supplied descriptions:- Aleks and IvanAleksandra, born and raised in Perth, grew up in a strict Serbian household and although her parents disagree with her participation in the experiment, she feels the dating pool in her town is too small to meet Mr. Right. Driven, fiery and outspoken, Aleks knows exactly what she wants in a relationship and is ready to get married and settle into the life she has always imagined for herself.Ivan is a Ukrainian-born straight shooter with traditional family values. The Sydney-based real estate agent is hard-working and ambitious with strong opinions. Although he is direct, underneath his tough exterior is a sentimental romantic who believes in true love.- Tash and AmandaTash, a bartender and yoga teacher from Adelaide, can come off as intimidating to others considering her dark hair and striking tattoos. She hopes to find someone who is affectionate and expressive with their emotions.Amanda, a self-proclaimed alpha-female from Melbourne, is searching for a woman to love deeply and equally. Her European family has not always been accepting but more than ever, Amanda is ready to find her soulmate.- Cathy and JoshCathy, a logistics investigator from New Zealand, is living in Sydney away from her family. Despite her glamorous appearance, she is down-to-earth and friendly and is looking for an honest and loyal partner she can finally let her guard down with.Josh, an industrial operator from Sydney, always loved being the life of the party. Now, he regrets losing the one who got away while he wasted time partying instead of dating. Ready to settle down, Josh is vowing to never let love escape him so he can find his forever relationship.- Connie and JonethenConnie is an aspiring marine biologist from Melbourne who has been single for five years. Uncomfortable around men, she spends her time focusing on studying to avoid feeling invisible. Although her mother is against her being part of this experiment, she is determined to find her soulmate, with or without her family's blessing.Jonethen is a fun-loving guy living on the Gold Coast with a job that he feels has inhibited his ability to find "the one." He has found it difficult to maintain any relationship beyond a few months. Jonethen is one of five boys from a close-knit family and he now believes it is time to mature and find a girl to settle down with for the long term.- Hayley and DavidMelbourne native Hayley suffered from a drug addiction ten years ago but has since turned to health and fitness to pull her out of darkness. Although this has had a huge impact on her life and relationships, she is ready to show her vulnerability and be loved by someone who accepts her, past and all.David is a former boxer from Melbourne who now drives trucks for a living. When he isn't working, he is training his two horses on his farmland. David's parents are traditionalists who are skeptical of his participation in this experiment. Although their approval is important to him, he is willing to try anything to find a special connection again.- KC and DrewKC worked as a dancer in Los Angeles for 10 years before making the decision to move back home to Sydney with the hopes of finding love. Although she enjoyed her Hollywood lifestyle mixing and mingling with A-listers, she is finally home and ready to find someone to settle down with.Drew, a musician with a big heart, enjoys a simple life and loves his laid-back lifestyle in Cairns, where he runs a mental health charity. Although he receives no shortage of attention from woman, he hasn't allowed himself to be vulnerable with anyone since his called off engagement four years ago.- Lizzie and SebLizzie, who appeared on a previous season of : Australia, is back for a second chance at finding love after being betrayed by her husband. Although she tried to make it work with her previous groom, Sam, she later found out he was cheating on her with another bride in the experiment.Sebastian, a semi-pro ALF player and personal trainer from Newcastle, NSW, has been single for eight years and has only had one serious relationship. As a sensitive soul and deep thinker, he is really hoping to get to know someone on a deeper level.- Mishel and SteveMishel, a young-in-spirit mother of two grown kids from Brisbane has suffered her fair share of heartache, including her divorce 15 years ago. She openly shares details of her dating disasters, admitting she has been cheated on in seven of her past eight relationships. Mishel finds the dating landscape increasingly difficult to navigate at her age and is hopeful the experiment will put an end to her quest to find a man who embraces her for who she is.Steve, a cancer survivor from Melbourne is originally from the UK. He's lived in Australia for the past 18 years and has a son in his 30s who still lies in England. He feels his life is sorted out other than his constant fear of spending the rest of his life alone and that has him finally making a change.- Natasha and MikeyNatasha is an outspoken and bold businesswoman from Sydney who has always dated men who are significantly older than her, including her ex-fiance. Determined to break the cycle of feeling like she is just arm candy, Natasha is looking for a good man who will treat her as their equal.Mikey is from Sydney and has a solid work ethic, recently stepping in to help run his family's business, a nursing home founded by his grandfather. Mikey carries a self-assured facade but lacks confidence when it comes to interacting with women.- Poppy and LukePoppy, a mother of two-year-old twin boys from Wollongong, has endured her fair share of heart-crushing disappointment when it comes to love. Self-deprecating, outspoken and funny, she often uses comedy to hide her pain. Since her number one priority is her sons, Poppy decided to do the experiment to find a soulmate and a good and dependable man to be a role model for her sons.Luke, a hard-working single dad of two teenage daughters from Melbourne, has his work cut out for him when it comes to finding time for dating. Previously married for 10 years, he is focused on providing a solid life for his daughters as he continues to put his family first and prioritizes homelife above everything else. Luke is finally ready to put his heart on the line for someone else.- Stacey and MichaelStacey, a law graduate from Adelaide, has two kids and a broken engagement, and has been scared to let someone else in because of her past family trauma. Now, she finally feels ready to let her walls down and give herself another chance at love.Michael is a single dad from Adelaide who became a billionaire at 24. He's now ready to enter a relationship with a woman who will help keep him in line and be able to handle his sense of humor.- Vanessa and ChrisVanessa, a pharmacy manager from Perth, shields herself from hurt by rejecting men before they reject her. She hopes the experts can find her someone to look past the scars and love her the way she wants to be loved back.Chris, a single dad of two young boys from Adelaide, has always pictured the perfect family unit for himself, much like his parents who have been married for 38 years. Heartbroken following two failed engagements, Chris is determined to find the woman who will complete his ideal family portrait. MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER? WHERE ARE THEY NOW? MORE MARRIED AT FIRST SIGHT NEWS << PRIOR STORY 'Survivor' host Jeff Probst: We're still exploring 'Survivor: Winners At War' finale and reunion options NEXT STORY >> 'Married at First Sight' reunion: Derek and Katie divorce amid cheating allegations, Taylor and Brandon file protective orders after duel arrests, Zach and Katie reveal they went on a date Lifetime Get more Reality TV World! Follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook or add our RSS feed. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Page generated Wed Jan 12, 2022 9:25 am in 1.1094019412994 seconds The Houston Fire Department sent firefighters and trucks today to the Yellow Rose distillery to pick-up almost 500 gallons of hand sanitizer donated to help these brave fire and medical professionals stay safe as they work to respond to this ongoing crisis. The Yellow Rose-bottled hand sanitizer is fully compliant with World Health Organization, Food and Drug Administration, and Centers for Disease Control recommendations and is safe for consumer use. Yellow Rose will continue to bottle hand sanitizer product indefinitely, until need subsides. About Yellow Rose Distilling: Founded in 2010, Yellow Rose Distilling, LLC is a distillery located in Houston, Texas. As Houston's first legal whiskey distillery, Yellow Rose specializes in handmade, blended and bottled premium whiskey. For more information, please visit https://yellowrosedistilling.com/. About Zamora Company USA: Zamora Company USA, based in Dallas, Texas, has recently brought together their collection of unique luxury brands along with an experienced, passionate and dedicated team of over 30 people. The new organization manages sales, distribution, execution and marketing of the following brands: Licor 43, Double Cross Vodka, Yellow Rose Whiskey, Martin Miller's Gin, Lolea Sangria, Villa Massa Limoncello, plus Spanish wines Ramon Bilbao, Cruz De Alba, and Mar de Frades. SOURCE Zamora Company USA Related Links http://yellowrosedistilling.com Fitch forecasts the economy will contract by 6.5% in 2020, compared with 3.2% growth in 2019. Fitch Ratings has revised the outlook on Ukraine's Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to stable from positive and affirmed the IDR at 'B'. "The revision of Ukraine's outlook to stable reflects the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Ukraine's growth and fiscal accounts," Fitch said on April 22. "The heightened macroeconomic and fiscal risks associated with this unprecedented global shock will partially reverse Ukraine's improvements in recent years in terms of a declining debt burden, the normalisation of growth prospects after the 2014-2015 geopolitical and economic crises, and reduced growth volatility." Fitch forecasts the economy will contract by 6.5% in 2020, compared with 3.2% growth in 2019, reflecting the COVID-19 pandemic shock to the global economy, containment measures and a weaker currency affecting investment and private consumption. Consumption will be further hindered by the expected decline in household remittances (7.8% of GDP in 2019). The shock will be partly cushioned by Ukraine's low reliance on tourism, relatively more diversified commodity exports (including 40% soft commodities) and lower international oil prices given its net importer status. "We expect the economy to recover to 3.5% in 2021, in line with our medium-term growth view for Ukraine. However, there are material downside risks to our forecasts, given the uncertainty around the extent and duration of the coronavirus outbreak," Fitch experts said. Read alsoSome 62% of restaurants shut down in Ukraine amid COVID-19 quarantine The government introduced containment measures in mid-March and further tightened the quarantine in early April until at least the end of the month. The economic policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic includes National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) FX sales in mid-March, provision of liquidity to the financial sector and temporary regulatory forbearance for banks. Fitch forecasts the general government deficit to rise to 7.1% of GDP in 2020, up from 2.0% in 2019 and the original target of 2.1%, reflecting lower tax collection, increased social and health spending and the formation of a coronavirus fund (1.6% of GDP). "We note that the final size of the deficit will depend on available financing, especially from official sources, and spending execution not directly related to the health crisis and social support. We expect the fiscal deficit to decline to 3.4% in 2021, as revenues recover in tandem with the economy and nominal spending remains roughly stable against 2020," Fitch experts said. General government debt will jump to 57.1% of GDP (64.0% of GDP including guarantees) and 57.4% in 2021, from 44.4% (50.4% with guarantees) in 2019 and close to the forecast 60% 'B' median, due to the wider deficit and sharp hryvnia depreciation (forecast at 25% yoy in 2020). Fitch also expects some rollback in the progress of reducing currency risks on the sovereign balance sheet (59% foreign-currency denominated in 2019), as Fitch's base case foresees the government meeting most of its financing needs in foreign currency. According to Fitch, Ukraine's track record of fiscal prudence (primary surpluses in 2015-2019), the expectation of new multi-year International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, and relatively limited financing alternatives to sustain large deficits underpin Fitch's expectation that Ukraine returns to a primary fiscal surplus consistent with debt reduction in 2022. (Natural News) Were still in the process of learning about what life is like for those who have survived coronavirus infections. Anyone who has overcome the virus has plenty to be thankful for, but its often a difficult road to return to normal. And in the case of a pair of Chinese doctors, its also going to take some time before they look normal again as reports are emerging that the virus completely changed their natural skin tone to a far darker one. The two men, both aged 42, were diagnosed with COVID-19 in January while working as physicians treating patients at the Wuhan Central Hospital in the epicenter of the outbreak. They were transferred between different hospitals after becoming gravely ill, and after being placed on life support, their skin color changed dramatically. The transformation is being attributed to hormonal imbalances resulting from liver damage sustained but the virus, according to Chinese state media. However, one of the men in question, Dr. Yi Fan, who is a cardiologist, suspects that a drug they were given at the beginning of their treatment is behind the effect. The drug was not named. Dr. Yi was hooked up to a life support machine known as an ECMO for 39 days. The machine pumps and oxygenates a persons blood outside of their body much in the same way that a heart-lung bypass machine does in open-heart surgery. The doctor said he was scared when he first learned of his condition and had frequent nightmares. Although hes now able to move around normally in his bed, walking without support is a struggle. The other affected physician, Dr. Hu Weifeng, was bedridden for 99 days and was very weak after his surgery. The urologist underwent ECMO therapy for 45 days and recently regained his ability to speak. His physician, Dr. Li Shusheng, said that the patients should return to their normal skin tone once their liver function improves. In addition to their medical treatment, theyre also being given mental health support. The two doctors had both worked with Dr. Li Wenliang, the whistleblower who first drew attention to the virus and later supposedly died from it. What is coronavirus recovery like? Those lucky enough to survive COVID-19 often face a tough road to recovery, although how long and difficult it is depends on how sick patients were in the first place. Some people will bounce back relatively quickly, while others could have long-lasting health issues. Another factor is the duration and invasiveness of their treatment. Generally speaking, however, it takes two weeks to recover, on average, with the fever subsiding within about a week and the cough often lingering. For those who experience more serious symptoms requiring oxygen therapy, recovery could take as long as eight weeks, and many people report a lingering sense of tiredness. The 1 in 20 who require a stint in the intensive care unit, which may involve sedation and a ventilator, will need far longer to recover. Anyone spending time in critical care for any reason can take as long as a year and half to return to normal, especially if they spent a long time there and experienced muscle mass loss. In China and Italy, recovering patients have reported weakness throughout their body, becoming short of breath even after minimal exertion, and extreme tiredness. There are also psychological wounds to heal. People who experience acute respiratory distress syndrome and need to be put on a ventilator may be asked if they wish to say goodbye to their family prior to be putting to sleep for the procedure. This is a trauma that can leave lasting scars and lead to post-traumatic stress disorder. Surviving COVID-19 is certainly something to celebrate, but it can be a long time before people feel and in some cases, look like themselves again. Sources for this article include: NYPost.com BBC.com Republicans from both the Pa House and Senate responded positively Wednesday night to Gov. Tom Wolfs announcement on a reopening plan that will allow public and private construction projects to get restarted on May 1. Wolf said in the televised address that he wants to begin reducing some of his pandemic restrictions on May 8 in areas of Pennsylvania that have been lightly impacted by the new coronavirus. His reopening plan said that a region or county will need to average fewer than 50 new positive cases of the virus per 100,000 residents for 14 days in order to be removed from the stay-at-home order. Many counties in rural Pennsylvania have reported fewer than 20 cases total, The Associated Press noted. Gov. Tom Wolf's red, yellow and green phases reopening Pennsylvania after coronavirus-related shutdowns in 2020. (Graphic via the governor's office.) Members of the House Republican leadership team sent out a press release shortly after the address ended that said the following: Our members have heard from thousands of Pennsylvanians frustrated by a lack of transparency in the decision-making by the Wolf Administration throughout this pandemic," they said. "We are pleased that tonight, Gov. Wolf pulled back the curtain and provided direct and measurable guidelines his administration will follow to allow Pennsylvanians to safely return to work and provide for their families. We look forward to continuing to engage with the administration and all branches of government to rebuild and recover our economy. We must continue to help the millions of Pennsylvanians who are out of work as a result of this pandemic by processing unemployment compensation claims in a timely manner and getting funds to self-employed residents. The challenges facing millions of Pennsylvanians will require continued sacrifices and a united approach. House Republican members will continue to lift the voices of families, workers and job creators as we help pave a path to a safe and prosperous future for every resident of our Commonwealth. Both Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson County) and Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R-Centre) said they were encouraged by what they heard. Said Scarnati: We applaud that the Governor has recognized actions taken by the Legislature over the last several weeks and that he has begun to acknowledge that a one-size-fits-all approach does not work for recovering from this public health emergency. Last week, the Senate approved my amendment and passed Senate Bill 327, which would have allowed for local elected officials to be involved in the re-opening of Pennsylvania. Local control must be a part of our plans moving forward." Corman noted similar optimism. We are encouraged to see that the Governor finally has come around to our way of thinking when it comes to moving Pennsylvania forward from this public health crisis," he said. His announcement tonight is a page from the legislation the Senate passed last week that provided clarity, consistency and benchmarks to the process. We need an approach to reopening Pennsylvania that is driven by the understanding of how differently this virus has affected our communities. The governor in his address said he was moving up by a week the date that limited building construction work may resume statewide, to May 1. That was accompanied with a warning that if the virus flares up in a certain county or region, these steps forward would have to be rescinded. Speaker of the House Mike Turzai (R-Allegheny), in a separate release, offered this response to the news that construction can resume in a little more than a week: The more than 260,000 hard-working men and women in Pennsylvanias construction trades got good news tonight as Gov. Wolf announced the opening of all construction projects next week on May 1," he said. "This announcement follows House action yesterday, including the bipartisan passage of House Bill 2400, which I authored. This bill would safely open construction projects. The successful advancement of House Republican legislation to permit safe economic activity under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines made tonights announcement by Gov. Wolf possible. Gov. Wolf and I had a positive discussion today; he was open to the suggestion that construction activities could be done safely, allowing tradespersons to resume their important work much of it seasonal. Working with him on this issue showed we can move forward together on fighting COVID-19, while rebuilding the economy." In addition to Turzai, the GOP leadership team includes the following: Majority Leader Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster; Appropriations Committee Chairman Stan Saylor, R-York; Majority Whip Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre/Mifflin; Policy Committee Chairman Donna Oberlander, R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest; Caucus Chairman Marcy Toepel, R-Montgomery; Caucus Secretary Mike Reese, R-Westmoreland/Somerset; and Caucus Administrator Kurt Masser, R-Columbia/Montour/Northumberland. What happened Shares of aerospace giant Boeing (NYSE:BA) popped 5.5% in early trading Thursday. As the afternoon wears on, Boeing shares are giving up some of those gains, trading closer to a 2.6% gain as of 2:15 p.m. EDT. But why is Boeing stock moving at all? For the answer to that question, we turn to Europe. So what For more than two years now, Boeing has pursued a deal to acquire an 80% interest in rival Embraer's (NYSE:ERJ) commercial aviation business. Such a tie-up, however, raises antimonopoly concerns globally. Although Brazil's antimonopoly agency has signed off on the deal, European Union antimonopoly regulators are looking into whether merging the world's third-biggest plane maker into Boeing would give Boeing too much market power and eliminate too much competition in the airplane manufacturing industry. The EU suspended its investigation of the deal back in February while awaiting submission of documents from Boeing and Embraer. But now that those documents have been provided, the clock is running again. The EU is expected to issue its decision by Aug. 7, according to Reuters. Now what Will the EU ultimately decide to permit or reject the merger? And which of those outcomes would be most bullish for Boeing? The answer depends on how you look at the deal Boeing and Embraer struck. On the one hand, if the deal is approved, Boeing gets to eliminate a rival in commercial aviation, add a large amount of small-jet capacity to its business of building (mostly) large jet airplanes, and become the undisputed No. 1 maker of airplanes globally. On the other hand, the price of this transaction -- $3.8 billion -- is vastly more than 80% of what Embraer stock is currently worth (which is closer to $1.6 billion), which suggests Boeing could be overpaying for what it's trying to buy. That's a good reason for Boeing investors to want the EU to forbid the merger and let Boeing off the hook. Right now, with Boeing stock up on the EU news, it's this latter way of looking at things that investors appear to prefer. They want this deal to die, and they're hoping that on Aug. 7, the EU will kill it. U.S. Navy, Royal Australian Navy Team Up in South China Sea Navy News Service Story Number: NNS200422-03 Release Date: 4/22/2020 9:25:00 AM By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nicholas Huynh, USS Bunker Hill Public Affairs SOUTH CHINA SEA (NNS) -- The U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Navy came together for operations in the South China Sea starting April 13. HMAS Parramatta (FFG 154) began sailing with Ticonderoga-class guided missile-cruiser USS Bunker Hill (CG 52) then rendezvoused with amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) and Arleigh-Burke class guided missile destroyer USS Barry (DDG 52) April 18. Their combined operations started with force integration training and maneuvering exercises between Parramatta and Bunker Hill. "It is great to be operating with the Australians again," said Capt. Kurt Sellerberg, commanding officer of the USS Bunker Hill. "Every time I have deployed to this region, and to the Middle East, I have had the good fortune to operate with the Royal Australian Navy." Operations with USS America started with a precision maneuvers that included Barry in the South China Sea. "We look forward to every opportunity we get to work with our stalwart Australian allies at sea," said Rear Adm. Fred Kacher, commander of the America Expeditionary Strike Group. "To bring this much combat capability together here in the South China Sea truly signals to our allies and partners in the region that we are deeply committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific." Operations with Parramatta have included integrated live fire exercises, coordinated helicopter operations, small boat force protection drills, command and control integration, and maneuvering interoperability. "San Diego [HM-60] 'Romeo' pilots have a long flying history with Australian pilots," said Lt. Cmdr. Jacob "Shaky" Norgaard, "it's a great opportunity to strengthen our relationship and practice joint tactics, techniques and procedures." The events gave both navies the opportunity to integrate all warfare areas, and further strengthen the bond between both countries. "I was super pumped to participate in cross-deck operations with the Royal Australian Navy," said Lt. Rachael "Janet" Davis. "We are stronger together, and this type of integration promotes our commitment to maritime security as well as increases our presence here." The U.S. and Australia share a long history of integrated military exercises. Over 3,000 U.S. Sailors and Marines had the opportunity to observe or participate in the combined exercise. "They have the same interest in ensuring freedom of navigation and observance of internationally accepted norms and customs pertaining to the law of the sea," Sellerberg said. "The Aussies are true professionals in every sense of the word, and our current combined deployment exemplifies a shared commitment to our historically strong and enduring relationship." U.S. 7th Fleet conducts forward-deployed naval operations in support of U.S. national interests in the Indo-Pacific area of operations. As the U.S. Navy's largest numbered fleet, 7th Fleet interacts with 35 other maritime nations to build partnerships that foster maritime security, promote stability, and prevent conflict NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday pressed China to allow inspectors into sensitive laboratories, voicing concern about their security amid the global COVID-19 pandemic. Pompeo has refused to rule out that the deadly virus leaked out of a laboratory in the Chinese metropolis of Wuhan, a scenario strenuously denied by Beijing. "You have to remember -- these labs are still open inside of China these labs that contain complex pathogens that were being studied. It's not just the Wuhan Institute of Virology," Pompeo told reporters. "It's important that those materials are being handled in a safe and secure way such that there isn't accidental release," Pompeo told reporters. Pompeo cited the example of nuclear facilities, pointing to the rigorous global inspections to ensure safety. He renewed concerns that China has not shared a sample of the initially detected virus, known scientifically as SARS-CoV-2. "We still do not have a sample of the virus, nor has the world had access to the facilities or other locations where this virus may have originally originated inside of Wuhan," Pompeo said. Chinese authorities initially suppressed news of the deadly virus, including detaining a prominent whistleblower. Chinese scientists have since said that they suspect that the virus emerged late last year in a Wuhan meat market that butchered exotic animals. But questions immediately arose because of the presence nearby of the maximum-security virology lab, with senior US officials bringing into the mainstream what was initially an online conspiracy theory. Critics say President Donald Trump is eager to deflect from blame over his own handling of the pandemic, which has killed some 45,000 people in the United States, more than any other country. Asylum seekers and refugees with the coronavirus in direct provision are being offer self isolation facilities on and off site, officials insisted today. The joint statement from the Department of Justice and HSE followed criticism that outbreaks in some direct provision centres are not being handled properly. The statement said that since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Justice and Equality and the HSE have worked closely together to support the health and welfare of asylum seekers and refugees availing of the States accommodation services. Together, we have put in place a range of measures in all of the Departments Accommodation Centres to address any cases of COVID-19 if or when they arise. This includes provision for self-isolation facilities in centres and a number of offsite self-isolation centres around the State. In all matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic, public health advice from the HSE and the National Public Health Emergency Team is followed. The statement said that they established procedure across all centres where a person is suspected of having the virus or is confirmed as having the virus, is that, where advised by Public Health, they are moved to a dedicated offsite self-isolation facility. Supports are available for the duration of their period of quarantine until such time as the HSE considers that they can return to their centre with no risk to other residents or staff. Both the Department of Justice and Equality and the HSE are committed to protecting the identity and medical confidentiality of residents, as required by law. For this reason, neither the Department nor the HSE will give specific information about individuals or locations. The health authorities will only comment on cases or outbreaks of any illness (Covid-19 or otherwise) if there is a Public Health reason to do so. Residents of Centres are subject to the same current public health measures as the rest of the population, for example, the right to exercise within a 2km radius, attend medical appointments or to shop for food or other necessities as set out in Government guidelines. The HSE also follows additional Health Protection Surveillance Centre guidance for residents in Accommodation Centres which can be found on HPSC.ie. Most workers at the sprawling state-run facility for adults with developmental disabilities are assigned to care for residents at one of 40 ranch-style group homes that house up to 10 residents. But some employees have historically been asked to float between homes, either to fill in when regular workers are absent or, in the case of new trainees, to get a feel for the job and interact with more of the centers residents. Tom Hanks got a letter from a little Australian boy who has been bullied at school because his first name is Corona. So the Hollywood star wrote him back with some encouraging words and the perfect gift to cheer up his spirits. Corona De Vries, an 8-year-old from the Gold Coast in the Australian state of Queensland, wrote to the Hollywood star expressing the hope that he and his wife, Rita Wilson, had recovered from the illness after visiting Australia. I heard on the news you and your wife had caught the coronavirus, he wrote in the letter, according to Channel 7 News. Are you ok? The boy said he liked his name, but that kids at school had been calling him the coronavirus, and that it made him sad and angry. Hanks wrote him back, and sent along an aptly-named Corona-brand typewriter. Your letter made my wife and I feel so wonderful! he wrote. You know, you are the only person Ive ever known to have the name Corona like the ring around the sun, a crown, the double Oscar winner wrote to the boy. I thought this typewriter would suit you, he added, according to a picture of the letter aired by Channel 7 News. Ask a grown-up how it works. And use it to write me back. Plus, he gave a little nod to Toy Story in a handwritten note at the end that said, P.S. You got a friend in ME! Hanks and Wilson have both spoken out about their experience with the deadly virus since becoming some of the first celebrities to share their diagnosis openly. Hanks went on to host a historic at-home episode of Saturday Night Live, and said that he and Wilson were feeling better after a brief battle with the illness, while Wilson has appeared on CBS This Morning to talk about her recovery. Read original story Tom Hanks Sent Typewriter and Sweet Letter to Bullied Australian Boy Named Corona At TheWrap by Xinhua writer Jiang Li Few expected Washington to face up squarely to the apparent deficiencies in the U.S. federal response to COVID-19, but fewer imagined that it would be so desperate in scapegoating others. Within just months' time, some U.S. politicians, particularly the likes of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, White House trade advisor Peter Navarro and U.S. Senator Tom Cotton, have set up a busy workshop to fabricate all kinds of fallacies to create a alt-reality so that they can evade responsibility. It seems that Washington has truly made some headway in creating new manufacturing jobs, except that they do not produce smart phones or steel, but lies and excuses. They blame China for lacking transparency, as if the regular sharing of information and experience China has been conducting with the international community, including the United States, since early January had never happened. They blame the World Health Organization (WHO) for covering up the epidemic, although many U.S. researchers and medical experts have been working closely with the WHO at its Geneva headquarters and sending back real-time data to Washington since the early days of the outbreak. They blame previous administrations for undermining the United States' epidemic response capacity, pretending to forget that the sitting one has been in power for more than three years. To them, Europe is also culpable, and the list can go on. It seems that the Pompeos and Navarros are leaving no stone unturned to search for scapegoats and make sure that the blame will not be pinned on the incumbent administration. Of course, those thick-skinned politicians are no fools. There are a string of reasons why they lie so hard this time. The immediate one is that they have dropped the ball so hard on containing the outbreak in the first place. As a result, the United States has become the world's epicenter of the pandemic and its economy risks returning to a deep recession on their watch. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, once admitted during an interview with CNN that the United States "obviously" could have saved lives if social distancing measures and other mitigation strategies had been implemented sooner. Meanwhile, with the election day less than seven months away, the pandemic has been turned into an arena of vehement political rivalry aimed at keeping or taking the White House. Moreover, in the eyes of those hawkish Washington zero-summers, the outbreak offers them a chance to make more trouble for China, a country they have tagged as America's "strategic rival" and a threat to its hegemony. The all-out disinformation and defamation campaign against China and other scapegoats has once again revealed the ugly souls of those Washington politicians. It has also indicated that no excuse or lie will be big enough to cover up their own failures. Rather than wasting time searching for scapegoats, the United States should join hands with other countries and international organizations to search for effective ways to beat the deadly pathogen. Cooperation is the only way out in the face of the cunning coronavirus. Only when the world is safe, can America be truly safe. Credit: Travis ShinnLamb of God has premiered a new song called "New Colossal Hate," a track off the band's forthcoming self-titled album. The cut, available now for digital download, touches on the topic of immigration, and its title is a reference to the Emma Lazarus poem "The New Colossus," which is carved into the base of the Statue of Liberty. Speaking to ABC Audio about "New Colossal Hate," frontman Randy Blythe shares what the Statue of Liberty means to him, and how it inspired the imagery of the song. "When you think of the Statue of Liberty, that is such a symbol of America -- even though it came from France and was a gift," Blythe says. "When people think about America, they think about the Statue of Liberty." "It's not just this big copper thing out on a rock outside New York City in the water," he adds. "It's a symbol of our highest ideals." However, Blythe feels that the current national discussion surrounding immigration betrays those ideals. "I'm not saying everyone, but we are behaving in the polar opposite of one of the physical embodiments of our national ideals," Blythe says. "And that bums me out." Lamb of God the album, which also includes the previously released songs "Checkmate" and "Memento Mori," is due out June 19. It was originally set to be released in May, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. "It's been hard for my nine-year-old [son] and I am actually holding my [10-month-old] daughter right now," says the acclaimed songwriter as her daughter appropriately murmurs in the background. One of those parents tweeted: "Being in quarantine is kind of like having a newborn baby ... you're in survival mode. You wear pyjamas all day long, your hair is dirty, you don't know what day it is and you could cry at any moment for no reason. But it's just a phase and all things must pass." This is a story like many others. A young family in lockdown, looking at the world through glass or binoculars. It has crying, hiding, ratty clothes and generally going stir crazy. And that's just the parents. "We're doing what we can to keep things as normal as possible, spending a lot of time outdoors." Price, whose partner is her guitarist and songwriting partner Jeremy Ivey, jokes that with pregnancy and then the recording of an album "I've basically being quarantined for a year and a half anyway". The fruit of that first part of the quarantine, her third album That's How Rumors Get Started, is due mid-year. For those who had come to see the Grammy nominee for best new artist last year as a fresh take on country music someone who sounded like Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette, had the attitude of Loretta Lynn and Waylon Jennings, and the social consciousness of Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash there may be some shocks. One song, Heartless Mind, is deeply immersed in an '80s pop sound; What Happened To Our Love? is a blues song in a country shirt; and Prisoner Of The Highway might have you thinking of Waylon Jennings with a gospel choir and '90s bar band. "I didn't want to use the same players; I didn't want to go to Memphis and use the same studio. I wanted to make a rock 'n' roll album, so I went to California and we found players who were going to give us that sound," says Price, who co-produced the album with another country iconoclast, Sturgill Simpson who followed his 2017 Grammy for best country album with an album that was, in his own words, "a sleazy, steamy rock'n'roll record". The Chinese regime is responsible for the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Only the extent of the regimes culpability is in question. That should be resolved legally if possible, not only on behalf of the United States, but all nations affected by the outbreak, with appropriate financial restitution and security safeguards as compensation. Even if legal action proves unsuccessful due to jurisdictional or other issues, pursuing it would be advantageous. It would force evidence of official Chinese complicity into the open, hopefully act as a future deterrent to China and other aggressive and/or irresponsible regimes, and force the Democrats and their media helpmates to choose sides -- either for the U.S. or for China. There are a number of reasons why China could and should be held legally liable for damages associated with the coronavirus pandemic, ranging from an intentional act, to reckless disregard of international health and welfare, to plain unmitigated negligence. Open and transparent judicial proceedings are the best way to determine the level of Chinas responsibility, while providing the Communist regime an opportunity to offer a defense, if there is one. In a legal sense, China is a classic deep pocket. A transparent legal judgment would provide the U.S. (and other nations) a legal basis for cancelling trillions of dollars of Chinese debt. Cancelling such debt without a judgment, while attractive rhetorically, would be extremely damaging to Americas standing as holding the currency of last resort, and the U.S. is highly unlikely to do it. In fact, most at risk are smaller poorer nations, also heavily indebted to China, which might be happy to join international legal action against the regime. Up until recently, it was tin-foil hat territory to suggest that China deliberately unleased the coronavirus on the world in order to further its quest for global dominance. No longer. Theres no publicly available evidence to prove China intentionally developed and loosed the virus, but this cant be discounted entirely. If any regime is sufficiently coldblooded, capable, and historically inclined to do such a thing, its China. The Chinese Communist regime is among the most ruthless in history, responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of its own citizens in pursuit of chimeric ideological goals. However, such a claim would be almost impossible to prove in a legal proceeding absent direct smoking gun evidence. More likely, the coronavirus pandemic was caused by security lapses in a Wuhan infectious disease laboratory studying the virus in bats. There is abundant circumstantial evidence to support this theory, and its quite likely American (and perhaps other) intelligence agencies have hard evidence to this effect, not yet publicly disseminated. In addition, its a documented fact that the Chinese government, even after it knew of the viral outbreak in Wuhan, allowed international travel in and out of the region, even while sealing the area off from the rest of China. At best this was wantonly reckless. At worst, it was a deliberate attempt to spread the disease -- to even out its losses -- once Chinese officials realized they had a real disaster on their hands. The regimes attempts to hide the origins of the outbreak, such as blaming it on bats from a Wuhan wet market, further demonstrates the regimes culpability in terms of managing the outbreak, even if it did not intentionally launch it. At the very least, the Chinese regime was incredibly negligent in its handling of the entire matter. This, if demonstrated in proceedings, and regardless of whether the Chinese acted intentionally, is sufficient to impose liability. There are practical problems in bringing such legal actions. Domestically, such suits are barred in most circumstances by the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. Missouri recently filed suit in U.S. District Court against China, arguing its claims are exempt from the Act. Likewise, some Republican Congressmen have proposed legislation that would allow private U.S. citizens to file similar suits. Predictably, left-leaning international law professors have come charging to Chinas defense, arguing that even if clever state lawyers or federal legislation were to get around the Act, it would have adverse results since other nations would retaliate by allowing similar suits against the U.S. Be that as it may, the U.S. government itself can seek legal recourse against China in the International Court of Justice, or through the establishment of an ad hoc international tribunal. Since America is hardly the only country that might benefit through such action, garnering international support should be doable, despite Chinas clout. China would have to agree to subject itself to such a proceeding. But a rejection would be tantamount to an admission of guilt, and then help underpin any other unilateral actions the U.S. might take. Finally, such a course would force Democrats to choose whose side they are on. Up to this point the answer seems to be China, with Democrats in Congress and their media helpmates, bending over backwards to minimize Chinese culpability, in order to continue their relentless attacks on President Trump. Even Joe Bidens recent ad, accusing Trump of going soft on China, has come in for heavy criticism in the left-wing media, for playing Trumps game. International courts and tribunals historically are not much to Americas liking, but occasionally -- as at Nuremberg -- can serve important purposes. This is one. Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Huntsville issued the challenge Wednesday but not before walking the walking first. The company announced Toyota had donated $50,000 to the Community Foundations Emergency Relief Fund to help non-profit agencies in the fight against the novel coronavirus. And the challenge to the Huntsville/Madison County community: Raise $500,000 for the emergency fund by May 5. "We firmly believe, if we all come together, it can be achieved because we are strong together," said Kim Ogle, manager for external affairs at Toyota in Huntsville. Toyota is working in collaboration with the Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville on the Take 5 to Give 5 campaign that launched Tuesday, Ogle said. The culminating day of May 5 has been designated as "Giving Tuesday" a global day of giving and unity that typically occurs on the first Tuesday in December. "However, due to COVID-19 and the crisis it has presented, Giving Tuesday is moved up to May 5 to meet critical needs," Ogle said. "The crisis has shaken our community non-profits to their core. The demand for services are higher than they have ever been. But many of our non-profits are really struggling with the growing needs that they get every single day. "So the idea of Take 5 to Give 5 is very simple. Take five minutes to give any increment of $5 to support the cause. One hundred percent of all donations will go directly to the non-profits to support their emergency relief funds, helping community members with essential needs." Ogle said 100 percent of donations will go to the non-profits emergency fund. And Toyota has already covered 10 percent of the fundraiser's goal with what Ogle described as its "challenge grant to encourage others to support." "We hope individuals will consider any increment anything you're comfortable with donating, every dollar matters," she said. "Our challenge to the business community is to take 5 further with a larger contribution -- $5,000-plus." More information can be found and donations can be made at communityfoundationhsv.org. Toyota Motor Manufacturing is one of Huntsville's largest job providers with about 1,300 employees. A plant expansion that's under construction will grow employment to about 1,750. The Huntsville engine plant produces about one-third of all Toyota engines built in the United States. Earlier this month, Toyota Motor Manufacturing in Huntsville said it was constructing and donating 7,500 face shields to local hospitals as well as 160 pairs of safety glasses and making a $25,000 donation to the United Way of Huntsville. YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. The Secretary of the Saeima (Parliament) Presidium of Latvia, Deputy Chairman of the Group for promoting cooperation with the Parliament of Armenia in the Latvian Parliament Andrejs Klementjevs sent a message to Ararat Mirzoyan, President of the National Assembly of Armenia on the occasion of the 105th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Facebook page of the Embassy of Armenia in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. "As Deputy Chairman of the Saeima Group for promoting cooperation with the Parliament of Armenia, I would like to express my solidarity with you personally, the National Assembly of Armenia, and the Armenian people in remembrance of the tragic events that took place in April 105 years ago. I would like to assure you that the Parliament of Latvia stands with you, paying tribute to the victims and observing the Armenian Genocide Memorial Day on 24 April. It is of great importance to remember and commemorate these tragic events. Our countries are similar in the very difficult history they have experienced, helping us understand the pain of the Armenian people. Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration, reads the message of Andrejs Klementjevs. STOCKHOLM, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- JANUARY 1 - MARCH 31, 2020 (compared with the corresponding period a year ago) Net sales increased 10.0% to SEK 33,712m (30,656) Organic net sales increased 7.8% The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a sharp increase in sales and earnings in March 2020 as a result of stockpiling among consumers and distributors In emerging markets, which accounted for 35% of net sales, organic net sales increased 4.0% Operating profit before amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (EBITA) increased 77% to SEK 5,316m (3,002) Adjusted EBITA increased 67% to SEK 5,333m (3,190) Adjusted EBITA margin increased 5.4 percentage points to 15.8% (10.4) Profit for the period increased 87% to SEK 3,610m (1,929) Earnings per share increased 85% to SEK 4.61 (2.49) Adjusted earnings per share increased 69% to SEK 4.83 (2.86) Cash flow from current operations increased 25% to SEK 3,044m (2,434) SUMMARY OF THE FIRST QUARTER 2020 The Group's net sales increased 10.0% in the first quarter of 2020 compared with the corresponding period a year ago. Organic net sales increased 7.8%, of which volume accounted for 5.9% and price/mix for 1.9%. In mature markets, organic net sales increased 10.2%. In emerging markets, which accounted for 35% of net sales, organic net sales increased 4.0%. The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a sharp increase in sales in many markets for Consumer Tissue, Incontinence Products, Baby Care, Feminine Care and Professional Hygiene as a result of stockpiling among consumers and distributors. In March 2020, organic net sales for the Group increased 19.7% compared with March 2019. Organic net sales for Personal Care rose by 17.0%, for Consumer Tissue by 19.5% and for Professional Hygiene by 24.5%. Sales in future quarters will be adversely impacted by the stockpiling seen in March and sales in Professional Hygiene will also be negatively impacted by reduced travel, fewer restaurant visits and more people working from home. In the long-term, the COVID-19 pandemic may lead to increased demand for hygiene and health products due to, for example, a greater focus on hand hygiene. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Essity has three main priorities: care for our employees, continuing to operate a successful business and contributing to society. To maintain a safe work environment for our employees, satisfy increased demand and safeguard production and logistics, we have carried out measures in all parts of the business, including new ways of working for our employees, production adaptations and securing transportation. We have increased our presence and activity in digital sales channels. We contribute to society by delivering our leading hygiene and health solutions. In Sweden, the US and Mexico, we are investing in the production of surgical masks and face masks for the healthcare sector and our employees. We support the WHO COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and several local initiatives. The Group's adjusted gross margin for the first quarter of 2020 increased 5.6 percentage points to 32.8% compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year. The gross margin was positively impacted by higher volumes, a better mix and costs savings. Continuous cost savings amounted to SEK 260m. Lower raw materials and energy costs increased the gross margin by 4.7 percentage points. Lower raw material costs were primarily the result of lower pulp prices. Our production facilities outside of China did not experience any major production disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, although distribution costs have increased. Lower prices, mainly related to Consumer Tissue in Europe and Asia, had a negative impact on the gross margin. The Group's adjusted EBITA margin rose 5.4 percentage points to 15.8%. Investments in growth increased sales and marketing costs, also as a share of net sales. Adjusted EBITA for the first quarter of 2020 increased 67% compared with the same period in the preceding year. Adjusted return on capital employed rose 7.1 percentage points to 18.4 percent. Operating cash flow increased 108%. Earnings per share increased 85% to SEK 4.61. Essity has a robust financial position and a solid funding situation. At March 31, 2020, net debt in relation to adjusted EBITDA was 2.09. The rapid spread of COVID-19 pandemic and related countermeasures mean the level of uncertainty in future forecasts is much greater than normal. At the Annual General Meeting, it was decided not to pay a dividend for 2019. The Board of Directors has announced that it intends to revisit the issue concerning a dividend later in the year when a better overview can be gained of the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. FUTURE REPORTS In 2020, interim reports will be published on July 17 and October 22. INVITATION TO PRESENTATION OF INTERIM REPORT FIRST QUARTER 2020 Media and analysts are invited to a telephone/web presentation at which President and CEO Magnus Groth will present and answer questions. Presentation Date: Thursday, April 23, 2020 Time: 9:00 a.m. CET Link to web presentation: https://essity.videosync.fi/2020-04-23-q1 To participate by telephone, call: +44(0)207-192-80-00, +1-631-510-74-95 or +46(0)8-506-921-80. Please call well in advance of the start of the presentation. Specify "Essity" or conference ID no. 6966854. Stockholm, April 23, 2020 Essity Aktiebolag (publ) Magnus Groth President and CEO NB: This information is such that Essity Aktiebolag (publ) is obligated to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. This report has been prepared in both Swedish and English versions. In case of variations in the content between the two versions, the Swedish version shall govern. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out below, at 07:00 CET on April 23, 2020. This interim report has not been reviewed by the company's auditors. Karl Stoltz, Media Relations Manager, +46(0)8-788-51-55 For further information, please contact: Fredrik Rystedt CFO and Executive Vice President +46(0)8-788-51-31 Johan Karlsson Vice President Investor Relations Group Function Communications +46(0)8-788-51-30 Josephine Edwall Bjorklund Senior Vice President Group Function Communications +46(0)8-788-52-34 Per Lorentz Vice President Corporate Communications Group Function Communications +46(0)8-788-52-51 This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/essity/r/interim-report-first-quarter-2020,c3094893 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/15798/3094893/1234365.pdf The full report (PDF) SOURCE Essity Yemen has officially reported only one case of the coronavirus, but there are reports that other cases are being kept under wraps so as not to discourage potential fighters from joining the war. The commander told us that the safest place from the virus is the front line. Allah is on our side there and if we die we are going to be martyrs, heroes, and our families will be given money. After all, the virus has not reached [Houthi-controlled] Sanaa yet, and bullets are much faster than the coronavirus slow suffocation death, a young man on his way to join Houthi fighters in Marib told Al-Monitor. But the virus apparently has reached Sanaa, the capital. Four suspected coronavirus cases were identified in the first week of April and the patients have been in isolation at the Movenpick Hotel in the city, according to a medical professional who has been working with the teams handling the cases. This information was shared reluctantly and anonymously, cautioning against exposing their identity. The cases must remain a secret. If the Houthis find out the news has leaked, there will be severe consequences. They dont want the people especially potential fighters to be scared and distracted from the main cause, which is winning the war against the Saudis and their Yemeni allies, he said. On April 2, Mohammed Abdulqudoos, deputy director of Yemen's official Saba News Agency, tweeted that a case of the virus that causes COVID-19 had been discovered in Sanaa as a woman coming from Saudi Arabia tested positive and was placed in isolation. He quickly retracted his tweet and said it was only a suspected case and the woman did not have the virus after all. However, the medical professional and other sources told Al-Monitor about the existence of positive cases, and with every informant a new piece of Yemen's COVID-19 puzzle falls into place. As a preemptive measure, the Movenpick Hotel was designated for such cases, supervised by the endemic combating authority, because of its isolated location. The hotel has been disinfected, medical staff have been trained and shifts have been scheduled. Testing kits and personal protective equipment were disseminated last month in both Houthi-controlled areas and that of Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadis government. Medecins Sans Frontieres has provided support to the Ministry of Health and set up a COVID-19 isolation unit in Aden in the first week of April. The World Bank has pledged $26.9 million for Yemen to fight this virus. Yemeni medical teams have been shown how to use the equipment, but more resources are needed. In Sanaa, around 350 people have been tested; they were Yemenis who returned to the country prior to the lockdown. Most of them were coming back from Mecca pilgrimages. Two of the four people are sisters, and according to the medical professional, all four patients are recovering well and have not needed ventilators. A directive dated April 18 by the endemic combating authority to the capital secretariat and other provinces under Houthi control stated that people who are currently in quarantine must complete their 14-day isolation and then be allowed to return home. More than 80% of Yemen's 29 million inhabitants are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance because of the war that began in 2015. Yemen was a poor country to start with, with a weak health system and prevalent epidemics such as cholera, malaria and dengue fever. And now deadly floods threaten the lives and livelihoods of Yemenis. Yemenis joke that the COVID-19 virus has been traveling around the world and decided to skip Yemen because the other diseases have it covered. The first official coronavirus case wasn't reported until April 10, in Hadramout; the patient has recovered and has been discharged from the hospital. The Saudi-led blockade on Yemeni ports has probably helped delay an outbreak in the country, and the Houthis military regime has appointed two lookouts in every neighborhood to keep track of any suspicious illnesses or deaths and report them to the authorities. The lookouts are authorized to move people who display symptoms to isolation, and to move the dead to specific burial places. The Houthis decided to dedicate plots of lands for mass burial if needed, according to a journalist working in Sanaa who asked to remain anonymous. There have been many awareness campaigns in the local media. The journalist told Al-Monitor that the municipal authorities in Sanaa carry out regular meetings with reporters to supervise the campaigns and to keep a lid on any rumors. According to him, there are 400 ventilators dedicated to the outbreak, although only half of them were ready for use as of April 14. Other regions can't claim the same level of preparedness, whether they are controlled by the Saudi-backed Hadi government in Marib and Hadramout or the secessionist Southern Transitional Council in Aden. It is uncertain how Yemen will be affected by the virus if it does spread throughout the country. Humanitarian agencies are anticipating a wide outbreak that the country's fragile infrastructure will not be able to handle. Despite attempts at a cease-fire to coordinate preparation for the virus, escalation and the armed conflict continue in Yemen. For the time being, the top concern of most Yemenis is not COVID-19 it is surviving the war and putting food on the table. That is their reality today. As a trip to the supermarket becomes a source of frustration and an anxiety-inducing experience for shoppers, new technology is emerging to help make it easier. Walmart Canada has launched a traffic monitoring app, Metro is offering new pickup and delivery services and third-party online services now allow those who dread long lineups to find up-to-the-minute data on local wait times. I just tried it and it actually works, Jennifer Rose of Brampton said in a Facebook post Sunday, referring to the covid19-waiting-time.thejoin.tech website created by Florence-based developer Miki Lombardi, which uses the geolocation of a device to pinpoint supermarkets, pharmacies, clinics and other locations with estimated wait times. Relying on data from Google Maps, the free service colour codes points on a map to indicate wait times of five to 60 minutes. Users can search by city, address or name. For example, the midday lineup Wednesday at the No Frills at Runnymede Rd. and Bloor St. was marked in green, meaning the wait is only five minutes. I decided to help the people over the world, Lombardi said in an email, noting that he has watched as Italy has struggled with lockdowns since March. The wait-time map covers all of the GTA, though data may not always be immediately available for every store. Of course, it is still estimation, Lombardi said, calling the site a self-funded, non-commercial project. Im still adding new features and Im trying to manage the high traffic on my little servers. It may be slow sometimes. Another mapping service, a crowdsourced website for GTA store lineup wait times, lineups.live/#gadget, was originally created to track Costco store lineups in York Region but has exploded virally to be Canada-wide, with the site indicating that the heavy traffic load is now switched over to a higher-capacity server. Walmart Canada said it has an app that allows it to monitor traffic moving in and out of its stores based on specific capacity requirements, adding in an email that there is more to come as we continue looking for ways to make the waiting experience better for our customers. We have introduced QR (quick response) codes outside some stores, where customers can scan their phones and then watch videos about the safety measures were implementing, said corporate affairs director Adam Grachnik. Anthony Longo, CEO of GTA and Hamilton-area grocery chain Longos, said the company is open to working with partners on mapping wait times, and is focusing on how we can improve the experience inside our stores amidst COVID-19, and this includes managing lineups and wait times. As the situation around COVID-19 continues to change, we will add more progressive measures to ensure our stores remain safe places to work and shop, he added in an email. A spokesperson for Loblaw, the countrys largest grocery retailer, which operates properties including No Frills and Shoppers Drug Mart, has implemented changes to ensure the safety and well-being of colleagues and customers. We continue to evaluate opportunities as this situation is evolving. Grocery chains are ramping up pickup and delivery, encouraging customers to limit visits and prioritizing front-line health-care workers amid the pandemic, with Montreal-based Metro Inc. taking a localized approach to support front-line health workers. As an example, for stores in proximity to hospitals, our staff will welcome local hospital workers with their hospital ID with priority access, said spokesperson Stephanie Bonk. She said the company is announcing two new online ordering services. The first is the M Priority pickup service, which uses a simplified web form allowing customers to pick up their pre-assembled order outside the store and simplifies the process if someone is dependent on others to do their grocery shopping. It also announced a partnership with Cornershop, an on-demand grocery service accessible through the web or a mobile application. Cornershop allows customers to receive their orders directly at home in as little as 60 minutes, prepared by a personal shopper in a Metro grocery store. Bonk said the service is in addition to Metros online grocery shopping. Still, Mike von Massow, chair in food system leadership at the University of Guelphs agriculture department, said there are further steps businesses should consider to manage wait times. There are things they could be doing but Im guessing they are so busy trying to keep up. Stores could take reservations for specific times, with customers booking a time and getting to the front of the line, he said. They would still have lines for walk ups but you could book a time and know you were going to get in. It might also help spread out customers as late bookers would get off peak times. He also suggested grocers use fast passes similar to those used at theme parks that allow customers to show up at the door and then get a time to come back so they dont have to wait in line. This would facilitate distancing and let people leave if the line is really long and come back at their assigned time. Read more about: DbVis Software, a Stockholm, Sweden-based provider of a database management and analysis tool for all major databases, raised 5.3m in growth funding. The round was led by Industrifonden and Fairpoint Capital. The company intends to use the funds to expand product development, strengthen the team and further accelerate growth. Launched in 2003 by Roger Bjarevall and led by newly appointed CEO Martin Engdahl, previously a director at Salesforce Sweden, DbVis Software provides a universal database management tool that supports connecting to a wide range of data sources over a standardized protocol. The set of tools in the tool is identical whether using it in Windows, Linux or macOS, and the combination of database independence and cross platform support let users master a single tool to connect and work with all their data sources. DbVisualizer is partly built on open source, with a free edition, as well as a commercial edition. Today, the company has over 20 500 paying customers including a mix of Fortune 500 companies, national corporations, academic institutions, startups and independent developers. Customers include Facebook, Apple, and Netflix, among others. FinSMEs 23/04/2020 Representative David Cicilline (D-RI) speaks at a Democratic press conference calling on the president to protect patients with existing coverage, lower drug prices and to expand healthcare coverage. Amazon's witness at a hearing last year "may have lied to Congress" about how the company uses data from its third-party sellers to come up with its private-label products, House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline said Thursday. The assertion comes after a Wall Street Journal investigation found Amazon employees had used non-aggregated or easily identifiable data from sellers on its platform to inform its proprietary product strategy, according to interviews with more than 20 former employees and documents reviewed by the Journal. Those findings contradict testimony by Amazon's associate general counsel Nate Sutton at a July hearing hosted by the subcommittee. At the time, and in written answers submitted later on, Sutton maintained that Amazon does not use the data of individual sellers to inform its strategy, though he said it does use aggregated data that could give it a sense of how a product category is performing. "We do not use any of that specific seller data in creating our own private brand products," Sutton said at the hearing. The Journal's investigation found that those aggregate reports could contain just two sellers or easily expose performance metrics of individual sellers through other means. An Amazon spokesperson told CNBC it doesn't allow employees to use "non-public, seller-specific data to determine which private label products to launch" and said it had opened an internal investigation, though it doesn't believe the allegations are true. "At best, Amazon's witness appears to have misrepresented key aspects of Amazon's business practices while omitting important details in response to pointed questioning," Cicilline said in a statement on the report. "At worst, the witness Amazon sent to speak on its behalf may have lied to Congress." Cicilline is leading an investigation into Amazon and its tech peers that will culminate in a report about the health of competition in digital markets. "It's simply incorrect to suggest that Amazon was intentionally misleading in our testimony," the Amazon spokesperson told CNBC. In a January interview with CNBC, Cicilline said it was evident the digital marketplace was "not functioning properly" and said he planned to create bipartisan regulatory proposals to address the issues after releasing the report. The report was initially expected by early April but has been delayed due to the pandemic. The subcommittee also heard from smaller businesses that compete with Amazon services or claim to have experienced "bullying" tactics to coerce sellers into lowering their prices on the platform. Amazon has argued it is incentivized to keep sellers on its site and that there are other options if they want to leave. Sellers that have spoken out say the available alternatives would provide only a fraction of the revenue they're able to make on Amazon. The chairman of the full Judiciary Committee, Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said that if true, the Journal's report "raises deep concerns about Amazon's apparent lack of candor before the Committee regarding an issue that is central to our investigation." "Amazon has had opportunities to correct the record on its business practices. It is deeply concerning that, beginning with the hearing last year, they may have misled Congress rather than be fully forthcoming on this matter, notwithstanding our repeated requests in this regard," Nadler said, adding that the committee would "seek clarification from Amazon in short order." Amazon has been playing an integral role in getting Americans food and other goods while stuck in their homes during the coronavirus pandemic. But Nadler made clear in his statement that those efforts would not insulate it from antitrust scrutiny. "While we acknowledge and are appreciative of Amazon's ongoing work to support Americans during the COVID-19 crisis, we still need to understand the business practices existing prior to the pandemic that resulted in Amazon becoming the primary provider of goods online to millions of Americans," Nadler said. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. WATCH: How US antitrust law works, and what it means for Big Tech For all but the nations largest school districts, there is no requirement that officials certify their data is correct when they report they havent used seclusion or restraint. That, according to the GAO, is among the reasons the practices are underreported. In response, the Education Department said it will now require all districts to confirm the accuracy of the data they submit. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez uttered the name 'Joe Biden' when asked who she would vote for in November. The New York Democrat appeared in an Instagram live video Wednesday night with South Bronx-born rapper Fat Joe, who asked her who she would be voting for. 'In November I'm going to be voting for Joe Biden, that's what I'm going to be doing,' AOC said. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told the rapper Fat Joe that she would vote for Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, Fat Joe was delighted with what he heard. 'I love that AOC, I love that,' he said, asking the congresswoman if this was the first time she had uttered Biden's name While the congresswoman has long said she would support the Democratic nominee, the rapper set up the question so she had to say Biden's name. 'There are three things you can do, you can vote for Trump, you can vote for Biden, or you can not vote at all. Who you going to vote for?' Fat Joe said. Fat Joe was tickled when Ocasio-Cortez said Biden's name. 'I love that AOC, I love that,' he said. 'Is this the first time you said you voting for Biden or?' The congresswoman wasn't actually sure. 'I've been saying the whole time we've got to support the Democratic nominee,' she explained. But was it the first time she said Biden out loud, the rapper asked. 'This might be, it could be the second, I don't know - this is the time where I'm saying it declaratively like this, I think,' AOC said. 'You asked a straigth question I'm going to give you a straight answer.' To that Fat Joe announced, 'Breaking news you will support Joe Biden.' Throughout the Democratic primary, Ocasio-Cortez was one of Bernie Sanders' most potent surrogates. While being courted by both progressive candidates, Elizabeth Warren and Sanders, Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Sanders in mid-October, coinciding with the Vermont senator's return to the Demcoratic debate stage following the heart attack he suffered on a trip to Las Vegas earlier in the month. AOC's endorsement gave a much-needed jolt to his campaign, and the two soon appeared together at a large rally in New York. While Sanders represents Vermont in the U.S. Senate, he, like Ocasio-Cortez, is a native New Yorker. The freshman congresswoman stumped for the senator in a number of early primary states including Iowa and New Hampshire. They appeared together at an oceanfront rally in December on Venice Beach, helping him win the delegate-rich California. And while Sanders easily beat Biden in Nevada with the help of the Latino vote, he didn't have the support in the African-American community to best Biden in South Carolina, which turned the race around for the former vice president. Sanders made a surprise appearance at a Biden livestream event 10 days ago and endorsed the ex-vice president then. Biden also collected endorsements from former President Barack Obama and Warren that week. Triumph has launched the 2020 Street Triple RS in India at Rs 11.13 lakh (ex-showroom). The motorcycle was supposed to be launched in the last week of March, which was postponed in light of the COVID-19 crisis. The price tag on the new model-year is the same as the outgoing version which is quite impressive, considering the number of updates that the model has received. Triumph has confirmed that bookings for the bike have begun but test rides and deliveries will only begin after the lockdown is lifted. The Street Triple and Tiger 800 are the only two bikes that are assembled locally in India, while the other models come as a Completely Built Unit (CBU), from the companys plant in Thailand. Triumph has also confirmed that the new model will be assembled as its plant in Manesar as well. The biggest change in the new Street Triple RS comes in the form of a new 765-cc, liquid-cooled engine that produces 123hp and 79Nm of torque (up by 2Nm from the previous model's 77Nm). Triumph claims that the motorcycle also develops a stronger mid-range torque along with BS-VI compliance. The quick-shifter in the new version is now bi-directional as against the upshift-only set up in the outgoing version. Along with a few styling tweaks that make the motorcycle looks even sportier and more aggressive, the new Street Triple RS now comes with a colour TFT touchscreen with Bluetooth and GoPro connectivity. However, the latter is only available through an accessory module. The model comes with Brembo M50 Monobloc callipers, a fully adjustable Showa fork and an Ohlins STX40 rear monoshock. It sits on Pirellis latest-generation Supercorsa SP V3 tyres; and while the electronic rider aids are decent, it's still missing an IMU. Also Watch: [April 23, 2020] Retailers Call Additional Funding for Small Business Loans 'Important Step on the Path to Recovery' The National Retail Federation today welcomed House action on legislation to increase funding for loans to small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic. "There are many small retailers that won't be in business by the time the economy reopens if these loans dry up," NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. "This funding will let them keep their workers on the payroll and help the economy avoid the ripple effects that will come if additional businesses cease to operate and more people lose their jobs. This is an important step on the path to recovery not just for these businesses but our nation as a whole. It will ensure that businesses that couldn't participate in the first round of loans aren't left out." The House is scheduled to vote today on the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, which would provide an additional $300 billion for Small Business Administration loans beyond the original $350 billion funded under the Coronavius Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act signed into law last month. Additional money would go to hospitals, testing and other needs. The legislation was approved by the Senate earlier this week and President Trump has said he will sign it into law. Nearly 200,000 small retailers have taken part in the Paycheck Protection Program, receiving an average loan of $155,000 each for a total of $29 billion, but funds have run out and the SBA is no longer accepting new applications. About NRF The National Retail Federation, the world's largest retail trade association, passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail thrive. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation's largest private-sector employer, contributing $3.9 trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs - 52 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies. PERMALINK View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005814/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] BERKELEY, Calif. - PG&E Corp. CEO Bill Johnson will step down from his job just 14 months after the nations largest utility hired him. The announcement Wednesday that the 66-year-old Johnson will retire June 30 comes as PG&E tries to push through its plan to emerge from bankruptcy. The bankruptcy was triggered by billions of dollars in losses from deadly wildfires ignited by its decaying electrical equipment. California officials had been pressuring PG&E to oust its entire board, including Johnson. But his departure was not part of its bankruptcy plan. Johnson's departure leaves PG&E looking for another CEO to improve its shoddy safety record. Pham Van Hai stands trial for spreading fake news on a Covid-19 death in Thai Nguyen Province, April 22, 2020. Photo courtesy of Thai Nguyen Newspaper. A Thai Nguyen Province court has sentenced a local man to six months in jail for making false claims about a Covid-19 death on Facebook. Pham Van Hai, 31, was found guilty of "illegally posting or using information on computer networks and telecommunication networks," an offense that carries a jail term of up to seven years. Last year, after breaking up with his girlfriend, Hai took over her Facebook account. On April 10 this year in the account he posted that Thai Nguyen had had a Covid-19 death but the government had concealed it. When many of his friends asked about it, he claimed this was "true" and the dead person was a 27-year-old man. He received hundreds of likes and shares, and sparked fear among local people. Since the pandemic broke out in late January, authorities have slapped fines of up to 15 million ($427- 641) on hundreds of individuals for posting fake news. At a meeting earlier this month Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered stricter penalties for those posting fake news on Covid-19. Now authorities are resorting to criminal charges with attendant jail terms of up to seven years. Two men in the central provinces of Nghe An and Lam Dong also face criminal charges for making false claims on social media about Covid-19 deaths in Vietnam and a government cover-up. Vietnam has recorded 268 Covid-19 cases, 44 of them active, and there have been no deaths. Photo: Casper Moller/Flickr Missed the most recent top news in New York City? Read on for everything you need to know. The mortuary science professor who came out of nowhere to help NYC With New York City funeral homes overwhelmed by the coronavirus, a professor from an upstate town has been transporting bodies so families don't have to wait weeks for cremation services. Read the full story on The New York Times. New NYC legislation would pause restaurant evictions for a year A group of bills introduced in the City Council on Wednesday concern issues such as rent, additional pay for grocery workers and paid sick leave for delivery workers Read the full story on Eater NYC. Professor arrested with gas cans at St. Patrick's Cathedral dies by suicide after release from Rikers due to COVID-19 Marc Lamparello, who was schizophrenic, had been released from Rikers Island as part of the city's effort to reduce the jail population due to the coronavirus. Read the full story on ABC New York, WABC. Nassau firefighters honor first responders with bagpipes, drums Bagpipers and drummers from the Nassau County Firefighters Pipes and Drums gathered Wednesday night to salute health care heroes working the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. Read the full story on ABC New York, WABC. Blackout at Starrett City knocks out power to dozens of buildings The fire department received reports Wednesday night of blackouts at 29 buildings in the sprawling 153-acre complex, with most of those outages centered around Pennsylvania Avenue and Elmira Loop, resulting in stuck elevators and numerous 911 calls. Read the full story on New York Daily News. 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. Two woman wearing face masks pass closed shops in Bedminster, Bristol as the UK continues in lockdown to help curb the spread of the coronavirus. (PA) Only 16% of businesses in South West England believe they can cope if the coronavirus lockdown lasts for six months, according to data from Business West Chambers of Commerce (BWCC). The data, from a survey of 1,100 firms in the region conducted by BWCC, outlines the potential effects that long-term restrictions would have on UK businesses. This is a stark reminder of the potential depth of this crisis, with the damage to business risking being cumulatively greater the longer the crisis continues, said Phil Smith, the managing director of BWCC, which is one of the UKs largest regional business groups. Some 55% of firms surveyed believe they would be able to cope with a three-month lockdown, but that number falls starkly to only 16% in the case of a six-month lockdown. READ MORE: European stocks fall as investors assess stark impact of crisis If the lockdown were to last 12 months, only 10% of businesses in the region believe they could survive. However, almost 40% of firms said they did not have concerns about their current financial position, suggesting that many businesses have been able to weather the impact of the pandemic thus far. But 88% said they were now concerned about their future financial position. Our survey spells out just how hard many firms are being hit the impact of the coronavirus is far worse than the financial crisis of 2008 or any recession we can remember, said Smith. READ MORE: Euro slips as data points to historic crash in eurozone economy These are critical weeks for the economy and for the fate of many firms. We are hearing from the coalface stories of firms, built up by individuals over decades, now looking into the abyss. Some 37% of the firms surveyed said they would either be taking, or considering taking, further measures to reduce the costs of labour on their businesses. The findings from the survey suggest that uncertainty and lack of clarity from the government could be exacerbating panic from firms about their respective futures. Story continues Britain is currently in its fifth week of lockdown, which is having a dramatic effect on businesses, jobs, and the economy. Latest figures show another 759 people have died from coronavirus in UK hospitals, bringing the total number of deaths to 18,100. READ MORE: Coronavirus: UK economy suffers record blow 'with worse to come' It is unclear when the UK will exit the lockdown and what the strategy on easing restrictions will look like. At the governments daily press conference on Wednesday (23 April), the UK governments chief medical adviser said that some form of social restrictions will remain in place for a year. He said that it was "wholly unrealistic" to expect life would suddenly return to normal soon and this disease is not going to be eradicated, it is not going to disappear. "So we have to accept that we are working with a disease that we are going to be with globally... for the foreseeable future." On Thursday, data provider IHS Markit and the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) released the latest flash figures from their monthly UK purchasing managers index (PMI) survey. It showed that the UK economy has suffered its worst month in decades as the coronavirus crisis has wreaked havoc for millions of firms. (Philadelphia, PA) - Overreaction is rarely useful, and in the case of the human immune system, it can be outright deadly. When the body overreacts to an infection, the result is sepsis - a life-threatening condition that frequently leads to acute organ dysfunction, including deterioration of the heart and blood vessels, which make up the cardiovascular system. A major indication that the cardiovascular system is failing in sepsis is a drop in blood pressure, the only treatment for which is fluid replacement. Now, in a new study published online April 23 in the journal JCI Insight, scientists at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) show that when a molecule known as c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) becomes active in sepsis, it increases the production of a protein called B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) - the more BNP that is produced in sepsis, the greater the deterioration of cardiovascular function. But perhaps more significantly, in mice, the researchers show that JNK and BNP activity can be halted, reversing cardiovascular damage and reducing the risk of death from sepsis. "Low blood pressure is characteristic of the most severe form of sepsis, known as septic shock, in which fluid loss and decreased oxygen and nutrient delivery to tissues severely damages organ function," explained Konstantinos Drosatos, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and Assistant Professor in the Center for Translational Medicine, the Center for Metabolic Disease Research, and the Alzheimer's Center at LKSOM and senior investigator on the new study. In previous work, Dr. Drosatos's team found out why heart cells decrease their energy output in sepsis. They also knew from earlier studies that blocking JNK activation could correct cardiovascular dysfunction and lower BNP levels in an animal model of sepsis. The new study expands on this work and demonstrates how treatments aimed at improving cardiovascular function facilitate communication between the heart and blood vessels, which circulate blood throughout the body. The researchers carried out their investigation of JNK and BNP activation in heart cells and in a mouse model of sepsis. Their experiments revealed a direct relationship between the two molecules, in which a c-Jun activating protein attaches to the gene that encodes BNP. When this happens, the gene is switched on, resulting in the production of BNP. In sepsis, the BNP-encoding gene is always "on," explaining why BNP protein is secreted in excess by the heart. In separate experiments, the researchers blocked either JNK activation, using a chemical inhibitor, or BNP activity, using an antibody against the protein that was developed in Dr. Drosatos's laboratory. Both approaches restored blood pressure in septic mice, though JNK inhibition yielded the most robust benefits. Inhibition of either molecule also led to improvements in survival from sepsis. "At a clinical level, JNK or BNP inhibition could stabilize blood pressure and give other medications, such as antibiotics, time to work," Dr. Drosatos explained. "This strategy could be used alongside current supportive strategies, which attempt to slow or prevent fluid loss to stabilize blood pressure." In follow-up research, Dr. Drosatos is working closely with Nina Gentile, MD, Professor of Emergency Medicine at LKSOM to explore potential clinical applications of BNP inhibition. "We hope to develop innovative treatments that will work in patients to combat septic shock," Dr. Drosatos said. Another important next step is to explore whether the new monoclonal antibody against BNP can be used as an intervention to treat low blood pressure in sepsis patients. "In light of the ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, the association of COVID mortality with viral sepsis, and elevated BNP plasma levels in critical COVID-19 patients, the topic of BNP inhibition is very timely," Dr. Drosatos noted. ### The new study was carried out primarily by Matthew Hoffman, a graduate student in the MD-PhD program at LKSOM. Other investigators who contributed to the study include Ioannis D. Kyriazis, Alexandra Dimitriou, and Walter J. Koch, the Center for Translational Medicine at LKSOM; and Santosh K. Mishra, Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University. About Temple Health Temple University Health System (TUHS) is a $2.2 billion academic health system dedicated to providing access to quality patient care and supporting excellence in medical education and research. The Health System consists of Temple University Hospital (TUH); TUH-Episcopal Campus; TUH-Jeanes Campus; TUH-Northeastern Campus; The Hospital of Fox Chase Cancer Center and Affiliates, an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center; Temple Transport Team, a ground and air-ambulance company; Temple Physicians, Inc., a network of community-based specialty and primary-care physician practices; and Temple Faculty Practice Plan, Inc., TUHS's physician practice plan comprised of more than 500 full-time and part-time academic physicians in 20 clinical departments. TUHS is affiliated with the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. Temple Health refers to the health, education and research activities carried out by the affiliates of Temple University Health System (TUHS) and by the Katz School of Medicine. TUHS neither provides nor controls the provision of health care. All health care is provided by its member organizations or independent health care providers affiliated with TUHS member organizations. Each TUHS member organization is owned and operated pursuant to its governing documents. It is the policy of Temple University Health System that there shall be no exclusion from, or participation in, and no one denied the benefits of, the delivery of quality medical care on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, disability, age, ancestry, color, national origin, physical ability, level of education, or source of payment. Remittances to India are likely to drop by 23 per cent from USD 83 billion last year to USD 64 billion this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, which has resulted in a global recession, the World Bank has said. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com. Globally remittances are projected to decline sharply by about 20 per cent this year due to the economic crisis induced by the pandemic and shutdowns, according to a World Bank report on the impact of the Covid-19 on migration and remittances released on Wednesday. The projected fall, which would be the sharpest decline in recent history, is largely due to a fall in the wages and employment of migrant workers, who tend to be more vulnerable to loss of employment and wages during an economic crisis in a host country, it said. "In India, remittances are projected to fall by about 23 per cent in 2020, to USD 64 billion -- a striking contrast with the growth of 5.5 percent and receipts of USD 83 billion seen in 2019, the report said. World Bank group president David Malpass said remittances are a "vital source of income" for developing countries. "The ongoing economic recession caused by Covid-19 is taking a severe toll on the ability to send money home and makes it all the more vital that we shorten the time to recovery for advanced economies," he said. Malpass noted that remittances help families afford food, healthcare and basic needs. "As the World Bank Group implements fast, broad action to support countries, we are working to keep remittance channels open and safeguard the poorest communities' access to these most basic needs," he said. Remittance flows are expected to fall across all World Bank Group regions, most notably in Europe and Central Asia (27.5 per cent), followed by Sub-Saharan Africa (23.1 per cent), South Asia (22.1 per cent), the Middle East and North Africa (19.6 per cent), Latin America and the Caribbean (19.3 per cent), and East Asia and the Pacific (13 per cent). In Pakistan, the projected decline is about 23 per cent, totalling about USD 17 billion, compared to a total of USD 22.5 billion last year, when remittances grew by 6.2 per cent. In Bangladesh, remittances are projected at USD 14 billion this year, a likely fall of about 22 per cent. Remittances to Nepal and Sri Lanka are expected to decline by 14 per cent and 19 per cent, respectively, this year. The deadly coronavirus has so far infected over 2,638,020 people and claimed more than 184,230 lives across the globe. Union HRD Minister @DrRPNishank launched the VidyaDaan 2.0 program today for inviting e-learning contributions from individuals & organizations across the country. MoS for HRD, @SanjayDhotreMP was also present at the launch. @OfficeOfSDhotre pic.twitter.com/U2ZUGBL25p Ministry of HRD (@HRDMinistry) April 22, 2020 The human resource development (HRD) ministry has launched a tool for collaboration to create e-learning content for schools across the different states. Under an initiative called VidyaDaan 2.0, MHRD is inviting applications from individuals and companies for collaboration to develop relevant content. Amidst the lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, school lessons across the country have either been completely suspended or partially held using online platforms. MHRD has called upon individuals and organizations across the country to contribute e-learning resources in the education domain. This is to enable academic continuity across to ensure that quality learning continues for learners across India. Under this initiative, contributions can be made by individuals, teachers, educationists, subject experts, schools, government and non-government organisations. This can be done after registering & nominating themselves. MHRD said these contributions can be of different types of content such as explanation videos, teaching videos, practice questions, competency-based items, lesson plans for any grade from 1 to 12 and for any subject as specified by the states and union territories. These contributions must be open-licensed under the Creative Commons license framework and can be curated by the respective states and union territories. VidyaDaan 2.0 is a new version of an earlier scheme. VidyaDaan was launched in September 2019 as a programme to enable contributions to improve teaching & learning. It is a platform of curated, relevant and curriculum-linked digital content. Who can contribute? Individuals can contribute to e-learning resources against specific content needs put out by the Centre, states and Union Territories. The contributions have to be against specific textbooks and content types defined in a project. The e-learning resources can be in the form of videos or text. Further, individuals/organisations can also contribute questions using tools provided on this portal. How to contribute? Individuals/firms first need to look for the the project needs of the centre, states and union territories. Then, one needs to nominate themselves for the project for which relevant content is available. Once it is decided on what to contribute and how much content to contribute to a project, the details can be filled up on the VidyaDaan website. Contributions can begin once the nomination is reviewed and shortlisted. OTTAWA - Canada's cities are on the brink of financial crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of municipal leaders say unless the federal government urgently provides billions of dollars in help. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson responds to a question during a news conference in Ottawa, Thursday, February 6, 2020. A group representing Canada's cities says municipal budgets are on the brink of financial crisis due to COVID-19 unless the federal government gives billions of dollars in help.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA - Canada's cities are on the brink of financial crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a group of municipal leaders say unless the federal government urgently provides billions of dollars in help. The hole in municipal budgets could be anywhere between $10 billion and $15 billion over the next six months, depending on the severity and duration of the pandemic-related shutdown, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities says. Funding would pay for services and fill in revenue gaps. Transit ridership and parking revenue is down as people stay home due to the pandemic, while recreation centres and arenas that would normally be bustling also remain closed. The result has been staff layoffs to save money and spending reviews to help balance budgets because cities can't run deficits like Ottawa or the provinces. Toronto's transit agency announced Thursday temporary layoffs for about 1,200 workers over the coming weeks as part of cost-saving measures. Adding to issues is that some municipal councils are considering, or have already approved, delays in collecting property taxes to give residents a financial break. Absent federal help, the federation says local councils could be forced to cut spending further or approve large tax increases. Asked about the funding request, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau noted municipalities are constitutionally governed by the provinces, but added his government would work with provinces and "directly with municipalities" on issues. Municipal officials have been making the case for weeks about the need for financial help as they suffer mounting revenue losses, and fear more coming if shuttered businesses fail to reopen once health restrictions are slowly lifted. Local leaders argue provincial coffers may not be able to help out much more. Forecasts from TD Economics on Thursday suggested GDP contractions and unemployment rates will be sharpest in oil-producing regions, with Alberta feeling the worst of it. Smaller provinces will "see severe contractions" but fare slightly better than Ontario and Quebec, the report said. In response, the federal government has given money to provinces to cover health-care costs and targeted help for the oil and gas sector. The Bank of Canada has also gone on an unprecedented $50 billion provincial bond-buying program to effectively provide low-cost financing. Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson, who chairs federation's big city mayors' caucus, said the national funding request was partly because provinces might not be in a fiscal position to help unlike the federal government. "They've delivered urgent aid to individuals, to business, and most recently to students, and that's very positive," Iveson told reporters on a videoconference. "We're now at the point where the crisis in municipal finance needs to be addressed and ideally provinces will play a role, but the buck stops with the federal government." New Democrat MP Taylor Bachrach, the party's critic for infrastructure and communities, said municipal spending cuts would "be devastating to workers and residents" but "also make the recovery more difficult." He called for a swift spending response. Federal spending on emergency aid measures is quickly creeping towards $110 billion, not including credit help, with more details expected Friday morning when the parliamentary budget officer weighs in with new forecasts. As of Tuesday, the government had spent $21.3 billion on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, a $2,000-a-month benefit to workers. The figures show there have been 6.82 million unique applicants for the program. It still has gaps in coverage, including for pregnant women who previously applied for employment insurance at the outset of the pandemic in March. 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. And an analysis published Thursday by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives said there were 1.4 million unemployed Canadians this month who couldn't access the benefit, and 1.4 million more who will likely try to cut their hours so their monthly earnings fall below the $1,000 now needed to qualify for the CERB. "We never expected that we'd get it perfect from day one. Indeed, we knew we wouldn't, but we couldn't let the perfect be the enemy of the good," Trudeau said in response to questions about holes in the government's aid programs. How soon those workers can get back on the job will vary by jurisdiction as provinces and cities determine how quickly to loosen restrictions that have severely limited economic activity. The question was put repeatedly to Small Business Minister Mary Ng during an appearance before the House of Commons industry committee. "Businesses need to reopen. They don't need handouts for 18 months. They need a plan to get back to work," said Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner. Ng said the government was working very intently with businesses who say they need help with cash flow to manage through this time, "so that we can be on that road to recovery when it's safe to do." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 23, 2020. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2020) - At the request of IIROC, Permex Petroleum Corporation (CSE: OIL) (OTCQB: OILCF) (the "Company") wishes to confirm that the Company's management is unaware of any material change in the Company's operations that would account for the recent increase in market activity. About Permex Petroleum Corporation (CSE: OIL) (OTCQB: OILCF) - www.permexpetroleum.com Permex Petroleum is a uniquely positioned junior Oil & Gas company with assets and operations across the Permian Basin of west Texas and the Delaware Sub-Basin of New Mexico. The company focuses on combining its low-cost development of Held by Production assets for sustainable growth with its current and future Blue-Sky projects for scale growth. The company through its wholly owned subsidiary Permex Petroleum US Corporation is a licensed operator in both states; and owns and operates on Private, State and Federal land. CONTACT INFORMATION Permex Petroleum Corporation Mehran Ehsan President, Chief Executive Officer & Director (778) 373-5421 Scott Kelly CFO, Corporate Secretary & Director (778) 373-5421 Or for Investor Relations, please contact: admin@permexpetroleum.com CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER STATEMENT: Neither Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain assumptions, estimates, and other forward-looking statements regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and are subject to factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/54814 Fieldfresh Foods Pvt. Ltd today announced strategic tie-ups for its premium food brand, Del Monte, with online food delivering platforms Zomato and Swiggy as well as door to door delivery app Dunzo to deliver its range of premium food products - which include Tomato Ketchup, Mayo, Pasta, Olive Oil and fruit drinks - to consumers homes amidst the continuing lockdown. As part of the tie up, Zomato has started home delivering Del Monte products in Bangalore and Hyderabad, with Kolkata, Pune, Mumbai and Delhi NCR next on the anvil. Zomato has created a Del Monte store under its new Zomato Market section where consumers can glance through the Del Monte product range available in their vicinity and place an order for the same on the app itself. Del Monte partnership with Swiggy will ensure safe and secure supply of its products to consumers homes, starting with Kolkata and Bhubaneshwar in the East region, followed by Bangalore, Delhi NCR and other major cities over the next few days. Dunzo is currently doing doorstep delivery for Del Monte in Bangalore with Chennai and Pune going live shortly.Again, one just needs to search for Del Monte in the app and the list of stores and products available nearby get displayed. In such unprecedented times, we striving to ensure continuity in the supply of our products to consumers. In our efforts to ensure the same, we have partnered with app-based delivery platforms for smooth and safe delivery of our products across major cities, enabling accessibility and convenience for the consumers, Yogesh Bellani, CEO Fieldfresh Foods said. These products will be available at Del Montes distribution centers from where these partners will pick up and then, ensure safe delivery of these products across cities. We are happy to partner with leading delivery startups in this endeavor.This will make sure safe door to door delivery of food items that will help consumers to avoid stepping out and support social distancing, as it becomes the biggest tool for Indias fight against Covid-19, Bellani said. All the three tie-ups are operational and have started delivering from 17thApril, 2020. The Sikkim government on Thursday announced that it was closing the Nathu La (pass) trade route with China and the Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra through the pass this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The state government is also likely to continue the ban on entry of even domestic tourists till October. Our government has decided to close the China-India trade route through Nathu La pass. The Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra through Nathu La will remain closed this year, B S Panth, Sikkims tourism and civil aviation minister, said. Under the Nathu La trade protocol, traders from Sikkim are allowed limited access to the Tibet autonomous region while Chinese traders are allowed a few kilometres into Indian territory. Follow coronavirus latest updates here. Very soon we will adopt a proposal and inform the Centre. Since China is the epicentre of the outbreak we will close the Nathu La trade route which is supposed to open on May 1, the minister said. The Kailash- Mansarovar Yatra is also not happening this year. The much-hyped international trade route was reopened on July 6, 2006 after remaining closed since 1962. The Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra, organised annually by the ministry of external affairs from June to September through Nathu La was reopened in June 2015. Another route for the yatra is through Lipulekh pass in Uttarakhand. The international trade through Nathu La continues till end of November. Sikkim has not reported any Covid-19 case so far. The state was among the first to ban the entry of domestic and foreign tourists and migrant labourers. It sealed the international borders with China, Nepal and Bhutan and two of the four border check posts with West Bengal. The Nathu La trade pass and Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra are two major revenue earners for Sikkim. The state drew more than 12 lakh domestic tourists and 1,33,388 foreign visitors in 2019. Panth said Sikkim is unlikely to allow even domestic tourists till October. If the situation improves we may rethink the issue, he said. However the minister indicated that the ban on the entry of foreign tourists will continue. The state government gets an annual revenue of around Rs 10 crore from the tourism industry. On June 16, 2015, the then external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj flagged off the first batch of 40 pilgrims from New Delhi who headed for Kailash-Mansarovar thought Nathu La. The announcement from the Chinese side was made by President Xi Jinping during his India visit in September 2014. In 2015, the Sikkim government sponsored two Sikkimese who took part in the yatra. More than 6,000 pilgrims from India take part in the pilgrimage every year. Most of them make their way through the Nepal-China border town of Khasa (Tatopani). Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted the second route for Kailash-Mansarovar Yatra to be reopened in view of the difficult terrain through Uttarakhand and Nepal. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media BERLIN A 42-year-old father of two and town resident died April 17 of COVID-19, his obituary said. Ronaldo E. Ferrari, a native of Brazil, loved to surf and play pool. Hannah and Andy Howells with their son Theo and baby Wilf, who was delivered in a supermarket car park after paramedics mistook their wave for help. (PA Images) A teacher gave birth in a supermarket car park after a passing ambulance crew mistook her husbands attempt to flag them down as a wave of gratitude for the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic. Hannah Howells, 33, and husband Andy, 37, from Hamble, Hampshire, were driving to the Princess Anne Hospital in Southampton on April 19 when the mum-to-be realised they werent going to arrive in time. The couple pulled over in a Sainsburys Local car park, where Mr Howells attempted to wave down the emergency crew as they drove past. We were probably 10 minutes into our journey and I said to my husband, The baby is coming right now, Hannah Howells explained. We saw an ambulance coming in the other direction. Andy was trying to wave, but they quite rightly thought we were clapping for the amazing work theyre doing. We parked up and called the Labour Line and then 999 and the amazing lady who took the call talked my husband through delivering our baby. Wilf was already halfway out on the front seat of the car and I still had my seat belt on. Read more: Cameron Diaz says having an opposite sleep schedule to husband helps parent her baby Baby Wilf was born in a supermarket car park. (PA Images) After contacting ambulance control, Mr Howells helped deliver baby Wilf, who weighed 6lbs 7oz. In another twist of fate the same ambulance that had passed the couple earlier returned and the paramedics helped take mum and baby to hospital to be checked over. The couple and their newborn were able to return home later that day same day to their other son, Theo, three, who was being looked after by his grandparents. Read more: Britains biggest family share photos of their new baby meeting some of her 21 siblings Commenting on her sons dramatic arrival, Mrs Howells said: Its all been an absolute whirlwind and we feel like were in a bubble. Its so surreal. She went on to describe the generosity of bystanders and health staff, Mrs Howells said: People kindly offered help, the paramedics arrived, the store manager closed the car park and offered us anything we needed and I was even given a bunch of flowers meant for somebody else. Story continues Ill never forget hearing congratulations, your baby was born at 10.47am down the phone. It was magical and everyone was incredible. People really rallied and it was such a special moment for us. Read more: Transgender activists Hannah and Jake Graf welcome first baby via surrogate Hannah and Andy Howells with baby Wilf who was delivered in a supermarket car park. (PA Images) And it seems that baby Wilf was oblivious to the chaos his entrance into the world may have caused. Wilf is a trooper and incredibly calm. Hes chilled and super healthy. Theo has been an absolute star and is besotted with him. Were all doing very well and we feel really lucky. Mr Howells was keen to praise those who helped the couple ensure Wilfs safe arrival: We want to say thank you to all those that helped us, including Kellie-Anne Blake, the 999 call handler who talked me through the delivery, the amazing paramedics, and Amber and her team at the Broadlands Birth Centre at Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton. We are in awe of those that are risking their own lives, and that of their families, to help people who need it. Thank you so much. Additional reporting PA. President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran today on Twitter, saying he has instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea. Trump followed up by retweeting a video from an account reportedly run by the Iranian opposition group Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, which included the video the US Navy released last week showing 11 Iranian vessels harassing six American ships at dangerously close proximities. The US Navy released the video at the time. Trump accused former Vice President Joe Biden the presumptive Democratic nominee for president of thinking this was OK. Not me! Why it matters: It remains unclear why Trump opted to issue the threat a week after the incident in question, where 11 Iranian vessels harassed six American ships at dangerously close quarters. However, his tweet came the same day that Iran announced it had successfully launched its first military satellite into orbit, which prompted the United States to double down on accusations that Tehran is violating a UN Security Council resolution that calls on it to refrain from ballistic missile activity designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons, including launches using such ballistic missile technology. (The Congressional Research Service notes that the provision is nonbinding.) Every nation has an obligation to go to the United Nations and evaluate whether this missile launch was consistent with that Security Council resolution, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told reporters at the State Department. I dont think it remotely is, and I think Iran needs to be held accountable for what theyve done. Trump last tweeted about Iran earlier this month after the new Quds Force leader, Brig. Gen. Esmail Ghaani, visited Iraq the site of increasingly frequent fire between the United States and Iran-backed militias. At the time Trump said that Iran will pay a very heavy price for attacks on US assets. Whats next: Congress voted last month to limit Trumps ability to pursue offensive military action against Iran with a 55-45 vote in the Republican-held Senate and a 227-186 vote in the Democratic-led House. However, the White House has threatened to veto the bill. Know more: The Trump administration is also building upon its case that Iran may be violating the 1970 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, as Congressional Correspondent Bryant Harris reported last week. And check out his report on how some anti-war activists are hoping to persuade Congress to launch a war powers lawsuit against Trump to curtail military action against Iran. Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae has said he would have to consider what country to live in if the leader of the Green Party Eamon Ryan were to became Taoiseach. Mr Healy-Raes comment on Newstalk Pat Kenny show came after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he would be open to hearing pitches from smaller parties if they wanted a turn as Taoiseach in the next government. Mr Ryan has already said he would not press for the role in negotiations. But Mr Healy-Rae told Pat Kenny was adamant this was not something he would like to see. "Well considering what they said yesterday and considering the fact that's the same man that said he wanted everybody to go home and plant seeds on south-facing windows, he wanted to introduce bears to Ireland, he wanted us all to do away with our motor cars and carpool 10 cars per 400 people in every community. "If he was to be Taoiseach, I'd seriously consider where I'd live". Green Party priorities may have to be reconsidered, he said. "First thing they'll have to do is they'll have to shake this leafy Dublin 4 attitude, and the flaky attitude again on talking about planting seeds in south-facing windows. "They have to realise that politics is about real work, it's about real lives, it's about real people and it's about governance, added the Independent TD. "Before the election people were talking about stopping people cutting turf, they were talking about people reducing our number of cows because of our carbon emissions - while we're all very respectful and worried about our environment, I'm worried at the moment about the thing called mom's purse - and the amount of money that's in mom's purse. "And at the moment, her purse is very low on funds. And what politicians will have to do is address those issues first". [April 23, 2020] Financial Institutions Digitally Process and Approve Over $30 Billion in Paycheck Protection Program Loans using nCino WILMINGTON, N.C., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- nCino, the worldwide leader in cloud banking, today announced that financial institutions using the nCino Banking System have been able to swiftly and digitally provide more than $30 billion for their eligible small business clients through the Small Business Association's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). nCino's Bank Operating System is currently being utilized by credit unions, community and regional banks, as well as multiple top 20 U.S. banks, providing the digital tools these institutions need to maintain business continuity and remote operations, manage their portfolios, mitigate risk and help ensure compliance as government relief and stimulus programs continue to evolve. IBERIABANK, an approximately $31-billion-asset bank headquartered in Louisiana and an nCino customer since 2016, announced that in the first wave of the PPP program, they took in 9,500 applications totaling $1.9 billion, of which they reserved funds of over $1.7 billion, or 90%. As of April 18, IBERIABANK had placed over $640MM in clients' checking accounts and approved loans that impact 188,000 small business employees. "We are very proud of how we have been able to support our clients, particularly at a time when they need us most," said Randy Bryan, Executive Vice President & Director of Business Transformation for IBERBIABANK. "This level of support would not have been possible without our partnership with nCino, the long hours our associates have dedicated to this work, creative and nimble decision making, and excellent teamwork. Because of nCino's cloud-based technology, our team was able to continue working and processing loans without interruption and at a much higher volume than we could have ever done manually. Ultimately, the nCino platform has enabled us to get more money into the hands of our clients more quickly, and we remain ready to continue supporting our clients throughthe next wave of funding and beyond." "With nCino, we have been able to not only provide much-needed funding to our small business customers, but we can track in real-time how much of our pipeline is related to COVID-19, easily create automated and customized reports, make workflow changes quickly, and ensure we are always remaining compliant," said Brad Turner, EVP and chief credit officer of South Carolina-based Coastal States Bank. "Right now, our industry is responding to a rapidly changing social and economic environment and it has never been more critical that processes evolve to continue helping individuals and businesses meet their needs. nCino not only allows us to react quickly to customers' needs, but also helps us maintain transparency so that we are able to efficiently manage priorities as the current situation continues to evolve. The positive impact that nCino's software has had on our customer base has been significant." As a proven digital platform used by financial institutions since 2012, the nCino Bank Operating System can help lenders quickly respond by: Incorporating government-defined requirements specific to the CARES Act into the loan decision and forgiveness workflow to provide an effective and sustainable approach to allow financial institutions to participate in the PPP and other COVID-related lending initiatives and process the surge in online lending applications remotely and in branch. into the loan decision and forgiveness workflow to provide an effective and sustainable approach to allow financial institutions to participate in the PPP and other COVID-related lending initiatives and process the surge in online lending applications remotely and in branch. Offering an online loan application and customer portal that lets customers access a convenient digital channel to apply for loans, products and services anytime, anywhere and on any device, and provides real-time transparency in progress and loan status. that lets customers access a convenient digital channel to apply for loans, products and services anytime, anywhere and on any device, and provides real-time transparency in progress and loan status. Providing a seamless integration to E-Tran enabling financial institutions with an end-to-end SBA solution that can be deployed in days, not weeks, and accelerates the loan process from application to submission on a single platform. enabling financial institutions with an end-to-end SBA solution that can be deployed in days, not weeks, and accelerates the loan process from application to submission on a single platform. Enabling business continuity dashboards that allow financial institutions to assess risk across their business in times of disruption and help identify the customers experiencing the most impact. "This epidemic is having an unprecedented impact on peoples' lives and the economy and we want to do what we can to help financial institutions play a central role in supporting their customers and communities," said nCino CEO Pierre Naude. "I'm incredibly proud of the team at nCino for adapting our existing, proven platform to ensure that financial institutions could quickly react to the new legislation and immediately start assisting small businesses the backbone of our country during this unique and challenging time." About nCino nCino is the worldwide leader in cloud banking. Its Bank Operating System improves employee efficiency while enhancing the customer experience for onboarding, loans and deposits across all lines of business. Transforming how financial institutions operate through innovation, reputation and speed, nCino works with more than 1,200 financial institutions globally whose assets range in size from $30 million to $2 trillion. A proven leader, nCino is part of the Forbes Cloud 100 and was named the #1 "Best Fintech to Work For" by American Banker. Follow @nCino or visit www.ncino.com. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/financial-institutions-digitally-process-and-approve-over-30-billion-in-paycheck-protection-program-loans-using-ncino-301045962.html SOURCE nCino [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The annual national exams, KCPE and KCSE, will go on as scheduled, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced on Wednesday. Kenya Certificate for Primary Education (KCPE) was set to commence on October 27, with this years Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) starting three days later(October 30), according to a timetable published by the Kenya National Examination Council (KNEC). Speaking during a live radio interview from State House Nairobi, the President noted that the disruption caused by coronavirus will not disrupt the examination calendar. He said the Ministry of Education is looking into modalities to ensure time lost by candidates is recovered before the exams commence and exploring measures that will be put in conducting the exams amid the coronavirus crisis. The exams will be done what we want to do is to sit down with other stakeholders in the education sector so as to ensure that our students prepare adequately as well as recover the lost time, Uhuru said. We need to know when it will be done and how it will be done. When that time comes we will elaborate on details how we will make sure all this is taken care of. At the same time, the President said the government will release a schedule on how learners will return to schools especially those who are expected to sit the national exams. Learning institutions in Kenya were closed on March 15. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) An asymptomatic 10-year-old girl from Butuan City is the youngest person to contract the coronavirus disease in Caraga region, according to data released by local health officials Wednesday night. She is also the third confirmed case in the region. The girl had exposure to an infected person who attended in March in nearby Davao City the cockfighting event called Araw ng Davao celebration six-cock derby," Department of Health-Caraga said in a statement. Authorities earlier confirmed that cockfighting event attendees or their close contacts have contracted COVID-19. As of Wednesday, Davao region has 116 confirmed cases, 97 of which were recorded in Davao City. DOH-Caraga said the young girl initially tested positive for COVID-19 on a rapid test. The Research Institute for Tropical Medicine confirmed the results on Wednesday. All infections in Caraga were reported in Butuan City, regional health officials said. The first confirmed case of the locality is a 68-year-old Filipino male who had travel history to Metro Manila in March, where most of the countrys infections were recorded. The second confirmed case is a 65-year-old Filipino male exposed to a relative who went to the Davao City derby. Caraga region includes the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur. Nationwide, there are 6,710 COVID-19 cases, with 693 recoveries and 446 deaths. When it comes to major construction projects though, Ms. Cassotis has put the brakes on a $1.1 billion renovation plan given the uncertainty over what air travel might look like once the outbreak starts easing. It is an issue that many airport officials are likely going to wrestle with. Where are the structural changes this industry is going to have to make for people to have restored confidence in it? Ms. Cassotis said. How do we help facilitate confidence in travel again? What are the cleaning and social-distancing options for people to want to feel good about traveling again? When airline flights into Pittsburgh started dwindling, Ms. Cassotis said she could not consider closing the airport even temporarily because, like Stewart, her airport serves a thriving airfreight sector. FedEx and UPS moved nearly 16,000 metric tons of freight in the first quarter of 2020, slightly less than in 2019. The military also uses the airport, with the Air Force Reserve 911th Airlift Wing providing coronavirus-relief flights including carrying medical personnel to New York. Westchester County Airport did not start out as a commercial facility; it was built for the Air National Guard during World War II. The unit ended up moving to Stewart Airport in 1983. Had it remained in White Plains, it is unlikely that the county could shut down the airport. Smaller airports play a valuable role in many parts of the country, Mr. Oswald said. They are how are you receiving high-value, perishable cargo in your community or meeting the air-medical needs. Its the only access some communities have to the rest of the nation. YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan sent a letter of condolences over the death of famous ethnic Armenian philanthropist and scientist Aso Tavitian, the PMs Office told Armenpress. With a deep sorrow I learnt about the death of Aso Tavitian. I express my deepest condolences to his relatives and friends. Aso Tavitians death was a great loss for all of us. He was one of the most significant figures of the contemporary Armenian Diaspora and the US-Armenian community, who was famous not only as a talented scientist and entrepreneur, but also as a patron and philanthropist. His long-term support to Armenia especially deserves great praise and gratitude. During Armenias independence years nearly 300 public servants and civil society representatives studied and trained at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University thanks to his funds and efforts. Aso Tavitian lived a meaningful life. His past path and high values are exemplary for our society and especially the young generation. Rest In Peace, reads the Armenian PMs condolence letter. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan The meeting between the prime minister and chief ministers on Monday could turn out to be lot more discordant than the previous two such interactions this month. Several chief ministers intend to state that the battle against Covid-19 cannot be won if the states continue to face financial constraints. They are also likely to demand that any extension of the lockdown should only be done beyond May 3 in hot zones of the virus, while economic activities should commence in green zones. The CMs plan to highlight the problems of stranded migrants, and call for ... The COVID-19 pandemic should not be a reason to forget about ongoing Russian aggression against Ukraine, which continues to take the lives of Ukrainians. Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk said this during the first online meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council on Thursday, April 23, according to an Ukrinform correspondent. "Regretfully, we are in the middle of a major world crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, we must not forget about the ongoing aggression of one participating State against another one. Russia's armed attack against Ukraine continues to take the lives, wellbeing and future of Ukrainian citizens," Tsymbaliuk said in his statement in response to reports by Special Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group Heidi Grau and SMM Chief Monitor Halit Cevik. Expressing gratitude to Ambassador Grau for her mediation efforts to facilitate negotiations between Ukraine and Russia within the Trilateral Contact Group, the diplomat said that the most recent mutual release of the conflict-related detainees last Thursday became the only bright spot in the last few months. "We encourage Special Representative and the entire team of Albanian Chairmanship to keep a particular focus on this issue. Negotiations must continue without any interruption, as was the case yesterday, on April 22, in the online format. We urge the Russian side to release all Ukrainian political prisoners, illegally held behind bars in the occupied parts of Ukraine and in the territory of the Russian Federation," Tsymbaliuk said. He stressed that the COVID19 pandemic should also not serve as an excuse for the Russian side to prevent the access of the ICRC, as well as other international bodies, to the persons detained by the Russian armed formations in Donbas. "I would remind that the Government of Ukraine made a duly exception for the representatives of the monitoring and human rights missions, including the SMM and the ICRC. They enjoy the right to cross the contact line in accordance with the earlier established procedures," Tsymbaliuk said. He stressed the importance of returning control of the Ukrainian-Russian border to the Government of Ukraine. "This will serve as a good basis to stop violence in Donbas, brought by Russia. As reiterated recently by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the local elections in Donbas will take place after the withdrawal of the illegal armed formations and return of the border. We reiterate in this context the necessity of establishment of an additional Working Group within the TCG," Tsymbaliuk said. op A psychiatric report has now been directed in advance of sentencing a 54-year-old man who confessed to carrying out a serious stabbing attack last Christmas on a woman and also causing harm to two of her children. Thomas OSullivan of Silvercourt, Silversprings, Cork, previously indicated he would confirm his written pleas of guilty to all charges and he was brought to Cork Circuit Criminal Court today where he did confirm those. Ray Boland, defence barrister, said, I am asking for a psychiatric report from Dr Sandra Barry whom he has been attending for four or five years. Judge Sean O Donnabhain directed that free legal aid would be extended for the preparation of this report. Sentencing was then adjourned until June 19 with the 54-year-in continuing custody until then. Just before Christmas he came into a house and stabbed the woman of the house who received very serious injuries, Mr Boland BL said. This victim, who has not been named, by court order, underwent nine hours of emergency surgery following the attack. Mr Boland said two of the victims children a 20-year-old daughter and 10 -year-old son intervened to protect their mother and they too became victims of assault causing harm. The judge was told that victim impact statements are being prepared. OSullivan admitted assault causing serious harm to a 47 year old woman, and assault causing harm to her 20 year old daughter and to her ten year old son at an address in Cork city on December 23, contrary to the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. Detective Garda Dermot Crowley said the older woman suffered a number of stab wounds to her torso while the younger woman suffered a stab wound to the back of her neck and the boy suffered a stab wound to his side. New Delhi: Recalling its move on SAARC for a regional strategy, India on Thursday appreciated Pakistan finally showing enthusiasm for regional calls on coronavirus COVID-19. Pakistan on Thursday hosted a meet on COVID-19 pandemic in which the country had invited all the SAARC countries. India also participated in the meet. Sources said, "Good to see Pakistan has realized the merit of regional cooperation and joining the initiative." Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called for SAARC video conference in March. Speaking on this, sources said, "Regional cooperation is an important part of dealing with COVID-19". After the meet, the SAARC emergency fund was established and health and commerce ministers spoke on the current crisis. SAARC emergency fund has a corpus of 18 million dollars with India's contribution being 10 million dollars. Pakistan was initially hesitant with the meet, sending junior advisor for the SAARC head of state video conference meeting. The country was last to announce its contribution for the SAARC COVID-19 meet. It also did not participate in SAARC agriculture meet on COVID-19 citing non-involvement of SAARC secretariat even though other countries participated. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yunindita Prasidya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 18:35 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3e6ee9 1 Business Indonesia,Hutama-Karya,ratings,Moodys-Investors-Service,fitch-ratings,investment-grade,trans-Sumatra-highway Free Two international credit rating agencies, Moodys Investors Service and Fitch Ratings, have given state-owned construction company PT Hutama Karya an investment grade for its good credit profile and low level of default risk. Moodys announced on its site on April 13 that it had assigned a Baa3 issuer rating to Hutama Karya, the first time the agency has done so. In its announcement, it said that the rating outlook is stable. Fitch, on the other hand, released a rating action commentary on Sunday saying that it had assigned the company a Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of BBB-. Meanwhile, PT Fitch Ratings Indonesia assigned a national long-term rating of AA+(idn) to the company. Mirroring Moodys statement, Fitch described Hutama Karyas rating outlook as stable. Hutama Karya was chosen by the Indonesian government to build the trans-Sumatra toll road project, one of the government's national strategic projects that aims to improve transportation infrastructure in the country. This year, the company set a target to finish 211 kilometers of the toll road, as reported by Kontan. Spanning more than 2,700 km, the toll road will be the longest in Indonesia upon completion. HKs [Hutama Karya] standalone credit profile reflects its position as one of the largest engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies in Indonesia by revenue, with a track record of completing large projects, Moodys vice president and senior analyst Abhishek Tyagi said in a written statement on April 13. Its standalone credit profile also reflects its growing toll operations as the sole developer and operator of the large, multi-year, trans-Sumatra project. Read also: Rating agencies downgrade Indonesian companies on debt repayment concerns amid COVID-19 Tyagi explained that the agency believed the government, as a result of owning 100 percent of the company, would have very high support for it, with operations and a budget that would be closely supervised. The company also has government-guaranteed debt for its toll road project, which accounts for 78 percent of its outstanding debt as of December 2019. Aside from that, Moodys pointed to Hutama Karyas diversified business profile, which has multiple revenue-generating segments while also being included in a government plan to accelerate infrastructure development in the country, as reasons behind the rating. However, Moodys noted that the rating could be downgraded if the company was to bid aggressively to win new contracts, which would result in a deterioration of the companys financial profile, or if it was to experience a substantial decline in new contracts and incurred large cost overruns and project delays. Fitch said Hutama Karyas strong linkages to the government were a reflection of the companys strategic importance to the infrastructure development program. This differentiates HK from its construction peers, as it is the only wholly government-owned construction company with government-guaranteed debt, a release published on Sunday states, adding that the governments support to the company was reflected in equity injections, asset securitization and construction support. From the trans-Sumatra toll road project alone, Hutama Karya obtained a total of Rp 65 trillion worth of new contracts between 2016 and 2019, 62 percent of the total contracts won during the period. Despite this, Hutama Karyas standalone credit profile (SCP) is lower than PT Waskita Karya due to its weaker financial profile. HK has a smaller order book than Waskita, but we believe that HKs order book will grow to a comparable size when the trans-Sumatra toll road development increases pace in the next few years, Fitch says. Aside from the companys healthy order book growth, Fitch also noted that the company would only be moderately affected by the COVID-19 crisis over the next few quarters as the planned Rp 3.5 trillion equity injection by the government for 2020 remained intact, even after a revision of the government's initial budget. Freedom Anderson, 20, (pictured) was arrested on Wednesday afternoon following a police search and charged with the murder of Nicholas Braid Detectives probing the alleged murder of a law graduate outside an apartment resort are investigating whether smashed windows could have led to his death. Police allege Nicholas Braid, 35, was fatally stabbed in the chest about 7pm on Tuesday night when he went to speak with a group of people staying at the Beachcomber resort in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast. One alleged member of the group, Freedom Anderson, 20, was charged with one count of murder on Wednesday following a police search. Investigators are looking into whether an incident involving the 'wilful damage' to windows in a Gold Coast home could have been behind the death, The Courier-Mail reported. It is believed Anderson and Mr Braid were loosely known to each other, and that she fled the scene on foot as the group scattered following the altercation. Police believe the weapon, which has not yet been found, was an 'edged weapon like a knife'. Police allege law graduate Mr Braid, 35, (pictured) went to speak with a group of people staying at the Beachcomber resort in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast The industrial relations adviser was allegedly stabbed to death outside the apartment block (pictured) with a yet to be found bladed weapon Mr Braid, a former industrial relations advisor, had been released on bail last week after several months in prison for a spate of thefts at fuel stations. Family and friends have paid tribute to Mr Braid, calling him 'loyal, generous and smart'. 'Nick was a much loved and loving son, brother and friend,' his mother Michelle Braid told The Courier-Mail. 'Despite his struggles, he never stopped caring for them and always had compassion for the underdog. 'His loyalty and generosity knew no bounds. He was known for his formidable intelligence and passionate eloquence. We are devastated.' He also had law and international business degrees. Mr Braid was found on the streets outside the apartment block on Tuesday night Mr Braid was found with a chest wound on the pavement outside the Surfers Paradise apartment block (pictured) Detective Inspector Chris Ahearn from the Gold Coast Criminal Investigation Branch ruled out domestic violence. 'It's certainly not a spousal partner or some sort of situation like that; our early indications are they are loosely known to each other - the group,' he said. 'We believe some of the people on the street were from within that building. The 35-year-old (pictured) was described as 'loyal, generous and smart' by his mother Police take photos at the crime scene after the body of Mr Braid was found on Tuesday night 'We have been speaking to them during the night ... and further interviews today with all the residents in that apartment building.' Witnesses from a nearby apartment block described hearing a woman screaming and an alleged 'argument' before Mr Braid's body was found on the footpath. During the argument, he was allegedly stabbed once in the torso and collapsed on the footpath, before later being declared dead at Gold Coast Hospital. The director of the Hanoi Center for Disease Control (CDC) has been arrested for being involved in violations related to the purchase of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing systems. The Ministry of Public Security on Wednesday apprehended and initiated legal procedures against Nguyen Nhat Cam, 57, director of the Hanoi CDC, which is managed by the municipal Department of Health, along with six other suspects. The case involved the Hanoi CDC, Nhan Thanh Property Valuation and Auctioning JSC, Vietnam Material Science and Trading Company (MST), and some other relevant units, according to investigators. The six accessories include Nguyen Vu Ha Thanh, head of the Hanoi CDCs financial and accounting department; Le Xuan Tuan, one of Thanhs inferiors; Dao The Vinh, director of MST; Nguyen Tran Duy, general director of Nhan Thanh Company; Nguyen Ngoc Nhat, employee of Vitech Development Company; and Nguyen Thanh Tuyen, employee of Phuong Dong Medical Equipment Company. Preliminary investigation showed that the suspects had colluded to cheat and raise the price of COVID-19 testing systems using the Real-Time PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) technique, which resulted in serious losses to the state. The Ministry of Public Security said it is clarifying the role of each suspect and expanding the scope of the investigation. Some officials of the Hanoi CDC have also been summoned for questioning. The headquarters of the Hanoi Center for Disease Control. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi Tre The system, which includes several types of machines with different functions, cost about VND7 billion (US$296,500). The Hanoi CDC previously purchased a Real-Time PCR testing system due to rising demand for COVID-19 screening in the capital, according to information acquired by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. However, a major supplier of medical screening machines later stated that such a system would not cost more than VND4 billion ($169,400). Hanoi chairman Nguyen Duc Chung previously asserted that such a violation during epidemic times is especially serious. He asked for stern punishment to be imposed upon those responsible. Hanoi is Vietnams biggest COVID-19 epicenter with 123 cases reported to date, including some patients being transferred from other provinces. Only 25 patients has remained in treatment in the capital city as of Thursday. Vietnam has confirmed 268 COVID-19 cases to date, with 224 recoveries and no deaths. The country has not registered new infections since April 16. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The crime branch of Thane police on Thursday arrested 25 persons including 21 foreign nationals who had allegedly attended a gathering of the Tablighi Jamaat in Delhi in March. They were arrested after their quarantine period was over. A court later granted them bail, an official said. The congregation in Delhi's Nizamuddin area turned out be a major coronavirus hotspot, following which police in every state began to track down those who had attended it. Senior inspector Nitin Thakre said those arrested included 13 Bangladeshis and eight Malaysian nationals while four persons are local residents. The foreign nationals violated the rules under their tourist visas and attended the Tablighi meet and later returned here, he said. They were found to be living at Tanvir Ulum Madarsa Trust, Kausa, and Al Nadi Ul Falah, Kausa. On April 1 they were detained and quarantined at a shelter at Shil Daighar. They were arrested after their quarantine period was over on Thursday, inspector Thakre said. They are accused of living together in violation of the provisions of the Epidemic Act and Disaster Management Act and not following social distancing. Four local persons who gave them shelter were also booked, he said. After arrest, they were produced before a local court which granted them bail but directed that they shall not leave the country, the police official added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) No fewer than 150 travelers have been arrested in Enugu State for defying the governments lockdown order. The State Government ha... No fewer than 150 travelers have been arrested in Enugu State for defying the governments lockdown order. The State Government had late March imposed border restrictions as part of measures to curtail the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic. Our correspondent, who was at Opi, one of the communities near the Enugu-Benue-Kogi borders, reports that over 30 vehicles were impounded by the military. The affected commuters, mostly from the Northern part of the country, who said they have been held since yesterday, claimed that hunger drove them away from their States. One of them, who identified himself as Peter from Benue State, told journalists, Im aware of the order but hunger is killing me. That is why I have to come out. Another defaulting traveler, heading for the North, revealed that, I crossed Bonny River to escape from Port-Harcourt. Enugu is not my destination; Im on my way to Kano, my home, it is better for me to die there. Hunger is killing me. He revealed that they beat the tight border security post at Amala, Obollo-Afor in Udenu Local Government Area by taking a walk through the Benue axis to Obollo-Afor from where they boarded vehicles. As of the time of filling this report, they were turned back and escorted out of the State by a team of security agencies. Press Release 23 April 2020 As part of our ongoing GBTA Industry Forum Series, GBTA Chief Operating Officer & Executive Director, Scott Solombrino, was joined by Mark Vondrasek, Chief Operating Officer of Hyatt Hotels Corporation in a conversation about the biggest impact on their business, what he learned from his team on the ground in China, and the importance of listening and staying close to customers during this crisis. A thought provoking and insightful discussion into how Hyatt is dealing with this difficult situation and planning for the future. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 00:47:19|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close YAOUNDE, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Cameroonian authorities had released around 1,000 prisoners to prevent spread of COVID-19, according to the country's Ministry of Justice. "We are hoping that this measure will stop the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in our prisons. That is why the president decided that our prisons nationwide should be decongested," said Amadou Souley, Director of Criminal matters and pardon in the Ministry of Justice. Over 600 people were freed Thursday morning from one of the overcrowded prisons in Cameroon's commercial capital Douala, local media reported. Last week, Cameroonian President Paul Biya signed a decree reducing the sentences of the prisoners and paving the way for their early release. The decree excluded inmates convicted for embezzlement, corruption, and terrorism. According to the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Cameroon has reported more than 1,100 COVID-19 cases, including 43 deaths. Enditem GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, MI Many were left befuddled when a large sum of money mysteriously appeared scattered along a road in Northern Michigan. But the Grand Traverse Sheriffs Office solved the mystery on Thursday. According to witness statements to the department, a 60-year-old Interlochen man was confused and threw the money out of his car window while driving on County Road 633 in Blair Township on April 15. Most of the money was found and turned over to officials by citizens, members of Blair Township Fire Department and Blair Township administrative personnel. The money has been returned to the 60-year-old man and his son, officials said. However, there is still approximately $500 unaccounted for, according to the sheriffs department. Any further information should be directed to Deputy Mark Noffke at the Grand Traverse County Sheriffs Office at 231-995-5000. anyaivanova/iStockBy CHRIS FRANCESCANI and KAITLYN FOLMER, ABC News (SEATTLE) -- The plot had the hallmarks of an international spy thriller: a desperate pathologist, a contact code-named Strawberry, a secret associate in China, tense waiting games, a six-figure payout, an 11th-hour international rescue mission -- and then a gut-punch twist ending. The haul was significant: 100,000 COVID-19 diagnostic tests airlifted from Shanghai to Seattle. It's the unlikely story of a University of Washington pathologist who was so determined last month to stock up on COVID-19 test kits for his community that he tapped his departments reserve funds for more than $100,000 and teamed up with a Seattle businesswoman who worked her connections to Chinese manufacturing plants. The businesswoman, through an overseas associate she knew as Strawberry, eventually managed to place an order through an unidentified Chinese doctor for the kits from a Shanghai-based medical products manufacturer -- a colorful tale of pandemic-era intrigue first reported by the Seattle Times. When Strawberry ran into shipping and customs complications, the pathologist sent a Hail Mary email appeal to an executive at Amazon -- which ultimately agreed to air-lift the supplies to Seattle, both Amazon and the University of Washington Medicine confirmed to ABC News. There was no other way to help the community, said Geoffrey Baird, interim chair of the Laboratory Medicine department the University of Washington, in excerpts from an interview provided by the universitys press office. But then, a last-minute wrinkle. Last Thursday, what began as a striking example of Seattle ingenuity morphed into a cautionary tale for a nation desperate for a return to a life interrupted by a plague straight out of the Middle Ages. After the kits had been donated and distributed, Baird learned that some of the specimen collection kits were contaminated with a common bacteria called stenotrophomonas maltophilia that lives in soil and on plastic surfaces. So, he contacted the state health department and other municipalities where the bulk of the equipment had been donated. At least 12,000 of the kits were recalled on Sunday, according a state Department of Health news release, though university officials maintain the incident is isolated and they do not believe that any of the test results were affected. Baird told the Seattle Times over the weekend that further examination of the contaminated specimens indicated that no tests results appeared to be compromised and no one would need to be retested. He said scientists at his lab added a known specimen of the coronavirus to the contaminated specimen-preserving liquid solution and compared them to uncontaminated samples and saw no difference. "There are very high quality control standards for these kinds of supplies, which is why the [University of Washington] was able to recently detect an issue," a spokesperson for Washington state's Department of Health. "We will continue to work to ensure that the supplies are clean, safe, and reliable." The spokesperson said the state is "currently experiencing shortages in supplies statewide, and are constantly working to order kit supplies and distribute them quickly," and that "distributing these crucial supplies and increasing our testing capacity remains our focus." The incident is a dramatic illustration of the lengths people and governments are willing to go to in order to ramp up testing which experts say is key to returning to normal life in the absence of a cure for coronavirus disease -- and the potential danger in reaching so far afield in desperation. For weeks, governors and city officials have been imploring the federal government to better assist local and state agencies in acquiring adequate supplies to conduct widespread COVID-19 diagnostic tests. With warmer weather approaching and pressure growing to reopen local economies, officials are racing against a ticking clock. While roughly 150,000 Americans a day are being tested for COVID-19, that figure has remained roughly static for two weeks, according to the COVID Tracking Project, and health officials have concluded that exponentially more Americans need to be tested daily before areas of the country can begin safely re-opening. New restrictions on Chinese exports Baird, the pathologist, declined an ABC News interview request, but the international intrigue he set in motion was confirmed by Susan Gregg, a University of Washington Medicine spokesperson, and the Seattle businesswoman, Anita Nadelson. "Hes been working on that tirelessly because our lab can process more samples than it was receiving, Gregg said. "So he decided, Ive got to solve this problem. He got this money out of this fund and said, Im going to try and go find someone." Once the tests arrived, Gregg said that the vast majority of them performed as expected and that the manufacturer offered to refund money to the university, though further analysis showed the contamination was ultimately not a significant problem. Theyre not seeing that it impacted any of the test results either positive or negative, she said. Officials at Lingen Precision Medical Products in Shanghai, China -- which supplied the tests, according to the Washington State Dept. of Health -- did not immediately respond an emailed list of questions about the shipment to Washington state. When ABC News contacted the firms export department in China on Wednesday, an employee said the factory does not manufacture any testing kits and then hung up the phone. The new regulations require Chinese labs manufacturing COVID-19 tests to obtain a registration certificate to export the kits. Lingen Precision Medical Products does not appear to be listed on an English-language version of Chinese government website page that specifies labs authorized to export the tests. Nadelson told ABC News that she participated in a 90 minute video call with Dr. Baird, Lingen officials and several others involved on Monday evening, and remains confident in the tests. "They've taken every measure that they should take," Nadelson said. "From what I understand contamination sometimes happens, and there are ways that you go about figuring out what [happened], And they've done that. They think that they did actually find the source of it. And they'll fix it, and they've remediated all of it." Nadelson said Lingen officials offered to replace all 100,000 kits. "Actually, we're just waiting on that," she said. Experts believe the Washington shipment may be the first reported incident of tainted COVID-19 testing equipment shipped to the U.S. from overseas. "That's why quality checks are so important," said Scott Becker, chief executive of the Association of Public Health Labs, an organization whose 125 members include health labs at the state, county and local level. "That's why the FDA's role is so important." A Food and Drug Administration spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday about other instances of contaminated or tainted shipments of diagnostic testing kits shipped to the U.S. With domestic testing shortages, some officials look abroad While diagnostic testing nationally has remained relatively steady in the U.S. in recent weeks, there are indications that could change. Earlier this week, a blue-ribbon panel of experts gauged that domestic test producers would have to deliver 5 million tests a day by early June in order to safe re-open parts of the country by July. Currently, a total of more than 25 million tests are expected to have been produced by the end of April. On Tuesday, the FDA announced the approval of the first at-home COVID-19 diagnostic test, though it will initially only be available to health care workers and other front line medical staffers. President Donald Trump pledged additional federal support Tuesday, following an Oval Office meeting with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. The federal government will work with the state on the national manufacturers and distributors to help secure additional tests, Trump said. Last month in Albany, New York opened the first state lab in the country to begin testing for coronavirus based on its own test, developed on-site. This week, Kentucky began a public-private partnership with the grocer chain Kroger to conduct 20,000 tests in five weeks, among other initiatives. But diagnostic tests remain in short supply domestically because most national manufacturers are unable to produce the quantity and variety of testing kit materials needed to fuel widespread U.S. testing. In response, city and state health officials are growing increasingly creative in seeking out their own supplies wherever they can be found. On Monday, Maryland governor Larry Hogan announced that hed secured a half-million COVID-19 test kits from South Koreas government after a direct appeal to the South Korean ambassador to the U.S., Lee Soo-Hyuk. That call set in motion 22 straight days of vetting, testing, negotiations and protocols between our scientists and doctors, Hogan said at a press conference. Eight Maryland state government agencies, and our counterparts in Korea. Earlier this week, Trump chided Hogan for going overseas for testing materials. "Could've saved a lot of money, but that's okay, the president said. "I don't think he needed to go to South Korea. I think he needed to get a little knowledge. That would've been helpful." Cuomo applauded the move. "Why didn't I think of buying them from South Korea? the New York governor said Tuesday morning. Health experts continue to maintain that the only safe way to re-open is through more widespread testing than is currently available due to the shortage of diagnostic testing kits among most U.S. municipalities. Critics say the haphazard, often desperate manner in which states and municipalities are being forced to forage for testing supplies and the seemingly bottomless appetite worldwide for testing kits could prove perilous. The lack of a comprehensive national plan to supply states and localities the chemicals and equipment needed to conduct widespread testing has forced many communities to seek those supplies elsewhere including from foreign suppliers, said John Cohen, a former seniors Department of Homeland Security official and ABC News contributor. This approach could be dangerous and result in ineffective equipment or contaminated chemicals. Peter Pitts, a former associate commissioner at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and president of the New York-based Center for Medicine in the Public Interest, said that despite the domestic shortages, buying kits overseas can be risky. He said the Washington shipment is the first report he's heard of corrupted testing materials shipped from overseas. Its just like buying prescription drugs on the Internet, he told ABC News. When you buy these things online, its really playing Russian roulette with your health. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. As the Long Beach Unified School District commits to keeping classes in-person, the city a new testing site opens for LBUSD employees and students only. The city is also ramping up its own testing efforts with a new 3,000-person per day testing site. A woman holds a photo of a man killed by the Chinese regime's persecution of Falun Gong, during a parade in Washington on July 17, 2014. (Larry Dye/The Epoch Times) Hope Unfulfilled: Remembering a Historic Appeal in China 21 Years Ago For an estimated 70 million to 100 million Chinese, April 25, 1999 was a day that changed everything. Twenty-one years ago, about 10,000 adherents of the spiritual practice Falun Gong gathered in front of the appeals office near Zhongnanhai, the Communist Party headquarters in Beijing. They lined up in neat rows on the sidewalks to plead with authorities to grant them an environment where they could practice their beliefs without fear. They didnt wave banners or posters, nor shout slogans. Most quietly did meditative exercises. A national magazine had just published a report slandering the practice. Dozens of their fellow practitioners had been arrested and jailed two days before in the nearby city of Tianjin, after they went to the government office and asked for a correction to the magazine article. The central government had also announced that Falun Gong books would be prohibited from publication or circulation nationwide. Kong Weijing, then a 49-year-old banker in Beijing, had prepared for the worst as she walked toward Zhongnanhai at 7 a.m. that cloudy morning to join the appeal. It was the largest demonstration in mainland China since the massacre at Tiananmen Square in June 1989. Memories of tanks rolling into Tiananmen Square and troops opening fire on pro-democracy protesters, killing hundreds or thousands of unarmed people, were still fresh in the minds of most Chinese people. Anything could happen, but I felt a personal obligation to join the appeal, she said in an interview. When Dafa is smeared, as someone who has benefited from the practice, you just have to say something. Remembering the rioting charge slapped on students who peacefully sat in Tiananmen Square a decade earlier, Kong put on her banker uniform and brought identification with her. I believed that [the authorities] would do the right thing after they learned the facts, she said. Falun Gong, or Falun Dafa, is a traditional Chinese spiritual discipline with slow, meditative exercises and moral teachings centered around the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. First introduced to the public in 1992, it became widely popular in China by 1999. Kong, like many other Falun Gong adherents, couldnt have imagined that in July 1999, the Chinese regime would launch a sweeping persecution campaign, rounding up hundreds of thousands and throwing them into detention centers, forced labor camps, and brainwashing centers, where they have routinely been tortured. Kong recalled that the April 25 appeal was quiet and calm. The Chinese regime would later describe it as a siege of the central government, in order to justify a nationwide suppression. More than 10,000 Falun Gong practitioners gather on Fuyou Street in Beijing on April 25, 1999. (Courtesy of Minghui.org) On the sidewalk of Fuyou Street, the street leading up to the compound, she saw students, teachers, farmers, and workers lined up seemingly for miles. A mother carried her daughter in her arms. A father pushed a baby stroller. They formed long rows along the walls, reading books or doing meditative Falun Gong exercises. Volunteers made rounds to collect trash from people. Ample room was left for bikes to pass through. Zhu Rongji, then the Chinese prime minister who advocated for economic reform, came out to meet the practitioners. Kong was one of the few that Zhu randomly picked to come inside to deliver the groups requests, which included the release of the Tianjin practitioners and the lifting of the publication ban. While inside, she relayed the requests to officials from the national petition office and the Partys central office, and handed them a pocket-sized version of Zhuan Falun, the main book of the practice. In a few hours, the Tianjin practitioners were released. By 9 p.m., the practitioners outside were notified that the regime had agreed to their requests, and so Zhu and everyone else packed up and left. But less than three months later, on July 20, 1999, the regime initiated its bloody persecution of the practice. This included a massive propaganda drive, with state broadcaster CCTV airing continuous anti-Falun Gong programs to its hundreds of millions of viewers, for months. Not long after, Kongs workplace froze her pension fund and was instructed to hold brainwashing sessions forcing Kong and others to renounce their faith. Kong fled to other parts of the country and, for nearly a decade, couldnt return home. She housekept for her acquaintances in exchange for lodging, sometimes staying in each place for only days at a time. In June 2000, to counter newspaper reports that the practice had been eradicated, Kong went to do exercises in Tiananmen Square, hoping to show everyone they were unshaken by the suppression. The police arrested her almost immediately and put her into detention for more than 10 days. She refused to give her name and staged a hunger strike, so the guards forced a tube down her throat to feed her. We have our ways to know [your name], the guards told her. We could put a paper on your nose and suffocate you to death, Kong recalled them saying. Fearing repercussions for their son, her husband asked for a divorce in 2000, although police harassment of her family didnt cease in the following years, and officers continued to try to track down her whereabouts. He thought that we could remarry after the persecution ends, Kong said. When I apologized for not being able to give him a welcoming family, he told me not to worry about him and to keep up on my practice. Now living in the United States, Kong said the Party hasnt changed its deceptive nature, as evidenced by its handling of the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong last year and its recent coverup of the CCP virus outbreak. My college friend told me that when [the regime] speaks in disapproval of something, it must be something good, she said. Minghui.org, a U.S.-based clearinghouse dedicated to chronicling the persecution, has recorded the deaths of 4,406 practitioners in the persecution, which is still ongoing. It noted that the data is only the tip of the iceberg, due to the extensive censorship and challenges of obtaining information in China. Over the past year, nearly 10,000 practitioners across 291 Chinese cities have experienced arrests or harassment, according to Minghui. The fines imposed surpassed a total of $1.04 million. Following years of drifting about, Kong came to the United States in 2015 to visit her son, who works in New York, and took refuge. Only then did I really have the dignity of a human being, she said. NEW YORK, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- RippleMatch , a leading university recruitment platform, has released new research that reveals how college students are navigating jobs and internships during COVID-19. RippleMatch has student users enrolled at 1,000+ top colleges and universities across the country, serving as the link between talented candidates and high-quality jobs & internships. Working mostly with Fortune 2000 companies and late-stage startups, RippleMatch is uniquely positioned to collect data on how entry-level candidates are beginning their careers and navigating these uncertain times. In the largest survey published so far on how COVID-19 is impacting entry-level jobs and internships, RippleMatch uncovered the challenges students are facing in their current job search, as well as how students with existing job & internship offers have been affected by program adaptations and cancellations. Read on for highlights of the data: Navigating Entry-Level Jobs & Internships During COVID-19: Data from 2,210 Students Uncertainty caused by COVID-19 exacerbates normal challenges of job search 83% of students say knowing which companies are still hiring is top challenge 74% say companies are unresponsive to applications 72% say the stress and uncertainty from COVID-19 had made the job search even more difficult to navigate COVID-19 is pushing student job seekers to expand career preferences 72% of students are looking outside of their preferred role type to find a job during COVID-19 68% are looking outside of their preferred industry Most employers are honoring their commitments to entry-level hires and interns In total, 60% of full-time and internship programs are set to move forward despite complications from COVID-19 Of that 60%, 46% of programs will move to a remote setting, while 14% will have a delayed start date or shortened program duration for internships 16% of respondents reported that their job offer had been rescinded or internship program had been canceled due to COVID-19 24% of students have yet to hear about concrete plans for their programs Download the full report here , or read an abridged article on the findings here . RippleMatch is college recruiting made right. They build relationships with the best students on over 1,000 college campuses to help employers that care about building diverse, high-performing teams source the right candidates automatically. If you're a student searching for a job, visit RippleMatch here . If you're an employer looking to increase diversity and digitally expand your campus reach, click here . CONTACT: Kate Beckman, [email protected] SOURCE RippleMatch Related Links https://ripplematch.com One of the founders of the Blackrock Clinic, Dr Joe Sheehan, has sought bankruptcy protection in the US, the Irish Independent has learned. The Irish-born retired surgeon has also initiated proceedings there against a receiver and two companies controlled by beef baron Larry Goodman in a dispute over the sale of his shares in the private hospital. The move represents the opening of a new front in a long-running dispute over control of the Dublin health facility, which has already been the subject of much litigation in Ireland. Mr Goodman secured majority control of Blackrock Clinic earlier this year after acquiring Dr Sheehan's 28pc stake from a receiver. But in legal filings with a court in Illinois, Dr Sheehan has claimed the sale of his shares was "unauthorised" as it occurred after he filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 of the US bankruptcy code. He also said he believed there had been a higher bid from another party. Chapter 11 is similar to Ireland's examinership regime and is a form of bankruptcy that involves the reorganisation of a debtor's business affairs, debts and assets. Dr Sheehan said he was continuing to operate his business and manage his financial affairs. No trustee, examiner or committee of unsecured creditors has been appointed. It is unclear how large Dr Sheehan's debts are as he has yet to file a statement of financial affairs. He said his ability to gather the information had been hampered by Covid-19 restrictions on movement. In a legal filing, he said social security benefits were his sole regular source of income. The 74-year-old co-founded the hospital in 1986 with his brother Dr James Sheehan, surgeon Maurice Neligan and Dr George Duffy. He emigrated to the US several decades ago and lives near Chicago. His petition was filed with the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois on March 12. This was followed by an "adversary complaint" against receiver Damien Murran of RSM Ireland and two Goodman companies, Breccia and Irish Agricultural Development. In the complaint, filed on April 13, he said Breccia asserted a security interest, amounting to 13m, in his 28pc shareholding in Blackrock Hospital Limited, the company which owns the Blackrock Clinic. Dr Sheehan said that at Breccia's direction, Mr Murran was appointed as receiver over the shares. He went on to allege Mr Murran sold the shares to Irish Agricultural Development for 20.3m after the bankruptcy petition was filed. Dr Sheehan said the sale went ahead even though he believed there was a competing bid of in excess of 40m. He claimed he advised the receiver and the two Goodman companies of the Chapter 11 case, the creation of a bankruptcy estate, and with an automatic stay prohibiting the collection of any pre-petition claim against him. "Despite many warnings, the receiver, Breccia and Irish Agricultural have failed and refused to acknowledge the validity of the bankruptcy code and the authority of this court," he alleged. However, a spokesman for Breccia said it "categorically refutes the allegations of fraudulent conduct" and will vigorously defend the case. "These claims are derived from multi-million-euro debts owed to Breccia that Dr Sheehan has been in default of since 2010," he said. "This is the latest in a long line of outrageous legal claims made by Dr Sheehan which, to date, have met with failure in the Irish High Court and Court of Appeal." Page Content COVID-19 Cases Based on the latest available data, as updated by CPS Epidemiologist Eva Lista-de Weever, the counts for April 22, 2020 as of 4:00 PM are as follows: Self-Quarantine: 130 Self-Isolation: 95 Number Hospitalized: 8 Number Tested: 266 (+8) Number Positive: 73 (+2) Male: 51 Female: 22 Number Negative: 169 (+28) Number Pending: 23 Inconclusive: 1 Deceased: 12 (+1) Recovered: 22 (+10) Active Cases: 39 (+1) Today, April 22, 2020, the St. Maarten Medical Centre Outbreak Management Team has updated that the works on the Intensive Care Unit ICU tent have been completed and that the tent is ready for its first patients. Moving forward, any COVID-19 suspected or confirmed patient requiring ICU care will be admitted to the tent which will be manned by Medical and Nursing personnel provided by the Ministry of Volksgezondheid, Welzijn en Sport (VWS) via AMI Healthcare. On April 22, 2020, a meeting was held with Prime Minister Jacobs and Emergency Support Function 10 to receive updates and further deliberations concerning the effects of COVID-19 on the business community. Considering that Governments stimulus plan was launched this week and that certain businesses cannot qualify for the payroll subsidy, ESF 10 is considering allowing these businesses to be open, through limited opening hours effective next week. The Inspectorate of the Ministry of TEATT conducted controls today and closed businesses that were operating in contravention to the published National decree of April 18, 2020. The government urges businesses not to engage in such as they will be fined. Prime Minister Jacobs has decided to allow freight, shipping, and cargo companies to make deliveries to all their clients and not just emergency and essential services. Veterinary clinics and the St. Maarten Marine Trade Association (SMMTA) have also sent in their waiver requests to resume their operations in order to provide services to the public and these are being considered. The Windward Islands Bank will have 3 branches open as of next week to facilitate the month-end traffic and payments of pension, social welfare & payroll. The third branch will be announced at a later date. Prime Minister Jacobs encourages persons to visit the branch closest to their home and to continue to practice social distancing. Lastly, the waiver or Certificate of Exception also known as Form C is usually granted for persons traveling for work, urgent medical appointments, or doctor visits. Though it is not stated on the waiver, it is allowed for persons to travel across the border to Dutch St. Maarten for banking purposes as well They should state their reason. I encourage each and every one of you to pray and continue checking up on each other virtually via the internet and phone. Use this time, to reach out to your neighbour, family, and friends. Let's be mindful that there is no one size fits all policy to address all the challenges associated with the COVID-19 virus and the challenges to come. However, rest assured that the EOC, Council of Ministers, and their respective teams are working tirelessly as one team; Team St. Maarten, to mitigate and contain this deadly virus. If COVID-19 has taught us anything, it is that the people of St. Maarten love one another and are strong and resilient people. I cannot stress enough. Continue to be blessed St. Maarten, concluded Prime Minister Jacobs. Prime Minister and Chair of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Silveria Jacobs hereby updates the general public for today, Monday, April 22, 2020, as part of the process to keep the community of St. Maarten informed about the latest developments and the Governments COVID-19 containment, mitigation and response measures. The accusation that the Chinese governments policies are to blame for the coronavirus pandemic and the economic damage it has caused is now being raised by governments and media outlets around the world. However, it has no basis in fact. The accusation serves to divert attention away from the ruling elites failure to deal with the pandemic, while at the same time whipping up public opinion for war with China. The US and European imperialist powers want by any means necessary, including military force, to prevent China from emerging from the pandemic economically and geostrategically strengthened. In the United States, both President Trump and the opposition Democrats support the China bashing. Last week, Trump justified his decision to suspend funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) for their alleged dependence on China. Many leading media outlets are spreading the conspiracy theory that the coronavirus was made in a Chinese laboratory. Or they claim that the disease has only spread so widely around the world because China failed to make information about it public for six days in January. The Democrats accuse Trump of being too soft on China. In Germany, the Bild newspaper and its editor-in-chief, Julian Reichelt, are leading the anti-China campaign. On 15 April, the widely-sold tabloid published a piece entitled What China owes us: a coronavirus bill. The article calls on China to pay for losses ranging from the tourist industry (a decline in sales of 24 billion in March and April alone), retail (1.15 billion of lost sales per day), and many other sectors, including Volkswagen (losses of 2 billion per week). In addition, there are multi-billion euro costs to the federal budget and the decline in GDP, which depending on the extent of the downturn, could range from 1,784 to 4,305 per head of population. Bild declares it a fact that the coronavirus spread from Wuhan around the world because the Chinese government suppressed important information for a week. It states that Renowned international law experts are of the opinion that China violated its obligation to share information with the World Health Organisation. Due to this delay, it continues, health systems around the world lost a lot of time to prepare themselves for the pandemic. The affected states have therefore the right to sue China for compensation in an international court. The tabloid explicitly bases itself on the neoconservative British Henry Jackson Society, which called on the G-7 states to sue China for 3.2 trillion (3.7 trillion). The Chinese embassy in Berlin answered Bild and Reichelt in an open letter. In it, they refuted the accusations based on publicly available data confirmed by the WHO. As early as 31 December, 2019, Chinese authorities informed the WHO, and from 3 January, 2020, the United States and other countries, regularly about lung infections of an unknown origin in Wuhan. At the time, 44 cases were known. SARS-CoV2 was first identified on 8 January, and on 11 January, China published the gene sequencing for the virus online and transmitted the genetic data to the WHO. On the basis of thorough epidemiological research, China confirmed on 20 January that the virus was capable of human-to-human transmission, and three days later it imposed a quarantine on Wuhan. Many countries that now have to combat COVID-19, wrote the Chinese ambassador, had time to prepare for the cross-border transmission of the virus after China reported its outbreak within the framework of IHR regulations. The accusations are aimed at distracting attention from their own mistakes and weaknesses. This is undoubtedly the case. Long after the character and scale of the pandemic were known, the American and European governments allowed weeks to pass, during which they downplayed the pandemic as a flu, pursued a policy of herd immunity, and avoided taking even the most minimal preparatory and protective measures. Had China issued a warning a week earlier, nothing would have changed in this response. Bild editor Reichelt responded to the embassy letter with an hysterical letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, which he also published as a video on 16 April. The letter is full of accusations, insults, racist statements and imperialist arrogance. For example, Reichelt accuses Xi of shutting down any critical newspapers or websites, but not the stalls where field mouse soup is sold. He has turned his country into a world champion in stealing intellectual property. China enriches itself on the inventions of others, instead of inventing itself. The greatest Chinese export hit, one that nobody wanted but which has still travelled around the world is the coronavirus. Reichelt is an expert in waging filthy propaganda campaigns. Even the conservative F.A.Z. described him in 2017, after a television appearance on the Syrian war, as a war propagandist who operates like a revolver journalist, whips up emotions and always looks for enemies. Reichelt is not acting on his own initiative. Bild, and its sister Sunday paper Bild am Sonntag (BAMS), have served the ruling elite for decades as mechanisms for waging filthy propaganda campaigns to support the implementation of reactionary policies. Former Chancellor Gerhard Schroder uttered the infamous sentence that all he needed to govern was Bild, BAMS, and the telly. Public figures and anyone with a reputation rush to attend the annual Bild press ball. The 39-year-old Reichelt, who began his career as a trainee at the Bild and completed his training at the publishers own Springer Academy, was appointed to head Germanys bestselling tabloid by Kai Dieckmann. Dieckmann was long considered a close associate of the publishing houses heiress, Friede Springer, who in turn enjoys close ties to German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Other media outlets have joined in the anti-China campaign, perhaps with less vulgarity than Bild, but with a much clearer political agenda. For example, Der Spiegel reported with alarm on Chinas international aid efforts. The Chinese state leaderships propaganda machine is pulling out all the stops to shift the public perception of China in this crisis to its benefit, it charged. They are portraying themselves above all as effective fighters against the virus and a solidarising helper who is always there in an emergency when they are needed. Every line of the article reflects the fear of German imperialism of losing ground to China. Serbian President Alexander Vucic kissed the Chinese flag when a delivery of aid arrived, Der Spiegel worriedly noted. China is also active in the EU, Spain, France, Austria, Germany, and Italy have all received medical equipment, doctors even went to Italy. Relations between Rome and Beijing were already close prior to the crisis, with Italy becoming the first Western European country to back Chinas new Silk Road policy. Der Spiegel noted that Chinas propaganda offensive is being watched with concern in the German government. In this regard, it referred to a secret paper from the Defence Ministry that accuses China of a campaign of disinformation. Even Chinas determined efforts to develop a vaccine, and its deploying of more than 1,000 researchers to tackle this task are interpreted as a hostile act by the Defence Ministry. The development of a vaccine is aimed at proving that China leads the world today in biomedical science, ahead of the United States. We have long been in a competition of systems, notes Der Spiegel, citing FDP foreign policy expert Johannes Vogel. For some who refused to accept it, theyre just realising that now. The fact that this strategic approach includes military means is shown by the Defence Ministrys decision to publish the paper on China. The coronavirus crisis is accelerating to the limit all of the contradictions of world capitalism, which have been maturing for some time. This applies to the class struggle just as much as it does to the rivalries between the major powers. The plans for war against China, which have long been pursued by the United States and NATO, are assuming ever more dangerous forms. This is confirmed by the hysterical agitation of the Bild newspaper. It recalls the notorious Hun speech with which Kaiser Wilhelm II sent German troops to crush the Boxer Rebellion 120 years ago. The danger of a catastrophic war can be stopped only through an independent movement of the international working class, which links the struggle against militarism and war with the fight against their source in the capitalist system. OLYMPIAAs of Friday, April 17, Washington residents can apply through the Department of Social and Health Services for emergency cash assistance to help meet their immediate needs. As a result of Governor Inslees emergency declaration in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government has approved implementing the Disaster Cash Assistance Program, or DCAP, in Washington state. The Governors declaration of a statewide emergency and subsequent proclamation on March 18 enables DSHS to offer DCAP benefits to people who are not eligible for other cash assistance programs. The assistance is available to all Washington families and people without children who meet the income and resource limits of the program (access that information here: https://tinyurl.com/y9fvpdxx). DSHS estimates more than 175,000 households may be eligible for this assistance. Having access to this emergency aid is critically important to helping people meet their immediate, basic needs, like shelter costs, utilities, clothing, minor medical care, household supplies and transportation costs for work, explained Babs Roberts, director of DSHS Community Services Division. Were pleased Governor Inslee made these funds available so that we can extend the benefits to Washingtonians who are most in need during this unprecedented time. This cash assistance is available to Washington residents regardless of citizenship status and does not require applicants to provide a Social Security number. Eligible households will receive their DCAP benefits for one month in a 12-month period during an emergency. The benefit amount depends on household size, income and need, ranging from a maximum of $363 for a single person to a maximum of $1,121 for a household of eight or more people. Once approved, people will receive their DCAP benefits on an existing Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT, card or a new EBT card will be sent via U.S. Mail. People can apply for DCAP online at WashingtonConnection.org and then call the Customer Service Contact Center at (877)501-2233 to complete the required interview. People can also call (877)501-2233 to complete the entire application process over the phone. Due to much higher than normal call volumes, people are asked to call before 11 a.m. and to keep in mind that the busiest call times are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Could the United States face two epidemics at the same time next fall, flu and the coronavirus? That frightening idea was raised by Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, during an interview on Tuesday with The Washington Post. He suggested that a new surge in coronavirus cases could coincide with the next flu season, causing an even more difficult crisis than the one the nation is facing now. Were going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time, he said. At Wednesdays White House briefing, President Trump said that Dr. Redfield had been misquoted and would clarify his remarks. But Dr. Redfield then said that The Post had quoted him correctly. But he tried to dial back the alarm his comments had provoked. I think its really important to emphasize what I didnt say, Dr. Redfield said at the briefing. I didnt say this was going to be worse, I said it was going to be more difficult and potentially complicated. He reiterated several times that if the situation became more difficult, that did not mean it became worse. Women were raped and male prisoners tortured and murdered in a Syrian prison, a German court has heard. The revelations were made as two former members of Syria's secret police went on trial today accused of crimes against humanity for their role in a government-run detention centre where large numbers of opposition protesters were tortured. The trial of Anwar Raslan, 57, and Eyad Al Gharib, 43, is the first time that two representatives of the Syrian government face trial abroad for war crimes allegedly committed during the country's years-long civil war. Today the court heard an account of the appalling horrors suffered by 24 former inmates at the detention centre known as Al Khatib, or Branch 251, near Damascus, many of whom were arrested for taking part in pro-democracy demonstrations during the Arab Spring in 2011. Speaking from behind a sheet of plexiglass due to the coronavirus pandemic, public prosecutor Jasper Klinge said Raslan 'knew the extent of the torture' which took place in order to extract 'confessions and information about the Syrian opposition'. Syrian defendant Anwar Raslan arrives at a court for the first trial of suspected members of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's security services for crimes against humanity, in Koblenz, Germany today He said prisoners were murdered 'under Raslan's direction and responsibility' and described 'inhumane' conditions, with 140 people crammed into cells of just 50 square metres in 'incredible heat'. The prosecutor also referred to a woman who was subjected to electric shocks and raped during interrogation after her arrest in Damascus in May 2011. Raslan and Al-Gharib, who were arrested in Germany early 2019, will face testimony from several Syrian refugees who allege they were tortured at the detention centre. Syrian defendant Eyad al-Gharib (left) hides under his hood before his trial today in Koblenz, western Germant. Al-Gharib is accused of crimes against humanity in the first court case worldwide over state-sponsored torture by Bashar al-Assad's regime Federal prosecutors allege 57-year-old Raslan was in charge of the site and thereby responsible for crimes against humanity, rape and the murder of at least 58 people there. The indictment by German prosecutors accuses him of complicity in more than 4,000 cases of torture. Al-Gharib, 43, is accused of being part of a police squad that detained protesters and brought them back to Branch 251, where they were then mistreated. At least nine torture victims are represented as co-plaintiffs in the case, as allowed under German law, while several more are expected to be called as witnesses. They are supported by the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights. If convicted, Raslan could face life imprisonment. Al-Gharib could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison if convicted of complicity in crimes against humanity. Co-plaintiff and filmmaker, Feras Fayyad, who was tortured by the Assad regime, answers journalists' questions outside the courtroom during a break in a trial against two Syrian defendants accused of state-sponsored torture in Syria, today in Koblenz, western Germany The defendants' lawyers declined to comment ahead of the trial, which is scheduled to last several months. The men, who themselves left Syria for Germany before their arrest in February 2019, remain in prison. The trial has been described as a pivotal moment in the effort to bring Syrian officials accused of crimes to justice. Pictured: A visitor looks at photographs from 'Caesar's Photos: Inside Syria's Secret Prisons', a collection of photographs smuggled out of Syria documenting the atrocities committed by the Assad Regime against his people in Washington, USA on July 15, 2015. The store of over 55,000 photographs is set to be used as evidence against Raslan and Al-Gharib 'With other avenues for justice blocked, criminal prosecutions in Europe offer hope for victims of crimes in Syria who have nowhere else to turn,'said Balkees Jarrah, associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch. 'The trial in Koblenz shows that courts, even thousands of miles away from where the atrocities occurred, can play a critical role in combating impunity.' The Koblenz regional court, where the trial is being held, has reduced the number of seats available to reporters and the general public by a third, due to social distancing rules to combat the coronavirus pandemic. (CNN) President Donald Trump made yet another false claim about coronavirus testing on Wednesday, wrongly saying at a White House briefing that the US is conducting more tests than any governor probably even wants. In fact, numerous governors, including Republicans, have said that more testing is necessary. Trump also continued to embellish about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's February 24 visit to San Francisco's Chinatown, inaccurately saying that she had held a Chinatown "rally." He continued to insist that his travel restrictions on China were a "ban," though they contained significant exemptions. And he threw in an old false claim about Michelle Obama for good measure. Here's a rundown of the claims and the facts: Governors and testing Trump bragged about the level of coronavirus testing in the US and played down criticism from medical professionals that there still isn't enough testing to get a handle of the pandemic. "Ultimately, we're doing more testing, I think, than probably any of the governors even want," Trump said, suggesting that his administration was leading the way on coronavirus testing. Trump later said that "not everybody believes as strongly as some people on testing." And suggesting that calls for more testing are some sort of partisan plot, he claimed that "some people want (us) to do testing because they think it's impossible for us to fulfill that goal." Facts First: Trump is off the mark. There have been bipartisan calls from governors and medical professionals for the Trump administration to ramp up testing and give states the supplies they need to get it done. There is no evidence that calls for more tests are some sort of anti-Trump plot; nonpartisan public health experts have said it's critical for the government to significantly increase the level of testing as part of any plan to end social distancing and lift economic restrictions. Even as Trump shifts his rhetoric to reopening the country, governors from both parties say they need more testing or that they're still struggling to obtain the testing materials they need. This includes Republican governors from Ohio, Nebraska, Maryland, Massachusetts, South Dakota and Wyoming. During the same briefing on Wednesday, Surgeon General Jerome Adams, a Trump appointee who has been a strong defender of the President during the pandemic, acknowledged that "many different groups" have talked to the administration about testing, "and we hear that testing is absolutely a concern." It's not clear who Trump is referring to when he says some "not everybody believes as strongly as some people" in testing. While skeptics certainly exist, there is a strong consensus among public health and elected officials that testing is pivotal. These views are shared by major business executives, doctors, and even some Trump appointees, including Dr. Scott Gottlieb, his former chief of the Food and Drug Administration. Travel restrictions During Wednesday's press briefing, Trump repeated a false claim he's made numerous times about the travel restrictions imposed on China due to the coronavirus. He once again described the restrictions as a "ban" and claimed that "if we didn't close our country to China, we would have been so infected like nobody's ever seen." Facts First: Trump's comments are misleading because he did not "close our country to China." On February 2, the United States began implementing travel restrictions that denied entry to foreign nationals who had visited China within 14 days of arrival in the United States. But the travel restrictions contain exemptions for US citizens who had visited China, which makes Trump's characterization that there was a "ban" misleading. As of February 2, US citizens who had been in China's Hubei province in the two weeks prior to their return to the United States are subject to a mandatory quarantine of up to 14 days upon their return to the US. American citizens returning from the rest of mainland China may also face up to 14 days of quarantine after undergoing health screenings at selected ports of entry. Only foreign nationals who have visited China within the past 14 days are temporarily banned from entering the United States. Michelle Obama and the Georgia governors race Row Approved Despite publicly disagreeing with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's decision to open up businesses such as barbershops and tattoo parlors, Trump reiterated his past support for the governor. He compared his efforts to get Kemp elected with those of Democrats, erroneously claiming that Michelle Obama joined her husband in campaigning for Kemp's opponent. "As you know, Brian Kemp, governor of Georgia, I worked very hard for his election, he beat their superstar, he beat the superstar of their party. I think you can say I helped a lot," Trump said, "Michelle Obama, Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey they all went in, they campaigned for him very, very hard and he lost." Facts First: Michelle Obama did not campaign for either of Kemp's opponents. Kemp beat Republican Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, a man, in the primary and Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams, a woman, in the general election. While Trump's comments make it unclear which of Kemp's opponents he's referring to specifically, he has claimed on multiple occasions that both the Obamas and Winfrey campaigned for Abrams. While Barack Obama and Winfrey did, Michelle Obama did not. Pelosi's Chinatown visit Trump again exaggerated about Pelosi's visit to San Francisco's Chinatown on February 24, this time claiming Pelosi was having a "rally in San Francisco, in Chinatown." Trump's description of the Chinatown visit has changed repeatedly. At previous briefings, Trump claimed Pelosi was "holding a street fair" in Chinatown -- and that, during her visit, she called for a "Chinatown parade," "parties in Chinatown," and a "march" against his travel restrictions on China. Facts First: Pelosi did not hold a rally or a street fair, and she did not call for a parade, parties or a march. Rather, amid concerns about rising anti-Chinese bigotry, she walked around Chinatown, visited businesses and a temple, ate at a dim sum restaurant and spoke to reporters to urge people to "come to Chinatown." Pelosi said that "we think it's very safe to be in Chinatown and hope that others will come. It's lovely here. The food is delicious, the shops are prospering, the parade was great. Walking tours continue. Please come and visit and enjoy Chinatown." Trump could mock Pelosi for not taking the threat of the virus seriously enough at that point. However, Trump himself tweeted the same day that "the Coronavirus is very much under control in the USA", likened the virus to the "regular flu" two days later, and continued to downplay the situation well into March. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Fact check: Trump makes false claims about governors not wanting tests, and repeats errors about Pelosi and Michelle Obama." (Natural News) As most people sit at home and patiently await their release from the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns, reports continue to surface about potentially nefarious activities that are taking place under the cover of darkness while almost nobody is looking. One of these activities involves the alleged installation of 5G towers and biometrics systems at public schools, as well as inside and on top of other publicly funded facilities. Since many public outfits are temporarily shut down due to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19), now is the perfect time for them to be outfitted with technologies that, were students and their parents present on a daily basis, would otherwise be much harder to conceal. Back in mid-March, the YouTube channel Logic Before Authority posted a video detailing a message purportedly received from a member of a local school board who claims that school districts are covertly installing 5G equipment in public schools while students remain at home indefinitely with their parents. And this same source claims that the U.S. Department of Education is the one directing these installations. This video is available for viewing below: If workers are caught entering and leaving public schools, this same source says that many of them are being instructed to state that theyre present for disinfection purposes. But upon closer analysis, this doesnt appear to be true, at least not according to video footage that was captured of mysterious white work vans parked behind an unknown school. You can watch this video below: Although we do not see the name or location of the school, the video clearly shows vans for two companies Systems Plus Wisconsin and North American Mechanical, Inc, reports Global Research (Canada). Both companies appear to be headquartered in Madison, Wisconsin. Systems Plus Wisconsin hangs up phone after being asked if their vans are associated with 5G installations When the person who filmed all of the white vans at the school decided to contact the one company, Systems Plus Wisconsin, which admits that it installs biometrics systems, the person on the other end of the phone reportedly hung up when asked if there was anything happening in relation to 5G. The word 5G has almost become a dirty word, and something that even the companies that deal with it dont want to be associated with anymore because of the negative stigma thats attached to it. If youd like to learn more about the dangers of 5G, be sure to check out the documentary film 5G Apocalypse: The Extinction Event. Since these two videos were published, many other inquisitive minds have checked out their local schools and observed similar activities. Mysterious vans installing unusual towers and antennas on school grounds during these lockdowns are apparently more common than previously thought, which is sparking a growing public backlash. Citizen journalists, if you will, are encouraged to get out there and take a look, and report what they find on social media, on YouTube, and even directly to their local school boards. Put the pressure where it needs to be and demand answers, otherwise this type of activity will only continue unquestioned. Our concern is that 5G could be installed without our knowledge while we are grappling with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, and that the installation of biometric systems could be a part of a more sinister agenda, reports Global Research. To keep up with the latest Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) news, be sure to check out Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: GlobalResearch.ca YouTu.be YouTu.be NaturalNews.com With ten new cases the total number of Covid-19 cases in Kerala has gone up to 447, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday. He said the government will accelerate tests in the coming days. The shortage of kits and spare parts had delayed tests in the state and it will be speeded up with fresh kits provided by the Union health ministry, Vijayan said. The CM said that in two months health authorities could conduct only 21,000 tests and some of the states which started tests much later had done more than that. He said the state government has placed orders for 10 more real time PCR machines. Follow coronavirus latest updates here. Out of 10 new cases four were reported from Idukki district. The CM said Idukki will be taken out of the green zone in view of these cases and will be designated as an orange zone. Out of 447 cases, 318 have recovered and 129 people are in hospitals, he said adding strict lockdown will continue in red zones. Four districts of north Kerala are under red zone - Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikkode and Malappuram. We expected a sharp rise in cases but things are under control. We still feel community spread did not take place. But the threat still persists. We have to be careful, said the CM. Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Deputy Chief Executive Officers of State Entities have donated a cheque for GH500,000.00 to the COVID-19 National Trust Fund, to aid government in its efforts to manage the pandemic in the country. The National Health Insurance Authority, on the other hand, donated a cheque for GH250,000.00 to the Fund, as part of its contributions towards the fight. The cheque was received by some members of the Board of Trustees of the COVID-19 National Trust Fund, at a press briefing organised on Wednesday to update the media on the current state of the COVID-19 in Ghana and clarifications on the measures taken by government to manage the situation. The donation by the State CEOs and their Deputies was not from their respective institutions but a contribution from the individual CEOs and Deputies. The donation, they said, was an initial contribution on their part as individuals, and gave an assurance to make more contributions to support the fight whenever it became necessary. 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 LONDON (Reuters) - Two British doctors who have been exposed to COVID-19 patients have launched a legal challenge against the government over what they say is a lack of protective kit and unclear guidance on when and how it should be used. The issue of personal protective equipment (PPE) for doctors and nurses on the front line of the new coronavirus outbreak is one that has dogged the government, with persistent reports that there is not enough kit and that some of it is not good enough. Lawyers for the two doctors, a husband and wife who are expecting a child, wrote to health minister Matt Hancock on Thursday to demand an urgent review of the official PPE guidance and to complain about how the kit was being sourced. "It is the government's duty to protect its healthcare workers, and there is great anxiety amongst staff with regards to safety protocols that seem to change without rhyme or reason," said the doctors, Meenal Viz and Nishant Joshi, in a statement issued by their law firm Bindmans. Viz is a clinical fellow in medicine and Joshi is a trainee general practitioner. Both are employed by the state-run National Health Service (NHS). So far, 69 people working for the NHS have died of COVID-19. The two doctors say the British PPE guidance is not in line with World Health Organisation standards, exposes healthcare workers to a greater risk of contracting the virus, is unclear and has resulted in inconsistent practices. They want the guidance be amended to make it consistent with WHO standards, to explain the risks associated with the use of different types of PPE, and to clarify the right of staff to refuse to work where they consider PPE to be inadequate. The letter is a precursor step to going to court to seek a judicial review of the guidance. The health ministry could not be reached by phone and did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The doctors took particular issue with a change to the guidance last week, to add that plastic aprons could be used instead of protective gowns in some situations. This caused widespread dismay among doctors. Story continues The Public Health England government agency says the new guidelines comply with WHO advice, which states that while aprons are an alternative to gowns, they should be avoided when performing aerosol-generating procedures, the riskiest work frontline doctors do. The new British guidance specifically says aprons can be used even for such high-risk procedures. (Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; editing by Stephen Addison) BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23 Trend: The statement made by the Armenian Foreign Ministry that the country has not been conducting the negotiations since 2018 based on the phased settlement of the conflict [the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict], is ridiculous, even given that it was made to calm the local community, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry. It would be more correct for the Armenian Foreign Ministry to truthfully inform the population of its country about the process of peaceful settlement of the conflict, the message said. After the power change in this country in 2018, as many as ten meetings were held at the level of Azerbaijani and Armenian foreign ministers, including the latest videoconference. According to Armenian Foreign Ministrys logic, it turns out that the two countries ministers alongside with OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and foreign ministers of the three co-chairing states have been meeting just to talk and spend time together, as if they have nothing to do?! Azerbaijan has always expressed its position on the conflicts settlement process and basic negotiation principles from the highest tribunes. At the same time, OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs carrying out mediation mission, have openly expressed their position in their statements, including the statement dated March 9, 2019. All these statements clearly highlight the elements of the phased settlement. Moreover, the negotiations continue in the same format and with the same agenda. Otherwise, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, having voiced a notorious statement on April 21, would not have participated in the videoconference and would not have joined the discussions. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia would better take steps towards preparing the population of his country for peace as agreed with him, said the ministry. The Ministry of Transport has proposed Hanoi and relevant municipal departments to designate hotels for the accommodation of foreign airline crews as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 spread. The proposal was made in an official document signed by Deputy Minister of Transport Le Anh Tuan recently sent to the Hanoi Peoples Committee as well as the citys Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and departments of Health, Tourism and Public Security. The move aims to not only prevent new infection from being imported to Vietnam but also ensure safety for the foreign crew members and flights coming in and out the country. The ministry also asked Hanoi to tighten quarantine and monitoring of all foreign crew members. The crews must undergo daily medical checks, the ministry said, adding that those having COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough and shortness of breath must be put into quarantine and tested for the coronavirus in compliance with regulations./. VNA Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) vessels cross U.S. ships bows and sterns at close range while operating in international waters of the North Arabian Gulf on April 15, 2020. (U.S. Navy photo) Pentagon Officials: Trump Sent Important Warning to Iran Senior Pentagon officials have characterized President Donald Trumps statement on Iranian harassment of U.S. Navy ships as an important warning. In that statement, posted to Twitter on April 21, the president said he had instructed the Navy to destroy Iranian gunboats if they harassed U.S. ships. Speaking at a Pentagon briefing later, civilian and uniformed officials at the Department of Defense characterized the tweet as more of a warning than an explicit shift in rules of engagement or standing orders, but praised the presidents statement. Trump wrote on Twitter, I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea. Asked whether that message meant a change in standing orders, Deputy Defense Secretary David Norquist told reporters: The president issued an important warning to the Iranians. What he was emphasizing is that all of our ships retain the right of self-defense. The president is describing and responding to poor behavior of the Iranians. General John E. Hyten, deputy chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, pictured when he was Air Force Space Command vice commander in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on April 8 2016. (U.S. Air Force photo/Duncan Wood) Gen. John E. Hyten, the deputy chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, denied that the word harass was hard to interpret in terms of thresholds for military engagement. The president made a clear statement, Hyten told reporters. I think the Iranians understand that. I think the American people understand that. We as the military have to apply that clear direction from the commander in chief into lawful orders that we execute. And we know what that means. We have no doubt what that means. The presidents warning follows an incident last week in which 11 Iranian boats were filmed buzzing six U.S. Navy ships in the Persian Gulf, coming as close as 10 yards in an hour-long encounter. Asked if such an incident would now trigger a lethal response following Trumps tweet, Hyten refused to make a general pronouncement. I would have to be the captain of the ship to make that decisionit depends on the situation and what the captain sees. You cant let a fast boat get into a position where they can threaten your ship, he said. We dont talk about rules of engagement in public, but they are based on the inherent right of self-defense, they are based on hostile action, hostile intent. Thats all we need in order to take the right action. I like that the president warned an adversary; thats what hes doing. On April 21, the Iranian military claimed to have added new longer-range anti-ship missiles to its arsenal, and on April 22 said it successfully launched its first military satellite after several failed attempts. The developments come following several months of heightened military tensions between the two countries. On April 15, the U.S. Navy revealed footage and images of 11 Iranian vessels coming dangerously close to six U.S. vessels. According to the Navy statement, the Iranian navy ships were repeatedly crossing their bows and sterns while they were conducting integration operations with U.S. Army Apache attack helicopters to support maritime security outside of Irans territorial waters. The IRGCN vessels repeatedly crossed the bows and sterns of the U.S. vessels at extremely close range and high speeds, including multiple crossings of the Puller with a 50-yard closest point of approach and within 10 yards of Mauis bow. Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessels sail close to U.S. military ships in the Persian Gulf near Kuwait on April 15, 2020. (U.S. Navy via AP) Following the presidents message on April 21, the State Department published a statement describing Irans history of naval provocations in recent years. Iran has long used its naval forces to terrorize the international maritime community, said the statement, which outlined a pattern of Iran using naval harassment as leverage for sanctions relief. In 2015, during negotiations of the Iran Deal and after its adoption, the U.S. Navy recorded 22 incidents of unsafe and unprofessional conduct by the IRGC Navy (IRGCN), many that risked collision. An additional 36 incidents of unsafe and unprofessional conduct were recorded in 2016. Those incidents of naval harassment sharply dropped after October 2017 when Trump made clear the United States would not tolerate the status quo from Iran, nor appease their provocations. That lull in incidents continued even after the United States withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal. Then, in May 2019, according to the State Department, Iran began a panicked campaign of aggression to extort the world into granting it sanctions relief, targeting ships across the world. In response to the elevated risk posed to commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the United States spearheaded the creation of the International Maritime Security Construct (IMSC), a coalition of eight European, Middle Eastern, and Asian nations, the statement reads. Since the IMSC was stood up in August 2019, Iranian mine attacks have ceased. President Trump will not tolerate or appease Irans foreign policy of violence and intimidation. Iran must act like every other normal nation, not a nation that sponsors piracy and terror. The West Bengal government on Thursday submitted before the Calcutta High Court an affidavit-in-opposition in connection with a PIL that alleged that ICMR and WHO protocol was not being followed by the state for tackling the COVID-19 outbreak. The state government submitted its position through the affidavit on clarifications sought by a division bench comprising Chief Justice T B N Radhakrishnan and Justice Arijit Banerjee. Hearing in the PIL was, however, adjourned by the division bench till April 28 on a request made on behalf of the state government. The court gave liberty to the petitioner to file an affidavit-in-reply to the state's position by the next date of hearing. The division bench had on April 17 directed the state government to furnish details and information asked for by it in the form of an affidavit by the next date of hearing. The state was directed to file its response on whether WHO (World Health Organisation) and ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) guidelines and advisories were being followed by all stakeholders, including the state administration. The bench had directed the state government to report to it on the acceleration of the rate of sample collection and testing in adherence to ICMR testing protocol and WHO guidelines. "We are of the view that it is necessary that the official respondents (West Bengal government) give a deeper look to the requirement of more number of samples being collected and subjected to tests on warfooting," the division bench had said on the earlier date. In a report placed before the bench on April 17, the state Health secretary said that with an increase in the number of testing laboratories in West Bengal, there had been a steady rise in the number of tests being conducted across the state and that it was expected to increase further in the days ahead. Petitioner Fuad Halim, a doctor profession and also a CPI(M) leader, had claimed before the court that the guidelines issued by the WHO and the ICMR for tackling the COVID-19 outbreak were not being adhered to by the State of West Bengal and that adequate tests of samples were not being done. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Authorities in the US say two cats have tested positive to the coronavirus, but there is no sign pets are transmitting Covid-19 to humans (Aaron Chown/PA) Two pet cats in New York state have tested positive for the coronavirus, marking the first confirmed cases in companion animals in the US, federal officials said. The cats, which had mild respiratory illnesses and are expected to recover, are thought to have contracted the virus from people in their households or neighbourhoods, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the federal Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said. The finding, which comes after positive tests in some tigers and lions at the Bronx Zoo, adds to a small number of confirmed cases of the virus in animals worldwide. US authorities say while it appears some animals can catch the virus from people, there is no indication pets are transmitting it to human beings. Theres no evidence that pets are playing a role in spreading this disease to people CDC official We dont want people to panic. We dont want people to be afraid of pets or to rush to test them en masse, said Dr Casey Barton Behravesh, a CDC official who works on human-animal health connections. Theres no evidence that pets are playing a role in spreading this disease to people. Still, the CDC is recommending people prevent their pets from interacting with people or animals outside their homes by keeping cats indoors and dogs out of dog parks, for instance. Coronavirus testing for pets is not recommended unless an animal has been exposed to a person with Covid-19 and the animal has symptoms of the disease and tests have ruled out more common possible causes, said Dr Jane Rooney of the USDA. Barton Behravesh said the animal tests are done at veterinary labs and use different chemicals than human tests, which have been in short supply during the crisis. Scientists studying the virus have been looking closely at links between human and animals. While a consensus is still evolving, the leading theory is that infection among humans began at an animal market in China, probably from an animal that got the virus from a bat. Expand Close While it is yet to be definitively proven, the strongest theory in circulation suggests the coronavirus was spread to humans from bats (AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp While it is yet to be definitively proven, the strongest theory in circulation suggests the coronavirus was spread to humans from bats (AP) Scientists are working to understand the potential for transmission to animals in homes, farms and elsewhere. So far, it does not appear that livestock or poultry are susceptible, Dr Rooney said. The USDA and CDC have recommended pet owners with Covid-19 avoid petting, snuggling or other contact with their animals as much as possible, including wearing a face covering while caring for them. 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 pet dogs and cats could not pass the virus to human beings but could test positive if exposed by their owners. A tiger at the Bronx Zoo had what was believed to be the first confirmed coronavirus case in an animal in the U.S. or a tiger anywhere. The 4-year-old Malayan tiger, named Nadia, was tested after starting to showing signs of illness on March 27, 11 days after the zoo closed to the public because of the virus. Three other tigers and three lions later showed symptoms. Tests subsequently confirmed they all had the virus, as did another tiger that shares their exhibit but did not show any signs of illness, the zoo said Wednesday. Rockwell Automation, the world's largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information technology has announced its partnership with Al Ghandi Electrical and Automation, a well-established distributor of world-renowned electrical products in UAE and GCC countries. With this agreement for Authorised Distributor, Al Ghandi Electrical and Automation is now authorised to deliver Rockwell Automation products and services in the UAE. In line with Rockwell Automations strategy for growth in the Middle East, this solid partnering with Al Ghandi Electrical and Automation will allow Rockwell Automation to meet the growing needs of the Middle Eastern market. Rockwell Automation and Al Ghandi Electrical and Automation teams will work closely to provide products and software for bespoke automation solutions, electrical components, local support, and greater value to customers in the UAE. Congratulating on this agreement, Susana Gonzalez, President for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Rockwell Automation said: We are very pleased to have Al Ghandi Electrical and Automation join our PartnerNetwork. This is an important milestone achieved in the region and we believe it will bring great value to our customers in the UAE. With this partnership, we will strengthen our overall position in the Middle East and enhance our service and product availability to our customers in the region. Serving in the UAE for more than 40 years, Al Ghandi Electrical and Automation operates from three office locations in Dubai, Jebel Al and Abu Dhabi and represents some of the worlds most renowned brands. As a new member of Rockwell Automations PartnerNetwork, Al Ghandi Electrical and Automation is now able to deliver an extensive package of Rockwell Automations solutions in several industrial automation categories. Becoming an Authorised Distributor for Rockwell Automation in the UAE is an important progression for our automation division. We are looking forward to accelerating the modernisation of industrial facilities in the UAE, through Rockwell Automations innovative solutions. Our team of professionals is committed to provide superior value to our customers and enable them to achieve an efficient production, said Buti Saeed Al Ghandi, Managing Director of Al Ghandi Electrical and Automation.-- Tradearabia News Service Senator Amy Klobuchar may be more attuned to the realities of the novel coronavirus than most: In her professional life, the Minnesota Democrat and former 2020 presidential candidate is working to legislate stimulus packages to help Americans get through the crisis. And in her personal life, she had to watch from afar as her husband, John Bessler, was hospitalized with COVID-19. For 10 days, Besslers temperature was over 100 degrees, Klobuchar tells TIMEs Senior White House Correspondent Brian Bennett during the TIME 100: Finding Hope virtual summit, which gathered the worlds top leaders to discuss the pandemic, how to confront it, and how the country will recover from it. But his condition eventually improved. On the fifth day in the hospital, he took a good turn and his oxygen levels improved, she says. Though her husband is doing much better now, Klobuchars work is far from over. Shes stumping for former Vice President Joe Biden, her former rival, as he continues his bid to best President Donald Trump in the November election. Electing Biden has perhaps never been more important, the Senator argues: It really bothered me that this President, at the Republican Convention, said the words, I alone can fix this, Klobuchar says of Trump. And then when were in this major crisis of unprecedented dimensions with peoples lives on the line, he literally says Im in the backseat for the governors, referring to Trumps recent rhetoric that seems to punt responsibility to the states. Amid the virtual town halls she is hosting for the former vice president, some political pundits have suggested Biden may pick Klobuchar to be his own running mate. But Klobuchar says she and Biden have not discussed it. I never had any talks [with] him about any of that, because for me, whats important is winning this election, she said. She also refused to speculate about what she would say if he asked her to join his ticket: I am not engaging in the hypotheticals, she said. Weve got to deal with this pandemic, and weve got to do it as quickly as possible. Story continues Shes keeping up with her Senate responsibilities, too. In March, she worked to help Congress pass $400 million for safer voter measuressuch as funding for vote-by-mail, expanded early voting and online registration, and additional poll workers and voting facilitiesbefore the General Election. I think everyone remembers that scene of the people of Wisconsin standing in line in homemade masks and garbage bags, just to risk their lives basically, Klobuchar says of Wisconsins problematic primary. Compared to the average person, Klobuchar may have an outsized impact on how the country will rebound from the chaos this pandemic unleashed, but her Thursday conversation also showed that, in some ways, the virus is the great equalizer: like many of us have experienced during virtual happy hours with loved ones, and video conference calls with coworkers, her broadband connection cut out a couple times. I hope that you and your family stay healthy and safe, Bennett said at the end of their talk. Well, we will, Klobuchar responded. And we will improve our internet service. This article is part of #TIME100Talks: Finding Hope, a special series featuring leaders across different fields sharing their ideas for navigating the pandemic. Want more? Sign up for access to more virtual events, including live conversations with influential newsmakers. File photo According to The Nation, the elder brother of Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Alhaji Adamu Mohammed Duguri, has recounted his ordeal in the hands of kidnappers saying N50 million ransom was paid to secure his release. Alh.Duguri who regained his freedom after spending 13 days in kidnappers den said security agents had no hand in his release contrary to belief that he was actually rescued by security personnel in the state. The Nation reports that Alh. Duguri was kidnapped March 26 about 7:20pm by four gunmen at a tailoring shop at the Unguwar Jaki area of Bauchi metropolis. The gunmen, who were said to be armed with AK 47 rifles, whisked him to an unknown destination. But the Police Public Relations Officer (P.P.R.O) of the Bauchi State Police Command, DSP Kamal Abubakar, confirmed his release to newsmen on April 7. The 65 years old retired customs officer who spoke for the first time on his abduction said his abductors initially demanded for a staggering sum of N350 million before they later agreed to accept N50 million. He said being a brother to the governor made them assume that they could get the N350 million ransom but he had to make them understand that his family members are the ones to secure his release not the state government. According to Alh.Duguri, who holds the traditional title of Wakilin Bauchi, the four-man kidnap syndicate were educated and well-coordinated in such a way that they could not be traced by security agents. His words: They said they have not kidnapped somebody as big as l am. You know l was a uniform man before, they know l knew all what they were doing. They felt l was a threat to them and were demanding N350 million which l said when you look for that kind of money l will continue to be a liability for you here. I told them l have acclimatized already. I eat well. The only thing was l dont sleep well because it was on a mat all of us were sleeping. They gave me three pillows and supplied me apples, with a bottle of maltina, anything l wanted they gave me. l made it clear to them if you are looking for money from Bauchi State they dont have. Or are you thinking you want to demand more money so that Bauchi State governor will bring money and you will release me and impeach him? Because they told me there was a kind of problem in the state Assembly which was centred on whether the governor would remove money from Bauchi coffers and release me. My abductors were educated. They refused to talk to avoid being traced, they said the moment you talk to somebody now, they can easily be trailed. They knew what they were doing. They had to take my voice, they would later take it to Jos, relay it to somebody in Kaduna. That person then sends it to Kano before calling my family. That was what they did. To avoid being tracked, They went to Gombe, not Jos this time because of the anti-tracking. To get the anti-tracking on took time because l wouldnt have stayed there long. They were even complaining that l stayed too long with them and that they were afraid, He added; On the issue of ransom, they said they would come down to N100 million but I insisted that nobody will give them that amount of money. They, however, suggested that if they release me, they can collect the remaining amount later but i asked them how will they collect the money and I told them it wont work because if you come to my house l will shout So we gave them the ransom but it was not up to N100 million, It was about N50 million Alh.Duguri , however, said he has forgiven his abductors adding that capital punishment is not the remedy to kidnapping but clear cut policy on youth development and high youth unemployment. Donated fabric and elastic will be used to create masks as part of the partnership between the University of Illinois-Chicagos College of Architecture, Design, and the Arts and Chicago Shakespeare Theater. This partnership has yielded more than 14,000 face masks, according to information from Drury Lane. The museum is collecting the items now, but stressed that any display would be far in the future. The objects should also reflect the emptiness of the city under lockdown and how our social lives have developed digitally, with memes and tweets also of interest. Kansas City PBS Hires Two Reporters to Expand News Coverage Kansas City PBS, in partnership with Report for America, has hired two additional reporters to expand coverage of rural issues and the ongoing fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting in June, Jacob Douglas will be focused on expanding coverage outside of the immediate Kansas City metropolitan area. Here's a peek at politically charged reporting mostly pushed from a partisan view gaining traction and for profit biz fades . . . The newspaper is also taking resources from this foundation that that is celebrated among newsies and mostly ignored among locals . . . Read more: International credit rating agencies Fitch Ratings and Moody's Investors Service on Thursday said the USD 5.7 billion Facebook deal will help Reliance Industries deleverage its balance sheet and monetise digital platforms. In separate issuer comments, the rating agencies said Facebook's investment for a 9.99 per cent stake in Jio Platforms - the digital services business of RIL, reinforces the Mukesh Ambani-run firm's commitment to reduce its net debt to zero by March 31. Reliance Jio, the wireless market leader with around 390 million subscribers, is a subsidiary of Jio Platforms. As part of the Facebook deal, which is the single-largest FDI in the Indian telecom and technology sector, Reliance Retail -- RIL's retail arm -- has also partnered with Facebook's WhatsApp to allow RIL's eCommerce business users to use the WhatsApp platform. Stating that the investment is credit positive, Moody's said it expects the transaction to reduce RIL's consolidated net debt/EBITDA by 0.4x to well below 3.0x, the tolerance level for its Baa2 rating. The transaction also solidifies Jio's leading market position in India's growing digital ecosystem. "The investment by Facebook establishes a valuation for RIL's digital services business and can be used as a base for further divestment by the company," it said. This also increases RIL's financial flexibility. Fitch said it had in August last year revised the outlook on RIL's 'BBB' rating to 'positive' and may upgrade to 'BBB+' if net adjusted debt/EBITDA ratio improves to below 1.5x on a sustained basis. "The deal is part of RIL's plan to strengthen its businesses and to achieve a net cash position - through partnerships and supported by organic growth and low capex," it said in a statement. "We expect the partnership with Facebook to bolster RIL's consumer business in the medium term." Fitch said the proceeds from the transaction should help RIL maintain the pace of its deleveraging - counteracting the likely weakness in its refining and petrochemical segment during the year ending March 2021 (FY21). In addition to the financial investment, the companies also announced a strategic partnership to tap into India's growing online retail and digital payments markets. "While we expect RIL's earnings from its refining and petrochemical segment to be negatively impacted by the global coronavirus outbreak, its digital services business have benefitted from the increase in demand for digital connectivity," Moody's said. Moody's said it expects RIL's EBITDA to decline over the next 12 months but its credit metrics may remain appropriate for its ratings if it successfully executes its announced transactions. Fitch said it expects RIL's oil-to-chemical segment to face volume and margins headwinds due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in line with the industry trend. The deal, it said, will allow both Facebook and Jio to monetise their digital platforms, engage customers online, and provide direct connectivity between users and merchants. Usage of digital platforms is likely to grow significantly in the medium term amid severe disruptions caused by lockdowns and social distancing measures. Increasing reliance on digital platforms might also assist RIL in gaining market share in India's growing eCommerce segment, and soften the impact of lower footfalls in its physical retail stores. "Jiomart, which is a market-place platform and built in partnership with small merchants and 'kirana' (small neighbourhood retail store) shops, will allow users to buy goods and services using WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. Jio Platforms will focus on introducing digital solutions for 60 million micro, small and medium businesses; 120 million farmers; 30 million merchants; and millions of SMEs in the informal sector," Fitch said. On its part, Facebook is likely to be able to expand its platforms - including Facebook Marketplace, Instagram Shopping and Facebook Pay - to help SMEs set up virtual shops on such platforms and sell goods and services. Facebook plans to roll out WhatsApp Payments in India and other countries in 2020, after having tested this with a million people in India in 2018. WhatsApp Platform, which has started charging businesses, is still offered free to retail users globally, it said. Facebook reported 641 million daily active users (DAU) in APAC in October-December 2019, up by 14 per cent year-on-year and now contributing around 39 per cent of overall 1.7 million DAUs. India is the single-largest market with about 330 million monthly users, and also one of the fastest-growing markets for Facebook. WhatsApp's messaging app also has the largest user base in India, with about 400 million users. "We believe internet users in the country will rise to at least 800 million by 2022, up from around 600 million in 2019 as India overtook the US to become the world's second-largest smartphone market after China by unit shipments in 2019. DAUs represented around 66% of 2.5 billion monthly active users in December 2019," Fitch added. Moody's said in July 2019, RIL announced the sale of its telecommunications tower business which was already transferred to the investment infrastructure trust, InvIT, to Brookfield Asset Management Inc for Rs 25,200 crore. On August 12, 2019, RIL announced that it has signed a non-binding letter of intent to sell a 20 per cent stake in its oil-to-chemical (O2C) business to Saudi Aramco. The O2C business, which has an enterprise valuation of USD 75 billion, includes RIL's refining and petrochemical divisions, and RIL's 51 per cent stake in its fuel marketing business. The company also announced that it has entered into a deal with BP Plc to sell a 49 per cent stake in its fuel marketing business in India for USD 1 billion. Together, proceeds from these transactions will result in a $16 billion reduction in RIL's net debt, Moody's said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BenVCapital Corporation To Provide 500M+ KN95 Masks Monthly Globally BenVCapitals primary mission is to help improve the human condition while respecting the environment by leveraging our capital resources. Said Rob J Benvie, CEO of BenVCapital. BenVCapital Corporation (BenVCapital) is proud to announce an exclusive manufacturing agreement for the supply of 500M+ KN95 Masks monthly, worldwide through multiple manufacturing locations. The Finance and Consulting company will be working with Non-Profit Stay At Home Heroes to support awareness and community outreach. BenVCapitals solution is uniquely positioned to provide KN95 Masks globally by chartered flights within short fulfillment timelines. Their existing network of finance, supply chain resources, and global manufacturing will make a significant impact on helping with mask shortages during COVID-19 while continuing to support front-line workers and those in need to stay safe, protected, and healthy. BenVCapital will be directly donating KN95 Masks to charities, non-profits and citizens in need, such as retirement homes, through a collaboration with Stay At Home Heroes and the Social Innovation Institute. BenVCapitals primary mission is to help improve the human condition while respecting the environment by leveraging our capital resources. Said Rob J Benvie, CEO of BenVCapital. In the context of the current pandemic, our network has decided to join forces to fill essential gaps in supplying medical products for various public and private organizations. BenVCapital has secured several supply chains to provide, in substantial quantities, the products in demand, such as KN95 surgical masks and other face filtering pieces. Our mission is to allow customers to purchase in complete security, and with the peace of mind that they will receive the products ordered with the declared specifications, within the expected timeframe. With elderly parents aged 78 and 82 it is a personal passion of mine to ensure we are supporting the vulnerable population at this time. Our triaged approach to ensure supply and distribution to organizations such as hospitals, homeless shelters, and those working with seniors and youth is of the utmost importance. Rob added. At Stay At Home Heroes we are motivated to support efforts to flatten the curve meaningfully. We are incredibly thankful to BenVCapital for their powerful donation and their commitment to helping globally during this pandemic. Said Jessica Martins, Director, Stay At Home Heroes. Through our public service awareness platform, we couldnt be more pleased to spread this positive message in corporate leadership. She added. Stay At Home Heroes is proud to work alongside BenVCapital and the Social Innovation Institute to help those most in need. Our Non-Profit organization that works alongside front-line workers has become acutely aware of the shortages of KN95 surgical masks, and we are compelled to help address these shortages and get masks to those who need them most. Said Fulvio Ciano, Founder, Stay At Home Heroes. About BenVCapital BenVCapital is a finance and consulting company that can help structure a successful startup or reshape an existing company that needs a hand to reach its full potential. They also provide financing solutions designed to help businesses take those key strategic measures that set the leaders ahead of the pack. BenVCapital offers traditional consulting services, management advisory services, as well as creative solutions designed with a companys specific requirements in mind. BenVCapital represents a high-performance organization managed by a seasoned team of professionals. BenVCapital is open to discussions with potential purchasers of KN95 Masks and is actively seeking to help governments, businesses, and organizations that require filtering face-pieces to support front-line workers responding to COVID-19. If your organization is in need, please contact: covidresponse@benvcapital.com About Stay At Home Heroes Launched in March 2020 as a response to Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus call to action to help plank the curve. Stay At Home Heroes was created to provide content to Canadian Citizens during the COVID-19 crisis that motivates and provides information on how to self-isolate, stay healthy, and maintain social and physical distancing. For more information visit http://www.stayathomeheroes.com, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn,Twitter, TikTok #stayathomehero #plankthecurve Social Innovation Institute (SII) Social Innovation Institute is a charity with a mission to put people and the planet first. At their best, social innovations address the root causes of problems that have resisted traditional methods and institutions. SII focuses on educating the public about social innovation, supporting other charities and supporting those most marginalized. For Further Information: Jessica Moran, Media Relations 1-519-494-5379 jess@stayathomeheroes.com WASHINGTON, D.C. - In sometimes testy testimony before the House Rules Committee, Champaign County GOP Rep. Jim Jordan denounced a Democratic proposal to create a select panel to oversee the federal coronavirus response as nothing more than an election-year effort to discredit President Donald Trump. This is just one more attempt by the Democrats to go after the president, declared Jordan, who argued that eight different entities including several other House of Representatives committees are already scrutinizing disbursement of several trillion dollars in federal aid to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on Americans. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said last week that she envisions the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis as a very bipartisan initiative to stop waste, fraud and abuse, price-gouging, profiteering and the rest that would not be about the Trump administration, but would focus on how the relief efforts are being implemented. She said the full House of Representatives would have to vote on its implementation. A House floor vote on the subcommittees formation is scheduled today. Jordan argued at the Wednesday Rules Committee meeting that the measure should not come before the full House of Representatives. He said the fact that Pelosi asked South Carolina Democratic Rep. James Clyburn to chair the panel shows it is going to look out for the Democrats candidate for President, Joe Biden," because Clyburn is Bidens biggest supporter, who helped him clinch the Democratic partys presidential nomination by endorsing Biden before his states primary. He had a testy exchange with Maryland Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin, who upbraided Jordan for not wearing a mask to the hearing. The chair of the committee, Massachusetts Democratic Rep. James McGovern, said the Capitol physician recommended that Congress members wear masks but isnt requiring them. Its obviously not a sign of bravery not to wear a mask," said Raskin. Its a sign of irresponsibility towards other people because when we wear a mask, were protecting them. When they dont wear a mask, theyre not protecting us. Jordan said he was following the rules by maintaining six feet of social distancing from others in the hearing room. Raskin also said the coronavirus has now killed 15 times more Americans than were lost in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and accused President Trump of minimizing its dangers as a hoax and fake news, which cost us precious weeks and months in trying to organize and mobilize the country to deal with this pandemic. Noting that Trump has refused to cooperate with past congressional oversight efforts, Raskin called it a commonsense suggestion to set up a committee to track the trillions of dollars in aid that Congress approved so its not set up as a money making operation by an administration that has tried to forestall every form of oversight this Congress has tried to exercise. He accused Jordan of expressing counterfeit outrage, noting that Republicans in Congress launched 10 investigations into 2012 attacks by Islamic militants on U.S. facilities in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans including U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. Jordan participated in several of the investigations where he repeatedly accused former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of wrongdoing as she ran for president. Raskin said a House Select Committee that Jordan served on to investigate the Benghazi incident cost more than $6 million over 2 1/2 years and could not find anything wrong that Hillary Clinton had done" and didnt produce any prosecutions. Its final report - which was endorsed by Republicans on the committee but not the Democrats - criticized the CIA and various Obama administration officials for incompetence but didnt find wrongdoing by Clinton. This is money to rescue the American economy and rescue the American people and of course we should have oversight, Raskin continued. We should be proud to have oversight over it. So why would they politicize this? It strikes me as the most basic thing in the world that we would have oversight. To my mind, it seems like a distraction from the fact that the president has no plan to get the country out of this. No plan at all. Jordan responded that the new committee would probably be talking a lot like Mr. Raskin did, ranting and raving and going after the president of the United States" who suspended travel from China to the United States while the disease was centered in China. He defended the Benghazi investigations and said Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation of Russian involvement in the 2016 presidential election found no collusion with the Trump campaign after spending $30 million, and all kinds of taxpayer resources. McGovern noted that just $2 million would be spent on the proposed special committee, a tiny fraction of the more than $2 trillion in expenditures it would examine, and that Muellers investigation resulted in several criminal convictions and jail sentences. More coverage: Cleveland company approved to make swabs for coronavirus testing Senate approves deal on extra coronavirus funding for small businesses and hospitals Whats in President Trumps three-phase plan for reopening the country, and will it work for Ohio? Bipartisan congressional group including Ohioans releases reopening checklist Northeast Ohio firms start mask sales during the coronavirus pandemic and donate $50,000 worth to local institutions Rep. Jim Jordan wants Judiciary Committee to probe stay-at-home orders effects on liberty Can a debt collector grab your stimulus check? In Ohio many cant, says AG Dave Yost Sen. Rob Portman and five Ohio Congress members to advise White House on reopening the economy What Ohio members of Congress want in a fourth coronavirus stimulus bill How to track your federal stimulus check New Cleveland company gets federal approval to produce ventilators during coronavirus pandemic Feds approve new mask sterilization process from Mentors STERIS Battelle to expand coronavirus mask decontamination to 60 sites around the country Coronavirus response may drag on Trump in 2020 election, conservative pundits say Feds will use extra Great Lakes Restoration Initiative money to fight water pollution and invasive species Coronavirus boosts demand for Elyria-based Invacares oxygen products and beds Amid the lockdown, a social organisation run by former Maharashtra director general of police D Sivanandan is providing food to nearly 35,000 poor and needy people in Mumbai city and suburbs everyday. Since March 26, the Mumbai Roti Bank, founded by Sivanandan in January 2018, has supplied food to 5.3 lakh people in the city. "This is the time when there is an actual need to help the poor and needy people and bridge the gap between surplus food and empty plates. The Mumbai Roti Bank is providing food to at least 35,000 people here and 2,500 in Nagpur everyday," Sivanandan told PTI. He said they also want to extend the campaign in Pune, but are facing manpower shortage there. "As Mumbai has a huge population, we cant reach everywhere. People contact us for food and serve them accordingly," he said. Mumbai Police are also helping in the initiative by distributing food to people, he said. The Mumbai Roti Bank has four kitchens, including the central one at Mahul in suburban Chembur. Besides, it gets food prepared at a facility each in Dadar and Borivali and a caterer friend of Sivanandan also supplies food. "Before the lockdown, we were serving 4,000 people in a day, but now the demand has gone up, so we are putting in all efforts to fulfil this. We have been serving pulao and dal khichdi to cater to the increased demand," he said. The organisation is also providing food in coronavirus containment zones, including Dharavi slum area, with its workers taking care to maintain social distancing and wear protective gear. At least 45 to 50 NGOs are working with the Mumbai Roti Bank during the period of lockdown to supply meals in the city, said Sivanandan, who at times tries cooking himself at the kitchen in Mahul. "I have seen poverty during my younger days and have also observed that children take the path of crime because of hunger. To curb the crime, I realised that these children need to go to school where they get mid-day meal. Once they are educated, they are qualified to work, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United States government says it has spent about $21.4 million in assistance to Nigeria over the COVID-19 pandemic. It said it gave the assistance through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Department of State. The US Embassy in Abuja, which disclosed this on Thursday, said about four-fifths of the expenditure (about $18 million) were on humanitarian assistance. The benefiting sectors include those for risk communication, water and sanitation activities, infection prevention, and coordination, and humanitarian assistance for refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and their host communities. The U.S. government is leading the worlds humanitarian and health response to the COVID-19 pandemic even while we battle the virus at home, U.S. Ambassador, Mary Beth Leonard, said in a statement on Thursday. Our assistance is rolling out gradually as we reconfigure priorities in response to the evolving situation, the envoy added. This funding, she explained, would support critical activities to control the spread of the disease, such as rapid public-health information campaigns, water and sanitation, and preventing and controlling infections in health-care facilities. She cited two early examples of USAID assistance to Nigeria as support for the countrys Centre for Disease Control by sending a million SMS messages a day to Nigerians and going door-to-door in the Northeast to prevent outbreaks in the countrys most vulnerable region. Ms Leonard said apart from these areas, the Embassy also gave more than $8.1 billion in total assistance for Nigeria over the past 20 years, including more than $5.2 billion in U.S. health assistance alone. She said the United States is proud to be leading the worlds humanitarian and health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of this comprehensive response from the American people, the U.S. Department of State and USAID have now committed nearly $508 million in emergency health, humanitarian, and economic assistance on top of the funding we already provide to multilateral and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) helping communities around the world deal with the pandemic, she said. Twelve members of a family, including a two-month-old child, residing in a containment zone in old Delhi, have tested positive for COVID-19, official said on Thursday. All of them have been sent to the LNJP Hospital. A man in the family, had returned from Uzbekistan last month and had not inform authorities. Later, he started showing COVID-19 symptoms, like coughing and breathless, following which he was tested, they said. His test came positive recently following which 11 other family members living in Churiwalan area in the Walled City, were also tested, which all came out positive, officials said. The affected persons in the family include a two-month-old infant, they said. The containment zone has been further sealed after these cases got reported. Thirty-one members of an extended family, including children, residing in north Delhi Jahangirpuri area, a portion of which has been declared a containment zone, had tested positive for COVID-19 recently. The total number of coronavirus cases in Delhi on Thursday rose to 2,376 with 50 deaths. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). MILAN (Reuters) - Fiat Chrysler (FCA) aims to restart van production at its Atessa joint venture plant in central Italy at 70% of the normal rate, a union representative told Reuters on Thursday. FCA and unions said on Tuesday that the carmaker planned to reopen the plant, which is a venture with France's PSA Group , on April 27, a week before a national lockdown imposed by Rome was due to end. It will make use of a provision in lockdown laws that allows companies whose activity can be linked to sectors deemed "essential" to reopen. Luca Manzi, from the UILM union, said FCA had informed unions that it planned to restart the plant at around 70% of its capacity, though he could not say precisely how many people would be back to work on Monday. With a daily production of around 1,200 light commercial vehicles, Atessa, which is located in Italy's Abruzzo region, is the largest van assembly facility in Europe. It has been closed since mid-March due to the coronavirus outbreak in the country. The plant, which employs around 6,500 people, is operated by Sevel, a 50-50 joint venture between Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot owner PSA. It produces vans for both groups. "Of course safety is a priority, we'll make sure that the agreed health measures are in place," Manzi told Reuters by phone. "Sevel's main external suppliers have also reassured us that they were compliant with safety rules and ready to restart operations". Manzi added production would restart with 17 worker shifts each week, as it was operating before the freeze. FCA declined to comment. Earlier this month FCA reached a deal with unions on measures to adopt at its Italian plants once the government eases restrictions on business activity put in place to contain the coronavirus outbreak. (Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari; Editing by Susan Fenton) In a surprise move on Wednesday night, the authorities in Texas abandoned their fight to include abortion in a list of medical procedures that must be delayed during the coronavirus pandemic. During the weeks of legal wrangling that went all of the way to the Supreme Court, Texas had argued that abortion was like any other elective surgery, and should be delayed to preserve the personal protective equipment needed by medical workers exposed to the virus. Lawyers for abortion clinics said the state was using the pandemic to advance its own political agenda and took the state to court. Abortion access in Texas swung wildly for a month, with clinics cancelling dozens of appointments and rescheduling them days later, as the case bounced through the court system. Texas residents scrambled, with some travelling long distances to clinics in nearby states like Kansas and Colorado. At least six other states Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio, Oklahoma and Tennessee have tried similar abortion restrictions, often through emergency orders by their governors. But hospitals around the country have been under financial strain after postponing often lucrative elective surgical procedures to make way for coronavirus patients, and last week, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas eased the restrictions on some surgical procedures. Operations can now be performed in facilities that certify in writing that they will reserve at least 25 per cent of their capacity for coronavirus patients and that they will not request personal protective equipment from any public source. The changes took effect at midnight Tuesday and lawyers for the clinics said that by Wednesday morning, all clinics had complied with the order and were starting to perform abortions again. Still, the lawyers were wary, pointing out that the state had a case before the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals, in which it had largely prevailed. As late as Monday, the court had sided with the state, saying that even medication abortion, which involves taking two pills early in pregnancy, could be prohibited. Abortion rallies, both for and against reproductive rights, have taken place across the US since some states announced the procedure would be made illegal in 2019 (Getty) Finally, women in Texas can get the time-sensitive abortion care that they are constitutionally guaranteed, said Nancy Northup, president and chief executive of the Centre for Reproductive Rights, which represents some of the clinics. Women never should have had to go to court to get essential health care. Dyana Limon-Mercado, the executive director of Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, an advocacy group in Texas, said, The past month has been an unthinkable nightmare for Texans who have been forced to travel out of state just to access essential health care. Recommended More US states try to ban abortion during coronavirus outbreak On Wednesday afternoon, a spokeswoman for state Attorney General Ken Paxton did not say whether abortion would be included in the new relaxing of the rules. But hours later, a court filing in a federal court in Texas provided the answer. In a 23-page filing, the attorney generals office made clear that there was no legal basis for the clinics to seek relief because they had clearly met the criteria to resume activity under the governors new order. Every plaintiff clinic has certified to HHSC that it meets the requirements of the new exception, the state said in the court document, referring to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. New York Times Syracuse, N.Y. More than 200,000 people in Upstate New York might have been infected by the novel coronavirus, according to test results released by the state today. Its hard to know how many are infected in Central New York, however, because the state did not give a breakdown by county. Some Upstate counties likely have a higher percentage of cases than the Syracuse area does, and the test process itself may have skewed the numbers to show more cases statewide than there actually are. The testing, done at supermarkets and other stores Sunday and Monday across the state, found that 3.6% of residents in the 43 counties north of Westchester County tested positive for the coronavirus. The test finds antibodies in the blood produced after someone was infected with the virus at least several weeks ago. New York Citys positive rate was 21%, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced today. The statewide rate was 13.9%, indicating that about 2.7 million New Yorkers have had the virus. The overall numbers and the Upstate-Downstate gap arent surprising, said Dr. Kathryn Anderson, an Upstate Medical University professor who has helped make projections of the virus for the Syracuse area. New York Citys population density is about 50 times greater than Onondaga Countys, and Cuomos statewide social distancing orders came earlier in the epidemics spread Upstate. I think the results are fascinating and exactly the kind of data we need right now to see where we stand statewide and as community, Anderson said. It would be interesting to see how our antibody levels would compare to other parts of state, like Buffalo. The state health department did not respond to a request from Syracuse.com seeking a county-by-county breakdown. The antibody testing was the first widespread attempt to compare the spread of the virus across the state, which might help lesser-hit areas begin to ease up on social distancing measures. If that 3.6% was applied to the population of Onondaga, Madison and Oswego counties, that would suggest about 24,000 people had been infected with the virus. For Onondaga County alone, that would be about 16,600. The Central New York numbers are likely lower, however. Upstate universitys models suggest a 1.3% infection rate, or 8,600, in those counties. In addition, the epidemic is under control enough in Syracuse that the state has allowed hospitals to resume outpatient elective surgeries next week. The state is not letting other urban Upstate counties, including Albany and Erie, to resume those surgeries yet. The regional variations in test results support the states plan to approach reopening differently in places that have not been hit as hard by the virus, Cuomo said. The facts should dictate the action, he said. When you have different facts, you have different actions. About 1,000 tests were conducted Upstate, and 2,000 in Westchester and Rockland counties, New York City and Long Island. Even as Cuomo was announcing the testing rollout on Sunday, the health department was quietly setting up shop in stores around the state, including a Price Chopper and Wegmans in Syracuse. People who were tested at those locations Sunday and Monday were told that 150 tests were given at each of those two sites, but it wasnt clear if that was 150 per day or total. Syracuse University public health professor David Larsen questioned the states results because the sample was not random. People who got tested had a reason to get tested, and the biggest reason to go get tested is if you thought you had it and want to know if you had it, Larsen said. Its called a convenience sample, and in this case (the positive rate) is likely to be higher than it truly is. Dozens of people in line at the Wegmans on James Street Monday had experienced symptoms similar to those of COVID-19 and wanted to know if they had been infected with the virus, said Gi Desia, of Syracuse. Desia and her husband, who had both been ill with flu-like symptoms this winter, waited three hours in line Monday to get a test. Both tests came back negative, she said today. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources New York antibody tests: 2.7 million possibly infected with coronavirus statewide He has watched coronavirus victims gasp for breath: Its like theyve been hit by a train Cuomo worries about coronavirus PTSD, explains when NY can start to reopen Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com By Ofeliya Afandiyeva Ethylene-polyethylene Plant of the SOCARs Azerikimya PU restored the production of isopropyl. According to the information provided by SOCAR, Azerikimya Production Union (PU) under SOCAR (State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic) made this decision in accordance with the recommendation of the head of state. As SOCAR reported, the launch of the production was planned after the completion of the ongoing reconstruction of the EP-300. The decision of Azerikimya PU to resume production of absolute isopropyl alcohol, which takes its place in the chain of processing of target products into final products, is due to the sharp increase in demand for isopropyl alcohol in domestic and foreign markets, State Oil Company reported. The company stated that after continuous repair and restoration works at the plant, technical fields were relaunched on April 5, the production of absolute isopropyl alcohol was put into operation on April 11 and the production of the final product was started immediately. This process will lead to a reduction in dependence on import and the increase of export to the world markets. The absolute isopropyl alcohol is produced in two stages. The first stage includes the production of technical isopropyl alcohol, the second conversion of technical alcohol to absolute isopropyl alcohol by being purified. The Ethylene-Polyethylene Plants (within Azerikimya PU) daily production capacity of absolute isopropyl alcohol is nearly 60 tons, the statement said. It should be noted that isopropyl alcohol is used in a number of other fields besides medicine (automotive industry, chemical industry, pharmacology, energy, etc.). In the field of disinfection, absolute isopropyl alcohol completely replaces ethyl alcohol, and "universal cleaners" are also used in this field. At the same time, it is absorbed to the 70 percent-medical napkins to be used for protection from the microbes. In line with the president's decree on "Improvements in the Petrochemical Industry's Management System", the Azerikimya State-Owned Company was transferred to SOCAR in 2010. In the same year, the Azerikimya Production Union has been established within SOCAR. The Syndicate has an ethylene-polyethylene plant (EP-300, Polymer-120, isopropyl alcohol production unit, production of steam and electric energy) and a repair and construction division. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz They definitely love poking fun at each other. And Tyler Cameron, 27, continued teasing his former flame Hannah Brown after she opened up about her 'terrible' sleep paralysis episode. 'Sleep paralysis is the scariest thing,' Hannah, 25, tweeted on Thursday. 'I don't know why but last night I had an episode and it was terrible. I feel for you guys who experience it regularly.' 'Don't y'all live in a house on a hill?' Tyler Cameron continued teasing his former flame Hannah Brown after she opened up about her 'terrible' sleep paralysis episode Despite the heartfelt confession, Tyler couldn't resist the chance to poke fun at her. Referencing the horror web series, The Haunting Of Hill House, Tyler joked Hannah's sleep paralysis episode was of a supernatural nature. 'Don't y'all live in a house on a hill?' he asked, along with a still from the series of a young girl, wide awake at night. Hannah was not amused, shooting back, 'Not today satan. Not today.' Not amused! Hannah Brown was not interested in hearing her house was potentially haunted Sleep paralysis is the temporary inability to move or speak upon waking, while hallucinations occur shortly before or after a person nods off. Hannah has remained in touch with Tyler, after moving home to be with her family in Alabama after quarantining with him in Florida. The pair made up part of the 'Quarantine Crew', a group of fun-loving friends weathering out the pandemic together in Florida. Fan favorite: Cameron pursued Brown on her hit season of The Bachelorette Quaranteam! Hannah and Tyler locked down together with their 'Quarantine Crew' group of friends Tyler was a fan favorite on Hannah's season of The Bachelorette last year, however the pageant queen chose musician Jed Wyatt over the dashing model. Their engagement didn't last, after it emerged Jed had entered the contest with a woman waiting for him back home. Hannah and Tyler's decision to go into lockdown together sparked speculation they were giving their reality romance another go. Will you accept this rose? Brown led her wildly popular season of The Bachelorette last year Though Tyler has insisted they are just friends, that hasn't stopped fans from holding out hope their favorite couple will get together. As a means of pushing the pair into a romantic relationship, some fans have gone as far as to donate money to Tyler's Venmo account in the hopes he will use the money to buy Hannah an engagement ring. One fan's Venmo request read: 'I know engagement rings are expensive so I thought I'd help you out for Miss Hannah Brown.' While another eager fan wrote: 'My generous contribution to Hannah Brown's engagement ring. I hope it's not too much. Get her something nice!' Christian Hogg became the CEO of Hutchison China MediTech Limited (LON:HCM) in 2006. This analysis aims first to contrast CEO compensation with other companies that have similar market capitalization. Next, we'll consider growth that the business demonstrates. And finally we will reflect on how common stockholders have fared in the last few years, as a secondary measure of performance. The aim of all this is to consider the appropriateness of CEO pay levels. Check out our latest analysis for Hutchison China MediTech How Does Christian Hogg's Compensation Compare With Similar Sized Companies? According to our data, Hutchison China MediTech Limited has a market capitalization of UK2.3b, and paid its CEO total annual compensation worth US$1.4m over the year to December 2019. Notably, that's an increase of 8.4% over the year before. While we always look at total compensation first, we note that the salary component is less, at US$375k. We note that more than half of the total compensation is not the salary; and performance requirements may apply to this non-salary portion. We looked at a group of companies with market capitalizations from US$2.0b to US$6.4b, and the median CEO total compensation was US$2.4m. Pay mix tells us a lot about how a company functions versus the wider industry, and it's no different in the case of Hutchison China MediTech. Speaking on an industry level, we can see that nearly 63% of total compensation represents salary, while the remainder of 37% is other remuneration. Non-salary compensation represents a greater slice of the remuneration pie for Hutchison China MediTech, in sharp contrast to the overall sector. Most shareholders would consider it a positive that Christian Hogg takes less total compensation than the CEOs of most similar size companies, leaving more for shareholders. Though positive, it's important we delve into the performance of the actual business. The graphic below shows how CEO compensation at Hutchison China MediTech has changed from year to year. Story continues AIM:HCM CEO Compensation April 23rd 2020 Is Hutchison China MediTech Limited Growing? Over the last three years Hutchison China MediTech Limited has shrunk its earnings per share by an average of 82% per year (measured with a line of best fit). In the last year, its revenue is down 4.3%. Sadly for shareholders, earnings per share are actually down, over three years. And the fact that revenue is down year on year arguably paints an ugly picture. It's hard to argue the company is firing on all cylinders, so shareholders might be averse to high CEO remuneration. Shareholders might be interested in this free visualization of analyst forecasts. Has Hutchison China MediTech Limited Been A Good Investment? Hutchison China MediTech Limited has not done too badly by shareholders, with a total return of 8.4%, over three years. But they probably wouldn't be so happy as to think the CEO should be paid more than is normal, for companies around this size. In Summary... It appears that Hutchison China MediTech Limited remunerates its CEO below most similar sized companies. Shareholders should note that compensation for Christian Hogg is under the median of a group of similar sized companies. However, the earnings per share are not moving in the right direction, and the returns to shareholders could have been better. So while shareholders shouldn't be overly concerned about CEO compensation, we suspect most would prefer see improved performance, before increasing pay. Shifting gears from CEO pay for a second, we've picked out 2 warning signs for Hutchison China MediTech that investors should be aware of in a dynamic business environment. Important note: Hutchison China MediTech may not be the best stock to buy. You might find something better in this list of interesting companies with high ROE 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. A n "evil" sex attacker who drugged and assaulted his victim after meeting him outside a London pub has been jailed. Carol Simon had invited himself into the man's home after sharing a taxi from The City of Quebec pub near Marble Arch on March 24 last year. He then administered the drug inside the victim's place before sexually assaulting him and stealing his wallet, watch and phone, the Met Police said. Simon, a 45-year-old Romanian national of no fixed address, was jailed at Isleworth Crown Court on Wednesday for eight years and five months. The attacker had earlier pleaded guilty to sexual assault, administering a substance with intent to overpower to allow sexual activity, possession of class C drugs and theft, police said. Police had traced Simon as the suspect through a DNA match and arrested him on April 4 last year at the same venue where he targeted the man. Police said he had a small bottle with liquid inside that he claimed were eye drops, but was confirmed to be diazepam once tested. Detective Constable Sophie McLoughlin, who led the investigation, said: "The victim has been incredibly brave throughout this ordeal and it is because of his courage that Simon is behind bars where he belongs. "Simon had clearly set out that night to harm someone for his cowardly gain, his actions were completely evil and he will never know the trauma he has caused. The Executive Secretary of COPEC, Mr. Duncan Amoah has appealed to the government to reduce the prices of fuel. According to him, crude on the world market has become drastically low that some countries are even recording negatives in the pricing of crude. Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' program, he explained that the prices of crude around the world have generally come down and that other countries around the world are selling fuel at a relatively cheaper price for consumers. He said importers of crude are even paying off vessels to find other destinations for crude they themselves have imported for refinery because there is no storage place for them. "So the government should just take advantage of the situation and reduce prices further to give drivers and consumers some respite in this COVID-19 period," he added. A statement issued by COPECs Executive Secretary noted that despite the development, it is unlikely there will be any reduction in Ghana. The Ghanaian market is largely Brent benchmark dependent and as such a collapse on WTI is quite unlikely to have any trickle-down effect on local pump prices here, Duncan Amoah said in the statement on Tuesday, April 21. Mr Amoah, however, said this is the right time for government to boost the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST) in expanding its capacity to store in large quantities. The Institute for Energy Security (IES) has forecasted that Ghana might lose out on its projected oil revenue generation following the recent drop of crude oil prices on the international market that plummeted around 30 percent. Watch Video Below See COPEC's Full Statement Below: A group calling itself the National Concerned Drivers Association has threatened to increase transport fares if fuel prices are not reduced at the pump.They are, therefore, calling on the government to reduce fuel prices at the pump with immediate effect.According to them, the sharp decline of crude oil in the international market due to the coronavirus pandemic should reflect in the reduction of fuel prices.In a statement, the Association said if government does not reduce fuel prices by the end of the week, they will in turn be forced to increase transport fares.Earlier, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta in his 2020 Budget statement projected Ghanas oil revenue at US$8.9 billion from about 13 percent of total revenue and grants.Governments projected revenue was around US$58.66 per barrel and what it means is that if the prices of oil stay around the region of US$30 per barrel till the end of the year, then therell be a squeeze in the revenue of the government. The government is expected to get some petroleum receipts of about US$1.2 billion for this year.But if prices should stay around the US$30 mark, then the government is less likely to get half of the revenue that is projected. Already, weve seen Tullow cut back its production. So aside from the international fall in crude oil price that we have to match within selling our own bit of oil that we get as a country, production is also falling in our own shores, he said.Ghana risks losing out on two fronts particularly; one from the fall in projected oil revenue and also the possibility of much lower fuel prices at the pumps across the country. The most important thing is that this is going to impact us negatively, the Finance Minister added.The prices will still remain the same so and Im not sure that we will see a fuel price reduction at the pumps anytime soon and in the worst-case scenario, its going to stay the same or wed see a marginal reduction but not a substantial one to match with the international fall in the price of crude and fuel prices." CHAMBER OF PETROLEUM CONSUMERS-GHANA ACCRA PETROLEUM NEWSFLASH Social media is currently awash with news of the collapse of Oil prices internationally with a section of Ghanaians demanding this price collapse immediately reflect at the pumps. Yes, it is indeed true that oil prices especially the WTI platform Is currently trading at -$15 which is about the lowest in several decades. Brent however is still trading around $26 as at close of day and as such pump prices are very unlikely to see any reductions as is being expected by a cross section of the Ghanaian public. The disparity in the two benchmarks is largely due to a supposed unavailability of storage space across the US market with some traders allegedly paying for cargo to be returned before the close of the futures market for the month of April on 22/04/20. This pricing collapse is largely reflected on crude and has very little direct impact on processed or refined products and by extension local pump prices. Moreover, the Ghanaian market is largely Brent benchmark dependent and as such a collapse on WTI is quite unlikely to have any trickle down effect on local pump prices here. We do believe this notwithstanding, however, that the markets are ripe for the Ghana Government to consider helping The Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST) to get a good credit line or an open credit system in place immediately to stock Oil at this point for the countrys strategic reserves or stocking needs. The Government should also consider getting our local refinery back to productivity in order to process Ghanas oil locally as we understand some of our producers or Oil fields may be soon forced to shut down production due to lack of storage space globally. Whatever security guarantees or arrangements that needs to be put in place to forestall any games with the strategic reserves must certainly be robust and efficient so the country does not lose on both the upstream and downstream ends due to the low prices being recorded on the international market currently. Signed Duncan Amoah Executive Secretary 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 Swiss pharma giant Roche Holding AG RHHBY reported robust sales in the first quarter of 2020, propelled by the strong performance of new drugs. Notably, the company confirmed its outlook for the year amid the global coronavirus outbreak. Roches stock has gained 6.6% in the year so far against the industrys decline of 3%. The company reported sales of CHF 15.1 billion in the first quarter of 2020, up 2% from the year-ago quarter. The company reports results under two divisions Pharmaceuticals and Diagnostics. All growth rates mentioned below are on a year-over-year basis and at constant exchange rates. Sales at the Pharmaceuticals division increased 7% to CHF 12.3 billion, driven by strong growth in multiple sclerosis drug, Ocrevus; hemophilia drug, Hemlibra; immuno-oncology drug, Tecentriq; and breast cancer drug, Perjeta. This more than offset the impact of the biosimilar competition for older drugs. Diagnostics division sales climbed 5% to CHF 2.9 billion, primarily on the back of a strong molecular testing business. Results in Detail Herceptin sales fell 24% due to biosimilar competition in the United States, Europe and Japan. Sales in the United States also declined due to the switch to Kadcyla (treating HER2-positive breast cancer) in the adjuvant setting. Perjeta sales grew 22%, owing to increased demand for adjuvant, early breast cancer therapy. Kadcyla sales soared 55% due to strong demand in the United States, Europe and other international markets. Sales of Avastin, approved for multiple oncology indications, were down 13% due to biosimilar competition in the United States and Japan. Sales of Rituxan/MabThera (blood cancer and rheumatoid arthritis) declined 15% due to the entry of biosimilars in the United States, Europe and Japan. Sales of Ocrevus, the drug used to treat two forms of multiple sclerosis, surged 38% on continued global growth. Immuno-oncology drug, Tecentriq (for advanced lung cancer, urothelial cancer and breast cancer), recorded 99% year-over-year sales growth, driven by the inclusion of new indications extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) and triple-negative breast cancer. Story continues Sales of lung cancer drug, Alecensa, surged 43% on solid growth across all regions. Performance of the immunology franchise was driven by 30% growth in arthritis drug Actemra/RoActemra sales and 3% in Xolair sales. Gazyva/Gazyvaro sales jumped 49%. Sales of hemophilia A drug, Hemlibra, surged more than 146%, fueled by strong uptake in the United States, Japan and Europe. Sales of ophthalmology drug, Lucentis, were down 13% as patients delayed their visits to physicians due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Roche has a collaboration agreement with Novartis NVS for this drug. Revenues at the Diagnostics division rose owing to 29% growth in Molecular Diagnostics, driven by molecular testing. While emergency and COVID-19 testing strongly increased, routine testing decreased as a result of declining regular health checks. 2020 View Reiterated Sales are expected to grow in low- to mid-single digits. Core earnings per share are estimated to rise broadly in line with sales. Pipeline Progress Roche made encouraging pipeline progress in the year so far. Tecentriq was approved in China in combination with chemotherapy (carboplatin and etoposide) for the first-line treatment of patients with ES-SCLC. Polivy was approved in Europe in combination with bendamustine and MabThera/Rituxan for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, who are not candidates for a hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The European Commission also approved Venclexta/Venclyxto in combination with Gazyva/Gazyvaro for the treatment of adult patients with previously-untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The cobas SARS-CoV-2 test, for the detection of coronavirus, was launched following an Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA and is also available in markets accepting the CE mark. Meanwhile, Roche initiated a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III study in collaboration with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Actemra/RoActemra plus standard of care in hospitalized adult patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia compared to placebo plus standard of care. Our Take Roches performance in the first quarter was impressive as strong growth in Ocrevus, Perjeta, Tecentriq and Hemlibra countered biosimilar competition for Herceptin and MabThera from the likes of Amgen AMGN and Allergan AGN. The approvals of Polivy and Rozlytrek also boosted performance. While the company ensured that the global supply chain for medicines and tests remain intact, the COVID-19 outbreak will affect performance, going forward. Moreover, chronic disease studies will be negatively impacted due to the uncertainty regarding the duration and severity of the pandemic. Nevertheless, a positive outcome from the Actemra study for COVID-19 will be significant boost for the company. Moreover, demand for Roches diagnostic tests should maintain momentum. Roche currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. 5 Stocks Set to Double Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth. Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >> 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 Roche Holding AG (RHHBY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Novartis AG (NVS) : Free Stock Analysis Report Amgen Inc. (AMGN) : Free Stock Analysis Report Allergan plc (AGN) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research The week that San Antonios stay-at-home order took effect, Katie Kings boyfriend dumped her. He didnt just dump her. He ghosted her. Blocked all contact, social media and otherwise. No explanation given. The puzzling breakup after 14 months together not only robbed King, 38, of closure, she said, it exacerbated her sense of being alone, a lingering sadness that is worse early in the morning and late at night. I can get panic attacks, she said, her voice breaking. I start to feel the walls closing in. The coronavirus pandemic has everyone feeling some degree of social isolation. But it may be a special problem for those who live alone, like King. After all, single people cant count on the camaraderie or the mere presence of spouses, significant others, roommates or children to fill the void that social distancing demands. A procurement manager for H-E-B who now works from home, King has a network of friends from her job and a nearby CrossFit gym. But face-to-face contact with them is out for now, supplanted by social media and Zoom happy hours helpful, but no real substitute for actual human contact. A Mississippi native, King has no family here. She cant even own a pet because her landlord forbids it. My job keeps me busy during the day, but its hard, she said. Im having to really rely only on myself. Ive never experienced anything like this. King is far from well alone. In 2010, almost 160,000 people lived alone in Bexar County, about 26 percent of all households, according to U.S. Census data. By 2018, that number had grown to more than 190,000, or 30 percent of all households. The increase mirrors a national trend, which caused some experts to declare America was in the grip of a loneliness epidemic, even before COVID-19 turned us into a nation of shut-ins. Of course, you can be alone and not be lonely. And you can feel lonely in the company of others. Loneliness can be as dangerous to ones health as smoking, one study found. It can heighten the risk of early mortality by 26 percent, another study concluded. And there are a lot of lonely Americans. A 2020 survey of 10,000 adults ages 18 and up found three in five reported feeling lonely, 7 percentage points higher than in 2018. Counselors in San Antonio report an uptick in clients saying theyre experiencing loneliness since the coronavirus hit, as well as the anxiety and depression that can go with it. I would describe it as a state of despair, particularly for individuals living alone, said Mary Beth Fisk, CEO of the Ecumenical Center, which provides counseling. Its connected to a loss of control, a loss of routine and, to some degree, a loss of identity. Licensed clinical social worker Amy Kemter said loneliness grows out of a sense of being alone and feeling theres nothing you can do about it. It can strike at any age. Especially for my younger clients, social distancing is very hard, she said. Theyre used to feeling connected, to being with each other, going out to eat. This population simply wasnt mentally prepared for this. She has clients who live alone and worry the very worst might happen. They say, What if I get sick and nobody knows? What if theres no one there to take care of me, or even find me? Some more at risk of being lonely Seniors, many of whom were living alone before the pandemic, may be hit especially hard, studies show. The pandemic has foreclosed many of the ways older folks tend to connect with others, said Fisk: volunteering at the library, going to church or synagogue, playing Bunco at the neighborhood senior center, visiting over coffee at Jims restaurants. All the ways older people used to find community have ended, she said. They cant even go to their friends funerals. The elderly often find it difficult to use devices and social networks that younger people rely on to stay connected, she said. More than 240,000 residents in Bexar County 65 years old or older. In normal times, some 26,000 of them flock to more than 50 senior centers across the city, where they find classes, activities, exercise, a hot lunch and most important companionship, said Yolanda Perez with the Department of Human Services. But the centers closed March 16. Perez said staff is striving to conduct check-ins with seniors by phone, and frozen meals are distributed at 10 of the centers each week. Its hard, she said. Everyone keeps asking when the centers will open again, saying they miss their friends. We encourage them to reach out to family and friends to stay connected. Jan McGee, an 82-year-old widow who until the virus hit worked part-time in a medical office, said shes a people-person who likes to stay busy. Shes found ways to stay connected, she said worshipping online with her church, taking part in Sunday school classes via Zoom, chatting with her classmates on the phone. Every day, she visits by phone with her two daughters who live out of state. A third daughter who lives nearby brings her groceries. But none of it replaces consistent, in-person contact. I miss going in the office, she said I miss talking to my hairdresser, Danica Hughes, who Ive been with for four years. The social isolation wrought by COVID-19 can also be especially hard on those with mental health challenges and those who struggle with addiction. On ExpressNews.com: Staying sober during the pandemic Christopher Tadros, 38, has bipolar disorder. Hes staying on an even keel, he said, through a combination of the right medication and by staying connected with neighbors in his apartment complex, all of whom have mental health issues. They wave at each other and have brief conversations standing 6 feet apart. He has a friend with whom hes made a pact to talk to by phone every day. A writer, Tadros stays busy working on a screenplay about homelessness. In a strange way, the virus has had a universalizing effect, he said. Most people cant relate to what its like to have a manic episode, he said, but everyone knows what its like now when you say, I feel so alone. Everybody understands that now. Finding ways to ease the loneliness Joyce Hotchkiss, who has lived alone for years, has found plenty to keep her busy during the pandemic-spurred isolation. Shes painting the lumber for a 65-foot-long fence. After that, theres yard work. She keeps in touch on Facebook with like-minded friends, who commiserate over President Trumps latest response to the virus. Hotchkiss, 70, who has worked for more than 40 years as a copy editor, previously at the Express-News, had been leading tours three days a week at two of the citys historic homes, where she interacts with people from all over the world. Thats ended for now, along with her daily walks with a neighbor. She cant visit her relatives because they have health problems that put them at risk. Shes doing OK, But, man, not seeing people much, it plays with your head, she said. Especially on gray days, when I can get in a funky mood, it occurs to me how long its been since Ive talked to somebody, or dealt with someone up close. Hotchkiss, who never married or had children, said the pandemic is giving her a foretaste of what it will mean to grow old on her own. Then I think, Well, what are you going to do? Snap your fingers and create kids and grandkids and some old man youre married to? It doesnt happen that way. But there are glimmers of light. On a backyard fence, she can watch a monarch butterfly gently slip its cocoon. She looks forward to an overseas trip she and two friends plan to make in late summer, if the world allows it. Every Friday night, she treats herself to a takeout meal from Outlaw Kitchens. On ExpressNews.com: Crucial dates for the reopening of Texas Kemter, the counselor, said such self-care is key to getting through the pandemic, especially for those who live alone. There are many ways to help manage isolation, she said, including an abundance of free online meditation, yoga and mindfulness apps. Go outside. Get enough rest and eat nutritious food. Limit your intake of news. Limit your intake of alcohol; although booze may cause initial feelings of elation, its actually a nervous system depressant. Find creative things to do puzzles, art, writing in a journal. Take up a new hobby. Clean a closet. Reach out to others, especially by phone, so you can hear another human voice. If youre social media savvy, try to connect on platforms where you can see peoples faces, instead of just scrolling through Facebook or Twitter. Kemter teaches her clients techniques such as the butterfly hug, to help reduce stress and keep them from spiraling. The reality is that we dont have control over the virus, but we do have control over our responses, she said. Licensed clinical social worker Michelli E. Ramon said those who know people who live alone should do the reaching out as well. Be relentless and keep trying, she said. We can tell the person who lives alone, and particularly those with mental health struggles, to reach out, but often they wont. So we need to be proactive. King, the woman whose relationship ended, said she goes for a walk when she finds herself stuck in my own head. She goes to the area in her Olmos Park apartment where shes put down mats so she can do yoga and CrossFit on her own. A friend taught her a simple chant she repeats at night when sleep evades her, based on the Bible verse: Be still and know that I am God. It works. And shes looking for silver linings. In the end, difficult as this time has been, I think Im going to be stronger for having gone through it, King said. Need help? The Ecumenical Center offers no-cost wellness conversations with counselors at 210-616-0885. Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje is a general assignment reporter covering breaking news, cultural trends and interesting people and goings-on around San Antonio and Bexar County, as well as all across South Texas. To read more from Melissa , become a subscriber. mstoeltje@express-news.net | Twitter: @mstoeltje Each year, celebrations take place all over the world on World Book Day to recognize the scope of books in bridging gap between cultures and generations. Book lovers across the world are celebrating World Book and Copyright Day on 23 April a day is dedicated to the enjoyment of books and reading. Each year, celebrations take place all over the world on World Book Day to recognise the scope of books in bridging gap between cultures and generations. Director-General of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay said, Books have the unique ability both to entertain and to teach. They are at once a means of exploring realms beyond our personal experience through exposure to different authors, universes and cultures, and a means of accessing the deepest recesses of our inner selves. History and significance The UNESCO in 1995 decided to celebrate World Book and Copyright Day on 23 April. This date was chosen because it is the death anniversary of well-known writers William Shakespeare, Miguel de Cervantes and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. The UNESCO and the organisations representing publishers, booksellers and libraries select the World Book Capital for a year to maintain the impetus of the World Book Day celebrations. Azoulay had declared the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur as the World Book Capital for this year. Kuala Lumpur was selected as the destination on the recommendation by the World Book Capital Advisory Committee. How this day is celebrated Various publishers have planned interactive sessions with authors and launch of literary games to celebrate the day amid the coronavirus lockdown. HarperCollins India is organising an Instagram Live Jam with its authors. The event will feature popular authors like Ravinder Singh, Nikita Singh, Rana Safvi, Boria Majumdar and Aanchal Malhotra. Penguin Random House India will reveal the cover of the crowdsourced anthology You Are All I Need, edited by Ravinder Singh. UNESCO has invited students, teachers, readers from around the world to testify and express their love for reading, with a message along with the hashtags #StayAtHome and #WorldBookDay to ensure social distancing and self-quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic. Legend has it that the kingdom will fall if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London. So the arrival of three new chicks during the nationwide lockdown is a reassuring sign. The chicks hatched at the beginning of the month and are the offspring of two of the Towers residents ravens - Huginn and Muninn. Six ravens are traditionally kept at the Tower but at present there are eight, meaning its corvid accommodation is full. One of the ravens is pictured above being handled Mum and dad are already the parents of two of the other resident ravens, Poppy, named after the tourist attractions moving First World War centenary installation in 2014, and George, who arrived on St Georges Day last year. Yeoman Warder Chris Skaife, Ravenmaster of the Tower, said: Displaying their usual intelligence and good timing, the ravens have given us some much-needed good news to announce. We are thrilled by the arrival of our new chicks and, though we dont have room to keep them, were pleased that the bloodline of the Tower of London seems secure for the foreseeable future, which can only be good news for the Kingdom. Legend has it that the kingdom will fall if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London. So the arrival of three new chicks during the nationwide lockdown is a reassuring sign He added: Were looking forward to welcoming them back when the time comes. Six ravens are traditionally kept at the Tower but at present there are eight, meaning its corvid accommodation is full. The chicks have spent the first couple of weeks of their lives in the care of their parents and will now be relocated to breeders. Raven chicks develop rapidly and the new arrivals will quadruple in size over the next few weeks. Their black plumage will soon start to appear, although they will be almost a year old before their beaks turn from pink to the usual jet black colour. It is the second year in a row that chicks have been produced at the 1,000-year-old fortress. Before that, none had been hatched there for 30 years. It is not known how long ravens have lived there but King Charles II is generally accepted to have introduced the rule that there must always be at least six. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said a fundamental reform of the World Health Organization was needed following its handling of the coronavirus pandemic and that the United States, the WHO's biggest donor, may never restore funding to the UN body. As Pompeo launched fresh attacks on the UN body on Wednesday, Democrats in the US House of Representatives accused the Trump administration of trying to "scapegoat" the WHO to distract from its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. In a letter to President Donald Trump, they called for the immediate restoration of US funding, which Trump suspended last week accusing the WHO of being "China-centric" and of promoting China's "disinformation" about the outbreak. Pompeo told Fox News late on Wednesday there needed to be "a structural fix of the WHO" to correct its "shortcomings." Asked if he was not ruling out a change in leadership of the WHO, Pompeo replied, "Even more than that, it may be the case that the United States can never return to underwriting, having US taxpayer dollars go to the WHO." The WHO has denied the Trump administration's charges and China insists it has been transparent and open. The US has been the biggest overall donor to the WHO, contributing over $400 million in 2019, roughly 15% of its budget. Senior US officials last week told Reuters Washington could redirect these funds to other aid groups. Earlier on Wednesday, Pompeo said the US "strongly believed" Beijing had failed to report the outbreak in a timely manner, in breach of WHO rules, and that WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom did not use his ability "to go public" when a member state failed to follow those rules. Pompeo said the WHO had an obligation to ensure safety standards were observed in virology labs in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the outbreak began, and its director-general had "enormous authority with respect to nations that do not comply." The acting head of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) said on Wednesday the US would assess if the WHO was being run properly and look for alternative partners outside the body. The possibility of the US ceasing its funding definitively to the global body is contingent upon Trump succeeding in his bid for re-election in the November presidential vote, against the presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden. The US Congress controls federal spending, and could pass legislation to guarantee funding for the WHO. However, to become law it would need to garner enough support, including from Trump's Republicans, not just to pass but to override a likely veto. According to a Reuters tally, the coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 180,000 people worldwide, including nearly 48,000 in the US, making it the worst-hit country by official statistics. Two days out from Anzac Day, RSL Victorias Anzac Appeal has raised less than 3 per cent of this year's original goal. The appeal, an annual fundraiser to support war veterans and their families, normally gathers more than 90 per cent of its funds via street sales of badges in the weeks leading up to Anzac Day. RSL Victoria was hoping to raise $3.5m before the coronavirus pandemic hit, but has received $100,000 in donations. Credit:Rob Gunstone With volunteers unable to sell badges this year due to social distancing restrictions, RSL Victoria has raised about $100,000 in online donations. Before the coronavirus pandemic RSL Victoria was hoping to collect $3.5 million this year the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II having raised between $3 million and $3.5 million in previous years. Brussels in favor of approving an economic aid package. Among these, a sum in money paid by the IMF. For the United States, the "maximum pressure" policy against Tehran remains in place. In the Islamic Republic 86 thousand infections and 5400 victims, the first restrictions are skipped. Tehran (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The European Union has launched an appeal to the United States, calling for a relaxation of sanctions against Iran and the approval of an economic aid package, to help the Islamic Republic to combat the epidemic of new coronavirus. But Washington has rejected Brussels' request. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell this week reported that the White House prevented the International Monetary Fund from helping Tehran, the nation most affected by Covid in the Middle East -19. He spared no criticism of the American position, adding that "an easing of sanctions" and the sending of "financial aid" by the IMF is necessary for Brussels. "From a humanitarian point of view, this request should have been accepted - the EU foreign policy manager concluded. However, the US leadership has once again confirmed its policy of "maximum pressure" against Iran, regardless of the ongoing pandemic. There have been repeated appeals to the US government to ease its policy of all out confrontation with heavy sanctions against Iran which have caused blockages and restrictions in sending medicines and basic necessities. To stem sanctions, three European nations have used the Instex system for the first time in sending aid. And news of the sending of medical supplies to the United States, also overwhelmed by the pandemic, by groups of Iranian students, was reported in recent days. On 15 April the United States rejected a massive injection of liquidity by the IMF through the release of special drawing rights, which would also have benefited the Tehran coffers. The program aimed to provide hundreds of billions of dollars in foreign currency for all 189 member countries. There has been no official comment on the story by the US Treasury. Latest reports reveal that there are 86 thousand confirmed cases of new coronavirus in Iran and just under 5400 victims. In recent days, the authorities have announced they will be gradually loosening the restrictions put in place to counter the spread of the pandemic. By Express News Service BENGALURU: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike budget (BBMP), with an outlay of Rs 11,449 crore, was passed on Wednesday despite opposition from Congress and JDS regarding insufficient funds allocated to wards that had non-BJP corporators. Opposition leaders raised various issues including the budget ignoring any kind of allocation towards the fight against COVID-19. They said BBMP hospitals should be equipped with ventilators, testing kits, masks and PPEs for health workers. Later, a decision was taken to allocate Rs 20 lakh per ward for COVID-19 from the programme of work funds, to be approved by the Palike commissioner. Opposition Congress leader Abdul Wajid said, At least Rs 1,000 crore should be given towards fighting the COVID-19 pandemic and Rs 1 crore per ward. I wrote letters to the Mayor to begin thermal screening at BBMP office. It was not considered. He said that the budget was a pro-BJP budget. Former mayor Sampath Kumar, said, BBMP should also play a role in the fight against COVID-19. We should have a meeting with doctors. Testing kits, masks, PPEs and gloves in BBMP hospitals should be included in the budget. It is not just the state governments job. The BBMP is also answerable. In Mumbai, pourakarmikas and sanitation workers contracted coronavirus. This should not happen in Bengaluru. We need to include insurance for them against COVID in the budget in case he/she dies after contracting it on duty.Wajid said, Coolies, autorickshaw/taxi drivers, carpenters, painters, washermen, maidsthe budget should be for them. However, the budget is such that the money goes to where BJP corporators and MLAs are located. Five ULFA (Independent) militants have been arrested and a huge cache of arms and ammunition seized from their possession in Assam's Charaideo district, police said on Thursday. The owner of the house where the militants had taken shelter was also arrested, a senior police officer said. The arrests come ahead of Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal's scheduled visit to the district on Thursday, he said. Based on information about movement of ULFA(I) militants along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh-Nagaland border areas, security forces had intensified counter-insurgency operations, the officer said. Acting on a tip-off that five persons were holed up in a house in Tarai village in Sapekhati police station area, the Assam Police and the Indian Army had launched a joint operation on Wednesday evening, he said. The village was cordoned off and the five militants were apprehended from the house of Bhuvan Gogoi, the officer said. The arrested persons include militants Apurba Gogoi alias Arohan Asom and Simanta Gogoi alias Maina, an explosives expert. Both were wanted in connection with cases of killing, kidnapping and extortion, he said. The other militants are Biraj Asom alias Yogen Gogoi, Lakshyajit Gogoi alias Dhrubo Asom and Sidhartha Gogoi alias Hinmoy Asom, the officer said. The militants were unarmed when apprehended but led the security forces to an arms dump near the house on Thursday morning, he said. Three MQ 81 assault rifles along with eight magazines and 323 rounds of ammunition, a Russian-made 7.65 mm pistol with one magazine and two bullets, a .22 mm pistol with one magazine and two bullets, two kg of a "gelatin-like" explosives material, seven pieces of cordtex wire and 16 pieces of detonators were seized, the officer said. All the six arrested persons will be tested for COVID-19, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TORONTO, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Laurel Hill Advisory Group, Canada's leading shareholder communications and advisory firm, is pleased to introduce Virtual Meeting Advisory Service, an industry-first solution designed to help Canadian public issuers navigate the many considerations, challenges and concerns associated with holding a virtual-only or hybrid meeting of shareholders. "As a result of COVID-19, many issuers are experiencing virtual meeting technologies this proxy season for the first time, and they are understandably concerned that their meetings run smoothly and effectively," said David Salmon, President of Laurel Hill Canada. "In our role as a proxy solicitation agent and shareholder communications advisor, our team of professionals has a unique perspective on the entire meeting life cycle and a wealth of expertise and insights into virtual meetings." Laurel Hill's Virtual Meeting Advisory Service will help clients: Assess the available virtual platforms options to help them make the most informed platform choice; Identify unique ways to reinforce the necessary steps to ensure that all participants are able to access the virtual platform and cast their votes; Consider their options in regard to the virtual meeting format in order to maximize shareholder impact and engagement; Consider their options in regard to the rules of order for the handling of participant questions and shareholder proposals; and Tailor the scripting of the formal business for the virtual meeting format. The team at Laurel Hill is available to discuss your specific needs and to provide a customized proposal. You can reach us at [email protected]. About Laurel Hill Advisory Group Laurel Hill Advisory Group is North America's leading independent, cross-border shareholder communications and advisory firm. In addition to our industry-leading proxy solicitation, information agent, depositary, escrow and escheatment services, we provide year-round governance, compensation, and strategic advisory services. Our customized solutions, delivered by the industry's most experienced, multi-disciplinary and collaborative team, help our clients develop and maintain market-leading governance, shareholder engagement, and activism preparedness. We are regularly engaged on the most high profile, complex and contentious governance, M&A and activism situations. Our cross-border operations allow us to effectively reach shareholders regardless of their location Canada, US and globally. We deliver results. For more information, please visit us at www.laurelhill.com. SOURCE Laurel Hill Advisory Group Related Links laurelhill.com The worlds third-biggest oil importer, India, saw its imports from OPEC producers slump to a 19-year-low in the fiscal year 2019/2020 ended in March, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing data from trade and industry sources. At the same time, India imported more oil from the United States, the Mediterranean, and Latin America. India's refiners have been seeking to diversify their 80-percent oil import dependence that they have OPEC, and lately, there has been a favorable price spread between Brent Crude and WTI Crude, making imports from the US particularly attractive. In the fiscal year through March 2020, Indias crude oil imports from OPEC accounted for 78.3 percent of all imports, according to Reuters estimatesthe lowest OPEC share in India since at least 2001/2002. Indias imports from Middle Eastern oil producers alone accounted for 60 percent of all imports in 2019/2020, down from 63 percent in the previous fiscal year. Imports from the United States represented 4.5 percent of Indias crude imports, up from 3 percent in the prior fiscal year. The U.S. became the seventh biggest oil supplier to India in the year through March 2020, climbing up from the 9th place in the top suppliers list in 2018/2019, according to the data compiled by Reuters. India had already boosted its imports of U.S. crude oil after the United States ended the waivers for Iranian oil customers when it stepped up the sanctions pressure on Irans regime last year. Most recently, in Indias nationwide lockdown to contain the pandemic, demand for oil in the country has plunged while storage capacity fills up. Due to plummeting fuel demand and overflowing storage capacity, at least three oil refiners in India have asked for lower crude oil imports for May from the Middle East, including from the worlds top exporter, Saudi Arabia, officials at the refiners told Reuters on Wednesday. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2020) - April 23, 2020, Ethos Gold Corp. (TSXV: ECC) (OTCQX: ETHOF) ("Ethos" or the "Company") and Societe d'exploration miniere Vior Inc. (TSXV: VIO) ("Vior") are pleased to announce the results of their diamond drilling campaign completed between late October, 2019 and mid-February, 2020 at the Ligneris gold project in Quebec. The program's primary objective, which included 14 holes totaling 8,318 meters, was to test to a depth of approximately 600 meters, the extent of the gold mineralization system on the Central and South zones, which coincide with well-defined chargeability geophysical anomalies. The program also tested certain chargeability anomalies generated during the recent IP survey which were located in the lateral extensions of some strongly altered structural zones. The mineralization encountered during this drilling program at Ligneris appears to be related to a gold-rich massive volcanogenic sulfides environment with local remobilization in deformation zones. Best drill results of the program*: Drill hole LI-19-02 , Between 620.5 and 639.5 meters cut 1.19 g/t Au over 19.0 meters, including 2.36 g/t Au over 8.0 meters; , Between 620.5 and 639.5 meters cut Drill hole LI-19-03 , between 391.0 and 397.1 meters cut 0.45 g/t Au over 6.1 meters; , between 391.0 and 397.1 meters cut Drill hole LI-19-04 , between 566.0 and 575.5 meters cut 0.83 g/t Au over 9.5 meters, including 1.02 g/t Au over 5.5 meters; , between 566.0 and 575.5 meters cut including Drill hole LI-19-05 , between 717.0 and 721.0 meters cut 1.19 g/t Au over 4.0 meters, including 1.95 g/t Au over 2.0 meters ; , between 717.0 and 721.0 meters cut including ; Drill hole LI-19-06 , between 488.0 and 500.1 meters cut 1.09 g/t Au over 12.1 meters, including 1.69 g/t Au over 7.0 meters, including 5.70 g/t Au over 1.0 meters; , between 488.0 and 500.1 meters cut Drill hole LI-19-07 , between 208.0 and 209.0 meters cut 23.5 g/t Au over 1.0 meters; , between 208.0 and 209.0 meters cut Drill hole LI-19-08, between 646.0and 653.0 meters cut 0.78 g/t Au over 7.0 meters, including 2.94 g/t Au over 1.0 meters. * The true thickness of reported drill intervals cannot be determined with the information currently available. Additional drilling would be required to determine the orientation and true thickness of the mineralized zones. Saliant points from the program Visual examination of the drill core shows that the strongly altered zones extend at a depth of over more than 600 meters vertical in the Central and South zones. The Central zone is characterized by the presence of disseminated to semi-massive pyrite mineralization, with locally sphalerite and chalcopyrite, included within a 100+meter thick highly silicified, sericitized, ankeritized (with locally chloritoids) alteration zone. The South zone is characterized by extensive disseminated pyrite and stringer mineralization associated with a series of highly silicified and sericitized shear zones exceeding 10 meters in thickness. Significant grades of silver and base metals reaching up to 10.1 g/t Ag and 0.18% Cu over 9.0 meters (drilling LI-19-06) and 26.4 g/t Ag and 0.43% Zn over 5.0 meters (hole LI-19-07) were intersected in the Central zone; (drilling LI-19-06) and (hole LI-19-07) were intersected in the Central zone; All of the tested chargeability anomalies were associated with pyrite mineralized zones ranging from disseminated to semi-massive. A TDEM geophysical survey carried out in 5 of the drill holes detected off-hole anomalies in 2 distinct drill holes in the South zone, indicating conductive bodies within a 100-meter radius. Figure 1: Ligneris Project - New drilling results (in blue), selected historic intercepts and VTEM anomalies on a chargeability background. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1564/54770_0bb2ec966492e94d_002full.jpg Outlook The next planned work is to process the lithogeochemical results and gold assays using 3D modeling. This will help to establish mineralization and alteration vectors in order to generate new targets for a future drilling program. These new targets will be added to the 27 that were determined during the multifactorial 3D processing by InnovExplo, of which only 14 were tested during the fall 2019 - winter 2020 drilling program. Quality Control The drill core concerned in this release has been described, marked and cut under the supervision of qualified persons. The drilling samples were sent to the certified laboratory Techni-Lab in Val-d'Or, including standards and blanks for approximately each 20 samples analyzed. The samples were analyzed for gold by fire assay on 30-gram fractions with atomic absorption and/or gravimetric finish. As well, certain samples were analyzed for oxides and other elements by ICP-MS method at the Actlabs laboratories, of Ancaster, Ontario. Ligneris Option Agreement Ethos can earn a 51% interest in the Ligneris Project by issuing to Vior 1.0 million Ethos shares and incurring $3.0 million in expenditures over the first four years of the agreement. Following an initial earn-in to 51%, Ethos will have 60 days to elect to earn-in a further 19% interest (thereby increasing its total interest to 70%) by incurring an additional $4 million in expenditures over the subsequent three years. Qualified Person The technical content disclosed in this press release was reviewed and approved by Jo Price, P.Geo., M.Sc., VP Exploration of Ethos and a Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument NI 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). Marc L'Heureux, P.Geo., M.A.Sc., VP Exploration of Vior and a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101 has also reviewed and approved this release. Contact For additional information please contact Tom Martin at E: tmartin@ethosgold.com P: 1-250-516-2455 or view the Company's website, www.ethosgold.com and the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Ethos Gold Corp. Per: "Craig Roberts" Craig Roberts, P.Eng., President & CEO 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 Statement Cautions: This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, relating to, among other things, the Company's intention to acquire an interest in the Ligneris Project and planned exploration activities at the Ligneris Project. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. Factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include, possible, accidents and other risks associated with mineral exploration operations, the risk that the Company will encounter unanticipated geological factors, the possibility that the Company may not be able to secure permitting and other governmental clearances necessary to carry out the Company's exploration plans, the risk that the Company will not be able to raise sufficient funds to carry out its business plans, and the risk of political uncertainties and regulatory or legal changes that might interfere with the Company's business and prospects. The reader is urged to refer to the Company's reports, publicly available through the Canadian Securities Administrators' System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/54770 Recently, The Timess co-chief theater critics put together a musical cast recording starter kit for those of us stuck at home 10 cast albums theyd take with them to a desert island. We asked some of their fellow critics to pick one cast album each and extol its pleasures. On Wednesday, Laura Collins-Hughes wrote about the Shakespeare in the Park production of Twelfth Night. I first heard Hair as a teenager, because an aunt had the original Broadway cast recording on vinyl. I had no idea what the story was about, and didnt care I just loved the songs. Since then Ive listened to Hair more than all my other cast albums put together, and possibly more than any other record, period. Ive listened to it on headphones at home and on road trips, tinny car speakers straining at high volume. Ive listened to it in order and on shuffle. Ive listened to it while deep in absorbed concentration and while yelling back the best lines. 23rd April marks World Book Day - and while the event is usually celebrated with signings, group readings and seminars from authors, this time, us bibliophiles are celebrating in the ideal environment for any book-lover, curled up in quarantine flicking through some pages. The celebration itself began nearly 800 years ago in Spain, where it was celebrated as Diada de Sant Jordi or Saint Georges day, where friends and lovers would share roses with each other. Eventually, to honour the deaths of Shakespeare and Spanish literary icon Miguel de Cervantes, the custom was changed to include books as well - sharing the gift of reading amongst communities. Reuters The question then arises - whats the best book to gift someone? While the obvious answer depends on how well you know their backlog and taste in literature, if youre looking to flex, weve got one hell of a list for you - some of the rarest and most expensive books in the world: 1. Codex Leicester Wikimedia Author: Leonardo Da Vinci Cost: $30 million/Rs 224 crore Created in 1510, this iconic manuscript was handwritten by the legendary Italian thinker, scientist and artist Leonardo da Vinci - and covers a wide range of topics ranging from astronomy to physics and philosophy - particularly the mysterious link between art and science. It was sold to Bill Gates, who purchased it at an auction in 1994. 2. Magna Carta Wikimedia Author: Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury & John, King of England Cost: $21.3 million/Rs 186 crore Drafted in 1215, this document is one of the most important documents in the history of democracy in Europe - acting as a charter of rights for the council of 25 barons who ruled under the then-unpopular and despotic king, making it one of the earliest constitutions in existence. 3. St. Cuthbert Gospel Wikimedia Authors: Unknown Cost: $15.1 million/Rs 151 crore Also known as the Stonyhurst Gospel or the St Cuthbert Gospel of St John, this is an 8th-century gospel pocket-book that happens to be the oldest surviving example of Western bookbinding in the world, and has been appraised for its beautiful script and immaculate condition despite being over 1300 years old. 4. Bay Psalm Book Wikimedia Authors: Thirty early American ministers, including Richard Mather, Thomas Mayhew, and John Eliot Cost: $14.5 million/Rs 110 crore Widely considered to be the first book printed in what would become the United States of America, this was one of the earliest products created by Stephen Day press at Cambridge, Massachusetts - despite its considerable historical worth, it has been accused of containing mistranslations. 5. The Gospels of Henry the Lion Order Wikimedia Author: Unknown Cost: $11.7 million/Rs 89 crore Extremely ornate and definitely luxurious, this intricately-illustrated masterpiece of Romanesque artwork was commissioned by King Henry The Lion in 1188 to honour the Brunswick Cathedral, which still stands in north-central Germany. To all you history buffs out there, it might be fascinating to note that while most of these books are religious, its the one created by a scientific thinker that takes the top spot. (Inputs taken from the story covered by Mradul Rajpoot for MensXP Hindi.) NERLYNX (neratinib) now commercially available in Singapore for HER2+ breast cancer patients following adjuvant trastuzumab-based therapy Five-year follow up data show NERLYNX reduces risk of invasive disease recurrence by 42% in women with early-stage, HER2+/HR+ breast cancer and who commence therapy within 12 months of completing trastuzumab-based therapy[1] SINGAPORE, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- A new breast cancer drug shown to significantly reduce the risk of cancer recurrence is now commercially available to Singapore patients. The drug, NERLYNX (neratinib), is an oral medication taken by women with breast cancer who have had surgery, chemotherapy and prior trastuzumab-based therapy. It has been shown to significantly reduce the ongoing risk of recurrence in HER2+ early breast cancer patients,[2] with the greatest benefit seen in women who are also hormone-receptor positive (HR+) and who commence therapy within 12 months of completing trastuzumab-based therapy. For these women, the five-year risk of recurrence is reduced by up to 42%.[1] NERLYNX is being made available in the region by independent pharmaceutical company, Specialised Therapeutics Asia (STA) under an exclusive sub-license agreement with Puma Biotechnology, Inc. A number of patients in Singapore have already been treated with NERLYNX since it was made available via a named patient access program prior to regulatory approval. Dr Yap Yoon Sim, medical oncologist at the National Cancer Centre, who was an investigator in the ExteNET trial which led to the approval of NERLYNX, said the introduction of NERLYNX provided breast cancer patients with a new option to further reduce their risk of recurrence. "Certain patients with HER2+ breast cancer may still have a significant risk of relapse, even after being treated with standard chemotherapy and trastuzumab-based therapy," Dr Yap said. "This risk can vary from less than 10% to more than 30% during the first five years, depending on the size of the tumour and the number of lymph nodes affected. "We know the risk of recurrence continues even five years post-diagnosis, especially in patients with hormone-receptor positive breast cancer. "NERLYNX may now provide additional benefit in terms of reducing this risk of relapse, particularly to women with high-risk disease. "Essentially it gives patients another opportunity to remain disease-free." STA Chief Executive Officer Mr Carlo Montagner said oncologists had welcomed the introduction and availability of NERLYNX, with more than 1600 women in Singapore diagnosed with breast cancer every year. "We are pleased to be able to make this important therapy available to women in Singapore and further expect to ensure its availability in other parts of South-East Asia, including Malaysia and Brunei," he said. Singapore health data shows that breast cancer is the most common cancer that affects women in the country, accounting for almost 30% of all cancer cases. It is estimated that one in 15 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer before age 75.[3] About NERLYNX[4] NERLYNX (neratinib) is an irreversible tyrosine kinase inhibitor that blocks signal transduction through the epidermal growth factor receptors, HER1, HER2 and HER4. NERLYNX is the first HER2-targeted medication approved by the Australian TGA, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)[4] and the European Medicines Agency (EMA)[5] as extended adjuvant treatment for early-stage HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer, for patients who have previously been treated with trastuzumab following surgery (i.e., adjuvant trastuzumab-based therapy). Extended adjuvant therapy is the next step of treatment that follows adjuvant therapy (treatment after surgery) to further reduce the risk of breast cancer returning. NERLYNX is an oral tablet and works by binding to multiple receptors inside the cancer cell, blocking signals that tell cancer cells to grow and multiply. About HER2+ Breast Cancer Approximately 20% to 25% of breast cancer tumours over-express the HER2 protein. HER2+ breast cancer is often more aggressive than other types of breast cancer, increasing the risk of disease progression and death. Although research has shown that trastuzumab can reduce the risk of early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer returning after surgery, up to 24% of patients treated with trastuzumab experience recurrence.[6] About the ExteNET Study[2], [7] The ExteNET trial was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase III trial of neratinib versus placebo after adjuvant treatment with trastuzumab (Herceptin) in patients with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer. The ExteNET trial randomised 2,840 patients in 41 countries with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer who had undergone surgery and adjuvant treatment with trastuzumab. After completion of adjuvant treatment with trastuzumab, patients were randomised to receive neratinib or placebo for a period of one year. Patients were then followed for recurrent disease, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), or death for a period of five years after randomisation. The primary endpoint of the trial was invasive disease free survival (iDFS). The trial demonstrated that after a median follow up of 5.2 years, treatment with neratinib resulted in a 27% reduction of risk of invasive disease recurrence or death versus placebo (hazard ratio = 0.73, p = 0.008). The 5-year iDFS rate for the neratinib arm was 90.2% and the 5-year iDFS rate for the placebo arm was 87.7%.[7] An additional five-year sub-group analysis demonstrated a 42% risk reduction in women who were HR+ and who had commenced neratinib therapy within 12 months of completing treatment with trastuzumab.[7] The most common adverse reactions ( 5%) were diarrhoea, nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, vomiting, rash, stomatitis, decreased appetite, muscle spasms, dyspepsia, AST or ALT increase, nail disorder, dry skin, abdominal distention, epistaxis, weight decreased and urinary tract infection.[2] Puma is conducting a Phase 2 CONTROL study investigating various prophylactic anti-diarrhoeal regimens for the first 1-2 cycles of neratinib therapy. Emerging data suggest that prophylactic management reduces the incidence, severity and duration of neratinib-associated diarrhoea as compared with events observed in ExteNET. About Specialised Therapeutics Asia Headquartered in Singapore, Specialised Therapeutics Asia Pte Ltd (STA) is an international biopharmaceutical company established to commercialise new therapies and technologies throughout South East Asia, as well as in Australia and New Zealand. STA and its regional affiliates collaborate with leading global pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies to bring novel, innovative and life-changing healthcare solutions to patients affected by a range of diseases. Its mission is to provide therapies where there is an unmet need. The company's broad therapeutic portfolio currently includes novel agents in oncology, haematology, neurology, ophthalmology and supportive care. Additional information can be found at www.stbiopharma.com About Puma Biotechnology Puma Biotechnology, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company with a focus on the development and commercialization of innovative products to enhance cancer care. The Company in-licenses the global development and commercialization rights to PB272 (neratinib, oral), PB272 (neratinib, intravenous) and PB357. Neratinib, oral was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2017 for the extended adjuvant treatment of adult patients with early stage HER2-overexpressed/amplified breast cancer, following adjuvant trastuzumab-based therapy, and is marketed in the United States as NERLYNX (neratinib) tablets. In February 2020, NERLYNX was also approved by the FDA in combination with capecitabine for the treatment of adult patients with advanced or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who have received two or more prior anti-HER2-based regimens in the metastatic setting. NERLYNX was granted marketing authorization by the European Commission in 2018 for the extended adjuvant treatment of adult patients with early stage hormone receptor positive HER2-overexpressed/amplified breast cancer and who are less than one year from completion of prior adjuvant trastuzumab-based therapy. NERLYNX is a registered trademark of Puma Biotechnology, Inc. Further Enquiries: Emma Power, Corporate Affairs and Communications Manager, Specialised Therapeutics Asia +61 419 149 525 or [email protected] References: Gnant, M et al. Presented at the 41st Annual San Antonia Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) Dec 4-8, 2018 , San Antonia, TX. Chan A et.al. Lancet Oncol. 2016;17(3):367-77 Singapore Cancer Registry Interim Annual Report 2010 2014 (available online ) NERLYNX (neratinib) US Product Information https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/lab NERLYNX (neratinib) European Summary of Product Characteristics Goldhirsch A et al. Lancet.2013;382:1021-1028 Martin M et. Al. Lancet Oncology 2017; 1-13 SOURCE Specialised Therapeutics Asia Related Links http://www.stbiopharma.com Tyrants believe in themselves. Those committed to liberty believe in the people. Today, tyrants mandate that people isolate themselves or wear masks and enforce that mandate with the police state. Those committed to liberty educate the people about the importance of taking steps to protect themselves from epidemic disease and then trust that the people will make the right decisions. The stark dichotomy between those two worldviews just played out in Houston in an ideological battle between the Harris County leadership and the Houston Police Officers' Union. This battle royale between freedom and tyranny began on Wednesday, when Harris County judge Lina Hidalgo, a 29-year-old Democrat originally from Colombia, ordered that, beginning on Monday, Houston residents must wear masks or face hefty penalties: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Wednesday ordered residents to cover their faces in public starting next week, the latest effort by local governments to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. The new rules, which require residents 10 and older to cover their nose and mouth when outside the home, take effect Monday and last 30 days. Acceptable garments include a homemade mask, scarf, bandana or handkerchief. Medical masks or N-95 respirators are not recommended as they are most needed by first responders and health workers. Under the order, the county's 4.7 million residents must cover their faces at all times except when exercising, eating or drinking; the exemptions also include when individuals are alone in a separate single space, at home with roommates or family, or when wearing a mask poses a greater risk to security, mental or physical health. Violating the mask rules is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, though Hidalgo urged police to use discretion. Did you catch that last word "discretion"? The Houston Police Officers' Union took that word and ran with it. Joe Gamaldi, the Lodge 110 president, authored a fiery letter saying discretion lies with police officers, not with a "so-called leader of Harris County [who] lacks any critical thinking skills." While the police highly approve of mask-wearing to optimize public safety and recommend that people wear masks, the order is impossible to enforce and almost certainly violates people's constitutional rights. Had the county judge been thinking, says Gamaldi, she would have known that the police officers are spread so thin that it is both impossible and unreasonable to ask them to police something that he characterizes as a "draconian measure." As far as Gamaldi and his fellow officers are concerned, "[w]e do not have time to be pawns in Hidalgo's game of attempting to control the actions of law abiding, tax paying individuals of our community." Making "this idiotic order" even worse, Gamaldi added, is the fact that it is "possibly an unconstitutional one" emanating from "the County Judge." HPOU response to @LinaHidalgoTX draconian mask order: Now we want to be very clear, HPOU believes everyone should be wearing a mask in public, in order to protect themselves from the virus and we are encouraging all of our officers to wear a mask. However, we draw the line... pic.twitter.com/XbphfNYHii Houston Police Officers' Union (@HPOUTX) April 22, 2020 Houston's police officers weren't the only ones upset with the order: Republican Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick accused Hidalgo of abusing her authority and said residents would be justified to react with anger. U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw said mask guidelines made sense, but punishments would "lead us to government tyranny." Harris County Republican Party Chairman Paul Simpson blasted the rules as an "unenforceable power grab." Harris County Democrats have not addressed the constitutionality of their order or the consequences for violating it. They simply say that "the public will be safer with masks on." Meanwhile, in California, the Highway Patrol has gone in the other direction: The California Highway Patrol said Wednesday that it is temporarily banning rallies at the state Capitol and other state facilities because of the pandemic. The change in policy came after hundreds of protesters gathered on the Capitol grounds in Sacramento on Monday, many without wearing masks or following recommendations to remain more than 6 feet apart to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The same group had planned additional rallies in coming days against Gov. Gavin Newsom's orders that people remain at home except for essential activities. Additional similar rallies have been happening across California and the nation, with more planned. "In the interest of public safety and the health of all Californians during the COVID-19 pandemic, effective immediately the California Highway Patrol will deny any permit requests for events or activities at all state facilities, to include the State Capitol, until public health officials have determined it is safe to gather again," the CHP said in a statement. What's happening in Harris County and in California is rule by fear, a tyrant's favorite weapon. Once again, it's time for Americans to decide whether, in a world that always has risks, they want a tyranny that cannot prevent the millions of deaths that flow from economic collapse or a free nation in which disease is always a factor to be guarded against through intelligence and reasonable precautions. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As the coronavirus spreads and hospitals get more overwhelmed, the work of medical personnel has become more important every day. For some of those nurses and doctors who currently hold a legal status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration policy, also known as DACA, however, uncertainty is looming over them. Former President Barack Obama introduced DACA in 2012 to protect undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as minors, offering temporary protection from deportation and providing them with work authorization. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on President Donald Trumps decision to end the program in June, a development that could have monumental implications because a number of DACA recipients, also known as dreamers, work in the health care system. Hina Naveed, 29, a North Shore resident and a registered nurse, is one of them. Naveed came to the United States from Dubai with her family in 2001 to seek medical treatment for her older sister, who was diagnosed with arteriovenous malformation, a condition that occurs when arteries and veins form incorrectly, possibly causing severe bleeding or hemorrhaging. The doctors in Dubai had said that there was no hope for her, that she didnt have much longer to live, Naveed said. And here, as a result of the care she received, shes still alive and with us 20 years longer than they expected. Naveed said that the care her sister was getting at the time forced her family to overstay their visas. Because it was a critical time of my sisters care, my parents had to make the difficult decision about whether they should overstay and continue fighting for their daughters life or leave and risk losing her, she said. Of course, they made the decision any parent would and choose to fight for her life. Seeing how thoughtful the nurses and the doctors were with her older sister inspired Naveed to become a nurse herself. Just seeing the compassion and the care that she received, I knew that thats what I wanted to do and I wanted to be that for other people, she said. NURSE ON STATEN ISLAND Fast forward 19 years since she first got to the U.S., Naveed is a nurse in a foster care agency on Staten Island and volunteers through the Medical Reserve Corps, both on Staten Island and in Brooklyn. There are thousands of DACA recipients that are health care workers," Naveed said. "And in the midst of a pandemic, you really need every single one of them. And DACA allows those individuals like myself to work. Nationwide, there are currently 700,000 DACA recipients -- 27,000 of them work in health care, according to the Mayors Office of Immigrants Affairs. 42 NYC on pause: A month into the battle against deadly coronavirus New York is the third state in the country with the largest number of Dreamers working in health care with a total of 1,700 DACA recipients, according to the Center for American Progress. Bitta Mostofi, commissioner of the Mayors Office of Immigrant Affairs, said in a statement to the Advance/SILive.com that their future is at stake. The Supreme Court must ensure Dreamers can live free from fear of deportation," Mostofi said. A potential negative decision on DACA by the Supreme Court could not come at a worse time. A THREAT TO ALL ESSENTIAL WORKERS Naveed said that, from her perspective, a decision in favor of the Trump administration could also impact other essential workers who are holding up the community. If DACA is removed, its not just going to be the health care workers that are pulled from where they need to be to help the community in the midst of a pandemic, she said. But its also the farmers workers, the sanitation workers, the essential workers that are really holding up the community. In the United States there are 21,100 DACA recipients who work in transportation and warehousing, 12,400 who work in supermarkets and about 76,600 who are currently employed in restaurants and other food services, according to an analysis the Center for Migration Studies conducted. DACA recipients and their families have been contributing to the economy and to the communities that they have been living in, Naveed said. Its just that now in the midst of a pandemic, their true value is being felt. NEW DELHI: Delhi Police Crime Branch, which has been trying to locate Nizamuddin Markaz chief Maulana Saad, whose outfit Tablighi Jamaat is being blamed for rising coronavirus cases in India, has arrived at his farmhouse in the Shamli district in Uttar Pradesh. Zee Media sources said on Thursday that the Crime Branch team is waiting outside Saads farmhouse in Kandhla in the Shamli district and will begin the search for the Markaz chief in a short while. Meanwhile, the Crime Branch has also launched a probe into the secret bank accounts of Maulana Saad and several other Tablighi Jamaat members to find the source of money and its utilisation. Delhi Police wants to question Maulana Saad Kandhalvi in connection with the FIR lodged against him and his outfit for violating a Centres ban on big gatherings while coronavirus lockdown is in force. The Crime Branch had earlier grilled three sons of Tablighi Jamaat chief, who had so far evaded arrest and put himself in home-quarantine. The Delhi Police had earlier issued notices to the Jamaat chief in connection with the gathering organised in Delhi. At least 17 people, including Saad, have been charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder for holding a gathering last month that authorities say led to a big jump in coronavirus infections. A congregation at Markaz in the Nizamuddin area of Delhi of Tablighi Jamaat became an epicentre of coronavirus spread, with several who attended the event testing positive and infecting hundreds of others across the country. The headquarters of the Tablighi Jamaat group in a cramped corner of Delhi was sealed and thousands of followers, including some from Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh, were taken into quarantine after it emerged that they had attended meetings there in mid-March. Police initially filed a case against Muhammad Saad Kandhalvi, the chief of the centre, for violating a ban on big gatherings but later invoked the law against culpable homicide. The Tablighi is one of the world`s biggest Sunni Muslim proselytising organisations with followers in more than 80 countries, promoting a pure form of Islam. The Tablighi administrators earlier said many of the followers who had visited its offices in Delhi`s historic Nizamuddin quarter were stranded after the government declared a three-week lockdown, and the centre had to offer them shelter. The Tablighi was also linked to a surge of cases in neighbouring Pakistan where it cancelled a similar gathering, but only at the last minute when thousands had already arrived at premises in the city of Lahore. China Hongguang Holdings (HKG:8646) shareholders are no doubt pleased to see that the share price has had a great month, posting a 34% gain, recovering from prior weakness. Longer term shareholders are no doubt thankful for the recovery in the share price, since it's pretty much flat for the year, even after the recent pop. Assuming no other changes, a sharply higher share price makes a stock less 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. The implication here is that deep value investors might steer clear when expectations of a company are too high. 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). 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 China Hongguang Holdings How Does China Hongguang Holdings's P/E Ratio Compare To Its Peers? We can tell from its P/E ratio of 6.10 that sentiment around China Hongguang Holdings isn't particularly high. If you look at the image below, you can see China Hongguang Holdings has a lower P/E than the average (6.8) in the building industry classification. SEHK:8646 Price Estimation Relative to Market April 23rd 2020 China Hongguang Holdings's P/E tells us that market participants think it will not fare as well as its peers in the same industry. Many investors like to buy stocks when the market is pessimistic about their prospects. 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. When earnings grow, the 'E' increases, over time. That means unless the share price increases, the P/E will reduce in a few years. Then, a lower P/E should attract more buyers, pushing the share price up. Story continues China Hongguang Holdings saw earnings per share decrease by 30% last year. A Limitation: P/E Ratios Ignore Debt and Cash In The Bank One drawback of using a P/E ratio is that it considers market capitalization, but not the balance sheet. That means it doesn't take debt or cash into account. 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). 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. How Does China Hongguang Holdings's Debt Impact Its P/E Ratio? China Hongguang Holdings has net debt worth 10% of its market capitalization. That's enough debt to impact the P/E ratio a little; so keep it in mind if you're comparing it to companies without debt. The Verdict On China Hongguang Holdings's P/E Ratio China Hongguang Holdings trades on a P/E ratio of 6.1, which is below the HK market average of 9.3. Since it only carries a modest debt load, it's likely the low expectations implied by the P/E ratio arise from the lack of recent earnings growth. What we know for sure is that investors are becoming less uncomfortable about China Hongguang Holdings's prospects, since they have pushed its P/E ratio from 4.6 to 6.1 over the last month. If you like to buy stocks that could be turnaround opportunities, then this one might be a candidate; but if you're more sensitive to price, then you may feel the opportunity has passed. Investors have an opportunity when market expectations about a stock are wrong. If the reality for a company is not as bad as the P/E ratio indicates, then the share price should increase as the market realizes this. Although we don't have analyst forecasts you could get a better understanding of its growth by checking out this more detailed historical graph of earnings, revenue and cash flow. 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. Perimeter Medical Imaging, Inc. Announces Receipt of $10 Million Grant Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2020) - New World Resource Corp. (TSXV: NW) ("New World") is pleased to announce that target RTO company, Perimeter Medical Imaging, Inc. ("Perimeter") announced it has received a $10.4 million (US$7.44 million) grant to further develop its AI ImgAssist technology for their OTIS device at leading cancer centers in Texas. This funding is granted by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) to support technology development and clinical studies aimed to decrease the reoperation rates for breast cancer patients. The sponsored technology, known as OTIS (Optical Tissue Imaging System), is designed to provide real-time information during breast cancer surgery. The platform's ability to deliver ultra-high resolution and sub-surface image volumes across the surface of the removed tissue along with information from existing methods allows surgeons to assess if they have achieved the successful removal of the entire tumor. Should a surgeon identify cancerous cells at the surface of the tissue, they can immediately remove additional tissue from the patient. The OTIS technology could lower the financial burden to the healthcare system and become a significant win for some patients, taking away the additional physical and mental trauma caused by the necessity to repeat the surgery. This CPRIT funding will support clinical studies assessing OTISTM technology and its potential to improve the lives of breast cancer patients. "The CPRIT award will be transformational for Perimeter as it provides substantial funding for key research projects partnering with world-renowned cancer care centers in Texas to advance our technology in pursuit of our mission to providing solutions that drive better patient care and lower healthcare costs by providing critical information during clinical procedures," said Dr. Anthony Holler, Perimeter's Chairman of the Board of Directors. New World and Perimeter are also pleased to announce that they have now agreed to a completion goal of late Q2 of 2020 for their amalgamation by way of plan of arrangement (the "Transaction"). The Transaction is an arm's length transaction and will result in a reverse take-over and change of control of New World by the shareholders of Perimeter. The resulting publicly traded company (the "Resulting Issuer") will be named Perimeter Medical Imaging AI, Inc. and its management team will be led by CEO Tom Boon and Perimeter's Chair of the Board, Dr. Anthony Holler. In connection with the completion goal of late Q2 of 2020, New World and Perimeter have also today agreed to amend and restate the previously announced arrangement agreement dated June 3, 2019 (the "Arrangement Agreement") to extend the outside closing date of the Transaction to December 31, 2020. In addition, the Arrangement Agreement was amended to set an additional closing condition that Perimeter raise a minimum of $3.0 million in a concurrent financing immediately prior to and in conjunction with completion of the Transaction as described below. Further information regarding the Transaction will be contained in a proxy statement and information circular that will be prepared jointly by New World and Perimeter and mailed to securityholders of both companies in due course in connection with annual and special securityholders meetings to be held by both companies. A copy of the second amended and restated Arrangement Agreement with respect to the Transaction will be filed on New World's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. In addition to the minimum required raise as mentioned above, the Transaction remains subject to customary closing conditions for transactions of this nature as well as all requisite regulatory approvals including approval of both New World's and Perimeter's securityholders, the acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange and a final order of the Supreme Court of British Columbia as to the fairness of the Transaction. The Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approvals and regulatory acceptance are obtained. New World's shares are currently halted from trading and are expected to remain halted pending the completion of the Transaction. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. About New World New World has cash and marketable securities of approximately $3.5 million (as of the close of business on December 31, 2019). About Perimeter Perimeter is a private Toronto-headquartered company that is developing, with plans to commercialize, advanced imaging tools that allow surgeons, radiologists and pathologists to better assess microscopic tissue structures during a surgical procedure. Perimeter's OTIS platform is an FDA-cleared point-of-care imaging system that provides surgeons with real-time, ultra-high resolution, sub-surface image volumes of the margin (1-2 mm below the surface) of an excised tissue specimen. In addition, Perimeter is developing advanced artificial intelligence/machine learning image assessment tools to increase the efficiency of review. Please refer to Perimeter's website: https://www.perimetermed.com/. Contact For further information regarding the content of this news release, New World or Perimeter please contact John Lando, President of New World at (604) 669-2701 or by email at jel@sterlingpac.com or Perimeter at (647) 360- 0302 or by email at contact@perimetermed.com. Cautionary Notice Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: the anticipated closing date of the Transaction, the terms and conditions of the Transaction, the anticipated name and management of the Resulting Issuer, the business and operations of Perimeter and the Resulting Issuer, the potential benefits of Perimeter's imaging technologies, the anticipated benefits of Perimeter's CPRIT funding, further information to be provided by Perimeter and New World and the filing of the second amended and restated Arrangement Agreement on SEDAR. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic, regulatory, competitive, political and social uncertainties, uncertain capital markets; uncertainties in launching a new product and making sales of OTIS, beginning commercial manufacturing of OTIS, and delay or failure to receive shareholder, court or regulatory approvals for the Transaction. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will proceed on the terms contemplated above or at all and that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. New World and Perimeter disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. THIS NEWS RELEASE, REQUIRED BY APPLICABLE CANADIAN LAWS, IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES, AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL SECURITIES AND NEITHER NEW WORLD OR PERIMETER IS SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED HEREIN. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE UNITED STATES 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 UNLESS REGISTERED OR EXEMPT THEREFROM. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/54810 The police in Mumbai have arrested two people for an alleged attack on journalist Arnab Goswami and his wife, officials said on Thursday, in an incident that stirred a political blame game. Goswami, the editor-in-chief and owner of Republic TV, said in a complaint at NM Joshi Marg police station that the incident took place at Ganpatrao Kadam Marg around 12:15am when he and his wife were returning home from a studio in Bombay Dyeing Complex in Lower Parel. Both of them were unhurt. Two men on a motorcycle overtook my car and tried to identify who was driving. They then blocked the path of my car with their two-wheeler. The pillion rider hit the right side driver window several times and after realising that the car windows were up, the pillion rider removed a liquid bottle from his pocket and threw liquid on the drivers side of the car where I was sitting, Goswami said in his complaint. The attackers were carrying a bottle of ink which they threw on his car, a police official told news agency PTI. Goswamis security guards, who were behind in another car, caught hold of the two persons and handed them over to the NM Joshi Marg police, he added. Those arrested have been identified as Pratik Kumar Shamsunder Mishra and Arun Dilip Borade, both residents of Sion in Mumbai. Both the accused were arrested immediately after the incident with the help of security personnel who were with Arnab, Abhinash Kumar, the deputy commissioner of police (zone 3), said. The suspects have been arrested under the charges of wrongful restraint and intentional insult with the intent to provoke breach of the peace, among others. In his complaint, Goswami pointed fingers at the Congress. In a video posted after the alleged attack, Goswami said he was told by his security guards that the attackers were Youth Congress workers. There was no confirmation by the police. Goswami has faced flak over his remarks aimed at Congress president Sonia Gandhi during a discussion on the Palghar incident in which three persons, including two sadhus, were lynched. Senior Congress leaders, including chief ministers, have criticised Goswami, with the partys chief spokesperson, Randeep Singh Surjewala, alleging that it was deeply disgraceful that PM & BJP eulogize this brand of TV anchors. Maharashtra energy minister and Congress leader Nitin Raut denied any role of the Congress party in the alleged attack on Goswami. The Congress shares power with the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party in Maharashtra. I dont think that any Congress worker can attack him because Congress has never worked in this manner. The party that has been created by the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, has maintained both moderation and balance since the beginning, said Raut, according to ANI. But the way he (Goswami) has tried to insult Congress president by using indecent languageWho gave this right to him? the Congress leader added. Centres ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including party president JP Nadda, condemned the alleged attack on oswami and targeted the Congress over the incident. Shocking to see Arnab Goswami attacked after Congress CMs publicly threatened him. Sad to see such public hounding of a journalist for his freedom of speech. Congress shows it is the party that brought Emergency and continues its rich tradition of trampling free speech, Nadda tweeted. (with agency inputs) The number of deaths from the novel coronavirus has been on a sharp rise over past nine days in Pointe Coupee Parish after the outlying parish had lagged behind the Baton Rouge area for weeks in fatalities from the pandemic, new data show. Deaths in Pointe Coupee, a rural parish with around 22,000 people, have jumped from two to 11 between April 13 and Wednesday, the parish Coroner's Office says. On a per capita basis, Pointe Coupee and East Feliciana parishes were in a rough tie for fastest rise in deaths since April 13 in the Baton Rouge area from the COVID-19 respiratory illness, an Advocate analysis of death data shows. But the swift jump in the grim total of COVID-19-related fatalities doesn't reveal the full picture of what's occurring in Pointe Coupee, a parish in the northwestern part of the Baton Rouge area. Nearly three-fourths of those deaths have been of former residents of two nursing homes in New Roads: Pointe Coupee Healthcare or Lakeview Manor, the Coroner's Office said. Ty Chaney, chief investigator for the Coroner's Office, said almost all of the COVID-19 deaths in the parish have involved elderly residents with underlying health conditions, mirroring findings from state and federal health officials that the virus most seriously attacks the aged. "Their immune system's already been weakened and, therefore, when they're catching it, it just makes it worse. It's harder for them to combat it," Chaney said. Our Views: Louisiana has long recovery ahead. It's too early to expect magical reopening A spunky 83-year-old demands a longer sprint down a hallway in his walker. Nurses and doctors pitch in with whatever tasks need to be done. Pr Statewide, nearly 65% of the 1,473 people who have died from the COVID-19 illness were 70 or older. All but one of the deaths in Pointe Coupee were of people 70 or older, a Coroner's Office listing says. The virus has struck nursing homes and their vulnerable populations across the nation. Nearly one-third of the deaths statewide have been of residents of nursing homes and other adult long-term care facilities, state health officials said. Through Wednesday, 205 nursing homes and other facilities in the state have reported cases. The state is no longer identifying nursing homes with clusters of coronavirus cases or deaths, but Lakeview Manor was identified as one of the known clusters before that reporting stopped after April 1. Pointe Coupee Healthcare had not been previously identified, however, and Chaney said six of the parish's deaths have been of residents of that facility. Two more deaths were of residents of Lakeview Manor, he said. 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 Chaney added that officials at Pointe Coupee Healthcare have reported to him that at least 15 cases of coronavirus were found in the home, mainly on a single hall. He said at least four cases were at Lakeview Manor. +4 Our Lady of the Lake now allowing family to visit dying coronavirus patients One of the many cruelties inflicted by the coronavirus is that many of its victims have died alone in sterile hospital rooms, with health care Overall the parish had 84 cases through Wednesday, the state reported. Lakeview Manor officials could be reached immediately for comment. Josh D'Arensbourg, regional operations director for the management company that runs Pointe Coupee Healthcare, said in a statement that the nursing home is fighting the virus "just as many nursing homes are across our state." The home, which is licensed for 120 beds but has about 104 residents currently, continues to apply all state and federal safety recommendations and protocols and officials are speaking with regulatory agencies and the nursing home's staff, residents and their families. "Our number one priority is to care for and protect our residents and staff," D'Arensbourg said in the statement. On a per capita basis, Pointe Coupee has risen from nine deaths per 100,000 people to 50 deaths per 100,000 since April 13. Only East Feliciana Parish rose at a slightly faster on a per capita basis during the period with nearly 51 deaths per 100,000 people, the Advocate analysis shows. The state average is 31.6 deaths per 100,000. +4 LSU college sweethearts die days apart from the coronavirus after 64 years of marriage In fall of 1955, Martin Shepherd III and Amy Dunaway began their freshman year at Louisiana State University. Months later they eloped, despit State officials have also pointed out a marked disparity in the share of black residents dying from the illnesses in nearly ever corner of Louisiana. In Pointe Coupee, the small number of deaths so far probably isn't enough yet for statistical significance -- the state only recently started reporting racial breakdowns in parishes with 25 or more deaths -- but so far, the handful of black residents who have died make up a group greater than the parish's overall share of African-American residents. A little more than one-third of Pointe Coupee's residents are African Americans while 5 of the 11 COVID-19-related deaths were black residents, or 45% of the total. Technavio has been monitoring the petroleum liquid feedstock market and it is poised to grow by USD 42.24 billion during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of over 3% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005496/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Petroleum Liquid Feedstock Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire) Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request Latest Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impact The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. BP Plc, Chevron Corp., Exxon Mobil Corp., Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Saudi Arabian Oil Co., and TOTAL SA are some of the major market participants. The need for petrochemical feedstock will offer immense growth opportunities. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Need for petrochemical feedstock has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Petroleum Liquid Feedstock Market 2019-2023: Segmentation Petroleum liquid feedstock market is segmented as below: Type Naphtha Gasoil Geographic Landscape APAC Europe MEA North America South America To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download latest free sample report of 2020-2024: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR31569 Petroleum Liquid Feedstock Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our petroleum liquid feedstock market report covers the following areas: Petroleum Liquid Feedstock Market Size Petroleum Liquid Feedstock Market Trends Petroleum Liquid Feedstock Market Industry Analysis This study identifies innovations in the downstream sector as one of the prime reasons driving the petroleum liquid feedstock market growth during the next few years. Petroleum Liquid Feedstock Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of vendors operating in the petroleum liquid feedstock market, including some of the vendors such as BP Plc, Chevron Corp., Exxon Mobil Corp., Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Saudi Arabian Oil Co., and TOTAL SA. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the petroleum liquid feedstock market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Petroleum Liquid Feedstock Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023 Detailed information on factors that will assist petroleum liquid feedstock market growth during the next five years Estimation of the petroleum liquid feedstock market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the petroleum liquid feedstock market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of petroleum liquid feedstock market vendors Table Of Contents: PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT 2.1 Preface 2.2 Preface 2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysis PART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing 2018 Market size and forecast 2018-2023 PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY TYPE Market segmentation by type Comparison by type Naphtha Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Gasoil Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Market opportunity by type PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Europe Market size and forecast 2018-2023 North America Market size and forecast 2018-2023 MEA Market size and forecast 2018-2023 South America Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Key leading countries Market opportunity PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challenges PART 11: MARKET TRENDS Adoption of blockchain in the oil and gas refining industry Innovations in downstream sector Rising exploration of unconventional petroleum resources PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruption Competitive scenario PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors BP Plc Chevron Corp. Exxon Mobil Corp. Royal Dutch Shell Plc Saudi Arabian Oil Co. TOTAL SA PART 14: APPENDIX Research methodology List of abbreviations Definition of market positioning of vendors PART 15: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005496/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Sewage is being monitored in parts of England and Spain to try and identify outbreaks of COVID-19 and help track the spread of the virus. Scientists from Newcastle University are working with Spanish academics in Santiago de Compostela to monitor sewage in their local networks. While the virus doesn't readily spread through waste water systems, non-infectious residues can be detected and they can be used to track the virus. The work will not identify if specific people are infected, but will allow researchers to estimate local concentrations of the virus by testing sewage from different locations. Sewage is being monitored in parts of England and Spain to try and identify outbreaks of COVID-19 and help track the spread of the virus Newcastle University researchers said this could help public health officials identify possible infection hot spots and react accordingly. The work, supported by Northumbrian Water and Labaqua in Spain, will allow the team to estimate the prevalence of COVID-19. Professor of ecosystems engineering, David Graham, who is co-leader of the project, said it could help give officials a general overview of infection rates. 'Without the capacity to test each person individually, particularly people without symptoms, we have limited information about how widespread the virus is or whether it is affecting some communities more than others,' he said. Sewage epidemiology - that is looking for signs of the virus in waste-water - is now being used around the world in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Our work here is to develop local solutions, but also to assist global efforts, by developing tools for predicting spread at a much earlier stage.' Northumbrian Water's wastewater director, Richard Warneford, said their teams were working with scientists to gather as much data as possible. 'Our wastewater teams are working with their engineers and scientists to safely gather and analyse data and we're hoping that together we can help make a difference in the battle against Covid-19.' In an earlier study, researchers from the Netherlands studied sewage samples from seven cities to look for evidence of COVID-19 in waste water. They found that even when there were few people with reported cases of the deadly coronavirus in the country, traces of it were still present in the sewers. Scientists from Newcastle University are working with Spanish academics in Santiago de Compostela to monitor sewage in their local networks In a non-peer reviewed paper, the KWR Water Research Institute team found it was unlikely that coronavirus was actually spread through sewers. They said, it's more that they could provide an early warning or tracking system as remnants of the virus are passed into the system from human waste. The Dutch scientists say the discovery of the virus in sewage means it could be used to provide an early warning system for the possible re-emergence of COVID-19 in a city that has re-opened after lockdown. 'The detection of the virus in sewage, even when the Covid-19 prevalence is low, indicates that sewage surveillance could be a sensitive tool to monitor the circulation of the virus in the population,' they wrote. It comes as recent research found that the virus can be isolated from urine and faeces and can survive for several days outside of a living organism. This adds to the confidence a study of wastewater could prove useful in tracking the deadly virus across cities and even countries. PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-23 17:26:28 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 503 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2020 / In March 2020, the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) welcomed retired Army Brigadier General Guy "Tom" Cosentino to the MEMRI Board of Advisors.After a 30-year Army career in strategy and operations, Brig. Gen. Cosentino currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Business Executives for National Security (BENS). Prior to joining BENS in September 2015, he served as the 28th Commandant of the National War College.Brig. Gen. Cosentino previously served as Deputy Director for Political and Military Affairs, providing military advice to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of Defense; Deputy Commanding General for Regional Support, NATO Training Mission Afghanistan; and Chief of Strategy, Plans, and Assessments for the Multi-National Security Transition Command in Iraq.MEMRI Board of Directors Chairman Oliver "Buck" Revell, former FBI Executive Assistant Director for Investigations, welcomed Brig.-Gen . Consentino's joining the MEMRI Board of Advisors as a "great honor" for MEMRI, adding: " Brig.-Gen . Cosentino is a tremendous addition to the current membership of former government and military officials on the Board, and with his vast experience in many areas he will surely have a great deal to contribute." MEMRI Board of Directors Member Amb. Alberto M. Fernandez added: "With his unmatched experience, knowledge, and background, Brig.-Gen . Cosentino will surely enrich our organization and help advance our mission moving into the future." The MEMRI Board of Advisors and Board of Directors include distinguished figures from government, media, law and academia from around the world. Among them are former prime ministers, attorneys-generals, justice ministers, legal and counterterrorism experts, and recipients of the most prestigious awards, including the Nobel Peace Prize, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the United States Congressional Gold Medal. Members of the MEMRI Board of Advisors are bipartisan and have honorably served Presidents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump.ABOUT MEMRIExploring the Middle East and South Asia through their media, MEMRI bridges the language gap between the West and the Middle East and South Asia, providing timely translations of Arabic, Farsi, Urdu-Pashtu, Dari, and Turkish media, as well as original analysis of political, ideological, intellectual, social, cultural, and religious trends.Founded in February 1998 to inform the debate over U.S. policy in the Middle East, MEMRI is an independent, nonpartisan, nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization. MEMRI's main office is located in Washington, DC, with branch offices in various world capitals. MEMRI research is translated into English, French, Polish, Japanese, Spanish and Hebrew.Please support MEMRI today to help us continue to provide timely translations and research. Your donation is 100% tax-deductible. You may donate online at www.memri.org/donate , mail a check to MEMRI, P.O. Box 27837, Washington, DC 20038-7837, or phone us at 202-955-9070.MEMRI - Middle East Media Research Institute: https://www.memri.org Contact Information:MEMRImedia@ memri.org 202-955-9070SOURCE: Middle East Media Research Institute The agency will use this summers shutdown to do required testing needed to connect the two segments. Metro had said last year that it would need to close Wiehle-Reston East station and possibly other tracks or stations for 13 weekends of tests before the second phase could open. By shutting down the entire segment for the summer, we have the opportunity to get it out [of the way] in one shot, Metro spokesman Dan Stessel said. Yehuda Shoenfeld is the world's leading expert in the research, treatment and prevention of autoimmune diseases. Professor Shoenfeld noted that the hyperferritinemic syndrome was thoroughly studied a while ago: 'We have already published the data on this clinical condition. In 50% of cases, patients with exceptionally high ferritin levels die. In fact, what we are witnessing at present with the new coronavirus infection is reminiscent of the situation with the hyperferritinemic syndrome.' Ferritin is a major intracellular iron storage protein in all organisms. It binds free ions of the trace element, neutralizing its toxic properties and increasing its solubility. In the soluble form, the body is able to expend iron as needed, in particular for regulation of cellular oxygen metabolism. Low ferritin levels result in lower iron concentrations and iron deficiency anemia. Elevated levels of ferritin, or hyperferritinemia, indicate the presence of viruses and bacteria into the body. Hyperferritinemia can also be caused by a genetic mutation. In this case, it leads to neurological disorders and vision problems. Recent studies by Italian scientists have shown that ferritin is able to activate macrophages. The latter are a type of white blood cell of the immune system that play a critical role in innate immunity, being the body's first line of defense. This is evidenced by hyperferritinemia in patients with septic shock, catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome, and other medical conditions characterized by macrophage activation. Similar observations have been reported by scientists from China and the United States. When activated, macrophages begin to secrete cytokines. These are a category of signaling molecules that mediate and regulate immunity. At low concentrations, they are safe for the body and help to protect it against viruses and bacteria. At high levels, the so called "cytokine storm" develops, which can be lethal for half of the patients, especially for the elderly. Thus, hyperferritinemia has been associated with increased illness severity and adverse outcomes, including COVID-19. Our task is to find a way to combat it.' Professor Yehuda Shoenfeld The scientist identified a further important indicator of macrophage activation and a high probability of complications. This is marker CD163. In the Laboratory of the Mosaic of Autoimmunity at St Petersburg University, the scientists are searching for a way to reduce circulating ferritin levels. In addition, they are studying possible methods of inhibiting the synthesis of CD163 and other macrophage signaling molecules using antibodies. Similar work is currently underway around the world. Additionally, Professor Shoenfeld and his colleagues are working on a vaccine against COVID-19. The researchers are developing a method of using virus particles, surface proteins of the virus as the main components of the vaccine. Since these fragments cannot be found in the human body, they are not able to produce an undesirable immune response, which makes them promising candidates for the vaccine. Confusion. Exhaustion. Fear. Tragedy. This is the picture of the unlawfully inadequate response to the COVID-19 pandemic at three for-profit long-term care homes alleged in intimate detail through hundreds of pages of submissions, internal communications, and written declarations from front-line workers. The documentation filed this week by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) to the Ontario labour relations board seeks immediate relief to protect the lives of both employees and residents, including an order to place the care homes under the direct control of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The application contains allegations of numerous occupational health and safety concerns, including lack of transparency about COVID-19 infections, severe understaffing, and critical shortages of personal protective equipment at Altamont Care Community, Anson Place and Eatonville Care Centre, where some of the provinces most severe outbreaks have unfolded. One written declaration from a worker at Altamont, where 28 residents have died, said employees were not fitted with N95 masks until the day after staff member Christine Mandegarian died from COVID-19. The day after Christine died, April 16, 2020, was the first time front-line workers were given N95 masks, says the written declaration from personal support worker Karen Ellington, who has also since fallen ill with the virus. We were told dont throw it away, we dont know when youre getting another one. Responsive Group Inc., the company that operates Anson Place and Eatonville, said it was committed to providing a safe environment for its staff and said it has been successful in obtaining additional PPE supplies to combat shortages and meet strict public health requirements. It was difficult to hear that some our staff feel we have not done everything possible to protect them throughout this crisis, the emailed statement said. We need to do better. In a statement to the Star, Sienna Senior Living said it was aware of the labour board application and will be filing our detailed response to the application in the coming days. The Company has acted in compliance with health guidelines and applicable legislation, including those relating to the use of personal protective equipment, and intends to vigorously defend itself against the application, its statement said. Late Tuesday night, the company told the Star it had made its reply to the labour board that said the unions application reflects either a fundamental lack of knowledge of the material facts, or a decision to ignore them. Our response outlines in detail how the Company has provided proper equipment, materials and protective devices in accordance with applicable regulations; has provided information, instruction and supervision to team members; and has taken every reasonable precaution in the face of an unprecedented situation. Sienna remains singularly focused on protecting the health and safety of team members and residents in our facilities, and on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, which is disproportionately affecting vulnerable seniors. SEIU represents some 60,000 front-line health workers, and wants the provincial labour board to order immediate emergency orders to protect its members and the residents in their care. The interventions sought by the union include orders directing employers to provide sufficient protective gear for workers, increase staffing, and provide transparent information on outbreaks. We are witnessing what happens when hollow words are met with failed action. That is why we are seeking an emergency hearing before the Board for immediate relief to our front-line members, said the unions president Sharleen Stewart in a statement. We will not stop until every worker is protected and every senior receives the care they deserve. Ontario employers have a legal obligation under occupational health and safety laws to take every precaution reasonable to protect workers from illness and injury, including from infectious disease. SEIUs labour board submission says the three privately-operated care homes named in its application failed to meet that responsibility. The employer is, quite frankly, failing the members, the residents, their families, and the public at large by its unlawfully inadequate response to this crisis, the unions application about each of the care homes says. At Eatonville, where as of late Tuesday 36 residents have died the highest number in Ontario the application says staff on some floors are provided with PPE, and on other floors they are not. Email correspondence from the union to management of the facility says workers should be given hazard pay, and raises repeated concerns about personal protective gear and poor information flow about staff and residents falling ill. In the correspondence, management for the nursing home said the facility had shared the ministrys directives with workers and thrown a pizza party in early April to thank staff. A pizza lunch is appreciated but members would prefer to be informed, says an email from union representative Maria Da Silva. Frontline workers do not have N95s but supervisors are wearing them, adds another email from Da Silva dated April 15. Surgical masks are not being given or are being worn and not being replaced. Public health guidance from the province says all workers in long-term care settings providing direct care or visiting clients must wear face masks. SEIU has advocated for front-line workers to also have access to N95 respirators. A written declaration from the unions chief steward at the facility said workers were provided with almost no information about infections and were critically understaffed. It is impossible to flatten the curve at Eatonville when some staff and 50 per cent of the resident population is infected but we are not told who, the declaration says. Similar circumstances were described by workers at Anson Place and Altamont nursing homes. A written declaration from Amanda Weaver said she is one of 35 staff members who have tested positive for COVID-19 at Anson, adding that the facility is now often operating with half the normal complement of PSWs and nurses. In my opinion, the most serious issue facing Anson Place at present is the deficiency in staff, her declaration says. Weaver said she participated in two phone calls with Ministry of Labour inspectors following staff complaints about health and safety issues and their employers lack of transparency with respect to notifying staff about infections. Weaver said she was not aware of any safety orders being issued to Anson Place by the ministry. I am worried the situation has become worse since I went off work, she said. At Altamont, email communication between worker reps and management show mounting frustration over what the labour board application calls the delayed and haphazard application of masking directives. As of Friday, Sienna has implemented a surgical mask requirement at all locations, says an April 6 email from the companys head of labour relations Jeffrey Wood. The only caveat would be if the Community does not have the adequate stock. By that time, Altamont had already been in a declared outbreak for 10 days, the SEIU application says. The tragedy came to a head in mid-April when a PSW at the facility became the first health-care worker in the province to die from the virus. The employer does not tell us about the staff members who tested positive for reasons of confidentiality. We have to guess based on who is absent. We cannot really know if we have come into contact with an infected colleague, says the written declaration from Ellington. On April 16, 2020 I found out my co-worker and fellow PSW Christine Mandegarian had died from COVID-19 infection, it says. She had worked the night shift for years, and when staff came in for the day shift to take over her assignments she would always go above and beyond to help us and residents, the declaration added. She was a delight to work with. Federal Laboratory for Materials Testing and Research Dubendorf, St. Gallen und Thun, 23.04.2020 - During the Corona crisis, protective masks have become a rare commodity. In order to equip Switzerland with sufficient protective equipment during future pandemics, Empa researchers are working together with a national consortium of researchers, health care experts and partners from industry on the "ReMask" project: New types of masks and technologies for reusing existing protective equipment are being developed for now, but also for future pandemics. Moreover, information on the manufacture of masks and textile protective systems as well as on standardized test methods have already been made publicly available. In the Corona crisis, Swiss researchers are joining forces. In order to meet Switzerland's need for protective equipment, researchers from Empa, ETH Zurich, EPFL and the Spiez Laboratory, together with a large number of partners from the health care sector and industry, have launched the "ReMask" project (https://www.empa.ch/web/remask). The aim is to develop technologies to reuse existing masks, domestic production of efficient protective equipment and alternative masks with new properties to trap and kill viruses. The knowledge gained from ReMask is to support the recently established "National COVID-19 Science Task Force", whose experts advise the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and other federal agencies on tackling the pandemic. One of the Task Force's high-priority tasks is the endeavor led by Peter Wick (Empa), Sarah Tschudin Sutter (Uni Basel) and Andreas Mortensen (EPFL) to develop projects for the production and reuse of protective masks. With ReMask this multidisciplinary approach is now being implemented. The expert group "Masks" of the Science Task Force has now issued a recommendation for minimum quality requirements for so-called "community masks" for the population. Based on these recommendations, Empa will temporarily investigate such community masks during the current crisis situation, until the relevant know-how can be transferred to an independent institution. Protective masks: Three types for different purposes Surgical masks are designed to prevent larger droplets of pathogens from being ejected by the wearer. They therefore protect the user somewhat less, as small particles can pass to the inside, and the mask does not sit tightly on the face. On the other hand, they protect the surroundings from virus-containing droplets from an infected wearer. Respiratory protection masks of the type FFP-2 ("filtering face piece") are different: FFP-2 masks are designed to protect the wearer from pollutants and pathogens in the environment. The smallest particles that can be trapped are around 600 nanometers in size. Both types of masks are currently only intended to be worn once. Thirdly, there are the so-called community masks or hygiene masks, which are not covered by the certified standards of the other two types of masks. The use of community masks is - as the name suggests - intended for the general population as a way to minimize the risk of transmission and thus protect the environment. In the Empa laboratories, research projects are already underway to overcome bottlenecks in the short term, with the aim of enabling the reuse of masks. This also ensures a more sustainable use of material resources in the long term. Among other things, it must be established how the masks can be sterilized without damaging them, how they can be stored for long periods, and how their effectiveness can be verified beyond doubt even after repeated use. To avoid the use of dangerous viruses for these experiments, the researchers are working with non-infectious particles that simulate the events on the inside and outside of a mask similar to a droplet infection. "We are currently developing devices that can reproduce these conditions," says Empa researcher Rene Rossi from the Laboratory for Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles in St. Gallen. Other mask properties such as air permeability (<60 Pa/cm2), splash water resistance (impermeable to splash water) or the efficiency of filtration against small particles (filtration efficiency of 70% for particles with a size of 1 micrometer) must also be investigated. The test protocols that will be developed for this purpose are distributed to companies that manufacture masks, filters and protective equipment. "It's all about a timely, nationwide effort," says Rossi. That's why the researchers don't work with a designated industrial partner, but have brought the entire industry on board. ReMask Consortium For the ReMask project, experts from research, health care and industry have joined forces to provide urgently needed products, concepts and services in a timely manner to provide technologies for the control of COVID-19. At Empa the Laboratory for Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles, the Particles-Biology Interactions Lab, the Transport at Nanoscale Interfaces Lab, the Center for X-ray Analytics and the Biointerfaces Lab are involved. Partners: ETH Zurich, EPFL, Spiez Laboratory, University Hospital Zurich, Inselspital Bern, "Centre hospitalier universitaire vaudois" (CHUV), "Hopitaux Universitaires de Geneve" (HUG), Wintertur Cantonal Hospital, Spital Wallis, Regio 144 AG, Indema AG and 200 companies of the Swiss Textiles industry association (https://subitex.empa.ch). ReMask's medium and long-term goals also include the development and production of novel masks and mask components. For instance, additional layers on the inside and outside of conventional masks will improve their durability and functionality. On the masks' inside, a water-binding layer is intended to bind moisture from the breath of the wearer. On the outside, the Corona virus is to be specifically blocked. It is already known that the Corona-like pathogen envelope is negatively charged. "Coatings on fibers or membranes that are positively charged would electrostatically bind and thus block the virus on the outside of the mask," explains Rossi. The researchers also want to develop textiles with virucidal properties. Rossi: "We are pursuing several approaches, with which Corona viruses that land on the textile can be inactivated. This work will build on the knowledge gained in the course of a previous project. Within this project of Empa and EPFL, a face mask was developed, which is equipped with a novel filter foil. These new, more robust and powerful masks must also withstand the test procedures that are already being implemented for used masks. For the production and functionalization of protective masks, Swiss companies will be involved. Thus, ReMask is not only a research project but also a business development project, which will provide orders to Swiss companies during the Corona crisis. Support for Start-ups In recent years, more than half of all Swiss "deep tech" start-ups have emerged from institutions of the ETH Domain, creating new technologies, services and jobs. To ensure that the innovative and economic performance of start-up companies in Switzerland is not jeopardized by the corona crisis, the ETH Domain recently launched a new initiative, in which Empa is also involved. The "COVID-19 Start-up Task Force" is to support highly qualified young companies in the current crisis situation. It also facilitates synergies and contacts with economic experts of the "National COVID-19 Science Task Force" and the most important stakeholders in the Swiss start-up ecosystem. Task Force COVID-19: Swiss researchers to fight together To manage the crisis, experts from relevant fields have come together to form the "National COVID-19 Science Task Force", which supports the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) and other federal agencies in an advisory capacity. The Task Force, which also involves Empa researchers, unites nationwide initiatives and competencies of the participating institutions. Swiss universities, the academies, the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) and partners from the clinical and industrial sectors are involved. The task force is headed by Matthias Egger, President of the SNSF's National Research Council. In addition to advising decision-makers, the participants focus on the development of products and technologies that help in the fight against SARS-CoV-2, as well as on research into the pathogen and suitable control measures. Further information: https://ncs-tf.ch/en Address for enquiries Martin Fischer SERI, Swiss National COVID-19 Task Force Martin.fischer@sbfi.admin.ch Dr. Michael Hagmann Empa Communication Phone +41 58 765 45 92 Michael.hagmann@empa.ch Due to the time-critical work in our laboratories, we currently ask you not to contact our researchers directly. Publisher Federal Laboratory for Materials Testing and Research http://www.empa.ch (Natural News) It seems that optimistic reports about China having the coronavirus completely under control and Sweden avoiding infections without resorting to lockdowns are both premature. In news that broke today, China has just placed a city of 11 million people under lockdown as an asymptomatic carrier of the coronavirus managed to infect 70 other people even after she spent 14 days in quarantine and showed no symptoms. The city is Harbin, and the carrier is a 22-year-old student who returned to China from New York, according to The Daily Star UK. She inadvertently infected dozens of people at a gathering, and one of those people ended up in the hospital, ultimately causing an outbreak that spread across two different hospitals in the region. The city has implemented a strict lockdown, with gates to all communities and villages remaining guarded, reports The Daily Star. Citizens have been asked to wear face masks when stepping out of villages, as well as have their temperatures checked. Public events have been cancelled and gatherings have been banned. So much for the theory that the coronavirus is easy to control. Deaths in Sweden surge past the USA, per capita Sweden, the nation typically cited by pandemic denialists who claim lockdowns arent necessary, is now seeing deaths surge far beyond the per capita death rate in the United States. As of today, Sweden has now confirmed 192 deaths per million residents, far beyond the 144 per million recorded in the United States, or the 174 per million in Switzerland. (Source accessed on April 22nd, 2020) Heres the chart showing the exploding deaths in Sweden, via Worldometers.info: This is what happens, of course, when a nation fails to take the pandemic seriously. For a while, everything looks fine, and then the numbers explode. It turns out that denialism isnt a good way to handle a pandemic. We wonder how long Brasils Bolsonaro will take to figure out the same thing (or will the dead bodies in the streets overwhelm his presidential palace first?). This success story cited by pandemic denialists looks more like a death wish Amazingly, pandemic denialists across America are still citing Sweden as a success story, claiming its outstanding handling of the outbreak proves that lockdowns arent necessary. But that narrative fell apart over the last 7 days as Swedens deaths skyrocketed. Most U.S. states are nowhere near Swedens per capita death rate, meaning that if lockdowns are ended prematurely, deaths have a tremendous amount of room to explode across the population in various U.S. states. Texas, for example, has so far only experienced 20 deaths per million residents. California is currently at 37. Georgia, where the governor wants to end the lockdowns and re-open gyms and fitness centers, so far only has 82 deaths per million. If the lockdowns are ended without proper precautions, all these states will see deaths surge past Sweden as they head toward New York numbers, where over 1,000 deaths per million people have already been recorded. Thats the other lesson in all this: Even with all the deaths in New York (around 700 800 per day lately), so far only 1 in 1,000 New Yorkers have been killed by the virus. Covid-19 is just getting started. It has barely begun to penetrate the population at large, especially in states like California which initiated early lockdowns that avoided the New York scenario (NY was ahead of California by around two weeks in terms of infection penetration). Those who are calling for an ending of the lockdowns but who refuse to wear masks or take other precautions are begging for a death wish. The current rally cry is, Give me liberty or give me death! The coronavirus is happy to oblige on the latter request for anyone stupid enough to not take this pandemic seriously. The viral brain-eating disease known as Stupid-19, it turns out, is often fatal. Stay informed and stay alive. Read Pandemic.news. The coronavirus death toll rose to 24 in Uttar Pradesh as three more people succumbed to the infection on Thursday, an official release said. According to the release, while two deaths were reported from Kanpur, the third one took place in Agra, which has so far recorded the maximum seven fatalities in the state. Agra is followed by Moradabad in terms of the death toll, where the virus has claimed five lives so far. The other districts from where coronavirus deaths have been reported are Meerut and Kanpur (three each); and one each in Basti, Varanasi, Bulandshahar, Lucknow, Firozabad and Aligarh. The state has so far reported 1,510 cases with 61 fresh cases surfacing on Thursday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The sheriff of a Washington county, where the first case of coronavirus was reported in the US, has reportedly announced that he refuses to implement stay-at-home orders set out by the governor. Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fortney seemingly took to Facebook on Tuesday to condemn the stay-at-home order in response to governor Jay Inslees update about the states lockdown and outlined a plan for re-opening the economy. He has no plan. He has no details. This simply is not good enough in times when we have taken such drastic measures as the suspension of constitutional rights, Mr Fortney began in a lengthy post on what appeared to be the sheriff''s public account. The post explained how he thinks the government should be taking an all or nothing approach to shutting down the states economy. Maybe its time for a balanced and reasonable approach to safely get our economy moving again and allowing small businesses to once again provide an income for their families and save their businesses, the post read. If we are going to allow government contractors and pot shops to continue to make a living for their families, then it is time to open up this freedom for other small business owners who are comfortable operating in the current climate. In defiance of the governor the sheriff appeared to outline how he was not willing to lawfully implement the stay-at-home order within the county. As I have previously stated, I have not carried out any enforcement for the current a stay-at-home order. I believe that preventing business owners to operate their businesses and provide for their families intrudes on our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the post said. The post claimed that the sheriff had written most of it about two weeks ago but decided to abstain from posting then due to respect for the Governor and misguided hope. Sonohomish County was the first in America to report a coronavirus case when a man tested positive on 20 January. There are now more than 2,200 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in the county according to statistics from the Snohomish Health District. The Bihar BJP on Thursday accused election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor of travelling to Kolkata secretly in a cargo plane, dodging the lockdown, at the instance of his current benefactor and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Kishor, who earlier worked with the BJP but turned into its strident critic of late, reacted with indignation, saying he would retire from public life if the allegations were proven true. He also asserted that those levelling the allegation against him should apologise. In a statement, state BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand asked by whose permission did Kishor, who is neither a government official nor a crew member of any air carrier nor a medical personnel, travel to Kolkata. Why must this travel not be considered illegal in view of the lockdown? he asked. We demand that the documents which have facilitated his travel, secretly in a cargo plane dodging the lockdown, be made public. Else we would put pressure on the Airport Authority of India and the Civil Aviation Ministry to order an inquiry into the episode, Anand added. He also alleged that Banerjee, who also heads the ruling TMC in West Bengal, has been a failure in tackling the coronavirus crisis and incapable of even optimally utilising the funds and resources provided by the Centre. Anand said she had summoned Kishor for an image makeover. Her reposing trust in a political tout is an insult to corona warriors of her state who are doing their best despite her questionable leadership, remarked the BJP leader, whose party has been aggressively trying to make inroads into West Bengal ever since its spectacular performance there in the Lok Sabha polls last year. Kishor appeared peeved at the allegations and told PTI if he (the BJP spokesman) is speaking the truth, he should furnish details like which flight I boarded and the time when it took off and landed. "If he does so, I will retire from public life. If not, people like him should apologize. Notably, besides the BJP spokesman, Ajay Alok, a fiery leader of the JD(U), which had expelled Kishor a few months ago, also shared a item about the poll strategists alleged travel to Kolkata with a snide remark aimed at the West Bengal chief minister. During the pandemic people are seeking masks, sanitizers, ventilators and other equipment alongside doctors and nurses. Didi (the Bengali word for elder sister which Banerjees supporters and detractors use to address her) ordered such a heavy duty cargo item, Alok exclaimed in his tweet. Kishor also pointed out that the flight operations are controlled by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the concerned Union ministry. With the BJP in power at the Centre, it should not be difficult for those levelling allegations to come up with proof in support of their claim. Kishor, who first shot to fame in 2014 Lok Sabha elections when he handled the poll campaign of Narendra Modi, joined the JD(U) headed by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in 2018 and was catapulted to the party's national vice president's post within weeks of joining it. He was sacked when he launched a personal attack on Kumar, disputing the latter's contention that he was inducted into the JD(U) upon the recommendation of Amit Shah, who was then the BJP president. Kishor has been hired by the TMC to give it a boost in the 2021 Bengal polls. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In this time of peril to print media in general and newspapers in particular, I cannot imagine a morning when I cannot catch up with the Tribune columnists I read every day. Mary Schmich and Heidi Stevens lift my spirits. John Kass introduces me to different points of view, often irritating me in the best possible way. Rex Huppke is so funny he makes me spit out my coffee. Blair Kamin, Ryan Ori and Mary Wisniewski keep me informed about whats happening in our city. Michael Phillips, Chris Jones and Howard Reich keep me abreast of whats happening in the citys arts scene. Ron Grossman and Rick Kogan share brilliant insights that help me understand how we got to where we are today through their colorful profiles of movers and shakers, past and present. These are just a few of the wonderful journalists who share their knowledge and insight with us every day. The horn at Harland and Wolff, a historic shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland, best known as the site where the ill-fated RMS Titanic was built, sounded over the city on Thursday, April 23, in tribute to National Health Service (NHS) workers. It was the third such tribute by the shipyard in as many weeks, taking place on Thursday evenings as people clapped across the UK to applaud health workers. The siren had been sounded on April 9 for the first time in two decades, the Belfast Telegraph reported. We simply wanted to share our gratitude to all workers in the NHS and other critical services across Northern Ireland, the UK and globally, as we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them in these unprecedented times, Harland and Wolff said on Twitter that day, as it shared footage of workers clapping atop one of the shipyards two gantry cranes, which are called Samson and Goliath. Credit: Glyn Roberts via Storyful HOUSTON, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Group 1 Automotive, Inc. (NYSE: GPI), an international, Fortune 500 automotive retailer, today announced that it will release financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2020, on Tuesday, May 5, 2020, before market open. Earl J. Hesterberg, Group 1's president and chief executive officer, and the company's senior management team will host a conference call to discuss the results later that morning at 10 a.m. ET. The conference call will be simulcast live on the Internet at www.group1auto.com. Click on 'Investor Relations' and then 'Events' or through this link: http://www.group1corp.com/events. A webcast replay will be available for 30 days. The conference call will also be available live by dialing in 15 minutes prior to the start of the call at: Domestic: 1-888-317-6003 International: 1-412-317-6061 Conference ID: 9778036 A telephonic replay will be available following the call through May 12, 2020 by dialing: Domestic: 1-877-344-7529 International: 1-412-317-0088 Replay ID: 10143292 About Group 1 Automotive, Inc. Group 1 owns and operates 186 automotive dealerships, 242 franchises, and 49 collision centers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Brazil that offer 31 brands of automobiles. Through its dealerships, the Company sells new and used cars and light trucks; arranges related vehicle financing; sells service contracts; provides automotive maintenance and repair services; and sells vehicle parts. Investors please visit www.group1corp.com, www.group1auto.com, www.group1collision.com, www.facebook.com/group1auto, and www.twitter.com/group1auto, where Group 1 discloses additional information about the Company, its business, and its results of operations. Investor contacts: Sheila Roth Manager, Investor Relations Group 1 Automotive, Inc. 713-647-5741 | [email protected] Media contacts: Pete DeLongchamps Senior V.P. Manufacturer Relations, Financial Services and Public Affairs Group 1 Automotive, Inc. 713-647-5770 | [email protected] or Clint Woods Pierpont Communications, Inc. 713-627-2223 | [email protected] SOURCE Group 1 Automotive, Inc. Related Links http://www.group1auto.com A bug in iPhones and iPads could have left people at risk of having their iPhones broken into and their personal information looked at, security researchers have claimed. Just one email could be enough to crash the phone and use that to access the sensitive data contained on it, according to the researchers. Apple will fix the bug in its operating systems that allowed hackers to break in through its email client, the Mail app. More than half a billion devices could have been liable to the exploit, according to the security researchers who found it. The bug was found by San Francisco security company ZecOps while it was investigating a sophisticated attack against one of its clients, which took place at the end of last year, it claimed. The company then found evidence that it had been exploited in at least different cyber attacks, according to ZecOps chief executive Zuk Avraham. Recommended Apple releases maps data to track whether people are obeying lockdown Apple has confirmed that the major vulnerability exists in the email software and that a fix is on its way. The update will come in a new version of the operating system that will come to its iPhones and iPads. But it did not comment on claims that the bug could be triggered with just one email, or claims that it had already been used on high-profile people. While ZecOps claimed the bug has been used as far back as 2018 by unknown hackers, that claim is yet to be independently verified. The attack would arrive in the form of an apparently blank email, according to Mr Avraham, which when opened would cause the Mail app to crash and then reset itself. It was that apparently innocent issue that opened up the exploit for hackers, who would then be able to take photos and contact details, he said. Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty Mr Avraham said that the bug was found when it was used against a "Fortune 500 North American technology company", but did not say which. There was evidence it had been used against other companies in Japan, Germany, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, he said. Avraham based most of his conclusions on data from "crash reports" which are generated when programmes fail in mid-task on a device. He was then able to recreate a technique that caused the controlled crashes. Two independent security researchers who reviewed ZecOps' discovery found the evidence credible, but said they had not yet fully recreated its findings. Patrick Wardle, an Apple security expert and former researcher for the U.S. National Security Agency, said the discovery "confirms what has always been somewhat of a rather badly kept secret: that well-resourced adversaries can remotely and silently infect fully patched iOS devices". Because Apple was not aware of the software bug until recently, it could have been very valuable to governments and contractors offering hacking services. Exploit programs that work without warning against an up-to-date phone can be worth more than $1 million. While Apple is largely viewed within the cybersecurity industry as having a high standard for digital security, any successful hacking technique against the iPhone could affect millions due to the device's global popularity. In 2019, Apple said there were about 900 million iPhones in active use. Bill Marczak, a security researcher with Citizen Lab, a Canada-based academic security research group, called the vulnerability discovery "scary". "A lot of times, you can take comfort from the fact that hacking is preventable," said Marczak. "With this bug, it doesn't matter if you've got a PhD in cybersecurity, this will eat your lunch." Additional reporting by Reuters The COVID-19 pandemic has been a wake up call for the domestic solar industry as it is heavily dependent on imports, but domestic manufacturing can be sustained only if there is profitability, a senior official of Tata Power Solar said. As much as 80 per cent of the demand for solar cells and modules are met by imports from Chinese companies. Therefore, the imposition of work restrictions by China in eight coronavirus-affected provinces, most of which are hubs of solar module manufacturers, impacted the Indian solar industry. The developers are facing a shortfall of raw materials which is going to affect the installations in the first half of the year. "COVID-19 pandemic is indeed a wake up call for the solar industry as the sector has been severely impacted due to the shortage of not just cells and modules but also other ancillary products. "This calls for setting up more manufacturing facilities in India. But this will happen only if there is a long term business proposition," the company's Managing Director and CEO Ashish Khanna said during a webinar. He said India has the necessary technology, which is at par with global standards, but what is lacking is the scale. "The government is taking steps by coming up with few manufacturing-linked tenders for setting up solar capacities and has also introduced basic custom duty on imports, but we need a policy framework that will ensure longevity of offtake of the products manufactured as well as profitability," he said. India has set an ambitious target of adding 100 GW of solar energy by 2022 and has so far achieved installation of 34 GW. Khanna further said manufacturing is highly capital intensive and needs to be incentivised by the government to make it more cost competitive. "I am told that recently China proposed to set up 60 GW of manufacturing capacity, which can take care of over 50 per cent of global demand. These manufacturers get a lot of subsidies and incentives from the government and therefore can sell it at cheaper rates. "In the post COVID-19 period, developers and contractors may go back to Chinese modules and cells if we don't give a good quality and cheaper alternative which is made in India," he said. Khanna noted that if the Indian government, through various policy initiatives, can ensure scale and profitability, manufacturers will increase production, which will not just cater to the domestic market but can also be exported. Tata Power Solar, which is largely focused on setting up solar projects on engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) basis, also has a manufacturing unit in Bengaluru. The facility has a production capacity of 400 MW of modules and 300 MW of cells and the company is keen to invest in technology and capacity enhancement. "If there are returns, then why will we not invest? We have already invested in setting up the facility and we are eager to invest more in technology and capacity enhancement. However, manufacturing is not just a transaction but has to be looked at from a long-term horizon," Khanna added. Tata Power Solar, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Power, has commissioning over 425 MW rooftop projects, over 5.4 GW large projects, and more than 25,000 installations of solar water pumps across the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Goa government is setting up two facilities to conduct COVID-19 testing for crew members from the state disembarking from ships in Mumbai. Earlier on Thursday, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had said that "sign-off of (Goan) seafarers on Marella has started at Mumbai port". "Karnika vessel is on anchorage and Angriya vessel is docked. Goan seafarers will be tested at Mumbai port after which they will be brought to Goa in accordance with the protocol/SOP of the GOI," Sawant had tweeted The Union government has drawn guidelines for the people who are stranded on ships due to the COVID-19 outbreak globally. During the Goa governments state executive committee meeting held on Thursday, State Health Secretary Nila Mohanan said that Goa had not yet faced any community transmission. As per the Standard Operating Procedure issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Health department is setting up a testing facility at Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) for those who were working on the ships, she said. "Another facility is to be created at Pattradevi Check Post in North Goa for those who might come by road from Mumbai," she said. The Health department intends to complete the testing within 24 hours and the crew shall remain on the ship till the results of the tests come. "If tested negative, they should be shifted to an institutional quarantine facility for 14 days, and if tested positive, they should be shifted to COVID-19 Hospital," Mohanan said. She also said that the state Cabinet has decided that the payment for their lodging and food at the institutional quarantine should be made by the employer company. In the first stage, four kiosks would be put up at MPT, the official said. "After taking the sample by swab, the testing will be done at a testing facility at Bicholim, which is being set up right now," she said. The Union government has also lauded Goa for being the first state to train and utilise the services of Ayush doctors for COVID-19 related duties, she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two specific cell types in the nose have been identified as likely initial infection points for COVID-19 coronavirus. Scientists discovered that goblet and ciliated cells in the nose have high levels of the entry proteins that the COVID-19 virus uses to get into our cells. The identification of these cells by researchers from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, University Medical Centre Groningen, University Cote d'Azur and CNRS, Nice and their collaborators, as part of the Human Cell Atlas Lung Biological Network, could help explain the high transmission rate of COVID-19. Reported today (23rd April) in Nature Medicine, this first publication with the Lung Biological Network is part of an ongoing international effort to use Human Cell Atlas data to understand infection and disease. It further shows that cells in the eye and some other organs also contain the viral-entry proteins. The study also predicts how a key entry protein is regulated with other immune system genes and reveals potential targets for the development of treatments to reduce transmission. Novel coronavirus disease - COVID-19 - affects the lungs and airways. Patient's symptoms can be flu-like, including fever, coughing and sore throat, while some people may not experience symptoms but still have transmissible virus. In the worst cases, the virus causes pneumonia that can ultimately lead to death. The virus is thought to be spread through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and appears to be easily transmitted within affected areas. So far the virus has spread to more than 184 countries and claimed more than 180,000 lives. Scientists around the world are trying to understand exactly how the virus spreads, to help prevent transmission and develop a vaccine. While it is known that the virus that causes COVID-19 disease, known as SARS-CoV-2, uses a similar mechanism to infect our cells as a related coronavirus that caused the 2003 SARS epidemic, the exact cell types involved in the nose had not previously been pinpointed. To discover which cells could be involved in COVID-19 transmission, researchers analysed multiple Human Cell Atlas (HCA) consortium datasets of single cell RNA sequencing, from more than 20 different tissues of non-infected people. These included cells from the lung, nasal cavity, eye, gut, heart, kidney and liver. The researchers looked for which individual cells expressed both of two key entry proteins that are used by the COVID-19 virus to infect our cells. We found that the receptor protein - ACE2 - and the TMPRSS2 protease that can activate SARS-CoV-2 entry are expressed in cells in different organs, including the cells on the inner lining of the nose. We then revealed that mucus-producing goblet cells and ciliated cells in the nose had the highest levels of both these COVID-19 virus proteins, of all cells in the airways. This makes these cells the most likely initial infection route for the virus." Dr. Waradon Sungnak, first author on the paper from Wellcome Sanger Institute Dr Martijn Nawijn, from the University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands, said, on behalf of the HCA Lung Biological Network: "This is the first time these particular cells in the nose have been associated with COVID-19. While there are many factors that contribute to virus transmissibility, our findings are consistent with the rapid infection rates of the virus seen so far. The location of these cells on the surface of the inside of the nose make them highly accessible to the virus, and also may assist with transmission to other people." The two key entry proteins ACE2 and TMPRSS2 were also found in cells in the cornea of the eye and in the lining of the intestine. This suggests another possible route of infection via the eye and tear ducts, and also revealed a potential for fecal-oral transmission. When cells are damaged or fighting an infection, various immune genes are activated. The study showed that ACE2 receptor production in the nose cells is probably switched on at the same time as these other immune genes. The work was carried out as part of the global Human Cell Atlas consortium which aims to create reference maps of all human cells to understand health and disease. More than 1,600 people across 70 countries are involved in the HCA community, and the data is openly available to scientists worldwide. As we're building the Human Cell Atlas it is already being used to understand COVID-19 and identify which of our cells are critical for initial infection and transmission. This information can be used to better understand how coronavirus spreads. Knowing which exact cell types are important for virus transmission also provides a basis for developing potential treatments to reduce the spread of the virus." Dr. Sarah Teichmann, senior author from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and co-chair of the HCA Organising Committee The global HCA Lung Biological Network continues to analyze the data in order to provide further insights into the cells and targets likely to be involved in COVID-19, and to relate them to patient characteristics. By pinpointing the exact characteristics of every single cell type, the Human Cell Atlas is helping scientists to diagnose, monitor and treat diseases including COVID-19 in a completely new way. Researchers around the world are working at an unprecedented pace to deepen our understanding of COVID-19, and this new research is testament to this. Collaborating across borders and openly sharing research is crucial to developing effective diagnostics, treatments and vaccines quickly, ensuring no country is left behind." Professor Sir Jeremy Farrar, Director of Wellcome Sanger Institute Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Washington, United States Thu, April 23, 2020 08:45 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3ab06c 2 World US,Donald-Trump,coronavirus,COVID-19,COVID-19-lockdown,COVID-19-quarantine,reopening Free US President Donald Trump issued rare criticism of a Republican state governor Wednesday, expressing strong disagreement with Georgia's decision to reopen small businesses like tattoo parlors and nail salons. Trump's administration last week laid out gradual plans to get America back to work while observing health guidelines as much as possible to limit the spread of the coronavirus. But Brian Kemp, governor of the southern state of Georgia, and Florida's Ron DeSantis, both Republicans like Trump, have announced more aggressive easing of restrictions. Kemp said that from Friday he is allowing gyms, bowling alleys, tattoo parlors, barbershops, nail salons and other small firms to reopen. At his daily briefing, Trump told reporters "it's too soon" for those businesses to resume operations. "I told the governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, that I disagree strongly with his decision to open certain facilities which are in violation of the Phase One guidelines" for reopening issued last week. There must be 14 days of declining infection numbers before a reopening, the government said. "I respect him and I will let him make his decision. Would I do that? No. I'd keep them [closed] a little bit longer. I want to protect people's lives," Trump said. At the same press conference, the country's top infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, said that if he were advising Kemp, "I would tell him that he should be careful. And I would advise him not to just turn the switch on and go." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 09:38 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3b3a6e 1 World COVID-19,Indonesia,South-Korea,bilateral-cooperation,bilateral-relation,Joko-Widodo,Moon-Jae-In Free South Korean President Moon Jae-In has expressed support for President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in Indonesia's battle against the coronavirus outbreak. In a statement dated April 21 posted to the official Instagram account of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Indonesia (@koremb.idn), South Korean Presidential spokesman Kang Min-seok said that the two Presidents engaged in a 20-minute conversation about the global pandemic and its effect on their countries. "I heard that Indonesia has seen a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases as well as in the number of deaths, and that the Indonesian government has tried its best to curb the outbreak, including declaring [the outbreak] as a national disaster," Moon said during the conversation, as quoted in the statement published on Wednesday. Moon also expressed his confidence that the Jokowi administration would soon overcome the outbreak through good coordination between the Indonesian government and its citizens. According to the statement, Jokowi congratulated Moon for South Korea's success in halting the spread of coronavirus, and that he wished to learn more about Seoul's experience in managing its outbreak. South Korea has earned praise for its swift response to the COVID-19 pandemic after quickly slowing the rate of infection and deaths, including by rapidly establishing testing facilities across the country and imposing physical distancing measures to limit the spread of the virus. Jokowi also thanked Moon during the call for Seoul's pledge to donate medical equipment, protective gear and test kits to Jakarta. Read also: Emergency aid from South Korea reaches virus-crippled Indonesia The South Korean government has pledged a US$500,000 grant-in-kind to Indonesia, which includes medical supplies, COVID-19 test kits and rechargeable power sprayers. The statement said that Jokowi asked Moon to join Indonesia to strengthen international cooperation in addressing the COVID-19 health crisis and the post-pandemic economic crisis. In ending the phone call with Jokowi, Moon quoted the Indonesian proverb "ringan sama dijinjing, berat sama dipikul" (trouble shared is trouble halved) and expressed his hope that the two leaders would intensify communication during this difficult time. (nal) Iran has mocked President Donald Trump for 'bullying' and 'spinning a Hollywood tale' of events after he threatened naval action against Iranian gunboats that were 'practicing defensive maneuvers'. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he had instructed the U.S. Navy to fire on any Iranian ships that harass it at sea, a week after 11 vessels from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) came 'dangerously' close to U.S. ships in the Persian Gulf Waters. Trump wrote in a tweet: 'I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea.' However Iranian mission to the United Nations spokesperson Alireza Miryousefi questioned Pentagon's priorities, telling Newsweek: 'In the midst of a global coronavirus pandemic when all attentions worldwide is to combat this menace, the question is what the U.S. military is doing in Persian Gulf waters, 7000 miles from home'. Adding: 'Iran has proven that it will not succumb to intimidation and threats, nor will it hesitate to defend its territory, in accordance with international law, from any and all aggressions.' Scroll down for video. Warning: Donald Trump fired off a tweet aimed at Tehran telling them their boats would be 'shot down' if they harass U.S. Navy vessels While Iran's Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi told the Iranian Students' News Agency: 'Instead of bullying others today, Americans must do their best to save those who are infected with the coronavirus.' Trump did not cite a specific event in his tweet or provide details. The White House had no immediate comment. The U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet referred questions about the tweet to the Pentagon, and the Pentagon referred questions to the White House. The tweet came amid a re-escalation of tension, with Iran's Revolutionary Guards saying hours earlier that that they had launched the country's first military satellite, which the U.S. regards as a cover for missile development. Trump followed his attack by linking the order to his November re-election campaign, saying 'Sleepy Joe [Biden] thought this was OK. Not me!' over a video from an Iranian patrol boat apparently approaching a U.S. Navy ship, then he tweeted a cartoon attack on Barack Obama. Follow-up: Donald Trump linked his orders to 'destroy' Iranian patrol boats to his re-election campaign, accusing his Democratic rival Biden of being weak on Iran The current president has made attacking his predecessor on Iran to hurt Biden part of his re-election campaign, although explicitly linking it to military orders appears to be a new development. In Tehran General Abolfazl Shekarchi, a spokesman for Iran's armed forces, accused Trump of 'bullying' and said the American president should focus on taking care of U.S service members infected with the coronavirus. The U.S. military had more than 2,600 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of last week, and at least two service members have succumbed to COVID-19. 'Today, Americans must do their best to save those troops who are infected with coronavirus instead of bullying others,' Shekarchi said, according to Irans semi-official news agency ISNA. The country had hours earlier announced the launch of its first successful satellite - an activity the U.S. says is cover for a ballistic missile program. 'The first satellite of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been successfully launched into orbit by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,' said the Guards' Sepahnews website. Iran's Revolutionary Guards say they have launched the country's first military satellite. This picture shows the failed launch of the Zafar satellite on February 9 It said the satellite - dubbed the Nour, which means light - had been launched from the Qassed two-stage launcher from the Markazi desert, a vast expanse in Iran's central plateau. The satellite 'orbited the earth at 264 miles', said the website. 'This action will be a great success and a new development in the field of space for Islamic Iran,' the statement added. The surprise operation comes more than two months after Iran launched but failed to put into orbit another satellite that it said had no military dimensions. Washington says that these satellite launches defy a UN Security Council resolution on ballistic missiles. U.S. officials fear that the launches could help Iran develop intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Iran maintains it has no intention of acquiring nuclear weapons, claiming its aerospace activities are peaceful and comply with the UN's orders. It is not believed that Iran has the technology to miniaturize a nuclear weapon on a ballistic missile. Israel, which Tehran refuses to recognise, called on the international community to condemn Iran's satellite launch. 'Israel calls upon the international community ... to impose further sanctions on the Iranian regime. All in order to deter it from continuing such dangerous and opposing activity,' Israel's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. A group of 11 ships with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps repeatedly crossed the bows and sterns of the U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet at close range and high speeds - with one passing within just 10 meters of a Coast Guard cutter The 'dangerous and provocative actions increased the risk of miscalculation and collision,' a statement from U.S. Central Command said, adding that U.S commanders on the scene 'retain the inherent right to self-defense' (pictured: USCGC Maui surrounded by three Iranian ships) The American vessels included the USS Paul Hamilton, a Navy destroyer; the USS Lewis B. Puller (above), a ship that serves as an afloat landing base; and the USCGC Maui. The ships were operating with U.S. Army Apache attack helicopters in international waters, the statement said And Trump's intervention is a week after nearly a dozen Iranian naval vessels repeatedly harassed and made 'dangerous' approaches to American ships conducting operations in the Persian Gulf near Kuwait in a tense exchange that last more than an hour. A group of 11 ships with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps repeatedly crossed the bows and sterns of the U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet at close range and high speeds - with one passing within just 10 meters of a Coast Guard cutter. The 'dangerous and provocative actions increased the risk of miscalculation and collision,' a statement from U.S. Central Command said, adding that U.S commanders on the scene 'retain the inherent right to self-defense.' The American vessels included the USS Paul Hamilton, a Navy destroyer; the USS Lewis B. Puller, a ship that serves as an afloat landing base; and the USCGC Maui. Coastguard vessels are part of U.S. forces in the Gulf. The ships were operating with U.S. Army Apache attack helicopters in international waters, the statement said. U.S. forces issued multiple warnings via bridge-to-bridge radio, fired five short blasts from the ships' horns and long-range acoustic noise maker devices, but received no immediate response from the Iranian vessels, officials said. Eventually, after around an hour, the Iranian ships acknowledged the warnings over the bride-to-bridge radio and then maneuvered away. Iranian officials did not immediately acknowledge the incident, which comes after armed men - also believed to be from Iran's Revolutionary Guard - seized a Hong Kong-flagged tanker last Tuesday before later releasing the vessel. The semi-official Fars news agency, believed to be close to the paramilitary Guard, acknowledged the incident in a report that did not include any comment from Iranian officials. Iranian officials did not immediately acknowledge the incident U.S. forces issued multiple warnings via bridge-to-bridge radio, fired five short blasts from the ships' horns and long-range acoustic noise maker devices, but received no immediate response from the Iranian vessels, officials said Eventually, after around an hour, the Iranian ships acknowledged the warnings over the bride-to-bridge radio and then maneuvered away. Tense incidents remain common between Iranian and U.S. forces in the Persian Gulf, particularly in its narrow mouth called the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of all the world's oil passes. Iran seized ships several last summer and the U.S. accuses it of attacking tankers in the region amid tensions over Trump unilaterally withdrawing America from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers. Last June, an Iranian surface-to-air missile system also shot down a U.S. Navy surveillance drone that was hovering above the region. Iran argued the drone was over its territory. The attack escalated regional tensions and fueled a surge in oil prices. Standoff: The tensions spiked when U.S. forces killed Iran's most powerful general, Qassem Soleimani, in January. His Revolutionary Guards launched the Nour satellite and also operate the patrol boats threatened by Trump The U.S.-led International Maritime Security Construct, a group created to deter Iranian attacks in the region, acknowledged the incident in a statement late Wednesday. The group said it 'assessed no immediate threat to the free flow of shipping in the area.' Despite the U.S military expanding its response to the outbreak of COVID-19 at home and among its forces, senior defense officials have repeatedly stated that the virus would not disrupt global military operations. Tensions between the nations escalated after the Trump administration withdrew from the international nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers in 2018 and reimposed crippling sanctions on Iran. Last May the U.S. sent thousands more troops, including long-range bombers and an aircraft carrier, to the Middle East in response to what it called a growing threat of Iranian attacks on U.S. interests in the region. The tensions spiked when U.S. forces killed Iran's most powerful general, Qassem Soleimani, in January. Iran responded with a ballistic missile attack on a base in western Iraq where U.S. troops were present. No Americans were killed but more than 100 suffered mild traumatic brain injuries from the blasts. Also, Iran-backed Shiite militias in Iraq continue to threaten American forces there. Despite the launch, analysts said Tehran and Washington would not seek a conventional war. 'This is psychological warfare to send a message and tell the adversary that 'we are ready to stop any offensive',' Hisham Jaber, a retired Lebanese army brigadier general and analyst, told Reuters. 'Iran is using this policy as a deterrence. But the result: No effect on the ground. No dramatic effect... Nobody is ready to handle any consequences of war, not America, not Iran or anyone.' Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin speaks while President Donald Trump listens during the daily briefing on COVID-19 in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington on April 2, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Desperate Small Businesses Waiting for Federal Relief Owners of small businesses across the United States are growing desperate as they wait for federal relief to help them survive the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an organization that represents them. Only one-fifth of loan applicants have received any money under the federal Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), according to the advocacy group National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)and unless relief arrives by the end of next month, half expect their businesses to go under. Seventy percent of small businesses applied for aid on April 3, the day the PPP process went live, NFIB said. But within two weeks, the $349 billion in funds had run dryeven as most small-business owners say they havent seen any money and have run into hurdles during the application process. The Senate approved a third economic stimulus package on April 21 that includes an additional $310 billion for the PPP to help small businesses. The legislation, which would provide loans of up to $10 million for businesses with 500 or fewer employees, is expected to go to a House vote this week. But the NFIBwhose mission is to advocate on behalf of Americas small- and independent-business ownershad hoped for more. We dont believe $300 [billion] and some change is enough, NFIB California Director John Kabateck told The Epoch Times. We believe $400 billion would be a more sufficient amount, just to cover the needs that exist right now. And we believe $200 billion ought to be dedicated specifically to businesses with 20 or fewer employees. More than 1.6 million applications for aid were approved before the initial funds ran out, according to the Treasury Department. While the program was established to help small businesses, 25 percent of the funds were given to 2 percent of the companies that applied, including businesses with thousands of employees that took advantage of the program, Kabateck said. A recent analysis by Morgan Stanley shows that more than $243 million of the total went to publicly traded companies. We dont disparage a job-creator of any size that is struggling to keep people on the books and their doors open, but its ridiculous that policymakers and financial institutions have placed those larger businesses and corporations in the front seat, while small businesses are starving in the back row, Kabateck said. In late March, Congress approved a $2.2 trillion stimulus package under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, including $350 billion allocated for both the PPP and the Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs. The aim of the package was to provide emergency assistance and health care response for individuals, families, and businesses affected by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. The PPP is a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan designed to help businesses keep their workforce employed during the COVID-19 crisis. According to the SBA website, the loan will be fully forgiven if the funds are used for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The SBA defended the fairness of the process, citing its scope. Following its [PPPs] launch, the SBA processed more than 14 years worth of loans in less than 14 days, which will protect a vast number of American jobs, according to an April 17 statement issued by Jovita Carranza, an administrator for the SBA, and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. The vast majority of these loans74 percent of themwere for under $150,000, demonstrating the accessibility of this program to even the smallest of small businesses, the statement added. An NFIB Research Center survey asked small-business owners about the PPP and the EIDL programs on April 17the day after the programs ran out of money. Out of approximately 300,000 small-business owners in their database, the NFIB collected 885 usable responses. The survey indicated that about 20 percent of submitted applications had been fully processed, with funds deposited in the borrowers account. But 80 percent of respondents said they were still waiting, and many didnt know where they stood in the application process. About 40 percent of small-business owners successfully submitted applications for the EIDL program through the SBA website, the survey found; 99 percent had yet to receive their loan. Among those, 77 percent also applied for an emergency bridge grant of up to $10,000, designed to hold them over until the loan arrived. Of those businesses, about 10 percent had received the funds at the time of the survey. So far, according to our NFIB estimates, about 20 percent of the PPP applicants have actually received a loan, and only 1 percent of the EIDL applicants have gotten their money, Kabateck said. And still more small-business owners want to apply for a PPP loan, and are facing the obvious challenges right now. Kabateck said the PPP funds should be paid out immediately to small businesses, because that is the intent of the program. The survey also found that most small-business owners believe it will take at least until next year to recover from the economic fallout from COVID-19. A quarter of them believe the economy wont return to normal until 2022 or later. In a terrible crisis as we are experiencing, every job creator and employee is vulnerable and deserves a level of predictability and hope, he said. The legislative intent of the PPP program was to provide financial assistance to the smallest businesses. Nobody should be left behind if theyre in a vulnerable state in our country during this crisis, but its Washingtons responsibility to ensure that a program designed for Main Street remains focused on Main Street, he added. Small-business owners are counting on government stimulus programs to weather the economic storm, he said, while many larger businesses have other avenues, such as mainstream lending facilities and revolving lines of credit. This is a classic example of the haves versus the have-nots, said Kabateck. Most small businesses lack the resources, such as legal professionals and personnel departments, to help them navigate through these kinds of mazes, he added. Its not a matter of claiming that the employee of a small business has less value than the employee of a medium or large business. But the program and the funding was to be dedicated for our smallest businesses, and that is not happening. It is important to have truth in advertisingand action, he said. At a April 21 White House daily briefing, Mnuchin discussed the availability of the additional $310 million for small businesses in the near future. The intent of this money was not for big public companies that have access to capital, he said. The NFIB has repeatedly warned Congress that unless small-business owners receive aid within the next month or so, half of them wont survive the economic fallout caused by the COVID-19 global pandemic. The warnings were based on another NFIB survey, released April 2, in which 1,172 small businesses responded. The latest stimulus package passed the Senate unanimouslythough both parties blamed the other for the delay. In an April 21 press release, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) stated: For more than a week, small businesses and their employees were held hostage after my Democratic colleagues blocked additional funding for the PPP. On the same day, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) released a statement saying, Democrats flipped this emergency package from an insufficient Republican plan that left behind hospitals and health and frontline workers, and did nothing to aid the survival of the most vulnerable small businesses on Main Street. Kabateck said that now is not the time for schoolyard games, especially as political leaders face mounting pressure to reopen the economy. Many small-business owners find themselves confronting the dilemma of whether its better to open up their businesses to avoid financial ruin, or wait a little longer to prevent more potential COVID-19 outbreaks. Its a very difficult and tricky needle to thread right now, Kabateck said. But the bottom line is that small businesses are champing at the bit to turn the lights on again. Many are desperate to reopen, he said, because their bank accounts are empty, or close to empty. But they also want to do it in a way that protects their employees and customers, he said. They need to get their businesses rolling again. They need customers coming in the door. Many of them have put up their home mortgages and life savings to keep things flowing. Thursday, April 23, 2020 Beginning With Flea And Tick Products. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, many of the chemicals allowed for use on our pets are linked to health concerns in human beings things like respiratory problems, cancer, skin irritation, GI disorders and neurological issues. However, pet product manufacturers are not required to list ingredients on labels. It Goes Beyond Our Pets Exposure. Products that include imidacloprid and dinotefuran can be toxic to the developing brains of young children. Tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP) is a pesticide shown to be toxic to the human nervous system and can increase the risk of learning disabilities in children. Another chemical in the organophosphate pesticide family, chlorpyrifos, is also found in flea collars and powders. Children get the residues on their hands playing with their pets which are then absorbed through the skin or ingested when they put their hands in their mouths. The developing infant is also at risk when pregnant women are exposed. The Natural Resources Defense Council urges us to be wary of all flea collars due to the fact that they can contain dangerous insecticides. Permethrin and pyrethrin are two more insecticides commonly found in flea and tick products. And be forewarned, these chemicals are also toxic to cats. There are safer options to control fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes at Olive Green Dog. Natural Isnt Always Nice. The American Kennel Club warns that some essential oils are poisonous to dogs, whether ingested by mouth or spread on the skin. For a list of essential oils that are harmful to pets, visit Michelson Found Animals where youll find a list of these oils categorized for both cats and for dogs. At Dogs Naturally youll find recipes for making your own flea and tick repellents with essential oils that are safe for animals, along with a list of further chemicals to avoid in commercial products. Pet Food Scorecard. Were concerned about whats in the food that we feed our children. Our beloved pets are also our children so shouldnt we also take a close look at what we are feeding them? Cornucopia Institute has developed a guide that reveals whether synthetic preservatives were added to your brand of pet food. Were food dyes, carrageenan, or rendering products also added? And what are the actual ingredients in your pets food? Please visit Cornucopia and pass it along! Industrial chemicals are not only in foods that humans consume, theyre also found in pet foods and animals are just as vulnerable to the effects of the chemicals as we are. A recent study found that BPA in the bloodstream of dogs nearly tripled when they switched to canned dog food. In a study completed at the Ecology Center in Ann Arbor, almost 95% of cat food cans tested had a polyvinyl chloride-based coating, while 81% of dog food cans had a BPA-based coating. Click on the link to see how your pet foods rank. And its not just pet food that can be harmful, some of our people foods are toxic to our pets. Visit the Animal Poison Control Center link for 20 people foods to avoid sharing with animals. Keeping Pets Clean. Business Insider posted an article on the best shampoos, collars, beds, crates, brushes, and toys for dogs. My Pet Needs That lists some of the best cat shampoos for bathing felines, but their website also offers other articles on cats health conditions, accessories, and what they should eat. My Pet Needs That also has links to the same information for our dogs, fish, birds, reptiles and other small animals. Dogs Naturally provides information on 20 dog shampoo ingredients to avoid and why, along with recommendations to some of the most highly recommended shampoos. 4Legger Organic Dog Shampoo shows up as one of the best in both their review and in many others. With the addition of lemongrass and rosemary, using 4Legger acts as a natural insect repellent. If you scroll down on the link youll find more information on locating pet safe ice melts, the risks of blue-green algae to your dog, and lots of other informative posts. Lastly, The Safest Litter. Only Natural Pet provides information on the safety of natural cat litters, as well as any environmental considerations there may be, while rating the performance and consistency of cat litters made from corn, wheat, pine, grass seed, clay and silica. Get The Apps. The National Environmental Health Association website helps you find where ticks and other vectors are located by State. Along with a clear image of the pest, it also provides information on diseases transmitted. Do you know that there is an app for Tickborne Diseases from the Centers for Disease Control? This smartphone app provides photos to help you identify ticks. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has a free mobile app from the Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) that helps owners quickly identify over 300 potential everyday hazards for horses, cats, dogs and birds, and provides crucial information about the severity of the problem along with the critical next steps to take when an animal has been exposed. 23.04.2020 LISTEN Head of the Economics Department at the University of Ghana, Prof. William Baah-Boateng wants the government to be carefully measured in its attempt to financially support Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) amidst the Coronavirus pandemic. To him, the global impact of the pandemic requires governments and businesses to be more innovative in their operations in order to gain greater outcomes during and after the pandemic. While raising concerns about possible profligate spending in the name of supporting businesses, Prof. Baah-Boateng who was not completely enthused about the governments stimulus package for businesses advocated for a more strategic approach that will instead revamp economic activities. It will not be best to use the stimulus package to buy goods and services for people to consume. That will not be the best. I am expecting the stimulus package to help businesses to start something to [solve] those challenges that they are having. I have a bit of a challenge if we fold our arms and expect that the government will have to come in to pay part of salaries. So if we dont take care and give that kind of stimulus package to the medium enterprises they may use it for other things. So we have to look at the timing as well and ensure that if there is going to be a stimulus package, it is going to be used to ignite the engine of economic activity and get our firms running, he remarked on the Point of View on Citi TV. In the wake of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the economist further advised the government to be tactical in its support to businesses. He is worried over the disbursement of stimulus packages at this time suggesting that the government should try to be diligent in its support to businesses. Money for COVID-19 President Akufo-Addo had earlier announced that a GH600 million soft loan scheme with a two-year repayment plan had been put in place by the government to support micro, small and medium scale businesses in these difficult times. Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in Ghana and a partial lockdown on Accra and Kumasi as a result of the disease, most businesses in major economic hubs became inactive, thereby limiting the income of most citizens. It is for this reason that the government decided to among other things, support SMEs by giving this money to them. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved the disbursement of US$1 billion interest-free loan to Ghana to be drawn under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF). The money is to help Ghana address the fiscal and balance of payments needs and also help the country to improve confidence in its economy especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some other decisions include the announcement of a GH1 billion Coronavirus Alleviation Programme that will be funded from the Ghana Stabilisation Fund. ---citinewsroom But if you look at the full picture of American society, it is clear that the structural position of black Americans isnt so different than it was at the advent of the industrial age. Race still shapes personhood; it still marks the boundaries of who belongs and who doesnt; of which groups face the brunt of capitalist inequality (in all its forms) and which get some respite. Race, in other words, still answers the question of who. Who will live in crowded, segregated neighborhoods? Who will be exposed to lead-poisoned pipes and toxic waste? Who will live with polluted air and suffer disproportionately from maladies like asthma and heart disease? And when disease comes, who will be the first to succumb in large numbers? New Delhi April 23 : Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday said there were 2,248 coronavirus patients in the national capital and 32 per cent of these have recovered from the infection. "So far, 2,248 positive cases have been found in Delhi and out of these, 724 or 32 per cent have recovered," Jain told the media here. He also said that there are three levels of coronavirus care in the city - those having no symptoms, mild symptoms or critical patients. "There are three levels of Covid centres -- Covid care centre (CCC), dedicated health centre and third is dedicated hospitals. Those having mild symptoms or were asymptomatic are taken to the CCC," he said. Jain said those with moderate symptoms are kept in the dedicated health centre while those who are severely sick are taken to the dedicated hospitals. "If everyone is taken to the hospitals, then how will we take care of the serious cases," he said on the need of three levels. There are several CCCs in the city having 743 patients. While the CCC formed in DDA flats Narela has 383 patients, that in Mandoli has 149. "Across the city, there are nine Covid Care Centre housing 743 patients," the Health Department said. There are two Covid-19 Health Centres having 38 patients. "Delhi has nine COVID-19 hospitals having 527 patients. LNJP has the highest 232 COVID patients among all the hospitals," it added. The nine hospitals also include Central government hospitals and private hospitals. Among the private hospitals, Max has the highest number of patients - 64. So far, Delhi has reported 48 deaths. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text [A sacw.net select resource list on COVID-19 pandemic. The file begins with an opening essay and then references are listed ] [updated on 27 May 2020] Opening Essay: MIKE DAVIS ON COVID-19: THE MONSTER IS AT THE DOOR in: [Haymarket Books / March 12 2020 COVID -19 is finally the monster at the door. Researchers are working night and day to characterize the outbreak but they are faced with three huge challenges. First the continuing shortage or unavailability of test kits has vanquished all hope of containment. Moreover it is preventing accurate estimates of key parameters such as reproduction rate, size of infected population and number of benign infections. The result is a chaos of numbers. Like annual influenzas, this virus is mutating as it courses through populations with different age compositions and acquired immunities. The variety that Americans are most likely to get is already slightly different from that of the original outbreak in Wuhan. Further mutation could be trivial or could alter the current distribution of virulence which ascends with age, with babies and small children showing scant risk of serious infection while octogenarians face mortal danger from viral pneumonia. Even if the virus remains stable and little mutated, its impact on under-65 age cohorts can differ radically in poor countries and amongst high poverty groups. Consider the global experience of the Spanish flu in 1918-19 which is estimated to have killed 1 to 2 per cent of humanity. In contrast to the corona virus, it was most deadly to young adults and this has often been explained as a result of their relatively stronger immune systems which overreacted to infection by unleashing deadly acytokine stormsa against lung cells. The original H1N1 notoriously found a favored niche in army camps and battlefield trenches where it scythed down young soldiers down by the tens of thousands. The collapse of the great German spring offensive of 1918, and thus the outcome of the war, has been attributed to the fact that the Allies, in contrast to their enemy, could replenish their sick armies with newly arrived American troops. It is rarely appreciated, however, that fully 60 per cent of global mortality occurred in western India where grain exports to Britain and brutal requisitioning practices coincided with a major drought. Resultant food shortages drove millions of poor people to the edge of starvation. They became victims of a sinister synergy between malnutrition, which suppressed their immune response to infection, and rampant bacterial and viral pneumonia. In another case, British-occupied Iran, several years of drought, cholera, and food shortages, followed by a widespread malaria outbreak, preconditioned the death of estimated fifth of the population. This history a especially the unknown consequences of interactions with malnutrition and existing infections - should warn us that COVID-19 might take a different and more deadly path in the slums of Africa and South Asia. The danger to the global poor has been almost totally ignored by journalists and Western governments. The only published piece that Iave seen claims that because the urban population of West Africa is the worldas youngest, the pandemic should have only a mild impact. In light of the 1918 experience, this is a foolish extrapolation. No one knows what will happen over the coming weeks in Lagos, Nairobi, Karachi, or Kolkata. The only certainty is that rich countries and rich classes will focus on saving themselves to the exclusion of international solidarity and medical aid. Walls not vaccines: could there be a more evil template for the future? II. A year from now we may look back in admiration at Chinaas success in containing the pandemic but in horror at the USAas failure. (Iam making the heroic assumption that Chinaas declaration of rapidly declining transmission is more or less accurate.) The inability of our institutions to keep Pandoraas Box closed, of course, is hardly a surprise. Since 2000 weave repeatedly seen breakdowns in frontline healthcare. The 2018 flu season, for instance, overwhelmed hospitals across the country, exposing the shocking shortage of hospital beds after twenty years of profit-driven cutbacks of in-patient capacity (the industryas version of just-in-time inventory management). Private and charity hospital closures and nursing shortages, likewise enforced by market logic, have devastated health services in poorer communities and rural areas, transferring the burden to underfunded public hospitals and VA facilities. ER conditions in such institutions are already unable to cope with seasonal infections, so how will they cope with an imminent overload of critical cases? We are in the early stages of a medical Katrina. Despite years of warnings about avian flu and other pandemics, inventories of basic emergency equipment such as respirators arenat sufficient to deal with the expected flood of critical cases. Militant nurses unions in California and other states are making sure that we all understand the grave dangers created by inadequate stockpiles of essential protective supplies like N95 face masks. Even more vulnerable because invisible are the hundreds of thousands of low-wage and overworked homecare workers and nursing home staff. The nursing home and assisted care industry which warehouses 2.5 million elderly Americans a most of them on Medicare - has long been a national scandal. According to the New York Times, an incredible 380,000nursing home patients die every year from facilitiesa neglect of basic infection control procedures. Many homes a particularly in Southern states - find it cheaper to pay fines for sanitary violations than to hire additional staff and provide them with proper training. Now, as the Seattle example warns, dozens, perhaps hundreds more nursing homes will become corona virus hotspots and their minimum-wage employees will rationally choose to protect their own families by staying home. In such a case the system could collapse and we shouldnat expect the National Guard to empty bedpans. The outbreak has instantly exposed the stark class divide in healthcare: those with good health plans who can also work or teach from home are comfortably isolated provided they follow prudent safeguards. Public employees and other groups of unionized workers with decent coverage will have to make difficult choices between income and protection. Meanwhile millions of low wage service workers, farm employees, uncovered contingent workers, the unemployed and the homeless will be thrown to the wolves. Even if the Washington ultimately resolves the testing fiasco and provides adequate numbers of kits, the uninsured will still have to pay doctors or hospitals for administrating the tests. Overall family medical bills will soar at the same time that millions of workers are losing their jobs and their employer-provided insurance. Could there possibly be a stronger, more urgent case in favor of Medicare for All? III But universal coverage is only a first step. Itas disappointing, to say the least, that in the primary debates neither Sanders or Warren has highlighted Big Pharmaas abdication of the research and development of new antibiotics and antivirals. Of the 18 largest pharmaceutical companies, 15 have totally abandoned the field. Heart medicines, addictive tranquilizers and treatments for male impotence are profit leaders, not the defenses against hospital infections, emergent diseases and traditional tropical killers. A universal vaccine for influenza a that is to say, a vaccine that targets the immutable parts of the virusas surface proteins a has been a possibility for decades but never a profitable priority. As the antibiotic revolution is rolled back, old diseases will reappear alongside novel infections and hospitals will become charnel houses. Even Trump can opportunistically rail against absurd prescription costs, but we need a bolder vision that looks to break up the drug monopolies and provide for the public production of lifeline medicines. (This used to be the case: during World War Two, the Army enlisted Jonas Salk and other researchers to develop the first flu vaccine.) As I wrote fifteen years ago in my book The Monster at Our Door a The Global Threat of Avian Flu: Access to lifeline medicines, including vaccines, antibiotics, and antivirals, should be a human right, universally available at no cost. If markets canat provide incentives to cheaply produce such drugs, then governments and non-profits should take responsibility for their manufacture and distribution. The survival of the poor must at all times be accounted a higher priority than the profits of Big Pharma. The current pandemic expands the argument: capitalist globalization now appears to be biologically unsustainable in the absence of a truly international public health infrastructure. But such an infrastructure will never exist until peoplesa movements break the power of Big Pharma and for-profit healthcare. < The Politics of COVID-19 pandemic - selected readings and resources by sacw.net PART I South Asia - select readings: PART II International - Select Readings o o SEE ALSO: In India, do not ever say adenguea by Sohini C in: South China Morning Post, 23 December 2017 https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/society/article/2122517/india-do-not-ever-say-dengue The Ecology of Disease by Jim Robbins in: July 14, 2012, The New York Times THEREaS a term biologists and economists use these days a ecosystem services a which refers to the many ways nature supports the human endeavor. Forests filter the water we drink, for example, and birds and bees pollinate crops, both of which have substantial economic as well as biological value. [ . . . ] https://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/15/sunday-review/the-ecology-of-disease.html Delhi Congress president Anil Chaudhary on Thursday lodged a complaint with the police for registration of an FIR against channel anchor Arnab Goswami. Goswami is facing the ire of Congress after his verbal attack on Sonia Gandhi, questioning her "silence" over the Palghar mob lynching incident, in his programme on Republic Bharat channel. The Delhi Congress president in his complaint to SHO of IP Extension police station demanded registration of the FIR against the journalist for alleged "propagation of hatred, promoting enmity among different religions, and false information through circulation of a falsely defamatory on Republic Bharat channel". Chaudhary said a copy of the complaint has been sent to the Delhi Police Commissioner for action. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The forced closure of a hair salon at a Minot assisted living facility due to a COVID-19 executive order issued by Gov. Doug Burgum has kept some residents from attending group activities because of their appearance and could play a role in spreading the coronavirus the order is aimed at slowing, according to a lawsuit the company has filed. Somerset Court LLC is suing Burgum and State Health Officer Mylynn Tufte in an effort to allow the facilitys in-house hair salon to continue providing services to its residents, according to the complaint filed Thursday in state court in Burleigh County. It's the first legal challenge to an executive order issued by Burgum during the pandemic. The governor declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing ongoing litigation, but he spoke in general, saying the state understands very empathetically that for some people in a long-term care facility, getting a haircut can be a matter of "dignity." However, he said opening up in-house hair salons at assisted living facilities conflicts with his plans to protect vulnerable populations. Youve got an intersection of something that by definition puts people within transmissible contact for more than 15 minutes, which is what we are trying to avoid and limit with our targeted efforts to close those personal care businesses and intersect a transmissionable moment with a vulnerable population and that would just by everybodys evaluation be putting risk on top of risk, he said. Burgum on March 28 ordered personal service businesses such as beauty salons, tattoo parlors, barber shops and manicurists to shut down in an effort to control the spread of the new coronavirus. The salon inside Somerset is owned by the facility but operated by an independent contractor. With the onset of the outbreak, operator Kari Riggin limited access to the salon to one person at a time and took other required precautions, the complaint states. Somerset Salon continued operating and was cited on April 14 for for failing to comply with the order. It carries a potential fine up to $1,000. Riggin is more educated and experienced in hair washing and hair styling and would spend less time with the residents than would less-experienced aides, the document states. Riggin works exclusively at the salon and doesnt see clients at any other location. Keeping the salon open, Bougheys complaint reads, presents fewer health risks than sending aides from apartment to apartment for such services. Some residents have literally sequestered themselves because they are too embarrassed about their appearance to go to the dining room or other group activities, the document states. Somerset is asking a judge to declare that the executive order does not apply to standard activities of daily living, including the washing and setting of hair. The company also wants the judge to allow the salon to operate while the court case proceeds. Shelly Peterson, president of the North Dakota Long Term Care Association, told The Associated Press her group has been asking for an amendment to the order to allow in-house salons at nursing homes since the order was established. She said protocols are in place at all facilities in response to the coronavirus. Its just common sense with all the other personal care we do for residents, Peterson said. Residents depend on us. We feed them, clothe them and we change them. There are 128 long-term care facilities in North Dakota and about 70% of them have licensed beauty shops, she said. Dave Caldwell, Somerset Courts director, told The Associated Press there are 120 residents and about 80 staff members at the facility. He said there have been no confirmed cases of the coronavirus there. I think the spirit of the executive order was to keep hair salons closed for the general public, he said. This is not different than other activity of daily living that our staff performs here. (Reporter Andy Tsubasa Field contributed to this story) Reach Travis Svihovec at 701-250-8260 or Travis.Svihovec@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. London (CNN)The world is facing multiple famines of "biblical proportions" in just a matter of months, the UN has said, warning that the coronavirus pandemic will push an additional 130 million people to the brink of starvation. Famines could take hold in "about three dozen countries" in a worst-case scenario, the executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP) said in a stark address on Tuesday. Ten of those countries already have more than 1 million people on the verge of starvation, he said. He cited conflict, an economic recession, a decline in aid and a collapse in oil prices as factors likely to lead to vast food shortages, and urged swift action to avert disaster. Read Full Story .... HERE >>> : Source: CNN 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 In the eastern Indian city of Jamshedpur, a pregnant Muslim woman alleged that when she went to a hospital last week for help with sudden bleeding, she was accused of spreading the virus and told to clean up her own blood, according to a letter she sent to the top politician in the state. Later that day, her baby was found stillborn. An investigation is underway and any required action will be taken against the hospital, said Anoop Birtharay, the citys superintendent of police. As a marketer, social media is undeniably important in fact, in 2020, three-quarters (74%) of all global marketers now invest in social media marketing. Social media can help you engage with new audiences, increase brand awareness, handle customer service inquiries, and even increase sales. (As an avid Instagram user, I can't count the amount of times I've "Swiped Up to Purchase" on a link from a popular influencer.) But there's plenty of risk involved with social media, as well. Among other things, a bad social media post could spiral into a full-blown PR crisis or get your business into legal trouble. Fortunately, there is a tactic you can use to ensure your social media strategy is safe, consistent, and scalable as your company grows and different employees get access to your social media accounts: a social media policy. Let's explore how these five companies created effective social media policies to inspire your own, today. Just remember, there isn't just one 'right' policy for every company. Pick and choose what you like from these five companies to help get you started, and tailor it to fit your culture and business objectives. But first, let's dive into a few benefits of a social media policy. Benefits to a Corporate Social Media Policy You might be worried about providing too many strict rules on your social media strategy. Will it diminish the authenticity you're hoping to evoke in your posts, or take too much creative freedom away from your employees? Fortunately, if done correctly, a social media policy won't ruin the creative freedom you're hoping to protect. If anything, it will enable your employees to feel more comfortable amplifying your social media messages on their own channels, knowing each post is fully aligned with your business's values and tone. Here are a few major benefits to creating a corporate social media policy: Maintain consistency of brand voice, tone, and messaging across social channels Prevent a PR crisis as a result of a potentially offensive post Enable employees to handle legal and regulatory issues with sensitivity Protect data privacy of customers and stakeholders Have effective responses at-the-ready for crises or data breaches, if they do occur Instill confidence in your employees' to use their own creativity when creating and posting branded content, as long as they align with the corporate policies Ensure each new employee will have the tools to create a positive, consistent, and valuable brand message across social channels Now that we've covered that, let's dive into five businesses that got social media policy right. 1. Best Buy Image Source Best Buy has a social media policy in place that preemptively addresses privacy concerns that could arise using social media. Here are some highlights of Best Buy's social media policy: The company does not want information shared that isn't meant to be public. Common sense? I'd think so, but it can't hurt to formally reiterate. Tweeters cannot share Best Buy logos and other items related to the company. Does this seem overly cautious? I guess that depends on the industry you are in. For a big brand like Best Buy, it's understandable. Best Buy wants each employee to differentiate themselves and state their tweets and posts are theirs and theirs alone and not associated with Best Buy. This ensures, if an unscrupulous employee crosses a line, Best Buy won't experience such harsh brand backlash. Best Buy urges each employee (whether posting on Best Buy's social channels or on their own channels if it relates to Best Buy) to "Honor Our Differences" and never post content that could be seen as discriminatory against any group, for any reason. 2. Walmart Image Source Walmart is dedicated to their social media accounts, and believe in social media as an avenue for customer service because of this dedication, their policy regarding Twitter is reasonable and something I wish more Twitter users would follow in their daily tweeting. Here are some of my favorite aspects of their policy: Walmart doesn't discourage its employees from sharing their own opinions however, they ask each employee to support their claims with informational sources or links, stating, "We love opinions; we love them even more when you back them up with facts." They ask employees to be "polite and courteous, even if you disagree." They're strongly against employees using social media to discriminate, bully, or harass. Walmart advises its employees to "stay on topic", and only create content that is relevant to Walmart's community. Walmart asks all employees to avoid responding to customer inquiries or comments directly unless they're part of the official Walmart social team. This is a smart move, as it ensures less confusion or ambiguity for customers who are aiming to receive customer service from a trusted official. 3. Ford Motors Image Source One of the oldest and most popular automotive makers, you'd expect Ford to be relatively old-fashioned when it comes to social media, but Ford's rules are both refreshing and straightforward. One of my personal favorites? "Awareness that what you say is permanent". In a world largely interested in quick-likes and controversial opinions for the sake of retweets, Ford's approach is a good reminder that what you say today matters for the future of your company's reputation. A couple call-outs: Ford tells its employees to "Mind your manners", and treat everyone from co-workers to suppliers to competitors with respect. While Ford wants its employees to "make it clear the views expressed are yours," it also reminds its staff that "you speak for yourself, but your actions reflect those of Ford Motor Company". This is a good lesson: people often make judgments about an entire company's values based on their opinion of the personnel they interact with, so it's critical even personal employees' accounts reflect integrity and respect. Ford's policy tells its employees "the internet is a public space", and says "no matter how obscure or secure the site to which you're posting may seem consider everything you post to the Internet the same as anything you would post on a physical bulletin board or submit to a newspaper." This is important. Nowadays, posting on Instagram might seem like NBD, but it's critical we remember anyone can see what we post (or, what we posted five years ago...). 4. New York Times Image Source One of the most popular media institutions in the world, The New York Times recognizes the price for its popularity namely, that anything their employees state on their personal accounts could come across as the official opinion of The Times. To cultivate its social media policy, the Times collected quotes from several Times reporters this provides additional accountability and a sense of fairness, as it demonstrates several employees' endorsement of their policy. Here are some sections worth reviewing: "In social media posts, our journalists must not express partisan opinions, promote political views, endorse candidates, make offensive comments or do anything else that undercuts The Times journalistic reputation." Ultimately, the Times aims to be objective, and that objectivity needs to be applied to its employees' personal social media captions and comments, as well. The Times urges its employees to avoid making customer service complaints on social media, and for good reason the media corporation acknowledges its employees might be given special consideration as a Times reporter or editor, and doesn't feel it's fair that their employees leverage this special treatment or tarnish another brand's reputation. The Times includes an unusual request in its policy: in the name of transparency, it asks its employees to acknowledge if they've deleted a post or tweet with a subsequent tweet, to ensure they appear honest even if they've made a mistake. 5. Oracle Image Source This Boston-based SaaS company takes a stricter approach to its social media policy, but if you're in the software space, it's a good policy to review. Here are some of the highlights of Oracle's social media policy: Oracle appears to be of the ilk that using social media in the workplace is a hinderance to productivity because it could lead to too much personal use. Understandable? Yes. Too strict? Debatable. While it can be good to blur the line between personal and professional in social media, that balancing act isn't always appropriate in regulated industries. Employees must establish that all opinions are their own and not Oracle's, but at the same time, distinguish that they are indeed employees of Oracle. Contradictory? No. Blog posts can increase brand exposure, but employees must be careful with what they say and how they say it, not divulging new features, products, or confidential information. Oracle advises its employees avoid discussing future offerings or impending product releases due to "potential revenue recognition issues". This is a good call-out, since unofficial promotions of product launches or additional features could confuse customers, especially if the information regarding those product launches change before official release. Ultimately, the rules and regulations you choose to include in your policy should reflect your own brand's values, messaging, and tone. However, hopefully you can use these examples to ensure you include statements that can help protect you against legal or regulatory disputes in the future based on an employees' social media posts. Additionally, aim to use your social media policy to increase your social media strategies' effectiveness and ensure you're creating a positive brand image on any platform on which you post. Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar has directed medical college hospitals, including private unaided ones, not to cut salaries of the staff. After a recent circular by a private medical college in Bengaluru cutting salaries of doctors went viral on social media platforms, Sudhakar told college managements not to take such measures. For latest updates and live news on coronavirus, click here He warned of legal action against medical college managements if they don't follow the directions from the government. Addressing the heads of all medical colleges via video conferencing on Wednesday, Sudhakar said, "There are complaints against some of the colleges about salary cuts. We understand the difficulty in running the institutions, but everybody is going through a hard time. Pay cut is not allowed during the pandemic situation." The minister directed colleges not to demand fees from students. "Medical students are working on the frontline in the fight against Covid-19 and colleges should not pressure them for payment of fees. I understand that running of medical colleges has become difficult. But the government will be with you. Don't pressure the students for fees," the minister said. New York state brought civil charges on Tuesday accusing Mallinckrodt Plc of insurance fraud for misrepresenting the safety and efficacy of its opioid drugs, leading to medically unnecessary prescriptions. Governor Andrew Cuomo said the charges brought by New Yorks Department of Financial Services are the first against a major opioid manufacturer in the regulators probe into entities that contributed to the nationwide opioid crisis. New York accused Mallinckrodt of overstating the benefits of long-term opioid treatment, downplaying the risks of addiction and abuse, and knowing its conduct would result in the payment of fraudulent insurance claims on unnecessary prescriptions. Mallinckrodt is the largest maker of generic opioids in the United States. According to New York, it supplied more than 1 billion pills to about 5 million policyholders in the state from 2009 to 2019. The company was charged with violating two New York insurance laws, with civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation. Tuesdays charges follow Mallinckrodts Feb. 25 agreement to pay $1.6 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits by state and local governments over its role in the U.S. opioid epidemic. As part of that agreement, Mallinckrodt agreed to put a U.S. generic drug business into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Mallinckrodt in a statement said the New York charges were without merit and relied on misperceptions about the company, especially in light of state Attorney General Letitia James support for the $1.6 billion settlement. Mallinckrodt also said it continues to manufacture necessary, legitimate opioid medications at an upstate plant. The company is headquartered in Staines-Upon-Thames in Britain, and has U.S. offices in Missouri and New Jersey. Opioids have contributed to more than 400,000 deaths since 1997, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cuomo has estimated that opioids caused about $2 billion of insurance rate increases to be passed on to New Yorkers. New Yorks financial services department formally notified about 23 opioid manufacturers and distributors last year that they might face civil enforcement charges for contributing to rising insurance premiums. It ordered Mallinckrodt to attend an Aug. 24 hearing at the regulators offices in Albany, New York. The U.S. government on March 3 separately charged Mallinckrodt with defrauding Medicaid out of hundreds of millions of dollars on its top-selling Acthar Gel, which treats spasms in infants as well as multiple sclerosis. In afternoon trading, Mallinckrodt shares were down 44 cents, or 12.7%, at $3.03. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Bill Berkrot) Topics Claims USA Fraud Abuse Molestation New York Drugs Miski Osman is a junior doctor from London. Because of the coronavirus lockdown this will be the first Ramadan she has ever spent alone. Normally the 27-year-old would spend it surrounded by extended family and friends but as she cannot take the risk of bringing Covid-19 home from work, she has been assigned temporary NHS accommodation miles away from her loved ones. Im living with another doctor who is also Muslim but they will be doing the opposite shift to me so I am trying to sort out how I can do iftar (the meal eaten to break fast at sunset) with my friends and family, she says. Im sure Ill partake in virtual iftars, as some of my friends are in the same situation too. Like many Muslims, Osmans Ramadan usually consists of lots of family time: preparing dinner for relatives, enjoying each others company and spending time together. She also normally volunteers at the Ramadan Tent Project, a charity which hosts large community meals across the capital. But this year will be a much lonelier affair, in which Osman hopes instead to read the Quran in its entirety (a goal many Muslims set during Ramadan). I dont remember the last time I had time to myself during Ramadan, Im normally busy with family. This is a chance to reflect more, to worship more. I know it will have a huge benefit to what were all trying to deal with [coronavirus]. Recommended People with chronic illness on spending lots of time at home alone The holy month of Ramadan is celebrated by the almost two billion Muslims around the world and the 3.4 million Muslims in the UK (latest ONS data available). The festival lasts a period of 30 days and Muslims believe it is a time to replenish spiritual and religious health, as well as volunteer in your local community and appreciate the things we all take for granted; this is most visibly done by fasting, not consuming any water or food, from sunrise to sunset. The date of Ramadan changes every calendar year because it is dictated by the lunar cycle it is expected in 2020 most families in Britain will start fasting on Friday 24 April with Eid (the end of the fast) expected on 23 May. For obvious reasons during this period the ritual of eating is seen as a more special event suhoor (the last meal before daybreak) and iftar being times of family gathering. But with Muslims across the UK practicing social distancing and self-isolation this year will undoubtedly be quite different. There will be no nightly Taraweeh (prayers) at the local mosque, no sharing iftar food with your neighbours, no tangible communal acts to feel united. In other words, the many things that are synonymous with Ramadan for many Muslims, have been taken away. Prominent Muslim figures including Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, actor Riz Ahmed and former-TV presenter Konnie Huq even released a video encouraging people to spend Ramadan at home. Thousands visit Grand Mosque in Mecca for Ramadan Show all 11 1 /11 Thousands visit Grand Mosque in Mecca for Ramadan Thousands visit Grand Mosque in Mecca for Ramadan An aerial view of Muslim worshippers prostrating during prayer around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca, during the holy fasting month of Ramadan AFP/Getty Thousands visit Grand Mosque in Mecca for Ramadan AFP/Getty Thousands visit Grand Mosque in Mecca for Ramadan Muslim worshippers pray at the Grand Mosque AFP/Getty Thousands visit Grand Mosque in Mecca for Ramadan AFP/Getty Thousands visit Grand Mosque in Mecca for Ramadan AFP/Getty Thousands visit Grand Mosque in Mecca for Ramadan AFP/Getty Thousands visit Grand Mosque in Mecca for Ramadan Muslim worshippers pray at the Grand Mosque AFP/Getty Thousands visit Grand Mosque in Mecca for Ramadan AFP/Getty Thousands visit Grand Mosque in Mecca for Ramadan Muslim worshippers circumambulate around the Kaaba AFP/Getty Thousands visit Grand Mosque in Mecca for Ramadan AFP/Getty Thousands visit Grand Mosque in Mecca for Ramadan AFP/Getty Lamisa Khan, 24, the co-founder of Muslim Sisterhood, says not having the community interaction will be the part of Ramadan in lockdown that is most difficult for her. Khan, who lives in south west London, says that as she has got older she has cherished the sense of community and having more friends fasting together, particularly as a woman. For many of us growing up, especially for women, we didnt have that space to pray together but in recent years, there is a community spirit where neighbours drink mint tea together, she says. Khans local mosque hires out a school canteen so that people can come for tea before the Taraweeh prayer in the evening. It is so nice to see so many people come through every night. Its so beautiful to see how nicely organised our community has become. When you grow up in places where there arent many Muslims around you, times like Ramadan can feel isolating. Credit L-R: Miski Osman, Tez Ilyas by Yoshitaka Kono, Lamisa Khan (Miski Osman/Yoshitaka Kono/Lamisa Khan) As a result, losing this community in 2020 - because of the ongoing lockdown, social distancing, banning of mass gatherings and the closure of all places of worship - will be a real struggle for Khan. Ill miss that...I know when youre fasting and praying with people, it can make things easier. The Muslim Council of Britain, the largest umbrella organisation for Muslims in Britain, has issued advice on those missing the community interaction; it says families should organise virutal iftars and use video chats or turn into livestreamed prayers from their local mosque. It says: "The suspension of services in mosques and social distancing measures will make Ramadan 2020 feel very different for Muslims." Many of us who will be fasting while working for the NHS will take it day by day..." Another issue for key workers like Osman will be combining the strain of working on the frontline of the pandemic, doing longer hours and facing ever-greater challenges to fight Covid-19, with not eating and drinking something that is normally hard but believers say brings spiritual fulfillment and focus to compensate. Many of us who will be fasting while working for the NHS will take it day by day, she says. Youre meant to hydrate yourself when wearing PPE as it can get hot and stuffy. Despite these challenges Osman is hoping that there will be rewards and upsides to fasting during the stress of a pandemic. Ramadan may make this all simpler and easier to manage. The beauty of [it] is that it brings ease. Fasting gives you the ability to focus. For others there are tangible benefits to the lockdown, which the government has said will be in place till at least 7 May, and likely much longer. For comedian Tez Ilyas, 38, based in Blackburn, he would not normally be at home for Ramadan because he would be doing gigs in London or touring his shows. Now he has been at home for six weeks. Work doesnt usually stop during Ramadan. So Id be in London or doing other gigs while fasting, meaning Id be breaking my fasts at a gig, says Ilyas. Im happy Im at home with my mum, if I was still living in London and self-isolating alone during Ramadan, it would be horrible. It will be quite nice to get at least one nutritious meal a day this time. Khan will also be at home with her family throughout Ramadan although she is a little concerned that her multi-generational household (made up of her parents, her maternal grandmother, her brothers, her aunt and her cousin) will be a frequent test of patience for the month-long endeavour. I live with so many people so in a sense I am blessed that I will still get that sense of togetherness and family, she says. Of course lots of the implications of social distancing on Ramadan will be logistical but what about spiritually? This pillar of the Islamic faith is as much a spiritual undertaking as it is a physical one, so will Muslims expect it to feel different one school of thought that has emerged online suggests that Ramadan has come at the right time to focus faith and belief. I dont know about that, says Ilyas. But it will be a chance to create discipline with daily prayers, something that isnt usually there all year round. Like Osman he also plans to read the whole of the Quran during the fasting season. It will be a Ramadan of looking inwardly, a time for self-reflection. What an opportunity to be reflective. What an opportunity to be grateful for our loved ones and the time we have with them..." For those who are worried about missing the opportunity to volunteer and do work in their community: some organisations are still going ahead with annual appeals, including Islamic Reliefs annual Ramadan fundraising appeal. Ilyas also says that as well as having more time for reflecting, being able to shift his sleeping pattern around without work means he can pray at times that are more appropriate for disrupted mealtimes. Although he does worry that without external distraction boredom might creep in and be a factor in the difficulty of Ramadan this year. For Khan she says that she is choosing to see the ongoing situation as a sign from Allah to take a breath. What an opportunity to be reflective. What an opportunity to be grateful for our loved ones and the time we have with them, she says. Although her optimism wanes when she thinks about the prospect of missing Eid parties in a months time: Theres a rush the night before Eid, when youre getting your mendhi down in the streets and people are celebrating together and buying last minute Eid clothes, an experience that well be sad to miss. No one knows whether the lockdown will be in place for the whole of Ramadan, whether celebrations will have to be postponed until the period has long passed or communities will be able to come together again in a matter of weeks. For Muslims looking ahead it presents the usual challenge of a testing fast but with the reassuring comfort of faith in troubled times. Modu Sheriff, the father of a former governor of Borno State, Ali Sheriff, has died in a fire incident. Late Mr Sheriff died in the early hours of Thursday in a fire incident that engulfed his Damboa road home in Maiduguri. The deceased was the Galadima of Borno Emirate. Sources close to the family said the aged patriarch of the Sheriffs, who had been managing an advanced-age related ailment, could not make it out of the fire that occurred around 3 a.m. Maiduguri and other parts of Borno State were a few hours into a 14 days COVID-19 lockdown when the fire incident happened at the former governors family home. The cause of the fire is yet to be established. Though the family has not issued any statement concerning the passing of the deceased, messages of condolence have continued to flood the social media handles of the bereaved children. The state government has not issued official condolence yet. But, the special adviser of the state governor on media, Isa Gusau, described the passage of Mr Sheriff as a huge loss to the state. Mr Gusau said the deaths of late Abba Kyari, former chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari who died after contracting the COVID-19 disease, and that of Mr Sheriff who died in a fire incident were, according to Islamic belief, acts of martyrdom. In a statement he posted on Facebook, Mr Gusau said the two prominent Borno personalities died as a result of disasters which he said are signs of absolution by God. There is one lesson the wise must learn from the deaths, in one week, of Malam Abba Kyari and Galadima Modu Sheriff, both prominent personalities from Borno State, he said. Kyari died from a plague, while Galadima died from a fire incident. We all know the many things often said about personalities because most of the time, we humans like to pass judgment on others. I am also not a saint in this. Now, as many of Muslims already know, deaths by plague (epidemic and pandemic) and by fires, are amongst the seven classifications of deaths by shahada (martyrdom), as taught from hadith of our noble Prophet. Sources close to the family said Mr Sheriff will be buried by 4 p.m. on Thursday. Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly (D) said Thursday during an Axios virtual event that it's "way too early to call" whether the states' schools will reopen in the fall amid the coronavirus pandemic. The big picture: Kelly was one of the fastest governors in the country to move to close school buildings at the start of the outbreak, making that decision in mid-March. She added that the state would "prepare for the worst" in anticipation of a second wave of the virus in the fall and be prepared whether school buildings were open or shut. School closings have had a domino effect on students' and families' everyday lives, especially as many parents rely on schools for child care or to provide their children with meals. The state of play: Kelly said that the decision to close schools was only taken after a group of advisers "worked all night, all day for about 4 days and put together a very comprehensive, very thorough package of learning tools for our kids." She noted the concerns that schools provide a wealth of resources for children beyond education, but acted decisively to provide "certainty about what was going to happen." Go deeper: Virus-driven shift to online classes brings home the digital divide The founder of aid organisation Chernobyl Childrens Project International, Adi Roche has said that the orphanage they fund has been invaded by the Covid-19 virus. Despite measures taken to keep the children safe 13 of them have contracted the virus while 10 of the orphanages 26 staff have also been infected. They are in dense conditions, in dormitory accommodation so the children are seriously at risk, Ms Roche, told RTE radios Morning Ireland. Their chances of survival are very poor, she explained as many are disabled, have very low immunity and genetic conditions which makes them particularly vulnerable. The orphanage has no pain killers, there are no cough bottles for the children and the staff have no protection, she added. This is a devastating blow for the people of Ireland who have supported this place for 20 years. Ms Roche said that apart from the 3 sent from Ireland to improve conditions for the children in the orphanage, many Irish families had built strong relationships with the children they hosted every year. They are their Irish Mommas and Poppas. This is a shattering blow, were extremely worried. The government in Belarus is out of step with international regulations with regard to Covid-19, said Ms Roche. Other than locking the doors (of the orphanage), they are doing nothing. Because there has been no lockdown in Belarus with no regulations on physical distancing, she said, the children in the orphanage are vulnerable to staff coming from the outside in. The children dont understand what is happening and why they are getting sick, they are extremely frightened. The latest high-speed broadband technology 5G is not responsible for the spread of the COVID-19 and any theory of a link between it and the coronavirus is "a hoax that has no technical basis", UN agency for information and communications technology has said. As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the world almost four months ago, 5G phone masts have reportedly been damaged or destroyed in several European countries, including Ireland, Cyprus and Belgium. In the UK, dozens of towers were targeted and engineers abused on the job, a UN report said. A spokesperson for International Telecommunications Union (ITU) Monika Gehner told the UN on Wednesday that the theory of a link between 5G and COVID-19 is "a hoax that has no technical basis". "The coronavirus is not being spread by radio waves. It's a real shame, during this time when there are real concerns about the health and well-being of the general public, and the economic toll that the fight against this pandemic is taking, that any time or energy has to be put into fighting this and other false rumours," she said. The 5G is the next generation cellular technology with download speeds stated to be 10 to 100 times faster than current 4G networks. The 5G reliably connect an extremely large number of devices. This allows future users to access a wide variety of services, including industrial and professional applications, the ITU said. During the current pandemic, communication technology is playing an essential role in ensuring that health services, many of which are facing unprecedented demand due to the pandemic, are able to respond function efficiently: this was underlined when a phone mast supplying voice and data traffic to a hospital built in response to the pandemic, in the UK's Birmingham city, was reportedly set alight in April. The scale of the problem prompted the World Health Organisation (WHO), the UN agency which is leading the response to the pandemic, to add the 5G conspiracy to its COVID-19 myth busters article, which noted that "viruses cannot travel on radio waves/mobile networks. COVID-19 is spreading in many countries that do not have 5G mobile networks". In a statement published in February, the WHO noted that "to date, and after much research performed, no adverse health effect has been causally linked with exposure to wireless technologies". It also noted that "provided that the overall exposure remains below international guidelines, no consequences for public health are anticipated". The ITU, the WHO and the UNICEF are working with telecommunication companies to text people directly on their mobile phones with vital health messaging to help protect them from COVID-19, reaching billions of people without internet access. The Global Education Coalition, an ITU/UNESCO initiative, is ensuring that learning never stops for the over 1.5 billion students and youths across the planet affected by school and university closures. The Global Network Resiliency Platform helps policy-makers, regulators and industry players ensure that networks are kept resilient and telecom services are available to as many people as possible. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ - Uranium Energy Corp (NYSE American: UEC, the "Company" or "UEC") welcomes the release of the U.S. Nuclear Fuel Working Group ("NFWG") report addressing a multi-year strategy to assure U.S. National Security. The report outlines a strategy to re-establish critical capabilities and provide direct support to the front end of America's nuclear fuel cycle, including direct purchases of uranium for the strategic Uranium Reserve. In the related Department of Energy ("DOE") press release today announced by Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette, the strategy recommends: "Taking immediate and bold action to strengthen the uranium mining and conversion industries and restore the viability of the entire front-end of the nuclear fuel cycle." UEC Chairman and Former U.S. Energy Secretary, Spencer Abraham, stated: "Today's announcement and report represent a clear and unambiguous commitment by the U.S. government to establish the development of domestic uranium mining capabilities at the forefront of America's national security. The President, the Trump Administration and Secretary Brouillette are to be commended for addressing this pressing national security challenge forcefully. America's power sector won't be secure until we shed our total dependence on imported uranium. The President's proposal will put people back to work and strengthen our national security at the same time and Congress needs to act decisively and quickly on these proposals." President and CEO Amir Adnani added: "We appreciate and applaud President Trump and the NFWG for developing a comprehensive strategy to recapture America's nuclear industry capabilities and leadership in the global marketplace. We are pleased the uranium purchase program will be a broad and inclusive process for rebuilding a globally competitive American uranium mining sector. UEC controls the largest resource base of fully permitted ISR projects in Texas and Wyoming of any U.S. based producer, ideally positioned to lead the resurgence in domestic uranium mining. We believe this will be a long-standing advantage to lead U.S. production higher, to support the needs of the U.S. Uranium Reserve and to be a competitive supplier to U.S. utilities. America's commercial reactor fleet consumes approximately 47M pounds of uranium annually, and with no U.S. production today, and many supply-chain challenges globally, there's a clear opportunity for our Company as a low-cost, domestic uranium supplier." Since the establishment of the NFWG there has been an extensive effort from members of the President's Cabinet and various government agencies to "develop recommendations for reviving and expanding domestic nuclear fuel production." The NFWG was instructed to provide a full "analysis of national security considerations with respect to the entire nuclear fuel supply chain." UEC has had significant involvement in the process and expended considerable effort to assist and provide input to the NFWG and the various agencies involved in developing the recommendations outlined in the report. Summary of key U.S. uranium industry support points presented in the report: U.S. purchases of 17-19 million pounds of U3O8, beginning in 2020 from domestic producers based on a competitive bidding process. Subsequent support will be considered over a period of up to 10 years as deemed necessary to reestablish market share. DOE will end the uranium bartering program and reevaluate DOE's Excess Uranium Inventory Management Policy. Streamline regulatory reform and land access for uranium extraction. Support Department of Commerce efforts to extend the Russian Suspension Agreement to protect against future uranium dumping in the U.S. market. Enable the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to deny imports of nuclear fuel fabricated in Russia or China for national security purposes. or for national security purposes. Establish a Nuclear Industrial Base structure analogous to the Defense Industrial Base. Fund advanced water treatment technology for uranium mining and in situ recovery. Increase efficiencies in the export processes and the adoption of 123 Agreements to open new markets for exports of U.S. civil nuclear technology, materials and fuel. The links for the fact sheet and the full report are below: Fact Sheet: https://www.energy.gov/strategy-restore-american-nuclear-energy-leadership Report: https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2020/04/f74/Restoring%20America%27s%20Competitive%20Nuclear%20Advantage-Blue%20version%5B1%5D.pdf About Uranium Energy Corp Uranium Energy Corp is a U.S.-based uranium mining and exploration company. In South Texas, the Company's hub-and-spoke operations are anchored by the fully-licensed Hobson Processing Facility which is central to the Palangana, Burke Hollow and Goliad ISR projects. In Wyoming, UEC controls the Reno Creek project, which is the largest permitted, pre-construction ISR uranium project in the U.S. Additionally, the Company controls a pipeline of uranium projects in Arizona, New Mexico and Paraguay, a uranium/vanadium project in Colorado and one of the highest-grade and largest undeveloped Ferro-Titanium deposits in the world, located in Paraguay. The Company's operations are managed by professionals with a recognized profile for excellence in their industry, a profile based on many decades of hands-on experience in the key facets of uranium exploration, development and mining. Stock Exchange Information: NYSE American: UEC +Frankfurt Stock Exchange Symbol: U6Z WKN: AJDRR ISN: US916896103 Safe Harbor Statement Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release. SOURCE Uranium Energy Corp Related Links http://www.uraniumenergy.com/ Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. A young California gray whale swimming near Tamarack Beach Monday afternoon slowed traffic and drew more than 300 spectators before it disappeared in the waves a few hours later. The healthy juvenile whale was first sighted around 2 p.m. and was estimated by SeaWorld San Diego researchers to be about 15 feet long and about 2,000 pounds. SeaWorld scientists told Carlsbad officials that the whale was likely making its annual journey back north from Baja California. They said it is common for the marine mammals to take a break along the Southern California coastline to rest for up to a day in their journey north. People line up on the bank of Agua Hedionda Lagoon to see a gray whale on Monday afternoon. (Phil Diehl / San Diego Union-Tribune) Advertisement The whale could be seen from about 2 to 4 p.m. swimming back and forth under the bridge that crosses the entrance to the Agua Hedionda Lagoon. Just over 300 people lined the shoreline to watch and photograph the whale. Some of the spectators attempted to wade into the water to swim with the whale, but police and lifeguards told them get away because it was too dangerous, Carlsbad Fire Chief Mike Davis said. To control traffic, a team of Carlsbad traffic police arrived to keep the flow moving until the whale swam out to sea around 4 p.m. and traffic returned to normal. pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com In this photo, provided by the Michigan Office of the Governor, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addresses the state in Lansing on April 20, 2020. (Michigan Office of the Governor via AP, Pool) Michigan Governor: Stay-at-Home Order Will Be Extended Into May Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said she will issue an extension to her stay-at-home order, which requires residents to not leave home unless theyre engaging in a so-called essential activity. We will likely need another short-term extension of the state-at-home, stay safe order, Whitmer told reporters in Lansing on April 22. Pressed later on her statement, she added: We know that there will be a need for an extension of some sort. Even when we get to a stable moment people who are compromised, who are vulnerable to COVID-19, are still going to need to stay at home, she said. So some version will be in effect for a while. Michigan employed some of the strictest stay-at-home rules in the nation in an order that even barred the sale of seeds. Multiple protests have since targeted Whitmers mandates, while some law enforcement officers have declined to strictly enforce them. A man sits in his car while driving toward the Capitol along with many others to protest against Gov. Gretchen Whitmers stay at home order, in Lansing, Michigan on April 15, 2020. (Elaine Cromie/Getty Images) The daily rate of new COVID-19 cases has been under 1,000 for six consecutive days. The state doesnt release figures on hospitalizations from the new disease, which is caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a coronavirus that emerged in China last year. There are nearly 34,000 confirmed cases in the state along with 2,813 deaths attributed to the disease. Whitmer, a first-term Democratic governor, expressed hope that the economy can reopen in stages. She promised more details on Friday. Im as eager as anyone to start re-engaging sectors of our economy, but we all know we have to be really smart about what that looks like, she said. The state, meanwhile, announced temporary layoffs of at least 2,900 workers to help save money during the pandemic. The laid-off employees were working at less than their typical full capacity due to their work being shifted to the home, Tiffany Brown, a spokeswoman for Whitmer, said in a statement. A Rite Aid employee communicates to a drive through customer in Macomb, Michigan, on April 21, 2020. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) The employees will automatically be enrolled into the unemployment program and the state will re-analyze their employment after 10 business days. More than 900 Department of State employees are part of the layoffs, according to Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. This is an extremely challenging time for our state, our state government, and our department, Benson said in a statement. This decision was not easy, but is necessary to responsibly steward taxpayer funds at this time. The move will save Michigan about $5 million. This is a difficult decision, but it is the right thing to do to ensure we can continue providing critical services to the people of Michigan, Brown said. The Henry Ford Health System and Beaumont also announced job cuts in recent days, citing a decline in revenue after the state ordered hospitals to stop doing elective surgeries. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration plans to reopen the country's national parks and other public lands in line with coronavirus guidelines, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, but gave no other details. 'We will begin to open our national parks and public lands for the American people to enjoy,' Trump announced at an Earth Day event at the White House. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration plans to reopen the country's national parks and other public lands in line with coronavirus guidelines, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, but gave no other details. "We will begin to open our national parks and public lands for the American people to enjoy," Trump announced at an Earth Day event at the White House. (Reporting by Jeff Mason; writing by Susan Heavey; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Portland families can begin applying Monday for $250 gift cards to help cover expenses due to the coronavirus pandemic, city officials say. The VISA gift cards will be provided to around 740 low-income families on a first come, first served basis and meant to be used to cover rent, medical bills, food or any other urgent expense, said Martha Calhoon, a Portland Housing Bureau spokesperson. The funds for the gift cards come from around $200,000 out of more than $1 million reallocated from the Portland Housing Bureaus budget to cover cash assistance for residents. The other $800,000 is being given to 19 local nonprofits who serve communities of color, people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, immigrants and refugees, domestic violence survivors and at-risk youth, Calhoon said. Those groups will provide up to $500 per household to people already in their networks, she said. This was done to provide an opportunity for the public to access this assistance while also ensuring we serve as many impacted households as rapidly and equitably as possible, Calhoon said. The nonprofits will be distributing the funds via a variety of methods through June 30, she said. Here are details for the gift cards: Am I eligible for aid? According to city officials, Portland residents have to meet two criteria points to qualify. 1. They must have been impacted by the coronavirus crisis, in ways such as the following: they lost their job, had work hours reduced, faced increased child care expenses due to school closures, missed work to take care of their children with schools closed or had to take care of themself or a relative sick from the virus. Residents have to provide proof of the hardship(s). 2. They made 50% or less than the area median income before any loss of income or employment related to coronavirus. Do I qualify under the income limits? The Portland Housing Bureau is basing the median income estimates on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development calculations for the Portland metro area in 2019. So 50% of area median income would be: Household of 1 = $30,800 Household of 2 = $35,200 Household of 3 = $39,600 Household of 4 = $43,950 Household of 5 = $47,500 Household of 6 = $51,000 Household of 7 = $54,500 Household of 8 = $58,050 How do I prove Ive been impacted by coronavirus? Applicants will have to provide letters or emails of proof from their employer, childrens school, doctor or other source to verify their hardship. Photographs of the letters can be accepted. How do I apply? Applications are being accepted by 211Info, a nonprofit that contracts with the city to provide information and referral services. People can start applying at 10 a.m. on Monday April 27, 2020 either by calling 211 or filling out an online application on www.211info.org/covid19. Applications cant be submitted before 10 a.m. on Monday. The online applications will be available in English, Spanish, simplified Chinese, Vietnamese and Russian. Applicants will have to provide their name, number of people in their household, email address, confirm they meet both qualifying criteria, explain how the funds will primarily be used and agree to provide documentation of their income if asked. The documents can be uploaded with the online application. A 211Info phone operator said Wednesday evening that applicants who apply via phone will be given an email address where they can to send their documentation. When will the gift cards be made available? Recipients can expect to receive the funds three to five business days after their application and supporting documentation are received, said Calhoon. If people want to expedite the process, they can make sure they have their documentation ready to go with their application on Monday or as soon as they can, she said. Coronavirus in Oregon: Latest news | Live map tracker |Text alerts | Newsletter -- Everton Bailey Jr. ebailey@oregonian.com | 503-221-8343 |@EvertonBailey Visit subscription.oregonlive.com/newsletters to get Oregonian/OregonLive journalism delivered to your email inbox. Srinagar, April 23 : The J&K Police have denied any intimidation of mediapersons and interference in their professional duties. "With reference to a claim by certain groups that freedom of press is being curtailed, before making such broad generalisations people should ascertain the facts," the police said in a statement, here on Thursday. Only one journalist was questioned about journalistic work and only one FIR over instigating people for violence had been registered over an encounter in Shopian, it said. The other two persons had not been booked for any journalistic work but because of posting of "explicitly seditious, incendiary and incriminating texts on social media, challenging sovereignty and integrity of India and attempting to instigate people for violence," the police said. The police said one of them recently met the IGP Kashmir along with 3-4 members of Kashmir Press Club, Srinagar, and "accepted the mistake claiming ignorance of the relevant law" and assured not to repeat it. The IGP assured of impartial investigation in the case. Regarding the other booked person, it said there were written complaints that he exposed life of some peaceful and law-abiding citizens to grave risk by posting incriminating and provocative adjectives against them on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter. "The content of these specific complaints discloses a criminal act and law will take its course and the written complaints against this individual will be investigated as mandated by law," the police said. April 23 : Dia Mirza is breathtakingly gorgeous, and we never miss an opportunity to admire this lovely dame! She has been part of the modelling world, and the Bollywood for a long time. She loves to flaunt her elegance for some of the best designers in India and these have been best showcased during a few ramp walks. Why dont you come along and take this virtual tour of Desi styles that were worn by Dia Mirza? You could drool over her regal lehengas and sarees that are a lovely blend of feminine power and sensuality in one sweet soul! Image Source: Amlan Paliwal/ IANS New Delhi: Actress Dia Mirza showcases a creation of fashion designer Ruceru on the third day of Lotus India Fashion Week in New Delhi, on March 15, 2019. She wore a bronze coloured lehenga that was embroidered with intricate golden threadworks. The blouse contained a lot of detailing along with a V neck. The actress wore this for a ramp walk, flaunting her midriffs elegantly. Her hair was tied into a low bun. This was a great choice to wear for an engagement party. Image Source: IANS Dia Mirza walks the ramp for Rocky S at Amby Valley Indian Bridal Week. Dia Mirza looked angelic in this lehenga. It was stunning pristine white attire, with a lot of silver, coloured detailing and threadworks to amplify the beauty of the design. Her blouse covered the body up to her navel. The skirt was gathered together in ruffles, while the lacy shawl made her look like a dreamy angel here. Image Source: IANS Mumbai:Actress Dia Mirza display the creation of fashion designer Faabiiana during the Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2017 in Mumbai on Aug 20, 2017. Another one of her stunning ramp walk designs that we couldnt take our eyes away from! This ivory coloured ethnic ensemble accentuated her curves in the most elegant manner. Her hair had a slight rusty shade, and the windblown hairstyle added oomph to her ramp walk look. Image Source: IANS Mumbai: Actress Dia Mirza walks the ramp showcasing fashion designers Moksha Shah and Hiral Shah's creation at the Lakme Fashion Week Winter/Festive 2018, in Mumbai on Aug 25, 2018. For the contemporary woman in you, this lightweight lehenga is perfect! Especially, if you have a reception party coming up this summer so, this should be your must-have! She wore this chocolate coloured ethnic make, which contained a lot of stones. With a beautiful shawl to drape, you can have fun swirling in style for a grand function, The look went on to project the dress, and hence minimal makeup was all it needed to deck up her glam side. Image Source: IANS Mumbai: Actress Dia Mirza walks the ramp displaying outfits by fashion designer Anavila at the Lakme Fashion Week Summer Resort 2015 - Day 3 in Mumbai on March 19, 2015. After shimmers and royal shawls, her handcrafted sari is such a soothing vision for our eyes. It redefined the concept of grace in such a quiet way. The floral works looked exquisite and she itself was so unflawed. You could wear this to the office, or perhaps even a baptism function. Image Source: IANS Actress Dia Mirza walks the ramp for fashion designer Anita Dongre during the Lakme Fashion Week (LFW) Summer/ Resort 2014 day 4, in Mumbai on March 14, 2014. A splash of colour brings brightness and light into our lives. With this textured lehenga, Dia looked cute and so happy playing around with her skirt. This piece came with sans shawls, so this would be a great pick for young teenage girls. Image Source: IANS Mumbai: Actress Dia Mirza displays the creation of fashion brand Tulsi Silks by fashion designer Santosh Parekh during the Lakme Fashion Week Winter Festive 2016, in Mumbai on Aug 28, 2016. Well, dessert is for the last! Check out her chic, yet powerful saree look, as she walked in this all black and silver saree. With her bold red bindi, silver jewellery and bracelet, she could command a crowd with her looks. , We're sorry, this article is not currently available In strict adherence to directives of the Enugu State Government closing all land entry points and inter-state transportation, among other precautionary measures to contain the spread of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) in the state, the Nigeria Army, at its checkpoint in Nsukka, intercepted over 30 vehicles loaded with passengers who were passing through the state. The intercepted passengers were consequently escorted out of the state by the military with the assistance of the police. This came as Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi visited Enugu-Benue and Enugu-Kogi land boundaries to monitor compliance, charging the security agencies on duty to enforce total restrictions except those on essential duties. Some of the intercepted passengers who were mostly from Northern parts of the country, according to the security officials on duty at the Nsukka Military Checkpoint, disguised and covered themselves with bags of food items, which are allowed into the state as essential commodities. One of the intercepted passengers, Peter, who was coming into the state from Benue State revealed to newsmen that they trekked from the state land boundary from Inyi, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area to Obollo Afor in Udenu LGA, where they boarded bus to their destinations. READ ALSO: Other offending passengers from Port Harcourt heading to the North, disclosed that they passed through the Bonny River to cross Rivers States land boundaries to be able to board buses through Enugu State, to their destinations, stressing that they are desirous to return to their native homes and face the inherent challenges occasioned by COVID-19. The security officials who escorted the passengers out, warned other intending travelers to stay at home and keep away from Enugu State, as the security agencies in compliance with the directives of the state government will not condone further breaches of the lockdown order in the state. Chinese officers ride in together on bicycles in a shopping area in Beijing, China, on April 22, 2020. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) They Locked My Home From the Outside: Residents of Virus-Hit Chinese City Reveal Hardships Amid Second Outbreak In the northern Chinese city of Harbin, where a second wave of the CCP virus outbreak has occurred, one family described how six members became infected after attending a big family dinner in early April. In March, city authorities had lifted lockdown measures and allowed social gatherings. At the time, Harbin, as was the case with the majority of Chinese cities, declared itself to be free of any new virus cases. But when cluster outbreaks began to surface, authorities announced a lockdown once more. Residents told The Epoch Times that the city had forced many into quarantine at home, without permission to go outside. However, they havent been in contact with diagnosed patients nor exhibited symptoms. A Family Dinner One Harbin native with six infected relatives spoke to the Chinese-language Epoch Times about how the virus spread in the family. The Epoch Times has chosen to use pseudonyms to protect their identities. Lin Jun is originally from Harbin but has been working and living in the south of China. His family still lives in Harbin, in Heilongjiang Province, but his mother Wang Hong was staying with him from January to April 9. Lins family tree. (The Epoch Times) That day, my grandma was discharged from the hospital [for non-virus-related disease], so my mom went back to take care of her at home, Lin said. In China, families traditionally have a big dinner gathering when a member returns after a long trip. So on the evening of April 9, Lins grandparents organized a big party at home with 11 family members. Because the government didnt announce new infections in Harbin until April 10, Lins family was not aware of any risks of exposure to the virus. They thought it was safe to gather again. On April 11, the Harbin government announced one new infection in the city, a patient at the same hospital as Lins grandma. Because all 11 family members were close contacts, they all had to take the virus diagnostic test. They were sent to the hospital in three groups. The son of my uncle entered the hospital after [testing positive in] the first nucleic acid test. My uncle and my grandpa were diagnosed positive during the second test, Lin said. My aunt was the last one who entered the hospital. She didnt take the nucleic acid test due to a lack of diagnostic kits at the hospital. But the CT scan results, and her symptoms showed that she was infected. Lins aunt had ground-glass opacity in her lungs, indicating inflammationa common symptom of COVID-19. Lins mother and grandmother also tested positive and were sent to the hospital. Both are in critical condition in the intensive care unit (ICU). Lins family members dont match the descriptions of the infection cases announced by the Harbin government, and their cases were likely not counted in the official toll. Forced Quarantine On April 17, the Heilongjiang provincial government punished 18 Harbin officials for mishandling the outbreak. Since then, the city government has launched tight measures to prevent the virus from spreading. A staff member (C) checking the body temperature of a woman before she enters a community in the border city of Suifenhe in Chinas northeastern Heilongjiang Province on April 22, 2020. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) However, locals complained that the forced quarantine rules are inhumane. Mr. Xiaos wife is on the kitchen staff at the Harbin Daoli District Peoples Hospital. About seven days ago, Mr. Xiao was isolated at a quarantine center for 24 hours as a precaution. He was later released from quarantine after testing negative. Meanwhile, his wife has been quarantined at the hospital and is not allowed to return home. But because his wife works at the hospital, he was also quarantined. They locked my home from the outside I am locked inside the house, Xiao told the Chinese-language Epoch Times on April 23. Xiao complained that Harbin was beginning to feel like how Wuhan, the city where the virus first emerged, was in February. Senior authority officials pressure junior officials [to tighten virus prevention], then junior officials pressure normal people Its created panic, Xiao said. Normal people dont have the right to talk, nor to choose [where to be quarantined]. Mr. Ning is a buyer for the Daoli District hospitals kitchen. He usually goes to a local wholesale market in the early morning to buy the vegetables, then drops them off at the hospital before 7 a.m. The workers in the kitchen start work at the hospital at 8 a.m. Thus, Ning said he does not have any contact with people working inside the facility. But authorities have forcibly locked him in his home. They locked my door from the outside four days ago. I didnt even come into contact with anybody from the hospital, Ning said. A driver scanning a QR code to register information before entering a community during snowfall in the border city of Suifenhe in Chinas northeastern Heilongjiang Province on April 22, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Mrs. Su told The Epoch Times that her husband visited the hospital to get treatment for a blood condition on April 16 but was quarantined in the hospital. Even though Mrs. Su didnt go to the hospital, she was forcibly locked down at home by city authorities on April 19. Meanwhile, a Harbin resident asked for help on Chinese social media, complaining that he wasnt allowed to go back to his own home. He said in a video that he left his apartment to go shopping. When he returned to his residential compound, the guard asked for him to present a special pass that indicates he can go inside. This netizen is not alone. Social media videos showed other Harbin residents waiting at checkpoints to return home as well. Like all businesses, dealing with the issues presented by COVID-19 is challenging, and our nuanced approach allows us to be flexible in the way we assess each request on a case by case basis to ensure we serve the best interests of both SME customers and brokers, rather than a blanket policy, said Tim Plant (pictured), chief executive, Zurich General Insurance (Australia & New Zealand). Zurich General Insurance believes in the broker advice model which is why it is providing flexibility for its brokers to support their customers based on their specific needs, Plant continued. Zurichs support measures and actions as set out draw on aspects of the conduct authorised by the ACCC, but are flexible and tailored to the broker advice model. Referencing the Australian Competition and Consumer Commissions (ACCC) latest move in authorising insurance companies and brokers to coordinate and implement relief measures for SME policyholders suffering hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Plant says Zurich appreciates the support from regulatory bodies during this time. We appreciate that regulatory bodies (particularly ASIC and APRA) are giving consideration to the timing of implementation of regulatory reforms given the necessary focus which must be applied to meeting customer needs during this pandemic, Plant said. Although it is impossible to predict the future, particularly if we reflect on the significant changes that have occurred in the past month, we believe the steps we are taking will serve both SME brokers, customers and our own business in a sustainable way for the short and long term. Some of Zurichs support measures for SMEs during this time include increasing the percentage allowable for the temporary removal of contents from the insured premises as a reflection of company assets being removed and used at employees homes. This benefit, according to Zurich, will be increased from 20% to 50%. Zurich will also apply flexibility in recognising financial hardship and the inability of customers to meet their premium payments. The specifics of the extensions allowable are to be negotiated with the broker on a case by case basis. In the event of a premises being unoccupied as a result of COVID-19, Zurich says it will also extend the 90-day unoccupancy clause to 180 days with no increase to premium or excess. Finally, Zurich is also offering adjustments for normal trading activities while recognising the complexity of the business interruption indemnity period and co-insurance clauses. While we understand that businesses will be required to amend their practices in order to operate in these changing times, fundamental changes in business activities must be disclosed and discussed with Zurich, a company-issued statement read. Zurich says restaurants that are now running solely as takeaways would not need to be disclosed. However, manufacturers now conducting deliveries or retailing, or insureds beginning to operate in an entirely different activity or industry, must be disclosed and discussed with the company. When discussing any financial penalties that may be imposed on businesses, including brokers, because of these large operational changes, Plant says Zurich isnt charging any cancellation fees. We would recommend that any business should seek advice from their insurance broker in the first instance in relation to their insurance program. We confirm in our announcement Zurichs existing practice that Zurich SME business package mid-term cancellations do not attract a cancellation or administration fee, he said. The main motive behind these measures, Plant adds, is to offer financial relief so that SMEs can continue to be protected by insurance covers. Zurich believes it is critically important that any business, large or small, seeks advice from its insurance broker regarding its insurance needs this is especially important in relation to the COVID-19 event, he concluded. Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu on Thursday promised to continue to beef up the security apparatus in the State by providing the required support for the police for effective discharge of their duties. Sanwo-Olu stated this at the opening of the new Area J Police Command administrative building at Elemoro town in Ibeju-Lekki area of the State. The Governor also urged Lagosians to remain law abiding and follow government directives during the COVID-19 pandemic period so as to assist the security operatives in maintaining peace. Speaking on the newly commissioned building, the Governor said that the building, which has several offices, will serve as a functional holding bay for the police as they carry out their duties even in this lockdown period. He said: Our security operatives are doing their job, they are doing a good job and crimes have come down because they have come out. We as a government need to encourage them, we need to give them all of the things they need to function effectively. We know there are people who will always want to foment trouble, people with ulterior motives are everywhere but the police are also there to protect lives and property and as the Governor, I am supposed to give them the support they require to make sure they do their job without fear or favour. Expressing optimism on the overall output of the State Police Command, Sanwo-Olu said the new facility would further boost the morale of the men and officers who would have one thing or another to do there. He said other complementary facilities like the conference centre, blocks of residence for the Area Commander, officers apartments and equipment are still under construction, saying when completed, Area J police command would be having the full complements of operational base for the efficient policing of the axis. It is a befitting Area Command Headquarters, it comes with a complementary office that is furnished, with equipment like CCTV Cameras for them. They need to have a conducive work environment for them to be truly committed to what we ask them to do even in the period of lockdown. We think its important to handover this facility to the Police so that they can begin to put it to immediate use, the Governor noted. The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Hakeem Odumosu thanked the State government for providing the building, promising that security operations within the axis will be improved upon. He described the gesture as a challenge to the police to do better, noting that with the equipment provided along with the facility will make policing from Maroko to Epe very easy to achieve. He said: I want to thank Mr Governor on behalf of the Inspector General of Police for providing the Nigerian Police with this edifice and we want to assure him that security in this axis will not be the same. With the equipment provided alongside this building, communication will be better and we shall provide more men to join in the security of this axis from Maroko to Epe to complement the development which is also coming up fast in this area, he added. Donald Trump brought his Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director to a White House briefing to clean up his own warning in a news report about another coronavirus wave coinciding with the flu next fall but Robert Redfield said he was quoted accurately. The latest White House Covid-19 press conference got wild even faster than usual. The president's face grew red and he gestured wildly in the opening minutes of his Wednesday evening briefing, snapping at reporters and even accusing media outlets of being unhappy when the federal government ramped up production of ventilators, the breathing machines needed to treat coronavirus patients. "Who was upset about ventilators," one exasperated reporter could be heard asking the president. At one point, just minutes after Mr Trump walked into the briefing room, reporters were yelling questions and questioning his bold claims in one of the most surreal scenes since the onset of the pandemic outbreak. Later, he told a female reporter he often with whom he often jousts to ask her question "nice and easy." When she asked about governors' claims of a testing kit shortage in their states, he called such questions a "media trap." Among his most bold of claims was one that while Covid-19 could return next year, "what we've just gone through, we will not go through." Mr Trump sparred with reporters in the wild opening minutes of yet another coronavirus news conference, with journalists pressing him on why he sounds so sure the virus will not return when his own experts say it could. He could not provide a scientific or medical response, however, as he quickly grew agitated. About a half hour later, Mr Trump's top infectious disease expert, Anthony Fauci, sounded less confident. He told reporters that unless Americans continue to follow social distancing and other steps, the likelihood of a second wave will be high. A poll released on Wednesday, however, found more than half of those surveyed in six 2020 swing states believe others are taking those mitigation measures too far. "There will be coronavirus in the fall," Mr Fauci said. "It will take off, that's what viruses do. ... We are going to respond to it to not allow it to do that." Tempers flared after Mr Trump immediately made clear he was there, in large part, to rebut a Washington Post article published on Tuesday that was based on an interview with his CDC boss. It was topped with this headline: "CDC director warns second wave of coronavirus is likely to be even more devastating". The crux of the presidential gripe was the word "devastating" in the headline. Mr Redfield, under questioning from reporters, acknowledged The Post quoted him accurately in the actual article. In a stunning scene, with the US death toll approaching 46,500, the president of the United States was focused on an adjective in a news article. Mr Trump's attempt to be his own press secretary he just hired his fourth did not appear to go very well. That's because Mr Redfield uttered this line: "Im accurately quoted in the Washington Post." Despite that, Mr Trump attempted, once again, to offer his own version of events. "That's not what he said," the president said several times, taking umbrage with a single word in single headline of a single news article. Typically, presidents leave such work up to their press secretaries who often further delegating to their deputies the work of making a formal complaint and request a headline be changed. Not Mr Trump, who is hyper-sensitive to any media report he deems as negative for himself and his political future. Having it both ways The latest remarkable scene in the James S. Brady Briefing Room came when the president, after urging states to start the process of reopening their economies, revealed he told Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican, he "strongly" disagrees with the state executive's decision to do so. But "The Donald" often prefers to operate on both sides of a politically dicey issue especially one on which his conservative base is engaged on. And conservatives across the country increasingly want to open their states. "I think it's too soon," Mr Trump said. "But at the same time, he must do what he thinks is right." The president won the southern state by just over 5 points in 2016, but Democrats showed gains there in the 2018 midterms: Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams, for instance, took Mr Kemp to a runoff for the governor's office. That has prompted some political prognosticators to say former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, might have an outside shot to take the state in November. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his hope that the Verkhovna Rada would adopt all the decisions necessary to sign a memorandum of cooperation with the IMF. "We will sign a memorandum with the IMF if our Rada gives such an opportunity, and Ukraine will receive at least 8 billion [US dollars] from the IMF and a few billions from other European financial institutions the World Bank, the EBRD," Zelensky said in the documentary The Year of President Zelensky aired on Ukraine 24 TV Channel. As reported, IMF Resident Representative in Ukraine Goesta Ljungman said on April 4 that the International Monetary Fund was awaiting the final adoption of legislation on bank restructuring by the Parliament of Ukraine. At a special meeting on March 30, the Parliament of Ukraine adopted at first reading the Draft Law On Amending Legislative Acts of Ukraine to Improve Certain Mechanisms of Banking Activity Regulation and shortened the time of preparation for its second reading. The law, in particular, will make it impossible to overturn the NBU's decision on nationalization / liquidation of banks and to return unfair compensation from the state budget to the previous owners of the banks. During the preparation of the bill for the second reading, the MPs introduced more than 16,000 amendments to it. ol Trump said, We may not even have corona coming back. He continued: If it comes back, it wont be coming back in the form that it was; it will be coming back in smaller doses that we can contain. What the doctor was saying, and I spoke to him at great length, he was saying if it should come back, you have the flu and the embers of corona, but in my opinion from everything Ive seen, it can never be like anything like we witnessed right now. Its nothing like what weve just gone through, we will not go through. All the Governors of the 36 States of the Federation on Wednesday unanimously agreed to the implementation of an inter-State lockdown for 14 days to contain the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). The Governors reached the agreement after receiving a briefing from the Governors of Lagos, Bauchi, Oyo, and Ogun States who shared their experiences and lessons from the fight against COVID-19. Naija News reports the Governors met on Wednesday via teleconferencing under the aegis of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF). A communique on issues discussed during the meeting was read by the NGF chairman and governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi. He noted that provision would be made for only essential services during the national lockdown. Fayemi said: Governors unanimously agreed to the implementation of an inter-state lockdown in the country over the next two weeks to mitigate the spread of the virus from state to state. Only essential services will be permitted. In order to strengthen coordinated implementation of necessary public health recommendations across states, governors resolved to set up COVID-19 committees at the regional level, headed by their state Commissioners of Health. Regional committees will continue to interface with the State Task Force Committees on COVID-19 already established in each state. As at the last update given by the NCDC at 11:25 pm on April 21, 25 States in Nigeria had confirmed cases of coronavirus infection with 782 confirmed cases. Share this post with your Friends on What happened Shares of gold and silver miner Coeur Mining (NYSE:CDE) were lower by 14% as of 1 p.m. on Thursday. The company released earnings after the market closed on April 22 and held a conference call the next day. Although the gold and silver miner tried to put a positive spin on the quarter in its earnings release and during the analyst call, there was material negative news in the update, and investors reacted by pushing the shares sharply lower. So what Coeur's adjusted earnings were basically breakeven in the quarter, up from a loss of $0.11 per share in the previous year. That was a positive note, buttressed by solid operating performance from a number of its exploration efforts and mines. Notably, gold production at the company's Palmarejo mine, located in Mexico, was up nearly 40% year over year. The mine accounted for roughly 37% of Coeur's overall gold production in the quarter. This positive news, however, is also a problem. Mexico announced plans to close down nonessential businesses on March 31, which includes gold mining. Coeur is honoring the Mexican government's efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, effectively taking a material amount of its gold production offline. At this point, the government's closure is scheduled to end on May 18, though the company is asking the government to allow the mine to restart earlier. However, restarting the mine will take at least two or three weeks no matter when work resumes. Effectively, Coeur will lose a material amount of production from this asset even under a best-case scenario. Although its three U.S.-located mines remain in operation, the drop in gold production from Palmarejo will have a significant impact on second-quarter results. If Mexico does not lift the closure as scheduled, or earlier, the impact will obviously extend further into the year. Partly as a result of the uncertainty here, the company made an additional draw on its revolving credit facility after the end of the quarter to fortify its liquidity position. Although Coeur is doing the right things to deal with the impact of COVID-19, there is little it can do to soften the blow from the lost production at Palmarejo. The company estimates that a 30-day shutdown would reduce cash flow from the mine by around $10 million, a notable issue given that the company's 2020 capital exploration plan is the largest in its history. Now what Although all of the news at Coeur wasn't bad in the first quarter, the shutdown of Palmarejo was the headline that drew almost all of the attention during the conference call. And rightly so. Operations are mostly going well in other areas of the business, but losing the production from Palmarejo for even a single month will be a material financial headwind. And if the closure is extended beyond May 18, the problem will only get worse. With uncertainty about the near-term and long-term impacts of COVID-19, investors should keep a close eye on news about this asset in the weeks ahead. China to announce name of its first Mars exploration mission PLA Daily Source: Xinhuanet Editor: Chen Zhuo 2020-04-22 14:45:24 BEIJING, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The name and logo of China's first Mars exploration mission will be made public on the Space Day of China, which will fall on April 24, according to the China National Space Administration (CNSA). China plans to launch the Mars probe in 2020, aiming to complete orbiting, landing and roving in one mission. Since 2016, China has set April 24 as the country's Space Day to mark the launch of its first satellite "Dongfanghong-1" into space on April 24, 1970. This year will be the 50th anniversary of the start of China's entry into space. The various activities on Space Day have become a window for the Chinese public and the world to get a better understanding of China's aerospace progress. Over the past year, China has made efforts to push forward the development of space science. China's Chang'e-4 probe, which landed on the far side of the moon at the beginning of last year, has survived for more than 16 lunar days on the virgin territory, and Yutu-2 has become the longest-working lunar rover on the moon. The probe is in good condition, and has made a large number of scientific discoveries, said Ge Xiaochun, chief engineer of the CNSA. China promotes aerospace technological innovation, and its largest carrier rocket Long March-5 made a new flight at the end of 2019. China has successfully launched a carrier rocket at sea, and also pushes forward the development of lunar exploration and the construction of a high-resolution Earth-observation system, Ge said. Space technology has benefited China's economic and social development. During the COVID-19 epidemic, China's Gaofen Earth-observation satellites and BeiDou Navigation Satellite System provided services for the construction of makeshift hospitals and fight against the epidemic, Ge said. China is deepening international cooperation and exchanges in aerospace development. China promotes international space cooperation to contribute to achieving the sustainable development goals set by the United Nations, Ge said. China shared the data of its Gaofen Earth-observation satellites with other countries and provided services for countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. The CNSA invited scientists around the world to participate in the Chang'e-6 lunar exploration mission and asteroid exploration mission. The China-Brazil Earth Resource Satellite-4A was launched at the end of 2019, setting a good example for space cooperation among developing countries. The China-France Oceanography Satellite, sent into space in 2018, has been put into use, Ge said. Although confronted with more risks of space exploration, China will not cease its development and innovation in space science, technology and application, Ge added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address By Trend Eastern Partnership Summit may be held in June 2020 as planned notwithstanding the coronavirus pandemic, High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said, Trend reports with reference to Unian Information Agency. Borrell made the statement following the EU ministers of foreign affairs meeting held as a video conference. Borrell said that the ministers saw the current crisis as an opportunity to show that the EU is the most reliable partner for Eastern Partnership countries, i.e., to Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Moldova and Ukraine. The EU High Representative said that during the meeting, the participants, in particular, discussed how the EU can support these countries so that their economies, jobs and institutions do not suffer, and that the drive for reforms remains high on the agenda. The Eastern Partnership Summit in June, the date of which I expect to remain unchanged, should be a good event to confirm this support to the region, but also help advance work in specific areas of cooperation, sustainable economic growth and job creation, he added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz humyum Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 2,634 Thanked: 4,748 Times Re: Measures to boost the recovery of the auto industry Quote: turbo Originally Posted by I have a different perspective. I think the slowdown in sales was due to the rapidly approaching BS6 norms, and the lack of any new exciting launches, with all the manufacturers waiting for the BS6 fuel availability to launch their products. There was only one BS6 product, and that was Seltos, and look how well it sold. Nobody else took the opportunity of an early move to BS6 with a facelift. Now the Bs6 Creta's here, the Bs6 Verna's here, just wait and watch the Seltos market share erode. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-49645889 https://www.newindianexpress.com/bus...p-2032188.html https://www.indiatoday.in/news-analy...824-2019-08-14 Please read the autosector part in the above article, let me quote "Automobile sector is facing its worst crisis in 20 years. Reports say around 2.30 lakh jobs have been lost in the auto sector. A large of it is being blamed on the global trend accentuated by the Brexit situation. But what signals a deeper problem is the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) report that 300 dealerships have shut down in recent times. Sales of cars, tractors, two-wheelers have declined considerably. SIAM said about 10 lakh jobs have been hit in the auto component manufacturing industry" And these are the times when people knew of only one Corona. When unemployment rate is at its 45 year high, when disasters like demonetization destroy the unorganized sector along with small and medium scale industries it is bound to effect everything. Education is very important for people in power. My dad's business has been shut down ever since demonetization + GST combo happened and his business is 2nd largest sector in India which is textiles. The whole textile industry in India is destroyed Quote: turbo Originally Posted by Also I'm a little unsure as to how removing the 4m rule would help. Could you please elaborate a little? Quote: turbo Originally Posted by And its kind of odd that you find a problem with this government, which has always been considered as pro-business. I mean if you are this annoyed with this government, wonder what you will do when (if) the Left parties come to power, and all the industries control shifts from the owners to the Labour Unions, like a Marxist utopia. Government is pro-business to people they think are their friends and will fund their machinery when needed. Why do you think so many profit making companies are suddenly dying? ONGC, HUL, Jetairways, BSNL, there are many more. I have no doubt in my head that we are ruled by directionless leaders, even in the current covid crisis, what is the exit plan? Why are media houses not asking this fundamental question? Fear? Brought over? When I look at news and twitter these days, it just pains me to see what has India become, just hyenas out there. Crude prices are below 20 dollars now, we are still paying prices which are when crude was at 140 dollars level before 2014 and there is still not enough money for health funds? https://www.forbes.com/sites/william.../#580c37d62a11 Quote: turbo Originally Posted by And lastly, I agree with your final paragraph. I too have a 13 year old Getz petrol thats doing absolutely fine, and I'll trade it for a 2022 Mahindra Scorpio (assuming it is ladder on frame), and keep that one till 2037. Quote: johannskaria Originally Posted by Any major tax cuts will dent government exchequer, so it has to be well balanced. Reduction over a period of time, if at all ill be the only solution. Bringing petroleum products under the ambit of GST will surely help a lot. The automotive industry was facing a slump since many yearsPlease read the autosector part in the above article, let me quote"Automobile sector is facing its worst crisis in 20 years. Reports say around 2.30 lakh jobs have been lost in the auto sector. A large of it is being blamed on the global trend accentuated by the Brexit situation.But what signals a deeper problem is the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) report that 300 dealerships have shut down in recent times. Sales of cars, tractors, two-wheelers have declined considerably. SIAM said about 10 lakh jobs have been hit in the auto component manufacturing industry"And these are the times when people knew of only one Corona. When unemployment rate is at its 45 year high, when disasters like demonetization destroy the unorganized sector along with small and medium scale industries it is bound to effect everything. Education is very important for people in power.My dad's business has been shut down ever since demonetization + GST combo happened and his business is 2nd largest sector in India which is textiles. The whole textile industry in India is destroyedBecause of Sub-4 meter manufacturers are spending on cutting down their global products to sell their cars at lower taxes. Why not remove this rule, allow car markers to be charged the same taxes that they were being charged for sub-4 meters even for a bigger car with a bigger engine with whatever the ground clearance is. A lot of manufacturers will bring their international portfolio here as it would not need much investment and the customers aka us will benefit with better carsBetween the right one and left wing there is democracy. Between right and left, look at Kerala, Look at Maharashtra, Look at UP and Look at MP now in between the Covid crisis.Government is pro-business to people they think are their friends and will fund their machinery when needed. Why do you think so many profit making companies are suddenly dying? ONGC, HUL, Jetairways, BSNL, there are many more. I have no doubt in my head that we are ruled by directionless leaders, even in the current covid crisis, what is the exit plan? Why are media houses not asking this fundamental question? Fear? Brought over?When I look at news and twitter these days, it just pains me to see what has India become, just hyenas out there. Crude prices are below 20 dollars now, we are still paying prices which are when crude was at 140 dollars level before 2014 and there is still not enough money for health funds?Good choiceWhich they will make up much more when the number of sales increase of products and more tax comes in their kitty through taxes. When spending increases, everyone up and down the chain profits. Last edited by Aditya : 23rd April 2020 at 06:55 . Reason: Political bit edited The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) issued its foreign trade report of first-quarter 2020, encompassing data on the balance of trade, imports, exports (national origin), and re-exports. The value of imports increased by 8%, reaching BD1.244 billion during the first quarter of 2020 compared to BD 1.157billion for the same quarter the previous year. The top 10 countries accounted for 67% of the value of imports, with the remaining countries accounting for 33%. According to the report, China ranked first when it came to imports to Bahrain, with a total of BD156 million, Brazil was second with BD97 million, and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was third with BD94 million. Non-agglomerated iron ores and concentrates emerged as the top product imported into Bahrain with a total value of BD90 million, while Aluminum oxide was second with BD88 million, and four-wheel drive cars third with BD50 million. The value of exports of national origin decreased by 1% to BD579 million during the first quarter of 2020, compared to BD587 million for the same quarter of the previous year. The top 10 countries in terms of the value of exports of national origin purchased from Bahrain accounted for 83% of the total value, with the remaining countries accounting for 17%. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ranked first among countries receiving Bahraini exports of national origin, importing BD163 million from Bahrain. Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates was second with BD64 million and the United States of America third with BD57 million. Agglomerated iron ores and concentrates emerged as the top products exported during first quarter 2020 with BD65 million, unwrought aluminium (not alloyed) was second with a value of BD57 million, and unwrought aluminium alloyed third with BD54 million. The total value of re-exports increased by 16% to reach BD227 million first-quarter 2020, compared to BD196 million for the same quarter of the previous year. The top 10 countries accounted for 89% of the re-exported value, while the remaining countries accounted for 11%. The United Arab Emirates ranked first with BD64 million, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia second with BD51 million, and the United States of America third with BD19 million. Gold ingots emerged as the top product re-exported from Bahrain with BD36 million, four-wheel-drive cars came in second place with BD26 million, and Turbo Jets came third with BD18 million. In 2019, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia kills 180 people in execution for various crimes by literally letting heads roll. In a new report by Amnesty International, reveals quite a number of executions in Saudi Arabia. For 2019, many were sentenced to die by beheading based on charges of terrorism, the date was April 23 when the most numbers of beheading were reported. The laws of Saudi Arabia do sharply differ with western law, one example is beheading as a death sentence by no other means. For westerners, the idea of death sentence is quite different from what capital offense is. In one instance, the public beheading of 36 people by western standards is too cruel, even if they were labeled as terrorists. Normally there would be a chance for the accused to stand a chance but the law in KSA is strict when it comes to certain offenses. It is worthy to note that China and Iran did execute more people than in the KSA with only 20 countries that are responsible for other instances of capital punishment.. Despite the indignation over aspects on how the KSA convicts felons and sentences them, they only followed close to China and Iran in how many were executed, despite appearances. How many were executed by the KSA authorities Many of the executions carried out by the Saudis where dependent on what kind of offense, the individuals were charged with. Record show that many were given the death sentence for drug offenses, many of the sentence persons were foreign nationals who broke the law of KSA. They were killed by getting their heads lopped off. Also read: Coronavirus Outbreak Reportedly Started Mid-September, New Study Says Wuhan Not the Epicenter The total number of people who were executed via beheading is 184. All these executions have been happening for a long time. Although, there are instances that some were given amnesty, which is a rare occurrence. Who gets the death sentence? Meting out of the death sentence can be for several reasons like non-violent offences that may seem strange to western observers. Some of these offences seem old world but they are still considered like apostasy, sorcery, and adultery. Facts were noted by the U.S. State Department in 2019 as an assessment of Saudi Arabia's human right record. By contrast, these are the rare cases that involve politically active religious minorities. A number of the 88 Saudi citizens that were sentenced to death last year were part of the repressed Shia Muslim minority. With a closer look at the statistics, from the 37 people whose life ended by execution on April 23, only 5 were Shiites. Identities of the executed One of those who were executed was a minor, Abdulkareem al-Hawaj, under the age of 18 when he protested against the government. The royal family is an ultra-conservative form of Sunni Islam and disallows access to lawyers. Confessions can convict these sentenced individuals, which was the thought of human rights organizations. Another person who was sentenced to die was Hussein al-Mossalem. When examined, he had several broken bones and a fractured leg while in solitary, said Amnesty. "The death penalty is an abhorrent and inhuman punishment," said Clare Agar, Amnesty's senior director for research, advocacy, and policy. Related article: Israeli COVID-19 Treatment Reports 100% Survival Rate @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Preserving Egypts industrial production and exports is a top priority during the Covid-19 crisis, according to experts at a recent seminar The Ministry of Trade and Industry has been taking measures to stabilise Egypts industrial production during the Covid-19 pandemic, said Nevine Gamea, the minister of trade and industry. Stretching work shifts in factories to three instead of two to increase production capacity and reducing the number of workers on each shift to guarantee social distancing and limit the spread of the coronavirus were measures that had been implemented, Gamea said during a recent online seminar organised by the Egyptian Engineering Export Council (EEEC). The ministry is committed to continuing production in the manufacturing and commercial fields, while also preserving the health of workers by guaranteeing appropriate environments that take preventative measures into account, she said. Some factories were shut down this week for sterilisation after reporting coronavirus cases among their workers, and thousands of workers have been put in self-isolation for 14 days. Gamea said the government was closely monitoring developments related to the cases and was working to support local industries, notably by reducing imports and removing tariffs. She said the ministry was working to settle arrears worth about LE1.5 billion and payable to 1,777 export companies by the Export Development Fund in order to provide further support for Egyptian exporters suffering from the worldwide impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and to help them meet production and wage costs. The government was studying what would happen after the end of the coronavirus crisis and looking at ways of strengthening local industry, reducing imports, removing customs obstacles, and providing incentives for industry, she said. She said that imports had decreased by 24 per cent during the first quarter of 2020, which had given local industry the opportunity to increase production to meet the needs of the local market in line with the ministrys strategy to replace imports with local products. There had been reports from a number of exporters saying they had succeeded in opening new markets in countries whose production had been slowed as a result of the current crisis, she added. This crisis is unprecedented and has greatly affected industrial and production sectors worldwide. But Egypt is one of the countries best positioned to deal with the crisis in terms of its response speed and taking the necessary precautionary measures, Gamea said. We are trying to find the best way to deal with this crisis, but as of now we do not have specific answers, Ahmed Fikri Abdel-Wahab, chair of the advisory board of the School of Business Administration at the American University in Cairo (AUC), said during the online seminar entitled Crisis Management: Challenges and Opportunities. A survey conducted by Abdel-Wahab for members of the EEEC said that the most important decision taken by the government for companies was the disbursement of 30 per cent of their dues by the Export Development Fund. This was followed by the recent reduction in electricity prices for factories that had helped decrease production costs. Postponing loan installments for a period of six months without applying additional fees for late payment had also helped companies to stay in business, according to the members of the EEEC who participated in the survey. They said that increasing local manufacturing to ensure the maintenance of production and opening new export markets had been top opportunities for local manufacturers in the current crisis. Abdel-Wahab said there were best practices for dealing with the crisis that companies could employ. There should be a dedicated team within companies to manage critical events and deal with any future crises like the one caused by the coronavirus pandemic, he said. The current crisis will likely continue, and so should our search for solutions, he concluded. *A version of this article appears in print in the 23 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Open source On Thursday, April 23, Russian mercenaries delivered eleven attacks on emplacements of Ukrainian forces in Donbas. That resulted in combat injuries for three servicemen. Ukraine's defense ministry reported that via press office. The occupants shelled Ukrainian positions, using Minsk-banned 82 mm mortars, grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms. The overwhelming majority of attacks was observed in Donetsk region, in Novoselivka-II, Avdiivka, Novotroitske, Novomykhailivka, Pavlopol, Mariinka and twice in Starohnativka. In Luhansk region, the enemy used 82 mm mortar to shell the positions of Joint Forces near Orikhove. Rocket-propelled grenades, fired from automatic grenade launchers hit the emplacements of Ukrainian troops near Novozvanivka. The wounded Ukrainian servicemen were brought to a military hospital. We previously reported that on April 22, the Ukrainian side of Minsk Trilateral Contact Group for settlement of Donbas conflict initiated the creation of a work group to restore control over the state border. A Chinese mother has watched her three-month-old baby dying of suffocation through a monitor after following an online course to train the infant to sleep face down. The parent was reportedly trying to guide her child to fall sleep on its stomach, a technique recommended by a consultancy to new parents as 'a tool to calm babies'. The worried mother shared CCTV footage of her crying infant and begged for help on a chatting group created by the training service. Other members in the group allegedly advised her not to intervene, leading the baby to suffocate. The worried mother, who shared CCTV footage of her crying infant while begging for help on a chatting group created by the training service, was allegedly advised not to intervene The mother, who has not been identified, was left horrified after discovering her dead child two hours later when she came into the room to feed the baby, Chinese media report. The Shanghai-based parenting platform responded by saying that the baby's death was not caused by the sleeping position. Authorities said that the childcare company has been under investigation and stopped operating following the incident. The first-time mother from the southern Chinese city Shantou was reportedly training her child, believed to be a girl, to nap on her stomach in the afternoon of April 16. She had been following parenting advice given by a fee-paying online consultancy 'Amy Babycare', according to the press. The Chinese mother, who watched her baby dying while sleeping face down, had been following parenting advice given by a fee-paying online consultancy 'Amy Babycare'. The picture shows an advertising image for the parenting service The service has advocated for teaching infants 'independent sleeping' with face-down postures to 'calm babies down while falling asleep'. Despite available scientific evidence linking face-down sleeping with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or cot death, the Chinese parenting platform claims it 'makes babies feel safer' and 'helps with digestion'. Subscribers were charged up to 6,999 yuan (798) for the online course and access to its chatting groups with assigned 'guidance teachers', according to reports. WHAT IS COT DEATH AND HOW CAN IT BE PREVENTED? Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), or cot death, is the sudden, unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently healthy baby. SIDS kills around 2,500 babies in the US and just under 300 in the UK every year. It usually occurs within the first six months of an infant's life and is more common in those born prematurely or of a low birth weight. The cause of SIDS is unknown, however, it is associated with tobacco smoke, tangled bedding, co-sleeping with parents and breathing obstructions. Prevent the risk by: Placing sleeping babies on their backs Keeping babies' heads uncovered Sleeping in the same room as babies for the first six months of their lives Using a firm, flat, waterproof mattress in babies' cribs Breastfeeding, if possible Do not: Smoke during pregnancy or in the same room as a baby Sleep on a bed or chair with an infant Allow babies to get too hot or cold. Temperatures between 16 and 20C should be comfortable Source: NHS Choices Advertisement Screenshots emerged on social media allegedly show the unnamed parent begging for help on the WeChat messaging group after she saw the baby crying through a monitor. The concerned mother wrote: 'My baby just went to sleep but she suddenly turned around. 'Heard the crying. Do I need to go help her flip over? 'I'm standing by the door. I'm so worried that she would suffocate.' The parent then shared CCTV footage with the group and wrote: 'Please take a look [at the video]. My usual guidance teacher isn't answering.' A baby is pictured holding a protective face mask while sitting in a baby carriage in Beijing Other members allegedly responded by reassuring her that the crying was normal and a part of the process of training the child to sleep independently. One of the parents from the group wrote: 'It's not a big deal. Why [are you] anxious?' Another one said: 'My teacher said not to intervene if it's not crying loudly, haha.' The mother reportedly did not go into the room to check on the child following the advice from the group. About two hours later, the distressed parent revealed to other members that the baby had died. 'I killed my daughter,' she messaged. The 'Amy Babycare' was founded in 2017 by a mother, known by her social media handle 'Cheese Wonton', as an online platform offering childcare courses and advice for new parents. The file picture shows a newborn baby lying on a bed in a hospital in Huabei, Anhui Province The founder claimed that she had been studying in the US since the age of 14 with multiple qualifications in child and infant care. The training service said in a statement on Sunday that the baby's death 'was not directly caused by sleeping face down'. They also claimed that they stopped providing services to the mother at the end of March, more than two weeks before the incident happened. 'Since the company was founded, we have always followed the rule of prioritising safety first,' the statement read. 'We have strictly forbidden parents from putting the babies face down, especially if no one is watching. 'Babies would turn around and face down on their own after falling asleep,' the online platform asserted. The company has stopped operating and been investigated by Shanghai authorities, Chinese media report. Central gov't firmly supports HK police arrest of 15 criminal suspects: spokesperson People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 10:18, April 22, 2020 BEIJING, April 21 (Xinhua) -- A central government spokesperson on Tuesday expressed firm support for the arrest of 15 criminal suspects including Jimmy Lai Chee-ying and Martin Lee Chu-ming by Hong Kong police. The spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council called it a normal law enforcement action to maintain the rule of law, order and social justice in Hong Kong. The U.S. and British governments and certain politicians have shown unusual concern about the arrest and hurried to make irresponsible remarks, the spokesperson noted. They tried to embellish the suspects' organization and planning of and participation in illegal assemblies in total disregard of the fact that illegal assemblies and processions had turned into extreme violence last year. They overtly exculpated the suspects for law-breaking acts, slandered the legitimate law enforcement actions of the police as "politicized law enforcement," and even openly asked the police to drop relevant charges and put political pressure on Hong Kong police and judiciary authorities under the pretext of the so-called "Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act," the spokesperson said. "This is a wanton trampling of human rights and the rule of law in Hong Kong, a blatant interference in the judicial independence and the high degree of autonomy of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and a gross interference in China's internal affairs and sovereignty," the spokesperson said. "It once again exposed the political plot of some U.S. and British forces to back anti-China plotters in Hong Kong." "We strongly condemn and firmly oppose it," the spokesperson said. Everyone is equal before the law and lawbreakers must be held accountable according to the law, the spokesperson said, vowing to unswervingly support strict law enforcement by Hong Kong police, support the judicial organs in Hong Kong in administering justice impartially, resolutely oppose any external interference in Hong Kong affairs in any form, and unswervingly safeguard national sovereignty, security, development interests and Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address YouTube CPAC UPDATE 8:45 a.m. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government will spend more than $1 billion to help develop, test and manufacture a COVID-19 vaccine, as well as to determine how widely the virus has spread through Canada. The cash announced today is on top of $275 million in research funding the Liberals announced in March at the outset of the pandemic. Most of the new money is aimed at funding vaccine development and clinical trials, including $600 million over two years through a federal innovation fund that the government says could help the country's biomanufacturing sector. Smaller amounts will go to tracking and identifying different strains of the virus and the different health impacts it has had on different patients. Trudeau also says the government will create a task force of public health experts that includes Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, and Dr. David Naylor, who has advised Liberal and Conservative governments on health and science issues. The task force will be asked to oversee country-wide blood test surveys to get a better handle on potential immunity and vulnerabilities in Canada. The Canadian Press UPDATE 8:39 a.m. Trudeau says of long-term care homes, "we can and need to do better, we are failing our parents and grandparents. Trudeau also says military requests have come from Ontario and Quebec to help and they will get it but says, "this isn't a long-term solution." Trudeau also announced $1.1-billion for research and development of a vaccine, clinical trials, and expanded testing. UPDATE 8:27 a.m. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced more funding for medical research, "today, Im announcing more support for medical research to fight COVID-19, and a new national task force to oversee country-wide blood test surveys." Trudeau is adding an additional $1.1 billion in funding to fight COVID-19. ORIGINAL 8:11 a.m. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is set to address the nation as he has been doing over the last month. -with files from the Canadian Press Albany, N.Y. Nursing homes in New York are facing new oversight on their responses to the coronavirus pandemic. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today that nursing homes must immediately report the actions they have taken to comply with state Health Department and federal directives on the pandemic. The Health Department will inspect homes that have not complied and require them to submit a plan on how theyll follow all guidance and directives, Cuomo said during a press briefing in Albany. Facilities could face fines of up to $10,000 per violation or potentially lose their operating licenses if they dont comply. Any nursing home violating any of the states coronavirus-related orders will be investigated, Cuomo said. READ MORE: Coronavirus in NY: New hospitalizations flatten, deaths dip for 2nd straight day READ MORE: New York antibody tests: 2.7 million possibly infected with coronavirus statewide READ MORE: Cuomo on McConnells state bankruptcy idea: Really dumb All nursing homes in the state are required to provide protective gear and temperature checks for staff members and to isolate any residents who have tested positive for the virus. The facilities must also have separate staff for residents with the virus. If a nursing home cant care properly for a resident with the virus, they must transfer that person to a site that can, Cuomo said. Facilities must also notify all residents and their family members within 24 hours if any resident tests positive or dies due to the virus. Residents with the virus who transferred elsewhere can only be readmitted if a nursing home can provide the proper care, Cuomo said. Attorney General Letitia James and the Health Department will partner to investigate violations of the communication orders. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources He has watched coronavirus victims gasp for breath: Its like theyve been hit by a train Reopening NYS schools this academic year will be very difficult due to coronavirus, Cuomo says As coronavirus spread, a Fayetteville retirement community became a hotbed Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598 Sharjah, April 23 : A 10-year-old Indian boy was found dead inside his bedroom in Sharjah, police has confirmed. David Punnakkal, who lived in Al Qasimiya Tower with his parents and younger sister, was found lying on the floor of his bedroom on Tuesday after his parents had to break the lock to enter his room, reports Gulf News. The boy's uncle Sunil Devasia said that David had finished his e-learning studies at around 5.30 p.m. and had gone to his room to rest. The mother, who works as a nurse, tried to resuscitate her son, but to no avail. Sharjah Police said: "Al Gharb Police Station is investigating the case and will summon the parents for questioning. The body was moved to a forensic laboratory for autopsy to find out the reason of death." The Indian Consulate in Dubai confirmed the incident. Consul-General of India, Vipul said on Wednesday that the consulate had been informed of the incident. Plans to reopen some nonessential businesses in Georgia face skepticism, Vice President Mike Pence says the coronavirus epidemic could be largely in the past by June, and deaths in U.S. nursing homes top 10,000. WSJs Jason Bellini has the latest on the pandemic. Photo: Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters Error. Page cannot be displayed. Please contact your service provider for more details. (18) The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's son Archie was showered with gifts during his first official overseas royal tour - receiving everything from soft toys to a pair of dungarees. Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor was just four months old when Meghan and Harry took him to South Africa last autumn and his parents were given armfuls of presents, Buckingham Palace's 2019 list of official gifts reveals. The Queen received 72 official presents, including one item that may prove useful for visits to the royal stud - a 24-carat gold-plated horse comb from President Borut Pahor of Slovenia. The family have started a new life in Canada / Getty Images When the Sussexes met Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a hero of the anti-apartheid movement, in Cape Town last September, the elderly cleric gave Archie two children's books he had written - a collection of Bible stories, and Desmond And The Very Mean Word. During the trip the youngster, who will celebrate his first birthday on May 6, was presented with 14 books in total by well-wishers, four soft toys, and two beaded bracelets. He was also given a framed picture, hooded sweater, knitted jumper and a present for a possible future career - a pilot's log book and two pilot's shirts. (PA) / SussexRoyal While in South Africa, Harry and Meghan, who now live in Los Angeles after stepping down as working royals, received a range of presents from three pairs of socks to a pair of jeans for Meghan and other clothes for the duchess. Details of the jeans were not included in the list of official gifts but when Meghan visited Johannesburg she collected a pair of designer jeans she commissioned from one of South Africa's up-and-coming brands. Lesedi Masemola, manager of Tshepo's showroom, said at the time that they had made the duchess a pair of skinny fit jeans, and when Meghan saw a pair of dungarees they had also created for Archie she described them as "very cute". The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall were given a tiny pair of brown leather lederhosen for Archie by the Minister-President of Bavaria Markus Soder. Getty Images Charles and Camilla received 36 presents for the Sussexes' baby son, including four soft toy pretzels and two cuddly lions, during their trip to Germany just days after he was born. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier gave Charles an optical rangefinder - which is used for measuring distance, usually to a target point - and, for Archie, a blanket, hat and a teddy bear. The heir to the throne was also presented with two porcelain models of lions by an unnamed individual. Getty Images The prince received calligraphy on a board, a fan, a scarf and a box of biscuits from Yagi-Daika, head monk of the Zojoji temple, when he travelled to Japan in October. In Ireland in May, he was given a green knitted cape, a walking stick and an oak tree sapling, and in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, a pair of swimming trunks and a tie, while, in Grenada, Camilla was given a Batik sarong and three bars of chocolate. The prince made a historic visit to Cuba in March last year, and President Miguel Diaz Canel Bermudez gave him four boxes of cigars and a bottle of rum, as well as three books and a painting, while Camilla received a sculpture and a bottle of eau de toilette. Getty Images The royal families of the Middle East are known for giving lavish gifts to guests and when the Duke of Cambridge visited Kuwait last December he was given two watches by Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of the Amiri Diwan. Later, when William travelled to Oman, he was given five bottles of perfume by well-wishers, three jars of nuts, and a ceremonial axe by the Governor of Musandam. In New Zealand, during a visit to meet survivors of the Christchurch mosques terrorist attack, the duke was given presents for his three children - five activity books, soft toys, two travel journals, three medals, two model kits, an airport play set and aeroplane figurine. (Getty Images ) / Getty Images William and Kate's major tour of 2019 was to Pakistan and they were presented with enough traditional outfits and headwear to fill a wardrobe. The duchess was given nine shawls, and they were both given clothes that are unisex in certain parts of Asia from shalwar kameez - a top and matching trousers - to a number of kurta, a collarless shirt, and Chitrali caps. Rescued Rohingya wait outside the Bangladesh-Myanmar transit center in Teknaf, in southeastern Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar district, before boarding a truck to be taken to a refugee camp, April 16, 2020. Bangladesh will not allow hundreds of Rohingya stranded at the sea in two trawlers off its southeastern coast to come ashore, the foreign minister said Thursday, despite calls by the United Nations and human rights groups to take in the refugees. The boats carrying some 500 refugees were spotted by local fishermen on Tuesday in the Bay of Bengal near Coxs Bazar district, Amnesty International reported Wednesday. An area border-police commander said then that patrols were being stepped up to watch out for the two trawlers heading toward the districts coast. I am opposed to allowing these Rohingya into the country because Bangladesh is always asked to take care of the responsibility of other countries, Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen told BenarNews Thursday night. We can no longer allow [in] any Rohingya. Previously, we accepted a batch of Rohingya who were caught in the Bay of Bengal. Now, more boats are waiting to enter Bangladesh, he said. He said international groups always turned to Bangladesh to shelter, protect and care for Rohingya. More than 1 million stateless Rohingya refugees from Myanmar are sheltering in sprawling camps and settlements in Coxs Bazar. A local coast guard commander echoed the ministers message. Our position is clear: Not a single Rohingya will be allowed to enter. Any trawler carrying Rohingya that tries to enter Bangladesh will be resisted, Lt. Cmdr. M. Saiful Islam, staff officer of the Coast Guards Chittagong East Zone, told BenarNews. About 740,000 Rohingya fled to camps in and around Coxs Bazar from Myanmars Rakhine state, beginning in August 2017, after the Myanmar military launched a brutal offensive in response to deadly attacks by a rebel group on government security posts. They joined hundreds of thousands of other Rohingya who had previously fled cycles of violence in Myanmar. Momen, the foreign minister, pointed out that Bangladesh now had to deal with welcoming back thousands of expatriates who had returned home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. So, we have no room to shelter any foreign people or refugees, he said. On Thursday, UNHCR, the U.N.s refugee agency, joined Amnesty International in calling on countries to welcome in Rohingya refugees. In the context of the unprecedented current COVID-19 crisis, all states must manage their borders as they see fit. But such measures should not result in the closure of avenues to asylum, or of forcing people to return to situations of danger, UNHCR said in a statement on its website. Malaysian official speaks out In Malaysia, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said his country should not turn away Rohingya arriving by boat, according to Kuala Lumpur media. Reports have surfaced that the two trawlers spotted in the Bay of Bengal and a trawler carrying starving Rohingya that arrived in Bangladesh last week had tried to sail into Malaysia but were forced to leave. As we guard our borders, we cannot let people die, moreover they are the victims of tyranny by their own government, Anwar said, referring to the Rohingya. I hope the government will consider keeping them in the form of limited controls but not evict them, leaving them to drown or leave them starving, he said. Southeast Asia-based NGO Fortify Rights issued a similar call last week after reports about Malaysias action. Sending an ill-equipped ship of refugees out to sea is unlawful and a death sentence, Matthew Smith, the NGOs chief executive officer, said in a news release on April 17. The Malaysian government should investigate who ordered this Rohingya ship back out to sea and urgently authorize search and rescue missions for any additional boats in distress. COVID-19 is no excuse to send refugees to death at sea. In Coxs Bazar, a Rohingya leader expressed hope that Bangladeshs government would allow the refugees on the boats to land in the district. We are grateful to Bangladesh that they have sheltered us. People will be happy if these people at sea are allowed to come to Bangladesh, Mohammad Shah Alam, a Rohingya leader at Kutupalong refugee camp, told BenarNews. The Tweet A ladys tweet is trending on social media after she complained about not getting any good man despite being a fellowship girl during her University days. According to the Twitter user, Deola__Adereti, all her classmates during her Univeristy days that were sleeping around are now married to rich responsible men while she and others who were strong christians are still asking God to bless them with husbands. She tweeted All my colleagues in the University that were busy distributing p*ssy around are now married to rich responsible men, living better life. But we that were dying in fellowship then are still doing God when? on every thread.Hmmm.It is well. In another follow up tweet, she said; I did everything I was asked to oo. Sometimes I will think Im being punished for something I dont know. E get this babe that was doing this runs lojumejeji back then, gIrl got married to one local govt chairman. How she managed to find the guy still baffles me. Some Twitter users supported her tweets saying its not good to judge as most times its the bad ones who do well in life. Others didnt support her notion, stating that some of these run girls are in bad marriages, to which she replied All of you coming with their marriage might not be rosy agenda, go and sit down. Most of them actually have happy marriages. I know of 4 like that. That agenda is fallacious. See reactions to her post below; North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visits a pursuit assault plane group under the Air and Anti-Aircraft Division in the country's western region, in this photo released by North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), April 12. Rumors have been mounting over Kim's physical condition as he has been absent from recent political events including a floral tribute ceremony at the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang last Wednesday to commemorate the birth of his grandfather, the country's founding leader Kim Il-sung. KCNA-Yonhap By Jung Da-min North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Wednesday that the country's leader Kim Jong-un sent a letter to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to thank him for the message sent in recognition of the 108th birthday of Kim Il-sung, North Korea's founding leader. Such reports on the North Korean leader's diplomacy activities are seen as usual routine in state media, but are receiving significant attention this time, as speculation has been mounting on Kim's physical condition, following recent reports of a suspected cardiovascular surgical procedure. While some claimed Kim's condition was improving after the suspected surgery, others claimed he was in serious condition. Whether Kim had the surgery and whether he is in serious condition or is in recovery remains unknown, as North Korean media has not been featuring images of Kim in reports of his letter diplomacy with partner countries. Earlier on Monday, the KCNA also reported that Kim sent a congratulatory message to Cuban President Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez. Dembele is the husband of a lawful resident and father to three children who are U.S. citizens, and has lived and raised his family in this country for almost a decade, currently in the south suburbs, the ACLU reported. A doctors declaration in the court filing asserted that he was at risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 because of his high blood pressure and pre-diabetes, the organization argued. Mumbai Police has shared yet another witty, and absolutely creative, post to spread awareness and discourage people from stepping out unnecessarily during the ongoing lockdown. To ensure people stay off the streets, they came up with a two options Instagram post. Not that we will make you uncomfortable, but theres no place like home right? with this caption the department shared an image on Instagram. The picture shows the two options which people can opt for during the current situation. While the first option reads lockdown, the point number two is blank. At the bottom of the picture theres an instruction for those who wants to see what other choice they have besides following the lockdown rules. It says that the second option will be revealed once someone taps on the picture. And it does! But, we are pretty sure its not something you would like to opt for: Since being shared just two hours ago, the post quickly gathered appreciation from people. In fact, over 17,000 people liked the post, including actor Aparshakti Khurana. My goodness! Showing whos the real boss. Nailed it. And its time we need this ultimatum or wed never be free of this virus, wrote an Instagram user. That is so savage, expressed another. Hats off to your creativity, praised a third. Im staying home. Stay home and support Police, joked a fourth. What do you think of the post? Also Read | Mumbai police lauded for sassing lockdown violaters with this quote from the Professor from Money Heist From Western Wyoming Community College Community College Month is a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of community colleges. Nearly half of all undergraduate college students in the Nation today are enrolled in community colleges, and graduates and employees play a major role in local economies. The campaign was created by the Association of Community College Trustees, and are advocating to get each state to proclaim April as Community College Month. Western Wyoming Community College serves Southwest Wyoming in providing a robust workforce, and are the primary educators/cer... TORONTO - Efforts to contain the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Canada's federal prisons have led to an increase in tensions that have prompted correctional officers to use force on at least two occasions in recent days, according to a prominent prisoner rights group. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A correctional officer looks on at the Collins Bay Institution in Kingston, Ont., on Tuesday, May 10, 2016, during a tour of the facility. Efforts to contain the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Canada's federal prisons have led to an increase in tensions that have prompted correctional officers to use force on at least two occasions in recent days, according to a prominent prisoner rights group.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Lars Hagberg TORONTO - Efforts to contain the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Canada's federal prisons have led to an increase in tensions that have prompted correctional officers to use force on at least two occasions in recent days, according to a prominent prisoner rights group. Information from prisoners, the John Howard Society said, was that guards at the Donnacona maximum security prison in Quebec used tear gas and rubber bullets on inmates on Tuesday to quell unrest, leaving at least one injured. In another incident, they said guards used percussion grenades at the medium security Collins Bay institution in Ontario. Severe virus outbreaks have occurred at the Jolliette prison in Quebec among other penal institutions. Although testing and information has been sparse, at least 193 federal inmates have been infected only 588 have been tested as have 79 guards, according to latest available figures. At least one prisoner has died. The data suggest the spread among the 14,000-strong prison population far exceeds that of the general population. Authorities have responded by locking down inmates and placing those infected in "medical isolation." In some cases, inmates have been placed in segregation cells. The result has been a disruption in routines, depriving inmates of normal activities and interpersonal contact, causing stress and exacerbating mental health concerns. "If prisoners are locked down for extended periods of time, which they are being with no activities and no visits and limited access to canteens and things like that, they get agitated," said Catherine Latimer, the society's executive director. "It's not a good thing." One inmate at Donnacona Institution told The Canadian Press on Thursday that the prison stopped allowing outside visitors several weeks ago. Renford Farrier said frustrated inmates protested by using garbage cans to stop their cell doors from closing. Guards reacted by firing tear gas and then rubber bullets, said Farrier, who is serving a life sentence for second-degree murder for killing a man and has spent 29 years behind bars. One inmate needed stitches in the leg at an outside facility, while another was shot in the back and bruised, he said. "There was no threat to the staff," Farrier insisted. Latimer said prisoners at Collins Bay were protesting the failure of guards to wear masks last week by refusing to return to their cells. Correctional officers arrived at five o'clock in the morning and used percussion grenades, she said inmates told her. "That's very heavy-handed use of force," Latimer said of the incidents. "The excessive force was significant." Correctional authorities did not respond to a request for information on the reported incidents. Prison ombudsman, Ivan Zinger, refused to discuss the situation: "We are aware and we are investigating," Zinger said in an email. To ease the situation, several groups have called on the federal government to use its executive powers to release large numbers of low-risk inmates. They say those already on some form of parole or allowed unescorted absences as well as others could be let out on conditions such as strict house arrest. Older inmates and those with medical conditions groups known to be particularly vulnerable to the virus should be given priority for release, advocates say. Unused student residences or military barracks could be used to house them, they suggest. "To date, nothing like that has been implemented," said Sen. Kim Pate, who has been calling for immediate action since March 13. "It's very late." Pate said the government could release lower-risk inmates. Correctional Service Canada said it was "conducting an analysis of the offender population" so it could make release recommendations. A spokeswoman for Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said authorities had asked the Parole Board of Canada to do its part. In response, the board said it had been trying to streamline processes and speed up decisions. In some cases, parolees might be allowed to move home instead of to a half-way house, the board said. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Activist David Milgaard, who spent 23 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and correctional authorities to act urgently. "It's documented that 80 per cent of the people that are in there are no real threat," Milgaard said from Alberta. "They weren't sentenced to death." In a statement Thursday, the union representing guards said the prison system had been unprepared for the emerging pandemic and slow to react. "A reactive and slow response only endangers staff, inmates and the general public," said Jeff Wilkins, president of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers. On Tuesday, a COVID-positive prisoner at Joliette filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against Correctional Service Canada's handling of the pandemic. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on April 23, 2020. The Ministries of Defence in Vietnam and Russia held an online meeting on April 22 on cooperating to fight COVID-19. The defence ministries of Vietnam and Russia exchange online about cooperation against COVID-19 Major General Nguyen Xuan Kien, Head of the Military Medical Department at the General Department of Logistics, and Major General Evgenii Kriukov, Director of the N.N.Burdenko Main Military Clinical Hospital, co-chaired the discussion. The two sides highlighted the role of the international community in fighting COVID-19 in recent times. The Vietnamese side briefed its Russian counterpart on the situation in the country and affirmed the determination of the Government and the Vietnam Peoples Army to beat the coronavirus. It also suggested enhancing the defence partnership and international cooperation, especially in military medicine and disease prevention. The Russian side, meanwhile, said it highly appreciates the proactiveness of the Vietnam Peoples Army in the fight against COVID-19 by controlling land border gates, researching a test kit, and managing the quarantining of suspected cases. Both agreed to maintain the sharing of experience online and promoting cooperation in fields of mutual concern, such as exchanging experts in biomedical technology, supplying medical equipment to prevent diseases, providing pharmaceuticals, and enhancing collaboration between research institutions. Vietnams Ministry of National Defence earlier presented medical supplies for fighting COVID-19 to the Embassy of Russia in Vietnam./.VNA She's been deemed Married At First Sight's 'hottest ever bride'. And KC Osborne showed exactly why she has received the badge of honour on Wednesday, while stepping out with her beau, Michael Goonan. The 31-year-old dancer turned heads in a pair of skintight leather trousers as the couple headed to high-end Wieselmann Salon on Toorak Road in Melbourne. Going hell for leather! Married At First Sight's 'hottest bride' KC Osborne showed off her incredible figure in kinky leather trousers as she headed to the hair salon with beau Michael Goonan in Melbourne on Wednesday Romantic: The loved-up couple packed on the PDA during the outing, kissing on the street KC's pants featured a kinky detail, corset lacing that went up both sides of the legs. Always one to stand out in a crowd, the beauty also donned a bright Barbie pink sweater with 'KISS' emblazoned across her front. The loved-up couple took the suggestion seriously, packing on the PDA on their way to and from the salon. Racy: KC's pants featured a kinky detail, with corset lacing going up both sides of the legs 'Kiss, kiss': Always one to stand out in a crowd, the beauty also donned a bright Barbie pink sweater with 'KISS' emblazoned across her front Expensive taste: KC brought the look together with a $2600 YSL crossbody handbag and a pair of Saint Laurent sneakers KC brought the look together with a $2600 YSL crossbody handbag and a pair of Saint Laurent sneakers. The brunette bombshell's newly styled hair looked effortlessly glossy and bouncy as she made the South Yarra street her personal catwalk following the appointment. A booking with an award-winning hairstylist at the salon can come at a hefty price tag, with a simple blowout for KC's long locks costing $65. Tending to her tresses: KC visited high-end Wieselmann Salon on Toorak Road in Melbourne What are you doing? Michael dutifully sat by her side for the entire appointment How much? Michael talked while KC got her hair blown out, which costs $65 at the prestigious salon The newfound lipstick entrepreneur kept her makeup simple on the day, with a full face of foundation, subtle natural-toned eyeshadow and a nude pout. Meanwhile, company director Michael played the ever dutiful boyfriend, holding his girlfriend's hand as he accompanied her to her appointment. The 29-year-old kept rugged up in a white Tommy Hilfiger jacket, worth around $450. Unique technique: At one point, KC leaned over the chair so the hairdresser could dry her thick locks That's a lot! It's unclear whether KC added on any additional treatments during the appointment Fresh! KC emerged from the salon with freshly blowdried locks He styled the designer garment with a simple grey T-shirt, black joggers and Adidas sneakers. The outing comes after the lovebirds revealed details of their sex life on KIIS FM's Kyle and Jackie O show on Tuesday. Michael and KC let slip the exact moment they consummated their relationship live on air, and their answer shocked the radio hosts. Don't mess it up! Jokester Michael teasingly played with KC's hair straight after the appointment So sweet! The pair laughed with each on the street Kissing and make up! Michael's teasing was quickly forgotten as he went in for a smooch 'We actually became boyfriend/girlfriend before we had sex,' professional dancer KC admitted, as Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson let out surprised gasps. Michael then joked: 'Very traditional, I know. It's usually try before you buy.' Speaking of getting together, KC said Michael didn't take no for answer. Just one more! The couple packed on the PDA on their way to and from the salon 'He was like a dog with a bone. I didn't want the drama, but I just caved in, and I'm glad that I did,' she said. The couple then recalled their first date, where they became 'official' at an Elton John concert. KC said Michael asked KC to be his 'girlfriend' when Elton sang 'Candle In The Wind' and she said 'yes'. The brunette bombshell's newly styled hair looked effortlessly glossy and bouncy as she made the South Yarra street her personal catwalk Stunner: The newfound lipstick entrepreneur kept her makeup simple, with a full face of foundation, subtle natural-toned eyeshadow and a nude pout Expensive taste: KC styled the look with a $2600 YSL crossbody handbag Ready to go? Meanwhile, Michael kept rugged up in a white Tommy Hilfiger jacket, worth around $450 'How could I say no if he asks me out during Candle In The Wind?' KC joked. Michael then confessed that they had sex for the first time that evening, adding: 'Thats when the real Rocketman came out!' In their first joint media interview, the couple told New Idea they had been together for five weeks and had already moved in together in Melbourne. Laid-back: He styled the designer garment with a simple grey T-shirt, black joggers and Adidas sneakers Too much? The outing comes after the lovebirds revealed details of their sex life on KIIS FM's Kyle and Jackie O show The pair are planning to stay at the businessman's home to continue self-isolating together for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic. Their friendship began a week after filming the MAFS reunion three months ago in January. They shared phone calls and texts before meeting in Melbourne for a date. Things gradually became romantic and by the time of the COVID-19 crisis the pair had become inseparable and decided to self-quarantine together. 'We actually became boyfriend/girlfriend before we had sex': Michael and KC let slip the exact moment they consummated their relationship live on air, and their answer shocked the radio hosts Jason Mitchell was arrested in Mississippi on Wednesday on weapons and drug charges. The actor, who's best known for portraying rapper Eazy-E in the 2015 NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton, was booked into Harrison County jail before being released on bond. In all the Louisiana native, 33, is facing two felony charges for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and two felony charges for possession of a weapon by a felon. Busted! Actor Jason Mitchell, 33, is facing felony weapons and drug charges following his arrest in Harrison County, Mississippi on Wednesday According to TMZ, Mitchel was allegedly in possession of two guns, including a Glock 19 pistol and a mini Draco AK47 semi-automatic pistol. The exactly details of the arrest are still unclear. So far Mitchell has not yet publicly commented about the report. Controversy: In 2019, Mitchell was fired from the Showtime series The Chi and the Netflix film Desperados after being accused of inappropriate behavior by co-star Tiffany Boone and season two showrunner Ayanna Floyd Davis Just this past year, Mitchell made headlines when he was accused of inappropriate behavior by The Chi co-star Tiffany Boone and season two showrunner Ayanna Floyd Davis, according to The Hollywood Reporter. As a result he was fired from the Showtime drama and the scheduled Netflix western Desperados, which subsequently led to him being dropped by his agency and management team. THR also reported that other actresses on The Chi had issues with Mitchell, though the nature of those allegations were unclear. Breakout role: The actor (second from right) is best known for portraying rapper Eazy-E in the 2015 NWA biopic Straight Outta Compton in 2015; he is pictured with co-stars Aldis Hodge, Neil Brown Jr., Corey Hawkins, and O'Shea Jackson Jr He denied the allegations and maintained he was never able to give his side of the story before being fired from The Chi after two seasons. Mitchell's role in Straight Outta Compton garnered world-wide attention. He has since starred in a number of films, including the Academy Award-nominated Mudbound (2017), Kong: Skull Island (2017), Detroit (2017) and The Mustang (2019). A third corrections officer who worked in a prison or jail in New Jersey has died from coronavirus, authorities said Thursday. Senior Corrections Police Officer Maria Gibbs, a 47-year-old married mother of four, died of cardiac and kidney issues related to COVID-19 on Wednesday, according William Sullivan, president of PBA Local 105. She had been doing well for awhile, but then it took a turn for the worse and she was on a ventilator, Sullivan said. Her body gave out from all the treatments. Gibbs husband has also been diagnosed with COVID-19 but so far has not developed symptoms, Sullivan said. Sullivan said that Gibbs went to work everyday and knew there was a possibility she would contract the virus. She sacrificed herself for her job, he said. Gibbs profile photo on Facebook states: I cant stay home. Im a correctional officer. Gibbs, a Burlington County resident, was a 19-year veteran who worked at the states Central Reception and Assignment Facility in Trenton. Before that, she worked at Northern State Prison in Newark. Sullivan, who left wreathes Thursday at Gibbs home and at the prison where she worked, said services are planned for April 29. A procession will line up in the parking lot of Willingboro High School, 20 South JFK Way, and will drive by the funeral home about 1 p.m., when family services are expected to conclude, Sullivan said. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage Earlier this month, Corrections Police Officer Nelson Perdomo, 44, of Middlesex County, died in a hospital of complications from COVID-19. Perdomo worked at East Jersey State Prison in Rahway. Bernard Waddell Sr., 56, who worked corrections at the Hudson County jail, died after contracting the coronavirus, officials said. The New Jersey Department of Corrections reports that 427 workers in state prison have been diagnosed with COVID-19, including 27 at Central Reception, where Gibbs worked. In East Jersey State Prison, where Perdomo worked, 53 workers have tested positive for COVID-19, and 15 inmates have tested positive. Six of the inmates have died, according to the state. In all, 16 state prison inmates have so far died from coronavirus and nine at residential community release programs have tested positive, according to the state. Sullivan said PBA members are demanding widespread and free testing of both workers and inmates at all of New Jerseys prisons, whether they are symptomatic or not. Currently, state employees who are not symptomatic are paying $52 each for coronavirus testing, Sullivan said. Were giving it to each other, Sullivan said of the virus. Officers walk along a 3 or 4-foot wide corridor up and down a tier with 90 inmates in cells with open bars breathing on them and each other. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Jesus is my vaccine protest message declares as Penn. residents demand reopening of economy Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Hundreds of Pennsylvania residents joined by Republican lawmakers protested a stay-at-home order outside the state Capitol in Harrisburg Monday declaring messages like Jesus Is My Vaccine and demanded a reopening of the local economy amid the coronavirus pandemic. The stay-at-home order which has been extended by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf until May 8, was put in place to manage the spread of the more than 33,000 confirmed cases of the virus in the state which had led to 1,200 deaths in the state, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. We need to open up now, Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano told protesters. These leaders must not focus on just the lives at risk from the horrible virus, fellow Republican state Rep. Aaron Bernstine added. Many lives like yours are in danger from a shuttered business, the hunger and homelessness. Similar protests have taken place in state capitals across the country, such as Michigan, Texas, Maryland, and Washington state, CNN reported, and additional protests in other states are expected to follow. It's estimated that between 22 million and 30 million Americans are now out of work due to layoffs sparked by state lockdowns due to the new coronavirus that originated in Wuhan, China. Bernstine had been lobbying for Wolf to sign a bill aimed at reopening some businesses closed amid the pandemic but Wolf vetoed the legislation while noting that it was not an easy decision. Reopening tens of thousands of businesses too early will only increase the spread of the virus, place more lives at risk, increase the death tolls, and extend the length of the economic hardships created by the pandemic," Wolf said in his veto message. The protests began ahead of the White House Coronavirus Task Force meeting last Thursday where President Trump release a three-phase plan to start reopening the economy and allow people to go back to work. "I think the president wants this country to get back to work," Chris Dorr, one of the organizers of the Pennsylvania protests told CNN. "I think the president is on the side of the American people and he doesn't want this country to suffer any longer than humanly possible." Kateri Walls told Trib Live that she has run a pet grooming business in Pittsburghs Garfield neighborhood for 24 years. She has been closed for the past five weeks with no income, she said. I know how to operate. Im a responsible person, she said, explaining that she has clients who bring their pets in weekly for baths and grooming to treat various skin conditions. She said she had plans to operate the business as a drive-thru but was required to remain closed after being denied a waiver. Theyre picking winners and losers, she said. Some demonstrators even expressed doubt about how widespread the coronavirus really is. "All the projections were wrong, but we are still telling people to stay home and businesses to close," Mark Cooper, a retired truck driver, told Reuters. "This is not quarantine, this is tyranny." On Monday, Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, discussed the health risks associated with people going back to work and the implementation of the administration's three-phased approach. If you jump the gun, and go into a situation where you have a big spike, youre going to set yourself back, Fauci told ABC News. So as painful as it is to go by the careful guidelines of gradually phasing into a reopening its going to backfire. Thats the problem. In London last year, at the end of a grueling week-long work trip, I took a walk around the old city. When I crossed Tower Bridge, the famed path was lined by activists shouting in solidarity with those in Hong Kong resisting the encroaching Chinese security state. Nearly all in the crowd wore face masks in direct protest of the Chinese ban against them in public assemblies. Bits of fabric covering noses and mouths can be literally the only shreds of protection some have against Chinese government surveillance, including facial recognition tools used against Uighurs and the Hong Kong protesters. Give me liberty! one young man called through his mask. A piercing chorus responded, Or give me death! That phrase, for them, was no slogan from an American history book. Their readiness to die for freedom was as palpable as the chill it sent down my spine. A few months after that London protest, t he Chinese government encouraged or required its citizens to wear masks to contain the novel coronavirus. Now, U.S. states and local governments are making similar requirements. Harris County is joining the list. My own feelings about masks remain complicated. I resisted wearing one my whole life until this week. So why is it so hard to put a piece of fabric on my face? It feels embarrassing and absurd. I suddenly look how I feel. All the fear bottled up inside is displayed on my face. It also feels transgressive. Reading each others faces is so basic to the trust that undergirds society. In some parts of the United States, laws written to curb the Ku Klux Klan ban the wearing of masks in public. Black Lives Matter organizer Ashton P Woods points out, a mask, especially a home-made one, only adds to the way black people are perceived as threatening. Among other troubling incidents of racial profiling, an African-American physician in a mask was handcuffed outside his own home in Miami. Despite my slight build, I already get stopped by neighborhood constables. With my brown skin, even I can seem threatening. Back when I was a student protester leading calls and responses, I decided early on to follow the law and, if need be, sign permit requests. Someone has to use their name. I didnt join friends who wore bandannas around their faces. Not wearing a mask is part of my identity. I avoided wearing a mask until this week by not going to any stores. Finally, though, I had to buy something I could not wait to have delivered a propane tank for the grill my father-in-law uses for most of his cooking. My wife and I drove to the Quick Food Mart, a family-owned business with a little Buddhist shrine tucked in the corner. The only other customer also wore a mask, a simple cloth one. Mine was the respirator type used by cleanup crews to filter toxic dust and mold spores. I looked like a Dr. Who character while he resembled an executive-turned-bandit. His simple, hey buddy, carried a note of solidarity. Masks can feel transgressive but also, it seems, unifying. Part of me hopes all the laws, and the internalized sense of transgression and fear, around mask wearing are permanently eroded by the COVID-19 crisis. For the sake of the Hong Kong protesters, and for our own. The United States has its own problems with surveillance. I protested the Patriot Act in the early 2000s. Passed with bipartisan support and signed by President George W. Bush, it expanded U.S. surveillance on its own citizens. In 2015, the Patriot Act saw a major revision thanks to a coalition across party lines in the Senate and House, but I was dismayed by the storage of huge amounts of private data under the Obama administration. Meanwhile, Americans increasingly track ourselves with more and more devices allowing private companies to collect vast amounts of data to sell to whomever might pay. Law enforcement pushes to access these troves too, with legitimate aims in many cases, but not enough oversight. Here in Houston, its not unusual to see cute little cars mounted with cameras, not just the Google ones, but with logos of companies I know nothing about Numo? collecting data on our streets, and perhaps the faces and identities of passersby. Doorbell and security cameras are everywhere. You cant escape the cameras. Privacy is impossible, at least without a mask. Will America get to the same point as the Chinese where we rely on strips of fabric to shield us from the prying eyes of Big Brother? Crazy thought. But maybe not for long. This pandemic has become one long set of object lessons in freedoms. Donning a mask drags in more issues of psychology, race and rights. If you have a hard time putting on a mask, Im with you. In this case, though, we need to put public health, and the lives of many vulnerable people, above our fears and egos. Put on a mask if you go to the store or any public place outside your house. It may protect you and your neighbor from infection. And, in the long run, a mask may protect your freedom. Mankad is the Chronicles op-ed editor. Rugby pundit Brent Pope believes that those who lose loved ones during the Covid-19 crisis suffer a double blow that will live with them forever, as they cannot be with them in their final hours. Pope, who is originally from New Zealand and who has been living here for almost 30 years, was marking the first anniversary of his beloved father Micks death, in his home city of Christchurch, New Zealand. Pope revealed: I would have been heartbroken if something had happened to prevent me mourning him in the way that my family needed to. To those people, all around the world, that are unable to mourn their loved ones during this period, it is surely one of the most tragic outcomes of this virus. Unable to say goodbye in the way they want to, need to, unable to give thanks and even celebrate the wonderful lives that their loved ones have experienced. For all it becomes a 'double-loss', and a pain that will last forever. "Our prayers, hearts and sympathies go out to anyone that is experiencing such grief." The childrens book author posted on his Facebook page that his father should have been celebrating his 90th birthday several weeks ago. A year ago today, I was in Portugal when I got that call that anyone living in another country dreads, namely that my father Mick had died suddenly in a rest home in New Zealand. Fortunately for me I was able to get home just in time to attend the funeral, and give him the send-off that his life deserved. Dad, I would have been attending your 90th birthday just a few weeks ago, but we never made it. I think about you everyday and use your life as an inspiration to do better, and to be kinder, you showed me that. He also offered his thoughts to all frontline staff working during the pandemic. Can I say to all those front-line staff, whoever or are or wherever you maybe, from medical staff to the Gardai to the shop workers, so many selfless people allowing us to continue even in restricted times, thank you for keeping us safe. We can all help by heeding the rules, protecting ourselves and others, and fingers crossed stopping the spread of coronavirus. In his later years, the nurses that cared for my father, and the medical staff in the rest home in Ashburton were amazing. One sympathiser who posted a message to Pope said: Beautiful tribute, Brent. I'm blessed to be living with and I am primary carer for my Dad for the last year through his struggle with Alzheimer's. Lockdown has been so special spending 24/7 together. Your Dad sounds like he was an amazing man.. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 15:10:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SYDNEY, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The Australian share market finished marginally lower on Thursday sliding from an early surge as healthcare stocks plummeted. At 10:30 (AEST), the benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index was down 4.10 points or 0.079 percent at 5,217.10, while the broader All ordinaries index was down 1.00 points or 0.019 percent at 5,272.80. It is the fourth straight negative finish by the Aussie market which was over 2 percent higher in early trade and by close was around 5 percent lower for the week. Resource stocks were the most improved, with energy and retailers both closing more than two percent higher, while tech stocks also managed modest gains. Weighing on the market were financials and healthcare, which sank as stocks in the country's biggest private hospital operator slumped. Ramsay Health Care which was seeking to raise 1.4 billion Australian dollars (881.6 million U.S. dollars) for an expansion bid, finished 5.86 percent lower. In the financial space, Australia's big banks sank with the Commonwealth Bank down (0.71 percent), ANZ down (0.06 percent), Westpac Bank down (0.39 percent) and National Australia Bank down (1.13 percent). Mining stocks rallied with Rio Tinto up (1.01 percent), BHP up (2.69 percent), Fortescue Metals up (1.10 percent) and goldminer Newcrest up (3.90 percent). The country's oil and gas producers surged with Oil Search up (3.73 percent), Santos up (6.77 percent) and Woodside Petroleum up (2.04 percent). Australia's largest supermarkets sank with Coles down (0.74 percent), and Woolworths down (0.44 percent). Meanwhile telecommunications giant Telstra dropped (0.33 percent), the national carrier Qantas lost altitude (0.60 percent) and biomedical firm CSL slumped (2.04 percent). Enditem The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were inundated with gifts last year for their son, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor, who was born on 6 May. Buckingham Palaces annual list of official gifts reveals that the infant received everything from soft toys to a pair of bespoke dungarees while on his first overseas tour to South Africa last autumn. When the couple met Archbishop Desmond Tutu on the trip, he gave them two childrens books a collection of Bible stories, and Desmond And The Very Mean Word both of which the cleric had written. Elsewhere on the trip, Archie was given a total of four soft toys, two beaded bracelets and a framed picture. He was also given a pilots log book and two pilots shirts in addition to other clothes, such as a hooded sweatshirt and a knitted jumper. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also received several gifts themselves on the trip, including a pair of designer skinny fit jeans that were commissioned from an emerging local brand, Tshepo. The brand also designed a pair of dungarees for Archie. Lesedi Masemola, manager of Tshepos showroom, said that when Meghan saw the dungarees, she described them as very cute. Archie makes royal tour debut during visit to Archbishop Desmond Tutu Show all 13 1 /13 Archie makes royal tour debut during visit to Archbishop Desmond Tutu Archie makes royal tour debut during visit to Archbishop Desmond Tutu Meghan holds four-month-old Archie as they and Prince Harry make the acquaintance of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter, Thandeka at the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation in Cape Town, South Africa. REUTERS Archie makes royal tour debut during visit to Archbishop Desmond Tutu The duchess and the duke gaze at their son as the baby looks at his mother. REUTERS Archie makes royal tour debut during visit to Archbishop Desmond Tutu Archbishop Desmond Tutu beams at Archie as he meets the baby royal for the first time. REUTERS Archie makes royal tour debut during visit to Archbishop Desmond Tutu Archie extends an arm towards the Archbishop. REUTERS Archie makes royal tour debut during visit to Archbishop Desmond Tutu Prince Harry looks attentively at Meghan and Archie on the third day of their royal tour. REUTERS Archie makes royal tour debut during visit to Archbishop Desmond Tutu The four-month-old eyes a selection of cupcakes. AFP/Getty Images Archie makes royal tour debut during visit to Archbishop Desmond Tutu The Sussex family appear in high spirits. EPA Archie makes royal tour debut during visit to Archbishop Desmond Tutu Prince Harry and Archbishop Desmond Tutu hold a pile of books, one of which is The Book of Joy, which was co-authored by the Archbishop and the Dalai Lama. AFP/Getty Images Archie makes royal tour debut during visit to Archbishop Desmond Tutu Archie appears unperturbed by the attention he is receiving as the duchess holds him in one hand and a cloth in the other. AFP/Getty Images Archie makes royal tour debut during visit to Archbishop Desmond Tutu Meghan laughs as she holds baby Archie on her lap. REUTERS Archie makes royal tour debut during visit to Archbishop Desmond Tutu Prince Harry and Meghan engage in conversation with Archbishop Desmond Tutu as Archie appears distracted. REUTERS Archie makes royal tour debut during visit to Archbishop Desmond Tutu The duchess cradles her son as Prince Harry embraces Archbishop Desmond Tutu. REUTERS Archie makes royal tour debut during visit to Archbishop Desmond Tutu Meghan converses with the Archbishop as she holds Archie. REUTERS Additionally, the list released by Buckingham Palace reveals that the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall received 36 gifts for baby Archie while on a trip to Germany that took place days after he was born. The gifts presented to the couple for Archie included four soft toy pretzels, two toy lions, a blanket, hat and a teddy bear. The list also details what other members of the royal family received in 2019, including the Queen, who was given 72 official presents, including a 24-carat gold-plated horse comb from President Borut Pahor of Slovenia. In a blog post today, Googles Director of Product Management, Ads Integrity. John Canfield, announced that the company will be extending its identity verification policy for all advertisers. Introduced in 2018, the feature required political advertisers to go through a verify their identity, which was then displayed as part of the ad itself. The process was designed to created increased transparency, amid growing mistrust around the sources behind political ad buys in recent years. Moving forward, the company will make identity verification a required part of the ad buying process, regardless of topic. Personal identification and business incorporation documents will be required for all parties buying an ad on Googles network. That information will begin popping up in the ad unit units over the summer, letting users click through to view information including the name and location of the party that purchased the ad. This change will make it easier for people to understand who the advertiser is behind the ads they see from Google and help them make more informed decisions when using our advertising controls, Canfield writes. It will also help support the health of the digital advertising ecosystem by detecting bad actors and limiting their attempts to misrepresent themselves. The political verification process is currently in place in 30 countries. The wider push will begin in the U.S. and build out from there. Google says it expects the entire thing to take a few years to be in place globally, given the massive scale of its advertising network. Once advertisers have been notified, they will have 30 days to fill out the form. The documents will then be vetted by a Google employee. Tying advertisements to real people and businesses could go a long way in identifying bad actors on the massive network. As China ascended in the global marketplace, the West indulged its aberrant industrial policies, hoping it would move toward freedom and adherence to the international rules of commerce. That indulgence exacted a heavy toll. For example, China achieved a breathtaking capture of the global steel market through means that are illegal or impossible elsewhere: pricing far below cost, artificially depressing currency, massive government subsidies and, to be sure, a measure of bribes. Between 2000 and 2009, China more than tripled its global share of steel production, and now it controls more than half of the worlds output resulting in steel plants shuttered around the globe and the sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of jobs. English Bridge Program: Technology as a means to educate, engage and recruit Proper Pronunciation: Carlene Klein shows her students in China the way she uses her lips and teeth to pronounce different consonants. Photo by Kate Hoving Photo - of - Hide Caption Its 7:25 am on a Friday morning in February at the Law School. There isnt a single student in classroom 133, but the professor, Carlene Klein, has already written on the white board the agenda for the day, and is readying her console, sitting so the video camera installed at the far end of the room can see her, and the microphone is placed correctly. Precisely at 7:30 am 8:30 pm in China Klein takes a breath, flashes her captivating and welcoming smile and begins: Good evening. I hope you are well. Gradually her monitor screen fills with her students faces, one at a time, as they log in. Klein speaks at a normal pace but with clear and careful enunciation. She exudes enthusiasm and warmth, but there is no wasted chit-chat; like her students, she is intent on making efficient and effective use of the next two hours. The assignment from the previous class had been to be able to describe in less than a minute what it looks like where they live. So Klein checks in with each student. This spring the Law Schools English Bridge students are all from China, but located in various cities: Beijing, Tianjin, Weihei, Foshan and Guangdong. One student is currently in Malaga, Spain (where she was when the coronavirus broke out, so unable to return to China yet); and another is working in New York. The coronavirus is keeping the students in China in quarantine, so it may be that this class is the one thing in their lives that hasnt been disrupted since the outbreak. One by one they describe where they are. Rose lives in Tianjin. Its cold outside. She describes the snow covering the trees. A student in Shanghai is confined to her house because of the virus, but remarks that she can tell its not as windy as it can be this time of year, which makes it nice. Frank is surrounded by bookshelves in his den I love to see your room with all those books!, Klein exclaims. But no one can match Grace, who is in Malaga. She volunteers to turn her laptop around so everyone can see the view of the beach outside her window. Before too many facetious groans from the group, though, Klein brings things back on course. Remember, for this class, were in America. In Virginia. In an English-speaking class. OK? Lets roll. Creative approach to finding and serving a new demographic The English Bridge Program an online and live-remote educational certificate program at William & Mary Law School is the brainchild of Jennifer S. Stevenson, Associate Dean for Graduate Programs, Director, LL.M. Program & Professor of the Practice of Law; and Patricia E. Roberts, Vice Dean, Clinical Professor of Law, Director of Clinical Programs, and Co-Director of the Lewis B. Puller, Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic. The Program began with the fall 2019 session, and is now in its second (spring) session, which started January 31 and will end in May. The Veterans Benefits clinic at the Law School has a certificate program with an online component and taped lessons, but the English Bridge Program is the first truly remote venture for the Law School. William & Mary Law Schools Master of Laws Degree (LL.M.) program is designed for foreign-educated students and attorneys, and has successfully recruited and educated talented students from around the world for 30 years. Roberts and Stevenson, knowing that innovation is necessary to keep a program robust and growing, saw an opportunity to create a complementary program by expanding on existing capabilities, talents and resources at the Law School. Weve had the Summer Legal Advantage program for many years, along with the freestanding summer program that we did for students who wont necessarily come to the LL.M. program but want an experience in the U.S., Stevenson describes. So we began looking for a way to reach candidates not in the LL.M. program, but who are either trying to get into the LL.M. program or just want to enrich themselves by doing this class, Stevenson explains. The English Bridge program is what has enabled them to reach a new demographic. Theyre a different cohort than weve had before, because most of our LL.M. students are coming straight from undergraduate programs. The Bridge Program students are practicing lawyers, patent agents and legal assistants. Two are partners in law firms, Stevenson continues. So now we have a wider a range of experience and ages. They vary in age, but theyre all doing law. Designing a balanced and comprehensive curriculum Armed with the idea for a new venture, Roberts and Stevenson collaborated with Klein to create the English Bridges 12-week program, consisting of 30 hours of Legal English and 30 hours of Global Lawyering Skills. Students are graded on their oral and written assignments and receive a certificate upon completion. Klein brought her experience as an instructor in the Legal Advantage Program (Summer English Study for International Students & An Introduction to the Study of American Law), but she, Stevenson and Roberts needed to create something new, with different goals, parameters and time zones. The Legal Advantage class is a second language learning environment (learning a nonnative language in the environment the language is spoken). The class is three hours per session which allows for more collaborative time as well as for covering more material, Klein explains. By contrast, the Bridge class is a foreign language learning environment (learning a language in the environment of ones native tongue). Also, due to the time difference, it is only two hours per class which condenses the content. Legal English in the Bridge program focuses on basic language proficiency in the four language skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing. It integrates all four through functional, practical, and task-based lessons and activities that focus on correct pronunciation and getting accustomed to reading and discussing civil and criminal cases. Klein also schedules private 1015 minute conferences to discuss students projects, pronunciation scores and subjects that focus on the individuals progression. Klein notes, I continue to brainstorm how to serve the Bridge class better within the time constraints. This semester, I am incorporating some prerecorded grammar lessons to allow more time in class for discussion. There is no language proficiency test for entrance into the program. Candidates self-report their language ability, but its difficult for language learners in any language to assess their conversational ability accurately. They all have had numerous English classes in China, but in some cases, the Bridge students find it more difficult to acclimate to English based on how they have been taught in China which is mostly focused on grammar rules and less on application, Klein explains. Many feel uncomfortable with the interactive application of English at first, so it takes more work to get them all to want to communicate in English. I try to encourage the students to imagine that they are in America so that we can treat it more like an immersion class. And this is where Kleins expertise and sensitivity are clearly so key to the success of the program. Building a rapport with the students in either class (live or online) is paramount, says Klein. Teaching English to other language speakers is a risk-taking activity for the students because most feel so vulnerable. Unlike lecture type courses, language learning courses force students to speak. Furthermore, they must endure criticism of their pronunciation or understanding of the language. Roberts has noticed that having the Bridge program has helped in improving the speaking ability of students in the LL.M. program. Jen does a tremendous number of interviews for the LL.M. program, and if their English isnt proficient enough, she can now suggest, Why dont you take English Bridge. So they get the 30 hours of proficiency training and are then are more likely than to succeed at William & Mary. Drawing on multiple experts Besides the high-quality English language training, the students in the Bridge Program are also taught by talented professors from across the Law School who focus on a variety of different areas. This enables the students to have access not only to a wide range of expertise, but also to a variety of men and women with different teaching styles and speaking and writing styles. Many of the Global Lawyering courses are taped. This springs courses are taught by: Jennifer Stevenson: Legal Writing Assessment Aaron Bruhl, Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development and Rita Anne Rollins Professor of Law: Introduction to the U.S. Legal System Professor Thomas McSweeney: Introduction to Common Law Anna Chason, Professor of the Practice of Law, and Assistant Director, Legal Practice Program: Oral Reports Laura Killinger, Director, Legal Practice Program, and Clinical Associate Professor of Legal Writing: Introduction to Criminal Law Jennifer Franklin, Professor of the Practice of Law: Introduction to Advocacy Various W&M Law Faculty teach: Introduction to Legal Analysis; Client Counseling/Interviewing; U.S. Law Practice; and, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Using existing technology in innovative ways Another choice was to find a reliable, cost-effective method for real-time transmission. The Bridge Program uses existing technology at the university. Zoom, which is available to all William & Mary staff, faculty and students, is a cloud-based conferencing solution that provides both video and audio conferencing, mobile collaboration, screen sharing capabilities and online meetings. I love Zoom because it allows for break-out rooms to do group discussions and partner work, Klein says. The program leaders are still considering the right balance between synchronous versus asynchronous teaching, and are careful not to use a method or tool that isnt going to be effective and easy for the student and the teacher. Classes are conducted in Williamsburg on Friday and Saturday mornings, and some Saturdays are videotaped lessons. Interestingly when Jen and I were first designing this program, we thought wed make it all live, but the students in China dont want it to be all live. They want some of it taped, explains Vice Dean Roberts. Theyre practicing attorneys, and theyd like to have access when it works for them. I also think that because of the language difference, its helpful for students to go back and replay the tape. So thats been a change in this second iteration of the program. It makes for early mornings for Williamsburg teachers, but the fact that the students are working attorneys is key to the way they structure the schedule. We do it on [what is their] Friday and Saturday nights precisely because theyre all practicing lawyers or doing something in the legal fields; theyre all working people, says Stevenson. Stevenson isnt present at every class, but she pays close attention and finds when she does sit in, she is able to answer legal questions that may come up in the language discussions. Jen is really intent on quality control and making this a high-quality program for William & Mary, explains Roberts. Face-to-Face in Beijing The final weekend of the course was designed to be a live, interactive experience, so Stevenson and Roberts flew to Beijing in October and taught the fall cohort in person. It was a great experience and really cool first, because it was my first trip to China, but we were also able to do some recruiting, recalls Roberts. We did the teaching, but we also interviewed some potential LL.M. candidates. Our spring cohort includes some of the candidates we met in Beijing. Students worked together with Stevenson and Roberts for twelve hours over two days. The English Bridge group practiced client interviewing, negotiations, and other lawyering skills while immersing themselves in English language practice. After the weekend, a final legal writing assignment capped their months-long experience in U.S. law and global practice. Roberts was astonished at the lengths to which the students went to get to the classes in Beijing, even knowing that the classes would be recorded for those who couldnt make the trip. I couldnt believe how far some of them had come. Somebody spent nine hours on a train, and someone else took two airplanes. Their determination to take part was humbling. This program is a tremendous commitment for them. You look at how many Friday and Saturday nights theyre giving up after working all week, and add to that the financial commitment, which isnt small. And its hard work, says Roberts. While in China, Roberts met with the leadership of the Tianjin Bar Association to promote the Bridge Program. They have 10,000 members, and they sometimes supplement their members professional development. Its been tremendous that they have agreed to feature the program on their website and let their members know they will provide some tuition. Stevenson and Roberts anticipate Tianjin will be a growth market. Even without the tuition support (because the agreement was finalized after the start of the session), about one third of the current class is from Tianjin. And the bridge to the LL.M. also seems to be working. In fact, three students of the English Bridge Program are now enrolled in LL.M. this spring. One of them, Jason Guo, had majored in law as an undergraduate and worked for a year in a Chenggong law firm in Shandong province before participating in Bridge. He enrolled specifically to prepare to apply to the LL.M. Program. I participated because I wanted to attend William & Mary. He is grateful not just for the improvement in his English language skills. Im used to the Chinese legal system, but the Bridge Program helped me understand the legal framework and concepts of the United States, which helped me adapt much more quickly to studying at an American law school. Greater enrollment in the Bridge Program will increase the workload, but Roberts is optimistic. I do think its going to grow considerably, which means there will be more administrative work, but hopefully, there will be less work on implementation and curriculum design. Klein is very enthusiastic about the program. I believe that the Bridge course was a brilliant idea for the Law School. Hopefully, this instills the self-confidence to come over to the U.S. and complete the LL.M. program, which in-turn affords them better job opportunities in their countries. Despite the coronavirus, Stevenson hopes to finish this English Bridge class in China. The opportunity to have the course culminate in an in-person, executive training format is our goal. However, the live-remote technology gives us the flexibility to reach across oceans, if necessary, and connect the oldest law school in America to the rest of the world. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 07:24:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Kevin Rudd, president of the non-profit Asia Society Policy Institute and former Australian prime minister, delivers a speech in New York, the United States, on Dec. 5, 2018. The rise of "neo-McCarthyism" in the United States is a concern, risking evoking racism against Chinese Americans, warned Kevin Rudd here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Wang Ying) "So hopefully this pandemic will really teach all of us a good lesson," said Cui Tiankai. "And China-U.S. relations could be based on a more realistic, forward-looking foundation." WASHINGTON, April 22 (Xinhua) -- With the China-U.S. relations rattled by the COVID-19 pandemic, a panel of experts has urged the two governments to enhance cooperation on vaccine development and assistance to developing countries, in order to better cope with the global crisis. At a video discussion themed "Risks of U.S.-China 'Decoupling'" on Tuesday, part of the Bloomberg New Economy Conversation series, former Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd said the U.S.-China relationship has deteriorated rapidly "at virtually every level" amid the pandemic, but he hopes there is a "tactical pause in hostilities." Rudd, who now serves as president of the Asia Society Policy Institute, called on the two countries to focus on concrete collaboration on vaccine development and collaboration in third countries. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with former U.S. official Susan Shirk in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 28, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) Echoing his remarks, former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Susan Shirk said that despite soured public opinion toward each other, the United States and China must work together because strengthened cooperation is a "lifesaver," which could save more lives in America, China and the rest of the world. "There will be a second and third wave of this pandemic that we need to get ready for," said Shirk, who is a professor at the University of California, San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy. Shirk urged the two governments to enhance high-level communication, and bolster cooperation on ensuring the free flow of medical supplies, helping the developing world, as well as vaccine development and distribution. The former U.S. official noted that now is the right moment for the two countries to have an agreement on how to fairly share the vaccine after it's developed. Asked how she views the U.S. government's decision to suspend immigration, Shirk said the Trump administration's immigration policies are "alien" to American tradition, which values global talent, including Chinese talent, who has been a vital ingredient in American innovation. "It would be so self-destructive for the United States to make Chinese students feel afraid to come here because they see that this inflamed anti-China sentiment right now in the United States is jeopardizing Chinese Americans as well as (those) from China," she said. Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai delivers a speech during the 40th anniversary of China-U.S. student exchange in Washington D.C., the United States, Nov. 21, 2019. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai, who also joined the discussion, said he hopes for "a serious rethinking of the very foundations of this important relationship." Noting that the virus has had such a big impact on China, the United States and the rest of the world, Cui said the two countries should think really hard about the real threats to the global community, as well as their true common interests. "So hopefully this pandemic will really teach all of us a good lesson," said the ambassador. "And China-U.S. relations could be based on a more realistic, forward-looking foundation." Cui cautioned against politicizing the COVID-19 outbreak and the "anything-but-China" mindset. As COVID-19 began to emerge outside China, including European countries, China extended a helping hand, but the country's kindness was described as geopolitically-motivated, Cui said. When China adopted new measures for quality control to make sure donated equipment met international standards, some again accused China of blocking exports of medical supplies, Cui continued. "I would call it the ABC mindset, anything but China. I'm really worried about that," he said. Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai speaks at an event celebrating the 40th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral ties in Washington D.C., the United States, June 18, 2019. (Xinhua/Ting Shen) In response to a question on the political bickering between Washington and Beijing amid the COVID-19 spread, Cui said there should be a distinction between those who are "narrowly politically motivated," and the general public in China and the United States. "I think all this stigmatization and blame game are played out by the small number of such politicians," Cui said. "But if we look at the relations between the two peoples, I think that we have had a longstanding friendly relationship." When China confronted the outbreak, "we got a lot of support and understanding from American people, American businesses, American institutions, or even individuals ... We appreciate this very much," Cui said. "And now the United States is confronting this outbreak. There's some outpouring of donations, supplies from Chinese provinces, cities, or businesses," he said. "So I think the two peoples are still helping each other." "I can see a deep-rooted, friendly sentiment between the two peoples and I still trust this and hopefully the wish of the people will eventually prevail," Cui said. Tennessees COVID-19 Unified-Command Group on Wednesday released new data on COVID-19 in the states long-term care facilities and outlined its action plan on how to prevent further cases and mitigate existing clusters within these facilities. Starting Wednesday, the Tennessee Department of Health will report the number of confirmed cases and COVID-19-related fatalities in all long-term care facilities across the state. The Departments website will be updated every Friday at 2 p.m. CDT to provide this data. This data and report give a clear picture on the risks that the virus poses to long-term care facilities and the aggressive actions the state and has taken and will continue to take to protect residents and staff, said Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Lisa Piercey. We take our duties to protect both public health and patient privacy very seriously. Based upon the current development of the COVID-19 situation in Tennessee, the Department has determined that releasing this data is in the public health interest. Unified-Command stands at the ready to assist long-term care facilities in mitigating outbreaks amongst residents and staff. Meanwhile, three employees and one patient at the Life Care facility in Athens, Tn., have tested positive for coronavirus. The Department of Health provides detailed plans in the attached report on how they work with long-term care facilities to protect residents and staff from COVID-19 and mitigate outbreaks. The action plans include: Immediate notification of public health department of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases in residents or staff; Immediate facility notification of residents and their representatives of suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases inside the facility; Robust and swift information gathering by Department staff in concert with the facility to determine: Personal protective equipment and environmental cleaning needs; The need for targeted or widespread testing of residents and staff; Whether positive residents can cohort within the facility or must be relocated to hospitals for greater medical care Ongoing investigation and contact tracing by Department staff, facility cleaning, and daily situation updates with the facility to ensure the facility is safe for residents and staff. As of 2 p.m. CDT Wednesday, there are 375 total confirmed cases and 37 confirmed fatalities among residents and staff across 22 long-term care facilities in Tennessee. As America's lockdown continues and the cure begins to look worse than the Wuhan, China COVID-19 disease, many suffering citizens are beginning to question the need for some of the more draconian laws imposed by the blue state and local governments. Is it really necessary to ban people, especially those adults with children, from enjoying a public park? Should Americans inform government officials if other Americans enjoy a closed park or violate another seemingly overreaching diktat? Increasingly Americans are declaring, "No!" And then acting on their feelings. In San Clemente, California healthy young males, restless and bored as only healthy young males can be, decided to go to a closed skate park to...skate. Individually. Properly socially isolated and distanced. Overbearing government officials would have none of this serious violation of the law so "the city filled the skate park with 37 tons of sand." Undeterred "Conner Ericsson, a dirt bike rider, showed up with a few friends to enjoy a few runs on the sandy surface" and "then helped some skaters dig out the sand 'so they could do some social shredding, he wrote in a social media post.' " On the east coast, elected officials were just as overbearingly totalitarian. New York's Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-Sandinista), thinking he was the dictator in some communist paradise hellhole, advised his constituents to squeal on their law-breaking neighbors to the proper authorities, tweeting How do you report places that arent enforcing social distancing? Its simple: just snap a photo and text it to 311-692. #AskMyMayor Thankfully most New Yorkers reacted as New Yorkers. Here's the New York Post headline and lede: De Blasios social distancing tip line flooded with penis photos, Hitler memes Mayor Bill de Blasios critics let him know how they really felt about him ordering New Yorkers to snitch on each other for violating social-distancing rules by flooding his new tip line with crank complaints including dick pics and people flipping the bird, The Post has learned. Photos of extended middle fingers, the mayor dropping the Staten Island groundhog and news coverage of him going to the gym have all been texted to a special tip line that de Blasio announced Saturday, according to screenshots posted on Twitter. One user sent the message We will fight this tyrannical overreach! to the service and got an automated message that in part said, Hello, and thank you for texting NYC311. Fk you! replied @MorganLSchmidt1, along with a meme showing Adolf Hitler and the words TO THOSE TURNING IN YOUR NEIGHBORS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES YOU DID THE REICH THING." And more suggestions that don't belong on this family-friendly blog but are very appropriate on a New York online news media site reporting on the outrageous behavior of their leader. But hey, New Yorkers, you elected him. Stay safe readers; practice appropriate social distancing and appropriate common sense. And rebel when our elected officials forget they work for us and think we work for them. Here once the embattled citizens stood And fired their shots heard round the world. (With apologies to Ralph Waldo Emerson). Photo illustration by Monica Showalter with use of image by www.MedicalGraphics.de // CC BY-ND 4.0, and public domain image. By Mathieu Rosemain and Zuzanna Szymanska PARIS (Reuters) - Franco-Italian chipmaker STMicroelectronics said on Wednesday it expected second-half sales to grow compared to the first half, betting on initial signs of a recovery in demand in Asia as efforts to contain the coronavirus start working. Asian tech firms have been more upbeat. Samsung Electronics <005930.KS> showed this month that smartphone sales in China were rising again as COVID-19 cases fell and global demand for chips used in work-from-home networks had surged. STMicro, which supplies iPhone maker Apple , electric carmaker Tesla and Chinese telecoms giant Huawei, makes a range of sensors and chips used in the telecoms, auto and manufacturing sectors. It saw sales rise in recent quarters, helped by moves to deploy 5G infrastructure. The company said it expected sales to grow in the range of $340 million (275.01 million pounds) to $1.04 billion in the second half, bringing group revenues for the year to between $8.8 billion and $9.5 billion. The guidance lifted STMicro's shares, which rose more than 7% in late session trading in Paris and Milan, making the shares among the top performers on the Italian and French markets. "The distribution channel is showing some recovery in China, after a restart of operations, but a slowdown in Europe and in the U.S.," Chief Executive Officer Jean-Marc Chery told a call with analysts. "We are now starting to see some early signs of recovery in China," he said, referring specifically to the auto industry. STMicro's expectations were more upbeat than those announced by its peer Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd <2330.TW> in April. The Taiwanese firm trimmed full-year revenue outlook because of fallout from the coronavirus. But STMicro still cut its dividend for the 2019 fiscal year by about 30% to $0.17 per share. The Geneva-based group also said it expected a 10% drop in second-quarter revenue, compared to first quarter, due to declining automotive demand and ongoing measures by governments to contain the virus. Second-quarter gross margins should come in at about 34.6% compared to 37.9% in the first quarter due to these challenges, Chery said. (Reporting by Mathieu Rosemain) Some 200,000 PCR tests to detect a novel coronavirus will be sent to the regions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. "Meanwhile, work is ongoing to provide the country, our hospitals and pharmacies with everything necessary. Tomorrow 200,000 PCR tests of domestic production will be shipped and sent to the regions of Ukraine. In general, there are orders for two million PCR tests made in Ukraine. Also we expect 200 ventilators from the Ukrainian manufacturer by the end of May," Zelensky said in a video address posted on the Facebook page of the President's Office. Among other things, this week 360,000 respirators and 800,000 reagents for PCR tests were delivered to Ukraine. "Today we have a joyous event - our An-225, our legendary Mriya landed in Hostomel. The aircraft delivered over 12 million masks, as well as hundreds of thousands of suits and glasses," Zelensky noted. In general, during the fight against COVID-19, Antonov aircrafts delivered more than two thousand tonnes of different cargoes to Ukraine, America, Europe and the Middle East. "The contribution and important role of Ukraine in the fight against coronavirus is positively appreciated by the whole world," the president added. As of 09:00 on April 23, Ukraine reported 7,170 laboratory-confirmed Covid-19 cases, including 187 deaths and 504 recoveries. Some 578 new cases were confirmed over the past day. ish Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin I Nyoman Sutarsa, Atin Prabandari and Fina Itriyati (The Jakarta Post) - Thu, April 23, 2020 12:15 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3bfc8d 3 Opinion The-Conversation,COVID-19,rapid-testing,mass-testing,Indonesia,pandemic,infectious-diseases,poor-residents,economic-inequality Free Amid the urgent need for mass testing to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia, poor people in the fourth-most-populous country have a difficult time to get tested for COVID-19. Its much easier for rich Indonesians to access COVID-19 testings. The Indonesian government is only offering free testings at hospitals for people who have been in contact with positive cases or who have visited high-risk areas and present with COVID-19 symptoms. People who present with symptoms but have no contact history are not eligible for free testings. While such prioritization is understandable given the countrys limited resources, it also leads to unequal access to testing. Unequal access to testing can lead to late diagnosis and preventable deaths due to undetected COVID-19 among the poor. Limited and unequal tests in Indonesia President Joko Jokowi Widodo has ordered the implementation of a large-scale rapid test since March 19, distributing 450,000 test kits across the country to contain the pandemic. As of April 22, at least 7,135 people in Indonesia have been infected. The fatality rate of 8.6 percent is among the highest in the world and thats partly due to low testing rates. Early detection through extensive testing is a key strategy to contain the pandemic. But with only 184 tests per 1 million population, Indonesia is among the countries with low testing rates far less than in Singapore (16,203 per million), Australia (17,412), South Korea (11,138) or Italy (23,985). Even though the tests are for people who have had contact with someone with COVID-19 or have traveled from infected areas, the countrys legislators have demanded rapid testing for their 575 members and their families even without clear history of close contact with positive cases. For people who have some money (but cant abuse power to get free testing), they can get rapid testing at private hospitals in Indonesia for Rp770,000 (almost US$50) to more than Rp 1 million. For millions of low-income Indonesians, these tests are unaffordable. Last year, almost 60 percent of Indonesians of productive age, or around 74 million people, worked in the informal sector with jobs such as streetside sellers, day laborers, or domestic workers. These casual workers have an average net income of Rp 1.3-1.5 million per month There is also free swab PCR testing available for symptomatic patients with a contact history or recent visit to high-risk areas and for asymptomatic people who have been in close contact with positive cases. Priority will be given to symptomatic patients who have been in close contact with positive cases. Twelve PCR lab facilities are available across Indonesia. Private patients who do not meet the eligibility criteria for free testing can access the testing at a cost ranging from Rp 1.5-2.5 million making it even harder for the poor people to access it. Testing for all The Indonesian government needs to quickly accelerate its testing capacity. Based on modeling using data from Wuhan, the city in China where the outbreak first erupted, more than 85 percent of COVID-19 cases are undocumented. Detecting cases early, followed by isolation of positive cases, is effective in reducing transmission, and so can improve health outcomes. In Vo Euganeo, Italy, all 3,000 residents of the town, both rich and poor, were tested, with 89 positive cases put in mandatory isolation. The second round of testing put another six people in isolation. These measures eradicated fatalities and resulted in a 100 percent recovery rate. Mass testing and centralized quarantine have been identified as the primary drivers for flattening the epidemic curve in South Korea, Canada and Singapore. The success of mass testing in Singapore, South Korea and Australia is underpinned by their resilient health systems and advanced surveillance technology. That may not be the case for many low- and middle-income countries including Indonesia. Nonetheless, it sends a clear message about the urgent need for extensive testing to control the pandemic. To be effective in reducing transmission from asymptomatic cases, testing must reach the majority of population, not just those with means. Thus, the Indonesian government must implement and enforce mass testing as the highest priority for all jurisdictions across Indonesia. Local administrations should step up Local governments must strive to make testing available for all people under their jurisdictions. Surabaya in East Java province has set an example by making rapid testing available across its 63 community health centers. Similarly, in partnership with a non-governmental organization, the East Java province has distributed an extra 10,000 rapid test kits across its jurisdictions, on top of 8,400 test kits from the national government. The national government needs to prioritize local areas with limited capacity to provide testing locally. The government must encourage community participation in mass testing. It must provide correct and consistent information about the testing, including how, when and where to get tested. The government should also reach out to vulnerable, marginalized and economically disadvantaged populations so they can make an informed decision about participating in mass testing. To fight the virus, we need to screen it through extensive testing and isolate infected people to stop it spreading. As the virus is not discriminating between people based on their socioeconomic status, access to testing should also be made equal across the population. *** I Nyoman Sutarsa is a Lecturer in Rural Clinical School, ANU Medical School, Australian National University. Atin Prabandari is an Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations, Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies. Fina Itriyati is a Lecturer, Universitas Gadjah Mada. This article was first published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 12:23:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Two doctors, a nurse and an administrative assistant of a hospital in the Libyan city of Sirte, have been kidnapped by an armed group, the Ministry of Health of the UN-backed government said Wednesday. The ministry said in a statement that it "condemns in the strongest terms the assault and kidnapping of doctors and medical assistants in Ibn Sina Hospital in Sirte," some 450 km east of the capital Tripoli. "The Ministry considers that these violations committed by outlaw groups in the city, such as kidnapping, forced disappearance, and assault against innocent people and medical personnel, hinder the work of hospitals and the health sector that provide humanitarian medical service to citizens," the statement said. The ministry asked the elders and tribal leaders of Sirte to make efforts to immediately release the kidnapped medical workers. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. Since early January, Sirte has been controlled by the east-based army, which is leading a military campaign against the UN-backed government in and around Tripoli. Enditem RIVERTON New developments in the standoff that occurred Wednesday afternoon in Riverton have emerged, revealing that James Hinman, 56, was shot during a rapid volley of gunfire earlier in the day not while being extricated from his home by law enforcement at the end of the incident. Hinman died between Thursday night and Friday morning. His death marks the third officer-involved shooting fatality in Riverton in 15 months. Two involved the Riverton police department, while the other shooting was by federal drug enforcement agents. Hinman had been a suspect in a hit-and-run on Aspen... Gracedale, Northampton Countys nursing home, may be Pennsylvanias largest long-term-care facility under one roof, but its number of COVID-19 patients is well below the average of most such facilities in the state, an assessment on Wednesday determined. As of Monday, 50 residents had come down with the disease caused by the coronavirus and four had died, the county had said. Six residents were recuperating in an isolation ward as of Monday. Twenty-three staff had also been infected and five had returned to work in Upper Nazareth Township, the county said. County Executive Lamont McClure said they was compiling new numbers on Thursday and may release them later in the day. There are more than 600 residents at Gracedale and they are cared for by more than 700 staff. Michael Whalen, from the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania, and Lt. John Peacock, of the Pennsylvania National Guard, performed the assessment on site, a news release from the county says. The number of cases is so low due to numerous factors, which include the dedication of the entire staff and strict adherence to current CDC guidelines, Whalen, a trained emergency nurse with a specialty in disaster preparation and response, wrote in a letter to Gracedale Administrator Jennifer Stewart-King. All staff must follow theses protocols or the disease rate increases significantly, he added. Without the work of environmental services, facilities, food services and security staff, the system does fail, Whalen wrote. Your ability to develop negative pressure areas (for suspected cases of COVID-19) is considered a best practice and it appears your PPE allocation and conservation practices are second to none, Whalen wrote about ill resident isolation and the necessary protective gear for staff. He expressed regret that the organization cannot offer all the needed support for residents and staff. But he wants them to know they are doing a great job at keeping the infection rate low and in doing so they are all saving lives. McClure had equal praise for those working at the nursing home. Gracedale administrators and staff are doing a phenomenal job managing the nursing home during this unprecedented pandemic, McClure said in the news release. Were grateful to HAP for conducting this assessment of Gracedale. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting lehighvalleylive.com with a voluntary subscription. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. People Weve Lost Gloria Allen Moskowitz 88 years old Lived in Ardmore She was an administrator in the Philadelphia School District More Memorials Gloria Allen Moskowitz, 88, of Ardmore, an administrator in the Philadelphia School District for more than three decades, died Tuesday, April 21, of the coronavirus at Einstein Medical Center Montgomery in East Norriton. Mrs. Moskowitz was a legend in Southwest Philadelphia, where she worked her way up from secretary to coordinator of John Bartram High School Motivation Annex, said political consultant Neil Oxman, a family friend. In the mid-1960s, she joined a team of Bartram teachers and administrators pushing to create a nurturing environment for academically promising city students who otherwise might not view college as an option. The team succeeded in moving 350 ninth graders from the overcrowded high school to an old elementary school in the barren meadows of Southwest Philadelphia. I think it helps to give us a feeling of togetherness. Were really isolated out here, Mrs. Moskowitz told The Inquirer in April 1974. Just 12 teachers, 350 kids, and a pack of wild dogs. Students were given individual attention, challenging courses, and encouragement to aim for higher education, Mrs. Moskowitz said. Most who applied to college got in. When we see a kid falling behind, we get right in touch with the parents, she said. Believe me, were terrible nags. Mrs. Moskowitzs role in the programs success was noticed by the Bulletins Claude Lewis, who once wrote a tongue-in-cheek column about her titled Better School Produced by Nervy Women. If youve never met Gloria Moskowitz, consider yourself lucky, he wrote. Shes one of those people in the Philadelphia school system who really want to help. Theyre the worst kind. I mean they stay up all night, planning and plotting and making phone calls and just generally annoying school principals and badgering students in an effort to motivate everybody in the world. Before you know it, everybody around her is pulling their hair out by the roots and Gloria Moskowitz winds up with what she wants. Her son, Mark, said choosing the students for the program took all summer. It was like casting for a film, he said. Once she decided, she would not give up on a kid. Patricia Somers, who graduated from Bartram Motivation in 1970 and later earned a masters degree in nursing, said the schools formula worked. The school showed us a culture we never knew existed, and gave kids on the edge a shot at a better world, she said. Because of the Motivation Program, I experienced the Academy of Music, I met Pearl Buck and Pearl Bailey me, a poor kid from Southwest Philly. Mrs. Moskowitz was born in the western Pennsylvania steel town of Sharon, where her family owned a childrens clothing store. Her grandmother had emigrated from Lithuania. She graduated from Beaver College in 1953. She met Jerome W. Moskowitz and married him. The couple settled in Wynnefield and had two children. They moved to Penn Valley and then Ardmore. Mrs. Moskowitz joined the Motivation Program while her children were young, and at the same time earned a masters degree in education from Villanova University. After her retirement from the Philadelphia School District in the 1990s, she had a second career at Philadelphia Futures, matching adult mentors and students. She left that job to care for her ill husband. After he died in 2000, she bought a computer, learned how to create an online business, and, at age 73, joined with a friend to provide long-term rentals of upscale apartments in Paris and Tuscany. For the next decade, before anyone thought" of Airbnb, she went back and forth across the Atlantic to check out the rentals, her son said. At the time of her death, she was a resident of Shannondell, a senior community in Audubon, Montgomery County. Besides her son, she is survived by a daughter, Susan Goldman, and five grandchildren. Services are private. Plans for a public memorial were pending. Revenue: 1,4m Strongly impacted by COVID-19 in March Annual Shareholders Meeting scheduled on May 14 in a closed virtual session Regulatory News: SpineGuard (Paris:ALSGD) (FR0011464452 ALSGD), an innovative company that deploys its DSG (Dynamic Surgical Guidance) sensing technology to secure and streamline the placement of bone implants, reported today its first-quarter 2020 revenue. Pierre Jerome, Chairman CEO of SpineGuard, said: Our smart drilling instruments being mainly used to secure elective spine surgeries, SpineGuard sales, since March, have been significantly impacted by the postponement of those interventions due to the massive influx of COVID-19 patients in European and American hospitals in particular. Before that we had well started the year, ahead of plan by the end of February. Given the current trend, analyst reports and customer feedback, our Q2 revenue will be soft. However, we anticipate a strong catch-up effect in the coming months as patients, whose surgery has been postponed, are in pain and will be operated on. The simplicity and autonomy of our PediGuard single use sterile devices as well as the innovative nature of the recently CE marked DSG Connect interface will be real assets when the backlog of elective spine surgeries will resume. For now, to face the crisis triggered by the virus outbreak, our priority is to protect the team and preserve cash in the context of the Safeguard procedure initiated in France and the Chapter-11 proceedings initiated in the USA in mid-February to amend our debt. We are working on both processes while preparing the launch of DSG Connect and advancing discussions for the set-up of structuring strategic partnerships. Global revenue in the first quarter of 2020 was 1,376k vs. 1,692k in Q1 2019, a 16.5% decrease. SpineGuard sold 1,536 DSG units in the first quarter of 2020 vs. 2,028 units in Q1 2019. 871 units were sold in the USA vs. 1,056 units during the same period in 2019. The COVID-19 impact on the second half of March was significant with quasi complete stop of orders and shipments. Overall, US revenue decreased 20% as reported (-23% cc) at 1,088k vs. 1,365k. Outside the USA, revenue grew 2% at 288k vs 283k in the first quarter of 2019. The solid start of the year allowed for this performance. However, the activity also strongly dropped during the second half of March in the vast majority of the areas covered by our distributors. Notably, there was no revenue recorded for China or the Middle-East over the quarter. In order for the company to protect the team and manage its cash in the best possible way during this unprecedented crisis and, at this point, with very scarce visibility about its duration and magnitude, the Company took the following steps: Work from home and partial activity for most of the workforce in France and the USA. In France, as allowed by the government, differed payments of social benefits to the public agencies. Anticipated filing requesting the payment of the R&D tax credit scheme (CIR) for an amount of 174k. Cost saving programs: the company has taken various measures to reduce its costs while reinforcing it rules of engagement policies. Many congresses and events have been cancelled or postponed and all travel has been suspended. Safeguard procedure in France and Chapter 11 proceedings in the US SpineGuard's Board of directors and management deem that the safeguard proceedings will allow for negotiation of the repayment of its debt and thus decrease its burden on the company. This protection, effective both in France and in the United States, grants the company the possibility to focus more effectively on its activities, its customers and to conduct successfully its strategy centered on its DSG technology deployment through industry partnerships. The safeguard proceedings in France is now in the so-called "observation" phase awarded by the French Court of commerce. The observation phase lasts 6 months and can be extended by the Court. Its main purpose is to prepare a safeguard plan enabling the amendment of the company's debt. At the end of this observation phase, the French Court of commerce will review the safeguard plan, hopefully validate it and enforce its execution according to a defined schedule. In the United States, the Chapter 11 case filed by SpineGuard, Inc., the Boulder, Colorado based subsidiary, is also in its initial phase. The company will present a preliminary Chapter 11 plan on June 15, 2020 to the US Court of commerce. The same plan will be proposed by SpineGuard in France and in the USA. Both the parent and the subsidiary company wish to negotiate a consensual and coordinated amendment of the debt in these parallel proceedings. Now assisted by Maitre Thevenot, the trustee designated by the French Court of commerce, SpineGuard is in discussions with its main creditors to amend the venture debt and FEI Innovation loan from Bpifrance and more generally propose a safeguard plan. It is reminded that both the 'sauvegarde' and Chapter 11 processes have frozen the possibility to exercise pledges and warranties allowed to creditors. The ongoing safeguard proceedings do not exclude an agreement that could shorten the process. Reminder of the 2020 perspectives The collaboration with our industry partner Adin Dental Implant Systems ConfiDent on the dental application will intensify in 2020 as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic decreases with the co-development of a next generation DSG embedded product, fruit of the feedback on the first generation tested in 2019. The search for strategic alliances with industry players notably for the robotic application continues, despite the crisis, led by venture bank Healthios Capital Markets. Lastly, the DSG Connect platform is now CE Marked cleared and the FDA filing is progressing. We are preparing for its European launch. This strategic high-value innovation is already used experimentally by the company to guide surgical robots. It will be deployed to the full PediGuard range and Smart Screw products. The company believes that it will bring a renewed sales momentum in particular in Europe and the USA, but also in other high potential geographies such as Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Of course, the pace will highly depend on the containment of the COVID-19 outbreak and the resuming of a normal activity in the hospitals. Annual Shareholders Meeting of 14 May 2020 In compliance with recent legislation (bill of 23 March 2020 to respond to COVID-19 and decree dated 25 March) and per the recommendations of the French SEC (Autorite des Marches Financiers or AMF), SpineGuard confirms that the Annual Ordinary and Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting will take place on May 14, 2020 at 8:45 am (CET), yet it will not be held in public. It is hereby reminded that AMF strongly encourages the shareholders to vote, such right being a fundamental prerogative of each shareholder. Such right shall be exercised through a vote by proxy in case of a non-publicly held shareholders meeting and, except for particular cases, prior to the said shareholders meeting. As of the date of this news release, the logistics details are being worked out for the Shareholders meeting to be held in perfect conditions with the on-going pandemic situation. The Shareholders Meeting will be held via web conference. The shareholders presentation will be released on the company's web site at 8:45 am (CET) on the day of the meeting at https://www.spineguard.com/fr/investisseurs/documentation/ Connection details to the web conference will be provided at a later date. Questions will be possible using the available chat during the conference or be sent in advance at either of investors@spineguard.com or spineguard@newcap.eu About SpineGuard Founded in 2009 in France and the USA by Pierre Jerome and Stephane Bette, SpineGuard is an innovative company deploying its proprietary radiation-free real time sensing technology DSG (Dynamic Surgical Guidance) to secure and streamline the placement of implants in the skeleton. SpineGuard designs, develops and markets medical devices that have been used in over 75,000 surgical procedures worldwide. Fifteen studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals have demonstrated the multiple benefits DSG offers to patients, surgeons, surgical staff and hospitals. Building on these solid fundamentals and several strategic partnerships, SpineGuard has expanded its technology platform in a disruptive innovation: the smart pedicle screw launched late 2017 and is broadening the scope of applications in dental implantology and surgical robotics. DSG was co-invented by Maurice Bourlion, Ph.D., Ciaran Bolger, M.D., Ph.D., and Alain Vanquaethem, Biomedical Engineer. For further information, visit www.spineguard.com Disclaimer The SpineGuard securities may not be offered or sold in the United States as they have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or any United States state securities laws, and SpineGuard does not intend to make a public offer of its securities in the United States. This is an announcement and not a prospectus, and the information contained herein does and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the securities referred to herein in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or exemption from registration. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005420/en/ Contacts: SpineGuard Pierre Jerome CEO Chairman Tel.: +33 1 45 18 45 19 p.jerome@spineguard.com SpineGuard Manuel Lanfossi CFO Tel.: +33 1 45 18 45 19 m.lanfossi@spineguard.com NewCap Investor Relations Financial Communication Mathilde Bohin Pierre Laurent Tel.: +33 1 44 71 94 94 spineguard@newcap.eu A judge told a court today that a land boundary case between two brothers in law and businessmen is one of these Wanderly Wagon cases. At Gort District Court today, Judge Patrick Durcan made his comment as a planned visit to the site today had to be adjourned for two months due to Covid 19 restrictions on the operation of the courts. Wanderly Wagon was a renowned childrens series broadcast on RTE between 1967 and 1982 that followed human and puppet characters as they travelled around Ireland and some of its best known character included Rory, OBrien, Judge - who was a dog, Fortycoats and Mr Crow. The upstairs courtroom was empty today apart from Judge Durcan, his registrar, four solicitors and Sgt Daithi Cronin as all defendants and witnesses were told not to attend and all cases were adjourned. Asked by Sgt Cronin should defendants be asked to attend at the next court at the end of May, Judge Durcan said that they should be. Judge Durcan said: Yes, a bit of common sense has to prevail and reality has to start coming home. Judge Durcan stated that defendants could wait for their cases in the fine square out there. If it is a wet day, they can bring their umbrella. Judge Durcan was due to visit the boundary in the land dispute today after additional time was required for engineers for both sides to agree on a boundary. Judge Durcan ruled on a dispute concerning a wall in an unrelated Gort case last year where he also made a site visit and he previously told the court concerning the boundary case currently before him: There is a problem in this area there is too much concentration on walls and too little appreciation of bridges." He stated: There is a need for bridges in this case. Judge Durcan previously told brothers in law and neighbours John Grealish and Damien ONeill to resolve the boundary dispute in order to avoid bile and bitterness between them. Judge Durcan told the two men it is wake up time for both of you. Get on with life and dont be wasting your money with this kind of carry on. The judge further told the two your relationships are suffering because of this and if somebody dies and someone gets married and you are wondering if you should go and do the right thing. He said: I am imploring you to sort this out. It is very important that neighbours can live in peace and ease of each other. Otherwise a substantial amount of money will be spent on this. In the case, John Grealish (50) and his son, Jason (29) both of Hawk Hill, Gort are facing a charge of common assault on Mr ONeill at Hawk Hill Gort on February 23rd 2019. The two Grealishs - who operate a family fuel business at the address - are contesting the charge and solicitor for Jason Grealish, Olivia Lynch previously told the court that her client was trying to act as peace maker on the day. Judge Durcan warned John Grealish and Damien ONeill that they will end up going to their bank manager for a new mortgage to finance all the legal and professional costs if a civil case around the boundary ever goes to the circuit court. Judge Durcan told them that engineers charge by the hour and barristers by the inch. Doctors have warned that the coronavirus looks to be causing strokes among adults in their 30s and 40s who otherwise are not particularly unwell, or even not showing any symptoms of the virus at all. They have also said that younger people are less likely to call 911 and seek treatment because they fear the hospitals are overwhelmed by coronavirus patients. There is an increasing body of evidence to suggest that the Covid-19 infection makes patients more prone to blood clots, and while the reason behind this is unclear, a stroke can be a consequence of that. Strokes occur when a blood clot reaches the brain, blocking an artery that supplies blood to the vital organ. A team of doctors working in the Mount Sinai health system have found otherwise healthy younger patients are experiencing strokes after contracting the coronavirus Giving details of five patients he and his colleagues have treated, Dr. Thomas Oxley, a neurosurgeon in the Mount Sinai Health System in New York told CNN that all were under the age of 50, and either had mild or no symptoms of the Covid-19 infection. 'The virus seems to be causing increased clotting in the large arteries, leading to severe stroke,' Oxley told CNN. 'Our report shows a seven-fold increase in incidence of sudden stroke in young patients during the past two weeks. 'Most of these patients have no past medical history and were at home with either mild symptoms (or in two cases, no symptoms) of Covid,' he added. 'All tested positive. Two of them delayed calling an ambulance.' For younger patients, it is not common to have a stroke, especially in the large vessels in the brain. A letter published in the New England Journal of Medicine from Oxley's team said that over the last 12 months, their hospital system has treated just an average of 0.73 patients for stroke under the age of 50 years old. Dr. Thomas Oxley, pictured, said his team had seen a seven-fold increase in the number of young patients being treated for strokes in the last two weeks That's fewer than two people a month, stark contrast to the five they have treated in the last two weeks. Doctors have said younger patients are less likely to call for an ambulance because they have heard how overwhelmed hospitals are with coronavirus cases, but have urged them to do so if they show symptoms of the virus or of a stroke. Other doctors are reporting that they are seeing 'unprecedented' levels of blood clotting in coronavirus patients, according to a separate CNN report. Speaking about her experience treating Covid-19 patients in hospital, Dr. Kathryn Hibbert said that she has seen blood clotting before her eyes as she has been attempting to insert intravenous lines into a patient's artery. 'You just watch it clot right in front of you,' said Hibbert, director of the medical intensive care unit at Massachusetts General Hospital. 'It's rare to have that happen once, and extremely rare to have that happen twice.' If such blood clots travel to the heart or lungs it can cause a pulmonary embolism, which is also be life threatening, or to the brain and cause a stroke. A hematologist at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, Dr. Jeffrey Laurence, told CNN: 'The number of clotting problems I'm seeing in the ICU, all related to Covid-19, is unprecedented.' He added that 'blood clotting problems appear to be widespread in severe Covid.' When a blood clot reaches the brain, brain cells die as they are not getting the necessary oxygen. The longer a blood clot is in the brain for, the more cells die and the damage to the brain becomes more widespread. It is vital, therefore, that treatment is sought quickly. 'The most effective treatment for large vessel stroke is clot retrieval, but this must be performed within 6 hours, and sometimes within 24 hours,' Oxley said. Younger patients were said to be reluctant to call 911 after hearing how overwhelmed hospitals have been, but with a stroke it is vital that it is treated quickly before it spreads. Pictured: A man with Covid-19 is transported on a stretcher outside Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City Of the patients treated by Oxley's team, all tested positive for the virus, one has died, while the others are in either rehabilitation units, the stroke unit or in intensive care. One has reportedly gone home but will also require intensive care there. The doctor added that its important people keep an eye out for symptoms of the coronavirus infection, but to also call 911 if they see any evidence of a stroke. Oxley added that stroke warning signs can be memorized using the 'F.A.S.T' acronym. 'F' for face drooping, 'A' for arm weakness, 'S' for speech difficulty and 'T' for time to call 911. Why patients with the coronavirus are more prone to blood clots is 'one of the most talked about questions in Covid right now', Dr. Michelle Gong, chief of the division of critical care medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City said to CNN. An international group of experts from ore than 30 hospitals have gathered to consider the issue. At Montefiore medical center, they have reportedly started putting all coronavirus patients on blood thinners to prevent blood clots, but this practice is yet to be widely adopted elsewhere. New York has been the worst hit state in the U.S. with 257,216 cases of the coronavirus confirmed, and 15,302 total deaths resulting from the disease OTTAWAOutrageous. Thats how Conservative MP Michael Chong described his caucus mate Derek Sloans attack on Canadas chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam. Frankly, Im angry, Chong said. My father was a Chinese immigrant to this country who came here in 1952 without a penny in his pocket, who worked extremely hard to become a medical doctor, like Dr. Tam. And his loyalty, like Dr. Tams, to this country was unquestionable. On Tuesday, Sloan a rookie MP running for the leadership of the Conservative party released a video suggesting Tam was parroting misinformation about COVID-19. Sloan asked if Tam, who was born in Hong Kong, was working for Canada or working for China. Sloan called on the government to fire Tam. Sloans campaign could not be reached for comment Thursday. But the remarks from the longshot leadership hopeful drew widespread condemnation, with one Conservative source referring to the attack as embarrassing. Instead of speaking about (issues with policy), Derek has questioned her loyalty. And in doing so has questioned the loyalty of every immigrant to this country, the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal party matters, told the Star. The anger boiled over into public Thursday, with fellow Ontario Conservative MP Eric Duncan posting that while he may have questions and constructive concerns about Tams advice, he would never question her loyalty to Canada. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, when asked about Sloans comments, said intolerance and racism have no place in our country. We need to continue in our resolve to be an open, welcoming, respectful country. And I think all Canadians expect that of every politician, Trudeau said. Still, criticism of the World Health Organization and particularly the notion that it is beholden to Beijing is not exactly a fringe opinion in Conservative circles during the pandemic. When asked about Sloans comments, outgoing Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer offered no comment on Thursday, saying it was up to leadership contestants to speak for themselves. Ill leave it to each leadership candidate to speak for themselves and explain their views, Scheer told reporters in Ottawa. I have said that this government needs to be held accountable for the decisions that were made. I dont believe we should allow this government to have a scapegoat, to pin the blame on anybody else. These were ministers that chose to ignore some advice and chose to listen to other advice. Pressed on whether Sloan would continue to be welcome in the Conservative caucus, the party leader again repeated that he would not address Sloans comments specifically. When asked if Sloan should face any censure for his comments, Chong said that was up to the Conservative caucus but said he would be personally discussing the comments with the HastingsLennox and Addington MP. Im convinced about one thing: he is going to lose the leadership race. Convincingly, Chong said. And the Conservative party that I know does not stand for this kind of garbage. Sloan is one of four approved candidates for the Conservative partys now-suspended leadership race, launched after Andrew Scheer announced he would step down after his successor was chosen. That vote was originally scheduled for the end of June, but now has been suspended indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sloan, first elected in October, is largely unknown within the party but is seen as one of two social conservative candidates vying for the leadership. But most observers view it as a contest between Peter MacKay and Erin OToole with Sloan and Toronto lawyer Leslyn Lewis vying for third place. Read more about: ReopenNC members protest across from the Legislative Building in Raleigh April 14. | Photo: Rick Henderson/Carolina Journal Gov. Roy Cooper told the grassroots group ReopenNC on Monday, April 20, that recent executive orders and local ordinances limiting "mass gatherings" shouldn't interfere with North Carolinians' right to protest, worship, or exercise other First Amendment liberties. The lawyer representing ReopenNC told Carolina Journal that Wake County officials agree with the governor's decision.ReopenNC, an organization started on Facebook, has urged the governor to let a stay-at-home order he imposed March 27 expire as scheduled April 29. The group, which has more than 60,000 members, staged a protest April 14 across the street from the Legislative Building in Raleigh and planned demonstrations 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Tuesday until the stay-at-home order and other decrees limiting social and commercial activity are lifted.The March 27 order requires residents to stay at home unless engaged in essential activities defined in the order - and if they were, they should practice social distancing, remaining at least six feet apart unless they live in the same household. It builds on earlier orders Cooper issued barring table service in restaurants and private clubs, limiting gatherings to 100 (and eventually 10) people, and closing hair and nail salons, gyms, and schools, among other businesses.Orders issued in Wake County went further, initially declaring gun shops "non-essential" businesses and outlawing some drive-through religious services. The county reversed the gun-shop ban.The Monday letter , from Cooper lawyer William McKinney to Raleigh lawyer Anthony Biller of the Raleigh office of Michael Best & Friedrich, suggested the local orders went too far. Cooper said Executive Order 121 does place limits on outdoor protests. But it doesn't ban them as long as participants practice social distancing. Cooper said "many participants" at the April 14 protest didn't comply, so law enforcement was allowed to intervene and break up the protest.One ReopenNC member, Monica Ussery, was charged with a Class 2 misdemeanor for violating an executive order. She has a court date in June.The letter says the executive order "provides room for outdoor protests to continue, just as [it allows] for the expression of other First Amendment liberties, including the free exercise of religion and the right to a free press."Biller told Carolina Journal his clients were "very pleased" with the governor's response.The group has another protest scheduled Tuesday, April 21, outside the Executive Mansion. Organizers have asked participants to practice social distancing and remain peaceful. Wearing of face masks in public places has been made mandatory within the Greater Accra Region. This is according to a directive issued by the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council. A statement signed by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Ishmael Ashitey said the directive takes immediate effect. The statement also said notices of NO FACE MASK, NO ENTRY should be visibly displayed at vantage points including offices, lorry stations, shops, markets, malls, banks, pharmacies, among others. COVID-19 cases in Ghana currently stand at 1,154 with the Greater Accra Region alone recording over 900 of such cases. Mr. Ashitey in the statement said the decision to force Ghanaians within the region to wear face masks was adopted by the Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC) during its crunch meeting held on Wednesday, April 22, 2020. Mr. Ashitey said the decision is also in compliance with the Presidents directives on social distancing and wearing of face masks. The statement also announced other measures introduced to fight COVID-19 in the region. They include: Education/Sensitization on face mask-wearing, social and physical distancing by various MMDAs in their respective jurisdictions Creation of Satellite Markets by MMDAs to decongest main markets in the Greater Accra Region. Temporary Ban on all special market days in the region. Installation and use of Public Address Systems by MMDAs in markets to educate traders on the mandatory face mask-wearing, social and physical distancing and all other directives by the President. Commercial drivers to ensure all passengers wear face masks before being allowed to board their vehicles President Akufo-Addo in a televised national broadcast last Sunday advised Ghanaians to wear face masks as a measure to prevent contracting COVID-19. I want to encourage you to wear a mask wherever you go, as it will help you not to contract the virus, and keep it clean If you own a business or are providing a service, i.e. a barber, a hairdresser, a tailor, a taxi driver, a trotro driver and his 'mate', a shop keeper, a food seller, please do well to use a mask, the president advised. The Council of State has subsequently urged government to consider providing all Ghanaians with free nose masks. At a meeting with President Nana Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, the Council said such a move will help greatly in the fight against the spread of coronavirus in the country. The World Health Organisation has recommended the use of face masks, especially in public. Persons without face mask prevented from entering Accra City Hall Over 50 persons were on Tuesday denied entry into the Accra City Hall for not wearing a face mask as part of measures to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. The measure forms part of efforts to safeguard the health and well-being of staff of the assembly as well as other visitors into its premises. According to the Mayor of Accra, Mohammed Adjei Sowah who gave the directive, as long as one could get a cloth to cover his or her face and mouth, they would be allowed entry into the city hall. He added that these measures would help slow the spread of the Coronavirus especially from people who may have the virus but do not know. ----citinewsroom By Akbar Mammadov A trespasser crossing the Azerbaijani border from Iran was shot and two others escaped during the armed incident near Goytapa village post on April 22, the State Border Service (SBS) press service said on April 23. The SBS reported that the trespassers disobeyed the border service guards order to stop and opened fire on the border guards. One of the violators was shot in return fire while the remaining two managed to escape and hide in the forest. The wounded trespasser died from the wound despite receiving medical aid at Jalilabad Central Hospital, the SBS said. The incident took place in Goytepe" State Border Guard Service in the area of the village of Dashkent, Yardimli District at around 15.30. The State Border Service has found 2 kg of hashish resin-like drug, one double-barreled shotgun, six cartridges and one cartridge at the scene of the incident. The SBS has invited Irans border representative in connection with the incident. Relevant operational-search measures are currently being carried out by the "Goytepe" border detachment of the State Border Service and the Lankaran Military Prosecutors Office, the SBS concluded. --- Akbar Mammadov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @AkbarMammadov97 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz New Delhi: Every year on April 23 is celebrated as World Book Day or International Day of the Book. Also known as the World Book and Copyright Day, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) promotes reading, publishing, and copyright through this day. The day was first celebrated back in 1995. However, a similar event is observed in the UK and Ireland in the month of March. While it is extremely important to read as much as you can to be able to have a wider perspective, seldom we get time in our daily busy routine to sneak out some time for a book. But there are book lovers who manage to read and read, no matter what time of the day. We thought listing out a few popular celebrities who simply love to read and recommend reading to others too. Take a look and grab a book now: Sonali Bendre: The actress is a voracious reader and also successfully runs 'Sonali's Book Club' (SBC) which promotes reading and often engages in an interactive session too. The actress kept SBC running even while battling cancer and undergoing treatment in New York. Kudos to the fighter! Sonam Kapoor: The actress has always been vocal about her love for reading. She has often been clicked with a book in her hand during her airport spottings. Mouni Roy: This Bong beauty is one star who swears by books. Her social media account is full of pictures where she can be seen immersed in reading. She also pens thoughtful captions which show her love for literature and poetry. Shweta Tiwari: Television's famous face Shweta Tiwari is a book lover who has more often than not shared her love for reading. Much like Mouni, Shweta's Instagram too is a solid proof of how much of a bookworm she is. Twinkle Khanna: This B-Town actress turned author's tongue-in-cheek column with a newspaper daily has a separate fanbase. She loves to read, recommend and promote books which she likes. And we love Mrs Funnybones for her sparking sarcasm. Celebrate the love for books this special day! The Longview City Council on Thursday will consider funding priorities and set a public hearing for May 14 to discuss the allocation of about $196,000 in additional federal funding to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. During a workshop earlier this month, the council appeared to support using the funds for utility bill assistance grants and small business assistance grants. Also during the meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, the council will consider approving a nearly $2.8 million bid from Kelso contractor C & R Tractor and Landscaping to complete the Beech Street extension. The contractors bid came in far below the citys estimate of $4.5 million. Nine contractors bid on the project. The project will extend Beech Street from 14th Avenue to California Way. In addition, contractors will improve an existing section of Beech Street from Oregon Way to 14th Avenue and add intersection improvements, drainage, sidewalks, wheelchair ramps and other improvements. The city has estimated the street improvements will open up about 48 acres for development, create 200 family-wage jobs and attract $111 million in private investment. Longview has received $1.9 million in federal funding, $1 million in state funding, $575,000 in rural economic development funds from the county and a $75,000 private contribution for the project. Also during the meeting, the council will consider: Extending an agreement with the Cowlitz County Mini-Rural Library District to continue services through April 30, 2021. The original contract began in 1998, according to council documents. The 2020-2021 contract would be nearly $389,000, or a 3% increase over 2019-2020. An annual report from the Public Development Authority. Ahead of the regular meeting, the council will hold a workshop at 6 p.m. to discuss possible next steps for the decommissioned West Longview sewer lagoons and whether to create latecomer agreements related to extensions of the sanitary sewer collection system. To comply with social distancing requirements, the council meetings will be held virtually on the video streaming platform Zoom. Members of the public can join by visiting this link: https://bit.ly/2VVNIfg. The meeting ID is: 930 7813 1345 The public also can call any of these numbers (the city says it may be necessary to try more than one number if there is a busy signal): 1-408-638-0968 1-669-900-6833 1-346-248-7799 1-646-876-9923 1-253-215-8782 1-301-715-8592 1-312-626-6799 President Donald Trump and CDC Director Robert Redfield (R) participate in the daily briefing on the CCP virus in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington on April 22, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Trump Says CDC Director Was Misquoted on Second Virus Wave President Donald Trump began his Wednesday news conference by saying that the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had been misquoted in a Washington Post interview in which he said next winter might be more difficult than the current CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic. I do want to mention, a man whos done a very good job for us, Dr. Robert Redfield was totally misquoted in the media about the fall season and the virus. Totally misquoted. I spoke to him and he said it was ridiculous, the president said during the daily Coronavirus Task Force briefing at the White House. He was talking about the flu and corona coming together at the same time, and corona could be just some little flare-ups that well take care of, we will knock it out. Well knock it out fast. Thats what he was referring to, coming together at the same time, Trump continued. The president then summoned Redfield to the microphone to clarify his remarks, and the CDC director confirmed that he had been quoted accurately in the Post but that the headline, which said Redfield had warned that a second wave of coronavirus is likely to be even more devastating, was misleading. I think it is important to clarify this as we build the confidence of the American people. When I commented yesterday there was a possibility of a fall-winter [outbreak] to be more difficult, more complicated, and we had two respiratory illnesses circulatingflu and the coronavirus, he said. But it is important to emphasize. I didnt say this was going to be worse. I said it was going to be more difficult, and potentially complicated because we will have flu and coronavirus circulating at the same time, he added. Redfield said he had issued the warning to encourage the American public to embrace the flu vaccine with confidence and thus minimize the impact of flu. The issue that I was talking about, about being more difficult, is that were going to have two viruses circulating at the same time, he said. Next fall and winter, we are going to have two viruses circulating, and were going to have to distinguish between which is flu and which is the coronavirus, he added. And so the comment that I made, its more difficult. It doesnt mean its going to be impossible. It doesnt mean its going to be more, as some people have said, worse. It just means its more difficult because we have to distinguish between the two. The CDC directors comments came hours after Trump complained about the Washington Post report that included the top health officials remarks, saying on Twitter that the CDC chief would make a clarifying statement after he was totally misquoted by Fake News. In his April 21 interview with the Post, Redfield said the United States needs to prepare for the winter virus to be even more difficult than the current pandemic and urged them to remain cautious as they move to reopen their economies and continue to practice social distancing measures. Theres a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through, Redfield warned. And when Ive said this to others, they kind of put their head back, they dont understand what I mean, he added. However, if Americans continue to practice social distancing, Redfield said this may allow there to be a hospital bed available for your mother or grandmother that may get coronavirus, adding that social distancing has had an enormous impact in containing the CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. Read More CDC Director Warns Second Virus Wave Could Return in Winter, Coincide With Flu Season Consumption of meat during Covid-19 pandemic despite the availability of agriculture-based food is jeopardising the existence of the entire human race, claimed a plea filed by a Jain organization before the Supreme Court seeking a blanket ban on the killing of animals, birds and fishes. The petitioner, Vishwa Jain Sangathan, challenged the central governments March 30 decision to promote the consumption of chicken and eggs claiming that the said decision was in ignorance of the attempt by biologists across the globe to locate the ultimate source of Coronavirus. This impugned circular dated 30.03.2020 advising people to eat meat in the midst of spread of this deadly virus is premature and has been issued when biologists all over world are still searching out its source and its interface with animals, the petition stated. The Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying had sent a communication to all states and union territories on March 30 stating that eggs and chicken have no role in the spread of Covid-19 and their consumption should be promoted through campaigns on social media, television and radio. The impugned circular, without any basis, succumbed to the pressure of meat lobby and without any necessity or jurisdiction called upon people to eat more and more meat, the petitioner alleged. The petitioner also submitted that vegetarians are suffering due to the violent barbaric eating habits of some people consuming both domestic and wild animals for mere change of taste. The World Health Organisation, the petitioner submitted, had called upon nations to identify the role of animal species in the emergence of Covid-19. It also simultaneously urged countries to identify the risks linked to trade and consumption of potentially infected animal species. However, before awaiting the result of this research, the impugned circular has been issued certifying chicken and meat as totally safe, the petition said. The petitioner also cited constitutional provisions including Article 51-A(g) which makes it a constitutional duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures. The petition besides seeking empirical research on the role of animals in the emergence of Covid-19 also prayed that killing of all animals and birds including the slaughter of animals through halal should be completely stopped. Issue an appropriate direction commanding the Union of India to frame National Policy for Welfare of Animal/Birds/Fishes, laying the road map for phasing out complete killing, torture or hurting of any other non-human species created by Nature except in case required for human survival, the petitioner prayed. For Coronavirus Live Updates Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 07:19:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BRUSSELS/GENEVA, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Many European nations are "walking a tightrope" toward normal life by tentatively easing anti-virus restrictions, as the World Health Organization (WHO) is warning of a long-time existence of the novel coronavirus. "We have a long way to go. This virus will be with us for a long time," warned WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Wednesday. VIRUS REMAINS "DANGEROUS" This virus remains "extremely dangerous," and early evidence suggests that most of the world's population remains susceptible, warned the WHO chief. "That means epidemics can easily re-ignite," he said during a virtual press conference from Geneva. According to Tedros, one of the greatest dangers the world is now facing is complacency, since people in countries with stay-at-home orders are "understandably frustrated" with being confined to their homes for weeks. Arguing that the world cannot and will not go back to the way things were, the WHO chief told reporters that there must be a "new normal" -- a world that is healthier, safer and better prepared. EUROPE'S TIGHTROPE WALK Many European countries had embarked on their cautious way back to this "new normal" before the WHO warnings on Wednesday. In Germany, where COVID-19 cases totaled 145,694, all federal states have made mask-wearing in public obligatory. The states' decisions came after Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a "gradual" and "cautious" exit strategy from COVID-19 measure. However, the number of new infections rose slightly again on Wednesday towards the middle of the week, with 2,237 new COVID-19 cases reported in a day. Germany's neighboring Belgium also observed a rebound, reporting 266 new deaths in a 24-hour period as of Wednesday. Despite the uptick in new deaths on Wednesday, Steven Van Gucht, spokesman for the country's crisis center, claimed that "the peak of deaths is behind us." Meanwhile, a group of 10 experts constituting the "Team Exit" called for a relaxing plan in three stages and with possible backtracking, according to a report of the experts quoted by Belgian newspaper Le Soir on Wednesday. In France, Wednesday saw a single-day toll of 544, slightly higher than Tuesday's 531, but the number of patients who need intensive care fell for the 14th consecutive day, down by 215. Director-General of Health Jerome Salomon warned that "the virus circulation remains at high level" despite the improvement. Encouraging news also heard from Spain. Although the State of Alarm was extended for a third time until May 9 on Wednesday, the emergency morgue set up in the Palacio de Hielo ice rink in Madrid was closed after receiving 1,146 bodies. The morgue was the first of three set up on March 24 to help cope with the high number of deaths in the Madrid region. VACCINE DEVELOPMENTS European countries may have to mind their steps in the process of restoration before the vaccine becomes available. Lars Schaade, Vice President of Germany's Robert Koch Institute (RKI), said on Tuesday that without a vaccine there would be no return to normality soon. British Health Secretary Matt Hancock made a similar judgment on Tuesday, saying, "A vaccine is the best way to defeat the coronavirus." Germany has approved the first clinical trial of a COVID-19 vaccine, the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (PEI) announced on Wednesday. German pharmaceutical company BioNTech has been authorized to test its BNT162 vaccine program on 200 healthy volunteers aged between 18 to 55 years, according to PEI. But a quick result is still unlikely, as an observation period and further tests are necessary. "Next year we can then look at the results and discuss whether the data allows for an application for approval," PEI President Klaus Cichutek told the German newspaper Bild on Wednesday, hinting the vaccine is not expected within the year. Also on Wednesday, two Italian companies announced that potential COVID-19 vaccines being developed by two private research laboratories outside of Rome could enter into a testing phase as soon as in September. Enditem South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a slight easing of the nationwide lockdown that has been in place since March 27. Starting May 1, the lockdown will move from the current level 5 that has caused extreme economic crises, including huge job losses, business closures and hunger, to level 4, in which some business will be allowed to resume operations under strict conditions, the president said on Thursday. Ramaphosa shared the details of a new five-level approach to ease the lockdown which will include distinguishing between the threat at national, provincial, district and metropolitan level. The National Coronavirus Command Council will determine the alert level based on an assessment of the infection rate and the capacity of our health system to provide care to those who need it," Ramaphosa said. Beyond Thursday, April 30 we will implement a risk adjusted strategy to take a deliberate and cautious approach to ease lockdown restrictions," he added. Noting that the strategy that the country adopts must be "measured and incremental", Ramaphosa said, "We cannot take action today that we deeply regret tomorrow. We have to balance the need to resume economic activity with the need to save lives." Ramaphosa further said that a nationwide lockdown is probably the best means to contain the virus but it cannot be sustained indefinitely as people need to eat and earn a living while companies need to generate revenue. (But) by delaying the spread of the virus, we have had time to prepare our health facilities and mobilise some of the essential medical supplies needed to meet the inevitable increase in infections and it is in so doing, that we hope to save tens of thousands of lives, Ramaphosa said as he justified the 35-day lockdown that ends on April 30. There is clear evidence that the lockdown has been working. Together with the other measures we have taken such as closing our borders and the changes in behaviour that each of us has made, the lockdown has slowed the progression of the pandemic in the country," he said. The World Health Organization has commended South Africa for acting swiftly and for following scientific advice to delay the spread of the virus, he added. Just before the president's speech, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announced that there have been 318 new confirmed COVID-19 cases overnight, bringing the total in South Africa to 3,953. An unprecedented 10 new deaths within 24 hours raised the overall death toll to 75. At the new level 4, borders will still remain closed and only travel to repatriate South African citizens abroad or take foreigners in South Africa back to their home countries will be permitted. At level 3, there will be restrictions on several activities, including at workplaces and socially, to address a high risk of transmission. Level 2 will allow some leisure and social activities with stringent physical distancing and other requirements to prevent a resurgence of the virus, while at level 1 most normal activity can resume, with precautions and health guidelines followed at all times. One of the more significant changes allowed under level 4 is that the prohibition on selling cigarettes will be lifted. There has been an outcry about the prohibition on cigarettes and liquor sales, especially from economists citing the huge loss in revenue to the government from excise duties on these items at a time when it is needed most for relief packages. However, the restrictions on alcohol will remain in place. Ramaphosa said the five-level approach was guided by scientists who had recommended that a rushed reopening of the economy could result in a massive resurgence in infections. On Tuesday, Ramaphosa announced a Rand 500 billion relief package of six-month additional grants to assist the destitute, children and the aged, as well as businesses in distress. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A wave of shutdowns at some of North Americas largest meat plants is starting to force hog producers with nowhere to sell their animals to dispose of them in the latest cruel blow to food supply chains. Shuttered or reduced processing capacity has prompted some hog farmers in eastern Canada to euthanize animals that were ready for slaughter, said Rick Bergmann, chair of the Canadian Pork Council. In Minnesota, farmers may have to kill 200,000 pigs in the next few weeks, according to an industry association. This is an unacceptable situation and something must be done, Bergmann, who is also a farmer, told reporters Thursday. The culling highlights the disconnect thats occurring as the coronavirus pandemic sickens workers trying to churn out food supplies just as panicked shoppers seek to stock up on more meat. Wholesale pork prices in the U.S. have surged in the past week. Hogs are the latest commodity thats seeing supplies potentially go to waste as farmers in the U.S. and Canada lose money, with nowhere to sell their animals. Dairy farmers are spilling milk that cant be sold to processors and some fruit and vegetables are rotting in fields due to labour shortages or distribution disruptions. In the U.S., at least eight major meat facilities have seen halts in the space of a few weeks, shuttering more than 15 per cent of the nations pork processing capacity. In Canada, Olymels plant in Yamachiche, Quebec, that normally processes 28,000 hogs a week closed for two weeks on March 29 and is currently operating with one less shift. With packing plants closing, demand was getting hit for hogs already fattened up for slaughter, and for piglets that would typically replace those animals on the farm. Prices for 40-pound feeder pigs in the U.S. plunged to the lowest since August 2018, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data. In Canada, producers are losing between $30 to $50 per head. The backlog of hogs waiting for slaughter in eastern Canada alone stood at 92,000 at the end of last week, according to the Canadian Pork Council. In parts of western Canada, producers who normally sell baby pigs to the U.S. are unable to do so due to closures at American processing plants, Bergmann said. The shutdowns eliminate slaughter for several weeks and that creates a huge backlog of animals waiting to move through the system, he said. Canadian producers are hoping the federal government provides them with an immediate cash injection of $20 per animal to pay bills and employees and weather the crisis. Its backlogging and were fearful the problem is going to get worse, Bergmann said. There have already been isolated cases of farmers destroying fully grown hogs in Minnesota, David Preisler, chief executive officer at the Minnesota Pork Producers Association, said by telephone. Farmers are starting to run out of options with what to do with market-ready pigs, he said. There are other pigs that have been born that need to get into that barn space. April 22, 2020 News By Jim Garamone Defense.gov Defense Officials Express Agreement With President's Warning to Iran Defense Department officials are in full agreement with President Donald J. Trump's warning to the Iranian regime on Twitter, senior Pentagon officials said today. "The president issued an important warning to the Iranians," Deputy Defense Secretary David L. Norquist said during a Pentagon news conference today. "What he was emphasizing is all of our ships retain the right of self-defense, and people need to be very careful in their interactions to understand the inherent right of self-defense." The president tweeted, "I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea." The Iranian regime has a history of harassing U.S. vessels operating in the Persian Gulf. In the past, small, quick Iranian boats have charged at U.S. ships in international waters. The president's tweet does not signal a new policy, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, as U.S. forces in any environment retain the right to defend themselves. "Every ship that deploys in harm's way has the inherent right of self-defense," Air Force Gen. John E. Hyten told reporters. "What that means is if we see a hostile act, if we see hostile intent, we have the right to respond, up to and including lethal force." Hyten warned Iran that, if threatened, U.S. commanders "will respond with overwhelming lethal force." Norquist said Trump was responding to Iran's poor behavior. "He is emphasizing and warning them about the challenges of what they will create," the deputy secretary said. "I think it was a very useful thing that he put out, and I think it's an important thing for other people to understand and take very seriously." Hyten emphasized that he thinks it is a good thing that the president warned an adversary. He said that if the Iranians want to go down that path, "we will come, and we will come large." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Burma Myanmar Volunteers Help Yangons Hungry During COVID-19 Outbreak Right at the front Ko Zay Yar Tun along with other volunteers from Clean Yangon sending out food to families struggling during the coronavirus outbreak. / Clean Yangon / Facebook YANGON Since COVID-19 hit Myanmar, many NGOs and philanthropic groups have led the response within communities. They have tried to meet the challenges of coronavirus and fill the gaps in the authorities response. In Yangon, the worst-hit region of the country, the NGO Clean Yangon is helping the citys vulnerable residents, including squatters, elderly vendors and daily-wage earners to help mitigate the impact of COVID-19. They no longer make a living as the city is at a standstill as most people stayed at home following the governments request and many businesses closed. The Irrawaddy talked with the groups founder, Ko Zay Yar Tun, about the challenges facing communities and the responses. Tell us about Clean Yangons COVID-19 activities. Since early March, we have been raising public awareness about how to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as it had already badly hit other countries. After Myanmars first confirmed cases on March 23, we tried to support health care workers and volunteers on the frontline. We provided food and multivitamins pills to hospitals and quarantine centers. Our volunteers also help with the Yangon Public Health Department in transporting supplies to quarantine centers and collecting data on the returnees from overseas. We noticed the poor are the worst affected and launched a program to provide basic food packages to different places every other day. We have distributed packages [including rice, cooking oil, canned fish, salt, beans and multivitamins pills] to 1,500 poor families in East Dagon, South Dagon, Hlaing Tharyar and Kawhmu townships. Most of them are squatters. We also distributed food to street vendors who are making no income, those living on the streets and municipal staff. The government has encouraged people to stay at home and to socially distance to prevent the spread of COVID-19. How are you prepared for the risks in donations of distributing food? We were prepared from the beginning. We always have the lowest possible number of volunteers. And we walk door-to-door to distribute food. We ask people not to come out to the street to take the food. It is a bit tiring but safety is the first priority. Volunteers wear face shields, masks and sanitize their hands before they distribute food to protect the recipients. If you ask arent we afraid, we are scared of being infected. But if we stay indoors, we cant help those in need. So we need to go out. If the situation gets worse, we will try to reduce the number of volunteers in each team. Many groups and volunteers are actively supporting the fight against COVID-19. What is your view on that? We are poorer than other countries and so we have more challenges. Government departments are doing their best but public concerns are also growing. Only with our collective strength can we overcome this. What are your plans for the next weeks? Clean Yangon will continue to run with the support of our donors. At the start, we received a lot of donations but they have fallen recently. It could be because they support other sectors in need. We have bought food supplies to distribute. We expect that in three to six months, there will be many more people in need, struggling to make a living as many daily wage earners are now losing their income. We will try to support them. Clean Yangon volunteers help Yangons hungry during the coronavirus outbreak in Myanmars largest city. / Clean Yangon / Facebook Contact Clean Yangon on 09 799 670 914, 09 420 026 477 or 09 250 031 832. You may also like these stories: Myanmars Food Delivery Boosted by COVID-19 Restrictions World Bank Loans Myanmar $50M for COVID-19 Response The News Broadcasters Federation, is concerned and shocked on the recent attempt to attack Arnab Goswami, Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Republic TV, and his wife, by a section a particular political party in Mumbai, while they were driving back home from work. The NBF notes that it is deplorable to know that the alleged political party, which claims to stand for Freedom of Expression, has resorted to personal attacks, including filing of FIRs in various states across the country, against Arnab Goswami, for performing his professional duty as a journalist. Journalists are professionals and reflect the views and sentiments of the larger people. Instead of engaging in a democratic debate, such incidents of harrasement and attempt to physically attack the individual is shocking and highly condemnable. News Broadcasters Federation, Indias largest industry association representing the combined interests of over 300 TV news channels, discharging the essential service of taking news and information to the doorsteps of 100 crore Indians, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Gandhi Nagar to Guwahati. NBF counts Dighvijay, DY365 News, First India Rajasthan, Gulistan News, IBC24, India News, JK 24X7, Living India News, MH One News, News Live, News Nation, NewsX, North East Live, Odisha TV, Prag News, PuthiyaThalaimurai TV, Republic Bharat, Republic TV, S Newz, TV5, and Twenty Four News among its founding members "The News Broadcasters Federation strongly condemns the attempt to attack Arnab and his wife, while he was performing his professional duty," said R. Jai Krishna, Secretary-General, News Broadcasters Federation. "The attack on Arnab Goswami, Editor-in-Chief and Managing Director of Republic TV, will not be taken lightly. We stand by Arnab and will do whatever required in this fight. Attack on media will not be tolerated," said Sanjive Narain, Founder, Prag News (Assam) "Sorry to know about this (incident). The Government should provide sufficient personal security," to prevent any future instances, said Anand Sankeshwar, Managing Director of Digvijay News (Karnataka). "It is very shocking," said Sreekantan Nair, Managing Director, Twentyfour News. "We strongly protest against the incident, and request the police to take immediate action to arrest the culprits." "We at ITV network condemn this cowardly act of violence against Arnab goswami and his family in todays india this is unacceptable and must be condemned by all," said Kartikeya Sharma, Founder, ITV Network. "Its disgrace,shame and utterly rubbish for someone to attack on Arnab and his wife. Such a cowardly act is deeply condemnable and shouldnt be taken so easily. This is the price a journalist gets for raising Relevant questions its a shame. NBF and its members wouldnt hesitate to go on a protest if the perpetrators are not bought to light soon, said Shankar Bala, CEO, Fourth Dimension. "Freedom of the press plays a very important role in democracy. Arnab and his team are risking their lives in this pandemic to bring the news to our nation. The personal physical attack on Arnab and his wife is deplorable. " said Mahinder Bathla, MH ONE News Your browser does not support the video tag. Updates related to COVID-19 and its effects on Albuquerque and the rest of NM. PICTURES UPDATES 7:55 p.m. Archdiocese sues Small Business Administration The Archdiocese of Santa Fe on Tuesday filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Small Business Administration in an effort to tap into emergency funding. The archdiocese said Thursday that because it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, it is precluded from even applying for federal funds Congress authorized to help entities struggling due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to SBA application forms. The archdiocese argues that it should qualify for the funding because the intent of the programs is to support regular payroll for employees who are experiencing financial hardship caused by the pandemic. Church officials note that prior to the coronavirus safety restrictions, its mission was primarily funded by offerings collected during Mass, and without the payroll protection and economic injury disaster money, employee furloughs may be imminent. Churches throughout the archdiocese have remained closed for weeks. Rick Nathanson 4:45 p.m. 7 additional deaths, 169 new cases announced in NM Top state health officials have announced seven additional deaths due to the COVID-19 outbreak, as the disease continues to ravage northwest New Mexico. The additional deaths bring the states death toll to 78. All seven of the deceased were women, and five of the seven lived in counties McKinley, San Juan and Sandoval that have had elevated coronavirus infection and fatality rates compared to the rest of the state. The other two individuals lived in Bernalillo County. Read more >> Dan Boyd 11:35 a.m. Antibody test coming to New Mexico Tests to see whether people have antibodies to the coronavirus and are possibly immune will be available in New Mexico in a week or so, health officials said Wednesday. The viral testing being done in the state determines whether people currently have COVID-19. An antibody, or serological, test shows whether someone has developed antibodies to the virus, which indicates theyve already been exposed to it. It is believed that most people exposed to the coronavirus dont show symptoms, so such a test could give insight into how the virus has spread among those who didnt know it, said Dr. Richard Larson, executive vice chancellor of the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. Read more >> Ryan Boetel 6:05 a.m. Navajo Nation COVID-19 cases reach 1,282 The Navajo Nation is reporting a total of 1,282 COVID-19 cases on the reservation, an increase in 76 cases from Tuesdays report. The current numbers do not include border town cases that were previously being reported by the Navajo Epidemiology Center, which explains why the case totals have fluctuated in recent days. The agencies reported a total of 5,549 negative tests. There was one additional COVID-19 death reported Wednesday, bringing the diseases death toll on the reservation to 49. The Navajo Department of Health reports that 32 men and 17 women have died from the disease, with an average age of 65. Latest data from the New Mexico Department of Health shows Native Americans make up 43.98% of the states COVID-19 cases. Native Americans represent about 11% of New Mexicos population. New Mexico health officials point to extensive testing in tribal communities as one reason for the high percentages. Native Americans represent 14% of Arizonas COVID-19 cases, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. In Arizona, Native Americans make up about 5% of the population. On Wednesday, Swire Coca Cola and the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs delivered 30,000 liters of bottled water to the Navajo Nation. President Jonathan Nez, who is no longer in self-isolation following exposure to a COVID-19-positive individual, oversaw arrival of the water shipments in the Navajo capital of Window Rock, Arizona. A news release said the bottled water will be distributed to health care workers, first responders and citizens in need. Last week, Durango Coca Cola delivered 13,000 liters of bottled water to the Navajo community of Sheep Springs, New Mexico. The main Navajo Health Command Operations Center number is (928) 871-7014. How you can help >> Theresa Davis Deirdre Bair, an acclaimed biographer whose career flourished after she boldly wrote a letter to reclusive playwright Samuel Beckett, who invited her to Paris to interview him, died April 17 at her home in New Haven, Connecticut. She was 84. She had a heart ailment, said her daughter, Katney Bair. Bair, who was completing her graduate studies in the early 1970s, called herself "an accidental biographer" and chose Beckett as a subject only because his name came early in the alphabet. The Irish-born Beckett lived in Paris and was best known for his 1952 play "Waiting for Godot." Evasive and dismissive toward reporters, Beckett responded to Bair, writing, "My life is dull and without interest." But he added, "If you come to Paris, I will see you." She did just that, first meeting Beckett in 1971, two years after he had been awarded the Nobel Prize in literature. His first words, Bair later recalled, were, "So you are the one who is going to reveal me for the charlatan that I am." At the time, she was a 36-year-old faculty member of the University of Pennsylvania who had never written a book. Beckett gave her his blessing, in a backhanded way. "I will neither help nor hinder you," he said. "My friends and family will assist you and my enemies will find you soon enough." At one of their meetings at a Paris cafe, Bair pulled out a notebook, prompting Beckett to jump out of his seat. "No pencils. No paper," he said, according to Bair's 2019 memoir, "Parisian Lives." "We are just having conversations. Just two friends talking. Don't even think of a tape recorder." Thereafter, she rushed back from her interviews to write out Beckett's comments as quickly as she could. "I was ecstatic to think that all lights were green and all roads were open," Bair wrote. "It wasn't too long after that I came to understand why he cooperated so blithely: He did not take me seriously." Beckett's condescension wasn't the only obstacle she faced. One male scholar said she would be doing "a great favor" if she would turn over her research to him to use in his book. Bair's agent wouldn't return her calls, her first publisher went bankrupt and the second rejected her manuscript. When she traveled to Europe for research, she left a freezer full of food - and 15 homemade apple pies - at home for her husband and two children. Her biography, which was published in 1978, was considered the most thorough study ever written of Beckett, who died in 1989. After the paperback edition appeared, it won the National Book Award, but the praise for Bair's book was sometimes marked by incredulity. "Out of nowhere," Newsweek critic Jack Kroll wrote, "this unknown English teacher at the University of Pennsylvania has produced what has to be the one indispensable book on Beckett." At least one journalist asked whether Bair had slept with Beckett to gain access. Literary scholar Richard Ellmann, who had written a biography of Beckett's mentor, James Joyce, mused in the New York Review of Books, "And what did she do to get Beckett to let her write his biography?" "I felt I had done something terrible," she told Australia's Sydney Morning Herald newspaper in 2005. "I couldn't take it. I left New York and went to California. I walked along the beach and cried. For a month. "Then one day I said to myself . . . 'You wrote a good book, you hold up your head and you go back to New York and you be proud of it.' " For her next book, Bair returned to Paris for interviews with Simone de Beauvoir, the author of "The Second Sex," one of the key treatises underlying the feminist movement. "She was largely responsible for creating the current feminist revolution that changed the lives of half the human race in most parts of the world," Bair wrote in her biography of de Beauvoir, who had been at the center of French intellectual life since the 1930s and was the longtime partner of philosopher and author Jean-Paul Sartre. "When I started the book, I thought it was a relationship between two equals," Bair told the Los Angeles Times in 1990. "As I wrote the book, I felt that I was like a balloon slowly deflating. The myth of the perfect couple turned out, in my mind, to be just that, a myth." Bair concluded that, despite de Beauvoir's groundbreaking feminist views, her relationship with Sartre left her in a subservient role - to the point of procuring younger female lovers for him. De Beauvoir's deepest romantic feelings, Bair found, were for American novelist Nelson Algren, whose ring she never stopped wearing. In later years, de Beauvoir lived with a young female philosophy student, Sylvie Le Bon, eventually adopting her. She adamantly denied that they were in a lesbian relationship. Bair's biography appeared in 1990, four years after de Beauvoir died. Bair suspected that de Beauvoir would have been wounded by what she wrote, but as a serious biographer, she was bound to a higher standard. "You have to tell a good story, and you have to be a skillful enough writer to do that," she told the Sydney Morning Herald. "But you also have to tell the exact truth." Deirdre Bartolotta was born June 21, 1935, in Pittsburgh and grew up in the western Pennsylvania town of Monongahela. Her father was a small-business owner, her mother a homemaker. Bair graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1957, was married the same year and began working as a freelance writer and later for Newsweek magazine. Her early experiences in journalism prepared her for the treatment she received while writing about Beckett. "I was always dealing with unpleasant behavior from men who, if they were not actual gropers or wannabe bed partners," she wrote in her 2019 memoir, "took delight in slyly bombarding me with sexual innuendo." She later studied comparative literature at Columbia University, receiving a master's degree in 1968 and a doctorate in 1972. After her books on Beckett and de Beauvoir, Bair published biographies of writer and sexual adventurer Anais Nin (1995), psychiatrist Carl Jung (2003), cartoonist Saul Steinberg (2012) and gangster Al Capone (2016) - for which Bair received the cooperation of Capone's descendants, if she agreed not to identify them by name. Her 2019 memoir, "Parisian Lives," garnered glowing reviews and was hailed by critic Heller McAlpin in The Wall Street Journal as "at once a record of triumph over the skepticism and sexism she encountered on her path from journalist to academic and biographer and a valuable lesson in the art of biography." In 2007, Bair published "Calling It Quits," about couples who divorce after long marriages. She later divorced her husband of more than 40 years, museum administrator Lavon Bair. Survivors include two children, Katney Bair and Vonn Scott Bair; a sister; a brother; and a granddaughter. Despite her success as a literary biographer, Bair did not have a successful academic career. After being turned down for tenure at the University of Pennsylvania, she quit the faculty and devoted herself to being a full-time researcher and writer. "I never did know how to play academic politics," she wrote in "Parisian Lives," "and I realize how fortunate I have been to be free from them, and to have spent so many years doing work that I love." Deane said clients inside Bon Air are reporting chaos. The Legal Aid Justice Center wrote in a letter to prison officials this week that one had not been seen by a doctor despite having tested positive for the coronavirus, another had symptoms but couldnt get a test, numerous residents diagnosed with covid-19 were not provided adequate information about the disease, some parents had not been informed about their childs positive tests, and protective gear for residents was not adequate. On Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26, Jersey Mike's will donate 20 percent of sales* to Feeding America. Jersey Mike's pledges to donate at least $1 million to help the Feeding America nationwide network of 200 food banks. [ see Jersey Mike's commercial ] More than 37 million people in America face hunger and Feeding America estimates that an additional 17.1 million people could face hunger in the next six months as a result of the pandemic. "School closures and rising unemployment due to shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders has disproportionately impacted people already at risk of hunger," said Katie Fitzgerald, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Feeding America. "We are grateful for Jersey Mike's generous support of food banks that are in communities helping people who struggle with hunger. This donation will help our member food banks provide more meals to people who need them most." Guests can place takeout orders in-store or for no contact pick-up at the door through Jersey Mike's website or the Jersey Mike's app. Delivery is available through the app or through third-party delivery partners. "I would like to extend a personal invitation to you and your family to order Jersey Mike's subs online or through our app this Saturday and Sunday you'll help a great national cause, Feeding America, and make a difference in someone's life," said Peter Cancro, Founder and CEO of Jersey Mike's Franchise Systems, Inc. Across the country, Jersey Mike's franchise owners are paying it forward in other ways, too, by donating millions of subs to local hospitals, first responders, children in need of a meal, senior citizens, and more. To learn more about Feeding America's COVID-19 response efforts, visit feedingamerica.org. *Jersey Mike's will donate 20% of all sales on 4/25/20 and 4/26/20. A minimum of $1,000,000 will be donated. About Feeding America Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. About Jersey Mike's Jersey Mike's, a fast-casual sub sandwich franchise with more than 2,500 locations open and under development nationwide, believes that making a sub sandwich and making a difference can be one and the same. Please visit www.jerseymikes.com. CONTACT: Mami Moore, Feeding America, 312.641.5645, [email protected] SOURCE Feeding America Related Links https://www.feedingamerica.org NTUC Fairprice expands halal offerings, provides aid to underprivileged students to mark Ramadan For Ramadan this year, NTUC FairPrice is expanding its range of halal offerings to better cater to its Muslim customers, the supermarket chain said in a press statement. The number of Halal-certified products will increase by more than 700, from the existing 5,000 Halal-certified products available last year. The newly expanded range of products will see the introduction of new brands as well as the expansion of existing brands to offer a wider variety of choices for customers. The Halal-certified products are sourced from various countries including Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Thailand, USA and Vietnam. NTUC FairPrice is expanding its range of halal offerings to better cater to its Muslim customers. Photo courtesy: NTUC Fairprice Facebook Fairprice Foundation is also donating SGD 20,000 to education self-help group Yayasan Mendaki to provide academic support for students from low-income families through awarding bursaries, subsidies from school fees and other academic programme initiatives. Mdm Zuraidah Abdullah, CEO of Yayasan Mendaki, said, NTUC FairPrice has been one of our strongest supporters contributing significantly to our efforts in uplifting the Malay/Muslim community towards success through education. Their donation of SGD 20,000 to the Education Trust Fund (ETF) ensures that every recipient of the ETF receives the assistance needed to achieve academic excellence." Seah Kian Peng, Group CEO, FairPrice Group, added, "Ramadan is an important occasion for Muslims, and we commemorate this significant event with a donation to Yayasan Mendaki, along with a renewed commitment to better cater to our Muslim community." Photo courtesy: NTUC Fairprice Facebook From April 24 to May 23, FairPrice will also be offering free dates, snacks and beverages to all Muslim customers daily, half-an-hour before and after the time of breaking fast across 58 stores, island-wide. This initiative, which has been ongoing since 2009, has been further expanded to 58 stores island-wide, up from 40 stores last year. Dates will be pre-packed into individual bags for self-collection, which will be facilitated by staff members who will be wearing masks and enforcing social distancing and crowd control measures. Chances, amounts of weekend snow still up in the air Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese mission to the United Nations, has suggested further discussing to complete an institutional framework on climate change issues. browser not support iframe. He called on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to continue monitoring and strengthening the mechanism to provide information on potential risks due to climate change that might affect international peace and security, while addressing the UNSCs online meeting on climate change and security risks on April 22. Vietnam shares the difficulties of small island developing states, West Africa, Sahel and Lake Chad area, which are coping with the impact of climate change such as natural disasters, extreme weather patterns, depletion of natural resources, and rising sea level, he said. During the meeting, participants recommended strengthening information sharing for the UNSC regarding climate change and security, increasing the UN readiness to cope with these risks, and supporting capacity for vulnerable countries, as well as implementing commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and providing financial support for developing countries. Also participating the Arria-formula meeting were the representatives of the France, UK, Belgium, Germany, the Dominican Republic, Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Tunisia./. VNA European leaders have given Brussels the green light to draw up plans for a huge investment package designed to ease the EUs recovery from the coronavirus crisis. The European Commission said the stimulus, designed to help the bloc climb out of an expected coming deep global recession, would amount to at least 1 trillion (870bn). The 27 heads of government and state held a video conference on Thursday afternoon in lieu of an emergency summit where they agreed to instruct officials to move forward with the plan. The pandemic knows certainly no borders and is blind to nationalities, commission president Ursula von der Leyen said at a remote press conference after the meeting. Some countries are certainly hit farther than others and unless we act decisively and collectively the recovery will not be symmetric and divergences between member states will increase. The commission says it will need to raise the EUs own resources ceiling that regulates the size of EU spending from 1.2 per of Gross National Income (GNI) to around 2 per cent. Asked what this meant for the size of the stimulus in practice, Ms Von der Leyen told reporters: Of course this has to be looked at thoroughly and is dependent on the overall result we will have, but are not talking about billions, we are talking about trillions. The recovery fund would be tied to the EUs seven-year budget and its actual size would depend on how big the budget was. It would come on top of existing spending by member states during the crisis; the commission president said this had so far included 1.8 trillion (1.5 trillion) in state aid. This has to be discussed and today is too early to go into details on that, Ms Von der Leyen said, stating the package would contain a mixture of grants and loans. The resources ceiling is at a certain proposed level, but of course the question is how big is the [budget] that is part of the overall picture too. The agreement in principle is a significant moment because it would represent a major expansion of European Commission own resources spending effectively borrowing, albeit backed by member states rather than Brussels itself. A more ambitious proposal supported by some countries like Spain would have seen the EU issue its own debt, and would have represented an even more significant step towards European integration. However, the idea has been resisted by many northern European countries including the Netherlands. Speaking at the same press conference, Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, sounded optimistic. It was a promising European Council because we agreed on a very clear framework. We are convinced because this crisis is so very huge it is important to take very strong decisions, he said. This fund shall be of a sufficient magnitude, targeted towards the sectors and geographical parts of Europe most affected and be dedicated to dealing with this unprecedented crisis. The leaders said the largest part of the fund would increase support for investment, with some also going to top up the European Green Deal and Digital Transformation programmes existing EU investment packages. It would also be used to boost the EUs common crisis response tools, as some would go to help the EUs neighbours and partners. High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Show all 18 1 /18 High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Najaf, Iraq A man holds a pocket watch at noon, at an almost empty market near the Imam Ali shrine Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Bangkok, Thailand Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram (The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, part of The Grand Palace) Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Prague, Czech Republic An empty street leading to the historic Old Town Square Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Washington DC, US Lawn stretching towards the Capitol, home of Congress Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Jerusalem's Old City A watch showing the time in front of Damascus Gate Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world London, UK The Houses of Parliament seen from Westminster Bridge Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Wuhan, China Empty lanes in the city that saw the first outbreak of disease Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Havana, Cuba The Malecon road and esplanade winds along the city's seafront Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Cairo, Egypt A little busier than elsewhere: midday traffic in Tahrir Square Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Berlin, Germany The Brandenburg Gate, the only surviving city gate in the capital Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Caracas, Venezuela Bolivar Avenue, opened in 1949 and the site of many demonstrations and rallies Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Moscow, Russia Spasskaya Tower (left) on the eastern wall of the Kremlin, and St Basil's Cathedral Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Istanbul,Turkey The harbourside Eminonu district is usually buzzing with activity Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world New Delhi, India Rajpath, a ceremonial boulevard that runs through the capital Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Amman, Jordan The Roman amphitheatre that dates back to the 2nd century AD Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world New York City, US The main concourse of Grand Central station in Manhattan Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Kiev, Ukraine Maidan Nezalezhnosti, the site of many political protests since the end of the Soviet era Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Accra, Ghana The odd walker out in the midday sun on Ring Road Central Reuters The next battle between member states is likely to be whether the recovery fund is based on grants and loans. Speaking after the meeting, French president Emmanuel Macron said Europe had no future if it could not find a response to the exceptional shock of coronavirus. He said the EUs response needed to be as soon as possible, and as strong as possible but that disagreements persisted among member states on whether grants or loans should be used. Cypruss president Nicos Anastasiades, a supporter of a more ambitious rescue fund, said: The pandemic has put our economies and societies under enormous pressure. Given the depth of the crisis and the real financing needs, our success will depend on how we develop new tools to provide the adequate resources needed to respond to the crisis in a coordinated manner. It is important that the distribution of the recovery fund should not be based solely on loans to the member states, but they should be injected mainly as grants to the EU budget. Three people have died from COVID-19 at Excell Health Care Center, a nursing home in East Oakland. We can confirm that sadly, three residents have passed away from COVID-19 at the Center, spokeswoman Annaliese Impink said Thursday. At the 99-bed facility on High Street, 36 residents and 17 staff members have tested positive for the coronavirus. We are doing everything in our power to protect our residents and staff, Impink told The Chronicle. She said Excell requires all staff and outside health professionals who work at the facility to have their temperature taken before a shift. When employees dont feel well, they are directed to stay at home. And visits are restricted under guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The most recent health inspection report, on Dec. 5, found fault with the facility. The Medicare inspection report from the Department of Health and Human Services found that Excell failed to maintain a medication error rate below the maximum 5%, as required. The facility had a 9.3% medication error rate. Also, in a potentially life-threatening incident, the report said the facility failed to follow a doctors order for oxygen administration to a resident. The facility also failed to follow its infection control and prevention program for two of 18 residents, according to the report, which described a licensed vocational nurse not washing his hands between glove changes. A urinary drainage bag for another resident was found on the floor. And the report said staff neglected the personal hygiene of a severely cognitively impaired woman. The deaths at Excell bring Alameda Countys known nursing home deaths to 14. Its not clear how many COVID-19 deaths have occurred at skilled nursing homes across California because the state does not break out those numbers from total death counts. But on Wednesday, the state public health department issued a statement saying that would be done in the future. 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 department did not respond to requests for comment Thursday. Gateway Care & Rehabilitation Center, a skilled nursing facility in Hayward, has 13 reported deaths from the coronavirus, as well as 42 residents and 26 staff members who have tested positive. The facility is under investigation by the Alameda County district attorneys office after reports surfaced of understaffed nursing, symptomatic employees pressured to work and families left in the dark about about the severity of the outbreak. East Bay Post Acute, a Castro Valley facility, has reported one death, as well as 25 residents and 23 staff members who tested positive for the coronavirus. Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani Every day occurrences, issues and situations arise here at the jail threatening my safety and health as well as my constitutional rights to which I (we) have no control over nor can do nothing about, except seek help, hoping something gives or someone hears us, Bodnar wrote. A medical staff disinfects an ambulance at the field hospital to treat Covid-19 patients in Cu Chi District of HCMC. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. A HCMC field hospital discharged its last Covid-19 patient Thursday, leaving the city with just one active case. The discharge of "Patient 206" from Cu Chi field hospital in the namesake district means there is only one active patient left in HCMC and 44 nationwide. "Patient 206" is 48. He lives in District 2 and works as a chauffeur for patients 124 and 151, often driving them to multiple company branches in Dong Nai Province's Vinh Cuu District and HCMCs District 12. "Patient 124," a Brazilian man, was found to be infected after attending a party at the Buddha Bar & Grill on March 14. Located in District 2's Thao Dien Ward, home to a large expat community, the bar became the citys largest Covid-19 hotspot, resulting in 19 cases in total. "Patient 151," a Brazilian woman, had later contracted the new coronavirus from him. Like other discharged patients, "Patient 206" will be monitored at home for another 14 days. Nguyen Thanh Dung, director of the field hospital, said "the hospital has no patient left, but it will remain in operation, with staff ready for any new patient to come." After it started operations February 10, the hospital quarantined 560 Covid-19 suspects. Of these, 34 tested positive and were treated at the hospital. Of 54 Covid-19 patients confirmed by the city, the only one left in hospital is "Patient 91," a British man who has been identified as the source of transmission at the Buddha bar. He is undergoing treatment at the citys Hospital of Tropical Diseases. Since April 5, the city has not recorded any new Covid-19 patients while Vietnam has been clear for new cases for one week. The nations infection count has remained unchanged at 268 since last Thursday, and 224 have been discharged from hospitals. D owning Street has acknowledged there is still a great deal more to do to close the gap between capacity and the actual number of Covid-19 tests carried out. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said the number of people tested has increased but there is more to do to make full use of the Government's testing capacity. Some 22,814 coronavirus tests were carried out on 13,522 people in the 24 hours up to 9am on Wednesday in England, Scotland and Wales, while capacity is now at 48,273. The number of people weve tested has increased in the most recent 24 hours weve got figures for and the gap between the number of people tested and the number of people weve tested has closed slightly," the spokesman said. 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 But that doesnt distract from the fact that theres a great deal more to do if were to be able to say were making the full use of the capacity we have. Around 50 drive-through sites will be ready by end of the month with 28 already open, he said. The mobile units will visit the care homes and test any residents and staff and separately were using Amazon to deliver tests to peoples homes, he added. Downing Street has also reaffirmed the need to maintain the coronavirus lockdown after the chief medical officer for England warned that highly disruptive social distancing measures were likely to be required until the end of the year. Dr Jenny Harries says she thinks she had coronavirus The spokesman said it was essential that the transmission rate the so-called R number was kept below one, meaning on average any infected individual passed it on to fewer than one other person. The key to this is not having a second peak. Having a second peak would be bad not only on health grounds but also bad for business and the economy, he said. We have to do everything we can to keep R below one and to prevent that second peak. In terms of the steps we take in the coming weeks and months, we will be guided by the scientific advice. It is not sensible for me to pre-empt that. The spokesman also sought to play down any suggestion that the Scottish Government of Nicola Sturgeon was taking a different approach to the rest of the UK. There is more to do to close the gap between tests carried out and capacity / PA It comes after the First Minister warned on Thursday that lockdown measures could last until 2021 with social distancing expected to be "a fact of life for a long time to come". As far as I am aware, the Scottish Government have stressed that they want to continue to operate within a four nations, UK framework and align any decisions that are taken as far as possible, the spokesman said Downing Street also said Government scientific advisers have finalised their advice on the wearing of face masks by the public. The spokesman said the Cabinet was told on Thursday that the recommendations of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) had been submitted for ministers to consider. Australia's Chief Medical Officer has revealed the country's international travel ban will be the last coronavirus restriction to be lifted. Australians are set to remain grounded for months - although restrictions on the size of gatherings and retail shutdowns could be relaxed in coming weeks. Brendan Murphy told a Senate inquiry into the federal government's coronavirus response re-opening the borders will 'absolutely' be the last measure to be eased, with no changes until at least July or August. 'The international situation at the moment is such that any relaxation of border measures would be very risky,' Mr Murphy said in Canberra on Thursday. Brendan Murphy speaks at a senate inquiry into the federal government's coronavirus response at Canberra on Thursday 'We have just recommended to the national cabinet...that we continue the very restrictive bans on Australians essentially leaving the country unless there are exceptional circumstances. They are extraordinary measures but the international spread of this virus is huge.' Professor Murphy said the most effective decisions to curb the spread of the virus were shutting the nation's borders and ensuring returning Australians were quarantined in hotels. With the curve now flattened, political leaders have began discussions on loosening restrictions. But premiers in both Queensland and Victoria have warned social distancing measures will be here to stay for at least another three weeks. It is understood leaders will first look at easing measures like the one limiting public gatherings to two people. Limitations on large gatherings, considered to be high risk, will remain in place- including funerals, gyms, restaurants, bars and cafes. Prof Murphy said all the experts advising him they believed schools were safe to resume and this was already the case in several states. 'We all believe that schools are a safe environment to open, he said, news.com.au reports. Australians have been told they can expect to see no changes to the international travel ban for at least three to four months Coronavirus restrictions on small gatherings could be eased in three weeks, allowing Australians to venture out in groups larger than two. Police are seen moving people along at Bondi Beach on April 21 'We are encouraging schools to reopen. The Northern Territory has not closed at all. WA is planning to reopen. We understand the anxiety of some parents and teachers.' However, Mr Murphy also warned Australia is at permanent risk of a second wave of coronavirus cases. He said authorities are keeping a close eye on Singapore, which initially tracked well but is now dealing with a surge in cases. 'They had a very similar approach to us but they've now had a second wave in their migrant worker population,' Professor Murphy said on Thursday. 'We have to be very, very aware that whilst we've only had seven cases over the last 24 hours, we're in a wonderful position, but there is a permanent risk of further waves. 'This is a highly infectious virus and it can take off fairly quickly.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison said when border closures are relaxed, travel to New Zealand was likely to reopen before other nations. Some restrictions have already been lifted as Bondi Beach reopened for exercise purposes earlier this week. A police officer is seen making sure a beach goer abides by safety rules at Bondi on Wednesday 'If there is any country in the world with whom we can reconnect with first, undoubtedly that's New Zealand,' Mr Morrison said. 'We have similar trajectories. Their restrictions have been far greater. Our case response has, you know, been the same, if not better than New Zealand.' After suggestions the two countries could be among the first to re-open normal border controls, Ms Ardern and Australian counterpart Scott Morrison discussed the issue this week. However, Mr Morrison said although 'Ms Ardern shares that goal, she has consistently downplayed the possibility happening any time soon'. On Thursday, a spokesman for Ms Ardern said no plans have been confirmed to resume regular travel across the ditch. 'Our current border restrictions and quarantine arrangements are the most important protections we have to stop the virus re-entering New Zealand and taking off again, so they will only be lifted when we are confident it is safe to do so,' her spokesperson said. Jacinda Ardern (pictured) and Scott Morrison have discussed the option for borders to reopen between the neighbouring countries, but the move would not in motion be until later this year 'So while nothing is going to happen immediately, the idea has merit as something that might be possible down the track.' The hearing also heard Professor Murphy was first made aware of the virus on January 1, when China gave an assurance it was animal to human transmission. That changed about three weeks later. 'There was clear evidence coming from China that there was significant human to human transmission which was a game changer,' he said. 'Once you've got human to human transmission you've got a significant risk.' Prof Murphy first briefed Health Minister Greg Hunt around January 19 and the national security committee of cabinet a few days later. From next week the inquiry will hold hearings twice a week. Mass casualties from the coronavirus could upend the political landscape in battleground states and shift contests away from President Donald Trump, according to a new analysis. Academic researchers writing in a little-noticed public administration journal Administrative Theory & Praxis conclude that when considering nothing other than the tens of thousands of deaths projected from the virus, demographic shifts alone could be enough to swing crucial states to Joe Biden in the fall. The pandemic is going to take a greater toll on the conservative electorate leading into this election and thats simply just a calculation of age, Andrew Johnson, the lead author and a professor of management at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, said in an interview. The virus is killing more older voters, and in many states thats the key to a GOP victory. Johnson and his colleagues Wendi Pollock and Beth M. Rauhaus projected that even with shelter-in-place orders remaining in effect, about 11,000 more Republicans than Democrats who are 65 and older could die before the election in both Michigan and North Carolina. In Pennsylvania, should the state return to using only social distancing to fight infections, over 13,000 more Republican than Democratic voters in that age category could be lost. The study is based on early fatality projections from CovidActNow.org that are orders of magnitude higher than what's borne out so far in battleground states a point some outside experts have seized on to inject a dose of skepticism in the studys findings. In an interview, Johnson acknowledged the high numbers used for the study, but he contended it remains early and that easing of stay-at-home orders could spark more cases and deaths. William Galston, a Brookings Institution scholar on governance, said the effects are large enough only to affect outcomes in states that are very narrowly divided. But he concluded the study made sense. Story continues Trump supporters, especially in Greater Appalachia, tend to be older and heavier, traits correlated with underlying conditions that make Covid-19 more lethal, he said. Smoking levels another leading indicator of vulnerability also tend to be higher in red areas. The analysis comes as Trumps handling of the coronavirus increasingly is turning away seniors who buoyed him in 2016, when the cohort supported him over Hillary Clinton by 7 percentage points. Older voters consistently vote at higher rates and have broken in the GOPs favor for the better part of two decades. Seniors by significant numbers nationally prioritize defeating the virus over reviving the sputtering economy, a spate of recent polls shows. And Trump himself has started to acknowledge the impact of his policies on the older cohort. In a tweet Wednesday, the president cheered on states moving to reopen. Special care is, and always will be, given to our beloved seniors (except me!), Trump added in his message. Their lives will be better than ever ... WE LOVE YOU ALL! He used similar language late last month, saying. Seniors will be watched over protectively and lovingly. Researchers on the fatality study said they found the virus could also ravage Republicans across Florida and Georgia, where GOP leaders have been pulling back on aggressive defenses. The study looked at total anticipated deaths on a statewide basis, which accounted for spiraling projections of the virus in densely populated urban areas that are home to more Democrats. Still, there are caveats beyond the death figures used: Researchers used national fatality rates because deaths by state were scant when they started. They similarly applied national percentages of voters by age, not state-by-state figures. But Johnson noted that could actually understate effects in places like Florida, where the GOP relies more heavily on older voters. Mobile phones are becoming an unlikely weapon for European governments in their fight against the coronavirus pandemic. In late March, Belgian authorities turned to the countrys mobile phone operators to see if movement restrictions were being obeyed enough to slow the spread of the pathogen. The companies data showed that Belgians were spending about 80% of their time within their zip codes, suggesting they were largely adhering to shelter-at-home orders which helped authorities shelve plans for tighter confinement rules. Aggregated mobility data helps us make more balanced decisions, Belgian Telecom Minister Philippe De Backer said. It has helped us decide to continue the confinement measures, rather than becoming too strict. Now, as countries from Austria to Germany ease lockdowns, governments want to leverage such data even more to keep the virus in check raising some privacy concerns. Unlike Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc.s Google, whose tracking software to alert users if theyve come into contact with an infected person will be voluntary, mobile phone operators inherently need access to a subscribers approximate location to route calls or text messages through the nearest cell tower. Operators have for years collected and sold aggregated data to companies and authorities, typically showing the number of people in an area for crowd management or to help municipalities and public transport companies predict commuting patterns. On rare occasions theyve provided private location data to confirm or contest alibis in criminal cases. With vast amounts of movement data now flowing into the hands of government agencies, privacy experts are urging caution. For some, the initiatives are reminiscent of the National Security Agency programs exposed by Edward Snowden, under which the U.S. government scooped up massive amounts of metadata from phones without a warrant. European authorities say theyre only using the aggregated data to review mobility patterns or to build models to trace the trajectory of the epidemic. Still, privacy concerns remain. It probably wont be traced back (to the individual), but it always remains open, said Diego Naranjo, the head of policy at internet rights association Edri. In Belgium, the pandemic taskforce gets aggregated information showing trips between two zip codes and their duration. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health uses data from Telenor ASA to help local authorities determine the number of hospitalizations and ICU beds needed. The institute has asked Telenor to break the data down by age and gender to better model the pandemic, a request the phone company is looking into, said Kenth Engo-Monsen, a senior researcher at the operator. Mobile phone location data will play an important role in the easing of lockdowns, says Dirk Brockmann, a professor at Berlins Humboldt University and a member of the project on epidemiological modeling of infectious diseases at the Robert Koch Institute, a German government public health agency. Its a very good measuring device on how people respond to the release of restrictions, said Brockmann, who has access to daily movement updates from German phone companies. While telecom operators stress theyre only sharing aggregated and anonymized data in accordance with EU privacy rules, governments could pass special laws to obtain data on people suspected of being infected, as officials have done in China, for instance. Slovakia is one of the first European countries to pass such a law, giving government agencies access to individualized phone data to stem the spread of the virus. In the U.K., Germany and elsewhere, voluntary mobile apps are being developed to track infections. Anonymized data isnt subject to the EUs strict privacy rules including user consent since its no longer considered personal information. But if aggregated location data can be traced back to an individual, it could be sensitive. It could reveal where someone spent the night, whether they have drug addictions or other deeply personal information. Telecom companies use multiple steps to process such data. In Austria, A1 Telekom Austria AG encrypts and strips identifiers from the raw location data before sending it to Invenium Data Insights GmbH, a data-processing company. The data is sent in the form of a hashed ID a code of garbled letters, numbers and symbols that would take 100 years to de-anonymize, according to Michael Cik, a co-founder of Invenium. In France, Orange SA aggregates anonymized data of around 50,000 people and adjusts it to reflect the carriers market share for predictions on the total population, according to Chief Technology Officer Mari-Noelle Jego-Laveissiere. Swedens Telia Co. removes outliers, such as a small family in a rural area, from the dataset to protect them. For all those precautions, the process still isnt failsafe. While aggregating data provides another layer of safeguards, privacy lawyers and experts say clear industry standards dont exist. Datasets considered anonymous could identify someone if combined with another dataset. In a statement in early April, the Dutch data protection watchdog warned that anonymizing this type of data is not possible. If someone with knowledge of where a person lives or works had access to the anonymized location data of a range of people, they could make some deductions, it said. Telecom operators, on the hook if client confidentiality is compromised, have tried to keep some control over the process. While theyve agreed to hand over aggregated data to the European Commission to help fight the propagation of the virus across the bloc, theyve raised questions about who will have access to the information and whether it would be combined with other datasets. The EU says the data would be handled with the highest security standards, and that it wont be processed in a way that could unintentionally identify individuals. Back in Belgium, recent mobile-phone data showed that Belgians increased their mobility in the holiday week after Easter, drawn probably by the sunny weather and because of lockdown fatigue. This has been used to reinforce the message that the current measures must be kept in place and, more importantly, respected, a Belgian official said. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday to halt some immigrants from entering the U.S., though his action contained a wide series of exceptions for workers in agriculture, health care, public safety and other industries. "This will ensure that unemployed Americans of all backgrounds will be first in line for jobs as our economy reopens," Trump said during his daily briefing on Wednesday. "It will also preserve our health care resources for American patients." The president said he would re-evaluate the halt after 60 days and noted that he could alter it any time before that and stressed that the new rules do no apply to some workers. The order was released by the White House during the president's briefing. Trump said he signed it just before speaking with reporters. The order would exempt immigrants who are physicians and nurses. It would exempt spouses of U.S. citizens, immigrants under 21 and prospective adoptees, though it appeared to block other relatives of citizens from entering. Trump has previously said the order is aimed at temporarily halting the award of new green cards. Critics have said Trump has been using the coronavirus pandemic to pursue hard line anti-immigration policies and described the order as an attempt to distract the American public from his performance on the coronavirus response. It is "another diversion," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., speaking on CNN. "The agencies don't even know what it is. No one knows what it is." Trump announced his new policy late Monday night on Twitter. "In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!" Trump said in his tweet. More: Coronavirus live updates: Schumer says $450B stimulus deal will pass; Cuomo, Trump to meet; oil prices plunge Story continues More: 'He didn't understand.' Trump slams Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, outspoken critic on testing President Donald Trump flips through a stack of papers as he speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House, Monday, April 20, 2020. The new order may not have that much practical effect. The order specifically blocks immigrants from entering the country if they do not have an immigrant visa or other travel document. But since the pandemic struck, the Trump administration has all but paralyzed immigration by restricting travel into the U.S., stopping most visa processing, and speeding up the return of undocumented workers to their home countries. In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 21, 2020 Charanya Krishnaswami, advocacy director for the Americas with Amnesty International USA, said Trump's actions have more to do with keeping people of color out of the United States than with coronavirus. When youre a xenophobe, bans on migration are the only tired, failed, hateful solution you can think of," Krishnaswami said. "Suspending immigration wont make the US which currently leads among COVID cases worldwide safe. Our policies need to be grounded in public health, not bigotry. Trump supporters applauded the emerging crackdown, citing the fall of the economy after state shutdowns designed to stop the spread of the virus. Retweeting Trump's executive order announcement, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said that "22 million Americans have lost their jobs in the last month because of the China virus. Lets help them get back to work before we import more foreigners to compete for their jobs." Contributing: John Fritze This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: Trump suspends immigration into the U.S. A mortgage broker accused of fleeing the scene of a crash which cost four police officers their lives was filmed telling a cancer patient he hoped she'd die in a disturbing video posted online. Richard Pusey, 41, was pulled over by police for travelling at 140km/h on the Eastern Freeway near Kew in Melbourne around 4.50pm on Wednesday. At 5.40pm, a refrigeration truck ploughed into the group of police standing at the roadside, killing four officers, before Pusey allegedly took photos of the grisly scene and fled on foot. In recently surfaced vision of Pusey taken four years ago, the 'finance guru' abused a cancer sufferer - telling her he wanted her to die after a run in with her husband. Richard Pusey, the driver of a Porsche who allegedly fled the scene of a crash on Melbourne's Eastern Freeway which killed four police officers was arrested at his Fitzroy home on Thursday Richard Pusey, 41, the driver at the centre of a crash that killed four police officers, is a mortgage broker with an extensive criminal history Richard Pusey, 41, was pulled over for travelling at 140km/h on the Eastern Freeway in Melbourne around 4.50pm on Wednesday 'Get more f**king cancer you stupid f**king sl*t, I hope you f**king die,' he said. 'That's what's going to happen,' he said before turning around and walking back toward her tradesman husband and continuing an argument with him. The incident came after the woman's husband and at least one other tradesman accused him of not paying $6,006 for a kitchen renovation in 2014. The dispute ended up in the Victorian Supreme Court, where Pusey made a counterclaim worth $35,000, claiming the kitchen was defective. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal dismissed his counterclaim as an 'abuse of process' and the Supreme Court upheld this on appeal. Pusey appeared in a report on A Current Affair in 2016 where he was accused of abusing the tradies involved, and their families. Police will allege Richard Pusey (pictured in handcuffs being led away by officers on Thursday) took photos of the grisly fatal crash scene before he fled on foot The police car that arrived at the scene was crushed by a refrigeration truck - killing four police officers who were standing by the roadside Police pulled over a speeding driver at 4.50pm on Wednesday, then proceeded to call for backup from highway patrol when they decided to impound the car. By 5.40pm, the refrigeration truck had ploughed into the three cars and four officers, killing them all Dubbed 'Richie Rich' and 'Australia's nastiest customer', the news program exposed Pusey using the footage of him abusing the tradie's wife, who had recently been released from hospital where she received breast cancer treatment. Pusey, who runs Switch Now Home Loans, is an avid social media user who frequently uploads videos of himself racing his Porsche 911. On March 21, a Melbourne motorist shared footage of the car 'flying' down the very highway that Pusey was pulled over on on Wednesday. He has also bragged about setting cruise control while driving so that he can use social media. Wearing a face mask and grey jumper, Richard Pusey was surrounded by a media scrum as he was led away from his Melbourne home by police In recently surfaced vision of Pusey taken four years ago, the 'finance guru' abused a cancer sufferer - telling her he wanted her to die after a run in with her husband Pusey (right) appeared in a report on A Current Affair in 2016 where he was accused of abusing the tradies involved, and their families Emergency services took the bodies of the four police officers away from the scene 'I set the cruise control so as to allow me to social network and all that cool new age type stuff that's all the rage,' he said on a TripAdvisor review. Pusey has 13 previous criminal charges against him, including theft and criminal damage charges he was due to face court over in the next two months. Early on Thursday morning, Victoria's Chief Police Commissioner Graham Ashton said he had touched base with Pusey, who said he would hand himself in. He later arrived alongside a solicitor, and is reportedly assisting the Homicide Squad with the investigation. Police allege Pusey distributed photos of the scene of the accident, in which two senior constables and two officers were run down while trying to impound his car. Flowers have begun piling up outsied the Boroondara Police Station in Melbourne's north-east Richard Pusey's previous charges 2007: Convicted of speeding 70km/h over the limit, fined $210 2008: Jailed for eight months, with half of it suspended for two years, and $346 compensation for intentionally causing injury. Assaulting police charge was dropped. 2014: Convicted and fined $2,000 plus $2,500 in costs for carrying out work without a building permit. 2016: Ordered to do 60 hours of community service for stalking. 2017: Fined $500 for contravening a safety intervention order 2017: Fined $200 for driving with a suspended licence. 2017: Fined $500 for emitting excessive noise from his house. 2018: Convicted and fined $750 for using a carriage service to menace. 2018: Charge of intentionally damaging property was dropped. 2020: Assault charge to be heard in court on April 30. 2020: Criminal damage with intent to be heard on June 16. Advertisement Mohinder Singh Bajwa, the driver of the truck - who had a 'medical episode' following the accident - remains under police guard in hospital. Three male officers - including one in his first week in the job - and a female senior constable who were standing in the emergency lane on the side of the freeway were killed when the out-of-control truck veered into the group. A source told Daily Mail Australia the pictures were mostly of the wreckage, and had also been posted to Snapchat. 'As chief commissioner, to have four officers killed last night with someone who has clearly been driving erratically on the freeway with an extensive criminal history it disgusts me,' Commissioner Ashton said. 'Today, when I'm spending time with the family members of those deceased officers, I can tell you it will absolutely disgust them.' He went on to say the driver's actions were 'very, very low', made worse by the decision to share photos of the grisly scene to friends. 'If I wasn't wearing the uniform of Chief Commissioner, I would give you far more colourful language,' he said. 'We will definitely be able to piece together 99.9 per cent of this. We have got a lot of information to go through in the next few days.' His car, which was also filmed speeding down the same highway on March 21, also features prominently in his dozens of TripAdvisor reviews Four police officers were killed when they were struck by a truck (pictured at the tragic scene) in Melbourne, marking the greatest loss of police life in a single incident in Victoria's history New Delhi, April 23 : Amid the countrywide lockdown following the outbreak of novel coronavirus, the Bharatiya Janata Party is ensuring help to each and every person. For this, the party is utilising all its 916 organisational districts. It has a total of 3,741 mandals in the country. A total of one crore BJP workers are providing food to five crore people through the 'Mahabhoj' programme. To ensure availability of services and food to all needy people, party President J.P. Nadda is closely monitoring the campaign. So far, 4.44 lakh party workers associated with this campaign have been addressed via video conferencing or telephonic conversation. Everyday Nadda interacts with these people through video conferencing or telephone to review the party's activities. So far Nadda has conducted video conferences with the chiefs of over 20 states, MPs and legislators. Apart from this, Nadda regularly talks to the leaders and national officials of all party fronts and gives the necessary instructions. The party's national spokesperson Vijay Sonkar Shastri said that "the party's methodology is very specific. Activists from the top leaders of the party to the booth level are intrinsically connected. A live example is, when the lockdown was announced, people were not able to come out from their houses, still they were managing work from home." This became possible because of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi's great leadership and Home Minister Amit Shah's strategies, which gave a strong base to the BJP, he said. In times of crisis, members of the National Executive committee talk with the office bearers of the organization every day for two hours. Thereafter, they consult the organization's General Secretary. The General Secretary then briefs the National President who gives directions to the leaders, office bearers and MPs. These guidelines then reach the mandal level through the states. These apart, 90,000 workers are serving only the elderly people. Party workers have also been engaged in the campaign to ask people to contribute in the PM-CARES Fund. So far, more than 15 lakh party workers have contributed to the Fund. The party has also provided more than one crore ration kits to the people across the country so far. It is also distributing 40 lakh food packets every day and over seven crore food packets have been distributed so far. Also, workers are encouraging people to download the Aarogya Setu app. Besides, food and essential items, the party is distributing face masks among the people. "Party's 'Feed the Needy' programme will now be target based and around 10 crore people will be given hand-made face masks under this," Nadda said, adding that the BJP has distributed food and ration to five crore needy people during the lockdown. Boyle has been in there since 1997, and as a person living in poverty in Omaha, I dont see anything changing for us, said Ward, 52, an elected member of the Learning Community Coordinating Council. My focus is making sure that issues that are hurting us as people in poverty living in Omaha are addressed. In District 3, where there is no Republican candidate, incumbent Democrat Chris Rodgers said he has been a leader in local juvenile justice reform for 12 years. He said the justice center building project, which went through multiple public hearings and County Board votes, is a part of that. He said that the building piece of it is done and that hell work on further reforms such as a new program to increase mental health services for juveniles in detention. Rodgers, 50, president of the Douglas County Board of Health, said he has also focused on increasing programming in the jail and strengthening public health. District 3 challenger Asit Goswami, a physician, has concerns about Douglas County Health Center management, but the justice center proposal motivated him to run. Goswami said the proposal was developed behind closed doors. He said it prioritizes buildings, including a too-small detention center, without first developing programs. Tyson Foods Inc is closing yet another one of its meat processing plants, fueling fears of significant disruptions to America's food supply chain. The Tyson Fresh Meats unit on Thursday announced that it was temporarily halting production at a beef plant in Pasco, Washington. The unit said it was working with local health officials to test more than 1,400 workers at the plant, which produces enough beef in one day to feed four million people. On Wednesday, Tyson reluctantly shuttered two of its pork plants, including its largest US facility in Waterloo, Iowa. Those three plants are among at least 10 across the country which have been forced to close their doors due to COVID-19 outbreaks among their workers. More than 5,000 US meat and food-processing workers have been infected with or exposed to coronavirus and 13 have died, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union said on Thursday. Tyson Fresh Meats on Thursday announced that it was temporarily halting production at a beef plant in Pasco, Washington, so all 1,400 of its workers can be tested for COVID-19 The beef plant in Pasco is one of only a few located in the northwestern US, with capacity for 2,300 cattle per fay, Tyson Fresh Meats said in a statement. The unit said the timeline for resuming operations will depend on a number of factors, including test results for all 1,400 people who work there. 'We're working with local health officials to bring the plant back to full operation as soon as we believe it to be safe,' Steve Stouffer, head of Tyson Fresh Meats, said in the company's statement. 'Unfortunately, the closure will mean reduced food supplies and presents problems to farmers who have no place to take their livestock. It's a complicated situation across the supply chain.' As Tyson adds another plant to its list of closures due to the coronavirus pandemic, there are fears about a break in the food supply and a shortage of fresh meat. Pictured is an empty chicken and poultry food case in New Jersey on March 13 Several major plants across the US have been forced to reduce operations or close altogether due to outbreaks among their employees. The disruptions have caused a decline in the number of animals being slaughtered because there are not enough plants still functioning for farmers to send their livestock to Experts say it may be impossible to keep plants virus-free. Given that the plants employ thousands of people who often work side by side carving meat, social distancing is all but impossible. Because of that, the risk of catching the virus will likely remain even as companies take steps to increase worker protections. 'It's not that people aren't trying. It's just that it is very difficult to control this illness,' said Dennis Burson, an animal science professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The list of companies dealing with infected workers has been growing every day at plants across the country. Among the latest was the closure Wednesday of Tyson Foods' huge pork-processing plant in Waterloo, Iowa, after numerous workers tested positive. That follows closures of a Smithfield Foods pork plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; a JBS beef plant in Greeley, Colorado; and many others. Some, including the Tyson pork plant in Perry, Iowa, have reopened after deep cleanings. The closures shouldn't cause any immediate meat shortages or big price jumps at supermarkets, but as Purdue University economist Jason Lusk noted, 'It's a very fluid and volatile situation to keep an eye out for in the days to come.' Workers at Smithfield's pork processing plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, claim they were provided with these hair nets instead of proper face masks. The factory, which is now closed, has one of the largest cluster outbreaks in the country infecting more than 760 workers Iowa Gov Kim Reynolds, whose state leads the nation in pork production, acknowledged the likelihood of 'clusters of positive cases' at meat-processing plants but said the operations must remain open. 'Without them, people's lives and our food supply will be impacted,' Reynolds said. In an attempt to protect workers, companies have started checking employee temperatures, staggering breaks and altering start times. Owners said they have also done more to clean plants, added space for workers to spread out on breaks, slowed production lines so workers can spread out and added plastic shields between workstations. 'We are looking for countless ways of ensuring we have good, healthy social distancing in our plants. It's not impossible despite the number of people in our plants,' said Hector Gonzalez, Tyson's senior vice president of human resources. Major companies, including Smithfield, Tyson, Cargill and JBS, said they have relaxed their attendance and sick leave policies to encourage sick workers to stay home and allow them to be paid. Still, workplace safety expert Celeste Monforton said it's difficult to ensure people working so closely together won't spread the virus. 'The scary thing is you know if it could happen in one plant, the potential is there for a lot of other plants,' said Monforton, a lecturer in public health at Texas State University. 'Unless you're super vigilant, this is a recipe for disaster.' Conditions at plants can be ripe for exploitation by the virus as workers stand shoulder-to-shoulder on the line and crowd into locker rooms to change their clothes before and after shifts. A Smithfields Foods plant in Milan, Missouri, is pictured Even companies with the best intention may struggle because plant layouts make 6-foot distancing difficult, said Jim Roth, director of the Center for Food Security and Public Health at Iowa State University. Precautions such as face masks and plastic shields can help but likely won't slow the risk, he said. Some plants can spread workers out by slowing down operations, but that's not possible everywhere and would reduce a plant's capacity. 'They were constructed to have people stand next to each other and work, and that's very difficult to change,' Roth said. Edgar Fields, president of the Southeast Council of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which represents thousands of poultry workers, said it's hard to know if the precautions will protect workers. 'We say six feet ... but what is enough?' Fields asked. 'What else is it that we can ask them to do to try to protect their employees when they walk in the door and when they walk out. I don't know. All of this is new.' Alejandra Wehunt, 22, of Gainesville, Georgia, said she stopped going to work at a poultry processing plant after a male worker tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. 'I have a young daughter. I live with my grandmother. I have seizures and heart problems. I can't catch anything,' said Wehunt. 'If one person got it, probably many others have it too. He was around other people.' Wehunt said the plant manager at the Gold Creek Foods plant had told workers that they had to show up to work or risked losing their jobs, despite the pandemic. 'Why are we losing our jobs because we don't want to put our health in jeopardy,' she said. A Gold Creek Foods spokesman didn't respond to phone calls seeking comment. Joshua Specht, a University of Notre Dame history professor who has studied the meat industry, said it relies on workers at the margins of society - including recent immigrants - who don't have a safety net and therefore feel pressure to continue working even if they are ill. 'With workers in close proximity, working long hours, and feeling pressure to continue even when sick, the meat industry is at particular risk for pandemic-related disruptions,' Specht said. Justin L DeFriese, 91, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 18, 2020, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his parents, Garland and Nellie DeFriese, his loving wife, Anne Miller DeFriese to whom he was married for 63 years, his son, James DeFriese, and brother, Alan DeFriese. He is survived by his son, Mark DeFriese (Shannon), his daughter, Lee Anne Million, his grandchildren, Jack Million, Sullivan Million, Mackenzie DeFriese, Madison Grace (Wes), and sister, Jean Miller. He was born on Dec. 4, 1928, in Birchwood, Tn. He graduated from Rhea Central High School and the University of Tennessee Chattanooga with a degree in Industrial Engineering and attended Georgia Tech. He worked at Combustion Engineering for 35 years as a nuclear engineer manager. After his retirement he worked for Partners for Economic Progress where he was the original manager of the Business Development Center Incubator. He was deeply involved in the Chattanooga and Dayton communities. He was a devoted member of the Red Bank United Methodist Church for over 50 years, where he held numbers board positions. In Red Bank he served on the Red Bank Appeals Board, the Red Bank Recreation Board, the Red Bank Community Food Pantry, and was a member of the Red Bank Lions Club. He was involved in the Chattanooga Jaycees, Orange Grove School Board, Hamilton County Speech and Hearing Center, and Hamilton County Storm Water Board. In Dayton he was involved in the Historical Society and the Main Street Boards. Justins family and friends will always remember his as being profoundly dedicated to his Lord, family, community, and church. A level-headed leader who always looked for the best in people. A private service will be held for the immediate family only and a celebration of life service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Red Bank Community Food Pantry, Red Bank United Methodist Church, 3800 Dayton Blvd., Chattanooga, TN 37415 or online at RedBankFoodPantry.org. Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory and Florist 5501 Highway 153 Hixson, Tn. 37343. Share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com. The knowledge that the whole of humanity, from Thailand to New York, shares our anxieties about how and where to use a face mask, the safest way to deal with the food we have bought from the grocer and whether to self-quarantine is a constant reminder that we are not alone. It begets a sense of solidarity. We are no longer mortified by our fear; we discover a humility in it that encourages mutual understanding. When I watch the televised images of people waiting outside the worlds biggest hospitals, I can see that my terror is shared by the rest of the humanity, and I do not feel alone. In time I feel less ashamed of my fear, and increasingly come to see it as a perfectly sensible response. I am reminded of that adage about pandemics and plagues, that those who are afraid live longer. Eventually I realize that fear elicits two distinct responses in me, and perhaps in all of us. Sometimes it causes me to withdraw into myself, toward solitude and silence. But other times it teaches me to be humble and to practice solidarity. I first began to dream of writing a plague novel 30 years ago, and even at that early stage my focus was on the fear of death. In 1561, the writer Ogier Ghiselin de Busbecq who was the Hapsburg Empires ambassador to the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent escaped the plague in Istanbul by taking refuge six hours away on the island of Prinkipo, the largest of the Princes Islands southeast of Istanbul in the Sea of Marmara. He noted the insufficiently strict quarantine laws introduced in Istanbul and declared that the Turks were fatalists because of their religion, Islam. About a century and half later, even the wise Defoe wrote in his London plague novel that Turks and Mahometans professed predestinating Notions, and of every Mans End being predetermined. My plague novel would help me think about Muslim fatalism in the context of secularism and modernity. Fatalist or otherwise, historically it had always been harder to convince Muslims to tolerate quarantine measures during a pandemic than Christians, especially in the Ottoman Empire. The commercially motivated protests that shopkeepers and rural folk of all faiths tended to raise when resisting quarantine were compounded, among Muslim communities, by issues around female modesty and domestic privacy. Muslim communities at the start of the 19th century demanded Muslim doctors, for at the time most doctors were Christians, even in the Ottoman Empire. From the 1850s, as traveling with steamboats was getting cheaper, pilgrims traveling to the Muslim holy lands of Mecca and Medina became the worlds most prolific carriers and spreaders of infectious disease. At the turn of the 20th century, to control the flow of pilgrims to Mecca and Medina and back to their countries, the British set up one of the worlds leading quarantine offices in Alexandria, Egypt. Actor Alia Bhatt may not be living with her parents--director father Mahesh Bhatt and actor mother Soni Razdan--but she is concerned for their health. The filmmaker has said in an interview that Alia visited him and his wife recently but took all the precautions to keep them safe. Speaking to Mumbai Mirror, Mahesh said Alia lived just a small distance away and came to meet them, armed with mask and gloves. We met a few days agoshe lives a few buildings away and its a protected space. So, she just walked across with mask and gloves on and sat at a distance so she wouldnt endanger her parents. It warms the heart to see her fulfil the social role of a responsible young child and to see your children teach you what you taught them in their childhood, he said. Alia is reportedly living with her boyfriend and actor Ranbir Kapoor. They were spotted together in his building compound last month. They even shot each others portions of short film on coronavirus awareness, Family. Also read: Manoj Bajpayees Aligarh paved the way for Ayushmann Khurranas Shubh Mangal Zyaada Saavdhan; it deserves a reappraisal Alias sister Shaheen regularly posts her sisters photos from the lockdown, which led to speculation if Shaheen was also living with Alia and Ranbir. However, mom Soni recently said in an interview that the sisters are living apart. Soni was asked by Mumbai Mirror if her daughters are watching the reruns of her show Buniyaad which are currently on air. Alia and Shaheen live separately but I have told them to watch it. I have no idea whether they are or not. I am sure, they will. I think they will enjoy it because they both love anything which has depth, she had said. The actor will soon be seen in one of her fathers movie for the first time. She plays the lead in Sadak 2, which marks Maheshs return to direction after almost 20 years and also stars her sister Pooja Bhatt along with Sanjay Dutt and Aditya Roy Kapur. Follow @htshowbiz for more (Newser) The home of a former classmate of long-missing California student Kristin Smart was searched for a second time Wednesday, investigators say. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office says a search warrant was served at the home of Paul Flores, who is believed to have been the last person to see the 19-year-old alive, NBC Los Angeles reports. Flores has long been considered a person of interest in the case and police said "items of interest" were removed after a previous search in February. story continues below Smart disappeared while walking back from a party to her California Polytechnic State University dorm in San Luis Obispo on May 25, 1996. She was declared dead in 2002, but her body has never been found. Police said Wednesday that the search warrant is sealed and due to the ongoing investigation, they are unable to release details. "The search is now concluded and we recovered some items of interest in the case," sheriff's office spokesman Tony Cipolla tells CNN. "We are following up on leads, tips, and good investigative work." (Read more California stories.) EL PASO, Texas - Researchers in The University of Texas at El Paso's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry have developed a nanohybrid vehicle that can be used to optimally deliver drugs into the human body. The research was published in April 2020 in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. Leading the study are Mahesh Narayan, Ph.D., professor, and Sreeprasad Sreenivasan, Ph.D., assistant professor, both from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Border Biomedical Research Center (BBRC) in UTEP's College of Science. Drug candidates that show promise against a particular disease often are toxic to other cell types. One such drug is the polyphenol ellagic acid (EA). This antioxidant, derived from nature, demonstrates the potential to mitigate pathologies including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. To selectively use EA in the brain against neurodegenerative disorders requires that its cytotoxic potential be reduced and only its anti-oxidant potential be exploited. Narayan, Sreenivasan and colleagues created a nanohybrid vehicle to circumvent this problem. "We are very excited about the new drug delivery materials developed by Drs. Narayan and Sreenivasan," said Robert Kirken, Ph.D., dean of UTEP's College of Science. "This platform allows for molecules to be impregnated into the material so that the drug can more specifically target the tumor or other tissue site, thus increasing the beneficial effects of the drug while reducing its negative side effects." The researchers discovered that encapsulating EA in chitosan, a sugar, reduces its inherent cytotoxicity while enhancing its anti-oxidant properties. The chitosan shell, which makes up the hard outer skeleton of shellfish, also permits EA delivery via a rapid burst phase and a relatively slow phase. This further enhances the drug delivery because the nanohybrid vehicle is uniquely suited for drug release over extended time periods. "This work creates a new type of bio-friendly drug-delivery vehicle made of recyclable materials," Narayan said. "The other special feature of this vehicle is that it can deliver the drug via two mechanisms: one rapid and the other a slow-release." Other project collaborators include UTEP doctoral student Jyoti Ahlawat, who led the research project under the supervision of her mentors; Eva Deemer, Ph.D., of UTEP's Department of Materials Science and Engineering; and Rabin Neupane, a graduate student in the department of industrial pharmacy at the University of Toledo. Narayan's laboratory focuses on mitigating oxidative stress induced by neurotoxins as a means to prevent neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Sreenivasan's lab works to bridge and interface chemistry, materials physics, and biological sciences to develop uniquely designed quantum structures and devices. ### To learn more about this research, visit: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsami.9b21215. The University of Texas at El Paso enrolls more than 25,000 students in 166 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in 10 colleges and schools. With $108 million in total annual research expenditures, UTEP is ranked in the top 5% of research institutions nationally and fourth in Texas for federal research expenditures at public universities, after UT Austin, Texas A&M and the University of Houston. UTEP is one of the largest and most successful Hispanic-serving institutions in the country, with a student body that is over 80% Hispanic. A Baylor St. Luke's Medical Group primary care clinic in the Texas Medical Center will close at the end of June, according to the hospital. Two doctors will move from its clinic at the 6624 Fannin Tower to the clinic system's Galleria location, said Vanessa Astros, a spokeswoman for CHI St. Luke's, the clinic system's parent group. A third physician, who had seen an estimated 1,100 patients in the last two years, will leave Baylor St. Luke's Medical Group due to a lack of vacancies, she said. Those patients have been notified and can receive care from another Baylor St. Luke's Medical Group physician in the Houston area. "The decision was made after a detailed operational analysis of the community need and changing industry environment," Astros said. EXPERTS SAY: Social distancing saved Houston. Don't get complacent. She said the closure is not related to the coronavirus pandemic, which has sent many businesses scrambling for loans to keep their companies afloat. Baylor St. Luke's Medical Group sold the tower in 2016 to Texas Children's Hospital, when it was still known as the O'Quinn Medical Tower. CHI St. Lukes Health and Baylor College of Medicine continued to lease office space in the tower after the acquisition. The lease for Baylor St. Luke's Medical Group clinic space on the 12th floor was set to expire at the end of June. This story has been updated to correct an erroneous figure provided by Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center. gwendolyn.wu@chron.com twitter.com/gwendolynawu The police has opposed in the Delhi High Court the parole plea of Vishal Yadav, serving life term for the murder of Nitish Katara, saying there is no risk of coronavirus infection to him. Vishal sought parole on the ground that he could get infected by coronavirus or tuberculosis as he had earlier suffered from TB in view of overcrowding and poor sanitation facilities in the prison. In its status report placed before Justice V Kameswar Rao, Delhi Police has said that the prison records indicate the convict's medical condition to be stable and he is not suffering from TB. The report, filed through additional standing counsel (criminal) Rajesh Mahajan, also said that medical reports filed with the petition are of 2004, 2008, 2009 and 2010 and there is no material on record to show he is suffering from TB now. It further said that material filed with the petition indicating vulnerability of TB patients to coronavirus or COVID-19 relates to patients currently suffering from TB and not those who suffered from it in the past. Under the prison rules, grant of eight weeks 'emergency' parole during the coronavirus pandemic amounts to a remission of sentence, it said. However, in this case, the High Court while sending Vishal to jail in February 2015 had directed that he be not considered for any remission till he completes 25 years of actual imprisonment. "Consequently, he would not be entitled to grant of emergency parole as it amounts to grant of remission," the report said. Another reason cited in the report for dismissing Vishal's plea was that he moved the court without first moving the competent authority for grant of parole in accordance with the rules. The status report also said that there was a threat to the life of the victim's mother -- Neelam Katara -- and witness -- Ajay Katara -- and, therefore, Vishal does not deserve to be released on parole The petition is listed for hearing on Friday. Vishal has contended in his plea that due to his prolonged TB infection, his immune system is weak and coupled with the poor sanitation facilities in prison, he would be vulnerable to coronavirus. On October 3, 2016, the Supreme Court had awarded 25-year jail term without any benefit of remission to Vikas Yadav and his cousin Vishal for their role in the sensational kidnapping and killing of Nitish Katara. Another co-convict Sukhdev Pehalwan was also handed down a 20-year jail term in the case. Prior to this, the Delhi High Court, while upholding the life imprisonment awarded to Vikas and Vishal Yadav by the trial court, had specified a 30-year sentence, without any remission, to both of them. It had awarded a 25-year jail term to third convict Pehalwan. All three were convicted and sentenced for kidnapping Nitish Katara from a marriage party on the intervening night of February 16-17, 2002 and then killing him for his alleged affair with Bharti Yadav, the sister of Vikas. Bharti is the daughter of Uttar Pradesh politician D P Yadav who is in jail in connection with another murder case. Katara was murdered as Vishal and Vikas Yadav did not approve of his affair with Bharti because they belonged to different castes, the lower court had said in its verdict. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi raised issues and problems faced by migrants, daily workers and have requested the government to address it on the foremost priority. Congress lawmaker Rahul Gandhi and his sister and partys General Secteray Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday raised the issue of migrant workers who are stranded due to coronavirus induced lockdown at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting. The former Congress chief stressed that the government should think about imposing lockdown in COVID-19 hotspots and consider about lifting restrictions in green zones. Issue of migrant workers needs to be addressed as a first priority. Lockdown is a mere pause button. As a Nation, we need to think of a transition from a lockdown to lockdown only in disease hotzones and commencement of activities in greenzones, Rahul said, as per a tweet by Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala. Congress leader Priyanka said that the government should allow stranded migrant workers to return home after testing and precautions. Compassion is the key to fight COVID-19 and not hostility towards the victim of Corona. As times pass, we need to permit migrant workers to return home after due testing and precautions, she said. Earlier, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has said that there shall be no movement of labour outside the State or the Union Territory where they are currently located. However, stranded labourers will be allowed to go to places of work within the State with conditions during the lockdown. According the latest data available on the Ministry of Health and Family Welfares (MoHFW) website, corona virus has infected 21,393 people in India, of which, 16,454 are active cases, while 4,257 have been cured. Sadly, 681 coronavirus patients lost their lives. For all the latest National News, download NewsX App Talking Kansas City After Coronavirus Lockdown The Rebound Kansas City: Helping Kansas City come together to chart our course forward KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas Citians have responded to the call to do their part to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. That response has led to profound changes, leaving our communities unsettled in what seemed like just hours. As we continue to navigate the coronavirus' impacts, many are beginning to chart the course forward. COVID-19 Is Racist Truman doctor says African-Americans 4 to 5 times more likely to test positive for COVID-19 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - African-Americans in Kansas City are four to five times more likely to test positive for COVID-19 than white people, according to Dr. Mark Steele, chief clinical officer at Truman Medical Center. That's why the hospital is responding by bringing testing into urban core neighborhoods. Coronavirus Harsh Times Hit Ooooooolathe Olathe will furlough city employees to manage budget amid COVID-19 KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing Olathe city government to make cuts to its budget, including furloughing city employees. The city announced on its website Wednesday night that it will implement citywide furloughs except for frontline police officers and firefighters, according to a news release posted on its website. Kansas City Rent At Risk After losing job during pandemic, Kansas City mom of 3 told she can't move into new apartment KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A single Kansas City mother of three is feeling the impact of coronavirus pandemic after losing her job. She said because she lost her job, she's also being denied a place to stay. "They [apartment management] notified me, at this current time because you no longer have a full-time job, you can't move into the apartment," Jessica Fulghem-Jarmon said. The Dotte Recovers??? CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES: Wyandotte County adds 4 new cases of COVID-19; Johnson County adds 3 The Kansas City metro area continues to deal to stay-at-home orders that have been issued to help combat the spread of COVID-19.What you need to know:The Kansas Department of Health and Environment said Tuesday the state has 2,025 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and there have been 107 deaths.The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services said Tuesday 189 deaths have been attributed to COVID-19 in the state and there are 5,941 confirmed cases.Stay-at-home orders are now in effect for both Kansas and Missouri.WEDNESDAY8:47 a.m. New Midtown Testing Tech St. Luke's Plaza location now offering walk-thru testing thanks to Black & Veatch solution KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A key to winning the battle against the coronavirus is testing, so more and more drive-up testing locations are popping up across the metro. But what if you don't have a car? St. Luke's Hospital on the Plaza is now offering walk-thru testing, courtesy of a metro engineering firm that found a solution. Essential Meth Town Debate Independence business upset over being forced to close INDEPENDENCE, MO (KCTV) - Another business in Independence is asking why it was deemed nonessential. Last week KCTV5 News told you about a store supplying shoes to essential workers we helped to reopen. E. Edwards Workwear in Independence sells shoes, hard hats and clothing to essential workers. COVID-19 Cavity Creeps With conflicting guidelines for pandemic, local dentists weigh whether to stay open KANSAS CITY, Mo - Things are changing quickly in the COVID-19 crisis, and that applies to the dental profession, too. Dentists who first thought they could only perform emergency procedures recently found out they can open their practices for all services. But is that a good idea? Rock Chalk Treatment Planning University of Kansas Health System expands COVID-19 testing to cancer patients Cancer patients being treated at the University of Kansas Health System are being asked to take the COVID 19 test. The tests are being done to protect the medical team and the patient. Patients testing positive would have the treatment plans modified. Golden Ghetto Coronavirus Hot Spot Investigation 13 long-term care facilities in Johnson County have had coronavirus cases, deaths by: FOX 4 Newsroom Posted: / Updated: JOHNSON COUNTY, Kan. - As many as 13 long-term care facilities have had positive coronavirus cases and deaths as a result, an official with the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment told FOX4. Across the facilities, 96 people have tested positive. Life Lesson In Local Help Kanbe's Markets provides fresh produce for students in need KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Right now, families are juggling online learning, working from home and making sure kids are fed. School districts across the metro are stepping in to provide free meals throughout the day. Kanbe's Markets, a local nonprofit that works to provide fresh produce in food desert areas, is doing its part to help families in need as well. Show-Me Tech Protection Missouri to work with Google to source PPE for health care workers JEFFERSON CITY, MO (KCTV) - Governor Mike Parson announced Wednesday that health officials in Missouri will start using a tool from search-giant Google to connect health care workers with personal protective equipment. State health officials worked with the Missouri Hospital Association to develop the tool, which will better connect hospital with Missouri-based manufactures and suppliers. Frontline On The Job Training KS Gov. Laura Kelly relaxes medical licensure requirements to assist COVID-19 response KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly on Wednesday relaxed some medical licensing restrictions to help meet the demands of the COVID-19 pandemic. Kelly announced at her daily press conference that she'd signed Executive Order 20-26, which consists of four parts meant to help Kansas health care facilities meet emergency response needs. COVID-19 Prison Talk Inmate describes conditions at Lansing Correctional Facility KANSAS CITY, Mo - In a letter to his parents, an inmate recently described what conditions are like inside the Lansing Correctional Facility. Two weeks ago, inmates held a riot at the state prison, saying they're not receiving proper treatment as COVID-19 spreads throughout the facility. Show-Me Eager Reopen Missouri Gov. Mike Parson: Data shows state's COVID-19 starting to stabilize KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said that "recent data" shows the state's number of novel coronavirus cases is starting to stabilize and that the state has been able to "flatten the curve." Dr. Robin Trotman, of Cox Health in Springfield, said he is "enthusiastic" about how the public has understood the consequences of shelter-at-home ordinances. Track Heartland Curve Tracker shows curve of coronavirus cases, deaths in Missouri, Kansas We're tracking the curve of coronavirus cases and coronavirus-related deaths that have occurred in Missouri and Kansas. The data shows the total number of COVID-19 cases along with the number of COVID-19 cases per day. In addition, it includes the total number of deaths related to COVID-19 complications along with the number of deaths from coronavirus occurring daily. Sharing Kansas City Hobo Shelter In Place Salvation COVID-19 patients in homeless community can quarantine at Salvation Army campgrounds KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Salvation Army won't be holding any camps at Three Trails this summer due to coronavirus, so they offered their facilities to help the homeless community. Booth Lodge will be used as a quarantine center for people who don't have a home to which to retreat. JoCo 1st Responder Winning OP Fire employee finally released from hospital after long COVID-19 battle An Overland Park Fire Department employee has been released from the hospital after battling COVID-19.The department said in a statement on March 26 that an administrative staff member who is not routinely involved with emergency response or patient care tested positive for coronavirus. Local School Bus Tech Redux Lenexa software company helps school districts find ways to use empty buses "These are the hot spots right here," said John Styers, chief executive officer of Transportant.Transportant works with several area and national school districts putting Wi-Fi in the school buses. Kansas City Forecasting Confronts Change In The Air Decrease in air travel robs forecasters of their job KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) - Here's an impact of the coronavirus you might not have considered: weather forecasts! The decrease in air travel has actually robbed weather forecasters of some of the data they need. Think back to that time when you were still getting on planes. For our late night and early news junkies whom we love most of all, here's ancolleciton and round of today's top COVID-19 news . . . Checkit:After the jump we share 20 news stories regarding local coronavirus impact that range from human interest to economic struggles amid the pandemic . . .And this is thefor tonight . . . Id personally be surprised if disinfecting outdoor spaces has any impact, but thats more of a hunch based on first principles than a scientifically informed view, Lipsitch said, because no one has studied the issue yet. And it will be difficult to study the effectiveness of such moves, he said on a Tuesday call with journalists, because everyone is throwing a mix of interventions at the problem, as they should. Press Release 23 April 2020 For 2019, Pinnacle Advisory Group estimated that Boston and Cambridge hotels generated nearly $2 billion in rooms revenue, based on a total supply of nearly 25,700 rooms, an average occupancy of 81.4 percent and an average daily rate (ADR) of $259. Over 13,300 people are employed in the hotel industry sector in Boston and Cambridge. Due to the pandemic and the stay-at-home requirements starting in March of this year, demand for hotel rooms has dropped precipitously. On March 31, Governor Baker began a provision of lodging that was defined as a COVID-19 Essential Service, allowing hotels in the state to service only essential workers and other people with essential status. Occupancy of lodging for leisure, vacation, and other purposes was halted. On June 8, Phase 2 began, allowing hotels to reopen with certain limitations. Advertisements According to the Pinnacle Perspective, Revenue Per Available Room (RevPar) declined 98% for May 2020 as compared to the prior year. Hotel occupancy for May 2020 dropped to 6%, and when compared to May 2019 is a decrease of 94%. Hotels in the Back Bay recorded the lowest average occupancy in the Boston/Cambridge market at 1.5% for May 2020. We anticipate hotel occupancy and RevPar to begin increasing in June and July as the Commonwealth continues its phased re-opening plan. While most conferences and events will be extremely limited; offices and work-related travel and leisure visitation are likely to slowly increase. To estimate the economic impacts, Pinnacle and RKG Associates assumed a worst-case scenario where the annual occupancy rate for 2020 drops to 32 percent and the average daily rate to $175. This assumes that the economy begins to recover in late summer and early fall but does not regain its former strength, including a severe cutback in tourism, conventions, and international visitation a mainstay of the citys hotel industry. These impacts were analyzed using EMSI, a leading econometric modeling tool, to determine the direct, indirect, and induced impacts on the two cities and the regions economy. Under this scenario, hotel revenues decline by over $1.4 billion and 7,606 hotel jobs would be negatively impacted. Additionally, we estimate another 2,842 jobs in industries that support the hotel sector would also be impacted, resulting in a total of $693 million in lost wages. This in turn would result in a loss of over $34 million in state income taxes. Massachusetts room excise taxes would decline by $83 million, while Boston and Cambridge would lose nearly $90 million in local option rooms tax. The rooms tax comprises 2.8% of Bostons annual budget and 2.3% of Cambridge, a shortfall that will need to be made up somewhere else. The Convention Center tax, of 2.75% of room sales, goes to support the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority. This loss is estimated to be just over $35 million. While a 73 percent drop in RevPar over last year may seem extreme, it is not out of the question, given the length of time it is taking to get the economy back on track, and the long-term impacts the pandemic will have on business activity and tourism. Accompanying Data Tables: Photo: Pinnacle Advisory Group Working closely with Pinnacle Advisory Group LLC, a leading hospitality industry consulting firm, RKG Associates analyzed the potential impacts of the current pandemic on the hotel industry in Boston and Cambridge. Photo: Pinnacle Advisory Group Craig Seymour and Eric Halvorsen, AICP are Principals with RKG Associates. RKG is an economic, planning, and real estate consultancy with offices in Washington, DC, Boston, Atlanta, Dallas, and Durham, NH. Since its founding in 1981, RKG has built a track record of sound planning advice rooted in data, creativity, and realistic, implementable strategies. RKG's strength is in a diverse range of experiences that have helped hundreds of cities, towns and private firms make the most of spaces that matter to them. RKG specializes in economic analyses, market studies, financial forecasting, strategic planning, feasibility analyses, real property valuations, and housing strategies. www.rkgassociates.com Rachel Roginsky, ISHC, is the Owner and Principal of Pinnacle Advisory Group. Ms. Roginsky has more than 35 years of experience in hospitality consulting. Since 1991, Pinnacle Advisory Group has provided advice and analysis on the full spectrum of hospitality properties throughout the US and Caribbean: hotels, resorts, conference centers, mixed use projects, convention centers and exhibition centers. Pinnacle's services include development counseling, appraisals, acquisition due diligence, asset management and litigation support. Our clients include leading hotel companies, REITs, universities, major banks, and municipalities. We specialize in providing personalized advice on complex projects, carefully tailoring our services to each client's individualized needs. www.pinnacle-advisory.com Jennifer Ziemann outside Ennis Court yesterday where she was given a suspended sentence for assault causing harm A woman whose "high rise" kick with a stiletto heel left her victim blinded in her left eye has walked free from court. Judge Gerald Keys imposed a three-and-a-half year suspended jail term on Jennifer Ziemann (26) for assault causing harm to Katie Kenneally (21) at the Queen's nightclub in Ennis on May 6, 2018. Judge Keys told Ennis Circuit Court that Ziemann's kick "had the element of a defensive kick in this fracas". He said he was of the view that she "did not intend to cause serious harm to Katie Kenneally on the night". "The CCTV of the incident does not establish that Ms Ziemann's conduct was reckless within the legal definition," he added. Lunge CCTV footage previously played in court showed how the two women had got into a row in the outdoor area of the nightclub and both ended up on the ground. A bouncer grabbed Ziemann, of Parnell Street, Ennis, while others took hold of Ms Kenneally and the pair were separated. However, when Ms Kenneally made a lunge for Ziemann, the accused kicked out with her stiletto, resulting in Ms Kenneally's "catastrophic" injury. The incident, described by the judge as "relatively minor", lasted a number of seconds. The life-changing injury sustained by Ms Kenneally came just under four weeks before she lost her younger brother, Jack (15) in a double drowning in a disused quarry. Junior Cert students and Ennis rugby club U-15 team-mates Jack and Shay Moloney (15) both drowned on May 31, 2018, days before the two were due to start their exams. In his judgment, Judge Keys said that in an interview with gardai, Ziemann described her kick as the two were being separated as "a high rise kick". Ms Ziemann told gardai: "I'm not one to back down." Judge Keys told both women "neither of you showed any restraint and attempted to re-engage" in the row. Ziemann paid over 3,000 compensation in court yesterday to Ms Kenneally. Judge Keys said the aggravating factors in the case were Ziemann confronting her victim in an aggressive manner; excessive alcohol; 13 previous convictions; inflicting a serious injury; and the adverse effects on Ms Kenneally's career and lifestyle. He said the mitigating actors were that Ziemann had pleaded guilty; fully co-operated with gardai; had shown remorse; had apologised for her actions; feels fully responsible for the injuries sustained; and that the consequences of what happened were not intended. "The number of assault cases involving alcohol is on the increase," Judge Keys added. "If one had foresight to see what would happen in this case, I have no doubt this fracas would never have occurred in the first instance. "If anything is to be learned for the future, kicking, punching, hitting someone with a glass, with any object, can have disastrous consequences even though they are not intended. "I have great sympathy for the victim, Ms Kenneally, and I sincerely hope that you can adapt as best you can to the loss of your eye." Expensive Addressing the two women, the judge added: "This is a very, very expensive lesson for both of you." In her victim impact statement previously read out in court, Ms Kenneally said she constantly worries about losing sight in her other eye. She stated that her vision in her left eye "will never come back and I find that very hard to deal with". Ms Kenneally said the assault changed her life forever in more ways than one. "I struggle to look at myself in the mirror as it's a constant reminder of what happened that night," she added. Ms Kenneally stated that she now suffers from anxiety and panic attacks. Ziemann signed a bond to keep the peace yesterday and Judge Keys told her: "You're free to go. Britons will be urged to cover their faces with scarves to prevent the spread of coronavirus because the Government cannot guarantee them a mask, it has been reported. Ministers are thought to have finally changed their tune on mask-wearing, and now believe they might stop infected people passing the virus onto others - despite insisting throughout the crisis there was no evidence they worked. But a failure to properly plan for a pandemic has left the country short of personal protective equipment (PPE), raising fears officials do not have enough surgical face masks to dish out to everyone. Instead, the Government is thought to be prepared to recommend Britons use scarves, clothes or household items as makeshift masks at work, in supermarkets or on public transport. The country's top scientific experts have been reviewing key evidence this week and are will report their findings back to ministers today, with new guidance issued to the public at the weekend. Britain has been out of step with the rest of the world on mask-wearing, with its advisers repeatedly claiming they offered no protection from the virus because they do not seal-off the mouth and are too porous. South Korea, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong all issued millions of masks to their people and managed to evade full-blown crises despite being in close proximity to China. Germany, Italy, Spain and the US - which were previously against mask-wearing - have now pivoted and say they must be used in public as lockdowns begin to ease. Passengers on the Jubilee line wear face masks. Britons are set to be told it is not compulsory to wear masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus People are pictured wearing facemasks and scarves to cover their nose and mouth in south London yesterday How to make your own coronavirus mask: Scientists are encouraging people to make their own facemasks from T-shirts, sanitary towels or vacuum cleaner bags - with methods shown here WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE MANDATORY MASK-WEARING? EUROPE CZECH REPUBLIC The Czech Republic is thought to be the first country on the continent to issue a decree making masks compulsory. It introduced the guidance on March 18, telling the Czechs to don either a surgical face mask or other mouth and nose-covering apparel when in public. The nation has managed to evade a major outbreak, with just 7,136 confirmed cases and 210 deaths. SLOVAKIA Slovakias new coalition Government made mandatory mask-wearing one of its first new policy changes on March 21. The new rule required people to cover their faces if they left home, no matter where they were headed. It may partly explain why there have only been 1,244 infections and 14 deaths in the country of 5million. AUSTRIA Austria made masks compulsory in crowded places on April 6 after suffering a spike in infections in late March. The new rule seemingly managed to reverse its crisis. In the fortnight since the rule was introduced, the nation's daily rise in positive cases dropped from 90 per million people every day to less than 10. GERMANY Germany's disease control agency, the Robert Koch Institute, began urging Germans to wear homemade masks on April 2 but they were not made mandatory. As the country started to relax lockdown measures this week Berlin's local government decided that the people of Berlin will have to wear face masks from April 27 on public transport. Other states have followed suit, including Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Baden-Wurttemberg, Thuringia, Schleswig-Holstein, Hamburg and Bavaria. It has prompted calls for the government to adopt a universal policy on wearing masks. ITALY Residents in Lombardy, the northern region worst hit by the coronavirus, were forced to wear masks from April 6. People were told to improvise using scarves, clothes or kitchen roll to cover their face if they could not get a mask. Lombardy has pledged to distribute at least 3million masks to the public through supermarkets, pharmacists and tobacconists. SPAIN Spain allowed millions of workers to return to their jobs on April 13 on the condition that they wore face masks on public transport. Spanish security forces launched an official drive to distribute the protective equipment from a stock of 10 million, handing them out at major public transport hubs. THE US Americans were urged to wear masks or face coverings on April 3 after the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said they could stop infected people spreading the virus. Masks are not compulsory but they are strongly recommended in shops, public transport and crowded areas where social distancing is not possible. ASIA SOUTH KOREA South Korea began distributing millions of masks to people in early February, after cases started to climb in late January. Masks were not compulsory but they were strongly advised. They were sold out of pharmacies for less than 1 so everyone could access them. In rural areas, where there are fewer pharmacies, post offices were given permission to sell them. The nation has been able to flatten its curve, recording just 10,702 cases and 240 deaths despite its close proximity to China. JAPAN Japan is said to have dished out masks to 50million households, as well as stocking pharmacies with the protective equipment. Masks were encouraged in February and appear to have curbed the virus' spread. The Asian nation is one of the few countries around the world not to go into lockdown. Despite having a population of 130million, just 12,023 people have caught coronavirus and less than 300 have died. HONG KONG Hong Kong - one of the most densely populated cities on the world, with a population of 7.5million - has only suffered 1,034 cases and only four deaths. Masks have been recommended since the first case was recorded outside of mainland China in January. Most businesses in Hong Kong have managed to stay open. Hong Kong's scientific advisers are adamant mask use has helped curbed the outbreak. TAIWAN, THAILAND AND THE PHILIPPINES All three nations have strongly encouraged mask use since the virus began to race around Asia in January. Advertisement SAGE (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) are believed to be backing advice on wearing a cloth face mask, such as a homemade mask or scarf if socially distancing is not possible. This will mean asking people to cover their nose and mouth when they go to the shops and travel on trains, but won't apply to being in parks and quiet, residential streets. But the experts are set to say it should not be compulsory, rather left up to the public on when they should wear them. They will also warn against the use of medical masks, because it will mean there could be less for NHS. Experts on all sides have repeatedly stressed that surgical facemasks should be reserved for frontline staff so health service supplies are not compromised. SAGE will also be guided by the World Health Organisation, who have held off saying masks should be worn to prevent the spread. Other evidence suggests a person wearing a mask could feel like they are sufficiently protected, so will tend to ignore social distancing rules. A Whitehall source told The Sun: 'No decision is going to be made which would take medical masks away from the NHS. Everybody is very clear on that. 'If you actually have symptoms you need to isolate, full stop. A cloth mask is not a replacement for staying at home and nobody should think otherwise.' Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the government will 'follow the advice and listen to what SAGE says on masks and implement that.' No10 have refused to comment 'on what SAGE's advice to ministers is'. Chief executive of NHS Providers Chris Hopson said the government must asses the impact on the NHS if they advise on wearing masks. He said: 'Securing the supply of masks, when there is huge global demand, is crucial. This must be a key consideration. 'If the Government is going to consider advising the general public to wear facemasks it must fully assess the impact on the NHS.' Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has previously said it should be 'compulsory' for people to wear masks on public transport in the capital and has been lobbying for the rules to change. The next review of lockdown measures will take place on May 7, when Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty warned ministers face 'difficult trade offs'. The new guidance may apply to those allowed to go back to work if measures are eased in the next few weeks, according to the newspaper. At yesterday's Downing Street press conference, Professor Whitty warned social distancing measures would likely be in place for the rest of 2020. He said they cannot be lifted until either a vaccine for coronavirus or 'highly effective' drugs to treat the disease become available. Professor Whitty did not specify whether the strict 'stay at home' policy which is currently in place would have to be in place for the remainder of the year. Other experts have suggested that some of the strictest measures, including school closures, could be eased as long as there was not a spike in virus cases. But Professor Whitty was very clear that the only real exit from the lockdown - to allow a full return to normal life - would involve a medical breakthrough. He said: 'This disease is not going to be eradicated. It is not going to disappear. 'So we have to accept we are working with a disease that is going to be with us globally - this is a global problem - for the foreseeable future. 'We have to be very realistic that if people are hoping its suddenly going to move from lockdown to suddenly everything's gone, that is a wholly unrealistic expectation. 'In the long run, the exit from this is going to be one of two things, ideally. 'A vaccine, and there are a variety of ways they can be deployed or, and or, highly effective drugs so that people stop dying of this disease even if they catch it, or which can prevent this disease in vulnerable people. 'Until we have those, and the probability of having those any time in the next calendar year are incredibly small and I think we should be realistic about that. 'We're going to have to rely on other social measures, which of course are very socially disruptive as everyone is finding at the moment. 'But until that point, that is what we will have to do but it will be the best combination that maximises the outlooks but it's going to take a long time and I think we need to be aware of that.' Yesterday primary healthcare expert Professor Trish Greenhalgh told a Royal Scoeity of medicine briefing that coronavirus could be 'wiped out' in the UK if '80 to 90 per cent' of the population wear some kind of facemask. She told a web briefing for the Royal Society of Medicine: 'If 80 to 90% of us do it, and if the masks were say 80-90% effective, that would probably - the modellers say - be enough to reduce the effective R0 down to wipe out this disease and we can all get on with our lives,' she said. R0 refers to the average number of people who will catch the disease from a single infected person. She said that she wasn't in favour of the compulsory use of masks but said that she thought many people would be supportive of the use of homemade ones for a temporary measure. 'How do you make your own mask? You take two pieces of cotton, or a piece of cotton folded over, and you take a pantyliner or something like that [with] waterproof backing, you stick it between those. And then you hook it around the back of your ears. 'I'm not the kind of person that wants the Government, knocking on my door, you know, as if they're issuing gas masks or something like that and telling me I've got to wear it. I would much prefer this to be a voluntary thing for 80-90% of the population saying 'I've got no particular reason why I shouldn't wear one of these'.' There would be exceptions such as people with facial allergies, those who object for other reasons and children under two. She added: 'This is a terrible, terrible disease, and anything we can do to stamp it out is a good thing as far as I'm concerned.' But she added medical grade masks must be reserved for frontline workers. Meanwhile, a new initiative was launched to encourage the public to make their own face masks. The campaign, www.Maskedheroes.uk , also aims to connect people who make masks to individuals and organisations in their community who need them. A separate initiative - Masks for Heroes - is encouraging businesses which use personal protective equipment (PPE) to check whether they have any supplies which can be donated to frontline services while their businesses are not up and running. THE TRUTH ABOUT FACE MASKS: WHAT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN Research on how well various types of masks and face coverings varies but, recently, and in light of the pandemic of COVID-19, experts are increasingly leaning toward the notion that something is better than nothing. A review of scientific literature by the University of East Anglia found the masks have a 'small protective effect' that could shield elderly and vulnerable people from contracting the virus in crowded places. The researchers advise they people wear one on public transport, at the supermarket or in hospitals. But they say the evidence is not strong enough to recommend widespread use of masks in the general population. A University of Oxford study published on March 30 concluded that surgical masks are just as effective at preventing respiratory infections as N95 masks for doctors, nurses and other health care workers. It's too early for their to be reliable data on how well they prevent infection with COVID-19, but the study found the thinner, cheaper masks do work in flu outbreaks. The difference between surgical or face masks and N95 masks lies in the size of particles that can - and more importantly, can't - get though the materials. N95 respirators are made of thick, tightly woven and molded material that fits tightly over the face and can stop 95 percent of all airborne particles, while surgical masks are thinner, fit more loosely, and more porous. This makes surgical masks much more comfortable to breathe and work in, but less effective at stopping small particles from entering your mouth and nose. Droplets of saliva and mucous from coughs and sneezes are very small, and viral particles themselves are particularly tiny - in fact, they're about 20-times smaller than bacteria. For this reason, a JAMA study published this month still contended that people without symptoms should not wear surgical masks, because there is not proof the gear will protect them from infection - although they may keep people who are coughing and sneezing from infecting others. But the Oxford analysis of past studies- which has not yet been peer reviewed - found that surgical masks were worth wearing and didn't provide statistically less protection than N95 for health care workers around flu patients. However, any face mask is only as good as other health and hygiene practices. Experts universally agree that there's simply no replacement for thorough, frequent hand-washing for preventing disease transmission. Some think the masks may also help to 'train' people not to touch their faces, while others argue that the unfamiliar garment will just make people do it more, actually raising infection risks. If the CDC does instruct Americans to wear masks, it could create a second issue: Hospitals already face shortages of masks and other PPE. Advertisement Minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Thursday advised against the demonisation of entire Muslim community for mistakes made by some individuals belonging to the Tablighi Jamaat. Naqvis comments are a reference to a big chunk of Indias coronavirus cases being traced to the Muslim sect that held a religious congregation in Delhis Nizamuddin in March allegedly in violation of social distancing norms. Several members of the Jamaat who returned to their respective states were responsible for spreading COVID-19 locally. Entire Muslim community cannot be held responsible for one groups crime, Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told PTI on the Tablighi Jamaat row. Naqvis comments assume significance since he had dismissed the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)s concerns of Islamophobia in India a couple of days ago and asserted that India was a heaven for Muslims and secularism and social harmony was a passion in India and not a political fashion. OICs Islamophobia comments were a reference to criticism in certain sections that attempts were made to single out the Muslim community for the spread of coronavirus through the targeting of Jamaat members. Naqvi hit out at the OIC and said that those trying to vitiate the atmosphere of prosperity of Indian Muslims, cannot be friends of Indian Muslims. On Thursday, he also repeated his appeal to the community to maintain social distancing and adhere to national lockdown measures during the holy month of Ramazan that begins on Friday in some parts, and on Saturday in most parts of India. Confident that Muslims will fully adhere to lockdown and social distancing guidelines during Ramzan, Naqvi told PTI. The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19 Several bodies representing the Muslim community including the Islamic Centre of India and the Delhi Waqf Board have also appealed for daily prayers during Ramazan to be held at home and asked mosques to create awareness about official guidelines to fight the coronavirus pandemic. According to an advisory by the Delhi Waqf Board, people should stay at their homes to offer Namaz during Ramzan, however, Imams, Muazzins and Mutawallis can offer the prayers at mosques. It has also asked the mosques to announce the guidelines after each Azaan and also at other times through loudspeakers. Most state governments including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, Haryana, Gujarat and Rajasthan have asked state officials to ensure that there are no public gatherings at the time of the sehri and iftar rituals during Ramzan. The Association of All Goa Muslim Jamaats has issued an advisory asking Muslims in the state not to organise community iftars and instead pray for health workers, police and those involved in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. For Coronavirus Live Updates In these trying times please remember the entire Ummah, our nation, all the doctors, the frontline health workers, police and all involved in fighting this pandemic in your duas (prayers), the advisory said. The governor of Rajasthan held a video conference with Khadims of Ajmer Dargah and requested them to advise devotees to practice social distancing and follow lockdown rules. The Dargah members in return promised all cooperation in this regard. New Frontiers Public Schools plans to file a lawsuit against the Texas Education Agency in response to the agency ordering the nerwork to close its elementary and middle school campus on the South Side by phasing out grades starting this fall. The agencys decision was reached a year ago, according to letters from Mike Morath, the states education commissioner, to New Frontiers CEO Alfredo Segura, because the schools 4-year-olds were being taught at Pre-K 4 SA sites without the agencys approval. The charter began a partnership with the city-funded pre-kindergarten program in the fall of 2018. State law requires open-enrollment charter schools to get the commissioners approval to amend their charters before starting school operations at a new location. Segura said New Frontiers submitted the required documents to TEA on Aug. 1, 2018, received no further TEA requests, proceeded with the Pre-K 4 SA partnership and then learned that September that an individual at TEA did not recognize our paperwork as being legitimate. Segura told his board at a meeting Wednesday he believes Morath is punishing the network for its previous failing grades now that it has pulled itself up to a B. After a closed session, trustees emerged to unanimously approve filing a lawsuit against the agency. On the south side of San Antonio ... I say we deserve the best and in my opinion thats New Frontiers and thats worth standing up for, trustee Kathy Rodriguez said. In letters to the network, Morath had said the TEA had told Segura that due to recent accountability ratings the charter did not qualify for expansion in 2018 and that under any arrangement with PreK for SA, the 4-year-olds had to be served at one of the charters existing campuses or be bused daily from there to a PreK for SA site. When the charter reported that students were being served at four Pre-K 4 SA centers, the agency notified Segura that it was a material violation of the charter and you were instructed to rectify the situation, but Segura did not, Morath said in an April 9 letter. Morath ordered the network not to offer pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the 2020-21 school year and phase out grades six through eight over the next two years. By fall of 2023, New Frontiers should only offer grades nine through twelve, he wrote. Required Reading: Get San Antonio education news sent directly to your inbox New Frontiers was launched in 1998 under the 1995 law that established charter schools in Texas. The network serves about 600 students in two schools, including a pre-kindergarten through eighth grade campus on the South Side and an early college high school at Palo Alto College whose graduates can leave high school with an associates degree. Morath first told the network he intended to phase out the elementary campus in April 2019 but granted a one-year delay because Segura asked for more time to notify students and staff. It is unfortunate that the charter school did not notify parents and community members of the phase out of its pre-kindergarten through eighth grade program upon receipt of my initial determinations on April 23, 2019, nor upon receipt of the most recent correspondence dated January 20, 2020, regarding this matter, Morath wrote. New Frontiers has maintained it reached out to TEA for clarification and guidance but did not receive answers, a spokeswoman said. For years, the networks campuses were rated improvement required under the TEAs accountability system. The prekindergarten through eighth grade campus had received the failing grade for three years in a row by 2017. The network has received a B since the 2018-2019 school year, and just when things were looking bright for our district, we find ourselves fighting for our students, our families, and our community, Segura said Wednesday, reading from a prepared statement. We strongly believe that TEAs actions have nothing to do with any legitimate issue, but more to do with the fact that we navigated through their own policies to create a successful reconstitution plan that overcame the adversities the district faced, he continued. In January, Morath said the closing was ordered because of the unapproved locations, not the charters academic rating, though in his April 9 letter, Morath noted he had considered historical performance of the charter. New Frontiers has hired Austin-based attorney Kevin OHanlon, who is leading a Houston Independent School Districts lawsuit against the TEA to fight a pending state takeover, alleging the agency unfairly punishes schools serving mostly minority populations. OHanlon is also general counsel for South San Antonio ISD, which is under a TEA investigation, and worked for Harlandale ISD as it successfully avoided a state takeover following an investigation last year. New Frontiers serves primarily Hispanic and low income students, and Seguras statement included echoes of OHanlons arguments on behalf of other clients. It is very clear to me, that the Texas Education Agency has once again made the wrong decision at the expense of an underserved community, Segura said. OHanlon said New Frontiers was not given the same appeals process the TEA has used with other districts. This is a made up procedure that they havent used before, he said. In spring 2017, a special accreditation investigation was launched into the San Antonio School for Inquiry and Creativity charter network before a hearing was held to revoke the charter, followed by another hearing to uphold the revocation before the closure ultimately took effect that August. In that case, the TEA found SASIC operated campuses at unapproved locations, failed to comply with criminal background check requirements for employees and failed to protect the health, safety, and welfare of students. Krista Torralva covers several school districts and public universities in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. To read more from Krista, become a subscriber. Krista.Torralva@express-news.net | Twitter: @KMTorralva Struggling to restore normalcy in the US where COVID-19 has claimed the lives of more than 47,000 people and infected over 8,52,000, President Donald Trump has said that the the country was "attacked". "We were attacked. This was an attack. This wasn't just the flu by the way. Nobody has ever seen anything like this, 1917 was the last time," Trump told reporters at his daily White House conference on Wednesday. He was responding to a question about the growing US national debt as a result of the multi-trillion dollars stimulus packages that his administration has come up with to help people and businesses in distress as a direct fallout of the pandemic. "We have no choice. Do we have a choice? I'm always concerned about everything. We had to fix this problem," he said. "We had the greatest economy in the history of the world... Better than China, better than any place," he said. "We built it in the last three years and then one day, they came and they said you have to close it. Now, we're going to open it again and we're going to be just as strong or stronger but you have to spend some money to get it back open," he said. We saved our airlines. We saved numerous companies that are great companies that two months ago were having the best year they've ever had. Now all of a sudden, they're totally shut out of markets, he added. Trump said the number of new positive cases continue to decline nationwide. "Recent hotspots appear to be stabilising. They are going in the right direction. Cases in the Boston area are now declining. The Chicago curve appears to have flattened, which is terrific... Detroit has passed its peak," he said. "These trends demonstrate that our aggressive strategy to battle the virus is working and that more states will soon be in a position to gradually and safely reopen. That's very exciting, he asserted. Trump said that his administration is working closely with governors to ensure that they have the testing infrastructure in place to reduce further spread of the virus if they're so inclined to use the testing apparatus, including strategies for older individuals, low income Americans, minorities, and Native Americans. I'll not rest until that prosperity has been fully restored. I really believe that we're going to lift those numbers higher than ever before, and it will be as long as people might think," he said. "A lot of very smart people are looking at that and they're betting. You just have to look at what's going on with the stock market, he added. The administration so far has directed more than USD 7 billion in federal funding to support the development of treatments, diagnostics, and therapies. The FDA, the NIH, and industry leaders are establishing master clinical trial protocols to test multiple promising new drugs at the same time. More than 1600 locations across the country have signed up to administer convalescent plasma to patients, infusing them with antibodies of those who have recovered, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment It would be one thing if Samaritans Purse refused to treat a gay man. Or mocked a trans-identified individual. Or discriminated against a lesbian needing medical care. But none of that has ever happened. Instead, this massive, Christian humanitarian organization which serves each person alike is getting blasted by the left for one reason only. Samaritans Purse is a Christian organization which employs Christian workers and which believes in the historic teachings of the Bible. That alone is their crime. That alone is their fault. And for that unthinkable transgression, for that monstrous evil, for the crime of being Christian, they are getting protested by the left. It was bad enough that Franklin Grahams evangelistic ministry in the UK was opposed because of his pro-Bible comments regarding sexuality and marriage. These days, that is the price for taking a stand for biblical truth and for opposing radical LGBTQ revisionism. But its far worse when Grahams humanitarian arm, Samaritans Purse, which selflessly serves the sick and hurting worldwide, is opposed because their statement of faith is Christian. What on earth has happened to our society? As John Hirschauer noted in the National Review, the volunteers for Samaritans Purse put themselves in harms way, acting as backstops for a municipal hospital system at risk of being overrun with coronavirus patients. The groups Evangelical Christian volunteers expose themselves to infection and disease at no charge to patients, treating the sick without regard to race, religion, sexual orientation, or any of the other identity groups under putative siege in the United States. Yet last Tuesday, April 15, NBC News reported that, a group of LGBTQ activists stood several yards away from the Samaritans Purse field hospital on the East Meadow lawn and blasted city and state officials and Mount Sinai Hospital for partnering with the evangelical humanitarian relief organization treating overflow patients suffering from the coronavirus. As expressed by Jay W. Walker, an activist with the Reclaim Pride Coalition, How was this group ever considered to bring their hatred and their vitriol into our city at a time of crisis when our people are fighting a pandemic? It is true, as NBC News noted, that, The hospital is staffed with Christian doctors and nurses experienced in treating infectious diseases. And these Christians donate their services to help strangers, putting their own lives at risk in a living demonstration of love your neighbor as yourself. But, the report continues, Samaritan Purse's policies require most contractors and some full-time volunteers to sign a statement of faith that includes a declaration that we believe that marriage is exclusively the union of one genetic male and one genetic female. Oh, the horror! Oh, the hatred! How dare this Christian organization, led by the son of Rev. Billy Graham, uphold biblical values. How dare they affirm marriage as it has been affirmed by Church and Synagogue for two millennia. How dare they refuse to bow the knee at the altar of political correctness. Oh, the shame! Writing in the New York Post on April 3, Bob McManus pointed out that Samaritans Purse makes its mission and message loud and clear: Why did you come? asks its website. The answer is always the same: We have come to help you in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And yet that is where the problem lies: They are Christians coming to serve in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. They have crossed a dangerous line at least, in the eyes of men like Mayor de Blasio. As McManus wrote (in classic, New York Post style), Gothams chief executive this week might have accepted with some grace an offer of assistance from a crisis-tested, and devoutly Christian, emergency-relief organization but he gave it the fisheye instead. It seems that in Blasville, evangelical Christians armed with tons of the sophisticated medical equipment so sorely lacking in the city right now, plus the expertise to use it, are presumptively suspect. And are perhaps to be expelled. Thus it was with Samaritans Purse, the unapologetically fundamentalist rolling rescue squad perhaps best known for the Ebola clinics it established in West and Central Africa over the past decade. Somehow, though, Mayor de Blasio was surprised to hear that Franklin Grahams organization was actually oh no! Christian. And so he commented, I said immediately to my team that we had to find out exactly what was happening. Was there going to be an approach that was truly consistent with the values [of] New York City? Ah yes, the values of New York City, the city that aborts more African American babies than it sees born every year. By far. And the city that says: If you hold to Christian beliefs and values, you cannot serve our citizens. Not at your own expense. Not at the risk of your own lives. Not if you do it as Christians. Better to let the COVID-19 victims pass away in their misery. We will not have true Christianity in our midst. That is how far we have fallen, and we dare not ignore the handwriting on the wall. After all, if a Christian humanitarian organization can be protested during a pandemic for affirming biblical values, what will happen to churches and ministries during times of health and prosperity? Fifteen years ago, I was mocked for saying that those who came out of the closet wanted to us put Bible believing Christians in the closet. That now seems like a lifetime ago. For those who are still slumbering, it is well past time to wake up. A doctor pelted with stones while screening residents of a locality here earlier this month, on Thursday welcomed the ordinance to protect healthcare workers on the frontline of the fight against coronavirus from acts of violence. Trupti Katdare was part of the team trying to trace a person who came into contact with a COVID-19 patient. Unfazed by the attack, Katdare and another doctor Zakiya Sayyed had returned to the same spot the next day to resume the screening work. "The new legal provision is a good step by the government and will definitely help millions of health workers like me in the battle against COVID-19. I am happy with this provision," Katdare, 40, told PTI. "Everyone should understand that every health worker fighting COVID-19 is working to save the lives of others, disregarding their own," she said. On Tuesday, she was in the same Tatpatti Bakhal area where she was attacked earlier, presenting saplings to 48 residents who returned to their homes after spending 14 days in quarantine. Health workers and police personnel in Indore have suffered from non-cooperation, misbehavior, threats and attacks in various incidents during the past one month. Videos of many such incidents have also gone viral on social media. Indore is among the districts most affected by the coronavirus outbreak in the country. According to official information, 945 COVID-19 patients have been found in the district till Thursday morning. Of these, 53 people have died during treatment, while 77 patients have been discharged from hospitals after recovery. The government on Wednesday issued the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, making acts of violence and harassment against healthcare personnel deployed in combating COVID-19 a non-bailable offence with maximum punishment of seven years imprisonment and Rs 5 lakh fine. The ordinance will protect the healthcare fraternity, including doctors, nurses and ASHA workers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Netflix plans to use some of the cash to acquire content and for possible acquisitions, positioning itself as major US studios halt productions and delay film releases due to the coronavirus-led lockdowns Netflix Inc said on Wednesday it plans to raise about $1 billion in debt to beef up original content, a day after the streaming pioneer doubled its own projections for new customers as stuck-at-home users binged on movies and shows. Shares of the company were down 3% at $420 in morning trade after it also forecast a weaker second half of the year when shelter-in-place orders are lifted. Netflix plans to use some of the cash to acquire content and for possible acquisitions, positioning itself as major US studios halt productions and delay film releases due to the coronavirus-led lockdowns. (Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak) Most programming for 2020, and much of 2021, has already been filmed and is being finished remotely in post-production, Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said on Tuesday, adding that the company was working on over 200 such projects. As streaming video grows in the United States, the space has become more competitive with the debut of Walt Disney Cos Disney+ and other upcoming rivals. That threat has pushed Netflix, with about 183 million global subscribers, to aggressively expand its content and look overseas for growth. Despite new services on the horizon from HBO and launches of services from Disney and Apple, we expect minimal long-term impact to Netflix subscriber addition and retention, Piper Sandler analysts wrote in a client note. Netflix launched several popular original shows in the first quarter, including action film Spenser Confidential, documentary miniseries Tiger King, dating show Love is Blind, and Spanish drama Money Heist. The current quarter slate includes the Chris Hemsworth starred action movie Extraction, sitcom #blackAF, comedy show Space Force and reality dating series Too Hot to Handle. Netflix had a $15 billion cash budget for content last year and BMO Capital Markets had estimated spending on content to top $17 billion this year. The company, which usually funds its spending spree by sporadically tapping the debt market, is selling senior notes this time. Netflix, which has about $15 billion in debt, last raised money in October 2019 through a $2 billion offering of senior notes. State leaders eyeing ways to lift coronavirus-driven shutdowns agree that its impossible to fully reopen a states economy when children are home from school, limiting their parents ability to return to work. But even as governors in a handful of states begin easing restrictions on businesses, theyve left school buildings closed, some extending those closures for the rest of the school year. Here are some examples: Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, a Republican, announced this week that businesses like bowling alleys, restaurants, and beauty salons could reopen as early as Friday. What wont reopen? Schools, which Kemp ordered closed for the remainder of the school year on April 1. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, a Democrat, said Wednesday he would allow some retail businesses to resume modified operations. But Bullock placed the ball in schools courts. Though districts would be allowed to reopen on May 7, they wont be penalized for continuing remote learning. On the same day that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, announced plans to reopen some businesses last week, he extended school closures for the remainder of the school year. On the same day that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, said he would allow his states beaches to open to visitors, he announced school buildings would remain closed for the rest of the academic year. Here are four factors that make reopening schools a much tougher call for state leaders than allowing businesses to resume operations: School Is Compulsory, Not Voluntary Lifting restrictions on businesses allows them to reopen to customers, but it doesnt require them to do so, and it doesnt require customers to patronize them. In Georgia, for example, many small businesses told local media that they dont plan to reopen, though they have the freedom to do so. And states like Montana that have eased business restrictions have still maintained limits, like banning crowds of more than 50 people and requiring minimum distances between work stations and tables. But school attendance is compulsory. Andeven though children appear to be less likely to have symptomatic cases of the coronavirusfamilies may be hesitant to send them to a building with hundreds of their peers each day where they could become ill or carry the virus back home to more vulnerable family members. Across the country, state leaders have suggested schools wont return to normal if they reopen their buildings in the fall. In California and Colorado, for example, governors have urged schools to consider how they can promote social distancing in classrooms and avoid crowds in cafeterias. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy suggested this week that students may have to wear masks when they return to school. If these new protocols feel rushed or ad hoc, it may add to families anxiety, and some students may not show up. Its similar to concerns some districts face on snowy days or when more-routine illnesses, like the flu, spread among students. And in some states, like Florida and Georgia, where discussions have started about easing business restrictions, the numbers of coronavirus cases are still high. In Montana, where spread of the illness is much more limited, a majority of respondents to an unscientific internet poll conducted by the states education department favored keeping schools closed. Employee Fears In addition to the comfort and safety of families, schools must consider the teachers and staff in returning to work. School districts are the largest employers in many communities, and employees may be concerned about creating a vector for spreading the virus or about growing ill themselves. Before Floridas DeSantis announced plans to continue distance learning into the summer, he publicly floated the idea of opening buildings, even for a few weeks. That idea was met with protests from the Florida Education Association. COVID-19 presents more questions than answers, the union wrote in an April 14 letter to the governor . It also presents a threat that we cannot control. The potential damage that could be done to families and entire communities from an outbreak of COVID-19 at even one school far outweighs the inconvenience of continuing distance learning for the rest of the school year. Logistical Concerns In many states, families wont send students back to schools until the fall. According to Education Weeks tracker , 41 states, three U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia have ordered or recommended school building closures for the rest of the academic year. Backtracking on those announcements would be extremely challenging for schools and families. But, even in states that have left the door open for schools to welcome students back this academic year, the process wouldnt be easy. Many schools, concerned about contagion, have restricted staff access to buildings since they closed them to students. Before reopening, they would have to complete time-consuming cleaning. That would give teachers and students very little time to get back into a learning routine before their regular school years are scheduled to end, said Noelle Ellerson Ng, the associate executive director of advocacy and governance for AASA, the School Superintendents Association. For some schools, the question of reopening will focus on whether to offer extended summer school to make up for lost learning time, not whether to fulfill the current school calendar in person. And some are considering an early start to the next school year: Mississippi State Superintendent Carey Wright said in a USA Today interview that she hoped the state would reopen schools in late July, after the summer break but before schools typically start in mid-August. Montana districts originally scheduled their last days of school for late May. Even if they decide to reopen, they would have to extend the school year to get more than a few weeks of in-person class time. Leaders of the states largest districts posted messages online Wednesday outlining plans to take the decision to their school boards, but some were already considering remaining online , even before Bullocks announcement. Unclear Federal Guidelines President Donald Trump has been unclear and even contradictory in his statements about the speed and manner in which governors should ease their virus mitigation efforts. When DeSantis considered reopening Floridas schools, Trump insisted in a White House briefing that he had the authority to override that decision . And, while hes said the cure cant be worse than the problem, Trump said Wednesday he disagreed with Georgia governor Kemps plan to reopen businesses. Yet after releasing federal guidelines April 16 that proposed states ease restrictions in phases, Trump told reporters he believed some governors would open schools sooner rather than later." Education groups have said those federal guidelines dont provide enough clarity about how to safely welcome students back. The guidelines, which largely focus on businesses, assume that states will have the capability to quickly and easily test people for the highly contagious illness and to trace their contacts to contain its spread. Many governors and health officials have said they dont yet have the resources for those mitigation efforts. The White House plan includes gating criteria to govern reopening: consistently declining rates of flu-like symptoms, drops in documented cases of the coronavirus, and adequate hospital capacity for a possible resurgence of illness. But, even when numbers of new cases and fatalities show sustained declines, questions remain about how to open schools. The White House guidelines call for three phases of reopening for businesses, schools, and workplaces, with school buildings that have been shut down remaining closed in the first phase. In that second phase, schools could reopen, the guidance says. But vulnerable people would have to stay home, and that includes people with asthma, a common condition for many K-12 students. The guidance also suggests that in phase two more generally residents should avoid social settings of more than 50 people, where appropriate distancing may not be practicalunless precautionary measures are observed." That last point could be a particularly high bar for schools. In the same breath that the guidance highlights a path forward in opening schools, it establishes a scenario where every single school would be in direct conflict with another recommendation, AASA President Daniel Domenech said in a statement. The group wants guidance that can be implemented with minimal confusion and with confidence in the science behind it. THIS NEWS RELEASE IS INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION IN CANADA ONLY AND IS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Golden Predator Mining Corp. (TSXV:GPY) (Golden Predator or the Company) announces that due to strong demand it has agreed with Clarus Securities Inc. (Clarus) to increase the previously announced (GP NR dated April 21, 2020) marketed offering from 10,000,000 units (Units) to 11,200,000 Units (the Offering). The offering price of C$0.25 per Unit remains unchanged. The Company has filed an amended and restated preliminary short form prospectus, which amends and restates the preliminary short form prospectus filed on April 20, 2019. Each Unit consists of one Class A common share (a Common Share) of the Company and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant, with each whole warrant (a Warrant) exercisable for one Common Share at an exercise price of C$0.35 for 36 months following the completion of the Offering. Warrants are subject to acceleration of the expiry date to 30 calendar days upon notice provided to the warrant-holder by the Company in the event that the volume weighted average price of the Common Shares is equal to or higher than C$0.75 for a period of 5 consecutive trading days on the TSX Venture Exchange or other Canadian stock exchange on which the Common Shares are principally traded. The Offering will be conducted on a best efforts agency basis under the terms of an agency agreement to be entered into between the Company and Clarus Securities Inc. (the Agent). On closing of the Offering the Company has agreed to pay the Agent a cash fee equal to 7.0% of the gross proceeds of the Offering. The Offering will be conducted in the provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario, and in such other jurisdictions as are agreed to by the Company and the Agent. PowerOne Capital Markets Limited has been appointed as special advisor to the Company. The net proceeds raised from the sale of the Units under the Offering will be used by the Company for the completion of a feasibility level study to determine the parameters for heap leach reprocessing at the Companys Brewery Creek Property, metallurgical column and geotechnical testing, preparation of an updated mineral resource estimate for the Brewery Creek Property, and for working capital and general corporate purposes. The Offering is expected to close on or about May 12, 2020 and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to the receipt of regulatory approvals and the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The securities being offered have not, nor will they be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons in the absence of U.S. registration or an applicable exemption from the U.S. registration requirements. This release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities in the United States. ABOUT GOLDEN PREDATOR MINING CORP. Golden Predator is advancing the past-producing Brewery Creek Mine towards a timely resumption of mining activities, under its valid Quartz Mining and Water Licenses, in Canadas Yukon. With established resources grading over 1.0 g/t Gold and both a technical report and feasibility level study underway considering the economics of a restart of heap leach operations at the Brewery Creek Mine, 2020 proves to be a pivotal year for the Company. Drilling continues to expand the open-ended resources and untested targets across the 180 km2 brownfield property located 55 km by road from Dawson City, Yukon. The Company has a Socio-Economic Accord with the Trondek Hwechin First Nation. For further information: Janet Lee-Sheriff Chief Executive Officer 604-260-0289 info@goldenpredator.com Explained: How containment for coronavirus in Kerala found positive response India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P New Delhi, Apr 23: Kerala reported its first coronavirus case on January 30 after a 23-year-old medical student who had returned from Wuhan. Also, more than 700 persons with a travel history to China were kept under observation in the God's own country. This state has seen more than 400 positive cases and two deaths. But, consistently stayed ahead of the coronavirus curve, with its 70 per cent recovery rate being the highest in the country. Also, it can be seen that Kerala has tested more than 20,000 samples, which is the highest for any states in India. What is Kerala's containment strategy? The containment strategy in Kerala's coronavirus battle is its robust healthcare system, considered on a par with those of many developed countries. In June 2019, it was seen that Kerala topped all states on the NITI Aayog's annual health index with an overall score of 74.01. Coronavirus positive cases in India rises to 21,393, death toll at 681 Though the state has been investing 5 per cent of its total state plan outlay on healthcare, Kerala's focus on healthcare at the level of Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres has made a good remark. With the management of these centres in the hands of three-tier local bodies, many of these have modern diagnostic facilities and offer tele-medicine services. In February, the state's coronavirus control team laid out guidelines on testing, quarantine, hospital admission and discharge criteria, which is regularly updated. However, it can be seen that until January, Kerala did not have any testing facility and throat swabs of suspected coronavirus cases had to be sent to the National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune. But by the first week of February, NIV-Alappuzha got sanction to conduct the tests. How Nipah virus helped Kerala to respond for coronavirus swiftly? Keeping the tracing of people who had contacts of positive cases, Kerala also enforced 28 days of home quarantine although the general incubation period for the novel coronavirus pandemic is 14 days. Kerala began to screen all international passengers from the beginning of March. Also, though some managed to skip the screening at the airport, those had to deal with the village committees, who kept the health officials informed about fresh arrivals and ensured they remained indoors. The state also launched call centres in hotspot areas such as Kasaragod and Kannur districts. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, April 23, 2020, 10:29 [IST] Digital Realty Trust, a data center real estate investment trust, is stepping up its sustainability efforts at a time where environmentally conscious investing is an increasingly popular topic on Wall Street. The San Francisco-based property manager on Wednesday announced a multi-year plan to outfit its data centers in the Dallas region with renewable wind power as part of a new deal with Citi bank. "We're focused on sustainability because it matters to our customs and because we think it's the right thing to do," Bill Stein, CEO of Digital Realty, told CNBC's Jim Cramer in a "Mad Money" interview. "We are absolutely committed to delivering sustainable growth for our customers, our shareholders and our employees." Digital Realty, which serves businesses in digital media, health care and gaming among other industries, inked a 7.5-year deal with the bank for a power and renewable energy certificate. The certificate, represents electricity generated from a green energy source, is expected to supply the company with more than 260,000 megawatt-hours of wind-generated power each year, according to a press release. "We've more than doubled our renewable energy sourcing over the past two years and last year our renewable energy efforts avoided 500,000 metric tons of carbon emissions, which is equivalent to taking over 100,000 cars off the road each year," Stein told Cramer. The business move fulfills what Cramer calls "Impact Per Shares," or eco-friendly investments that public companies are making toward a sustainable future. Those companies have redirected their spending from fossil fuels to more green sources. Investors today are more concerned about socially and environmentally conscious business plans than they have ever been. The trend can be found in the investing habits in both exchanged-traded funds and hedge funds. Earlier this year BlackRock CEO Larry Fink wrote in a letter that climate change is now a "defining factor in companies' long-term prospects." "In some ways it's table stakes today," Stein said of the trend. "[It] didn't used to be, but it is today." Digital realty shares rose 0.76% during Wednesday's session. In view of the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hold a meeting with finance ministry officials soon. "Economic relief is obviously on the agenda because the government is still assessing the needs of every sector and coming up with necessary solutions as and when required. It has already announced relief, more needs to be discussed," a senior government official told Moneycontrol. While the date for the same hasn't been decided yet, it could happen any time soon in the next couple of days, the official said. "The government would take a look at the overall economic pain points at the moment and strategise accordingly," the official said. On March 26, the government announced that it would provide free rice/wheat and pulses to the poor for the next three months. It also announced the Prime Minister Gareeb Kalyan Scheme of Rs 1.70 lakh crore. The measures include Rs 50 lakh insurance cover for all frontline medical 'warriors'. 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 Apart from announcing relief measures, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also announced multiple measures on statutory and compliance matters in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. On April 17, Sitharaman said that India will soon announce fresh relief measures and economic stimulus to help the poor and industry fight the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participating in the 101st meeting of the Development Committee Plenary of the World Bank through video conference, Sitharaman also assured the global community that India would continue to supply critical medicines to needy countries for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Her 17-year-old son was moribund on the call, wondering how much longer he could avoid the virus that made Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Center in Virginia the scene of the nation's worst known outbreak of covid-19 at a prison for youths. The teen was nervously awaiting the results of his second coronavirus test as resident after resident fell ill around him. The first - negative - came after a fever. Prison officials had stopped visitors, suspended schooling, ended counseling and locked at least some teens in their cells 23 hours a day to stem the pandemic, the mother said. Still, it wasn't enough. The mother said her son's cellmate, with whom he shared a bunkbed, began showing symptoms of covid-19. Her son phoned her in a depression after undergoing yet another test. "He said, 'Mom, I just don't know how to stay well anymore,'" the mother recalled. "That would break any mother's heart because I didn't know what to tell him either." He tested negative. Nearly a quarter of the publicly reported cases of coronavirus at youth detention centers in the country are at this single facility outside Richmond, according to a tally maintained by The Sentencing Project. Bon Air houses roughly 190 male residents between the ages of 14 and 20 from across Virginia. The unfolding medical crisis that has sickened 26 inmates and seven staff members is the very type that youth advocates have feared could sweep such centers. Even as thousands of adult inmates have been released to head off covid-19 behind bars, Virginia and some other states have been too slow to release youth offenders leaving conditions for a tinderbox, they say. "This is a warning sign to other youth correctional facilities across the country. And what's so tragic is that it was so predictable," said Rachael Deane, the legal director for the JustChildren Program at Virginia's Legal Aid Justice Center. "In correctional facilities ... the virus spreads like wildfire." Deane said clients inside Bon Air "are reporting chaos." The Legal Aid Justice Center wrote in a letter to prison officials this week that one had not been seen by a doctor despite having tested positive for coronavirus, another had symptoms but couldn't get a test, numerous residents diagnosed with covid-19 were not provided adequate information about the disease, some parents had not been informed about their child's positive tests, and protective gear for the residents was not adequate. Another mother interviewed by The Washington Post said she had not been able to talk to her son on the phone for a month, communication issues that were mirrored in reports to the Legal Aid Justice Center. The problems, they say, are being exacerbated by a skeleton staff. Greg Davy, a spokesman for the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), wrote in an email that officials are preparing a response to the allegations laid out in the Legal Aid Justice Center's letter. "As always, DJJ's top priority is protecting the health and safety of our residents and staff," Davy wrote. "We will continue to work closely with (the Virginia Department of Health) as we respond to this pandemic." A tracker on the DJJ's website reported that as of Wednesday, 22 of the sickened inmates have recovered, while four are still in quarantine. All seven of the staff members who contracted covid-19 remain in isolation. A news release issued last week said 21 of the then 25 sickened residents showed no outward signs of illness and four had symptoms "no more severe than a cold or flu." DJJ said all the inmates are receiving medical care and parents have been kept up-to-date about what is going on. DJJ officials said the facility has taken a number of steps to stop the outbreak, including screening residents twice a day for fever, testing anyone who exhibits even mild symptoms, giving residents and staff cloth masks and instituting social distancing policies. The first signs of trouble emerged at the beginning of the month. The DJJ reported on April 2 that two staff members who had little contact with residents tested positive for coronavirus. On April 6, DJJ announced a resident had covid-19. Last week, Valerie Slater, the executive director of the juvenile justice advocacy group Rise for Youth, said she filed a freedom of information request seeking more information about what was happening inside Bon Air since officials had not provided an update. Other advocates said DJJ had rebuffed their requests for information. On Friday, DJJ officials announced there were 25 cases of the coronavirus at Bon Air. The gap in reporting angered Slater and some parents. "They went radio silent on the whole thing," Slater said. DJJ director Valerie Boykin said in a news release that the facility had not released the number of cases sooner because of concern for the underage offenders' privacy, but DJJ's thinking had evolved on the issue along with other juvenile justice agencies across the country. Parents said the anxiety of a potentially lethal contagion combined with the extreme isolation of spending 23 hours a day in a cell is taking a toll on their children. Two parents said their sons are only let out an hour a day to take a shower, exercise and called loved ones. The measures have extended more than two weeks now. The Post generally does not name juvenile offenders. The Legal Aid Justice Center said they had been in touch with five inmates who were being kept under 23-hour a day lockdown. DJJ officials did not respond to questions about how many residents were being kept under those conditions. "You've already had your child taken from you, so you've gone through absolute hell," the mother of the 17-year-old said. "Then they're saying I can't see my kid. All of the sudden they're locked inside their room for 23 hours. It's almost too much." The mother said the family only learned of her son's first test for coronavirus because her husband was on the phone with him when medical staff showed up in protective gear to administer it. She was in disbelief they hadn't been informed. DJJ officials said in a release they are notifying parents of all positive tests. A mother of a 19-year-old said her son suffered from mental health issues and had previously tried to commit suicide. She said she's only been able to communicate with him by letter and she thinks his counseling has stopped. So have the choir and piano lessons that she said gave him purpose. "He's written, 'I don't know how I'm going to get through it,'" the mother said. "That's alarming and concerning because it shows he's not getting the social engagement. I'm not getting letters saying 'I talked to my therapist today.'" Eight Commonwealth's Attorneys, including four in Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax and Loudoun counties, called on Virginia juvenile justice officials to release youth offenders who posed no safety risk and to halt new admissions on April 15. Boykin, whose spokesman did not respond to a request to interview her, told NPR this week that DJJ had released 14 juveniles from Bon Air and was planning to release another 10 soon. Bon Air is the state's only youth prison. Boykin wrote in a letter that DJJ had released 22 youth from state facilities in March and were reviewing more than 25 other cases. DJJ has the authority to release or divert some juveniles in its care, but others can only be freed by a judge. Youth advocates said those numbers are too low. They say it is part of a national problem. Some state like Michigan and Colorado have moved to release juvenile prisoners in a coordinated fashion, but such actions have been piecemeal across the country. An Annie E. Casey Foundation survey of a sampling of facilities in 30 states found the number of youths in detention dropped 24 percent between March and April. "The releases are happening sporadically in some counties in some states, but certainly not across the board," said Liz Ryan, president of the Youth First Initiative. "We have been saying for a month coronavirus is the kind of thing that can spread rapidly and put kids lives at risk." Josh Rovner, a senior advocacy associate at The Sentencing Project, said nationally 115 inmates and 209 staff members at juvenile detention centers have tested positive for coronavirus as of Thursday. The numbers include 12 at Swanson Center for Youth in Louisiana and 5 at the New Beginnings Development Center in D.C. But Rovner said the actual number of coronavirus cases is likely higher. Only four states have put out figures for coronavirus cases in juvenile detention centers, but even those numbers are not comprehensive, he said. He pointed out Louisiana's figures don't include group homes. He's found other cases by scanning media reports. "We don't have any sense of how widespread coronavirus is in juvenile facilities," Rovner said. "The reporting is scant." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sergio Goncalves, Lefteris Papadimas and Renee Maltezou (Reuters) Lisbon/Athens Thu, April 23, 2020 16:30 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3d9d0d 2 News Europe,tourism,travel,summer-vacation,summer,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,lockdown Free There are no tourists at Vila Gale's resorts right now, and the home page of the company's website urges visitors to #STAYHOME. Still, Portugal's second-largest hotel chain is busy: staff are stocking up on sanitizers, gloves, masks and thermometers, re-arranging dining tables to keep guests at least 1.5 meters apart, and drawing up a la carte menus to replace buffets. It plans to reopen its hotels from June, joining a scramble by Europe's tourism industry to salvage what business it can from this summer season as coronavirus lockdowns begin to ease. "We have to endure the situation and get some revenue this summer," said Vila Gale executive board member Goncalo Rebelo de Almeida. "I hope ... that will at least allow us to pay fixed costs. And then we will bet on it returning to normal in 2021." Across the continent, from Portugal's Algarve to the islands of Greece, beaches are deserted. There are no visitors at the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre, Edinburgh's August festivals have been cancelled and the Netherlands' flower fields are closed. The COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed nearly 180,000 people and infected more than 2.5 million globally, has thrown the travel and tourism industry into turmoil. International travel is expected to drop 39 percent this year, according to consultancy Tourism Economics - equivalent to 577 million fewer journeys. That is catastrophic for an industry that accounts for more than 10 percent of global gross domestic product (GDP) and employs some 320 million people. The European Union's Internal Market Commissioner, Thierry Breton, wants a "Marshall Plan" using funds from Europe's vast economic stimulus packages to haul hotels, restaurants, tour operators, travel agencies and cruise companies back from collapse. Read also: Hit the treadmill and go on a virtual walking tour of Paris, New York and Dubai Aligning Europe The EU's executive will come up with guidelines on how to restart travel, but getting member states in lockstep may not be easy. Austria has suggested a staggered resumption of tourism, initially allowing German visitors in, rather than a full restart of the EU's suspended open-border pact. Greek Tourism Minister Harry Theocharis says it is critical that Europe adopts a common position and reopens borders soon because already businesses have folded. "Many hotel units won't open, and there will be unemployment," Theocharis told Reuters, calling for long-term financial aid to an industry that represents about a quarter of Greece's economy. There are doubts that Mediterranean destinations can persuade northern Europeans worried about their finances and catching the virus to come south this summer. Spain and Italy in particular are infection hotspots. The British government is advising against all but essential travel anywhere, and Britons are cancelling summer holidays. "With that advice in place... new bookings, especially for early summer, would have virtually dried up," said a spokesman for the Association of British Travel Agents. There was more interest in holidays from late this year, he said. A survey of 1,300 users from Germany by booking portal HolidayCheck showed that 40 percent are sticking to travel plans for this year and 30 percent want to spend their next holiday in Germany. Most just want clarity on cancellation terms. "What holidaymakers need now is fast, correct and easily understandable information," said its director of customer service Pascal Due. Most airlines have warned of a slow return to normal as passengers hesitate over booking holidays until their safety can be demonstrated by health authorities, though Europe's largest low-cost carrier, Ryanair, predicts a relatively quick bounce-back fuelled by a price war. Read also: Rules every tourist needs to know before traveling to Europe Safety first Portugal is working hard on its image as a safe place to visit, preparing health safety certifications for hotels, which will be required to offer protective equipment and even coronavirus tests for employees and customers. Economy Minister Pedro Siza Vieira recalled the emotional tribute paid by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to Portuguese nurse Luis Pitarma who cared for him while in hospital with coronavirus. "Luis is not an isolated case," Siza Vieira told Reuters. "Our nurses are among the best prepared in Europe." Home rental firm Airbnb also wants to reassure, suggesting hosts share their "enhanced cleaning regime" with potential guests and let them know person-to-person contact will be minimal. But many say much of the summer season is already lost. "We have definitely lost three months, now we are hoping to recoup the other four, July to October," said Hotelier Manolis Giannoulis on the Greek island of Crete. On France's Mont Saint-Michel, a tidal islet topped by an ancient abbey off France's northwest coast, the owners of deserted souvenir shops and restaurants are also planning ahead. "We are thinking about our waiting staff wearing masks, single-dish menus, high-quality disposable cutlery to reduce sanitary problems for our washing-up staff," said Eric Bellon, head of the La Mere Poulard restaurant group. "Our objective is to be ready and waiting, whether its in three weeks, a month or two months." The Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday accused election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor of travelling to Kolkata secretly in a cargo plane, dodging the lockdown, at the instance of his current benefactor and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Kishor, who earlier worked with the BJP but turned into its strident critic of late, reacted with indignation, saying he would retire from public life if the allegations were proven true. He also asserted that those levelling the allegation against him should apologise. In a statement, state BJP spokesperson Nikhil Anand asked by whose permission did Kishor, who is neither a government official nor a crew member of any air carrier nor a medical personnel, travel to Kolkata. "Why must this travel not be considered illegal in view of the lockdown?" he asked. "We demand that the documents which have facilitated his travel, secretly in a cargo plane dodging the lockdown, be made public. Else we would put pressure on the Airport Authority of India and the Civil Aviation Ministry to order an inquiry into the episode," Anand added. He also alleged that Banerjee, who also heads the ruling TMC in West Bengal, has been a failure in tackling the coronavirus crisis and incapable of even optimally utilising the funds and resources provided by the Centre. Anand said she had summoned Kishor for an image makeover. "Her reposing trust in a political tout is an insult to corona warriors of her state who are doing their best despite her questionable leadership," remarked the BJP leader, whose party has been aggressively trying to make inroads into West Bengal ever since its spectacular performance there in the Lok Sabha polls last year. Kishor appeared peeved at the allegations said if he (the BJP spokesman) is speaking the truth, he should furnish details like which flight I boarded and the time when it took off and landed. "If he does so, I will retire from public life. If not, people like him should apologise." Notably, besides the BJP spokesman, Ajay Alok, a fiery leader of the Janata Dal-United, which had expelled Kishor a few months ago, also shared a news item about the poll strategists alleged travel to Kolkata with a snide remark aimed at the West Bengal chief minister. "During the pandemic people are seeking masks, sanitizers, ventilators and other equipment alongside doctors and nurses. Didi (the Bengali word for elder sister which Banerjees supporters and detractors use to address her) ordered such a heavy duty cargo item," Alok exclaimed in his tweet. Kishor also pointed out that the flight operations are controlled by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the concerned Union ministry. With the BJP in power at the Centre, it should not be difficult for those levelling allegations to come up with proof in support of their claim. Kishor, who first shot to fame in 2014 Lok Sabha elections when he handled the poll campaign of Narendra Modi, joined the JD-U headed by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in 2018 and was catapulted to the party's national vice president's post within weeks of joining it. He was sacked when he launched a personal attack on Kumar, disputing the latter's contention that he was inducted into the JD-U upon the recommendation of Amit Shah, who was then the BJP president. Kishor has been hired by the TMC to give it a boost in the 2021 Bengal polls. A Chinese shareholder of Virgin Australia has threatened to fire 2000 local workers of its ground services subsidiary if the federal government does not pay the company $125 million. Chinese investment group HNA, a 20 per cent owner of Virgin Australia which went into voluntary administration on Tuesday, also owns Swissport which provides services such as baggage handling. Swissport released a list of Virgin staff on Tuesday who are at risk of losing their jobs unless the the federal government extended a $125 million lifeline. Chinese conglomerate HNA, which owns 20 per cent of Virgin owns Swissport which has threatened to fire 2,000 staff if it does not receive $125 million in government funds Swissport warned it could also be forced to liquidate assets at airports such as Newcastle according to the Daily Telegraph. HNA has been trying to sell Swissport to cut its massive debts, which totalled $149billion in 2017 after borrowing to purchase a stake in Deutsche Bank New York real estate, a computer distributor and a hedge fund. Swissport warned it could also be forced to liquidate assets at airports such as Newcatle where it runs services such as baggage handling for Virgin. Pictured are Swissport workers at Adelaide Airport HNA is said to be the most indebted non-financial company in Asia and in February was forced to reach out to officials in China's Hainan province for help Swissport executive vice president Asia-Pacific Glenn Rutherford said the actions of its parent company would not impact their decisions. Swissport ANZ itself is a guarantor to almost $1.4 billion of group loans but Mr Rutherford said he still expects the company to receive support from the government. Transport Minister Michael McCormack said he was 'happy to hear them out' in an upcoming meeting on Friday but reinforced the government would not bail out a foreign company. 'You can't apply one principle to Virgin and a different principle to another company in the same industry,' Mr McCormack said. Transport Minister Michael McCormack said the government would not bail out a foreign company such as Virgin. Pictured are travellers leaving Adelaide Airport on Tuesday Mr McCormack also criticised Virgin's billionaire founder Sir Richard Branson for not speaking up sooner. 'Until Tuesday, I hadn't heard him say anything,' he said. On Tuesday Sir Richard sent a message of encouragement to the airline's 10,000 workers on Instagram. While many were uplifted by Sir Richard's words of praise for staff, many slammed him for taking aim at the Australian government for failing to use taxpayer money to bail the airline out of debt. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Swissport ANZ for comment. A province in Iraqs Kurdistan Region celebrated the apparent end of the novel coronavirus epidemic there with gunfire on Wednesday, leading to multiple injuries. Many Kurds took to social media to criticize the shootings. I'm baffled! wrote Twitter user @AlendWaly, who added that if the Kurds ever win their independence, gun laws would probably be a very good place to start. On Wednesday night, people in the city of Duhok celebrated the recovery of coronavirus patients in the eponymous province. The province is still under a partial lockdown, but local authorities had planned a celebration for April 22 after announcing Sunday that the province's 15 confirmed patients had recovered, according to the Kurdish outlet Rudaw. Videos obtained by Al-Monitor show fireworks, car horns and celebratory gunfire in the city of Duhok. Gunfire from multiple celebrations injured 13 people across the province, reported the Kurdish outlet Basnews. Many Kurds like Twitter user @cheezkurd were "amazed by the incredible stupidity of people in Duhok. Others said the festivities were premature because the wider autonomous Kurdistan Region still has confirmed coronavirus cases. There have been 388 confirmed cases of the virus in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, according to the government. User @Duaboo_ tweeted, We shouldve had this mass celebration when no cases were left in Kurdistan and not just duhok. Gun ownership is common in Kurdish society, and many Kurds own AK-47s or other rifles. The Kurdistan Regional Government has tried to force gun owners to register or give up their firearms in the past. On Thursday, following the celebrations the night before, the statistics showed one new case in the Duhok province. A Delaware County nursing home, located in the southeastern part of Pennsylvania, bordering Philadelphia, has been plagued by COVID-19, forcing county officials to ask the governor for help from National Guard nurses and medics last Saturday. The chairman of Delaware County Council, Brian Zidek, issued a public statement saying, We understand the challenges that many long-term care facilities such as the Broomall Rehabilitation and Nursing Center are facing right now, and together with support from the Chester County Health Department we are doing everything we can to support the staff, patients and their loved ones. The Pennsylvania National Guard responded by sending 18 military nurses and medics to the Broomall Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Maple Township to assist the staff. Neither county nor state officials have provided information on the number of infected patients but said the center needed help due to current staffing shortages. According to officials, the team is supposed to provide routine care for non-acute patients for only three days. Massachusetts and Florida have also deployed National Guard nurses and medics to fight the virus. The Broomall center, according to federal data, lacks adequate staffing and beds for residents. Nurses are overworked, only being able to care for each resident 35 minutes each day. This is below the total inadequate Pennsylvania average of just 48 minutes per resident. To save money and boost profits, nursing homes have replaced registered nurses with low-paid and overworked aides who have few benefits and often no sick time. The facility houses 248 residents per day with 298 certified beds. The average Pennsylvania nursing facility serves around 110 residents. Nursing homes have been among the institutions hardest hit by the coronavirus. Tight quarters and communal living spaces act like Petri dishes for the virus. Older people have been particularly vulnerable to the virus, especially those with underlying health conditions. A nursing home in Beaver County in western Pennsylvania tragically found that all 800 patients and staff have contracted the virus, while in New Jersey, 17 corpses were found piled in a small morgue only built to hold four bodies maximum. Horrific scenes such as these will forever be embedded in the consciousness of the American public. A state investigation of the Beaver County facility in November 2019 found numerous health code violations and warned that the management was not following proper procedures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. According to CBS3 Philadelphia, COVID-19 deaths in nursing homes make up the majority of deaths in county-wide mortality counts: Delaware County has 68 of 99 deaths in these facilities; in Montgomery County, 138 deaths were in nursing homes out of a total 184 deaths, equaling 75 percent; Chester County, 68 percent; Bucks County, 58 percent; and Philadelphia, 54 percent. On April 14, the New York Times identified 2,500 nursing homes across the US that have been impacted by the virus, concluding that more than 21,000 residents and staff contracted it, resulting in 3,800 deaths. This horrific number is undoubtedly an undercount, as many people who have died were never tested. Outside of Pennsylvania, some of the hardest hit nursing homes are in Virginia, New England, and Florida. While doctors, nurses and aides have been heroically fighting the virus, putting themselves at extreme risk and sacrificing their lives to save others, President Donald Trump initially called the virus a hoax and insisted that it would just go away. He is now pushing for a reckless reopening of the economy that will lead to a second wave of infections, even as the pandemic continues to rage. Both parties, Democrats and Republicans, have refused to provide enough funding for health care, even with many warnings from scientists about the potential of a catastrophically deadly pandemic. Nurses and other health care workers still lack necessary personal protective equipment (PPE), the country doesnt have enough tests, and contact tracing is in its initial stages. Many families with loved ones in these nursing homes, however, have condemned the governments negligent response to contain it. Speaking to CBS3, Angela Galiety, whose parents in a nearby facility contracted the virus but since have recovered, said, Im outraged the numbers are that high. For the past five weeks, I feel like Ive been screaming and no one has been listening to me. They are not doing enough for our seniors and our loved ones in these care facilities. I was shocked to learn that the only treatment they are providing once these residents show symptoms is rest, liquid, and acetaminophen. Our seniors do not stand a chance. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, a Democrat, has extended stay-at-home orders to May 8, after which parts of the economy will open, including construction projects, creating the possibility for a second-wave surge in cases. The Republican-controlled legislature, meanwhile, passed several bills, vetoed by Wolf, to reopen sections of the economy immediately by empowering county officials and business owners who follow guidelines from the CDC and US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. As of this writing, Pennsylvania has more than 35,600 cases and 1,622 deaths from the coronavirus, nudging ahead of Michigan and Illinois to ignominiously place fifth behind New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and California. On April 21, 1,294 new cases were reported in Pennsylvania. This is lower than the peak days of nearly 2,000 new cases a day, but up sharply from the day before when the state recorded 948 new cases. President Donald Trump on April 22 confirmed that the U.S. Navy and Air Force will soon be conducting air shows over American cities to pay tribute to healthcare workers on the frontlines of the CCP virus pandemic. Trump said Wednesday that the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels will perform military flyovers over American cities and in some regions that arent major cities, as part of a plan formulated by military officials, named Operation America Strong. Were paying tribute to our frontline healthcare workers confronting COVID, and its really a signal to all Americans to remain vigilant during the outbreak, the president announced during the White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing. This is a tribute to them, to our warriors, because theyre equal warriors to those incredible pilots, all of the fighters that we have for the more traditional fights that we win, he continued. The Thunderbird and Blue Angel crews wanted to show support to the American medical workers, who just like military members in a time of war, are fiercely running toward the fight. I want to see those shows. Trump did not specify when the air shows will take place, or where they will be conducted. However, The Washington Post reported that the flyovers will be held over areas where people do not typically congregate, in keeping with social distancing measures. The president also announced plans for a July 4 event and military air show as part of Washington D.C.s Independence Day celebrations. Last years event on the National Mall cost $2.5 million, according to The Hill. Were going to be doing it again on July 4, Trump told reporters. On July 4 well be doing what we had at the Mall, as you know doing it last year was a tremendous success, I would imagine well do ithopefully I can use the term forever, Trump said. It was a great success. He said this years Independence Day gathering on the National Mall will probably have 25 percent of what we had last year. The president said social distancing would be encouraged at the event, to prevent the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. So ideally it would be wonderful if we could have it as it was last year, Trump said. Eventually we will have that. I think its important to know, eventually we are going to have that. From The Epoch Times The Commissioner for Science and Technology in Edo State, Emmanuel Agbale, kidnapped by gunmen on April 17 has been released by his abductors. The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Lawan Jimeta, confirmed the rescue of the Commissioner from the kidnappers Wednesday. The commissioners convoy was ambushed by gunmen on his way to Ekpoma on Friday,17th April on the Benin Auchi Road, who subsequently abducted Agbale after killing his police orderly in gun battle. PV: 0 The House voted on Thursday to create a Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis, setting up what is certain to be a contentious new forum for partisan battles over the Trump administration's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The panel will be chaired by Majority Whip Jim Clyburn of South Carolina, a longtime ally of Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The committee will consist of seven Democrats and five Republicans, and will have broad oversight power not only on how federal dollars are being spent to battle the pandemic, but also to assess the governments "preparedness for and response to the coronavirus crisis, according to the legislation. The resolution text places the panel under the umbrella of the House Oversight Committee and grants it the authority to probe "executive branch policies, deliberations, decisions, activities, internal and external communications related to the coronavirus crisis and any other issues related to the pandemic. Ms Pelosi has insisted the new committee would be bipartisan, but such broad oversight powers for the panel plays into Republicans fears that Democrats will use the panel to bludgeon the Trump administration during a presidential election year. "I don't see a lot of members voting for it on our side, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told reporters before the vote on Wednesday. I told [Ms Pelosi] I would wait before I would appoint anybody to it, McCarthy said, to see who she appoints to this, [and if] she is serious about making this a committee that works." Mr McCarthy's words proved prescient: The resolution to form the select committee passed, but on a party-line 212-182 vote, with every Republican present voting against it. Independent Congressman Justin Amash of Michigan also voted against the creation of the panel. Republicans have questioned the need for yet another panel to conduct oversight over the federal government's ongoing coronavirus response when every House committee already exercises its extensive constitutional oversight powers. And the economic recovery package passed in March created multiple independent oversight bodies to oversee the coronavirus response specifically, including a panel of inspectors general, an office for a special inspector general for pandemic recovery endowed with a $25m budget from the Treasury Department, and a five-member congressional oversight commission chosen by congressional leaders. Nevertheless, Ms Pelosi marched forward with the resolution. "The committee will root out waste, fraud and abuse," the speaker said on the House floor on Thursday in a speech touting the panel. "It will be laser-focused on ensuring that taxpayer money goes to workers' paychecks and benefits, and it will ensure the federal response is based on the best possible science and guided by health experts and that the money invested is not being exploited by profiteers and price gougers." AME Church had a pandemic plan ready years before new coronavirus hit Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment For more than a decade, the Rev. Dr. Miriam J. Burnett, a practicing physician and public health expert who serves as the medical director of the African Methodist Episcopal Church Health Commission, has been preparing her church and the wider denomination for a pandemic. Earlier this year, as soon as she realized the new coronavirus was a global threat and long before it was confirmed as spreading across the United States, Burnett quickly made her plan available to the approximately 7,000 congregations consisting of nearly 4,000 pastors and 2.5 million members around the globe. As the AME Church International Health Commissions medical director, I jumped on this very early, Burnett told The Christian Post in an interview Monday. Since 2008, said Burnett, the AME Church through its Health Commission has had the Church Preparation and Response to Potential Pandemicsplan and it has been revised three times since then. The latest revision came in mid-February when Burnett, who leads Historic Jones Tabernacle AME Church, held her last in-person service with her congregants. As members of the AME Church we must work together, follow basic infection control and behavior modification to decrease the spread of illness and disease. Faith is the key that will empower us to become educated and collaborate during these times of concern, the pandemic plan states. It then goes on for four pages sharing guidance on social distancing and other possible interventions to manage a crisis and limit the spread of disease. When asked how she first discussed the threat with her local church, which has about 95 members on record, Burnett said it wasnt an abrupt shutdown. She first discussed the situation with her leadership team, then the general church body after learning how churches in Europe were being impacted by the coronavirus. Because I am a connectional officer, they are very in tune to whats going on in the church worldwide, Burnett said of her home church. And so when I said were going to take this pre-emptive strike, we had a phased approach: There would only be 10 of us in the sanctuary. Well video conference it (the service). The rest need to stay home and then I laid out that plan. I reviewed the four-page document with them on pandemics, she said. While the AME church in general has lost a few pastors and members to the virus, Burnett believes the impact of the virus on the first independent Protestant denomination to be founded by black people, and one of the largest Methodist denominations in the world, has been significantly mitigated because the church had a strong connectional response to the pandemic. Meanwhile, the Church of God in Christ, Americas biggest African-American Pentecostal denomination, has reportedly lost at least a dozen to up to 30 bishops and prominent clergy to the coronavirus. Leadership meetings were still being held in mid-March, The Washington Post reported. Burnett admitted that the AME Church benefited from the infrastructure they already had in place. I have an MD, an MPH and an M.Div. so I bring all three of those to bear when I make statements and we have the blessing of having a health commission that has microbiologists, virologists, as well as healthcare professionals and mental health professionals of the entire spectrum and we come together and we make decisions collectively, she told CP. The pastor also noted that she previously worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in educating churches in various denominations across the country about preparing for pandemics and disasters. In CDC Engagement With Community and Faith-Based Organizations in Public Health Emergencies, author and infectious disease physician Scott Santibanez said the federal government noticed the ability of community and faith-based organizations to respond to the needs of vulnerable, particularly minority, communities in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Since then, substantial effort has been made by the government agencies to include CFBOs in public health preparedness, response, and recovery but it remains a work in progress. InFaith-Based Organizations and Pandemic Preparedness, another report written by Santibanez and published in the Journal of the Catholic Health Association of the United States in 2007, he highlighted how church-related groups would be vital partners in getting ready for an influenza pandemic. During a severe influenza pandemic, people from communities around the world will be asked to voluntarily avoid gathering together, to limit the virus' spread. People will be asked to stay at home if they are sick and to minimize contact with others. The U.S. government cannot prepare for or respond to a severe pandemic alone, he wrote. During such a crisis, there may be an insufficient number of doctors, nurses, hospital beds, or other countermeasures to go around. Many if not most communities will be affected, and as many as 40 percent of workers may be unable to work because of illness or a need to care for ill family members, he explained. While a majority of churches have sought to work with public health and government officials to appropriately respond to the coronavirus crisis, a vocal minority of pastors have continued to flout social distancing guidelines, citing First Amendment rights. Burnett commented: As a physician and public health provider, I cannot condone that. I will not. When churches work in partnership with public health officials she said, outcomes can be much more positive for the community. Im blessed to be able to live out the mission that God gave me. I saw this coming. Weve been talking about it for years. Id like to be able to say that because of the Health Commission under my leadership we have made a difference. People had their pantries already stocked. They didnt have to go run to the store for toilet paper like everybody else did, she said. Im in the First District and when we have our First District meetings, there is a disaster preparedness presentation that closes us out every time we gather. So we talk about what do you need in your pantries? What kind of things you should have in your house? Keep these things going in your house. Rotate them. Weve been talking about that for years, she said. She explained that as a result of the coronavirus, various health ministries in churches and other faith-based organizations have been reconnecting. Weve had a resurgence of some of us that used to work together in the National Council of Churches healthy ministry group and have started reconnecting again, she said. Were talking, were exchanging ideas, were sharing resources. She also urged Christians not to rush into gathering inside buildings again but focus on helping the most vulnerable among them and try fellowshipping in different ways such as using online platforms. I would say to folk, stay at home except for the essentials. The church system has got to be the best system in knowing who the sick and shut-in are, she said. You know who the people are, those who are able to go out to go to the grocery store, dont just shop for your house. You got Mother Jones, 85 years old, we dont want her out. So when you go to the store pick up an extra thing of milk or bread, drop it on her doorstep. Call her and say 'reach outside the door. There is food outside the door.' We have to do those kinds of things and we have to stay home. God has given us technology and we need to use it. There are many different ways for us to communicate and hold worship. Worship is not in a building. The church is not the building. The church is a community of faith, regardless of how we decide to express it. She further noted that as a result of the pandemic, members of her congregation have gotten closer despite not being able to meet in person. Being able to come together via telephone, being able to gather via electronic means for worship. Corporate worship can still occur even without being in the same physical space. And it has been. Many churches are seeing a rise in participation and what I can say for my church, Jones Tabernacle AME in Philadelphia, we are closer now than we have ever been, she said. In terms of relationships. Ive had class leaders say, people call me and say, Ive talked to people I havent talked to other than to say hello in worship in years. And Im now holding real conversations with them. Were praying together. Were talking about the Bible together. Were doing individual Bible studies, she said. Last Wednesday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency highlighted a number of religious organizations for their efforts in responding to the coronavirus, including the AME church under the leadership of Burnett and her team. Dr. Burnett from the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia took matters into her own hands before the virus even started to take over the country. Having an existing disaster plan in place, and four hours of editing, Dr. Burnett had a pandemic plan ready to use. With many of her churchgoers being subject matter experts in medicine and mental health, the church made multiple webinars for the public focusing on ensuring physical and mental health during this time, a FEMA bulletin said. The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the Latter-day Saints Charities were also praised for their efforts. The BGEA, said FEMA, recruited 1,000 volunteers who are answering over 35,000 calls for prayer all over the country. In coordinating with Samaritans Purse, their Rapid Response Team Chaplains are also deploying to New York City and Cremona, Italy, to minister to those in need. In coordination with Convoy of Hope, the Latter-day Saints Charities are donating food supplies and goods to food banks around the nation. They are also donating PPE nationally and internationally. (CNN) - Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, China has struggled to control the narrative around its role in the crisis. Is Beijing a noble victim, ably controlling an unforeseeable viral outbreak and now assisting other countries in their own efforts, or the villain, ultimately to blame for the misery spreading around the world? Considerable effort has been expended in pushing the first line. China has donated large amounts of medical supplies to parts of Europe and Africa. China's state media, which has an outsized influence in much of the developing world, has also played up praise from the World Health Organization (WHO) and others of its response to and recovery from the initial outbreak, in stark contrast to many parts of the world now struggling to cope. The coronavirus crisis presents a key opportunity for China to solidify its status as a superpower and global leader, particularly as the United States has struggled to contain the outbreak, and US President Donald Trump has alienated some allies with his "America first" approach to the crisis. At the same time, however, Beijing has not been able to avoid intense scrutiny and criticism -- mainly, but not solely from Washington -- over how initial delays in the country's response may have squandered vital opportunities to contain the now global pandemic, as well as skepticism over its reporting of coronavirus figures and the country's recovery. In perhaps a sign of how China's leaders are determined not to let this moment pass them by, or to be cast as global villain, the response to any such criticism has been forceful and often angry. It has been boosted not only by state media but also a new breed of diplomat taking their message directly to foreign audiences on platforms like Twitter and Facebook. No backing down When reports emerged of Africans being mistreated and discriminated against in southern China this month over coronavirus fears -- sparking criticism and concern from several governments on the continent -- Beijing might have been expected to show willingness to take the incident seriously China has invested billions in shoring up economic and diplomatic relations across the African continent in recent years, and has long boasted of its commitment to uplifting developing countries across the region, without the kind of economic and political conditions imposed by the US. And yet, rather than condemn those responsible for the alleged anti-African discrimination, Chinese diplomats and state media have pushed back hard against the reports, accusing Western media and the US government of trying to drive a wedge between Beijing and its allies in Africa. In recent days, some have even criticized African media for being "misled" by reports in the international press. "China-Africa traditional friendship will not be disturbed by instigation of some forces," Hua Chunying, Director of China's Foreign Ministry Information Department, said on Twitter Wednesday. Earlier she accused the US State Department of lying about the allegations of racial discrimination, which have been reported by CNN and other media and highlighted by African diplomats in China, adding "Asian Americans experienced racism during the pandemic. How would @statedeptspox explain that?" Hua only jointed Twitter -- which is blocked by China's Great Firewall -- relatively recently, one of a number of Chinese diplomats and foreign ministry officials who have taken to the platform to get their message out. A pioneer of this approach is Hua's subordinate and replacement as top foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian. A former senior diplomat to Pakistan, Zhao was one of the first Chinese officials to take to Twitter, where he regularly sparred with foreign media and politicians. During the pandemic, Zhao has emerged as China's leading defender and critic of Western responses to the virus. In March, Washington summoned China's ambassador to the US to complain over tweets Zhao posted suggesting that the US military may have been responsible for bringing the coronavirus to Wuhan, where cases were first detected last year. While parts of Chinese state media have long adopted an aggressive, often jingoistic tone, the country's diplomats have typically been more calm and tactful, at least in public. "Chinese diplomats were once known for their conservative, low profile in China and world affairs," the Global Times, a nationalistic Chinese state-backed tabloid, said in a piece this week. "Internationally, our diplomats were considered enigmatic, and Chinese people were called 'inscrutable.' It was a time of much less adversity or need to fend off inordinate criticisms from the glorious West." Last year, Hua wrote an influential piece in a party journal calling for diplomats to embrace the "fighting spirit" and "enhance (China's) international voice," remarks that were reportedly echoed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a gathering of top diplomats in December. Bringing this "fighting spirit" to Twitter, "is just the latest manifestation of a long-term project," analyst Mareike Ohlberg wrote last year in a report published by the Mercator Institute for China Studies. "The (Communist Party's) aim was, and remains, to change global debates about China -- and any other topic the Party cares about -- to bring them closer in line with its own position. Its intention is to gradually change the conversation and increase the Party's 'discourse power'." The Global Times piece praised the new "Wolf Warrior"-style diplomacy of late, referencing a popular Chinese action movie series in which the country's military enacts daring operations around the world. "As China rises and walks close to center stage of the world, facilitated by the relative decline of the West, many Western countries are feeling uncomfortable, which is behind their unwarranted accusations against China," the paper said. "As Western diplomats fall into disgrace, they are getting a taste of China's 'Wolf Warrior' diplomacy." New approach The importance of changing the conversation around the coronavirus and China's handling of it is clear, which may explain why the more aggressive approach favored by diplomats like Zhao and Hua has come to dominate Beijing's response. James Green, a senior research fellow at Georgetown University and former US diplomat, told CNN in an email that "to deflect poor handling of the initial coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan and the loss of life and economic growth domestically, the CCP propaganda organs are in overdrive to match the new narrative: China and the CCP are saving the world from the scourge of the coronavirus -- and the world is grateful!" On Wednesday, Zhao said that "those who accuse China of being untransparent are unjust and insulting to the great sacrifices made by the Chinese people," and hit out against "false allegations propagated by US officials relentlessly." Natasha Kassam, a research fellow at the Lowy Institute in Sydney and former Australian diplomat in China, said that "some of the loudest voices on Twitter of late have been rewarded with promotions," including Zhao and China's former ambassador to South Africa, Lin Songtian. However, she added that it's still not clear that this type whether this trend is as a result of a dictat from above, or officials attempting to get the attention of their superiors, as well as approving coverage in state media and on Chinese social platforms. "So often we assume Chinese officials are speaking to the outside world, and we wonder -- why would they say that?" Kassam said. "It's more likely that individual officials are adopting an aggressive tone to demonstrate loyalty to the center." Jeff Moon, who served as a US diplomat in China as well as assistant US trade representative for China affairs under President Trump, said that "what has changed is not the substance or tone of China's public diplomacy, but the fact that we now take China's official propaganda more seriously due to China's increasing global influence." Green agreed that the "narrative of shifting global power balances imbues each statement or off-handed remark with seeming gravity and importance," in a way that wouldn't necessarily be the case in the past. Indeed, Moon argues that the more aggressive approach taken by diplomats today might be more a return to historical form, when Beijing's representatives railed against "capitalist running dogs" and accused Washington of pursuing regime change. "Other countries did not take such statements seriously until they began having a tangible impact on world affairs," Moon said. "The Covid-19 crisis is the latest -- and perhaps the most significant -- example of how Chinese policy statements affect world affairs. There is a new generation of Chinese officials that is using Twitter and other new tools aggressively, but that is a change of tactics rather than strategy." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Coronavirus is both a crisis and an opportunity for China's aggressive new diplomacy" KYIV -- Call it breaking bad, Ukraine style. In a scene eerily reminiscent of the hit TV series about a teacher who decides to manufacture and sell high-grade drugs to provide for his family, a Kyiv chemistry professor has been arrested for allegedly setting up a secret lab to produce methamphetamine and other illegal drugs. Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) said in a Facebook post dated April 22, that the unidentified professor, who used to teach chemistry at a university in the capital, had been detained on suspicion of organizing a group to manufacture illegal substances. "The group had two secret labs, one at the group leader's place of residence in [Kyiv], and another in a garage of a rented private house in the Kyiv region," the SBU statement said, adding that in addition to making his own drugs, the professor used his expertise to instruct others on how to make drugs. According to the statement, the group had received component chemicals from Asia and Western Europe and distributed the drugs via the Internet. The SBU said preliminary findings showed group members planned to produce nearly 30 kilograms of psychotropic drugs worth about 7.5 million hryvnyas ($275,000) at black-market prices. It added that members of the group, whose number and identities were not disclosed, were officially informed that they are suspected in the illegal production, storage, transportation, and selling of drugs, as well as for theft, misappropriation, and extortion of equipment to illegally fabricate illegal drugs. The SBU's video on Facebook was titled Breaking Bad Kyiv-Style: Chemistry Professor Organizes Amphetamine Production. Breaking Bad was a popular American neo-Western crime drama TV series about Walter White, a high-school chemistry teacher who turned himself into a leading amphetamine producer in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to make money for his family after he was diagnosed with cancer. Unlike his Ukrainian copycat, White was never caught by the police. The show, which won 12 Emmy television awards, aired 62 episodes from 2008 to 2013. The nationwide lockdown that came into effort exactly one month ago to control the coronavirus outbreak in the country has affected all sectors in the countrys economy. Apparently, it also has an adverse impact on the operation of banks and financial institutions. However, most of the major banks of the country have remained open as an essential service owing to a directive from the government. In this context, Onlinekhabar has recently talked to Standard Chartered Bank Nepals Chief Executive Officer Anirvan Ghosh Dastidar about the impact of the crisis and strategies to cope with it. Excerpts: The country is under the lockdown currently. How is Standard Chartered providing its services? In line with the directive of the Government of Nepal and the Nepal Rastra Bank, we continue to provide banking services to our clients. We have a well-tested and robust Business Continuity and Crisis Management Plan in place to ensure the continuity of banking services to our clients. This plan was activated even before the nationwide lockdown was announced. As an international bank, we are present in the countries that have seen the worst of Covid-19 crisis. While this is an unprecedented situation globally, our international access and presence have helped us prepare well in advance. We have vigorous protocols to ensure the safety of our staff and clients. The staff members providing services to clients from branches adhere to the recommended safety measures such as social distancing, and the use of masks and sanitiser. The clients are screened for temperatures while entering the branches. We are operating our critical departments and limited branches in this situation. The centralised departments of the head office have been operating effectively by keeping minimum staff at the office and rest in work from home (WFH) arrangement. Approximately 50 per cent of our branches operate every day with reduced operating hours on a skeletal model. We also have a robust technological infrastructure which supports working from home for the majority of our staff and also ensures that the clients needs are met even during challenging times like this. We do have an active digital client base which is garnering full value of our digital capabilities; it has come very handy for us. We were also quick to launch an advanced version of our mobile banking app that enables the clients to access a range of banking services online. We activated a few offers to our clients and offered them attractive discounts for the use of debit/credit cards by tying up with popular outlets like Bhat-Bhateni, Big Mart and Mero Kirana. All our ATMs are up and running. We have received great feedback from our clients, which is very motivating. What is the magnitude of challenges in the banking sector due to the Covid-19 crisis? The operational challenges being faced by the banking sector in Nepal are largely being mitigated with support from the regulators. The impending closure of businesses, its impact on the cash flow of the clients and financial impact on the balance sheets of banks are yet to be ascertained. This is largely dependent on how soon we are able to control the Covid-19 spread. The problem of liquidity in the market is also likely to emanate from subdued economic activities if the containment of the virus takes a longer period. This issue is also being faced globally where we are seeing various policy actions to maintain liquidity in financial markets and support businesses. With certain norms being reconsidered and with the help of the regulators, we will overcome the challenges. For now, as we speak, the health of the citizens must come first, for which the lockdown is necessary. It is only after that other matters should be discussed. What extent of damage do you foresee in the banks due to this situation? I do not foresee any disaster in the banking sector, but we will definitely be facing challenging times ahead that will test the resolve of all. With the understanding and support of the government and regulators, faith and goodwill that the clients place in us, the impact of Covid-19 will be collectively overcome. This will be relative to how we collectively handle the situation with the help of the government and the NRB. The next few months will definitely result in a slowdown of businesses, but we are certain that we will bounce back and resume with more energy to fulfil what has been missed in between. Since the lockdown starting March 24, economic activities have been subdued. The cash flows of clients have been impacted. This is not only a national but a global issue. Our estimate is that after the control of Covid-19, at least two to three months would be required for things to normalise. Against this backdrop, if appropriate policies are framed, that would be supportive for all of us. What are a few of the things that the banks should consider during this time? The safety of staff, clients and community is of utmost importance to us in line with our brand promise of here for good. Therefore, we have strictly implemented our health and safety protocols. We will continue to support and cooperate with the government in its effort to minimise impacts on all the sectors. With respect to staff, the Standard Chartered Bank has already announced that there will be no staff layoffs globally on account of the Covid-19 pandemic. Staff motivation is key to our success. We also feel the mental health of staff during this time of crisis is important, therefore we have made it a point to engage constantly with staff at all levels through virtual meetings, routine communications sent out with updates and our approach to be available whenever anyone is in need of help. We will continue to be client-centric. The banks must be in close contact with their clients to understand their needs and how to address them best. The Standard Chartered Bank stands to support communities where we operate. We have globally announced an assistance fund worth USD 50 million to those affected by the pandemic. This is in addition to commitment of USD 1 billion of financing, at preferential rates, for companies providing goods and services to help in the fight against the Covid-19. At the country level as well, we are proposing some sustainable and impactful programmes. We remain optimistic and will support keeping our economy resilient. How do you take the recent decisions made by the NRB in response to the Covid-19 crisis? The monetary measures introduced by the NRB have focused on protecting and providing much-needed relief to both banks and financial institutions, and clients. Measures on capital, liquidity, loan provisioning, regulatory ratios and regulatory reporting requirements have provided some relief to the banks. The suspension of countercyclical buffer and an increase in refinance facility are expected to give the banking industry an impetus for maintaining credit flows to the market in the current stressful environment. The relaxation of cash reserve ratio will ensure additional liquidity of around Rs 35 billion, fuelling additional revenues for the BFIs through investments in treasury bills and government securities, which will help the economy have cash during this time of need while the policy also ensures the clients benefit from interest discount upon instalment payments. Additionally, the clients with financial distress due to this crisis can suspend debt payments by three months to Ashad end (mid-July) without any interest charges. Besides, provisions such as loan tenure extension for corporate houses, relief from additional loan loss provisioning and widening the scope of priority sector lending should support both the BFIs and clients. This is the first time that this generation has faced a pandemic of this nature and we are all learning. The NRB has been supportive based on the facts and feedback that it has received. We are certain that additional support measures for both the banks and clients are being considered. The focus is now shifted from physical banking to digital banking. This is expected to help banks manage costs in the long run and facilitate the clients for convenient banking, which has long been our banks standpoint. Working from home (WFH) has become a buzzword in the banking industry that starts a way forward for the banks to reflect their existing infrastructure like systems connectivity, digital information and business continuity management. What should be the next steps of the government and the NRB for the banking sector? The impact of Covid-19 is evolving each and every day. The steps taken by both the Ministry of Finance and the NRB are in a positive direction so far. We can expect expansionary fiscal policies and accommodative monetary policies. The focus should continue to be on liquidity and funding conditions in the market. A new policy guidance should be drafted on new ways of working including working from home, split arrangements and the long-term implications of these arrangements. The business continuity management (BCM) of the banks should be reviewed for adequacy and effectiveness. Deferral of regulatory audits or acceptance of delays in the audit submission should be looked into. Cybersecurity risks must be a part of the consideration, particularly when people work from home. Banks are providing services during this time, but safety is also very important. How careful are you about this? Safety of our people is our topmost priority. We have looked into various aspects of staff wellbeing in the current situation and made arrangements for ensuring that the staff are taken care with utmost importance. About the banking process, we are conscious of the potential elevation of the risks during this situation while we are simplifying processes to provide services to our client. Hence, there is heightened monitoring and tracking of exception to the normal processes. Our cyber and fraud monitoring centres have increased their surveillance of potential cyber breaches and fraud incidents. Our people have adequate awareness of avoiding any such incidents. We have issued specific guidelines on remote working during the lockdown to help them ensure security standards even while working from home. This is a time for exhibiting responsibility and exercising caution. We are following all the safety protocols to safeguard the health and safety of our staff, clients and communities. On May 2, the final night of #HeroesShineBright, ESB will partner with the World Federation of Great Towers in a coordinated lighting that will see the Burj Khalifa (UAE), CN Tower (Canada), Macau Tower (China), Busan Tower (South Korea), Willis Tower (US), Euromast (Netherlands), 360 Chicago (US), Calgary Tower (Canada), One Liberty Observation Deck (US), Ostankino TV Tower (Russia), Tallinn TV Tower (Estonia), UFO Tower (Slovakia), and others shine their lights in a red heartbeat from 8:30 9:30 p.m. in their local time zone to bring global awareness to those helping fight the pandemic. The Eiffel Tower will also dedicate its signature sparkle to the campaign that evening. The schedule of lightings is as follows: April 24 : Yellow/White/Blue w/ Siren Effect in honor of FDNY/EMS : Yellow/White/Blue w/ Siren Effect in honor of FDNY/EMS April 25: Blue/White/Blue in honor of Doctors, Nurses and the Medical Community April 26: Blue/Orange/Blue in honor of Correction Officers April 27: Split lights: North & South: Orange/Blue/White in honor of the U.S. Coast Guard East & West: Blue/Gold/Blue in honor of the U.S. Navy April 28 : Yellow/Black/White in honor of the U.S. Army : Yellow/Black/White in honor of the U.S. Army April 29: Blue/Blue/Blue in honor of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority April 30: Yellow/Yellow/Yellow in honor of Essential Workers May 1: Blue/Purple/Blue in honor of Police Memorial Day May 2: Dynamic heartbeat lighting in coordination with the World Federation of Great Towers "The Empire State Building is the beating heart of all of us, and the international icon of the skyline of New York City. She shines her lights to show First Responders and essential workers our appreciation, love, and support, which they deserve," said Anthony E. Malkin, Chairman and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust. "Our tribute to the heroes on the front lines of our great city, one group at a time, will culminate with a worldwide show of support as the World Federation of Great Towers showers universal light to spotlight the contributions of First Responders around the world." The Empire State Building encourages fans to participate in the #HeroesShineBright campaign, and leave comments on its posts and stories across its social media platforms thanking essential workers each night of the lightings. On May 2, the Building will share a celebratory compilation video incorporating videos of personal thank yous, fan comments, and inspiring videos of the lightings across the globe. For more information, please visit http://www.esbnyc.com. About the Empire State Building Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan (from base to antenna top), the Empire State Building, owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc., is the "World's Most Famous Building." With new investments in energy efficiency, infrastructure, public areas and amenities, the Empire State Building has attracted first-rate tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world. The Empire State Building was named the world's most popular travel destination in a study conducted by Uber and was named America's favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects. For more information on the Empire State Building, please visit www.empirestatebuilding.com, www.facebook.com/empirestatebuilding, https://twitter.com/empirestatebldg, www.instagram.com/empirestatebldg, http://weibo.com/empirestatebuilding, www.youtube.com/esbnyc, https://www.tiktok.com/@empirestatebldg or www.pinterest.com/empirestatebldg. About Empire State Realty Trust Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT), a leading real estate investment trust (REIT), owns, manages, operates, acquires and repositions office and retail properties in Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area, including the Empire State Building, the "World's Most Famous Building." Headquartered in New York, New York, the Company's office and retail portfolio covers 10.1 million rentable square feet, as of March 31, 2020, consisting of 9.4 million rentable square feet in 14 office properties, including nine in Manhattan, three in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and two in Westchester County, New York; and approximately 700,000 rentable square feet in the retail portfolio. SOURCE Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. Related Links http://www.esbnyc.com Mayor Brian Bowman is hoping a lobby for federal cash to help municipalities cope with the COVID-19 pandemic will include enough money for Winnipeg to avoid last-resort cuts. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/4/2020 (628 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Mayor Brian Bowman is hoping a lobby for federal cash to help municipalities cope with the COVID-19 pandemic will include enough money for Winnipeg to avoid last-resort cuts. On Thursday, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities called on Ottawa to provide at least $10 billion to address pandemic shortfalls, including $7.6 billion in direct funding (with no matching provincial funds required) and $2.4 billion for cities with public transit systems. FCM said financial support is critical to ensuring essential city services can continue. It estimates municipalities could lose $10 billion-$15 billion, if physical-distancing directives were to persist for six months. "The longer the pandemic goes and the longer the public health orders are in effect, the squeeze on municipal government will increase with each passing month," Bowman said Thursday. The mayor said hes not sure exactly how much funding the City of Winnipeg could get, if the FCM request is granted. "At this stage, every dollar that they can provide is going to help," he said. The city recently revealed several actions it could take to address the local financial fallout from COVID-19, including significant Winnipeg Transit cuts. In its worst-case scenario, the city said it could reduce capital spending, seek temporary wage reductions for all employees, and pursue more widespread service reductions and/or layoffs, among other measures. Bowman said hes hopeful federal funding could be enough to avoid those drastic cuts. "The possibility of direct funding for operating budgets for municipalities could go a long way to mitigating some of those layoffs and those decisions down the road," he said. However, the mayor said its "unlikely" any such funds could arrive in time to avoid the planned switch to an enhanced Saturday service schedule for Transit on weekdays or a related layoff of 253 bus drivers. During a media call, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicated hes open to working with municipalities to ensure essential services continue. 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 will continue to work with the provinces, but well also continue to work directly with municipalities to make sure that Canadians get the services they need, get the support they need," said Trudeau. In an interview, deputy prime Minister Chrystia Freeland said the federal government does consider the cities to be in urgent need of financial support. "We are very aware of the urgency of the situation that municipalities across the country face. They are providing essential services and, at the same time, they have seen their revenues fall precipitously through no fault of their own," said Freeland. with files from Dylan Robertson joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga There is growing concern among automakers that production will be suspended for a long time, and restaurants and retailers are looking for ways to survive. Two weeks have passed since the state of emergency was declared in the nation and businesses continue to work under the assumption that temporary closures and shorter working hours will be prolonged. In addition to the impact of the state of emergency, automakers are suffering from a shortage of parts from Southeast Asia. According to trade statistics released by the Ministry of Finance, car parts imports from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) declined 9% year-on-year to 17.6 billion yen in March. This is because curfews in China, where the virus broke out, and Southeast Asia have reduced parts production in the region. Production began to be suspended or reduced at assembly plants in the nation in mid-February. When production was halted in China only, inventory could still be maintained at each company, but when the disease spread throughout Southeast Asia, "the parts supply network was torn to pieces," an automaker executive said. Since March, major automakers such as Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Corp. have been forced to suspend or reduce production. On Monday, Toyota implemented an additional cut to production at plants nationwide, including those of its group companies such as Hino Motors Ltd. Honda also announced Monday that it would stop production from April 27 to May 10 at two plants in Saitama Prefecture because parts supply had stalled. Automakers' production cuts will also affect related industries. Bridgestone Corp., a tire manufacturer, announced Monday it would temporarily suspend its 11 domestic plants during Golden Week holidays. Before the state of emergency declaration, Kushikatsu Tanaka Holdings Co., a chain of izakaya bars, decided to suspend operations at all of its locations, but resumed operation at 73 after April 13. They are open from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., shorter than usual. AP Company, which operates "Tsukada Nojo" izakaya bars, has launched a website that sells locally bred chicken and other ingredients used in its restaurants. Meanwhile, Isetan Mitsukoshi department stores' cosmetics sales online in the first half of April more than tripled from the year before. But online sales account for only a few percent of revenue for each store operator. The burden of paying workers on leave is also serious. BicCamera Inc., a major home electronics retailer with strong online sales, has increased its lineup of products sold by mail order. Amazon Japan imposed restrictions in mid-April on the arrival of goods at its distribution facilities in order to prioritize the shipments of daily necessities such as foods and drinks.. [April 23, 2020] Dassault Systemes and Aden Group Collaborate to Develop Smart and Connected Turnkey Hospital Solutions in Fight Against COVID-19 Dassault Systemes (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA) and Aden Group, one of Asia's largest integrated facility management companies, today announced their intent to collaborate on the development of a turnkey, ready-to-use infectious disease hospital solution, Akila Care, that could be quickly deployed and easily maintained in countries severely impacted by COVID-19 and urgently in need of high quality medical facilities. This new initiative comes in light of the successful world premiere Wuhan hospital experience set up in a few days. The two companies are working together to develop new hospital engineering, construction and operations processes by leveraging Dassault Systemes' (News - Alert) 3DEXPERIENCE platform and Aden Group's Akila Care smart and connected hospital concept. The solution relies on a virtual collaborative environment for the design, simulation and development of hospitals that can be built and operational within 100 days and remain operational for many years, as well as for optimizing their operations and maintenance throughout their entire lifecycle. As part of the collaboration, the two companies plan to assemble a consortium of companies specialized in medical equipment, engineering and construction to offer the solution to countries needing it most. "In a global context where decisiveness and rapid action are essential to help in the fight against COVID-19, combining quickly buildable modular architecture with a digital platform can accelerate the construction of a cutting-edge medical facility and ensure it is fully operational in record time," said Francois Amman and Joachim Poylo, co-founders, Aden Group. "By using the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, we hope to develop a solution that would enable us to reduce engineering changes, maintain a rapid development schedule, and meet delivery commitments quickly and effectively, as well as ensure long-term hospital maintenance and safety in anticipation of further pandemics." Once developed, the hospital solution would provide a virtual collaborative environment in which employees and suppliers are ivited to use a virtual twin of a hospital to optimize space planning, module design, negative pressure isolation rooms and other features, simulate manufacturing and equipment, and train for its construction. After the hospital is built, the solution will be used for digital asset management by connecting the facility with state-of-the art medical equipment to monitor digitalized hygiene procedures and hospital floor robots. "Aden's Akila Care novel and proven approach to outcome-based facility management calls for modular, smart and connected facilities engineered and built with an advanced manufacturing approach. The modularity and operation-centered facilities can only be made possible with a holistic, integrated, end-to-end virtual twin experience of the outcome. The 3DEXPERIENCE platform is the catalyst and enabler of such radical transformation, making our Alliance a showcase for the future delivery of mission-critical infrastructure," said Bernard Charles, Vice Chairman and CEO, Dassault Systemes. "Together we have already shown how simulating virus contamination and diffusion within the Leishenshan hospital's ventilation system can help to address urgent healthcare needs, and now we will work together to apply our knowledge and know-how to all aspects of the hospital lifecycle." Social media: Share this on Twitter (News - Alert): [email protected]Dassault3DS and Aden Group collaborate to develop smart and connected turnkey hospital solutions in fight against #COVID19 #3DEXPERIENCE Connect with Dassault Systemes on Twitter Facebook LinkedIn YouTube For more information: Dassault Systemes' industry solution experiences for the construction, cities and territories industry: https://ifwe.3ds.com/construction-cities-territories Dassault Systemes' 3DEXPERIENCE platform, 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions: http://www.3ds.com About Dassault Systemes Dassault Systemes, the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, is a catalyst for human progress. We provide business and people with collaborative 3D virtual environments to imagine sustainable innovations. By creating virtual experience twins of the real world with our 3DEXPERIENCE platform and applications, our customers push the boundaries of innovation, learning and production. Dassault Systemes brings value to more than 270,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, in more than 140 countries. For more information, visit www.3ds.com 3DEXPERIENCE, the Compass (News - Alert) icon, the 3DS logo, CATIA, BIOVIA, GEOVIA, SOLIDWORKS, 3DVIA, ENOVIA, EXALEAD, NETVIBES, MEDIDATA, CENTRIC PLM, 3DEXCITE, SIMULIA, DELMIA, and IFWE are commercial trademarks or registered trademarks of Dassault Systemes, a French "societe europeenne" (Versailles Commercial Register # B 322 306 440), or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. About Aden Group Aden Group is a facility management company pioneer in the tech, energy and sustainability-oriented optimization of buildings and cities. Headquartered in Shanghai with a comprehensive presence in 25 countries in Asia and worldwide and active in over 80 Chinese cities, Aden has been an active contributor to the fight against COVID-19 from day one, blending advanced automation and digital solutions with on-the-ground operations from its expertly-trained staff. With a 20-year history, 1,500 partners and 26,000 employees, Aden has developed a deep, cross-sector understanding of facility operations and a powerful network to deliver its solutions in any setting worldwide. For more information, visit adenservices.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200422006037/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The majority of the funding came from Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund, which has raised more than $30 million since launching on March 26. The National Low Income Housing Coalition also contributed money from one-time donations from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the JPB Foundation. Coronavirus claimed one more life in Indore, taking the death toll in this worst-hit city of Madhya Pradesh to 53, a health official said on Thursday. In the last 24 hours, as many as 26 new COVID-19 patients were found in Indore, which took the number of affected persons in the city to 945. Of them, 77 have been discharged after treatment, the official said. "A 56-year-old person, who died in government-run Manorama Raje TB (MRTB) hospital on Tuesday, was found to have been coronavirus infected. With this, the number of persons who have succumbed to COVID-19 infection has risen to 53," chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Praveen Jadia said. As per the figures, the city's COVID-19 death rate till Thursday is 5.61 per cent, which is more than the national average. Jadia said that nearly 2,000 teams are conducting a survey in the city, which has over 30 lakh population. He claimed that 14-lakh population has been surveyed so far and the speed of survey has been increased in urban areas. A target has been set to complete it within a week. Curfew has been imposed in the city since March 25, after the first case of coronavirus infection came to light. Strict lockdown is in place at other places in the district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) LANSING, MI -- Protestors upset with Gov. Gretchen Whitmers stay-at-home order rallied outside the governors residence in Lansing on Thursday, waving signs and making speeches about why they want the state economy to reopen. Videos shared on Facebook by organizers of the rally showed a couple dozen ralliers outside the home. The protest was announced earlier this week, but was not as well attended as last weeks Operation Gridlock at the Michigan Capitol and in downtown Lansing. Ahead of the rally, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, spoke out against the protest, saying that while he supports the protesters cause, demonstrating outside someones home is not helpful. I am hearing today of another organized protest to express growing, and in many many cases deserved anger and... Posted by Senator Mike Shirkey on Thursday, April 23, 2020 There is need now to express our opinions, concerns, and frankly, demands. But there is no need, and never should be, to threaten government leaders to the point of putting their lives at risk. No need. No space, Shirkey wrote in a social media post. "So I stand with those protesting, and millions of others who would like to join them, but we cannot allow these protests to translate to personal threats. I strongly exhort those organizing the protests to limit the venue to public spaces and around government buildings. Dont protest at homes. Even the public Governors residence. It is indeed public property. But the adjacent properties and neighborhood are not. Among the organizers of Thursdays protest was Rob Cortis, known for his traveling Trump Unity Bridge. During a livestream on his Facebook page, Cortis interviewed a handful of people attending the protest who shared stories of how the order has impacted their lives. Some called for Whitmer to be removed from office while others simply said they just wanted to get back to work. They wont shut us us down," said Brandon Hall, an organizer of the demonstration." ... Were telling Gretchen Whitmer to open Michigan now and were asking her Why the hell dont you work from home like youre asking everyone else to? Hall was convicted of election fraud and sentenced to a month in jail in 2018. Another rally against Michigans stay-at-home order on the Capitol lawn is planned for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, April 30. Operation Queens Castle OPEN MICHIGAN SAFELY 2520 OXFORD RD LANSING MICHIGAN Posted by Rob Cortis on Thursday, April 23, 2020 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 Complete coverage at mlive.com/coronavirus Short-term extension of Michigans stay-at-home order likely necessary to limit coronavirus spread, Whitmer says Whitmer moves to further expand unemployment eligibility during coronavirus crisis These are not normal times: Judge moves filing deadline, cuts signature requirements for primary candidates Thursday, April 23: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan While the federal government is making conscious efforts to curtail the spread of the coronavirus, concerned organisations and individuals have been making donations to support the government. The Flour Mills of Nigeria Group (FMN Group) on Thursday donated $1.5 million worth of ventilators and other essential personal protective equipment and testing kits to the Nigerian government. According to a statement signed by the Groups Chief Operating Officer, Boye Olusanya, medical supplies procured would be completely delivered by the end of April. Thousands of medical supplies procured from Dubai, United States, Canada, Greece and China, which started arriving in Nigeria since April 18 in batches will be completely delivered by the end of April, he said. The first batch of the supplies, which have now arrived, sourced through FMNs global supply chain, focused on the most essential needs of the government at the moment, the company said. It said the supplies are in a visionary global procurement operation idealised by the Chairman of FMN Group, John Coumantaros. Mr Olusanya said the supplies, which would continue to arrive in batches over the next week, would beef up Nigerias fight against COVID-19. He said the supplies were an additional contribution by FMN through Mr Coumantaros, a leading industrialist. The company said it had also redeemed an initial N1 billion pledge to the federal government through the CBN-led Nigerian Private Sector Coalition against COVID-19. In the statement, it said despite procurement restrictions on supplies by several countries to ensure their frontline responders had sufficient supplies, FMN, through its global supply chain network, ensured that it sourced and procured these critical supplies for Nigeria. He added that some of the items on the first batch that have arrived include ventilators, protective equipment and testing kits, assuring that all the supply would have arrived and been handed over by end of April. READ ALSO: When fully delivered, the medical supplies will facilitate 100 per day field-testing capacity and 35,000 laboratory-based testing capacity. The supplies also include 331,000 pieces of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) comprising N95 Masks, Coveralls, Protective gloves, and Protective eyewear enough to provide regular use for 10,000 Nigerian health care professionals over two months, it said There are also 75 Ventilators, which will boost Nigerias total stock, and these supplies will be delivered to the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to ramp up the capacity in Nigeria, the company said. FMN initiated a global supply chain plan to help provide the Nigerian Government with tangible, and tactical support during the global economic lockdown. This initiative led by the philanthropic Industrialist John Coumantaros, Chairman of the FMN Group, involved the leadership of the NCDC, Ministry of Finance, vendors from 5 Nations, multiple logistics partners, and a team drawn from the FMN groups operational leadership. The team scaled through varying national restrictions on medical supply procurement, limited stock, transport restrictions, but stayed resolute in the race to help Nigeria manage and flatten the curve, said Mr Olusanya. He said following a directive from Mr Coumantaros, the group has commenced deployment of N400 million worth of food relief packages to vulnerable communities most affected by the lockdown in 11 states across the nation. To reduce the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak, FMN will continue to work with the Federal Government and related agencies to provide relief materials. The safety of Nigerians is paramount to us, so we encourage all Nigerians to adhere to the necessary protective measures against the virus and its spread. FMN relying on its 60-year-old profile as an agro-giant in Nigerias critical food value-chains and a significant contributor to Nigerias quest to feed itself is bringing its biggest strength to the table, using its global supply chain network to help Nigeria defend itself against COVID-19, he said. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made a new argument today to justify the Donald Trump administrations elimination of nearly all economic and humanitarian aid for the West Bank and Gaza. The Trump administration first eliminated $215 million in Palestinian aid in 2018 pending a review that the State Department has never released. Last week, the State Department announced that it would provide $5 million in coronavirus aid for the West Bank and Gaza a mere 7% of the $75 million in Palestinian economic and humanitarian aid that Congress appropriated for this fiscal year. The reason we stopped providing assistance previously was that these resources werent getting to the place they needed to to the Palestinian people, Pompeo said at a press briefing after a reporter asked him about the lower amount of aid. We hope that this money, this $5 million, will get where it needs to go to provide real assistance to the Palestinian people, who to your point, which I agree with, are going to need a lot of help as they move through this. Jim Richardson, the director of US foreign assistance resources, noted that the $5 million would go to bolstering Palestinian hospitals battling the COVID-19 pandemic. The aid that the Trump administration eliminated in 2018 included $25 million in funding for the East Jerusalem Hospital Network six hospitals that provide specialized medical services for Palestinians. Why it matters: Pompeo presented no evidence that US assistance for the West Bank and Gaza was not reaching the Palestinian people. The United States provides no direct budgetary support for the Palestinian Authority, and USAID its foreign assistance agency had worked with nongovernmental organizations to implement its aid programs on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza. There never was a legitimate policy justification for the Trump administration to cut off aid to the Palestinians, said Joel Rubin, the former deputy assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs in the Barack Obama administration and a former campaign adviser to Bernie Sanders. But at least when it was done, the window dressing used to justify the cut was that it would help move the peace process forward. Now that that assertion has been proven demonstrably false, Secretary Pompeo appears to be looking for new excuses to retroactively justify this catastrophic aid cut. Whats next: Pompeo did leave open the possibility that the United States would provide more COVID-19 assistance to the Palestinians. Well evaluate whether this $5 million both worked delivered and second if theres more resources there that are either appropriate or can be delivered that actually gets to the Palestinian people, said Pompeo. Know more: Congressional Correspondent Bryant Harris did some math and found that the Trump administrations recently announced COVID-19 aid for Palestinians and Yemenis falls significantly short of what Congress appropriated in overall aid for this fiscal year. [April 23, 2020] California.com supports California's small businesses through fundraising and free business profiles WALNUT CREEK, Calif., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- California.com, a One Planet company dedicated to showcasing the best of the state of California, has launched its new online merchandise store to support small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. Three limited-edition California.com T-shirts were designed to support California's small businesses and celebrate community resilience during the COVID-19 crisis. 100 percent of T-shirt sale proceeds will be donated to Opportunity Fund 's Small Business Relief Fund, which will provide critical financial support and technical assistance to small businesses in Californiaespecially those run by women, people of color, and immigrants. "California.com was designed to highlight the goodness and uniqueness of California," said One Planet CEO Payam Zamani. "California's small businesses are part of what makes this state a wonderful place; we have to do all that's possible to ensure that they will all survive this crisis. I know Californians are some of the most generous people and this fundraising campaign is a way we can make a humble attempt in keeping California small business owners in business and our main streets thriving." The T-shirts are available for pre-ale and will be printed and shipped to customers after the shelter-in-place mandate is lifted. California.com will send email updates to customers on the anticipated ship date. The funds from the T-shirt sales will be distributed ASAP. "The CARES ACT Paycheck Protection Program still leaves many small businesses vulnerable, so it's important that we take urgent action to keep small businesses alive and able to rebuild after the lockdown is lifted," said Opportunity Fund CEO Luz Urrutia. "California.com is a great example of a California company that is pitching in to help other California companies. With California.com's support, we will be able to provide struggling small businesses with loan payment relief, access to new funding and technical, financial and/or business assistance they may need." To further support the California business community, California.com is also offering no-cost business profile pages on its website to California-based businesses that meet its Recommended Business criteria for the 2020 program year. The program is exclusive to California businesses that have verified high-quality products or services and that demonstrate an outstanding commitment to public good and serving their community. It is designed to promote the best California-based businesses and serves as an incentive to excellence, specified in three pillars. A California.com Recommend Business must: Be highly regarded in its respective industry and by its customers Have a unique California dream story dream story Love for its community as demonstrated by social impact work All California-based businesses are eligible to apply for the California.com Recommended Business Program. To nominate a business or to see if you qualify, please submit your inquiry to [email protected]. About California.com: California.com is the go-to destination for discovering the very best of California and what the state has to offer locals and visitors. Our quality editorial content features curated adventures, engaging photography, profiles of real people and the amazing stories that make up California. We aim to inspire people to explore the Golden State. Discover all things California at California.com and follow @hellocalifornia on Instagram. Contact: Leigh Martinez Director of PR (925) 518-1091 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/californiacom-supports-californias-small-businesses-through-fundraising-and-free-business-profiles-301045737.html SOURCE One Planet Ops [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Want this in your inbox each morning? Sign up here. Deals come undone The investment firm that agreed to buy Victorias Secret in February wants to back out, the highest-profile example to date of a buyer trying to unpick a deal because of the pandemic. Sycamore Partners asked a Delaware court to let it walk away. Its reason: The seller, L Brands, had furloughed most Victorias Secret employees, cut executive salaries and missed April rent payments. That veered from the ordinary course of business required in the takeover agreement. Though the pandemic is an international tragedy and health emergency, says Stefan Kaluzny, Sycamores founder and C.E.O., we are equally certain that it does not excuse the performance of L Brands obligations. This could become a popular get-out, the Deal Professor, Steven Davidoff Solomon, explained in DealBook earlier this month. The auto parts maker BorgWarner warned it might try a version over its deal for Delphi. Like the rest of the world, governments across Latin American regions have enforced lockdowns and quarantines as they combat this unparalleled health crisis. Even the long-term ventures are experiencing challenges because of the travel restrictions the governments have imposed. Infrastructure Minister of Brazil, Tarcisio Freitas, said on Monday that certain international investors contacted him recently to request postponement of their concessions and privatization agenda because of the difficulty in traveling to the country through aircraft. The minister also said a lot of things could be solved remotely. However, he continued, long-term projects would need the people's presence on the ground to progress in a suitable manner "with due diligence processes." What does the expert say? Latin American economist George Dib from the Allianz Research said the standard baseline scenario is pointing to a significant recession of a region this year with GDP reducing 3.8 percent. However, he explained that a continued health crisis could result in an even higher eight-percent contraction. Here are the measures employed in some of Latin America's largest nations as they combat the COVID-19 pandemic. Mexico On Tuesday, Mexico City had gone into phase 3 of the outbreak, the highest level, which means a rapid growth in the number confirmed COVID-19 cases. With this, the city's mayor, Claudia Sheinbaum, announced strict restrictions on mobility, which started to take in effect on Tuesday. Included in the restrictions was the closure of 20 percent of the Metro, Trolleybus, and Metro bus stops, seemingly a cessation to all vehicular traffic with some exceptions such as deliveries, cargo trucks, medical personnel, and authorized taxis. No official date has been set yet, for when such procedures would be lifted. However, the report has it that the peak is expected the second week of May, and growing expectation has occurred that most measures would be lifted or east by the end of May. Brazil Specifically, the state of Sao Paulo is the first in Brazil to impose quarantine in Brazil on March 22 after it recorded the highest number of fatalities and confirmed cases. Mainly the procedure saw the temporary shutdown of restaurants, parks, and malls, as well as many other commercial businesses. Meanwhile, Governor Joao Doria announced on Monday, a slow end to this quarantine, which will start on May 11. The state is home to the nation's biggest port facility, not to mention, home to the busiest airport as well, and the quarantine's end is taking place following the evaluation of each city's health situation. Chile The authorities here have already lifted the mandatory quarantines previously imposed on some areas of the country, which included the Las Condes municipality located in capital Santiago. However, in some other municipalities, quarantines were either introduced or extended. Moreover, the nighttime curfew has remained implemented across the nations, and the wearing of face masks in public places has become mandatory. Additionally, several civil servants are expected to start going back to work while the schools' gradual reopening is scheduled to begin next month. In addition, several shopping centers have also started to restart operations. According to the authorities, people should continue to take all the precautionary measures. More so, they said, there is a possibility for the restrictions to be tightened again should there be cases spike, especially that winter is coming. Colombia In this Latin American nation, the nationwide quarantine was extended, and it was announced on Monday. The said extension would be until May 11. In addition, Colombia's lockdown is regarded as one of Latin America's toughest as people here are only allowed on specific days to shop for their food or medicine. In Medellin, the second-largest city of the country, residents are permitted to leave home only once or twice each week. The rules, according to the report, will be relaxed a bit in the latter part of April as people will be allowed to do their exercise. Argentina In this country, a decree establishing a nationwide lockdown is about to expire on Sunday. This said, the measure has been in place since last month, with only a few exemptions approved, and the ruling could be renewed. Following the provincial governments' requests, the federal authorities are currently evaluating the probability of permitting small businesses and restaurants to reopen starting May 4, Following requests from provincial governments, federal authorities are evaluating the possibility of allowing restaurants and small businesses to reopen from May 4, and more simplified limitations in the mining, forestry, and construction sectors, local media reports said. Check these out! Some of Melbournes best known landmarks and venues were lit up in blue on Thursday night as a tribute to the four police officers killed on the Eastern Freeway. Flinders Street Station is turned blue. Credit:AAP Flinders Street Station, the State parliament building in Spring Street, Federation Square, AAMI Park, Rod Laver Arena the National Gallery of Victoria, the Arts Centre, the MCG and the Melbourne Town Hall were among the buildings lit up as a mark of respect for the officers. Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King and new recruits Constable Josh Prestney and Constable Glen Humphris died when they were hit by a truck in the emergency lane of the Eastern Freeway near Burke Road. A leading Texas scientist who visited a Chinese laboratory conducting coronavirus research acknowledged that while that facility made security a priority, it is possible that an accident could have led to the global virus outbreak. James Le Duc, the director of the Galveston National Laboratory at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, has had a professional relationship with several Chinese biocontainment labs since 2013, including the Wuhan Institute of Virology laboratory, which studies some of the worlds most lethal infectious diseases, including coronaviruses in bats. The Wuhan laboratorys research has prompted speculation by Trump administration officials and others that it may have had a role in causing the coronavirus outbreak in Chinas Hubei Province, the viruss epicenter. Administration officials have also called on China to close its wet markets, widely viewed as the source of the COVID-19 outbreak. Le Duc visited the Wuhan lab in 2017, shortly before it opened, and even hosted the labs building engineers at the Galveston National Laboratory for a training program on building operations and maintenance while it was under construction. While Le Duc said he did not see anything during that visit to the lab that alarmed him or hinted at lax safety protocols, he acknowledged that even laboratories with the highest level of security are prone to accidents. Diplomatic cables from 2018 obtained by The Washington Post warned about questionable safety and inadequate training at the lab and the risk potential of coronaviruses from bats being transmitted to humans and causing a pandemic similar to SARS in 2003. Accidents happen, Le Duc told the Houston Chronicle. You do your best to prevent it, and you prepare for an eventuality if it should happen. So all I can say is (the Wuhan lab) was built comparable to ours, with a whole series of redundant safety measures in place. We did our best to share best practices so that they knew how to drive it and keep it safe. But it would be foolish to say theres no risk, because theres risk in everything. Is lab safe? Senior officials at the Wuhan lab have consistently denied any link between their facility and the coronavirus outbreak, which has claimed more than 183,000 lives worldwide. There is absolutely no way that the virus originated from our institute, Yuan Zhiming, a top scientist at the Wuhan facility, told Chinese state television recently. Shi Zhengli, a virologist at the Wuhan lab and one of the worlds leading researchers on bat coronaviruses, told Scientific American last month that she initially feared the virus could have originated at her facility, but was relieved that none of the genetic sequences taken from infected patients matched the viruses her team had sampled from bat caves. That really took a load off my mind, Shi said. I had not slept a wink for days. Yet the coronavirus research at the Wuhan lab so alarmed American science diplomats that they requested the United States provide further support beyond the assistance that the lab was getting from UTMB. In another cable, diplomats noted the new lab has a serious shortage of appropriately trained technicians and investigators needed to safely operate this high-containment laboratory. As part of a team at UTMB that helped train staff from the Wuhan lab, Le Duc was hesitant to ascribe blame or speculate on any specific cause of the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan. He did, however, acknowledge Chinas relative lack of experience in establishing high-security biocontainment labs. I can say that this was a brand-new laboratory that was working at a level of biocontainment that they had not worked at in the past, so its not surprising that they dont have a whole lot of people with experience in it, said Le Duc, who joined UTMB in 2006 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. I dont think that that means that they were any less appreciative of safety and security than anyone else. Engaging with China UTMBs relationship with China dates back to 2013, when the medical branch opened discussions with three labs that were under construction, including the facility in Wuhan. Through the Galveston National Laboratorys federally-funded national training center, Le Duc led a team that provided individualized, hands-on training in biosafety, biosecurity and biocontainment laboratory operations to international partners from around the world who had built or were building new biocontainment laboratories. As part of this engagement with the Chinese, the Galveston National Laboratory hosted a team of engineers that was building the lab in Wuhan to train them specifically on maintenance and operations of biocontainment labs. The national laboratory also hosted two Chinese post-doctoral scientists from the Wuhan lab. They completed the nearly year-long training needed to gain independent access to the Galveston facility and collaborated with UTMB faculty on Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus research. UTMB did not provide the specific dates when the Chinese staffers came to Galveston, but Le Duc said they arrived in the years prior to the Wuhan facility opening in 2017. The medical branch also declined to release the names of the two Chinese scientists from the Wuhan lab, citing federal law that protects the privacy of student records. We wanted to make sure that we were engaged with (China) because theyre a huge country, theyve got tremendous intellectual power, and a lot of ongoing scientific collaborations, Le Duc said. We just wanted to make sure that as they stood up their new biocontainment labs, that they were aware of our experiences and kind of open up a dialogue so that we could share best practices. Le Duc spoke highly of Shi, a professional colleague whose research he admires. Both scientists attended annual meetings hosted by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, where Le Duc listened to Shi warn of the dangers of coronaviruses jumping from animals to humans as far back as 2015. Shis presentations at these meetings have not been made public. While one of the 2018 diplomatic cables obtained by The Post warned of the public health risk of bat-associated coronaviruses, Le Duc said the dangers of these viruses have been common knowledge in the scientific community for years, in large part because of Shis research. Ive never seen the cable but its kind of being implied that this is breaking news, he said. Well, in the scientific community we had been talking about this for at least five years. It wasnt breaking news and it wasnt a surprise to the scientists that are working in this field. Big disservice He has kept in touch with Shi since the outbreak and is saddened her integrity has come into question. Le Duc said he believes Shis account of when she was first notified of the first coronavirus infections and that the timeline of events suggests to him that the virus did not originate in the Wuhan lab. Its all speculation that the lab was involved and I think its very appropriate that people look into this because thats where some of the work is done, but the timeline doesnt make sense, he said. Im not at all trying to defend her or the laboratory, and frankly I think the Chinese government has done themselves and the global community a big disservice by not being more transparent as to whats going on, but thats a whole different set of issues. Federal officials had hoped UTMBs unique relationship with the Wuhan lab might led to an exchange that would help U.S. officials develop a diagnostic test for COVID-19, but Chinese officials nixed the idea in late January, The Post has reported. Le Duc also dismissed conspiracy theories suggesting that the coronavirus was man-made in the Wuhan lab, saying it almost certainly originated from nature given its similarity to other known bat-associated coronaviruses. But he conceded that working with infectious diseases, even in the most secure facilities, is inherently risky. We as scientists try and use the best practices, he said. Nobody wants to get sick, nobody wants to take their work home with them. Like anything, its a highly specialized field, there are tools and procedures that protect the individuals working in the field and we all try and use them. nick.powell@chron.com Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) Community service may be a penalty imposed on quarantine violators, the Philippine National Police chief said Thursday. PGen Archie Gamboa told CNN Philippines that local government units (LGUs) may consider this punishment in enacting ordinances related to the quarantine policy. "Kung regular na batas like in violation of republic acts, eto ay dadalhin talaga natin sa regular detention cell ng kapulisan," Gamboa said in an interview with The Source. [Translation: If they violate our laws like the republic acts, they will really be brought by the police to a regular detention cell.] "That's why we're encouraging LGUs to enact different ordinances, para pwedeng community service or fine ang pwedeng maging punishment. So that hindi kailangang ipasok sa regular detention cells," he added. [Translation: That's why we're encouraging LGUs to enact different ordinances, so that people can just do community service, or have a fine as punishment. So that they won't need to be transferred to regular detention cells.] Over 130,000 quarantine violators have been reported nationwide amid lockdowns, according to recent police data. Gamboa said violators may be charged under a number of laws, including the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. Damoh : , April 24 (IANS) In a heart-wrenching incident, a 21-year-old person allegedly raped a seven-year-old in a village in Madhya Pradesh's Damoh district on Wednesday night. The rapist damaged her eyes to prevent her from identifying him, said district police chief Hemant Chauhan who rushed to the spot on Thursday morning. The accused, Sachin Sen, was arrested by Thursday evening, said Chauhan. He said the girl's eyes were safe and she was showing satisfactory progress. Former Chief Minister Kamal Nath in a tweet criticised the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government for the collapse of law and order even through the rigidly-enforced lockdown. Such henious crimes are taking place at a time when people are not allowed to move out even to meet their basic requirements, he said. Thursday's incident is the third in the state in the past one week. The crime scene in corona times has added to the women's woes. On April 17, a 53-year-old blind bank official was raped by a youth. Though the police made a list of possible suspects, no further action was possible as they could be hiding in a corona containment area. The police can't be exposed to the infected areas, an official said. On Tuesday a teenaged girl who along with a firend was on her way to a local hospital, when she was dragged into a car and was taken around eight kms and raped with no police force checking the culprits. The girl is reported to have named Shafiq Khan and his friend Abid Khan who have been booked under POCSO Act. In the Damoh incident, the accused inflicted injuries on the girl's face. Police rushed the victim in a critical condition to a hospital in Jabalpur where her eyes were operated upon, Chauhan told the media over phone. According to the girl's family members, she went missing while playing with friends on Wednesday evening. Her family kept looking for her till midnight before reporting the matter to the Jabera police early on Thursday when the child was found in a dilapidated house about 50 metres away from home with her hands and feet tied. "As soon as the police got the information, they reached the spot and rushed the girl to a hospital in Jabera tehsil from where she was taken to Jabalpur for better health care," Chauhan said. Jabera MLA Dharmendra Singh also reached the spot. In another case, a youth hanged himself to death late Wednesday night near Rajgarh after a policeman allegedly threatened to implicate him in a rape case. The youth reportedly recorded his suicide and the video went viral. The youth, Ramswaroop Lowanshi, accused a policeman, Sarpanch and a BEO of demanding Rs 5 lakh from him, failing which they would slap a case under POCSO against him. Ramswaroop, a resident of village Talavada Maharaja of Malawar police station, hanged himself at around 1 am on the night intervening Wednesday-Thursday. The video alleged Assistant Sub-Inspector Sharma of Malawar police had accused his friend Golu in a rape case. Ramswaroop said Malawar Sarpanch Devi Singh, the BEO whose name was not mentioned and the ASI had said they would implicate him along with Golu unless he paid Rs 5 lakh to them. He said Golu had already paid them a huge amount. Ramswaroop said he did not have money. Therefore, he had decided to end his life. No one in his family should not be harassed over the matter, he requested. On Thursday morning, Biaora MLA Govardhan Dangi and former District Congress President Ramachandra Dangi went to the police station and demanded action against the policemen. Assistant Superintendent of Police N.S. Sisodia rushed to investigate the matter. Police station in-charge Nagendra Singh and ASI Sharma have been suspended. Officials with Vernon Downs announced on Thursday, April 23 that the scheduled Empire Breeders Classic (EBC) trotting stakes have been postponed. A release from the track explains that New York Governor Cuomo's extension of the NYS on PAUSE order until May 15 will cause the postponement of Vernons EBC trots until a new dates for the stakes are determined. The eliminations and finals of Vernons EBC trots had been scheduled for May 15 and May 25, respectively. The release goes on to explain that the extension of Gov. Cuomos order will also affect the opening of the Tioga and Vernon casinos, and thus delaying the start of live racing at both properties until the order is lifted. Governor Cuomo has been quoted as considering permitting the re-opening of businesses in the less populated regions of New York State first. It is Tioga and Vernons hope that that plan would permit the facilities casinos to open and thus allow the tracks to prepare for racing. Officials with Tioga and Vernon have stated that any developments will be communicated as soon as there is anything to report. (With files from Vernon Downs) TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya's internationally recognised government is focused on trying to push its enemies out of artillery range of Tripoli after making advances in the main western battle fronts last week, the interior minister said. Driving the forces of commander Khalifa Haftar out of the town of Tarhouna, southeast of the capital, could end Libya's civil war, minister Fathi Bashagha told Reuters by phone. But this would be "the most difficult military option" at this moment in the Government of National Accord's (GNA) fight against eastern-based Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA), Bashagha said. "All our focus is on how to protect Tripoli and the people of Tripoli and keep the artillery bombardment away from them," he said. During a news conference in Tripoli later on Wednesday, Bashagha said there had been initial reports of chemical weapons use against GNA forces and he was awaiting further details. Tarhouna, surrounded by hills, has been the LNA's main strategic centre in the west, providing local manpower for a campaign that has leaned heavily on air support supplied by the United Arab Emirates and Russian military contractors. Pro-GNA forces made advances last week in the main fronts in western Libya, taking back territory along the coast and then pushing towards the LNA's main support base at Tarhouna, 65 km (45 miles) from the capital. It marked a possible turning point in the year-long war between the GNA and the LNA, which launched an offensive in April 2019 to capture Tripoli and has been bombarding the capital for weeks. LNA forces already control eastern Libya, where a rival administration to the GNA rules in Benghazi, and much of the country's south. However, Libya's main institutions, including the oil company and central bank, are based in Tripoli. The GNA's overall strategy is to regain control over western Libya, Bashagha said. He added that no military solution to the conflict was possible, but it was also not possible to negotiate with Haftar. Story continues "As for Tarhouna, this is the most difficult military option to storm because it is the first focal and rallying point (for the LNA). By entering Tarhouna, we believe that the war would end because no other city (in western Libya) is considered a gathering point for Haftar's forces," Bashagha said. Diplomatic peacemaking efforts have run aground and the United Nations special envoy resigned in March citing ill health. Turkish military support for the GNA this year, particularly with air defences and drones, was crucial in its latest advances. The United Nations Libya mission said on Tuesday that at least 3,100 people had been displaced from their homes in Tarhouna and the nearby GNA-held town of Qarabouli, this week as the fighting escalated. Eye witnesses in another west LNA-held Libya town, Qasr bin Ghashir, said shelling had killed eight people there. (Reporting by Angus McDowall in Tunis and Tripoli newsroom, Editing by William Maclean and Grant McCool) PROVIDENCE, R.I., and OSAKA, Japan, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ProThera Biologics, Inc. and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited [ TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK ] ("Takeda") today announced that they have entered into a global licensing agreement to develop a novel plasma-derived Inter-alpha Inhibitor Proteins (IAIP) therapy for the treatment of acute inflammatory conditions. Early research has indicated that this IAIP technology has the potential to deliver a highly innovative, disease-modifying treatment for a range of acute inflammatory diseases. In such conditions, dysregulated inflammation plays a key role in the pathology, and there are no effective treatments available today. IAIP are naturally occurring proteins that circulate in the blood, and extensive research at ProThera has shown that these proteins play an essential role in human health by controlling inflammation. They exert their anti-inflammatory effects through multiple mechanisms and have the potential to change the paradigm of treatment for patients with dysregulated immune responses. During acute illnesses, however, the levels of these anti-inflammatory proteins rapidly decline. A replenishment strategy for patients using Inter-alpha Inhibitors is supported by numerous preclinical studies. "Our goal is to successfully treat patients with severe inflammatory conditions and this is now possible through our alliance with Takeda," said Denice Spero, president and chief business officer of ProThera. "Takeda's R&D expertise is well aligned with the potential uses of our Inter-alpha Inhibitor technology. We are delighted that Takeda and ProThera are collaborating and that Takeda shares our enthusiasm for tackling unmet medical needs." As part of the agreement, ProThera and Takeda will work together on IND-enabling activities, with development led by Takeda's dedicated Plasma Derived Therapies R&D organization. The broad collaboration will also explore the development of companion diagnostics with the goal of personalizing patient treatment and maximizing real-world outcomes. Takeda will assume responsibility for funding all development and commercialization activities. The financial terms of the licensing agreement are not being disclosed. "We believe ProThera's expertise in IAIP technology represents a potentially powerful opportunity to explore the untapped potential of plasma in order to address challenging rare and complex diseases," commented Dr. Chris Morabito, Takeda's Head of Research and Development, Plasma-Derived Therapies Business Unit. "Leveraging this potent technology using our deep expertise and robust dedicated plasma infrastructure, this collaboration reflects our patient-centered R&D efforts and could represent an important new avenue to deliver meaningful innovation to patient populations in need." "ProThera is proud to join forces with a world-class company like Takeda to tackle a number of challenging diseases. Takeda is one of the leaders in plasma-derived therapies, and we are confident that this partnership may advance this promising therapeutic into the clinic," said Dr. Yow-Pin Lim, co-founder and CEO of ProThera. "It has been a long journey to study these extraordinary proteins, and we are excited about the possibilities of achieving positive clinical outcomes." About ProThera Biologics ProThera Biologics has focused since inception on developing Inter-alpha Inhibitor Proteins for the treatment of life-threatening inflammatory diseases along with a rapid, point of care diagnostic test to determine IAIP levels for use as a biomarker for patient progression to severe outcomes. ProThera has demonstrated the potential of IAIP therapy in numerous preclinical models and the use of IAIP as a biomarker in clinical samples. The company was co-founded by Yow-Pin Lim, M.D., Ph.D., and Douglas Hixson, Ph.D., faculty members at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, based upon research originating in the labs at Lifespan/Rhode Island Hospital, with seed funding from the R.I.-based Slater Technology Fund. In developing its technology, ProThera has collaborated with investigators at multiple academic research institutions and has been awarded in excess of $12 million in federal funding from agencies within the National Institutes of Health pursuant to Small Business Investment Research (SBIR) grants. The company has received continued investment from the Slater Fund, and has also received support from R.I. Commerce Corp. through its Innovate RI Small Business Fund. Approximately $4M in Phase II SBIR grants from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) is currently supporting collaborative research with Care New England/Women & Infants Hospital on neonatal brain injury as well as the rapid test to assist therapy in infants with life-threatening diseases. 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. This press release (including any oral briefing and any question-and-answer in connection with it) is not intended to, and does not constitute, represent or form part of any offer, invitation or solicitation of any offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, exchange, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction. No shares or other securities are being offered to the public by means of this press release. No offering of securities shall be made in the United States except pursuant to registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom. 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Takeda does not undertake 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 or statements of Takeda in this press release may not be indicative of, and are not an estimate, forecast, guarantee or projection of Takeda's future results. SOURCE ProThera Biologics, Inc. EU leaders must work together to help countries recover from the coronavirus pandemic, the head of the European Parliament has warned. Speaking to reporters after giving a speech to the blocs 27 leaders at the start of their video-conference summit, European Parliament President David Sassoli said we are extremely concerned because we can see a downward spiral, and we are going to need every instrument available. Referring to the massive US aid package in 1948 that helped Europe rebuild after the Second World War, Mr Sassoli said that weve all called for this new Marshall Plan for Europe, but with a major difference of course. The funds will not be coming from abroad this time, but rather from European countries and economies. As businesses cautiously open their doors in some European countries and some of the EUs half a billion citizens begin to venture out, the leaders are set to endorse a series of urgent spending measures and debate a massive recovery plan they hope to introduce in coming weeks. Expand Close Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa was among those attending the summit by video link (Armando Franca/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa was among those attending the summit by video link (Armando Franca/AP) The summit their fourth video-conference since the outbreak struck northern Italy two months ago comes at an extremely delicate time, with more than 100,000 Europeans known to have died, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Trust between member states has eroded, with hard-hit Italy and Spain notably lacking confidence that relatively wealthier northern EU partners like Austria, the Netherlands or Germany who have suffered less from the virus are willing to take swift, sweeping measures backed by real economic firepower. Speaking to the German parliament ahead of the meeting, Chancellor Angela Merkel said her government stands ready to help partners in trouble and is already contributing to a 540-billion-euro rescue package expected to be endorsed later on Thursday. The aim is to have that so-called safety net to help pay lost wages, keep companies afloat and fund healthcare systems in place by June 1. But Mrs Merkel baulked at the use of shared debt, dubbed coronabonds, saying that parliaments would have to endorse such a move anyway, meaning it could take too long for such funds to reach nations in trouble. One thing is clear. We should be prepared, in the spirit of solidarity, to make significantly higher contributions to the European budget for a period of time, she told the lawmakers. Drawing up a recovery plan that can be endorsed by all will be more challenging. The consensus is that it should total at least 1-1.5 trillion euros and target the economic sectors and European regions hit hardest by the coronavirus. Ahead of Thursdays summit, officials said that no major breakthroughs are expected. No joint communique will be published, probably just a statement from European Council President Charles Michel, who is chairing the meeting. The EUs executive arm, the European Commission, will be tasked with drawing up a recovery plan, which could be incorporated into the blocs next seven-year budget, if differences over that spending package can be overcome. Big contributors to the budget, like Germany and the Netherlands, are reluctant to fill the estimated 75-billion-euro spending gap left by Britains departure from the EU. NEW DELHI: After reports that Pakistan is trying to push coronavirus-infected persons into the Indian side, it has now come to light that the neighbouring country has launched a cyberwar against New Delhi through social media. According to the Indian intelligence agencies, Pakistans notorious spy agency the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is using several fake social media accounts to spread hatred and rumours about India in the Gulf States. Inputs gathered by the Indian security agencies suggest that the ISI is behind the sudden spurt in social media messages targeting India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Twitter and other social media platforms. A report submitted to the Home Ministry points out that the ISI is trying to flood social media with anti-India messages through fake or hacked social media handles in the Gulf countries. The Pakistani spy agency wants to create a divide between India and the Gulf States, which have been very appreciative of PM Modis efforts to reduce tension and bring stability in the region, especially during the COVID-19 crisis. The Indian security agencies suspect that the ISI was behind the two hashtags - #ShameOnModi and #ChaosInIndia that trended on Tuesday and Wednesday. A Pakistan-managed Twitter account had changed its handle name to pose as Omani princess and tweeted anti-India material on Tuesday. Interestingly, several old anti-India tweets from the same account, which has now been deleted, were also detected which indicated that the two Pakistani agencies - ISI and Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - were operating it. Meanwhile, there has been an increase in the number of Pakistani accounts changing the name to Arabic names or posing as Arabic royalty. The ISI is clearly running propaganda on social media platforms claiming that the Muslims are not safe in India. It may be recalled that the ISIs cyber cell used the same tactics during the Delhi riots to spread fear and hatred among the Indian Muslims and instigated them to join the jihad against India. Importantly, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh had on Wednesday claimed that Pakistan has been exporting coronavirus COVID-19 patients to India. Calling it a matter of concern, Singh said that it has come to light that Pakistan, which was earlier only sending terrorists, has now also started sending coronavirus infected people. The DGP added that these people will spread the infection. He also called for precaution in this matter. "Pakistan is exporting coronavirus patients. It is true that something like this has come to light and it is a matter of concern. Till now, Pakistan has been exporting terrorists but now Pakistan will also export coronavirus patients. They will come here and spread the infection among the people here. Precaution is needed, it is a matter of concern," said the DGP. I returned to Ukraine nine years later after securing wide-ranging access to photograph the countrys penal system. I visited 17 prisons all over the country: maximum security, pretrial, mens and womens, and one juvenile. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 11:51:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits Xi'an Jiaotong University in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, April 22, 2020. Xi on Wednesday inspected the city of Xi'an during his trip to northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) XI'AN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Wednesday visited an exhibition on the relocation of Jiaotong University from Shanghai to Xi'an and its development and achievements at a Xi'an Jiaotong University museum. He met with 14 professors, who had been relocated along with the university decades ago. "I was deeply moved by your letter that struck a chord in me," Xi said, speaking of a letter sent to him by Xi'an Jiaotong University's professors two years ago. He praised the professors for making personal sacrifices for the interest of the country by moving along with the university from Shanghai to Xi'an. Xi noted the great significance of the university's relocation to the whole country, nation and the development of China's western region. He encouraged teachers and students of the university to remain true to their original aspiration, continue to draw inspirations from the relocation, pursue their careers in the most-needed places of the country, and pass on the "westward relocation spirit" from generation to generation. Enditem The counselors are really the conduit to our students and their social and emotional well-being in our schools, said Scotts Ridge Middle School Principal Tim Salem. I just think theyre so integral to our overall success that its imperative that we as administrators run shoulder to shoulder with them. Thinking like that his appreciation of counselors contributions probably helped earn Salem the honor of being the Connecticut School Counselor Association (CSCA) Administrator of the Year. Timothy Salem is a model of leadership as he works with his staff and colleagues, said the nomination letter sent by the Scotts Ridge counseling staff to their state association. Timothy believes in a the door is always open policy for his students, parents, and staff. He always partakes in the sharing of ideas with staff members, ensuring they feel heard, valued, and appreciated. He takes the time to build close personal relationships with his staff, students, and parents in order for everyone to feel as though they are a part of the team. Every day, Tim will stand at the entrance to welcome his students by name, checking in when they just are not acting in their usual way or carrying themselves in their typical manner. He ensures that each student feels included and accepted as a valued member of the Scotts Ridge Middle School community. Timothy does his best to bring parents into the building in order to create a true sense of community. He holds monthly coffees that are open to all parents with no agenda, to foster discussions on any topic that parents feel are important. He collaborates with the community to be able to supply students, parents, and staff with the resources that may be helpful. He dives into each role of his staff members, to understand their roles, their importance, and advocate for their needs. He encourages his staff to attend different professional development opportunities to grow in their profession, learn, and bring new ideas into the building. It is an honor and a privilege to work under the guidance of such an incredible leader and feel valued in a wonderful community. Stephanie Tavares, who was the principal author of the nomination letter, said the school counseling staff had all agreed he was worthy of the award and his name should be put forward. It was certainly a team decision and discussion to nominate him, she told The Press. As a department, we feel extremely lucky to be under the leadership of someone like Tim. He understands our roles and truly makes us feel valued as staff members. During coronavirus She added that his leadership during the coronavirus lockdown started recently overseeing the operations of a school when all the students and teachers are at home, communicating online has demonstrated again that he deserved the nomination. He has only showcased his exemplary leadership in the situation we are currently in, Tavares said. He has been bending over backwards to ensure that every student, family, and staff is doing well and staying healthy. This is something no one could have prepared us for, and he is handling it with grace, helping us adjust and doing all he can to make this transition to online learning as smooth as possible. Salem said the current difficulties have made him appreciate the schools staff even more. Its definitely a challenge, theres no two ways about it, he said. Its very challenging to be in a completely virtual environment. As I say that, Im so impressed with how quickly and efficiently our staff has adapted, and brought our students along on this journey with them. No question its very different, he added. Were spending, as administrators, hours and hours a day online in meetings. But, overall, I think given what were tasked with, everybodys done an outstanding job. Scotts Ridge families have been very supportive, despite the disruption. We recently conducted a survey with parents and really received some wonderful feedback, Salem said. By and large our parent community is just very understanding of this situation, because theyre living with it as well, he said. Its a big adjustment for everyone. We were caught off guard by how quickly this happened. Weve adjusted, Salem said. The willingness and readiness to do so is there, and its wonderful to see. Surprise! Salem said he was totally though pleasantly blindsided by the notice that hed received the award. It was such a wonderful surprise, he said. I had to read it twice before I understood what was stated. Salem is in his 10th year as principal of Scotts Ridge Middle School, a 563-student operation that serves roughly half of Ridgefields sixth, seventh and eighth graders. He came to Scotts Ridge from the Danbury school system, where he was a social studies teacher before becoming an administrator. Hes been in education for 26 years and, he noted, is married to an educator his wife is an assistant principal in New Milford. Its a family full of educators, he said. They live in Danbury and I have two children, I have a 16-year-old daughter and a 14-year-old son, both in the Danbury public schools. Working with teenagers and having a couple at home, as well may have contributed to Salems ample store of perspective. Take that administrator of the year award. More than anything I think its a testament to the teamwork that exists in Scotts Ridge not only in our school, but in the broader community, Salem said. Its a testament to that strong connection we have not only to our students but to our parent community. Theres a great synergy there, he said. I just think this award is reflective of all those efforts. And as Tim Salem makes the case the CSCA administrator of the year award reflects the efforts and virtues of Scotts Ridges staff and students and parents the whole community, really it seems clear why the award was given to him. As federal and state governments begin advancing plans to reopen the economy and force workers to get back to work, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disproportionately reap the lives of New Yorks most vulnerable, with the unfortunate residents of the states nursing homes being especially at risk. Over the past two weeks, numerous scandals have exposed management coverups of chronic understaffing, acute shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other vital supplies and the grisly storage of corpses in makeshift morgues at nursing homes. Across the US, over 10,000 people have now been confirmed to have died from COVID-19 in nursing homes. Recently released New York state data reveals that at least 3,505 residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities have died from confirmed or suspected COVID-19 illness, almost 23 percent of the states official death toll of 15,302. A nurse at a rally outside of the Linden Nursing Home and Rehabiliation Center Even these numbers, however, are greatly deflated. A recent New York Times study showed that at least 4,000 people had died from COVID-19 and gone unreported in New York City, which would make for a staggering 298 percent increase in the citys death toll between March 11 and April 18 to at least 17,200. Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo did not issue an executive order requiring nursing homes to report the deaths until last Friday, a half-hearted attempt at reversing policies that have undercounted deaths and exacerbated suffering for the elderly and the health care workers caring for them. Nursing home operators in New York are still only required to report those who perish within their facility and not at hospitals, and only if the total is above five residents for privacy purposes. Moreover, with a very limited ability to test, many deaths from COVID-19 will not be reported as such. Even this move came only after a continued public outcry from relatives who have been kept in the dark for weeks and public protests by nursing home workers. In one particularly ghastly incident, it was revealed that at a nursing home in East New York in Brooklyn, management had left 10 corpses in a room with residents. The windows were open, and the air conditioner was on. The scandal became public after workers at the home held a demonstration to bring attention to the horrific situation. The numbers that have since been released, while still underrepresenting the real death toll, are staggering. A state report lists several facilities that have reported fatalities of over 40 victims in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island. At Bensonhurst Center for Rehabilitation and Healthcare in Brooklyn, 34 people have died, 17 percent of the residents. In another facility, 55 have died. Ten facilities reported 30 or more deaths. Even as testing has remained extremely limited, eight percent of the citys 40,000 nursing home residents had tested positive by April 15. Virtually every single facility in New York City has confirmed positive cases. Manhattan nursing homes had an infection rate of 123 per 1,000, 60 percent higher than the rest of the city. Queens, which has seen over 4,000 deaths of COVID-19 in total, more than any other borough, has also been leading in the fatality rate among nursing home residents with 53 deaths per 1,000. At the Ozanam Hall nursing home in Bayside Queens, where over 50 residents have died of COVID-19, staff complained about the lack of PPE to THE CITY, a news website. They reported that they were forced to place asymptomatic patients with others who had been known to have had the virus. One nurses aide complained of trying to deliver care to the residents under dangerous conditions, stating, We are not comfortable, but they still have to get care. We try and protect ourselves as best we can. Workers complained about being understaffed to the point that they have to regularly work double shifts or risk being fired. They also spoke of the despair they felt upon witnessing residents for whom they have cared and known a long time suddenly perish. Nursing home staff have also been heavily affected by the spread of the virus. Over 40 employees were out sick last week at this facility alone with COVID-19 symptoms. There have been reports of nursing home staff being forced to work while sick, a phenomenon also widely reported by hospital workers in New York. Despite Cuomos order, many nursing homes still are not reporting their data. A nurse at Workmens Circle MultiCare Center in the Bronx, which is not listed in the official data, told THE CITY last week that in one unit of 12 patients, six had died over the previous week. She was overseeing a total of 45 patients per shift, and about one quarter of them were showing symptoms of COVID-19. She said, Its very stressful. When theyre sick, its very hard to know, who do you go to first? How closely can you actually monitor those people? A nurse supervisor at that facility also recently died from COVID-19. Another nurse said, Its very upsetting. Sometimes I go home after a shift, and I just cry because its so sad. A similar situation reigns at other facilities that are not reporting numbers of infections and deaths among either patients or staff. Hebrew Home in Riverdale, one of the largest nursing homes in the state, saw at least 17 staff members fall ill and 45 residents die between mid-March and April 7. It is still unclear how many of these deaths were related to COVID-19. The Hebrew Home in Riverdale Photo: Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY Doctors at hospitals report receiving completely neglected patients from nursing homes. One doctor told THE CITY that they had received one patient with very elevated sodium levels, suggesting she had not had anything to drink in days. Its the folks coming from nursing homesthese signs of basic neglect that are so deeply unsettling and heart-wrenching. I suspect whats happening is that these nursing homes are probably overwhelmed. Based on a New York state Department of Health directive from March 25, nursing homes must readmit confirmed yet stable COVID-19 patients after their discharge from hospitals, all but ensuring the quick spread of the highly communicable disease among the residents. As has been the case internationally, the policies by the state have first contributed to the spread of the virus and were then aimed at covering up the extent of the deaths in the facilities. Up until Cuomos recent executive order, nursing homes have only been asked to share information regarding COVID-19 infection in their facilities with relatives, who under the given circumstances, have been conflicted about whether or not to remove their family member from the facilities. That and other policies, such as the prevention of all visitation by relatives, has resulted in a complete absence of transparency and a situation where the profit-motivated management of these facilities has been allowed to cover up the true extent of the death toll for weeks. The situation has been further compounded by industrywide poor standards of care and the absence of minimum staffing requirements. Inspections conducted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid this year revealed that one in three nursing homes in the US did not follow proper hand-washing guidelines and did not properly use PPE. These horrifying conditions are the direct result of the subordination of nursing home care to private profit and decades of ongoing cuts to social programs like Medicaid. In New York, $126 million were slashed from Medicaid payments to nursing homes this year alone, with another $496 million projected cuts in the years ahead. 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. Coronavirus India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised Divyanka Tripathi, Rashami Desai and other television celebrities' initiative to raise funds for India's fight against coronavirus. The initiative has been started by television actor JD Majethia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has praised the initiative of Television stars to raise funds for Indias fight against novel coronavirus- COVID-19. Reacting to a tweet of JD Majethia, in which he has urged fans to contribute their bit for PM Cares Fund so that they can interact with their favourite television celebrities, PM Modi called it an exceptional effort and thanked everyone for coming together for this initiative. The celebrities that are a part of the initiative are Divyanka Tripathi, Rashami Desai, Bharti Singh, Tejasswi Prakash, Adaa Khan, Karan V Grover, Gautam Rode among many others. Shedding light on the intiative, JD Majethia had earlier shared with a news portal that he wanted to do something to support the people who have been affected by coronavirus pandemic. In these testing times, the television industry holds the power to come forward and support the cause. Expressing his gratitude towards all the celebrities who have agreed to be a part of the intiative, JD Majethia said that every individual who contributes towards the cause will receive a special thank you message from their favourite celebrity. He hopes that this initiative will create an impact. Also Read: Rashami Rocket: Aparshakti Khurana opens up about collaborating with Taapsee Pannu, reveals will take a final call after the lockdown This is an exceptional effort by our TV stars to strengthen Indias fight against COVID-19. Thank you to all those who have come together for this. https://t.co/QgiHPETLG8 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 21, 2020 In India, the total number of coronavirus cases has crossed 21,000 mark, which includes 16454 active cases, 4257 cured/discharged/migrated and 681 deaths. Maharashtra, which continues to be the worst affected state of coronavirus in India, has reported 5652 cases and 269 deaths and is followed by Gujarat, Delhi and Rajasthan in terms of severity. Considering the situation at hand, the lockdown in India has been extended to May 3. Also Read: Neha Kakkar starts up #MoveOnChallenge for all the women dealing with ugly breakup and past India's total number of #Coronavirus positive cases rise to 21393 (including 16454 active cases, 4257 cured/discharged/migrated and 681 deaths): Ministry of Health and Family Welfare pic.twitter.com/P9XZTVVU8R ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 Also Read: Shivin Narang reacts to Beyhadh 2 co-starring Jennifer Winget going off-air For all the latest Entertainment News, download NewsX App Some of Australia's biggest stars are joining forces for a concert dedicated to frontline workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Music From The Home Front will feature performances by Delta Goodrem, Jimmy Barnes, Birds of Tokyo, The West Australian Symphony Orchestra, The Wiggles and more. It will air on Channel Nine on Anzac Day (Saturday, April 25). All-star concert: Some of Australia's biggest stars, including Delta Goodrem, are joining forces for a concert dedicated to frontline workers fighting the coronavirus pandemic The lineup also includes Courtney Barnett, Ian Moss, Kevin Parker from Tame Impala, Missy Higgins, Paul Kelly, The Rubens and Vance Joy. Other artists are yet to be announced. It is believed many of the artists will be performing from home, in a similar format to Lady Gaga's livestreamed benefit concert that raised $127million for coronavirus relief over the weekend. Headliners: Music From The Home Front will feature performances by Birds of Tokyo, Jimmy Barnes (pictured), The West Australian Symphony Orchestra, The Wiggles and more Headliners for Music From The Home Front on Anzac Day Jimmy Barnes Delta Goodrem The Wiggles Ben Lee Missy Higgins Birds of Tokyo Ben Lee Paul Kelly Advertisement Michael Gudinski, the CEO of Frontier Touring and chairman of the Mushroom Group, said that musicians often help out in times of trouble. 'Throughout history, music has helped people through times of hardship,' he said. 'Music From The Home Front is about uniting Australians and New Zealanders through the power of music in a time that we all need a bit of hope and happiness.' Channel Nine executive Adrian Swift said the project was a 'salute from Australia and New Zealand's music communities to everyone serving our nations under lockdown'. Australia's coronavirus infection rate has decreased dramatically in recent weeks, from 460 new cases on March 28 to just 12 on April 22. Wiggling into it! Children's group The Wiggles (pictured) will also perform at the concert This is despite testing being ramped up, with more than 12,000 conducted nationwide over the 24-hour period. There are 6,652 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia as of Thursday morning, with 4,932 recoveries and 74 deaths. Music From The Home Front will air on Anzac Day at 7.30pm on Channel Nine President Moon Jae-in speaks during a ceremony at Gwangju City Hall, Jan. 31, 2019, after stakeholders signed an agreement to set up an automobile plant in the city. Cheong Wa Dae press corps By Nam Hyun-woo A 575.4 billion won ($466 million) project to set up a contract automobile manufacturing plant in Gwangju is becoming a headache for Hyundai Motor, as multiple unions have expressed strong oppositions to the project, which was supposed to be a model case of cooperation between unions, employers, and the government. The Hyundai Motor union recently issued a statement urging the company to abandon the project. In the statement, the union said "the project was set to fail," claiming investment into it was "nonsense" when the company's financial prudence was under question amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The project was to set up a joint venture comprised of the Gwangju Metropolitan Government (GMG), Hyundai Motor and a number of investors, which would run an automobile plant capable of manufacturing up to 100,000 vehicles. After its establishment, the plant would contract assemble 70,000 mini SUVs with a displacement below 1,000cc developed by Hyundai Motor annually, starting from September next year. Following an agreement in January 2019, Gwangju Global Motors (GGM) was established as the joint venture, and hired 1,000 employees to construct the plant in the city. New workers would get an annual salary of 35 million won, almost half the average pay at the five domestic carmakers in 2016, meaning the project was also advantageous for Hyundai Motor. The GMG expected this would create 12,000 jobs across the project's supply chain. Though the project was aimed at being beneficial for all participating parties, it has not run smoothly so far. Since it was proposed as a cooperative project between unions, an employer and the government, it required an agreement from the unions over working rules. During negotiations, however, one of the country's top two umbrella unions, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), withdrew, citing the project would bring "an overall salary cut in automobile jobs." The Hyundai Motor union is under the KCTU. The project continued after the other top umbrella union, the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), joined instead, signing on to the agreement despite criticism from the KCTU and Hyundai Motor union. Earlier this month, however, the FKTU also announced it would withdraw from the project, saying the GMG had snubbed its demands to have a board member representing employees. "The Gwangju Metropolitan Government was blinded by self-righteousness throughout the negotiation process," the federation said in a statement. GMG's shareholders refuted the FKTU's demand, and in a meeting April 8, they said this was not included in the agreement and they would "decide whether to pursue the project or not, dependent on the federation abiding by the agreement and joining the project by April 29." As the project is running aground, it has become a conundrum for Hyundai Motor. In the 575.4 billion won project, Gwangju Global Motors has 230 billion won in equity, with the GMG being the largest shareholder at 48.3 billion won (21 percent stake). Hyundai Motor follows with 43.7 billion or a 19 percent stake. From Hyundai Motor's point of view, joining the project was more about a contribution to society rather than feasibility, because the market for below 1,000cc vehicles has been shrinking over the past several years. According to the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association, Korean automakers produced 364,953 under 1,000cc vehicles last year, down from 517,888 in 2012. Such vehicles' domestic sales have also seen a sharp decline to 115,859 from 182,021 during the same period, meaning the company's investment in the project was focused more on domestic job creation rather than feasibility. Despite these factors, withdrawing from the project is also a difficult choice for Hyundai Motor, for political reasons. When Hyundai Motor, the GMG and the FKTU signed on to the project last year, President Moon Jae-in visited Gwangju and praised it calling it "an outcome we have awaited." "If Hyundai Motor manufactures mini SUVs outside of Korea, the company can save more costs because Korea is no longer a lucrative market for mini vehicles." an industry official said. "With multiple entities entangled in political causes, the project is expected to see a bumpy road ahead." Armenian News - NEWS.am presents a daily digest of Armenia-related top news as of 23.04.2020: The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has reached 1,523 in Armenia. A total of 15,960 tests have come back negative so far, and 840 people are currently being treated. According to the latest data, 659 COVID-19 patients have recovered thus far, whereas 24 others have died. Health minister Arsen Torosyan noted 10 COVID-19 patients are in a very critical condition. "There are approximately 230 people with pneumonia, five people on ventilators," he added. In the meantime, Deputy PM Tigran Avinyan, who is also commandant of the current state of emergency, has signed a new decision and lifted a restriction on the interprovincial movement noting that the respective checkpoints will be removed. The temporary restrictions on some economic activities will also be lifted. Catholicos of All Armenians has reported the death of Aso Tavitian. His death is a dire loss for the Armenian Holy Church and the entire nation, the statement said. The Tavitian Foundation helped nearly 350 young people of Armenia continue their higher education at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, and today, those young people are providing their services in various sectors in Armenia. Three Armenian patients with COVID-19 who were in extremely critical condition were discharged from the hospital. The health minister posted a video showing employees of the MC discharging patients with applause. Debates have raged after Russian FM Sergei Lavrov referred to the documents that suggest a phased settlement to the Karabakh conflict. Earlier, FM Zohrab Mnatsakanyan noted that concessions are impossible at the cost of Artsakh security. Now Armenian MFA spokesperson Anna Naghdalyan noted that ever since 2018, Armenia has not been holding talks based on a phased settlement. No settlement option that does not provide for the exercise of Artsakh's right to self-determination without the imposing of any restrictions and may endanger the security of the people of Artsakh is acceptable to the Armenian parties, she said. Artsakh defense ministry has posted photos of the wreckage of the Azerbaijani UAV down by the defense army. On April 21, the air defense forces stationed in the southern direction, noticing the Azerbaijani ORBITER unmanned aerial vehicles entry into the aerial space of Artsakh, downed the UAV with combat readiness and through literate operations. Earlier, Artsakh MOD had reported frequent cases of flights of the opponent forces in areas adjacent to the contact line. UAVs have also been involved trying to penetrate the republics airspace for reconnaissance purposes. Graves belonging to Armenians have been discovered in the Nazilli region of the Turkish Province of Aydin. The employees of the Aydin Museum were called, and they confirmed that Armenians were buried there. The tombstones are believed to date back to the 17th century. They were moved to a safe place. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to devastate communities around the world, Emory University faculty members and health care providers will collaborate with Science Gallery to host a virtual program on the Science of Grief, a multi-dimensional exploration of loss, hope and creativity during this crisis. Emory is one of eight member sites in Science Gallerys global network. Apart from Emory, the webcast will feature scientists and artists from Science Gallery Detroit (Michigan State University) and Science Gallery Dublin (Trinity College). The event is expected to be the first of an ongoing web series on the topic. The virtual program, to be held April 29 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. EDT, is free and open to all. Emory's hour can be watched on Science Gallery Atlanta's YouTube page during that time frame and after. The entire program can be viewed here. Emorys contribution will center on new coronavirus research, the experiences of its health care providers and art expressions from its faculty. Deborah W. Bruner, senior vice president for research at Emory, says she hopes the virtual program informs and inspires viewers. This event perfectly aligns with our fundamental goals of bringing together Emorys leading innovators in arts and science to support our communities, she explains. So many are grappling with a sense of loss. As an academic research institution, we can do our part to both validate and mitigate those feelings. Bruner, who spearheaded the partnership with Science Gallery, says Science Gallery Atlanta was to originally have launched with a physical exhibition that would showcase the scientific and artistic skills of Emory faculty and community members. While those plans will continue, we want to embrace the technology we have at hand to connect on this important issue, she says. The web event is an excellent forum for our experts to weigh in on a topic that is affecting the entire world. I see it as our first pop-up only its virtual. Science Gallery Detroit began the Science of Grief event a few years ago. With COVID-19 shutting down all gatherings, Science Gallery took the opportunity to broaden the program to include other sites in the collaborative. The program theme on grief is especially pertinent as the pandemic wreaks untold damage: So many have lost a loved one, a job or a home, and have been displaced mentally and emotionally to a new reality with no known end date. We are all experiencing multiple levels of grief, and our normal mechanisms for coping with and processing grief have been severely interrupted and curtailed, says Andrea Bandelli, executive director of Science Gallery International. At the same time, in the history of humanity, we have never been better placed to respond to the current pandemic crisis all our scientific, medical, engineering and systems knowledge are helping us respond faster than ever before. Part experiment, part exhibition, Science Galleries are typically a living laboratory for ideas. The gallerys programs connect, engage and showcase the work of artists, scientists, researchers, industry and a global network of collaborators. Some of them are in permanent spaces while others function as pop-ups and traveling exhibits. About the Science Gallery network Science Gallery is the worlds only university network dedicated to public engagement with science and art. The Science Gallery Network consists of leading universities united around a singular mission: to ignite creativity and discovery where science and art collide. Science Gallery International is the non-profit, charitable organization catalyzing the growth of the network, providing services, tools and resources required to power and expand this unique global collaboration, which now has eight members across four continents: the pioneering member Trinity College Dublin (Ireland); King's College London (the United Kingdom); the University of Melbourne (Australia); the Indian Institute of Science, Srishti School of Art Design and Technology, The National Centre for Biological Sciences (India); Ca' Foscari University of Venice (Italy); Michigan State University (United States); Erasmus University Medical Center (The Netherlands); and Emory University (United States). For more information about the network, visit sciencegallery.org Click here to read the full article. Premiering worldwide at Visions de Reel and looking for wider distribution, Mo Scarpellis El Father Plays Himself will stream April 25 to May 2 to a limited audience of 500 as the Swiss festival handles the almost ontological dilemmas that come with the pandemic. Produced by Rake Films, Ardimages U.K. and La Faena Films, in association with Channel6 Media, Feverfilm and Tres Cinematografia, the documentary follows a father and son as they shoot a film in which the Father plays himself, in the middle of the Amazonian Jungle. More from Variety What comes out is a deeply human portrayal that, much like the trailer, manages to speak volumes while saying very little explicitly; a not at all easy task that seems almost effortless under the eye of its director and cinematographer Mo Scarpelli, who has shown a talent for finding images that establish a dialogue with their viewer. Variety talked with Scarpelli for the release of the new trailer. Theres a moment during the film where you put on screen one of the eternal debates of filmmaking, more often dealt in documentary, which is how to portrayal someone real, and thus the responsibility that this entails. The viewer is suddenly aware that same question falls to the director of the documentary. What were your guiding lines when shooting and working with the editor in this portrayal? This responsibility is exactly what terrifies me and drives me to make documentary films. Part of my interest is to interrogate what documentary representation entails. I cannot say I have set rules about how to navigate the edit every time; every film is different. To see someones experience in the world as valid (even their violent or dangerous behavior) happens when you stay very close to them and feel those things are coming from within; you linger enough maybe to earn a way to allow them to be seen. If your character says, show everything, it doesnt mean you do. You have a responsibility to your version of them because it says not who they are, but who you are and how you see the world. Negotiating this in the edit was quite fluid on this film though, because I am fortunate that my editor, Juan Soto, is also concerned with the negotiation of representation; the limits of cinema to represent the real. He interrogates the construction and uses of reality more thoroughly than I do, and honors a sense of neorealism which reflects how I see (how I film) that what happened, happened, we should sit with, and let it tell us something and that the cut should have nothing to do with moralizing this. Story continues Another meta moment from the film is when the Father acknowledges your presence. Which makes one wonder how this project came to be and what was your presence on and off set for its protagonists? Jorge is my fiance. He invited me to shoot the making-of for his film La Fortaleza, which featured his father (we call him el Father). Once in Venezuela, I found myself completely uninterested in the exterior conflicts of making a fiction film; instead, I gravitated towards Father a vastly complicated man learning to access his real emotions in a film written by the person he loves most (his son), based on a character he was at intense odds with (himself). Both father and son had regrets, unsaid pains, unspent time. And here they would go to the remote Amazon jungle to wrestle this via film. Where would this take them? That became my film. My presence was carte blanche. I literally slept with the son/director (I was privy to everything all the time) and became a close friend and sort of daughter to the father/actor. Both respect me and my way of working, which is that I just keep waiting and watching their every move. I was family. What I made would reflect on them and me forever, there was no walking away. I had to put my stars out as Salinger says. No short cuts. No tricks. I had to honor the way I see, fully; I owed them and myself that. The film is like a nesting doll as it captures the making of a fiction of reality. Given the first and last shot, what was the center of the matryoshka for you and how was the process of finding it? That is exactly what it felt to make it layers revealed more layers. The center of this was a moment in Jorges film (one of the few times in my film actually where we see what they shoot on set) where Jorge asks Father to leave him voice messages on the phone reflecting how he feels that his son hasnt returned to Venezuela to work with him. Father takes this scene to lengths that haunt me still. This was hard to film for Jorges crew and it was hard for me to film because it dug into something I cant really describe an emptiness at the core of things. That scene itself is a matryoshka of the exact something that I wanted to pursue. It guided everything else in the film. This is your second feature working as both director and DoP, a combination that offers some great advantages but comes with a lot of work. What have you learned making features through a creative process in which the entire image depends on you? I love the singularity of this relationship that happens when its you, a camera, and another. You go behind it; you are just an eye. They trust that eye sees them; that eye is their ally in a way, just by watching them. Youre an eye so you cant talk, interact, interject. Its your job to watch, to see. Thats it. And that is sufficient, for you, for them. Of course, I am human, so I mess it up, I run out of a battery, and when you miss something, you have no one to blame but yourself. Maybe thats a good thing, too. It keeps you lingering longer overall; youre the only one who cares that much about waiting for someone to betray their exterior. You trust they will, because we all (I think) want to be naked in some way; they have decided to be naked to you, without maybe even knowing they have. Other films I will make will probably require more technical prowess; but this one is me, a camera in my arms, and an eye waiting, watching, trying to see. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The owner of Montanas largest coal mine is laying off 130 workers, citing a slowdown in coal demand related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Navajo Transitional Energy Company announced Thursday that 73 employees at Spring Creek Mine in southeast Montana and 57 workers at Antelope Mine in Wyoming will be sent home until market demand improves. Spring Creek is the key export mine for NTEC because it's closer to Canadian coal ports in Puget Sound than the company's Wyoming assets. The mine does ship coal to the Midwestern United States, as well. We regret the hardship that this decision creates for families and our communities, Clark Moseley, NTEC CEO, said in a press release. We are confident in our projections for future sales, and all mines will continue operations to fulfill orders as we look to better days ahead. Energy demand has been down, particularly in manufacturing areas were factories have shut down or slowed because of the pandemic. There's been a 12% decline in electricity demand in the Midwest, which was a major factor behind layoffs announced Thursday, NTEC said. Mild winter weather has also reduced power demand, including in Montana and the Pacific Northwest, according to quarterly financial filings by regional utilities. T wo nose cells have been identified as the first points at which Covid-19 enters the human body. Scientists from the Wellcome Sanger Institute in the UK and several other universities have found that these cells contain high levels of the protein that coronavirus uses to get into the body. Other entry points include cells in the eye and in the lower intestine. The discovery may help understand better how coronavirus spreads and even develop medicine to treat the virus, the scientists say. Finding these cells may help doctors understand the virus better and help develop treatments / Getty Images Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, which funds the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: Researchers around the world are working at an unprecedented pace to deepen our understanding of Covid-19, and this new research is testament to this. "Collaborating across borders and openly sharing research is crucial to developing effective diagnostics, treatments and vaccines quickly, ensuring no country is left behind. Alongside the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the research was carried out by the University Medical Centre Groningen in the Netherlands, University Cote dAzur and the French National Centre for Scientific Research, as well as various other collaborators, as part of the Human Cell Atlas Lung Biological Network. Dr Martijn Nawijn, from the University Medical Centre Groningen in the Netherlands, said: This is the first time these particular cells in the nose have been associated with Covid-19. While there are many factors that contribute to virus transmissibility, our findings are consistent with the rapid infection rates of the virus seen so far. NEW YORK, April 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Unified Communications and Collaboration market worldwide is projected to grow by US$20.8 Billion, driven by a compounded growth of 7.6%. Telephony, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 7%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$16.7 Billion by the year 2025, Telephony will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03769705/?utm_source=PRN - Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 6.5% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$720.5 Million to the region's size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over US$632.7 Million worth of projected demand in the region will come from Rest of Europe markets. In Japan, Telephony will reach a market size of US$714.9 Million by the close of the analysis period. As the world's second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 11.1% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$5.7 Billion in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders. Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies. - Competitors identified in this market include, among others, 8x8 Inc. Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise Avaya Inc. Broadsoft, Inc. Cisco Systems Inc. FuzeBox Inc. Genesys IBM Corporation Microsoft Corporation Mitel Networks Corporation NEC Corporation of America PanTerra Networks Inc. Polycom Premiere Global Services Inc. RingCentral Inc. Unify Inc. West Corporation Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03769705/?utm_source=PRN I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. MARKET OVERVIEW Availability of Diverse Communication & Collaboration Channels Heightens the Need for Unification Recent Market Activity From a Niche Solution to a Multi-Billion Dollar Opportunity, UCC Evolves into a Market Force to Reckon With Market Outlook Global Competitor Market Shares Unified Communications and Collaboration Competitor Market Share Scenario Worldwide (in %): 2020 & 2029 2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS 8x8, Inc. (USA) Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise (France) Applied Voice & Speech Technologies, Inc. (USA) Avaya, Inc. (USA) Blue Jeans Network (USA) Broadsoft, Inc. (USA) Cisco Systems, Inc. (USA) FuzeBox, Inc. (USA) Genesys (USA) International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) (USA) Microsoft Corporation (USA) Mitel Networks Corporation (Canada) NEC Corporation of America (USA) PanTerra Networks, Inc. (USA) Polycom (USA) Premiere Global Services, Inc. (PGi) (USA) RingCentral, Inc. (USA) Unify (Germany) West Corporation (USA) 3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS Trends Impacting UCC Market Increased Usage of Cloud Customized UC Apps Gain Prominence Video Content - An Integral Part of Digital Transformation UC Vendors Add Team Chat Applications Immersive Group Collaboration Platforms Growing Focus on Green IT Initiatives Propels Growth of UCC Virtualized Unified Communications Grows in Popularity as a Key Efficiency Enhancing Strategy Growing Demand for Conferencing & Collaborative Capabilities to Boost Adoption of UCC among Organizations Integration of WebRTC into UCC Solutions to Invigorate Market Growth The Explosion of Enterprise Mobility Drives the Emergence of Mobile UCC Disruptive Emergence of Social Business Drives the Integration of Social Media with UCC Consolidation of Large Enterprises Gradually Phasing Out Vendor Support for PBX Accelerates the Migration to Pure IP Based UC Platforms Despite Growing Competition from Hosted & Hybrid Models, On- Premise Solutions Continue to Lead Revenue Share Cloud Based Unified Communication & Collaboration Services Gain Prominence Rising Preference for Hosted IP Telephony Services Over Premise-based Infrastructure - A Case in Point Hybrid Model to Gain Robust Adoption in Coming Years Mushrooming SMBs Spur Adoption of UCC Developing Markets to Witness Strong Growth Innovations in the UC Market Tracing UCC Adoption Patterns in Key End-Use Industries Banking, Finance & Insurance (BFSI) Healthcare Industry Retail Industry Key Challenges to Growth Security Issue Cost of Ownership Still a Concern Low Demand for PBX based Systems Complex Integration & Demand for Skilled Resources High-Bandwidth Requirements & Network Issues Interoperability Issue Burns Bright 4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE Table 1: Unified Communications and Collaboration Global Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 2: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Shift across Key Geographies Worldwide: 2019 VS 2025 Table 3: Telephony (Platform) World Market by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025 Table 4: Telephony (Platform) Market Share Breakdown of Worldwide Sales by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025 Table 5: Collaboration (Platform) Potential Growth Markets Worldwide in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025 Table 6: Collaboration (Platform) Market Sales Breakdown by Region/Country in Percentage: 2019 VS 2025 Table 7: Unified Messaging (Platform) Geographic Market Spread Worldwide in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025 Table 8: Unified Messaging (Platform) Market Share Distribution in Percentage by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025 Table 9: Conferencing (Platform) World Market Estimates and Forecasts by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025 Table 10: Conferencing (Platform) Market Share Breakdown by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025 Table 11: Services & Tools (Platform) World Market by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025 Table 12: Services & Tools (Platform) Market Share Distribution in Percentage by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025 Table 13: On-Premise (Deployment) World Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018 to 2025 Table 14: On-Premise (Deployment) Market Percentage Share Distribution by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025 Table 15: Cloud (Deployment) Market Opportunity Analysis Worldwide in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018 to 2025 Table 16: Cloud (Deployment) Market Share Distribution in Percentage by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025 Table 17: Hybrid (Deployment) World Market by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018 to 2025 Table 18: Hybrid (Deployment) Market Share Breakdown of Worldwide Sales by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025 Table 19: IT & Telecom (Application) Global Market Estimates & Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 20: IT & Telecom (Application) Market Share Breakdown by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025 Table 21: BFSI (Application) Demand Potential Worldwide in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 22: BFSI (Application) Share Breakdown Review by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025 Table 23: Public Sector (Application) Worldwide Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 24: Public Sector (Application) Distribution of Global Sales by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025 Table 25: Retail (Application) Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country for the Years 2018 through 2025 Table 26: Retail (Application) Global Market Share Distribution by Region/Country for 2019 and 2025 Table 27: Healthcare (Application) Global Opportunity Assessment in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 28: Healthcare (Application) Percentage Share Breakdown of Global Sales by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025 Table 29: Education (Application) Worldwide Sales in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 30: Education (Application) Market Share Shift across Key Geographies: 2019 VS 2025 Table 31: Other Applications (Application) Global Market Estimates & Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 32: Other Applications (Application) Market Share Breakdown by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025 III. MARKET ANALYSIS GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS UNITED STATES Market Facts & Figures US Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share (in %) by Company: 2020 & 2025 Market Analytics Table 33: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in US$ Million in the United States by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 34: United States Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Platform: 2019 VS 2025 Table 35: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in US$ Million in the United States by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 36: United States Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Deployment: 2019 VS 2025 Table 37: United States Unified Communications and Collaboration Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 38: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown in the United States by Application: 2019 VS 2025 CANADA Table 39: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Analysis in Canada in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 40: Canadian Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Platform: 2019 VS 2025 Table 41: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Analysis in Canada in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 42: Canadian Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Deployment: 2019 VS 2025 Table 43: Canadian Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 44: Canadian Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Analysis by Application: 2019 VS 2025 JAPAN Table 45: Japanese Medium & Long-Term Outlook for Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 46: Japanese Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Percentage Share Distribution by Platform: 2019 VS 2025 Table 47: Japanese Medium & Long-Term Outlook for Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 48: Japanese Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Percentage Share Distribution by Deployment: 2019 VS 2025 Table 49: Japanese Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Unified Communications and Collaboration in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 50: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Shift in Japan by Application: 2019 VS 2025 CHINA Table 51: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Estimates and Forecasts in China in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 52: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in China: Percentage Share Analysis by Platform for 2019 and 2025 Table 53: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Estimates and Forecasts in China in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 54: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in China: Percentage Share Analysis by Deployment for 2019 and 2025 Table 55: Chinese Demand for Unified Communications and Collaboration in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 56: Chinese Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Application: 2019 VS 2025 EUROPE Market Facts & Figures European Unified Communications and Collaboration Market: Competitor Market Share Scenario (in %) for 2020 & 2025 Market Analytics Table 57: European Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Demand Scenario in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 58: European Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Shift by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025 Table 59: European Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Assessment in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 60: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in Europe: Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Platform for 2019 and 2025 Table 61: European Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Assessment in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 62: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in Europe: Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Deployment for 2019 and 2025 Table 63: European Unified Communications and Collaboration Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025 Table 64: European Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Analysis by Application: 2019 VS 2025 FRANCE Table 65: French Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 66: French Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Platform: 2019 VS 2025 Table 67: French Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 68: French Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Deployment: 2019 VS 2025 Table 69: Unified Communications and Collaboration Quantitative Demand Analysis in France in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025 Table 70: French Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Analysis: A 7-Year Perspective by Application for 2019 and 2025 GERMANY Table 71: German Unified Communications and Collaboration Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 72: German Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Platform: 2019 VS 2025 Table 73: German Unified Communications and Collaboration Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 74: German Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Deployment: 2019 VS 2025 Table 75: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in Germany: Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Application for the Period 2018-2025 Table 76: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Distribution in Germany by Application: 2019 VS 2025 ITALY Table 77: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Estimates and Forecasts in Italy in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 78: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in Italy: Percentage Share Analysis by Platform for 2019 and 2025 Table 79: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Estimates and Forecasts in Italy in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 80: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in Italy: Percentage Share Analysis by Deployment for 2019 and 2025 Table 81: Italian Demand for Unified Communications and Collaboration in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 82: Italian Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Application: 2019 VS 2025 UNITED KINGDOM Table 83: United Kingdom Medium & Long-Term Outlook for Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 84: United Kingdom Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Percentage Share Distribution by Platform: 2019 VS 2025 Table 85: United Kingdom Medium & Long-Term Outlook for Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 86: United Kingdom Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Percentage Share Distribution by Deployment: 2019 VS 2025 Table 87: United Kingdom Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Unified Communications and Collaboration in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 88: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Shift in the United Kingdom by Application: 2019 VS 2025 SPAIN Table 89: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Analysis in Spain in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 90: Spanish Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Platform: 2019 VS 2025 Table 91: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Analysis in Spain in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 92: Spanish Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Deployment: 2019 VS 2025 Table 93: Spanish Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 94: Spanish Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Analysis by Application: 2019 VS 2025 RUSSIA Table 95: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in US$ Million in Russia by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 96: Russian Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Platform: 2019 VS 2025 Table 97: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in US$ Million in Russia by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 98: Russian Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Deployment: 2019 VS 2025 Table 99: Russian Unified Communications and Collaboration Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 100: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown in Russia by Application: 2019 VS 2025 REST OF EUROPE Table 101: Rest of Europe Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Assessment in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 102: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in Rest of Europe: Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Platform for 2019 and 2025 Table 103: Rest of Europe Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Assessment in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 104: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in Rest of Europe: Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Deployment for 2019 and 2025 Table 105: Rest of Europe Unified Communications and Collaboration Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025 Table 106: Rest of Europe Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Analysis by Application: 2019 VS 2025 ASIA-PACIFIC Table 107: Asia-Pacific Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 108: Asia-Pacific Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Analysis by Region/Country: 2019 VS 2025 Table 109: Asia-Pacific Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 110: Asia-Pacific Unified Communications and Collaboration Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by Platform: 2019 VS 2025 Table 111: Asia-Pacific Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 112: Asia-Pacific Unified Communications and Collaboration Historic Market Analysis in US$ Million by Deployment: 2019 VS 2025 Table 113: Unified Communications and Collaboration Quantitative Demand Analysis in Asia-Pacific in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025 Table 114: Asia-Pacific Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Analysis: A 7-Year Perspective by Application for 2019 and 2025 AUSTRALIA Table 115: Australian Unified Communications and Collaboration Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 116: Australian Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Platform: 2019 VS 2025 Table 117: Australian Unified Communications and Collaboration Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 118: Australian Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Deployment: 2019 VS 2025 Table 119: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in Australia: Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Application for the Period 2018-2025 Table 120: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Distribution in Australia by Application: 2019 VS 2025 INDIA Table 121: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Analysis in India in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 122: Indian Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Platform: 2019 VS 2025 Table 123: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Analysis in India in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 124: Indian Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Deployment: 2019 VS 2025 Table 125: Indian Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 126: Indian Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Analysis by Application: 2019 VS 2025 SOUTH KOREA Table 127: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in South Korea: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Platform for the Period 2018-2025 Table 128: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Distribution in South Korea by Platform: 2019 VS 2025 Table 129: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in South Korea: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Deployment for the Period 2018-2025 Table 130: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Distribution in South Korea by Deployment: 2019 VS 2025 Table 131: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in South Korea: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Application for the Period 2018-2025 Table 132: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Distribution in South Korea by Application: 2019 VS 2025 REST OF ASIA-PACIFIC Table 133: Rest of Asia-Pacific Medium & Long-Term Outlook for Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 134: Rest of Asia-Pacific Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Percentage Share Distribution by Platform: 2019 VS 2025 Table 135: Rest of Asia-Pacific Medium & Long-Term Outlook for Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 136: Rest of Asia-Pacific Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Percentage Share Distribution by Deployment: 2019 VS 2025 Table 137: Rest of Asia-Pacific Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Unified Communications and Collaboration in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 138: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Shift in Rest of Asia-Pacific by Application: 2019 VS 2025 LATIN AMERICA Table 139: Latin American Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Trends by Region/Country in US$ Million: 2018-2025 Table 140: Latin American Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Region/Country: 2019 and 2025 Table 141: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Estimates and Forecasts in Latin America in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 142: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in Latin America : Percentage Analysis by Platform for 2019 and 2025 Table 143: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Estimates and Forecasts in Latin America in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 144: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in Latin America : Percentage Analysis by Deployment for 2019 and 2025 Table 145: Latin American Demand for Unified Communications and Collaboration in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 146: Latin American Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Application: 2019 VS 2025 ARGENTINA Table 147: Argentinean Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Assessment in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 148: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in Argentina: Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Platform for 2019 and 2025 Table 149: Argentinean Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Assessment in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 150: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in Argentina: Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Deployment for 2019 and 2025 Table 151: Argentinean Unified Communications and Collaboration Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025 Table 152: Argentinean Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Analysis by Application: 2019 VS 2025 BRAZIL Table 153: Brazilian Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 154: Brazilian Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Platform: 2019 VS 2025 Table 155: Brazilian Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Estimates and Projections in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 156: Brazilian Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Deployment: 2019 VS 2025 Table 157: Unified Communications and Collaboration Quantitative Demand Analysis in Brazil in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025 Table 158: Brazilian Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Analysis: A 7-Year Perspective by Application for 2019 and 2025 MEXICO Table 159: Mexican Unified Communications and Collaboration Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 160: Mexican Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Platform: 2019 VS 2025 Table 161: Mexican Unified Communications and Collaboration Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 162: Mexican Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Deployment: 2019 VS 2025 Table 163: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in Mexico: Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Application for the Period 2018-2025 Table 164: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Distribution in Mexico by Application: 2019 VS 2025 REST OF LATIN AMERICA Table 165: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in US$ Million in Rest of Latin America by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 166: Rest of Latin America Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Platform: 2019 VS 2025 Table 167: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in US$ Million in Rest of Latin America by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 168: Rest of Latin America Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Deployment: 2019 VS 2025 Table 169: Rest of Latin America Unified Communications and Collaboration Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 170: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown in Rest of Latin America by Application: 2019 VS 2025 MIDDLE EAST Table 171: The Middle East Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 172: The Middle East Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Region/Country: 2019 and 2025 Table 173: The Middle East Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Analysis in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 174: The Middle East Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Platform: 2019 VS 2025 Table 175: The Middle East Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Analysis in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 176: The Middle East Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Deployment: 2019 VS 2025 Table 177: The Middle East Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 178: The Middle East Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Analysis by Application: 2019 VS 2025 IRAN Table 179: Iranian Medium & Long-Term Outlook for Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 180: Iranian Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Percentage Share Distribution by Platform: 2019 VS 2025 Table 181: Iranian Medium & Long-Term Outlook for Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 182: Iranian Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Percentage Share Distribution by Deployment: 2019 VS 2025 Table 183: Iranian Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Unified Communications and Collaboration in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 184: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Shift in Iran by Application: 2019 VS 2025 ISRAEL Table 185: Israeli Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Assessment in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 186: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in Israel: Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Platform for 2019 and 2025 Table 187: Israeli Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Assessment in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 188: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in Israel: Percentage Breakdown of Sales by Deployment for 2019 and 2025 Table 189: Israeli Unified Communications and Collaboration Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025 Table 190: Israeli Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Analysis by Application: 2019 VS 2025 SAUDI ARABIA Table 191: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Estimates and Forecasts in Saudi Arabia in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 192: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in Saudi Arabia: Percentage Share Analysis by Platform for 2019 and 2025 Table 193: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Estimates and Forecasts in Saudi Arabia in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 194: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in Saudi Arabia: Percentage Share Analysis by Deployment for 2019 and 2025 Table 195: Saudi Arabian Demand for Unified Communications and Collaboration in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 196: Saudi Arabian Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Application: 2019 VS 2025 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Table 197: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in the United Arab Emirates: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Platform for the Period 2018-2025 Table 198: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Distribution in United Arab Emirates by Platform: 2019 VS 2025 Table 199: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in the United Arab Emirates: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Deployment for the Period 2018-2025 Table 200: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Distribution in United Arab Emirates by Deployment: 2019 VS 2025 Table 201: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in the United Arab Emirates: Recent Past, Current and Future Analysis in US$ Million by Application for the Period 2018-2025 Table 202: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Distribution in United Arab Emirates by Application: 2019 VS 2025 REST OF MIDDLE EAST Table 203: Rest of Middle East Unified Communications and Collaboration Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 204: Rest of Middle East Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Platform: 2019 VS 2025 Table 205: Rest of Middle East Unified Communications and Collaboration Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 206: Rest of Middle East Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Deployment: 2019 VS 2025 Table 207: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in Rest of Middle East: Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Application for the Period 2018-2025 Table 208: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Distribution in Rest of Middle East by Application: 2019 VS 2025 AFRICA Table 209: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in US$ Million in Africa by Platform: 2018-2025 Table 210: African Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Platform: 2019 VS 2025 Table 211: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market in US$ Million in Africa by Deployment: 2018-2025 Table 212: African Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown by Deployment: 2019 VS 2025 Table 213: African Unified Communications and Collaboration Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 214: Unified Communications and Collaboration Market Share Breakdown in Africa by Application: 2019 VS 2025 IV. COMPETITION Total Companies Profiled:254 Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03769705/?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 WASHINGTON The U.S. House of Representatives approved a $480 billion package Thursday afternoon to send more funding to struggling small businesses and strained hospitals and to establish a robust national testing regime. But even as the House passed the compromise legislation, the lawmakers stared down a new battle over more funding for cash-strapped state governments, after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Wednesday he thinks "blue states" should file for bankruptcy, instead of receiving more federal aid. In an interview with the Times Union, Senate Democratic Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., said Democrats will do "everything we can to get state and local in phase four," referring to the next coronavirus bill Congress plans to pass. "Hes getting a huge amount of rebellion from his own members because the need for state and local aid is not for Democratic states and Republican states; its for all states, Schumer said Thursday. "Many of his own members are distancing themselves so we are going to do everything we can to get state and local in round four, and I believe well get it." President Donald Trump discussed the need for state aid with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in a meeting at the White House on Tuesday. We mentioned briefly the state aid, Trump said. I agree with (Cuomo) on that and I think most Republicans agree and Democrats. Thats in Phase four. McConnell's comments caused a stir among Republicans and Democrats, just as House members returned to the U.S. Capitol, most for the first time in weeks, in order to vote on the compromise legislation, approved unanimously by the Senate Tuesday. The bill includes an additional $310 million for the Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program, which ran out of funds on April 16 after just 13 days. It makes changes to the program to allow more rural and minority-owned businesses and farmers to access the money, and directs an additional $60 billion into the SBA's Emergency Injury Disaster Loan Program, which also ran out of money. In addition, the package adds $75 billion in new funding for hospitals and health centers and a $25 billion investment in a "national testing strategy," a key to reopening the country. New York is expected to get about $1.5 billion from the legislation to support testing in the state, a senior Democratic aide said. The bill does not include a $150 billion fund sought by Democrats, which would have sent about $17 billion to New York. McConnell made it clear Wednesday he opposes "bail-outs" for "blue states," which have been hit harder by the virus than rural America. Speaking on a conservative talk radio show, McConnell said he instead would certainly be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route. "Were going to push the pause button here, because I think this whole business of additional assistance for state and local governments needs to be thoroughly evaluated," McConnell said. "Theres not going to be any desire on the Republican side to bail out state pensions by borrowing money from future generations. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. "This is one of the really dumb ideas of all time," Cuomo said Thursday, noting that states fund police, fire departments and schools. "When you don't fund the state, then the state can't fund those services. ... You will see a collapse of this national economy" if states like New York are forced to file for bankruptcy. Republican and Democratic lawmakers from New York slammed the remarks as their state faces skyrocketing health care and emergency response costs, while coronavirus is predicted to slash state tax revenue by as much as $15 billion. "McConnell seems to think its an abstract concept," Schumer said. "Its police officers and ambulance drivers and health care safety workers and firefighters. These are real people who are desperately needed to keep our country safe and to get our economy going. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, said she disagreed with McConnell's statement. "I don't this should be a blank check for New York state, but we absolutely have to provide federal relief, like we did during Hurricane Sandy, like we did post-9/11," Stefanik said. "It should be targeted toward states that were hit the hardest by COVID-19, which of course New York and some of the other states in the northeast, as well as Washington State were." Rep. Peter King, R-Seaford, called McConnell's comment "shameful and indefensible." Rep. Antonio Delgado, D-Rhinebeck, called the remark "callous and reckless" and said it "reveals a glaring disconnect from the harsh realities on the ground." As Congress directs trillions of dollars toward the fight against coronavirus, the House also established by party-line vote Thursday a new bipartisan committee to investigate the federal government's response to COVID-19 and oversee congressional spending on the virus. Theres a better than decent chance the pandemic will shutdown concerts in the U.S. until 2021. Possibly longer. The concert industrys very future and the U.S. economy itself are in peril. This is the lens Huntsville officials now look through, when considering the citys plans to build a world-class amphitheater here. Construction on the amphitheater has been scheduled to begin this year, at the MidCity development on the former Madison Square Mall grounds on University Drive. The first concerts to take place fall 2021. And first full season in 2022. But given coronavirus razing affect on nearly every facet of life, what does that mean for Huntsvilles willingness to fund an amphitheater estimated to cost $35 million or more? The agenda for Huntsville City Council's regular monthly meeting 5:30 p.m. Thursday includes a resolution to, as planned, transfer amphitheater construction to Huntsville's Public Building Authority, an administrative step in moving the project forward. While they are important procedural actions, Huntsville City Administrator John Hamilton says, they do not commit any additional funds, nor change any commitments on when or whether or not to commence construction. Asked if hes aware of any plans to introduce a resolution Thursday to cut city funding for the amphitheater, Hamilton tells AL.com, Im not aware of any such resolutions. He says hes also not aware of any discussions among city leaders to kill the project due to pandemic economic concerns. But we are actively working to ensure the timelines allow us opportunities to make informed decisions about actual costs and when to proceed after we fully understand the financial impact of the on-going COVID crisis. He adds the city will not recommend moving forward on commitments to actually construct the facility until we have much better clarity on the financial impacts of the pandemic in Huntsville. Hamilton emphasizes the 8,000-ish capacity amphitheater is a long-term project. He also says running the project through Public Building Authority provides additional flexibility in how the city contracts for construction. However, that doesnt change the citys role in approving, overseeing and funding the project. The PBA is not able to take those critical actions without city council approval, Hamilton says. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle says the goal of city councils amphitheater action Thursday is to to financially model the project. AL.com first broke the news of Huntsvilles amphitheater plans in April 2018. "At the same time," Battle says, "we will examine the COVID-19 impact on the City of Huntsville finances? If we need to adapt and adjust, were prepared to do so." Public Building Authority has the ability to determine bottom line cost, Battle says. The amphitheater is expected to be funded in an approximate 50/50 split between the citys current revenues and debt. In March, Battle vetoed a lodging tax increase to help fund the project. Ryan Murphy is president of Huntsville Venue Group, which they city contracted to design, build and operate the planned Huntsville amphitheater. Murphy, who previously helped transform Floridas St. Augustine Amphitheater into a small market venue stars like Robert Plant are psyched to perform at, moved his family here last year, so he could be HVGs constant presence here. During the pandemic, Murphy and HVG have stayed in regular contact with city staff regarding the amphitheater project, which is deep into the design phase. Most of the communication has been with Battle's office and Hamilton, although Murphy's also had conversations with council members regarding community initiative ideas for the facility. A central part of the plan has been for the amphitheater to be more than, as Murphy puts it, "just a building that hosts concerts a couple dozen times a year." Think local festivals, artist and farmers markets, graduation ceremonies, nonprofit organization events, etc. "What we are building is more of a community resource and should be seen as such," Murphy says. "Other facilities like this around the country are remaining dark because they don't know what to do when there isn't a concert happening." Huntsville Venue Group is the Huntsville arm of Venue Group, a London venture founded by Mumford & Sons musician Ben Lovett also with projects in New York and Austin, Texas. Murphy says the Huntsville amphitheaters tentpole, concert-venue component allows Venue Group to elevate Huntsville to national and international music industry. And he believes Huntsville could emerge from coronavirus better positioned as a concert market. While some of the major markets are being hit in a way that they cant come back from, Huntsville has the opportunity and the tenacity to remain resilient, Murphy says. Huntsville Venue Group president Ryan Murphy. (Courtesy photo) During the pandemic, Venue Group and its team of architects and consultants have conducted Huntsville amphitheater related business via online Zoom meetings and conference calls, methods they use under regular conditions too. "All things considered, it was timed well for our workflow, at least from that perspective," Murphy says. "And honestly, with the amount of other projects that were being worked on by some of the team that got put on pause, the amphitheater has gotten to garner that much more focus and fine tuning. Which is great." The pandemic has live music industry leaders trying to decipher what post-coronavirus concert experiences will even be like. Expect facilities like the planned Huntsville amphitheater to feature as many "touchless" features as possible. Murphy believes a fall 2021 opening remains realistic. And something celebratory for Huntsville to look forward to, once we're on the other side of the pandemic. "And if we stay on track with this goal," Murphy says, "we can actually start creating job opportunities and economic momentum as we ramp up to opening the facility." Murphy plans to attend Thursdays council meeting, which is viewable via huntsvilleal.gov or on HSV TV (Comcast channel 16, WOW channel 42). The meeting, taking place at City Hall, address 308 Fountain Circle, can accommodate public who want to be heard, just only one speaker at a time. Contact info to do so is on the city website. The latest concept rendering of a planned amphitheater in Huntsville. (Courtesy image) Growing up, Sarah G. Sheppard thought there wasn't anything to do in Huntsville and "couldn't wait to get out of here after high school." She's now a University of Alabama in Huntsville physics major. She's also a big fan of live music. Sheppard typically goes to four or so concerts a year and travels out of town for all of them, mostly to Birmingham, Nashville and Atlanta. She's been stoked about Huntsville's amphitheater plans. She's loved to see acts like Ed Sheeran, James Bay and Hozier come perform there. The last concert she saw was in March, a Lumineers show in Nashville. Concerts are something Sheppard's particularly looking forward to getting back to, after the pandemic. "My friends and I always turn them into a big event and will go out to dinner before going to the venue," Sheppard says. "I like being able to see how excited musicians are to be sharing their work with other people, and also love seeing how the musicians interact and dance around with each other. You don't get that with a studio recording." City leaders have cited attracting businesses and keeping young professionals here as motives for building the amphitheater. Mayor Battle says even amid coronavirus, "Were not folding up our tent on significant economic projects. The amphitheater is a key element of our plan and strategy to attract the best and brightest in industry and workforce to our city." Sheppard attended a previous council meeting regarding the amphitheater and spoke in support of the project. A Covenant Christian Academy grad, Sheppard expects to finish up at UAH in May 2021. She says if the amphitheater comes to fruition, she'd be more likely to stay in Huntsville after graduating. "Not a lot of places can say they have an amphitheater," Sheppard says. "I have loved seeing Huntsville grow over the past few years, and this project would definitely influence my decision to stay in town." MORE ON CULTURE Tiger King: Alabama ties to bonkers Netflix hit Can this star-studded startup revolutionize video streaming? This Alabama band will record a vinyl single just for you John Prines Muscle Shoals album, Alabama inspirations How songwriting helped an Alabama vets PTSD Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday hailed the contribution of frontline "COVID-19 warriors" such as healthcare workers, police personnel and sanitation workers, as he handed out letters of appreciation to them. The letters were signed by the minister and 40 civilians, and were handed over to COVID-19 warriors -- doctors, nurses, bankers, sanitation staff, postal department employees, among others. Hailing the contribution of the COVID-19 warriors, Javadekar said they were fighting the battle against the pandemic at the frontlines fearlessly. "India will win and coronavirus will be defeated," Javadekar asserted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Regulatory News: NOXXON Pharma N.V. (Euronext Growth Paris: ALNOX), a biotechnology company focused on improving cancer treatments by targeting the tumor microenvironment (TME), announced today that it has entered into a flexible convertible bond agreement securing access to financing of up to 14.2 million (gross amount before issuance discount and transaction fees) with Atlas Special Opportunities, LLC (ASO). The full financing instrument, if drawn in total, would allow NOXXON to finance its activities to the beginning of 2022 including completion of the brain cancer trial and manufacturing of additional drug supply for upcoming trials. Under this financing vehicle, the company will have the option to access capital in twenty-one tranches plus additional tranches for the drug manufacturing by issuing convertible bonds to ASO, drawable at the company's discretion and subject to customary conditions being met. The first tranche with a nominal value of 1,300,000 may be followed by up to twenty further tranches, each of a nominal value of 475,000. Drug manufacturing tranches in a total nominal amount of 3,400,000 may be drawn during the term of this agreement upon certain milestones being achieved in the brain cancer clinical trial: 1) the Data Safety Monitoring Board shall have agreed that the safety profile of patients receiving the low dose (200 mg/week) in the NOX-A12 brain cancer trial is appropriate to allow increasing the dose; 2) at least three patients have been enrolled in the middle dose cohort (400 mg/week), and 3) the 4-month post-treatment initiation MRI data being available from all brain cancer patients in the low dose group. The company has exercised its right to the first tranche of funding immediately upon signing. The remaining convertible bonds can be issued by the company over the next 24 months following the signing of the agreement. "This flexible financing, which provides significant level of financial security for NOXXON's business plan into 2022, enables us to fully focus on bringing our brain cancer trial to completion and preparing for the next phase of the clinical study in pancreatic cancer patients," said Aram Mangasarian, CEO of NOXXON. "We look forward to working together with Atlas Special Opportunities to ensure the best outcome for the patients and the future of NOXXON. We are confident that strengthening our financial position will be welcomed by our long-term shareholders and investors. NOXXON was advised and supported in this transaction by Marsac Advisors. Use of Proceeds The proceeds from this transaction will be used as general working capital and to advance the company's pipeline. The proceeds may also be used to manufacture drug supply intended for future clinical trials. Legal Framework of the Transaction The company is a Dutch public limited liability company whose shares are listed on Euronext Growth Paris, a multilateral trading facility operated by Euronext Paris S.A., with the ticker symbol ALNOX and the International Securities Identification Number (ISIN): NL0012044762. The company has an authorized share capital of 479,502 divided into 47,950,200 ordinary shares with a par value of 0.01 each. Immediately prior to completion of the transaction, the company's issued share capital amounted to 19,014,408 shares with 35,000 ordinary shares held by the company as treasury shares. On January 2, 2019, the general meeting authorized the company's Board of Directors subject to approval of the Supervisory Board, to issue ordinary shares in the capital of the company and grant rights to subscribe for ordinary shares in the capital of the company, at any time during a period of 5 years as from the date of such general meeting and therefore up to and including January 1, 2024 up to the maximum available under the authorized share capital as included in the company's articles of association after all changes proposed at that meeting have been implemented and therefore up to an authorized capital of 479,502 or 1,000,000 when the issued share capital will have reached 400,000 (as per the transitional provision laid down in article 37 of the company's articles of association). The authorization includes designating the Board of Directors to limit or exclude pre-emptive rights in connection with any issuance under the designation. Within the framework of such authorization granted by the general meeting of January 2, 2019, on April 22, 2020 the company's Supervisory Board has approved the transactions laid down in the financing instrument. On April 22, 2020 the Board of Directors has approved the draw-down of the first tranche in an amount of 1,300,000. The shares to be issued upon conversion of the convertible bonds shall give ASO access immediately or in the future to the company's share capital excluding shareholders' preferential subscription rights. Issuance of the convertible bonds and of the shares that may be issued upon conversion is not subject to obligation to publish a prospectus to be approved by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) or the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF). Characteristics, Terms and Conditions of the Financing Through the Issuance of Convertible Bonds The characteristics, terms, conditions and dilutive potential of the financing may be found in the Annex to this press release. About NOXXON NOXXON's oncology-focused pipeline acts on the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the cancer immunity cycle by breaking the tumor protection barrier and blocking tumor repair. By neutralizing chemokines in the tumor microenvironment, NOXXON's approach works in combination with other forms of treatment to weaken tumor defenses against the immune system and enable greater therapeutic impact. Building on extensive clinical experience and safety data, the lead program NOX-A12 has delivered top-line data from a Keytruda combination trial in metastatic colorectal and pancreatic cancer patients and further studies are being planned in these indications. In September 2019 the company initiated an additional trial with NOX-A12 in brain cancer in combination with radiotherapy. The combination of NOX-A12 and radiotherapy has been granted orphan drug status in the US and EU for the treatment of certain brain cancers. The company's second clinical-stage asset NOX-E36 is a Phase 2 TME asset targeting the innate immune system. NOXXON plans to test NOX-E36 in patients with solid tumors both as a monotherapy and in combination. Further information can be found at: www.noxxon.com Keytruda is a registered trademark of Merck Sharp Dohme Corp https://www.linkedin.com/company/noxxon-pharma-ag https://twitter.com/noxxon_pharma Disclaimer Certain statements in this communication contain formulations or terms referring to the future or future developments, as well as negations of such formulations or terms, or similar terminology. These are described as forward-looking statements. In addition, all information in this communication regarding planned or future results of business segments, financial indicators, developments of the financial situation or other financial or statistical data contains such forward-looking statements. The company cautions prospective investors not to rely on such forward-looking statements as certain prognoses of actual future events and developments. The company is neither responsible nor liable for updating such information, which only represents the state of affairs on the day of publication. ANNEX: Main Characteristics, terms and conditions of the financing through the issuance of convertible bonds Terms and conditions of the transaction The agreement between the company and ASO procures financing for the company of up to 14,200,000 (less an issuance discount of 7%) by way of the issuance to ASO of Convertible Bonds ("CBs") each with a nominal value of 1,000. This financing instrument allows the company over the next 24 months to draw down up to 25 tranches, thereof a first tranche in an amount of 1,300,000 (the "First Tranche"), followed by 20 middle tranches for a total amount of 9,500,000 (the "Middle Tranches") and 4 drug manufacturing tranches for a total amount of 3,400,000 (the "Drug Manufacturing Tranches") (each such amounts being subject to said discount of 7%), by issuing up to 14,200 CBs, convertible into ordinary shares and/or repaid in cash if the company so chooses. The tranches can be drawn subject to certain terms and conditions being met, which include the expiration of a cool down period of 30 days for the Middle Tranches and certain milestones being achieved in the brain cancer clinical trial for the Drug Manufacturing Tranches as well as the lapse of 45 days for the tranches 2-4 of the Drug Manufacturing Tranches. The company is required to pay a transaction fee in an amount of 2% of the cash actually received under each tranche. The company may however elect to pay the transaction fee by way of issuing further convertible bonds. Upon the request by the holder of the CBs to convert, the company may elect to issue shares, cash or a combination of shares and cash. The company has the option to redeem the CBs prior to their maturity date at 105% of the nominal value of the outstanding CBs so to be redeemed. If a material change of ownership (being the acquisition of ownership of, or voting control or direction over, more than 50% of the issued and outstanding shares of the company) occurs, or a certain material adverse effect or event of default occurs, ASO has the right to request redemption of all outstanding CBs. Main characteristics of the bonds The CBs are unsecured and rank pari passu with all other present or future unsubordinated and unsecured obligations (with the exception of those benefiting from a preference in accordance with the law) of the company. The CBs bear no interest and have a maturity date of 24 months from their issuance. The company may elect to redeem outstanding CBs in cash against payment of a 5% premium in addition to the nominal value of the CBs to be redeemed. Each CB gives its holder a conversion right ("Conversion") to receive, at the company's discretion, ordinary shares, cash or a combination of ordinary shares and cash. If upon Conversion the company chooses to remit in ordinary shares ("Conversion Shares"), the number of these shall be determined by dividing the nominal amount of the CBs so to be converted by the Conversion Price (as defined below). The conversion price shall be determined by (a) the average of any three daily volume weighted average prices of the company's share ("VWAPs") selected from any of the 10 consecutive trading days preceding the receipt of the conversion notice ("Pricing Period") on which the subscriber has not sold more than 20% of the daily volume in the market or (b) 100% of the VWAP over the Pricing Period, but may not be lower than the par value of the company's ordinary share (the "Conversion Price On the maturity date, each outstanding CB will be mandatorily converted applying the same calculations as above. The CBs will be freely transferable and will not be admitted to trading on Euronext Growth Paris and therefore will not be listed. Impact of the new shares resulting from this transaction (assuming that Conversion Price will always be equivalent to the April 21, 2020 10-day volume weighted average price 0.777) Table: Dilutive Potential of Convertible Bonds Description Price per share paid No. of bonds converted Shares received Nominal value converted to shares* Dilution Shareholder starting with 1% would then hold** First Tranche 0.777 1,300 1,673,101 1,299,999 9.09% 0.91% Each Middle Tranche (not cumulative with First Tranche for this calculation, there are 20 subsequent Middle Tranches) 0.777 475 611,325 475,000 3.53% 0.96% All Drug Manufacturing Tranches 0.777 3,400 4,375,804 3,400,000 20.73% 0.79% Full Vehicle 0.777 14,200 18,275,418 14,200,000 52.21% 0.48% *rounded up for simplicity of presentation for amounts not used due to fractional shares ** the percentages shown each take into consideration only the dilutive effect of the transaction(s) specified in the Description column of the same row; these percentages are not cumulative with above rows. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200422006074/en/ Contacts: NOXXON Pharma N.V. Aram Mangasarian, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer Tel. +49 (0) 30 726247 0 amangasarian@noxxon.com Trophic Communications Gretchen Schweitzer or Joanne Tudorica Tel. +49 (0) 89 2388 7730 or +49 (0) 176 2103 7191 schweitzer@trophic.eu NewCap Arthur Rouille Tel. +33 (0) 1 44 71 00 15 arouille@newcap.fr A little after sunrise every morning, Joes Italian Restaurant owner and manager Joe Haliti settles in for another busy day of making and serving food at the Conroe eatery. Work at Joes Italian has increased after the Montgomery County public health orders issued during the coronavirus outbreak. The community fixture, located at 1604 N. Frasier, has been feeding more than 200 first responders daily in every corner of the county for the last five weeks. I cannot think of anybody better of doing this (for) than the first responders and medical personnel. I cannot imagine what theyre going through in fighting this on the front lines, Haliti said. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Coronavirus live updates: Hidalgo sued by GOP activist over mask order, 280K+ file for unemployment As much as he wanted to ensure those answering emergency calls could eat a hearty meal through minimized exposure, the Spring resident was also determined to keep his staff of 18 employed. Weve been very lucky we have (not had) to let anybody go or lay off, so everybody is still working, and everybodys getting paid, Haliti said. If he is ever in Conroe during lunchtime, Shenandoah Police Sgt. Joel Gordon makes sure to get a bite to eat at Joes Italian. His favorite dish is the chicken alfredo. More Information Joe's Italian donations by the numbers 250 donated meals prepared daily 84 total organizations fed 8-12 organizations fed daily 6 number of kitchen workers Information as of April 23. See More Collapse Gordons department in south county, composed of around 26 officers, has been fed at least three times by Joes Italian since the outbreak. Thanks to Joes Italian, Gordon said officers can now avoid searching for a curbside spot and instead just sit down and break bread before hitting the streets. Theyre constantly giving us food. Its crazy, Gordon said. Theyre great. Daily lists Every morning, Haliti and his team work off lists pinned to a wall with the names of those they will be feeding that day. These range from not only first responders like city police, deputies, paramedics or firefighters, but also county administration, municipal government offices and justice of the peace courts. PANDEMIC HEROES: Freebies and discounts for first responders and health care workers Halitis day starts at 7 a.m. sharp. He and his brother, Nick Haliti, and his nephew, Fidan Haliti, start preparing to work on the food they will be giving out for the day. The kitchen staff gets there around 10 a.m. Before 11 a.m., all first responder meals have been prepared and are ready for pick up. Donated meals are even done Mondays, the one day Joes Italian is closed to paying customers. Recently, Joes Italian delivered lasagna plates to 25 Montgomery County Food Bank team members. It very much brightened our day, said Allison Hulett, president and CEO of the county food bank. Servant leader Inspired by the businessman, some have volunteered their time, money or other goods to bring comfort through Joes Italian food One countywide public servant, who asked to not be named, even delivered meals to four departments one day. The community support has been amazing, Haliti said. Last week, Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Judge Wayne Mack paid for a days worth of meals out of his personal funds. He did not want to take the money. I had to force him to do that, Mack said. Hes a servant leader in his field as well as just a bright light in our community. Montgomery County District Attorney Brett Ligon joined Mack in praising Haliti. MORE FROM JOSE R. GONZALEZ: Coronavirus forces girls to forego quinceanera rite of passage in the age of quarantine Joe has been one of the bright spots in the community at a time when people were needing something positive to latch onto, Ligon said. Joe has built a reputation for being community first long before this tragedy and he did it the old-fashioned way through hard work, great service and, most of all, great food. Company leadership at international food distributor Gordon Food Service saw what Haliti, a customer of theirs, was doing and pitched in to help by donating cheeses, apples and pepperoni. Were dedicated to helping Joe support the first responders until all the restrictions are lifted, said sales representative Chris Triplett. Italian foods distributor Lisanti Food Services of Texas donated weeks worth of pizza ingredients. Joe is a stand-up guy, said Maegan Morgan, executive assistant to Lisanti Food Services President Joe Lisanti. Hes just an all-around great guy, good person to know. Altruistic spirit Haliti arrived in New Jersey in the late 1980s as an immigrant from the Southern European country of Albania. In 2005, a customer at a former Haliti restaurant in Dallas told him of a shortcut he could take through Conroe when traveling to visit family in Beaumont. Haliti took a couple of wrong exits in Conroe and came across a property for sale or lease. It would be where Joes Italian would eventually open in February 2006. About two years ago, Haliti approached Maj. Don Wildish of Conroes Salvation Army Wayne Bergstrom Center of Hope. Haliti wanted to volunteer to help the homeless doing what he knows best: cooking. Every Wednesday since then, Haliti has been preparing 200 meals pulled from a variety of Joes Italian menu items. Until the COVID-19 outbreak, he had been personally serving them himself. Joe is volunteering and hes donating to the Salvation Army a product that is worth a lot of money. And on top of that, Joes a busy guy and yet hes giving of his time. Wildish said. He really is personable with the homeless. I mean, he really has a heart for this. That, and his work of late, are but recent examples of Halitis altruistic spirit. After Hurricane Harvey floods devastated fellow Conroe restaurateur Buster Bowers Vernons Kuntry Fried Katfish in 2017, Haliti hosted a benefit to help him rebuild. Keeping the community together Joes Italian is still tending to customers through curbside service, Haliti said. Employees wear face masks as they go about their duties. Haliti is always working, taking no days off and staying past 10 p.m. readying up for the next day as he gives his restaurant a final cleanup and disinfection. Were just trying to be careful with exposure and reducing the risk, Haliti said. Ever the humble man, Haliti chooses to draw attention away from him to the first responders and medical personnel facing down the COVID-19 menace. Its terrifying, man, but theyve done such a good job of keeping the community together, Haliti said. We love them and were more than happy to do this. jose.gonzalez@chron.com twitter.com/jrgzztx After agitated Congress workers filed multiple complaints against Republic TV editor Arnab Goswami, an FIR has been registered against him in a police station in Chhattisgarh's Raipur. The FIR in the Civil Lines police was filed on the complaint of state Congress chief Mohan Markam under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, relating to promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc and deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs. In the complaint, Markam said that in his TV programme, the editor has instigated a crime and tried to disrupt communal harmony. The Congress has also talked to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, Mahararashtra minister Balasahab Thorat said. "I condemn the attempts made by Arnab Goswami to communalise the unfortunate incident at Palghar & also the derogatory language used by him against @INCIndia President Sonia ji Gandhi. I have spoken to CM @OfficeofUT & HM @AnilDeshmukhNCP Strict action will be initiated against him," he said, in a tweet. The Congress has also initiated an online campaign against Goswami on various social media platforms. (Photo : Pixabay) Monstrous Cannibal Galaxies Are Feeding On Smaller Galaxies Scientists Say: Will They Also Devour Our Galaxy? (Photo : Pixabay) Monstrous Cannibal Galaxies Are Feeding On Smaller Galaxies Scientists Say: Will They Also Devour Our Galaxy? According to CNET's latest report, scientists have discovered monster cannibal galaxies that have been feeding on smaller galaxies billions of years ago. A research team investigated how some ancient, massive galaxies became so massive. They found out that these monstrous cannibal galaxies have probably been devouring other smaller nearby galaxies over billions of years. According to the previous report of CNET, the nearby galaxy of Milky Way is also a cannibal galaxy. Although it was stated on the latest report that the galaxy where our solar system can be found is also a monster cannibal, Andromeda, Milky Way's neighbor, is on a whole different level. Will the monstrous cannibal galaxies also devour the Milky Way? Monstrous cannibal galaxies are feeding on smaller galaxies scientists say: Will they also devour our galaxy? The study was led by Anshu Gupta, a scientist of the ARC Centre of Excellence in All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D). Combining the data from observations of galaxies with the brainpower of supercomputers running model, the project was able to investigate how gases moved within the giant cannibal galaxies. "We found that in old massive galaxies -- those around 10 billion light-years away from us -- things move around in lots of different directions," Gupta said in the report of Science in Public on Wednesday, April 22. "That strongly suggests that many of the stars within them have been acquired from outside. In other words, the big galaxies have been eating the smaller ones," she added. The Astrophysical Journal published the findings of the study this month, April 2020. Gupta and the other scientists compared the data on the ancient galaxies with the observations conducted on younger galaxies which showed that they have more orderly structures. Gupta explained that the modeling revealed that the younger galaxies have had less time to merge with the others. Kim-Vy Tran, co-author of the study, concluded that the galaxies' behavioral history shows that they continuously devoured smaller nearby galaxies which made them monstrous. The Andromeda Galaxy, our galaxy's neighbor, is considered to be one of the monster cannibal galaxies. According to the previous report of CNET, Dougal Mackey, a researcher at Australian National University, has conducted a study that observed the Andromeda Galaxy. It was published by the Journal Nature on October 2, 2019. It showed that the nearby galaxy was cannibalistic in the past. The Andromeda Galaxy was revealed to have cannibalized smaller galaxies at least twice over the last 10 billion years. There are no findings yet, however, if there is a chance that Andromeda Galaxy will devour our Milky Way galaxy. What will happen next is unpredictable. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A father who battled coronavirus in intensive care has revealed how doing deep breathing exercises prevented him from needing a ventilator. Rob Thomas, 59, was nicknamed the king of breathers as he underwent treatment at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. He was discharged on Sunday, and a video of him hugging his tearful wife Viv has since gone viral online. Speaking today on Good Morning Britain, he explained that his sister, a nurse, had told him to just keep breathing after he was first admitted into the ICU. He said: I took these words with me. In the ICU, thats all I did. I made them sit me upright because I felt like I was suffocating on my back. I just sat there watching the clock and I got into a deep breathing pattern. Doctors think that deep breathing pattern saved me from going on a ventilator. Rob described his time in intensive care as very isolated, stating that he was kind of out of it for the first three days. At the time, doctors told his family he had just a 50% chance of survival. He had initially fallen ill with sepsis on March 30, for which he was sent home with antibiotics. But just days later he started showing symptoms of Covid-19, including a fever of 44 degrees. His wife Viv, who has been married to him for 40 years, said the familys world fell apart when he was taken away in an ambulance. He then tested positive for coronavirus in hospital She continued: He was somewhere where he knew no one and he was so ill. I couldnt be there to hold his hand or give moral support. My family kept me going, just the support of everyone has been amazing. Rob was moved from the ICU to a high dependency ward before he left hospital on Sunday. In a moving clip, he can be seen walking slowly towards Viv, who then hugs him and bursts into tears. The family have since heaped praise on NHS staff who aided his recovery, calling them fantastic and thanking them for their dedication and hard work. Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates WUHAN, China - Bathed in golden late-afternoon light, Chen Enting snapped a photo of his ticket to commemorate his first ferry ride across the Yangtze River after a 76-day quarantine ended in the Chinese city where the coronavirus pandemic began. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 21/4/2020 (630 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. In this April 8, 2020, photo, Chen Enting, 34, snaps a photo of his ticket to commemorate his first ferry ride across the Yangtze River in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province after a 76-day quarantine ended in the city at the center of the coronavirus pandemic. The reopening of the ferry service on the Yangtze, the heart of life in Wuhan for more than 20 centuries, was an important symbolic step in official efforts to get business and daily life in this central Chinese city of 11 million people back to normal. (AP Photo/Sam McNeil) WUHAN, China - Bathed in golden late-afternoon light, Chen Enting snapped a photo of his ticket to commemorate his first ferry ride across the Yangtze River after a 76-day quarantine ended in the Chinese city where the coronavirus pandemic began. The reopening of ferry services on the Yangtze, the heart of life in Wuhan for two millennia, was an important symbolic step to get business and daily life in this city of 11 million people back to normal. Wearing goggles, gloves, a homemade mask and a black trench coat, Chen was checked by security guards in protective suits and bought a 1.5-yuan (20-cent) ferry ticket. He boarded with a dozen other passengers, some pushing electric scooters, and found a bench at the front beside a red flag with a yellow sickle. He sprayed the seat with disinfectant before sitting. The ferry on the Yangtze River is a symbol of Wuhans people, said Chen, a 34-year-old cost engineer and Chinese Communist Party member. The choppy river symbolizes the force of life, he said, as the sun set behind the Tortoise Mountain TV Tower. Although Wuhan had such an ordeal, it will flow away just like the river and receive exuberant vitality. Wuhan was one of Chinas most important centres under inward-looking dynasties that had little interest in foreign trade and carried out commerce and politics over the countrys vast river networks. The city was eclipsed by the explosive rise of Shanghai, Hong Kong and other coastal cities after the ruling Communist Party set off a trade boom by launching market-style economic reforms in 1979. Today, Wuhan is regaining its status as an economic dynamo as Chinese leaders shift emphasis from exports to developing more sustainable growth based on domestic consumer spending. The city government says more than 300 of the worlds 500 biggest companies, including Microsoft Corp. and Honda Motor Co., have operations in Wuhan to get access to central Chinas populous market. The metropolis was formed from three ancient cities Wuchang, Hankou and Hanyang at the meeting of the Yangtze and Han rivers that grew together. If you are in Wuchang, you can go anywhere under heaven, said Ji Li, a University of Hong Kong historian, quoting a traditional saying. In this April 8, 2020, a man looks across the Yangtze River as the sun sets in Wuhan in central China's Hubei province. The reopening of ferry service on the Yangtze River, the heart of life in Wuhan for more than 20 centuries, was an important symbolic step in official efforts to get business and daily life in this central Chinese city of 11 million people back to normal after a 76-day quarantine ended in the city at the center of the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) The emperor Kublai Khan visited in the 13th century when China was part of his Mongol empire and Shanghai was a fishing village of a few thousand people. In the mid-19th century, Wuhan became, along with Shanghai, Tianjin and Qingdao, one of a series of treaty ports where Chinas Manchu rulers were forced to give Western powers trading privileges and exempt their people from local laws. A rebellion began on Oct. 11, 1911, in Wuhan that spread across the country and led to the breakup of the Manchu empire and the founding of President Sun Yat-sens Republic of China. The Yangtzes water is very sweet, communist leader Mao Zedong said after he swallowed a mouthful while swimming in the 1950s, according to a report from the time by The Associated Press. Meandering 6,300 kilometres (3,900 miles) from Tibets Tanggula Mountains to the East China Sea, the Yangtze is the longest river in Asia and the worlds third-longest. It and the Yellow River in the north are the mother rivers of the nation, much like Americas Missouri and Mississippi or Eastern Europes Danube. It is also the site of the Three Gorges Dam, the worlds biggest hydroelectric project. The Yangtze stars in countless poems, songs and history-making events, including the third century Battle of Red Cliffs, which was fought by one of Chinas wiliest strategists, Zhuge Liang. The story, involving armoured battleships, has been turned into a traditional opera and a 2008 blockbuster movie directed by John Woo. Today, Wuhan produces agricultural chemicals, 6% of Chinas cars, and components for smartphones, industrial machinery and optical devices for markets in Europe and North America. Skyscrapers loom above parks and ancient temples. Ships carry goods 700 kilometres (450 miles) downriver to Shanghai by way of Nanjing, another ancient inland city. Shipping, however, plunged after the coronavirus outbreak started in Wuhan late last year and led to a strict lockdown of the city. Traffic near Wuhan fell by as much as 70%, according to HawkEye 360, a company in Virginia that follows radio communications and ships satellite-linked tracking beacons. Traffic is back to less than half its pre-outbreak level, the company says. Maos face, etched in a giant gold coin, perches atop a stone obelisk in the Bund, the riverfront former centre of Western business activity and now a tourist spot. On it is etched a poem by Mao calling for a bridge to be built across the river. That bridge was finished in 1957, cementing Wuhans renaissance as a transportation hub by connecting rail networks in northern and southern China. That connection is one reason the coronavirus spread so fast. Wuhan's Huanan Seafood Market, where scientists suspect the virus might have jumped from a bat to humans, is next door to the Hankou Train Station. Authorities have since decontaminated the station, and on April 11, high-speed trains began leaving Wuhan for Beijing again. The ferry system had opened a few days before. Chen Xianming, a 70-year-old veteran of 26 years in appliance sales, knew that would save him money. Paying for taxis across the bridge had cut into profits. We should be thrifty, Chen said as he secured boxes on a motorized tricycle he uses to make deliveries. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Most of Wuhan is thinking the same way and tightening its belt after factories, restaurants, shopping malls, cinemas and almost every other business except supermarkets were shut for 2 1/2 months. Jittery consumers arent spending much. Manufacturing has yet to get back to normal levels. But the public has returned to the banks of the Yangtze, known in Mandarin as Chang Jiang, or Great River. Couples wearing masks walk hand-in-hand. Fishermen flick long rods out across the babbling waters. Joggers run past picnickers. People fly kites shaped like butterflies, birds, lanterns and fighter jets. A ship's horn blares. Wuhan reopens, Chen said. This is a day of remembrance. ___ Associated Press video producer Olivia Zhang in Wuhan and archivist Francesca Pitaro in New York contributed to this report. Christians in India see dramatic increase of attacks in 2020 Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Attacks on Christians and their places of worship in India continued to escalate in both number and severity in the early months of 2020, with 27 violent incidents reported in March alone. United Christian Forum in India, a Christian organization that advocates on behalf of Christians in India, documented 56 threats against Christians as well as 78 incidents of violence between January and March of 2020. According to UCF, these attacks took place in Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, and Goa. In most cases, the attacks were perpetrated by mobs objecting to Christians holding worship services. On March 12, a mob attacked a pastor and his 6-year-old son because they were running a house church. The mob reportedly forced the pastors 8-year-old daughter to strip and threatened to beat her to death if she did not comply. On March 15, a mob of 300 individuals attacked a church service in Kunda Thana, located in Indias Uttar Pradesh state. There, the pastor of the church was beaten by the police and falsely charged with using the church for criminal offenses. Persecution watchdog International Christian Concern warns that while Indias national lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down the number of attacks on Christians, such attacks will likely return when the lockdown is eventually lifted. More must be done in India to secure the rights of the countrys Christian minority and bring the perpetrators of these attacks to justice, says ICC. India is ranked 10th on Open Doors USAs World Watch List of countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. The organization says that Christians in the country face horrific levels of violence from extremists, with thousands of attacks taking place every year. Incidents targeting Indian Christians have risen steeply since 2014, when Narendra Modi of the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power, according to Open Doors, which notes that at least one Christian was attacked every day last year. John Prabhudoss, chairman of the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America, told The Christian Post that Modi's reelection has "brought about a sense of confidence among the Hindu radical party cadre that now they can attack the Christians and other religious minorities (Muslims) with impunity and they do not have to worry about the law enforcement." "Most Christian victims in the past could not go to the police but now it is almost certain that only victims will be charged by the police if they go to them. The police are scared of acting against Hindu party members who are attacking the Christians," he said. According to Prabhudoss, President Donald Trump's "ringing endorsement of Modi and the Hindu government's handling of the religious violence in India has further strengthened their resolve." "The entire Indian Christian community is deeply disappointed in the president's continued praise for Modi even after he returned from his recent India trip," he said. The show of approval for Modi has "left the Indian Christians wondering why." Prabhudoss has had discussions with the White House officials after Trump's return from India earlier this year and "offered some recommendations," but has yet to hear a response. He urged Sam Brownback, the U.S. ambassador for International Religious Freedom, to "include India in the agenda this year and bring victims of violence from India to tell their stories in the [Annual Ministerial Conference to Advance Religious Freedom] conference." "I have made it very clear to the White house over several meetings that America's continued support to the Hindu radical party leaders in India is not in the long-term national security interests of the United States," he stressed. "Continued support to the Hindu radical party would only result in internal civil unrest in India that could adversely affect America's security and trade interests in that region. Yet, the U.S. is blindly supporting the Hindu nationalist government." Brownback told CP in March that he would not go as far as to say improvements are being made when it comes to the condition of religious freedom in India. He also noted that Trump "did raise the issues with Modi privately." According to Persecution Relief, which tracks anti-Christian persecution and harassment in India, crimes against Christians in India increased 60 percent between 2016 and 2019. The majority of these incidents have happened in Uttar Pradesh. Several states in India have adopted stringent anti-conversion laws that seek to prevent any person from converting or attempting to convert, either directly or otherwise, another person through forcible or fraudulent means, or by allurement or inducement. However, such laws are often used by extremists as an excuse to disrupt church services and harass Christians. In April, Christians in southern Indias Tamil Nadu state were arrested on false charges of forcible conversion while providing food and other aid to the poor. That same month, a Christian in Indias northeastern state of Odisha was severely beaten by a mob for holding a Christian prayer gathering in his home. In March, Christians in Indias Uttar Pradesh state were falsely accused of forcefully converting Hindus to Christianity. As a result, they were brutally beaten by a drunken police officer who then ordered them to pose like Christ on the cross. In February, nine Christians were beaten by the police after being accused of forceful conversion in the town of Sathankulam, Thoothukudi District, in Indias Tamil Nadu state. For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here. A Paris hospital network study suggests that regular smokers may be safer from COVID-19 infection than the general public, according to reports by Radio France Internationale and the Guardian. Researchers from multiple institutions found that of the roughly 11,000 patients hospitalized in the citys public hospitals for the coronavirus at the start of April, only 8.5 percent were smokers, compared to 25.4 percent of the general public. But the studys authors warned that the findings should not be viewed as a carte blanche to start smoking cigarettes. The dangers of the habit are well-documented: It causes heart disease and lung cancer, and kills half of those who take it up. Moreover, the smokers who did catch COVID-19 often developed more severe symptoms because of the cumulative damage caused by tobacco smoke to the lungs. French researchers intend to test nicotine patches on coronavirus patients and frontline health care workers, according to the Guardian. Clinical trials are planned but must be approved by French health officials first. The study took a closer look at 482 patients at the Pitie-Salpetriere hospital who tested positive for the coronavirus. Of those, 343 were hospitalized with the remainder, whose symptoms were less serious, being sent home. The smoking rate of the hospitalized patients, whose median age was 65, was 4.4%. Of those treated at home, whose median age was 44, 5.3% smoked. Those figures might not be that surprising in the United States, where only 14 percent of adults smoke. In France, however, about 40% of those aged 44-53 and between 8.8% and 11.3% of those aged 65-75 are smokers, according to French health authority Sante Publique France. Our cross-sectional study strongly suggests that those who smoke every day are much less likely to develop a symptomatic or severe infection with Sars-CoV-2 compared with the general population, the Pitie-Salpetriere report authors wrote. The effect is significant. It divides the risk by five for ambulatory patients and by four for those admitted to hospital. We rarely see this in medicine. The Guardian reported that French neurobiologist Jean-Pierre Changeux, who reviewed the study, suggested the nicotine might stop the virus from reaching cells in the body, preventing its spread. Nicotine may also inhibit the bodys immune system from overreacting in the cytokine storm effect found in the most serious cases of COVID-19 infection. But the chief of Frances national health agency, Jerome Salomon, cautioned that the nicotine link is only an unproven hypothesis at this stage. The findings confirmed those of a Chinese COVID-19 study published last month in the New England Journal of Medicine. That report found that 12.6% of 1,099 of COVID-19 patients were smokers, while the smoking rate in China is around 28%. 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 Jeff Bezos has taken back control of the day-to-day running of Amazon during the pandemic, as orders skyrocket, warehouse staff stage walkouts and the billionaire plans to use the company's supply chain to ramp up coronavirus testing across states. Bezos, 56, has returned to the daily grind at the trillion-dollar firm as it - like all businesses - grapples with the impact of the global pandemic on its customers, staff and supply chain, the company said. The Amazon CEO is holding daily calls on inventory and testing, is collaborating with government officials over their response to the pandemic and is making public visits to staff on the frontline for the first time in years. This comes as the retail giant has seen a surge in demand, as with businesses shuttered and stay-at-home orders in place, shoppers are turning to online delivery. Jeff Bezos, 56, has returned to the daily grind at the trillion-dollar firm as it - like all businesses - grapples with the impact of the global pandemic on its customers, staff and supply chain Share prices have skyrocketed through the month of April and, buckling under the weight of orders, Amazon temporarily banned low-priority items from being shipped to its warehouses to prioritize orders of essential goods. Bezos set his sights on testing and launched an Amazon lab to ramp up testing for Amazon workers and other Americans. But the retailer has also faced its biggest labor unrest in its history, with hundreds of Amazon workers planning a mass call out throughout this week over claims the company has placed warehouse staff at 'increased risk and exposure' to coronavirus. And amid all this, Bezos is said to have swapped his celebrity lifestyle and hands-off approach to running the company to get firmly back behind the wheel. According to two sources at Amazon, Bezos has typically left the daily operations to deputies while he has focused on the more fun, futuristic and riskier projects, including the development of home voice assistant Alexa, the controversial cashless Amazon Go stores and his space exploration venture Blue Origin, reported the New York Times. He was rarely spotted at Amazon's Seattle headquarters - let alone the company'w warehouses - instead prefering the jetset lifestyle and rubbing shoulders with famous faces alongside girlfriend Lauren Sanchez. Bezos himself admitted 'pretty much all' he did was long-term projects and said he 'very rarely get[s] pulled into the today' in an interview with Forbes back in 2018. With companies falling into disrepair due to the fallout of the pandemic, Bezos is said to have returned to a more active role in the daily operations. In early March as the outbreak started to spread across the nation, Bezos began holding online board meetings on coronavirus regularly, quickly becoming a daily occurrence. Jay Carney, the company's senior vice president for corporate affairs, praised his response on March 31, saying he has been 'incredibly focused on this and is participating in, and driving, our leadership meetings.' This has now turned into daily calls around inventory and testing and, for the first time in years, he made a publicized visit to one of the company's warehouses in April, the Times reported. Sources said it was Bezos who helped take the decision in March to ban sellers from shipping non-essential items to its warehouses as it faced a spike in demand for essential items such as food, household staples, baby products and medical supplies - a move that has now been lifted. Amazon orders have surged amid the pandemic, as shoppers turn to online delivery. The company, buckling under the weight of orders, temporarily banned low-priority items from being shipped to its warehouses to prioritize orders of essential goods The CEO was also pivotal in deciding which features to remove from the Amazon website at this time, such as burying its daily deals and delaying Prime Day, a source told the Times. The company is one of few to have not only survived but thrived amid the pandemic as consumers turn to online shopping. Its share prices have surged to record highs, soaring to a peak of 2,408.19 on April 16. This has left Bezos $25 billion richer since early March, making him the richest man in the world. But both Bezos and Amazon have also been plagued by controversy over the last two months. It emerged in March that Bezos - along with other top executives - had offloaded shares just in time before the pandemic slashed their company values, saving themselves billions while workers across the US find themselves on the breadline. Bezos was the biggest seller, offloading $3.4 billion in shares in the first week of February, saving him a staggering $317 million than if he had kept the stock through to March 20. It also saw the billionaire sell as much stock in that one week as he has in the last year, the Wall Street Journal reported. The sale accounted for around 3 percent of Bezos's total Amazon shares, and made up over a third of all stock exchange sales during this timeframe. Amazon has also been rocked by labor unrest, with a series of protests taking place across US warehouses amid complaints that the company is failing to protect staff from the pandemic. Shares of the firm have surged to record highs, soaring to a peak of 2,408.19 on April 16 Coronavirus cases have been confirmed at more than half of the company's US warehouses and at least one worker has been killed by the virus, according to worker rights group United for Respect. More than 300 Amazon workers across at least 50 facilities are calling in sick this week as part of a week-long protest. Workers from Tuesday have called out of work 'en masse across the country' as they demand better protection from the killer virus. Fears have been mounting for Amazon staff ever since New York warehouse worker Chris Smalls organized a protest in March over a lack of protective gear for staff. The company has since introduced a number of measures to better protect workers, including daily temperature checks and regular face mask distribution for warehouse workers. The company has also increased the pay rate for US employees by $2 an hour, doubled overtime pay, and established a $25 million relief fund for partners like contract delivery drivers. Bezos said in a letter to shareholders last week that he is considering mass coronavirus testing for all staff. But United for Respect has warned that workers' lives are still being put at risk by the company, with at least 130 warehouses now plagued by outbreaks of the deadly virus. Workers are demanding any warehouses where staff test positive for COVID-19 must 'immediately close down' and provide testing and two weeks of pay for workers during that time. They are also calling for the retail giant to provide paid sick leave, guaranteed healthcare for all Amazon associates, regular deep cleaning and sanitation, to eliminate rate-based quotas 'that make hand-washing and sanitizing impossible' and to pledge not to retaliate against workers who speak out about conditions. Amazon told DailyMail.com in an email statement Tuesday that the workers' claims are 'simply unfounded'. 'These accusations are simply unfounded. Nothing is more important than the safety of our teams. Our employees are heroes fighting for their communities and helping people get critical items they need in this crisis,' said Amazon spokesperson Rachael Lighty. '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. Hundreds of workers have protested against the company marking its biggest labor unrest in its history (pictured at walkouts in March) Coronavirus cases have been confirmed at more than half of the company's US warehouses and at least one worker has been killed by the virus, according to worker rights group United for Respect 'The truth is the vast majority of employees continue to show up and do the heroic work of delivering for their communities every day. We encourage anyone interested in the facts to compare our overall pay and benefits, as well as our speed in managing this crisis, to other retailers and major employers across the country.' This marks the first nationwide walkout by Amazon warehouse workers, following a series of walkouts at facilities in New York, Detroit and Illinois over the last month. The company's corporate employees are rallying in support of their warehouse colleagues, with many muted to take part in a 'virtual sick out' Friday to protest the treatment in warehouses and pressure the firm to reinstate fired workers. Amazon has been accused of trying to shut down a virtual event for workers to speak out about their workplace conditions during the pandemic by deleting workers' calendar invites, Business Insider reported. A new report on working conditions at Amazon revealed there have been COVID-19 cases at more than half of the company's warehouses in the US and predicts the disease will spread exponentially among workers in the coming weeks. The report was prepared by the workers rights groups Athena Coalition and Hedge Clippers, using data from government health agencies and a range of local and national news sources. As of April 14, the report claims 'nearly 75' of Amazon's 110 US warehouse facilities had at least one worker test positive for COVID-19, and without intervention the groups predict case numbers among Amazon workers will 'exponentially' increase. The groups argue Amazon's inadequate safety policies have placed a disproportionate burden on people of color, who make up 58 percent of the company's warehouse workers. The National Labor Relations Board is also looking into multiple claims that Amazon has unlawfully retaliated against staff for speaking out about the firm's response to the pandemic. Chris Smalls, 31,led the first strike in Staten Island Amazon controversially fired the warehouse worker who led the walkout of staff at its Staten Island, New York, facility on March 30. Chris Smalls led the protest, claiming the company had not provided adequate protective gear or cleaned the warehouse after at least seven workers fell ill from the virus. Amazon fired 31-year-old Smalls, claiming he was fired for violating a company-mandated 14-day quarantine after he was in contact with an infected employee. But Smalls argued his axing was in retaliation for begging management to sanitize the warehouse and be more transparent about sick workers. A leaked memo then revealed plans from top Amazon executives to vilify him. In the memo obtained by Vice News on April 2, the company planned to smear the former management assistant, referring to him as 'not smart'. 'He's not smart, or articulate, and to the extent the press wants to focus on us versus him, we will be in a much stronger PR position than simply explaining for the umpteenth time how we're trying to protect workers,' wrote Amazon General Counsel David Zapolsky. Bezos was present at the meeting the memo was taken from. Zapolsky's notes reportedly show executives mapping how to navigate bad press of Smalls' firing and make Smalls the center of Amazon's narrative about worker safety. Zapolsky wrote: 'We should spend the first part of our response strongly laying out the case for why the organizer's conduct was immoral, unacceptable, and arguably illegal, in detail, and only then follow with our usual talking points about worker safety. 'Make him the most interesting part of the story, and if possible make him the face of the entire union/organizing movement.' The memo allegedly showed executives considering using Smalls to discredit the company's labor movement. Bill George, a former chief executive of the medical device company Medtronic who teaches leadership at Harvard Business School told the Times that the labor relations issues could have been avoided - or lessened at least - if Bezos had addressed staff concerns sooner. On March 21, he sent a letter to the entire workforce saying the company had ordered millions of face masks for workers and reassuring them that his 'list of worries right now like yours I'm sure is long.' On April 8, when the virus had spread to more than 50 Amazon facilities, Bezos made a surprise trip to an Amazon warehouse in Texas - a trip that led the company to mandate that all warehouse workers wear masks a few days later. But George said these steps were too late: 'You need to be out there early, every day, and talking to your people. If the people are risking themselves, you need to be there with them.' Bezos, with his sights still set on big picture projects, has also turned his attentions to Amazon's role in helping the US tackle the pandemic. He has spoken with several government officials volunteering Amazon's expertise in the crisis. Washington state Governor Jay Inslee said he had spoken with Bezos in late March about the opportunity to tap into Amazon's supply chain to ramp up coronavirus testing. 'We were talking about whether we could somehow activate the Amazon supply chain to see if we could mobilize the production and distribution of those assets, including the delivery logistics,' said Inslee. In a call with executives on April 1, he talked about working with medical organizations to increase testing of Amazon workers and others 'to help immunize from criticism that we're selfish in using the tests for employees.' Bezos then announced the company was launching its own lab for testing and has joined daily calls with the new testing team, which is now close to rolling out a pilot program to test workers, a source told the Times. Bezos wrote in a letter to shareholders last week: 'For now, my own time and thinking continues to be focused on Covid-19 and how Amazon can help while we're in the middle of it.' George told the Times that Bezos's shift in approach is essential for leaders amid a crisis. He said: 'That you analyze, plan, delegate, hold people accountable all those good techniques kind of go out the window. 'The leader, no matter how large the company, does need to take charge.' BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 23 Trend: The statements made by the Armenian leadership and the Foreign Ministry from the position of an invader, avoiding the agreements on the peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict testify to the real goal here, and certainly gives grounds for Azerbaijan to exercise the right to liberate its lands by military way, Assistant to the Azerbaijani president, Head of the Military Affairs Department of the Azerbaijani Presidential Administration, Colonel General Maharram Aliyev said in an interview with Trend. At the same time, Azerbaijan stated that in negotiations it stands for the peaceful settlement of the conflict on a legal basis, the colonel general added. From this point of view, I think that the Armenian leaderships incessant attempts through various tricks to evade this process, leave Azerbaijan no other choice. I would like to remind another important factor, Aliyev added. Supreme Commander-in-Chief, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has reiterated his decisive position from a number of important international tribunes. While speaking both at the Munich Security Conference and at the Valdai Club, held with the participation of the heads of state of the CIS countries, President Aliyev emphasized that Karabakh is an integral part of Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan will never put up with an aggressive policy, the colonel general said. President Aliyevs statement Karabakh is Azerbaijan! is still greatly disturbing Armenian military and political circles, assistant to the president added. I think that by making awkward statements, they are trying to hide fear. In general, the Armenian side, which rejects the negotiations, is doomed to realize that such behavior promises nothing for the country or people. While answering the question related to the degree of interest of the Armenian people in the continuation of the conflict, and whether it is possible to consider the notorious opinion of the Armenian authorities with the opinion of people from one angle, assistant to the president said that he does not think so. The ordinary Armenian people do not share the interests of the authorities, which constantly change, the colonel general added. History and documents prove that the basis of the conflict was laid by representatives of the foreign Armenian lobby, as well as Dashnaktsutyun representatives, coming from the interests of ultra-nationalists and terrorists. That is, ordinary Armenian people did not participate in the preparation of this insidious plan, the colonel general said. We have repeatedly seen the situation when people loudly protest against the war, mothers of young men who are sent to serve in the Nagorno-Karabakh region and die there, demand to put an end to the conflict. While commenting on this issue, President Aliyev emphasized that if an Armenian soldier does not want to die in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, let the Armenian leadership put an end to the aggressive policy and withdraw its armed forces from the Azerbaijani lands. Azerbaijan, which has a strong army, its armed forces, which have advanced military-industrial capabilities, hold high positions in various army ratings and polls, assistant to the president said. Therefore, I think that if Azerbaijan sits at the negotiating table, then the factor of military strength and military power is taken into account. The facts reflect these realities, assistant to the president added. For example, today everyone, beginning from the Armenian military-political circles and ending with ordinary citizens, know and understand that Azerbaijans success in April 2016, as well as the victory in the Gunnut village in 2018, may be continued and the banner of victory may fly over all occupied territories. Therefore, Armenians may think that by making absurd and dull statements they will be able to get away with it, but they are fundamentally mistaken, the colonel general added. The Azerbaijani armed forces have a solid position not only in the region, but also in ensuring and protecting international security. For many years, Azerbaijani servicemen have ranked first both within the NATO training and in large-scale military exercises which are held in different countries, as well as in the fight against international terrorism. The colonel general emphasized that the Azerbaijani people are waiting for the order of the supreme commander-in-chief and always demonstrate the readiness to mobilize for the liberation of the occupied territories. This is an undeniably fair voice of our country, our people, the colonel general said. Therefore, the aggressors should remember that besides strong diplomacy, Azerbaijan also has a factor of military rhetoric. That is, as opposed to the absurd, worthless opinions of the Armenian military-political leadership, aimed at the public, the statements of the Azerbaijani leadership are accompanied with practical actions. While commenting on Armenias helplessness towards the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, the colonel general said that Armenia, isolated for many years from regional and international projects, also suffers from the powerful blows of the virus. I would say that during the period when the whole world is struggling against COVID-19 and even leading countries are experiencing various crises, notorious behavior of Armenia, which has no military, social and economic support, in the hope of an unknown miracle leaves an impression of frivolity, the colonel general added. Instead of making useless statements, it would be better for the Armenian leadership to take measures to prevent coronavirus infection in the military, assistant to the president said. According to the Armenian media, there are enough cases of infection in the army. After the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic, the political and economic foundations and opportunities are changing in the world, so Armenia one way or another should understand this. If the Armenian leadership wants the country to survive, fortify its position, it is necessary to avoid the useless statements and to observe the agreements to resolve the conflict, the colonel general said. If there is an outbreak of a virus in the army of one country, then what advantage does this army have? Therefore, I think that Armenia has no way out." I think that the Armenian military-political and diplomatic circles must review these facts, conduct analysis, demonstrate common sense, the colonel general said. Otherwise, the Azerbaijani army under the leadership of the supreme commander-in-chief will overthrow the enemy in a short period of time, and the tricolor Azerbaijani flag will fly over the liberated territories. NEWTOWN BOROUGH >> The Newtown Borough Council welcomes the new year with three new members of council and a new borough mayor. District Court Judge Mick Petrucci was on hand on January 3 to administer the oath of office to the towns new mayor, Republican John Burke, who replaces longtime mayor Charles Corky Swartz who decided not to run for... Several people found attending a wedding photo shoot and others at a school in Lakewood were among the latest incidents in the township of people violating Gov. Phil Murphys emergency orders during the coronavirus pandemic, officials said Wednesday. Police on Tuesday were called to a report of a wedding on Read Place, where officers found two adults and three children in a van in a driveway, according to authorities. The driver advised that she was there for family photos for a wedding, the state Attorney Generals Office said in a statement. In the back yard, there was a photographer, Yakov Makukha, photographing a family of six. Makukha, Pinchos Aron, 25, Miriam Aron, 33, Yehudah Aron, 36, Tziporah Aron, 33, Yaakov Wiesner, Peninah Wiesner, 30, Ephraim Aron, 34, and Shmarya Aron, 20, were each issued summonses for violating emergency orders. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage In another Lakewood case, police went to a report of a school open in the first block of Drake Road, officials said. Police found a group of male students at the school who had been given permission to study there by the head of the school, Shmuel Hirth, the AGs office statement said. Hirth, 49, Asher Jacobs, 23, Shmuel Weneintraub, 21, Pinchos Sinsky, 19, Shcomo Rosenfeld, 18, Arych Penstien, 22, Yuhuda Bronspigez, 25, and Rivka Jacobs, 47, were charged with violating emergency orders, according to officials. In a third incident Tuesday, authorities were investigating a report of a large gathering at a home on 8th Street, when a neighbor, Alexander Ellinson, 64, drove up and began yelling at officers about their activity at his neighbors home, officials said. He continued yelling and nearly hit an officer. Police charged him with disorderly conduct. Police in Lakewood have repeatedly found people allegedly violating the governors orders - including a ban on events and gatherings - during the virus outbreak. Meanwhile, the Newark police divisions COVID-19 task force issued 29 for violations of the emergency orders in the states largest city Tuesday. As of Wednesday, officials reported at least 95,865 cases of the virus statewide with 5,063 deaths. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The wireless charging market is anticipated to reach around USD 95.6 billion by 2026 according to a new research published by Polaris Market Research. In 2017, the consumer electronics segment dominated the global market in terms of revenue. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the leading contributor to the global wireless charging market revenue during the forecast period. The wireless charging market has substantial potential for the present and future applications, owing to the rise in the mobile phone usage across the world, especially emerging regions such as India, China and South-East Asia. The growing demand for mobile devices and consumer goods drives the growth of the market during the forecast period. Request For Sample Copy & All Related Graphs & Charts @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/wireless-charging-market/request-for-sample The wireless charging market is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period owing to increasing popularity of electric vehicles. Wireless charging has multiple applications in the EV technology including fuel supply, and in-car electronics. However, factors such as lack of standardization of mobile devices and their charging potentials, longer charging duration, and limited portability hamper the market growth to a certain extent. Growing demand from emerging economies, increasing adoption of IoT and smart devices are expected to provide numerous growth opportunities in the coming years. Asia-Pacific generated the highest revenue in the market in 2017, and is expected to lead the global wireless charging market throughout the forecast period. The economic growth in countries such as China and India, leading to rising living standards and high disposable income has increased the penetration of smart phones and other mobile devices in the region, thereby increasing the demand for wireless charging. The increasing environmental concerns and depletion of traditional fuel sources have encouraged consumers to use electric vehicles in the region. China exhibits the highest penetration of electric vehicles, which supports market growth of wireless charging. Browse for full research summary: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/wireless-charging-market The key players operating in the market include Integrated Device Technology, Mojo Mobility, Powercast Corp., Texas Instruments, Energizer Holdings, Leggett & Platt, Incorporated, Qualcomm Incorporated, Powermat Technologies Ltd., ConvenientPower, and Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to innovate and launch new products to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers. Wireless Charging Market Size and Forecast by Technology, 2018-2026 Inductive Radio Frequency Resonant Others Wireless Charging Market Size and Forecast by End-User, 2018-2026 Consumer Electronics Automotive Healthcare Defense Industrial Others Wireless Charging Market Size and Forecast by Region, 2018-2026 North America US. Canada Mexico Europe Germany UK France Italy Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific China India Japan Rest of Asia-Pacific Latin America Brazil Middle East & Africa Avail discount on this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/wireless-charging-market/request-for-discount-pricing About Polaris Market Research Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. Contact us- Polaris Market Research Phone: 1-646-568-9980 Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.com Web: www.polarismarketresearch.com Analyst Note | Apr 22 2020 Narrow-moat Handelsbanken reported a good first quarter considering the coronavirus. Operating profit declined 16% to SEK 5,142 million, which is in line with the 15% decline we modeled for 2020, although we dont want to read too much into one quarter, especially as COVID-19 primarily affected the latter part of this period. Adjusting for a profit-sharing provision write-back last year as well as currency effects, the decline was only 3%. We maintain our fair value estimate of SEK 107 per share and narrow-moat rating. We believe Handelsbanken is one of the better run banks in Europe with a prudent underwriting process as evidenced in its low loan-loss ratio during the global financial crisis. A performance we believe is more likely, than not, to repeat itself this time around. Shares offer an attractive entry point with about 30% upside. Net interest income increased 4% year over year on good volume growth while net fee and commission income grew 7%. On a sequential basis, which during the COVID-19 pandemic may be a better gauge, both line items grew 2% and declined 2%, respectively. Corporate volumes saw an increase of 2% versus year-end 2019 as businesses rushed to secure funding while household lending grew about 1%, both supporting net interest income. Net gains and losses on financial transactions were affected by a deferred capital contribution to Handelsbanken Liv, its pension subsidiary, of SEK 152 million as well as credit and derivative valuation adjustments owed to increased market credit spreads. These effects can be directly correlated to COVID-19. Additionally, the bank booked SEK 538 million in loan-loss provisions, of which SEK 440 million are an overlay to account for the COVID-19 impact. Operating expenses declined 1% to SEK 5,506 million on a sequential basis. Handelsbanken continues to deduct the SEK 5.5 per share from its capital ratios, suggesting it intends to pay out its 2019 dividend, which is a positive given the rout of dividend suspensions for banks under European Central Bank supervision. Additionally, the bank accrued 40% of first-quarter earnings for a 2020 dividend, which is lower than the approximate 60%-70% dividend payout ratio targeted pre-COVID-19, but a prudent measure given the current environment. Loan losses increased to SEK 538 million versus SEK 288 million the same period a year prior and SEK 130 million a quarter ago. Looking at loan-loss ratios puts the increase into perspective, however, as the group remains to post well-contained and low credit costs. The loan-loss ratios were 8 basis points in the first quarter, 5 basis points in the same period last year, and 1 basis point a quarter ago. Out of the SEK 538 million booked this quarter, SEK 440 million or about 7 basis points are related to SHBs best estimates of the potential COVID-19 impact. We are positively surprised at this low loan-loss charge but remain cautious of what the next quarters will bring. Management indicated they feel the SEK 440 million charge covers full 2020 additional COVID-19-related loan losses with additions possible if the macroeconomic outlook changes materially. We currently have penciled in 19 basis points in loan losses for 2020, which appears high now, given what the company reported, but we prefer to remain cautious and dont expect to make material changes to our assumptions right now as we dont think the COVID-19 pandemic has fully played out. Even so, our fair value estimate of SEK 107 offers about 30% upside to the current share price despite our materially more cautious outlook on loan losses. Capital levels, which are in the spotlight for European banks during the COVID-19 pandemic, are healthy. SHBs common equity Tier 1 ratio at the end of the quarter stood at 17.6% versus capital requirements of 13.9%. Year over year, the common equity Tier 1 ratio increased by about 120 basis points although it declined about 90 basis points on a sequential basis. The largest moving parts were an increase in the common equity Tier 1 ratio capital owed to the quarters earnings after a 40% dividend accrual as well as capital draws from a change in net pensions and higher risk-weighted assets, primarily driven by corporate loan growth. The circa 370 basis points in excess capital are above what the company views as an adequate buffer to requirements of between 100 basis points and 300 basis points in normal times. Common equity Tier 1 ratio requirements have declined from 15.8% previously, as central banks in Europe have reduced countercyclical buffers, which the group would still have cleared at a comfortable margin. We anticipate Handelsbanken to remain profitable through this crisis even in our bear-case scenario, which will add to capital ratios. Nevertheless, the next quarters could see marginal declines in the common equity Tier 1 ratio as risk-weighted asset fluctuations can offset organic capital generation. Business Strategy and Outlook | 09 Apr 2020 Much has been said about Handelsbanken's business model, some praising it as the gold standard for retail and commercial banking, while others see it as outdated in a time of ever-increasing digital offerings. Its predominant feature is a decentralised approach to banking which gives higher decision-making power to its branches and reduces the need for middle management. Additionally, it generates stronger customer relationships allowing for better loan underwriting which keeps credit costs low. We believe Handelsbanken is one of the best run banks in Europe and while we acknowledge it has been late to the digital game relative to peers and that its business model does not lend itself to a centralised efficiency splurge, we think concerns that Handelsbanken has seen its best days are exaggerated. We do not subscribe to the idea that Handelsbankens business model and branch network poses a significant disadvantage to the bank. Rather, we are of the opinion that Handelsbanken follows a different path to its peers. We see synergies in Handelsbankens approach toward clients and its growing asset management and private banking offering. We expect branches to progressively move away from main streets onto the second floor rather than large-scale branch closings as the bank increases its focus on becoming an advisory service-focused bank. This should not only diversify Handelsbankens currently high dependence on interest spread based income but also leverage its existing strength of its customer relationships and solidify its competitive position in an increasingly competitive mortgage and corporate lending markets. We are also supporters of Handelsbanken's prudent approach in its quest for growth. While Nordic peers have entered primarily Baltic states to participate in the economic upswing, Handelsbanken has entered competitive and saturated markets in the U.K. and the Netherlands. While this may sound odd at first, we believe it speaks to its strength that the bank can replicate its business model in competitive markets and generate organic growth rather than relying on macroeconomic and acquisition driven expansion. Fair Value & Profit Drivers | 09 Apr 2020 We lower our fair value estimate to SEK 107 from SEK 112 per share after incorporating primarily higher loan losses, lower asset growth and a slightly lower net interest margin as a result of the corona virus pandemic. Our fair value estimate corresponds to 1.3 times book value and 14.9 times earnings based on 2020 estimates and 12.2 times on 2021 earnings. In the medium term, we anticipate an average return on equity of about 11%, which is above our cost of equity assumption of 9%. Our fair value estimate is primarily driven by net interest margin, provision ratio and operating cost assumptions. We forecast its net interest margin to drop slightly in 2020 to 1.15% from 1.21% in 2019 after which it recovers to about 1.3% at the end of our explicit five-year forecast period. We assume a 13 basis points midcycle provision ratio, up from 5 basis points in 2018. In 2020, we spike our loan loss provision ratio to 19 basis points as a result of the corona virus pandemic and its potential second order effect on Handelsbanken. To put this into context, Handelsbanken booked a provision ratio of 23 basis points in 2009, its highest loan losses recorded in this century. The efficieny ratio declines from 49% in 2019 to about 45% in 2024. Although we pencil in loan losses close to levels during the Great Financial Crisis, lower asset growth, and a slight margin compression in 2020, Handelsbanken remains profitable. Indeed, all included, we estimate an earnings decline in 2020 versus 2019 of only 16% with a sharp bounceback the year after. Given our current assumption that the corona virus pandemic poses a disruption and not destruction to the economy, this effect has a limited impact on our outlook for Handelsbanken. Additionally, given its high profitability (return on equity of about 9% in 2020) and its solid capitalization (common equity Tier 1 ratio of 18.5% as of 2019), we think a scenario of value destruction via a capital raise is highly unlikely. In our bear-case scenario, which is about where the market is pricing Handelsbanken as of this writing (around SEK 86 per share), the group remains profitable and capital generative. Scenario Analysis | 09 Apr 2020 In addition to our base-case scenario, we create upside- and downside scenarios for Handelsbanken. Our fair value estimate in the upside and downside scenario are SEK 131 and SEK 86 per share, respectively. In our upside scenario, the net interest margin climbs to 1.4% in the medium term while provisions for loan losses continue to be low at about 8 basis points. In this scenario, Handelsbanken also achieves further efficiency gains from digitizing its core processes, freeing up staff to engange in more client interactions and advisory meetings. As a result, the efficiency ratio declines to 41% in 2024 from 49% in 2019. Our fair value estimate in this scenario is SEK 131 per share and corresponds to 1.6 times 2020 book value. In our downside scenario, the net interest margin declines marginally just below 1.2% while provisions for loan losses increase to 18 basis points. In this scenario, Handelsbanken's efficiency efforts do not bear fruit as the bank struggles to digitize its decentralised business model. The efficiency declines margianlly to 48% in the medium term. Our fair value estimate in this scenario is SEK 86 per share and corresponds to 1 times 2020 book value. Economic Moat We assign Handelsbanken a narrow-moat rating based on cost advantages and customer switching costs. We believe Handelsbanken's narrow moat stems from its ability to underwrite loans more prudently as is evidenced in its high asset quality and low credit cost metrics the bank has been able to achieve over the last few decades through various cycles. This competitive advantage, which can seem intangible, elusive or even replicable, we believe is defensible by the vast branch network the bank has built in Sweden and the close customer relationships and high customer satisfaction Handelsbanken's branches create, as well as a strong culture focused on low operating and credit costs. Underlying our moat assessment for Handelsbanken is our view of the Swedish banking system, which we rate as good. Handelsbanken also operates in the U.K., the Netherlands, and the remaining Nordic countries, which we rate as fair. Following our banking moat framework, we analysed potential cost advantages based on operating, credit and funding costs and are confident that Handelsbanken enjoys advantages in operating and credit costs. Nordic banks are dependent to a large extent on wholesale funding to make up for a lack of deposits, which is largely the result of higher adoption of equity products creating a smaller deposit market for Nordic banks. Handelsbanken is no different in this regard to its peers, which is why we believe no Nordic bank has a competitive advantage based on deposit funding. Handelsbanken has a long track record of costs of risks lower than its peers and healthier asset quality ratios. The driving factor behind this is the ability to grant loans based on customer specific fundamentals rather than via a portfolio approach. Most banks operate on a portfolio approach accepting a certain amount of credit losses if margins compensate for it. Handelsbanken on the other hand focuses purely on default risk per customer following the believe that there is no homogeneous credit portfolio for which outcomes of adverse scenarios can be adequately forecast top-down. In Handelsbanken's model, about 70% of the loan applications are granted on the branch level, with only significantly larger or more complex loan structures requiring approval by the board. As the decision which loan is granted lies mostly with the account manager, the bank can leverage its close customer relationship and better distinguish between low and high-risk customers. As a result, Handelsbanken has experienced significantly lower credit losses than peers, even in sectors which have been in trouble in the past. Given that Swedish banks are price takers, the lower risk cost Handelsbanken can achieve leads to higher and more stable through-the-cycle returns. The drawback of this more traditional banking model is that it typically comes at a higher cost in the form of branches and staff. This is where we believe Handelsbanken has built a moat around its ability to underwrite loans more prudently. Handelsbanken has shown over multiple decades now that it can run a highly efficient branch network, which is the bedrock of the bank's low-risk performance. This is achieved by creating shared synergies such as IT systems, a centralised treasury department without the need of middle management, and virtually no marketing spending. Further, branch locations are chosen so that customers in any given region are not served by more than one branch reducing the potential for cannibalisation between branches and an oversaturation of regions with staff and locations. Each branch is run with the goal of being profitable as a standalone unit, putting the emphasis on performance rather than just serving as a marketing front at every corner to draw in customers. The banks cost/income ratio is one of the lowest among Nordic peers and lies comfortably below 50%, which we believe is indicative of a well-run bank. In Sweden, where we believe Handelsbanken has the strongest competitive advantage, the bank operates a sub-40% efficiency ratio. We think Handelsbanken's narrow moat is supported by implicit switching costs based on its high customer satisfaction scores, which create longer lasting relationships with a more loyal customer base. The bank does not only have stable and high market shares in both deposit and lending volumes in Sweden, which can be indicative of switching costs, but also ranks high in customer satisfaction surveys in Sweden and the U.K., and has been able to keep market shares relatively steady despite new entrants offering lower priced mortgages in Sweden. Strong customer relationships are a form of implicit switching cost which can be costly in the form of staff and fixed costs for branches and therefore are often believed to be suboptimal in the age of digitalisation. Although digitalisation has its perks, such as lower costs through leveraging fixed IT costs on a large customer base, we don't think a fully digitised product offering is the be all and end all. Swedish banks are front-runners when it comes to offering online and mobile banking solutions to customers leaving little room for banks to carve out a competitive advantage on the digital side. Customers seem to be largely agnostic to the minor digital differences in banks' offerings. On the other hand, Swedish customers continue to rank regional banks with local branches highest in satisfaction metrics. As a result, we believe that banks able to connect their digital offerings with a regional branch network can enjoy implicit switching costs through closer client relationships to customers who value such services. Handelsbanken operates the largest branch network in Sweden and repeatedly scores highest of all large Swedish banks in customer satisfaction surveys. Its large branch footprint and customer centric business model allows Handelsbanken to achieve customer satisfaction ratings close to local community savings banks, although running an efficient large-scale banking group. Outside of Sweden, in the U.K., the Netherlands, and other Nordics, Handelsbanken ranks in the top three, if not in the first spot, for its services as well. We believe that better customer-orientated service which Handelsbanken can offer to its clients generates loyal customers which are then exposed to the bank's pallet of product offerings including mortgages, loans, mutual funds, debt and equity underwriting services, as well as brokerage and securities services. Although not a moat source, we believe the low risk and high efficiency culture Handelsbanken has built over nearly half a century supports our view that the bank enjoys a narrow competitive advantage. While each aspect of the bank's culture seems replicable, we believe the interconnection between the bank's cultural traits as well as its long history of adhering to these principals creates a significant hurdle for competitors to replicate Handelsbanken's success. Handelsbanken incentivises long-term thinking of employees by deferring any bonuses in the form of retirement savings reinvested in the bank's own stock. This not only ensures that employees adopt a low risk approach to safeguard their retirement, but also shields the bank from shareholder pressure to pursue short term gains, as the pension fund is the largest shareholder in Handelsbanken (10.5%). Branches operate with great autonomy. The bank does not operate any volume targets but forces branch managers to adhere to a rigid risk policy, which allows branches to decide which sectors to lend to and which customers to decline, without following a trickle-down strategy set by the board. Employees are tasked to collect bad debt on each of their underwritten loans rather than being able to offload it to a separate department, further increasing the focus on each loan on a standalone basis rather than a portfolio perspective. Internally, branch managers with the lowest ratio of bad loans rather than the highest profitability attract the largest praise. Overall, decision outcomes are closer aligned with decision-makers, lowering internal moral hazard problems a centralised bank can face. We believe the strongest evidence of how difficult it is to replicate a culture is Handelsbanken's own expansion strategy. Its business model forces the bank to open branches from scratch, hire the right talent and incentivise its staff to focus on prudent underwriting. In the U.K. it typically took about 1.5 years for a new branch to become profitable and we believe it took multiple more years to recoup its investment outlay and create adequate returns on capital. Although acquisitions would bring Handelsbanken the branch footprint as well, the bank knows that it is much harder to change a culture than it is to build it. From an operating environment point of view, we rate the Swedish banking system as good under our banking system framework, thanks to its stable economic environment and good regulatory setup (which has been on an increasing trend in recent years). Finansinspektionen (the Swedish FSA) and the Riksbank (Swedens central bank) are primarily responsible for monitoring compliance and maintaining financial stability in the country. These supervisory bodies are strong believers in tougher capital and liquidity requirements for the system, and they monitor banks closely. Moat Trend We believe Handelsbanken's moat trend is stable. Contrary to many critics of Handelsbanken's business model, we believe that the companys competitive advantage has held up well against threats of digital banking. We acknowledge that Handelsbanken is not the most efficient Swedish bank anymore, owed mostly to the digitalisation efforts of its peers, but we do not believe that this is an apples-to-apples comparison. Handelsbanken remains one of the most efficient Swedish banks despite operating a larger branch footprint which creates cost advantages in lower credit costs as well as a loyal customer base. We view it as less and less likely that competitors switch course and start expanding their branch network to replicate Handelsbanken's close customer relationships. Also, we do not think that the efficiency ratios of peers, which are based on a declining branch footprint and higher digitalisation, would be sustainable in a scenario in which peers try to replicate Handelsbanken's model by expanding branches. Overall, we think the close customer relationships Handelsbanken has can shield the bank from threats such as fully digital and mobile banks as well as new market entrants offering lower prices on mortgages. Risk & Uncertainty Handelsbanken has built a reputation of being a safe haven in times of trouble, being the only large Swedish bank that has never required government subsidies and guarantees or fresh equity from shareholders to cover for bad loans. More importantly, the bank has in the past managed to remain highly solvent and liquid in times of economic hardship because of its low risk profile, allowing the bank to grant loans and gain market shares when credit spreads widen. The flip side is that the bank accepts to forgo market shares in expanding credit cycles. Our uncertainty rating is medium. Handelsbanken generates about three quarters of its income from its lending business, most if of it tied to mortgages and in particular the Swedish mortgage market. The Swedish real estate market frequently ranks in the top three of potential asset bubbles ripe for rebalancing. This is a significant risk to Handelsbanken's profitability outlook, and equally so for its Swedish peers, although current market fundamentals, regulation and demographic trends are likely to support elevated real estate prices short to medium term. Outside of Sweden, Handelsbanken operates primarily in well regulated and mature markets such as the U.K., the Netherlands and the remaining Nordics reducing potential legal, regulatory and also economic risks. Financial Strength Handelsbankens loan/deposit ratio stood at 205% as of 2019. As a result, the group is highly dependent on wholesale funding, especially covered bonds, which are correlated to money markets and will impact the funding costs when a bond requires rolling. While Handelsbanken experienced no problems accessing funding even during the 2007 global financial crisis, in the event of a more severe financial crisis than those experienced in the 1990s or 2007, Handelsbanken may have difficulty funding its balance sheet. That being said, Handelsbanken is in good financial health. The company is well capitalized with a common equity Tier 1 ratio of 18.5% as of fourth-quarter 2019 while its liquidity coverage ratio and net stable funding ratio stand 147% and 113%, respectively. Stewardship | 03 Jan 2020 We award Handelsbanken an Exemplary stewardship rating. Following the Morningstar methodology, we primarily focus on capital allocation decisions and alignment of such decisions with shareholder interests. We believe Handelsbanken scores exceptionally well in this category. Handelsbanken has refrained from large acquisitions in the past. The only notable exceptions are asset managers Heartwood (2013) in the U.K. and Optimix (2016) in the Netherlands, which we believe are strategically well-placed add-ons to an increasingly advisory service based business model. The bank has instead opted to build new branch networks from scratch in mature and saturated banking markets within good regulatory and stable economic environments such as in the U.K. and the Netherlands. This has kept credit costs and shareholder value destructive impairment charges low and allowed Handelsbanken to brush through the financial crisis of 08/09 unscathed. Additionally, the absence of large acquisition sprees allows for stable excess capital distributions to shareholders mostly in the form of dividends. Handelsbanken aligns employee actions to long-term shareholder value creation through a profit-sharing scheme called Oktogonen in which a yearly contribution is made if the company achieves its target of outperforming its peers. The funds are reinvested in the bank's stock and paid out to employees at retirement. This not only de-incentivises short-term thinking on the part of employees, which can result in adverse scenarios in the long-term. Oktogonen also is one of the largest shareholders in Handelsbanken (~11%) shielding the bank to some extent from short-term focused investors. The skeletal remains of an Illinois mother-of-six have been found in Northwest Indiana woods more than 13 months after she went missing while in the company of her boyfriend and another woman. A Gary city worker discovered a skull and other remains identified as those of Jessica Flores, 36, in the wooded area near Gary on April 9, Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. said. Lake County sheriffs deputies, Gary police and a cadaver search dog turned up additional human remains. A human skull and other remains identified as Jessica Flores, 36 (left), were found in Indiana in early April. Her boyfriend, Drew Carter III (right), was initially charged with her murder A Gary city worker discovered the skull and other remains in the woods Lake County sheriffs deputies, Gary police and a cadaver search dog turned up additional human remains Dental records confirmed the identity of the remains as those of the South Chicago Heights mother, Martinez said. Flores sister, Mady Perez, told Northwest Indiana Times the family were relieved that she was finally found. 'We want to thank everyone who came out to help search for my sister Jessica and have kept her in prayers,' she said. 'We will not stop until we get justice for my sister. Her children and my mother deserve this. My sister is now free.' Flores disappeared in Gary in late February 2019 along with Melina Cottrell, 26, who was later found alive. Police conducted multiple searches for Flores last year with drones, helicopters, all-terrain vehicles and cadaver dogs after a car belonging to her boyfriend, 41-year-old Drew 'Tiny' Carter III, was found torched in South Chicago Heights, with blood in the backseat and some of her belongings inside. Flores, a mom-of-six from Illinois, disappeared in February 2019 along with another woman, who was later found alive. A witness said Carter shot her in the head over sex Carter was charged in March 2019 with murder, kidnapping and criminal confinement in connection to Flores' disappearance and presumed death after a witness told police that he shot the woman during an argument over sex. Carter was charged in March 2019 with murder, kidnapping and criminal confinement, but those counts were later dropped over an issue concerning evidence In one version of events, Carter allegedly shot Flores with a revolver in the backseat of his car because she would not let him have sex with the witness, while in another version he killed her for refusing to have sex with him. Shortly before Carter's trial was set to get under way last September, the Lake County Prosecutor's Office dropped the charges against him because the Indiana State Police had not had the time to prepare all the evidence for trial. The judge dismissed the charges without prejudice, which would allow prosecutors to refile them in the future. Carter, who is a convicted felon with a criminal record stretching back to at least 1997, remained jailed on weapons charges stemming from the discovery of two guns in his possession when he was arrested in connection to Flores' murder. A potential witness in the Flores case, George Heath, was found fatally shot in the back of the head in his home in March. No arrests have been made in connection to that killing. CHICAGO, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Paessler AG, the IT monitoring specialist, announces the launch of PRTG Enterprise Monitor for businesses that need to monitor large IT infrastructures with thousands of devices. With the new PRTG Enterprise Monitor, Paessler offers a subscription-based licensing model tailored to large IT environments. These are licensed only by the number of sensors that are deployed across as many servers and locations as required, starting at 30,000 sensors. Every license includes the monitoring of network performance, infrastructure, applications, databases, storage, virtual environments as well as medical infrastructures, shop floors or IoT setups. Failover functionality and unlimited polling engines are also included. IT teams in large enterprise organisations, which are often responsible for multiple, locally distributed datacenters, offices, subsidiaries and stores, can establish a central overview of their entire infrastructure with one single solution without the need for additional modules or add-ons. PRTG Enterprise Monitor includes the ITOps Board, powered by Martello Technologies, which enhances the PRTG setup with a service-oriented, central overview also across multiple PRTG servers. It significantly reduces alert noise and adds advanced analytics and overall SLA (Service Level Agreement) monitoring and reporting. In detail that means: Multi server dashboards The ITOps Board displays data from one or multiple PRTG servers in central, easy to build real-time dashboards, based on services and according to the staff member's role The ITOps Board displays data from one or multiple PRTG servers in central, easy to build real-time dashboards, based on services and according to the staff member's role Business service monitoring The ITOps Board gathers alerts and notifications from one or multiple PRTG servers and correlates them by business services, offering a service-oriented, central overview The ITOps Board gathers alerts and notifications from one or multiple PRTG servers and correlates them by business services, offering a service-oriented, central overview Automated alert management Based on business services the ITOps Board filters and concentrates alerts, reducing and focusing alert noise to what really matters Based on business services the ITOps Board filters and concentrates alerts, reducing and focusing alert noise to what really matters SLA modelling and monitoring ITOps Board defines SLOs (Service Level Objectives) for each defined business service. Based on these SLO settings it calculates and displays SLA performance and availability. It sends warnings before an SLA is breached, giving IT teams time to react and rectify, thereby avoiding serious SLA violation Beyond the ITOps Board and existing enterprise focused features like sensors for NetApp, Cisco or HPE devices, Paessler has already implemented new Nutanix sensors and added many other features to the PRTG Enterprise Monitor roadmap which fulfil the demands of IT teams for enterprise environments. Paessler has established itself as a leader in IT monitoring among companies of all sizes, from small-to-medium businesses to large enterprises. These companies are benefitting from the simplicity of Paessler's unified monitoring solution PRTG Network Monitor. With over 200,000 IT administrators in over 170 countries currently using PRTG, the launch of PRTG Enterprise Monitor is a logical next step for Paessler. Helmut Binder, Paessler AG CEO: "With Paessler PRTG Enterprise Monitor, we are enhancing PRTG with central, service-oriented dashboards and a flexible subscription-based licensing model which is ideal for horizontal scaling. Combining this with all the benefits of classic PRTG, including ease of use, simple licensing, and the broad feature set, PRTG Enterprise Monitor offers a powerful and affordable solution to monitor large IT environments in a lean and easy way. This way we continue to support our existing customer base with their growing network sizes and demands. And we offer a monitoring solution with an unprecedented feature set, usability and licensing for enterprise level IT teams." About Paessler AG In 1997 Paessler revolutionized IT monitoring with the introduction of PRTG Network Monitor. Today over 200,000 IT administrators, in more than 170 countries, rely on PRTG to monitor their business-critical systems, devices and network infrastructures. PRTG monitors the entire IT infrastructure 24/7 and helps IT professionals to seamlessly solve problems before they impact users. Our mission is to empower technical teams to manage their infrastructure, ensuring maximum productivity. We build lasting partnerships and integrative, holistic solutions to achieve this. Thinking beyond IT networks, Paessler is actively developing solutions to support digital transformation strategies and the Internet of Things. Learn more about Paessler and PRTG at www.paessler.com SOURCE Paessler AG Related Links https://www.paessler.com Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. The presidents three-phased scheme for Opening Up America Again has raised plenty of concerns. What if we lift the lockdown too soon, and undo all of our curve-flattening? Can we really reopen when we dont have a sound testing system in place? Might opening up now only extend the life of the virus and put the economy in more peril? But theres one less discussed problem with the plan that deserves more attention: Most parentswho make up 41 percent of workers between ages 20 and 54cant go back to work until their kids have somewhere to go. Advertisement The first phase of Trumps plan allows for the reopening of restaurants, gyms, churches, and movie theaters, while stipulating that schools and organized youth activities like day care and camp that are currently closed should remain closed. And sure enough, several states, including Georgia, South Carolina, and Mississippi, plan to start reopening some businesses in the next couple of weeks, even as their schools are closed until the fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At this point, any reopening will mean that employees whose workplaces have been closed since mid-March will now join workers previously designated essential in their dilemma: go to work and take the health risk of being out and about during a pandemic, or quit and lose a salary during a pandemic. But parents whose kids still dont have a school or day care to go to when their jobs start back up will have problems to pile on top of these problems. Who, exactly, will watch the children, while theyre out reopening? Advertisement Advertisement Grandparents, who are most vulnerable to the virus, are not the ideal backup care right now. Bringing a babysitter into your home is an exposure risk and can be a big expense. Group care for smaller children, which is better regulated, is hard to secure in the easiest of times, and is getting even more difficult to find. Thats because many child care centers and smaller home day cares around the country, even ones located in states where they havent been required by the government to shut their doors, have closed for health reasonsand, increasingly, for financial ones. As Voxs Anna North reported earlier this month, many center-based and home-based group child cares that initially chose to stay open in March have lost an existentially threatening portion of their business, as parents whove lost their jobs and those who are working from home and are afraid of exposure have pulled their kids out. (Put this little worry in the back of your mind: We may exit the pandemic only to find that our child care crisis has gotten worse! It seems impossible, but the National Association for the Education of Young Children says its true.) Advertisement Advertisement The government has put some backstops in place. Some full-time and part-time workers whose employers reopen can take advantage of the Family First Coronavirus Response Acts provisions for leave, which give parents whose children have nowhere to go some paid time off. But there are catches: To be eligible, a parent (or caregiver) must have been employed for 30 days before the leave starts; the act covers only two-thirds of a workers salary, leaving it up to the employer to decide whether to complete the paycheck; small businesses employing fewer than 50 people may be exempt from providing child care leave, if the leave requirements would jeopardize the viability of the business as a going concern, as the Department of Labors guidance puts it. Thats a lot of holes to fall through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The economy will not really open up, and life will not really return to normal, as long as parents dont have any place to send our children during the day, Farhad Manjoo wrote in the New York Times on Wednesday. But our country has long engaged in magical thinking around child care. Witness the longtime shortage of good and affordable day care options, or the way the structures of the school day and the academic year leave households with parents who work full time scrambling for after-school and summertime care, year after year. Advertisement Advertisement Weve all gotten great at plastering the gaps between an idealized model of family life and the actuality of work in this country. But now the cracks are really showing. As with every other maddening American defect the coronavirus crisis has highlighted, from our vulnerable supply chain to the screwed-up incentives of for-profit hospitals, itd be great if the intensification of this ridiculous situation would teach us all a lesson. But the lack of consideration for families about to be caught up in this first phase of reopening doesnt give me much occasion for hope. In an important verdict, the Supreme Court has provided more teeth to the anti-narcotics law and held that it is the quantity of the entire banned drug mixture and not its purity which will determine the punishment for an offender under the legislation. The top court said that the amount of neutral substance in a mixture has to be included along with the actual weight of the banned substances for determining whether it is a small or commercial quantity under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. It said the use of drugs by young people in India has increased over a period of time, which is a crime against the society and has to be dealt with iron hands. A 3-judge bench of Justices Arun Mishra, Indira Banerjee and M R Shah said that the two bench verdict of 2008 in the case of E Micheal Raj was not a good law for holding that in a mixture of narcotic drugs, only the weight of the banned substance is relevant for the purpose of determining whether it would constitute small quantity or commercial quantity. Under the provision of NDPS Act, the punishment for possessing commercial quantity of the banned substance is higher than the smaller quantity. In case of seizure of mixture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances with one or more neutral substance(s), the quantity of neutral substance(s) is not to be excluded and to be taken into consideration along with actual content by weight of the offending drug, while determining the small or commercial quantity of the Narcotic Drugs or Psychotropic Substances, the bench held. It said that illicit street drugs are seldom sold in a pure form and they are almost always adulterated or mixed with other substance -- like caffeine is mixed with heroin so that it causes the heroin to vaporize at a lower rate. That could allow users to take the drug faster and get a big punch sooner. Take example of heroin. It is known as powerful and illegal street drug and opiate derived from morphine. This drug can easily be cut' with a variety of different substances," the bench observed in its 40-page order. "This means that drug dealer will add other drugs or non-intoxicating substances to the drug so that they can sell more of it at a lesser expense to themselves. Brown-sugar / smack is usually made available in powder form. The substance is only about 20 per cent heroin. The heroin is mixed with other substances like chalk powder, zinc oxide, because of these, impurities in the drug, brown-sugar is cheaper but more dangerous, it added. The order said this Court, in the case of E Micheal Raj, is taking the view that in the mixture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substance with one or more neutral substance(s), the quantity of the neutral substance(s) is not to be taken into consideration while determining the small quantity or commercial quantity of a narcotic drug or psychotropic substance and only the actual content by weight of the offending narcotic drug which is relevant for the purpose of determining whether it would constitute small quantity or commercial quantity, is not a good law. The top court said the NDPS Act is a special law and has a laudable purpose to serve and is intended to combat the menace otherwise bent upon destroying the public health and national health. The guilty must be in and the innocent ones must be out. The punishment part in drug trafficking is an important one but its preventive part is more important. Therefore, prevention of illicit traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1988 came to be introduced. The aim was to prevent illicit traffic rather than punish after the offence was committed, it said. The top court said that the problem of drug addicts is international and the mafia is working throughout the world. It is a crime against the society and it has to be dealt with iron hands. Use of drugs by the young people in India has increased. The drugs are being used for weakening of the nation, the bench said, adding, that with the passage of time and the development in the field of illicit drug traffic and during abuse at national and international level, many deficiencies in the existing laws have come to notice. It rejected the challenge made by several petitioners to November 18, 2009, notification of Central government by which it had said that while determining the small or commercial quantity of narcotic drugs in a mixture with one or more neutral substance(s), the weight of neutral substance (s) are also to be included with the actual content of the offending drug. The bench said the 2009 notification is not ultra vires to the Scheme and the relevant provisions of the NDPS Act and dismissed a batch of petitions which challenged the notification terming it as arbitrary and void. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On April 21, Baidu signed an agreement with Nanjing municipal government, Qinhuai district government and AsiaInfo for the strategic cooperation in fields like autonomous driving, vehicle-road coordination and automobile intelligent & connectivity. Under the latest agreement, all parties will help Nanjing develop an ICV (intelligent-connected vehicle) industry with global influence and take the lead in ICV pilot application by virtue of Baidu's state-level AI innovation platform, the Apollo ICV ecosystem, the ACE Transportation Engine full-stack intelligent transportation solution, the ICV industrial resource of Baixia High-tech Zone as well as Nanjing's scientific search power of higher education institutions. AsiaInfo will be responsible for operational businesses of ICV-related industrial parks in Nanjing. Launched in 2017, the Baidu Apollo has so far been upgraded to the 5.5 version, which consists of three open platforms focusing on autonomous driving, vehicle-road coordination and intelligent connectivity respectively. On April 9, 2020, Baidu unveiled the ACE (autonomous driving, connected road, efficient mobility) Traffic Engine, purportedly the worlds first full-stack intelligent transportation solution that integrates vehicles, roads and mobility services. Fueled by Baidu Apollos advantages in autonomous driving and vehicle-road coordination, the engine will help form a modern intelligent traffic system with capabilities of real-time sensing, instant response and smart decision-making. Up until now, the solution has been implemented in more than 10 cities like Beijing, Changsha and Baoding. It is noteworthy that the Baidu Apollo won the bidding for vehicle-road coordination projects in Chongqing, Yangquan and Hefei last month. Baidu announced on April 19 it would open the Apollo Robotaxi service to the general public in Changsha. Thus, starting this week, commuters in the city can hail a free autonomous taxi through the popular search engine app Baidu and navigation app Baidu Maps, marking that the robotaxi service is for the first time available to the ordinary consumers in China via mobile phone apps (photo source: Baidu). A US convenience store chain has been ordered to pay $3 million to the family of a little girl burned so badly with hot water by one of its employees, an attorney said her body looked as if it had been 'napalmed'. The tragic incident happened at a Wawa store in Neptune, New Jersey, on April 25, 2018. Mother Roya Konzman, of Virginia, was shopping at Wawa with her then-three-year-old daughter known only as N.K., picking up food and two cups of hot water for tea from the store's hot-water dispenser. When the mother and daughter made to pay, the clerk at the register knocked over some bottled water while bagging their shopping. This collided with one of the cups of hot water, bursting 'all over the child's upper body, arms and torso'. A Wawa convenience store and gas station Mother Roya Konzman and little N.K about to pay for their food at a Wawa store in Neptune, New Jersey (it is not known which of the two women is the mother) The Wawa clerk is seen passing the bags across the counter, tipping the cup of hot water N.K is dangerously close to Little N.K. was rushed by ambulance to a burns unit at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, having sustained second and third-degree burns. The Konzmans attorney David Mazie claimed N.K's burns were so bad at the time of the incident, Livingston paramedics wanted to airlift her. Wawa knew the hot water in its machines was kept at a 'highly dangerous temperature', according to NBC News, posing a threat of serious injury if spilled on someone. 'Despite being aware of this serious danger, Wawa kept the water at such a dangerously high temperature and acted recklessly and with wanton disregard for the safety of its patrons, including N.K.,' the lawsuit reads. Wawa agreed to pay a settlement of $3 million to the Konzmans on March 30, two years after the incident occurred. The hot water in the large red cup is now on its side and N.K leaps backwards covered in boiling liquid Her mother and a helper rush to get her clothes off which are now drenched in boiling water Little N.K, aged 3, stands bare-chested and with very red skin looking very distressed Wawa staff rush to the scene to console the scolded child who later has second and third-degree burns The money was split between the mother and daughter - with $2.55 million to be placed in trust and annuity for N.K., and $450,000 for mother Roya for 'emotional distress'. Parents Carl and Roya Konzman, of Neptune, filed a federal lawsuit against Wawa in May 2018. It found that although the clerk was 'negligent', Wawa was ultimately responsible for both its workforce and managing the temperature of the water on its premises. The lawsuit claims N.K. could be scarred for life. MONTCLAIR, NJ The new coronavirus can infect people of all races and ethnicities. It doesnt care about your immigration status. But that doesnt mean the virus is taking an equal toll on New Jerseys communities, some say. As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the nation, a rising tide of residents and community leaders are demanding that New Jersey officials take a hard look at how the disease is affecting minorities and immigrants. Our country has an incredibly poor history of health care when it comes to the treatment of minorities, especially in the black community, said Sen. Ronald Rice of the 28th District (Bloomfield, Glen Ridge, Irvington, Newark, Nutley). If hospitals have limited funding and decide to pull resources away from sick minorities, this causes all sorts of problems, Rice said. The coronavirus is also causing havoc in communities with large populations of immigrants, advocates charge. The state has the third-largest share of immigrants in the entire nation, according to advocacy group Make the Road New Jersey. More than two million people or one in every five Garden State residents are foreign born. Of that total, nearly 500,000 are undocumented immigrants, the group said. (Read more below) COVID-19 AND MINORITIES: NO ONE LEFT BEHIND The probe into the effects of COVID-19 on New Jerseys minorities including black residents got a big shot in the arm on Wednesday when Gov. Phil Murphy signed S-2357 into law. The legislation will require hospitals to report demographic data such as race, age, ethnicity and gender to the New Jersey Department of Health. Hospitals will also have to report demographic data for people who tried to get testing but got turned away. Primary sponsors of the bill included Senators Ronald Rice, Nia Gill and Kristin Corrado, as well as Assembly members Benjie Wimberly, Verlina Reynolds-Jackson and Nancy Pinkin. The new law is similar to a bill recently introduced by U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey, which would require the federal government to collect and report racial data on COVID-19 cases. Story continues Understanding the impact of COVID-19 by demographic group is critical to ensure equity in our response to this virus, Murphy said. We must do everything we can to protect the most vulnerable groups in our state during this unprecedented crisis. This data will inform our efforts and allow us to make sure that no one is left behind. The effort to track racial data has gained bipartisan support among state legislators. Sen. Nia Gill of the 34th District (Clifton, East Orange, Montclair, Orange) said that inequalities in treatment and diagnosis can have severe impacts on minorities, who are already at a higher risk of diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes. In order to address these disparities, we must have data on who is being tested, who is being treated and what the treatment outcomes are, urged Gill, a Democratic Party member. Coronavirus has had a devastating impact on our state and the nation, appearing to disproportionately impact men and the African-American community, agreed Sen. Kristin Corrado, a Republican who represents the states 40th District (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic counties). The more demographic information we can gather from our hospitals on infections, the better we can identify, react, study and prevent new COVID-19 cases in vulnerable populations, Corrado said. Why is the toll of the coronavirus so high in predominantly black and Latina/Latino communities? Decades of structural racism that existed long before the virus reared its head, according to the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and its partners with the United Black Agenda. Black people are dying across this country from COVID-19 at strikingly disproportionate rates, the nonprofit charged earlier this month. That outcome is caused by decades of racism reflected in disinvestment in black communities, grinding poverty, relentless hyper-segregation, redlining and substandard public housing, healthcare, and educational opportunities, police brutality, food deserts, pollution and landfills. As a result of these factors, black people suffer from higher rates of the underlying conditions on which COVID-19 preys: asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes and more, the nonprofit stated. See related article: Coronavirus Is Exposing Racial Gaps In NJ, Advocates Say On Wednesday, the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) began releasing death percentages by race/ethnicity on its website. (See the latest totals) According to state figures from 2010, 59 percent of the population is white, followed by 18 percent Hispanic or Latina/Latino (of any race), 13 percent black or African American, 8 percent Asian, and the remaining 2 percent include Native American and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, any other race, and those persons who identified two or more races. BREAKING: Thanks to our collective advocacy, @GovMurphy signed the #coronavirus racial data bill.This data is essential to ensuring that reparative investments are made in Black communities most harmed in NJwhere Black ppl already faced the worst racial disparities in America. https://t.co/YeNRrv56Yl Ryan P. Haygood (@RyanPHaygood) April 22, 2020 NJ IMMIGRANTS AND THE CORONAVIRUS Meanwhile, advocates have been tracking the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on New Jerseys immigrant population. On Wednesday, Make the Road New Jersey released the results of an in-depth round of interviews with families across the state. Dubbed Essential and Excluded, the full study and its methodology can be seen here. According to Make the Road New Jersey: Under COVID-19, immigrant communities have experienced extreme harm. Undocumented immigrants are disproportionately likely to own small businesses and to work in the sectors that have been hardest hit by coronavirus-related closures, such as food service and construction and those where workers continue frontline work such as warehouses, janitorial and agriculture. The impact of the coronavirus is also being felt in the states prisons, including those that contract with ICE to house federal immigrant detainees. Immigrants who are detained are one of the most vulnerable populations in the country, and New Jersey is quickly becoming ground zero for COVID-19 cases among immigrant detainees, Make the Road New Jersey stated. Despite these vulnerabilities, immigrants without lawful federal immigration status are largely excluded from public health insurance and safety net programs, as well as government aid for workers who lose their jobs or have their work hours cut, the group charged. This includes the federal stimulus payments, state unemployment benefits and federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance and some temporary leave and disability payments. We are not only living with the threat of contracting coronavirus, an anonymous survey respondent told researchers. We are also living with the fear that if we lose our jobs, we will lose our health insurance. And because we are immigrants, we cant get public insurance. Im worried for my safety and my familys safety. Other key findings from the survey included: Inequities in Access to Health Care Despite nearly half of respondents reporting sickness in the last month, very low rates of health insurance coverage--and the chilling effects of immigration enforcement--mean one in two people who were sick havent seen a doctor. A staggering 75 percent of all survey respondents and 85 percent of undocumented individuals report having no health insurance. Chilling Effect of Immigration Enforcement Among undocumented survey respondents, 64 percent report not having gone to a doctor or using local services in the past because they were worried about immigration enforcement or the impact on their status. Income Insecurity The vast majority of survey respondents are worried about making rent in May. Among renters surveyed, 86 percent are worried about being able to pay rent next month. Immigrants Unable to Pay for Basic Necessities Financial hardship is intense and widely felt within New Jerseys immigrant communities. Most people surveyed are worried about being able to pay bills, buy medicine or access enough food in the coming month. 91 percent were worried about being able to pay utilities or other bills. 83 percent were worried about accessing enough food for their families. 70 percent were worried about buying medicine for themselves or for their families. Pervasive Labor Rights Violations Despite being available to all workers regardless of immigration status, a majority of undocumented survey respondents reported that they were not provided with paid sick days by their employer. Undocumented respondents were less likely to report that their employers were doing everything they could to keep workers safe (including safety trainings, providing masks, etc.) Story continues below Other experts in New Jersey have also been taking a serious look at the virus effects on the states immigrant population. Karen DAlonzo, an associate professor at Rutgers School of Nursing and director of the Center for Community Health Partnerships, says that working in unprotected environments, language barriers and the fear of deportation puts immigrants at an even greater risk of getting sick. Many undocumented immigrants work in service industry positions with little or no job security, Karen DAlonzo of Rutgers School of Nursing said. These employees have either lost their jobs due to the pandemic undocumented immigrants do not qualify for unemployment benefits or continue to work without significant protection, exposing themselves, and by extension their families, to people who may be COVID-positive. Immigrants are less likely to own a car to drive to work and must therefore rely on public transportation, which also increases their risk of exposure to the virus, DAlonzo said. Even getting tested for COVID-19 can be near-impossible for undocumented immigrants, DAlonzo added. At drive-in locations, people are asked to produce a social security number or have a state-issued ID to qualify for free testing, DAlonzo said. Many undocumented persons lack both of these official forms of identification. Ironically, many of the health care workers that are battling the disease on the frontlines of the pandemic are enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, DAlonzo stated. Many of these young health care workers are the children of mixed-status families, where one or more of their family members are undocumented, the Rutgers professor said. These dreamers could lose their work permits if the U.S. Supreme Court ends this program that protects them from deportation. Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Sign up for Patch email newsletters. This article originally appeared on the Montclair Patch A woman has her blood sample taken for Covid-19 testing in Hanoi's Dong Da Secondary School, March 31, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Giang Huy. Vietnam marked eight consecutive evenings without a new Covid-19 infection Thursday, keeping its national tally unchanged at 268, with 44 active cases. Among the patients under treatment, 20 have tested negative at least once, the Health Ministry said. Of over 68,000 people still quarantined in Vietnam, over 18,300 in quarantine facilities and the rest isolated at home. Following Vietnam's easing of the nationwide social distancing campaign starting Thursday, several restaurants and coffee shops have been allowed to reopen nationwide, except in certain districts of Hanoi, Ha Giang and Bac Ninh Provinces which are still deemed areas with high risks of Covid-19 infection. However, many non-essential businesses like karaoke parlors, massage parlors, bars and cinemas have not been allowed to reopen. Gatherings of over 20 people in one place and 10 people or more outside workplaces, schools and hospitals are still not allowed. Masks are still mandatory while going outside. Vietnam has confirmed 268 Covid-19 cases so far, of which 224 have been discharged, including one in HCMC Thursday. The Covid-19 pandemic has reached 210 countries and territories, and over 185,100 deaths have been reported. Rep. David Cicilline, D-R.I., speaks with reporters after a meeting of the House Democratic Caucus in the Capitol on Wednesday, January 8, 2020. House Antitrust Subcommittee Chairman David Cicilline said most mergers should be banned while the coronavirus pandemic devastates businesses across industries. The Rhode Island Democrat is seeking to include the merger ban in the next stimulus deal, according to his prepared remarks for an event Thursday with the Open Markets Institute, a group that advocates for strong enforcement of antitrust laws. Under Cicilline's proposal, only mergers of businesses that have declared bankruptcy or are about to fail should be allowed during the national emergency. Ciclline's subcommittee is currently investigating Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google parent company Alphabet as part of a review of digital markets. He originally planned to wrap up the probe and publish a report by early April, but has acknowledged the pandemic has shifted that timeline. Cicilline previously told CNBC the report would lead to regulatory proposals to make sure the digital marketplace is operating fairly. The ongoing crisis has raised new questions about the tech probes by federal and state law enforcement agencies. Tech firms like Apple and Google have been at the forefront of government initiatives to fend off the virus, but antitrust experts told CNBC that their efforts would be unlikely to have a tangible impact on any potential antitrust action. Mergers tend to decline anyway during economic recessions, according to publicly available data from the federal antitrust agencies. But the nature of this crisis centering around a public health matter makes it hard to predict. Still, FTC Commissioner Noah Phillips told Politico at an event last week that the agency had seen less merger activity during the crisis. Cicilline acknowledged the slowdown in his prepared remarks, but said industry analysts are predicting more deal-making to come. He blamed "mega-mergers" and corporate takeovers for costing jobs and innovation during the last financial crisis and warned against a repeat. Such a sweeping ban on mergers is unprecedented, according to Politico, though restrictions on certain industries have occurred. Antitrust enforcers should spend their time during the crisis investigating harmful tactics like price gouging rather than focusing on merger reviews, according to Cicilline. Merger analysis is typically a top priority at the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice because merger laws require they adhere to strict timelines to assess potential harm. The DOJ asked Congress to extend its merger review deadlines by 15 days, according to Politico. Cicilline suggested that instead of merger reviews, enforcers should focus on more pressing matters, including addressing noncompete clauses that make it difficult for laid-off workers to find new jobs during the pandemic. "The last thing our country needs right now is expending valuable resources in response to a wave of mega-mergers during a time of crisis," Cicilline said in the remarks. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube. WATCH: How US antitrust law works, and what it means for Big Tech MANILA, Philippines The Bureau of Customs (BOC) has shipped back to South Korea some 2,676 metric tons (MT) of waste materials that were stored at the PHIVIDEC Industrial Authority premises in Misamis Oriental since 2018. In a report to Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Customs Commissioner Rey Leonardo Guerrero said the shipment was part of the 5,176.91 MT that the South Korean government committed to help send back to their country after these were illegally exported to the Philippines in July 2018. The waste materials consist of plastic synthetic flakes that were illegally imported by the Cebu-based Verde Soko Philippines Industrial Corp. Guerrero said the garbage was shipped back in 151 forty-footer containers. The first batch of 51 containers was re-exported to Korea on Jan. 25, 2019, followed by another shipment of 50 containers on Jan. 15 this year. A third batch consisting of 50 containers was shipped to Korea last March 21. The re-exportation took some time because the wastes have been exposed to natural elements of heat and rain, which made it difficult to re-bag and stuff inside the containers, Guerrero said in his report. The remaining 2,500 MT of wastes were initially scheduled to be shipped back in March but it was delayed due to the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ), according to Guerrero. The community quarantine has forced most people to stay in their homes as the operation of public transportation and classes in schools were suspended. Most government offices have implemented a skeleton force while other employees were ordered to work from their homes. Rest assured that the Bureau will undertake all the necessary means, within the bounds of the law, in order to expedite the re-exportation of these wastes, Guerrero said. The post PH sends back over 2,600 tons of wastes to South Korea appeared first on UNTV News. The Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government will Thursday, April 23, hold an Extraordinary Session via videoconference, to discuss the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the Sub-region. A statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, in Accra, on Wednesday, said the Heads of State said this follows a virtual Extraordinary Session on Tuesday, April 21, on the situation by the Ministers in Charge of Finance and the Governors of Central Banks. To address the COVID-19 Situation in the Region, ECOWAS had immediately made available financial support, in addition to assistance from international partners, for the purchase of medical supplies and equipment, essential for the fight against, it said. As of Monday, April 20, the West African Health Organisation (WAHO) data, on the 15 Member States, had recorded 5,474 confirmed cases, 1,567 recovered, 140 deaths, and 3,767 active cases. The statement reaffirmed ECOWASs solidarity with Member States and welcomed all the measures already taken to contain the spread of the pandemic and care for the sick. 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 Ramallah, April 23 : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that the agreements reached with Israel and the US will be "absolutely null" if the former annexes any part of the Palestinian territories. "We informed all the concerned international parties, including both Israel and the U.S. that we will not stay handcuffed if Israel annexes any part of our territory," Abbas said in a televised speech on Wednesday. He noted that all concerned political and legal establishments "act to defend our existence and confront all unjust conspiracies, which target our rights, mainly the American Deal of the Century and the Israeli annexation plans", reports Ainhua news agency. On Monday, a unity government was formed in Israel. The agreement on the unity government includes a mutually accepted point to impose Israeli sovereignty on the territories "that are part of the historic lands of Israel". Meanwhile, Abbas affirmed that the precautionary measures which were taken to combat the spread of coronavirus pandemic will be valid during the holy Muslims' fasting month of Ramzan. "Mosques and churches will keep being shut down and we call on our people to stay home because our health is a priority that we must keep it," said Abbas. Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson said Thursday that the citys curfew is expiring one week from today, unless something occurs before that. Its good through midnight and at that time, there will be no more curfew, said Stimpson, adding that it expires right before midnight on May 1. Stimpsons comment came during his daily Facebook briefing on the coronavirus pandemic that has hit Mobile County the hardest of any county in Alabama. As of Thursday afternoon, Mobile County has 796 confirmed cases and 38 deaths. Jefferson County, which is by far larger in population, was No. 2 at 775 confirmed cases and 31 deaths. Stimpson announced the curfew on April 3, and the Mobile City Council approved an ordinance authorizing it on April 7. The ordinance also included a $100 fine upon the first offense for people who are not considered essential workers. Mobiles curfew essentially functions as a 24-hour decree, with a nighttime curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., and a stay at home order from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. Most cities like Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, since last month, have adopted ordinances with maximum fines of up to $500 for violating the city-enforced curfews. But few cities have actually issued fines. According to Mobile police, there have been 53 curfew violation tickets issued since it went into effect. The Police Department did not readily have available how many of those tickets were $100, or if any of them cost more. Stimpson and other experts believe the number of cases are slowing, and point to an availability of beds and ventilators at hospitals within the city as evidence that restrictive orders preventing small businesses from operating should be lifted. Stimpson and Mobile County Public Health Officer Dr. Bert Eichold both believe that portions of the economy will reopen by May 1. He said he was hopeful that Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey will lift a stay at home order she implemented on April 3, which is also expiring on April 30. I think there will be an opening, Stimpson said. Stimpson said he participated in a video conference call with barbers and cosmetologists and listened to their concerns about restarting their businesses without having adequate personal protection equipment like N95 face masks and gloves. Its one thing for the governor and the mayor to say, you can go back to work but if you say, you also need gloves, well, they arent available, said Stimpson. If you say that you need N95 masks, they arent available. We want to do our dead level best to make sure were not putting on onerous restrictions on those (who are attempting) to start back up. Val Kilmer revealed that his actual, literal heart was stolen by a 'dark angel' who looked like Darth Vader, in his new memoir I'm Your Huckleberry. The 60-year-old actor reveals the encounter with what he describes as an 'amorphous black figure' happened during a trip to New Mexico in his 20s. 'It will ruin the absolute gravity of this moment but in truth this dark angel looked very like Darth Vader, though without the helmet,' Kilmer said in his book (courtesy of The Times). Stolen heart: Val Kilmer revealed that his actual, literal heart was stolen by a 'dark angel' who looked like Darth Vader, in his new memoir I'm Your Huckleberry The Top Gun star added that he watched the black figure rip out his heart, only to replace it with a 'bigger one.' 'At first, I thought it was the Angel of Death, before I realized it was the Angel of Life,' Kilmer writes in the book, which was published on Tuesday by Simon & Schuster. 'I wish I could elucidate the experience the experience more than I have ever done, but I can't. It simply happened,' he added. Memoir: 'At first, I thought it was the Angel of Death, before I realized it was the Angel of Life,' Kilmer writes in the book, which was published on Tuesday by Simon & Schuster 'I am grateful for the new heart. It has served me well. And I've only just begun to use it,' Kilmer writes.' Kilmer was born in Los Angeles and became the youngest student ever admitted to the prestigious Julliard School's Drama Division. He made his feature film debut by receiving top billing in the 1984 spy comedy Top Secret, which he followed up with 1985's Real Genius and 1986's Top Gun, which made him an international star. Star: He made his feature film debut by receiving top billing in the 1984 spy comedy Top Secret, which he followed up with 1985's Real Genius and 1986's Top Gun, which made him an international star While Top Gun launched his career, Kilmer also stated in the book that he had no interest in playing Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky. ''I didnt want the part. I didnt care about the film. The story didnt interest me,' he wrote in the memoir. 'My agent, who also represented Tom Cruise, basically tortured me into at least meeting Tony Scott saying he was one of the hottest directors in town.' No interest: While Top Gun launched his career, Kilmer also stated in the book that he had no interest in playing Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky He also opened up about his romantic relationships with celebs such as Carly Simon, Cindy Crawford and Angelina Jolie, along with Daryl Hannah, who he dated in 2001. He said that his love for her has, 'lost none of its strength,' though he added that it was 'no great surprise' that she married Neil Young in 2018. 'Neil Young, I have always loved you, but I'm afraid I hate you now,' Kilmer stated in the book. Current study shows that compared to the United Kingdom's death figures suggest, COVID-19 may kill up to 70 times fewer than the projected numbers. Having one of the worst coronavirus testing records, Britain tallies 13 percent of its diagnosed patients in the country die from the pandemic. Despite the efforts of the UK in recording the data, it is considerably higher than the real death rate because it does not take into account the number of infected people who had shown mild symptoms. In addition, scientists emphasized that the only way to dig the actual rate is to test blood samples of the total population for antibodies, which the immune system produces once infected. Even the accuracy of these tests is still questioned, experts support the method for it gives a much clearer indication of who has previously acquired the virus and they consider it a key in imposed lockdowns around the world. Antibody survey results in Los Angeles shows that the illness may only kill 0.18 percent of the population who tested positive with COVID-19. The numbers 7,994 is far higher than the official figures when the study was published on April 20, based on the assumption that the real number of infections in Los Angeles was 330,000 as tens of thousands of the persons develop only mild symptoms and were never tested for the illness. Read also: US Senate Approves $500B Package for Small Businesses, Hospitals, COVID-19 Testing If the same death rate will be applied to the UK's currently faced outbreak, the study suggests that the number of Brits who had acquired the virus in the range of 9.5 million or 14 percent. On the other hand, advisers of the Government share that the true figure is likely to be a third of that, while some studies from France suggest that it will only go up to 6 percent in just a matter of weeks. A similar fatality rate resembles a study of residents in Helsinki, Finland as they ended with 0.19 percent. Home of approximately 1.7 million people, the region of Uusima is where samples were all taken as most of them live in the capital of Helsinki and they found that 3.4 percent of the persons living in the area had antibodies. Currently, only 2,000 tested positive cases had been confirmed by laboratory tests but if 3.4 percent of the population had produced antibodies it would equate to around 57,800 persons. Moreover, Blood samples taken in Los Angeles suggest that the COVID-19 death rate could be around 0.18 percent. 846 persons in the Los Angeles area were studied and they found that roughly 4.1 percent of the county's population of 3.9 million has already antibodies to the virus and the study suggests that an estimated 330,000 people have already caught the virus and built up immunity to it. 600 coronavirus deaths were officially recorded in Los Angeles County by the time when the research was conducted on the 20th of April and the study suggests that around 0.18 percent of the tested positive patients fall to the disease after acquiring it. Related article: Missouri Files Negligence Lawsuit Against China for COVID-19 Pandemic @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Stay-home orders are meant to keep Canadians healthy amid the COVID-19 pandemic but home is not a safe place for victims of intimate partner or family violence. Are you a victim of violence at home, or are you worried for someone you know? Here are some resources for those seeking help for themselves or others in danger: If you are in immediate danger, call 911 Seek help if you are in danger. Police are still responding to domestic violence calls, and police stations are still open for walk-ins for domestic violence victims. Contact your local shelter or support provider ShelterSafe.ca has a Canada-wide directory of contact information for your local services, as does EndingViolenceCanada.org and Canadianwomen.org. Meanwhile, crisis lines are also open throughout the pandemic. And because front-line workers know it can be difficult to speak out loud with someone who is be living with their abusers, many are now communicating by text, through messaging apps or online. Pamela Cross, the legal director of Oshawa-based Lukes Place, said conversations with an abused person begin with safety planning, including finding out if the person has privacy from her abuser and if the device she is using whether a laptop or phone is private and password-protected. A worker will explain how to delete messages, records of phone calls and browser histories. The conversation might happen by phone, by Zoom or by chat whatever and whenever works best for her. Even if an abused person doesnt plan to stay at a shelter, staff can provide services or help make an emergency escape plan catered to specific needs, as well as a safety plan. Lukes Place also publishes a series of safety planning tips on its website. You can also find resources for victims of elder abuse published on canada.ca, and for child abuse at kidshelpphone.ca and crisistextline.ca Let someone know youre in trouble using a special hand signal If you dont have a way to call, text or message someone safely, you can still try to communicate that you need help by using a special hand signal the Canadian Womens Foundation recommends using on a video chat. To make the signal, point your palm to the camera with the thumb tucked, then close your fingers over your thumb. Access free legal support Free legal advice with no financial eligibility requirement is available through Legal Aid Ontario at 1-800-668-8258 and through a new emergency family law referral line at 1-800-668-8258. The family law referral line offers half-an-hour of advice and referrals to other services. Lukes Place also offers a virtual legal clinic for women experiencing intimate-partner violence an expansion of a service already offered to women in rural areas. This can be accessed by contacting the local womens shelter at ShelterSafe.ca. Family court support workers continue to offer help to domestic violence victims going through the family court process. More information about that can be found through the Victim Support Line toll-free at 1-888-579-2888, or 416-314-2447, and online at the website of the Ministry of the Attorney General. How to help others Friends, neighbours and family members play a critical role in supporting victims at all times, but especially during a pandemic. If someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. Dont hesitate. Call the authorities if you believe someone is in imminent danger. Police are responding to domestic and family violence calls as usual. Check in on a victim carefully Keep in regular contact with someone experiencing abuse and, where possible, visit in a way that lets you keep your distance or set up a video call. Its important to first make sure that the person can communicate safely through whatever channel youre using, whether by email, text or phone. One way is to find this out is call and ask yes or no questions, which can avoid arousing the suspicion of anyone nearby. Questions could include: Would you like me to call 911? or Would it help if I called a shelter for you? The Canadian Womens Foundation also recommends asking general questions when communicating by text, email or messaging apps the kind that arent unusual to be posing in the middle of a pandemic, and wont cause alarm if an abuser sees them. These include: How can I help you out? or Get in touch with me when you can. Call a local shelter or crisis line on a victims behalf or offer up a space to stay Kaitlin Geiger-Bardswich, a manager with Womens Shelters Canada, said family and friends can get advice for a specific situation even if the victim cant call herself. We dont want to put too much information out there because then abusers will know what to look for, Geiger-Bardswich said. So at least if were encouraging people to call the shelter, the shelter can then help the family member or neighbour or friend safety-plan. If you have a separate living space where a relative, friend or neighbour could stay while maintaining physical distance, offer it, said Sly Castaldi, executive director of Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis. I know its really challenging now, but if its a separate area youre not using, offering this is important, Castaldi said. If youre able, donate money to programs supporting women and girls Despite provincial and federal government funding to support womens shelters during the COVID-19 pandemic, Andrea Gunraj, vice-president of public engagement at the Canadian Womens Foundation, said these non-profit organizations will require far more financial support. This is especially true as the pandemic stretches on and typical fundraising efforts continue to be cancelled, she said. I think we need to remember that we have to give support to women and girls in particular dont expect that when you give money to general things that it necessarily filters to the needs of women, Gunraj said. I would really encourage them to give towards gender-specific services. If youre able to donate, research violence against women charities in your area. The Canadian Womens Foundation has also launched a COVID-19 fund to help support women and girls called Tireless Together. Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State has announced the extension of the lockdown imposed on the state by another 14 days, to further prevent the spread of coronavirus. The governor announced this on Thursday in Ilorin during the flag-off of the biometric registration of transporters slated to receive soft loans to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown. Mr AbdulRazaq said the extension of the lockdown by another 14 days was in accordance with the position of the Federal Government and the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF). He added that the state recorded two new cases of COVID-19 early Thursday, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 11. The governor added that the two new cases were contacts of the previous confirmed cases. The lockdown for another two weeks is to reduce the number of cases. As you can see, Kano is going up; Lagos is going up. Even in Kwara, we have two more new cases. So there is the need for boundaries to be locked down. Essentially, each state has different policies on lockdown but we want to ensure that people are not moving across boundaries to transmit the virus, he said. According to the governor, the internal restriction on vehicular movements in the state remains in force, while the government will step up measures to gradually lift the restrictions and rejuvenate the economy, including the mandatory use of face masks. Mr AbdulRazaq said the face masks would be mass-produced by indigenous tailors, who, he said, had already been briefed. The governor added that about N100 million would be disbursed as non-interest loans to 20,000 transporters after the ongoing enumeration across the state. He said the soft loan was under the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP), whose components included conditional cash transfer to the aged (Owo Arugbo), market moni for petty traders and K-power targeting the youth and the unskilled segments of the society. The soft loan to the transporters is the first in the country to reduce the impact of the lockdown, the governor added. He said the beneficiaries of the loan, who might get between N5,000 and N10,000, would refund the money in trickles, after the end of the COVID-19 crisis. Mr AbdulRazaq said the exercise also offered the government the opportunity to get the accurate data of people in the informal sector for proper planning. He said the programme was going on simultaneously with other components of the KWASSIP to lessen the impact of the economic downturn on the people. Were happy to be here to fulfill our promise of having some form of safety net for the poor. This is about carrying everybody along and leaving no one behind. The social investment programme is a key programme of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration and I am one of those who believe in the programme. During the campaign, the vice president was here to launch the market moni and trader moni programmes. I was with him and saw the impact. Then, after the electioneering, I went to the villages and saw indeed that the impacts were real. The N-Power and other programmes were really impactful and based on that, we decided to set up the Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP), he said. The governor added that the programme for Okada riders and other transport workers was not originally part of the programme. It was meant to be at the back end of the programme, but we quickly activated it because of the impacts of COVID-19 and the stay-at-home order on businesses and the poor. That is why we decided to enumerate them and give them aid, to be able to survive under the lockdown. Advertisements This will also be extended to other segments of the economy. We have to drive our economy. Various programmes are going on, he said. According to him, there are ongoing road constructions which will be inaugurated on May 29 as well as school rehabilitation programmes. So, essential work will go on. We have also allowed our farmers to go to their farms. So we are not allowing the economy to grind to a halt, the governor said. Mr AbdulRazaq added that apart from the registered farmers, petrol stations, hospitals and pharmacies were also exempted from the restriction order. The government had earlier exempted vehicles carrying foods and drugs as well as essential workers, such as health workers and journalists, from the restriction order, he added. (NAN) A MESSAGE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF GAME & FISH: As COVID-19 continues to force all of us to make changes to our daily schedule, the department would like to remind you that together we can make a difference. To help minimize the spread of the virus: Practice social distancing. Wash your hands regularly. Avoid nonessential travel. Stay healthy and safe. In this time of change, the department would like to encourage anglers to stay home, mend equipment and prepare for the upcoming fishing season. In the weekly fishing report, provided by Dustin Berg of Go Unlimited (supporting disabled anglers) and the Department of Game and Fish, we will be sharing tips and tricks to help you be ready to go on future adventures. Each week we will feature some different flies, lures, activities or cooking recipes that can be done at home: This week, Berg recalls a couple of fond memories fishing for trout on the Red River with his dad. In the next section, since spring is in the air and the walleye are spawning, here are some tips to be ready after COVID-19 restrictions are lifted. Or, put it on your bucket list for next year. Red River trout fishing with bait or fly Ive always enjoyed the winding scenic drive from Albuquerque to Red River. You never know if you will see elk, deer, bighorn sheep or bald eagles as you venture north from Santa Fe to Questa along the Rio Grande. On the south end of town (Questa) the Red River flows southwest out of the wild, steep Sangre de Cristo Mountains. If traveling north on N.M. 522 toward Questa, just before you reach the town there is a left turn onto N.M. 515 that will take you west to the Red River Fish Hatchery. I have found this boulder-laden section of river from the hatchery downstream to the confluence of the Red River and the Rio Grande to be an excellent place to hone your trout angling skills. When I was young, my dad and I would visit Red River multiple times each summer. Wed park at the hatchery and fish our way down to the confluence of the Rio Grande. We fished with open spin casting reels that came with a basic rod/reel combo purchase. Our lure of choice was a Panther Martin spinner. One day, we were fishing and met an older gentleman with a stringer full of trout. We had only caught a couple of small fish and were inquisitive as to what this man was doing that was so successful. He was on is way back to the parking lot but kindly took a moment to visit with us and share his angling technique. His setup was extremely simple. It was just a small, size 8 hook baited with a single salmon egg and a No. 4 split shot weight crimped onto the line about a foot up from the hook. The small hook, and the way in which this simple setup is fished, is the key to its success. With only about 6 feet of line extending from the tip of your rod, you carefully sneak along the rivers edge, subtly dipping about 2 to 4 feet of your salmon egg rig in the slack water behind each boulder. After dipping your line behind a boulder three or four times, you move on to the next boulder fishing every bit of slack water that could potentially hold a trout protected from the main river current. My dad and I caught a lot of fish using this technique on that day, and on many other future trips. We hiked a lot of miles along this stretch of river and have seen some incredible sights and beautiful fish. You just never know when you are going to drop your bait behind a rock holding a big hungry trout. Spring walleye fishing One of my favorite fish to eat is the walleye. They produce a soft, white, flaky meat that has a firm texture and a sweet, not-too-fishy taste. In the springtime, fishing for walleye can be fast and furious as the fish rise from the deep water they inhabit during the winter in search of gravel rock beds for spawning. During the spring, you can find walleye anywhere from 5 to 25 feet deep, with most fish typically being shallower in the mornings and evenings. Casting and trolling around gravel banks are both popular methods for catching walleye. I will describe two methods that I have used with great success at Ute Lake, Santa Rosa Lake, Conchas Lake, Fort Sumner Lake, Abiquiu Lake and Elephant Butte Lake. When casting lures for walleye, I love to use a one-eighth-ounce chartreuse jig head rigged with a 4-inch chartreuse curly tail jig. I cast my curly tail jig then count to ten or so, giving it time to sink to my desired depth, before slowing reeling my line back in. If chartreuse is not working, I will try this same setup but in the color white. When a fish bites, you will feel your lure stop or a slight tug, and that is when you must make a firm hook-set. Walleyes mouths are hard and can resist a hook setting, so that is why you must put a little muscle into ensuring your hook is firmly planted in their mouth. Trolling for walleye is less demanding than casting and another great technique for catching many fish. A key to success is identifying main lake points that have rocky ledges and gravel banks. This is where the fish will be schooling. You want to troll in 15 to 25 feet of water, moving parallel to the shore. Ideally your trolling speed will be one to two miles per hour. One of my favorite trolling lures for walleye is the Berkley Flicker Shad or Berkley Flicker Minnow. The Flicker Shad is the shorter one. Be careful when removing a hook from a walleyes mouth; their mouths are full of needle-sharp teeth. This is a good time to put your pliers to use. Enjoy the relaxation of trolling for fish or get some exercise casting. Either way, have a great day and a delicious fish dinner. If you have personal tips and tricks that you would like to share with your fellow anglers as we wait out the current restrictions, please email Berg at funfishingnm@gmail.com. Closure Information Social distancing is a challenge for all anglers; the itch to go fishing just keeps growing. But this is a time for all New Mexicans to pull together for the overall health of all our citizens and stay home. The department reminds anglers it is their responsibility to be aware of closures and contact land managers for properties of interest when restrictions are lifted. Bureau of Land Management blm.gov/new-mexico U.S. Forest Service fs.usda.gov/about-agency/covid19-updates New Mexico State Lands nmstatelands.org/resources/recreational-access New Mexico State Parks emnrd.state.nm.us/SPD/ New Mexico Open Gate properties wildlife.state.nm.us/hunting/maps/open-gate-program New Mexico Wildlife Management Areas wildlife.state.nm.us/conservation/state-game-commission-lands Angler and outdoor recreationists should consult their local governments website for information regarding specific city and town fishing access. Cast your mind back to March, when Wuhan virus hysteria seemed to be at its apex. Back then, computer models assured us that unless we locked down America, the Wuhan virus would infect everyone with such speed that the demands on our health system would cause the system to collapse. We'd end up with millions of Americans dead; a broken health care system; and, by extension, a broken America. The only way to alter this apocalyptic outcome was to "flatten the curve." Flattening the curve was premised on the belief that until a vaccine is created, nothing will stop the Wuhan virus from infecting people. However, if we slowed the disease's spread, the health care system wouldn't be hit all at once with hundreds of thousands of patients. Instead, it would be able to handle a steady flow of patients. Slowing the disease's spread would give the medical world a chance to find treatments, lessening the virus's effect. Flattening the curve seems to have worked. In the six weeks of advanced panic, not only have the numbers of sick and dead been minuscule compared to the projections, but we've learned that the virus has been around for months, with hundreds of thousands of people infected and, probably, immunized; that the mortality rate is dramatically lower than predicted; that there are medicines to treat the virus, with the hydroxychloroquine cocktail proving useful early in the virus's progress and Remdesivir seemingly helpful in the later stages that most people weather the disease well, with only the elderly and the immune-compromised at serious statistical risk; that the Swedish model of creating natural herd immunity seems to work, although the elderly need more protection; and that shutting the economy creates an economic disaster of greater proportions than the virus could ever be. Armed with these data, are Democrats joining with conservatives clamoring to be released from their unconstitutional prisons? No, they're not. Instead, they've moved the goalposts. What's sweeping through Democrat-land is a poster explaining that it would be suicide to let up on lockdowns: Do you see what's wrong with the analogy? It took me a minute, and then I suddenly realized where the logical error is. An accurate analogy would say that, before the shutdown, the parachute (i.e., the virus) was plummeting into a vat of boiling water (i.e., overwhelming the health care system). The purpose of the shutdown was to cool that water so that the parachute landed in an America prepared to receive it. We've achieved that goal. Indeed, as of now, we're over-prepared for the virus's/parachute's eventual landing. We have too many ventilators, our hospitals are empty and going broke, and the emergency hospitals constructed in convention centers or on Navy ships stand unused. It's time to let the parachute touch ground so we can get on with our lives. Leftists are thinking along different lines because they now treat the phrase "the curve is flattening" to mean "we will stop the virus entirely." That's the only way to make sense of their stupid analogy. In their world, the parachute must remain forever suspended in the air because it cannot land until the virus is completely gone. With a new goalpost in place, those governments that are all in on lockdowns are tightening their hold on Americans rather than loosening them. Moreover, the drive-by media are working overtime to recreate the panic that swept America in March. Tucker Carlson has one of his best analyses ever regarding what he calls, accurately, a "flu d'etat." (If you can't watch the video, you can read a transcript here.) When fear strikes, people feel helpless and look to someone who seems capable of defeating the source of that fear. Leftists are promising that a tyrannical government can achieve that goal. The more sophisticated leftists almost certainly imagine a collapse of the American economy. They don't fear this, they embrace it, a la the Cloward-Piven strategy: destroy the social welfare system to force America into a socialized mode. Having the economy collapse, with the governing remaining as the only source of funds and food, will only speed that outcome. It's time to stop the insanity. America's approach to smallpox in the late 18th century, including during the Revolutionary War, is a better model. By 1760, America had discovered variolation, which introduced a small viral load into a person's bloodstream. Most people took a mild case of smallpox and were immunized for life. A few got terribly ill and died. It was an imperfect outcome, but better than having the disease run rampant, killing thousands of people and, along the way, killing a liberty-based revolution. In other words, end the shutdown and start doing what Sweden is doing, which is to live a normal life, with respectful distances and masks. Life has risks. The small risk of a bad disease is infinitely better than seeing America turned into a tyranny. (The image is an 1802 satirical cartoon by James Gillray depicting the controversy about a smallpox vaccination using cowpox.) [April 23, 2020] Burns & McDonnell Recognized as a Best Workplace in Consulting and Professional Services by Great Place to Work KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- For the third consecutive year, Burns & McDonnell has been named one of the Best Workplaces in Consulting and Professional Services by Great Place to Work. The 100% employee-owned design and construction firm earned the No. 14 spot on the list. The annual ranking recognizes companies striving to maximize employee growth and organizational development throughout the workplace. To determine this year's list, Great Place to Work analyzed survey feedback from more than 357,000 employees working in the consulting and professional service industries nationwide. Survey respondents were asked to evaluate more than 60 elements of their workplace culture, including daily experiences of innovation, belief in company values and trust in executive leadership. "Throughout our firm's 120-year history, we've stood by our clients and communities in the good times and the bad, dedicated to providing world-class client service," says Ray Kowalik, chairman and CEO of Burns & McDonnell. "Today, our firm's promise to stand with our clients and communities, to continue delivering innovative, sustainable projects and to provide the help and support needed to keep moving forward is stronger than ever." Burns & McDonnell recently announced its commitment to providing additional resources and services to communities, clients and employee-owners nationwide to help address the significant challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. With more than 7,600 professionals around the world, the firm has heightened safety measures, deployed the latest technology and enhanced communication to keep employee-owners safe, connected and supported. "COVID-19 creates very unpredictable and rapidly changing markets for Consulting & Professional Services companies," said Michael Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work. "Companies on this list stand out for the high level of trust they have built with their entire workforce. High-trust, 'For All' cultures enable these organizations today to quickly adjust to remote work arrangements and to successfully navigate through uncertain times." In addition to being one of only 25 companies recognized on the 2020 Best Workplaces in Consulting & Professional Services list, Burns & McDonnell was also named one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For by Fortune for the 10th year. The firm consistently earns best place to work accolades from more than 30 local publications and organizations across the country. Best Workplaces in Consulting and Professional Services is one of a series of rankings by Great Place to Work based on employee feedback from Great Place to Work-Certified organizations. For photos and support materials, please visit our MEDIA KIT. About Burns & McDonnell Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of 7,600 engineers, construction professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities with more than 55 offices, globally. Founded in 1898, Burns & McDonnell is a 100% employee-owned company and proud to be on Fortune's 2020 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For. Learn how we are on call through it all. About the Best Workplaces in Consulting & Professional Services Great Place to Work based its ranking on a data-driven methodology applied to anonymous Trust Index survey responses representing more than 357,000 employees working at Great Place to Work-Certified organizations in the consulting or professional services industry in the Unites States. This ranking was finalized prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and does not reflect companies' roles or responses to their people or communities in addressing the impact of the coronavirus. To learn more about Great Place to Work Certification and recognition on Best Workplaces lists, visit Greatplacetowork.com. About Great Place to Work Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture. They help organizations quantify their culture and produce better business results by creating a high-trust work experience for all employees. Emprising, their culture management platform, empowers leaders with the surveys, real-time reporting, and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. They recognize Great Place to Work-Certified companies and the Best Workplaces in the US and more than 60 countries, including the 100 Best Companies to Work For list published annually in Fortune. Contact: Kristi Widmar, Burns & McDonnell 816-448-7379 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/burns--mcdonnell-recognized-as-a-best-workplace-in-consulting-and-professional-services-by-great-place-to-work-301046246.html SOURCE Burns & McDonnell [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] As governments dedicate more than $8 trillion to fight the coronavirus pandemic, a further widening in the gap between rich and poor countries threatens to exacerbate the global economys pain. Wealthy nations have delved deep to cushion the blow. For instance, Germany and Italy have each allocated more than 30% of gross domestic product to direct spending, bank guarantees, and loan and equity injections, for a combined $1.84 trillion in aid, figures from the International Monetary Fund show. Yet the countries IMF analysts say theyre most concerned about have only been able to trickle out support: Many African and Latin American economies have failed to reach even a few billion dollars in fiscal aid, according to IMF data and reporting from more than 60 countries collated by Bloomberg News. Click here for the complete coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic Governments worldwide are unleashing fiscal support measures, but not all fiscal packages are the same, said Chua Hak Bin, a senior economist at Maybank Kim Eng Research Pte. in Singapore. While fiscal bazookas are the norm in the more advanced economies, emerging-market governments dont have that kind of ammunition and fiscal space. Their fiscal packages are more water pistols than bazookas. IMF Chief Economist Gita Gopinath has repeatedly voiced concern that developing nations have less policy space and less sophisticated infrastructure to manage the virus outbreaks taking hold in their countries. Much of the global fiscal tally of more than $8 trillion consists of bank guarantees in developed nations -- France and Spain have allocated more than $300 billion and $100 billion respectively for this kind of support, for example. Total virus-relief spending in the U.S. stands in excess of $2.3 trillion. Click here for the latest updates from the coronavirus outbreak South Africa, the continents only member of the Group of 20, has managed to boost its support to about $26 billion, yet many of its neighbors are far more strapped. Tracking fiscal support across the world isnt a straightforward exercise, making global comparisons difficult. Some countries like Russia havent yet published official figures for aid, while others like Mexico provide too few details to estimate a support package. For Bloombergs collection of data, no central bank funding was considered. Fiscal support generally fell into three categories: direct aid for medical response to the virus; consumer support, including cash handouts; and funds for businesses, including tax breaks, loan support, bank guarantees, and wage subsidies. In many cases, governments have reallocated spending that was already budgeted, while also adding new measures. Heres a look at some highlights across regions: Asia-Pacific Chinas stimulus in the crisis thus far has been remarkably restrained, with fiscal measures amounting to about 3 trillion yuan ($424 billion), or 3% of gross domestic product, Chang Shu at Bloomberg Economics calculates. That includes faster unemployment insurance payments, lower value-added tax rates for small firms, and infrastructure investment. In the rest of Asia, governments are showing a willingness to prioritize near-term stimulus over the usual long-term deficit concerns. Japans fiscal support stands at more than 20% of GDP, while Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia have each rolled out spending amounting to 10% or more of GDP. Indonesia has already adjusted its deficit-spending cap. In Thailand, where the tourism sector makes up about one-fifth of the economy in normal times, officials have rolled out several aid packages that mix support from the central bank and fiscal authorities. Americas The U.S. has enacted three different pieces of legislation that together pledge more than $2 trillion in support for virus relief, with lawmakers close to finalizing an almost half-trillion-dollar deal on more aid. American taxpayers are seeing cash handouts reach their bank accounts, while small businesses have appealed for a top-up to a $349 billion payroll-support program that ran out of funds in less than two weeks. President Donald Trump announced last week that the government will draw on a chunk of the approved funding to offer $16 billion in direct payments to beleaguered farmers and put $3 billion toward government purchases of meat, dairy products and other foods. In Latin America the response has been spotty. Argentine officials are more focused on negotiating longer-term debt relief, and Brazils government is in disagreement about the threat of the virus. In Mexico, even allies of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador say hes been too restrained in offering fiscal aid. Europe Germany has pledged more than $1 trillion in support, about half of that in the form of bank guarantees. U.K. authorities have garnered some praise for their measures, which total more than a half-trillion dollars and include aid targeted at furloughed employees and special groups of vulnerable people such as the self-employed. Russias government hasnt offered a specific amount for its overall fiscal support, but analysts at ING Bank calculate that tax breaks, state guarantees, and other spending total about 3 trillion rubles ($38.6 billion). Middle East & Africa As the number of confirmed cases starts to rise in the Southern Hemisphere, the conversation around governments need and ability to help remains much different. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed warned in an April 12 Bloomberg op-ed that Africas economies need emergency debt relief, for starters -- with the risk that the plight of the continents 1.3 billion people could reverberate around the world. In the Middle East, economies are grappling with chaos in oil markets in addition to coronavirus. The United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain were among countries pledging early packages of assistance. Saudi Arabia has pledged about 79 billion riyal ($21 billion) in fiscal aid, according to estimates from Ziad Daoud at Bloomberg Economics. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at a press briefing at the State Department in Washington By Humeyra Pamuk and Arshad Mohammed WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday it was up to Israel whether to annex parts of the West Bank and said that Washington would offer its views privately to Israel's new government, drawing a warning from Palestinians who vowed not to "stand handcuffed" if Israel formally took their land. "As for the annexation of the West Bank, the Israelis will ultimately make those decisions," Pompeo told reporters. "Thats an Israeli decision. And we will work closely with them to share with them our views of this in (a) private setting." Pompeo also said he was "happy" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and centrist rival Benny Gantz signed a deal on Monday to form a national emergency government, saying he did not think a fourth Israeli election was in Israel's interest. The coalition agreement says that while the new government will strive for peace and regional stability, plans to extend Israeli sovereignty to Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank - land the Palestinians seek for a state - could advance. The move would mean a de-facto annexation of territory that Israel seized in a 1967 war and that is presently under Israeli military control. It would have to be greenlighted by the United States, after which Netanyahu would be permitted to advance the plans from July 1, the agreement says. Pompeo's comment drew condemnation from Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who said his administration would view agreements with Israel and the United States as "completely canceled" if Israel annexes land in the West Bank. "We have informed the relevant international parties, including the American and the Israeli governments, that we will not stand hand-cuffed if Israel announces the annexation of any part of our land," Abbas said on Palestine TV. According to Abbas office, the televised remarks were recorded shortly before Pompeo made his statement. However, in the wake of that statement, Abbas reviewed his own recorded remarks and approved them for broadcast, Abbas office said. Story continues The Palestinians and many countries regard settlements as illegal under the Geneva Conventions that bar settling on land captured in war. Israel disputes this, citing security needs and biblical, historical and political connections to the land. A U.S. President Donald Trump's peace proposal unveiled in January was embraced by Israel and rejected by the Palestinians, partly because it awards Israel most of what it has sought during decades of conflict, including nearly all the occupied land on which it has built settlements. (Reporting By Humeyra Pamuk, David Brunnstrom and Arshad Mohammed; Additional reporting by Ali Sawafta in Ramallah and by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Chris Reese and Alistair Bell) PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-23 18:02:03 Rights free Access All Including Archive FATIH, Istanbul, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) has released an English-language song titled Childrens Dream to mark April 23 Childrens Day, a nationally celebrated childrens festival in Turkey. The day also marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Grand National Assembly, the countrys parliament. The song was shared by Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on his English-language social media accounts, and was described as a gift from Istanbul to all the children of the world. Composed by Ali Altay, the song is performed by the Besiktas District Municipality Childrens Choir. MEDIA CONTACT: aylin.yardimci@ibb.gov.tr A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f3bf01c7-3603-482f-90b7-3de4530e141a [April 22, 2020] City of Middletown, NY Launches Live & Interactive Digital Town Hall Technology Developed By CherryRoad Technologies Inc. MORRIS PLAINS, N.J., April 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CherryRoad Technologies Inc., a leading integrator of public sector software and digital technology solutions, has today announced, that the City of Middletown, NY, is the first in the United States to utilize a unique, digital communications enablement solution - CherryRoad's Digital Town Hall. CherryRoad's Digital Town Hall provides real-time interaction at government town halls, keeping citizens informed, involved, and safe. Today, many local governments face challenges related to restrictions with in-person meetings. More than ever before, citizens desire communication from their leaders related to key local decisions and an opportunity to participate in their local government in real-time. Stakeholders equally desire a means to provide important information and virtually interact with constituents. With Digital Town Hall, developed in partnership with LogMeIn, the City of Middletown, NY, has a central place to share event content and collaborate on important topics. It further enables the City to hold virtual, interactive meetings, giving citizens the ability to: Communicate and become involved remotely, in real-time. Become involved in the community, virtually with live questions and answers. Access information that is pertinent to the business of local government, centralized and stored in a private clou environment for easy, secure access. Joseph M. DeStafano , City of Middletown, NY . "As a tech-forward City, we're proud to utilize a digital tool which enhances our resident's ability to be wholly involved. Whether it be to indicate budgetary priorities, share ideas, or to hear what fellow citizens want to share with their government, Digital Town Hall provides us a secure, easy-to-use, and digital forum to transact City business." CherryRoad is currently offering its Digital Town Hall technology to all public sector and education agencies for 90 days free of charge. Contact [email protected] About CherryRoad Technologies Inc. At CherryRoad, our clients entrust us with the success of their IT solutions, whether we're delivering on-premise ERP, cloud-based application management, business intelligence, process optimization, strategic staffing, or change management consulting. Throughout our 30-year history, we've successfully partnered with hundreds of public sector and commercial clients to modernize, optimize, and manage their back-office functions. Headquartered in Morris Plains, NJ with offices across the U.S., we've earned a solid reputation for combining technology, organizational, functional, and vertical market expertise into practical solutions that deliver results on-time and on-budget. For more information, visit www.cherryroad.com About Middletown, NY: Middletown, NY, a city in Orange County, New York, United States, lies in New York's Hudson Valley region, near the Wallkill River and the foothills of the Shawangunk Mountains. Middletown is situated between Port Jervis and Newburgh, New York. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 28,086, reflecting an increase of 2,698 from the 25,388 counted in the 2000 Census. The zip code is 10940. Middletown falls within the PoughkeepsieNewburghMiddletown Metropolitan Statistical Area, which belongs to the larger New YorkNewarkBridgeport, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area. About LogMeIn, Inc. LogMeIn, Inc. simplifies how people connect with each other and the world around them to drive meaningful interactions, deepen relationships, and create better outcomes for individuals and businesses. One of the world's top 10 public SaaS companies, and a market leader in unified communications and collaboration, identity and access management, and customer engagement and support solutions, LogMeIn has millions of customers spanning virtually every country across the globe. LogMeIn is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts with additional locations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/city-of-middletown-ny-launches-live--interactive-digital-town-hall-technology-developed-by-cherryroad-technologies-inc-301045617.html SOURCE CherryRoad Technologies Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] 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! Editor's note: updating earlier story with more details from report, comments from economist. (Kitco News) - Another 4.43 million Americans filed for first-time U.S. jobless claims in the week to Saturday, the Labor Department said Thursday. After the report, spot gold held onto overnight gains, last trading up $12 to $1,726.10 an ounce. The claims figure was within consensus expectations compiled by news organizations, which called for initial jobless claims to be around 4 million to 4.5 million. The previous weeks 5.25 million claims were revised to 5.24 million. This was the fifth straight week that new claims topped 3 million after the previous all-time high had been 695,000 back in October 1982, according to Labor Department figures. Traders have been closely monitoring jobless claims to gauge just how weak the April U.S. employment report will be, since most of the layoffs came after the cutoff date for the March report released at the start of the month. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs or been furloughed due to the lockdowns and social-distancing measures across the country to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, with many businesses temporarily closing their doors. This was the sixth straight week the Labor Department issued a statement attributing a rise to layoffs as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. The increase was especially pronounced the last five weeks, with a total 26.45 million claims filed during this time period. With these data covering the payroll survey week [for the April employment report], we now know that there has been a cumulative 26 million initial jobless claims made since March's survey period, accounting for 17% of the previously employed population, said Andrew Grantham of CIBC economics. While the decline in payrolls employment and rise in unemployment rate won't be as severe as that, with continuing claims once again not rising quite as much as expected and as such suggesting some of the claims have been short term in nature, we've clearly still seen a dramatic and historic weakening of the economy since mid-March. He said the April unemployment rate likely will rise by less than the cumulative jobless-claims figures would suggest, perhaps reaching 12% to 13%. The jobless rate will understate the weaker employment picture since some people will exit the labor market, resulting in a big fall in participation. Secondly, the BLS [Bureau of Labor Statistics] advised previously that persons employed but absent from work due to a coronavirus-related business closure should be classed as unemployed on temporary layoff, Grantham said. However, they also stated at the time of the March data release that it is apparent that not all such workers were so classified and that the rise in people absent from work due to other reasons was worth about 1% of the employed population that month. Meanwhile, the four-week moving average for new claims normally viewed as a more reliable measure of the labor market since it smooths out week-to-week volatility rose by 280,000 to 5.79 million. Continuing jobless claims, which counts the number of people already receiving benefits and reported with a one-week delay, increased by 4 million to a seasonally adjusted 15.98 million during the week ending April 11, the government said. This was the highest level of seasonally adjusted insured unemployment recorded in the history of the data, the government said. One in six people is expected to become seriously sick from the new coronavirus, with breathing difficulty as one of the symptoms theyre likely to face. With Ghanas cases going over 1,000 with 9 deaths, issues of life-support equipment have become topical. One of them, respirators or ventilators have been the go-to equipment for Covid-19 intensive care patients. Sadly, the country does not have that luxury because the equipment is expensive. But there is hope, as engineering students at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have developed a low cost automated respirator. In 2010, researchers led by President of the Institute for Security, Disaster and Emergency Studies, Dr. Ishmael Norman, sought to find the all-risk emergency preparedness at Ghanas hospitals. The study which covered all the 10 regions of Ghana found that only 45.5 per cent of hospitals had respirators or ventilators. Students at the KNUST have, for past two years, been working on how to write a good ending to this story captured in the Ghana Medical journal. As a college, we observed in the year 2017 that there is a serious lack of ventilators in the country. Quite apart from Komfe Anokye and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, most of the district hospitals lack ventilators. So we initiated a project with the University of Michigan to build a locally-made ventilator, provost of the college, Prof. Mark Adom-Asamoah, explains the objective of the project. Hospital-grade ventilator costs between130, 000 cedis and 300, 000 cedis. The team put together by Prof. Mark Adom-Asamoah has been thinking of less expensive ventilators. We felt if we could develop a ventilator which could have a basic function for human breathing, then it could go a long way to help our health delivery system. They came up with the first prototype and its been undergoing development for the past two years, he noted. When issues of Covid-19 came up, we felt its an opportunity to ramp up the project, he added. The prototype has an initial cost of 20,000 cedis, which the college believes will reduce significantly, if mass-produced. When youre building prototypes its not what we use to price the product on the market but rather all these problems were going through, by the time were done we would have produced a template to make production cheaper, said one of the project coordinators, Prof. Kwame Osei Boateng. Ashanti Regional Clinical Engineering Manager, Ghana Health Services, Eric Sackey Mensah though is impressed with what is likely to be the first automated ventilator to make its way into Ghanas intensive care wards, he notes, additional functionalities will be apt. For a life-support unit, we need to know the amount of oxygen in the patient, something we call tidal waves, we need to record temperature and stuff like ECG, he pointed out. Prof. Osei Boateng has, therefore, been taking notes. Some people may not be in so critical condition, so at the time theyll start regaining their composure and are able to breath, the machine will be able to sense and stop; also if their conditions get worse, the machine can start. In addition to this, were adding devices that can monitor signals from the body like the Electrocardiograph, hes optimistic. Prof. Adom-Asamoah says the ventilator which is 95 per cent complete will be fully functional in two months time, but will require financial support. 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 EDMONTONOne of numerous doctors giving up hospital work due to funding changes says even if Alberta delivers extra support for rural physicians, it doesnt solve the underlying problem. Dr. Samantha Myhr, who works in Pincher Creek, says the fundamental issue is that the government cancelled a master agreement with doctors earlier this year and imposed billing changes that physicians say threaten the viability of their practices, especially those outside big cities. The government has since rolled back some of the changes. But Myhr suggests any help it may decide to give doctors can just as quickly be taken away, since the province passed a bill late last year giving it the power to do so. This government, or any government in the future, can just make changes with the stroke of a pen now, Myhr said Thursday in an interview. We really need some stability in our health-care system, and the only way that were going to get that is with an agreement. Health Minister Tyler Shandro is scheduled to announce further help for rural doctors at a news conference Friday. Myhr said such support may work for some doctors trying to keep their doors open, but added: I dont know if it does change anything for us. The Alberta Medical Association, which represents physicians, has filed a lawsuit against the government in which it demands fair and reasonable negotiations toward an agreement and the right to arbitration. Myhr is one of the doctors at The Associate Clinic, which is attached to the Pincher Creek Health Centre, to announce this week that they are withdrawing some or all hospital services, including delivering babies. Myhr said seven of nine doctors are withdrawing services while the other two are still deciding what to do. They have given 90 days notice to help get their patients through the COVID-19 pandemic They are among physicians from around the province, including Stettler, Lac La Biche and Sundre, who are giving notice they are pulling back on services due to, among other things, billing changes. Myhr said the issue includes the end of overhead payments to doctors who work in hospitals, where such payments are made by Alberta Health Services. The Alberta Medical Association has criticized that as an ineffective, cookie-cutter approach and has pointed out that doctors in AHS facilities have a range of counterbalancing financial agreements in place. Myhr said in her case the clinic is attached to the hospital and she moves back and forth between the two. She is now paid less for work she does in one part of the building compared with the other. She said another problem is reduced government funding for medical liability insurance, which makes delivering babies out of reach financially in a rural setting. The United Conservative government has responded to some concerns. Shandro rolled back changes to extra payments, called complex modifiers, for longer patient visits. He has also delayed a plan to end salary top-ups that were brought in when there were multiple health authorities. There are also new billing codes to compensate doctors for virtual and phone work during the pandemic. David Shepherd, health critic for the Opposition NDP, said Shandro needs to repeal legislation allowing the government to dictate agreements with doctors, roll back all recent billing changes, and negotiate a new deal with doctors through binding arbitration. Roger Reid, the UCP member for Livingstone-Macleod, which includes Pincher Creek, said in an email he is working with Shandro on the doctors concerns. I have shared the unique challenges we face in rural health-care delivery with the minister, and he has committed to responding in the near future, said Reid. Read more about: Armenia late Thursday turned off street lights nationwide as President Armen Sarkisian acknowledged the coronavirus lockdown altered the annual comemmoration of the victims of WWI-era genocide by Ottoman Turks. In the capital Yerevan, a torch-lit procession traditionally held on April 23 each year had been cancelled and access was closed to the genocide memorial that dominates the city skyline. The 105th anniversary of the tragedy is commemorated in accordance with a protocol forced on us by the (coronavirus) pandemic, President Sarkisian said in a statement. We remember our victims all the time and everywhere, no matter where in the world we are, Sarkisian said. Instead of the usual ceremonies, street lights were switched off and church bells chimed across the country. Under spring rain, Yerevan plunged into darkness as residents also switched off lights in their homes. Many lit candles or mobile telephone flashlights at windowsills. Last month, Armenia which has reported 1,401 coronavirus cases and 22 deaths declared a state of emergency and imposed a nationwide lockdown to slow the spread of the infection. Armenians say up to 1.5 million people were killed during World War I as the Ottoman Empire was falling apart, a claim supported by many other countries. Turkey fiercely rejects the genocide label, arguing that 300,000 to 500,000 Armenians and at least as many Turks died in civil strife when Armenians rose up against their Ottoman rulers and sided with invading Russian troops. Yerevan has long demanded from Ankara the financial compensation and restoration of property rights for the descendants of those killed in the 1915-1918 massacres, which Armenians call Meds Yeghern the Great Crime. President Sarkisian said the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by Turkey and elimination of its consequences is a matter of security for Armenia, the Armenian nation, and the region. On Friday, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the head of the Armenian Church, Catholicos Garegin II, will lay flowers at a hilltop genocide memorial in Yerevan. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 06:31 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3a5584 1 National COVID-19,COVID-19-Jakarta,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,mudik-ban,mudik,Jokowi,coronavirus Free For many Indonesians, the Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) is an important tradition that they must prepare for months ahead of Ramadhan, with train and bus tickets in high demand. But the SAR-CoV-2 outbreak has forced many living in Jakarta a city thousands have migrated to from around the country in search of work to cancel their plans to celebrate Idul Fitri in their hometowns, even if they already have their ticket in their hands. One of them is Anggit Rizki, a 25-year-old worker living in West Jakarta, who in previous years had always returned to his hometown of Malang, East Java, to celebrate Idul Fitri with his family. I have never celebrated Idul Fitri in Jakarta because I dont know what to do here, he told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday. Anggit initially still intended to go on mudik, even though he was aware of the central government's advice against it. He had even prepared masks and hand sanitizer for his trip and planned to follow the quarantine protocol in Malang once he arrived. However, he changed his mind after President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo announced a ban on the Idul Fitri mudik on Tuesday and decided to request a refund for the train ticket he bought in February, even though it would mean spending the holiday alone. Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, I decided not to go on mudik this year, he said. Naila Fauzia Mastutie, a 31-year-old civil servant living in East Jakarta, also decided to cancel her ticket to her hometown in Tulungagung regency, East Java, which she bought at the beginning of the year. I realized that its not good enough to protect myself, I need to protect my family and other residents in my hometown too, she told the Post on Tuesday. Read also: Coronavirus outbreak may end in June with 'mudik' ban: IDI Millions of people return to their hometowns every year often traveling from urban centers to the countryside to celebrate Idul Fitri, with about 20 million leaving Greater Jakarta alone every year during the Islamic holiday. With Jakarta the countrys epicenter of the virus outbreak, the huge number of expected travelers has raised concerns about mass contagion, with public health experts warning that mudik could cause the respiratory illness to spread rapidly across Java. The severity of the threat finally convinced Jokowi to ban the Idul Fitri mudik altogether, weeks after his administration had maintained its previous policy of merely advising the public against it. Jokowi announced the ban after reading a Transportation Ministry survey that found that 24 percent of the country's 270 million people still planned to travel to their hometowns and that 7 percent had already left. For civil servants and their families, meanwhile, mudik was prohibited far earlier, with Administrative and Bureaucratic Reform Minister Tjahjo Kumolo saying that they could not travel to their hometowns from April 6 until the country is free of COVID-19. As of Wednesday, Indonesia had recorded 7,418 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 635 deaths. Jakarta alone had reported 3,383 cases and 301 deaths, nearly half the countrys cases. Read also: COVID-19: Jakarta extends PSBB through Ramadan Acknowledging the danger the virus posed, Audy, a 47-year-old private employee living in North Jakarta, decided to cancel his Idul Fitri plans and expressed hope many others would do the same. I hope other citizens also comply [with the government's ban], he told the Post on Wednesday. Coordinating Maritime and Investment Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, who is also the acting transportation minister, said the ban would begin on Friday with travel restrictions to be imposed in COVID-19 red zones that could be sanctioned starting May 7. Road use, however, will not be completely blocked, as public transportation services across Greater Jakarta will continue to operate to service those who still need to commute to work, including health workers and hospital staff. Transportation Ministry spokesperson Adita Irawati said on Wednesday that the ministry was preparing a regulation on the mudik ban that would include the sanctions that would be imposed. Transportation of aid and other emergency services will be exempted from the regulation, she said. Adita said the ministry would limit access to regional entry points instead of blocking roads. State-owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) has announced that it will give full refunds to passengers who decide to cancel their trips. Those who have booked tickets with national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, meanwhile, are able to reschedule their flights or receive a refund with vouchers. "We want OnPoint to become the No.1 E-commerce enabler in Southeast Asia," said OnPoint CEO Tran Vu Quang Leading this Series A consortium round is Kiwoom Investment and DAIWA-SSIAM Vietnam Growth Fund II LP. This marks one of the largest Series A rounds in Vietnam in recent months amidst the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic. The new funding, which brings the total funds raised by OnPoint to date to an 8-digit number, will enable the company to invest in strategic technology developments, recruit new talents, and develop data-driven capabilities to provide better services to its clients. Founded in December 2017, OnPoint is the market leader in the Vietnam market for e-commerce enablers. The company provides one-stop solutions that enable consumer brands in turbo-charging their online sales and online presences on e-commerce platforms, social channels or via brand-owned websites. The company accomplishes this via two distinctive but intertwining business offerings: Distribution Services OnPoint directly manages brands A-to-Z online store functions (including product listing, pricing, customer services, order fulfilment, etc.) E-commerce Solution Services OnPoint helps brands formulate, manage, execute, and measure strategic online marketing campaigns and commercial management capabilities. We realised that the e-commerce landscape in Vietnam is evolving extremely fast, and almost on a daily basis. As such, our mission is to empower consumer brands in not just navigating, but also growing and thriving in this ever-changing ecosystem. We see ourselves not just as an extending-arm in online demand creation and demand fulfilment, but also as a strategic partner for brands who helps facilitate their multitude of interactions with online netizens, said OnPoint co-founder and CEO Tran Vu Quang. We want OnPoint to become the No.1 e-commerce enabler in Southeast Asia, providing cutting-edge solutions that help brands capture growth opportunities at the right time and in a sustainable way, Quang added. OnPoint is the market leader in the Vietnamese market for e-commerce enablers The team behind OnPoints success is a group of highly-calibre founders and managers, with a unique combination of top-class experience in retail, e-commerce, brands, and management consulting. Two of the founders Tran Vu Quang and Le Xuan Long, are both former C-level executives at Lazada Vietnam and ex-McKinsey consultants. Joining with them at the board of OnPoint are industry veterans with decades of top-management experience at global FMCG firms. The executive management team of OnPoint comprise of talents who previously held key positions at top e-commerce firms like Lazada, Shopee, Tiki, and Lotte. E-commerce is the new reality of Vietnams retailing industry and is expected to maintain its exponential growth in the near future. By deploying deep e-commerce expertise, and leveraging high-tech solutions, OnPoint is in the best position to help consumer brands re-orient their online strategy and reach a new height in their e-commerce journeys, commented Chris (Seoktae) Kim, senior investment manager from Kiwoom Investment. The deal was advised by KPMG Vietnam's M&A team, led by Dinh The Anh and Nguyen Huu Toan, who served as the sell-side advisor. Allen & Gledhill and Allens served as legal advisors. Nguyen Huu Toan, KPMG associate director, noted: OnPoint is an extremely promising company managed by an exceptional leadership team. Our team has been truly blessed to be part of the companys exciting journey. The success of this Series A round demonstrates the trust that clients place in KPMG to deliver our top-level services even in a tumultuous market. The recent COVID-19 pandemic has caused severe impacts to many offline retailing businesses as a consequence of the government restriction measures such as social distancing and hence a huge shift in consumer behaviours. More and more brands are looking at online channels to serve new consumer needs, and OnPoint is at the forefront to help these brands to pivot to online solutions. In 2019, OnPoint served more than 50 brands. The company is on track to expand its client portfolio to 100+ brands while accelerating revenue growth in 2020. The successful fundraising round will help OnPoint solidify its market-leading position and invest in technology to expand e-commerce demand creation and demand fulfilment solutions to better serve its clients. For the leaders of OnPoint, their ambition is to be No.1 in the Southeast Asia market, and staying No.1 in Vietnam is what they will definitely do to reach the goal. Vietnam is one of the two pacesetters in Southeast Asia the other being Indonesia in terms of its internet economy, which is growing in excess of 40 per cent a year, according to the e-Conomy SEA 2019 report by Google, Temasek Holdings, and Bain. The successful fundraising will help OnPoint solidify its market-leading position and invest in technology TORONTO - Canada's COVID-19 death toll passed the 2,000 mark on Thursday as scientists across the country scrambled to find a treatment or vaccine for coronavirus disease and Saskatchewan became the first province to announce detailed plans for easing up on the economically devastating restrictions imposed to fight the pandemic. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Specimens to be tested for COVID-19 are seen at LifeLabs after being logged upon receipt at the company's lab, in Surrey, B.C., on Thursday, March 26, 2020. The federal government is expected to announce today new measures aimed at mobilizing the country's scientists and researchers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck TORONTO - Canada's COVID-19 death toll passed the 2,000 mark on Thursday as scientists across the country scrambled to find a treatment or vaccine for coronavirus disease and Saskatchewan became the first province to announce detailed plans for easing up on the economically devastating restrictions imposed to fight the pandemic. The grim milestone came as Ontario announced that 54 more people had died from the disease a slightly bigger increase than on Wednesday. Quebec reported 109 new deaths. At least half the country's fatalities have been in nursing homes. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Canadians have been failing our parents and grandparents in long-term care homes. To help them, the government planned to send the military to nursing homes in Ontario and Quebec, but Trudeau said it should never have come to this. "We shouldn't have soldiers taking care of seniors," he said. "We will all have to ask tough questions about how it came to this." The prime minister's comments came as Nova Scotia reported three more deaths at a Halifax-area long-term care home and another at a care home in Sydney, N.S. An emotional Ontario Premier Doug Ford, whose mother-in-law has tested positive at a seniors home in Toronto, said, "The system needs to be changed and we're changing the system." The economic fallout from the pandemic has prompted anxiety over when anti-COVID restrictions might ease. Canadian governments would be watching closely but make their own decisions as American jurisdictions moved toward easing their isolation measures, Trudeau said. Georgia, for example, planned to start opening its doors on Friday, a timeline that even U.S. President Donald Trump has questioned. The U.S. is approaching 50,000 confirmed coronavirus deaths with a known caseload exceeding 850,000. Canada has reported about 41,700 cases and more than 2,100 deaths. With a wary eye on getting normal life on track, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe on Thursday offered a detailed five-phase plan to reopen parts of the province's economy: Starting May 4, dentist offices, optometry clinics and physical therapy providers can open, while some retail stores might be allowed to operate as of May 19. P.E.I. has said some outdoor activities and elective surgeries could restart in early May. To help combat the coronavirus scourge, the federal government announced further measures aimed at mobilizing scientists and researchers. Trudeau said Ottawa would roll out $1.1 billion for a national medical and research strategy, with $662 million earmarked for clinical trials to test vaccines and treatments as they are developed. A vaccine is the long-term solution, the PM said, but until then, Canadians need to slow the spread so the economy can get going again. Another $350 million would be used to expand national testing and modelling in the interim. Public health experts say mass testing is critical to detect those who have the virus but no symptoms. The concern is that asymptomatic carriers can unwittingly infect others, triggering a second surge in cases. The country's top public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, has said 60,000 daily tests are needed, triple the current number. 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. Tam also said it was important to detect people with immunity to the COVID virus. Having immunity would likely mean no longer being subject to the anti-pandemic measures that have devastated the economy and prompted unprecedented federal bailouts. More demands on the treasury came from the country's municipalities. The Federation of Canadian Municipalities asked Ottawa to give local governments as much as $15 billion over the next six months to stave off financial ruin. As examples, the organization said transit ridership was down because people were being told to stay home. Municipal councils have also been considering, or have approved, delays in collecting property taxes to give residents a financial break. With files from Canadian Press reporters across the country This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 23, 2020 Dutch Supreme Court approves euthanasia for dementia patients, following dispute Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Dutch Supreme Court has approved the use of euthanasia for people with advanced dementia, in a ruling that also allows doctors to carry out the practice without fear of prosecution. "A physician may carry out a written request beforehand for euthanasia in people with advanced dementia, said the Supreme Court, which is based in The Hague. As long as the request was made in writing earlier, doctors will be allowed to carry out euthanasia even if the patient can't confirm it later due to their illness. The decision comes on the heels of a controversial case where a doctor was cleared of wrongdoing after he euthanized a 74-year-old woman suffering from Alzheimer's and had requested to be euthanized before her condition worsened. The case was particularly contentious given how the doctor had put a sedative in the woman's coffee and then when he attempted to euthanize her had to have her family help restrain her when her body reacted to the drugs and began resisting death. The doctor was accused of not following proper protocols as it pertains to consulting the woman about her wish to die. Prosecutors argued that she may have changed her mind about wanting to die. Although the doctor who administered the euthanasia drugs was acquitted, the case was referred to the high court to clarify the law and was seen as an important test case of the Dutch laws and regulations surrounding the subject. The ruling also stipulates that people with dementia who are requesting to die by euthanasia have to have "unbearable and endless suffering" and two doctors must have agreed to perform the procedure. Critics of euthanasia have long stressed that once the practice is allowed under certain, tightly-controlled circumstances, the restrictions inevitably loosen with time and result in horrific abuses. Writing in the National Review, Wesley J. Smith, an author and a senior fellow at the Discovery Institutes Center on Human Exceptionalism, noted that the mentally ill woman at the center of the legal dispute had stated in her instructions that she wanted to determine "when" she was to die, which she never did. "The termination 'choice' was made by the doctor and/or family in violation of the patients advance directive," he quipped. "But why would the Dutch Supreme Court let inconvenient facts get in the way of furthering the Netherlands ever-expanding national killing policy that already permits infanticide, joint geriatric euthanasia of married couples, termination of the mentally ill, conjoining euthanasia with organ harvesting, and the lethal injections of people with disabilities?" Along with neighboring Belgium, the northwestern European nation has one of the most permissive euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide legal regimes in the world. It has been legal since 2002. Premier Doug Fords mother-in-law has COVID-19, shining a personal light on the dire situation in long-term care where deaths now account for 70 per cent of Ontarios fatalities from the ruthless virus. Ford choked up Thursday when asked about the rapid spread of the illness as the federal government granted requests from Ontario and Quebec to send military medical teams into hard-hit nursing homes. I relate to it in our own family, Ford said of his wife Karlas 95-year-old mother, Julie, who is in West Park Healthcare Centre with Alzheimers disease. You see a loved one with their elderly parent and they put their hand up against the window, thats heartbreaking, he added, fighting tears. Karla Ford and her sister have been singing to their ailing mother, who tested positive last week, from outside the window of her room. Like the families of 77,000 other residents of 626 nursing homes in the province, they are desperate to keep in touch when visits are off-limits during the pandemic that has seen outbreaks in at least 135 long-term care facilities. Ford said he was relieved Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreed to send teams from the Canadian Armed Forces to help in five hard-hit but as yet unidentified nursing homes. Trudeau noted this is not a long-term solution and more steps will have to be taken across the country to improve care in nursing homes. The premier agreed. At the end of the day the buck stops with me. Well make sure we get it fixed, said Ford. The 516 nursing home deaths are 70 per cent of the 713 total deaths officially reported by the province as of 4 p.m. Wednesday in the public health database. A more timely compilation by the Star as of 5 p.m. Thursday shows an increase of 39 deaths in the previous 24 hours to a total of 799, along with another 586 confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19, pushing the tally to 14,304 since the outbreak began in January. The numbers were compiled using data from Ontarios 34 regional public health units. A total of 2,189 nursing home residents and 1,058 workers have tested positive for the new coronavirus. They account for two-thirds of the 1,626 health-care workers who have come down with COVID-19. A personal support worker from a Scarborough nursing home died last week. The Ministry of Health is reporting 887 people were in hospital for COVID-19 with 233 in intensive care and 185 of them on ventilators. Just under 6,700 Ontarians have recovered from the new coronavirus since the first confirmed case arrived from China in January. Across Canada, there have been 1,974 deaths and 41,190 cases. With files from Tonda MacCharles Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie Read more about: Sen. Elizabeth Warren said Thursday that the eldest of her three brothers, Donald Reed Herring, had died of covid-19 in Oklahoma. "He was charming and funny, a natural leader," Warren, D-Mass., said in a statement. "What made him extra special was his smile. He had a quick, crooked smile that seemed to generate its own light - and to light up everyone around him." The death means that Warren is one of several top political figures whose orbits have been afflicted by the pandemic. The husband of Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., was hospitalized for treatment of covid-19, the disease the novel coronavirus causes, and has recovered. Former vice president Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, lost a longtime friend and adviser to the disease. President Donald Trump's friend and donor Stanley Chera died of covid-19 earlier this month. Herring, who was 86, tested positive for the disease in early April, according to a Warren aide, and he died Tuesday evening in Norman, Oklahoma. It is not clear how he contracted covid-19, but he had been in a rehabilitation center in early April where several others had active cases, the aide said. "I'm grateful to the nurses and other front-line staff who took care of my brother, but it is hard to know that there was no family to hold his hand or to say 'I love you' one more time," Warren said. "And now there's no funeral for those of us who loved him to hold each other close. I will miss my brother." The senator shared several photos of him on social media Thursday morning, including a black-and-white shot of Herring wearing aviator glasses and a helmet while sitting in the cockpit of a plane. Warren has released several plans on dealing with the pandemic, including a proposal Thursday with Rep. Andy Levin, D-Mich., outlining a public health procedure called contact tracing. Warren, who ended her presidential campaign last month, frequently told anecdotes at her rallies about growing up in Oklahoma with three older brothers. She was particularly proud of Herring's military service, noting in many speeches that he spent more than five years in combat in Vietnam. "We were very lucky to get him back," Warren told audiences. Herring joined the Air Force at age 19 and spent his career in the military, she said. Warren, a liberal Democrat, also liked to point out the ideological diversity of her siblings. "I told you about my three brothers, Don Reed, John and David," she said last year at a campaign stop in Keene, New Hampshire. "One of them is a Democrat. Think about what that means. I've got Thanksgivings just like you all." She often went on to say that despite their differing political philosophies, the four siblings were in agreement in many areas. Herring retired from the military in 1973 with the rank of lieutenant colonel and started a small auto-detailing business, according to Warren's office. He is survived by his wife, Judith, his two sons, John and Jeffrey, and his three siblings. Farmworkers in California, mostly immigrants from Latin America, received a heartwarming appreciation caravan through a parade of love for their sacrifice in sustaining the food supply in the country amid COVID-19, according to a recently published article. Farmworkers in California There are more than 400,000 Latino and Hispanic farmworkers who work hard night and day in California just to make sure that the food chain in the country is enough. Many of them are migrants who are explicitly coming from Latin America. While most of the Americans are in their homes to protect themselves from the infectious and deadly virus, many of the farmworkers are on the American fields planting and harvesting agricultural products. This is the ironic reality in the United States. In a previous article of Latin Post, it was reported that if not all but many of the farmworkers who work hard without complaining received low wages and are at high risk of being infected for COVID-19 due to lack of gloves and masks. Additionally, many of them do not also have insurance due to their immigration status. This means that once they get infected by the virus, they cannot easily access the government's healthcare services because they might be deported. California Governor Gives Monetary Relief to Undocumented Immigrants It is undeniable that many of the undocumented immigrants are playing an essential workforce in the state, and that includes undocumented farmworkers. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced recently that he plans to give monetary relief to the undocumented immigrants that worth $125 million. Other groups are raising funds to fill the gap of Newsom's monetary relief that can cover only around 150,000 undocumented immigrants. It is estimated that there are more than 2.2 million undocumented immigrants in the state. Earlier this week also, Trump announced that an amount of $19 billion relief fund for farmers is intended that will be divided into two programs. $3 billion will be used to buy the agricultural products that will be given to people who require food, and the remaining $16 billion will be paid directly to the farmers and ranchers. California's Appreciation Caravan to Farmworkers In this time of global health pandemic that negatively impacts the economy of all countries around the world, there is one sector that remained unrecognized despite their efforts to sustain the food supply of the country, and these are the farmworkers. Farmworkers are today's "Unsung Heroes" who deserved to be applauded because they risked their lives on the American field behind the health threat brought by COVID-19. No matter what is happening, even the increasing number of cases of COVID-19 in the country every day, they are always there, making sure that there is enough food to be served on the table. Most of the migrant and undocumented farmworkers are picking and harvesting fruits and vegetables while others are at home following the stay-at-home policy. Despite low wages they continue to work. A group of farmworkers from California received a tribute through a parade of love. People of all ages brought sweet messages to the farmworkers and thanked them for their efforts in sustaining the food chain in the country. This went viral on different social media sites and many of those who participated in the parade uploaded their photos showing their message of love and gratitude to the farmworkers. Moreover, the group called "Farmworker Appreciation Caravan" is also raising money to help farmworkers and their families in this time of the global pandemic. Many of them are under financial stress, just like many of the American families. Read related articles: Two thirds of Britons have said the UK should be given an extra bank holiday to celebrate medics and care staff who battle the coronavirus pandemic. As campaigns such as Clap for Carers, Captain Tom Moore's walking challenge and other fund raising appeals shine a light on how much the UK loves the NHS, many think health care workers deserve further recognition. So far in the UK it has been reported that over 100 NHS and care workers have died from the coronavirus, and the report suggests the public want more to be done to ensure the safety of key workers. A report by the Institute for Public Policy Research think tank revealed that Britons want a new bank holiday to celebrate both health and care workers. A YouGov poll found that almost two thirds of the population supported this proposal, compared to a quarter who opposed. A London Ambulance worker takes a patient with an unknown condition from an ambulance outside of the Royal London Hospital on April 20 The report also found that the UK supports more intervention from the UK government. The public wants more substantial support for workers putting their lives on the line to fight the coronavirus pandemic. 96 per cent of people polled agreed the government should introduce more support for healthcare workers' physical health. This is while 95 per cent of people supported more support for their mental health needs. Campaigns such as Clap for Carers has highlighted how much the UK values the NHS and care workers 88 per cent were in favour of more generous pay and leave entitlements for them. The report also proposes a five point plan for a 'Care Fit for Carers'. The guarantees echo that made in the First World War. During that time there was a 'homes fit for heroes', the new report demands that the government must deliver such a package for NHS and care workers. The five guarantees would be: safety, accommodation, mental health, pay and care. It warns that if action is not take, there will be a serious strain on key workers. Two NHS workers are seen outside Queens Hospital this week wheeling in a patient on a stretcher Laboratory technicians in Glasgow wearing full PPE conduct a "sample transfer" of live samples taken from people tested for the novel coronavirus Chris Thomas, IPPR Health Research Fellow and lead author of the report, said: 'Our care heroes are making significant sacrifices to pull our country through this crisis. But government must ensure people's lives, livelihoods and security are not lost unnecessarily. That means taking urgent action' 'Care Fit for Carers is about giving the heroes of the coronavirus pandemic the protection, support and security they need. No one should have to put their health at risk because PPE is lacking. No one should face a mental health crisis because no support was there. And no one should face financial destitution while delivering our crisis response.' (Sharecast News) - More than 100 nightclubs, pubs and bars are planning coordinated legal action against the insurer Hiscox over its non-payment of business interruption insurance claims. Hiscox sold policies before coronavirus hit the headlines, stating it would pay out when a business was forced to shut owing to a notifiable disease. Business owners have filed claims to Hiscox and other commercial insurers only to be told their business interruption policies do not cover the pandemic. - Guardian Cath Kidston has agreed to hand over three weeks of back pay owed to staff after outcry over the treatment of more than 900 workers left struggling for cash by being made redundant less than a week before pay day. Just over 900 people who were made redundant on Tuesday, with immediate effect, were told they would not be paid more than three weeks of salary due on Friday. An email to staff made clear they would also not receive any holiday pay, redundancy pay or compensatory notice settlement because of "the company's current financial position". - Guardian More than half of drinkers, diners and gym-goers are reluctant to return to normal life after the lockdown - fuelling fears of a lengthy economic downturn as scared consumers refuse to spend. Britons feel most uncomfortable about visiting pubs and bars when restrictions imposed to control the coronavirus are loosened, according to pollster YouGov. Some 63pc said they would be uncomfortable returning to bars while around six in 10 are reluctant to revisit cafes, restaurants and gyms, its survey revealed. - Telegraph A key backer of Virgin Atlantic has ruled out injecting fresh cash into the crisis-hit airline as it continues to beg ministers for a bailout. US carrier Delta - which owns 49pc of the British firm - said it is concentrating on its own problems after operations were hammered by the coronavirus pandemic. Boss Ed Bastian warned Delta is facing a "crisis in cash", adding it is barred from investing in foreign businesses under the terms of a rescue by the American authorities. - Telegraph A third of British households believe that they will need financial support from the state in the next three months as concerns grow about job security and the economy. Eighty-four per cent of people believe that the government should do all it can, whatever the cost, to prop up jobs and businesses through the pandemic, Kantar, a research consultancy, found. - The Times A nurse from New Zealand who cared for Boris Johnson as he battled coronavirus says he "absolutely needed" intensive care treatment after his symptoms worsened. Jenny McGee, 35, has spoken for the first time about treating the Prime Minister and said she was staggered to have been praised by Mr Johnson for her hard work in the ICU at St Thomas Hospital in London. In her first interview, she denied Mr Johnson received special treatment and said being in intensive care is a very scary thing". She told TVNZ: We take it very seriously who comes into intensive care, these patients who come into us. Its a very scary thing for them so we dont take it lightly and he absolutely needed to be there." Mr Johnson, 55, was admitted to hospital on April 5, ten days after confirming he had tested positive for Covid-19, and he was moved to intensive care two days later. Boris Johnson thanked Ms McGee publicly soon after he was discharged from hospital / Getty Images Ms McGee was on a five-week holiday back in New Zealand when the virus hit the UK. She said she felt "a real sense of duty" when she was called in and decided to return to London and help her colleagues fight the outbreak. Ms McGee stayed by Mr Johnsons bedside for two days, but she said she was not "phased" by the situation. 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 "We are constantly observing, we are constantly monitoring," she said. "Ive worked in intensive care for 10 years, Im a sister, Ive been in charge for five years. "Ive been in really stressful situations and I was not phased by this." Mr Johnson praised both her and fellow nurse Luis Pitarma but Ms McGee said she was surprised to be mentioned by the PM. "My first reaction was that it was a joke. I thought my friends were playing a joke on me," she said. "I wasn't expecting it... it was totally out of the blue and it was just shock. I couldn't believe that was what he said on TV." Ms McGee said Mr Johnson was interested to know about where she was from. "I told him I was from Invercargill and he was interested to know about Invercargill," she said. "There was a lot of media interest about him being in hospital and to be honest, that was probably the toughest thing of the lot." New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern also reached out to Ms McGee and praised her efforts. Ms McGee said: "She is a hero of mine, I think she is amazing. "She just said how proud she was of me and that the country was so proud. Its so heartwarming and something Ill never forget. All you need to know from the April 22 UK coronavirus briefing She said she reached out to Jacinda and she messaged back immediately. "A little bit of banter which was, again, surreal," she said. "Im so proudly New Zealand and we are a wonderful group of people who just get on with it when were up against it. "The messages are adorable there are kids telling me they want to be a nurse, there are families saying how proud they are and it means so much right now. People wont even know how much it means, but thank you." She added: "Im getting a lot of stick from my workmates. Im loving it." But, as the Covid-19 death toll passes 18,000 in the UK, Ms McGee said it has been heartbreaking to watch patients in intensive care struggling without their families at their bedside. Some people are dying without their loved ones around, she said. As much as we can be there to hold their hand, it should be their family and thats heartbreaking to watch. The other nurse praised by Mr Johnson has spoken of his pride after the Prime Minister thanked him for saving his life. Critical care nurse Luis Pitarma, 29, from west London but originally from Aveiro in Portugal, said he had also been thanked by Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, adding: Apparently Im a celebrity in Portugal now. Nurse Luis Pitarma poses for a photo with his father Luis, left, mother Edite and sister Sonia Pitarma, right, in London / AP Mr Pitarma, who has worked at St Thomas for nearly four years, said: I was changing into scrubs before my night shift when the matron called me over and told me the Prime Minister was about to come to ICU. "I had been chosen to look after him because they were confident I would cope with the situation well. I felt nervous at first he was the Prime Minister. The responsibility I was going to hold in my hands was quite overwhelming. "I didnt really know how to address him should I call him Boris, Mr Johnson or Prime Minister? My matron reassured me and said to be myself like I am with any other patient. I asked how he would like to be addressed and he said to call him Boris. That made me feel less nervous because he took away any formality. He just wanted to be looked after like anyone else. Mr Pitarma added: I was by his side for the three nights he was in ICU. We had some conversations, including about where I was from. "I told him how Id dreamed about working at St Thomas since my first day of training in Portugal in 2009, when I learned about Florence Nightingale and her connection to the hospital. Mr Pitarma said he was delighted when the Prime Minister thanked him in person before leaving intensive care. He said: He thanked me for saving his life. I felt extremely proud for someone like him to recognise the quality of the job Id done. I was very happy with his words, they were very kind. Adivi Sesh is eagerly waiting for the shoot of his upcoming pan Indian film Major to resume after the lockdown. He is playing the late Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan in the film. Adivi has done a lot of working out to achieve the physical look of an army officer. But what about body language and style? We have an Army consultant on the set, says the actor. He is watching the shooting live. If there is any correction to be done, he immediately points it out. Adivi elaborates further, We have also roped in couple of retired Army personnel as advisors and another retired person as trainer. We want to come up with our best for the Army scenes with the help of these people. The actor also revealed that there is another female lead in the film. I cant announce the name of the actress at present, but there is another actress apart from Shobhitha. The producers will announce her name soon, he said. Before competing on Big Brother 21 together, Holly Allen and Kathryn Dunn knew each other for several years as they were both heavily involved in the pageant industry and promo modeling. During the show, they were romantically involved with the same guy, who Allen still dates, but it didnt bother the ladies as they shook on a Final Two deal until her eviction. After the show, Allen and Dunn hung out several times before they had a serious argument that ended their friendship. Holly Allen, Kathryn Dunn and Jackson Michie | Monty Brinton Holly Allen and Kathryn Dunn on Big Brother 21 In 2019, 29-year-old Texas-based digital marketing executive Kathryn Dunn and 31-year-old wine safari guide Holly Allen both competed on Big Brother 21. The two previously knew each other before entering the BB house as they both were heavily involved in the pageant industry. While the two acknowledged knowing of each other, they maintained that they never had a friendship. Soon after moving into the BB house, Dunn became romantically involved with Tennessee server, Jackson Michie. However, he ended their fling to pursue Allen, one of his allies. #BB21 Jackson was recently talking w/Holly, saying that his thing w/Kat was B4 the feeds & it will never be seen. He said he only slept in the same bed, so there wasn't anything anyway. I think Holly knows the truth, but understood & went along for his sake. Here's a receipt pic.twitter.com/HuNXTqi1Su (@BB_Pissed) September 21, 2019 His decision didnt bother the marketing executive, and she went on to create an alliance with herself and the new showmance called Threemance. Additionally, the ladies made a secret Final Two deal with each other. Dunn apparently told Michie about the pre-existing relationship she had with the wine safari guide while they were together, and he informed his best friend in the house, Jack Matthews. However, his closest ally betrayed him and spilled the beans, alienating the showmance from the once tight-knit alliance. The revelation put a target on Dunns back, and the house voted to evict her only two weeks later. Holly Allen and Kathryn Dunn continued hanging out after Big Brother 21 After the series ended, Allen, Dunn, and several of the castmates partied in Las Vegas, and they visited Area 51. Additionally, the former pageant queen took her new friends on a private tour around the Malibu Wine Safari, where she worked before appearing on BB21. A couple of months after the show ended, Allen and Dunn hung out in Colorado together for a BossBabe event. In January 2020, Michie and Allen moved into a Playa Vista apartment, and Kat visited them alongside then-boyfriend Nick Maccarone. According to the Texas-native, she and Allen had a falling out during that trip, and havent spoken since. Holly Allen and Kathryn Dunn no longer on speaking terms In a US Weekly interview, the former pageant beauty revealed the two had more than just an argument that one can quickly get over. Instead, she implied that Allen said really hurtful things to her that Dunn believes the safari guide had been harboring. Therefore, it went from being an argument to friendships were severed. While Dunn has no ill will toward Allen, she doesnt think its healthy to continue a friendship with the former Miss Wyoming. Additionally, the marketing executive no longer routinely communicates with Michie because thatd be weird as hes currently dating her ex-friend. Allen and Michie have both unfollowed Dunn on Instagram and vice versa. Subscriber content preview SEATTLE An old dental clinic at 5803 15th Ave. N.W. has sold for a little over $3.8 million, according to King County records. The seller was 5803 Properties LLC, which acquired it in 2010 for $975,000. . . . On top of the individual penalties, BCSC ordered the FS Group to pay $32.8 million in disgorgement. All three Lim, Low, and Wiebe ran FS Financial Strategies and six other companies under the FS Group label, which mainly operated in the insurance business. According to a release from the BCSC, FS Strategies Services sold securities in the form of subscription agreements for units of 3i Capital; the company promised investors an annual return of 8%. Other FS Group companies convinced investors to purchase securities in the form of unsecured loan agreements, promising annual interest of 10% to 12%, payable monthly. FS Group sold $29 million of securities without filing a prospectus. BCSC also said that some companies in the FS Group sold $32 million of those securities without the proper registration required to trade in securities. The group admitted to raising more than $47 million from 389 investors from a period spanning 2012 to 2017 without disclosing that the FS Group was not profitable, was not earning enough to cover for expenses and to pay investors, and that it was covering the shortfall by raising more money from investors, BCSC said. BCSC determined that it is unlikely that the FS Group can repay investors what it still owed them. After the regulator issued a temporary order against FS Group in 2017, the Insurance Council of British Columbia suspended or terminated the licenses of Lim, Low, Wiebe, as well as each FS company that was licensed to sell insurance. The regulator, in 2018, determined that FS Group had committed investment fraud. Read more: BCSC alleges insurance group officers committed investment fraud The seriousness of the misconduct was magnified by the significant amount of money and large number of investors involved, and the duration of the misconduct, the BCSC panel said in a statement. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 10:27:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Xiong Maoling WASHINGTON, April 22 (Xinhua) -- As China is coming out of lockdown ahead of other parts of the world, it will see an economic rebound in the second quarter (Q2), which will buoy markets abroad, said a U.S. economist. "Output will recover significantly in the second quarter and for the rest of the year," Jeffrey Sachs, a renowned economics professor at Columbia University and a senior United Nations advisor, told Xinhua in a recent written interview. Amid the COVID-19 impact, China's gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter shrank 6.8 percent year on year, according to data released last week by China's National Bureau of Statistics. Noting that the figure is "not surprising," Sachs said China went into lockdown in the first quarter ahead of Europe and the United States, and therefore incurred the downturn first. "It is coming out of lockdown also ahead of Europe and the U.S., and will therefore have a partial rebound in Q2 while Europe and the U.S. experience an intensifying decline," he said. Now production is returning and daily life is moving to a "new normal," though certainly not back to the "old normal," he noted. Sachs said China's partial rebound will also buoy markets abroad for foodstuffs, commodities and some finished goods as long as supply chains continue to operate properly. The economist called on China to take actions to help ensure the smooth operation of global supply chains, and "to the extent possible," boost domestic demand through infrastructure investments and thereby also boost demand for goods globally. "China's economic recovery will ultimately depend on the success of a large part of the world overcoming the epidemic in a cohesive manner," he said. Sachs suggested China "work very closely with the Asian neighbors" to create a region in which "COVID-19 is strongly under control and trade is resumed." "This is an important time for ASEAN+3 to operate economically, since all of the countries of ASEAN+3 have a chance to suppress the epidemic and to keep the East Asian economy functioning," Sachs noted. "ASEAN+3" refers to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, plus China, Japan and South Korea. "East Asia is the manufacturing center of the world economy, and it can and should be revived first," he said. "That would be a huge boost for the whole world." Sachs said China should also meet with the European Union (EU) to discuss "macroeconomic and structural cooperation," urging the two sides to cooperate on containing the epidemic, and offering more support for Africa. Sachs, who serves as director of Center for Sustainable Development at the Columbia University, noted that the two sides should also focus on a partnership of the EU Green Deal and the Belt and Road Initiative. That could be a "framework" for sustainable economic recovery after the pandemic, he added. In the wake of the U.S. pullout of funding, China should also support the World Health Organization (WHO) "until the U.S. regains its senses" and starts again to fund the WHO, said the U.S. economist. "China and the U.S. should of course avoid recriminations and aim for cooperation," Sachs said. "This is the only safe and rational way out of the current crisis." Enditem Refugee advocates say fear of Rohingya refugees carrying the virus is not an excuse to refuse them asylum. Stateless Rohingya refugees who have fled Myanmar by boat face a dire, and in many cases fatal predicament at sea, and countries in the region should allow them to disembark on humanitarian grounds despite the coronavirus health crisis, the United Nations refugee agency has said. Indrika Ratwatte, director of the UNHCR Asia-Pacific region, said on Thursday the international body is increasingly concerned by reports of hundreds of Rohingya refugees on board fishing boats being refused entry to countries despite the dangerous conditions on the smugglers ships. We are increasingly concerned by reports of failure to disembark vessels in distress and of the grave immediate risk this poses to the men, women and children on board, Ratwatte said. Search and rescue, along with prompt disembarkation, are life-saving acts. In recent days, it has been reported that a Malaysian surveillance aircraft prevented a boat, carrying about 200 Rohingya refugees, from entering Malaysian waters, forcing the boat back into waters off southern Thailand. The Malaysian air force said it feared that the group of refugees might bring the coronavirus into the country. The statement added that the crew of a Malaysian navy vessel distributed food to the foreigners before escorting their boat out of the countrys waters. A day before the April 17 incident, the Bangladesh coastguard reported that at least 24 Rohingya died at sea after their boat failed to reach Malaysia. Almost 400 others survived on board the vessel which, had been adrift in the Andaman Sea for weeks. Dont close venue for asylum Thailand, which shares a border with Myanmar, has a stricter policy towards Rohingya refugees. Those who make it to the Thai shores are subjected to indefinite detention. Bangkok has also refused to allow the UNHCR to conduct refugee status determination for Rohingya forcing many to attempt to reach Malaysia. Ratwatte, of the UNHCR, said countries in the region should not allow a repeat of the 2015 Rohingya refugee crisis, during which thousands were stuck at sea trying to escape Myanmar. We must not return to such life-threatening uncertainty today, Ratwatte said. While acknowledging the dangers brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, Ratwatte added that measures to help contain the virus should not result in the closure of avenues to asylum, or of forcing people to return to situations of danger. Amid an unprecedented health emergency, rescue at sea and allowing the persecuted to seek asylum are fundamental tenets of customary international law, by which all states are bound, he said. Chris Lewa, of the Arakan Project, which monitors the Rohingya situation, was also quoted recently as saying that the COVID-19 pandemic is not an acceptable reason for countries to refuse entry to refugees. He said the duty of the navy of neighbouring countries of Myanmar is to rescue people at sea, not to push them out and put their life at risk even more. In a statement, Amnesty International said: Both Thailand and Malaysia are aware that peoples lives are in danger. Refusing to help the people on these boats would not be wilfully blind it would be consciously making their plight even worse. With a vocation as a certified public accountant, Thomas W. Hebert says his avocation is writing fiction. And, his service in the U.S. Marines Corps is the single most important motivation behind his latest book, an illustrated novel titled The Remains of the Corps: Ivy and the Crossing, the first of a six-volume set. The United States Marine Corps has been a household name for generations. True to the lyrics of its official hymn, the corps has fought its countrys battles in the air, on land and sea for more than 200 years, he said. For many, serving in the corps has been and continues to be a family business. In his book, the fictional family the Remains (an anagram for Marines) are one such family. Told by a third-generation Marine and Vietnam veteran, Will Remain, the saga begins with his grandfather Kenneth Remain, born in Worcester and educated at Harvard College. They and other members of their family are Marines, but there is more to their stories. Writing under the pseudonym Will Remain, Heberts primary purpose in using it was to have the story be told by a member of the fictional Remain family. (Will Remain is the grandson of Kenneth Remain, the Volume I protagonist.) I also didnt want my writing to be about me, but about the corps and those who have served in the corps, he said. However, readers Marines in particular wanted to know who was writing about them, so he was convinced to add his name and biography to future printings of all editions. Besides being an anagram for Marine, remain is a synonym for endure, prevail, persist and commit all things Marines have a reputation for, he explained. He chose the given Will because as a verb it expresses the future tense as in I will remain committed, he explained. The fictional Remain family (three generations) remains committed to the Marine Corps. Joining the Marines in 1968 at the height of the Vietnam War, Hebert followed the footsteps of his father, William G. Hebert a pressman at the Springfield Newspapers for more than 40 years who served in the corps during World War II and fought on Iwo Jima. He sang the Marine Corps hymn so often over the years that I began singing it as well, Hebert recalled. As soon as he graduated from college, he signed up. He became a first lieutenant and served from 1968 through 1971, including in Vietnam in 1970 and 1971. I love the Marine Corps and am forever grateful to it. It shaped me for a lifetime, he said. Writing a six-volume story about Marines is my way of giving back, and, hopefully, doing my small part to perpetuate the Corps legendary status. Illustrated by Tara Kazmaier, The Remains of the Corps is intended for adults, but young, mature adults could benefit from its themes of patriotism, heroism and friendship, said the author of Once An Eagle: A Readers Companion and Notes on Once An Eagle, two non-fiction books. But he cautions: It does contain the rude language that Marines are wont to use. Hebert, who now lives in East Windsor, is chief financial officer at Cambridge Credit Counseling Corporation in Agawam. He was born and raised in Chicopee and graduated from Cathedral High School in Springfield 1964 then earned a bachelors degree in business management with a specialty in accounting from American International College in 1968 and a masters in professional accounting from the University of Hartford in 1980. He expects the second volume of his series, The Remains of the Corps: Belleau Wood, will be published in about two years. The Remains of the Corps is, first and foremost, an epic literary endeavor; I couldnt pay true tribute to the Corps with anything less, he said. The cost of the book is: hardcover, $44; paper cover, $30; paperback, $12.95 and eBook, 9.95. To purchase a book and for more information, go online to remainsofthecorps.com or egandapublishing.com. An international celebration of the planet we call home is marking its 50th anniversary, and Teri Ouimette, executive director of Chippewa Falls Main Street, said celebrating is more important than ever despite social distancing regulations still in place throughout the world. We only have one earth, Ouimette said. We need to take care of it. Its a big issue and I think people are aware of it. People care about whats happening and people care about the city. Today just highlights that fact and people are still doing what they can to keep this area safe and healthy. Earth Day is observed every April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection and prosperity throughout all four corners of the world. And 2020 marks 50 years since the celebrations inception in 1970, but the half-century mark for Earth Day is a unique one to say the least. A common way individuals and groups celebrate Earth Day is coming together to pick up trash and garbage in their local communities. For the past 18 years in downtown Chippewa Falls, about 200 to 300 volunteers have flocked to the densely populated downtown streets to pick up trash and help make the city a cleaner place to live. Traditionally gloves, garbage bags and water were given out to the volunteers to help make it easy to get involved with the downtown clean-up. However, the 2020 incarnation of the event was canceled in response to COVID-19 social-distancing regulations. The inability to hold the event has not hindered individuals finding a way to benefit the community however. Traditionally local businesses would donate money to be a sponsor on the events T-shirt given to all volunteers, but due to the fact the event was canceled, many local businesses have instead opted to donate their sponsorship funds in the form of gift certificates to area businesses to help stimulate the economy instead. Through Facebook, raffles for these gift certificates have been distributed to area patrons with the hope of bettering the community post-coronavirus. Ouimette said those interested in helping better the Chippewa Falls environment can still do so on an individual basis as long as theyre keeping themselves, and those around them, safe from possible exposure to COVID-19. There are a lot of things people can do on their own even though they cant do it in large groups, Ouimette said. We encourage people to pick up garbage or things lying around if theyre able to or be mindful about things theyre wasting or throwing away. Whatever people can do will help. Other local organizations such as the Beaver Creek Reserve in Eau Claire have been doing their part to endorse Earth Day as well through social media. Beaver Creek Reserve has hosted a plethora of giveaways and promotional materials through its website encouraging interested parties to step up and cleanup their environment on Earth Day even though going outside may currently feel like a foreign concept. Angie Wheeler, Chippewa Falls resident and hopeful downtown cleanup volunteer, said not being able to participate in any group cleanup efforts on Earth Day is frustrating, but she hopes people still find ways of contributing even if it is in untraditional ways. I hope people give it the attention it deserves, Wheeler said. People havent been outside as much lately because of COVID-19, so it might be easy for them to dismiss whats going on outside. I think its more important than ever to keep our community clean. Those interested in finding ways to participate in Earth Day and Earth Week cleanup efforts can visit the Chippewa Falls Main St. website. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Madhya Pradesh Agency for Promotion of Information Technology (Map-IT), Bhopal, under Govt. of Madhya Pradesh, has called for online applications from qualified and interested candidates for recruiting 166 Assistant E-Governance Managers - 137 (AeGM), District E-Governance Managers - 10 (DeGM), Lead Trainers (11) and Trainers (08) through direct selection. The online registration-cum-application process towards the same closes on May 5, 2020. CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts E-Governance Managers, Lead Trainers, Trainers Organisation Madhya Pradesh Agency for Promotion of Information Technology (Map-IT) Educational Qualification B.E/B.Tech/Degree in; B.Sc; MCA; DOEACC Society B Level passed Experience Freshers can apply Skills Required Desirable Job Location Madhya Pradesh Salary Scale Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 35,000 per month Industry Information Technology (IT) Application End Date May 5, 2020 Age Criteria And Fees Desirous candidates applying for Managers and Trainers post through MAPIT Recruitment 2020 must not be more than 35 years of age, with a relaxation (upper age limit) to reserved categories as applicable under the Madhya Pradesh Govt. guidelines and MAPIT norms. For details regarding application fee, refer to the official advertisement given at the end of the article. Pune Municipal Corporation Recruitment For 177 Class I And II Posts, Apply Online Before May 5 Educational Criteria And Eligibility Interested candidates applying for Managers and Trainers post through MAPIT Recruitment 2020 must possess a B.E/B.Tech/Degree in; B.Sc; MCA; DOEACC Society B Level passed from a AICTE/UGC recognised University/Institution. Selection And Pay Scale The selection of candidates to Managers and Trainers post through MAPIT Recruitment 2020 will be done either through a Written Test and Interview. Candidates selected to Managers and Trainers post through MAPIT Recruitment 2020 will be paid emolument in the scale of Rs. 30,000 to Rs. 35,000 per month. WCD Delhi Recruitment For 187 Block Coordinator, Project Assistant Posts, Apply Online Before May 11 How To Apply Candidates interested in joining as Managers and Trainers post through MAPIT Recruitment 2020 must register online on official MAPIT website at http://mponline.gov.in/portal/Services/MAPIT/frmhome.aspx and submit their applications on or before May 5, 2020. Read the detailed advertisement about MAPIT Recruitment 2020 for Assistant, District E-Governance Managers and Trainers post here http://mponline.gov.in/Quick Links/MAPIT/RuleBook_MP001.pdf By PTI LONDON: People of Indian origin in the UK have emerged as the worst affected ethnic group from the coronavirus pandemic, according to an official data on COVID-19 deaths in hospitals across England. Figures released this week by the National Health Service (NHS) England show that of the 13,918 patients who died in hospitals till April 17 after testing positive for the novel coronavirus, 16.2 per cent were of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) background and those identifying with Indian ethnicity made up 3 per cent of that. This was followed by Caribbeans as the second-largest ethnic group affected in the COVID-19 death toll at 2.9 per cent, followed by Pakistanis at 2.1 per cent. The data, only a limited snapshot of the UK-wide COVID-19 tests, follows the British government's announcement of a review into the coronavirus death toll disparity among the BAME population. "We have seen, both across the population as a whole but in those who work in the NHS, a much higher proportion who've died from minority backgrounds and that really worries me," said UK health secretary Matt Hancock while launching the review last week. ALSO READ| Indian-origin doctor issues 'soul searching' open letter to UK PM Boris Johnson The proportion of deaths among BAME groups is much higher compared to their roughly 13 per cent make-up of the total population. A further breakdown shows COVID-19 deaths among those identifying with white ethnicity at 73.6 per cent and mixed ethnicity at 0.7 per cent. Of the 16.2 per cent BAME figures, those of Bangladeshi ethnicity are at 0.6 per cent, any other Asian background 1.6 per cent, African 1.9 per cent, any other black background 0.9 per cent, Chinese 0.4 per cent and any other ethnic group 2.8 per cent. "The government must take every necessary step to address this devastating disparity and protect all sectors of the population equally and now," said Dr Chaand Nagpaul, Council Chair of the British Medical Association (BMA), the doctors' union lobbying for the review. "It also means taking vital steps now to protect our BAME communities until we can develop a detailed understanding of the threats they face. This could include that those at greatest risk, including older and retired doctors, are not working in potentially infectious settings," he said. Meanwhile, an analysis of the COVID-19 death toll data for NHS workers, which stands at 69, also reveals a higher proportion of BAME casualties - including the death of Dr Manjeet Singh Riyat, the UK's first Sikh emergency medicine consultant, this week. ALSO READ| Lost in lockdown: Indian students stranded abroad anxious to see crisis end The British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) recently announced a new academic tie-up with the Imperial College London to set up a research forum to delve deeper into this disparity within the medical profession in the UK. "This research has the potential to give data required to delineate vulnerable groups in the pandemic and give clear advice on how to reduce the impact on the BAME population," BAPIO president Dr Ramesh Mehta said. The new study also aims at establishing a new research database as a national resource for the scientific communities to support other studies to improve the future wellbeing of NHS healthcare staff. According to experts, the reasons behind the disproportionately high coronavirus mortality rates for the ethnic minority population of the UK is likely to be down to a complex set of factors, including greater propensity among some ethnicities for heart disease and diabetes, specific vitamin deficiencies, the lack of social distancing measures within the multi-generational family setting or a genetic predisposition. The government's review is aimed at collating enough data to look into measures that would minimise the risk for these communities. Victoria's COVID-19 rate of infection has slowed to a trickle, with the state reporting just one new case as efforts to control the virus continue to bear fruit. However, while the curve appears to be flattening, the death toll rose to 16 after a man in his 60s died in hospital. He is one of the youngest people in Victoria to die from coronavirus. There is a clear trend of lower infection numbers in recent days, providing hope the feared peak has passed. The past four days have brought 24-hour increases of just one, two, seven and one, to a total of 1337 cases. It paints a much better picture than on March 28, when Victoria endured its record daily increase of 111. All-important efforts to stop community transmission of the disease have also been a success, with no new cases of that type announced on Thursday. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now. President Trump is temporarily blocking many green card seekers from coming to the U.S. during the pandemic -- a move rippling through Southern California, where many in the region's large immigrant population have been waiting to reunite with family abroad. The suspension takes effect at 11:59 p.m. Thursday and applies to those outside the U.S. It will last for 60 days, at which point Trump said he would review the measure. Many applicants for legal permanent residency have been waiting years, but there's fear among some that the order is the start of something that could lengthen the delay. "When you've got people waiting for family reunification, it is going to impact them because they've been already waiting in line for ten, fifteen years," said Tammy Kim, managing director of the Korean American Center in Irvine. icon DON'T MISS ANY L.A. CORONAVIRUS NEWS Get our daily newsletters for the latest on COVID-19 and other top local headlines. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy While Trump framed the order as a way to protect Americans and the existing immigrant population from new job competition, others saw it as an extension of anti-immigrant policies of his administration. "It's part of the overall Trump administration effort to halt or dramatically decrease the number of immigrants coming to the United States," said Manju Kulkarni, executive director of the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council. LOCAL REACTION Among community leaders, there's also the concern that the executive order will heighten animosity toward immigrants, particularly Asian Americans who have seen a spike in racist acts in the wake of the pandemic. "It really seems like an attempt for Trump to move ahead an agenda where he's trying to create immigrants as a reason for any kind of economic problems that we have here in the United States," said Aquilina Soriano-Versoza, executive director of the Pilipino Workers Center in Los Angeles. Soriano-Versoza questioned the point of the ban, noting that the processing of green card applications had already been almost stopped by the pandemic. Already the Trump administration has introduced a host of immigration restrictions since the COVID-19 pandemic began, including a halt to refugee admissions, the suspension of some visa services and limits on travel across the U.S.-Mexico border. There are some important exemptions in the president's order. Green card applicants who are the minor children or spouses of U.S. citizens will not be blocked. Neither will applicants who are physicians, nurses, medical researchers or others who would "perform work essential to combating, recovering from, or otherwise alleviating the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak." The order is less clear about temporary workers, such as those employed on farms, whose wages the White House has attempted to lower, or in factories. But Joseph Villela, policy director for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, interpreted the order to mean these workers would be exempted. The order as written makes exceptions for those doing "work essential to combating, recovering from, or otherwise alleviating the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their respective designees." Villela said he found Trump's order to be a "lot of noise." "This notion that he's protecting Americans from losing their jobs is a false premise, because immigrants complement the job growth and actually increase job creation," Villela said. HEALTH CARE WORKERS The carve-out for health care workers was an acknowledgement that the U.S. is the current epicenter of the pandemic and needs overseas help, said Soriano-Versoza of the Pilipino Workers Center. "Unfortunately, it's looking at immigrants as just, 'How can they serve a very specific need?' instead of as whole people," Soriano-Versoza said. She said the provision in the order that allows the minor children and spouses to accompany health care workers to the States is "one small bit of humanity that's included." The order also reads that federal officials will "review nonimmigrant programs and shall recommend to me other measures appropriate to stimulate the United States economy" and ensure the hiring of U.S. workers. The Trump administration has repeatedly tried to curtail the decades-old system of family-based immigration. The restrictions in the order are similar in scope to a Trump-backed bill from 2017 called the RAISE Act, which sought to eliminate family-based immigrant visas except for spouses and minor children. One interesting carve-out: Exempted from the ban are wealthy immigrant investors who participate in the EB-5 program, which allows them to obtain immigrant visas for a minumum investment of $900,000 provided the project they invest in creates U.S. jobs. The minimum was raised from $500,000 last year. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS In India, states with greater population mobility, Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, have more cases compared to Northeastern states. The COVID-19 (the disease that the coronavirus causes) outbreak in India is a disaster in the making, akin to several disasters that have occurred in the past, e.g., 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, 1999 Ersama cyclone. They start as a health crisis and quickly morph into a humanitarian and an economic crisis. To understand the COVID-19 pandemic, the following questions need answers: What will COVID-19 spread look like in India? How is India coping with COVID-19? Is India prepared for a COVID-19 outbreak? Is the COVID-19 pandemic a black swan or a gray rhino event? How can their impacts be mitigated? Why do such events recur? What important policy shifts are required? PART 1: COVID-19s POSSIBLE SPREAD IN INDIA Coronavirus spread The coronavirus is like any other hazard. It takes a certain pathway and hits the receptors. The important receptors for a virus are humans and surfaces of objects. For some hazards, e.g., a tornado, the receptor could also be the environment to which it causes damage. Risk management is the understanding of the interplay between a hazard, its pathway, and the receptors it strikes, and the impact it causes (see Box 1 for an explanation of the dynamics between hazards, pathways, and receptors). Most hazardous scenarios usually have a single point static or mobile hazard location, e.g., a volcano, with the receptors located in a single area, e.g., a 10 km radius around the volcano, and a pathway that is linear. Since infected persons are mobile and infect people wherever they travel through sneeze and cough droplets, a virus outbreak is a complex as it is multi-point hazard and receptor scenario, with an almost infinite number of pathways between the hazard and its receptors. As people from Wuhan travelled, they carried the virus to other parts of China and abroad. Places better connected to Wuhan were affected earlier, e.g., Europe. The disease then spread to other onward destinations. There is a visible correlation between COVID-19 incidence and population mobility (and carbon emissions). In India, states with greater population mobility--Maharashtra, Delhi, and Tamil Nadu, have significantly larger caseloads compared to the North eastern states. In the US, coastal populations that are more connected to the world, had higher caseloads. Once a country is seeded with imported cases in Stage 1 of the disease, it may progress to three more stages. In Stage 2, local transmission, an imported case infects local contacts. In Stage 3, community transmission, the infection spreads in the community and can no longer be traced to an imported case or his contacts. Stage 4 is an epidemic. Global toll On 23 April 2020, the number of detected cases worldwide was 2.6 million with a doubling time of 17 days, and deaths attributed to coronavirus were 1.8 lakhs. Detected cases and deaths are in exponential growth with little sign of slowing down. Total global COVID-19 cases and deaths since January 2020 Dt in 2020 Total confirmed cases Daily new confirmed cases Total confirmed deaths Daily new confirmed deaths 1 January 27 0 0 0 1 February 11,946 2,120 259 46 1 March 67,024 1,821 2,979 58 1 April 851,308 73,512 41,885 4,614 15 April 1,950,000 75,224 125,975 6,983 23 April 2,590,000 67,629 182,808 6,022 A graph showing the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases on 3 Ap 2020 Bean counting: Forecasts of modelling studies Just before India locked down on 25 March, two modelling studies that forecast the incidence of COVID-19 cases in India with and without non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI), e.g., physical distancing (what was earlier known as social distancing is now also called physical distancing) were published. Another three studies were published subsequently (see Box 2). The results of all the studies have considerable uncertainty, which is inherent to such studies where little is known about the virus. The results of the studies vary widely. With no NPI, COVID-19 incidence forecasts range 2-800 million, and with NPI, 650-242,000 cases. The wide variation in forecasts is due to differences in the equations and input data used, and the assumptions made in the studies. Case incidence forecasts at the lower end in some studies are now proven to be under-estimates as the number of cases in India now exceeds 22,000. One study that did city-specific forecasts for Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru may yet come close to what may happen. The forecast for Delhi, the city with the maximum predicted cases among these cities, ranges 14.5-110 lakhs without NPI, and 2-97 lakhs with NPI. At the other end, in Bengaluru which is likely to have the least number of cases, the number of predicted cases ranges 3.5-23 lakhs without NPI and 0.7-22 lakhs with NPI. All studies agree that with no NPI, case numbers will be exceedingly high. The two studies that were published between 22-24 March are unlikely to have influenced Indias lockdown decision as their publication was too close to the event. The other three studies were published after the lockdown, therefore could not have influenced the decision. The one study that may have influenced Indias lockdown decision is the Imperial College study that was published on 16 March. This study forecast that with no NPI, 81% of the populations of Great Britain (GB) and the USA would be infected, and that 0.51 and 2.2 million persons would die in GB and USA countries, respectively. Their public health care systems would be overwhelmed by the massive caseloads, and hence a shift was required from mitigation to a suppression strategy. GB shifted gears drastically and jumped from no restrictions to national lockdown a week after the Imperial College study was published. Two days later India followed GB. To understand why GB and India did a sudden U-turn in their COVID-19 containment strategy, it is important to understand how risk mitigation is done. Risk mitigation methods There are six ways to nullify or reduce the risk from a natural or manmade hazard: 1) remove the hazard, 2) remove humans and other receptors, 3) enclose the hazard, 4) enclose humans and other receptors, 5) increase the pathway length between the hazard and the receptors so that the hazard intensity decreases when it hits the receptor, 6) break the pathway so that hazard does not reach the receptors (see Box 3: Risk mitigation). Not all six measures are available for every hazard, e.g., a cyclone cannot be removed or enclosed nor can humans be removed from its pathway. But humans can be enclosed in a shelter or evacuated before the cyclone makes landfall. One of these six methods is not available for a coronavirus hazard--removing humans and other receptors such as surfaces that humans touch, e.g., chairs, as they exist everywhere (method #2 in Box 3). The other five methods reduce risk for a limited period and in a limited space, but never remove risk completely. Flattening the curve In a virus outbreak, the disease tends to spread quickly in a population after it is seeded by an infected person. A rapid rise of cases in the ascendant phase of the disease can often overwhelm even a good health care system, leaving many patients without adequate care. ICU beds and ventilators ran out in Italian hospitals in March 2020, and doctors had to make choices about which patients to give beds and ventilators. To avoid overstretching the health care system, disease control strategies attempt to flatten the curve by beating down the peak number of cases and spreading them over a longer time period. . Mitigation and suppression strategies The curve can be flattened using either mitigation or a suppression strategy, or sometimes a combination of both where a mitigation strategy is used countrywide and a suppression strategy is used in local hotspots. A mitigation strategy uses NPI not to interrupt transmission completely, but to slow it down. It does this by home-isolating mild cases, quarantining suspect cases and, their families and contacts, hospitalizing severe cases, using physical distancing, and possibly shutting educational institutions, and closing borders with some or all countries. The specificity of a circumstance determines the combination of mitigation measures deployed. A suppression strategy attempts to retard infection spread by breaking the pathway between the virus and humans through lockdowns of communities, towns, districts or even a country, and ordering everyone, barring essential service workers, to stay home. This measure is in addition to all the measures used in a mitigative strategy. Mitigation and suppression strategies and their limitations Hazard control method Actions Strategy Limitations Remove hazard Washing hands, sanitizing surfaces Mitigation, Suppression Limited in time & space. Person & surfaces can be re-contaminated, Other persons & surfaces not sanitized may carry infection -- Remove humans Not possible -- Enclose hazard Isolate cases, quarantine suspected cases & persons they contacted Mitigation, Suppression Limited in time & space. Other persons outside isolation/ quarantine may carry the infection Enclose humans Personal protective equipment Mitigation, Suppression Can be used only by health workers Increase pathway length Keep physical distance of 1-2 m between people, no physical contact Mitigation, Suppression Everyone may not follow physical distancing or may not be able to do it they live & travel in crowded houses and transport Break pathway Lockdown community/ cities/ districts/ country-- Everyone, except essential services workers are isolated at home Suppression Social life and the economy will be impacted as supply chains of products & services are broken. A mitigation strategy allows for the disease to spread in a controlled way in the population thereby allowing the population to gain herd immunity, thus reducing the probability of a repeat disease outbreak. If the disease transmission is moderately high, and the number of cases exceeds the maximum capacity of health services, it may be stretched badly or even be overwhelmed. By isolating everyone, a suppression strategy reduces disease transmission and caseload to low levels, allowing health services with limited capacity to cope. Since the population lacks immunity, the probability of a disease outbreak is high after lifting the lockdown; requiring repeated lockdowns till a vaccine is available or the virus weakens in time. The Imperial College study illustrates this process for GB and USA (see figures and table below). ICU beds required/1 lakh population in GB for various combination of actions for mitigation and suppression strategies Action ICU beds required per 1 lakh population Mitigation strategy Suppression strategy Do nothing 275 275 Close schools & universities 245 Case isolation 190 Case isolation + household quarantine 130 Case isolation + household quarantine + social distancing of >70 year-olds 90 Case isolation + household quarantine + general social distancing 16 School & university closure + case isolation + general social distancing 6 Mitigation strategy scenarios for GB indicating ICU bed requirement for various mitigation methods GB has a surge capacity of 8 ICU beds per 1 lakh population. But the requirement for ICU beds for a mitigation strategy exceed GBs ICU bed surge capacity by a factor of 10-35 times for different mitigation measures. However, GBs ICU beds surge capacity can more or less meet the projected ICU bed demand if a suppression strategy is used, the downside being that these measures must be in place for 5 months and may have to be repeated subsequently. How many Indians will catch COVID-19 in the near future? The total number of cases and deaths that may occur in India depends on the strategy that the country adopts. Since that is yet not clear, it is difficult to do forecasts with any degree of accuracy. Box 1: Risk management Risk management is the understanding of the interplay between a hazard, its pathway and the receptors it may strike and the impact it causes to them, in order to reduce risk the hazard poses to the receptors. A hazard is a substancetoxic chemical, virus; or energyionizing radiation, earths, e.g., as is released in an earthquake, that may cause injury to humans, or their life support systems prevalent in the environment. Hazards may be natural, e.g., tornadoes or man-made, e.g., explosions. Hazardous may strike suddenly and without much warning, e.g., earthquakes, giving no time for doing hazard control, or may act over time to cause a slow deterioration of the life support systems in the environment, e.g., global warming, A hazard travels through a pathway before it strikes a receptor. Pathways may be of through a single medium, e.g., as happens in an explosion when an energy release is transmitted through air, or through several media, e.g., as happens in the release of mercury from thermal power plants, where the mercury travels first through the air from the power plant stack to grass, which is eaten by cattle, where it goes into cattle milk, and from there into humans. A receptor is an object that the hazard hits after travelling through the pathway. A receptor may be a human or any part of the environment. In the case of the Coronavirus, the receptor is a human. Most hazards are point sources, i.e., they emanate at one point, e.g., a volcano or a flammable gas leak. And most receptors, whether human or environmental, also point or area receptors, i.e., they are in one area. Coronavirus is a multi-point hazard as it can be present at innumerable places and its receptors are also multi-point as people and surfaces that may be contaminated are spread all over the world. Box 2: Expected number of COVID-19 cases in Indiaresults of 2 studies published before the 25 March lockdown and 3 studies published after the lockdown Studies published before the lockdown Study title Predictions and role of interventions for COVID-19 outbreak in India COVID-19 for India Updates Authors D Ray, R Bhattacharyya, L Wang, M Salvatore, S Mohammed, A Halder, Y Zhou, P Song, S Purkayastha, D Bose, M Banerjee, V Baladandayuthapani, P Ghosh, B Mukherjee E Klein, G Lin, K Tseng, E Schueller, G Kapoor, R Laxminarayan Published on 22 March 2020 24 Mar 2020 Predicted cases Interventions No of expected cases & dates Scenarios No of expected cases & dates No interventions 2.2 million cases by mid-May High trajectory-no effect of current lockdowns and a rapid spread Total peak number of cases-25 crores by end-Apr Travel ban only 6.6 lakh cases by mid-May Medium trajectory-No effect of lockdown or temperature/ humidity sensitivity, consistent with data from Italy (more likely scenario) Total peak number of cases-18 crores by mid-May Travel ban + Social quarantine 55,200 cases by mid-May Low trajectory-Decreased transmission, potentially due to temperature/ humidity sensitivity Total peak number of cases-12.5 crores by mid-June Travel ban + Social quarantine + Lockdown 13,800 cases by mid-May Study published after the lockdown Study title Age-structured impact of social distancing on the COVID-19 epidemic in India Healthcare impact of COVID-19 epidemic in India: A stochastic mathematical model Authors R Singh, R Adhikari K ChatterjeeK Chatterjee, A Kumar, S Shankar Published on 26 March 2020 2 Apr 2020 Predicted cases Interventions No of expected cases & dates Interventions No of expected cases & dates Without mitigation Total of 0.9 bill cases, with a peak of 167 mill cases by end-June. Total mortality of ~3.6 mill persons. Uninterrupted epidemic in India Resulted in over 364 million cases & 1.56 million deaths, peak by mid-July 3 consecutive lockdowns of 21, 28 & 18 days starting 25 Mar, with two 5-day unlocked intervals between lockdowns; or a single 49-day lockdown starting 25 March 657 cases Immediate institution of NPIs Epidemic might still be checked by mid-April 2020. It would then result in 241,974 total infections, 10,214 hospitalizations, 2,121 ICU admissions and 1,081 deaths. Expected number of COVID-19 cases in 4 major Indian metro hubs with and without intervention Study title Prudent public health intervention strategies to control the coronavirus disease 2019 transmission in India: A mathematical model-based approach Authors S Mandal, T Bhatnagar, N Arinaminpathy, A Agarwal, A Chowdhury, M Murhekar, R R Gangakhedkar, S Sarkar Published on 28 March 2020 Predicted peak number of cases Intervention Scenarios Predicted peak number of cases in lakhs (approx) Delhi Mumbai Kolkata Bengaluru Without intervention Pessimistic 110 lakhs in 45 days 47.5 lakhs in 50 days 38 lakhs in 55 days 23 lakhs in 50 days Optimistic 14.5 lakhs in 210 days 7 lakhs in 300 days 5 lakhs in 300 days 3.5 lakhs in 300 days With intervention Pessimistic 97 lakhs in 45 days 45 lakhs in 55 days 33 lakhs in 55 days 22 lakhs in 55 days Optimistic 2 lakhs in 620 days 1 lakh in 725 days 0.7 lakhs in 725 days 0.7 lakhs in 725 days Not all 6 methods are available for all hazards, e.g., a cyclone cannot be enclosed nor can humans be removed from the pathway of viruses. Five actions are available to reduce the risk of the Coronavirus: Remove hazard: The virus can be removed by washing hands or sanitizing surfaces. These measures work only briefly as re-contamination is possible, besides it is impossible to sanitize all surfaces. Remove humans: This action is not possible as humans are very widely spread. Enclose hazard: Infected persons are put into isolation wards and those suspected to be infected are quarantined so that the infection is enclosed in the containment facility. But persons outside the isolation ward or quarantine may be infected. Enclose humans: Personal protective equipment (PPE) may be used to enclose health workers, but it is impossible to have everyone use PPEs. Increase pathway distance: Social distancing by 1-2 m increases the pathway between humans and minimizes the chances of the virus in an infected persons cough or sneeze droplets reaching the other person. Break pathway: Closing educational institutions is a way to break the pathway. But the break is partial as there are other ways that people meet, e.g., at work, in the market. Lockdowns are a more complete way of breaking the pathway as they minimize contact between infected persons and surfaces and uninfected persons by isolating everyone except those involved with essential services. Lockdowns include shutting educational institutions, factories, commercial establishments, markets, public transport services, etc. The author is an environmental engineer with specialization in risk analysis V ideo conferencing platform Zoom has been credited with saving our work and social lives during the coronavirus lockdown, but its also been subject to its fair share of criticism over security issues and Zoombombing. As a response to these problems, the Californian-based company has released its Zoom 5.0 update featuring new security enhancements which will help to improve the privacy of the platform. This is all part of Zooms 90-day plan to seek out and deal with security issues in the app. The platform has added a new encryption standard, called AES 256-bit GCM encryption, which is considered the gold standard of encryption, and is used by the US government to secure data. This will increase the protection of meeting data and resistance against tampering so no more Zoombombing. There are improved controls for hosts too. They will be able to Report a User to Zoom via the new security icons and the waiting room function, which keeps participants separate until they are admitted to a meeting. All meetings will require a password, whilst the Zoom 5.0 rollout means the app will support secure account contact sharing for larger organisations, so its easier to find and search for things like meetings, chat and phone contacts. Speaking about the new features, Zooms CEO Eric Yuan, said: I am proud to reach this step in our 90-day plan, but this is just the beginning. We built our business by delivering happiness to our customers. We will earn our customers trust and deliver them happiness with our unwavering focus on providing the most secure platform." Since the coronavirus lockdown, Zooms daily active users has grown from 10 million to 200 million as people turn to the platform to carry out work calls, yoga classes, school sessions, dinner dates, and even weddings. Ben Jackson and Sophie Austin of the school sweethearts getting married over Zoom video chat / PA However, companies such as Elon Musks SpaceX banned employees from using the app because of privacy concerns. These new steps will go some way to rectifying that. The company also tapped Facebooks former security chief Alex Stamos as an adviser to boost the platforms security and privacy capabilities, after he criticised Zoom on Twitter. To successfully scale a video-heavy platform to such size, with no appreciable downtime and in the space of weeks, is literally unprecedented in the history of the Internet, said Stamos. It has been clear to many people who have worked on production-scale systems that something special has been happening at Zoom, and the related security challenges are fascinating. Cyber security expert Jonathan Knudsen, senior security strategist at Synopsys, told PA that even though Zoom still isnt offering full end-to-end encryption like platforms such as WhatsApp and Wire, the security within the app has improved. "In Zoom 5.0, the encryption algorithm has been strengthened, but this still does not change the fundamental architecture of Zoom, which does not fully implement end-to-end encryption. At the same time, given the recent intense scrutiny of Zoom's infrastructure, the new changes in version 5.0 represent a renewed commitment to helping users safeguard confidentiality, said Knudsen. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The trend of NYPD officers progressively coming back to the workforce has continued for 14 consecutive days, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea said on Thursday, with approximately 60% of officers who received a positive test now back on the job. Were seeing that curve come in the direction we want to see it, Shea said during a live Q&A. Shea said that 11.6% of uniformed officers are out sick as of Thursday morning, which is a 1% drop since Wednesday and an 8.2% decrease from the peak of 19.8% on April 9. The people are coming back as the positive tests for COVID are slowing down not just in New York City but certainly in this department, and thats very good news. The NYPD has rolled out temperature taking measures in precincts in New York City, which was first piloted among a select few locations including the 120th Precinct in St. George, Shea announced. Were taking everyones temperature coming into the building, Shea said, adding that some members of the department were found to have fevers who didnt know. It was not immediately clear how many officers the aforementioned pilot program found to have fevers before entering a precinct; however, Shea said that any NYPD member found to have a high temperature would be asked to immediately go home and take some time off. 38 Life on lockdown: Coronavirus in NYC Shea said the NYPD currently has an adequate supply of personal protective equipment, but reaffirmed the state and citywide directives for wearing a mask in public. Were in good shape with the equipment, were in good shape with the masks, Shea said, before adding a message to officers: You should be wearing a mask if youre out there if you cant social distance with people. Shea said officers should be wearing a mask, even in patrol vehicles, and should aim to get masks on individuals taken into custody. Its about all New Yorkers coming together. One vision here, one unit and keeping each other safe and doing everything we possibly can. *** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK *** As the departments sick rate steadies, Shea said that burglaries have become a particular issue throughout various parts of New York City. The Advance/SILive.com previously reported that there has recently been an uptick in burglaries, robberies and shootings in different Staten Island neighborhoods. Shea said cracking down on commercial burglaries was a particular focus for the department. We have to protect those store owners as they look forward to reopening one day, he said. Last week, Shea said that antibody testing, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo previously said would prioritize first responders, health care and essential workers, was a priority for the NYPD; however, he said there currently is not a firm timeline as to when antibody testing within the department would begin. I dont think its imminent," he said, while adding that it is going to be a key step, I think, to getting back to normal. The state began randomly testing New Yorkers for antibodies, the Advance/SILive.com reported, including at one Grasmere site. Identifying those carrying antibodies has become a main focus of the governors reopening strategy as the state seeks to find out how many have already been exposed to the virus. Shea said the NYPD is waiting for effective tests and the rollout" of widespread testing for the department to be involved in. After returning from his meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo held a press conference with an oddly divergent message. The governor proudly announced that he had secured a commitment from Trump to provide federal assistance in setting up the international component of a supply chain needed to double New Yorks testing for COVID-19 to 40,000 tests per day, up from 20,000. Cuomo added that he had pressed his case for increased federal aid to states, which he noted was left out of the just-passed fourth round of COVID-19 relief. That bill, which passed the Senate on Tuesday, allocates $310 billion for loans to small businesses, $75 billion for hospitals, $60 billion for emergency disaster loans and grants and $25 billion for testing. Cuomo called the absence of aid to state and local governments that need to pay first responders such as EMTs and cops a mistake. We talked about that, the president said he understood the issue and that he would work very hard to get funding for the states in the next piece of legislation that passes, Cuomo said. This is odd phrasing, as Trump doesnt need to work very hard to get funding for the states in the next piece of legislation when he could have, at Democrats suggestion, just included it in this one. But during the question-and-answer portion of the same press conference, the governor dropped his naive facade and let out his frustration at Washingtons failure to come to the aid of the hardest-hit states such as New York. Promise, promise, promise, promise, promise zero. Nada. Zilch. Nothing, said Cuomo, describing what the feds have been saying versus what theyve been doing. They again say, Dont worry, the next bill is going to have state funding. Cuomo laid the blame squarely on the U.S. Senate, since the Democratic majority in the House of Representatives would gladly give states the money needed to cover budget shortfalls caused by the new coronavirus and its economic impact. I cant do a budget on Dont worry, next time, especially after that promise has been made and repeatedly broken, Cuomo concluded. Now, to offset its projected lost tax revenue, the state will have to look for spending reductions of up to 20%. The governor even went so far as to take an apparent shot at U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and his junior colleague from New York, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, saying, New Yorks senators should represent New York. But Schumer had, in fact, proposed that the bill include aid to states. So its worth explaining what actually happened on Tuesday, and what it really means: In an act of extortion by the United States government, the White House and Senate Republicans blocked aid to states and cities to gain leverage to force states to reopen sooner than they otherwise might. If the GOP succeeds, the result will be a lot of dead New Yorkers. If Cuomo holds firm to his own timeline, rather than Trumps, the result might just be massive cuts to state programs such as school funding and even health and public safety programs that are essential to fighting the coronavirus. When Republicans proposed the latest COVID bill, they only suggested supplemental support for small businesses, as that program has proven to be underfunded. Trump and his right-wing allies have recently been demanding with increasing aggressiveness that states lift restrictions on nonessential businesses. So Democrats countered the Senate GOPs small business-aid proposal with a plan that would also deliver to states and cities some of what they would need to combat the virus and make it potentially safe to gradually reopen businesses: the funds to deploy massive testing for the coronavirus and tracing the social contacts of anyone who tests positive. After prolonged negotiations and efforts to muscle Democrats into accepting nothing by accusing them of holding up economic relief, the GOP grudgingly gave in on funds for testing and hospitals but not state aid. Since the GOP gladly disbursed $500 billion to big business and $170 billion to real estate investors in the last bill, their concern obviously isnt fiscal responsibility. So why is state aid such a sticking point for Republicans? Because they want leverage to force states to reopen businesses sooner than they otherwise would. As Axios reported this week, echoing an earlier report in Politico: The thinking among some Trump administration officials is that many states should be reopening their governments soon and that additional funding could deter them from doing so. Trump is simultaneously leaving responsibility for combatting COVID-19 to states while denying them the funding they need to do so. But its worse than just that he isnt just being cheap or incompetent. Hes deliberately starving states so that they have more reason to bend to his will. The White Houses premise that states would remain closed just for the heck of it is absurd. Cuomo has no desire to keep children out of school, businesses closed and workers idled just for its own sake. If he waits to reopen longer than Trump wants, thats because public health experts are warning the governor its unsafe to remove social distancing measures and let the coronavirus run rampant. Republicans want to force Cuomos hand anyway. This latest tactic is the natural progression of Trumps desire to bully states into reopening. First, as any spoiled man-child would do, Trump claimed falsely on April 14 that he had total authority to force states to lift stay-at-home orders. Three days later, presumably having been educated on the rights reserved to states in the U.S. Constitution, he backed off. But Trump still wants to force states to reopen sooner rather than later. And his timeline isnt determined by whats medically advisable. Its about two things: money and power. As The Washington Post reported on April 14, Impatient with the economic devastation wrought by social distancing and other mitigation measures and fearful of the potential damage to his reelection chances Trump has been adamant in private discussions with advisers about reopening the country next month. Trumps allies are reportedly telling him that reopening sooner will boost his shot at winning reelection in November. Trumps cynical political strategy isnt just to manipulate states into reopening quickly, however, but to nominally leave them in charge so he can shift blame onto governors if the death toll rises. (Trump) has asked White House aides for economic response plans that would allow him to take credit for successes while offering enough flexibility to assign fault for any failures to others, The Wall Street Journal reported on April 17. As New York magazines Jonathan Chait explains, this strategy involves several other tactics, the most high-profile being the deployment of angry gun-toting protesters to hold open it up rallies in state capitals. These small bands of activists are backed by well-funded, Trump-aligned advocacy organizations. Trump has lent his support to their cause, tweeting, in reference to some of the state-level protests, LIBERATE MICHIGAN!" and "LIBERATE VIRGINIA, and save your great 2nd Amendment. It is under siege!" Although it is not as blatantly fascistic, it is perhaps no less of a disturbing power grab that, on Tuesday, U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr told conservative talk radio host Hugh Hewitt that the Department of Justice might bring legal action against states that dont open on Trumps preferred timeline. So thats Trumps strategy for forcing states to serve his electoral interests rather than their constituents' health and safety. (The New York state Republican Party did not respond to requests for comment.) Reasonable people can differ about whether congressional Democrats should have agreed to a bill that leaves out aid to states and cities, or other proposals such as vote-by-mail for this November and a bailout for the ailing postal service. Even some politically moderate observers such as Politico magazines Michael Grunwald think they caved unnecessarily. Democrats cave: Nothing for states or cities, nothing for election protection or the post office, no oversight, no limits on fossil fuel bailouts, no food stamps. They got some testing - somehow thats a GOP concession! - but no contact tracing. https://t.co/PWjOoaWozN Michael Grunwald (@MikeGrunwald) April 21, 2020 Schumer, however, sees the latest bill as a win. He got money for small businesses, which Democrats support, and tacked onto it money for hospitals and testing, which New York needs. Schumer also would contest Cuomos depiction of state aid as always being put off until next time. In the last bill, including direct state aid, grants for education and child care and $3.8 billion for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Schumer secured $10.2 billion that went to New York or one of its public agencies. In their joint statement on the new bill, Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi touted their achievements but lamented the lack of state and local aid while saying they are pleased that the President has committed to addressing this critical priority in CARES 2. CARES 2 would be the next major coronavirus response, the previous $2 trillion bill having been called the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act. (This latest bill is just an interim measure to cover emergency needs.) Trump has already announced his support for another major stimulus package that includes state aid, but U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said he wants to limit future spending on COVID-19. On Wednesday, McConnell told Hewitt that he opposes sending aid to New York and other states ravaged by the pandemic, adding that hed be more interested in changing federal law so that states can declare bankruptcy. Theres not going to be any desire on the Republican side to bail out state pensions by borrowing money from future generations, McConnell said. Some experts would roll their eyes even at the $25 billion for testing that was just appropriated, however, warning that its nowhere near enough to safely lift stay-at-home orders. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, estimates that the United States should be testing 500,000 to 600,000 Americans per day for coronavirus, which is about four times as many as it currently does. Extrapolated to New York, that would mean merely doubling testing capacity might not be enough. As of Wednesday morning, New York accounted for 251,720 of the United States 805,772 confirmed cases. To test that many people means deploying massive armies of testers, fully besuited in personal protective gear, equipped with adequate supplies of every component, including currently hard-to-come-by nasal swabs and reagents, and even larger armies of contact tracers who would track down and test the recent social contacts of every person with a confirmed case. We need far more support to states and cities to both address their budget shortfalls for normal operations, address the scale-up of testing, contact tracing and isolation for SARS-CoV-2, to support their residents as they try to keep social distancing and strengthening the public health infrastructure around the country, said Gregg Gonsalves, a professor of public health at Yale. New Yorks congressional delegation seems uninterested in responding to Cuomos criticism from Tuesday. House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, who is in the House majority leadership, and Gillibrand did not respond to City & States request for comment. The one New York representative who publicly opposes the new bill is Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Aid to states and cities is just one of her many unmet demands, which also include rent cancellations, hazard pay for essential workers, vote-by-mail and temporarily expanded health coverage. Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Cuomo have highlighted the potentially devastating cuts they will have to make without federal help. As de Blasio noted in a CNN op-ed with Carmel, Indiana, Mayor James Brainard, New York City, the epicenter of this crisis, has seen only $1.4 billion in direct aid even as we project the crisis will cost the city more than $7 billion in lost revenue. New York magazines Chait worries that without supplemental federal funds, state and local officials may have to give in to Trump. Faced with the desperation of a disintegrating revenue base and spiraling needs for social spending, governors may be forced to risk the health of their citizens and try to gamble that they can restart the economy, warns Chait. The Cuomo administration denies thats even a possibility. Asked about Trumps plot to pressure states, senior Cuomo advisor Rich Azzopardi offered City & State the same statement he issued in response to the open it up protesters in Albany: Both our PAUSE and reopening initiatives are based on facts, science and metrics that a vast majority of New Yorkers have followed and because of that, the curve was bent and lives were saved in this pandemic. Horn honking and political pressure will not be a factor. New Yorkers had better hope thats true, and that either the federal government realizes the necessity of funding enough testing to make the streets safe or that the state somehow can do it without help from Washington. Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's title. Police said Munyaneri may have been walking in the roadway, according to an initial investigation. He was struck by several vehicles, and those vehicles then crashed into each other. Logistics services provider Blue Dart Express on Thursday said it recently operated a freighter service on the Kolkata - Guangzhou - Guwahati - Kolkata route to bring critical personal protective gears and other COVID-19 related medical supplies. Besides this, these freighters are also scheduled to fly to Guangzhou from Delhi and Kolkata through April, the company said in a release. Blue Dart has been flying its Boeing freighters with 34 tonnes cargo carrying capacity on international routes to ensure continuity of essential supply chain in India. Earlier this month, Blue Dart freighters performed several flights on the Kolkata - Dhaka - Kolkata route, it said. "Since the lockdown began, we have operated numerous cargo flights transporting more than thousands of tons of medical supplies, medicines, medical devices and other essential items for various state governments, medical and pharma companies. There are several components and ingredients that are coming from different places. "To ensure continuity of the global supply chain, Blue Dart is flying Boeing 757-200 freighters round-the-clock to carry medical and other vital supplies in these difficult times," Blue Dart Express CMO and Head of Business Development Ketan Kulkarni said. Blue Dart is working on a two-pronged strategy to prepare the logistics infrastructure for being future ready and ensure both lines operate smoothly -- essential supplies to fight COVID-19 and all other non-essential supplies in the pipeline post the lockdown exit, he added. The company is working closely with the government to ensure door-to-door delivery carrying inter-state and international supplies of essential goods through its strong air and ground express network. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) When Russia began delivering the S-400 air defense systems to Turkey last summer, the NATO member country was almost in a festive mood, with television channels broadcasting live the arrival of cargo planes to an air base outside of Ankara from July to August. Around that time, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the systems would become operational in April 2020 a timetable he would confirm at least seven times thereafter despite US moves to dissuade and penalize Turkey. The missiles arrived by sea in December as Ankara was already testing the systems. In January, air force officers who received training in Russia on operating the systems were officially assigned to their new duties. With April already rolling along, the S-400s remain unpacked at Murted Airfield Command. The way Ankara chose to disclose the delay was a low-key statement to Reuters. There is no going back on the decision to activate the S-400s, [but] due to COVID-19 the plan for them to be ready in April will be delayed, an anonymous official told the news agency April 20. The delay should have pleased Washington, though it reiterated its concerns. We continue to stress at the highest levels that the S-400 transaction is the subject of ongoing CAATSA sanctions deliberations, and it remains a major obstacle in the bilateral relationship and at NATO, State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said, referring to the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. We are confident that President Erdogan and his senior officials understand our position, she added. Obviously, the reason for Ankaras decision to delay the activation of the S-400 regiment, made up of four batteries worth $2.5 billion, is not technical. And even though the coronavirus pandemic is cited as the reason, the decision is utterly political. Tellingly, the pandemic has not disrupted any Turkish military operations either at home or in Syria and Iraq. It has had no impact in military terms that requires postponing the activation of the systems. Turkeys worsening economic woes are widely seen as the prime reason behind the postponement. Indeed, any sanctions under CAATSA would heighten the grave economic risks the pandemic is posing to Turkey. Of note, Ankara has already approached the US Federal Reserve for a currency swap deal, seeking up to $10 billion amid a drawdown in foreign reserves. Due to domestic political concerns, Ankara is reluctant to seek help from the International Monetary Fund. In short, activating the S-400s could have a big economic cost for Turkey akin to the currency crisis in the summer of 2018, which was triggered by a row with Washington over the detention of an American pastor. Yet Turkeys desperate need for hard currency to salvage its pandemic-hit economy is not the only factor at play. The delay is driven by at least three other factors: namely, Ankaras shifting geostrategic orientation in Syria in a bid to balance Iran and Russia, and its need to remain in the good graces of US President Donald Trump, its sole ally in Washington, and manage public perceptions at home. In Syria, Turkeys face-off with its partners Russia and Iran in Idlib in February showed how Turkish and American interests have become more aligned in the Syrian war. The limits of cooperation with Moscow have come to clearly manifest themselves, both in Syrias northwest and northeast. Despite a deal between Erdogan and Russian President Vladimir Putin in early March, the confidence gap between the two sides has grown over the critical M4 highway in southern Idlib, where a fresh crisis seems to be brewing amid Ankaras attempts to unify Sunni armed groups moderates and radicals alike in a bid to counter the increasing presence of pro-Iranian militia and the reinforced troops of the Syrian regime. Washington, for its part, is fully aware that it could have no other ally than Ankara with the capacity to balance Russia and counter pro-Iranian military presence in northern Syria and around Deir ez-Zor to the east. Another factor has to do with the personal relationship between Erdogan and Trump, who has been rather lenient toward Turkey in the face of congressional pressure for sanctions. According to a source in Ankara who requested anonymity, the crisis over pastor Andrew Brunson in 2018 taught Erdogan a lesson about the consequences of bickering with Trump, and the coronavirus pandemic was a godsend to avert a fresh crisis over the S-400s. When Trump hosted Erdogan for four hours at the White House summit in November 2019, he personally brought up and emphasized the S-400 issue. He made it clear that activation was a redline for Washington, and he could no longer defend Ankara if the systems were activated, the source said, adding, The [coronavirus] outbreak came just in time for Ankara to overcome that squeeze. Finally, there is Turkeys domestic front. Activating the S-400s at present risks triggering public pressure led by the opposition to move the systems to the Syrian border to protect the Turkish troops in Idlib. About 22,000 Turkish troops are currently deployed at 56 outposts across Idlib, deprived of any defense against medium-range air and ballistic missiles, which has led to the loss of 61 soldiers since late February. Opinion polls show that the campaign in Idlib has lacked the public support accorded to Turkeys earlier military campaigns in Syria. Erdogan would be hard-pressed to explain why the activated systems are kept in Ankara while Turkish soldiers in Idlib are in urgent need of air cover, but moving the weapons to the border would obviously spark a fresh crisis with Moscow. Thus, stepping back from activating the systems for now serves also to avoid a crisis in domestic politics. No doubt, the decision is annoying to Moscow, which has been hoping to sell Ankara another regiment of four S-400 batteries after Turkish pledges to buy more. How long could Erdogan keep the S-400 unboxed without falling out with Putin? The delay may have bought Ankara a couple of months time, but managing the crisis without infuriating either Putin or Trump remains a tall order. (Natural News) On Monday, U.S. Attorney General William Barr, acting director of national intelligence Richard Grenell, and other senior officials called on a federal judge to prevent the disclosure of files related to the role of the government of Saudi Arabia in the September 11 attacks. The officials told the judge in the civil case that the release of the files would endanger national security. (Article by Derrick Broze republished from TheMindUnleashed.com) The files are being sought by families of the 9/11 victims who have spent the last two decades attempting to uncover the truth about the attacks. The families filed a lawsuit in federal district court in New York in 2017 as part of their effort to uncover the role of the Saudi government. What is publicly known is that the alleged 9/11 hijackers had a relationship with Saudi government officials. As Pro Public reported, at the 2019 White House September 11 memorial, U.S. President Donald Trump promised the families he would help them uncover the truth about 9/11. He made similar promises while he was campaigning for president. He looked us in the eye on 9/11, he shook our hands in the White House and said, Im going to help youits done, Brett Eagleson, a banker whose father was killed in the World Trade Center, told Pro Publica. I think the 9/11 families have lost all hope that the president is going to step up and do the right thing. Hes too beholden to the Saudis. The Trump Administration stated that the national security threat was so great that even sharing the reasoning behind the request for secrecy could cause harm. According to Pro Publica, AG Barr told the court that public discussion of the issue would reveal information that could cause the very harms my assertion of the state secrets privilege is intended to prevent. Pro Publica notes that four statements from FBI and Justice Department officials were also under seal and can not be seen by the public. Another five statements from FBI, Justice Department, and CIA officials were only seen by the judge and could not even be shared with the families lawyers. Steven Pounian, a lawyer for the families also suggested that there must be some deep, dark secret that theyre still trying very hard to hide after almost 20 year, and that it might be a Saudi government secret. But how can these be secrets that still need to be kept from the American people after all this time? Steven Pounian, attorney for the 9/11 victims families The call for secrecy was questioned by three Senators who asked the Justice Departments inspector general to investigate why the FBI has refused to release information about Saudi connections. The information is being sought as part of a subpoena filed by the 9/11 families in 2018. Senators Charles Grassley of Iowa, Charles Schumer of New York, and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut questioned the FBIs decision to keep the files classified. The September 11 attacks represent a singular and defining tragedy in the history of our Nation. Nearly 20 years later, the 9/11 families and the American public still have not received the full and transparent accounting of the potential sources of support for those attacks to which they are entitled, the senators wrote to Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz. Barr stated that Justice Department guidelines set down by the Obama administration in 2009 prevented the government from asserting a state secrets claim as a method of concealing illegal behavior or embarrassing actions. Barr told the judge that he believed these guidelines had been met. Unfortunately, in the absence of any further information the American public is resigned to trusting Barr, Trump, and anonymous FBI and CIA agents. Unfortunately, William Barr does not have a record of trustworthy actions. As far back as 1989 Barr discussed his belief that the FBI could legally abduct people in foreign countries without the consent of the foreign government. The opinion was revealed in a leaked legal memo authored by Barr while he was serving as the head of the Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel (OLC). Barr chose to withhold the full memo and asked the public to trust his conclusion. In the weeks after 9/11, when the U.S. government began to seize powers to roundup foreign citizens, spy on Americans, and torture anyone accused of terrorism, Newsweek noted that Barr had played a role in paving the way for such actions: Now the Bush administration and Congress seemed primed to do just about anything to foil future attacks. Justice Department lawyers have been told to take a fresh look at everything, one official said. Perhaps the most startling idea under examination would be a new presidential order authorizing secret military tribunals to try accused terrorists. The idea first occurred to former attorney general William Barr after the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988. Barr, at the time chief of the Justice Departments Office of Legal Counsel, got the idea after learning that his office was used during World War II to tryin secretGerman saboteurs who were later hanged. The idea was rejected, but its being revived on the theory that terrorists are de facto military combatants who dont deserve the full run of constitutional rights. More recently, Barr has been involved in perpetuating the myth that encryption is a tool that only terrorists and dangerous criminals use and launching an orwellian pre-crime program. In October 2019, MintPress News reported that Barr had recently laid the groundwork for this new program: Indeed, since becoming Attorney General under President Trump, Barr has spearheaded numerous efforts to this end, including pushing for a government backdoor into consumer apps or devices that utilize encryption and for a dramatic increase of long-standing yet controversial warrantless electronic surveillance programs. On July 23rd, Barr gave the keynote address at the 2019 International Conference on Cyber Security (ICCS) and mainly focused on the need for consumer electronic products and applications that use encryption to offer a backdoor for the government, specifically law enforcement, in order to obtain access to encrypted communications as a matter of public safety. Barr would go on to issue a memorandum to all U.S. attorneys, law enforcement agencies, and high level Justice Department officials calling for the implementation of a new national disruption and early engagement program aimed at detecting potential mass shooters before they commit any crime. This memo called for the DOJ and FBI to refine our ability to identify, assess and engage potential mass shooters before they strike. Barr called for the pre-crime program to be implemented in early 2020. The blocking of state secrets related to the September 11 attacks is just the latest in a long line of cover ups and corrupt practices by Attorney General William Barr. Read more at: TheMindUnleashed.com Equinor's Johan Sverdrup oil field depicted in August 2019. Lundin Petroleum received its first oil from Phase 1 of the Johan Sverdrup field in early October. Norway's Equinor announced Thursday it will cut its quarterly dividend payment to shareholders by two-thirds, potentially paving the way for other oil majors to follow suit over the coming days. The state-controlled oil company said its first-quarter cash pay-out to shareholders would be $0.09 per share, down from $0.27 in the final three months of 2019. That reflects a quarter-on-quarter reduction of 67%. The move makes Western Europe's biggest crude producer the first oil major to cut its dividend this earnings season. "It seems there is a chance that other majors will follow suit," Tamas Varga, senior analyst at PVM Oil Associates, told CNBC via email on Thursday. "Clearly, suspending share buybacks and cutting capex (capital expenditure) does not do the trick anymore. In these turbulent times cash is king and the battle for remaining financially sound intensifies," Varga said. Anglo-Dutch energy giant Royal Dutch Shell is scheduled to announce earnings on April 30, with U.S. majors Chevron and Exxon Mobil both set to report their latest quarterly figures on May 1. France's Total is expected to announce whether they plan to cut dividends on May 5. Nick Coleman, senior editor of oil news at S&P Global Platts, told CNBC via telephone that Equinor's announcement "certainly brings into focus the kind of pressures that the industry is under." But, it should not be viewed through "quite the same lens" as the genuine global majors. He argued that while Equinor has ambitions to expand its international scale beyond Europe, it was not yet quite in the same category as Shell, BP or Total. Coleman also said he did not believe shareholders would have anticipated the scale of the dividend cut announced on Thursday. Shares of Equinor traded almost 1% lower during mid-morning deals. As the world struggles with COVID-19 pandemic, Iran on Thursday, April 23 called for the United States to be held accountable for cruel sanctions that have obstructed the Islamic state's measures to curb the spread of the deadly infection. The pandemic has till now claimed 5,391 lives and infected about 85,996 people in Iran. The Trump administration imposed heavy sanctions on the Islamic republic after the US pulled out of Iran nuclear deal in 2018. Irans deputy foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, in a ministry statement said "Today, the coronavirus has spread not only in Iran but in almost all countries, and it requires serious effort and collective action to deal with it. In addition to fighting the virus, Iran faces illegal and inhuman American sanctions, doubling the pressure on the Iranian people". Read: Iran, Like Wider Mideast, Relies On Deliveries Amid Pandemic 'Violation of UNSC resolution' Elaborating further, Araghchi said that it was the right of Iranian people to have access to their financial resources for combating the coronavirus infection and counter its economic consequences. Terming United Stated as callous, the Shiite lawmaker said that the US "cruel and unilateral sanctions" constitute a clear violation of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 and therefore the United States should be held accountable. According to reports, medicines and medical gears are exempted from the sanctions, but purchases as usually blocked by banks who refrain from processing transactions for fear of heavy penalties. Read: Chiranjeevi Completes #BeTheRealMan Challenge, Nominates Rajinikanth; Watch Video US-Iran feud in the sea Recently, Iran's Revolutionary Guards chief warned Washington of decisive response from Tehran. This came after US President Donald Trump said on April 22 that he has instructed American troops to shoot down Iranian boats that cause trouble for the US ships deployed in the Gulf. Major General Hossein Salami told state television that Irans response would be quick and efficient. Salami reportedly also said that the Iranian forces have also received orders to target American troops if they try to endanger the safety of their war boats. Trump took to Twitter to warn Tehran after the Revolutionary Guards said they had launched their first military satellite of the country. The US President had said that if they (Iran) harass US ships, the American troops are ordered to destroy them. Read: Iran's Revolutionary Guards Chief Hits Back At Trump, Warns US Of 'decisive Response' Read: Smriti Irani Slams Attack On Arnab & Samyabrata, Laments Congress 'won't Spare Family' (Image Credits: AP) After online classroom teaching Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU) is shifting its focus to virtual lab as closure of all engineering colleges affiliated to the university has put practicals on halt, said an official. Under the chairmanship of AKTU vice chancellor Vinay Kumar Pathak, a webinar was held on Wednesday to weigh options for virtual lab. The idea is to explore possibilities of starting virtual lab amid the lockdown, said the VC. We also have to start practicals alongside online classroom teaching. Theory is important. But for engineering student, the application part of what is being taught, is equally important, said Pathak. AKTU sought guidance of experts from IITs, including prof Ranjan Bose from IIT Delhi, prof Kantesh Blani from IIT Kanpur, Pushpadeep Mishra from IIT Mumbai, and prof Venkatesh from IIT Hyderabad. Prof Ranjan said virtual lab is a project of ministry of human resource development, government of India. He said on this platform, practical work of all engineering streams is possible. He said on virtual labs, practical teaching can easily be conducted because the required software is free for all students. Pushpdeep Mishra and prof Venkatesh informed on how to carry out practicals on the virtual lab. AKTU vice chancellor prof Pathak said, In the present scenario virtual lab is a good option to start practical work. He said the university will form a committee to explore the possibility and from the next semester it will become an essential part in AKTU teaching learning module. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In March, Gov. Tom Wolf shuttered most of the states economy in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. 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. HARRISBURG More than a month after the process was first announced, there is still no timeline for when Gov. Tom Wolfs administration will release the list of Pennsylvania businesses that received coveted waivers and were allowed to reopen during the ongoing coronavirus shutdown. During a hearing Thursday, members of the Republican-controlled state Senate lambasted the secretive nature of the waiver process, arguing that the state was deciding the fate of businesses without providing any transparency, leading to confusion and inconsistencies even among businesses in the same industry. With such an unprecedented situation comes unprecedented decisions, with no handbook or established guidelines, Sen. Mike Regan (R., York) said. Senate colleagues from both sides of the aisle have expressed frustration that waivers were issued and denied with no basis, and especially with no transparency. In March, Wolf shuttered most of the states economy in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus. But in a nod to the complexity of the situation, the governor opened up a waiver process to allow businesses to make the case for why they should be allowed to reopen. Those decisions were handled by employees of the Department of Community and Economic Development. But the administration has rebuked or ignored a host of media requests for the criteria used to make those decisions as well as a list of waivers approved, denied, or approved and then revoked. Under the governors emergency order, state agencies have largely stopped processing public records requests. The stakes of the waiver process cannot be overstated, as the states decisions affect the livelihoods and potential safety of business owners, employees, and their families, and could mean the difference between solvency and bankruptcy. Of the 42,000 applications submitted, 22,000 were granted a waiver or informed that they were already considered life-sustaining, state officials said. The secretary of the economic development agency, Dennis M. Davin, told lawmakers the process did not favor certain businesses and insisted the 45-person team made decisions in good faith. It is not a perfect system," Davin said. "We never said it was a perfect system. It is not something we would have ever imagined we would have to do. State officials have on several occasions reviewed and revoked waivers after being contacted by journalists. For example, after questions from Spotlight PA about how Wolfs former cabinet supply company qualified as life-sustaining, the department revoked the waiver and said it should close. The company kept operating, claiming it did not need the waiver. In a separate report, the state revoked a waiver for a playground equipment company after inquiries from Spotlight PA. When you have a business next door that does the same thing you do getting a waiver, and you dont, it causes a lot of mistrust and a lack of confidence, Sen. Kim Ward (R., Westmoreland) said. Sen. Doug Mastriano (R., Adams) pressed Davin to release the list, saying the process seemed random. It puts a lot of power in your hands, as well as the governors, picking who can stay open and who cant, Mastriano said. Despite the best intentions here, I think its a dangerous thing, having so much power in one place. Davin said the department is working on releasing information to the legislature, but is not yet prepared to do it. We dont want to hold back or hide anything. We want to give you good information, he said. Thats what we are working on doing right now. We are putting together this information in the best way we can. Im trying to do something that makes sense to all Pennsylvanians. On Wednesday, Wolf released a plan to begin easing coronavirus restrictions on a region-by-region basis based on a number of criteria, including a declining case count. Officials have said robust testing and contact tracing will also be necessary, but have not provided details about how they will achieve those goals. Health Secretary Rachel Levine said the Department of Health is working to expand criteria for testing, meaning people with mild symptoms or a case in their household may be able to get tested moving forward. David Randy Padfield, director of the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, said there are plans for drug stores to provide rapid testing with a doctors prescription, but said testing cannot be significantly increased until there are enough reagents and other supplies needed. The challenges are, the machines are really designed for point-of-care testing, Padfield said. Unfortunately, the supplies and the technology is just not there yet. 100% ESSENTIAL: Spotlight PA relies on funding from foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. If you value this reporting, please give a gift today at spotlightpa.org/donate. The wife of a man who dismissed the coronavirus as a 'political ploy' before dying from COVID-19 has defended her husband and said he would've retracted his claims if he was still alive. John W. McDaniel, 60, tested positive for the coronavirus in late March and died at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, on April 15. On Wednesday, his wife, Lisa McDaniel, released a statement on social media explaining that her husband's funeral would no longer be livestreamed because of the backlash the family has received following his remarks. 'Similar to thousands of people, we are suffering from an unexpected and untimely loss due to the effects of COVID-19, the likes of which we never could have imagined. 'During this time of mourning, John's story along with early assumptions that he stated on Twitter and Facebook have turned into national news. This news has opened the flood gates for people to share their own misguided anger and unfounded assumptions about a man they don't know,' Lisa wrote. Scroll down for video Lisa McDaniel (left), the wife of a John McDaniel (right), 60, who dismissed the coronavirus as a 'political ploy' before dying from COVID-19 says her husband would've retracted his claims if he was still alive Lisa explained that John would've retracted his statements about the coronavirus if he was alive to do so. 'We know if John was still here with us he would acknowledge the national crisis we are in, abide by the stay-at-home order, and encourage family and friends to do the same' Lisa went on to say that she wanted to honor her family and 'John's legacy' by not livestreaming his funeral on Wednesday. She then explained that John would've retracted his statements about the coronavirus if he was alive to do so. 'As each day passes, we all are learning more about this "invisible enemy." We have all learned that the early actions taken by our National and State government were indeed the right action to take,' she wrote. 'Quarantine and social distancing have been effective in flattening the curve.' She explained in the statement that John, who was the president of his family's industrial manufacturing company, O & M, ordered his employees to work from home on March 16. Lisa said John then self-isolated himself after coming into contact with someone who had tested positive for the virus. 'Many, like John, made statements early on not fully aware of the severity of COVID-19, many have retracted their statements knowing now the effects of this pandemic. 'We know if John was still here with us he would acknowledge the national crisis we are in, abide by the stay-at-home order, and encourage family and friends to do the same,' she wrote. She explained in the statement that John, who was the president of his family's industrial manufacturing company, O & M, ordered his employees to work from home on March 16 Lisa said John (pictured) then self-isolated himself after coming into contact with someone who had tested positive for the virus 'But sadly he is not with us and we will forever have to live and cope with how his life ended far too soon. Further, we will never be able to erase from our hearts and minds the negative posts that have been made and shared about John this past week. Before his death, John had dismissed the coronavirus as a 'political ploy' that he said officials were using to exert control over the public. 'Does anybody have the guts to say this COVID19 is a political ploy? Asking for a friend. Prove me wrong,' he wrote in a March 13 post. He later claimed governors did not have the 'authority' to shut down bars and that anyone who was worried about becoming sick should 'just' not go out. It is unknown if John had any underlying health conditions which could have contributed to his death. According to his obituary, he battled cancer in the 80s. Before his death, John had dismissed the coronavirus as a 'political ploy' that he said officials were using to exert control over the public John posted a series of Facebook messages blasting the state-imposed coronavirus lockdown. He criticized Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, saying he didn't have the authority to order businesses to shut There are more than 871,000 cases of the virus in the US with 49,099 deaths He is survived by his wife and their two adult sons. It is not known if any of them have fallen ill or become infected. John became the first resident in his county to die of COVID-19. On behalf of the entire Marion County community, we express our deepest sympathies to his family and friends, Marion Public Health Commissioner Traci Kinsler said in a press release issued Wednesday after his death. Our thoughts go out to the Marion County community, as well as all Ohioans, and those across the world battling this illness and the families of everyone affected by this pandemic. In Ohio, there are more than 13,000 confirmed cases of the virus with 557 deaths. NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION, DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, ITALY, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAWS. GENEVA, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Firmenich International SA, a global leader in the Flavor & Fragrance industry, is pleased to announce the successful placement of its inaugural 1.5bn Eurobond Benchmark Offering comprising two tranches with 6.5 and 10 year maturities and coupon rates of 1.375 and 1.75 per cent, as well as the placement of CHF 425mn Swiss Franc bonds with a 3.6 year maturity and a coupon rate of one per cent. The net proceeds of the bonds will be used to finance the acquisition of DRT announced on 6thMarch 2020 and for general corporate purposes. The Eurobonds were significantly oversubscribed and both offerings attracted strong interest from a broad institutional investor base, demonstrating recognition of the Group's resilient business model, successful operating track record and strong cash generation profile. The benchmark Eurobonds and Swiss bonds are rated BBB by S&P Global Ratings Europe Limited. "Our inaugural bond placement represents an important moment in Firmenich's 125-year history. We are extremely happy with the support received from a wide range of institutional investors," said Patrick Firmenich, Chairman of the Board, Firmenich. "We are excited for the future. This funding will enable us to continue investing in strategic growth and business development opportunities," said Gilbert Ghostine, CEO, Firmenich. "I would like to thank all of our colleagues, who have been instrumental in building our business and I welcome our new investors to the Firmenich community." Citi and UBS acted as Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners with respect to the Eurobond offering. Credit Suisse and ZKB acted as Joint Bookrunners with respect to the Swiss bond offering. The Eurobond offering is expected to be settled on or around 30thApril 2020, whilst the Swiss Franc bond offering is expected to be settled on or around 19th May 2020, subject to customary conditions precedent. Firmenich was advised by Baker & McKenzie and by Bredin Prat and Homburger in respect of French and Swiss law, respectively. About Firmenich Firmenich was founded in 1895 in Geneva, Switzerland, and for 125 years has been a private family-owned company. Firmenich is a leading business-to-business company operating primarily in the flavors and fragrances market, and is involved in the research, creation, manufacture and sale of perfumes, flavors and ingredients. Firmenich aims to offer its customers superior creativity in formulation, a broad and high-quality palette of ingredients and proprietary technologies including in biotechnology, encapsulation, olfactory science and taste modulation, among other areas of innovation. Firmenich had an annual turnover of 3.9 billion Swiss Francs at end June 2019. More information about Firmenich is available at www.firmenich.com DISCLAIMER NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN BY THE COMPANY, THE JOINT LEAD MANAGERS OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES THAT WOULD PERMIT AN OFFERING OF THE BONDS OR POSSESSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF THIS PRESS RELEASE OR ANY OFFERING OR PUBLICITY MATERIAL RELATING TO THE BONDS IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE ACTION FOR THAT PURPOSE IS REQUIRED. PERSONS INTO WHOSE POSSESSION THIS PRESS RELEASE COMES ARE REQUIRED BY THE COMPANY AND THE JOINT LEAD MANAGERS TO INFORM THEMSELVES ABOUT, AND TO OBSERVE, ANY SUCH RESTRICTIONS. THIS DOCUMENT IS NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES. THE SECURITIES MENTIONED IN THIS DOCUMENT HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "U.S. SECURITIES ACT") AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR DELIVERED WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OR TO, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OR BENEFIT OF, U.S. PERSONS WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT ABSENT REGISTRATION OR EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT. IN ADDITION, THE COMPANY HAS NOT BEEN, AND WILL NOT BE, REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940, AS AMENDED (THE "U.S. INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT") AND, AS SUCH, INVESTORS WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO THE BENEFITS OF THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT. NO OFFER, PURCHASE, SALE OR TRANSFER OF THE SHARES MAY BE MADE EXCEPT UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH WILL NOT RESULT IN THE COMPANY BEING REQUIRED TO REGISTER AS AN INVESTMENT COMPANY UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT. THIS DOCUMENT DOES 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 IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. THERE WILL BE NO PUBLIC OFFER OF THE SECURITIES IN THE UNITED STATES OR IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION. THIS PRESS RELEASE AND THE OFFERING WHEN MADE ARE ONLY ADDRESSED TO AND DIRECTED IN MEMBER STATES OF THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA (THE "EEA") AT PERSONS WHO ARE "QUALIFIED INVESTORS" WITHIN THE MEANING OF ARTICLE 2 (E) OF THE PROSPECTUS REGULATION ("QUALIFIED INVESTORS"). FOR THESE PURPOSES, THE EXPRESSION "PROSPECTUS REGULATION" MEANS Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 AND INCLUDES ANY RELEVANT IMPLEMENTING MEASURE IN THE MEMBER STATE. SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE PRODUCT GOVERNANCE REQUIREMENTS CONTAINED WITHIN: (A) EU DIRECTIVE 2014/65/EU ON MARKETS IN FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS, AS AMENDED ("MIFID II"); (B) ARTICLES 9 AND 10 OF COMMISSION DELEGATED DIRECTIVE (EU) 2017/593 SUPPLEMENTING MIFID II; AND (C) LOCAL IMPLEMENTING MEASURES (TOGETHER, THE "MIFID II PRODUCT GOVERNANCE REQUIREMENTS"), AND DISCLAIMING ALL AND ANY LIABILITY, WHETHER ARISING IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE, WHICH ANY "MANUFACTURER" (FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE MIFID II PRODUCT GOVERNANCE REQUIREMENTS) MAY OTHERWISE HAVE WITH RESPECT THERETO, THE BONDS HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO A PRODUCT APPROVAL PROCESS, WHICH HAS DETERMINED THAT: (I) THE TARGET MARKET FOR THE BONDS IS ELIGIBLE COUNTERPARTIES AND PROFESSIONAL CLIENTS ONLY, EACH AS DEFINED IN MIFID II; AND (II) ALL CHANNELS FOR DISTRIBUTION OF THE BONDS TO ELIGIBLE COUNTERPARTIES AND PROFESSIONAL CLIENTS ARE APPROPRIATE. ANY PERSON SUBSEQUENTLY OFFERING, SELLING OR RECOMMENDING THE BONDS (A "DISTRIBUTOR") SHOULD TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE MANUFACTURERS' TARGET MARKET ASSESSMENT; HOWEVER, A DISTRIBUTOR SUBJECT TO MIFID II IS RESPONSIBLE FOR UNDERTAKING ITS OWN TARGET MARKET ASSESSMENT IN RESPECT OF THE BONDS (BY EITHER ADOPTING OR REFINING THE MANUFACTURERS' TARGET MARKET ASSESSMENT) AND DETERMINING APPROPRIATE DISTRIBUTION CHANNELS. THE TARGET MARKET ASSESSMENT IS WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF ANY CONTRACTUAL OR LEGAL SELLING RESTRICTIONS IN RELATION TO ANY OFFERING OF THE BONDS. FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, THE TARGET MARKET ASSESSMENT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE: (A) AN ASSESSMENT OF SUITABILITY OR APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE PURPOSES OF MIFID II; OR (B) A RECOMMENDATION TO ANY INVESTOR OR GROUP OF INVESTORS TO INVEST IN, OR PURCHASE, OR TAKE ANY OTHER ACTION WHATSOEVER WITH RESPECT TO THE BONDS. THE BONDS ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE TO AND SHOULD NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE MADE AVAILABLE TO ANY RETAIL INVESTOR IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE EEA OR IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. FOR THESE PURPOSES, A RETAIL INVESTOR MEANS A PERSON WHO IS ONE (OR MORE) OF: (I) A RETAIL CLIENT AS DEFINED IN POINT (11) OF ARTICLE 4(1) OF MIFID II; OR (II) A CUSTOMER WITHIN THE MEANING OF DIRECTIVE (EU) 2016/97, WHERE THAT CUSTOMER WOULD NOT QUALIFY AS A PROFESSIONAL CLIENT AS DEFINED IN POINT (10) OF ARTICLE 4(1) OF MIFID II. CONSEQUENTLY, NO KEY INFORMATION DOCUMENT REQUIRED BY REGULATION (EU) NO 1286/2014, AS AMENDED (THE "PRIIPS REGULATION") FOR OFFERING OR SELLING THE BONDS OR OTHERWISE MAKING THEM AVAILABLE TO RETAIL INVESTORS IN THE EEA OR IN THE UNITED KINGDOM HAS BEEN PREPARED AND THEREFORE OFFERING OR SELLING THE BONDS OR OTHERWISE MAKING THEM AVAILABLE TO ANY RETAIL INVESTOR IN THE EEA OR IN THE UNITED KINGDOM MAY BE UNLAWFUL UNDER THE PRIIPS REGULATION. The Bonds may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act ("FinSA") and no application has or will be made to admit the Bonds to trading on any trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. Neither the Offering Circular nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the Bonds constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA, and neither the Offering Circular nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the Bonds may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland The Offering Circular has not been prepared in the context of an offer to the public of financial securities within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (the "Prospectus Regulation"). Consequently, the Bonds may not be, directly or indirectly, offered or sold to the public in France (offre au public de titres financiers), and neither the Offering Circular nor any other offering material may be distributed to the public in France. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Bonds may be offered and sold in France exclusively to a limited number of investors acting for their own account (cercle restreint d'investisseurs agissant pour compte propre) in accordance with Article L.411-2 of the French Monetary and Financial Code (Code monetaire et financier) or to qualified investors (investisseurs qualifies) as defined by Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation. Prospective investors are informed that: (i) the Offering Circular has not been and will not be submitted for clearance to the Autorite des marches financiers (the "AMF"); and (ii) the direct and indirect distribution or sale to the public of the Bonds acquired by them may only be made in compliance with Articles L.411-1 and L.411-2 of the French Monetary and Financial Code (Code monetaire et financier) and applicable regulation thereunder. Investors in France and persons into whose possession offering materials come must inform themselves about, and observe, any such restrictions. IN ADDITION, IN THE UNITED KINGDOM THIS PRESS RELEASE IS BEING DISTRIBUTED ONLY TO, AND IS DIRECTED ONLY AT, QUALIFIED INVESTORS (I) WHO HAVE PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE IN MATTERS RELATING TO INVESTMENTS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 19(5) OF THE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND MARKETS ACT 2000 (FINANCIAL PROMOTION) ORDER 2005, AS AMENDED (THE "ORDER") AND QUALIFIED INVESTORS FALLING WITHIN ARTICLE 49(2)(A) TO (D) OF THE ORDER, AND (II) TO WHOM IT MAY OTHERWISE LAWFULLY BE COMMUNICATED (ALL SUCH PERSONS TOGETHER BEING REFERRED TO AS "RELEVANT PERSONS"). THIS PRESS RELEASE MUST NOT BE ACTED ON OR RELIED ON (I) IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT RELEVANT PERSONS, AND (II) IN ANY MEMBER STATE OF THE EEA OTHER THAN THE UNITED KINGDOM, BY PERSONS WHO ARE NOT QUALIFIED INVESTORS. ANY INVESTMENT OR INVESTMENT ACTIVITY TO WHICH THIS PRESS RELEASE RELATES IS AVAILABLE ONLY TO (A) RELEVANT PERSONS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND WILL BE ENGAGED IN ONLY WITH RELEVANT PERSONS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND (B) QUALIFIED INVESTORS IN MEMBER STATES OF THE EEA (OTHER THAN THE UNITED KINGDOM). ANY DECISION TO PURCHASE ANY OF THE BONDS SHOULD ONLY BE MADE ON THE BASIS OF AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW BY A PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR OF THE COMPANY'S PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION. NONE OF THE JOINT LEAD MANAGERS OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES ACCEPTS ANY LIABILITY ARISING FROM THE USE OF OR MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION AS TO THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF, THIS PRESS RELEASE OR THE COMPANY'S PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE IN ITS ENTIRETY WITHOUT NOTICE UP TO THE CLOSING DATE. EACH PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR SHOULD PROCEED ON THE ASSUMPTION THAT IT MUST BEAR THE ECONOMIC RISK OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE BONDS OR THE SHARES TO BE ISSUED UPON CONVERSION OF THE BONDS (TOGETHER WITH THE BONDS, THE "SECURITIES"). NONE OF THE COMPANY OR THE JOINT LEAD MANAGERS MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION AS TO (I) THE SUITABILITY OF THE SECURITIES FOR ANY PARTICULAR INVESTOR, (II) THE APPROPRIATE ACCOUNTING TREATMENT AND POTENTIAL TAX CONSEQUENCES OF INVESTING IN THE SECURITIES OR (III) THE FUTURE PERFORMANCE OF THE SECURITIES EITHER IN ABSOLUTE TERMS OR RELATIVE TO COMPETING INVESTMENTS. THE JOINT LEAD MANAGERS ARE ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE COMPANY AND NO ONE ELSE IN CONNECTION WITH THE BONDS AND WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE TO ANY OTHER PERSON FOR PROVIDING THE PROTECTIONS AFFORDED TO CLIENTS OF THE JOINT LEAD MANAGERS OR FOR PROVIDING ADVICE IN RELATION TO THE SECURITIES. EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE JOINT LEAD MANAGERS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE AFFILIATES EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ANY OBLIGATION OR UNDERTAKING TO UPDATE, REVIEW OR REVISE ANY STATEMENT CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE WHETHER AS A RESULT OF NEW INFORMATION, FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS OR OTHERWISE. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/798187/Firmenich_Logo.jpg 5 Juveniles murder warden and inmate as their supply of 'cough syrups' shuts off New Motor Vehicle Rules 2019: What is the new fine for juvenile drivers? 11 juveniles abscond from Delhi correctional home India oi-Briti Roy Barman New Delhi, Apr 23: There was a stir in the reform house near the capital's Delhi Gate when 11 teenagers escaped from here. It is being told that the teen had a fight with the security guard of the reform home about some unknown matter. After this, 11 teenagers escaped after beating the guard. According to the information received from the police, the incident took place on April 22 at 7 pm. Two guards were injured in the clash, who are undergoing treatment at the hospital. "11 juveniles in conflict with law absconded from correctional home near Delhi Gate. The juveniles attacked the security guards at the correction home before escaping", says Delhi police. 11 juveniles in conflict with law absconded from correction home near Delhi Gate. They had a fight with the security guards and then they escaped. Two guards are injured as well and getting treatment at the hospital. The incident happened on April 22 at 7pm: Delhi Police pic.twitter.com/e4alIRszgd ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 11 juvenile offenders escaped from a child improvement home in Delhi Gate area of central Delhi. These children were serial offenders. It is being told that these people first assaulted the security guards and then fled from there. There were a total of 13 juvenile offenders at the child improvement home, of which 11 escaped. There were child criminals who had committed crimes many times. Two injured security personnel have been admitted to the Sushruta Trauma Center for treatment. Police is investigating the case. There have been many incidents of escaping of child criminals from here. Eight years ago, child criminals beat up security personnel at the reform home of Majnu Ka Tila and set fire to the correctional home. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, April 23, 2020, 14:08 [IST] California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced a modification to the states stay-at-home order that would allow certain essential surgeries to be scheduled again. He did not provide a date for when other coronavirus restrictions will be lifted. We are working with our health directors throughout our healthcare delivery system to get these surgeries up and running again, Newsom said at a press briefing Wednesday. He cited tumor and heart valve surgeries as examples of procedures that will be allowed to go ahead. Newsom said that California is looking at Washington and Oregon as models for loosening coronavirus restrictions. Newsom also said that he and President Donald Trump agreed to significantly increase testing in California, with hundreds of thousands of new swabs coming into the state. Trump promised California 100,000 swabs this week, with 250,000 swabs scheduled to arrive next week. California is also working to open 86 test facilities in testing deserts where people dont have easy access to testing, according to Newsom. California currently has 35,396 confirmed positive cases of coronavirus. 3,357 of which are in our hospitals and 1,219 of which are ICU cases. This GOES-16, GeoColor satellite image taken Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019, and provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), shows Hurricane Dorian moving off the east coast of Florida in the Atlantic Ocean. (NOAA via AP) The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Monday approved unanimously an application by Ligado Networks to deploy a low-power terrestrial nationwide network that would primarily support 5G and other mobile technologies and services. However, critics within the Weather Enterprise and elsewhere worry the decision and other pending proposals from Ligado could compromise vital satellite weather data transmitted via the radio spectrum. The FCC and the Trump Administration were concerned the US might lose the battle for 5G development if proposals such as Ligado's are not advanced. "Swift FCC action on spectrum is imperative to allow for the deployment of 5G," U.S. Attorney General William Barr said in a statement last week when the proposal received FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's approval. "This is essential if we are to keep our economic and technological leadership and avoid forfeiting it to Communist China." In Pai's draft order last week he said, "We have compiled an extensive record, which confirms that it is in the public interest to grant Ligado's application while imposing stringent conditions to prevent harmful interference." The Weather Enterprise - as well as major airlines, the GPS industry, the Department of Defense, among others - is concerned specifically about that possible interference, which they believe will be caused by newly deployed mobile networks sharing spectrum with the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES). The spectrum is used for telecommunication such as mobile networks, radio transmission and satellite data ranging from the weather to GPS. Story continues "The advanced imagery and space-based lightning detection information that GOES provides has improved the quality and specificity of advanced warnings," a group including members of the Weather Enterprise, an informal network of companies, organizations and scientists that monitor weather conditions around the world, wrote in a letter to the FCC last week. CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP "Studies have shown that the use of next-generation GOES satellites have contributed substantially to accurate severe storm forecasting, increasing lead time on average by 10-15 minutes (from approximately 17 minutes to at least 29 minutes)." The Easter weekend tornado outbreak across the South that resulted in 36 deaths and substantial destruction was noted in last week's letter as proof of the importance of severe storm warning information. Ligado Networks President and CEO Doug Smith thanked the FCC in a statement Monday, noting, "We greatly appreciate their unanimous support as well as the expert engineering analysis determining that a terrestrial network can be deployed in the L-band to advance our country's economic and security interests while fully protecting GPS. Our spectrum can be very instrumental in the transition to 5G, and we look forward to utilizing satellite and terrestrial services to deploy customized private networks and deliver innovative, next-generation [Internet of Things] solutions for the industrial sector." The proposal approved this week most closely relates to parts of the spectrum used by GPS. In addition, Ligado has a proposal before the FCC related to the part of the spectrum (1675 - 1680 MHz) used by weather satellites to transmit data to Earth. Opponents expressed similar concern related to this and yet another part of the radio spectrum last summer. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said of the FCC's decision, "Quick action on this order, in conjunction with the allocation of a portion of the C-Band for 5G, is vital to our national security and will help ensure that the United States is the global leader in advanced technologies such as AI, the Internet of Things, edge computing and the next generation of telemedicine. Accelerating the deployment of 5G is essential to our country's growth, and global economic security." Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios. Animal Husbandry While goats run riot in Welsh villages and oystercatchers flock to Norfolk shores, Britains coronavirus lockdown is not all good news for wildlife. A lack of visitors means many of the countrys nature reserves face an uncertain future. Around the world, the pause enforced by the pandemic has given the planet a temporary reprieve from the daily assault of human activity, leaving skies to clear over New Delhi and deer to wander deserted Spanish streets. It is definitely keeping me awake at night, Sarah Kessell, chief executive of the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, which manages more than 110 reserves, told Reuters television Its suddenly and comprehensively switched off our income. Reliant on tourism for between a third and a half of its income, the trust may struggle to survive unless it can win government support or other contributions to offset the losses, Kessell said. Wildlife organisations say Britons are reporting seeing more birds and animals than usual, yet they caution this may largely be a matter of perception, rather than the result of any significant easing in the pressures species face. Unable to conduct surveys because reserves are closed, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds has invited people to look out of their windows or balconies each morning and log sightings under the #BreakfastBirdwatch hashtag on Twitter. Were hearing a lot of that type of thing: people are hearing more birdsong, or theyre seeing more birds or other wildlife, said Martin Fowlie, a spokesman for the charity. But really, I think the issue is that people have more time on their hands. In the county of Norfolk in the east of England, Jake Fiennes, head of conservation at the Holkham National Nature Reserve, which receives about a million visitors a year, said nature had breathed a sigh of relief after the pause. You would see the deer that would keep hidden in the brambles would then be walking down the tracks, Fiennes said. We would see birds breeding where historically there would be cars parking. Fiennes said he had seen thousands more coastal birds such as ringed plovers and oystercatchers during a recent walk than in the days when people and their dogs roamed the beaches. We have a unique moment to understand the impacts of people on nature, he said. Its highly unlikely this is ever going to happen again. Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here But the restrictions are placing an enormous financial strain on British reserves dependent on visitor revenue. Conservation work to preserve the habitats of threatened species from red squirrels to water voles has been put on hold. Singapore's coronavirus cases exceeded 10,000 on Wednesday as infections among migrant workers living in dormitories continued to surge. As of noon, the city-state preliminarily recorded 1,016 new cases, according to a statement by the health ministry, bringing the total number of covid-19 infections to 10,141. Of the new infections, the vast majority are work permit holders living in dormitories across the island, while 15 cases are Singaporeans or permanent residents, the statement said. Crossing the 10,000 mark represents a sharp reversal for the city-state, which was seen as a global standard bearer for containing the illness in the early days of the pandemic. The total number of confirmed cases has risen ten-fold since the start of the month, and this is the third day this week that new cases have gone past 1,000 as authorities ramp up testing among foreign workers. The rising number of cases in the housing facilities, where more than 200,000 workers live, has complicated efforts to curb the spread of the virus in Singapore, even as the government looks for new ways to house laborers who may be sharing living spaces with 10 or more people. On Tuesday, Singapore said it'll halt the daily movement of workers in and out of all dormitories, including those that are purpose built, factory converted or temporary quarters for construction laborers. Healthy workers in essential services have been moved to other facilities. "The large number of cases at the dorms is a serious problem," Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a address to the nation on Tuesday. "To assess the extent of the spread, we have tested aggressively. Not only those who reported sick, or showed fever or flu symptoms. But also those who were well and asymptomatic." Alongside measures to manage the situation at the worker dormitories, Singapore will also extend its partial lockdown for a further four weeks until June 1 to bring down virus cases within the community. The country will close more workplaces, with only the most essential services remaining open, Lee said. Foreign-worker cases now account for a steep majority of all confirmed infections in Singapore. The government has converted military camps and vacant public housing into interim housing facilities for those who are healthy. Meanwhile, it is also considering using cruise ships to accommodate workers who have recovered from the coronavirus and tested negative. All in, about 10,000 essential workers have been transferred out of the dormitories, Minister for Manpower Josephine Teo said at a briefing on Tuesday. "We know that there are going to be some adjustments to be made by the companies and we seek the cooperation of both employers and workers on this new condition," she said of the new measures preventing dormitory residents from going to work. "It is a necessary measure to minimize the risk of transmissions." LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Specialty chemicals company Croda International Plc. (CRDA.L) said Thursday that its core Business sales and Group profitability in the first quarter were broadly in line with its expectations as well as the prior year. While Asia was adversely impacted by the earlier shutdown in China due to the pandemic, North Asia delivered broadly flat sales across the quarter. North America returned to sales growth in the quarter whilst Latin America was below a strong comparator. The Group said Europe witnessed some demand weakness in Personal Care and Performance Technologies but saw good growth in Life Sciences. Croda said as it enters the second quarter, conditions in some markets are more variable than usual, while the value of its customer order book remains solid and in line with normal circumstances. However, the Group foresees uncertainty as to how the COVID-19 crisis will affect future sales. In addition, the Group said its Board has decided to pay the final 2019 ordinary dividend of 50.5 pence per share, announced in the annual results in February 2020, subject to approval by shareholders at AGM on April 23. 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. Canada prime minister Justin Trudeaus high-profile daily media briefings on the countrys response to the Covid-19 pandemic has helped him enjoy a resurgence in popularity. A new poll stated that Trudeaus handling of the Covid-19 crisis lifts his approval to the highest level since 2017. In fact, his performance is endorsed by 54% of Canadians, according to a new survey from the non-profit pollster Angus Reid Institute or ARI. The enhanced support amid the coronavirus crisis is clear since Trudeaus popularity has jumped 21% since February this year. As ARI noted, ...more than one month into an unprecedented national shutdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Prime Ministers front-and-centre presence at daily briefings has caused his approval ratings to do something they have not done in nearly two years: crack the majority mark. While Trudeau is leading a minority government, he is unlikely to use the new-found surge in support to announce snap elections given not only the restrictions that remain as the country to battle Covid-19 but also as his personal approval ratings do not translate into an upswing in the fortunes of his Liberal Party, and it remains in a statistical tie with the principal opposition Conservative Party. Trudeau has also announced more measures to ease the impact of Covid-19 on post-secondary students in the country, a move that will benefit nearly 200,000 students from India, many of whom are stranded in Canada.Trudeau announced a package to support college and university students as well as recent graduates. This support will cost CA $ 9 billion, and will include CA $ 1250 to students per month under a new Canada Emergency Student Benefit. Trudeau said, while making the announcement, The future of our economy and our country relies on the opportunities and support we provide to Canadian students today.. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Union Ministry of Defence on Wednesday (April 22) said that Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has constructed and opened a new permanent bridge on the river Ravi connecting Kasowal enclave in Punjab to the rest of the country. The MoD said that the BRO has succeeded in constructing the road much ahead of its schedule. "The enclave of around 35 square kilometres had hither to been connected via pontoon bridge of limited load capacity. The pontoon bridge used to be dismantled every year prior to the Monsoon or else it would have got washed away in the strong currents of the river. This meant thousands of acres of fertile land across the river could not be tilled by farmers during the Monsoon" Press Information Bureau said in a press release. According to PIB press release, the local population and the Army required a Class 70 permanent bridge to give all weather connectivity to the enclave and the BRO came up with a plan to construct a permanent bridge. The bridge is 484-meter-long and it was built by 141 Drain Maintenance Coy of 49 Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) of Project Chetak. The bridge costing Rs 17.89 crore consists of 16 cells of 30.25-metre length each. "Border Roads Organisation had planned to open the Kasowal bridge in time for Vaisakhi so that the farmers could transport their harvest to the market comfortably. The 16th and last Cell Division was completed on the March 15, 2020 and construction of protective works was under progress when the work came to a halt on March 23 due to the COVID-19 lockdown. To ensure locals do not suffer during the harvest season and also to ensure the bridge does not get damaged because of the heavy discharge of water and the tendency of the river to change course in the monsoons, Border Roads approached Punjab government and Gurdaspur district administration and obtained necessary approvals to continue the work," said the PIB press release. According to Director General Border Roads (DGBR) Lt Gen Harpal Singh, the BRO teams involved in the construction of the bridge took all necessary coronavirus COVID-19 precautions. KANSAS CITY, Mo., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Trustees of Kansas City University (KCU) announced this week a freeze on tuition for all academic programs for the 2020-21 academic year, rescinding a previously announced 3% increase in order to support students during the COVID-19 pandemic and ease financial hardships they face. "It is a priority for Kansas City University to keep the cost of education as low as possible for all of our students," said Marc B. Hahn, DO, president and CEO of KCU. "KCU has notably remained one of the ten least expensive private medical schools (MD or DO) in the nation. Especially now, we recognize the added financial hardships that many of our students and their families are facing because of the COVID-19 pandemic." The COVID-19 pandemic has created many challenges for higher education, and the full extent of those challenges is not yet known. Many universities and colleges are instituting hiring freezes, staff reductions and salary freezes. Despite these uncertainties, KCU vows to offer all manner of support to its students, who already experience an extremely rigorous and often stressful curriculum. These students will be needed to bolster the ranks of the nation's medical, mental health and science professionals, as the U.S. health-care systemwhich already faces a shortage of personnelencounters many more challenges in the years to come. In conjunction with the tuition freeze, KCU's Office of Institutional Advancement is seeking specific philanthropic support through a KCU COVID-19 Response Fund, which will address key areas related to the pandemic, including student hardship and academic technology support. "KCU is pleased to offer these measures to help ease students' financial burden, while remaining committed to delivering programs that satisfy all accreditation requirements and keep our students on track to graduate on time," added Hahn. "Together, these actions move KCU ever closer to realizing its vision to be the most student-focused health sciences university in the nation." About Kansas City University Kansas City University, founded in 1916, is a regionally accredited, not-for-profit private health sciences university with a College of Osteopathic Medicine and a College of Biosciences. The College of Osteopathic Medicine is the eighth largest medical school in the nation and the leading producer of physicians for the State of Missouri. KCU opened a second medical school campus in Joplin, Mo. in 2017 to help address the growing need for physicians in the region's rural communities. The University offers numerous graduate degrees to include a doctoral program in clinical psychology started in 2017 to meet the growing demand for behavioral health providers in the region. Groundbreaking for a College of Dental Medicine in Joplin, Mo., will take place late 2020. Contact: Elizabeth Alex Public Affairs Director (816) 654-7032 (816) 304-9498 (cell) [email protected] SOURCE Kansas City University Former President Barack Obama weighed in on the federal response to the coronavirus crisis, saying a "coherent national plan" is still necessary, while praising the response by Massachusetts. "While we continue to wait for a coherent national plan to navigate this pandemic, states like Massachusetts are beginning to adopt their own public health plans to combat the virus--before it's too late," Obama tweeted Wednesday afternoon. Obama linked to a New Yorker article from this week titled "It's Not Too Late To Go On Offense Against The Coronavirus." The article, written by a special adviser to the Bay State's pandemic response, singles out two ways the state has been ahead of much of the country. First is contact tracing, the first-in-the-nation program Gov. Charlie Baker announced at the beginning of April. The program, which is still growing, consists of a virtual call center that reaches out to people who test positive for the coronavirus. The call center then tries to get in touch with anyone that person may have had close contact with and alerts them. The second is testing. Baker announced a goal in March of testing 3,500 Massachusetts residents a day. More than double that target are now being administered daily. Significantly more testing is one of the benchmarks federal health officials pointed to before the economy begins to reopen in full. Latest Massachusetts coronavirus updates: 'Liberate' Protesters Gather Outside Baker's Swampscott Home Elizabeth Warren's Brother Dies Of Coronavirus This article originally appeared on the Boston Patch MIAMI, FL Jimmy Carter was president when Ron Magill began working at Zoo Miami two days before Earth Day in 1980 as a zookeeper As the public face of the largest zoological garden in Florida and one of the largest in the country, Magill has many fond memories from the four decades of Earth Days spent working there, but none more memorable than this year's. "I feel like I kind of won the lottery in a way," the TV personality and animal expert said in an Earth Day interview with Patch. "I have profound sympathy and empathy for the people struggling through this. But again, I always try to look at the positive side of things. Right now, Im trying to eat up every day I have with the solitude of this amazing wildlife." While he has been at Zoo Miami during other closures, this one has been different. Don't miss updates about precautions in Florida as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters. "Ive been through times when weve had to close the zoo after Hurricane Andrew, Hurricane Wilma," Magill recalled. "Those are all forms of destruction. Youd go out into the zoo, and it was depressing. Now, I go out into the zoo, and its like wow, Ive come into my own private world of wildlife." The experience has been surreal. The zoo's animal stars that are accustomed to throngs of visitors seem to have noticed things are very different. "I cannot be in their heads. I cannot say, 'Oh my gosh they miss the public.' I will say that now when I walk into the zoo, they notice me right away," he said. "They certainly notice that theres been a change in the routine." Much like humans, animals are creatures of habit. "They have routines that they go through each and every day, and when those routines are changed, it does add, I believe, a certain amount of stress to their routine," according to Magill. "We at the zoo have tried to keep the routine as regular as possible. Were still doing everything we do with them. Were going through enrichment programs with them. We havent had any animal get sick or seem depressed." Story continues He has been working on a video project that will be released publicly about Zoo Miami's Wings of Asia aviary, which is one of the largest in the county with more than 500 birds and 73 different feathered species. "If you go into our aviary right now, youll feel like you have been transported into a Southeast Asian rain forest," he said. "The birds are singing like you cant believe . Just the soundtrack alone is unbelievable the songs of the birds. It happens to also coincide with spring, so they are all courting, and they are all breeding right now." With so many animals at Zoo Miami, Magill concedes the aviary has been one of the most under appreciated exhibits, yet one of the most impressive. "These last few days Ive been getting in here right before sunrise, so Im in the aviary as the sun is rising. Im listening as these birds start singing. Im watching the dances they do with each other. Im watching birds hatching out of eggs and their mothers feeding them," he said. "Im 60 years old, and I feel like a little kid again sitting in there, understanding that if we lose this stuff if you lose a species all the money isnt going to bring it back," he said. "I think to myself, how sad it would be if the only way I could hear the sounds of these birds were on recordings." Some of the footage he has captured has been amazing mother birds feeding their young chicks and even a mother removing a chick that has died from the nest. "Im thinking this is the greatest movie on Earth. We dont have to watch 'Terminator.' We can watch nature, and it has this great story," Magill said. "These stories watching the birds sing, watching them court, watching them breed and then building the nests, seeing them work together, seeing those eggs hatch and chicks growing and fledging and leaving the nest." Magill celebrated his 40th anniversary with the zoo April 20 amid the new coronavirus shutdown. It has taught him the importance of unplugging from smartphones and computers from time to time. "I teared up. I think this is amazing. This is beautiful," he acknowledged. "How many people never get to hear this, never get to see this. We get all caught up in our smartphones, our computers and our daily grinds." Wildlife has also been thriving outside the zoo along Florida's beaches like never before in Magill's experience. "Were seeing manta rays, lots of dolphins coming into canals and estuaries. The water is crystal, crystal clear not tons of sediments from all the people in it, and not sunscreen oil floating on the top and all that other stuff." His message to Americans stuck at home is to take the time to appreciate nature to the extent possible, even if it's in their own backyard. "It shows that when given a chance, the Earth can rebound. Im not saying that we have to stay in lockdown all the time, but I think its a ray of positive hope to all of us that if we try hard, if we compromise, that we can coexist with nature," Magill said. "We just need to give it a chance." This article originally appeared on the Miami Patch Security Properties makes top 50 list [enlarge] Security Properties plans to build a 29-story tower with 212 units on the former Two Bells Tavern site in Belltown. The National Multifamily Housing Council recently released its list of America's top 50 apartment owners. Local shop Security Properties came in 44th, with 25,120 units. The firm, founded in 1969, develops and manages apartment projects all over the West Coast. Its current portfolio now numbers around 123 properties, which it values at nearly $7.2 billion. In the Seattle market, its notable new plans include a redevelopment of the Magnolia Albertsons into a Safeway with 138 units on top; and a 29-story tower with 212 units on the former Two Bells Tavern site in Belltown. Also on the NMHC owners list is Weidner Apartment Homes of Kirkland, at No. 14., with 56,262 units. No. 1 is MAA of Tennessee, with 100,031 units. NMHC also released Top 50 lists for managers, builders, developers and syndicaters. See nmhc.org for the full rankings. Amid the lockdown, when delivery persons are helping residents with essential items and food, many are still unable to look beyond religious prejudices and bias. A man in Maharashtra's Thane district has been arrested by police for allegedly refusing delivery from a Muslim person. Gajanan Chaturvedi was charged under IPC section 295(A) which relates to outraging religious feelings, on Tuesday night, a police official said, according to a report by PTI. This video is said to be from Maharashtra's Mira Road. This person had refused to take delivery of ordered groceries because the delivery boy was a Muslim. Hello @ThaneCityPolice @AUThackeray @CMOMaharashtra please appropriate action against such people. pic.twitter.com/VNN8Kva2E8 Deccan Daily (@DailyDeccan) April 21, 2020 According to a report by The Times of India, the incident occurred on Tuesday when a 32-year-old delivery person, a resident of Naya Nagar, was delivering groceries ordered online. I have been risking my life and delivering essential goods to homes, the delivery boy said. And to think that in these tough times too, people want to focus on religion is shocking and saddening." He had recorded the video of the incident on his phone. He said that the accused allegedly told him that he did not want to order from the person of a minority community. twitter Per the complaint filed by the delivery man, he visited Chaturvedi's house on Tuesday morning to deliver certain goods, said senior inspector Sanjay Hazare. Chaturvedi asked him his name, and when the man told his name, the former allegedly said he would not accept anything from Muslims. New York, April 23 : Amid the lockdown, veteran actor Richard Gere has welcomed his second child with wife Alejandra Silva. According to Spanish magazine Hola!, they are now parents of a baby boy, reports dailymail.co.uk. It is believed that they are enjoying the new addition to their family at their ranch outside New York. The reports that Gere, 70, Silva, 37, were expecting their second child first surfaced in November. The immensely-private couple never officially confirmed the news. The couple got married in April 2018, and announced they were expecting their first child together in August that year. Silva and Gere, who met in 2014 at a luxury Italian boutique hotel Silva bought with her former husband, welcomed son Alexander in February 2019. Ahead of the birth that time, Gere said he was "not all at" worried about becoming an older parent, and wanted to be a "hands-on dad". Greedy Harvard Signals Higher Education Must Change After Pandemic Commentary Its a national metaphor for a moribund system. Harvard, our oldest and richest university with an endowment of $40.9 billionslightly larger than the gross national product of Tunisiawas scheduled to receive $8.6 million via the CCP virus relief program. After President Donald Trumps criticism, the university at first held fast, insisting it planned to direct 100% of the fund to financial assistance to students, and will not be using any of the funds to cover institutional costs. Many then pointed out the obvious: Harvard, with its mountain of cash, could long ago have afforded to make their education free for all in perpetuity if it had so wished. In an action channeling Ebenezer Scrooge, the university had already laid off its dining hall workers. Caught in the headlights, Harvard demurred, as did several other rich institutions such as Stanford (endowment = $27.7 billion) that had been taking yet more government money because of the CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, as if they hadnt been taking tons of it before. Other heavily endowed schools havent declared their refusal yet, perhaps hoping to hide below the radar. Meanwhile, their students are at home, being taught, to the degree thats possible, online. This gives parents and other family members a unique opportunity to see exactly what they are being taught for tuition with room and board that in many cases are in excess of $70K per annum. This ability frightened professors who expressed their concerns on internet forums. Those fears were justified because, quite often and in various forms, their students were being taught socialism. They were being indoctrinated. (In one recent survey, Democrats outnumbered Republicans in the professorate by 10 to 1. Democrats are not de facto socialists, but in the circumscribed and essentially socialistic atmosphere of the college campus, many are more likely to be.) This although Americas students were locked in their homes, not to mention many of her citizens dying, because of the actions of a state that follows its own version of scientific socialism. That same statecommunist Chinahas infiltrated our colleges and universities to an extraordinary extent, often with spies masquerading as students, including some members of their wealthy ruling class, who are enriching the coffers of our universities while surreptitiously undermining the system. (Chinas leader Xi Jinpings daughter attended Harvard under an assumed name.) And you wonder why our professors and college administrations welcome Chinese students, while seeming to ignore the millions in reeducation camps, dissidents disappeared or in jail, forced organ transplants, and the rest? Now, all of a sudden, we have awakened (sort of) and are worried about Chinese domination of our supply chain, their ability to restrict our access to antibiotics and so forth. But to an equal degree, we should be concerned about their dominating our intellectual supply chain. The United States has, in essence, sold out its higher educational system. If its not China, its Saudi Arabia. Simultaneously and not coincidentally, most of our campuses have become literally infested by so-called social justice warriors, whose interest isnt in education but in righting perceived wrongs that are without end, as if everyone were a sexist, racist, or ableist from birth. The professorate and, even more, the administrators frequently react to these SJWs in a manner that is beyond timidity, essentially becoming their enablers and helping to destroy the venerable institutions for which they work. The level of absurdity has gone so far as that, in some institutions, its no longer required for an English major to study Shakespeare because the poor Bard happened to have been born with a white face. Once immune, even the STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) are now infected by this anti-intellectual, politically correct disease. All of this can be subsumed under what has become a massive disconnect between our higher education system and what it was originally intended to achievepreparing students for the working world and to be informed citizens of a democratic republic. One of the very few positive outcomes of the pandemic is that it may be helping to change this situationand quickly. Higher education is, inadvertently, being placed under the microscope of cost-benefit analysis. It will likely never be the same. Roger L. SimonThe Epoch Times senior political columnistis a graduate of Dartmouth and Yale. He no longer donates to either of them. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Each of this years recipients made compelling points on how their education will help them achieve their personal definition of success, and we are honored to be able to recognize their drive and dedication with this scholarship. iModules, the leader in higher education fundraising and engagement, has awarded $28,500 in scholarships to six students for the 2020 2021 academic year. This year, a record-high number of video applications were submitted for consideration from high school, undergraduate, and graduate students attending an iModules customer institution. Candidates were asked to share what success means to them and how their school of choice will help them achieve that success. The six recipients of iModules 2020 Scholarship program include: Ashlyn A., University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee - $5,500 Scholarship Saylor G., University of Missouri-Kansas City in Kansas City, Missouri - $5,500 Scholarship Ilia P., University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas - $5,500 Scholarship Benjamin S., University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas - $5,500 Scholarship Abi V., Harvard Universitys T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts - $5,500 Scholarship Sophia T., Villa Walsh Academy in Morristown, New Jersey - $1,000 Scholarship iModules is excited to be able to financially assist these bright students in pursuit of their academic goals, said Craig Heldman, president and CEO of iModules. Each of this years recipients made compelling points on how their education will help them achieve their personal definition of success, and we are honored to be able to recognize their drive and dedication with this scholarship. About the iModules Scholarship Program iModules has maintained an annual Scholarship Program in an effort to give back to its customer community, awarding more than $250,000 in scholarships since its inception in 2008. Eligible candidates must attend an iModules customer institution (either higher education or high school) for the Fall 2020 semester and submit an application and video essay for consideration. For more information on iModules Scholarship Program, please visit https://scholarships.imodules.com. About iModules Powerful technology. Inspired engagement. Lifelong relationships. More than 800 higher education institutions partner with iModules to drive larger gifts, increase event attendance and membership, and improve participation rates through data-driven, meaningful engagement. Learn more at imodules.com. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/4/2020 (630 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer has prioritized partisanship over public safety. Earlier this week, Scheer led the Conservatives by pushing for multiple sittings in the House of Commons an odd choice given current regulations around social distancing. To recap: Due to COVID-19 concerns, the Manitoba government strongly advises Manitobans to cancel or postpone non-essential travel, even within the province. Those who do travel are required to quarantine for a 14-day period upon their arrival home. "Self-isolation is used to lower the chance of spreading the illness to other people," they write in educational material. "Self-isolation means avoiding situations where you could infect other people. This can help prevent the spread of infections. Do not attend activities or gatherings where you may come in close contact with other people. This includes work, school and university, public transport" and so on. Public gatherings are restricted to 10 people or fewer. In Ontario, public gatherings are limited to five people or fewer. Unlike Manitoba, domestic entrants to Ontario are not required to self-isolate. On Monday, the Conservatives pushed for three in-person sittings per week an amendment that was defeated in lieu of a motion for one in-person meeting per week, supplemented by additional virtual sittings and committee meetings. The Liberals, Bloc Quebecois, New Democrat and Green MPs voted against the Conservative motion, employing common sense and prioritizing Canadians health. As usual, Conservatives were whipped, with Dauphin-Swan River-Neepawa MP Dan Mazier offering his support for more sittings last week, saying that online sessions would not be as effective because of possible technical glitches. There have been some technological snags, but if the entire cast of "Saturday Night Live" can broadcast live via their homes, Canadian MPs can attend a virtual meeting. Given their votes are whipped and any speaking they do is the same partisan grandstanding they could just as easily do on social media or in their comments to reporters anyway, their physical attendance doesnt feel like much of an essential service. Politically, it makes sense that Scheer would want to gain political points during these times of economic crisis. The House was ripe for the Conservatives picking during last years election after Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus blackface incident, pipeline purchase, SNC-Lavalin controversy and other missteps that should have easily turned Canadians off of Trudeau and onto a political opponent. After this failure, the Conservatives have a lot of lost ground to reclaim. But snubbing their noses at COVID-19 restrictions all Canadians are charged with adhering to in order to have MPs from throughout the nation fly to Ottawa to gather for political grandstanding isnt the way to do it. This obviously comes as a surprise to Scheer and his lackeys, but the majority of Canadians do not watch House of Commons proceedings. The more politically literate of us do, however, read newspapers, watch television news and listen to news radio. Assuming politicians continue to vote via virtual sittings and remain outspoken on social media and in their comments to news reporters, their presence in Ottawa is irrelevant to the vast majority of us. Making matters worse is a report by CBC News earlier this week that Scheer flew his wife and children to Ottawa from their Regina home on a small government aircraft. His defence that the only other alternative would have been his flying back and forth to Regina every time the House of Commons sat only served as fuel against his argument for in-person sittings. According to the Toronto Star, when pressed on why his familys presence in Ottawa was deemed essential, Scheer said: "Feel free to continue to analyze this." Will do! Hes selfish. Between this and spending party funds for his childrens private schooling, Scheer is exemplifying the "entitled Liberal" stereotype he has been trying to label Trudeau. This "do as I say, not as I do" approach will not score him any points with Canadians. Its yet another significant public relations fail on the part of a Conservative Party of Canada, whose desperation becomes more grating with every passing day they retain Scheer at their floundering helm. A two-year-old boy who walked away from his familys home in Ohio on Wednesday evening was later found drowned in a small pond in his Columbus neighborhood. Police say the toddler, identified as Birane Talla, was reported missing from his home in the 3000 block of Kings Realm Avenue just after 7.30pm Wednesday by a relative. Officers soon began searching the area and eventually located Birane in 'life-threatening condition' in a small pond just before 8.15pm. Scroll down for video Police in Columbus, Ohio, were called to this home on Wednesday for a report of a missing child who had wandered away from the residence Police found two-year-old Birane Talla drowned in a small pond a short time later Columbus police spokesman Sgt. James Fuqua said at a press briefing the area where the child was found had some grass and water in it. The boy was taken to Children's Hospital in critical condition and was pronounced dead just before 9.10pm. The investigation into the death is ongoing, but police say foul play is not suspected and its unlikely criminal charges will be filed. 'The child slipped out of the house unexpectedly,' Fuqua told The Columbus Dispatch. 'This was an accident.' On Friday, April 24, Salazar-Zamora released another letter informing families that end-of-year events scheduled throughout the district have been canceled to continue social distancing. Graduation does not fall into this category and is still tentatively scheduled for July at the Berry Center. However, prom is included in the category of end-of-year celebrations and has been canceled. Other end-of-year celebrations that have been canceled include, but arent limited to, Cougar/Wildcat Walks and ceremonies at any grade level, according to the letter. We must also ask any school affiliated organizations from promoting or planning these activities at this time, Salazar-Zamora stated. This was a difficult decision that we did not take lightly. We want to celebrate and honor all the wonderful accomplishments of all our students, but we are taking all the necessary precautions to protect our students and community, as well as follow all the state and local guidance to reduce the risk of spreading this virus. A plan for students and staff to retrieve belongings from and return items to campuses will be communicated once details are determined. Graduations planned for July Tomball ISD announced Wednesday, April 22, its tentative plan to hold graduation ceremonies for Tomball High School and Tomball Memorial High School seniors in July at the Berry Center. The district officially closed campuses for the remainder of the school year following Texas Governor Greg Abbotts orders Friday to extend closures of all Texas schools. But Tomball ISDs main concern throughout the COVID-19 crisis has continued to revolve on how to safely honor its 2020 graduating senior classes. The district plans to celebrate both schools by coming together as a community if they are able, taking into consideration social distancing and any other requirements or limitations. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: We are hopeful and excited to share that Tomball ISD has secured a location and date for an in-person graduation ceremony for each of our high schools this summer, Superintendent of Schools Martha Salazar-Zamora stated in a letter to families. The event is tentatively planned under the guidance of Abbotts updated social distancing guidelines. The ceremonies are scheduled for Friday July 24, at Berry Center in Cypress, with Tomball High set for morning and Tomball Memorial in the evening. Salazar-Zamora said the new times will be finalized after Berry Center officials confirm all scheduled ceremonies for that weekend and added that seniors not able to attend will also be recognized. For those of you that are able to be there, it will be our time to truly give you a proper farewell from Tomball ISD, Salazar-Zamora said in a video message. You are what makes Tomball ISD a destination excellence district. I look forward to seeing you soon. MORE BY ALVARO MONTANO: The graduation dates for Tomball and Tomball Memorial were originally scheduled for Saturday morning and afternoon May 30, at Reed Arena on the campus of Texas A&M in College Station. It is often said that graduation is not the end, but just the beginning of an exciting journey. However, we realize that a graduation for our Tomball ISD students is the end of our wonderful journey together, Salazar-Zamora said in the letter. It has pained us tremendously to have the momentous rites of passage for our graduating seniors interrupted by this pandemic. The events will be ticketed per Berry Centers guidelines and a clear bag policy will be in effect, according to Salazar-Zamora. Additional information on guaranteeing tickets will be announced at a later date. Because the Berry Center has limited seating, seniors will be requested to limit individual guest count. Salazar-Zamora said a precise guest count number will be announced at a later date as well. Again, we are preparing and hoping to have the opportunity on July 24 to celebrate our Class of 2020 with a traditional graduation ceremony, Salazar-Zamora said in the letter. State and local governments will continue to make decisions on large group gatherings over the next few months and we will continue to communicate those with you as they affect decisions regarding graduation. If a traditional graduation ceremony is not possible this year, we will update you with a plan for a virtual celebration. alvaro.montano@chron.com The wireline service market in Nigeria was worth US$ 104. 76 million in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ 157. 20 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5. 3% during the forecast period. New York, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Nigeria Wireline Service Market to 2027 - Country Analysis and Forecasts by Wireline Type ; Application ; Service Type" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05887376/?utm_source=GNW The significant investments in the development of oil & gas pipeline infrastructure in Nigeria are anticipated to drive the growth of the wireline service market in Nigeria.According to CEIC data, the marketed gas production of Nigeria was reported to be ~44,250 cubic meter million in December 2018. Also, in October 2019, crude oil reserves in the country produced 2,080 thousand BPD (barrels per day). Ajaokuta- Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline announced that it would sign a US$ 2.5 billion agreement by Q2 2020. Also, Nigerias Dangote refinery is under construction and is expected to commence operations by 2021. Furthermore, in July 2018, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) announced its aim to surge crude oil reserves from 37 billion barrels to 40 billion barrels in 2020. The country has become a new destination for new oil & gas projects. According to NNPC, ~25% of the total US$ 194 billion capital expenditure budget will be allocated to several forthcoming projects in Africa during 20182025, i.e., ~US$ 48.04 billion is likely to be allocated to over 20 projects in Nigeria. In 2019, the Shell Petroleum Development Company revealed its plans to invest more than US$ 15 billion across 24 projects in the country over the next 5 years. Also, in October 2019, Saudi Aramco, as well as Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, announced its plans to invest in the countrys oil & gas sector. Thus, the increasing investments are expected to propel the growth of the wireline service market in Nigeria during the forecast period. The wireline service market in Nigeria is segmented into wireline type, application, and service type.Based on wireline type, the market is further segmented into slickline and electric line. Based on application, the wireline service market is further segmented into onshore and offshore. Based on service type, the market is further segmented into wireline logging, pipe recovery service, perforation service, production logging, and others. The well-established market players operating in the Nigerian wireline service market include Halliburton Energy Services, Inc., NexTier Oilfield Services, Inc., MB Petroleum Services LLC, Weatherford International plc, Geoplex, Wireline Engineering Limited, Baker Hughes Company, Schlumberger Limited, SGS SA, and Superior Energy Services, Inc. The overall Nigeria wireline service market size has been derived using both primary and secondary source.The research process begins with exhaustive secondary research using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the Nigerian wireline service market. It also provides an overview and forecast for the wireline service market in Nigeria based on all the segmentation provided for the country.Also, primary interviews were conducted with industry participants and commentators to validate data and analysis. The participants who typically take part in such a process include industry expert such as VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, and national sales managers, and external consultants such as valuation experts, research analysts, and key opinion leaders specializing in the wireline service industry in Nigeria. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05887376/?utm_source=GNW 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. __________________________ Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 PORTLAND, Ore. Gov. Kate Brown announced Thursday that beginning May 1, she will be relaxing restrictions on non-emergency medical procedures. The governor is lifting her order that delayed non-urgent procedures for health care providers, as long as they demonstrate that they meet requirements for COVID-19 safety and preparedness. Hospitals, surgical centers, medical and dental offices that meet these requirements will be able to resume non-urgent procedures on May 1. As anyone waiting for an elective surgery knows, non-urgent does not mean minor, Brown said. This is incredibly important medical care that we would not have told providers to delay if the threat of COVID-19 had not made it necessary. Brown expressed her gratitude to Oregonians for the sacrifices they made during the crisis to ensure that heath care workers have the personal protective equipment they need to treat COVID-19 patients. Lifting this order will allow our health care system to get up and running again, with appropriate safeguards in place, so that Oregonians can get health care treatment without delay, she said. Brown, Dr. Dana Hargunani of the Oregon Health Authority, and Dr. Bruce Goldberg of the Governors Medical Advisory Panel will be holding a press availability by teleconference at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 23, to answer questions from the media. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 22) - The government assured support for small and medium enterprises who are struggling amid the COVID-19 crisis. Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua told CNN Philippines they are looking at the possibility of providing loan guarantees to small and medium businesses dealing with losses amid the enhanced community quarantine. He said details of the plan will follow. "We are considering guarantees for loans that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) might take because of a need of a working capital," Chua told CNN Philippines. A loan guarantee is a contractual obligation between the government, private creditors and a borrower. Under the contract, the government will cover the borrowers debt obligation in the event that the borrower fails to repay the loan. "There was also an announcement last week by DOF (Department of Finance) that they are going to allow net operating loss carry over so that the losses of business this year can be credited or carried over to the next year to reduce their tax payments," Chua added. The government earlier decided to provide small businesses with a wage subsidy in response to calls to include the middle class in the cash assistance program. "I understand there are some really with no sales, and maybe they have enough savings or capital to survive for a month or two, this is why we decided to provide a wage subsidy," Chua said. An estimated 51 billion would go to employees of small businesses that regularly pay taxes and contribute to the Social Security System (SSS). "One condition there is that the employer cannot layoff the workers, and the employee cannot resign because the main purpose of a wage subsidy like any country that does it now is to keep and retain employment," Chua said. RELATED: ANALYSIS: A bounce-back strategy for a crisis like no other Chua admitted they experienced some technical problems early on, since the website could not accommodate the millions who were trying to find out if they are qualified. He clarified that the SSS has already sent out hundreds of thousands of emails to inform those who qualified that they can now apply for the government's wage subsidy. "Even before the small business wage subsidy, we already deferred or gave a grace period for tax payments, for rentals, for payment of loans, for credit card, and so on," Chua said. "They are actually benefitting from that because that created additional liquidity or money for them to pay their workers and meet their other obligations," Chua added. The Department of Trade is also preparing a 1-billion fund to help small businesses restart operations after the Luzon-wide quarantine is lifted. As it rapidly escalates its propaganda offensive against China, the Trump administration has provocatively sent US warships into the South China Sea. The US Navy announced on Tuesday that the amphibious assault ship USS America along with two guided-missile destroyers, USS Bunker Hill and USS Barry, were operating in or near disputed waters claimed by Malaysia and China. The White House has asserted that Beijing is accelerating its build-up in the South China Sea while the world is preoccupied with the global COVID-19 pandemic. It has pointed in particular to the use of runways on Chinese controlled islets by surveillance aircraft and Chinas establishment of new local administrations in the South China Sea. An unnamed Trump official told the Wall Street Journal this week: I think some of this stuff is profoundly and clearly taking advantage of a bad situation. A spokesman for the US Indo-Pacific Command was more explicit, declaring: Beijing is a net beneficiary of global attention diverted towards the pandemic rather than military activities in the South China Sea. HMAS Parramatta, left, sails with USS America, USS Bunker Hill and USS Barry in the South China Sea. (Image Credit: U.S. Navy/MC3 Nicholas Huynh) The US, however, is directly responsible for transforming the longstanding regional disputes in the South China Sea involving China and its neighboursVietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Bruneiinto a dangerous flash point. Hillary Clinton as secretary of state under President Barack Obama, set the stage by declaring that the US had a national interest in the disputed waters. China responded by expanding its presence on atolls and reefs under its control. This was then exploited by the US to mount provocative freedom of navigation operations, sending US warships within waters claimed by China. Under Trump, these military operations have been ramped up. Now, as it amplifies its inflammatory rhetoric blaming China for the COVID-19 pandemic, the Trump administration is also raising military tensions in the South China Sea. The US warships entered waters about 200 nautical miles off the coast of Malaysia where China and Vietnam also have claims. A Chinese survey vessel had been shadowing a drill ship owned by Petronas, Malaysias state-owned oil company operating in the area. When the Chinese Coast Guard joined the survey vessel, the Royal Malaysian Navy and Malaysia Enforcement Agency arrived in support of the Petronas ship. The US naval presence, which was not requested by Malaysia, has only served to further heighten tensions. The US has no territorial claims in the South China Sea but insists that it is necessary to guarantee freedom of navigation despite Chinas guarantees that it will not obstruct international shipping. China has repeatedly protested against the presence of US warships and warplanes in areas close to its mainland. The South China Sea is adjacent to key Chinese naval bases in southern China, including sensitive submarine bases on Hainan Island. For US strategic planners, a military presence in the South China Sea is critical to its plans for a blockade or all-out war against China. Significantly, the US warships currently in the area are being accompanied by an Australian frigate, the HMAS Parramatta, which has engaged in integrated live-fire exercises, coordinated helicopter operations and small boat force protection drills, command and control integration, and maneuvering interoperability. Boasting of this display of joint military might, Rear Admiral Fred Kacher, commander of the US naval strike group, declared: To bring this much combat capability together here in the South China Sea truly signals to our allies and partners in the region that we are deeply committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Successive Australian governments have lined up fully with the escalating US confrontation with China. The commitment of an Australian warship to the latest naval provocation in the South China Sea goes hand in hand with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrisons call for an international investigation into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemica move in tune with Trumps insinuations that the virus was produced in a Chinese laboratory. In a desperate bid to deflect attention at home and internationally from its own criminally inadequate response to the pandemic, the Trump administration is seizing on every opportunity to target China. Earlier this month Vietnam accused China of sinking a Vietnamese fishing vessel in the vicinity of the Paracel Islands, which are controlled by Beijing but claimed by Hanoi. Amid conflicting claims as to who was responsible for the sinking, the US State Department stepped in to condemn China. We call on [China] 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, spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus declared. The belligerence of the US position was underscored by a statement last week from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley. He issued a menacing warning directed not only against China, but also Iran, Russia, and other potential rivals, declaring: Our readiness is still strong, and we are able to deter and defeat any challenges that may try to take advantage of these opportunities at this point of crisis. The targeting of China is not new. The Trump administrations trade war measures and continued military build-up against China, following on from Obamas confrontational stance, reflect the determination of US imperialism to use all methods, including military force, to prevent China from undermining its economic and strategic dominance in the world. Far from easing tensions and encouraging international cooperation to combat the COVID-19, the Trump administration is being deliberately provocative as the pandemic has exposed the historic decay and decline of American capitalism. The resort, once again, to military operations in close proximity to the Chinese mainland is a sharp warning that the US will stop at nothing to prevent any challenge to its global hegemony, including a devastating war between nuclear-armed powers. Motorists ride past the Jio World Center during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Navi Mumbai on April 22, 2020. Facebook has taken a $5.7 billion stake in the Jio digital platforms business of India's richest man Mukesh Ambani, the two sides said on April 22, marking one of the biggest foreign investments in the country. The deal will give the U.S. social media giant a 10 percent stake in Jio Platforms, part of Ambani's Reliance Industries empire. (Indranil Mukherjee/AFP via Getty Images) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) The Department of Health reminded Muslims on Thursday to observe Ramadan activities at home amid the continuing COVID-19 threat in the country. DOH Spokesperson Usec. Maria Rosario Vergeire also reiterated the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine guidelines that need to be observed while performing Ramadan-related activities in their homes. Mahirap man ay pinapayo ng kagawaran na hanggat maari ay sundin pa rin natin ang mga protocols ng ECQ katulad ng physical distancing, madalas na paghugas ng kamay, at cough etiquette, said Vergeire in the departments daily press briefing. [Translation: It is hard but the department is advises following all protocols of the ECQ, such as physical distancing, frequent handwashing, and cough etiquette.] Ramadan is the yearly month-long Islamic commemoration of the first revelation to Prophet Mohammad, founder of Islam, which is one of the religions foundations inscribed in their holy book Quran. During this period, Muslims partake in fasting where they are not allowed to eat or drink during the day. Ramadan is usually observed during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. This years Ramadan will start tomorrow, April 24, up to May 23. The last day of Ramadan is known as Eid al-Fitr, a regular holiday in solidarity to the around 11 million Muslims in the country. The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos issued a memorandum order suspending Tarawih, one of the Ramadan practices which entails the additional prayers performed at nighttime. In his message, President Rodrigo Duterte hoped the countrys Muslim community will spend Ramadan in contemplation of the COVID-19 crisis in the country. READ: Duterte hopes Ramadan will give peace amid challenges, erase 'misguided' beliefs As of the latest tally by the DOH made public this afternoon, the country now has confirmed 6,981 COVID-19 cases along with 462 deaths and 722 recoveries. A health policy expert has said that one of the most important things to emerge from the Covid-19 crisis is an understanding of what it would be like to have a one-tier health care system, to have access based on need with all facilities working in the public interest. Dr Sara Burke, Assistant Professor of Health Policy at Trinity College also told RTE radios Today with Sean ORourke show that 150 private consultants - or a quarter of all private consultants - have signed up to the HSEs new public-only contract. In Denmark, schoolchildren sit again in classrooms, but at desks almost two metres apart. In Germany, small shops are open again but masks are required when shopping in almost every state. And in the Czech Republic, people are allowed to travel abroad again, but they must quarantine for 14 days after returning. While the first signs of life after COVID-19 lockdowns are starting to appear in some European countries that seem to have brought new infections under control, its a very different kind of life than anyone could have imagined just a few months ago. Canadas Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam told reporters this week that although were not quite there yet, the eventual new normal in this country will have to include measures for stopping the spread of the virus until theres a vaccine, which is 12-to-18 months away under even the most optimistic timelines. Dont expect mass gatherings like concerts or sporting events any time soon. And while public health experts can provide guidelines, they cant make the judgment calls for you. The onus will rest more on individuals to make the decisions, with all the fears and anxieties that come with that. Desks are spaced six-feet apart in classrooms at the Korshoejskolen in Randers, Denmark after schools began reopening on April 15 after a month-long closure amidst the coronavirus outbreak. BO AMSTRUP Laura Hawryluck, an associate professor of critical care medicine at the University of Toronto and ICU physician who has studied the mental health impacts of quarantine during the 2003 SARS crisis, said people might underestimate their feelings once they finally get out. Weve never lived through something like this before. I think it will be a bigger impact than what anybody really grasps right now, she said. Its so not over. Were not going to just snap back to our old lives, at least without a vaccine or treatment. We might be asked to wear masks in public, which will have its own psychological impact of not being able to see faces, for example. There will still be the fear of infection. And we will need to clamp down if there are surges again. Hawryluck and U of T colleague Rima Styra, an associate professor of psychiatry, co-authored a 2004 study, which found longer quarantines were associated with more post-traumatic stress (PTSD) symptoms, as was knowing someone with SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome. And several studies have found that after disasters, from 9/11 to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, theres a bump in anxiety, depression and PTSD that can persist over time. A sign marks A beach closed due to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in Grand Isle, La., Thursday, May 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Weve all had this very sort of traumatic event of extensive community spread of COVID-19, added Styra. Unlike SARS, which in Canada mainly impacted health-care workers, this time all of us have been involved in it in some way. As we move towards a reopening, theres going to be a lot of anxiety. An extended hypervigilance, where people are going to be very much aware of other individuals and their surroundings, because theres still going to be concern regarding getting infected, Styra said. Decisions that during the lockdown were made by officials, will now be up to us. For example, whether or not to visit an older family member. I think whats going to happen is theres going to be a lot of feelings of guilt, and then probably blame also from other individuals, even within the family, she said. So a lot of stress, and I think its important to validate these people. But there are ways to cope, Styra added, including seeking out information and guidelines from public health experts, even if there are no clear answers for many questions because the virus is new and the science is still evolving. People tend to obey advice from authority figures because of something called diffusion of responsibility, said Steve Joordens, a professor of psychology at U of T Scarborough. Where you can basically say, Well, theyre the ones making the decisions and therefore theyre responsible for any consequences. It will be more stressful for some to have to make their own day-to-day decisions about whether certain activities are worth the risk. There will be some people who will run right out into restaurants as soon as they open, said Joordens. But the vast majority of people who took public health guidance to stay at home seriously will be more cautious. Once the bears kind of wandering in the other direction, it does become less of a threat, he said. Anxiety might dissipate a bit as we come towards something thats a little more familiar, a little bit more normal. But this follows what for some has been almost a disgust reaction around other people, with the inclination to move away from others on the street or in a grocery store, during the height of the pandemic. Were all becoming germaphobes, were all worried that other human beings could infect us, Joordens said, and that fear could linger for some. They may not be comfortable, in say, a small meeting room with a group of colleagues, for a long time, even if that becomes safe. Employers should respect that and make accommodations, he added. Galina Hooge opened her stationary and toy shop in Berlin this week for the first time after a month of closure during the coronavirus pandemic. Customers were required to wear masks while shopping in almost every state. Markus Schreiber Health-care workers, COVID-19 survivors, people with existing mental health issues and older people, will be particularly vulnerable, said U of Ts Styra. So were going to have to really ramp up our mental health services to make sure that these individuals get a lot of support. Another way to do this, she said, is through telemedicine. FaceTime-type therapy sessions have already been used for people struggling with mental health issues in self-isolation, and should continue. Lu Dong, a psychologist with the U.S. think tank RAND Corporation who has studied mental health and the coronavirus in China, said officials in that country deployed mental health support to Wuhan, the epicentre of the outbreak. They also implemented crisis phone lines, and created a mental health handbook for COVID-19. Something similar might be helpful for local departments of health, said Dong, and could include tips on self-care, coping strategies and warning signs of more serious issues. The psychological impact on peoples lives and mental health of this kind of event is so unprecedented that it hasnt been studied, she added. Weve never been through anything like this. Dong, now in her 30s, lived through the SARS partial lockdown in Beijing as a teenager in 2003. That disease was contained within a few months. But there will be no flick of a light switch this time. There was an outbreak, peoples lives were temporarily disrupted, and then we went back to normal, she said. Its pretty clear that this is going to be a more chronic stress for everyone, for a pretty long period of time. Another way to cope with that might be for people to temper expectations, said U of Ts Hawryluck. So that they actually celebrate the freedom that you do gain as we start to open up, she said. Its time to check that hope, or make sure that hope is realistic and appropriate. The Kerala government has filed a statement in the High Court rejecting charges of illegality in its IT contract with a US firm for processing data related to COVID-19 patients and contended that initiation of penal actions for breach would fall within the ambit of Indian IT Act. Considering a plea seeking quashing of the state government's contract with the US-based IT firm Sprinklr, the Court on April 21 had sought to know as to why foreign jurisdiction was included as a clause in the deal for adjudication of possible disputes. The case has been posted for Friday for further consideration. In response to various contentions raised in the plea, the state government has filed in a statement in the High Court as directed by it. "It is pertinent that data resides in India and hence there would no issues of jurisdiction. Even if any breach occurs from outside India, Section 75 of the IT Act empowers initiation of prosecution within India provided such breach impacts a computer or computer resource within India," the government said in its statement. The government also contended that legal department's scrutiny was not required for signing the deal as it was an issue of a purchase order to avail the service of a readymade software application, with the set of conditions binding to the purchase that accompany it. During the hearing, the court had asked why the contract was not referred to the law department before signing it. Noting that the head of Administrative Department has the full authorisation for issuance of a purchase order for goods or services with price less than Rs 15,000, the government said, "in this case the service is offered on probono basis and hence there is no cost involved i.e. the cost involved is zero." "None of the rules or procedures in Government necessitates that the purchase order being issued by an Administrative Department for the purchase of any product or service, is to be scrutinised by the Law Department. Hence, this is not bypassing of Law Department and the matter did not require any consultation with the said department at all," the government clarified in the statement. It claimed that the user was properly informed in the terms and conditions that the data would be used for the COVID-19 purpose only. "The contention in the writ petition that the details regarding the beneficiaries of the public distribution system is allegedly stored with the third respondent, is wrong", the government said. Referring to the clauses in the agreement, the government submitted that there is sufficient protection with respect to any data that the IT company may have access to. "It not only gives the government, as opposed to the third respondent (Sprinklr), full control and right over the data of the people, but also obligates the third respondent to take appropriate measures to protect such data," it said. Observing that a citizen was not privy to the deal signed between the state government and the foreign company, the court had said that the state government will be held as responsible, if the firm misused the data. Justifying its deal with Sprinklr, the government submitted that the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a situation of emergency, which is being compared to a war-like circumstance by many experts. "In such a situation, urgent policy decisions have to be taken by the democratically elected government in its executive capacity in the interest of public health and public interest, and it must be given a greater free play in the joints so that it is better able to perform its functions," it said. The state government had entered into a contract with the IT company based out of the US, owned by a non resident Keralite, wherein the data of suspected and actual patients of the COVID-19 virus will be collected using government machinery and is uploaded to the foreign firm's web server on a daily basis. The IT company in turn will provide actual data to the State machinery after analysis, for better understanding and treatment of the pandemic. In his plea, petitioner Balu Gopalakrishnan said the only concern is whether the data stored in the web server of company is safe and whether it can be used by the company for monetary gains. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) [April 23, 2020] Principal and Principal Foundation Offer More Than $25 Million in Combined COVID-19 Relief Principal Financial Group and the Principal Foundation today launched respective community-based COVID-19 relief efforts to directly assist those experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic by providing meals, family activity kits, and direct payments to those impacted in more than 30 locations around the world. These two new programs - The Giving Chain led by Principal and the Principal Foundation Global Relief Fund - build on previous support Principal has announced for customers accessing retirement funds, requesting payment extensions, and other adjustments to help manage financial challenges due to COVID-19. The combined efforts of Principal and the Principal Foundation to support customers, communities, and businesses financially impacted by COVID-19 are expected to total more than $25 million1. "Principal and the Principal Foundation remain committed to helping families and businesses protect and build financial security," said Dan Houston, chairman, president, and CEO of Principal and a Principal Foundation Board member. "The Giving Chain and the Principal Foundation Global Relief Fund are an extension of our commitment at a time when many of our local businesses and community members are experiencing financial distress and uncertainty as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic." The Giving Chain The Giving Chain led by Principal aims to provide thousands of meals and activity kits - sourced from and in collaboration with local businesses and nonprofits - to individuals and families in more than 30 communities globally. This effort will not only benefit the recipients of the donations, but also local businesses from which the meals and products will be purchased. The purpose is to help those in need and to inspire others to join the effort by starting their own giving chain, by buying meals or products from local businesses and providing them to individuals, families and first responders in need in their communities. "It will take all of us working together to make it through and to recover from COVID-19 and the many impacts on our lives, our communities, and our local businesses," said Houston. "Like many of you, I've heard many heartfelt stories of individuals taking it upon themselves to make a difference in someone's life during this pandemic. The Giving Chain provides another opportunity to support a local business and people in your community." Kicking off in Des Moines, Iowa, the global headquarters of Principa, the program will deliver more than 15,000 meals and nearly 3,000 activity kits sourced from 20 local businesses in the community. Principal has teamed up with local non-profit organizations to ensure these resources get to people struggling financially as a result of the crisis. Principal will launch additional Giving Chains in more than 30 markets around the world in which they do business. To learn more about how to start a giving chain within your community, visit www.principal.com/localCOVIDrelief. The Principal Foundation Global Relief Fund Throughout the COVID-19 health crisis, Principal employees asked for ways to help people, especially fellow coworkers and the workers who help clean, feed, and take care of Principal employees and facilities. In response, the Principal Foundation has established a hardship fund, the Principal Foundation Global Relief Fund, to provide grants to help Principal employees, employees of majority-owned member companies, and U.S. service staff providers (real estate, janitorial, wellness, childcare, food service, and security) who are experiencing financial hardship due to this crisis. The Principal Foundation Global Relief Fund will also accept outside donations from employees and others who wish to contribute to the cause. For more information about the Principal Foundation Global Relief Fund, visit www.principal.com/localCOVIDrelief. "The establishment of these Principal and Principal Foundation initiatives was primarily a result of listening to, and acting on, our employees' desire to help others," said Houston. "I am incredibly proud of their philanthropy and sense of communal responsibility." About Principal Principal helps people and companies around the world build, protect and advance their financial well-being through retirement, insurance and asset management solutions that fit their lives. Our employees are passionate about helping clients of all income and portfolio sizes achieve their goals - offering innovative ideas, investment expertise and real-life solutions to make financial progress possible. To find out more, visit us at principal.com. About Principal Foundation Principal Foundation imagines a future where all people can learn, earn, and save for what matters most to them. We maintain a global commitment to create opportunities that build financial security, especially for those who are financially vulnerable. Rooted in our values, our grant-making, volunteerism, and match giving programs create a supportive culture for philanthropy and service. Learn more about Principal Foundation here. Principal Community Relations has a focus to build financial security in communities where Principal Life Insurance Company operates. Insurance products and plan administrative services provided through Principal Life Insurance Co., a member of the Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, IA 50392. The Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. (the "Principal Foundation") is a distinct, not for profit, undertaking separate from the Principal Financial Group, Inc. ("Principal"). The major focus of the Principal Foundation is to build financial security in the communities where Principal operates. The Principal Foundation has $200M assets under management and directs its returns to helping people learn, earn, and save. While the Principal Foundation receives funding from Principal, the Principal Foundation is an independent organization. The Principal Foundation does not practice any form of investment advisory services and is not authorized to do so. 2020 Principal Financial Group Principal, Principal and symbol design and Principal Financial Group are trademarks and service marks of Principal Financial Services, Inc., a member of the Principal Financial Group. 1 Total includes projected future cost of customer concessions related to fee waivers, payment period extensions, premium increase deferrals, and other cost adjustments in addition to philanthropic giving from Principal Financial Group and the Principal Foundation as of 4/16/20. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005632/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Nyamebekyere Co-operatives Vegetable Farming and Marketing Society Limited, a farmers-based organisation, has appealed to government to promote organic agriculture to guarantee quality public health and safety. This will also facilitate rapid socio-economic development of the people. Both organic and conventional agriculture could play a pivotal role in Ghanas public health and local economic development, a field research conducted report by the society indicated. The society is made up of about 100,000 vegetable farmers in the Techiman Municipality of the Bono East Region, Sunyani Municipality of the Bono region, as well as Tano North and South Municipalities of the Ahafo Region. According to the society, vegetable production was very important for socio-economic development, and health benefits of Ghanaians, significantly on job creation, income generation, tourism opportunities, as well as food and nutrition security. But, the report regretted what it described as the influx of fake and adulterated agro-chemicals on the market, which in the end were bought and applied by ignorant farmers. Inability of state institutions such as the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to regulate the agro-chemical industry in the targeted farming districts has led to adulteration and proliferation of harmful agro chemical in the market. The effects are enormous; low yields, poor market access, high level of chemical residue on vegetables and this is adversely affecting over 100,000 vegetable producers within the study area, Dr. Gabriel Gbiel Benarku, lead researcher and service provider of the society told the Ghana News Agency (GNA). Revealing the finding of the research, titled Public health concerns in vegetable value chain production: A case study in three regions of Ghana, Dr. Benarkuu said the vegetable industry was the main source of livelihood for many actors in the sub-sector value chain. Ghanas vegetable sub-sector offers great opportunities for growth given the steady increase of high value domestic markets and export opportunities. The domestic market alone is growing at more than 10 per cent per annum and the potential value for export of vegetables is estimated at US$250 million. This increasing demand could be attributed to the perceived health benefits associated with vegetable consumption. According to World Health Organization (WHO, 2003), high vegetable or fruit intake could reduce ischemic heart disease and stroke by 31 per cent and 11 per cent respectively. Dr. Benarkuu however indicated that vegetable farmers faced critical regime where there are many sub-standard and unregulated agro-chemicals in the market. The vegetable farmers are confronted with the challenge of human resources expertise and poor management of farms due to the inability of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to deploy adequate extension officers. This affects them greatly leading to their inability to manage disease outbreaks annually. As a result the farmers experienced poor access to market, due to poor quality of produce, a situation he said was a serious concern to public health and safety. Chemical pesticides are commonly used in the management of pests and diseases in vegetable production in Ghana. However, there is increasing concern about the adverse effects this use has on public health and the environment. Dr. Benarkuu called on the government to adequately resource the EPA, Extension Division of MoFA and the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA) to enable them to deliver their mandate effectively, and rid the vegetable industry of fake agro-chemicals. 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 No country should have any concern over India's new policy for foreign direct investment from countries sharing border with it, government sources said on Thursday, in a clear message to China which called the fresh norms "discriminatory" and "barriers" for free trade. Tightening its FDI norms, India last week made prior clearance mandatory for foreign investments from countries that share land border with India, in a move aimed at curbing "opportunistic takeovers" of Indian companies by Chinese firms following fall in their valuation due to economic downturn triggered by the coronavirus crisis. China criticised India for the new policy, calling it discriminatory. The neighbouring country even demanded review of the new policy. Government sources said there shouldn't be concern over procedural changes made in the FDI policy, asserting that it doesn't prohibit investment from any country with which India shares its border. They said many other countries have taken similar steps to protect their economies in view of the coronavirus pandemic. Asked about questions over effectiveness of coronavirus testing kits procured from China, the sources said the Indian Council of Medical Research is looking into the issue. On whether India was looking for an investigation into the origin of coronavirus amid allegations of China's culpability over it, a source said: "India is focusing on battling the pandemic at this point. We can always revisit this question once this pandemic is behind us." On the issue of FDI policy, the sources said India's decision is unlikely to impact trade with any of the countries with whom India shares borders. China has called the new norms violate WTO's principle of non-discrimination and are against the general trend of free trade. The impact of the policy was clear on Chinese investors, a Chinese embassy spokesperson said earlier this week. Chinese embassy spokesperson Ji Rong said China hoped that India would revise the "relevant discriminatory practices" and treat investments from different countries equally while fostering an "open, fair and equitable" business environment The spokesperson said China's cumulative investment in India has exceeded USD 8 billion, noting it is far more than the total investments by countries sharing border with India. According to official data, around 1,000 Chinese companies are operating in India at present. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Home Four wheelers Skoda Parts Center Continues To Operate Three Shifts During Covid-19 Pandemic oi-Rahul Jaswal Czech auto manufacturer, Skoda, seems to be running on its own lock down rules. The company has kept its Skoda Parts Center almost fully operational, even though all other manufacturers are following a lock down. {photo-feature} Most Viewed Videos Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don makes a surprise announcement of his resignation on Thursday. Yonhap The mayor of Busan, South Korea's largest port city, on Thursday resigned and apologized for sexual harassment. "In a short meeting that lasted five minutes, there was unnecessary physical contact with a person. I realized that this could be recognized as an indecent assault, (something) that should not been done," the city's Mayor Oh Keo-don said in a press briefing. "As a public servant who takes responsibility, I will live my remaining life repenting and taking responsibility for this mistake," the mayor said as he cried. "I'm at fault for everything." Yonhap Oh reportedly touched a female civil servant inappropriately during a recent meeting at his office. The victim is known to have reported the incident to a sexual violence relief center and demanded the mayor step down. The municipal assembly of Busan said it has received his resignation letter, which has immediately gone into effect according to assembly rule. Oh was elected as the mayor of Busan, 453 kilometers southeast of Seoul, in the 2018 gubernatorial elections. The mayoral post will be temporarily filled by the city's vice mayor for administrative affairs until the by-election scheduled for April 2021. His political aides are also expected to resign. (Yonhap) A month after furloughing a majority of its store staff in the U.S. and Canada, Gap Inc. disclosed Thursday that it stopped paying rent in April for stores that were closed and will remain closed during the coronavirus pandemic. The San Francisco retailer warned in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing that its running out of money. The company said it stopped paying rent in April, saving about $115 million per month in North America, and that since February, $1 billion in cash had run out. Gap temporarily closed stores in the two countries, along with a significant number of stores globally, following government mandates that nonessential businesses be closed during the pandemic in hopes of curbing the spread of the virus. Gap said that even if the coronavirus pandemic eases, shoppers may still fear coming into stores, and that will have long-lasting impacts. Consumer spending generally may also be negatively impacted by general macroeconomic conditions and consumer confidence, including the impacts of any recession, resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, Gap said. The company said its negotiating with landlords on lease terms, but may consider closing some stores permanently. Besides its namesake Gap brand, Gap Inc.s portfolio includes Old Navy, Athleta, Banana Republic, Intermix and Hill City. Gap owns its headquarters at 2 Folsom St. and counts 3,345 stores globally, 2,785 of them in the U.S. and Canada. The coronavirus pandemic is proving to be devastating for retailers. Many were already struggling with declining shoppers at malls and a shift to online shopping. In March, regions across the country, including the Bay Area, shut down nonessential businesses like clothing retailers. Shelter-in-place orders in San Francisco and several other Bay Area counties were extended until May 3, and federal social distancing guidelines have been continued as well. In addition to industry woes, Gap was already under stress after a yearlong plan to spin off Old Navy into a stand-alone company was called off in January. Two months later, as the coronavirus spread, Gap said it would furlough a majority of its 80,000 retail workers. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes The unprecedented store and mall closures pose a significant challenge to inventory management and the recovery of consumer demand, a Moodys vice president, Christina Boni, said in a statement Thursday. Although the proposed transaction will enhance Gaps liquidity, the transaction adds leverage and encumbers a significant portion of its real estate assets and intellectual property at a time when Gap is facing significant cash flow deficits, Boni said. Gap said it may not have enough money to sustain operations and needs to take additional actions to both preserve existing liquidity and seek additional sources of liquidity over the next year. There are no comparable recent events that provide guidance as to the effect the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic may have, and, as a result, the ultimate impacts of the outbreak on our business, and the steps we may need to take to address those impacts, are highly uncertain and subject to change, the company said in the regulatory filing. Shwanika Narayan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @shwanika Russia has called India's decision to send hydroxychloroquine medicines, to combat the coronavirus COVID-19 crisis, as "nobel", adding that the gesture will be reciprocated. Nikolay Kudashev, the Russian envoy to India, lauded India's 'comprehensive efforts' that resulted in significant "decrease in the rate of infection". On India sending hydroxychloroquine, called a gamechanger drug, to Russia Kudashev said, "The generous decision of the govt of India to lift the ban on the export of important medicines to treat COVID-19 patients despite the increased demand in this country was very much appreciated in Russia. Be sure, it will be reciprocated. In our understanding, the conducive atmosphere for this noble decision was created during earlier contact of our leaders, President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi followed by conversation and contact between top diplomats." Speaking on how Moscow and New Delhi is collaborating to deal with the crisis, he said spread of the infection is a global challenge, adding that in this battle, Russia and India fight a common enemy. "We follow closely the steps taken by the Centre and regional administrations. Comprehensive efforts resulted in a significant decrease in the rate of infection and we see a number of recoveries growing." "In Russia too, govt introduced various measures to tackle the diseases, apart from lockdown and social distancing, additional hospitals are started, vaccines are tested. This allows preventing the unchecked spread of the infection. Of course, people are at the centre of all our efforts during the COVID pandemic," he said. He added, "While keeping in mind safety pf people in Russia, we also remember the citizens stranded abroad in lockdown. The Embassy of Russia with the help of Indian authorities facilitated the repatriation of our tourist from India. So far, about 1,700 left India onboard special charted flights organised by the Russian government from Delhi and Goa from different cities and destinations of Russia. More flights are expected. At the same time, the Russian govt has provided support to Indian stranded in Russia, to ensure their safety. The Russian ministry of the interior ministry extended the visas of Indian nationals." Incidentally, Finance Minister S Jaishankar and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke on Thursday on the crisis during which the upcoming BRICS FM video meet, that is to take place on April 28 was also discussed. The government has promised to increase the number of daily coronavirus tests to 100,000 by the end of April - and says it is "confident" it can deliver. Ministers have been under pressure to increase the number of tests after being compared to countries such as Germany and South Korea, which have been largely praised for their responses to the pandemic. The World Health Organisation has urged countries to "test, test, test" - and those nations which have used aggressive testing have seen promising results. Testing can help researchers to better understand the spread of the virus and is needed for those who are seriously ill in hospital. But some experts have argued the UK government's target is "arbitrary", and that it needs a change in strategy if there is going to be enough demand for more tests. Without a clearer testing strategy, they warned, we will not be able to ease the lockdown. Who is being tested? Testing is currently available to NHS staff and their families, as well as other key workers showing symptoms. Tests had previously been reserved for those who ended up in hospital with COVID-19 symptoms, but have since been expanded to include: Where there is extra capacity, testing will also be expanded to other groups of workers including those delivering critical food, medical, energy, utility and transport supplies. Anyone who is eligible - with coronavirus symptoms such as a high temperature or new continuous cough - should speak to their employer if they would like to be tested. The diagnostic tests - known as antigen tests - to find out if someone has coronavirus are done by taking a swab of the nose or throat, which is then sent to a laboratory. How many tests are being carried out currently? Official figures show less than half of the current available COVID-19 testing capacity is being used. In the 24 hours up to 9am on Tuesday, capacity stood at 41,398 - but only 18,206 tests were carried out over the period in England, Wales and Scotland. Story continues This refers to the number of tests completed, as in some cases the same person was tested more than once. The highest number of tests completed in one day so far was 19,527 on 8 April. On Wednesday, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab - who is deputising for the prime minister - said he was "confident" the UK could reach its target. He told MPs: "I've set the goal of 100,000 tests a day by the end of this month and I'm delighted to say that the expansion of capacity is ahead of plans, even though demand has, thus far, been lower than expected. "We are therefore ramping up the availability of this testing and expanding who is eligible for testing, and making it easier to access the tests." Even if the government reaches the daily capacity for 100,000 tests by the end of April, it does not necessarily mean 100,000 tests would be carried out. However, asked by Sky's political editor Beth Rigby if the target is still 100,000 actual tests by the end of this month, Tory MP Andrew Bowie said: "Yes, that's what Matt Hancock set out a few weeks ago now, and he was very clear that was our target." Why aren't more tests being carried out? The government says the UK appears to be lagging behind because it did not already have the infrastructure in place, unlike other countries. There has also been huge international demand for testing materials such as kits, swabs and chemical reagents. But some experts say the issue is less about the UK's capacity to perform tests, and more about demand and logistics. Allan Wilson, president of the Institute of Biomedical Science, told Sky News we currently lack a "clear testing strategy" - and without one, we will not be able to ease the lockdown. This will need to include measures such as tracing those who have come into contact with patients and isolating those infected, he added. :: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker Mr Wilson said there are NHS teams at a local level across the country who are trained and able to perform tests. But because the UK's testing is aimed only at key workers and those seriously ill in hospital, there is simply not the demand. "I'd argue we don't need 100,000 tests at the moment," he said. "Unless they change the strategy." Stephen Baker, a professor of molecular microbiology at the University of Cambridge, whose lab is being converted to help Addenbrooke's Hospital, says the government has been "slow to respond" with testing. He says his team have a certain capacity, but have only received a limited number of swabs to test. "The labs are up and running pretty well," he said. "The big question is whether the swabs are being taken to [testing centres]." Prof Baker believes one problem is there has not been enough communication with the public about who can get tested, and how they can go about it. "There is also a reticence to go get samples," he said, suggesting many do not want to travel to swabbing centres. This was echoed by social care minister Helen Whately, who told Sky News it was "difficult" for some to get to these centres, as they are "not necessarily nearby and not everybody has a car". Carers have criticised the government's roll out of COVID-19 tests after many workers were told to travel long distances to access them. Only a quarter of those care workers eligible have managed to access drive-in test centres across England, according to data by the National Care Forum. Both experts made clear that the more testing we do, the better - but there need to be changes made if this is going to happen. How will the UK ramp up testing? Health Secretary Matt Hancock previously unveiled a "five-pillar" plan to achieve the government's target. 1. Swab testing at Public Health England and NHS laboratories This includes Public Health England's regional laboratory network, and NHS laboratories have been added to this since the beginning of March. 2. Using commercial partners, including universities and private businesses, to establish more swab testing This includes three new labs in Milton Keynes, Alderley Park and Glasgow which aim to dramatically increase the number of tests that can take place each day, and are supported by pharmaceutical giants GSK and AstraZeneca. However, a Sky News investigation found the Milton Keynes centre was only conducting 1,500 coronavirus tests a day more than two weeks after it was declared open - despite being touted as able to complete 25,000 tests. Thermo Fisher is supplying the UK with testing kits, while Boots and other partners have been setting up regional test centres across the country and Amazon has been supporting plans for a home-testing service for critical key workers. 3. Introducing antibody blood tests to determine whether people have had COVID-19 An antibody test can detect whether someone has previously contracted coronavirus and now has some immunity due to the presence of antibodies in their blood. Officials previously said the tests would allow people to return safely to work if they had already been infected. Last month, Public Health England said an antibody test could be available to the public within days - but it was later found that millions of tests purchased by the government did not work well enough to be used. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation has warned there is no evidence that people who have COVID-19 cannot be infected again, which could throw doubts on the usefulness of antibody tests in this context. 4. Surveillance to determine the rate of infection and how it is spreading across the country Although these tests are not available to the public, a high-accuracy antibody test is being used by Public Health England at their Porton Down lab. This will be used to work out what proportion of the population have already had the virus and help to inform decision-makers. Some 20,000 households across England have been contacted to take part in the first wave of the study. 5. Building an "at-scale" diagnostics industry Life science companies have been urged to turn their resources to creating and rolling out mass testing. How likely are we to achieve the 100,000 target? Mr Wilson says it is "highly unlikely" the UK will conduct 100,000 tests a day by the end of April. He said it would "take a change in attitude of the public" towards testing, and more focus on taking samples locally. Meanwhile, Prof Baker said "the capacity is there now or not far off" for the UK to hit its target, adding that testing "could ramp up". But he called the 100,000 figure "arbitrary", and said there needed to be more emphasis on screening healthcare workers. "There needs to be a more sustained approach to screening hospital staff," he said. Lebanon: cabinet must pass economic rescue plan - IMF Reforms progress to be discussed in coming days says PM (ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, APRIL 23 - The Lebanese government needs to urgently adopt a reforms package to rescue its troubled economy, Jihad Azour, who is responsible for the department for the Middle East and central Asia of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), was quoted as saying by local media. ''The priority of the International Monetary Fund is to receive Lebanon's rescue plan to recover confidence in the country's economy and improve the situation of citizens'', said Azour, a former Lebanese economy minister. For his part, Lebanon's Premier Hassan Diab assured yesterday that a controversial economic reform plan, drafts of which have been leaked to the press, will be discussed again over the coming days by the government, which is currently engaged in intense parliamentary sessions. The country is currently dealing with its worst economic and financial crisis in three decades. In March, the prime minister announced Lebanon's default. The country has been rocked since last October by unprecedented and prolonged anti-government protests against corruption and the rising cost of life. In this context, the government in February asked for a consultation of the IMF without however formalizing a request to intervene. (ANSAmed). THE opening of a new restaurant in Henley is to be delayed by the coronavirus pandemic. Mathew Bromwell had hoped to open The Dub, an American-style diner with a British twist, in Market Place in May but has been unable to complete the refurbishment due to a lack of supplies and available workers. The diner will replace Mezo, a Mediterranean restaurant which opened in August 2018 and closed in September last year. Before that, it was an Italian restaurant called Da Luca, which was there for about two years. Mr Bromwell, 41, from Winnersh, said: It has taken me about 18 months to find a location. I got a really good vibe off it when I first saw it. This is the first restaurant I have taken on and I was looking to open at the beginning of May. It has been a long slog just to get this far and then the Government says you cant open. I cant even finish painting the restaurant because there is no supply available. I placed the order for all of the carpets to go down on the same day that the lockdown happened. It is in the lap of the gods at the moment. I need specialists to come in to replace the kitchen floor. I cant open up until the kitchen is sorted. Mr Bromwell came up with name of the restaurant by combining the words diner and pub and says it will be furnished to resemble a traditional English pub. The business will employ four people, including the chef, and will serve burgers, hot dogs, chicken wings, steak and ribs. Mr Bromwell, who worked as a chef when he was 21 but then opted for a career in engineering as it was more lucrative, said: Henley really doesnt have anywhere like this. There arent any fast food places like McDonalds or KFC. It is going to be quick and easy food that I hope will be delicious. All the sauces and burgers will be made in-house and the only thing we will buy in are the rolls and beef hot dogs. He said he was inspired by a visit to his cousins in Philadelphia several years ago. He said: Some of the food I was eating you couldnt get over here and I thought why not? You have to go to London or to a specialist place to get it. I realise that you cant just have burgers and hot dogs and you do have to have a little bit of flair, so we will have an a la carte menu as well. The majority of the items on the menu will be gluten-free as Mr Bromwell found out he had a gluten intolerance three years ago. He said was he looking forward to the lockdown rules being lifted. The trouble is, we dont know how long this will go on for, said Mr Bromwell. Although the running costs are not huge, they start to mount up and that is difficult when you are not able to trade. What worries me is that they might lift the ban but people will still be wary about going into places. Helen Barnett, Henleys town and community manager, said: It will be lovely to have that unit open and trading. The good thing about an American diner menu is there is nothing like that in Henley. This will be a welcome addition to our already diverse offering. We will have to wait and see what happens with the lockdown but it is encouraging that people are looking to Henley as an attractive place. Meanwhile, fine dining restaurant Crockers, which was supposed to open in Market Place on Monday, has also been delayed because of the virus. It has replaced the Loch Fyne seafood restaurant, which had been there for nearly 20 years, and has been running a takeaway service. Chief executive Luke Garnsworthy said: I have five staff living on site and we started the takeaway two weeks ago. They are an incredible team of people and they are all cracking on and making the best of a bad situation. Henley is just an amazing town and the response weve had during this period has confirmed that. When we do open the doors, people will already have a good idea of what we are about. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, Felix Gallardo still left her Passaic apartment every day to head to her job at a local warehouse. Once she started coming down with covid-like symptoms, the single mother said she had to quit her job, which didnt offer sick leave. She cant collect unemployment and isnt eligible for the federal stimulus check because of her immigration status. Gallardo and more than 500,000 other undocumented immigrants, some legally residing in New Jersey, comprise the vulnerable community being crushed by the coronavirus pandemic, exacerbated by inequities and barriers, according to a new report released Thursday. Make the Road NJ released the Essential and Excluded report, which compiled more than 200 surveys with undocumented and legally-residing immigrants. The group, which advocates for immigrant communities and Latino workers, called on Gov. Phil Murphy to take aggressive steps to protect undocumented individuals and their children, who are often American citizens. Under COVID-19, immigrant communities have experienced extreme harm. Undocumented immigrants are disproportionately likely to own small businesses and to work in the sectors that have been hardest hit by coronavirus-related closures, such as food service and construction and those where workers continue frontline work such as warehouses, janitorial and agriculture," the report says. The report shows immigrants, who are being disproportionately infected with COVID-19, are taking the brunt of the physical and economic impact of coronavirus,. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage About 75% of respondents said they have no health insurance, more than 90% fear they cant pay their bills and none of the respondents qualify for stimulus payments or unemployment benefits, the report shows. Immigrants are being posed with a really difficult choice, going to work in potentially very unsafe conditions where social distancing isnt respected ... or stay home and not have any income and not be able to pay rent, food or medicine," said Sara Cullinane, Director of Make the Road New Jersey. Its a very difficult choice and its made much worse by the state and federal government not offering aid to undocumented workers and their U.S. citizen children. The group is asking authorities to take aggressive steps to help immigrant communities, including increasing the federal stimulus check to $2,000 a month, give $600 a week to those who lost their jobs but are ineligible for unemployment benefits and sign an executive order halting detention and deportation of unauthorized residents. Murphy said hes open to the idea of $600 but would not commit to it during Thursdays daily press briefing, and said he had not seen the report. He also urged anyone without access to healthcare, including undocumented residents, to contact the state. But even if they can access health insurance, undocumented immigrants can be fearful of hospitals reporting them to ICE and other authorities, said Cullinane, pointing to other barriers these groups are facing. We are not only living with the threat of contracting coronavirus, an anonymous survey respondent said. We are also living with the fear that if we lose our jobs, we will lose our health insurance. And because we are immigrants, we cant get public insurance. Im worried for my safety and my familys safety. Drive through testing does not require a copay, but many undocumented immigrants dont have cars, Cullinane added. Emergency room visits might be covered depending on the hospital, but treatment is an out-of-pocket cost. And many immigrants are essential workers, who have no choice but to go to work, Cullinane said, calling on those companies to implement strict policies to protect its workers. If the state wants to take flattening the curve seriously, everyone has to have the same opportunities to be able to stay home, have health care and work in safe conditions, Cullinane said. So its a priority for public health for everyone, immigrant communities and public safety in general. Some other states are already stepping up for immigrants: California Gov. Gavin Newsom said some undocumented immigrants in the state can draw on a $125 million public-private fund, and Minneapolis is offering $5 million to tenants and small businesses, regardless of immigration status. The financial hardship has been felt around the state, which has seen more than 850,000 residents file for unemployment since mid-March. As of Thursday, there have been 99,898 confirmed cases in New Jersey, including more than 5,000 deaths. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips The state has appealed a federal judges order to cut the number of petition signatures needed by political candidates to be included on the August primary ballot in Michigan communities. Granting a 50 percent reduction to the signature requirement could cause ballots to become cluttered with candidates who would normally not be able to gather enough local support to run for office, Assistant Attorney General Heather Meingast, argued during a Thursday hearing in Detroit federal court. U.S. District Judge Terrance Berg heard arguments in a remote court hearing Thursday, April 23 for and against his previous ruling in the case of Esshaki v. Whitmer. He expects to rule on the appeal Friday, April 24. Were under a significant time crunch here because the May 8 (deadline for petitions) isnt that far away, Berg said. I have no idea how the Court of Appeals will get this done in time if it gets appealed ... time is of the essence. Earlier this week, Berg found that the restrictions imposed on daily life by Gov. Gretchen Whitmers executive orders in response to the coronavirus outbreak, combined with ballot access requirements, have created a severe burden on a candidates rights. Since March 23, 2020, traditional door-to-door signature collecting has become a misdemeanor offense; malls, churches and schools and other public venues where signatures might be gathered have been shuttered, and even the ability to rely on the mail to gather signatures is uncertain if not prohibitively expensive," Berg ruled . The judge pushed the filing deadline from April 21 to May 8, and cut the number of signatures required to run for office by 50 percent. He also ordered the state to accept digital petition signatures. Related: These are not normal times: Judge moves filing deadline, cuts signature requirements for primary candidates Meingast said the state does not object to the extended filing deadline or the mandate to accept online petition signatures. She said the state has begun allowing the collection and filing of electronic signatures. However, the state has filed a motion to stay the portion of the court order regarding the reduction of signatures. Meingast said the lead plaintiff, Republican U.S. House candidate Eric Esshaki, has collected enough signatures since he filed his lawsuit, which suggests the reduction isnt necessary. Esshaki, whos seeking the 11th District seat held by U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, D- Rochester Hills, estimated he had around 700 of the 1,000 signatures he needed when he filed his lawsuit against Whitmer, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson and Director of Elections Jonathan Brater. He now has approximately 1,226 signatures, though he said his campaign hasnt had the opportunity to vet all of them to be sure theyre all from registered voters in his district. Esshaki said he received more than 100 signatures in his mailbox Monday morning, though its very difficult to determine when each signature was collected and which petitions came through the U.S. Postal Service or were dropped off in his mailbox by volunteers. He also suggested that the recent outpouring of support came because of press coverage of his lawsuit, and should not suggest the signature reduction isnt necessary. Other plaintiffs in the case argued Thursday that they wouldnt be able to appear on the ballot without the judges order. Deana Beard, a candidate for the 3rd Circuit Court in Wayne County, needs a minimum of 4,000 signatures to get her name on the ballot in August. To provide cushion, she said her campaign is aiming for 6,200 signatures. She estimates her campaign had about 3,500 signatures by March 24, when the governors stay-at-home order went into effect. Since then, shes collected another 110. This is a statewide problem and candidates like myself, if you take away the reduction, you are taking me off the ballot and I would have been on the ballot if not for the executive order and this pandemic," Beard said. I am detrimentally relying on this reduction." Michael Cafferty, attorney for Matt Savich, candidate for the 47th District Court in Oakland County, said his client had few more than 300 of the 400 signatures he needed before April 21. He said mailers were not a cost prohibitive option and come with time limitations of their own. The 50 percent portion of the court order is essential for Mr. Savage to maintain his position on the ballot," Cafferty said. The only other party who sided with the state during Thursdays hearing was Jean Kordenbrock, an attorney for Whittney Williams, another 11th District Republican candidate for the U.S. House. Kordenbrock argued that the reduction would be a violation of her clients 14th Amendment rights because it would allow more time for other candidates who didnt begin collecting signatures as early as Williams. Berg said he didnt see how Williams rights would be violated by the reduction. Instead, he said it appeared Williams would also benefit by the added signature cushion. Candidates for U.S. Congress under normal circumstances must collect at least 1,000 signatures from registered voters. Judicial candidates across the state have to collect 40 to 6,200 signatures, depending on the race. Berg concluded Thursdays hearing with a request that final submissions from each party be made by noon Friday so he could have time to issue a decision by the end of the day. As of Wednesday, April 22, Michigan has reported 33,966 confirmed cases of COVID-19, and 2,813 deaths of individuals who tested positive for the virus. 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: Deadlines for civil, probate cases extended under Michigan executive order Short-term extension of Michigans stay-at-home order likely necessary to limit coronavirus spread, Whitmer says Thursday, April 23: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan U.S. House candidate says gathering signatures impossible under Michigans coronavirus stay at home order A new study published in the journal Nature in April 2020 reports on a malaria protein antibody that appears to protect resistant children from severe disease, showing promise in the fight against malaria, a new study found. Almost 500,000 people die of malaria every year. How was the study done? The study involved nearly 20 years of extensive epidemiological research. The researchers recruited children in Tanzania at birth, beginning in 2001, and followed them up for years to identify children who developed an acquired immune response. Michal Fried and Patrick Duffy of the National Institutes of Health led this phase of the study. The researchers initially focused on identifying resistance levels of the children, on determining which children were resistant and which susceptible to the parasite. They needed this information to identify antibody molecules that were unique to the resistant children but not found in the others. Once this had been determined, the team chose 12 resistant and 14 susceptible children from the Tanzanian cohort. Blood samples were taken from the children at age two since immunity seems to develop around this time following exposure to natural infection. The scientists used a specialized technique to add proteins from the malarial parasite singly to the blood samples, step by step. This enabled them to detect antibodies to a particular protein in the blood samples from a resistant child, which was not present in the susceptible population. This led to the identification of PfGARP as present in resistant children and thus potentially contributing to malaria resistance. PfGARP is a protein produced by malarial trophozoites, the form of the parasite that lives and multiplies inside the patient's red cells. The protein is then carried to the outer cell membrane of the parasite. This is where the antibody can bind to it. The researchers went on to examine the protective efficacy of the antibody. They looked at the association of antibodies against this malarial protein with protection against malaria, in a sample of 246 children. They found that the absence of this antibody boosted the chances of severe malaria 2.5 times compared to those who had the antibody. A new study identifies an antibody, often present in children with natural immunity to severe malaria, that attacks a particular malaria protein called pGARP. When the antibody binds the protein, it causes malaria cells to undergo a form of programmed cell death. The discovery could be the basis for a new malaria vaccine. Image Credit: Kurtis Lab / Big Ocean How do anti-PfGARP antibodies work? Researchers worked out that the antibody to the protein PfGARP appeared to activate a "kill switch" that caused parasite cells inside human red blood cells to self-destruct, thus decreasing parasite load in the body. Says researcher Jonathan Kurtis, "When we introduce the antibody to samples in Petri dishes, we end up with 98% or 99% dead parasites." It seems rather unusual for a parasitic organism to evolve such a "kill switch" mechanism. Kurtis hypothesizes that the mechanism might be a response to the parasite sensing distress in its host. When the host dies, after all, so does the parasite. Therefore, if the host is very sick, it is in the parasite's interest to reduce its load, enabling the host organism to regain health. Malaria Vaccine Antigen Discovery Play Malaria Vaccine Antigen Discovery from BIG OCEAN on Vimeo. The response to the anti-PfGARP antibody might be the host's way of 'hijacking' one such mechanism. The study has implications for vaccine research, with researchers going on to develop two different vaccine types. Both were tested in nonhuman primates and showed significant protection of these animals against human malaria. The scientists say they are confident that vaccination of individuals with PfGARP to generate anti-PfGARP antibodies, or directly injecting PfGARP antibodies, may help guard against severe malaria. Their optimism about the new strategy's chances of success stems from its ability to attack the parasite at a different point in the infection cycle, buying more time for the vaccine to act. "What's exciting is that this is a vaccination strategy that attacks malaria in a way that it has never been attacked before -- one in which the parasite becomes complicit in its own demise. We are hopeful that this vaccine, perhaps combined with other malarial antigens, will translate into a strategy that can help prevent severe malaria in people." The malarial parasite's life cycle Malaria research has mapped out the life cycle of the mosquito-borne malarial parasites called Plasmodium. When an infected mosquito bites a human, thread-like plasmodial cells called sporozoites travel through the blood to the liver, where they develop into merozoites that burst out of the liver to invade red blood cells. Once inside the red cell, the merozoites morph into trophozoites, which frantically feed on and destroy the cell before exploding out of it to infect more cells. Previous vaccines have targeted the first stage - the sporozoites, with limited success. Kurtis attributes this to the tiny time window to stop the parasite - it takes only five minutes for the parasite to reach the liver, and even a single sporozoite can multiply rapidly to infect the individual. Stopping the sporozoites would require a considerable antibody dose. This is where the new antibody has an advantage - it targets the trophozoite stage, which lasts up to a day, buying time for the antibody to target cells and kill the trophozoites before they infect other red blood cells. "This gives us 24 hours as opposed to 5 minutes to intervene," Kurtis said. "During that time, the parasite expresses PfGARP -- a kill switch. We have designed a vaccine that activates it." Could this be 'a vaccine that can save lives'? Researchers say that a human vaccine is still years away since many different versions must be tested, first in animal models and then in humans. Even then, there is no guarantee that it will work precisely as expected. Nonetheless, the new approach that utilizes natural mechanisms of resistance has opened up possibilities about the unknown vulnerabilities of the parasite, and different ways to attack them. Kurtis says, "This was an incredible team effort involving infectious disease experts, pathologists, epidemiologists, geneticists, and molecular biologists. It really took all of these people to make this possible, and we're hopeful that the end result will be a vaccine that can save lives." TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Local food pantries have provided thousands of meals to families over the last few weeks. The Purdue Student Farm is helping keep their shelves stocked. The farm usually sells it's produce to the dining halls on campus, but with campus closed, workers like Chris Adair decided the food should be shared with the community. "We wanted to find an outlet for it and we figured donating it to folks would be our best option," said Adair. The donations are going to local food banks like Food Finders Food Bank and ACE Food Pantry. The farm already has partnerships with the food banks, but Adair said more food is going to the banks with campus closed. "We're not having to put it into the ground or compost it or just kind of let is sit. We've been doing about 300 bags plus a week for the last four or five weeks," said Adair. According to Food Finders CEO Katy Bunder, those donations add up to more than 100 pounds each time. She said the donations go a long way in helping keep the community fed. "Spinach and kale are pretty light, so when you say 120 pounds, that is a lot of spinach and kale," said Bunder. ACE Food Pantry, Student Director Marly Beck said the donations are vital to keeping students fed. "The student farm has been instrumental in helping us improving food security on campus. And mainly that's in way of increased access to fresh produce, vegetables and greens and fruits," said Beck. Bunder said it's donations like these that are helping so many get through these times. "It's been very heartwarming to see how Purdue and also just the whole community and all the organizations and churches have all stepped up to help us at this critical time," said Bunder. Currently, the farm is mainly producing greens such as kale and lettuce. Adair said the farm plans to expand their options as the growing season continues. Meghan Markle's estranged father, Thomas, is reportedly living alone in a cliff-top house in Rosarito Beach, Mexico as the Sussexes house hunt in Los Angeles. The 75-year-old has grown increasingly reclusive since the announcement of Meghan's engagement to Prince Harry. According to Tom, the actress' half-brother, Thomas hated the spotlight Meghan's royal romance brought him. He has been the center of much controversy after giving interviews to various media outlets. His press appearances created a rift between him and his daughter. Experts claim he will never be able to see his grandson due to the ongoing tension. In the Spotlight In early April, Thomas accused Meghan of dumping her family. The Markle drama started after the Duchess' half-siblings claimed they were never invited to the wedding. Thomas was initially scheduled to fly to England to walk his daughter down the aisle. However, the press released staged paparazzi photos of him preparing for the wedding, causing him to suffer health issues at the last second. Media interest in Meghan's parents skyrocketed since her relationship with Prince Harry was confirmed. The duchess repeatedly requested photographers to stay away from her father. However, her father could not shy away from fame. According to a news site, Thomas collaborated with a paparazzi to stage a series of pictures. His photographs were sold to newspapers worldwide, earning over $120,000. The pictures occurred at a local internet cafe where the British paparazzi asked Thomas to sit in front of a computer where news stories about his daughter were shown on screen. He was also pictured getting measured for a suit. The "tailor" was later revealed to be an assistant at a goods shop who was recruited for the job. He also said Thomas grabbed a measuring tape he brought with him and showed him what to do. A CCTV video at the internet cafe captured the photographer and the former lighting director setting up for the photos. According to the cafe manager, they only stayed in the establishment for ten to fifteen minutes. Since then, Mr. Markle claimed Meghan and Prince Harry cut off all connections with him. The Truth On Monday, Meghan's legal team shared transcripts of text messages that the royal couple sent Thomas Markle, exposing the 75-year-old's lies. In multiple interviews, the elder Markle claimed the couple never inquired about his health. He also accused both of admonishing him following the paparazzi incident. The transcripts, however, paint a different story. In several texts, Meghan and Harry were shown repeatedly calling and contacting Thomas. The Duke of Sussex offered his father-in-law a security team to protect him from press intrusion. He was trying to call Thomas for half-an-hour to no avail. The following day, Mr. Markle sent a public statement to TMZ to announce he suffered a heart attack, news Harry and Meghan had never heard of until the outlet published the piece. The royal pair tried to contact Thomas, none of which were returned until many hours later, with Mr. Markle declining the help. Despite reminders about avoiding the press, Thomas appeared in a Channel 5 documentary early this year where he said he would continue to accept money for interviews because the couple "owed him." "The royals owe me. Harry owes me. Meghan owes me," he said. "It's time to look after daddy." Watch a sneak peek of the documentary here: Want to read more? Check these out: Health officials in Butte-Silver Bow County are anticipating more COVID-19 cases as the local economy reopens, but believe they are prepared to identify, address and monitor them if they happen. We are ready for it. Thats a good way to put it, county Health Director Karen Sullivan said after Gov. Steve Bullock announced a phased-in plan to lift restrictions on people and businesses in Montana. We are trying to be public health professionals and realists. She also said that even though Butte-Silver Bow is testing and tracking at rates in line with Montana and the nation, about 1 percent of the population, it is not enough. Until we have enhanced testing and contact tracing capability, reopening, phased or not, is a risk, Sullivan said. Although Bullocks plan allows local jurisdictions to keep more restrictive measures in place, Butte-Silver Bow is following most of his blueprint, including when various businesses can re-open and the guidelines they must follow. If there are any differences, they will be listed at http://co.silverbow.mt.us/ soon. Butte-Silver Bow officials decided Wednesday that county operations will remain status quo through phase one of Bullocks re-opening plan. That means the courthouse will remain closed to public access and services will be delivered through current alternative methods. Dave Palmer, Butte-Silver Bows chief executive, said those temporary methods are working pretty well and the decision would help keep workers in the courthouse safe. Bullock did not set out any specific criteria or timeline for moving to subsequent reopening phases. School districts can resume in-class instruction on May 7 without explicit approval from county officials, Sullivan said. But she and Judy Jonart, superintendent of Butte School District 1 the countys largest said they would consult each other in whatever plan is developed in the coming days. Butte Central Schools also has made no decisions yet on reopening. The county Health Department says all businesses must have plans stating how they intend to follow the restrictions and guidelines still in place, and they can send emails to environmentalhealth@bsb.mt.gov to get more information on that. Some businesses can open Monday and others soon, and they can do so even if they have not submitted written plans to the department yet, said John Rolich, director of the departments environmental health division. But they will have to provide the plans soon and health officials will be visiting businesses in the coming days to ensure guidelines are being followed, he said. The ones listed in Bullocks plan are pretty straight forward, he said. Sullivan said as of Wednesday, the county still had 11 confirmed cases a number that has held for nearly three weeks. Of those, eight people have recovered and three are still recovering at home. Sullivan said there are three primary reasons the number has stayed the same. First, the Health Department and Southwest Montana Community Health Center facilitated early testing of those people and providers they determined needed to be tested. We quarantined those people while we awaited test results from the state, we isolated those people when they were a confirmed positive and we began our investigation into whom those people had contact with, and traced those contacts, she said. Further testing was done on contacts considered to be at high-risk, she said, and they talked to everyones contacts and were careful to test and quarantine those they were worried about. This limited the spread of disease, she said. Secondly, people who tested positive were highly cooperative as they moved into and spent time in isolation. And third, most residents followed guidelines. While we had some outliers, residents of this community were very compliant with the governors stay-at-home directive, Sullivan said. Im proud of our town. Many people have asked whether Butte-Silver Bow is testing enough, Sullivan said, and her department has tried to make sure that testing rates here are in line with the rest of the state and nation. The county has tested 408 of its 34,284 residents, or about 1.19 percent. Thats roughly the same as the state and nation, she said. Of the 408 tested here so far, 11, or 2.69 percent, tested positive. That compares to 3.79 percent testing positive statewide and 2.01 percent nationally. So, Sullivan said, Butte-Silver Bow is largely in line with both of those metrics." But, she said, testing 1 percent is not enough. We need more universal testing and we need the capacity to conduct robust contact tracing, she said. That is not in place nationally, therefore, universal testing and capacity to conduct adequate contact tracing is hindered at the state and local level. So do I feel like our community has been safe or will be (with the reopening)? No, I dont, because we dont have the testing capability to prove that. But, she reiterated, her department is ready if the numbers go up. We are prepared for all that, she said. Love 4 Funny 2 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 16 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. Background DNA contains the information essential for life. It is therefore critically important to maintain the integrity of DNA. However, due to natural cellular processes and environmental factors, DNA suffers damage at an alarming frequency. To counter this damage, cells have evolved intricate DNA repair processes. One mechanism is known as homologous recombination (HR) and involves the Rad51 protein. Although Rad51 plays a central role in HR, several proteins function to help Rad51. These helper proteins typically form distinct groups that are comprised of multiple subunits. Overview of Research Achievement In order to activate Rad51, helper proteins must first attach to Rad51. To study how a helper protein known as Swi5-Sfr1 attaches to Rad51, the YCU team utilized nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. This led to the discovery that two regions within Sfr1 are responsible for anchoring Swi5-Sfr1 to Rad51. Next, by combining purified proteins and purified DNA in a test tube, the Tokyo Tech team demonstrated that mutations in these two regions compromised the activation of Rad51 by Swi5-Sfr1. The researchers reasoned that yeast cells containing mutations in these two regions of Sfr1 would be unable to repair DNA damage, but they were surprised to see that this was not the case. The teams hypothesized that a protein present in the cell but absent from the test tube--which only contains carefully selected purified materials--might be rescuing the DNA repair process. The laboratory of senior author Prof. Hiroshi Iwasaki (Tokyo Tech) had previously shown that there are two HR sub-pathways in yeast: one that relies on Swi5-Sfr1 and another that is dependent on Rad51-related helper proteins. To test whether this other sub-pathway was compensating for the function of mutant Swi5-Sfr1, they made yeast cells lacking Rad51-related helper proteins then re-examined whether mutant Swi5-Sfr1 could promote DNA repair. Remarkably, mutant Swi5-Sfr1 failed to activate Rad51 and cells were unable to repair their DNA. This suggests that the function of the Swi5-Sfr1 helper protein in activating Rad51 is supported by Rad51-related helper proteins. Future Development The authors now propose that, rather than functioning independently of each other as was previously thought, Swi5-Sfr1 and the Rad51-related helper proteins collaborate to activate Rad51. "We have seen this collaborative effort between the helper proteins to repair DNA in living cells," says lead author Dr. Bilge Argunhan, a specially appointed assistant professor in Prof. Hiroshi Iwasaki's laboratory. "Now we want to reconstitute the activation of Rad51 in a test tube with both Swi5-Sfr1 and the Rad51-related helper proteins. We believe this approach will be effective in uncovering the finer details involved in this interplay." Some human diseases including several cancers are associated with defects in HR. Since the fundamental mechanisms of HR are evolutionarily conserved from yeast to humans, the authors will combine the powerful genetics that is possible in yeast with biochemical approaches to gain new insights into DNA repair that may be relevant to understanding human disease. ### Boris Johnson's government faced growing criticism over its failure to set out a plan to ease an economy-sapping lockdown as the latest figures laid bare Britain's struggle to test enough people to help prevent a second wave of coronavirus infections. Members of Johnson's Conservative Party were among those demanding an exit strategy so businesses can plan, while Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said her officials will follow a "sector by sector" approach to restarting activity. The U.K. economy contracted at the fastest pace in at least 20 years this month, with commerce brought to a standstill. "Sturgeon's approach is right: an open discussion about the hard trade-offs we face living with the virus for the foreseeable future," former Tory Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said on Twitter. "U.K. ministers refusing to discuss the lockdown in public while briefing ideas to ease it in private can't last. Time to treat the public like adults." It's far from clear the government can satisfy its own criteria for easing social-distancing measures while keeping the covid-19 transmission rate low enough to stop exponential spread of the disease. Widespread testing and tracking of coronavirus cases will be central to whatever it decides. Ministers have been under pressure over testing ever since they abandoned a test-and-trace strategy in the community, leaving officials in the dark over the true spread of the disease. Though medics rigorously tracked the virus at the beginning of the outbreak and quarantined people as necessary, the government dropped the strategy on March 12 due to a lack of capacity and a belief the disease had already spread too widely. Health Secretary Matt Hancock has since unveiled a new target to reach 100,000 tests a day by the end of April, while the government said Thursday it will survey 20,000 households in a bid to track the spread of the virus. While testing capacity has been increased to just over 48,000 a day, only 22,814 tests were done in the latest 24-hour period, Johnson's spokesman, James Slack, told reporters on Thursday. Officials are "working hard" to bridge the gap, he said. The latest figures show more than 133,000 people have tested positive for Covid-19 and 18,100 have died of the disease in hospitals -- edging toward the 20,000 figure the government said it would consider a good result, even before non-hospital deaths are included. The blind spot over the real numbers is complicating decision-making for ministers as they try to devise a way out of the national lockdown that won't trigger a second wave of infections. Hancock told the House of Commons on Wednesday the U.K. is planning widespread tracing of coronavirus patients, a strategy adopted by South Korea, which has avoided a full lockdown. Hancock told Parliament a National Health Service app to assist with the so-called track and trace of cases is in "beta trials" which are "going well." The Times newspaper reported thousands of people will be trained, including local council staff and civil servants, and Public Health England aims to have the system up and running within three weeks. Johnson's office didn't dispute the contents of the report. The pressure to announce a detailed plan is likely to grow ahead of an official review of the lockdown on May 7. "We need to start this discussion about how we get back to normality," Tory MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown told BBC Radio on Thursday. But Slack said the government's focus remains on reducing the rate of infections and talk of lifting the lockdown is premature. "We mustn't take our foot off the pedal early and risk a second wave," Slack told reporters. "That would be particularly damaging for businesses." Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 18:40:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BANGKOK, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's youngest COVID-19 patient, a one-month-old baby, has fully recovered and returned home in Thailand's eastern province of Rayong on Thursday, Deputy Public Health Minister Satit Pitutacha said. The baby, nick-named by his nurse as Kin Kin, stayed at Bamrasnaradura Institute of Infectious Diseases in Nonthaburi province for nearly 20 days. Satit described the baby as healthy, cute, good-natured and only cried for milk at night. The deputy minister said the little baby had gained weight while in hospital, from 5 kg to 5.8 kg. Kin Kin was the sixth COVID-19 patient from Rayong province. Meanwhile, Thailand is making progress in containing the COVID-19 outbreak, with 13 new cases confirmed over a 24-hour period and one death, Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman of the government's Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA), said on Thursday. The total number of COVID-19 patients rose to 2,839. The spokesman said Thursday's number was the lowest of new cases in April since the peak of 188 on March 22. The number of fatalities increased to 50, while 2,430 patients have recovered and returned to their homes and 359 are undergoing treatment in hospitals. Enditem Day 36 is seared into Yazan Awads memory. Locked away inside the prison at the al-Mezzeh military airport in the Syrian capital of Damascus, Awad hung naked and blindfolded. Prison guards that day had suspended him from the ceiling by his wrists, a torture technique he had yet to experience. As the guards raped an unidentified woman they claimed was his mother, Awaz was made to listen to her screams. Later, when he refused to give up information, he says they sexually assaulted him using a rifle. His hell ended after 12 hours, when Awad agreed to kiss the boots of one of his tormentors. Jailed in 2011 for his involvement in Syrias anti-government protests, Awad would undergo extreme torture, both physical and psychological, during his remaining months in prison. To distract himself during the sessions, he tried to commit his interrogators face to memory. When I meet God, I want to tell him, this is the person. I need my justice from him, Awad said. The perpetrators of such torture in Syria have largely evaded justice, despite a vast amount of evidence collected by the United Nations and human rights groups. But that could change Thursday when a court in Koblenz, Germany, begins a landmark criminal trial on state-sponsored torture in Syria. Anwar Raslan and Eyad Gharib, two suspected members of Syrian President Bashar al-Assads intelligence services, stand accused of crimes against humanity, including the brutal and systematic torture of anti-government activists who rose up against the regime in 2011. Separately, the two men fled Syria in the early years of the civil war, and later entered Germany as asylum seekers. Federal police arrested them in February 2019 as part of a coordinated effort between French and German authorities. The German trial is the first of its kind. The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague would be the obvious venue, but the Syrian government is not a member state, meaning the ICC has no jurisdiction. The court could obtain jurisdiction through the United Nations Security Council, but Assad-backers Russia and China have vetoed such attempts. Unable to achieve justice at the ICC or within Syrian courts, victims have turned to third countries like Germany. Prosecutors are relying on their countrys sweeping universal jurisdiction law, which allows for the prosecution of grave crimes committed in another country, regardless of whether a German national was involved. There are some crimes that are so horrific that it would be a huge violation of the international legal system if they were left not to be prosecuted, said Mai El-Sadany, the managing director and legal and judicial director at the Washington-based Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy. The argument for universal jurisdiction becomes that much stronger with a context like Syria, where there are really no other opportunities for justice. Other national courts, mainly in Europe, where some perpetrators have fled, have taken up similar war crimes cases using their own interpretations of universal jurisdiction. France and Germany have also issued international arrest warrants for Jamil Hassan, who, as head of Syria's Air Force Intelligence Service until 2019, oversaw widespread torture. Raslan is accused of overseeing the torture of opposition activists at the notorious military intelligence prison in Damascus, known as Branch 251, between 2011 and 2012. Prosecutors say that Raslan, a former colonel in the Syrian army who ultimately defected, was aware of the massive violence that occurred under his watch. The indictment describes detainees at the facility being hung from their wrists, deprived of sleep and subjected to electric shocks. The prisoners were allegedly held in cells so crowded it was impossible for them to sit or lie down. Raslan is charged with 58 murders, as well as rape and sexual assault. Gharib, who worked under Raslans command in the intelligence unit, is accused of aiding and abetting torture in at least 30 cases. Prosecuting individuals like Raslan and Gharib could have far-reaching implications when it comes to building a case against the wider Syrian regime, said Beth Van Schaack, the Leah Kaplan visiting professor in human rights at Stanford Law School. It testifies to the fact that there was this system in place that others suffered from," she said. "So that can then lay the groundwork for future cases elsewhere because youve sort of proved that the Syrian regime is essentially a criminal regime. The trial follows years of case-building by the Berlin-based European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) and Syrian-led organizations, including the Syrian Center for Legal Studies & Researches and the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression. In addition to witness testimony, key evidence also includes photographs smuggled out of Syria in 2013 by a Syrian military defector who goes by the pseudonym "Caesar. The photos of at least 145 detainees killed at Branch 251 custody appear in Caesars files, according to the Open Society Foundations, which has provided evidence to prosecutors in the Raslan case. Anwar al-Bunni, a former detainee and human rights lawyer living in Germany, believes this case will set an important precedent. Its not about this guy or this guy, he said during a virtual briefing organized by ECCHR on Monday. [Its about] who gives the orders, how the orders come, what they do with these detainees. The information exposed in this trial will be so important to use in other investigations in other countries, he said. Over nine years into its war against the opposition, the Syrian government continues to use its vast network of prisons to torture and execute civilians perceived as disloyal. More than 130,000 people remain detained or forcibly disappeared by regime forces, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights, a local monitoring group. International criminal attorney Patrick Kroker represents the eight survivors involved the Koblenz trial as joint plaintiffs. All were arrested for their participation in anti-government protests and tortured at Branch 251. The six men and two women range in age from their late 20s to mid-60s, but share the same motivation for coming forward. They want to really bring light into this whole system that is so characterized by secrecy and darkness, Kroker said. They are very much looking for truth and justice above all, not revenge. Awad, the torture survivor, said the next step is bringing Assad himself to trial. I believe justice will happen, whether it will be in Germany or another country. Whether it will be in 2020 or in another 30 years. Someday it will happen, he said. This is the start of winning the truth. Before the coronavirus, people receiving unemployment benefits in most states got, on average, less than half their weekly salaries. Now, as millions file claims, many are poised to receive more money than they would have typically earned in their jobs, thanks to the additional $600 a week set aside in the federal stimulus package for the unemployed. That calculation is based on an analysis of the so-called replacement rate, which is the share of a workers wages that is replaced by unemployment benefits. Workers in more than half of states will receive, on average, more in unemployment benefits than their normal salaries Unemployment benefitS less than wageS Greater than wageS 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 120% 100% Maine Actual replacement rate at the end of 2019 Estimated replacement rate with extra $600 N.M. Idaho Iowa Ky. Ark. S.D. Mississippi went from replacing 31% of average wages to an estimated 119% Vt. Wyo. Mont. Miss. Ala. Neb. Okla. Mo. Pa. Kan. Tenn. Nev. N.D. La. Del. Ariz. Mich. Wisc. Ore. Utah S.C. Md. Minn. R.I. Conn. Fla. Texas Ohio N.C. Va. Ind. Ga. N.J. Massachusetts had the smallest change, from 43% to 93% Hawaii Colo. Wash. W. Va. Calif. Mass. Alaska Ill. N.Y. D.C. N.H. Unemployment benefitS less than wageS Greater than wageS 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 120% 100% Maine Estimated replacement rate with extra $600 Actual replacement rate at the end of 2019 New Mexico Idaho Iowa Kentucky Arkansas South Dakota Mississippi went from replacing 31% of average wages to an estimated 119% Vermont Wyoming Montana Mississippi Alabama Nebraska Oklahoma Missouri Pennsylvania Kansas Tennessee Nevada North Dakota Louisiana Delaware Arizona Michigan Wisconsin Oregon Utah South Carolina Maryland Minnesota Rhode Island Connecticut Florida Texas Ohio North Carolina Virginia Indiana Georgia New Jersey Hawaii Massachusetts had the smallest change, from 43% to 93% Colorado Washington West Virginia California Massachusetts Alaska Illinois New York Washington D.C. New Hampshire Estimated replacement rate with $600 additional benefit Estimated replacement rate with $600 additional benefit 120% ME NM Unemployment benefitS Greater than wageS ID IA Unemployment benefitS Greater than wageS KY AR SD VT WY 100% MT MS AL NE OK MO PA KS TN NV ND LA DE AZ MI WI OR UT 80% SC MD MN RI CT FL TX OH NC VA IN GA NJ HI CO WA WV CA MA AK IL 60% NY DC NH 40% 20% Actual replacement rate in 2019s 4th quarter 0% Note: Estimates use average weekly unemployment benefit and average weekly wages from the last quarter of 2019 and add $600 to the average weekly benefit. Sources: Department of Labor; Ernie Tedeschi, Evercore ISI Research Replacement rates for each state are determined by dividing the average unemployment payment by the average 40-hour-a-week salary of those who receive unemployment benefits. Ernie Tedeschi, a former Treasury Department official and an economist at Evercore ISI Research, combined the new stimulus relief with each states average unemployment payment at the end of 2019 to estimate how much their replacement rates would increase. The Massachusetts replacement rate will increase the smallest amount, he found, though it still doubles. Mississippi will have an 88 percentage-point jump, meaning workers there earning an average wage will make roughly $130 more in benefits. These estimates, which reflect what tens of thousands of people around the country may now receive, come with caveats. As large portions of the economy remain closed because of the outbreak, rendering more than 26 million people without jobs in a matter of weeks, no one knows for sure how wages and benefits for those receiving unemployment might change as more people enter the ranks. A provision of the stimulus package, for example, allows part-time and self-employed workers who would normally not qualify for unemployment to receive benefits. That will alter the makeup of the typical pool of people filing claims, not to mention the average benefit paid out. The ultimate depth of the economic fallout from the virus remains unclear, as is the question of how long the government will be able to provide extra money to help workers who lost their jobs. And just because someone qualifies for unemployment doesnt mean they will receive it quickly. Why $600 a week? When you add $600 to the national average unemployment payment $371.88 a week at the end of 2019 the replacement rate goes from 38 percent to almost exactly 100 percent. In other words, that amount is what it would take for Congress to replace what the average American worker receiving unemployment would have earned. I would never two months ago have ever thought of advocating for 100 percent income replacement, said Michele Evermore, a senior policy analyst at the National Employment Law Project. But then when the pandemic hit, it was very different. We needed a policy mechanism to do something that unemployment insurance doesnt usually do, and thats keep people home. Unemployment benefits are typically meant to keep people afloat but stay low enough to incentivize them to find a job. Now, when seeking work may be both fruitless and dangerous, the incentives have nearly reversed. But if the goal is to replace everyones wages, why not do it in a manner similar to how other countries are paying large percentages of worker salaries to prevent layoffs? While state unemployment systems are revealing their lack of preparedness for a crisis of this scale, the United States didnt have many options that already existed to quickly get money to the people who will need it, according to Ms. Evermore. The unemployment insurance system is the system we have, she said. And a $600 flat amount, rather than one relative to each persons income, on top of a states usual benefits, is perhaps the simplest possible policy to enact. State programs are already crashing just under the weight of new claims, Ms. Evermore said. To have them have to reprogram their computers to recalculate how benefits are paid would be completely disastrous. The extra money will provide an uneven benefit While an extra $600 a week is enough to replace 100 percent of the average national income, the added benefit will differ depending on where people are and what they typically earn. Ms. Evermore described it as swinging an ax to hit an ant. A person who earns close to the average weekly wage will roughly get their salary replaced on unemployment, but low-wage workers who lose their jobs are more likely to end up making greater amounts than they were before. These workers, many of whom work in hard-hit industries like restaurants and retailing, are also those who are more likely to be in urgent need of cash to pay for necessities. However, because minimum and maximum amounts of unemployment benefits vary by state, the proportion of people whose benefits could exceed their normal salaries will be vastly different by state. Just over half of workers in Arizona, which had a relatively high minimum benefit of $172 before the crisis, are estimated to make more on unemployment than if they were still working, according to Noah Williams, the director of Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Smaller shares of workers stand to gain as much from unemployment benefits in other states, he found. Other factors, like the cost of living, will affect how far an extra $600 a week will stretch. States with higher minimum weekly unemployment insurance benefits ... Minn. Wash. N.M. Mich. N.J. La. Ore. Kan. D.C. Ariz. Ark. N.Y. Ohio Mont. Idaho Hawaii Mass. $0 $25 $50 $75 $100 $125 $150 $175 ... tend to have a larger share of workers who make less in their jobs than they would on unemployment currently if they got the minimum benefit plus $600 Ark. Hawaii N.M. Ariz. Idaho Mass. Ore. D.C. Minn. Mont. Mich. La. Ohio N.Y. Kan. More workers who make less than unemployment N.J. Wash. 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% States with higher minimum weekly unemployment insurance benefits ... Minn. Mich. La. N.M. N.J. Wash. Kan. Ohio Ore. N.Y. Ariz. Ark. D.C. Mont. Idaho Hawaii Mass. $0 $25 $50 $75 $100 $125 $150 $175 ... tend to have a larger share of workers who make less in their jobs than they would on unemployment currently if they got the minimum benefit plus $600 Hawaii N.M. Ore. Mass. Ariz. Ark. D.C. Kan. Idaho Minn. Mont. Ohio Mich. La. More workers who make less than unemployment N.Y. N.J. Wash. 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% Note: Includes those working in January and February 2020, as well as part-time workers but not the self-employed. Under additional provisions of the stimulus bill, some workers who previously were not eligible, mostly those who are part-time or self-employed, will now qualify for unemployment, but will receive half the average weekly benefit plus the $600. Sources: Current Population Survey and the Labor Department, via Noah Williams, Center for Research on the Wisconsin Economy, University of Wisconsin-Madison Despite the additional benefits, many people who qualify for unemployment have been stuck waiting to receive money as state systems struggle to process the sheer number of new claims. And as of now, the $600 weekly additional payments will expire at the end of July. Congress may opt to extend the deadline in a further stimulus bill if it seems that the economy is still struggling badly, though the cost of extending will add to the already high price tag of the policy. States are paying their usual benefits while the funds for the $600 payments, as well as other unemployment benefits in the stimulus including expanding who will qualify and extending the duration by 13 weeks through the end of 2020, are provided by the federal government. As millions of people apply, the cost for both states and the federal government is enormous. But Mr. Tedeschi said the $600-a-week policy, along with other relief measures that put cash directly in Americans pockets, like $1,200 payments for individuals and loans for businesses to keep staff on payroll, demonstrated a real commitment by the federal government to try to keep Americans afloat. Not only is it bold, he said, but in principle we can argue about implementation but in principle its actually bolder than what a lot of other advanced economies have done. New Delhi: Fifty-eight people, including a 45-day-old child -- nearly half of the 128 Covid-19 cases reported in Delhi on Thursday -- were from two clusters in Jahangirpuri and Jama Masjid, according to the latest Delhi government data. The contagious disease has so far infected 2,376 people in Delhi; 50 of them have died and 808 have recovered. Officials said 46 of the new cases were members of different families in Jahangirpuri, and 12 from Chooriwalan in Jama Masjid. Different places in both the areas have already been demarcated as containment, or red, zones. With three new containment zones announced on Thursday, the total number of such areas in the city -- where there is a hard lockdown in place with a ban on movement and home-delivery of essential supplies by the administration -- has reached 92. According to district administration officials, in the Jama Masjid case, the positive cases belonged to two families, including the 45-day-old child, from Chooriwalan. The infant, and three people who have underlying health issues such as diabetes, hypertension and chronic kidney disease, were admitted to the dedicated Covid-19 Lok Nayak hospital. The rest of the people have been admitted to Covid Care Centres, which look after patients with mild to moderate symptoms. From what we have learnt, these are members of two different families, but their address is the same. They might be living on two different floors of the same building. We came to know of the case after the families got tested at a private clinic. We are currently assessing the area, said Nidhi Shrivastava, district magistrate of Central Delhi. District officials in Jahangirpuri said the 46 people come from about 10 families in H-block and all of them have been shifted to the quarantine facility in Narela. They also said that contract tracing exercise has begun and other members of the positive people have been asked to remain in home quarantine. Officials who are tracing contacts for positive people from Jama Masjid said one of them has a history of travel to Russia, before India imposed a complete ban on international travel on March 22. Russia has so far reported 62,773 cases and 555 deaths linked to Covid-19. We are still investigating the source of the infection, said Shrivastava. This lane is already within a containment zone but we will declare it a micro-containment zone, and carry out all the measures aggressively. District officials in Jahangirpuri also suggested micro-containment of the area since three lanes of the H-block (H1, H2 and H3) were declared as containment zones on April 14 after a Covid-19 positive case was reported there. Samples of residents of these areas were collected earlier this week after a house-to-house survey. The test report of residents was released on Wednesday evening in which 46 were found Covid-19 positive, Jahangirpuri councillor Poonam Bagri said. An official of the district administration, requesting anonymity, said that with more cluster cases emerging, vigilance and preventive measures in the area have been stepped up. The area will now be monitored on micro level. Intensive sanitisation activities have been started in the area, the official said. JC Passey, director, Lok Nayak hospital, said: Only one the family members apart from the baby needed to be admitted here, but we admitted two others who had some co-morbid conditions. The others have been referred to Covid Care Centres. He played down reports of the family having an altercation with the doctors when they reached there for admission on Wednesday night. The government has now decided that only the category III patients who either have severe symptoms or are a at a high risk of developing such symptoms will be admitted to the hospital. There are five levels (four excluding the dedicated hospitals) of facilities right now the Covid testing centres where samples are collected; the isolation centres are there for those waiting for their results; Covid Care Centres in government flats etc. admit those with mild symptoms; and the Covid health centres admit those with moderate symptoms, said Passey. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Defence Headquarters says the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD), has destroyed compounds housing Boko Haram Terrorist... The Defence Headquarters says the Air Task Force of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD), has destroyed compounds housing Boko Haram Terrorists leaders at Bulawa, on the fringes of the Sambisa Forest in Borno State. The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja. Enenche said the airstrikes were executed on April 21 based on credible human intelligence as well as Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions that led to the identification of the target compounds within the settlement. He explained that the fighter jets dispatched by the Air Task Force to take out the compounds scored accurate hits in the target area, leading to the destruction of some of the structures. According to him, some of the terrorists occupying the compounds were neutralized in the attack. Boko Haram fighters, who attempted to reposition to engage the attacking aircraft, were mopped-up in follow-on attacks by the jets. The Armed Forces of Nigeria in furtherance of the objective of restoring peace and security in the North East, will sustain the offensive against the enemies of our nation, he said. Seattle, Washington--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2020) - CFN Media (OTCQB: CNFN), the leading agency and financial media network dedicated to the legalized North American cannabis, CBD, & Psychedelic industries announces publication of an article discussing THC BioMed Intl Ltd's revenue & profitability. Cannabis investors had already been shifting from "unproven potential" to "profitability" over the past several quarters prior to the global health crisis. With the COVID-19 outbreak, investors have fled previous investments to profitable companies that aren't reliant on costly or dilutive funding to sustain their operations. THC BioMed Intl Ltd. (CSE: THC) recently recorded its second consecutive quarter of profitability along with more than $1 million in revenue. This represents profits of $88,191 for the three months ended January 31, 2020. Investors looking for exposure to the cannabis industry may want to take a closer look at the stock as an alternative to companies with high cash burn rates and losses in operations. Click Here To Receive Updates on THC BioMed Growing Revenue & Outlook THC BioMed generated more than $1 million in revenue during the first two quarters of fiscal year 2020 with an average selling price of $4.20 per gram to medical patients and recreational buyers, including the Ontario Cannabis Store and BCcannabisonline. During the second quarter alone, revenue rose 163% year-over-year to $1,246,625. Figure 1: THC BioMed To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5503/54790_2ab6d78f2499b890_001full.jpg "Over the last year, we have completed and started using new grow rooms to increase our output," said President & CEO John Miller. "Our focus on high-quality, indoor-grown cannabis at reasonable prices has made our cannabis a best seller." The company achieved several key operational milestones over the past six months: Sales of THC Kiss began on April 10, 2020. The cannabis beverage can be purchased by THC BioMed's medical patients via the company's online store. Pure Cannabis Sticks - or filtered, paper cylinder pre-rolls - went into automated production. A new three-year lease was signed for a property adjacent to the company's production facility, which will be used to free up space for more production. Its Cannabis Act license was amended to include the production and sale of cannabis edibles, topicals and extracts, opening the door to new markets. Management believes that these operational milestones pave the way for revenue growth over the coming quarters. In particular, the launch of Cannabis 3.0 products will expand the company's addressable market, while the production efficiencies offered by Pure Cannabis Sticks boost bottom line performance. Click Here To Receive Updates on THC BioMed Sustainable Profitability THC BioMed reported net income of $88,191, gross profit before fair value adjustments of $759,959, and adjusted EBITDA of $131,549 during the second quarter, representing its second consecutive quarter of profitability-a rarity among licensed producers that have historically experienced a high cash burn rate. Second quarter net income was lower than the $688,925 reported during the first quarter on the surface, but gross profit before fair value adjustments and adjusted EBITDA were higher than first quarter levels of $295,480 and $890, respectively. These figures suggest that the actual bottom line performance has improved quarter over quarter. "We are proud to have achieved our second consecutive profitable quarter," added Mr. Miller. "Our financial statements for Q2 2020 reflect the improvements we have realized in all key indicators of economic progress." It's worth noting that the average price of $4.20 per gram is lower than the average prices reported for other licensed producers, which makes the profitability even more significant, as margins are lower than the competition. If industry average prices trend lower, the company doesn't have to cut its prices in order to remain competitive. Looking Ahead THC BioMed Intl Ltd. (CSE: THC) is one of the few profitable licensed producers in the industry, giving them an edge over other companies that are reliant on potentially dilutive future fundraising to stay alive. Click Here To Receive Updates on THC BioMed Click here to read the full feature: https://bit.ly/2zixfda THC BioMed Contact: CEO: John Miller info@thcbiomed.com 844-842-6337 CFN Media Contact: President Frank Lane Flane@cannabisfn.com 206-369-7050 About CFN Media CFN Enterprises Inc. (OTCQB: CNFN) is the owner and operator of CFN Media, the leading agency and digital financial media network dedicated to the legal cannabis, CBD & Psychedelic industries. For Visitors and Viewers CFN Media's Cannabis Financial Network (CannabisFN.com) is the destination for savvy investors and business people profiting from the worldwide cannabis industry. Viewers will see breaking news, exclusive content and original programming involving the people, companies and investments shaping the industry. For Cannabis Businesses & Companies CFN Media is a leading agency and financial media network dedicated to the cannabis industry. We help private, pre-public and public cannabis companies in the US and Canada attract capital, investors and media attention. Our powerful digital media and distribution platform conveys a company's message and value proposition directly to accredited and retail investors and national media active in the North American cannabis markets. Since 2013, CFN Media has enabled the world's preeminent cannabis companies to thrive in the capital and public markets. Learn how to become a CFN Media client company, brand or entrepreneur: https://www.cannabisfn.com/become-featured-company/ Disclaimer The above article is sponsored content. CannabisFN.com and CFN Media, have been hired to create awareness. Please follow the link below to view our full disclosure outlining our compensation: http://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/54790 The following is an open letter submitted by tribes, tribal entities and Native corporations to Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) in connection with the upcoming fishing season in Bristol Bay. We are writing on behalf of the Bristol Bay Working Group, representing the Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation Bristol Bay Housing Authority , & the United Tribes of Bristol Bay , concerning a matter of critical public concern. That matter is the risk posed to all Alaskans, and especially to the residents and the healthcare workers of the Bristol Bay region, presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the rapidly approaching 2020 fishing season. . As you know, each year the Bristol Bay fishery swells the population by thousands of individuals who travel to the region. These individuals arrive to fill seasonal jobs as fishermen, industry support personnel, and processing workers, and they travel here literally from every corner of the country and the globe. This in-migration of workers results in the highest increase and concentration of population of any rural community and any fishery in Alaska. Health Risks of Arriving Fisheries Workers. During the past several weeks, since the eruption of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have learned that individuals infected with the virus can be asymptomatic, but still highly contagious. We know, as well, that workers in Alaskas fishing industry unavoidably work in close quarters on fishing boats, tender vessels, and processing facilities. It is impossible for these individuals or their employers to comply with the recommendations for social distancing and personal hygiene of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and your administration. The Bristol Bay fishery, by its very nature, requires that individuals engage in exactly the opposite actions and behavior as are recommended by all public health experts and officials. As a result, the risk of transmission of the virus in this environment is not just high -- it is certain. United Tribes of Bristol Bay Board Member MaryAnn Johnson is joined by Charlie Johnson (Portage Creek Village Council) and Wass Andrew (UTBB Board member from New Stuyahok) to read the Bristol Bay proclamation at the January 21, 2020, signing in Seattle, Washington. Photo courtesy United Tribes of Bristol Bay . Bristol Bay is one of the most rural areas of the most rural State in the country. It is not an overstatement to say that there likely is not a worse place in the United States to be stricken with the COVID-19 virus than rural Alaska. Kanakanak Hospital is a Critical Access Hospital licensed for 16 beds, a 5-bed Emergency Department, and no ICU capability. The two ventilators available are not equipped with viral filters and cannot be safely used for COVID-19 treatment. There are only four negative pressure rooms and no respiratory therapy support. Ironically, but not to be taken lightly, this hospital served as an orphanage due to the 1919 flu epidemic. The nearest ICU is 300 miles or more away. The human medical resources in the region are as constrained as the physical resources. While the population of Bristol Bay swells in the summer, the population of physicians, nurses and healthcare workers does not. In the event of a viral outbreak, the region is hopelessly ill- equipped and unprepared to manage the care of a large volume of highly contagious and seriously ill individuals. These individuals, who will need 24/7 intensive care and support from highly skilled and trained medical professionals, will quickly overwhelm our health care facilities, supplies and workforce. This puts our our health care workers and communities at greater risk while denying these resources to the residents of the regions twenty-eight communities that rely on Kanakanak hospital as their lone source of healthcare. The risks presented do not extend only to the arriving fisheries workers. Residents of Bristol Bay also will be at risk of infection, as well as the risk that their needs for other, non- COVID-19 medical care will be displaced or precluded by the urgency of providing care for individuals infected with the virus. The risks also extend beyond Bristol Bay residents. As we have seen, the COVID-19 virus is highly contagious and spreads rapidly; as a result, all Alaskans, from Barrow to Ketchikan, will be at risk. Without effective action by the state, these circumstances create the perfect recipe for a COVID-19 hot-spot and a medical and regional disaster that, in terms of the loss of human life, would dwarf the 1964 Earthquake or any past disaster in Alaska. . The State of Alaska has no higher or more critical duty than to protect its citizens. Indeed, the duty is constitutional, as the right to life is enshrined in Article I, Section 1 of the state constitution. In the face of the serious, unprecedented, and unique risks COVID-19 virus presents to the Bristol Bay community, the state has a duty to take all measures necessary to protect its citizens. Those measures include, at a minimum: (1) a program of rigorous enforcement to ensure compliance with current CDC and state guidelines and recommendations, (2) pre-testing for the COVID-19 virus of all fisheries workers before they board a plane for the Bristol Bay region, (3) a mandatory follow-up COVID-19 test and 14-day quarantine for all arriving fisheries workers, (4) a program to ensure enforcement of and compliance with the quarantine, and (5) compliance with any additional medical protocols and guidelines as may be issued by the CDC or the state. Please see Bristol Bays detailed outline of recommended protocols attached to this letter. Our local municipality & medical facilities do not have the capacity to execute or enforce these critical measures, warranting swift and necessary action by the State of Alaska. If these steps to protect human health and safety cannot or will not be taken, the state should close the Bristol Bay fishery for 2020. The long-term cost of allowing a fishery to go forward would far outweigh the cost of forgoing one season. If the fishery is allowed to go forward without these measures, ignoring the warnings of public health experts and officials and the pleas of Bristol Bay communities, the consequences will be devastating and generational. Spread of the COVID-19 virus and the resulting human, economic, and social consequences will not be the result of an Act of God, but will be the result of the states failure to act and to fulfill its fundamental duties to its citizens. The open letter was signed by Jason Metrokin, President & CEO of Bristol Bay Native Corporation; Norm Van Vactor, President & CEO of Bristol Bay Economic Development Corporation; Ralph Andersen, President & CEO of Bristol Bay Native Association; Robert Heyano, President of United Tribes of Bristol Bay; Brenda Akelkok, Executive Director of Bristol Bay Housing Authority; and Robert Clark, President/CEO of Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation. The Native corporations, entities and inter-tribal organizations represent the people of the Bristol Bay region of Alaska. Join the Conversation Ten fresh COVID-19 cases were reported in Kerala on Thursday, taking the total active cases in the state to 129 with over 23,000 people under observation, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. Four of the new cases reported were from the high range Idukki district, two each from Kozhikode and Kottayam and one case each from Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam, the CM said in his daily media briefing on the disease situation. Allaying the fears of communityspread, Vijayan said that the state has not yet reached the third stage of Covid-19 spread in Kerala. "The third stage of Covid-19 spread has not occurred and there has been no community spread also as of now. But we need to remain vigilant and take necessary precaution to prevent the spread of the deadly virus," he added. Both Idukki and Kottayam, have been removed from the green zone and have nowcategorised under Orange zone as positive cases have been reported. Of the new cases, two had history of foreign travel, four had returned from neighbouring states-- two from Chennai, one each from Pollachi and Mysuru and others were contacts of those already infected. Foreign returnees are from Sharjah and Dubai. Samples of eight people -- six from Kasaragod and one each from Malappuram and Kannur, returned negative. While the COVID-19 cases touched 447, a total of 316 people have been cured, Vijayan said, adding 23,876are under observation, including 437 in isolation wards of various hospitals. The state has till now sent 21,334 samples for testing. The four districts in red zone will remain under strict lockdown while the rest of the 10 districts have now been categorised under the orange zone. "The hotspots in all the districts will remain closed in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus," the Chief Minister said. The Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR) has given the nod to Kannur and Kottayam medical colleges labs to undertake Covid-19 testing. Presently, state's 14 government and two private labs have received approvals for virus testing. As the numbers of positivecases are rising, the government has decided to purchase 10 real-time PCR machines for testing. Strigent measures would be taken to prevent the inter- state travel along the borders of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, he said. Meanwhile, cases have been booked against a doctor couple, a Kendriya vidyalaya school techer and an excise official, who helped the teacher, under the Kerala Epidemic Act and various provisions of the IPC for violating lockdown norms. All those who had come to the state after taking part in the Tablighi congregation in Delhihave been identified and tested for the disease. The government has decided to allow marriages at churches, but said only a maximum of 20 people can participate. Vijayan also said that random anti-body tests will be conducted among health workers, police, home delivery volunteers, and guest workers to ensure that there is no community spread. Kannur district with 59 positive cases has the most number of Covid-19 cases inthe state followed byneighbouring Kasaragod with 19 cases. Kozhikode and Malappuram has 15 and five cases respectively. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To avoid a COVID-19-plus-influenza mess this fall, President Donald Trump on Wednesday urged Americans to get a flu shot. The presidents guidance followed the advice of Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Trump, claiming The Washington Post misquoted Redfield earlier this week, invited the doctor to the White House briefing room podium to clarify his comments on Wednesday evening. Redfield said that as we build the confidence of the American people, its possible that the nation could face more complicated challenges with two respiratory illness circulating at the same time, namely COVID-19 and the flu. I didnt say this was going to be worse, he said. I said more difficult and potentially more complicated.' He added that he primarily wanted to appeal to Americans to embrace the flu vaccine" heading into the next flu season. Doing so, he said, should help prevent flare ups of the common virus at a time when health officials will ideally be in containment mode on coronavirus conducting contact tracing and isolating the disease instead of relying on strict mitigation, such as social distancing, to prevent its spread. You could have a mess, Trump said, if they come at the same time." The whole purpose of Redfields comments to The Post, Trump argued, was to get a flu shot so next fall we dont have such a big flu (season) if corona even comes back. Redfield said the nation must continue building capacity to make sure we stay in containment mode so we wont need to resort to the kind of mitigation we needed to in the spring." When pressed by reporters, Redfield added that The Post had quoted him accurately, but he implied the headline of the story was misleading. The headline was CDC director warns second wave of coronavirus is likely to be even more devastating." Trump claimed the newspaper misquoted Redfield, and called The Post and CNN, which picked up the story, fake news. Wednesdays briefing marked at least the second time the president invited a public health official to the podium to clarify a statement to the press. Earlier this month, Dr. Anthony Fauci told CNNs Jake Tapper that health officials faced pushback in late February when they pressed for greater mitigation including social distancing, which the Trump administration did not recommend until mid-March. Fauci admitted that earlier social distancing recommendations would have saved lives, but told Tapper that a number of factors played into the crisis, and said were not where we are now because of one fact. The next day, Fauci, in a moment the president denied was orchestrated, told reporters pushback was the wrong choice of words. He implied that his comments on CNN were focused on debate among medical experts on how and when to implement mitigation against the spread of the virus. He added that as soon as he and Dr. Deborah Birx presented strong recommendations for social distancing to the president, Trump heeded their advice. Faucis clarification came a day after Trump shared a tweet that included the hashtag #FireFauci, a popular push among some who think the pandemic is overblown or an outright hoax. COVID-19, which Fauci in March told Congress is 10 times as lethal as the flu, has killed almost 50,000 people in less than eight weeks. By comparison, about 34,000 people died of influenza during the entire 2018-2019 flu season, according to the CDC. Without social distancing and stay-at-home orders in place throughout the country, health experts say the respiratory disease could have killed more than 1 million Americans. More than 850,000 have been infected. Almost 80,000 have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University. Related Content: Playwright Arthur Miller (1915-2005), left, talks to actor Dustin Hoffman during production of the CBS adaptation of "Death of a Salesman," broadcast in 1985. (CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images) Arthur Millers Death of a Salesman had been on my mind even before the death of Brian Dennehy, who won a Tony for his portrayal of Willy Loman in the 1999 Broadway revival. How could it not be? As the pandemic lays waste to the economy, the play reminds us of the unchanging truth of an American dream dangled for the many but obtainable only by a ruthless few. Dennehy, a prodigious actor drawn to prodigious roles, delivered a battering ram of a performance. His Willy, a salesman aggressively trapped in a delusive way of thinking, would rather die a martyr than admit to being sold a bill of goods about success. The bravado of the salesman, in Dennehys barreling rendition, couldnt conceal the shame of a husband and father who fell agonizingly short of his own grandiose expectations. The power of the performance, as with much of the actors impressive body of work, didnt derive from great variety. Dennehy pounded the same note with different degrees of intensity. But the limited range helped drive home the limited options of his character, whose eagerness to win prevents him from seeing that he's been playing the wrong game. As time catches up with Willy, the old salesman loses his job, his self-respect and, eventually, his life. Recognizing the tragic trajectory while its still unfolding, Linda exhorts her cynical son Biff once the object of Willys pride, now a reflection of his failure to stop tearing down his father before its too late. "Willy Loman never made a lot of money," she pleads, as much in anger as in sorrow. "His name was never in the paper. Hes not the finest character that ever lived. But hes a human being, and a terrible thing is happening to him. So attention must be paid. Hes not to be allowed to fall into his grave like an old dog. Attention, attention must finally be paid!" As workers everywhere are being sacrificed by employers who have extremely low thresholds for economic pain, the hobbled figure of Willy Loman looms large. Protagonists in great dramas arent passive victims. They contribute to their downfalls through missteps, blunders and excesses that reflect on their characters. But their plays ultimately tell a larger story. Story continues Willy's case is no different. Miller, bending time to give us the subjective experience of a tragic life, depicts a character, a common man, to use his own formula, who has internalized all the wrong lessons of American capitalism. Willy has bought into the punishing myth of rugged individualism he continues to proselytize to his sons even as he has become the walking embodiment of its empty promise. Now in his 60s, he is spent, unable to make the regular trek to New England to peddle his wares yet too exhausted to acknowledge the error of his salesmans faith. Wandering between past and present, he is plagued by regret and doubt. The shabbiness of the crowded Brooklyn neighborhood, in which nothing has a chance to grow anymore, is a constant reminder of how his dreams have come to naught. Still, his own diminished opportunities havent shaken his conviction that his sons can lick the world if only they clean up their acts and seize their chance. Brian Dennehy as Willy Loman when "Death of a Salesman" was performed in 2005 at the Lyric Theatre in London. (Robbie Jack / Corbis via Getty Images) Millers great gift as a dramatist was for steadily applying pressure until a dramatic movement exploded in a climax of moral and emotional significance. One such scene that resonates with our pandemic moment is when Willy goes hat in hand to his employer. After 34 years of service to the firm, Willy asks Howard whether he can get off the road and find a position in the local showroom. Hes worn out. Hell take 65, 55, 40 dollars a week. Business is business, Howard tells him, letting him down with a litany of cliches. Willy cannot accept this lack of loyalty. Howards father, Willys former boss, had assured him that he would be taken care of. Kid, I cant take blood from a stone, Howard replies, his endearments only rubbing in his granite refusal. Willy erupts in words that should resonate with workers everywhere abandoned by their employers in an hour of need: You cant eat the orange and throw the peel away a man is not a piece of fruit. Whenever I hear the line, I hear the voice of Dustin Hoffman, who was my first Willy Loman. Hoffmans salesman, a little guy accustomed to talking a big game, shambled into his boss office with right on his side. But quickly he's made aware of his smallness by the indifference coming across the other side of the desk. Willy's fury is like the crazed buzz of a bug looking for a window as a newspaper readies for a whack. America, reeling from the economic devastation of the coronavirus crisis, is in the grip of a Death of a Salesman moment. Millers play speaks directly to the plight of the 100,000 employees whose pay was recently stopped at Walt Disney Co. This is only one of many such mass furloughs, but the example seems especially illustrative of a broken system. The decision, according to The Times, leaves Disney staff reliant on state benefits public support that could run to hundreds of millions of dollars over coming months even as the company protects executive-bonus schemes and a $1.5-billion dividend payment due in July. Miller was quick to point out in an introductory essay that Death of a Salesman isnt an anti-capitalist screed. He acknowledged the cold common sense of businessmen, which understands that when a man gets old you fire him, you have to, he cant do the work. He wasnt arguing with what he accepted as social facts. He also reminded his readers that the most decent man in 'Death of a Salesman' (Charley) is a capitalist. Whats more, Bernard, Charleys son, works hard, attends to his studies, and obtains a worthwhile objective" while coming from the same class, the same background, the same neighborhood as the Loman family. As a playwright, Miller wasnt writing propaganda or settling ideological scores. He was searching for truth in memories and images that led him to create order and meaning out of the chaos of experience. But he possesses that quality that the great Shakespeare critic Alvin B. Kernan, writing on American plays in 1967, diagnosed as lacking in our drama historical imagination. Willys private story, the tale of a father unable to deal with the guilt and shame of failing in the eyes of those he loves most, is set against the socioeconomic backdrop of a nation that values the ambition of the individual above the security of the collective. For Miller, Willys fate is sealed by the way he has committed himself so completely to the counterfeits of dignity and the false coinage embodied in his idea of success. He is in part a casualty of the economic injustice he would consider it heretical to question. Classics, even of the contemporary variety, are multifarious enough for us to reengage their dramatized truths, to wring new meanings in contexts that are at once new and uncannily familiar. Miller clearly isnt advising owners, CEOs and boards of directors how to deal with their balance sheets in a pandemic. But the play does ask us to question the values we adopt in an economic system as brutally survivalist as the one Willy finds himself in. Death of a Salesman" also sheds unexpected light on circumstances that would have been unimaginable to the author. When asked what Willy is selling in those bags of his, a point left conspicuously vague, Miller had a ready answer: Himself. His remarks on the nature of his salesman, recorded in the notebook he kept during the plays germination, may bring to mind another self-marketer dominating our crisis-ridden national stage: "A salesman doesnt build anything, he dont put a bolt to a nut or a seed in the ground. A man who doesnt build anything must be liked. He must be cheerful on bad days. Even calamities mustnt break through. Cause one thing, he has got to be liked. He don't tell you the law or give you medicine. So theres no rock bottom to your life. All you know is that on good days or bad, you gotta come in cheerful. No calamity must be permitted to break through, Cause one thing, always, youre a man whos gotta be believed. Youre way out there riding on a smile and a shoeshine. And when they start not smilin back, the sky falls in. And then you get a couple of spots on your hat, and youre finished. Cause theres no rock bottom to your life." Willy Loman and Donald Trump are on the surface polar opposites. But its a sign of the enduring truthfulness of Millers vision that parallels are glimpsed where you might least expect to find them. COVID 19 Concerns Were Behind Israel Power-Sharing Deal By Linda Gradstein April 22, 2020 After three elections and more than a year, Israel has a new unity government in an emergency power-sharing deal reached this week between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival, Benny Gantz. But there is concern the new leadership may not be able govern because of internal differences. The deal came after polls showed Israelis wanted a unity government, a sentiment analysts say largely reflects public worry over the coronavirus emergency. Before the deal, former army chief of staff Benny Gantz repeatedly said he would never join a government headed by Netanyahu, who is set to go on trial in three separate cases. Gantz then changed his mind. In remarks on Israeli television, Gantz says that it is more important to fight the coronavirus than to win in politics. He said that he chose to preserve democracy and to join Netanyahu in the emergency situation that Israel is now facing. Israel has kept most of the population home for more than a month and by April 22nd had nearly 200 deaths, with more than 14,000 confirmed cases. Speaking on the day the deal was reached, political analyst Aviv Bushinsky said Israelis clearly wanted this type of government, especially as the alternative was a fourth election. "Today a big sign of relief was felt almost in any Israeli home not because it's the eve of the Holocaust memorial day but because this is a big sign of ending of almost 500 days, 484 days, of political turmoil that included three elections in one year," Bushinsky said. "The deal will have Netanyahu and Gantz rotating as leaders." Gantz agreed that Netanyahu will be Prime minister for the first year and a half, and will then give the job to him for the next year and a half. Critics are skeptical that Netanyahu will agree to leave when it is time. Political analyst Yoav Krakovsky says Netanyahu gained more from the deal than Gantz did. He says Netanyahu's Likud party comes out stronger as it has a veto over judicial appointments. The deal comes weeks before Netanyahu is scheduled to go on trial for three separate corruption charges. He has said repeatedly that he believes the Justice system is prejudiced against him. Critics say they suspect Netanyahu may try to pass legislation that would cancel his trial. Adding to the chances of deadlock, are the two men's divergent views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Netanyahu wants to unilaterally annex Jewish settlements in the West Bank and is free to do it at the beginning of July. Gantz had wanted to delay this initiative and make it contingent on Jordanian approval. Until just a few months ago, the US position considered Jewish settlements in the West Bank inconsistent with international law. President Trump reversed that position last year, paving the way for an Israeli annexation of at least part of the area. Palestinians say they will do everything they can to stop the Israeli annexation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address COLUMBUS, Ohio, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) ("Big Lots" or the "company") today announced that pursuant to an agreement with Macellum Advisors GP, LLC and Ancora Advisors, LLC and certain of their affiliates (the "Investor Group"), who beneficially own in the aggregate approximately 9.8% of the company's outstanding common shares, Andrew C. Clarke and Aaron Goldstein have been appointed to the company's Board of Directors ("Board"), effective immediately. The Board will also nominate Thomas A. Kingsbury to stand for election as a new independent director at the company's 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Annual Meeting"), and one incumbent director will not stand for reelection. In addition, Mr. Kingsbury will be invited to participate in all Board meetings until the Annual Meeting. Following the Annual Meeting, the Board will be composed of 11 directors, 10 of whom are independent. As part of the agreement with the Investor Group, the Board has created a new capital allocation planning committee, consisting of Bruce K. Thorn, the company's President and Chief Executive Officer, two current Big Lots directors, Wendy L. Schoppert, who will be the chair, and Cynthia T. Jamison, Mr. Clarke, and Mr. Goldstein. "Big Lots continues to focus on our transformational strategic roadmap to enhance performance and drive shareholder value over the long-term while we navigate the current COVID-19 crisis and the uncertain retail environment," said James R. Chambers, Chairman of the Big Lots Board. "Aaron, Andrew, and Tom will each add important experience and skillsets that will complement well the areas of expertise brought by our existing directors. We look forward to working with them to advance our business strategy." Mr. Clarke brings significant supply chain expertise, having served as Chief Financial Officer for four years at C.H. Robinson, the largest freight broker in the U.S. and one of the biggest third-party logistics providers in the world, and as Chief Executive Officer and President at Panther Expedited Services, Inc., now a wholly owned subsidiary of ArcBest Corporation. Mr. Goldstein brings finance and investment banking expertise, having served as Partner and Portfolio Manager at Macellum Capital Management since 2014 and from his prior roles at firms including Scopus Asset Management, JPMorgan Chase & Co. and The Bear Stearns Companies. Mr. Kingsbury will bring decades of C-suite and board experience, along with deep off-price retail expertise from his more than ten years as Chief Executive Officer of Burlington Stores, Inc. Mr. Chambers continued, "We have had a constructive dialogue with the Investor Group and we appreciate their input towards achieving our shared goal of driving shareholder value. We believe this outcome best positions us to move ahead in leveraging the fundamental strengths of Big Lots for the benefit of all of our stakeholders." Jonathan Duskin, the sole member of Macellum Advisors GP, LLC stated, "We are pleased to have reached this resolution with Big Lots, and appreciate the collaborative dialogue and engagement we have had with the Board. We believe this level of Board refreshment and the formation of a capital allocation planning committee are positive steps that will support the Board's efforts to deliver increasing value to shareholders." "We believe the addition of these three new directors further strengthens the Board, as these new directors will bring additional expertise and valuable insights to Big Lots. We look forward to working together with the Company to maximize value for all shareholders," said Fred DiSanto, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Ancora Advisors, LLC. Pursuant to the agreement, the Investor Group has agreed to customary standstill, voting and other provisions. Additional information will be filed on a Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Citi and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC have acted as financial advisors to the company, and Sidley Austin LLP, Davis, Polk & Wardwell LLP and Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP are serving as legal counsel. Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP is serving as legal advisor to the Investor Group. About the New Directors Aaron Goldstein, 37, has served as a Partner and Portfolio Manager at Macellum Capital Management since April 2014. Prior to that, Mr. Goldstein served as an Analyst at Millennium Management LLC, a New York-based pooled investment fund, from March 2013 to May 2013. Previously, he served as an Analyst at Scopus Asset Management, L.P., a hedge fund, from June 2012 to February 2013. Before that, Mr. Goldstein served as a Vice President at JPMorgan Chase & Co., an American multinational investment bank and financial services holding company, from March 2008 to June 2012. From May 2005 to March 2008, Mr. Goldstein served as an Analyst at the Bear Stearns Companies, Inc., a global investment bank, securities trading and brokerage firm. Mr. Goldstein holds a B.A. in economics from Trinity College. Andrew C. Clarke, 49, has served on the board of directors of Element Fleet Management Corp since June 2018. Mr. Clarke served as Chief Financial Officer of C.H. Robinson, Inc. from June 2015 to March 2019. Previously, Mr. Clarke served as Chief Executive Officer and President at Panther Expedited Services, Inc., now a wholly owned subsidiary of ArcBest Corporation from July 2006 to February 2013. Before that Mr. Clarke was CFO of Forward Air Corp. from 2001 to 2006. Mr. Clarke served on the boards of directors of Blount International, Inc. from April 2010 until it was acquired in April 2016 and Pacer International, Inc. from 2005 to 2009. Mr. Clarke holds a B.S. from Washington University in St. Louis and an M.B.A. from the University Of Chicago Booth School Of Business. Thomas A. Kingsbury, 67, has been a Director of BJ's Wholesale Club since February 2020 and a Director of Tractor Supply Company since November 2017. Most recently, Mr. Kingsbury served as the Chief Executive Officer of Burlington Stores, Inc. from 2008 to September 2019 and as its Executive Chairman from May 2014 to February 2020. Prior to that, he was Senior Executive Vice President Information Services, E-Commerce, Marketing and Business Development of Kohl's Corporation from 2006 to 2008. Mr. Kingsbury also held various management positions with The May Department Stores Company, an operator of department store chains, including President and Chief Executive Officer of the Filene's division. About Big Lots, Inc. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) is a discount retailer operating 1,404 BIG LOTS stores in 47 states with product assortments in the merchandise categories of Furniture, Seasonal, Soft Home, Food, Consumables, Hard Home, and Electronics, Toys & Accessories. The company's mission is to help people Live BIG and Save Lots. The company strives to be the BIG difference for a better life by delivering unmatched value to customers through surprise and delight, being a "best places to work" culture for associates, rewarding shareholders with consistent growth and top tier returns, and doing good in communities as the company does well. For more information about the company, visit www.biglots.com . Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and such statements are intended to qualify for the protection of the safe harbor provided by the Act. The words "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "objective," "goal," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "will," "should," "may," "target," "forecast," "guidance," "outlook" and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. Similarly, descriptions of objectives, strategies, plans, goals or targets are also forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to the expectations of management as to future occurrences and trends, including statements expressing optimism or pessimism about future operating results or events and projected sales, earnings, capital expenditures and business strategy. Forward-looking statements are based upon a number of assumptions concerning future conditions that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Forward-looking statements are and will be based upon management's then-current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance and are applicable only as of the dates of such statements. Although the company believes the expectations expressed in forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of knowledge, forward-looking statements, by their nature, involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, any one or a combination of which could materially affect business, financial condition, results of operations or liquidity. Forward-looking statements that the company makes herein and in other reports and releases are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those discussed in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, current economic and credit conditions, the cost of goods, the inability to successfully execute strategic initiatives, competitive pressures, economic pressures on customers and the company, the availability of brand name closeout merchandise, trade restrictions, freight costs, the risks discussed in the Risk Factors section of the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and other factors discussed from time to time in other filings with the SEC, including Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. This release should be read in conjunction with such filings, and you should consider all of these risks, uncertainties and other factors carefully in evaluating forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are advised, however, to consult any further disclosures the company makes on related subjects in public announcements and SEC filings. Important Information Big Lots, Inc. (the "Company") intends to file a definitive proxy statement and associated proxy card in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the Company's 2020 Annual Meeting with the SEC. Details concerning the nominees of the Company's Board of Directors for election at the 2020 Annual Meeting will be included in the Proxy Statement. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH OR FURNISHED TO THE SEC, INCLUDING THE COMPANY'S DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY SUPPLEMENTS THERETO, BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and shareholders will be able to obtain a copy of the definitive proxy statement and other documents filed by the Company free of charge from the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. The Company's shareholders will also be able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the definitive proxy statement and other relevant filed documents by directing a request by mail to Big Lots Inc. at 4900 E. Dublin-Granville Road, Columbus, Ohio 43081, or from the investor relations section of the Company's website at www.biglots.com Participants in the Solicitation The Company, its directors and certain of its executive officers will be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from shareholders in respect of the 2020 Annual Meeting. Information regarding the names of the Company's directors and executive officers and their respective interests in the Company by security holdings or otherwise is set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 1, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2020 and the Company's definitive proxy statement for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, filed with the SEC on April 16, 2019. To the extent holdings of such participants in the Company's securities have changed since the amounts described in the proxy statement for the 2019 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, such changes have been reflected on Initial Statements of Beneficial Ownership on Form 3 or Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4 filed with the SEC. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above. Additional information regarding the interests of these participants in any proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will also be included in any proxy statement and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC, if and when they become available. SOURCE Big Lots, Inc. Related Links http://www.biglots.com Dr. David Wright first realized that he wanted a career in medicine when he was 5 years old, about the same time the Albuquerque native moved to Plainview so his father, Norman, could attend Wayland while working at Hale County State Bank. Im not sure why medicine since I didnt have any relatives in the medical profession and no serious illness triggered my desire to give back, Dr. Wright explained. It just seemed right. I know I couldnt wait to be able to work in the old Plainview Hospitals emergency room as a Plainview High School Medical Careers Club volunteer at the age of 15, he recalls. Almost every Saturday I was there until I finally got hired on as an orderly my first year of college at Wayland. I went there on a small science scholarship until one of my mentors, Dr. Carl Weidenbach convinced me I should go to Texas A&M, so I transferred my sophomore year. After 40 years of being a doctor, including the past 30 years in Plainview, Dr. Wright will be retiring from the full-time practice of Family Medicine with Obstetrics on April 30, 2020. His last day to see patients in Covenant Health Family Medical Clinic is April 29. His wife, Dr. Ruth Rector-Wright retired in August 2019. The old Plainview Hospital on Eighth Street between Galveston and Houston streets was replaced in 1970 by Central Plains General Hospital now Covenant Health Plainview, and Wright was there when it opened. I was on ER duty the night of the big 1973 Plainview tornado and have worked on every floor, ICU, and even the lab one summer, he explains. There are not too many people around now that remember me then with a lot of hair it was the 1970s. Looking back, Dr. Wright admits that his years as a student at Texas A&M were probably his hardest. He was far from home taking difficult classes and not knowing if he would be accepted into medical school. It was good for me, he admits, as I knew if I got through that, I knew I could do anything. Although he interviewed for several schools, David Wright was particularly drawn to the holistic philosophy and down-to-earth atmosphere at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. When I was accepted, I started thinking of how to pay for it, he notes. My parents had already supported me in college, and I didnt want to burden them further, so I decided to apply for an Army scholarship. My dad had served in the Korean War as an officer, so I was a bit familiar with the idea. Of course, this was right after Vietnam and my friends were not so sure, but I applied and got accepted. It was one of the best decisions Ive ever made. In addition to his medical school tuition, Wright received a small monthly stipend. While not much, it was more than his peers were receiving. I cut my hair and shaved my beard, and every year I served in the Army as a second lieutenant for six weeks Massachusetts in 1977, San Francisco in 1978, Hawaii in 1979 until after graduation when I was promoted to captain and started my internship at William Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso in 1980. It was during that extremely busy and difficult year that he met the love of his life his wife Dr. Ruth Rector-Wright. I knew of her from school and she was doing rotations in the hospital, he recalls. We went out as friends, but that grew to romance as we shared similar backgrounds and goals. Their budding romance faced a big problem. He already was assigned to do a three-year active duty assignment between his internship and residency in Germany, and she had one more year to go in medical school. We became engaged and negotiated a deal with the Army where I could do a one-year hardship tour in Korea or Alaska, and then she would join the Army and do a residency with me. I chose Alaska and took the redeye fight from Anchorage to Dallas several times that year. It was a year of rapid growth as I was in an isolated Army base, Ft. Greely, with one other new physician and a physicians assistant, caring for approximately 3,000 troops and families about 100 miles from the nearest hospital in sometimes harsh conditions. Following a year apart, Drs. David and Ruth Rector-Wright were accepted into the Family Practice Residency at Ft. Bragg, N.C. She came in as a first-year and me as a second-year, so it worked out well. I chose Family Medicine instead of OB/GYN because I could deliver babies and take care of them afterwards, along with the whole family. It has been a rewarding but challenging career, as you have to know something about everything, and the complexity seems to be growing. After completing his residency, Dr. David Wright was placed in charge of one of the first family practice clinics in the Army which took care of both troops and their families at one site. He also was part of the residency clinical faculty for the remainder of his military obligation. In 1987, we both had finished our duty and had to decide whether to remain in the military or go into the civilian world. Although we had great training and experience in the Army, we wanted to raise our family without having to worry about deploying overseas, etc., so off to Dallas we went. The Wrights got jobs with Cigna HMO health plan so they would have set hours and coverage, but it wasnt long before they were spending a lot of time driving, and he missed the practice of obstetrics. At the end of our three-year contract, I was able to convince my city-raised wife that going to a smaller town might allow us to be there for the kids, and I could do full-service Family Medicine with Obstetrics. We looked in the area, but I really wanted to come back to Plainview, and we still had family here. The hospital had just hired another family physician and werent sure two more at once would be able to keep busy, but we both made our guarantees within six months without decreasing the other physicians practice, he remembers. Wright Family Practice lasted from 1990-2007, when we joined now Covenant Health as private practice was getting increasingly difficult to manage with insurance, regulations, etc. It has been a great move for use over the years. While he thoroughly enjoyed his four decade-long career in medicine, which includes delivering more than 6,000 babies, Dr. Wright admits that it is now time to slow down a little and do other things. With the new doctors in town, I have been able to get them started and they are doing well, he explains. I have done exactly what I always wanted to do in medicine. I will miss my obstetrics practice the most, but it is the most time consuming and exhausting, and it is time for me to hand it over. The caregivers at Covenant Health Plainview are great and sacrifice a lot to give excellent service. They know my demands and expectations are high, but in working together I can confidently say we have done a great job together, he explains. Our hospital and region have always thrived when there is a strong primary care base, and I think Covenant is working hard to rebuild that. We are what we are and can excel at what we do. Community support is critical to that end. A 1972 graduate of Plainview High School, Dr. Wright adds, Plainview has been a great place to raise our family. Our daughters have done well under the watchful eyes of our family, friends and neighbors. Rachel is an ICU nurse in Dallas, Laura is a math teacher in Fort Worth, and Emily is a nurse practitioner in Lubbock. We have five grandkids to hopefully visit more often. We plan to travel some, although we already have canceled three trips thus far. Dr. Wright will continue to do part-time acute practice in the primary care clinics to fill-in and also work urgent care, and in rural emergency medicine but not on an everyday basis. Ill still fly my airplane and exercise as long as I can, he adds. I might even play the piano some and who knows, I might get back to doing the Wobble. A retirement reception for Wright has been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns but will be scheduled as soon as possible. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 13:35:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Rosangela Oliveira, coordinator of the library at Rio de Janeiro's Rocinha Regional Park, was feeling somewhat down about having to stay at home and avoid other people amid the coronavirus epidemic. Oliveira, known as "Tia Ro" or "Aunt Ro," has been isolated since March 19 at her home in Ciudad de Dios favela. Then a phone call from the head of reading at the city's Cultural Secretariat Pedro Gerolimich cheered her up. This call, it turns out, has given birth to the idea of a program called "Stories by Telephone," for which the city has recruited some 900 volunteers to participate in managing the phone calls. "I'm happy to have been the inspiration behind such an important project," Oliveira, 62, told Xinhua by phone. More than 2,600 people in Rio de Janeiro and beyond have already signed up to hear the dial-up stories. "Many of us older people are sad and alone at home, complying with the lockdown, and we need to talk, read or listen," she said. Women make up the majority of both listeners and storytellers, with an average age of 56 for the first group and 43 for the second, according to Gerolimich. The program has become such a hit that people call from other states around the country and even from Portugal, a country that speaks the same language as Brazil. Besides being an inspiration of this initiative, Oliveira is also one of the volunteers. In some days, she calls up to five listeners who have signed up online to hear a story or a poem. "After reading a story, I feel much better and it has even helped me to make new friends," said Oliveira. The lockdown "has been very sad, but I discovered that I am not the only one feeling lonely," she said. Enditem MOSCOW (Reuters) - A singer who led a one of Russia's first public protests against lockdown measures aimed at curbing the coronavirus outbreak has been fined and jailed for two months pending an investigation. Russia, where the cases of the virus have risen rapidly this month, has shut down whole cities and regions to slow the contagion, inflicting economic pain in some households as businesses have been forced to close. Vadim Cheldiev, a singer in the southern region of North Ossetia who has 10,000 followers on social media networks, led Monday's protest there and called for the resignation of the local government and the region's head. Hundreds of unmasked protesters could be seen in footage from the rally tightly packed into a square on Monday with police officers in riot gear looking on. In a video, Cheldiev said there was no coronavirus threat and that the authorities were using it as a pretext to expand their control over citizens. North Ossetia has recorded 177 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and two deaths, while the nationwide case tally stands at more than 52,000 with an official death toll of 456. Police took Cheldiev into custody and a court ordered he be held for two months and fined him 75,000 roubles ($975) for spreading false information about the outbreak, a court was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency on Tuesday. He is being investigated for allegedly using violence against a member of the authorities, calling for mass protesters and spreading false information about the outbreak, it said. Cheldiev's lawyer said his client did not agree with the allegation of violence, but was cooperating with the police, the TASS news agency reported. It was not immediately clear what incident the allegation related to. North Ossetia is a poor region in Russia's turbulent North Caucasus and has an ethnic Ossetian majority and a Russian minority. (Reporting by Tom Balmforth, Maxim Rodionov; Additional reporting by Gleb Stolyarov and Polina Devitt; Editing by Alison Williams) Chinas behavior during the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak has been disgraceful marked by deceit and an unwillingness to cooperate with the rest of the world until it was too late. In addition, theres reason to believe that the virus originated in a Chinese lab that did not meet safety standards. By contrast, Taiwans behavior has been exemplary. According to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the U.S., Taiwan has donated more than two million Taiwan-made masks to the U.S. and more than five million to the EU. It plans to donate another five million globally. Moreover, according to our friend Michael Auslin, Taipei tried early on to warn the World Health Organization that the coronavirus might be transmitted between humans. That body, which is heavily influenced by China, refused to act on these warnings. (To appease China, the WHO refuses membership to Taiwan.) If the WHO and Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus had acted responsibly, the COVID crisis could have been significantly contained, even in the face of Beijings misleading the world about the nature of the virus and the numbers of infections and deaths in China, says Auslin. Indeed, Taiwans understanding of the virus, along with its experience with the SARS outbreak, enabled Taipei to respond to the outbreak in a highly effective manner and without a lockdown. According to Auslin: It imposed a sweeping ban on travel from China, maintained a ban on Chinese food products, and rigorously tested and monitored infections, allowing it to avoid the type of nationwide shutdown now playing havoc with Western economies. The numbers (from Worldometer) demonstrate the effectiveness of the response. Taiwan has had 427 total cases (184 of them now active) and 6 total deaths. We hear talk about holding China accountable for its deplorable conduct in connection with the Wuhan coronavirus. I dont expect much follow through on this talk, other than less reliance on China in our supply chains. The world economy is likely to be in such bad shape that a trade war with China, for example, will likely seem out of the question. One thing the world can do, though, is to bring Taiwan into the international community. As Auslin says, the case for doing so extends well beyond that nations responsible behavior and international altruism during this pandemic: As democracy has retreated around the world in recent decades, Taiwan has remained a beacon for those transitioning from authoritarianism to freedom. It has been a thriving democracy since the late-1980s, regularly transferring power between its two main political parties, the KMT (founded by Sun Yat-sen and the party of Chiang Kai-shek) and the currently-ruling Democratic Progressive Party. Taiwans 23 million citizens not only increasingly think of themselves as Taiwanese, and not displaced mainlanders, they have proved that a flourishing democracy can take root in an ethnically Chinese society. Moreover, Taiwan will be a key player if the U.S. diminishes, as we must, our reliance on China for supplies: For decades, Taiwan has been a leader in the high-tech economy, and will become increasingly important as global supply chains shift away from China, due to Chinas maturing economy, President Trumps trade war and now the coronavirus. It has long been one of the worlds leading producers of advanced semiconductor chips, while Foxconn, one of the major suppliers to the iPhone, has already urged Apple to move its production out of China. As the competition between China and the United States heats up over semiconductors, 5G and artificial intelligence, a closer tech relationship between American and Taiwanese firms should be a priority. I agree with Auslin that the U.S. should use its budgetary power to get Taiwan full membership in international groups such as Interpol and the International Civil Aviation Organization. We should also the leverage our $400 million contribution to the WHO, the worlds largest, to force WHOs member states to invite Taiwan into the organization. Taiwan never should have been exiled from the world. As Auslin concludes, its long past time to bring Taiwan in from the cold. The Navajo Nation has extended its state of emergency through mid-May as COVID-19 continues to spread throughout the community. An executive order issued by Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez on Tuesday says that the government had previously restricted or canceled all off-reservation travel and closed government offices; however, the virus continued to spread. Therefore, the state of emergency and the closures will be extended from April 27 until at least May 17. The closure of Navajo Nation government offices may be extended beyond May 17, 2020, on the recommendation of the Navajo Health Command Operations Center, the Navajo Department of Emergency Management Operation Center, and the Navajo Epidemiology Center, the order says. The order also instructs Navajo Nation residents to continue complying with a curfew between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. and on weekends and to limit their movement to essential outings only. The provisions of this order shall be implemented consistent with the laws of the Navajo Nation and in a manner that advances the highest welfare of the People, the order says. The Navajo Nation has reported 1,282 COVID-19 cases and 48 deaths due to COVID-19. Navajo Health Command Operation officials have projected that the peak number of cases will occur in early or mid-May. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Made Anthony Iswara (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 24 2020 COVID-19 should serve as a wake-up call for Indonesia to better preserve its natural environment, activists say, as scientists have linked environmental degradation to the spread of the zoonotic diseases. On Wednesday, the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) blamed the countrys capitalist economy and the greed of corporations and investors for the environmental damage that they said had caused COVID-19 to haunt the Earth. The group was referring to a 2016 United Nations Environment Program report, which found that the risk of emergent and fast-spreading diseases increased as encroachment upon natural habitats by mankind intensified. The proximity enabled pathogens found in wild areas to spill over into livestock and humans. 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 Notification Baar-Zug, Switzerland; 23 April 2020 Partners Group appoints Chief Financial Officer; new member of the Executive Committee Partners Group, the global private markets investment manager, today announces the appointment of Hans Ploos van Amstel as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and member of the Executive Committee, with effect from 1 July 2020. Mr. Ploos van Amstel will bring with him a wealth of experience gained in leadership roles at multinationals spanning the fast-moving consumer goods, retail and human resources solutions sectors. Currently, Mr. Ploos van Amstel serves as CFO of The Adecco Group, the Switzerland-headquartered global HR solutions provider. As CFO, Mr. Ploos van Amstel will assume Executive Committee-level oversight of the firm's group finance activities, taking over this responsibility from Andre Frei, Co-CEO. In addition, with more than 30 years of relevant experience to draw on, Mr. Ploos van Amstel will significantly strengthen the firm's Executive Committee in areas of corporate and business development. He will work in direct interaction with Manuel Ottinger and Philip Sauer, who will continue to lead their respective Group Finance and Corporate Development teams and will report to Mr. Ploos van Amstel. Steffen Meister, Executive Chairman of Partners Group's Board of Directors, comments: "On behalf of the entire Board and Executive Committee, I wish to welcome Hans to our global senior leadership team. Given Partners Group's past - and anticipated future - growth, the number of demanding priorities related to group finance, business and corporate development has substantially increased. With his impressive track record of prior C-level roles at large multinationals, Hans is ideally positioned to complement Partners Group's leadership team with his valuable and broad experience." Hans Ploos van Amstel, adds: "I very much look forward to this new challenge and to joining Partners Group's highly driven leadership team. The common thread throughout my career to-date has been my emphasis on shaping and implementing strategy to achieve transformative results. I therefore believe I am well-positioned to make an impactful contribution to Partners Group. Additionally, my experience of working across different industries and within private equity-owned companies will enable me to play a central role in supporting the roll-out of key firm-wide finance- and operations-related initiatives." With the appointment of Hans Ploos van Amstel, the Executive Committee members as of 1 July 2020 will be: ? Andre Frei, Co-Chief Executive Officer David Layton, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Head Private Equity Hans Ploos van Amstel, Chief Financial Officer (new) Juri Jenkner, Head Private Infrastructure Andreas Knecht, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel Marlis Morin, Head Client Services Dr. Michael Studer, Chief Risk Officer, Co-Head Portfolio Solutions All Executive Committee members are Partners of the firm and members of the firm's Global Executive Board. About Partners Group Partners Group is a global private markets investment management firm with USD 94 billion in investment programs under management in private equity, private real estate, private infrastructure and private debt. The firm manages a broad range of customized portfolios for an international clientele of institutional investors. Partners Group is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland and has offices in Denver, Houston, Toronto, New York, Sao Paulo, London, Guernsey, Paris, Luxembourg, Milan, Munich, Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore, Manila, Shanghai, Seoul, Tokyo and Sydney. The firm employs over 1,400 people and is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (symbol: PGHN) with a major ownership by its partners and employees. Shareholder relations contact Philip Sauer Phone: +41 41 784 66 60 Email: philip.sauer@partnersgroup.com Media relations contact Jenny Blinch Phone: +44 207 575 2571 Email: jenny.blinch@partnersgroup.com www.partnersgroup.com The nationwide lockdown in India which came into effect about a month ago has impacted nearly 40 million internal migrants, the World Bank has said. The lockdown in India has impacted the livelihoods of a large proportion of the country's nearly 40 million internal migrants. Around 50,00060,000 moved from urban centers to rural areas of origin in the span of a few days, the bank said in a report released on Wednesday. According to the report -- 'COVID-19 Crisis Through a Migration Lens' -- the magnitude of internal migration is about two-and-a-half times that of international migration. Lockdowns, loss of employment, and social distancing prompted a chaotic and painful process of mass return for internal migrants in India and many countries in Latin America, it said. Thus, the COVID-19 containment measures might have contributed to spreading the epidemic, the report said. Migrant crisis Governments need to address the challenges facing internal migrants by including them in health services and cash transfer and other social programmes, and protecting them from discrimination, it said. World Bank said that Coronavirus crisis has affected both international and internal migration in the South Asia region. As the early phases of the crisis unfolded, many international migrants, especially from the Gulf countries, returned to countries such as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh until travel restrictions halted these flows. Some migrants had to be evacuated by governments, such as those of China and Iran, it said. Before the Coronavirus crisis, migrant outflows from the region were robust, the report said. The number of recorded, primarily low-skilled emigrants from India and Pakistan rose in 2019 relative to the prior year but is expected to decline in 2020 due to the pandemic and oil price declines impacting the Gulf countries. In India, the number of low-skilled emigrants seeking mandatory clearance for emigration rose slightly by eight percent to 368,048 in 2019. In Pakistan, the number of emigrants jumped 63 per cent to 6,25,203 in 2019, largely due to a doubling of emigration to Saudi Arabia, it said. Migration flows likely to fall According to the bank, migration flows are likely to fall, but the stock of international migrants may not decrease immediately, since migrants cannot return to their countries due to travel bans and disruption to transportation services. In 2019, there were around 272 million international migrants. The rate of voluntary return migration is likely to fall, except in the case of a few cross-border migration corridors in the South (such as Venezuela-Colombia, Nepal-India, ZimbabweSouth Africa, Myanmar-Thailand), it said. Migrant workers tend to be vulnerable to the loss of employment and wages during an economic crisis in their host country, more so than native-born workers. Lockdowns in labour camps and dormitories can also increase the risk of contagion among migrant workers. Many migrants have been stranded due to the suspension of transport services. Some host countries have granted visa extensions and temporary amnesty to migrant workers, and some have suspended the involuntary return of migrants, it said. Near-term health strategies for migrants Observing that government policy responses to the COVID-19 crisis have largely excluded migrants and their families back home, the World Bank said there is a strong case for including migrants in the near-term health strategies of all countries, given the externalities associated with the health status of an entire population in the face of a highly contagious pandemic. The Bank said governments would do well to consider short, medium and long-term interventions to support stranded migrants, remittance infrastructure, loss of subsistence income for families back home, and access to health, housing, education, and jobs for migrant workers in host/transit countries and their families back home. The pandemic has also highlighted the global shortage of health professionals and an urgent need for global cooperation and long-term investments in medical training, it said. READ | Graph Shows The Trend Of India's Covid Cases Versus What May Have Been But For Measures READ | Health Ministry Directs States To Give Additional Incentive To ASHA Workers For Covid Duty Downing Street ignored a Department of Health warning not to announce the imminent delivery of vital safety equipment from Turkey which later turned into a farce by taking days to arrive, it was claimed today. Senior officials reportedly warned No 10 and Communities Minister Robert Jenrick that any public confirmation of the plane-load of personal protective equipment (PPE) for NHS staff battling coronavirus could backfire. But Jenrick was authorised to announce its imminent arrival on Saturday, a decision which sparked major embarrassment when it became clear it would not be ready in time. It finally arrived in the UK yesterday after an RAF aircraft was sent to Istanbul and the Turkish Government stepped in to gift equipment because the firm paid to deliver it was unable to do so. It comes amid an apparent rift between Matt Hancock and Downing Street, with No 10 officials accused of lining up the Health Secretary as a 'fall guy' for coronavirus failures. A Department of Health Source told the Guardian: 'We strongly advised Robert Jenrick against doing this but he and No 10 overruled us. Communities Minister Robert Jenrick was authorised to announce its imminent arrival on Saturday, a decision which sparked major embarrassment when it became clear it would not be ready in time An Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire yesterday that is believed to have carried the PPE supplied from Instanbul It comes amid an apparent rift between Matt Hancock and Downing Street, with No 10 officials accused of lining up the Health Secretary as a 'fall guy' for coronavirus failures 'The advice we gave as a department as that we shouldn't mention individual orders of PPE. But for whatever reason it wasn't followed.' However a source close to Mr Hancock said that this description of events was 'wrong'. The first of a hoped-for three flights from Turkey landed at RAF Brize Norton in the early hours of Wednesday after collecting a shipment of equipment including 400,000 badly needed surgical gowns. Mr Jenrick announced with fanfare on Saturday that the consignment - enough to keep the NHS supplied for several days - was coming, before Education Secretary Gavin Williams humiliatingly admitted the following day that it had been postponed. He voiced hopes that it would arrive on Monday but it took an additional two days to arrive. Fury over coronavirus PPE shortages is escalating amid claims the government was ignoring offers of help from businesses - and millions of pieces of PPE are still being shipped out of the UK in spite of the lack of equipment for NHS frontline staff. Reports suggested that the Government missed out on 16million facemasks for the NHS after ignoring offers from two major firms Two people with the coronavirus died in California as much as three weeks before the US reported its first death from the disease in late February a gap that a top health official said may have led to delays in issuing stay-at-home orders in the nation's most populous state. Dr Sara Cody, health director in Northern California's Santa Clara County, on Wednesday said the deaths were missed because of a scarcity of testing and the federal government's limited guidance on who should be tested. The infections in the two patients were confirmed by way of autopsy tissue samples that were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for analysis. The county coroner's office received the results on Tuesday, officials said. "If we had had widespread testing earlier and we were able to document the level of transmission in the county, if we had understood then people were already dying, yes, we probably would have acted earlier than we did, which would have meant more time at home," Cody said. In the wake of the disclosure, Governor Gavin Newsom said he has directed coroners throughout the state to take another look at deaths as far back as December to help establish more clearly when the epidemic took hold in California. He declined to say whether the two newly recognised deaths would have changed his decisions about when to order a shutdown. He imposed a statewide one in late March. Officials said the two Santa Clara County patients died at home a 57-year-old woman on February 6 and a 69-year-old man on February 17 and that neither had travelled out of the country to a coronavirus outbreak area. The epidemic emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late December. Family members identified the woman as Patricia Dowd of San Jose, a manager at a semiconductor company who became sick in late January with flu-like symptoms. She appeared to recover and was working from home the day she died. Her daughter found her, the Los Angeles Times reported. Dowd travelled to various countries several times a year and had planned to visit China later in the year, her brother-in-law, Jeff Macias, told the paper. Where did this come from if it wasn't her traveling? Macias said. Patricia may not be the first. It's just the earliest we have found so far. Let's keep looking so we know the extent of it, he said of the virus. That's the greater good, for everyone else and my family included. The first known death from the virus in the US was reported on February 29 in Kirkland, Washington, a Seattle suburb. Officials later attributed two February 26 deaths to the virus. The two newly reported deaths show that the virus was spreading in California well before officials realized it and that outbreaks were underway in at least two parts of the country at about the same time. It shifts everything weeks earlier, extends geographic involvement, (and) further shows how our inability to test let this outbreak loose, said Dr Eric Topol, head of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in San Diego, in an email. Because it can take one or two weeks between the time people get infected and when they get sick enough to die, the February 6 death suggests the virus was circulating in California in late January, if not earlier. Previously, the first infection reported anywhere in the U.S. was in the Seattle area on January 21. On March 17, authorities across the San Francisco Bay Area, Santa Clara County included, confined nearly 7 million people to their homes for all but essential tasks and exercise in what was at the time the most aggressive measure taken against the outbreak in the US. Three days later, California put all 40 million of its residents under a near-lockdown. What the newly reported deaths show "is that we had community transmission probably to a significant degree far earlier than we had known," Cody said. And that indicates that the virus was probably introduced and circulating in our community, again, far earlier than we had known." Thousands of travellers from China and other affected regions entered the US before travel bans and airport screenings were put in place by the Trump administration in mid- and late January. Lack of widespread testing meant the country was flying blind to the true number of infections. County officials said the tissue samples from the two patients were sent to the CDC in mid-March. CDC officials did not immediately respond to questions about why it took a month to come back with the findings. Dr Charles Chiu, a researcher at the University of California at San Francisco who has been looking at genetic information from virus samples from patients, said it appears that the coronavirus was most likely introduced into the US by travellers from China and that it turned up independently in Santa Clara County and Washington state. Cody said the two deaths in California may have been written off as the flu because there were significant numbers of influenza cases at the time and it "had been extraordinarily difficult to pick out what was influenza and what was COVID". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hours after the first coronavirus diagnosis in Apatity, a city of 55,000 people above the Arctic Circle, a Gulfstream jet owned by the billionaire Guryev family flew in 100 express test kits. Hundreds more donated by the family soon followed to the region where their PhosAgro mines key ingredients for fertilizers, an example of how Russia's billionaires are spending more than $300 million they've pledged to help contain the pandemic. With the front lines of Russia's battle against coronavirus moving from Moscow to the often remote regions where many of the country's industrial assets are located, tycoons are taking steps to cushion the blow in areas where they are the primary employers. Their contributions to buy medical equipment, protective gear and even build hospitals have bolstered government spending, and often arrived quicker than help from the state. President Vladimir Putin, who ordered most Russians to stay home until the end of this month, has warned that the epidemic has yet to peak and is spreading deeper into the regions. Russia is near the top of the list of new cases in the world, adding 21,206 confirmed diagnoses in the past four days. More than 500 have died to date. The government has gradually ramped up spending on health and economic support programs as the virus and a historic crash in oil prices push the country toward recession. Business owners "understand that public discontent is growing and they are making a down payment," said Natalia Zubarevich, head of regional studies at Moscow's Independent Institute for Social Policy. "They need to take care of the goose that lays the golden eggs." The measures tycoons are taking may help keep their businesses operational, according to Zubarevich. An outbreak could have a catastrophic impact, especially in Russia's "monocities" -- the one-company towns where about 10% of the population lives. While most aid is for medical needs, some has gone to providing small businesses a lifeline and meals for vulnerable populations. In Apatity and nearby Kirovsk, 87 cases have been diagnosed so far. But just 124 miles )(200 kilometers) away, the town of Menkalinan has 367 infections, concentrated at a facility that builds equipment for Novatek PJSC. One of the construction companies there is suspending work while the workers' camp is disinfected. That cluster makes up three-quarters of the cases in the Murmansk region. Some companies - including billionaire Alexey Mordashov's steelmaker Severstal, billionaire Vladimir Potanin's MMC Norilsk Nickel and Alisher Usmanov's Metalloinvest Holding - are also paying out bonuses to keep production running smoothly amid the lockdown. Business leaders were among the first proponents of instituting regional lockdowns. Cherepovets in the Vologda region, where PhosAgro and Severstal operate, was one of the first places in Russia to endorse self-isolation. The Murmansk region and Norilsk set up early restrictions intended to keep residents from leaving. State aid is going slower as some regions haven't started additional purchases of medical equipment, even though funds have been allocated, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said at a government meeting on April 22. "The results we have today are hardly satisfactory," he said. Company contributions: - Potanin's Nornickel is spending 10.5 billion rubles to prepare 4,000 beds in the regions where it works, as well as build a new hospital and laboratory. - Mordashov's Severstal is buying equipment for local hospitals and plans to start producing respirators. - PhosAgro spent 500 million rubles on test kits, medical equipment and protective gear for doctors in the cities where it works. - Gold miner Polyus, controlled by the Kerimov family, is co-investor in a 1 billion-ruble fund to help prevent the spread of the virus in Russia's Far East. - Oleg Deripaska is funding construction of three hospitals in the Irkutsk region. - Victor Vekselberg is sending 50,000 express test kits to regions where his Renova Group holds assets and supplies hot meals for older people for them to stay home. President Trump injected more uncertainty into the US economy by tweeting late Monday night his intent to sign an Executive Order temporarily suspending legal immigration to the United States. The terms, reasoning, and legal authority for the Executive Order are unclear, as it has not yet been released, and his announcement appears to have caught DHS officials by surprise. In a press conference on Tuesday, President Trump stated that his plan would not affect temporary workers but would be in effect for 60 days and could be extended after 60 days based on economic conditions at that time. According to media reports, some officials have suggested that the Order would exempt essential workers and the spouses and children of US citizens. Regardless of its terms, the Executive Order will almost certainly be challenged in court. This proposed order has been heavily criticized on both the left and the right for its xenophobia, irrationality, and ineffectiveness. However, my concern about President Trumps proposed Executive Order is more fundamental: its lack of democratic legitimacy. Under our Constitutional system, it is Congress that writes the law not the President. The President can decide on which areas of law enforcement to focus limited resources, and in so doing, can decide that enforcing the immigration laws against certain categories of people is not justified on policy grounds. But the converse is not true: he cannot usually restrict rights or create new grounds for enforcement on his own. While it is true that the Supreme Court held in Trump v. Hawaii (2018) that the Executive wields a good deal of discretion when it comes to immigration enforcement, this principle emerged in a case in which questions of national security were deemed to be at stake and in which the restrictions proposed affected a much smaller number of people, given both the scope of the ban and various waiver provisions. (This is not to suggest that the third version of the Muslim ban, which was upheld by the Supreme Court is not devastating just that it should not serve as a precedent). The Presidents decision-making authority is at its highest when questions of foreign relations and national security are at stake, not when discussing labor market conditions. Here, Trump has not appeared to ground his proposal not on public health or national security grounds, but on protecting American workers. (He did mention in his press conference Tuesday that pausing legal immigration would preserve healthcare resources for Americans, but this justification appeared to be secondary to labor market concerns). Whereas the economic impact of Covid-19 on the US likely constitutes an emergency in terms of its gravity, it is not such an emergency in terms of timeliness that Congress should abdicate its law-making responsibilities. To the contrary: it is precisely when the nation faces a crisis that we should most vehemently insist that tough decisions be made by a representative body rather than a single person. Congress has passed a stimulus plan and is working on another. This legislation can be criticized on its merits, but at least it was not done by fiat; the legislation was important, and Congress found the time. Immigration policy involves complex empirical questions and difficult trade-offs. Different regions of the country and segments of the economy often have different priorities. Immigration debates bring into sharp focus our nations identity and values. How strongly do we value families? Providing refuge for those fleeing persecution? Economic growth? Fundamental fairness? If foreign workers do, in fact, have an impact on the job prospects for American workers, in what direction is this impact, how large is it, in which industries, in which regions, and how are these answers likely to change over time? During a pandemic, do we, in fact, have enough healthcare resources to receive new immigrants, given both the cost and the benefits of immigration, including the immigration of high-skilled medical workers? These are not purely technical or administrative questions that should be delegated to the enforcement experts at DHS or DOL or HHS: these are huge policy questions that go to the heart of democratic decision-making, especially in times of a crisis. It is the job of Congress to figure out the best policy and political solutions by consulting experts, holding public hearings, opening themselves up to media scrutiny, listening to constituents, and hammering out compromises. If immediate action is needed because the country is in full crisis mode during a pandemic, then the Executive can temporarily suspend travel into the country (when not inconsistent with international law): a longer-lasting and broader suspension of rights is not necessary. This is not a situation in which the President is claiming emergency authority to temporarily close the border in the early stages of a pandemic, before the US led the world in the number of infections and deaths (though not per capita). Congress is free to create new immigration restrictions based on the desire to protect American workers or to preserve healthcare resources for current residents, so long as these restrictions do not violate the US Constitution or interfere with our commitments under international law to protect refugees. However, if Congress does so, individual legislators must take the political heat, by defending those arguments to American voters in the districts and states they represent. Not surprisingly, these arguments do not sit well with large swaths of American voters, many of whom were once immigrants themselves and even more whose spouses, parents, colleagues, friends, employees and students are immigrants. Universities and businesses often strenuously lobby against such restrictions, on the theory that historically the key to the USs success especially in times of crisis has been its relative openness to immigration. Indeed, the representative structure of our law-making the fact that a bill must pass both the House and the Senate, and then survive a Presidential veto places a check on our most extreme tendencies. In all its messiness, horse-trading and tedium, the politics of the legislative process the committees, hearings, drafts, debates, media scrutiny, town halls, constituent calls, public protests is what gives our laws legitimacy and what helps creates laws that, if not necessarily good, are at least usually not terrible. Moreover, the very difficulty of changing the law, due to the messiness and political negotiations involved in democratic decision-making, is part of what distinguishes the US from authoritarian regimes like Russia or China. The US tends to put a high value on protecting reliance interests and still leads the world in innovation, in large part because it can attract the worlds best students and researchers, particularly in science, medicine, technology and engineering (with the exception of students from certain countries from which the US makes legal immigration almost impossible). If our government puts businesses and would-be immigrants on notice that we are unpredictable and unreliable that the value of their plans and investments can be destroyed or delayed indefinitely by the stroke of one mans pen then it invites the risk that many of them will decide to immigrate to Canada, Europe, or other countries and regions with more predictable governments. Highly-skilled immigrants continue to put up with the difficulty of our immigration system because the corresponding benefits of immigration to the US are so great. But we should take the desirability of the US for granted. If we are too mercurial too unwelcoming, unpredictable, arbitrary, inefficient, unprofessional people will go elsewhere. There are reasons we do not make immigration law by presidential decree. We live in a constitutional democracy, and the power of our laws stems from the legitimacy of the process by which they were enacted. In addition, a single person, frightened and backed into a corner by a crisis, is likely to get it wrong. Pompeo Says US May Permanently End Funding of WHO The United States might never restore funding for the World Health Organization (WHO), U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says. President Donald Trump last week ordered a pause on U.S. taxpayer funding for the WHO, a United Nations agency, while American officials review the organizations handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The United States pushed for reforms to the WHO after the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) pandemic, but those proved fruitless when the COVID-19 pandemic started and Chinese officials failed to accurately notify international health officials of the emerging threat, Pompeo said April 22. WHO officials have repeatedly defended the Chinese Communist Party amid widespread evidence of deception and manipulation. Pompeo indicated in an interview with Fox News that he supports growing calls for the resignation of WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. World Health Organization Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom (L) shakes hands with Chinese regime leader Xi Jinping before a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Jan. 28, 2020. (Naohiko Hatta/AFP via Getty Images) I think thats right, Pompeo told host Laura Ingraham when asked whether he favors a change in the WHOs leadership. Or even more than that. It may be the case that the United States can never return to underwriting, having U.S. taxpayer dollars go to the WHO. We may need to have even bolder change than that, he said. I think we need to take a real hard look at the WHO and what we do coming out of this. We reformed this back in 2007, so this isnt the first time weve had to deal with the shortcomings of this organization that sits inside the United Nations. We need a fix. We need a structural fix with the WHO. The United States gave the WHO more than $400 million last year. During the pause in funding, American officials are looking at switching funding efforts, including on polio eradication, to other groups. The 2007 reforms included implementing a rule that countries needed to report outbreaks of new illnesses within 24 hours. Another change was giving the WHOs chief the ability to make public any information about a member country flouting the rules. The logo of the World Health Organization at its headquarters in Geneva on Feb. 24, 2020. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images) Tedros and other officials have defended themselves and the actions they took and have regularly deflected questions about issues with Chinas response to the emergency of the CCP virus. Pompeo also said April 22 that the CCP still hasnt allowed U.S. scientists to enter China and visit the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a high-level laboratory located close to where the virus first emerged. Without outside access to the lab, Pompeo said last week, scientists cant properly evaluate how the virus started and spread around the world. Two U.S. scientists were allowed into China in February as part of a WHO team. The report the team issued on its visit in conjunction with China was extremely positive toward Chinas response. Why Haitian nationals have a tougher time returning home than deportees from the US It was billed as an online meeting for Union members across the country to discuss the trade unions response to the COVID-19 crisis. But Wednesday night's event produced a picture of the collapse of support for the unions, and their vicious reaction to workers who ask even basic questions about their close cooperation with governments and employers. Workers had received emails from unions, urging them to join the meeting, to be addressed by Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Secretary Sally McManus. Even according to the ACTU organisers, only about 3,000 people participated, out of the unions claimed membership of 1.8 million. It soon became apparent, from the greetings posted by participants at the beginning, that the overwhelming majority were union officials or delegates loyal to the officials. In the chat comments, some posed as ordinary workers but turned out to be senior union bureaucrats. The advertised focus of the event was the Liberal-National Coalition governments Fair Work Act regulation, proclaimed last Friday, to permit employers to give just one days notice before pushing through workplace ballots to cut workers pay and conditions. At the meeting, members and activists will develop a plan to put pressure on local employers and politicians to protect our EBAs [enterprise bargaining agreements], the invitation emails stated. That invitation was hardly likely to attract rank-and-file workers, who have suffered years of bitter experiences with the unions signing EBAs with employers that erode basic conditions and then ban them from taking industrial action. The event, however, was not a meeting at all. It was a webinar in which no workers could speak, let alone oppose the unions role in already assisting the employers to slash the pay and conditions of millions of workers over the past three weeks. McManus spoke for less than 10 minutes, offering no perspective except to appeal for protest actions to try and stop employers using the new regulation instead of consulting with the unions, and to launch a competition to sign up new union members. Socialist Equality Party (SEP) supporters, members of several unions, used the chat box to ask a series of questions, starting with: Why cant workers speak at this meeting? and Why cant we move alternative resolutions at this meeting? When these questions were ignored, further questions were asked, pointing to the intimate partnership between Prime Minister Scott Morrisons government and the ACTU in drafting the governments JobKeeper $750-a-week wage subsidy scheme. As well as being a massive $130 billion bailout for big business, with no guarantee that a single job would be saved under conditions of mass unemployment, the central purpose of the accompanying amendments to the Fair Work Actagreed by the ACTUwas to allow employers to cut wages and scrap core working conditions, supposedly for six months. The questions posted by the SEP supporters and directed to McManus, included, Why does [Attorney General and Industrial Relations Minister] Christian Porter refer to you as his BFF, that is Best Friend Forever? and Why did Morrison phone you to thank you for your cooperation with his government and then publicly praise you? Other questions asked about the role of McManus and the unions in collaborating with the employers to push through industrial award cuts to pay and conditions, including penalty wage rates, for about two million hospitality, restaurant and office workers in just one week, without any consultation with workers. Why did you declare on [ABC-TVs] Insiders two weeks ago that the unions had told the employers they can get everything they want by co-operation with the unions? and Why did you boast on Insiders that the unions had already scrapped a whole series of conditions for hospitality and clerical workers within a week? (see: Australian unions tell employers: You can get everything you want). Another question pointed to the fact that the ACTU was the main architect of the JobKeeper legislation: Dont the JobKeeper laws themselves give the employers the green light to scrap basic conditions, such as penalty rates? A further question asked: Isnt this regulation-making power something that all the unions agreed to when they drafted the Fair Work Act? It pointed to the fact that the Rudd-Gillard Labor government introduced the Act in 2009 in partnership with the unions, specifically to entrench their role in enforcing the anti-strike laws. The ACTUs only concern is that the latest Fair Work Act regulation changes could by-pass the role of the unions in policing the attacks on wages and conditions, as they have done since the prices and incomes Accords between the ACTU, employers and the Hawke and Keating governments of the 1980s and 1990s. Arent the unions just seeking to be consulted before attacks are imposed on workers, so that they can help block resistance, as the unions have done ever since the Accords? an SEP supporter asked. Hasnt union membership plunged over the past three decades because of all the sellouts they have inflicted since the Hawke and Keating Accords? (see: COVID-19 and the role of Labor and the unions in Australia). None of these questions were answered. Instead, they provoked physically threatening responses from union officials. Among them were comments such as Do you want a fat lip? and references to ice picks of the sort used by a Stalinist agent to assassinate Leon Trotsky in Mexico in 1940. Other abuse referred to SEP supporters as trolls and members of a weird sect. These threats of violence, while especially sinister in invoking the heritage of the Stalinist slanders and death squads directed against the Trotskyist movement, typify the methods used by the unions to intimidate and suppress opposition by workers to their betrayals. The same kind of anti-democratic suppression of dissent, backed by crude denunciations, has been seen in recent weeks as hundreds of workers across the country took to social media to condemn the construction union for enforcing continued production in the sector, despite the health risks posed by the coronavirus pandemic. The Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU) responded with censorship, mass deleting Facebook comments. Supporters of the union bureaucracy also vilified workers critical of the CFMMEU and downplayed the dangers of COVID-19, demonstrating their contempt for workers health and safety. Such methods are not new. They were displayed during the unions enforcement of their Accords with Hawke and Keating. Workplace shop committees and other rank-and-file organisations that resisted the Labor government-ACTU pro-market economic restructuring were ruthlessly broken up. As recorded in Part 3 of the WSWS series Industrial relations and the trade unions under Labor: From Whitlam to Rudd: Delegates in the metal trade unions, who continued to believe they were elected to defend the members who had voted for them, were victimised by the union apparatus and summarily removed. In the building industry, where on-the-job organisation was required to meet the changing and often dangerous character of the work, workers safety committees were disbanded. These unions are no longer working-class organisations. The Accords of Hawke and Keating marked their transformation, like their counterparts worldwide, into apparatuses that work to reverse the past gains of the working class in order to help make their national capitalist economy competitive on the world market. The Australian capitalist class, however, demand that what is left of workers conditions and pay rates is further gutted. The crisis of the COVID19 pandemic is being used as the means to carry out a wholesale destruction of working-class rights that the ACTU and Labor have made clear they will collaborate and cooperate to impose. Wednesday nights event showed that this union bureaucracy is now desperately fearful of losing its grip over the mounting unrest among workers over mass unemployment, unsafe working conditions in the COVID-19 pandemic, the government-employer push for premature returns to work, and the offensive underway against pay and basic conditions. In order to defend their lives, livelihoods and futures, workers and youth will have to form new rank-and-file organisations to wage a political struggle against the union apparatus and its associated Labor Party machine. Rather than being tied to the profit requirements of the capitalist class by the unions, the working class must take power out of the hands of the financial elite and reorganise society to meet the pressing needs of the overwhelming majority, not the wealthy few. For that they need a revolutionary socialist party. That is the perspective advanced by the SEP. A desperate tradie's wife who couldn't afford to buy food has been let off by a Queensland court after being caught stealing $18 worth of bacon from Woolworths. With an empty pantry after her husband's work dried up, Adrianna Louise Melhuish stole one packet of bacon from her local supermarket on March 30. It comes as thousands of Australians were left without work thanks to the strict restrictions brought in to fight the coronavirus pandemic. Despite pleading guilty to one count of unauthorised deal with shop goods, she was freed with no conviction recorded at Ayr Magistrates Court after officials took pity on her situation. Magistrate Ross Mack told the court he had 'some sympathy for her position' during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has left families struggling to make ends meet. People are seen queuing outside a Centrelink office in Melbourne on April 20 (pictured) as many suffered the consequences of the economic downturn due to the coronavirus pandemic 'I hope things improve for you but weve got to come out of the other end of this thing with our dignity and our principles intact,' he told her, according to the Townsville Bulletin. 'If ever there was a need for restraint and strength of character, now is it.' Ms Melhuish explained that her husband, a handyman, hadn't work for two weeks - leaving their cupboards empty. After paying for registration at $800, and $325 a month for home, car and sole trader insurance, the family were left with next to nothing. Ms Melhuish, who had no criminal history and even wrote a letter to Woolworths apologising, had only $30 left to buy bread and margarine. Despite pleading guilty to stealing the bacon, the woman was discharged absolutely at Ayr Magistrates Court (pictured) after officials took pity on her situation. 'All I ask is that you understand where we are coming from as our cupboard was bare and we had no food,' she told the court. On April 15, officials revealed Australia's unemployment rate had risen to 5.2 per cent, but the figures failing to account for the coronavirus shutdowns. The true extent of the unemployment crisis is likely to be far worse. Non-essentials businesses like pubs, clubs, gyms, cinemas and dine-in restaurants were forced to close on March 23 to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Three days later, nail salons and massage parlours were also banned. The woman pleaded guilty to taking the $18 packet of bacon from Woolworths (pictured) after her husband struggled to find work during the coronavirus pandemic Prime Minister Scott Morrison noted the Australian Bureau of Statistics surveys were most likely done in early March before he announced the COVID-19 measures. 'That is the best figure we're going to see for some time,' he told reporters at the time. 'That's not the one we can expect going forward - Australians are ready for that.' Economists fear more than one million Australians lost their jobs in late March and early April, on top of those who were already without work. The treasury is expecting Australia's unemployment rate to hit 10 per cent by the end of June, a joblessness level unseen in Australia since April 1994. Huge queues have already been seen outside Centrelink offices across the country, despite the government bringing in a $130 billion JobKeeper package. Eligible workers will soon get $1,500 fortnightly payments for six months to help businesses to keep employing them. The granddaughter of an elderly woman living at an aged care facility claims her grandmother was forced to urinate in a garbage bin after she was locked out of her bathroom. The 92-year-old resident at Western Sydney's Anglicare Newmarch House aged care centre was unable to get staff to unlock her bathroom due to a shortage of carers at the facility. There are 55 Newmarch House staff members in isolation after an outbreak of COVID-19 in the facility, with 29 residents and 15 staff infected with the disease along with four deaths. Minister for Health Greg Hunt on Wednesday said the federal government would step in to fill in for isolated staff to ensure the outbreak is contained and residents are looked after. Savannah, whose grandmother is a resident in the facility, told 2GB on Thursday that was not the case. An elderly woman was forced to urinate in a bin at the Anglicare Newmarch House aged care centre in Western Sydney 'It was a big turning point we thought, and the family spirit really lifted and even in the evening we had a really fantastic update from a nurse that was quite thorough and all signs looked very positive last night but today it hasn't played out that way,' she said. Despite the federal government's activated 'surge workforce' which includes the deployment of an emergency response team at the facility, Savannah's grandmother was unable to get assistance and was forced to take desperate measures to urinate. 'Her dignity was stripped, she had to resort to emptying her garbage bin and unfortunately using that because she couldn't get to her toilet,' Savannah said. 'You can imagine the sheer horror that our whole family felt at hearing that story.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Anglicare for comment on the incident. Protesters gathered outside the facility on Wednesday complaining that residents in the facility weren't being looked after as there was no staff to look after them. Savannah said her grandmother hasn't been showered, had her bed sheets changed or her room cleaned in five days. Three residents aged in their 90s and one in their 70s have died from coronavirus at the aged care home, with NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant this week saying specialist doctors and nurses were sent to the facility. Coronavirus broke out in the facility (pictured) earlier this month after a staff member worked for six consecutive days with mild symptoms. There are now 55 staff members in isolation, with 29 residents and 15 staff infected with the disease along with three deaths Anglicare is set to hold an online meeting for residents and concerned family members on Thursday with representatives from the Department of Health, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner and the Older Persons Advocacy Network. The facility said it takes staff at least five times longer to deliver care to residents because of the need to dress in full personal protective equipment, continue strict hygiene, and maintain social isolation. 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 An Anglicare media statement says even with government help, the facility is running with a third less staff than its regular operation. 'We appreciate and understand why families are upset, frustrated, and disappointed,' chief executive Grant Millard said on Thursday. 'This will be an opportunity for families to hear what we are doing jointly to get on top of this crisis.' Federal Aged Care and Senior Australians Minister Richard Colbeck insisted Newmarch House staffing levels were almost restored and denied accusations the federal government had been slow to react to the outbreak. 'I would be very distressed if I had a relative in there,' Mr Colbeck told the Nine Network. National Deputy Chief Health Officer Paul Kelly said unlimited workforce support had been offered to the facility, which has strict isolation protocols in place for its residents. A staff member who worked for six consecutive days with mild symptoms, primarily a sore throat, introduced the virus to the facility earlier this month. New Delhi, April 23 : The Delhi government has suspended the rapid antibody for coronavirus, after the Indian Council of Medical Research told the states to stop using the newly-distributed Chinese testing kits. The ICMR has said huge variations in the accuracy of results were noticed across the regions. Speaking to IANS, a health official said the government had started using the kits on Monday. "We have stopped using the rapid testing kits and will restart it after Centre's nod," an official told IANS on Thursday. A day after its trial in the Lok Nayak hospital here, the Delhi government on Monday started the use of rapid antibody test kits in the containment zones in the Central district. According to the Health Department, the kits were used in the Nabi Karim area and all the people have been tested negative. The national capital acquired 42,000 rapid antibody test kits on Sunday and was aiming to use all the kits in a week. The kits, according to the Health Department, were totest the presence of coronavirus antibodies. "This will be used on people who have even minor (coronavirus) symptoms. In this test, we will see if the body has developed the antibodies. If this comes positive, then we will need to have a confirmatory RT-PCR test," the official had said. About 90 containment zones have been formed across the city to contain the spread of the infection after positive cases were found in the locality. Several of Delhi's containment zones have seen a jump in coronavirus cases. Ramadan, also known as Ramadhan or Ramzan, is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is a time for Muslims located globally to focus on prayers, fasting and charity. The last few days of Ramadan are considered a particularly holy period, as it is said to be the time when the Qurans (Koran) first verses were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).The first day of fasting during Ramadan is determined by the sighting of the new moon (crescent moon). This year its supposed to be sighted on Friday, April 24 in Muslim nations such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Egypt, Indonesia, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, that will begin fasting despite the coronavirus pandemic albeit with requisite precautions taken and several Ramadan-related activities curtailed.According to a report by Reuters, Some 320 million Muslims in countries like Iran and Tunisia will face enforced separation at a time when socializing is almost sacred. Restrictions on gatherings have forced those organising community iftars - the evening meal in which Muslims break their fast - to find new ways to reach those in need from Syrian refugees to laid-off migrant workers in Gulf Arab states. In the United Arab Emirates where summer temperatures climb above 50 degrees, Ramadan fridges stocked by residents are normally placed in car parks and shopping malls allowing labourers to grab food and drinks as needed. When is Ramadan starting in 2020? Date: April 24 2020First sighting of moon: United Arab Emirates Saudi Arabias government said it would maintain the ban on all congregation prayers in the country, including Taraweeh - a set of special prayers that take place during the holy month.In the United States and Europe, Muslim communities rely on astronomical calculations and are likely to observe Ramadan from Thursday evening as well, with Friday being the first day of fasting.When is Ramadan starting in 2020?According to the International Astronomy Center (IAC), The holy month of Ramadan is predicted to start on Friday, April 24, in most Islamic countries.The Qatar Calendar House (QCH) announced that astronomical calculations say Ramadans new moon will be born on April 23 at 02:27 GMT (05:27 Doha local time). The actual visibility of the crescent moon will depend on natural factors such as atmospheric conditions, cloud cover and the distance between the sun and the moon on the horizon. Also read: Ramadan 2020: Unique and bizarre Ramzan practices around the worldHow long is the holy month of Ramadan?Islamic lunar months last anywhere between 29 to 30 days, depending on the sighting of the new moon. If the new moon is not visible by the 29th night, the month lasts 30 days instead.Saudi Arabias official Umm al-Qura calendar has marked the first day of fasting as April 24, 2020.Fasting during Ramadan month is one of the five pillars of Islam, which includes the Muslim declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity, and the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.By law, offices are required to reduce the number of working hours and restaurants stay shut during the daylight hours. In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, however, several workplaces, restaurants and recreational zones will likely be shut throughout the period of Ramadan, in an attempt to curb the spread of the pandemic and maintain social distancing practices.The hours of fasting world-over are anywhere between 11 to 19 hours. Ramadan Mubarak or Ramadan Kareem are common greetings exchanged during the holy month. At the end of Ramadan, Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr which means the festival of breaking the fast in Arabic. This year, Eid al-Fitr is likely to fall on May 24, depending on the start date of Ramadan and the sighting of the crescent moon for the month after Ramadan, Shawwaal. LIVE UPDATES: African airlines are struggling amidst the coronavirus lockdown as demand has evaporated since measures were put in place across the globe to halt the spread of Covid-19. Air Mauritius became the latest victim of Covid-19 as the company's board of directors announced on Wednesday that the carrier would be put into voluntary administration. Unfortunately, travel restrictions and the closure of borders in all our markets and cessation of all international and domestic flights in an unprecedented crisis, has led to a complete erosion of the company's revenue base, said a statement from Air Mauritius. Trading in the company was suspended on Mauritius' stock exchange and the company appointed administrators. Air Mauritius started flying in 1967 and served 22 destinations on four continents, according to the company's website. Namibia's flag carrier Air Namibia said on Wednesday that it was having cashflow problems, according to local media reports. Air Namibia would be delaying the payment of salaries of some 700 employees by a week, The Namibian reported. The carrier has suspended its operations until 5 May, but is continuing to offer cargo services, according to its website. Continuing with cargo Kenya Airways has pivoted its service to cargo and converted four of its passenger aircraft to lessen the impact of Covid-19 and increase its freight capacity. It has already started to transport fresh produce, including vegetables, to Europe using the converted widebody aircraft. Destinations in Europe served by Kenya Airways have been suspended until at least 6 May, while cities served by the Kenyan carrier in China, India, Thailand and Dubai will also not resume until May. Ethiopian Airlines, the African continent's largest carrier, is struggling for survival, CEO Tewolde Gebremariam told AFP news agency in an interview. The state-owned carrier is facing revenue losses of 508 million euros from January to April and might need to secure outside financial help if the crisis lasts for another three more months, Tewolde said. Ethiopian Airlines, like Kenya Airways, is looking towards cargo to help sustain operations. It had 12 cargo planes and is using an additional 10 to 15 passenger jets to increase the capacity, according to AFP. Another bailout for SAA? South African Airways last week went cap in hand to the government, requesting 485 million euros in funding. SAA like other airlines has seen its operations dwindle over Covid-19 measures. Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan rejected SAA's request, dealing it the latest blow following attempts to save the indebted airline and a business rescue last year. This is an enterprise that in the past three years has consistently and inexplicably missed every reporting deadline as prescribed by the Public Finance Management Act, said Adrian Saville of Cannon Asset Managers. In this environment, it is an extraordinary ask, he added. The aviation industry in Africa contributes 51.5 billion euros to the continent's economies and supports 6.2 million jobs, according to the International Air Transport Association. Numerous doctors have discovered another baffling effect of the coronavirus on patients. Dr. Jeffrey Laurence, a hematologist at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City, stated that the number of clotting problems that they are seeing in the ICU that are all related to COVID-19 is unprecedented. Blood clotting problems are widespread in severe COVID-19 cases. Dr. Laurence and his colleagues studied the autopsies on two COVID-19 patients and they found blood clots in the lungs and beneath the surface of the skin. They also found blood clots beneath the skin's surface on three living patients. A study found high rates of clotting among COVID-19 patients in the ICU in the Netherlands. Experts from more than 30 hospitals had gathered to consider the ongoing issue and they conclude that coronavirus patients may be predisposed to having clots but it is not clear why. Increasing rates of blood clots Dr. Michelle Gong, chief of the division of critical care medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City stated that being in the ICU, sick and lying still, can be the reason for blood clots. She said that even before COVID-19, doctors are on high alert for suspicion of clots in the ICU because they are at high risk. But even with this explanation, doctors believe that COVID-19 patients are clotting more than other ICU patients. A study of 81 ill patients in Wuhan China in the ICU with COVID-19 found a 25% incidence of clots. A Dutch study of 184 patients in the ICU with COVID-19 found more than 20% were having blood clotting issues. Also Read: Special Ultraviolet Lamps Could Kill Coronavirus Lingering in Air Dr. Behnood Bikdeli, a cardiovascular medicine fellow at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, called the numbers alarming. He also said that there are three major reasons why COVID-19 patients might have a high risk of clotting. The first reason is that the vast majority of patients who become very will with coronavirus have underlying medical problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. The second reason is because of a cytokine storm, it is where the body's own immune response turns on itself. And the third reason is that there could be something about the coronavirus itself that is causing blood clots. Doctors say that it is difficult to know exactly what is behind the blood clots that they are seeing in COVID-19 patients who are in the ICU. A difficult fix It is not that easy to fix the clotting issues. While a low dose of blood thinners to prevent blood clots is considered low risk, that might not be enough to prevent clots in some patients. However, giving larger doses could make a patient bleed excessively and that could be deadly. That is the dilemma that doctors are facing now. Some patients might benefit from larger doses of blood thinners because they are ill with COVID-19 and their blood tests show that they have elevated levels of D-dimer, which is a substance that indicated that they might have clotting issues. According to Dr. Kathryn Hibbert, an instructor at Harvard Medical School, there is a crying need for these kinds of rapid trials. Dr. Laurence stated that since treating clotting can be tricky, he wants to figure out what is causing the clotting in the first place. Doctors are trying to shut off what is causing it, there is clotting going on with COVID-19 patients and they are trying to keep ahead of it. While there is still no answer regarding these issues and while studies are being done, doctors are being extra vigilant with treating their COVID-19 patients. Related Articles: Coronavirus Lingers in Eyes for Over 20 Days, Can Be Viable Route of Transmission @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Vietnamese will be the first to travel after the pandemic ends, and if there are attractive demand stimulus programs, the market will need only several months to recover, experts say. The domestic market was the major driving force for the recovery after the 2009 financial crisis. Travel firms believe that this will happen again this year after Covid-2019. The domestic market is large. According to VNAT (Vietnam National Administration of Tourism), there were 85 million domestic travelers last year, an increase of 6 percent compared with the year before. The average spending was VND5.8 million per traveler who stayed overnight and VND1.92 million for those who did not stay overnight. Thr market always sees very quick response to sale promotion programs. Nearly all programs bring effects immediately. If there are attractive programs, the market will recover just after three months, said Nguyen Ngoc An, deputy CEO of Fiditour, adding that if the epidemic ends soon, travel firms will be more favorable to implement recovery plans because they can attract customers during the summer tourism season. The domestic market was the major driving force for the recovery after the 2009 financial crisis. Travel firms believe that this will happen again this year after Covid-2019. Phan Dinh Hue, director of Vong Tron Viet shares the same view. He said foreign markets also need stimulus programs, but it will take time to lure foreign travelers back to Vietnam. In order to exist, travel firms need to better exploit the domestic market, he commented. Some travel firms said they are preparing to call partners to join forces to provide attractive products after Covid-19. The service fees to be offered to domestic travelers are expected to be very attractive, because enterprises and local authorities want to lure travelers to offset the revenue decline in the crisis. We have just called for cooperation to attract travelers, but 40 cities/provinces, airlines, railways and service providers at destinations have agreed to join the demand stimulus campaigns, said Nguyen Thi Khanh, deputy chair of the HCM City Tourism Association. Some road transport units have registered a sharp discount rate of 40 percent. The association is making hectic preparations so that sale promotion program can be launched right after the epidemic ends. Experts said price reductions would determine the success of the program. The fees for package tours need be lowered by at least 30 percent to attract travelers. However, the demand stimulus activities after the crisis need to be different from sale promotion programs in tourism seasons. Doan Thi Thanh Tra from Saigontourist, however, said that travel firms still dont know when the epidemic ends and when to design suitable promotion programs. Le Ha Online tool enables foreigners to travel to Vietnam Foreigners can now experience the next best thing to a holiday in Vietnam via an online tool called Stay at Home with Vietnam, which was launched by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board. The United States will give $12 million in economic aid to Greenland and open a consulate on the island in a bid to strengthen mutual ties and counter growing Russian and Chinese interests in the Arctic. Danish and U.S. officials jointly announced the financial and diplomatic package on April 23. The United States said it would open its consulate in Greenland's capital, Nuuk, later this year. The aid package is aimed mostly at developing natural resources. Greenland is an autonomous Arctic territory under Denmark. In recent years the vast, sparsely populated expanse of land has seen its profile raised amid Russian and Chinese commercial and military buildups in the Arctic. The region has seen an opening of new sea lanes due to warming caused by climate change, which in turn has created new commercial and military activity. Greenland Prime Minister Kim Kielsen said the U.S. package was good news for the island and "confirms that our work in building a constructive relationship with the United States is bearing fruit." A senior State Department official said the United States had been working closely with Denmark for months on the initiative, adding that the United States was "in the process of adjusting our Arctic policy to today's new strategic realities." President Donald Trump suggested last year that the United States considered buying Greenland. The idea was immediately rebuffed by Denmark, and the State Department official said the aid package was not designed to pave the way for such a purchase. 'One-Two Punch' Victoria Herrmann, president and managing director of The Arctic Institute think tank, said people working on Arctic diplomacy in the administration have changed their approach from bombastic declarations to targeted development aid. In an e-mail response to questions from RFE/RL, she said the aid was a "one-two punch" aimed at economic and human development and shows China and Russia that "the Trump administration is interested in exerting U.S. soft power in the Arctic by funding education and natural resources." Though its consulate in Nuuk closed years ago, the United States has maintained a presence on Greenland through the Thule Air Base and investments in research projects on the environment and sustainable development. But the United States "is woefully behind in investing in both Arctic strategic military assets and critical civilian infrastructure to increase quality of life and human development for the four million people that call the Arctic home," Herrmann said, adding that she doesnt see that changing with the announcement of aid. Russia, meanwhile, has stepped up its military capabilities in the Arctic, while China calls itself a "near Arctic state" and has laid plans for a Polar Silk Road focused on new Arctic shipping routes and access to natural resources. Prior to the announcement, the U.S. ambassador to Denmark, Carla Sands, wrote an opinion piece for the online publication Altinget in which she said the United States would be "the preferred partner in the Arctic." Sands also accused Russia of "aggressive behavior and increased militarization in the Arctic," and China of pursuing "predatory economic interests" in Greenland. With reporting by The Washington Post, Reuters, and dpa MOUNTAIN PASS, Calif., April 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- MP Materials, owner and operator of Mountain Pass, the only rare earth mining and processing site in North America, was chosen by the U.S. Department of Defense for a contract aimed at restoring domestic Heavy Rare Earths production to the United States. MP Materials is the only firm capable of providing a fully U.S.-based solution. The contract serves as Phase 1 of a DoD effort to reduce U.S. supply chain vulnerabilities by ultimately enabling commercial scale production and operation of a U.S.-based Heavy Rare Earth separation facility. "We appreciate the DoD's leadership in addressing U.S. supply chain vulnerabilities. That is MP's core mission, and we look forward to continued partnership with DoD in tackling this critical challenge," said MP Materials Co-Chairman, James Litinsky. "We are committed to restoring the full rare earth supply chain to the United States, paving the way for the onshoring of robust and diverse industries that will thrive through global competition, world-class products and sustainable environmental standards." MP Materials is the only rare earths producer with the ability to source and process these critical components, including Heavy Rare Earths, in the U.S. Currently, these elements, which are required for security and defense systems, are sourced and processed largely in China. The DoD's Phase 1 funding will support detailed planning and design of a U.S.-based Heavy Rare Earth separation facility, a critical component for expansion of the U.S. rare earth and magnetics industry. Upon completion of Phase 1, the DoD may award further contracts in support of commercial scale production based on Phase 1 results. About MP Materials MP Materials is the owner and operator of the Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mining and Processing facility, the only integrated site of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. With over 200 employees, MP Materials produces approximately 15% of global rare earth content, essential for the development of technologies such as defense systems, smartphones, drones, and electric vehicles. It operates a green mining and processing facility, and is currently one of the lowest-cost producers of rare earth concentrate. MP plays a leadership role in advocating for a more robust and competitive rare earths industry in the U.S. More information is available at https://mpmaterials.com/. SOURCE MP Materials Related Links https://mpmaterials.com/ The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Enforcement Team says no fewer than 500 persons have been convicted in the last three weeks for contravening the stay-at-home order by the federal government. Leader of FCTA Enforcement Team on Movement Restrictions, Ikharo Attah, said this at an interactive session with journalists on Thursday in Abuja. Mr Attah frowned at the continuous violation of the lock-down order by FCT residents and some religious leaders. Mr Attah said most of the convicts were motorists. He appealed to the residents to stop undermining governments efforts at curtailing the spread of COVID 19, saying that the killer virus is not a respecter of persons nor religions. Since the mobile courts started sitting, about 500 violators have been convicted so far. READ ALSO: Many of them were fined and released after paying the fines because sending them to Correctional Centres would undermine the governments efforts towards decongesting the centres. More so, many of the convicts were first time offenders, Mr Attah said. (NAN) At the height of Fox News coverage of a would-be treatment for the novel coronavirus, the networks medical correspondent, Marc Siegel, offered a remarkable testimonial during Tucker Carlsons show. Siegel said his 96-year-old father, suffering from symptoms of the virus and fearing he would die, made a full recovery thanks to the drug, hydroxychloroquine, and a course of antibiotics. He got up the next day and was fine, Siegel told an astonished Carlson. Siegels miraculous-recovery story was part of a near-campaign for hydroxychloroquine by Fox News and its sister network, Fox Business. Echoing President Donald Trumps description of the drug as a gamechanger, Carlson, Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity, Lou Dobbs and Fox and Friends hosts spoke of its potential benefits in dozens of segments from mid-March to mid-April. They also criticised those in the media and the medical establishment who raised concerns, turning a debate among researchers and scientists into another front in the culture wars. But in the past week or so, Trump has all but stopped talking about hydroxychloroquine. And so have Fox Newss hosts. The relative silence follows disappointing, even alarming, new research about hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Results from a study on 368 male Veterans Affairs patients with the disease showed that the death rate among those given the drug, both in combination with another drug and alone, was higher than for those who were not. Researchers working on the study, which was released this week, also said its use made no difference in the need for ventilators. Like other fast-moving research about Covid-19 treatments, the study by the VA and academic researchers hasnt undergone the typical peer-review process and isnt the kind of formal clinical trial, like those underway elsewhere, that will offer more definitive answers. However, it was based on one of the largest collections of data about the drugs use. Another study, released by French researchers last week, offered more discouraging clues. It found no statistically significant difference in the death rates among 181 Covid-19 patients who had taken hydroxychloroquine within 48 hours of being admitted to a hospital and those who hadnt. The study also highlighted dangerous side effects; eight developed arrhythmia, or abnormal heart rhythms, and had to stop taking it. Marc Siegel, a physician, and the president have been accused of spreading misinformation about the virus and possible treatment (Fox News/YouTube) On Tuesday, an expert panel convened by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases advised physicians against prescribing hydroxychloroquine with the antibiotic azithromycin because of the potential side effects. The panel said there wasnt enough evidence yet to recommend for or against hydroxychloroquine as a treatment. The agency is headed by Trumps top infectious-disease adviser, Anthony Fauci, who has repeatedly tempered Trumps upbeat comments about the drug. All of which raises a question about the Fox News hosts advocacy of hydroxychloroquine: were they pushing a potentially ineffective, even dangerous, remedy in the absence of sound science and well in excess of their expertise or knowledge? A Fox News spokeswoman declined to comment. Carlson, Hannity and Ingraham didnt mention the new research on their programmes on Tuesday. The topic has faded from their commentary, replaced by rhetoric about Chinas culpability for the pandemic and advocacy for reopening the country, again seemingly as part of a feedback loop with Trumps own comments. Ingraham, who met with Trump in early April and urged him to push the drug, hasnt discussed hydroxychloroquine since 15 April. She tweeted on Wednesday that she would address the new research about it on Wednesday. (She also tweeted, in reference to another pandemic-related topic: We made big decisions based on faulty data, bad models.) Syndicated TV host Dr Mehmet Oz an enthusiastic promoter of the drug in his many guest appearances on Fox News seemed to backpedal from his usual advocacy on Wednesdays Fox and Friends. The fact of the matter is, we dont know, he told co-host Brian Kilmeade, adding, Theres a lot of variables. Brian, I gotta say at this point there is so much data coming from so many places, we are better off waiting for the randomized trials Dr Fauci has been asking for. Otherwise, we keep reacting back-and-forth to studies that show opposite results, and a lot of it might have to do with when you get the medication. Oz, a cardiac surgeon with limited expertise in pharmacology or virology, had previously said on Fox News that Fauci needed to respect the positive results of studies conducted to date, even if they were small. Given the new data, Fox News has an obligation to give equal time to the doubts and potential dangers of hydroxychloroquine, said William Haseltine, a biologist and biotech entrepreneur. Thats just public responsibility, said Haseltine, chairman and president of Access Health International, a nonprofit organisation that seeks to expand access to health care. They have a duty to inform their [viewers] that they made a mistake. Its not a crime to make a mistake, but they do need to correct it. In contrast to the networks popular commentators, Foxs news programmes and website have been more cautious and have reported on the new research. The network on Tuesday played clips from a White House press briefing in which Stephen Hahn, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, urged waiting for randomised clinical trials to actually make a definitive decision around safety and efficacy. Trump sounded a bit less enthusiastic about hydroxychloroquine during the same briefing. He said he was unaware of the VA study. He also said: Obviously, there have been some very good reports and perhaps this one is not a good report. But well be looking at it. The Washington Post "Vietnam has contacted China to strongly affirm Vietnam's consistent stance and deny China's wrongful stance," Ngo Toan Thang, deputy spokesman of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, said in an online press meet Thursday. Thang was responding to inquiries about Vietnam's reactions on China sending a diplomatic note to the U.N. on April 17 regarding its East Sea sovereignty claims. The East Sea is internationally known as the South China Sea. In an April 17 note, China said that the Vietnamese government and the world community has acknowledged Beijing's sovereignty over what it calls the Xisha Islands, established over Vietnam's Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands, and the Nansha Islands over Vietnam's Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands. China cited a diplomatic note by late Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Van Dong in 1958. Misinterpreting that note, China claimed that the Vietnamese government acknowledged and supported the Chinese government's September 4, 1958 statement on territorial waters. According to that statement, China wanted territorial waters that spanned 12 nautical miles, applying to all of China's territories, including the Xisha Islands, the Nansha Islands, the Dongsha Islands (Pratas Islands) and the Zhongsa Islands (Macclesfield Bank). Tran Duy Hai, then the deputy head of the National Border Committee, had asserted in June 2014 that Vietnam never acknowleged China's sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Islands. The diplomatic note in 1958 did not mention any sovereignty issue and China had sought a way to wrongly interpret it, Haid said. On China issuing what were called the standard names for 80 geographical features in the East Sea, Thang said all behaviors that are harmful towards Vietnam's sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Islands, Vietnam's sovereignty and jurisdiction rights over its sea areas are unrecognized and of no value. Vietnam is resolutely opposed to such behaviors, he said. On East Sea disputes between Vietnam and other countries, Thang said Vietnam has distributed a diplomatic note at the U.N. on April 10 to affirm Vietnam's sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Islands in accordance with international law, and that all claims at sea that go against the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), violate the sovereignty, sovereignty and jurisdiction rights of Vietnam over its sea areas carry no value. Vietnam considers that all countries have responsibility and mutual interest in respecting the fundamental principles of international law, including the principle of the sovereign equality of countries, refraining in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity of any state, and settling international disputes by peaceful means. "In that spirit, Vietnam is willing to settle disputes with relevant countries through negotiations as well as other peaceful methods, including methods stated in the UNCLOS," Thang said. Pakistan on Thursday said it has reported 742 new cases of COVID-19 and 15 more deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of deadly coronavirus infections to 10,513 with 224 deaths in the country. The Ministry of National Health Services said 15 more patients died across the country during the period, taking the toll to 224. "Punjab reported 4,590 patients, Sindh 3,373, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 1,453, Balochistan 552, Gilgit-Baltistan 290, Islamabad 204 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir reported 51 patients," a statement from the ministry said. Globally, more than 2.6 million people are infected and at least 183,000 killed by the deadly COVID-19, Johns Hopkins University said. Pakistan also said that more than 46,500 citizens have registered on an official portal for repatriation, amidst government efforts to bring back the stranded Pakistanis abroad. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By PTI MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has decided to aggressively evacuate suspected coronavirus patients from Dharavi and other hotspots and put them in institutional quarantine, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said on Wednesday. The densely populated Dharavi slum area here has reported close to 190 cases of coronavirus infection so far. "Houses in Dharavi are very small and 10-12 people live in a house. Even if we advise home quarantine, the shortage of space defeats the purpose," he said. The people who were in close contact with a COVID-19 patient would be evacuated so that further spread of the infection is stopped, Tope said. "We have discussed the issue with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Mumbai municipal commissioner Pravin Pardeshi. We have agreed that home quarantine would not be helpful in Dharavi area where space shortage is a major challenge," he said. Grounds of schools can be used for institutional quarantine shelters and authorities have already started working on arranging artificial oxygen supply in such places, Tope said. "We can easily quarantine as many as 73,000 people. The total capacity of the state for isolation is around 1.55 lakh beds," the health minister said. The "death percentage" among COVID-19 patients has now come down from seven to five which was a good sign, he added. "Daily 13 per cent of people are getting better in Maharashtra alone. The state has so far carried out more than 90,000 tests to detect coronavirus infection. Today we performed as many as 7,112 tests." "Still, we have decided to increase testing further for early detection," he said. "Photo booths" for sample collection are operational in Kasturba Hospital and similar booths will be set up in other places, he said. With these booths, the person collecting swab samples does not need to wear PPE kit, he said. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has allowed Maharashtra to administer plasma therapy to COVID-19 patients in Mumbai on an experimental basis, Tope said. He also debunked a mathematical model which has predicted that the number of coronavirus patients in the state would rise to 42,000 by April 30 from over 5,600 now. "The plasma (a component of blood) of those who have recovered from coronavirus infection has some antibodies. If these people's plasma is used with utmost precaution, it has proven to be useful," he said. Maharashtra had applied to the ICMR, seeking permission to try out the therapy. "We have received permission from ICMR to carry out plasma therapy on an experimental basis," Tope said. On the mathematical model which predicts 42,000 cases in the state by April end, the minister said, "The model is based on some scientific ground but it has taken the state's doubling rate of COVID-19 cases at 3.8. "In fact, the rate is seven today. The model also assumes that the current situation would remain constant, which is again not correct. The number of infection hotspots in the state has come down from 14 to five," the health minister said. The mortality rate is also falling, so people should ignore this model and not panic, Tope added. In this article FCH-GB Britain's financial technology industry is racing to fill gaps in the government's coronavirus business relief measures, by offering loans quickly to those struggling financially as a result of the pandemic. Several of the country's top fintech firms have been pushing for accreditation from the state-backed British Business Bank (BBB) to be able to provide loans under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). Initially only 40 banks including the major high street lenders Barclays, Lloyds, HSBC and RBS were accepted onto the program. But in recent weeks newer digital lenders such as Starling, OakNorth and Funding Circle have been approved as well. "I think the challenger banks have got a real opportunity here," Starling's Chief Banking Officer Helen Bierton told CNBC. "We try and build in a way to get help to customers as quickly as possible. We've been set up that way; we're a technology-led bank." Helen Bierton, chief banking officer at Starling Bank. Starling Bank Some of the larger lenders have been criticized for being too slow to process the loans and for putting up barriers to firms applying for them. Bank trade association U.K. Finance last week revealed that 21% of CBILS loan applications had been approved by lenders. "I'm not surprised that the clearing banks are struggling with speed and turnaround," Ben Barbanel, head of debt finance at OakNorth, told CNBC. "They've always struggled with speed and turnaround." "That said, I do have some sympathy," he added. "This is very clearly a loan situation and the banks still do have risk here." A U.K. Finance spokesperson said the banking sector "understands the critical role we have to play in helping businesses through these tough times." "Frontline staff have been working tirelessly to get money to those viable businesses that need it as quickly as possible," the spokesperson added. "We expect lending to continue to grow rapidly in the weeks ahead, as lenders work closely with the government to provide viable businesses with the support they need." Ben Barbanel, head of debt finance at OakNorth. OakNorth Starling, OakNorth and Funding Circle aren't yet processing CBILS loans. They have to go through a "legal and operational set up" with the BBB before they can start accepting applications, said Lisa Jacobs, Funding Circle's U.K. managing director. Alternative lenders Starling and OakNorth are among a multitude of online banks that emerged following the 2008 financial crisis. Others include Monzo, Revolut and Tandem. But the crash also led to a wave of new non-bank lenders, such as Funding Circle, MarketFinance and Iwoca. U.K. fintech industry body Innovate Finance has been piling pressure on the government to include non-bank lenders in CBILS. The organization's CEO, Charlotte Crosswell, said she was "delighted" by Funding Circle's recent approval by the BBB, but was "eager to see more non-bank lenders become accredited lenders." Crosswell also flagged concerns that alternative lenders are being asked to give people and businesses payment holidays something that could put less well-capitalized fintechs under strain. Charlotte Crosswell, CEO of Innovate Finance. Innovate Finance "If fintech companies themselves are having to grant payment holidays without liquidity, we have to look at whether that is a fair system," she told CNBC. Crosswell added that Innovate Finance was working with 38 alternative lenders, asking the government to support the fintech community and do more to let them take part in its business relief programs. She hailed the U.K.'s recently-announced support package for start-ups as a "welcome" development for fintechs. Another scheme the government has introduced lets employers furlough staff while the government pays 80% of their wages up to a maximum of 2,500. The problem with that program is that it's "essentially an IOU from the government," MarketFinance CEO Anil Stocker told CNBC. In other words, businesses have to pay staff first and then reclaim the money from the government. The Barclays-backed firm originally focused on invoice financing, but has expanded into new areas of business lending. It's now set up a tool for companies to borrow money against their HMRC payment invoices for the furlough scheme. Anil Stocker, co-founder and CEO of MarketFinance. MarketFinance Global MediXchange for Combating COVID-19 (GMCC) launches Alibabas Online Platform for medical personnel's to share their experience and knowledge on combating COVID-19 Amid the global spread of COVID-19, it has become more important for medical personnel with firsthand experience treating patients with the virus to share their knowledge with colleagues the world over. Thats where the Global MediXchange for Combating COVID-19 (GMCC) comes in, with doctors and other healthcare workers from China and around the world gathering virtually to share medical insights, firsthand experience and best practices for treating coronavirus. The brainchild of the Jack Ma Foundation, the Alibaba Foundation with Alibaba Health and Alibaba Cloud, the GMCC platform was launched last month to combat COVID-19 with open knowledge and online communication. Early signs are that its working both attracting a growing number of healthcare workers and the value of information thats being exchanged. Already, nearly 3,000 have joined the platform and hundreds of medical staff are participating in key live-sharing sessions. Last week, Dr. Sunil De Alwis, Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka,led a team of doctors in a video conference with Dr. Jinnong Zhang, director of the emergency department at Chinas Wuhan Union Hospital. During the call, Dr. Zhang who himself had recovered from the coronavirus infection shared his personal uphill battles with the disease, his views on testing and his suggested treatment plans for COVID-19. And hundreds of medical staff from hospitals across Rwanda, Ethiopia, South Africa and Sri Lanka have participated in live exchange sessions organized by the GMCC in an urgent effort to understand the best ways to cope with a completely new and deadly virus. "The experiences that were shared in this exchange were very valuable, and what I took away was the importance of preparation, prevention, and monitoring at all times," said Dr. S M Zungu from the South Africa National Department of Health. On April 10, Ethiopia's health minister, Lia Tadessemore, and staff from more than 20 hospitals from the African nation tuned in to a two-hour online medical exchange session with the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, to discuss best practices in treating and containing the spread of COVID-19. Another session was held on April 15 for hospitals in Rwanda. "We have gained a lot, especially on how [SAHZU] coordinated and responded across the hospital, efficiently examined and leveraged limited resources, and managed their workers to protect them from getting infected when combating COVID-19," said Dr Sisay Betizazu from St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College in Rwanda. Upcoming sessions are also planned between China and Nepal, Ghana, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Egypt. In addition, to live streaming sessions, the platform offers digital access to handbooks on epidemic prevention and treatment, videos on best practices for COVID-19 prevention, including videos by medical experts on specific topics and webinars between global healthcare professionals and industry experts sharing their knowledge and experience on COVID-19. The live discussions with medical experts and hospitals worldwide are held through the International Medical Expert Communication Center on DingTalk, Alibabas enterprise communications and collaboration app. New to the platform are sections where medical personnel can ask questions and write their own articles about their experience in preventing the spread of COVID-19. The platform has also recently published a third COVID-19-related handbook. Called Construction and Operation Manual of Fangcang Shelter Hospitals for COVID-19 Summary, it encompasses knowledge and experience distilled from the running of the Fangcang Shelter Hospitals in China. Global healthcare workers are doing their best to fight this pandemic. GMCC is our way of showing support and commitment to the medical community. It is designed as an exchange platform, we will continue to share different COVID-19 related manuals and videos and organize online meetings between China and overseas medical experts, said Li Ma, Alibaba Health senior vice president, We welcome more medical staff from China and all over the world to participate and to join forces in the fight against this pandemic. By Jun Ji-hye Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don stepped down from his position, Thursday, admitting to having sexually harassed a civil servant. "I made inappropriate physical contact in a recent meeting with the civil servant that lasted for five minutes," Oh said in a press conference at Busan City Hall. "I realized that it was an indecent assault. I bow my head, and extend an apology for my actions." The announcement came as a surprise to citizens as Oh, who was elected as the city's mayor in 2018, was supposed to be in office until 2022. Oh is a member of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). He was speculated to have suffered a health issue, but the reason for his resignation turned out to be sexual harassment. According to sources, the victim and her family strongly called for him to quit. Oh had taken time off from April 14, and refrained from making public appearances. "I am aware that I made an unforgivable mistake," he said. "I can no longer serve as Busan mayor, a position given to me by Busan citizens." Stressing that he was taking full responsibility, he asked citizens and the media to protect the victim. Following Oh's resignation, a deputy mayor will serve as acting mayor of the nation's largest port city until a by-election can take place in April next year. The DPK plans to hold an ethics commission, Friday, to decide on whether to expel Oh. Elizabeth Warren has announced that one of her brothers has died from coronavirus. Don Reed Herring, the Massachusetts senator's oldest brother, died in Oklahoma on Tuesday with Covid-19, she said. He was 86. The former candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination expressed her gratitude to the health workers who cared for her brother but said "it's hard to know that there was no family to hold his hand or to say 'I love you' one more time and no funeral for those of us who loved him to hold each other close" as quarantine measures across the US prevent families from holding services. "I'll miss you dearly my brother," she said. Mr Reed was a US Air Force veteran who joined the service at age 19 and spent more than five years "off and on in combat" during the Vietnam War. "He was charming and funny, a natural leader," she said. His smile was "quick and crooked", she said, and "always seemed to generate its own light, one that lit up everyone around him." Ms Warren, who was born and raised in Oklahoma, was the youngest among four children with three older brothers: Don Reed, John Herring and David Herring. She frequently joked on the campaign trail that only one of them is a Democrat. Her brothers appeared in a January campaign ad for the former candidate, reminiscing about their childhoods. The Boston Globe reports that Mr Herring underwent treatment following a cancer diagnosis several years ago. He was hospitalised with pneumonia in February and moved into a rehabilitation centre for recovery. Another patient in the facility had tested positive for Covid-19. Mr Herring tested positive for the disease earlier this month though he didn't show symptoms until roughly two weeks later. He was moved into intensive acre on 15 April and died six days later. The senator has been critical of Donald Trump's delayed response to the public health crisis but has not yet revealed her personal connection to the pandemic. Late on Tuesday, she declared "enough is enough" and called for an investigation into the president's handling of the federal response. She said: "He misled the public from the start. He's allocating resources based on which governors he likes best. His family and their cronies are making policy decisions in backroom deals." Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 00:19:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Road accidents in Tanzania decreased by 26 percent in nine months from July 2019 to March 2020, a cabinet minister told parliament on Thursday. George Simbachawene, the Minister for Home Affairs, said 1,920 road accidents were recorded from July 2019 to March 2020 compared to 2,593 accidents reported from July 2018 to March 2019. "This means there was a decrease of 673 accidents which was equivalent to a reduction of 26 percent," he told the House in Dodoma when he tabled his ministry's budget proposals for the 2020/2021 financial year. Simbachawene said 1,084 people were killed in the accidents from July 2019 to March 2020 compared to 1,216 deaths recorded from July 2018 to March 2019 which was a decrease of 11 percent. He added that 2,639 people were injured in accidents from July 2018 to March 2019 compared to 2,129 injuries recorded from July 2019 to March 2020, a decrease of 19.3 percent. "The reduction in road accidents was a result of strategies put in place by the police to minimize the ghastly accidents," he told the House. Enditem Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp may be easing restrictions on businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Hollywood studios are not ready to restart productions in that Southern state. Georgia ranks third behind California and New York as a leading filming location for films and television with shows ranging from Netflixs popular Stranger Things to AMCs post-apocalyptic The Walking Dead shooting there. Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos said the streaming giant will not be rushed into resuming productions during the pandemic. We have to be able to look our employees, our cast and crew in the eye and say that this is a safe place to work before we do that," Sarandos said during a quarterly update call on Wednesday. And were going to be working very closely with our production partners, with local governments to make sure that we can do that. AMC has been unable to air The Walking Deads Season 10 finale because post-production work on visual effects, color correction and music were not completed when the pandemic forced the shutdown. We were right on the cusp of just about finishing the episode when everybody had to stop work," Greg Nicotero, the episodes director and an executive producer, told Den of Geek on Wednesday. "And its not like you can do a lot of that stuff remotely. "Its just a matter of waiting until we can basically mix all the ingredients. I dont know when thats going to be. But I think once people get a chance to go back to work, its probably a week and a half or two weeks of fine-tuning, he said. Likewise, Nicotero said he could not predict when filming would begin on Season 11. Other shows filmed in Georgia include Chrisley Knows Best, Love Is Blind, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Loki and Stargirl. Related content: The monotonous and often laborious practice of manually counting cells on a hemocytometer has been significantly improved in recent years with the introduction of numerous automated cell-counting instruments. Even with these improvements however, measuring cell concentration and viability for high numbers of samples can still create a bottleneck in many industrial processes and large scale experiments. Single-sample automated cell counters, for example, may not be suitable for counting various primary murine samples following a large take down and throughout cell line development and manufacturing. The Cellaca MX has been developed to address these challenges. A high-throughput automated cell counting system, the Cellaca MX is able to image, analyze, and report cell concentration and viability for 24 samples in 48 seconds, by using bright field (trypan blue), and in 2.5 minutes by using several fluorescent imaging channels. This instrument was created to function via both a manual mode and as a fully automated, plate-based system. This affords the user more flexible set-up options, depending on the project in question and the quantity of sample. Small loading volume of 50 to 200 L per sample ensures that valuable samples are saved for more important downstream assays. A comparison is presented below, illustrating counts acquired via the Cellaca MX instrument and those acquired via the more arduous gold-standard hemocytometer method. The platform was then tested using CHO cells stained with trypan blue, regularly used in bioprocessing, and results of an AOPI cell viability assay on Jurkat cells can be seen below. As can be seen, these experiments reveal a cell-counting system which can increase both throughput and accuracy in biological workflows. This development is extremely valuable within the cell line development and wider bioprocessing community. It offers an effective means of counting and analyzing multiple samples, where one simply did not exist before. Streamlined workflow Achieves fast results In summary, the Cellaca MX offers the following key features: Small footprint, ideal for a lab bench High-throughput automated cell counting Automation ready and API compatible The ability to load and analyze 24 samples simultaneously Only 25 L of cell sample required, conserving important samples Option to use the mixing well to perform sample prep within the same plate Table 1. Trypan Blue and/or fluorescence imaging and counting capability Ability to count and analyze 480 samples in 30 minutes Reports concentration, cell number, viability and size High-throughput CHO-S cell counting Low plate to plate variability To complete the series of 4 experiments below, CHO-S were cultured on an ongoing basis over several weeks. Cell concentration was standardized to around 2x106 cells/mL. Within each experiment, 50 L of Trypan Blue (0.1% final) stained CHO-S cells were loaded into the Cellacas consumable before being imaged and analyzed with the CellaxaMX cell counter. Several users were able to yield an average plate to plate variability for Trypan Blue stained CHO-S cells of under 6% CV, and a grand total of 1,992 individually loaded samples (83 plates in total) were able to be counted and analyzed in just 70 minutes. Consistent results at different sample volumes Trypan Blue (TB) stained CHO-S cells at ~4.5x106 cells/mL were loaded at 50 or 200 L per well into the 24-well plates. These were then imaged and analyzed using the CellacaMX automated cell counter. A total of 18 plates (432 wells) per volume condition were run, with results highlighting that the difference in average concentrations between 50 and 200 L loading volumes is 1.5%. This bright field image of Trypan Blue stained CHO-S cells has been captured on Cellaca MX. Within the image, red outlined cells have been identified as dead TB positive cells, while cells in green are live cells which are TB negative. Consistent viability measurement using AOPI Three day old cultures of both Jurkat and CHO-S cells were standardized to around 2x106 cells/mL. These were both stained with Acridine Orange and Propidium iodide (AOPI) before being analyzed with the Cellaca MX cell counter. Fluorescent and bright field images were acquired and automatically saved for each channel. The images above display representative bright field and AOPI counted images. As can be seen: The bright field image is acquired for documentation, while cellular counting and analysis are undertaken via the fluorescent channel. Each wells viability is calculated and reported automatically. The average viability for 24 samples in plate 1 was 56%, and the average viability for plate 2 was 53%. Standard measured deviation between the combined 2 plates was found to be 4%. This data shows high quality and reliable viability readings for low viability samples. Close cellaca to hemocytometer correlation Three tubes of polystyrene beads (5 micron) were diluted to a concentration of ~2x106 beads/mL. In order to ascertain the concentration within each tube, a total of 40 individual hemocytomer counts were performed per tube. Then, the Cellaca MX was employed to measure the concentration on this same set of tubes. Table 2. Hemo CV Cellaca CV Hemo Aveg Cellaca Aveg % Diff Tube 1 4.46% 3.69% 2.03E+06 2.00E+06 1.20% Tube 2 4.33% 3.64% 2.21E+06 2.16E+06 2.35% Tube 3 4.28% 3.94% 2.10E+06 2.11E+06 0.71% As can be seen, the results display a very close correlation between both the hemocytometer and the Cellaca MX counted beads. Most notably, 18 Cellaca plates (432 wells) over 3 individually counted hemocytometer tubes had an average CV value of < 4%. Furthermore, the measured concentration difference between the Cellaca MX and the hemocytometer bead counts was found to be between 0.7 and 2.3%. Conclusions The Cellaca MX high throughput cell counter is an adaptable instrument which is able to perform both bright field Trypan Blue and fluorescent viability and concentration measurements with ease. The examples above displayed consistent counts of Trypan Blue stained CHO-S throughout the analysis of almost 2,000 samples, with an average CV of < 6% being recorded. Samples may be valuable, so sample volume is of critical importance. The examples above showed that there is hardly any difference (1.5%) between loading 50 and 200 L samples into the instrument. When working with samples at high and low viability, the use of fluorescent-based, nuclear dye AOPI is recommended to measure viability. Even at low viability (55%), the Cellaca MX was able to produce consistent viability results. Lastly, extensive comparison studies were performed which investigated counting consistency and accuracy between Cellaca MX and hemocytometer counted beads. The data confirmed that Cellaca MX and hemocytometer counts displayed exceptional correlation (1.2%, 2.3%, and 0.7% difference for various samples). Learn more or request a virtual demo at nexcelom.com/cellaca. Acknowledgments Produced from materials originally authored by Jordan Bell, Suzanne M Purseglove, Leo Li-Ying Chan, and Dmitry Kuksin from Nexcelom Bioscience LLC. About Nexcelom Bioscience Nexcelom Bioscience is a developer and marketer of image cytometry products for cell analysis in life science and biomedical research. Products range from cell viability counters (Cellometer) to high throughput microwell image cytometry workstations (Celigo), used in thousands of research laboratories in academic institutes, and pharmaceutical and biotech companies. The company contributes to the life science industry through innovation and expertise in the science of cell counting. The product family includes instruments, consumables and reagents. Nexcelom customers engage in a wide variety of research, such as cancer research, immunology, stem cell research, and neuroscience. Nexcelom offers different Cellometer models to count and analyze cell lines and primary cells, through bright field and fluorescence imaging modes. In addition, Celigo is a powerful high image quality, high throughput image cytometry system for adherent and suspension cells in microwell plates. Nexcelom Bioscience is a fast-growing company in a huge market. With its headquarters and manufacturing facilities in the Boston area, the company currently has over 80 global employees, who are fast-paced, customer-centric, helpful to colleagues and customers, and passionate about their impact in life science. Sponsored Content Policy: News-Medical.net publishes articles and related content that may be derived from sources where we have existing commercial relationships, provided such content adds value to the core editorial ethos of News-Medical.Net which is to educate and inform site visitors interested in medical research, science, medical devices and treatments. Going shopping with friends and team sport could be allowed again when the National Cabinet reviews coronavirus restrictions on May 11. Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy today revealed those activities are 'in the mix' to be permitted once more. He suggested the national guidance that prevents gatherings of more than two people in public could be relaxed to allow friends and families to come together. But Professor Murphy said larger gatherings such concerts and festivals - as well as international travel - were out of the question. Community sport could be allowed once more from May 11. Pictured: Beach volleyball at Bondi Beach Seeing friends, shopping and team sport could be allowed again when the National Cabinet reviews coronavirus restrictions on May 11. Pictured: A lone shopper in Melbourne 'We certainly would not be contemplating large-scale gatherings. But certainly some relaxation of the size of small groups is possible,' he told the senate select committee scrutinising the government's virus response. 'There are a range of measures that [the National Cabinet has] asked us to consider - things like community sport, some retail measures. 'All of those things will be in the mix. But we'll have to weigh up the public health risk versus the benefit to society and the economy.' Professor Murphy also revealed that the most effective measure taken to stop the virus infecting Australians was shutting the borders. On February 1, when there were 14,000 recorded cases in the world, Australia banned flights from China - despite the World Health Organisation advising against the move. Professor Murphy said larger gatherings such concerts and festivals - as well as international travel - were out of the question. Pictured: Sydney's Laneway Festival on 2 February Professor Murphy also revealed that the most effective measure taken to stop the virus infecting Australians was shutting the borders. Pictured: Sydney's Terminal 2 last year Australia was aware of the threat that international arrivals posed and moved to ban travel. Pictured: Crew from the Ruby Princess cruise ship arrive at Sydney International Airport before flying home to the Philippines Asked why Australia banned travel before other nations, he said: 'Because we had a huge amount of traffic from China with 160 flights plus a week. 'China was clearly the epicenter and the virus was spreading rapidly around China. 'We knew the greatest risk was imported cases and as an island we were in a position of perhaps doing border measures more effectively than other countries.' Professor Murphy said he told the Prime Minister to ban flights from China on a Saturday morning and the measures were announced that night. On March 20 the borders were shut to all foreigners, effectively sealing Australia off from the rest of the world. 'I think in retrospect our colleagues in the UK and US regret that they didn't do the same,' Professor Murphy said. Two thirds of Australia's cases were Aussies returning home - so overseas travel was also banned. The measures worked remarkably well. Australia's infection rate has grown at less than one per cent for the past 11 days. Professor Murphy said it was highly unlikely that international travel restrictions will be relaxed soon. 'The international situation at the moment is such that any relaxation of border measures would be very risky,' he said. Professor Murphy said he told the Prime Minister to ban flights from China on a Saturday morning and the measures were announced that night. Pictured: Wuhan residents on April 8 On March 20 the borders were shut to all foreigners, effectively sealing Australia off from the rest of the world. Pictured: Chinese President Xi Jinping wears a mask in Shangluo City, northwest China's Shannxi Province, on April 20 International arrivals have been banned since 20 March. Pictured: Grounded Qantas planes at Sydney Airport Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Nick Coatsworth also addressed which restrictions would be relaxed in a press conference on Thursday. He said the plan is to slowly increase the number of people allowed to gather, meaning fully attended weddings and concerts are still a long way off. 'We have seen what happens when large numbers of adults gather together. There have been a number of major clusters related to weddings. 'So the way to take things slowly is to increase numbers slowly. You can infer from that that larger gatherings are a long way off, and that would include having crowds at sporting matches.' Dr Coatsworth said community sport was being considered and that officials would provide advice on how to keep it safe. 'We would absolutely need to provide more detail on the guidance,' he said. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 17:35:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LAGOS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners are moving rapidly to help Borno, Nigeria's restive northeast state in the fight against COVID-19, following confirmation of the first COVID-19 case in the state, an official said Thursday. This effort will help the state to identify, test and treat cases of COVID-19 in order to prevent and control the further outbreak of the disease, said Collins Owili, WHO's northeast emergency manager in a statement reaching Xinhua in Lagos. Owili added that prior to the index case of COVID-19 in Borno, the health organization has been providing technical support to health authorities in the states of Borno, Adamawa and Yobe in active surveillance, risk communication, contact tracing and logistics among other preparations for response to confirmed cases. "With the technical support from WHO, the infection, prevention and control teams are currently decontaminating health facilities where the index case in Borno state was admitted," Owili added. Borno state is at the heart of a humanitarian crisis in the northeast of Nigeria where a large number of people are displaced by the over-a-decade violent rebellion of the extremist group Boko Haram. The state on Monday confirmed its first coronavirus infection, and aid workers fear the virus could prove devastating if it spreads inside the crowded camps holding hundreds of thousands of displaced people. Enditem If there is one thing that the entire world is eagerly waiting for, it is a vaccine for COVID-19. And across the world, several, top pharma companies are on a mad rush to have a vaccine out at the earliest. So far several countries have already begun human testing of the vaccine or are close to doing it. Reuters However, it is not likely to be market-ready any time this year, as a vaccine has to go through several clinical examinations to ascertain its efficiency, side effects, and long-term impact, etc. But rest assured, once the vaccine hits the market, the rich countries of the world are going to grab all they can and even will be ready to pay extra for it, leaving the poor countries in the lurch. AFP Now there is a resolution in the UN General Assembly resolution that called for fair, transparent and equitable access to essential medical supplies and any future vaccines developed to fight COVID-19. The Mexico-drafted resolution 'International cooperation to ensure global access to medicines, vaccines and medical equipment to face COVID-19' which was co-sponsored by countries including India was adopted by the General Assembly by consensus on Monday. Pakistan was among the small minority of nations that did not sponsor the resolution. AFP The resolution called for ensuring "fair, transparent, equitable, efficient and timely access to and distribution of preventive tools, laboratory testing, reagents and supporting materials, essential medical supplies, new diagnostics, drugs and future COVID-19 vaccines" to all nations, particular developing countries. "India has proactively engaged in supporting global availability of medicines and drugs by means of international cooperation and development partnerships. Also, we are facilitating the sourcing of global supplies of multilateral agencies such as UNICEF in the face of COVID-19. We were therefore glad to co-sponsor this important initiative," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin told PTI. REUTERS India has been at the forefront of sending essential medical supplies and medicines such as anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to several nations, with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres saying he "salutes" nations like India that are helping other countries in their fight against the devastating pandemic. Several countries, including the US, Mauritius and Seychelles have already received the drug. In its neighborhood, India is sending the drug to Afghanistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal, The Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. MEDIMAGES Last month, US President Donald Trump had courted controversy after Germany alleged that he had offered "large sums of money" to get exclusive access to a coronavirus vaccine being developed by a German company. Trump reportedly wanted a Tubingen-based company CureVac which also has sites in Frankfurt and Boston to move its research wing to the United States and develop the vaccine "for the U.S. only." The Trump administration is also accused of piracy after PPEs meant for other counties were confiscated and sent to the US. Earlier this month there was a similar incident in India, where rapid COVID-19 testing kits bound for Tamil Nadu were diverted to the USA. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 16:58 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3de697 1 People obituary,Arief-Budiman,Leftist-thinking,Andreas-Harsono,New-Order Free Arief Budiman, a public intellectual who introduced leftist ideas to students and activists in the early 1990s and a leading opposition figure against the New Order regime, died on Thursday. He was 79 years old. Arief, born Soe Hok Djin to a poor Chinese family in West Jakarta on Jan. 3, 1941, passed away at Ken Saras Hospital in Salatiga, Central Java, after a battle with Parkinsons disease. He was survived by his wife Leila Ch. Budiman, his son and daughter and several grandchildren. Arief's colleagues and friends shared the news of his passing on social media. Human rights activist Andreas Harsono was among the first to deliver the news on Twitter. "Arief Budiman or Soe Hok Djin [] passed an hour ago in a hospital near Salatiga, Central Java, from Parkinsons," Andreas wrote in a tweet on Thursday afternoon. Later, in a statement sent to The Jakarta Post, Andreas said the sociology professor had planted the seeds of resistance against the oppression of the New Order regime by introducing radical ideas to students, first at the Satya Wacana Christian University (UKSW) and later through his book Teori Pembangunan Dunia Ketiga (Development Theory of The Third World). "I joined his discussion group. Nothing was formal but he gave us a lot to read, from Karl Marx to The New Yorker magazine as well as samizdat like Inside Indonesia [Melbourne] and Tapol [London]," Andreas said. Arief also practiced what he promoted in his classes and books by joining protests against the New Orders oppressive policies. "In 1989, when the Soeharto regime began to inundate hundreds of villages in Boyolali for the construction of a dam, Arief got involved, not only through his writing and protests against the World Bank, but also by helping organize student protests," Andreas said. Arief, who was the older brother of legendary student protester Soe Hok Gie, often scathingly criticized General Soeharto, who became the president of Indonesia soon after a 1965 coup that was blamed on the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). Soeharto was deposed in 1998. "Soeharto is corrupt. He killed a lot of people, just like Pinochet. He built an unstable political system. But he did more. He ran a school that produced politicians, including opposition politicians, who cannot change the system," Arief wrote in Tempo in January 1999. UKSW rector Niel Samuel Rupidara said the university had lost its most "precious asset". One of Arief's legacies at UKSW was the creation of a postgraduate program in development studies. Niel added that Indonesia had lost one of its brightest intellectuals and that Arief had made an essential contribution. Arief's former colleague at the University of Melbourne Asia Institute, director and professor of Asian studies Vedi R. Hadiz, said Arief was a man of a great integrity and courage two qualities that got him into trouble with the authoritarian New Order regime. "He was a scholar-activist in a true sense and a mentor to many subsequent scholars of Indonesian society, including me," Vedi said in a statement made available to the Post on Thursday. "I had the great pleasure of knowing him well. I am also glad that I managed to visit him on at least a couple of occasions during his recent long period of illness," Vedi added. Arief, who got his PhD in sociology at Harvard University in 1980, joined the University of Melbournes faculty in 1997 and was appointed chair of the Indonesian program. Born into a Chinese family, Arief was determined from an early age to defy the stereotype of ethnic exclusivity and proudly considered himself an Indonesian. In 1970, against the wishes of his American author-academic friend Benedict Anderson, Arief decided to change his name and asked his Minang wife Leila to pick a suitable one for him. Anderson told Arief and Leila that names were sacred and that changing them would be tantamount to disrespect. Despite his lengthy stay in Australia, Arief continued to have an emotional connection with Indonesia, and in an interview with the Post in 2008, he said that he was very Indonesian at heart. "I enjoy life here. I follow Australian politics and find it interesting in a cerebral sense. Political crises in Australia, for instance, somehow do not touch me too deeply. On the other hand, I live Indonesian politics. I'm there in a primordial sense. The ups and downs of Indonesian politics affect me emotionally," he said. Mira Lesmana, the producer of the movie Gie, a biopic about Ariefs brother Soe Hok Gie, said she respected Arief highly and adore his family. We just lost a great human being. He was such an intelligent man, so honest, down to earth and no-nonsense.... May he rest in peace, Mira told the Post. Ariefs friend, scholar Daniel Dhakidae, the chief editor of social economics journal Prisma, said that it is a tough job to describe Arief Budiman in a few words, as a man of many talents, with many sides to his personality. This includes a series of paradoxes inherent in his personality as a human being, a man of literature, and as a scientist and sociologist actually, Daniel wrote for the Post. Daniel revealed Ariefs side as a film critic, highlighting the time when Arief wrote a piece for a national media outlet, defending a movie, in which the main actress is shown naked for several minutes, from censorship. The thing that struck me as a younger student at Gadjah Mada University in the 1970s was his view on Ganzheitstheorie [holistic theory] in which an art work should be seen against its entire background, social and political context etc. Equipped with this sort of view, he advocated for, or more precisely, he defended the film, Daniel said. He fought against the film censor labeling it as pornographic. He made his case, saying it was a nice film seen against a classical Greek background, a Ganzheit argument. He won the case and we students enjoyed watching the film, Daniel went on. Arief was also part of the early feminist movement during the New Order era. Andreas said one of Ariefs classes was on gender discrimination. [In the class], he talked about contraceptives, reproductive health and family planning, suggesting his male students should get a vasectomy like him. He introduced Simone de Beauvoirs book The Second Sex, prompting me to read that thick book, Andreas said. Triningtyasasih, the head of Yayasan Rifka Annisa Sakina, a well-known Yogyakarta-based women's crisis center, said Arief and his wife Leila were involved in the establishment of Rifka Annisa. He wrote a book on gender division in work in the 1990s. There was a discussion on the book in May 1990. Later, the Rifka Annisa founders frequently consulted him and Ibu Leila before the founding of Rifka Annisa, she told the Post. Ganug Nugroho Adi contributed to this story from Surakarta, Central Java Advertisement Healthcare workers took to the streets Wednesday to counter-demonstrate against anti-lockdown protesters across the US, reminding the social distancing rebels of the fatal implications their actions could pose to the lives of front-line workers. Protesters across the country in Virginia, California, New York, Colorado, Arizona and Vermont defied lockdown orders and protested in the streets, demanding governors lift lockdown orders as the economy struggles and millions are left unemployed. In Richmond demonstrators gathered in cars for a drive-in protest while some more raucous mavericks gathered on foot outside Capitol Square to decry Governor Ralph Northam's stay-at-home orders, which are slated to last through June 10. But among the relentless din of cries to re-open the economy, stood silently on the side of the procession was Dr. Erich Bruhn and his wife Kristen, a former nurse. Dressed in white lab coats and wearing face masks, the couple held placards in front of them, bluntly telling the restless crowd 'You have no right to put us at risk. Go Home!' Healthcare workers took to the streets Wednesday to counter-demonstrate against a lockdown protest in Virginia, reminding the social distancing rebels of the fatal implications their actions could pose to the lives of front-line workers. Pictured are Dr. Erich Bruhn and his wife Kristen, a former nurse Among the relentless din of cries to re-open the economy, stood silently on the side of the procession was Dr. Erich Bruhn and his wife Kristen, a former nurse Dressed in their white coats and wearing face masks, the couple held placards in front of them, bluntly telling the restless crowd 'You have no right to put us at risk. Go Home!' The Bruhn's were accosted and heckled by a number of protesters as they made their way past the couple en-route to Capitol Square Kristen, meanwhile clutched a sign reading 'Sign up here to DIE for the economy', an ironic jibe at the crowd's willingness to enlist in a protest amid a global pandemic, while healthcare workers are given no such choice. 'The truth is far more people disagree with opening the country but they're not coming out to protest because they are at home doing the right thing,' Dr. Bruhn told NBC 29. The veteran surgeon went on to reiterate that quite simply 'more people will die' if Gov. Northam concedes to the mob's demands of a premature reopening, and inevitably among the dead would be more doctors and nurses. When pressed by ABC 13 whether more rural areas should be reopened where the coronavirus infections and death curve has been decreasing significantly, Dr. Bruhn said: 'Some of those areas, yes. If they had the proper testing and surveillance and everything in place, yeah. But I don't think there's a one size fits all solution. 'But in the places where the virus is getting worse - hotspots, definitely not.' The Bruhns were accosted and heckled by a number of protesters as they made their way past the couple en-route to Capital Square. However, they weren't alone in their counter-protesting efforts. In Arizona, nurse Lauren Leander stood resolutely along side a number of her colleagues, dressed in face masks and scrubs, with their arms crossed as lockdown protesters taunted and waived flags in their faces. 'This was for all my health care workers. I see you. This was for all my patients. I am here as you. This was for the entire country. Help us help you,' Leander wrote in a social media post, highlighting the photograph. In Arizona, nurse Lauren Leander stood up to protesters who were calling for an end to the lockdown Leander stood resolutely along side a number of her colleagues, dressed in face masks and scrubs, with their arms crossed as lockdown protesters taunted and waived flags in their faces Leander (pictured above) wrote on social media: 'This was for all my health care workers. I see you. This was for all my patients. I am here as you. This was for the entire country. Help us help you' Attempting to respect social distancing protocol, Dr. Bruhn steps away from one advancing protester who took a dislikening to the surgeon's message 'The truth is far more people disagree with opening the country but they're not coming out to protest because they are at home doing the right thing,' Dr. Bruhn told NBC 29 They weren't alone in their counter-protesting efforts. One man, dressed in black and a surgical facemask, stood in front of the cars of drive-by protesters in St. Louis, telling them that 'No economy is worth more than a life' A Protester attending a rally at the Capitol to 're-open' Arizona against the governor's stay-at-home order due to the coronavirus argues with a caregiver A healthcare worker points to a protester to keep a safe social distance in Arizona Several tributes to Leander and her colleagues flooded onto social media shortly afterwards. Among them was one from Zahid Seed, a friend and college of Leander where she works at Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix. 'Today she stood up for healthcare workers as protesters descended upon the State Capitol. She stood in silence as people called her a "fake nurse" & "paid actor" amongst other horrendous things. 'Ironically, she has spent many days in the Covid ICU caring for our sickest patients. She stood for those who are on life support and have no voice of their own. She stood for the 42,604 Americans who have died so far. 'When they inevitably contract Covid-19 and transmit it to their loved ones, Lauren will be one of the first faces they will see when they are admitted to the ICU,' Seed continued. 'She may also be one of the last faces that they ever see.' A counter-protester wears a Trump/Pence Out Now sticker over her face mask as demonstrators outside City Hall call on officials to re-open the economy in LA Caregivers stand in front of protesters at the main entrance to the Arizona Capitol A counter-demonstrating caregiver gets a thumbs up from a protester driving in support of a rally at the state Capitol Protesters rally at the Capitol to 're-open' Arizona against the governor's stay-at-home order Anti-lockdown demonstrations were held across the US on Wednesday in Arizona (above), California, New York and Vermont, with thousands defying stay-at-home orders to demand governors reopen their state's economies as a restlessness grows across the country. Open Arizona Now: The scenes in Arizona typify the growing restlessness brewing across the US, as stay-at-home orders in some state entered their sixth week Protesters carry automatic assault rifles as they march towards Arizona's state Captiol on Wednesday Protesters drive by in support of a rally with signs urging Gov. Doug Ducey to 'End the Shutdown' and 'Stop Destroying AZ' A car with a placard that says' Shutdowns Kill Too! Make America Brave Again' seen during the protests in New York state Similar anti-lockdown demonstrations were held across the US on Wednesday in California, New York and Vermont, with thousands defying stay-at-home orders to demand governors reopen their state's economies as a restlessness grows across the country. As of Wednesday evening, the US had more than 850,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 48,000 deaths. In Los Angeles a demonstration dubbed 'Operation Gridlock LA' unfolded where honking cars waving American flags gathered outside City Hall. In Vermont demonstrators braved the snow outside the Statehouse in Montpelier to rally for the end of the state lockdown. A group of nurses counter-protested against their demands, wearing their scrubs and facemasks. In Albany, New York protesters gathered in front of the State Capitol building on Wednesday afternoon in a protest organized by the group ReOpen New York State. Surgeon at protest Dr. Erich Bruhn, a surgeon from Winchester was at the protest in Richmond today " to stand for the other side." https://bit.ly/2VtRqO5 Posted by ABC 13 - WSET on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 Dictator Cuomo Give Us Out Lives Back: A woman holds a sign expressing her displeasure with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo at a rally in Albany, New York Fear the Government not COVID-19: More New York protesters question Andrew Cuomo's leadership in Albany on Wednesday One New York Trump supporter accuses Gov. Cuomo of being a communist for implementing strict stay-at-home orders amid the coronavirus pandemic A young boy holds a sign up calling for the World Health Organisation, Bill Gates, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and for Dr. Anthony Fauci to be investigated in New York A protester wearing a face mask holds a placard asking Governor Andrew Cuomo to let people go during the Albany demonstration 'Stop ruining my senior year', cried one protester, while another called for the government to 'stop the fear' by ending the lockdown One coronavirus protester even parodied a famous chant from the #MeToo Women's rallies, writing 'My Body. My Choice: I Choose to work', as they drove past the Albany rally People were seen holding signs that said 'Tell Old Cuomo Let My People Go' and 'My Small Business Is Essential'. Lines of cars honked as a large group of dissidents banded together waving Trump flags, American flags as they ignored social distancing measures. People from across the state attended the event, including Westchester and Long Island, most of them noticeably not wearing masks as the governor mandated. Meanwhile in Richmond, prostesters waved American flags, some dressed in army garb, holding signs saying 'Liberate Virginia' and 'Feeding my Family is Essential' in the protest organized by conservative group ReOpen Virginia. 'If we don't come together now to get this economy back open and running and healthy, we could very well not have an economy at all when we decide to do it,' David Britt, organizer of the Reopen Virginia rally, said NBC10. The protesters gathered an hour before Virginia lawmakers flocked to the capitol for one-day legislative session to review amendments from Governor Northam on 1,291 pieces of legislation including budget amendments. It was a surprise session in light of the pandemic and the first such meeting in the state's 400-year history. House Delegates met under a canopy outside the Capitol while the Senate met at a giant event space at the Virginia Science Museum 2.5 miles away - and all will stand 10 feet apart at individual workstations to speak and vote. The lawmakers were asked to wear masks and avoid wearing germ-carrying ties. In California an anti-lockdown protester displayed a placard reading 'Forced Vaccination is Illegal' as she drove past a march in Los Angeles Protesters cruise around Los Angeles City Hall in a motorcade demanding the "Stay at Home" order to be lifted 'Trust God, not Vaccines' one protester in the motorcade emblazoned on the side of their car A protestor wearing a US flag mask says 'every job is essential' and orders for the immediate reopening of Los Angeles Protesters have descended upon Virginias capital in defiance of strict lockdown orders to demand Governor Ralph Northam reopen the economy as legislators gathered to discuss how to handle the coronavirus crisis. Participants of Wednesday's gridlock rally pictured above holding signs that say 'All businesses are essential' and 'the penalty for treason is death' California: Protesters defied the shutdown in a drive-in demonstration around Los Angeles on Wednesday waving signs that said 'Open Cali Now' New York: In Albany New York participants took part in a Operation Grid-Lock to Re-Open New York protest against lockdown measures. Two participants pictured carrying signs that say 'Freedom of Speech' and 'Trump to Fauci - You're Fired' Vermont: Protesters braved the cold and snow in Montpelier on Wednesday to protest the state's lockdown order Virginia: People were seen dressed as traffic cones and clutching signs that said: 'Liberate Virginia from Ralph the Runaway Tyrant' Virginia: In the drive-in protests locals protested while practicing social distancing from the cars, where they waved American flags Counter protesters in Virginia: Dr. Erich Bruhn and his wife, former nurse Kristin Bruhn, defended the lockdown and protested against Wednesday's demonstration dressed in their white coats and masks with signs that said 'You have no right to put us all at risk. Go home!' Virginia: Long lines of cars were seen blocking trafficking in multiple directions surrounding the Virginia State Capitol Virginia: Protesters honked in their cars, waved flags, and carried signs as they participated in Wednesday's drive-in protest A protester in Virginia carrying a banner that mixed the American and Confederate flag pictured above The last time the Virginia's General Assembly was together they vote on a budget on March 12. On Wednesday, they voted on a plan by Gov. Northam to suspend all new spending in the state's new two-year budget. His administration expects at least a $1billion shortfall per year, according to NPR. Capitol Square itself was closed to the public due to the meeting and protesters were seen rallying outside its gates. Capitol and Virginia State Police were on site to monitor the protesters and urged them to maintain social distancing at Wednesday's gathering. No arrests so far have been made. Protesters are demanding that the lockdown order be lifted and businesses open again to get Americans back to work, despite the threat of COVID-19 as there are 9,661 cases of the virus in the state and 327 deaths. Heavy traffic was reported as the protesters in cars created a gridlock in front of Capitol Square. Democratic Governor Ralph Northam has issued a stay-at-home order until June 10th, which has sparked outrage among his constituents Delegate Ken Plum wears a small Virginia state flag as a mask during the veto session at the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond, Virginia on Wednesday as lawmakers gathered to review amendments from Governor Northam on 1,291 pieces of legislation including budget amendments Virginia: House of Delegates Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn gavels the historic veto session to order in a tent outside the Virginia State Capitol in Richmond on Wednesday Virginia: Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, rear, presides over the reconvene session at the Science Museum of Virginia on Wednesday Virginia: Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax gavels the reconvene session to order at the Science Museum of Virginia on Wednesday Virginia: State Senator Thomas Norment, top center, gathers his caucus in a caucus tent as they prepare for the reconvene session at the Science Museum of Virginia Wednesday. The lawmakers were seen practicing social distancing as they worked together Virginia: Senate Clerk Susan Schaar, ties a mask on Virginia State Senator Thomas Norment as they prepare for the reconvene session at the Science Museum of Virginia Wednesday There were a few counter protesters at the scene who discouraged the demonstration and stressed the grave danger the coronavirus poses for the public. Wednesday protest follows last weeks 'Reopen Virginia' protest organized by Virginians Against Excessive Quarantine, ReOpen Virginia and End the Lockdown VA. Dissenters were seen demanding Northam ease restrictions on businesses and church closures. The sounds of honking horns reverberated through downtown Richmond, as lawmakers went through governor amendments to bills, changes that were incurred by the pandemic. California: Protesters took to the streets of Los Angeles on Wednesday to demand the government reopen the state California: Demonstrators pictured in American flag-themed clothing at a protest outside Los Angeles' City Hall building demanding the government reopen the economy despite the coronavirus outbreak California: One woman held a sign that said: 'The founders trusted us to protect ourselves -- why not LA?' California: Cops were on hand wearing face masks during Los Angeles' drive in protest on Wednesday outside City Hall California: One driver held a cardboard sign that said: 'Stop the Lockdown' during the caravan protest Wednesday California: In Los Angeles there are over 15,000 cases of COVID-19 and over 600 deaths The protest is called Operation Gridlock Los Angeles. Similar protests have taken place around the U.S. : @chavatweets1 pic.twitter.com/NWYcmV90vo LAist (@LAist) April 22, 2020 In Wednesdays session the House of Delegates and the state Senate voted to back Gov. Northams proposed delay in the states minimum wage increase until May 2021. He had proposed to push back the increase of the $7.25 minimum wage to $9.50 by four months due to the impact of the coronavirus crisis in the state. Other amendments that Northam proposed that were voted on included giving renters an extra 60-day eviction grace period, ensure landlords cant incur late fees, protections for homeowners, short-term grants to small businesses, postpone local elections schedule for May to November, and increase funding for nursing homes and long-term care facilities. In the Los Angeles protest about two dozens cars surrounded City Hall around noon, idling and blaring their horns as some protesters decked out in star and striped themed apparel took to the street with signs. In Vermont the anti-shutdown protest was much smaller with just a handful of people participating outside the Montpelier statehouse. A group of four defiant nurses stood in front of the statehouse to defend lockdown orders and praise medics across the country serving in the front lines of the pandemic. One nurse held a sign that said: 'Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' New York: Furious protesters descended upon Albany on Wednesday. One woman held a sign that said: 'Dictator Cuomo Give Our Lives Back' New York: A man holds up signs as demonstrators take part in Operation Grid-Lock to Re-Open New York at the State Capitol in Albany on Wednesday. Lines of cars were seen participating in the protest while some rebels took to the streets on foot New York: Protesters pictured gathered around a truck decked out with the Trump 2020 logo and waving Trump flags on Wednesday New York: 'Our rights are essential': A protesters pictured wearing a gas mask as he participated in Wednesday's protest outside New York's Capitol building in Albany New York: Demonstrators blocked traffic on Wednesday bearing signs that said 'Fear the Gov't Not Covid-19' New York: A protester pictured carrying a sign that says 'Free Upstate NY' New York: These two men held signs that said: 'Tell Old Cuomo Let My People Go' and 'My Small Business Is Essential' New York: This young woman held a sign that said 'Stop Ruining My Senior Year' Vermont: Nurses from the Central Vermont Medical Center stood on the Statehouse lawn on Wednesday in Montpelier to counter a protest by a small group of people in defiance of stay-at-home orders Vermont: H. Brooke Paige stands outside of the Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier Wednesday waving an American flag in his protest Mark Rylance will return to the role of Johnny "Rooster" Byron in a new revival of Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem, Sonia Friedman Productions announced today on Twitter. Rylance won Tony and Olivier Awards for his performance in the three-hour play, which opened at the Royal Court in 2009, the West End in 2010, and on Broadway in 2011. The dark comedy will once again be staged by director Ian Rickson and will open in 2021 at a London venue to be announced. Jerusalem is described as follows: "On St. George's Day, the morning of the local county fair, Johnny "Rooster" Byron, local waster and modern-day Pied Piper, is a wanted man. The council officials want to serve him an eviction notice, his son wants him to take him to the fair, Troy Whitworth wants to give him a serious kicking, and a motley crew of mates want his ample supply of drugs and alcohol." This file photo shows children who survived the PNPC flood disaster waiting for handouts in a temporary shelter center in Sanamxay district, Attapeu province, Laos. Nearly two years after the worst dam collapse in Laos in decades, thousands of survivors have fled from temporary relocation centers as conditions in the centers go from bad to worse, the displaced flood victims told RFA. On July 23, 2018, water poured over a saddle dam in Attapeu provinces Sanamxay district at the Xe Pian Xe Namnoy (PNPC) hydropower project following heavy rains, inundating 12 villages and killing at least 40 people in Attapeu and neighboring Champassak province. The survivors were promised compensation and relocated to the temporary shelters in designated areas in what many assumed was to be only a few months. But as their time in the centers drags on with no end in sight, some are choosing to leave. Those who stay must bear oppressive heat, an absence of clean water, and unsanitary conditions, but those who leave must foot the bill themselves for the costs of building new homes. One survivor, who requested anonymity for legal reasons, told RFAs Lao Service this month that living in the relocation center has been unbearable. The shelter is uninhabitable because its too hot, its dirty, it smells, and has no access to water, the survivor said of the structure she was assigned in the Dong Bak relocation center in Attapeus Sanamxay district. Were all scared that we might catch some disease. The toilets are the worst. They are totally full and the sewage has never been pumped out, she added. The authorities have never conducted any inspections, she said. The survivor said that most of the people that had been assigned to Dong Bak have left. Most of them left and built themselves huts or small houses on the land allocated to them by authorities [in compensation], or on their own previously flooded farm, or they even go back to their original houses in their old villages. One year earlier the authorities cleared land and assigned a 20 by 40 meter (861 square feet) lot to each family. The authorities were supposed to build permanent homes on the lots, to house the more than 4,000 displaced survivors. But to date only 36 homes for the 36 poorest families have been constructed. According to the survivor, those in the relocation centers who had enough money are able to saw some wood in the forest and [pay to] have their houses built. Of the Dong Bak relocation centers original 68 families, only eight remain. RFA confirmed that five other relocation centers have experienced similar situations. Another survivor in Dong Bak, who requested anonymity to speak freely, told RFA on the same day, Were suffering more hardship in the temporary shelters [than those who have fled]. The second survivor also complained about the heat, lack of water and overflowing sewage. Another problem is that the rice is rotten. Late last year, the authorities told us that we would receive new rice this year, but now they are saying that our rice might smell a little but it is still edible, the second survivor said. We have no choice but to eat [rotten] rice like prisoners. Many people sell the rotten rice to the brewery to buy better and more expensive rice [in smaller amounts,] the second survivor added. The second survivor spoke at length about the toilets in the centers, which were fashioned hastily out of large plastic barrels. These are now full, and the government has not indicated any plans to empty them. The authorities said that the residents should pool their money together to hire a company to pump the toilets, but the problem is that we dont have any money. So the toilets really smell, and people run to the nearby woods to defecate, the second survivor said. The second survivor also explained that the government is frequently late on compensation payments and whenever an inquiry is made, they are given the bureaucratic run-around. We should be receiving allowances of 100,000 kip [U.S. $11.15] per person per month, and 5,000 kip [$0.56] per day, but they are always late. We asked the upper-level authorities who said they already paid out the compensation to the lower-level authorities, whereas the lower-level authorities said they hadnt received it yet. They lied to us, the second survivor said. We have just received our allowances for January, February and March yesterday. These arent paid on a fixed date, its at their discretion. They always say the money has not yet arrived. A third survivor, who also requested anonymity for similar reasons, told RFA that some of the families living in the center went into debt because their compensation payments were late. My family borrowed about 200,000 kip ($22.30) from those who have the money, to buy some spices. When we receive the allowances we pay the money back. But of course if they paid us every month, we would not need to borrow, said the third source, adding that in times of illness residents also have to borrow. For those who know how to fish and saw wood, they can go make money by fishing and selling lumber. They at least have a way out. The second survivor said that the residents have still not been paid about half of the compensation they are owed. We havent heard anything about it. I dont know when were going to receive it, the second survivor said, adding, If we had it, wed [leave and] build houses by ourselves even though the government should have already built our houses. COVID-19 to blame RFA contacted the local government to inquire about the situation in the relocation centers. I admit the survivors are now having problems with water shortages, because it is the dry season right now, Bounhome Phommasane, the Sanamxay district chief, told RFA. People are using a lot of water and the water pump is prone to break down. The motor gets burnt out. Weve made multiple repairs on it, but theres not a total absence of water in any of the centers, he added. The district chief said that the government still planned to build houses for even those who fled. We allotted a 20 by 40 meter lot of land to each family, and advised them that they can build a small house on the back of their lot, but to avoid building in the front because the authorities will build permanent homes for them later, he said. He also spoke about the spoiled rice issue, saying, Right now we have both delicious, and not-so-delicious rice. Because of the COVID-19 situation transportation is restricted. The district chief also said that the survivors would receive the second half of the compensation they are owed. We just signed an agreement with the company last Thursday. The agreement includes all the figures and numbers related to compensation, he said, adding, Hopefully all the compensation will be paid after this COVID-19 pandemic is over. Reported by RFAs Lao Service. Translated by Max Avary. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 23:20:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close XI'AN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged efforts to overcome the negative impact of the COVID-19 epidemic to ensure the country reaches its goals in poverty alleviation and the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during an inspection tour in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Xi called for solid efforts to ensure stable performance in employment, finance, foreign trade, foreign investment, domestic investment and market expectation. He also stressed better work in safeguarding jobs, livelihood, market entities, food and energy security, the stability of industrial and supply chains, and the smooth running of communities. Xi encouraged Shaanxi to make big development strides in the new era. During his inspection from Monday to Thursday, Xi learned about ecological conservation in the Qinling Mountains, poverty alleviation and work resumption, and conducted research on coordinating COVID-19 control with economic and social development as well as poverty alleviation. At the Niubeiliang National Nature Reserve, Xi said protecting the environment of the Qinling Mountains is of great and far-reaching significance to the long-term prosperity of the Chinese nation as well as the realization of the two centenary goals and the country's sustainable development. He urged local officials in Shaanxi to learn their lesson the hard way from the illegal construction of villas in the Qinling Mountains, avoid repeating the same mistake and work as guardians of the ecological environment of Qinling. Leaving the nature reserve, Xi visited the village of Jinmi in Zhashui County to learn about poverty relief. Xi stressed ensuring sustained and stable income increase for people in poverty. "Being lifted out of poverty is not an end in itself but the starting point of a new life and a new pursuit," he said. Xi underscored the importance of ensuring jobs for the poor as the year 2020 is the time for winning the anti-poverty fight. In a relocated community in the county of Pingli, Xi went to the home of local resident Wang Xianping and chatted with the family. Xi said relocation is essential for people in inhospitable areas to achieve strides in development. It is also an important approach to win the fight against poverty. He stressed the importance of securing employment for relocated people to settle down in their new homes, get rich and not fall back into poverty. During his stay in Pingli, Xi visited a township hospital and underlined addressing public health weaknesses, strengthening rural and community-level epidemic response capabilities and taking epidemic containment measures on a regular basis. He also visited a primary school and a tea farm there. On Wednesday, Xi inspected work resumption and economic recovery in the provincial city of Xi'an. While visiting an auto company, he stressed that manufacturing is the lifeblood of the national economy. Large state-owned enterprises should lead enterprises in both upstream and downstream sectors as well as small and medium-sized enterprises to fully resume production and work with regular epidemic control measures in place, Xi noted. In Xi'an, Xi also visited Xi'an Jiaotong University, touring a museum on campus and stressing the importance of patriotism. He also went to a commercial street in the city to learn about the reopening of business. When hearing reports of the CPC Shaanxi provincial committee and the provincial government on Thursday, Xi said the sudden outbreak of COVID-19 has posed challenges to the accomplishment of the established goals and tasks. The trajectory of the Chinese economy toward more steady growth in the long run has not changed, he said, urging more efforts to accelerate the transformation of economic growth modes and firm up the real economy, especially the manufacturing sector. Investments in new infrastructures such as 5G, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and industrial internet should be bolstered, while efforts should be strengthened to enhance investments in sectors including transport, water conservancy and energy, and shore up the weak links of rural infrastructure and public services, Xi said. He urged deeper integration into the Belt and Road cooperation, faster creation of corridors, commercial logistics hubs, and bases for important industries and people-to-people exchanges connecting countries in Central Asia, South Asia and West Asia, and the construction of international trade channels in inland areas featuring efficiency, low cost and good services. The understanding that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets should be firmly established, Xi noted. Green development should be promoted, while progress has to be made in the battle to keep skies blue, waters clear and land pollution-free, he said. Noting that people's livelihood constitutes the basis of people's happiness and social harmony, Xi stressed adhering to the people-centered development philosophy and doing more practical work. Targeted measures should be taken to help people shake off poverty, he added. Party organizations at various levels have demonstrated strong abilities during the major test of fighting the epidemic, Xi said, urging more efforts in full and strict governance over the Party. Political work must be given top priority, the practice of formalities for formalities' sake and bureaucratism must be fought resolutely, and the institutions for anti-corruption must be strengthened, Xi said. He also urged strengthened efforts to preserve cultural relics and promote fine traditional Chinese culture. 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. A teenage girl who battled a rare cancer for 12 years lost her fight for life this morning. Robyn Smyth, 15, from Whitehall in Dublin, had been fighting the aggressive cancer, neuroblastoma, since the age of three. Since the nightmare began for her and her family Robyn had flown back and forth to the US for treatment close to 100 times. Bernadette Dornan, Robyns mother has been by her daughters side throughout her battle and since first being told by doctors of the horrendous diagnosis on September 10, 2007. The family dealt with highs and extreme lows that cancer treatment brought them all. Robyn, a third-year secondary school student in Whitehall, passed away at 8am surrounded by her family. The teenager had been receiving ongoing blood and platelet transfusions at Crumlin Childrens Hospital over the past several weeks but her condition started to worsen. Colm Dornan, Robyns grandfather said: Robyn fought so bravely for so long. Unfortunately over the past couple of weeks her health started to deteriorate and she became very weak, so weak she could not travel to the US for treatment and also because of the Covid-19 travel restrictions. The entire family is devastated, even the doctors and nurses are so upset over her passing, they were great to her. She was a great little fighter no matter what she had to cope with. Robyn captured the hearts of the nation, who at times, has been gravely ill but has managed to battle back, on each occasion but that didnt happen this time. Funeral arrangements are currently being made and will follow the strict burial restrictions of no more than 10 people in attendance. When Robyn first became ill, she was treated in several Dublin hospitals and at medical facilities in the US including, Helen DeVos Childrens Hospital in Michigan and Sloane Kettering in New York, thanks largely to her relatives, friends and public donations which raised more than a million euro. Erin McGregor, sister of UFC fighter Conor, also got involved in charity events to raise awareness of Robyns cancer fight. When the Dublin girls chances of survival dropped to five per cent, four years ago and was told by Irish doctors to bring her home to die, that her family decided to fundraise to take her to the US for the first time. It had been hoped that Robyn would travel to Germany for further ground breaking treatment later this year. Robyn is survived by her Mum Bernadette and Dad Leighton, sister Millie, grandad Com, grandmothers, Madeline and Kathleen, aunts, Cathy, Caroline and Laura, cousins Faith, Teaghan, Kayla, Ava and Cole also her aunts Janet and Lorraine and all her uncles, extended family friends and neighbours. The family also thanked, all of Robyns Life followers for their kindness, help and support. A memorial for Robyn will take place at a later date. The family requested that instead of sending floral wreaths, donations if desired should be made to Robyns Life Trust. (Bloomberg) -- Huawei Technologies Co. is emerging as the runaway winner in Chinas $170 billion effort to build out its fifth-generation wireless networks, part of a concerted effort by Beijing to seize the lead in a key technology from the U.S. while rebooting a virus-stricken economy. Since the beginning of the year, Huawei has secured 28.4 billion yuan ($4 billion) worth of 5G equipment orders from the countrys largest carrier, China Mobile Ltd., beating out competitors like Ericsson AB and ZTE Corp. to win more than half of the 5G contracts awarded by the operator during the period, according to an analysis of procurement data by Bloomberg News. Huawei is relying on its home market more than ever, at a time its growth has all but evaporated. The 5G contract haul shows Huawei is benefiting from the domestic market and building its telecommunications expertise despite the Trump administrations blacklisting last year. Beijing has forcefully defended Huawei, and the countrys three wireless operators -- all state-backed -- have added support through network contracts. While China has spent years striving for leadership in 5G, the effort took on greater urgency after the coronavirus led to the nations first economic contraction in decades. In a meeting with senior officials in March, Chinese President Xi Jinping singled out the technologys importance for rebooting the economy. Weeks later, the countrys telecom regulator said China will make every effort to hasten the expansion of 5G coverage. The focus on buildouts, handsets, and other metrics misses the fact that 5G will be a platform where innovative Chinese companies such as Alibaba, Tencent, Baidu, and a host of new tech unicorns will be able to build new applications and use cases, said Paul Triolo, head of global technology policy at Eurasia Group. Beijing wants Chinese companies to lead in this race to innovate on top of 5G. China is entrusting Huawei to galvanize 5G tech, a cornerstone of a national new infrastructure blueprint that covers nascent technologies from the Internet of Things and autonomous driving to surveillance and factory automation. An early and successful rollout could help solidify Huaweis position as a world leader in 5G. Story continues More deals are on the horizon. China has earmarked 1.2 trillion yuan to build 5G networks in the next five years, directly creating more than 3 million jobs in related sectors, according to the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, a government think tank. IDC telecom analyst Cui Kai said 5G investment will continue to climb and peak in 2022 or 2023. This year, Chinas three state-owned telecom carriers will spend a total of 180 billion yuan on 5G-related projects, including base stations and smartphones. China Telecom and China Unicom still have to announce bidding results. The 5G contracts give Huawei a much-needed boost as some projects in Europe grind to a halt because of Covid-19. Huawei this week reported revenue growth slowed to 1.4% in the first three months -- down from 19% over all of 2019 -- following pressure from the U.S. and dampening demand brought about by the outbreak. The Shenzhen-based company clinched deals to build more than 132,000 base stations for China Mobile across the country worth 21.4 billion yuan. The telecom carrier awarded rival ZTE Corp. 5G base station contracts worth 10 billion yuan, while Ericssons haul was around half of that. Nokia Oyj, which runs its China business via a joint venture with a local partner, didnt get any of the business. Huawei won 56% of total orders by China Mobile for slicing packet network construction, or SPN, responsible for 5G data transmission between base stations and the core network. This brought in another 5.6 billion yuan in revenue. Huawei and ZTE also split 5G data management orders worth 1 billion yuan, leaving a fraction of the order to Ericsson, according to two separate procurement documents from China Mobile. In addition to 5G infrastructure, China Mobile placed orders with Huaweis consumer electronics unit from the beginning of the year, including for about 70,000 units of the latest 5G smartphones and 140,000 5G portable Wi-Fi devices, without providing the procurement price. Most 5G phones in China cost around 4,000 yuan retail but carriers usually buy popular smartphone models from vendors at a discount. China Mobile had 31.7 million 5G package subscriptions nationwide as of March, more than doubling the subscription number in February, according to its website. 5G smartphone sales are expected to increase as more telecom carrier branches around the country place orders. Not all will be Huawei sales. So far this year, the carriers purchased more than 130,000 units of 5G smartphones from rivals Oppo and Vivo, the data show. Huaweis 5G boost has benefited its suppliers. Shares of printed circuits board maker Shennan Circuits Co. Ltd. jumped more than 60% since the beginning of the year. Wuhan Fingu Electronic, a maker of radio frequency components used in base stations, increased by about 25%. Still, some doubt that 5G will be the savior that China is seeking. Gavekal Dragonomics analyst Dan Wang said that 5G doesnt look like a big factor in moving the economy. Its a build-first-and-ask-questions later approach led by the state, he said. Theres not yet a killer app. Huawei has put up a fierce fight since Washington banned the Chinese company from getting key American technologies last year. In the latest development, the Trump administration was said to consider imposing restrictions on the sale of semiconductors to Huawei by chipmakers such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. and Samsung Electronics Co., a move that would effectively deprive the Chinese giant of using the most advanced chips. Theres no question that Chinas state-owned telecom operators can direct a lot of business to Huawei, said Wang. The companys problem, however, is on the supply side. Escalating U.S. sanctions might be highly disruptive. (Updates with Huaweis latest quarterly results in the 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 man suspected of killing a couple in their Utah home while their children were sleeping has been detained in California. Local police in the Sacramento area, with assistance from the US Marshals Service, detained 31-year-old Albert Enoch Johnson after receiving tips that friends and family had been driving him around. He is currently being held in the San Joaquin County jail, and has sustained clear injuries to his face that authorities say occurred during his arrest in Stockton. 'Mr. Johnson did try to evade officers. Mr. Johnson tried to escape officers and he did resist arrest,' West Jordan police spokesman Sgt. J.C. Holt said at a Wednesday press conference, the Salt Lake Tribune reports. 'We regret that he made that decision.' Local police in the Sacramento area, with assistance from the US Marshals Service, detained 31-year-old Albert Enoch Johnson after receiving tips that friends and family had been driving him around Tony Butterfield, pictured left, was found in the yard and Katherine's body was inside the house. They both died of a gunshot wound. Police have yet to locate the gun used Police believe that the suspect sustained an injury with a knife during a fight he had with Tony Butterfield in the victim's back yard. Johnson is said to have killed the 31-year-old and his wife, 30-year-old Katherine Butterfield, as the couple's three children slept in their home. Police believe that the suspect sustained an injury with a knife during a fight he had with Tony Butterfield in the victim's back yard Authorities would not comment on any other injuries they believed Johnson received in his fight with the victim. They found the Johnson's car at the scene of his arrest - the same vehicle he allegedly used to leave the Butterfield's home in Utah. Johnson will be extradited there over the next few days, Holt added. Albert Johnson was named by police Monday as the suspect in the deaths of Katherine Butterfield, 30, and Tony Butterfield, 31, who were murdered in their home as their three young children, all under the age of four, slept. Police say it 'was a targeted and isolated act' and 'not random' but West Jordan Police Sergeant J.C. Holt could not reveal a motive when questioned by DailyMail.com. The Butterfields are believed to have tried to fend off their attacker and police say that Johnson may have injuries to either his arms or legs consistent with a knife. Police found the Butterfields dead in their home near 3200 West and 6900 South from gunshot wounds at around 1.15am on Saturday morning after a home invasion. Katherine and Tony Butterfield were murdered in their home in West Jordan, Utah, around 1.15am on Saturday morning as their three young children slept in the house A neighbor called the police after they heard gunshots and a woman screaming. Katherine was found inside the house while Tony's body was found in the yard. It appears he fought the suspect outside before he died. Holt said that the home showed signs of forced entry and the suspect had looked through the couple's belongings, although police do not know what was taken. The couple's three children - aged four, two, and six months old - were in the home at the time of the murder but are unharmed. They are staying with family members and a GoFundMe has been established to support them. Breast milk donations were also made for the couple's youngest baby baby girl. Police arrested Johnson's wife Sina Anne Johnson, 29, on Monday, accused of withholding 'the whereabouts of the homicide suspect' and 'falsifying her [statements] of what occurred and her involvement' Police said Johnson was an acquaintance of the murdered couple, according to The Salt Lake Tribune. Sergeant Holt said Johnson had a criminal history and also lives in West Jordan but not in the same neighborhood as the Butterfield family. They are not looking for any other suspects. Police arrested Johnson's wife Sina Anne Johnson, 29, on Monday, accused of withholding 'the whereabouts of the homicide suspect' and 'falsifying her [statements] of what occurred and her involvement'. Sina Johnson had been in contact with her husband 'on multiple occasions prior to and after the homicide' and 'admitted ... to disposing of the evidence', police say. She is being held without bail for obstruction of justice and tampering with evidence and is working with police as they continue the investigation, Sergeant Holt said. A vigil was held for the Butterfields on Sunday night as friends and family gathered to pay tribute to a couple described as 'incredible, Christ-like, kind, happy, and loving parents'. 'It was the least we could do. We all love them so much, and it was an unfathomable thing that happened,' Molly McKeon, a family friend, told KSL.com. 'It was our only way to really show support.' The couple's family issued a statement through police Saturday night, in which they thanked the community for its outpouring of love and support. Police found the Butterfields dead in their home near 3200 West and 6900 South from gunshot wounds at around 1.15am on Saturday morning after a home invasion 'Tony and Katherine were incredible Christ-like, kind, happy, and loving parents, children, siblings and friends,' the statement said. 'We mourn their loss, but are grateful for the sure knowledge we have that we will be with them again.' The family said it holds 'no ill-will towards the perpetrator(s) and pray for them and their families. 'We ask for prayers for Tony and Katherine's three sweet children, as well as for the many, many people who love Tony and Katherine,' the statement continued. 'We are appreciative and overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support we have received. Thank you.' PALMETTO, Fla., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- It Works!, like many other companies, was approved to receive money through the federal government's Small Business Administration's Paycheck Protection Program. The fast-growing consumer lifestyle brand and direct sales company decided to decline to close on the approved loan of $2.7 million dollars from the SBA. Since the company has fewer than 500 employees, it had previously applied for the PPP in the interest of prudence as it transitioned its employees in the U.S. from working in the office to working from their homes. It Works! Following that transition, the company continues to see stable and growing sales in April. To that end, the company opted not to close on the loan and hasn't faced any furloughs or layoffs during the COVID-19 crisis. "We decided to give the small businesses that are in greater need the opportunity to receive these funds," said founder and CEO Mark B. Pentecost. "It Works! continues to grow during this time and we don't want to take the money from those who need it to survive and thrive." The company's U.S. staff has grown from 20 to a staff of more than 160 in the past seven years. "Many companies are hurting or failing," Pentecost continued. "We were still a fledgling company when The Great Recession of 2007 through 2009 impacted so many businesses. We were able to push through it and we want to ensure that other companies have the same opportunity." In 2020, the It Works! Gives Back Foundation donated $26,000 to Samaritan's Purse, an organization providing spiritual and physical aid to people around the world. With the onset of COVID-19, Samaritan's Purse's focus is to set up field hospitals in Europe and the United States to assist with health care relief on the front lines. Founded in 2001, It Works! is one of the fastest-growing consumer lifestyle brands and direct sales companies. It Works! offers a variety of daily-use, results-driven products, including its signature Skinny Brew, a coffee that helps burn fat and enhances energy with five plant-based sources of caffeine. It Works! currently offers more than 30 beauty and nutrition products in 22 countries, with more than 100,000 independent distributors worldwide. Visit www.myitworks.com for additional information. For additional information, interview and image requests, contact It Works!'s PR agency , Axia Public Relations at 888-PR-FIRM-8. News Contact: Marjorie Comer Axia Public Relations for It Works! 816-674-1715 mobile SOURCE It Works! Related Links https://www.itworks.com GS VASU By Express News Service Several leaders have been looking back at the economic carnage that the COVID lockdown has left in its wake. Not K T Rama Rao. Telangana's vibrant Minister for IT, MA&UD and Industries, has been at the forefront of the southern state's war on Corona and firmly believes that there is a silver lining to all this. In an interview with The New Indian Express Editor G S Vasu, KTR as he is known, said, "Today the world is looking at China and looking to move away from a dependence perspective. I believe we have to bring in a lot of reforms and attract more businesses our way." Excerpts from a conversation on India after Corona, why the centre needs to do more for the states and why we should be aggressively pitching for businesses to come to India in a post-COVID world. Post GST, states are more dependent on the centre for release of funds. Do you think the Centre has done enough for states to handle financial aspects that arose from this crisis? As much as I have a strong opinion, I would defer and not say it openly now. There is a lot of scope for improvement and a lot more that can be done, without question. As a state, we talked about quantitative easing, and during the video conference held with the PM and all other Chief Ministers, we asked for helicopter money, asked the RBI to take a bold approach. Unfortunately, we haven't heard back yet. But I do believe there is still time for us to work together. This is a time for both the Centre and state to not indulge in politics, and also in the spirit of the country and our people, to work together and not get into a political battle. Why do states need more power in your opinion? The real action, when it comes to dealing with migrant workers, improving health infrastructure... when it comes to testing and so on -- all of it is in the domain of the state and not the Centre. The centre at best can be advisory. They need to look at the bigger picture. We have also raised the issue of linking MNREGA with agriculture as it is harvesting time and 60-65 per cent of our economy is dependent on it. Our request has not been heeded so far. And it is the need of the hour. They have to take a pragmatic look at every rupee spent and spend it judiciously in the current situation. They need not worry about percentages but worry about nuanced issues that states have been raising. READ| Indian IT majors may hire more Americans after Trumps tough talk on immigration Do you think the RBI's steps to manage the crisis have been adequate? No, I think they should do more. The current situation demands that the RBI, the Ministry of Finance and the Government of India do more. This is not the voice of the state but the voice of entrepreneurs and business owners across the country. On the one hand, we are advising companies to not lay off employees, pay full salaries etc. On the other hand, we burden them with pressures of EMI and cash flow. A lot of businesses may be looking to exit China. How do you view this? All the business ministries need to make changes that make India a much, much sought-after destination for business, moving forward from this crisis. Every adversity provides an opportunity. Today, the world is looking at China and looking to move away from a dependence perspective. The world has realised that it's not a smart thing. What is the next best choice in terms of demographic value, democracy, market size? That would be India. But is India today doing enough to attract these businesses from China in a post-COVID situation? I believe we have to do more. We have to bring in a lot of reforms and attract these businesses our way. There is a lot of talk about an unemployment crisis emanating from this crisis, but there is always a silver lining to the dark cloud and India can definitely seize opportunities in the sunrise sector -- biotech, life sciences, pharma, medical devices. This is the time that the Centre needs to work with states that are keen on attracting business and further employment creation. It is also the time to think more in the digital sense. We could beef up our networks and our telcos. READ| Economy suffers 'unprecedented collapse' due to COVID-19, support industry to protect people What steps do we need to take to attract big businesses that are looking to leave China? Electronic manufacturing has had a fantastic run in China, but they are looking to move out. They can provide a great deal of employment not just to our engineers but also to our diploma holders and to our polytechnic and +2 graduates. Many of these companies have been talking to us and have been drawing parallels to what is being offered in Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia. In comparison, India loses out. This is a huge industry that the centre should look at. The second industry is textiles. This industry can power our rural economy and offer a lot of employment for women. The centre needs to seize this opportunity because China has been producing 40 per cent of the world's textiles and I don't think we can afford to miss out now. Pharma and the medical device industry is the third area. The Prime Minister of Japan has said that Japanese companies willing to move away from China will be incentivised. What we need are bold policy reforms that make India very attractive to doing business. How quickly do you think these reforms should have been made? I'm saying they should have been done yesterday. We should have been on top of this and if it has not been done yet, I appeal to Piyush Goyal, Nirmala Sitharaman and all the bigwigs out there like NITI Aayog. We are going to miss out. Broad fiscal reforms, agreements and so on are not in the domain of the states. Unless the Government of India does it, we cannot aspire to do it. What do you foresee as the economic fallout of the virus? There are three aspects, in my humble opinion. The first is inadequacies with our medical infrastructure, and I speak about the entire world and not just India or Telangana. We are woefully inadequate. That has been exposed and brought to the fore. I'm actually, in a way, happy that governments across the world are now focusing on public health and infrastructure which is the need of the hour. That will give us and the people enough confidence to brace ourselves for the future. Secondly, the whole hygiene and sanitation aspect in developing and underdeveloped nations has come to the fore and has been a mainstay of the discussion. This is a welcome move because the whole world realises the importance of sanitation and hygiene. Thirdly, frontline warriors like health workers, police and sanitation workers have been felicitated and appreciated by people and their services are being recognised. These are changes that are much needed in society. With respect to the economic fallout that can happen, there are two things. I've read a lot of reports from economists, healthcare experts from government officials, from eminent citizens and it appears to be a toss up between lives and livelihood. I don't necessarily conform to that argument. What we have to realise is that human life is the most precious thing and that any government's responsibility is to take care of its most vulnerable sections. The second thing is to improve healthcare spend and medical infrastructure but to do this the government will need a lot of economic might. This is where Telangana as a state has been talking to the Centre and asking over and over again across the last month and a half to take a renewed approach towards our country, towards our fiscal policy and our monetary policy. We will, of course, continue to push our agenda, but at the same time, we must come to a consensus that at this point the toss up is not between lives or livelihoods. It has to be both and we have to work together, as we are a developing country and have a massive population which is vulnerable. Governments have to realise that both have to go hand in hand and it is not a zero-sum game. A lot of economists have advocated that the stimulus should be 7-8 per cent of the GDP. Do you agree that our financial situation notwithstanding, there should be a stimulus along those numbers? We cannot merely ape the USA or Italy. In spite of what the world may believe, the US has a bigger and stiffer challenge than what we have today. It is currently under the grip of a terrible epidemic which I find very difficult to understand because of the value they place on each human life. To believe that what people are doing in the US can be copied and pasted here is not accurate. For instance, can we not leverage the money that is available with the government of India in various public sector undertakings and various institutions more effectively? Does it have to be in a measure of the GDP in absolute terms? I have a different opinion. In a federal republic it's not just the Centre that needs to open its purse strings and do more. They also have to give states the authority and liberty to borrow more, raise more and do more. That is what our CM has been asking for. To defer all the loans the states have taken and discuss with the RBI on how the states can get a moratorium for the next 6-8 months where their cash flow is not affected. It is important to have a decentralised structure rather than a top-down approach. Right now, the government has allotted Rs 1.7 lakh crores which is about 1.5 per cent of the GDP. Should it be more? Of course. Should it be 7 or 15 per cent? I believe that it has to be somewhere in between and India has to form its own formula. Banks are generally reluctant to lend money to MSMEs. What according to you needs to be done in for them in the immediate context? The importance and understanding that has to be given to the sector is not being given. There has been some relief that has been offered. From a state perspective, we have deferred their power bills and property tax payments and so on. What needs to be done is to get banks to give them a moratorium. Banks have been ruthless when it comes to MSMEs even if they miss one month's payment. RBI needs to step in and advice both public- and private-sector banks very sternly that no bank shall declare any MSME enterprise, at least for the next 3-6 months, as an NPA. The government needs to stitch up a working policy quickly that governs these things. How long do you think it will take businesses to reach levels that are pre-lockdown? Six months to a year? For anybody to go back to 100 per cent pre-COVID vs post-COVID will be a very new way of working. You will have to adjust to a new way of life. You will have to work more shifts with fewer employees and work in a batch processing mode and ensure social distancing norms are followed. Unless a vaccine or drug comes about that gives the workforce the confidence that they're safe from corona, it will be a challenge to operate at pre-COVID levels. We have to have healthcare professionals visiting the workplace and ambulances need to be ready, and so, therefore, it will be new. To assume that we will go back to normalcy immediately will be unwise. Do you foresee that this will see a sense of nationalism in terms of economic policy? Honestly, if anything, this virus has humbled us as humanity. Shown us that for the first time in human history the entire world has faced one problem. For the first time, all boundaries in terms of nationalities, races, castes, class, creed, religion, everything has been challenged and redefined. This will tell us that we are one and very alike and not very unlike. This has put a lot of sense into our perspective and made us relook our ways of life and ourselves as a way of life. I've realised that what we have taken for granted as normalcy is absolutely underrated and people are dying for normalcy to return. UPDATE, 2:37 p.m.: The Wolf Administration has released the actual formula it will be using to make the calculations for reopening, and we have the results of that here. There is a significant difference from the numbers we were running earlier. The simple math looks good for most of southcentral Pennsylvania when held up against one of the key yellow phase barometers that Gov. Tom Wolf said will be used to gauge when and where to ease restrictions in place to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The plan on the states Web site states, in part: A regional assessment will measure the COVID-19 cases per the population. A county can make the list for consideration to open if they, on average for the past 14 days, had 50 or less new cases per 100,000 residents per day. The administration will work closely with county and local governments to enable the communities to reopen and transition back to work. Keep in mind this is not the only barometer the Wolf Administration has said it would use, and the yellow phase isnt exactly a return to normal activity. The governor also talked last night about factoring in regional medical capabilities, how consistent and widespread testing has been done, whats happening in nearby counties and other factors. The published plan goes on to say: "Additionally, to reopen a region, the commonwealth must ensure there is: Enough testing available for individuals with symptoms and target populations such as those at high risk, health care personnel, and first responders. Robust case investigation and contact tracing infrastructure is in place to facilitate early identification of cluster outbreaks and to issue proper isolation and quarantine orders. Identification of areas high-risk settings including correctional institutions, personal care homes, skilled nursing facilities, and other congregate care settings, and assurance that facilities have adequate safeguards in place such as staff training, employee screening, visitor procedures and screening, and adequate supplies of PPE to support continued operations." But on case numbers alone, if its truly new cases, were good. At present, the 13-county region and all of its component counties appear to be well under the 50 new cases per 100,000 resident threshold for the past 14 days. Lets use the example of Lebanon County, which currently has the highest incidence of COVID-19 in the region (which for Health Department purposes, you should know, includes Adams, Bedford, Blair, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lebanon, Mifflin, Perry and York counties. Lancaster County is in DOHs Southeast region.) Lebanon has added 366 new cases over the last 14 days, for a daily average of 26.1 cases. Given the countys current population estimate of 141,793, that yellow phase threshold would seem to allow room for 70 new cases per day. The South Central region as a whole, with a total population of more than 1.7 million, would be working against a target average of 863 new cases per day, a level its never come close to hitting since the administration began publishing regional data earlier this week. Over the last six days, the regions average new case count is about 99 new cases per day. Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, outlined this three-tiered approach to reopening the state, color-coded by red for the current, most restrictive approach to yellow and, finally, green.Courtesy image | For lehighvalleylive.com All of which proves nothing at the moment. We dont know enough about the rest of the Carnegie-Mellon modelling the governor has said he will be using to understand if were really going to be in the clear. But by case measurement alone, we look to be in solid shape. Its curious, though, because almost all of the state appears to headed for yellow sooner rather than later based on case counts seen over the past week. Even Philadelphia, our hot-spot, is tracking well below its targeted case count this week. So clearly, we all need to find out a lot more about how this works. More administration briefings are scheduled today. Well keep you posted. Joe Biden's tenure as Barack Obama's vice president is complicating his efforts to deepen ties with Latinos who could be critical to winning the White House. For many Latinos, Biden's embrace of the Obama years is a frightening reminder of when the former president ejected about 3 million people living in the US illegally, earning him the moniker of "deporter in chief". That's one reason Latinos overwhelmingly backed Bernie Sanders during the Democratic primary. But with the Vermont senator out of the race and Biden left as the presumptive Democratic nominee, Latinos face an agonising choice. They could look past Biden's resume and vote for him or sit out the election and risk another four years of President Donald Trump, who escalated his hard-line stance this week with an executive order freezing some immigration into the US during the coronavirus pandemic. "The 'Let's go back to how things were' for people who feel like they have a boot on their neck, it's not always that compelling," said Marisa Franco, director and co-founder of the Latino activist group Mijente, which made its first-ever endorsement when it backed Sanders for president. The record number of deportations under Obama came as his administration sought to show it was serious about enforcement while waiting on Congress to approve an overhaul to the immigration system. But in the process, it deported a large percentage of people without criminal records, even while publicly saying its priority was removing criminals from the country. Obama eventually gave up on Congress and changed tactics, extending temporary legal protections to young immigrants through Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, which is still being challenged in federal court. Biden long defended the administration's immigration policy, even telling one activist in South Carolina who decried deportations, "You should vote for Trump." But just before losing the caucuses in heavily Hispanic Nevada in February, Biden conceded, "We took far too long to get it right. I think it was a big mistake." Domingo Garcia, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens, said some "in the more liberal side of the Latino community" view the issue as a "litmus test that's something they've not forgotten". But he said many activists see it as paling in comparison to Trump's race baiting. Republican Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-NY, a leading progressive voice, has said she'll vote for Biden in November even as she's said he needs to pay close attention to Latino issues. Sanders has formally endorsed Biden and called on his base of loyal supporters to rally around the former vice president to ensure Trump's defeat. The president isn't toning down his approach to the issue of immigration, viewing it as a way to motivate his base. Trump's latest executive order likely guarantees immigration will remain in the spotlight heading into the election. The Trump administration deported about 267,260 people in fiscal year 2019, well below the single-year record of nearly 410,000 the Obama administration set in 2012. But Trump has increased the number of people jailed in the US awaiting immigration court proceedings while sending around 60,000 back to Mexico while they wait for the same. "Our community definitely understands and knows the consequences of having Trump as president," said Laura Jimenez, the Biden campaign's Latino engagement director. "This election is about our lives, our safety, our ability to thrive and be in this country and be accepted." About 32 million Hispanics will be eligible to vote in November, accounting for 13.3% of the electorate, outpacing African Americans to become the largest minority voting bloc for the first time, according to the Pew Research Centre. Biden's campaign has increased the budget for Latino outreach efforts. He has called into Hispanic radio shows and held weekly "Unidos Con Biden" or "United For Biden" calls to engage Hispanic supporters. Lately, those have focused on speaking to Hispanic elected officials in states around the country about the fallout from the coronavirus. In recent weeks, the campaign has begun using more nuanced approaches to target Latinos from an array of backgrounds since Cuban Americans have different concerns than those with ancestral roots in places such as Mexico, Puerto Rico or Venezuela. Biden will soon begin vetting potential running mates who will likely include prominent Latinas such as Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada. Still, the former vice president has not backed decriminalizing illegal border crossings, an issue on which he split from rivals including Sanders and former Obama administration housing chief Julin Castro during the primary. Hispanics also represent a high number of uninsured Americans, meaning Sanders' support for universal health coverage under "Medicare for All" appealed to many another issue Biden hasn't embraced. Younger Latinos tend to be major supporters of sweeping initiatives to fight climate change, which Sanders backed and Biden didn't. Since Sanders exited the race, his chief Hispanic strategist, Chuck Rocha, has launched a political action committee aiming to motivate Latino voters up and down the ballot, especially in battleground states like Pennsylvania. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Face masks will now be compulsory in Germany as the country continues its battle against coronavirus. The decision comes after Bremen became the last of the 16 federal regions to support the proposed measures with confirmation expected to arrive on Friday. The move, which could be rolled out on Monday, comes after German Chancellor Angela Merkel made the recommendation last week. Germany has currently experienced 150,648 cases of Covid-19 and 5,315 fatalities as of Thursday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University. The mask will be mandatory to wear on public transport nationwide, while most German states, including Berlin, will also insist on wearing one during shopping. That directly follows the lead of Austria, where the daily practice for those venturing out to acquire essentials begun at the start of this month. Czech Republic and Slovakia have similar regulations, though Switzerland has resisted such measures as they start to ease lockdown restrictions. While punishments for not following new regulations are not known yet for each state, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has confirmed fines of 25 (22) for anybody caught without a mask on public transport. Germanys move contradicts advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that only the ill and those caring for them must wear the masks. People in Leipzig venture outside with masks (Getty) The move has sparked some controversy though as Prime Minister Winfried Kretschmann of Baden-Wurttemberg declared his belief that masks should be reserved for health workers, given the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE). That concern is likely to become a trend, specifically in the UK and the strain already experienced by the NHS, who have encountered very significant gaps in sufficient PPE supplies. The WHO and scientific experts maintain there is no concrete evidence to support the theory that wearing a mask will stop you from contracting Covid-19 and that the items can easily be contaminated simply by touching the outside of the mask or your own face. Moreover there is the psychological impact of wearing the mask and the risk that it could lead to a false sense of security while people are outside. It is still not mandatory to wear a mask in the UK, though the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) are set to inform the cabinet on their views about adopting a similar policy to Germany. Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt told ITV on Wednesday that he considered it to be a no-brainer for people to wear masks while out in public. But amid the widespread debate concerning masks, experts continue to maintain that regularly washing hands and practising social distancing remain the best preventative measures to stop the spread of the virus. Those who are fortunate enough to still be collecting a paycheck while quarantined or sheltering in place might expect to build up some serious savings. While you work from home, you're avoiding your usual commuting expenses, and you're probably saving money by not going to bars, restaurants, and movies, or skipping that vacation to Fiji. But as spending decreases in some areas during self-isolation, it can creep up in others. To brace yourself and your budget, keep an eye on these expenses while youre self-isolating at home. 1. Utilities If youve gone from office life to Zoom life, youre spending more time at home than usual, which could ramp up your household expenses. Your utility spending might be considerably higher if you're spending more time at home cooking, charging devices, using lights and appliances, says Ted Rossman, industry analyst at CreditCards.com. To keep your utility bills down, turn off lights when you leave the room, open windows during the day to let in cool air, unplug devices that youre not using, and consider turning down your water heater by a few degrees. 2. Groceries Grocery delivery m-gucci/Getty Images Even if youre not hoarding (and you shouldnt be), you might find yourself spending more on groceries while you shelter in place. For some people, an uptick in grocery spending will be offset by the money saved from not dining at restaurants. But if your local store is picked overor if you pay fees for grocery deliveryyou could spend more on groceries than usual. Ive been to a local grocery store, and the only thing that was available was organic, so I couldnt buy the generic. I actually had to spend more money, says Steve Repak, author of the 6 Week Money Challenge for Your Personal Finances. If your grocery spending feels out of hand, be flexible and creative with your menu. Cook the food you already have at home before you head back to the store. Sites such as Eater have compiled resources for home cooks, including Pantry Cooking 101 and How to Stock a Pantry. If youre using a delivery service, place infrequent, larger orders instead of several small orders. Or consider curbside service; many stores are allowing free pickups where they bring your groceries right to your car, so you can save on delivery fees and tips. 3. Meal delivery and takeout You may not be able to enjoy a nice meal at a restaurant, but you can order takeout and deliveryand those indulgences can add up quickly. After all, its not just the meal youre paying for. Theres probably still a service fee, and on top of that you have to leave a gratuity, Repak says. (It's also a good idea to generously tip the workers who are delivering your food in these times.) If youre on a budget, reserve takeout and delivery for special occasions or those days when you just cant muster the motivation to cook. 4. Alcohol and other sources of comfort Curl up with a good bottle... Moyo Studio/Getty Images If you find yourself decompressing with a glass or two (or three) of wine every night, your drinking habit could do a number on your budget. And you wouldn't be alonealcohol consumption has shot up nationwide, and in states where recreational marijuana is legal, dispensaries are reporting booming business. Social isolation is really strongly linked to physical and mental health problems, and the way we cope with a lot of them is by drinking more, Repak says. People are going to smoke more and drink more ... and we need to find other healthier coping mechanisms to offset that additional spending. You may not want to totally forfeit your evening glass of pinot, but you can make your supply last longer by sipping a mug of (far more affordable) chamomile tea on occasion, or opting for a calming yoga video or breathing exercise. 5. Subscriptions Youve rewatched all your favorite shows on Netflix and Huluso, now's the time to add a Disney+ subscription, right? Not so fast, Repak says. Save a little bit of money by just picking one of the streaming services, he suggests, or at least dont pile on new subscriptions to the ones you already have. To free up your budget, take inventory of your other monthly subscriptions, services, and other recurring expenses, and see if there's anything that can be eliminated. Ten dollars a month may not sound like a lot, but if you have five of those, that's $600 annually, Rossman adds. 6. Online shopping Online shopping knows no quarantine Poike/Getty Images If you turn to retail therapy to soothe your soul, your budget could take a hit. True, many retailers are offering deep discounts in order to move merchandise, but even discount purchases add up. Impulse buying is a potential trap, Rossman says. Some people fall victim to it more than others. Instead of clicking add to cart as a coping mechanism, Repak suggests cleaning out your closet instead. This is a great time that we can offset our budget by decluttering our house or apartment, he says. Use sites like Poshmark to sell your clothes, or Mercari for your household items. Many donation centers such as Goodwill are still accepting donations, toojust call ahead to make sure your local store or donation drop-off location will take your items. 7. New hobbies you're trying in quarantine Our spending habits are highly personal, and you might find yourself throwing money at a new habit or hobby to fight cabin fever. Its a worthwhile exercise to track your spending, especially now that so much is different, Rossman says. Look through your credit card and bank statements from the past month. Do you see anything surprising? Are there areas where you spent extra but didn't feel it was worth it? These could be good ways to cut back. And remember: Even if quarantine has eliminated some of your old day-to-day expenses, its easy to overestimate how much youre saving. Most people don't have a great handle on their budget and spending habits anyway, and so much has changed of late, Rossman says. It's easy to overlook things. The post Is COVID-19 Costing You Cash at Home? 7 Hidden Expenses of Self-Isolating During the Pandemic appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. Researchers from Russia, the Netherlands, Sweden, and the U.S. have revealed the structure of the protein responsible for vitamin B12 import into the cells of the bacterium that causes tuberculosis. The research findings were published in Nature. Vitamin B12, also known as cobalamin, is vital to the proliferation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which causes TB. But while that vitamin can be synthesized internally, it is much easier for the pathogen to import B12 from the environment, and cobalamin consumption by the bacterium is directly associated with TB progression. However, no known B12 importer has been discovered in the pathogen's genome, only three cobalamin-associated proteins. While one of them -- Rv1819c -- was regarded as a candidate for B12 transport, the amino acid sequence analysis suggested that it likely functions in a different way: as an exporter. The authors of the recent paper in Nature addressed this contradiction: They found that the protein is indeed capable of importing B12 and used single-particle cryo-electron microscopy to explain how it works. The experiment involved a cell line of Escherichia coli, manipulated so as to lack any B12 transporters. Placed in a cobalamin-rich culture medium, the bacteria did not grow until the researchers endowed them with the Rv1819c protein from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which made them proliferate. The team also used a mutated cell line to establish that the Rv1819c-mediated transport depends on ATP hydrolysis. The team resolved the 3D structure of the protein. It consists of two unevenly sized interconnected chambers, with the larger one located in the cell membrane and the smaller one protruding on the inside. The region between the two chambers is narrow, constricted by a loop of 17 amino acids. The large cavity has a volume of about 7.7 cubic nanometers, which is enough to accommodate six or seven vitamin B12 molecules. A cap seals off the chamber on the outside, perhaps opening spontaneously to capture molecules from the external environment. Since the cavity is inlaid with negatively charged and polar amino acids, it is attractive for hydrophilic molecules. This explains why the Rv1819c transporter, despite not being very selective, was found to favor polar and positively charged substrates. For example, the scientists showed that besides B12, the protein can transport a cancer medication called bleomycin. At the same time, it did not work with biotin, probably due to the latter molecule bearing negatively charged groups. The part of the protein inside the cell is sealed with a bivalved gate, which communicates with the sites where the cell generates energy by breaking down ATP molecules. Two of them have to be consumed to open the gate, which explains why Rv1819c-mediated transport is ATP-dependent. Study co-author Albert Guskov, who heads the Laboratory of Structural Electron Microscopy of Biological Systems at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, commented on the findings: Our study takes us one step further in understanding how tuberculosis develops. We now know how the pathogen acquires vitamin B12, which is vital for it. Importantly, the mechanism we humans use to import cobalamin is very different, making Rv1819c an excellent target for developing anti-TB drugs." "The discovery of this unexpected function of the protein that has been regarded as an exporter rather than an importer offers insights into the possible mechanisms of antibiotic delivery into pathogen cells," the researcher went on. "Aminoglycosides, for example, are positively charged, so they cannot freely penetrate the membrane. Previously, we only knew these drugs somehow got into the cell. We can now say that Rv1819c and similar proteins might well be the transporters involved." The study featured researchers from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University in the U.S., and Stockholm University in Sweden. The Delhi High Court has come up with a unique way for the prisoners to mark their attendance at the police station during the period of emergency parole by asking them to either WhatsApp video call or send their google location to the Investigating Officer (IO) to ascertain their location. Generally, a prisoner or a convict on parole or furlough has to mark his attendance to the local police station. However, with the conditions of the lockdown, the court said that the prisoners can also use the feature of WhatsApp video call and google location. In a couple of orders passed on April 20, Justice AJ Bhambani said that the inmates can drop-a-pin on Google maps so that the IO/SHO can verify their presence and location. The court also said that the prisoners cannot leave the city without the permission of the court. The order comes in two cases - one where a 73-year-old retired school teacher had moved the court challenging his conviction in a POCSO case for sexually assaulting a minor. In his plea, he had contended that he is old and is being treated for various ailments including hypertension, diabetes and bronchial asthma. However, appearing for the state, the additional public prosecutor opposed his bail stating that he has been sentenced to 10 years for a heinous crime and hence should not be granted any bail. Justice Bhambani, after hearing the arguments, said that in the unprecedented circumstances of a public health emergency that prevail today and the consequent need to decongest prisons for the overall medical safety of all prisoners, this court is persuaded to grant to the appellant interim suspension of sentence for a period of three months with a list of conditions. In a similar order, where the court was hearing an appeal by a man called Ompal, Justice Bhambani granted him interim bail. Ompal was convicted for administering intoxicating substance to other workers while he was working as the van driver that was loading money for the ATMs. He had moved the court seeking bail stating that his wife and three children have been facing problems in his absence. He contended that his wife, who works at a local school, has received no salary owing to the lockdown. The court allowed him bail at a personal bond of Rs 50,000 with similar conditions to mark his attendance. A mother-of-two told her husband had 'zero chance' of surviving coronavirus has revealed he's had a tracheotomy but is not yet strong enough to be weaned off his ventilator. Sue Martin, 49, from Cardiff, broke Radio 4 listeners' hearts earlier this month as she revealed she was given 10 minutes to say a heartbreaking final goodbye to Mal, 58. She told how their two children Hana, 16, and William, 13, vowed to make him proud as they said what they believed to be their final words to their father. Fighter Mal has now spent 25 days on a ventilator, and Sue said she hopes the tracheostomy will make him more comfortable and lessen his sedation. Sue Martin, 49, from South Wales, previously told listeners of Radio 4's Today programme about her husband Mal's, 58, dramatic deterioration after suffering from coronavirus, and how she rushed her children to hospital to say goodbye to them Writing on Twitter yesterday, she explained: 'Mal has had his tracheotomy today. Otherwise no real improvement and still incredibly weak but hopefully will now be more comfortable and will be on less sedation,' followed by the hashtag #keepgoingmal. She wished love to 'everyone going through the same thing', adding: 'Continued thanks to everyone in ICU caring for him.' In a further tweet, Sue added that Mal isn't off the ventilator because he isn't strong enough to be weaned yet, but medics hope the tracheotomy will give him more time. Earlier this week Sue and Mal's daughter Hana gave a brave interview recalling the awful hospital visit, saying: 'The state that he was in, it was just horrible to see my dad like this. He was swollen, his hands swollen, you could see his arteries, his veins.' Writing on Twitter yesterday, she explained: 'Mal has had his tracheotomy today. Otherwise no real improvement and still incredibly weak but hopefully will now be more comfortable and will be on less sedation,' followed by the hashtag #keepgoingmal' Speaking about her father's tracheotomy, she told Radio 1's Newsbeat: 'At this point I will take anything to just hear his voice or see him again.' The 16-year-old also recalled her final conversation with her father as they spoke over FaceTime hours before he was placed on a ventilator. What is a tracheotomy? According to the NHS, a tracheostomy is a surgical opening in the wall of the trachea (windpipe) to facilitate ventilation. The term for the surgical procedure to create this opening is tracheotomy. The opening is usually maintained by use of a tracheostomy tube. A tracheostomy may be created for a number of reasons - including to deliver oxygen to the lungs when a person is unable to breathe normally after an injury or accident. Or it can be created because their muscles are very weak. It can also allow a person to breathe if their throat is blocked - this can be caused by a swelling, a tumour, or something stuck in their throat and to reduce the risk of food or fluid going into the lungs. Advertisement She said: 'He said he'd make it through as it wasn't his time. It was at that point calling him and then realising this could be the last time we ever speak to him.' But as Mal clings to life, the family are now focused on recovery and discussing how to help him survive without ventilation. Hana revealed: 'It is the first time I've believed he can make it through. I don't think we could have asked for any better news considering the situation. Maybe we can even FaceTime.' Her mother Sue tweeted to reveal her husband was taking 'baby steps' forward, saying: 'I know it's going to be very slow and tough progress but its progress. Baby steps forward is all we can hope for. Day 21 ventilator for Mal, too weak to wean so tracheotomy early this week.' Mal, a diabetic, became unwell with symptoms of coronavirus on 19 March, but she believed that he would pull through because he was 'very, very healthy' and fit. But after 10 days, he became progressively worse, and Sue called for an ambulance on 29 March, with Mal walking out the door alongside paramedics. Hours later, she received a devastating phone call telling her that Mal was so unwell he would need to be put on a ventilator and he had a 50 per cent chance of survival. Earlier this week Sue and Mal's daughter Hana gave a brave interview recalling the awful hospital visit, saying: 'The state that he was in, it was just horrible to see my dad like this. He was swollen, his hands swollen, you could see his arteries, his veins' As his health continued to deteriorate, Sue, Hana and William were rushed to the hospital and given 10 minutes with Mal to say their goodbyes. The family were gowned up in layers of protective clothing, and screens were put around his bed, with Sue and her two children saying their final words to Mal. Mal, chairman for a recruitment firm, and Sue, communications manager at department for transport, got married in September 1996, and have now been together for 28 years. He founded recruitment firm Time 4 Recruitment in 2001, with the strapline 'the agency that cares'. Mal, chairman for a recruitment firm, and Sue, communications manager at department for transport, got married in September 1996, and have now been together for 28 years Sue said her family has been 'overwhelmed' by all the support they've received from around the world since sharing their story Mal is a type 2 diabetic and suffered a heart attack four years ago, but despite that Sue said he lived a 'very, very healthy' life. Hanna shared a warning with the public about the importance of following the government's guidelines. She said: 'The virus doesn't care who you are, how old you are, how healthy you are.' Sue added that the family has been 'overwhelmed' by all the support they've received from around the world since sharing their story. 'Thousands of lovely, caring and hopeful messages from people all rooting for Mal. Im just sorry I cant reply to every one of them,' she told BBC Radio 4 last week. The personal details of every West Australian police officer were retained and could potentially have been shared by a state government auditor. The "startling" revelation is contained in a Corruption and Crime Commission report into misconduct risks in the Office of the Auditor-General. The report was tabled in parliament on Thursday. Credit:Justin Rake CCC boss John McKechnie, whose term is due to expire next week amid a political stoush into his reappointment, says two auditors regularly accessed sensitive and confidential information that was not properly protected. One auditor obtained access to the names and addresses of every serving WA police officer, then retained the personal details of the 8800-strong workforce stored in a spreadsheet on a laptop, "unbeknown to the OAG". The Shareholders of Anoto Group AB (publ) (Anoto or the Company) have previously been invited to Annual General Meeting in Anoto, to be held on Monday, 18 May 2020 at 10 a.m. at the premises of Setterwalls Advokatbyra, Sturegatan 10 in Stockholm, Sweden. The invitation is hereby complemented by the following proposals for resolution. Proposals Soltworks Co. Ltd. (the Major Shareholder) representing approximately 19 per cent of the total number of shares in the Company, has informed the Company regarding its intention to present at the AGM the proposals set out in items 9-11. Determination of number of board members (item 9) The Major Shareholder proposes that the Board of Directors shall consist of four board members elected by the general meeting. Remuneration for the board members and the auditor (item 10) The Major Shareholder proposes that the total remuneration for the Board of Directors shall amount to SEK 1,200,000, of which SEK 600,000 shall be paid to the Chairman of the Board of Directors and SEK 300,000 shall be paid to each of the other board members elected by the AGM who are not employees of the Group. The proposed member of the Board of Directors WC Lee, who is a Director of the Major Shareholder, has waived his right to board remuneration. The Major Shareholder proposes that the audit fees shall be paid in accordance with approved invoices. Election of board members and Chairman of the Board of Directors (item 11) As members of the Board of Directors until the end of the next AGM, the Major Shareholder proposes re-election of Perry Ha and Anders Sjogren. As new members of the Board of Directors until the end of the next AGM, the Major Shareholder proposes election of WC Lee and Dennis Song. Information on the proposed members will be available on Anotos website www.anoto.com. The Major Shareholder also proposes election of Perry Ha as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The registered accounting firm Grant Thornton Sweden AB was elected auditor at the AGM 2017 for a period of four years. Accordingly, the task of appointing an auditor is scheduled to occur at the AGM 2021. Grant Thornton Sweden AB has appointed the authorised public accountant Mats Palsson as auditor-in-charge. Story continues For further information, please contact: Johannes Haglund, Chief of Staff, Anoto Group AB For more information about Anoto, please visit www.anoto.com or email ir@anoto.com Anoto Group AB (publ), Reg.No. 556532-3929, Flaggan 1165, SE-116 74 Stockholm About Anoto Group Anoto is a publicly held Swedish technology company known globally for innovation in the area of information-rich patterns and the optical recognition of those patterns. It is a leader in digital writing and drawing solutions, having historically used its proprietary technology to develop smartpens and the related software. These smartpens enrich the daily lives of millions of people around the world. Now Anoto is a cloud based software solution provider based on its patented dot pattern technology which provides a methodology for accumulating digital big data from analogue inputs. Anoto Cloud includes Anotos four solutions: KAIT the worlds first AI solution for offline education; ACE Anotos new and improved enterprise forms solutions; aDNA Anotos secure interactive marketing solution; and Dr. Watson Anotos biometric authentication and security solution. Anoto is traded on the Small Cap list of Nasdaq Stockholm under ANOT. Attachment Thailand confirms 13 new COVID-19 cases, one death THAILAND: The government today (Apr 23) reported 13 new coronavirus patients, raising the total to 2,839, and one more death, that of an elderly Thai woman first admitted to hospital for an unrelated complaint. The accumulated death toll now stands at 50. CoronavirusCOVID-19deathhealth By Bangkok Post Thursday 23 April 2020, 01:12PM Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman of the governments Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration said the lower number of new cases is good news for the COVID-19 situation in the country but people must continue to take precautions for their own protection. Photo: Bangkok Post The tally of new cases is two lower than the 15 recorded yesterday. It is the lowest since March 14, and marks the fifth consecutive day of declines. Because of limited testing, however, the actual number of infections is believed to be higher. Dr Taweesilp Visanuyothin, spokesman of the governments Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration, said that the late 78-year-old woman first went to a hospital in Bangkok with a urinary tract infection on March 21. On March 24 she developed a fever and pneumonia and later tested positive for COVID-19. On April 5 her condition worsened. She died on Tuesday from a bloodstream infection and respiratory failure. Although elderly people accounted for a small proportion of infections, they were the greatest number of fatalities, Dr Taweesilp said while expressing condolences to the families of death cases. The Bangkok Post reported that Dr Taweesilp said the lower number of new cases is good news for the COVID-19 situation in the country but people must continue to take precautions for their own protection. If we lower our guard even a bit, the number of infection cases can soar to five digits like in some countries, he said. The new cases included five people who had come into close contact with previous patients in Bangkok, Chon Buri, Songkhla and Chumphon. Others included three cases tested pre-emptively in Phuket province, two people who worked in crowded places and closely with foreigners, one returnee, one visitor to crowded areas and one patient tested before an operation. Bangkok had the highest number of COVID-19 patients at 1,454, followed by 197 in Phuket, 152 in Nonthaburi, 109 in Samut Prakan, 95 in Yala, 79 in Pattani, 86 in Chon Buri, 43 in Songkhla, 40 in Chiang Mai and 36 in Pathum Thani province. Nine provinces remained free of COVID-19 cases: Ang Thong, Bung Kan, Chai Nat, Kamphaeng Phet, Nan, Phitchit, Ranong, Sing Buri and Trat. Nine other provinces had not recorded a new COVID-19 case in the past 28 days: Chanthaburi, Lop Buri, Maha Sarakham, Phetchabun, Phrae, Roi Et, Sukhothai, Uthai Thani and Yasothon. Thirty-two provinces had not reported a new case in the past 14 days. A further 78 people were today reported to have recovered, raising the total to 2,430, while hospitalised patients amounted to 359, Dr Taweesilp said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 23 By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend: Uzbekistan will borrow $1.6 billion from development banks during the coronavirus pandemic, Trend reports citing Uzbek media. Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan and Minister of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction Jamshid Kuchkarov made the remark during the Uzbekistan's International Press Club session in Tashkent. According to him, the authorities plan to borrow $375 million from the International Monetary Fund, $500 million from the Asian Development Bank and $750 million from the World Bank. Uzbekistan has not yet received most of the funds, but the country itself has sufficient financial resources, Kuchkarov said. The country has also received 600 billion soum ($59 million) of donations, he said. Earlier, Uzbek billioner Alisher Usmanov contributed $20 million and on April 23, another $5 million will come on his behalf, said the deputy PM. "These funds will go to equip a hospital under construction in Zangiata district. Besides, UzTex has allocated $1 million dollars, the Baht Textile company from Navoi has donated $500,000, and the Tashkent Trade Centre has donated $200,000," Kuchkarov said. In March, Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev ordered the Finance Ministry to create an Anti-Crisis Fund for 10 trillion soum ($983.6 million) to prevent the spread of coronavirus and mitigate its impact on the country's economy. --- Follow author on Twitter: @seyfaddini But this neat solution didnt meet Justice Kavanaughs need to use this case as an opportunity to expound on his theory of precedent to inoculate himself against criticism for overturning precedents that might pass his way in the future. Only overturning a real precedent this time would serve. So he used his separate opinion to explain why the egregiously wrong Apodaca decision was, in fact, a precedent that required overturning. Justice Sotomayor, a critic of many pro-prosecution criminal law precedents, also needed a real precedent to make her own point, in her solo separate opinion, that while overruling precedent must be rare, this court should not shy away from correcting its errors where the right to avoid imprisonment pursuant to unconstitutional procedures hangs in the balance. At 26 pages, Justice Samuel Alitos dissenting opinion, which the chief justice and Justice Elena Kagan joined, was the same length as Justice Gorsuchs opinion. I have a feeling that it started out as the majority opinion, with Justices Ginsburg and Breyer onboard. Lacking proof, Ill leave it to future Supreme Court historians to validate or debunk that theory. Its an interesting enough opinion in its own right remarkable, in fact, for its agreement with all the other justices that Apodaca was wrongly decided. Nonetheless, Justice Alito wrote, to overturn that precedent would be to leave Louisiana and Oregon facing a potential tsunami of litigation from those convicted by split juries who would seek new trials. He explained that the two states have enormous reliance interests in retaining systems that the Supreme Court had deemed constitutional. Justice Alito was in an odd position to make such a point. His majority opinion two years ago in the Janus case, stripping public employee unions of the ability to collect a portion of dues from employees who chose not to join, was the culmination of a campaign that he had orchestrated to overturn a 41-year-old precedent that had deemed it constitutional to require such payments. In the closing paragraphs of his Ramos dissent, he tried to explain the difference between adhering to Apodaca while overturning the labor precedent. Labor unions should not have relied on that precedent, he said, because unions had been on notice for some time that the court had serious misgivings about it. Justice Kagan, whose dissenting opinion in the Janus case contained some of the strongest writing of her years on the court, refused to sign this portion of Justice Alitos Ramos dissent. At the beginning of this column, I referred to the Supreme Court in crisis. What stands revealed in this puzzling bundle of opinions is not so much a court as nine individuals in pursuit of agendas far removed from the controversy they undertook to resolve. Remarkably, all nine agreed that the Apodaca decision, the continued validity of which they had recklessly put in play, had been a failure. But the real failure lies not in what the Supreme Court did in 1972 but in what it did this week, in its inability to provide a coherent answer to the question it chose to ask. An obituary appeared in The Times last week for a 95-year-old former college professor named Darius Swann. As a young African-American father whose 6-year-old son was barred by race from attending a nearby public elementary school in Charlotte, N.C., Mr. Swann was the lead plaintiff in a case that led to a 1971 Supreme Court decision that authorized busing as a permissible remedy for courts to use to desegregate local school systems. I mention this because the decision, Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, one of the most important rulings during the era of resistance that followed Brown v. Board of Education, was unanimous. It didnt start out that way. As the justices subsequently released papers revealed, and as Michael Graetz and I discussed in our book on the period, The Burger Court and the Rise of the Judicial Right, the decision started as a mess. Chief Justice Warren Burger, newly installed in office, was a reluctant participant in the project and was forced by his colleagues to go through seven drafts until he came up with an opinion that all would sign. Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders explains the P-EBT food program at Wednesday's briefing. Federal Waiver Allows for Expansion of Family Food Benefits BOSTON Families struggling during the novel coronavirus lockdown may now be eligible for a state food program beginning in May. Massachusetts was among the first states to take advantage of waivers to establish a "pandemic electronic benefit transfer program" under the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act. "It's an important opportunity to provide nutritional resources to families who have lost access to free or reduced price meals at schools across the country that closed in response to COVID-19," said Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, who added that food security is an important factor in the determinants of health. "In October of 2019, there were more than a half a million children who received free and reduced price school meals across the commonwealth," she said at Wednesday's COVID-19 briefing. "Of those, a little less than half were actually known to our Department of Transitional Assistance, and currently received Department of Transitional Assistance benefits." A cross-secretary initiative between DTA and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has implemented the program that provides direct financial assistance to purchase healthy foods for families with children who would have received free and reduced price meals if not for school closures because of the pandemic. The program has supplemented 1,300 district "grab and go" meal sites, mostly supplied by school district food service departments, and households have directly received $28.50 per child per week of the closure. The direct benefit is designed to supplement grab-and-go meal sites. "It also brings more than $100 million into the commonwealth economy, supporting our local grocery stores or bodegas or corner stores, and their employees," Sudders said. DESE and local school districts have been collecting the data and DTA has been issuing the benefits to families. Existing DTA client households with eligible schoolchildren will receive the benefits on their current EBT cards. It's families who have not previously been known to DTA that the state is trying to find. Those families will receive a special P-EBT card and a note explaining how to use it. Households in districts that provide universal school meals, such as North Adams, will be automatically enrolled. This includes some families who are over the income limit for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and the National School Lunch programs. No families are obligated to use the card, and they're instructed to destroy the card if they do not wish to participate. "During this public health and economic crisis, families who were previously over income eligibility limits may have lost income sources and need this critical financial support to purchase food, and nutritional food for their family," said Sudders. The administration is working with the Shaw Foundation to communicate information about the program, including developing a website and outreach materials with assistance of Project Bread, which will also help with outreach to schools, food banks and other partners. "It's one of a number of resources we're trying to make available to ensure that families have the resources they need for food security for their families," Sudders said. Notices are expected to be sent out in May; families not already using EBT cards will get one P-EBT card per child in their household. More information can be found here. The COVID-19 Command Center has also launched a food security task force that had its first meeting on Wednesday. It includes representatives from state agencies, the Legislature, and food, wellness and community organizations with goals to identify immediate and long-term needs, seek solutions, and explore ways to maximize resources. "The idea is to truly centralize coordination of resources and communication across sectors and across federal, state and municipal resources to meet the urgent food needs across every part of our state," Sudders said. "They have 30 days to submit a plan so that we can really ensure that families have the food that they need. It'll include a summer season and launch back to school, and obviously thinking beyond the school year." JSC Ukrposhta has sent more than 30,000 parcels to New York from the Boryspil International Airport (Kyiv region) by a passenger plane of Ukraine International Airlines (UIA). According to the press service of the national postal operator with reference to CEO Igor Smelyansky reporting on Thursday, there were the products of Ukrainian small and medium-sized businesses for export on board, which will be delivered by the U.S. mail (USPS) today. The total value of the cargo or goods sold is about $1.5 million. "We understand that temporary quarantine measures and the regular flights prohibition can considerably hit the business of tens of thousands of entrepreneurs whose products we deliver. These are thousands of jobs and the welfare of thousands of families. In particular, goods of about 5,000 Ukrainian entrepreneurs are delivered only this time. Therefore, we continue to look for alternative ways so that our customers and their partners do not lose this distribution channel, save incomes and jobs. Moreover, our loyalty program continues working for exporters, and we do not raise the cost of delivery, although the cost of transporting mail to different destinations have grown three or four times," the press service of Ukrposhta said, citing Smelyansky. Ukrposhta said that parcels and small packages are loaded aboard airplane, as well as packages of Express Mail Service (EMS), which envisages prioritized customs clearance and delivery to the recipient's doors in the United States. All parcels were cleared at Ukrainian customs on April 14 through April 21. The company plans to make flights with UIA to New York regular, which will ensure stable delivery terms for Ukrainian entrepreneurs. COVID-19 infections in Singapore started soaring on March 18, tallying from 313 then to beyond 9,000 as of Tuesday with two days of record jumps. Singapore's initial response was praised by epidemiologists as the gold standard. Now, the small city-state populated with 5.6 million reported the most novel coronavirus cases in Southeast Asia. Officials registered a new daily record on Monday -- more than 1,400 new confirmed cases. The Asian country recorded only a few infections and ordered merely a partial lockdown for weeks, involving prohibiting international arrivals and suppressing public mass gatherings. Schools and restaurants still operated. With the arrival of April, a plot twist occurred when new clusters of confirmed cases were detected in cramped migrant dormitories on the outskirts of Singapore. Now, the city-state is racing to regain control. One reason behind the turnaround can likely be detected back to six days in February when the first sign of a possible explosion in cases among migrant laborers surfaced. The rise of the country's cases showed that there are limitations to what national responses to a global crisis can pull off. As the focal point shifted from imported cases to local coronavirus cases, policies followed in accordance. More than 12 weeks have passed since Singapore recorded its first coronavirus case on Jan 23 -- a 66-year-old Chinese citizen who arrived in Singapore three days earlier. Early in January, the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Singapore said it is aware of the confirmed cases in the Chinese city of Wuhan and will screen all inbound travelers coming from Wuhan from January 3 in the evening. Also Read: Small Town Near Canada is America's Safest Place from Coronavirus Thousands of new confirmed cases which are almost 70 percent of the city-state's total are concentrated in dormitories of migrant workers, who have been under quarantine in their quarters as authorities come up with a solution. Shekor, who only provided his first name in case of retribution from his employer, said there are no painkillers available for him to be able to sleep. "Everything is so difficult for everybody here. It seems like they only take the most serious ones to hospital; the normal ones like me, no one takes care of us." The surge started last week and is believed to be due to local officials trivializing the vulnerability of migrant workers in the city. The cramped dormitories housed up to 20 people in a room. Singapore which witnessed 33 deaths during the 2003 SARS epidemic seemed proactive. On February 1, the country prohibited anyone who came from mainland China from entering. Then two weeks later, the border was closed to all foreigners. It was globally praised for its calm, measured response to the coronavirus. Simultaneously, a 39-year-old Bangladeshi national, one of one million foreign laborers in Singapore, showed symptoms of the coronavirus. Schools and non-essential services have operated online as of April 7. More rigid social distancing measures restricted social interactions. On April 21, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong extended the said measures until June 1. Related Article: COVID-19 Patients Recover Quickly After Getting Remdesivir @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Courtesy Serena Wesley NewboldBy MARK OSBORNE and WILLIAM MANSELL, ABC News (NEW YORK) -- An outbreak of reported tornadoes across Oklahoma and Texas on Wednesday night has killed at least five people. An official with Marshall County Emergency Management confirms that at least two people were killed and several others injured when a tornado struck in Madill, Oklahoma. It hit as people were getting off of work in two manufacturing facilities and were in cars. He could not confirm if the two dead were in cars or in buildings. There are at least three people dead in Polk County, Texas, following severe weather Wednesday. The hardest hit area was in Onalaska, Texas. At this time, search and rescue is ongoing, and Polk County Emergency Management officials said there are at least 20-30 injuries. Video showed a massive tornado in Madill, flinging sheet metal and debris into the air Wednesday afternoon. Madill is in far southern Oklahoma, about 10 miles from the Texas border. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott confirmed there was tornado damage in Polk County, in eastern Texas. There was a "large and extremely dangerous" tornado near Sebastopol at about 5:45 p.m. local time, according to the National Weather Service. "My office, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and other state agencies are working with local officials to provide immediate support to the areas devastated by this tornado," Abbott said in a statement. "The state has already deployed response teams and medical resources to help Texans in need and to provide assistance to these communities. Our hearts are with our fellow Texans tonight and the state will continue to do everything it can to support those affected by this severe weather." Polk County issued a disaster declaration, saying there has been significant damage to residential and commercial structures, and to public infrastructure. There was also a confirmed tornado on the ground in Jasper, Texas, near the Louisiana border. Officials in Louisiana said a man died after getting caught in floodwaters. Deputy Mark Pierce, a spokesman for DeSoto Parish Sheriff's Office, told ABC News a male victim somehow got caught in a drain/ditch and was swept away by floodwater in Mansfield, Louisiana. "Mansfield PD received a call in reference to an individual that was seen trying to get a trash can from some flooded water," Sheriff Jayson Richardson told ABC affiliate KTBS-TV. "He ended up getting swept into that water. We, ultimately, found him 50 to 60 yards downstream." As of 7 a.m. Eastern time Thursday, there had been 24 tornadoes reported across Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Louisiana. There are still tornado watches in effect until 2 p.m. for Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. At least 34 people were killed in an outbreak of tornadoes earlier this month in Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. By Associated Press LONDON: One of the two nurses singled out by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he was discharged from the hospital after his treatment for COVID-19, has admitted he was "nervous at first" when hearing who he was assigned to care for. Luis Pitarma, 29, who is originally from Aveiro in Portugal, said it was "quite overwhelming" but that his matron at St Thomas' Hospital in London told him to be himself. Pitarma, who has worked at the hospital for nearly four years, said in an interview published on the hospital's website, that Johnson made him "feel less nervous" when he asked to be called Boris. ALSO READ: Indian-origin doctor issues 'soul searching' open letter to UK PM Boris Johnson Pitarma said he was by Johnson's side during his three nights in the intensive care unit and that he was "extremely proud" Johnson thanked him. Johnson spent a week in hospital, leaving on April 12. On his discharge, he highlighted the care he received from Pitarma and his New Zealand colleague Jenny McGee. Johnson is still convalescing at his country retreat. NEW DELHI - On a bright morning earlier this month, a former army officer was riding his motorcycle down a rural road south of India's capital when he reached an improvised barricade. He had no idea the villagers were looking for a scapegoat. He slowed his bike to a stop. The men at the barricade quickly identified him as a Muslim from the neighboring area in the state of Haryana. "These people are spreading the coronavirus," said one of the villagers, according to a police complaint filed by the man's family. "Grab him." Sahimuddin, 49, who goes by only one name, felt a rope thrown around his neck. The attackers tightened the noose until he fell unconscious, the complaint said. He was later rushed to a hospital coughing blood, where doctors performed emergency surgery on his ruptured vocal cords and damaged trachea. He will require two more operations in the weeks ahead. The assault reflected one of the oldest - and ugliest - human impulses: the desire to blame calamity on those who are different. In India, the search for scapegoats during the coronavirus pandemic has focused squarely on the country's sizable Muslim minority, a community of 200 million that felt under threat even before the advent of covid-19. News channels and some ruling-party officials rushed to blame Muslims for the rising number of coronavirus cases in the country after an Islamic missionary group in New Delhi emerged as a super-spreader. In recent weeks, Muslims have been assaulted, denied medical care and subjected to boycotts - all in the name of fear of the virus. While India stands out for the wave of vitriol directed toward its Muslim community, it is by no means alone. In the United States and Europe, there have been reports of discrimination and attacks on people of Asian descent. In China, Africans have been evicted and refused entry to restaurants amid fears that foreigners could spark a new round of infections. In Pakistan, activists say that the Hazara ethnic minority has been unfairly blamed as the source of the virus. The United States has expressed concern about the scapegoating of religious minorities during the pandemic. Sam Brownback, who holds the title of U.S. ambassador at large for international religious freedom, recently urged governments to "step up and pushback on these false narratives." He did not respond to questions about India's treatment of Muslims. This type of crisis can bring out new expressions of old prejudices, said Charlie Campbell, the author of a history of scapegoating. For governments, meanwhile, channeling public anger toward internal or external enemies is a way of diverting attention from their own failures, he said. "It's just a lot easier if you can whip up hatred against someone else," Campbell said. "It's the idea of the bad apple rather than the rotten barrel." Scapegoating during pandemics has a long history. Jews were blamed for the outbreak of the Black Death in medieval Europe. Irish immigrants were accused of spreading cholera in the 19th-century United States. Haitians were stigmatized during the AIDS epidemic. Yet such reactions are not inevitable, historians say. Responses to pandemics have included scapegoating, racism, xenophobia, the spreading of false rumors and price gouging, said Nukhet Varlik, a historian at the University of South Carolina who studies diseases, in a recent interview. But they also have included "empathy, altruism, caring and helping others." In India, a Hindu-majority nation of more than 1.3 billion people, the malice directed toward Muslims during the pandemic has intensified an already difficult situation. The government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pursued an agenda of Hindu primacy, moving India away from its secular founding ideals and raising fears that Muslims will be treated as second-class citizens. In February, the Indian capital witnessed its worst violence between Hindus and Muslims in decades. More than 50 people, most of them Muslims, were killed. In late March, the Delhi headquarters of an international Islamic missionary group called Tablighi Jamaat emerged as a major source of coronavirus infections. More than 4,000 confirmed cases have been linked to people who passed through the center. Its leader is facing criminal charges including negligently spreading disease, which he denies. Television anchors accused the group of engaging in a deliberate conspiracy to spread the virus, without citing any evidence. "We have identified the corona villains," thundered Arnab Goswami of Republic TV. Meanwhile, slurs against Muslims spread on social media. Videos shared on Facebook and Twitter have falsely accused Muslims of spreading the virus by purposely spitting, licking or sneezing on food. The hashtag #CoronaJihad circulated widely. A member of Parliament from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party took up the phrase, while another party official likened members of the Tablighi Jamaat to "human bombs." On Sunday, nearly a month after the Tablighi Jamaat cluster emerged, Modi issued an appeal for unity. "Covid-19 does not see race, religion, colour, caste, creed, language or borders," he wrote on Twitter. ". . . We are in this together." India has reported about 20,000 confirmed cases and more than 600 deaths from coronavirus. Zafarul-Islam Khan, the chairman of the Delhi Minorities Commission, said the Tablighi Jamaat leadership failed to anticipate the impending danger, but noted that many other religious and political groups continued their activities in the same period. The subsequent vilification of Muslims - propelled by media coverage and largely unchecked by the government - could have far-reaching consequences, Khan said. He fears it will "take much longer" for discriminatory behavior to subside. In the eastern Indian city of Jamshedpur, a pregnant Muslim woman alleged that when she went to a hospital last week for help with sudden bleeding, she was accused of spreading the virus and told to clean up her own blood, according to a letter she sent to the top politician in the state. Later that day, her baby was found stillborn. An investigation is underway and any required action will be taken against the hospital, said Anoop Birtharay, the city's superintendent of police. Rukhsar Parveen, 15, a Muslim student living in a slum in Bhatpara in the state of West Bengal, said her family used to get drinking water from a community tap. But now her Hindu neighbors have prevented them from accessing it, saying they will spread infection. So Muslim families are drinking water from the pipes that supply non-potable water for bathing instead. A local activist confirmed Parveen's account. "We feel bad," Parveen said. "Why are they behaving like this with us?" Fake news has also circulated among Muslims, including WhatsApp messages alleging that the authorities are taking Muslims away and forcibly injecting them with the coronavirus. Such falsehoods helped spur an assault on health workers in the central Indian city of Indore when they visited a Muslim neighborhood, said Suraj Verma, a senior police official in the city. In some cases, the scapegoating has spilled over into violence. Zareen Taj, a 39-year-old Muslim activist, was distributing food to the poor earlier this month in the southern city of Bangalore. A group of men arrived and began shouting at her and her team, Taj said, accusing them of spitting on the food and spreading the coronavirus. When she returned two days later, she said, members of the same group battered her team members with sticks on the hands and head, drawing blood. Bheemashankar S. Guled, a deputy police commissioner, said that three people were arrested, and they denied their actions were religiously motivated. The incident has left Taj brokenhearted. "We can save our country from this disease if we join hands," she said. "This is the time for solidarity, not for division and hatred." Sahimuddin, the retired army officer attacked in Haryana, was discharged from the hospital and is recovering at home. For now, he has lost his ability to speak. Police are investigating the assault. His family is still reeling. Sahimuddin's son Akib Hussain, a software engineer, said the attack was especially bitter given his father's long career in the Indian army. "You spend 26 years serving the country," he said, "and then you get treated like this just for being a Muslim." - - - The Washington Post's Tania Dutta in New Delhi and Haq Nawaz Khan in Peshawar, Pakistan, contributed to this report. The Telegraph News of the death of the QWERTY keyboard came, as well it would, via TikTok. It is there that Riley Keen posts videos of himself tapping out 500 words per minute double the amount the human mind can compute. Using a CharaChorder a device that looks almost like a digi-age dumbbell, with nine small joysticks on each of two black spheres connected by a silver bar Keen is able to touch-type so fast that he has recently been banned from online typing competitions. Leaderboards automatically fla Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 20:15:06|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close XI'AN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged efforts to overcome the negative impact of the COVID-19 epidemic to ensure the country reaches its goals in poverty alleviation and the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during an inspection tour in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. Xi called for solid efforts to ensure stable performance in employment, finance, foreign trade, foreign investment, domestic investment and market expectation. He also stressed better safeguarding jobs, livelihood, market entities, food and energy security, the stability of industrial and supply chains, and the smooth running of communities. Xi encouraged Shaanxi to make big development strides in the new era. During his inspection from Monday to Thursday, Xi learned about ecological conservation in the Qinling Mountains, poverty alleviation and work resumption, and conducted research on coordinating COVID-19 control with economic and social development as well as poverty alleviation. At the Niubeiliang National Nature Reserve, Xi said protecting the environment of the Qinling Mountains is of great and far-reaching significance to the long-term prosperity of the Chinese nation as well as the realization of the two centenary goals and the country's sustainable development. He urged local officials in Shaanxi to learn their lesson the hard way from the illegal construction of villas in the Qinling Mountains, avoid repeating the same mistake and work as guardians of the ecological environment of Qinling. Leaving the nature reserve, Xi visited the village of Jinmi in Zhashui County to learn about poverty relief. Xi stressed ensuring sustained and stable income increase for people in poverty. "Being lifted out of poverty is not an end in itself but the starting point of a new life and a new pursuit," he said. Xi underscored the importance of ensuring jobs for the poor as the year 2020 is the time for winning the anti-poverty fight. In a relocated community in the county of Pingli, Xi went to the home of local resident Wang Xianping and chatted with the family. Xi said relocation is essential for people in inhospitable areas to achieve strides in development. It is also an important approach to win the fight against poverty. He stressed the importance of securing employment for relocated people to settle down in their new home, get rich and not fall back into poverty. Enditem StoneMor Partners L.P. has agreed to pay $50,000 to settle allegations of deceptive business practices involving pre-need agreements for burial services at its Pennsylvania cemeteries, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Wednesday. Consumers have a right to be fully and fairly informed of all important terms of a contract before signing, and companies have an obligation to fully and fairly provide that information, said Shapiro in a release. Instead, this company failed to meaningfully inform consumers of information they needed to know ahead of time. Trevose-based StoneMor, the nations second-largest provider of funeral and cemetery products and services in the death-care industry, operates 321 cemeteries and 90 funeral homes in 27 states and Puerto Rico, according to its website. There was no answer Wednesday at its listed corporate headquarters phone number. Under StoneMors pre-need agreements, a consumer pays up-front or finances payments for burial services that will be provided upon death, including a burial vault, according to the release. By law, 70% of the money paid is required to be held in a trust fund in order to ensure it can be used to cover services and goods when needed. Shapiros office found that StoneMors subsidiaries in the state would initially fund the trust, but in certain instances would then engage in a practice called constructive delivery, in which a vault would be installed in the ground or stored for later delivery ahead of time. The company would then withdraw from the trust fund monies allocated to the vaults, the release says. The Attorney Generals office found consumers were not properly informed of this practice, except in well-hidden fine print of the contract signed upon purchase, according to the release. Under the agreement, StoneMor will pay $25,000 to consumers allegedly harmed by the practice and $25,000 to the commonwealth. Consumers or family members who believe they have been harmed by the constructive delivery practice have until June 16 to submit a claim or complaint to be considered for restitution. Consumers may submit complaints through the Office of Attorney Generals website or by calling 1-800-441-2555. South Carolinas governor is rolling out details of a program that his office says will allow the states economy to recover more quickly than any other states in the country from the new coronavirus outbreak. Gov. Henry McMaster on Monday announced the details of Accelerate South Carolina, which includes several key leaders in the state including mayors, presidents of institutions of higher learning, business owners and health care professionals. The group is headed up by James Burns, an attorney and former Defense Department deputy legal counsel who also served as chief of staff to former Gov. Nikki Haley. Its first meeting is scheduled for Thursday, with plans to hold multiple sessions over the next 30 days. McMaster has repeatedly stressed his desire for a swift, yet safe, reopening of the states economy, noting the severe toll the outbreak has had on individual workers and businesses. Establishments including restaurants, bars, manufacturers, dentist offices and a number of others have closed for a variety of reasons, including mandatory orders from McMaster issued in an effort to stem the outbreak. To do so too quickly would be reckless, the governor said last week, of resuming normal activity levels, noting several times he felt sure the economy would be humming by the end of June. Businesses Fear Lawsuits from Sick Employees, Patrons After Reopening Whenever U.S. stores, restaurants and theaters reopen from coronavirus shutdowns, they may face an unexpected problem: lawsuits from sick patrons and workers. Learn more. Businesses Press Congress for Immunity When States Lift Coronavirus Lockdowns Businesses want to make sure that they are not held liable for policy decisions by government officials, should employees or customers contract COVID-19 once operations resume. Learn more. During a media briefing, McMaster acknowledged that, even though the virus continues to spread, he saw it as crucial to both manage the outbreak and shore up the economy in hopes of avoiding disastrous, long-lasting effects. We are still in a very serious situation, McMaster said. People want to work, they need to work and were going to do all that we can do to see that they can do that, and continue with their lives, as much as possible. Thus far, South Carolina public health officials have reported a total of more than 4,400 COVID-19 cases, which have resulted in 124 deaths statewide. For most people, the coronavirus that caused this years pandemic causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, it can cause severe illness such as pneumonia, or even death. Last week, nearly 88,000 people filed for unemployment, bringing the statewide total of those who live or work in South Carolina saying they lost their jobs because of the outbreak to more than 268,000 more than 10 percent of the states total labor force of nearly 2.4 million. On Monday, McMaster also began loosening those economic restrictions, allowing businesses previously deemed non-essential department stores, flea markets, florists, bookstores and music shops to reopen their doors. The governors official stay-at-home order remains in place, although that mandate already allowed the patronage of essential businesses such as grocery stores, pharmacies, home improvement stores and medical facilities, as well as thousands of others that received waivers from state officials. That follows his decision last week to begin reopening public boat ramps that have been closed for several weeks and encouraging anyone on the states waterways to practice social distancing. Public beach access points were also set to reopen, although the governor said ultimate reopening decisions will rest with local officials. Already, some coastal municipalities have said they intend to maintain the entry checkpoints and access restrictions. Officials have said they expected South Carolinas outbreak to peak next month. On Sunday, Corrections Department officials announced the first positive COVID-19 test on one of the states more than 17,700 inmates, noting the 69-year-old man who is serving a life prison sentence has been in isolation since Friday and was being treated at a hospital. Asked about White House recommendations that a state see 14 days of declining positive tests before loosening restrictions, McMaster said those good guidelines were not requirements. Dr. Linda Bell, South Carolinas state epidemiologist, said that, while there had been a potential leveling off in the states cases, there was no consistent decline. We all obviously want to see an economic recovery, Bell said. But at the same time, we have to give the message that the risk of exposure remains for everyone. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics South Carolina American aerospace company Lockheed Martin announced that they are expecting fewer deliveries of the radar-evading F-35 Lightning II in 2020 as the coronavirus has disrupted its global supply chain. No figures on how many F-35s will not be delivered for the year since the aircraft company is still assessing the probable outcome due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson told DefenseNews that the disruptions brought by the coronavirus pandemic resulted in the reduction of the company's sales expectations for the years. Hewson added that the health crisis has slowed down the production and supply chain activities in the aeronautics business, which also affected the production of the fifth-generation fighter. ALSO READ: Breaking News! COVID-19 Lasts Up To 18 Days From Infected Hosts; More Coronavirus News You Should Know All Based on Studies Reduced Revenue for 2020 The production slowdown of F-35 will significantly affect the revenue of the company for the year. Among the business lines under Lockheed Martin's aeronautics unit, F-35 Lightning II remains the largest source of revenue. In a report in FlightGlobal, the stealth fighter manufacturer said that it reduced the annual revenue projection for its aeronautics unit alone by at least 2% or about $24.6 billion and the yearly profit projection for the entire company also declined by 1% or $2.67 billion. Its sales projection for the year also went down from an earlier estimate of $62.75 billion to $64.25 billion to about $62.25 billion to $64 billion. In 2019, Lockheed Martin delivered a total of 134 units of F-35 stealth jets around the world, which is more than its target for the year. For this year, the company aims to deliver 141 F-35s to the United States and its allied countries. But due to the pandemic, it is projecting fewer deliveries of F-35s this year. By March 31 this year, it was only able to roll out 22 jets, which is far lower than the 26 aircraft handed over for the same period last year. Supply Chain Affected by COVID-19 "What we're seeing is there are local distancing requirements that are being more-stringently applied across the globe. There's workforce disruption. There are likely impacts that are happening throughout their supply tier hierarchy. There are shipping constraints," Lockheed Martin executive vice-president and chief financial officer Kenneth Possenriede told FlightGlobal. Possenriede said that most of the stealth aircraft are built at the final assembly in Texas. At the same time, the remaining jets go through final assembly in facilities located in Cameri, Italy, and Nagoya, Japan. The quarantine measures disrupted the activities in the assembly facilities in Italy and Japan, but both sites are already back in operation. Possenriede explained that they are seeing an increase in supplier shortages due to travel restrictions and limited access to their sites. The scarcity of supply means fewer units will be assembled. The manufacturer expressed its optimism that normal operations will resume in the upcoming months. "We're hoping that the curve starts flattening in the second quarter, end of the second quarter, and we can get to some semblance of business as usual, whatever that is, starting in the third quarter," Possenriede added. The F-35 Lightning II is an all-weather, multirole stealth fighter that can fly at a top speed of Mach 1.6 and range of 2,200 kilometers. Other than its stealth features, it can carry in its internal bay top-of-the-line weapon systems. Also read: The F-35 is one heck of a fighter jet and...just a few clicks away from a hack 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. For the past several weeks, a fixture of President Trumps daily coronavirus task force press briefings has been his insistence that the ultimate measure of his administrations handling of the pandemic will be the number of Americans killed by COVID-19. At Mondays briefing, Trump said the latest projections for coronavirus fatalities proved the wisdom of his implementing a travel ban from China and the guidelines of his coronavirus task force recommending that states institute social distancing practices practices that he has recently encouraged residents of some states to end. We did the right thing, because if you didnt do it, you would have had a million people, a million and a half people, maybe 2 million people dead. Now were going toward 50 or 60,000 people, Trump told reporters. One is too many, I always say it. One is too many. But were going toward 50 or 60,000 people, thats at the lower as you know, the lower number was supposed to be 100,000 people. We could end up at 50 to 60 [thousand]. OK, its horrible. If we didnt do what we did, we would have had, I think, a million people, maybe 2 million people, maybe more than that. Public health experts agree that by shuttering schools and businesses the U.S. avoided a large number of fatalities. The grim prediction of up to 2.2 million American deaths from COVID-19 was contained in a report by researchers at the Imperial College of London, based on the worst-case premise that the U.S. government would take no action to combat the spread of the coronavirus. President Trump at a briefing about the coronavirus on Monday. (Alex Brandon/AP) But Trumps critics have cited his initial assurances that the virus was totally under control and will go away to show that he failed to take the health risks from COVID-19 seriously. As the U.S. death toll has climbed to 43,600 as of Tuesday afternoon one boast Trump was prone to make earlier in the pandemic has dropped from his Twitter feed and briefing rants: the comparison to the death toll from the H1N1 swine flu pandemic during the Obama administration. Story continues Biden/Obama were a disaster in handling the H1N1 Swine Flu. Polling at the time showed disastrous approval numbers. 17,000 people died unnecessarily and through incompetence! Also, dont forget their 5 Billion Dollar Obamacare website that should have cost close to nothing! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 17, 2020 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that H1N1 killed 12,500 Americans after infecting more than 60 million here, but that didnt keep Trump from repeatedly using a higher figure to bash his predecessor at briefings and on Twitter. On April 17, the last time Trump pointed to the (inflated) number of U.S. casualties from H1N1, the number of U.S. deaths from COVID-19 stood at 36,721. Weeks earlier, when Trump toured CDC headquarters in Atlanta on March 7, the president expressed surprise at the average annual death rate in the U.S. from influenza. Over the last long period of time, you have an average of 36,600 people dying, Trump said, adding, I never heard those numbers. I wouldve been shocked. I wouldve said, Does anybody die from the flu? I didnt know people died of the flu. At his March 24 White House briefing, Trump again noted that as many as 50,000 Americans could die of flu this year. He also offered another analogy, saying, We dont shut down our economy because tens of thousands of people die on the highways. Its a risk we accept so we can move about. A COVID-19 patient being transported to a medical facility in Richmond, Va. (Steve Helber/AP) Annual deaths from automobile accidents in the U.S. have been in a range of 35,000 to 38,000 in recent years. The CDC estimates that from 24,000 to 62,000 Americans died from influenza in the 2019-2020 flu season, which typically runs from October through April. The 43,600 deaths from the coronavirus have occurred in less than six weeks, during which most of the country has been under some form of stay-at-home lockdown. Trump, who has long promoted what he calls an America first agenda, has been eager at his briefings to contextualize the numbers that show the U.S. having the most COVID-19 cases and deaths, by far, of any country. The United States has produced dramatically better health outcomes than any other country, with the possible exception of Germany, Trump declared during Saturdays task force briefing, adding, On a per capita basis our mortality rate is far lower than other nations of Western Europe. Trump is correct that the U.S., with 129.28 deaths per million population as of Tuesday, is doing better than Belgium, Spain, Italy, France, the U.K., the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden and Ireland. Nations with lower death rates than the U.S. include Portugal, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Canada, Slovenia, Norway, Panama, Estonia, Ecuador and Turkey, according to figures from Statista. Of course, death statistics can be unreliable, and Trump is right to be skeptical that China, the nation of 1.3 billion where the coronavirus outbreak began, has reported only 4,636 fatalities from COVID-19. But without presenting evidence, Trump has also claimed that China, not the U.S., actually leads the world in the raw number of COVID-19 deaths. We dont have the most-in-the-world deaths, Trump said during Fridays briefing. The most in the world has to be China. For what its worth, U.S. death figures for COVID-19 are also likely underreported. Thats because the CDC counts only deaths from the virus that are confirmed by a laboratory test, and many people who die at home or in nursing homes, while having shown symptoms of the virus, are never tested. We know that it is an underestimation, CDC spokeswoman Kristen Nordlund told the Washington Post in reference to the official death count. _____ 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 refer to the CDCs and WHOs resource guides. Read more: For more coverage, visit our complete coronavirus section here. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Trump administrations point man in the fight against COVID-19, has said a safe vaccine for the virus could be ready for use in 12 to 18 months. Thats the same timeline the World Health Organization is working on. History suggests it will take longer. The vaccine that holds the record for fastest approval time, Mumpsvax (mumps virus vaccine live), took four years before it was ready. Scientists have been trying to develop an HIV vaccine for decades without success. On Wednesday, Severin Schwan, the head of the Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche, described Faucis 12-18 month estimate as ambitious and said a vaccine most likely wont be ready until the end of 2021 at the earliest. With confirmed global coronavirus cases now topping 2.5 million, the pressure to develop a vaccine is mounting, and dozens of firms and scores of scientists are working toward that goal. Here are some of the contenders: Moderna bankrolled: Last week, Modernas mRNA-1273 vaccine received a $483 million grant from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to ramp up late-stage trials and vaccine production. The company intends to start a phase 3 study in the second quarter and could start phase 3 this fall. The vaccine uses a genetic molecule called mRNA as its base. Scientists generate the mRNA in the lab and, rather than directly injecting SARS-CoV-2 (the novel coronavirus) into patients, instead will introduce this mRNA. The bad news is no vaccine built from a virus genetic material has ever earned approval. Because of mRNAs unproven track record, global analytics firm Clarivate estimated Modernas vaccine has just a 5% chance of success and that approval would take 5.2 years. Successful results in phases 2 and 3 could change those predictions, a Clarivate spokesperson told the drug industry publication Fierce Pharma. Inovio "confident": Clarivate also evaluated biotech company Inovios DNA vaccine INO-4800, which is now in clinical testing. Clarivates algorithm predicted a 15% probability of success for the vaccine and approval timeline of 5.5 years. Inovio told Fierce Pharma it remains "highly confident in the viability and likelihood of success of our vaccine candidate for the novel coronavirus." Janssen's gamble: Janssen Pharmaceuticals, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, aims to start human trials for its vaccine by September 2020 at the latest. The company says it plans to be able to manufacture 600 to 900 million coronavirus vaccine doses by the first quarter of 2021, increasing to a billion over the year. "Normally, companies would not invest in their manufacturing scale-up until they were deep into phase 2 and starting phase 3. Theyd have more clarity that a product was going to work," Phyllis Arthur, vice president for infectious diseases and diagnostic policy at Biotechnology Innovation Organization, told Quartz. A British vaccine by autumn? A University of Oxford team will begin human trials of a potential coronavirus vaccine Thursday, according to the Independent. One of the scientists said if the trials are successful, millions of doses of vaccine could be ready by the fall. British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said reaching this stage in normal times would "take years." Hancock announced he was allocating 20 million ($24 million) to the Oxford team and a further 22.5 million to Imperial College, whose scientists are also working on a vaccine. Israeli scientist targets virus weak link: Prof. Jonathan Gershoni from Tel Aviv University's (TAU) School of Molecular Cell Biology and Biotechnology says his laboratory is "two-thirds of the way" toward developing a vaccine for COVID-19. According to the Jerusalem Post, Gershoni is focusing on the virus's Receptor Binding Motif (RBM), part of the virus' "spike" protein, which attaches itself and infects a target human cell. Once the viral membrane fuses with that cell, the genetic blueprint of the virus can enter the cell and begin infection. "The idea is to recreate, to reconstitute, to construct an RBM of COVID-19 virus and use it as the vaccine," he told the Post. "That is to say, you would inject a small 50 amino-acid sequence and it would allow our immune system to focus on it and create antibodies that would directly target the virus at its weak spot." Development of such an RBM-based vaccine should take months, but it then would need to be tested in clinical trials, taking up to a year, Gershoni says. 200,000 doses in Texas: Dr. Peter Hortez, a dean at Baylor College of Medicine and co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston, told MSNBC his team has already 200,000 doses of a coronavirus vaccine ready for human clinical trials. Even so, he says a 12-18 month timeline for a vaccine would be "unprecedented. One of the biggest obstacles to fast-tracking a vaccine are the time-consuming human trials necessary to ensure its safety while demonstrating its efficacy. But given the magnitude of the pandemic, some members of Congress are suggesting a short cut. Volunteers allowing themselves to be intentionally infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 could accelerate the development of a vaccine, said 35 members of the U.S. House of Representatives in a letter Tuesday to the Food and Drug Administration and its parent agency, the Department of Health and Human Services, the journal Science reported. The controversial strategy is backed by both Democratic and Republican members of the group. The legislators also are pushing the idea of parallel, simultaneous testing of different doses of a vaccine rather than the traditional sequential testing, which starts with participants getting the lowest dose first and gradually building up the dosage as the trial proceeds. The strategy could expedite testing from small groups to larger trials. Scientists are divided on "human challenge" trials, with some arguing the risks are too great. 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 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) Health officials are hopeful the Philippines will return to its regular testing capacity once the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine goes back to its full operation by Saturday. Health Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire on Thursday said the country's 17 accredited testing laboratories were already processing 4,000 test samples last week. But capacity went down starting April 18 when RITM revealed 43 of its employees have tested positive for COVID-19. The country's main novel coronavirus testing center was forced to scale down its operations to disinfect and implement other safety measures. Vergeire said from April 19 to 21, the number went down to 2,700 tests daily. But starting Wednesday, the testing capacity slightly went up to 3,200. She is confident it will reach 4,000 tests by Saturday. The Department of Health earlier said it is eyeing laboratories in the country to collectively conduct 8,000 tests per day by end of April. Vergeire said that based on initial information, no laboratory technician handling test samples tested positive for COVID-19. The RITM said the first recorded case of COVID-19 in their facility was an encoder who caught the disease in their own community. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram In the early hours of April 18, 2020, two fire bombs exploded outside the Athens offices of the Skai Media Group, which houses the daily Kathimerini newspaper and the Skai radio and TV broadcaster, according to a report by Kathimerini. Four perpetrators approached the building, exploded one bomb in a courtyard and another on the balcony of the first floor, and then fled from the scene, according to that report. No one was injured in the attacks, and the damage to the office was minor, the newspaper said. On the day of the attack, the group Anarchist Comrades claimed responsibility for the bombings in a statement and a video of the attacks, published on an anarchist website. The group called Skai Media Group the unofficial press office of the current conservative government in Greece. Police have opened an investigation and are examining surveillance video of the attack, according to Kathimerini. In 2017, unidentified attackers exploded three larger bombs at the same office, which shattered windows throughout the building, according to news reports. CPJ emailed questions to the press department of the Greek national police, but did not receive any reply. Baghdad, April 23 : Seven Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in an airstrike during an operation in the eastern province of Diyala of Iraq, Iraqi military said. The incident took place when an Iraqi security force conducted a search campaign to hunt down the extremist IS militants in the mountainous area of Himreen in the northern part of the province, Saad al-Shammari from the Iraqi army told Xinhua on Wednesday. During the operation, the force fought a fierce clash with IS militants, who blew up a roadside bomb near the troops, leaving five security members wounded, al-Shammari said. Afterwards, the militants fled the scene, while Iraqi helicopter gunships chased them deep into the mountainous area and bombed their hideouts, killing seven of the militants, he added. Despite repeated military operations against the remnants of IS militants, the extremist militants are still hiding in Himreen mountain range which extends in the three provinces of Diyala, Salahudin and Kirkuk. Earlier, the Iraqi Joint Operations Command said in a statement that a total of 135 IS militants have been killed in Iraq during the period between Jan. 1 to April 15 through 1,060 anti-IS operations by the Iraqi security forces. It said that up to 88 security members and 82 civilians were also killed by the extremist militants during the same period. The security situation in Iraq has been improved since Iraqi security forces fully defeated the extremist IS militants across the country late in 2017. However, IS remnants have since melted in urban areas or resorted to deserts and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. At least 10 midwives in the maternity unit at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda have tested positive for Covid-19, while up to 20 others underwent testing in recent days. Elsewhere, four physiotherapists at Mayo University Hospital have contracted the virus physios there have been retrained to work on the front line in the fight against coronavirus. News of the outbreaks in the two hospital departments emerge as the number of healthcare workers infected by Covid-19 climbed to 4,180 on Tuesday an increase of 54% compared to a week earlier. In the HSE North-East region, where Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital is located, the number of healthcare workers with coronavirus more than doubled during that period, soaring from 164 to 406. In the HSE West region, which includes Mayo University Hospital, the number climbed by 16% from 159 to 184. Healthcare workers now account for 27% of all Covid-19 cases in Ireland. Earlier this month, CEO of Saolta University Health Care Group, Tony Canavan, said that physiotherapists were among the hospital workers that were being retrained for the front line against Covid-19. Some 250 staff [across the hospital group] have been trained over the last four weeks. These are nursing staff and therapists, such as physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists. These are currently working in our hospitals but are now trained if we need them to work in our ICUs, he added. A spokeswoman for the hospital group declined to comment on the number of physiotherapists who had tested positive for Covid-19 in Mayo, and instead pointed to national statistics containing the total number of infected healthcare workers. The 10 staff members infected by Covid-19 in the maternity unit at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital represents approximately 10% of the midwives working in the department. The maternity unit at the hospital has banned visitors from the antenatal and postnatal wards as part of its response to the pandemic, and permits the attendance of partners only in the labour ward, similar to most other facilities. The RCSI hospital group did not respond to queries over the course of six days, although the HSE National Press Office confirmed that they had been received. Technavio has been monitoring the passenger car security systems market and it is poised to grow by USD 837.73 mn during 2019-2023. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200422005578/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Passenger Car Security Systems Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire) Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request Latest Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impact The market is concentrated, and the degree of concentration will decelerate during the forecast period. Continental AG, Hella GmbH Co. KGaA, Tokai Rika Co. Ltd., Valeo SA, and ZF Friedrichshafen AG are some of the major market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Emergence of connected cars has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Passenger Car Security Systems Market 2019-2023: Segmentation Passenger car security systems market is segmented as below: Product Immobilizer Central Lock System Alarm System RKE and Others Geographic Landscape APAC Europe MEA North America South America To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR31478 Passenger Car Security Systems Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our passenger car security systems market report covers the following areas: Passenger Car Security Systems Market Size Passenger Car Security Systems Market Trends Passenger Car Security Systems Market Industry Analysis This study identifies growth of biometric technology as one of the prime reasons driving the passenger car security systems market growth during the next few years. Passenger Car Security Systems Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the passenger car security systems market, including some of the vendors such as Continental AG, Hella GmbH Co. KGaA, Tokai Rika Co. Ltd., Valeo SA, and ZF Friedrichshafen AG. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the passenger car security systems market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Passenger Car Security Systems Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023 Detailed information on factors that will assist passenger car security systems market growth during the next five years Estimation of the passenger car security systems market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the passenger car security systems market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of passenger car security systems market vendors Table Of Contents : PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT 2.1 Preface 2.2 Preface 2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysis PART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing 2018 Market size and forecast 2018-2023 PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY PRODUCT Market segmentation by product Comparison by product Immobilizer Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Central lock system Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Alarm system Market size and forecast 2018-2023 RKE and others Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Market opportunity by product PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023 North America Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Europe Market size and forecast 2018-2023 South America Market size and forecast 2018-2023 MEA Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Key leading countries Market opportunity PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challenges PART 11: MARKET TRENDS Growth of biometric technology Increase in use of smart mobile apps for passenger cars Rise in risks associated with keyless cars PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruption PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Continental AG Hella GmbH Co. KGaA Tokai Rika Co. Ltd. Valeo SA ZF Friedrichshafen AG PART 14: APPENDIX Research methodology List of abbreviations Definition of market positioning of vendors PART 15: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT 2.1 Preface 2.2 Preface 2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysis PART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing 2018 Market size and forecast 2018-2023 PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY PRODUCT Market segmentation by product Comparison by product Immobilizer Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Central lock system Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Alarm system Market size and forecast 2018-2023 RKE and others Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Market opportunity by product PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023 North America Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Europe Market size and forecast 2018-2023 South America Market size and forecast 2018-2023 MEA Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Key leading countries Market opportunity PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challenges PART 11: MARKET TRENDS Growth of biometric technology Increase in use of smart mobile apps for passenger cars Rise in risks associated with keyless cars PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruption PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Continental AG Hella GmbH Co. KGaA Tokai Rika Co. Ltd. Valeo SA ZF Friedrichshafen AG PART 14: APPENDIX Research methodology List of abbreviations Definition of market positioning of vendors PART 15: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200422005578/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ This week on Monday (20th April 2020), in a press meet, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General said that only around 2 to 3 percent of the global population have antibodies that show they had been infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19 disease. Immunity absent According to the statement from the Director-General of WHO, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, about the global pandemic of COVID-19, the worst is far from over, as immunity to the infection in the form of antibodies is present in only around 2 to 3 percent of the population. What does this mean? There were initial theories of herd immunity. If a large population is infected (over 80 percent), it is speculated that the whole population or community will develop immunity against the infection due to the antibodies present in those who are already infected. The same was speculated initially for COVID-19, and it was felt that those with high titers of antibodies against the infection could carry an immunity passport. Their plasma containing the antibodies could also help those with an active infection. Antibodies attacking SARS-CoV-2 virus, the conceptual 3D illustration. Image Credit: Kateryna Kon / Shutterstock No long term protection The WHO says that because only a meager few individuals carry the antibodies, they may not be enough to provide herd immunity to the whole population. Since this is not possible, the WHO officials say, return to normal life could be delayed. They also emphasize that there is no long term protection offered by the infection in the form of antibodies. This could mean that a person who has recovered from the infection carried a risk of being infected again. End in sight? A few days back, the WHO said that unless a vaccine is developed, there could be no escape from social distancing practices at present. They also said that a vaccine could only be a reality in only around a year to 18 months. One of the WHO experts said that there is no data at present that shows that this form of herd immunity could be a reality and those who have recovered could be immune from the disease. Expert speak The Director-General said on Monday that 2 to 3 percent is a ballpark figure of the population who are immune to the disease. He said that these are based on the studies conducted by various agencies and supported by the WHO. According to Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHOs technical lead on COVID-19 added that these figures were much less than what was expected. She added that some countries such as United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy are looking at the development of immunity passports. This may not be immediately possible, she said. Van Kerkhove said, Right now, we have no evidence that the use of a serological test can show that an individual has immunity or is protected from reinfection. She explained that serological tests are blood tests that look for antibodies against a specific infection. She added, These antibody tests will be able to measure that level of seroprevalence that level of antibodies, but that does not mean that somebody with antibodies means that they are immune. Dr. Michael Ryan, a colleague of Van Kerkhove, also said, There are serious ethical issues around the use of such an approach, and we need to address it very carefully, we also need to look at the length of protection that antibodies might give. You might have someone who believes they are seropositive (have been infected) and protected in a situation where they may be exposed, and in fact, they are susceptible to the disease. Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious-disease expert, had said earlier that he was willing to bet anything that people who recover are protected against reinfection. These antibodies containing plasma could also help those with active disease believed experts. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, in a Geneva press meet, said, Easing restrictions is not the end of the epidemic in any country. So-called lockdowns can help to take the heat out of a countrys epidemic. Early data suggests that a relatively small percentage of the populations may have been infected, Dr. Tedros said. Not more than 2 to 3 percent. Tedros explained that while he did not negate the utility of antibody tests at present, these tests should be taken along with other tests to check for active infection. He said that the WHO still supported antibody tests that could help researchers understand the extent of infection in the population. Relevant studies Stanford University researchers recently have revealed results of their study which showed that those who had been infected with the virus were 85 times more than what was officially reported. This was based on the antibody titers. Santa Clara County had between 48,000 and 81,000 infected persons and most of these patients did not show any symptoms. This was around 3 percent of the population. A study from the Netherlands also showed that 3 percent of the population had antibodies against the virus. China too has reported that 3 percent of the population had antibodies against the infection. A driver was killed when he tried to pass an 18-wheeler that was reversing along a commercial street Wednesday in southeast Houston, police say. The big rig was facing southbound in the northbound lane of Nunn Street near Lindbergh Street around 3 p.m. when its driver started driving in reverse, according to Houston police. At some point, the big rig driver started to drift into the southbound lane while he was still in reverse, police said. While the Catholic Church in Bangladesh has launched a special fund to help those hit by the Covid-19 lockdown, a Christian in Pakistan is distributing free food to the needy. By Robin Gomes The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Bangladesh (CBCB) Bangladesh has launched a special fund to help alleviate the suffering of Catholics affected by the lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Bangladesh Church CBCB president, Cardinal Patrick D'Rozario of Dhaka said that current situation could worsen in the coming days, as a result, many people in our community will suffer from lack of food, medicine and other means of subsistence, The most affected people will be children, the sick and the elderly, day labourers, the migrant community in the city of Dhaka and those who do not have a permanent job but depend on daily work for livelihood. Many will suffer from hunger and may even die, said the cardinal in a letter to the Vaticans Fides news agency. Cardinal D'Rozario has asked parish priests, superiors, headmasters and heads of Christian institutions and organizations, individual faithful, and other potential donors to contribute to the special fund called "Corona Charity Fund". He said parish priests, with the help of Saint Vincent de Paul Society and the Pastoral Councils, are identifying the poorest and most destitute families needing financial and medical support. It is our Christian responsibility, he said, to respond to this difficult situation through our sincere prayer, sacrifices and financial support." The Corona Charity Fund has been able to provide 650 Catholic families in Dhaka Archdiocese with 3,000 Bangladeshi Taka (approximately $35) to buy food. They plan to reach 1,500 families. On Thursday, the total numbers of Covid-19 cases so far in Bangladesh stood at 4,186 with 127 deaths. The government is thinking of extending the lockdown to May 5. Raja Walter of Pakistan Meanwhile, in Pakistan, a Christian food shop owner has launched a humanitarian initiative to feed the needy who are suffering from the consequences of the lockdown because of the coronavirus pandemic. Raja Walter, a Christian from Youhanabad, a predominantly Christian district of Lahore, feeds nearly 300 needy people every day. His charity that is open to all, irrespective of faith or ethnic origin, was prompted by some alleged cases of discrimination against members of the Christian minority community who were denied food aid at charity queues. According to Raja, "love for humanity must prevail in Pakistan". The nationwide lockdown imposed by the Pakistani government on April 1 to fight the spread of the virus, has been extended to the end of the month. This situation has interrupted much of the economic activity in the country, compounding the problem of malnutrition already affecting many Pakistanis. A man with a big heart, Raja isnt a big restaurant owner. He runs a small food point having good skills in making burgers. He is famous for making delicious burgers and his customers always appreciate him. The son of a catechist also owns a small grocery store in that area. Hearing about the initiative, Father. Francis Nadeem, the executive secretary of the National Commission for Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism (NCIDE) of Pakistan Catholic Bishops' Conference (PCBC), led a delegation on Holy Saturday to Youhanabad, to see and talk to Raja. The Capuchin priest was joined by Sahibzada Muhammad Asim Makhdoom, chairman of the board of Kul Masalik Ulema and Allama Asghar Arif Chishti. Shanila Ruth, member of the National Assembly for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (Pakistan Justice Movement) party of Prime Minister Imran Khan, also visited Raja and commended his humanitarian initiative. While hailing Raja as "a fine example of social and interreligious harmony", Father Nadeem joined him in inviting Pakistani Muslims to put themselves at the service of all those in need without discrimination. A brother of Raja who works in Sweden has been helping him and is encouraging him to continue the initiative until the emergency is over. Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman is facing fierce backlash after she called for the swift reopening of casinos and other nonessential businesses and said that the city could serve as a test case for lifting coronavirus lockdowns. During an off-the-rails interview with CNN on Wednesday, Goodman said wants to get the entire city back to work as soon as possible, downplaying the threat of COVID-19 as she argued that 'we've had viruses for years'. She refused to take any responsibility for ensuring that businesses maintain social distancing to protect their employees and customers, asserting: 'That's up to them to figure out. I don't own a casino.' The politically independent mayor suggested that Las Vegas residents could serve as a 'control group' to see how easing restrictions and closures would affect the city. 'I offered to be a control group and I was told by our statistician you can't do that because people from all parts of southern Nevada come in to work in the city,' Goodman said. 'We would love to be that placebo side so you have something to measure against.' Workers, union leaders and Nevada officials alike have condemned Goodman's comments as 'reckless' and 'dangerous'. Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman is facing fierce backlash following a bizarre CNN interview on Wednesday where she called for the swift reopening of casinos and other nonessential businesses and said that the city could serve as a test case for lifting coronavirus lockdowns Goodman, an independent, suggested that Las Vegas residents could serve as a 'control group' to see how easing restrictions and closures would affect the city Goodman for weeks has spoken out against Democratic Gov Steve Sisolak's orders shuttering casinos and nonessential businesses, calling it 'total insanity' that's 'killing Las Vegas.' Sisolak has repeatedly pushed back, saying that he understands the economic harm the order is causing but saving lives is more important. The governor responded to Goodman's latest remarks in an interview on CNN Wednesday evening. 'I will not allow the citizens of Nevada, our Nevadans, to be used as a control group, as a placebo, whatever she wants to call it,' Sisolak said. 'We want to welcome everybody back to Las Vegas,' he said. 'We want to welcome them back to the lights on the Strip. But it's not today and it's not tomorrow.' Sisolak noted that the state reported more deaths from the virus in the hours since the mayor's television appearance, with total deaths climbing to 187 and infections reaching 4,081. Gov Steve Sisolak responded to Goodman's latest remarks in an interview on CNN Wednesday evening, saying: 'I will not allow the citizens of Nevada, our Nevadans, to be used as a control group, as a placebo, whatever she wants to call it' Alexander Acosta, who works as a banquet bartender at the Caesar Forum Conference Center, said Goodman's remarks 'struck a nerve' with him and his colleagues. 'We're not test subjects. We're people. We are employees,' Acosta told NBC News. 'We try to live every day as we can. We shouldn't be test subjects.' Dee Kenny, 64, who works security at casinos on the Strip and has underlying health issues, told the outlet she refuses to return to work until her employers implement strict safety measures. 'There's no proper protocols in place anywhere,' Kenny said. 'I'm not going to go back until I'm not at risk.' She said she would like employers to provide workers with personal protective gear and to test all staff for COVID-19 and its antibodies before resuming operations. Jay Blake, who works in a VIP lounge at a casino, said he understand's Goodman's eagerness to get the city's economy back up and running, but he doesn't think the mayor 'put a lot of thought into what it could mean if we reopen too soon.' 'Vegas is a unique destination, in that we rely on guests from all parts of the country, all parts of the world,' Blake told NBC News. 'I'm concerned if we open to everyone, [there will be] people coming from hot spots, places with outbreaks, where social distancing wasn't as stringent as it was here.' D. Taylor, president of UNITE Here, a union that represents more than 300,000 hospitality workers nationwide, called Goodman's remarks 'one of the worst things I've heard'. 'Nobody wants people to go back more than I do, but everyone wants to go back to a safe and secure workplace and not be an experiment in a petri dish,' Taylor said. Workers, union leaders and Nevada officials alike have condemned Goodman's comments as 'reckless' and 'dangerous'. Pictured: Empty slot machines at the Flamingo Hotel Several employees in the hospitality industry have said they refuse to go back to work until employers implement strict safety measures Las Vegas City Councilman Brian Knudsen said Goodman 'does not speak for all of us,' and reopening now 'is reckless and completely contrary to the overwhelming consensus of medical experts.' Rep Dina Titus, a Democrat who represents the Las Vegas Strip, said Goodman doesn't represent the area 'literally or figuratively' and the advice of scientists telling people to stay home should be heeded. Justin Jones, a Democrat who sits on the Clark County Commission that oversees the Strip, called the mayor 'an embarrassment.' His commission colleague Michael Naft called the mayor's remarks 'reckless and dangerous' and said lifting restrictions too soon would be a slap in the face of those who sacrificed. The casino workers' Culinary Union, which represents about 60,000 bartenders, cooks, housekeepers and other employees, said Goodman's remarks were 'outrageous considering essential frontline workers have been dealing with the consequences of this crisis firsthand.' 'Workplaces need to be safe and healthy - not a petri dish,' Geoconda Arguello-Kline, the union's secretary-treasurer, said, noting that 11 of its members have died of COVID-19. Goodman (pictured in January) for weeks has spoken out against Sisolak's orders shuttering casinos and nonessential businesses, calling it 'total insanity' that's 'killing Las Vegas' Due to the coronavirus pandemic Las Vegas faces a deficit of nearly $150million over the next 18 months, demand for food is up 30 percent as long lines appear across the city at food pantries, and over 300,000 Nevadans have applied for unemployment in the past month. Nevada has the 20th largest number of cases per 100,000 people in the US with over 4,000 cases of COVID-19 and 187 deaths, according to state government data. In Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, at least 3,218 infections and 150 deaths have been reported. Goodman is suggesting a modern day survival of the fittest plan to reopen casinos and shops, which would see businesses that report cases of COVID-19 shut down. When Cooper grilled her over that idea during Wednesday's interview, she repeatedly asserted that it isn't her job to implement social distancing guidelines for businesses. 'I am not a private owner. That's the competition in this country. The free enterprise and to be able to make sure that what you offer the public meets the needs of the public,' Goodman said. 'Right now, we're in a crisis health-wise, and so for a restaurant to be open or a small boutique to be open, they better figure it out. That's their job. That's not the mayor's job.' The 25-minute interview went viral on social media as viewers slammed Goodman's cavalier remarks and laughed at Cooper's frequent expressions of disbelief and frustration. Cooper appeared to grow increasingly frustrated over the course of the interview, at one put covering his face with his hands 'You're encouraging hundreds of thousands of people coming there, in casinos, smoking, drinking, touching slot machines, breathing circulated air, and then returning home to states around America and countries around the world - doesn't that sound like a virus petri dish?' Cooper asked at one point. 'You know what, it sounds like you're being an alarmist,' Goodman replied. 'I'm not. I've lived a long life, I grew up in the heart of Manhattan, I know what it's like to be with subways, on buses and crammed into elevators.' Questioned about whether she believes there should be social distancing, Goodman said: 'Of course I believe there should be social distancing. Of course. I'm a rational.' 'How do you do that in casinos?' Cooper pressed. 'That's up to them to figure out,' Goodman responded. Demand at food banks in Las Vegas has surged by 30 percent. Volunteer Nicole Palacio waits to put a box of food items into a vehicle at a drive-thru Three Square Food Bank emergency food distribution site at Palace Station Hotel & Casino in response to an increase in demand amid the coronavirus pandemic on April 16 Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Officer J. Gutierrez opens a box of apples at a drive-thru Three Square Food Bank emergency food distribution site on April 16 Long lines of cars have appeared at food banks across the city where the wait time is sometimes hours to get food supplies The Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) has announced a series of webinars aimed at showcasing the range of cross-government support programs available to Saudi and international investors. Held under the theme of Business Continuity in Saudi Arabia, the inaugural edition of the series was held April 23. The first webinar brought together several government entities to highlight the specific services and economic relief accessible to businesses in priority sectors, outlining how to and where to go to obtain support. Representatives from MISAs Investor Services and Covid-19 Response Center (MCRC) teams, alongside entities such as Monshaat, the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA), and the Kafalah program, were among the speakers in attendance. Each provided a short overview of their major support schemes in operation before answering questions from participants. Ibrahim Al-Suwail, deputy for Investor Services at Saudi Arabias Ministry of Investment said: During these unprecedented times, the Ministry of Investment is committed to doing our duty to reassure investors and be a source of consistent, transparent and up-to-date information as we also commit to ensuring business continuity. This series of webinars is aimed at helping us to do just that in a unified way, connecting businesses from different sectors that are looking for assistance to our partners across the government who can meet their needs. Investors from abroad and at home are at the heart of Saudi Arabias ongoing transformation this new initiative is indicative of our efforts to overcome the current challenges facing not just the Kingdom but the global business community. We are here to help businesses weather the storm. The launch of the series builds on the Ministry of Investments achievements in supporting Saudi Arabias investor community through the establishment of a dedicated Covid-19 Response Center (MCRC) early on during the pandemic. Set up to facilitate virtual government support services, ensure access to the Saudi market remains open, and advise businesses on the best ways to approach potential challenges, the MCRC has so far helped more than 2,000 local and international investors to mitigate the negative impacts of Covid-19. In recognition of this, UNCTADs most recent IPA Observer report featured the MCRC as a front runner in global best practice for its assistance programs. MISA also offers a business continuity playbook, which is available on its website along with a regularly updated database of frequently asked questions to help businesses quickly find answers to common questions, as well as stay up to date with the latest information on government services and support programs. TradeArabia News Service One of the most important trials in the annals of international human rights law got underway Thursday in a courthouse in the small western German city of Koblenz. Former intelligence directorate senior officer Anwar Raslan is accused of overseeing the murder, torture and rape of at least 4,000 dissidents and activists locked up inside the al-Khatib branch of the Syrian Ministry of Intelligence for protesting dictatorship of Bashar al-Assad. The more junior official, Ayad al-Ghareeb, who appeared in court with his face partially hidden by a jacket, is accused of aiding and abetting crimes against humanity. Chief prosecutor Jasper Klinge spent more than an hour recounting the stories of 24 of those held inside al-Khatib. "Anwar R was responsible for the ruthless torture by the prison guards," said Mr Klinge, according to lawyer who attended the trial. "The extent of the injuries was predictable. He accepted it." The trial marks the first time that Assad regime enforcers are being tried for their violations of human rights in a court of law. Its not about this guy alone, Syrian human rights lawyer Anwar al-Bunni told journalists earlier this week in an online briefing. Its about who the orders came from, how the torture is done. Its to expose all the regime structure and system of torture. Its important to expose this for all the world. Mr Raslan, who originally escaped Syria with the help of dissidents and sought asylum in Turkey, appeared in court wearing spectacles and a moustache, as Mr Klinge read out allegations. He is accused of grave offences. According to the indictment, he headed the investigations unit at Section 251 of the General Intelligence Directorate, overseeing Damascus and its suburbs. Under his leadership, between 29 April 2011 and 7 September 2012, at least 4,000 prisoners were subject to torture including beatings, electrical shocks, and sexual assault. During interrogations, prisoners were menaced with threats to family members to obtain confessions and information about what was a largely peaceful opposition movement opposed to the Assad familys 50-year monopoly on political power in Syria. Prisoners were denied medicine, food and the basics of personal hygiene and were crowded into dark, dank, dirty cells so packed it was often impossible to sit down. Mr Raslan oversaw prison guards and kept track of their torture, according to German prosecutors. At least 58 prisoners died under his watch. The court session lasted 90 minutes, with the prosecutor laying out charges against the defendants in a courtroom turned into a maze of plexiglass dividers to prevent the possible spread of coronavirus among court officials, witnesses and lawyers. Mr Raslan's attorney said he would retain his right to silence and submit written statements. Mr Ghareeb's attorney argued that the case against his client should be thrown out because it was based largely on interviews obtained by officials who had told him he was a witness rather than a suspect in alleged crimes. Human rights activists in Germany pursued the groundbreaking prosecution because of the large community of Syrian exiles who have settled in the country since 2015, says Wolfgang Kaleck, secretary general of the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights. Its not like Anwar R was a small fish, he said. He played a very important role in the machinery. You have to understand the systematic structure of the abuse. Human rights attorneys and activists have spent years assembling evidence against Mr Raslan, convincing German prosecutors to take up the case under the principle of universal jurisdiction. The relatively novel concept in international law grants judiciaries around the world the authority to prosecute the most heinous crimes and human rights violations regardless of the nationality of the perpetrator when pursuing such cases where they took place is impossible or unsafe. Koblenz, a riverside city of 100,000, lies between the former West German capital of Bonn and the commercial hub of Frankfurt. The court complex includes an ornate Prussian-era villa of the president of the region. It was chosen as the venue simply because of an overload of cases at courthouses with similar federal authority, said lawyers at the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights, a Berlin-based organisation that has played a key role in bringing the case to justice. Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire Show all 24 1 /24 Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire Aftermath of an airstrike in a chicken farm in the town of Maarat Misrin, Idlib, Syria, March 2020. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire Six displaced families were living in the farm, at least 16 people died in the late night attack. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire Maarat Misrin attack in Idlib. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire Maarat Misrin attack in Idlib. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire Maarat Misrin attack in Idlib. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Yusuf Sayman Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire IDPs are seen in a central Idlib stadium. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire Hundreds of families live in the basement and car park of the stadium. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire IDPs in central Idlib stadium. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire IDPs in central Idlib stadium. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire IDPs in central Idlib stadium. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire IDPs in central Idlib stadium. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire IDPs in central Idlib stadium. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire IDPs in central Idlib stadium. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire IDPs in central Idlib stadium. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire A scene from the Idlib market. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire A scene from the Idlib market. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire A scene from the Idlib market. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire Suleyman Suleyman, a 24-year-old Arabic teacher, is seen in the al-Barayeem primary school, which was hit by an air strike on 25 February. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire The strike killed 3 adults, forcing the school to close. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire Assadollah, a fighter just returned from the battle to recapture Saraqeb, poses for a photograph in the town of Binnish. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire A building hit by an airstrike few days ago in the town of Binnish. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire Building in Binnish town. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire Yousef Ramadan and his son are seen in the rubble of their apartment complex that was hit by an airstrike in the town of al-Fua, north of Idlib four days ago. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Inside Idlib: Syrians caught in the crossfire Nine were killed in the attack. (Photo: Yusuf Sayman) Rights activists say they hope the case will open the floodgates for other witnesses to stand up and other prosecutors to bring cases forward. Cases have already been filed against ranking Assad regime officials in courts in Norway, Austria, France and Sweden as well as Germany, which has secured an indictment of Jamil Hassan, the notorious chief of Syrias air force intelligence. "This trial aims at finding the truth," said Anna Oehmichen, a German lawyer representing one of the survivors of al-Khatib. "Hopefully it can contribute to fighting the impunity for some of the horrible things that have happened in Syria. It's a warning sign to anybody who participated in torture." The trial will take months, and Mr Raslan and Mr Ghareeb are represented by defence teams in a German legal system which has a reputation of vigorously upholding the rights of the accused. Most of the 16 potential witnesses and plaintiffs, including torture victims, who may testify against Mr Raslan are keeping quiet for fear of tainting the prosecution. But their legal advocates say Mr Aslans victims recognise the gravity and importance of the case. They have all been tortured in Branch 251, said Patrick Kroker, another lawyer at ECCHR. They know there are many others who cannot speak. They want to really bring light into this whole system that is characterised by secrecy and darkness. They want the world to hear about this. Internal documents obtained by NTD reveal Chinas northeastern provinces efforts to cover up the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus outbreak. Major changes are happening in Chinas political party. Many say this points to instability within the CCP leadership. ICU patients are being cleared out in Wuhan. Doctors claiming they are virus-free. But a family member tells us that her father is still critically ill. Chinas export industry is suffering as the CCP virus hit worldwide economies. Industry workers share with us what theyre seeing. Several U.S. lawmakers are introducing bills to hold the Chinese regime accountable for the pandemic. This would allow affected U.S. citizens to sue the CCP for compensation. NTD refers to the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, as the CCP virus because the Chinese Communist Partys coverup and mismanagement allowed the virus to spread throughout China and create a global pandemic. Subscribe to our Youtube channel for more first-hand news from China For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter German Chancellor Angela Merkel while addressing the parliament on April 23 ahead of an EU video summit on the coronavirus crisis, warned that it is just the beginning and will go for a long time. Merkel, who has been widely praised for her handling of the pandemic, stressed a much greater unity for European Union to fight the virus. Merkel also said that Germany, which is already the largest contributor in the bloc, will increase its funding to the European Union's budget for a limited time keeping in mind the deadly disease outbreak. Read: Italian PM Giuseppe Conte To Unveil Reopening Plan Of Country By End Of This Week According to reports, European Union countries on April 23 are expected to sign off on a new $575 billion emergency fund to protect workers, businesses, and countries worst affected by the coronavirus outbreak across the region. Italy has reportedly urged EU partners to jointly guarantee debt, as part of the rescue package, to which Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands have expressed opposition. According to EU laws, countries cannot be made liable for each other's debt. Read: Coronavirus Outbreak: Eight Babies At Tokyo's Orphanage Test Positive Countries like Italy, Spain, and France have said that the emergency fund should go as high as 1.5 trillion, with some suggestions to increase the EU's budget so it can provide much bigger loan guarantees. Europe is the worst affected region in the world with major countries like Italy, Spain, France and the United Kingdom reporting deaths as high as 25,000. Germany has handled the virus outbreak much effectively compared to his friends in the region, as it has recorded just over 5,000 deaths so far, while infected patients tally stands at 1,50,729, which is the fifth-highest in the world. Read: China Tightens Restrictions Near Russian Border After Resurgence Of Coronavirus Cases Coronavirus outbreak The coronavirus outbreak has infected over 2.65 million people globally and has killed nearly 1,85,000 patients since it first broke out in December 2019. The virus is believed to have originated from a seafood market in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the initial epicentre of the disease, where animals were reportedly being traded illegally. Read: Drop In Carbon Emissions Due To COVID-19 Only 'short-term' Good News: UN Body (Image Credit: AP) Wyoming schools are getting some relief after receiving federal waivers from education funding requirements on Tuesday, April 7. The waiver was granted to allow Wyoming schools the ability to use fiscal year 2018 funds through September, 2121, and expands the possible uses of some title programs... Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday said that 11 more people have tested positive for coronavirus in Kerala and that the state will step up its fight against the virus in view of steady rise in cases. For the last two weeks the state had reported minimum cases and often the number of recovered was double than new cases and experts said it was on the verge of flattening the virus curve. Sensing improvement, at one point the government was ready to resume operations across more sectors. However, the situation suddenly changed on Tuesday after the state reported 19 new cases. The health department has decided to test all expatriates in north Kerala who came back to the country after March 1. It was forced to take a decision after many returnees turned positive even a month after their return. Late onset of the virus and asymptomatic nature of patients are posing a big challenge to state which reported the first case in the country on January 30, a China-returned medical student. North Keralas district Kannur has emerged as the latest hotspot of the state reporting 58 active cases, following which authorities enforced the lockdown ruthlessly and arrested those who came out without valid reasons. Inspector General of Police Ashok Yadav, who has been given the special responsibility of the district, said police will adopt the same measures in the neighboring Kasaragod district to make a turnaround. Stringent measures are taken to keep people inside their houses. We have given them emergency numbers and they can contact those numbers for any need. We will arrest those who come out of their homes, said the IG. Giving details of fresh cases, the CM said out of 11 cases, seven (total cases 437) were reported from Kannur. Among the infected are two house surgeons and a health worker in Kozhikode. House surgeons had travelled on a train from Delhi in which some Tablighi Jammat members were travelling. Meanwhile, the government has decided to cut one months salary in five installments (five months) from government employees to meet the mounting Covid-19 expenditure. Many employees organisations owing allegiance to opposition parties criticised the move and said they will move the court. The state government doctors association has also decried the move saying it will take sprit out of overworked doctors and health employees. Sad, the government should have spared health workers who are on the forefront of the war, said association secretary Joseph Chacko. Salaries of legislators, ministers and board members will also be cut by 30% for one year, the CM said. The pandemic has literally crippled our economy. We need money for health sector and other emergency services, said the CM justifying the cut. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- The European Central Banks meeting on April 30 might be its most important as it tries to manage the devastating economic impact of the Covid-19 virus. While its reaction so far has worked, it will need much greater firepower in the future. It will also have to be much more flexible in how it applies its rules on asset purchases. The biggest immediate question, as revealed by my Bloomberg News colleagues, was whether the central bank should relax its eligibility criteria to accept sub-investment grade debt as collateral in its funding facilities. That was answered on Wednesday night, when the ECB said it would accept junk bonds as long as they were rated at least BBB- as of April 7. It said it may decide on further measures, if needed. The ECB might well follow the U.S. Federal Reserves example and start buying high-yield bonds in its pandemic Quantitative Easing programs too. As Ive argued before, it makes sense to show a little love to some of the higher-quality junk-rated companies. They employ plenty of people too. This is the time for the ECB to get out of its own way and not allow the coming wave of credit-rating downgrades for European government and corporate debt to blunt its stimulus response. Should Christine Lagardes institution really be barred from buying the bonds of companies and nations that have only fallen slightly below investment grade because of the pandemic? This might also be the right moment to increase the pandemic QE package. Analysts at ABN Amro Bank NV reckon it could be raised without much difficulty by 500 billion euros ($544 billion) to 1.25 trillion euros. While the European Unions political leaders haggle over their fiscal package at a meeting on Thursday, the real heavy lifting will have to be done by the ECB, as usual. The central bank signaled on April 7 that a loosening on junk-rated debt might be coming when it said it would assess further measures to temporarily mitigate the effect on counterparties collateral availability from rating downgrades. Wednesdays decision allows for a comprehensive plan to be unveiled at the ECBs Governing Council meeting next week. Story continues The situation is urgent. S&P Global Ratings is set to review Italys BBB (negative outlook) rating on Friday. The expected one-notch downgrade would still leave Rome on just the right side of the investment grade boundary, but it would push the debt of many other Italian issuers effectively tied to their countrys rating into junk. That would create liquidity constraints in the Italian banking system if a raft of bank and corporate debt became ineligible for use as collateral with the ECB. This is far from being an Italian-only problem. Bloomberg Intelligence points out there is more than 200 billion euros of European corporate debt thats close to entering the fallen angel category. Theres little the ECB can do to prevent the downgrades but it can soften the impact. As the ECB already accepts as collateral Greek government debt, which is several notches below investment grade, the Rubicon had already been crossed. The central bank is also buying Greek sovereign bonds so why not match the Feds response by acquiring corporate bonds recently downgraded to junk? The Feds move tightened U.S. spreads on BB-rated debt by more than 300 basis points. A similar ECB approach would help lower corporate borrowing costs across Europe too. Thats a noble aim. As with the Fed, its a worrying thing for the ECB to be holding ever more risky credit. But these are truly dangerous times for the economy. Well just have to fall back on the hope that these are temporary measures until the world recovers. (This column was updated with confirmation of the ECBs collateral plan.) This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Marcus Ashworth is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering European markets. He spent three decades in the banking industry, most recently as chief markets strategist at Haitong Securities in London. 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. The emergency unity government hashed out by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his chief rival Benny Gantz was signed just before the start of Israels Holocaust Memorial Day, leaving no time for a planned press conference. Instead, the two men released a photograph in which each sits at a table, the coalition agreement between them. Neither looks elated. After three national elections and over 17 months of political deadlock, Israel finally has the outline of a government, although Gantz and Netanyahu seem slightly disappointed at the result. (Technically, lawmakers must take several more procedural steps to formalize the government, with a deadline of May 7.) Why did it take so long? In part, the deadlock was caused by political fractures within both the right-wing and left-wing camps. The right could not win a parliamentary majority without small secular parties whose representatives object to Netanyahu as corrupt and resent the continued influence of Israels ultra-Orthodox parties on matters of religion and state. The Left is, in reality, less a philosophically unified movement and more a collection of parties from the secular right to the anti-Zionist left unified only by hatred of Netanyahu. Israels third election, held on March 2, featured special voting booths set up for 5,600 citizens in quarantine because of possible exposure to coronavirus. On March 3, the countrys health ministry expanded self-quarantine guidelines to include tens of thousands of residents. If elections had been held just one day later, those guidelines would have seriously hampered voting logistics. We have to understand, we are in the midst of a global plague, Netanyahu said at a press conference on March 4. People are not calling it this, but its the truth . . . . It will be among the most dangerous [epidemics] of the past hundred years. The results of the election came to 58 seats for the pro-Netanyahu parties and 62 seats for the anti-Netanyahu parties led by Gantz. As Gantz attempted to form a government out of this fractured majority, Netanyahus caretaker government, which has been in place since late 2018, locked down the entire country in an attempt to mitigate the spread of coronavirus. Most Israelis were essentially confined to their homes and immediate surroundings, while their leaders negotiated to form a government. Story continues Gantz then realized that his efforts would not bear fruit. For one thing, he had considered governing with the anti-Zionist Joint List of Arab-majority parties but internal polls for his Blue and White party showed immense voter dissatisfaction at the prospect of such an alliance, in part because some current and former members of that alliance have praised terrorists. For another, Gantz appears to have been genuinely moved by the unprecedented crisis that the pandemic presented for Israel. Thus, at the height of the lockdown, he decided to abandon the opposition and join Netanyahu in a unity government. I am at peace because I did what my nation needs, Gantz said in a Facebook post. These are unusual times. Israel is in a state of emergency. Hundreds of thousands of families are hunkering down in their homes . . . . This is the time for leaders to choose what is right and put the lingering issues and personal scores aside. Most of Gantzs fellows in the Blue and White party decried this move. An experienced general but novice politician, Gantz effectively broke up his own party to join with a prime minister who has been indicted for corruption. The former general cast himself as putting the good of the country ahead of his own immediate political alliances, though former party members have accused Gantz of stealing anti-Netanyahu votes and succumbing to political opportunism. As the Israeli journalist Amit Segal put it, A bat was eaten in China and in Israel, a party breaks apart. It took Netanyahu several more weeks to work out the agreement with Gantz. Having gained the experience of political negotiations from previous years, Netanyahu is an expert at running out the clock to see how his political options play out, and this time was no different. The prime minister attempted to gain as much control as he could over the unfolding government, ensuring he could remain in office while on trial for corruption. He may even have considered going to a fourth election; polls show that Israelis overwhelmingly approve of Netanyahus handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Ultimately, however, it seems the prospect of another election in the midst of a pandemic, with 26 percent unemployment due to enforced business closures, made sitting in a government with Gantz look like the better option. While Gantz and Netanyahu have struck a deal to form a government, the agreement itself is laden with a veritable minefield of clauses designed to check the power of each leader. Netanyahu is scheduled to be prime minister for 18 months, at which point Gantz will take the reins for another 18 months. Crucially, the agreement states that if Israels Supreme Court rules that Netanyahu cannot remain prime minister while on trial for corruption, Israel will immediately go to elections instead of simply replacing Netanyahu with Gantz. This clause and others are meant to give Netanyahu an added layer of legal protection, although Gantzs faction did gain oversight of some aspects of Israels legal system. These and other clauses do not bode well for the new governments efficiency, and it may be that Israels political deadlock will continue even with a government. However, with a global health and economic crisis at hand, if this government does not hold together, Israeli voters will not likely forgive whoever they believe is responsible for leading the country to yet another snap election. Netanyahu and Gantz are acutely aware of this, and it may give them both an additional impetus to hold the coalition together despite their mutual mistrust. (A poll released on Tuesday found that 62 percent of Israeli voters approve of the unity government, while just 22 percent are opposed.) It will be interesting to watch how this government implements the annexations of chunks of the West Bank. President Trumps IsraeliPalestinian peace plan gave Israel a diplomatic rubber stamp for the move, and Netanyahu is anxious to complete the annexations of at least some areas. However, Gantz is more cautious, concerned that annexations will harm Israels already strained relationship with Jordan and the Palestinian Authority. Its important to note that this is the first time since Netanyahu was elected in 2009 that any rival has made a dent in the prime ministers hold on Israeli politics. This is not to say that the Netanyahu era is over; but out of a succession of politicians from the left and center, it is Gantz who has elbowed his way to a seat at the governing table. The contrast between the two men is striking. Netanyahu, a former special forces commando, is patently in his element as a politician. He pays close attention to his appearance and his speech; considers close allies expendable based on political need; and always looks out for his own self-interest, which his enemies charge comes at the expense of the state of Israel but which his supporters see as highly compatible with Israels interests. He also manifestly enjoys the high life. Gantz, on the other hand, rose through the ranks to become the IDFs top commander but as yet has no experience in government. He tried to run a start-up but wasnt successful. He is soft-spoken, and when he addresses an audience, he does so with considerably less grace than Netanyahu. Detractors on the left dismiss him as naive. He displays no hint of corruption or the hedonism that afflicts Netanyahu. One of Netanyahus favored election slogans is Only Bibi. And he has managed to hang on to power for now. But temporary victories aside, it seems increasingly likely that the first politician in a decade to challenge the impression that only Bibi can lead Israel may be Benny Gantz. More from National Review The company recently announced that it has reached $2 billion in total assets. The announcement came at the annual shareholder meeting, which was followed by a reorganizational meeting held by First Bancorp, Inc., holding company of First Bank & Trust Company. As a result of that meeting, Chief Executive Officer, W. Mark Nelson, assumed the expanded role of President & Chief Executive Officer of First Bank & Trust Company and First Bancorp, Inc. Nelson is a current member of both Boards. William H. Hayter will assume the dual role of Chairman of First Bancorp, Inc. and First Bank & Trust Company Board of Directors. Hayter commented on his new role, "I look forward to continuing to serve this organization by representing the Board and supporting management in our quest to make this Bank the top performer in the USA." When asked about the Bank's growth in assets, Nelson stated, Reaching $2 billion in assets is a significant cornerstone of accomplishment as we enter the next phase of growth for this company. The fundamental principles and strategies that built our foundation over the past 40 years will serve us well as we continue to grow. We are here today because of our loyal customers, and serving their needs is our primary focus going forward." In the first quarter of 2020, the Bank's total net loans increased by $122.2 million over the previous year and total deposits increased by $128.2 million. The Bank is positioned to meet 2020 goals, excluding balances reflected by recent activity from the SBA's Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). First Bank & Trust Company answered the call for many businesses struggling to navigate the challenges of COVID-19. "Many of our lenders worked tirelessly to process these loans," stated Nelson. Of the 1,813 SBA-PPP loans we processed, 1,068 were in the amount of $50,000 or less which reflects our Bank's commitment to helping the small businesses in our community." The community responded to the Bank's support. First Bank & Trust Company opened 458 new deposit accounts in March 2020. "Many of these new customers opened their first deposit account with us as a result of the tremendous efforts of our lending and support staff in response to the Paycheck Protection Program." When asked about the significance of reaching $2 billion in assets, it was a question that prompted a quick response from President and CEO, Mark Nelson, "It's all about community. We want to insure the viability and continued success of the people and businesses that make up the very fabric of our community. It takes a financially sound and community-oriented bank to do that." About First Bank & Trust Company First Bank & Trust Company, one of the top community banks in the United States, is a diversified financial services firm with office locations in southwest Virginia, northeast Tennessee, and New River and Shenandoah Valleys. Financial objectives are addressed by offering free checking products for personal and business accounts, and assessing lending solutions managed by mortgage, agricultural and commercial lending divisions. Comprehensive financial solutions are available through trust and brokerage service representatives. For more information, visit www.firstbank.com or contact Nicole Franks [email protected] SOURCE First Bank & Trust Company Related Links https://www.FirstBank.com WASHINGTONIt can be hard to remember theres a U.S. presidential election going on. Just ask Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee, who is struggling with fundraising and reaching out to local news affiliates in an attempt to reach voters up to their eyeballs in coronavirus news from national outlets. Under normal campaign conditions, hed be holding rallies and delivering speeches to grab his share of headlines. The stay-at-home orders, fear and death toll of the pandemic have cancelled all that. Next to what President Donald Trump recently called the plague, news of Bidens search for a running mate seem mundane, even petty. Someone who hasnt lost focus on the election is Trump. After years of barely ever holding formal media briefings, Trump has transformed his daily coronavirus talks into a substitute for campaign rallies. He abuses reporters, blames Barack Obama and foreigners and the deep state for things, praises himself, keeps fact-checkers busy and soaks up headlines with the same stream-of-consciousness flair he often brought to packed arenas. The informational value of the briefings is low. The exposure value is high as Trump was happy to tell you, the ratings rival a finale of The Bachelor for viewership. Ratings of his performance may differ. In a recent NBC/Wall Street Journal telephone poll, only 36 per cent of respondents said they trust Trump when he talks about the virus, compared with 52 per cent who said they dont trust him. The thing is, thats nothing new for Trump, really. The same poll shows his net approval rating on the handling of the coronavirus is -8 44 per cent approve versus 52 per cent who disapprove which is very close to the -10 rating of how people feel about him in general. The general approval numbers have barely moved over the course of his term. He hasnt gotten any sustained, rally-around-the-flag bump from the pandemic, but the bottom hasnt fallen out of his support either. Meanwhile, asked the same question about trusting what Biden says about the virus, the largest group of people 42 per cent were either not aware of or had no opinion on what he says. Leadership is defined by crisis. The ability to manage one is a defining characteristic by which a candidate ought to be judged. Almost no president gets to govern based on their platform, because the biggest issues they face in office usually arent foreseen. Terrorist attacks, wars, hostage crises, recessions, pandemics God laughs at leaders carefully laid-out plans, and they must respond. The view of how well Trump is responding depends, it seems, on what people already thought of him. But few people are unaware of what his response is. Biden, meanwhile, is struggling to be heard. He gave it a shot this week with an appearance on James Cordens Late Late Show. There, he articulated a critique of Trumps performance: he didnt invoke the Defense Production Act soon enough, didnt get testing protocols going fast enough, didnt reopen health insurance enrolment, hasnt collected enough data. Biden pointed to a late-January newspaper op-ed that appeared under his byline that called for action. Id take responsibility, he said. Whose the hell (job) is it if its not the presidents? Fair enough, and familiar enough, as far as second-guessing Trump goes. Biden invoked the words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt: The American people can handle anything, but you have to tell them the truth. Trump, he said, doesnt tell the truth. But raising Roosevelts name, and his response to the earlier crisis during which he was elected the Great Depression suggests what may be missing. As a candidate, FDR said the crisis was a call to arms and pledged himself to a new deal for the American people. As president, hes remembered most for that New Deal. Then, a crisis that exposed not just Herbert Hoovers shortcomings as a leader but the deep cracks in American society was an occasion to reshape the government to alleviate suffering and make the country more just. The coronavirus crisis has similarly exposed Americas underlying fragility the gap between rich and poor, the lack of physical and policy infrastructure and preparation to manage foreseeable problems, the inadequacy of the health-care system, the injustice of the compensation and working conditions of people whose work has been fully revealed as essential. There may be some hunger in the U.S. to respond to the pandemic not just by limiting its spread and treating its victims, but by tackling the fractures in the country it has exposed. In his interview with Corden, Biden inched to the point of acknowledging this. Weve taken the blinders off. All of a sudden were realizing theres a lot of incredible people out there who are making six, seven bucks an hour, who are in fact, out there making sure we continue to be able to eat. He said it frustrated him, and he was proud of how such people were standing up. But he didnt say, specifically, what he thought should be done in response, other than getting those people protective equipment. He displayed, as he famously does, deep empathy. And admiration. Were now seeing, every day, the soul of America, he said. The country is standing up, people are theyre making real sacrifices. But he didnt quite articulate what actions that glimpse of the countrys soul should inspire. Empathy is useful, and Bidens good at it. Criticism of Trump is necessary for someone in Bidens position. Those may even be, according to polls, enough for him to win the election. But for a leader hoping to rise to the moment, to respond in a way that history will celebrate, Biden is not just to be struggling to be heard, but struggling to find a message equal to the crisis. Read more about: Jennifer Garner, 48, and ex Ben Affleck, 47, have continued to to adhere to their joint custody agreement amid the complication caused by the coronavirus pandemic. And on Wednesday it was clearly Jennifer's day with the former couple's children, as she stepped out for a stroll around her Brentwood neighborhood with daughters Violet, 14, Seraphina, 11, and son Samuel, age eight. Meanwhile, Affleck was spotted manning the leashes of, both, his German shepherd and girlfriend Ana de Armas' fluffy white pooch in Venice. Bonding: Jennifer Garner was spotted taking an afternoon stroll with her children, daughters Violet, 14, Seraphina, 11, and son Samuel, age eight, near her Brentwood home on Wednesday Walkin' the dog: Meanwhile, Affleck was spotted manning the leashes of, both, his German shepherd and girlfriend Ana de Armas' fluffy white pooch in Venice Jennifer and her offspring followed the advice of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and each donned their own protective face masks, while enjoying the late afternoon breeze, Garner, with her brunette tresses tied out of her face in a stylish half up, half down hairdo, suited up for her stroll in an off white pullover layered over a forest green tee. She rounded out her ensemble with a pair of form fitting denim jeans and a pair of trendy Gucci trainers. Peaking over her reading glasses, Jennifer appeared to be ready a letter, as her daughter walked beside her. PPE: Jennifer and her offspring followed the advice of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and each donned their own protective face masks, while enjoying the late afternoon breeze Hot momma: Garner, with her brunette tresses tied out of her face in a stylish half up, half down hairdo, suited up for her stroll in an off white pullover layered over a forest green tee Focused: Peaking over her reading glasses, Jennifer appeared to be ready a letter, as her daughter walked beside her 14-year-old Violet sported a scalloped floral skirt that she paired with rainbow checkered Vans slip-ons and a simple grey tee shirt. While Seraphina donned floral shorts, some grey Vans slip-ons and a light blue tee, while pushing the family cat in a pet stroller. Samuel had a pep in his step while wearing a pair of patterned thermal pants and white long sleeve shirt. Happy: Samuel had a pep in his step while wearing a pair of patterned thermal pants and white long sleeve shirt Muscle: While Seraphina donned floral shorts, some grey Vans slip-ons and a light blue tee, while pushing the family cat in a pet stroller Fixated: While attempting to wear out his and Ana's pooches for the night, Ben walked around with his eyes glued to his cellphone Affleck took notes from his ex wife and wore an N95 face mask that matched his causal outfit. The Academy Award-winner donned a white graphic tee that had a cheeky daisy emblazoned across the front. He slipped his muscular legs into some fitted black pants and kicked up dirt in a pair of purple sneakers. Ben, who texted away on his phone, was approached by a friendly passerby, who showed a visible adoration for his darling dogs. Stepping out: Ben held tight to the leashes for the pups Casual: The Academy Award-winner donned a white graphic tee that had a cheeky daisy emblazoned across the front Muscles: He slipped his muscular legs into some fitted black pants and kicked up dirt in a pair of purple sneakers Affleck has been enjoying a loved up lockdown with girlfriend Ana, 31, at his Brentwood home. Though Ana has been making trips back and forth from Ben's home to her own Los Angeles residence, the Cuban beauty has been spending the majority of her time in the company of her new beau. Going home: Meanwhile, Affleck has been enjoying a loved up lockdown with girlfriend Ana, 31, at his Brentwood home Last week, Us Weekly reported that Jen and Ben have been discussing how best to introduce Ana to their children. Jennifer is reportedly hesitant about introducing de Armas to the children too quickly, which Ben is 'understanding' of. So far, he has agreed to 'work with Jennifer to prepare the kids' for meeting the Blade Runner 2049 star. Aside from her children, Jennifer has been in quarantine with her longtime assistant Maureen Grosser. BERLIN When he was diagnosed with COVID-19, Andre Bergmann knew exactly where he wanted to be treated: the Bethanien hospital lung clinic in Moers, near his home in northwestern Germany. The clinic is known for its reluctance to put patients with breathing difficulties on mechanical ventilators the kind that involve tubes down the throat. The 48-year-old physician, father of two and aspiring triathlete worried that an invasive ventilator would be harmful. But soon after entering the clinic, Bergmann said, he struggled to breathe even with an oxygen mask, and felt so sick the ventilator seemed inevitable. Even so, his doctors never put him on a machine that would breathe for him. A week later, he was well enough to go home. Bergmanns case illustrates a shift on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, as doctors rethink when and how to use mechanical ventilators to treat severe sufferers of the disease and in some cases whether to use them at all. While initially doctors packed intensive care units with intubated patients, now many are exploring other options. Eclectic St. Louis team of doctors, engineers and machinists answers call for emergency ventilators The first prototype was built with less than $2,000 in parts. Its two feet tall and shaped like the rounded head of an alligator. Machines to help people breathe have become the major weapon for medics fighting COVID-19, which has so far killed more than 183,000 people. Within weeks of the diseases global emergence in February, governments around the world raced to build or buy ventilators as most hospitals said they were in critically short supply. Germany has ordered 10,000 of them. Engineers from Britain to Uruguay are developing versions based on autos, vacuum cleaners or even windshield-wiper motors. President Donald Trumps administration is spending $2.9 billion for nearly 190,000 ventilators. The U.S. government has contracted with automakers such as General Motors Co. and Ford Motor Co. as well as medical device manufacturers, and full delivery is expected by the end of the year. Trump declared this week that the U.S. was now the king of ventilators. However, as doctors get a better understanding of what COVID-19 does to the body, many say they have become more sparing with the equipment. Reuters interviewed 30 doctors and medical professionals in countries including China, Italy, Spain, Germany and the United States, who have experience of dealing with COVID-19 patients. Nearly all agreed that ventilators are vitally important and have helped save lives. At the same time, many highlighted the risks from using the most invasive types of them mechanical ventilators too early or too frequently, or from non-specialists using them without proper training in overwhelmed hospitals. Medical procedures have evolved in the pandemic as doctors better understand the disease, including the types of drugs used in treatments. The shift around ventilators has potentially far-reaching implications as countries and companies ramp up production of the devices. Better results Many forms of ventilation use masks to help get oxygen into the lungs. Doctors main concern is around mechanical ventilation, which involves putting tubes into patients airways to pump air in, a process known as intubation. Patients are heavily sedated, to stop their respiratory muscles from fighting the machine. Those with severe oxygen shortages, or hypoxia, have generally been intubated and hooked up to a ventilator for up to two to three weeks, with at best a fifty-fifty chance of surviving, according to doctors interviewed by Reuters and recent medical research. The picture is partial and evolving, but it suggests people with COVID-19 who have been intubated have had, at least in the early stages of the pandemic, a higher rate of death than other patients on ventilators who have conditions such as bacterial pneumonia or collapsed lungs. This is not proof that ventilators have hastened death: The link between intubation and death rates needs further study, doctors say. In China, 86% of 22 COVID-19 patients didnt survive invasive ventilation at an intensive care unit in Wuhan, the city where the pandemic began, according to a study published in The Lancet in February. Normally, the paper said, patients with severe breathing problems have a 50% chance of survival. A recent British study found two-thirds of COVID-19 patients put on mechanical ventilators ended up dying anyway, and a New York study found 88% of 320 mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients had died. More recently, none of the eight patients who went on ventilators at the Abu Dhabi hospital had died as of April 9, a doctor there told Reuters. And one ICU doctor at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta said he had had a good week when almost half the COVID-19 patients were successfully taken off the ventilator, when he had expected more to die. The experiences can vary dramatically. The average time a COVID-19 patient spent on a ventilator at Scripps Healths five hospitals in Californias San Diego County was just over a week, compared with two weeks at the Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem and three at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, medics at the hospitals said. In Germany, as patient Bergmann struggled to breathe, he said he was getting too desperate to care. There came a moment when it simply no longer mattered, he told Reuters. At one point I was so exhausted that I asked my doctor if I was going to get better. I was saying, if I had no children or partner then it would be easier just to be left in peace. Instead of putting Bergmann on a mechanical ventilator, the clinic gave him morphine and kept him on the oxygen mask. Hes since tested free of the infection, but not fully recovered. The head of the clinic, Thomas Voshaar, a German pulmonologist, has argued strongly against early intubation of COVID-19 patients. Doctors including Voshaar worry about the risk that ventilators will damage patients lungs. The doctors interviewed by Reuters agreed that mechanical ventilators are crucial life-saving devices, especially in severe cases when patients suddenly deteriorate. This happens to some when their immune systems go into overdrive in what is known as a cytokine storm of inflammation that can cause dangerously high blood pressure, lung damage and eventual organ failure. The new coronavirus and COVID-19, the disease the virus causes, have been compared to the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-19, which killed 50 million people worldwide. Now as then, the disease is novel, severe and spreading rapidly, pushing the limits of the public health and medical knowledge required to tackle it. When coronavirus cases started surging in Louisiana, doctors at the states largest hospital system, Ochsner Health, saw an influx of people with signs of acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS. Patients with ARDS have inflammation in the lungs which can cause them to struggle to breathe and take rapid short breaths. Initially we were intubating fairly quickly on these patients as they began to have more respiratory distress, said Robert Hart, the hospital systems chief medical officer. Over time what we learned is trying not to do that. Instead, Harts hospital tried other forms of ventilation using masks or thin nasal tubes, as Voshaar did with his German patient. We seem to be seeing better results, Hart said. Changed lungs Other doctors painted a similar picture. In Wuhan, where the novel coronavirus emerged, doctors at Tongji Hospital at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology said they initially turned quickly to intubation. Li Shusheng, head of the hospitals intensive care department, said a number of patients did not improve after ventilator treatment. The disease, he explained, had changed their lungs beyond our imagination. His colleague Xu Shuyun, a doctor of respiratory medicine, said the hospital adapted by cutting back on intubation. Luciano Gattinoni, a guest professor at the Department of Anaesthesiology, Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Gottingen in Germany, and a renowned expert in ventilators, was one of the first to raise questions about how they should be used to treat COVID-19. I realized as soon as I saw the first CT scan ... that this had nothing to do with what we had seen and done for the past 40 years, he told Reuters. In a paper published by the American Thoracic Society on March 30, Gattinoni and other Italian doctors wrote that COVID-19 does not lead to typical respiratory problems. Patients lungs were working better than they would expect for ARDS, they wrote they were more elastic. So, he said, mechanical ventilation should be given with a lower pressure than the one we are used to. Ventilating some COVID-19 sufferers as if they were standard patients with ARDS is not appropriate, he told Reuters. Its like using a Ferrari to go to the shop next door, you press on the accelerator and you smash the window. The Italians were swiftly followed by Cameron Kyle-Sidell, a New York physician who put out a talk on YouTube saying that by preparing to put patients on ventilators, hospitals in America were treating the wrong disease. Ventilation, he feared, would lead to a tremendous amount of harm to a great number of people in a very short time. This remains his view, he told Reuters this week. When Spains outbreak erupted in mid-March, many patients went straight onto ventilators because lung X-rays and other test results scared us, said Delia Torres, a physician at the Hospital General Universitario de Alicante. They now focus more on breathing and a patients overall condition than just X-rays and tests. And they intubate less. If the patient can get better without it, then theres no need, she said. In Germany, lung specialist Voshaar was also concerned. A mechanical ventilator itself can damage the lungs, he says. This means patients stay in intensive care longer, blocking specialist beds and creating a vicious circle in which ever more ventilators are needed. Of the 36 acute COVID-19 patients on his ward in mid-April, Voshaar said, one had been intubated a man with a serious neuro-muscular disorder and he was the only patient to die. Another 31 had recovered. Iron lungs Some doctors cautioned that the impression that the rush to ventilate is harmful may be partly due to the sheer numbers of patients in todays pandemic. People working in intensive care units know that the mortality rate of ARDS patients who are intubated is around 40%, said Thierry Fumeaux, head of an ICU in Nyon, Switzerland, and president of the Swiss Intensive Care Medicine Society. That is high, but may be acceptable in normal times, when there are three or four patients in a unit and one of them doesnt make it. When you have 20 patients or more, this becomes very evident, said Fumeaux. So you have this feeling - and Ive heard this a lot that ventilation kills the patient. Thats not the case, he said. No, its not the ventilation that kills the patient, its the lung disease. Mario Riccio, head of anaesthesiology and resuscitation at the Oglio Po hospital near Cremona in Lombardy, Italys worst-hit region, says the machines are the only treatment to save a COVID-19 patient in serious condition. The fact that people who were placed under mechanical ventilation in some cases die does not undermine this statement. Originally nicknamed iron lungs when introduced in the 1920s and 1930s, mechanical ventilators are sometimes also called respirators. They use pressure to blow air or a mixture of gases such as oxygen and air into the lungs. They can be set to exhale it, too, effectively taking over a patients entire breathing process when their lungs fail. The aim is to give the body enough time to fight off an infection to be able to breathe independently and recover. Some patients need them because theyre losing the strength to breathe, said Yoram Weiss, director of Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem. It is very important to ventilate them before they collapse. At his hospital, 24 of 223 people with COVID-19 had been put on ventilators by April 13. Of those, four had died and three had come off the machines. Aerosols Simpler forms of ventilation face masks for example are easier to administer. But respirator masks can release micro-droplets known as aerosols which may spread infection. Some doctors said they avoided the masks, at least at first, because of that risk. While mechanical ventilators do not produce aerosols, they carry other risks. Intubation requires patients to be heavily sedated so their respiratory muscles fully surrender. The recovery can be lengthy, with a risk of permanent lung damage. Now that the initial wave of COVID-19 cases has peaked in many countries, doctors have time to examine other ways of managing the disease and are fine-tuning their approach. Voshaar, the German lung specialist, said some doctors were approaching COVID-19 lung problems as they would other forms of pneumonia. In a healthy patient, oxygen saturation a measure of how much oxygen the hemoglobin in the blood contains is around 96% of the maximum amount the blood can hold. When doctors check patients and see lower levels, indicating hypoxia, Voshaar said, they can overreact and race to intubate. We lung doctors see this all the time, Voshaar told Reuters. We see 80% and still do nothing and let them breathe spontaneously. The patient doesnt feel great, but he can eat and drink and sit on the side of his bed. He and other doctors think other tests can help before intubation. Voshaar looks at a combination of measures including how fast the patient is breathing and their heart rate. His team are also guided by lung scans. Happy hypoxics Several doctors in New York said they too had started to consider how to treat patients, known as happy hypoxics, who can talk and laugh with no signs of mental cloudiness even though their oxygen might be critically low. Rather than rushing to intubate, doctors say they now look for other ways to boost the patients oxygen. One method, known as proning, is telling or helping patients to roll over and lie on their fronts, said Scott Weingart, head of emergency critical care at Stony Brook University Medical Center on Long Island. If patients are left in one position in bed, they tend to desaturate, they lose the oxygen in their blood, Weingart said. Lying on the front shifts any fluid in the lungs to the front and frees up the back of the lungs to expand better. The position changes have radically impressive effects on the patients oxygen saturations. Weingart does recommend intubating a communicative patient with low oxygen levels if they start to lose mental clarity, if they experience a cytokine storm or if they start to really struggle to breathe. He feels there are enough ventilators for such patients at his hospital. But for happy hypoxics, I still dont want these patients on ventilators, because I think its hurting them, not helping them. Quality, skill As governments in the United States and elsewhere are scrambling to raise output of ventilators, some doctors worry the fast-built machines may not be up to snuff. Doctors in Spain wrote to their local government to complain that ventilators it had bought were designed for use in ambulances, not intensive care units, and some were of poor quality. In the UK, the government has canceled an order for thousands of units of a simple model because more sophisticated devices are needed. More important, many doctors say, is that the additional machines will need highly trained and experienced operators. Its not just about running out of ventilators, its running out of expertise, said David Hill, a pulmonology and critical care physician in Waterbury, Connecticut, who attends at Waterbury Hospital. Long-term ventilation management is complex, but Hill said some U.S. hospitals were trying to bring non-critical care physicians up to speed fast with webinars or even tip sheets. That is a recipe for bad outcomes. We intensivists dont ventilate by protocol, said Hill. We may choose initial settings, he said, but we adjust those settings. Its complicated. Escritt reported from Berlin, Aloisi from Milan, Beasley from Los Angeles, Borter from New York and Kelland from London. Additional reporting by Alexander Cornwell in Abu Dhabi, Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok, Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem, A. Ananthalakshmi and Rozanna Latif in Kuala Lumpur, Kristina Cooke in Los Angeles, Sonya Dowsett in Madrid, Jonathan Allen and Nicholas Brown in New York, John Mair in Sydney, Costas Pitas in London, David Shepardson in Washington, D.C., Brenda Goh in Wuhan and John Miller in Zurich. Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, the founder of Inri Evangelical Spiritual Church, has released fresh prophecies about President Muhammadu Buhari and the Aso Rock cabals. The clergy also sounded a note of warning on whom President Buhari should appoint to replace Mallam Abba Kyari as his new Chief of Staff. Primate Ayodele noted these in a new series of prophecies he released following the death and burial of Kyari. It will be recalled Ayodele had also warned that the nation should pray against more mourning in Aso rock when he said more prominent people may die after contracting the Coronavirus. The Primate in his fresh prophecies, noted that Aisha Buhari, wife of the President is set to flush out the cabals and take over Aso Rock. He said, Aisha Buhari will be popular in the Villa. She will be in charge of so many activities to block cabals. If Buhari picks the right person from the North and someone that has administration idea, a Northern Muslim that will work with Aisha, Buharis Government will stabilize. I see a gang up against the new set of people that will take over the Villa. The Prophet went further to make a shocking revelation about President Buharis health condition, saying the President needs prayers as his health is not in good condition. He said, We still need to pray against any sort of mourning in the villa. President Muhammadu Buhari needs prayer. He is not stable health-wise. On who should replace the late Kyari as Buharis Chief of Staff, the Prophet advised the president to carefully select who occupies the vacant position so as not to plunge his administration into further problems. President Buhari is troubled in mind about who will be his next Chief of Staff So many people are coming to him If he picks wrongly, it will even bring disappointment into his government. He needs someone who is God fearing, someone who will understand the needs of the masses, not someone who is selfish, someone who has done what is right. Picking an ex-General will help. Share this post with your Friends on Oregons economic reopening likely will be more gradual than what President Donald Trump has suggested. Churches, theaters, gyms and sporting events initially would remain closed. Other business reopenings from the COVID-19 pandemic are under study. Gov. Kate Brown and her staff shared her current thinking with legislators and county commissioners this week. The governors Reopening Oregon: A Framework for Restarting Public Life and Business combines concepts Brown released last week and the national guidelines that Trump announced a couple of days later. Browns staff cautioned that the ideas were still being reviewed. The goal is to release a more detailed draft plan next week. Work groups are preparing proposals on personal services, such as hair salons, sit-down dining, bars, and other areas. Additional child care facilities also would be reopened in the first phase, but schools would remain closed. Much of the phased plan, including resumption of non-emergency medical and dental procedures, would roll out regionally. A lot of states are taking statewide approaches, and the governor has been pretty consistent in telling us, Look, I want to be able to do this in a regional way, said Nik Blosser, Browns chief of staff. Those geographical considerations include the regional capacity for COVID-19 testing, contract tracing and hospitalization, along with evidence that the growth in cases was subsiding. Each county would have to submit a formal request to Brown, including commitments to have adequate personal protective equipment and, in the event of a surge in cases, available hospital beds. Officials in Harney County asked Brown to let it become a pilot project for reopening Oregon. The frontier county has a small population, many businesses and individuals are hurting, and there have been no reported COVID-19 cases. Theres no curve to flatten out here. We never had a bump in the road. Thats whats really eating at people, County Judge Pete Runnels said, adding that Oregon must adjust to living with the threat of coronavirus. To meet the framework outlined by Brown, the county would need state help in acquiring personal protective equipment. The local hospital could treat up to two, possibly three, cases at a time. Any positive case would require 20 hours of research to trace the persons contacts, according to Runnels. During a phone call Monday afternoon with county officials and Rep. Mark Owens, R-Crane, the governor acknowledged the proposal but did not promise what would happen, Runnels said. I dont know if they understand the urgency of how dire it is for some, he said of Brown and her staff. They hear us but they dont feel us. Dr. Bob Dannenhoffer, the Douglas County health officer and a member of Browns coronavirus Medical Advisory Panel, said he knew of nowhere in the nation that was yet prepared to meet even the broad guidelines of the federal plan. Those guidelines include sufficient personal protective gear, robust testing and an army of people to follow up on cases. If somebody can show me that their area is ready, Id love to see that, he said. Nobody has taken me up on that. Dannenhoffer said he could not forecast when any Oregon county would be ready. I think anybody who would try to project the future is being somewhat foolish, because we really have to see what happens with case counts. We have to see what happens with testing. We have to see what happens with PPE. These are all things that are out of anybodys control, he said, emphasizing that the views were his own and not those of the governors panel. But Deschutes County Commissioner Patti Adair said its about time to responsibly start reopening the economy by allowing health practitioners to resume non-emergency procedures and letting restaurants, hairdressers and other businesses reopen with effective social distancing and related protective measures. Adair said local businesspeople have come up with great ideas, which she was forwarding to the governors office. I really worry, she said. We have more people in Deschutes County on unemployment than a lot of other counties do. Adair was not fully reassured by a conference call that Brown had Monday with county commissioners across the state: The first thing she said was that the virus was in charge, and I found that frustrating. Dick Hughes is a freelance journalist who has covered Oregon issues since 1976. Contact him at TheHughesisms@Gmail.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 4 Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kaori Kaneko and Chang-Ran Kim (Reuters) Tokyo, Japan Thu, April 23, 2020 11:30 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3bb4fd 2 World Italy,cruise-ship,COVID-19-cluster,COVID-19,Japan,pandemic,health,coronavirus Free Nearly 50 crew members on an Italian cruise ship docked for repairs in Japan's Nagasaki have tested positive for the new coronavirus, raising concern about the strain on the city's hospitals if conditions worsen for those infected. Results on Thursday showed 14 more aboard, all either cooks or those serving food, were infected with the virus, an official in Nagasaki prefecture said. One patient who had been taken to hospital previously was now in a serious condition and on a ventilator, he told a live-streamed news conference. The Costa Atlantica infections come after the cases on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama two months ago, where more than 700 passengers and crew were found to be infected, although this time only crew members were on board. The Costa Cruises-operated ship was taken into a shipyard in Nagasaki in western Japan in late February by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries after the COVID-19 pandemic had scuttled plans for scheduled repairs in China. The latest cases have raised concern about the potential impact on Nagasaki residents after revelations some crew had left the restricted area despite assurances from the ship operator that they would stay within the wharf, according to Nagasaki officials. Authorities are also concerned about the potential rise in patients who require hospitalization, as an increase in domestic coronavirus cases strain medical services around the country. Japan has seen more than 11,500 infections and close to 300 deaths from the new coronavirus, excluding figures from the Diamond Princess. To make room at hospitals for severely ill patients, some local governments have begun monitoring those with milder symptoms in hotels or at their homes - a move that proved fatal for one man in his 50s in Saitama prefecture who died at home on Wednesday while waiting for a hospital bed. Asked about the man's death, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Thursday the health ministry was working to find out how many COVID-19 patients were being monitored at home. On the Costa Atlantica, 48 positive cases have been found out of 127 people tested so far, bringing the infection rate to 38%. Those showing only mild or no symptoms remain on board, and officials said they hoped to complete testing of all 623 crew this week. Cameroon's admission that its troops were involved in a February massacre of civilians in a volatile region is a positive move, the UN and rights groups said, despite claims that the official version was a whitewash. The government had previously denied any role in the February bloodshed in the Northwest region, where English-speaking separatists have been fighting government forces for the past two years. According to the United Nations, the death toll in clashes on the night of February 13-14 left 23 civilians dead, including 15 children in the village of Ngarbuh. It said nine of the children were under age five and that two of the victims were pregnant women. In a statement on Tuesday, the president's office said three soldiers and a vigilante group stormed a separatist base, killing five, before "discovering that three women and 10 children were killed" when a container containing fuel exploded. "Overcome with panic, the three soldiers helped by some members of the self-defence group tried to hide the incident by setting fires," the statement said, calling it an "unfortunate accident." UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet called Cameroon's admission a "positive step" but said those responsible should be "held fully to account in a fair and transparent judicial process." The UN, France and the United States have questioned the version that the deaths were caused by an accidental oil explosion. Human Rights Watch said the admission was a "first step" but much more needed to be done. Cameroon has been ruled with an iron fist by decades by ageing President Paul Biya, who rights groups accuse of stifling democracy and protests. Rights groups have accused both sides of atrocities in the conflict, which has left more than 3,000 dead, closed schools and clinics and forced 700,000 people to flee their homes. HRW had published a damning report on February 28 fingering the army and an allied militia for the deaths. "The fact that an investigation was launched and that the results of this probe acknowledged the role of some soldiers and were published seems to have been a real effort on the part of the government," Lewis Mudge, HRW's director for central Africa, told AFP. Cameroonian rights group Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Africa said the "acknowledgement of government responsibility for the Ngarbuh massacre is unprecedented. "This acknowledgment should not be the end, but instead open doors for further investigations into similar atrocities committed," it said. However a grouping of 26 local NGOs said 31 corpses had been discovered of which 14 were those of children. "The whole truth has not emerged as our figures are different," said Blaise Chamango, an official from the coalition. HRW also puts the toll higher at least 21. It said witnesses reported seeing 10 to 15 soldiers and at least 30 others during the raid. Ukraine Offers Saakashvili Post Of Deputy Prime Minister By RFE/RL April 22, 2020 Ukraine's government has offered former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili the post of deputy prime minister to supervise reforms. Saakashvili, an ex-governor of Ukraine's Odesa region, wrote on Facebook on April 22 that he plans to submit to the Ukrainian parliament his proposals "for the urgent changes" needed in "this very difficult period" faced by Ukraine. "It is a great honor for me to receive a proposal from President [Volodymyr] Zelenskiy to become a deputy prime minister.... I also had a very meaningful and useful conversation with Prime Minister [Denys] Shmyhal, during which we discussed in detail all the issues related to my possible work in the government," Saakashvili wrote. Zelenskiy's office confirmed the meeting in a statement, saying the two politicians discussed the country's development and how to assist it. "Mikheil Saakashvili is well-known in the international arena and has already demonstrated the experience of successful implementation of reforms. President Zelenskiy believes that Mr. Saakashvili has the potential to support the Government of Ukraine and invited him to share his views and developments with the Government and Parliament of Ukraine," the statement said. Media reports quoted lawmakers earlier in the day as saying that Saakashvili will attend parliament's session on April 24. Saakashvili, who was Georgian president between 2004-2013, was granted Ukrainian citizenship and appointed to the Odesa governor's post by Zelenskiy's predecessor, Petro Poroshenko, in 2015. Authorities in Tbilisi stripped Saakashvili of his Georgian passport on the grounds that Georgia does not allow dual citizenship. When relations between Poroshenko and Saakashvili soured over reform efforts and the fight against corruption, the Ukrainian president in November 2016 sacked Saakashvili from the governor's post. In July 2017, after Saakashvili created the Movement of New Forces opposition party, Poroshenko issued a decree that stripped Saakashvili of his Ukrainian citizenship. In February 2018, Saakashvili was detained in Kyiv, taken to the airport, and flown to Poland. Days later, Ukraine's border service banned Saakashvili from entering the country until February 13, 2021. In May 2019, just days after his inauguration, Zelenskiy reinstated Saakashvili's Ukrainian citizenship and, in October, prosecutors opened a criminal probe into Saakashvili's 2018 deportation from Ukraine. The Chief Military Prosecutor's Office said then that the investigation was launched after Saakashvili filed a complaint over the "abduction and violent actions against" him and "his illegal" deportation to Poland. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-offers- saakashvili-post-of-deputy- prime-minister/30570546.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 Delhi women and child development minister Rajendra Pal Gautum on Wednesday said the number of domestic violence cases being reported in the city had come down during the lockdown period. Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) chief Swati Maliwal, who had shared the data with the department, however, said though the number of calls being received on its 181 helpline of crimes against women had decreased, no definite conclusion can be drawn on its basis. This is mainly because it can be assumed that victims might be hesitant in reporting the crimes due to fear or inability to move away from the perpetrator to seek help, said Maliwal. The minister held a meeting with officials of his department and with the DCW chief to discuss the situation days after the National Commission for Women (NCW) had reported a spike in the number of cases of domestic violence in Delhi. The nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of Covid-19 was announced on March 24. The DCW said it had received 337 calls of domestic violence between April 7 and April 20, as compared to 808 calls between March 12 and March 25. A statement issued by Gautums office said, Upon analysis of the calls received by the Commissions 181 Women Helpline, it has been observed that there has been no rising trend in domestic violence cases being reported on the helpline. On the contrary, it added, that the number of cases reported to the Commission had decreased. Under the normal course, the 181 helpline receives between 1500-1800 calls per day. According to DCW chief, during the lockdown, the commission received a higher volume of calls between March 26 and March 31. The commission received 4,341 calls on March 27, 5522 calls on March 28 and more than 3,000 calls on March 29-30. Most of these calls were regarding confusion about the imposition of the lockdown, she said. However, she added, from April 1, the commission is again receiving around 1300 to 1500 calls per day. Along with 181 helpline number, DCW has also launched a WhatsApp Number --- +91- 9350181181 -- to register complaints regarding domestic violence. The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights also launched a helpline number -- 011- 41182977 -- for children who need any kind of mental health counselling. BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, April 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MercadoLibre, Inc. (MELI) (http://www.mercadolibre.com) intends to release financial results for its first fiscal quarter ended March 31th, 2020 on April 5th, 2020 after the close of the day's trading. The Company will host a conference call and audio webcast on April 5th, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The conference call may be accessed by dialing (877) 303-7209 / (970) 315-0420 (Conference ID 6697812) and requesting inclusion in the call for Mercado Libre. The live conference call can be accessed via audio webcast at the investor relations section of the Company's website, at http://investor.mercadolibre.com. An archive of the webcast will be available for one week following the conclusion of the conference call. About MercadoLibre MercadoLibre hosts the largest online commerce and payments ecosystem in Latin America. Our efforts are centered on enabling e-commerce and digital and mobile payments on behalf of its customers by delivering a suite of technology solutions across the complete value chain of commerce. The company is present in 18 countries including: Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Venezuela and Peru. Based on unique visitors and page views we are market leaders in each of the major countries where we are present. Through its online commerce platform and related services, MercadoLibre provides its users with robust online commerce and payments tools that not only contribute to the development of a large and growing e-commerce community in Latin America (a region with a population of over 605 million people and one of the fastest-growing Internet penetration rates in the world), but also foster entrepreneurship and social mobility. Its main focus is to deliver compelling technological and commercial solutions that address the distinctive cultural and geographic challenges of operating an online commerce and payments platform in Latin America. For more information about MercadoLibre.com, visit: http://investor.mercadolibre.com Story continues Investor Relations Contact: investor@mercadolibre.com http://investor.mercadolibre.com Theres some data that suggests a manual CPR device can perform better consistently than humans can, said Dr. Michael Bush, St. Vincent Healthcare chief medical officer. It also helps reduce the risk of exposure to your associates who might be participating in the CPR. Research has shown cardiac damage in as many as 1 in 5 COVID-19 patients, leading to heart failure and death even among those who show no signs of respiratory distress. Patients who recover could still have long-term effects from heart damage. Bush said that those who become very ill with COVID-19 tend to get an enhanced inflammatory immune response, which causes respiratory problems. Cytokines are a part of the bodys inflammatory response mechanism. When many are released at one time, the body can experience what is known as a cytokine storm response, which causes ill-intended effects on the body like abnormalities in the heart muscle that affect heart rhythm. Heart attacks can also be brought on by enhanced inflammatory responses, Bush said. COVID-19 patients can also experience low oxygen levels, which in turn puts more stress on the heart and can lead to long-term heart problems. However, research is preliminary and its unclear what the long-term effects are. New Delhi, April 23 : Pointing out that the states have already lost around Rs 20,000 crore in revenues during the lockdown period so far, the Indian alcoholic beverage industry has urged state governments to impress upon the Centre on the urgent need to start sale of liquor in non COVID-19 hotspots. It has also sought opening of retail and on-trade (pubs, restaurants etc) establishments in non-COVID-19 hotspots and commencement of online sales and home delivery under strict government supervision to check overcrowding in shops and fulfil the criteria of social distancing. In its letter to all Chief Ministers (barring states which are under prohibition), the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC) has stated that "Constitutionally alcohol is a state matter, and hence it is state government which should unequivocally be the only authority to permit or not permit trade in alcohol." CIABC is the apex body of the Indian Alcoholic Beverage Industry with members including major Indian companies who manufacture and market their product range in India and abroad. The letter pleaded that, "the State Governments to take up the matter once again with the Centre to permit production, distribution and sales of alcoholic beverages outside containment zones, in conformity with COVID-19 guidelines." This is the second letter written to the Chief Ministers since the lockdown began. CIABC also asked states systemic changes in the way the alcoholic beverage industry works to ensure social distancing in future. In this regard it said that there should be greater push for technology-based controls in place of physical man-based controls on production/warehousing sites and on stock in transit. In addition new sales channels, which do not need gathering of people, such as home deliveries through dedicated portals or government's websites should be looked at. "In these difficult times when entire industry and economic activities are shut, the states' coffers are taking a big hit. Indian alcoholic beverage industry is the major source of revenues for the state governments. It contributes around Rs 2 lakh crore per annum as revenues to the government. Tax on alcohol consists of 20-40 per cent of tax revenues of States. A total ban on liquor deprives state governments of own revenue so vitally required in fighting COVID-19. We employ 20 lakh workforce and assist livelihood of 40 lakh farmers. Under current circumstances when our earnings are zero, we cannot sustain for long. This will lead to huge job cuts and massive financial losses. The state governments need to urgently consider opening of sale," CIABC Director General Vinod Giri said. Giri further noted that prolonged unavailability of legal alcohol has serious consequences. "There are growing reports of liquor smuggling, sale of illicit and spurious liquor, and looting of shops. These not only deprive state of legitimate tax revenues, they also pose grave threat to public health and law & order." Significantly, Punjab and Maharashtra state governments have already taken up the matter with the Union Home Ministry for opening of liquor shops. Delhi and Maharashtra have also been pushing for online sale and home delivery of liquor. Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday accused the BJP of spreading the virus of communal prejudice and hatred in the country, asserting that "grave damage" is being done to social harmony. Addressing a meeting of the Congress Working Committee, Gandhi said it should worry every Indian and her party will have to work hard to repair this damage. "Let me also share with you something that should worry each and every one of us as Indians. When we should be tackling the coronavirus unitedly, the BJP continues to spread the virus of communal prejudice and hatred," she said. "Grave damage is being done to our social harmony. Our party, we will have to work hard to repair that damage," the Congress president added. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and top Congress leaders attended the meeting through video conference. This is the second time the CWC, the Congress' top decision-making body, is meeting through video-conferencing in the past three weeks ever since the lockdown was enforced to contain the coronavirus threat. The Congress president said the coronavirus pandemic has increased disturbingly in the past three weeks and called upon the government to increase testing for it. Gandhi said she has written several times to the prime minister since the lockdown was enforced and suggested several measures and constructive cooperation. "Unfortunately, they have been acted upon only partially and in a miserly way. The compassion, large-heartedness and alacrity that should be forthcoming from the central government is conspicuous by its absence," she said. The Congress chief said the focus of the party must continue to be on successfully engaging with health, food security and livelihood issues. She claimed that around 12 crore people have lost jobs in the first phase of the lockdown and urged the government to provide a relief package for the MSME sector, which accounts for one-third of the GDP. Gandhi called upon the government to provide food and financial security to migrants and jobless stranded at various places and were desperate to reach back home. "We have repeatedly urged PM there is no alternative to testing, tracing and quarantine. Unfortunately, testing still remains low, testing kits still in short supply," she noted. Gandhi said trade, commerce and industry have come to a virtual halt and crores of livelihoods have been destroyed. "The central government does not appear to have a clear idea on how the situation will be managed after May 3rd. A lockdown of the present nature after that date would be even more devastating," she said. Former prime minister Manmohan said the success of the lockdown will be judged finally on India's ability to tackle COVID-19. He also said the cooperation between the Centre and states was key to success of the country's fight against coronavirus. Singh said it is necessary to focus on a number of issues in the fight against coronavirus. The fight against COVID-19 would very much depend upon the availability of resources, he noted. Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said unless the central government comes forward to financially help states, the fight against COVID-19 will get weakened. "Unless there is a big financial package for states, how will normalcy return to states post lockdown," he asked. Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said unless the Centre rises to the occasion and provides financial assistance to states, how will the fight against COVID-19 be won. Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy said the Union government has not given any assistance to the states. "How will states survive in times of crisis. We are not enemies but have to act and work together," Narayanasamy said at the CWC meet. BRYAN, Ohio A man who once worked as an auxiliary police officer has been indicted after being accused of sexually assaulting a teen, according to the Ohio Attorney Generals Office. Leslie R. Tietje, 40, of Napoleon, Ohio, was indicted Tuesday on three third-degree felony counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. Tietje was arrested in Indiana without incident, according to a news release from the attorney generals office. The news release did not detail the accusations against Tietje, saying the victim was between the ages of 13 and 16 years old. However, WTVG Channel 13 reports that a parent of the alleged victim, a 15-year-old boy, called Napoleon police and said the teen had a sexual relationship with an adult. The AGs office says the crime reportedly occurred on Feb. 10. Officials did not say where it occurred. In February, Tietje was arrested and charged on a single count of unlawful sexual contact with a minor by the Bryan Police Department, according to state investigators. Bryan police are working with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation on the investigation. Napoleon police tell WTOL Channel 11 that Tietje was an auxiliary officer with the department from March 2016 to October 2019. If convicted, Tietje could face a maximum sentence of 60 months in prison for each count. He also would be required to register as a Tier 2 sex offender. More crime-related content on cleveland.com: Ohio Supreme Court suspends Akron attorney convicted of soliciting sex from undercover officer posing as minor Cuyahoga County Jail officer resigns after second arrest in five months Man cited with violating Ohios stay-at-home order after throwing party at AirBnb in Ohio City that drew 100 people The boss of Heathrow is urging ministers to introduce mass screening at airports, the Daily Mail can reveal. In a major intervention, chief executive John Holland-Kaye is writing to Health Secretary Matt Hancock to demand stringent regulations to combat coronavirus. The airport's bosses want an internationally agreed standard of measures, which could include temperature checks, antibody tests and a requirement that all passengers carry health passports proving they are medically fit. They also want Public Health England (PHE) to release data proving the Government's claims that temperature screening is ineffective. Passengers from the Holland America Line ship Zaandam walk through arrivals in Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport in London, after flying back on a repatriation flight from Florida The airport's boss John Holland-Kaye (left) has written to the Health Secretary Matt Hancock (right) to demand stringent regulations to combat coronavirus The concourse at Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport, London, is empty during the normally busy Easter getaway, as the UK continues in lockdown The demand for action from the head of Britain's biggest airport comes amid mounting anger over the total lack of checks and tests at the nation's airports decried by one senior industry figure as a 'disaster'. Officials believe about 15,000 passengers are arriving unchecked into the UK every day, including 10,000 at Heathrow. Incredibly, not a single traveller is being checked for signs of coronavirus even though thousands are arriving from virus-ravaged countries such as China, Italy and Iran. Britain's approach is in stark contrast to other nations which have either closed their borders entirely, or introduced stringent checks on arriving passengers. These include measures such as mass temperature screening and mandatory quarantining. In the UK, temperature checks have not been introduced after PHE said they were 'ineffective' against a virus that can have an incubation period of up to 14 days. Experts said entry screening would detect only a small number of cases and the decision not to test was made by the Department of Health and Social Care. Instead, under a system of 'enhanced monitoring' passengers are handed information leaflets and told to self-isolate for 14 days after landing although officials admit they have no way of enforcing this. Critics say the decision not to limit arrivals and check passengers threatens the health of the nation and makes a mockery of the lockdown conditions imposed on the rest of Britain. Last night the powerful transport select committee confirmed plans to investigate the policy on airport testing. Mr Holland-Kaye will tell Mr Hancock that airports are coming in for unfair criticism over the Government's decision not to test. 'Do not use this seat' signs are places on seats at Heathrow Airport as the coronavirus lockdown continues International travellers arrive at an almost deserted London Heathrow Airport as government policy of not screening arriving passengers comes under scrutiny He has called for an international standard of screening to revive confidence in air travel once the pandemic is over, which could include permanent social distancing as well as temperature and antibody tests at British airports. Other airport bosses have said the absence of checks is creating a false impression that Britain's airports are more dangerous than others, and warn it could have a long-term impact on passenger numbers. Public health experts also questioned the Government's approach. Professor Gabriel Scally, of the Royal Society of Medicine, told the Financial Times: 'The UK is an outlier. 'It is very hard to understand why it persists in having this open borders policy. It is most peculiar.' A source at the Department for Transport told the Mail: 'Our initial instinct was 'oh my God, we should be testing everybody because who knows what they could be bringing in'. 'At the same time, we were being told that airport testing was probably the least effective way of controlling the arrival of the virus. Yesterday 616 patients died, down from a peak of 980 and taking the official toll to 18,783 'In the end, we decided to ask airlines to carry out checks on pas before they depart to the UK. 'This was a bit hit and miss. We could only regulate UK airlines at UK airports, so we had no way of making sure checks were being carried out in places like China.' PHE said: 'The decision not to introduce temperature screening was based on the best scientific evidence.' The Airport Operators Association added: 'UK airports are following current guidelines on screening of passengers... Should the views of experts change and guidance updated, airports will follow that advice.' Matt Hancock reveals massive plan to 'test, track and trace' coronavirus victims as prelude to ending lock-down and reveals ANY 'essential worker' will be able to get a swab test from TOMORROW By Sam Blanchard Senior Health Reporter for MailOnline and Stephen Matthews Health Editor for MailOnline Every essential worker and their family will be eligible for free coronavirus tests from tomorrow after the Government finally announced a three-step 'test, track and trace' battle plan to ease the UK out of lockdown. Health Secretary Matt Hancock tonight dramatically announced swab tests will be available for up to 7million Brits who show symptoms of the deadly disease and will no longer be restricted to health workers and hospital patients. The scheme marks a long-awaited turning point in the Government's policy and mirrors the rigorous regime used in South Korea, which bucked the trend by opting against lockdown and squashing its outbreak within weeks. Authorities will push forward with more testing to keep track of who is currently infected with the virus and who has had it already. The true scale of Britain's outbreak is currently a mystery because of Number 10's controversial decision to abandon widespread testing more than a month ago. Downing Street will also train an 'army' of 18,000 civil servants to trace contacts of infected patients to try and prevent future outbreaks, which the World Health Organization says is the 'backbone' to curbing any epidemic. The same key workers whose children have been allowed to remain at school since the lockdown was imposed 31 days ago on March 23 will now be able to order COVID-19 tests - if they feel ill - online or through their employers. These include teachers and social workers, supermarket staff, lorry drivers, public transport staff, bankers, postal workers, bin collectors and utility workers. Members of their families will also be eligible for the tests. Britain has 7.1million of these essential workers, according to an estimate by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and 42 per cent of them have at least one child under the age of 16. Mr Hancock said tonight 'I want to make it as easy as possible for people to get a test' and said there are 31 places around the UK that offer them. People will be able to book the swabs online and will receive results by text. Officials insist the UK is on track to meet its target of 100,000 tests per day by the end of April, as Mr Hancock had promised, but statistics show that Britain is still only using half of its testing capacity. Just 23,560 tests were done on 14,629 people yesterday even though there is capacity to do 51,000 tests per day, meaning the UK is only a fifth of the way to reaching the pledge with only a week left. Drive-through testing centres have been seen deserted and scores of unwell NHS medics have spoken of having to travel hours to get tests, only to be told to come back another day when they have an appointment. In tonight's Downing Street press conference, Mr Hancock was asked if ministers needed a scaled-up testing and tracing regime to be up-and-running before the strict lockdown can be eased. But he dodged the question, instead saying there was 'no automatic link' between the two schemes and adding that he 'wouldn't put a deadline' on when the three-step plan will be ready. In other developments to Britain's coronavirus crisis today: Britons ignored lockdown rules to flock to parks and beaches as temperatures hit 75F (23C) - despite government pleas and warnings of fines; Huge queues built up outside B&Q stores and Five Guys burger restaurants as parts of Britain showed signs that they were getting back to work; Officials announced 616 more coronavirus victims - 37 per cent fewer than the 980 announced on April 10, the UK's darkest day of the crisis; Mr Hancock refused to bow to growing political pressure to set out how the British government will ease the lockdown, which was imposed 31 days ago on March 23; Nicola Sturgeon published a blueprint for how to lift restrictions in Scotland amid growing anger over ministers continuing to keep their strategy secret; British holidaymakers are facing a summer-long ban from Ibiza and Majorca due to the UK's delayed lockdown - despite the islands' plans to reopen to other nations in August; Two thirds of the public think the media is failing to hold ministers to account at the daily press conferences; Fury was sparked after a minister failed to apologise for a lack of PPE provided for NHS staff fighting to save lives from coronavirus; A new mother died from coronavirus in hospital without being able to cuddle her son who she had given birth to just days before. Department of Health figures show 22,000 tests were carried out in the UK on Tuesday, despite the Government having capacity to do more than 51,000 The Government's plans for moving forward have emerged piecemeal today with announcements about population testing, an 'army' of contact tracing staff and offering swabs to key workers. The 'test, track, trace' pledge breaks down into three key parts: TEST: Test millions of essential workers and their families for current infection Swab tests will be offered to all key workers and members of their family, if they have symptoms of COVID-19, from tomorrow, Hancock announced in today's briefing. These tests will involve swabbing the inside of the person's nose and will tell someone if they are currently infected with the coronavirus. It will not tell if they have already had it. Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced plans to open up testing to more members of the public at this afternoon's coronavirus briefing in Downing Street People will be able to order the tests online on the Government's website, or through their employer if they don't have internet access. After applying, people will receive an email or a text message that same day inviting them to book an appointment. The tests will be done in one of five places: At one of 31 drive-through testing centres around the country, which have been positioned to try and make sure nobody is more than a 45 minute drive away from one At home - home testing kits will be available for some people NHS hospital - these are most likely to be reserved for NHS staff, because the health service will want to avoid encouraging people who might be infected but don't need emergency help to enter hospitals 'Satellite' testing - packages of testing kits are being sent to care homes so they can test residents without having to take them out of the home or send other people in Mobile testing units that have been developed by the Army may be sent out to high-demand locations such as care homes, police stations and prisons Test results, which must be returned from a laboratory, will be sent by text message within 48 hours or within 72 hours of a home test being collected. WHO ARE THE KEY WORKERS? All NHS and social care staff, including volunteers and support workers Producers and distributors of drugs and PPE Workers in prisons, probation, courts, tribunals Religious staff, such as vicars, imams, rabbis and pastors Charities and workers delivering critical frontline services Workers managing the deceased, such as undertakers Journalists and broadcasters covering the coronavirus outbreak Media workers providing public service broadcasting Police officers and support staff, such as PCSOs Armed forces personnel, Ministry of Defence civilians and contractors Fire and rescue service employees, including support staff National Crime Agency staff, border security, and national security staff Workers looking after air, water, road and rail transport still operating Staff maintaining transport systems through which supply chains pass Education and childcare workers, including support and teaching staff Social workers and specialist education professionals Workers producing and distributing food, drink and essential goods Staff who sell and deliver food, drink and essential goods Medical supply chain and distribution workers, including vets Workers critical to the continuity of essential movement of goods Critical local and national government staff Public and environmental health staff, including in government agencies Local authority staff, including those working with vulnerable children and adults, with victims of domestic abuse, and with the homeless and rough sleepers Staff needed for financial services provision, such as bank workers Workers in the oil, gas, electricity and water sectors IT and data infrastructure sector workers Essential staff working in the civil nuclear, chemicals and telecomms Postal workers and staff working in delivery The exact wording of who classes as an essential worker can be found here. Advertisement Swabs will be run through Government testing labs which, officials say, have the capacity to process 51,000 every day. Mr Hancock said today: 'From today, employers of essential workers will be able to go on gov.uk to get a test for any of their staff who need a test. 'And from tomorrow, any essential workers who need a test will be able to book an appointment on gov.uk themselves directly. 'This all applies for people in essential workers' households who need a test too. It's all part of getting Britain back on her feet.' The aim of the scaled up testing is to reduce the number of people who have to self-isolate from work if they fear they, or someone they live with, has symptoms of COVID-19. If the person experiencing the symptoms tests negative the employee should be able to return to work. On the list of essential workers, alongside NHS and social care staff and volunteers, are prison and court workers, religious leaders, funeral directors, journalists, police and support staff, military personnel and office staff and fire service employees. Crime agency and border workers will also be included, along with utility workers, transport staff and maintenance workers, childcare workers and teaching staff, social workers, people who produce, sell or deliver food and drink, medical supply chain staff and veterinarians. Local government and environmental workers will also receive tests, as well as postal staff and financial workers such as bankers. The Government has so far put in a lacklustre performance on the testing front, not yet managing to rise above 24,000 tests in a day despite a pledge to hit 100,000 per day by next Thursday, April 30. Capacity has been expanded with the opening of three government-run 'Lighthouse Labs' in Milton Keynes, Cheshire and Glasgow, and widening the criteria for who can get tested will push authorities much closer to this figure. According to the Insitute for Fiscal Studies there are 7.1million people in the UK - 22 per cent of the entire workforce - who fit the Government's description of a key worker. And their families will be included in the new testing scheme, too. Almost half of those key workers (42 per cent) have at least one child of school age, the IFS data shows, and 46 per cent of them have partners who are in 'non-key' work. There are 31 testing centres around the country which will be used to swab essential workers and their family members. They have the capacity to more than 51,000 tests per day, the Government says TRACK: Random population testing for past and present infection to track the spread of the virus The Department of Health announced today that it will start a widespread public testing scheme, split into two parts. Thousands of people forming a representative sample of the population will be enrolled into either regular swab testing or antibody testing which will help authorities track where the coronavirus is spreading and where it has been already. WHAT ARE THE TWO TYPES OF TEST THAT WILL BE USED? SWAB TEST Swab tests, technically known as PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests, pick up on active viral infection. A PCR test works by a sample of someone's genetic material - their RNA - being taken to lab and worked up in a full map of their DNA as it looked at the time of the test. This DNA can then be scanned to find evidence of the virus, which will be embroiled with the patient's genetic material if they are infected at the time. The PCR test is extremely reliable but can take a day or more to carry out. A positive result indicates that someone is currently infected with COVID-19. This type of test cannot tell whether someone has had the disease in the past, nor when they caught it. 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. 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. A positive result indicates somebody has definitely had the COVID-19 infection at some point. They have likely recovered if they're not ill at the time, but people may also test antibody positive while they are still ill. Advertisement Between 25,000 and 300,000 people will take part in the swab testing scheme which will continue over the next year. Everyone involved will complete a swab test every month to spot signs of current infection. This is intended to pick up on local outbreaks and see how the virus is circulating as the current crisis comes to an end. Picking up on these cases may be able to alert authorities to outbreaks in certain areas or to detect when large numbers of people are starting to test positive again and another outbreak is happening. In a second branch of the tracking project, people in 1,000 households across the country will submit to monthly blood testing to see if they have immunity to the coronavirus. These tests, called antibody tests or 'have you had it' tests, show whether someone has been infected with COVID-19 in the past and recovered. They are most accurate around three weeks or more after someone becomes infected. Tracking the number of people who have developed immunity can give scientists a clear picture of how widely the virus has spread already, which may affect its ability to spread in the future. The more people who test positive for antibodies, the fewer people there are who could get infected in a second outbreak. This is called herd immunity. Antibody testing, which has been picked up on much larger scale in other countries, forms a vital part of the Government's 'five-pillar' testing strategy - but officials have so far only managed 4,900 tests and just 51 were done yesterday. The hope for this scheme is that, when rolled out more widely, it will give a clearer, more permanent picture of the size of the country's outbreak and the extent to which the nation has developed herd immunity. Currently, the numbers of people in hospital are the most accurate day-by-day measure but represent only a small proportion of all people infected. The data can also be out of date because it may take a week or more for someone to become ill enough to need a hospital bed, and then up to three weeks, or longer, to recover. Professor Ian Jones, a virus expert at the University of Reading, said today: 'The newly announced tests should at last address the level of virus circulation in the community and, to a lesser extent, the level of past infections. 'Together they will give important data on how prevalent the infection is and has been. Where this has been done elsewhere the level of infection has been 20 to 50 times higher than the known positives and we must wait to see if this is also the case in the UK.' How much immunity people actually develop to the coronavirus after having it remains unclear. Top scientists have admitted it is still possible that people are only protected for a short period of time and then become capable of spreading it or developing symptoms again. The Health Secretary said improving understanding of immunity levels is 'vital'. Of the antibody testing scheme, Mr Hancock said: 'This survey will help to track the current extent of transmission and infection in the UK, while also answering crucial questions about immunity as we continue to build up our understanding of this new virus. 'Together, these results will help us better understand the spread of the virus to date, predict the future trajectory and inform future action we take.' TRACE: Trace contacts of infected patients and warn them they have been exposed to the virus The Government will launch a widespread contact tracing scheme to track down people who have been in touch with infected patients An army of 18,000 contact tracers will be trained in the coming weeks to help Britain recover from its lockdown. The job of these people will be to quiz anyone who tests positive for the coronavirus about who they have been in contact with and where they have been around the time they become ill and the days before it. The tracers will make a list of people considered to have been put at risk by the patient, and those people will be notified that they might have the coronavirus. If contacted by tracers, people will be asked to self-isolate and to be vigilant about changes in their health and about social distancing. If they become ill they will be tested. If a contact becomes infected the same process begins for them and their social network. The idea is to keep track of how the virus moves through social circles and to try to stay a step ahead of it and prevent wider spread. Experts expect to be able to track at least 80 per cent of the people a coronavirus patient has come into contact with within 24 hours of diagnosis. Council staff and civil servants are expected to be at the frontline of this effort. Chief executive of the NHS Confederation, a body that represents healthcare organisations, Niall Dickson, said: 'This is an important moment as we see real commitment and details of how we will develop contract tracing to help us track and control the virus when the current restrictions are relaxed. 'The recruitment of an army of 18,000 tracers will be critical, though any strategy will need to be linked into local organisations.' HOW WOULD AN NHS CONTACT-TRACING APP WORK? According to researchers, the app being developed by NHSX would likely work as follows: Users install the app on their smartphones. The app logs every time the device comes into close proximity of another app user's phone. Users exhibiting coronavirus symptoms self-report on the app. The app tells these users to self-isolate, along with their household. It also notifies any other users logged as having recently come into contact with them/ These users also isolate, along with their households, and so on. Advertisement One key aspect of the Government's contact tracing plan is believed to be its NHS app which is still in the development phase. NHSX, the health service's technological arm, is believed to have been working on software which uses bluetooth technology, alongside Google and Apple, who run the two main smartphone operating systems. Mr Hancock explained: 'If you become unwell with the symptoms of coronavirus you can securely tell this new NHS app and the app will then send an alert anonymously to other app users that you've been in significant contact with over the past few days, even before (they) have symptoms so that they know and can act accordingly.' The app is currently being tested at a Royal Air Force base in North Yorkshire and Mr Hancock said the trials 'are going well,' the BBC reported. Similar approaches have been used with success in Singapore and South Korea but there are concerns about privacy and that not enough people will sign up to use it. Researchers at the University of Oxford warned it would only work effectively if 80 per cent of the population downloaded it and used it, but surveys had found this level of engagement would be unlikely in practice. Nevertheless, lower levels of uptake coupled with social distancing efforts would still help to slow the spread of COVID-19 and put off a second lockdown period. In fact, the Oxford team predicted that, regardless of overall uptake, a contact-tracing app could 'prevent approximately one infection for every one or two users of the app.' In America, campaigners have raised concerns about the way apps such as these could breach people's privacy. It would have to share location data to be able to work, they said. The American Civil Liberties Union said: 'The systems must be widely adopted, but that will not happen if people do not trust them. For there to be trust, the tool must protect privacy, be voluntary, and store data on an individual's device rather than in a centralized repository.' UK's testing farce: One drive-thru centre is only swabbing 'four people a day' as ministers bring in the Army and Amazon to ramp up capacity Britain's coronavirus testing farce was laid bare again today with claims that a drive-through centre is only swabbing a handful of people every day - with a week to go to meet the Government's pledge of swabbing 100,000 people a day. The make-shift facility, in the car park of Port Glasgow Health Centre, Inverclyde, was set up on April 9 with ambitions of testing 100 people a week - who are either NHS workers or family members of medics. A resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: 'It has been very quiet so far. It looks like they are testing about four people a day. We overlook it and have barely noticed anyone using the centre. It is empty most of the time.' The Army and Amazon have both been drafted in to help Number 10 scale up its testing response, with soldiers helping to ferry mobile testing units across the UK and the retail giant is delivering swabs to people's homes. Damning official figures show Britain is still miles away from reaching its pledge of carrying out 100,000 swabs each day, with Department of Health statistics showing only 22,000 were conducted yesterday. Downing Street today claimed that Britain has the capacity to carry out 48,000 tests each day - but admitted less than half of that is being used and that there is still a 'great deal more to do' to close the gap. The UK lags behind many other comparable nations in testing, with an analysis showing it has swabbed just six people out of every 1,000 - half the rate of the US and four times lower than Italy. Health Secretary Matt Hancock's target was yesterday savaged by MPs as 'arbitrary' and 'stupid', after pictures of near-empty testing centres in London, Coventry and Brighton laid bare the true scale of the UK's swabbing shambles. Ministers yesterday announced they were expanding the number of drive-through testing sites from 26 to 50. Other key workers will also now be eligible for tests, including transport workers and supermarket staff. The move came after numerous horror stories of self-isolating and potentially very unwell workers having to travel for multiple hours to get tests only for some of them to be told to come back another day. A drive-through testing centre in Cardiff is pictured empty this morning (left) while a soldier collected coronavirus testing samples at a centre in Southport (right) A spokesman NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: 'At present the centre is seeing more patients on a daily basis and has the capacity to meet demand. 'The Port Glasgow drive-through testing centre opened on Thursday April 9 and tests both symptomatic household members and symptomatic staff as per the current NHS GGC policy. 'Across NHS GGC we are able to test health and social care staff who are self-isolating as they are symptomatic, or, those with a symptomatic household contact.' The drive-through test centre runs on an appointment-only basis and it operates Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm. During testing the person remains in the car and provides a swab. All staff at the centre wear PPE and a pathway has been put in place to control the flow of traffic and ensure the safety of the public and staff. Downing Street today said 22,814 coronavirus tests were carried out on 13,522 people up to 9am on Wednesday in England, Scotland and Wales. But it admitted that capacity is now at 48,273 - meaning Britain is only using up 47 per cent of its supply. No10 acknowledged there is still a 'great deal more to do' to close the gap between capacity and the actual number of tests carried out. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The number of people we've tested has increased in the most recent 24 hours we've got figures for. 'And the gap between the number of people tested and the number of people we've tested has closed slightly. 'But that doesn't distract from the fact that there's a great deal more to do if we're to be able to say we're making the full use of the capacity we have. 'Mobile units will visit the care homes and test any residents and staff and separately we're using Amazon to deliver tests to people's homes.' The spokesperson added that around 50 drive-through sites will be ready by end of the month with 28 already open. Other flagship NHS testing sites have stood empty this week, with pictures showing few people arriving to give any samples. Both Twickenham rugby stadium and Chessington World of Adventures in west London did not appear to have many patients arriving on Monday. Coronavirus testing was taking place yesterday in the car park of Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey, pictured left, and at Twickenham stadium (right) Empty coronavirus testing centres for NHS staff and registered care workers are pictured in Coventry (left) and Plymouth (right) Yesterday it was revealed that trucks will ferry mobile testing units nationwide to screen NHS and social care workers. It came amid claims potentially thousands of NHS staff have been unable to get swabbed at the drive-through centres. The scheme - backed by the military - will transport testing teams to hospitals and care homes across Britain, The Sun reports. General Sir Nick Carter, chief of the defence staff, said: 'We think the innovative idea of pop-ups, rather like mobile libraries, would be a very useful way of going.' Last week it was revealed coronavirus swab kits would start to be delivered to homes by Amazon in a pilot scheme. MPS BLAST THE 100,000 TESTS A DAY TARGET AS 'STUPID' There is rising Tory fury over Matt Hancock's decision to set such a high bar, with senior figures concerned about the backlash which could follow if he fails to deliver on his promise. Some Conservative MPs believe Mr Hancock will have to 'carry the can' if he falls short of the target as they said he should have climbed down on the issue more than a week ago. One senior Tory MP told MailOnline the target is 'stupid' and added: 'Matt was extremely unwise to come up with such a high and round figure and to make a dogmatic commitment rather than an aspiration. 'He was under pressure at the time. If he wanted to reverse out of it he should have started reversing a week ago. It is pretty clear that he is not going to hit the target and he ought to be levelling with people.' A Number 10 insider echoed a similar sentiment, telling The Telegraph: 'The problem is with this arbitrary target. There is a faint irrationality behind it, just because there was a clamour for mass testing. 'Hancock's 100,000 target was a response to a criticism in the media and he decided to crank out tests regardless. 'He's not had a good crisis. The Prime Minister will say he has confidence in him but it doesn't feel like that.' Advertisement The retail giant is sending send swabs to people's homes and telling them to take a sample from their throats an hour before they are picked up again. The results of the test will then be sent by text message. It is understood the pilot scheme - for 5,000 self-test kits - will begin with key workers. But the Daily Mail reported earlier this week that only 200 of the kits have been sent out so far because of a hold-up by officials. It comes after it was revealed last night that only one in four care home staff who fear they have coronavirus have been tested. Managers say their staff face having to make four-hour round trips to test centres which are only accessible by car when many don't even drive. It means workers are being left stuck at home self-isolating unnecessarily but unable to return to the frontline where they are desperately needed. MPs and trade union bosses last night branded the 'desperately' low levels of testing in the care sector 'appalling'. Last week Mr Hancock said everyone working in social care who needed a test would be able to get one 'immediately'. But care workers showing symptoms of COVID-19 must be referred by their employer and then travel to one of the drive-through centres and wait two days for the results. It means care workers already feeling unwell can face round trips of more than 200 miles to be tested. They have also been told they are not allowed to take public transport or taxis to the appointment - leaving those without a car no way of receiving the vital tests. Data collected by the National Care Forum (NCF), which represents nonprofit providers, suggests just 25 per cent of care home staff needing tests have had them. The NCF collected data from 21 members which together employ almost 16,000 care staff. Of the 632 residential care staff needing tests only 164 had been tested, while just 19 of the 281 home carers had received a coronavirus test. ONLY ONE IN FOUR CARE HOME STAFF ARE BEING TESTED FOR COVID-19 Only one in four care home staff who fear they have coronavirus have been tested, it was revealed last night. Managers say their staff face having to make four-hour round trips to test centres which are only accessible by car when many don't even drive. It means workers are being left stuck at home self-isolating unnecessarily but unable to return to the frontline where they are desperately needed. MPs and trade union bosses last night branded the 'desperately' low levels of testing in the care sector 'appalling'. Last week Mr Hancock said everyone working in social care who needed a test would be able to get one 'immediately'. But care workers showing symptoms of COVID-19 must be referred by their employer and then travel to one of the drive-through centres and wait two days for the results. It means care workers already feeling unwell can face round trips of more than 200 miles to be tested. They have also been told they are not allowed to take public transport or taxis to the appointment - leaving those without a car no way of receiving the vital tests. Advertisement Four Seasons Health Care, one of Britain's biggest private care providers, said many of its employees can't get to test centres as they don't drive. Yesterday the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said three new testing laboratories are now complete. The Lighthouse Labs in Milton Keynes, Glasgow and Alderley Park in Cheshire will be able to test tens of thousands of samples each day. Liz Kendall, Shadow Minister for Social Care, last night described the lack of testing system as 'madness'. 'There are desperately low levels of testing when we know it's essential to save the lives of the most vulnerable,' she said. 'We've heard of appalling cases where care workers in Norfolk have been told to go to Sheffield and those in Peterborough to Stansted Airport.' Prime Minister Boris Johnson had earlier set a much more ambitious testing target of 250,000 tests-a-day during a briefing on Mach 19. But he did not attach a date to when that would be achieved. Official documents by the Department of Health say the target is 25,000 per day. Britain, with 130,000 confirmed cases of the disease, is testing 6.11 people per 1,000 - 0.5 per cent of its population - according to the latest figures. The UK sits well below nations with similar rates of infection, such as Italy, Germany and Spain. All of Britain's European neighbours are testing more than 20 people per thousand, according to statistics compiled by Oxford-led researchers. Early testing for COVID-19 is seen by the World Health Organization (WHO) as crucial to bringing the pandemic under control. No tests, no checks... and no sense: Hundreds of passengers arrive at Heathrow from virus hotspots and they're not even stopped for Covid-19 screening By David Jones for the Daily Mail Even the blue face mask covering the Iranian-British businessman's face couldn't conceal his consternation as he emerged into the arrivals hall at Heathrow Airport. Before boarding his Iran Air flight from Tehran, Farzad Parhizkar's temperature and those of the other 80 or so passengers was checked by a laser-beam thermometer, he told me. They had also been obliged to fill in a form giving such details as their name and address, destination, reason for travel, and whether they had any symptoms of coronavirus. 'Then, when I arrive here in London, there is nothing at all,' he said, his eyebrows raising above the mask. 'There was no temperature check, no questions about my health, no advice on how to avoid catching the virus. Nothing. Everything was all just like the world is normal.' International travellers arrive at an almost deserted London Heathrow Airport as government policy of not screening arriving passengers comes under scrutiny. Pictured: Passengers arriving from Tehran on Sunday Passengers from the Holland America Line ship Zaandam walk through arrivals in Terminal 2 at Heathrow Airport in London, after flying back on a repatriation flight from Florida It was a criticism I heard repeatedly at Heathrow yesterday and on Sunday as I spoke to some of the 15,000 travellers who are by Health Secretary Matt Hancock's latest estimate still flying into Britain every day. Of these, the Department for Transport claims about 10,000 are landing at London's main hub, while others are coming in through Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham. At a time when the nation is in lockdown, the very fact that these airports remain open to commercial flights is surely questionable enough. That we are continuing to welcome passengers from countries such as Iran, where the official Covid-19 death rate stood yesterday at 5,209 (though many believe the mullahs are lying and that it is considerably higher) seems like utter madness. Yesterday morning, flights also arrived from New York the city with the world's highest number of coronavirus deaths, 13,869 Los Angeles (California, 1,072 deaths), Chicago (Illinois, 1,290), Miami (Florida, 764), Dallas (Texas, 467) and Washington DC (624). Later, planes were due in from Rome, Madrid and Paris three capitals at the epicentre of this pandemic as well as from Tokyo, Lagos, Lisbon and Ahmedabad in India. According to Heathrow's website, the purpose of keeping the airport open is to help repatriate British citizens and import vital freight, such as medical equipment and food. It points out that traffic has fallen by 75 per cent while cargo has increased by 200 per cent. No one doubts these statistics. In fact, judging by the two days I spent at Heathrow, Mr Hancock's 10,000 figure may now be an over-estimation. Of the five terminals, only numbers 2 and 5 remain in use, and they are eerily quiet. No cafes or shops are open, except the chemist, no taxis line the ranks, you see very few staff, just a few cleaners and security guards milling about. Disconcertingly, given that terrorists must surely be looking to exploit this vacuum, there is no visible police presence. It is like a scene from Contagion, the dystopian film about a global pandemic that was released nine years ago and has turned out to be uncannily accurate. However, while Heathrow's traffic has dropped dramatically just 60 flights were due to arrive yesterday, less than a tenth of the number on any ordinary Monday some of the passengers I met certainly weren't making essential journeys. Take 49-year-old Mr Parhizkar. A travelling furniture salesmen, his business takes him between Iran and Europe. He was passing through London where he had to stay overnight on his way to trade in Sweden, simply because he can no longer fly there directly. According to Heathrow's website, the purpose of keeping the airport open is to help repatriate British citizens and import vital freight, such as medical equipment and food Had he been selling furniture from a shop in Britain, of course, his business would be closed. Others making the six-and-a-half-hour journey from Iran included a couple visiting relatives in London (they wandered around the terminal, looking forlornly for transport into the city), a woman with two children who had been to see her ailing mother, and a Reading-based Iranian heating engineer who had also been with his sick mother. They were, at least, impressed with the safety precautions on the flight. The attendants wore masks and regularly proffered hand sanitiser, they said. Passengers not travelling together were encouraged to space themselves out by leaving seats empty, which was relatively easy as the 280-seat Airbus was only about one-third full. But surely there are obvious perils in allowing people to travel here from Iran, where the safety standards set by the authorities and the manner in which people are interpreting them, differ markedly from our own? 'From what I saw, people in Britain are much more cautious about the virus than they are in Iran,' said the 55-year-old heating engineer, who gave only his first name, Babak. 'People do practice social distancing there, but it's far more casual.' He suggested that this might be because Iran has a much younger population than Britain. Whatever the reason, I saw first-hand what he meant. On several occasions at the airport, I had to warn over-friendly Iranians not to come within two metres of me. Babak also described how the lockdown has been loosened in Iran during the past few days. Some shops are opening, and people are starting to go out and mix again, he said. Clearly, then, their strategy is very different to that of the British Government. Disembarking in Terminal 5, after an overnight British Airways flight from America, Prague-based IT worker Ferdinand Habl, 32, was on a marathon journey one that must have brought him into contact with an untold number of people and objects. It had taken him first from Phoenix, Arizona, where the number of those infected remains relatively low and attitudes to the lockdown are correspondingly relaxed (with people continuing to attend huge church gatherings, for example) to Boston, Massachusetts. There are no cafes or shops are open, except the chemist, no taxis line the ranks at Heathrow Airport following the outbreak of coronavirus At the weekend, after virus deaths in this small north-eastern state rose sharply to 1,560, its governor declared: 'We're right in the middle of the surge now.' Mr Habl, a German national who also wore a mask, boarded a Heathrow-bound flight in Boston. He hoped to find a connection to his home city of Munich but was prepared to sleep at a friend's flat in London if this wasn't possible. Aware of the rigorous testing and contact-tracing policy that has proved so effective in Germany, he was 'surprised' to have been allowed to breeze across the US and the Atlantic to London a distance of 5,267 miles without one single health check. 'Because I'm a European citizen I didn't even have to talk to anyone at your passport desk I just used the automatic machine,' Mr Habl said, shaking his head with disbelief. The Government's stance on air travel is that screening incoming passengers at this stage of the pandemic would be futile. As Mr Hancock said late last week: 'We don't test at airports because the number of people coming through has dropped dramatically. Scientists say the epidemiological impact of keeping travel open is very small, because there's already large transmission here.' Perhaps so, yet driving away from Heathrow along the near-deserted M25, it was ironic to pass sign after sign urging motorists to make 'essential journeys only'. Millions of Britons are dutifully complying with this edict. For anyone flying here, however, even if they are coming from the world's deadliest Covid-19 hotspots, the door to Lockdown Britain remains wide open. D onald Trump has signed an executive order temporarily suspending immigration into the US during the coronavirus pandemic. The US President said the policy was designed to protect the jobs of American workers as the economy is impacted by the Covid-19 outbreak. He said he signed off on the order, which will last for 60 days but could be extended, just before his daily coronavirus briefing at the White House on Wednesday night. "This would ensure that unemployed Americans of all backgrounds will be first in line for jobs as our economy opens," Mr Trump told reporters. Trump details immigration 'pause' Critics have accused the US leader of using Covid-19 to ram through hardline immigration policies ahead of the countrys election in November. The hundreds of thousands of temporary work visas issued by the US each year will not be affected by the 60-day pause. Loading.... Also exempt are the spouses and young children of American citizens, green card applicants currently already in the US, and those seeking entry to work as doctors. Nurses and other healthcare professionals are also exempt from the order. The Oregon State Police seized over $62,000 and 17 grams of cocaine last weekend after a trooper stopped a driver for an alleged traffic violation on Interstate 5. The agency said a trooper pulled over the driver, later identified as Rey David Aguilera-Limon, in a routine traffic stop Saturday in Josephine County. Aguilera-Limon gave the trooper a fake ID, according to the state police, and the trooper developed probable cause to search his pickup truck. The search yielded $62,649 and 17.1 grams of cocaine, troopers said. Aguilera-Limon and passenger Luis Fernando Herrera-Limon were booked into the Josephine County Jail on suspicion of unlawful possession of cocaine, identity theft and money laundering, the state police said. The jails online booking roster does not list either of the men as currently being in custody. -- Jim Ryan; jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. New Jersey now has 5,368 coronavirus deaths as the total number of cases climbed to 99,989 on Thursday, though state officials continue to say they are seeing hopeful signs of the outbreak stabilizing. Gov. Phil Murphy said the latest numbers include about 307 new deaths and 4,227 new cases. We continue to see the curve of new COVID-19 cases remain significantly flat, even with todays slight uptick in cases," Murphy said during his daily press briefing in Trenton. "As we map the outbreak across the state, we continue to see a slowing in the rate of spread. Murphy said as the total cases near 100,000 a mark he expects the state to pass Friday its important to note that thousands of residents have likely recovered. This is a cumulative number. Our first positive case announced on March 4," Murphy said. "Of the 100,000 total cases, roughly 46,000 have now exited two-week incubation window. Even as we prepared for tomorrow, there are tens of thousands of residents who have now likely defeated the virus. But Murphy added that the latest numbers show New Jersey residents should prepare for his near-lockdown restrictions to continue for at least a few more weeks. We cant ease up one bit on our social distancing," the governor said. We need to see more progress and more slowing. It remains difficult to get a complete picture of how many people in New Jersey currently have COVID-19 or how quickly its spreading. Thats because the state is testing only symptomatic people, test results has been backed up for up to seven days, and the state has not reported significant increases in daily testing. Murphy has said New Jersey needs to establish broader testing, contact tracing, and plans to quarantine the infected before officials can begin to lift restrictions. We are working as fast as we can on all of the above, he said. Murphy also stressed Thursday that a new saliva test developed by Rutgers University could more than double the amount of daily testing in the state, with results in less than 48 hours. That could be key to reopening the states economy. The governor has said his administration is paying close attention to the number of patients hospitalized with the coronavirus in New Jersey as key indicator for when the outbreak has slowed. As of 10 p.m. Wednesday, the state reported 7,240 patients at New Jerseys 71 hospitals, a decline for the third consecutive day and down 12.7% from the peak in hospitalizations of 8,293 patients on April 14. Those numbers include those who tested positive and suspected cases. Of those 7,240 hospitalized, 1,990 were in critical or intensive care and 1,462 were on ventilators. The 99,989 positive coronavirus test include 13,769 cases at longterm care facilities. At least 782 people were admitted to hospitals and 752 people were discharged in the 24 hours leading to Wednesday night, though information from three of the states hospitals was missing from that total. More than 100,000 residents have tested negative for the coronavirus, according to the state. The county-by-county number for positive test and deaths include: BERGEN: 14,049 with 907 deaths HUDSON: 12,645 with 606 deaths ESSEX: 11,811 with 932 deaths UNION: 10,935 with 515 deaths PASSAIC: 9,874 with 350 deaths MIDDLESEX: 9,530 with 396 deaths OCEAN: 5,444 with 286 deaths MONMOUTH: 5,238 with 260 deaths MORRIS: 4,680 with 324 deaths MERCER: 2,991 with 163 deaths SOMERSET: 2,798 with 196 deaths CAMDEN: 2,683 with 104 deaths BURLINGTON: 1,969 with 76 deaths GLOUCESTER: 899 with 30 deaths SUSSEX: 784 with 82 deaths WARREN: 719 with 60 deaths ATLANTIC: 544 with 30 deaths HUNTERDON: 464 with 22 deaths CUMBERLAND: 424 with 5 deaths CAPE MAY: 236 with 16 deaths SALEM: 164 with 6 deaths Another 1,108 cases are under investigation to determine where the person resides. The breakdown for deaths by race for cases where the information is available is: 53.6% White 20% Black 16% Hispanic 5.4% Asian 5% Other CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage Murphy on Thursday also said its too early to tell what Memorial Day a little more than a month away will look like this year because of the pandemic. He said hed be very surprised if there were typical parades. Meanwhile, new figures Thursday show more than 858,000 New Jersey workers a record number have filed for unemployment benefits in the five weeks since aggressive social distancing began. As of Thursday morning, more than 2.6 million people across the globe tested positive for the virus, according to a running tally by Johns Hopkins University. Of those, more than 184,000 have died and more than 721,000 have recovered. NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Sy Rogers, an early leader of the ex-gay movement, died from cancer Sunday at the age of 63. Rogers had what he called a God encounter in 1980. He had begun to identify as a woman and was preparing for a sex reassignment surgery when Johns Hopkins Hospital shut down its gender identity clinic and stopped offering surgeries. Rogers, in desperation, asked God to change him. He spent the next 40 years testifying that God did. Sex is a powerful master, he preached in 2014. But I can also tell you this God is a more powerful master. You can serve your desires or you can bring your desires to God, admit them and submit them, and experience his mastery over mind and body. Before LGBT was a popular term, Rogers challenged Christians to think about sexual orientation and identity. A past president of Exodus International, he was an early proponent of support groups for people who wanted overcome unwanted same-sex attraction and he was frequently held up as a dramatic example that change was possible. He spoke around the world about God and sexuality, becoming a key figure in the expansion of the ex-gay movement to the global church. In later yearsas reparative therapy became increasingly controversial and a number of prominent Christian psychologists concluded it didnt workhe focused his message less on orientation and more on connecting people with God. Sy was truly one of the kindest people you could ever meet, Hillsong cofounder Bobbie Houston wrote on Instagram, reacting to news of Rogerss death. He exemplified grace and freedom and a passion to always bless others. We will miss you Sy. You ran your race perfectly, always giving honor to your Savior King. The evangelist Priscilla Shirer called his death a huge loss for the church. Long road to change Rogers, born in December 1956, had a traumatic childhood. He was molested as a toddler, and his mother died in a car accident when he was 4. His father left him with relatives for a year. He was bullied in school for his effeminate mannerisms and was overwhelmed with shame at his attraction to members of the same sex. Rogers joined the Navy in 1973 and was stationed in Honolulu. By his account, he became active in the gay scene, spending his nights at the citys clubs and discos, and also working on the streets as a prostitute. Men found me young and pretty, he recalled later. I made love with them because I enjoyed it, and I pretended I was being loved. The little money I made was icing on the cake. Rogers sometimes attended the islands Metropolitan Community Church, which was at the time called the gay church, because the denomination founded in 1968 affirmed LGBT identities and blessed same-sex relationships. Rogers was the best man in a same-sex wedding ceremony at the church but recalled later that while he liked the idea of a religion that approved of his sexuality, he was not particularly interested in God or Jesus. It wasnt a matter or belief, for Rogers. Something else held him back. Though I believed in the God of the Bible, maker of heaven and earth, and I believed in Jesus the redeemer, I also believed God didnt love people like me, he said. I wonder where I picked that up? Rogers got out of the Navy in 1977 and moved to Washington, DC. He got a job as a telephone switchboard operator and started to identify as transgender. He pursued sex-reassignment surgery and lived as a woman for about 18 months while doing hormone therapy. Then the same-sex couple who had gotten married in Hawaii wrote him they had turned away from the homosexual lifestyle and identity because they had become Christians. At the same time, Paul McHugh, the leading psychiatrist-in-chief at Johns Hopkins, did a study that found that sex-reassignment surgery had little impact on psychological well-being. McHugh shut down the program, and Rogers could no longer get the surgery he thought would fix him. The 23-year-old turned to Scripture. He read Isaiah 1:18, where God tells the prophet, Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. Rogers knelt at the foot of his bed and cried: God, I cannot change what I am, but I'm willing to be changed. I know you have the power. Make me the man you want me to be! In later years, he would say the transformation that happened to him in that moment was not primarily about his sexual orientation. My need was for a Savior, not just a different sexuality, Rogers said. In that encounter, God did not say Go be straight. He said, Walk with me. At the time, however, Rogers focused explicitly on what he believed was the transformation of his sexual orientation through a deeper relationship with God and healthy male bonding. He attended an Assemblies of God church and met a woman named Karen. They developed a relationship and two years later, they married. Rogers joined a Christian support group and counseling center called Eleutheros (a Greek word meaning freeborn), which was under the umbrella of Exodus International, the prominent ex-gay ministry. Rise to leadership in the ex-gay movement By the late 80s, Rogers had risen to leadership of the ex-gay movement. He became the director of Eleutheros and president of Exodus International from 1988 to 90. He was widely quoted as a profound example that it is possible to change your sexual orientation. If you want to stay gay, thats your business, Rogers told a Miami reporter in 1988. But the bottom line is, you have the choice to overcome it. You can change. Rogers said he thought that for every person who was happy as a homosexual, there were another 10 who wanted to be straight. That same year, 4,855 people died of HIV/AIDS, and a disproportionate number of them were gay men. The gay plague, according to Christian leaders like Jerry Falwell, was Gods judgement on homosexuals. Rogers said a homosexual could stop being a homosexual, but the transformation could take years and a lot of effort. He estimated about 80 percent were successful at reorientation, when they were really motivated and had a transformative religious experience. Rogers helped globalize the ex-gay movement in 1991, when he moved to Singapore and founded Choices, a ministry of a megachurch in Queenstown. Choices promised to help people discover life beyond the control of homosexuality. Rogers said that Freedom is when you are able to say No. He also continued to work with Exodus, traveling to South America, Australia, and New Zealand. Rogers stopped working with Exodus in 97. The next year he moved to New Zealand and became a traveling teacher on sexual brokenness. The ex-gay movement started to falter in the 2000s. There were increasingly serious questions about whether reparative therapy worked and concerns about the cruelty of the practices. A number of prominent leaders renounced the movement and apologized. Ive heard story after story of changes that have occurred as men and women find the grace of God in their lives as homosexual people, one ex-ex-gay leader said in 2011. Ive never met a man who experienced a change from homosexual to heterosexual. Exodus International moved away from reparative therapy and then folded in 2013. The president, Alan Chambers, apologized for what the organization had done trying to impose its will on God's promises, and make judgments on whos worthy of his kingdom. A shift in emphasis Rogers did not repudiate the teachings of the ex-gay movement, but he did shift his rhetoric and change the emphasis of his teaching. He began to speak of sexual brokenness more broadly, focusing on how feelings of shame separate people from God. He said his goal was not to teach a code of ethics. He wanted to help people always run to God, and let his opinion prevail over others, even your own. Rogers continued to testify to his own change, but he also said people were missing the point if they thought the most significant thing was his sexual orientation. The blood of Jesus washes away your guilt, not your humanity, he told a church audience in 2014. You have to learn to reckon with that Can I just make this point? People do not go to hell because theyre gay. Theres only one reason why anybody goes to hell. People go to hell when they are not reconciled to God through the Christ. Everything else is a symptom of being a human. Rogers served as teaching pastor at LIFE Church, in Auckland, New Zealand, starting in 2012 and continued to travel around the globe with his teaching ministry. After five years in remission, he had a second bout with cancer and his health forced him to stop traveling in 2019. He died in Central Florida, where he lived with his family. Rogers is survived by his wife Karen, daughter Grace, son-in-law Steve, and his grandchildren ages 8 and 4. Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here. Chandigarh, April 23 : In a major initiative, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday announced to provide an insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh each for journalists and those government employees who are working in containment zones during the pandemic. Addressing the people virtually, he appreciated the media for reporting in this hour of crisis. He said all media persons, whether accredited or recognised, would be given the benefit of the life insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh against COVID-19 till June 30. Khattar said all government employees working in containment zones, including ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, police personnel and sanitation workers, will also be provided a life insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh till June 30. For the common man, he announced deferment in payment of all outstanding dues as on March 15 and thereafter towards all government departments, boards, corporations and authorities till May 15. Also 50 per cent waiver of interest on all such dues and waiver of rent on buildings and shops belonging to government, Panchayati Raj Institutions and urban local bodies for this period and 25 per cent waiver of fixed charges for industrial and commercial electricity consumers. The Chief Minister clarified the benefit of life cover of Rs 50 lakh against COVID-19 announced by the government of India will be given to all doctors, nurses and group C and D employees posted in COVID isolation wards, COVID intensive care units and COVID operation theatres across the state. He said all registered farmers, 'arhtiyas', labourers and employees, whether regular, part-time or contractual of all procurement agencies engaged in the procurement process, would also get the benefit of insurance cover of Rs 10 lakh till June 30. All startups working in the Startup Incubator Centre being run by the Information Technology Department would not be charged rent from March 15 to May 15, he said. Similarly, commercial vehicles such as auto, motor cab, maxi cab, bus, and truck will be given proportionate waiver of motor vehicle tax for the period from March 15 to May 15. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) The world is currently on the verge of new global changes. The innovations brought to our lives by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) - the wider use of information and communication technologies, the use of the Internet by about 60% of the world's population (increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic), robotics and artificial intelligence technologies, Internet of Things, consumption of large amounts of data and consequently, rapid digitalization have opened up new opportunities. These opportunities are becoming more pronounced these days. With the coronavirus infection that started in China earlier this year, which was declared the pandemic by the World Health Organization (COVID-19) on March 11, people in millions of homes and offices around the world are now more actively using digital platforms. The global coronavirus pandemic is similar to the "Black Swan" (a term used in the book "The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable" by American economist and writer Nassim Taleb, meaning an event with far-reaching consequences, though it is hard and almost impossible to predict globally). The emergence of a new type of coronavirus turns the digitalization of various sectors of the economy and the acceleration of the transition to the digital economy into the most discussed subject around the world. Coronavirus encourages the use of new generation technologies, digital technologies are advancing At present, this "Black Swan" can lead to global economic changes, as well as change the behavior of each of us - both people and organizations. The leaders of some countries are already abandoning international meetings and conferences in the face of the fact that it is safer to communicate via Skype, Zoom and other means, and business, education and various fields are moving to the online platform. Remotely managed workplaces and video conferencing, as well as the wider use of connectivity services, allow millions of people to manage their work from home without going to the office, resulting in a sharp reduction in costs. Experts believe that in the fight against the pandemic, unmanned and contactless fast delivery fully demonstrates its advantages. Service robots, self-service shops without sellers, etc. are becoming a new trend, helping to reduce the risk of infection. As we see, the spread of the infection around the world has isolated most cities in the United States, Europe and Asia and has had serious impact on the development of digital technologies in the economy. Due to the fear of getting infected with the virus, people and companies prefer to shop online rather than offline, which will further increase the share of e-commerce. The current situation leads to an increased need for online applications and digital technologies, which makes it necessary to have and build a sustainable infrastructure in the world. Thus, with millions of people already working from home, the need for connectivity services is growing, the volume of content transmitted on the Internet is growing, which makes it necessary to develop infrastructure. Competent authorities, private companies and scientists are now trying to find new ways to fight the virus. In China, police tracked people not wearing medical masks in dangerous areas using drones. Internet giants (Google, Facebook, Amazon, etc.) have launched a campaign to combat fake news relating to the virus. The Canadian company BlueDot collects data on new cases around the world and uses artificial intelligence to predict whether there are new cases in China or other parts of the world. The American startup AIME (Artificial Intelligence in Medical Epidemiology) has been using artificial intelligence since 2015 to analyze and predict the spread of epidemics. China's experience in the fight against coronavirus in real time has shown the world the power of modern technology and superApps (including special mobile applications that combine dozens of services). The cases of infection, which started in China in late December 2019, began to decline in early February with the mobilization of China and the use of all possible means. Various applications backed by artificial intelligence technology of large Chinese companies Baidu, Alibaba, Alipay and others have had an extraordinary effect in the fight against the pandemic. More than 50% of all calls to the healthcare system switched to online, as carriers of the virus could spread it when they went to the doctor. For this purpose, a high-speed 5G network and the telemedicine system was widely used. At the same time, a variety of mobile medical applications were launched, providing patients with communication with doctors, pharmacies, giving useful advice in the fight against the virus. The results show that the means used to reduce the damage caused by epidemics have greatly increased thanks to information technology, including the Internet, and digitalization has changed the way people approach the diagnosis and monitoring of many diseases. Digital transformation in Azerbaijan Today, digital technologies are also applied in Azerbaijan, and the country is already on the way to digital transformation. The country's leadership is working hard to digitize the economy and build a digital economy in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has already become a transport and energy center connecting Asia and Europe, and work is underway to turn our country into a digital and technological center (Digital Hub). Amid the current global changes and new conditions created by the pandemic, Azerbaijan's main goals are to digitalize the economy, build a digital economy, increase the country's competitiveness, investment attractiveness and information sovereignty by ensuring technological independence and infrastructure security. Against the background of changes in the world and the fight against the pandemic, Azerbaijan also needs to respond to the ongoing challenges and reach new horizons in economic development. As in developed countries, the digitalization of the economy, the establishment of a digital economy, the application of innovations is a priority for Azerbaijan. The country's favorable geographical position and natural resources, human potential, as well as state programs adopted in recent years, decrees and orders of President Ilham Aliyev create all prerequisites for these objectives. The primary goal here is to apply digital technologies in all spheres of public life, from various fields of the economy to urban infrastructure. It consists of five areas: education, infrastructure, information security, scientific and technological development and normative regulation. Education - the most important point here is to improve the system to provide the digital economy with skilled labor. The population must have appropriate "digital" skills. During the current pandemic, we see the need to move the education system to a fully online mode. Infrastructure - infrastructure development is a priority, as it is necessary to create a single system that will help store and process all data. Building a digital economy is closely linked to sustainable infrastructure, since modern technological infrastructure is the basis of digitalization and digital economy. Information Security - development of cybersecurity will protect users' data from both internal and external threats as we see the growing number of data leaks observed around the world at the moment. To achieve this, it is necessary to increase the literacy of the population in the field of information security. At the same time, all hospitals, schools, universities and settlements in the country must be connected to the Internet. Scientific and technological development researches in the field of digital economy ensure the development of latest technologies. Such technologies include artificial intelligence, robotics, digital medicine, augmented and virtual reality technologies, big data, quantum technology and blockchain. Normative regulation - the development of the digital economy, the introduction of new technologies and their use require to create a regulatory environment that will not hinder their use. Sustainable infrastructure is a basis of digitalization and digital economy Amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the need for infrastructure is growing with the transition of the world from offline to online. Today, the modernization of fixed technological base and the development of new technological infrastructure in Azerbaijan is important in terms of improving international connectivity services and increasing the number of Internet users. Digitalization and the development of connectivity services form the basis of the Azerbaijan Digital Hub program, which is currently being implemented and aimed at turning Azerbaijan into a regional digital center. Building a sustainable infrastructure under this program, implemented by AzerTelecom, a backbone internet provider that is a subsidiary of Bakcell, Azerbaijan's first mobile operator, is a priority. The project, implemented jointly with Azerbaijan Railways CJSC in the field of infrastructure building, provides for the construction of backbone fiber-optic cable lines along the railway protection strip and the establishment of network connections with telecommunications operators in neighboring countries in the North-South and East-West directions. Projects involving the construction of backbone cable lines between Azerbaijan and Central Asian countries via the bottom of Caspian Sea generally envisage the creation of a Digital Silk Road along the historic Silk Road between Europe and Asia. The volume of Internet traffic between Europe and Asia is increasing and the Internet is being used more widely with the application of various digital solutions and online platforms by governments and businesses. The implementation of various projects under the Azerbaijan Digital Hub program will make Azerbaijan a key country in the transmission of Internet and content from Europe to Asia. Azerbaijan Digital Hub is a useful platform for digital economy Changes in the world show that, like all countries, Azerbaijan needs intensive digitalization and, in general, a digital economy. At present, significant reforms, and large-scale public and private programs are being implemented to build a digital economy in Azerbaijan. A public-private partnership is established to promote the country as a digital hub at the global level and to apply digital technologies. It should be noted that the Azerbaijan Digital Hub program and various projects within this program create a favorable opportunity for the establishment of fixed technological infrastructure to build a digital economy, bring major content providers (Facebook, Google, Netflix, Amazon, Alibaba, Tencent, etc.) to Azerbaijan, meet the data traffic needs of Asian countries through Azerbaijan, and as a result, to become a digital hub. Successful implementation of the program will ultimately create conditions for the formation of a digital ecosystem in Azerbaijan, the establishment of a digital economy, increasing the share of the digital sector in the economy. If we look at the economic indicators of different countries, it is clear that the share of the digital sector in the economy is 12% in South Korea, 8.6% in Sweden, 8.3% in Finland, 7.4% in the United States and 7.1% the United Kingdom. According to the World Economic Forum, in the next decade, 70% of new values in the economy will be created on the basis of digital platforms. Google predicts that by 2025, the digital economy in Southeast Asia will triple to $ 240 billion. Given the importance of the digital economy, countries around the world are taking different initiatives. Countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Norway, Qatar, China and Russia have established specialized agencies and adopted national programs in this area, and are making progress in building a digital economy by making digital transformation processes more efficient. In the current situation, Azerbaijan also has the opportunity to use its potential to accelerate the process of digital transformation, build a digital economy and achieve rapid sustainable development through a unified state policy and coordination. Author: Fuad Allahverdiyev Director General, AzerTelecom LLC Azerbaijan Digital Hub Program Head About the author: Fuad Allahverdiyev has over 20 years of work experience in the ICT and telecommunication sector of Azerbaijan. He was a founder of different start-ups and several successful companies in the telecommunications industry. Mr. Allahverdiyev graduated from Baku State University and Moscow State University named after M.V.Lomonosov (Executive MBA program). Currently, Mr. Allahverdiyev is the Director General of AzerTelecom LLC. At the moment AzerTelecom is implementing the "Azerbaijan Digital Hub" program to turn the country into a Regional Digital Center, in addition to the status of the Energy and Transport Center owned by Azerbaijan. Kathmandu, April 23 House of Representatives member Surendra Yadav was called by his old friend, immediate part inspector general of Nepal Police, Sarbendra Khanal, on Wednesday. Khanal told him that he was in Janakpur and wanted to meet him. Yadav suspects Khanal had traced his location via his personal security guards. Then, Yadav called Khanal to come to the place where he was. The former police boss was accompanied by two lawmakers of the ruling party, Mahesh Basnet, and Kisan Shrestha. The three told him that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli wanted to meet him, hence they were there to take him to Kathmandu. The IGP (Khanal) had told me that the PM wanted to meet me, but I was thinking of going to Kathmandu after the lockdown would be over, Yadav says, But, they reached my place. Whenever people go close to your village and say they want to meet you, our culture does not allow us to refuse. But as Yadav travelled to Kathmandu, he gradually sensed the intent of the calling. Oli had issued an ordinance relaxing the provisions of splitting the party just two days ago and had said it was targeted to some parties except his own NCP. Yadav was taken to Kathmandu because there were a few lawmakers of the Samajwadi Party, reportedly ready to split but they were short of one lawmaker to meet the criteria of splitting. In Kathmandu, Yadav was taken to a hotel. But, I came to know what they wanted, hence I ran away from the hotel during my morning walk, Yadav says, I reached my party chair (Upendra Yadav). He says, Their behaviours were not like that of a kidnapping, but I had not wanted to come to Kathmandu during the lockdown. I would not have come home if I had known their purpose. After the Samajwadi Party consolidated itself with a merger with the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal before the splitting plan materialised, Olis mission has failed. He has already agreed to withdraw the controversial ordinance. Actor Aparshakti Khurana has said he is yet to reach the stage where he can be compared to his brother, actor Ayushmann Khurrana. While Aparshakti made his debut with Aamir Khans Dangal in 2016, Ayushmann started his career with Shoojit Sircars Vicky Donor in 2012. He told Pinkvilla in an interview, I am yet to read any article comparing me and Ayushmann. Moreover, I think I am yet to become an equal to Ayushmann. Comparisons can only be done between equals. I am yet to reach there. Had I felt the pressure of being Ayushmanns brother, I would not have taken up my first film. He also revealed the film he considers as his failure. It is very rare that people get such back to back hits. I cannot take the entire credit for this. It is all very situational. Of course, I do fear failures. They arent visible a lot of times, but we meet failures often. If I have to talk about one film which failed, it is Jabariya Jodi. It is important for us to know where we have failed and where we havent, he said. Also read: Smriti Khannas slim figure just days after giving birth to her daughter is unbelievable, see pic Aparshakti, who was working on his first film as the lead - Helmet - before all shootings were halted amid the lockdown in wake of coronavirus outbreak, will be seen romancing Pranutan Bahl in the film. He is under quarantine inside his own house. Speaking about the lockdown, the actor told Hindustan Times in an interview, I have always been a foodie, so I wanted to learn to cook what I like to eat. I am taking cooking lessons. The other day, I made kaale chaane and it turned out pretty well. I also learnt to make butter chicken. My domestic help, Shiva, is helping me hone my skills. Thanks to technology, I am also taking some online narrations, adding how he unintentionally started an online game of Antakshari on his Instagram. Follow @htshowbiz for more The digital divide and the homework gap have been urgent topics in K-12 education for years, but the COVID-19 pandemic is putting them in the spotlight. As of last year, more than a quarter of U.S. homes lacked internet access, according to a Pew Research Center report . Twelve percent of teachers who answered a nationwide Common Sense Media survey last year said more than 60 percent of their students dont have enough internet access to complete homework assignments outside of school. In a recent Education Week Research Center survey , more than half of respondents from districts with more than half of students who are low-income said technology access is a major challenge during extended school shutdowns. Heres a look at how unequal access to the Internet is affecting schools, how policymakers are thinking about addressing concerns, and where to look for helpful information to bridge tech equity gaps. Families that need internet access dont know where to find it. During a virtual call Tuesday with Sen. Chris Van Hollen and superintendents of several Maryland districts, Federal Communications Commission member Jessica Rosenworcel said some communities dont have internet access at all, while for others, broadband exists but they cant afford it, they dont see it as relevant, they dont see it as necessary. Both are urgent issues, she said. There are resources for those families who might not know where to turn now that the need for internet access is more urgent. Several statesincluding Georgia , South Carolina , and Illinois have created online tools such as maps that note places where public Wi-Fi is available. Pew Research Center has been tracking the evolution of broadband nationwide. Even schools that already had digital devices need new equipment to send them home. Several Maryland superintendents said their schools already had thousands of Chromebooks for classroom use. But in some cases, those devices were only usable if connected to a power source in the school building. Baltimore City Public Schools recently purchased more than 14,000 power cords so students could take home their devices, according to Sonja Santelises, the systems CEO. Kelly Griffith, superintendent of Talbot County Public Schools in Maryland, summed it up: Sometimes you have all that connectivity in a building, but when you send them all home, its another story. Creative solutions are emerging. The challenges are steep for places like Talbot County, which spans 600 miles of waterfront and includes one school on a small island, Griffith said. Districts have turned to a number of sources for relief, including telecommunications companies. Allegany County Public Schools in Maryland, for instance, has partnered with AT&T to establish Wi-Fi hotspots near community centers like fire stations, said Nil Grove, the districts chief technology officer. Public television stations across the country have begun distributing educational materials , while school buses in several states have been repurposed to serve as Wi-Fi hotspots in areas with a high number of families without access. The Tennessee state government, meanwhile, has offered nearly $20 million in grants to broadband providers to help them provide access for nearly 31,000 underserved residents of the state. Younger students and multi-student households are particularly stretched. Some students have taken part-time jobs to help their families bring in extra cash, or theyve assumed babysitting duties for their siblings if their parents are essential workers who have to leave during the day. That means teachers need to be capable of recording lessons and posting them online for students to consult later, said Monica Goldson, CEO of Prince Georges County Public Schools in Maryland. Her district has distributed 65,000 Chromebooks and 5,000 hotspots, she said. More than 70 of its school buildings are now outfitted with an antenna so families can access the internet from the parking lot. This is just the beginning of us trying to put a dent in the digital divide, she said. Officials in charge of the nations communications networks dont yet agree on how to solve the problem. The FCC is made up of five commissioners, and is controlled by Republicans. The commission currently comprises three Republicans and two Democrats, including Rosenworcel. It has taken several steps so far to ease the burden on schools, including extending key deadlines on the federal E-rate program to provide schools with more flexibility. The agency has been in talks with Congress on the possibility of directing funds typically used for school buildings toward providing more broadband service to families homes. Rosenworcel said Tuesday that she believes the FCC has the authority to direct e-rate funds for educational purposes, But, she said, There are five commissioners. Im one. Were going to need three of us. Right now, this point is a little tense among my colleagues. During the Tuesday call, she urged Van Hollen and his colleagues to support policies that will help close the digital access gaps. When this crisis is over and were on the other side, lets not stop, she said. Image: Getty Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. Weeks into the coronavirus lockdown, Americans are becoming more and more accustomed to shortages we never would have imagined in the recent past. On Wednesday, another of the largest pork processing plants in the country shut down, increasing fears about potential meat shortages. This is on top of the lack of basic necessities that has left people asking why they cant seem to find any toilet paper. Our sophisticated global production networkallegedly the nimblest, most efficient supply system in the worldseems unable to make basic adjustments. Last year, former White House adviser Sebastian Gorka warned that Democrats want to take away your hamburgers by passing environmental legislation. It turns out that unsanitary working conditions that allowed the virus to spread among plant workers were the real threat to the meat supply. Perhaps most critically, people all over the world have been left wondering how its possible that the wealthiest country in history cannot seem to provide basic medical equipment to doctors and nurses and lifesaving care to its citizens during an emergency. These changes to Americas usual way of life have come as conservative leaders and groups have quietly backed organized rallies against stay-at-home orders, with protesters saying theyd rather risk death from the virus than live with economic disruptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As scholars of Eastern European history, we immediately noticed a connection between the disruption of supply because of logistical challenges and the idea of making sacrifices for an ideology. Indeed, these were some of the very failures of communism over which American-style capitalism had confidently claimed victory three decades ago. Now, history may be replaying itself here with a different ideology but similar devastation to the public. One of the most enduring images of 1980s Eastern Europe is people queuing up outside of stores for scarce goods. But people were resourceful; they leveraged personal connections to skip lines and made do with ersatz products when something simply wasnt available. A handful of articles have appeared recently arguing that Eastern Europeans are uniquely equipped to deal with the new shortages because theyve lived through bare cupboards before. The outcome of those deprivations, though, was nothing short of the collapse of their regions sociopolitical system. Advertisement Advertisement Historians argue that bread lines in Eastern Europe led to a crisis of legitimacy for Communist regimes. Over the course of several decades, a tacit social contract emerged between the people and the state: The populace generally acquiesced to enduring government corruption and limitations to civil liberties in exchange for having basic necessitiesjobs, housing, medicine, foodmet. When necessities became scarce, that contract was broken, and the system began to crumble. Advertisement Today, we find ourselves in a similar situation. As governments in the U.S. and Western Europe embraced neoliberal policies over the past several decades, the postwar social contract that promised good governance, respect for civil liberties, rising prosperity, and strong social provisions has eroded. New and increasingly invasive forms of government and corporate surveillanceperhaps Sept. 11s most enduring legacyhave gone largely unchecked and threatened basic rights and freedoms. In the U.S., government corruption is endemic and largely treated as insurmountable, evidenced most recently by the fact that four senatorsincluding members of both the Republican and Democratic partiesdumped stocks apparently based on information they obtained during classified briefings about the impact of COVID-19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over this same period, a retrenchment of consumerism led to a reformulation of the social contract. Americans have overall been willing to endure increased economic precariousness and fewer personal freedoms as long as consumer choice has been robust and stuff has been easily and cheaply available. In this contract, basic necessities have either been deemed unnecessary (affordable health care) or taken for granted (toilet paper). Now that the coronavirus has laid bare what is actually essential and revealed that our socioeconomic system is incapable of providing it, we have our own crisis of legitimacy, which may very well lead to systemic changes similar to what Eastern Europe experienced at the end of the 20th century. Advertisement Advertisement In recent weeks, calls have grown louder to reopen the economy even if it means sacrificing lives. Social distancing protesters, a small but amplified minority of Americans, demand that their understanding of the American way of life (i.e., unencumbered consumption and the health of their businesses) be put before public health concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Here, too, a comparison with Eastern Europe is revealing. Cold warriors and American politicians insisted that liberal capitalism was superior to communism precisely because the latter demanded the sacrifice of the individual for utopian ideology, while liberalism elevated the rights and desires of the individual over all other concerns. To be clear, the latter at least was never true: Enslaved and incarcerated people whose unpaid labor propped up liberal capitalist systems since their founding can attest to that, as can people who are homeless or cant afford medical care because market forces dictate they dont deserve it. But as protest movements enveloped Eastern Europe in the late 1980s and supply problems became more apparent, communisms disregard of the individual became the accepted philosophical rationale for these states collapse. Advertisement Vaclav Havel, maybe the most famous dissident from the Eastern Bloc, interpreted the structural problem differently. Human beings are compelled to live within a lie, he explained in his treatise, The Power of the Powerless, and mimic the meaningless platitudes of state leaders. He explained that the average person went along with this system because they surrender[ed] higher values when faced with the trivializing temptations of modern civilization. He further suggested that Eastern Europe should serve as a warning to the West, revealing its own latent tendencies. Advertisement Advertisement In light of the pandemic, Havels warning seems particularly prescient. As tens of millions have lost their jobs, more than 40,000 people in this country have died of COVID-19, tens of thousands have lined up at food banks, and political leaders have called for a quick return to normal, the lie that liberal capitalism is an inherently humane political system has been exposed. So has our desire to retreat into consumerism rather than challenge the illusion that our economy is functional or sustainable. We may even empathize with the protesters desire to retreat to the familiar. At issue, however, is the fact that such a return may not even be possible. As a recent CBS survey found, large percentages of the country say they refuse to resume normal life while the ravages of COVID-19 are still threatening our communal health. For Havel, the antidote to living within the lie was living in truth. This meant recapturing individual dignity and power by refusing to reproduce the lies of a corrupt regime. He also argued that political categories and parties didnt really matter; the real question was whether you could live like a human being. Now more than ever, its a worthwhile question for Americans to start asking. (CNN) Gap Inc. is rapidly burning through cash as its stores remain shut during the coronavirus pandemic. The clothing company said its future is uncertain if it doesn't get the help it needs to keep its business operational. The company issued a dire warning in a regulatory filing Thursday that $1 billion in cash has evaporated from its accounts since February. Gap said it might have as little as $750 million in the bank as early as next week. Gap said it needs to take "additional actions to both preserve existing liquidity and seek additional sources of liquidity" over the next year because the money it's currently making isn't enough to sustain operations. It's taking action to preserve cash, including implementing furloughs of roughly 80,000 store employees, cutting executive pay and not paying April rent for its temporarily closed stores. The latter move is saving the Gap in $115 million in monthly expenses in North America. The apparel company, which also has rent to pay for Old Navy and Banana Republic stores, says it's negotiating with landlords to "modify the terms of our leases going forward after the stores reopen." It also said it might close some stores and warned there's "no assurance" it can favorably renegotiate the terms. Gap shares fell 4% at the start of trade, but then turned flat. The stock has lost more than 60% of its value so far this year. Store closures and weakening economy as consumers shift their spending on food has slammed retailers' finances. US retail sales slumped 8.7% in March, their worst monthly decline on record in the data available from the Census Bureau, which dates back to 1992. "Traditional department stores, apparel retailers and mom-and-pop shops of all types are struggling to survive, and bankruptcies will spike despite the federal assistance programs," Kerstin Braun, president of Stenn Group, an international trade finance organization, recently told CNN Business. "Many retailers, including Nordstrom, J. Crew, and JCPenney, were already under stress before the pandemic and many storefronts will simply not reopen." Prior to the pandemic, Gap was already in deep trouble. A plan to spin off Old Navy, Gap's faster-growing budget brand, was squelched in January. Old Navy has struggled in recent months, making separating the brands less attractive to investors. CNN Business' Nathaniel Meyersohn contributed to this report. This story was first published on CNN.com, "The Gap is running out of money and stopped paying rent" Two retirees in the United States have found ten apple varieties that many scientists thought had died out. The apples once identified as lost were among hundreds of fruits collected last autumn in Idaho and Washington state. The discovery represents the largest number ever found in a single season by a not-for-profit group called the Lost Apple Project. The group has just two members: EJ Brandt and David Benscoter. The two learned about the results of their hard work from experts at the Temperate Orchard Conservancy in Oregon, where all the apples were sent for study. Brandt described the recent results as almost unbelievable. He added, I dont know how were going to keep up with that. Each autumn, Brandt and Benscoter spend many hours searching for old and often dying apple trees across the Pacific Northwest. The two travel by truck, all-terrain vehicle and by foot. They collect hundreds of apples from fields where apple trees once grew. They find these orchards by using old maps, newspaper stories and sales records. By connecting names from those records with property maps, Brandt and Benscoter can find where an apple orchard might have been. They often find a few trees still growing there. The two carefully note the placement of each tree using global positioning system technology. They then tie a piece of plastic around the tress, collect some apples and ship them to the Oregon experts for identification. In the winter, the two men return to the trees often in bad weather to take wood cuttings. These cuttings can be put, or grafted, onto roots to make new trees. The work is difficult. North America once had 17,000 named varieties of apples, but only about 4,500 are known to exist today. The Lost Apple Project believes settlers planted a few hundred varieties of apple in the Pacific Northwest alone. With the 10 latest varieties identified, Brandt and Benscoter have rediscovered a total of 23 varieties. The latest finds include the Sary Sinap, an ancient apple from Turkey; the Streaked Pippin, which may have grown in New York as early as 1744; and the Butter Sweet of Pennsylvania, a variety that was first noted in Illinois in 1901. Botanists from the Temperate Orchard Society compared the collected apples to watercolor images created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the 1800s and early 1900s. They also studied written descriptions in old botany books, some of them more than 150 years old. One apple, the Gold Ridge, was hard to identify because the experts could not find any paintings or descriptions of it anywhere. Finally, botanist Joanie Cooper found it in a book written by a botanist who died in 1912. Its the luck of the draw, said Shaun Shepherd, another Temperate Orchard Conservancy botanist. And we learn more as we go along. With spring returning to the Pacific Northwest, the Lost Apple Project will soon enter its busy season. As they wait, Brandt and Benscoter are busy grafting wood cuttings from the newly discovered lost apple trees onto root stocks and updating their records from the last season. Their nonprofit group took a major hit when they had to cancel two events: an annual fair where they sell newly grafted lost apple trees and a class on how to graft wood to grow a new apple tree. The cancellations were due to the new coronavirus. The two events raise much of the groups $10,000 yearly budget. The money goes toward travel costs, apple shipping and apple identification. Benscoter said, Two months ago, I was thinking: This is going to be great. Weve got 10 varieties that have been rediscovered, but .... right now, we couldnt pay our bills. Still, the self-described apple detectives get pleasure in their work. They often imagine the lives of the people who planted these trees. It was a hard life. I cant even imagine what they went through, but they survived and they went on with their lives, Brandt said. Its hard now, too, but its going to be OK. Its all a part of life. Im John Russell. Gillian Flaccus reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story conservancy n. a group concerned with the protection of nature or wildlife botanist n. A scientist who is a specialist in plant biology luck of the draw expression the result of chance instead of something one can control update v. to make something more modern or up to date fair n. a show or event often used to advertise products detective n. a person whose job is to investigate and solve crimes bill n. an amount of money owed for services or goods purchased Meanwhile, apparel and accessories sales were down more than 30% in March and kept falling down more than 40% so far in April. Food and beverage sales growth slowed in April after the March surge, but sales were still up more than 12% compared with the same period last year, Target said. By ANI LUCKNOW: As many as 288 people, including foreign nationals were lodged in temporary jails across the state, who were caught flouting the coronavirus lockdown rules, informed UP Prison Department. Uttar Pradesh administration has created 34 temporary jails across the state to keep those persons who violated lockdown rules. Out of the total prisoners, 156 are foreign nationals while the remaining 132 are Indians. These foreigners who have been put behind bars are from Malayasia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sudan and Thailand. In Lucknow, a temporary prison has been made at Kashmiri Mohalla Municipal Girls Inter College, Lucknow. Four women foreign nationals are locked up here. Four foreign national women have been kept at a temporary jail in Bulandshahr, More details in this regard are awaited. facebook like button Tweet tweet button for twitter Published April 22, 2020 Lisa Van Hoose, Ph.D., Director of the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of Louisiana Monroe, has been named to Gov. John Bel Edwards Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force. She will serve on the Health Disparities and Research subcommittee, which provides research and data regarding the disparities aligned with COVID-19. "I want to express my gratitude to Gov. Edwards for the opportunity to serve with this distinguished group of experts. It speaks to the depth and breadth of the amazing human capital within our state," VanHoose said. "We have an opportunity to significantly expand the impact of current efforts and implement new strategies to improve the health and wellness of minority and vulnerable populations." VanHoose joined ULM in June 2019 to lead the new DPT program. Before coming to ULM, VanHoose served as a physical therapy faculty member and Director of the Cancer Rehabilitation and Wellness Laboratory at the University of Central Arkansas. She earned a B.S. in Health Science and an M.S. of Physical Therapy from UCA. VanHoose holds a Ph.D. in Rehabilitation Science and a Master of Public Health from the University of Kansas Medical Center. Alberto Ruiz, Ed.D., Vice President of Academic Affairs at ULM, said VanHoose is an excellent appointment for the university and the state. "Dr. VanHoose has extensive experience in healthcare as a professional and as an academic leader. Her dedication to improving the health and wellness of minority communities will provide valuable insight on disadvantaged segments of the population in the age of COVID-19. We are very pleased Gov. Edwards selected Dr. VanHoose to serve on this important committee," Ruiz said. The task force will be led by co-chairs Dr. Sandra C. Brown, Dean of Southern University's College of Nursing and Allied Health and Dr. Thomas LaVeist, Dean of Tulane University's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. The task force's work will begin immediately, and its actions and research will result in improved health outcomes and equity in Louisiana. A statewide Health Equity Dashboard will be created to monitor the progress of the task force. For the complete media release from the Governor's Office, click here. (Newser) President Trump claimed Wednesday that he had signed an executive order temporarily suspending immigration into the United States. But experts say the order will merely delay the issuance of green cards for a minority of applicants, the AP reports. Trump said his move was necessary to help Americans find work in an economy ravaged by the coronavirus. "This will ensure that unemployed Americans of all backgrounds will be first in line for jobs as our economy reopens, he said. But the order includes a long list of exemptions, including for anyone who is currently in the country, those seeking entry to work as physicians and nurses, wealthy foreign investors, and the spouses and minor children of American citizens. The 60-day pause also leaves untouched the hundreds of thousands of temporary work and student visas the US issues each year. story continues below That left partisans on both sides of the immigration battle accusing Trump of being driven more by politics than policy as he tries to rally voters in an election year. Yet experts say that, if the order is made permanent, it would also satisfy Trump's long-stalled push to end what he calls chain migration." Since the vast majority of employment-based green card applicants already live in the US, the proclamation Trump signed Wednesday will most affect the parents, adult children, and siblings of citizens and permanent residents hoping to one day join them in the country. Trump has derided that practice and pushed Congress for years to adopt legislation that would favor what he calls merit-based immigration instead. (Much more here.) If you're still waiting for your coronavirus stimulus payment, a paper check could be in the mail. The U.S. government is issuing one-time payments of up to $1,200 per individual and $2,400 per married couple, as well as $500 for children under 17, provided families are under certain income thresholds. More than 80 million payments were made directly to bank accounts starting last week. Meanwhile, at least 171 million total payments are still expected to go out, including paper checks through the mail. "We started sending out the checks," Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said during a White House press conference on Tuesday. "We're also going to be supplementing our capability and sending prepaid debit cards so we can get money out quickly to people," Mnuchin said. A recent Congressional timeline estimates that 101 million payments will be made by paper check unless the government receives direct deposit information on time. Individuals may be able to enter their bank account information on the Get My Payment website. Paper checks are slated to be issued at a rate of 5 million per week, starting with the lowest income individuals and families. It will take up to 20 weeks or five months for all of those payments to be deployed, Congress estimates. Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Thursday ordered a probe into reports that people of a village in Ramgarh district has ostracized a family claiming that a member of it, who came from Chhattisgarh, is a Covid-19 patient. It is reported that villagers of Murudih under Gola block allegedly prevented a woman member of the family from using a tube well after the arrival of that person, Ramgarh Deputy Commissioner Sandeep Singh said. "A probe has been ordered into the allegations of social boycott of a family by villagers who alleged that the brother-in-law of the woman is a coronavirus positive case and he arrived from another state," the DC said. However, the man was asked to stay on home quarantine as per standard protocol. Instructing the DC to help the family, Soren renewed his appeal to people of the state not to pay heed to rumours. "Do not pay attention to rumours. (Both) the pandemic and rumours can be fought with cooperation from society. Maintain distance with each other, but stay connected in heart," Soren said in a tweet. Gola Block Development Officer Kuldeep Kumar and local police station in-charge Dhananjay Prasad visited the village and preliminary investigation has found no coronavirus positive patient there, the DC said. The entire Ramgarh district has not reported any Covid-19 case so far, Ramgarh Superintendent of Police Prabhat Kumar said. The DC said legal action would be taken against the culprits after the enquiry report is submitted. The woman concerned is engaged in Mukhya Mantri Didi Kitchen scheme by which cooked food is provided to the needy and stranded people, said the SP. The SP also dismissed as fake a video purportedly showing a couple of children crying for food. The video has gone viral going on social media. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong have exposed a fraud scheme targeting rental car businesses, taking their vehicles and then selling them online using fake documents. On Wednesday, police in Lam Dong Province filed charges against seven men accused of forging identity documents to steal rental cars for sale through the Internet. According to Colonel Pham Hong Tuan, head of the criminal police division under Lam Dong Police, the force has seized four cars as exhibits. On March 19, officers received a crime report from Pham Minh Dung, a resident of Da Lat, which is the capital city of Lam Dong. Dung accused Le Ngoc Hiep from Lam Dongs Lien Nghia Town of failing to return a car he had rented from Dung. Hiep hired a KIA Sedona from Dung on March 11, using a household registration book bearing Hieps name as a pledge, and promised to return the vehicle after four days, which he failed to do. On March 15, Dung found out that Hieps phone number was out of service and the GPS tracker on his car was disabled. The last location recorded of the vehicle was near the Saigon Bridge in Ho Chi Minh City. Lam Dong police officers later discovered that there is not any man named Le Ngoc Hiep from Lien Nghia Town, concluding that it was a fake identity. Officers were able to locate Dungs car at the parking lot of a resort in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau under the possession of Ho Chi Minh City resident Duong Chi Hieu. After further inspection, Hieu testified to having acquired the car for VND250 million (US$10,581) from a man called Tran Trung Kien. The vehicle came with registration documents and license plate No. 51H-125.38. After the purchase, Hieu recolored the car to fit the description on the registration documents by applying a layer of decals. He also admitted to having prior knowledge of the cars dubious origin. Upon further investigation, Lam Dong police officers discovered Kiens connections with Dao Mai Thao from Dong Nai Province, the alleged mastermind of a ring specializing in stealing cars with fake papers. At 9:00 am on March 24, Thao and three other suspects were arrested while attempting to sell another stolen car. Thao later admitted his leading role in recruiting six other people for the fraud ring. Their operation includes forging identification documents and using the forged papers to scam car owners via the Internet. At least seven cars have been stolen by the ring members using the method. Dao Mai Thao, leader of a fraud ring accused of stealing cars with forged documents. Photo: Duc Huy / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) joins organizations around the world on Tuesday, May 5, to recognize World PH Day. World PH Day puts a spotlight on the global impact of pulmonary hypertension (PH), a rare, complex, life-threatening disease. PH has no cure and affects 75 million adults and children of all ethnicities globally. PH, or high blood pressure in the lungs, causes symptoms that include shortness of breath, fatigue and chest pain. Without treatment, the average length of survival is under three years. PH can exist alone or in association with many other conditions. In the developed world, PH is most associated with left heart disease. Other PH-associated conditions and risks include connective tissue disorders, blood clots to the lungs, HIV, sickle cell anemia, COPD, sarcoidosis and living in high altitudes. It has also been associated with methamphetamine use. The disease is often underdiagnosed and misunderstood. For example, many people with PH are misdiagnosed with more common illnesses, such as asthma. Symptoms arent specific to PH and can lead to dangerous delays in a correct diagnosis. While there is no cure, accurate, early diagnosis and access to correct treatment can improve a patients quality of life and life expectancy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, World PH Day events are virtual; they recognize the efforts of the PH community to protect lungs and the medical professionals who treat PH and COVID-19. PHA encourages the global PH community to raise awareness on social media through posts using the #WorldPHDay2020 hashtag that describe PH and common symptoms as well as COVID-19 posts that recognize the efforts of the PH community to maintain healthy lungs. This year PHA is marking World PH Day by participating in a global day of giving back, #GivingTuesdayNow, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. All donations to PHA on May 5 will be matched dollar for dollar up to $15,000. The donations will help PHAs ongoing efforts to support the PH community as well as medical research. People can donate on PHAs website. World PH Day raises awareness about the worldwide impact of this disease and rallies the global PH community to share its collective story of hope, says Karen A. Fagan, M.D., chair, PHA Board of Trustees and professor of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology and chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of South Alabama. This years awareness day has taken on a special meaning with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected our community in unprecedented ways. We encourage people to share how they are protecting themselves and their loved ones while also showing support for the medical professionals who care for our lungs. Individuals can visit the World PH Day website for more information about the disease and to learn how they can participate in this years campaign. The site includes a digital toolkit with educational messages, images, a Facebook frame and other social media resources. Headquartered in Silver Spring, Maryland, the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) is the oldest and largest nonprofit patient association dedicated to the pulmonary hypertension (PH) community. Pulmonary hypertension is a rare, chronic and life-threatening disease of the lungs for which no cure currently exists. PHAs mission is to extend and improve the lives of those affected by PH. To achieve this mission, PHA engages people with PH and their families, caregivers, health care providers, and researchers worldwide who work together to advocate for the PH community, provide support to patients, caregivers and families, offer up-to-date education and information on PH, improve quality patient care, and fund and promote research. For more information, visit phassociation.org and connect with PHA on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Last year, in the Oct. 3, 2019, edition of UMTVs NewsVision show, Dr. Sarah Fraser appeared as the guest medical expert. A graduate student in the University of Miami School of Communication, she had pressed pause on her medical career to pursue a masters degree in journalism. On the student media cable show, she eloquently explained the dangers of the common flu and debunked a lot of misinformation about the influenza virus. Months later and in the middle of her second semester in Miami, Fraser picked up her white coat and stethoscope, flew back to her native Canada, and began to fight against a different deadly virusthe novel coronavirus, or COVID-19. It was almost inconceivable that I would not be working right now, Fraser said. Its a difficult time to be working, but also its a time that I feel like you can really have an impact. When she began working in the COVID-19 unit at St. Marthas Regional Hospital in Nova Scotia on April 7, Fraser was already a seasoned veteran on the medical front. For many years, she worked as a general practitioner focused on sexual health, addiction medicine, and hospitalist medicine. In 2009, she worked in Honduras during the coup against then-president Manuel Zelaya, and she also worked on a few occasions in tuberculosis hospitals in Guatemala. So, working in the COVID unit was not her first bout against a vicious illness. It is, however, her first time fighting a medical war on two frontsthe medical front and the information front. When shes not busy saving lives in the hospital, Fraser focuses on sharing accurate and easily digestible information online about important health issues. These days, that means coronavirus. Her journalism degree and her medical expertise now work hand in glove toward her main goalto increase public understanding about health. Although her studies on the Coral Gables campus have been interrupted by a global pandemic, Fraser said her time at the University has helped her step up as a journalist. Before, my website was very basic. It looked like it wasnt professionally done, the colors were wrong, and the organization was just horrible, Fraser said. After a semester of writing, digital journalism, and videography courses, Fraser said she feels proud of SarahFraserMD.com, where she shares her medical writings. It was mainly an interest in writing, especially writing about health, which drove Fraser to pursue a fourth academic degreein journalism. My training has always been in the sciences, so I wanted to formalize that interest in writing and use that to make a positive impact, she said. Frasers academic pursuits have always been tethered to the idea of having a positive impact on the world. As part of her undergraduate degree in biology, she studied seaweed and sea turtles. Later, for her graduate degree in environmental science, she helped replenish the wild population of an endangered, carnivorous bird, called the Loggerhead Shrike. It wasnt until much later, when two new letters had been attributed to Dr. Frasers title, that she realized how she could use writing to have a positive impact. After medical school, Fraser had a mentor, Dr. Ron Stewart, the former health minister of Nova Scotia. He told me I might be able to make even more of a difference with my writing than I could as a doctor, Fraser said. The comment was not a slight to her medical adeptness. It was a compliment to her ability to coordinate the left hemisphere of her brainthe logical, scientific sidewith the right hemispherethe creative, artistic side. Fraser started to work at the crossroads of art and science and even produced genre-bending content. In 2014, she compiled and self-published a collection of what she calls medical poetry, which she had written as a student. The poems reflect on experiences I had with patients and the need for more compassion in medicine, Fraser said. Her book, Humanity Emergency, drew attention from other medical communicators, including Dr. Brian Goldman, host of a medical-themed CBC Radio show, who described Frasers book as evidence of a lively mind that even medicine cannot destroy. That lively mind stayed hard at work. Humanity Emergency was just step one in Frasers plan to become an expert health communicator and multifaceted doctor. At the University of Miami, she started developing a broad range of skills that would help her grow her brand. Im getting so many more requests for interviews because my website is really professional now, Fraser said. Fraser also said she wants to become a medical journal editor, start a podcast, and eventually produce a health-related documentary. At this moment, however, shes focused on what is in front of her, which is a lot of uncertainty about the outcome of the current pandemic. I think the most challenging thing is the fear of the unknown and not knowing if we're [Nova Scotia] going to be hit as hard as, for example, New York or Italy, Fraser said. As a doctor, Fraser is also concerned about her own health. From a physical standpoint, I pretend I have the virus and I pretend that everyone else does, and I pretend that everything has virus on it, she explained. But as a journalist, she is concerned with spreading real information, and, most importantly she has a firsthand, eyewitness account of life as a doctor fighting a pandemic. Max Bruehmann, left, and Heiko Gruner employees of German car producer Volkswagen Sachsen, work with face masks in the assembly of the ID.3 in the vehicle plant in Zwickau, Germany, on April 23, 2020. (Hendrik Schmidt/dpa via AP) With Masks and Distancing, Volkswagen Restarts Production ZWICKAU, GermanyGerman automaker Volkswagen restarted production on Thursday at its plant in Zwickau, where its crucial mass-market electric vehicle is being made ahead of its launch later this year. The company said the plan was health before production numbers as the assembly line started up after a five-week closure under new health rules agreed with worker representatives that include wearing face protection where a 6-foot distance cant always be observed. Other measures include regular cleanings. Distancing is required in washrooms, changing rooms, and lunchrooms. At restart the plan was to make 50 cars per day, about a third of previous output. Volkswagen worker Heiko Gruner told the dpa news agency he was grateful to be back. For the past weeks I missed the purpose and the usual structure of the day, said the 49-year-old. Max Bruehmann, left, and Heiko Gruner employees of German car producer Volkswagen Sachsen, work with face masks in the assembly of the ID.3 in the vehicle plant in Zwickau, Germany, on April 23, 2020. (Hendrik Schmidt/dpa via AP) The plant makes the ID.3 electric compact, which is key to Volkswagens plan to make battery only cars a mass-market product. Currently, electrics remain a niche product with sales in single digits and many of the offerings are in the luxury category. Volkswagen aims to sell the car for prices starting below 30,000 euros ($32,400). Sebastian Lohse, left, and Heiko Gruner employees of German car producer Volkswagen Sachsen, work with face masks in the assembly of the ID.3 in the vehicle plant in Zwickau, Germany, on April 23, 2020. (Hendrik Schmidt/dpa via AP) Manufacturing plants in several European countries have resumed work in recent days as some governments look to ease some of the lockdown measures that have dealt a blow to the economy. A Nigerian woman has given birth to twins a boy and a girl at the age of 68. Margaret Adenuga went through three previous IVF procedures before finally having twins. Her husband Noah Adenuga, 77, told CNN the couple, who married in 1974, had long desired to have a child of their own. Adenuga said they never gave up even after the failed attempts. The retired stock auditor told CNN, "I am a dreamer, and I was convinced this particular dream of ours will come to pass." The babies were delivered via caesarian section at 37 weeks last Tuesday at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) but the hospital only recently made the news public to give the first-time mother time to recuperate, it said. Dr. Adeyemi Okunowo, who delivered the babies, told CNN a specialist team was assembled at the hospital to monitor the pregnancy because of her age. "As an elderly woman and a first-time mother, it was a high-risk pregnancy and also because she was going to have twins but we were able to manage her pregnancy to term," Okunowo told CNN. Last year, a 73-year-old Indian woman was safely delivered of twin girls after she conceived through IVF and is reported to be the oldest person to give birth at that age. Okunowo said even though older women are able to conceive through IVF, doctors must lay bare the medical risks associated with being pregnant at that age. "There are age-related medical complications that come with being pregnant at that age such as the baby being born preterm. She's lucky but many may succumb to other complications during or after having a baby," he told CNN. The-CNN-Wire & 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Newsbrief: Finnish mobile studio Reworks has secured $4.3 million in funding to grow its interactive home design title, Redecor. As reported by PocketGamer.biz, the funding round was led by EQT Ventures and backed by Play Ventures and Huge Games chief exec Anton Gauffin. Reworks co-founder and CEO Ilkka Teppo said the investment will allow the studio to capitalize on the "huge opportunity" Redecor presents. "With Redecor, we wanted to fuse a home design app and mobile game, bringing to life a creative hobby platform for all home decor lovers," he commented. "We believe there's a huge opportunity in this category and the possibilities are far greater than whats currently available." [April 22, 2020] Motorola Solutions' Critical Communication Links Keep Essential Services Running for Rio Tinto Aluminium Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI (News - Alert)) is helping Rio Tinto to continue supplying its customers while protecting people and communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The two companies partnered to design and roll-out a back-up communications solution for Rio Tinto Aluminium's Integrated Operations Centre (IOC), in Brisbane, Queensland. The system enables continued critical communications between mines during an emergency and was developed and deployed in just five days. The existing IOC provides 24/7 monitoring of all safety, production and quality aspects at remote bauxite mine sites in Weipa, Queensland and Gove, Northern Territory and is essential to coordinating Rio Tinto's bauxite supply to Australian alumina plants and export markets. If the IOC becomes inaccessible for any reason, Rio Tinto can continue tracking mine production movements via its mission-critical TETRA digital two-way radio communications system which feeds directly into the mining organisation's Disaster Recovery Centre. Rio Tinto uses a combination of robust and reliable TETRA DIMETRA and MOTOTRBO radio handsets and dispatch consoles across the mine sites to monitor and manage field operations safely and efficiently. The solution forms an important part of Rio Tinto's business continuity plans to keep operations running safely throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling commercial supply chain continuity and planning for future eventualities. Motorola Solutions continues to closely monitor the widespread impact of COVID-19 and is committed to supporting the critical communications, safety and security needs of its enterprise and public safety and customers globally. Martin Chappell, General Manager of Energy and Natural Resources for Motorola (News - Alert) Solutions Australia & New Zealand said "Any communications equipment used in mining must adhere to the highest standards to keep workers safe and maintain security and reliability across the entire operation." "Through a combination of rugged radios, purpose-built dispatch consoles and essential back-up links, we are providing Rio Tinto Aluminium with effective protection for its people and assets to ensure business continuity throughout the COVID-19 pandemic", Chappell said. About Motorola Solutions Motorola Solutions is a global leader in mission-critical communications and analytics. Our technology platforms in mission-critical communications, command centre software and video security & analytics, bolstered by managed & support services, make cities safer and help communities and businesses thrive. At Motorola Solutions, we are ushering in a new era in public safety and security. Learn more at www.motorolasolutions.com. MOTOROLA, MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS and the Stylized M Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola Trademark Holdings, LLC and are used under license. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 2020 Motorola Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200422005056/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra may have one of the most technologically impressive cameras out there, but the results it gets out of the hardware are not the best in our review we said that Samsung needs to work more on tuning the camera, DxOMark placed the Ultra in 6th position. The company is still confident in its hardware and released this video detailing why the ISOCELL Bright HM1 has great potential. This is not the first time that Samsung has talked about the sensor. Previously, it covered how the 9-in-1 pixel binning (nonacell) helps the sensor capture twice as much light. This sets it apart from the ISOCELL Bright HMX sensor, which is limited to 4-in-1 binning (the HMX is used in Xiaomis 108MP phones and something very similar is probably inside the new Moto Edge+ as well). What is ISOCELL, anyway? A week ago Samsung posted a video explaining the technology, Part 2 came out a couple of days ago and it focuses on ISOCELL Plus, which is used in the HM1 and other sensors. PS. Part 1 details the change from Front Side Illuminated (FSI) sensors to Back Side Illuminated (BSI). While Nokia 808 PureViews sensor physically is larger than the HM1 (1/1.2 vs. 1/1.33), it is older tech and uses an FSI design, which reduced its light sensitivity. The Nokia still has larger pixels, though and was doing pixel binning before it was cool. BSI introduced new issues, however, which are exactly the issues that ISOCELL was designed to solve. Vietnam Electricity's (EVN) Standalone Credit Profile (SCP) of 'bb' has reasonable headroom to absorb the impact of the proposed reduction in electricity tariffs in the country, Fitch Ratings said in a report released on Wednesday. EVN's financial profile can be significantly affected if tariffs are not adjusted regularly. Photo plo.vn The Ministry of Industry and Trade has decided to cut electricity tariffs for certain customers by 10 per cent for the next three months to support economic activities amid the coronavirus pandemic. Fitch expects some delays in EVN's cash collections as well. Fitch also assumes electricity sales volume growth of only 4 per cent in 2020 in its rating case, compared with 9 per cent last year. We estimate that the proposed tariff cuts will raise EVN's 2020 leverage, as measured by funds from operations (FFO) adjusted net leverage, to 4.5x from our previous forecast of 3.9x. The leverage will increase to 4.9x should receivables stretch to 35 days from around 5 days historically, Fitch said, noting it would revise EVN's SCP down if leverage is above 6.0x for a sustained period, indicating it has considerable headroom. Under Fitch's Government-Related Entities Rating Criteria, EVN's ratings will be equalised to that of the sovereign in case of any weakening in its SCP given the company's strong linkages with the State. EVN's SCP is constrained at 'bb' due to the lack of a longer record of tariff adjustments that reflect cost changes. Under the regulatory framework introduced in August 2017, EVN is entitled to increase or decrease tariffs every six months in line with its production costs. However, automatic adjustments are limited to 5 per cent. Price increases between 5 per cent and 10 per cent require approval from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and larger increases need sign-off from the Prime Minister. According to Fitch, EVN's financial profile can be significantly affected if tariffs are not adjusted regularly as it faces major hydrology, currency and demand risks, in Fitchs view. Vietnam Electricity's (EVN) Standalone Credit Profile (SCP) of 'bb' has reasonable headroom to absorb the impact of the proposed reduction in electricity tariffs in the country, Fitch Ratings said in a report released on Wednesday. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has decided to cut electricity tariffs for certain customers by 10 per cent for the next three months to support economic activities amid the coronavirus pandemic. Fitch expects some delays in EVN's cash collections as well. Fitch also assumes electricity sales volume growth of only 4 per cent in 2020 in its rating case, compared with 9 per cent last year. We estimate that the proposed tariff cuts will raise EVN's 2020 leverage, as measured by funds from operations (FFO) adjusted net leverage, to 4.5x from our previous forecast of 3.9x. The leverage will increase to 4.9x should receivables stretch to 35 days from around 5 days historically, Fitch said, noting it would revise EVN's SCP down if leverage is above 6.0x for a sustained period, indicating it has considerable headroom. Under Fitch's Government-Related Entities Rating Criteria, EVN's ratings will be equalised to that of the sovereign in case of any weakening in its SCP given the company's strong linkages with the State. EVN's SCP is constrained at 'bb' due to the lack of a longer record of tariff adjustments that reflect cost changes. Under the regulatory framework introduced in August 2017, EVN is entitled to increase or decrease tariffs every six months in line with its production costs. However, automatic adjustments are limited to 5 per cent. Price increases between 5 per cent and 10 per cent require approval from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and larger increases need sign-off from the Prime Minister. According to Fitch, EVN's financial profile can be significantly affected if tariffs are not adjusted regularly as it faces major hydrology, currency and demand risks, in Fitchs view. Fitch revises outlook on Viet Nam to Stable; affirms at 'BB' Fitch Ratings has revised the outlook on Viet Nam's long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating (IDR) to stable, from positive, and has affirmed the rating at 'BB'. Reports have it that, like the other countries of the world, Latin America is also going digital along with the advantages and disadvantages that such a transformation entails. As domestic and foreign investment in digital groundwork, e-services, and cloud computing are stimulating openness, economic development, and innovation, and they are strengthening digital divisions, misrepresenting politics and exposing citizens, businesses, and governments to the so-called "cyber threats." Across this region, the information and communications technology (ICT) and broadband are concentrated in affluent households and cities, and as the excessive directive is stifling rivalry in telecommunications. Even though cybercrime is said to be off the charts, it is still considered an abandoned danger. And now, a geopolitical competition clash between China and the US over what lies ahead of 5G reportedly "puts Latin America directly in the crosshairs." And, how the government leaders face these challenges in the years yet to come is said to be having generational insinuations. Most Latin America Residents are Online According to reports, in 2019, over 450 million of the 626 million residents of Latin America were online. More so, a similar number of residents owned a mobile phone, allowing them for political involvement, build businesses, and access to digital services. Also, Latin American residents are among the world's most passionate users of social media, too. Social media includes WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube. Relatively, these people are not just uploading their favorite music videos but accessing employments in both formal and informal economies, as well. Essentially, global investors have already taken notice, with the launch of SoftBank, of its $5-billion technology fund last year for Latin America. And, while this region is less likely to rival big players such as India, China, or even the US, the tech scene is flourishing in cities such as Mexico City, Bogota, Santiago, and Buenos Aires. Sao Paulo prides itself on being the eight most progressive digital ecosystem in the world, and Brazil has been considered home to over 10,000 tech newbies. In the whole region, roughly $2 billion was capitalized in ed-tech, fintech, smart-city beginners, and telemedicine in 2017. From 2017 to 2019, Latin America generated over a dozen of privately-controlled startups with a value of $1 billion or more. Prompted by both private and public incubators, low competitive strength, and talented developers, more and more tech firms that operate in the region are homegrown. Leaders of the Region Bullish about Digitization Contradicting this framework, the leaders of Latin American are bullish about digitization. Specifically, governments in Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, and Brazil invest in subsidizing training programs, cultivating ICT ecosystems, and startup incubators. Colombia, for one, has been distributing cultural-development bonds to subsidize everything from IT firms to fiber-optic cables. Digitization and automation in manufacturing, both the economy and technology experts say, "Manufacturing could enhance productivity" and generate job opportunities "in the knowledge economy, specifically for young people." However, if poorly executed, new technologies will even expand the digital divisions. Notably, Latin America is known as the world's most unequal region when it comes to income, education, health, and wealth. And, despite comparatively high penetration rates of telecommunications, far too many residents and locations still have just limited Internet access. Check these out! Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 20:39:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Governor of the U.S. state of Washington Jay Inslee and state Attorney General Bob Ferguson denounced some county officials' disregard of the stay-at-home order in a joint statement on Wednesday. "It is disappointing when elected officials promote illegal activity that puts their community's well-being at risk," the statement said. "In both Franklin and Snohomish counties, the prosecutors have informed our office they agree the state's orders are legal," it said. "The Snohomish County sheriff and the Franklin County Commission are misleading business owners and individuals in their jurisdictions, putting people's health at risk and potentially putting them on the wrong side of the law," the statement said. Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fortney said on Tuesday that he believed Governor Inslee's stay-at-home order was unconstitutional and he would not enforce it, one day after his Franklin County counterpart, Jim Raymond, expressed a similar opposing attitude to the order. "These orders are legal, and they are working. Do not be misled by local officials who encourage you to risk your health and violate the law," the statement warned. "These decisions are guided by science. Our priority is keeping Washingtonians healthy. We are working hard to turn the tide on COVID-19 and begin lifting restrictions," it said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Riska Rahman (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 18:05 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3e4905 1 Business goodyear-indonesia,tire-producers,manufacturing-industry,factory,large-scale-social-restrictions,PSBB,COVID-19,coronavirus Free Publicly listed tire manufacturer PT Goodyear Indonesia has temporarily shut down its production activity to comply with the large-scale social restriction (PSBB) measures to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The publicly listed firm halted its production on April 20 until May 3 in a bid to comply with the recent PSBB policy applied in the Bogor city area in West Java where the company is located. The factorys temporary shutdown is longer than Bogors PSBB policy, which is due to expire on April 29. Until today, we are still assessing the impact of the COVID-19 situation and we hope that the temporary production halt will not affect the companys continuity, the company said in a statement on Wednesday posted on the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) website. The company went on to say that the decision was taken to maintain the health and safety of its employees. The measure is also meant to help the company address the market changes during the unfavorable global conditions. Indonesias factory activity contracted to a record level in the first half of the year as a result of weak demand and disruption to the supply chain against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic. Bank Indonesias Prompt Manufacturing Index (PMI-BI) was recorded at 45.64 percent; an index reading above 50 indicates expansion while below 50 is a contraction. Despite the production suspension, Goodyear head of marketing and corporate communication Wicaksono Soebroto said on Thursday that the companys activities were still running as usual with some limitations. Other supporting roles are still working from home, he told The Jakarta Post via text message. However, for warehousing and shipping, employees still have to come to the office within a limited schedule while applying preventive measures. Wicaksono added that all of the companys employees continued to be paid despite the temporary production shut down. As of 1.26 p.m., Goodyears share price was unchanged at Rp 1,510 (9.7 US cents) apiece. A man in his 60s who may have acquired coronavirus in the community has died in hospital overnight as Victoria recorded one additional case overall. Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said the man had an underlying health condition and had been in hospital for several days, but his case may have been the result of community transmission. The man is one of the youngest people in Victoria to die from COVID-19, bringing the state's death toll to 16. There was only one new case confirmed in the state overnight, taking the total number of cases to 1337. Only two cases were recorded on Tuesday. Video-conference app Zoom has registered a sharp spike in the total number of users despite security concerns. A rise of 50 per cent has been seen in the use of online meeting application in the last three weeks, Zoom, CEO, Eric Yuan, said. Over 300 million people used Zoom's video conferencing software on April 21, a 50 per cent rise from 200 million daily users at the beginning of the month, Eric Yuan said in a webinar on Wednesday. "Clearly the Zoom platform is providing an incredibly valuable service to our beloved users during this challenging time," Eric Yuan added. "We are thrilled and honored to continue to earn the trust of so many enterprises, hospitals, teachers and customers throughout the world," he also said. Zoom app was recently flagged by various governments worldwide, including India, over security issues. Zoom earlier this week said that it's in talks with the Indian government on the concerns related to security. The video conferencing software of the San Jose, California-based company, which picked up demand globally amid coronavirus lockdown, also said that it's working on adding actual end-to-end encryption to further secure video calls, Zoom Video Communications, India Head, Sameer Raje, said. "Zoom is in communications with the Ministry of Home Affairs and is focused on providing the information they need to make informed decisions about their policies," Sameer Raje also said. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in its recent advisory via Cyber Coordination Centre had red-flagged the video conferencing facility as unsafe, days after India's Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN) had raised concerns over potential cyber attacks through Zoom. "Insecure usage of the platform may allow cyber criminals to access sensitive information such as meeting details and conversations," the government had said. Also read: Coronavirus India Live Updates: 41 deaths in 24 hours takes country's toll to 681; corona cases tally- 21,393 Also read: Coronavirus lockdown: Delhi govt warns hotels, clubs against liquor sale Bernie Hargrove, 42, has been charged with felony murder in the shooting death of his stepson De'onte Roberts, 16 An Atlanta man has been arrested on a murder charge after police say he shot and killed his 16-year-old stepson following an argument about the teenager's decision to go out during the coronavirus lockdown. The incident began unfolding on Wednesday evening, when De'onte Roberts clashed with his mother and stepfather, Bernie Hargrove, over his plan to leave the house on Lisbon Drive. Roberts' mother told detectives she and her husband wanted the teen to stay indoors, but he defied them and took off. 'Later, the victim returned to the home and kicked in the door to the house where a physical fight began between the suspect and the victim,' police said in a statement. 'During that altercation the victim was shot.' The teen's mother and one of his younger siblings were at home at the time. Roberts suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital, where he later succumbed to his injures. Hargrove was taken in for questioning and booked into the Fulton County Jail overnight on a charge of felony murder. Police in Atlanta say Roberts got into an argument with his mother and stepfather because they did not want him to leave their home in Atlanta (pictured) amid the lockdown When Roberts returned, he kicked in the front door and allegedly punched his stepdad (pictured center with his family), who then shot the teen in the chest 'Tensions get high because you're in the same space, day in and day out,' Atlanta Police Capt. D'Andrea Price told WSB-TV. 'However, when the pressure gets high, you just have to take a deep breath and and you have to separate.' Hargrove was scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Thursday afternoon. Court records show the 42-year-old was sentenced to probation and community service in 2018 stemming from vehicular violations three years prior. - The regulator termed the Utawezana song as one with sexually explicit lyrics which didn't deserve to be aired during watershed hours - TV47 was ordered to furnish CAK with guidelines it had adopted to ensure its programming reflected the broadcast code - The song was earlier called out by the Kenya Film Classification Board boss Ezekiel Mutua who termed it dirty The Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) has cautioned news channel TV47 against playing inappropriate content after the station aired Utawezana song produced by musicians Mejja and Femi One. The regulator, in a letter to the station, said the song with "sexually explicit lyrics" was played during watershed hours which was against the country's broadcasting laws. READ ALSO: Kenyan newspapers review for April 23: William Ruto linked to grabbed Ruai sewerage land repossessed by government TV47 was officially launched on Friday, February 14, following a six months period in which it tested its content approach and human resource. Photo: TV47. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Ken Walibora alitofautiana vikali na mchapishaji wa kazi zake kabla ya kifo kumkuta, DCI yafichua According to the authority, the song played at 10.06am on Saturday, April 11, while guidelines only permitted such content to be aired by broadcasters after 10pm to protect children from viewing disturbing and harmful content. "In this regard, the authority cautions TV47 to adhere to the standards of good taste and decency during the watershed period in order to avoid offending audiences, especially children. Please note that failure to comply with the legal provisions of broadcast content standards will result in regulatory action under the law," read the letter dated Friday, April 17, and signed by CAK director-general. READ ALSO: Meet TV47's 10 screen sirens ahead of Valentines day official launch READ ALSO: TV47 taps experienced TV personalities in a bid to take over airwaves The station was also ordered to write to the regulator indicating guidelines it had adopted to avert the recurrence of the breach. "In addition, you are required to submit to the authority within seven days from the date of this letter details of the corrective measures that you will institute in order to avoid recurrence of such incidences," the authority directed. Earlier, the Kenya Film Classification Board (KFCB) boss Ezekiel Mutua termed the song as immoral and urged the media to refrain from broadcasting it arguing it promoted sexual perverseness. "The perverts who are creating such obscenity like "nikikupea utawezana" should be ashamed of themselves. Media houses promoting such content too are a disgrace. Artistes should be creating inspiring content to help combat COVID-19 pandemic, not promoting sexual regression," Mutua tweeted on Monday, April 13. TV47 was officially launched on Friday, February 14, following a six months period in which it tested its content approach and human resource. The Cape Media-owned station focuses in sourcing and reporting untold stories and has reporters stationed across all 47 counties. It also boasts of live studios in Nairobi, Mombasa, Eldoret, Kisumu and Rwanda's capital Kigali. 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. Kenya hits 300 mark for positive Covid-19 cases | Tuko TV. Source: TUKO.co.ke The 36 governors in Nigeria on Wednesday jointly agree to close down interstate borders across the country during a virtual meeting which held same day. The outcome of the meeting was made public by Dapo Abiodun, the Ogun state governor via a statement on his official Twitter handle. Read Also: COVID-19: Dapo Abiodun Inspects Relief Materials Before Disbursement (Photos) Yesterday, all Governors in Nigeria held a virtual meeting where we all shared measures adopted in our individual states to contain the spread of the Coronavirus. We jointly decided to close our interstate borders across the Country for two initial weeks in a bid to curb the interstate spread of the virus and enhance our ability to better handle contact tracing. This, however, tallies with the earlier decision and stance of the Ogun State Government to keep all our interstate and international borders shut, except to essential services. Yesterday, all Governors in Nigeria held a virtual meeting where we all shared measures adopted in our individual states to contain the spread of the Coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/Nk8e39XBg5 Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun MFR (@dabiodunMFR) April 23, 2020 We jointly decided to close our interstate borders across the Country for two initial weeks in a bid to curb the interstate spread of the virus and enhance our ability to better handle contact tracing. Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun MFR (@dabiodunMFR) April 23, 2020 112 Ukraine TV Channel Director's comment on "Seraphima's Extraordinary Adventure" The decision of the National Council on Television and Radio Broadcasting to assign a check of 112 Ukraine TV channel due to a banned actor in the "Seraphima's Extraordinary Adventure" cartoon is wrong. There are no actors in this cartoon - neither in terms of law, nor in terms of common sense. Cartoon production is regulated by the law on cinematography. According to the law, a participant of a movie is a performer of any role, a participant in a documentary (non-fiction) films, a performer of a musical work used in a film, an author of a script, texts or dialogues, a director, a producer. As you can see, the person who voiced the cartoon character does not fall into this category at all. I would like to remind that Ukraine's TV-viewers are already familiar with Seraphima's Extraordinary Adventures", and Easter broadcast on 112 Ukraine TV channel is far from being the first release of this cartoon in Ukraine. In particular, Seraphima's Extraordinary Adventures received the Grand Prix of the XIII International Festival of Orthodox Movies Pokrov back in October 2015 in Kyiv. "Seraphima's Extraordinary Adventures" is a good family cartoon addressing the key Christian values - love, faith, kindness, the strength of mind. This is the story of a girl from the orphanage, the daughter of a priest, repressed in 1937 and whose church was destroyed by the Bolsheviks. Despite the hardships and pressure from her teachers, she did not give up her faith in God. I also want to draw attention to the fact that the broadcasting this cartoon was a good example of the fact that, apart from chasing ratings and fighting for the audience, Ukrainian television can also perform a social function - by addressing the smallest TV-viewers, who are usually left behind the attention of the producers and distributors the television content. I propose to put an end to this artificial scandal. This is a good, good cartoon - I am sure that when you look at it, you will see that there is nothing wrong with it and you will agree that in our country, unfortunately, there's plenty of truly serious problems and unresolved issues. Meanwhile, for those who criticize this cartoon without getting acquainted with it, I suggest watching some small fragments: You can watch the full cartoon Seraphima's Extraordinary Adventures" at this link: https://video.112.ua/multfilm-neobyknovennoe-priklyuchenie-serafimy-v-efire-112-ukraina-320874.html KYODO NEWS - Apr 23, 2020 - 22:20 | All, Japan, Coronavirus Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike on Thursday requested residents limit the frequency of grocery shopping to every three days as part of steps to prevent supermarkets becoming too crowded amid the coronavirus epidemic. While crowds in busy downtown areas have fallen after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's declaration of a state of emergency and government stay-at-home requests, concerns have been raised about an increase in the number of people in suburban shopping centers and supermarkets. (Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike meets the press at the metropolitan government office in Tokyo on April 23, 2020.) At the extraordinary press conference, Koike also stressed the need to partner with supermarket industry bodies to plan ways to reduce overcrowding. The suggested measures include informing customers of the quietest times, limiting the number of shopping baskets, setting aside times for the elderly and disabled, suspending bonus-point campaigns for certain days and times, and alternating when shelves are restocked to prevent lines forming before opening. Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura on Thursday said he will also request supermarket operators to set aside times for the elderly, with guidelines on limiting the number of shoppers to be finalized Friday. Koike had earlier said the enforcement of stricter rules, such as spreading the flow of customers by using specific time slots and limiting the number of people from each household going to the shops, may be necessary. But international political scientist Ruri Miura has questioned the necessity of Koike's latest request, saying she "lacked the imagination" to see its repercussions. "In the latter half of March when the governor mentioned a lockdown, it resulted in panic buying at supermarkets and other stores. The governor has a lot of authority, so her words can create difficulties in running businesses and destroy the livelihood of people," Miura said. The city was initially considering more specific measures such as different time slots for shopping. But businesses argued against this, saying it would be hard to do the same for all stores. The measures would also not be legally binding, making it difficult to make the public comply with such rules. Koike also said at Thursday's press conference that the metropolitan government will pay an incentive to shopping centers which have initiated collective business suspensions across all stores. Although the amount and other details are still to be finalized, the city plans to subsidize the cost of banners, flyers and other initiatives requesting people avoid close contact with each other. Meanwhile, the stay-at-home requests will remain in effect over the Golden Week holidays from late April to early May. Koike has additionally requested that companies implement a 12-day holiday during Golden Week, prevent their employees from going to the office and promote teleworking. "This year it's not 'Golden Week' but 'stay at home week.' I want to ask (Tokyo) residents to refrain from nonessential travel, and especially to refrain from going to sightseeing spots in other prefectures," she said. Tokyo will hold a campaign on the matter with the surrounding Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures, she added. Hakone Mayor Nobuo Yamaguchi at a press conference Thursday requested people not visit his town during the holidays, which usually sees around 120,000 people per day at this time of year. "As a sightseeing spot it is heartbreaking, but we made this request in the hopes that the coronavirus will be contained as soon as possible," he said. Shizuoka Gov. Heita Kawakatsu the same day postponed the opening of two prefectural roads connecting the base of Mt. Fuji to its fifth station following the nationwide extension of the state of emergency declaration. The roads, which remain closed over winter, were originally scheduled to reopen on April 24. Meanwhile, Tokyo has decided to close parking lots and playgrounds at city parks as part of measures to reduce crowding in public areas. The operator of the cable car at Mt. Takao, a popular recreational and hiking spot on the outskirts of Tokyo, has also agreed to suspend its service from April 25 to May 6, Koike said. Tokyo confirmed 134 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, bringing its total to 3,572. It also reported six fatalities, including that of 63-year-old actress Kumiko Okae, taking the capital's death toll from the pneumonia-causing virus to 87. A policeman was abducted by militants from his home in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday night, officials said here. The militants abducted Constable Javaid Jabbar from his residence at Wayil in Shopian around 9.40 pm, the officials said. Jabbar is posted in the escort unit of a police officer in Hazratbal area of Srinagar. He was visiting his family on leave, they said. Security forces have launched search operations to rescue him. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) (Reuters) - The U.S. government is planning to fund domestic rare earths projects in an attempt to reduce its reliance on China, the global leader of the specialized sector. Rare earths are a group of 17 minerals used in a plethora of military equipment and consumer electronics. There are no known substitutes. Apple Inc , for instance, uses rare earths in its iPhone's taptic engine, which makes the phone vibrate. While the modern rare earths industry had its genesis in World War Two's Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb, China has spent the last 30 years building a monopoly over the sector. Rare earths are no longer processed in the United States. In an attempt to change that, the Pentagon last year said it would fund mines and processors via the Defense Production Act, which gives the military wide berth to procure certain equipment. U.S. President Donald Trump has recently considered using the same law to boost medical supply manufacturing. Here are rare earths projects under development in the United States: Energy Fuels Inc The uranium producer said in early April it was considering ways to retool some of its equipment to process rare earths. The company does not plan to become a rare earths miner. Rather, it said it was looking at opportunities to process rock for others in order to extract the strategic minerals. No final decision has been made, and Energy Fuels said it expects uranium to remain its main focus. Lynas Corp and privately-held Blue Line Corp Australia-based Lynas is largest producer of rare earths outside China. The company extracts rare earths from a mine in western Australia and ships the ore to Malaysia for processing, though its Malaysian operations have come under increased government scrutiny in recent years. Lynas inked a deal with Blue Line in 2019 to build rare earths processing plants in Texas. Lynas will be the majority owner. The companies last December jointly applied for Pentagon funding for processing of so-called heavy rare earths, a less-common type of the specialized minerals that are highly sought after for use in weaponry, part of the reason why Lynas sought a U.S.-based partner. Story continues On Wednesday, Lynas and Blue Line said they were chosen by the Pentagon, though they did not say how much funding they would get, nor did they list any conditions associated with the award. MP Materials The privately held company owns California's Mountain Pass mine, the only rare earths mine in the United States. China's Shenghe Resources Holding Co <600392.SS> owns about 10% of the company, and Chinese customers account for all its annual revenue of about $100 million. MP Materials ships more than 50,000 tonnes of concentrated rare earths per year to China for processing. It is spending $200 million to restart mothballed equipment and aims to be processing at the mine site by the end of the year, though some industry analysts have said the goal may be overly optimistic. Once the refining equipment does switch online, the goal is to use that material on site to make more than 5,000 tonnes per year of neodymium and praseodymium (NdPr), two of the 17 types of rare earths that are used to make magnets. NioCorp Developments Ltd The company, led by former Molycorp executives, is developing the Elk Creek mine in Nebraska. The deposit will primarily produce niobium, which is used to harden steel and is not a rare earth. But it also will produce the rare earth scandium. The company is in the process of obtaining permits and is looking for financing. Rare Element Resources Ltd The company has been developing the Bear Lodge rare earths mine in Wyoming since 1999. In recent years, the company has run into delays in obtaining permits and faced other challenges, hindering its ability to secure financing. Texas Mineral Resources Corp and privately held USA Rare Earth The companies are developing the Round Top rare earths project in the western corner of Texas and hope to have it operational by 2023. In the meantime, the partners are building a pilot plant in Colorado to process rare earths. The companies hope to be producing small amounts of processed rare earths by the middle of 2020 - roughly 100 kg (220 pounds) annually. This would help them finalize supply deals with potential customers and secure financing for a full-scale plant near their Texas mine site. UCore Rare Metals Inc The company is developing the Bokan mine in Alaska and building rare earths processing equipment. Alaska's state government has pledged $145 million to support the project. UCore has said it plans to focus first on building the processor and then develop the mine. The company teamed up with manufacturer Materion Corp to apply for Pentagon funding for the processing plant. Materion has previously received financial support from the U.S. military to produce beryllium, a mineral used as a hardening agent for weapons. The beryllium production process has similarities to rare earths processing. (Reporting by Ernest Scheyder; Editing by Pravin Char) The coronavirus pandemic is cutting off the worlds 1.8 billion Muslims from their cherished Ramadan traditions as health officials battle to ward off new infections during Islams holiest month, haunted by multiple outbreaks traced to religious gatherings around the world. Ramadan, a month of daytime fasting, overnight festivity and communal prayer and giving, begins with the new moon this week and comes in the middle of the worldwide debate over when and how to lift virus restrictions. Keeping the faithful healthy during the entire month poses a whole new challenge. The virus has already disrupted Christianitys Holy Week, Passover, the Muslim hajj pilgrimage and other major religious events. Ramadan is coming, and people have nothing to eat, said Afghan daily laborer Hamayoon, who goes by only one name. The government must have some mercy on us and allow people to work at least half a day to be able to feed themselves. U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing for a swift nationwide reopening, Vietnam and New Zealand moved Thursday to end their lockdowns and European leaders were gathering via video later Thursday to try to reinvigorate their virus-crippled economies. 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 coronavirus crisis is far from over, however, and the threat of new outbreaks looms large. German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed dismay Thursday, criticizing some states for moving "very briskly, if not to say too briskly in trying to reopen their economies. Were not living in the final phase of the pandemic, but still at the beginning, Merkel warned ahead of the European Union summit. Let us not squander what we have achieved and risk a setback. It would be a shame if premature hope ultimately punishes us all. Germany has been praised for its proactive approach to the pandemic, testing widely, shutting down citizens' movement and achieving a much lower reported death toll, at 5,315, than other large European nations. As Muslim leaders announce the official start of Ramadan, governments are trying to balance health protection with traditions and many have closed mosques or banned collective evening prayers. In addition to Ramadans sunrise-to-sunset fast, families and friends gather for large festive meals at sunset, worshippers go to mosques for hours of evening prayers and communal meals are organized for the poor. Authorities in the capital of Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim majority nation, on Thursday extended to May 22 its strict disease-fighting restrictions covering the whole holy month. Turkey banned communal eating during the holiday and banned Ramadan drummers marking the times for fasting from going door-to-door to collect tips. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan bowed to the countrys religious clerics, refusing to close the mosques despite a warning from the Pakistan Medical Association that such gatherings are like a petri dish to spread the virus in a country that has a fragile health care system. Egypts Grand Mufti Shawki Allam said Thursday that healthy Muslims have a religious obligation to fast despite the global pandemic but said coronavirus patients would be the most eligible for an exemption. U.S. authorities have also struggled to reconcile religious freedom with stemming the virus. A federal judge said he will deny a bid by three Southern California churches to hold in-person church services during the pandemic, saying that governments emergency powers trump what in normal times would be fundamental constitutional rights. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Muslims to focus on our common enemy the virus, and repeated an earlier appeal for an immediate cease-fire for all conflicts. The U.N. also warned that more than 135 million people were at acute risk of starvation even before COVID-19 appeared. The virus is making that situation worse, leading to massive lines for food banks from the Texas city of El Paso to the Paris suburbs, and hitting Africa especially hard. On one hand, the lockdown and lack of jobs, and on the other hand, Ramadan is coming and the prices for all food items have gone up. It is a huge problem for the people," shopkeeper Noor Alam lamented in the Afghan capital of Kabul. The EU has pledged 20 billion euros ($22 billion) to provide help to vulnerable communities globally. EU leaders were holding a virtual summit Thursday to take stock of the damage the coronavirus has inflicted on the bloc's own citizens and to thrash out an economic rescue plan. Merkel warned: Its a long journey; We cant run out of stamina and air too soon. Meanwhile scientists are reporting new signs that the virus was circulating in the population earlier than initially thought. Two people with the coronavirus died in California as much as three weeks before the U.S. reported its first death from the disease in late February, which may have led to delays in issuing stay-at-home orders. In China, authorities reported no new deaths and just 10 new cases on Thursday. China has reopened many businesses. Middle and high school seniors preparing for exams are returning to classes. But a ban on foreign arrivals and strict quarantine measures remain to prevent an influx of new cases from abroad or fresh infections. The coronavirus has infected more than 2.6 million people and killed over 183,000, including more than 45,000 in the United States, according to a tally compiled by John Hopkins University from official government figures. The true numbers are undoubtedly far higher, since testing is limited and methods vary for counting the dead. While most people suffer from only mild or moderate symptoms, the elderly and the infirm have been hardest hit by the virus. The head of the World Health Organizations Europe office said Thursday that up to half of the coronavirus deaths across the region have been in nursing homes, calling it an unimaginable tragedy. Europe has seen over 115,000 people die in the pandemic, according to the Johns Hopkins tally. Dr. Hans Kluge said a deeply concerning picture was emerging of the impact of COVID-19 on long-term homes for the elderly, where care has often been notoriously neglected. Kluge said health workers in such facilities were often overworked and underpaid and called for them to be given more protective gear and support, describing them as the unsung heroes of the pandemic. To help people in Belgiums capital bear their coronavirus lockdowns, a love bus is traveling the streets and broadcasting personal voice messages to those stuck at home. We miss you a lot. Big kisses!" trumpeted one message to 82-year-old Asuncion Mendez from her great-grandchildren. As Mendez looked out from her Brussels balcony, a huge smile spread across her face. SYDNEYAll member nations of the World Health Organization (WHO) should support a proposed independent review into the CCP virus pandemic, Australias Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday, further threatening strained ties with China. Australia has become one of the most forceful critics of Beijing for its handling of the spread of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) virus, with Morrison urging several world leaders to support an international inquiry into its origins and spread, as well as the WHOs response. The COVID-19 outbreak originated in China and has since spread to infect some 2.3 million people globally and killed nearly 160,000, according to Reuters calculations, though the figures are skewed because of incomplete data from China. Morrison said all members of the WHO should be obliged to participate in a review, adding that Australia would push for the inquiry during the WHO Assembly on May 17. Wed like the world to be safer when it comes to viruses I would hope that any other nation, be it China or anyone else, would share that objective, Morrison told reporters in Canberra. China is Australias largest trading partner, but diplomatic ties have frayed in recent years amid allegations Beijing has committed cyber-attacks and has attempted to interfere in Canberras domestic affairs. Australias calls for an inquiry will win favour with the White Housewhich has been critical of China and the World Health Organizations handling of the pandemic, and has withdrawn U.S. funding from the U.N. agency. There also seems to be less enthusiasm for an inquiry in Europe, with both France and Britain saying now is not the time to apportion blame. Germanys Angela Merkel said Thursday that the WHO is an indispensable partner and the country supports its mandate. Morrisons comments came just hours after a senior Australian government official called on G20 nations to end wildlife wet markets over concerns they pose a threat to human health and agricultural markets. The outbreak in China was thought to have started in a wet market in the city of Wuhan. China imposed a temporary ban on selling wildlife on Jan. 23 and is now reviewing its legislation to restrict commercial wild animal trading on a permanent basis. Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud said on Thursday he had asked government officials from the Group of 20 major economies to back a plan to end wildlife wet markets. U.S. officials have also called for wildlife wet markets across Asia to be closed. Wet markets exist throughout Asia selling fresh vegetables, seafood, and meat, with some also selling exotic animals. Sail Away Australias call for global action comes as it successfully slows the spread of the CCP virus, with new infections well below 1 percent a day. Australia has about 6,600 cases of COVID-19 and 76 deaths. Around a third of Australias cases can be traced to cruise liners and one ship, the Ruby Princess owned by Carnival Corp., is responsible for about 10 percent of cases. Authorities granted the Ruby Princess permission to disembark its 2,700 passengers last month without health checks, and police are how investigating whether the ships operators knowingly let COVID-19 patients disembark. The Ruby Princess, which has been in Australia since March, is expected to depart on Thursday with just crew, though it is unclear where it will go. By Colin Packham NTD staff contributed to this report. The two nurses who helped care for Boris Johnson while he was in intensive care with Covid-19 have spoken out for the first time about treating the prime minister, who thanked them by name after he was discharged. New Zealand nurse Jenny McGee has spoken of her shock at the publics surreal response and praise, revealing she even received a message of support from her hero Jacinda Ardern. Ms McGee, from Invercargill on the South Island, was one of two nurses thanked publicly by Mr Johnson after he received treatment for the disease at St Thomas Hospital in London earlier this month. The PM was first admitted to hospital on 5 April, having confirmed his diagnosis 10 days before, and later spent three nights in an ICU before returning to the general ward. After being discharged on 12 April, he praised both Ms McGee and Luis Pitarma, from Aveiro in Portugal, for helping save his life. I cant thank them enough, he said of the doctors and nurses at St Thomas. Ms McGee has revealed she was shocked by the PMs words and initially thought it was a joke. My first reaction was that it was a joke! I thought my friends were playing a joke on me. I wasnt expecting it ... it was totally out of the blue and it was just shock. I couldnt believe that was what he said on TV. Ms McGee, who has worked for the NHS for 10 years, also described her pride at being contacted by the prime minister of New Zealand, adding that she is a hero of mine. So on the night that it happened I had to turn my phone off because it was so overwhelming and when I turned my phone on in the morning people were like Jenny you need to look at your Facebook and I was called a snob for not responding to Jacinda, she said, speaking to Television New Zealand. Shes a hero of mine. I think shes amazing, she just said how proud she was of me and the country was so proud and it was so heartwarming and thats something I will never forget. I responded [to her message] and she like messaged back immediately, a little bit of banter which again was surreal, a couple of emojis and so it was very, very surreal experience. Ms McGee rejected any motion that the PM had been moved into intensive care when his symptoms did not warrant it, saying he absolutely needed to be there. She added that she was not fazed by Mr Johnsons status as the British prime minister, who she called just another patient. I think there was a lot of media interest about him being in hospital and to be honest that was the toughest of the lot, as a unit he was just another patient, we were trying to do our best for... so it was business as usual. To be completely honest with you Ive worked in intensive care for 10 years, Im a sister Ive been in charge for five years and Ive been in stressful situations and I was not fazed by this, it was just another day at the office. When I got in the car after work each night and I could hear things about Boris Johnson on the news that was very surreal because I thought wow! Ive been looking after him! but I really wasnt fazed by looking after Boris Johnson. Mr Pitarma, who lives in west London, admitted to feeling nervous when he was first told he would be treating Mr Johnson but later relaxed after meeting him. I was changing into scrubs before my night shift when the matron called me over and told me the Prime Minister was about to come to ICU, he told the Guys and St Thomas Hospital website. I had been chosen to look after him because they were confident I would cope with the situation well. Boris Johnson was treated at St Thomas Hospital in London (AFP via Getty Images) I felt nervous at first he was the Prime Minister. The responsibility I was going to hold in my hands was quite overwhelming. I asked how he would like to be addressed and he said to call him Boris. That made me feel less nervous because he took away any formality. He just wanted to be looked after like anyone else. I was by his side for the three nights he was in ICU. We had some conversations, including about where I was from. I told him how Id dreamed about working at St Thomas since my first day of training in Portugal in 2009, when I learned about Florence Nightingale and her connection to the hospital. Mr Pitarma said he was delighted when the prime minister thanked him in person before leaving intensive care. He said: He thanked me for saving his life. I felt extremely proud for someone like him to recognise the quality of the job Id done. I was very happy with his words, they were very kind. I hope I can meet him again one day when he is fully recovered. Addressing the care he received from the two nurses, Mr Johnson said: The reason in the end my body did start to get enough oxygen was because for every second of the night they were watching and they were thinking and they were caring and making the interventions I needed. Mr Johnson is continuing his recovery at Chequers, the country residence of the prime minister, and is making good progress, according to Downing Street. Scores of multi-million- and billion-dollar corporations are receiving free handouts from the government under the small business relief fund grotesquely misnamed the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The program was launched last month as part of the $2.2 trillion CARES Act, with $349 billion in taxpayer funds. Billed as a lifeline to small businesses and their employees, the program has been exposed as a cynical fraud. Multiple reports have emerged showing that it is first and foremost a cash cow for large businesses and the Wall Street banks. It is yet another example of how the corporate-financial elite is exploiting the coronavirus catastrophe to further enrich itself at the expense of society and at the cost of human lives. The CARES Act was passed with the unanimous support of the Democrats in the Senateincluding the votes of Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warrenand by voice vote in the House, with no effort by so-called progressives such as Democratic Socialists of America members Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib to stall, let alone defeat, its passage. Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin at COVID-19 update briefing. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour) While big restaurant chains and other firms whose stock is traded on Wall Street gobbled up large portions of the small business relief money, and the major Wall Street banks pocketed $10 billion in loan fees, family-owned restaurants, barber shops, beauty salons, retail stores and other small firms were pushed to the back of the line or denied relief outright. The program ran out of funds last Thursday, less than two weeks after it was launched, leaving hundreds of thousands of small businesses high and dry and their millions of laid-off employees facing destitution. Now the Trump administration and Congress are rushing to inject an additional $310 billion into the PPP. On Wednesday, the Senate passed by unanimous consent a new $484 billion bailout bill, whose central component is the renewal of the PPP. At the urging of the Democrats, looking to provide a progressive fig leaf to the pro-corporate measure, and with the agreement of Trump, the bill tacked on a totally inadequate $75 billion for hospitals and a derisory $25 billion for COVID-19 testing. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has announced that the Democratic-controlled chamber will vote on the new bill on Thursday. On Tuesday, she hailed the passage of the bill in the Senate, declaring that the Republicans have seen the lightand we had a great victory for the American people. Among the businesses that have received low-interest PPP loans, which are to be forgiven if the firms use 75 percent of the money to keep their workers employed for eight weeks, are: The Ruths Chris steakhouse chain, with some 5,000 employees at over 100 locations in 2019 and $468 million in revenues. It received two PPP loans totaling $20 million. The total compensation for CEO Cheryl J. Henry was $6,105,629 in 2018. The stock price of the chains parent company, Ruths Hospitality Group, has risen by 112 percent over the past month. The Potbelly Sandwich Shop chain, with around 6,000 employees at 474 locations in 2019 and revenues of $410 million. The company received a PPP loan for $10 million. Total compensation for CEO Alan Johnson in 2018 was $1,668,251. Potbelly stock has risen 70 percent over the past month. The Shake Shack restaurant chain, with some 6,000 workers at 254 locations in the US and internationally and $595 million in revenues in 2019. It received $10 million in PPP loans. Total compensation for CEO Randy Garutti in 2018 was $3,805,410. Shake Shack stock has risen 40 percent over the past month. On Sunday, Shake Shack announced it was returning its PPP loan. The J. Alexanders restaurant chain, with 2,700 employees at 46 locations in 2019 and $304 million in revenues in 2016, received $15.1 million in PPP loans. Total compensation for CEO Mark Parkey was $591,000 in 2019. J. Alexanders stock has risen by 2 percent over the past month. Other large firms that received PPP loans include: The Ohio-based biotech company Athersys, which raised almost $60 million in a stock offering on Monday. Its shares have nearly doubled in 2020. Indiana-based coal operator Hallador Energy, which received $10 million after it laid off 60 workers in March. Data storage company Quantum took $10 million. Nicola Motor, backed by giant hedge funds and asset management firms and valued at $4 billion, received a loan of $4 million. According to a Financial Times article published on Tuesday, 83 publicly traded companies received a combined $330 million in loans from the PPP program, an average of $4 million each. The combined stock value of these firms at the end of 2019 was $12 billion. Other published figures show how the program is skewed to big companies. More than 25 percent of the $349 billion in loans went to fewer than two percent of the firms that got relief. And more than one out of every four dollars in the fund went toward big loans of $2 million and above. Meanwhile, just eight percent of small businesses that have applied for aid under the CARES Act have received money. JPMorgan Chase, the largest US bank, processed many of the biggest loans and cashed in the most on the program. Only six percent of its smaller customers got PPP loans, 18,000 out of the 300,000 that applied. But nearly all of the 5,500 larger companies that applied for PPP loans, customers of the banks commercial banking business, received them. A class action lawsuit filed Sunday in federal court in Los Angeles alleges that four banksWells Fargo, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and US Bancorprushed loans to the biggest businesses to maximize their earnings. The suit alleges that the banks prioritized larger loans to bigger firms instead of processing applications in the order in which they arrived in order to generate bigger processing fees. Sections of corporate media, prominent Democrats and even Trump are feigning shock and dismay over the funneling of small business loans to big corporations and the banks. On Tuesday, Trump, for fairly obvious political reasons, singled out Harvard University, which received bailout money under a different part of the CARES Act, and demanded that it return its loan. These statements are utterly fraudulent. One is reminded of Captain Renaults shock at discovering that gambling was taking place at Ricks Casino in the film Casablanca. As the media and both parties were well aware, restaurant and hotel chains, hedge funds and other corporate interests carried out intensive lobbying of their political servants in Congress prior to the passage of the CARES Act. One result was the insertion of a loophole allowing restaurant and hotel chains to evade the much trumpeted provision restricting the PPP loans to businesses with fewer than 500 employees. The bill that was passed on a fully bipartisan basis allows restaurant and hotel chains to receive loans so long as none of their individual units has more than 500 workers. There is nothing in the measure renewing the PPP passed by the Senate on Wednesday that addresses this free pass for the chains. Moreover, the law is written so as to facilitate self-dealing and corruption. There is not even a requirement that the federal Small Business Administration (SBA), which oversees the PPP, disclose to the public or to Congress the recipients of the loans. Even if more small businesses eventually receive money from the program, the jobs of millions of workers will not be preserved, since the loans are designed to cover payroll for only eight weeks. The public health crisis and the economic disaster will last far longer. With no serious aid to the 22 million who have already lost their jobs and the millions more who will follow in the coming days and weeks, thousands of restaurants and other small businesses will go bankrupt and permanently shut their doors. The response of the ruling classes in the US and around the world to the coronavirus outbreak has demonstrated the utter failure of the capitalist system. In every country, countless thousands of lives are being sacrificed to the insatiable drive of a tiny financial aristocracy for personal wealth, whatever the cost in death and human suffering. The ruling classes are focused on devising ways to profit off of the pandemic. The absurdly named Paycheck Protection Programan example of Orwellian Newspeakis a case in point. But the oligarchs, like the ancien regimes of old, are digging their own graves. Mass anger and opposition is growing by leaps and bounds. Strikes and protests by workers are taking place on virtually every continent. It is this international movement, made conscious of its revolutionary aims and tasks, that offers the way out for humanity from the nightmare of pandemics, poverty and war. A wife was given just 15 minutes to offer a heartbreaking final goodbye to her husband of 15 years as he lost his life to coronavirus. Joanna Parker, from Romford, was able to make the journey to Queen's Hospital in east London to visit her dying husband Keith Parker after doctors told her the father-of-four could have just 'three hours or 24 hours' to live. Describing the moment as 'something out of a film', Mr Parker's wife was given gloves, a gown and a face mask as she sat inside the Covid-19 ward and watched her 'caring' husband lie in a hospital bed. Mr Parker, who was transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU) just days earlier, passed away in the early hours of Easter Sunday (April 12) from the virus. Joanna Parker (right with Keith Parker), from Romford, made the the journey to Queen's Hospital in east London to say goodbye to her dying husband On April 15, a gofundme page, organised by Mr Parker's daughter Taylor, was set up in order for the grieving family to give the 'wonderful father husband and grandfather' the 'send off that he deserves'. A message written by Taylor on behalf of wife Mrs Parker reads: 'At 4am on the 12th of April my world fell apart my brave husband Keith Parker fell asleep due to the Covid 19 outbreak. 'I have to say it was one of the hardest days of my life and with this dreadful virus my hubby had to die alone with none of us around him slowly suffering alone struggling to catch every last breath that he had.' The message continued: 'I had to be all masked and dressed up I could only hold his hand I could not stroke his face or kiss him one last time. I had to just sit there watching him struggle to breath. 'When I left all I could do was wave bye watching him looking at me as I leave and knowing this was the last time i would ever see him.' Just a few weeks prior to the government's lockdown, Mr Parker's 15-year-old daughter Ellen-Betty Parker was sent home from school after coming down with a fever and cough. Soon his wife Joanna, daughter Taylor and 11-month-old daughter also began to present with mild symptoms of the virus. The family immediately stopped going out and strictly followed the lockdown rules in an effort to protect Mr Parker who only had one lung and also had chronic asthma and diabetes. Daughter Taylor said: 'We knew that dad was risk so we haven't been going out anywhere, only to the shops and getting medication. Mr Parker, who was described by his family as a 'wonderful father husband and grandfather', passed away on April 12 The family of Mr Parker have now set up a gofundme page in order give the father-of-four (believed to be pictured with his children left and right) the 'send off that he deserves' 'He had a lot of underlying health issues like chronic asthma and diabetes. 'He became ill Monday (April 6) and we called an ambulance as we knew he was high risk. But because he was breathing fine they won't take you in just in case you don't have it and you could get it in the hospital. 'They said if he is struggling to breathe then don't be afraid to call again.' On Wednesday, Mr Parker was prescribed with medication for what doctors suspected might be pneumonia but on the morning of Good Friday his condition began to deteriorate. Taylor continued: 'I went downstairs on the Good Friday and he didn't look right. He wasn't breathing, he had really short breaths and his face was grey, his lips were blue. 'My friend is a paramedic and my neighbour is a nurse and they said to check his breathing reps and they said to call an ambulance straight away. 'They came and they were asking him questions and he couldn't talk because his breathing was so bad.' Mr Parker was soon rushed into hospital where he underwent a series of tests. Taylor added: 'We thought nothing of it. We thought that he would be back in a couple of days because last year he was in and out of hospital a lot. 'We were used to him going in and coming out. They admitted him on the Friday and we didn't know where he was because he couldn't talk to us on the phone. 'Mum got in contact with the hospital and they said he was in resus and they would move him up to the ward in a couple of hours.' However on Sunday morning, Mr Parker's breathing dropped and he was put on a ventilator. Taylor added: 'They said that they had put him on a ventilator and they were doing everything they could, but there's nothing more they can do. 'They said 'If it gets to that point, we will phone you and contact you if there's enough time.' Just three hours later, the family were told they had between 'three to 24 hours' to say goodbye. Taylor said: 'It was only my mum who could spend 15 minutes with him to say goodbye. It was really hard. They said that we needed to get here and come down. They said it could be a matter of three or 24 hours. 'I stayed in the car in the hospital car park so there was someone when she came out. 'She went in and said it was the most horrible thing she has ever seen. That entire ward of 38 other people, it was something out of the films she said, it was absolutely horrible. 'She didn't get to hug him or kiss him, she was gloved up and wearing the other things and that horrible face mask.' A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: 'We are working incredibly hard in these unprecedented times to look after Londoners. 'On Monday 6 April we were called at 12:44pm to reports of a person unwell at an address in Romford. 'We sent an ambulance crew and our clinicians treated a person at the scene and advised them to call back if their condition changed. 'We attended the address again on 10 April at 2:46pm. Our clinicians treated a person at the scene and took them to hospital. 'We would like to express our sympathy to the family at this very difficult time.' To donate to the GoFundMe visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/supporting-the-parker-family WASHINGTON - Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., is taking flak from Democrats - and some fellow Republicans - after suggesting that states hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak should be allowed to seek bankruptcy protections rather than be given a federal bailout. McConnell's comments, made during a radio interview on Wednesday, come amid a push from governors of both parties for help from Washington to help cover lost tax revenue that has been among the dire economic consequences of the ongoing pandemic. SCAMMED: Unemployed Americans apply for benefits only to find identities have been stolen "Republican Senators: Raise your hand if you think your state should go bankrupt," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., tweeted Thursday, daring McConnell's colleagues to voice support for the path he is advocating. The idea was roundly panned by Democratic governors - including those in New York and New Jersey, states at the epicenter of the outbreak - and some prominent Republicans, including Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan. "Mitch McConnell probably regrets saying that," Hogan, chair of the bipartisan National Governors Association, said Thursday. "If he doesn't regret it yet, I think he will regret it. . . . The last thing we need in the middle of an economic crisis is to have states all filing bankruptcy all across America and not able to provide services to people who desperately need them and further exacerbating the problems of this economic crisis that we have." McConnell pressed his idea during an interview on Hugh Hewitt's syndicated conservative radio show, arguing that much of the financial strain faced by some states is the result of runaway pension obligations - and that several U.S. cities have used bankruptcy protections to restructure their finances. (Hewitt is also a Washington Post contributing columnist.) "I would certainly be in favor of allowing states to use the bankruptcy route," McConnell said. "It saves some cities. And there's no good reason for it not to be available. My guess is their first choice would be for the federal government to borrow money from future generations to send it down to them now so they don't have to do that. That's not something I'm going to be in favor of." The House is expected to approve on Thursday a $484 billion relief bill to replenish a loan program for small businesses affected by the pandemic. It also provides additional funding for hospitals and coronavirus testing, two issues Democrats pressed during negotiations. Republicans balked at including aid to states and localities in the pending legislation, but President Donald Trump signaled this week that he would be open to including such assistance in another round of legislative relief. The National Governors Association has asked McConnell for $500 billion to help states deal with lost revenue. BY THE NUMBERS: These Harris County ZIP codes have the most confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far During Wednesday's radio interview, McConnell reiterated his view that lawmakers should "push the pause button" before moving forward with "this whole business of additional assistance for state and local governments." "There's not going to be any desire on the Republican side to bail out state pensions by borrowing money from future generations," McConnell said. "So this is a much bigger conversation than we've had providing assistance for small business because the government shut them out, put them down, put them out of business, or assistance to hospitals which were overwhelmed by the covid-19 disease." States, he pointed out, have taxing authority, as does the federal government. More for you Two more chain restaurants are giving back small business funds Several U.S. cities - most prominently Detroit, in 2013 - have declared bankruptcy under Chapter 9 and used the process to restructure debts and cut costs. That route is not available to states. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, argued Wednesday that suggesting it should be available is misguided. "Encouraging, explicitly almost hoping for bankruptcies of American states in the midst of the biggest health-care crisis this country has ever faced, is completely and utterly irresponsible," Murphy said during a news briefing. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, called McConnell's suggestion "one of the saddest, really dumb comments of all time" and derided the senator's office for distributing a document on the issue titled "Stopping Blue State Bailouts." "You talk about one issue where you think you can get past partisanship and pettiness and you talk about communities where people are dying, and you say they are blue states," Cuomo said during an interview on CNN with his brother, Chris Cuomo. "How am I supposed to reopen if you want me to declare bankruptcy?" McConnell's comments also drew a rebuke from a Republican congressman from New York, Peter King. CUBAN WARNS TEXANS: Mark Cuban says its too soon to reopen Texas businesses after virus closures He called McConnell's comments "shameful and indefensible" and seized on his characterization that governors are seeking "free money." "To say that it is 'free money' to provide funds for cops, firefighters and healthcare workers makes McConnell the Marie Antoinette of the Senate," King said Wednesday night on Twitter. Hogan, who spoke out during a live-streamed interview with Politico on Thursday, also took issue with McConnell's contention that state aid would primarily help predominantly Democraic states that McConnell said had mismanaged their finances. "That's complete nonsense," the governor said. "These are well-run states." Hogan argued that the federal government has a responsibility to help states respond to the crisis by paying to keep core government services in tact. "States are the ones who are close to people's problems," he said. "We don't have a printing press like the federal government does. So it'd be nice to get some assistance from them directly." - - - The Washington Post's Erin Cox contributed to this report. Publicans are preparing to take legal action against insurers over their refusal to pay out on business interruption claims. As the battle between the hospitality and insurance sectors rumbles on, insurers have been accused of "behaving immorally" during the Covid-19 crisis. The owners of a rural Co Wexford pub, whose policy stated that an infectious disease is grounds for a business interruption claim, say they are "completely broken" after their insurer refused to pay out. Some publicans are also still paying high rents despite being closed and are growing increasingly frustrated by insurance companies refusals. The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA), which represents pubs in the greater Dublin area, said insurers are "hiding behind 60-page contracts to avoid paying out". Stamina "The insurance industry is setting up its stall and they are going to fight it all the way. They are grinding people down, testing people's stamina and they have no intention of paying out," LVA chief executive Donall O'Keeffe said. He added that, while he expects more than 500 LVA members to re-open when the Government allows it, the trading environment may lead to pub closures. "It's highly likely we'll be in recession, unemployment will be high and it could be months before business gets back to what it was prior to this," he said. "Before this happened, the cost of insurance premiums had been an ongoing issue for businesses. Now, despite the fact we can't have employment or public liability claims as we're shut, they're still refusing to pay for disruption." Some insurers, such as FBD, are arguing that Covid-19 clos-ures are a result of "national considerations" and not the outbreak of a contagious disease. Some publicans have also hit out at "greedy" commercial landlords who are still charging rent. Mr O'Keeffe said that, while private landlords are being supportive, some institutional landlords are being "completely inflexible". One Dublin publican, who wishes to remain anonymous, faces paying up to 20,000 rent a month when one of the bars he runs eventually re-opens. His commercial landlord has provided a "rent holiday", but that will end in quarter two next year when he will be expected to pay the outstanding amount on top of his monthly rates and rent. "Everybody needs to take a bit of pain - including insurers - or the country won't get back up and running," he said. "There's a big legal row brewing if not." Taking collective action. Building new possibilities. The immediate impact of SF New Deal matches community resources to meet the scope of need all around us. We are taking collective action to build new possibilities to resource vital, long-serving, community organizations at a time when they are providing compassionate care in unprecedented ways. SF New Deal Executive Director Lenore Estrada today announced a $50,000 contribution from Someland Foundation to their volunteer-led relief effort. The Someland Foundation has shown tremendous leadership in supporting numerous community partnerships to ensure access to food as an essential and basic human right. We are so proud to have the support of the Someland Foundation in our Covid-19 relief initiative to provide meals to San Francisco residents, says Estrada. In its fourth week, SF New Deals Covid-19 relief efforts delivered 26,840 meals to residents and disbursed $291,214 to local food businesses. Estrada notes that before the end of this week, SF New Deal disbursements to local businesses will surpass $1 million. The funds provided by SF New Deals Covid-19 relief program is an important source of immediate cash for small businesses, as many government relief programs, including the payroll protection program (PPP), have yet to release any funds to them. These are payments for services they are providing, not loans that will have to be repaid back. These are immediate lifelines allowing small businesses to support existing commitments to their staff and to extend employment to former staff that may have been previously laid off, says Estrada. Local and national supporters contributed $160,000 last week, allowing SF New Deal to begin meal services to additional community sites. One of those sites includes Gum Moon Womens Residence in Chinatown, which received their first meal delivery on Easter Sunday from Capital Restaurant, a staple for locals and tourists alike. Founded in 1868, Gum Moon provides comprehensive support services to approximately 3,500 clients throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Sixty-five percent of Gum Moon clients are immigrant families with young children. Forty percent of their clients have reported significant job and wage losses. They also offer safe sanctuary and transitional housing for survivors of domestic violence and trafficking. It was a pleasant surprise for the residents and a reminder that our community cares and we can jointly overcome this pandemic. Hot meals are definitely a big help for the vulnerable population that are unable to go out as much to purchase groceries and cook. We have shared kitchen facilities and social distancing is challenging during meal time. says Gloria Tan, Executive Director of Gum Moon. Estrada notes, The immediate impact of SF New Deal matches community resources to meet the scope of need all around us. We are taking collective action to build new possibilities to resource vital, long-serving, community organizations at a time when they are providing compassionate care in unprecedented ways. SF New Deal is pairing restaurants with existing City and Community Organizations to cook and distribute food to churches, clinics, public housing sites, SROs, and through outreach to homebound neighbors. Our community partners include: Asian Pacific Fund Community Foundation Catholic Charities San Francisco Chinatown Community Development Center (CCDC) City of San Francisco's Human Rights Commission (SFHRC) Coleman Advocates Korean Community Center Larkin Street Youth Services Refugee and Immigrants Support in Education SF (RISE SF) SF African American Faith-Based Coalition (SFAAFBC) San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) Tenderloin Housing Clinic UCSF Citywide Case Management (CCM) & SF Pretrial Diversion Project World Central Kitchen ZSF General Hospital Department of Psychiatry SF New Deal mobilized on March 23, 2020 to provide immediate relief to small businesses while they await government aid in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis. SF New Deal is here to help our neighbors stay safe. Addressing their needs is: CRITICAL to flattening the curve and preserving the capacity of local medical systems to address acute needs COMPASSIONATE by keeping our communities nourished, food secure, and connected PREVENTATIVE by providing community based, restorative care to chronically underserved communities, especially those who lack mobility, are housing insecure, or are justice-involved THE RIGHT THING TO DO. No one should go hungry during this time. The shelter-in-place order is causing severe disruption to small businesses. An estimated 30 percent of restaurants will permanently close as a result of this shutdown. Approximately 25 percentt of restaurant workers are immigrants and/or undocumented and thus not eligible for many government programs. Supporting local small restaurants to fill this community need serves as a vital lifeline for employers and those looking to work. SF New Deal launched with a personal commitment of $1,000,000 from Twitch CEO Emmett Shear. Says Shear, "We know that our local economies will take time to recover, but we cannot let our neighbors go hungry. Local businesses and organizations are ready to do the work to make food and to help organize delivery to those in need, but they need support from ALL of us. Join us in helping support them." SFND is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit. Personal donations can be made via SFnewdeal.org. Any individuals interested in making larger gifts from donor-advised funds, trusts, corporate sponsorship, or employer match programs can contact SF New Deal at hi@sfnewdeal.org or by calling 415-967-8247. We are working closely with our partners to support the public good - many hands make work light and together we are healing our City of St. Francis. Join us. ### WASHINGTON-- Sailors on 26 Navy ships have the coronavirus now and 14 other ships have had confirmed cases of illness, though crew members have recovered, a Navy official said Wednesday. All the ships are in port and none of the 90 ships at sea have cases of the virus, according to the official who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The Navy has 297 warships. The Navy official would not say which ships had cases of the virus or how many sailors were infected, only that it was small numbers. Related: These Groups of Service Members Will Get Priority for Coronavirus Tests The Navy has been the hardest hit of the military services by the coronavirus with 997 cases now. In total, 1,298 sailors have been infected by the virus. Most of the Navy's cases are among the crew of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, which docked in Guam on March 27 due to an outbreak among its sailors, which number about 4,800. As of Wednesday, 777 sailors have tested positive, of which 63 have recovered. Six Roosevelt sailors are hospitalized now at a Navy hospital in Guam. One Roosevelt sailor, Chief Petty Officer Charles Robert Thacker Jr., 41, died April 13 from the virus. Read more: Marines May Get New Tropical Uniform in Time for Summer Heat An NHS nurse who helped save Boris Johnson's life while he was in hospital with coronavirus has said the Prime Minister 'absolutely needed to be there' and 'was a patient like any other' during his time in hospital. Jenny McGee, 35, was singled out for praise alongside Luis Pitarma, 29, by the Prime Minister after treating him at St Thomas' Hospital in central London when he was admitted with persistent coronavirus symptoms earlier this month - and was revealed to have 'stood by his bedside for 48 hours when things could have gone either way.' Now she and Mr Pitarma have spoken out for the first time about their experiences of caring for the Prime Minister who is currently recuperating at Chequers, his countryside residence, alongside Carrie Symonds, his pregnant fiancee. Jenny McGee, 35, who has worked for the National Health Service since 2010, has told a New Zealand television station that she was unfazed by the task of caring for Mr Johnson, who received the same care as any other patient and 'absolutely needed to be there'. It comes after wild conspiracy theories circulated online that the Prime Ministers intensive care stint had been somehow manufactured by spin doctors to divert attention from the Governments failings in its Covid-19 response. Jenny McGee, 35, (pictured) who has worked for the National Health Service since 2010, was one of the two nurses singled out for praise by Mr Johnson after he left St Thomas' Hospital in central London Nurse Luis Pitarma poses for a photo with his sister Sonia Pitarma in London. Mr Pitarma, who revealed he had been inspired by Florence Nightingale, said he was 'nervous' after being told he would be caring for the Prime Minister, but said his first conversation with his famous patient put him at ease Mr Johnson's video message from inside no 10 after he was discharged from hospital. He singled out Ms McGee for praise during his message Ms McGee told TVNZ, in an interview which aired on Thursday, her first public remarks since the episode: 'We take it very seriously who comes into intensive care. These patients who come into us. It's a very scary thing for them so we don't take it lightly. He absolutely needed to be there. 'We are constantly observing, we are constantly monitoring. I've worked in intensive care for ten years, I'm a sister, I've been in charge for five years. I've been in really stressful situations and I was not phased by this.' She added: 'All of out intensive care shifts are really tough for whatever reason. There was a lot of media interest about him being in hospital and, to be honest, that was the toughest. 'As a unit, he was just another patient we were trying to do our best for, so it was business as usual. It was just another day at the office. Johnson, 55, was taken to Guys and St Thomas' hospital on April 5 after his symptoms for COVID-19 worsened and he was moved into intensive care the following day, remaining there until April 9. On being discharged on April 12, Johnson said in a video message, 'the NHS saved my life, no question'. He named and thanked the nurses who had cared for him, including 'Jenny from New Zealand'. When Johnson sent that public message, McGee said in the interview, she was getting ready for her nightshift and a friend texted her the update. 'My first reaction was that it was a joke,' she said. 'I wasn't expecting it. It was totally out of the blue and it was just shock. I couldn't believe what he'd said on TV.' As McGee carried out intensive care duties, she said she and the prime minister 'spent a lot of time together and we talked away about NZ', particularly about her home city of Invercargill, which she said he took an interest in. After shifts caring for the British leader, she said she would get in her car and 'hear things about Boris Johnson on the news that was very surreal because I thought 'wow, I've been looking after him''. 'But I really wasn't fazed by looking after Boris Johnson,' she added. Ms McGee, pictured left, has been in the UK for eight years after undertaking her Overseas Education (OE) here then moving to St Thomas' in central London Jenny McGee's family have been full of praise for her efforts in helping patients during the coronavirus pandemic Johnson wasn't the only national leader to congratulate McGee, who acknowledged she took longer than planned to respond to a message from New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, saying 'it's very surreal to have a message from Jacinda. She's a hero of mine.' Once the nurse did respond to the New Zealand leader, the two shared 'a little bit of banter which again was surreal, (and) a couple of emojis'. She added: 'I'm so proudly New Zealand and we are a wonderful group of people who just get on with it. The messages are adorable. 'Kids telling me they want to be a nurse. Families are saying how proud the are. It means so much right now. People will never know how much it means.' Ward sister Ms McGee moved to the UK eight years ago after doing her intensive care training in Melbourne and brushed off the praise earlier this month, saying she was 'just doing her job'. Her mother Caroline spoke to her daughter soon afterwards before she headed back to work another shift, claiming she is just pleased that the NHS is getting the 'recognition it deserves'. She told Television New Zealand: 'It makes us feel exceptionally proud obviously. But she has told us these things over the years and it doesn't matter what patient she is looking after, this is what she does.' Mrs McGee added: 'I just find it incredible that she, any nurses, can do this for 12 hours, sit and watch a patient and twiddle away with all the different knobs and things they do to keep their patients alive, it's absolutely amazing.' Her father, Mike McGee, said that she hadn't told anyone she was treating the PM. He said: 'I think over the years she has always told us that her job is one-on-one nursing with very critically ill people and that means she's there all the time for 12 hours. 'So once we'd heard that Boris Johnson had gone into intensive care it was obvious that at some stage Jenny would possibly run into him and be giving him the same level of care that she would have given anybody else the week before or next week and we're really proud of her.' Ms McGee is pictured centre wearing a scarf with friends Ms McGee's proud parents Caroline and Mike said their daughter brushed off any praise and is just please the NHS is getting the recognition it deserves Rob McGee, Jenny's brother, also heaped praise on his sister and NHS staff. He told MailOnline soon after Mr Johnson was discharged: 'She is very humble and is back at work now for another night shift. 'She said she was just really pleased to see all the hard working people in the NHS be recognised for the amazing work they are doing.' Mr McGee added: 'She is just doing her job, and that is how she sees it. This is what she was trained for, helping people who need care. [Medics are] special people.' Ms McGee has been in the UK for eight years after studying here then moving to St Thomas' in central London. She previously worked at the Royal Melbourne Hospital for six years where she did her intensive care training. Ms McGee attended the Verdon College in Invercargill, and they said the community was 'so proud' and that she had wanted to be a nurse since leaving in 2002. The school said: 'Our sincerest admiration for the work and dedication of past pupil Jenny McGee who was singled out by UK Prime Minster Boris Johnson for helping him get through his serious illness due to COVID-19. 'Jenny is described by her past teachers as an absolutely delightful person and someone who had a caring and humble nature. 'Thanks Jenny for your courage, outstanding work and the example you have provided for everyone at this difficult time. Your old school community is so proud of you!' Jenny McGee, 35, (left) a ward sister at St Thomas's Hospital in central London, has been praised for taking care of Boris Johnson - along with her colleague Luis Pitarma, 29 (right) Eve McSoriley met Ms McGee at choir while they were at college together and the pair have now been friends for more than 20 years. She said her friend has a fantastic sense of humour, adding that she should 'have a stand-up show'. Ms McSoriley said nursing came 'naturally' to her friend and that her personal mention by the PM 'says a lot about her personality and spirit'. The other nurse mentioned by Mr Johnson - Luis from Portugal, near Porto - has been named as Luis Pitarma, 29, and has been thanked by Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. Mr Pitarma, from west London but originally from Aveiro in Portugal, also spoke for the first time today. He said he had also been thanked by Portuguese president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, adding: 'Apparently I'm a celebrity in Portugal now.' Mr Pitarma, who has worked at St Thomas' for nearly four years, said: 'I was changing into scrubs before my night shift when the matron called me over and told me the Prime Minister was about to come to ICU. I had been chosen to look after him because they were confident I would cope with the situation well. 'I felt nervous at first - he was the Prime Minister. The responsibility I was going to hold in my hands was quite overwhelming. I didn't really know how to address him - should I call him Boris, Mr Johnson or Prime Minister? My matron reassured me and said to be myself like I am with any other patient. 'I asked how he would like to be addressed and he said to call him Boris. That made me feel less nervous because he took away any formality. He just wanted to be looked after like anyone else.' Mr Pitarma added: 'I was by his side for the three nights he was in ICU. We had some conversations, including about where I was from. I told him how I'd dreamed about working at St Thomas' since my first day of training in Portugal in 2009, when I learned about Florence Nightingale and her connection to the hospital.' Mr Pitarma said he was delighted when the Prime Minister thanked him in person before leaving intensive care. He said: 'He thanked me for saving his life. I felt extremely proud for someone like him to recognise the quality of the job I'd done. I was very happy with his words, they were very kind. 'I hope I can meet him again one day when he is fully recovered.' He added: 'It's important to me to get on with my job as normal. Other patients need the same level of care as the Prime Minister did. 'There are lives to save and a team to support.' Nurse Luis Pitarma poses for a photo with his father Luis, left, mother Edite and sister Sonia Pitarma, right, in London. Luis Pitarma landed in the United Kingdom in 2014 after failing to find work in his native country, Portugal. Six years later, he has become Portugal's most famous nurse, after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson thanked him for his care while treated for coronavirus in hospital Luis Pitarma's (pictured) firefighter cousin Ivo Pitarma, who lives in Aveiro, said: 'I'm obviously very proud' His proud mother Edite earlier said he had spoken highly about the PM in conversations they have had since Mr Johnson won his Covid-19 fight. Luis told her in a phone call he was looking after Boris, although she confessed she 'had a feeling' already because she knew her son worked at the London hospital where the PM was a patient and had tried but not managed to get through to him for several days. Speaking from her home in Aveiro near the northern Portuguese city of Porto where Luis was born, Edite told Portuguese daily Jornal de Noticias: 'Luis has said he was pleasantly surprised by how nice and down-to-earth Mr Johnson was. 'He asked him to call him Boris and he wanted to know who he was, where he had been born and how long he had worked in England for. 'Luis told him he was from Aveiro near Porto and he obviously remembered that. He told Luis he loved Porto and Portugal.' She also revealed the PM personally thanked her son when he left intensive care and promised they would meet again, sparking speculation Luis and Jenny may get an invitation to Downing Street when Boris is better and Britain's coronavirus lockdown is lifted. Explaining her son's reluctance to go public with his experience, Edite added: 'He just wants to continue to be anonymous. 'He hasn't even been staying in an apartment he moved into a few weeks ago. He's been living in a hotel his hospital booked him so he could stay out of the public eye.' Luis' little sister Sonia also told a Portuguese TV interviewer Edite had steered the hero NHS nurse away from his original career plan, adding: 'At one time he wanted to become as much an actor as a doctor.' Mr Pitarma, from Aveiro, Portgual, circled in red, with colleagues. The nurse helped save Mr Johnson's life and was praised by Portugal's President Sonia, who was also a health worker before getting a job with a ceramics firm, said on broadcaster TVI: 'What's happened is a great source of pride for our family. 'I knew my brother is a wonderful professional but I wasn't expecting it to have such an impact. 'Luis would look after anyone in the same way, whether it be a Prime Minister, a rich person or a poor person. 'I know he's my brother but I have to say he's a very humble person.' Proud Edite also revealed her son was still grieving the loss of a young female patient when he was asked to care for Boris Johnson. She told Cristina Ferreira, a presenter on Portuguese TV channel SIC: 'Luis told me last Thursday he was looking after the British Prime Minister. 'He said that when they rang him and told him who he was going to care for, he started shaking. 'All patients are important but obviously a Prime Minister is someone who holds a great position of responsibility.' Recalling Luis' departure for the UK for professional reasons when he struggled to find employment in Portugal after qualifying as a nurse, she added: 'I still remember the day Luis left for England. It was June 12, 2014. It was the saddest day of my life. 'He had no work here. He sent more than 200 CVs out and no-one called and he had to leave. 'The day before he started looking after Boris Johnson, a 22-year-old girl who was ill died and he was very sad.' A statement issued by the Portuguese president's office on Sunday after his UK counterpart name-checked Luis, said: 'Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa would like to highlight the special recognition the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has given Portuguese nurse Luis Pitarma for his work and care during his time in intensive care. 'The President of the Republic has already personally transmitted his gratitude to the nurse Luis Pitarma and in his name, he also thanks the commitment of all Portuguese health professionals who in Portugal and around the world are providing decisive help in the fight to the pandemic. A word of encouragement that is also addressed to professionals of other nationalities who, reinforcing the National Health Service, provide an invaluable service to Portugal.' Luis' firefighter cousin Ivo Pitarma, who lives in Aveiro, said as news seeped out about the identify of the hero NHS worker: 'I'm obviously very proud. 'I knew of course that Luis was a nurse in London but had no idea he had been looking after Boris Johnson so this has come as a real surprise for me.' In a video recorded shortly after he was discharged from St Thomas's Hospital, Mr Johnson thanked the 'utterly brilliant' doctors, and praised the nurses for their 'astonishing' care. He said: 'I want to thank the many nurses, men and women, whose care has been so astonishing. I am going to forget some names, so forgive me, but I want to thank Po Ling and Shannon and Emily and Angel and Connie and Becky and Rachael and Nicky and Ann.' The abrupt postponement by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority of seminars on assessing year 12 students remotely has left secondary schools in the dark about how to proceed with crucial VCE work, principals say. The sessions were scheduled for Thursday and Friday, with hundreds of principals expected to log in to discuss how to push ahead with school-assessed coursework (SACs) that will determine students VCE and VCAL results. Year 12 students are still waiting to learn how they will complete school-based assessments remotely. Credit:Tribune But school leaders were told by email that the sessions had been cancelled less than an hour before the first one was due to start. It is believed the chief executive of the authority, Sharyn Donald, is unwell. The postponement means schools cannot give year 12 students directions about how they will be assessed this term, more than two weeks after the Andrews government announced that all of term two will be taught remotely. ALBANY, N.Y. New York may have 13.9% of its population infected with coronavirus, meaning 2.7 million residents could have had the virus, preliminary state results Thursday showed. New York heath officials conducted an antibody test of a sample of 3,000 people in recent days. The immediate results, released Thursday, suggested a death rate of about 0.5% of those infected because about 15,500 New Yorkers have died of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the results are an important indicator of the depth of the virus. He said the death rate is probably higher than the results showed. There are many deaths that have happened at home and not immediately tallied because they didn't occur at a hospital or a nursing home, Cuomo said. New York has about 19.5 million people. "Its still preliminary, and when we say there are 15,000 deaths, those numbers are going to go up," Cuomo said. "These are only hospitalization or nursing home deaths. It does not include so-called at home deaths." Antibody tests: They could be key to reopening the country. Here's how they work. Gov. Andrew Cuomo released details April 23, 2020, of an antibody test that showed the rate of coronavirus infection in New York Starting last Sunday, the state did a random selection of 3,000 people at various locations across the state, including at grocery stores and big-box stores, to help understand who has built up an immunity to the virus and where it more prevalent. The antibody tests were collected over two days in 19 counties and 40 localities, Cuomo said. "These were people out and about," Cuomo said. "They were infected, they had the antibody and are now recovered." The results were telling and will help guide New York's decisions on health-care treatments and where it might start to reopen businesses in the coming months: Females represented 52% of those tested, and 12% tested positive. Men represented 48% of those tested; and 16% tested positive. New York City had the most positive cases: It made up 43% of those who were tested, and 21.2% tested positive. 32.8% of the total tests occurred outside New York City and its suburbs, and 3.6% tested positive. Story continues The results reflected what has been the trends: More than 90% of the state's deaths, confirmed cases and hospitalizations have been in New York City, Long Island the lower Hudson Valley. Gov. Andrew Cuomo released details April 23, 2020, of an antibody test that showed the rate of coronavirus infection in New York The results were also consistent with other data that showed coronavirus has disproportionately impacted communities of color: Latinos represented 17.6% of those tested, yet 22.5% of the tests came back positive. African Americans made up 14.3% of those tested, but 22.1% tested positive. 57% of the tests were of white people, and the infection rate was only 9% Follow reporter Joseph Spector on Twitter: @GannettAlbany 'I'll miss you dearly': Sen. Warren announces her oldest brother died from coronavirus USNS Comfort to leave New York City: Spentg three weeks mostly empty of patients This article originally appeared on New York State Team: New York coronavirus antibody testing results released by Gov. Cuomo Washington: The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday that he hoped the Trump administration would reconsider its suspension of funding, but that his main focus was on ending the pandemic and saving lives. There were worrying upward trends in early epidemics in parts of Africa and central and South America, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. Most countries are still in the early stages of their epidemics and some that were affected early in the pandemic are starting to see a resurgence in cases, Tedros told Geneva journalists in a virtual briefing. Make no mistake we have a long way to go. This virus will be with us for a long time, he said, while noting that epidemics in Western Europe appear to be stabilising or declining. U.S. President Donald Trump last week criticised the WHOs handling of the pandemic and announced he was suspending funding to the U.N. agency. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday said the United States strongly believes that Chinas ruling Communist party failed to report the outbreak of the new coronavirus in a timely manner to the WHO. I hope the freezing of the funding will be reconsidered and the U.S. will once again support WHOs work and continue to save lives, Tedros said. I hope the U.S. believes that this an important investment, not just to help others but for the U.S. to stay safe also. The WHOs top emergencies expert Dr. Mike Ryan warned against opening up global travel too quickly, saying it would require careful risk management. The WHO officials urged countries to continue investing in preparedness, saying that only 76 percent had surveillance systems to detect cases. I dont think anyone should presume that the provision of assistance in any of these areas is designed to pave the way to purchase Greenland, the State Department official told reporters. We provide this type of assistance around the world every day in many, many countries. Our intentions here are to deepen the partnership that exists already between the kingdom of Denmark, Greenland and the United States. A central team on Thursday visited a quarantine centre in Rajarhat area in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district and a hospital in the city to take stock of the state's preparedness to combat the COVID-19 crisis, an official said. Two inter-ministerial central teams are in West Bengal to assess the preparedness of the state in tackling the coronavirus outbreak. The team which is in Kolkata on Wednesday sought a detailed presentation from the West Bengal government on whether the level of testing in the state is adequate and enough oxygen, ICU beds and ventilators are available. This team, led by Apurba Chandra, a senior bureaucrat in the Ministry of Defence, visited the quarantine centre in Rajarhat and spent nearly an hour, the official said. Later in the afternoon, the team went to M R Bangur Hospital, where several COVID-19 patients are undergoing treatment. "Both at the quarantine centre and at the hospital, the central team spoke to doctors and officials and took note of the details. They also enquired about the problems, if any, that the health staff are facing," a senior official said. The second central team in North Bengal, however, is yet to begin its field visits, the official said. The team at North Bengal, led by Vineet Joshi, a senior official of HRD ministry, met health officials, including the Jalpaiguri district's chief medical officer (CMOH), and took stock of the situation. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier slammed the Centre for sending teams to look into West Bengal's preparedness for tackling the COVID-19 outbreak and alleged that faulty testing kits were dispatched to the state. There has been a war of words between the West Bengal and the Union governments over the arrival of two central teams in the state to assess the coronavirus situation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The attorney general of Missouri, Eric Schmitt, has filed a civil lawsuit blaming China for the coronavirus and seeking restitution. Schmitt has the right target, but his lawsuit is bad law and bad policy, and unlikely to go anywhere. Imposing consequences on China is a job for the president and Congress, not state- and local-government lawsuits. Sanctioning China is fundamentally a foreign-policy decision. Schmitts complaint is shot through with arguments about how Chinese national policies harm the United States. It accuses the defendants the government and ruling Communist Party of China and major Chinese institutions of violation of their duties to the international community in four major ways: (1) cover-ups of the outbreak, including public denials of the risk of human-to-human transmission; (2) arresting whistleblowing doctors; (3) inadequate steps to contain the contagion; and (4) hoarding personal protective equipment while exporting defective personal protective equipment. All of this comes back to the way China is governed and the policies of its ruling regime. Consider, for example, the complaints characterization of what happened in Wuhan as a massive conspiracy. Most or all of this is quite reasonable and based on public reports. But how we deal with that is a national foreign-policy issue, one that has grave and sensitive implications for numerous strands of American defense, economic, diplomatic, human-rights, educational, and immigration policy, and for our relationships with Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, India, and others. This is not a question given in our constitutional system to the attorney general of Missouri, any more than it is given to the mayor of New York or the city council of Berkeley. Conservatives are rightly upset when local left-wing governments attempt to undermine the foreign policy of the president and Congress by operating their own rogue foreign policy, and that should be equally true when it is done by a state attorney general, even a conservative Republican. Story continues The legal obstacles are significant as well, and raise the question of why public resources should be expended on this lawsuit, however creatively it is framed by the states lawyers. Most of the defendants in the case are parts of the Chinese government, protected by sovereign immunity, and the rest are accused of shaping or carrying out sovereign policy through the mechanisms of government. Since 1976, foreign-sovereign immunity from civil lawsuits (which was once absolute) has been governed by a federal statute, the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act. The FSIA applies to all suits against sovereign defendants, including provincial and local governments, ambassadors, and state-owned industries, and puts them in federal court precisely because of the national implications of such suits. It gives sovereign defendants all sorts of advantages that defendants in most lawsuits lack, including the ability to appeal immediately if the case isnt thrown out right away. The FSIA is a famously convoluted statute, but to simplify, the complaint here tries to meet one of two statutory exceptions to immunity. The first is for lawsuits based on a foreign commercial activity having a direct effect in the United States. Even if you broadly classify things like arresting doctors and official cover-ups as commercial activities, the courts have typically taken a narrow view of what qualifies as a direct effect in the United States, refusing to follow multi-step chains of events. Missouri will probably argue that the release of a virus is like the sale of a defective product that fails in the United States, but that is still a rather different thing from covering up an accidental viral release and thus deceiving governments in the United States and elsewhere into waiting too long to seal off the entry of the virus from China. The FSIA would not stop Missouri from suing China if a Chinese state-owned business dumped a bunch of toxic waste directly into the Mississippi River, but as bad as Chinas conduct is here, the lawsuits theory is more indirect than that. Legally, Schmitts second theory is even more of a stretch: that damages are based on a non-commercial tort that does not involve any discretionary government act (or failure to perform such act). This complaint is riddled with discretionary actions and failures to act by Chinese authorities. It explicitly targets Chinese-government decisions. The FSIA is, moreover, hardly the only legal obstacle here. U.S. courts have long recognized, albeit somewhat inconsistently, the act of state doctrine. As the Ninth Circuit summarized the doctrine in 2018, applying it to bar suits for price-fixing against state-owned businesses: Every sovereign State is bound to respect the independence of every other sovereign State, and the courts of one country will not sit in judgment on the acts of the government of another done within its own territory . . . the doctrine bars suit where (1) there is an official act of a foreign sovereign performed within its own territory; and (2) the relief sought or the defense interposed in the action would require a court in the United States to declare invalid the foreign sovereigns official act. [Quotations omitted.] Litigation against the Chinese government entities poses further challenges even beyond this. There are serious limitations on collecting evidence in China; taking a civil deposition inside China is against the law. China tends to refuse to cooperate with or even acknowledge suits in U.S. courts and is likely to be even more recalcitrant than usual here. Eric Schmitt is to be commended for wanting to make China pay a price in the United States for its malignant role in the current global pandemic. But this lawsuit is unlikely to go far, nor should it. It is up to the president and Congress to make China pay. More from National Review (Bloomberg Opinion) -- For most of the nations history, the idea that people over the age of 65 would voluntarily herd themselves into special communities built around their needs would have seemed absurd, even dystopian. Yet a largely voluntary movement towards segregating people by age has reached extreme levels in recent years and without receiving much attention at all. The coronavirus outbreak could put an end to it. In 1850, nearly 70% of individuals age 65 or older lived with their adult children. Most of the rest tended to live in close geographical proximity. As a consequence, older people were more or less evenly distributed throughout the country. This arrangement was highly functional: The elderly needed help as they aged, and children and grandchildren provided it. In return, the elderly took care of young children, and otherwise pulled their weight around the house.Home was not the only place where people of different ages mixed together in ways they are all too rare today. Prior to the twentieth century, it was entirely normal to have a one-room schoolhouse catering to both teens and toddlers. When rural communities held quilting parties, everyone from young girls to elderly matrons participated side by side. Farmworkers of all ages toiled together, and armies in the Civil War threw together young boys, older men, and everyone in between. This was a world with very limited age consciousness. Almost no one drew attention to their age, even on their birthdays, a ritual that took off in the 20th century. As countries like the U.S. industrialized, new institutions began sorting citizens into different age buckets. Most importantly, schools began catering to discrete age cohorts -- elementary, junior high, senior high. As the historian Howard Chudacoff has shown, much of this shift coincided with the invention of new terms to define and distinguish different age groups. The idea of middle-age, for example, was a product of this shift, as was the invention of pediatrics as a field of medicine. It was perhaps inevitable that the elderly would get lumped into their own cohort, with a new field of medicine geriatrics invented to tend to their needs. Story continues Several developments fueled this trend. The first was a growing belief that older people couldnt keep up in the fast-paced, modern world of work. Mandatory retirement ages often coupled with increasingly generous pension benefits helped push workers out the door at a certain age. When Congress passed the Social Security Act in 1935, it elevated a new threshold to almost totemic significance: 65. All of this took place against a very gradual decline in the number of old people living with their children. By the 1930s, the percentage of elderly whites living with their children declined to just under 40 percent; by centurys end, it had fallen all the way to 13 percent. Why this happened is the matter of some debate. The mix of public and private retirement programs enabled some of the elderly to live on their own, but theres evidence that in many cases, children moved away from their parents to pursue economic opportunities, effectively abandoning the older generation. So the elderly, particularly those with retirement savings, embraced a new trend that burst onto the scene after World War II: the retirement community. In those prosperous decades, it became a symbol of the good life as potent as a suburban home with a white picket fence. The first was built in 1954 outside of Phoenix. Its name? Youngtown. It offered a model for all the big retirement communities to come: Sun City, which opened nearby six years later; TV (the Villages), a sprawling development in central Florida founded soon afterward; and many more. These gated communities deliberately excluded younger people (Youngtown did not allow children under the age of 18 to live there for longer than 90 days). But this meant there was no need to pay taxes for schools. This movement exploded in the succeeding decades. But not everyone was wealthy enough to afford such amenities. Others werent well enough. In 1965, Congress created Medicare and Medicaid, helping finance the creation of low-budget, state-run nursing homes that increasingly warehoused the elderly. These developments led to older generations living apart from everyone else. Though this took place in other developed nations, the U.S. was particularly committed to the effort. By the 1990s, a growing number of facilities designed to bridge the gap between fun-filled retirement centers and grim nursing homes came into being: the rise of assisted living facilities, memory-care villages, and other facilities for the elderly. Ultimately, the U.S. became one of the most age-segregated nations in the world. Recent research indicates that a third of Americans over the age of 55 live exclusively among people in the same age cohort.[MOU1] There are many reasons why this trend is problematic. A growing body of research suggests segregating people by age isnt healthy for anyone, young or old, and that it has helped fuel divisions in the nations politics: When generations live apart, political polarization follows the 2016 election comes to mind. But these concerns, rarely articulated, havent come close to raising societal alarms. The pandemic may change that. Our most vulnerable members of society are concentrated into communities and institutions that, once infected, can easily turn into catastrophes. These are places where people live in close quarters, sharing meals, socializing, and otherwise living in ways that are apt to facilitate the spread of the virus. Indeed, while much of our attention is now focused on large-scale outbreaks in cities like New York, the next wave may be dominated by a smaller, but proportionally more lethal, outbreaks throughout the nations elderly enclaves. There are signs this is already happening as daily tolls begin to break out deaths at nursing homes. Such a disaster may finally make us question why we ever thought it was a good idea to so thoroughly segregate ourselves by age. If so, something good may come of this pandemic yet. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Bloomberg LP and its owners. Stephen Mihm, an associate professor of history at the University of Georgia, is a contributor to Bloomberg Opinion. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com/opinion Subscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source. 2020 Bloomberg L.P. Maxine Waters has announced that her sister is dying from coronavirus in a hospital in St Louis, Missouri. On the floor of the House on Thursday, the California Democrat and chair of the House Financial Services committee dedicated a $484bn funding package to her "dear sister" who is on her deathbed and "infected by the coronavirus". Ms Waters was addressing the Paycheck Protection Program and pending Health Care Enhancement Act, which is scheduled to clear the House on Thursday. Donald Trump also supports the bill, which would provide roughly $370bn for small business loans and $100bn for hospitals and Covid-19 testing capacity. The nearly $500bn relief package follows a near-stalemate in the Senate over two weeks. The legislation funds the recently depleted Paycheck Protection Program after it nearly ran out of a first round of roughly $350bn last week. The program finances loans to small businesses that can be forgiven up to 100 per cent if employers use the money to maintain certain payroll thresholds. Lawmakers have scrambled to replenish the funds while Democrats and Republicans have blamed either party for delays in its passage. Ms Waters said: "Small businesses and their workers all across the country are in dire need of assistance and will benefit from this bill." This round of funding does not include a second round of $1,200 direct payments to Americans. She added that Congress also must "do much more for renters, homeowners, people experiencing homelessness and mom-and-pop landlords" and said that she is drafting a $100bn rental assistance fund and an additional homeowner assistance fund for people whose incomes are impacted by the pandemic. Mr Trump and lawmakers have announced their intention to draft more relief legislation for employers and state and local governments, while progressives have fought for monthly $2,000 direct payments to Americans and expanded food stamp benefits as the nation faces unprecedented unemployment. Ms Waters' revelation of her sister's illness follows Elizabeth Warren's announcement that her eldest brother had died from the disease on Tuesday. CALHOUN COUNTY, MI An Illinois woman was arrested Wednesday night after leading police on a high-speed chase, exceeding speeds of more than 100 mph, through five counties, police said. Sometime before 9:10 p.m. April 22, a Michigan State Police trooper called for assistance after unsuccessfully attempting to stop a vehicle on I-94 in Berrien County for a speed violation, according to the Calhoun County Sheriffs Office. As his chase of the vehicle exceeded 100 mph, the trooper stopped the pursuit for safety concerns, police said. A short time later, police spotted the fleeing vehicle in Kalamazoo County and briefly resumed the pursuit before terminating it for safety once again, police said. After ending the second pursuit, however, police were able to keep the vehicle in sight from a distance as it entered Calhoun County where additional officers attempted to stop the vehicle by creating a rolling roadblock with their police cruisers, police said. The fleeing vehicle hit one of the cruisers and managed to escape again, police said. The vehicle then was spotted again near Albion where officers deployed spike strips, shredding two of its tires, police said. The fleeing vehicle continued forward with only two tires for another 16 miles until coming to a stop near Airport Road in Jackson County, police said. The driver, a 31-year-old Illinois woman, was arrested without incident and taken to the Calhoun County Jail to await charged for fleeing and eluding and driving on a revoked license, police said. No injuries were reported. Michigan State Police, Calhoun County Sheriffs Office, Kalamazoo County Sheriffs Office, Jackson County Sheriffs Office and the Albion Department of Public Safety assisted in the incident. LUSAKA, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Chinese contractor, the China Jiangxi International Economic and Technical Cooperation Co. Ltd. Zambia has provided the southern African country with personal medical protective equipment aimed at helping the country contain COVID-19. Among the materials include 50,000 pieces of surgical masks, 1,000 sets of medical protective suits and 50 pieces of infrared thermometers. Long Anliang, the company's managing director in Zambia hoped that the donated items will make a difference in combating the pandemic. The company, he said, was deeply concerned about the plight of Zambia in the wake of the COVID-19 but expressed optimism that the southern African nation will be able to bring it under control. Olipa Phiri, Minister in the Office of the Vice-President said the government was grateful with the Chinese firm's donation as well as donations from other partners. Zambia, she said, will forever remain grateful for the good gesture. "We need to work together to defeat the pandemic and this is the support we very much need to combat and stop the spread of the virus," she said. Hay and grain bills piling up. Veterinary charges. Rent, utilities, insurance. The COVID-19 pandemic that has taken human lives, cost jobs and thrown the economy into a nosedive may soon have another casualty horses. Equestrian stable owners fear their closed businesses will soon fail and some horses will have to be euthanized if the shutdown lasts into the summer. I have 31 horses here at my farm for which decisions will need to be made, said Shirley Guertin, whose family has run Centaur Riding School near Ottawa for 47 years. Which brings us to the most horrifying thought of all. How does one shut down a riding school when there is nowhere to sell horses to, to find good homes for. Danika Guertin-Pierson, daughter of Centaur Riding School owner Shirley Guertin, with horses Cocoa and Sunora, at the school in Navan, Ont. Riding school operators across the country fear for the future as the shutdown continues. Centaur Riding School The horses in question tens of thousands in stables across Canada are used for riding lessons, sporting activities and in many cases to provide a therapeutic riding experience for children and adults with disabilities. Riding schools rely almost 100 per cent on weekly lesson revenue to feed and care for the horses and many of the schools reported in a recent national survey they had only one month financial and food reserves when they shut down in March. When you add up all of the expenses, it costs roughly $600-$800 a month for riding schools to feed and stable a horse, stable owners say. The expense of caring for a living creature did not disappear when businesses were ordered closed. The thought of these loving and deserving animals suffering is not even in my scope of vision, says Susan Fripp, who owns and runs Caledon Equestrian School, northwest of Toronto, and has been in business for 42 years. Walking around the property she rents, empty of people, Fripp ticks off the expenses. Hay is $50 a large bale and we go through at least 20 a month. Grain costs around $500 a month. The blacksmith still comes monthly and of course the overhead of maintenance, rent and utilities still takes its major monthly bite of $6,000. Even though I have paid rent without fail for 42 years, the owners are not yet willing to negotiate the rent. Vet costs can run from $1,000 a month to $100, depending on what could happen when dealing with the animals. Fripp has 14 horses. Among the positive interactions she recalls over the years: a young woman with cerebral palsy who could not stand on her own or sit upright. She now sits up tall and with great happiness on horseback. Then there was a woman who had recently had breast cancer surgery she overcame a fear of horses and it helped her gain confidence and joy. Fripp has more savings than most in her line of work. She thinks she can survive for four months. Many others live month to month, according to Yves Hamelin, executive director of Equestrian Canada, which is in discussions with federal officials in the hope of getting some financial assistance. While the new Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) provides some support (Fripp receives $2,000 a month due to her loss of income) it does not pay for the crushing expenses riding schools face. That goes into the pot to feed the horses, she says. Equestrian Canada is trying to convince federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau to help the sector before it is too late. One of the issues they are dealing with is that outsiders see the horse world as elitist images of English riding caps, crops, high-level competition at the Olympics or locally at events like horse jumping at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto. Stable owners the Star interviewed say that while high-level athletes and their horses are facing their own challenges due to the pandemic, this request for federal help is more focused on the grassroots level of riding. In an early April letter written to Bibeau, Equestrian Canada warned that equine schools will be forced to make culling or euthanasia decisions in a matter of weeks not months of perfectly healthy, capable, working equines due to (the) sudden burden of unmanageable operating costs. The concept of euthanasia humanely ending life of horses is something stable owners say they will do everything to avoid. But stable owners the Star spoke to said they are having difficult conversations just in case. Do you put down older horses to save the lives of younger horses? If a beloved horse has a condition that causes high veterinary bills, does that make the choice easier? A spokesperson for Bibeau said the agriculture department was not immediately available to comment. Getting a handle on the size of the problem has not been easy, as the industry has never been good at analytics. Just now Equestrian Canada is trying to determine how many members are in need. Staff rushed out a survey this month and received responses from 640 equestrian farms and facilities. They estimate that is just 10 per cent of the stables in need across Canada. What helps some stables is boarding fees individual horse owners pay a riding school to stable their horse. Beyond that, since the March break camps were cancelled, and with a fear that summer riding camps will also be shuttered, stables have no revenue. Ontario Equestrians executive director Tracy McCague said her association is launching a fundraising effort Friday in hopes of getting assistance from the public. Called For the Herd, it aims to prevent a worst-case scenario. The end game is not a very good one, said McCague. For barns that cannot support their horses, and cannot find a home for them, the spectre of euthanasia and slaughter looms. We do understand that humans are the number one priority in this pandemic, McCague said in an interview. But a high number of horse owners are really struggling now. These owners and their horses do great work and we need to support them. To the east of Ottawa, in Navan, Shirley Guertins Centaur Riding School opened in 1973, run by her parents, who passed the reins to Shirley in 1989. Her daughter Danika teaches, trains and competes using Centaur as a base. One of the ponies in the stables is Sunora, rescued from a slaughter house (a previous story by the Stars Mary Ormsby and Dale Brazao probed the practice of slaughtering horses and sending them overseas for meat). The woman who rescued Sunora posted a photo on Facebook and Danika she has a very soft heart brought Sunora into the Centaur herd. Centaur, Caledon and other riding schools have been receiving donations from former students who want to help out. People have been so generous and kind, said Guertin. Nobody likes asking for charity, but it is easier when it is for the horses. Guertin has been posting photos of her horses on Facebook, linking them to donations. The hardest part for everyone in this (pandemic) is the not knowing. If we knew when it would be over we could make decisions. For now, we are all just trying to hang in. Tighten our belts. Do our best for the horses, Guertin said. Read more about: Technavio has been monitoring the almond powder market and it is poised to grow by USD 425.9 million during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of over 5% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005451/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Almond Powder Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire) Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request Latest Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impact The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Almondco Australia Ltd., Barney Butter, Blue Diamond Growers, NOW Health Group Inc., and Oleander Bio SA are some of the major market participants. The health benefits of almonds will offer immense growth opportunities. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Health benefits of almonds has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Almond Powder Market 2019-2023: Segmentation Almond powder market is segmented as below: Product Conventional Almond Powder Organic Almond Powder Geographic Landscape APAC Europe MEA North America South America To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download latest free sample report of 2020-2024: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR31558 Almond Powder Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our almond powder market report covers the following areas: Almond Powder Market Size Almond Powder Market Trends Almond Powder Market Industry Analysis This study identifies increasing demand for gluten-free food products as one of the prime reasons driving the almond powder market growth during the next few years. Almond Powder Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of vendors operating in the almond powder market, including some of the vendors such as Almondco Australia Ltd., Barney Butter, Blue Diamond Growers, NOW Health Group Inc., and Oleander Bio SA. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the almond powder market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Almond Powder Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023 Detailed information on factors that will assist almond powder market growth during the next five years Estimation of the almond powder market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the almond powder market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of almond powder market vendors Table Of Contents: PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT 2.1 Preface 2.2 Preface 2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysis PART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing 2018 Market size and forecast 2018-2023 PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY PRODUCT Market segmentation by product Comparison by product Conventional almond powder Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Organic almond powder Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Market opportunity by product PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison North America Market size and forecast 2018-2023 APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Europe Market size and forecast 2018-2023 MEA Market size and forecast 2018-2023 South America Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Key leading countries Market opportunity PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challenges PART 11: MARKET TRENDS Growth of private-label brands Increase in home cooking Increasing demand for gluten-free food products PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruption Competitive scenario PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Almondco Australia Ltd. Barney Butter Blue Diamond Growers NOW Health Group Inc. Oleander Bio SA PART 14: APPENDIX Research methodology List of abbreviations Definition of market positioning of vendors PART 15: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005451/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ It's safe to say that we live in a data-driven society today. Most of the apps and services that make our lives easier, trade data for convenience and that's just the way it is. But since recent controversies involving data breaches, especially after Facebook's Cambridge Analytica scandal, data privacy has become a hot-button issue today. Unsplash More recently, the video-calling app 'Zoom' has been under the spotlight for quite some time due to the way it handles user data, among other issues. This begged for a story to take a look at a few other Chinese brands that have also faced some very serious privacy concerns. It's ironic how a lot of apps and services with some major privacy issues are coming from China, a country that exercises close surveillance of online activity. Anyway, let's get started with this list: 1. ByteDance's TikTok Reuters It's hard not to acknowledge the fact that one of the most popular apps in the world has also been on the hotbed for privacy concerns. The app was even banned in India over privacy concerns, and it's not a good look for a company with over 300 million users here. It's hard to tell if people still trust the app or not, but ByteDance has ironed out a lot of issues since then. It even stores data locally in India now. 2. Huawei Reuters Huawei came under the global spotlight last year after there was a growing rumour about the company from governments around the world. So much so, that the US had even blocked Huawei from procuring equipment for their devices. A lot of companies, including Google had cut ties with the company last year, making it almost impossible for Huawei make manufacture their products. Well, things have certainly gotten better since then, but there's still a slight shade of concern lurking around people's minds when it comes to Huawei products, especially since we're yet to have seen something new from them here in India since the whole debacle. 3. Tencent's 'QQ' App Reuters PUBG Mobile's publisher Tencent has been in the news for some privacy-related concerns as well in the past. Last year, Tencent was reprimanded by Beijing for its instant messaging app service called 'QQ'. 'QQ' was considered to be a 'problematic' app for a lot of reasons. But one of the reasons why it was hated by many was because of the fact that it forced users to allow the app to track their usage habits so it can show targeted ads. The app won't even work for users who don't allow it to track your usage habits. 4. WeChat WeChat has grown to become more than just a messaging app now. It's like a brand by itself. However, even WeChat was once under a lot of pressure for some gruelling privacy policy. WeChat, another love-child of Tencent, was the only way to interact with Chinese people back in the days. It was literally the digital gateway to China, which is why there were a lot of concerns surrounding how it could be used for surveillance and peddling influence not only within China but also outside its borders. Trump 'Instructs' Navy to 'Shoot Down, Destroy' Any Iranian Gunboats if They 'Harass' US Ships Sputnik News Tim Korso. Sputnik International 12:12 GMT 22.04.2020(updated 13:53 GMT 22.04.2020) The statement by POTUS comes several months after the two countries were on the verge of open hostilities after a US Air Force strike killed top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani while the latter was visiting Iraq on a diplomatic mission in January 2020. US President Donald Trump announced via his Twitter that he has given the green light to the American Navy to attack and sink small Iranian military vessels if they start harassing US military ships. A spokesperson for the Iranian Armed Forces has responded to the president's tweet by advising Washington to focus on saving its own military from the coronavirus outbreak instead. Per a 17 April report by the Pentagon, the number of COVID-19 cases within the Department of Defence has reached nearly 5,000. "Today, instead of bullying others, the Americans should put all their efforts toward saving those members of their forces who are infected with coronavirus", the spokesperson said. The US Navy has complained on multiple occasions that so-called Iranian fast boats are approaching dangerously close to their destroyers and carriers patrolling the Persian Gulf region. On 15 April, the American military reported that a group of 11 vessels from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy harassed US warships in the northern Persian Gulf. "The IRGC Navy vessels repeatedly crossed the bows and sterns of the US vessels at extremely close range and high speeds", a US Naval Forces Central Command statement said, adding that some passed within 50 yards of the bow of the expeditionary mobile base vessel USS Lewis B. Puller and within 10 yards of a US Coast Guard Island-class cutter. Trump has raised the issue of Iranian boats allegedly harassing American vessels in the past. He reportedly requested former Pentagon chief James Mattis to come up with a plan to deal with Iranian "fast boats". US warships firing at Iranian military vessels might potentially lead to a new round of tensions between the two just four months after both ended up on the verge of an open military conflict. The latest escalation happened after the US Air Force killed top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in an airstrike in Iraq on 3 January 2020. Washington claimed that Soleimani visited the country because he was purportedly planning attacks on American embassies in the region. However, both Iranian and Iraqi authorities denied these unsubstantiated claims revealing that Soleimani had visited Iraq on a diplomatic mission to pass on a message to Saudi Arabia, who had cut all ties to Tehran. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The rules of the lockdown do not allow for bringing back stranded Indians and getting them held up at various airports, Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said on Thursday, urging citizens abroad who want to return to be patient till May 3. The lockdown was imposed in the country from March 25 to April 14, but was extended to May 3 to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. Muraleedharan, speaking at a video conference session organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said his ministry was definitely concerned about Indians stranded abroad and was making efforts to bring them back at the earliest. Asked about Indian students stuck in the US, Muraleedharan said Indian students were stranded across the globe from the Carribean to New Zealand and Australia in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. "The Ministry of External Affairs is working on that. Of course everyone understands that the present situation where there is a lockdown...the spirit and rules of lockdown do not allow us to bring anyone to the country and then get them stranded in India at the airports," he said, highlighting that there was a travel ban between states, some districts and many hotspots were completely sealed. "So I am expecting up to 3rd May, please be patient. We are definitely concerned about the situation of not only the students, but also many who have gone on tourist visas or on business visits, all those who are and are stranded," Muraleedharan said. Speaking about the economic impact of COVID-19 and the steps taken by the Centre, he said the government is aware of the economic impact of the pandemic and hence, it has transitioned from "Jaan hai toh jahaan hai" to "Jaan bhi jahaan bhi", emphasizing the need to work on all frontiers. "It is our duty to support the collective global efforts to mitigate disruptions in the global supply chains by increasing supplies of products where we have available capacity and to ramp up capacity where we can become market leaders," he said. Muraleedharan advocated a two-fold strategy in the current scenario under which capacity must be built up especially in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, textiles, manufacturing and electronics where India could have some relative advantage over the rest of the world. "This will help in reducing our over dependence on China for raw materials as well as for diversifying global supply chains by offering an alternative to the world," he said. The second part of the strategy should be to partner with industries and businesses of other countries both through inward and outward foreign direct investment, the minister said. This will help Indian businesses generate economic expertise, he said. Muraleedharan said nine ministries have been working on these lines and stand ready to assist Indian businesses in their strategies. "One such opportunity lies in our healthcare sector. India can emerge as the healthcare hub of the world in the near, medium to the long term for the development of hospitals and provisioning of equipment and supplies like PPE, ventilators etc, as well as for training of healthcare professionals," he said. The government has set aside Rs 10,000 crore for shifting the entire manufacturing supply chains for pharmaceuticals to India and to boost domestic manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients. In line with the government's vision towards enhanced economic development, the MEA is already pursuing a multi-pronged effort to improve India's global bilateral trade and regional connectivity. "These efforts hold greater importance in post pandemic times. The MEA will be working with missions and posts to promote the 3Ts -- trade tourism and technology into India," Muraleedharan said, asserting that efforts are on for ramping up exports. "COVID-19 is shaping to be the first major disruption in the global economy since the 2008 financial crisis," he said. "Let me assure you that the government of India has not only been proactive but also pre-emptive in its strategy in controlling the pandemic. That is why a lockdown has been in force when India was in the early stages of the outbreak," Muraleedharan said. The government's relief measures are focussed on protecting the vulnerable sections of the population by employing targeted relief measures , including food security and cash transfers, he said. "We have also announced measures on working capital support, loan restructuring and credit term alteration, and stimulus to increase spending power of consumers to assist Indian companies specially MSME," Muraleedharan said. The RBI has also announced a slew of measures to ensure adequate liquidity in the system, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In 1979, Goldie Hawn was pregnant with her second child with then-husband Bill Hudson, and she thought she had it all figured out. She was going to give birth to a baby girl named Rebecca at least that was the plan before she went into labor. Thats when something happened that bowled the iconic actress over and caused her to suddenly realize she was actually carrying a Kate. Hudson, Hawn, and Hudson's daughter Rani Rose, pose for the cover of People's 2020 In an interview with People magazine, Hawn recalled the day she was riding down the freeway, headed to the hospital and the baby-on-board suddenly made her presence felt and then some. She kicked me so hard in my vagina that I changed her name right on the spot, because she was tough, the tell-it-like-it-is 74-year-old revealed. And as far as Hawn was concerned, thats the moment she knew she was about to bring Kate Hudson into the world. I had named her Rebecca and on the 405, I went, This is a Kate,' she continued. The rest is generation-spanning Hollywood history now with another little girl in the mix. In 2018, Hudson and boyfriend Danny Fujikawa had a daughter of their own, Rani Rose, who appears alongside Hudson and Hawn on the People cover. And grandma Goldie was there for that birth, too. I was right there, she said with a laugh. I was a little bit close. Not a problem, according to Hudson, who told the magazine, Every part of that birth was just so beautiful. By Jung Min-ho A Vietnamese man has been caught working illegally at a farm in Korea during a mandatory self-quarantine period, police said Thursday. According to the North Jeolla provincial government and police, the man, 21, who had left his residence in Jeonju without reporting to authorities, was found working illegally at a farm in the neighboring city of Namwon during a 14-day isolation period. The man, who was ordered to quarantine himself on arrival in Korea on April 9, made about 500,000 won ($410) working there for five days from April 16, police said. The Ministry of Justice is expected soon to decide whether to deport him. He is now waiting for the decision at a quarantine facility at Chonbuk National University. The government has maintained a no-tolerance stance toward those who do not follow self-isolation rules over COVID-19, saying any foreigner who violates them will be expelled. Local violators could face up to a year in prison or a maximum fine of 10 million won. RALEIGH Hundreds of people angry and frustrated with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper's stay-at-home order designed to blunt COVID-19 marched around his home Tuesday, demanding that he cancel the restriction now to unleash the state's economy. Carrying placards and banners, the chanting protesters gathered in a parking lot before being escorted by police motorcycles as they walked through downtown Raleigh streets, including those surrounding the Executive Mansion. The final participants in ReopenNC crowd, while raucous at times, dispersed peaceably after about three hours. Cooper "needs to put his ear to the ground and he needs to look out his window and see how many people are here today gathering," said Dee Park, 82, of Pinehurst, a retired college professor, holding an American flag and unmoved by any health risk to gather. "It's time to open our state again and let people get back to work and make a living." Also, Currituck County commissioners announced that they will reopen the town of Corolla to non-resident property owners on Thursday and to visitors on May 15. On Tuesday, Dare County announced it would permit non-resident property owners to return beginning on May 4. A statement from officials there said it will address access for visitors at a later date. Mark McGaughey started his career in the asphalt industry in 1983. Mark's sharp knowledge of the asphalt production process and the asphalt industry, his grounded yet bold approach to technical management and his enthusiasm for new solutions will surely help us strengthen our position and continue to help our customers even MINDS Inc., a leader in advanced customizable asphalt plant control systems, is pleased to announce Mark McGaughey will join the company as its Director of US Operations, effective May 1, 2020. McGaughey joins MINDS from Milestone Contractors LP, a subsidiary of the Heritage Group, where he has had a successful 33-year career and was most recently Maintenance Manager for all of Milestones plants. He has also held previous roles as a plant manager and in operation technical support. McGaughey has had a more than decade-long relationship with MINDS, after ordering several plant control systems to upgrade Milestones plants. Since then, he was responsible for converting 13 Milestone asphalt plants and one of Milestones sister companies to MINDS plant management systems. It is with very great pleasure that I announce the arrival of Mark in our team. Mark has been among the first to recognize the strengths of MINDS control systems more than ten years ago, and has been instrumental to our growth in the U.S. market, says Pierre Vidaillac, CEO of MINDS. His sharp knowledge of the asphalt production process and of the asphalt industry, his grounded yet bold approach to technical management and his enthusiasm for new solutions will surely help us strengthen our position and continue to help our customers even more. Thank you Mark, and welcome on board!" McGaughey says MINDS and its asphalt plant control systems have always stood out within the industry. I was very impressed with the service that was provided and their responsiveness with getting our plants going. MINDS has shown they're willing to change the controls to meet your plants individual needs. In his role at MINDS, McGaughey will split his time between Indianapolis and MINDS Las Vegas office and will be charged with expanding and liaising with the companys United States client base. He will also be involved with product development and evolution. The opportunity to come on board with a company that has ethics and the drive to improve our industry and is looking towards the future was too good to pass up, says McGaughey. Im thankful for the Heritage Group and Milestone for allowing me to become who I am and succeed in my chosen industry. Ill always be grateful for that. ABOUT MINDS INC. MINDS is an industry leader in advanced customizable asphalt plant control systems for continuous, discontinuous, combo/hybrid hot mix plants, emulsion and modify bitumen plants, silo load-out, ticketing and data management for the asphalt industry. Incorporated in 1994, MINDS has more than 25 years of experience in producing asphalt quality control, plant automation and plant maintenance software and systems. Last October, several months before the global pandemic forced prisons to lock down, a 71-year-old inmate at a New Jersey federal prison made an urgent plea to be released. In prison for nearly 25 years, he said he was aging with a long list of medical ailments and a deep desire to reunite with his family. John Knock received two life sentences for his role in a massive marijuana trafficking conspiracy in which prosecutors estimate he could have made as much as $200 million from. Knock, who has been incarcerated since 1996, has acknowledged his part and expressed his regret for it. I beg for your mercy, compassion and forgiveness and plead for the opportunity to build a second chapter in my life, Knock wrote in a October 2019 compassionate release request to the acting warden at Fairton federal correctional institution in South Jersey. Two months later, the warden denied the request saying Knock wasnt sick enough. You are not experiencing physical or mental health that substantially diminishes your ability to function in a correctional facility, the denial said. Knock now sits in his prison cell for nearly 24 hours a day, as federal prisons across the country have been ordered to lock down to prevent a coronavirus outbreak. Hes considered a chronic care inmate and has a long list of ailments that come from inadequate prison health care over the years, according to his attorney. Health experts have warned that prisons are primed for outbreaks because of the lack of social distancing in a confined space. So far, 566 federal inmates and 342 Bureau of Prisons (BOP) staff have tested positive nationwide for COVID-19, while 24 inmates have died, according to the agency. An employee at the facility where Knock is being held, Fairton, has tested positive for the virus. The continued increase in cases has prompted U.S. Attorney General William Barr to issue directives to the BOP that it should lessen its populations by releasing certain inmates to home confinement in order to prevent a coronavirus outbreak and protect vulnerable inmates. Others are pleading with federal judges to get released. Knocks family and attorney say he is the ideal candidate. Knock insists to his family he is fine in the current lockdown conditions. He has stacks of books. He recently stocked up on snacks he stuffs under his bed and plenty of batteries to keep NPR humming out of his radio. But Knocks sister, Beth Curtis, believes he is not safe. If COVID-19 were to get inside the walls of the medium-security facility, it could spread quickly, as health experts have warned, and potentially be fatal, she said. He is not and never was a threat to society, she said recently. He is now housed in a federal prison where there is no real protection from the current spread of coronavirus. His continued confinement would be a travesty. In a motion for release filed to a federal judge on March 17, Knock, now 72, is described as an aging, non-violent drug offender who was sentenced to life in prison for a drug that is now legal in some form in more than half the country. The motion says he has a pristine record as an inmate, known for leading yoga and cardio classes for other elderly inmates. The fact that we would waste any money incarcerating this guy in the best of times is insane, said Kevin Ring, who is the president of Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) and has been following Knocks case for years. During a pandemic, it is criminal. In the motion filed last month, Knocks attorney wrote that the judge is the last and only remaining hope (for Knock) to be returned to his family and freed from draconian punishments of a bygone era. I worry that every day that passes that he is not freed is one day closer to a game of Russian Roulette where you can only pull the trigger so many times before that barrel gets loaded with a live bullet and actually kills you, David Holland, Knocks attorney, said in an interview recently. In his request to be released, Knock described how he became involved in the counterculture movement in San Francisco in the 1960s and 1970s, which led to him being involved in a massive marijuana trafficking conspiracy from 1982 to 1996. Prosecutors said Knock, and the others in the organization, purchased massive amounts of cannabis from Middle Eastern countries and distributed it throughout the United States and other countries. As part of the conspiracy, authorities said Knock was responsible for distributing nearly 280,000 kilograms of hashish (an extract of the cannabis plant) and more than 82,000 kilograms of marijuana worldwide. Prosecutors estimated he earned over $200 million distributing drugs. Federal authorities indicted members of the organization in 1994 on multiple marijuana charges and money laundering. Prosecutors did not mention any violence attributed to Knock or the drug trafficking organization. While some leaders of the organization pleaded guilty and received sentences around 10 years in federal prison, Knock took his case to trial. After a four-week trial in 2000, Knock was found guilty and sentenced to two life sentences. I deeply regret my involvement in this marijuana conspiracy and have no inclination to break the law should I be released, Knock wrote in October 2019. But authorities continue to oppose his release, even as the coronavirus threat caused criminal justice advocates to call for elderly, non-violent inmates to be released amid the pandemic. On March 23, the U.S Attorneys Office of Northern Florida, where Knock was prosecuted, filed a 29-page response, adamantly opposing Knocks release and saying a judge didnt have the authority to do so. Prosecutors said if Knock were charged for the same crime today, he would still face a sentence of life in prison. They also noted the Obama administration denied his clemency petition in 2012. The governments position is that the court should have an interest in deterring others from creating huge drug trafficking organizations, distributing hundreds of thousands of pounds of a drug that is illegal under federal law, and making hundreds of millions of dollars in illegal proceeds, the response says. The U.S Attorneys Office of Northern Florida declined to comment further on their opposition of Knocks release. But with a pandemic decimating the country, Knocks attorney and family expressed urgent concerns about the medical treatment Knock were to get if he contracted COVID-19. Holland wrote that Knock is currently considered a chronic care inmate because of the inadequacy of the prison health care system to effectively address his health care needs over the years. Plain and simple, the prison healthcare system is not designed to care for geriatric inmates, especially Lifers like Knock who are fated to die behind bars, Holland wrote. Curtis, Knocks sister, runs an organization called Life for Pot to raise awareness for those incarcerated for life on non-violent marijuana charges. She said she is in constant contact with around 50 inmates throughout the federal system who are serving life sentences for marijuana, many of them are living in fear for their lives, as reports of inmate cases of COVID-19 and deaths from the virus continue to increase. The judge has not ruled on the latest motion for Knocks release. Aaron Knock, John Knocks son, wrote in 2019 about the only memory he has of his father as a free man. He was three years old. His father, dressed in a long coat, leaned down and kiss him on his forehead and patted him on the back as Aaron sat in the car. He didnt remember what his father said to him, but he wrote it was the defining moment in his life in a letter begging for his fathers release more than 20 years later. Im writing this to plead for mercy," the younger Knock wrote. "To plead for his release so that he can spend time he has left with his family. He has a place with us. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage 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. Joe Atmonavage may be reached at jatmonavage@njadvancemedia.com. Follow on Twitter @monavage. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. Biden, who would become the oldest person elected to the presidency, has seen his numbers improve with senior citizens while his campaign has largely been forced into a kind of hibernation by the pandemic. He has recorded remote interviews and podcasts but has not been able to hold rallies or engage in traditional campaigning because of social distancing requirements. Trump, on the other hand, has used his daily televised coronavirus briefings from the White House to tout his efforts and lash out against his opponents, including Biden. Press Release April 23, 2020 De Lima calls for the inclusion of all senior citizens in the government social welfare aid amidst COVID-19 pandemic Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima throws her support behind a campaign of a coalition of advocates for the welfare of senior citizens which calls on the government to include everyone in the sector as beneficiaries of the social amelioration program (SAP). De Lima made the statement after the Coalition of Services of the Elderly and Senior Citizens Organization (COSE) issued an appeal to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to accommodate in SAP all senior citizens, regardless of income level or eligibility to monthly pension. "I am in full solidarity with COSE and all elderly Filipinos in their clamor for their full protection and support from the government in this time of need, regardless of anyone's station in life and economic status," she said. "Sa kinakaharap natin na krisis, hindi na tayo dapat namimili pa kung sino ang dapat na proprotektahan ng ating gobyerno. Lahat tayo ay apektado kaya dapat lahat tayo ay protektado," she added. In the joint statement in the name of 16 national and municipal senior citizen groups, COSE explained that senior citizens who receive their monthly pensions also experience difficulties during the ongoing quarantine period in most parts of the country. They argue that the average amount of monthly pension that a senior citizen receives from their previous employer is estimated to be just around PhP P5,000 or even lower, which is hardly enough to cover the increasing costs of living, that mostly entail purchasing maintenance medicine and other healthcare needs. COSE cited a study from the Longitudinal Study of Ageing and Health in the Philippines (LSHAP) which found that even for a majority of senior citizens who receive remittances from family members abroad, their budget is still inadequate. "We reiterate that targeting poor senior citizens is over-rated in normal times and doing so again doesn't make much sense during a pandemic where virtually every older woman and man are affected and vulnerable," COSE said in their statement. COSE likewise pointed out the delays in the distribution of the social pension of senior citizens from the DSWD and the unconditional cash transfer, as provided by the TRAIN law. "Nanawagan po ako sa pamahalaan na bigyan ng ayuda at kalingain ang lahat nating matatanda. At sana naman ay bilisan na ang pamamahagi ng tulong para sa kanila," De Lima said. "Lubhang nakakalungkot na lagpas isang buwan na ang Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) ngunit ang tulong na para dapat sa lahat na matatanda ay kulang na nga at hindi pa nakakarating sa mga pinaglaanan," she added. De Lima, a senior citizen and a grandmother herself, has continued to advocate for the improved welfare for senior citizens in the country. Last April 16, she filed Senate Bill (SB) No. 1434, which seeks to legislate guaranteed protection against abuse for the elderly, including appropriate penalties for their abusers. It can also be recalled that last February 29, De Lima, in her capacity as the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, also sponsored SB 1319 to expand the Centenarian Act of 2016 by also giving cash gifts to those who will reach 80 and 90 years old respectively. "Nanawagan po ako sa pamahalaan na bigyan ng ayuda at kalingain ang lahat nating matatanda. At sana naman ay bilisan na ang pamamahagi ng tulong para sa kanila," she said. "Lahat ng matatanda ay nangangailangan. Lahat sila ay dapat protektahan," she added. Gov. Steve Bullock said Wednesday that Montana will enter the first phase of a staggered reopening of the state in the coming days, which includes lifting a statewide stay-at-home order and some of the restrictions that closed schools, restaurants, bars, retail stores and more. Those measures were taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which has sickened 439 and killed 14 Montanans since the first cases were diagnosed here nearly six weeks ago. The number of new cases added each day has been on a downward trajectory over the last two weeks. That was one of the metrics, along with sufficient testing ability and hospital capacity, that Bullock said he needed to see to start a phased reopening. While the stay-at-home order that took effect March 28, as well the previous closure of places where people congregated, were successful in flatting case growth, they have also also deadened Montana's economy. More than 76,000 people have filed claims for unemployment and by last Friday more than $1.47 billion in loans had been made to small businesses in the state under the federal Paycheck Protection Program. In a call with reporters Wednesday, Bullock said that because Montana acted aggressively and early compared to other states in the country in shutting things down, it is now able to reopen earlier. He acknowledged that the state will continue to add cases under a phased-in reopening and it's not without risks, but that Montanans are ready to move into the beginning of a "new normal." "I recognize that there are some folks in our state that would love to keep everything shut down until there's a vaccine or until the virus goes away. But the 'why now' is because Montanans can take their own pride in what Montanans have as a community have done together," Bullock said, pointing out the state ranks near the bottom in cases per capita and hospitalizations per capita. "That's the case because we acted both aggressively and we acted collectively, meaning that Montanans all across the state took this seriously. I know that Montanans are hurting. I do know that we do need to figure out ways to get to what a new normal might look like, and these are those measured steps to do so." The statewide stay-at-home order lifts Sunday for individuals and Monday for nonessential businesses. Even with fewer restrictions, things will still look much different. Churches and other places of worship can open Sunday with limited capacity. Gatherings of more than 10 should be avoided where social distancing measures cannot be followed. The following day, Monday, retail businesses can open with reduced capacity and under measures to ensure physical distancing. For other businesses, employees who still can work from home should continue to do so. People who work on-site in any business should be screened for symptoms. Employers must make accommodations for employees who are at risk for severe outcomes from COVID-19 or have family members at risk. If accommodations are made but an employee still does not return to work, they may lose eligibility for unemployment insurance. If an employer does not follow guidelines or address the needs of those who are vulnerable, those workers are still eligible for unemployment. Bars, restaurants, breweries, distilleries and casinos can open after May 4 if they adhere to strict physical distancing guidelines and reduce capacity. Breweries have always had an 8 p.m. closing time, and now bars, restaurants and casinos must shut down by 11:30 p.m. Starting May 7, schools will have the option to return to in-classroom teaching. Local districts can make their own choices about bringing back students, and some around the state have already said they dont plan to this year. If schools reopen, guidance from the governors office suggests a mix of in-person and remote learning, as well as graduations that meet social distancing requirements. Places like salons and tattoo parlors may open, but customers must be screened for symptoms. People need to wear face masks when possible and stations must be 6 feet apart. Gyms, pools and hot springs will remain closed. So will movie theaters, performance theaters, concert halls, bowling alleys, bingo halls and music halls. In the first phase, all vulnerable people should continue to stay at home. That includes those over the age of 65 or anyone with underlying health conditions. Visitors are still banned from nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Anyone in public should maximize their physical distance from others, and gatherings of groups of more than 10 are discouraged if theres not space to maintain social distancing. People should wear non-medical masks and practice good hygiene. Some limited opening of campgrounds, playgrounds and other group-use facilities can happen, at the discretion of local and state managers. While the state is taking these actions, local counties and boards of health can choose to enact their own more strict rules. Other measures, such as a pause on evictions and foreclosures, are still in place until their expiration dates. Bullock said there's no clear timeline or metrics on when the state could move to a second phase of reopening, where more businesses could resume operations and gatherings could reach sizes of up to 50 people. In the third phase, there will be no limits on the size of groups that can gather, and vulnerable populations can resume public interactions but still need to take precautions. Bullock also said he's also monitoring metrics in the case the state loses the progress its made. The decision Wednesday, Bullock said, was informed by a variety of data, modeling and briefings from public health experts, though he generally concentrated on local information. Im primarily focusing on Montanas number of positive cases and how many new cases we have each week, hospitalization numbers and available beds, testing capacity and how much personal protective equipment and other supplies we have available," Bullock said. While holding a telephone town hall with Montanans after his press conference, Bullock fielded questions from people concerned about what reopening the state might mean in terms of additional people getting sick and the stress tourists could bring if they flock to the state as summer approaches. While saying additional cases are unavoidable, Bullock he also recognized the tourism industry, a major economic driver in Montana, is hurting. "This first phase of reopening isn't yet the time to allow others to come into our state," Bullock told reporters earlier, saying that the directive for people coming into Montana for non-work related purposes still requires self-quarantining for 14 days. While sufficient testing is part of Bullock's requirements for reopening, he said Wednesday "we're not out of the woods yet when it comes to tests and testing supplies." While the state cannot test every Montana, the governor is encouraging health care providers to test everyone with symptoms. The state will also work with providers and public health officers to address hot spots that may arise. The state can also move toward more rapid testing as it gains capacity with the 15 Abbott machines, which can produce results in about 15 minutes. Half of those machines are already in communities, though sufficient supplies to run them are still needed. "Just as Montanans shouldn't say 'mission accomplished,' there's nobody at the state level saying 'mission accomplished.' What they're saying is we're now entering a different phase that also brings a different and unique set of challenges," Bullock said. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) at a press conference in the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 9, 2020. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Vote on Rules Change for Proxy Voting Cancelled, Bipartisan Group to Plan Reopening House House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) urged Speaker Nancy Pelosi to establish a plan for reconvening the House because Representatives work is essential. The House went into its fourth week of working remotely, affecting lawmakers ability to deliberate on legislation and conduct oversight. In my view, conducting the business of the Peoples House is the definition of essential workjust as many of our friends and neighbors continue working to hold up our communities on a daily basis, McCarthy wrote. McCarthy said that limiting the work of Congress should not become the new normal and that he is ready to work on a bipartisan solution to enable the House to get back to their full duties. McCarthy asked the Speaker to consider how high priority legislation, like the National Defense Authorization Act and Appropriations for 2021, were going to be reviewed with the current limitations. McCarthy suggested resuming in-person meetings while adhering to physical distancing guidelines to avoid infection. The California Representative recommended revising the House Calendar to reflect the lost weeks, in which important legislation could not be reviewed. McCarthy also addressed his concern with members getting enough preparation time before recorded votes are cast on the floor of the House. The Minority Leader reiterated his concern for voting by proxy. It has been reported that Chairman McGovern is recommending a House rules change to allow for voting by proxy during this period. What are the details of this proposal, how will it avoid potential abuses of power, and when do you expect this proposal to be made public for the necessary scrutiny and member input that changing 200 years of House precedent would merit? Top Democrats have called for changing House rules to allow remote voting during the pandemic, and Pelosi tasked Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Jim McGovern, to research the issue and present the case for secure remote voting to the leadership for consideration. The Senate is having a similar debate on proxy voting verses convening. In a Twitter entry, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) voiced his preference for all the senators to get back to Capitol Hill but added he would be willing to support remote-voting as a second choice. I just offered an amendment to allow remote voting if necessary. I strongly believe Congress should at once return into session. If not, remote voting should be available during emergencies. A vote was scheduled in the House for Thursday on changing the rule for how members cast their votes during the pandemic. But Pelosi announced Wednesday that she canceled the rules change vote. She told reporters that she and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) would instead set up a group of bipartisan lawmakers to study remote voting and proxy voting as a way to reconvene the House safely. Other members of the group planning the reopening of the House are Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.); Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.); the top Republican on the Rules Committee Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.); House Administration Committee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.); and the top Republican on that panel, Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.). An Amherst College custodian is now in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19, but reportedly had no contact with any of the students still on campus. It is the first confirmed case of COVID-19 on campus, according to Amherst College President Biddy Martin. I know you will join me in wishing this individual a complete and speedy recovery. The staff members last day on campus was April 18; at that time, they displayed no symptoms, wore a face mask while working, and did not engage with any students, she wrote in a letter posted on the schools website. Amherst and other colleges closed their campuses and switched to online classes last month due to the growing threat of the pandemic. But some students remain on campus due to travel bans in their home countries and other factors. College personnel have reached out to those employees who had direct contact with the staff member. As of today, none of them has displayed any symptoms. Nonetheless, those employees will quarantine at home for the next 14 days, Biddy said. Out of respect for the staff members privacy and in deference to applicable HIPAA privacy laws, we will not release any more information about this employee," Biddy wrote. "I ask that you please refrain from speculation and respect privacy. We will inform you if there are any further developments in this case that might impact the campus. She added. Out of an abundance of caution and in order to safeguard the health of students and staff, we are working to increase social distancing and other protective measures. On-campus students will receive more information from the Dean of Students about changes and expectations moving forward. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks at a news conference at the State Department in Washington, April 22, 2020. The United States appealed to Southeast Asian countries Thursday to shut down all wet markets illegally selling wildlife, saying such trading places had been linked to animal disease communicable to humans, as Washington announced it had released $35.3 million in regional aid to fight the coronavirus outbreak. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo made the appeal after calling on China to permanently close its wildlife wet markets, including those in its central city of Wuhan, where health experts say COVID-19 might have originated last year before the virus infected more than 2.6 million people worldwide and killed more than 186,000 others. Given the strong link between illegal wildlife sold in wet markets and zoonotic diseases, the United States has called on the Peoples Republic of China to permanently close its wildlife wet markets and all markets that sell illegal wildlife, Pompeo said in a statement, referring to a major complex of stalls that sell live fish and where wild animals are often butchered right on the premises. I call on all ASEAN governments to do the same, he said. Chinas Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang rejected Pompeos allegations, telling reporters in Beijing that there's no wildlife wet market in China. Instead, we have farmers' markets and seafood markets where meat, fish, vegetables, seafood and other fresh produce are sold. A very small number of them sell live poultry, he said. Such markets are commonplace existence not only in China, but also in many Southeast Asian countries and a lot of developing countries. US aid to ASEAN Pompeo came out with the statement hours before taking part in an online meeting on Thursday (Jakarta time) with foreign ministers from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Pompeo said Washington had released more than $35.3 million in emergency health funding to help the regional bloc combat the virus. That amount was on top of the $3.5 billion in public health assistance that the United States had provided countries in the region during the past 20 years, he said. Southeast Asia has recorded some of the highest number of COVID-19 infections, with the prosperous city-state Singapore reporting 1,037 in new cases on Thursday, taking its cumulative cases to 11,178. At the online meeting with his ASEAN counterparts on Thursday, Pompeo said the United States had released $3 million for Indonesia, which has so far confirmed 7,775 cases with 647 fatalities. During the video-conference, Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi urged countries to put aside political differences to forge international cooperation to fight the coronavirus. It is important that countries work together to overcome the shortcomings that are still faced by many, especially in terms of medical and protective equipment and medicines, Retno said. Pompeo also told his Southeast Asian counterparts that Beijing was taking advantage of the worlds preoccupation with the coronavirus pandemic to reinforce its aggressive claims in the South China Sea. Even as we fight the outbreak, we must remember that the long-term threats to our shared security have not disappeared, he said. In fact, theyve become more prominent. The video-conference participants mostly reaffirmed their collective resolve to prioritize strengthening their public health systems and cooperating in research and development of vaccine and therapeutics, according to Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. But Locsin said in a statement that his counterparts also expressed concerns over recent developments in the South China Sea that increased tensions at a time when all efforts and resources are focused on battling the pandemic. They recognized the importance of contributing to the maintenance of peace, security, stability, and the rule of law in the region amid the fight against COVID-19, he said. This is essential at a time when countries must not only navigate the COVID crisis, but must also prepare a post-pandemic plan of social and economic recovery. The Philippines has recorded 6,981 COVID-19 infections with 462 deaths as of Thursday. US thanks Malaysia for sending gloves During the meeting, Pompeo thanked Malaysia, as well as Cambodia and Vietnam, for their support in the pandemic fight and for helping in the continued flow of vital medical supplies into the United States. Malaysia facilitated the speedy delivery of over 1.3 million kilograms of gloves for U.S. health care workers, he said. Kuala Lumpur extended its COVID-19 travel curbs on Thursday by two weeks, although Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said more business sectors may be allowed to resume operations. Malaysia, which has so far reported a cumulative tally of 5,603 coronavirus cases with 95 deaths, started a partial lockdown on March 18. The extension of its so-called movement control order would last until May 12, Muhyiddin said. Should the number of COVID-19 cases show significant reduction, the government may ease curbs on movement in stages in several sectors including the social sector, Muhyiddin said in a televised address. Bangladesh, which has reported 4,186 coronavirus infections as of Thursday, with a death toll of 127, has also announced a similar extension of movement curbs until May 5. Pompeo announces US-ASEAN health initiative Pompeo also announced during the video conference the formation of the U.S.-ASEAN Health Futures initiative, which would be used as a platform to enhance efforts in health security through research. He said the United States was making an additional pledge of about $270 million to assist the most at-risk countries in fighting the coronavirus. He did not elaborate. Washington was currently involved in training more than 70,000 pharmacists across Indonesia so they can provide good advice and referrals for coronavirus patients, he added. A day earlier, during a news conference, Pompeo also criticized China for not sharing all of the information it had about the coronavirus. Instead, it covered up how dangerous the disease is. It didnt report sustained human-to-human transmission for a month until it was in every province inside of China, he said, emphasizing that Beijings refusal to share samples of the virus from inside of the country with the outside world made it impossible to track the diseases evolution. Geng Shuang, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, described Pompeos statements as lies that discredit China's anti-epidemic efforts. Facts speak louder than words, he said. China has taken timely, swift and efficient epidemic prevention and control measures in an open, transparent and responsible manner. Globally, almost 2.7 million infections from the coronavirus have been recorded while the death toll stood at more than 188,400 as of Thursday, according to data compiled by disease experts at U.S.-based Johns Hopkins University. Muzliza Mustafa in Kuala Lumpur contributed to this report. The Philippines have some of the world's most overcrowded prisons, a situation made worse by President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs. Health authorities say more than a thousand health workers have been infected, with 26 dead, including 19 doctors. Manila (AsiaNews) Philippine prisons are becoming coronavirus hotbeds with 123 infected inmates, officials said yesterday This is raising concerns among rights groups about the risks of contagion in some of the world's most overcrowded prisons. In Cebu City, the mayor announced that a new prison with a capacity of 3,000 will be used as an isolation facility for an outbreak that accounts for 40 per cent of the cases in the countrys second largest city. There are no details about the possible source of the outbreak Eighteen cases have been found at a jail in Quezon City, including nine staff members. Media have reported more cases in other correctional facilities. Human Rights Watch (HRW) is one of the groups calling for the release of inmates held for minor and non-violent offences, as well as those with poor health, to create more space. Advocacy groups around the world have urged governments to free political prisoners. HRW this month warned of the risk of a serious coronavirus outbreak in the Philippines threatening the lives of prisoners whose health the authorities have a duty to protect. The Cebu City prison has one of largest coronavirus clusters in the Philippines. As of Wednesday, the Philippines had 6,710 cases and 446 deaths, about 70 per cent in the capital Manila. Philippine prisons are notoriously overcrowded due to a combination of poverty, high crime rates and a justice system unable to cope with a huge caseload. Public defenders are in short supply, judges are overwhelmed with work, and insufficient bail money means that suspects generally spend long periods sometimes years behind bars before they get a court hearing, which often ends in acquittal. As of December 2019, nearly 90,000 people were detained in the Philippines awaiting trial. President Duarte's war on drugs has aggravated the problem, adding tens of thousands of people to the prison population every year, 71 per cent of whom held on drug-related offences. The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that due to concerns over the coronavirus, judges should urgently release prisoners eligible for temporary or early release. Meanwhile, the coronavirus has infected 1,062 healthcare workers with 26 deaths, the health department said. These workers represent 16 per cent of the total number of people infected in the country, Undersecretary for Health Maria Rose Vergeire said. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), this is the highest number in Asia. On average, the infection rate in the region is 2 to 3 per cent. Vergeire added that most of the infected healthcare workers, 422, are doctors, followed by 386 nurses. The rest are technicians, radiologists, nursing assistants and administrative staff in hospitals and clinics. Of the 26 dead, 19 were doctors. The health department said it was working closely with WHO to investigate if healthcare facilities were following guidelines on infection control to protect staff. We are ready to provide support to our front-liners who have been sacrificing in this fight against COVID-19 every day, Vergeire said. President Duterte is expected to decide this week whether to extend, lift or ease the lockdown on the countrys most populous island, Luzon, after 30 April. In response to the crises triggered by the pandemic, the Philippine Catholic Church is undertaking a number of charitable initiatives. In Cebu, the local archdiocese has decided to make the International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) centre available to people who show coronavirus symptoms but cannot self-isolate at home. MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI After the number of deaths related to coronavirus doubled over the past week, Muskegon County health officials say it will still be several more weeks until the county hits its peak number of cases. The peak of the pandemic is expected around mid-May for Muskegon County, as the county continues to ramp up its testing capabilities, Muskegon County Public Health Officer Kathy Moore told MLive on Wednesday, April 22. We anticipated that the numbers would continue to increase, and they have," Moore said. "We believe much of the increase is due to increased testing, and the turn-around rates for testing is much quicker as well. I believe we are still looking at mid-May, maybe a little bit earlier, to reach that peak. Muskegon County began speeding up testing abilities considerably at the end of March when Mercy Health Muskegon switched to a new testing facility, which quickened test turnaround to within 24 hours. There have been a total of 180 confirmed positive cases in Muskegon County since the first positive case was detected on March 22, according to data on the county health department website Thursday, April 23. County health officials reported that 16 percent of all submitted coronavirus tests have come back positive as of April 19. Over the past week, Muskegon County has seen an uptick in the number of elderly patient deaths as well as confirmed cases related to coronavirus. Half of the 12 reported deaths related to COVID-19 have been patients over the age of 80, health officials reported. But Moore told MLive that the recent rise in reported elderly deaths is not as concerning as people may think. We initially anticipated that (coronavirus) would impact our elderly population more than any other age group, Moore said. What we found at the beginning is it really impacts the 50-59 age groups more than anything." The 50-59 age group makes up 21 percent of all reported COVID-19 cases in Muskegon County, with 39 cases, according to data reported by the health department. That compares to 30 reported cases in the 60-69 age group, 11 cases in the 70-79 age group and 14 cases over the age of 80. Our 70+ age group really took the necessary precautions to avoid contact, so they really did more social distancing and exceptional hygiene measures, Moore said. The increase (in elderly cases) youre seeing now is due to outbreaks in several long-term care facilities where they werent out in the public. The virus was introduced to them. Muskegon County health officials confirmed last week that positive COVID-19 cases had been identified in staff and residents of residential living facilities in the county, although officials did not report how many positive cases were identified or where they were found. Two assisted living facilities in Norton Shores reported Wednesday that five of their residents had died with COVID-19, although the facilities did not report when those residents had died. County officials are working toward reporting local hospitalization and recovery rates, Moore said. Some Michigan counties, like Ottawa County, have reported hospitalization rates and the number of recovered patients in its daily report of coronavirus numbers. But Moore said those numbers can be tricky to report because, oftentimes, county health officials arent able to conduct contact tracing quickly enough. We have the data at the point of notification of positive, but we dont have the ongoing status of hospitalizations, she said. "We could get a notification of a positive test that says in-patient, but by the time we contact that patient or do contact-tracing or investigation, theyre home already. Weve had instances where individuals were out-patient, and we tried to contact them and theyve been hospitalized. And then in one instance we started our recovery follow-up and contacted a patients family, and discovered that patient had died. Moore said county health officials are beginning to define and collect recovery rates, and she hopes to report that in the very near future. With Detroit-area coronavirus numbers dominating the statewide daily case count, all eyes are on the coronavirus trends in southeast Michigan, which has started to report a steady decline in new confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths. Meanwhile, on the west side of the state, health officials predict it will be several weeks before West Michigan coronavirus trends show a steady decline in the number of new cases. In Kent County, new COVID-19 cases surpassed 100 Wednesday, setting a new daily record and bringing the countys case count to 757 cases, with 25 reported deaths on Wednesday, April 22. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases has nearly doubled in Kalamazoo County over the past week, bringing the countywide total to 212 confirmed cases and 11 deaths on Wednesday. Ottawa County coronavirus cases are inching up, but more slowly than the pace of its neighbor, Kent County. County health officials reported 130 cases and seven deaths on Tuesday. Moore said Muskegon County tends to follow a little bit behind more densely populated West Michigan counties. She said Muskegon is about a week behind Kent County, whose chief health officer told MLive this week that the county is still weeks out from hitting its peak of the coronavirus pandemic. More on MLive: Kent County still weeks away from peak of coronavirus pandemic Muskegon County sees spike in elderly deaths from coronavirus Coronavirus at Muskegon area group living facilities confirmed by health department Two Muskegon-area assisted living centers report 5 coronavirus deaths Health Minister Robin Swann has said he can see no reason why Northern Ireland's cemeteries could not be reopened on a controlled basis. Cemeteries are operated by councils and have been closed, except for burials, since the lockdown began last month. The Assembly has the power to reopen them via legislation. Many bereaved families have called for the decision to be reversed to allow them to visit the graves of their loved ones. Parties are split on the issue, with the DUP and Ulster Unionists in favour of reopening and Sinn Fein and Alliance opposed. Mr Swann was asked about the issue at Wednesday's daily Covid-19 briefing at Stormont where he urged his Executive colleagues to allow the reopening of cemeteries. Read More The UUP minister said he saw no reason why people should be prevented from visiting graveyards if there was a system in place to ensure access was managed in compliance with social distancing rules. He said: "In regards to cemeteries, as Health Minister I would see no reason why people couldn't be visiting cemeteries at this minute in time. "There is a solace, a support there that many individuals can gain from visiting a cemetery and it's something when we reflect on where we have been and where we are now. It's a regulation that I think we as an Executive should actually challenge and change. "Because we have to realise the mental challenge that we're putting on many individuals by asking them to remain in lockdown, and some will receive solace and support by visiting the graves of loved ones. It's something that I hope the Executive can come to a reasonable position on where we can open up cemeteries in a managed way. "Should it be in a one-direction approach round the cemeteries in a single file or the number of people entering cemeteries or the actual time of day that cemeteries are open. "I think it's an approach that we as an executive should be looking to," the North Antrim MLA added. Read More Northern Ireland's Chief Medical Officer Dr Michael McBride, who also attended the briefing, said that while his role was to provide advice to the Executive, any such decisions were up to Stormont ministers. Meanwhile, two leading clergymen have advocated a cautious approach to be taken on the reopening of cemeteries. Rev Steve Stockman from Fitzroy Presbyterian Church in south Belfast said health and safety has to be the main priority. "In an ideal world it would seem almost pastorally sensible that people could go and visit their loved ones' graves," he said. "The overriding factor has to be the health of the nation, however, and we may have to make sacrifices for the good of all because sadly cemeteries can be used in certain parts of the city for recreation and the gathering of young people." But Rev Stockman also suggested that the introduction of supermarket-type crowd control measures could be a possibility. "If it was managed and manned like going to the stores in that we let a certain number of people into the cemetery at a time then perhaps we could consider it," the minister said. Read More Fr Gary Donegan said he was against any immediate reopening of cemeteries and said it should only be considered when social distancing measures are relaxed and schools and workplaces reopen. "Cemeteries should be kept closed for the time being," the priest said. "When life starts heading back towards normality, that's when they should reopen. "As difficult as it is not to be present at a grave, think about the doctors and nurses dealing with the victims of this virus. "Think about their faces, where the elastic has cut in, with probably inadequate protection anyway. "We have done very well with social distancing so far and that's why the death toll is so much lower than predicted. To prevent a second phase of this coming in we all ultimately have to make massive sacrifices." Two church leaders have also called on the Executive to consider reopening cemeteries here in a controlled manner. The Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry and Raphoe, Rev Andrew Forster, said that decision should "be looked at again". The Catholic Bishop of Derry, Dr Donal McKeown, agreed, saying "it is a very difficult area", but asked the Executive to give "some sense of logic" for their motivation behind this particular piece of legislation. (OD) Journalists, activists and workers struggling to follow strict lockdown rules have been harassed, arrested and even killed across the world this week, as governments use the coronavirus crisis to roll back democracy and crack down on dissidents. And its not just governments taking advantage of the crisis. openDemocracy revealed this week that Brexit-supporting hedge fund managers are shorting the stock of one of the key companies making personal protective equipment in the UK. Asia Middle East Qatar Authorities rounded up and expelled dozens of migrant workers after telling them they were being taken to be tested for COVID-19, Amnesty International reported. Authorities rounded up and expelled dozens of migrant workers after telling them they were being taken to be tested for COVID-19, Amnesty International reported. Israel Several thousand people demonstrated in Tel Aviv against coalition negotiations that extended the premiership of Benjamin Netanyahu, who is awaiting trial for corruption. Protest organisers called the talks a governmental coup under cover of corona. Several thousand people demonstrated in Tel Aviv against coalition negotiations that extended the premiership of Benjamin Netanyahu, who is awaiting trial for corruption. Protest organisers called the talks a governmental coup under cover of corona. Lebanon Demonstrations over lockdown measures reignited as protesters accused the government of using the crisis as cover for unpopular economic reforms. Demonstrations over lockdown measures reignited as protesters accused the government of using the crisis as cover for unpopular economic reforms. Iraq The army has been deployed in some residential areas to prevent people from leaving their homes. The army has been deployed in some residential areas to prevent people from leaving their homes. Yemen Houthi courts have sentenced four journalists to death and four others to prison this month. Houthi courts have sentenced four journalists to death and four others to prison this month. Palestine Palestinians wanting to know if they can travel to Israel have been ordered to download an app granting the military wide-ranging access to their devices. Users have to allow Israeli authorities access to the devices location, any files and to the devices camera. Africa Europe Americas CMS Energy Corporation CMS is set to report first-quarter 2020 results on Apr 27, before market open. In the last reported quarter, the company delivered a negative earnings surprise of 1.45%. Moreover, in the trailing four quarters, CMS Energy came up with average negative earnings surprise of 2.83%. Let's take a detailed look at the factors that are likely to have influenced this electricity providers performance in the first quarter. Factors to Consider During most of the first quarter of 2020, the companys service territories experienced moderate snowfall. Such weather conditions are likely to have resulted in high electricity demand, which, in turn, must have boosted CMS Energys top line in the soon-to-be-reported quarter. In 2019, the company signed a handful of contracts, backed by notable economic development in the state of Michigan. The contracts are likely to have bolstered the companys quarterly sales. Higher adoption of electric vehicles across Michigan is likely to reflect on CMS Energys results. For the first quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $2.17 billion, indicating 5.6% improvement from the year-ago quarter reported figure. CMS Energy Corporation Price and EPS Surprise CMS Energy Corporation Price and EPS Surprise CMS Energy Corporation price-eps-surprise | CMS Energy Corporation Quote Positive settlement agreement for its gas rate case in September 2019 is likely to have benefited CMS Energys bottom line this time around. Also, the companys cost reduction initiatives, largely driven by CE Way as well as lower storm restoration expenses, are expected to have bolstered quarterly earnings. For the first quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is pegged at 85 cents, which indicates 13.3% improvement from the figure reported in the year-ago quarter. In January, its board of directors has approved a 6.5% quarterly dividend hike on its common stock to 40.75 cents per share. This reflects the solid financial position that CMS Energy holds, which should get reflected in its first-quarters balance sheet. Story continues Earnings Whispers Our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for CMS Energy this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. But that is not the case here. Earnings ESP: CMS Energy has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Zacks Rank: The company carries a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Stocks to Consider Here are a few players from the Utilities sector that have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat in the to-be-reported quarter. CenterPoint Energy CNP has an Earnings ESP of +10.59% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company will announce first-quarter 2020 earnings on May 7. Duke Energy DUK has an Earnings ESP of +0.68% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company will announce first-quarter 2020 earnings on May 12. Consolidated Edison ED has an Earnings ESP of +0.69% and a Zacks Rank #3. The company will announce first-quarter 2020 earnings on May 7. (We are reissuing this article to correct a mistake. The original article, issued on April 22, 2020, should no longer be relied upon.) 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 Consolidated Edison Inc (ED) : Free Stock Analysis Report CMS Energy Corporation (CMS) : Free Stock Analysis Report CenterPoint Energy, Inc. (CNP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Duke Energy Corporation (DUK) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research The federal governments stimulus checks were meant to help people exactly like Krystle Phelps of Owasso, Oklahoma. She and her husband, Christopher, who have two children, recently lost their incomes after Oklahoma shut down the bars near Tulsa that she cleaned and that he supplied with vending machines. But when Phelps, 33, went to the IRS website to check on the status of her familys stimulus funds, she learned someone else had filed taxes on her husbands behalf and used his identity to obtain their $3,400 payment. MASK ORDER: Houstonians react to Harris County's mandate requiring face masks for public trips I cried all day, said Phelps, who is about a month away from being unable to pay her mortgage and has cut out everything but the basics, canceling cable and eliminating snacks for the kids. It is a little relief, and then you find out it isnt happening. With the government doling out trillions of dollars to blunt the economic pain of the coronavirus pandemic, these are good times for thieves and dangerous times for those who actually need the money. Ive been in this space for over 30 years, and I have not seen anything like this in my entire career, said Eva Velasquez, chief executive of the Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit based in San Diego that helps victims. The scope, the scale, the speed and the efficiency of the scams is breathtaking. In recent weeks, criminals have used peoples Social Security numbers, home addresses and other personal information much of which was available online from past data breaches to assume their identities and bilk them out of their stimulus checks and unemployment benefits. As a result, calls to Velasquezs organization were 850% higher in March than a year earlier, she said, and are still soaring. The scale of the fraud has been enormous, fueled by the economic crisis and the confusion surrounding the $2 trillion stabilization plan that President Donald Trump unveiled last month. That has been compounded by the governments own lack of security measures for people claiming stimulus payments, with those going through the IRS website to get their checks needing to input just a few pieces of information that scammers can readily obtain. The Federal Trade Commission recently reported that it had gotten four times as many complaints about identity fraud in the first few weeks of April as it had received in the previous three months combined. And law enforcement agencies have issued warnings about the daunting array of ways that criminals are exploiting the coronavirus. Even before the outbreak, losses from identity theft were enormous. Criminals made around $16.9 billion from identity fraud last year, the highest total in the last half decade, according to data firm Javelin. Many peoples personal information is readily accessible to hackers, amassed from dozens of data breaches over the past few years. Last month, Experian, the credit reporting agency, found a fresh batch of stolen data for 3 million people, containing all the pieces of personal information that a scammer would need to file for their stimulus checks. The coronavirus has made it even easier for fraudsters to get more information. Many are bombarding Americans with emails and phone calls that use the uncertainty around the virus to distribute malware and get people to divulge their bank information and other data, which can then be used to defraud the same people. Google said it intercepted 18 million such emails last week. BY THE NUMBERS: These Harris County ZIP codes have the most confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far Now criminals are deploying those troves of information to get their hands on the checks that the federal government is sending to needy Americans. Over the last month, more than 22 million people have filed for unemployment benefits. Stimulus funds are separately expected to go out to around 150 million people. While the Treasury Department electronically deposited the money for around 80 million people who have bank accounts on file with the government, the IRS created an online portal for the 70 million or so other recipients who did not have that information on file. The portal allows people to enter a new bank account address for the government to send them their money. But it requires only a few pieces of data for verification: a Social Security number, an address, a phone number and a date of birth. Security experts said that the IRS had opened up the door to fraud by requiring so little data to claim the money. The stimulus site is a little bit like ringing the dinner bell for hackers, said Brian Stack, vice president for dark web intelligence at Experian. The IRS did not respond to request for comment. On forums on the darknet, where criminals gather to buy and sell identity information and discuss tactics, fraudsters have openly discussed the opportunities presented by the stimulus funds and unemployment benefits. Just a little warning that when that $1,200 drops in your account keep your eyes peeled because I am coming for that! lol, said one message on a thread this month about the stimulus checks that was found by security firm Sixgill. Over the last month, 4,305 malicious website domains were set up to take advantage of people looking for new forms of government support, according to security firm Check Point. The fake sites, with names like whereismystimulus and 2020reliefprogram, generally ask people to input their personal data with the promise that they can get information about their checks. But hackers then use the data against those who fall for the trick. This is El Dorado for hackers and pure hell for the victims, said Adam Levin, founder of CyberScout, a firm that helps companies protect against and manage identity theft. TO-GO MEALS: These black-owned Houston restaurants are offering to-go meals during pandemic Unlike many previous victims of identity theft who were often hit at random, those getting targeted now are in particular need of the money. Colin Chaplain, 21, in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts, found out he had lost his unemployment benefits to a scammer the day after he was put on indefinite leave from his construction job this month. He made the discovery when he logged into the state website to create a new profile and claim unemployment. To his surprise, when he entered his Social Security number, the site responded Welcome back. It also showed the last two letters of the street name of the person who had already claimed his check, he said. Chaplain has since waited more than 10 days for a police report, which he needs to start the process of correcting things with the unemployment office. He said he has had trouble getting through. I just let it ring, and two hours go by and nothing, said Chaplain, adding that he only has enough savings to get him through the next few weeks. I dont know what else to do. Cortlyn Taylor, 19, who lives in Fishers, Indiana, has also been trying to get help after she was laid off from her job at Walmart last month. When she applied for unemployment benefits, she learned an identity thief had beaten her to it. On the IRS site, she found that the same person had grabbed her $1,200 stimulus check, which she needed to pay her mounting bills. For the past few weeks, Taylor has been trying to get a response from the IRS. After not hearing back, she spent 10 hours one day driving to all three IRS offices in Indiana, where she still could not find anyone to help. Taylor lives with her mother, 56, who doesnt work and who has been recovering from the coronavirus. On Tuesday, Taylor said they were down to $4 in her checking account. She said local police told her they were hearing from lots of other people in the same situation. But with all of the backlogs and closed offices, she was told, the glacial speed at which identity theft cases are normally resolved was likely to be even slower. I kind of have to pause everything, she said. I cant get a car in my name like I planned. Im not going to be able to do a lot of things that I planned to do. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. A Chinese official slammed Missouri for filing a lawsuit against China and its leaders over the coronavirus pandemic.Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang denied allegations that China's response to the virus caused the disaster in a press conference on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press Geng said. The diplomat asserted that China had handled the outbreak in an "open, transparent, and responsible manner" and said that the U.S. shouldMissouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt announced on Tuesday that the state was suing China, the Chinese Communist Party, and other Chinese officials and institutions for theirthat resulted in the pandemic.Schmitt said.Last week, unemployment claims rose to nearly 22 million in the past month since states began issuing strict stay-at-home orders to combat the spread of the virus. The number of claims is a proxy for the number of jobs lost or furloughed because of the pandemic, though the real number is likely much higher as state governments struggle to process the torrent of claims being filed as many slip through the cracks.Though Missouri Gov. Mike Parson did not issue a stay-at-home order until April 6, workers in his state began feeling effects of the coronavirus and social distancing measures much earlier. From March 15 to April 11, nearly 340,000 workers in Missouri filed for unemployment, about a 2,700% increase over the same time period up to March 14.Missouri has reported nearly 6,000 total cases of the coronavirus and 220 deaths, avoiding the brunt of the pathogen's impact being felt in places such as New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.Schmitt said.Individual states are typically prevented from suing foreign nations by U.S. law. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) have introduced a bill into Congress that would exempt states suing over damage caused by the virus, however.Crenshaw said in a statement A DECISION to close playgrounds was made by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) a week before it decided support was needed for nursing homes, the Dail has been told. Fianna Fail health spokesman Stephen Donnelly made the claim as he criticised the preparations made for nursing homes to respond to the coronavirus crisis. Health Minister Simon Harris defended the actions of the public health authorities in relation to protecting vulnerable nursing home residents and said it "always makes sense to put in place measures to suppress your virus in the community". Read More Earlier he revealed that the reproduction rate of the virus has now fallen further to between 0.5 and 1 - meaning every person who contracts the disease is infecting less than one other person. Mr Harris warned that despite the fall we are "in no means in a safe place" and he said social distancing must be maintained. He added: If we had to decide on lifting measures today for tomorrow, the Chief Medical Officer advises me we would not make any changes. But we are working on a roadmap, which we will finalise over the next week. One which must acknowledge increased movement carries increased risk. Expand Close Minister for Health Simon Harris. Photo: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Minister for Health Simon Harris. Photo: Leah Farrell/RollingNews.ie Mr Donnelly said seven out of ten deaths from coronavirus are now in community care homes including nursing homes. He said there is a desperate shortage of staff and personal protective equipment (PPE). Mr Donnelly said one nurse told him: There is Covid in the air, there is Covid on the walls, there is Covid on every door. He said the staff member told him that the senior nurses in the home were either out sick with the virus or self-isolating. Mr Donnelly argued that two factors contributed to the situation in nursing homes. He said nursing homes dont have a voice on the NPHET and asked Mr Harris to ensure that this changes. He also claimed there was a delay in preparations. He said NPHET records show nursing homes were only mentioned for the first time at its twelfth meeting on March 10 when it was agreed that restrictions on visits were not required at that time. Mr Donnelly told the Dail that minutes show that NPHET made the decision to close the playgrounds a week before it decided that support was needed for nursing homes. Mr Harris responded saying: I don't think it serves us well in our understanding of public health to differentiate between a response in the community and a response in terms of long term residential care settings as though they're not linked. He said: Had we not managed to flatten the curve as a people in relation to the community I shudder to think what the situation in our long term residential care facilities would be like. He also said: In public health policy terms it always makes sense to put in place measures to suppress your virus in the community. Mr Harris added that these measures werent entirely sequential either and there was a lot of work ongoing in parallel. He insisted nursing homes do have a seat at the NPHET through Hiqa which regulates the sector. Mr Harris said it wouldnt be appropriate for Nursing Home Ireland (NHI) the organisation that represents nursing home owners to be on the NPHET. He said he himself meets NHI twice a week. He said NHI met the HSE boss Paul Reid as far back as February 19 to discuss Covid-19 preparations. He said the World Health Organisation (WHO) did not publish its infection prevention control guidance for long term care facilities until March 21, after measures had already been put in place here. (Natural News) Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic disorder that affects the large intestine. It can be caused by a severe infection, inflammation or abnormal muscle contractions. Among the many symptoms of IBS, abdominal pain, coupled with either diarrhea or constipation, is the most common. People with IBS often report low health-related quality of life. Pain is the most disruptive symptom identified by people with IBS, followed by diarrhea for those with diarrhea-predominant IBS. In one study, researchers found that abdominal pain had the strongest impact on the quality of life of women with IBS, occurring at least minimally 62 percent of the time, based on daily diaries. This suggests that pain relief is key to improving the well-being of people with IBS, besides effective long-term management strategies. In a recent study, researchers from China and Hong Kong studied the effects of quercetin, a compound found in many plant-based foods, on abdominal pain and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) availability in a post-inflammatory irritable bowel syndrome (PI-IBS) rat model. 5-HT is the scientific name for serotonin, the brain chemical that regulates happiness, anxiety and mood. The researchers reported their findings in an article published in the Journal of Medicinal Food. Quercetin can help with IBS-related pain According to the researchers, intestinal enterochromaffin (EC) cell hyperplasia (enlargement due to increased proliferation) and 5-HT availability play key roles in the development of abdominal hypersensitivity linked to IBS. EC cells are the most common type of neuroendocrine cells in the gastroinstestinal tract. These cells help modulate nerve signals by producing 5-HT, which, in turn, regulates gut motility. Studies show that altered 5-HT signaling leads to the development of IBS symptoms. To determine the influence of quercetin on 5-HT availability and EC cell hyperplasia, the researchers administered 5, 10 and 20?mg/kg quercetin by gavage to PI-IBS rats for 14 days. Compared with that of normal rats, the abdominal pain threshold of PI-IBS rats pre-treatment was significantly lower while their abdominal motor response to colon distension was significantly higher. The researchers also noted that the EC cell count, as well as 5-HT and tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) levels of PI-IBS rats were significantly elevated, while their 5-HT reuptake transporter (serotonin transporter) levels were reduced. TPH is an enzyme involved in the production of serotonin. In addition, the genes responsible for enteroendocrine cell differentiation (Ngn3 and pdx1) were also significantly increased. The researchers reported that quercetin treatment significantly elevated the pain threshold of PI-IBS rats and decreased their abdominal motor response. Quercetin also reduced the volume of EC cell density, 5-HT levels and the expression of TPH. Additionally, quercetin significantly reduced the expression of Ngn3 and pdx1 in the colon. Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that quercetin has analgesic effects that can help with PI-IBS management. They associated these effects with quercetins ability to reduce 5-HT availability in the colon and regulate endocrine progenitors to reduce the number of EC cells. Quercetin, a plant pigment with beneficial properties Quercetin is a flavonoid that can be found in a variety of edible plants, such as citrus, leafy vegetables, berries, herbs, legumes, green tea and cocoa. It is also a component of widely used herbal remedies, such as ginkgo biloba and St. Johns wort, and contributes to their therapeutic properties. Because quercetin is one of the most extensively studied plant compounds, scientists know a lot about its biological activities. Research shows that quercetin can act as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agent. It can also stop the release of histamine, kill certain viruses and bacteria and reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons. Due to its many health benefits, quercetin is now marketed as a health supplement. The U.S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) considers quercetin generally safe, but cautions that it may interact with certain medications. The safest dose of quercetin is 500 mg per day; taking high doses (1,000 mg) regularly and long-term may cause side effects, such as headaches, nausea and tingling sensations. Interested about quercetin and its other health benefits? Visit Antioxidants.news to learn more. Sources include: Science.news MayoClinic.org Insights.Ovid.com Healthline.com ScienceDirect.com 1 ScienceDirect.com 2 MedicalNewsToday.com OnlineLibrary.Wiley.com BPSPubs.OnlineLibrary.Wiley.com LiebertPub.com U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a Coronavirus Task Force press briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, on April 18, 2020. (JIim Watson/AFP/Getty Images) Trump Says He Strongly Disagrees With Georgias Plan to Reopen State President Donald Trump said that he disagrees with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemps move to allow certain businesses to reopen on Friday. I want him to do what he thinks is right, but I disagree with him on what hes doing, Trump said at a White House press briefing on Wednesday night. The decision by Kemp, which he announced this week, would violate federal guidelines that are in place, said Trump. I told the governor of Georgia, Brian Kemp, that I disagree strongly with his decision to open certain facilities, Trump added. Kemp, like numerous other governors, issued a statewide stay-at-home order in a move to curb the spread of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a novel coronavirus that emerged in Wuhan, China, in 2019. Gov. Brian Kemp on Nov. 6, 2018. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Kemp wrote on social media after the presidents comments that he appreciated the presidents bold leadership and insight during these difficult times, but he stressed that the move to reopen the economy is correct. Our next measured step is driven by data and guided by state public health officials. We will continue with this approach to protect the livesand livelihoodsof all Georgians, the governor added. Under his order, theaters, restaurants, and clubs can reopen along with hair salons and bowling alleys on Friday. People have to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Bars and nightclubs will stay closed, and Georgias shelter-in-place order expires on April 30. Kemp also wrote Monday: Due to favorable data & more testing, gyms, fitness centers, bowling alleys, body art studios, barbers, cosmetologists, hair designers, nail care artists, estheticians, their respective schools & massage therapists can reopen Friday, April 24 with Minimum Basic Operations. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, meanwhile, said earlier in the day that his state and five others will coordinate reopening their economies. People walk down Jacksonville Beach in Florida on April 19, 2020. (Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) We have had a meeting with all the Southeastern governorsMississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee, DeSantis told Fox News. And we shared a lot of ideas. I think we will be on the same page on some stuff. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster announced that some businesses can open at 5 p.m. starting Monday. Gov. Bill Lee of Tennessee said Monday that his states stay-at-home order will expire on April 30, and a number of businesses can reopen on May 1., while Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves told reporters that his state will reduce restrictions on April 27, and Alabamas stay-at-home order will expire April 30. When it became obvious that the coronavirus pandemic would cause grave financial harm to consumers, the Federal Communications Commission challenged internet and telephone service providers to join its Keep Americans Connected pledge. Providers promised, for 60 days, not to terminate service to any residential or small business customers because of an inability to pay. The companies also promised to waive late fees and open Wi-Fi hotspots to any American who needs them. More than 700 companies, including Comcast, signed on. The pledge covers internet service but not television service thats the key to confusion over Monica Jacobys complaint about Comcast. The North Arlington woman was unemployed before the coronavirus pandemic hit. She started receiving unemployment benefits last fall, but had no success finding a new job. Working with one of the Department of Labors workforce programs, she was able to extend her benefits by four months by going back to school. Jacoby, who already had a bachelors degree, began classes for a certificate program on March 2, just as the coronavirus outbreak was starting to take hold in New Jersey. Even through the shutdown, Jacoby was able to continue her studies online, but her fiances income dried up. Once the order was issued for non-essential workers to stay home, my fiance could not work any longer and his jobs are still on hold, Jacoby said. I ended up pulling whatever cash from my account for groceries. They started to fall behind on bills, including a $179 per month Comcast bill. Her only income was $506 per week from unemployment. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage Trying to stay current as best she could, she said, she sent $203 to Comcast in March. She called Comcast on April 2, making a payment arrangement of $382.50 her remaining balance. I was told I had a scheduled cutoff on April 10 but if I needed more time to call back, she said. Jacoby then heard about the companys coronavirus policy, which reads: We will not disconnect a customers internet service or mobile service or assess late fees if they contact us and let us know that they cant pay their bills during this period. Our care teams will be available to offer flexible payment options and can help find other solutions. Jacoby said she had already gotten extensions on her car payment and insurance bills, so she figured she should also ask Comcast. I called on April 9, and was quickly told by the rep that I had until May 13, 2020, to pay the outstanding balance with no penalties, she said. So while she was prepared to pay the $382.50, she took advantage of the extra time, figuring that waiting until May 13 would be a smarter option, she said. But two days later, on April 11, Comcast shut off her service. She saw the television wasnt working and assumed the company terminated all her services. After an hour and a half, I got an agent on the chat who said I had to pay $585.50 to get service back, she said, noting that the payment included a pre-payment for the next months service. She said the chat representative didnt care that she had been told she had until May 13 to pay, and said the only way to restore service would be to pay the $585.50. With only $600 left in her bank account, Jacoby just paid the bill. I felt like I had no choice but to pay it. We are all under stress and I depend on their crappy and expensive service to go to school online and job search, Jacoby said. I am still waiting on the extra $600 for unemployment and the federal stimulus. I would have paid them before next month. Her service was turned back on, but her bank account was empty. She asked Bamboozled for help. Policies and priorities Comcast confirmed Jacobys television service was shut off, but said her internet was never disconnected. Service was restored with no late fees or reconnection fees that same day when she was able to make a payment, a spokeswoman said. She also could have explored downgrading her television package. Okay, but what about the pledge? The pledge was kept because it only covers internet service, Comcast said, but the representative who spoke to Jacoby should have been clear that only television service was being shut off. We apologize for the miscommunication with Ms. Jacoby about our program, specifically in relation to the video services part of her package, as our goal is to provide customers with flexible options to help them through this difficult time, a spokeswoman said. Jacoby still isnt happy. The agent I spoke with never explained it was only internet. It was a quick call, she said. If she did, then I would have made that payment that day, meaning back on April 9. Definitely going to a live stream service after this crisis, Jacoby said. The lesson here? Companies make mistakes, and this is a fraught time for those who have lost their jobs and worry about paying their bills. You should carefully weigh whether you want to delay payments and be sure to understand the details. Ask questions if youre not sure the information youre receiving is correct. If a company tells you something that doesnt sound right, especially if it is insisting you to pay a bill, get a second opinion by calling the 800-number again. A different representative may have a different answer for you. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Karin Price Mueller may be reached at bamboozled@njadvancemedia.com. By PTI MUMBAI: Healthcare workers at the forefront of the war against coronavirus are not only facing the daunting task of handling patients but are also fighting to keep their own worries and emotional stress at bay. A doctor from a leading Mumbai hospital, who is currently home quarantined after he came in contact with a colleague who had coronavirus symptoms, said these times are challenging for everyone, including the medical fraternity. Even though his colleague tested negative for coronavirus, the doctor is not taking any chances as he has aged parents and a six-month-old son at home. "I haven't touched my baby since the last one month. Yesterday was my wife's birthday, but I could not participate in the celebration since I am confined to a separate room in the house," the doctor told PTI. He said some of them at the frontline of the COVID-19 war are feeling exhausted and running out of patience. "Initially, we thought we would tide over the crisis. But, now April is ending and there is no sign of a decrease in coronavirus cases. My colleagues haven't met their families for last one month," he said. "The junior doctors, nurses and paramedics have really taken up this wartime as a challenge. We hope we are able to flatten the curve," he said. He said wearing the personal protection equipment (PPE) and masks for long hours is also no mean task and makes them feel suffocated. The PPE comprises a gown, shoes, cap, N-95 mask, goggles and double gloves which are air tight. "Still, there is no guarantee of protection against the virus," he said. Most hospitals here have separate coronavirus disease ward, ICU and a dedicated medical team whose members work for five days and then are quarantined for seven days, he added. A nurse, who is ward in-charge in a city hospital, was initially quite worried when she was told last month that the medical facility will admit COVID-19 patients, and she and her team will be working in the specially created ward. "We were not mentally prepared and had heard about how serious the situation was in China. I was more worried for my young team than my 15-year-old son and husband. What if I was got infected while treating the patients?" she said, adding that they did not even know how to wear the PPE. "I could not control my emotions in front of my senior doctor. He said I may be excluded from the team as I was very sensitive. Later, he told me I can take up this challenge by considering my own and my team's safety first. He said the hospital trusts me I can handle the situation," she revealed. The nurse said she then took it upon herself to stay emotionally strong. But, the fear of whether she and her family would be safe continued to haunt her. "Fortunately, all patients who have come to us so far are stable and not like what we had heard about China and other countries," she said. But, her inner struggles continued when she could not celebrate her son's 15th birthday on March 24, as the first COVID-19 patient got admitted to their hospital that day. "I felt sad and at the same time wondering if I was making my family and team unsafe. I felt I was responsible for their safety. So, we sent our son to my parents' home and me and my husband maintained social distancing," she said. But, the emotional turmoil continued and one day, after returning come, she cried. Her son consoled her, saying she was part of efforts being made at the global level to fight the pandemic and should not be emotional. "My son was proud of me. The next day, I joined the duty at my hospital and worked non-stop for the next few days. My son would call me at night to enquire about me. Some nurses did not report to work due to family pressure or fear of being isolated by society, but my allowed me to work," she said. The nurse said they also faced problems when the cleaning staff stayed away from work after the COVID unit was started. "We nurses had to clean the patients and also give them bedpan," she said. While she was all geared up for her work, she was earlier this month asked to remain in institutional quarantine for 10 days after she came in contact with a ward boy who tested positive for coronavirus. "My test later came out negative. I felt God wanted me to continue my work. There is no fear of coronavirus now," the nurse said. She also expressed concern over fake content on coronavirus circulating on social media. Revealing one such incident, she said the security guard of her ward tested positive for coronavirus sometime back and was admitted to another hospital. A few days later, the security guard's son came to her and showed a purported video of his father's death and the civic body preparing for the funeral. "I informed higher authorities of my hospital to check and found the security guard was stable and doing well. This left me wondering how people can think of preparing fake videos when the health workers and others are working round-the-clock to contain the pandemic," she said. Its one thing to take shelter from the pandemic in ones own home or apartment. But its another to be taking shelter at a homeless shelter. Still, despite the inconveniences and somewhat-dropped donations due to the coronavirus, Shared Blessings Executive Director Shelly Bess said theyre all making do, doing their part to keep the curve flattened. One sacrifice thats been made is their annual fundraiser, the Shamrock Shuffle 5K. As the name implies, its usually scheduled around St. Patricks Day, but this year, heavy rains postponed it to March 28 about a week and a half after schools closed and around the same time the governor called for a voluntary shutdown. The 5K had been scheduled for April 25, this Saturday, but Bess said by now, its become a distant memory. I dont see our way around the rules for safe social distancing, or much participation happening for the 5K, she said. No ones even asked about it, so its a pretty good indication no ones doing it. Well find a way to exist without the money we usually raise from it. Other than that, the homeless shelter on Grove Avenue in Bonne Terre is making the best of sheltering at the shelter. We are OK. Our faithful donors have continued to support us, and for that were so grateful, Bess said. They might have chosen a different avenue to donate than they usually do, were so happy we can continue to rely on them. Its sporadic, not typically what it is, but were OK right now. Weve paid our bills. Bess indicated residents who qualify for food stamps have generously pooled their resources to help keep the household fed. There are about a dozen people presently calling it home before they re-start their 90-day programs to find employment and homes of their own. Shared Blessings is a transitional homeless shelter that works with residents to get them on their feet again. Bess said she can tell the coronavirus is affecting the public agencies they usually use to help residents apply for disability, Medicaid, childrens services, and other helpful resources. Its taking a little longer, understandably, since those who process the applications are probably working on a limited basis, she said. They cant risk their lives to sit across the desk from someone. The 90-day program the shelter offers for helping residents transition to homes and jobs is also on hiatus for some, she said. If residents didnt have a job, weve asked them to not leave, so theyre going stir crazy, ready to go on with their 90-day care program so they can find a job. But the jobs that don't stop are those of the director and the dedicated volunteers. I go in every day, so I have quarantined myself away from my family, she said. My daughter has foster kids and they live in the country. My other kids live on three farms and can go outside and not be exposed to people, so Ive been very happy theyre all able to go outside in the fresh air. I havent been around them and they havent been to my house since this started. She said Easter at the shelter was different this year. We did have about five volunteers who have continued to serve through all this, and we had our own worship service. Myself and another volunteer spoke, we had a message and we all sang, and we have a caretaker who sings beautifully, she said. The three little boys who are staying here, and the volunteers kids, they had things for Easter that people dropped off for the few days. Anything we can give a child on Easter morning, we try to do. They had a very nice Easter. Still, Bess said, they are taking many precautions. New Beginnings, which partners with Shared Blessings, has been great to share disposable gloves, and many organizations in the area have helped with sanitizer, homemade masks and even some disposable masks. Bess said one year the shelter ran low on toilet paper, and afterward a local church took it upon themselves to make sure they never ran out, so they have enough banked to not worry for now. Those who give dont forget us, Bess said. They know we have needs and they call us to check on us. Out of the blue, theyll call and ask what someone wants. And they just want to share even if they themselves arent so blessed, they want to share what they have. Its humbling and inspiring. Bess said this week, they were contacted by a regular donor who said she had a call in her heart to ask what sort of food was needed, instead of making her regular donation. She said Go through, look in the pantries and freezers and just tell me what you need, Bess said. Its refreshing to see that, while everyones trying to be so careful, theyre still caring and trying to make sure people have enough to eat. Its nice to know the world is still kind. And sometimes uncanny. Bess said coincidences of timing between need and donation happen so regularly at the shelter, its almost become a running joke. One of our volunteers was gone for three weeks and came back after a microwave oven had just been donated the night before, Bess said. A resident who left us happened to ask us the next morning if we could help him find a microwave. The returning volunteer heard me ask another if we still had it, and she said, This is what I missed when I was gone, I went three weeks without witnessing one of these happenings, and the first conversation I hear when I get back is, we will be able to give him a microwave. Its infectious. It becomes addicting, see the many, almost-daily miracles that occur here. Anyone who wants to donate to the transitional homeless shelter can send checks to P.O. Box 456, Bonne Terre, MO 63628. Bess said anyone who donates $250 or more can qualify for Missouri tax credits, so if one requests a form with their donation, a tax credit form will be sent back with their receipt and thank-you note. Anyone with more questions can call 573-358-2998. Sarah Haas is the assistant editor for the Daily Journal. She can be reached at 573-518-3617 or at shaas@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. Unilever, the Anglo-Dutch major maker foods and groceries, including Domestos, Dove soap and Knorr soups, has been hit hard by the fallout of the pandemic for an industry that many analysts thought would be immune. There may be implications for Irish food giants such as Kerry Group which is preparing to update the market at the end of the month. 30 firefighters tackle heath fire Fire crews spent more than four hours tackling at a heath fire on Greeba Hill last night. Thirty firefighters were used in the operation to extinguish the fire which involved four acres of heathland. A crew remained on scene through the night dealing with hot spots. Fire officers say the ground remains incredibly dry and the fire remains deep in the ground. An investigation has been launched to find the cause of the fire which is currently unknown. PORTLAND, Ore. Governor Kate Brown announced on Thursday that she will be lifting the order that has postponed all elective and non-emergency medical procedures in the state due to the COVID-19 crisis. If health care providers can prove that they "have met new requirements for COVID-19 safety and preparedness," they will be able to resume all other procedures starting May 1. This includes hospitals, surgical centers, medical offices, and dental offices. As anyone waiting for an elective surgery knows, non-urgent does not mean minor,' said Governor Brown. This is incredibly important medical care that we would not have told providers to delay if the threat of COVID-19 had not made it necessary." SPECIAL SECTION: Coronavirus Watch Most routine procedures at medical and dental facilities were put on hold in order to preserve PPE and hospital surge capacity as coronavirus cases began to mount in Oregon over the beginning of March. Governor Brown issued the executive order on March 19, with most aspects of it going into effect exactly one month ago, on March 23. "Many Oregonians have been hoping for this news," Brown said. Under the Governor's requirements, medical providers will need to show that they can minimize the risk of coronavirus transmission to patients and healthcare workers, maintain adequate hospital capacity in the event of a surge in COVID-19 cases, and support the health care workforce in safely resuming activities. The requirements include having enough PPE available for health care workers, and adequate testing capacity. Those benchmarks have become the baseline for both state and federal plans to reopen state economies. Brown's hosted a press teleconference at 11 a.m. on Thursday with Dr. Dana Hargunani of the Oregon Health Authority and Dr. Bruce Goldberg of the Governors Medical Advisory Panel to detail the change. I would like to thank Oregonians for the sacrifices they have made during this crisis to ensure that our health care workers have the personal protective equipment they need to treat COVID-19 patients," Brown said. "Lifting this order will allow our health care system to get up and running again, with appropriate safeguards in place, so that Oregonians can get health care treatment without delay. Thousands of best-selling alcohol buys have been fast-tracked into stores to meet with COVID-19 demand, including Margot Robbie's favourite gin. Australian liquor chains Dan Murphy's and BWS are adding nearly 2,000 new products to its stores to support struggling suppliers after pubs, clubs and restaurants were forced to shut indefinitely due to coronavirus restrictions. Among the best buys is the Hollywood actress's drink of choice - Ink Gin, which sold out in late 2016 after she shared a picture of herself sipping the floral-infused pink drink shortly after marrying her now-husband Tom Ackerley in Byron Bay. The lustrous inky blue gin, retailed at $79.95, turns to blush pink when mixed with tonic water due to the infusion of the butterfly pea flower. Thousands of best-selling alcohol buys have been fast-tracked into stores to meet with COVID-19 demand, including Margot Robbie's favourite gin (picture of the Hollywood actress sipping the floral-infused Ink Gin in December 2016 after marrying Tom Ackerley in Byron Bay) The lustrous inky blue gin, retailed at $79.95, turns to blush pink when mixed with tonic water due to the infusion of the butterfly pea flower Husk Distillers founder Paul Messenger said at the time the celebrity's social media plug was 'unexpected and terrific'. 'The interest generated has been amazing; it is interesting to see the celebrity power at work,' Mr Messenger told Business News Australia. 'It was great exposure. From our point of view, in terms of the colours, you couldn't engineer a photo shoot any more perfect. It was a fantastic shot of Margot and of the gin... Since then, we have completely run out of gin.' Shoppers can now get their hands on the bottle in stores after the distiller was left with extra stock following the temporary closure of duty free stores and venues. Other best-selling items being rushed into stores include Craft & Co's Gingerbread Gin and Jasmine Rum Tea and Manly Spirits Co's Pink Gin and G&Ts. Dan Murphy's and BWS are adding nearly 2,000 new products to its stores to support struggling suppliers after pubs, clubs and restaurants were forced to shut indefinitely due to coronavirus restrictions Endeavour Drink, who runs Dan Murphy's and BWS, has added 2,000 new products online and bricks and mortar stores to support more than 200 new suppliers - mainly small producers Endeavour Drink, who runs Dan Murphy's and BWS, has added almost 2,000 new products online and bricks and mortar stores to support more than 200 new suppliers - mainly small producers. 'We have been reaching out and continue to work closely with producers and industry bodies to see how we can provide support to suppliers in these difficult times,' Steve Donohue, managing director of Endeavour Drinks said. 'Our success as a business relies on the outstanding products that producers around the country create and supply us with, and it's important that we do as much as we can to support them during this time of crisis.' Hundreds of new product lines are being fast-tracked in the on-boarding process and added to local BWS and Dan Murphy's bricks and mortar stores. Tony Battaglene, chief executive of Australian Grape & Wine, has welcomed the increased access to retail sales. 'With many small wine producers struggling to find a route to market due to huge reductions in cellar door and on-premise sales, these initiatives have provided a survival lifeline for a number of businesses,' Mr Battaglene said. In recent months, Australians have been stocking up on booze after being forced to go into coronavirus self-isolation, as liquor stores across the country report seeing an increase in customer demand. The Covid-19 quick test kit was jointly developed by Vietnam Military Medical University and Viet A Technology Corporation. This is a commercialization process of the national research One-step Real-time RT-PCR kit, approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology on March 3, 2020. One day after that, the Ministry of Health released Decision No.774/QD-BYT on the use of In Vitro Diagnostics biologicals registered by Vietnam Military Medical University and Viet A Technology Corporation for SARS-CoV-2 testing in the Covid-19 fight in Vietnam. At the moment, Viet A Technology Corporation is able to manufacture around 10,000 test kits per day, with the maximum capacity of 3 times as many as that. This can both satisfy the domestic demands and support other nations as well. The research result of Vietnam Military Medical University was also sent to WHO, which highly appreciated it and asked for permission to share the valuable information among its laboratories worldwide. The CE Marking and CFS have offered a precious opportunity for the kit to be exported to many nations in Europe, the region heavily affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Before that, more than 20 countries and businesses such as Iran, Ukraine, Finland, and Malaysia have ordered the Covid-19 test kit made in Vietnam. This is because the kit possesses the benefit of delivering result in a shorter time (in around one hour), being user-friendly compared to the guiding procedures by WHO and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the US. What is more, this kit is compatible with most devices and machines in testing and treating Covid-19 patients in the world. By Tran Binh Translated by Vien Hong European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde addresses a news conference on the outcome of the meeting of the Governing Council in Frankfurt, Germany, January 23, 2020. Ralph Orlowski | Reuters It has never been implemented in the euro zone, but ultimately the European Central Bank (ECB) could reach a point where so-called "helicopter money" is its best option amid the coronavirus crisis, two analysts told CNBC. The term, coined by 20th century economist Milton Friedman, refers to an unconventional monetary policy, where a central bank prints additional money and distributes it directly to its citizens. The idea which evokes the image of money being thrown out of a helicopter to the people below is to boost consumer spending, and thus an economic recovery, during a recession. However, there are a range of ideas as to how central bankers could go about this. European nations have been some of the hardest hit by Covid-19, with the International Monetary Fund projecting a GDP contraction of 7.5% for the euro area this year. The ECB has taken different steps to alleviate some of this impact, including pledging to buy 750 billion euros ($815 billion) in sovereign bonds this year. However, data released earlier this week showed that the ECB's pandemic program could expire by October if the central bank keeps buying sovereign bonds at the current pace. Experts told CNBC that helicopter money raises concerns over central bank independence, foreign investment (as it will devalue the currency), and it is unclear how people would use the extra cash. However, they have also said that if the ECB struggles to ensure price stability its core mandate then it's a "valid" option. John Wraith, head of U.K. rates strategy at UBS, told CNBC Tuesday that if the ECB continues to buy sovereign bonds for another six to 12 months with little results, "what are we going to do? We might have to try helicopter money." Dario Perkins, managing director at global macro research firm TS Lombard, also said that helicopter money could be an option. "There is no need for the ECB to do it now," he said, but added: "Can you think of another crisis as big as this one?" The ECB has so far avoided looking at helicopter money as a real possibility. In a letter, signed by ECB President Christine Lagarde Wednesday, the bank said "the Governing Council has never discussed the issue of helicopter money. Hence, the ECB has not adopted a formal position on the matter." "When the ECB says they never discussed it, it probably means that they did," Frederik Ducrozet, strategist at Pictet Wealth Management, told CNBC Wednesday. The overarching question though is how to potentially provide helicopter money. "You can be creative with these things," Perkins, from TS Lombard, told CNBC. How to do it? The French central bank governor, Francois Villeroy de Galhau, suggested earlier this month that if there was a "major risk to price stability" then a central bank could opt for helicopter money for corporates, supporting businesses directly, rather than citizens. Some analysts have also proposed that the ECB could have negative rates on its long-term funding to banks via its TLROs program (targeted longer-term refinancing operations). This would mean that the central bank would be paying commercial lenders to get new capital, which in turn should allow citizens and businesses to get credit with more favorable conditions. "One can think of extreme examples of this, including a 10-year TLTRO at -1% with money offered to banks under the condition that they grant 0% loans to their customers," Ducrozet, from Pictet Wealth Management, said. As of Wednesday, 10 inmates were in medical isolation with flu-like symptoms, two of which were placed under medical isolation for the first time, Zenk said. A man from the south-central Vietnamese province of Phu Yen has been probed for growing nearly 100 cannabis plants at his farm and selling the products to local drug users. The Department of Police in Tuy Hoa City, Phu Yen Province confirmed on Wednesday it had initiated legal proceedings against Dang Ngoc Vinh, 51, for the illegal trade of narcotics. Vinh has not been taken into custody but he is required not to leave his place of residence. In February, police officers caught Vinh red-handed taking care of 99 cannabis plants weighing nearly 20 kilograms on a piece of land in An Phu Commune along with some other crops. The man claimed to have collected cannabis seeds while working in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong. Vinh would harvest the stems, leaves, and branches of grown cannabis plants and sell them to local drug users. Cannabis plants are grown on a piece of land in Tuy Hoa City, Phu Yen Province. Photo: Thai Phong / Tuoi Tre Preliminary investigation revealed that Vinh had sold 0.5 kilograms of cannabis to a person in Tuy Hoa City for VND1 million (US$63) in February. Police had been investigating the case and collecting statements from Vinhs buyers before initiating legal procedures against him. This is the first time officers in Tuy Hoa have discovered a local resident farming cannabis against the law. According to Vietnamese law, growing cannabis is punishable by a fine worth VND2-5 million ($84-211) if the number of trees is under 500. However, Vinh is charged for illicitly trading narcotics, a crime that carries a jail term of two to seven years. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Lebanese government has arrested a national for advertising a Nigerian girl for sale on his facebook. The Nigerian Embassy in Lebanon had drew the attention of the country on the advertisement of a Nigerian girl for sale. The culprit, Mr, Wael Jerro had been on the run as the Lebanese government declared him wanted for such action. According to Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, The Lebanese Govt just announced the arrest of Mr. WAEL JERRO for onward prosecution against criminal sales of a human, a young Nigerian girl. A big thanks to the Nigerian mission in Lebanon for swinging into immediate action. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, had on Tuesday said the Nigerian mission in Lebanon had since reported to the host authorities on the dastard act and that a man hunt was on for the man and all out search for the young girl. According to Dabiri-Erewa, on Wednesday, the Lebanese Ministry of Labour issued a circular condemning the action of Jerro as completely unethical, in contravention of Lebanese Laws and against the Principles of Human Rights. The circular further stated that legal action will be constituted against him for human trafficking before the competent judicial authority by the Ministry, in line with its statutory responsibility. The Nigerian mission in Lebanon has also demanded an immediate hand over of the victim to the mission unconditionally and, in good health. NIDCOM will continue to follow up on the matter, she said. Worldwide Business with kathy ireland Streaming LIVE Sun. 4/26 and Weds. 4/29 Worldwide Business with kathy ireland is excited to announce that they will be LIVE streaming this weeks episode of their successful business program on Sunday, April 26, 2020 and Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 8:00pm ET / PT Worldwide Business with kathy ireland is excited to announce that they will be LIVE streaming this weeks episode of their successful business program on Sunday, April 26, 2020 and Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 8:00pm ET / PT for ease of viewing and sharing! This episodes exclusive interviews will spotlight key executives from Blue Eagle Consulting, FLUIDDA, AnswerConnect, and Regent University. As leaders in their industries, the four companies featured demonstrate the unique branding opportunity Worldwide Business with kathy ireland offers by bringing strategic messages and unique solutions to the business community. Company Spotlight Blue Eagle Consulting: Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, and with a network of seasoned information systems professionals, Blue Eagle Consulting provides healthcare organizations with the people they need to ensure their large software investments perform as expected. Blue Eagle Consulting consultants are those in the top ten percent in their field, with 10 to 20 years in the field and/or five to seven years of qualified experience. President, Mark Griffin states that Blue Eagle Consulting stands out from other consulting services for many reasons; one of which is their quick turnarounds. He explains, "We have the proven ability to deliver. On average, it only takes us about seven to ten business days from the time we have a conversation with a client until we've paired a consultant or group of consultants for the needs they have." FLUIDDA: Headquartered in Belgium, FLUIDDA is leading the field of functional respiratory imaging (FRI) with their companys technique which combines HRCT scans and computational fluid dynamics technology. In a world where the quality of air is under stress, and with one person dying from a respiratory condition every minute, patients with pulmonary diseases deserve better, faster, less costly treatments. FLUIDDA's mission is to optimize treatment pathways, reduce healthcare costs and limit the go-to-market time of respiratory drugs, pulmonology medical devices and therapies. CEO, Dr. Jan DeBacker says that they are actually able to help people with COVID-19. He explains, "This virus binds in the lungs to the receptors. The body tries to fight the virus by creating an inflammatory response In the early stages, FLUIDDA can detect how much the lungs are already compensating for this disease and predict whether a patient will stay stable or if the patient is at risk of ending up in the ICU." AnswerConnect: Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, and serving clients around the world since 1994, AnswerConnect delivers exceptional customer care and has continuously adapted to the changing landscape of business and communication. From 24/7 answering services to industry-specific contact center solutions, the companys ever-increasing portfolio of service offerings for early start-ups to multinational organizations has helped them grow consistently year after year. CEO, Natalie Ruiz explains that AnswerConnect provides unique tools and services for virtual workers a need that many companies are newly experiencing right now. She states, "At our core, we provide virtual reception and answering services, making sure that phone calls are answered 24/7/365 for our businesses they can stay connected to their teams, whether they're out in the field, at their office, or at their home office. Regent University: Founded in 1978, Regent University's 11,000 students study on either its 70-acre campus in Virginia Beach, VA., or online around the world. The university offers associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees from a Christian perspective in more than 135 program areas. To encourage social distancing and to help ease financial struggles associated with COVID-19, Regent University is now offering a "social distancing scholarship" to all new students who are pursuing their bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree online with Regent. Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Gerson Moreno-Riano shares that Regent University always strives to serve its students, and that COVID-19 and the uncertainty surrounding the virus will not slow that down. He says, Our social distancing scholarship gives students the opportunity to begin their program here at Regent to prepare for the future economy and future market." To learn more about the companies above, click here on Sunday, April 26, 2020 and Wednesday, April 29, 2020 at 8:00pm ET / PT to watch the LIVE stream of this weeks episode of Worldwide Business with kathy ireland! About Worldwide Business with kathy ireland Worldwide Business with kathy ireland is a weekly half-hour show featuring global executives sharing their business insights and framing the opportunities shaping their industries. Hosted by a business mogul, Kathy Ireland interviews some of the brightest minds in business today. The show broadcasts on Fox Business Network as part of their sponsored content line up and globally on Bloomberg Television. Worldwide Business with kathy ireland extends beyond the weekly on-air program with digital content delivered on various video platforms and across social media. Shahi imams of Jama Masjid and Fatehpuri Masjid in the city have appealed to Muslims to offer namaz during the holy month of Ramzan at home and follow lockdown guidelines to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the shahi imam of Jama Masjid, in a video message asked people not to venture outside unnecessarily and remain indoors during Ramzan for prayers. "Two days later auspicious Ramzan is commencing. Namaz and Tarabi(ritual prayer) should be offered at home. Care should be taken that not more than three-four people read Tarabi because large numbers can be harmful for the families and the society in view of the pandemic," Bukhari said. The holy month of Ramzan marked by fasting by followers of Islam is expected to start from Saturday as per the lunar calendar. Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid Mufti Mukarram Ahmed said those who are under quarantine and unable to observe 'Roza" (fast) can compensate for it through 'Qaza'. Such persons can observe fast later on, he said. Ahmed urged authorities to make necessary arrangements so that people in Muslim-dominated areas could go out in the evenings and early mornings to buy food items to break fasts during Ramzan. "Lockdown has been imposed due to coronavirus and people have been restricted to their homes. But during Ramzan, authorities should allow shops and vendors in Muslim areas so those observing 'Roza' could buy food for Iftari and Sehri," he said. The mosques in Delhi are shut due to the nationwide lockdown imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus. The Delhi Waqf Board that administers over 200 mosques in the city has already issued an advisory for imams regarding Ramzan. It has asked imams to disseminate official guidelines for coronavirus containment through loudspeakers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and many countries limiting customs clearance, solar power enterprises with manufacturing plants in Vietnam are still taking advantage of the domestic market to serve customers and sustain growth. A roof-top solar power system is installed on a house in central Viet Nam. Solar power solutions will help save on power consumption in the dry season and COVID-19 period. Photo courtesy SolarBK Nguyen Ngoc Quynh, Chief Business Officer and representative of the HCM City-based Bach Khoa Solar Energy Company (SolarBK), said various COVID-19 solutions had been offered to preserve the market from damage from the pandemic. She said the global spread of COVID-19 had boosted the Photovoltaic (PV) market in Viet Nam this year since the social distance order had restricted trade, while solar panels were imported from foreign countries. Our company has offered two solutions the BigK solar power, BigK Basic and BigK Advance to meet the need of customers since March 2020. It means that a household that installed a system of 4KWp of the BigK Basic solution would earn its breakeven point in four years and eight months, two months shorter than before, Quynh said. The above solutions were considered a safe and effective investment channel during the peak power consumption in the dry season next month, she said. She said with the new purchase price from the Government, many customers have become interested in BigK solutions to ease power consumption in summer, and SolarBK could provide competitive made-in-Viet Nam PV panels to reduce investment for households and provide a favourable guarantee policy as well. Quynh added that many businesses had suffered heavy damage as economic activities were suspended due to COVID-19, but banks could offer loans for customers. According to independent research by the Viet Nam National Economics University, if the COVID-19 pandemic lasts until the end of June, September or the end of the year, 6.1 per cent of Vietnamese enterprises would maintain their operation, while 19.3 per cent will have to reduce production scale. Meanwhile 39.3 per cent would go bankrupt. The stock market is now risky as Viet Nams economy could fall into the red, while different countries had to shut down their markets in order to limit the spread of COVID-19. Deputy General Director of Vietnam Electricity (EVN)s HCM City branch, Bui Trung Kien said power use increased more than in previous years during the social distancing order. He said students and labourers had to stay at home as their schools and workplaces were forced to shut down. He said that EVN indicated the power consumption nationwide in March had increased by 8.55 per cent over the same period last year. Two economic hubs Ha Noi and HCM City had 17 per cent and 13 per cent increases, respectively He said household solar power installation could help save home power use cost during the social distancing period. Recently, the Prime Minister also issued Decision 13/2020 / QD-TTg (known as Decision 13) on the incentive programme to encourage development of solar energy in Viet Nam It offers the buyback rate of PV rooftop at VND1,943 per KWh (US$0.0935 per KWh) for all solar power projects operating after June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2020. The decision has earned confidence and encouragement among solar power investors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nguyen Dinh Chien, a customer in Tan Binh district, HCM City, said he decided to install a roof-top solar power system to gain benefits from the governments solar power buy-back policy, while reducing power use costs. My family uses on average 600 kWh of power each month, so a BigK 3kWp roof-top solar power system would help reduce half of power cost from the Governments solar power buy-back policy, he said. VNS Is it time for rooftop solar power? Industrial zones as well as supermarkets and large real estate developers have begun designing rooftop solar power systems for their new projects. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ghina Ghaliya (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 18:09 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3e55f8 1 National police,arrest,looting,MayDay,rally,riot Free An independent researcher who has been critical of the government on social media is facing incitement charges after a message calling for nationwide riots on April 30 was broadcast from his WhatsApp account, which he says was hacked. His arrest has elicited protests from a coalition of human rights groups who believe that Ravio Patra, the researcher in question, was a victim of identity theft and should not be arrested or prosecuted. Ravio, who has been critical of how the government has handled the COVID-19 pandemic, was arrested between 09:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on Wednesday, shortly after he had announced that his WhatsApp had been hacked on his Twitter account, @raviopatra. The human rights coalition believed that the WhatsApp hacking was an attempt to frame Ravio Patra as a provocateur advocating for nationwide riots on April 30. Labor groups have previously threatened to protest the omnibus bill on job creation on the same date despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The coalition demanded that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and the National Police release the man, who they believed was innocent, without charges. "The police should have arrested those who hacked Ravio's number and spread the hoax using his WhatsApp, not him, the coalition said in a statement. The coalition includes the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet), the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS), Amnesty International Indonesia and the Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (IJCR). The police have confirmed Ravios arrest, saying that he has been accused of inciting riots through social media but that they are still investigating the case. According to the coalition, SAFEnet received a report from Ravio at about 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday that someone had hacked his WhatsApp account after he saw a notification stating that his number had been registered on another phone and a One Time Password (OTP) had been requested, despite the fact that he had applied two-way verification and enabled fingerprint identification on his WhatsApp account. Ravio had also received calls from 082167672001, 081226661965 and numbers with Malaysian and United States area codes. The coalition said that the numbers belonged to two police personnel, identified as AKBP HS and Col. ATD. After hacking Ravios WhatsApp account, the coalition said, the hacker broadcast messages at about 02:35 p.m. to unknown numbers that read, "The crisis is already aflame. Come together and join us on April 30 for nationwide looting. All nearby shops are free to be looted." Fears of nationwide riots have grown after the police claimed to have received information that an obscure group called Anarcho Syndicalist was planning to instigate riots throughout Java on April 18, a few days after the government imposed a partial lockdown in the capital on April 10. Activists, however, have doubts about the police's claims. Rumors of a possible riot resurfaced after labor groups said they would hold a massive protest against the omnibus bill on job creation and risk contracting the coronavirus on April 30 to stop lawmakers from passing the bill. The police said they would not allow the rallies to take place as they would violate partial lockdown measures in Greater Jakarta. The coalition said that two hours after the announcement on his Twitter account, Ravio had reported at 07:00 p.m. that he was able to control his WhatsApp. However, a few minutes later, he reported that he was told by his boarding house guard that someone was looking for him and had left. Ravio also had reported that he was preparing to go to a safe house around midnight. The coalition has not been able to reach him since then. At the same time, around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, the website seword.com published an article stating that Ravio was a person who provoked national looting on April 30 with screenshots of the messages. "On Thursday morning around 08:00 a.m., SAFEnet received a report that Ravio had been arrested last night by police intelligence in front of the safe house," the coalition stated. For the last three years, Ravio has been Indonesia's representative in the Open Government Partnership Steering Committee (SC OGP). He recently criticized presidential special staffer Billy Mambrasar for having a conflict of interest in the government projects in Papua. Topics : police arrest looting MayDay rally riot The Nigerian Governors Forum has called for the decentralisation of the activities of the COVID-19 response from federal to local governments to curtail further spread of the pandemic. The forum also agreed to an interstate lockdown for two weeks. The chairman of the forum, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, in a statement he signed, on Wednesday, described the decentralisation idea as the best chance of nipping the spread of the virus in communities. Mr Fayemi said this was imperative as a result of the increasing number of index cases across communities. The Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, had, during a meeting of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, on Wednesday, raised concerns over the community spread of the ailment. The minister, therefore, called for an active response towards empowering the primary healthcare sector in the country. The task force currently coordinates the national response to the deadly pandemic in Nigeria. Data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) show that Nigeria has recorded 873 cases of coronavirus including 28 deaths. Inter-State Lockdown Mr Fayemi said the forum has unanimously agreed to the implementation of an inter-state lockdown in the country over the next two weeks. He said this would help to mitigate the spread of the virus from state to state adding that only essential services will be permitted to be transported across state boundaries. Many states had earlier announced the closure of their boundaries to check the spread of coronavirus. Despite such closure, however, many Nigerians still travel to and from such states, indicating weakness in implementation. The new agreement by the governors indicate such interstate travel ban is now nationwide. Meanwhile, Mr Fayemi said the forum resolved to work with the NCDC to ensure that health workers are provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) and are constantly trained on their use. Governors resolved to set up COVID-19 Committees at the regional level, headed by their State Commissioners of Health. Regional Committees will continue to interface with the State Task Force Committees on COVID-19 already established in each State, he said. Read the full statement by Mr Fayemi below. ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 6th COVID-19 TELECONFERENCE MEETING OF THE NIGERIA GOVERNORS FORUM HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 22nd APRIL 2020 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 Forum held a minutes silence in honour of all Nigerians who have lost their lives from coronavirus, especially health workers who were in the front lines of the epidemic. Members also conveyed their condolence to Mr President and the people of Borno State on the passing of the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari who passed away on 17th April 2020 in the line of duty to the country. The NGF Chairman briefed the Forum on the rapidly evolving situation of the COVID-19 pandemic and coordination efforts with the federal government, multilateral and bilateral partners, and the private sector through the Coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID). With over 25 States now affected by the spread of the virus and increasing evidence of community transmission, State Governors called for the decentralization of the COVID-19 response as the best chance of nipping the spread of the virus in communities. Following an update from the NGF Secretariat on the number of COVID-19 cases in the country, members expressed serious concern over the rising spread of the virus among health workers and resolved to work with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to ensure that health workers are adequately provided with personal protective equipment (PPE) and are constantly trained on the use of protective gears. In order to strengthen coordinated implementation of necessary public health recommendations across States, Governors resolved to set up COVID-19 Committees at the regional level, headed by their State Commissioners of Health. Regional Committees will continue to interface with the State Task Force Committees on COVID-19 already established in each State. The Forum also received briefing from the Governors of Lagos, Bauchi, Oyo and Ogun State who shared their experiences and lessons from the fight against COVID-19. Advertisements Governors unanimously agreed to the implementation of an inter-State lockdown in the country over the next two weeks to mitigate the spread of the virus from State to State. Only essential services will be permitted. Lastly, the Forum congratulated the Governor of Kaduna State, H.E. Nasir El-Rufai who after nearly four weeks of testing positive and observing very strict medical regime has now received two consecutive negative test results for the coronavirus. Governor Kayode Fayemi Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum 22nd April 2020 Australian frigate joins US fleet in South China Sea Iran Press TV Wednesday, 22 April 2020 10:27 AM An Australian frigate has joined three US warships in the disputed South China Sea near an area where a Chinese vessel has been based, raising concerns over an escalation of tensions. Australia's HMAS Parramatta frigate joined the USS America, an amphibious assault ship, the USS Bunker Hill, a guided missile cruiser, and the USS Barry, a destroyer, US and Australian military sources said on Wednesday, adding that the ships aimed to take part in a joint military exercise. "During the passage exercises, the ships honed interoperability between Australian and US navies, including replenishment-at-sea, aviation operations, maritime maneuvers and communications drills," Reuters reported, citing unnamed military sources. The warships arrived this week near the area where the Chinese government survey ship Haiyang Dizhi 8 has been based, possibly conducting exploratory drilling. The ship is accompanied by a Chinese coastguard vessel. China reported that the Haiyang Dizhi 8 was conducting normal activities. Nearby waters are claimed by Malaysia, which has one of its own vessels exploring for oil there. Malaysia's Foreign Ministry has not issued any complaints regarding the Chinese surveying. Vietnam, however, has filed a complaint with the United Nations (UN). Hanoi has also protested China's alleged efforts to boost its presence in the disputed area. China claims most of the energy-rich South China Sea, within a U-shaped "nine-dash line" on its maps, which is not recognized by its regional neighbors, namely Malaysia and Vietnam. The South China Sea serves as a gateway to global sea routes, through which about 3.4 trillion dollars of trade passes each year. Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei have overlapping claims with China to parts of the sea. The United States, which sides with Beijing's rivals in the maritime dispute, routinely sends warships and warplanes to the South China Sea to assert what it calls its right to freedom of navigation, ratcheting up tensions among the regional countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The testing of sewers in Paris has revealed a pattern of viral coronavirus concentrations that coincided with outbreaks of cases across the city, a new study has found. The discovery was made after wastewater sampling at five sewage plants in the French capital over a four-week period from March to April. The technique could be a cost-effective way to sound the alarm that an outbreak is imminent. Higher concentrations of virus in the wastewater means more infected people around a particular sewer system. In Paris, researchers found higher concentrations of viral RNA the genetic material from the virus in certain sewers just days before 10 March, the first day that Paris reported coronavirus deaths, according to the report. This visibility is also going to help us predict a second wave of outbreaks, said Sebastien Wurtzer, a virologist who took part in the study at Eau de Paris, the citys public water utility told the journal Science. The flow of faeces and urine into sewers is continual so it can offer data in almost real-time from infected people shedding viral RNA from Covid-19. A recent study in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that samples of patients phlegm and faeces tested positive for traces of Covid-19, even after swabs from their noses and throats came back negative. An aerial view shows the deserted Champs-Elysee Avenue in Paris during a lockdown imposed to slow the spread of the coronavirus disease earlier this month REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol/File Photo) (REUTERS) Other researchers around the world, including one group in the Netherlands, have detected Covid-19 in wastewater, The Independent reported last month. On 5 March, the KWR Water Research Institute in Nieuwegein detected genetic material from the coronavirus at an Amersfoort wastewater treatment plant. When the results were gathered, no cases had been reported in Amersfoort. The Netherlands reported its first case on 27 February in the south of the country, an hours drive from where the testing was done. The French study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, first appeared in medRxiv on 17 April. Testing of wastewater has been used for detecting the poliovirus as well as discovering the use of illegal drugs. An EU study from March 2019, analysing sewage samples from 68 cities in 23 European countries, showed a rise of amphetamine, cocaine, MDMA and methamphetamine from previous years, the BBC reported Paul Bertsch, from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation in Australia, told Science one of the benefits of testing the sewershed was that it provided information on the virus associated with a large number of coronavirus infections. This could be important as public health officials say some coronavirus patients have been asymptomatic or shown very mild symptoms. Next week, the US-based Water Research Foundation will hold a virtual summit with dozens of experts from the scientific and water sectors to look at the possibilities of environmental surveillance of Covid-19 indicators in sewersheds. A parishioner lifts his hands in prayer during a Sunday morning service at City On A Hill Church in Houston, Texas on April 5, 2020. (Mark Felix/AFP via Getty Images) People Can Attend Houses of Worship in Person During Pandemic: Texas Attorney General Texas officials released updated guidance this week stating residents can attend events at churches, mosques, and other houses of worship during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local governments cannot force the houses of worship to close, according to the guidance (pdf), which was issued by Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton. Abbott issued an executive order defining religious services as essential. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, as well as Article I of the Texas Constitution, protect the right of Texans to worship and freely exercise their religion. Local governments may not order houses of worship to close, the guidance states. Still, houses of worship should conduct as many activities as possible remotely. When holding services in person, they are advised to follow guidance from federal officials, including asking sick people to stay home, have attendees stay six feet apart, and encourage frequent hand washing or hand-cleaning with sanitizer. The guidelines dont violate religious liberty, the guidance stated, because the social distancing recommendations are not mandatory and are made because the government has a compelling interest in recommending this guidance (stopping contagion). Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton outside the Supreme Court on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 9, 2016. (Gabriella Demczuk/Getty Images) Government and faith communities throughout Texas must work together to care for our neighbors and slow the spread of COVID-19, Paxton said in a statement. This updated guidance provides clear direction for houses of worship to protect the health and safety of their congregations as they continue to hold religious services, exercise religious liberty and serve their faith communities. Some churches were ordered to not hold services in person, including under emergency orders issued by Harris and Dallas counties, prompting confusion because of an apparent conflict between state and local guidance. Many churches and houses of worship closed voluntarily nationwide amid the pandemic, which is caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a novel coronavirus that emerged from mainland China last year. Some have moved entirely online while others have held drive-in services. Kelly Shackelford, chief counsel at First Liberty Institute, a group focused on defending religious freedom, said in a statement that the updated guidance shows respect for religious liberty, and, as long as churches, synagogues, and other houses of worship follow it, provides that they may resume in-person meetings prudently. British ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliott, says that British tourists will return to Spain after a "rather short" period of caution and fear because of the pandemic. Speaking on Thursday, he said that "one thing which will not change is that people will continue to take holidays, and the preferred place for British tourists is Spain". "There are normally 18 to 19 million a year, and I hope that we will return to these numbers as soon as possible. But it will not be in the coming months." The ambassador referred to the "very broad and deep relationship" between Britain and Spain, one that will return to normal. "We have a strong bilateral relationship. This is not just for tourism but also investment and trade. The UK was the largest investor in Spain in the first half of last year, and Spain is a very important investor in the UK. "What we don't know is how long the crisis is going to last or precisely the conditions by which we are going to be able to exit this phase of the pandemic, for which the priority is health and then the protection of the economy." Tourist and traveller mistrust, he observed, is not particularly with Spain for having been one of the countries most affected by the pandemic. "Many countries are affected. There is an understanding that this is an unprecedented situation, so of course there is fear. This is normal; it is only human that there should be concern. "But Spain is a great country. It has fantastic health services. Its professionals are doing a job that is an incredible credit to the country. I haven't the slightest doubt that the situation will normalise. There may be a period of caution, as this is normal, but I believe that it will be rather short." Speaking on behalf of British residents in Spain, the ambassador wished to say "thank you" for the care that they are receiving in Spain. "The health services are doing an incredible job. Unfortunately, we do have - and this is inevitable - Britons who are sick. There have been some deaths among the community, but the efforts of the health services and of all the services around them have been fantastic. The first thing that British citizens say is that they are very grateful." Chamber of Commerce president Suzanne Clark told Axios on Thursday that Congress' replenishment of the Paycheck Protection Program loan fund will not be enough to sustain small businesses through the coronavirus pandemic. The big picture: The PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) is meant to help small businesses weather the toll of closures and economic pain from the coronavirus restrictions. The Senate passed a $484 billion interim coronavirus funding bill on Tuesday that allocated $322 billion towards replenishing the program. The House will vote on it Thursday evening. Clark said Congress will have to allocate "at least another $250 billion" in order to hold small businesses over: "They can't start working on the next round fast enough." Clark said that gradual re-openings are inevitable, stating: "We're free enterprise people, so we don't think this is going to be government aid and assistance forever." "We have to help people who are in real pain right now, and then we have to sensibly and safely reopen so that Americans have access to their paychecks again," she added. Note: Axios qualified for a loan under this program. More details here. President Trump and U.S. Atty. Gen. William Barr are exploiting the coronavirus to advance preexisting ideological agendas and, not incidentally, the president's reelection. (Nicholas Kamm / AFP-Getty Images) A small consolation in the upheaval created by the coronavirus is that disease is a public health issue, not a political one; it should transcend the partisanship that has so bitterly divided us. The virus, weve heard repeatedly, cant tell the difference between Republicans and Democrats. In fact, however, COVID-19 and the governmental actions to subdue it are now giving rise to bitter social strife playing out along familiar red-blue fault lines, a gulf deepened in particular by organized animosity toward government. The president himself is the impresario of these toxic developments. His initial pooh-poohing of the virus, with the aid of far-right media, has helped promote a striking bifurcation between the cultural camps as to just how dangerous the virus is. A Washington Post/University of Maryland poll last week found that 71% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say that public events wont be safe until June; only 51% of Republicans agree, and they continue to push for the resumption of normal life. On Friday, in what may be the most reckless demagoguery ever from a sitting president, Trump instructed his most diehard supporters to LIBERATE states with stay-at-home orders. It was no surprise that the demonstrations and protesters the president decided to tweet about, and cheer on, were in three states with swing potential Virginia, Minnesota and Michigan. Worse, the government agencies Trump has shaped in his image are in direct formation behind him, exploiting the virus to advance preexisting ideological agendas and, not incidentally, the presidents reelection. One of Trumps LIBERATE tweets specifically exhorted citizens of Virginia to save your great 2nd Amendment. It is under siege. The reference was to a gun law in Virginia requiring background checks, which the states new Democratic leadership had managed to pass early this year. The tweet was a bumper-sticker shout-out to extreme gun rights partisans all over the country. Story continues It was also a back-pat to the NRA, which had already successfully lobbied the administration to amend its stay-at-home guidance to include gun stores within the exceptions for essential businesses. Although the change is not binding on states, the effect of the switch was to push several into amending their own essential business orders to include gun stores. Los Angeles is among the cities that held firm; the NRA sued in federal court; L.A. won. Charging that religious liberty is under attack from secular society is another mantra Trump partisans are trotting out during the pandemic. Some church pastors have alleged that curtailing services under stay-at-home orders represents intentional government action against the faithful and the curtailment of their 1st Amendment rights. Free exercise doesnt exempt churches, mosques and synagogues from generally applicable laws, but it does mean that religious groups and institutions cant be singled out by government rules. The basic pandemic orders we've seen ought to pass 1st Amendment muster in the courts because cities and states arent burdening religious institutions with harsher lockdown rules than, say, bars and restaurants. Two such cases in federal courts in Kentucky and New Mexico have so held. In an eye-catching gesture, the Department of Justice stepped into one such case, Temple Baptist Church vs. Greenville, Miss., issuing a statement of interest, a supporting brief. In this instance, the statements effect was to strike a blow for Trumps side of the culture wars, yet again in a state that will be important in November. (It is the only time the DOJ has seen fit to weigh in on a virus-related matter since the president declared the coronavirus outbreak a national emergency.) The city of Greenville sought to shut down drive-in services after receiving complaints that Temple Baptist and other churches werent complying with social distance requirements. The church immediately filed a federal lawsuit alleging that its worshipers were staying in their cars with their windows up and that the city was discriminating against it and trespassing on religious freedom in enforcement measures aimed expressly at a church. The dispute hinged primarily on facts was Temple Baptist complying with social distancing requirements or wasn't it? It is not normally the province of the Department of Justice to take sides in a factual dispute. But Atty. Gen. William Barrs department parachuted in, declaring that if the churchs assertions were proven, the complaint would amount to a violation of the free exercise of religion. Well, sure, if. The DOJs recitation of the law was scarcely controversial. The statement of interest, however, acted as a sort of grenade in the middle of a local lawsuit. The brief, with its avowals of support for the church rather than the citys orders, made national news, and the mayor of Greenville (a self-described devout Christian) caved. The whole thing played out primarily as a victory for red state faithful against the forces of liberal secularization. Then Barr sent another shot across the red-blue divide when he threatened to sue states that dont relax their stay-at-home orders sufficiently in his, and his bosss view, a warning all the more striking because it is empty. The Department of Justice lacks the tools to comply with the president's preferred course. There is no sensible reason for the governments responses to COVID-19 to smack of red-blue issues and the culture wars. Weve seen governors of both parties and scientists trying to keep politics at bay in their briefings, actions and policies. But at a time when the federal governments most important function is to coordinate and unite, the president, his followers and enablers, and his executive branch are hell-bent on dividing. All of us are at risk in this pandemic, but when it comes to protecting Americans from COVID-19, the president can only see red. Twitter: @harrylitman Photo: The Canadian Press Alberta's public pension manager has lost millions after investing in smaller energy companies at a time when the entire sector is in decline, an analysis has found. The left-wing think tank Progress Alberta found that Alberta Investment Management Corp., or AIMCo, has invested $1.1 billion from public service pensions in junior and intermediate oil and gas firms since 2016. Most of those companies lost value well before the COVID-19 crisis and oil supply war that has driven the commodity's price to record lows. At least one company has gone bankrupt despite the injection of tens of millions of pension dollars. "The vast majority of them were in really rough shape before the crisis," said Duncan Kinney, one of the authors of the think tank's report released Wednesday. AIMCo controls about $118 billion in 31 pension, endowment and government funds, including the Alberta heritage fund, a rainy-day account financed by oil and gas royalties. It is intended to be run at arm's-length from the government. The previous NDP government brought in a provision that stipulated a small portion of AIMCo's funds be used to support new jobs, infrastructure and industry in the province. The report says that of the $406 million invested under the Alberta Growth Mandate, nearly $270 million two-thirds went to the energy sector. Of the 32 separate investments made under the NDP provision, five were in real estate, one in agriculture and one in renewable energy. The rest were in oil and gas and all have lost value. One, Trident Exploration, went under last year despite a $60-million injection of pension funds. Others have had to renegotiate their debt. Others, such as Pieridae Energy, in which AIMCo has invested $120 million in debt and equity, are high-risk investments, says the report. Many have large environmental liabilities that can no longer be shuffled off in bankruptcy due to a recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling. AIMCo CEO Kevin Uebelein has previously acknowledged his funds are disproportionately invested in Alberta. He has said local managers are able to find good investments where those outside the province can't, giving AIMCo what he called a "home-field advantage." Kinney disputes that. He pointed out that AIMCo has consistently failed to meet targets for returns set by one of its largest clients, the Local Authorities Pension Plan for public employees of villages, towns, cities, hospitals, college and school boards. Kinney also questions the agency's independence from government. He notes there is legislation that gives politicians significant influence in AIMCo, unlike the Canada Pension Plan. Recent laws introduced by the United Conservatives give the finance minister power to reassign portions of AIMCo's portfolio to a manager of the government's choice. As well, pension funds under AIMCo's control are no longer free to seek other management. "AIMCo is not a truly independent pension fund manager," Kinney said. In an email, AIMCo spokesman Denes Nemeth disputed that. "AIMCo operates at arms-length from the government, on commercial terms and with complete operational independence, in particular as it relates to investment decisions, and always in the best interests of clients." During a typical Coast Guard graduation period in Cape May, the area buzzes with families, friends and graduates moving about the seaside citys beaches, restaurants and sights. Many of them are from out-of-state. At Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, the night before graduation is a time for parents of graduates to meet the centers command staff and share training stories. For the latest classes, though, who graduated in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic, no parents, friends or loved ones were in town for the ceremonies. The latest was Wednesday, when 86 men and women of class Oscar 198 graduated basic training. But the town, the adoptive, Coast Guard Community of Cape May is stepping in to make sure the new members of the Coast Guard receive a rousing send off. For the last three classes over the past few weeks, vehicles line up along Philadelphia and Pittsburgh avenues to honk their horns and cheer the graduates as they leave the training center for the next part of their Coast Guard journey. A police car leads the bus full of graduates out of the center. They will do it again, Friday, at 11 a.m for the class, Oscar 198, that graduated Wednesday. It was exciting because you saw all of the people out with the trucks, the cars, and their kids, Cape May City Mayor Clarence Chuck Lear said of the honking event. Even in spite of the lockdown, people came out while being responsible and staying away from each other, but still showing their patriotism and love of the Coast Guard families here. Many of the people do not know who those recruits are because they come from all over the country, but they are out there, and they are supporting them, and I think it sends a real message to these recruits who are probably scared to death and been through all of this training, the mayor said. Here they are going through a community that they probably barely seen during their recruit training. To go out and see the streets lined with people waving at you. I think it is a great send off, and hopefully, they will be home soon. I think those who go through it will appreciate it, Lear added. Cape May County received the designation of being a Coast Guard Community from Congress in 2015 - one of only 28 locations in the country to receive the designation. The training center is the Coast Guards fifth largest base and where every enlisted member trains. This is why we consider the training center the birthplace of the enlisted corps and Cape May County, the Coast Guards Hometown, the center says on their webpage. And the recruits are not the only ones feeling the pinch of the pandemic influencing the normal way of life. The virus has forced restaurants to become takeout only locations, and other shops have been forced to close, Lear said. You think of all the families and friends that typically come here to see their son or daughter or somebody graduate, Lear said. "The restaurants and hotels have definitely been impacted. People would probably have made a weekend out of it, even during the offseason. Sharing a bit of positive vibes from today. Went to cheer on the Coast Guard November 198 graduates today as they left for their posts. No family or friends were allowed to attend their graduation. Cape May County came out to cheer for them. Such a happy moment in these grim times. Posted by Mary Hinchcliffe on Wednesday, April 15, 2020 Facebook Video by Mary Hinchcliffe Training center spokesman, Chief Warrant Officer Timothy Tamargo, says the makeshift appreciation for the recruits does not go unnoticed. He said parents often comment on the training centers Facebook page thanking the city and county for supporting their recruit children when they spend time in the area. It makes the command feel good, Tanargo said. It is good to know that you have value in the community and that you can be a support to them as well. We have helped them out, and they have helped us out over the years with all kinds of projects and community events. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Franklin Here may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com. FMs of Iran, Russia, Turkey stress consultations within Astana process as best solution to Syria crisis Iran Press TV Wednesday, 22 April 2020 5:55 PM The Iranian, Turkish and Russian foreign ministers have emphasized the need to continue consultations and coordination among the three guarantors of the Astana process as the most effective format for the settlement of the crisis in Syria. The trilateral meeting between Iran's Mohammad Javad Zarif, Russia's Sergei Lavrov and Turkey's Mevlut Cavusoglu was held via teleconference on Wednesday to discuss the latest developments in Syria and the region. The three top diplomats conferred on a range of issues, including the situation in the militant-held province of Idlib in northwestern Syria, the Syria Constitutional Committee, the need for the lifting of unilateral sanctions amid the coronavirus pandemic, the humanitarian situation in Syria and repatriation of refugees to the Arab country. They stressed that Syria's independence, national sovereignty and territorial integrity must be safeguarded while emphasizing on the need to distinguish terrorists from opposition groups as the battle against militants would continue across the country. In the meeting, the top Iranito diplomat, who earlier this week paid a visit to Syria where he held talks with President Bashar al-Assad and his counterpart Walid al-Muallem, touched on the latest developments in Idlib and reaffirmed the need to protect the war-torn country's sovereignty while keeping anti-terror battles. Zarif pointed to his recent consultations with United Nations special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen and praised his efforts to facilitate intra-Syria talks within the framework of the Constitutional Committee. He also stressed the need for protecting the Committee's independence and preventing any foreign interference in its activities. Pointing to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Zarif said unilateral sanctions were seriously hampering Iran's fight against the virus, and said the international community and the United Nations should shoulder the responsibility to help the removal of unilateral embargoes, alleviate the sufferings of the Syrian people and address the status of refugees in camps occupied by the US. He also called for the immediate repatriation of Syrian refugees to their homeland and the importance to deliver humanitarian aid to the Syrian people. The Iranian foreign minister also condemned Israel's constant acts of aggression against Syrian territory as violation of the Arab country's sovereignty and international law and a threat to regional security. The Iranian, Russian and Turkish foreign ministers also emphasized the need for proceeding with trilateral consultations at all levels and holding the sixth summit of the Astana Process in Iran after the normalization of situation created by the coronavirus outbreak. Turkey along with Russia and Iran entered two frameworks of Syria-focused negotiations that resulted into two agreements. A first deal was signed in Kazakhstan's capital Nur Sultan, formerly called Astana, arranging for the creation of de-escalation zones across Syria, including in parts of Idlib. The second one that came about in the Russian resort city of Sochi allowed Ankara to bring in a small number of forces to man the observation posts to reinforce de-escalation. Ankara has, however, been found in default of both the deals by failing to separate terrorists from what it calls "moderate" opposition groups in the Idlib zone and by sending thousands of troops and heavy military hardware into the province in an unprecedented incursion to back the militants. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Constitutional crisis looms large in Maharashtra: Can Uddhav Thackeray hold on to CMs seat? India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Mumbai, Apr 23: Maharashtra Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray, who is battling a major pandemic in the state of Maharashtra is also now staring at a constitutional crisis. Thackeray will have to get elected, either as an MLA or MLC before 24. He took oath as the Chief Minister on November 28. While the Election Commission has already postponed the Rajya Sabha polls, civic body elections and by-polls, Article 164 (4) of the Constitution says that Thackeray would have to be elected to either of the state legislature houses before May 24. The Maharashtra Cabinet recently had passed a resolution urging the Governor to nominate Thackeray to the Legislative Council, which has two vacancies. However, Section 151A of the Representation of People Act, 1951 says that election or nomination to the post cannot be done if the remainder of the term of a member in relation to a vacancy is less than one year. In the case of Maharashtra, the terms of the two vacancies in the council end on June 6. Palghar lynching: CM Thackeray urges Amit Shah to take action on those giving communal colour The two posts in question fell vacant after NCP leaders, Rama Wadkute and Rahul Narvekar resigned. They had joined the BJP in October 2019 ahead of the assembly polls in the state. Out of the 78 council members, the Governor nominates 12 of them and their six-year term this time ends on June 6. Moreover, these nominations are reserved for persons having special knowledge or practical experience in matters such as cooperative movement, social service, literature, science or art. However even if the Governor decided to make a political appointment in this category, there is no provision for the courts to interfere with the same. It may be recalled that in 2001, Jayalalithaa had resigned as the Tamil Nadu chief minister despite winning a massive mandate. She resigned due to legal troubles. Since she had been convicted in a corruption case, she was not allowed to contest the elections. She was, however, elected as the party leader and became the CM. Before her six-month window was about to expire, the Supreme Court held that her appointment was unconstitutional. She appointed O Paneerselvam as the CM for five months. She, however, contested the elections and won after the Madras High Court acquitted her of all charges in 2002. Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes and his wife were given an exemption from mandatory hotel quarantine rules on medical grounds, despite WA Premier Mark McGowan stating last month there would be no exemptions. They returned to Perth on April 8 from the United States on their private jet two weeks ago and self isolated in their Dalkeith home. The Age reports the exemption was granted by WA Police after advice from the State Health Incident Coordination Centre. The couple arrived in Perth on April 8 after Stokes had been locked down in Colorado, where he owns a $15 million penthouse close to the Aspen ski fields. The exemption also applied to Mr Stokes wife who accompanied him and they have been in isolation for two weeks at their home in Perth, a spokesman said. Mr and Mrs Stokes strictly followed all the required protocols during that time, as did the air crew. Many thousands of Australians have also received exemptions over the last month. Under WA-specific quarantine rules the states police commissioner can grant exemptions on a case by case basis but evidence, such as a medical certificate, may be required. COVID-19 is unlikely to be spread through semen, according to University of Utah Health scientists who participated in an international study of Chinese men who recently had the disease. The researchers found no evidence of the virus that causes COVID-19 in the semen or testes of the men. The study was not comprehensive enough to fully rule out the possibility that the disease could be sexually transmitted. However, the chances of it occurring, based on this limited finding, appear to be remote. The fact that in this small, preliminary study that it appears the virus that causes COVID-19 doesn't show up in the testes or semen could be an important finding. If a disease like COVID-19 were sexually transmittable that would have major implications for disease prevention and could have serious consequences for a man's long-term reproductive health." James M. Hotaling, M.D., co-author of the study and U of U Health associate professor of urology specializing in male fertility The study appears in Fertility & Sterility, a peer-reviewed journal published by the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. The international team of researchers from China and the United States launched the study in response to concerns that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, could be sexually transmitted like Ebola, Zika and other emerging viral pathogens. To find out, they collected semen samples from 34 Chinese men one month (on average) after they were diagnosed with mild to moderate cases of COVID-19. Laboratory tests did not detect SARS-CoV-2 in any of the semen samples. But just because the virus wasn't present in the existing semen didn't necessary rule out that it hadn't entered the testes where sperm cells are formed. "If the virus is in the testes but not the sperm it can't be sexually transmitted," says Jingtao Guo, Ph.D., a postdoctoral scientist at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah who also co-authored the study. "But if it is in the testes, it can cause long-term damage to semen and sperm production." To sort this part of the puzzle out, the researchers analyzed a dataset generated from a single cell mRNA atlas from healthy young organ donors that was available from prior work. This atlas allows them to examine mRNA, the genetic material used to make proteins, in any single testicular cell. In this case, scientist used it to examine the expression of a pair of genes associated with SARS-CoV-2. These two genes, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) act as receptors, allowing SARS-CoV2 to penetrate cells and replicate. In order for the virus to access cells effectively, both receptors must be present in the same cell. When the scientists examined the dataset, they found that genes encoding these two proteins were only found in four of the 6,500 testicular cells, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 is unlikely to invade human testicular cells, Guo says. Despite these findings, the researchers acknowledge that their study has several important limitations including a small sample size and the fact that none of the donors had been severely ill with COVID-19. "It could be that a man who is critically ill with COVID-19 might have a higher viral load, which could lead to a greater likelihood of infecting the semen. We just don't have the answer to that right now," Hotaling says. "But knowing that we didn't find that kind of activity among the patients in this study who were recovering from mild to moderate forms of the disease is reassuring." However, Hotaling warns that intimate contact can still increase the risk of spreading the disease through coughing, sneezing and kissing. In addition, some infected people are asymptomatic and can appear healthy, even as they pass the virus along to others. The Press Council of India (PCI) said it is distressed to know about the alleged attack on Goswami 'purportedly for his views as a journalist'. New Delhi: The Press Council of India on Thursday condemned the alleged attack on senior journalist Arnab Goswami and called for a report from the Maharashtra government over the incident. Two motorcycle-borne persons allegedly attacked Goswami''s car in Mumbai and tried to break its glass window when he and his wife were on their way home in the early hours of Thursday, police said. Both the attackers have been arrested. In a statement, the Press Council of India (PCI) said it is distressed to know about the alleged attack on Goswami "purportedly for his views as a journalist". Every citizen in the country, including a journalist, has the right to express their opinion which may not be palatable to many but this does not give anybody the authority to strangulate such a voice. Violence is not the answer even against bad journalism, the PCI said. Goswami is the editor-in-chief and owner of Republic TV. The council condemns this attack and expects from the state government that it will apprehend the perpetrators of crime and bring them to justice immediately, the statement said While taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, the PCI chairman has asked the Maharashtra government, through the Chief Secretary and Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, to submit a report on the facts of the case at the earliest, the PCI said. The National Union of Journalists (India) also condemned the alleged attack on Goswami, saying if anybody is aggrieved about anything they should choose an appropriate path to show their protest instead of violence. The NUJ(I) also said that journalists and media houses should also never cross their limit at any cost and strictly stick to professional ethics. The journalist has invited sharp criticism from Congress leaders for his remarks aimed at their party president Sonia Gandhi during a TV discussion on the Palghar incident in which three persons, including two sadhus, were lynched. At least 30 Amazon workers from the same New Jersey warehouse are said to have been struck down with COVID-19, in the largest known outbreak for retail giant. Staff at the facility in Carteret, New Jersey, received a text message notifying them of the additional cases, according to Business Insider. 'Every other day it's the same text message. I used to feel safe here, but not anymore. They just care about putting out packages', one worker said. A spokesman said: 'We are supporting the individuals, who are recovering.' One anonymous employee said each shift could have 500 people working at once making it 'impossible to properly distance'. They added: 'And every day they're hiring more and more people.' At least 30 Amazon workers from the same New Jersey warehouse have reportedly been struck down with COVID-19 in the largest known outbreak for retail giant Amazon has seen a surge in demand, as with businesses shuttered and stay-at-home orders in place, shoppers are turning to online delivery Amazon had increased the pay rate for US employees by $2 an hour and allowed worried workers to stay home without pay. But both of these policies are reportedly set to stop come the end of the month. DailyMail.com has contacted Amazon for comment. The retail giant has seen a surge in demand, as with businesses shuttered and stay-at-home orders in place, shoppers are turning to online delivery. Share prices have skyrocketed through the month of April and, buckling under the weight of orders, Amazon temporarily banned low-priority items from being shipped to its warehouses to prioritize orders of essential goods. But it has also faced labor unrest, with hundreds of Amazon workers planning a mass call out throughout this week over claims the company has placed warehouse staff at 'increased risk and exposure' to coronavirus. Protesters hold signs at Amazon building during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in the Staten Island borough of New York City on March 30 Amazon has faced labor unrest, with hundreds of workers planning a mass call out throughout this week over claims the company has placed warehouse staff at 'increased risk and exposure' to coronavirus A new report on working conditions at Amazon revealed last week there have been COVID-19 cases at more than half of the company's warehouses in the US and predicts the disease will spread exponentially among workers in the coming weeks. The report was prepared by the workers rights groups Athena Coalition and Hedge Clippers, using data from government health agencies and a range of local and national news sources. As of April 14th, the report claims, 'nearly 75' of Amazon's 110 US warehouse facilities have had at least one worker test positive for COVID-19, and without intervention the groups predict case numbers among Amazon workers will 'exponentially' increase. Founder Jeff Bezos, 56, has returned to the daily grind at the trillion-dollar firm Amazon has disputed the report's findings, describing Athena Coalition and Hedge Clippers as 'self-interested critics' who are funded by unions and Amazon's competitors. On Monday it was reported that more than 300 employees who work across at least 50 facilities signed up to participate in a 'mass call out' initiated by United for Respect, a worker rights group. The group said that from Tuesday workers will call out en masse across the country until the end of this week. The protest will be spread out across several days since workers are scheduled to report to their warehouses at different times and on different days. Increased demand and labor unrest has led to Jeff Bezos taking back control of the day-to-day running of Amazon during the pandemic. Founder Bezos, 56, has returned to the daily grind at the trillion-dollar firm as it - like all businesses - grapples with the impact of the global pandemic on its customers, staff and supply chain, the company said. The Amazon CEO is holding daily calls on inventory and testing, is collaborating with government officials over their response to the pandemic and is making public visits to staff on the frontline for the first time in years. As a result of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, which has resulted in a global recession, remittances to India are likely to drop by 23 per cent from USD 83 billion last year to USD 64 billion this year, the World Bank has said. "In India, remittances are projected to fall by about 23 per cent in 2020, to USD 64 billion a striking contrast with the growth of 5.5 percent and receipts of USD 83 billion seen in 2019, the World Bank said in a report on impact of COVID-19 on migration and remittances released on Wednesday. Globally remittances are projected to decline sharply by about 20 per cent this year due to the economic crisis induced by the COVID-19 pandemic and shutdown. The projected fall, which would be the sharpest decline in recent history, is largely due to a fall in the wages and employment of migrant workers, who tend to be more vulnerable to loss of employment and wages during an economic crisis in a host country, the bank said. Remittances are a vital source of income for developing countries. The ongoing economic recession caused by COVID-19 is taking a severe toll on the ability to send money home and makes it all the more vital that we shorten the time to recovery for advanced economies, said World Bank Group President David Malpass. Remittances help families afford food, healthcare, and basic needs. As the World Bank Group implements fast, broad action to support countries, we are working to keep remittance channels open and safeguard the poorest communities' access to these most basic needs, he added. Remittance flows are expected to fall across all World Bank Group regions, most notably in Europe and Central Asia (27.5 per cent), followed by Sub-Saharan Africa (23.1 per cent), South Asia (22.1 per cent), the Middle East and North Africa (19.6 per cent), Latin America and the Caribbean (19.3 per cent), and East Asia and the Pacific (13 per cent). In Pakistan, the projected decline is also about 23 per cent, totalling about USD 17 billion, compared with a total of USD 22.5 billion last year, when remittances grew by 6.2 per cent. In Bangladesh, remittances are projected at USD 14 billion this year, a likely fall of about 22 per cent. Remittances to Nepal and Sri Lanka are expected to decline by 14 percent and 19 percent, respectively this year.Coronavirus impact: Remittances to India expected to decline 23% in 2020, says World Bank Also read: Coronavirus India Live Updates: President approves ordinance against attacks on health workers; tally-21,393 Also read: Coronavirus: Lockdown in India has affected 40 million migrants, says World Bank Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday said the coronavirus will leave an 'entire generation' facing post-traumatic stress disorder. Speaking to The Daily Show the New York lawmaker opened up on the 'heavy burden' of death toll and said: 'I still hold myself responsible.' Discussing the emotional toll on the day the death toll in the Empire State hit 15,302 Cuomo said: 'Was there anything else that we could be doing right now? That is a very heavy burden to bear.' As of Wednesday afternoon, there were more than 250,000 confirmed cases across the state. Gov Cuomo compared the death toll to the terrorist attacks of 9/11 which he said were 'supposed to be the worst experience of my life'. He told Trevor Noah: 'Part of the information was personal, because this is traumatic, this is PTSD for an entire generation that will talk about this. 'And it is personal, so I try to communicate how I feel personally, my fear and my anxiety as part of this to say to you you are not alone. Everyone is feeling this, I am feeling it too.' Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday told The Daily Show the coronavirus will leave an 'entire generation' facing post-traumatic stress disorder This is PTSD for an entire generation that will talk about this.@NYGovCuomo discusses the emotional toll of the pandemic tonight at 11/10c. pic.twitter.com/HCPYBqfITa The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) April 23, 2020 Times Square is virtually deserted Tuesday. Cuomo opened up on the 'heavy burden' of death toll in the state and said: 'I still hold myself responsible' 'The one differentiation is I have to deal with the number of deaths in the state', Cuomo continued. '15,000 people, Trevor. 9/11 2,700 people. That was supposed to be the worst experience of my life, I believe. 'That weighs heavily on me. I can sit here and say to you I believe that we did everything that could possibly be done, be done.' Gov. Cuomo met with President Donald Trump Tuesday afternoon and said the pair had a 'functional and effective conversation' in the Oval Office. 'The president doesn't like me', Cuomo admitted. But the governor said the two men had an 'honest, detailed conversation about testing', adding: 'Who cares about how he or I feel personally.' He added of the situation in New York: 'I don't believe we lost anyone because we didn't have a bed and we didn't have doctors and nurses. We did that. 'But we still lost 15,000 people and I still am the governor and I still hold myself responsible and I still say to myself what else could I do.' A woman wears a face mask as she passes flags flying at half-mast outside the World Trade Center on April 09 after Cuomo directed flags to be flown at half-staff for coronavirus victims Cuomo had earlier urged protesters bemoaning a lack of work to take some of the thousands of advertised essential retail jobs on Wednesday as tensions continued to bubble across the country over when America can get back to work. But Cuomo acknowledged that the 'pressure people are under is phenomenal and it's traumatic'. He added: 'People are about to burst...but it's impossible to make both sides happy, for me it's about data.' He said the news that his brother, CNN host Chris, has tested positive for the virus was 'terrible'. The governor admitted: 'He is my best friend, but he gets sick and i cant even go and see them. I cant help the kids, it's terrible. There is nothing i can do to help, it is a humbling situation. 'You worry every day that he is going to be the one who loses his life, that dies from it.' Waves of people are said to be trying to leave New York for the suburbs and smaller cities amid growing fears that the city may never return to its former glory or that it will take years to get there. Among those fleeing are parents with young children who had already been eyeing moves to suburbs and were give a push when the pandemic hit, and frustrated singletons who no longer see the point in paying exorbitant rent prices for small apartments when there is no city beyond their homes for them to enjoy. Cuomo said Wednesday: 'We showed that we can control the spread. The numbers are all on the decline and that's the good news.' Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 17:47:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Keren Setton JERUSALEM, April 23 (Xinhua) -- With the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, during which the Muslim families will gather together for a festive meal at the end of a daily fast, more efforts might be needed to protect the big Islamic occasion from the COVID-19 epidemic in Israel where more than 20 percent of the population is Muslim. Earlier this week, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chaired a meeting with mayors of several Arab cities in the country as well as other ministers and the head of the national security council, where they discussed steps to curb the spread of the coronavirus among the Muslim population. The overall plan is to maintain close cooperation between Arab council heads, members of parliament, local authorities, leading religious figures and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in the battle against the deadly virus. In Israel, more than 14,000 have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and nearly 190 have died. In the past two weeks, there has been an increase in the number of Arab-Israelis who have contracted the virus. Thabet Abu Ras, co-executive director of the Abraham Initiatives, a non-governmental organization that promotes Jewish-Arab relations in Israel, calls for greater measures against this particular challenge. "Especially now, enforcement needs to be harsher because there is a relaxation and fatigue among people after so many days," said Abu Ras. "There needs to be more cooperation with security forces. People hear about the government talk about an exit strategy, but in the Arab society we haven't reached the peak yet," he added. In a rare display of cooperation, the Israeli military has been distributing food packages in Arab cities and villages to the needy, while heightening presence of police and army forces in Arab areas. "We have been meeting with heads of the Arab communities and discussing with them how they can celebrate and uphold their traditions and their prayers while protecting them and their families," said Amir Harel of the IDF's Home Front Command that plays a large role in the anti-virus campaign. "The religious leaders are very very attentive and there is excellent cooperation," Harel, also commander of the Haifa Coastal District, told Xinhua. In Israel, the past year of political instability has fuelled the already widening rift between Arabs and Jews in the country. But as the novel coronavirus spreads, palpable changes are being felt in the society. "This is a fascinating time," Abu Ras from the Abraham Initiatives told Xinhua. "The image of the IDF and security forces is changing in Arabs' eyes." "When such a population sees that the country is doing something for them and fighting for their lives and this tightens the cooperation," Harel of the IDF noted. The IDF has so far distributed more than 200,000 anti-virus brochures and stickers in Arabic to local municipalities, and plans to disseminate 20 more videos or so on social media to continue to explain the risks of not heeding to the restrictions. "We need the police now more than ever before," concluded Abu Ras. Enditem Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe TD this week held a teleconference call with representatives of the credit union sector, following on from a call the Minister made on 23 March. The minister welcomed the ongoing work of the credit union sector, in supporting members experiencing difficulties related to Covid-19. Government continues to support credit unions as a provider of essential services to their members, including access to income, savings, credit, and to payment services. In a statement, Donohoe said: Yesterday, I had another constructive conference call with representatives of the credit union sector. We discussed the work of credit unions in their communities, the economic impacts of COVID-19, the role of credit unions in the economic recovery, thematic research being conducted for me by the Credit Union Advisory Committee and various regulatory matters. I updated the representatives on the Governments response to COVID-19. "I welcome the ongoing work that is taking place to assist members who are impacted by COVID-19. This builds on the governments call for solidarity and community spirit which is synonymous with credit unions. "Over the past few weeks I have heard many great examples of credit unions delivering real support in innovative ways to their members, particularly vulnerable members, in these difficult times. The Minister also acknowledged the extensive work that has been ongoing across the credit union sector, to ensure continuity of services to their members, despite unprecedented challenges, as well as the health and safety risks front line staff are taking to ensure members continue to receive the support they need. The Minister committed his support to the collaborative effort from all stakeholders to ensure all necessary steps are taken to continue the provision of important credit union services to members. Officials from the Department of Finance chair a weekly conference call with credit union representatives to ensure smooth information flow between the sector and Government. The Credit Union Advisory Committee (CUAC) is also meeting weekly, and has agreed to report to the Minister by 30 June on the implications of COVID-19 on the sector, the role credit unions could play in the economic recovery, challenges and opportunities for the sector, incorporating implications of COVID-19 and any relevant recommendations. CUAC has engaged with the Representative Bodies for their input. The Registrar of Credit Unions in the Central Bank continues to proactively engage with the credit union sector in responding to COVID-19 and has issued two circulars covering essential service provision and regulatory flexibility measures, which can be found on their website. The Registrar and his team is holding weekly conference calls with credit union representatives to ensure a smooth and up to date information flow between the sector and the regulator. The Registrar and his team also holds a weekly call with officials from the Department of Finance. A 15-year-old boy has been arrested in the killing of a man who was shot on a Sunday afternoon in January in Northwest Washington, according to D.C. police. Prosecutors demand probe into fake news about harvesting of COVID-19 patients organs pixabay.com 12:38 23/04/2020 MOSCOW, April 23 (RAPSI) Investigators are to consider if a criminal case needs to be launched over a YouTube video publication falsely alleging that organs are harvested from coronavirus patients for sale, the press-service of Russias Prosecutor Generals Office informs on Thursday. The materials have been transferred to investigators, so they could decide if criminal prosecution is to be initiated for public dissemination of knowingly false information about circumstances threatening lives and safety of citizens; the Moscow Prosecutors Office is to monitor the situation, the statement reads. The falsehood of the video published on YouTube alleging that patients organs are harvested for sale under the guise of medical treatment of COVID-19 disease has been proved in the course of an inspection on the part of the Moscow Prosecutors Office. At the same time, the oversight authority detected a comment published on VKontakte social network urging to physically exterminate residents of the town of Penza, who failed to comply with quarantine measures; after examination of the call by an expert of the Penza regional Criminal Expertise Center of Russias Interior Ministry, it was defined as a call for extremism. PR-Inside.com: 2020-04-23 12:42:04 LONDON, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NetBet has welcomed the most recent addition to their wide range of payment methods: Google Pay. All NetBet UK and Ireland customers now have the option to make deposits on their account through Googles user-friendly mobile payment system. At NetBet, were always looking for ways to make our customers lives easier by integrating tools and systems that provide more agency and flexibility. Google Pay is an increasingly popular wallet-free payment solution with a host of benefits for Android users. Google Pay makes online payments quick and easy; as long as they have an Android phone, customers can now connect their bank card to the Google Pay app and enjoy instant access to their funds. The app transforms the users phone into a contactless card, without the need for carrying a wallet. NetBet CEO Gabriela Arnautu says: Were excited to have brought this new payment option to both new and existing customers. By integrating Google Pay as another way to make deposits, NetBet has extended its range of products and services to a wider demographic of users on UK and IE domains. With more and more customers choosing to pay using a mobile device, the inclusion of this payment method has extended NetBets reach to a wider and more diverse audience. Contact: Press Team Email: pr@netbet.com TransTech Energy, ("TransTech" - a Bridge Industries, LLC ("Bridge") portfolio company), today announced a strategic partnership with 323 Construction, Inc. (323), a 16-year-old company that specializes in the design and construction of LPG and NGL bulk storage plants and terminals. TransTech and 323 Constructions combined service footprint, along with TransTechs TX based 170,000 square foot ASME fabrication facility, will make the combined organization the largest LPG & NGL storage solutions provider in North America. "We're excited to welcome 323 Construction to the TransTech family," said Greg Ezzell, President of TransTech Energy, "323 Construction has forged an impeccable reputation in the Western US by delivering exceptional storage and delivery solutions and services to propane terminal operators, wholesalers and distributors across the LPG industry. Added Greg, Along with extending our product offerings and field service depth, our partnership with 323 Construction complements our other regions to provide national service coverage and enhancing our flexibility, speed and responsiveness for our combined customer base." "We are thrilled to join the TransTech Energy team. said Vic Fink, Founder & President, 323 Construction, We look forward to playing a key role in their growth strategy. Our companies share numerous cultural similarities and family values, as well as a vision for growth that starts with taking care of our customers. Our combined capabilities, geographical coverage and TransTechs engineering and fabrication expertise will help drive our mutual growth." ### ABOUT TRANSTECH TransTech delivers natural gas production and processing equipment; and natural gas liquids storage & handling solutions across all stages of oil and gas production, processing and distribution. TransTech also provides custom fabrication solutions for process manufacturing in the Chemical, Petrochemical, and a variety of Industrial End Markets, through its recently acquired Bendel Tank and Heat Exchanger, a 60-year-old designer and fabricator of pressure vessels, reactors, heat exchangers and storage vessels. With engineering, fabrication, construction and field services expertise and nearly 200,000 square feet of fabrication capacity in McGregor, TX, Charlotte, NC, and Rocky Mount, NC, TransTech delivers service excellence and an unwavering commitment to quality and safety. In support of the efforts to curb the spread of Coronavirus in Nigeria, the Chinese Government has donated about forty-eight million, one hundred and twenty thousand naira to the Presidential Task Force (PTF). The Chinese Ambassador, Zhou Pingjian, made this known in Abuja on Thursday. Also Read: It Is A Shame That China Claims To Help Nations Yet Brutalize Africans Living There The Ambassador expressed that the donation is an acknowledgement of the long-standing relationship with the Nigerian government. China will never leave its friends in difficulty, the help China offers does not involve any selfish interest. Reacting to the donation, the National Coordinator of the PTF, Dr. Sani Aliyu, commended the Ambassador for the donation. He pointed out that the nation is aware of their contribution and help in proving manpower and isolation facilities. Unilever expects the Covid-19 pandemic to trigger 'lasting changes' in shopper behaviour, it said while revealing its latest first quarter results. The goods giant, which owns a string of brands including Domestos, Dove, PG Tips, Ben & Jerry's and Marmite, benefited from household stockpiling in March, but has taken a hit across its ice-cream brands amid the mass closure of restaurants and cinemas. Cleaning products like Cif and Domestos have sold well in Britain and across Europe, as hygiene-conscious households take spring cleaning to the next level. Hygiene matters: Unilever has seen sales of brands like Domestos and Cif increase Stockpiling households also boosted the Anglo-Dutch group's food sales in the last quarter. Having no idea how long the pandemic will affect its business, Unilever has scrapped its full year guidance, but it will be paying shareholders a dividend of 36p a share. The FTSE 100 listed company's share price is currently down 5.33 per cent or 226p to 4,017p. A year ago the group's share price was hovering around the 4,527p mark. Michael Hewson, chief market analyst at CMC Markets UK, said: 'The performance of the Unilever share price in recent months has been fairly disappointing given its position as a purveyor of a wider range of consumer food and staples. 'At the end of last year, the company blamed challenging conditions in its South Asia markets, as well as West Africa for its underperformance.' Unilever said its underlying sales volumes had been flat at 10.8billion over the past three months. Impact: Sales of Ben & Jerry's ice cream in places like restaurants and cinemas have been hit Sales: Unilever said its underlying sales volumes had been flat at 10.8billion over the past three months Brands: Unilever owns a string of brands like Marmite, Dove, Cif and Hellmann's The Ben & Jerry's manufacturer said 'household stocking' drove strong sales in North America and Europe in March as the coronavirus outbreak gathered pace. UK and German markets led the way in Europe, though prices declined across every global region. Sales of home care products like Cif and Domestos rose by 2.4 per cent over the period. The group, which operates all around the world, said underlying first quarter sales across Asia were down nearly 4 per cent on the same January to March period a year ago. This was primarily because of strict lockdown measures imposed in China. Alan Jope, chief executive officer of Unilever, said: 'We have been able to maintain the supply of product and we are keeping our factories running through the many unpredictable challenges in local operating environments across our value chain. 'We are also opening up new capacity where it is most needed, such as in hand hygiene and food. 'As the crisis hits countries around the world, we see upswings in sales of hygiene and in-home food products, combined with some household stocking, and near cessation of out-of-home consumption which is particularly affecting our food service and ice cream business. 'We are adapting to new demand patterns and are preparing for lasting changes in consumer behaviour, in each country, as we move out of the crisis and into recovery.' The company said it was working hard to protect its staff during the pandemic and had redeployed some workers to busier areas of the business. Reward: Unilever may have scrapped its annual guidance, but shareholders will get a dividend Unilever is currently facing allegations that it underpaid hundreds of millions of pounds in tax. Bosses at the group are challenging the claim, but admit that it could cost the firm up to 600million, or 550million. The dispute with Revenue & Customs comes after Unilever which makes a huge abandoned a plan to ditch its UK headquarters. It is alleged that Unilever owes the taxman money because its Dutch arm had a 'permanent establishment' in the UK, meaning it should have paid more tax here. Unilever 'strongly disagrees with the positions taken by the UK tax authorities'. The company is thought to be confident it can bat away the allegations because its tax arrangements have been unchallenged by the UK for many years. Most of the aid will be given in the form of American advisory and consultancy services, used to benefit the economic development of Greenland, including the mineral industry, tourism and education, according to a statement issued on Thursday by the Greenlandic government. Many of the Danish governments allies and opponents have objected to the aid. Soren Espersen of the far right Danish Peoples Party on Wednesday denounced the aid as insulting, telling the Danish news website Altinget that such economic support was for developing countries. On the left, the Greenland spokesman of the Socialist Peoples Party, Karsten Honge, called the plan extremely provocative, and described it as an attempt to put lice in the fur coat of the islands relationship with Denmark, according to the website Altinget. A conservative Danish lawmaker, Rasmus Jarlov, also accused the United States of clearly undermining Denmark-Greenland relations. But Denmarks minister of foreign affairs, Jeppe Kofod, said on Thursday that Denmark wants Greenland to have a mutually beneficial relationship with the United States. Its no secret that weve worked for a long time with Greenland to make sure Greenland sees a benefit from the U.S. presence, he said, adding that it was now up to Greenlands government and the U.S. to decide how they want to spend the money. But Mr. Kofod declined to comment on the backlash against the aid. Im not going to speak about peoples concerns, he said. People are free to have them. While 51 percent of Americans said they thought the worst days of the pandemic still lay ahead, including nearly two-thirds of Democrats, a slim majority of Republicans said the opposite. That represents a change from late March, when another Kaiser poll found that two-thirds of Republicans expected things to get worse before getting better. When it comes to shelter-in-place restrictions, most Americans in the new poll said they remained worthwhile; that was true across party lines. Even in states with Republican governors who have generally been more willing to entertain lifting restrictions, and eight of whom never ordered statewide limitations at all support remains relatively high for stay-at-home orders, regardless of respondents party affiliation. Yet two in five Republicans nationwide now say that these kinds of restrictions are an unnecessary burden and are causing more harm than good. That makes Republicans more than twice as likely as independents and exponentially more likely than Democrats to express disillusionment with the restrictions. Governors in some Southern states announced plans this week to begin lifting the restrictions on social distancing, though federal health officials have consistently said this could lead to a resurgence of the virus. Demonstrators, often with backing from conservative interest groups, have taken to the streets in various other states to protest the stay-at-home orders. Alarmed by the cross border competition for essential goods sparked by the COVID-19 crisis, Premier Blaine Higgs has been embracing an old Green Party issue around the need for more locally grown food - especially vegetables - and is pledging action to boost provincial broccoli, brussels sprout and beet production. "If we can ramp up our ability to grow more here in the province and have a greater level of food security then let's start down that path," said Higgs during his daily briefing Monday. "One thing we have in this province is certainly lots of land and we need to make better use of it so we can start to reduce our dependence." New Brunswick has a significant agricultural sector but crop production is heavily dominated by potato farms with only limited amounts of other products grown locally. According to Statistics Canada, farm receipts in New Brunswick in 2018 included just $9.7 million in revenue from field vegetables (not including $180.4 million from potatoes), the least amount in Canada outside of Newfoundland and Labrador. That's less than $13 in field vegetable production per person in New Brunswick. It is a fraction of the national average and well behind neighbouring provinces. Falling behind neighbours In 2018, Nova Scotia field vegetable production was $36 per capita, nearly triple the amount of New Brunswick and in PEI and Quebec it was more than 5 times greater at $71 and $72 per person respectively. That means the vast majority of the more than $100 million in fresh field vegetables New Brunswick residents consume each year have to be imported, an issue Higgs has come to believe is a potential threat to the province in an era of closed borders and disrupted supply lines. "Food security was a big discussion we had with our COVID cabinet the other night. It's real," said Higgs on CBC radio last Friday. "I think it was eight percent of our (produce) supply comes from New Brunswick. I mean, that is pretty sad." Story continues Consumers prefer locally grown vegetables, according to Darren Lavigne, owner of Pete's Frootique in the Saint John City Market, but he finds it's not always available, especially at this time of year. "If you can get it local, we definitely sell local," said Lavigne "As a retailer, we want to sell local, we want to support local. It only makes 100 per cent sense to buy local when we can. Consumers feel the same way. If we can get it local, they prefer it." There is suitable land and climate to grow more produce locally, but getting it harvested and sold is the difficult part, according to New Brunswick farmer Micheal Carr. Angela Bosse/CBC "I could produce more vegetables this year. I can up my production probably 50 per cent, but my sales are uncertain and all the investment in vegetables is upfront and so my incentives are not to do that," said Carr, who operates the Jemseg River Farm about 50 kilometres southeast of Fredericton But Carr said if the province wants more locally grown food, there are ways to make that happen. Help solving some of the problems farmers have, including attracting, training and keeping workers, especially at harvest time, high capital costs for new farmers and getting local products in front of consumers could all make a difference he believes. "There are a number of issues. They could be overcome, but there are no easy solutions to it," said Carr. But suddenly COVID-19 appears to have created an appetite for solutions. Catherine Harrop/CBC Food security for New Brunswick in the form of more locally grown produce has been an issue discussed for years in environmental circles but without much political traction. In 2015, New Brunswick Green Party Leader David Coon introduced a private member's bill - the Local Food Security Act - designed to encourage more local farming, but it died after first reading. A separate government initiative by the Department of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries last year to supply 150 New Brunswick school cafeterias with up to 30 per cent of their food from local sources got bogged down somewhere between producers and cafeteria operators and fell 57 schools short of its target But this year, Coon said when he brought the subject up again at the all party cabinet committee that has been steering the province through the COVID-19 pandemic, it won instant support "Brittle" supply lines A number of events have helped boost the attractiveness of local production, according to Coon. Earlier this month, Canada and the U.S. fought over the supply of N95 medical masks, there have been worldwide shortages of COVID-19 testing supplies and major meat packing plants in the U.S. have shut down because of infected workers. "I think people have seen how brittle our global supply lines can be," he said. "All of that has led to a greater sense of anxiety about these long supply lines for goods that are essential and that includes food." New Brunswick has a robust seafood industry and produces significant amounts of dairy, eggs, poultry and other meat products that supply local needs, but only minimal amounts of vegetables. Robert Jones / CBC News Also in limited supply and under consideration by the province for expansion is local fruit production. New Brunswick has significant yields of some fruits already, like blueberries and cranberries, but its strawberry and apple production is a fraction of Nova Scotia's. Higgs believes it is worthwhile for government to figure out what can be grown and consumed locally and work out a ten year plan to make it happen. "We're not utilizing what we have the capability to do here," he said "Take a map of New Brunswick and say 'Okay, what is it we can provide here in our province? What is realistic? How secure can we be as a province?'." "I think it's the time now to get a straight focus. It's like, 'Here's our ten year view on what is going to get us into a food security program. Now's the time to do it'." Four Suspected Terrorists Killed in Fierce Gun Battle With Indian Security Forces in Kashmir Sputnik News 06:00 GMT 22.04.2020 New Delhi (Sputnik): The Indian government says that the number of terrorist attacks has decreased since Jammu and Kashmir's special status was revoked in August 2019. However, recent incidents suggest that terrorist groups have intensified their activities ahead of summer in the valley. At least four suspected terrorists were killed in an overnight encounter in the Shopian district of Indian-administered Kashmir, the Indian Army said on Wednesday. As per information shared by the Indian Army, a fierce gun battle broke out in the village of Malhura Zanpora late on Tuesday after intelligence input about the presence of three or four terrorists in the area. Over the past 20 days, the valley has witnessed 12 fierce encounters in which 16 terrorists were killed. Some 11 security personnel have also lost their lives in these incidents. Last week, Indian Army chief MM Naravane visited the valley and reviewed the preparedness of security in Kashmir. India's parliament was informed in March that only 79 terror-related incidents had occurred in Jammu and Kashmir since August 2019 when the Modi government revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Photo: (Photo : pixabay.com) The recent pandemic has placed everyone in a confused state. Practically everyone raises a lot of questions, be it about social distancing or the number of people being affected. One particular concern is the dangers of COVID-19 to children who have diabetes. In a study conducted by a group of experts from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, diabetes was seen as a comorbidity to COVID-19. In the same study, it was noted that mortality seems to be three times higher for people with diabetes. Child diabetes Parents may always look after the signs of childhood diabetes. Some of the noticeable symptoms are: frequent urination, wetting of the bed, losing weight, and lack of energy. These symptoms may, later on, lead to dehydration, rapid, deep breathing, vomiting, and coma (ketoacidosis), especially if not treated. Studies show that around 95% of childhood and adolescent diabetes is Type 1. This type of diabetes has no cure yet but may be treated. Impacts of COVID-19 to People with Diabetes Contrary to what others believe, the American Diabetes Association says that the COVID-19 does not affect people with diabetes, more than the general population. However, it may be worrisome to note that cases in China have shown that people with diabetes had more severe complications. Although there are also reports that it is not only diabetes but even other diseases that may cause more severe complications. According to Medical News Today, people with diabetes have more complications compared to other patients with COVID-19 because the immune system does not work well. That means that the body is having a more difficult time fighting the virus. Diabetes also tends to make the healing response of the body to infections like the coronavirus slower. Impacts of COVID-1 to People with Untreated Diabetes If the situation does not sound perfect for people with known diabetes, it looks even worse for those whose diabetes is not well-managed. If a person does not treat their diabetes, it may also lead to other problems like heart disease. This situation means that the patient has a weaker body to fight the virus. Also, if diabetes is kept untreated, the glucose level fluctuates. And the fluctuating blood sugar in the body makes more inviting to the novel coronavirus. Children with Untreated Diabetes Thus, the same goes for children. If parents do not get them treated for diabetes, then COVID-19 may be too dangerous for a child. Dr. Orla Neylon, a pediatric endocrinologist, says that the treatment should be urgent for these children. She also noted that although the current situation makes parents hesitant to go to hospitals, it may be a bigger problem if the kids are not treated. The novel coronavirus may cause complications that could be life-threatening at some point. The symptoms of childhood diabetes are noticeable at a glance. That is why Dr. Neylon believes that if children display these symptoms, being checked upon by a doctor should not be delayed. The key now, according to Dr. Neylon, is to be alert on the warning signs for diabetes on children. DETROIT A 71-year-old Michigan prisoner who helped free the longest-serving wrongly convicted man in the U.S. succumbed to the COVID-19 coronavirus this week. Richard Palombo is one of 25 Michigan inmates to die of complications related to the virus, the Associated Press reports. Palombo had been lodged in Lakeland prison in Branch County, which has been swept by the virus. He died Sunday at a hospital. Palombo was serving a life sentence for a 1971 murder. The man he helped free was serving prison time related to the same murder, the report said. In 2010, Palombo was granted a parole hearing in hopes of release due to acute health problems. It was during that hearing, that Palombo told the board that Richard Phillips, who had been convicted with him, had nothing to do with the murder. It was 2014 when the Innocence Clinic at University of Michigan law school got a tip and ordered a transcript of the hearing, the report said. Phillips was released in 2017. He served 45 years, making his the longest serving known wrongly convicted person in the U.S. Palombo still had appeals pending at the time of his death. He acknowledged providing the gun that was used to kill Harris, but was hoping for a new trial, attorney Susan Meinberg said Wednesday. As of Wednesday, Michigan has 2,813 total coronavirus deaths, behind only New York and New Jersey. Confirmed cases stand at 33,966. RELATED: With 999 new confirmed coronavirus cases, Michigan nears 34,000 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 inmates hide coronavirus symptoms to avoid prison quarantine Michigan prisoner dies from coronavirus weeks away from parole after being locked up 44 years Coronavirus a death sentence in Michigan prisons, inmate says 4 corrections officers at private prison in Baldwin have coronavirus Whitmer slams Trumps messaging as inconsistent and dangerous to public Second coronavirus outbreak this winter could be worse than this one, CDC chief warns UAW tells local GM unions to get ready to work in the near future S ir Keir Starmer has called for Labour's inquiry into a leaked anti-Semitism dossier to be concluded in a "matter of months", ahead of a meeting of the party's ruling National Executive Committee. The NEC will convene later on Thursday to set the timescale and frame of reference for the probe into the leaking of the 860-page report that reignited divisions as the new leader tries to unite the party. The document found "no evidence" of anti-Semitism being handled differently from other complaints and that "factional opposition" towards Jeremy Corbyn hindered efforts to tackle the crisis. Labour insisted it takes data protection "extremely seriously" after suggestions that legal action could be taken against the party by people named in the report. Sir Keir's spokesman said: "The NEC is meeting tomorrow and at that meeting they will agree the terms of reference for the inquiry. "Keir has made it clear that he wants it to be a swift investigation." Pressed on how quick, the spokesman replied "a matter of months" and said it was for the NEC to determine. "That's his objective as part of rebuilding the Labour Party and improving trust. There will be more clarity tomorrow," the spokesman said. Labour said officials are working with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) over the leak and insisted it takes its responsibility on data protection "extremely seriously". "We're continuing to work closely with the ICO and taking an extensive number of steps to safeguard both the data and welfare of staff and members," a spokeswoman added. Allies of Mr Corbyn, who resigned as leader after Labour's historic general election defeat, said the document showed that elements of the party undermined his leadership. Sir Keir received a report into all the outstanding allegations of anti-Semitism in the party after meeting Jewish leaders, his spokesman said. Listen to The Leader: Coronavirus Daily podcast Nine years have gone by since Ko happened. Be it the romance incorporated in the thrilling storyline or the songs, the movie is as fresh as ever. The film released on April 22, 2011, had opened with positive reviews from the audience. It was nominated for six Filmfare Awards South winning in two categories and Tamil Nadu State Film Awards winning in 4 categories. As the movie completes its incredible 9 years, let us take you to the flashback which made Ko a unique cinema experience. Search For Mr. Perfect, The Hero! Going back in time when the movie was in its inception mode, it is said that the director KV Anand was searching in a full swing for the Mr. Perfect to essay the character of Ashwin Kumar, a photojournalist. The director had approached almost all actors of Kollywood. Though a top producer of the industry had suggested to rope in Ajith for the movie, Anand stated that the movie was not suitable for Ajith's mass stardom. Chiyaan Vikram was zeroed in for the movie after he was impressed with the narration. But later, he walked out of the project as he had already signed in for another movie and had date issues to cover up. Karthi and Suriya were also rumoured to be considered for the lead role. Later, STR aka Simbu was roped in but the actor turned down the project just before the thriller was about to kick start a week later. When the script was narrated to Jiiva, he had no clue that he would be essaying the lead role as the announcement of Simbu doing the project was already made. It is also said that he had asked the director of the movie about how his character has been given so much of importance than STR, to which Anand responded that he would be replacing STR in the movie, to play the lead role. The Antagonist? In the beginning, Sasikumar was approached to essay the villain, but for reasons unknown, the actor didn't take up the role. Narain, Unnale Unnale actor Vinay, and Ganesh Venkatraman were also few who were considered for the role before Ajmal was zeroed in for the role of Vasanthan Perumal. The Remarkable Music Composition The romantic songs from Ko, Ennamo Yeadho and Venpaniye didn't take much time to win millions of hearts and are still favourites of many. It is said that the music composer Harris Jayaraj didn't want to work for the film, as he felt the story was a cliche. But later the music virtuoso accepted the offer, and yet again cast his magic after the successful hit Ayan directed by KV Anand. The Story And Filming Having worked as a photojournalist, Anand didn't take things for granted. He didn't want a set to be erected for the film. To give more life to the characters and the story, a daily newspaper office was used for the shooting. Also, the movie was supposed to be a rom-com drama before turning it into a mass thriller. Ko also became the first Tamil movie to be shot in Norway. The movie featured an ensemble cast of Karthika, Piaa Bajpai, Prakash Raj, Kota Srinivasa Rao, Achyuth Kumar, and Bose Venkat in pivotal roles. Ko was bankrolled by Elred Kumar, Jayaraman, Haresh Vikram Vijaykumar, and Udhayanidhi Stalin. A sequel to the film, Ko 2 was released on 13 May 2016 with a different crew and cast, directed by Sarath. Darbar TRP Rating: Rajinikanth Starrer Fails To Beat Kanchana 3! Check The Ratings Here! About 370 passengers, including 101 Lankan students, stranded here after the lockdown to check Covid-19 transmission, were airlifted by British Airways and SriLankan Airlines on Thursday from Amritsars Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport. Manoj Chansoria, airport director, said a special SriLankan aircraft with 101 passengers took off from the airport at 11.15 am after all of them were screened by health department teams at the airport terminal. British Airways, which has been carrying out regular evacuations, ferried 269 passengers in its sixth special flight. According to media reports, SriLankan Airlines is also operating special flights from Indias Coimbatore, Pakistans Karachi and Lahore, and Nepals Kathmandu to bring home Sri Lankan students stranded in these countries. These special flights are being operated as part of the Lankan governments programme to bring back its students stranded in other countries and is being carried out in partnership with the Indian ministry of foreign affairs. 1,578 UK citizens airlifted The number of passengers airlifted from Amritsar by special British Airways charter flights so far is about 1,578. With Thursdays flight, the number of passengers evacuated so far by the airlines is: 271 on April 16; 262 on April 17; 260 on April 18; 266 on April 19; 250 on April 21 and 269 on April 23. As per previous announcement of British High Commission to India, two more flights are scheduled for April 25 and 27. UK announces 8 more charter flights from Amritsar in view of long waiting list In view of long waiting list of the UK citizens belonging to Punjab and surrounding areas, British government on Thursday evening announced eight more flights from Amritsar, revealed Jan Thompson, acting British high commissioner to India, in a tweet. She said in the tweet, Brits stranded in India: more UK charter flights as promised. A further 14 next week, including 8 from Amritsar in response to demand. As per the schedule she has announced, these flights will go on 28th, 29th and 30th April and 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th May. Two flights will take off on 2nd May. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON XI'AN, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The Xi'an Symphony Orchestra (XSO) will stage an online concert on Saturday evening at the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, which is famous for its Terracotta Warriors, in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. From Jeremiah Clarke's "The Prince of Denmark's March" to the Chinese violin concerto "The Butterfly Lovers," the concert will be a blend of Western and Chinese classical music and will be broadcast live online via platforms including bilibili and Youku at 5:30 p.m., according to the XSO. The concert will be presented before the No. 1 Pit of the mausoleum site, the largest among three pits that surround the tomb of the nation's first emperor Qinshihuang. During the third excavation launched between 2009 and 2019, an area of 400 square meters in the No. 1 Pit was excavated. Archaeologists have estimated that there are more than 6,000 clay figures and horses in the 14,260-square-meter pit. The union government on Thursday said more than 33 crore citizens had already received direct benefits worth Rs 31,235 crore from the Rs 1.71 lakh crore relief package announced under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package to mitigate against the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak. A government release said Rs 10,025 crore was disbursed to 20.05 crore women holding Jan Dhan accounts, Rs 1405 crore had been distributed to about 2.82 crore old age persons, widows and disabled persons, Rs 16,146 crore was transferred to 8 crore farmers as the first instalment of PM-KISAN and Rs 3,497 crore worth of financial support was provided to 2.17 crore building and other construction workers. The centre said that the above benefits were transferred using fintech and digital technology ensuring swift, efficient and direct transfer to the beneficiary ensuring there is no leakage of the relief. The government has announced a slew of financial packages to deal with the impact of coronavirus, the largest among them being a 1.17 lakh crore relief package announced by the finance minister in the month of March. Government had also announced free LPG cylinders for three months to the beneficiaries of Prime Minister Ujjwala Yojana scheme and it claimed on Thursday that total 3.05 crore LPG cylinders have been booked under the scheme so far and 2.66 crore free cylinders have already been delivered to the beneficiaries. The government added that approximately 6.06 lakh members of EPFO have also availed of Rs. 1,954 crores worth of nonrefundable advance against 75% of the outstanding balance in their PF accounts or 3 months wages. Apart from the above facility, the Centre had announced that it would fund three months PF contributionsboth from the employee and the employer sideamounting to 24% of wages of EPFO members who earn less than Rs 15000 per month in establishments that have up to 100 workers. Centre said an amount of Rs.1000 crore has already been released to EPFO for the above scheme taking care of the contributions for the month of April, 2020. A total of 10.6 lakh employees have benefitted so far and a total of Rs. 162.11 crore has been transferred in 68,775 establishments. For Coronavirus Live Updates The government added that it had distributed free food grains to 39.27 crore beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana. It added that 1.27 crore persons man-days of work have been generated under the national rural work guarantee scheme MNREGA and Rs 7300 crore has been released to states to liquidate pending dues of both wage and material. The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19 The insurance scheme announced for health workers employed in the government hospitals and health care centres has also been operationalised by New India Assurance covering 22.12 Lakh health workers. [April 23, 2020] CHiQ Announced New Series of 5G+8K TVs at Its Global MIANYANG, China, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- CHiQ 5G+8K Global Conference, hosted by Changhong (Shanghai: 600839.SS), has announced the new series of 5G+8K TVs and opened a new era of smart household appliances. At the global conference, CHiQ introduced the full series of 8K TV products with built-in 5G module and 8K image quality bringing consumers excellent experience, and the products have been highly recognized by the industry and our consumers. On January 15, with the smooth finish of the first CHiQ 5G product from production line, CHiQ "5G+industrial Internet" the smart television mass customization production line was officially put into operation in Mianyang, China. This is the first "5G+industrial Internet" production line in China, and also te most advanced mass customization production line of smart TV in Asia. Supported by 5G technology, the CHiQ 8K series has been upgraded and strengthened in terms of hardware configuration and production function interaction, and it presents excellent performance in image quality, operating speed and capability. In the "5G+8K Global Conference" it announced five series of new products, which included the 110" huge screen, it breaks the traditional limit in the TV appearance. Another new product is the first 8K TV of CHiQ which achieves 5G technology, and it contains three advantages of high-speed rate, large capacity and low time consumption. During the conference, as a long-term partner of CHiQ Michael Demeyer the vice president of Dolby Laboratories said: "you can experience Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos on CHiQ TVs, and it create a high dynamic vision effect and produces breathtaking sound quality." The "5G+8K Global Conference" is available globally in the form of a live stream broadcast and is connected with the European local guests so they can experience world-famous attractions and explore historical scenery with 8K technology. This is the first transnational live stream broadcast of 8K TV product Conference in China. Through the interaction with the audience, the display of 5G network speed and the 8K high dynamic range image, it brings a brand-new vision experience to the consumers. CHiQ is a new generation of high-end smart home appliances from Changhong, including a full set of home Internet consumer electronics, such as TV sets, refrigerators, air conditioners, and small home appliances. With the advent of the 5G era, the global interaction mode will be upgraded again with the help of CHiQ. http://www.chiq.com/ Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20200422/2783511-1 SOURCE Changhong [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The executive order President Donald Trump signed Wednesday afternoon has panicked some foreign nationals seeking to come to the U.S., but the action to suspend immigration likely wont have a dramatic impact. Theres already effectively a halt on immigration right now just because of the coronavirus, Lake Oswego-based immigration lawyer John Marandas says. Our clients are not being interviewed or going in for fingerprints. There are no interviews taking place overseas (at U.S. embassies and consuls). Paperwork appears to be processing on some level, but not anything like usual. That paperwork is now likely to stop for 60 days for some green-card applications. After that, if the order isnt extended, the bureaucratic process presumedly will start back up where it left off. The executive order suspends the issuance of green cards to foreign nationals currently living outside the U.S., making it significantly less restrictive than the president made it sound when he announced Monday, via Twitter, that he would temporarily suspend immigration. A green card provides an immigrant with the right to permanently live and work in the U.S. The presidents order provides exceptions for green-card applicants already in the U.S., as well as for essential workers such as medical personnel and for the spouses and children of U.S. citizens, among others. It also doesnt keep out seasonal farm workers, who fall into the essential category, even though the way migrants in the guest-worker program are brought into the country and housed makes recommended physical distancing very difficult for them. That means their time in the U.S. while the coronavirus pandemic continues to roil the country could increase their chances of contracting the deadly virus and then spreading it in the communities where they work. We call these folks essential workers, but nobody is that interested in taking concrete steps to protect them, says D. Michael Dale, the executive director of the Northwest Workers Justice Project. President Trump says the purpose of the executive order is not only to protect Americans from the coronavirus but to save their jobs. In order to protect our great American workers, I have just signed an executive order temporarily suspending immigration into the United States, Trump said Wednesday. He added: This will ensure that unemployed Americans of all backgrounds will be first in line for jobs as our economy reopens. But Marandas, a founding partner of the Marandas Sinlapasai Garcia law firm, points out that immigrants who apply for green cards typically already have work visas and jobs here. I dont believe halting permanent-residency applications will dramatically change who can work and who cant, he says. Dale, the migrant workers activist, views the executive order as Trumps latest attempt to change the topic from the way the coronavirus pandemic is playing out [in the U.S.] by once again targeting his favorite scapegoat: immigrants. Dont pay attention to the need for more [coronavirus] tests, its the immigrants, he says. If scapegoating immigrants is part of the presidents motivation, it shouldnt come as a surprise, says Julie Weise, a University of Oregon history professor who specializes in immigration and migration. He keeps coming back to it because it works for him. Trumps genius as a candidate in 2016 was to successfully meld the kind of overtly racial rhetoric that had almost completely disappeared from mainstream political dialogue after the Civil Rights Movement with the more recent approach of immigration opponents, which is to argue that immigrants are taking jobs and public services they dont deserve. That success has only been reinforced since he took office, Weise says. A president, any president, can change the conversation, she points out. And thats what [Trumps] done with immigration. Hes shifted the way people think about race and made overt racism more acceptable. Its happened very fast. The presidents latest move on the immigration front, this weeks executive order, has sent a laser of fear through immigrants, particularly those who are in the midst of the green-card process for themselves or family members. Marandas says clients have been calling and emailing ever since the presidents Monday tweet announcing it, worried about their impending case, worried about being separated from family members. He adds that the presidents relentless criticism of immigrants has taken a toll on many of them. The last 3, 4 years, he says, weve seen more people just deciding to abandon their plans (to earn permanent residency status) or just go back to their home countries. -- Douglas Perry @douglasmperry Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Al Jazeeras White House correspondent Kimberly Halkett asked President Donald Trump at the White House press briefing about the launch of the military satellite by Iran. The United States has called for Iran to be held accountable after Tehran successfully launched its first military satellite. Irans Revolutionary Guard says it will allow it to monitor the world from space. The military satellite called Nour meaning light in Farsi launched from Irans Markazi Desert on Wednesday. The US has in the past said the space programme was a cover for missile development, which Irans leaders deny. Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb on Thursday said the state has become coronavirus- free after its second COVID-19 patient tested negative. "UPDATE! The Second corona patient of Tripura has been found NEGATIVE after consecutive tests. Hence our State has become Corona free. I request everyone to maintain Social distancing and follow Government guidelines. Stay Home Stay Safe," the chief minister tweeted. Tripura's first COVID-19 patient, a woman from Udaipur town in Gomati district, who returned from Guwahati right before lockdown, had tested positive for the coronavirus infection on April 6. She recovered and was released from isolation on April 16. She was later shifted to a quarantine centre at Gomati district, approximately 50 km from here. A Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawan had also tested positive for COVID-19 at Damcherra in North Tripura on April 16. He was later admitted at GB Pant Hospital here, where he tested negative for the virus on Thursday. State Education Minister and Cabinet Spokesperson, Ratan Lal Nath told a press conference that the patient would undergo another test and he will be released if the report turns out to be negative. Tripura now has 111 coronavirus suspects under surveillance and 227 others have been placed under home quarantine. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cairo, April 23 : The confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Turkey climbed to 98,674 on Wednesday and the death toll reached 2,376. Meanwhile, Iran confirmed 1,194 new cases, bringing the total number to 85,996. Turkey confirmed 3,083 new COVID-19 cases and 117 more deaths in Turkey for the past 24 hours, Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday. Turkey beefed up controls in markets and streets across the country before a four-day curfew starts at midnight on Wednesday to curb the spread of the outbreak of COVID-19. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan previously said that the curve of COVID-19 in Turkey has begun flattening thanks to the timely measures, and the restrictions could be eased at the end of May. Erdogan and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani discussed cooperation against the COVID-19 during a phone conversation, Turkey's presidential office said Wednesday. Iran on Wednesday confirmed 1,194 new cases, bringing the total number infected to 85,996. Meanwhile, 94 died overnight, increasing the death toll to 5,391. The number of recoveries has reached 63,113 in Iran. Israel reported an increase of 556 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number to 14,498. The total number of recoveries increased to 5,215 and the number of coronavirus deaths rose to 189 in Israel. The Israeli government is expected to decide soon the exact hours of the full closure to be imposed in the country on the annual Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and Independence Day, on April 28 and 29 respectively. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday announced 483 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total confirmed cases in the country to 8,238. UAE said the new cases include many nationalities and all are in a stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Qatar announced 608 new infections, increasing the total number of confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 7,141. Egypt confirmed on Wednesday 169 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total infections discovered in the country so far to 3,659. Meanwhile, 12 patients died in Egypt, raising the death toll to 276. The total number of recoveries grew to 689, and the fatalities totalled 10. In Morocco, 237 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed, bringing the total number of cases to 3,446 in the country. The ministry said 149 deaths from COVID-19 were reported while 417 patients have recovered in total. On April 18, Morocco extended the state of medical emergency until May 20 in an effort to strengthen preventive measures to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus. Algeria said that the total infections from COVID-19 increased to 2,910, while the total death toll surged to 402 nationwide. A total of 52 patients were cured in the last 24 hours, bringing the overall recoveries to 1,204, he said. A 24-hour lockdown measure has been maintained in the province of Blida, the epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak, while partial lockdown has been observed in the rest of the country, until April 29. Kuwait reported 168 new cases of COVID-19 and two more deaths, bringing the total infections to 2,248 and death toll to 13. Among the new cases are six Kuwaiti citizens who returned from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. Iraq's total number of infections increased to 1,631, and 83 patients have so far died from the disease, while 1,146 others recovered. Chinese Ambassador to Iraq Zhang Tao on Wednesday handed medical aid to Iraqi Ministry of Defense to fight COVID-19. "During the past two months, China has provided Iraq with three batches of medical aid," Zhang said in a handover ceremony in Baghdad, adding that the ministry played an important role in transporting supplies from China to Iraq. The Omani Ministry of Health announced 106 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number in the country to 1,614. Out of the 106 new cases, there are 35 Omanis, and all the new cases are related to community contact. Lebanon's number of COVID-19 infections increased on Wednesday by five to 682 while the death toll increased by one to 22. Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hassan said that his ministry will continue to increase PCR tests until May 10 which will enable the ministry to have a clear picture about the extent of COVID-19 outbreak in the country. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, April 23 : The Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid has urged fellow Muslims to pray from their homes as the holy month of Ramzan is about to begin. "If we follow the government's instructions we will be able to eradicate the deadly coronavirus very soon," said Ahmad Bukhari, the Shahi Imam of Delhi's Jama Masjid. He further said, "After two days, the holy month of Ramzan will begin. We must follow the government's guidelines to get over this crisis. Prayers have to be offered from home itself and social distancing has to be maintained. By following this, we will be able to protect everyone. No more than 3-4 people should gather at one place." Several other leaders of the Muslim community and social organizations have made similar appeals. Turkish defense contractor Aselsan will provide remote weapon platforms to Kazakhstan through its subsidiary in the Central Asian country, Kazakhstan Aselsan Engineering, under a new agreement, Caspian News writes in the article Kazakhstan Inks Deal With Turkish Defense Giant for Remote Weapon Platforms. In accordance with the agreement, Aselsan will deliver to Kazakhstan its SARP advanced remote-controlled stabilized weapon station (RCWS) in the SARP-DUAL configuration later this year, while the cost and volume of the contract have not been disclosed. With its wide range of engineering and defense solutions, Aselsan and its joint venture Kazakhstan Aselsan Engineering (KAE) aim to increase their manufacturing capacity in order to meet Kazakhstans military and civilian needs, read a statement from Aselsan, which was published by Belgium-based defense and security online magazine Army Recognition. Designed for small and medium caliber machine guns and automatic grenade launchers, SARP combines high-precision reconnaissance and engagement capabilities with effective firepower while keeping the operator under armor or in a safe area away from counter fire. SARP-DUAL is an extension of the existing SARP system. 7.62mm machine gun, 12.7mm machine gun or 40mm automatic grenade launcher can be integrated to it as a main gun, whereas 7.62mm machine gun can also be integrated to it as a secondary gun. Through its extensive surveillance and remote control capabilities, SARP enhances situational awareness of the gunner in his proximity while it also drastically decreases the vulnerability to attacks. The compact design of the system makes SARP a perfect match for integration onto tactical vehicles, fixed surveillance posts and towers. The statement noted that Aselsan RCWS solutions can be integrated into various types of naval or land platforms with different configurations and calibers, adding that they are currently being used in 20 different countries. Aselsan, considered as the largest defense electronics company in Turkey, exports a wide range of defense products that cover communication and information technologies, radar and electronic warfare, land, naval, air defense and missile systems, as well as control systems, transportation, security, traffic, automation and medical systems and many others. Headquartered in Ankara, Aselsan has associated companies in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Listed as one of the top 100 defense companies of the world, Aselsan allocates 7 percent of its annual income for self-financed research and development activities. The companys ties to Kazakhstan date back to 2011, when Aselsan and Kazakh defense company Kazakhstan Engineering launched a joint defense venture in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan Aselsan Engineering. Kazakhstan Engineering controls a 50 percent stake in the project, while Aselsan holds a 49 percent share. Turkeys Defense Industry Executive Committee owns a 1 percent stake in the company. The main aim of the partnership is to reduce Kazakhstans dependence on foreign military suppliers. In 2019, Kazakhstan was ranked as the second strongest military power in Central Asia behind Uzbekistan, according to the data compiled by Global Firepower. Kazakhstans military expenditures totaled nearly $1.6 billion in 2018, up 16 percent from previous year, according to estimates by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), an independent research institute that tracks global military expenditures. Kazakhstan ranked 15th in the world in terms of the biggest relative increases in military expenditures last year. Eighty percent of Kazakhstani military-technical purchases are imported from Russia, which is considered to be the second-largest military power in the world after the US. ServiceMaster Fire and Water Restoration has been providing disaster restoration and cleaning services for homes and businesses in the Denver metropolitan area and Elbert Country since 1989. They recently launched their updated website with a fresh design, user-friendly navigation, and mobile responsiveness to display on all mobile devices. Their website was redesigned by Proceed Innovative, a digital marketing and web design professional based in the Chicago, IL area. The Need for a New Website ServiceMaster Fire and Water Restoration needed to overhaul their website because the design was outdated, and the navigation was not very user-friendly. Their website was also not responsive to mobile devices. The new website design features better navigation and an updated design that incorporates the newest ServiceMaster branding colors and logos. The dropdown top navigation menu makes it very convenient for users to find the disaster restoration services they need, and they can also use the websites search function. There is a contact form in the right navigation menu for each page so users can quickly submit a form. The most important element of the new web design is the mobile responsiveness that allows it to display and function properly on all mobile devices. More people search for products and services online using their smartphone or other mobile device which makes it very important for websites to be mobile friendly. Mobile users can navigate the website for ServiceMaster Fire and Water Restoration and even use the call button on the pages to call right away for emergency services. About ServiceMaster Fire and Water Restoration ServiceMaster Fire and Water Restoration has been serving the homes and businesses of the Denver metropolitan area and the surrounding areas in Elbert County Colorado with disaster restoration and cleaning services since 1989. They specialize in water damage restoration, fire damage restoration, mold remediation, and other commercial cleaning and damage restoration services. They started as a one man, one van operation but quickly grew to have a full staff and large fleet of vans and trucks. Each of their technicians is IICRC certified to provide quality disaster restoration services in commercial and residential settings. They have also been a Star Member of the Better Business Bureau since 2003. For more information, visit smfireandwaterrestoration.com The Odorkor Police have finally apprehended a 26-year-old serial robber at Bubuashie near Kaneshie in Accra. Suspect, Emmanuel Koomson aka Thunder Boy, according to the police, has been on their wanted list for close to a year for his involvement in a series of robberies within Sakumono and Odorkor including others in the Western Region. According to DSP Effia Tenge, the Accra Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Koomson jumped court bail after Sakumono Police arrested him for his involvement in two different theft cases a year ago. Suspect after jumping bail moved to the Western Region where he continued with his nefarious activities, she said. DSP Tenge maintained that Koomsom, before his arrest in Accra, attacked and robbed a victim at Shama, in the Western Region and when he realized that the Shama Police were closing up on him, he escaped again to Accra. She said through police intelligence, the Odorkor Police who had also been investigating the suspect in another robbery case, grabbed Koomson from his hideout at Bubuashie near Kaneshie on April 18, 2020. He is currently in the custody of the Odorkor Police assisting in their investigations after which he would be sent back to Shama for prosecution, she added. ---Daily Guide NEW YORK, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Chainalysis, the blockchain analysis company, today announced an extension of its partnership with Upbit, the South Korea-based digital asset exchange, to provide support across the broader Asia Pacific (APAC) region. In addition to Upbit Korea, Upbit APAC will also use Chainalysis KYT (Know Your Transaction) to ensure safe, secure trading experiences for all of its users as digital asset and cryptocurrency exchanges work to ramp up compliance procedures around the world. By working with Chainalysis and enhancing its compliance practices, Upbit is aligned with the recently rolled out regulations in Korea, where it has its largest exchange business. Upbit is also positioning itself ahead of the regulatory curve in jurisdictions like Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand where its business is expanding and where enforcement of guidelines from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) are imminent. "As digital asset and cryptocurrency use in Asia Pacific continues to grow, incorporating proper AML and KYC requirements is a vital step for all cryptocurrency exchanges in the region," said Jason Bonds, Chief Revenue Officer, Chainalysis. "Upbit is setting a strong example for other exchanges in the region and is a strategic partner to us as we expand our presence there." "As more and more markets around the world adopt new regulations, it was vital for us to find a compliance partner that could work with us as we expand our digital asset business to new markets," said Alex Kim, CEO, Upbit APAC. "With an unparalleled data set, user friendly software, and much-needed on-the-ground support here in APAC, Chainalysis was the obvious choice for us in a compliance partner." Chainalysis KYT, the cryptocurrency AML compliance solution, is used by over 275 customers in 40 countries to screen transactions in real-time and receive alerts on suspicious activity. Jurisdictions around the world are issuing regulatory requirements to cryptocurrency businesses to step up compliance procedures. Chainalysis' technology enables compliance teams to design a risk-based approach in handling issues such as money laundering and exposure to high-risk activities across multiple cryptocurrencies, a critical move for businesses as they expand to new markets and support new cryptocurrencies. About Chainalysis Chainalysis is the blockchain analysis company providing data and analysis to government agencies, exchanges, and financial institutions across 40 countries. Our investigation and compliance tools, education, and support create transparency across blockchains so our customers can engage confidently with cryptocurrency. Backed by Accel, Benchmark, and other leading names in venture capital, Chainalysis builds trust in blockchains. For more information, visit www.chainalysis.com. About Upbit Upbit, launched by Dunamu Inc. in 2017, is the largest digital asset exchange in South Korea. Equipped with world-class technology, regulatory expertise, and operational know-how, Upbit currently operates exchanges in South Korea, Singapore, and Indonesia. SOURCE Chainalysis, Inc. The environment ministrys forest advisory committee (FAC) on Thursday discussed the issue of forest clearance for the Etalin Hydroelectric Project of 3097 MW which will involve clearing of 2.7 lakh trees in what is described as a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest and subtropical rain forests in FACs documents. A senior member of the FAC who didnt want to be named said though a decision on granting forest clearance to the project has not been taken yet, most members had a favourable view of the project because it is a large clean energy project which could replace dirty energy, he said. We had a long discussion and all views of members have been taken on record. Most members had a favourable view, so did the sub-committee that visited the site, he added. HT had reported on April 23 that a sub-committee of the FAC which visited the site in February has recommended in their report dated April 21 that Etalin Hydroelectric Project of 3097 MW be allowed with a condition that the developer deposit money for wildlife conservation in the area. A Small Niltava bird in the Dibang Valley. (SHASHANK DALVI) Meanwhile, scientists who have worked in Dibang Valley wrote to the environment ministry on April 22 after they came across the FACs sub-committee report on the Parivesh website. Umesh Sreenivasan, assistant professor at Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and Nandini Velho, wildlife biologist cited scientific studies that established that tigers are present outside the Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary in Dibang Valley and they are at risk from the Etalin project. The sub-committee report submitted on April 21 was of the view that there are no tigers in the project area. Based on a Wildlife Institute of India multi seasonal study which had deployed 78 cameras during a four month survey, no tiger image was captured. Further no pugmarks or scats of tigers during this survey were found. Therefore, the tiger presence in study area was not established, the sub-committee report has said. But scientists pointed out that this observation contradicts FACs earlier observations where they have referred to an independent study by a wildlife researcher captured 12 individual tigers and 8 individual clouded leopards at various locations in Dibang Valley. A large majority, above 60%, of the camera traps were placed outside Dibang Wildlife Sanctuary which shows that both species are not only abundant but also very widespread in the district, FAC had noted. The project area also falls under vital tiger area in ministrys documents. Velho and Sreenivasan also point out in their letter that the sub-committee failed to take note of peer-reviewed studies showing that Dibang Valleys outstanding rich biological diversity. The most notable are the six different colour variations of the Asian golden cat (Schedule I) which are found throughout the district. Dibang Valley hosts the highest colour variation of any wild cat species in the world, making it a globally significant area both for conservation, and to study ecological adaptability and evolution, they write referring to a study published on the Asiatic Golden Cat in the Ecological Society of Americas The Scientific Natural journal last year. Scientists working in the area told HT that the Idu Mishmi community (the dominant population in the valley) had written to the National Tiger Conservation Authority in 2018 about tiger presence across the valley. According to a local news report cited by United Nations on its website the Idu Mishmi Cultural & Literary Society (IMCLS) had written to the NTCA, stating that the community wishes to be consulted during deliberations on the Dibang tigers as the organization has forwarded a cultural model of tiger conservation. Based on years of empirical research on ecological and social aspects of tigers in Dibang Valley, we strongly believe that the right strategy for Dibang tigers would be to develop a new kind of tiger reserve that is built not with fences and armed patrol guards, but around a cultural model, a culture which has so far proven to be effective in saving the tiger, the representation had read. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) have donated six ambulances to South-west states towards the fight against coronavirus. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Lagos State governor, announced on Thursday that he received the donation on behalf of the states. Today, on behalf of the South-west states, I took delivery of six ambulances, respiratory masks, PPEs and other safety equipment donated by the @NNPCgroup and Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) to support our efforts to combat #COVID19 in the states. On behalf of the other SW Governors of Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo and Osun state, I also commend the donors for this gesture as we again restate our commitment to work with all partners and the Federal Government to end this scourge as quickly as possible in our country, he wrote. The federal government and state governments have received numerous donations from international bodies, groups, corporations, individuals and religious bodies in the fight of coronavirus. On Thursday, the Flour Mills of Nigeria Group (FMN Group) donated ventilators and other personal protective equipment worth $1.5 million to the Federal government. The group said the donation is to reduce the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the government and also contribute to the fast taming of the infection. Mr Sanwo-Olu received the ambulances on behalf of the south-west governors. Photo Credit: Lagos governors Twitter handle) The United Nations also donated 10,000 test kits, 15 oxygen concentrators, personal protective equipment (PPE), IEHK/PEP kits, vaccines, and other health supplies to the Nigerian government towards the fight against COVID-19. Dir: Sam Hargrave. Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Rudhraksh Jaiswal, Randeep Hooda, Golshifteh Farahani, Priyanshu Painyuli, David Harbour. 18 cert, 116 mins Extraction belongs to an irrepressible genre of cinema: that of the action thriller with its gun-toting white man sent to rampage through exotic locales. This new entry, released on Netflix, comes from the pen of Joe Russo, best known for the Marvel blockbusters that he directed with his brother Anthony, including Avengers: Endgame. Its an adaptation of his own graphic novel Ciudad, though the setting has shifted from South America to Asia tellingly, with few repercussions to the story. Bangladesh now has its very own Pablo Escobar, with his penchant for cutting off fingers and unbuttoned shirts paired with stacks of gold chains. Its a vision of foreign brutality treated as wholly interchangeable, without the weight of political or social consciousness. In Mumbai, a schoolboy (Rudhraksh Jaiswal) languishes in stately isolation, surrounded by the chrome, glass, and marble of his fathers ultra-minimalist home. After hes suddenly abducted from outside a local nightclub, its revealed that hes the son of Indias most prominent drug lord. His kidnappers work for Bangladeshs most prominent drug lord, Amir Asif (Priyanshu Painyuli). Presumably, this is just business as usual. A black market mercenary, Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth), is called in to extract the kid the title really is that on the nose from Amirs base of operations in Dhaka. The rescue is a breeze, but leaving the city proves trickier. Amir has sway over both the police and the army, so every bridge and road out has been blocked. The stage is set for all the usual ambushes, showdowns, and betrayals. Admittedly, theres some ingenuity in how director Sam Hargrave handles the material. Like John Wicks Chad Stahelski and David Leitch before him, hes a stunt coordinator-turned-director, having served as Chris Evanss stunt double for several of his appearances as Captain America. And, like his predecessors, he shows a clear desire to plunge his audiences right into the heart of the action. In an 11-minute sequence made to look like a single, unbroken take, we follow Tyler as he darts in and out of tenement apartments and scurries along rooftops. The camera hovers around him like a particularly determined housefly. While Extraction certainly takes advantage of Hemsworths godlike physique, it wastes the boyish charm that made his presence in Thor: Ragnarok and Ghostbusters so likeable. He might play up his Australian origins (its all fackin this, bloody fackin that, bro!), but otherwise he fits neatly into the role of reformed brute: stiff and soulless until his heart is melted by the child hes sworn to protect. This is just another testosterone-charged, heroic fantasy so much so that the films only prominent female character, Golshifteh Farahanis arms dealer, is made to act out a near-parody of masculinity. In one scene, she idly plays with two silver, weighted balls. In another, she caresses a missile launcher, the most phallic of weapons. Hargrave might have envisioned Extraction as the next John Wick or Atomic Blonde, but his film cant help but fall in line with all the old conventions. Your browser does not support the audio element. A recently opened supermarket in Ho Chi Minh City is offering shoppers five items of their choosing, free of charge, as part of a bid to mitigate the impacts of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the citys most vulnerable residents. The 'Zero-VND Happy Supermarket' at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in District 3 is the latest in a series of efforts taking place across the city meant to help lower-income residents overcome economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 epidemic. When I came here, everything was already in order, said Pham Van Tai, a District 10 resident who was visiting the store to pick up groceries for a friend in need. The staff were so nice about helping get the items on my list that it brought me to tears. The Zero-VND Happy Supermarket at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda is just the newest of 18 similar stores recently launched across the country by Apec Group to provide free food and essentials to those in need. Each of the stores is designed to ensure visitors maintain at least two meters of space between themselves and other customers, as per the governments social distancing mandate. Local resident Chu Van Tai picks basic necessities at the Zero-VND Happy Supermarket located at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre Shoppers who visit Zero-VND Happy Supermarkets throughout the country are permitted to choose up to five items with a combined value of up to VND100,000 (US$4.2) from any of the stores three departments food, clothing, and books. Each visitor is allowed to visit the store twice a month between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm each weekday. As of right now we plan to keep the store running for a month. Well likely close if the pandemic ends soon and peoples lives can return to normal, said the Venerable Thich Thanh Phong of Vinh Nghiem Pagoda. If things become worse, well keep operating for another 3-6 months to help people during these challenging times. Vietnam has reported 268 COVID-19 infections with 224 having recovered. The country has registered no new cases in the last seven days, with the overall infection rate having significantly decreased since April 4. No virus-related fatalities have been reported in the country to date. Customers maintain at least two meters apart while queueing at the Zero-VND Happy Supermarket located at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre A volunteer checks the body temperature of a customer at the entrance of the Zero-VND Happy Supermarket located at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre Every customer is handed a coupon to keep track of the items they have obtained at the Zero-VND Happy Supermarket located at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre Volunteers assist customers at the Zero-VND Happy Supermarket located at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre A standee with the Vietnamese motto that translates to Take if you are in need. Leave for others if you are doing well is seen at the Zero-VND Happy Supermarket located at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre Customers in need get access to basic necessities at the Zero-VND Happy Supermarket located at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre An elderly customer leaves after having obtained the staples she needs from the Zero-VND Happy Supermarket located at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: Duyen Phan / Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A World War II veteran died of coronavirus, a century after his twin brother died of what was then known as the Spanish flu. Philip Kahn, who resided in Long Island, New York, served as a sergeant in the Air Force during World War II and co-piloted key missions during the Battle of Iwo Jima. He died at the age of 100 on April 17. He and his twin brother Samuel, according to CNN, were born on Dec. 5, 1919. Samuel died just weeks later from the influenza pandemic, which infected one-third of the worlds population, about 500 million people, and killed 675,000 in the United States. The family was able to test Philip Kahn for coronavirus, but didn't get his test results until after his death, CNN reported. Kahns grandson, Warren Zysman, told CNN and WLNY-TV in New York that his grandfather repeatedly warned him about another pandemic happening in his lifetime. The one silver lining is that my grandfather will finally have the opportunity to meet his twin brother after 100 years, Zysman told WLNY-TV. Following his military service, Kahn later was employed as an electrical foreman and worked on the World Trade Center, CNN reported. During his funeral service, Kahn's great-grandchildren were allowed to make speeches , WLNY reported, while CNN noted that a fellow World War II veteran who served with him, Sampson Friedman, played the bugle both distanced from Kahn's grave. "He had always wanted a large military funeral, but we weren't able to provide that to him," Zysman told CNN. Follow Joshua Bote on Twitter: @joshua_bote This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Coronavirus: WWII vet died 100 years after twin died of Spanish flu For children who have fallen far behind academically, it is not yet clear what summer school will look like, since the Department of Education is currently determining how grading and promotion will be handled during remote learning. Though education officials said the city will offer some virtual learning options through the summer, teachers are still scheduled to begin their summer break at the end of June. Top officials at the United Federation of Teachers indicated that the powerful union would push back vigorously against any attempt to continue the school year online through the summer. Mr. de Blasio has said the city cannot plan to reopen any schools earlier than September, spelling more uncertainty for children with advanced special needs who typically attend school year-round. And it is unknown when public libraries, where students can study for the SATs and catch up on summer reading assignments, will reopen. The things that we would normally plan for the summer we cannot guarantee. We only at this point, I think, can truly plan on the reopening of schools in the beginning of September, the mayor said last week. Thats where our energy is going, actually start the schools up right. Mr. de Blasio said Wednesday that his administration was working on a summer plan to try to keep New Yorkers, including students, occupied in the coming months. Mr. de Blasio has said the enormous reductions to summer programs were not only necessary for safety but were also part of a painful yet necessary slew of budget cuts aimed at keeping the city afloat as it beats back the virus. The slashing of nearly all summer programs will save the city about $185 million, and closing pools and cutting some funding for parks will save about $17 million. We know many of the restrictions put in place to protect the health and safety of New Yorkers are causing unique disruptions in the lives of our kids, especially those in low income communities, said Jane Meyer, a spokeswoman for Mr. de Blasio. (Bloomberg) -- Amazon.com Inc. employee climate activists have called for a walkout Friday to protest the firing of two of their leaders and to show solidarity with warehouse workers who continue to pick, pack and ship orders during the pandemic. But with mass gatherings banned and high unemployment making some workers loath to antagonize their bosses, the organizers could struggle to get their message out. More than 100 employees have committed to striking -- which essentially means calling in sick -- and some Amazonians who arent part of the movement say fears of being fired will likely curb participation. In some ways, its less risky for people to participate because their faces wont end up on the news, said Maren Costa, a member of Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, who, along with her colleague Emily Cunningham, was fired on April 10. But its going to be harder to have that impact. A picture says 1,000 words. How do you take a picture of this? An Amazon spokeswoman declined to comment on Fridays planned strike. Amazon Employees for Climate Justice began in late 2018 as a gathering of people who shared concerns about climate change and their employers role in it. They began a media and shareholder vote push to get the company to do more. Amazon to that point had backed renewable energy projects and was working on environmentally friendly packaging. But it had stopped short of the sustainability disclosures and commitments embraced by many retail and technology companies. That changed in September, when Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos pledged to make Amazon carbon neutral by 2040. The employees pushed for more ambitious policies, starting with a rally outside of Amazons Seattle headquarters the next day, a walkout timed to line up with youth-led climate strikes occurring around the world. When Amazon threatened to dismiss members of the group who continued to speak to the media without authorization, some 400 employees signed their names to statements made in defiance of the stricter communications policy. Story continues As coronavirus cases spread in Amazons warehouses, the climate activists broadened their mission to agitate for workers complaining about a lack of safety measures and poor communication from management. Amazon earlier this month confirmed the first publicly reported death of one of its employees suffering from Covid-19, and the retailer has told employees in dozens of depots across the U.S. of cases of the disease within their ranks. Spokespeople have declined to provide a tally of ill employees. Amazon has said critiques of its safety measures are unfounded, and Costa and Cunningham were dismissed shortly after their group circulated an invitation to Amazon employees to hear from warehouse workers on a live stream. Amazon said the two were fired for unspecified violations of company policy; both had previously been warned about speaking to the media without authorization. We support every employees right to criticize their employers working conditions, but that does not come with blanket immunity against any and all internal policies, Amazon said in a statement last week. Costa and Cunningham say they were dismissed because they sought to shine a spotlight on warehouse working conditions. Thats the bomb that set them off, Costa said. Employees have previously pushed Amazon to act on social and health care issues, including publicly supporting legislation legalizing same-sex marriage and expanding health care benefits for transgender employees. A person familiar with Amazons corporate response to the climate activists, but not authorized to speak publicly about it, said the company might have tolerated a group focused around activism on a single issue. But some executives worried that the group would fuel activism on a range of other issues, this person said, as well as strikes among warehouse workers concerned about their safety during the pandemic. Amazon has some 800,000 employees globally. Executives and spokespeople have responded to recent walkouts by workers in Amazon warehouses by portraying strikers as a tiny sliver of the workforce. The climate group, which has planned another live stream with warehouse workers for Friday, is considering ways to show the scale of the sickout using social media. We know that many of our colleagues are going to be scared by this, Costa said of her firing. But we hope that what weve done already, and what well continue to do, is inspire our friends and colleagues to fight for whats right. 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. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart (Reuters) Washington, United States Thu, April 23, 2020 09:19 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3af8c8 2 World Navy,US,trump,Iran Free President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he had instructed the US Navy to fire on any Iranian ships that harass it at sea, but said later he was not changing the military's rules of engagement. Close interactions with Iranian military vessels were not uncommon in 2016 and 2017. On several occasions, US Navy ships fired warning shots at Iranian vessels when they got too close. "I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea," Trump wrote in a tweet, hours after Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps said it had launched the country's first military satellite into orbit. While the Navy has the authority to act in self-defense, Trump's comments appeared to go further and were likely to stoke tensions between Iran and the United States. In a briefing at the White House later on Wednesday, Trump said the military would not be changing its rules of engagement. "We're covered, we're covered 100 percent," Trump said Senior Pentagon officials said that Trump's comments on Iran were meant as a warning to Tehran, but suggested that the US military would continue to abide by its existing right to self-defense instead of any changes to its rules. "The president issued an important warning to the Iranians, what he was emphasizing is all of our ships retain the right of self-defense," Deputy Secretary of Defense David Norquist told reporters at the Pentagon. The United States should focus on saving its military from the coronavirus, an Iranian armed forces spokesman said on Wednesday. Earlier this month, the US military said 11 vessels from the IRGCN came close to US Navy and Coast Guard ships in the Gulf, calling the moves "dangerous and provocative." At one point, the Iranian vessels came within 10 yards (9 m) of the US Coast Guard cutter Maui. While such interactions at sea occurred occasionally a few years ago, they had stopped recently. Tensions between Iran and the United States increased earlier this year after the United States killed Qassem Soleimani, the head of Irans elite Quds Force, in a drone strike in Iraq. Iran retaliated on Jan. 8 with a rocket attack on Iraqs Ain al-Asad base where US forces were stationed. No US troops were killed or faced immediate bodily injury, but more than 100 were later diagnosed with traumatic brain injury. Topics : Navy US trump Iran Vicky Kaushal has slammed rumours which alleged that he violated the lockdown rules and got admonished by the Mumbai Police. He took to his Twitter handle to put to rest these rumours and claimed that he hasn't stepped out of his house since the lockdown began. "There are baseless rumours suggesting that I broke the lockdown and got pulled up by the cops. I've not stepped out of my house since the lockdown started. I request people not to heed the rumours. @MumbaiPolice," tweeted Vicky. There are baseless rumours suggesting that I broke the lockdown and got pulled up by the cops. I've not stepped out of my house since the lockdown started. I request people not to heed the rumours. @MumbaiPolice Vicky Kaushal (@vickykaushal09) April 23, 2020 Some time back, Sonakshi Sinha received a lot of heat on social media for allegedly flouting the lockdown and shooting for a television show. She too rubbished the rumour which started when Vivek Agnihotri shared a newspaper clipping of her outside a studio in Mumbai. It was recently reported that an eleven year-old kid in Vicky's apartment complex in Mumbai, tested positive for the Coronavirus, and therefore the complex has been partially sealed off. Apart from Vicky, many other celebrities like Rajkummar Rao, Chitrangada Singh, Neil Nitin Mukesh and others reside in this apartment complex. Vicky has donated Rs. 1 crore to the Prime Minister Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) and the Maharashtra Chief Minister's Relief Fund to help fight the virus. ALSO READ: Vicky Kaushal's Mumbai Residence Complex Sealed After 11-Year-Old Tests Positive For COVID-19 ALSO READ: Vicky Kaushal Admits He Has Suffered Sleep Paralysis: 'It's Damn Scary' By PTI MUMBAI: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday disapproved the Maharashtra government's demand to run special trains for migrant workers to take them to their native states, saying that such scenario should not become another Nizamuddin-like situation. The demand for special trains was made by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to the Centre. "I do understand their (migrant workers') feelings and the plight, but we cannot let them go to their native places without taking any precautions. It (running of trains) should not turn out to be another Nizamuddin-like situation," the Highways and Road Transport Minister told a news channel. A congregation of the Tablighi Jamaat held at the Markaz Nizamuddin in Delhi in March turned out to be a major catalyst for spread of coronavirus infection across the country. "I would rather say that the state (Maharashtra) should take are of these migrant labours for the next some weeks. Those people should understand that they may not be welcomed in their native villages as well because of the spread of the viral disease," he said. Gadkari further said that even after the lockdown is lifted after May 3, train services will resume with utmost precautions, and people will have to follow safety measures for a longer period. Care home residents may account for nearly half of coronavirus deaths in Europe, the World Health Organisation said today. The WHO's European director Hans Kluge revealed the staggering figure at a press conference today where he labelled the deaths an 'unimaginable human tragedy'. Kluge said even 'frail' older people have a 'good chance of recovery if they are well-cared for' but warned that staff were lacking equipment and were often 'overstretched and underpaid'. Nursing home deaths are often missed out of official statistics because a shortage of tests means that residents were not confirmed to have the virus before they died. Many countries have banned people from visiting nursing homes, a measure which has made the deaths of elderly relatives even more painful for many. A care home worker wearing a mask and face shield speaks to elderly residents in an isolated part of a retirement home in Deerlijk, Belgium earlier this week Kluge, the WHO director, said today that many people living in care homes were 'particularly vulnerable to this virus', which is generally more dangerous to older people. 'According to estimates from countries in the European region, up to half of those who have died from Covid-19 were resident in long-term care facilities,' he said. 'This is an unimaginable human tragedy. 'To the many who are experiencing this loss, my thoughts are with you.' Kluge said people with disabilities including dementia can be more vulnerable because they may have difficulty following health advice. 'Many today are prevented from receiving visits from family and friends. No longer getting the emotional and physical support that such visits provide. Sometimes residents face the threat of abuse and neglect,' he said. 'And yet equally troubling the way that such care facilities operate, how residents receive care is providing pathways for the virus to spread. 'Even among very old people who are frail and live with multiple chronic conditions many have a good chance of recovery if they are well-cared for.' Kluge said the pandemic had 'shone a spotlight' on 'overlooked and undervalued corners of our society', saying care had often been 'notoriously neglected'. Hailing care workers as the 'unsung heroes of this pandemic', he said the 'dedicated, compassionate people' working at nursing homes were 'so often overstretched, underpaid and unprotected'. 'We must do all we can to ensure that those workers have PPE and other essential supplies to protect themselves and those they care for,' Kluge said. A woman is tested for coronavirus at the Comendador Joaquim De Sa Couto Foundation nursing home in Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal Volunteer doctors prepare to carry out tests at a nursing home in Santa Marinella near Rome on Tuesday Demanding 'appropriate remuneration for the long hours and difficult work they have', Kluge said there was an 'urgent need to rethink' how care homes operate. 'This means striking a balance between the requirements of residents and their families, and ensuring that services are run safely and staff are protected and well supported,' he said. During the present crisis, care homes should prepare separate wards or spaces for coronavirus patients even before the first cases occur, he advised. 'These measures will help cut the spread of the virus, and allow for the managed opening once again of such homes to families and visitors,' he said. 'From now on, quality, resourced, strong and sustainable care systems that prioritise peoples needs and dignity must be our gold standard,' he said. 'Commitment from the highest levels of government, across every section of our society is needed.' Care home deaths mean that the official tallies kept by many European governments are likely to be too low. France releases figures for care home deaths - 8,104 deaths on the premises of care homes with another 2,599 in hospital - but even these are likely to be incomplete. In Italy, authorities are investigating possible malpractice at 13 nursing homes in Milan after claims that staff were prevented from wearing masks. Spanish troops have been sent to disinfect buildings, and on one occasion found relatives living in squalor among the bodies of suspected coronavirus victims. There are fears that hundreds of care home deaths in Catalonia alone could inflate the Spanish death toll enormously. Currently, under-18s are allowed surgery but only with parental consent Under-18s will be banned from having gender reassignment surgery, equalities minister Liz Truss said yesterday. While children are developing their decision-making capabilities, they should not be able to make irreversible choices, she said. Currently, under-18s are allowed surgery but only with parental consent. Under-18s will be banned from having gender reassignment surgery, equalities minister Liz Truss (pictured) said yesterday Ms Truss said: 'I believe strongly that adults should have the freedom to lead their lives as they see fit, but I think it's very important that while people are still developing their decision-making capabilities that we protect them from making those irreversible decisions. 'Of course some of these policies have been delayed by the specific issues around Covid but I can assure you that alongside the Covid work, our officials continue to do those things to make them happen.' She said the Government's full response to reforms of the Gender Recognition Act will be published this summer. Addressing the Women and Equalities Committee, she outlined 'very important principles' the Government would set out in the act. Under-18s will be banned from having gender reassignment surgery, equalities minister Liz Truss said yesterday The first is that single sex spaces will be protected, after concerns were raised over women's jails, toilets and women's refuges. Ms Truss said the act should also ensure that transgender adults are able to live their lives as they wish without persecution, while maintaining checks and balances. And under-18s must be protected from irreversible decisions, she added. In 2018, then-prime minister Theresa May proposed the reforms to allow people to transition with a 'more streamlined and de-medicalised' process. She said being transgender should not be treated as an illness. For a limestone mantel from the Waldorf Astoria, the church that owns the Olde Good Things antique stores asks for USD 8,500. But for the death of each child in a fire at a home it ran in Haiti, parents said the same church offered to pay just USD 50 to USD 100 in family compensation along with USD 150 for funeral-related costs such as new clothes and transportation. The wealth of the Church of Bible Understanding in the United States has long stood in contrast with the shoddiness of its two children's homes in Haiti, which have faced years of infractions and failed two state inspections. But the gap came into even sharper focus on February 13, when the fire killed 13 children and two adult caretakers described by the church's lawyer as disabled. Authorities suspect the fire started because the home used candles instead of a functioning generator or battery in a country where power failures are frequent. The deaths have devastated parents like Eustache Arism, 33, who put his two daughters in the home shortly after they were born because he has a withered left arm and cannot find work. His daughters Nedjie, 4, and Vanise, 3, died in the fire at the home, which is known as an orphanage in Haiti although many children have at least one living parent. Like Arism's daughters, the children in such orphanages are usually handed over, often as babies, by parents who struggle to support them and want them to at least get food and shelter. Parents generally keep custody and are allowed to visit. ''At first, I was happy to see the children growing up in the orphanage. But now I profoundly regret my decision,'' Arism said. ''When we put our children in the orphanage, the owners welcomed us. Now, after this tragedy, they send a lawyer to deal with us.'' The lawyer for the church, Osner Fevry, said it is being unfairly singled out by critics in Haiti and overseas. The church may send less money to Haiti than some people would like, he said. But many other US groups solicit donations in the name of needy Haitians and only send a fraction to the country after staff salaries and overhead, he added. It happens to hundreds and thousands of American organizations working in Haiti, raising millions of dollars in the names of churches and NGOs in Haiti, he said. Fevry said the church members running the homes left for the US a few days after the fire not to avoid prosecution, but because they were hounded by police and local media. Along with compensation and spending money for the parents, the church is assuming the costs of funerals for the 15 victims. I don't think the church can endorse legal responsibility, but moral responsibility, yes, Fevry acknowledged. Morally, how come there was a candle to get light for those kids? The homes have run into problems before. A series of inspections beginning in November 2012 found they didn't meet minimum health and safety standards, with overcrowding, unsanitary conditions and insufficient trained staff. Haitian authorities stripped them of accreditation. When the church members brought in outside experts, one declared them completely clueless about what is needed to take care of that many babies. I'm shocked,'' she said. That no one has died. The orphanages failed another round of state inspections in 2017 but hired Fevry to fight closure, according to Haitian child welfare authorities. They said closing an orphanage can take months or years, particularly if the management has money or influence. Through its US-based spokeswoman, the church declined to comment on specific allegations of neglect and mistreatment at its children's homes in Haiti. We are devastated by the tragic fire that took the life of our children at our Haitian orphanage. Words would fail to express our immense grief and heartbreak, the church said in a written statement. We are taking this very seriously and are moving forward to help all of those affected by this horrific accident. (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 Moch. Fiqih Prawira Adjie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 24 2020 For many Indonesians, the Idul Fitri mudik (exodus) is an important tradition that they must prepare for months ahead of Ramadan, with train and bus tickets in high demand. But the coronavirus outbreak has forced many living in Jakarta a city thousands have migrated to from around the country in search of work to cancel their plans to celebrate Idul Fitri in their hometowns, even if they already have their tickets in their hands. One of them is Anggit Rizki, a 25-year-old worker living in West Jakarta, who in previous years had always returned to his hometown of Malang, East Java, to celebrate Idul Fitri with his family. 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 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. We have long been aware of the inequalities in our city. The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and the Pew Research Center have published reports about segregation, inequality and poverty in San Antonio. We top many of the national lists. And weve responded, with task forces, radio call-in shows, and lots of editorials and commentaries, but the statistics have not changed. What media have not been able to do, maybe COVID-19 can: incite us to address our longstanding inequalities in a truly meaningful and revolutionary way. In the past few weeks, headlines about San Antonio have included: Virus Proves Fatal at SA Nursing Home; Food Lines are So Long It Just breaks Your Heart; and Schools hunt missing students, a story that revealed how 19 percent of SAISD students were not in touch with their instructors, while 2 percent of NEISD students were in the same situation. What we need to realize is that these headlines are related: Social inequality exacerbates the impact of a pandemic like this one and disproportionately impacts low-income communities of color. Not only are low-income communities of color reporting higher infection rates, so too are daily lives impacted disproportionately. Yes, all of us have been impacted in numerous ways retirement accounts have taken a hit, investment portfolios dwindle, vacations have been canceled or postponed but in too many of our neighborhoods, families are struggling to feed their children, and children lack the resources they need to continue to learn. Our inequality has exacerbated that impact. On April 13, Mayor Nirenberg held a town hall for children. During it, a young man named Robert asked him, After this coronavirus pandemic is over, how are we as the city of San Antonio going to prepare for another pandemic like this one? Nirenberg replied: We will continue to work with our partners around the world to understand these diseases and be prepared with testing so that more people can get tested faster and we will continue to prepare our community against shortages. (A question about toilet paper preceded this one.) A sufficient answer, but with all due respect, an answer that fails to alleviate the same headlines from appearing again. Even with more testing and better policing of toilet paper purchases, the disparity in impact will not be alleviated if we fail to address the inequalities carved into our city. So lets ask Roberts question again: After this coronavirus pandemic is over, how are we as the city of San Antonio going to prepare for another pandemic like this one? And we answer: Well, Robert, we are now more aware than ever that the inequalities in our community are exacerbated by a pandemic like this one, and while we dont want anyone to get sick, we also dont want parts of our community to be disproportionately impacted by the upheaval. Were in this together, and if one part of our community struggles, we are all impacted by their struggle. We must strengthen our communities so they are robust and resilient so they can respond to a catastrophe like this one rather than descending into domestic violence. Again, how do we do that? We need to think in terms of short-, medium- and long-term strategies. The short term: Lets pass Pre-K 4 SA and extend it to be a truly universal program, reaching all our little ones who qualify, and recognize that those first five years of life are predictive of ones future. Lets support our paid sick leave ordinance, so when workers get sick they dont need to continue going to work and infect others. Pre-K is easy. Its already on the books; it just needs to be renewed and expanded. Paid sick leave is more difficult; its in court and we need to fight for it. Medium term: Lets adopt a citywide living wage so our families, no matter their occupation, make enough money to fulfill their daily needs and save a bit for an emergency. If we do this, it takes some of the burden off our social service agencies and ultimately pays for itself. Then lets extend the Alamo Promise to include anyone who qualifies economically, knowing that education if delivered equitably is truly an equalizer. Lets have a serious conversation about gentrification, displacement and affordable housing, recognizing that our most historic neighborhoods are being commodified as investments rather than lived in as homes. Lets recognize and respect the cultural heritage that resides in those neighborhoods and cherish it as a community resource not to be sold to the highest bidder. And in the long term, lets begin to think of our city and govern it for those who live here not only for those who are coming. Lets get out of the growth mindset and concentrate on the population already here the one that made San Antonio a great city. Continue to welcome new people, but concentrate resources on those already here, rather than attracting those who are not. Give tax breaks to families who live in parts of town where taxes are going up too quickly and give incentives to families to remain in their neighborhoods if they want to. If we found enough money to subsidize apartments for the wealthy, lets find some for the rest of us as well. This all sounds fine, yet its also expensive. But inequality is a two-way street: Inequality means there is disparity between those who have and those who do not. And somehow we need to even that out to reduce our inequality and make our communities and our city more resilient. Redistribution need not be a bad word. Weve redistributed wealth for a very long time; the poor have subsidized the wealthy for decades (if not centuries). Low wages, the lack of paid sick leave, low-interest mortgages and mortgage interest tax deductions have kept prices low for some, allowing them to accumulate wealth. We can begin to imagine redistribution in the other direction: A bit more in community college tax rates could extend the Alamo Promise to thousands. A sliver more of our sales tax keeps little ones in pre-K and on track for elementary school. Redirection of subsidies and incentive packages from new development projects into old neighborhoods may allow families to stay and alleviate displacement, especially during a crisis. So, Robert, good question! Actually, probably the best question we could ask of ourselves right now. But the answers will require a citywide conversation and conviction, because it will require a redistribution of resources to level the playing field a bit. Maybe COVID-19 will finally force us to have the difficult conversations weve been avoiding. Christine Drennon is an associate professor of sociology and anthropology at Trinity University, with expertise in urban geography and community development. Paytm and Vodafone Idea announced an exclusive partnership enabling Paytm to exclusively power prepaid mobile phone recharges for Vodafone Idea under Recharge Saathi program. As part of the program, any Paytm Customer including pharmacists, milk booth operators, newspaper vendors, even individuals such as security guards can recharge any Vodafone Idea number and start earning. All recharges and transactions would happen securely on the Paytm app in the Prepaid/Postpaid payments section under the Stay at Home Essentials category. Vodafone Ideas Recharge Saathi program empowers individuals and small businesses to earn an additional livelihood. They can start selling mobile recharges by just downloading and registering on the Paytm app. Vodafone Idea will also give an assured cashback to merchant partners for multiple recharges. Individuals and small businesses would be able to earn up to an additional Rs 5,000 every month under the Recharge Saathi program. Paytm is the top destination for mobile phone recharges in the country. Over the last few weeks, the company in an effort to effectively fight COVID-19 has taken several measures to ensure that citizens can make all possible payments from the safe confines of their homes. It has revamped its app and prioritized essential payments including utility bills, mobile phones, and DTH recharge among others. This has helped Paytm to further witness a 42 percent increase in mobile phone recharges across the country. Abhay Sharma, Senior Vice President Business, Paytm said, This is a great initiative to empower people as well as help them earn an additional livelihood. Prepaid mobile phone recharges is a very important category for us. While we already are Indias top destination for prepaid mobile recharges, this exclusive partnership with Vodafone Idea will help us further expand our reach and make deeper inroads into the country. Avneesh Khosla, Marketing Director, Vodafone Idea said, It has been our constant endeavor to ensure that all our customers remain connected at all times, especially now, during the current national lockdown. We believe that this partnership with Paytm will help a large number of our prepaid customers who are digitally unengaged to remain connected without having to step out to recharge. This partnership will enable digitally connected individuals and small businesses to sell recharges and earn a livelihood. From strengthening networks through Indias largest deployment of ma-MIMOs, to maintaining 247 network monitoring through central SNOC and virtual war rooms, to ensuring speedy and efficient addressal and resolution of network concerns even in the remotest locations through the field engineer heroes, Vodafone Idea has been undertaking multiple initiatives to ensure seamless connectivity to all customers during these unprecedented times. Vodafone Idea is enabling customers to recharge at ATMs, recharge via SMS, and is also encouraging digitally savvy customers to recharge for friends & family members through Recharge for Good program. Republicans and police union officials on Wednesday were quick to question the legality of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgos order requiring residents to cover their faces in public, and whether she had the authority to issue such an order. The short answer, from the Harris County Attorneys office, is state law grants the county judge broad authority during a local disaster. Hidalgos order, aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus, will require residents 10 and older to cover their nose and mouth when outside. The rule takes effect Monday, lasts 30 days, and allows scarves, bandanas, handkerchiefs and homemade masks. After news broke of Hidalgos order, Houston Police Officers Union President Joe Gamaldi said in a sharply worded statement that the union had made contact with the Attorney Generals Office seeking an opinion on the legality of imposing a criminal penalty/fine for anyone not wearing a mask in public. Harris County Republican Party Chair Paul Simpson called the order a likely unconstitutional, and certainly unenforceable, power grab that infringes on the rights and liberty of law-abiding citizens. In response to the coronavirus outbreak, Hidalgo declared a local disaster in Harris County, giving her power under Texas Government Code to order restrictions on bars and restaurants and suspend the operations of most businesses and public activities. Other county judges across Texas, including in Dallas and Travis counties, have issued similar orders citing the same state law. Robert Soard, the first assistant attorney for Harris County, pointed to Section 418.108 of the Government Code, which gives the county judge the authority to declare a disaster in her jurisdiction and to control the movement of persons and the occupancy of premises in that area. That authority extends to the incorporated and unincorporated parts of the county. Soard also cited a provision that allows Hidalgo to exercise the powers granted to the governor for emergency management, including issuing local executive orders that have the force and effect of law. Now Playing: 'COVID-19 in 60': Houston coronavirus news in a minute Video: Houston Chronicle Marc Rylander, a spokesman for Attorney General Ken Paxtons office, said late Wednesday afternoon that he was not aware that we have been asked for an AG opinion on the matter. Asked whether Paxton believes Texas law allows county judges to require face coverings in public, Rylander directed the Chronicle to a statement from Paxton urging officers to use discretion as they carry out the functions of their sworn duty and focus on dangerous criminals who pose a serious risk to their community. Though a draft of the order obtained by the Chronicle said violators could be subject to a maximum of 180 days in jail, the final version included a fine of up to $1,000 but no jail time. jasper.scherer@chron.com This obituary is part of a series about people who have died in the coronavirus pandemic. Read about others here. John Pfahl, an inventive landscape photographer renowned for manipulating the natural world by inserting into it objects like rope, foil, lace, tape and, once, a pie pan, died on April 15 in Buffalo, N.Y. He was 81. His sister-in-law, Cathy Pfahl, said that the cause was the new coronavirus, but that he had also had heart problems, mild dementia and Parkinsons disease. Mr. Pfahl developed a reputation as a masterly if quirky landscape photographer over more than 40 years. In addition to his manipulations, he found beauty in peculiar vistas like the belching smoke of a coke plant in Lackawanna, N.Y., the rotting fruit and vegetables of his compost pile, and a stately hill of road salt often as statements about the environmental impact of industrialization. We have updated our privacy policy to be more clear and meet the new requirements of the GDPR. By continuing to use our site, you accept our revised Privacy Policy. On April 23, Russian mercenaries opened fire on Ukrainian positions, inflicting combat wounds on Ukrainian servicemen. The press office of the Joint Forces Operation reported that on Thursday. The HQ noted that the armed formations of pro-Kremlin militants once again violated the ceasefire and shelled the positions of Ukrainian troops. "The enemy used anti-tank grenade launchers against Ukrainian defenders of Novomykhailivka. Two servicemen of the Joint Forces sustained fragmentary wounds", reads the message. The wounded military men were taken to a hospital. Their comrades returned fire, making the enemy cease action. On April 22, the Ukrainian side of the Minsk trilateral group initiated the creation of the work group to restore control over the Ukrainian border. An unplanned grand experiment is changing Earth. As people across the globe stay home to stop the spread of the new coronavirus, the air has cleaned up, albeit temporarily. Smog stopped choking New Delhi, one of the most polluted cities in the world, and Indias getting views of sights not visible in decades. Nitrogen dioxide pollution in the northeastern United States is down 30%. Rome air pollution levels from mid-March to mid-April were down 49% from a year ago. Stars seem more visible at night. People are also noticing animals in places and at times they don't usually. Coyotes have meandered along downtown Chicagos Michigan Avenue and near San Franciscos Golden Gate Bridge. A puma roamed the streets of Santiago, Chile. Goats took over a town in Wales. In India, already daring wildlife has become bolder with hungry monkeys entering homes and opening refrigerators to look for food. When people stay home, Earth becomes cleaner and wilder. It is giving us this quite extraordinary insight into just how much of a mess we humans are making of our beautiful planet, says conservation scientist Stuart Pimm of Duke University. This is giving us an opportunity to magically see how much better it can be. HOUSTON'S RECOVERY CZARS: Meet the two men who will help Houston recover from COVID-19 Chris Field, director of the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, assembled scientists to assess the ecological changes happening with so much of humanity housebound. Scientists, stuck at home like the rest of us, say they are eager to explore unexpected changes in weeds, insects, weather patterns, noise and light pollution. Italy's government is working on an ocean expedition to explore sea changes from the lack of people. In many ways we kind of whacked the Earth system with a sledgehammer and now we see what Earths response is, Field says. Researchers are tracking dramatic drops in traditional air pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide, smog and tiny particles. These types of pollution kill up to 7 million people a year worldwide, according to Health Effects Institute president Dan Greenbaum. The air from Boston to Washington is its cleanest since a NASA satellite started measuring nitrogen dioxide,in 2005, says NASA atmospheric scientist Barry Lefer. Largely caused by burning of fossil fuels, this pollution is short-lived, so the air gets cleaner quickly. Compared to the previous five years, March air pollution is down 46% in Paris, 35% in Bengaluru, India, 38% in Sydney, 29% in Los Angeles, 26% in Rio de Janeiro and 9% in Durban, South Africa, NASA measurements show. Were getting a glimpse of what might happen if we start switching to non-polluting cars, Lefer says. Cleaner air has been most noticeable in India and China. On April 3, residents of Jalandhar, a city in north Indias Punjab, woke up to a view not seen for decades: snow-capped Himalayan peaks more than 100 miles away. Cleaner air means stronger lungs for asthmatics, especially children, says Dr. Mary Prunicki, director of air pollution and health research at the Stanford University School of Medicine. And she notes early studies also link coronavirus severity to people with bad lungs and those in more polluted areas, though its too early to tell which factor is stronger. What Can Be Saved Series Owl vs. owl: Should humans intervene to save a species? The greenhouse gases that trap heat and cause climate change stay in the atmosphere for 100 years or more, so the pandemic shutdown is unlikely to affect global warming, says Breakthrough Institute climate scientist Zeke Hausfather. Carbon dioxide levels are still rising, but not as fast as last year. Aerosol pollution, which doesnt stay airborne long, is also dropping. But aerosols cool the planet so NASA climate scientist Gavin Schmidt is investigating whether their falling levels may be warming local temperatures for now. Stanfords Field says hes most intrigued by increased urban sightings of coyotes, pumas and other wildlife that are becoming video social media staples. Boar-like javelinas congregated outside of a Arizona shopping center. Even New York City birds seem hungrier and bolder. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. In Adelaide, Australia, police shared a video of a kangaroo hoping around a mostly empty downtown, and a pack of jackals occupied an urban park in Tel Aviv, Israel. Were not being invaded. The wildlife has always been there, but many animals are shy, Dukes Pimm says. They come out when humans stay home. For sea turtles across the globe, humans have made it difficult to nest on sandy beaches. The turtles need to be undisturbed and emerging hatchlings get confused by beachfront lights, says David Godfrey, executive director of the Sea Turtle Conservancy. But with lights and people away, this years sea turtle nesting so far seems much better from India to Costa Rica to Florida, Godfrey says. Theres some silver lining for wildlife in what otherwise is a fairly catastrophic time for humans, he says. ___ Associated Press writer Aniruddha Ghosal in New Delhi contributed to this report. ___ Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter at @borenbears . ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Apartment hunting on a budget can be toug. So what does an affordable price on a rental in Greenway look like these days and what might you get for your money? Walk Score indicates that the neighborhood is moderately walkable, has minimal bike infrastructure and has some transit options. It also features median rents for a one bedroom that hover around $1,325, compared to a $1,225 one-bedroom median for Houston as a whole. A look at local listings in Greenway via rental sites Zumper and Apartment Guide paints a picture of what budget-minded apartment seekers can expect to find in this Houston neighborhood. Read on for the cheapest listings available right now. (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. Newcastle Drive Listed at $896/month, this 700-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment, located at Newcastle Drive, is 32.4% less than the $1,325/month median rent for a one bedroom in Greenway / Upper Kirby Area. When it comes to building amenities, expect a swimming pool; the apartment also comes with a walk-in closet, a dishwasher and carpeted floors. For those with furry friends in tow, this rental is pet-friendly. The listing specifies a broker's fee equal to one month's rent. (See the complete listing here.) Audrey Street This one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment, situated at Audrey Street, is listed for $900/month. You can expect hardwood flooring, a dishwasher, a walk-in closet and central heating in the apartment. Good news for pet lovers: This rental is both dog-friendly and cat-friendly. (See the complete listing here.) 3830 Richmond Ave. Here's a one-bedroom, one-bathroom condo at 3830 Richmond Ave., which is also going for $900/month. Amenities offered in the building include an elevator and a swimming pool. The unit also features hardwood flooring. Pet owners, take heed: This property is both dog-friendly and cat-friendly. Future tenants needn't worry about a leasing fee. (See the full listing here.) 5586 Weslayan St. Then there's this condo with one bedroom and one bathroom at 5586 Weslayan St., listed at $950/month. The unit has a balcony and hardwood flooring. Pet lovers are in luck: This rental is both dog-friendly and cat-friendly. Amenities offered in the building include an elevator and a swimming pool. There isn't a leasing fee associated with this rental. (See the listing here.) 4807 Pin Oak Park Check out this 631-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment at 4807 Pin Oak Park, listed at $1,159/month. Amenities offered in the building include a swimming pool and garage parking. The apartment also includes a balcony and a dishwasher. Good news for animal lovers: This property is both dog-friendly and cat-friendly. The rental doesn't require a leasing fee. (Here's the listing.) This story was created automatically using local real estate data from Zumper and Apartment Guide, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Additionally, if youre an agent or a broker, read on for real estate marketing ideas to promote your local listing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback. Ant McPartlin's 31million divorce has reportedly been finalised and he is now free to propose to girlfriend Anne-Marie Corbett. The TV talent, 44, was granted a decree absolute this week which formally ends his 12-year marriage and 23-year relationship with Lisa Armstrong, 43. The former couple split in January 2018 after the presenter's highly documented battle with painkillers and alcohol. Over: Ant McPartlin's marriage to Lisa Armstrong is officially over after their 31 million was confirmed (pictured together in 2010) He has since been seeing his 'rock' and former PA Anne-Marie Corbett, 44. A source told The Sun: 'It's been an extremely difficult road with a lot of heartache and unpleasantness, but it's finally done. It's over. 'Ant's been desperate to start the next chapter of his life and at least now he and Anne-Marie can plan for the future. It won't be long before they are married.' MailOnline contacted representatives for Ant and Lisa for further comment. Fresh start: The presenter is now free to marry his girlfriend, former PA Anne-Marie Corbett (pictured earlier this month) Fresh start: The presenter is now free to marry his girlfriend, former PA Anne-Marie Corbett (pictured in July 2019) It was recently reported that Ant would have to close his 20 million television business to fund the divorce. According to Companies House, the presenter's production business Teecourt Limited has filed paperwork to cease trading in the coming weeks. Earlier this year, Saturday Night Takeaway host Ant was reported to have handed over 31 million to Lisa, including their 5 million home in West London, after an 'eight-hour negotiation'. The beauty expert was said to have been the 'peacemaker' during a recent eight-hour long discussion about her divorce from the TV star, claimed The Sun. Denial: Lisa took to Twitter to shut down claims she's receiving 31 million from her divorce from Ant, posting: 'Nope a load of nonsense AGAIN....' Supportive fans: The former singer went on to like tweets that stated 'no amount of money' would be compensation for her experience in recent months The publication first alleged the TV veteran offered up more than half of his estimated 50m fortune, but was 'delighted' that the case has come to an end as he can 'move on', two years after announcing their split. ANT AND LISA'S SETTLEMENT EXPLAINED: Fiona Wood, partner with McAlister Family Law, explains The most striking element of this story is the alleged agreement that Mr McPartlin will give ex-wife Lisa Armstrong 31 million in their divorce settlement, out of a pot that is reportedly thought to be 50 million The starting point in any financial settlement in divorce is a 50/50 division of the assets. However the judge must then consider if there are reasons to depart from equality. Reasons for departing from equality would be that one spouse brought significant assets into the marriage and/or acquired significant assets after separation. Ms Armstrongs financial claims are therefore likely to be limited to the money amassed during the marriage, which includes any period that the couple cohabited prior to their marriage. Therefore if there is any deviation away from equality, it is more likely to be in Mr McPartlins favour than Ms Armstrongs. The settlement will need to meet the couples needs, but in big money cases, where there are significant assets, this will not usually be a problem. The law does not favour the spouse who generated capital during a marriage when looking at how the assets should be divided. It is one of the myths around divorce that if one spouse has committed adultery, that spouse should be treated more harshly. The reasons for the breakdown of the marriage rarely have any impact on the financial settlement. The court will look at fairness and need. If, as is reported, the couple shared custody of their dog during their two years separation, then it is likely the judge will therefore be happy for that situation to continue. Advertisement However, as the news broke, the former Deuce musician took to Twitter to deny the reports, posting: 'Nope a load of nonsense AGAIN....' She went to 'like' tweets that stated: 'no amount of money could ever compensate for what this poor girl has had to endure', and 'Get what you can! 'You deserve it! Terrible treatment of you since you found out when we did! And with a so called friend! Its heartbreaking behaviour. 'I bet the money means nothing in some respects, it certainly can't buy the respect she deserves or make up for the sh***y spineless way he scurried off & tried to silence her. 'Whatever the sum is I'm sure it will be put to much better use & I wish her all the best'; and 'Why do people care what you get, no amount of money big or small can change the fact a heart was broken'. [sic] As of last month, Ant and Lisa are said to be on civil terms, with the exes speaking have 'without an intermediary' as they continue to share custody of their beloved pet Labrador, Hurley. Late last year, friends of the former couple told The Mail On Sunday that despite efforts by Ant to keep their split low-key, Lisa still wanted her day in court. Lisa, a make-up artist on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing, is understood to have felt that Ant 'got away with a lot' following their split. She was also believed to be dismayed and deeply hurt that he moved on so quickly when he started a new relationship with Anne-Marie. A source close to the couple said: 'Ant has been very generous in terms of the financial settlement but Lisa is totally the opposite of someone who is motivated by money. 'She doesn't care about that she earns her own. But she has been so hurt by all of this. Dog parents: As of last month, Ant and Lisa are said to be on civil terms as they continue to share custody of their beloved pet Labrador, Hurley (pictured with Hurley in March 2016) 'What the general public and his fans don't realise is that Ant's decision to end the marriage came after years of Lisa trying to save him from himself. 'There were at least three years when she was at her wits' end and it was tough. Watching him move on was very, very difficult. Lisa is very much aware that a judge may not award her as much as Ant is offering but she doesn't care. 'She has suffered tremendously in all of this and she wants her day in court.' Their union legally came to an end during a 30-second hearing in October 2018, finalising over a decade of marriage. Moving on: Their union legally came to an end during a 30-second hearing in October 2018, finalising over a decade of marriage (pictured at their wedding in 2016) They had announced their split in January that year, following 23 years together. Ant's representative said at the time: 'In response to the recent speculation in the media, Ant is very sad to announce that, after eleven years, he is ending his marriage to Lisa McPartlin. 'Ant asks for privacy at this difficult time, for both himself, Lisa and their immediate families. No further statement will be made.' Ant and Lisa met at a roadshow in Newcastle in the mid-1990s while Lisa was an aspiring pop star in Deuce. He had often spoken of their struggle to have children. Ant McPartlin and Lisa Armstrongs relationship timeline Ant and Lisa first met in 1994. At the time Ant and life-long TV partner Declan Donnelly were reaching new TV and music heights as PJ & Duncan following their stint on Byker Grove. Lisa was in a band called Deuce at the time. The pair met in the 1994 Smash Hits tour in Newcastle, where Lisas Deuce performed alongside Ant and Decs musical alter-egos. They started dating and were together for over ten years before Ant decided to take it to the next level, proposing to Lisa while on holiday in Dubai in 2005. Struggles: In 2013, Ant and Lisa spoke about their struggles to conceive, telling Radio Times, 'Lisa and I would love to have kids. Were trying. Its tougher than you think' They were married in 2006 on July 26 at a country house hotel in Buckinghamshire. Dec was Ants best man. In that time, Deuce split and Lisa retrained as a makeup artist, ultimately working her way up to become head of makeup and hair for BBCs Strictly Come Dancing. In 2013, Ant and Lisa spoke about their struggles to conceive, telling Radio Times: 'Lisa and I would love to have kids. Were trying. Its tougher than you think when you get a bit older.' The TV star also revealed that he wasnt holding off from having children until Dec, who at the time was single at the time, was with someone. 'Theres a rumour that we do everything together and Im holding off having kids till Dec finds himself Mrs Right. I love that idea, but Im afraid its not true.' Happier times: The pair made a public appearance when they attended Decs wedding to Ali Astall, where Ant returned the favour and served as Decs best man He also told Fabulous Magazine: I think I'm lucky. Lisa works in the industry and understands it. Shes constantly working sometimes more than me! 'We would love to have a family so fingers crossed. If were blessed with children, then wed be over the moon!' The pair made a public appearance when they attended Decs wedding to Ali Astall, where Ant returned the favour and served as Decs best man. Lisa frequently supports Ant and his lucrative TV career, most recently attending the 2017 National Television Awardsjust 12 months before the couple announced their separation. In June 2017, Ant went into rehab for alcohol and drug addiction. In a statement to The Sun at the time, Ant said: 'The first step is to admit to yourself you need help. Ive let people down. Im truly sorry. I feel like I have let a lot of people down and for that Im truly sorry. I want to thank my wife, family and closest friends through this really difficult time. Lisa took to Twitter to thank the support her husband received: Completely overwhelmed by all your love & support it means so much. I'm relieved he's receiving the help he needs, we just need him better. Ant then told the Sun about the impact his addiction had on Lisa: Ive put Lisa through hell with mood swings and depression and how it affects you. Im very sorry about the effect it has on partners. This kind of stuff puts strains on any marriage. All I can say at the moment is that shes been amazing fantastic throughout.' In autumn 2017, rumours of a split emerged after Lisa didnt accompany Ant to Australia for Im A Celeb, something which she quickly denied, pointing out she has a job and hasnt been to Australia for years. On January 14, 2018, the couple announced that their 11-year marriage has ended. The couple announced their split in January when a representative said: 'In response to the recent speculation in the media, Ant is very sad to announce that, after eleven years, he is ending his marriage to Lisa McPartlin. In March 2018, Anne-Marie Corbett, the couples personal assistant was seen giving Ant a packed lunch outside his house. She accompanied him to his court date in April. The pair continue to be seen over the next several months, and in June 2018, having revealed that she didnt know Ant and Corbett were dating, Lisa accused Ants new girlfriend of breaking the girl code by dating the TV star. In October 2018, just days before their divorce application was granted, Ant was seen holding his phone, which has him and Corbett as the screensaver. Their union legally came to an end during a 30-second hearing. In November 2018, the pair were said to be fighting over custody of their pet labrador, Hurley In January 2020, Ant and Lisa were said to have finalised their divorce deal Ant agreed to hand over 31m to his ex-wife in the settlement, including their 5million former marital home in West London The couple will share custody of pet dog Hurley Advertisement During the hearing, Ant had to technically admit adultery with Anne-Marie as their relationship officially began while he and Lisa were still married. Lisa later revealed she didn't know personal assistant Anne-Marie and her ex-husband were dating until she saw pictures of them together in a newspaper. In June, Lisa took to Twitter to criticise her ex-husband's new girlfriend of 'breaking girl code' by dating the troubled star. Lisa revealed to her 122,000 followers that she invited Anne-Marie into their marital home and the woman had been both hers and Ant's personal assistant. Speaking at the time about his new relationship Ant told The Sun: 'Anne-Marie honestly is the fundamental reason for the great change in my life. 'She's been my rock. She's a beautiful soul. We're very happy.' Dark times: In April 2018 (pictured), Ant was banned from the road for 20 months and fined 86,000 for driving while more than twice the legal limit Ant revealed he in the same interview that he has ADHD and when asked about Anne-Marie he defended her for 'breaking the girl code.' He said: 'Thats absolute rubbish. I dont feel the need to defend Anne-Marie but I will say youve got to be careful judging other peoples relationships or what you think is the truth thats been put out there.' A year before they split, Ant entered rehab after struggling with a two-year addiction to super-strength painkillers following a knee operation in 2015. In April 2018, he was banned from the road for 20 months and fined 86,000 for driving while more than twice the legal limit. In the work department, Ant and his sidekick Declan Donnelly, 44, cashed in at least 15,124 a day last year after making an epic return to the small screen together. According to records, the hefty sum was paid into just one of their firms, Hurley Promotions Ltd, with the company's profits increasing from 4.5 million to 5.5 million between 2018 and 2019. Dec also managed to bank 5.2 million for solo work while his sidekick, also 44, took a year-long break from his TV commitments to focus on his recovery from prescription drug addiction in rehab. The iconic hosting duo joined forces at the Britain's Got Talent auditions for the first time in January 2019 following nearly a year off from TV together. Ant's personal issues saw him sit out the last few episodes of BGT, as well as Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, in spring 2018. Murali Krishna CH By Express News Service Vijays son Jason Sanjay is set to make his acting debut through the Tamil remake of the Telugu love story, Uppena, which is loosely inspired by Nalgonda honour killing incident. Vijay Sethupathi, who played the villain in Uppena, will not only reprise his role, but also produce the Tamil remake in association with Mythri Movie Makers. Interestingly, this means Sethupathi will be seen playing the villain to both father and son, in Master and the Uppena remake, respectively. Vijay Sethupathi discussed the script of Uppena with Vijay on the sets of Master, and the latter felt it would be an ideal debut for his son, reveals a reliable source. Jason is currently studying filmmaking in Canada. It is learnt that the untitled remake is expected to go on floors early next year. The rest of the cast and crew of the Tamil remake are yet to be finalised. An official announcement will be made after Jason returns to Chennai. Buchi Babu Sana, who is making his directorial debut with Uppena, will helm the Tamil remake too. The Telugu version marks the debut of Chiranjeevis nephew, Panja Vaisshnav Tej. A rustic love story set against the backdrop of the sea, Uppena was shot extensively in Kakinada, Hyderabad, Puri, Kolkata, and Gangtok. [April 23, 2020] HighSide Voice & Video Launches; Delivering a Remote Work Platform Designed for Private, Secure, Compliant Collaboration SAN FRANCISCO and ESCH-SUR-ALZETTE, Luxembourg, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- High-integrity security and collaboration leader HighSide, today launched HighSide Voice & Video to enable organizations to work remotely without trading-off privacy, security and compliance for high-availability and ease-of-use. HighSide is the unified communication platform of choice for elite government, military and private-sector organizations worldwide. Their platform is highly-secure by design with distributed encryption keys, time- and location-based access controls and high-fidelity authentication. HighSide solutions are also lightweight, easily scalable, and will not put pressure on IT infrastructures. HighSide Voice & Video was launched today during a SANS.org webinar with HighSide customer Pointe Bello. Amanda Schnetzer, COO at Pointe Bello, said, "HighSide Voice & Video delivers with high fidelity on the level of security our company needs to collaborate with colleagues and customers alike. We understand the magnitude of cyber and other threats that are out there and prefer HighSide to help balance those risks." CSO and President of HighSide, Aaron Turner says, "Solutions like Zoom are ideal for casual get-togethers online where easy access is the top priority and private information isn't exposed. I've enjoyed connecting with family and friends on Zoom during this time of social distancing, but companies that have high-value Intellectual Property, sharing material information that can make or break their businesses need to have a platform to collaborate where they can be assured that only uthorized people in authorized places have access is going to be critical as remote work becomes the norm.. That's why we launched HighSide Voice & Video." HighSide's zero-trust platform empowers organizations to share information via their app on any device. This solution incorporates built-in identity authentication and authorization controls that the likes of Okta, Cisco Duo and Microsoft Authenticator can't offer due to their architecture constraints. With HighSide, cybersecurity business risks are mitigated from data breaches, customer attrition, financial loss and theft of data and IP to compliance and regulatory fines, reputational damage and more. HighSide CEO Brendan Diaz says, "Cybersecurity is at its most vulnerable point in history. Organizations are transitioning millions of employees and partners to remote work with little or no security protection and there is a proliferation of fraudulent coronavirus-related attacks by cyber-criminals and nation-state attackers. Warnings were issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the UK's National Cyber Security Centre, and the World Health Organization and HighSide is stepping-up to help." Just prior to launching HighSide Voice & Video, HighSide announced the creation of their Cybersecurity Relief Initiative, to offer their technology to all companies in need, free of charge during the unprecedented mandates in response COVID-19. Go to https://highside.io/covid-19-secure-compliant-remote-work to learn more. Platforms like Slack, Okta, Cisco Duo, Microsoft Teams or Zoom aren't secure, and neither are Shadow IT apps like WhatsApp. Now more than ever, companies need a secure and compliant alternative - especially in financial, healthcare, pharmaceutical and manufacturing sectors. Tweet this: @HighSide launches Voice & Video solution delivering security, privacy & compliance for remote collaboration #Covid19cybersecurity #cybersecurity #unifiedcommunications About HighSide HighSide is the unified communications email, messaging and file sharing platform that looks and functions like the tools employees want to use, with the security and compliance required by C-suites and regulators. HighSide's zero-trust platform and location-and-time-based encryption technology gives teams access to a modern unified communications and file sharing platform including voice, video, text and files, reducing risk of shadow IT and reliance on dated and insecure communications channels. The company has offices in Bethesda, MD, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg and New York, NY. HighSide's EU headquarters are part of the Technoport ltd. business incubation program, in partnership with the Luxembourg Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade. Media Contact: Jackie Lucas Vera Voce Communication [email protected] 978-255-1159 View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/highside-voice--video-launches-delivering-a-remote-work-platform-designed-for-private-secure-compliant-collaboration-301046153.html SOURCE HighSide [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A 55-year-old man is accused of stabbing a 33-year-old person to death in Cambridge last week after the two homeless individuals got into an argument, prosecutors announced Thursday. Jose Bermudez and Danilo Perez were near Green Street and Sidney Place shortly after 5:15 p.m. on April 14 when an argument the two were having escalated. Authorities claim Bermudez then stabbed Perez multiple times, according to a statement from Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryans office. Following the altercation, the victim allegedly fled before being located by a jogger on Franklin street. He was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital where he was pronounced dead, the statement said. Bermudez was arrested in Allston on Thursday by Massachusetts State Police. He was charged with murder and aggravated assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, the district attorney said. The 55-year-old man was arraigned over the phone in Cambridge District Court and is being held without bail. His next court date is expected to be held on June 25 via video, according to the district attorney. Related Content: Cambridge homicide victim identified as Danilo Perez More Latinos could no longer provide and send remittances to their relatives back home, according to a recently published article. Latinos in the United States The Latino community is the largest minority group in the United States. They are comprised of 32 million of the country's total population, and that does not include the undocumented immigrants, according to the Pew Research Center. One of the main reasons why many people move to the U.S. is for economic purposes. They want to work in the country and send back money to their relatives from their country of origin. Ideally, the United States is where they can fulfill their dreams and provide for their family and relatives. COVID-19 Negatively Affects Latino Workers in the United States COVID-19 has negatively affected Latinos who are working in the U.S., and many of them right now were furloughed because the establishments where they were working temporarily shut down due to the health threat of the virus. Latino Workers Who Shared Their Experience in this Time of Global Pandemic Herminio Rodriguez, who worked at a restaurant located in Miami beach, shared his bad experiences these days. He said that he could not send money to his family in Guatemala this month because the restaurant where he worked has shut down temporarily. He also added that he worries a lot for his parents and son in Guatemala, who depend on him in buying food and medicines. The worst, he could not even pay his rent this month, and he needs to budget his remaining money for his food. Edmundo Tarin, who emigrated from Mexico, shared the same sentiments as with Rodriguez. He said that he could no longer send money to his brother in Mexico who depends on him. Tarin was laid off from his job as a cook in a restaurant in Miami. Another member of the Latino community is Lesbia Granados, who is from Honduras and is worried after she was not able to send money to her parents back home last month. Her parents depend on her to pay their bills and doctor's visits, but the hotel where Granados works is temporarily closed. Granados said: "I am everything to my parents, and it's my responsibility to take care of them after they did so much for me. Until then, I'm trying to survive with the little I have saved." But she is still hopeful that she will receive her stimulus check soon so that she has something to send to her parents and save some to meet her daily needs. Remittances in Latin America Before the U.S. Was Hit By COVID-19 Remittances in Latin America that are mainly coming from the United States reached a record high in 2018. According to the World Bank, the flow of money to Latin America grew by 10 percent or to $88 billion in 2018 because of the strong U.S. economy. This means that many of the Latinos who work in the United States sent remittances to their families and relatives from their country of origin. Remittances are vital in some countries because this occupies a very significant portion of their gross domestic product. Read related article: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo noted the lack of transparency from China on the COVID-19 origin, Fox News reported. "Even today, the Chinese government hasn't permitted American scientists to go into China, to go into not only the Wuhan lab but wherever it needs to go to learn about this virus, to learn about its origins," Pompeo told "The Ingraham Angle". "Look, we know it began at one [lab], but we need to figure this out. There's an ongoing pandemic. We still don't have the transparency and openness we need in China." Pompeo also accused the World Health Organization of not helping the US collect critical data from China. "It is the World Health Organization's responsibility to achieve that transparency. They're not doing it. They need to be held accountable," Pompeo said. "And what's been great is to see other countries around the world to begin to recognize the WHO failures as well." He also commented on the decision of US President Donald Trump to suspend WHO funding. "No, I think that's right," Pompeo said. "Or even more than that. It may be the case that the United States can never return to underwriting, having U.S. taxpayer dollars go to the WHO. We may need to be have even bolder change than that." * Vietnam's 5% broken rice seen at $440-$450 per tonne * Vietnam ups white rice exports quota, traders say not enough * Thai rates at $530-$556 a tonne vs $530-$538 last week By Eileen Soreng BENGALURU, April 23 (Reuters) - Rice export prices in India eased from a eight-month peak this week on the rupee's record fall, while the coronavirus lockdown has raised concerns about a shortage of labour to harvest the summer crop in neighbouring Bangladesh. Top exporter India's 5 percent broken parboiled variety was quoted $374-$379 per tonne this week, down from $375-$380 per tonne quoted last week. "The lockdown has been limiting the movement of paddy and milled rice," said an exporter based at Kakinada in southern state of Andhra Pradesh, adding that demand from African countries had been good. India extended a lockdown on its 1.3 billion people until at least May 3 as the number of coronavirus cases exceeded 20,000. The Indian rupee hit a record low this week, increasing traders' margin from overseas sales. In Bangladesh, where the lockdown has been extended until May 5, harvesting of the summer rice crop varieties could be affected due to a shortage of labourers. If this persists, Bangladesh could miss its target of 20 million tonnes for the "Boro" summer variety rice crop this season, agricultural ministry officials said. Boro contributes more than half of Bangladesh's typical annual rice output of around 35 million tonnes. Meanwhile in Vietnam, rates were nominal since exporters were not ready to sign new contracts, given uncertainty over whether they can ship the rice due to the government's export quota, a Ho Chi Minh City-based trader said. However, prices for 5% broken rice were quoted at $440-$450 per tonne - their highest in nearly two-years. "Buyers are not willing to sign contracts as they are not sure if they can buy," the trader said. Story continues The Vietnamese government said on Wednesday it would raise its white rice exports quota for April to 500,000 tonnes from 400,000 tonnes. Traders said the 500,000 tonnes of rice to be exported this month were not enough to cover contracts signed before the government introduced a ban on rice exports in March. Thailand's benchmark 5-percent broken rice prices were quoted at $530-$556, wider from last week's $530-$538. Traders say rice prices have not fluctuated much as demand has been steady with no major deals in sight. "Many Thai exporters are waiting to see how the return of rice exports from competitors like Vietnam will impact prices and demand, after the disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic," a Bangkok-based rice trader said. Disruptions to sale by major exporters like Vietnam and India earlier this month raised the price of Thai rice to their highest level since April 2013. Concerns over possible shortages of rice supply due to the ongoing drought continue to impact prices as well, traders said. (Reporting by Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai, Ruma Paul in Dhaka, Khanh Vu in Hanoi and Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok; Editing by Mark Heinrich) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) Whats life like after a lockdown due to COVID-19? Peter Cui, a worker residing at the original epicenter of the pandemic in Wuhan, has lived through the lockdown that shuttered most businesses in the city south of Beijing and halted life for two months. Life is slowly returning to normal, he told CNN Philippines News Night, but its a new normal for the residents of the city. We are almost open, but the restaurant is still closed, the shopping mall is limited, we can go out, do a little running, a little jogging, Cui said. Cui said even if the lockdown has been lifted, he still wears a mask when he goes out, practices proper handwashing and social distancing. The most important thing is you wear mask," he said. "Once you go back home, you have to wash your hands, clean your clothes." China, where the cases of the new coronavirus were first reported late December, has slowly returned to life as the growth of new COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to slow down. This is in stark contrast to the Philippines, where over 57 million people still live under an enhanced community quarantine in Luzon, which may even be extended up to May. But for Cui, theres a silver lining with being under lockdown. He admitted that while it made him anxious at first, he used all his spare time to start a blog and even learn French. During that time, people need to think positive," he said. "This is a good time for you to jump out of your comfort zone." Coronavirus is unlikely to be spread through sex, scientists say - but they admit they can't rule it out completely. Semen samples of 34 men in China who had been diagnosed with mild symptoms of COVID-19 a month prior were analysed. Their tests were negative at the time of the study. Scientists did not find any evidence of the virus in their semen, meaning the illness wouldn't be sexually transmitted after recovery. But the experts said they couldn't rule out the possibility the virus would be in seminal fluid during the infectious period. Questions also remain about patients who have been severely ill with the virus, who were not included in the study. Experts have raised concerns that the virus could still enter the testicles, where sperm is produced, which could cause 'long-term damage'. This theory is based on how the virus enters cells - through a receptor called ACE2, which is present in cells all over the body. But to the relief of the team in China, they found very little evidence ACE2 is present in testicular tissue. They are still baffled, however, as to why a fifth of the men they studied have testicular pain while suffering with COVID-19. A link between the virus and soreness in the groin area has been reported by international scientists. Coronavirus is unlikely to be spread through semen, scientists say, but they admit they can't rule it out completely. Semen is the fluid the carries sperm (pictured) The first and foremost question for the latest study, published in Fertility and Sterility, was: 'Can the virus spread via semen?' Urologist Dr James Hotaling, co-author of the study, at University of Utah Health, was relieved their findings suggested it did not. He said: 'If a disease like COVID-19 were sexually transmittable that would have major implications for disease prevention.' And Dr Hotaling also warned that it may have had 'serious consequences for a man's long-term reproductive health'. The international team of researchers were led by Dr Feng Pan, based at Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan. They launched the study in response to concerns that SARS-CoV-2 could be sexually transmitted like Ebola or Zika. WHY DO SCIENTISTS SUSPECT A LINK BETWEEN THE CORONAVIRUS AND TESTICULAR DAMAGE? Urologists at Suzhou Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University theorised that the coronavirus could cause testicular damage. In a paper published on MedRxiv.org a platform for papers that have not been peer-reviewed by other scientists to flag false claims - the team said their interest in COVID-19 was roused when it came to light that the coronavirus enters cells by binding to ACE2 receptors. 'Several researches have indicated that some patients have abnormal renal function or even kidney damage in addition to injury in respiratory system, and the related mechanism is unknown,' the team said. 'This arouses our interest in whether coronavirus infection will affect the urinary and male reproductive systems.' The team analysed 'online datasets' and found ACE2 expression in different human organs. The results indicate that ACE2 highly expressed in the mans tested, and can be concentrated in several cells which are directly related to the male reproductive abilities, including the germ cells, supporting cells and Leydig cells. 'Therefore, virus might directly bind to such ACE2 positive cells and damage the kidney and testicular tissue of patients,' they wrote. They warned that doctors should pay close attention to possible damage in the testicles of coronavirus patients, especially if they are of reproductive age. The warning was echoed by another team of scientists at Tongji Hospital, affiliated to Huazhong University of Science and Technology, is one of the hospitals designated by the government to treat coronavirus patients since an outbreak started in Wuhan in January. Although the coronavirus mainly targets one's lungs and immune system, the infection could result in 'impairment of immune homeostasis in the testes', which could cause orchitis an inflammation of the testicles. This in turn could reduce a mans sperm count and possibly lead to infertility, according to the team who also noted the ACE2 theory. They added that during the SARS outbreak in 2002 and 2003, medics observed serious immune system damage in the testicles of some male patients. The hospital report was widely shared on social media despite being pulled from provincial governments website just hours after being uploaded. Advertisement They collected semen samples from 34 Chinese men roughly a month after they were diagnosed with mild to moderate cases of COVID-19. During their illness they had typical symptoms of a fever and a cough. Six patients (19 per cent) had pain in their scrotum at the time of diagnosis. Laboratory tests did not detect SARS-CoV-2 in any of the semen samples. Semen is the fluid which carries sperm. However, the study sample was very small and it didn't look at semen samples when the donors were still positive for the infection. And none of the semen donors had been severely ill with COVID-19. 'It could be that a man who is critically ill with COVID-19 might have a higher viral load, which could lead to a greater likelihood of infecting the semen,' Dr Hotaling said. 'We just don't have the answer to that right now. But knowing that we didn't find that kind of activity among the patients in this study who were recovering from mild to moderate forms of the disease is reassuring.' In a second part of the study, the team used a DNA database of three healthy young organ donors from previous research to investigate if testicular cells could be infected with the virus. 'If the virus is in the testes but not the sperm it can't be sexually transmitted,' said co-author Dr Jingtao Guo, of the Huntsman Cancer Institute. 'But if it is in the testes, it can cause long-term damage to semen and sperm production.' The team were looking for the expression of two genes - ACE2 and TMPRSS2. ACE2 is believed to be the doorway for the virus to enter cells in various parts of the body. It acts as a receptor on the surface of cells. The virus uses the receptor to attach to the cell and attack it. Beforehand, it uses the enzyme TMPRSS2 to 'prime' itself. ACE2 and TMPRSS2 must both be present in the same cell for the virus to effectively replicate, the academics said. But they did not find any evidence to show high expression of the genes. Only four of 6,500 testicular cells carried the two genes. The team concluded that it's unlikely the virus affects testicles through an ACE2-mediated entry. It goes against previous findings from researchers at Suzhou Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University, who analysed 'online datasets' findings ACE2 was highly expressed in the man's testes, and can be concentrated in several cells which are directly related to the male reproductive abilities. Several studies have now investigated a link between the virus and testicles, with a minority of patients having reported testicular pain. Six of the 34 men in this study had 'discomfort in their scrotum', but the 'significance of this remains unclear', Dr Pan and colleagues said. They noted other viruses, such as mumps, HIV, and herpes, can cause inflammation in the testicles. This is called orchitis. Despite the findings, the team warned that there is still the risk of an infected person spreading the virus when they have sex with someone else. Even if people do not have symptoms of COVID-19 and seem to be fine, they may be carriers and infect others around them. Doctor Aragona Giuseppe, GP and medical advisor at Prescription Doctor, said there currently is not enough information about the risks of sex amid the crisis. He told MailOnline: There hasnt been too much information released about the dangers of sex. 'However, with sex comes intimacy and we know being intimate with someone is not advised at the moment. In short if the person you are near has the disease, the act of sex will most likely pass it on through this intimacy.' Its clear the coronavirus can be contracted through respiratory droplets which come from the coughs and sneezes of an infected person. These droplets can land in the nose, mouth or eyes of people nearby or can be inhaled through the lungs. Kissing is likely to transfer the disease across through saliva, as the other person may have droplets of it located in their mouth orifice, Dr Giuseppe said. There hasnt been too much research as of yet into whether it can be found in vaginal secretions or semen. 'But obviously people need to take precaution when it comes to the transfer of bodily fluids through this type of close contact. And there has been no research to date on women and how their reproductive organs may be impacted. The Centre has significantly strengthened legal protection for frontline health workers in the light of the persistent attacks on them even as they battle the coronavirus disease (Covid-19). Amending the antiquated Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, the government has made attacks against health workers a non-bailable offence, expedited the duration of the investigation, instituted a prison sentence for the convicted up to seven years, and provided for fines ranging from Rs 2 to Rs 5 lakh. The ordinance will cover doctors, nurses, paramedical staff and accredited social health workers, who have faced increasing attacks on the grounds that their work makes them carriers of the virus. Housing societies have denied them accommodation; they have been physically attacked; and, in one particularly heart-rending case, mobs attacked the ambulance carrying the body of a doctor, who had died in the course of duty, to his burial site. The proposal to appoint nodal officers to register any concerns that health workers have regarding their safety is a welcome measure too. Misinformation on social media, ignorance, prejudice and disregard for the law have contributed to the appalling stigma. To its credit, the government has consistently lauded the role of health workers and emphasised their indispensability in the fight against the virus. The prime minister himself has taken the lead with his public calls to honour health workers. The government must now disseminate the provisions of the ordinance widely using all the tools at its disposal. Political parties should use their extensive cadres to inform constituents of the new measures. Much will depend on the efficacy of implementation, which has so often been a gap in enforcing the law. The government will need to ramp up security presence both in medical facilities and outside as they conduct screening operations. But at the end, this is not just a question of legal safeguards; it is a moral imperative that we respect and protect those who are saving lives at great risk to their own. This is a test of Indian society and its values; prejudice and irrationality should never be allowed to win over humanity and science. Oklahoma will begin to reopen Friday with barbershops, hair and nail salons, pet groomers and spas back in business. Others, including restaurants and movie theaters, can reopen within 10 days, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt said Wednesday. The governor's plan was met with immediate resistance from the Oklahoma State Medical Association and Democrats in the state House of Representatives. Lockdown orders were put in place by lawmakers to try to limit COVID-19 cases. Stitt's plan is contingent on businesses practicing social distancing, and employees and customers must wear masks if they are within six feet of each other. 'Personal care businesses can reopen for appointments only if they adhere to strict sanitation protocols and are in communities that do not have more restrictions in place,' Stitt said. Restaurants, movie theaters, gyms and places of worship can reopen May 1. Nurseries tied to places of worship will remain closed. Scroll down for video Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt announces plans to reopen Oklahoma businesses after COVID-19 closures, Wednesday, April 22, 2020, in Oklahoma City. Stitt said barbershops, hair salons and other personal care businesses can reopen Friday, if they maintain social distancing A message calling for the reopening of Oklahoma's economy covers a car window at a rally in downtown Tulsa, Okla., on Monday. The governor's plan was met with immediate resistance from the Oklahoma State Medical Association President Donald Trump on Wednesday applauded steps by a handful of Republican-led U.S. states to reopen their economies. But State Medical Association President Dr. George Monks said the governor is moving too fast. 'We are concerned Gov. Stitt's plan to reopen the state is hasty at best,' while health care providers are still treating the infected, Monks said in a statement. 'To increase the danger of widespread infection by opening prematurely not only discounts their efforts, but also the sacrifices made by their loved ones,' Monks said. Stitt's plan 'comes from a place of fear,' according to House Minority Leader Emily Virgin, a Democrat. 'It is understandable for him to be worried about the long-term economic effects of this pandemic,' Virgin said. 'However, in this time of uncertainty, it is crucial not to make decisions hastily and out of fear but out of fact.' Stitt, a Republican, said he's confident the businesses can reopen because the number of people hospitalized due to COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, are on the decline, as well as daily tallies of new positive cases. He said a second phase would then look to reopening bars and weddings and funerals with more than 10 people could take place. At least nearly 2,900 people in the state have been confirmed with the coronavirus, and at least 170 have died, the Oklahoma State Department of Health reported Wednesday, up from about 2,800 cases an 164 deaths Tuesday More than one-third of Oklahoma's COVID-19 deaths, 61 in all, have been residents of nursing homes or long-term care facilities, according to Health Department data 'We had 560 people in hospitals on March 30,' Stitt said 'and we've had a nice slow decline since then.' He said 298 people are currently hospitalized with the virus and there are 4,600 hospital beds available statewide in case there is a surge in demand. If hospitalizations and incident rates remain within the state's ability to manage a surge in cases until May 15, bars can reopen and funerals and weddings will be allowed to resume, while a non-essential travel recommendation will be lifted. However, the elderly and vulnerable will still be subject to Stitt's Safer at Home order. Stitt said if hospitalizations and incident rates continue to be manageable for another 14 days after that, an unspecified new phase of reopenings would be announced. At least nearly 2,900 people in the state have been confirmed with the coronavirus, and at least 170 have died, the Oklahoma State Department of Health reported Wednesday, up from about 2,800 cases an 164 deaths Tuesday. More than one-third of Oklahoma's COVID-19 deaths, 61 in all, have been residents of nursing homes or long-term care facilities, according to Health Department data. About a half dozen U.S. states, mostly in the South, are loosening stay-at-home guidelines, allowing an array of non-essential businesses to reopen in the hope of reviving their devastated economies. With most businesses closed, a streetcar is driven along a nearly empty street in the Bricktown area of Oklahoma City earlier this month. Restaurants, movie theaters, gyms and places of worship can reopen May 1. Nurseries tied to places of worship will remain closed A nearly empty street in the Bricktown area of Oklahoma City. Donald Trump on Wednesday applauded steps by a handful of Republican-led U.S. states to reopen their economies Trump, a Republican seeking re-election on Nov. 3, gave these states a show of support on Twitter. 'States are safely coming back. Our Country is starting to OPEN FOR BUSINESS again. Special care is, and always will be, given to our beloved seniors (except me!),' wrote Trump, who is 73. State and local governments previously issued 'stay-at-home' or 'shelter-in-place' orders affecting about 94% of Americans to try to limit the number of new cases of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. The restrictions have battered the U.S. economy, with mandatory business closures leaving millions of Americans unemployed. Political leaders have engaged in an acrimonious debate over when and how to reopen the economy. U.S. coronavirus deaths have exceeded 48,000 while confirmed cases climbed to more than 850,000 Thursday. At current rates, U.S. deaths could reach 50,000 later this week. A University of Washington model, often cited by the White House, now projects nearly 66,000 U.S. coronavirus deaths by August 4, an upward revision from about 60,000. The president of the Irish College of General Practitioners, Dr Mary Favier has cautioned that any lifting of restrictions should be gradual, but in the meantime, anyone who is unwell should call their GP. Speaking on RTE radios Morning Ireland, Dr Favier said that any changes in testing criteria should not change whether people visit their GP or not. Were here, we have the capacity, we can see you. Dr Favier said that GPs are very careful and their premises have very good Covid control as do hospitals where there are specific pathways for patients, with separate clearly defined areas for Covid-19 patients. While GP referrals for testing are quite low now, she said, GPs are still encouraging anyone who feels they might have the virus to call their GP, who can give advice and assess symptoms. GPs are concerned that patients with conditions such as chest pains, stroke, breast lumps are not attending their GP because of their fear of contracting Covid-19. Dr Favier said she had not had to refer a patient to have a breast lump checked in some time, nor had she seen any patients suffering the symptoms of a heart attack or a stroke. I haven't seen a breast lump or people with chest pains, I had a man who was afraid to ring despite stroke symptoms. Where have all the other illnesses gone?" Older patients who are cocooning should still call their GP if they feel unwell, she said. Any changes in restrictions should e gradual, she said. It will improve in time. C onservationist Dr Jane Goodall has warned of future pandemics if lessons are not learned from the coronavirus crisis. The renowned primatologist, 86, said warnings of a pandemic have been ignored and humanity has disrespected the natural world. She said she was not surprised at the current global health crisis, listing the trading of wildlife and encroachment on habitats as contributing factors. While the origin of Covid-19 is unknown, the most commonly accepted theory is came from a wet market in Wuhan, China. 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 During an appearance on Jimmy Fallons The Tonight Show to discuss the work of her institute, Dr Goodall said: One really important message is this pandemic was predicted and people have not heeded the lessons we should have learned from previous epidemics and pandemics. And that is because we have disrespected the natural world, disrespected the animals who live there, taken away so much habitat. Dr Goodall, widely considered the worlds foremost expert on chimpanzees, criticised the destruction of wildlife habitats and the hunting, eating and trafficking of animals. She added: Selling them in these wildlife markets as food or pets, and because the animals are stressed, because there is blood and everything everywhere, its the perfect environment for a virus to spill over from an animal to a human. Dr Goodall also warned of future outbreaks if lessons were not learned. Prince Harry with Dr Goodall last year / PA People have been predicting this. Its not only wild animals, its also the way we treat domestic animals in our intensive farms. That has created epidemics in the past and will again in the future, she said. Dr Goodall, who was speaking on Earth Day, the annual event calling for greater support of environmental causes, shared a stark message to mark the occasion. In a bid to ensure that Nigeria effectively fights and wins the battle for the containment of the dreaded global pandemic COVID 19, a coalition of Chinese firms and nationals resident in Nigeria has disclosed their resolve to join resources in providing support to Nigeria in the fight for the containment of the dreaded disease. The group disclosed that to ensure that they are able to reach out to a large set of people and groups, it has directed its member organisations to make allocation and identify States, Governments Agencies, Groups and or Individuals that it desires to support. By this structure, it noted, support will be provided to a larger number of recipients without duplications. Arising from this drive, donations have continued to pour-in to different groups and government agencies from different Chinese companies within the country. Recently, a Chinese firm, Mutual Commitment Company Ltd donated medical face mask and hand gloves to Nigerian military and medical protection materials to Bauchi State Government as its support in the nations quest to curb the ravaging coronavirus pandemic in the country. The donation to the Nigerian Military was received by the Chief of Defence Training and Operations, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor, who received the items on behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin at the Defence Headquarters. Also, another Chinese firm Kenyang Mining Company Nigeria Limited donated N3 million and 30,000 face masks to Nasarawa State Government as part of its contribution to fight the spread of coronavirus in the state. Other donations that have also come in from the group of Chinese firms include the donation of eight tons of ethanol to Ondo State by Wewood Limited, the donation of Viju Milk Drinks, Obest Biscuits, Mama V Tomato Paste and Mr. V Premium Table Water by Viju Industries (Nigeria) Limited, a player in the milk drink industry in Nigeria and West Africa to Lagos and Ogun State governments in alleviating the pains and disruptions to the daily lives of citizens as a result of the lock down. The initiative also had the association of Chinese women in Nigeria make donations to some orphanages in the country. Some of the items donated by the firms. Speaking about the resolve of the Chinese firms to support the country, the Director General, China Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria, Tristan Cui noted that, We have companies that have spent many years in Nigeria, so whatever challenge that confronts the country would also affect us. We are in Nigeria and we must unite and work to counter this challenge. The success achieved in fighting the virus is a common success because the problem has no colour, he added. The Old Students' Association (OSA) of Hindu College on Thursday condemned the alleged attack on senior journalist and college alumnus Arnab Goswami and termed it a "direct assault on the freedom of press'. Two motorcycle-borne persons allegedly attacked Goswami's car in Mumbai and tried to break its glass window when he and his wife were on their way home in the early hours of Thursday, police said and added that both the attackers have been arrested. BJP leaders, including party president J P Nadda, condemned the alleged attack on Goswami. The fundamental right to seek and disseminate information through an independent press is under attack, the OSA said. "An attack on editors is an effort to intimidate the press, freedom of expression and the media. A vibrant democracy must ensure press freedom and not stifle it," it said in a statement. The four pillars of democracy must complement rather than contradict one another to establish a just society, the statement said. "Criticism and disagreement are part of public life and must always be welcomed, but attempting to harm someone physically is entirely an act of cowardice. If there are disagreements, thereare enough lawful avenues for seeking redress," it said. Observing that"violence andintimidation" have no place in a democratic polity, it warned that India would slide down the World Press Freedom Index if necessary steps are not taken to restore public confidence by preventing such attacks in thefuture. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 01:31:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Members of the Chinese anti-COVID-19 medical consultant expert team attend a video conference with Malaysia's traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) associations, practitioners and companies on China's experiences in applying TCM in the fight against COVID-19, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 22, 2020. Three members of the Chinese anti-COVID-19 medical consultant expert team briefed some 200 participants in a video conference on China's experiences in applying TCM in the fight against COVID-19, including prevention and as complimentary treatment. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei) KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (Xinhua) -- A team of medical experts sent by the Chinese government to Malaysia held a discussion session with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) associations, practitioners and companies here on Wednesday to shed some lights on TCM's role in fighting COVID-19 outbreak in China. Three members of the Chinese anti-COVID-19 medical consultant expert team briefed some 200 participants in a video conference on China's experiences in applying TCM in the fight against COVID-19, including prevention and as complimentary treatment. Te Kian Keong, head of Department of Chinese Medicine at the University of Tunku Abdul Rahman, said, "I hope this would encourage the application of TCM in treating COVID-19 patients in Malaysia." Te said TCM associations and practitioners in Malaysia have set up a working group since the outbreak of the virus to promote the application of TCM in fighting the COVID-19 in the country. Li Jun, head of the Chinese anti-COVID-19 medical consultant expert team and a TCM expert himself, said Malaysian's non-TCM medical personnel and experts working against COVID-19 have also shown their interest in TCM during their discussions with the expert team. The eight-member expert team was organized by China's National Health Commission and selected by the health commission of Guangdong Province. They arrived in Malaysia on Saturday to share China's experiences in fighting against the pandemic. Enditem The number of COVID-19 cases rose to 1,507 in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday as 58 more people tested positive for the infection, an official said. Out of the total cases, 1,299 are active patients while 187 have been treated and discharged, Principal Secretary, Health, Amit Mohan Prasad told reporters here. "The total number of cases reported in the state have increased to 1,507. The state has so far witnessed 21 deaths due to the coronavirus, he said. "The cases have been reported from 56 (out of total 75 districts of the state). Among them there are no active cases in 11 districts. Now, only 45 district have active cases," Prasad said. He said of the total cases, 938 are from the Tablighi Jamaat event or persons, who came in contact with them. The event, a religious congregation, had taken place in March in the Nizamuddin area of national capital Delhi. "All the patients are recovering and now the number of cases are stabilising" he said. On Wednesday, he said, 3,737 samples were collected and a total of 3,955, including backlog of samples, were tested. This is "record testing" in a single day, Prasad said. He said at present, 1,584 persons are in isolation wards while 11,826 are in quarantine facilities in the state. Eleven of the coronavirus-hit districts that have no active cases now, include Pratapgarh, Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Khiri, Hathras, Bareilly, Prayagraj, Maharajganj, Shahjahanpur, Barabanki, Hardoi and Kaushambi, Prasad said. The total 21 deaths reported include one each at Basti, Varanasi, Bulandshahar, Kanpur, Lucknow, Firozabad, and Aligarh, three at Meerut, five at Moradabad and six at Agra. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 14:23:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- An online exhibition featuring nearly 50 items related to China's achievements in aerospace will open Friday to mark the 50th anniversary of the launch of Dongfanghong-1, the country's first satellite. The exhibition, jointly held by the National Museum of China and the China Academy of Space Technology, covers a wide range of items including manuscripts, stamps, simulators and spacesuits, tracking the 50 years of aerospace progress from Dongfanghong-1 to the Chang'e lunar probe and the Shenzhou spacecraft. The exhibition will also show a hand crank calculator used by nuclear physics expert Deng Jiaxian during the study and development of China's first atomic bomb, and the spacesuit of China's first astronaut Yang Liwei, who flew into space aboard the Shenzhou-5 spacecraft in 2003. Viewers will be offered a new way to virtually explore space with models of satellites and rockets, and enjoy a 5G live broadcast of the exhibition. Since 2016, China has set April 24 as the country's Space Day to mark the launch of Dongfanghong-1 into space on April 24, 1970. Enditem Novel coronavirus is not "manipulated or constructed" in labs: WHO spokesperson People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 13:29, April 22, 2020 GENEVA, April 21 (Xinhua) -- All available evidence suggests that the new coronavirus has an animal origin, and is not a virus "manipulated or constructed" in a lab or somewhere else, World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson Fadela Chaib said here on Tuesday. "WHO is, as I said, a science-based organization, and we think the origin is animal," the spokesperson told journalists at a virtual press briefing. "It (the novel coronavirus) most probably has its ecological reservoir in bats, but how the virus came from bat to human is still to be seen, to be discovered." "There is certainly an intermediary host, another animal, that transmitted the disease from bats to humans," she added. The WHO spokesperson underlined that the WHO is combating two pandemics. "We have the pandemic with the virus, but we are also combating 'infodemic'. And when you have a new virus, like this one, it is to be expected that a lot of spurious theories about the origin of the virus be relayed." She pledged that the WHO welcomes all countries to support efforts to find the origin of the virus, noting that several working groups, including Chinese experts, are very active trying to find the origin of this virus. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A top Air Force official said here Wednesday there have been discussions in the Pentagon about stopping the influx of recruits into basic training across the armed services, and warned there are circumstances that could force it to happen. Acting Undersecretary of the Air Force Shon Manasco said the Army, Navy and Air Force briefly stopped sending recruits to boot camps before resuming them. The conversations have centered on the need to keep those pipelines flowing, but to do it in a safe manner, he said after finishing a tour of facilities at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. Calling the business of graduating recruits the lifeblood of the Department of Defense, and that is certainly true in our Air Force, he said coronavirus-positive recruits could still force it to shut down if we saw such an influx of new recruits that were COVID-positive that we just couldnt fight through it enough and that we didnt have, really, the medical care to be able to support them in those quantities. So one of the things that weve been very fortunate in the Air Force is an amazing medical capability here in San Antonio, not just at Lackland proper but also in the San Antonio community and the same is true at Keesler, he continued, referring to a base in Biloxi, Miss. And so its the competence we have and the capabilities we have in our med groups are going to really be essential. An SMU graduate and former executive vice president for USAA who spent much of this past decade in San Antonio, Manasco helps oversee training, equipping and providing for 685,000 active-duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve airmen and civilian workers and their families worldwide. Manasco attended a briefing on how the Air Education and Training Command has handled the pandemic, joined by Maj. Gen. Nina M. Armagno and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth Wright. Armagno is director of space programs in the office of the assistant secretary for acquisition. They got a look at how new recruits are isolated for two weeks in flights of several dozen in restriction-of-movement dorms before starting basic training in earnest. They are housed in separate locations away from the larger training population, sleeping well apart from each other. The strategy has helped prevent an outbreak of coronavirus among trainees, with just six positive cases among hundreds of recruits arriving weekly. Recruits who test positive and those in their flight who might have contracted the virus are placed in the Gateway Villa, a motel on base. Five of the six positive cases have recovered and were able to resume training, Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, head of the Air Education and Training Command, said in a statement Wednesday, adding, This is impressive, considering the size and training requirements. Lackland was the sole home of Air Force basic training until Keesler launched a modest program earlier this month. On ExpressNews.com: Coronavirus threat in San Antonio has Air Force creating new basic training site Maj. Gen. John DeGoes, commander of the 59th Medical Wing at Lackland, said the sixth trainee found to have the virus was immediately isolated, as were those who were in close contact with them. No instructors have tested positive so far, he said. An accountability board in Gateway Villas lobby indicated that one person was in isolation while another 25 were in quarantine, where they must wait 14 days before heading into training. The Villa also houses those who show symptoms and are awaiting test results. | In a recent Facebook Live appearance, Webb noted that basic training would have taken a year to recover if it had stopped operations for a month. He said Lackland is taking only 460 trainees every week, instead of the usual 650 to 800, while Keesler received 60 recruits. This decrease, Webb said, helps us improve our physical distancing. On ExpressNews.com: Tracking coronavirus recruits, Air Force slowed outbreak at San Antonio training hub Recruits in the restriction-of-movement stage still do physical training and drill, with physical distancing. They also get haircuts and immunizations, as trainees always have. But even after they start the regular regimen, basic training isnt quite like it was in the days before coronavirus. Theres far more medical screening. In addition to sleeping further apart, to protect themselves and their military training instructors alike, they wont spend as much time at Lackland. Once 8 weeks long, basic training is now 7 weeks. Instructional classes are adjusted to small class settings. Typically, new recruits are issued uniforms in the first days but those now come after they clear the restriction-of-movement period. They also get mandatory equipment issued to them in an outdoor in-processing line. New Air Force training routine: COVID-19 quarantine in San Antonio https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/New-Air-Force-training-routine-COVID-19-15141952.php# Manasco got a briefing in the lobby of the Gateway Villa and also at the Reed Health Services Center, where he met DeGoes and others including Brig. Gen. Laura Lenderman, commander of Joint Base San Antonio, and San Antonio City Manager Erik Walsh. The Gateway had housed Americans in quarantine after being evacuated from Wuhan, China and two cruise ships in February. A day after CDC Director Robert Redfield said a second coronavirus wave could arrive this winter, Manasco made it clear the Air Force was ready to deal with it. The precautions in place at Lackland, he said, could be here next year, with changes. Were prepared to continue in this posture for as long as we need to. And so things might change a little bit because certainly we are learning every day, Manasco said. I know the team is learning, adapting every day, so it might be a little different from it looks like today, but the focus will be on change and were confident that the team is capable of doing this for an extensive period. Sig Christenson covers the military and its impact in San Antonio, Bexar County and the nation. To read more from Sig, become a subscriber. sigc@express-news.net | Twitter: @saddamscribe Republic TV founder, Arnab Goswami manages to be part of the controversy even amid lockdown. While the world is bored and honestly, fighting against Coronavirus is the only fight people of the country are interested in battling right now. Arnab Goswami is once again stuck in a full-fledged chaos after attacking Congress leader Sonia Gandhi after he blamed her for orchestrating the Palghar lynching. Checkout the video here- The Editors Guild was founded in 1978 with the twin objectives of protecting press freedom and for raising the standards of editorial leadership of newspapers and magazines.#ArnabGoswami has resigned from this association, as he might be feeling "Editors Guilt" pic.twitter.com/l2XcWmNmWK Sudarshan Jayaramu (@sudhisjayaramu) April 22, 2020 Later, Arnab alleged that he was attacked by two congress supporters while he was returning home with his wife at night. In a video tweeted by the Republic TV, Goswami explains how the attack took place and how he is not scared of Sonia Gandhi. Check out the video here- #SoniaGoonsAttackArnab | WATCH: Arnab narrates the physical attack on him by Congress goons https://t.co/ehkpNESnKV pic.twitter.com/uMMaVQVfmy Republic (@republic) April 22, 2020 In the video, Arnab explains how the goons attacked him while he was on his way back home and how he was just a few meters away from his building. He also explains how the alleged attackers told his security guards that they are Congress goons. While the video has garnered over 800k views on Twitter, a lot of people are finding is bamboozling that even after the attack his car was in good shape. Also, the video came a few hours after a few Senior Congress ministers from Chattisgarh and Maharashtra filed multiple police complaints against him. Not only this, but #ISupportArnabGoswami also started trending on Twitter soon after the video went live on Twitter. Now, people on the internet have different views when it comes to Arnab Goswami and the whole incident and youre now going to have a laugh riot! So, here we go- This man seriously needs medical treatment for his mental health. Vignesh Palaniswamy (@priyanonline) April 22, 2020 Inko lemonchoos dedo .. do dena .. accha story likha 2002 his car was attacked just 50 mts away from the CMs house Again the same story,it was exactly 50 mts away from the Arnabs residence when again attackers,assaulted his car. Is it attackers or Arnabs obsession 50 mts Dolan Mukherjee (@DolanMukherjee) April 22, 2020 And all of us expected a few memes- However, one of the Maharashtra ministers said that Arnab Goswami was inciting communal hatred and thats the reason behind them filing their complaints against him. Most people think that Arnab needs to take a few acting courses to make his stance sound a little realistic. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below! A lot of people have suddenly become very sophisticated about analyzing medical and statistical information regarding the Wuhan virus. Some are good at this and some awful. The problem for most of us is determining which analyses we can trust and finding long-form narratives that are easy to follow. For example, Alex Berenson's Twitter feed is an excellent resource when it comes to debunking bad data, but, so far as I know, he hasn't written an extended narrative collecting the affirmative data. Enter Scott Atlas. If the name sounds familiar to you, it's because he debunked the World Health Organization's abysmal World Health Report 2000. When Atlas authored that debunking, he was a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and a professor of radiology and chief of neuroradiology at the Stanford University Medical Center. In other words, he had credentials even a leftist couldn't challenge. Sadly, Atlas's debunking is no longer available online. However, here are some helpful quotations captured elsewhere: In fact, World Health Report 2000 was an intellectual fraud of historic consequence a profoundly deceptive document that is only marginally a measure of health-care performance at all. The report's true achievement was to rank countries according to their alignment with a specific political and economic ideal socialized medicine and then claim it was an objective measure of "quality." [snip] Before WHO released the study, it was commonly accepted that health care in countries with socialized medicine was problematic. But the study showed that countries with nationally centralized health-care systems were the world's best. As Vincente Navarro noted in 2000 in the highly respected Lancet, countries like Spain and Italy "rarely were considered models of efficiency or effectiveness before" the WHO report. Polls had shown, in fact, that Italy's citizens were more displeased with their health care than were citizens of any other major European country; the second worst was Spain. But in World Health Report 2000, Italy and Spain were ranked #2 and #7 in the global list of best overall providers. [snip] The nature of the enterprise came more fully into view with WHO's introduction and explanation of the five weighted factors that made up its index. Those factors are "Health Level," which made up 25 percent of "overall care"; "Health Distribution," which made up another 25 percent; "Responsiveness," accounting for 12.5 percent; "Responsiveness Distribution," at 12.5 percent; and "Financial Fairness," at 25 percent. The definitions of each factor reveal the ways in which scientific objectivity was a secondary consideration at best. What is "Responsiveness," for example? WHO defined it in part by calculating a nation's "respect for persons." How could it possibly quantify such a subjective notion? It did so through calculations of even more vague subconditions "respect for dignity," "confidentiality," and "autonomy." Atlas was certainly prophetic about Spain and Italy, considering how poorly they have coped with the Wuhan virus. Those nations' disastrous experiences proved that, while there may be a lot of free access under socialized medicine, there's not a lot of actual health care. Atlas, who has since stepped down as chief of neuroradiology, now takes his gimlet eye and astute analytical abilities to the reliable data we possess about the Wuhan virus. According to him, based on what we know, it's time to stop panicking and resume normal life. Here are Atlas's core findings, all of which are well fleshed out in his article: Fact 1: The overwhelming majority of people do not have any significant risk of dying from COVID-19. [snip] Fact 2: Protecting older, at-risk people eliminates hospital overcrowding. [snip] Fact 3: Vital population immunity is prevented by total isolation policies, prolonging the problem. [snip] Fact 4: People are dying because other medical care is not getting done due to hypothetical projections. [snip] Fact 5: We have a clearly defined population at risk who can be protected with targeted measures. In his conclusion, Atlas urges policymakers to "stop underemphasizing empirical evidence while instead doubling down on hypothetical models. Facts matter." Given how accurate and prophetic Atlas has been in the past, it's a good idea to pay attention to him in the present. It's time to protect those who need to be protected and to bring the rest of America back online. Since the era of the internet began, globalisation has gathered pace and the countries of the world have become more economically integrated. The significant improvements in communications brought about by technological deepening and the internet have brought countries closer together and lead to the development of global value chains and intra-industry trade. Globalisation has created trade patterns that truly span the length of the globe from Argentina to South Africa, Russia to New Zealand container transport and air freight have shortened distances and made general importables out of what were once exotic goods. Interestingly, the predominant trade flows in the world today are between the US and China, which spans literally from East to West. This trade flow and the other parts of the global trade pattern have developed as countries have developed sector specialisations and resultant comparative trade advantage. The US is the world leader in technology services exports; China the world leader in manufactured goods exports. These trade flows complement each other and constitute the basis of reciprocal, mutually-beneficial trade. There are other examples of substantial trade flows spanning the globe those between Japan and the US and Japan and the EU. The latter grouping engage in one of the most interesting examples of intra-industry trade. European consumers buy Japanese cars and Japanese consumers buy European cars primarily luxury German vehicles. However, while global flows exist and are important, regional flows are equally important and are usually the result of the existence of regional economic communities. Moving from west to east, it is clear that NAFTA is the leading trade bloc in the world, when it comes to the volume of trade flows per country. The figure below (Figure 1) is a visualisation of these trade flows, with the size of the bubble reflecting the volume of trade, a red border around the US node shows that it is a net merchandise importer (a blue would indicate the opposite). The figure shows the extent of the insularity of NAFTA primarily with respect to the roles of Canada and Mexico. These nations trade primarily with the US, which trades more extensively with the rest of the world primarily the EU and the far east (China and Japan). The NAFTA pattern is additionally striking in that the two satellites of the US do very little trade with each other but both trade bidirectionally with the US. Figure 1: Trade Flows in and from NAFTA (Citi) The insularity of NAFTA seems to be an extreme among the large economies of the world. Moving to the EU (Figure 2, includes Switzerland), there is certainly a high level of intra trade within the bloc, but the intensity of intra-trade is not quite at the level of NAFTA. Three economies stand out as being more global than the others the UK, Netherlands and Germany, with the balance of the countries clearly trading more within the EU than outside. Figure 2: Trade Flows in and from the EU (Citi) The fact remains however, that the EU is the most import global trade bloc from the perspective of the intensity of integration it is a single market and the number of member countries and their level of development. When one moves east, there is no equivalent to either of the two dominant western trade blocs, although ASEAN is on track to greater levels of integration of its members. Figure 3 presents the visualisation of Russia, the Far East and Australasia, showing that external trade flows are as important or more so than trade flows within the region. This reflects the fact that there is no single trade bloc that includes these countries, unlike the previous two examples. ASEAN includes some of these nations and several of them are part of the TPP which from its membership (some Asian as well as South and North American countries) perhaps confirms the outward looking nature of this group. Figure 3: Trade Flows in and from Russia, the Far East and Australasia (Citi) Turning to Africa, it is a commodity exporting specialist to the Far East, Europe the Americas, in that order. Africa exports fuels, minerals & metals, gemstones, agricultural goods and forestry goods to these nations, in that order. There are multiple regional economic communities (RECs) among the nations of Africa, yet the bulk of African trade is not within Africa but it is external. Figure 4 depicts these export flows. The breadth of the line at its termination (the blue end) indicates the volume of the flow[1]. The figure shows the top 14 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries by total value of trade. Although countries such as Kenya are important agricultural and agro-processed exporters in SSA, they fall below the threshold by value of total exports and so are not shown. On the other hand, minerals exporters such South Africa and the DRC are shown, as well as fuels exporters such as Nigeria and Angola. African exporters enjoy preferential access to the US (under AGOA) and to the EU (under the EPAs, although they do not currently cover all of Africa). Nevertheless, the greatest value of commodities exports are to the Far East, where no preferential access is enjoyed. However it should be noted that primary goods rarely face significant trade barriers when imported into developed countries. The one exception would be the SPS faced by agricultural exports. Figure 4: Africa's commodity exports to the world (Chatham House) In order to contextualise Africas significance in world commodity trade, the same figure as above can be redrawn with all the worlds most important commodities exporters included (not shown). In this group of approximately 40 countries, only three African countries make the cut Nigeria, Angola and South Africa and they are at the bottom of the list. If one redraws the figure for the metals and minerals sub-group, at time of writing the largest African commodity export sub group by value, the situation does not change much (Figure 5). In the group of the top approximately 30 exporters, only two African countries South Africa and the DRC make the cut. Similar patterns are evident when the commodity category is changed to fuels products, agricultural products or forestry products. Figure 5: Global trade in metals & minerals (Chatham House) These visualisations help to contextualise Africas place in world trade, and specifically world commodities trade, which Africa specialises in. African exporters have access to the two primary trade blocs in the West the EU and NAFTA and have built up new trade relationships with emerging industrial nations such as China and India. Nevertheless, by volume of trade African countries are at present not significant players. Of even less significance are intra-African trade flows, in stark contrast to the high levels of intra trade and interdependence in NAFTA and the EU. This underscores the importance of the nascent African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The trade patterns that exist now are still reminiscent of those established during colonial times a flow of primary goods to the developed world and a return of finished goods. The AfCFTA can help to progress Africa away from these patterns, where more of Africas considerable resources are traded within the continent and are used for beneficiation into more finished and value-added products. [1] Commodities trade visualisations sourced from https://resourcetrade.earth/ Holy daytime fasting month will be a sombre affair for many across Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. Muslims around the world began marking Ramadan under coronavirus lockdown on Friday with unprecedented bans on family gatherings and mass prayers, while a pushback in some countries sparked fears of a surge in infections. This year, the holy daytime fasting month will be a sombre affair for many across Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. Widespread rules have been imposed banning praying in mosques or meeting relatives and friends for large iftar meals at dusk a centrepiece of the month-long fast. Saudi Arabias King Salman said he was saddened that Muslims could not pray at mosques because of coronavirus restrictions. It pains me to welcome the glorious month of Ramadan under circumstances that forbid us of prayers in Mosques and of performing the Ramadan prayers of Tarawieh and Qiyam in House of Allah. All this is due to the protective measures taken to save lives and human wellbeing in light of the global threat of COVID-19, he said in a statement cited by the state SPA news agency. Saudi Arabia announced last week the two holy mosques in Mecca and Medina would remain closed throughout Ramadan. Ramadan is the holiest month for Muslims, in which they fast during daylight hours, congregate for prayers and share meals as a community. But because of coronavirus, almost all Muslim-majority countries have closed mosques and asked people to pray at home in addition to imposing curfews to limit the spread of the deadly virus. I cant remember anything like this happening before, Mohd Faizal Musa, a research fellow at the National University of Malaysias Institute of the Malay World and Civilization, told Al Jazeera. Coronavirus has left many in the blockaded Gaza Strip wondering how they will manage this year. The markets and mosques are closed. The good people who give us money or aid each Ramadan are facing a tough situation, said 47-year-old Palestinian Salah Jibril, who is unemployed. He and his wife live with their six children in a cramped two-bedroom flat on the outskirts of Gaza City. Jibril said his family normally counted on using the assistance they received during Ramadan to help them throughout the rest of the year. This is the hardest Ramadan we have faced. We dont know how we will cope, he said. Im not worried Restrictions have put a damper on spirits in Indonesia, the worlds biggest Muslim majority nation, where national religious organisations have called on the faithful to stay at home. This Ramadan is very different its just not festive, said Indonesian housewife Fitria Famela.Im disappointed that I cant go to the mosque, but what can we do? The world is different now. However, some religious leaders in Asia home to nearly a billion of the worlds Muslims waved off fears about the spread of COVID-19. The top Islamic organisation in Indonesias conservative Aceh province publicly bucked a national order to stay at home. Several thousand worshippers attended evening prayers Thursday at the biggest mosque in the regions capital Banda Aceh, though crowds were smaller than usual. Im not worried because Im wearing a face mask and keeping my distance, said Cut Fitrah Riskiah, one of those taking part. Mohamad Shukri Mohamad, the top Islamic cleric in the conservative Malaysian state of Kelantan, planned to skip public prayers and family meals even if it meant not seeing his six children and 18 grandchildren. This is the first time in my life that Ive been unable to go to the mosque, he said. But we must accept it and obey the rules of social distancing to protect our lives. Total lockdown Several Arab countries have eased restrictions on the occasion of the holy month, with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and other countries reducing the duration of the lockdowns. The UAE said on Thursday that it has decided to ease a total lockdown to an eight-hour nightly curfew and also moved to partially reopen malls and markets. In Egypt, all Ramadan activities, including charity tables and group iftars are banned. Month-long Ramadan bazaars with stalls selling food, drinks and clothes, usually busy sites, are not allowed in Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore. In Iran, the regions hardest-hit nation, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has called on people to avoid collective prayers. Meanwhile, Pakistan will allow congregational prayers at mosques during Ramadan, but worshippers must keep a distance of two metres (six feet) from each other and are encouraged to bring their own prayer mats. At Jerusalems Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, which will be closed to Muslim worshippers throughout Ramadan, the call to prayer will still take place five times a day, and religious workers allowed entry. Mosques in the United Kingdom and elsewhere will live-stream sermons, recitation of the Quran and prayers. Muslims will also be able to attend religious lectures via video-conferencing app Zoom, Facebook and YouTube. Fasting during Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with the Muslim declaration of faith, daily prayers, charity, and performing the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. In Muslim-majority countries, offices are required by law to reduce working hours, and many restaurants are closed during the daylight hours. HDFC Bank on Thursday launched its HDFCBankSafetyGrid campaign to encourage and reinforce social distancing even after the lockdown is lifted. Using the outer grid of the HDFC Bank logo, the Bank has created physical markers on the ground to help people maintain the World Health Organisation (WHO) prescribed social distance while waiting in queue at a shop or in any an establishment. After a successful pilot run in Kolkata, the Safety Grid campaign has been launched in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, Chandigarh and Bhubaneswar. The Safety Grid will be painted in front of the space leading to various retail outlets such as pharmacies, grocery stores, and ATMs, among others. Each grid will be placed at an optimal WHO prescribed distance of 1 meter from each other. To begin with, The Safety Grid will be implemented at over 4,000 essential services stores across the eight cities. Till date, it has been implemented at over 1,750 essential services stores. Social distancing is one of the primary ways in which we can keep this deadly Covid-19 disease at bay. But in reality, one does need to step out to buy essentials. The grids are a physical manifestation of the social distancing that individuals must maintain in any public setting. Its a simple but extremely powerful idea and a simple solution, albeit a bold one, Rajdeepak Das, MD (India) and Chief Creative Officer, Leo Burnett South Asia said while speaking about the campaign. Two nurses who were singled out for praise by Boris Johnson for their care while he was in hospital with the coronavirus said the British prime minister was treated like any other patient. New Zealand nurse Jenny McGee said she was unfazed by the task of caring for Johnson, who "absolutely needed to be there", while Luis Pitarma, from Portugal, said the responsibility "was quite overwhelming". "There was a lot of media interest about him being in hospital and, to be honest, that was the toughest," McGee told TVNZ in an interview that aired on Thursday, her first public remarks since the episode. "As a unit, he was just another patient we were trying to do our best for, so it was business as usual. It was just another day at the office," added McGee, who has worked for the National Health Service since 2010. In a statement issued by London's St Thomas' hospital, where 55-year-old Johnson was taken on April 5 after his COVID-19 symptoms worsened, Pitarma said: "I asked how he would like to be addressed and he said to call him Boris. That made me feel less nervous because he took away any formality." "Ive never looked after someone high profile before. But he was also a patient like any other patient, a life like any other life." Johnson was moved into intensive care on April 6, remaining there for three nights. On being discharged from hospital on April 12, he said in a video message: "The NHS saved my life, no question". Johnson named several nurses who had cared for him, before thanking two in particular -- "Jenny from New Zealand" and "Luis from Portugal" -- who he said had stood by his bedside "when things could have gone either way". McGee said that when Johnson posted that message, she was getting ready for her nightshift and a friend texted her. "My first reaction was that it was a joke," she said. McGee said that as she carried out her duties, she and the prime minister "spent a lot of time together and we talked away about NZ", particularly about her home city of Invercargill, which she said he took an interest in. After shifts caring for the British leader, she said she would get in her car and "hear things about Boris Johnson on the news that was very surreal because I thought 'wow, I've been looking after him'". "But I really wasn't fazed," she added. Johnson wasn't the only national leader to congratulate the two nurses. McGee received a message from New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern while Pitarma was contacted by Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. "It was quite surreal but I was very proud to get his call. He was thankful for what Id done," Pitarma said. "To be thanked by the Prime Minister and the Portuguese President within the same few hours was amazing, I couldnt really believe what was happening." WASHINGTON, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. history and geography scores of eighth-graders decreased between 2014 and 2018, according to results from The Nation's Report Card released today by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). There was no change in eighth-graders' civics average score. "These assessments challenge students to show their knowledge and skills as they prepare to become full participants in American democracy," said Peggy G. Carr, the associate commissioner of assessment at NCES, which runs the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), known as The Nation's Report Card. "Our nation is experiencing a teachable moment with the current health crisis in terms of how important it is to understand historical forces, the role of our civic institutions, and the impact of geographical conditions of our interconnected world. The results provided here indicate that many students are struggling to understand and explain the importance of civic participation, how American government functions, the historical significance of events, and the need to grasp and apply core geographic concepts." In U.S. history, there were declines since 2014 across all performance levels except for those at the top. Lower-performing students showed a decline in geography, while middle- and higher-performing students did not. This mirrors a pattern where scores for lower-performing students dropped in eighth-grade NAEP reading and mathematics over the most recent four years. "These results are another indication that the achievement of already low performing students has been declining relative to higher-performing students," said Lynn Woodworth, commissioner of NCES. "This pattern raises another important issue for education researchers and policymakers to investigate as American school children are missing a considerable amount of classroom instruction this year, which is likely to have a larger impact on lower-performing students." U.S. History The NAEP U.S. history assessment measures students' knowledge and understanding of U.S. history in all its complexityits major themes, periods, events, people, ideas, and turning points. The assessment examines students' understanding of historical chronology, differing perspectives across time, and their grasp of historical facts and contexts. Eighth-graders' U.S. history score declined four points on the 0-500 scale, from 267 in 2014 to 263 in 2018, representing the first decrease when looking across the trend in scores in the subject. Scores were lower across all levels of performance except the very top-performing studentsthose at the 90th percentilewhose score did not change. Looking over the long term, however, the average U.S. history score in 2018 was still higher than the score in 1994, the first assessment year. From 2014 to 2018, scores declined across all four themes of U.S. history assessed by NAEP. Those themes cover the change in continuity in American democracy (Democracy); gathering and interaction of people culture and ideas (Culture); economic and technological changes and their relation to society, ideas, and the environment (Technology); and, the changing role of America in the world (World Role). In 2018, 15 percent of eighth-graders scored at or above the NAEP Proficient level in U.S. history, meaning that about 15 percent of eighth-graders were able to explain the significance of people, places, events, ideas, and documents in American history; could understand and explain the opportunities, perspectives, and challenges associated with a diverse cultural population; and, could demonstrate knowledge of significant political ideas and institutions and cite evidence from historical sources to support conclusions. Civics The NAEP civics assessment measures students' knowledge of American government as well as their ability to participate in civic activities. Eighth-graders' performance did not change between 2014 and 2018. The score in 2018 was 153 on a 0-300 scale. The score was three points higher in 2018 than in 1998, the first civics assessment under this framework. In 2018, about one in four eighth-graders (24 percent) scored at or above the NAEP Proficient level. Students performing at this level can understand and explain the purposes that governments serve, how and why legislative, executive, and judicial powers are separate, shared, and limited in American constitutional government, and the differences between government and civil society. In addition, students performing at this level can understand how the ideals expressed in the nation's core documents may differ from reality, and the efforts that have been made to address these discrepancies. The NAEP civics assessment encompasses three central, interrelated components: (1) knowledge and understanding of key aspects of the American political system and the principles of American democracy; (2) the intellectual and participatory skills needed to apply civic knowledge for effective citizenship; and (3) civic dispositions, such as understanding the rights individuals have and the responsibilities of individuals to their community. Geography The NAEP geography assessment is framed around three content areas: Space and Place; Environment and Society; and Spatial Dynamics and Connections. In the eighth-grade assessment in 2018, students were assessed on their understanding of general characteristics of places, basic human and physical distribution patterns, and of the processes that create these patterns (Space and Place); how humans depend on their environment and how they adapt to and change those environments (Environment and Society); and, the causes and consequences of connections between places and regions at different scales (Spatial Dynamics and Connections). Eighth-graders' geography score in 2018258 on a 0 to 500-point-scalewas three points lower than the score in 2014 (261). The average geography score in 2018 was not significantly different compared with 1994, the first assessment year for geography. The decline in geography scores between 2014 and 2018 coincided with decreases among the lower-performing studentsthose at the 10th and 25th percentiles. Scores in geography have been relatively flat with no significant changes in scores between administrations except for the decrease in the 2018 score compared to that in 2014. Performance among the three content areas differed. While the average scores declined in both Space and Place and Environment and Society between 2014 and 2018, the average score in Spatial Dynamics and Connections did not change significantly. In 2018, 25 percent of eighth-grade students scored at or above the NAEP Proficient level in geography. This means that about one in four students had an understanding of geography's analytical concepts and the ability to describe the physical and cultural characteristics of places and explain how places change due to human activity. In addition, students performing at this level demonstrate the ability to use information from maps to describe the role that regions play in influencing trade, migration patterns, and cultural and political interactions. KEY FINDINGS 2018 U.S. History Results Eighth-graders' average U.S. history score in 2018 (263) was four points lower compared to 2014 (267), but the 2018 score was four points higher than eighth-graders' average U.S. history score in 1994 (259), the first assessment year for U.S. history. The decline in eighth-graders' average U.S. history score in 2018 was mirrored by declines for students at almost all performance levels. Scores declined for students at the 10th, 25th, 50th, and 75th percentiles between 2014 and 2018. Scores for students at the 90th percentile in 2018 were not significantly different compared to 2014. Fifteen percent of eighth-graders performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level in U.S. history in 2018. This was lower than in 2014, when 18 percent of eighth-graders performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level in U.S history. In 1994,14 percent of students performed at or above NAEP Proficient , which was not significantly different compared to 2018. level in U.S. history in 2018. This was lower than in 2014, when 18 percent of eighth-graders performed at or above the level in U.S history. In 1994,14 percent of students performed at or above , which was not significantly different compared to 2018. From 2014 to 2018, average scores for White, Black, and Hispanic students declined. The score for White students declined from 277 to 272; the score for Black students declined from 251 to 246; and the score for Hispanic students declined from 257 to 253. Scores were lower across all four U.S. history themes: Democracy, Culture, Technology, and World Role. The average score in the Democracy theme declined from 269 in 2014 to 265 in 2018; the average score in Culture declined from 269 in 2014 to 263 in 2018; the average score in Technology declined from 260 in 2014 to 256 in 2018; and the average score in World Role declined from 270 in 2014 to 266 in 2018. This is the first assessment year in which the average U.S. history score declined. 2018 Civics Results Eighth-graders' average score for civics in 2018 (153) was not significantly different compared to 2014 (154). Overall, performance was higher than the original assessment year (1998) score of 150. Compared to 2014, there was no change in the average score for students in any racial/ethnic group that NAEP reports on, nor did average scores change for students at any of the selected percentile levels (10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th). In 2018, students at the 10th and 25th percentile made improvements compared to 1998, the first assessment year. Average civics scores for White, Black, and Hispanic students were higher in 2018 compared to 1998. Twenty-four percent of eighth-graders performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level in civics in 2018, which was not significantly different compared to either 2014 (23 percent), or 1998 (22 percent). 2018 Geography Results Eighth-graders' average geography score in 2018 (258) was three points lower compared to 2014, when the average score was 261; overall performance was not significantly different from performance in the first assessment year (1994), when the average score was 260. Scores for the lower-performing students declined between 2014 and 2018, contributing to the decline in the overall average score in geography. The score for students at the 10th percentile declined from 220 to 215, and the score for students at the 25th percentile declined from 242 to 237. There were no significant changes in the scores for students at the 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles. Average scores for White and Black students decreased since 2014. The score for White students declined from 273 to 270, and the score for Black students declined from 240 to 235. There was no significant change in the average score for Hispanic students between 2014 and 2018. Twenty-five percent of students performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level in geography in 2018. There was no significant change compared to 2014. However, the percentage of students performing at or above the NAEP Proficient level in 2018 was lower than in 1994, when 28 percent of students performed at or above the NAEP Proficient level. level in geography in 2018. There was no significant change compared to 2014. However, the percentage of students performing at or above the level in 2018 was lower than in 1994, when 28 percent of students performed at or above the level. The average scores were lower since 2014 in two out of three geography content areas: Space and Place; and Environment and Society. The average score in Space and Place declined from 262 in 2014 to 259 in 2018, and the average score in Environment and Society declined from 263 in 2014 to 258 in 2018. There were no significant changes in the third content area, Spatial Dynamics and Connections, between 2014 and 2018. Students whose teachers had primary responsibility for teaching U.S. history and civics scored higher than students whose teachers did not During the NAEP assessment, students, teachers, and school officials complete questionnaires designed to help us better understand the context in which students learn. One question asked teachers if teaching U.S. history, geography, or civics was their "primary responsibility." In 2018, sixty-two percent of eighth-grade students had teachers whose primary responsibility was teaching U.S. history. For civics and geography, that percentage was 22 and 17, respectively. Those students whose teachers' primary responsibility was teaching civics and U.S. history scored higher than their counterparts whose teachers indicated this was not their primary responsibility. In geography, there was no significant difference in the scores of students whose teachers indicated their primary responsibility was teaching geography and students whose teachers did not. How Results Are Reported Student performance on the NAEP assessments is reported in two ways: scale scores and NAEP achievement levels. Scale scores represent the average performance of students who took the U.S. history, civics, and geography assessments. Scores are reported at the nation level and for groups of students based on race/ethnicity, gender, eligibility for the National School Lunch Program, and other demographic characteristics. Student performance on NAEP is also reported by the percentages of students reaching three NAEP achievement levels: NAEP Basic, NAEP Proficient, and NAEP Advanced. Students performing at or above the NAEP Proficient level on NAEP assessments demonstrate solid academic performance and competency over challenging subject matter. The NAEP Proficient achievement level does not represent grade-level proficiency as determined by other assessment standards. The NAEP achievement levels are set by the National Assessment Governing Board, which sets policy for the NAEP program. The NAEP achievement levels are used on a trial basis and, therefore, should be interpreted with care to ensure a proper understanding of performance. About the Assessment In 2018, NCES assessed 16,400 for U.S. history, 13,400 students for civics, and 12,900 for geography. Scale scores are reported on a 300-point scale for civics and a 500-point scale for U.S history and geography. Visit https://www.nationsreportcard.gov/ to view the report. The National Center for Education Statistics, a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, is the statistical center of the U.S. Department of Education and the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education in the U.S. and other nations. NCES fulfills a congressional mandate to collect, collate, analyze, and report complete statistics on the condition of American education; conduct and publish reports; and review and report on education activities internationally. The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is a congressionally authorized project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. The National Center for Education Statistics, within the Institute of Education Sciences, administers NAEP. The commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics is responsible by law for carrying out the NAEP project. Policy for the NAEP program is set by the National Assessment Governing Board (NAGB), an independent, bipartisan board whose members include governors, state legislators, local and state school officials, educators, business representatives and members of the general public. Since 1990, NAGB has been developing achievement levels, which are being used on a trial basis. CONTACT: Candace Kent, [email protected], 202-706-7469 SOURCE National Center for Education Statistics ANCHORAGE, Alaska - An Alaska utility has postponed a long-awaited decision on increasing the availability of natural gas for businesses and residents in the Fairbanks area through bond sales. Board members of the Interior Gas Utility decided Tuesday not to vote on a resolution authorizing up to $78 million in revenue bonds, The Alaska Journal of Commerce reported Wednesday. The bonds would have funded expansion of the utilitys small Titan LNG plant at Point MacKenzie in Southcentral Alaska. Utility General Manager Dan Britton said during a video conference with board members that he was rescinding a recommendation to approve the project because of broad financial uncertainties stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. I continue to believe that utility-owned liquefaction is best, but we cannot ignore the short-term realities of these unprecedented times, Britton 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. The vast majority of people recover. The Titan LNG expansion project would quadruple the plants gas liquefaction capacity. The final decision was meant to be the culmination of more than six years of work on the $330 million Interior Energy Project to provide more natural gas to the Fairbanks area. The effort began with the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authoritys examination of a North Slope LNG plant. The plan was scrapped following an economic evaluation. The analysis concluded high North Slope construction costs would result in gas prices that would be too expensive to entice residents and businesses to convert from wood and fuel oil. Brittons recommendation to pause the bond sale came as oil prices worldwide fell to new lows because of the COVID-19 outbreak. The utilitys board did not set a new date to revisit the Titan plant expansion. I realize that the weather is improving everywhere and that there are various signs already that deaths from the novel coronavirus could end up being less numerous than many feared, but an election? Most of us can probably imagine dozens of things that we would prefer to see happen before it becomes time to vote again. Yet this is exactly what happened in Wisconsin on Tuesday, where voters donned masks and gloves and stood as far apart as they could manage while waiting in line to vote in a ghost election amid the pandemic and the attendant shelter-in-place order issued by Tony Evers, the state's Democratic governor. This is not what Evers wanted to happen. Over the past few weeks he has attempted to postpone the election and, failing that, insisted that the deadline for sending in absentee ballots be extended. But such powers belong to the Republican-controlled state legislature, who refused to consider any of these proposals. When Evers tried to take unilateral action on Monday, he was thwarted by twin rulings, one from state judges, the other from the Supreme Court of the United States. While it is still far too early to say what the outcome will be, it is already clear that the GOP got everything they wanted in Wisconsin on Tuesday. In a contest in which the most significant race pitted an incumbent conservative judge on the state Supreme Court against a liberal challenger, they expect to benefit from what will almost certainly be severely decreased voter turnout in urban areas such as Milwaukee, where instead of 180 polling places only five were open. (Daniel Kelly, the judge in question, was kind enough to recuse himself from the case that decided whether he would almost certainly continue in office.) The same court this fall is expected to rule on the question of whether as many as 200,000 voters should be purged from the electoral rolls in a state in which Donald Trump won by only 23,000 votes and the most recent governor's race was decided by a margin of only a few thousand. I think it's safe to say that we know how that is likely to go. Story continues Many observers throughout the country are horrified by what has happened in Wisconsin. (Joe Biden, who recently told his supporters that it was safe to participate in what is essentially a lame-duck Democratic primary vote in the state, is not one of them.) I find myself wondering how shocked we should really be. What happened there strikes me as the logical continuation of the American two-party system, the nihilistic contest of opposition for its own sake into which everything health, safety, a basic sense of decency and fair play, the so-called "issues" with which we are all supposed to be concerned has been subsumed. This, after all, is what our political parties do to win. They attempt to maximize their advantages, by decreasing or increasing the number of participants as they see fit. (If you think Terry McAuliffe restored the vote to 200,000 felons out of the goodness of his heart, I have a blood testing company I would like you to consider investing in.) When they win, they draw political maps intended to keep them in power. They seize upon any pretext or none to change the rules, even when it means breaking with principles they have recently avowed. The only thing even remotely surprising about the Wisconsin election is that we have seen nothing like it in other states so far (something I think we can attribute more to the fact that the Democratic primaries have all but been decided and the lack of down-ballot races as significant as the Wisconsin Supreme Court on most tickets than to genuine concern for public health). What would it take to suspend the partisan nihilism? Whatever the answer might be, it certainly is not what experts consider the greatest public health emergency of our lifetimes. Would it be any different if the crisis were somehow even more serious? It is impossible to say, not least because our political leaders would be the last people to convey to us the significance of what was happening around us. Want more essential commentary and analysis like this delivered straight to your inbox? Sign up for The Week's "Today's best articles" newsletter here. More stories from theweek.com Trump's approval rating is back to normal, coronavirus response numbers in the red, new polls show The coming backlash against the public health experts Biden is the weakest major party nominee in recent history but that might be the point At least six people are dead after severe storms tore through the South Wednesday night and early Thursday. Two of the deaths are in Louisiana. A woman was killed on a bridge in Woodworth, Louisiana (map), 15 miles south of Alexandria, due to the severe weather, the Rapides Parish Sheriffs Office told KALB-TV. The sheriff's office did not provide detail on how she died. A Louisiana man was found dead after a witness saw him try to retrieve a trash can from water near a drainage ditch. He lost his footing and was swept away by floodwaters, DeSoto Parish Sheriff Jayson Richardson told The Shreveport Times. Crews are already working to clear the damage at Circle K on the corner of La 19 and 64 in Zachary after heavy storms ripped through the area overnight. @theadvocatebr pic.twitter.com/3L4HyBRx6L Jordan Whittington (@jwhittingtonBR) April 23, 2020 There was some pretty extreme flooding here in Mansfield. Water like Ive not seen in many, many years, if ever, the sheriff told the newspaper. Basically the water rose really fast and we had to rescue some people out of homes. I think we had about 20 or so homes that people were flooded in. The Alexandria campus of Louisiana State University also saw some damage from the storm. The university tweeted, "All resident students safe. There is damage to DeWitt Livestock building and a camper flipped over." The campus was also left without power. Trees and power lines were down in Zachary and Walker. No injuries were reported there Thursday morning. Storm rips through southeast Louisiana, bringing downs trees, powerlines; see damage Several homes were damaged and hundreds of people are without power after storms moved through southeast Louisiana overnight. This is Ace. Hes been stuck inside his familys home in Zachary since the storms rolled thru overnight. Hes happy to be out! @theadvocatebr pic.twitter.com/7RubCg5RqI Jordan Whittington (@jwhittingtonBR) April 23, 2020 More than 100,000 customers from Texas to Mississippi were without power Thursday as the severe weather moved through, according to poweroutage.us, which tracks utility reports. 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 About 2,500 people were without power in East Baton Rouge Parish as of 7:30 a.m. Thursday, according to Entergy's online map. No major outages were reported in metro New Orleans. In Texas, at least three people were killed when an apparent tornado touched down about 6 p.m. Wednesday near Onalaska, about 75 miles north of Houston, the Polk County Emergency Management System said in a statement. The storm rumbled east through Seven Oaks and caused severe damage to homes and other structures, said Carrie Miller, a spokeswoman for Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy. There was no immediate information on how the victims were killed. Charles Stephens of Onalaska told the Houston Chronicle that he and his wife were holed up in their bathroom when a large pine tree fell through their roof during the storms Wednesday night. It took me 45 minutes to climb through the roof to get out, Stephens said, adding that he had to use a hatchet to get his wife out of the debris. In Oklahoma, the body of a trailer factory worker was found a quarter mile from his workplace. He was killed in southern Oklahoma's Marshall County, where the storm hit Madill, near the Red River, about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, causing widespread damage to the town, including its residential neighborhoods, said Donny Raley, the citys emergency manager. A suspected twister hit just as the workers at J&I Manufacturing were leaving for the day, causing severe damage, Marshall County Emergency Management Director Robert Chaney said. Chaney said he had no other information on the person. The Clarion Ledger reported that storms were moving through Mississippi early Thursday, bringing the threat of tornadoes, flooding and wind surges. The storms crossed into southwest Mississippi before midnight Wednesday and radar indicated a tornado, the Ledger said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries in Mississippi early Thursday. A National Weather Service team will be dispatched to survey damage and to confirm whether the storms were tornadoes. Reporters from The Times-Picayune and The Advocate contributed to this story. Soil erosion in parts of the UK is currently at 'unsustainable levels' leading to fears it could cause a drop in crop yields, a new study shows. Research examined more than 1,500 existing records and found 16% relating to arable land showed erosion above tolerable levels meaning rates of soil loss are significantly greater than new soil formation. This may not reflect the national picture, as the University of Exeter study has highlighted that existing studies are frequently biased towards places which have eroded in the past. However, the findings still show that erosion can occur at problematic levels under a range of conditions, meaning soil resources are at risk in the medium to long term. Unsustainable rates of erosion reduce soil fertility and can have devastating environmental impacts downstream in waterways, said lead author Dr Pia Benaud, of the University of Exeter. If soil erosion is not managed properly in the UK and around the world it could affect farmers' ability to feed a growing population, she said. Soil run-off also leads to significant extra sediment in waterways, increasing the damage to ecology and risk of flooding downstream. Land management affects erosion rates. For example, leaving fields bare, ploughing up and down a hill or growing arable crops on steep slopes raise the risk of erosion during heavy rain. Soil types and local geography also affect erosion rates, though erosion is shown to occur on any soil that is intensively farmed, especially when rainfall is extreme. Current UK legislation, particularly existing farm subsidies, pay for land to be managed in a way that leads to unsustainable erosion, with public funding, Dr Benaud said. We argue that this should be addressed as a matter of urgency by policymakers, with soil protection at the heart of forthcoming environmental land management schemes. Despite raising concerns about UK erosion above the tolerable rate of one metric tonne per hectare per year, the study says erosion rates in the UK are relatively low compared to the rest of Europe, demonstrating that erosion is a serious global problem. The highest UK erosion rate found was more than 140 tonnes per hectare per year recorded on a single field in West Sussex in the early 1990s. Analysing existing research, as we have done here, it is difficult to define what constitutes a soil erosion problem, and to know how serious an issue this is in the UK, said Professor Richard Brazier, a co-author on the paper. What is clear, however, is that soil erosion rates of the order reported will lead to serious impacts on soil productivity if left unchecked." Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Bollywood's reigning queen who rules millions of hearts, is an epitome of beauty. She is a former Miss World, an impeccable actor, and a true-blue fashionista, who never fails to impress us with her outlandish yet chic sartorial choices. A global star, she is also a well-known face in Hollywood. Source: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Instagram Read: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Unpopular Films According To IMDb | See Full List Here When the news of Aishwarya Rai attending Cannes broke out, people went into a frenzy. But what astonished us more is how beautiful Aishwarya looked every time she stepped on that Cannes red carpet. Her fans use to wait for Aishwarya Rai's photos from the Cannes Film Festival to come out. Talking about Aishwarya Rai at Cannes, let's take a look at her best outfits at the International Film Festival. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's Best Outfits at Cannes Aishwarya Rai at Cannes (2015) Source: Julie Instagram Aishwarya R chose to wear designer Ralph & Russo off-shoulder black and white gown at the 68th Cannes Film Fest. The stunning former beauty queen looked dropped dead gorgeous in the ensemble and carried herself beautifully. Read: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Loves To Spend Festivals With Family; Check Out Her Festive Pics Aishwarya Rai at Cannes Red Carpet (2017) Source: Bollywood Instagram Aishwarya Rai Bachchan made a grand entrance at the 70th International Film Festival Cannes. She left everybody awestruck with her style. The Pride and Prejudice actor wore a lavish Micheal Cinco drop-shoulder blue gown, with a plunging neckline. Her minimalistic makeup and sleek straight hairdo was the talk of the town. Read: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Backed Out From 'Heroine' Because Of THIS Reason? Aishwarya Rai at Cannes (2018) Source: Fashion Spot 24 Instagram In the year 2018, Aishwarya Rai made quite an appearance at the Cannes. She looked ravishing in this designer Michael Cinco purple gown. Her style and panache grabbed a lot of eyeballs at the event and is certainly one of her best Cannes outfits so far. Read:Here Are Aishwarya Rai Bachchan's 5 Lowest Rated Films On Rotten Tomatoes; Read 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 Ukrainian side, during a video conference of the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) for the settlement of the conflict Donbas on Wednesday, said that the agreements achieved by the Normandy format leaders in Paris in December 2019 should be fulfilled in order to hold the next summit in Berlin in the near future. "During work in the Political Working Group, Ukraine stressed the necessity of implementing the agreements reached by the Normandy Four leaders at a summit in Paris in order to hold the next meeting in Berlin in the near future," the press service of the Ukrainian president's office said on Wednesday. With little local testing throughout February in part because of botched testing kits from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with strict guidelines that limited who could get tested officials were not aware of the virus transmitting locally in the country until Feb. 26, in Solano County, Calif. Previous cases had involved people who had traveled to China, where the outbreak began, or who had been exposed to someone who was sick. But the Feb. 26 case in Solano County was of unexplained origin. Similar cases of community transmission were quickly identified in nearby Santa Clara County, which includes San Jose, as well as in Washington State and Oregon. The new test results made public late Tuesday show that even this timeline failed to reveal how long the virus had been circulating. Ms. Dowd had not recently traveled outside the country, the authorities said, and yet she died a full 20 days before the earliest recorded case of community transmission. Another previously unconnected death in Santa Clara County, on Feb. 17, has also now been linked to the coronavirus. Each one of those deaths is probably the tip of an iceberg of unknown size, Dr. Sara Cody, Santa Clara Countys medical officer, said in an interview. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 16:03:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on April 23, 2020 shows the medical supplies donated by China in Kabul, Afghanistan. (Xinhua/Rahmatullah Alizadah) KABUL, April 23 (Xinhua) -- China will continue to support Afghanistan's fight against COVID-19, Chinese Ambassador Wang Yu said on Thursday at a handover ceremony held in Kabul for medical assistance donated by the Chinese government. "This is the second batch of 7.2-ton medical supplies donated by China, including much-needed medical equipment such as test kits, masks, protective clothes, goggles and infrared thermometer," Wang said at the ceremony which was also attended by Afghan Public Health Minister Ferozuddin Feroz. "I hope these supplies will be sent to the frontline of the fight against COVID-19 and help more Afghan people." "China and Afghanistan are brothers," Wang added. "By joining hands, we will have the strength to overcome all difficulties. China will continue to support Afghanistan's fight against COVID-19." "On behalf of the government of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Ministry of Public Health, I would like to convey my sincere thanks and gratitude to the government and people of China for their generous support," Minister Feroz said. "I would also extend my deepest condolences to people of China for the fatalities of this deadly virus. But at the same time, I want to congratulate China for their success in containing COVID-19." "I am sure this support and donations will further assist us in the containment of COVID-19 in Afghanistan," he added. China sent the first batch of medical assistance to Afghanistan on April 2, which included ventilators, protective clothes and face masks. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Afghanistan rose to 1,143 on Wednesday, including 40 deaths and 166 recovered cases. According to the National Public Radio (NPR) of the US, the foundation of Vietnam's success in the work is the early implementation of a drastic policy by the government on social distancing, as well as the countrys experience against previous epidemics. It said that with experience gained from dealing with the 2003 SARS and 2009 H1N1, the Vietnamese government started organising its response in January - right after reports began from China's Wuhan, where the virus is believed to have originated. The country quickly came up with a variety of tactics, including widespread quarantining and aggressive contact tracing, it noted. Illustrative image (Photo:VNA) Meanwhile, The Strategist of the US said Vietnam has reported no deaths from COVID-19 in recent days and just 268 confirmed cases. This is a result of careful and extensive monitoring of public travel and regular temperature checking at airports, border gates and public places, as well as well managing centralised quarantine areas, it said. According to the newspaper, Vietnam has shown itself as one of leaders" in inventing and exporting fast virus test kits with affordable prices. It emphasised that Vietnam's key strategy is responding quickly to reduce infection and the burden on medical staff. International media also spotlighted Vietnams willingness to share practical experience and its support for other countries in the fight against the disease. According to Nikkei Asian Review, that Vietnam's measures against COVID-19 are for the benefit of the whole community. After all these hard challenges, Vietnam's voice will be very weighty and convincing, not only on the regional forum but also in the international arena, it said. Bloomberg has reported that Vietnam donated 250,000 medial face masks to the US, handed over made-in-Vietnam face masks and medical equipment worth 100,000 USD to Japan, and a great number of medical supplies to its neighbours Cambodia and Laos, and European countries. Meanwhile, Rossiyskaya Gazeta of Russia also reported on Vietnams donation of 200,000 domestically-produced face masks to Russia to help the country in the fight against COVID-19./. Director Sofia Coppola, who is re-teaming with actor Bill Murray on "On The Rocks", has unveiled details about the new film calling it a "clash between the two generations". The director-actor duo are reuniting after their 2003 film "Lost In Translation", which won Coppola the Oscar for best original screenplay and earned nominations for best picture, best director, and best actor for Murray. The film also saw the then child star Scarlett Johansson turn to adult characters. Her role also won her best actress BAFTA. "On The Rocks" follows a young mother (Rashida Jones) who reconnects with her larger-than-life playboy father (Murray) on an adventure through New York. "They play father and daughter, and she's married to Marlon Wayans, a successful businessman who is traveling a lot and has a beautiful assistant. (Rashida's character) has suspicions. The dad, who's kind of a sophisticated playboy, gets her paranoid because he's seeing men through his point of view. "It's sort of the clash between the two generations and her being a young woman and he's a gentleman of another generation," Coppola said in an online discussion with 92Y and Annette Insdorf. The 48-year-old filmmaker said they finished work on the film "a little while ago". "It's kind of the clash of how they look at relationships and also how your relationship with your parent affects your relationships in your life... It's the two of them as a father and daughter sort of on a little adventure to spy on her husband. "It's a lot of them talking about life and men and women over martinis in New York," she added. The film is the first collaboration between A24 and Apple TV Plus and they are yet to announce a release date. Coppola and Murray have also worked together on the 2015 Netflix special "A Very Murray Christmas". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The current unemployment system in Florida dates back to 2011, when the state legislature and Mr. Scott, a Republican and the governor at the time, enacted a series of major changes. It was not long after the Great Recession, and the federal government had increased unemployment taxes on businesses. In response, the Republican-controlled legislature set out to reduce that benefit to be able to bring taxes back down. Floridians, who once could file by phone, now had to file online, and faced a set of new electronic filing requirements that made the process of establishing eligibility one of the most onerous in the nation, Ms. Evermore said. The online system was hard to use, offered very little customer service and limited access for Spanish speakers. A cumbersome skills test had appeared. People had to prove, on a complicated online form, that they had applied to at least five jobs a week. Benefits went to as few as 12 weeks from 26. The result was disastrous for unemployed Floridians. By 2015, just 39 percent of workers who applied for benefits ever received a first payment, compared with 68 percent nationally. That number has not changed much, Ms. Evermore said. When the virus hit, Florida was at the bottom of the pack. Just 11 percent of unemployed Floridians were receiving unemployment insurance in 2019, compared with about 52 percent of unemployed people in Massachusetts and 57 percent in New Jersey, according to data from the Department of Labor. Florida was the second-worst in the country last year by a hair, just after North Carolina. Mr. DeSantis said last week that the state was slow to process claims before the virus. If you applied in January, I mean, it was a cumbersome process it would take several weeks, he said. But when the unemployment rate is 3 percent, its a little bit different than what we have now. This week, Mr. DeSantis sounded more exasperated: Look, this system, the fact that the state paid $77 million for this thing its a jalopy. A principle in headline-writing holds that any headline asking a question can be answered with the word no. Thats usually the case. In this case, its wrong. Wrong in the same way Were all in this together is wrong. Were not. Protests at statehouses around the country, including at the Capitol in Harrisburg condemning Gov. Tom Wolfs shutdown orders, demonstrate in dramatic form that we are far from in this together. People who work with their hands and people who work with their fingertips are faring very differently. Thats just a small example. Our overriding divides and angers, basically the same we had pre-pandemic -- ideological, economic, racial are, if anything, more evident in this crisis. For many, anger stands under a broad antigovernment umbrella that lately includes science; and that umbrella is snapped shut even though its raining. Open the state amid a rising death toll from a disease with no treatment, cure or vaccine? Open parts of the state where the disease isnt rife? Save the economy? Roll the dice? Thing is, it seems hard to blame anyone defying science to end shutdowns given that much of what were told is muddled. Pennsylvanias official view is things are better, weve flattened the curve, well start to reopen May 8. But NOW we must wear masks? Why now? And why in stores but not on buses or subways, enclosed populated tubes ideal for viral spread? When asked, state Health Secretary Rachel Levine said masks on public transit are strongly recommended but not required. Why not? Levines and Wolfs so-called press conferences allow no follow-up questions. Meanwhile, we see conflicting mortality numbers here, in other states and nations. We can shop for food but not for booze. We can stand in a stream but not on a fairway. And our national broadcast media offers advice from Dr. Fauci and advice from Dr. Phil. Take your pick. Theres an Israeli study of global data suggesting virus rates and their declines are the same in countries employing mitigation as in countries that did not. Can it be lockdowns dont matter? Is the study an outlier? Is science and medicine enjoying its time in the spotlight a bit too much to give it up? Problem is weve been primed for distrust for decades. In March, as the pandemic unfolded, I wrote of shrinking trust in institutions media, religion, Congress, name it -- as shown in Gallup polling since the 1970s. The sharpest trust declines during that time were in the office of the presidency and the medical system. No surprise theres wide distrust of response to the current crisis. Whats likely to emerge politically as the crisis ebbs? You can feel it coming. A resurgence of Tea Party-type antigovernment energy, the kind that helped Donald Trump win the White House, the kind he cheers now (LIBERATE MINNESOTA, LIBERATE MICHIGAN, LIBERATE VIRGINIA), ironic given he represents government at its highest level. The dignity of work, the value of every job, is a genuine backdrop for shutdown protests. But many reactions to COVID-19 mirror our culture wars. They embrace states rights, gun rights, partisan dogma and personal privilege above communal health and safety. Yes, a minority of citizens protest, as was noted over and over in 2016. But they may prove, as they did then, more representative than they appear. Theres lots of anger out there. That curve isnt flattening anytime soon. And, as additional evidence emerges confirming African-Americans suffer infection, illness and death in greater proportion than whites (because of the usual inequities in housing, education, health care, employment, etc.), minority leaders are certain to redouble efforts rightly seeking redress. An uptick in antigovernment unrest coupled with a surge in pushing government to balance social scales do not bode well for civic unity. So, yes, COVID-19, in addition to all else its done, will intensify our politics. Theres always hope crisis creates solutions for a better society on all levels. But I fear the answer to the headline, Are We All in this Together? John Baer may be reached at baer.columnist@gmail.com More from PennLive Jobs on the line: Federal Paycheck Protection Program could be getting more money Pa. boosts campaign to encourage voting by mail Why some Pa. election officials oppose a mail-only primary: Considerable potential for serious problems On March 17, Medicare chief Seema Verma stepped to the podium at a White House coronavirus briefing and unveiled a historic action to promote virtual medical care, or telehealth. Verma temporarily lifted a variety of federal restrictions on the use of the service, which had been limited to rural areas. She praised telehealth, saying it could handle routine care for an older patient with diabetes without risking a visit to a medical office. She said a Medicare recipient with mild flu-like symptoms could receive advice from a doctor at home instead of leaving the house and sitting in a waiting room full of other vulnerable people. But the Trump administrations action also raised concerns that it could inadvertently unleash a wave of billing fraud and abuse and risk patient safety -- especially if officials yield to industry pressure to make many of the emergency policy changes permanent. There are unscrupulous providers out there, and they have much greater reach with telehealth, said Mike Cohen, an operations officer with the Health and Human Services Inspector Generals Office, which investigates health care fraud. Just a few can do a whole lot of damage. Telehealth -- or telemedicine, as its also known -- covers a broad range of services via video, telephone or email. In early March, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services approved dozens of new billing codes to allow medical professionals to bill for these services. That means patients can consult with doctors about everything from flu symptoms or a backache to a psychiatry visit. Federal officials also allowed telemedicine providers to waive patient deductibles and copayments during the coronavirus emergency. Under normal conditions, these actions can be construed as a kickback because they discourage patients from complaining about charges or can lead to overuse of medical services. Such tactics normally can lead to civil or criminal penalties. Cohen said anti-fraud guardrails have been removed under this epidemic. The concern is that things will never go back to what they were. There will be a lot of pressure on CMS to make at least some of these changes permanent. Officials worry that some telemedicine companies may take advantage of Medicare patients they contact at their homes. Some of the largest recent Medicare fraud cases have implicated this sort of marketing, often for bogus genetic testing, or prescribing unnecessary pain creams or delivering unwanted medical equipment. In some cases, the companies have employed telemarketers to call thousands of people on Medicare and offer them a free service in order to obtain their patient ID numbers, which can be used to bill the government. These fraudulent activities can become massive because phone rooms operating anywhere in the world can target thousands of patients and Medicare may have difficulty differentiating improper bills from those submitted by a legitimate telehealth operation. In September 2019, the Justice Department charged 35 people in connection with a telemedicine scheme that allegedly ripped off more than $2.1 billion from Medicare, among the largest such frauds in U.S. history. Cohen said investigators already are seeing tons of fraud cases linked directly to COVID-19, including using patient accounts to bill for coronavirus emergency kits that contain nothing but gloves and hand sanitizer or bogus testing kits. Once marketers obtain a patients billing numbers, they often tack on thousands of dollars in genetic tests that are of no value to the medical case, investigators said. Other rollbacks in telehealth regulations could prove controversial and affect patient safety from relaxing restrictions on opioid prescriptions via video to easing licensing requirements for doctors who practice across state lines. In a statement to Kaiser Health News, CMS said it is instructing its payment and audit contractors to review claims during this public health emergency based on all agency waivers and flexibilities that have been put into place. This includes claims for services furnished under the telehealth flexibilities. CMS also said it would put a strong emphasis on program integrity and cost in considering whether to make any telehealth changes permanent. The telemedicine industry argues that its operations are no more prone to billing abuses than any other branch of health care. A crisis always spawns fraudsters, said Krista Drobac, executive director of the Alliance for Connected Care, which advocates for telehealth. She said the alliance hopes to show the value of telehealth and help win wide acceptance of virtual visits to doctors. The group wants to see some of the regulatory changes made permanent in order to assure the industrys viability once things return to normal. Telehealth advocates also argue they have successfully stepped in to fill a void caused by many doctors temporarily shutting down their offices. The coronavirus has stopped [the medical] profession in its tracks, and we need to adapt to a new reality, said Dr. Joseph Kvedar, a Harvard Medical School professor and president-elect of the American Telemedicine Association, a nonprofit that promotes access to the technology. Kvedar said virtual visits at Partners HealthCare, where he is a senior adviser, have jumped from 1,600 virtual visits in February 2019 to 90,000 in March. He said other health networks have reported similar spikes, in one case in New York City ramping up from zero to 5,500 visits in a single day. Theres a lot more interest now that people have to stay home. Congress did much to speed acceptance of telehealth as part of the $2 trillion stimulus package. The CARES Act awards $200 million through the Federal Communications Commission to medical groups to help them install the technology and fund broadband installations. The groups also can apply for $27 billion in a public health emergency fund. In the March 17 briefing, Verma added that CMS wanted to give medical professionals relief from regulations that could take time away from treating patients. In an emergency, those on the front lines shouldnt have to worry about federal rules and red tape hamstringing them when they need flexibility above all else. And were doing everything in our power to make sure that that doesnt happen, Verma said. CMS also is allowing Medicare Advantage plans, which together treat more than 22 million Americans, to use telehealth to help set payment rates. On March 30, CMS said it would suspend some efforts to recover hundreds of millions of dollars in overpayments made to the health plans. Lindsey Copeland, federal policy director for the Medicare Rights Center, said her group agreed that telehealth could help ensure that people on Medicare would not be forced to put themselves in harms way to obtain needed care. Copeland said making some of the telehealth changes permanent might make sense. But she said, We urge caution in rushing such policymaking. By contrast, the industry sees itself as on a roll. InSight + Regroup, a national telepsychiatry company, noted that it feels strongly about advocating to keep the telehealth-friendly regulations that were rapidly put into place in response to COVID-19. Telehealth is going mainstream, said company CEO Geoffrey Boyce. It has been on the fringes for a number of years. Were at the point now where there is no going back. His company also wants to reverse Medicares prohibition on doctors living outside the U.S. treating patients here using telehealth. Boyce said the company would use only doctors who trained and are certified in this country. Theres little doubt that the coronavirus crisis has brought telehealth to the forefront of medicine, something that years of lobbying in Washington couldnt accomplish. The Alliance for Connected Care, a group that advocates telehealth and whose more than three dozen members range from Amazon to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research, spent more than $1 million on lobbying from 2016 to 2019, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. But now the numbers of [virtual] visits are astounding, said Drobac, the alliances executive director. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) The Philippine National Police confirmed on Thursday that the number of their COVID-19 infected personnel climbed to 78. Apart from the confirmed cases, PNP also recorded 580 suspected and 96 probable cases among their personnel. A total of 12 policemen have already recovered, while three have succumbed to the disease. Spokesperson Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said their men are being exposed to more health risks as they increase their presence to implement the enhanced community quarantine. We will intensify monitoring of COVID-19 cases among our PNP personnel and will strictly implement PNP-wide Biosafety Plan in all PNP camps, headquarters, precincts including ECQ checkpoints, Banac said. According to PNP, they will continue to enforce heightened measures, together with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to curb the spread of the deadly virus. Aside from immediate arrest of violators, the police said it will also intensify arrests for hoarding, profiteering, manipulation of prices, spreading of fake news, and cyberfraud. They will likewise apprehend those caught harassing or discriminating medical frontliners, the PNP said. Through the Department of Interior and Local Government and in cooperation with the Department of Health, the policemen are also tasked to lead the COVID-19 contact tracing in the country. To all our countrymen, do your part as homeliners by staying at home throughout this heightened lockdown, Banac said. SAG Award nominee Elle Fanning gave the middle finger on the poster for Hulu's 10-episode satirical comedy miniseries on Catherine the Great, which starts streaming on May 15. The one-finger salute - otherwise known as 'flipping the bird' - originated as a phallic hand gesture in ancient Greece and Rome over 2,000 years ago. The Georgia-born 22-year-old executive produces and stars in The Great, which centers on Prussian Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst's transformation into Russia's longest-ruling female leader (1762-1796). Starts streaming on May 15! SAG Award nominee Elle Fanning gave the middle finger on the poster for Hulu's 10-episode satirical comedy miniseries on Catherine the Great 'She's an extreme optimist in the beginning, and has this kind of beautiful look on life and love,' Elle (born Mary) told Vanity Fair on Thursday. 'And then is in for a real big rude awakening when she gets to Russia.' Fanning reunites with her Young Ones castmate Nicolas Hoult, who plays Catherine's misogynistic and immature arranged-husband, Peter III, in the highly-fictionalized biopic. Catherine loathed Peter and eventually organized a coup d'etat to overthrow him, and in the new trailer - which dropped Thursday - they both openly consider killing one another. 'All is bliss in the court': The Georgia-born 22-year-old executive produces and stars in The Great, which centers on Prussian Princess Sophie of Anhalt-Zerbst's transformation into Russia's longest-ruling female leader (1762-1796) Elle told Vanity Fair on Thursday: 'She's an extreme optimist in the beginning, and has this kind of beautiful look on life and love. And then is in for a real big rude awakening when she gets to Russia' Highly-fictionalized biopic: Fanning reunites with her Young Ones castmate Nicolas Hoult (R), who plays Catherine's misogynistic and immature arranged-husband, Peter III 'Oooh rabbit!' Catherine loathed Peter and organized a coup d'etat to overthrow him, and in the new trailer - which dropped Thursday - they both openly consider killing one another Oops! Even in the preview, it's clear that poor Elle gets entirely upstaged in The Great by the 30-year-old Englishman's absolutely over-the-top performance as the ill-fated monarch Even in the two-minute preview, it's clear that poor Elle gets entirely upstaged in The Great by the 30-year-old Englishman's absolutely over-the-top performance as the ill-fated monarch. Audiences won't be surprised that neither of the former child stars did any actual research on the historical figures they embody and everyone in the cast has inexplicable British accents. 'I find period shows too polite on the whole,' showrunner Tony McNamara - who penned the screenplay for The Favourite starring Hoult - told the mag. 'They're so drowned in their own historical facts.' Who cares about facts? Audiences won't be surprised that neither of the former child stars did any actual research on the historical figures they embody and everyone in the cast has inexplicable British accents The chief of the traffic police unit in the southern Vietnamese province of Dong Nai has been dismissed for allowing serious violations to occur under his authority. The provincial Department of Police on Wednesday announced the decision by the Ministry of Public Security to remove Senior Lieutenant Colonel Dang The Trung as head of the provinces traffic police division. One of the deputy directors of the Dong Nai police bureau will temporarily take over Trungs position. The inspection committee under the provincial Party Committee had previously stripped Trung of all titles in the Party for letting multiple violations occur in the traffic police unit. Trung committed a very serious violation in the management of military-grade weapons at the police division, resulting in one of his officers fatally shooting a person in January 2018. Senior Lieutenant Colonel Bui Thanh Son, head of the investigation police agency in Dong Nai Province He also committed wrongdoings in the bidding of exhibits and impounded vehicles. Trung was promoted to head of the Dong Nai traffic police division in 2017 after having served as deputy head of the agency since 2009. The provincial Department of Police also announced the dismissal of Senior Lieutenant Colonel Bui Thanh Son, head of the provinces investigation police agency, and Senior Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Lien Son, chief of the investigative security office, on the same day. They had already been relieved of all positions in the Party. Thanh Son allegedly committed a violation related to legal procedures in his assignment of investigators to cases, while Lien Son was alleged to have suspended a case against regulations. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! While local nonprofits are rising to help the communitys most vulnerable residents meet the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, we knew their own resources are being challenged as well, stated Paul Munk, president of the Highland Park/Highwood Rotary. The Rotary grants will support a variety of response activities to serve Highland Park and Highwood residents. In the bid to support the fight against the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country, St Johns Hospital and Fertility Centre, a private health facility in Accra, has presented a cheque for GH20,000 to the Sekyere East District Health Directorate in the Ashanti Region. The money meant was to among others assist the District Health Directorate in contact tracing and samples collection for testing, and procurement of medical supplies for facilities such as Effiduase Government Hospital and Ahmadiyya Hospital at Asokore. Presenting the cheque at Effiduase, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriye, Founder of St Johns Hospital and Fertility Centre said the gesture demonstrates the commitment of the Board and Management of the facility to support the government contain and manage the pandemic in the country. He said as the district recorded its first confirmed case of COVID-19 on April 9, it is imperative to offer morale and community support to the frontline health workers to motivate them give out their utmost best. Dr. Ayew Afriye who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Effiduase-Asokore urged the district health authorities to make judicious use of the widows mite donation. This is the time that well-to-do citizens of the district have to stand up and be counted in the battle against COVID-19. If our families and communities are free from the virus, we all will have our peace of mind to carry on with our daily endeavours, the MP appealed. Dr. Ayew Afriye also advised the general public to strictly adhere to the precautionary protocols such as social distancing, periodic hand washing and sanitizing as well as wearing of nose mask when moving out to prevent infection from droplets. The Sekyere East District Health Director, Dr. Justice Ofori Amoah, who received the GH20,000 cheque described the gesture as handy and timely in the most difficult period of healthcare delivery in the district and the country as whole. He thanked the Board and Management of St Johns Hospital and Fertility Centre for their kind support and appealed to corporate Ghana and individuals to emulate the example. Chattanooga Mayor Andy Berke, in the past 7 years, has led the city into dire straits. Chattanooga is in the Top Ten of the Most Dangerous Cities in America, as well as the Top Ten in the Worst Run Cities In America. In September of 2016 Berke was the lead character in a sex scandal that was as tawdry as any in the history of our rather colorful town, and he has been a consistent embarrassment to many in our Scenic City who bemoan his lack of leadership, his arrogant stance of a hermit in his Ivory Tower, and his incompetence as witnessed lately by seven people shot within 30 hours this past weekend. What is most unbelievable is that it appears Chattanoogans could care less. But when Berke allegedly floated the idea of a $50 fine to those who would flaunt his shelter in place order, and then extended the citys defiance of the state and county decision to get back to business by May 1, what more does it take to recall the worst Mayor Chattanooga has ever had? To begin, the U.S. Attorney General is now openly saying the pandemic virus is placing unprecedented burdens on American civil liberties, and William Barr has said the stay-at-home orders by the states governors are disturbingly close to house arrest. In a Tuesday interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Barr admitted, These are very, very burdensome impingements on liberty. We adopted them, we have to remember, for the limited purpose of slowing down the (virus) spread. That is, bending the curve. We didnt adopt them as a comprehensive way of dealing with this disease. Then the Attorney General addressed Americas businesses. We have to give businesses more freedom to operate in a way that is reasonably safe, explaining, The question really shouldnt be some governments saying Is this essential, or non-essential?, the question is, Can this business be operated safely? Chattanooga Mayor Berke has now banded with three other Democratic Mayors from Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville in the notion they know more than doctors and health officials, but to hear Barr admit such actions are disturbingly close to house arrest, what do you think would be the Justice Department reaction to what would be fines to Americans who desperately need to earn paychecks? It is keenly interesting that the $50 ordinance proposed to the City Council on Tuesday lacked a sponsor's signature, and thus was tabled due to its impropriety, but the reactions from City Council members bordered on disbelief, especially when Berke had the audacity to say it didnt come from his office. Who then? The city attorney took the hit, saying it was a way to clarify such an order if ever needed, but that was hardly the message being perceived by Chattanoogas citizens. I would never support additional financial burdens or hardships to be placed on businesses, especially in a time of crisis, Councilman Darrin Ledford said afterwards, while Council Vice Chairman Ken Smith said wisely, I will not support taking steps resembling a police state in the city of Chattanooga. He added, During this unprecedented time we need to be lifting up our communities and planning how to get people back to work and their lives as back to normal as possible. * * * BERKE, CHATTANOOGA SUED BY RELIGIOUS FREEDOM GROUPS On Wednesday at least two more lawsuits were filed against the Mayor and the city, alleging their religious freedoms were denied, and the irony is AG Barrs Department of Justice could well align with the plaintiffs since the Constitution has been challenged. The door is also now open for the alleged house arrest, further driven by the state, the county and Hamilton Countys incorporated communities to end the shelter in place in timely fashion. There has also been state-wide talk of recalling the four liberal Democratic mayors of Tennessees largest four cities by conservative types who feel the Democratic party is being pushed above a citys people. The recall process would involve a petition to be obtained from the four county election commissions that would include one or more specific grounds for removal. Each petition would then require more than 15 percent of valid voters within each city not each county. The petition would then be submitted back to the appropriate election commission where the signatures must be verified. If valid, the petition would be presented to each county commission where it would require a 66 percent vote for action. * * * INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM MEANS YOU CAN MOST CERTAINLY REMAIN QUARANTINED When Georgia Governor Brian Kemp or Tennessee Governor Bill Lee lifts shelter in place orders next week, it has been lost in the argument that those who hold the personal belief it is too early have every right to stay under quarantine. Detractors who scream People are going to die! are exactly right the coronavirus is far, far from over, and with the orders lifted and at least 20 state soon to follow People are going to die! The prayer is America is now guarded, masked, vigilant. But the heart breaker is millions of healthy people are going broke. They cannot provide for their families. Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms knows this better than almost anyone but as a Democrat, she goes on CNN and says, I have searched my head and my heart on this and I am at a loss as to what the governor is basing this decision on. The truth is there is no basis. No one has ever seen nor endured anything like this. Not one expert knows what is coming next. But in almost the same sentence, Keisha shared a truth that can equally apply to either camp. You have to fight another day And you have to be among the living to be able to recover. * * * AN EXCERPT FROM THE MEMPHIS COMMERCIAL APPEAL Note: This excerpt in from the Memphis Commercial Appeal story As Shelby County residents shelter in place, doctors see mental, physical health issues arise that appeared on April 23, 2020: Dr. Laura Shultz, director of Behavioral Health-Ambulatory Care for Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, said sheltering at home and keeping physical distance from other people is counter to who we are as human. This is just so exhausting. We have to be hyper-vigilant all day long. We wonder, Am I six feet away? Did I wash my hands long enough? Is my mask on right?'" she said. What we have created is, all of us are in these situations where we have to be hyper-vigilant and on guard for our safety and the safety of our loved ones. For some people who had existing mental health issues, the crisis has worsened those. Other people are experiencing depression, high levels of prolonged anxiety and stress-induced sleep problems for the first time. Calls and texts to crisis hotlines have dramatically increased in the past month, Shultz said, adding that a feared increase in suicide and suicide attempts was already occurring. I think as a community and as a world, were grieving right now. There are people grieving losses of loved ones, grieving for weddings, baby showers, graduations, loss of familiarity and routine, she said. What makes it worse is that we dont necessarily know when this is going to end. In the absence of healthy coping mechanisms, some people are self-medicating, greatly increasing drug and alcohol use. If done long enough, those things can become habits or addictions. In the long run, they potentially are going to cause more issues than the actual disease, she said. We are not accounting for all the risks that are developing underneath from both a medical and mental health standpoint. * * * THE COUNTIES AROUND CHATTANOOGA Last Thursday I tracked 12 counties that surround Hamilton County and Chattanooga, the most of which are rural by definition. At that time there were 162 cases among 392,324 people in Tennessee and Georgia. Of that number there were six fatalities. Since then in the past week -- there have been 72 more cases reported and one additional fatality. A week ago, Chattanooga (population 357,546 est.) had 110 cases reported, 46 active, 53 recovered and 12 fatal, Today, after one week, Chattanoogas tally is 127 (+17) cases -- 74 (+21) recovered, and 13 (+1) fatal). This from the Tennessee Department of Health. * -- As of 4-22-2020, Tennessee had tested 114,980 persons -- 7,842 positive, 107,138 negative (14.4 percent) royexum@aol.com The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Pakistan prosecutors have appealed against the acquittal of British-born militant Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who was sentenced to death 18 years ago for the kidnapping and brutal murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl. The Wall Street Journal reporter's beheading sparked revulsion and international outrage in early 2002, putting pressure on Pakistan's military government just as it was remaking its image following years of backing the Taliban in neighbouring Afghanistan. Sheikh and three accomplices had their convictions overturned by a provincial court earlier this month, spurring condemnation from the US and media watchdog groups. Fiaz Shah, the prosecutor-general for Sindh, told AFP Thursday the appeal had been formally lodged by the provincial government. He could not say when it might be heard. Following their acquittal, the four men were immediately re-arrested by authorities and will be held for at least three months while the appeal plays out. Pearl, 38, was South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal when he was abducted in Karachi in January 2002 while researching a story about Islamist militants. A graphic video showing his decapitation was delivered to the US consulate in the city nearly a month later. Observers at the time said the killers were acting out of revenge for Pakistan's support of the US-led war on the hardline Islamic Taliban regime in Afghanistan and the Al-Qaeda terror network they harboured. In January 2011, a report released by the Pearl Project at Georgetown University suggested the wrong men had been convicted of Pearl's murder. An investigation led by Pearl's friend and former colleague Asra Nomani claimed the reporter was murdered by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington. Mohammed was arrested in Pakistan in 2003 and is being held in Guantanamo Bay. A US psychologist who interviewed him said he had confessed to the killing. Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh vduring his trial for the murder of American journalist Daniel Pearl in 2002 Forum for Maritime Law Enforcement Personnel on Managing COVID19 Cases at Sea held Virtually Photo: UNODC Bangkok (Thailand) - On Thursday, 16 April 2020 the UNODCs Global Maritime Crime Programme (GMCP), with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for South-East Asia, conducted a Forum for Maritime Law Enforcement Personnel on Managing COVID-19 Cases at Sea via a virtual platform. The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is cognizant of the challenges faced by all Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE) agencies in managing incidents at sea or in port areas that are linked to COVID-19 cases. Ensuring the continuing flow of goods and merchandise transported via maritime routes is vital to ensure a sustainable economic development and delivery of vital aid for countries that have already been impacted by this crisis. Although this event had initially focused on supporting MLE agencies in the Southeast Asian region, the event had a wide appeal, bringing together 75 multiagency representatives from 12 countries. The event aimed at ensuring that MLE practitioners are familiar with the guidelines provided by WHO experts on the management of COVID-19 cases in a maritime environment. Additionally, MLE representatives from Australia, South Korea and Sri Lanka provided presentations on evolving best practices for maritime law enforcement to deal with COVID19. Ervin Irish Escat, representative from the Philippine National Coast Watch Centre, said: "It is undeniably a challenge to the maritime authorities to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 considering the complicated and vulnerable environment of the maritime domain. The virtual briefing hosted by the UNODC-GMCP, with support of the WHO and other experts worldwide, has provided relevant, timely and useful information that will enable participating countries in enhancing their respective guidelines and protocols in handling COVID-related maritime security operations. These briefings were designed to provide increased awareness on the range of responses that can be applied by MLE agencies when faced with the need to operate on vessels that could potentially carry COVID-19. As such activities aboard ships often include work in confined spaces, the use of proper protective measures and equipment, as well as the establishment and exercise of adequate procedures for handling crewmembers showing COVID-19 symptoms is essential to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of MLE officers. The Forum also included a Q&A session, allowing participants to seek greater clarity on the subjects presented and to share opinions and concerns regarding the handling of COVID-19 cases in the participants respective countries. The presentations and reference material provided during the briefings have been shared with all event participants, and UNODC-GMCP will continue to facilitate communication between MLE agencies requesting additional information on the matter. Further information UNODC Global Maritime Crime Programme 5G networks reach 'roof of the world' - Chinadaily.com.cn With the north side of Qomolangma recently covered by 5G networks, netizens can now enjoy livestreaming videos from the world's highest mountain. Offered by China Telecom and China Mobile, two of the nation's leading telecommunication providers, the livestreaming videos display the beauty of the mountain, which is known in the West as Mount Everest. On April 19, China Telecom teamed up with China Central Television to provide a round-the-clock, live, high-definition broadcast with a 360-degree view. Meanwhile, China Mobile offered a livestreaming video showing a 360-degree view of Qomolangma between April 19 and 20 via the company's video platform MIGU Video. In a posting on social media platform Sina Weibo, netizen Gang Duoji said he appreciated the livestreaming videos as Qomolangma was one of his favorite places, but he was unable to visit it as it's too far away. "Now I can observe its beauty with the 5G livestreaming broadcast on my phone, it is really incredible!" said Gang. 5G networks reach 'roof of the world' - Chinadaily.com.cn Base stations The Tibet branch of China Mobile said it started building the 5G infrastructure for Qomolangma earlier this month. So far, it has finished building three 5G base stations, including at locations above altitudes of 5,300 meters, the installation of two more base stations at an attitude of 6,500 meters is expected to be completed by this weekend. The north side of Qomolangma is located in Dingri county of the Tibet autonomous region, and the regional authorities plan to accelerate the application of 5G networks. Qizhala, chairman of the Tibet autonomous region, said at the third session of the 11th Tibet People's Congress in early January that all the major towns and cities in the region would be covered by 5G networks by the end of this year. More than 98 percent of villages in Tibet had been linked by 4G networks, optical fiber cable and broadband internet services by 2019. But building a 5G network on the "roof of the world" is no easy matter. Li Chongming, an official of the networks department at the Tibet branch of China Mobile, described the project as challenging, tough and risky. Li, who is also the field chief coordinator of the ongoing 5G network installation project, said such a project required higher levels of skill in technology and construction. Remdesivir, an antiviral medicine made by Gilead Sciences of Foster City, is being closely watched as a possible treatment for COVID-19 patients. But leaked results from one clinical trial in China suggest it may not be effective. A summary temporarily posted on the website of the World Health Organization said the drug did not hasten the recovery of coronavirus patients in the study or keep them from dying, according to news reports. The study was terminated early because it did not enroll enough patients and the drug maker says data still indicate a potential benefit. Gilead has previously said that a limited analysis of remdesivirs use on 58 people with COVID-19 was encouraging, and a Chicago hospital participating in a clinical trial reportedly saw improvements in patients who received the drug, which is administered intravenously. So for now, it remains unknown whether remdesivir will be a widely used tool in the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic. But investors seemed to be disappointed in the news out of China, with shares of Gilead falling 4.3% to close at $77.78 on Thursday. Gileads chief medical officer, Dr. Merdad Parsey, said that information from the study in China which involved patients with severe cases of COVID-19 had been prematurely posted on the World Health Organization website. The summary featured inappropriate characterizations of the study, she said. The study was terminated early due to low enrollment and, as a result, it was underpowered to enable statistically meaningful conclusions, Parsey said in the statement. As such, the study results are inconclusive, though trends in the data suggest a potential benefit for remdesivir, particularly among patients treated early in disease. Originally developing the drug as a treatment for Ebola, Gilead hopes remdesivir can get in the way of how the coronavirus copies itself in many patients. The drug has not been licensed or approved to treat COVID-19, but various studies are under way and official results are eagerly awaited by doctors, investors and the general public alike. The Chinese clinical trial involved 237 patients who had tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the summary of the results obtained by the health news outlet Stat. The trial treated 158 people with remdesivir and maintained a control group of 79 people. One control group patient withdrew before being treated. Among the patients treated with remdesivir, 13.9% died, compared with 12.8% in the control group a statistically insignificant difference, Stat reported. The summary also said that use of the drug was not associated with a difference in time to clinical improvement. Parsey, the Gilead chief medical officer, said in the statement that the data was submitted for peer review, meaning that more detailed information will be available soon. He cited a growing but still inconclusive body of evidence for remdesivir and said that multiple advanced studies under way would provide the additional data needed to determine the potential for remdesivir as a treatment for COVID-19. These studies will help inform whom to treat, when to treat and how long to treat with remdesivir, Parsey said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Dr. Yvonne Maldonado, an infectious disease expert at Stanford University, said the design of the remdesivir study in China was a little odd. Patients were allowed to enroll up to 12 days after their symptoms started, she noted. They could have already been pretty far advanced in their disease, Maldonado said. Its really hard to know. ... I would wait for some of the other trials that are coming out through the National Institutes of Health. Remdesivir is far from the only drug under investigation as a potential treatment for COVID-19. In the Bay Area, local doctors are studying at least two other drugs, colchicine and leronlimab, that may help prevent the bodys immune system from overreacting to the virus a condition that can prove deadly. The virus makes you sick, but (its) the immune system that is killing patients, said Dr. Jay Lalezari, a San Francisco physician who is working for the company that makes leronlimab, in an email. Asked for comment on the leaked study, Lalezari said he believes that by the time patients received remdesivir, it was too late for just an antiviral medication. Gilead expects to share results from other remdesivir studies on COVID-19 patients this month and in May. J.D. Morris is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris Political technologists know that the electorate usually supports well-known characters, but two years ago, thanks to the competent work of political technologists, the little-known opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan gained wide popularity. PR specialists found a similarity between him and Monte Melkonyan, the field commander of the Karabakh separatists, widely known in the country and abroad. The future prime minister was advised to abandon the image of a smooth-shaven politician in favor of an overgrown militia in camouflage. Two years later, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Pashinyan to urge people to support him in an effort to "clean up" the political field of the republic from unwanted people who are somehow connected with the previous regime. The prime minister is seriously concerned about image losses, while the current situation with the spread of coronavirus infection demonstrates the authorities' inability to act promptly. Measures to prevent the virus are not original, putting society in a state of uncertainty. Certainly, not Pashinyan is the architect of the current Armenian healthcare system. However, critics note that the prime minister seeks to divert public attention from issues related to medicine, minimizing the scale of the problem. Answering citizens' questions live on his Facebook page, Pashinyan discusses the likely mistakes of his government, explaining this to the fact that people tend to make mistakes. Sharing arguments and assumptions during their online broadcasts has become a tradition for the Armenian Prime Minister. Recently, Pashinyan talked about conspirators directly or indirectly associated with the structures of the Karabakh clan. The prime minister refrained from direct accusations against specific individuals, but did not miss the opportunity to emphasize the need for further personnel reforms. Thus, he hinted at the next stage of lustration in Armenia, the reason for which could be the dissemination of false information in the republic. The fact is that a video was posted on the Internet, mounted from video frames that captured the preparation for the announcement of the Prime Ministers appeal to the people on the air. In the video, the prime minister coughs in the background of a picture of a coronavirus. "Drain" caused a scandal between the government and the leadership of the Public Television of Armenia. As a result, Margarita Grigoryan, who for a long time served as executive director of Public Television, was forced to resign. The incident itself on the Public TV channel was defined by the leadership of the republic as malicious wrecking, which should be investigated. However, the question arises about the customers of the sensational informational "drain", because the comical consequences of publishing working video materials did not in the least hit Pashinyan's reputation as a politician. It is worth saying that between Pashinyan and the leadership of the channel repeatedly there were conflicts. The prime minister often criticized television people for distributing incorrect information. Last Monday, during the next online broadcast, the Armenian Prime Minister announced the existence of a group of people who are unhappy with the results of the revolution. According to the Prime Minister, these people are trying to use any opportunities, including media platforms, to assess what is happening as independent experts, in fact "serving the past government." For the current leadership, media criticism is seen as a torture to implement the plans of the Karabakh clan for the transit of power in favor of members of the "family". According to Pashinyan, long before the revolution "a 5-10-year plan was developed" with the involvement of young people with education in the "political infrastructure" of the republic. It would seem, why should Pashinyan talk about pests during a pandemic, focusing public attention on corrupt officials, crime, deprived of privileges oligarchs, as well as corrupt media that lost reliable financing? The prime minister believes that the threat of counter-revolution is still not eliminated. If earlier Pashinyan was afraid that the counter-revolution might come from the self-proclaimed regime in Nagorno-Karabakh, now he believes that the opposition will take advantage of the epidemiological situation, organize a large-scale campaign, accusing him of all the ills of national health, because the degree of irritation in the republic against the background The epidemic is stably high. Interestingly, for the first time in the modern history of Armenia, the leadership of the republic drew attention to the activities of the Armenian clergy, suspecting him of political intrigue. Pashinyan unambiguously hinted at the lack of support from the clergy, since the Armenian clergy not only distanced themselves from the current leadership, it also called for the release of the investigative ex-president of the republic, Robert Kocharian. Pashinyan does not seek to challenge the clergy, however, speaking of the "lack of spiritual life" in Armenia, he hints at the need for cooperation between secular and spiritual authorities. It is likely that Pashinyan does not expect to reach the level of understanding that was between the clergy and the previous authorities, but he cannot hide the disappointment with the lack of assistance, since revolutionary rhetoric during the epidemic is ineffective, and there is no other in Pashinyans tools. A week of lightings for First Responder organizations and Essential Workers kicks off April 24 NEW YORK, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Empire State Building (ESB) today announced the launch of HeroesShineBright, a weeklong campaign to give thanks to every person putting their lives on the line to save others during the COVID-19 pandemic both in the United States and around the world. Every night from April 24 through May 2, ESB will dedicate its tower lights to a different First Responder organization, shining in their representative colors to acknowledge their bravery and service. On May 2, the final night of HeroesShineBright, ESB will partner with the World Federation of Great Towers in a coordinated lighting that will see the Burj Khalifa (UAE), CN Tower (Canada), Macau Tower (China), Busan Tower (South Korea), Willis Tower (US), Euromast (Netherlands), 360 Chicago (US), Calgary Tower (Canada), One Liberty Observation Deck (US), Ostankino TV Tower (Russia), Tallinn TV Tower (Estonia), UFO Tower (Slovakia), and others shine their lights in a red heartbeat from 8:30 - 9:30 p.m. in their local time zone to bring global awareness to those helping fight the pandemic. The Eiffel Tower will also dedicate its signature sparkle to the campaign that evening. The schedule of lightings is as follows: April 24 : Yellow/White/Blue w/ Siren Effect in honor of FDNY/EMS : Yellow/White/Blue w/ Siren Effect in honor of FDNY/EMS April 25: Blue/White/Blue in honor of Doctors, Nurses and the Medical Community April 26: Blue/Orange/Blue in honor of Correction Officers April 27: Split lights: North & South: Orange/Blue/White in honor of the U.S. Coast Guard East & West: Blue/Gold/Blue in honor of the U.S. Navy April 28 : Yellow/Black/White in honor of the U.S. Army : Yellow/Black/White in honor of the U.S. Army April 29: Blue/Blue/Blue in honor of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority April 30: Yellow/Yellow/Yellow in honor of Essential Workers May 1: Blue/Purple/Blue in honor of Police Memorial Day May 2: Dynamic heartbeat lighting in coordination with the World Federation of Great Towers "The Empire State Building is the beating heart of all of us, and the international icon of the skyline of New York City. She shines her lights to show First Responders and essential workers our appreciation, love, and support, which they deserve," said Anthony E. Malkin, Chairman and CEO of Empire State Realty Trust. "Our tribute to the heroes on the front lines of our great city, one group at a time, will culminate with a worldwide show of support as the World Federation of Great Towers showers universal light to spotlight the contributions of First Responders around the world." The Empire State Building encourages fans to participate in the HeroesShineBright campaign, and leave comments on its posts and stories across its social media platforms thanking essential workers each night of the lightings. On May 2, the Building will share a celebratory compilation video incorporating videos of personal thank yous, fan comments, and inspiring videos of the lightings across the globe. For more information, please visit http://www.esbnyc.com. About the Empire State Building Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan (from base to antenna top), the Empire State Building, owned by Empire State Realty Trust, Inc., is the "World's Most Famous Building." With new investments in energy efficiency, infrastructure, public areas and amenities, the Empire State Building has attracted first-rate tenants in a diverse array of industries from around the world. The Empire State Building was named the world's most popular travel destination in a study conducted by Uber and was named America's favorite building in a poll conducted by the American Institute of Architects. For more information on the Empire State Building, please visit www.empirestatebuilding.com, www.facebook.com/empirestatebuilding, https://twitter.com/empirestatebldg, www.instagram.com/empirestatebldg, http://weibo.com/empirestatebuilding, www.youtube.com/esbnyc, https://www.tiktok.com/@empirestatebldg or www.pinterest.com/empirestatebldg. About Empire State Realty Trust Empire State Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: ESRT), a leading real estate investment trust (REIT), owns, manages, operates, acquires and repositions office and retail properties in Manhattan and the greater New York metropolitan area, including the Empire State Building, the "World's Most Famous Building." Headquartered in New York, New York, the Company's office and retail portfolio covers 10.1 million rentable square feet, as of?March 31, 2020, consisting of 9.4 million rentable square feet in 14 office properties, including nine in Manhattan, three in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and two in Westchester County, New York; and approximately 700,000 rentable square feet in the retail portfolio.?? Rishi Sunak became an unlikely star of the BBC's Big Night In fundraising special as he announced the Government's pledge to match every donation raised tonight. The Chancellor, speaking from his Downing Street home, told viewers that we would remember how 'we came together as a country' in the fight against the coronavirus. He announced that the Government would be matching donations like-for-like, with the first 20 million going to the National Emergencies Trust. Rishi Sunak became an unlikely star of the BBC's Big Night In fundraising special as he announced the Government's pledge to match every donation raised tonight Hi everyone, I know these are difficult times,' said Mr Sunak. 'Look were all worried, worried about our health, our friends our family. But I also think we will look back and remember that at this time of crisis that we came together as a country. We were there for each other and thats what the Big Night In is all about, I am so grateful to everyone who has donated tonight and dont forget that the government has pledged to match every pound you donate so please do give generously. After all, what better way to mark four weeks of staying in and watching TV than well staying in and watching TV. Enjoy the rest of the show and stay safe. Viewers were quick to praise the Treasury boss for the short appearance, notably wearing a casual pair of jeans and a top rather than the 'politician's' suit. BBC Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine said: 'Probably the least pompous TV appearance by a Chancellor of the Exchequer in history. #BigNightIn.' Stephen Canning added: 'B****y good look having Rishi Sunak on the Big Night In dressed like his normal self, rather than a politician, and pledging to match the funds.' Mr Sunak has been seen as a potential future Prime Minister after being parachuted in to the position of Chancellor after predecessor Sajid Javid quit rather than fire his own staff. An exclusive poll for The Mail on Sunday found that he was the choice of voters to run the country if Boris Johnson became too ill, taken before the PM went into St Thomas' ICU earlier this month. While Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has taken the reins while Mr Johnson is incapacitated, the Deltapoll survey shows that Mr Sunak dubbed dishy Rishi by his Treasury colleagues is backed as a stand-in premier by more than three times as many voters. The government have confirmed they will match pound for pound everything raised on the night. The first 20million of the matched money will go to the National Emergencies Trust that was launched by the Duke of Cambridge to help people all across the UK affected by the pandemic. All matched funding after this amount will go to Children In and Comic Relief. ENGLEWOOD, CO / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2020 / Aytu BioScience, Inc. (AYTU) (the "Company"), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on commercializing novel products that address significant patient needs, announced the signing of a definitive agreement (the "Agreement") with Singapore-based Biolidics, Limited (SGX: 8YY; "Biolidics") to exclusively distribute Biolidics' COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test in the United States. Under the terms of the Agreement, Aytu will exclusively distribute Biolidics' COVID-19 IgG/IgM rapid antibody test in the United States. Aytu has committed to purchase 500,000 tests within one business day from the date of signing of the Agreement. As an additional component of Aytu's exclusivity, the Company has committed to purchase a minimum of 1,250,000 tests within the first three months of the Agreement. Biolidics' COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test has been issued Provisional Authorization for distribution by Singapore's Health Science's Authority (HSA), and the product has been authorized for export from Singapore. Biolidics' COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test will be supplied from Biolidics' facility in Singapore. Aytu will collaborate with Biolidics and lead the U.S. clinical trials processes and plans to complete and obtain U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") 510k regulatory filing clearance of the COVID-19 IgG/IgM rapid test kits. Josh Disbrow, Chief Executive Officer of Aytu BioScience, commented, "We are pleased to be partnering with Biolidics in distributing this COVID-19 rapid test in the U.S. With the continued call in the United States for increased COVID-19 testing, we are entering this distribution Agreement at an excellent time. We have experienced significant demand for our current COVID-19 rapid test, so adding this test to our product offering will enable us to better meet the high demand in the U.S. We look forward to a productive working relationship with Biolidics and thank them for their confidence in allowing Aytu to take this product to market in the United States." Story continues Incorporated in 2009 and listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange, Biolidics Limited is a Singapore-based precision medicine medical technology company with a focus in developing a portfolio of innovative diagnostic solutions to lower healthcare costs and improve clinical outcomes. About Aytu BioScience, Inc. Aytu BioScience, Inc. is a commercial-stage specialty pharmaceutical company focused on commercializing novel products that address significant patient needs. The Company currently markets a portfolio of prescription products addressing large primary care and pediatric markets. The primary care portfolio includes (i) Natesto, the only FDA-approved nasal formulation of testosterone for men with hypogonadism (low testosterone, or "Low T"), (ii) ZolpiMist, the only FDA-approved oral spray prescription sleep aid, and (iii) Tuzistra XR, the only FDA-approved 12-hour codeine-based antitussive syrup. The pediatric portfolio includes (i) AcipHex Sprinkle, a granule formulation of rabeprazole sodium, a commonly prescribed proton pump inhibitor; (ii) Cefaclor, a second-generation cephalosporin antibiotic suspension; (iii) Karbinal ER, an extended-release carbinoxamine (antihistamine) suspension indicated to treat numerous allergic conditions; and (iv) Poly-Vi-Flor and Tri-Vi-Flor, two complementary prescription fluoride-based supplement product lines containing combinations of fluoride and vitamins in various for infants and children with fluoride deficiency. Aytu recently acquired U.S. distribution rights to two COVID-19 IgG/IgM rapid tests. These coronavirus tests are solid phase immunochromatographic assays used in the rapid, qualitative and differential detection of IgG and IgM antibodies to the 2019 Novel Coronavirus in human whole blood, serum or plasma. Aytu recently acquired Innovus Pharmaceuticals, a specialty pharmaceutical company commercializing, licensing and developing safe and effective consumer healthcare products designed to improve men's and women's health and vitality. Innovus commercializes over thirty-five consumer health products competing in large healthcare categories including diabetes, men's health, sexual wellness and respiratory health. The Innovus product portfolio is commercialized through direct-to-consumer marketing channels utilizing the Company's proprietary Beyond Human marketing and sales platform. Aytu's strategy is to continue building its portfolio of revenue-generating products, leveraging its focused commercial team and expertise to build leading brands within large therapeutic markets. For more information visit aytubio.com and visit innovuspharma.com to learn about the Company's consumer healthcare products. Forward-Looking Statement This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this presentation, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally written in the future tense and/or are preceded by words such as ''may,'' ''will,'' ''should,'' ''forecast,'' ''could,'' ''expect,'' ''suggest,'' ''believe,'' ''estimate,'' ''continue,'' ''anticipate,'' ''intend,'' ''plan,'' or similar words, or the negatives of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. These statements are just predictions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual events or results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: our ability to successfully commercialize Healight Platform Technology, our ability to obtain FDA approval for the Healight Platform Technology, the effectiveness of the Healight Platform Technology in treating patients with COVID-19 or other illnesses, our ability to adequately protect the intellectual property associated with the Healight Platform Technology, regulatory delays, the reliability of the Healight Platform Technology in killing viruses and bacteria, market acceptance of UV based medical devices, risks associated with the our COVID-19 rapid tests including our ability to enforce the exclusivity provisions of the distribution agreements, the reliability of serological testing in detecting COVID-19, shipping delays and their impact on our ability to introduce the COVID-19 rapid tests, the ability of the COVID-19 rapid tests to accurately and reliably test for COVID-19, the manufacturers of the COVID-19 rapid tests' ability to manufacture such testing kits on a high volume scale, manufacturing problems or delays related to the COVID-19 Rapid Test, our ability to satisfy any labelling conditions or other FDA or other regulatory conditions to sell the COVID-19 rapid test kits, the demand or lack thereof for the COVID-19 rapid test kits, our ability to obtain additional COVID-19 rapid tests to meet demand, our ability to secure additional tests if the manufactures of the COVID-19 rapid tests are unable to meet demand, the effects of the business combination of Aytu and the Commercial Portfolio and the recently completed merger ("Merger") with Innovus Pharmaceuticals, including the combined company's future financial condition, results of operations, strategy and plans, the ability of the combined company to realize anticipated synergies in the timeframe expected or at all, changes in capital markets and the ability of the combined company to finance operations in the manner expected, the diversion of management time on Merger-related issues and integration of the Commercial Portfolio, the ultimate timing, outcome and results of integrating the operations the Commercial Portfolio and Innovus with Aytu's existing operations, risks relating to gaining market acceptance of our products, obtaining or maintaining reimbursement by third-party payors for our prescription products, the potential future commercialization of our product candidates, the anticipated start dates, durations and completion dates, as well as the potential future results, of our ongoing and future clinical trials, the anticipated designs of our future clinical trials, anticipated future regulatory submissions and events, our anticipated future cash position and future events under our current and potential future collaboration. We also refer you to the risks described in ''Risk Factors'' in Part I, Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the other reports and documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Contact for Media and Investors: James Carbonara Hayden IR (646) 755-7412 james@haydenir.com Contact for COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test and Healight-Related Inquiries: COVID-19@aytubio.com SOURCE: Aytu BioScience, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/586556/Aytu-BioScience-Announces-Exclusive-Distribution-Agreement-for-COVID-19-IgGIgM-Rapid-Test-with-Singapore-Based-Biolidics-Limited August 15, 1931 - March 12, 2020 Robert Martz was born in Cleveland, Ohio on August 15, 1931. He married Joan (Mary Joan Polivka), also from Cleveland, in 1953. While in the Army, their first child, George, was born, and at only 30 days old, he went to be with the Lord in 1954. When Bob was discharged from the Army, he and Joan headed to Southern California to start a new life. Bob worked in heating and air conditioning for ten years at Hughes Aircraft and twenty-eight years at LAX (Los Angeles International Airport). Their daughter Patti was born in 1955 followed by Robert Jr. in 1956. Shortly before the birth of Mike in 1958, they bought their home in Culver City. In 1960 Ed was born. Bob was very active in the Catholic faith, having his children attend St. Gerard Majella School, serving as an usher during the Mass, in addition to setting up the electrical for the annual summer Carnivals. Bob and Joan were also sponsors of the teen club at the Church. Bob was a Boy Scout Leader for a few years, and spent lots of time with his sons and teen club boys building dune buggies, riding in the desert, and hunting at Doc Sherman's ranch. Every summer he took the family on vacations visiting all the National Parks and Catholic Missions up and down the California Coast. In 1965 they added on to their home giving the house plenty of room for annual New Year's Eve block parties with all the neighbors gathering around the player piano. The house was always filled with kids, neighbor kids, dogs, cats, a duck, a pet rat, lizards, and snakes-everything you can imagine! The years went by and the kids moved out. Bob became captain of the Patom Drive Neighborhood Watch Program. He affectionately became known at "Sweet Old Bob". Bob and Joan enjoyed many vacations-a cruise to Alaska, a trip to the Holy Land, and numerous camping trips with the Elks Lodge and the Camper Club, and several trips to Idaho to see the kids and grandkids. Bob retired from LAX in 1990 and their plans to move to the Northwest were shattered when Joan was diagnosed with Alzheimer's shortly thereafter. On June 24, 2003 they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, and Joan passed away on November 3, 2003. Their children and granddaughter came for the funeral and Joan is interned at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City. Bob remained active in the Culver City Senior Center singing at various nursing homes. He was a Eucharist Minister for Father Martin at St. Gerard's. In 2005 he married Adra and they visited the kids and grandkids several times in Idaho. They became active at St. Augustine's Church, the Daughters of St. Paul Pauline Book Store and Bob became a 4th degree Knight of Columbus. Since November 2019, Bob suffered several strokes and spent the remainder of his life at hospitals and care centers. On March 12, 2020 the Lord took him to heaven. He is survived by his second wife, his four children, two grandchildren, five great-grand children, several nieces and nephews and one sister-in-law. He is preceded in death by his wife of 50 years Joan, his son George, his grandson Joshua (2018), his three brothers and one sister. Due to the coronavirus, services at Holy Cross Cemetery are pending. For updates, feel free to email Bob's daughter, Patti Martz, alpatal@aol.com or call Holy Cross. April 22 (Reuters) - The United Auto Workers (UAW) said late Wednesday discussions are still underway with Detroit's Big Three automakers to safely restart U.S. production halted by the coronavirus pandemic. General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV shut their plants last month as the virus rapidly spread through the United States, but aim to restart at least some U.S. assembly plants by early May. "These talks are fluid and ongoing to ensure safe protocols are followed when the companies reopen," UAW President Rory Gamble said in a statement. Detroit's automakers and the UAW have been engaged in talks since earlier this month, while local union leaders said on Monday that any worker who feels sick must be allowed to self-quarantine without losing pay. A General Motors spokesman said on Wednesday that the company has developed "screening, cleaning and social strategies" for all facilities in line with input from the UAW and guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The safety practices and sick-leave policies the automakers and the UAW agree to would offer a template for auto suppliers and potentially other manufacturing industries. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru, Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips) Seeing Queen Elizabeth II cry in public is nearly impossible. However, there was one time let her guard down when she let go of the most important "travel buddy" she had. Queen Elizabeth II, as the reigning monarch, needs to look firm and staunch all the time as she represents the whole British monarchy. However, royal commentators recently revealed that the Queen failed to control her emotions after she lost "a part of the royal family's memories". During her appearance on the "Royally Obsessed" podcast, royal commentator Rachel Bowie recalled how the decommissioning of the Royal Yacht Britannia caused Her Majesty to weep in public. "I love the use that they got out of it. It was decommissioned in 1997," Bowie said, recalling the time when the beloved Britannia was taken out of service. "I think it was just such a part of so many family memories for the entire royal clan." Built by John Brown & Co, the 44-year-old yacht belonged to her father, King George VI. But when the king found out about his illness, he decided to have Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip oversee and manage the Britannia instead since "he would not be around" anymore to use it. The royal family welcomed the Royal Yacht Britannia on April 16, 1953 -- over a year after King George VI lost his battle against lung cancer -- and commissioned it in January 1954. According to the royal commentator, over 30,000 well-wishers attended the commissioning event in the Clydeside to see Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. "The ceremony actually occurred a month before the Queen's official coronation as monarch on June 2." Bowie said. "The ship itself was commissioned just two days after the death of Queen Elizabeth's father and took over a year to be completed." Queen Elizabeth II, at that time, cracked a bottle of wine and pronounced: "I name this ship Britannia. I wish success to her and all who sail in her." On December 11, 1997, the Queen said goodbye to their then-royal yacht (which was also called as Her Majesty's Yacht Britannia) after its last voyage on October 20 of the same year. On that day as well, royal watchers realized how Her Majesty's heart got broken as she let go of the Britannia which became a witness of many royal gatherings and events. "One final fun fact: the clocks remain stopped at 3:01, the exact time when the Queen embarked for the very last time," Bowie went on. Aside from royal visits abroad, several members of the royal family also used Britannia for their honeymoons -- four honeymoons in the yacht's 44 years of service to be exact. Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong Jones became the first ones to turn it into a honeymoon "destination" followed by Princess Anne and Captain Mark Philips. The latter couple even faced storms that made them seasick. Princess Charles and Princess Diana, as well as Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, also got to spend their time as newlyweds at the yacht. EDWARDSVILLE After about a month of remote learning, Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently released a map to notify the public where drive-up hot spots are in the state for those who do not have access. Pritzker and the Illinois State Board of Education are working to aid those who are impacted by the digital divide. However, Edwardsville School District 7 says it has been doing just fine. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress by the U.S. Census Bureau, District 7 students have a relatively good connection. A total of 6.3 percent of students have no internet connection and 6.5 percent have no access to a computer at all. District 7s percentages are low compared to area districts and the state overall. Collinsville School District 10 sees 7.1 percent of its students have no internet and 13.6 percent do not have access to a computer. Alton School District 11 sees 8.1 percent of its students have no internet and 18.1 percent do not have access to a computer. Overall, internet connection across the state is low in rural or lower-income areas. However, after close to a month in, District 7 Superintendent Jason Henderson says he believes the district has already worked out most of the kinks. I dont mind sharing the hot-spot map, but my guess is at this point most people have either asked for a device from us or are using paper packets instead of electronic methods, he said in an e-mail. Henderson explained that the district has three main methods of helping students who are having trouble with an internet connection. The first is helping parents find companies offering free online services during this time. For those who do not have a computer, the district has helped to get the technology in the students hands by loaning them out. If all else doesnt work, Henderson said students can receive paper copies of work to complete. State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carmen Ayala explained that the drive-up hot spots are to help those who have been impacted by the digital divide, or gap in available services and technology. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the life of every Illinois student but not equally, she said. According to Henderson, overall, there has not been much disruption in getting lessons and course work to students electronically. We have not received many requests for devices or for internet access, and we are working to meet the needs of anyone who contacts us, he said. For those who wish to access the map to find drive-up hotspots, visit: http://illinois.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/ Annual Meeting of Shareholders to take place via webcast CALGARY, Alberta, April 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cenovus Energy Inc. (TSX: CVE) (NYSE: CVE) will release its first-quarter results on Wednesday, April 29, 2020. The news release will provide consolidated first-quarter operating and financial information. Financial statements will be available on Cenovuss website, cenovus.com. A conference call and webcast to discuss the results will be held for the investment community at 9 a.m. MT (11 a.m. ET). To participate, please dial 888-231-8191 (toll-free in North America) or 647-427-7450 approximately 10 minutes prior to the conference call. The conference call webcast link will be available at cenovus.com or via the following URL: https://produceredition.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1291913&tp_key=a7ffb17173 Annual Meeting of Shareholders Cenovuss Annual Meeting of Shareholders (Shareholders Meeting) will be held the same day starting at 1 p.m. MT (3 p.m. ET) in a virtual only format this year due to COVID-19. The webcast link to the Shareholders Meeting will be available at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders page on cenovus.com. For more information on Cenovuss decision to move to a virtual only Shareholders Meeting this year and details about how to participate, see the companys news release dated March 25, 2020. Cenovus Energy Inc. Cenovus Energy Inc. is a Canadian integrated oil and natural gas company. It is committed to maximizing value by sustainably developing its assets in a safe, innovative and cost-efficient manner, integrating environmental, social and governance considerations into its business plans. Operations include oil sands projects in northern Alberta, which use specialized methods to drill and pump the oil to the surface, and established natural gas and oil production in Alberta and British Columbia. The company also has 50% ownership in two U.S. refineries. Cenovus shares trade under the symbol CVE, and are listed on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges. For more information, visit cenovus.com. Find Cenovus on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram. CENOVUS CONTACTS: Investor Relations Investor Relations general line 403-766-7711 Media Media Relations general line 403-766-7751 India's GDP is likely to range between a decline of 0.9 percent and a growth of 1.5 percent in the current financial year, with the economy undergoing a 'turbulent' phase caused by the coronavirus-induced lockdown, according to a report New Delhi: India's GDP is likely to range between a decline of 0.9 percent and a growth of 1.5 percent in the current financial year, with the economy undergoing a "turbulent" phase caused by the coronavirus-induced lockdown, according to a report. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in a paper - A plan for economic recovery - has laid out its growth expectation under three scenarios and suggested "urgent" fiscal interventions. In the baseline scenario, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow at just 0.6 percent on an annual basis as economic activity is expected to remain constrained due to continuing restrictions on the free movement of goods and people beyond the lockdown period. This will lead to disruption in supply chains, slow pick-up in investment activity, labour shortages in the short-run and muted consumption demand on account of reduced household incomes, the industry body said. Click here to follow LIVE updates on coronavirus outbreak In the optimistic scenario, which envisages a faster pick-up post the lockdown period, the GDP is forecast to register a growth of 1.5 percent in the best case. In case of a more prolonged outbreak, where the restrictions in existing hot-spot regions get extended, while new regions are identified as hot-spots leading to intermittent stop and start in economic activity, GDP is likely to decline by -0.9 percent. The urgent fiscal interventions, as suggested by CII should include cash transfers amounting to Rs 2 lakh crore to JAM account holders, in addition to the Rs 1.7 lakh stimulus already announced. CII has also suggested additional working capital limits to be provided by banks, equivalent to the April-June wage bill of the borrowers, backed by a government guarantee, at 4-5 percent interest. In addition, the CII paper has suggested the creation of a fund or SPV with a corpus of Rs 1.5 lakh crore which will subscribe to NCDs/Bonds of corporates rated A and above. The fund can be seeded by the government contributing a corpus of Rs 10,000-20,000 crore, with further investments from banks and financial institutions such as LIC, PFC, EPF, NIIF, IIFCL et al. This will limit Government exposure while providing adequate liquidity to the industry. For MSMEs, CII has suggested a credit protection scheme whereby 75-80 percent of the loan should be guaranteed by RBI, i.e. if the borrower defaults, RBI should buy the loan and repay the bank upto 75-80 percent of the loan, so the risk to the lender is limited. SIDBI could provide the guarantee for loans to industry and trade while NABARD could provide the guarantee for loans to agro-processing sectors. There is no doubt that the economy is going through turbulent times, and India will have to spend, for navigating its way out of the current crisis. At this stage, the government must do whatever it takes to tide over the crisis," CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said. Given the extent of the damage to the economy from the disruption to business, the GDP growth in FY21 will likely be the lowest in many decades," he added. According to him, without an increase in government spending in the near-term to drive an economic recovery, government revenue will dwindle, and high deficits will continue to be a problem in the future. Any significant revival in investment activity is unlikely as capacity utilization levels may remain suboptimal. Consumption demand is likely to remain lacklustre as peoples incomes have been impacted, CII said. On the external front, as economies across the globe continue to struggle with the pandemic, global trade may decline by 13 to 32 percent in 2020, as estimated by the World Trade Organisation. Given the situation, government intervention becomes critical not only to sustain the economy but also to prevent any humanitarian crisis, observed Banerjee. More than a dozen hacker groups backed by foreign governments have targeted US employees with phishing and malware attacks under the cover of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Google security data. Google's Threat Analysis Group said on Wednesday the state-sponsored campaigns to target US government employees with offers of free fast food were among the 18 million attempted scam messages per day related to Covid-19. Meanwhile, nearly 25,000 email addresses and passwords belonging to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the World Health Organisation, the Centse for Disease Control, the National Institutes of Health, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation were leaked online late on Wednesday, according to the SITE Intelligence Group. SITE Intelligence Group Director Rita Katz said on a Twitter thread that the hacked emails were posted to message group 4chan by right-wing extremists. The findings come as the Department of Justice on Wednesday notified domain hosts about hundreds of websites that were attempting to exploit coronavirus fears to scam or compromise network security; with the FBI reporting a 260 per cent increase in daily scams. Google did not specify which foreign governments were behind the recent attacks against US employees. But their team found separate Covid-19 threats targeting health organisations in a manner consistent with the groups Charming Kitten and Packrat, which corroborated recent reports of Iranian influence in attacks against the World Health Organisation. In publishing the findings of the state-sponsored campaigns it had been tracking, the head of Google's Threat Analysis Group, Shane Huntley, said hackers targeted the personal email accounts of US government workers. "Some messages offered free meals and coupons in response to COVID-19, others suggested recipients visit sites disguised as online ordering and delivery options," Mr Huntley said. "We're not aware of any user having their account compromised by this campaign, but as usual, we notify all targeted users with a 'government-backed attacker' warning." Mr Huntley said they were seeing the change in tactics by government-backed groups as hackers experienced productivity lags and issues due to the global lockdowns and quarantine efforts. Google has begun adding extra security protections for more than 50,000 high-risk accounts belonging to public health organisations and agencies becoming new targets as a result of Covid-19. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Centre received 3,600 complaints a day, up from an average 1,000 per day before the pandemic, with scam websites posing as organisations like the American Red Cross offering coronavirus cures and vaccines in an attempt to instal malware. To disrupt the malicious websites, the FBI and Department of Justice are coordinating with the Secret Service, Food and Drug Administration and Postal Inspection Service. "Keeping pace with the growing threat of cyber-enabled COVID-19 scams requires an alliance between the private sector and our law enforcement partners to safeguard our Nation from this sort of nefarious conduct," said US Secret Service Director James M Murray. The government is considering issuing a stronger shutdown request for pachinko parlors as some remain open a in defiance of existing requests by prefectural governors amid the coronavirus outbreak. Experts are extremely concerned about dangers surrounding the current situation, economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told a news conference Tuesday. aWeare preparing to take stronger measures,a he said. The existing business closure requests are based on Article 24 of a special law in the fight against the novel coronavirus. The central government is now looking to beef them up under Article 45 of the same law, while consulting with related local authorities. Under Article 45 of the law, authorities are allowed to make public the names of business operators refusing to meet requests. ISTANBUL Most Turks marked a national holiday under a full lockdown today as the country fights to contain one of the worlds fastest-spreading outbreaks of the novel coronavirus that has infected more than 100,000 people. The countrys death toll from COVID-19 reached 2,491 after 115 people died in the last 24 hours, according to a tweet from Health Minister Fahrettin Koca. Another 3,116 people were diagnosed with the virus, bringing the total cases to 101,790. The number of daily deaths in Turkey has been declining each day since Saturday. Recent figures suggest the rate of transmission appeared to be leveling off in Turkey, the World Health Organization said today, crediting mitigation measures taken by the government. We are cautiously optimistic that the case numbers are stabilizing in Turkey, Catherine Smallwood, a senior WHO emergency officer was quoted as saying by the BBCs Turkish website. The government has opted for rolling lockdowns on weekends and holidays in 31 cities, covering more than three-quarters of the population, rather than order a lengthy and general stay-at-home order in an effort to keep parts of the economy running during the pandemic. A four-day curfew began today to include National Sovereignty and Childrens Day, a public holiday. Koca has said increased testing, which has reached nearly 792,000, and early intervention were the reasons behind Turkeys comparatively low death rate, now 2.4% of all cases, significantly below other countries with high infection rates. Germany, which has been lauded for its containment of the virus, has a death rate of 3.4%. Even amid signs the outbreak is steadying, Turkey now has the seventh most cases of COVID-19 in the world and the most in the Middle East, surpassing Iran, one of the countries hit hard early in the pandemic. More than 2.6 million have contracted COVID-19 worldwide since it officially emerged in China in December. Our data shows we have the epidemic under control, Koca told a news conference late Wednesday. Some 1,800 patients are in intensive care and ICUs are less than 70% full, he said. Fewer than a third of the nations hospital beds are currently in use. Turkish health care workers are still grappling with painful losses, with 24 professionals including 14 doctors succumbing to the disease since April 1, the Turkish Medical Association said. Another 3,474 medical professionals have been diagnosed with COVID-19. The association warned last week a majority of patients who likely died of the disease may not be counted in the death toll because authorities are not using a WHO-recommended code for probable COVID-19 cases with a negative result on a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. But Koca defended the coding choice, saying WHO only introduced the second code two weeks ago for countries that were not conducting the PCR test. He said the number of funerary burials in Istanbul has risen due to a ban on moving bodies to their home provinces during the outbreak. Koca also dismissed as anti-Turkey a New York Times story this week that said a jump in the death rates in March and April suggested Turkey may be underreporting deaths from the coronavirus. If you trust our medical army carrying out this fight, then you know the statistics we share are reliable. If you dont trust them, you wont have faith in the precautions we are insisting upon. Those who shake this trust are wittingly or unwittingly endangering these precautions, he said. A survey by the Istanbul Economy Research showed 62% of respondents do trust the Health Ministrys information and only 45% of Turks believe a curfew is required at this time to combat the virus. Among the measures Turkey has taken to mitigate the outbreak was the release this month of a third of the prison population. The partial amnesty to relieve overcrowded penitentiaries did not apply to dissidents, including Kurdish politician Selahattin Demirtas, who led the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party before he was jailed in 2016 for his political speeches. His wife was quoted today as saying she feared for his life. Demirtas, 47, has undergone surgeries for coronary and respiratory issues and also has blood pressure issues, making him especially vulnerable, Basak Demirtas told a podcast. Even the slightest neglect carries the risk of mortality. When we consider Selahattins chronic ailments under these conditions, unfortunately his life is at risk, she said. In a sign that the governments pressure on the opposition continues during the outbreak, today a prosecutor opened a criminal investigation into Canan Kaftancioglu, the Istanbul chair of the Republican Peoples Party, over her social media posts about a questionable construction project at a luxury villa where a senior adviser to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan resides. The fallout from the virus may be taking a toll on the governments popularity. The Istanbul Economy Research study showed support for Erdogans Justice and Development Party has declined 7 percentage points from its 2018 election victory to 36%. Todays public holiday the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish parliament passed with little fanfare. One event Turks were able to follow online was the flight path of a Turkish Airlines plane that flew over central Turkey, creating the crescent and star from the national flag on flight radar. Friday is the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. Traditional public festivities, such as fast-breaking iftar dinners, will not be held in 11 opposition-controlled cities due to risk of contagion, their mayors said in a statement. The Interior Ministry has already said that large iftar tents will not be erected in city squares. Erdogan has said that Turkey may begin transitioning back to normal at the end of Ramadan, which concludes May 23. At Amazon, Bezos typically gave his priority to projects that addressed a major risk to the business or where he felt he was uniquely qualified to get involved, according to two people familiar with his process, who like others interviewed for this article requested anonymity because they werent authorized to discuss Amazons operations publicly. That meant he was spending more time on fun, futuristic bets. Before the voice assistant Alexa was released, he held several meetings a week to track the products development. He closely followed the cashierless Amazon Go stores. https://www.linkedin.com/company/aureusanalytics/ Aureus Analytics, a global artificial intelligence technology company that provides customer experience solutions to the insurance industry is pleased to announce the launch of its new platform, DONNA. Developed with leading insurance industry experts, DONNA was designed specifically for independent agencies and brokers to improve the customer experience of their policyholders. The SaaS-based AI platform was developed using machine learning, natural language processing, and natural language generation to measure customer sentiment during the customer journey and predict future outcomes. The customer sentiment of every single policyholder is measured using the SentiMeter score. SentiMeter is a standardized metric using a scale of 0 to 100 to measure the customer experience of all policyholders. DONNA connects with agencies applications to provide a 360-degree view of the customer journey based on the combination of unstructured and structured customer interaction data from external and internal data sources. DONNA combines your customers transactional information and communications, and analyzes that data to provide proactive recommendations that help you to understand their actual experience and satisfy their hidden needs, said Frank Sentner, Owner of Sentwood Consulting. In conjunction with its launch, DONNA is now available on the HawkSoft Marketplace. Mutual customers of HawkSofts agency management system and DONNA can integrate the platforms today. This integration will enable agencies to: Improve Customer Experience Improve Customer Loyalty Increase Cross-Sell & Account Rounding Opportunities Increase Retention by 1% - 3% We developed DONNA based on feedback from agencies and brokers we have met with over the past year. It is designed with a sole objective to help agencies deliver better customer experience, thereby building a loyal customer base and developing a high-quality book of business, said Anurag Shah, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Aureus Analytics. DONNA is an example of how expensive and complex artificial intelligence technology, previously only accessible to large players in the insurance industry, is now available to agencies of all sizes. https://www.aureusanalytics.com/donna About Aureus Analytics Founded in 2013 with operations in the United States and India, Aureus is the customer intelligence and experience company that enables insurers to deliver superior customer experience leading to higher customer retention, loyalty, and lifetime value. The AI platform has processed more than 60 million insurance policy data points from customers globally. Follow us on Social Media: LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Budh Nagar district, which has 33 hotspots at present, has developed a master plan to contain coronavirus epidemic, with measures that can last till July-end. A team of top 5 officials of Gautam Budh Nagar (GB Nagar) district has developed 400 beds for the coronavirus patients. The district authorities have also identified 2,000 beds along with ambulances, kits, gloves and other equipment for future use, according to the Hindustan Times report. Narendra Bhooshan, CEO of the Greater Noida authority who is in charge of handling COVID-19 operations in the district said that they have also stocked medicines and other things to tackle the crisis. Bhooshan added the district has the capacity to test at least 980 coronavirus cases daily. The GB Nagar top officials have roped in retired government officials, retired army medical staff, Nehru Youth Centre staff and self-help groups on board. Also read: Coronavirus Live Updates: Haryana announces insurance worth Rs 10 lakh each to journalists; India tally 21,000 "The district is completely ready even if COVID-19 cases keep rising till July-end," Bhooshan told the daily. Bhooshan elaborated on their "2+2+2 strategy" to contain the spread of virus. He said if a patient is confirmed positive, within two hours their staff will identify all contacts of the patient. And two hours later, teams will be at the doors of all the contacts. And, in another two hours, all contacts will either be transported to quarantine or put into isolation while following proper guidelines. The five officials that are at the forefront to fight coronavirus in the district are 3 CEOs from Noida, Greater Noida and Yamuna Expressway industrial authorities, the district magistrate and the police commissioner. The five officials will be assisted by additional CEOs in the three authorities and deputy police commissioners along with the chief medical officer and his staff. On April 22, the Gautam Buddh Nagar administration banned the movement of people between Noida and Delhi, except for those involved in COVID-19-related services and goods transportation. According to District Magistrate of GB Nagar, out of the total 103 cases in both Noida and Greater Noida, 48 have been cured. As of April 22 report, 55 active cases are remaing in the GB Nagar district. Out of total 103 cases in GB Nagar, 48 patients have been cured and discharged. 55 active cases remain. Presently we have 33 hotspots, which are listed below. We shall continue to fight with strong resolve. Stay Home and Stay Safe pic.twitter.com/uiY43LtrX3 DM G.B. Nagar (@dmgbnagar) April 22, 2020 Also read: RBI announces simultaneous open market purchase, sale of govt securities on April 27 If youre under 30, heres a coronavirus-related prediction for your future: Youll cry more than you ever thought possible, and thats a good thing. You might even cry during Sister Act 2. More on that later. A year after she was seriously wounded in the Jonestown massacre in Guyana, Jackie Speier told me about an epiphany she had: She needed to embrace life more. If her years before Jonestown were spent on the typical 20s treadmill school, more school, pressure to get a good job, pressure to move up then 1979 was the year of falling off, brilliantly. It was the year she healed, the year she went whitewater rafting for the first time, the year she pursued joy. The year she opened her eyes. Were not facing the horror that Speier experienced, of course, but this spring is hitting our collective psyche like nothing since World War II. Millions are sacrificing not just soldiers in Vietnam and Afghanistan, not just civilians at the World Trade Center. It might be time for your epiphany. Have you been doing the materialism mambo instead of dancing to your own tune? Are you quarantined with the wrong person or missing the right one? Will you grudgingly admit that being you isnt such a bad thing after all? Maybe its subtle. Its not like Speier spent her next 40 years rolling joints and singing Kumbaya. The Peninsula Democrat still went into politics, and has been in the House of Representatives for over a decade. But the trauma changed her, just as this will change us. If youre under 30, you might have lost a job, or a loved one, or your sense of invulnerability. Even if your only affliction has been boredom, I bet youve developed an appreciation for the simple joy of not coughing. I would have loved that simple joy 26 years ago, when I had pneumonia. Amid two weeks of shivering, sweating and hacking, I watched Sister Act 2 over and over, probably on a VHS tape from Blockbuster. And I cried. Every damn time. I thought Dad was the crier in the family. He was a career naval officer who softened a lot in his 60s, after Mom died. He didnt sob or anything, but would choke up at sentimental stuff in movies, in sports, in life. Touchstone Pictures/ABC Now Sister Act 2 is certainly a cute movie, with three Oscar winners plus Lauryn Hill and Jennifer Love Hewitt (before they were stars), but its no Citizen Kane or Its a Wonderful Life. What it does have are subplots about rebellious teenagers, parental stubbornness and finding happiness. Im sure it would have made Dad cry, except he died the year before it came out. I had become my father, and I couldnt have been prouder. Im not the best source on this this month I found myself tearing up at a Chronicle promotional video but Ive heard from enough friends over 50 to realize that Dad and I have plenty of company. Some women cry more as they get older, too, but the sentimental stuff seems more pronounced among men. I dont let my husband watch Lifetime movies or we will run out of Kleenex, a friend in her 60s told me. A retiree said that he and two firefighter friends noticed it among themselves, but it took us until our 60s to admit it. Back when Speier was on her 20s treadmill, 27-year-old Minnie Riperton had a hit song called Lovin You. One line Stay with me while we grow old, and we will live each day in springtime grew more poignant in a hurry. Nine months after the song hit No. 1, Riperton was diagnosed with breast cancer. She died at 31, never getting a chance to grow old with anyone. She left behind a husband, a son and a 6-year-old daughter, Maya. 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. But heres what brings an old guy to tears 40 years later: Her daughter is Maya Rudolph, the comedian and actress from Saturday Night Live who has brought joy to millions. I keep thinking about how proud her mom would have been. She had only 31 years, but it was a life well lived. Life was brutal and unfair to Speier and Riperton in their 20s, but theres beauty in their stories, too. If youre in your 20s now, youll probably never encounter a crisis like the coronavirus again, but there will be times when life challenges and even overwhelms you, as it does all of us. It will be up to you to find the beauty. Thats when youll need to recall the spring of 2020, and resist the urge to dwell on those people whose hearts went cold years ago. Remember the ones who were heroic and compassionate, those who chose love over greed and empathy over apathy. While youre at it, think about the people who did not die. Some predicted that more than 2 million Americans could perish in the pandemic if nothing was done. But lots of things were done, with the Bay Area leading the way, and now the toll will probably be less than 100,000. You helped save 1.9 million lives. Dont put that on your resume put it in your heart. Coronavirus might have reminded you of your mortality, but those of us over 60 think about it all the time. And if weve been lucky enough to find the right people, we appreciate how fragile life is and how precious good fortune can be. Thats why were moved to tears when good people find happiness even if theyre fictional. So if you watch Crazy Rich Asians or Up or Always Be My Maybe and see Dad or Grandpa crying in the corner, savor the moment. Hes earned it. So have you. Dave Murphy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer who writes the monthly Generations column. Email: dmurphy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @daexmurph Solid first-quarter performance Gross rental income up to 168.1m (+2.4% on a current basis and +3.7% like-for-like) Strong resilience thanks to the centrality strategy High level of operational mobilization faced with the health crisis Regulatory News: Gecina (Paris:GFC): Fundamentals further strengthened Office portfolio located in very low vacancy rates areas, generating like-for-like gross rental income growth of +4.0% (+3.7% for the entire portfolio) located in very low vacancy rates areas, generating (+3.7% for the entire portfolio) Diversified rental base Robust and flexible balance sheet (end-2019: LTV of 34% including duties, 4.5bn of undrawn credit lines covering all debt maturities up to the end-2023) (end-2019: LTV of 34% including duties, 4.5bn of undrawn credit lines covering all debt maturities up to the end-2023) 347m of sales completed or under preliminary agreements in Q1 2020 (4% premium versus the latest appraisals) Subsidiarization of the residential portfolio Creation of a dedicated subsidiary with a portfolio of over 3bn and 107 staff with Contribution approved by the General Meetings of the shareholders and note holders by the General Meetings of the shareholders and note holders Gecina is putting in place a vehicle to help drive the development of its residential rental portfolio Mobilization to support customers Gecina is cancelling the second quarter's rent excluding general expenses and taxes for its very small business tenants whose activities have been shut down following the Government Decree, particularly in retail excluding general expenses and taxes for whose activities have been shut down following the Government Decree, particularly in retail Very small businesses and SMEs from "shut down" sectors represent less than 2% of the commercial rental base Gecina has made commitments to support the most vulnerable companies in its portfolio by responding quickly and deferring rent or setting up monthly instalments on a case-by-case basis, covering nearly 13% of its office rental base to date Mobilization to support the national solidarity effort Student accommodations made available to women victims of domestic violence and healthcare workers and Payments for all its contractors, and service providers in line with the regular timetable The Group is not using so far the business support measures, such as the furlough arrangements, the government-backed loans or the deferral of costs Gecina has responded to the French Government's appeals to moderate dividend policies by reducing its 2019 dividend to 5.30 per share, covering its distribution requirements under the SIIC system The Board of Directors has decided, as proposed by the Chief Executive Officer, to reduce her fixed compensation for 2020 by two months' salary as a solidarity measure during this period. An equivalent amount will be donated to the Gecina Foundation to support charities working to fight against Covid-19 consequences. The same approach has been adopted for Directors' compensation for Board meetings focused specifically on Covid-19. Mobilization to support employees Widespread home-working measures rolled out since the start of the lockdown, without using the furlough arrangements measures rolled out since the start of the lockdown, without using the furlough arrangements 1,000 bonus for building staff and superintendents and student residence managers who are working on the ground for building staff and superintendents and student residence managers who are working on the ground Payment of profit sharing and company performance bonuses Caution needed for the current year The current uncertainty does not make it possible at this stage to accurately determine the consequences of this crisis On March 31, 2020, Gecina suspended its guidance for the year Key figures at end-March 2020 Gross rental income Mar 31, 2019 Mar 31, 2020 Change (%) In million euros Current basis Like-for-like Offices 132.9 136.3 +2.6% +4.0% Traditional residential 26.4 26.4 +0.3% +1.3% Student residences 4.8 5.3 +9.6% +9.0% Total gross rental income 164.1 168.1 +2.4% +3.7% Meka Brunel, Chief Executive Officer: "In an exceptional context with the global outbreak crisis, I am particularly proud of the dedication shown by Gecina's teams to keep the Group's business at the heart of their concerns. Facing this unprecedented turbulence, Gecina's employees are continuing to consider their most vulnerable customers concerns, these very small businesses, particularly in the retail sector, whose reduced financial capacities are making hard to weather the crisis and for which we are granting the cancelation of one quarter's rent. However, in a very uncertain environment, Gecina is demonstrating its resilience, thanks to the strategic choices made in the last few years to realign operations around the Paris Region's most central sectors, as well as the affirmation of our ambition in the residential sector and the proactive and cautious management of our balance sheet. I would also like to pay tribute to the work accomplished by Bernard Carayon, whose term of office as Chairman ended following today's General Meeting. His dedication and his risk management expertise have been valuable. We are delighted that he will be able to continue sharing his expertise with us as a Board Director". Solid performance for the first quarter before Covid-19 The solid performance achieved in the first quarter of 2020 highlights the relevance of the strategic choices made by Gecina in the last few years (realignment around centrality sectors, affirmation of the residential business, active portfolio rotation, value extraction on buildings with strong potential, etc.). However, it is important to note that the performance elements presented in this press release are observed at the end of March 2020 and do not reflect the impacts of Covid-19, since this crisis emerged during the second half of March. The Group has a robust balance sheet, with a loan to value (LTV) ratio of 34% including duties at end-2019 (excluding the sales completed since the start of 2020), further strengthened by its high volume of undrawn credit lines (4.5bn at end-2019), enabling it to cover all the maturities on its loans through to the end of 2023. The Group's access to the short-term debt market has remained satisfactory, enabling it to renew and extend the maturity of its short-term debt. Furthermore, the resilience of the residential and commercial portfolio, which is concentrated in the Paris Region's most central sectors, with over 80% of office rental income generated by key account customers, is a definite asset. Since the French Government's first decisions, Gecina has granted staggered rent payments or monthly instalments to facilitate cash flow management for customers representing nearly 13% of the Group's office rents. This effort by Gecina exceeds the levels requested by the French authorities, since the percentage of very small businesses (businesses with less than 10 staff) whose activity has been shut down in the context of the current health crisis is limited, representing 1% of the total rental base for offices. These very small businesses operating in sectors that have been shut down will see their rents canceled for the second quarter, while their charges and taxes will still be payable. In terms of rent collection, based on the rent due at April 1, excluding the deferrals, monthly instalments and cancelations granted, the recovery rate represents 84% to date. On the same date one year ago, this rate was 91%. In addition, the deliveries of buildings that are currently being developed will logically be deferred as the sites are currently shut down. However, as the current uncertainty does not make it possible at this stage to determine the consequences of this crisis, the Gecina Group suspended its guidance for the year on March 31, 2020. Rental income benefiting from recent deliveries and organic rental income growth, which are offsetting the impact of sales and redevelopments Gross rental income Mar 31, 2019 Mar 31, 2020 Change (%) In million euros Current basis Like-for-like Offices 132.9 136.3 +2.6% +4.0% Traditional residential 26.4 26.4 +0.3% +1.3% Student residences 4.8 5.3 +9.6% +9.0% Total gross rental income 164.1 168.1 +2.4% +3.7% On a current basis, rental income is up slightly, climbing +2.4%, despite the significant impact of sales carried out in 2019 and 2020 (-7m) and the redevelopment projects launched (-2m). As such, this performance primarily reflects the impact of the assets delivered in 2019 (+6m), as well as like-for-like growth (+5m) and the acquisitions made at the end of 2019 and start of 2020 (+2m). Like-for-like, the performance came to +3.7% at end-March 2020. This improvement is linked to an increase in indexation (+1.9%), as well as the positive impact of rental reversion (+0.5%) for both offices (headline reversion of +22%) and residential (+7.2%), and a reduction in rental vacancies (+1.4%). The headline reversion is linked mainly to the fact that renewals and relettings in the first quarter were concentrated primarily in Paris City. Note that this like-for-like performance does not include the impacts of the letting of the assets delivered following redevelopment operations. Including these assets, this rate represents +6.6%. Offices: positive trends for offices in the most central sectors Gross rental income Offices Mar 31, 2019 Mar 31, 2020 Change (%) In million euros Current basis Like-for-like Offices 132.9 136.3 +2.6% +4.0% Paris City 70.5 75.4 +7.0% +2.2% Paris CBD 5-6-7 44.2 44.7 +1.1% +3.1% Paris Other 26.3 30.8 +16.9% +0.4% Western Crescent La Defense 43.5 45.6 +5.0% +8.0% Paris Region Other 13.4 10.7 -20.0% +5.2% Other French regions International 5.6 4.6 -18.0% -1.7% On a current basis, rental income from offices is up +2.6%, despite the high volume of sales carried out in 2019 and the assets transferred to the pipeline. This increase therefore reflects the significant volume of assets delivered in 2019 and the positive organic trends. This performance reflects: Rental income from the buildings delivered recently (+6.0m) : six buildings were delivered, with five in Paris City (fully let) and one in La Defense (Carre Michelet). : six buildings were delivered, with five in Paris City (fully let) and one in La Defense (Carre Michelet). The temporary loss of rent from assets with strong value-creation potential that will be or have been transferred to the pipeline (-2.5m) , including the "Bancelles" building in Paris' central business district. , including the "Bancelles" building in Paris' central business district. The impact of sales of non-strategic or mature assets (-6.6m) , linked primarily to the sales completed in 2019, as well as the sales finalized during the first quarter. of non-strategic or mature assets , linked primarily to the sales completed in 2019, as well as the sales finalized during the first quarter. The rest of the change on a current basis is the result of like-for-like growth and the impact of the acquisitions made. Like-for-like, office rental income is up +4.0% at end-March 2020, benefiting from higher indexation (+2.0%) and rental reversion (+0.5%) reflecting the good level of Gecina's core markets in the last few years, supporting the reversion potential captured in the last few months, secured through renewals, renegotiations and relettings (with a positive incoming-outgoing differential in the central sectors), as well as the positive impact of the reduction in rental vacancies (+1.4%) Rental reversion's contribution is more than twice as high in Paris' CBD than for all the other sectors. Overall, the positive like-for-like trends in Paris City (+2.2%), and especially Paris' CBD (+3.1%), are being driven primarily by rental reversion effects, illustrating the excellent performance by office markets at the heart of Paris, which has offered major reversion potential in the last few years for Paris' best areas. In the Western Crescent, the solid organic growth (+8.0%) is linked primarily to the letting of office space in 2019 for assets that were partially vacant in the first quarter of 2019 (notably Be Issy and Octant-Sextant). For the rest of the Paris Region, the reduced vacancy rate also accounts for the improvement in the rate of like-for-like rental income growth. Residential portfolios: improvement in organic performance For the traditional residential portfolio, rental income is up +1.3% like-for-like. This performance reflects the impact of the strategy rolled out aiming to capture reversion potential and reduce the effects of rental vacancies by accelerating turnaround times for lettings. Since the start of the year, the rent differential secured between new and old tenants came to +7.2%, contributing +0.5% to this portfolio's like-for-like rental performance. Furthermore, indexation came to 1.4% and the change in the vacancy rate did not have any impact on like-for-like performance at end-March. However, a non-recurring adjustment factor reduced the first quarter's organic growth by -0.5%. Restated for this non-recurring adjustment, the like-for-like growth rate for residential rental income represents nearly 2.0%. On a current basis, rental income shows a slight increase, up +0.3%. The impacts of progress with the program launched by the Group in the last few years to sell apartments on a unit basis when they become vacant were offset by the like-for-like performance. Rental income from student residences is up strongly like-for-like (+9.0%), thanks primarily to the improved occupancy rate for the Rose de Cherbourg residence, which was delivered in the second half of 2018 and is now up to cruising speed, as well as the positive reversion achieved. On a current basis, rental income growth came to +9.6%. Group occupancy rate still high The Group's average financial occupancy rate was once again high, coming in at 93.6%, but down -110bp year-on-year linked primarily to the delivery of partially vacant buildings (Carre Michelet) and the sale of fully occupied buildings, offsetting the progress made with letting partially vacant buildings in the first quarter of 2019 (e.g. Be Issy and Octant-Sextant). As a result, the occupancy rate for the office portfolio is down to 93.0%. For the student residence portfolio, the financial occupancy rate is up strongly year-on-year to nearly 94%, linked to the gradual ramping up of two residences delivered recently (notably in Puteaux-La Defense). For the traditional residential portfolio, the financial occupancy rate remained stable overall at a very high level of 97.7% Average financial occupancy rate Mar 31, 2019 Jun 30, 2019 Sep 30, 2019 Dec 31, 2019 Mar 31, 2020 Offices 94.5% 94.4% 94.2% 93.8% 93.0% Traditional residential 97.6% 97.7% 97.7% 97.6% 97.7% Student residences 87.3% 84.9% 85.4% 88.0% 93.9% Other commercial assets 96.4% na na na na Group total 94.7% 94.6% 94.4% 94.1% 93.6% Lettings activity generating significant positive reversion in the most central sectors in the first quarter Since the start of the year, Gecina has let, relet or renegotiated nearly 42,600 sq.m, representing 28m of annualized headline rent, with almost half linked to the pre-letting of part of the Live building in Paris' central business district (CBD). The performance levels achieved once again show a clear rental outperformance for Gecina's preferred sectors and especially Paris City. The headline reversion achieved on relettings, renewals and renegotiations therefore represents +22%. This particularly strong performance is linked in part to the fact that most of these operations were carried out in Paris City. 347m of sales completed or covered by preliminary agreements at end-March, further strengthening the portfolio's quality and centrality Since the start of the year, Gecina has sold or secured sales for 347m, achieving a premium of around +4.3% (excluding preliminary agreements) versus the latest appraisal values, with 304m completed on assets that were already subject to preliminary sales agreements at end-2019 The first quarter's sales include the Le Valmy building (29,500 sq.m), on the border of Paris and Montreuil, and a building on Avenue Pierre 1er de Serbie in Paris' CBD, sold as part of an asset swap to acquire additional units in a jointly-owned building that is now owned by Gecina and also in Paris' central business district. Among the commercial buildings covered by preliminary sales agreements signed in the first quarter, the building at 54/56 avenue du General Leclerc in Boulogne was sold mid-April for nearly 37m, achieving a premium versus its latest free appraisal values. Gecina's General Meetings approve the launch of the subsidiarization of the residential portfolio The General Shareholders' Meeting, held as a closed session on April 23, 2020, and the General Meetings for note holders (held on March 23 and April 7, 2020) ratified all the resolutions relating to the proposed contribution enabling the subsidiarization of Gecina's residential portfolio. Gecina is therefore effectively positioned to move forward with its residential strategy in order to better satisfy the needs for housing, flexibility and services, while responding to key environmental and societal stakes, by developing a responsible, quality rental offering aimed at middle-class households. Today, the Group is therefore positioned to capitalize on potential investment opportunities in order to achieve major synergies and launch new investments in sectors with strong value creation potential in the Paris Region or certain leading French cities that meet Gecina's requirements in terms of financial performance and operational risk. Gecina governance changes Jerome Brunel appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors, replacing Bernard Carayon Bernard Carayon's term of office ended at the General Meeting held on April 23 as he had reached the age limit set by the bylaws. Mr Carayon will continue to be a Group Director. The General Meeting also ratified Mr Jerome Brunel's appointment as a Gecina Director, while the Board of Directors appointed him as Chairman of the Board of Directors from today. Jerome Brunel's expertise, particularly in terms of governance, CSR and public affairs, represents a significant asset, complementing the expert capabilities that are already in place within Gecina's Board of Directors. The Board of Directors now has 11 members, including seven independent Directors. Creation of two new committees on CSR and Compliance and Ethics As recommended by the Governance, Appointments and Compensation Committee, the Board of Directors has also decided to create two new Committees, alongside the Audit and Risks Committee, the Governance, Appointments and Compensation Committee and the Strategic and Investment Committee: A Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Committee A Compliance and Ethics Committee The creation of the CSR Committee illustrates Gecina's strong commitment to playing a major and increased role within the community on CSR issues. The creation of the Compliance and Ethics Committee will enable Gecina to ensure its compliance with regulations, as well as anti-corruption standards and market best practices. Gecina suspended its guidance on March 31, 2020 in the context of uncertainty linked to the effects of Covid-19 Although it is too early to accurately estimate the operational impacts linked to this crisis, the Group benefits from a certain number of key strengths that enable it to be confident that it will be able to cope with the potential short or medium-term consequences of this crisis. More specifically, Gecina has a robust balance sheet, with a loan to value (LTV) ratio of 34% (including duties) at end-2019, further strengthened by its high volume of undrawn credit lines (4.5bn at end-2019), enabling it to cover all the maturities on its loans through to the end of 2023, and it remains confident about the relative resilience of its residential and commercial portfolio, which is concentrated in the Paris Region's most central sectors, with over 80% of office rental income generated by key account customers. However, faced with the current uncertainty, which does not make it possible at this stage to accurately determine the consequences of this crisis, the Gecina Group suspended its guidance for 2020 on March 31. Gecina, at the heart of urban life Gecina owns, manages and develops property holdings worth 20 billion euros at end-2019. As a specialist for centrality and uses, the Group is building its business around Europe's leading office portfolio, with nearly 97% located in the Paris Region, and a diversification division with residential assets in particular. Gecina has put sustainable innovation at the heart of its strategy to create value and anticipate the expectations of around 100,000 customers and end users, thanks to the dedication and expertise of its staff, who are committed to an understated, fluid and inclusive city. To offer its customers high-quality services and support their changing needs, Gecina has launched YouFirst, its relational brand. Gecina is a French real estate investment trust (SIIC) listed on Euronext Paris, and is part of the SBF 120, CAC Next 20, CAC Large 60, Euronext 100, FTSE4Good, DJSI Europe and World, Stoxx Global ESG Leaders and Vigeo indices. In line with its community commitments, Gecina has created a company foundation, which is focused on protecting the environment, supporting all forms of disability, preserving heritage and facilitating access to housing for as many people as possible. www.gecina.fr View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005826/en/ Contacts: GECINA Financial communications Samuel Henry-Diesbach Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 52 22 samuelhenry-diesbach@gecina.fr Virginie Sterling Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 62 48 virginiesterling@gecina.fr Press relations Julien Landfried Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 65 74 julienlandfried@gecina.fr Armelle Miclo Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 51 98 armellemiclo@gecina.fr TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2020 / Matica Enterprises Inc. (CSE:MMJ) (Frankfurt:39F) (OTCQB:MMJFF) ("Matica" or the "Company") today announced that it will be delaying the filing and delivery of certain of its continuous disclosure documents, in accordance with Ontario Instrument 51-502 Temporary Exemption from Certain Corporate Finance Requirements of the Ontario Securities Commission (the "Blanket Exemption Order") which was adopted for the purpose of providing certain filing and other relief to issuers in light of the challenges posted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company is relying on the Blanket Exemption Order in delaying (i) the filing of its annual consolidated financial statements and related management discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2019 (collectively, the "Required Annual Filings"), (ii) compliance with the delivery requirements of applicable securities laws relating to the Required Annual Filings, and (iii) the filing of the business acquisition report with regard to the closing of the Company's acquisition of a 70% equity interest in RoyalMax Biotechnology Canada Inc. The officers and directors of the Company and certain other persons will remain subject to a trading black-out pursuant to which such persons are prohibited from trading in any securities of the Company until the end of the second full trading day following the day on which the Required Annual Filings are filed on SEDAR and a corresponding news release is issued by the Company. The Company currently intends to make the Required Annual Filings and to file the business acquisition report by May 31, 2020. About Matica Matica is a multi-faceted, innovative company in the Quebec cannabis space. Its subsidiary, RoyalMax Biotechnology Canada Inc. is a Dorval, Quebec based Health Canada Licence Holder. RoyalMax has been granted a standard cultivation licence, standard processing and medical sales licences by Health Canada. For more information on Matica Enterprises please visit the website at: www.maticaenterprises.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors MATICA ENTERPRISES INC. Boris Ziger Boris Ziger, CEO & Chairman The Company's public filings are available for review at www.sedar.com and www.thecse.com. For further information, please contact Boris Ziger, at: Telephone: 416-304-9935 E-mail: info@maticaenterprises.com Website: www.maticaenterprises.com, www.maticammj.com Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. The Corporation assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward looking-statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to the Corporation. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in the Corporation's filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com. This news release contains statements about the Company's information that may be made available on the S&P Capital IQ Corporation Records Listing Program and the business of Matica that are forward-looking in nature and as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them as actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, except as required by law. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. We seek Safe Harbor. SOURCE: Matica Enterprises Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/586610/Matica-Announces-Delayed-Filing-of-Annual-Disclosure-Documents-Pursuant-to-OSC-Blanket-Instrument-51-502 Calif. judge rejects pastors' exemption request to hold in-person church services Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A federal judge has rejected a request by three pastors and a church attendee to give them an exemption to a state of California order banning in-person worship services to curb the spread of COVID-19. U.S. District Judge Jesus Bernal in Los Angeles decided on Wednesday to reject a request for a temporary restraining order against California to exempt three churches from Gov. Gavin Newsom's executive order. At the end of an hour-long hearing, Bernal argued that the state of emergency brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic overruled the religious liberty protections of the First Amendment. During the state of emergency the executive powers are in effect, in that they are empowered to provide for emergency remedies which may infringe on fundamental constitutional rights, Bernal said, according to The Associated Press. Harmeet Kaur Dhillon of the Center for American Liberty, which is helping to represent the churches, took issue with the denial of the temporary restraining order. Count on more restrictions on all your civil rights in California with no end in sight, if this is the reasoning courts will be applying, she wrote on Twitter. at least California was forced in this lawsuit to admit that socially distanced worship in drive-up service settings was permissible, which is a big improvement over the status quo for the past 6 weeks. Earlier this month, Wendy Gish, a member of Shield of Faith Family Church in Fontana; Patrick Scales, pastor of Shield of Faith; James Dean Moffatt, senior pastor at Church Unlimited of Indio, and Brenda Wood, senior pastor at Word of Life Ministries International of Riverside, filed a lawsuit against California over its stay-at-home order. A major point of contention was Newsoms executive order that compelled California residents to stay home or at their place of residence except for essential activities. While the State Public Health Office later released a document exempting several activities, in-person religious services were not listed. this list prohibits all religious leaders from conducting in-person and out-of-home religious services, regardless of the measures taken to reduce or eliminate the risk of the virus spreading, read the complaint. Meanwhile, the list deems the continuity of services provided by coffee baristas, burger flippers, and laundromat technicians to be so necessary for society that these activities are permitted to continue under the State Order, despite the existence of the very same risk Defendants rely on to stymie the exercise of fundamental rights, the complaint added. In addition Newsom and Attorney General Xavier Becerra, the suit also named multiple local officials as defendants, including San Bernardino County Public Health Officer Erin Gustafson. Deborah Fox, an attorney for Gustafson, argued that in-person worship was not comparable to the other exempted activities, given its communal environment. You cant sit in a McDonalds and have a burger and fries, said Fox, the Los Angeles Times reported. You cant sit in Starbucks with a coffee and read The New York Times. An astronaut always craves to witness a rare phenomenon in the universe which can open new gates for further research. Black holes have been one such mysterious phenomenon. Be it the time when it was mentioned by Albert Einstein, explained by Stephen Hawking or its first observation in 2019, black holes never cease to amaze. One of the latest yet rare observation is a merger of two black holes, captured by the scientists from the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) and Virgo interferometer in Pisa, Italy. The news about the black hole merger was first shared on April 18 at the online meeting of the American Physical Society. LIGO is a pair of twin detectors, which are based in Hanford, Washington, and Livingston, Louisiana. The event, identified as GW190412, has also been explained in a video. The findings were published in arvix journal. According to the information shared in the findings, the event GW190412 took place about 1.9 to 2.9 billion light-years away from Earth. The two black holes weighed approximately 8 and 30 Solar masses. The rare event has opened new doors for the study on the black holes, their merger and gravitational waves. In a press release, Frank Ohme, the leader of the Independent Max Planck Research Group, said, For the very first time we have heard in GW190412 the unmistakable gravitational-wave hum of a higher harmonic, similar to overtones of musical instruments. These observations once again prove the theory of General Relativity proposed by Einstein. COVID-19 death rates may be up to 80 per cent higher in rural communities because they are home to more elderly people, scientists say. Millions of elderly people, who are at higher risk of serious complications or death if they catch the coronavirus, live in the countryside and outside of cities. If the deadly illness spreads in those areas, the consequences could be 'devastating', according to an analysis by experts at the University of St Andrews. Welsh, Gaelic and Cornish-speaking communities - known to have relatively older populations - would fare the worst, the team warned. So far Birmingham and London have been the hardest hit by the virus. Experts say this is because the cities are so densely populated. But there are pockets of high cases in rural areas nationwide, including in the south-east of England and West Midlands. COVID-19 death rates may be up to 80 per cent higher in rural communities because they are home to more elderly people, scientists say. High-risk communities are concentrated in large areas of south-west England, coastal communities of east and south-east England, north Wales, northern England, southern Scotland and the north-west Highlands Death rates from Covid-19 could be between 50 and 80 per cent higher in rural communities, scientists say. Projected high death rates are coloured in red, and low in blue Official data and studies show that hospital admissions and deaths from COVID-19 show a distinct age pattern. Those in their 80s have the lowest chance of surviving the virus, and fatalities are very low in people below the age of 30. It explains why countries like Italy - which has a much older population - have a high mortality rate. More than 25,000 people have died of COVID-19 in Italy. Very few people under 50 years old need critical care or are expected to die from the virus. More than 70 per cent of critical care cases or deaths are in those over the age of 70. In the UK, research has shown young and old people tend to reside in completely different areas, the team at University of St Andrews said. The 10 local authorities with the highest percentage of the population aged 65 years and over are on the coast, according to the Office for National Statistics. WHAT IS THE PREDICTED DEATH RATE IN DIFFERENT AREAS? England and Wales Large urban area like London: 1% City or town like Cardiff: 1.27% Rural town and fringe: 1.57% Rural village: 1.64 - 1.85% Scotland Large urban area like Glasgow or Edinburgh: 1% Small town like Perth: 1.27% Remote small town: 1.47% Very remote and rural: 1.55% Advertisement Five of those are in the south-west region of England, where more than a fifth of the population are aged over 65 years, including West Somerset and Hampshire. Of the 10 local authorities with the youngest population, nine are in the Greater London region, where less than 11 per cent of the population are aged 65 years. Similar trends are also seen for those aged 85 years and over. A higher mortality rate is expected in areas that are home to the most pensioners. Official data on how many people die of COVID-19 in each age bracket was applied to each area's population. This gave the researchers an idea of the fatality rate in any given location, if the coronavirus was to spread there. The team assumed a worst case scenario that 60 per cent of 66.6million Britons will be infected - just under 40million people. If there was a death rate of one per cent, the UK is expected to observe somewhere in the region of 400-500,000 deaths. The figure is similar to estimates by Imperial College London, whose bleak warning of 510,000 deaths without controlling the epidemic led to the lockdown. It may sound like a huge number of deaths, but the team assumed many people will be infected by the virus in the long-term. This could either be in the first wave, which Britain is currently experiencing, or with subsequent waves which are likely to follow within the next year. By reducing the infection rate to 40 or 20 per cent of the population, the projected number of deaths in the UK will be 320,000 and 160,000, accordingly. In any scenario, there are differences in how many of the infected population die depending on where they live. By country, Wales has a 12 per cent higher death rate than England, Scotland three per cent and Northern Ireland has nine per cent lower rate. Scotland and Wales' populations are older, whereas Northern Ireland has a higher proportion of younger people. Despite rural areas being more isolated, and people living further apart from one another, the virus has potential to do more damage if it starts spreading there. The team assumed the fatality rate in rural English or Welsh village would be 1.85 per cent compared to 1 per cent in a large city and any surrounding towns. In Scotland, a very remote rural area would have a fatality rate of 1.55 per cent compared to its most urban area, with 1 per cent. Professor Hill Kulu, who co-authored the study with his colleague Peter Dorey, said: 'If the pandemic is to last long and the virus is to spread to all areas of the UK, remote small towns and rural communities are projected to have 50 per cent to 80 per cent higher death rates than the main cities because of their old population composition. 'Remote location may offer a protection from COVID-19 to some areas but if the virus is to spread to these communities the effects will be devastating.' High-risk and vulnerable communities are concentrated in large areas of south-west England, the team warned. They are also found in coastal communities of east and south-east England, north Wales, northern England, southern Scotland and the north-west Highlands. The team assumed the fatality rate in rural English or Welsh village would be 1.85, compared to 1 in a large city and any surrounding towns. In Scotland, a very remote rural area would have a fatality rate of 1.55 compared to its most urban area, with 1 Central and north Wales would have more deaths. Pictured, Wales Remote communities such as those in the north-west Highlands were identified as high risk The research estimated high fatality rates in large areas of south-west England, particularly in Devon, Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset. Central and north Wales would have more deaths, as well as Cumbria, Northumbria and North Yorkshire in northern England. The researchers said it was 'interesting' that expected death rates are also high in some coastal areas of east and south-east England, like Norfolk and Sussex, where the population is particularly older. CORONAVIRUS KILLING VICTIMS UP TO 13 YEARS BEFORE THEIR TIME Coronavirus is killing people more than a decade before they would have died naturally, according to a study. Men who die of COVID-19 are losing, on average, 13 years of their lives, scientists say, while women have 11 years cut off their life expectancy. The disease, which has hospitalised more than 100,000 people in the UK, is having a devastating impact comparable to heart disease, the scientists said. The research was done by Public Health Scotland and experts at the universities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. It flies in the face of authorities' focus on the 'underlying health conditions' of most of the people dying of COVID-19. And it goes against claims many of the victims are people who were likely to have died anyway. Office for National Statistics data shows that most people dying in the UK are aged between 75 and 84. The Scottish research argues that many of those could have expected years or even more than a decade more life if they hadn't caught the virus. Even people with long-term illnesses - known as morbidities - are having their lives cut short by many years, they said. Their research was based on a study of COVID-19 patients in Italy and a sliding scale devised by the World Health Organization that is used to calculate how many years of life people lose to illness. Advertisement In Scotland, fatality rates are high in southern Scotland - Dumfries and Galloway, South Ayrshire, and Scottish Borders. In north-west Scotland, the Highlands and Islands would have high fatalities - apart from the main urban area, Inverness. Professor Kulu said: 'Overall, the areas with high and low fatality rates tend to cluster because of the high residential separation of different population age groups in the UK.' Meanwhile in cities London, Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow and Edinburgh, there was a low projected fatality rate because these are all areas with a relatively young population. There were still pockets of areas within cities which had higher death rates. For example this was seen in several boroughs on the edge of London, including Bromley and Croydon in the south, Havering in the east and Barnet in the north. Professor Kulu added: 'The COVID-19 pandemic may also have long-term socio-cultural effects. 'The Welsh, Gaelic and Cornish-speaking communities with relatively old populations are likely to experience heavy population losses if the virus spreads widely across the UK.' The authors wrote: 'Clearly, the results could be used by the NHS to plan resource allocation if the pandemic is to last long and the virus is to spread to all corners of the UK.' They noted that their findings are based on the assumption that infection rate will be the same across regions, which research has shown is unlikely. Their paper was published on the website medRxiv and has not been critiqued by other scientists. A total of 18,783 people have died of COVID-19, 616 of which were announced by the Department of Health today. Another 4,583 people have tested positive for the virus in the past 24 hours, meaning 138,078 have now been officially diagnosed. The Government had hoped to keep the number of victims to 20,000 or lower but recent trends suggest the UK will hit that by Sunday counting hospital deaths alone. Data is increasingly showing huge numbers of people are dying in care homes but, in Britain, not being counted until a fortnight later. World Health Organization research has found half of all COVID-19 deaths are happening in nursing homes. The average number of people an individual comes into contact with each day has dropped by 73 per cent since the UKs lockdown began, a study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine found. 'This would be sufficient to reduce R0 from a value from 2.6 before the lockdown to 0.62 during the lockdown, indicating that physical distancing interventions are effective,' the researchers theorised. [April 23, 2020] Business Reporter: Building a Better Supply Chain to Meet Consumer Demand Many businesses see their supply chains as a necessary evil. But by redesigning them to suit their needs, they can become an enabler for growth, not a burden LONDON, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether you're shopping for fashion, electronics or groceries, it's always frustrating when you can't find what you're looking for. And it can be just as frustrating for businesses facing market volitility being at mercy of weaknesses in their supply chains. With today's customers expecting to get what they want when they want, companies can often struggle to meet demand. Indeed, many businesses are ill equipped to do so, with some even larger ones still running their supply chains on Excel spreadsheets. Mikkel Rasmussen, Head of Supply Chain Services, Europe at international logistics firm Maersk, believes it's time companies looked at their supply chains as an enabler for growth, rather than just a burden on their bottom lines. In a video from Business Reporter, he explains that there are two main reasons companies can struggle to bridge the gap between customer demand and logistics: a misalignment between functions, and a lack of end-to-end visibility. Companies can often be their own worst enemies too. "If you look at the way in which companies are organised, sometimes they have competing objectives between different departments," Rasmussen points out. But there are solutions available if firms are willing to look beyond their preconceptions about supply chains. Modern supply chains need to be agile, in order to cope with external factors such as trade wars, for example. They also need to be able to accurately interpret huge volumes of data in a meaningful way, to help them cut through the noise and enable good deision-making. Speed and flexibility are also factors some firms might want to be able to move goods faster, while others will want to secure the right level of inventory based on their selling cycles. "With some customers it's all about being fast, with others it's about having the right level of inventory," explains Rasmussen. Maersk operates some of the most complex supply chains in the world, and, says Rasmussen, the first port of call when overhauling a customer's supply chain is to start with the customer experience. "We start with the promise you have made as a customer to your consumer," he explains. "And then we work backwards from there to design and supply a supply chain that meets those needs. For us, it's all about making sure we're clear on your outcomes and building a supply chain that supports them." "The customer journey is becoming more and more complex," says Rasmussen. "We want to have choice wherever we are serviced, and we want to make sure we are getting things delivered in the way we find most optimal." Changing consumer demand has had an enormous impact on supply chain operation. But if companies start to look critically at how they organise their supply chains, they'll find they can be an asset, not a burden and there is help out there. To learn more about Maersk's supply chain solutions, click here Notes for editors This press release has been provided by Business Reporter (www.business-reporter.co.uk). About Business Reporter Business Reporter is distributed with The Daily Telegraph, The Sunday Telegraph and City AM, with each publication reaching an average of 1.5 million people. Content is also published through the Business Reporter and teiss websites, which include video debates, online articles and digital magazines, delivering news and analysis on the issues affecting businesses to a global audience. Business Reporter also hosts conferences, breakfast meetings and exclusive summits, events which bring together some of the most influential decision makers and innovators in modern business. These exclusive events for business leaders give Business Reporter direct contact with readers and help to inform the content and direction of its editorial projects. Business Reporter is committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and was the first UK member of the UN SDG Media Compact. We have launched a website dedicated to showcasing the work of companies towards these goals at 17globalgoals.com. Business Reporter is committed to providing meaningful analysis to everyone in business. Whether you're running a small business, the head of a local company or an executive in a multinational corporation, there's something for you at Business Reporter. www.business-reporter.co.uk About Maersk A.P. Moller Maersk is an integrated container logistics company connecting and simplifying trade to help our customers grow and thrive. With a dedicated team of over 76,000, operating in 130 countries, we go all the way to enable global trade for a growing world. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By Tim Krochak SHUBENACADIE, Nova Scotia (Reuters) - Canadian police faced mounting criticism on Wednesday for using social media and not a provincial emergency alert system to notify the public that a gunman was at large for some 13 hours after he murdered the first of his 22 victims over the weekend. During the worst mass shooting in the country's history, the Nova Scotia provincial detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) sent a series of tweets to about 90,000 followers warning that there was an active shooter in the area. But some of the families and friends of the victims said a provincial warning system, which would have sent out text, radio and TV warnings, might have saved the lives of their loved ones. "I don't use Twitter, and I don't know anyone that does use Twitter," Nick Beaton said in an interview broadcast by CTV News. Beaton's wife, Kristen, a nurse and mother from Debert, was shot dead on Sunday while on her way to work. Beaton said he would have never let his wife leave the house that morning had he known the gunman was still at large. Nova Scotia RCMP Chief Superintendent Chris Leather defended the use of social media on Wednesday, saying he was "very satisfied" with the messaging, which he said the media helped spread, and that the "communications being provided were the best and clearest information that could be provided." Police were in the process of preparing to use the emergency alert system when the gunman was shot and killed by police, Leather said. The shooter, 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman, began the rampage on Saturday night which continued in several small Nova Scotian towns and ended around noon on Sunday. Wortman's motive remains unknown. Police have said some of his victims were known to him, but others appear to have been chosen randomly. Police are still piecing together the timeline of events, Leather said, adding more details could come on Thursday. Wortman did not possess a firearms license in Canada, he said. Story continues Police set up two barriers around the initial crime scene in Portapique on Saturday night, but they did not realize until between 7 and 8 o'clock the next morning that the shooter had disguised himself as an RCMP officer and was driving a vehicle resembling a police car. There are 22 confirmed victims, but police have cautioned they are still investigating crime scenes, including more than five homes Wortman burned to the ground. Meghan Nearing, a resident of the area where many of Wortman's victims lived, was home with her son on Saturday night and heard about the shootings, but did not know the gunman was still active when she woke up the next morning. "There was nothing, no alert, so I thought everything was OK," she told Reuters, speaking not far from where RCMP Constable Heidi Stevenson was shot and killed by Wortman on Sunday. "Little did I know he was in my town when I was thinking that." (Reporting by Tim Krochak in Shubenacadie, Nova Scotia; Writing by Moira Warburton and Steve Scherer; Editing by Bill Berkrot and Matthew Lewis) As domestic violence continues to escalate during the novel coronavirus pandemic, Houston and Texas leaders are taking action to support efforts to save victims lives. Reports of aggravated family assaults increased by 158 percent in Harris County from February to March, when Houstonians began to self-quarantine to slow the spread of COVID-19, according to law-enforcement officials. In March, deputies responded to a total of 1,558 reports of domestic violence, according to the Harris County Sheriffs Office. Calls to the Houston Area Womens Center emergency hotline have increased by 40 percent since the pandemic, according to its President and CEO Emilee Dawn Whitehurst. Of those calls, a higher percentage than usual have been requests for emergency shelter, said Whitehurst. They want a way out, said Whitehurst. We cant let innocent women die. The City of Houston announced Tuesday it is partnering with advocacy groups and law-enforcement agencies to provide more resources to victims. The new partnership has launched a city-wide awareness initiative to reach vulnerable populations and provide resources for victims, as well as provide hotel vouchers to shelters at capacity. A new website, nocovidabuse.org, compiles resources for victims and those who are concerned about their safety. And 750,000 fliers will be distributed in English and Spanish to help educate the public about domestic violence. COVID-19s impact is being felt most by those who are vulnerable, including victims of domestic violence and human trafficking, said Mayor Sylvester Turner at a press conference. We know reports of violence have increased as victims are homebound with their abusers. Were working to keep everyone safe with social distancing, but we recognize that home is not always safe for everyone. A $50,000 grant from Uber will help fund the effort. The ride share company also said it would provide free rides to victims of domestic violence and human trafficking in an effort to help those in danger more easily leave an abusive home. At the state level, Gov. Greg Abbotts office moved to make a one-time emergency waiver of a requirement that advocacy organizations that receive federal grants contribute up to 25 percent of their own funds back to the federal programs. The waiver will provide relief to 600 Texas organizations in Texas that receive grants from the federal Violence Against Women Act, allowing them to use their funding to address more pressing needs posed by COVID-19. Domestic violence agencies can now move forward with confidence that their live-saving services do not hinge on this administrative requirement, said Texas Council on Family Violence CEO Gloria Aguilera Terry. The nonprofit, which works with a network of advocacy groups in Texas, recently held a meeting with U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and 14 other advocacy groups to address what agencies need to meet growing demands for service. After consulting with advocates, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (TX-10) wrote to Vice President Mike Pence to request he encourage Americas hotels to open rooms for victims who need shelter. The increase in family violence has been seen all over the world since COVID-19. The U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres said there has been a horrifying global surge in domestic violence. Before the pandemic, Houston had a higher rate of intimate partner killings than the national average. After Hurricane Harvey, there was a 45 percent increase in fatal domestic violence in counties impacted by flooding. Advocates said they knew the pandemic would spur an uptick in violence and prepared for it with lessons learned from the last disaster that upended life in Houston. Were doing something different this time because we know better, Whitehurst said of officials response to the COVID-19 spike. Whitehurst addressed victims directly during Tuesdays press conference, ensuring them that they have a safe place to go. We know that you may be living in a silent hell and we want you to know that were here for you, said Whitehurst. Our shelter is open and our dedicated team of counselors and advocates are here for you. Shelters are following CDC guidelines and practicing social distancing, she said. Administrators are checking staff and residents temperatures, cleaning regularly and using masks. Advocates fear there has been underreporting of domestic violence, despite the increase in calls. Challenges like a lack of privacy, no contact with people who would see signs of abuse and no access to communication channels may prevent victims from getting help. If youre in an abusive situation, I want you to plan for your safety, she said. It can save your life and your childrens lives. hannah.dellinger@chron.com President demanded the director of centres for disease control walk back his warning about a possible second wave of coronavirus. US President Donald Trump has dismissed the possibility of a severe, second wave of coronavirus infections later in the year. During a press briefing, he seemed to once again contradict his own health officials. He also officially signed an executive order suspending immigration for 60 days, something Trump says will safeguard jobs. Al Jazeeras Mike Hanna reports from Washington, DC. Appliance and electronics lender Radio Rentals will permanently shut all shop locations across Australia and make approximately 300 staff redundant, marking the first major retail casualty of the coronavirus crisis. In a statement on Thursday morning, ASX-listed parent company Thorn Group told investors its 62 Radio Rental stores and selected warehouses would stay closed permanently, blaming the "coronavirus-driven downturn in the retail sector". Radio Rentals stores will permanently shut due to a coronavirus-induced downturn. Credit:Lisa Iley The news prompted a huge 30 per cent spike in the value of Thorn's shares, which traded at 10 cents around midday as investors reacted positively to the removal of the loss-making stores. Thorn, which also operates a separate business finance arm, plans to transform the Radio Rentals brand into a purely online business and focus on enhancing its existing online platform. NEW YORK, April 23, 2020is hosting a series of complimentary webinars that share valuable insight from industry leaders and Aviation Week editors on how to grapple with the COVID-19 crisis and what's next for aviation MRO. The webinars are both interactive, offering participants the opportunity to learn and share knowledge, and on demand, allowing viewers to access after the air date. The week of April 27 features five new webinars outlined below: Assessing the Challenges of Lease Returns, Tuesday, April 28, 9 a.m. EDT Click here to register. A Continuation of Consolidation? Wednesday, April 29, 9 a.m. EDT Click here to register. Rapid Sustainment in the COVID-19 Era - Maintaining Collaboration, Wednesday, April 29, 2 p.m. EDT, Click here to register. Liquidity of MROs, Thursday, April 30, 9 a.m. EDT Click here to register. Airline Panel - Risk Strategies and Returning To Service, Thursday, April 30, 10:30 a.m. EDT Click here to register. Recent webinars include MRO Compliance During COVID-19; COVID-19, Airbus & Boeing: How Bad will it Get? and MRO & COVID-19: Dealing with Parked or Idle Aircrafts and Engines. These and more can and be accessed on demand here. A full list of webinars and speakers can be found here. "Aviation Week Network events have always offered the best opportunities for industry networking, learning about the latest technologies and developments, sharing knowledge and making contacts," said Lydia Janow, Managing Director, Events, Aviation Week Network. "During this time, we want to ensure that we continue to offer these interactive opportunities and share information that is relevant to what our industry is facing right now." ABOUT AVIATION WEEK NETWORK Aviation Week Network is the largest multimedia information and services provider for the global aviation, aerospace, and defense industries, serving 1.7 million professionals around the world. Industry professionals rely on Aviation Week Network to help them understand the market, make decisions, predict trends, and connect with people and business opportunities. Customers include the world's leading aerospace manufacturers and suppliers, airlines, airports, business aviation operators, militaries, governments and other organizations that serve this worldwide marketplace. Aviation Week Network's portfolio delivers award-winning journalism, data, intelligence and analytical resources, world-class tradeshows and conferences, and results-driven marketing services and advertising. Our principle is helping our customers succeed. Aviation Week Network is part of Informa Markets, a division of Informa PLC. ABOUT INFORMA MARKETS Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio is comprised of more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion & Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. We provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, specialist digital content and actionable data solutions. As the world's leading exhibitions organiser, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year. For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com. The big thing for me was not thinking of a recipe as just the ingredients but also the dilution, aeration and temperature, said Mr. Peterson, who went to culinary school and has degrees in physics and engineering. Thats the big difference between drinks at a bar and drinks at home. The idea for a take-home cocktail cube had percolated when Castalia first opened, but the couple were so focused on getting people in the bar that they didnt have time for extraneous products. Now they are making and selling out of 750 cubes every weekend. They would do more, but they are limited to the space in their home freezer. I take solace in doing stuff, Mr. Peterson said. Experiment with what you know. Some businesses find themselves in a position to help fight the pandemic. Distilleries like Cathead Distillery in Jackson, Miss., are converting production to hand sanitizer, while apparel companies, like Simms Fishing Products in Bozeman, Mont., are making hospital gowns. Still others are making masks. But all that product has to find its way to hospitals and homeless shelters. Thats where Garry Cooper comes in. His Chicago technology firm, Rheaply, specializes in connecting resources to the people who need them to reduce waste and overbuying. He normally works with universities, government agencies and the worlds largest companies to help them better manage their inventories. When the pandemic broke out, he realized that there was no single place to go to find out who needed what and who had it. Pharming definition A pharming attack tries to redirect a website's traffic to a fake website controlled by the attacker, usually for the purpose of collecting sensitive information from victims or installing malware on their machines. Attackers tend to focus on creating look-alike ecommerce and digital banking websites to harvest credentials and payment card information. [ Check out these 11 phishing prevention tips for best technology practices, employee education and social media smarts. | Get the latest from CSO by signing up for our newsletters. ] These attacks manipulate information on the victims machine or compromise the DNS server and rerouting traffic, the latter of which is much harder for users to defend against. How pharming attacks work Though they share similar goals, pharming uses a different method from phishing. Pharming attacks are focused on manipulating a system, rather than tricking individuals into going to a dangerous website, explains David Emm, principal security researcher at Kaspersky. When either a phishing or pharming attack is completed by a criminal, they have the same driving factor to get victims onto a corrupt location, but the mechanisms in which this is undertaken are different. Pharming attacks involve redirecting user requests by manipulating the Domain Name Service (DNS) protocol and rerouting the target from its intended IP address to one controlled by the hacker. This can be done in two ways. Attackers compromise the victims machine and change the local hosts file (a local directory of IP addresses) on the device, which then redirects the user the next time they try to access a site (usually disguised to look like the victims intended destination). This attack is often preceded with a phishing attack or some other malware deployment method that then manipulates the host file. Routers are also a potential endpoint device targeted in pharming attacks (sometimes known as drive-by pharming). Attackers redirect traffic via DNS poisoning by exploiting DNS server vulnerabilities so that the victims are rerouted to the IP address of an attacker-controlled machine. This can be an especially challenging threat as the victim doesnt have to click on anything or make a mistake to be sent to the faked website. This is sometimes known as a phish without a lure. While DNS servers are harder to compromise because they sit on an organizations network and behind its defenses, the attack can affect far more victims and offer greater reward for the attackers. Poisoning can also spread to other DNS servers. An internet service provider (ISP) receiving DNS information from a poisoned server can lead to the corrupted DNS entry being cached on the ISPs servers, spreading it to more routers and devices. This happened by mistake in 2010 when an ISP fetched DNS information from a server behind Chinas Great Firewall, which then began to spread Chinas blocking of websites such as Twitter to other countries. Hacking a Domain Name Server can be more difficult to achieve and is the reason why we do not see these types of attacks as often, says Emm. While injecting malware onto an individuals device restricts damage to just that person, infecting a DNS has the potential to affect all devices that use that server to access web sites and can be extremely damaging. How common are pharming attacks? The potential harm of a pharming attack depends on the attackers objectives. The goal could be to collect financial information to abuse or sell, or to harvest login credentials that could be sold. Sophisticated actors could also use pharming as an early-stage attack to steal credentials and then those credentials to launch further attacks into an organization. However, the smaller payoff for attacks on individuals and the relative difficulty to exploit at scale means pharming attacks remain rare compared to phishing attacks. Generally, pharming attacks are less common than phishing because they require significantly more work from the attackers, says Emm. Phishing attacks are easily achievable, which is why we see them more regularly. In 2019 Kaspersky identified a pharming attack in Venezuela. The day after the public announcement [by President Juan Guadio asking people to submit details to an aid website], another almost identical website appeared with a very similar domain and structure, explains Emm. The two different domains, with different owners, were registered within Venezuela to the same IP address, belonging to the hackers. This meant it didnt matter whether a volunteer opened a legitimate or fake domain name. Their personal information would be introduced into a fake site regardless. Other notable cases include a pharming attack in Brazil, spotted by Proofpoint in 2015, where attackers sent phishing emails to users of UTStarcom or TR-Link home routers pertaining to be from Brazil's largest telecommunications firm. Links in the emails downloaded malware designed to exploit router vulnerabilities and allow attackers to change the router's DNS server settings. In 2016, Sucuri discovered an attack where attackers redirected visitors to sites that used NameCheaps FreeDNS via changed DNS settings. Though not recent, an especially large 2007 campaign saw at least 50 financial institutions suffer a pharming attack that constructed for each target fake sites that harvested login credentials and then passed the victim back to the legitimate site. Pharming attack prevention The following best practices will reduce the chances of a successful pharming attack: The effort on the part of the firm, Sycamore Partners, to end the deal because of the coronavirus outbreak is invalid and pure gamesmanship after it failed to renegotiate the price, L Brands said in a Delaware court filing on Thursday The dispute has become the most prominent example of a buyer trying to back out of a deal because of the pandemic. Sycamore said on Wednesday that L Brands had violated terms of its February transaction agreement and that a material adverse effect occurred because of the pandemic, allowing it to terminate the deal to buy 55 percent of Victorias Secret for about $525 million. L Brands said on Thursday that when the deal was negotiated, the world was already well aware of the existence of Covid-19, and the parties agreed that Sycamore would bear the risk of any adverse impacts stemming from such a pandemic. The definition of a material adverse effect explicitly carved out impacts from pandemics, the company said. The company called Sycamores stance pure gamesmanship. Sycamore sent L Brands a letter on April 13 saying that it wanted to renegotiate the purchase price and other terms of the deal because of the coronavirus outbreak, according to L Brands. When the company declined to renegotiate because the agreement expressly allocates the risk of pandemics to Sycamore the private equity firm sent a termination notice and filed the subsequent lawsuit, according to the filing. Early May is too soon to reopen auto factories, the U.A.W. says. Vietnam eased social distancing measures today, with experts pointing to a decisive response involving mass quarantines and expansive contact tracing for the apparent success in containing the coronavirus. Despite a long and porous border with China, the Southeast Asian nation has recorded just 268 virus cases and zero deaths, according to official tallies. Although the numbers tested for COVID-19 are relatively low and experts caution the authoritarian government's health ministry is the sole source for the figures, they also say there is little reason to distrust them. Medical specialists in protective suits collect blood samples from vendors and labourers at Long Bien market as part of their rapid testing program last week in Hanoi, Vietnam Vendors and labourers from Long Bien market wear face masks and queue in safe distance to take the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) rapid test last week in Hanoi, Vietnam In this file photo taken on April 11, 2020, residents wearing face masks practice social distancing as they wait in a queue for free rice, amid Vietnam's nationwide social isolation effort as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, in Hanoi Vietnam was one of the first nations to ban flights to and from mainland China and in early February, when it had barely more than a dozen cases, villages with 10,000 people close to the nation's capital were placed under quarantine. There has also been aggressive contact tracing. One 72-year-old Hanoi resident described how he and a team in his community had been tasked with zeroing in on any suspected cases, falling back on grassroots Communist party networks in charge of overseeing neighbourhoods. 'We go to each and every alley, knocking on each and every door,' Nguyen Trinh Thang told AFP. 'We follow the guidance from our government that 'fighting the pandemic is like fighting our enemy.' Vietnam's success in convincing the public to cooperate has been key, said Takeshi Kasai, the World Health Organization's Western Pacific regional director. 'They're really doing their part,' he said earlier this week, adding he believed around 80,000 people were placed under quarantine. 'I think that's the reason why they were able to continue to keep the number (of infections) small.' There are now almost no international flights arriving in Vietnam and the country has been under partial lockdown since the beginning of April. The streets of Hanoi - normally flooded with motorbikes, tourists and vendors - have been virtually deserted, save those most in need queueing at so-called rice ATMs for handouts. Despite a long and porous border with China , the Southeast Asian nation has recorded just 268 virus cases and zero deaths, according to official tallies Motorists wearing face masks ride amid a downpour in Hanoi today, as Vietnam eased its nationwide social isolation effort to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus The strict controls have apparently paid off. After reporting no new infections for the sixth consecutive day on Wednesday, the government said some shops and services will be allowed to reopen. On Thursday, a few of the capital's cafes had resumed service, although the streets were still fairly quiet. Across Europe and the United States, local governments are struggling to keep their citizens indoors - with beachgoers crowding on a shoreline and protesters refusing to comply with lockdown orders. In contrast, Communist Vietnam has put tens of thousands under state quarantine, including overseas citizens returning home, at military-style camps across the country. Vu Thi Nhung and her son spent two weeks sleeping in dormitory bunk beds with no mattresses at a camp in Hanoi after returning from Germany in March. Their three meals a day were deposited outside their rooms by soldiers. A woman wears protective mask as she sells dog meat at her home during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Hanoi, Vietnam yesterday 'You can't compare it to being at home but given Vietnam and its current economic situation during an epidemic, it exceeded my expectations,' she told AFP. Neighbouring Thailand, which reported the first case outside of China in mid-January, has also seen a declining number of new cases in the past week, with doctors applauding government restrictions such as a night-time curfew. In Cambodia, the case number has remained unchanged at 122 for over a week, while cases in Laos have stayed at 19. But Oupass Putcharoen, head of Chulalongkorn Hospital's Emergency Infectious Disease Clinic in Thailand, said its neighbours' numbers could be due to the 'low rate of testing'. So far, Thailand has done more than 142,000 COVID-19 tests, Cambodia around 9,000 while Vietnam has carried out over 180,000 for its 96 million people. Vietnam expert Carl Thayer, an emeritus professor at the University of New South Wales, said Vietnam's case numbers should be treated with caution as Hanoi can punish for anyone who disputes them. But he added: 'There are too many people from overseas, too many people with mobile phones, too many people on the internet (for a cover-up).' Jessica Phillips, Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley and womens rights campaigner, has urged the government to act faster to protect domestic abuse survivors during the coronavirus pandemic. Phillips, who was recently appointed the Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence and Safeguarding, has been working with specialist frontline services such as Southall Black Sisters to campaign for alternative safe accommodation for those fleeing domestic abuse, as womens refuges across the country are at capacity. More than 25 frontline domestic abuse services have reported an increase in their caseload since the start of the epidemic, while the National Domestic Abuse helpline has seen a 25 per cent increase in calls since lockdown began. On a single day in April, calls to the helpline were up by 120 per cent. Speaking to Vogue, Phillips said: All Im asking [the government] to do now is to provide extra refuge and accommodation for victims of domestic abuse. We can provide that through university halls, void social housing properties, hotels and hostels. On April 11, Priti Patel, the home secretary, launched a government campaign to raise awareness of the services that are still available to survivors during lockdown, with a 2m funding boost for domestic abuse helplines and online support services. During the announcement which occurred during the daily press conference, Patel said: Where a victim, and their children, do need to leave, we will ensure they have a safe place to go. Thats why we are looking at alternative accommodation to best support the work of refuges. However, campaigners including Phillips have criticised the government for not following up on its pledge to shelter domestic abuse survivors. Earlier this month, hotel and hostel chains sent a written offer of accommodation to the government, suggesting that tens of thousands of hotel rooms could be used to shelter women and children fleeing abuse. The initiative has the backing of over 30 womens charities, as well as the domestic abuse commissioner, Nicole Jacobs, and the victims commissioner for England and Wales, Dame Vera Baird. The government has yet to respond to the offer. In response to the pressing need for alternative accommodation to protect women, Phillips said: I dont know what the hold up is. I say this with genuine feeling: I dont think its that the home office ministers dont care I think they are worried that what is happening would, essentially, take us into a situation that was better than before, and that they might have to maintain that. But so what, surely they should want that anyway?" She added: Theyre paying people to stay at home and not go to work which is absolutely the right thing to do but if that wasnt an ideological step too far, then I dont see how making sure that sustainable funding for domestic violence refuges isnt an ideological step too far, either. 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 The violence against women (VAWG) sector has faced severe funding cuts in recent years due to austerity measures. Since 2010, one in six domestic abuse refuges has had to close its doors due to lack of funding, while 60 per cent of women were turned away from refuges last year. Phillips, who previously worked for domestic abuse charity Womens Aid, explained the complexities of leaving an abusive household, arguing that the decision to flee to a refuge is one of the hardest things for a woman to do. I try to get people to understand how difficult it is for a woman to break away by using the example of when the fire alarm goes off, Phillips explains. You dont know if its a real fire or not, but they tell you to always leave your belongings but literally nobody does that. When people say, why doesnt she leave? You wouldnt leave your mobile phone behind to save your own life but you expect women to turn away from their family, their jobs, and their lives? Karen Ingala Smith, the founder of Counting Dead Women, a project that records the killing of women by men in the UK, has reported that domestic abuse killings appear to have doubled during the coronavirus lockdown, after identifying at least 16 suspected killings that occurred between 23 March and 12 April. Womens Aid has said that an emergency 48.2m fund is needed to support frontline services during the crisis, 84 per cent of which have been forced to reduce or cancel their services in the wake of the pandemic. The "Impact of COVID-19 on the UK Economy" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The UK is a highly volatile economy in terms of uncertainty in investment and production output due to Brexit's impact. However, the country has a significant value in the export of goods and services. The country has shown a significant rise in manufacturing operations, including food beverage, machinery and equipment, and chemicals. Since the 2008 recession, the recovery of the manufacturing industry significantly relies primarily on four industries, such as the production of food, repair of machinery, motor vehicles, and other transport equipment. As per the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the total value of product sales by UK manufacturers was $500 billion in 2018, an increase of 0.8% from 2017. The production of food products division is constantly making a significant contribution, led nearly $91 billion to total UK manufacturers' product sales in 2018. In addition, the production of machinery and equipment increased by 1.8% and reached nearly $36 billion in 2018. This has led to increased sales from the production of machinery for construction, mining, and quarrying industry. The global demand for machinery and equipment by UK manufacturers continued to increase, which is primarily contributing to drive the UK manufacturing sector. However, like other countries, UK is facing a major challenge of recession concerning the effect of COVID-19 pandemic. It has affected the whole production capability of the country coupled with a slowdown in global demand, and concerns regarding the availability of raw material. As a result, the manufacturers of machinery and equipment in the country have been temporarily shut down their industrial operations. For instance, in March 2020, Joseph Cyril Bamford Excavators Ltd. (JCB) has suspended manufacturing at all of its UK factories coupled with falling demand for construction equipment. The company's global demand for products has declined sharply as customers were cancelling orders and suspend deliveries. Therefore, it has stopped its UK production facility to re-plan orders and stocks condition, as well as focus on products that are needed by customers. Based on industry classification, the report is segmented into automobile, food beverage, machinery, electrical and electronics, aviation, BFSI, retail, healthcare, and others. A major slowdown in automobile production has been reported due to the effect of COVID-19. Many automobile manufacturers have shut down their automobile manufacturing facilities due to the coronavirus outbreak. For instance, Jaguar Land Rover Automotive PLC, a part of Tata Motors, suspended its production facility in line with the government advise to reduce the spread of coronavirus. The global automobile companies with their operations in UK, including BMW, Toyota, and Honda declared they have temporarily shut down their UK factories due to the coronavirus pandemic. This would result in a weaker production of automobiles in the country. The Report Covers Comprehensive research methodology of the pre and post COVID-19 impact on the UK economy. This report also includes a detailed and extensive market overview with key analyst insights. An exhaustive analysis of macro and micro factors influencing the market guided by key recommendations. Analysis of regional regulations and other government policies impacting the UK economy. Insights about market determinants which are stimulating UK economy. Detailed and extensive market segments with regional distribution of forecasted revenues. Extensive profiles and recent developments of market players. Key Topics Covered: 1. Report Summary 1.1. Research Methods and Tools 2. Market Overview and Insights 2.1. Scope of the Report 2.2. Analyst Insight Current Market Trends 2.2.1. Key Findings 2.2.2. Recommendations 2.2.3. Conclusion 2.3. Government support/bailout packages 2.4. Banking Initiatives 2.5. Supply Chain Analysis 3. Industry Overview 3.1. Historical market growth estimation of the UK economy excluding COVID-19 pandemic effect 3.2. Deviations in the UK economy growth rate due to COVID-19 pandemic 4. Verticals Affected Most 4.1. Automobile 4.2. Food Beverage 4.3. Machinery 4.4. Electrical and Electronics 4.5. Aviation 4.6. BFSI 4.7. Retail 4.8. Healthcare 4.9. Others 5. Company Profiles Associated British Foods plc Aviva plc BAE Systems plc Bentley Motors Ltd. British Airways Plc Dyson Ltd. J Sainsbury plc Joseph Cyril Bamford Excavators Ltd. (JCB) Rolls-Royce Holdings plc Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc Tesco PLC Thomas Cook Group Plc Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/l14u5v View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005381/en/ Contacts: 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 "Division is not going to help solve a national emergency," says Local Opinion contributor and attorney Maurice Goldman. "Lets unite during this time and make sure we protect as many people as possible." Bernstine, like most of those who addressed the crowd, is himself an elected official: a Republican state representative whose relatively rural district hugs the Ohio border. In an interview, he said he was driven to speak out by the anger he was hearing among his constituents toward restrictions that have crushed many small businesses even as large retailers continue to operate. The Odisha government has put the village level authorites on the forefront to prevent spread of coronavirus when an anticipated five lakh migrants rush back homes after lifting of the lockdown. In order to make the local adminstration battle-ready, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had on Wednewsday adminstered oath to over 6000 village heads to ensure that the virus do not enter in their areas with arrival of the natives, many of whom would be traveling from the COVID-19 affected states. The state government has already bestowed the power of district collector to Sarpanchs (village headmans) so that they can take tough decisions for better management of COVID- 19 situation in the areas under their jurisdiction. We have decided to put Panchayats on the forefront to ensure that the highly infectious virus do not spread in rural areas, Panchayati Raj department minister Pratap Jena told reporters after the Group of Ministers meeting on coronavirus situation here Thursday. Around 6798 Sarpanchs who took oath the previous day, promised they would implement the guidelines of the state government on COVID-19. The state governments concerns over return of the migrant workers have been expressed by COVID-19 spokeperson Subroto Bagchi. Since the large number of people will return to rural areas after lockdown, the village heads (Sarpanchs) have a major role to play in identifying and putting them in quarantine at the gram panchayat levels, he said. He said though the state has successfully contained outbreak of the disease in Odisha in the three initial stages, the return of about 5 lakh people to the state will be a big challenge. Giving detail of the strategy, Panchayati Raj department Secretary D K Singh said like mandatory registration of foreign travellers, the state government has made this compulsory for those returning from other states too after the end of nationwide shutdown. Besides, they would be subjected to 14 days isolation on arrival to their villages, he said. "No one will be allowed to enter into Odisha without registration and all returnees will undergo 14-day mandatory quarantine, the panchayat raj secretary said. Singh justified mandatory quarantine for the returnees refering to reports that 80 per cent of the COVID-19 patients in different parts of the country had not shown any symptoms of the infection. He said the state government has already made arrangements for placing them in quarantine at the panchayat levels. We have already created two lakh beds facilities for quarantine of the returnees at panchayat levels. Another three lakh beds will be put in place before May 3 (end of lockdown as per the present order), Singh said, adding the returnees will be received by the government from railway stations and bus stands. They cannot directly go to their houses. The local level officers will receive the returnees and take them to panchayat quarantine centres where they will be provided stay, food and treatment, Singh said. Since most of the returnees belong to the working class, the government has decided to give each of them Rs 2,000 as incentive money on completion of 14-day quarantine period, Singh said, adding a nodal officer will be appointed for each gram panchayats. This apart, the Block Development Officers (BDOs) are also told to set up a 5-member monitoring team for every panchayat, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Midland ISD reported Tuesday it will not require mandatory summer school for its students, including those in danger of falling behind. MISD Chief of Staff Katie Atkins said Tuesday that there will be summer learning opportunities, including those for students in danger of falling behind based upon what we see from the fall semester and continuing on to the spring semester. She also said there should be opportunities for students who might want enrichment before the 2020-21 school year. At this time, we are not altering our start dates or end dates of our school year, Atkins said during the Unified Command Team press conference. There's been some suggestions that all students be brought in for mandatory summer school, but we realize that that is not is not going to be possible for all students. RELATED: MISD cancels traditional graduation Atkins said the district cannot make students take part in summer learning but that the district can reach out to families, explain the situation facing a student and provide what the district can offer for that student. This would be something for students who elect to take part, Atkins said. Midland ISD students and teachers will not return to school campuses for the rest of the school year, which ends on May 22. That means students will not be in front of a teacher for the last three months of the school year. The district, after its extended spring break, provided enrichment materials for students and is currently involved in a Google Classroom process (for those students with the technology to take part). Grades are not part of the current learning taking place. Last week, the district announced it would install a non-numerical system to measure academic progress and that for a student to receive credit for spring 2020 courses, they must show at least 70 percent mastery of objectives assigned. RELATED: MISD: Job search begins for new Lee principal For promotion to the next grade level, students must show mastery in their courses, the district stated last week in a press release. Teachers will use the new progress monitoring system for two evaluation periods: the first nine weeks of the spring semester (Jan. 7 through March 6) and the first at-home instruction period. Students are expected to spend up to three hours per day on assignments and formative assessments, accorson to the release. Learning is not dependent on the time of day. Students can access Google Classroom and supporting sites at times of their choosing. Parents are encouraged to work with students to create a schedule. Two groups of plaintiffs one in Philadelphia, the other in Chicago are asking federal courts to consolidate lawsuits filed by businesses that are seeking coverage for business-interruption losses caused by coronavirus stay-home orders. Attorneys for owners of the River Twice and Chops restaurants in Philadelphia on Monday petitioned the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to consolidate similar lawsuits that seek to force carriers to pay for income lost due to government shut-down orders. The attorneys identified 11 similar lawsuits that had been filed in multiple jurisdictions and asked that all similar cases be heard by U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Savage in Philadelphia. On Tuesday, another group of businesses including Bridal Expressions, Caribe Restaurant & Nightclub and Dakota Ventures filed a separate petition asking that business-interruption suits be consolidated under U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly in Chicago. The Chicago attorneys identified 16 similar business-interruption lawsuits. Attorney Adam J. Levitt in Chicago said that it makes sense for a single judge, instead of multiple jurisdictions, to resolve issues that the plaintiffs have in common. The last thing anyone wants is for 50 different federal judges ruling on such issues, he said. A central question is whether coronavirus is a physical damage that would trigger coverage under policies that include coverage for business losses from closures ordered by civil authorities. Insurers have denied business-interruption claims filed by restaurants and other businesses that were forced to shut down or switch to delivery-only, arguing that a civil ordered issued to prevent the spread of a pandemic does not amount to physical damage. The Hartford and Travelers have both declared their intent to deny such claims, according to the Philadelphia groups suit. Insurance for business interruption can provide coverage when a policyholder suffers a loss of income due to direct physical loss or damage to covered property at its location or another location, Travelers said in a letter to New York policyholders. It does not cover loss of income due to market conditions, a slowdown of economic activity or a general fear of contamination. Levitt and other plaintiffs attorneys argue that if coronavirus is not direct physical damage, insurers would not have created an exclusion for viruses, which are included in many business owners policies. The Insurance Service Office created the exclusion for viruses after the first SARS pandemic scare in 2003. Some attorneys have argued that coronavirus closures should be covered even under policies that do not exclude viruses. Travelers, in fact, last week filed a lawsuit against the the Geragos & Geragos law firm in Los Angeles seeking a declaration from a federal judge that its policy specifically excludes coverage for viruses, and that business-interruption coverage wouldnt be owed even if it did. Levitt said most of his clients purchased policies that do not have a virus exclusion, or have exclusions that are sufficiently weak. He said business owners around the country have purchased insurance thinking that they would be covered in emergencies, only to be denied. We are being contacted by close to 100 business a day, he said. Our phones are ringing off the hook. Lawsuits filed against insurance carriers have been noted in local news reports around the country. A Google search shows that in a one 24-hour period ending Wednesday morning, local media reported: The Guajillo Mexican restaurant in Rosslyn, Virginia filed suit against The Hartfords Twin City Fire Insurance Co. for business-interruption coverage. Al Johnsons Swedish Restaurant in Sister Bay, Wisconsin filed suit against Society Insurance to recoup business losses. The Joseph Tambellini Restaurant and Siebs Pub in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area sued Erie Insurance. The IT! Italy Ristorante Cafe & Bar in For Lauderdale filed suit against Chubb Ltd. to gain coverage for its losses. The Philadelphia petition, filed by attorney Richard M. Golomb with Golomb & Honick, stated that the business-interruption is of such national significance that even President Donald Trump spoke about the issue during an April 10 press conference. The filing included a quote from Trump reported previously by the Claims Journal saying that insurers should pay business-interruption claims if pandemics are not excluded. The petition argues that consolidation is prudent becausedifferent federal courts, in duplicating rulings on the same issues, could make contradictory findings. Litigation of this scope and importance should not be beset with such inconsistencies and inefficiencies. The Multidistrict Litigation Panel has placed the two petitions on its July 30 docket, which means they will be heard by the seven judges on the panel during its scheduled hearing in Boston, Levitt said. As of Wednesday, the panel had linked 16 separate lawsuits to the case. The panel asked insurers to file consolidated responses by May 12. About the photo: Chef Randy Rucker shown in front of his River Twice restaurant in Philadelphia. Photo courtesy of the restaurants website. Hundreds of Byron Bay protesters ignored social distancing to challenge the installation of 5G in the town over fears it could lead to an outbreak of the coronavirus. One protester was injured and another was arrested during the hostile stand-off in Mullumbimby in northern New South Wales on Wednesday. The group had gathered after word spread that Telstra workers were at the site making preparations for network upgrades despite a recent Byron Bay councillors unanimously agreed not to support any upgrades that will facilitate 5G technology. Protester Dean Jeffreys told 7 News he feared electromagnetic radiation from 5G would affect his immunity. 'Especially in this age of coronavirus, you want to have your immunity as strong as you can,' he said. A crowd of over 200 people arrived for the impromptu demonstration at Mullumbimby in Northern New South Wales on Wednesday Dean Jeffreys daughter filmed as her father was arrested during the protest in Byron bay on Wedneday Footage of the clash shows protesters yelling 'No 5G' under the watchful eye of police who were there to protect Telstra workers. Mr Jefferys later posted videos of the incident to Facebook, showing him being arrested and dragged by police into a paddy wagon after he tried to stop a truck intending to remove a car that was blocking 5G installing equipment. Mr Jefferys later claimed on Facebook another person was hit by the truck and taken away in an ambulance. A New South Wales Police spokeswoman confirmed to Daily Mail Australia a police operation took place but were unable to provide further detail. Mr Jefferys said he was later released without any charges laid. Local Dean Jefferys is pictured being arrested and dragged by police into a paddy wagon after he tried to stop a truck intending to remove a car that was blocking 5G installing equipment The demonstrators were angry 5G is being installed during a lockdown in the hope of avoiding community opposition. 'This is clearly against the community's desires as expressed recently when thousands of residents turned up at Mullumbimby councils chambers and public meetings,' Mr Jefferys said. 'People who attended the protest mainly kept a safe distance from everyone else. Yet when I made my sit down protest that I am allowed to do under our constitution and I ask police to keep a safe social distance I was instantly arrested.' Another protest has been organised for Thursday. 'Rolling 24 hour protests will happen at the proposed 5G tower behind the Mullumbimby Post Office from 8am,' Mr Jefferys said. 'People will be turning up to protests every day until this is stopped and the real health concerns of the local residents are satisfied. 'With only around 10 new cases of CV (COVID-19) in all of Australia yesterday it appears obvious the war on coranavirus is almost over. Mr Jefferys claims he was arrested and not charged over the incident and is planning another demonstration in Mullumbimby on Thursday 'Now we just have to be careful that tyranny doesn't become the new threat.' The protest is breaking coronavirus social distancing rules as Australians are banned from gathering in groups of more than two people. A number of people were dismayed that the group who were concerned for their health had chosen to to break social distancing rules. 'So with Covid as a real, serious health threat, a group of misinformed people gave up social distancing to follow a extreme right wing conspiracy theory,' one person wrote. 'Why are they being so dumb,' another wrote. 'Police should have issued all a $1,000 fine for not staying home and being out at a non essential place,' another wrote. Residents fear 5G technology can have harmful effects on health but these claims have been debunked by the scientific community A Telstra spokeswoman wouldn't comment on the specific incident but said 5G coverage will be rolled out to 35 Australian cities by the end of June. 'To date, we have commenced the rollout of 5G in 32 cities around Australia,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'Our rollout has been focused on cities, regional centres and high traffic areas with a view to offering 5G to as many of our customers as fast as possible.' Interest in ridiculous theories that the ultra-fast mobile technology causes coronavirus have swept across the globe during the health crisis, despite experts' desperate efforts to debunk the claims. Pictured is the telecommunication tower Telstra workers were trying to access for 5G network upgrades There was a flood of interest when 5G technology was first rolled out Australia last May before being renewed when the pandemic hit Australia's shores earlier this year. Australian professor of medicine, and public health advocate John Dwyer described conspiracy claims that 5G causes the deadly virus as 'dangerous nonsense'. He also refuted claims 5G technology is harmful to our health. 'It's right up there with wind farms causing cancer,' Professor Dwyer told Channel Seven earlier this month. 'At this time in the fight against the epidemic, this is dangerous nonsense. Even to have a few people think differently that social distancing isn't for them is a silly idea and is putting all of us at risk.' 'For some people, the idea of a conspiracy theory turns them on. Most of the time, it doesn't matter that much but in this particular case, it's dangerous.' Trump says Christian faith 'treated very unfairly' during COVID-19 pandemic Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment President Donald Trump said over the weekend that the Christian faith is being treated very unfairly during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic as state and local governments have enforced social distancing against church gatherings. In a press briefing Saturday, the president was asked why he retweeted an April 14 tweet from former Washington bureau chief for Investors Business Daily Paul Sperry. Sperrys tweet questioned whether authorities across the nation will enforce social-distancing orders for mosques during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which runs from April 23 through May 23. Yeah no, I would like to see that, Trump said in a rambling response. And, you know, I just spoke with leaders and people that love mosques; they love mosques, and Im all in favor of that. Trump seemingly criticized local governments that have enforced stay-at-home orders against church gatherings as some pastors and churchgoers in various regions of the country have been issued citations or fines for attending in-person or parking lot services. So I would be interested to see that because they go after Christian churches, but they dont tend to go after mosques, Trump went on. And I dont want them to go after mosques, but I do want to see what their what their bent is. Trump also stated that he has seen a great disparity in this country. He suggested that Democrats in Congress have a very strong anti-Israel bent, especially with the emergence of liberal Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Alexandria Acasio-Cortez of New York. When asked if he is suggesting that Muslim religious leaders wont follow social distancing policies put in place by states and local governments, Trump responded, No I just had a call [with] imams. I just had a call with ministers, rabbis. We had a tremendous call with the faith leaders. No, I dont think that at all. Trump hosted a call with faith leaders on Friday in which they discussed a phased return to in-person worship. I am somebody that believes in faith, Trump said during the press briefing. And it matters not what your faith is. But our politicians seem to treat different faiths very differently. For weeks, many churches across the country have suspended in-person worship services. While many churches shifted services online or to parking lots in which attendees sit in their cars and listen to the service, others have defied local and state orders by continuing to hold in-person services. Trumps comments come after a number of churches across the nation have filed lawsuits in response to local social distancing orders barring them from holding worship services without the fear of government reprisal. In recent weeks, pastors have received citations or have been arrested for holding worship services at their church. In one case, some attendees of a parking lot church service in Mississippi received citations and faced the possibility of $500 in fines. After the Department of Justice intervened, arguing that churches were being singled out, the Greenville mayor reversed course to allow drive-in worship services. In his press briefing remarks, Trump stressed that he doesnt know what happened with our country. But the Christian faith is treated much differently than it was, he said. And I think its treated very unfairly. The Trump administration released its proposed phased approach called Opening Up America Again. Among other things, the approach calls for places of worship and other gathering places to be reopened under strict physical distancing protocols under phase one. Proponents of holding church services have argued that it is unfair that some governments allow dozens upon dozens of people to pack into stores like Home Depot or Costco but churches are not allowed to hold in-person services even if they maintain proper social distancing protocols. In multiple regions across the globe from Sacramento to South Korea church services held before social distancing protocols were put into place have been blamed for sparking surges in coronavirus infections. Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Daltons initial claims drastically increased in March.Due to the effects of COVID-19, all MSAs throughout the state saw a dramatic incline in initial claims along with the unemployment rate.Although we are seeing the effects of COVID-19 throughout the state in spikes in unemployment, we are working very diligently to come up with solutions to get Georgians back to work as soon as it is safe to do so, Commissioner Butler said.In Dalton, the unemployment rate increased 0.7 percentage points in March, reaching 5.1 percent.A year ago, the rate was 4.6 percent.The number of unemployment claims went up by 443 percent in March, which directly correlated with the number of temporary lay-offs associated with COVID-19. When compared to last March, claims were up by about 149 percent.Dalton ended March with 65,600 jobs. That number decreased by 100 from April to March and was down by 1,000 when compared to this time last year.The labor force decreased in March by 541 and ended the month with 58,610. That number is down 805 when compared to March of 2019.Dalton finished the month with 55,627 employed residents. That number decreased by 937 over the month and is down by 1,068 when compared to the same time a year ago.Employ Georgia, the GDOLs online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed about 666 active job postings in metro Dalton for March.In Northwest Georgia, the unemployment rate increased in March to 4.2 percent, an increase of 0.6 percentage points. A year ago, the rate was 3.6 percent.The number of unemployment claims dramatically increased by 895 percent in March due to COVID-19 related temporary lay-offs. When compared to last March, claims were up by about 680 percent.The labor force decreased in March by 2,759. The March total was 423,953. That number is up by 4,300 from the total from March 2018.Northwest Georgia ended March with 405,999 employed residents. The number decreased by 5,557 in March and was up 1,327 as compared to last year.Employ Georgia, the GDOLs online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed 3,261 active job postings in Northwest Georgia for March.Visit gdol.ga.gov to learn more about career opportunities, Employ Georgia, and other GDOL services for job seekers and employers. YPSILANTI, MI The Eastern Michigan University Board of Regents on Thursday unanimously authorized the sale of the Gary Owen Building, 300 W. Michigan Ave., to River Caddis Development for $2.7 million The Gary Owen Building currently houses EMUs College of Business, which will be relocated to Boone Hall on central campus. Boone Hall will undergo significant renovations, which will tentatively begin in April 2021, the university said in a press release. The University has discussed for some time its desire to return the College of Business to central campus because such a move will benefit students, faculty, and staff, and will support all of the institutions strategic priorities, said University President James Smith. The University will renovate Boone Hall to provide a world-class facility to support our premiere business school for decades to come." According to River Caddis website, the company is sought after to evaluate complex ground-up real estate development opportunities because of our reputation to successfully collaborate at all levels of the planning process to bring a project to fruition." College of Business Dean Kenneth Lord told alumni in an email Wednesday that the transaction had been in the works for many months, and the university chose Boone Hall because it is a signature facility in a prime front-facing location, the email said. Moving the College of Business back to central campus will benefit students, faculty and staff, and will support EMUs strategic plan priorities, Lords email said. Those strategic plan priorities include student success and engagement, high performing academic programs and quality research, and to serve and engage EMU and its regional communities. Adding the Gary Owen Building to Ypsilantis tax rolls and creating new investment will further enhance downtown Ypsilanti, Lords email said, and it will reduce utility, maintenance and transportation costs that EMU incurs by housing the College of Business away form central campus. Faculty and staff at the College of Business were scheduled to move from the Owen Building to Halle Library at the end of the semester for the summer of 2020, the university said. EMU hopes that continues as planned, but it could be impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. Plans for the fall semester will be determined based on health directives related to the resumption of campus and construction activities. According to the recommendation document, the Owen Building is estimated to have $13.2 million of deferred maintenance in the various building systems, for which EMU will not be responsible after the sale. No completion date has been set for the renovations to Boone Hall, but the university is targeting a project timeline of 28 to 36 months after the College of Business moves out of the Owen Building, the university said. At the end of the board meeting, Regent Rich Baird took some time to thank Gary Owen, former Michigan Speaker of the House, for his contributions to the Ypsilanti community. He was a wonderful, wonderful supporter of (EMU), not just with appropriations and making sure we had a strong voice in Lansing, but also with his time, Baird said. ... I know that the regents are very focused on continuing to remind people of his legacy, not just for the College of Business but for the entire university. More information on the move can be found here. 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: Complete coverage at mlive.com/coronavirus Eastern Michigan University expands online summer class grant to include graduate students University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University making alternate plans to celebrate 2020 graduates Eastern Michigan University instructor tests positive for coronavirus Eastern Michigan University graduate nursing students put in work at coronavirus drive-through test sites Eastern Michigan University closing residence halls, reimbursing students for housing, meals plans The default email app on iPhones and iPads might be vulnerable to surreptitious malware attacks, at least if you ask a security research firm. ZecOps briefed the Wall Street Journal on a claimed vulnerability in Mail that lets attackers infect your device with malware without input you wouldnt have to tap a link or download a file. Its virtually undetectable for users, the security firm said. While researchers didnt explain exactly how the attack would work, it wold involve sending a specially designed message. The exploit may have been use for a while. ZecOps said it had evidence attackers had used the flaw for at least two years. There had been at least six targets, including staff at a Japanese telecom, a large North American firm, tech companies in Israel and Saudi Arabia, a German individual and a European journalist. The problem, though, is that evidence is relatively difficult to find. ZecOps found its evidence through hints in iOS, and couldnt obtain the malware as the messages had already been deleted. Jamf Software security researcher Patrick Wardle also told the WSJ that the evidence of ongoing attacks was compelling, but not authoritative. Weve asked Apple for comment. The investigators believe Apple has fixed the flaw in an iOS beta (presumably 13.4.5), though, so it may not be an issue for long. If the findings are accurate, though, they suggest that a patch is coming long after hackers dealt their damage however limited it might have been. Update 4/24 3PM ET: Apple tells Engadget that it has studied the issue and doesnt believe it poses an immediate risk to users as they are insufficient to bypass security measures. Theres also no evidence it has been used against customers despite ZecOps claims, Apple said. Nonetheless, a fix will be coming soon. You can read the full statement below. PANDEMY FIRST-QUARTER 2020 SALES GOOD START TO THE YEAR UNTIL SHARP DETERIORATION FROM MID MARCH UNPRECEDENTED COVID-19 CHALLENGES: PRIORITY ON EMPLOYEE AND CUSTOMER HEALTH AND SAFETY FOCUS ON LIQUIDITY AND COST REDUCTION ? SALES OF 3.225bn IN Q1 2020, REFLECTING A SOLID START TO THE YEAR UNTIL COVID-19-RELATED DISRUPTION FROM MID-MARCH On a constant and same-day basis, sales down 3.3% after a strong start to the year Same-day sales through February up +0.9%, or +2.0% restated for China Same-day sales down 27.8% in the week of March 23, when North America started entering lockdown, and down 27.7% in the first 15 days of April ? REAL-TIME ADAPTATION TO AN UNPRECEDENTED MIX VARIATION, WITH A FOCUS ON LIQUIDITY AND OPEX MANAGEMENT ? 2020 GUIDANCE SUSPENDED ON MARCH 25 ? 20% CUT IN CEO AND BOARD MEMBER COMPENSATION AS OF APRIL ? 2019 DIVIDEND CANCELLED; SUFFICIENT AVAILABLE LIQUIDITY TO NAVIGATE THE CURRENT TURMOIL Key figures1 Q1 2020 YoY change April 1st to April 15th YoY change Sales 3,225.3m On a reported basis -2.7% On a constant and actual-day basis -3.0% On a constant and same-day basis -3.3% -27.7% Same-day sales growth by geography Europe 1,810.0m -1.5% -37.0% France 659.3m -6.1% -59.8% Scandinavia 244.5m +8.5% +2.4% Benelux 199.2m +3.8% -24.1% UK 193.8m -4.5% -47.3% Germany 170.7m +3.7% +2.6% North America 1,176.5m -4.8% -21.5% USA 921.4m -6.3% -21.2% Canada 255.1m +1.1% -22.8% Asia-Pacific 238.8m -8.3% -0.4% China 79.6m -24.4% +31.3% Australia 114.4m +2.5% -9.3% Patrick BERARD, Chief Executive Officer, said: "Rexel had a strong start to 2020 with solid sales growth. This changed abruptly in mid-March with the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic to virtually all of the markets in which we operate, resulting in government-imposed lockdowns. We swiftly implemented crisis measures to protect our people, our relationships with customers and suppliers as well as the company as a whole. Our business continuity plans are keeping our branches and distribution centers operating with all the necessary social distancing and sanitary measures in place. Leveraging the digital journey on which we embarked in 2017, we had the platform in place to enable a significant part of our business to be transacted online, operating customer interfaces from thousands of remote locations using digital and telephone links. We've also taken strong actions to adjust operating expenses, preserve cash and protect liquidity. I would like to thank all of our employees for their hard work, flexibility and dedication. It is their responsiveness and commitment that allows Rexel to cope with this unprecedented situation. It is too early to quantify the full impact or length of this crisis, but I am confident in Rexel's proven ability to adjust to whatever business situation we face when normal activity resumes." SALES REVIEW FOR THE PERIOD ENDED MARCH 31, 2020 4 Unless otherwise stated, all comments are on a constant and adjusted basis and, for sales, at same number of working days. SALES IN Q1 2020 LARGELY IMPACTED BY COVID-19 SITUATION AND PROGRESSIVE LOCKDOWN IN OUR MAIN COUNTRIES In Q1, sales were down 2.7% year-on-year on a reported basis and down 3.3% on a constant and same-day basis. This reflects good momentum until end-February, followed by a progressive deterioration with the adoption of lockdown measures, first in Europe and later in North America. Same-day sales at group level were down 27.8% in the week of March 23. In the first quarter, Rexel posted sales of 3,225.3 million, down 2.7% on a reported basis, including: A positive currency effect of 29.8million (i.e. +0.9% of Q1 2019 sales), mainly due to the appreciation of the US dollar and Swiss Franc A negative net scope effect of 20.5 million (i.e. -0.6% of Q1 2019 sales), resulting from the divestments of Gexpro Services in the US and Spanish export activity to a lesser extent A positive calendar effect of 0.3 percentage points. On a constant and same-day basis, sales were down 3.3%, including a negative effect from the change in copper-based cable prices (-0.4% in Q1 20 vs -0.5% in Q1 19). The evolution of activity was closely correlated with the COVID-19 situation and particularly with lockdown measures imposed by governments in countries in which we operate. More specifically: Same-day sales grew 0.9% through February (or +2.0% restated for China, which was impacted earlier by COVID-19) notably thanks to positive momentum in our key European markets, before a turning point in week 11 (from March 9), when Italy and Spain went into lockdown due to the pandemic. The decrease in activity accelerated sharply as of week 12 (From March 16), when same-day sales were down 12% as lockdown measures spread throughout Europe. The downward trend continued through week 13 (From March 23) at -27.8%, with North America moving to a lockdown, week 14 (from April 1) down 25.6% and week 15 (from April 8) down 30.1%. Europe (56% of Group sales): -1.5% in Q1 on a constant and same-day basis In the first quarter , sales in Europe decreased by -0.2% on a reported basis, including a positive currency effect of 2.6m (+0.1% mainly due to the appreciation of the Swiss Franc against the euro) and a negative scope effect of 1.0m (-0.1%). On a constant and same-day basis, sales were down 1.5%. After a good start through February, notably driven by our key countries such as France, Europe faced a particularly sharp drop beginning the week of March 16, when much of the continent was in lockdown. Sales trends varied very significantly from one country to another, reflecting different government policies concerning confinement measures and lockdown. As a result, sales drops in Southern Europe, where strict lockdowns were enforced, are significantly higher than in Northern European countries such as Germany, the Netherlands or Sweden, where business held up better. As an illustration, in the week of March 23 sales dropped by as much as circa 65% in France and 56% in Southern Europe (Italy, Spain, Portugal) while Germany and Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway and Finland) were up +1.6% and +2.9% respectively. North America (37% of Group sales): -4.8% in Q1 on a constant and same-day basis In the first quarter , sales in North America were down -4.6% on a reported basis, including a positive currency effect of 34.2m (+2.8% mainly due to the appreciation of the US dollar against the euro) and a negative scope effect of 19.5m or -1.6% following the disposal of our Gexpro Services business. On a constant and same-day basis, sales were down 4.8%, impacted by the US. In the US (78% of the region's sales), sales were down 6.3% on a same-day basis due to lower industrial demand. They were also impacted by an accelerating deterioration at the end of the quarter, with a 17.3% drop in same-day sales in the week of March 23. In this COVID-19 environment, the situation varies from state to state within the US with significant drops in sales in regions such as Gulf Central, California and Northeast and better resilience in the Midwest, the Southeast and Florida. (78% of the region's sales), sales were down 6.3% on a same-day basis due to lower industrial demand. They were also impacted by an accelerating deterioration at the end of the quarter, with a 17.3% drop in same-day sales in the week of March 23. In this COVID-19 environment, the situation varies from state to state within the US with significant drops in sales in regions such as Gulf Central, California and Northeast and better resilience in the Midwest, the Southeast and Florida. In Canada (22% of the region's sales), sales were up 1.1% on a same-day basis, with good momentum in the first two months, partly offset by the deterioration that started in the week of March 23, with a same-day sales decline of 22.2%. Asia-Pacific (7% of Group sales): -8.3% in Q1 on a constant and same-day basis In the first quarter , sales in Asia-Pacific were down 10.8% on a reported basis, including a negative currency effect of 7.1m, or -2.6% mainly due to the depreciation of the Australian dollar against the euro. On a constant and same-day basis, sales were down 8.3%. In the Pacific (58% of the region's sales), sales were up 1.5% on a constant and same-day basis: In Australia (82% of Pacific's sales), sales were up 2.5%, outperforming in construction-related business, which was slightly affected by the Covid-19 situation as of March 23. In New Zealand (18% of the Pacific's sales), sales were down 3.2% with a complete lockdown since March 26 th . (58% of the region's sales), sales were up 1.5% on a constant and same-day basis: In Asia (42% of the region's sales), sales were down 19.2%: In China (80% of Asia's sales), sales dropped by 24.4%, as China was hit earlier than others by the Covid-19 crisis. Sales dropped significantly for the first six weeks, before bouncing back in the following six weeks. Middle East and India (20% of Asia's sales), India posted a strong performance (+19.6%), offsetting a slight deterioration in the Middle East (-3.0%) (42% of the region's sales), sales were down 19.2%: BUSINESS CONTINUITY IN THE COVID-19 ENVIRONEMENT In the face of an unprecedented environment, the health and safety of our 26,000 employees and of our customers is our main priority. We quickly implemented sanitary measures in order to keep our operations running. Our key activities, from logistics centers to branches, are fully operational, with very few exceptions. At the end of March, 94% of our branches and all distribution centers were open. While some branches are running normally, in full compliance with sanitary measures, others are used as pick-up points for orders placed digitally or by telephone. We adapted quickly to the situation, with a complete shift of our operating model in less than 10 days: One-third of our workforce is working from home. In addition to back-office functions, we also managed in a very short time to transfer work from call centers to home. We rolled out digital tools to allow our teams and more specifically our sales forces to be fully operational. We have ensured business continuity while respecting all applicable sanitary measures, thanks to our digital tools, such as Track and Trace, self-check-out, drive-in services or lockers. MEASURES IMPLEMENTED TO PROTECT OUR PROFITABILITY Our 2019 operating expenses (including Depreciation & Amortization) of 2.7bn can be split, by nature, as follows: 18% are fixed costs, including Building & Occupancies as well as some IT & Network communication costs. Note that the 116m of leases classified as Depreciation & Amortization, under IFR16 are included in the Building & Occupancies category to provide a better understanding of our cost base 53% are flexible costs, including Salary & Benefits and related tax, as well as travel and professional costs 25% are variable costs, notably including commissions for our salespeople and transportation costs 4% are Depreciation & Amortization, excluding 116m of leases reclassified in Building & Occupancies. In order to navigate this challenging environment, Rexel has quickly implemented action plans on every category of costs to adapt to an unprecedented disruption of our business impacting the mix of customers, products, countries, regions, channel and human resources: Salaries & Benefits in April were reduced by 27% at Group level All partial unemployment measures announced by governments have been implemented in the countries in which we operate North America has also implemented measures such as wage reductions, temporary layoffs and "absence no pay" policies The majority of our temporary contracts were stopped All projects with no short-term impact on business were put on hold The majority of our travel and professional costs have been drastically reduced. In addition, The base salary of Rexel's CEO will be cut by 20% as of April and his 2019 bonus will be paid in late 2020 or early 2021 Board members will also reduce their compensation by 20% as of April CASH MANAGEMENT AND FOCUS ON LIQUIDITY Our focus is on cost management and cash generation, with liquidity as our key performance indicator. This is monitored on a daily basis, and we have taken measures such as: Dynamic Inventory adaptation by product/customer category, geography Close monitoring of our customers Tight management of payables Suspension of capex projects pending reassessment on a case-by-case basis Social and tax deferral authorized by governments in most countries On March 25, we announced the partial draw-down of our Senior Credit Lines (550m out of 850m available) as a conservative measure to give us additional liquidity headroom, even though we are not facing any short-term issues. At March 31, 2020, the liquidity stood at 1.13bn, including available cash with the sale of Gexpro services and the 300m undrawn Senior Credit Line. This level of availability liquidity is sufficient to navigate the current turmoil. OUTLOOK In our Press Release published on March 25, we suspended our 2020 guidance, which is no longer relevant in the current unprecedented environment. Visibility remains very low and we will continue to adapt permanently to the environment. In addition, the Board of Directors has decided to refrain from proposing the payment of a dividend in respect of 2019 at the next Annual General Meeting, which has been postponed to 25 June 2020. CALENDAR June 25, 2020 Annual Shareholder Meeting July 28, 2020 Second-quarter sales and first-half 2020 results FINANCIAL INFORMATION A slideshow of the first-quarter 2020 sales is also available on the Group's website. ABOUT REXEL GROUP Rexel, worldwide expert in the multichannel professional distribution of products and services for the energy world, addresses three main markets - residential, commercial and industrial. The Group supports its residential, commercial and industrial customers by providing a tailored and scalable range of products and services in energy management for construction, renovation, production and maintenance. Rexel operates through a network of more than 1,900 branches in 26 countries, with more than 26,000 employees. The Group's sales were 13.74 billion in 2019. Rexel is listed on the Eurolist market of Euronext Paris/en CONTACTS FINANCIAL ANALYSTS / INVESTORS Ludovic DEBAILLEUX +33 1 42 85 76 12 ludovic.debailleux@rexel.com (mailto:ludovic.debailleux@rexel.com) PRESS Brunswick: Thomas KAMM +33 1 53 96 83 92 tkamm@brunswickgroup.com (mailto:tkamm@brunswickgroup.com) GLOSSARY REPORTED EBITA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes and Amortization) is defined as operating income before amortization of intangible assets recognized upon purchase price allocation and before other income and other expenses. ADJUSTED EBITA is defined as EBITA excluding the estimated non-recurring net impact from changes in copper-based cable prices. EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) is defined as operating income before depreciation and amortization and before other income and other expenses. RECURRING NET INCOME is defined as net income adjusted for non-recurring copper effect, other expenses and income, non-recurring financial expenses, net of tax effect associated with the above items. FREE CASH FLOW is defined as cash from operating activities minus net capital expenditure. NET DEBT is defined as financial debt less cash and cash equivalents. Net debt includes debt hedge derivatives. For appendix, please open the pdf file by clicking on the link at the end of the press release. DISCLAIMER The Group is exposed to fluctuations in copper prices in connection with its distribution of cable products. Cables accounted for approximately 14% of the Group's sales and copper accounts for approximately 60% of the composition of cables. This exposure is indirect since cable prices also reflect copper suppliers' commercial policies and the competitive environment in the Group's markets. Changes in copper prices have an estimated so-called "recurring" effect and an estimated so called "non-recurring" effect on the Group's performance assessed as part of the monthly internal reporting process of the Rexel Group: i) the recurring effect related to the change in copper-based cable prices corresponds to the change in value of the copper part included in the sales price of cables from one period to another. This effect mainly relates to the Group's sales; ii) the non-recurring effect related to the change in copper-based cable prices corresponds to the effect of copper price variations on the sales price of cables between the time they are purchased and the time they are sold, until all such inventory has been sold (direct effect on gross profit). Practically, the non-recurring effect on gross profit is determined by comparing the historical purchase price for copper-based cable and the supplier price effective at the date of the sale of the cables by the Rexel Group. Additionally, the non-recurring effect on EBITA corresponds to the non-recurring effect on gross profit, which may be offset, when appropriate, by the non-recurring portion of changes in the distribution and administrative expenses. The impact of these two effects is assessed for as much of the Group's total cable sales as possible, over each period. Group procedures require that entities that do not have the information systems capable of such exhaustive calculations to estimate these effects based on a sample representing at least 70% of the sales in the period. The results are then extrapolated to all cables sold during the period for that entity. Considering the sales covered. the Rexel Group considers such estimates of the impact of the two effects to be reasonable. This document may contain statements of future expectations and other forward-looking statements. By their nature, they are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Universal Registration Document registered with the French Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) on March 9, 2020 under number D.20-0111. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of Rexel's future performance, Rexel's actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity as well as development of the industry in which Rexel operates may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this release. The forward-looking statements contained in this communication speak only as of the date of this communication and Rexel does not undertake, unless required by law or regulation, to update any of the forward-looking statements after this date to conform such statements to actual results to reflect the occurrence of anticipated results or otherwise. The market and industry data and forecasts included in this document were obtained from internal surveys, estimates, experts and studies, where appropriate, as well as external market research, publicly available information and industry publications. Rexel, its affiliates, directors, officers, advisors and employees have not independently verified the accuracy of any such market and industry data and forecasts and make no representations or warranties in relation thereto. Such data and forecasts are included herein for information purposes only. This document includes only summary information and must be read in conjunction with Rexel's Universal Registration Document registered with the AMF on March 9, 2020 under number D.20-0111, as well as the consolidated financial statements and activity report for the 2019 fiscal year which may be obtained from Rexel's website (www.rexel.com). Attachment Bureaucrats have offered a raft of suggestions to the Central government to combat the raging coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic such as determining a geospatial risk radius, turning shipping containers into intensive care units (ICUs), transforming stranded migrant labourers into human capital and using a unique disinfecting formulation called Medecide Antiviral Conversion Spray (MACS). The suggestions have been compiled in a report by CARUNA, the Civil services Association Reach to support National disasters, comprising 29 Central and All India Service Associations, which was submitted to cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba on Wednesday. It is a compilation of various reports, said Sanjeev Chopra, vice-president, IAS Association. It is a collective effort that required enormous collaboration. Many people from 29 associations, who are a part of CARUNA, have contributed to it, he added. The 28 ideas for action that have been suggested by the bureaucrats can be broadly categorised under agriculture, medical equipment, public grievances, migrant labour-related issues and lockdown easing policies. The group has recommended determining a geospatial risk radius in a bid to limit activity and avoid exposure to SARS-CoV-2, which causes the disease, as part of lockdown easing solutions. Movement relaxation should be determined according to this radius that was calculated by correlating population density with respect to active cases. For example, the population density of Himachal Pradesh is eight million with a population density of 144 per square kilometres and Covid-19 positive cases of 11 (assuming 10x, ie 110 undetected cases) --- this means the risk of encountering an active case is in a radius of 12.7 kilometres from a given location, the report said. If an area has zero known cases, a risk of one in 200,000 has to be assumed and limit movement to 21 kilomteres for the first 14 days of relaxation, it added. It has recommended reducing the number of workdays and introducing flexible-timing for Central government offices. Shifts and incentives for officials coming to work, including enhanced life insurance coverage, and work from home for those staff, who are considered non-essential, has also been recommended. Collection of a crop at a local level and rapid payment to farmers to ensure the availability of food and income... This will serve two purposes. Financial security to the local farmers and to the migrants who are living there, the report suggested for the agriculture sector. District-wise helplines to help farmers sell their produce, storage issues and up to 10 lakh loan for dedicated agencies who would procure fruits and vegetables directly from farmers and ensure a fair price for farmhands and consumers have been recommended. The report suggested CURA (Connected Units for Respiratory Ailments) using shipping containers as ICUs and also the production of low-cost ventilators. Industry heavyweights, including Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Kalyani Group, and Hyundai India, have been asked to explore the possibility of reconfiguring their plants to produce ventilators. Mahindra and Mahindra is working on an indigenous low- cost device, it said. A unique disinfecting formulation called Medecide Antiviral Conversion Spray (MACS) for Covid-19 has been earmarked as game-changer for India. It is water-based and easy to apply with traditional equipment and methods, including fogging and spray that lasts for 28 days. Medicide provides a new and unprecedented means of attack on the environmental spread of infectious diseases by binding to surfaces where applied, allowing the disinfectant molecules to actively fight and kill new pathogens that touch the surface, on a continuing basis. It kills the virus for 28 days after application and deters the contagion, the report said. CARUNA also recommended the training of the second line of health workers to counter the pandemic. The group made a separate suggestion for vulnerable communities such as stranded migrant labourers, forest dwellers and fishing communities. Migrant labourers can be used for the making of masks, construction of isolation facilities and movement of medical supplies after they undergo proper training, the report added. The group has also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to appeal to those, who have savings of 5 lakh and above, to contribute at least 10,000 to the Prime Ministers Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM CARES) Fund. CARUNA suggested that the PM requests citizens to donate at least 10% of their earnings from fixed deposits earned last year to the fund. War and unrest around the world have forced over 70 million people from their homes. Up to 10 million live in refugee camps or unofficial settlements. Experts are warning that lack of medical services and low rates of testing for the new coronavirus leave those displaced at risk. Jan Egeland leads the Norwegian Refugee Council. He notes that, Testing is in short supply even in New York and Norway, but it is nonexistent in most of the countries in the (global) south for the people we try to help. The Norwegian Refugee Council recently carried out a study of all 30 countries where the group operates. It found almost no testing of people for the coronavirus before they became sick. In Syrias Idlib province, for example, only a small number of health care centers are equipped to deal with coronavirus cases. The virus has already appeared in Syria, where a nine-year-old civil war has displaced more than 10 million people. The situation there remains very dangerous. More than 900 medical workers have been killed in the fighting. Zaher Sahloul is a Syrian doctor based in the United States. He leads MedGlobal, an international health group. He said it is a miracle that no coronavirus cases have been reported in Idlib province. He noted that the province is home to 4 million people and has 98 ventilators machines that assist patients with breathing. He said an outbreak of the disease COVID-19 would be catastrophic. Many places are far less prepared to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. No doctors can save us There has been little if any testing for the virus at Coxs Bazar in southern Bangladesh. There, more than one million members of Myanmars Rohingya Muslim minority live in the worlds largest refugee camp. Kate White works for the aid group Doctors Without Borders. She said there is very limited testing capacity in Bangladesh and most of it is in the capital, Dhaka, 400 kilometers away. Cases have been reported around Coxs Bazar, but none inside the camp. Humanitarian workers are preparing for the possibility that the virus could come. The United Nations refugee agency is building isolation and treatment centers that can hold 150 to 200 patients. It is giving out soap and talking about how to prevent the spread of the virus. But Sakina Khatun is worried. She lives with her husband and seven children in a small, temporary structure. She warns, The virus will kill everything it touches if it enters the camp. No doctors can save us then, she said. It will certainly come back In parts of Africa, many people also are concerned. In Burkina Faso, for example, 800,000 people have fled attacks by extremists in recent months. Boureima Gassambe and about 600 other people settled in an unused school building near the capital, Ougadougou. There, up to 30 people stay in each room. We ran away from the terrorists and came here, but now theres the coronavirus, and we dont know what will happen, he said. Burkina Fasos health system is weak. It has only 60 emergency care beds and a few ventilators for a population of 20 million. In Kenya, hundreds of thousands of refugees live in camps. John Kiogoro of the International Rescue Committee said there is no coronavirus testing in two of the biggest camps, Kakuma and Dadaab. There are no emergency care rooms or ventilators either. The situation is worse inside neighboring Somalia, where 2.2 million people live in settlements for the displaced. The settlements have no testing areas or equipment to treat those who become infected. In South Sudan, more than 180,000 people live in crowded U.N.-operated camps and depend on aid workers for most of their services. Charles Franzen is with World Relief. He said his aid group is not in a position to do very much. The reality is, if the virus presents itself, we have no choice, he said. Egeland of the Norwegian Refugee Council says the danger faced by refugees is not limited to faraway places, but can affect Europe and the United States. If the pandemic survives in Venezuela or in Honduras or any other of the more vulnerable countries... it will be a permanent risk to the United States, Egeland said. He added that if the virus spreads from Europe to places in Syria, it will certainly come back to Europe. Im Mario Ritter, Jr. Joseph Krauss, Rishabh R. Jain and Cara Anna reported this story for the Associated Press. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. __________________________________________________________ Words in This Story province n. a large division or part of a country miracle n. an unusual or wonderful event believed to be caused by the power of God outbreak n. the sudden appearance of something like conflict or disease in a large area catastrophic adj. a terrible disaster pandemic n. the fast spread of a disease over a large area that affects many people isolation n. the state of being in a place or situation that is separate; the condition of being kept alone soap n. a substance used for washing vulnerable adj. open to attach, harm or damage FILE This file photo from Oct. 3, 2019 shows cranes as they work on construction of the Shell Pennsylvania Petrochemicals Complex and ethylene cracker plant located in Potter Township, Pa. Under mounting pressure from state and local officials, Shell announced it is suspending construction at its massive manufacturing complex in western Pennsylvania. The company said Wednesday, March, 18, 2020 that it's temporarily halting work at its soon-to-be-completed plant which will turn the area's vast natural gas deposits into plastics. The shutdown takes effect immediately. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File) Read more When the global oil giant Royal Dutch Shell finalized its plan for a massive, $6 billion petrochemical plant on the banks of the Ohio River in far western Pennsylvania in the summer of 2016, an ecstatic Gov. Wolf called the scheme a game-changer for the state. READ MORE: SIGN UP: The Will Bunch Newsletter In a series of interviews, the then-first-term Democrat said he was elated" at what he called the largest private investment in the Keystone State since World War II and a reversal of fortune for the beleaguered blue-collar workforce in the greater Pittsburgh region. And Americas fifth-largest state was throwing its own weight behind the project, thanks in large part to a massive tax break for then highly profitable Big Oil icon that had been estimated by experts as worth $1.7 billion over 25 years and which had been approved under Wolfs GOP predecessor Tom Corbett. The state also declared the site a Keystone Opportunity zone another tax break and invested in roads, site development and job training. Four years later, the Shell project seeking to use ethane from fracking sites in Pennsylvania and nearby to make consumer plastics is pushing forward, but other big petrochemical projects that threatened to make the Ohio Valley look, for better or worse, like Houston, appear to be on hold. The fracking industry is bracing for a wave of bankruptcies. Indeed, the whole fossil-fuel industry was looking bad even before the recent stunning collapse of global energy prices for a few remarkable hours, the futures price of a barrel of West Texas crude was less than zero and that will likely have huge economic consequences for Pennsylvania. Instead of a game-changer, was everything the state experienced over the last decade-plus including the thousands of ugly fracking rigs that dotted the rural landscape, and the The Graduate-like touting of one word ... plastics as our future really just a shell game? (Pun intended.) And beyond the shaky economics that at its worst reeks of the subprime mortgage crisis, can there be any moral justification in a time of climate change, and when the world is increasingly littered with plastic gunk, for Pennsylvanias relentless, short-sighted embrace of fossil fuels as its salvation? A report released earlier this month by the Center for International Environmental Law warning the U.S. government that bailing out Big Oil, Gas and Plastics with coronavirus relief dollars would be an unfillable sinkhole spells out why the pipe dream for state officials of plastics plants using fracked-in-Pa. natural gas lining the banks of the Ohio may be just that, a dream. The report argues that industry estimates of an ever-rising global demand for plastic products like those to be manufactured by the Shell ethane cracker and its competitors were bogus even before the pandemic crashed the economy. The whole push to build out this massive infrastructure for new plastic capacity has been driven not by any existing demand for plastics either in the U.S. or in international markets, Carroll Muffett, the president and CEO of CIEL, told me in a phone interview. Its driven by this flood of very cheap gas. The industry had this massive resource and they needed something to do with it. This is the shell (or Shell) game I mentioned earlier. The rise of fracking in the 2000s with more than 10,000 supposedly active wells in Pennsylvanias gas-rich Marcellus Shale formation made America again the worlds largest energy producer. But the laws of supply-and-demand caused prices to plunge and triggered a desperate search for new markets. That meant schemes to ship natural gas abroad the goal of divisive and arguably despised pipeline projects like Sunocos Mariner East 2 cutting through Philadelphias western suburbs or to make plastics here at home. CIELs Muffett said the oil-and-gas industrys faith in this surging demand for consumer plastics was based on theories that Millennials would embrace plastics when in reality this environmentally conscious generation hates them or thered be massive new demand in the Southern Hemisphere, when in fact most African nations banned single-use plastic wrapping even before Europe did. Now, Muffett said hes seeing the industry making a pathetic effort to use the coronavirus crisis and fear of germs to push new uses for plastics. Theyve even suggested maybe we should shrink-wrap apples and bananas, Muffett said. Good luck with that. The reality is that both job-hungry politicians and greedy Wall Street investors have been engaged in years of magical thinking, convincing themselves there was an ever-rising demand for fossil fuels even as the ticking of the climate-change bomb grew louder. The journalist Bethany McLean famous for her role in exposing Enrons financial con job 20 years has found some of the same dubious accounting practices in the steady growth of U.S. oil-and-gas production, leading to a wave of bankruptcies (even before the recent price plunge) and more misery looming, with a staggering $100 billion in debt accumulated by wildly optimistic drillers coming due the next four years. In reality, the dream was always an illusion, and its collapse was already underway, she wrote in the New York Times as the coronavirus hammer fell. Some estimate that 70 percent of Americas shale drillers will go bankrupt, with massive layoffs. Here in Pennsylvania, while the Shell ethane cracker is steadily rising and with state officials even allowing some limited construction to resume despite the coronavirus shutdown other plastics plants on the drawing board for western Pennsylvania or nearby may never be built. READ MORE: Only Pa. Legislature could have a Climate Caucus that wants 20 more years of fracking | Will Bunch One has to wonder, though, when Pennsylvanias political leaders will catch on to the new reality. Although its been forgotten amid the global pandemic, the governor and his progressive-on-everything-except-fracking lieutenant governor, John Fetterman, are still technically pushing a plan to fund the states desperately needed infrastructure projects through a 20-year tax on fracking. That would mean a Keystone State locked into fossil-fuel production well beyond the date that scientists say it needs to be dramatically curtailed to prevent climate catastrophe. Of course, Pennsylvanias Republicans are even worse on fracking. Top GOP lawmakers are still insisting they will try later this year to override Gov. Wolfs veto of House Bill 1100, a measure aiming to give even more taxpayer subsidies hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars to petrochemical plants like the Shell facility, were they to ever be built here. The economic stupidity of measures like this is only topped by the amorality, in an era when the planet is already grossly polluted by literally trillions of tiny plastic nurdles of the type that would be produced by Shell and by a massive wad of floating gunk in the Pacific. Enough already! Its way past time for Pennsylvanias political establishment to end the corporate welfare and let the actual free market of capitalism have its way with the dying fossil fuel industry. Its harder work than signing off on tax breaks written by your lobbyist pals, but both Wolf, who has been just OK on alternative energy, and the AWOL Legislature need to fully embrace wind and solar and the real, lasting jobs that could be created in that sector, as opposed to the paper fantasies of Wall Street kleptocrats. When Less Than Zero is no longer an Elvis Costello deep cut but the actual price of Texas crude, that ought to be your wake-up call. The age of fossil fuels in Pennsylvania is finally over. Columnists note: Fossil fuels may be over but The Will Bunch Newsletter is just beginning. If you havent signed up for your weekly fix, what have you been waiting for? It only takes 5 seconds and you can do it right here. This coming week, youll learn my surprisingly outside-the-box idea for bringing America back together after the divisiveness of the 2010s. What is it? Find out by signing up at inquirer.com/bunch. READ MORE: SIGN UP: The Will Bunch Newsletter It will be a Ramadan unlike any other in recent memory, said Abdullah Jaber. With COVID-19 spreading across the United States and the world, the Islamic holy month marked by communal prayer and large gatherings of friends and family, will take on a more sombre note. There is an element of sadness and loss, said Jaber, executive director of the Georgia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Georgia), that so many of the things that we are so used to enjoying and looking forward to within the month of Ramadan, we cant. Houses of worship across the country mosques, churches, synagogues, temples shuttered weeks ago to prevent the spread of the highly contagious novel coronavirus, which leads to COVID-19. In Georgia, some of those social distancing measures are slowly lifting and this week, Governor Brian Kemp gave religious leaders permission to hold in-person services again, so long as congregants can maintain a safe distance between them. However, according to Jaber, the idea of reopening mosques is just too risky. The very nature of congregation, its very intimate, its very up close and thats what makes it even more dangerous, he told Al Jazeera on Thursday, a day before the first day of Ramadan fasting is set to take place in many countries around the world. Jaber said Georgia has not yet hit its peak of COVID-19 cases, and to reopen as of now, there could be a great spike, a much higher loss of life. For that reason, most mosques which Jaber said number about 100 across Georgia, where less than 1 percent of the population is Muslim will remain closed for the duration of Ramadan. Semeera Hassen prays during Sunday prayers at the Atlanta Masjid of Al Islam mosque in Atlanta, Georgia. [File: Branden Camp/AP Photo] Religious organisations in several US states with exemptions to stay-at-home orders have also made the same decision as the fight to contain COVID-19 continues. Were trying to bend that curve, and were trying to protect lives, said Jaber. Incremental reopening Kemp, Georgias governor, on April 20 announced plans to incrementally and safely reopen sectors of our economy. He said the move came as a result of enhanced coronavirus testing capacity and a stable number of COVID-19 cases across the state, and it was made with the approval of healthcare professionals. According to the department of public health, reports of emergency room visits for flu-like illnesses are declining, documented COVID-19 cases have flattened and appear to be declining, and we have seen declining emergency room visits in general, Kemp told reporters. He said that, among other businesses, gyms, bowling alleys, tattoo parlours and barber shops would be allowed to reopen as of April 24. In-person religious services could also resume, Kemp said, in accordance with strict social distancing protocols. I urge faith leaders to continue to help us in this effort to keep their congregations safe by heeding the advice of public health officials. Of course, online, call-in and drive-in services remain a good option for religious institutions, he said. A series of right-wing rallies have been held in several US states, with protesters demanding a lifting of stay-at-home orders designed to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. The virus has killed more than 46,000 people across the country, according to Johns Hopkins University. US President Donald Trump has advocated for starting up the economy again. In mid-April, he unveiled his three-phased Opening Up America Again plan to guide state and local officials in getting people back to work. But even Trump disagrees with Kemps decision to reopen the state this week. Only in timing, I disagree, the president said on Wednesday, as reported by The Washington Post. I want him to do what he thinks is right, but I disagree with him on what hes doing. Criticism widespread In Georgia, a public health emergency was declared on March 14, and Kemp issued a state-wide shelter-in-place order on April 2 amid a surge in COVID-19 cases. Less than a week later, he extended the public health emergency until May 13. But Kemp has said that the shelter-in-place order would expire on April 30 as planned. The state had more than 21,100 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 846 people had died as of April 22, according to the public health agency. The decision to reopen has been slammed by local leaders, including the mayor of Atlanta, the state capital and largest city. As I look at the data and as I talk with our public health officials, I dont see that its based on anything thats logical, Keisha Lance Bottoms told CNN this week. She said Georgias COVID-19-related death rate was up almost 14 percent, while positive tests were up almost 7 percent. The state has also not been testing asymptomatic individuals or those with mild symptoms. You have to live to be able to fight another day and so when were talking about this economic pull of getting to recovery, if were not alive on the other side of it, then there wont be a recovery to be had, she said. Other religious leaders have also criticised the plan, urging congregations to keep their doors closed despite the governors go-ahead. The North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church on April 20 asked churches not to gather through May 13, the date Georgias public health emergency expires. It said it would provide directives next week for re-opening our church facilities when the time comes that we can safely do so. Bishop Reginald T Jackson of the Sixth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church also said the governor was prematurely opening the state and putting communities at risk. We must value the life and safety of people especially minorities as this virus is killing us at an alarming rate. We must flatten the curve, he wrote on Facebook on April 22. Focus on family Jaber at CAIR said that despite the challenges that COVID-19 poses, the Muslim community was adapting. Many mosques have shifted their religious services online, and Muslim organisations are hosting webinars and digital events on social media to help people stay connected during Ramadan, he explained. Some groups have also partnered with local restaurants and built up food pantries to feed needy families, and that will continue throughout the holy month. We have faith and weve seen it bring the best out of our communities, Jaber said. He urged community members to use the month to reconnect with the ones they hold dear. Its going to be a very family-oriented month, which many of us may not have been afforded prior [to this] because of work and many other commitments, Jaber said. No matter what the circumstances have been or are or will be, weve always found ways to come out better and stronger, and in the most creative ways. [April 23, 2020] Box Supports USDA's Secure Remote Work and Digital Engagement with Farmers and Producers Box (News - Alert), Inc. (NYSE: BOX), a leader in cloud content management, today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farm Production and Conservation (FPAC) selected Box to power the organization's secure remote work initiatives and help digitize operations within 2,500 farm service centers across the country. The mission of the USDA's Farm Production and Conservation mission area (FPAC), which houses the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Risk Management Agency, is to provide programs and services for our nation's farmers, ranchers, and private forest managers. FPAC agencies implement programs designed to mitigate the significant risks of farming through crop insurnce services, conservation programs and technical assistance, and commodity, lending, and disaster programs. Box supports FPAC's efforts to: Enable employees to connect with farmers and producers digitally, Accept and review applications and share and sign loan and insurance documentation, Transition operations to digital in a matter of weeks, Ensure the security and privacy of sensitive personal and financial information, and Enable the next generation of remote work culture. "The USDA's mission is vital to ensuring the nation's farmers and producers can continue to support the country's needs, especially in the face of the global COVID-19 epidemic," said Sonny Hashmi, Managing Director of Global Public Sector at Box. "The agency is a leading example of how the public sector can modernize IT infrastructure and digital workplace practices to power secure remote collaboration and real-time access to information. We are proud to work with USDA and support the continuity of its programs during this dynamic time." Box is FedRAMP compliant and received Department of Defense SRG Impact Level 4 Authorization by the Defense Information Systems Agency (News - Alert) (DISA). With today's announcement, the USDA Farm Production and Conservation joins leading global organizations that have moved to Box to power new ways of working, including the USDA Forest Service, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Justice, and the District of Columbia Government. About Box Box (NYSE:BOX) is a leading Cloud Content Management platform that enables organizations to accelerate business processes, power workplace collaboration, and protect their most valuable information, all while working with a best-of-breed enterprise IT stack. Founded in 2005, Box simplifies work for leading organizations globally, including AstraZeneca, General Electric, JLL, and Morgan Stanley. Box is headquartered in Redwood City, CA (News - Alert), with offices in the United States, Europe, and Asia. To learn more about Box, visit http://www.box.com. To learn more about how Box powers nonprofits to fulfill their missions, visit Box.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005218/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] New Canaan Director of Emergency Management Michael Handler provided more information about how, and where face masks for protection against the coronavirus will be distributed in New Canaan, and new information about plans to re-open the walking trails in the towns parks, and have a re-designed Farmers Market as a drive-thru market, in his nightly call to residents Wednesday night, April 22, 2020. Before providing the information though, he expressed gratitude to the town, and its residents as a whole, and issued explained a precaution along with with some positive data. We continue to do a terrific job at slowing the spread of the coronavirus and I want to thank you because I know that this comes at a significant price. For the past few weeks, your emergency operations team has been focused on safe and effective ways to safely re-engage, Handler said in his call. I trust you all are well aware that this will ultimately occur in a very controlled and methodical manner. I can assure you that the last thing any of us wants is to re-engage too quickly and risk a spike in infection rates. It is worth noting that while we are encouraged by recent declines in local intensive care bed census, our local hospitals are still operating well above their normal capacity. With this context in mind, I cautiously share the following: Details of New Canaans Face Mask Distribution, Handler also said. The face masks will be distributed in Waveny Park on Saturday, April 25, 2020, between 9 a.m., and 3 p.m. The town has allocated time slots based on different elementary school districts in New Canaan. Residents living living in the South School District will be able to obtain their face masks between 9 and 11 a.m., on Saturday. Residents living in the East School District will be able to obtain their face masks between 11 a.m., and 1 p.m., also on Saturday. Residents living in the West School District will be able to obtain their face masks between 1 and 3 p.m., on Saturday as well. RELATED: New Canaan Director of Emergency Management Michael Handlers Nightly Call to Residents for Wednesday, April 22, 2020 Residents can check which district their home is in by going to the towns website, at www.newcanaan.info, and clicking on the COVID-19 link. The coronavirus causes COVID-19. COVID-19 is a disease. Each vehicle that comes to Waveny Park during the times face masks are being distributed should ideally have one family member Handler also said. They will be instructed to roll down their rear passenger window, and then the face masks will be dropped ino their vehicles. Each vehicle will also receive four simple face masks. There will be no exceptions, Handler also said. Handler also talked about plans for seniors, and those at-risk residents for obtaining face masks. The safest place for our seniors and at-risk residents is in their homes, he also said. We have and continue to supply this segment of our population with masks and they do not need to visit Saturdays distribution site to pick up (face) masks, Handler also said. Seniors, and at-risk residents who are in need of a face mask, should call the New Canaan Health Department at (203) 594-3037, and we will arrange to deliver you a mask, Handler also said. We know that no matter that no matter how well we plan this distribution project, challenges will emerge. We thank you in advance for your patience and understanding, Handler also said. RELATED: New Canaan Disposable Face Mask Distribution Information on the towns website Handler also discussed plans to re-open the walking trails in the parks in New Canaan. You will be pleased to learn that we have been working on plans to re-open our walking trails in our parks to New Canaan residents. Additionally, we have re-designed New Canaans Farmers Market and hope it can open on May 9th as a drive-thru market, he also said. We will continue to bring you additional details in the days to come. I know that it appears as if this message demonstrates a shift in our focus. Mitigating the spread of the coronavirus is still a top priority. That being said, we are looking ahead and hope that by sharing our plans in advance we can all be on the same page when the time comes to re-emerge in a controlled manner, Handler finished his call for the night saying. On 26 March, Fayez Al-Sarraj, prime minister of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA), launched operation Peace Storm against the Libyan National Army (LNA) under the command of Benghazi-based Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. In two weeks, the operation has succeeded in recapturing the western coastal zone from Tripoli to the border with Tunisia. It then turned its attention to Tarhuna. The strategically located city, 65 kilometres southeast of Tripoli, is a forward staging point for the LNA in the Flood of Dignity campaign that Haftar launched just over a year ago with the aim of recapturing the Libyan capital. During the past year, the lines between the two sides have remained largely unchanged. The long LNA siege has been unable to break GNA defences around the capital, which have been heavily bolstered following a highly controversial military cooperation agreement between the GNA and Ankara. Turkish military support, in contravention of the international arms embargo, has helped shift the balances on the field in favour of GNA militias which, while outnumbering Haftars forces, had been less equipped. Now that the GNA forces have taken the initiative, observers see a turning point in the war that could shift its focus away from Tripoli and towards the east, especially in light of the LNAs loss, last week, of Sabrata, Al-Ajailat, Surman, the towns of Gemayel, Riqdalin and Al-Assa near the border with Tunisia. For over a year, these western coastal towns had been a major source of social and tribal support for Haftars forces. The air force base in the Jafara district to the southwest of Tripoli, which Haftars forces had used to support his ground forces, is now nearly surrounded, eliminating it as a strategic asset in his operations to the southeast of Tripoli. GNA militias have also acquired air superiority thanks to Turkish drones. The purpose of the GNA offensive against Tarhuna, which began this weekend, is to cut off support for LNA forces on the outskirts of the capital and force them to withdraw. During the past two weeks, Turkish drones have intensified attacks against LNA supply lines from the Jafara district and other supply routes through the desert. The GNA launched its recent offensive despite repeated UN calls for a humanitarian truce in order to unify efforts in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Libya so far has 48 recorded infections, according to UN sources in Libya. Civilians, in general, continue to suffer from hostilities in the vicinity of the capital which have claimed hundreds of civilian casualties (over 350 dead and 330 wounded) and more than 345,000 displaced persons since Haftar launched the Tripoli offensive on 4 April last year. Al-Sarraj claims Operation Peace Storm is in response to the LNAs constant violations of the truce and to repeated terrorist attacks against civilians. He also stated that he heads a legitimate civilian government that respects its obligations to the international community, but that it has the prior obligation to its people and the need to protect them within the framework of the legitimate right to self-defence within the bounds of international law, according to a press statement from his office. The statement continued: The systematic bombardement of residential neighbourhoods in Tripoli has not stopped despite the truce and has caused civilian casualties, including women and children, heedless of the UN Security Council resolution, in disregard for the resolutions of the Berlin Conference and in contempt for the lives and security of the Libyan people. Peace Storm was to avenge the victims of the invading terrorist militias and the terrorist mercenaries fighting with them, the statement added, referring to the LNA. According to sources close to GNA forces, their commanders are determined to push LNA forces away from the outskirts of the capital by Ramadan in order to enable hundreds of displaced families to return to their homes and alleviate the pressures on the centre of the capital where these families have sought refuge. LNA command reports that its forces continue to hold their ground in the vicinity of Tripoli and Tarhuna and that they have repelled GNA offences in both areas. LNA Spokesman General Ahmed Al-Mismari also mentioned that his forces have downed a number of Turkish drones. On the other hand, observers have noted that LNA air forces have been noticeably absent from the battle in the vicinity of Tripoli in recent weeks, despite losses in their ranks. Mismari seemed to underplay the strategic significance of the loss of the western coastal towns. He held that this was achieved solely due to Turkish military support for the GNA. The Libyan army is fighting an all-out war against the Turkish Army, with all its land, sea, air and electronic strength, he said in a press conference Wednesday, 16 April. Speaking in Benghazi on Sunday, Mismari said: Turkey had been preparing for months and mobilising personnel and equipment to carry out the attack on Tarhuna south of Tripoli. Confirming that LNA forces downed five Turkish drones that were preparing to attack Tarhuna, he added that these forces were able to deprive the GNA of its air capabilities that were used in the attack on Sabratha. He also reciprocated Al-Sarrajs terrorist charges: The Al-Sarraj government (GNA) funds terrorist groups in the southwest with Turkish sponsorship, which have been monitored by LNA reconnaissance... Turkey and Al-Qaeda are behind the movement of militias in all regions of Libya. Meanwhile, to the east of Tripoli and Tarhuna, LNA and GNA forces have been skirmishing in the open desert area south of Misrata using heavy artillery and drones. Dozens of fighters from both sides have died in the clashes in which GNA forces claim to have downed an LNA helicopter, killing its crew, Wednesday. The LNA, for its part, claims to have downed a Turkish drone in the vicinity of Al-Washka, southeast of Misrata. It differs from the usual Turkish drones, Mismari said. The LNA has also begun to patrol areas in southwestern Libya in anticipation of hostile actives targeting the LNA and petroleum facilities in that part of the country where the local populace suffers shortages in basic goods and services. A number of political activists in southern Libya have called for the creation of a political body to advocate the rights of this marginalised region. Local sources also reported that the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) plans to launch a television station addressing the region which observers fear may soon become engulfed in the warfare in Libya. The area has long suffered instability as the result of porous borders and the proliferation of foreign fighters and militant opposition groups from Chad and Sudan, many of whose members have been involved in the fighting in the vicinity of Tripoli, as has been documented in reports by UN Security Council committees of experts on Libya and Sudan. *A version of this article appears in print in the 23 April, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: NSW has recorded seven new cases of coronavirus on Friday, with 7200 tests conducted on Thursday. Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the state was "really ramping up" the number of COVID-19 tests conducted each day and was now aiming for at least 8000 tests a day. "I'm very pleased to announce NSW is now saying to anybody across the state, if you have symptoms, if you are worried you have the COVID-19, if you have been in contact with anyone and you are concerned you have the disease, please come forward and get tested. We are increasing the testing to include everybody across the state," she said. Ms Berejiklian said people should not be deterred from being tested for coronavirus on the weekend, when health officials often saw a dip in numbers. WILMINGTON, N.C., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Next Glass (the "Company"), a leading global provider of software to the beverage alcohol industry, today announced a significant growth investment by affiliates of Providence Strategic Growth ("PSG"), the growth equity affiliate of Providence Equity Partners, a premier asset management firm focused on the media, communications, education, software and services industries. The investment aims to fuel product innovation and growth for the Company's consumer-facing platforms Untappd, BeerAdvocate, and Untappd Live! as well as its business products, including Untappd for Business and Untappd Marketplace. The investment also intends to support the Company's pursuit of add-on acquisitions of technology platforms serving beverage alcohol producers, wholesalers, resellers and consumers. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. "PSG's impressive track record of partnering with category-leading software businesses and supporting continued growth, both organically and through acquisitions, made the firm an ideal partner," said Trace Smith, CEO of Next Glass. "Since our founding in 2013, we've been on a mission to advance the beverage industry through the introduction of innovative technologies serving a global audience of millions of consumers and tens of thousands of breweries, bars, restaurants, and other venues. Our team is committed to continuing the development of best-in-class software solutions for our users and business partners and is excited by the prospect of welcoming other pioneering companies into the Next Glass family as we grow." Next Glass's consumer-facing platforms, Untappd and BeerAdvocate, are leading independent sources for beer information, ratings, reviews, and discussion online. Founded by Greg Avola and Tim Mather in 2010, the Untappd app has 8 million users globally that have recorded nearly 1 billion "check-ins". Untappd has been featured on Best Apps lists published by TIME and The New York Times and has been featured in The Economist, TechCrunch and The Ringer. BeerAdvocate, founded in 1996 by Todd and Jason Alstrom, has been a go-to source for information about beer and a benchmark for beer reviews and ratings. BeerAdvocate has hosted its renowned Extreme Beer Fest for 17 years and the platform is focused on growing its Live! division to offer more world-class festivals and events around the world for both the BeerAdvocate and Untappd communities. The Company's SaaS platform, Untappd for Business, is used by nearly 20,000 venues in 75 countries to publish and promote menus for beer, wine, cocktails, and food in print, online, and using in-store digital signage. Additionally, it recently launched Untappd Marketplace, a web-based B2B communication tool connecting alcohol wholesalers and self- distributing breweries and their customers to streamline the alcohol ordering process. PSG's investment will be used to accelerate development progress and go-to-market expansion for both Untappd for Business and Untappd Marketplace. "Trace and the Next Glass team have built an exceptional brand and technology platform, with a passionate consumer base, in a highly fragmented and growing market," said Matthew Stone, Principal at PSG. "We have been impressed by the Company's growing offering and strong value proposition to both SMB and enterprise customers across the globe and are excited to partner with the Next Glass team to further build on their success." In conjunction with PSG's investment, Next Glass has deferred renewals on Untappd for Business subscriptions for existing customers and, for new customers, is offering an immediate 80% off their first month on Untappd for Business, cumulatively representing nearly $2 million of near-term relief for customers during the COVID-19 crisis. "We are grateful for PSG's support in establishing this $2 million Small-to-Medium Sized Business Support Fund. Breweries, bars, restaurants and other pillars of local communities around the world deserve our support during this trying period," added Trace Smith. "We're committed to helping these businesses re-open and expand after restrictions lift." Lumos Partners served as financial advisor to Next Glass. Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP served as legal advisor to PSG, and Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. served as legal advisor to Next Glass. Kurt Taylor, founder of Next Glass and former CEO, and new CEO, Trace Smith, will both continue to serve on the Company's Board of Directors. PSG is Next Glass's sole outside investor. About Next Glass Founded in 2013 by Kurt Taylor, Next Glass develops software and creates experiences that connect enthusiasts, retailers, and producers in the beverage alcohol industry. Its award-winning Untappd mobile application and BeerAdvocate website are used by millions of beer enthusiasts around the world and its menu publishing software tool, Untappd for Business, enables venues to streamline publication and promotion of their beer, wine, cocktail, and food menus. The Company's recently-introduced Untappd Marketplace enables alcohol resellers to streamline ordering of beer, wine, and spirits from wholesalers and self-distributing breweries. The Company recently established its Live! division in late-2019 to produce world class festivals and events for the Untappd and BeerAdvocate communities. The Company is headquartered in Wilmington, NC with offices in Charlotte and Durham, NC. For more information, please visit: www.untappd.com www.untappd.com/business www.beeradvocate.com www.untappd.tv About Providence Strategic Growth Capital Partners L.L.C. Providence Strategic Growth ("PSG") is an affiliate of Providence Equity Partners ("Providence"). Established in 2014, PSG focuses on growth equity investments in lower middle market software and technology-enabled service companies. Providence is a premier global asset management firm that pioneered a sector-focused approach to private equity investing with the vision that a dedicated team of industry experts could build exceptional companies of enduring value. Since the firm's inception in 1989, Providence has invested in more than 180 companies and is a leading equity investment firm focused on the media, communications, education and information industries. PSG is headquartered in Boston, MA, with offices in London and Kansas City. For more information on PSG, please visit www.provequity.com/private-equity/psg, and for more information on Providence, please visit www.provequity.com . Contacts: North 6th Agency for Next Glass Shayla Ridore [email protected] Providence Strategic Growth Hayley Cook / Kate Gorgi Sard Verbinnen & Co. [email protected] SOURCE Next Glass Consumer goods giant Unilever Plc on Thursday pulled its full-year forecast, saying it could not "reliably assess the impact" of the coronavirus pandemic on its business, but said it would pay its quarterly interim dividend as planned. The company said underlying sales for the first three months of the year were flat, as a sharp decline in shopping and restaurant trips in China during much of the quarter offset gains from stay-at-home consumers stockpiling its soups and laundry detergent in Europe and North America. First-quarter turnover rose 0.2% to 12.40 billion euros ($13.42 billion), slightly missing estimate of 12.77 billion euros, according to analysts polled by Factset. "China suffered a significant decline as the lock-down measures restricted out of home eating and shopping trips across much of the quarter," the company said, adding that a lockdown in India from mid-March severely limited the flow of goods and led to a decline in South Asia. The Anglo-Dutch company's report follows strong results from larger rival Procter & Gamble, which last week reported its biggest U.S. sales increase in decades, as Americans stockpiled cleaning essentials before hunkering down in their homes due to coronavirus-related lockdowns. Unilever is reviewing all areas of cash generation and usage as well as re-evaluating all costs in light of the health crisis, Chief Executive Officer Alan Jope said. Moscow, April 23 : Neither the coronavirus nor the blizzard sweeping through Red Square in Moscow could stop Russians from celebrating the 150th birthday of the founder of the Soviet Union, Vladimir Lenin with floral offerings at his mausoleum opposite the Kremlin. "Learn from Lenin! If people before promised to build happiness on Earth, he decided to build paradise on Earth based on justice and work," Gennady Zyuganov, the leader of the modern Communist Party in Russia, told a press conference here on Wednesday. Appearing without a face mask, Zyuganov listed the achievements of who he termed "one of the biggest geniuses in history", reports Efe news. Among those was his campaign against epidemics a century ago in the USSR. "I would advise Russia's modern-day leaders to study Lenin's experience in modernization. There is nothing more amazing. "He changed the world, the course of history and our way of life. Our health system was stand-out. We did not have a single epidemic in the army in the middle of a war. "Learn from Lenin to make quick and energetic decisions." Around a hundred communist politicians came to Red Square despite the quarantine that has kept Russians inside for a month. The Kremlin's federal protection service closed the mausoleum on March 18 but made an exception for communist politicians. It ignored the occasion, as it did in 2017 on the 100th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution. Lenin has been the topic of criticism from President Vladimir Putin in recent years. This Wednesday was not only the 150th anniversary of Lenin's birth but it was also slated to host a referendum on constitutional changes proposed by Putin, which, if passed, would allow him to run again in the 2024 elections in search for a third term. The proposal to extend the number of terms a President can serve in Russia was put forth by Valentina Tereshkova, the first female cosmonaut in history. Putin suspended the referendum following the coronavirus pandemic that has so far infected 57,999 people and killed 513 others. Illawarra inmate Michael Black was stabbed to death in Parklea Correctional Centre on Wednesday A prisoner has been stabbed to death in a jailhouse brawl. Police and emergency services were called to Parklea Correctional Centre around 12pm on Wednesday after reports of an assault at the facility. Illawarra inmate Michael Black was found with multiple stab wounds and was treated by St Vincent's medical staff on site. The 33-year-old died at the scene before paramedics arrived. Black was meant to appear via video link in Wollongong Local Court on Wednesday, though his lawyer was unable to reach him. He was put in jail on February 26 after a burglary at a post office in Berkeley. The Blacktown Advocate reported that a court officer told the court that Parklea prisoners would not appear on the link as the prison 'was in lockdown'. Police have launched an investigation into the incident. A Parklea Correctional Centre spokeswoman said the jail would assist officers with their inquiries. 'Support is being provided to those impacted,' she said. 'We acknowledge that a full understanding will be achieved only through investigations by NSW Police and the Coroner.' This is the second major incident at Parklea in less than three weeks after a riot broke out in the facility on April 3. A brawl involving more than 20 prisoners put the prison into lockdown, with many requiring medical treatment after the incident. Seeking to unite Democrats, Joe Biden has raced to line up supporters ranging from progressive icon Bernie Sanders to former President Barack Obama, whose administration sometimes irked liberals. But the person with the most influence may be Michelle Obama. The former first lady is a unique figure in a deeply polarizing political environment, exceedingly popular with the party faithful while also having some appeal with Republicans and independents. She left the White House with a 68% approval rating, according to Gallup polling. She also was named the most admired woman in the world for the second year in a row in a Gallup poll from December. And her memoir, Becoming, has sold more than 11 million copies worldwide since its November 2018 release, making it one of the bestselling political memoirs in history. Her book tour filled arenas with thousands of cheering fans. That type of energy could be critical for Biden, who is trying to build momentum for his campaign at a time when the coronavirus is dominating headlines. Michelle Obama could help Biden present a clear contrast with President Donald Trump and rebuild the multiracial, multigenerational coalition that twice put Barack Obama in the White House. She brings to the table not just her own experience of being an active and well-respected first lady but, at a time when the country is looking for leadership and looking for role models, she fills so many gaps, said Democratic strategist Donna Brazile. I can only imagine what her endorsement would mean to the former vice president. Like most Americans, Michelle Obama is staying at home, along with her husband and daughters Malia and Sasha, who are back from college. She has not yet weighed in on the 2020 campaign, though a person close to her said theres little doubt she supports Biden. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss Michelle Obamas thinking. An endorsement does not appear imminent. Biden campaign aides who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss possible scenarios said they want to ensure that any announcement lands with the biggest impact possible. Bidens team sees Michelle Obama as a major endorser in her own right, with an appeal distinct from Barack Obama that would justify her own spotlight when, and if, she chooses to announce an endorsement, according to a Democrat with knowledge of the dynamics but not authorized to speak publicly. Thats partly why Barack Obamas endorsement stood alone last week amid similar announcements from Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, two of Bidens former top rivals. The Obama and Biden families grew close during their White House years, and Bidens advisers say Michelle Obama is someone who can speak credibly about Bidens personal traits, further connect him to the Obama legacy and highlight differences with Trump. Even so, Michelle Obama does not see herself as a political figure and has repeatedly said she has no desire to run for office. She has campaigned for candidates, including 2016 presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, but only during the final weeks before an election. She has never announced an endorsement of her own. In 2018, she and the ex-president jointly endorsed nearly 100 Democratic candidates in federal and state races. The general election really hasnt even gotten going yet, said Valerie Jarrett, a longtime friend and adviser to Mrs. Obama, suggesting that its too early for talk about her possible endorsement. Jarrett said her friends focus right now is on When We All Vote, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization she co-founded with actor Tom Hanks and other celebrities in 2018 to help increase voter turnout. After Wisconsin voters had to choose between staying at home or risking their health to vote in this months primary, When We All Vote publicly backed expanding vote by mail, early in-person voting and online voter registration to make voting easier and safer. Putting people in that position is unacceptable, especially when leaders like us dont have to do that, Michelle Obama told more than 21,000 supporters who joined a virtual When We All Vote event Monday night. She and Barack Obama have voted by mail in every election in the past decade, she said. Over the weekend, she appeared with former first lady Laura Bush during a concert organized to support health care workers and the World Health Organization. And this week, she launched Mondays with Michelle Obama, a four-week series in which she reads popular childrens books aloud online. Michelle Obama continues to work on her education initiatives for girls in developing countries and for U.S. high school seniors. Karen Finney, who advised Clintons 2016 campaign, said Michelle Obamas voice could be very powerful and carry tremendous weight as Biden considers a running mate. Biden has committed to putting a woman on the ticket, and some want him to choose a black woman, considering that South Carolinas largely black electorate helped revive Bidens campaign in late February. Theres no question that her endorsement would carry a lot of weight with voters, said Finney. New Delhi, April 23 : Highlighting the plight of the daily wagers, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said, here on Thursday, during the crisis the priority of the government should be to protect the livelihood and the poor. "The daily wage labourers are suffering from starvation during the lockdown. No problem is solved with anger and hatred. In this crisis, the protection of food and livelihood should be the priority of the government," Gandhi tweeted. He also attached a news report to the tweet that quoting the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said the number of people facing acute food insecurity could nearly double this year to 265 million due to the economic fallout of Covid-19. On March 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced 21-day nationwide lockdown and extended it by 19 more days till May 3. On Thursday, according to the Union Health Ministry, the number of Covid-19 cases in India rose to 21,700 with 686 people losing their lives and 4,324 people cured. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 00:23:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JUBA, April 23 (Xinhua)--South Sudan's young artists have embarked on inserting catchy murals on street walls as part of a campaign to raise awareness about the COVID-19 pandemic. The youth who are part of "Ana Taban" art initiative brings together painters, poets, musicians, fashion designers and cartoonists to promote awareness on the disease through paintings. Manasseha Mathiang, the Initiative coordinator who is also Ana Taban team leader, said the group on Tuesday launched a campaign dubbed #WagifCorona, which means "Stop Corona" to counter misinformation, myths and hate speech about COVID-19 pandemic through visual arts. Citizens are getting inadequate information about COVID-19 pandemic that has been exacerbated by ignorance and hesitation of the population to take precautions seriously, said Mathiang, adding that they are using arts to express right messages in visual form. The 35-year-old artist said the COVID-19 pandemic poses a huge threat hence the need for the youth in South Sudan to unite with health experts and confront it with vigor. "Being a body that brings hundreds of artists who are influential in the society, we have tasked ourselves to play a role to do three major things, namely sanitizing communities about COVID-19 preventive messages," Mathiang told Xinhua. He said the group is using visual arts to depict community-wide steps that are needed to increase physical distancing as an effective means to contain the spread of the virus. "We are using this campaign to fight misinformation through arts as our primary tool in disseminating accurate information. So far our artists have started drawing murals on the street walls," said Mathiang. "We made a call on social media for citizens to play a role in the campaign by also donating their walls. Just give us your walls so that the passerby in your community can have a chance to see the messages," he added. Mathiang said the youthful campaigners are also using music to sensitize civilians about the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that they plan to have a live performance on Facebook to showcase music, spoken word and comedy touching on the importance of personal hygiene to curb further spread of the virus. "The performance will portray messages that encourage the public to frequently wash their hands with soap, and keep a social distance," said Mathiang. He said the campaign started in the capital Juba but will later proceed to other parts of the country including refugee camps. South Sudan has reported four COVID-19 cases and authorities have put measures in place to contain the spread of the virus, including a night-time curfew, and banning all large public gatherings. Enditem The NHS 111 call service has come under fire from the grieving daughter of a pensioner who died after contracting coronavirus. Ali Kiraz Ozel, 66, passed away at home in Southend, Essex, in the early hours of April 10, after his wife twice called the non-emergency helpline for advice. On the second occasion, the call handler was warned Mr Ozel, who had diabetes and high blood pressure, was 'suddenly very breathless'. But they say that no ambulance was sent to assist Mr Ozel, who died hours later. Now Mr Ozel's daughter, Sevtap Ahmet, 40, has criticised the NHS 111, saying her father should have been 'red-flagged' as a high risk case and an ambulance should have been sent to help. A spokesperson for the service said the complaint would be investigated. Ali Kiraz Ozel (pictured centre), 66, passed away at home in Southend, Essex, in the early hours of April 10, after his wife twice called the non-emergency helpline to ask about his health Mr Ahmet (pictured with his wife) was born in Turkey and had lived in the UK for 40 years, running a pizza and kebab takeaway before he retired Sevtap Ahmet (pictured) has made a complaint to the NHS 111 service following the death of her father. The NHS is investigating the complaint Ms Ahmet said: 'I think he should have been red-flagged. He should have been considered high risk. 'They should have sent for an ambulance. Most definitely on April 9 when my mum called. How and when you should contact the NHS if someone you live with shows coronavirus symptoms According to the NHS, there is currently no specific treatment for COVID-19. But the NHS advises people can often ease symptoms at home until they or the person they live with recovers. Those showing symptoms are advised to rest or sleep, to drink plenty of water and to take paracetamol or ibuprofen to lower your temperature if you are uncomfortable. On its website, the NHS says it is 'important to get medical help if your symptoms get worse'. The website directs people to the NHS 111 online service, where you can get advice by entering details online, if 'you feel you cannot cope with your symptoms at home' or 'your symptoms get worse and you're not sure what to do'. People are urged only to call the 111 helpline if they cannot get help online. Those with coronavirus symptoms are being told not go to a GP, pharmacy or hospital. Source: NHS 111 Online Advertisement 'He's 66, he's overweight, he's got blood pressure issues, diabetes, there's somebody in the house who previously had the symptoms. 'He should have been cause for concern in my view.' The family say Mr Ozel developed a new cough on April 7 and 'was coughing continuously overnight', so his wife called 111 on April 8. She said they were told his blood pressure medication was exacerbating his cough, so he was prescribed antibiotics instead. 'He actually coughed less that evening but on April 9 he deteriorated and when my mum called for 111 they said to wait 24 hours and see if the antibiotics would kick in,' Mrs Ahmet said. But she said his condition worsened and Mr Ozel died in the early hours of April 10 of a heart attack caused by Covid-19. She said she filed a complaint to the service on Wednesday. She added: 'I don't know whether he needed a ventilator but he obviously needed some sort of help or treatment. 'I'm not even saying that had he gone in he would have come out alive, but he wasn't even given that chance for extra care. 'I wouldn't want somebody else to go through this.' Mr Ahmet was born in Turkey and had lived in the UK for 40 years, running a pizza and kebab takeaway before he retired. His daughter added: 'He was quite a bubbly person, friendly, funny, a real family man. 'He didn't really care for possessions and things, it was all about family, making sure we were all looked after, that we had everything that we needed, and he just loved his grandchildren.' A spokesman for NHS 111 in Essex said in a statement to MailOnline: 'We would encourage anyone who has any concerns about the advice they have received from our service to raise them with us directly so they can be fully and properly investigated, and so that we can then immediately act on them.' Today another 616 coronavirus victims were announced in the UK, taking the total number of fatalities in the UK to 18,738. Another 4,583 people have tested positive for the virus in the past 24 hours, meaning 138,078 have now been officially diagnosed. The number of positive tests has remained stable this week and appears to be plateauing. NHS England confirmed a further 514 people have died with COVID-19 and another 102 deaths were announced across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Today's figure marks a fall of 37 per cent from the worst day in Britain's statistics, April 10, when 980 people were confirmed to have died - and is lower than the 759 recorded yesterday. A 51-year-old man in Mira Road was arrested on Wednesday by the police for refusing to accept the grocery delivered by a Muslim man The Mumbai Police on Wednesday arrested a 51-year-old man in Mira Road for refusing to accept groceries delivered by a Muslim on Tuesday, according to several media reports. The 32-year-old delivery person Barkat Patel, a resident of Naya Nagar, reached Mira Road's Srushti Complex on Tuesday to deliver groceries ordered online and called the man's wife, as per a report in Indian Express. The man asked Patel his name and later told his wife to return all the items, as per the report. Patel recorded the rest of the conversation on his mobile phone, in which the man said that he did not want an order from a person from the minority community, as per the Indian Express report. Patel also filed a complaint at the Kashimira Police Station. I have been risking my life and delivering essential goods to homes. And to think that in these tough times too, people want to focus on religion is shocking and saddening, he told The Times of India. The police registered a case under Section 295 (a) (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code. The accused was produced before the Thane sessions court and remanded in judicial custody, as per the report. If convicted, the accused can be punished with imprisonment for up to three years for deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs. With an aim to ensure safety of the frontline staff that has been working on field during the Covid-19 outbreak, the Ludhiana municipal corporation has decided to conduct screening of all its staff members from Monday onwards. The zone-wise screening process will begin from April 27 and the sweepers will be screened first. Currently, there are around 7,000 class-IV employees in the MC including the contractual staff. MC health officer Jasvir Kaur said that the decision has been taken to ensure safety of the field workers. During this process, thermal screening would be conducted to check fever and the employees would be asked if they have Covid-19 symptoms. Meanwhile, the schedule for the screening is being prepared, she added. The decision has been taken as a precautionary measure. The civic body employees especially the sweepers come in contact with many residents while working in the field. Also, the MC employees have been involved in sanitisation of houses and areas from where Covid-19 positive cases have been reported, therefore it is necessary to screen our field workers, MC secretary Neeraj Jain said. There is also fear among the MC employees after assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Anil Kohli, district mandi officer Jasbir Kaur, SHO Basti Jodhewal police station Arshpreet Kaur among others, had tested positive for COVID-19 couple of days ago. It is suspected that ACP Kohli who died after getting infected with the virus, had contracted it while he was deputed at the main vegetable market near Jalandhar bypass. Earlier in the mid of April, the fire brigade also conducted screening of over 100 staff members and quarantined two fire fighters as a precautionary measure. Supermarket staff, healthcare workers and takeaway food staff are among those who should be tested for coronavirus urgently as authorities guard against a secondary outbreak. Director of Health Hub Morayfield north of Brisbane Dr Evan Jones said staff in high risk working environments - as a result of being in contact with large numbers of the public - should be tested immediately to prevent another spike in COVID-19 cases. He says it will take just one asymptomatic essential worker to kickstart a new wave of infections and believes we should take every precaution necessary to keep high risk workers healthy. Occupations affected include supermarket staff, transport workers, health care workers, people who work in food services and retail staff. 'We need to be testing anyone with any possible symptoms and we need to be aware of asymptomatic shedders, those who might be minimally affected or asymptomatic but may be in situations where they are coming into contact with lots of people,' he told The Courier Mail. A doctor has warned that we must keep high-risk workers healthy to avoid a secondary coronavirus outbreak. Pictured: nurses test patients at the Bondi Beach COVID-19 drive-through clinic Australia has been effectively flattening the curve of infection in recent weeks, from 460 daily cases on March 28 to just 12 on April 22 'These include food services, residential aged care workers, bus drivers. I don't think we can emphasise enough, particularly if they have minimal symptoms, that they should come and be tested.' Australia's coronavirus infection rate has decreased dramatically in recent weeks, from 460 new cases on March 28 to just 12 on April 22. WHO ARE HIGH RISK WORKERS? - Supermarket staff - Transport workers, bus/train drivers, ride share drivers - Airline staff - People who work in food services - Health care workers - Receptionists - Hairdressers - Postal and delivery services - Marriage celebrants - Funeral directors - Bottle shop attendants - Personal trainers - Petrol station attendants - Bank tellers - Retail staff Advertisement This is despite testing being ramped up, with more than 12,000 conducted nationwide over the 24-hour period. There are 6,652 cases of coronavirus in Australia as of Thursday morning, with 4,932 recoveries and 74 deaths. Our efforts to flatten the curve have been very successful, with travel bans, social distancing measures, closed borders and business shutdowns slashing the number of new cases each day by up to 90 per cent in less than a month. Stage three restrictions on gatherings and leaving the house without a valid reason brought in on March 31 are expected to crush the curve further over the remainder of April. In order to keep our infection rates low, Dr Jones said we must be incredibly careful to ensure the health of essential workers and urged anyone with symptoms to be tested. 'What we need to be able to do is make sure those people in high risk occupations are in fact negative,' he said. As of Thursday morning Australia has 6,652 cases of coronavirus, with 4,932 recoveries and 74 deaths Supermarket staff who come into contact with many people in their days work could become major spreaders of the deadly disease. Pictured: grocery shoppers wearing face masks in Eastwood in north-western Sydney WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19? - Fever - Sore throat - Persistent cough - Tiredness - Difficulty breathing Advertisement Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the infection rate was a reflection of how seriously Australians were taking distancing orders. 'When it comes to social distancing, quarantine, isolation measures, we'll continue to take the medical advice and that's served Australia well,' he said. Australia's deputy chief medical officer professor Paul Kelly said the promising numbers had led the government to consider easing strict lockdown measures within just three weeks. Bus drivers and transport workers could also be a high risk of spreading the disease if they are asymptomatic. Pictured: a couple wearing face masks pass a bus in Sydney on Tuesday Despite dropping numbers, almost half of Australians say it's too early to be thinking about easing tough social distancing restrictions. Dr Evan Jones believes one asymptomatic essential worker coming into contact with a wide range of the community could cause a new wave of coronavirus cases New polling from Essential Research finds 49 per cent of the 1,051 people surveyed believe it's too early to lift lockdown. More than a quarter said it should be done either within the next month or by the end of May. Just one in 10 wanted the strict rules to be relaxed as soon as possible. Younger Australians aged between 18 and 34 were the most likely to want an early easing, at nearly double the overall rate. NSW residents were also the most eager to get back to life as normal as soon as possible. But more than half of those living in Victoria and Western Australia said it was too soon. Doctor Nguyen Thanh Binh works at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hanoi, which has been treating the largest number of Covid-19 patients in Vietnam. Photo by VnExpress/Chi Le. Doctors at the frontline of Vietnams Covid-19 fight are wearing paper diapers and reducing water intake to minimize cumbersome change of protective clothing. Doctor Nguyen Thanh Binh works as a secretary for the Covid-19 patient treatment team of 150 doctors and nurses at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Hanoi. The 42-year-old Deputy Head of General Planning Department said the medical staff wear protective clothing from top to bottom - surgical blouses, caps, medical gloves and an item hitherto unused - disposable diapers. Each doctors shift typically lasts between four and five hours, but when the Covid-19 epidemic escalated and more and more patients were admitted to the hospital, they began to work 12 hour shifts. The protective clothing they wear gets drenched in sweat after an hour spent on treating patients. Binh said putting on the clothing correctly was difficult enough, but taking it off was even more so because any accidental touch on the outer surface would expose other staff to the pathogens. Each set of clothing set is only worn once, so every trip to the toilet means they would have to change to a new one. "Changing to new set of clothes is time-consuming and expensive. We have to reduce our drinking water intake and wear one set of protective clothing for the entire shift," Binh said. But this would only work for normal shifts. When the number of patients increase and the shifts got longer, the staff thought of using paper diapers to save time. The initiative was coined by a combination of personal experience and those learnt from foreign medical staff, he said. "When we wear paper diapers, we can work and recharge our energy (food and drinks) at ease," Binh said. For doctors in charge of critical cases, being frugal with their time and having white nights are daily requirements. Binh said "Patient 20," a 64-year-old Hanoi woman whose heart stopped a few times in one night, had the entire team stay up all night to care for her. The patients health has shown some improvement recently. She is able to digest food and no longer has a fever. She was confirmed positive on March 7, one day after her 26-year-old niece, Nguyen Hong Nhung, Hanoi's first Covid-19 patient who has been discharged. Treating the patients exposes the medical staff including doctors to the risk of contracting the virus, despite all precautions including protective clothing. Two of Binh's colleagues have got infected while treating critical cases. "Patient 116" was the first doctor to be infected by the novel coronavirus in Vietnam. He works for the emergency ward of the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases in Dong Anh District, Hanoi. The 29-year-old doctor had been involved in the Covid-19 fight since January 31, screening suspected cases and treating those confirmed infected. The second doctor was "Patient 141," also 29 and working at the same hospital. She is said to have contracted the virus when setting up a ventilator for "Patient 28," who is one of the three Covid-19 patients in the country then reported to be in a critical condition. She also came into contact the same day with an infected patient at the hospital. While her colleague was discharged from the hospital on April 7, she is still under treatment. The team treating Covid-19 patients at the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases are on call at all times for emergencies, and have to give up their rare breaks without notice. "If they put on protective clothing then (when they are called), it would be too late, so thats why doctors wear them during their entire shift, even night shifts," Binh said. The National Hospital of Tropical Diseases is Vietnams frontline facility. It has treated over 100 Covid-19 patients, more than anywhere else in the country. The pressure of being on the frontline of the nations Covid-19 fight is enormous on the medical staff. Many have not left the hospital since March 6, the day the second wave of Covid-19 infections hit the country. "We have to work directly with patients, so we cant say we are not concerned," Binh said. "But once we are in the infectious diseases field, we have to make up our mind to do our best and follow all measures to prevent infections as much as possible." Vietnam has gone through a week without any new infection. Of the total of 268 cases recorded so far, only 45 are active, the rest having been discharged from various hospitals. Starting Wednesday midnight, Hanoi and HCMC, placed a "lower risk" classification now, have been allowed to end their 22-day social distancing campaign that began April 1 under the Prime Minister's Directive 16. With a couple of districts still having active Covid-19 patients, Hanoi will have more restrictions in place than Ho Chi Minh City, officials have said. PORTLAND An employee who worked at the Whole Foods Market in Portlands Pearl District has died from COVID-19, a spokeswoman for the company confirmed Wednesday. It's unknown what role the individual had at the store. The person died April 20. Additionally, an employee at the Hollywood location of Whole Foods in Northeast Portland has tested positive for coronavirus. The company spokeswoman didn't release details about what that individual's role was at the store, to protect the person's privacy. The safety of our team members and customers is our top priority and we are diligently following all guidance from local health and food safety authorities. As we prioritize the health and safety of our customers and Team Members, we will continue to do the following to help contain the spread of COVID-19," read a statement from Whole Foods Market. Fred Meyer announced last month that an employee working at its Northeast Glisan store in Portland tested positive for COVID-19 and hadnt been to work since March 10. Earlier this month, WinCo announced that three of its workers in two Oregon stores had tested positive for the coronavirus. Read more Portland-area grocery stores continue to adapt to coronavirus crisis, encouraging customers to shop less often 3 Oregon WinCo workers test positive for coronavirus Fred Meyer to limit number of customers allowed in stores ANZAC Day takes a different form this year, as Australians are asked to privately commemorate the day, in-line with the latest health advice, and to watch the service at the Australian War Memorial. There will also be a range of other commemorative activities that will be broadcast throughout the day. ABC 5am Australia Remembers: Anzac Day 2020 5:30am Anzac Day: National Commemorative Service 6:10am Anzac Dawn Service From Melbourne 6:30am Anzac Dawn Service From Adelaide 7am Weekend Breakfast On Anzac Day 10am Anzac Day: Sydney Commemorative Service 2020 10:30am Weekend Breakfast On Anzac Day 11:30am Anzac Day Reflection 12pm ABC News On Anzac Day 1pm Anzac Day: Gallipoli Centenary Commemoration 2pm Anzac Day: Villers-bretonneux Centenary Commemoration 3pm A Very Short War 3:30pm A Landline Special: The Last Charge 4pm Landlines Anzac Tribute 6:45pm Governor-generals Anzac Day Address 2020 Seven 4:30am Weekend Sunrise Includes ANZAC Day Dawn Services. Special coverage on Anzac Day begins on Seven from 4.30am AEST with an extended edition of Weekend Sunrise. Join hosts Monique Wright and Matt Doran for special coverage of ANZAC Day commemorations beginning with the Dawn Service Live from 4.30am AEST (check local guides). Channel 7 will also broadcast the ANZAC Memorial service in Sydney Live from 10am AEST. Then from midday (Mel, Ade, Per), Sevens Footy Vault harks back to the first modern ANZAC Day clash between Collingwood and Essendon in 1985. During the match, the AFLs annual ANZAC Day ceremony will also be broadcast, including the reciting of the Ode of Remembrance and a lone bugler playing the Last Post to an empty MCG. 7NEWS at 6.00 will have a full wrap of Anzac Day commemorations as well as the days other news from Australia and around the world. This will be followed by a special ANZAC Day edition of The Latest with Michael Usher and Melissa Doyle from 7pm. Nine 5:30am Nine News Special The Melbourne Dawn Service at the Shrine of Remembrance will be broadcast live on Nine from 5.30am tomorrow. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the service will not be open to the public. Hosted by Brett McLeod, our broadcast will feature: A focus on the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII. A formal address from Her Excellency, the Governor of Victoria, the Honourable Linda Dessau. The Governor will also lay a wreath on behalf of all Victorians. RSL Victoria State President Dr Robert Webster OAM will recite the ode. Major General Andrew Bottrell will lay a wreath on behalf of the Australian Defence Force and all current serving personnel. Veteran Mr Daniel Costelloe will lay a wreath on behalf of all veterans. Immediately following our broadcast will be a special edition of Weekend Today, with Anzac Day highlights from across the nation. 6am Weekend Today 1pm Kokoda: The Spirit Lives 9GEM also screens the movies They Who Dare, Sahara, The Cruel Sea, The Dam Busters, Saving Private Ryan. 10 5:30am Studio 10 Presents: ANZAC Day 2020. Hosted by Sarah Harris & Hugh Riminton. The special featuring poignant and uplifting messages from around the world, will cross to reporters in every state to show how Australians are paying their respects in lieu of traditional commemorative events. As the nation honours those who have served or are currently serving Australia, Studio 10 Presents: ANZAC DAY 2020 will check in with official commemorations and ceremonies across the country. Veterans past and present will feature, including renowned commando Damien Thomlinson, appearing live from his driveway. James Morrison will rouse patriotic pride with a rendition of The Last Postand there will be a powerful arrangement of I Was Only 19 by John Schumann. Other guests include Soldier On ambassador James Milliss discussing the supportive community of Australian Defence personnel, plus singer-songwriter and Vietnam veteran Normie Rowe. NITV 8:30pm Never Forget Australia 9:30pm Lest We Forget Aboriginal Women 9:40pm Black Anzac 10:40pm Truth Be Told Lest We Forget A group of foreign students from Nigeria, Pakistan and Kazakhstan studying at Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS) observe the regime of self-isolation from the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) by staying in the Student House of BHOS. The BHOS employees informed these students about the requirements of the Special Quarantine Regime. In addition, foreign students are provided with medical protection means and food as necessary. The resolution with which the medical workers, with the support of our government, are fighting the coronavirus as part of the social isolation measures implemented in our country, has not escaped the attention of the foreign students. They expressed their gratitude to the local medical staff. The students noted that the courage shown by the medical workers, policemen and military men in their fight in their fight against the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), which is spreading rapidly all over the world, should be an example for all people. It should be noted that the foreign students did not leave Azerbaijan for their countries because of the high efficiency of the preventive measures taken by the government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the republic. Twenty days ago, Denise Rivas Garza thought she had a persistent sinus headache. She went to her doctors office for allergy shots and carried on working at a credit union in Odessa. After her headache gave way to a fever, cold sweats and difficulty breathing, the 38-year-old asked to be tested for the novel coronavirus. She found out Easter Sunday that shed tested positive, and her condition worsened at home over the next few days, until a nurse friend pleaded with her to go to the hospital. Rivas Garza was admitted to Odessa Regional Medical Center 14 days after her symptoms began a timespan in which most who have the virus are thought to be recovered and no longer contagious. She spent five days isolated in the hospitals COVID-19 unit unable to see her husband and 17-year-old daughter. She recalled in a phone interview Wednesday that while a tube was inserted into her bronchioles in case she needed to be connected to a ventilator, she read about two patients who died at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa. Until she was diagnosed, Rivas Garza said she never thought it would happen to her. I always thought, Oh, its happening to other people. Its happening to people far away. It might happen to my mom and dad, she said. I asked them to be careful. Never, ever, did it cross my mind that it would happen to me. She said she saw the numbers of those infected read out during news broadcasts and flashed across newspaper headlines but didnt register the seriousness of the virus. The numbers that we saw that were coming up on our Facebook and so forth they were just numbers, she said. They werent faces. Thats why she began uploading videos of her experience to YouTube, to put a face on what has been referred to as an invisible enemy. One video titled How I survived Covid-19 has been viewed more than 5,000 times. Rivas Garza said shes made a point to upload her videos in Spanish as well to make the information accessible to Spanish speakers. Over the two weeks before she was admitted to the hospital, Rivas Garza said she felt at times like she was beating the virus, but those sporadic bursts of energy subsided at night. The night would come, and it was like a sleeping dragon would come in and just attack me, she said. Since being released from the hospital on Saturday, Rivas Garza said shes improved dramatically and is about 99 percent back to her usual self, though at times she still struggles with shortness of breath. Now seven days post-fever, she said Wednesday night would be the first night she could return to sleeping next to her husband, whos been bunkering on the couch. Im excited to be able to touch him. Feel his hand, feel his hugs. Same thing with my daughter, she said. Im excited to be able to get this past us. Rivas Garza has no idea how she contracted the virus and said she tries not to make herself crazy analyzing the thousands of possible scenarios. Was it my husband? Did he bring it home? Was it me being at H-E-B I picked up a lettuce and it was on the lettuce? It could have been me driving to work, she said. I dont know. We were being cautious, we really were. And thats what she wants to emphasize to residents who dismiss the coronavirus as a hoax, or those anxious to re-open businesses and abandon social distancing. Its happening here. Its not just on the TV screen, like a movie that were watching, she said. Its alive. The virus is here and its hurting and killing people. If you dont need to be out, then you stay home dont be selfish. *** Clarification Odessan Denise Rivas Garza, who is recovering from coronavirus, contacted the Reporter-Telegram after the publication of a story about her appeared in Thursdays edition. She said she had not been out in public after she got sick, even though her response to a question by reporter Caitlin Randle indicated that she had. By Trend In accordance with the combat training plan for 2020 approved by the Azerbaijani minister of defense, live-fire training exercises are conducted with the Azerbaijani armed forces mortar battery crews at the training centers and at the firing ranges, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry told Trend. The units, firing at the targets of an imaginary enemy, fulfill the assigned tasks, the ministry added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The WCO is launching its training Handbook on Prevention of Illicit Trafficking of Cultural Heritage (PITCH) in Russian and Spanish, after publishing the first edition of this document in English and French less than a year and a half ago. The translation into Russian was made possible due to the cooperation with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The OSCE also supported the first deployment of the WCO PITCH training in the Russian language, in five Central Asian countries in March 2019. The translation into Spanish was kindly provided by the Spanish Customs administration. The launch of the Russian and Spanish versions of the Handbook also coincides with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the UNESCO 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. The UNESCO 1970 Convention is the first instrument of the international law aimed at the protection of cultural heritage during peacetime. We believe the timing could not be more opportune to demonstrate that the global Customs community takes illicit trafficking of cultural goods seriously, said WCO Secretary General Dr. Kunio Mikuriya. In cooperation with its longstanding partners, the WCO remains committed to keep supporting its Members in the implementation of the provisions of the 1970 Convention and boosting their operational capacity on the ground, added Dr. Mikuriya. Since 2017, in partnership with UNESCO regional offices in Lebanon and Senegal, the WCO has deployed the PITCH training in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and West and Central Africa (WCA) regions. Further deployments in these and other regions are also envisaged. This Handbook is a law enforcement sensitive document available only for the Customs officers who passed the WCO specialized PITCH training. Donors interested in supporting the delivery of PITCH training are encouraged to contact the WCO team. The global deployment of the methods and know-how in the PITCH Handbook will lead to a unified and more efficient Customs response to trafficking in cultural objects. On Earth Day 2020, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection released details on how the state intends to further introduce electric vehicles to Connecticut. The roadmap is intended to serve as a tool in the states effort to improve air quality for residents, while also addressing the climate crisis. Connecticut has ranked poorly in terms of air quality in the country, with an American Lung Association State of the Air report in 2019 providing an F ranking for the states eight counties in terms of high ozone days. Poor air quality exposure can lead to health problems including asthma. While much progress has been made in cleaning our air since the first Earth Day, Connecticut still suffers from some of the worst air quality in the country, especially along heavily-traveled transportation corridors where criteria air pollutants are most densely concentrated, DEEP said. The 109-page document addresses transportation equity, purchasing incentives, consumer education and protection, charging infrastructure expansion, utility investment and utility rate design, among other things. The roadmap focuses on various key points, including the transitioning of public and private fleets and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to electric vehicles. The roadmap focuses on various key points, including the transitioning of public and private fleets and medium- and heavy-duty vehicles to electric vehicles. Also mentioned in the report were exploring opportunities for pilot programs with local innovators in the field, working with the state and municipal government to modify building codes and permitting requirements to support electric vehicle infrastructure deployment. Also mentioned in the report were exploring opportunities for pilot programs with local innovators in the field, working with the state and municipal government to modify building codes and permitting requirements to support electric vehicle infrastructure deployment. DEEP said transportation electrification via wide-scale EV deployment is among the primary solutions for reaching the states mandatory economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. Commissioner Katie Dyke said the the DEEP roadmap offers the state a strategy toward achieving the needed goals. The health of Connecticut residents and the future of our climate requires continued progress towards cleaner air and a cleaner transportation system, Dyke said in a prepared statement. Vicki Hackett, DEEPs deputy commissioner of energy, said the process is a huge undertaking. Its a wide-angle initiative that needs an incremental outline of how to go forward, and thats what the EV Roadmap provides, Hackett said. s. Etihad Airways has continued to progress its sustainability agenda, testing a range of initiatives during the wind-down and suspension of its scheduled passenger services in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The airline has highlighted some of its continuing activities in a new video released to mark Earth Day 2020 Tony Douglas, group chief executive officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: In these challenging times, and beyond Covid-19, our response to the climate change crisis will not be neglected. Earlier this year, we pledged a target of net zero emissions by 2050, and to halve our 2019 net emission levels by 2035. Through the Etihad Greenliner Programme, we remain committed to reducing our impact on the environment, in collaboration with partners across the aviation industry. This year, Etihad has worked with Boeing, GE Aviation, EuroControl and others to test and implement measures to reduce fuel consumption, carbon emissions and noise. When it was delivered from Boeings North Carolina assembly plant, the signature aircraft of the Etihad Greenliner Programme a green-themed Boeing 787 - was fuelled with a 30 per cent blend of sustainable aviation fuel, refined from agricultural waste. Boeing engineers used the delivery flight to research new fuel efficiency measures, based on real time data from the aircraft, to maximise efficiency and minimise emissions by providing customised data to the pilots. Recently, on Irelands national day, the signature Etihad Greenliner operated an optimised roundtrip flight between Abu Dhabi and Dublin, reducing the usual journey time by 40 minutes, cutting fuel consumption by 800 kilograms and reducing carbon emissions by three tonnes over a standard Boeing 787 flight on that route. The sustainable performance of this Boeing 787 flight was also measured against the same flight one year prior, which was operated with a less efficient aircraft type. Compared to the 2019 flight, the 2020 service operated with eight tonnes less fuel and a staggering 26 tonne reduction in carbon emissions. Etihad has also implemented a range of other sustainability measures, including the use of data to determine the optimal volumes of potable water for aircraft toilets and washrooms, and taxi fuel to power the aircraft on the ground. By customising volumes of both, the airline is reducing significantly the weight of aircraft on many routes, helping to reduce fuel burn and emissions. During the grounding of its scheduled passenger flights, Etihad has also been testing single-engine taxi-in of Boeing 787 aircraft without using the aircrafts auxiliary power unit (APU), again with more sustainable outcomes. - TradeArabia News Service She paid tribute to her late father on what would have been his 70th birthday on Thursday - two years after his tragic suicide. And Ashley Roberts looked radiant as she departed Global Radio in London in a 'rock 'n roll vibe' outfit that served as a nod to him. The Pussycat Dolls star, 38, donned a baby pink blazer with matching flared trousers for the day. Outfit: Ashley Roberts looked radiant as she stepped out in London in an outfit that served as a nod to her late father Pat She also sported a white T-shirt with a black print along with a simple necklace with emerald and clear stones. Also wearing white and pink trainers, Ashley accessorised with a pair of white-framed sunglasses. The former Strictly Come Dancing star completed her look for the day by letting her blonde locks fall loose down her shoulders. Ashley said she was going for 'rock 'n roll vibes' with her outfit as a way to honour her beloved father, who she calls 'Fash'. Tribute: Ashley said she was going for 'rock'n'roll vibes' with her outfit as a way to honour her beloved father, who she calls 'Fash' Alongside a series of images of her beloved father, including a childhood snap and a band shot, she added a caption reading: 'Dad would of been 70 today. Hope youre somewhere jamming out and making some solid tunes! Happy Birthday fash'. Ashley was feeling nostalgic as she posted the touching snaps in a sweet tribute to her father. In April 2018, Ashley revealed Pat committed suicide in a heartbreaking Instagram post. At the time, she paid tribute with a touching flashback image of her late dad - who passed away after suffering from 'physical and mental health' issues. Colour: The Pussycat Dolls star donned a baby pink blazer with matching flared trousers for the day Radiant: She also sported a white T-shirt with a black print along with a simple necklace with emerald and clear stones Ensemble: Also wearing white and pink trainers, Ashley accessorised with a pair of white-framed sunglasses Admitting that she was in a 'state of shock and confusion', Ashley shared the tragic news in an attempt to support fans coping with the death of a loved one. In the sweet throwback image, the Clockwork hitmaker made a bunny ear gesture as she cuddled her father on a beach. Ashley explained that it has been a difficult time following her father's death: 'With great sadness in my heart, I wanted to share with you that on the 19th of March - after a long battle of physical and mental heath - My father took his own life.' 'The past 3.5 weeks Ive been in a state of shock, confusion, questioning, pain so deep in my guts its been hard to come up for air.' Stepping out: The former Strictly Come Dancing star completed her look for the day by letting her blonde locks fall loose down her shoulders She continued: 'Feeling like I dont know how to move forward from here. What am I supposed to do with all this? For now, I sit here with this pain - Inviting it ALL in.' 'To teach me, to heal me, to rebuild me. If any of you have gone through something similar. I understand and my heart goes out to you.' 'I will be sharing more on this in the next days, weeks, months to come - as raising awareness here and outreach for those left behind is so so so important . But for now I am grateful for your love and support.' Heartache: Ashley paid tribute to her late father on what would have been his 70th birthday on Thursday - two years after his tragic suicide Honour: Alongside a series of images of her beloved father, including a childhood snap and a band shot, she added a caption reading: 'Dad would of been 70 today. Hope youre somewhere jamming out and making some solid tunes! Happy Birthday fash' Vibes: Ashley also shared a snap of her outfit to Instagram where she wrote that it was 'in honour' of her father Rock on! She shared a touching snap of her rocker dad in his drumming heyday Sweet: In the images, Pat looked happy and carefree This is not the first time the Arizona native has opened up about mental illness within her family, as she revealed her brother Jayce suffers from schizophrenia. In an interview with The Sunday People, the reality star shared that his condition costed him time in prison. Speaking in 2015, Ashley said: 'My brothers not well. Hes been suffering from schizophrenia since he was a teenager.' Jayce was arrested for violence during Ashley's I'm A Celeb stint in 2012. 'Its a rough system in America and it took years for the system to finally take him on.' 'But now hes in a good place and getting the kind of care he needs...hes living in a care home now and I talk to him when I can.' For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116 123 or click here 'When you have a village which is controlled by the BJP, who are the people likely to perpetrate the attack?' Days after Maharashtra witnessed the horrific mob lynching of three men in Palghar district, a political slugfest has erupted between political parties including the Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party and Communist Party of India-Marxist. Two sadhus and their driver, proceeding from Nashik to Surat in Gujarat, were cornered and lynched by a large mob outside Gadchinchle village in Palghar district on April 16 in the presence of police personnel amid rumours that they were robbers or child kidnappers. Soon a political twist was given to the ghastly incident when a whispering campaign emerged online about the assailants being Muslim. With the Maharashtra government moving quickly to nip the canard in the bud, and stating that not one of those arrested was Muslim, the campaign turned to the fact that Palghar was a stronghold of Marxists and hinted darkly at the Marxist-Christian nexus being behind the murders. Bharatiya Janata Party Spokesperson Dr Sambit Patra tweeted: 'It was in the Dahanu assembly constituency in Maharashtra's Palghar district where the killing of saints took place. This region is the stronghold of the CPI-M. The MLA here is also from the Communist party. NCP also has an alliance with CPI-M in the region. This murder is the work of Marxist goons and hence the entire Left brigade is silent.' The Communist Party of India-Marxist has threatened to file a defamation suit against Dr Patra and BJP leader Sunil Deodhar for their allegations of Marxist involvement. Dr Ashok Dhawale, president of the All India Kisan Sabha and a member of the CPI-M's central committee, has been actively working in the Dahanu-Palghar area for 30 years. "Not a single person from the CPI-M is mentioned in the FIR. There are five main accused... We have found that some of these people are politically inclined towards the BJP. Three of them are definitely supporters of the BJP," Dr Dhawale tells Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf. What happened in Palghar? Why did the sadhus reach there, according to you? They did not have a permit to go to Surat. Had they got the permit during the lockdown they would have gone to Surat by the National Highway. They realised they would be caught by the police and would be sent back and so they went by remote roads. This route is a very interior road and goes to Nagar-Haveli, the Union territory. To escape the police, these sadhus went through deserted roads. They were stopped by a forest guard. They told him they were going to a funeral so he let them go. But unfortunately, they were not allowed to enter Nagar-Haveli as they did not have a permit. Now, the police of Nagar-Haveli should have kept them in their chowkie and let them go back in the morning. But the police sent them back. Now when they were coming back, the same forest guard stopped them and then the mob arrived. Prior to this lynching, on April 14, an Adivasi doctor had gone to a village called Sarni, and was attacked. He had gone in the night to help with medicines, but because of these rumours he too was attacked. Sarni village is just 5 to 10 kilometres away from the lynching site. This lynching happened because of a misunderstanding. But the police did not save them. There are two versions. The first version is that there were only four policemen at the spot and they could have fired in the air, but they did not do so. Now an inquiry will reveal what happened. The second version is that after the lynching, 12 more policemen came to the spot. So why are you filing this defamation case against Sambit Patra and Sunil Deodhar? First of all, this Palghar incident is a very unfortunate incident. We totally condemn it. This should not happen anywhere. Unfortunately, two things have been happening after the incident. That is the reason we are filing defamation. Firstly, some people tried to communalise this incident in a very disgusting manner. And they are clearly from rhe BJP as they are putting up all kinds of posts on social media. They eventually realised there is not a single Muslim in that village where the sadhus (were lynched) so the Hindu-Muslim angle can't work. This village is a tribal village. That entire area is a tribal area. Second, this area comes under the Dahanu assembly constituency. This is a base of the Communist Party of India-Marxist for the last 75 years ever since Comrade Godavari Parulekar, a very legendary leader, started the revolt of the Warli Adivasi tribe in 1945. Now, Comrade Vinod Nikolai is the sitting MLA of our party. We have won this seat from 1978, 9 out of 10 times. We only lost once, in 2014. Now they thought since the Hindu-Muslim issue is not working, they will try to blame it on the CPI-M. Therefore, they started this whole campaign on social media that all the people who killed the sadhus were CPI-M men and NCP (Nationalist Congress Party) members. In that area both parties are in alliance. The MLA is from the CPI-M and the zilla parishad chief who was elected in January 2020 in that area is from the NCP. We, secular forces, are together, therefore they started attacking us. The climax was when Sambit Patra and Sunil Deodhar in their social media posts said that this is a CPI-M stronghold and therefore the killers are of the CPI-M. This is absolutely nonsensical logic. But... We went to the grassroots and found out that the village Gadchinchle where this lynching took place is a BJP stronghold. The present sarpanch is also of the BJP. Her name is Chitra Choudhry and she is a tribal. In fact, there is an image circulating of Chitra Choudhry being felicitated by a former BJP MLA in December 2016. How can a village controlled by the BJP have anything to do with the killings of sadhus? When you have a village which is controlled by the BJP, who are the people likely to be the people to perpetrate the attack? You get the point. Organiser -- the RSS's English weekly -- blames (exeternal link) the CPI-M for the lynchings. Not a single person from the CPI-M is mentioned in the FIR (First Information Report). There are five main accused and there are 400 other people who are not named. Among those main accused, no one is from the CPI-M. We have checked this in the last two days. We have found that some of these people are politically inclined towards the BJP. Three of them are definitely supporters of the BJP. Right wing Web sites allege the Kashtakari Sanghatana is behind the attack. They allege the Dahanu-Palghar belt is full of Christian missionaries and the CPI-M network. They didn't find Muslims so now they are blaming Christians and Communists. 2,500 people reportedly came out to kill the sadhus. How did so many people reach the site all of a sudden? We don't believe 2,500 people came. The correct figure is 400, 500 people. This is what the police has said. A lot of rumour-mongering was going on for the last 8 to 10 days in the Palghar-Dahanu area. And the rumours were that the Muslims were coming to that area in different garb -- in the garb of sadhus or doctors. They will then spit in wells and spread coronavirus disease. And if not that, they will kidnap children for kidneys. These rumours were going on very strong in that district. Now the police will have to find out who was spreading this and who is responsible. This cannot be spontaneous. It is a law and order problem, so should the state government not take some blame? We have blamed the police for their negligence in our statement. We blame the police for negligence and for their act of omission. Now what they are doing as an act of commission, they are arresting all innocent and sundry. Definitely, the police is at fault. SPRINGFIELD, Ore. -- A temporary homeless shelter set up during the pandemic is under new management to keep costs down. The nonprofit Carry It Forward has been operating the respite shelter at the Memorial Building on A Street since April 11, executive director Arwen Maas-Despain said. The site can house up to 30 people and is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by 20 people. The shelter was originally run by St. Vincent de Paul. Officials at Lane County Public Health said they switched to Carry It Forward to keep costs down. They're paying the nonprofit $16,000 a week to keep it open, and that's saving taxpayers $5,000 a week. Officials at Lane County Public Health said St. Vincent de Paul recommended Carry It Forward, which has experience running the Egan Warming Center. Maas-Despain said they're working to transform the space into a community while keeping everyone safe. "We have just a lot of involvement from the residents in terms of taking care of the space," Maas-Despain said. "It's been really rewarding for them to get involved and be part of the process." They are taking everyone's temperature at the door and are encouraging good hygiene. Those who show symptoms of COVID-19 are taken to the Wheeler Pavilion at the Lane Events Center where there is another shelter. Meanwhile, members of a coalition that aimed to buy the building to turn it into a permanent day-use shelter are looking at other options after their plans to buy the building fell through. Pastor June Fothergill of Ebbert United Methodist Church is part of the coalition. She said their plans for a day-use shelter would include on-site services so people experiencing homelessness can get off the street. "I'm looking forward to having a day center where several different groups can collaborate to make sure all the services are present," Fothergill said. Today Mainly cloudy. A few peeks of sunshine possible. High 73F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Tonight A few clouds. Low 48F. Winds light and variable. Tomorrow Intervals of clouds and sunshine in the morning with more clouds for later in the day. High near 75F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Aerospace, defence and energy company Meggitt PLC (MGGT.L) Thursday reported that its first-quarter group revenue was up 5 percent on an organic basis, with strong growth in defence more than offsetting a softer performance in civil aerospace and energy. In its trading update, the company said the first-quarter trading was ahead of last year, but in the last few weeks the company started to see a softening in civil aerospace business both in terms of revenue and the forward order book. Civil aerospace revenue was slightly higher than last year on an organic basis. Defence revenue increased 15 percent organically, driven by particularly strong growth for original equipment. Energy revenue was 3 percent lower. Further, the company said Covid-19 will result in a significant reduction in demand across civil aerospace business in 2020 in both OE and AM. To mitigate the reduction in demand, the company has already taken action to reduce variable costs including accessing furlough schemes where available and reducing temporary labour. The company said it has decided to reduce the size of global workforce by around 15 percent, subject to ongoing consultation in the regions in which it operates. The company is also implementing a number of other measures to reduce operating cost base in 2020. These include a freeze on all new hiring; removal of annual salary increases for all employees; material cuts in operating costs; and, for the second half, reducing fees for Non-Executive Directors and salaries for CEO, CFO and Executive Committee by 20 percent. The successful implementation of these combined measures throughout the year will be to reduce cash expenditure levels by around 400 million pounds to 450 million pounds in 2020. Looking ahead, the company said it remains the Board's position that it is too early to provide forward looking guidance at the current time. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de TROY A Brunswick man accused of killing a Navy dental technician in San Diego in 1975 could be headed back to California to face the murder charge before the end of May. In a video-conferenced appearance Thursday in which all parties participated via Skype, the 62-year-old Dennis LePage was arraigned before Rensselaer County Judge Jennifer Sober on an extradition warrant signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. LePage has been held in the county jail on a fugitive-from-justice charge since his arrest on Jan. 24. Police in San Diego allege that LePage killed 28-year-old Alvaro Espeleta, a dental technician in the Navy who was assigned to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. Espeleta was found dead in his apartment on Reynard Way in San Diego on Dec. 31, 1975. Two of Espeletas coworkers went to his home to check on him when he did not show up for work and discovered his body. Police charged LePage after his fingerprints entered into a law enforcement database after a minor arrest matched evidence at the crime scene. A palm print on the victims body was a match, according to an official with knowledge of the situation. On Thursday, the judge provided LePage and his attorney, public defender Greg Cholakis, an opportunity to file a writ of habeus corpus a legal challenge to a persons imprisonment to fight the warrant. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. LePage has until April 30 to file it. If not, LePage will remain in the jail for up to 30 days. During that time, San Diego prosecutors could pick LePage up and bring him back to the Southern California city. If they do not pick him up by May 30, the judge will release LePage from state custody, she said. Cholakis told the judge he reviewed the application for the warrant and other documents provided to him by Chief Assistant District Attorney Matthew Hauf. Cholakis said at present, he has no basis to challenge the warrant. The latest novel coronavirus news from Canada and around the world Thursday (this file will be updated throughout the day). Web links to longer stories if available. Read The Stars live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here. This story is no longer updating. 9:16 p.m.: Workers at a second poultry processing facility in British Columbia have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said Thursday. Two workers at Superior Poultry Processors Ltd. in Coquitlam have the virus, she said. The plant is the sister facility to Vancouvers United Poultry Co. Ltd., where 29 staff members have been diagnosed with COVID-19, Henry said. She said investigations are underway at both facilities, but it appears there was movement of workers and management staff between the two facilities. 5:14 p.m. The 2020 Calgary Stampede has been cancelled in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. 5 p.m. Ontarios regional health units are reporting another 586 new cases of COVID-19 cases and 39 more deaths since Wednesday evening, according to the latest count. As of 5 p.m. Thursday, the Star has counted a total of 14,304 confirmed or probable cases of the disease, including a total of 799 dead since the beginning of the pandemic. As has been the case in recent days, most of the growth in new cases and deaths over the last 24 hours came in the GTA. About 70 per cent of the cases reported Thursday, 416, and 22 of the new deaths, were reported by the GTAs five health units. In recent weeks, daily counts of new cases have continued to rise slowly in the GTA, while falling slightly in the rest of the province. Earlier Thursday, the province reported 887 patients are now hospitalized with COVID-19, including 233 in intensive care, of whom 185 are on a ventilator. The province also says 6,680 people have now recovered after testing positive for the virus. The province says its data is accurate to 4 p.m. the previous day. It cautions its latest count of total deaths, 713, may be incomplete or out of date due to delays in the reporting system. In the event of a discrepancy, data reported by (the health units) should be considered the most up to date. Ontarios 34 regional health units collect and publish case data often before reporting to the province through its central reporting system. As such, the Stars count is more current than the data the province puts out each morning. The Stars count, includes some patients reported as probable COVID-19 cases. This means 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. 4:28 p.m. The Ontario Pharmacists Association and CARP (Canadian Association for Retired Persons) are calling on the government to offer relief to seniors immediately on fees for prescription dispensing. 3:45 p.m. Mayor John Tory noted its been a month since he declared a State of Emergency. On Mar. 23, there were 304 cases of COVID-19 and one death, and these were traceable to travel or someone who had COVID-19. Since then, Torontonians have followed the advice of Dr. Eileen de Villa, medical officer of health for the City of Toronto, to stay home. We are making progress. We are slowing the spread of the virus. We are saving thousands of lives, Tory said. But 222 residents have died from COVID-19, he said. The mayor thanked residents and businesses for following de Villas advice to stay at home, to help flatten the curve of cases of COVID-19 and save lives. De Villa said there are now 4,347 cases of COVID-19, of which 293 are in hospital, and 106 are in intensive care. The number of cases is lower than originally expected, de Villa, who added this is because residents have followed advice to stay at home and distance themselves from others. Seven Oaks city-owned long-term care home in Scarborough has suffered 108 COVID-19 infections and 32 residents have died, Paul Raftis, the Citys general manager of Seniors Services and Long-term Care, said. Six TTC maintenance workers at Queensway garage have tested positive and 45 co-workers have been asked to self isolate, the TTCs general manager said. 2:42 p.m. There are 41,757 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada, including 2,141 deaths, and 14,686 resolved cases, according to The Canadian Press. This breaks down as follows: Quebec: 21,838 confirmed (including 1,243 deaths, 4,484 resolved) Ontario: 12,879 confirmed (including 713 deaths, 6,680 resolved) Alberta: 3,401 confirmed (including 66 deaths, 1,310 resolved) British Columbia: 1,795 confirmed (including 90 deaths, 1,079 resolved) Nova Scotia: 827 confirmed (including 16 deaths, 358 resolved) Saskatchewan: 326 confirmed (including four deaths, 261 resolved) Manitoba: 251 confirmed (including six deaths, 174 resolved), 11 presumptive Newfoundland and Labrador: 256 confirmed (including three deaths, 199 resolved) New Brunswick: 118 confirmed (including 104 resolved) Prince Edward Island: 26 confirmed (including 24 resolved) Repatriated Canadians account for 13 confirmed cases Yukon: 11 confirmed (including eight resolved) Northwest Territories: five confirmed (including five resolved) Nunavut reports no confirmed cases. 2:20 p.m.: The Manitoba government is reporting five new cases of COVID-19, bringing the provincial total to 262 with 251 confirmed and 11 probable. With 174 people now recovered, the number of active cases has dropped to 82. Seven people are in hospital two of them in intensive care. The death toll remains at six. 2:15 p.m.: Premier Doug Fords 95-year-old mother-in-law, a resident of a Toronto long-term care home, has tested positive for COVID-19, the Toronto Star has learned. The premier became emotional today when discussing the heartbreaking situation in Ontario homes. Friends of the premier tell the Star that Karla Ford and her sister have been trying to sing to their elderly mother from outside her long-term care home window. Premier said today 70,000 Ontario families are going through the same thing. 1:45 p.m.: About 70 staff at the TTCs Queensway garage have been told to go home and self-isolate for 14 days after five of their co-workers have tested positive for COVID-19. None of the employees are in hospital, but more are pursuing tests, said Amalgamated Transit Union Local 113 president Carlos Santos. 1:30 p.m.: Quebec is reporting 109 new COVID-19 deaths today, bringing the total to 1,243. There are now a total of 21,838 positive cases in the province, including 873 reported over the last 24 hours. Premier Francois Legault says a big concern is finding health-care personnel as 9,500 staff are off the job due to illness or other reasons. Hes asking all workers who are not in quarantine and able to return to work to do so. 1:20 p.m.: Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the government will move in the next day or two to ensure garden centres are allowed to open soon. 1:10 p.m. (updated): Ford discussing Veronica Henris front-page photo in the Toronto Sun, says its heartbreaking what is happening in long-term care homes. He was responding to a question on who was to be blamed for the deaths in those homes during the pandemic. I recognize the system is broken, Ford says. Were going to fix the system. 12:55 p.m.: Ford is expected to address reporters at 1 p.m. at his daily briefing. A livestream of his news conference will be available at thestar.com 12:55 p.m.: Newfoundland and Labradors chief medical officer of health is announcing two new public orders as the province reported no new cases of COVID-19. Dr. Janice Fitzgerald said all travellers arriving into the province will need to complete a declaration form starting April 24. Fitzgerald adds that starting April 27, all travellers will be required to submit a 14-day self-isolation plan upon entering Newfoundland and Labrador. Following several days of no new cases reported in the province, Fitzgerald says authorities have begun considering ways to relax lockdown measures. 12:50 p.m.: The Saskatchewan government has outlined a five-phase plan to reopen parts of the provinces economy during the COVID-19 crisis. Premier Scott Moe says restrictions will first be lifted starting May 4 for dentist offices, optometry clinics and physical therapy providers. Golf courses are to reopen on May 15 and retail shops selling clothing, books, flowers and sporting goods might be allowed to open their doors on May 19. Hairdressers and barbers could also start seeing clients again on May 19, but employees working directly with the public would have to wear masks. 12:45 p.m.: Canadas towns and cities are asking Ottawa for emergency funding of at least $10 billion, saying the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed them to the brink of a financial crisis that could imperil municipal services. 12:35 p.m.: Andrew Scheer is refusing to comment on a Conservative leadership candidates suggestion that Canadas chief medical officer was parroting misinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic. Scheer was asked Thursday if Derek Sloan, a rookie Ontario MP running for the partys leadership, is still welcome in the Conservative caucus after an attack on chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam. In a video posted to his social media accounts, Sloan accused Tam of promoting misinformation from the World Health Organization and the Chinese Communist Party about the coronavirus crisis. In the video attacking Tam, Sloan asks, Does she work for Canada or for China? and calls for her to be fired. Scheer said he will not comment on the positions taken by candidates vying to replace him as Conservative leader. 12:30 p.m.: Nova Scotia is reporting four more deaths related to COVID-19, bringing the total number of deaths in the province to 16. Health officials say three of the deaths occurred at the Northwood long-term care home in Halifax Regional Municipality, and the other occurred at Harbourstone Enhanced Care in Sydney. Nova Scotia is reporting 53 new cases of the virus and has a total of 827 confirmed cases. There are 10 licensed long-term care homes and unlicensed seniors facilities in Nova Scotia with cases of COVID-19, involving 158 residents and 79 staff. 12:25 p.m.: Manitoba drivers are going to get insurance rebates in the coming weeks. The provincial government says its planning to issue cheques with rebates of 11 per cent, worth roughly $150 for the average policy holder. Crown Services Minister Jeff Wharton says Manitoba Public Insurance can afford the rebates, partly because fewer people are driving and accident claims have dropped since the COVID-19 pandemic began. 11:50 a.m.: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says we are failing our parents and grandparents in long-term care homes. Trudeau says the government is sending the military to help in long-term care homes in Ontario and Quebec. But he says it should never have come to this, and there are tough questions to be asked once the crisis is over. The outbreak of COVID-19 in long-term care homes has outraged many Canadians and Trudeau says that outrage is not misplaced. 11:35 a.m. (updated): Ottawa is rolling out $1.1 billion for a national medical and research strategy, almost a third of which is aimed at expanding national testing and modeling to better prevent the spread of COVID-19 while a vaccine is in development. Trudeau says a vaccine is the long-term solution but until then we need to slow the spread to start reopening the economy, so $350 million is going towards more testing and modelling, with a new task force. There is $115 million for additional research on vaccines and treatments, but the lions share of the funding $662 million will be for the clinical trials to test those vaccines and treatments as they are developed. 11:33 a.m. TTC has announced a temporary staff reduction of around 1,200 employees. Temporary layoffs will affect 1,000 transit operators, subject to negotiations with their union, the TTC said in a release. Two hundred non-union staff are also impacted. This was not an easy decision to make and came only after reviewing all other options, says TTC CEO Rick Leary said in a release. We will take care of the impacted employees as best we can during this difficult time . . . 11:15 a.m. (update): In the last 24 hours, Ontarios regional health units have reported another 662 COVID-19 cases and 55 more deaths, according to the Stars latest count. As of 11 a.m. Thursday, the health units are reporting a total of 13,825 confirmed or probable cases, including a total of 770 dead since the beginning of the pandemic. Most of those deaths have come in a long-term care home or retirement home, although exact share of the toll is not clear in the data. By the Stars latest count of all publicly available records, at least 607 people have died of COVID-19 in an Ontario long-term care or retirement home. However, many of those deaths do not appear to have been counted either in daily updates from the public health units which the Star relies on for its provincewide count or in the provinces official tally, which relies on a central reporting system that is out of date. As such, its currently impossible to know how many of the deaths from confirmed outbreaks are missing from either total, and as such its impossible to calculate the overall share of deaths in these facilities. On Thursday, the province began reporting new data from the ministry that regulates long-term care homes. That separate total 516 dead is also impossible to reconcile with the overall numbers, The large jump in cases from the same time Wednesday included a large increase in Peel Region fuelled in part by a change in reporting. On Wednesday, the health unit began including probable COVID-19 cases in its daily total; it was not immediately clear how many of 211 new cases in the region would not have been counted the previous day. Probable cases are defined as persons who have symptoms with contacts or travel history that indicate they very likely have COVID-19, but have not yet received a positive lab test. The Stars count, which is based on the public tallies and statements of the provinces regional health units, includes probable cases where that information is available. Regardless, 662 new cases represent a 24-hour jump of only 5 per cent, which is low compared to recent weeks. The provinces slowing overall growth rates suggest the epidemic may be nearing its peak in Ontario although its not yet clear if that has already happened. Ontarios 34 regional health units collect and publish case data often before reporting to the province through its central reporting system. As such, the Stars count is more current than the data the province puts out each morning. Earlier Thursday, the province reported 887 patients are now hospitalized with COVID-19, including 233 in intensive care, of whom 185 are on a ventilator. The province also says 6.680 people have now recovered after testing positive for the virus. The province says its data is accurate to 4 p.m. the previous day. The province also cautions its latest count of total deaths 713 may be incomplete or out of date due to delays in the reporting system, saying that in the event of a discrepancy, data reported by (the health units) should be considered the most up to date. 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. 11:10 a.m.: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce new measures to mobilize scientists in COVID-19 fight at his daily 11:15 a.m. briefing. A livestream of his news conference will be available at thestar.com 10:45 a.m.: There have now been at least 516 deaths of residents at Ontario nursing home from COVID-19, the Ministry of Long-Term Care reports. Thats up from 447 yesterday and about 70 per cent of the total in the province. 10:25 a.m.: The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is asking the federal government to give local governments billions in emergency funding to stave off financial ruin. The organization says local governments need between $10 billion and $15 billion over the next six months to pay for services while they see revenue declines. Transit ridership, for instance, is down as people stay home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and municipal councils are considering or have approved delays in collecting property taxes to give residents a financial break. Thats why theyre asking for $2.4 billion for cities with transit systems. 10:15 a.m.: Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer is calling on the federal government to showcase a plan for the next steps of Canadas COVID-19 response. Scheer says a potential patchwork approach by the provinces to loosening restrictions on physical distancing ought to be led by federal guidelines. He says if experts are suggesting the current level of testing must be tripled, he also wants to know how the Liberal government will meet that threshold. 9:45 a.m.: In Ontario, there is no official up-to-date database tracking COVID-19 deaths and outbreaks in seniors homes. So, over the past couple of days, the Stars Ed Tubb, Kenyon Wallace and Jenna Moon built one. Have a look. 9:30 a.m.: All non-essential workplaces will remain closed until at least May 6 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, says Premier Doug Ford. On Thursday, Ford extended all emergency orders that have been imposed under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act to that date. Ontario has been under a state of emergency since March 17 and will remain so until May 12. But orders issued under that legislation need to be renewed every two weeks. That means that everything that is currently closed will stay shut, including outdoor amenities in parks and recreational areas, most public places, and bars and restaurants, other than to serve takeout meals and spirits, wine, and beer to go. Only supermarkets, pharmacies, LCBO and Beer Store outlets are open for full service with hardware stores, pet shops, and cannabis dispensaries only allowed to do curbside pick-up. The move also means continued restrictions on social gatherings to five or fewer people unless they reside under the same roof and limiting staff from working in more than one retirement home or long-term care home. Read more here. 8:30 a.m.: Saskatchewan residents are to learn more today about which businesses closed due to COVID-19 will be allowed to reopen next month. Premier Scott Moe announced in a televised address Wednesday night that his government will release a five-phase plan on how businesses and services will be permitted to open their doors again. He says store reopenings are possible because the province has slowed the spread of the virus. 7:52 a.m.: Africa has registered a 43 per cent jump in reported COVID-19 cases in the last week, highlighting a warning from the World Health Organization that the continent of 1.3 billion could become the next epicenter of the global outbreak. Africa also has a very, very limited and very, very strained testing capacity, John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in his weekly briefing on Thursday. 7:42 a.m. French Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu says the resumption of sporting events in the country is not among the governments priorities. France is locked down until May 11 because of the coronavirus pandemic and speculation has increased recently as to whether the countrys soccer league could resume in late June. Maracineanu says whats certain is that sports wont take priority in our society. The Tour de France cycling race has been rescheduled to start Aug. 29 and end Sept. 20. The final day coincides with the same day the rescheduled French Open tennis tournament is to begin. Maracineanu was speaking in an interview with Eurosport television on Wednesday night. She says leagues could potentially start in September or have their remaining games cancelled altogether. There are 10 league games left to play in Frances top two soccer leagues. Rugbys Top 14 league has reached the semifinal stage. 5:42 a.m.: President Donald Trump is aiming for a swift nationwide reopening, but will faces a new challenge: convincing people its safe to come out and resume their normal lives. We need to create the kind of confidence in America that makes it so that everybody goes back to work, said Kevin Hassett, a White House adviser and former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers. Last Thursday, the White House released guidelines to governors for how to safely reopen their states. The next day, the administrations top medical officials sought to reassure the nation that there were plenty of tests available to safely begin easing restrictions. Governors have been lifting restrictions each day since then, including aggressive moves announced Wednesday in Montana and Oklahoma. The Montana governor gave schools the green light to open their doors in early May, and Oklahoma will allow salons, barbershops, spas and pet groomers to reopen Friday. Trump, in his evening news conference, did take issue with Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemps bold reopening plans. I disagree strongly, he said. I think its too soon. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom relaxed his stay-at-home order on Wednesday to let hospitals resume elective surgeries, a move that will send many thousands of idled health care employees back to work as the state takes a cautious first step toward restarting the worlds fifth-largest economy. 4:15 a.m.: The world is inching toward a new phase in the coronavirus crisis. Some countries like Vietnam and New Zealand have few new cases and are moving toward ending their shutdowns. Others like Singapore and Japan are tightening measures to prevent a surge in infections. Like the U.S., many countries are moving from crisis mode to managing the next phase to prevent flare-ups. France has started to break the seals on its locked down nursing homes, allowing limited visitation rights for the families of the residents. 4:15 a.m.: Infectious disease experts say provinces looking to relax restrictions related to COVID-19 need to consider their neighbours. At least two provinces, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan, have lowercase numbers and hope to ease measures put in place to control the spread in the coming weeks. Dr. Craig Jenne, an infectious disease researcher at the University of Calgary, says easing restrictions in one province could present challenges for others. He notes there are no hard borders between provinces, particularly in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. 4 a.m.: The federal government is expected to announce today new measures aimed at mobilizing the countrys scientists and researchers in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Scientists around the globe are scrambling to come up with tests, treatments to lessen the severity of the disease and, ultimately, a vaccine to protect against the coronavirus that has killed almost 2,000 Canadians and almost 200,000 people worldwide. Thursdays measures bolster previous efforts by the Trudeau government to marshal Canadas scientific community in the battle against COVID-19. In mid-March, it committed $275 million for research, as part of the first emergency aid package. That was supplemented later in the month with the creation of a new strategic innovation fund, which provided another $192 million to specific companies and research institutions working on the development of drugs and vaccines. 4 a.m.: The latest numbers of confirmed and presumptive COVID-19 cases in Canada as of 4 a.m.: There are 40,190 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada. Quebec: 20,965 confirmed (including 1,134 deaths, 4,291 resolved) Ontario: 12,245 confirmed (including 659 deaths, 6,221 resolved) Alberta: 3,401 confirmed (including 66 deaths, 1,310 resolved) British Columbia: 1,795 confirmed (including 90 deaths, 1,079 resolved) Nova Scotia: 772 confirmed (including 12 deaths, 338 resolved) Saskatchewan: 326 confirmed (including 4 deaths, 261 resolved) Manitoba: 246 confirmed (including 6 deaths, 154 resolved), 11 presumptive Newfoundland and Labrador: 256 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 199 resolved) New Brunswick: 118 confirmed (including 104 resolved) Prince Edward Island: 26 confirmed (including 24 resolved) Repatriated Canadians: 13 confirmed Yukon: 11 confirmed (including 8 resolved) Northwest Territories: 5 confirmed (including 5 resolved) Nunavut: No confirmed cases 3:45 a.m. While clerics and governments across the Muslim world will greet Ramadan this week under lockdown, working together to shut mosques and urging worshippers to pray at home, in Pakistan, some of the most prominent imams have rallied their devotees to ignore the anti-pandemic measures. Ramadan, which begins in Pakistan later this week, is the holy month in which Muslims crowd into mosques and fast all day, holding feasts after sundown with family and friends. Those are ripe conditions for the coronavirus to spread, and imams around the world are asking people to stay home. But in Pakistan, pandemic or no pandemic, hard-line clerics are calling the shots, overriding the governments nationwide virus lockdown, which began late last month. Most clerics complied with the shutdown when it was announced. But some of the most influential ones immediately called on worshippers to attend Friday prayers in even greater numbers. Devotees attacked police officers who tried to get in their way. As Ramadan drew closer, dozens of well-known clerics and leaders of religious parties including some who had initially obeyed the lockdown orders signed a letter demanding that the government exempt mosques from the shutdown during the holy month or invite the anger of God and the faithful. On Saturday, the government gave in, signing an agreement that let mosques stay open for Ramadan as long as they followed 20 rules, including forcing congregants to maintain a 6-foot distance, bring their own prayer mats and do their ablutions at home. Wednesday 7:55 p.m.: Ontario and Quebec are calling in the army to help confront the COVID-19 hot zones. Quebec Premier Francois Legault and Ontario Premier Doug Ford appealed to Ottawa on Wednesday for teams of military personnel to assist with the outbreak of the virus in long-term care homes, which have emerged as especially deadly sites in this pandemic. Every set of boots on the ground will make a difference in this fight, Ford said as he made a formal request to the federal government for help from the Canadian Armed Forces at five nursing homes hit hard by COVID-19. Wednesday 7:41 p.m.: WestJet says it will lay off 3,000 people and cancel more than 4,000 domestic flights weekly in May as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hammer the airline industry. The company said it will remove some 600 daily flights from its schedule between May 5 and June 4 about 18,000 trips in total due to significantly reduced guest demand. Read more of Wednesdays coverage here. Read more about: The Bank of Mexico announced on Wednesday that the new 20-peso coin commemorating the 500th anniversary of the founding of the port city of Veracruz is now in circulation, according to a recently-published article. Made out of a mix of metals--nickel, silver, bronze, and aluminum, and is dodecagonal or has 12 sides, the new 20-peso coin is slightly smaller, thinner and lighter than previously-minted, completely round 20-peso coins. READ: No One Can Stop Drug Cartels From Giving Aid, Not Even AMLO According to the Bank of Mexico, the newly-released coin has a diameter of 30 millimeters, a thickness of 2.4mm, and tip the scales just under 12.7 grams. Meanwhile, the 20-peso coin that has been put into circulation over the last 27 years is larger, measuring 32mm from side to side, is 2.75mm thick, and weighs almost 16 grams. The reverse side of the new coin features images of the original Veracruz town hall, which is still in use as the municipal palace, and a 16th-century ship that would remind you of the one used by Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes as he sailed to the Gulf coast in 1519. The coin's perimeter is embedded with the words "500 years of the foundation of the city and port of Veracruz." ALSO READ: As COVID-19 Cases Rise in Mexico, so Does Criminality Meanwhile, the 20-peso banknote, which still exists side by side with the new coin, features in the obverse side a portrait of Benito Juarez, the twenty-sixth president of the Mexican Republic who fought in the Reform War. You can also spot on the coin a balance that represents the people and justice above the law reform and the bird. According to the central bank, they plan to phase out the 20-peso banknote. Like all of Mexico's coins, the obverse side of the new 20-peso coin features Mexico's coat of arms--an eagle perched on a prickly pear cactus engulfing a rattlesnake. On the top half of the coin's obverse side perimeter, Mexico's official name, Estados Unidos Mexicanos, or the United Mexican States, is embedded. The new coin also features more security features than its predecessors of the same denomination, such as a "micro-inscription" of "500 VERACRUZ" and a "latent image" of the number 20 that can only be seen if you tilt the coin. The central bank's announcement that the new coin had entered circulation follows its confirmation a few days ago that the release of the new 100-peso note will proceed as planned in the second half of the year. READ MORE: Number of Coronavirus Outbreaks in Mexican Facilities Is Alarming In 2018, the bank announced that it intended to release a new family of bills that pay homage to Mexico's identity and heritage. The central bank had already released a new 500-peso note in August 2018 and a new 200-peso bill last September. In 2022, a new 50-peso note is scheduled for release. In some establishments in border areas of the United States such as some border Walmart stores, some border gas stations such as Circle K, and the La Bodega supermarkets in San Ysidro on the Tijuana border, Mexican pesos are accepted as currency. In 2007, Pizza Patron, a chain of pizza restaurants in the southwestern part of the U.S., started to accept the currency, which sparked controversy in the United States. Apart from the U.S., Guatemalan, and Belizean border towns, the Mexican peso is generally not accepted as a currency outside of Mexico. DETROIT - Some Detroit hospital workers are thanking Eminem for sending them moms spaghetti. The food was given to employees on the front lines fighting against the coronavirus pandemic at Henry Ford Health System, according to thank you messages posted on its Twitter and Instagram pages. Our health care heroes lost themselves in the delicious Moms Spaghetti donated by Detroits very own, Eminem. Thank you for providing a special meal for our team members." Detroit is the hardest-hit area in Michigan for COVID-19 cases and deaths and has also been one of the hot spots for the virus in the country. City leaders reported 87 new deaths on Tuesday after reporting 23 and 29 in the two days prior. Mayor Duggan says backlogged cases are to blame for the increase and says cases in Detroit have plateaued in recent days. We went up very fast, we started to come down and now were at a flat level, Duggan said. And if you look at those numbers, its very clear that Gov. Whitmers decision to extend the stay-at-home order was clearly the correct decision. Its not known who made the moms spaghetti" for the Henry Ford employees and Eminem hasnt confirmed it came from him. Moms spaghetti" is part of a lyric in one of the Detroit rappers most famous songs, Lose Yourself," from the movie 8 Mile." His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy. Theres vomit on his sweater already, moms spaghetti. Eminem also used moms spaghetti" back in December 2017 when he opened a pop-up shop in Downtown Detroit for a few days selling all kinds of clothing. People could also by moms spaghetti, which was made by Michigan-based restaurant group Union Joints (The Clarkston Union, Union Woodshop, Vinsetta Garage, Fenton Fire Hall, Pumphouse and Honcho). Our #HealthcareHeroes lost themselves in the delicious Moms Spaghetti donated by Detroits very own, @Eminem. Thank you for providing a special meal for our team members! pic.twitter.com/HyKXzzyhJ5 Henry Ford News (@HenryFordNews) April 22, 2020 MORE FROM MLIVE: Detroit group to get piece of Beyonces $6M in coronavirus aid Michigan toddler spiked 107-degree fever with coronavirus, battle lasting forever' Henry Ford Health System will furlough 2,800 employees due to coronavirus financial strain Whitmer: Laying off 2,900 state employees was the right thing to do during coronavirus pandemic Whitmer moves to further expand unemployment eligibility during coronavirus crisis Northern Ireland may emerge from coronavirus restrictions at a faster pace than other parts of the UK, the First Minister has suggested. Arlene Foster said lockdown measures will be eased when certain scientific and public health criteria are met and not against set timelines or dates. In an interview with Cool FM, Mrs Foster said the executive is also set to provide more clarity on the controversial issue over whether people should be able to travel to take part in exercise. But she ruled out the introduction of a distance restriction such as the 2km in operation in the Irish Republic to ensure people exercised locally. The impact of coronavirus has not been as severe in Northern Ireland as other parts of the UK. The region had recorded 250 deaths in the pandemic by Wednesday. Expand Close Social distancing restrictions are in place in Northern Ireland for at least another two weeks (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Social distancing restrictions are in place in Northern Ireland for at least another two weeks (Niall Carson/PA) The First Minister was asked whether the contrasting experiences meant Northern Ireland may move away from the restrictions at a different pace from worse hit parts of the UK. It will be led by the criteria that will be set down and agreed by ourselves in the Northern Ireland Executive in conjunction with the our colleagues in the other parts of the UK, she told Cool FM. And because of that you could well see different parts of the United Kingdom move in different time to other parts, because it will be criteria-led. What do I mean by that we will have to look at the amount of admissions to hospital, the admissions to intensive care units, the number of deaths we have, what it means for us in terms of the science. We have a scientific advisory group in London that advises and then we also have our own advisory group here in Northern Ireland and our own chief medical officer. So they will be looking at all of that information, all of the data we collect in Northern Ireland, we will bring that together and then well look at it that way. You could well see different parts of the United Kingdom move in different time to other parts Arlene Foster Earlier on Wednesday, Health Minister Robin Swann said the decisions around restrictions would be primarily based on what the scientific evidence base was in Northern Ireland. At the daily Covid-19 briefing he was asked whether the region should be part of an all-island exit strategy with the Irish Republic, given the shared land border. Its important that we take our scientific guidance based on the science that is applicable to Northern Ireland, he said. Chief medical officer Dr Michael McBride said he and officials were in close contact with colleagues south of the border. There is no doubt that we share a common land mass with our close colleagues and neighbours in the Republic of Ireland and that is something that we will closely need to consider, he said. And I think the other thing which I would point out is that the virus on this island in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland is behaving very similarly and different to other parts of the United Kingdom. In the interview, Mrs Foster also said the executive intended to offer more clarity on how far people can travel from home to take part in exercise. Police have been accused to going beyond the rules set by emergency legislation by telling people that they cannot drive to a location away from their home for exercise. Officers have insisted they are working in line with legal advice and do use discretion when appropriate. Mrs Foster said the executive would discuss the issue on Friday. She said she realised there were people, such as those living in cities, who did need to travel a short distance to exercise. I know there has been some ambiguity about that and the executive are looking at this matter again and will be giving more clarity in relation to all of that before the weekend, she said. Asked if ministers would consider setting a distance limit similar to the 2km measure in the Irish Republic, she said: I wouldnt be in favour of putting a restriction like that on because there are many people who live in the city and they may have to travel a longer distance than that to be able to exercise. So the mind of the executive is not moving in that direction but I do think we will be wanting to give more clarity in relation to this issue and were going to discuss it all again on Friday at the executive. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 02:56:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PARIS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- France's COVID-19 death toll reached 21,856 on Thursday, while hospitalizations and the number of patients in intensive care continued to fall, according to the official data released by the Ministry of Health. A total of 516 people have died in the past 24 hours. At 29,219, the number of hospitalized patients fell for the 15th consecutive day. The number of patients in intensive care also fell to 5,053. A total of 120,804 people infected by COVID-19 have been identified in France since the start of the pandemic on March 1. France placed the public under lockdown on March 17 to stem the spread of the virus. A gradual exit from confinement is scheduled to start on May 11. Meeting with mayors from across the country on Thursday, President Emmanuel Macron said the relaxation schedule of the confinement rules would be specific to each region of the country, based on how hard the coronavirus outbreak had hit them, his office said. In adjusting the confinement measures, the central government will rely on the advice of local authorities. A detailed plan should be announced next Tuesday. Macron also said the reopening of schools from May 11 would would be done on a voluntary basis. Minister of National Education Jean-Michel Blanquer had announced earlier that schools would be reopened in several stages and with much smaller classes. But questions over protective equipment and the hygiene protocol to be implemented in education establishments remained unanswered, sparking concerns and criticisms from the unions. Macron told the mayors that citizens will be urged to wear homemade or non-medical grade face masks when using public transport, according to his office. Also on Thursday, the national statistics office INSEE said the lockdown had made the French economy function "like a person placed under anaesthesia." "The French economy can now perform only its vital functions," said the office, adding that activity in the private sector, which makes up around three-fourths of total gross domestic product (GDP), had plunged 41 percent overall. Labor Minister Muriel Penicaud told BFM television that as of Thursday 10.2 million employees -- one out of every two in the private sector -- were partially unemployed, which means that their salaries are being paid by the state under the government's extended indemnity scheme introduced to weather the crisis. Last Sunday, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe warned of an eight percent GDP contraction this year, while increasing the government's economic relief package to 110 billion euros (118.5 billion U.S. dollars). Enditem L ondon's air quality has "dramatically improved" due to the drop in traffic amid the coronavirus lockdown, Sadiq Khan has said. Figures published by the Mayor of London on Thursday show that nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels in some of the city's busiest roads are almost half what they were before lockdown. It comes as countries around the world, including the UK, have reported a decrease in pollution as they come to a standstill to battle Covid-19 outbreaks. The new figures show that central London roadside locations have seen a fall in daily average NO2 of around 40 per cent. One of Londons busiest roads, Marylebone Road, has seen a reduction in daily average NO2 of 48 per cent while Oxford Street has seen a reduction of 47 per cent, City Hall says. The new report also matches preliminary analysis by experts at the University of York which shows that levels have dropped by more than 40 per cent in a number of UK cities in recent weeks. Sadiq Khan said the air quality has improved (file photo_ / BBC Breakfast But despite the improvements, London has still had particulate pollution episodes during lockdown, the report shows. This shows Londons poor air quality is not just the result of traffic pollution and so further action is required on other sources, including domestic burning and agricultural emissions, it adds. One month since UK lockdown - In pictures 1 /14 One month since UK lockdown - In pictures The M5 motorway, looking south towards Devon PA A nearly-deserted Reuters Square in Canary Wharf PA A popular riverside walk alongside the Thames near London's Tower Bridge is almost empty PA The concourse of London's Waterloo station is almost devoid of travellers PA Empty streets and pavements surround Little Ben, a cast iron miniature clock tower, situated at the intersection of Vauxhall Bridge Road and Victoria Street PA Horse Guards Parade in London is empty as tourists stay away PA Liverpool waterfront is practically deserted PA Empty streets in Newcastle upon Tyne PA An empty shopping arcade at Windsor Station PA King's Parade, with King's College (left) and the Senate House (distance) in Cambridge PA A view of a near-deserted Waterlooville town centre in Hampshire PA Mayor Sadiq Khan said: London has one of the most advanced air quality monitoring networks in the world, which has recorded how the coronavirus lockdown has dramatically improved air quality in London. But this cleaner air should not just be temporary as Londoners deserve clean air at all times. So, once the current emergency has passed and we start to recover, our challenge will be to eradicate air pollution permanently and ensure the gains weve made through policies such as ULEZ (ultra-low emissions zone) continue. It is critical that Government keeps this in mind as part of the countrys recovery from the pandemic. Mr Khan claimed air quality in London had already been boosted by measures such as the introduction of a pollution charge through the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) 12 months ago. A small amount of traffic travels on the Blackwall Tunnell Southern Approach on the A102 road south east of London / AFP via Getty Images Before the lockdown began last month, hourly average levels of NO2 at monitoring sites in central London were 35 per cent lower compared with the same period in 2017. Since March 16 there has been a further reduction of 27 per cent. Meanwhile, Royal College of Physician Special Adviser on Air Quality, Professor Stephen Holgate, said: A year ago who would have believed our lifestyles would have changed so dramatically? Who would have believed it possible that the toxic air pollution in our capital city would be cut by half as a result of ULEZ and a drastic decrease in travel? Two animated images show the fluctuation of nitrogen dioxide emissions across Europe from January 2020 until March 11, 2020 / via REUTERS While COVID-19 has wreaked havoc in our lives, this dreadful virus has brought the importance of outdoor space and the environment into focus. "The consequences of this virus will be significant and felt for many years to come. However, as peoples behaviours have changed, we have seen real improvements in air quality. "Were all looking forward to the time when the lockdown is lifted, and once it does, I sincerely hope well be able to retain some of the new cleaner and greener habits weve developed. Last month, experts said that air pollution in UK cities is falling as the country went into coronavirus lockdown. Mamma mia, it's quarantina! Four Kiwi mums from Christchurch who are known as performance act The Starlets have filmed and performed (in isolation) a song that would relate to any mum feeling trapped during this lockdown period. The video features each of the mums in matching 70's outfits, struggling with a lack of wine, restlessness, and stepping on Lego. Since posting it on YouTube early this week, the video has received hundreds of shares and hundreds of comments on Facebook from people who said the funny video brought a smile to their faces. "Omg guys that is just brilliant. Ive heard some isolation songs but that just totally takes the cake,' said one commenter, while another one wrote "Great parody! One of the best." Georgia from The Starlets told More FM they had designed the video to show off some "Kiwi girl power" while putting a smile on Kiwis' faces. Watch the full parody video from The Starlets above. By the next afternoon, I was itchy all over. I didnt see anything, but when I went back to the barracks and took off my shirt, I ran to the medics as fast as my sore back could stand, because I was covered with a bright red rash. The doctor looked me over and prescribed me some kind of calamine lotion, which didnt help very much. He said it was just an allergy. Later, I started to get chills and fever. That night I couldnt fall asleep until after one in the morning. I was still itchy, my back hurt, I was in terrible shape. The next morning, I was put on sick call again, and the sergeant yelled at me, thinking I was shirking work detail. By then, the inoculation had developed into what felt like the flu: I had a head cold, a headache, the rash, and I was coughing and sneezing. Other members of my battalion also developed flulike symptoms. They never told us this might have been a reaction to the vaccine. They said, You have an allergy or something, and that was all, but its my belief that we were likely unwitting guinea pigs test subjects for what had been an untried vaccine. It was the worst week I had in the Army the whole time I was there. I was never in danger of direct combat, and I didnt see any combat in the Pacific, but this experience was one of extreme discomfort that lasted about a week. As far as I know, neither I nor anyone else raised any objections to what happened. I was out sick that week, so I suffered in silence. Because youre in the Army, you just grin and bear it. The symptoms of the flu subsided in about four or five days, but the itching persisted for over a week. The sergeant eventually insisted that I go back on the construction line. There wasnt any case where we challenged authority, so there was no sense in discussing it either. Oh, you have a cold too? he said. So do I. And back to work. It was something you accepted and then forgot about. The Army didnt take into account whether you were sick: You had an assignment, you had to do it. MYERSTOWN, Pa. A county prosecutor says state police were justified in shooting and killing a woman after she rammed a police vehicle during a pursuit last month in Pennsylvania. Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf on Tuesday cited violent, reckless, and dangerous actions by Charity Thome, 42, before troopers opened fire. Troopers said the Richland woman had been wanted on a trespassing complaint at a North Lebanon Township home and was reported trying to break into the same residence just before 2 a.m. on March 16. Township police pursued her and state police took up the pursuit when the vehicle entered Jackson Township. A police immobilization technique was used to stop the vehicle, but police say Thome tried to elude the officers and rammed an occupied North Lebanon Township police vehicle. Troopers got out and ordered Thome out of her vehicle, but they say she refused and continued to accelerate into the police vehicle, and they opened fire. Graf said an autopsy concluded that Thome had methamphetamines and amphetamines in her system, stimulants the prosecutor said typically cause irrational thought and erratic action. The prosecutor said the troopers feared multiple outcomes since they couldnt see the township officer and didnt know whether he was inside or outside of the patrol vehicle. Graf also said Thome could have continued to ram the cruiser or could also have reversed and run over officers at the scene. Graf said in a statement that The totality of Thomes actions, the realities of the situation and the split seconds which required the troopers to act all prove this shooting was justified. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 For our April radio and podcasting feature, I interviewed Deen Schroeder, Commercial Digital Executive at Primedia Broadcasting, who shares with us three key ways brands can use podcasts to attract and engage audiences and possible clients. He also shares tips on how to approach businesses and brands when trying to market podcasts. Deen Schroeder, head of Digital Commercial at Primedia Broadcasting. Would it be fair to say that podcasting is still a new medium in the South African market? How can brands/companies use podcasting as a medium to attract new clients? Ad placement within podcast This would be like placing a recorded commercial on the radio. However, the difference is that podcasts are less cluttered and are a high-intent form of media which means that there will be a higher recall on brand messaging. Ad units are bought and sold on impressions basis and can take the form of pre-rolls, mid-rolls or post-rolls. This is the most affordable way for a brand to engage with podcasts and reach very specific audiences that form around podcasts. This would be like placing a recorded commercial on the radio. However, the difference is that podcasts are less cluttered and are a high-intent form of media which means that there will be a higher recall on brand messaging. Ad units are bought and sold on impressions basis and can take the form of pre-rolls, mid-rolls or post-rolls. This is the most affordable way for a brand to engage with podcasts and reach very specific audiences that form around podcasts. Podcast sponsorship Brands can associate with the content and the content creator. This may follow the same format as sponsorship of a radio feature, but the difference is that audiences develop deep connections with the favourite podcasts and the podcast hosts. There is trust that is built between podcast listener and the host, and through sponsorship, a brand can leverage that trust and build strong brand equity in that audience. Brands can associate with the content and the content creator. This may follow the same format as sponsorship of a radio feature, but the difference is that audiences develop deep connections with the favourite podcasts and the podcast hosts. There is trust that is built between podcast listener and the host, and through sponsorship, a brand can leverage that trust and build strong brand equity in that audience. Branded podcast series This is the most exciting space for brands at the moment in the world of audio. A branded podcast series gives the brand an opportunity to share their stories in new and interesting ways that not only add value to audiences. The trick is to find creative angles and meaningful narratives that share your brand story. Brand stories also need to shift from, What can I tell them about Me?, to How can I add value through telling our story? How have you personally found brands' interaction with podcasting? Take us through some of the benefits of starting a podcast? How would you market a podcast to prospective advertisers or businesses? Podcast content is attractive to brands and advertisers, whether it is associating with compelling content or creating brand-led narratives around the content. What do you think is key for brands to remember when connecting with audiences via audio? Authenticity is often and overtraded term in marketing, but when it comes to podcasts it is crucial. Podcast audiences tend to be highly educated, discerning content consumers and they do not appreciate it when brands invade their spaces. Trust the Podcasters. When crafting a podcast or podcast strategy it is critical to find podcast creators and podcast consumers to assist in crafting compelling narratives, ensuring that they sound wonderful and offering audiences a truly unique listening experience. Podcasts are not radio programmes, even though radio programmes can be consumed as podcasts. Recorded one-on-one interviews may be the simplest type of podcast, but there is an entire soundscape experiment with. Podcasts can be cinema for the ears if produced well. What are some of the trends you see happening in the industry, for 2020 and beyond? Podcasts will start surging in South Africa in the coming year and this will be driven by content creators making amazing content and brands investing in high-quality podcast productions. These factors will drive audience growth and thus create a self-perpetuating growth and revenue cycle. In South Africa, we expect all radio stations to have dipped at least their toes in the podcast waters. Independent podcast creators will start emerging as their own media organisations. The rise of new podcast companies that are built around the sole creation of podcasts. This is should be self-evident because as new media immerge and becomes mainstream, new media companies are born. What do you love most about what you do? What is next for you? Any exciting plans you can tell us about? The truth is that podcasting is not a new medium in South Africa and there have been numerous independent podcast creators tinkering away and growing audiences. However, in the past five years, there has been a significant increase in podcast awareness and subsequent adoption due to viral sensations like Serial, Celebrity podcasters and Radio Stations making their content available for on-demand listening. This shift has seen significant podcast audience growth and these audiences have become attractive to brands as the next media frontier.There are fundamentally 3 ways that brands can use podcasts to attract and engage audiences and brands:As with all media, some brands get it right and win whilst others struggle. The brands that understand that presenter-read commercials in podcasts, work much better than any pre-recorded commercial and allowing podcasters to create their own content around the commercial message ensure better integration into the content. When it comes to branded podcast series, it is the brands that understand that podcasts can do a strong branding job provided that the content adds value to the listeners, is compelling and that it is delivered authentically.You have the opportunity to tell your story in an uncluttered environment and building an exclusive and dedicated audience.The audiences around podcasts have reached scale around the world and in South Africa. These listeners are highly engaged and highly responsive to advertising messages due to the uncluttered podcast environment and the high-intent listening behaviour.The challenge of finding new and interesting ways to craft content that is rich and engaging to attract audiences whilst always answering the core business and brand objectives for our clients. The business of podcasting in South Africa is new, and I am trying to make sure that we are constantly innovating of content offering and promotional strategies based on the best in class internationally.I was planning a trip to Australia and had planned to leave on 3 April, and due to Covid-19 any sort of travel is out of the question. In the coming months, I do, however, hope to attend international podcast forums to learn more from my peers from around the world. I would also hope to visit one or two podcasts companies that are based in the United States that are at the forefront of this brave new world of audio.Connect with Schroeder on LinkedIn and keep an eye on our radio and podcasting special section for more in-depth coverage and interviews on the subject. - Ghana started using the drones to aid the fight against COVID-19 on April 17, 2020, when its use was employed to deliver test swabs from the Eastern Region to Accra - Currently, Ghana has recorded 1,154 cases of COVID-19 with 120 full recoveries and nine deaths - The United States is expected to be the second country to adopt the technology but processes are far from being completed for the implementation of the concept Ghana has become the first country in the world to improve it fight against the novel coronavirus with the use of drone technology which speeds up testing. Time.com reported that no other nation in the world has been able to deploy drones to help transport samples for testing, especially from remote areas, as everyone else depends on the use of traditional transportation methods. READ ALSO: Willis Raburu marks 7 years as news anchor, recalls how he promised mum he'll be one at only 7 READ ALSO: Charcoal seller's genius son awarded Gates Cambridge Scholarship for PhD According to Keller Rinaudo, the CEO of Zipline, the company that set up the 'matternet' of drones in Ghana; the US is expected to be the next in the use of the drones. Keller Rinaudo added that although the company eventually plans to put its technology into use in the United States, it is focused right now on the program in Ghana. The West African nation started using the drones to aid the fight against COVID-19 on April 17, 2020, when Bismark Sarkodie, a Municipal Director of Health Services in the Eastern Region, needed to test 244 construction workers after three of them tested positive for COVID-19. Instead of driving for two hours to the nearest testing centre in Accra called the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, Bismark rather dropped the test swaps off at a health facility in a nearby district where the consignment was transported to the centre via drones. READ ALSO: Renowned village chief buried inside his Mercedes Benz with hands on steering wheel The test swabs were simply packaged with ice in specially designed bio-safe containers, fitted with a parachute, and placed into the bellies of the drones. Within a few minutes, they were winging their way to a testing facility via autonomous drones. Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, the medical drones were contracted to distribute medical supplies like drugs particularly in remote areas during certain emergency situations. After realising how efficient and effective the use of the drone technology was in transporting the samples, Bismark Sarkodie noted: Testing is the most important thing, and whatever it takes to make it faster, makes it better." Ghana has been using drones to transport test samples. Photo: UGC Source: UGC READ ALSO: Wataalamu wanasema kuna hatari kubwa katika kulala sana, jihadhari hasa kipindi hiki cha coronavirus It is reported that Ziplines fleet in Ghana is equipped to transport up to 15,000 tests a day, in 300 flights, from their two collection points though Ghanaians are hoping demand will never reach that point. Currently, Ghana has recorded 1,154 cases of COVID-19 with 120 full recoveries and nine deaths. A total of 68,591 tests have been conducted so far, out of which the 1,154 people representing 1.68% were found to be positive. 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. Mulamwah and his girlfriend speak out for the first time after he quit comedy | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke The Chandler Police Department said it had located three children and the suspect father in a home on Wednesday morning in a child abduction case that involved an AMBER Alert. Chandler is a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona. Stephan Charles Robinson, 36, allegedly abducted the children and kept them at a relatives home. The three children, Nya Robinson, 8, Stachia Robinson, 6, and Stephan Robinson, 2, are now said to be safe. Earlier on, police said they were in grave danger since their father allegedly threatened to kill the children and commit suicide. Chandler Police Department posted an update to Facebook on Wednesday that read: Stephan & his children were located in Gilbert around 6:45 a.m. All are safe. Stephan is in custody & his children are in the care of Chandler PD as well. The Amber Alert has been canceled. Chandler police made no further comments about any arrests or charges made or about the mother of the children. 3 Missing Virginia Children Safely Located In a similar story Wednesday, three young children from Virginia have been safely located, according to the Roanoke County Police Department. Suspects John Varion Allison and his wife Ruby Marie Allison are in custody facing abduction charges and refusing to serve a court-ordered child removal. The three children were abducted around 3:30 p.m. on April 21. Virginia State Police issued an Amber Alert on behalf of the Roanoke County Police Department and said at the time that the three missing children were believed to be in extreme danger. Allison is described as a white male with blond hair and brown eyes. He is 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighs 185 pounds. His wife, identified as Ruby Marie Allison, was thought to be traveling with him, according to authorities. The male suspect John Varion Allison has turned himself in, but his wife Ruby Allison and the three children were not with him at the time. The children are believed to be with their mother. Police described Ruby as a white female with brown hair and brown eyes. She is 5 foot 3 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds. The three children are identified as two 6-year-olds, Cameron and Emma Allison, and 21-month-old Colin Allison. Cameron is described as a white male with brown hair and brown eyes, and Emma is a white female with brown hair and brown eyes, and Colin is a white male with blonde hair and brown eyes. It is not known how where and exactly when the mother and her children were found. Lorenz Duchamps contributed to this report West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar of repeatedly interfering in the functioning of the state administration, and asked him to judge who has crossed the limit of constitutional dharma and the norms of decency between the two constitutional functionaries. In a strongly worded seven-page letter to the governor, Banerjee said Dhankhar has forgotten that she is the "elected chief minister of a proud Indian state" whereas he is nominated. "It is for you to judge who has flagrantly transgressed constitutional dharma and even basic norms of decency between constitutional functionaries," Banerjee said in the letter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism said the Nigerian Police was not responsible for the killing of a petrol attendant in Abia. The minister disclosed this at the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 daily press briefing on Thursday in Abuja. There had been insinuations that the petrol attendant that died in Abia was killed by police personnel. The minster, however, said that the petrol attendant was hit by an oncoming vehicle while the people were protesting against a tricycle that was allegedly hit by the police. What happened was that the policeman hit a Keke Napep and while the people were protesting, another oncoming vehicle hit the petrol attendant leading to his death, he said. He called on the task force in the state to ensure the protection of human rights while on duty, adding that they should respect the rights of the people as they strive to maintain law and order. Dr Sabi Aliyu, the Coordinator, National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), promised that the PTF would ensure that peoples rights were respected during the lockdown period. Tehran, April 23 : Iran and Turkey have called for maintaining bilateral trade relations with adherence to the health protocols amid the coronavirus pandemic, state TV reported on Thursday. In a telephone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani underlined the importance of continued trade and economic ties between the two countries while observing all health protocols, reports xinhua news agency. "Iran and Turkey have proved that they have stood together in times of hardship and difficulty, and today, we should help each other by forging closer cooperation," Rouhani said. He noted the officials from the two neighbors should share their fight against the novel coronavirus. Iran and Turkey are the countries hardest hit by the pandemic in the Middle East. Turkey accounts for 98,674 cases and 2,376 deaths, while Iran has reported 85,996 infections and 5,391 fatalities. Kolkata, April 23 : West Bengal Pradesh Congress President Somen Mitra on Thursday filed a police complaint against Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami under various sections of the Indian Penal Code dealing with sedition, inciting religious groups with the intent to provoke animosity and causing breach of peace. The complaint lodged at the Entally police station in central Kolkata accused Goswami of making "wild and baseless" allegations against Congress President Sonia Gandhi, intending to cause breach of public order and delivering a hate speech. Mitra alleged that Goswami's statements while anchoring a show on Republic Bharat channel on Tuesday cast "serious aspersions" on the Maharashtra government and state Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, accusing him of favouring one religious group over another. Mitra also appealed to the state Congress workers to register police complaint against Goswami in all the police stations of the state. Unemployment in the US is swelling to levels last seen during the Great Depression of the 1930s, with 1 in 6 American workers thrown out of a job by the coronavirus. More than 4.4 million laid-off Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, the government said Thursday. In all, roughly 26 million people _ the population of the 10 biggest US cities combined _ have now filed for jobless aid in five weeks, an epic collapse that has raised the stakes in the debate over how and when to ease the shutdowns of factories and other businesses. In the hardest-hit corner of the US, evidence emerged that perhaps 2.7 million New York state residents have been infected by the virus _ 10 times the number confirmed by lab tests. A small, preliminary statewide survey of around 3,000 people found that nearly 14% had antibodies suggesting they had been exposed, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. Just in New York City, with a population of 8.6 million, Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot said as many as 1 million may have been exposed. In Washington, many House lawmakers wore face masks and bandannas _ and some sat in the otherwise vacant visitors gallery to stay away from others _ as they debated a nearly $500 billion measure to help businesses and hospitals weather the crisis. The package was expected to win final approval later in the day, then advance to President Donald Trump for his signature. Abroad, there was mixed news about the epidemic. Some countries, including Greece, Bangladesh and Malaysia, announced extensions of their lockdowns. Vietnam, New Zealand and Croatia were among those moving to end or ease such measures. The coronavirus has killed nearly 190,000 people worldwide, including more than 100,000 in Europe and about 47,000 in the United States, according to a tally compiled by John Hopkins University from official government figures. The true numbers are almost certainly far higher. In the US, the economic consequences of the shutdowns have sparked angry rallies in state capitals by protesters demanding that businesses reopen, and Trump has expressed impatience over the restrictions. Some governors have begun easing up despite warnings from health authorities that it may be too soon to do so without sparking a second wave of infections. In Georgia, gyms, hair salons and bowling alleys can reopen Friday. Texas has reopened its state parks. Few Americans count on Trump as a reliable source of information on the outbreak, according to a survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About 23% said they have high levels of trust in what he tells the public, while 21% said they trust him a moderate amount. On the economic front, few experts foresee a downturn as severe as the Depression, when unemployment remained above 14% from 1931 to 1940, peaking at 25%. But unemployment is considered likely to remain elevated well into next year and probably beyond, and will surely top the 10% peak of the 2008-09 recession. Janet Simon, laid off as a waitress at an IHOP restaurant in Miami, said she has just $200 in her name and is getting panic attacks because of uncertainty over how she will care for her three children. Simon, 33, filed for unemployment a month ago, and her application is still listed as ``pending.'' ``I'm doing everything to keep my family safe, my children safe, but everything else around me is falling apart,'' Simon said. ``But they see it, no matter how much I try to hide my despair.`` Corey Williams, 31, was laid off from his warehouse job in Michigan a month ago and saw his rent, insurance and other bills pile up while he anxiously awaited his unemployment benefits. That finally happened on Wednesday, and he quickly paid $1,700 in bills. ``It was getting pretty tight, pretty tight,'' he said. ``It was definitely stressful for the last few days.'' Search Keywords: Short link: More than 71 per cent of Mizoram's farmer families have received financial assistance amounting to over Rs 13.2 lakh under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme during the ongoing lockdown, a state agriculture department official said on Thursday. Under the scheme launched in December 20018, income support of Rs 6,000 per year is provided to all farmer families across the country in three equal instalments every four months. There are 92,201 beneficiaries of the scheme in Mizoram and 66,108 of them have received the monetary aid between March 24 and April 10, Pradip Chhetri, the official who deals with the PM-KISAN scheme, told PTI. He said the number of farmers, who availed the benefit, could be more as the latest data could not be accessed. Rs 2,000 each was deposited to the beneficiaries account by the Centre through direct benefit transfer system, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Happy birthday Shakespeare! Here's how you can watch his work and celebrate from home. National Theatre's Twelfth Night The gender-switching production of Shakespeare's classic farce, starring Tamsin Greig, Phoebe Fox and Oliver Chris, is the kind of comedic caper we all need as a pick-me-up. An audio described version is also available. Where can you find it? On YouTube, or above from 7pm. Globe's Romeo and Juliet The Globe has been dropping new shows on YouTube every other week this time around it's Shakespeare's iconic Romeo and Juliet starring two up-and-coming stars, Ellie Kendrick and Adetomiwa Edun. Where can you find it? On YouTube, or above. RSC and Shakespeare's Globe on BBC iPlayer Well iPlayer is any Shakespeare lover's best friend. EIGHT productions have dropped on the site today six from the RSC and two star-studded productions from the Globe. All are worth checking out. Where can you find it? On BBC iPlayer RSC on Marquee TV David Tennant and the cast of Richard II RSC, photo by Keith Pattison The RSC have released a whole load of shows on Marquee.TV including the David Tennant-led Richard II and Twelfth Night with Kara Tointon. Where can you find it? Head to the Marquee TV website. Ian McKellen and Judi Dench in Macbeth The RSC production was safely captured and saved for future generations, and it might well be the definitive performance of the Scottish play. McKellen and Dench provide an intimate, sweaty, messy vision of the two tormented regicidal plotters. Where can you find it? BroadwayHD, which is offering week-long free trials. The King Netflix's cinematic reimaging of the Henry IVs and Henry V may be a bit divisive, but Timothee Chalamet playing Hal is worth a look anyway. Where can you find it? On Netflix. 10 Things I Hate About You Fine fine, it isn't Shakespeare, but it is based on The Taming of the Shrew. Plus Heath Ledger is brilliant in it. Where can you find it? Disney Plus Amazon Prime Macbeth, King Lear, Richard II, Much Ado About Nothing and more We did a round-up of all the Amazon Prime Video shows available already, featuring vintage productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, Richard II with Fiona Shaw and more. Take a look. Where can you find it? Amazon Prime Deafinitely Theatre's Love Labour's Lost The award-winning company plans to release three shows over the next three months. Presented in both British Sign Language and Spoken English, the productions will be available on the company's YouTube channel here. Find out more here. Where can you find it? On YouTube, or above. Cheek By Jowl's The Winter's Tale No one does Shakespeare like Cheek By Jowl, so this production is extra special. Where can you find it? On YouTube, or above. Henry V The Barn's hit production with Aaron Sidwell and Lauren Samuels went live at 6pm on Friday 27 March, and is a modern twist on the wartime play. Where can you find it? On The Barn's website here RSC's First Encounter Want to entertain the young'uns? Try this version of Shakespeare, making it accessible for audiences of all ages. Where can you find it? On YouTube, or above. The Lion King Sigh. We sort of had to didn't we. It's got so many great tunes and wholesome fun. Plus there're now two versions of it. Where can you find it? Disney Plus Donmar's Shakespeare Trilogy Perhaps one of the most seismic stagings of Shakespeare's work in recent memory, the Donmar's trilogy has an ensemble cast of brilliant performers including Sheila Atim, Jade Anouka and Harriet Walter. It really is excellent. Where can you find it? BroadwayHD and Marquee.TV , which are offering week-long free trials. Orlando Bloom in Romeo and Juliet Orlando Bloom gets his Bard on in this production of the romantic tragedy, which was staged on Broadway in 2013. Where can you find it? BroadwayHD, which is offering week-long free trials. A Midsummer Night's Dream on iPlayer We thought we'd return to BBC iPlayer because it has even more Shakespeare goodness. The first is Russell T Davies' version of Shakespeare's magical classic with all manners of stars involved. The comedy film Bill, created by the Horrible Histories team, is fantastic. You can also try all episodes of the David Mitchell-led Upstart Crow, which had its stage adaptation run cut short by the coronavirus. Where can you find it? BBC iPlayer Over 100 years on from the Spanish flu (H1N1) pandemic in 1918 that infected 500 million people and that is estimated to have claimed the lives of up to 50 million, comparisons are unsurprisingly being drawn with the current coronavirus crisis. A famous quote widely attributed to philosopher George Santayana says 'Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.' While the two pandemics are different, measures being taken to stop the spread are similar and there is much to be learned from how to people of the time worked to slow the spread of the deadly flu. Pictures have emerged showing families taking similar measures to those being taken today, and even going one step further - outfitting their furry friends with face masks - something people in the U.S. today could learn from. A family of six in California in Dublin, California, pose for a photograph during the Spanish Flu crisis of 1918, where even their cat has been fitted with a little face mask On April 3, it was reported that cats are capable of transmitting the coronavirus between themselves, and yesterday two domestic cats tested positive for the virus in New York state. There is no evidence to suggest that cats can pass the virus to humans, but it is still important for pet owners to keep their beloved animals safe. Perhaps these pictures from the Spanish Flu pandemic are something pet owners can learn from when caring for their cats and dogs. A group of five woman sit on their front porch, with two holding a pair of cats (named Penelope, left, and Golly, right) that are also wearing protective face masks Pictures taken during the Spanish Flu pandemic show cats were not the only pets outfitted with face masks. Two pictures from newspapers at the time show dogs that have been given masks to protect them from the flu as well. People of the time were clearly just as concerned about their fluffy companions as they are today, with news outlets equally as interested in stories about them. 'This Seattle Dog Wears Flu Mask' this particular headline read. The text below says the dog's name is 'Yancia' and jokes she is one of the city's 'best canine flu observing citizens' Another clipping shows a group of 'big league players' with their dog mascot also wearing a little face mask during the Spanish Flur pandemic Today, particularly in Asia, pet owners have been seen covering up their dogs with make-shift face masks, following suit from those who were looking after their pets in 1918. Pictures of dog owners walking their pooches with masks on have been shared widely online. While one rare case in Hong Kong saw two dogs contract the coronavirus, dog owners will be pleased to hear that their pets are very unlikely to fall sick from it. Pictured: A dog is seen wearing a home made mask in Shanghai, China in Februrary Another dog in Shanghai is seen wearing a little mask, and also protective clothing including little doggy boots A woman is pictured carrying her dog covered nose to paw in protective gear in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province of China Another dog is slung over a man's shoulder as he carried his pal down the street in Shanghai. The dog looks less than impressed with his current situation There are a number of difference between now and 1918, such as how far medicine has come in the last 100 years and the First World War that was coming to a close at the time limiting global coordination. It wasn't until 1933 that doctors came to a consensus that the flu was even caused by a virus, as opposed to bacteria. Around a third of the world's population contracted the Spanish flu, and while the numbers during this pandemic are not expected to reach anywhere near those levels, there are also some striking similarities in the measures being taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Social distancing measures were in place, such as isolation, quarantine and staggering rush-hour to avoid crowds. Rigorous hand-washing was encouraged and of course, so was the wearing of face masks. Pictured: A police officer in California adjusts the face mask of a citizen Pictured: Camp Funston, Kansas in 1918 being used as an emergency field hospital to treat patients with the Spanish Flu. Similar field hospitals have been set up around the world today In fact, in some parts of the U.S., not wearing a face mask was illegal, which is not the case today. On 24 October 1918, San Francisco's legislative body unanimously passed the Influenza Mask Ordinance, according to CNN, marking the first time wearing face masks became mandatory on U.S. soil. After this, awareness campaigns began, with the red cross telling the public: 'Wear a Mask and Save Your Life! A Mask is 99% Proof Against Influenza.' Songs were even written about the practice. One such song features the lyrics: 'Obey the laws, and wear the gauze. Protect your jaws from septic paws.' Anyone found outside without a mask was fined or even imprisoned. Songs have been written today about the coronavirus. For example, Sesame Street adapted one of their songs to teach children the importance of washing their hands. To combat the spread of the flu, Americans were told to make face masks out of four to six layers of a fine mesh gauze, which is what was also used in hospitals. Unfortunately, many home made masks were only made from one or two layers, which reduced the mask's effectiveness. Today, the quality of masks is also a big concern, particularly among healthcare workers. While people have been making homemade masks, which scientists have said can help limit the spread of the coronavirus, the medical issued N95 (masks that have a 95 percent efficiency in filtering particles) face masks are said to be the most effective, widely produced masks. Mainland China has emerged a bright spot in the global dry bulk shipping sector, news that will be welcomed by Hong Kong shipowners, who own a large number of such vessels. China is really back in action. If anything, its an opportunity right now [for shipowners]. There are strong volumes in construction materials, said Mats Bergland, the chief executive of Hong Kong-based Pacific Basin Shipping, which specialises in this area. Dry bulk ships carry raw materials such as iron ore, coal, grains, wood, steel and construction materials, and can be a barometer of industrial activity. About half of the carrying capacity of all Hong Kong-owned ships is in the dry bulk segment. The sector, in loss-making territory because of Covid-19 lockdowns, is being held up by demand for logs, grains, iron ore and other bulk products in China. Port calls, or instances of merchant ships loading and unloading cargo, have risen considerably, said William Fairclough, the managing director of Hong Kong-based Wah Kwong Maritime. He said a recent dry bulk shipping report showed improving activity in China, with all shipping segments now recording more port calls than during the same period in 2019 a total growth running at about 20 per cent after the 30 per cent year-on-year fall experienced in mid-February. The mainland produced 53 per cent of the worlds steel in 2019, requiring enormous amounts of iron ore in the process. Dry bulk shipping analytics company Trade Views said this month it estimated that 79 per cent of demand for capesize shipping, or the largest dry bulk vessels at sea, was for iron ore, and that 74 per cent of seaborne iron ore was bound for China. Reuters reported this month that Refinitiv vessel-tracking data showed iron ore shipments to China had risen to 75.9 million tonnes in March from 71.4 million tonnes in February. It seems as though demand from China is holding up as work resumes there, with first-quarter [iron ore] imports at around 2019 levels and coal imports up over last year, said Tim Huxley, managing director of Hong Kong-based Mandarin Shipping. Wah Kwong Maritimes Fairclough said that iron ore was priced at a strong US$95 per tonne, and that there were signs that demand for the raw material was ramping up in China. He added that supply from Brazil was coming back online after unprecedented rainfall, helping to boost freight rates. Story continues Freight rates for capesize ships have risen sharply over the past month. The latest data by shipping services provider Clarksons showed that the average capesize daily charter rates had risen from US$3,875 on March 27 to US$8,813 for the week of April 17, which is still relatively low. The average capesize charter rate for these classes was US$17,880 in 2019. Another bulk cargo that shippers were paying particular attention to was logs, which China imports for use in form construction for cement, and is viewed as a gauge of future activity in the construction industry. In an outlook report on the global construction industry published on April 20, Moodys Rating Agency said the Chinese construction sector had resumed work on key infrastructure projects, and that mainland construction companies should recover lost domestic revenue in the remainder of 2020, thanks to increased government spending and order backlogs. Rob Aarvold, general manager of Swire Bulk, The China Navigation Company, said that with fuel prices so low and log prices rising thanks to Chinese demand, there was an opportunity now for shippers to pick up logs in faraway Uruguay, rather than New Zealand, whose ports have been closed due to a Covid-19 lockdown. Wah Kwong Maritimes Fairclough said that Chinas stock of logs had fallen from a very high 7.3 million tonnes to an exceptionally low 1 million tonnes. Covid-19 lockdowns are hurting the industry. Pacific Basins Bergland said there was a significant slowdown in North American activity, particularly in construction materials, which he said would have an impact ofn the regions gross domestic product. This had also left freight rates at or below operating expense levels. Charter rates for handysize ships or smaller boats dropped by 9 per cent from US$5,592 to US$5,083 per day between April 10 and April 17. In the same period, the average charter rates for supramax vessels, slightly larger boats, fell from US$4,338 to US$3,763 a day, according to Clarksons. Bergland estimated that companies which have done long-term charters were paying owners between US$10,000 to US$12,000 a day. Anders Liengaard, a dry bulk shipping specialist, said the industry had thousands of small operators that might be in financial trouble. But the dry bulk shipping business was used to big swings in freight rates, Wah Kwong Maritimes Fairclough said. 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 Chinas industrial recovery offers Hong Kongs shippers sanctuary in rough seas first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2020. Click here to read the full article. Beauty Inc is launching a new series of virtual events based on the publications Master Class feature. The first one, set for April 27 at 2 p.m., is titled, Leadership in Times of Crisis and will feature LOreal USAs chief executive officer Stephane Rinderknech in a one-on-one discussion with Beauty Incs Jenny B. Fine. The session will look at how Rinderknech is guiding the beauty giant through the COVID-19 pandemic while also positioning the company for a changing world. Registration for this free event is required, and the page can be found here. Rinderknech has spent 19 years at LOreal working abroad, both in the Americas and Asia-Pacific, according to his official biography. In that time, Rinderknech has distinguished himself as a modern business leader known for operational excellence, visionary brand management, digital marketing innovation, a passion for beauty in all of its diverse expressions, and a commitment to corporate social responsibility, ethics and sustainability. The company noted that in October 2019, Rinderknech was appointed president and ceo of LOreal USA, the companys largest subsidiary, and executive vice president, North America. Rinderknech began his career at LOreal in Miami, Florida in 2001, with key responsibilities over Travel Retail across the Americas, the company noted. After successful leadership roles across a range of LOreal brands and divisions in Japan, South Korea and China, Rinderknech was promoted to ceo of LOreal China in 2016. LOreal stated that under his management, LOreal China became the LOreal Groups second-largest subsidiary and its fastest-growing market. Sign up for WWD's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The Royce International Premier Fund (Trades, Portfolio) disclosed seven new positions in its first-quarter portfolio, which was released earlier this week. Following the departure of David Nadel last November, the fund, which is part of Chuck Royce (Trades, Portfolio)'s New York-based firm, is now solely managed by Mark Rayner. The fund focuses on investing in a limited number of foreign small-cap companies with distinct competitive advantages, high returns on invested capital and products that have a sustainable moat. Sticking to these criteria, the fund's top five new buys for the quarter were Chr. Hansen Holding AS (OCSE:CHR), Marel HF (XAMS:MAREL), Iress Ltd. (ASX:IRE), Ossur HF (OCSE:OSSR) and Aveva Group PLC (LSE:AVV). Chr. Hansen The fund invested in 72,600 shares of Chr. Hansen, allocating 0.87% of the equity portfolio to the holding. The stock traded for an average price of 503.65 Danish krone ($72.91) per share during the quarter. Based in Denmark, the bioscience company, which develops natural solutions for the food, beverage, nutritional, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries, has a market cap of 77.27 billion krone; its shares closed at 586.8 krone on Wednesday with a price-earnings ratio of 41.38, a price-book ratio of 13.15 and a price-sales ratio of 8.8. The Peter Lynch chart shows the stock is trading above its fair value, suggesting it is overpriced. The GuruFocus valuation rank of 1 out of 10 also supports this assessment. 5e455b9cecc3ca9459d11a7e01f09066.png GuruFocus rated Chr. Hansen's financial strength 5 out of 10. Although the company has issued approximately 767.9 million euros ($829.3 million) in new long-term debt over the past three years, it is still at a manageable level due to having comfortable interest coverage. It also has a robust Altman Z-Scorer of 6.32, which indicates it is in good financial standing. Story continues The company's profitability fared even better, scoring a 9 out of 10 rating. The rating was driven by an expanding operating margin, strong returns that outperform a majority of competitors and a moderate Piotroski F-Score of 5, which implies business conditions are stable. Although Chr. Hansen has recorded a slowdown in revenue per share growth over the past 12 months, it still has a business predictability rank of 3.5 out of five stars. According to GuruFocus, companies with this rank return approximately 9.3% per annum over a 10-year period. The Wasatch International Growth (Trades, Portfolio) Fund is the company's largest guru shareholder with 0.15% of outstanding shares. Marel The International Premier Fund picked up 1.4 million shares of Marel, dedicating 0.87% of the equity portfolio to the stake. During the quarter, shares traded for an average price of 4.06 euros ($4.38) each. The food processing company, which is headquartered in Iceland, has a market cap of 2.9 billion euros; its shares closed at 3.82 euros on Wednesday with a price-earnings ratio of 30.12, a price-book ratio of 3.19 and a price-sales ratio of 2.19. According to the Peter Lynch chart, the stock is overvalued. The GuruFocus valuation rank of 1 out of 10 also leans toward overvaluation as the share price and price-sales ratio are near 10-year highs. a57c8d8734989ce9e36adb000e1b1e8a.png Marel's financial strength was rated 6 out of 10 by GuruFocus on the back of adequate interest coverage. It also has a low cash-debt ratio of 0.89, which underperforms over half of the companies in the industrial products industry. The company's profitability scored an 8 out of 10 rating as its operating margin is expanding. Marel is also being supported by strong returns that outperform a majority of industry peers and a moderate Piotroski F-Score of 4. Since the company has recorded a decline in revenue per share over the past year and its assets are building at a faster rate than revenue is growing, the 2.5-star business predictability rank is on watch. GuruFocus says companies with this rank typically return an average of 7.3% per year. Royce holds 0.19% of the company's outstanding shares. Iress The fund established a 678,200-share position in Iress, giving it 0.71% space in the equity portfolio. During the quarter, the stock traded for an average per-share price of 12.41 Australian dollars ($7.94). The Australian software company, which serves the financial services industry, has an AU$1.72 billion market cap; its shares closed at AU$9.64 on Wednesday with a price-earnings ratio of 25.63 and a price-sales ratio of 3.89. Ossur Royce's International Premier Fund purchased 626,200 shares of Ossur, impacting the equity portfolio by 0.59%. The stock traded for an average price of 46.72 Danish krone per share during the quarter. The Icelandic company, which develops and manufactures non-invasive orthopedic equipment, has a market cap of 18.13 billion krone; its shares closed at 43 krone on Wednesday with a price-earnings ratio of 41.74, a price-book ratio of 5.46 and a price-sales ratio of 3.99. Based on the Peter Lynch chart, the stock appears to be overvalued. b21061378522940f66fcf876b6aa9ce7.png GuruFocus rated Ossur's financial strength 6 out of 10. Although the company has issued approximately $310.25 million in new long-term debt over the past three years, it is still manageable due to a sufficient level of interest coverage. It also has a high Altman Z-Score of 4.93 even though its assets are building up at a faster rate than its revenue is growing. The company's profitability scored an 8 out of 10 rating. Even though the operating margin is in decline, it still outperforms a majority of its competitors. Ossur also has strong returns, consistent earnings and revenue growth and a moderate Piotroski F-Score of 4. The three-star business predictability rank indicates it returns an average of 8.2% per year. The fund holds 0.15% of the company's outstanding shares. Aveva Group Having previously sold out of a position in Aveva in the third quarter of 2017, the fund entered a new 83,760-share holding. The trade had an impact of 0.58% on the equity portfolio. Shares traded for an average price of 44.74 pounds ($55.42) during the quarter. The U.K.-based information technology company has a market cap of 5.61 billion pounds; its shares closed at 34.72 pounds on Wednesday with a price-earnings ratio of 96.44, a price-book ratio of 2.94 and a price-sales ratio of 7.33. The Peter Lynch chart suggests the stock is overvalued. Even though the price-book and price-sales ratios are at one-year lows, the GuruFocus valuation rank of 1 out of 10 also supports this assessment. fb34377b37f471bf3b29429c31420eaf.png Aveva's financial strength was rated 8 out of 10 by GuruFocus on the back of a comfortable level of interest coverage and high Altman Z-Score of 7.36. The company may not be very capital efficient, however, since its return on invested capital is below its weighted average cost of capital. Its assets are also building up at a faster rate than revenue is growing, which is another sign of declining efficiency. The company's profitability scored a 9 out of 10 rating even though its margins are in decline. Regardless, they still outperform over half of industry peers. Aveva also has mediocre returns, a moderate Piotroski F-Score of 6 and a one-star business predictability rank. According to GuruFocus, companies with this rank typically return an average of 1.1% per year. The fund holds 0.05% of Aveva's outstanding shares. Additional trades and portfolio performance During the quarter, the fund also established positions in German software company Nemetschek SE (XTER:NEM) and Diploma PLC (LSE:DPLM), a British supplier of technical products and services. Over half of International Premier Fund's $624 million equity portfolio, which is composed of 57 stocks, is invested in the industrials and technology sectors. f1393cf7f00b21aa507352f196934357.png According to Royce Investment Partners' website, the fund posted a return of 34.49% for 2019, outperforming the MSCI ACWI Ex. U.S. Small Cap Index's 22.42% return. Disclosure: No positions. Read more here: AT&T Posts 1st-Quarter Miss as Coronavirus Outbreak Weighs on Earnings, Sales Lockheed Martin's 1st-Quarter Results Soar Above Expectations Halliburton Braces for Drop in US Oilfield Activity Following $1 Billion Loss Not a Premium Member of GuruFocus? Sign up for a free 7-day trial here. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Most viral test kits rely on labor- and time-intensive laboratory preparation and analysis techniques; for example, tests for the novel coronavirus can take days to detect the virus from nasal swabs. Now, researchers have demonstrated an inexpensive yet sensitive smartphone-based testing device for viral and bacterial pathogens that takes about 30 minutes to complete. The roughly $50 smartphone accessory could reduce the pressure on testing laboratories during a pandemic such as COVID-19. The results of the new multi-institutional study, led by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign electrical and computer engineering professor Brian Cunningham and bioengineering professor Rashid Bashir, are reported in the journal Lab on a Chip. "The challenges associated with rapid pathogen testing contribute to a lot of uncertainty regarding which individuals are quarantined and a whole host of other health and economic issues," Cunningham said. The study began with the goal of detecting a panel of viral and bacterial pathogens in horses, including those that cause severe respiratory illnesses similar to those presented in COVID-19, the researchers said. "Horse pathogens can lead to devastating diseases in animal populations, of course, but one reason we work with them has to do with safety. The horse pathogens in our study are harmless to humans," Cunningham said. The new testing device is comprised of a small cartridge containing testing reagents and a port to insert a nasal extract or blood sample, the researchers said. The whole unit clips to a smartphone. Inside the cartridge, the reagents break open a pathogen's outer shell to gain access to its RNA. A primer molecule then amplifies the genetic material into many millions of copies in about 10 or 15 minutes, the researchers said. A fluorescent dye stains the copies and glows green when illuminated by blue LED light, which is then detected by the smartphone's camera. "This test can be performed rapidly on passengers before getting on a flight, on people going to a theme park or before events like a conference or concert," Cunningham said. "Cloud computing via a smartphone application could allow a negative test result to be registered with event organizers or as part of a boarding pass for a flight. Or, a person in quarantine could give themselves daily tests, register the results with a doctor, and then know when it's safe to come out and rejoin society." There are a few preparatory steps currently performed outside of the device, and the team is working on a cartridge that has all of the reagents needed to be a fully integrated system. Other researchers at the U. of I. are using the novel coronavirus genome to create a mobile test for COVID-19, and making an easily manufactured cartridge that Cunningham said would improve testing efforts. ### Study co-authors with Cunningham and Bashir were Fu Sun, Anurup Ganguli and Matthew B. Wheeler, of the U. of I.; and Ryan Brisbin and David L. Hirschberg, of RAIN Incubator; Krithika Shanmugam, of the University of Washington; and veterinarian David M. Nash. The National Science Foundation and the Center for Genomic Diagnostics at the U. of I. 's Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology supported this research. Bashir also is the dean of the Grainger College of Engineering at Illinois. Cunningham also is affiliated with bioengineering and materials science and engineering, the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, the Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Lab, the Carle Illinois College of Medicine and the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at Illinois. Cunningham serves as a consultant to and owns stock in Reliant Immune Diagnostics, the company that licensed the technology described in this news release. Editor's notes: To reach Brian Cunningham, call 217- 265-6291; email bcunning@illinois.edu. The paper "Smartphone-based multiplex 30-minute nucleic acid test of live virus from nasal swab extract" is available online and from the U. of I. News Bureau. DOI: 10.1039/D0LC00304B Rachel Griffith-Boyes, Head of Community Services, Totara Learning The Totara Community, a free online space for learning professionals, has reported a 214% increase in logins since the worldwide lockdown period began. New Totara Community signups have also increased by 50% since the start of the COVID-19 crisis and subsequent lockdown, showing that learners are flooding to the Totara Community in their droves to access free online learning and to connect with their learning peers. The data also reveals a staggering 600% increase in site users compared with the same period last year, representing a significant increase in interest in formal and informal learning focused specifically on L&D professionals across sectors. Rachel Griffith-Boyes, Head of Community Services for the Totara Community, said: Were so pleased to feel were supporting our users at this difficult time. As a free online community, our whole raison detre is to provide access to resources, training and spaces to collaborate with others. We know many organizations are moving to remote working, and perhaps transitioning their learning online for the first time. The global pandemic is presenting a raft of new challenges for our colleagues working in learning and development around the world, so to see that those users are coming to the Community for support makes us all very proud. And its not just about new members. Course enrolments have almost doubled since lockdown began, with course completions up by a third. There have also been over twice as many course enrolments compared to the same period last year, showing that learning professionals are making the most of these unprecedented and uncertain times by focusing on improving their skills online. Dedicated sector spaces for users to discuss industry-specific issues and share knowledge with peers in their sector have proved particularly popular, with the New Zealand Government using the Government sector space to share valuable remote working resources with other government departments and agencies worldwide. Totara Content Partners GO1 and Core Learning have also provided remote working and COVID-19 resources free of charge to members of the Totara Community, helping to minimize disruption for Totara customers around the world. Anyone looking to join thousands of learning professionals worldwide can get started today by signing up for a free Totara Community account. ARTS philanthropist and RSC governor Alexander Patrick has died, it has been announced. Philanthropist and RSC governor Alexander Patrick. The car industry boss had been a governor at the RSC since 2011, and was also closely involved with the Birmingham Hippodrome, which described him in a statement as "a true West Midlands philanthropist who believed in the value of arts and culture". As chairman of The Patrick Trust, a foundation set up to support arts and culture across the Midlands, he was behind several sizeable donations, including supporting the transformation of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and refurbishing the Swan Wing, and the trust has donated to the ongoing restoration of the company's costume workshop. In addition to his cultural activities, Mr Patrick was an honorary life president of the charity Muscular Dystrophy UK, having lost his brother Andrew to Duchenne muscular dystrophy at the age of just 13. The boys' father Joseph was one of the founders of the charity and Mr Patrick continued his support for it throughout his life. The charity's chief executive, Catherine Woodhead, said: "Without his generous long-term support we would not be seeing today potential treatments for muscular dystrophy in development and entering clinical trials. We will be forever in his debt and our thoughts today are with his wife Valerie and all his family." The charity's website described him as "a modest man, caring and throughly decent", and added: "As a philanthropist, he quietly went about supporting the causes he felt strongly about." Mr Patrick was made Deputy Lieutenant for the West Midlands, and in 2012 he was awarded a CBE for his support of charitable causes. The Patrick Trust was set up from the family's car manufacturing business, Patrick Motors. Meanwhile, Muscular Dystrophy UK is facing its biggest threat in 60 years, with a funding gap of 2.8m. Catherine Woodhead said: "To help us continue to support the 70,000 people in the UK who are living with muscular dystrophy, and at high risk or coronavirus, we need your collective muscle power." Find out more about MDUKs urgent appeal athttps://www.musculardystrophyuk.org/mduk-urgent-appeal/ [April 23, 2020] Beacon Healthcare Systems Introduces New Medicare Supplemental Benefits Module Beacon Healthcare Systems has introduced a new Medicare Supplemental Benefits module expressly designed to help Medicare Advantage health plans with the approval and delivery of supplemental benefits for their members. Beacon is home to the healthcare industry's leading compliance and risk management technologies. Beacon's new module comes on the heels of new guidelines from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that allow the expansion of supplemental benefits in Medicare Advantage to cover not only benefits that are "primarily health-related" but, for the first time, to expand that scope to include any benefit "as long as they are healthcare benefits." These include services and support that make it easier for older adults to stay in their homes and lead longer, healthier lives and include such benefits as pest control, service pets, electricity and food delivery. "Many health plans have long supported older adults' ability to stay healthy and independent at home, and this change in CMS policy creates the opportunity to expand coverage and make it even easier to do precisely that," said Bevann Moreland, senior vice president of payer product innovation at Beacon. "In that spirit, Beacon launched a new module earlier this year to help a national Medicare Advantage plan manage supplemental benefits for their members; and in the first week alone, they captured 2,000 cases. We are excited to help plans distinguish themselves from the competition by bringing new benefits to their members that address social needs andimprove their quality of life." In addition to this new Supplemental Benefits module, Beacon provides a portfolio of industry-leading health plan solutions designed to meet today's regulatory requirements. These include: Virtual Compliance Manager - Providing 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. Virtual Appeals Manager - The industry's most intuitive and easy-to-use appeals and grievances tool. Designed by health plan compliance and operational experts, VAM is a highly configurable and automated solution that can be implemented in record time and provides unparalleled control and transparency of cases from intake to review, thus ensuring complete compliance with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. VAM also helps reduce a massive amount of health plan letters into a manageable and efficient core of templates. "We pride ourselves in being a partner health plans can trust and turn to with confidence to help them efficiently manage their complex business and best serve their members," said Beacon CEO Ken Stockman. "Each of Beacon's products-including our new Supplemental Benefits module-have been designed with this in mind and are supported by a team of subject-matter experts who have been on the frontlines and are ready to support our clients at every turn." 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/20200423005267/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Togos Catholic Bishops have condemned the brutal arrest of opposition leader, Agbeyome Kodjo, in a move that underlies continuing post-election tensions in the country. English Africa Service Vatican City The Bishops Conference of Togo learned with dismay the arrest of Agbeyome Kodjo, at his home this Tuesday, 21 April, in circumstances of brutality and violence perpetrated by the Defence and Security Forces, reads a statement signed by all of Togos Catholic Bishops. Togos security agents forced their way into the house of the opposition leader by breaking through the entrance gate and smashing the house door. Kodjo came second in the February 2020 elections Leader of the opposition Patriotic Movement for Democracy and Development (Mouvement patriotique pour la Democratie et le Developpement - MPDD) came second in Togos disputed presidential election of 22 February. The incumbent, President Faure Gnassingbe Eyadema, who has been President of Togo since 2005 was declared winner for a fourth term. His father President Gnassingbe Eyadema ruled Togo for 38 years. Media sources in Togo said the opposition leader was arrested for failing to appear before the countrys intelligence and security police - Service central de recherches et dinvestigations criminelles de la gendarmerie. Agbeyome Kodjos immunity, as a former Prime Minister, was lifted by the countrys Parliament in March. 90-year-old Archbishop emeritus -a fierce presidential critic Togos Bishops further condemned the fact that the Archbishop of Lome, Nicodeme Barrigah-Benissan together with his predecessor, the former Archbishop of Lome, Denis Amuzu-Dzakpah were not allowed to attend to Lomes other Archbishop emeritus, Philippe Fanoko Kpodzro. The latter was said to have been at the house of the opposition leader when the arrest took place. The 90-year-old Archbishop emeritus Kpodzro is a fierce critic of President Faure. In March, he was briefly placed under house arrest after calling for post-election protests. Political tensions started in 2017 In their statement, the Togolese Bishops say the recurrence of violence perpetrated by the governments security agents only worsens a political situation in deterioration since 2017. They have since called for a political solution, which respects the fundamental rights of citizens. The government should exercise restraint We believe that every citizen has the right and duty to express his/her disapproval in the face of manifest injustice and oppression. The physical violence and other inhuman and degrading treatment inflicted on citizens on this occasion is, therefore, a negation of their rights and freedoms. Once again, the Conference of Bishops denounces and condemns them, and calls on authorities to exercise restraint," said the Bishops. Visitors walk in front of SINOPEC stand at the main exhibition hall. The China-Arab States Expo is a biennial event with ambition to promote commercial cooperation between China and Arabic countries. Chinese state energy company Sinopec is in early-stage talks with Hin Leong Trading to buy a stake in an oil storage terminal that is partly owned by the Singapore trader, according to three sources with knowledge of the matter. The sale could provide much needed cash for family-owned Hin Leong, one of Asia's biggest independent traders. The company owes a total of $3.85 billion to 23 banks and has applied to a Singapore court to delay its debt repayments, according to a Hin Leong presentation to lenders on April 14 contained in the court filing, which was reviewed by Reuters but has not been made public. Sinopec, Asia's largest refiner, was approached by Hin Leong earlier this month to look at investing in the Universal Terminal in Singapore, said one Beijing-based Sinopec official. Hin Leong's founder Lim Oon Kuin and his family own 41% of the terminal through Universal Group Holdings. PetroChina holds 25% and Australian investment bank Macquarie the remaining 34%. "Sinopec is interested, and is evaluating the quality and cost of the asset," said the official, who declined to be named as the discussions are not public. The three sources did not know the size of the stake Sinopec might be interested in buying, or the potential price. Hin Leong and Sinopec did not respond to requests for comment. A previous sale of a stake in the terminal in 2016 valued the whole terminal at more than $1.5 billion, industry sources said at the time. Sinopec, which owns several storage facilities outside China - in Rotterdam, Antwerp and Fujairah has long been looking for more storage sites to boost its global trading profile, the company official said. The state oil giant, however, would be cautious about any possible investment given growing internal scrutiny over spending after a plunge in oil prices, and is closely monitoring developments around Hin Leong's debts, the official added. "Sinopec is aware of the good asset quality of Universal Terminal, but the question is at what price and if the terminal can come clean of creditors' debt claims," said the official. Of Hin Leong Group's assets, which also include about 130 oil tankers, the stake in Universal Terminal is the most attractive to potential investors, trade sources said. "The terminal is the prize," said Tony Quinn, chief executive of terminals advisory group Tankbank International. "One big advantage is that it has its own integrated marine infrastructure like having your own little port authority within Singapore," said Quinn. He added the terminal has the only independently owned supertanker jetty on Jurong Island, which is the only access point to Singapore's rock caverns, Southeast Asia's first underground oil storage facility. In an affidavit contained in the court filings reviewed by Reuters, Lim Oon Kuin, also known as O.K. Lim, said Hin Leong was in discussions with a large state-owned Chinese energy company over a potential strategic investment, without giving details. A PetroChina executive said last week that Hin Leong had not approached his company about potentially raising its stake in the terminal. PetroChina, in around 2006, became Hin Leong's first partner, taking a 35% stake in the terminal while the Singapore trader held the remaining 65%. PetroChina's initial investment of S$750 million ($524 million) was recouped in less than 36 months, said a separate industry official with direct knowledge of PetroChina's investment in the terminal. The two companies sold a combined 34% to Macquarie in 2016 in a deal that was estimated by industry sources at about $500-$550 million. ($1=S$1.43) When awarding grants, Tomball Education Foundation usually comes bearing balloons, noisemakers and a big check. In light of schools closing due to COVID-19, the foundation was forced to award its 2019-20 grants via virtual presentations. Awardees received a notification via email and the news was posted on all social media platforms. The foundation awarded eight grants totaling more than $19,000 to be used on innovative projects submitted through its ETrain process, the foundation announced April 17. While we were disappointed to switch our grant-giving ETrain to a virtual ETrain, we were thrilled to announce this year's recipients throughout the day on the 17th, Tomball Education Foundation President Susan Cline said. Founded in 2017, the foundation is an independent, non-profit corporation established by parents, local businesses, civic organizations, alumni and community leaders to make a positive impact on public education, according to Tomball ISD. It offers funds for educational projects and activities used to facilitate student accomplishment and skill development, recognize and encourage staff excellence, and increase community involvement. The foundation has awarded over $105,000 in grants to Tomball ISD teachers and staff members across 15 campuses since 2018. It think it brings hope, a little bit of joy in the time that were in right now, Vice President of Marketing and Events Amanda Bass said. Weve been very responsible with the money that we have received so far, and were just going to have to forecast the best we can. Most of the grants are technology-based and with remote learning now in place, Bass thinks other teachers and staff members are getting ideas of grants they can apply for in the future. Were all growing and trying to figure out different technology that we can use to make learning easier for kids remotely, Bass said. Focused and present Cline said it was nice to be able to shed a light on their hard-working teachers and bring a positive message to the community. Shifting to online learning brought some new challenges, so I wouldn't be surprised to see more technology-based grants in our next round of applications, Cline said. The Smile Club grant of $1,104 was awarded to Willow Wood Junior Highs Suzzette Reed, Lisa Stoyak, Susie Plummer and Jenny Fontenot is for the implementation a student-led organization meant to motivate students by offering support for mental health problems. Students will be encouraged to engage in strategies to help cope with anxiety, depression or being overwhelmed. This grant will allow us to build a "grab-and-go" mental health station available to all students at Willow Wood Jr. high, Fontenot said. Fontenot added that the station will encompass activities and strategies to help students overcome various social and emotional challenges they encounter daily. Our students will be more mindful of their emotional wellness because of the implementation of this grant, Fontenot said. In the long run, we are hoping students will be more focused and present in the classroom because they know the support is there for them. The Bonding While Building grant of $3,600 awarded to Ashley Black of Decker Prairie Elementary is for the purchase of a STEM MakerSpace Cart, and the Steam Station grant of $3,507 awarded to Kimberleigh Nagel of Creekview Elementary is for the creation of a MakerSpace. The Flexible Seating grant of $1,500 was awarded to Willow Wood Junior Highs Lisa Stoyak is for the funding of unconventional seating alternatives to advance productivity in the classroom, and the Osmos and Ipads for First Grade grant of $3,416 awarded to Tomball Elementary Schools Meagan Busby, Nathali Welch, Jessica Hess, Cherri Henry, Jill Handal, Kate Peterson and Lindsey Utt is for the purchase of the Osmo System that is compatible with the Ipad. The Restorative Practices grant of $723 awarded to Tomball Connections Academys Jennifer McCready and Bob Thompson is for the instruction and implementation of positive behavioral practices, and the Peardeck for Students 2020 grant of $750 awarded to Willow Wood Junior Highs Brando Batchelor is for the continued implementation of Pear Deck throughout the eighth-grade social studies department. The Virtually Possible grant of $4,525 awarded to Creekview Elementarys Carrie Ray is for the funding of virtual reality technology within class to foster the development of foundational language skills. Whatever they need, the Tomball Education Foundation is here to support them, Cline said. Smooth process The foundation has a grant scoring committee of not just foundation members but also Tomball ISD employees that sit in and are all anonymous. Scoring took place several weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic. We try to pick grants that are going to touch as many students as possible and the innovative learning opportunities that kind of stand out to us, Bass said. Grants cannot be more than $5,000 and the ETrain process welcomes all with innovative learning opportunities to apply. As a foundation, Bass said theyre trying to brainstorm how they can help improve the grant process and bring more technology. Bass has three kids in Tomball ISD ranging from 6th grade to kindergarten and said its been the best of a new process. The district was up and running quickly, with teachers and principals on hand for any questions. Even though theyre not in the classroom, theyre making them feel as best as they can a classroom setting, Bass said. Its been a pretty smooth process. Bass isnt sure how this pandemic will affect them moving forward. For now, to plan for next year the board of directors have been meeting via Zoom, attempting to stay connected and keeping everyone focused on their mission. Since all of our funds go directly to Tomball ISD, we work together to figure out their needs and they can direct us so we can better serve them, Bass said. Were taking ideas from what Tomball ISD is doing and trying to keep things going as best we can remotely. For more information about each grant visit the Tomball ISD website. alvaro.montano@chron.com The month-long Ramzan fast will begin in coastal Karnataka from Friday with the sighting of the crescent moon on Thursday night which was followed by a declaration of the same by a leading religious figure, said a news agency. As the crescent moon was sighted tonight (Thursday) over the coastal region, Qazi Twaka Ahmed Musliayar declared the start of the holy month of Ramadan, with fasting from Friday in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kodagu districts across the southern states west coast, an official told IANS quoting the priest. In Kerala too, Ramzan begins on Friday, while, in the rest of Karnataka, fasting will begin on Saturday after the moon is sighted on Friday night, the news agency added. Saudi Arabia, too, has announced observance of Ramzan from Friday after the sighting of the new moon. Based on the sighting of the new months moon ... it has been decided that Friday is the start of the month of Ramadan, Saudi Arabias royal court said in a statement cited by the SPA news agency. King Salman said he is saddened that Muslims cannot pray at mosques because of restrictions on gatherings, in place due to coronavirus pandemic. In India, the religious leaders of the Muslim community have requested devotees to offer prayers at home instead of Mosques or public religious places in view of the Covid outbreak. The Shahi Imam of Delhis Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari urged followers to respect the lockdown norms in order to contain the spread of the virus. If we follow governments instructions, we will be able to eradicate COVID-19 soon. The holy month of Ramzan is about to begin. Prayers have to be offered at homes itself and social distancing must be maintained. By following it, we will be able to protect everyone, a news agency quoted Bukhari as saying. For Coronavirus Live Updates The Wakf board has also asked the imams to dissuade devotees from visiting mosques for sahri, iftar and taraveeh till May 3. Minority affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, too, expressed confidence that the community will follow the lockdown norms and not step outside their homes till May 3. The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19 Moulana Md Shafik Qasmi, the Imam of Kolkatas Nakhuda Mosque, too, asked people to only venture out of their houses when extremely necessary. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the Pentagon is planning a multi-city tour by the U.S. militarys top flight demonstration teams to champion national unity amid the coronavirus pandemic. The president announced "Operation America Strong" during a White House briefing, saying the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds, the demonstration squadrons for the Navy and Air Force, will fly over a number of cities to honor health care workers. We have good reason to make that statement. Hyundai decided to put the Prophecy and 45 prototypes into production and theyll both be powered by the brands new all-electric architecture. Take a step back and look at were was Hyundai 10 or 15 years ago. Since those times, the Koreans have made quite a leap to the level they maintain today. Hyundais are definitely not what they used to be and the future is looking even brighter. The South Korean carmaker has come a long way and its not stopping now LISTEN 02:24 Heres one Prophecy that will become reality According to Auto Express, the Prophecy prototype will give us a road-going replacement for the current Ioniq. Together with it, a production version of the sleek 45 concept car is bound to spearhead Hyundais efforts in the electrification race. There will be a production version of Prophecy coming after a production version of the 45 concept. This is what SangYup Lee, Hyundai Senior Vice President and Head of Hyundai Global Design Center told Auto Express in an exclusive interview. The official also pointed out that the 1970s-inspired 45 and the 1930s streamlined era-inspired Prophecy show how much of the design spectrum we [Hyundai] are capable of. Whats more, the media outlet believes that both models will be underpinned by Hyundais new E-GMP (Electric-Global Modular Platform) architecture, with the 45 making an appearance by the end of 2020, and the next-gen Ioniq following suite in 2021. Shape and function-wise, the Prophecy will be a sedan, but not a traditional type of sedan, says Mr. Lee, who promises lots of space inside and more curvature. The 45 will take the shape of an SUV, because this sort of body style is still the crowds favorite, so the decision to offer an all-electric crossover is understandable, financially speaking. In addition, Hyundai wont go down the Russian doll design avenue taken by some German carmakers. Instead, each car will have its own design and personality. Speaking of which, the official also confirmed that the road-legal versions of the 45 and Prophecy will get pixel lamp lights, those tiny square LED lights that can also display basic animations. 2019 Hyundai 45 EV Concept specifications Engine electric motor Horsepower 201 HP Torque 291 LB-FT Range 258 miles Battery 64-kWh Li-ion-polymer Source: Auto Express Rakhine Villager Shot at Checkpoint in Latest of Myanmar Civilian Killings 2020-04-22 -- Myanmar Army soldiers gunned down a villager as he returned home from fishing in war-ravaged Rakhine state, the latest in a series of civilian killings, with troops saying the man failed to follow instructions at a security checkpoint, the victim's father said Wednesday. Tuesday's shooting occurred a day after a local World Health Organization employee died from wounds sustained when gunmen fired on him and another health worker Monday as they drove through the same township. An employee of a pest control company also died after being shot in the head in a separate incident on Tuesday. Kyaw Win Chey, who was in his early thirties, was returning home to May Lwan village in Minbya township after fishing in a river near his community when Myanmar soldiers shot him dead, his father Kyaw Hla Oo told RFA's Myanmar Service. "Yesterday my son went to the Kangpaing Chaung area to go fishing," he said. "He was coming home when we heard the gunshots. He must have met the soldiers as he entered the village [because] the soldiers shot him at the edge of the village. His mother witnessed it." Following the incident, Myanmar's military commander-in-chief's office issued a statement saying that security forces fired warning shots after Kyaw Win Chey failed to stop his motorbike and kept going through the checkpoint. Soldiers who inspected Kyaw Win Chey's body found a Chinese made grenade and a knife in a toolbox on the motorbike, according to the office's statement. But Kyaw Hla Oo said his son did not know how to ride a motorbike and that he unexpectedly encountered the troops while heading home. "He wasn't running away,' he said. "My son did not know how to ride a motorbike. He couldn't even ride a bicycle. Besides, we could not afford to buy him a motorbike. We live from hand-to-mouth every day." A military captain offered 150,000 kyats (U.S. $104) to the bereaved family as compensation, saying soldiers had made a mistake by shooting Kyaw Win Chey, said Kyaw Hla Oo. "The officer said they had made a mistake," the father said. "He said what had been done was done, and then he asked us to bury him." "We had to accept the money since we were too afraid to say no," he added. 'Accidents happen' The statement by the military commander-in-chief's office said that Kyaw Hla Oo informed Myanmar forces that his son had worked in the gem mining industry for the past 13 years, had returned to May Lwan village six months ago, and could have been a conspirator of the rebel Arakan Army (AA). The Myanmar Army and the AA have engaged in intense fighting in northern Rakhine state for more than 15 months, as the insurgents seek greater autonomy for the state's ethnic Rakhine population. But Kyaw Hla Oo said he never made the statements to the Myanmar military about his son possibly being an AA collaborator. "I never said that," he said. "My son didn't know anything about the AA. He was hard of hearing." Myanmar soldiers meanwhile inspected homes in the community and later helped bury the body of Kyaw Win Chey, said a community elder who requested anonymity out of fear for his safety. "They asked us to hold a meeting at the village monastery, [and] the whole village had to attend," he told RFA. "They also inspected the homes in the village." "They carried the deceased man's body and helped us finish the burial," he said. "During the meeting, they had said that these accidents happen during military conflicts." Myanmar military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun said he had no comment on the incident, but noted that there are discrepancies between the accounts of the military commander-in-chief's office and those of the victim's family and village elders. On Monday, WHO worker Pyae Sone Win Maung and local health department employee Aung Myo Oo were ambushed as they drove through Minbya township, transporting coronavirus test samples to Yangon for processing. Pyae Sone Win later died of his wounds. Myanmar and Arakan forces blamed each other for the deadly attack, which drew condemnation Wednesday from the U.S. State Department, which called on the government in investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice. "This egregious act undermines efforts to protect vulnerable populations in Burma and again highlights the urgent need for a cessation of fighting in Rakhine State," said U.S. State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus in a statement about the killing issued Wednesday. "It also hinders global efforts to stop the spread of the virus," she said. Rice shortages In Ann township, which lies to the south of Minbya, nearly 40 villages face shortages of rice a staple food in Myanmar due to government army blockades amid the larger armed conflict Myanmar forces have cited security reasons in preventing trucks from transporting food rations, medicine, and other commodities to certain areas of the township since March. In Darlat Chaung village tract, which comprises 38 villages, a population of about 13,000 people has had to rely on supplies from Ann town and Kan Htaung Gyi town. "It has been nearly two months since they blocked the entrance to Darlat Chaung village," said a resident who declined to give his name out of concern for his safety. "Most of the villagers are farmers, so they have helped each other survive, but we are now running out of supplies and won't survive in the long term," he said. "We don't have medicine even for minor illness. Things are going very badly." Brigadier General Zaw Min Tun told RFA that soldiers are blocking access to villages only when they receive tips that portions of rice shipments will be directed to the AA. Government soldiers stationed at Kazu Kaing Bridge near the entrance to the village tract began preventing the transport of food to the area in December 2019, but at the time allowed civilian to cross the bridge. Later, they barred all residents from crossing. The military told villagers they had to obtain permission from Rakhine state's security and border affairs minister to cross the bridge for emergencies, but residents responded that they do not have the means to acquire such documents. The AA and two other ethnic armies declared a unilateral cease-fire during April so Myanmar could tackle the spread of the coronavirus, but the truce hasn't held, and fighting has continued. The Myanmar government planned to hold the fourth round of its nationwide peace conference in early May, but now has postponed the meeting as it continues to battle COVID-19, some ethnic leaders involved in the process said Wednesday. The series of peace talks known as the 21st-Century Panglong Conference, or Union Peace Conference, brings together representatives from the government, the military, ethnic political parties and armies to discuss prospects for ending Myanmar's decades of internal armed conflict. Reported by RFA's Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung and Khet Mar. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Copyright 1998-2020, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Donald Trump speaks during the daily briefing of the coronavirus task force at the White House in Washington on April 22, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) White House Pursuing Comprehensive Strategy to Revitalize Communities Hit Hard by CCP Virus President Donald Trump said Wednesday that his administration is implementing a comprehensive strategy for distressed communities that have been hard hit by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the coronavirus. We are determined to protect our African-Americans, Hispanic-Americans who have been hit so hard by this hidden enemy, the president said during the White House Coronavirus Task Force briefing on Wednesday. My administration is pursuing a comprehensive strategy in these communities supporting both health and economic revitalization. In the small business relief bill passed by the U.S. Senate, about $30 billion in loans are reserved for small financial institutions in minority and distressed communities. The bill is expected to be passed in the House in the very near future. Other measures that the Trump administration is taking include providing more support to community health care centers in these impacted communities, as well as expanding their access to telehealth and the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council. Trump said that $1.4 billion had already been sent to 13,000 community health care centers last month to increase testing and treatment in underserved areas. Dr. Jerome Adams, the U.S. Surgeon General, explained that the Feds are using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to identify vulnerable communities. Were using CDC provided data to locate sites and counties that are under-tested and socially vulnerable, especially with high populations of black, Hispanic, rural, and native Americans, he said. The CDC identifies vulnerable areas with the following main themes: social-economic status, household composition, disability, minority status, and house type. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams speaks about the coronavirus in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington on April 3, 2020. (Alex Brandon/AP Photo) According to official government data collated by Johns Hopkins University, the CCP virus has caused at least 183,027 deaths globally and infected over 2.6 million people as of Wednesday evening. The numbers are considered inaccurate by many because of a lag in data collection by governments as well as significant underreporting of known cases and deaths by regimes like the CCP in mainland China. There are over 839,000 confirmed cases and 46,583 deaths in the United States, the data shows. On Friday, the CDC released its first breakdown case data for COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus, according to race, revealing that 30 percent of patients in the country who disclosed their race were black. The federal data was missing racial information for 75 percent of all cases, however, and did not include any demographic breakdown for deaths. An analysis by The Associated Press shows that nearly one-third of those who have died are African American, with black people representing about 14 percent of the population in the areas covered in the analysis. The Associated Press contributed to the report. By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 23, 2020 | 01:42 PM | PADUCAH During a Thursday virtual check presentation ceremony, the Paducah Board of Realtors presented Mayor Brandi Harless with a $5,000 check for the city's Small Business Relief Fund. Paducah Board of Realtors President Seth Manea said, "When we heard about this fund as realtors, it prompted us to donate because we are all small business owners. We are all self-employed as realtors and serve a wide range of people in our community. Small business owners are one of our main customer bases. Its very important for us to see small businesses recover from this COVID-19 pandemic. We are definitely happy that these funds are being matched. We are glad the money can be doubled to help small businesses in our community." The Small Business Relief Fund is a partnership between the City, WKCTC, and the Community Foundation of West Kentucky. In the beginning of the project, the city designated $150,000 to the fund, as well as an additional $100,000 in funds to match whatever the community raises. Harless shared her appreciation for the donation. She said, "Thank you for your selflessness. The fact that you would donate your funds to this even though you have been impacted yourself says a lot about your group." Anyone interested in donating to the fund, can do so at the link below, or by calling 270-442-8622, or by mailing a donation to the Community Foundation of West Kentucky, Attention: Small Business Relief Fund, P.O. Box 7, Paducah, KY 42001. You can see the full check presentation ceremony at the link below. The Paducah Board of Realtors has made a donation to Paducah's Small Business Relief Fund. On the Net: The Department of Health has published the latest COVID-19 case numbers for South Africa. Total recorded COVID-19 cases in the country rose to 3,953 a daily increase of 318 cases. This is the highest number of new daily COVID-19 cases in South Africa to date up from the previous high of 251. There have also been another 10 deaths attributed to COVID-19 in South Africa, bringing the total number of deaths to 75. The department also detailed the number of COVID-19 tests conducted to date. It said 143,570 tests have been completed. This is up from 133,774 tests the day before. We are observing a steady increase in the number of positive cases, said the department. While this is concerning, it said there has been intensified community screening and testing campaigns taking place. To date, over 3.6 million South Africans have been screened for the virus. 24,174 of these people have been referred for testing. Provincial breakdown The tables below show the number of COVID-19 recoveries and deaths, and total cases per province in South Africa. Province Deaths Recoveries Western Cape 28 236 KwaZulu-Natal 27 241 Gauteng 8 843 Eastern Cape 6 19 Free State 5 76 Limpopo 1 24 Mpumalanga 0 15 North West 0 13 Northern Cape 0 6 Total 75 1,473 Total Cases Province Number of cases Western Cape 1,279 Gauteng 1,252 KwaZulu-Natal 807 Eastern Cape 417 Free State 106 Limpopo 27 North West 25 Mpumalanga 23 Northern Cape 16 Unallocated 1 Number of tests in South Africa Shabir Madhi, professor of vaccinology at the University of the Witwatersrand, recently warned that unless testing is scaled up significantly the current nationwide lockdown will be mostly wasted. To address this problem, Madhi said around 1% of the population 600,000 people should be tested during the lockdown. This was never going to happen, and instead Madhi set a target for the rest of the lockdown period of between 15,000 and 20,000 daily tests. This is still not being met, however, as shown by the latest test numbers. Now read: How mobile networks are dealing with the lockdown WATERFORD, N.Y., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Deemed an essential business, Momentive Performance Materials, the Waterford-based, global specialty chemicals company has kept its plants operating throughout this pandemic. The business plays a key role in the global supply chain, contributing essential components to support the health care industry in their manufacture of ventilators, face masks, testing equipment, wound care, test tubes, and pharmaceuticals, as well as the food and agriculture, and personal care industries. Momentive cares deeply about the health and safety of its employees and the community. While practicing aggressive social distancing and hygiene measures on site, the company has encouraged the same with the non-operational employees working from home. Momentive employees have been provided masks for their families to use during necessary trips outside the home. This is in addition to the community donations. "Everyone knows about the scarcity and great need for personal protective equipment (PPE) for our front-line health care workers and first responders, the real heroes in this fight. We are trying to do our part by supplying what we can to those who need it most. In this case, more than 313,000 face masks have been donated in the Greater Capital Region and across New York State. Of those, 100,000 went to the U.S. epicenter in New York City," said Craig Branchfield, Momentive Senior Vice President for Environment, Health, and Safety & Operations Excellence. He added, "I also want to thank the Momentive employees who packed, loaded, and delivered thousands of boxes of PPE to the organizations who needed the supplies." The Momentive team has also made community donations of gloves, hand sanitizer, and pump bottles. "We hope this global crisis ends soon, but in the meantime we have to be there for one another. I hope that continues even after the crisis has passed," Branchfield said. Some of the recipients of the donations include St. Peter's Hospital; Ellis Hospital; Albany County Emergency Services; Saratoga County Emergency Services; Rensselaer County Emergency Services; New York State Nurses Association; Waterford/Halfmoon Police Department, Fire Department, and Emergency Medical Services; Eddie Home Care; Schenectady County Sheriff; Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown; Columbia Memorial Health; New Your State Fireman's Home; Albany Medical Center; Traveling Nurses (Fast Staff); Charlotte Hungerford Hospital Center; a hospital in Westchester County; Supervisor J. Lawlor for area not-for-profit organizations; City of Rensselaer Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services; Troy Midwives; Waterford Rescue Squad (ambulance); Van Schoonhoven Home (meals-on-wheels); and Watervliet Police Department. About the Company Momentive Performance Materials Inc. is a global leader in silicones and advanced materials, with a 75-year heritage of being first to market with performance applications for major industries that support and improve everyday life. The Company delivers science-based solutions by linking custom technology platforms to opportunities for customers. Momentive Performance Materials Inc. is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of MOM Holding Company. Additional information about Momentive and its products is available at www.momentive.com. SOURCE Momentive Performance Materials Inc. Related Links http://www.momentive.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. (CSE: AGN) (FRANKFURT: AGW) (OTCQB: AGNPF) (the Company or Algernon) a clinical stage pharmaceutical development company, is pleased to announce that it has received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in South Korea, as well as ethics approval, for an investigator-led, Phase 2 COVID-19 clinical study of its re-purposed drug NP-120 (Ifenprodil), an NMDA receptor antagonist. The Lead Principal Investigator is Dr. Dong Sik Jung, Professor, in the Division of Infectious Disease of Dong-A University Hospital, Busan. The 40-patient, 4-week trial, is designed to test the effect of Ifenprodil in COVID-19 infected patients with severe pneumonia. Patients are randomized in a 1:1 fashion to receive either standard of care (SOC) or SOC with Ifenprodil. The primary endpoint will be the rate at which their lung function improves by measuring oxygen levels in the blood (Pa02/Fi02). Secondary endpoints will include mortality, rate of mechanical ventilation, and patient reported effects on cough and breathlessness (dyspnea). Enrollment in the phase 2 clinical trial is expected to begin on May 8, 2020. This first human trial of Ifenprodil in COVID-19 patients is a major step forward with our new acute lung injury clinical research program, said Christopher J. Moreau CEO of Algernon. Positive Phase 2 data would be an important milestone as we continue to investigate Ifenprodils therapeutic potential as a treatment for COVID-19, in addition to advancing our idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and chronic cough program. The Company cautions that while it is preparing to begin a Phase 2 clinical trial shortly in South Korea, it is not making any express or implied claims that NP-120 (Ifenprodil) is an effective treatment for acute lung injury (ALI), the COVID-19 virus, or any other medical condition at this time. About NP-120 (Ifenprodil) NP-120 (Ifenprodil) is an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist specifically targeting the NMDA-type subunit 2B (Glu2NB). Ifenprodil prevents glutamate signalling. The NMDA receptor is found on many tissues including lung cells and T-cells, neutrophils. The Company believes NP-120 can reduce the infiltration of neutrophils and T-cells into the lungs where they can release glutamate and cytokines respectively. The latter can result in the highly problematic cytokine storm that contributes to the loss of lung function and ultimately death as has been reported in COVID-19 infected patients. About Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. Algernon is a drug re-purposing company that investigates safe, already approved drugs for new disease applications, moving them efficiently and safely into new human trials, developing new formulations and seeking new regulatory approvals in global markets. Algernon specifically investigates compounds that have never been approved in the U.S. or Europe to avoid off label prescription writing. Algernon has filed new intellectual property rights globally for NP-120 (Ifenprodil) for the treatment of respiratory diseases and is working to develop a proprietary injectable and slow release formulation. CONTACT INFORMATION Christopher J. Moreau CEO Algernon Pharmaceuticals Inc. 604.398.4175 ext 701 info@algernonpharmaceuticals.com investors@algernonpharmaceuticals.com www.algernonpharmaceuticals.com The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not in any way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER STATEMENT: No Securities Exchange has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to product development, licensing, commercialization and regulatory compliance issues and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as will, may, should, anticipate, expects and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Companys expectations include the failure to satisfy the conditions of the relevant securities exchange(s) and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law. Hyderabad, April 23 : After spending nearly three weeks in quarantine, 80 members of Tablighi Jamaat have returned home from two mosques in Hyderabad. Officials said as each one of them tested negative after completing the quarantine period, they were allowed to go home on Wednesday. While 56 people, including two non-Muslims, were released from Badi Masjid at Mallepally, the regional headquarters of Tablighi Jamaat, 27 others were allowed to return home from Idara-e-Millia Masjid in Malakpet. All Tablighi Jamaat members, who had attended the congregation at Markaz Nizamuddin in Delhi last month, were in quarantine at mosques which were converted into quarantine centres. "Since we had no symptoms, we were kept in the mosque since April 3," one of the members said after emerging from Badi Masjid. Police and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) teams had identified the people who had attended the Delhi meet. Those with symptoms were shifted to hospitals and after they tested positive, they were admitted for treatment. Those who had no symptoms or tested negative were kept at quarantine centres. Jamaat's incharge and some other leaders were also shifted from Badi Masjid to Erragadda Hospital but they had also tested negative. Interestingly, two non-Muslims from Kamareddy who had travelled with Tablighi Jamaat members in a train were also quarantined at Badi Masjid in Mallepally in the heart of the city. The area was earlier turned into a containment zone with the police cordoning it off. Though the quarantine period is for 14 days, Jamaat members said they were kept for three weeks. Many of them said they had voluntarily come forward to undergo screening for Covid-19. Hundreds of Jamaat members have already completed the quarantine period at Charminar Unani Hospital, Sarojini Hospital and other quarantine centres in Hyderabad and various towns in Telangana. Majority of 943 people who tested positive in the state so far are attendees of Tablighi meet in Delhi. Jamaat members account for most of the 24 fatalities reported so far. Over 3,000 people who either attended the meet or their relatives and contacts were screened for Covid-19 across the state. AUSTIN, Minn., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hormel Foods, a global branded food company (NYSE: HRL), today announced a second special cash bonus for its plant production team members who continue to work to produce food during the COVID-19 outbreak. The new $7 million bonus is in addition to the $4 million bonus paid in April and will be paid to all full- and part-time plant production team members who are stepping up to ensure the company's trusted brands and products are available during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company's well-known products include SKIPPY peanut butter, SPAM products, Justin's nut butters, Wholly guacamole dips, Herdez salsas, Applegate products, Dinty Moore beef stew and Hormel chili along with a wide variety of other leading brands and products. "Throughout this pandemic, our number one priority has been to keep our team members safe, especially those who are not in a position to work remotely. We have worked tirelessly to provide enhanced safety measures including PPE, temperature taking, facility innovation to enhance social distancing, and improved access to COVID-19 testing. We do this all with a sense of responsibility and pride as we maintain the constant supply of safe, high-quality food which has provided a sense of security and comfort to millions of Americans. What we are facing today would have been far worse if grocery store shelves were empty," said Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods. "We know that food has the power to bring us together, even when we can't be. Along with so many other essential food industry workers, we are doing our part to make sure people can find food at grocery stores, restaurants through carryout and delivery, and even food pantries. As we recognize heroes during this time, we pay tribute to our health care workers and first responders, but we shouldn't forget the millions of people who are showing up and working hard to keep our food supply chain running. They should be recognized for the heroic and purposeful work they are doing and they have our most sincere appreciation and gratitude." The special bonus includes $500 for full-time team members and $150 for part-time team members. Hormel Foods has also been providing 100 percent base pay and benefits to all team members impacted by COVID-19. When the second bonus is paid during the first week in July, team members will have received a total of $800 for full-time team members and $300 for part-time team members. The company has invested millions of dollars in the safety of its team members through innovation in its facilities, enhancements to PPE, temperature screenings, COVID-19 testing and focused efforts on facility redesign for social distancing. To date, out of more than 30 production facilities, the majority are unaffected by COVID-19. The company has been leading the way to help keep its team members informed daily and connected surrounding COVID-19, including town halls with experts from Mayo Clinic, informational sessions and even live celebrity YouTube concerts for its nearly 20,000 inspired team members. As one of the earliest companies to step up with a pledge of support during the crisis, it has continued to contribute to hunger relief efforts including donating more than $1 million in cash and products and more than 1 million meals to global, national and local hunger-relief organizations. These new donations are in addition to the company's annual giving, which has totaled more than $50 million in cash and product donations over the last five years. Snee added, "During this difficult time, our customers, consumers and partners can count on us to do our part just as we have done for the past 129 years. We will get through this together." ABOUT HORMEL FOODS Inspired People. Inspired Food. Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a global branded food company with over $9 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include SKIPPY, SPAM, Hormel Natural Choice, Applegate, Justin's, Wholly, Hormel Black Label, Columbus and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named on the "Global 2000 World's Best Employers" list by Forbes magazine for three straight years, is one of Fortune magazine's most admired companies, has appeared on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "The 100 Best Corporate Citizens" list for the 11th year in a row, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement Inspired People. Inspired Food. to bring some of the world's most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com and http://csr.hormelfoods.com/. Contact: Media Relations Hormel Foods 507-434-6352 [email protected] SOURCE Hormel Foods Corporation Related Links http://www.hormel.com EDITORS NOTE: Caring Health Center responded after the publication of this story to say it is not expanding testing, despite comments from Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders that they were. The state had been working with Caring Health Center to increase testing until the list was narrowed to 12 centers. ______________ Massachusetts health officials are working with Caring Health Center in Springfield to expand coronavirus testing after sending out test kits to 12 community health centers in Eastern and Central Massachusetts. The first list of 12 community health centers that are receiving COVID-19 test kits to expand testing did not include any from Western Massachusetts. Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders said Thursday afternoon that the state is also working with the Springfield community health center to expand testing. Caring Health Center serves more than 21,000 patients a year at its three sites, according to the facilitys website. The center operates a pharmacy and the Springfield SouthWIC Nutrition Program, as well as refugee health assessments. Calls to Caring Health Center were not immediately returned Thursday afternoon. Sudders also said she was working with Dr. Mark Keroack at Baystate Health to expand testing, though she did not elaborate on how that was rolling out. She also noted The Big E has a drive-thru testing site and that she discussed plans to expand testing with lawmakers earlier in the day. We were on a call with Western Massachusetts legislators about continuing to expand testing. Weve worked with a couple of ambulance companies to do our mobile testing and I asked if there was a particular EMS in Western Mass. that could do mobile testing. When asked what companies were recommended, Sudders did not say. Instead, she noted that the state is already working with Boston-based Cataldo Ambulance to launch a mobile testing van. Baker announced on Wednesday the launch of a partnership with the Mass League of Community Health Centers and Quest Diagnostics to expand the publics access to COVID-19 testing. Quest agreed to ship 2,200 tests daily to community health centers in Quincy, Brockton, Lowell, Fall River, New Bedford, Worcester, Provincetown and Boston. The partnership was designed to bring testing into historically underserved communities, including predominantly working-class and minority neighborhoods. Theyre trusted partners to addressing the broad health needs of underserved populations," Baker said Wednesday. Related Content: A slum in Hongasandra municipal ward of Bengaluru has become a COVID-19 hotspot and has been completely sealed after some people contracted the coronavirus from a migrant labourer, an official said on Thursday. Medical Education minister K Sudhakar, who visited the area, told reporters that it has been decided to conduct tests on every citizen there and added that 184 people have been quarantined at the designated places. According to the health official, the 54-year-old labourer from Bihar, who has been identified as patient number 419, had fever and cough but his room partners and friends did not take it seriously. When his condition grew serious, he was admitted to the hospital where tests confirmed that he was infected with the virus, the official added. The ward corporator Bharathi Ramachandra told PTI that nine others, who were in contact with him, tested positive on Thursday. "There are about 200 migrant labourers from Bihar living in this area," Bharathi said. The entire area with a population of around 1,000 people now wears a deserted look with houses either locked or residents locking themselves up from the inside. The health workers carried out spraying and fogging in the region. During the contact tracing, it emerged that the labourer worked for the Metro Rail. After the lockdown, he had worked for a grain merchant and unloaded many sacks of foodgrains in many houses, an health officer said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Never before have so many businesses needed help. Stores have closed, restaurants are pivoting to takeout and delivery models, supermarkets are offering delivery and retailers migrating to e-commerce sales. Times are tough, so to lend a hand during the coronavirus pandemic PA Media Group, the company that operates PennLive and The Patriot-News, is reaching out to central Pennsylvania businesses and consumers with a free service, Rally4Local. The virtual marketplace brings retailers, services and nonprofit groups under one platform to advertise their services and needs to the community. It launched April 8 at Rally4Local.com and now features almost 400 participants. Weve developed an online advertising portal for local businesses to reach customers on PennLive.com and the Patriot-News at no cost. The portal, Rally4Local.com, gives the community a centralized source for local places that are offering delivery, pick-up, gift cards and special promotions," said Bob Geiger, vice president of sales for PA Media Group. In essence, Rally4Local gives central Pa. residents a way to unite behind local businesses. While looking across the industry, Geiger said they noticed several online sites cropping up as a result of the pandemic to sell gift card sales from restaurants and retailers. PA Media Groups team wanted to expand on the idea and offer more services, he added. Rally4Local allows businesses to use the online space to remind the community they are open, even if its for curbside takeout or online ordering. For nonprofits and charities, its an avenue to raise donations and awareness. Geiger said businesses are the backbone of our communities, providing services and a tax base. PA Media Group understands that the local business community is absolutely vital to our regions economy and well-being. We are driven to lead this effort. We will build awareness and communicate the need for our communitys residents to rally in support of the businesses in our region - now," he said. Businesses and groups can upload information directly to Rally4Local. In addition, PA Media Group is hosting free webinars for small businesses to discuss maintaining and building marketing during these times. Pranab Mondal By Express News Service KOLKATA: Responding to Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankars recent letter, his statement and tweet over the issue of central teams Bengal visit, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote a five-page letter on Thursday for "repeatedly interfering in the functioning of the state administration". In a strong-worded letter, she asked him to judge who has crossed the limit of constitutional dharma and the norms of decency between the two constitutional functionaries. The face-off between the Governor and the state government commenced a week ago when Dhankar started issuing statements on his Twitter handle over the issue of supplying food grain for the poor through public distribution system (PDS) and the states non-cooperation with the central teams visiting Bengal. The constitutional functionaries locked up in a war of words on several occasions since Dhankar had assumed office last year. Trivial issues like Dhankars sitting arrangement in a carnival was not even spared. On Thursday, Dhankar tweeted, "Urge @MamataOfficial to ensure the seamless way forward for Central Teams. Concerned at Rebuff to Central Teams. Red Carpet visit of WHO to East Midnapur and Bishnupur. What outcome and gain of WHO visit? Declare! Time to take to Constitution. Let concerned handle Mikes/Brooms". In her letter, Mamata also mentioned the content of Dhankars letter to her and her reply to him saying "Your last SMS of 22/04/2020, sent by you around 7 am, is so unprecedented in tone tenor and language that it deserves to be reproduced". In Thursday letter to Dhankar, Mamata wrote, "You appear to have forgotten that I am elected chief minister of a proud Indian state. You also seem to have forgotten that you are a nominated Governor. You may continue to ignore all advice and inputs given by me and my council of ministers (as you appear to have taken upon yourself to do since the day of you appointment), but at least you should not ignore the wise words of Babasaheb Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly on 31/5/1949: We felt the powers of the Governor were so limited, so nominal, his position so ornamental that probably very few would come forward to stand for election". The chief minister also mentioned five examples of the Sarkaria Commissions categorical observations. Mamata also mentioned five of Dhankars act and asked him to judge himself. "you have to judge for yourself whether your direct attacks on me, your direct attacks on my ministers and officers, your tone, tenor and language, which, in the mildest words of extreme moderation, deserve to be characterised as unparliamentary, your holding of press conferences against the state government (of which you are the Governor), your repeated and consistent interference in the administration of my ministers and departments". "Your expostulation leaves me with no option but to release these letters in the public domain to leave it to the people of this state and of this nation to judge for themselves as to who had done what and who is in breach of elementary norms of constitutional behaviour," she concluded. Responding to Mamatas Thursdays letter, he wrote on his Twitter handle,"A communication @MamataOfficial has been received. Outrageously factually wrong and constitutionally infirm. My initial response will be shared with the media around 7.45 PM today. And a final one tomorrow at 11 am. People of the state need to know the real picture". Mumbai, April 23 : Actor Vivek Dahiya has learnt a few lessons after his DSLR camera was stolen along with its memory card a while back. On Wednesday, Vivek took to Instagram to express his anger over his camera being stolen during one of his vacations with his wife Divyanka Tripathi. More than losing camera, he felt bad for losing its memory card, as a lot of pictures from their vacation were stored in it. "Could there be a thing as 'ethical theft' or perhaps a thief who has morals? The one who doesn't swindle anything with emotional value or maybe returned the memory card the same way he took my camera? "There's a reason why it's called a 'memory card'... With no exaggeration I clicked stunning pictures of Div and us during our trip to Wales & Scotland. Wish I had downloaded those images before they were stolen. It was the most valuable possession from our trip: memories stored in a memory card. In future - never wait, and store those memories immediately (lesson learnt)! In the loving memory of my DSLR that was stolen from my car," Vivek posted. The couple met for the first time on the sets of "Yeh Hai Mohabbatein" and, after several months of dating, got married in 2016. Lots of films are based on true stories and real people, but Justin Kurzels True History of the Kelly Gang may be the only one to admit that even movies based on real life cant be trusted. The first words we see on the screen in Kurzels dark epic, which had its world premiere last fall in Toronto, are nothing you are about to see is true. All of those words fade away except the last one, which then forms the first word of the movies title. So the word truth, in this instance, will mean whatever we want it to mean. True History of the Kelly Gang is a true history, its a made-up story, its a vivid dramatization of one angle on an unknowable story and its a riff on the cultural mythmaking that John Ford explored when a newspaper editor in his The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance declares, When the legend becomes fact, print the legend. It is also a bold, violent take on the 19th-century Australian outlaw Ned Kelly, a monumental tour through what one character calls dirt and disappointment. Also Read: '1917' Lead George MacKay Has Surprise Connection to Film's Setting If Tony Richardsons 1970 Ned Kelly was the rock n roll version of this story by virtue of Mick Jagger in the title role, Kurzels film is the punk-rock version, with raging new songs written by actors (including Nick Caves son Earl) dropped into the film at key points. True History of the Kelly Gang opens with a haunting image: a white horse galloping through a dark, desolate landscape of bare trees, its rider a mysterious figure in a blood-red dress. Kurzels last film was his version of Macbeth, and the opening sets up Kelly Gang to be as bleak, majestic and doom-laden as that Shakespeare tragedy. The story of Kelly, an outlaw who became a folk hero, does have the arc of classic tragedy. His Irish father was sent to a British penal colony in Australia for stealing pigs, and the lesson of Neds youth was that he was inexorably drawn to a life of crime because nobody would ever see him as anything more than a criminal. Story continues Also Read: George MacKay Says '1917' Climax Was a 'Beautiful Mistake' on Day of Filming (Video) Russell Crowe makes a brief role as Harry Power, Kellys mentor in crime but by the time Kelly grows from a young boy played by Orlando Schwerdt to a young man played by a sinewy, feral George Mackay, he doesnt need anybody to teach him how to be an outlaw. Together with a gang of men with nothing left to lose, he terrorizes the British lawmen in the colony, notably Sgt. ONeil (played by Charlie Hunnam as a man accustomed to abusing the Kelly family) and Constable Fitzpatrick (played by Nicholas Hoult with the kind of sleazy gleam that hes pretty much trademarked). There is a terrible majesty to the landscape and to the story, and Kurzel gives it room to breathe. Ned Kelly doesnt exactly earn our sympathy, but we give it to him anyway, because the British are worse and because this is Neds story, told in his voiceover as he writes a letter to his unborn daughter (which, FYI, the real Ned never had). The film builds to a huge confrontation between the gang and the law, and the sequence is both horrifying and riveting: carnage in the darkness, screams and silence, white cloaks and rivers of blood. It is a true story? Not really. But its a true story, and Kurzel makes sure thats enough. Read original story True History of the Kelly Gang Film Review: Outlaw Epic Isnt True, But It Packs a Punch At TheWrap Actor Anil Kapoor has found an interesting way to source roles in films. In a recent interview with Film Companions Anupama Chopra, Anil shared how he has roped in Abhishek Bachchan for the job. Anil was speaking about how yesteryears actors such as Dilip Kumar and Raj Kapoor would often recommend each other for film roles they thought would better suit their colleagues. He added that he has told Abhishek to pass roles that his dad, Amitabh Bachchan rejects, to him. Thats why I call up Abhishek and say jo jo films daddy nahi karenge mere paas bhej dena (whatever films your dad rejects, send them to me), Anil said. Tu bhi nahi karega, teri bhi koi film ho toh mereko bhej dena (Send me films that you reject as well), he added, confident that he can pull off both age brackets thanks to his good looks. When not hunting for great film roles, Anil keeps busy with a strict workout regime. Even in lockdown, he is making sure that his health does not take a backseat. Also read: When Karan Johar revealed Farah Khan was interested in him, landed up at his hotel room at midnight On Instagram, Anil shared a few pictures that show him working out at home and motivating fans to stay fit. You are your own motivation! #StayHomeStayFit #MondayMotivaton #LockdownSpiritsUp, Anil captioned the post. He added: Challenges are what makes life interesting. Anil is in lockdown with his wife Sunita. His daughter Sonam Kapoor is in Delhi with her husband Anand Ahuja and his parents. The younger couple flew out of London right in time before the lockdown was announced in India. Sonam had said in an interview that they wanted to be near their parents in case of any emergency. Follow @htshowbiz for more Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 02:47:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close DUBLIN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Passengers can seek refund from airlines if their flight is cancelled, said a statement issued by the Irish Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) on Thursday. CAR is a national enforcement body in Ireland, which is tasked with the monitoring and regulation of the European Union (EU) legislation covering Air Passenger Rights. The statement of CAR came at a time when many local passengers are facing the refund issues after their flights have been cancelled due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Though airlines are entitled to offer vouchers to passengers after the cancellation of their flights, passengers can choose to accept or refuse them, said CAR. If passengers refuse to accept vouchers, airlines must refund them within seven days, it said. Passengers who seek refund from the airline can report their matter to CAR on its website if they can not solve the issue with the airline within six weeks after they have lodged their complaint to the airline, said CAR, adding that it will only handle the refund issues with cancelled flights that were meant to depart out of Ireland. If the cancelled flight started in another EU country, passengers need to contact the enforcement body for that country, it said. Enditem Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz on April 23 slammed Josep Borrell, the European Unions high representative for foreign affairs, for personally reiterating the EUs opposition to Israel's annexation of areas on the West Bank. Targeting Borrell, Katz remarked in a statement, Its unfortunate that Josep Borrell, who pretends to be responsible for the foreign relations of the European Union, chooses in this manner to welcome a new government over a central partner to the EU and prefers to see relations between Israel and the EU through the prism of the [COVID-19] pandemic and the status of the territories. Katz also questioned the legitimacy of Borrell going on the offensive against Israel, arguing that Brussels has failed to mobilize support from all the EU member states on the issue. We wonder which states the honorable gentleman is choosing to represent, Katz said mockingly. He then thanked unidentified EU members for not backing Borrells statement. European diplomats had recently been delivering messages to Blue and White leader Benny Gantz urging him not to agree to annex parts of the West Bank in coalition talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Since the signing of a deal on April 20 by Gantz and Netanyahu to establish a unity government, the EU has been reinforcing its position to the future government about any such intentions. On April 22, EU foreign affairs spokesperson Peter Stano said, If this [annexation] proceeds, it will not be left unanswered. Today, Borrell, in announcing the EU's readiness to closely cooperate with the new Israeli government on fighting the novel coronavirus, reiterated the warning, stating, Any annexation would constitute a serious violation of international law. The European Union will continue to closely monitor the situation and its broader implications, and will act accordingly. Katzs reaction reflects Netanyahus long-time strategy of trying to drive a wedge between EU member states and his view of the EUs Brussels leadership as a political enemy. Over the past decade, Netanyahu has established close ties with Eurosceptic leaders like the far-right Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and the neo-nationalist Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, mobilizing them against any type of European draft resolution criticizing Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory and its settlement policies. Israeli diplomats stressed that Borrells statement had not been co-signed by the EU member states, because Hungary, Austria and several others had objected to the implied threat in the draft text. Apparently, Borrell chose to go ahead with the statement as written, in his own name, instead of forgoing the warning entirely. A European diplomat told Al-Monitor that Brussels had wanted to adopt strong language to send a clear signal on where it stands before a new Israeli government is sworn in, with the Foreign Ministry likely headed by Blue and White's Gabi Ashkenazi, who is not a Netanyahu loyalist. Cookie Preferences Cookie List Cookie List A cookie is a small piece of data (text file) that a website when visited by a user asks your browser to store on your device in order to remember information about you, such as your language preference or login information. Those cookies are set by us and called first-party cookies. We also use third-party cookies which are cookies from a domain different than the domain of the website you are visiting for our advertising and marketing efforts. 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Last month, some of the usual cast of online scammers and malware miscreants promised to refrain from attacking healthcare organizations or exploiting them during the COVID-19 crisis, showing a sense of honor unexpected from ransomware attackers and cryptocurrency thieves. However, this ceasefire turned out to be a head-fake. Within a week of those vows, malware purveyors and con artists rushed to send out phishing emails while masquerading as healthcare organizations and even launched attacks against hospitals and other critical facilities. Last week, Google alone was blocking 18 million COVID-19 phishing or malware-delivery emails per day. One group of esteemed hackers and cybersecurity experts couldnt stand idly by and watch cybercriminals take advantage of this unprecedented crisis or, even worse, damage overtaxed and much-needed healthcare facilities. So, Marc Rogers, head of sec ops for DEF CON and VP of cybersecurity strategy for Okta; Nate Warfield, senior security program manager at Microsoft; Chris Mills, also a key security player at Microsoft; and Ohad Zaidenberg, lead cyber intelligence researcher at Clearsky Cyber Security, formed the COVID-19 Cyber Threat Intelligence League (CTI League). Early success at disrupting threat actors This invitation-only group, which one industry publication called a cyber version of the Justice League, began work about a month ago seeking to mitigate threats and protect the digital well-being of the global healthcare system during the pandemic. Since March 14, the Leagues ranks of volunteers has skyrocketed with more than 1,400 vetted members in 76 countries spanning 45 different sectors, including cybersecurity, healthcare, technology, telecommunications, computer emergency response teams (CERTs), government, and law enforcement. The organizations members have helped to lawfully take down 2,833 cybercriminal assets on the internet, including 17 designed to impersonate government organizations, the United Nations, and the World Health Organization. Moreover, the League has identified more than 2,000 vulnerabilities in healthcare institutions in more than 80 countries, notifying those organizations directly or through escalation to appropriate government or industry bodies, according to its just-released inaugural report. I knew I had to do something to help Zaidenberg tells CSO. There is a really strong appetite for doing good in the community, Rogers said during a webinar hosted by the Aspen Institute. If we cant go out and have a beer, the next best thing is opening our laptop. Hospitals are a particular worry for the group. After WannaCry and NotPetya, we realized hospitals were vulnerable to malware, Rogers said during the webinar. Our idea was to find these vulnerabilities using tools like Shodan. Coordination with healthcare, law enforcement League members work through healthcare organizations CISOs and suppliers and other key players as channels to the institutions to inform the hospitals of what theyve discovered. Some of the vulnerabilities, however, are serious enough to get kicked up to the FBI or the Department of Homeland Securitys Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). We have seen, and are likely going to continue to see, an increase in bad guys taking advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to target businesses, governments and individuals alike, Christopher C. Krebs, director of CISA tells CSO. CISA is working around the clock with our public and private sector partners to combat this threat. This includes longstanding partnerships, as well as new ones that have formed as a direct result of COVID-19, including the COVID-19 Cyber Threat Intelligence League. The CTI League also works with other organizations to help reach out to healthcare organizations, including the Health-ISAC (Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center.) We were involved with them very early on, Errol Weiss, CSO for the Health-ISAC tells CSO. We look to them for two pieces of information sharing. One is that theyre doing a great job of collecting threat actor information and indicators of compromise. Were grabbing that information and sharing it with all our members, Weiss says. Then number two is where weve got these small organizations who are probably running vulnerable VPNs and dont know it or theyve got RDP [remoted desktop protocol] open and dont know it. So, folks on the CTI League are doing the scanning and the sharing of that information and grabbing that. Were also notifying healthcare organizations who are not necessarily Health-ISAC members and try to convince them to take a look at that and take it seriously. One of the goals of the CTI League is to help law enforcement, particularly if they find malware or situations that they believe are driven by nation-states. If we can just help our law enforcement partners by cleaning the field, removing the low-hanging fruitthen that empowers the agency to focus on the bigger threats...the really bad guys, Rogers said during the webinar. Number of cybersecurity volunteer groups growing The CTI League is not alone in rounding up cybersecurity volunteers to help organizations, particularly healthcare organizations, during the coronavirus crisis. Another group called the COVID-19 Cyber Threat Coalition consists of several thousand volunteer security experts who are tracking online cybercriminal activity, particular the rise in new health-related domains that appear ripe for malicious activity. Weiss says his team plans to work this group and other ad hoc emerging volunteer groups in much the same way his ISAC is working with the CTI League, namely by grabbing the indicators they have and sharing them with the groups members. Yet another group, Cyber Volunteers 19, was set up in the UK by Lisa Forte, founder of RedGoatCyber, along with cybersecurity practitioners Daniel Card and Radoslaw Gnat. CV19 says its primary purpose is to facilitate and enable a volunteer matchmaking that gives healthcare services access to a pool of cybersecurity experts. As the number of volunteer efforts grow to help tackle COVID-19 threats and scams, its clear the current crisis has brought many members of the industry together with a sense of common purpose. Weve never seen this level of collaboration across the board for all aspects of the problems that are cropping up due to the pandemic, Rogers said. Krebs says his agency is finding it easy to work with groups like CTI League. The voluntary nature of our work with stakeholders and our longstanding role facilitating coordinated vulnerability disclosure efforts allows us to easily collaborate with groups like this, which share threat information and mitigation techniques in near real time, he says. We look forward to continuing to work with the CTI League and all our partners to combat malicious cyber targeting during this complex and evolving situation. Controls and humidfication company Carel has resumed a significant part of its production activities at its plant in Brugine, Padova. The factory has been closed since March 26, but Carel has been able to partially mitigate the effects of the Italian lockdown by operating its plants in the US, Brazil, Germany, Croatia and China at full capacity. Production capacity at the plants in Croatia and China has also recently been increased to further compensate, as far as possible, for the deficit in production in Italy. Were now starting to look at the coming months, during which we will be focused on understanding the future scenarios in a world that for some time may be quite different, but in which air conditioning, refrigeration and humidification will play an even more important role in safeguarding peoples health, commented Carel Group CEO Francesco Nalini. Actress, classical dancer, teacher and Padma Shri awardee Shobana Chandrakumar's Facebook account was hacked recently, she announced on Wednesday in an Instagram post. Shobana also said that her team was working closely with the police to gain control over the page again. Now, Shobana has shared a selfie on her Facebook page saying that her account has been restored. "Someone has gained access to my official Facebook page. We are closely working with the police department to sort the same. We will be active once we gain complete control. Thanks for your support," Shobana wrote in a statement informing fans about the hack. She even urged her Instagram followers to spread the message. Later sharing a selfie, Shobana said that her Facebook account has been restored. "Thanks to all the followers on Instagram and Facebook for having been so supportive during the chaos. So happy to be back to you," she wrote in the caption of her latest post on Facebook. Shobana runs a dance school in Chennai. She recently featured opposite Dulquer Salmaan in Varane Aavasyamund (2020). In 2006, the Government of India honoured Shobana with the Padma Shri for her contributions towards performing arts. Shobana had also issued a message for her fans during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Follow @News18Movies for more The city of Midland Health Department is currently conducting its investigation on two new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Midland County, bringing the overall case count to 69. The 68th confirmed case is a male in his 40s who was tested by Midland Health. He is self-isolating at home. The source of exposure is travel-related within the United States. Four more tigers and three lions at the Bronx Zoo in New York City have tested positive for the coronavirus bringing the total to eight big cats that have come down with COVID-19. Earlier this month, the zoo announced that Nadia, a four-year-old Malayan tiger, was confirmed to be infected with coronavirus after she and at least six other cats began to exhibit symptoms. Nadias diagnosis was the first time, to our knowledge, that a [wild] animal has gotten sick from COVID-19 from a person, Paul Calle, the chief veterinarian of the Bronx Zoo, told National Geographic. Veterinary staff at the zoo collected samples from Nadias nose, throat, and respiratory tract while she was under anesthesia. The other animals who developed a cough three other tigers from the Tiger Mountain section of the zoo and three African lions were not placed under anesthesia. A total of eight big cats - five tigers and three lions - have tested positive for the coronavirus at Bronx Zoo in New York City Nadia, a four-year-old female Malayan tiger at the Bronx Zoo, tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on April 5 Instead, veterinary staff examined their fecal samples, which were processed by a lab. Lab tests confirmed that the animals were infected with the coronavirus. One other tiger at Tiger Mountain who did not develop a cough also tested positive, according to the zoo. The zoo said that all eight cats continue to do well and are behaving normally, eating well, and their coughing is greatly reduced. Zoo officials said they believe the animals were infected by an asymptomatic staff member who unwittingly passed the virus on to them. CDC CORONAVIRUS GUIDANCE FOR PET OWNERS Do not let pets interact with people or other animals outside the household. Keep cats indoors when possible to prevent them from interacting with other animals or people. Walk dogs on a leash, maintaining at least 6 feet from other people and animals. Avoid dog parks or public places where a large number of people and dogs gather. If you are sick with COVID-19 (either suspected or confirmed by a test), restrict contact with your pets and other animals, just like you would around other people. When possible, have another member of your household care for your pets while you are sick. Avoid contact with your pet, including petting, snuggling, being kissed or licked, and sharing food or bedding. If you must care for your pet or be around animals while you are sick, wear a cloth face covering and wash your hands before and after you interact with them. Advertisement The zoo conducted its analyses of the animals in conjunction with the New York State Diagnostic Laboratory at Cornell University and the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab at the University of Illinoiss College of Veterinary Medicine. We tested the tigers and lions 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, said the zoo officials. The testing of these cats was done in veterinary laboratories and resources used did not take from those being used for human testing, they added. Zoo officials said that none of its snow leopards, cheetahs, clouded leopards, Amur leopards, or pumas were showing any signs of illness. The zoo has put in place preventive measures for all staff members caring for animals. There is no evidence to suggest that animals can pass the virus on to people, according to the USDA, which has said there are no known cases among pets or livestock in the US. The Bronx Zoo has been temporarily closed since March 16. New York, the city of more than 8 million people, is an epicenter of the pandemic. More than 257,000 people statewide have already tested positive for COVID-19 a figure that likely undercounts infected residents by a substantial amount. In the city, there have been a confirmed 142,432 cases of COVID-19. Nearly 11,000 city residents have died. Gandhi said this should worry every Indian and the Congress will have to work hard to repair this damage New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday accused the BJP of spreading the virus of communal prejudice and hatred in the country and asserted that "grave damage" is being done to social harmony. Addressing a meeting of the Congress Working Committee, Gandhi said this should worry every Indian and the Congress will have to work hard to repair this damage. "Let me also share with you something that should worry each and every one as Indians. When we should be tackling the coronavirus unitedly, the BJP continues to spread the virus of communal prejudice and hatred," she said. "Grave damage is being done to our social harmony. Our party, we will have to work hard to repair that damage," she added. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and top Congress leaders attended the meeting through video conference. This is the second time, the CWC, the Congress' top decision-making body, is meeting in the past three weeks. David Walliams and Matt Lucas (BBC) David Walliams and Matt Lucas could not resist a bat joke as they brought Little Britain back to TV for the first time in over a decade. The comedians resurrected the much-loved series for a sketch on BBC telethon The Big Night In, which saw Children In Need and Comic Relief join forces to raise money for the fight against the coronavirus. As the sketch started, the pair, in character as Lou and Andy, discussed what to have for dinner. Read more: Matt Lucas heartbroken as he loses dog to cancer Lucas suggested a bat, apparently in reference to the fact that the coronavirus pandemic has been linked to the creatures. David Walliams and Matt Lucas (BBC) Bat? said Walliams. You want to eat a bat for your tea? I dont think its a good idea eating a bat. 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 comedians, who filmed the sketch from their own homes, brought back other favourites including Bubbles Devere and Vicky Pollard. In a joke about lockdown life, Vicky got told off by Walliams policeman for using a park to sunbathe instead of exercise. Shut up, I am well exercising! the character snapped. Matt Lucas and David Walliams (BBC) Viewers said the piece was the perfect end to the telethon, which also saw Dawn French back as the Vicar of Dibley, Miranda Hart resurrecting her character Miranda and Peter Kay returning with a new version of his Amarillo video. Loved it! said one fan on Twitter, while another said it made me realise how much I really miss Little Britain! Many said it was brilliant and that it had them reminiscing about the comedy. The (improvised) costumes, the characters, the bold politically incorrect humour, the cameos by original cast members, all of it. Fantastic! gushed one impressed fan. Little Britain began as a radio show on BBC Radio 4 in 2000 and moved to TV in 2003. It ran for four series and five specials, as well as spawning two seasons of spin-off Little Britain USA and two live tours. Story continues It ended in 2008 but there has long been talk of a possible comeback. Read more: Piers Morgan calls David Walliams a snivelling toady Earlier this year, Walliams, 48, suggested that if he and Lucas made more Little Britain it might be more woke. The original series featured characters such as Ting Tong the Thai mail order bride, cross-dressing ladies Emily and Florence, Daffyd the only gay in the village and Lucas in black make-up as a Mr T look-alike. Walliams told The Sun he thought the series would return and said: Youd definitely do it differently because its a different time. Theres all kinds of tolerances that change. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Research Future Published Stem Cell Banking Market report. Stem Cell Banking Market Report gives a clear picture of current market scenario which includes past and estimated future market size. The report provides detail information and strategies of top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study about different markets segments and regions. Market Highlights Stem Cell Banking Market is expected to register a CAGR of 9.8% during the forecast period of 2019 to 2025 and is expected to reach USD 12,056.7 Million by 2025. According to MRFR analysis,is expected to register aduring the forecast period ofand is expected to reach Stem cells (SC) are a class of undifferentiated biological cells of a multicellular organism that have the ability to produce indefinite cells of the same type, from which certain types of cells (proliferation and replication) can be produced by differentiation in the body through early life and growth. The stem has the potential to develop into several different cell types, from muscle cells to brain cells. Factors representing the growth of the market are rising use of therapeutic potential of stem cells, increasing investments in stem cell-based research, surging number of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) procedures, and growing newborn population. For instance, in August 2018, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of the Government of China published a draft of the 2019 Annual Project Application Guide for the Stem Cell and Transformation Research pilot project. The government proposed investing 400 million yuan (around USD 56.4 million) to support stem cell research in China. On the other hand, high operational and storage costs and dearth of awareness about stem cell banking in developing and underdeveloped nations are anticipated to impede the market growth during the forecast period. Segmentation The Global Stem Cell Banking Market has been segmented based on cell type, bank type, and application. Based on cell type, the market has been divided into umbilical cord stem cells, adult stem cells, and embryonic stem cells. The umbilical cord stem cells segment has been additionally categorized into cord blood, cord tissue, and placenta. The umbilical cord stem cells segment will hold the highest market share over the forecast period due to huge demand for umbilical cord blood in stem cell research. Scientists found that the umbilical cord is a rich source of stem cells and are collected from people of different biological traits. On the basis of bank type, the global stem cell banking market has been classified into private banks, public banks, and hybrid banks. The private bank's segment would lead the market throughout the forecast period as it generates greater revenue, the cost to retrieve cord blood is free, and has complete ownership rights preserved by the donor. In addition, private banks have flexible collection sites and assured, and secured access offers a competitive advantage over public banks. By application, the market has been bifurcated into thalassemia, cerebral palsy, diabetes, leukemia, autism, and others. The diabetes segment is likely to witness the fastest market growth due to the rising burden of diabetes mellitus (DM) across the world, thereby augmenting the demand for stem cells. For instance, as per statistics published by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), in 2017, about 425 million adults were living with diabetes worldwide, which is anticipated to increase to 629 million by 2045. Key Players Some of the key players in the Global Stem Cell Banking Market are Americord Registry LLC (US), CBR Systems, Inc. (US), Cryo-Cell International, Inc. (US), Cordlife (Singapore), Cryo-Save AG (Netherlands), Smart Cells International Ltd. (UK), Global Cord Blood Corporation (Hong Kong), Celgene Corporation (US), BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics (US), and Regrow Biosciences Pvt. Ltd. (India). Access Report Details @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/stem-cell-banking-market-8441 Regional Analysis The market has been divided by region into the Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. The stem cell banking market in the Americas has further been divided into North America and Latin America, with the North American market divided into the US and Canada. The existence of key market participants and sophisticated healthcare infrastructure, expanding network of stem cell banking services, and continuous efforts by researchers to explore new therapeutic applications of cord blood cells in the US and Canada is assisting in the dominance of North America. The European stem cell banking market has been categorized as Western Europe and Eastern Europe. The Western European market has further been classified as Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, and the rest of Western Europe. The stem cell banking market in Asia-Pacific has been segmented into Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia, and the rest of Asia-Pacific. Asia-Pacific is likely to register the fastest market growth over the forecast period owing to surging elder population, increasing product launches, growing investments in R&D projects, and the presence of favorable regulatory policies coupled with commercialization opportunities Related News About Market Research Future: Recently, due to allegations of "mistreatment" of African citizens in Guangzhou during the local government's coronavirus epidemic prevention and control work, the issue of China-Africa relations has become a focus of domestic and foreign media attention. Some African and Western media quickly elevated the so-called "unjust" treatment to claims that China had discriminated against Africans and even displayed racism in its epidemic prevention and control work. However, before accepting such claims we need to first understand the origin of the matter and the scope of the people involved, whether it is individual cases or of a universal nature. Video clips and some social media reports suggested the epidemic prevention and control measures in Guangzhou have only targeted Africans, who appear to have been "singled out" for targeted discrimination. However, investigations have shown that the inability of some African citizens to return to their hotels is a basic cause, since the epidemic prevention and control measures in Guangzhou have to be followed by everyone in the residential areas where there are confirmed cases and close contacts, no matter whether they are locals or foreigners. On April 14, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Zhou Pingjian and Nigerian Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama also made a special clarification through a joint press conference in Abuja, saying the issue emerged from the Guangzhou local government requiring closure of the premises and isolation of close contacts after identifying a restaurant where a Nigerian had been diagnosed with COVID-19. Persons who were under quarantine were naturally not allowed to move about. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Guangzhou local governments have attached great importance to clearing up any misunderstandings arising from the implementation of the relevant outbreak detection initiatives and urged relevant parties to improve their working mechanisms and methods. The ministry also stressed that the Chinese government treats all foreign personnel in China equally, opposes any discriminatory practices that target specific groups of people, and has zero tolerance for discriminatory behavior. In fact, any attempt to destroy China-Africa relations is an unjust and unkind act that can only make "the near-at-hand saddened and the enemy gladdened." If China-Africa anti-epidemic cooperation and the China-Africa relations as a whole are frustrated or face stagnation and even regression, it is the governments, enterprises and people of China and Africa that will suffer. The only ones that benefit from this will be the sensation-seeking Western media and some politicians jealous of the ever-closer China-Africa relations. As we carefully screen these smears of China-Africa joint efforts to fight the epidemic, it is not hard to see that, in addition to some untruthful African self media reporting, those particularly active in this regard can be found among media and officials in the United States. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Tibor Nagy tweeted saying "videos and stories from Guangzhou are appalling" and that "Chinese authorities must do more to stop these attacks against Africans living and working in China." U.S. State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus retweeted this with an additional comment of "shameful xenophobia." Going even beyond the "Guangzhou Incident" itself, Ortagus added: "If you look at the projects in which China is involved in Africa, you can see this kind of abuse and manipulation. China's commitment to Africa has never been fulfilled. China's treatment of Africans, especially students, during the coronavirus outbreak clearly reflects the essence of China's so-called 'partnership' with Africa." Thus the U.S. State Department spokesperson quickly went from simply commenting on the "Guangzhou incident" to "China's participation in projects in Africa" and then going on to attack the "materialism" of the China-Africa partnership. This "triple jump" approach shows the world the true face of the United States as it seeks to sow discord between China and African countries and undermine their friendship. In fact, the Trump administration's so-called "New Africa Strategy" launched in late 2018 clearly embodies direct name-calling in seeking to curb Chinese and Russian influence in Africa. In recent years, the United States has hyped the so-called "China threat," describing China's development cooperation programs in Africa as a "debt trap." U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo even made it clear that African countries should move from the "China model" to the "American model" in terms of political and economic development. It is also because of this policy orientation and purpose of "Trump's New Africa Strategy" that the administration quickly smells the "explosive nature" of the "Guangzhou incident," seeking to use it to smear and undermine China-Africa relations. Of course, as an old saying goes, "sturdy grass withstands high wind, true gold stands the test of fire." The all-weather partnership between China and Africa, supporting each other, has been tested by all kinds of storm in the history of more than half a century, and it is impossible to plunge into a "crisis" simply because of the poor performance of some media coverage and the ridiculous remarks of some politicians. On the contrary, China-Africa friendship, solidarity and cooperation have been continuously strengthened in these tests. The author is senior research fellow of Charhar Institute and Institute of West Asian & African Studies of 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 contirbute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn. Shipman said in her experience of sheltering on the CTA, the homeless are not always kicked off at the end of the line. She recalls CTA workers and security guards at the Blue Line Forest Park station moving them or telling them to move from one train to another, and then leaving them alone. She said on the Brown Line, CTA employees sometimes wont bother homeless people at the end of the line at Kimball and will just clean around them. New Delhi, April 23 : A vegetable vendor in Delhis Mehrauli area has tested positive for Covid-19, officials said on Thursday, adding that he didnt set up his cart after developing symptoms. According to official sources, the man living in Om Apartment in Ward No. 3, Mehrauli, didn't set up his 'thela' (cart) ever since he developed symptoms of the dreaded disease. "He developed the symptoms about 10 days ago. He went to the Madan Mohan Malviya Hospital twice and also to the Safdarjung Hospital. However, he was refused testing," an official told IANS. Later, the official said, the vendor got himself tested at the Max Hospital. "The administration is informed if anyone tests positive or is in a serious condition," the official said. The man was also not a part of the shifted mandi that was set up at the DTC Terminal on April 11, the official added. "The close contacts of the vendor have been checked and are presently at the Covid Care Centre at the Terapanth Bhawan. Their results are awaited," the official said. Meanwhile, South District Magistrate, B.M. Mishra, has requested the residents to check with their vendors about their health status before starting purchase. "One Mehrauli vegetable hawker has tested Covid positive today. Request all citizens to kindly check with your vendors about their health status like flu etc. before starting purchase. We are screening all the vendors," Mishra said in a statement. He also requested the people not to abuse or misbehave with the vendors. Delhi has so far reported about 2,400 coronavirus cases. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) He was wearing a mask while he waited to see her. She arrived in a car. They then held hands, gave each other a hug and started to cry. "I am very happy. It had been almost a month since I saw my wife, and I am going to see my children in a little while," said Gilmer Barrios, a Guatemalan immigrant who was reunited with his wife and their two small children this week. Barrios, 28, was arrested on March 23 by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Southern California and was deported four days later to Tijuana, Mexico, without having a deportation order and without first seeing an immigration judge. He spent 21 days in Mexico without being authorized to be there, until the United States reinstated him. Noticias Telemundo first reported Barrios' case, alerting the Guatemalan consulates, who then negotiated Barrios' re-entry into the United States. His irregular expulsion occurred in the midst of the coronavirus emergency. Border Patrol was granted new emergency powers during the pandemic, or at least until May 20. They now have the authority to immediately remove migrants who just crossed the border. In March, agents used their new authority to remove 6,306 people, according to official data. There are estimates that the total number of removals is more than 10,000, including in the first days of April. But Barrios was not a migrant who had crossed the border; he has lived in the United States for over a decade. Authorities arrested him while he was driving and he spent three days in custody. During that time, he asked to see an immigration judge. Noticias Wendi Lee, a CBP spokesperson, told Noticias Telemundo by email that Barrios was expelled after being detained at a checkpoint on I-15 in California. It was later discovered that he had pending immigration processes in the United States. The Border Patrol of the San Diego sector quickly took action with the assistance of the Guatemalan Consul General to allow Mr. Barrios re-entry to the United States, she said. Story continues Barrios told Noticias Telemundo that his return was less traumatic than his removal. Several agents and the head of the Border Patrol in San Diego were waiting for me with my name. They asked me my name and they took many photos of me," he said. Gilmer Barrios and his wife Kimberly Barrios Hernandez are reunited a month after Border Patrol arrested him and wrongly deported him to Mexico. (Courtesy of Tzunu Strategies via Telemundo) After his return to the United States, he spent six days detained at a Border Patrol station in Chula Vista, California. He was then released on parole to continue working on his pending immigration case. They didn't insult me and they didn't hit me like they did the first time. I was one of the people they treated the best. I don't know why, but they treated me well, Barrios said in a video that the communication agency Tzunu Strategies shared with Noticias Telemundo. Barrios' wife, Kimberly Barrios-Hernandez, said that the behavior of their two toddlers changed during their father's 28-day absence. They were very sad, very serious. They clung much more to me," she said. "If I just went to another room, they already felt that I was going to leave them, that they were not going to see me anymore." Investigative reporter Damia Bonmati first reported the story for Noticias Telemundo. Follow NBC Latino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The Spring 2020 issue of the Innisfree Poetry Journal is highlighting the poetry and career of Jack Ridl, professor emeritus of English at Hope College. Published since 2005, the biannual online journal features work by contemporary American poets, selecting one leading writer for each issues Closer Look profile that includes a biographical article and several of the poets works. The Spring 2020 issue released earlier this month shares 36 of Ridls poems drawn from multiple collections published between 1984 and 2019. The issue also includes work by 27 other poets. Ridl taught at Hope from 1971 until retiring in 2006. He is the author or editor of several collections of poetry, and has also published more than 300 poems in journals and has work included in numerous anthologies. In addition, he has read his work and led workshops at colleges, universities, art colonies and other venues around the country. He has received multiple honors for his collections. Practicing to Walk Like a Heron, received Gold recognition for poetry in the 2013 IndieFab Awards competition sponsored by Foreword Reviews magazine and in 2014 was named an Editors Pick by the quarterly poetry journal Rattle. The anthology Poetry in Michigan/Michigan in Poetry, which he co-edited with award-winning poet Dr. William Olsen of the Western Michigan University English faculty, was named a 2014 Michigan Notable Book. His collection Losing Season was named the 2009 Sports Education Book of the Year by the Institute for International Sport at the University of Rhode Island. The Society of Midland Authors named his collection Broken Symmetry one of the two best volumes of poetry published in 2006. In 2001, his collection Against Elegies was chosen by Billy Collins as the winner of the Letterpress Chapbook Competition sponsored by the Center for Book Arts of New York City. In addition, in 2019, the city council of Douglas, where he lives, named him to a lifetime appointment as the communitys first poet laureate. Ridls other volumes include Saint Peter and the Goldfinch, The Same Ghost, Between, After School, Poems from The Same Ghost and Between, and Outside the Center Ring. In addition to his volumes of poetry, he is co-author, with Hope colleague Peter Schakel, of two textbooks, Approaching Poetry: Perspectives and Responses and Approaching Literature. They also co-edited two anthologies. Ridl also received recognition both at Hope and beyond for as a master teacher and for service. In 2014, the Poetry Society of Michigan appointed him honorary chancellor in recognition of the high quality and beauty of his poetry and his participation in and support of the society, and the Community Literacy Initiative presented him a Community Literacy Award in the area of Talent for outstanding contributions in increasing literacy levels and sustained depth and breadth in commitment to the advancement of literacy in West Michigan. In 1996, he was chosen Michigans Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. More than 90 of Ridls former students are now publishing. At Hope, the colleges graduating class presented him with the Hope Outstanding Professor Educator Award in 1976; he received the faculty appreciation award from the student body during Homecoming in 2003; and the graduating seniors selected him to present the Commencement address in both 1975 and 1986. The colleges Visiting Writers Series, which he co-founded in 1982 with his wife Julie Garlinghouse Ridl, was named in his honor in 2006. Westminster College, from which he holds both his bachelors and masters degrees, presented him with an Alumni Citation Award in September 2005. When Prince Harry married Meghan Markle, it wasnt the romance or the pageantry that set automotive hearts aflutter. It was the couples Jaguar E-Type Zero, a classic E-type body fitted with a modern electric drive, that caused a swoon. Best of all, mere commoners could buy one, Jaguar said, for an estimated $380,000. Until they couldnt. In late 2019, more than a year after the wedding, Jaguar broke the news: Jaguar Classic has taken the difficult decision to pause development of the all-electric E-Type Zero for the foreseeable future. But fret not. You can still get an electric E-Type, possibly for less than Jaguar would have charged. If you supply the Jag, I think we could do it for $100,000, said Michael Bream, owner of EV West, a San Marcos, Calif., conversion shop that turns gas guzzlers into electrically charged chariots. His shop has converted a Dodge A100 van, a Dowsetts Comet and some BMW classics, the M3 and 2002. After working out the kinks on the first E-Type, he said, the costs could come down to $50,000. A global pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed more than 190,000 people worldwide. Over 2.7 million people across the globe have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new respiratory virus, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to testing shortages, many unreported cases and suspicions that some governments are hiding the scope of their nations' outbreaks. Since the first cases were detected in China in December, the United States has become the worst-affected nation, with more than 873,000 diagnosed cases and at least 49,748 deaths. Today's biggest developments: Global cases surpass 2.7 million New York antibody tests results released Idaho details plan to reopen state Germany is on 'thinnest ice,' Angela Merkel warns Here's how the news is developing today. All times Eastern. Please refresh this page for updates 6:46 p.m.: Over 10,000 nursing home residents have died At least 10,631 nursing home residents have died of COVID-19 in the U.S., an ABC News survey of available state data has found. New York has had the highest number of long-term care residents die from COVID-19, with 3,540. The count is based on data provided by governors' offices and state departments for 28 states and the District of Columbia. Not all states responded to requests for this information. A federal tally of this data is currently unavailable. 5:09 p.m.: Death toll at Holyoke Soldiers' Home up to 68 The number of veterans who have died at the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke, Massachusetts, has risen to 68 after two more deaths were reported Thursday, according to the state's Office of Health and Human Services. Of those deaths, 57 tested positive for coronavirus, nine tested negative, one had a pending result and one was unknown, according to the agency. The state-run health facility is the subject of two investigations -- one federal and one ordered by Gov. Charlie Baker -- on their handling of the virus' spread inside the facility. Story continues MORE: Daughter of veteran who died from coronavirus at Holyoke Soldiers' Home speaks out To date, 90 veteran residents have tested positive and 60 veteran residents have tested negative. Eighty-one staff members have also tested positive. The Office of Health and Human Services said the use of personal protective equipment is being monitored and enforced at the home, and an additional 250 face shields were donated Wednesday. 4:56 p.m.: Stay-at-home orders extended in 2 states North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker have both extended their state's stay-at-home orders. The order in North Carolina is now in effect until May 8. In Illinois, the order will remain in place until May 30. Cooper said that while the curve is flattening, North Carolina is not yet ready to lift the restrictions, which mandated that all nonessential businesses remain closed. There are now 7,608 confirmed cases in the state, an increase of 388 in the last 24 hours. Cooper said it was the second-highest day of reported cases. Pritzker said that social distancing is work in Illinois, but he is asking residents to "hold on for just a little while longer." He also announced a new measure under the order, which requires anyone over the age of 2 years old to cover their faces in public spaces where social distancing is difficult. However, some restrictions would be relaxed on May 1, when the new order begins. Some of those changes include hospitals and surgicenters resuming some elective surgeries, retail stores that are not currently deemed essential businesses taking phone or online orders for pick-up or delivery only and reopening some state parks. In Illinois, there are now 36,934 confirmed cases, with an increase of 1,826 new cases in the last 24 hours, according to the governor. 4:21 p.m.: 5-month-old daughter of NY firefighter dies The infant daughter of New York firefighter Jerel La Santa has died of coronavirus, her mother and the FDNY Hispanic Society confirmed. The girl, named Jay-Natalie La Santa, was 5 months old. "My baby girl was so beautiful," Lindsey La Santa, her mom, told ABC News. The department said in a statement, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the La Santa family during this tragic time." PHOTO: A fire truck is pictured in New York, April 12, 2020. (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images, FILE) Jerel La Santa was appointed to the title of firefighter less than a year ago, in November 2019, according to the FDNY. New York state had only two deaths -- out of 15,740 total -- of people under 9 years old through Wednesday, according to the Department of Health. 3:59 p.m.: California reports deadliest day California experienced its deadliest day Thursday, as the daily death rate continues to increase. In the last 24 hours, 115 people were reported to have died in the state, marking the largest daily total, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom. However, Thursday was also the first day that hospitalizations, ICU admissions and hospitalized persons under investigation for COVID-19 all declined, Newsom said. The governor also urged people to continue practicing social distancing, even as a hot weekend approaches. Newsom anticipated a "significant increase" in the volume of people trying to visit the beaches and if people do not listen, he said residents should expect to hear that the hospitals numbers will go up in a week or so. PHOTO: Beachgoers and surfers are seen at Huntington Beach, on April 22, 2020 in California. Southern California is expecting summer like weather over the next week as social distancing and beach closures continue due to the coronavirus (COVID-19). (Michael Heiman/Getty Images) 3:45 p.m.: Death toll of NYC homeless population rises At least 51 homeless New Yorkers have died amid the pandemic as of Thursday, according to the Dept. of Social Services. It was an increase of 11 since Monday. PHOTO: A man sleeps on a New York subway train as the outbreak of the coronavirus continues in New York, April 13, 2020. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters, FILE) There are now 653 total positive cases in the homeless population, including 570 cases among sheltered people, 25 among unsheltered and 58 agency referrals, according to the department. The number of positive cases includes the deaths. There was an increase of those discharged from isolation. As of Thursday, 469 homeless New Yorkers had been discharged, the department reported. Those discharged included people whose conditions have either abated or resolved, as well as people who exhibited mild illness and completed isolation following the city's guidance. 2:13 p.m.: South Korea health agency says virus may not live in people who were re-diagnosed The Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that in 25 randomly selected patients, all had developed antibodies that had defensive power. Those 25 patients in South Korea were hospitalized with symptoms at the time of the antibody testing and have now fully recovered, according to the agency. Initially, there was concern about the effectiveness of the antibody in killing the virus because 12 of the 25 had both the virus and the antibodies. However, after attempts were made to grow the virus, it did not replicate, suggesting that the virus detected in the body may have not been live or was just viral remnants and therefore did not have the ability to infect others, according to KCDC. In a separate study of 207 people who had been re-diagnosed with the virus, the agency confirmed that the virus had not grown in their bodies either. KCDC said it had attempted to grow the virus twice. 2:08 p.m.: Saliva-based testing to start in New Jersey development centers Saliva-based testing will begin for residents and staff at New Jersey's five developmental centers next week, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Thursday. The testing was developed by Rutgers University and will bring a total of more than 5,500 tests to the centers, Murphy wrote on Twitter. NEW: We will begin testing all residents and staff at each of our five state developmental centers next week because of the new saliva-based testing developed by @RutgersU. This is a total of more than 5,500 tests more than 1,200 residents, and in excess of 4,300 staff. Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) April 23, 2020 "These are among our most vulnerable residents and our most essential workers," the governor said. "We owe our residents and staff our best, and testing will help us best serve them." The state's Department of Health Services describes residents in the development centers as people with "intensive needs related to their developmental disabilities, and many also have co-occurring mental health, behavioral health and/or medical needs." Murphy also announced in his daily briefing that there were 4,247 new cases reported, putting the total number of confirmed cases in the state at 99,989. Deaths amounted to 5,368, after an additional 307, according to the governor. He noted that while the curve is flat, people should not expect to be packed together anytime soon. PHOTO: New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy visits an alternate care facility at New Bridge Bergen Medical Center in Paramus, N.J., April 22, 2020. (Michael Karas/Pool via AP) 1:30 p.m.: Idaho governor announces plan to reopen state Idaho Gov. Brad Little announced his plan to reopen the state with a four-stage solution. The outline of the plan was detailed online. In the first stage, which begins on May 1, some nonessential businesses, including retail stores and day cares, may reopen. However, bars, restaurants, gyms, hair salons and large venues, like move theaters and sporting venues, will remain closed. Gatherings are still discouraged and should be avoided. Visitors will also have to enter a 14-day quarantine when entering the state. The second stage allows for gatherings of less than 10 to occur and restaurants can reopen for in-person dining when a distance plan has been approved by the health department. Gyms and hair salons can also reopen, but large venues and bars will have to stay closed. The 14-day quarantine for visitors still applies. The second stage has a target date of May 16, but it will be reevaluated. The third stage, set to begin on May 30, loosens the gathering restrictions and allows for up to 50 people to gather at once. Bars and large venues remain closed, but both will be required to work on reopening plans for limited occupancy. Nonessential travel can also resume to places where an ongoing transmission is not happening. The fourth and final stage, with a targeted beginning date of June 13, allows for vulnerable Idahoans to resume public interactions while practicing physical distancing. Gatherings of more than 50 are also allowed to take place, but only with "appropriate physical distancing and precautionary measures." Similarly, bars and large venues can reopen but must operate with limited occupancy and proper distancing. This stage also permits onsite working to take place with physical distancing. 12:10 p.m.: Cuomo releases results from NY antibody tests About 13.9% of the 3,000 New Yorkers who were part of randomized antibody tests in the state were infected and developed an antibody, according to Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo announced the data at his daily press briefing, but noted it is preliminary. The data was collected over two days in 19 counties and 40 localities across New York from people who were out in public. Of the 13.9%, the data showed that more men tested positive, despite making up a smaller portion of the study. PHOTO: Governor Andrew Cuomo speaks during his daily press briefing to talk about efforts to fight the spread of the new coronavirus in New York on April 22, 2020. (ABC News) The data also gave some insight into the regions where infection is spreading: New York City has the highest rate of positive antibody results, with residents accounting for 43% of the study and making up 21.2% of the positive tests. Long Island accounted for 14.4% of the study and made up 16.7% of the positive tests, while Westchester and Rockland Counties accounted for 9.8% of the study and made up 11.7% of the positive tests. The rest of the state accounted for 32.8% of the study and made up 3.6% of the positive tests. In terms of a racial breakdown, white people were the largest group tested in the study, at 57.1%, but had the lowest positive results at 9.1%. The groups that had the three highest positive tests were multi/none/other (22.8%), Hispanic and Latino (22.5%), and black people (22.1%). Asian people had a positive test percentage of 11.7%. PHOTO: People receive coronavirus COVID-19 antibody testing at the Delmont Medical Care drive up test site in Franklin Square, New York, April 22, 2020. (Peter Foley/EPA via Shutterstock) Cuomo, extrapolating the data, said its likely 2.7 million people in the state have been infected, with a death rate of 0.5%. He also said the current death toll of 15,302 is not accurate because it does not include people who died at home and those who were never tested for COVID-19. Cuomo added that more testing needed to be done among the African American and Hispanic community. More testing and surveys will continue in the state, Cuomo said, with plans to expand the size. 11:29 a.m.: China pledges $30 million donation to WHO funding China has pledged to donate $30 million in funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) to support the agency's effort to fight the pandemic, the state-run Xinhua reported. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang backed the WHO's handling of the pandemic, saying at a briefing that it played an important role in assisting countries in responding to the outbreak and boosting international cooperation. The pledged donation comes amid criticism from President Donald Trump and his administration of the WHO. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the WHO did not enforce its rules regarding data that China shared. However, the United Nations agency does not have enforcement ability. Trump also said he would halt all funding to the WHO. Senior U.S. officials said Wednesday that while existing work would continue, "new funding" would be paused while a review is conducted. Xinhua reported that in March, China donated $20 million to the WHO. 11:02 a.m.: Sen. Elizabeth Warren's eldest brother dies after testing positive The eldest of Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren's three older brothers, Don Reed, died Tuesday night, three weeks after testing positive for COVID-19. He was 86. Warren confirmed the news in a statement and tweet. My oldest brother, Don Reed, died from coronavirus on Tuesday evening. He joined the Air Force at 19 and spent his career in the military, including five and a half years off and on in combat in Vietnam. He was charming and funny, a natural leader. https://t.co/b8m0xKzAmM Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) April 23, 2020 "Im grateful to the nurses and frontline staff who took care of him, but its hard to know that there was no family to hold his hand or to say 'I love you' one more timeand no funeral for those of us who loved him to hold each other close. I'll miss you dearly my brother," she tweeted, in part. Warren, a former Democratic presidential contender, spoke proudly of her brothers on the campaign trail. Reed was a U.S. Air Force veteran and one of her two Republican brothers. Though he and his siblings only appeared once on the trail with her when she was in Oklahoma, they never spoke to the press. They did appear in a campaign video for their little sister. Warren had not previously mentioned her brother's diagnosis, but she has been outspoken about the pandemic's grip on the world. PHOTO: Sen. Elizabeth Warren speaks, in Monterey Park, Calif. March 2, 2020. (Kyle Grillot/Reuters, File) 10:32 a.m.: Around 1 million New Yorkers could have been exposed to COVID: Health commissioner Despite what appears to be slow progress in New York City, the mayor and health commissioner gave a sobering look at how many New Yorkers most likely have been and will continue to be affected by the pandemic. Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot said that she would not be surprised if "close to a million New Yorkers" had been exposed to COVID-19. In the city of about 8.3 million, there have been at least 138,000 confirmed cases, Barbot said Thursday during Mayor Bill de Blasio's daily press briefing. De Blasio also offered a stark statistic: he expects that an additional one million residents could become food insecure under the pandemic, putting the total number of food insecure New Yorkers at around two million. He said that by the end of April, the city is expected to have served out about 10 million meals. For May, de Blasio said that number could rise to 15 million. PHOTO: A woman walks through an almost-deserted Times Square in the early morning hours, on April 23, 2020, in New York City. (Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images) De Blasio offered hope to New Yorkers, saying he believes the city will persevere, but also warned that "we're still very much in this fight." The number of people admitted to New York City hospitals with suspected COVID-19 cases was down again, from 252 to 227, according to the mayor. The number of people in ICUs was also down, but de Blasio noted that 796 people admitted to ICUs was still "way too many people." He said the city is on track to conduct 20,000 to 30,000 tests per day in May. De Blasio continued to say that testing is the key to reopening the city and keeping New Yorkers safe. 7:02 a.m.: All frontline workers in Los Angeles can now get tested for COVID-19 The city of Los Angeles is expanding its criteria for who is eligible to get free testing for the novel coronavirus. Starting Thursday, all of the city's frontline workers can get tested for COVID-19 whether they have symptoms or not. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who made the announcement at a press briefing Wednesday night, said the frontline workers include health care professionals, first responders, grocery store workers and critical government personnel. PHOTO: Workers wearing personal protective equipment gather the tests administered as Mend Urgent Care hosts a drive-thru testing for COVID-19 at the Westfield Fashion Square in the Sherman Oaks neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, on April 14, 2020. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images) "We wish we could open that up to everybody, but I think we all know that we have firefighters and police officers, doctors, nurses, janitors at hospitals, folks that are in grocery stores and pharmacies that are putting themselves out on the line," Garcetti said. "And we want to make sure they are healthy, that they have the peace of mind knowing theyre healthy, and because they interact with so many people, that we can make sure they are not spreading it." The city's public testing sites have the capacity to test 12,200 people per day, according to Garcetti. Tune into ABC at 1 p.m. ET and ABC News Live at 4 p.m. ET every weekday for special coverage of the novel coronavirus with the full ABC News team, including the latest news, context and analysis. 6:25 a.m.: France wants all retailers to reopen next month The French government wants all shops -- except bars, cafes and restaurants -- to be able to reopen once a nationwide lockdown ends next month. "We want all retailers to be able to open on May 11 in the same way out of fairness," French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire told France Info radio on Thursday. "I would only set aside restaurants, bars and cafes that will need special treatment because they are a place of mixing." Le Maire noted that protocols would have to be implemented to protect both workers and customers. It's still unclear whether the reopening would be feasible nationwide or only by region, he said. PHOTO: Two men carry grocery bags as they walk past a closed shop bearing graffiti that reads 'old world' in Paris on April 21, 2020, on the thirty-sixth day of France's nationwide lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus. (Christophe Archambault/AFP via Getty Images) French President Emmanuel Macron announced last week that the country's lockdown, which was put in place on March 17 to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus, will be extended until May 11 and gradually lifted thereon. France has recorded more than 157,000 diagnosed cases of COVID-19 and over 21,000 deaths, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University. What to know about coronavirus: How it started and how to protect yourself: Coronavirus explained What to do if you have symptoms: Coronavirus symptoms Tracking the spread in the U.S. and worldwide: Coronavirus map 5:12 a.m.: Germany is on 'thinnest ice,' Angela Merkel warns German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that her country is "still at the beginning" of the coronavirus pandemic and citizens must maintain discipline. "We are still far from out of the woods," Merkel said while addressing the German parliament Thursday. More than 150,000 people in Germany have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and 5,315 of them have died from the disease so far, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University. It's a relatively low death toll compared to other European countries like France and Italy that have similar caseloads but fatalities have soared past 20,000. PHOTO: German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks on behalf of the federal government at the lower house of German parliament, the Bundestag, in Berlin, Germany, on April 23, 2020. (Maja Hitij/Getty Images) Germany's federal and state governments recently agreed to relax some of the social distancing measures put in place to combat the outbreak, including permitting smaller shops to reopen this week. "It is precisely because the figures give rise to hope that I feel obliged to say that this interim result is fragile," Merkel said. "We are on thin ice, the thinnest ice even." 3:30 a.m.: American Red Cross will soon use antibody tests to ID plasma donors Starting next week, the American Red Cross will offer antibody tests for people who suspect they were previously infected with the novel coronavirus and are interested in donating their blood plasma -- a potential game-changer in the treatment for seriously ill COVID-19 patients. "That completely changes the landscape," Dr. Pampee Young, chief medical officer for the American Red Cross, told ABC News in an interview Wednesday. Antibody tests can indicate whether a person has been exposed to the novel coronavirus and has recovered, developing the antibodies to fight it. And while there is no guarantee that antibodies to this new virus actually provide immunity, doctors are hopeful that patients severely sickened with COVID-19 can benefit from infusions of blood plasma collected from those who have recovered from the disease. The therapy, known as convalescent plasma, is a century-old technique used for treating epidemics. At the moment, an individual who wishes to donate blood plasma for the experimental convalescent plasma therapy must have documentation of a positive COVID-19 test. The lack of diagnostic tests available has led hospitals and donation centers to say they are in desperate need of donors. "Qualifying and getting the right donors into our centers to donate is one of the biggest hurdles in this in this endeavor," Young said. PHOTO: Wearing a homemade mask, Kathy Verhoff of Kalida, Ohio, donates blood as phlebotomist Jacqueline Line looks on at the American Red Cross in Lima, Ohio, on April 7, 2020. (Craig J. Orosz/AP) More than 30,000 people have requested to donate on the American Red Cross website, but only 2 to 3% actually qualify and meet the current criteria set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That donor pool could increase dramatically with the implementation of antibody testing at American Red Cross donation centers. "All of those (potential) donors who don't have confirmed testing can now be tested," Young said. "We can really cut through that time, which is so important." Young explained that researchers and medical professionals have been in uncharted territory, "building the plane as youre flying it." But she said theyve been working around the clock to streamline the process. "We really didn't know what we were dealing with at the beginning as we were standing this up," she told ABC News. "Now weve really resourced this project. ABC News' Ibtissem Guenfoud, Jenna Harrison, Kaylee Hartung, Marilyn Heck, Sasha Pezenik, Cheyenne Haslett, Conor Finnegan, Aaron Katersky, Matthew Fuhrman, Dr. Abdelmalek, Joohee Cho and Fergal Gallagher contributed to this report. 5-month-old daughter of New York firefighter dies of COVID-19 originally appeared on abcnews.go.com In order to keep z/OS running smoothly inside the Fortune 500s most critical computing platform, organizations will need new strategies and tools very soon and managing a remote mainframe workforce is a great start. Infotel, a leading global software vendor of data performance and optimization solutions for Fortune 500 enterprises, today announced the release of their timely whitepaper that examines the benefits remote work can have for mainframers and employers that are navigating the current skills gap. As corporations worldwide have been forced into remote work ecosystems due to the coronavirus pandemic, some may find the benefits of teleworking as a solution for the skills gap sooner than expected. The whitepaper titled, Mainframers Working from Home, and How IT Systems Leaders can Embrace the Trend, details the strategic advantages a remote workforce can bring to the Fortune 500 using a mainframe where seasoned developers are retiring and too few experts exist to replace them. With the current COVID-19 pandemic, remote work has gone from a nice-to-have luxury to a non-negotiable necessity, said Jeff Castella, managing director of software at Tampa, Florida-based Infotel Corp. In order to keep z/OS running smoothly inside the Fortune 500s most critical computing platform, organizations will need new strategies and tools very soon and managing a remote mainframe workforce is a great start. While we know the coronavirus pandemic will eventually subside, whats less certain is how organizations will treat remote work afterward. As the mainframer skills gap continues to widen and seasoned developers retire, organizations must take into consideration the benefits remote work can have to recruit a younger workforce and keep more-experienced professionals around longer. Research from Deloitte indicates that three-quarters of millennials would rather work from home instead of an office, and 50% of them lean towards companies that can offer flexible work hours and location. Remote work gives organizations the ability to tap into a larger pool of developers from around the globe and keep professionals approaching retirement age more satisfied and less inclined to leave. According to research from Global Workplace Analytics, 36% of retirees said the possibility of working from home would have made them consider delaying retirement. To download the whitepaper click here. DB/IQ QA: Uniting Mainframe and Remote Work Infotels DB/IQ QA was designed with a remote workforce in mind. With developers working from across the globe on the same mainframe applications, DB/IQ helps establish a set of standards and guidelines for all Db2 applications and automatically checks that SQL code follows those standards. Using DB/IQ ensures all SQL code delivered in production is compliant with organizations quality standards. DB/IQ also detects reliability and performance problems before they occur in production. For more information on DB/IQ click here. About Infotel Infotel Corp., based in Tampa, Florida, is a software vendor and IT consulting firm specializing in data performance and optimization solutions for the Mainframe z/OS platform. For more than 40 years, Infotel has delivered proven solutions to help clients improve their data management systems. For more information on Infotel Corp., please visit https://www.infotel.com/us/. E mergency measures to tackle the coronavirus outbreak will cost the newspaper and magazine industries around 1.25 billion in lost advertising and other revenues this year putting the jobs of up to 5,000 journalists at risk, according to new analysis today. In findings she described as stark Ms Enders said Government intervention will be needed to deal with the crisis and ensure that a sustainable print news industry survives. She also called on Google and Facebook to step their support for the traditional news content providers or risk losing quality news provision. She estimated that this year alone print media advertising revenue will fall by around 750 million, with a further 100 million decline in online advertising. There will be a 250 million revenue squeeze from falling circulations and a further shortfall estimated at 150 million from the cancellation of live events. Publishers will see their revenues decline from anything from a third, for those least reliant on advertising revenue, to as much as 90 per cent. The analysis concludes: We do not know of a single publisher large or small with an operating margin able to absorb declines of this scale and nature. Not one. In an email to bosses at Google and Facebook Ms Enders warned: The terrible paradox of quality news provision hardly needs repeating: the news industry is playing a vital role in our national and global emergency, and yet is unable to generate enough revenue to sustain its essential activities. She added: The path to the new normal requires the dissemination of information at the local level, and is surely a critical objective for public policy to support. In her note to the tech giants she went on: The media industry of course welcomes your two recent initiatives - your five-month waiver of ad-server fees for news providers, and your Journalism Emergency Relief Fund. But I fear these are not enough. As you will have seen we have publicly (and privately) made the same point to Government: its contribution to a news media advertising campaign is very welcome and has been impressively co-ordinated. But it is not nearly enough to offset the industrys catastrophic revenue losses. She continued: We have no doubt that these catastrophic economic conditions will persist for several years, possibly more. We are deeply concerned about the impact on the quality of global and national democracy and debate should the quality of our titles be radically diminished. Listen to The Leader: Coronavirus Daily podcast Ryanair has kicked off an influx of 'I didn't know it was a party' memes mocking Boris Johnson after he was forced to apologise for hosting a 'party' in the Downing Street garden in May 2020. The popular low-cost carrier posted an image of the Prime Minister's face edited onto a popular meme showing dancing party-goers with the caption 'Boris Johnson for 25 minutes on 20 May 2020' and 'I don't know I'm at a party' next to Mr Johnson's face. Mr Johnson today finally admitted he went to a 'party' in the Downing Street garden at the height of lockdown - but argued he thought it was a 'work event' and 'technically' within the rules. At a stormy PMQs, Mr Johnson said he wanted to 'thank' staff at the event in May 2020 but recognised that in 'hindsight' it should not have happened. He said he understood public 'fury' and 'took responsibility', but said he had believed it was a work event. 'I bitterly regret it. I wish we could have done things differently,' he said. Social media erupted into a hive of memes mocking Mr Johnson, with one showing Ant and Dec in a fit of giggles - alluding to the television presenter's previous jibes at the Government. "COVID-19 has had a profound impact on individuals and the world around us from jobs, to education, to paying rent and getting food on the table," said Diana Birkett Rakow, chair of the Alaska Airlines Foundation Board of Directors. "We're honored to support these nonprofit organizations, and their teams, at the forefront of helping individuals and families through crisis." As an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Alaska Airlines Foundation has supported communities for more than 20 years. "We call these LIFT grants, inspired by the principle of lift behind an airplane taking flight," said Birkett Rakow. "Today, we think about that very literally, to enable opportunity, sustain, and lift one another to come through this crisis with immediate needs and for the long term." Cash grants were made to the following 23 organizations including: Alaska: "AK Can Do" Fund for COVID-19 Response - Alaska Community Foundation/United Way Abused Women's Aid in Crisis COVID-19 Response Armed Services YMCA Of Alaska - Food Pantry Covenant House Alaska Fairbanks Community Food Bank COVID-19 Response Lutheran Social Services of Alaska, Inc. Food Pantry Southeast Alaska Food Bank - COVID-19 Pandemic Relief California: Silicon Valley Strong Fund - Silicon Valley Community Foundation Alameda County Community Food Bank COVID-19 Emergency Response Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank COVID-19 Response The Oakland Public Education Fund COVID-19 Rapid Relief Fund Second Harvest of Silicon Valley COVID-19 Response SPARK SF Public Schools - COVID-19 Response YMCA of San Francisco Hawaii: Hawaii Resilience Fund - Hawaii Community Foundation The Food Basket - COVID-19 Response Hawaii Foodbank COVID-19 Response Hawaii Foodbank Kauai COVID-19 Response Maui Food Bank COVID-19 Response Oregon: #EmergeStronger in the Wake of COVID-19 - Oregon Food Bank Washington: Curiosity Never Closes: Curiosity at Home - Pacific Science Center WA Food Fund - Philanthropy Northwest United Way of King County - COVID-19 Relief Fund The Alaska Airlines Foundation is a private, independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Anchorage, Alaska. The Foundation's core mission is to enable opportunity for young people through LIFT grants in the communities where we fly. Learn more about the Alaska Airlines Foundation. SOURCE Alaska Airlines Related Links http://www.alaskaair.com Australia has called on G20 nations to close all wet wildlife markets over concerns about the threat they pose to human health and agricultural markets. The coronavirus pandemic is thought to have originated from a wet market in the Chinese city of Wuhan. China imposed a temporary ban on selling wildlife on 23 January and is reviewing its legislation to restrict commercial wild animal trading on a permanent basis, but wet markets play a key part in daily life in the country. Canberras minister for agriculture, David Littleproud, said he had asked government officials from the Group of 20 major economies to back a plan to end wildlife wet markets. There are risks with wildlife wet markets and they could be as big a risk to our agricultural industries as they can be to public health, Mr Littleproud told Australias Channel 7 television on Thursday. Officials in the United States have also called for the closure of wet wildlife markets across Asia. Such markets sell fresh vegetables, seafood and meat although some also sell exotic animals. Mr Littleproud did not mention China by name, but his comments follow Australias push for an international inquiry into the origins and handling of the coronavirus pandemic. On Wednesday, the countrys prime minister, Scott Morrison, tweeted to say he had raised the inquiry in calls with Donald Trump, the US president, and other major powers. Both France and Britain have said the current focus should be on fighting the virus, rather than apportioning blame. China has accused Australia of taking instructions from the US. The Covid-19 pandemic has infected some 2.3 million people around the world and killed nearly 160,000. Australia has seen around 6,600 cases nationally and 75 deaths from the virus. China is Australias largest trading partner, but diplomatic ties have frayed in recent years amid allegations Beijing has committed cyber-attacks and attempted to interfere in Canberras domestic affairs. The world has come to a standstill as billions of people are under lockdown, with many businesses closed. But hackers never sleep. Opportunistic malicious actors are trying to exploit one of the worst periods in the history of the oil industry, which is struggling with the double shock of the coronavirus pandemic and plunging oil prices. While oil and gas firms around the world prepare for ultra-low oil prices, hackers have launched spear-phishing campaigns against oil and gas firms to infiltrate with a spyware for the purpose of collecting sensitive company information and credentials, Bitdefender researchers have found. Spear-Phishing Campaign Targets US, Malaysian, Iranian Firms The spear-phishing campaign did not use as sophisticated spyware as in other cyber attacks. Instead, it was carefully planned and executed with emails using the names of real companies, projects, and events to make the emails look as legitimate as possible, according to Bitdefender analysts. Companies in many countries, including the United States, Malaysia, Iran, Oman, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, were targeted with spear-phishing emails purporting to be on behalf of a real oil and gas company in Egypt, state firm Engineering for Petroleum and Process Industries (Enppi). Enppi is globally recognized as a major engineering, EPC main contractor, and management contractor, with decades of experience in onshore and offshore projects in the oil and gas, refining and petrochemical industries, the company says on its website. The emails sent in the spear-phishing campaign claim that they are inviting the companies to submit a bid for equipment and materials as part of a real existing project, the Rosetta Sharing Facilities Project. In reality, Enppi did work on the Rosetta Sharing Facilities Project. Premium: 2 Stocks To Consider As Oil Nears $15 According to Bitdefender, these details would look convincing enough to an email recipient to open the attachment to send a bid bond for a tender. But opening the attachment actually drops a Trojan spyware. Hackers Strike While Oil Industry Faces Major Market Challenges This particular campaign took place at the end of March when Saudi Arabia was promising to flood the world with oil and U.S. President Donald Trump hadnt yet dropped the comment that the Saudis and Russia would discuss removing 10 million bpd of oil from the market. At that time, oil prices were already crashing and the oil and gas industry started to slash budgets to cope with the low price of oil. It was, and still is, a time in which the oil industry is already vulnerable to the double market shock of oversupply and plunging demand. While the malware payload itself is not as sophisticated as those used in more advanced and targeted attacks, the fact that theyve been orchestrated and executed during this time, and before the 'historic OPEC+ deal', suggests motivation and interest in knowing how specific countries plan to address the issue, Bitdefenders Liviu Arsene writes. According to Bitdefender researchers, this spear-phishing campaign was focused specifically on the oil and gas industry, unlike other spear-phishing campaigns, which are more comprehensive and involve many sectors. The researchers also found another recent spear-phishing campaign, in which the hackers claiming to be a shipping company used legitimate information about a chemical/oil tanker and industry jargon to trick email recipients at several shipping companies in the Philippines into opening attachments that dropped Trojan spyware. Cyber Attacks On Energy Industry Grow Bitdefenders analysis shows that cyber attacks on companies in the energy industry have been rising since October 2019, suggesting that malicious actors are specifically targeting the oil and gas industry when the market is particularly volatile. The United States and the UK lead the countries in terms of number of energy companies targeted in recent months. Electric network systems are also a target of attacks. Threats of cyber attacks on North Americas electric network systems are growing, industrial cybersecurity firm Dragos said earlier this year. This year, the firm has identified two groups, Magnallium and Xenotime, which are increasingly probing to compromise electric assets in North America, expanding their targeting from the oil and gas sector to include electric assets. According to cybersecurity firm FireEye, Hacktivists may opportunistically target energy companies in response to perceived controversies. The spear-phishing campaigns found by Bitdefender were executed during a turbulent time for the oil and gas industry. No one knows where the bottom for oil prices will be in the coming days, considering that the WTI Crude May futures contract sank to as low as -$37 a barrel this weekwith futures dipping into negative territory for the first time ever. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners has said it makes complete sense to advise the general public to wear masks if they are coughing to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus. Professor Martin Marshalls comments come as the Scientific Advisory Group on Emergencies (SAGE) are expected to present its findings on the usage of masks on Thursday. However, he also warned that there is no evidence that healthy people would benefit from wearing a mask, and may even become more at risk of contracting an infection. Professor Marshall told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Theres no research evidence to support wearing masks if you are basically fit and well, indeed if people wear masks theres a risk they play around with it, they play with their eyes more and maybe youre even at a higher risk of picking up an infection. However it is common sense that if they are coughing and spluttering then it makes complete sense to wear masks in order to protect other people. I think the guidance that were expecting to hear is that the wearing of face masks is a voluntary activity not mandated and it certainly makes a lot of sense to focus limited resources that we have at the moment on those who have greatest need and thats the health professionals. This sophisticated kit is likely to be more rigorous, more useful, but actually its perfectly reasonable to wear a bandanna around your mouth or whatever, that will work, it wont be quite as good but it will be good enough, he added. After its discussion, SAGE is expected to tell ministers that medical grade masks should be prioritised for health workers. Members of the public should refrain from wearing such masks, but are free to wear a scarf or homemade mask. Current advice by Public Health England (PHE) recommends masks for NHS staff and social care workers but does not suggest other people wear them outside. Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, said there has been no new decision on the matter ahead of the SAGE meeting today. He told BBC Breakfast: Sage is meeting today but we havent yet had that advice as ministers yet. I dont want to get ahead of ourselves and prejudge what will come out of Sage just yet. Theres no change at the moment. Last week, London Mayor Sadiq Khan called for a change in advice after he said wearing face masks should be compulsory on public transport. He said the measure would be an additional protection on top of social distancing and other government advice to stop the spread of coronavirus during lockdown. How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities Show all 6 1 /6 How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities Milan, Italy REUTERS How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities North Jakarta, Indonesia REUTERS How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities Jakarta, Indonesia REUTERS How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities Venice, Italy REUTERS How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities New Delhi, India REUTERS How coronavirus lockdowns changed the world's most polluted cities Islamabad, Pakistan REUTERS The evidence Ive seen is if you wear a non-medical facial covering, it doesnt necessarily limit your chances of catching the virus, he said. What it does do, if you yourself are pre-symptomatic or asymptomatic, it reduces the chances of you giving the virus to somebody else. And so wherever you cant keep your social distance, you should be wearing a face covering. Democrats launched the party's first attempt to force a state into offering universal absentee ballots, suing South Carolina in advance of an upcoming primary and before November's general election. On Wednesday, the Democratic National Campaign Committee, which helps elect Democratic House members, and the South Carolina Democratic Party, filed a lawsuit with the South Carolina Supreme Court seeking to expand absentee ballot access across the state. Current South Carolina law allows voters to secure absentee ballots only if they have a legitimate excuse to skip in-person voting. While South Carolinians, including this bride, went to the polls in February to make their presidential pick, another state primary is scheduled for June and Democrats sued the state in order to allow more residents to vote absentee Democrats wants South Carolinians who are practicing social distancing to prevent contracting the coronavirus to count among the 'disabled,' which would then allow them to be eligible under current South Carolina law to cast absentee ballots Those eligible for absentee ballots include military personnel, those with religious conflicts of Ameriacns traveling abroad. Senior citizens and the ill and the disabled are also eligible to vote by mail. The Democrats' lawsuit aims to widen these parameters by asking the court to interpret the definition of a person practicing social distancing to avoid contracting or spreading the coronavirus as a 'physically disabled person,' thus making them eligible to vote absentee. The suit also asks the South Carolina Supreme Court to 'determine that COVID-19 severely threatens the administration of elections and every residents constitutional right to free and open elections.' 'Our leaders should be using every available tool to ensure South Carolina voters dont have to choose between protecting their health and participating in our democracy. Well keep fighting to ensure voters can safely and freely participate in our democracy during this time of uncertainty,' the DCCC's Chairwoman Rep. Cheri Bustos of Illinois said in a statement. While South Carolina Democrats already went to the polls to select their presidential pick - a February 29 contest that changed the fortunes for now presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden - state races will be determined from ballots cast in a June 9 primary. And then the general election, where President Trump and Biden are expected to face-off, takes place on November 3. The state's Republican Gov. Henry McMaster has signaled he's opposed to moving the date of the nearing primary, according to The State. Democratic Rep. Joe Cunningham has said he supports it - showing that the split to allow more flexible voting, or not, continues to be along party lines. The South Carolina legislature would need to vote to move the primary. The legislature is under Republican control. South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Trav Robertson lashed out at South Carolina Republicans in a statement about the Democrats' lawsuit. 'It is the height of recklessness to ask volunteers to risk their lives staffing polls and precincts when the Republicans controlling our government have the ability to take action and protect lives by eliminating the qualifications for absentee voting and transition to a mail-in voting program,' Robertson said. Voters in Wisconsin were forced to vote amid the coronavirus pandemic earlier this month. At least seven people contracted the coronavirus from voting activities in Wisconsin, election officials said Tuesday, according to Reuters. Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary has insisted his planes will not fly with an empty middle seat as he blasted 'idiotic' in-flight social distancing measures. He claimed proposals to force planes to fly under capacity when the coronavirus travel restrictions end were 'mad,' unaffordable and 'hopelessly ineffective'. The Dublin-based low cost airline has instead backed the introduction of mandatory temperature checks and masks for passengers and crew when flights resume. Parked and temporarily out of service Ryanair aircraft at London Stansted Airport on April 15 Mr O'Leary also said Ryanair has already told the Irish government that if it imposes the measures, then 'either the government pays for the middle seat or we won't fly'. Ryanair is among a host of airlines raising concerns that measures to slow the spread of the pandemic could blight profitability long after the travel restrictions end. The airline operates on a business model of frequent flights, low costs and a very high 'load factor', which is the industry word for a plane's proportion of taken seats. And Mr O'Leary, 59, told the Financial Times: 'We can't make money on 66 per cent load factors. Even if you do that, the middle seat doesn't deliver any social distancing, so it's kind of an idiotic idea that doesn't achieve anything anyway.' Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary (pictured in Brussels on March 3) has insisted his planes will not fly with an empty middle seat The International Air Transport Association, which represents 290 airlines, has estimated that the pandemic could cost carriers a combined total of 254billion. Ryanair is among those facing a damaging financial year after flying 152million people last year - a 9 per cent rise on 2018 which made it Europe's biggest airline. However Mr O'Leary has estimated that normal passenger levels will have returned by summer next year, as long as a vaccine for Covid-19 can be developed. He also hopes that Ryanair will pick up business from rivals that could collapse during the crisis, which has already claimed the likes of Flybe and Virgin Australia. Flying with an empty middle seat has been proposed for in-flight social distancing (file picture) Last week easyJet said it expects to keep middle seats empty once travel restrictions are lifted in a move which could mean higher ticket prices for passengers. How coronavirus has affected airlines in the UK over the past month Flybe: Europe's largest regional airline collapsed on March 5 after months on the brink, triggering 2,400 job losses and left around 15,000 passengers stranded across the UK and Europe. Flybe's owners, a consortium including Virgin Atlantic, the Stobart Group and hedge fund firm Cyrus Capital, blamed coronavirus for hastening the ailing airline's collapse. Flybe operated up to 50 UK routes, accounting for 40 per cent of all domestic flights, and was used by 9.5million passengers a year. British Airways: The International Airlines Group, which also includes Iberia and Aer Lingus, said on March 16 that there would be a 75 per cent reduction in passenger capacity for two months, with boss Willie Walsh admitting there was 'no guarantee that many European airlines would survive'. easyJet: The airline with 9,000 UK-based staff including 4,000 cabin crew grounded its entire fleet of 344 planes on March 30. The Luton-based carrier said parking all of its planes 'removes significant cost' as the aviation industry struggles to cope with a collapse in demand. Loganair: The Scottish regional airline said on March 30 that it expects to ask the Government for a bailout to cope with the impact of the pandemic. Loganair will go to the government despite being told by Finance Minister Rishi Sunak last week that airlines should exhaust all other options for funding, before asking for help. Jet2: The budget holiday airline has suspended all of its flights departing from Britain until April 30. A number of Jet2 flights turned around mid-air last month while travelling to Spain when a lockdown was announced in the country. Virgin Atlantic: The airline said on March 16 that it would have reduced its lights by 80 per cent by March 26, and this will go up to 85 per cent by April. It has also urged the Government to offer carriers emergency credit facilities worth up to 7.5billion. Ryanair: More than 90 per cent of the Irish-based airline's planes are now grounded, with the rest of the aircraft providing repatriation and rescue flights. Advertisement Chief executive Johan Lundgren said the social distancing measures would encourage passengers to fly in the months after the pandemic recedes. The move would see its single-aisle jets cut from around 180 seats to 120. This could lead to higher ticket prices as budget airlines rely on filling planes to make short-haul flights profitable. Meanwhile Ryanair has been accused of trying to avoid paying refunds for flights cancelled because of the coronavirus. Under European Union rules, airlines must offer passengers their cash back if flights are cancelled, but Ryanair is offering passengers vouchers for flights when the lockdown ends. Irish travel industry expert Eoghan Corry said every airline is currently offering a voucher, rather than a refund. But he said EU law is clear that passengers are entitled to refunds, but they will probably not be payable in the short term. A Ryanair spokesman said: 'For any cancelled flight, Ryanair is giving customers all of the options set out under EU regulations, including refunds.' Ryanair told some passengers that claims would be processed after the Covid-19 pandemic had cleared. In its latest email to passengers, the airline says: 'Over the past months the spread of the Covid-19 virus has caused many EU governments to impose flight and/or travel bans which grounded over 99 per cent of Ryanair's flights.' It included vouchers and warned anyone looking for a refund it would not be processed until have the Covid-19 crisis lifts before applications will even be considered. The European Commission will present rules next month for the safe reopening of air travel when lockdowns end, such as social distancing in airports and planes. EU Transport Commissioner Adina Valean said that measures under consideration would include the wearing of masks and disinfection of planes and airports. She tweeted yesterday: 'All this should be part of those guidelines and probably by mid-May we can put forward this strategy we are working on.' Mr Valean said she expected social distancing requirements to remain in place for as long as there is no treatment or vaccine for the infection. It comes as debate heats up in the United States, the world's busiest domestic market, on how to apply rules on social distancing or protective gear to air travel. It is unclear if the Washington-based Federal Aviation Administration has the authority to compel passengers or flight crews to wear face coverings on airplanes. Last week, FAA administrator Steve Dickson said the agency and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention planned to update guidance for flight crews amid concerns from pilots, but regulators are not mandating new safety requirements. Some US airlines have implemented their own measures including blocking middle seats, pausing automatic upgrades and changing the boarding process. Delta Air Lines said this week it would like to see consistency among government requirements to help streamline processes for passengers and employees. In Canada, regulators started requiring passengers on Monday to wear a non-medical mask or face covering during the boarding process and flights. Is THIS what flying economy class will look like after the coronavirus crisis? Designs emerge of cabins where passengers are shielded by screens to help prevent further outbreaks Italian-based design firm Aviointeriors has come up with two cabin concepts The 'Janus' layout would see the middle seat on a row placed in a reverse position Transparent 'hoods' are placed over each seat in the firm's 'Glassafe' cabin By JENNIFER NEWTON FOR MAILONLINE Welcome onboard the economy cabins of the near-future - where plane passengers are shielded from each other by plastic screens. Designs have emerged for two post-coronavirus economy cabin concepts aimed at helping to prevent future pandemics. The 'Janus' takes its inspiration from the ancient two-faced Roman god and has a reversed centre seat, while the 'Glassafe' concept sees each seat fitted with a 'hood'. The Janus seat concept that has been designed by aircraft interior design firm Aviointeriors The Janus concept would see the middle seat of a row placed in a reverse position, which Aviointeriors says will 'ensure maximum isolation between passengers' The Janus takes its inspiration from the ancient two-faced Roman god The designs are by Italian firm Aviointeriors, which has released renderings of both concepts. Aviointeriors says the Janus seat will 'ensure the maximum isolation between passengers seated next to each other'. While passengers seated on the side seats, aisle and fuselage, continue to face in the direction of travel, the passenger sitting in the centre is facing backwards. Aviointeriors explained: 'Each passenger has their own space isolated from others, even from people who walk through the aisle. 'Each Janus seat is surrounded on three sides by a high shield that prevents the breath propagation to occupants of adjacent seats. 'It is made of easy cleaning and safe hygienic materials. The option is available with the shield in opaque material or with different degrees of transparency.' Breathe easy: The Glassafe concept, which Aviointeriors describes as a 'kit-level solution' Glassafe, meanwhile, is described as a 'kit-level solution' that can be installed on existing aircraft seats. It would see screens installed around the top of the seats, which Aviointeriors says would make sitting in 'close proximity safer'. It added: 'Glassafe is made of transparent material to make the entire cabin harmonious and aesthetically light, but perfectly fulfilling the objective of creating an isolated volume around the passenger. 'This is in order to avoid or minimize contacts and interactions via air between passenger and passenger, so as to reduce the probability of contamination by viruses or other. Aviointeriors says: 'Glassafe is made of transparent material to make the entire cabin harmonious and aesthetically light' An aerial view of the Glassafe concept. Aviointeriors says: 'We have worked and we will continue to develop products specifically designed to make the travels of the near-future post-virus ever safer' 'Glassafe is supplied in various executions with fixing systems to the seat that allow easy installation and removal.' A spokesman for Aviointeriors says: 'All national authorities worldwide are trying to block this pandemic through a series of actions and recommendations and we want to contribute with our ideas and proposals in the interests of the whole community. 'With this objective in mind, we have studied new solutions that take into account social distancing among passengers sitting in economy class, where there is a condition of higher density, but with characteristics that remain applicable even in the lower density classes such as premium economy or business class. 'We have worked and we will continue to develop products specifically designed to make the travels of the near-future post-virus ever safer and in accordance with the new requirements for passengers who will have to share the spaces available for the duration of the transport.' A non-governmental organisation, Save the Children International Nigeria, has raised concerns that the COVID-19 pandemic could turn into a serious child rights crisis in the country, as hundreds of thousands of the most vulnerable children could be exposed to a dangerous mix of extreme poverty, malnutrition and hunger as a result of the virus. The socioeconomic impact of the pandemic will push many poor households to turn to desperate measures just to survive, the group said in a statement Wednesday, adding that children could face an increased risk of child labour, sexual exploitation, or child marriage, as families struggle to feed. As the numbers of COVID-19 cases rise in Nigeria, and the virus is spreading to different states, we are working hard to mitigate the negative impact this will have on the most vulnerable children, especially in fragile communities, said Mercy Gichuhi, the Acting Country Director, Save the Children International Nigeria. Children are seriously affected when parents and caregivers are infected by the virus and taken away for care. We are working closely with the government to support efforts to contain the virus and keep children safe and protected amid the pandemic. Save the Children urged Nigerian authorities to scale up social protection measures such as cash and food assistance for the most vulnerable children and families, to urgently mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Despite being a low-risk group to contract coronavirus, between 42-66 million children could experience extreme poverty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a UN report released last week. Ibrahim Maharazu, Speaker, Katsina State Childrens Parliament, said coronavirus is threatening their right to protection, education and healthy life. I can see a possible increase in child abuse as children from poor households might go to rich people in the community for food. They may be emotionally, physically or sexually exploited in exchange for food and financial support. There are people who take advantage of the poor families and the pandemic. This is very bad for children and it can have a long-lasting impact on them. The government should hold such perpetrators accountable. Save the Children said it would work with all stakeholders towards better accessible social protection services to reach the most vulnerable people including through the scaling up and reform of existing social protection and livelihood programmes. The group further urged the government to provide appropriate care and protection for children, including children who are orphaned or left without proper care because their caregivers are in hospital because of the virus. Through existing social safety net programs, it said, the government should also provide immediate income and livelihood support to vulnerable families, to reduce the risk of people taking desperate measures that would put children, particularly girls, at risk. We must act now and rapidly scale up support for children whose families income is insecure and live in fragile communities, said Ms Gichuhi. There is a need for increased protection for children, especially girls, displaced children, and other vulnerable groups. Our collective efforts and sustainable actions in responding to the pandemic should ensure that no child is left behind, vulnerable or unprotected. Purity Oriaifo, girl champion, Save the Children International Nigeria, said COVID-19 has affected childrens ways of living and disrupted their routines including school attendance and raising an income. I know children whose parents are petty traders who find it difficult to get proper food these days, said Ms Oriaifo, 14. They may not be able to afford even one meal per day. These families live from day to day, they dont have food stocks or savings to depend on. Therefore, the government needs to provide financial assistance or sufficient foodstuffs ensuring that assistance reaches the people now. This will reduce the risk of exploitation, domestic violence and abuse of children, especially the girls. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - MGM Resorts International (MGM) disclosed in a regulatory filing that it expects net revenue of $2.3 billion in the first-quarter, a 29% decrease from the prior year quarter, due to the continued impact of the outbreak of COVID-19. The company expects quarterly operating income of $1.3 billion, compared to $370 million in the prior year quarter, primarily driven by a $1.5 billion net gain related to the MGM Grand Las Vegas/Mandalay Bay real estate transaction. The company projects net income attributable to the company of $807 million, including the gain, compared to net income attributable to MGM Resorts of $31 million in the prior year quarter. Separately, MGM Resorts said that it proposes to offer $500 million in aggregate principal amount of senior notes due 2025. The company plans to use the net proceeds from the offering of the notes, for general corporate purposes, including, without limitation, further increasing its liquidity position. The company may invest the net proceeds in short-term interest-bearing accounts, securities or similar investments. 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. A few lucky residents walking along a beach in Mexico were treated to a special light show when the shore lit up with bioluminescent plankton Monday night for the first time in 60 years. Photos and videos of the phenomenon showed the shoreline shining in blue as the waves crashed on the sand in Acapulco. The rare occurrence was the byproduct of a 'biochemical reaction' caused by the microorganisms in the water off Puerto Marques beach, according to Acapulco's tourism board. Visitors at the beach in Puerto Marques, Acapulco, were treated to a rare occurrence Monday when for the first time in 60 years the shore was lit up with bioluminescent plankton as the waves washed up along the sand A visitor at a beach in Puerto Marques, Acapulco, goes out for a swim as bioluminescent plankton brightened the water Monday night. The phenomenon was captured in Acapulco's beaches for the first time in 60 years What is bioluminescence? Bioluminescence is the light produced by living organisms as a result of a biochemical reaction Marine bacteria are the most abundant organisms among luminescent organisms One theory says bioluminescence is the result of evolution Some fish or squid use bioluminescense to attract prey, detect predators or find mates Source: Sabersinfin.com Advertisement Marine biologist Enrique Ayala Duval dismissed the idea that spread quickly through social media that the extraordinary episode was due to the recent lack of human activity in the beach. 'Bioluminescence is the light produced as a result of a biochemical reaction in which most of the time luciferin [protein], molecular oxygen and ATP [adenosine triphosphate] take part, which react by means of the enzyme luciferase in the following way: oxygen oxidizes luciferin, luciferase accelerates the reaction, and ATP provides the energy for the reaction, producing noticeable water and light at night,' Ayala Duval wrote on Sabersinfin.com. 'There is a hypothesis that the bioluminescence that exists today is the result of evolution,' Ayala Duval continued. 'Initially, when the Earth's atmosphere had an almost zero concentration of oxygen and oxygen was gradually increasing due to the increasing presence of photosynthetic organisms, organisms were released from oxygen, which was then toxic to them with the bioluminescence reaction producing water.' Marine biologist Enrique Ayala Duval said bioluminescence is the light produced as a result of a biochemical reaction Waves on a beach in Acapulco are lit up in neon blue, the byproduct of a 'biochemical reaction' caused by the microorganisms in the water While visitors have been banned from bathing in beaches across Mexico due to a nationwide quarantine to prevent the spread of the ravaging coronavirus, one beachgoer couldn't forego the chance of a lifetime and jumped into the neon blue Pacific coast waters. His decision to do so didn't sit too well with a host of social media users. 'What do you think? Yes, the human being again? Do we not understand?,' one person tweeted. 'The phytoplankton natural spectacle in Puerto Marques #Acapulco is impressive, it is an effect created by microorganisms from the sea. What is bad is that the human being will always be there to ruin everything.' It took 60 years for the beach water at Puerto Marques, Acapulco, to be illuminated with bioluminescent plankton Bioluminescent plankton illuminated hundreds of yards of beach shoreline in Acapulco Arturo Martinez took to his Facebook account to blame motorists for the bioluminescent plankton's six-decade absence in Acapulco after recalling an old conversation. 'My friend Domitilo Soto once told me that these microorganisms on the beach ... were not visible this way because tourists on ATVs ran over them. I think it is a good time to see this beautiful phenomenon in that part of Acapulco in the absence of preferred people on a dark moonless night.' While it took 60 years for Acapulco's beach to be illuminated, the viral spectacle is regularly seen in other parts of Mexico. From May to September, the water along the shore of the romantic island of Holbox, in Quintana Roo, is lit in blue as is the case with the five lakes in Chacahua National Park in Chacahua, Oaxaca, between August and March. Laddy Valentine sleeps in a Texas prison dorm with 52 other inmates, all living in cubicles fewer than six feet apart in the Pack Unit where hes incarcerated. In the units chow hall, proper social distancing would require one inmate per table. But officials say it would take 14 hours to feed the unit under those rules. Valentine, 69, is at the center of an effort to enforce strict social distancing in state lockups. The guidelines that have dictated daily life in the outside world to combat spread of the coronavirus are nearly impossible to follow in facilities built to house people in close quarters, said Dr. Esmaeil Porsa, CEO of Harris Health System. Porsa, who also specializes in correctional healthcare and currently serves as vice chair of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, said prisoners are inherently more prone to infectious diseases. Inmates who contract the disease without showing symptoms unknowingly might pass it to a guard or other inmates in their dorm. In the event of an outbreak, sick inmates or guards threaten to overwhelm hospitals or spark a wave of infections in the community, Porsa said. Thats why health experts and criminal justice advocates are pushing for early inmate releases to alleviate crowding - a measure that 22 other states have adopted in one form or another, according to the Prison Policy Initiative. It becomes a perfect storm for a disease like the coronavirus to spread, Porsa said. TDCJ response Valentine is one of two prisoners in the Pack Unit who recently won a class-action lawsuit against the Texas Department of Criminal Justice that alleged prison officials have not done enough to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the facility. A federal judge last week granted the prisoners request for hand sanitizer, cloth masks and widespread testing at the Navasota unit, which houses inmates who are over age 50 or have pre-existing health conditions. The judge also ordered strict enforcement of social distancing during transportation necessary for prisoners to receive medical treatment or be released. TDCJ is appealing the decision. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton requested a stay of the order, saying the federal judge had no authority to overrule Texass decisions about how to manage its scarce resources. At a phone hearing last Thursday, attorneys for TDCJ argued that prison officials have followed CDC guidance for social distancing at correctional facilities. They quarantine inmates who were possibly exposed to a known case and further isolate those who show symptoms or test positive. They stagger times when prisoners visit common areas like chow halls and day rooms. TDCJ suspended inmate transfers from county jails and halted non-medical transfers. TDCJ transferred a large portion of sick prisoners to two units in Brazoria County for better access to medical care. But officials acknowledged at the hearing that its not possible to maintain social distancing at all times. Release complications The most logical step to improve social distancing would be early inmate releases, said Porsa and Dr. Paul Klotman, president and CEO of the Baylor College of Medicine. Klotman added that inmates should be tested upon their release and continue to quarantine on their own, if possible. If you travel from New York City right now or Chicago, they expect you to go into a quarantine for 14 days, because youre coming from a high prevalence community, he said. Well, our prisons, thats a mini New York City. Now Playing: 'COVID-19 in 60': Houston coronavirus news in a minute Video: Houston Chronicle A group of Texas criminal justice advocates recommended ways to reduce the population, including expediting parole reviews for medically vulnerable inmates and releasing people already approved for parole. Oklahoma, Georgia and Iowa are among 22 states that have moved to reduce their prison populations, according to the Prison Policy Initiative, a nonprofit focused on educating people about mass incarceration. State Sen. John Whitmire, chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, said thats a long shot in Texas. Ive actually worked in that direction, said Whitmire, a Democrat. But efforts to come up with lists for early release have run into political reality. We unfortunately work in a political setting, and Governor Abbott doesnt agree. Abbotts office did not respond to requests for comment. And seeking early release in the courts is similarly difficult in Texas. Houston criminal defense attorney Josh Schaffer said lawyers can either argue in front of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles or push to get the case in front of Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Both avenues take months of work, he said. The system that was built on the judicial side is not equipped to deal with this crisis, Schaffer said These prisons are going to turn into houses on fire with the doors locked and people burning up inside. Testing TDCJ houses roughly 145,000 people. As of Wednesday, at least 993 total inmates had been tested for COVID-19, of which 594 tested positive. Among the 1,299 employees and contractors tested, 252 tested positive. The virus has played a role in the death of at least five prisoners and one guard, according to TDCJ. Another guard died earlier this month after testing positive, but his exact cause of death is under investigation. Six more inmate deaths are also under investigation. The agency announced the fourth and fifth inmate deaths Wednesday. One of the men, 68-year-old James Nealy, was not tested until his autopsy because he did not show symptoms. Porsa and Klotman say its impossible to know whether asymptomatic inmates with COVID-19 are spreading the disease without expanding the testing criteria. So far, the focus has remained on symptomatic inmates. The thing right now is identifying people who are acutely ill who may need care beyond what we can provide at the prison, said Dr. Owen Murray, vice president of correctional managed care at UTMB, which is doing most of the testing. Its really based on targeting those people who are sick. Right now, untested inmates in dorm settings might touch door handles or other commonly used items before they start experiencing symptoms, Porsa said. You can infect the entire dorm before that person becomes symptomatic, Porsa said. In the dormitory setting, obviously its a lot more dangerous. Klotman compared that scenario to a cruise ship of infected people. This just happens to be a forgotten cruise, he said. julian.gill@chron.com (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Shirley Chant says "If I could, Id wear a costume everyday!" The retired Trenton teacher (kindergarten and pre-K for 25 years) says she misses the students very much. "Besides teaching reading, writing and arithmetic, I truly loved teaching the children dance and drama," she said. It's that flair for the dramatic, along with a very big heart, that brought her to her latest adventure. "It's the 50th anniversary of Earth Day" she said Wednesday, "And I just wanted to send the message out to everyone saying...'keep or earth healthy so that we can all stay healthy.'" So, she donned a giant globe costume and hit the road. Don't Edit Shirley Chant of Bordentown, right, and friend Betty Ann Bloom, left, wave to residents from the front lawn of The Clare Estate Assisted Living in Bordentown. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) She and friend Betty Ann Bloom brought their message to The Clare Estate Assisted Living facility in Bordentown. The two have friends there, but now with the coronavirus lockdown, Chant says "They can't go out. They're trapped in their apartments and we can't go in. We thought we'd give them a little bit of smiles and cheers...and a laugh." Don't Edit Ruth Nelsom waves from her window. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) And seeing her prancing around on the lawn, dressed as the globe, brought a very happy and appreciative response from their friend inside, as well as from passers-by. Don't Edit Shirley Chant of Bordentow, is driven through the streets by her friend, Betty Ann Bloom. (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) When they were done warming the hearts of residents at Clare Estate, the two took to the streets, to spread their message throughout the town, Chant waving from the back of Bloom's pickup truck. "I love making people especially kids smile and laugh," Chant said. Judging by the jubilant response from some of the seniors waving from behind their apartment windows, that definitely includes kids of all ages. See more from the scene below. Don't Edit (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit Don't Edit (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit A resident waves from the window. She mouthed the words "Thank you." (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Don't Edit (Michael Mancuso | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com) Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Michael Mancuso may be reached at mmancuso@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @michaelmancuso. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Standard Life Aberdeen has pulled out of the World Economic Forum meetings in Davos because its chief executive believes the event is 'divisive' at a time when the world is ravaged by coronavirus. Keith Skeoch has come to the view that attending next January would be insensitive to the grim realities of life in the pandemic for millions of ordinary people. Davos has become a magnet for billionaires, corporate bosses, environmentalists and film stars who gather in the Swiss mountain resort every year. The World Economic Forum meetings in Davos have become a magnet for billionaires, corporate bosses, environmentalists and film stars who gather in the Swiss mountain resort Skeoch told the Mail that the World Economic Forum has 'done a lot of good' but said: 'When people are struggling and unemployment is soaring, the very idea of a global elite meeting in a Swiss ski resort is divisive at a time when we need unity of purpose.' The global investment company's 63-year-old boss said people did not need to go to Davos to meet and they could do that via technology instead. 'The money can be better spent,' he added. He plans to donate to good causes millions of pounds that would have been lavished on visiting the exclusive Alpine venue. These will include food banks, deep-cleans for care homes to protect against Covid-19 and support for dementia helplines. Standard Life Aberdeen has been spending around 3million a year to send executives to Davos. In previous years it has hosted a cafe with a traditional piper in honour of its Scottish heritage that became an institution, particularly among thirsty British delegates who hobnob over the malt whisky. The star turn at Davos last year was climate change teenager Greta Thunberg. The move will fuel the long-running debate over whether the annual get-together is, as organisers claim, a positive force for change or, as critics argue, merely a playground for preening tycoons. Skeoch's position as one of the most influential figures in UK asset management means other companies are likely to follow his lead in dumping Davos. As well as running Standard Life Aberdeen, which manages 575billion of savers' money, he is also the chairman of powerful industry body the Investment Association. Married father-of-two Skeoch said: 'One very clear trend coming out of this pandemic is what I call 'localism' local communities, local action, local support. 'This localism needs to be enabled and supported by business, so we are redirecting resource to gear up our community programme. 'This means we can help fund deep cleaning of care homes, dementia support lines, food banks, ventilator funding, taxis for medical staff and many, many other initiatives.' How the elite missed pandemic Hollywood A-listers Angelina Jolie and Leonardo DiCaprio have both attended the conference The World Economic Forum was launched in 1971 and loftily claims to be 'committed to improving the state of the world'. And every year the self-styled global elite including presidents and prime ministers, rock stars and actors gather in the Alpine ski resort of Davos. Regulars include Tony Blair, Mark Carney, George Soros and Bono, while Angelina Jolie, Leonardo DiCaprio and Will.i.am have made an appearance. But down the years the junket has earned fairly or unfairly a reputation for failing to spot some of the biggest crises to engulf the global economy in recent years. None more so than this year when 'Davos Man' most are men seemed oblivious to the looming disaster. By the time the gathering began this year, Covid-19 had already begun to sweep across China. But the now familiar name of the disease, which has decimated populations and is threatening to bring the global economy to its knees, was on few people's lips. Instead, these panjandrums were preoccupied with the spat between President Trump and Greta Thunberg. And most of those gathered missed the early warning signs that a pandemic was about to ravage entire continents. Executives from the investment company, including Skeoch himself, have attended Davos in previous years, but he said 'priorities have changed.' He will explain his thinking in an internal memo that is being circulated today to the company's 6,000 employees around the world. In the memo he will say that Davos is 'not aligned with our new purpose and our priorities in a global pandemic'. Therefore, he will say: 'We have decided to immediately withdraw from the World Economic Forum.' The forum was founded in 1971 by German engineer and economist Klaus Schwab and claims to be 'a platform for leaders from all stakeholder groups from around the world to come together.' Despite its lofty aims, it has become known as a honeypot for an elite who use it for networking, deal-making and raising their profile, so much so that 'Davos Man' has become a derogatory term for rootless wealthy globetrotters. The star turn last year was climate change teenager Greta Thunberg. Previous guests include broadcaster Sir David Attenborough and film stars Angelina Jolie and Matt Damon. Donald Trump has said he disagrees with the controversial decision by Georgia governor Brian Kemp to start relaxing social distancing measures this week, but added that his fellow Republican had to do what he thinks is right. Speaking at his daily White House briefing, the president said: "I think it's too soon. But at the same time, he must do what he thinks is right." He added: "Would I do that? No, I'd wait a little longer." However, he called Mr Kemp "a capable man who knows what he's doing". On Monday Mr Kemp announced that he would allow businesses including bowling alleys, tattoo parlours, nail salons, massage therapists and gyms to open on Friday. He said that church services could resume with social distancing measures, and said that restaurants and cinemas would be able to reopen from Monday. The president's intervention is surprising as Mr Trump has not only been urging states to open back up for business as soon as possible, but has even been encouraging demonstrators across the country some of them armed who have been protesting against stay-at-home and social distancing orders. He has also repeatedly praised Republican governors who have been accused of dragging their feet over the pandemic such as Mr Kemp and Florida's Ron DeSantis while criticising and insulting Democratic governors who have taken actions to limit the spread of the deadly virus, which has infected more than 800,000 Americans and killed more than 41,000. Georgia has had more than 19,000 cases and more than 800 deaths. Later in the same briefing Anthony Fauci, one of the lead medical experts on the White House coronavirus taskforce, said: "If I were advising the governor, I would tell him he should be careful. "Going ahead and leapfrogging into phases where you should not be ... I would advise him not to do that." Earlier on Wednesday computer projections from the University of Washingtons Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation suggested that states should not begin to scale back stay-at-home and social distancing measures for weeks or even months. It suggested that Georgia should not be reopening until 8 June. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has asked the federal government to reconsider any plan of further extension of the lockdown of the nation. According to a letter by Ayuba Wabba, further extension of the lockdown of the nation may spell doom. He said: Within the first two weeks of the lockdown in some parts of the country, there were widespread acts of civil disobedience, inducement of law enforcement agents to gain passes and even various forms of violent crimes. Read Also: We May Ease Lockdown For Ramadan Shopping: Ganduje The truth is that our economy might relapse into a prolonged coma if the current lockdown in the nations nerve centres goes beyond the current extension. Iraqi Minister of Defense Najah al-Shammari (R) meets with Chinese Ambassador to Iraq Zhang Tao (L) in Baghdad, Iraq, April 22, 2020. Chinese Ambassador to Iraq Zhang Tao on Wednesday handed medical aid to Iraqi Ministry of Defense to fight COVID-19. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) BAGHDAD -- Chinese Ambassador to Iraq Zhang Tao on Wednesday handed medical aid to Iraqi Ministry of Defense to fight COVID-19. "During the past two months, China has provided Iraq with three batches of medical aid," Zhang said in a handover ceremony in Baghdad, adding that the ministry played an important role in transporting supplies from China to Iraq. "China and Iraq are good friends and dear partners. When China went through difficulties and challenges over COVID-19, the Iraqi side gave a hand to China. Therefore, when Iraq faces difficulties, we are keen to provide assistance to Iraq," Zhang said. "This is what real friends should do," he added. Iraqi Minister of Defense Najah al-Shammari expressed gratitude for China's assistance to the Iraqi people and government. "COVID-19 is a global pandemic that has affected all countries of the world, which needs extensive international cooperation in all fields, especially in the medical field," al-Shammari said, describing the medical cooperation between Iraq and China as "more than excellent." Al-Shammari praised China's efforts in supporting Iraq to confront the outbreak of coronavirus by sending medical aid, laboratory testing devices, and a team of experts, who trained medical personnel in nine Iraqi provinces. Earlier on Monday, China sent the third medical batch to Baghdad as part of China's assistance to boost Iraq's capability to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. On March 7, China sent the first batch of medical aid to Iraq, with a medical team of seven Chinese experts to work with their Iraqi counterparts to fight the coronavirus, while the second batch of aid arrived on April 8. Washington A federal judge has indefinitely suspended former Trump campaign aide Rick Gates' 45-day prison sentence, which he was serving intermittently, due to the coronavirus pandemic. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson issued an order Tuesday halting his intermittent confinement "pending further order of the court." Jackson, of the federal district court in the District of Columbia, also asked the probation office to submit a report by May 5 detailing Gates' compliance with his probation, including the number of weekend days he has served in confinement and the number of community service hours completed. Gates, 47, was sentenced in December to three years probation and 45 days behind bars, which he can serve on weekends or under a schedule set by probation officers. He is also required to complete 300 hours of community service. Gates' lawyer on Sunday asked the court to allow him to serve the remainder of his sentence under home confinement because of potential exposure to the coronavirus, which they warned could negatively impact his wife, who is receiving treatment for cancer and has a weakened immune system. Former Trump campaign aide Rick Gates is seen after a bond hearing at U.S. District Court in Washington Dec. 11, 2017. Former Trump campaign aide Rick Gates is seen after a bond hearing at U.S. District Court in Washington on December, 11, 2017. Reuters/Joshua Roberts "The massive social disruptions caused by this pandemic are tragic, and the burdens they have placed on Mr. Gates and his family warrant a modification of the condition on his probation," his attorney Thomas Green wrote in a filing to the court. "The gravity of the virus and its potential impact on Mrs. Gates are substantial. If Mr. Gates were to return to his home carrying the virus, it would create serious ramifications for his wife. Due to her cancer treatment, her immune system is compromised, placing her at heightened risk for serious side effects or worse if she were to be infected with the coronavirus." Story continues Gates, a close deputy to former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, was among the six Trump associates who were charged as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. He pleaded guilty in February 2018 to conspiracy and lying to federal investigators and agreed to cooperate with the government. Gates was a star witness in Manafort's trial, detailing how he helped the longtime political consultant conceal millions of dollars from work in Ukraine by forging financial records and IRS forms. He also testified in trials involving Roger Stone, a longtime informal adviser to President Trump, and Greg Craig. Gates served as Manafort's deputy after he was tapped for chairman of the Trump campaign and then as a liaison between the campaign and the Republican National Committee. Gates also was deputy chairman of President Trump's inaugural committee. Clare Hymes contributed to this report. Lockdowns help seismologists improve earthquake measurements Earth Day: Carbon dioxide's dangers explained, in 1 minute First look at Major Lazer and Marcus Mumford's "Lay Your Head on Me" video Thursday, April 23, 2020 In addition to featuring new research reports on 16 major stocks, we have also provided here a real-time update on the ongoing Q1 earnings season. We also discuss below our assessment of the extent to which earnings estimates have come down as result of the Coronavirus pandemic. Please note that the research reports featured here have been hand-picked from the roughly 70 reports published by our analyst team today. You can see all of todays research reports here >>> The Outbreak's Earnings Impact Estimates have come down across the board as analysts have come to grips with the pandemic's full impact. The ongoing Q1 earnnings season is helping clarify matters as well, even though the lockdown conditions currently in force covered only the last few days of March and most management teams are simply withdrawing their previously issued guidance. S&P 500 earnings in all four quarters of 2020 are currently expected to decline on a year-over-year basis, with Q2 earnings expected to decline the most at -29.5%. For Q1 whose reports are coming in these days, earnings are expected to decline -14.7%, with 2020 Q3 and Q4 currently expected to decline by -16.3% and -7.9%, respectively. S&P 500 earnings for full-year 2020 are currently expected to decline by -17.1%. This is down from positive growth of +7.9% at the start of the year. If we look at these estimates in absolute dollar terms, instead of changes from the previous year, aggregate (bottom up) net income for the index is currently expected to be approximately $1179 billion in 2020, down from approximately $1533 billion at the start of the year. This is a decline of $354 billion, almost all of which is because of the pandemic. If you prefer to look at aggregate index earnings estimates on an 'EPS' basis, then the our data shows that the index is currently expected to earn $134.20 in 2020, which is down from the approximately $174.40 estimate at the start of the year or a decline of $40.25, primarily because of the pandemic. Story continues SAP shares have lagged the Zacks Computer Software industry over the past six months (-10.6% vs. +13.1%), but the Zacks analyst sees the company as benefiting from strong growth in cloud and software revenues, and expanding customer base. Robust adoption of S/4HANA, Fieldglass, Concur and SuccessFactors Employee Central solutions is a key catalyst. Moreover, synergies from its acquisition of Qualtrics bodes well for the top-line growth. Additionally, strong demand for cloud solutions in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region holds promise. However, increasing investments to enhance cloud-based offerings are likely to weigh on margins. Further, the coronavirus outbreak is weighing on software licenses & support revenues. Also, SAP trimmed 2020 guidance on account of uncertainty around coronavirus-led impact on business. (You can read the full research report on SAP here >>> ) NIKE shares have outperformed the Zacks Shoes and Retail Apparel industry despite the hit to company's March quarter results because of store closures in China due to the coronavirus outbreak. This resulted in lower sales mix in Greater China, which is its high margin geography, causing gross margin decline in the quarter. The company retained its positive earnings track record, with earnings and sales beat in third-quarter fiscal 2020. The NIKE Direct business displayed strength backed by more than 30% digital revenue growth across all geographies and Converse. Notably, the use of its digital ecosystem as a key playbook to combat the COVID-19 crisis, has been receiving applause. (You can read the full research report on NIKE here >>> ) Lockheed Martins shares have done better than the Zacks Aerospace Defense industry, for whcih the Zacks analyst credits the current U.S. administration's expansionary budgetary policies, a trend that will likely continue over the near- to medium-term. Lockheed Martin ended the first quarter of 2020 with both earnings and revenues surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate. It enjoys strong demand for its high-end military equipment in domestic and international markets, being the worlds largest defense contractor. However, the companys higher debt-to-equity ratio shows that the stock is highly leveraged when compared with its industry. Lockheed Martin also faces intense global competition for its broad portfolio of products and services. Furthermore, forced cost reduction initiatives for the F-35 program might hamper its operating results. (You can read the full research report on Lockheed Martin here >>> ) Other noteworthy reports we are featuring today include Netflix (NFLX), Danaher (DHR) and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN). Biggest Tech Breakthrough in a Generation Be among the early investors in the new type of device that experts say could impact society as much as the discovery of electricity. Current technology will soon be outdated and replaced by these new devices. In the process, its expected to create 22 million jobs and generate $12.3 trillion in activity. A select few stocks could skyrocket the most as rollout accelerates for this new tech. Early investors could see gains similar to buying Microsoft in the 1990s. Zacks just-released special report reveals 8 stocks to watch. The report is only available for a limited time. See 8 breakthrough stocks now>> Sheraz Mian Director of Research Note: Sheraz Mian heads the Zacks Equity Research department and is a well-regarded expert of aggregate earnings. He is frequently quoted in the print and electronic media and publishes the weekly Earnings Trends and Earnings Preview reports. If you want an email notification each time Sheraz publishes a new article, please click here>>> Today's Must Read Growth in S/4HANA Platform & Expanding Clientele Aid SAP NIKE's (NKE) Digital Playbook to Help Steer Coronavirus Woes Robust Demand Aids Lockheed (LMT), F-35 program's Cost Hurts Featured Reports Robust Content Aids Netflix (NFLX) Amid Stiff Competition Per the Zacks analyst, Netflix's robust content portfolio is driving subscriber addition that is helping it steer away competition. Inorganic Activities to Aid Danaher (DHR), COVID-19 to Drag Per a Zacks analyst, Danaher is well positioned to gain from inorganic activities, including Biopharma buyout and divestiture of dental assets. Label Expansions of Eylea, Dupixent Boost Regeneron (REGN) Per the Zacks analyst, label expansions of key drugs like Eylea and Dupixent boost Regeneron. Digital Transformation, AI Proliferation Aid Infosys (INFY) Per the Zacks analyst, Infosys is benefiting from large deal wins and higher investments by clients in digital transformation, artificial intelligence and automation. Balance Sheet Strength Boosts Suncor (SU), Pricing Woes Remain The Zacks analyst believes that Suncor's modest leverage ratio of around 23.5% provides it financial flexibility to tap growth opportunities. International Oil Service Business Aids Schlumberger (SLB) Resilient international oilfield service operations amid coronavirus-hit energy market continue to aid Schlumberger. However, the firm's weak North American business concerns the Zacks analyst. Digitalization to Aid Planet Fitness (PLNT), Coronavirus Ail Per the Zacks analyst, Planet Fitness increased focus on digitalization, strategic partnership and international expansion bode well. New Upgrades High Gold Prices & Cobre Panama to Aid Franco-Nevada (FNV) Per the Zacks Analyst, Franco-Nevada will gain from higher gold prices, focus on cost management, its healthy portfolio of streaming and royalty agreements particularly the Cobre Panama project. Strength in Flagship Senza Platform Drives Nevro Corp (NVRO) The Zacks analyst is bullish about strength in flagship Senza Platform of Nevro Corp.The recent commercial launch of Senza Omnia SCS system is encouraging. InterDigital (IDCC) Rides on R&D Strength for Core Licensing Per the Zacks analyst, InterDigital is likely to benefit from its core wireless licensing business, backed by innovative technological advancements and R&D capabilities. New Downgrades T-Mobile (TMUS) Hurt by Intense Competition, Pricing Pressure Per the Zacks analyst, T-Mobile continues to struggle in a fiercely competitive U.S. telecom market. This limits the company's ability to attract and retain customers, which affects operating results. Store Closures Amid COVID-19 a Woe for Ulta Beauty (ULTA) Ulta Beauty (ULTA) has temporarily shut all its stores due to coronavirus outbreak. Per the Zacks analyst, this is likely to dent the performance in the first quarter. NuStar (NS) Wrecked by Historic Crude Slump, High Debt The Zacks analyst believes that the spectacular oil crash is set to impact NuStar by drastically lowering the volume of products delivered. The partnership's high debt level is also a concern. undefined undefined SAP SE (SAP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN) : Free Stock Analysis Report NIKE, Inc. (NKE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) : Free Stock Analysis Report Lockheed Martin Corporation (LMT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Danaher Corporation (DHR) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research A 31-year-old staff member in a north Dublin nursing home has become the latest healthcare worker to die from Covid-19. The woman, who worked night shifts in one of the units at the Tara Winthrop Private Clinic in Swords, is believed to have died in the past number of days. It is understood that at least 10 residents in the long-term care facility, which accommodates up to 140, have passed away since an outbreak of Covd-19 took hold there. The nursing home would not say how many confirmed cases of the virus there are among residents and staff or how many have died from the virus. The HSE and the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) have been providing assistance to the private facility. The Tara Winthrop Private Clinic asked that, due to the sensitive nature of the matter, it should not be named in relation to the female health worker who died. However, last week, the HSE named a number of public nursing homes where patients had died from Covid-19 and Ireland East Hospital Group, which includes the general hospital in Kilkenny, confirmed that two healthcare workers there had died. In a statement to the Irish Independent, the owners of the Tara Winthrop Private Clinic expressed condolences to the family of the staff member who died. "All the team at Tara Winthrop Private Clinic has extended its deepest sympathy to the family of our dear and beloved colleague who recently passed away," read the statement. "We also extend our sincerest condolences to the families of residents who have died from the virus during this very difficult time. "Our team of nurses and carers continue to work tirelessly to care for all the residents." Staff at the nursing home, which has a long-standing reputation of exceptional care, are said to be deeply saddened by the deaths. A spokesperson said that staff were very much focused on caring for the residents currently in the facility. The total number of laboratory confirmed deaths from Covid-19 in Ireland is now 769, with another 113 suspected of passing away from the infection. The deaths of another 49 people were announced yesterday. A further 631 people have tested positive, pushing the total cases here to 16,671. Deaths of residents in nursing homes and other residential settings accounted for 412 fatalities so far and 348 of these were residents of nursing homes. Read More Independent.ie has learned that eight residents of centres for people with an intellectual disability have also died from the virus. It is understood that currently 62 people with disabilities in 19 residential centres are positive for the virus. Those who have passed away are believed to be aged in their 50s and 60s. Around 2,000 people with disabilities live in long-term care facilities. Enda Egan, chief executive of Inclusion Ireland, representing families of people with a disability, said he offered his condolences to the families of the deceased. He said that he is due to meet Health Minister Simon Harris on Monday and called for clear information on deaths and hospitalisations, saying families are extremely worried. "We currently have 2,900 people with an intellectual disability in institutional settings, a practice due to end in 2018 and now they are facing greater exposure to the coronavirus." Overall the daily increase in the number of new cases of the virus is falling. The numbers being admitted to hospital and intensive care are also reducing. However, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said that if there is any slackening in following the rules of social distancing and other measures the numbers of seriously ill people needing to be admitted to intensive care will increase over two to three weeks. "We need to stay the course," he pleaded. "Testing is a key element to Ireland's response to Covid-19," he added. "Nphet has consistently highlighted the importance of testing so that we can track the spread of the disease, reduce and contain its spread. "As part of understanding the testing landscape, Nphet requested that Hiqa undertake a health technology assessment of alternative diagnostic testing methods for detecting Covid-19," he added. The HSE's national clinical adviser on older persons, Dr Siobhan Kennelly, said far more residents in nursing homes recover than die from the virus. Dr Holohan said that around one in 10 residents from nursing homes with the virus have been admitted to hospital. Nursing home owners, particularly those outside Dublin which are family owned, remain very frustrated by the Government's financial scheme of supports. One owner said the scheme is particularly complicated and capped at 800 for the first 40 Fair Deal residents, with no subsidy for the rest. "It has to be realised that outside of Dublin, most nursing homes are small family run businesses," they said. Community transmission still accounts for the majority of confirmed cases of Covid-19, at 61pc of known transmissions. This is followed by close contacts at 35pc and foreign travel at 4pc. Your coronavirus swab test came back negative, even though you were symptomatic. What now? 1. Serological (antibody) tests: These are just entering the market and could shed more light onto who had the test, even if they received a negative result or were asymptomatic. However, these tests in Connecticut are only being administered to first responders and health care workers right now, according to Gov. Ned Lamont. More widespread application of the tests could become available in the coming weeks. 2. Understand the limitations of the testing: Medical professionals estimate that as much as 30 percent of swab tests could produce false negatives. So a negative result is not certain proof that a person hasnt still been infected with the virus. Higher quantities of the virus are present closer to the time the virus was contracted, according to Dr. Michael Parry, chief of infectious diseases at Stamford Health. So a test conducted too long after symptoms presented might yield less accurate results, Parry said. And because the virus is a respiratory illness, viral particles might not be present at all in the throat or nasal cavity, said Dr. Dr. Rockman Ferrigno, who works in emergency medicine at Bridgeport Hospital. No one knows exactly how sensitive the current COVID-19 swab testing truly is so everyone should take negative results with a grain of salt, said Dr. Summer McGee Johnson, dean of the School of Health Sciences at the University of New Haven. 3. More testing: At least is some facilities, like Bridgeport Hospital, subsequent tests may be available to patients who are symptomatic but returned a negative swab test. Ferrigno said blood testing and chest X-rays are being used to more clearly determine whether a patient does, in fact, carry the virus. 4. Assume you have it: Above all else, medical professionals, political leaders and public health experts all agree that a negative test result especially for a person who was symptomatic or exposed to someone else diagnosed with the virus does not mean a person is in a clear. People who test negative may still be carriers and could still infect others. The advice is to act as though you have tested positive. If you have respiratory issues and other symptoms, you should assume that thats COVID and manage it accordingly with appropriate masking and social distancing, Parry said. Because theres really no influenza out there and not much else out there. READ MORE: 30% of coronavirus swabs could produce false negatives, experts say The shattered family of a woman who became the youngest person to die from coronavirus in Australia have revealed how quickly her condition deteriorated - and say they have no idea how she contracted the killer bug. Rhonda Montgomery, 58, suffered from respiratory problems for most of her life, but it wasn't until last Thursday that she found herself struggling to breathe for the first time. The 58-year-old was rushed to Tamworth Base Hospital in New South Wales that day and died just hours later, with tests confirming she had coronavirus. 'It happened quickly, that's one consolation from all of this, at least she's no longer in pain and didn't know she had the coronavirus because respiratory problems were her everyday life,' her 25-year-old daughter Jess told Daily Telegraph. 'We don't know how she got it, or for how long.' Rhonda Montgomery had suffered from respiratory problems for most of her life but it was only last Thursday when she couldn't breathe properly Ms Montgomery (centre) was rushed to Tamworth Base Hospital in New South Wales and died on Friday after having contracted COVID-19 Mrs Montgomery had been self-isolating at home in the weeks before her death and her family were regularly cleaning her house in an attempt to keep her safe. However, during one of those visits, it became clear that she was gravely ill. 'She went into hospital for one day and was at home three weeks and became progressively worse,' Jess said. Mrs Montgomery's death came as a 'massive shock' to the family and has left her husband Richard heartbroken who is 'so sad' 'She probably had the virus the whole time, we don't know.' Jess described her mother as a 'strong woman' who 'stood no chance' in the fight against coronavirus. Mrs Montgomery's death came as a massive shock to the family and it has left her husband Richard heartbroken. Australia has recorded a total of 76 deaths from the deadly coronavirus Australia has recorded a total of 6,660 positive cases of coronavirus, with 5,047 of those people recovered. A 79-year-old woman became the 76th person to die from coronavirus in the country on Thursday. The woman, who suffered from pre-existing medical issues, died at the Newmarch House aged care home in western Sydney. This follows the death of a 92-year-old woman on Tuesday at the facility, following the earlier deaths of a 93-year-old man and 94-year-old man. CORONAVIRUS CASES IN AUSTRALIA: 27,244 Victoria: 20,269 New South Wales: 4,273 Queensland: 1,161 Western Australia: 692 South Australia: 473 Tasmania: 230 Australian Capital Territory: 113 Northern Territory: 33 TOTAL CASES: 27,244 ESTIMATED ACTIVE CASES: 269 DEATHS: 897 Updated: 5.31 PM, 11 October, 2020 Source: Australian Government Department of Health Advertisement A staff member who worked for six consecutive days with mild symptoms, primarily a sore throat, introduced the virus to the facility earlier this month. More than 40 staff and residents have been in self-isolation following the outbreak of COVID-19. Five new cases of COVID-19 were reported in NSW on Thursday for the second consecutive day, taking the state's toll to 2976 with 21 people in intensive care. Up to 8000 people will now be tested for COVID-19 each day, The Daily Telegraph reported. 'From today, anyone in NSW who has symptoms should come forward and get tested,' Ms Berejiklian told the paper. 'This is important to reduce community transmission and deal with any local outbreaks.' Among the five new cases in NSW on Thursday were an ambulance paramedic in southwest Sydney and a nurse at the Sydney Adventist Hospital. Meanwhile, the Ruby Princess cruise ship has left Port Kembla where it had been moored for more than a fortnight following a COVID-19 outbreak among passengers and crew. The ship, so far linked to 21 coronavirus deaths and up to 600 infections across Australia, was led out of the Wollongong port about 4.30pm on Thursday, bearing a banner with the words: 'Thank you Illawarra'. Xiaomi Redmi 10X has been spotted online and could launch soon in China Xiaomi Redmi 10X has been spotted online and could launch soon in China. The phone has been leaked in its entirety with key specifications and renders of the upcoming Redmi phone already out in the open. The Redmi 10X was spotted on the website of Chinese e-commerce store Tianyi telecommunications and pictures indicate that it looks very similar to the Redmi Note 9 Pro that was launched in India recently. Previously, the phone was also listed on the Chinese regulatory authority website TENAA, revealing key specifications of the Redmi 10X. Lets take a brief look at the rumoured specs of the phone. Xiaomi Redmi 10X leaked specifications Xiaomi Redmi 10X features a 6.5-inch Full HD+ (2340 x 1080 pixels) resolution display with a punch-hole notch cutout on the front. It is powered by the yet-unannounced MediaTek Helio G85 chip with an octa-core CPU and Mali-G52 GPU. This is supported by 6GB RAM and 128GB storage which could be the base variant of the phone. Details about other possible RAM and storage options arent available right now. The Redmi 10X has a quad-camera setup on the back that consists of a primary 48MP camera, an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens and two 2MP cameras. On the front, theres a 13MP selfie camera housed within the notch cutout. It features the basic set of connectivity features and comes with a 3.5mm headphone jack and Type-C port for charging. The Redmi 10X is fitted with a 5,000mAh battery but theres no word whether it supports fast charging. Given the high-capacity cells, its only logical for the phone to support some kind of fast charging solution but well know about that as we near the official launch. Xiaomi Redmi 10X Price in India As per the listing, the Redmi 10X is expected to be priced starting at CNY 1,400 which roughly translates to around Rs 15,000. That puts it in the same segment as the Redmi Note 9 Pro series. Currently, its not known whether the company has any plans to bring this phone to India. Having said that, India is currently under a complete lockdown due to the Coronavirus outbreak thats taken its toll on people and businesses. The government has also prohibited e-commerce companies to deliver non-essential goods like mobile phones which is why many smartphone companies have refrained from launching new products in the country. What happened Shares of Vermilion Energy (NYSE:VET), a globally diversified Canadian energy company, rocketed higher by 15% as of noon today. Unfortunately, the stock remains sharply lower for the year, having fallen roughly 75% from its January highs. That share price decline, not surprisingly, was driven by sharply lower oil prices. The big gain today was driven by rising oil prices. So what Global oil prices have been incredibly volatile in 2020, pushing the shares of drillers dramatically higher and lower on a day-to-day basis. The big picture here is that growing U.S. production over the past decade or so has upended the historical supply-and-demand dynamics in the oil market. Although OPEC had been cutting production to deal with the issue, OPEC and Russia had a falling-out over this approach and effectively got into a price war, adding even more supply to the market. Then, efforts to contain COVID-19, notably through the closure of economies around the world, led to a rapid and dramatic decline in demand. Supply materially outstripping demand has led to a painful drop in oil prices and a massive buildup in oil sitting in storage tanks. To deal with the financial hit, Vermilion trimmed its capital spending plans by roughly 20% in mid-March and reduced its monthly dividend by 83%. Just one month later, on April 15, the dividend was eliminated entirely, removing one of the main reasons investors owned the shares in the first place. Although management expressed how important returning capital to investors is, it noted that preserving its financial flexibility in uncertain times is the primary goal today. Oil prices have rallied over the last couple of days, somewhat ironically, because investors believe the pain in the energy sector is going to lead to notable production declines. Once economies around the world reopen, that reduction will allow excess inventory to be worked down. And eventually, oil prices can head sustainably higher. In that scenario, Vermilion would likely start paying a dividend again sooner rather than later. Now what Oil markets are highly volatile under normal conditions and even more so today with the COVID-19 pandemic. Vermilion investors have been hard hit by the uncertainty, both with regard to the company's dramatic stock decline and its elimination of the dividend. If oil prices move higher in a sustained fashion, Vermilion will clearly benefit. But even in a best-case scenario, a return to more-normal supply-and-demand dynamics will take some time. Income-focused investors shouldn't expect a quick resumption of the dividend at Vermilion. This oil driller remains a speculative investment. - Francis Atwoli said COTU had sent an invitation to President Kenyatta to grace Labour Day celebrations on May 1 - The unionist said the head of state would address the issues of workers and employers extensively - Labour Day is scheduled to be celebrated on Friday, May 1 President Uhuru Kenyatta and Central Organisation of Trade Unions (COTU) eader, Francis Atwoli, will address the nation on Friday, May 1, during the Labour Day celebrations. The 70-year-old trade unionist said he had sent an invitation to the head of state to join him and other union leaders in addressing the problems of workers amid the coronavirus pandemic. READ ALSO: Coronavirus update: Kenya confirms 17 new cases pushing national tally to 320 COTU secretary general Francis Atwoli said the head of state will address the nation on Labour Day. Photo: Citizen Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Wafanyakazi 24 wa bandari ya Mombasa ni miongoni mwa wagonjwa 303 wanaougua coronavirus Speaking during a press conference on Thursday, April 23, Atwoli said media houses had been invited to the event in order to broadcast the proceedings to Kenyans. "All media houses will be at Solidarity building where we will address workers, we had asked the president to grace the day and he accepted our invitation," he said. The vocal unionist said they had asked the president to choose a venue convenient for him to address the nation on that day. President Uhuru Kenyatta during a past event. The head of state will address the nation on issues to do with workers during Labour Day. Photo: State House Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Man who escaped from quarantine facility in Nairobi arrested in Kericho There had been complaints from employees that some had been sent on unpaid leave indefinitely and others asked to take salary cuts over the coronavirus crisis. Currently, there is an ongoing case involving AA Kenya which was dragged to court by the employees after it took a 50% pay cut from them in the name of COVID-19. The Kenya Long Distance Truck Drivers and Allied Workers Union accused AA's management of effecting an unjustifiable and unilateral decision with the aim of exploiting more than 500 people. The company's chief executive officer Francis Theuri defended the changes as necessary decisions to preserve jobs across the business as the coronavirus situation is monitored. 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 Flight attendants in protective clothes serve Vietnamese citizens on a repatriation flight from Japan on April 22, 2020. Photo courtesy of Vietnam Airlines. Local carriers are planning 13 special flights in the coming weeks to bring home Vietnamese citizens stranded by travel restrictions. National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines will deploy 10 flights to repatriate Vietnamese citizens from Canada, France, Japan, Russia, Spain, Thailand, UAE and the U.S. Budget carrier Vietjet Air will bring home Vietnamese citizens from Singapore and Indonesia in two flights, while Bamboo Airways is scheduled to operate one flight to carry those stuck in the Philippines home. The passengers will pay their own fares. Dinh Viet Thang, head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), said the flight schedules will be notified to passengers after the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control has approved and concerned countries granted the flight licenses. In southern Vietnam, the repatriation flights will land at the Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCMC or Can Tho Airport in the Mekong Delta, and corresponding destinations while in the north are the Noi Bai Airport in Hanoi or Van Don Airport in Quang Ninh Province. All repatriated passengers will be sent to centralized quarantine for 14 days. Earlier, after the Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai airports received a large number of Vietnamese passengers returning home from foreign countries amidst escalating fears over the pandemic, local quarantine facilities were overloaded. The surge forced the countrys two largest airports to suspend all flights carrying Vietnamese citizens home. As isolation facility overload lessens, the Vietnamese government is planning to repatriate those Vietnamese abroad wishing to return home. The country has brought home nearly 5,300 Vietnamese from pandemic-hit areas since early February. Many countries and territories have taken strong measures to fight the pandemic, including blocking entry and refusing transit. Many foreign carriers have stopped or canceled flights, leaving many Vietnamese trapped overseas. The Vietnamese government is prioritizing bringing home children under 18, the elderly, disadvantaged and the sick. Starting March 22, Vietnam also suspended entry for all foreign nationals, including those of Vietnamese origin and family members with visa waivers. Only Vietnamese nationals and foreigners having diplomatic and official passports such as business managers, experts and high-skilled workers will be allowed to enter the country at this time, and all entrants will be quarantined for 14 days. On Wednesday, 298 Vietnamese, including students and tourists stranded in Japan, flew home on a Vietnam Airlines flight that landed at the Van Don Airport. Passengers on board were in good health and took Covid-19 tests to ensure they were not infected before boarding. They were quarantined on arrival. L ockdown measures could last until 2021 with social distancing expected to be "a fact of life for a long time to come", the First Minister has warned. Nicola Sturgeon said the restrictions to tackle the coronavirus outbreak are doing damage to Scotland but that a return to "normal" was "not on the cards". Describing how the country needed to find a better "balance", Ms Sturgeon warned that social distancing measures will be "a fact of life for a long time to come", possibly even "beyond the end of the year". She made the comments during a briefing about a paper, published on Thursday, which discusses the plan for how Scotland might work towards easing lockdown regulations. Europe takes it's first steps out of Coronavirus lockdown 1 /25 Europe takes it's first steps out of Coronavirus lockdown People queue at a hardware store during a partial reopening after the Austrian government eased lockdown restrictions Reuters A worker checks the temperature of a customer at the entrance of a supermarket in Itay Reuters Customers hold flowers in front of a DIY store in Graz, Austria, after it re-opened on April 14, 2020, following a "shutdown" in a measure to limit the spread of the new coronavirus APA/AFP via Getty Images People wearing protective face masks and gloves walk in the streets as the Italian government allows the reopening of some shops while a nationwide lockdown continues following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Venice, Italy, Reuters People queue to enter a hardware store during a partial reopening after the Austrian government eased restrictions following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Eisenstadt, Austria Reuters Camilla Cocchi wears a face mask and gloves as she sorts out clothing in her children's clothes shop after it was allowed to reopen following lockdown measures to contain the spread of Covid-19, in Rome AP A man wearing a face mask shops in a hardware store during a partial reopening after the Austrian government eased restrictions following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Eisenstadt, Austria Reuters "Respect the 2 meters distance" banner is seen at a fish stand as the Italian government allows the reopening of some shops while a nationwide lockdown continues following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Venice, Italy, Reuters Customers wearing face masks push shopping carts in front of a DIY store in Vienna, Austria, after it re-opened on April 14, 2020, following a "shutdown" in a measure to limit the spread of the new coronavirus APA/AFP via Getty Images A worker checks the temperature of a customer at the entrance of a supermarket, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Turin, Italy Reuters Customers line up in front of a DIY store in Graz, Austria APA/AFP via Getty Images Gianfranco Mandas wears a face mask as he sorts out clothing in his children's clothes shop after it was allowed to opens following restriction measures to contain the spread of Covid-19, in Rome AP Customers wearing face masks push shopping carts in front of a DIY store in Vienna, Austria, after it re-opened on April 14, 2020, following a "shutdown" in a measure to limit the spread of the new coronavirus APA/AFP via Getty Images Customers queue at the Trastevere market, as new restrictions for open-air markets are implemented to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Rome, Italy, Reuters Customers wearing face masks push shopping carts in front of a DIY store in Vienna, Austria, after it re-opened on April 14, 2020, following a "shutdown" in a measure to limit the spread of the new coronavirus APA/AFP via Getty Images A man wears a protective face mask and gloves at the newsstand as the Italian government allows the reopening of some shops while a nationwide lockdown continues following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Venice, Italy Reuters People wearing face masks work in a hardware store during a partial reopening after the Austrian government eased restrictions following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Eisenstadt, Austria Reuters Customers queue at the Trastevere market, as new restrictions for open-air markets are implemented to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Rome, Italy Reuters A general view of the parking area of a hardware store during the partial reopening of shops after the Austrian government loosens its lockdown restrictions during the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Vienna Reuters The document warns that attending pubs or public events will be "banned or restricted for some time to come". She said: As we start to lift the restrictions, the real risk is that Covid-19 runs rampant again. So a return to normal as we knew it is not on the cards in the near future and its really important that I am upfront with you about that. What we must do is find a new normal, a way of living alongside this virus but in a form that keeps it under control and stops it taking the toll we know it can do. She added: That means, possibly for the rest of this year and maybe even beyond. Thats why talking about lifting lockdown as if its a flick of the switch moment, is misguided. Our steps, when we take them, will need to be careful, gradual, incremental and probably quite small to start with. Well need to assess them in advance and monitor them in action sometimes, as I said a moment ago, we may even have to reverse things. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon speaking at a coronavirus briefing at St Andrews House in Edinburgh / PA The First Minister said the publication was a first cut, designed to start an adult conversation. She added that the science will never be exact and the Scottish Government will have to make judgments on any measures added or lifted. She also said that the Scottish Government cannot rule out the possibility of re-applying or strengthening current lockdown measures if cases of the virus grow. However, Ms Sturgeon said she would be frank with the people of Scotland about what the Scottish Governments thinking is. "The path ahead is not an easy one," she said. We cannot and we must not take our eye off the need to suppress the virus and minimise the damage that it does. Continuing to suppress Covid-19 is the central objective that weve set out in this paper today. First look inside NHS Louisa Jordan Hospital in Scotland The First Minister said that the Scottish Government was increasingly confident that measures put in place were helping to stop the spread of the virus. Describing the lockdown measures as the toughest set of circumstances that the vast majority of us have ever lived through, she added: "I cant stand here and promise you that its going to get a whole lot easier soon. "But as I hope we have started to set out today, if we keep doing the right things and if we consider all of the options carefully and with the right objectives in mind, I do believe there will be a way through and we will find that way through." The First Minister urged Scots to "engage with this discussion". [April 22, 2020] Clarivate Introduces New Open Access Data into Web of Science Journal Citation Reports LONDON and PHILADELPHIA, April 22, 2020 /CNW/ -- Clarivate Analytics (NYSE: CCC) today announced the addition of open access data to the Journal Citation Reports profile pages to increase transparency around open access models in scholarly publishing. The Journal Citation Reports is an annual journal report from the Web of Science, the world's largest publisher-independent global citation database. The new data show each journal's articles by access model. This provides the research community with transparent, publisher-neutral information about the relative contribution of articles published free to read and re-use under Creative Commons licenses ('gold open access') to a journal's overall volume of content and citations. The new feature is in beta until the launch of the 2020 Journal Citation Reports in June. For the approximately 5,200 hybrid journals in the Journal Citation Reports, readers will now quickly and easily be able to identify: the number of papers published via the traditional subscription model, and those published via Creative Commons licenses. The research publishing landscape is undergoing rapid change, disrupting the longstanding dominance of the subscription model and replacing it with open access models. Both funders and publishers are looking to improve transparency of open access, with publishers under increasing pressure to eliminate or shorten embargoes, improve open access options, and to 'flip' traditional subscription or hybrid journals to make all research articles freely accessible and re-usable upon publication via a Creative Commons license. Dr. Nandita Quaderi Editor-in-Chief of the Web of Science said: "This is the latest initiative in a long line of actions Clarivate has taken to support open research. When Dr. Eugene Garfield published the first Journal Citation Reports in 1975, all journals were printed and open access did not exist. How journals are published and accessed has changed, but the purpose of the Journal Citation Reports remains the same: to provide a rich set of data to help the research community better understand a journal's contribution to the literature and influence on scholarly discourse. "Introducing additional open access data into the Journal Citation Reports from the Web of Science will help us all understand the impact of research published via gold open access. With the additional data provided, funders and publishers will be able to make better informed, more confident decisions on open access policy and strategy, furthering their objectives of increasing transparency around open access to academic research." Researchers are increasingly interested in open access publishing. Including descriptive open access data in the Web of Science Journal Citation Reports allows researchers to quickly and easily view the amount of gold open access content (if any) in their preferred journal and see how it contributes to the overall citation performance of the journal. It also enables them to monitor community norms in their research discipline by viewing the extent to which their peers are making articles available via gold open accss options. This information could also help publishers make data-driven decisions on when/whether to 'flip' journals from a subscription or hybrid model to fully open access. Libraries have many competing demands on their time - negotiating transformative agreements with publishers, educating faculty and students, and tracking evolving policies from multiple stakeholders. The new descriptive data enables them to quickly understand the relative contribution of open access articles to a journal's overall volume of content and citations, help patrons comply with funder open access mandates, and dispel myths about open access with visualizations that show how reputable journals offer open access. For more information visit the blog Current subscribers can access the Journal Citation Reports through our website Example of how the new descriptive data are featured within the Journal Citation Reports: Media Contact Amy Bourke-Waite, Director of External Communications [email protected] Notes This is the latest initiative in a long line of actions from the Web of Science to support open research. We support open research by: Investing in community-driven projects and products (e.g. our significant grant to Our Research, formerly Impact Story, which allowed the team to scale their database, now widely used by the academic community); to Our Research, formerly Impact Story, which allowed the team to scale their database, now widely used by the academic community); Constantly innovating and improving our own products and services , in addition to providing insights based on Web of Science data and our industry expertise. Web of Science was the first citation database and discovery platform to ensure our customers could easily access peer-reviewed OA papers by embedding OA data . We believe our data is the best combination of robust OA data and careful editorial curation, helping to avoid pitfalls such as researchers being steered to predatory publishing activities (with the free-to-use Master Journal List being a safe entry point for millions of researchers every year). Because some citation databases exclude Green OA and/or lack stringent selection criteria, the Web of Science remains the only citation database that comprehensively covers editorially controlled and versioned OA. About the Web of Science The Web of Science, part of Clarivate, organizes the world's research information to enable academia, corporations, publishers and governments to accelerate the pace of research. It is the world's largest publisher-neutral citation index and research intelligence platform. Its many well-known brands also include Converis, EndNote, Kopernio, Publons, ScholarOne and the Institute for Scientific Information. For more information, please visit https://clarivate.com/webofsciencegroup/. About Clarivate Clarivate is a global leader in providing trusted insights and analytics to accelerate the pace of innovation. We have built some of the most trusted brands across the innovation lifecycle, including the Web of Science, Cortellis, Derwent, CompuMark, MarkMonitor and Techstreet. Today, Clarivate is on a bold entrepreneurial mission to help customers reduce the time from new ideas to life-changing innovations. For more information, please visit clarivate.com . Forward-Looking Statements This press release and oral statements included herein may contain forward-looking statements regarding Clarivate. Forward-looking statements provide Clarivate's current expectations or forecasts of future events and may include statements regarding results, anticipated synergies and other future expectations. These statements involve risks and uncertainties including factors outside of Clarivate's control that may cause actual results to differ materially. Clarivate undertakes no obligation to update or revise the statements made herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clarivate-introduces-new-open-access-data-into-web-of-science-journal-citation-reports-301045597.html SOURCE Clarivate Analytics [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Harrisburg, Pa. The Center for Dairy Excellence Foundation of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Dairymens Association are offering ten $3,000 scholarships to undergraduate students and high school seniors who are pursuing an education in a dairy-related field for the 2020-21 academic year. The scholarship applications are available online and must be submitted by June 1. We hope this scholarship opportunity can send some positivity and hope to college students and high school seniors who are ending their school years with virtual learning, said Brittany Snyder, dairy education program manager at the Dairy Excellence Foundation. The application is available online, so students can practice social distancing and apply for the scholarship easily from home. The scholarships are offered annually to recognize outstanding students who are enrolled in academic programs that support the dairy industry. Undergraduate students and high school seniors entering college in the fall are eligible for the scholarships. The Student Leader Scholarship has helped me continue making my education a reality, said Thomas Gabel, a 2019 scholarship recipient and a sophomore at The Pennsylvania State University. I am currently studying to be a high school agricultural educator and positively impact the next generation of leaders in the agricultural and dairy industry. This scholarship has alleviated financial burdens and allowed me to focus more on my studies. Eligibility requirements To qualify for the scholarship, students must meet the following requirements: Be a Pennsylvania resident Demonstrate a commitment to working in the dairy industry in the future Be a full-time undergraduate student enrolled in a related field of study Be a high school senior planning to enroll in a related field of study Pennsylvania residents who are fulltime undergraduate students currently enrolled in a qualifying field of study or high school seniors who are planning to enroll in a qualifying field of study are given consideration for this scholarship. Qualifying fields of study include dairy and animal science, agricultural marketing and business, nutrition, food science, agriculture and extension education, agricultural communications, agricultural engineering, or related fields. Students can receive the $3,000 scholarship twice during their undergraduate academic career. Students employed by the Center for Dairy Excellence as an intern or in another capacity are not eligible to apply during the period in which they are working for the Center. To learn more, visit centerfordairyexcellence.org/scholarships and apply by June 1, 2020. Contact Brittany Snyder with questions at 717-346-0849 or by email at bsnyder@centerfordairyexcellence.org. A young man is showing how poverty shouldnt stand in the way of achieving your dreams. He was homeless when he began college and about to drop out. However, a meeting with a staff member changed everything. And now, hes a graduate and looking toward the future with hope and ambition. Caleb Simmons, from Oak Cliff, Texas, had just been admitted to the University of Northern Texas (UNT) in Dallas when he found himself in a rough patch. We lost our house, he recalled, according to NBC. I had nowhere to stay. I had no car at the time. Due to not having anywhere to call home, the young man was struggling to keep up with his academic duties. When I had no place to live, I would miss a lot of classes because I didnt have any place to stay or any transportation. I was going to stop coming to college, Simmons told CBS. Close to dropping out, he went to a staff member and explained his struggles. That staff member was student solutions specialist Joann Chapin. When I met Caleb, I could just tell he needed some assistance, she said. In a bid to help the young man, she got him in touch with another staff member, Luis Franco, director of undergraduate recruitment and admissions, who was able to accommodate him in his house. Franco became a long-term mentor for the student. A lot of our staff members see a lot of these students as more than just a number, a face in the classroom or their office, Franco explained. We know that without addressing the whole student, and their whole situation, theyre not going to be successful. The bond between Chapin and Simmons grew into a long-term friendship. Hes definitely like a son to me, she stated. He spent holidays with her family. And when dorm rooms became available, she helped him secure a place. Thanks to the help he received from Chapin and other faculty members, the young man graduated from UTN with a degree in psychology in December 2019. He was even invited to give the commencement speech to his class. Simmons invited Chapin to the graduation to sit in the family section. Im proud to get to sit in his family section, and me and my kids get to sit there and watch him, graduate, she said. He added, If she wouldnt have been here I probably wouldnt be here. Armed with his degree, Simmons aspires to seek employment at the university as a student recruiter and help bring his entire family out of poverty. By breaking it, I mean erasing it, there will be no poverty in my family, he shared. In spite of his background, the young man said he has strong confidence in himself and his abilities, which others may interpret as big-headedness. I tell them, No, the reason Im like this is because of what Ive been through. Im extremely proud of myself, he said. No matter how much poverty, or unfortunate circumstances a person can be put in, they can still make a better life for themselves. Opportunities can happen if you go for them, Simmons said. We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.nyc At least 560 children from across Jharkhand suffering from Thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder which requires regular blood transfusion, are staring at a possible shortage of blood since donations have dried up due to the lockdown. Atul Gera, founder of Life Savers, a voluntary group which organises blood donation camps for a daycare centre associated with a Ranchi hospital said that they could not afford not to get donations done, not even for a day. Since the lockdown, the group has only managed to get 248 units of blood through six outdoor donation drives. Before the lockdown, they would have received at least 450 units. Thalassemia is a genetic blood disorder characterised by less haemoglobin and fewer red blood cells in the body than is required. The delay lowers the haemoglobin levels leaving the patient weak and prone to damage to other vital organs. Therefore, thalassemic persons need regular blood transfusion. The daycare centre started in July 2018 at the Ranchi Sadar Hospital. Life Savers, a sister concern of the Jharkhand Thalassemia Foundation, organizes blood donation camps for this centre. Gera said that there are an estimated 5000 thalassemic children across the state. While the children are currently getting blood from the hospitals blood bank, and other arrangements have been made, the decrease in blood donation is a worrying trend even in a post-lockdown scenario. Getting donors is the primary and critical requirement to run this centre. In order to cater to the needs of all the registered children, we need at least around 750 units of blood donated every month. Its a challenge as even in normal times we are only able to get around 450 donations a month. Since the past one month, we are down to around 250 units, Gera said. The hospital has a blood bank, but Life Savers organises outdoor blood donation camps in the city, which are the main source of donations. Before the lockdown, they would hold camps every day; since March 25, however, only about six have taken place so far. For Coronavirus Live Updates The outdoor camps which we conduct with different organisations, residential societies are the main source of donations because people are generally reluctant due to various reasons to travel all the way to the blood bank, Gera said. At present, most of the donations are being done at the indoor facility in the hospital. Donors are given masks and sanitisers and asked to maintain distance from each other. Ranchi district civil surgeon, Dr. BB Prasad, said though there has been a dip in blood donations, the hospital is managing by acquiring blood from other hospitals. Its a new facility but we make sure that requirements are met. We send required blood from RIMS (Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences), he said. Special arrangements have been made to ensure blood donation drives continue to take place: An e-pass is issued by the blood bank and sent to the donors through WhatsApp. The donors are required to carry an identity proof along with the e-pass, valid for two hours, to establish their identity. In case any outdoor camp is held, their details are also posted on social media tagging the administration, police authorities and concerned authorities so that they are in the loop. The HT Guide to Coronavirus COVID-19 Donors are checked at various points but luckily no one has complained of being stopped till now, Gera said. Soon after the Union cabinet amended the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1987 in order to ensure the safety of health workers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to suggest that it showed his government's "commitment" to protect the medical fraternity. The Prime Minister tweeted: "The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 manifests our commitment to protect each and every healthcare worker who is bravely battling COVID-19 on the frontline." Modi, who chaired the cabinet meeting, added, "It will ensure safety of our professionals. There can be no compromise on their safety." From now on, violence against medical professionals will be treated as cognizable and non-bailable offence. Additionally, it has provisions to provide compensation for injury to healthcare service providers or for causing damage or loss to property, the government said on Wednesday. "This actually helps protect the entire health fraternity, including doctors, nurses, paramedics and ASHA workers," said Union I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar. Meanwhile, BJP President J.P. Nadda too welcomed the move, stating that the "entire nation is standing together with the Corona Warriors who have devoted themselves to serve the people". Nadda lauded the medical fraternity for their service during the Covid-19 outbreak by "risking their own lives". Nadda added that not just the Modi government, but even the BJP cadres stood in solidarity with the healthcare workers. He also thanked the Indian Medical Association for withdrawing their symbolic protest against a spate of attacks on health workers after Union Home Minister Amit Shah intervened in the matter earlier in the day. A college instructor who was accused last year of carrying gasoline and lighters into St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York has died by suicide last Friday, after he was released from jail due to the coronavirus outbreak. Marc Lamparello, 38, of New Jersey, was arrested April 17, 2019, after entering the St. Patrick's Cathedral landmark in New York carrying two cans of gasoline, lighter fluid and butane lighters. Authorities found he had a flight booked to Rome and he was jailed at Rikers Island last year. A Manhattan judge found Lamparello mentally unfit for trial after his arrest. He had been expected to enter mental health court after being rehabilitated at the Mid Hudson Forensic Center and later evaluated by special court staff, who recommended his participation in the program. In this April 18, 2019 photo, Marc Lamparello, center, is escorted out of a police precinct in New York. Lamparello died of suicide on April 17 The college instructor was accused last year of carrying gasoline and lighters into St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York He jumped off the Verrazzano Bridge last Friday after telling his mother he felt cooped up in the house and was going out to get a bagel and for a drive since it was a beautiful day. April 10 police had to coax him down from the George Washington Bridge But his lawyer Christopher DiLorenzo said that after being released from the Mid Hudson center last month, Lamparello 'languished without therapeutic treatment.' 'He was a good person but he had mental health issues,' DiLorenzo said. Prosecutors said Lamparello, who had taught philosophy as an adjunct professor at Lehman College in New York City and Seton Hall University in New Jersey, spent a considerable amount of time surveilling St. Patrick's. He was fired after his arrest. Lamparello pleaded not guilty to attempted arson and reckless endangerment. After a judge allowed him to go free March 20, his mother said she dropped him off at the New Bridge treatment center less than a week later for his daily outpatient treatment from 9am to 3.30pm. But two hours later he was back home. 'He was told he had to quarantine for two weeks and was later dropped as a patient without explanation,' his mother Dolores Lamparello, told the New York Post. She added he was distraught and told her: '"Mom, I need structure. I cant do nothing".' On April 9 after he completed a 14-day quarantine, his mother and case worker filled out an application to get him reinstated but they were rejected without reason the mother said. A judge ruled he was mentally unfit to go on trial. The judge planned to commit Marc Lamparello to a mental health facility for rehabilitation. He is pictured July 16, 2019 After a judge allowed him to go free March 20, his mother said she dropped him off at the New Bridge treatment center (pictured) less than a week later for his daily outpatient treatment from 9am to 3.30pm. But two hours later he was back home On April 10, he borrowed her car, drove to George Washington Bridge and climbed half way up before police managed to coax him down. He was taken to the New Bridge Medical Center and admitted to a psychiatric ward for four days. He returned home last Wednesday and on Friday was accepted as a patient at New Bridge. He was due to begin Monday but sessions were to be held via Zoom due to the COVID-19 social distancing measures. He later told his mother he felt cooped up in the house and wanted to go out and get a bagel with cream cheese. 'I said, "Marc, please be careful and come back soon, I dont want to worry",' Dolores explained to the Post. He called a few hours later to say he'd gone for a drive as it was a beautiful day but she grew concerned and called his phone to no avail at 3pm. That evening police notified her he'd jumped off the Verrazanno Bridge at 2pm. 'We were crushed. If he got the treatment he needed, he would still be here,' Dolores told the Post. 'The hospital dropped the ball tremendously. They did nothing. My son went a whole month without any treatment whatsoever. They cost my son his life.' The Manhattan District Attorney's Office has said they endorsed his release as he was to undergo psychiatric treatment. 'We send our condolences and sympathy to Mr. Lamparellos loved ones,' a representative for New Bridge said in a statement. 'While we cannot discuss specifics, the individual referenced had involvement with a variety of medical, psychiatric and law enforcement agencies. His interactions with our facility and the treatment we provided followed our protocols.' For confidential support call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255. The eye of the storm is seductive. We see blue sky and assume the worst is over. In Georgia, restaurants and movie theaters will be allowed to open. States like Pennsylvania, Tennessee and South Carolina are now crafting plans to bring parts of the economy back to work, a decision whose negative impacts are likely to unevenly hurt the most vulnerable. And just like early March, the warnings are beginning again. States rushing to reopen are likely making a deadly error, experts warn via newspaper headlines. The warnings, like this from an Opinion colleague, are blunt, based on data and observations from around the world: Its Too Soon to Reopen States. The Coronavirus Is Not Under Control. As a country, were unprepared not just logistically but mentally for this next phase, Michael T. Osterholm, a University of Minnesota infectious-disease expert told The Washington Post recently. Hes right. In Montana, where I live, we have meaningfully flattened the curve. The state is announcing only a handful of new cases each day. And so next week we will begin a phased reopening. Gyms and movie theaters will stay closed, but Main Street stores will open with an option for bars and restaurants, and even some schools to open (with restrictions) on May 4. Its meant to feel like a victory but the mood is anxious and uncertain, and no one seems quite sure what to do. In my town, the owners of a beloved restaurant unsure of whether to reopen polled their Facebook page. Who feels confident it will be safe to eat in a restaurant (any restaurant) come that day? they asked. The consensus among the 65 commenters was thoughtful and decisive they were not comfortable. It is just too soon. The owners, for now, have decided not to reopen. Others, though, surely will. We seem stuck in limbo somewhere between a dismal reality with a resilient, deadly virus and a wishful future in which we claw back normalcy by sheer force of will. Little about the current moment seems to make sense a fact not many in charge appear willing to acknowledge. For example, what does it mean to reopen the economy if a majority still dont feel comfortable participating in it? Its foolish to ignore the risks of infection and its equally impossible to ignore the risks of income loss for millions as cases drop. Like the E.R. doctors waiting in March for the I.C.U.s to fill, its hard to wrap ones head around the conflicting feelings of this moment. Im disoriented, feeling as if were once again ignoring those trying to save us, while not knowing how to respond. I worry about the experts being wrong and the inevitable, politicized fallout and distrust that might sow. I also worry about the experts being right and that the eye of the storm will pass over us and that the mirage of blue sky will give way to familiar dark clouds of destruction. I worry. 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. A jobless gold-digging boyfriend stole more than 24,000 from the savings account of his widowed girlfriend, who had been given the money from her late husband's life insurance policy. Over a two year period, Andrew Baldry, 30, siphoned the money from his girlfriend's bank account into his own, before using some of it to buy a car for himself. Baldy, of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, Wales, who left just 23 in the account, also gave money to another woman he was having sex with. He was jailed for a year at an earlier court hearing, after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation. But in a follow-up hearing at Swansea Crown Court this week, Baldry has now been ordered to pay back just 20 his 'devastated' victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons. Andrew Baldry (pictured right), 30, siphoned the money from his girlfriend's account into his own, before using some of it to buy a car for himself A Proceeds of Crime Act hearing was told how 24,000 had been transferred from the woman's account into the account of Baldry, who had 'benefited from his criminality to the tune of 22,000.' But he had since spent it all and he now only had 20 in available assets - which the court ordered be paid to the victim. The court heard how Baldry began a romance with the grieving woman three years after her husband died of cancer. The mum-of-two had a savings account with money from her late husband's life insurance policy. But Baldry began to help himself to the cash without her knowledge - and even gave money to another woman he was having sex with. A court heard the woman would usually pay for shopping and nights out between the couple but she became suspicious when he bought himself a car and began to spend money. When she quizzed him on his new found income he told her he had won 1,000 on a scratchcard. The court heard the woman later checked her savings account to find there was only 23 left. In a victim statement, the woman who cannot be named said: 'I can never explain how devastated I am.' Prosecutor Gareth Waite said 24,668.53 had been transferred to Baldry's account over two years. Baldry, of Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, Wales, was sentenced to 12 months in prison in January after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation He said: 'A statement from the Nationwide bank it showed some 24,668.53 had been transferred to another account over the course of 44 separate small transfers conducted in the previous two years. The bank alerted the police.' Baldry was sentenced to 12 months in prison in January after pleading guilty to fraud by false representation. But he was released after serving just over three months because of the coronavirus pandemic. During his sentencing hearing in January the court heard Baldry's victim and her husband had drawn down funds from his life insurance policy following his diagnosis with terminal cancer so they could 'enjoy their time together'. Judge Geraint Walters told him: 'You saw the opportunity and you took advantage of her vulnerability, I have not a shadow of a doubt. 'She had money - you did not. It is hard to conceive of circumstances more mean.' Judge Walters granted a confiscation order in the sum of 20, giving Baldry three months to pay with seven days in prison if he does not. He said: 'There was almost 25,000 in the account that would have provided her with some reassurance as to the future. 'You drained the account, leaving just 23 by the time she detected it. 'It was a tremendously mean piece of behaviour. Her children have been deprived of the benefit of the money.' Hey, news television seems to have finally broken out of the Hindu-Muslim mindset, I exulted to a colleague soon after the lockdown was announced in March. As news channels rushed to speak to doctors and biomedical researchers, it seemed like a whole new world of public health and virology was being discovered. Sadly, I couldnt have been more wrong. Just days later, the Tablighi Jamaat (TJ) story broke and the familiar faces and the earlier narrative returned on TV: #CoronaJihad, #Tableeghistan, #Tableegh-Pak conspiracy, the sensationalist headlines and hashtags were back. Even in the age of the coronavirus, Islamophobia is alive and well. In the last few years, the dominant storyline across the nationalist media has been to demonise the Indian Muslims as violent, untrustworthy and anti-national. From terrorism in Kashmir to fatwas by self-styled maulanas, each insupportable action was used to put the entire community in the dock. The TJ story fitted in with the script: A cleric in hiding, bearded men scurrying around in kurta-pyjama, a pan-India network with foreign links and a disproportionate number of coronavirus positive tests. An act of utter civic irresponsibility by a religious group was seen as further proof that Islam is a religion of zealots outside the pale of the law. That the Delhi Police, unlike their counterparts in Mumbai, showed criminal negligence in not preventing such a gathering from being held in the first place was conveniently forgotten. The prime time enemy had been found: The Muslim was castigated as a coronavirus carrier, as if 200 million people must pay the price for an act of stupidity of a few. Extensive research conducted by Joyojeet Pal, who specialises in tracking TV and social media trends, shows how misinformation campaigns turned significantly against Muslims once the TJ case surfaced. Where initially the misinformation largely centred around possible cures and panic over essential services, there was a marked shift from March-end towards incendiary messaging that referred to Muslims being responsible for the prevalence of the virus. Fake videos and WhatsApp messages of Muslim groups violating physical distancing norms were pushed into circulation. Little attempt was made by the political class to rebut this spurious link, reflecting the deep-seated prejudice that is bubbling under the surface. Instead, government functionaries chose to reel off statistics of individuals who have tested positive for the coronavirus because of their TJ connection. This was done despite the World Health Organizations guidelines explicitly prohibiting such religious profiling. Finally, it is only in the third week of April that Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi was constrained to remark that the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) does not see race, religion, caste before striking, that too in a conversation on LinkedIn. The intervention came a day after the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation condemned the unrelenting vicious Islamophobic campaign in India to malign Muslims for the spread of Covid-19. By now, the PM has addressed the nation several times but has chosen not to refer to the sinister anti-Muslim campaign. Could Modi, with his political equity and communication skills, not have spoken out against rumour-mongering and religious discrimination over the coronavirus much earlier? Sadly, the damage is done. Reports of Muslim vegetable vendors being boycotted in Uttar Pradesh or separate wards being set up in Ahmedabad hospitals (since then denied by the Gujarat government) are disquieting. As indeed are terrifying images of police and doctors being targeted by mobs in Muslim localities in Indore. When a devious propaganda machine feeds into poverty, illiteracy and competing religious fundamentalisms, the result is a toxic atmosphere of fear, suspicion and hatred which may only further social antagonisms in a post-coronavirus world. Ironically, the coronavirus story is a godsend opportunity to break away from the cycle of fake news and misinformation that has plagued the multimedia industry in a post-truth universe. A virus wears no religious badge: It is a weapon of death and illness that afflicts both Malabar Hill and Dharavi, Lutyens Delhi and Nizamuddin with a non-discriminatory policy. The coronavirus is the great unknown, and understanding its spread requires a relentless focus on hard information, and not on divisive agendas. Doctors and scientists are men and women of healing and research; they are not politicians who thrive on divide and rule. Which is why the coronavirus story must be told without the cacophony of communal politics, but by recapturing the spirit of news as a public service. The period between 2010 and 2019 can be described as Indian television medias lost decade, a period when noise replaced news, chaos scored over credibility. Now, viewers are returning. The first lockdown week saw a 250% rise in viewership. The coronavirus is perhaps the last chance to redeem our mandate as newspersons who place facts and analysis above contrived friction and polarised agendas. We may not get another. Post-script: The rise of TV maulanas has been a striking feature of this past decade. One of them is an unknown tailor who often does three to four TV appearances a day. Why do you go on TV debates when you know you will be shouted down? I asked him. He said: Ab kisi ko toh yeh sab karna hai! (someone has to do it!). What he didnt tell me is that he gets paid 2,000 per appearance. Rajdeep Sardesai is a senior journalist and author. His latest book is 2019: How Modi Won India The views expressed are personal SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Medical experts and government officials steering Indias battle against Covid-19 said on Thursday that the countrys prophylactic measures have led to a reduction in the diseases doubling rate, while allowing the ramping up of testing and the bolstering of health care preparedness. Detailing Indias evolving strategy against the pandemic, environment secretary CK Mishra, All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) director Dr Randeep Guleria, and Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) director general Dr Balram Bhargava stressed that the focus has been on expanding the testing base, tracing contacts across the community to detect the spread of infection, and scaling up health care infrastructure to prepare for a spike in cases. They said infections were growing at a slower rate, larger numbers of people were being tested, and more medical facilities were being readied. Coronavirus outbreak: Full coverage Mishra admitted that the measures taken so far were not enough, and that efforts need to be further intensified. Thursday marked the 30th day of a national lockdown, a tough measure to halt the spread of the disease that has killed at least 185,000 people across the world and infected about 2.7 million. In India, 21,700 people have so far been infected by Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, according to the Union health ministry data till Thursday evening. Mishra, who is leading one of the 11 Covid-19 empowered groups, said there were several positives in how India had handled the pathogen so far. The growth of Covid-19 cases has been more or less linear, not exponential; this indicates that the strategies we have adopted have succeeded in containing the infection to a particular level, he said. Despite a 24-fold increase in testing, the percentage of positive cases is not rising. The percentage (4.5%) of positive cases as a ratio of testing is more or less the same as that a month back, he added, prompting Dr Bhargava to allude to this figure to later say that curve could be flattening. Experts, however, warn that the real curve in question is the one of new cases and deaths, and that the testing percentage may not mean all good news. They suggest that once testing is massively scaled up, the percentage of those testing positive should ideally drop in order to avoid hospitals being overrun by patients. Mishra said that while the number of tests in the country stood at 14,915 on March 23, the figure rose to over 500,000 by April 22. Post lockdown, while the number of new positive Covid-19 cases has increased by 16 times, testing has increased by 24 times, the chairman of the second empowered group, which deals with the availability of hospitals, isolation and quarantine facilities, disease surveillance, and testing and critical care training. The facts show that our testing strategy has been focused, targeted and continues to expand; this is an evolving strategy based on our learnings as we go along... As the challenge kept expanding, strategy too kept expanding, Mishra added. The number of Covid-19 cases in India rose above the 22,000-mark on Thursday, but the rate at which the grim milestone was crossed it took about nine days for the tally to double was a sign that the country may have been able to largely avoid the initial deadly spectre of the pathogen that has ravaged countries across the world. The World Health Organization (WHO) has, however, warned that the worst is yet to come, with more waves of the infection expected once countries lift lockdowns in difficult decisions to jump-start economic activity. The environment ministry secretary also shared comparative data from other nations to explain where India stood in its response to the disease. At 500,000 tests, the number of confirmed cases in the US was 80,000. It was 100,000 for Italy, 120,000 for the UK and 80,000 for Turkey at the same point. For India, there were 20,000 cases for 500,000 tests, he said. India has done better than majority of developed countries, with respect to the percentage of test cases yielding positive results, he added. Dr Bhargava, the head of Indias apex biomedical research body, said that the philosophy of Indias effort has been more labs, more tests and more resources. From about 100 labs at beginning of the lockdown, we have 325 laboratories testing for Covid-19. Our strategy has been to detect the virus and then save lives, he said. Dr Bhargava said a supply chain has been created and the Centre has been working with states to ensure required reagents are supplied to testing labs in a timely and calibrated fashion. The gold standard for Covid-19 testing remains and has remained the RT-PCR test, which detects the virus. The RT-PCR detects the viruss genetic material (RNA) in swabs to diagnose a current Covid-19 infection. India has also deployed rapid tests that detect antibodies in the blood and indicate if a person has been infected in the past and has developed immunity to the virus; they can show results within 30 minutes. However, antibody tests are currently on hold as the government tries to check batches being supplied from China for efficacy of the kits. Mishra said that the number of dedicated Covid-19 hospitals increased 3.5 times since last month and isolation beds rose by 3.6 times in the same period. These numbers are increasing, being added continuously... We need to evolve our strategy based on the latest position. Our first goal as regards hospitalisation has been to ensure that the minimum number of people need to come to the hospital, using social distancing, discipline and taking care of the vulnerable such as the elderly and those with co-morbidities. The second goal is to ensure enough infrastructure so that every person who needs to come to hospital is treated well, cured and sent back. Every district in the country is now working towards that. Since oxygen support is essential in treating Covid-19 patients, the government is making arrangements to increase beds with adequate oxygen support and intensive care unit (ICU) beds with ventilator support. India currently has 3,773 dedicated Covid-19 hospitals, with 194,000 beds, 24,644 ICU beds and 12,371 ventilators. A sweeping shutdown across the country has closed schools and colleges, thrown migrant workers out of daily-wage jobs and halted transport and economic activity. The lockdown will remain in place till May 3, but the government is understood to be working on opening some regions and industrial sectors to ease tough restrictions. Dr Guleria, director of Indias premier government hospital, said the Covid-19 patients are facing a lot of challenges and stigma. Recovered patients are symbols of victory, but we have stigmatized them, causing a huge problem. Due to the stigma we have attached, patients are not coming forward, they are coming very late when they have severe breathlessness issues, thereby increasing morbidity and mortality, he said. Many of these Covid-19 patients can be saved by just giving them oxygen; if they do not get oxygen, it can trigger various other problems, our strategy of expanding oxygen support is based on this, Guleria added. He also expressed the appreciation of the medical fraternity to a new ordinance that make any attacks on health care workers a non-bailable offence in the time of an epidemic, and significantly increases penal action that can be taken against the perpetrators. But the officials and experts admitted that steep challenges remain across a few states that have become hot spots of Covid-19, with the Union home ministry terming the situations in these regions especially serious. Dr Lalit Kant, infectious disease specialist and former head of ICMR, said: The incubation period of SARS-CoV-2 is 5-7 days, and the range is 2 to 14 days. Lockdown is essentially a strategy to buy time; by restricting movement of infected individuals who may or may not be symptomatic, we are curtailing the chances of the person infecting large number of people. In various countries, lockdown has been given the credit to flattening the peak of the epidemic. France says it will ban companies registered in offshore tax havens from receiving government aid to help stem the fallout of the coronavirus crisis. Following similar moves by Denmark and Poland, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on Thursday said that such companies would be ineligible for France's 110 billion euro rescue package 4 billion euros of which is earmarked for struggling start-ups. "If a company has its tax headquarters or subsidiaries in a tax haven, I want to say with great force, it will not be able to benefit from state financial aid," finance minister Le Maire told France Info on Thursday. The comments come after earlier warnings from Le Maire that companies who buy back their own shares or pay dividends during the crisis will not receive government support. France has promised generous financial relief to thousands of companies facing collapse as a result of the country's strict lockdown that has been in place since 17 March. Twenty-four billion euros will assist laid-off workers in the private sector, while 7 billion will help out small businesses and independent workers crippled by the lockdown. The government has warned that not all businesses will be able to go back to work immediately once the lockdown is gradually lifted on 11 May. A nother year has flown by and St George's Day is back upon us. The national day is acknowledged by many Christian churches and is dedicated to St George, the patron saint of England. This springtime celebration is the perfect opportunity for us to mark all things English, and we all know this means more than afternoon tea, Morris dancing and the Royal Family. We might be in the middle of a nationwide lockdown, but nothing's stopping you from toasting England's patron saint from the comfort of your home. So, here's everything you need to know about St George's Day. St George's Day is on April 23 / PA Archive/PA Images When is St George's Day? The Church of England confirmed that the feast of St George will be commemorated on Thursday, April 23. It comes after it was postponed by six days last year due to falling during the Easter break. All major St George's Day events this year have been cancelled, including the main Nottingham pageant that usually attracts crowds of 20,000. Instead, Brits have been urged to fly an England flag in their homes if they want to remember England's patron saint. What is St George's Day? St George's Day is a Christian feast day commemorating Saint George of Lydda, who was executed by the Romans on April 23 more than 1,000 years ago. According to legend, St George was born in Cappadocia, in what is now modern day Turkey. He was a soldier in the Roman army and rose up the ranks to become a member of the Praetorian Guard for the Emperor Diocletian. However, legend states that St George was tortured and later executed by the Romans for refusing to renounce his Christian faith. He became a martyr for early Christians, who later venerated him as a saint. Why do we celebrate St George's Day in England? St George is England's patron saint, although we share him with other places such as Catalonia, Aragon, Bulgaria, Russia and Portugal. He was widely celebrated as a warrior saint, but it wasn't until 1348 that his position was elevated to that of a patron saint after his supposed intervention at the Battle of Crecy. PA Archive/PA Images In 1415, April 23 then became a major national feast day across England. In 1552 all religious banners were abolished, except for those of St George. The myth of Saint George became popular in the 13th century when it was published in a book called The Golden Legend. According to the legend, George slayed a dragon and rescued a princess from being eaten. In their gratitude, the people of the town converted to Christianity. The anniversary of his execution, on April 23, is now celebrated as England's national day. PA Archive/PA Images Is St George's Day a Bank Holiday? Do we celebrate with parades? Unfortunately, St George's Day is no longer a public holiday in England, unlike our Scottish (St Andrew's Day) and Irish (St Patrick's Day) cousins. (Newser) President Trump is getting his wish. Harvard University said Wednesday it would not accept $8.7 million in federal aid from the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package. Stanford, Princeton, and Yale also announced they would not take the millions set aside for them, as scrutiny of the wealthy universities' acceptance of the funds increased. Harvard said in a statement that while the COVID-19 pandemic will cause significant financial issues for the school, it feared the "intense focus by politicians and others" would undermine the relief fund, which allocated $14 billion for colleges and universities. That amount was divvied up based on school size and how many students come from low-income backgrounds, the Guardian reports. Trump had said Harvard didn't need the aid since it has an endowment of nearly $40 billion, a concern that was echoed by otherseven including some Harvard alums. story continues below "While we understand any reallocation of these resources is a matter for the Department of Education, we hope that special consideration will be given to Massachusetts institutions that are struggling to serve their communities and meet the needs of their students through these difficult and challenging times," Harvard said in a statement that also noted it had never actually applied for the aid, MassLive reports. Also Wednesday, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos called out schools that do not primarily serve low-income students, saying they "do not need or deserve" the funds. "Schools with large endowments should not apply for funds so more can be given to students who need support the most," she said. Politico notes the four schools that have now rejected the funds are the wealthiest in the US. Cornell and Notre Dame still plan to accept their funds; MIT and Duke are as yet undecided. Trump on Wednesday thanked the affluent schools that turned down the money. (Read more Harvard stories.) Coleg Cambria staff working full time to mass produce PPE for frontline workers and care homes This article is old - Published: Thursday, Apr 23rd, 2020 College lecturers are working full time to produce hundreds of safety visors for frontline workers and care homes. Andy Peck, a product design lecturer at Coleg Cambria, and partner Mari Ball, who teaches Business Studies and Economics, have based themselves at the colleges 15m Deeside Sixth Form centre to manufacture PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to help in the fight against the global Coronavirus pandemic. Using materials paid for by the institution including polypropylene and acetate sheets they have already created more than 1,000 masks and will continue to make them as long as there is demand over the coming weeks. We were trying to work out what would be the most constructive thing to do to help when we saw the request that went out for companies and organisations with the capability to produce and distribute PPE, said Andy, from Mold. There is a community of design and technology teachers online who are coming up with solutions, and after identifying a template for a laser-cut safety visor I multiplied that so we could start to make eight at a time. Weve been manufacturing about 150 a day and have been here day-in day-out; this is our third week now and as long as there is demand we will continue. He added: Ironically in 30 years of teaching its the first time Mari and I have ever worked over the Easter Holidays, and Im a part-time lecturer doing this for more than 40 hours a week, but its rewarding to do something that can help. The college has been incredibly supportive, paying for the materials and allowing us access to the facilities. Everyone just wants to help at this challenging time. Once completed, the masks are being boxed up and distributed via the Flintshire hub in Sandycroft to care homes and frontline workers. Meanwhile, other Cambria lecturers and staff have been busy producing essential PPE from home, including Foundation Skills tutor Rachael Muia, who is making headbands for nurses at Alder Hey Childrens Hospital in Liverpool, as hours of wearing face masks has left their ears sore and in pain. And Deputy Director of Advanced Engineering, Alex Evans, and colleagues have been manufacturing safety visors from their homes using 3D printers. The effort from staff has been amazing, theyve really stepped up in sacrificing their time to help those who need it most, said Alex Thomas, Assistant Principal and Director of General Education at Coleg Cambria. As well as these acts of kindness, all of the PPE from our sixth form centres in Deeside and Wrexham has been donated to local care homes. On behalf of the college can I thank Andy, Mari and everyone who is going over and above to support our frontline and NHS workers we are very proud of you all. For more on Coleg Cambria, visit the website www.cambria.ac.uk Taking all precautions to contain the spread of coronavirus, the government has not allowed to disembark about 57,000 crew and passengers onboard 1,769 ships, mostly from China, since January 27, an official said on Thursday. All these crew and passengers underwent thermal scanning, as per the WHO guidelines, the official added. "Adhering to all precautions and laid-down protocols to prevent any further spread of COVID-19, cargo was handled at Ports. No shore passes or daily passes were issued to these 56,727 crew and passengers on board 1,769 vessels reaching Indian Ports till April 21," the official told PTI. The 1,769 ships reached the Indian ports with cargo between January 27 and April 21. Of these, as many as 1,401 ships reached major ports and were allowed anchoring at designated places for loading/unloading of export-import cargo. Of the 57,727 crew and passengers onboard these ships, 49,750 reached the major ports, the official said. India has 12 major ports -- Deendayal (erstwhile Kandla), Mumbai, JNPT, Marmugao, New Mangalore, Cochin, Chennai, Kamarajar (earlier Ennore), V O Chidambarnar, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Kolkata (including Haldia) that handled nearly 705 million tonnes (MT) cargo in 2019-20. For maintaining smooth operations across ports, the shipping ministry has initiated a number of steps that include waiving of rentals. The government has asked all major ports to ensure that no penalties, demurrage, charges, fee, rentals are levied on any port user (traders, shipping lines, concessionaires, licensees etc) for any delay in berthing or loading/unloading operations or evacuation of cargo caused by the reasons attributable to lockdown measures from March 22. Besides, for existing and operational PPP projects, major ports can permit waiver of all penal consequences on a case-to-case basis along with deferment of certain performance obligations. The official said hospitals across the major port trusts have been supplied with personal protective equipment (PPE) and the arrangement of sufficient staff round the clock has been made. Ports and PSUs under the Ministry of Shipping have contributed more than Rs 52 crore from the CSR funds towards PM CARES Fund. Besides, employees of ports, PSUs and other offices of the ministry have contributed over Rs 7 crore from their salaries towards PM CARES Fund. The number of vessels handled by ports during 2019-20 was around 20,837 against 20,853 vessels in 2018-19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Dalai Lama on Wednesday compared the ongoing global fight against the Covid-19 pandemic with a lesson in universal responsibility being taught to human beings by the mother Earth and stressed upon the need to realise the importance of sustainable development. On this 50th anniversary of Earth Day, our planet is facing one of the greatest challenges to the health and well-being of its people, said the Dalai Lama, adding: And yet, in the midst of this struggle, we are reminded of the value of compassion and mutual support. The current global pandemic threatens us all, without distinctions of race, culture or gender, and our response must be as one humanity, providing for the most essential needs of all, he said. Drawing upon the Indian culture of treating the entire world as one big family the Vasudahiav Kutumbkam, the Dalai Lama said, Whether we like it or not, we have been born on this earth as part of one great family. Rich or poor, educated or uneducated, belonging to one nation or another, ultimately each of us is just a human being like everyone else, he said. Furthermore, we all have the same right to pursue happiness and avoid suffering. When we recognize that all beings are equal in this respect, we automatically feel empathy and closeness towards others, he said. And, out of this comes a genuine sense of universal responsibility: the wish to actively help others overcome their problems, said the Dalai Lama, adding: Our mother earth is teaching us a lesson in universal responsibility. This blue planet is a delightful habitat. Its life is our life; its future, our future. Indeed, the earth acts like a mother to us all; as her children, we are dependent on her, he said, adding In the face of the global problems we are going through it is important that we must all work together. Stressing upon the need to realise the criticality of sustainable development, he said, I came to appreciate the importance of environmental concern only after escaping from Tibet in 1959, where we always considered the environment to be pure. Whenever we saw a stream of water, for instance, there was no worry about whether it was safe to drink. Sadly, the mere availability of clean drinking water is a major problem throughout the world today, he pointed out. We must ensure that the sick and the valiant health-care providers throughout the world have access to the fundamental necessities of clean water and proper sanitation to prevent the uncontrolled spread of disease. Hygiene is one of the bases of effective health care, he added. Sustainable access to properly equipped and staffed health-care facilities will help us meet the challenges of the current pandemic that ravages our planet, he said. The Dalia Lama, however, saw the present global adversity as an opportunity. It will also offer one of the strongest defences against future public health crises. I understand that these are precisely the objectives set forth in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that address challenges to global health, he said. As we face this crisis together, it is imperative that we act in a spirit of solidarity and cooperation in order to provide for the pressing needs, particularly of our less fortunate brothers and sisters around the world, he said. I hope and pray that in the days ahead, each of us will do all we can to create a happier and healthier world, he added. Coronavirus affects Ramadan on an unprecedented scale, but it is not the first time Muslim traditions have had to adapt. The coronavirus pandemic has forced drastic changes across the world many people face unemployment, travel plans have been cancelled and public places are empty as some work from home, practise social distancing and self isolate. As most countries enforced restrictions on movement to curb the spread of the novel virus, at one point it was estimated 3 billion people were under some form of lockdown. Religous groups have adjusted to the new realities, including Muslims. The coronavirus pandemic will see the worlds Muslim population about 2 billion people observe the holy month of Ramadan in new ways, refraining from social gatherings to break fasts, abandoning communal prayers and even providing charity at a distance. In most Muslim-majority nations, mosques have closed and Friday prayers, which gather up to thousands of worshippers at a time, have been suspended. Umrah a mini-pilgrimage that takes place year-round at the Masjid al-Haram, or the Grand Mosque, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia was suspended indefinitely. Saudi Arabia announced on Tuesday that Taraweeh, special Ramadan prayers at the Grand Mosque and Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, the Prophet Muhammads mosque, in Medina, will take place, but with no public attendance. Only mosque staff are expected to perform the nightly prayers, as recently reported. These far-reaching steps are unusual in the 1400-year history of Islam, with no verifiable evidence to suggest mass gatherings have been suspended on this scale during Ramadan. But there have been times when mass religious gatherings were partially or fully halted in the Muslim world. The closing of mosques or cancelling mass gatherings has happened many times for different reasons, Mutaz AlKhatib, assistant professor at the Research Center for Islamic Legislation and Ethics at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Doha, Qatar, told Al Jazeera, explaining that wars, natural disasters such as floods, and epidemics have previously halted religious events. Here are some examples through history when Muslims have changed traditions amid critical circumstances. Qarmatian raid, 930 The annual Hajj pilgrimage was cancelled after the leader of the Qarmatian tribe, based in eastern Arabia (present-day Bahrain), attacked Mecca in unprecedented fashion. Tens of thousands of people, as many as 30,000 according to some accounts, were killed. The Qarmatian raid was a significant incident it was quite a big moment in Islamic history, Umar al-Qadri, an Islamic scholar and chief imam at the Islamic Centre of Ireland in Dublin, told Al Jazeera. Abu Tahir al-Jannabi, who led the raid, not only attacked Mecca and prayers were suspended, [he] also disrespected very sacred symbols of Islam, he added. The Black Stone, a rock set into a corner of the Kaaba, was looted and pieces of it were stolen. The group also desecrated the holy Well of Zamzam, which is close to the Kaaba, throwing in bodies of murdered pilgrims. After the attack, the Hajj was suspended. The Black Stone was finally returned to Mecca some 20 years later. Cholera outbreak, 19th century Devastating cholera outbreaks several times throughout the 19th century resulted in the suspension of pilgrimages, including Hajj in 1837 and 1846. After the disease returned in 1865 in Hejaz, a region of Saudi Arabia that includes Mecca, an international conference was called in Constantinople, modern-day Istanbul. It was decided that quarantine ports would be set up in places like Sinai and Hejaz to help limit the spread of the disease, as pilgrims set on their journey to perform Hajj. Between 1830 and 1930, there were at least 27 cholera outbreaks among pilgrims in Mecca. Grand Mosque seizure, 1979 A Saudi armed group of 400 to 500 men seized the Grand Mosque between November and December 1979, forcing the mosques closure for at least two weeks. The takeover was led by a former Saudi soldier, Juhayman ibn Muhammad ibn Sayf al-Otaybi, who was critical of the kingdoms ruling family, and called for a return to what he deemed the original Islam. The siege finally ended after Saudi forces retook the mosque, helped by a French tactical police unit. Saudi soldiers fighting their way into the Qaboo Underground beneath the Grand Mosque of Mecca in 1979 [File: Public Domain] Ebola outbreak, 2014 As the Ebola outbreak peaked in the early 2010s, countries around the world took measures to suspend issuing visas for several west African states, the epicentre of the virus. In 2014, Saudi Arabia temporarily stopped issuing Umrah and Hajj visas for citizens of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The outbreak killed over 11,000 people. Egypt stepped up caution and security measures at its airports in 2014 to prevent an Ebola outbreak as pilgrims returned from Haj. New medical examinations in airports were part of efforts to prevent a spread of the disease which killed thousands of people in West Africa [File:Asmaa Waguih/Reuters] Syrian war, 2016 On April 29, Friday prayers were cancelled in the Syrian city of Aleppo after a series of government-led air strikes that left mosques in ruins. Religious councils called on Aleppo residents to keep away from mosques, the first time such a step was taken in the historical city. For the first time in the oldest city in the world, the Islamic city of Aleppo, the religious councils have decided to cancel Friday prayers because of the brutal war on human life, a joint statement said. This is to save people who have become a target for the regime [government] and to save others in this massacre. Health workers at the Ankaase Hospital in the Afigya Kwabre South of the Ashanti Region are living in fear following robbery attacks in recent times, with one claiming the life of a staff of the hospital. The Hospital is said to have recorded several armed robbery attacks especially this year leaving some of the victims injured and one Biomedical Scientist dead. The deceased staff left behind a pregnant wife and two children. At a press conference, these worried health workers said they are always in fear whenever plying the unmotorable road to work with no security. They said their concerns to the Police Commander and the District Chief Executive in the area have all fallen on deaf ears. These armed robbers are believed to be hiding in the bushes along the poor road networks leading to the hospital with poor lighting and would be attacking their victims who are mostly health workers from their hideouts. According to them they have suspended their intended industrial action and suspension of services to show their displeasure due to the outbreak of the COVID -19. "However, we are calling on the government to intensify security measures in the area as they also deliver their mandate in fronting the fight against the deadly Coronavirus," they said in a statement at the press conference. The Ashanti Region in this year alone has recorded the murder of two health workers, the previous one was a nurse, Ruth Eshun who was gang-raped at Sewuah who was returning home from official duty. The second one has to do with the Biomedical Scientist with the Ankaase Hospital who was shot by armed robbers while returning from an official assignment. Source: Prince Kwadwo Boadu/Hello FM Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video As more people file for unemployment and despair widens, the City Council dug deeper and came up with millions more to help struggling San Antonians pay for basic necessities, including gas, groceries and housing. Originally set at $1 million, the citys Risk Mitigation Fund was expected to swell to $15.8 million with approval Thursday from the council. The fund was started in 2018 to help residents make rent or mortgage payments. Instead, the council voted 10-1 to allocate $25 million for the fund, rebranded as the COVID-19 Emergency Housing Assistance Program, now covering numerous basic needs in addition to housing. We have a city that ranks among the highest in poverty, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. So we know when a pandemic strikes and a crisis hits, its going to exacerbate the challenges that are already present here. Under the new program, residents grappling with bills they cant pay will be eligible to receive up to $3,500 to cover their rent or mortgage; $1,500 for utility expenses; and up to $300 cash for things such as food, gasoline, medicine and access to the internet. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio and Bexar County now has a number of groups tackling the COVID-19 crisis. Heres a guide to them City Manager Erik Walsh said San Antonios efforts to build the Risk Mitigation Fund made it easier to create the new program. We have long-standing programs and partnerships with local nonprofits, community groups and housing providers so that we can together help more residents, Walsh said, calling the new program the most comprehensive in the state. Money for the new program comes from federal and local funds. Its a huge increase in funds but not a drastic increase in programs, and I think thats important to note that we have been doing this for a while, Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales said. The total being allocated for the program looked much different a week ago. When the program was presented to the City Council, officials recommended using $15.8 million, primarily from the federal Community Development Block Grant and the CARES Act. But Councilman Roberto Trevino said that simply wouldnt be enough. So staffers started looking at other city funds they could tap to increase money available in the program. As a result, Trevino tacked on an amendment adding another $9.2 million in city funds to new program bringing the total to $25 million. The additional funding will come from the citys Parking Enterprise Fund, various Tax Increment Reinvestment Zones, the San Antonio Housing Trust Public Facility Corporation funds, the San Antonio Housing Trust Finance Corporation and a reallocation of funds from the San Antonio Housing Trust Under 1 Roof program. Not everyone was in favor of the additional funds. Councilman Clayton Perry cast the lone vote against the program. I understand there is a lot of need here in this city, but this council has routinely said it is a data-driven council. We look at the data. We look at the resources and then fit the resources to that need, the councilman said. Perry said hes in favor of the programs purpose, but wants to see how many people apply before adding more city funds to it. Walsh said, however, that its important to have the safety net in place before the start of the month, when most people are required to pay rent and other bills. He said the City Council will receive regular updates on the number of people applying and using the program. We will have an understanding, more than what we have now, to quantify what the need is, Walsh added. But, I think it is safe to say there is a need right now. Before March, the city received on average 57 inquiries a week for housing assistance. Last week, there were 5,370 requests for help. At the time of Thursdays meeting, officials said 1,400 households had been approved for the new program. The average amount received by each household was $1,393, Assistant City Manager Lori Houston said. On ExpressNews.com: Get the latest update on coronavirus and a tracking map of U.S. cases To be eligible for assistance, a participant must be a resident of San Antonio, must meet certain income guidelines based on the size of the household and must show proof of financial hardship, such as loss of job or reduction in hours worked. For example, a family of four must have an income at or below 100 percent of the San Antonio-New Braunfels area median income, which is $72,000. Proof of financial hardship includes a termination letter from an employer, a letter advising of a reduction in hours or an application for unemployment. The city then will conduct an assessment to determine the exact amount of financial assistance available to the household. The program will end July 31, unless the council opts to extend it. Please know this, we will be working every single day, as hard as we possibly can, in different structures of teamwork across the city and county to make sure we take care of our people first, Nirenberg said. At the end of the day, how we survive this crisis is whether or not we, as a community, have taken care of our people. Residents who need emergency assistance to pay rent or mortgage or any of the other expenses covered by the new program should call 210-207-5910 or visit sanantonio.gov/NHSD. The organisers of Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) are not giving up on the possibility of hosting the 2020 edition amidst the coronovirus pandemic as they are mulling about taking the film gala online. The pandemic has forced cancellations of a number of film festivals all over the world and cast a shadow on those held in Cannes, Venice and Berlin as well as Toronto, which is held in late September every year. In a new interview with Variety, TIFF artistic director Cameron Bailey said it's "full steam ahead" for the event. Though the team have six month to prepare for the 2020 edition, they are discussing the possibility of going online if things worsens. "Postponing is definitely not a possibility on the table right now. (Based on) everything that we are learning, things might get worse in October or November if there is a second wave," TIFF executive director and co-headJoana Vicente said. She said the team is trying to figure out a way to hold the festival at a time when there are strict restrictions on travel. "We know that there are a lot of industry members and delegates that will not be able to travel to Toronto because they are coming from all over the world," she said. "It's going to be a modified version of the festival. We're going to look at doing some kind of social distancing. Maybe it's not six feet (of separation), but maybe there's a seat in between," Vicente added. Every year, the festival screens close to 300 films and sees a footfall of hundreds of thousands cinema aficionados. Bailey appeared confident about hosting the festival but added that a final call will be taken in June. "We are absolutely planning for a public festival and a strong industry component," he said. "We are going to follow what happens with public health guidelines, of course, and that will determine more. We hope that by the middle of June, say, we'll be able to make a call (as to) which way we are leaning. But we will deliver a festival this year," he added. Vicente said they might hold a "hybrid festival" with a strong "digital component". "How big that digital component is and what it looks like, we're still working on that," she added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kristen Renner helped prepare for the H1N1 and Ebola outbreaks, but neither compares to the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, the intensive care unit clinical supervisor at CHI St. Alexius Health in Bismarck says the goal is the same it has always been. "No matter what type of patient we care for, we are here for our patients and we will do our best to make them better, to see them walk out of our unit," said Renner, who has a 26-year career in health care. Sixty-two people have been hospitalized in North Dakota for COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Twenty-three patients remained hospitalized on Wednesday, per North Dakota's Department of Health. More than 670 people in the state have been confirmed positive for COVID-19, 229 of whom have recovered. North Dakota has about 21,000 nursing licensing registrants, said State Board of Nursing Executive Director Stacey Pfenning, including 400 certified registered nurse anesthetists who can run ventilators. The state is "positioned very well" from a nursing standpoint, she said -- from getting new graduates started working to easing licensure for former and out-of-state nurses to work. "I just have seen so much interest in nurses wanting to help," Pfenning said. Nurses in Bismarck say their efforts have involved teamwork in caring for COVID-19 patients and also high-level safety, from wearing personal protective equipment and changing clothes to keeping safe environments in COVID-19 units. Amanda Ketterling, 27, joined Sanford Health in Bismarck 10 years ago as a certified nursing assistant. She's been a nurse for about four years, initially drawn to the field after seeing how health workers cared for her grandfather and family when he died, and from a desire to help people. She's been a charge nurse, or head nurse on a shift, in Sanford's 24-bed COVID-19 unit, which is served by about 30 nurses on staff rotating on 12-hour shifts. Various health care specialists, such as an intensivist and pulmonologist, also care for patients, who have separate rooms. Cameras help monitor patients. Caring for the patients involves reassurance and working together, according to Ketterling. Patients can be scared or uncertain of their prognosis, but the hardest part is being without family, she said. "(Family) is usually what gives them comfort," she said. Patients are able to call family on the telephone and use iPads for video calls. Nurses provide regular updates to family members, as well. Intensive care unit nurse Jess Kurtz helped take on CHI St. Alexius' first hospitalized case, "happily," she said. Some other nurses are pregnant or have conditions such as asthma, and she wanted to step up. She wears a respirator, gown, gloves and goggles in CHI St. Alexius' COVID-19 unit, which replaced the regular, 15-bed ICU, which is now in another area for other intensive care patients. Ketterling wears essentially the same gear. Both hospitals' units have negative pressure, which prevents potentially contaminated air from leaving the unit. "It's been not necessarily a struggle, but it's been a lot of time to make sure that we're keeping our patients safe, and running two ICUs has taken a whole team to make this work," Renner said. Thirty-four ICU nurses have helped in CHI St. Alexius' COVID-19 unit. There have been success stories, Renner and Kurtz said: beginning treatments of convalescent plasma transfusions and seeing patients discharged. Kurtz expected a few more to go home soon. But the recovery continues after hospitalization, such as quarantining, using oxygen and maintaining good hygiene, and watching for worsening conditions, she said. And there is the nurses' own safety, too, such as changing out of clothes and showering when arriving home. Kurtz, 29, said she has worried about potentially bringing the virus home to her fiance. She no longer visits her family in Devils Lake. To unwind from her 13-hour shifts, she watches an episode of "Outlander" or a show on Netflix and enjoys a glass of wine and the company of her dog, Ajax, or takes a long nap. Ketterling likes to walk her dogs, Curls the Labradoodle and Mesa the Morkie. Exercise has been Renner's "go-to" relief, as well as getting outside in the warmer weather. Though the times are stressful amid the unprecedented pandemic, Kurtz said she rolls with the punches. "I just try to stay on the positive side of life here because otherwise you only can see so much negativity everywhere else, it's just going to take you down with it," she said. Ketterling said the pandemic has been challenging, making her more reliant on her skills. "It's making you do much research and keeping you on your toes because you want to learn about it, you want to cure these people, you want to help them (feel better), because it's not just the elderly, it's not just the sick people, it's healthy people who are living their normal lives," she said. Renner said she intends to "forge ahead," that "strength is going to get us through this." The nurses each said the public can take several steps to mitigate the spread, especially hand washing and social distancing. "I don't think this is over anytime soon, and I don't think people understand the severity of this disease," Kurtz said. "I've seen people walk in and they have the ventilator tube in within the next couple hours because they just (worsened) so quickly. "It's really scary, and it's nothing like anything I've seen before," she said. 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. ROSEBURG, Ore. County commissioners in Douglas County are urging Gov. Kate Brown to start reopening their economies in just days. The letter has been sent to Coos, Curry, Jackson, and Josephine Counties for their approval and once received back, it will be submitted to the governor. County officials in the letter cited Browns intention to reopen the economy on a regional basis. We understand the concern of an increase in COVID-19 cases once restrictions are eased and agree that a strategic approach in getting things reopened is necessary, the letter says. They said Brown outlined steps that would need to take place, including a declining number of people with symptoms, declining number of cases and an adequate capacity at hospitals. In Southwestern Oregon, they said, there have been few cases and has been a decline since the peak. Weve got to a place where were starting to see a ground swell of concern from people whove just been impacted by the economic side of this," said Douglas County Commissioner Chris Boice. "We gotta think about them too. Douglas Countys drive-through testing and work to trace contact is highlighted in the letter as proof of preparedness, testing and tracing, other contingencies in Browns plan. The letter also expresses concerns that if non-emergency medical procedures are not allowed soon, hospitals in their regions will not be able to withstand the financial burden. County officials are proposing that Brown allow them to carry out phase one of the plan outlined by the federal government starting Saturday, April 25. The Sringeri Shankaracharya Sharada Peetham has condemned the lynching of two seers at Palghar and appealed to people to maintain peace and harmony. In a statement, the Peetham said, "The Sringeri Math condemns the unfortunate act of mob lynching at Palghar, Maharashtra on April 6, whose victims included Sadhu Sri Kalpavrukshagiri ji and Sadhu Sri Sushilgiri ji." Stating that special prayers were offered to Goddess Sharadamba for the departed souls, the Peetham appealed to every citizen of the country "to maintain peace and harmony during such testing times."The incident took place on the night of April 16 when the two seers and their driver were going from Mumbai in a car towards Surat in Gujarat to attend a funeral. Their vehicle was stopped near a village in Palghar district where they were dragged out of the car and beaten to death with sticks by a mob on suspicion that they were child-lifters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a normal year, the departures of the two top Republicans in the General Assembly would create a seismic shift in the legislative pecking order. The coronavirus pandemic, which has essentially ended the 2020 legislative session before it had a chance to get off the ground, makes the year anything but normal. House Minority Leader Themis Klarides abrupt announcement Tuesday that she would not seek re-election, on the heels of Senate Minority Leader Len Fasanos recently revealed retirement at the end of the year, usher in am eventual reshuffling for 2021 even as the legislature works to salvage progress for 2020. Veteran Deputy House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, appears to have an unimpeded path to moving a couple chairs over, to the aisle seat occupied by generations of Republican leaders. An eventual successor to Fasano in the Senate seems more complicated. Both Sen. Kevin Witkos of Canton, Fasanos top deputy, and Sen. Kevin Kelly of Stratford, the leading Republican on three legislative committees including insurance, said Wednesday they are interested in the job. Kelly and Witkos also agree there are a lot of unknowns in the months to go before the November election and an eventual vote on leadership in the Senate next January, when the next General Assembly takes office. Fasano said its up to the Senate caucus to decide. Right now both Witkos and Kelly, like all state lawmakers, are focused on the real-world problems in the pandemic, including assisting constituents navigating the myriad issues they face, from accessing benefits to dealing with a grim business climate. Witkos, an 18-year veteran of the General Assembly, could be seen as the natural heir as Fasanos top deputy, who in recent years has been inside often-tense negotiations over major pieces of legislation. One thing Ive learned is to never count your chickens before they hatch, said Witkos, a retired police officer from Canton who is now a community relations specialist for Eversource. Witkos started his legislative career in the House of Representatives winning election in 2002. He won the Senate seat representing 11 towns in the Torrington region in 2008. He hopes he has enough support to become the next leader of the caucus, which hasnt held a majority since 1996. But the coronavirus crisis is putting the State Capitol literally out of reach, as it was closed on March 11 and will remain closed until at least May 20. The legislatures constitutional deadline is May 6, so any more business this session would have to go forward in a special session. While Kelly is interested in pursuing Fasanos job leading the minority, which is currently outnumbered 22 to 14, the coronavirus and constituent needs are his chief concern. With COVID, were just trying to get through a day at a time, focusing on people in need, he in an intervoewWednesday. Youre always honored when somebody mentions something like that, Kelly said. From the day youre elected, youre always looking for upward mobility, to have a better role, to play a bigger role. First elected in 2010, Kelly, a resident of Stratfords Lordship neighborhood on Long Island Sound, looks back fondly on the previous legislatures 18-18 tie in the Senate, which allowed Republicans to become committee chairs on equal footing with Senate Democrats in the General Assemblys joint committee structure. Kelly said the leadership issue will take care of itself. Thats not todays work, Kelly said. Whats here now is important. Well eventually have that conversation and the caucus will make the decision. We have to focus now on the people we serve. Candelora, who is likely the unopposed choice to succeed Klarides, believes he has wide support. He described the Derby Republican as a close friend whose tenure as the first female House GOP leader will be remembered as historic, and will stick with him. Her leadership style was not to be a party of no, but to stick to solutions, said Candelora, the owner of a recreational business who was first elected in 2006. There are successful ways of thinking in a minority situation, when you come up with proposals that are real, rather than merely political. We have our fights with Democrats, but we cant let go of the fact that we all want whats best for the state. Were not just going to walk away, watch the state implode and just blame Democrats. kdixon@ctpost.com @KenDixonCT Still, their courtship continued. Samuel Kramer would sleep in his car on the side of Belt Parkway after long days driving from home to his job with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Manhattan, then to Brooklyn to woo his bride-to-be, before heading home again. The couple married six months (less a day) after they met, and moved in 1966 to the Potomac house where they lived until April 2, when Samuel Kramer died of covid-19 at 91. He is survived by two daughters, two grandchildren, and a 6-month-old great-grandchild, and predeceased by a son. LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Prince Charles said on Wednesday the urgent global response to the coronavirus showed how the world could tackle climate change, and that recovery from the disease presented a chance to create a more sustainable future. In a statement to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the heir to the throne, long an environmental campaigner, likened the impact of coronavirus on the world's population with the effect human behaviour had had on the planet. 'If we look at the planet as if it were a patient, we can see that our activities have been damaging her immune system and she has been struggling to breathe and thrive due to the strain we have put on her vital organs,' Charles said. LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Prince Charles said on Wednesday the urgent global response to the coronavirus showed how the world could tackle climate change, and that recovery from the disease presented a chance to create a more sustainable future. In a statement to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the heir to the throne, long an environmental campaigner, likened the impact of coronavirus on the world's population with the effect human behaviour had had on the planet. "If we look at the planet as if it were a patient, we can see that our activities have been damaging her immune system and she has been struggling to breathe and thrive due to the strain we have put on her vital organs," Charles said. "I am confident that we can use this crisis to reset our course by putting people and planet first," he added. The 71-year-old prince, who himself has recovered after suffering mild symptoms of COVID-19, has championed environmental causes for decades, warning that global warming and climate change were the greatest threats to humanity. In his statement, he said people often only took necessary drastic action when there was imminent danger such as the one posed by the coronavirus. "It has also shown us that it is indeed possible to find and scale up global solutions when we agree on a higher, common purpose," he said. To curb the spread of the virus, there have been lockdowns across the world, with less industrial activity, far fewer car journeys and vast numbers of flights cancelled, and Charles said this presented a roadmap for the future. "We need only look to the improved air quality in some of the worlds major cities and the return of wildlife to our communities and waterways," he said. When the current crisis is over, Charles said he hoped the world would reflect on how it might help shape a more environmentally friendly future. "As we move from rescue to recovery, we have a unique window of opportunity to learn lessons and position ourselves on a more sustainable path," he said. "Rarely do we have the opportunity to pause, reflect and reset our trajectory. I would encourage us all to reimagine the world we want and use all the levers we have at our disposal, knowing that each and every one one of us has a vital role to play." (Reporting by Michael Holden; editing by Stephen Addison) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 06:07:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LISBON, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa defended on Thursday the economic recovery plan for the 27-member European Union (EU), initiated by the European Council. Costa told reporters after a video conference of EU leaders that "there is not yet a final number" for the resolution fund. "The Vice-President of the Commission referred to 1.5 trillion euros, the ECB spoke of 1.6 trillion. If anything, it is something that is three times what the three emergency lines already approved by the Eurogroup are. It will be something of great capacity and great robustness, taking into account the impact of the economic crisis that lies ahead," he said. Costa added that "the details are essential," and that it is necessary to know the real amount available and under what conditions countries will have access and how the balance between loans and transfers will be. "I would like to underline that regarding the creation of the recovery fund, there was unanimity and there was also unanimous agreement that this recovery fund should be financed through debt issuance by the European Commission, and no country has questioned this objective," said Costa, quoted by Lusa News Agency. He said that the use of the recovery fund must also be "consistent with the EU strategy," which prioritizes the digital transition, combating climate change and increasing the Union's strategic autonomy in terms of "capacity to produce essential goods," according to the Lusa report. He also stressed that it is essential that EU Member States should reach a political agreement on the European instruments to combat the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic before the summer. The last few days have been intense for the Portuguese government in the search for solutions and resources to reactivate the country's economy. Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has said that after the third phase of the state of emergency, which will run till May 2, the economy and the society will be reactivated gradually and progressively. As of Thursday, Portugal has reported 22,353 confirmed cases and 820 deaths, the health authorities said. Enditem US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order pausing immigration for 60 days to protect the jobs of Americans laid off due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The temporary suspension of immigration will affect those who are legally seeking entry into the United States for employment purposes but not the ones who are already living in the country, the order said. Describing it as a very powerful order Trump told reporters during his daily news briefing at the White House on Wednesday that he signed the order before coming for the press briefing. By pausing immigration, well help put unemployed Americans first in line for jobs as America reopens. It would be wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced with new immigrant labour flown in from abroad, he said. Also read| Covid-19: What you need to know today The executive order, a copy of which was released by the White House, said the new provisions apply to foreign nationals outside the US who do not have an immigrant visa that is valid on the effective date of proclamation. It also applies to those foreign nationals who do not have an official travel document other than a visa that is valid on the effective date of proclamation or issued on any date thereafter that permits him or her to travel to the US and seek entry or admission. The suspension, the executive order said, does not apply to those foreign nationals already inside the country on a green card. It provides exemptions to healthcare workers, or seeking to enter the US as a legal permanent resident under investment category. Spouses of a US citizen, 21 years and younger kids of American nationals, or those who are under the process of being adopted are also exempted from this temporary suspension of immigration. Also read| Covid deaths could be much higher than known: Reports Trump said he was determined that, without this measure, the US faces a potentially protracted economic recovery with persistently high unemployment if labour supply outpaces labour demand. Excess labour supply affects all workers and potential workers, but it is particularly harmful to workers at the margin between employment and unemployment, who are typically last in during an economic expansion and first out during an economic contraction, he said in his executive order. In recent years, these workers have been disproportionately represented by historically disadvantaged groups, including African Americans and other minorities, those without a college degree, and the disabled. These are the workers who, at the margin between employment and unemployment, are likely to bear the burden of excess labour supply disproportionately, he said. The White House in a statement said that this is a temporary pause demanded by the crisis being faced as a nation. The pause will be in effect for 60 days, and the administration will continue to monitor the labour market to amend or extend the proclamation if needed, it said. There will be exemptions for medical and other essential workers to combat the outbreak, spouses and minor children of American citizens, and certain other aliens, it said. Trump is also asking his administration to review guest worker programmes to assess whether additional measures should be taken to protect American workers. The White House further said that mass migration of low-skilled labour into the US disproportionately harms historically disadvantaged Americans. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) delivers a statement in the hallway of the Speaker's Balcony at the U.S. Capitol on March 23, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Pelosi Wants Next Relief Bill to Enable the American People to Vote-By-Mail House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) told MSNBC in an interview Wednesday that a portion of the funds contained in the next COVID-19 relief bill should be used to support mail-in and absentee voting efforts. We have to have an important chunk of money in this next bill that will enable us to protect the integrity of our elections, as well as enable the American people to vote-by-mail, especially at this time of a health danger in going to the polls, Pelosi told MSNBCs Morning Joe program, referring to the risk of contracting COVID-19 by voting in person amid the pandemic. This is the lifeblood of our democracy, the vote, Pelosi said. So here we are trying to protect the lives of American people, the livelihoods of the American people, and also the life of our democracy. That is what we are going to do in the next bill as well. The drive to expand vote-by-mail options during the pandemic has emerged as the centerpiece of a growing political fight ahead of Novembers election. President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers have challenged the idea of expanding mail balloting, arguing it is vulnerable to fraud. Democrats, and voting rights groups, say it is a way to protect voters from the deadly CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus. They say a failure to guarantee that option amid a pandemic will disenfranchise millions of Americans. Pelosis comments on Wednesday echo earlier Democrat efforts for vote-related allocations in the $2.2 trillion relief bill that Trump signed into law on March 27, which included $400 million for states to take steps to make it safe for voters to participate in elections amid the outbreak. In terms of the elections, I think that well probably be moving to vote-by-mail, Pelosi said in a March 31 appearance on MSNBC. Thats 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. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) hosts a signing ceremony after the House of Representatives approved a $2.2 trillion coronavirus aid package at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 27, 2020. (Tom Brenner/Reuters) Voter completes her ballot in Orange County Calif., on Oct. 24, 2018. (Robyn Beck / AFP) An early House draft of the CARES Act included $4 billion in allocations for election-continuity measures, along with requirements for states to expand early voting and send absentee ballots to each registered voter. Some of the proposals in the House draft of the CARES Act were informed by a report from New York Universitys Brennan Center for Justice, which estimated states would need around $2 billion to shore up elections amid the pandemic. Measures recommended in the report include increasing the ability for voters to cast an absentee ballot and give all Americans the option to vote-by-mail. All voters should be offered the option to cast their ballot by mail (with multiple submission options, as provided below), so as to enable voters to avoid lines at the polls and exposure to COVID-19, the authors of the report wrote. Meanwhile, an NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll released Tuesday found that 67 percent of polled registered voters approve of this years election being held through the mail, with support split along partisan lines. The poll found that 88 percent of Democrats, 69 percent of independents, and 44 percent of Republicans support mail-in voting in general or for Novembers election specifically. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced relief for student borrowers struggling to repay their loans. Above, Stanford University. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) More than 1.1 million Californians with student loan debt will now be eligible for three months' relief, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday. Twenty-one out of the 24 largest student loan servicers in the state of California have agreed to a 90-day forbearance, meaning student borrowers may stop repaying their loans without facing penalties such as late fees or fines, debt collection lawsuits, or negative impacts to their credit ratings, Newsom said. Borrowers will also receive support in working out new payment plans. "I want to just applaud those ... servicers for their willingness to step up and help support those that are struggling to pay their student loan debts," Newsom said at his daily news conference. NEW: 21 out of the 24 major student loan servicers have agreed to provide relief to 1.1 million CA students. For the next 90 days there will be no late fees. No fines. And actual support for new payment plans for the future. Thank you @JBPritzker for leading this effort. Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) April 23, 2020 The forbearance is part of a multi-state agreement coordinated by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. While the CARES Act already halts student repayment of federal loans for six months, the measures announced by Pritzker and Newsom address private and non-federal loans in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont, Virginia and Washington state. Impacted borrowers should immediately contact their loan providers to get relief, as they will not automatically be enrolled, Pritzker's office said. "This is new, so even the lenders are getting up to speed on this," Pritzker said during a Tuesday briefing. If borrowers experience trouble securing the agreed-upon relief, they should reach out to state regulatory agencies or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Story continues Newsom's office did not immediately provide details on how students in California may take advantage of the loan forbearance program. The student loan providers that signed on to the agreement include: Aspire Resources Inc. College Ave Student Loan Servicing LLC Discover Financial Servicers Earnest Operations Edfinancial Figure Lending LLC Kentucky Higher Education Student Loan Corporation Launch Servicing LLC Lendkey Technologies Inc. MOHELA Navient Nelnet Reunion Student Loan Finance Corporation Rhode Island Student Loan Authority Scratch Services LLC SoFi Lending Corp. Tuition Options United Guaranty Services Inc. Upstart Network Inc. Utah Higher Education Assistance Authority Vermont Student Assistance Corporation Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. San Francisco, 23 April 2020: The Report Lysosomal Acid Lipase (LAL) Deficiency Treatment Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Treatment, By Indication (Wolman Disease, Cholesteryl Ester Storage Disease), And Segment Forecasts, 2018 - 2025 The global lysosomal acid lipase deficiency (LAL-D) treatment market size is likely to reach USD 954 million by 2025, as per a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., exhibiting a 10.8% CAGR during the forecast period. High unmet needs, rising prevalence, and increasing uptake of enzyme replacement therapy are some of the primary factors driving the market. LAL deficiency (LAL-D) is a rare type of lysosomal storage disorder in which patients are unable to breakdown cholesteryl esters and triglycerides due to a mutation in the LAL gene. As a result, there is an accumulation of lipids in the liver, spleen, and walls of blood vessels. LAL deficiency is a progressive disease with multi-systemic clinical manifestations, significant medical complications, and early mortality due to liver failure, especially among infants. Until 2015, the global LAL deficiency treatment market witnessed modest growth due to lack of approved treatments for the disease. Medical care was limited to supportive care, with surgery and lipid-modifying drugs such as statins remained the mainstay for treatment. In 2015, approval of Alexion Pharmas Kanuma (sebelipase alfa) marked entry of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) in the LAL-D space. Kanuma is a hydrolytic lysosomal cholesterol ester and triacylglycerol specific enzyme, administered intravenously in patients with LAL deficiency. Currently, Kanuma is the only drug approved for both Wolman disease (WD) and Cholesteryl Ester Storage Disease (CESD) in the key markets. Based on treatment, supportive care was the leading revenue contributor in the market in 2017. However, the ERT segment is expected to register the fastest growth during the forecast period, supported by continued uptake of Kanuma. Disease prognosis remains poor, as a majority of patients are either undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Thus, there remains a strong need for extensive research to understand disease biology and develop effective therapeutic options with goal to overcome resistance and minimize toxicity. Access Research Report of Lysosomal Acid Lipase Deficiency Treatment Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/lysosomal-acid-lipase-deficiency-lal-d-treatment-market Further key findings from the report suggest: CESD manifests later in life and is more prevalent among Caucasians and Hispanic populations, affecting approximately 1 in 300,000 individuals Germany is at the forefront of the Europe market and is driven by high disease prevalence and availability of drugs in the ERT class Approval of Kanuma in ERT class highlight a fundamental shift in treatment approach to LAL-D deficiency The ERT segment is estimated to be the fastest growing during the forecast period, owing to Kanumas first-mover advantage as the only long-term treatment in untapped LAL-D patient population pool Statins are anticipated to lose market share due to rising competition from generics within the class and increasing uptake of Alexions Kanuma Rising eligible patient population and limited therapeutic intervention for LAL deficiency offer strong commercial opportunity to players to invest in developing novel treatments in this market Lack of awareness in disease diagnosis and delayed access to medications due to poor prognosis may restrain the growth of the market. Browse more reports of this category by Grand View Research at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry/pharmaceuticals Grand View Research has segmented the global lysosomal acid lipase deficiency treatment marketbased on indication, treatment, and country: Lysosomal Acid Lipase Deficiency Indication Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2025) Wolman Disease (WD) Cholesteryl Ester Storage Disease (CESD) Lysosomal Acid Lipase Deficiency Treatment Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2025) Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT) Lipid-Modifying Agents (Statins) Surgery Stem Cell Transplantation Supportive Care Lysosomal Acid Lipase Deficiency Country Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2017 - 2025) U.S. U.K. France Germany Italy Spain Japan Access Press Release of Lysosomal Acid Lipase Deficiency Treatment Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-lysosomal-acid-lipase-deficiency-lal-d-treatment-market About Grand View Research Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare. For More Information:www.grandviewresearch.com (Reuters) - The United Auto Workers (UAW) said late Wednesday discussions are still underway with Detroit's Big Three automakers to safely restart U.S. production halted by the coronavirus pandemic. General Motors Co , Ford Motor Co and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV shut their plants last month as the virus rapidly spread through the United States, but aim to restart at least some U.S. assembly plants by early May. "These talks are fluid and ongoing to ensure safe protocols are followed when the companies reopen," UAW President Rory Gamble said in a statement. Detroit's automakers and the UAW have been engaged in talks since earlier this month, while local union leaders said on Monday that any worker who feels sick must be allowed to self-quarantine without losing pay. A General Motors spokesman said on Wednesday that the company has developed "screening, cleaning and social strategies" for all facilities in line with input from the UAW and guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The safety practices and sick-leave policies the automakers and the UAW agree to would offer a template for auto suppliers and potentially other manufacturing industries. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru, Editing by Sherry Jacob-Phillips) Epicur Pharma sets the bar for high quality animal drug standards, furthering our longstanding commitment to animal health. Stokes Healthcare, a privately-owned business, is excited to announce the launch of its 503B facility to EPICUR PHARMA. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in response to well-publicized cases of widely varying compounded drugs, introduced 503B standards to reflect current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP). Stokes Healthcare, which has been trusted by veterinarians since 1975, chose to pursue this certification to offer veterinarians and their clients the highest assurance in patient safety. According to Stokes Healthcares president Michael Tursi, Epicur Pharma sets the bar for high quality animal drug standards, furthering our longstanding commitment to animal health. Stokes Healthcare is comprised of two key independent business divisions: Epicur Pharma (503B facility) and Stokes Pharmacy (503A pharmacy). Each entity must follow different regulations and is guided by different principles. Each division, both located in Mount Laurel, New Jersey, operates out of its own facility and serves customers nationwide. Epicur Pharma brings a unique advantage to the veterinary industry. The 503B facility manufactures drugs with consistent potency, sterility, and purity from batch to batch. This level of reliability reduces practice liability, improves patient outcomes, and allows veterinarians to fully trust in the medications they use and prescribe. Epicur has the largest selection of manufactured drugs that are traditionally compounded for animal health among current 503B facilities nationwide. Every drug manufactured by Epicur must meet FDA standards and practices. The facilitys offerings include drugs such as Tacrolimus eye drops, Buprenorphine Injection, and Gabapentin MINI-MEDS tablets. Epicur Pharma is proud to be a pioneer in animal drug standards, furthering a longstanding commitment to animal health. Epicur products are distributed directly to veterinary hospitals from its outsourcing facility and are offered through Stokes Pharmacy for individual patient prescriptions. Epicurs brand of veterinary drug products ensures you are getting the highest quality backed by FDA oversight. Visit http://www.epicurpharma.com to see the complete product portfolio. About Stokes Healthcare: Stokes Healthcares division, Stokes Pharmacy, has been formulating custom prescription medications for both humans and animals since 1975. It has grown from a small hometown operation to a nationally respected pharmacy. In 2016, Stokes Healthcare developed Epicur Pharma in alignment with the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) recommended guidelines and requirements for producing high quality manufactured drugs. Following current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), the same regulations in place for human pharmaceutical companies, Epicur is recognized as an FDA registered outsourcing facility, and demonstrates Stokes commitment to drug consistency and quality and, above all, patient safety. Learn more at http://www.epicurpharma.com A sign outside the Detroit Medical Center, on April 17, 2020. A parade to support health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic was held. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) Fired Nurse Files Lawsuit Against Detroit Medical Center A nurse who got fired from the Sinai-Grace Hospital last month during the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus outbreak is suing the Detroit Medical Center (DMC). Kenisa Barkaia 38-year-old nurseposted a 10-second video on Twitter of herself wearing her face mask, hair covering, gloves, and medical gown inside the hospital before treating a COVID-19 patient. Im ready to rock and roll, Barkai said in the short video. Im going in. She was fired about one week later on March 28, after the video gained some public attention. The hospital told her her contract was terminated because she violated the social media policy. However, Barkai maintains she didnt break any rules, and no information on patients was exposed in the video. Barkai told the Detroit Free Press the real reason she got fired was because of her previously complaining to supervisors about the hospitals problems, lack of equipment, and staffing before and during the outbreak, and that she threatened to report issues at the hospital to state authorities. Were just trying to right what was wrong in regards to myself being basically terminated and basically used as a scapegoat to try to keep my co-workers quiet, Barkai said. We were already struggling to manage and when COVID came about, it just made it a lot more dangerous. Detroit Medical Center, Michigan. (Screenshot/GoogleMaps) Barkai, who is also a single mother of a 7-year-old son, said the hospital terminating her contract left her without health insurance for both herself and her son. In her lawsuit, she seeks a jury trial and at least $25,000 in damages, alleges a violation of Michigans Whistleblower Protection Act. Brian Taylor, the director of communications and media relations for DMC said in an email to the Detroit Free Press the hospital system does not comment on pending litigation. Health Care Workers Claim Hospital Overrun The Michigan hospital has been a focus in media reports recently during the CCP virus outbreak. Earlier this month, emergency room nursing staff at Sinai-Grace were told to leave on the night of April 5 after they refused to work and demanded more nurses be brought into their overrun emergency room, health care workers told CNN. Hospital administrators decided, after four hours of deliberation, they would not be bringing in any more nurses to help and that the nurses could get to work or leave the hospital, a doctor at the hospital said. We are disappointed that last night a very small number of nurses at Sinai-Grace Hospital staged a work stoppage in the hospital refusing to care for patients, DMC Communications Manager Jason Barczy told CNN. Detroit is one of the hardest-hit cities in the United States by the CCP virus. As of Wednesday, the city counted 8,026 infections and 747 deaths, the state Department of Health and Human Services reported. CNN Wire contributed to this report. From NTD News Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty In a time when everyone is holding Zoom meetings, why did the governor of New York schlep to Washington, DC, on Tuesday? For the same reason WIllie Sutton robbed banks. Because thats where the money is (and whats needed for the COVID-19 tests). To put it simply: It was part of the hostage deal. Cuomo wanted help with COVID-19 testing, so he had to bend the knee. And it probably worked. Ironically, the fact that he had to do this sort of proves Cuomos point: that New York, in fact, needed help from the federal government. Despite all the talk of tests being widely available, Cuomo explained that the main problem has been getting reagents, the chemicals without which the kits are useless. Cuomo Praises Trump Target on His Way to Oval Office Meeting The problem with testing has been the national manufacturers of the equipment who make the testing kits they have to send to the state labs, Cuomo said Friday evening, at a press conference after meeting Trump and returning to New York where he seemed to be carefully parsing his words to thank the president, while not providing him with any more clips that Trump could use in a campaign spots. That is where the federal government can help. States cannot do international supply chains. Having the states handle the tests while the feds help with his supplies, Cuomo said, is an intelligent division of labor in my opinion: let each level of government do what it does best, and it ends this back and forth, what do the states do, what does Washington do, whos responsible, etcetera. It seems that, by taking the trip, New Yorks odds of obtaining the chemicals it needs for testing dramatically improved. During Tuesday's briefing, Trump described Cuomo as terrific to work with. He noted that New York was the epicenter of the outbreak, that the two men have a very good understanding, and that it was a very good meeting. What a difference a couple of days makes. The other day, I noted that Cuomo had bested Trump when the two tough guys from Queens traded barbs about why New York asked for so many more ventilators than it ended up needing. Cuomo was right on the merits. But when it comes to coronavirus testing, Trump controls the means of production. Story continues Cuomo said later on Friday that hed also told Trump that you know the state governments are broke, to use a very blunt term. You know the state governments are now responsible for the reopening, the governors are going to do the reopening and we have no funds to do it. And, Cuomo said, before fuming about how Congress keeps breaking promises to give money to the states whose budgets have been hit because that isnt as politically sexy as writing checks to individuals, the president said that he understands the issue. Its always good when people can meet face-to-face and hash out their problems. Still, its hard not to see this at least partly as a way for Trump to demonstrate dominance over another Alpha dog. As a developer, the Donald knows the adage: location, location, location. To be sure, insisting on a home-field advantage is not uniquely a Trumpian play. It stands to reason that powerful leaders would prefer to summon others to their home field. What is more, the adage that you get more flies with honey than vinegar is not a new one. But few leaders are as petty when it comes to demonstrating symbolic displays of power. This is a guy who gets an extra scoop of ice cream during meetings, for heavens sake. Its almost like he watched Jack Donaghys Negotiate to WIN! VHS tape (see rule 3) and is playing it out in real life. This is straight out of the Trump playbook. Remember that time Reince Priebus left his RNC headquarters, and traveled to Trump Tower in order to obtain a signature (Trumps non-binding pledge not to run a third-party campaign)? It was almost a Neville Chamberlain-esque maneuver. Why would the chairman of the RNC go groveling to New York? I still dont get it. Its much more understandable why Cuomo would make the trip to DC to see the president. Priebus, stupidly, gave away leverage. Cuomo, for the sake of his constituents, had to pay homage. At the end of the day, Cuomo had to be nice to Trump. Thats part of the deal. And yes, it stinks. Yes, its petty. Yes, its disturbing. But its a small price to pay if, by humbling himself, it helps the people of New York to survive this pandemic. As they say, no man stands so tall as when he stoops to kiss an ass. 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. BAKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 23 Trend: As part of a joint project on creating inclusive and decent jobs for socially vulnerable groups of the Azerbaijan's Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the creation of conditions for persons with disabilities to launch small businesses has begun in Azerbaijan, the ministry told Trend. At the first stage, assets (beehives, necessary supplies) were transferred to people with disabilities in the Shamkir district to create small beekeeping businesses. According to data, this process will continue in Shamakhi, Zagatala districts and Sumgayit city in the coming days. The project provides for the creation of conditions for small businesses of up to 500 persons with disabilities. Twelve cities and districts are involved in the project. A preliminary selection of project participants among persons with disabilities registered as unemployed, was conducted in these districts," the ministry said. The company's biggest expansion from January through March came from Europe, where it added 4.4 million new customers. Photo: REUTERS Netflix gained 15.8 million paying customers from January through March, as quarantined audiences binged on series such as "Tiger King". The additions bring the world's largest streaming service's global consumer total to 182.9 million. The extra customers are more than double Netflix's own projections, with the company having predicted it would add 7 million during the period. The company warned that it expected fewer new subscribers from July to December compared with a year earlier, however. Many people who would have joined then are likely to have already signed up, executives said. "We expect viewing to decline and membership growth to decelerate as home confinement ends," Netflix said in a letter to shareholders. The company's biggest expansion from January through March came from Europe, where it added 4.4 million new customers. However, it did not release individual country growth figures. Total revenue rose to $5.77bn (5.3bn) from $4.52bn. In the quarter, Netflix true-crime documentary "Tiger King," about a colourful Oklahoma zookeeper, became a cultural sensation. It also released reality show "Love is Blind," and a new season of Spanish-language thriller "Money Heist". Most programming for 2020, and much of 2021, already has been filmed and is being finished remotely in post-production, chief content officer Ted Sarandos said in a post-earnings interview. "We don't anticipate moving the schedule around much, certainly not in 2020," Mr Sarandos said. The company is among the few businesses to benefit from restrictions imposed worldwide in March to stop the spread of the highly infectious coronavirus. Reuters Bamako, Mali (PANA) - Mali's Ministry of Health has denounced malicious individuals who present themselves as health workers and offer fake rapid COVID-19 tests for a large sum of money The Phoenix Hill Sports Park in the capital of Southwest Chinas Sichuan province hosted the 2021 Chinese FA Cup final as its inaugural event Sunday. Covering an area of 128,000 square meters, the park consists of two world-class sports venues, a retail and hotel complex, and a public plaza. It will be one of the venues of the 31st Summer World University Games Jan 12, 2022 05:45 PM BOSTON, MASS. (April 23, 2020) - New research by an international team of scientists reveals that endangered North Atlantic right whales are in much poorer body condition than their counterparts in the southern hemisphere. This alarming research, led by Dr. Fredrik Christiansen from Aarhus University in Denmark, was published this week in the journal Marine Ecology Progress Series. The study is the result of a collaborative effort by scientist from 12 institutions across 5 nations. Among the coauthors are Senior Scientist Peter Corkeron and Associate Scientist Heather Pettis of the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium and Michael Moore and Carolyn Miller of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The analyses revealed that individual North Atlantic right whales--juveniles, adults and mothers--were all in poorer body condition than individual whales from the three populations of Southern right whales. This is alarming, since poor body condition for North Atlantic right whales helps explain why too many of them are dying and why they are not giving birth to enough calves. It could also be affecting their growth and delaying juveniles reaching sexual maturity. These combined impacts on individuals help explain why the species is in decline. Since the cessation of large-scale commercial whaling in the last century, most populations of southern right whales have recovered well. Now there are about 10,000-15,000 southern right whales. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the North Atlantic right whales, found today mostly off the east coast of North America. There are now around 410 individuals left, and the species is heading to extinction. Lethal vessel strikes and entanglement in fishing gear continue to kill these whales. Individual North Atlantic right whales also have to cope with the energetic expense and other costs that are caused by frequent entanglements in fishing gear, in particular lobster and crab pots. These burdens, along with a change in the abundance and distribution of the rice-sized plankton that they eat, have left these whales thin and unhealthy, which makes them less likely to have a calf. This, in turn, contributes to the current overall decline of the species. To quantify "thin and unhealthy," Dr. Christiansen and his colleagues investigated the body condition of individual North Atlantic right whales and compared their condition with individuals from three increasing populations of Southern right whales: off Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. "Good body condition and abundant fat reserves are crucial for the reproduction of large whales, including right whales, as the animals rely on these energy stores during the breeding season when they are mostly fasting," said Dr. Christiansen. Stored fat reserves are particularly important for mothers, who need the extra energy to support the growth of their newly born calf while they are nursing. The study is the largest assessment of the body condition of baleen whales in the world. The international research team used drones and a method called aerial photogrammetry to measure the body length and width of individual right whales in these four regions around the world. From aerial photographs, the researchers estimated the body volume of individual whales, which they then used to derive an index of body condition or relative fatness. "This started out as a conversation between a few of us over dinner at a conference in 2015. Now that the results are out, they're quite shocking," said Peter Corkeron of the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life at the New England Aquarium. "We know that North Atlantic right whales as a species are doing poorly, but this work brings home that as individuals, they're also doing poorly. Their decline has been so rapid that we know it's not simply because not enough calves are being born - too many whales are also dying from human-caused injuries. But this study also shows that their decline isn't solely due to these deaths. Their problems are more insidious, and we need to find a way to ensure that the health of all individual whales improves." "For North Atlantic right whales as individuals, and as a species, things are going terribly wrong. This comparison with their southern hemisphere relatives shows that most individual North Atlantic right whales are in much worse condition than they should be," said Michael Moore from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. "As a veterinarian, I've long been concerned about how entanglements affect the welfare of these whales. Now we are starting to draw the linkages from welfare to this species' decline. Sub-lethal entanglement trauma, along with changing food supplies is making them too skinny to reproduce well, and lethal entanglement and vessel trauma are killing them. To reverse these changes, we must: redirect vessels away from, and reduce their speed in, right whale habitat; retrieve crab and lobster traps without rope in the water column using available technologies; and minimize ocean noise from its many sources." This work was supported by funding from NOAA, US Office of Naval Research Marine Mammals Program, World Wildlife Fund for Nature Australia, Murdoch University School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, New Zealand Antarctic Research institute, Otago University and New Zealand Whale and Dolphin Trust and Argentina National Geographic Society. For 40 years, the New England Aquarium's right whale team has extensively researched and tracked individual right whales and curates the North Atlantic Right Whale Catalog. The scientific team monitors the whales' arrival at breeding and feeding grounds, registering new calves, death rates, and also measuring changes in stress and reproductive hormones. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is dedicated to advancing knowledge of the ocean and its connection with the Earth system through a sustained commitment to excellence in science, engineering and education, and to the application of this knowledge to problems facing society. ### Advertisement By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 23, 2020 | MAYFIELD By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 23, 2020 | 12:01 PM | MAYFIELD A contractor has completed demolition of an overpass, allowing southbound traffic on the U.S. 45-Bypass and U.S. 45-Business to be restored on a temporary connection. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet says the temporary alignment was opened Wednesday night at the southwest edge of Mayfield. The temporary traffic configuration is expected to remain in place through most of the summer while construction to attach the New KY 80 Bypass to the south leg of the intersection continues. The new traffic configuration requires traffic from Mayfield heading south along U.S. 45 to turn right on the Macedonia Road Connector ramp, negotiate an All-Way Stop to turn left on a 2-way to return to the original alignment of U.S. 45 toward Pryorsburg and Wingo. Southbound drivers will have access to the I-69 Exit 21 Interchange by turning right at the All Way Stop. Southbound traffic on the U.S. 45-Bypass will also have to stop and either turn left to head north on U.S. 45 into Mayfield or continue straight ahead at the All-Way Stop to head South on U.S. 45. Northbound traffic on U.S. 45 can turn right at the All-Way Stop to continue northward into Mayfield or go straight to connect to I-69 Exit 21. This temporary configuration includes an extended section of 2-way traffic along the old roadway. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Toh Ting Wei (The Straits Times/Asia News Network) Singapore Thu, April 23, 2020 12:09 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3bf095 2 News Singapore-Airlines,Singapore,travel,Jetstar,Jetstar-Asia-Airways Free The vast majority of Singapore Airlines (SIA) planes will stay grounded in May as it extends cancellation of its flights - slashed by about 96 per cent - in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This marks a one-month extension to the wide-ranging flight cuts that were announced in late March, amid a plunge in demand for air travel and sweeping border closures to international flights. SIA said on Monday that it will continue to fly to just 15 cities, such as Bangkok, Los Angeles and Frankfurt. It also slightly increased the frequency of flights on a few routes. Most notably, there will be 11 more flights next month to Bangkok. There were only three flights to the Thai city in April due to an ongoing ban against international passenger flights from landing there. The ban is expected to last till the end of the month. SIA and its regional arm SilkAir said they will continue to adjust services in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Customers whose flights were cancelled by the airlines will retain the full value of the unused portion of their tickets as flight credits. They will also be awarded bonus flight credits when rebooking their trips. Until this crisis hit, SIA was the 15th largest airline group in the world, serving around 140 destinations in more than 35 countries and territories. Read also: Singapore Airlines cuts flight capacity by half, sets for more amid COVID-19 spread Meanwhile, another Singapore airline Jetstar Asia said on Monday it will temporarily resume flights to Manila, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday. It had earlier this month said it will ground all of its flights till May 19. Resuming these flights will help create essential travel links and assist with freight in the region, said Jetstar. "These services are only available to citizens and permanent residents who are returning home, or those with prior written approval for travel," a spokesman added. "On board, safety remains our first priority and while the risk of contracting COVID-19 on an aircraft is regarded as low, passenger numbers will be reduced to allow for safe distancing and onboard services will be scaled back with only water being served during the flight." This means that only up to 112 seats will be available on each flight - about 60 per cent of the usual capacity of its planes. All passengers will be required to wear a mask at all times. Crew members will also use masks and personal protective equipment in accordance with guidelines. Topics : This article appeared on The Straits Times newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post The African Development Bank and SA Taxi Development Finance Proprietary Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of SA Taxi Holdings Proprietary Limited , have signed a $100 million loan agreement to support the firms growing strategy to empower taxi operators with limited access to finance from traditional financiers. The loan agreement, which carries an eight-year tenor and includes a six-month grace period, was signed on Monday, 16 March between the Banks Director of Infrastructure & Urban Development Amadou Oumarou, and Lorenzo Cardoso, Chief Financial Officer and Director of SA Taxi. The funding transaction entered into with the African Development Bank is instrumental to SA Taxis medium and long term strategy. The tenor and size of the transaction will contribute towards the continued success of SA Taxi to empower SMEs and create opportunities that ensure the sustainability of the minibus taxi industry, Cardoso said. We are proud to be an internationally recognised African business. The financial package, comprising a senior loan of $10 million and an associated facility of ZAR 1.4 billion (about $97 million), will provide a powerful boost to industrialization through improved urban mobility for working class South Africans. SA Taxi is a vertically integrated minibus taxi platform utilizing specialist capabilities, enriched proprietary data and technology, to provide developmental finance, insurance and other services to empower Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), thus enabling the sustainability of the minibus taxi industry. In addition to minibus vehicle retail and financing services, SA Taxi also provides specialized minibus taxi insurance, vehicle tracking, maintenance, and refurbishment services to taxi operators through SA Taxi Auto Repairs and SA Taxi Protect, its wholly-owned subsidiaries. While approximately 80% of SA Taxi clients are unbanked and may not ordinarily qualify for the formal banking sector, under the Banks financing arrangement, approximately 25% of direct beneficiaries will continue to be women and approximately 22 % will be youth under 35 years old. The Banks facility is expected to contribute a significant component of SA Taxis funding requirement over the next three years. Oumarou described the signing as an exciting new chapter in the Banks partnership with SA Taxi that would bring real and tangible benefits to the people of South Africa with the prospect of scaling up this model to other African countries that are facing significant urban public transportation challenges. The evolving public transportation systems with para-transit minibuses filling the market segment between private taxis and municipal bus transit, is key to achieving South Africas economic success and social progress, Oumarou, said. Therefore, the Bank is proud to be supporting the SA Taxi Group in its pioneering efforts to positively shape the ecosystem of public transportation services in South Africa. Up to 90 % of vehicles financed by SA Taxi are manufactured in South Africa, a powerful boost to industrialization. This makes the loan facility consistent with the Banks Ten-Year Strategy (2013 2022) and Country Strategy Paper for South Africa 2018-2022, as well as two of its High 5 priorities: Industrialize Africa and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa. The Banks funding will ultimately support SA Taxis continued investment in the taxi industry and its strategy of enabling taxi operators to replace old vehicles with newer, safer and lower emission minibus taxis. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Articles similaires Ramadan is the holiest time for Muslims all around the world, and followers devote all their time this month to fasting from sunrise to sunset, praying, self-reformation and self-reflection, charity and community. Although Muslims from different countries and origins may have cultural and traditional differences, some practices remain the same. Ramadan only commences upon the sighting of the new (crescent) moon. Everyone participates in the pre-sunrise meal, Suhoor or Sehri, ensuring that they eat the last morsel before the call to the morning prayer, Fajr. During the course of the day, one cannot eat, drink or smoke. The fast is complete in the evening, at sunset, when the call for the evening prayer, Maghrib, is called out. It is advised to break ones fast with dates and water, if one doesnt have dates anything sweet, or simply water will also do. All Muslims pray the special prayers for Ramadan at night, that is Taraweeh. Eid-ul-Fitr, which is the grand feast that marks the end of Ramadan, is celebrated after the sighting of the new moon for the month of Shawwal. These are just some of the many similarities in the cultural and traditional practices related to Ramadan that all Muslims around the world follow, however, every country has its own unique set of traditions and cultural practices that devotees from other countries may have never even heard of. Here are some of the unique and unknown practices that Muslims from different countries participate in during the holy month of Ramadan. ALSO READ: Ramadan 2020: History, significance and when does Ramadan begin Light it up Most Islamic countries decorate public squares, streets and mosques with beautiful light displays. This is a way of beckoning the month of Ramadan. It is believed that on the gift night of Ramadan in AD 968, the Egyptian city of Cairo was being visited by the Fatimid caliphs and their way was lit up by hordes of Egyptians holding lanterns (fanoos in Arabic). This is one story on the origin of the use of lanterns and lights during Ramadan, however, another account states that it was one of the Fatimid caliphs who ordered the imams of mosques to light the religious structures as most Muslims spent the night praying there during the holy month. After Ramadan the lights would be stored and kept to use for the next year. In India too, mosques and areas with a majority Muslim population are adorned with lights, and in certain parts where the Muslims are a minority and the adhaan (azaan, call for prayer) for Maghrib isnt announced, mosques generally light up a green or white light, sometimes even burst a cracker or blow a loud whistle to let the Muslims in the particular area know that it is time to break the fast. ALSO READ: Ramadan 2020: Wishes, messages, SMS, Whatsapp messages for friends and family Indonesia Indonesia has the highest Muslim population in the world and Ramadan is celebrated with much pomp and fervour in this country. Children are often spotted playing with firecrackers, and these play quite a significant role in Ramadan festivities. In Bali and West Java, a sort of reverse Thanksgiving takes place, and people get together and eat while they apologise for their past mistakes to their loved ones. In another tradition called Ziarah, reminiscent of Mexicos Day of the Dead celebrations, Indonesians from certain parts of the country visit those loved ones who have already passed on. This serves the purpose of remembering and praying for those who have left the world, and also to remember about ones own afterlife. Java Believers from the island of Java, which lies between Sumatra and Bali, bathe in holy springs to prepare for fasting in a ritual called Padusan. In Javas capital city, Semarang, a model of a Warak ngendog (translating to egg laying bird), a hybrid creature resembling a horse and a dragon, is paraded around during the Dugderan festival, which marks the beginning of Ramadan. The Warak ngendog is a representation of the three Muslim communities in Semarang: Chinese, Arab and Javanese. Toys of the Warak ngendog are also sold during the Dugderan festival. ALSO READ: Ramazan 2020 Moon Sighting LIVE updates India and Pakistan Once the Eid moon is seen at the end of Ramadan, also referred to as Chand Raat by people of Indian and Pakistani origin, women flock to markets to buy colourful bangles and ornaments to match their outfits. They decorate their hands with henna to celebrate Eid. Waking up with songs A mesaharati, a dawn caller, beats a drum while walking through neighbourhoods in the Middle East during Ramadan to wake people up for Suhoor, or the pre-fast meal. The kentongan slit drum is used for the same purpose in Southeast Asia. In certain parts of India, like Mumbai and Delhi, this is observed too, where the mesaharati plays songs on the daphli. It is an ancestral tradition in India, and the numbers of mesaharatis here is dwindling. Muslims usually gift the mesaharati money, clothes and food for his services during Ramadan. Not fasting is a crime Failing to observe Ramadan fasts is a crime and punishable offense in some Muslim countries, and not just for Muslims but non-Muslims too. Those who are not fasting are expected to eat within the confines of their homes as eating or drinking in public can lead to serious punishments. In Kuwait, those found eating, drinking or smoking will either be fined no more than one hundred Kuwaiti dinar, face a month - no more - of incarceration, or both. The punishment for the same in the United Arab Emirates is up to one hundred fifty hours of community service. However, courts in Saudi Arabia offer the harshest punishments, described by The Economist as taking Ramadan more seriously than anywhere else. In Saudi, the punishments for consuming food or drink in public for Muslims range between flogging, imprisonment and can lead to deportation for non-Muslim foreigners. And if you break your fast before the call to Maghrib prayer in Malaysia, you could be arrested, and the sale of food, drink, or tobacco for immediate consumption can result in a fine of up to one thousand ringgit and six months imprisonment. If you are a repeat offender, the penalties too are doubled. What are some interesting traditions in your country? Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter An outbreak of tornadoes in Oklahoma and Texas have resulted in the death of two and the destruction of hundreds of homes between the two states. Two people were killed Wednesday when a tornado tore through Marshall County in southern Oklahoma. The twister reportedly hit a manufacturing plant just as workers were leaving for the day. According to emergency management officials, another two people were killed and nearly 30 people injured in tornadoes that hit Polk County, Texas, KLTV reports. Another damaging storm, also an apparent tornado swept, through a Southeast Texas county, causing widespread damage. Scroll down for video Two people were killed Wednesday when an apparent tornado that damaged at least two businesses tore through Marshall County in southern Oklahoma. According to emergency management officials, two people were killed and nearly 30 people injured in tornadoes that hit Polk County, Texas The Oklahoma storm hit Madill, near the Red River, about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, causing widespread damage to the town, including its residential neighborhoods, said Donny Raley, the city's emergency manager. One person's body was found about a quarter-mile from J&I Manufacturing, a trailer factory about six miles (10 kilometers) southwest of Madill, Marshall County Emergency Management Director Robert Chaney said. Chaney said he had no other information on the person, but said the suspected tornado hit the plant just as its workforce was leaving for the day and caused severe damage. A woman received medical attention after an apparent tornado touched down in Onalaska, Texas The Oklahoma storm hit Madill, near the Red River, about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, causing widespread damage to the town, including its residential neighborhoods A line of vechiles is seen along FM 3459 in Onalaska, north of Houston The storm also hit the Oklahoma Steel and Wire plant, a fence wire manufacturer on the south side of Madill, the county seat of Marshall County and home to about 4,000 residents. The apparent tornado in Southeast Texas touched down about 6pm Wednesday near Onalaska, about 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of Houston. The storm rumbled east through Seven Oaks. The storm caused severe damage to homes and other structures, but there were no immediate reports of deaths or serious injuries, said Carrie Miller, a spokeswoman for Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy. There were 21 tornadoes reported across Texas and Oklahoma as of 10.30pm Wednesday, ABC News reports. A car is seen in a ditch in Onalaska, Texas, after a tornado touched down There were 21 tornadoes reported across Texas and Oklahoma as of 10.30pm Wednesday People wait outside the Yaupon Cove subdivision after an apparent tornado touched down in Onalaska As of 10:30 p.m. Eastern time Wednesday, there had been 21 tornadoes reported across Texas and Oklahoma. Texas Governor Greg Abbott released a statement acknowledging the tornadoes but stating that there were 'additional resources' ready to tackle the bad weather that was coming into the evening. 'My office, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and other state agencies are working with local officials to provide immediate support to the areas devastated by this tornado,' Abbott said in a statement. 'The state has already deployed response teams and medical resources to help Texans in need and to provide assistance to these communities. Our hearts are with our fellow Texans tonight and the state will continue to do everything it can to support those affected by this severe weather.' A National Weather Service team will be dispatched to survey damage and to confirm whether the storms were tornadoes. He's currently quarantining with his wife and kids in Byron Bay, Australia. But hunky actor Chris Hemsworth is making sure to maintain his impeccable physique while in lockdown, with the 36-year-old Thor star explaining his makeshift home routine to Ellen DeGeneres on Thursday. And the talk show host's producer Andy Lassner aka Average Andy tried to emulate the Aussie action hero, with mixed results. Working it out: Hunky actor Chris Hemsworth is making sure to maintain his impeccable physique while in lockdown, with the 36-year-old Thor star explaining his makeshift home routine to Ellen on Thursday Chris' workout utilized such household items as a laundry basket, cans of soup and bottles of laundry detergent. While the Marvel mainstay performed his exercises, Ellen tried to talk her longtime producer through the motions, to little avail. During the interview, Hemsworth also revealed his bestie, fellow actor and Byron Bay neighbor Matt Damon was currently quarantined in Europe with his family. He also touched on the difficulties of homeschooling the three children he shares with wife Elsa Pataky, describing the daily process as 'three hours of negotiation and if we're lucky, twenty minutes of actual work.' Not quite: And the talk show host's producer Andy Lassner aka Average Andy [top] tried to emulate the Aussie action hero, with mixed results Nice try: While the Marvel mainstay performed his exercises, Ellen tried to talk her longtime producer through the motions, to little avail Meanwhile, Hemsworth recently couldn't believe the determination of one of his fans who risked a serious accident while chasing him down for an autograph. The Australian actor, who was filming new movie Extraction in India at the time, had a pal film the moment an 'enthusiastic' fan wove through busy streets on his motorbike to get the star's signature. In the clip which Chris shared on Tuesday, the man could be seen riding alongside Chris' SUV waving a photo of Chris as the actor expressed his shock at the fan's fearlessness. Wow: Chris Hemsworth was left impressed as he watched a daredevil fan weave through the streets on his motorbike to get his autograph on his recent trip to India to film Extraction 'One of the more enthusiastic fans I've ever seen,' Chris commented as he flashed a look at the camera. 'Yes mate, not in the middle of the traffic though,' the 36-year-old said as he watched the man keep up with his vehicle despite various obstacles in his path. 'Watch out for the- oh god, oh god, oh god, oh god...' Chris muttered as he started getting nervous for the man's safety. After disappearing briefly, Chris was surprised to see the fan return with friends. 'Please, you're gonna crash! he pleaded at the eager fans. Autograph please! The man rode alongside Chris' SUV waving a photo of the actor as Chris expressed his shock at his fearless admirer 'Yes mate, not in the middle of the traffic though,' the 36-year-old said as he watched the man keep up with his vehicle despite various obstacles in his path 'One of the more enthusiastic fans I've ever seen' the Aussie star commented Freaked out: After disappearing briefly, Chris was surprised to see the fan return with friends. 'Please, you're gonna crash! he pleaded with the eager fans So impressed with their determination the Thor star decided to stop and meet his new friends and posed for selfies with a huge crowd of people. Sharing the video to his Instagram, Chris joked that he had found a new stuntman for his action movies. 'Persistence pays off - not only did this guy get an autograph, he also does all my motorbike stunts from now on.' he wrote. Chris recently admitted that the action scenes for his new Netflix movie were the most intense of his career. They got it! So impressed with their determination the Thor star decided to stop and meet his new friends Excited to see their hero: The friendly star posed for photos with a big group of fans 'I think if I added up every action film that I'd ever done or every piece of action I've ever done in a movie, it wouldn't even come close to what we've done in the last nine weeks on this movie,' the actor told The Sunday Telegraph. Chris plays damaged mercenary Tyler Rake who is contracted to rescue the kidnapped son of crime lord from India. 'We're limping home at the end of most days, it's the most complex, most real-life action I've ever done,' he said of the work that he and the movie's stuntmen put into the production. Extraction is set to be released on Netflix on Friday April 24. [April 23, 2020] AI-ready Telemedicine Digital Platform By KareXpert GURUGRAM, India, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- KareXpert Technologies, a Reliance Jio funded company has launched the Cloud-based & Mobile-ready Telemedicine Digital Platform for Hospitals, which is fully compliant to MoFHW Telemedicine Guidelines. An integrated platform that not only facilitated the video/audio calling but also has EMR/EHR, E-prescription, E-payment, and Medical IoT enabled. In the current crisis, hospitals are facing a double edge sword, where on one hand they are losing 80-90% of their OPD walk-in revenue and on the other hand, have to invest heavily in the readiness for the pandemic patient management, as reported by Mint. Telemedicine solutions are stepping up in the spotlight and helping hospitals to maintain a constant connection with their patients in need. The recently launched Telemedicine Guidelines, by MoFHW India, are yet another testament to the importance of these solutions in the current scenario. But most freebie communication solutions are not compliant with the guidelines issued or even bare minimum safe to use for normal video calling let alone for medical consultations. Hence te healthcare fraternity is facing a lot of problems in choosing the holistic yet safe solution for them. The Telemedicine Digital Platform by KareXpert is one of the best available platforms. Leading corporate and large hospitals are already using the platform to connect with patients. One of the top hospital chains on the Pan India basis, Paras Hospitals went live with the platform at 7 different locations across India (Gurgaon, Ranchi, Panchkula, Patna, Darbhanga, Udaipur, Bliss Panchkula) in just a few days. The Paras Hospitals experienced a 25-30% increase in Telemedicine consultations in just 4 days of going live with the solution. The holistic platform helps hospitals to maintain a proper trail of all the consultations done, revenue received, and keep all the vital records of the patient safe for the audit purpose. Most of the other standalone audio/video calling solutions lack all these features, resulting in exposing the hospital and patient both to malpractices. In view of the COVID-19 increasing spread, KareXpert has decided to provide free access to its Telemedicine digital platform till June 30th, 2020. Hospitals can now start their Telemedicine practice after completing a signup form and KareXpert executives will help them to start their services instantly. "We stand in full solidarity with Indian healthcare professionals in this fight against COVID-19 and believe that our initiative of providing free Telemedicine digital platform access to hospitals will enable them in reducing the exposure risk," said Nidhi Jain, CEO-KareXpert Technologies. About KareXpert Telemedicine: KareXpert Telemedicine, a cloud-first and mobile-first digital solution help in expanding value-based healthcare to remote patients. A disruptive and cost-effective platform that comes with an integrated Patient EMR/EHR, cloud-connected Medical IoT devices (ECG, Spo2, BP, Temperature, Pulse oximeter, Blood Sugar) for the machine to machine real-time information sharing with the remote doctor, and enabled with E-Prescription for the doctor to send the prescription in the same session. KareXpert Telemedicine gives healthcare organizations the flexibility to deliver high-quality care to their patients anytime, anywhere. To sign-up, visit the KareXpert website today. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1094951/KareXpert_Logo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Having rampaged through the wealthier Northern Hemisphere, the coronavirus is expected to strike next in the poorer South, where many countries are far less equipped to cope with the medical and economic ravages. Fortunately, there are international organizations such as the International Monetary Fund and the World Health Organization to help with just such a contingency. Unfortunately, the Trump administration is hampering the work of these critically needed agencies. President Trump took aim first at the W.H.O. last week, suspending funding for the organization pending a review of its handling of the outbreak, which he deemed too slow and too reverential toward China. Next, the White House turned to the I.M.F., blocking a new issue of its special drawing rights, an international reserve asset created by the fund in 1969 to supplement member countries official reserves. There is some understandable anger at international institutions. The W.H.O. was slow off the mark, and its public statements praising Chinas measures against the virus made no reference to Beijings initial silence and continuing disinformation campaign about the outbreak. The special drawing rights, for their part, are allocated in proportion to voting rights in the I.M.F., so the greatest benefit would be for stronger economies that need it less. But these are arguments best left for normal times. They certainly have no place when instruments of immediate economic and medical aid, created for just the sort of crisis the world is suffering today, are most desperately needed. At the outset Mr. Trump had nothing but praise for the W.H.O.s and Chinas handling of the pandemic the W.H.O., he said initially, was working very hard and very smart, and as late as March 27, he tweeted fulsome praise for China: China has been through much & has developed a strong understanding of the virus. The I.M.F., it seems, was not yet on his radar. Jonathan Tallman will fight for Northwest Florida in the House, and most importantly, he wont forget the voters who sent him there. The Florida Faith and Freedom Coalition, Floridas most influential faith-based Get-Out-The-Vote organization, endorsed Jonathan Tallman for Florida House District 4. Tallmans commitment to issues that faith-based voters care about makes him the best candidate for Florida House District 4. Jonathan Tallman will fight for Northwest Florida in the House, and most importantly, he wont forget the voters who sent him there, said Florida Faith and Freedom Statewide Field Director, Mark Phillips. As a man who cares deeply for his neighbors as well as his own family, Jonathan Tallman is exactly the leader we need to continue Representative Mel Ponders great work in standing up for our values in the Florida House. His passion for empowering families and supporting our veterans and active duty military, will benefit the entire state. Were excited for him to join his fellow conservatives in the Florida House. I am honored to have received this endorsement from the Florida Faith and Freedom Coalition, said Tallman. Florida is entering uncharted territory, but we know how to recover from disasters as well as any state in the nationmaybe better. I have full confidence and faith that well come back stronger than ever from this dire public health and economic situation. The Faith and Freedom Coalition endorsement recognizes my commitment to get our state back on its feet and protect our most vulnerable citizens, both now and in the future. Tallmans endorsement today comes on the heels of a recent announcement by the Coalition that it will spend $50 million to reelect President Trump and down ballot candidates in 2020much of that in Florida to support door knocking, church and precinct organization, direct mail, and digital advertising. President Trump described the Faith and Freedom Coalition as the largest faith-based get-out-the-vote organization in modern history. Visit floridaffc.com to volunteer or donate. Caitlyn Sanford: 850.536.8630 Follow Faith and Freedom on Twitter @flvotes2020 Like us on Facebook @flvotes2020 More than 73,000 South Carolinians signed up for unemployment benefits last week as the pandemic stretched on and Gov. Henry McMaster began planning for how to restart parts of the state's economy. The new ranks of sidelined workers joined the other 272,560 residents who filed claims over the previous month. Initial unemployment claims are one of the key statistics that economists are monitoring to gauge how local economies across the country are faring amid the pandemic. Nationwide, more than 26 million Americans have filed for jobless benefits in the past five weeks, pushing unemployment to levels last seen during the Great Depression of the 1930s. In South Carolina, the sign-up figures suggest nearly 15 percent of the jobs that existed in the state in early March may have been temporarily wiped away by the public health crisis. The growing economic toll is one of the primary reasons McMaster began lifting some of the public restrictions he put in place last month. Earlier this week, the he reopened public beach access points and allowed some retails stores to reopen. Those orders allowed cashiers and other employees at jewelry shops, flea markets, clothing outlets and sporting goods stores to go back to work. But it included only a small percentage of the 341,730 people who submitted an unemployment application in the past five weeks. The question that many economists are trying to figure out is if the current economic downturn will cause more lasting harm to businesses and the country's workforce. One of the concerns in South Carolina is how intertwined the state's economy is with the tourism and hospitality industries, especially along the coastline. Those sectors have been devastated by the pandemic and the public health restrictions that were put in place to curb the spread of the virus. More than 48,000 idled restaurant workers have filed for aid in recent weeks. And more than 12,000 hotel and motel workers joined them in the unemployment system. Restaurants aren't allowed to reopen their dine-in services yet. But even when they do, there are worries about how quickly the businesses might see their profit margins return. Many hospitality-related companies in Charleston and Myrtle Beach rely heavily on the influx of tourists every year, and it's difficult to say how quickly those visitors will return if the novel coronavirus continues to spread throughout the country. James Black is one of the hospitality workers that was let go last month. He was furloughed from his position as a bartender at The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel on Meeting Street. Black, who has worked in the industry for 16 years, expects dramatic changes in the way he and his co-workers do their jobs once they're recalled. He believes there will be more emphasis on sanitizing everything they touch. And he worries fewer people will be inclined to book a vacation in Charleston. "My sense of things is that this is going to completely transform how we operate," he said. For now, Black is focused on trying to replace his lost income through the state's unemployment insurance program. He filed his claim nearly a month ago. But he's yet to receive a penny. The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce, which manages the unemployment system, has moved in recent weeks to expand the number of workers processing claims and handling customer service calls. The agency announced last week it was trying to increase its call center staffing to more than 500 people. Black, 51, said his experience with the state's unemployment website and phone system has been dismal. The website crashed on him multiple times as he tried to finalize his application. His information was rejected several times because of problems with the federal social security check. He's left his phone number for a customer service representative, but received no response. He's unsure when he might see the money from the unemployment benefits arrive in his bank account. And he's not alone. Of the 272,560 people who applied for unemployment benefits over the past month, 178,083 have been approved and were receiving benefits as of last week, according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Labor. Black is currently living off of the $1,200 federal stimulus check he received and has received some additional support from a fund set up by Wyndham Hotels and Resorts. The continued delay is concerning. As the end of April approaches, Black said he has utility bills, a mortgage, a car payment and child support to cover. The page youre looking for cannot be found. Check the address and spelling are correct. If youre still encountering problems, please Contact Us. When you think about it, with our current social distancing, it makes perfect sense that there is at present an uptick in interest in that famed Roaring Twenties song-and-dance sensation known as The Charleston. In its heyday, the uptempo, stride-styled ragtime hit was the impish harbinger of a bold new era, one that shrugged off arcane societal standards and championed effusive glitz and fizz in the face of sobering post-war strife. There are other parallels, too. When the loose-limbed, donkey-legged Jazz Age number emerged in 1923, it was a regular at Prohibition-era speakeasies, those forbidden gathering places. Then as now, a special code was needed to gain entrance, then for the door and now for the Zoom meeting. The Charleston at 350 But that's just my penchant for parallels. The real reason that The Charleston is now kicking up its satin heels is as a nod to the city's past. It is twisting and toeing its way through 350th festivities like a tipsy party guest. The subject of Zoom concerts and dance instructions, The Charleston always goes better with a bead-bedazzled get-up, and I bet a wooden nickel we'll get a gander of some soon. Yes, its name makes it a shoo-in for a big old birthday. However, just what renders the nearly century-old song composed by James P. Johnson such an enduring lapazoo? (That term, incidentally, was culled from Cecil Macks lyrics for the song, and while I have yet to land on its precise meaning, its context tells me its akin to a sockdollager, which is a humdinger.) "The Charleston has always been so phenomenal to me as being one of the most integrating cultural expressions," said artist Jonathan Green, who currently is serving as co-chair of the Charleston 350 Commemoration Commission. "Charleston just sort of unified and gave the South something creative. Blacks, whites, everyone was doing it all over the country." Parsing its past Furthermore, as its lyrics also claim, was it "made in Caroline"? Well, yes and no. In his book Charleston Jazz, Jack McCray attributes the Jenkins Orphanage bands that toured around the world as the inspiration for the 1923 song The Charleston, which was the work of composer and stride pianist James P. Johnson for the Broadway show Runnin' Wild. According to McCray, he was inspired to do so by observing Charlestonians and Jenkins musicians dancing movements called geechee, a colloquial term applied to South Carolina Gullahs. Thus, West African dances are at the heart of this art. A Riverwalk Jazz radio series episode devoted to him shares that Johnson recalled first seeing The Charleston danced at a dive called the Jungles Casino in New York in 1913. Johnson recalls: The Jungles was just a cellar without fixings. The people who came were mostly from Charleston, South Carolina. Most of them worked as longshoremen or on the ships. They danced hollering and screaming until they were cooked. They kept up all night or until their shoes wore off, most of them after a heavy days work on the docks. The Charleston was a regulation cotillion step without a name. While I was playing for these Southern dancers, I composed a number of 'Charlestons' eight in all, all with that damn rhythm. One of these later became my famous 'Charleston' on Broadway.' However, the connection to the South Carolina city was not limited to that. McCray points out that in the Jazz Age of the 1920s, Charleston musicians stocked the pit bands and orchestras on Broadway and all around New York City. One of those was Smalls Paradise, a wildly popular Harlem dance club that was opened by Charlestonian Edwin Smalls in 1925 and featured Charleston musicians in its house band, Charlie Johnsons Paradise 10. In Smalls' 1974 New York Times obituary, the club is described as catering to both black and white patrons, many of them quite illustrious, counting among its habitues Tallulah Bankhead, Walter Winchell and Bill (Bojangles) Robinson. In a 2005 New York Times story, Harlem architectural historian Michael Henry Adams describes a space where waiters delivered trays of drinks while dancing The Charleston or on roller skates ..." Sign up for our new opinion newsletter Get a weekly recap of South Carolina opinion and analysis from The Post and Courier in your inbox on Monday evenings. Email Sign Up! The Charleston returns As it happens, The Charleston once again ushers in a strange new era in the city, one coinciding with a big anniversary that prompts it to look back as it moves forward. Like the Lost Generation of the 1920s, a new generation must rethink all the societal givens. Earlier this year, Q Concerts chamber music group took a fascinating crack at it to open a concert called Speakeasy! Taking place at Principle Gallery Charleston, the concert offered ample hootch, served to guests including several who were fittingly decked in feathers and beads. With the unexpected scuttling of some 350 celebrations, the little dance that could has of late been embraced by other Charleston artists. Charleston Symphony enlisted the Charleston Symphony Brass Quintet in a zippy, Zoom concert with the five musicians blaring brassy exuberance from their respective homes. The video is available on its new CSO Channel on YouTube. Now up and running is The Charleston Project, Chamber Music Charleston's new initiative that sprang from a shift in plans in response to the coronavirus. Driven by various virtual and social media platforms, it gathers artists from Charleston and beyond to share the abiding bliss of the dance with audiences all over the world. The project launched with a masterful, upbeat Zoom performance of the song featuring Chamber Music Charleston musicians and special guests. There is also a dance tutorial with Natasha Nast created by Palmetto City Ballet; a sing-along video with singing sister act Gracie and Lacy; footage from a 1930s documentary on the dance craze, as well as videos submitted from friends all over the world. These videos will be housed on their YouTube channel, where Chamber Music Charleston will regularly add new content. "It's a crazy song and dance with an interesting background and history," said Sandra Nikolajevs, president and artistic director of Chamber Music Charleston. It also appealed to Chamber Music Charleston because it is multifaceted, comprising not only the tune, but also lyrics, the dance, the history and more, which offer "so many different arms and associations." Chamber Music Charleston is also inviting folks to submit their own videos. "I think at this time, when we're faced with this pandemic, it's really important to do something that is completely not related to the terrible things going on in the world and find the thing that is full of joy," said Nikolajevs. "The Charleston really epitomizes joy, energy, life and fun." Green and the 350 Commission would like to see the embrace of The Charleston continue, with the city using the iconic dance as a means for all in Charleston to celebrate and embrace its cultural legacy. "Charleston needs to start owning much of its cultural expression," said Green, who suggests that during isolation we could all practice The Charleston and emerge ready to dance when the time comes. Green also hopes other initiatives take wing, such as one in which Charleston County schools would offer dance instruction that could culminate in a countywide competition. He and members of the commission also envision future gatherings in designated spaces around the city where the public could share in the dance. "There's nothing that can bring people together, in terms of differences, like The Charleston," Green said, adding that around the world, dancing unifies cultures more than anything, including religion and even music. From where I'm sitting, I'm thinking that a unifying dance to bring all of Charleston together would be a true-blue lapazoo. Mumbai, April 23 : Despite being terminated abruptly, "Patiala Babes" producers have decided to pay stipend to workers and the creative team till the lockdown ends. They will be giving stipend ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 25000 per person to over 60 team members. "Patiala Babes" was terminated owing to the ongoing nationwide COVID-19 lockdown. The show's writer-producer Rajita Sharma has expressed her sadness and trauma on the story "remaining unfinished and untold". "It was encouraging that Sony gave us a platform to bring to life our very bold narrative. Since the whole world is under siege, these times call for some unfortunate but necessary measures. 'Patiala Babes' will always remain close to our heart," Rajita added. "The pandemic seems to be preparing for a long haul and as the show is shut, our workers are jobless." Vivek Budakoti and Rajita pointed out. "We have decided to share whatever little profit we earned with our fellow workers who made us what we are as a production house," they said. They have announced that the daily wage workers, including light men, spot boys, setting workers, sound assistants, assistant directors, production assistants, and the creative team will be given a regular fixed stipend every month till the time the lockdown is in effect. "This is our commitment and support to our colleagues and will be on for as much time it takes for the industry to resume shoot," they added. Japanese painted ferns are shown in Swarthmore on Tuesday, the day before the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Read more TL;DR: Workers deemed essential during the coronavirus pandemic are finding out coworkers have tested positive for the coronavirus through word of mouth, and not from their employees. Now these workers, like those at grocery stores, SEPTA maintenance facilities, and meat-processing plants, are demanding information for fear that withholding it could have deadly consequences. Its the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, so my colleague Frank Kummer compiled a list of seven ways the planet has gotten better during the coronavirus shutdown. Ellie Silverman (@esilverman11, health@inquirer.com) What you need to know SEPTA warns of possible significant service disruptions Thursday as a union leader threatens action. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports the first known cases of coronavirus in pet cats. The CDC director cautions that a second wave of the coronavirus may be worse because it could coincide with flu season. The Blue Angels have no immediate plans for Philadelphia flyover amid the coronavirus pandemic despite internet rumors. A food giveaway line of out-of-work Atlantic City casino workers backed up for miles. Here is what it looked like. Relatives. Friends. Neighbors. Colleagues. Theyve all been connected by a shared tragedy: They are victims of COVID-19. Here are some of their stories. Local coronavirus cases As of Wednesday evening, there are more than 24,800 reported cases in the Philadelphia area. Track the spread here. PHILADELPHIA: 10,583 confirmed cases SUBURBAN PA: 9,005 confirmed cases SOUTH JERSEY: 5,262 confirmed cases Workers deemed essential during the coronavirus pandemic are finding out coworkers have tested positive for the coronavirus through word of mouth, and not from their employees. The CDC recommends employers tell workers if they have possibly been exposed to the virus and Pennsylvania officials issued an order requiring employers to take the temperatures of all workers upon learning of a positive case in the workplace. But, as my colleague Juliana Feliciano Reyes reports, enforcement of these guidelines is murky at best. Now these workers, like those at grocery stores, SEPTA maintenance facilities, and meat-processing plants, are demanding information for fear that withholding it could have deadly consequences. Its the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, so my colleague Frank Kummer compiled a list of seven ways the planet is getting better during the coronavirus shutdown. There are photos and videos showing animals roaming in national parks, turtles on beaches, the Himalayas visible from northern India, and clear canal water in Venice. See more here. Helpful resources You got this: Have a virtual dining experience Ara Ishkhanian, the owner of Apricot Stone, an Armenian restaurant in Northern Liberties missed talking with his customers so much that he created a virtual dining experience. Customers can call Apricot Stone and make a reservation, and Ishkhanian will video call them. With a pen and notepad in hand, and a lit votive candle, water, and wine glasses before him, he takes the order. Then the in-house delivery service drops it off at the customers door. Read more about how this works here. Do I need to pay my rent? Here are renters rights in Philadelphia during the coronavirus pandemic. Were continuously updating our list of restaurants open for pickup and delivery in the Philadelphia region. Check them out here. Heres what five Chopped chefs would cook with Phillys free food boxes. 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 Philly Mag writes about updates on coronavirus treatments being tested in the region. Coronavirus patients are dying from blood-clotting complications that are proving to be mysterious to doctors, the Washington Post reports. Why opening up businesses wont save the economy, according to Vox. 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. MACKINAC ISLAND, MI Mackinac Island residents are being urged to take social distancing and the states stay-home order seriously. The advisory from Luce, Mackinac, Alger, Schoolcraft District Health Department comes after individuals who live on the island were diagnosed with the virus. These people had no recent travel history and no known contact with or exposure to any other individuals with confirmed cases, WLUC reports. Earlier this month, officials confirmed one case of an island resident testing positive for coronavirus. That person was being treated at a Petoskey hospital, according to the Town Crier. The island has a small medical center. Earlier this month, a small separate treatment area was constructed for potential COVID-19 patients; the facility is like a portable classroom. It is absolutely necessary that all island residents take seriously the guidance to social distance and assume that any interaction could be with a person with COVID-19, the health department said in a news release. The health department said residents should stay home and limit interactions with anyone out of their household to necessary trips for groceries and medical care. When out in public, residents are asked to wear a mask or other covering over their mouth and nose, and to frequently wash and sanitize their hands. Necessary trips should be limited to two members of the household, and should not include anyone under the age of 16, the release said. Seasonal residents returning to the island must follow a strict 14-day quarantine, the health department said. That means no contact with anyone outside the household. RELATED: Michigan islands warn they are not a safe haven from coronavirus Unprecedented, aggressive efforts have been taken to contain the spread and reduce the impact of this virus. We will not be successful in these efforts without cooperation from all residents across our counties, the release states. Michigan has now had 2,813 total COVID-19 deaths, behind only New York and New Jersey. The state has confirmed 33,966 cases of the virus as of Wednesday. So far, 3,237 people have recovered from the virus. Mackinac County has five confirmed cases; Luce County has 1; Schoolcraft County has 3; Alger County has zero cases. RELATED: With 999 new confirmed coronavirus cases, Michigan nears 34,000 Read more Michigan coronavirus coverage here. 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: Thursday, April 23: Latest developments on coronavirus in Michigan 2 pet cats test positive for coronavirus Dozens of bodies found in hospitals temporary morgue prompts Wayne County investigation Prisoner who helped free wrongly convicted man dies of coronavirus Short-term extension of Michigans stay-at-home order likely necessary to limit coronavirus spread, Whitmer says Whitmer moves to further expand unemployment eligibility during coronavirus crisis The China General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria has donated N48 million to support the Federal Governments efforts to contain the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country. Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), made this known in a statement signed by Willie Bassey Director, Information office of the SGF, on Thursday in Abuja. Presenting the donation, President of the General Chamber of Commerce, YE Shuijin, said that Nigeria and the Chinese governments have carried out multiple bilateral cooperation to fight the pandemic, hence the need for financial assistance. Mr Shuijin expressed appreciation to the rapid response of the Federal Government, the Presidential Task Force (PTF), professional efforts of the medical staff, and cooperation of Nigerians. The efforts, he said had enabled over 197 patients to recover from the pandemic. He expressed optimism that with the effort of government in the fight against COVID-19 as well as the determination of the Nigerian people, the pandemic would be overcome. Also speaking, Ambassador of China to Nigeria, Zhou Pingjian, said: China and Nigeria were allies in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. READ ALSO: There is a need for both countries to partner to end the disease. Mr Pingjian noted that to defeat the virus, solidarity and cooperation are the most potent weapon needed as the pandemic had become the global challenge. China will never forget the invaluable support it received from the government and good people of Nigeria, including those Nigeria brothers and sisters who chose to stay-put in Wuhan and other parts of China, at the most demanding stage of COVID-19 outbreak response, he said. He assured that China would continue to partner with the Federal Republic of Nigeria and would stand as its friend, particularly in this time of difficulties. The Ambassador said that COVID-19 should be seen as a joint battle that required countries of the world to come together to fight, in the spirit of cooperation and brotherhood to overcome the pandemic. He appreciated the Nigeria government, members of the PTF in particularly, for their dedication, professionalism and tireless work in fighting COVID-19. Mr Mustapha, who is also the Chairman of PTF and Sani Aliyu, COVID-19 Coordinator, received the donation on behalf of the Federal Government. They expressed appreciation over the support Nigeria has received from the Chinese Government and its companies in Nigeria. According to Mr Mustapha, the gesture has indicated that Nigeria has had strong business ties with China, particularly in the infrastructural development of the country. He said, China has contributed immensely to the infrastructural development of our country as well as the human development sector. The current COVID-19 pandemic which started in December continues to be a major concern for the rest of the world. It has become a global pandemic and thousands have died while 2.5 million infected and our country is also at risk of the infection, he said. He noted that COVID-19 was the most important public health emergency of our time and therefore, required all hands to be on deck to effectively combat the pandemic. (NAN) Fitness Australia has said gyms across the country are prepared to reopen now with a strict safety and hygiene plan in place, despite industry experts predicting that centres would likely remain closed until spring. The federal government shut gyms on March 23 along with cinemas, nightclubs, churches and pubs, clubs and hotels to slow the spread of coronavirus. With infection numbers falling across the country, businesses were eagerly awaiting the government's green light to reopen, and Fitness Australia's CEO Barrie Elvish said gyms are willing to do 'whatever it takes' to resume operation 'sooner rather than later'. He said they the Australian industry body he heads has been working with counterparts overseas to develop ways to incorporate social distancing into gym operations so they could open as soon as possible. 'The fitness industry, like all Australians, want to ensure there is no further spread of COVID-19 as restrictions are slowly eased back. However, there's no reason why gyms can't be one of the first sectors to reopen,' Mr Elvish said in a media statement. Gymgoer Rachel Dillon and her boyfriend have traded in their usual gym gear for home workouts (pictured before the pandemic began) 'We believe gyms can safely reopen with social distancing and hygiene requirements in place, which is why we have prepared a strict reopening framework for all fitness facilities and personal trainers.' The protocols would include checking the temperature of clients on arrival, high frequency cleaning and sanitation, spacing out of equipment, protective wear for both employees and members, and reduced capacity for classes. 'Unlike other establishments such as bars, restaurants and retail outlets, gyms also have a key advantage when it comes to instant contact tracking, with all members having to swipe in and out or book in for a class,' Mr Elvish said. 'Should it be necessary, no other industry has the ability to provide to health authorities this real time data.' Mr Elvish said the importance of exercise in both physical and mental health meant it would help people get through the coronavirus shutdown in good condition. Mr Elvish said the role exercise plays in our overall health and mental wellbeing cannot be underestimated and it will become more apparent as restrictions are eased back Fitness Australia's CEO Barrie Elvish 'During the important phase of isolation, there has been a drastic increase in demand for mental health services such as Lifeline and Beyond Blue as well as a steep increase in alcohol consumption and online gambling. 'This coupled with people being less active has the potential to not only affect the long-term health of our whole community but also future Health Budget outlays. 'Exercise and a regular fitness routine play a very important role in maintaining an individual's immune system and their overall physical and mental health.' Despite Mr Elvish's enthusiasm, many in the industry are concerned gyms will be among the last businesses to resume normal operations as restrictions are lifted. Pictured: A Willoughby council worker places hazard tape on outdoor gym equipment at Gore Hill on March 30 in Sydney Pictured: Gym junkies get their last session in on March 23 before the government shut gyms across the country at midday The Fitness Playground CEO Justin Ashley, who runs four successful gyms in Sydney, told Daily Mail Australia while they are very much in the hands of the state government. 'We know it won't be business as usual immediately. However, if gyms were able to open even at a reduced capacity, that would be a positive step for the industry as well as for the health and fitness of our community as a whole. 'While we look forward to being able to get back to operating our gyms in the future, through this period we will continue to support our community and members online, via The Virtual Playground.' 'The Virtual Playground' is an online extension of The Fitness Playground network of gyms. A personal trainer at Snap Fitness said while he 'misses' the gym, a resumption of normal operations may not be possible, with 24-hour access probably having to be abandoned. 'Social distancing would be next to impossible at a 24-hour gym, however we could remodel so there's no 24-hour access for a period of time. 'Implement that, then we definitely could implement strict cleaning - we already did that - and limit numbers in the gym at any one time.' The personal trainer added he had 'no immediate concern' about catching coronavirus if his gym was to reopen. 'However, there would be compulsory things put in place which would highly change our job,' he said. The Fitness Playground CEO Justin Ashley, who runs four successful gyms in Sydney, says they are hopeful doors will be open sooner rather than later - but admits they are very much in the hands of the State Government The federal government shut gyms along with cinemas, nightclubs, places of worship and licensed premises in hotels and clubs from midday on March 23 to slow the spread of coronavirus The president of the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control Professor Phil Russo said opening gyms would be 'quite challenging' due to their operation in confined spaces. 'Gyms I think are going to be quite challenging when it comes to rolling back these decisions,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'Purely because they gather a large number of people in small areas.' Prof Russo said there 'may be a concern' that people who are exercising in gyms will be more inclined to cough during their workout. WHAT GOING TO THE GYM WILL BE LIKE AFTER COVID-19 Experts don't expect gyms to open until the end of winter in Australia and they hypothesize they will be forced to follow strict social distancing rules. This could include spacing machines around a venue to ensure members stay at least 1.5 metres from other gym junkies and limiting how many people are allowed inside at once. The president of the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control Professor Phil Russo suggested there would be a 'staged roll out'. 'It may start with an aerobics class that once had 40 people, it would start with 10 in it,' he said. Exercise bikes could be spaced at least 1.5 metres apart from each other and gym classes could run for less time, he added. Prof Russo said the gradual loosening of restrictions would need to be analysed over a period of a few weeks to ensure they don't contribute to further COVID-19 outbreak. 'Those things would be well planned and gradually introduced,' he said. 'You want to make sure that it's not causing further spread.' Additionally, gyms may need to change their cleaning regime by cleaning equipment more frequently. Australian National University microbiology professor Peter Collignon agreed there would likely be a staged roll out. '[It would be] A gradual thing where physical distance rules are going to have to be respected for quite a while and hand hygiene,' he said. People who have respiratory issues also shouldn't be allowed to use gyms, he added. Advertisement But the main concern keeping gyms shut is people congregating in an indoor space and sharing equipment, he said. 'COVID-19 is spread by person to person to contact and contaminated surfaces,' Prof Russo explained. Prof Russo said there would be a 'staged roll out' when gyms eventually open. 'It may start with an aerobics class that once had 40 people, it would start with 10 in it,' he said. Exercise bikes could be spaced at least 1.5 metres apart from each other and gym classes could run for less time, he added. Australian National University microbiology professor Peter Collignon said it would be 'very difficult' for gyms to open their doors in the coming months. Pictured: Outdoor gym gear is taped in Sydney When gyms eventually open, Prof Collignon said they would not immediately return to normal operation. '[It would be ] A gradual thing where physical distance rules are going to have to be respected for quite a while and hand hygiene,' he said Prof Russo said the gradual loosening of restrictions would need to be analysed over a period of a few weeks to ensure they don't contribute to further COVID-19 outbreak. 'Those things would be well planned and gradually introduced,' he said. 'You want to make sure that it's not causing further spread.' Additionally, gyms may need to change their cleaning regime with equipment. 'I'm not sure what the standards are now but it may need to be more frequent than what's normal,' Prof Russo said. A personal trainer from a small studio on Sydney's North Shore said she would love for gyms to open soon but was aware of the health implications. 'I would love for gyms to open soon but I know that they will probably be one of the last places to open purely because there's more opportunities for diseases to spread. People sweating, spitting and sharing machines,' she said. 'I'm really lucky that I work in a small personal training studio where everyone who comes in has a session so we can clean at a more efficient rate and we know where everyone has been so there's no chance of someone coming back from overseas and contaminating our studio but the big gyms will struggle.' She is hopeful the gyms will be opened up at a 'reduced rate'. Pictured: A closed sign is displayed outside ClimbFit in Sydney on March 26, 2020 'So many people rely on exercise for their mental health and it also gets them out of the house away from their family,' the Sydney-based personal trainer said. 'But I definitely think the smart thing to do is to wait until we have more of a reduction of community transmitted cases because as soon as we open the doors every man and their dog will be in the gym and then we'll be back to square one.' Australian National University microbiology professor Peter Collignon said it would be 'very difficult' for gyms to open in the next few months, with social distancing restrictions unlikely to be changed until after winter. Prof Collignon told Daily Mail Australia there were 'a lot of things on the list' before gyms, including schools opening their classrooms to students. 'We need more data, we need to assume all those things will be closed until the end of winter,' he said. 'Unless we get more good news before then and more data.' Australia's winter season runs from June until the end of August. Pictured: A man uses an outdoor gym on March 30 despite the government shutting non-essential services When gyms eventually open, Prof Collignon said they would not immediately return to normal operation. '[It would be] A gradual thing where physical distance rules are going to have to be respected for quite a while and hand hygiene,' he said. People who have respiratory issues also shouldn't be allowed to use gyms, he added. When Prime Minister Scott Morrison moved to close gyms, he suggested the measures could be in place for six months. Shoppers across Australia have stripped the shelves of Kmart of exercise equipment in a bid to keep their fitness on track while they're stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic Department stores such as Rebel Sport experienced a rush on gym equipment by those who wanted to keep fit Fitness warehouses and online retailers who sell gym gear quickly became unexpected winners of the health crisis as shoppers rushed to stock up on equipment and create their own at-home gyms. It was the same story at Kmart, where the shelves were stripped bare as shoppers desperately attempted to get their hands on exercise equipment. 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 Disgruntled customers posted on Twitter, where they shared images of the bare shelves, writing: 'Let's buy weights and yoga mats, every single person in Sydney said #coronavirus'. It wasn't long before others said they were also struggling to get their hands on any of the discount store's gym equipment. 'Forget toilet paper, our local Kmart has been cleared of gym equipment? #COVID-19,' one woman posted. Australians keen to get their daily dose of exercise in during the health crisis have flocked to parks and coastal walks for their workouts. Outdoor gyms and playgrounds are also closed and councils have taped the equipment to make sure gym junkies don't try and break the rules. A six-year-old girl is fighting for her life in hospital after being abducted, tied up, raped and nearly blinded in an attack in India. The child was taken from outside her home in the state of Madhya Pradesh, before being sexually assaulted, the BBC reports. She also suffered injuries to her eyes, which police believe was an attempt by the attacker to stop her identifying him, and is in a critical condition in hospital in Jabalpur city. The child was taken from outside her home in the state of Madhya Pradesh, pictured, before being sexually assaulted Police in India said the girl was playing with friends in a village in Damoah district last night before she was abducted, in an incident the state's Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan called 'shameful'. She was found unconscious in an abandoned building this morning, with her hands tied. 'We found that her eyes were damaged by the accused, who also inflicted injuries on her face,' district superintendent Hemant Chauhan told the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency. 'Doctors are operating on her eyes.' Police said suspects have been questioned as the force offers a 10,000 rupees (100) reward for information leading to an arrest. Supt Chauhan said some suspects had been questioned and police hoped to make an arrest soon. Sexual violence in India has been highlighted even more so in recent years since a young woman was gang-raped and murdered on a bus in Delhi, in an incident that led to huge protests, pictured It is the latest incident of sexual violence in India, which has been highlighted even more so in recent years since a young woman was gang-raped and murdered on a bus in Delhi. Despite huge protests and changes being made to the country's rape laws, sexual crimes continue to be seen across the nation. Every fourth rape victim in India is a child, according to crime figures reported by the BBC, with the perpetrators being known to the victims in a large number of rape cases. Magic Leap laid off a "number of employees" this morning and announced they were backing away from their consumer ambitions to focus more heavily on selling to enterprise customers. Bloomberg reports that half of Magic Leap's employees were laid off, roughly 1,000 in total. Magic Leap was in the process of exploring a sale, Bloomberg had also reported, one that could value the company at $10 billion. Magic Leap is one of the most well-capitalized consumer hardware startups ever, having raised more than $2.6 billion from investors, including Google, Alibaba and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. Citing COVID-19, CEO Rony Abovitz wrote in a blog post that the company needed to shift focus to enterprise applications of its technology. Early-on, Magic Leap had long emphasized that it was a consumer device company. "Adapting our company to these new market realities and our increased focus on enterprise means we must align our efforts to focus on the areas of our business that advance our technology, ensure delivery of Magic Leap 2, and expand product-market fit and revenue generation," Abovitz wrote. The Plantation, Flo.-based hardware maker had already adapted its consumer device to enterprise applications. Late last year, it announced the release of the Magic Leap Enterprise Suite, a $3,000 package designed to take on the more lucrative business side of augmented and mixed reality, joining the likes of Microsofts HoloLens. The company also competed with Microsoft to win a beefy military contract for bringing AR technology to the army; Magic Leap was unsuccessful. Augmented reality has been a heavily hyped technology with few success stories. While Apple and Facebook have long telegraphed their views that they believe it will be the next consumer platform to follow mobile, no fast-moving startup has been able to build a successful business around AR hardware. Last year, a trio of well capitalized AR startups shut down, including ODG, Meta and Daqri, all of which were focusing heavily on courting enterprise customers. Story continues Since its early days, Magic Leap has been the target of frequent skepticism as they quickly amassed cash while offering up only teaser videos of their technology to the public. When they did eventually release a product, it was clear they had been unable to miniaturize some of their more impressive tech advances, leaving them with a device that offered mild advances on Microsoft's first-generation HoloLens. A Magic Leap spokesperson referred us to their blog post and did not comment on the number of layoffs. 'We are hoping the preparations we have made will not be needed.' IMAGE: The Mangaluru city police conducted a honour convoy on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 to salute the doctors, nurses and medical support staff at the Kasturba Medical College -- which leads the battle against coronavirus in Dakshina Kannada district -- for their dedication towards COVID-19 patients. Photograph: Kind courtesy KMC_Mangalore/Twitter Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka finds itself in the government's red zone for coronavirus cases. This lush green district, which includes Mangaluru city, has been readying itself for the battle against coronavirus for some weeks now. The man leading the district's medical team is Dr John Thomas Ramapuram. "Our biggest challenge is to ensure we have a proper plan in place. We have to be prepared for a large number of patients. Our biggest concern is that we should not run out of resources," Dr Ramapuram -- who is in charge of the infectious disease department and head of the department of medicine at the Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru, tells Savera R Someshwar/Rediff.com. As head of the COVID-19 medical task force in Dakshina Kannada district, what does your role involve? While I do lead the medical side, I am just one member of the task force in Dakshina Kannada. After many discussions with the district authorities, including the district commissioner and the heads of the zilla parishads, we put together a plan to handle each stage of the spread of this disease as the number of patients generally increases with each stage. We vacated an entire hospital -- Wenlock (established in 1848, it is now run by the Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru, as a teaching hospital), which is a government general hospital -- so that we could convert it exclusively for COVID-19 care. To do so, we had to discharge around 300 TO 400 patients; most of them were accepted by private medical colleges nearby. And since KMC (Kasturba Medical College) is looking after this hospital, we absorbed a major chunk as well. What has made me really happy is that all the hospitals here have taken a share of what needs to be done. One of my initial responsibilities was to ensure that Wenlock became a fully functional COVID-19 hospital. In order to do so, the doctors needed to be trained; the staff needed to be trained. The hospital had to be reorganised. A lot of equipment had to be brought in. So many pieces had to be put in place -- what you need to do for the staff, where our patients need to come, where the patients have to be admitted. We held mock trials and, by April 6, we were fully equipped to admit patients. Though we have had only a few patients till now, we are prepared in case the numbers go up. If you had only a few patients, why has Dakshina Kannada been declared a red zone? When we initially started testing, Bengaluru had the most number of cases in Karnataka. This was followed by Mangaluru (which is part of the Dakshina Kannada district). Manguluru has an international airport and, in the initial days, we had a lot of passengers coming in from Dubai and other places. And, in those first few days, we had nine patients. That is why we were declared a red zone. After 14 days, if there are no new cases, Dakshina Kannada will become an orange zone. Then, after another 14 days, if there are no new cases, it will become a green zone. How many patients does Dakshina Kannada district have? What is the status of these patients? Till the evening of April 18, we had 13 positive cases. Except for one patient, who was diagnosed on April 17, all of them have been successfully treated and have gone home. We also have a number of suspected cases. Approximately more than 100 to 150 people are suspected of being infected with the coronavirus. How many beds and hospitals do you have ready? Wenlock has over 700 beds. If someone is suspected of having COVID-19, they will be admitted and tested. If their report turns out to be negative, they are sent back home or to the original hospital As a precautionary measure, we ask them to remain isolated for the next 14 days. They are monitored to ensure they do so. Last week, we launched Dakshina Kannada's first COVID-19 testing lab at Wenlock so we get our reports in 24 hours. Our lab gets about 300 to 400 samples a day. It caters to three districts -- Karwar, Udipi and Dakshina Kannada. Earlier, we used to send our samples to Shimoga or Hassan. What are the biggest challenges you are facing? People fear this disease because they find it difficult to understand it. They don't want to accept that they may have it. The reality is that this disease is going to be a threat to a lot of people in India over a period of time. Our biggest challenge is to ensure we have a proper plan in place to manage it. We have to be prepared for a large number of patients. Our biggest concern is that we should not run out of resources. Mangaluru has seven medical colleges. We have joined together in the fight against the coronavirus. We have agreed to share our staff, the healthcare workers and the technological machines, including ventilators. At present, the number of patients we have is very less. But if that changes, we want to be ready for it. At the same time, we are praying we do not fill those beds. We are hoping the preparations we have made will not be needed. How different is Karnataka's handling of the crisis compared to other states? I'm not an expert in that field; my knowledge is restricted to our area. In Dakshina Kannada, the administration is very supportive. They have not taken any unilateral decisions. Everything -- what we need to do, what is the way forward -- is discussed. No decision has been forced on us. Is there any state government whose handling of the crisis has caught your eye?; I would say Kerala. They are way ahead. They faced the Nipah virus attack in 2018 because of which they learnt a lot about how to handle such a crisis. They have standard operating procedures in place. They just needed to modify it for the present situation. Also, when you have experience, you pick up things faster. We had to begin from scratch so we were initially lagging, but I believe we are catching up now. I would say, though, that Kerala has an edge over most of the other states in the country. You had one of the youngest cases in India, where a 10 month old tested positive for the coronavirus. How different or challenging is it to treat infants who have contracted COVID-19? In this case, the child was not suspected to have COVID-19. The parents did not have any symptoms and tested negative. The child became symptomatic only after a couple of days and the test showed a positive result. It was a difficult time for the parents, doctors and the child, but, with the appropriate treatment, the child came out of it. The child was treated in our neighbouring colleges in Mangaluru. When a child is very young, they say the mortality and morbidity is quite high. The medical team worked hard to get the child out of this situation. A three-day-old boy contracted coronavirus in Mumbai. Is it possible for a pregnant mother to transfer the virus to her baby in the womb? It is possible. It is called vertical transmission (from the mother to the child) but we are yet to know how common this is in the case of this disease. This is a new disease and there is a lot we have to learn about it. The new knowledge we are receiving about it every day is mind-boggling; studies are being done; papers are be released. Over a period of time, we will figure out why this is happening the way it is. For now, we need to have patience and wait. Is the onset of summer a help in the fight against coronavirus, in your opinion? There seem to be indications to that effect. We have been treating the H1N1 (swine flu virus) for eight to 10 years now. We have seen that it peaks during winter and the number of infections reduce in the summer. I personally feel that, because of our climatic condition, we may not have as much of a problem as those countries where it is quite cold and the virus is likely to survive for a longer period. In hot climatic conditions, the H1N1 virus dies a little faster. As a result, the number of people exposed to this virus also comes down. Through there is no proof, it is reasonable to expect that the number of coronavirus cases will fall during the summer. Srinagar, April 24 : A policeman, who was abducted by suspected terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian on Thursday evening, has been freed by security forces, sources said. Further details were not available yet. According to sources, Javed Jabbar, who was posted in Srinagar, had gone home on leave in Shopian's Mingipora, from where he was abducted by the terrorists. As soon as the news was received, rescue operation was initiated and police parties fanned out across south Kashmir to find Jabbar and to nab his abductors. This is not the first time that security men going on leave to their homes in Kashmir have been abducted by militants. In 2018, there were a series of abductions starting with Indian Army soldier Aurangzeb, who was abducted and killed by militants after he left his camp in south Kashmir and was headed home to Poonch. Sources say abductions of security personnel point towards desperation of the militants who are on the run after security forces stepped up anti-terror operations in Kashmir and eliminated many terrorists, including their commanders. In the last one week alone, six militants were killed in two separate encounters in Shopian. Five infiltrators and five jawans of the Special Forces were killed in a fierce encounter in the Kupwara sector near the LoC on April 6. Sources say with snow melting on the passes at the LoC, infiltration attempts have spiked, leading to escalation of militancy in the Valley. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2020) - Precipitate Gold Corp. (TSXV: PRG) (the "Company" or "Precipitate") is pleased to announce its new high priority exploration focus at its 100% owned Ponton project, located approximately 20 kilometres ("km") due east of the Company's Pueblo Grande project in the Dominican Republic. Recent data compilation and interpretation of the Ponton property's historical surface geochemical sampling (soil, rock and stream sediment) highlighted the project's Copey Hill Zone as the region's strongest multi-element geochemical anomaly (gold, silver, arsenic, mercury, antimony) which is likely reflective of a near surface epithermal gold system. The zone has never been drill tested and will be the focus of the Company's near-term drill targeting plans. Copey Hill Epithermal Gold Zone, Major Attributes Coincident surface soil-rock geochemical anomalies, including gold, silver, arsenic, mercury, antimony and thallium, over an area measuring about 1,200 by 1,000 metres and open to the east . Early stage rock sampling with gold values up to 4.1 grams per tonne ("g/t") , associated with fine grain silica (+/- pyrite) veins, often with boxwork and cockscomb textures. Large distinctive areas of white clay argillic alteration . Proximal to the Majagual Copper-Gold porphyry system 2.5 km to the northeast. Hosted in Los Ranchos Formation volcanics, similar to the host rocks at the Pueblo Viejo Gold Mine located about 35 kilometres to the west. Excellent logistics and road access, with a high-power electrical line bisecting the property. Jeffrey Wilson, Precipitate's President and CEO, commented, "We're excited to pursue the Copey Hill Gold Exploration Zone at our Ponton Property. With the Company's Pueblo Grande project and its extensive prospective target areas now being explored and funded by Barrick Gold Corp. as part of an earn-in agreement, we're keen to shift our focus to a new, large, and nearly drill ready epithermal gold target just 20 kilometres to the east. Within the Ponton Project itself, and the immediate surrounding area, the Copey Hill Gold Zone stands out as the region's top gold geochemical exploration target, having the strongest multi-element surface soil-rock anomaly. The figures (maps) accompanying this news release show Ponton's location within the Los Ranchos geological formation and clearly evidence Copey Hill's elevated concentrations of gold, silver, and other important epithermal pathfinder elements. Access to the Company's recently purchased drilling equipment will expedite the path toward a cost efficient first phase of drilling at Copey Hill once target definition is complete. We continue to compile and assess the existing data and intend to immediately commence fieldwork once the current Covid-19 virus related restrictions are removed. Further comprehensive details of the Copey Hill Gold Zone and the Company's near-term plans will be provided in the coming weeks." Story continues "The Ponton project hosts a robust, 1.2 km-diameter epithermal gold anomaly, the Copey Hill target, with no history of drilling," commented Quinton Hennigh, Director of Precipitate Gold. "Given its close proximity to the world class Pueblo Viejo mine operated by Barrick, it is astonishing such a target has not yet been tested, especially given the fact this system is hosted by the same prospective host rocks, the Los Ranchos Formation. Based on the existing available data, the Company's initial assessment suggests the Copey Hill anomaly possesses the geochemical characteristics to host a significant untested epithermal target and warrants accelerated advancement toward a first phase of drill testing. Precipitate aims to soon fully develop this drill target in preparation for drilling using the Company's recently acquired drill equipment. Having now closed the Pueblo Grande transaction with Barrick, Precipitate is well cashed up with approximately $2.3M to aggressively pursue this high value target." Map 1: Ponton Project location map To view an enhanced version of Map 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1718/54782_2dde69b344bf3b18_003full.jpg Figure 1: Ponton Project property surface anomaly locations To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1718/54782_2dde69b344bf3b18_004full.jpg The Ponton Project location map and property surface anomaly locations are shown on the accompanying maps illustrating the Project's prospective geological location, with the Los Ranchos Formation as well as the scope of the surface gold anomaly and coincident epithermal pathfinder elements. Map figures demonstrate the size and tenor of these anomalies within the permissive Los Ranchos formation which hosts the nearby Pueblo Viejo mine. See also the Company's website for these and additional Ponton related figures. Project work completed by past operators includes both property-wide reconnaissance scale exploration and detailed follow up work on two of the three surface geochemically anomalous zones identified on the Project. The three notable exploration zones are (i) Copey Hill, an epithermal gold target, (ii) Majagual Hill, a copper-gold porphyry target (tested in 2017 with five diamond drill holes) and (iii) a broad area of early stage rock and stream sediment anomalies, which require follow up investigation. The Ponton Project is located about 20 kilometres east of the Company's Pueblo Grande gold project or 45 kilometres north of Santo Domingo, the capital of Dominican Republic. The Project covers 3,250 hectares, has excellent road access, is bisected by a high power electrical line and importantly is underlain by the similar prospective Cretaceous to Lower Tertiary aged Los Ranchos Formation volcanic rocks that host Barrick's Pueblo Viejo Gold-Silver Mine. At the Copey Hill Zone, topography is generally modest, with small hills and ridges varying from 100 to 220 meters above sea level. The Project's historical surface geochemical database includes 2,880 grid/auger soil, 1,403 rock and 317 stream sediment samples. At the Majagual Hill copper-gold porphyry zone prior work includes surface trenching, 4.7 line-kilometers of induced polarization (IP) geophysical surveying, and 1,666 metres of diamond drilling (5 holes in 2017). The Ponton Project historical soil, rock, stream sediment and core samples collected by past operators were collected on a wide range of surface or drill hole densities and were submitted to Bureau Veritas (previously Acme Labs) for multi-element ICP-MS analysis, all data is stored in various digital formats and is in the Company's possession. This news release has been reviewed by Michael Moore P. Geo., Vice President, Exploration of Precipitate Gold Corporation, the Qualified Person for the technical information in this news release under NI 43-101 standards. About Precipitate Gold: Precipitate Gold Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on exploring and advancing its mineral property interests in the Pueblo Viejo Mining Camp and Tireo Gold Trend of the Dominican Republic. The Company is actively exploring its 100% owned Ponton and Juan de Herrera projects. The Company's Pueblo Grande Project is subject to an Earn-In Agreement with Barrick Gold Corporation, whereby Barrick can earn a 70% interest by incurring US$10M within six years and producing a qualifying Pre-feasibility Study. Precipitate is also actively evaluating additional high-impact property acquisitions with the potential to expand the Company's portfolio and increase shareholder value, in the Dominican Republic and other favourable jurisdictions. Additional information can be viewed at the Company's website www.precipitategold.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Precipitate Gold Corp., "Jeffrey Wilson" President & CEO For further information, please contact: Tel: 604-558-0335 Toll Free: 855-558-0335 investor@precipitategold.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward looking information. Generally, forward-looking information may be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "proposed", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases, or by the use of words or phrases which state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, or might occur or be achieved. This forward-looking information reflects Precipitate Gold Corp.'s ("Precipitate" or the "Company") current beliefs and is based on information currently available to Company and on assumptions it believes are reasonable. 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 Precipitate to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such risks and other factors may include, but are not limited to: the exploration concessions may not be granted on terms acceptable to the Company, or at all; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the concessions acquired by the Company may not have attributes similar to those of surrounding properties; delay or failure to receive governmental or regulatory approvals; changes in legislation, including environmental legislation affecting mining; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; conclusions of economic evaluations; and lack of qualified, skilled labour or loss of key individuals. Although Precipitate 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. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Precipitate 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/54782 Tyler Sizemore / Tyler Sizemore DANBURY A local nonprofit will distribute another 1,200 hot meals to local families over the next two weeks. The New American Dream Foundation, which provided 300 meals to students and their families last week, has raised additional money for another distribution. Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush on Wednesday said he is moving forward with a takeover of federal funds granted to the city for Hurricane Harvey housing recovery, prompting a sharp rebuke from Mayor Sylvester Turner. In a letter to Turner, Bush said General Land Office officials are drafting an amendment to the agencys spending plan that will eliminate all funding to the city and transfer all responsibility for administering disaster assistance to City residents to the GLO. The letter applies to more than $1 billion in grant funding allocated to the city for housing recovery. Bush told Turner that if he gives up control of the funds within a week, the city could negotiate the possible retention of its multi-family rental and home buyer assistance programs, among others. But he indicated that the GLO would seek Department of Housing and Urban Development approval to take control of the citys largest program, a more than $400 million effort to repair or replace single-family homes damaged in the storm. While we assumed we would fulfill this responsibility with the cooperation and assistance of the City, all attempts by GLO to assist the City in meeting its performance goals and, more recently, to renegotiate the Contact to allow for more timely disbursement of allocated funding have been met with consistent opposition by the City, Bush wrote in the letter. Turner promised to use all necessary legal steps to fight the move. He said a GLO team sent a letter Friday indicating they were satisfied with the citys actions. A March 31 program status report showed repairs had begun on 59 homes and 44 homeowners had been reimbursed for work they had paid for themselves. Theres only one answer why Commissioner Bush would draw a different conclusion than the one carefully reached by the GLOs Monitoring and Quality Assurance team politics, Turner said in a statement. Brittany Eck, a GLO spokeswoman, said the letter clearly states the monitoring review of Houstons performance demonstrated the lack of timely expenditures. All communications from the GLO to the City of Houston regarding performance in administering disaster recovery funds articulate the city is not on track to expend the more than a billion direct allocation by the federally mandated contract by the deadline in August 2024, Eck said. Turner said the GLO had failed to give written guidance for the documents it needed to approve home applications, constantly changed the process and forced the city to redo hundreds of processed files, refused to cover three-bedroom homes, and swiftly went from approving more than 75 percent of applications to rejecting the same amount. Let me note that in the face of unrealistic, frivolous requirements, the City has quietly worked to correct our issues, expecting the GLO to do the same, Turner said in his statement. Instead, the GLOs lack of capacity for reviewing our files, their ongoing technical issues, their failure to provide clear and consistent guidance for what they needed up front, and their slow-walking of many of the other documents required for our recovery programs contributed to the delay Commissioner Bush now uses to attempt to strip the City of its funding. The move is the latest in a series of public feuds between Bush, a Republican, and Democrat Turner over Harvey aid. In December, the state threatened a takeover, asking interested companies for proposals on how they would administer the funds. A GLO spokeswoman said at the time that the agency had not decided whether to take control of the housing repair program but was putting itself in position to act if the city continued to lag. She said the takeover had been threatened in part because the city had balked at a state proposal to embed a team of recovery experts with city staff, an idea the city then agreed to in January. Bush and Turner also traded barbs over the citys effort to skirt a GLO rule barring local governments from using federal Harvey recovery funds to rebuild a home with more bedrooms than the number of people living there. The GLO denied Houston and Harris County waivers that would exempt them from the guideline, fearing Texas would face the risk of an audit by HUD. Last October, Gov. Greg Abbott gave Bush control of $4.3 billion in post-Harvey mitigation aid instead of letting city and county officials oversee the funds. Turner accused the state of making a money grab so they could spend the funds outside the Houston area, while Abbott blamed Turner for the slow home rebuilding process. jasper.scherer@chron.com mike.morris@chron.com dylan.mcguinness@chron.com Pushkar Banakar By Express News Service NEW DELHI: In an indication of hardships being faced by the working class due to lockdown, over six lakh subscribers have withdrawn three-month basic salary in advance from EPF accounts while Rs 1,954 crore was disbursed to them within 15 days of an amnesty scheme being introduced Last month, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced a slew of measures under the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Yojana (PMGKY) to help citizens deal with the crisis emerging out of the coronavirus pandemic. One of the measures was to allow advance withdrawal of three-month basic salary from EPF accounts. On Wednesday, the Employees Provident Fund Organisation said in a statement that a total of 10.2 lakh claims of which 6.06 lakh were related to COVID-19 lockdown, was processed in 15 days. This involves disbursal of a total amount of Rs 3,600.85 crore, which includes Rs 1,954 crore in COVID claims. The new provision under the PMGKY provides for non-refundable withdrawal to the extent of basic wages and dearness allowance for three months or up to 75 per cent of the amount standing to members credit in the EPF account, whichever is less. A labour expert asserted that most of the people are being forced to withdraw money, which they generally would have saved, from the scheme due to delay or non-payment of salaries. Despite repeated appeals from PM Narendra Modi to employers not to cut pays and terminate employers during the lockdown, many companies have done just that. Though we cannot ascertain the reason for the withdrawal of funds, this seems the most realistic one, the senior official of the Society of Labour and Development, an NGO working for labour rights, said. Praveen Garg (name changed), who works at a reputed jewellery store in Ghaziabad, said the shop is closed since March and there is no chance of opening till May. Garg has two children and stays at a rented accommodation in Vasundhara area. I was paid half salary in April and have been told that will not be paid in May. What other option do I have? he questioned. I need to pay my rent and my childrens fees. To tide through this crisis, I had no option but to withdraw the amount from my Provident Fund account. According to him, there are at least 45 others in his store who face the same fate due to the ongoing lockdown. [April 23, 2020] FBL Financial Group Provides Additional Information Regarding Its 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders FBL Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE: FFG) (the "Company") announces today that due to ongoing concerns relating to the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Company's Class A common shareholders will be able to participate in the Company's 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders virtually, via live audio webcast. As previously announced, the Company's 2020 Annual Meeting will take place on Thursday, May 14, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time at the Company's corporate headquarters. Shareholders are encouraged to attend the meeting virtually rather than in person. To participate in the meeting virtually and access the webcast, shareholders entitled to vote as of the March 16, 2020 record date can visit www.vrtualshareholdermeeting.com/FFG2020 and enter the 16-digit control number included on the proxy card, voting instruction or notice previously distributed to them. Online access to the audio webcast will open shortly prior to the start of the 2020 Annual Meeting. There is no change to the items of business to be addressed at the 2020 Annual Meeting, which are described in the Company's proxy materials. Shareholders are encouraged to vote in advance of the meeting by one of the methods described in the proxy materials. The proxy card or voting instruction form included with the previously distributed proxy materials (or notice of internet availability) will not be reissued and may continue to be used by shareholders to vote their shares in connection with the Annual Meeting. Shareholders who have previously voted do not need to take any further action. FBL Financial Group is a holding company with the purpose to protect livelihoods and futures. Operating under the consumer brand name Farm Bureau Financial Services, its affiliates offer a broad range of life insurance, annuity and investment products distributed by multiline exclusive Farm Bureau agents. Helping complete the financial services offering, advisors offer wealth management and financial planning services. In addition, FBL Financial Group manages all aspects of two Farm Bureau affiliated property-casualty insurance companies for a management fee. Headquartered in West Des Moines, Iowa, FBL Financial Group is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol FFG. For more information, please visit www.fblfinancial.com and www.fbfs.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005776/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Medics diary in Wuhan published By:Wu Qiong | From:english.eastday.com | 2020-04-23 12:53 A Shanghai doctors diary in Wuhan was recently published, in which the author Zha Qiongfang recounts her experience on the front line. Dr. Zha was part of the first medical team from Shanghai which set off for Wuhan on January 24, the Eve of the Spring Festival. She was the only female doctor from the Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine. Though very busy with her work at Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital, she kept her diary every day, documenting the countrys epic battle against the coronavirus. Besides the medical staff in Wuhan, the diary also documented the daily lives of other people, like police officers, community workers, truck drivers, bus drivers, volunteers, and couriers, which altogether forms an overview of Chinas prevention and control of COVID-19. From January 24 to March 31, Zha wrote down 67 logs. Her diary is so far the most complete one that has been published. She wrote about many touching moments she witnessed in Wuhan, including the heroic medical staff, the patients they cared for and who supported each other, and the selfless volunteers. As Shanghais first medical team dispatched to Wuhan, Zha and her colleagues had the least experience to refer to and suffered from many difficulties like the lack of protective supplies. However, despite the challenges, they helped to save the lives of many patients suffering severely from COVID-19. While Zhas diary and the compiled book have won great attention in the Chinese media, it has also attracted the eyes of some foreign publishers. The copyright of the books Vietnamese edition has been exported and will be published in the coming months. Editions of some other languages like Thai are also under discussion. The audio book will also be released on audio sharing platforms like Himalaya and Qingting FM. American children have a fundamental right to at least a basic education, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday. In a ruling legal scholars said could affect disadvantaged children across the country, Sixth Circuit Court Judge Eric Clay wrote in an opinion siding with a group of Detroit students in their suit against the state of Michigan that education is essential to nearly every interaction between a citizen and her government. Where, as Plaintiffs allege here, a group of children is relegated to a school system that does not provide even a plausible chance to attain literacy, we hold that the Constitution provides them with a remedy, he wrote. The Detroit students filed suit in 2016, documenting alarming conditions in rodent-infested, crumbling schools that lacked certified teachers and up-to-date textbooks. The students argued that the state was responsible for those conditions since it controlled Detroits main school district for much of the two decades leading up the suit. They also claimed the state implemented policies that worsened the situation by creating competition between the citys main school district and scores of charter schools. News The suit was filed on behalf of students who attended both district and charter schools, arguing that the state had deprived too many of these children of the right to become literate, productive adults. A trial court judge agreed the conditions the students documented were deplorable but threw out their case because he said the Constitution does not guarantee the right to an education. Two of the three Sixth Circuit judges who heard the case on appeal last fall found that it does. Every meaningful interaction between a citizen and the state is predicated on a minimum level of literacy, meaning that access to literacy is necessary to access our political process, Clay wrote in his majority opinion with Judge Jane Stranch, adding that the unique role of public education as a source of opportunity separate from the means of a child's parents creates a heightened social burden to provide at least a minimal education. Thus, the exclusion of a child from a meaningful education by no fault of her own should be viewed as especially suspect. Story continues The third judge on the panel, Eric Murphy, wrote in his dissent that while providing basic education is a noble policy goal, its not guaranteed by the Constitution. If I sat in the state legislature or on the local school board, I would work diligently to investigate and remedy the serious problems that the plaintiffs assert, he wrote. But I do not serve in those roles. And I see nothing in the complaint that gives federal judges the power to oversee Detroits schools in the name of the United States Constitution. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer could ask the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the decision, but her office is still reviewing the case, said spokeswoman Chelsea Lewis. Lewis noted that while some members of the state board of education challenged the lower court decision that students did not have a right to read, the governor did not challenge that ruling on the merits. Weve also regularly reinforced that the governor has a strong record on education and has always believed we have a responsibility to teach every child to read, Lewis said. Mark Rosenbaum, whose Public Counsel law firm brought the case with the Sidley Austin law firm, said he hopes the governor will work with Detroit educators and advocates to settle the suit. We should focus on the classroom, not the courtroom at this point, he said. My hope is that all parties can sit down and work out a reasonable resolution of the case, even understanding that were also in the middle of a pandemic. Jamarria Hall, who joined the lawsuit after he says the Detroit high school he attended failed to prepare him for college, celebrated what the decision could mean for Detroit children like his niece and nephew. They have a chance, he said. They can go to school and feel like they can be the next president of the United States. They can be the next person on the moon. Hall knows the case is still not resolved, he said, but at least we know that we were heard and that we still have a foot through the door. Jamarria Hall (Doug Coombe / NBC News) Rosenbaum said that while the case only applies to students in Detroit, it could have far-reaching ramifications for students elsewhere who believe their schools are not providing basic literacy. It sends a powerful statement across the country, he said. Its a victory for all children who deserve a basic, minimal education. Advocates for education equity around the country have been following the Detroit case closely and were cheering the ruling on Thursday, said Derek Black, a law professor at the University of South Carolina whose research has focused on educational rights and constitutional law. Advocates and scholars have been theorizing the possibility of a decision like this for decades, he said. Too see it in print is overwhelming. If replicated, this ruling could raise the level of education for disadvantaged students across the nation. A hospital in New Orleans celebrated the discharge of their 1,500th coronavirus patient amid cheers from doctors and nurses more than a month after getting their first virus patient. A video on the Ochsner Medical Center Facebook page showed Kathleen Bennett, 57, as she was reunited with her granddaughter on April 21 while a musician who followed behind her played When the Saints go Marching In. Bennett was admitted to the medical center on March 27. After her arrival, she was placed in the intensive care unit and put on a ventilator for 12 days, the hospital said in a news release. Doctors will continue caring for Bennett after she heads to Kansas to continue quarantining with the rest of her family. The hospital got their first coronavirus patient on March 9. Since then, they said they have admitted approximately one-third of the states 1,789 coronavirus hospital patients. As of April 22, Louisianas Health department reported there are nearly 25,000 coronavirus cases in the state, and 1,405 people have died from the virus. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics COVID-19 Louisiana live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More For the automobile sector, which was already passing through a lean patch, the coronavirus outbreak couldnt have come at a worst time. The sector has been witnessing one of the worst cyclical downturns over the past six quarters and is likely to remain under pressure in the near-term as the pandemic rages. In FY20, automobile volumes declined on account of weak economic scenario, price increase due to BS-VI transition, inventory correction by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and COVID-19 impact in March 2020, said Rusmik Oza, Executive Vice President, Head of Fundamental Research at Kotak Securities. We expect the near-term to be challenging for the auto sector due to lack of near-term demand catalyst in view of economic impact from COVID-19. We expect the auto sector to gradually recover from the second half of FY21, supported by rural demand and expected improvement in the economic scenario," Oza said. While the lockdown has caused serious disruptions in production and operations, the near-term outlook shows stress even after the lockdown is lifted. A report by brokerage firm Anand Rathi said most Maruti dealers indicated that they had 30-40 days inventory since March and it would take two months to liquidate. "Assuming operations resume in June, dealers are expecting sales of only 20 percent of the inventory in the first month. Dealers suggest that even after the lockdown is lifted, they expect losses for about three-four months," Anand Rathi said. The report added that a dealers survey showed about 60 percent of March bookings were still willing to go ahead with purchases after the lockdown. The rest had been cancelled, citing budget constraints, job uncertainty and greater expenses. Dealers are reworking cost reductions, renegotiating rents, reducing staff, inventories, salaries and incentives to ensure continuity in operations. Most dealers indicated full payment of salaries to staff but were unsure of continuing this from May if the lockdown continued, said Anand Rathi. There is some hope for two-wheelers as rural-dominated states are less affected by COVID-19 and with the expected cash-flow from the rabi crop to farmers and assuming operations resume from May, dealers expect better sales from July possibly till the festival season, Anand Rathi said. Dealers in urban markets were negative about festival sales, it added. On the earnings front, the Q4FY20 was a challenging quarter for the sector due to weakness in the economy, falling sales and the viral outbreak. The production of automobiles was impacted sharply by the lockdown-related disruption and the BS-VI transition, as component availability was hit by the shortage of parts from China and Europe. Most auto players are expected to report fall in sales, volume and PAT. The numbers of Q1FY21 may come even poorer. "We expect the adverse impact on volumes to be visible in Q1FY21, which forms 21-25 percent of yearly volumes across segments. In our base case, we factor in a significant hit to Q1FY21 volumes (up to 80 percent fall across segments) in domestic and overseas markets and a gradual recovery in subsequent quarters, resulting in a drop in FY21E volumes," said brokerage Emkay Global Financial Services. Stocks to watch out for Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Financial Services, said auto stocks could be good contra bets as there was some demand postponement in the passenger vehicle segment due to the change in the emission norms starting April 1, 2020. "Now that the carmakers have converted their entire fleet to BS-VI vehicles, we expect some buying to start in June, provided the salaried class or the urban demand is less impacted. We also assume that the calibrated move by the government and RBI will spur the rural demand and will open up selective auto stocks during the second half of the year," he said. Brokerage: Geojit Financial Services Maruti Suzuki | Buy | Target price: Rs 6,100 MSIL will be a direct beneficiary once the demand shoots up, due to an all-time low base, zero debt and higher brand visibility, the brokerage said. It is one of the largest passenger car companies in the world and accounts for over 50 percent of the domestic market. The stock is trading at its 5-year historical low. The brokerage values MSIL at 19 times FY22 EPS with a target price of Rs 6,100. Minda Industries | Buy | Target price: Rs 300 Minda Inds is a preferred and a tier-1 supplier to major automobile companies. Its diversified portfolio caters to every segment of the industry. "Scaling up the product line in controllers and sensors for BS-VI vehicles will drive growth for the company in FY21. We factor 23 percent earning CAGR over FY20-22E, and arrive at a target price of Rs 300 (25 times FY22 EPS)," said the brokerage. Brokerage: Kotak Securities Eicher Motors | Buy | Target price: Rs 19,500 Limited competition in over 350 cc segment, further penetration into hinterlands and aggressive product launches are the positives for the company. Kotak said the company had only 3-4 percent market share in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and given its aggressive plan to expand studio stores and high aspirational levels of customers across hinterlands, its market share in such states could improve significantly. Escorts | Buy | Target price: Rs 1,080 Tractor industry is expected to revive in FY21 led by a normal monsoon and an increase in minimum support price (MSP) of Rabi crops, which is expected to boost rural income. Kubota, Japan has announced it will buy a 10 percent stake in Escorts through a preferential allotment at a price of Rs 850 per share. "We believe the partnership with Kubota can open up significant potential for exports for Escorts Ltd. Over the last few years, Escorts has gained share in states where it has a relatively strong presence," Kotak said. The brokerage expects Escorts tractor volumes to grow at a 4 percent CAGR over FY19-22E and EBIT margins to remain stable nearly 12-13 percent in the same period. Mahindra & Mahindra | Buy | Target price: Rs 625 Kotak expects overall tractor volumes to grow at a 3 percent CAGR over FY19-22E. This will result in revenue and EBIT mix of tractor segment in M&M and MVML to improve to 36 percent and 68 percent, respectively in FY22E. "SOTP based fair value works to Rs 625 wherein we assign 13 times to the core business of M&M and MVML, 17 times to the tractor segment and 7 times to the automotive segment," Kotak said. The views and investment tips expressed by 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. Chris Hemsworth and his wife, Elsa Pataky, are in lockdown with their family at their $20million mansion in Byron Bay amid the coronavirus pandemic. And on Wednesday, the 36-year-old Thor star revealed the couple were well and truly prepared for a long stint in self-isolation. Speaking on Jimmy Kimmel Live! via a video call, Chris said that Elsa, 43, had 'unintentionally' stockpiled 15 boxes of toilet paper. Say what? Chris Hemsworth revealed this week that his wife, Elsa Pataky, had 'unintentionally' stockpiled 15 boxes of toilet paper in their $20million Byron Bay mansion 'My wife was ordering a box of toilet paper, like, three months ago and thought it was 15 rolls and ordered 15 boxes,' Chris said. 'So, unintentionally, we're stocked. We can bootleg this stuff if need be, but we have 15 boxes of toilet paper there.' Later in the chat, host Jimmy joked that Chris could use his famous Thor hammer as a 'nifty toilet paper holder'. Whoops: 'My wife was ordering a box of toilet paper, like, three months ago and thought it was 15 rolls and ordered 15 boxes,' Chris said on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday Life hack: Chris showed off this Thor hammer, which talk show host Jimmy Kimmel joked would make a 'nifty toilet paper holder' The Australian actor also spoke about homeschooling his three children during lockdown, admitting he wasn't the best teacher. 'I'm trying and failing miserably... they're going to come out of this quarantine [with their] IQ a little under par, and a little behind,' he joked. He also said in a promotional video for Netflix earlier this week that homeschooling required a lot of 'negotiation'. 'I'm trying and failing miserably': Chris also spoke about homeschooling his three children (pictured here with Elsa) during lockdown, admitting he wasn't the best teacher 'Home schooling them is an absolute challenge. It's three hours of negotiation and maybe 20 minutes of actual work,' he said. '[My children] just crave interaction with other kids so much, obviously, and that's a challenge.' Despite his struggles, Chris said he was ultimately thankful to be spending quality time with his family. He and Elsa share three children together: daughter India Rose, seven, and twin sons Sasha and Tristan, six. Unrelated officer-involved shootings between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning in the Houston area left two dead, including one man who approached a deputy on a stakeout for a capital murder suspect and another who officials said was armed and possibly suicidal. The shootings took place in a nine-hour window between 9 p.m Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday, the first involving a Houston police officer and the second a Harris County Sheriffs Office deputy. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences said it could not release the identity of either man who was shot. No officers were injured, according to police Chief Art Acevedo. The first incident took place in the Denver Harbor area east of Houstons Fifth Ward. A caller at 9 p.m. said a man, possibly suicidal, was running in front of cars near the 6500 block of East Freeway frontage road and the 800 block of Gazin Street. When police arrived, neighbors said the man was jumping fences and threatening some people with a weapon, later identified by police as a sharpened piece of rebar. Officers spotted the man, but he refused to comply and threatened them, Acevedo said. Acevedo said more officers arrived on the scene and deployed two Taser rounds and non-lethal bean bag projectiles. The man at one point pulled out the Taser, he said. The bean bags also were ineffective, he said. Acevedo said the officers opened fire when he started charging at them. At least four total Houston police officers discharged their firearm, he said. Acevedo said he spoke to the mans mother, who said earlier in the night he got into an argument with his wife. The mother said he recently got out of jail and was having emotional issues. Its tough for everybody but its most tough for a mother that gave birth to a son, Acevedo said during a news briefing on the scene. All I could tell her was that whatever demons he was dealing with, as a person of faith, hes in a perfect state in Gods hands. Acevedo said all officers were wearing body-worn cameras, and investigators will review the footage. The second incident was reported at 6 a.m. in the 15100 block of East Ritter Circle in Missouri City. The deputy who fired his weapon was part of the Gulf Coast Violent Offenders Task Force, which at the time was serving a warrant for a capital murder suspect out of Mesquite, said Harris County Sheriffs Office spokesman Thomas Gilliland. Gilliland said he could not confirm the suspects identity. Calls to Mesquite police were not returned by press time. The task force was stationed outside of a home reportedly owned by the suspects family member. Authorities received information that the suspect may be inside. When they entered the home, officers learned he planned to surrender in Mesquite, Gilliland said. During the operation, the deputy was stationed on the perimeter roughly 100 yards away from the target house, Gilliland said. He was sitting in an unmarked car with plain clothes. He also wore a tactical vest with sheriffs office lettering on it, Gilliland said. A neighborhood resident unrelated to the warrant operation believed to be house-sitting for an elderly couple approached the deputy with a flashlight and a BB gun that looked like a real pistol, Gilliland said. It had a black magazine, he said. It just looked like you were looking at a Glock. The neighbor tapped on the deputys car window. The deputy unholstered his weapon and spoke to the man. During the exchange, the deputy told the man to drop the weapon, Gilliland said. At one point the man lowered his flashlight and raised the BB gun, Gilliland said. Thats when the deputy fired one round. The wounded neighbor ran to his car. By that time members of the task force responded and found him dead in the vehicle. Gilliland said members of the task force, including the deputy, were not wearing body worn cameras at the time. The Harris County District Attorneys Office is leading the investigation. julian.gill@chron.com ARLINGTON, Va., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Gerber Products Company announced its annual donation* of baby food products to Feeding America increased to more than $2.8 million to support those in need. As COVID-19 impacts the health and financial security of American families, it has donated more than $687,000 of baby food to Feeding America for the months of March and April to support families during the global pandemic. As consumer demand for shelf stable, non-perishable food items increased dramatically due to the pandemic, Feeding America reported a decrease in donations of these critical items. The challenge was compounded by a sharp spike in new families relying on food banks. Gerber's donation is helping to fill an urgent need for baby food products in local food banks across the nation. "At Gerber, we've stood by families through the past 90 years during both trying and prosperous times," said Gerber President and CEO Bill Partyka. "The global COVID-19 pandemic has put millions of American families in crisis, seeking help to put food on their table. As a long-time trusted partner for parents, we felt it was our responsibility to step up for those families and to ensure their little ones are getting the high-quality, nutritious food they need to maintain healthy growth and development." "More than 11 million children in the U.S. face hunger," said Blake Thompson, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Feeding America. "The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the demand for food assistance and food banks are working tirelessly to help their communities in need. Through Gerber's increased donation of baby food, we are able to provide more meals to children in need during this critical time." In addition to its donation to Feeding America, Gerber has donated more than $2 million in baby food products during the COVID-19 pandemic to various local food banks across the country to continue its mission of doing Anything for Baby. Food bank recipients include Atlanta Community Food Bank, Central California Food Bank, Children's Hunger Fund, Community Action Partnership Food Bank, Midwest Food Bank, and The African American Association. "We are grateful to the dedicated essential workers on farms, in manufacturing facilities and on the frontlines who make it possible to put food on the table for American families," said Antonio Martinez de Aragon, Head Of Supply Chain Management at Gerber. Gerber is part of the Nestle family, who has been working with our long-standing partners and first responders in the United States in response to COVID-19. For more information on how Nestle businesses are mobilizing across the U.S. to support our communities, visit www.nestleusa.com/about-us/covid-response-fact-sheet. To learn more about how to support Feeding America's COVID-19 response fund, visit www.feedingamerica.org/take-action. * Donations made May 1, 2019 April 30, 2020 ABOUT GERBER Gerber Products Company was founded in 1928 in Fremont, Mich. Gerber joined the Nestle family on September 1, 2007. Gerber is a leader in early childhood nutrition. At Gerber, research informs everything we do from the products we make, the nutrition education we deliver and the services we offer. Gerber provides resources from the Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS) for health care professionals at Medical.Gerber.com/FITS and for parents at Gerber.com. ABOUT FEEDING AMERICA Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. Media Contact Stacy Spector [email protected] SOURCE Gerber Related Links http://Gerber.com Chinese companies have jacked up the price of face masks being sold to Australia by 1,000 per cent during the coronavirus pandemic. The NSW Government is in the process of acquiring 200million face masks for the next year, to meet the demands of the health crisis. Instead of relying on the Federal Government to source the personal protective equipment (PPE), the State Government has taken matters into their own hands. But increased competition across the globe to obtain PPE has led to countries like China driving up the prices, according to The Daily Telegraph. Chinese companies have jacked up the price of face masks being sold to Australia by 1,000 per cent during the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured: Health workers at a drive through COVID-19 testing centre The international procurement squad, overseen by Police Commissioner Mick Fuller and organised by businessman Rod McGeoch, have used business contacts to forge international deals. Mr McGeoch - who was a driving force behind Sydney securing their 2000 Olympics bid - said there had been price hikes by China. 'There have been shifts in the prices as demand has become so intense but nonetheless we have audit controls,' he told the publication. 'Having beaten China for the Olympics by one vote I always wondered if they'd one day make me pay for it - maybe that's why the prices are going up.' A senior government minister claimed the Chinese approach was borderline 'extortion' but was confident the team was securing the best deals on the table. The NSW Government is in the process of acquiring 200million face masks for the next year, to meet the demands of the health crisis. Pictured: Shoppers wear face masks in Eastwood, Sydney, on Wednesday Up to four Treasury officials sit with the taskforce obtaining PPE at any given time and police help with dispatching goods from planes to make sure their aren't any delays to the frontline. In sourcing contacts, Mr McGeoch said neurosurgeon Charlie Teo connected him to a Chinese contact in Sydney, while former UBS banker Matthew Grounds linked them to contacts through management consulting firm McKinsey and Atlassian founder Scott Farquhar. Health Minister Brad Hazzard praised the commitment in ensuring NSW frontline workers access the equipment they need. 'I'm blown away by the work that not only health but police, treasury, customer service, investment and the private sector are doing to get to the front line all of the PPE that the rest of the world is scrambling on,' he said. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and the head of Brisbane Airport have lambasted a push by Melbourne Airport to lure Virgin Australia to the Victorian capital once the collapsed airline emerges from administration. Virgin's board directors put the struggling airline into voluntary administration this week, sparking a wave of interest among private sector bidders and state governments seeking a role in its future. Virgin collapsed into administration this week. Credit:AAP Ms Palaszczuk described Melbourne Airports pitch to lure Virgin to the city as absolutely ridiculous and reiterated the state's determination to keep the carrier in Brisbane. Virgins headquarters are here, they should stay here and we will fight to keep them here because we need it for our regional communities," she said. Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff also shot back at Melbourne, saying airline investors wanted room to grow - something Brisbane had in spades compared to the congested runways in Melbourne and Sydney. With a new runway opening in July, Brisbane Airport will be the only non-capacity constrained, curfew free capital city airport in the country, he said. MALVERN, Pa., April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TELA Bio, Inc. ("TELA Bio") (TELA), a commercial stage medical technology company focused on designing, developing and marketing a new category of tissue reinforcement materials to address unmet needs in soft tissue reconstruction, today announced that it has appointed Doug Evans, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Lungpacer Medical Inc., and Lisa Colleran, a principal of LNC Advisors, LLC, to its board of directors effective April 20, 2020. As part of this announcement, Doug Evans will also assume the Chairman of the Board of Directors role from Kurt Azabarzin, who will continue to serve as an independent board member. Furthermore, current board members Ashley Friedman, Matt Zuga, and Ron Ellis will be stepping down. Following these changes, TELA Bio's board will be composed of seven directors, six of whom are independent. "We are excited to have Doug and Lisa join our Board as we continue our transition as a public company and focus on our efforts to drive commercial adoption of our OviTex and OviTex PRS product lines," said Antony Koblish, co-founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of TELA Bio. "Their collective leadership experience and knowledge of the medical devices field make Doug and Lisa excellent additions to TELA Bio." Koblish added: "I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Ashley, Matt, and Ron for their service and long-standing commitment to TELA Bio. We greatly appreciate their impactful contributions through our initial commercialization and during our successful initial public offering process." About Doug Evans Mr. Evans has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Lungpacer Medical Inc., a medical device company, since January 2014. Before joining Lungpacer, Mr. Evans served as the Chief Operating Officer and a member of the board of directors of Kensey Nash Corporation, a medical device company, from March 1995 to June 2013. Mr. Evans currently serves on the board of directors of Intact Vascular, a medical device company. Mr. Evans holds a Master of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and Photonics from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.B.A. from Pennsylvania State University Great Valley School of Graduate Professional Studies, and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Sciences from the Pennsylvania State University. Story continues About Lisa Colleran Ms. Colleran has been the principal of LNC Advisors, LLC, a strategic consulting firm that specializes in assisting biotech, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies since February 2014. From October 2018 to September 2019, Ms. Colleran served as the Chief Executive Officer of Vivex Biomedical, Inc., and from January 2014 to October 2018, she served as Principal of Mica Partners, a strategic consulting firm. Prior to founding LNC Advisors, Ms. Colleran served as chief executive officer of LifeCell Corporation and a board member for Centaur Guernsey L.P. (a holding company of LifeCell Corporation) from January 2012 to April 2013. Ms. Colleran also served as the global president of LifeCell Corporation from May 2008 to January 2012. Prior to assuming the role of global president, Ms. Colleran served as LifeCell's vice president of marketing and business development from December 2002 until July 2004 and as senior vice president of commercial operations from July 2004 until May 2008. Prior to joining LifeCell, Ms. Colleran served as vice president and general manager of Renal Pharmaceuticals for Baxter Healthcare Corporation from 2000 to 2002. She served in various other sales and marketing positions at Baxter, from 1983 to 2000. Ms. Colleran currently serves on the board of directors for Establishment Labs, an innovative breast implant company, Ariste Medical, a medical device company, and Rockwell Medical, a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on renal failure. Ms. Colleran holds an M.B.A. from Loyola University of Chicago and a B.S.N. degree from Molloy College. About TELA Bio, Inc. TELA Bio, Inc. is a commercial stage medical technology company focused on designing, developing, and marketing a new category of tissue reinforcement materials to address unmet needs in soft tissue reconstruction. TELA Bio's products are designed to improve on shortcomings of existing biologics and minimize long-term exposure to permanent synthetic material. TELA Bio's portfolio is supported by quality, data-driven science, and extensive pre-clinical research that has consistently demonstrated advantages over other commercially available products. One of the most crucial responsibilities of any government during a recession is to offset economic decline with stimulus spending. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. One of the most crucial responsibilities of any government during a recession is to offset economic decline with stimulus spending. That usually means borrowing significant sums against future tax revenues, to be repaid when the economy improves. When three of the four components of gross domestic product consumer spending, business investment and net exports slump during a recession, its critical for governments to step in with a robust spending plan. Fiscal expansionism during economic downturns is a widely accepted policy prescription. Its proven to shorten periods of contraction and speed up economic recovery. Owing to the COVID-19 pandemic, Manitoba and the rest of the world are entering one of the worst economic downturns in modern history. As a result of strict physical-distancing measures, the economy is suffering from widespread job losses, business closures and the shuttering of not-for-profit organizations. Early economic forecasts are predicting the provinces GDP could shrink by close to four per cent in 2020. Without significant government intervention, the long-term economic consequences could be catastrophic. What the premier fails to consider, though, is his measures will result in further economic contraction. Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister doesnt appear to subscribe to government-intervention policies during recessions. Rather than roll out a comprehensive stimulus package, Mr. Pallister has decided to do the opposite: he plans to implement new austerity measures. Instead of increasing government spending to boost aggregate demand and provincial GDP, the province is clawing back hours for public servants (and threatening layoffs) while imposing deep cuts to government-funded institutions. Mr. Pallister has already suspended some home care services including bathing, laundry, cleaning and respite which have callously been deemed "non-essential." He has announced plans to cut funding for post-secondary institutions, which could cripple academic programs and compromise the future education of students. He is also demanding other government agencies, including Crown corporations, reduce spending by as much as 30 per cent. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Mr. Pallister says the moves are necessary to limit how much new borrowing the province is forced to take on. He says he doesnt want to saddle future generations with more debt than necessary. As it is, the province is projecting to borrow an estimated $5 billion more than planned this year in response to the pandemic. MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister doesnt appear to subscribe to government-intervention policies during recessions. What the premier fails to consider, though, is his measures will result in further economic contraction. Reduced government spending, especially during an extreme recessionary period such as this one, will reduce economic output. A drop in consumer spending, business investment and net exports coupled with declining government spending is a toxic cocktail that could result in years of economic damage. It could cause a complete collapse of the economy. Under that scenario, income tax, corporate tax and consumption tax revenues would fall further, causing more damage to governments bottom line. Thats the other, more dire, side of the equation Mr. Pallister is ignoring. To its credit, Ottawa has stepped up with much-needed fiscal stimulus. Not only has the federal government rejected spending cuts, it has introduced several wage- and business-subsidy programs to limit economic decline. The province this week finally announced some modest relief for business, including a loan program (some of which may be forgivable) and by contributing to Ottawas commercial rent assistance program. But that will hardly make up for the deep spending cuts this province is planning. Federal intervention alone is not enough to avert economic disaster in Manitoba. The provincial government must step up with an aggressive stimulus plan. Failure to do so could have incalculable consequences. Technavio has been monitoring the organic packaged food market and it is poised to grow by USD 14.38 bn during 2019-2023, progressing at a CAGR of almost 7% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200422005603/en/ Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Organic Packaged Food Market 2019-2023 (Graphic: Business Wire) Technavio suggests three forecast scenarios (optimistic, probable, and pessimistic) considering the impact of COVID-19. Please Request Latest Free Sample Report on COVID-19 Impact The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Arla Foods amba, Danone SA, Hain Celestial Group Inc., Nestle SA, and Organic Valley, are some of the major market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Growth of organic farming has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. Organic Packaged Food Market 2019-2023: Segmentation Organic packaged food market is segmented as below: Product Dairy, Bakery, and Confectionaries Meat Seafood, Fruits, and Vegetables Sauces, Dressings, Condiments, and Spreads Others Geographic Landscape APAC Europe MEA North America South America To learn more about the global trends impacting the future of market research, download a free sample: https://www.technavio.com/talk-to-us?report=IRTNTR31479 Organic Packaged Food Market 2019-2023: Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our organic packaged food market report covers the following areas: Organic Packaged Food Market Size Organic Packaged Food Market Trends Organic Packaged Food Market Industry Analysis This study identifies rising number of new product launches as one of the prime reasons driving the organic packaged food market growth during the next few years. Organic Packaged Food Market 2019-2023: Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the organic packaged food market, including some of the vendors such as Arla Foods amba, Danone SA, Hain Celestial Group Inc., Nestle SA, and Organic Valley. Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the organic packaged food market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. Register for a free trial today and gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Organic Packaged Food Market 2019-2023: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2019-2023 Detailed information on factors that will assist organic packaged food market growth during the next five years Estimation of the organic packaged food market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the organic packaged food market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of organic packaged food market vendors Table Of Contents : PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORT 2.1 Preface 2.2 Preface 2.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ PART 03: MARKET LANDSCAPE Market ecosystem Market characteristics Market segmentation analysis PART 04: MARKET SIZING Market definition Market sizing 2018 Market size and forecast 2018-2023 PART 05: FIVE FORCES ANALYSIS Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition PART 06: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY PRODUCT Market segmentation by product Comparison by product Dairy, bakery, and confectionaries Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Meat, seafood, fruits, and vegetables Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Sauces, dressings, condiments, and spreads Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Others Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Market opportunity by product PART 07: CUSTOMER LANDSCAPE PART 08: GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison North America Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Europe Market size and forecast 2018-2023 APAC Market size and forecast 2018-2023 South America Market size and forecast 2018-2023 MEA Market size and forecast 2018-2023 Key leading countries Market opportunity PART 09: DECISION FRAMEWORK PART 10: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES Market drivers Market challenges PART 11: MARKET TRENDS Entry of new vendors New packaging innovations Growth of organic farming and concerns about environment PART 12: VENDOR LANDSCAPE Overview Landscape disruption Competitive scenario PART 13: VENDOR ANALYSIS Vendors covered Vendor classification Market positioning of vendors Arla Foods amba Danone SA Hain Celestial Group Inc. Nestle SA Organic Valley PART 14: APPENDIX Research methodology List of abbreviations Definition of market positioning of vendors PART 15: EXPLORE TECHNAVIO About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focus on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200422005603/en/ Contacts: Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy also expressed hope that the June Eastern Partnership Summit would be held in order to develop mechanisms of supporting economies affected by the coronavirus EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell and EU Foreign Affairs Ministers have agreed to continue supporting Ukraine and the Eastern Partnership countries in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The head of European diplomacy said this during a briefing. Our message to them is clear: We will keep helping them in these challenging times. We will give clear support to President Zelensky of Ukraine. He had been making bold steps in reforms and conflict resolution with a significant progress on reforms, but there are still many obstacles, these efforts have to continue, Borrell stated. The diplomat also reminded that the EU does not recognize the illegal annexation of Crimea. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy expressed hope that the June Eastern Partnership Summit would be held in order to develop mechanisms of supporting economies affected by the coronavirus. As we reported earlier, on April 22, the European Commission announced its decision to provide Ukraine with 1 billion 200 million euros in order to support it during the COVID-19 pandemic. New York City Dr Ahmed Hozain intends to wake up around 4am on Friday and begin the first day of his Ramadan fasting. For 15 hours, the 32-year-old surgery resident and lung transplant researcher plans to abstain from eating, drinking, chewing gum and taking medicine as he goes through his daily routine, which now includes caring for more than a dozen COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit at the Brooklyn hospital where he works. Hozain has been fasting since he was 10 years old, and although some days are harder than others, he generally feels good. He is a bit sharper mentally. He has more free time. He does not worry about feeling tired after a big meal. Even in his first years of practising medicine, when he would sometimes be pulled unexpectedly into the emergency room and have to extend his fast for an additional hour or two, he never broke early and ate before sunset. But amid the exhaustion of fighting a pandemic, he wonders whether that will be the case this year. The goal is to go through it like Ive always done, he says. But, Im not opposed to breaking it if I need to. Dr Ahmed Hozain who is on the coronavirus front lines says he plans to fast this year. [Courtesy of Dr Ahmed Hozain] Muslims worldwide are trying to figure out how theyll adapt their religious practices to a radically different world during the holy month of Ramadan. In March, the National Muslim Task Force issued a statement that urged the United Statess more than 3.4 million Muslims to follow local protocols for self-quarantine and social distancing and requested that congregational prayers be suspended. Even in the 12 states with religious exemptions to their stay-at-home orders, mosques contacted by Al Jazeera have been closed for weeks, including those in Jacksonville and Gainesville, Florida, Dearborn, Michigan, Missoula, Montana, Birmingham, Alabama, and Austin, Texas. Anecdotally, I do not know of a single mosque in America that remains open for business right now, says Edward Ahmed Mitchell, the executive director of the Council of American-Islamic Relations. And the few that were kind of stragglers and delayed by a week or so even they ended up getting on board. On one hand, these closures have severely disrupted the traditions surrounding Ramadan, when Muslims typically break their fast together as a community. On the other, Islam is uniquely capable of adapting to the stay-at-home orders. Ramadan does not require Muslims to pray inside a mosque, and the dangers of a pandemic are part of the religions founding. Historically, the Prophet Muhammad, may peace and blessings be upon him, taught people that if a plague breaks out in your land, dont leave, says Mitchell. And if a plague breaks out somewhere else, dont go there. So this wasnt a major theological dispute. A student studying medicine helps a patient in a Detroit hospital. [File: Rebecca Cook/Reuters] Due to the quarantine, many Muslims now control their daily schedules in a way that is normally impossible during the holy month. But the opposite is true for thousands of doctors, nurses and other essential workers in the US, who are overworked and under immense stress. Cognitively, youre engaged the whole day, says Hozain, whose patients have such trouble breathing that the majority must be intubated. If I dont give that patient sedation, theyre freaking out. Theyre very uncomfortable. Theyre biting on the tube, he says. So you have to give them enough medication that they dont fight it, but not too much because it can have longer-term side effects. Pros and cons Should Hozain want to delay his fast, the Quran allows him to make up the days at a later time. Islam teaches that protecting human life is the number-one priority, says Mitchell. So there are exceptions to almost every religious rule. However, religious authorities disagree about how widely these exemptions should be applied. Fasting is uncomfortable, says Kassem Allie, executive administrator for the Islamic Center of America, in Dearborn, but you cant just say, I dont feel well. Im not going to fast. To really be excused from fasting, you need to have the recommendation from a physician. A doctor uses his phone outside the emergency centre at Maimonides Medical Center during the outbreak of the coronavirus in the Brooklyn borough of New York. [Brendan McDermid/Reuters] Others see the decision as more of a personal choice, like Adam Stadheim, an assistant imam at the University of Montana. He compares it to how you are permitted to sit during prayers if standing causes you pain. How do you decide whats too painful? he asks. Enough that it distracts you, so there is a level of subjectivity in determining if you feel too sick. But those who choose not to fast miss out on a fundamental part of Islamic culture, says Shima Dowla Anwar, a 31-year-old MD / PhD candidate in Birmingham with a stomach condition that typically prevents her from fasting for more than a few days at a time. Its a communal experience, she says. Everybodys talking about it. Everybodys going through it together, and I dont get to do that with them. Echoing that sentiment is Dr Bedirhan Tarhan, a 31-year-old resident in pediatric neurology in Gainesville, Florida. Though he loves fasting, he is uncertain whether he will go the full month should the number of cases spike in his area. If I feel like the fast is affecting my health or performance fighting against the virus, Ill delay it, he says. For other doctors, though, there is no doubt. Despite the fact that Dr Mobeen Rathores models predict the virus to peak around the second week of Ramadan in the Jacksonville area, the infectious disease specialist, who has been practising for almost 29 years, says it has never even been a consideration not to fast. Healthcare professionals prepare to screen people for the coronavirus at a testing site erected by the Maryland National Guard in a parking lot at FedEx Field March 30, 2020, in Landover, Maryland. [Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP] For Hozain, not fasting is a consideration, but not an easy one, especially in the heat of the moment. Ive always wondered, Am I actually judging myself fairly to be able to determine my capacity to work, or is it an unfair, biased judgement?, he says. However, he trusts the other doctors to help him make the decision, and after more than 20 years of observing Ramadan, he also trusts himself. You know yourself, he says, and you know how hard you work, and you know how sharp you need to be and what kinds of clinical decisions you need to make. Wednesday, April 22, 2020 at 8:19PM by Nathaniel R We're aware that we've been talking about the Criterion Channel a lot in these here parts but we recognize not all of you are subscribers (yet). So here are eight random suggestions of things to watch on mainstream streaming services if you're scrolling zombie-like through your endless quantity-not-quality options. There's good undiscovered stuff if you know where to look. Okay, ready? Here are 8 things we like that are available now... Animals (2015) on Amazon and Hulu Longtime readers will know that we feel proprietary about the very busy David Dastmalchian after having nominated him at our film bitch awards for Best Cameo back when nobody knew who he was (The Dark Knight, 2008) and having him guest star here on the blog. You'll see him next in Denis Villeneuve's Dune (2020) and The Suicide Squad (2021) but in the meantime check out this moving indie drama he scripted and stars in, loosely based on his own recovery from addiction. Intense performances from Dastmalchian and his leading lady Kim Shaw. Be warned: it's very upsetting as addiction dramas often are. Harlots (2017-2019) on Hulu We tried to sell all of you on this series a couple of years ago but you weren't waching (or at least not commenting). It has to count as the most gourmet actressexual feast that actressexuals have yet to discover en masse. Lesley Manville, Samantha Morton, Liv Tyler, and more chew every available set piece in deliciously bawdy costumes and giant wigs. Hud (1963) on Hulu We've been wondering when people will realize that Hulu is actually far superior to Netflix when it comes to their movie selection (it's funny because Hulu was once thought of as being for TV obsessives and Netflix was for movie fans. My how times have changed). I once recently did a loooong search on Netflix out of curiousity and realized that they had a grand total of something like 8 feature films made before 1990. Hulu has a much deeper bench of 20th century movies. One classic that too few have seen is this 1963 masterpiece with Paul Newman at his iciest and most seductive. The film won two Oscars for acting but the Academy shoulda made that three and thrown in "Best Picture," too, for good measure. That it wasn't even nominated for the top prize is one of the all-time great travesties of Best Picture snubs. Itaewon Class (2020 - ongoing) on Netflix Remember that college student that accidentally kicks off Parasite's deadly plot? Well, that's Park Seo-Joon and he's the lead of this very purple soap opera from South Korea about a stoney-faced high schooler who, when faced with a personal tragedy, gets himself a long term plan for revenge (?). We're talking looooong term, like a decade plus. It takes a while to get used to the show's odd rhythm and frequent time jumps (backwards and forwards) and I have some minor (okay, major) issues with the writing around the female characters but the star of the show works slow-burn minimalist wonders as the impossibly idealistic and stubborn protagonist. Lee Joon-Hyuk is an explosion of crucially adorable charisma as his father (in flashbacks). Nothing about the show (beyond Park's performance) is subtle but it's all gripping in a sudsy kind of way. Kingdom (2019- ongoing) on Netflix Yes, we're in a South Korean mood, okay? The country's film and television industry is on fire. We've already mentioned this zombie show but leading with lactor-lust or even calling it a 'zombie show' is tremendously under-selling it. It's so intense and gripping and beautifully directed. The costumes are insane (in the best way) and the budget must be gargantuan for all the eye candy in costuming, production design, effects, and locations. If there is a fetish or a group of people who become sexually aroused by hats, this show will drive them to the brink. Millinery porn. Mother (2009) on Hulu You may have heard that Hulu recently added a handful of Bong Joon Ho movies to their service, a very smart move since Parasite has broken their internal streaming records for non English language fare. Our favourite Bong film outside of Parasite is this mystery about an old woman who believes her son has been framed for a terrible murder. It's not as accessible as Parasite (its mood is much stranger) but it's visually mesmerizing and Kim Hye-ja is nothing short of superb in the titular role. Under the Shadow (2016) on Netflix If you're in the mood for 'elevated horror,' why not try this Iranian/British production which was an Oscar submission in its year about a wife and mother who fears her house is harboring an evil spirit when her husband goes away on business. It'll remind you that talented filmmakers can do a lot with no money and there's a reason why so many start in horror. The Tehran setting gives this an unusual kick, presenting additional problems for the heroine in terms of escape. The film is a debut from Babak Anvari who recently directed the Armie Hammer Netflix offering Wounds (2019) though we can't vouch for the latter. Unorthodox (2020) on Netflix The most unmissable thing on Netflix right now is the miniseries Unorthodox starring Shira Haas. If she doesn't win the Leading Actress in a Miniseries Emmy something is very wrong with the world. We're so proud to have singled out her work when we first saw her (in The Zookeeper's Wife). If the young Israeli actress keeps up this level of quality she's going to become an all time favourite of so many audience members who thrill to the magic of great actors. You might not be in the mood these days for a movie packed with gruesome death scenes that (mostly) take place within the confines of a single apartment. But if you can get past a few minutes of torture porn and a steady stream of blood, Why Dont You Just Die!, a gore-fest from Russian writer-director Kirill Sokolov, is a moderately compelling drama. Much of the thriller consists of young thug Matvey (Aleksandr Kuznetsov) and middle-aged police detective Andrei (Vitaly Khalev) attacking each other with a dizzying array of conventional and unconventional weapons, from a hammer to a shotgun to a TV set. But as the title suggests, Matvey, after being subjected to increasingly cartoonish violence and the excruciating use with a power drill simply wont die. The filmmaker has a masters degree in physics, and he puts it to good use in his feature debut, carefully observing the way blood drips and spurts, and designing extravagant experiments that suggest a live-action Wile E. Coyote episode directed by Quentin Tarantino. As frantic, and frankly headache-inducing, as all this savagery is, the punishing fight scenes eventually give way to moments of introspection from Andreis broken family, whose deepest wounds lie well below the surface. Which kind of makes Why Dont You Just Die! a Chekhov play for fans of extreme horror. Unrated. Available on various streaming platforms. Contains inordinate amounts of extremely unsettling graphic violence. In Russian with subtitles. 95 minutes. NEW YORK, N.Y. -- New York City will surge supplies and staff to nursing homes across the city which have been one of the most hardest-hit communities during the coronavirus pandemic. City Halls latest pivot to focus on the citys nursing homes during the pandemic comes less than a week after it was revealed that at least 44 people had died of the virus at Carmel Richmond Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Dongan Hills. City Hall said it has sent 210 clinical staff volunteers to 40 nursing homes citywide to date and plans to double the number of staff to 420. So far, City Hall said it has sent additional staff to the six Island nursing homes including Carmel Richmond Healthcare, Eger Health Care & Rehab, Island Rehabilitative Services, Silverlake Specialized Care Center, St. Marys Center Inc., and Verrazano Nursing Home. Moving forward, the city will get information from a state portal to know where it should send additional surge staff the citys nursing homes accordingly, City Hall said. The city has also sent nearly ten million pieces of personal protective equipment to all 169 nursing homes in the city including 40,000 N95 masks, 800,00 surgical face masks 40,000 face shields, 1.5 million gloves and at least 105,000 gowns or coveralls just last week, and plan to increase its weekly shipment by 50%. City Hall could not provide a breakdown at press time of the number of supplies it has sent to the Island nursing homes. Staten Island is home to 10 nursing homes. Some of those nursing homes are run by the citys Health and Hospitals network, the state, Archdiocese and privately owned. But all nursing homes are regulated by the state. The Carmel Richmond Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center had been in a tie for the third-highest coronavirus death total at nursing homes across the state, according to state data compiled last week. Cobble Hill Health Center in Brooklyn had the most with 55. However, Borough President James Oddo, who has called for more action to protect nursing homes across the borough, said in an interview with the Advance, hes worried the list could paint an inaccurate portrait of how the virus is affecting the states most vulnerable. Oddo said that the citys latest commitment to help the Islands nursing homes was about damn time. "The disaster within the disaster has been our skilled nursing facilities. To date, we in government have failed them. The Mayors announcement and what we expect to hear from Governor Cuomo later today give these struggling facilities a fighting chance to help our most vulnerable population. Simply put, its about damn time, Oddo said. In March, Gov. Andrew Cuomo mandated that nursing home residents who are taken to a hospital and test positive for the virus must be allowed to return to the facility to self-quarantine. Last week he ordered that nursing homes and adult care facilities must notify next of kin within 24 hours if a family member tests positive for COVID-19 or dies due to the virus. City Hall said it has also set up a task force to work with about half of all nursing homes to collect data on staffing, PPE, decedent management, and any other needs. Our citys nursing homes are home to some of those most at risk for COVID-19, said Mayor Bill de Blasio. They need our support more than ever, which is why we are stepping in and sending more staff and support to assist those who protect and care for our most vulnerable. Reporter Kyle Lawson contributed to this report. FOLLOW SYDNEY KASHIWAGI ON TWITTER. *** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK *** U.S.-based cybersecurity firm FireEye has accused Vietnam government of supporting a hacker group to steal Covid-19 information from China. Photo by Shutterstock. Vietnam says reports that it has supported hacker group APT32 to steal information on Covid-19 from China is baseless. It has stressed that it is against all forms of cyberattacks and threats to online security. "This is baseless information. Vietnam strictly forbids cyberattack behavior targeting organizations and individuals in any form," Foreign Affairs Ministry deputy spokesman Ngo Toan Thang said Thursday at an online press meet. He was responding to inquiries regarding U.S.-based cybersecurity firm FireEye alleging the Vietnamese government has been supporting hacker group APT32 to perform cyberattacks on governmental entities and businesses around the world, including China. Cyberattacks and threats to online security must be condemned and strictly punished in accordance with the law, Thang said. FireEye has alleged that hacker group APT32 has tried to compromise the personal and professional email accounts of staff at Chinas Ministry of Emergency Management and the government of Wuhan, the Chinese city at the center of the global coronavirus pandemic, Reuters reported Wednesday. APT32, a hacker group originating in Vietnam and also known as OceanLotus or Cobalt Kitty, has also been accused of compromising "governments, businesses and health agencies in search of information about the new disease and attempts to combat it." Vietnam's National Assembly has passed the country's cybersecurity law in 2018, Thang noted, adding that the country was completing legal documents to execute the law and prevent cyberattacks. "Vietnam is willing to cooperate with the international community to fight and prevent cyberattacks in any form," he said. Expanding: The Carbery plant in Ballineen is the largest cheese-making facility in the State DAIRY products and ingredients maker Carbery says it will maintain uninterrupted production in West Cork and open a 78m mozzarella production line this year. Carbery offered an upbeat forecast as it published 2019 results showing a 2.5pc growth in turnover to 434m but an 11pc drop in net profits to 17.4m, citing higher costs. Net debt rose by 57pc to 30.1m with loans from the European Investment Bank. Higher spending includes the upcoming mozzarella line at Carbery's factory in Ballineen, Co Cork, which already produces a quarter of all Irish-made cheese, including its flagship Dubliner brand. Mozzarella production was due to begin in September but may be delayed to later this year because of restrictions on overseas travel. Ballineen, the largest cheese-making facility in the State, already makes cheddar, red Leicester and reduced-fat cheese. "Carbery is focused on our business continuity plans and managing the situation so we can maintain uninterrupted production across our businesses throughout this crisis," said CEO Jason Hawkins, pictured below. "Our cheese diversification project has been slightly delayed but is almost complete," he said. "Our plant was proceeding on time until the impact of Covid-19," he said, noting that the virus threat means essential "commissioning engineers from overseas" currently cannot travel to Ireland. "Once the travel restrictions have been lifted, we expect only a short period of time to complete final testing and commence operations." Carbery has about 750 employees in 10 locations - and has expanded its payroll during the crisis. "We haven't had to lay off or put any staff on Government leave," Mr Hawkins said. "We have been hiring additional staff to make sure key operator positions are covered within our production facility, in case of any positive tests of Covid-19." The firm reported 2019 growth in sales in all three of its units: dairy, nutrition and taste. It said milk processing volumes at Ballineen last year reached 567 million litres, 42pc more than in 2015, when milk quotas were abolished. The milk is provided by the four West Cork dairy co-ops at Bandon, Barryroe, Drinagh and Lisavaird that jointly own Carbery. Those co-ops, in turn, are owned by more than 12,000 farmers. "As we look forward to future supply growth, we believe that our current capital investment will allow us to continue to support our farmer shareholders' growth through 2030, without significant additional capacity investment," Carbery said in its annual report. Its nutrition unit last year expanded in Asia by opening a commercial base in Shanghai. Its US-headquartered taste division, Synergy, opened a new commercial and technical centre in Jakarta, Indonesia. Synergy launched a new 'Dairy Taste' portfolio for ingredients for the Americas market. It also physically expanded its HQ in the town of Wauconda, north of Chicago, by 38,000 sq ft "to accommodate future business growth". The payback for being included as a feature city is estimated to be significant, although COVID 19 will likely delay the tourists that might have come to visit under normal circumstances. A producer said, Its like being chosen as a book on Oprahs Book Club, Doyle said. If youre on that list, people are going to buy the book. Because of being on the show, more people will certainly come through and see us, and hopefully like what they see. Doyle credits Glewen with helping to revitalize the city, making it a suitable candidate for the show. The mayor has been very strong in making our town a destination by polishing things up and helping us to regain our community pride, he said. Glewen said, Around the Corner with John McGivern has a far-reaching audience and is an opportunity to not only promote our community to outside areas, but also inspire locally a powerful sense of community pride and enthusiasm. 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. Vaezi: US sanctions go in parallel with COVID19 IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Tehran, April 22, IRNA -- Head of Presidential Office Mahmoud Vaezi said on Wedbesday that US unlawful sanctions on Iran go in parallel with coronavirus, causing human tragedy. Speaking on the sidelines of cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Vaezi said we are facing the worst type of sanctions against Iranian nation simultaneous with the outbreak of coronavirus. He urged Iranian diplomats, government and media to convey this loud voice that US sanctions against Iran are causing human tragedy in parallel with coronavirus. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a Twitter message hailed Iran's progress in fighting pandemic, saying COVID19 was an opportunity for the US to get rid of its sanctions addiction. Meanwhile, Zarif referred to his letter to the UN chief, saying he had urged the international community to disregard the US inhuman sanctions imposed on Iran. In his recent letter to UN cheif Zarif said: "While the virus ravages our cities and towns, our populationunlike those of other countries affectedsuffer under the most severe and indiscriminate campaign of economic terrorism in history, imposed by the US unlawful and extraterritorial action since it reneged on its commitments under Security Council Resolution 2231 in May 2018." "It is unconscionable that the Government of the United States has not only increased what it shamefully calls "maximum pressure" on our peoplejust as the virus has spread and is killing our most vulnerable citizensbut that it additionally has the audacity to lecture us on containing the coronavirus as it itself is evidently incapable of containing its onslaught," the letter reads. 9376**1416 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Delhi/Mumbai, April 23 : In an unexpected fallout of the recent US oil price crash, the Multi-Commodity Exchange finds itself drawn into a legal battle, with major brokerage firms, Motilal Oswal Financial Services, and PCS Securities approaching the Bombay High Court against the bourse for settling crude oil contracts on the bourse at '(-)Rs 2,884 a barrel', post the historic rout in WTI crude on Monday. Religare Broking has approached the Delhi High Court in same matter. In their plea at the Bombay High Court, the brokerages have said that crude futures contracts are settled in cash on the exchange and there is no delivery-based mechanism for these contracts in India and, therefore, these contracts can be traded at base price of Re 1 in case of an unprecedented eventuality. So, assigning a negative value is "arbitrary and illogical", they said. The petition said that as MCX closed at 5 p.m., investors were not able to cut their positions. If trade would have been open, traders would have had the opportunity to exit positions as the price of the contract on benchmark NYMEX was in positive territory till 10.30 p.m. (IST), it added. "We have moved to Delhi High Court in the interest of our clients and have filed a case related to negative settlement price of crude. This is in response to the MCX circular where they have settled the crude oil prices at negative. Against that circular, we have submitted our writ petition. Beyond that, we will not be able to say anything as the case is sub judice," Gurpreet Sidana, Chief Operating Officer, Religare Broking said. Motilal Oswal Financial Services, in a series of tweets, clarified its position. The brokerage firm said that it has many clients with exposure in crude and it was fully covered till the price was zero and even little more, but with the unforeseen movement and settlement occurring nearly 400 per cent lower there is no way any broker can have ample cover to take care of such risk. "We are confident of fully recovering the money from clients and also we are helping them with all possible legal recourse. Total dues from the clients are about Rs 80 crs," it said in one of its tweets. "There are no proprietary positions. We hope regulator will also look into this issue in the right perspective," it added. In an unprecedented price movement, the May delivery contract of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude went below zero dollars on Monday and shed more than 300 per cent to settle at (-)$37.63 per barrel on the NYMEX. The plunge in oil prices was largely due to the lack of demand and a supply glut in the US, leading to shortage of storage facilities. However, due to the nationwide lockdown, the exchange was active from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Indian Standard Time) and the Indian traders missed the opportunity to trade amid the volatility or square their positions as the losses increased. The closing price at 5 p.m. on April 20 was Rs 994 per barrel. The MCX issued a circular keeping the intermediate settlement price at Re 1 per barrel, which was agreed upon by the brokers and members. But, the next day the exchange put out another circular and set the settlement price at minus Rs 2,884 per barrel, exposing brokers to a potential loss of Rs 435 crore. The exchange paid out Rs 242.32 crore to members of Multi Commodity Exchange Clearing Corporation Ltd (MCXCCL). Apparently, the brokers were not informed about change in the mechanism. Experts said that as crude oil is not a deliverable contract in India, but is settled through cash, it cannot be settled at a negative rate. In the early afternoon of April 28, 1976, Conroe High School yearbook adviser David Deck bent down to his camera bag on the sidewalk in downtown Conroe. After shooting pictures of President Gerald Fords speech on the downtown square, he was putting away his equipment when all of the sudden he noticed a pair of big black shoes to the right of him. Then I looked to the left and there was another pair, the longtime Conroe photographer said. I thought Uh oh. I stood up and there were two Secret Service agents. They said the president would like you to come with him to the airport to take some more pictures. He was invited into the limo that drove behind the presidents car. He recalls riding down an empty freeway all the way to Intercontinental Airport. Deck was able to speak to the president briefly and said he was a nice fellow. He photographed Air Force One and snapped pictures of the limos being loaded into the presidents aircraft. And thats what Deck recalls of the day President Gerald Ford came to Conroe. The presidency of Gerald Ford began on Aug. 9, 1974 when Ford became the President of the United States upon the resignation of Richard Nixon. Ford came to Conroe to campaign as the Republican presidential candidate in 1976. According to The Couriers coverage from that day, the rain held off for most of Fords visit. Ford arrived in Conroe at 11:50 a.m. with his limo being followed by a number of school bands, marching units, groups from the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. His long black limosine moved slowly while Ford and Texas Republican Sen. John Tower stood up in the back seat and waved to the crowd. According to The Courier overhead, a helicopter kept check on the ceremony below, while police and Secret Service agents watched from the highest points in town. Andy McClain, who now lives in Crockett, Texas, took part in the day as a member of the Chamber of Commerces Embassy Club a volunteer group that attended grand openings for local businesses. With a long-time interest in politics fostered by his father, Cleo McClain, Andy McClain was eager to participate in the proceedings of the day. He arrived early in the morning to begin setting up chairs as he watched the Secret Service agents seal the streets manhole covers and take their positions on the downtown buildings. McClain reserved six seats on the front row to get a first-hand look at the ceremony. He was seated knee-to-knee with a Secret Service agent. I probably irritated the agent because I was full of questions he said. When he arrived at the ceremony area set up on the west side of the courthouse, Montgomery County Chamber President Pat George introduced Rep. John Tower who in turn introduced the President. McClain recalled one of the presidents introductions was by then Conroe Mayor W.T. Bud Hooper. When the introduction was done, the president turned to Hooper and said, Thank you Mayor Hooter. I thought I was the only one who caught it McClain said, but it turns out he was not alone in noticing the flub. I dont think he (Mayor Hooper) appreciated that, McClain said. Prior to his speech, President Ford unveiled a plaque commemorating the Montgomery County War Memorial Park in downtown Conroe. Ford began his speech by calling Montgomery County the third fastest growing county in the United States. The purpose of my visit can be summed up in just a few words: As much as I believe in a strong and properous American automobile industry, I am here to say that this year there is absolutely no reason to trade in your Ford on a new model, according to his speech that was printed in The Courier the next day. Ford went on to talk about the prosperity of the nation and all the hardships it had endured and all the triumphs it had celebrated. After the speech, Ford met with local Republican leaders at the Holiday Inn before returning to the airport and then on to Waco. At the airport, Deck marveled as the presidential limos were loaded into Air Force One. And then like that, his brush with the president was over and he was stuck at the airport. Fortunately some teacher friends, including fellow CHS teacher Marshall Toppel, were already at the airport and they gave Deck a ride back to Conroe. He found out later from his neighbors that Secret Service men had come by the neighbors homes asking about Deck prior to the ceremony in downtown Conroe. His pictures went in the 1976 CHS yearbook to commemorate the special day for Conroe. It was big news back then, Deck said. The school was abuzz for quite awhile about it. shernandez@hcnonline.com Press Release 23 April 2020 25.4% DECLINE IN REVPAR SUSTAINED PORTFOLIO ORGANIC GROWTH, WITH 8,000 ROOMS OPENED SOLID FINANCIALS AND AMPLE LIQUIDITY Advertisements Sebastien Bazin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Accor, said: "The world is facing an unprecedented health crisis that is having massive and unique impacts on the tourism industry. Nearly two-thirds of our hotels are currently closed, and most of the others are being used to support healthcare workers and all those on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19. Against this backdrop, the efforts of our employees and our owners have been extraordinary. Today, our challenge is twofold: manage the emergency and prepare for the rebound. The Group is in a strong position to address the current situation and we are taking aggressive measures to adapt our organization. Accor's recent transformation has left the Group with a robust balance sheet which will enable it to absorb the economic consequences of this crisis in the coming quarters. At the same time, we are preparing for the recovery alongside the authorities and professional organizations in the countries in which we operate so that the Group will be well-positioned to rebound as quickly as possible." Consolidated first-quarter 2020 revenue totaled 768 million, down 17.0% as reported and 15.8% like-for-like. RevPAR fell by 25.4%, reflecting the sharp deterioration in the environment due to the worldwide spread of the COVID-19 epidemic, first in Asia-Pacific (-33.7%) and then in other regions, including Europe (-23.2%) and North America (-22.2%). Changes in the scope of consolidation (acquisitions and disposals) had a negative impact of-7 million largely due to the disposal of Movenpick leased hotels. Currency effects had a negative impact of -4 million, mainly due to the Australian dollar (-4.2%) offset by the US dollar (+3.0%). During first-quarter 2020, Accor opened 58 hotels, representing 8,000 rooms, which is a very satisfying level given the current environment. At end-March 2020, the Group had a portfolio of 746,903 rooms (5,085 hotels) and a pipeline of 208,000 rooms (1,202 hotels), of which 76% in emerging markets. As of April 22, 2020, 62% of the Group's hotels are closed, i.e., more than 3,100 units. Decrease in revenue The Group reported first-quarter 2020 revenue of 768 million, down 15.8% like-for-like. This decrease reached -17.5% for HotelServices and -13.0% for Hotel Assets. New Businesses revenue was down 13.8% like-for-like. First-Quarter 2020 Revenue of 768 Million Down 15.8% Like-For-Like Accor HotelServices HotelServices, which operated 5,085 hotels (746,903 rooms) under franchise agreements and management contracts at the end of March 2020, reported a 17.5% like-for-like decrease in revenue, to 540 million. This decline reflects the rapid COVID-19-related deterioration in RevPAR. Revenue in the Management & Franchise (M&F) business was down 34.9%, with performance hit by the gradual spread of the virus in various regions. First-Quarter 2020 Revenue of 768 Million Down 15.8% Like-For-Like Accor Consolidated RevPAR was down 25.4% overall in the quarter, including a 62.6% decline in March alone, after a 2.0% increase in January and a 10.2% decrease in February. RevPAR's impact on M&F revenue was compounded by the significant decline in incentive bonuses based on hotels' gross operating profit. M&F revenue was down by a sharp 31.2% like-for-like in Europe, reflecting a 23.2% deterioration in RevPAR. In France , RevPAR fell 22.4% in first-quarter 2020. Paris and the regional cities saw similar declines of -22.3% and -22.4%, respectively. The lockdown implemented since March 17 led to the temporary closure of more than 75% of Accor hotels in France. , RevPAR fell 22.4% in first-quarter 2020. Paris and the regional cities saw similar declines of -22.3% and -22.4%, respectively. The lockdown implemented since March 17 led to the temporary closure of more than 75% of Accor hotels in France. In the United Kingdom , RevPAR declined by 22.1%. London was more affected than the regional cities with RevPAR down 23.9% and 19.7%, respectively. Most hotels have been closed since March 25. , RevPAR declined by 22.1%. London was more affected than the regional cities with RevPAR down 23.9% and 19.7%, respectively. Most hotels have been closed since March 25. In Germany , where protective measures were put in place on March 22, the impact on RevPAR was similar, reflecting a 24.5% decline for the quarter. , where protective measures were put in place on March 22, the impact on RevPAR was similar, reflecting a 24.5% decline for the quarter. Spain, which went into lockdown on March 14, reported a 29% drop in RevPAR in the first quarter. In Asia-Pacific RevPAR was down 33.7%, reflecting the deterioration that began a month earlier than in Europe. In China , RevPAR fell by 67.7% in first-quarter 2020. The epicenter of the pandemic is still affected by COVID-19, but initial signs of an improvement can be seen in the pick-up in occupancy rates and in the restaurant business. Average prices remain low as the rooms are mainly being used by medical personnel or for quarantine measures. , RevPAR fell by 67.7% in first-quarter 2020. The epicenter of the pandemic is still affected by COVID-19, but initial signs of an improvement can be seen in the pick-up in occupancy rates and in the restaurant business. Average prices remain low as the rooms are mainly being used by medical personnel or for quarantine measures. In Australia, where COVID-19 has had a more limited impact, the decline in RevPAR was somewhat less pronounced at 18.2%. This decline was also mitigated by the hotels being used for quarantine, which had a positive short-term impact on RevPAR. In Middle East & Africa, RevPAR was down 21.4%. The trend was similar to Europe's due to the closure of the holy cities since the end of February. RevPAR in North America, Central America & the Caribbean was affected by the closure of numerous hotels since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was down 22.2%. Lastly, business has so far proven more resilient in South America, with a RevPAR decline of 11.2%. However, this resilience reflects the time lag in the spread of the pandemic. The Group nevertheless continues to expand at a rapid pace. During Q1, Accor opened 58 hotels, representing nearly 8,000 rooms. At end-March 2020, the Group's pipeline was stable and comprised 1,202 hotels and 208,000 rooms, of which 76% in emerging markets. Hotel Assets Revenue derived from the "Hotel Assets & Other" segment was down 13.0% like-for-like, reflecting the lesser impact of COVID-19 in Australia and the time lag in the spread of the pandemic in Brazil. The 20.4% decline in revenue as reported was exacerbated by the sale of the Movenpick leased hotels early March 2020. At the end of March 2020, this segment, which includes owned and leased hotels, represented 167 hotels and 29,930 rooms. New Businesses New Businesses (concierge services, luxury home rentals, private sales for luxury hotel stays, and digital services for hotels) generated revenue of 32 million, down 13.8% like-for-like from 37 million in 2019. The decline was 13.3% as reported due to currency effects. COVID-19's impact on business The rapid changes in the environment, with the virus spreading to all continents, and their impact on the hotel business are unprecedented. Visibility is currently not high enough for the Group to estimate the financial impact this crisis will have on its results and financial position for fiscal year 2020. For the first quarter, Accor estimates a 170 million EBITDA shortfall. This amount reflects the gradual closure of a majority of its portfolio in March. It only very partially incorporates the positive impacts of the cost-saving measures taken in end-March. These are ramping up and will produce most of their results in the coming months. These measures include: A travel ban, hiring freeze, and reduced schedules or furloughing for 75% of global head office teams for Q2, resulting in a minimum 60 million reduction in G&A for 2020. A review of the recurring investment plan for 2020, resulting in a 60 million reduction in capital expenditures for the year. The significant cost reduction (sales, marketing, IT, etc.) to offset drastic fee decrease. April and May are expected to be the most difficult months of the year, with very low occupancy rates and strong uncertainty about timing and lockdown relaxation as well as the pace for border reopenings. However, a few markets are showing some positive signs, primarily China, where there are first indications of recovery. In these extraordinary times, the Group can rely on its very strong financial position, with more than 2.5 billion in available liquidity at end-March 2020 and an undrawn revolving credit facility of 1.2 billion with no covenant testing before June 2021. Share buyback program A 300 million share buyback program was completed between January 20, 2020 and March 24, 2020, covering 10,175,309 shares at an average price of 29.48. In order to preserve liquidity, further share buyback programs are suspended until further notice. Dividend and "ALL Heartist Fund" The Accor Board of Directors decided to round out the initiatives taken by management by withdrawing its proposal to pay a dividend in respect of 2019, representing 280 million. After consulting with the Group's main shareholders, Accor decided to allocate 25% of the planned dividend (i.e. 70 million) to the launch of the "ALL Heartist Fund," which is designed to assist employees andon a case-by-case basisindividual partners experiencing great financial difficulty, as well as frontline professionals providing support to local communities during the crisis. Events from January 1, 2020 to April 22, 2020 On January 20, Accor entered into an agreement with an investment services provider to carry out a 300 million share buyback. On January 22, Accor and Sabre joined forces to create the first unified central reservation (CR) and property management (PM) platform for the hospitality industry. On February 18, Accor and Visa, the global leader in digital payments, announced a global partnership to bring new payment experiences to ALL - Accor Live Limitless loyalty members. On March 11, Accor announces that it has completed the sale of an 85.8% stake in Orbis to AccorInvest for an amount of 1.06 billion. In this very same week, the Group has also completed the sale of Movenpick hotels' lease portfolio with a 430m positive impact on net debt. On March 11, Accor also announced that RevPAR had decreased by 4.5% like-for-like in the two months to end-February versus the same period in 2019, with a 10.2% decline in February alone due to the very significant downturn in the tourism industry amid the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The two-month performance reflects a sharp drop in business, with COVID-19 having an impact of around 20 million on consolidated EBITDA. Since the final week of February, the Group has seen business in Europe contract at a highly accelerated pace, particularly in Italy, France and Germany, and has implemented significant cost-saving measures to partially offset the lower business volumes. On March 24, Accor announced the completion of its share buyback program launched on January 20, 2020 for an amount of 300m. At completion, the Group acquired 10,175,309 shares at an average price of 29.48. In order to preserve liquidity, further share buyback programs are suspended until further notice. The liquidity contract has been resumed at this date. On March 24, in the current context of uncertainties and the acceleration of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic across the world, the Board of Directors of Accor has decided to reschedule the Annual General Meeting initially planned on April 30, 2020, to June 30, 2020. On April 2, following the sharp deterioration in the business environment in the wake of COVID-19, Accor decided to implement aggressive measures. On the same day, the Accor Board of Directors decided to round out the initiatives taken by management by withdrawing its proposal to pay a dividend in respect of 2019, representing 280 million. After consulting with the Group's main shareholders, Accor decided to allocate 25% of the planned dividend (i.e. 70 million) to the launch of the "ALL Heartist Fund", a COVID-19 special-purpose vehicle designed to assist employees andon a case-by-case basisindividual partners experiencing great financial difficulty, as well as stakeholders providing support to local communities during the crisis. This initiative has received unanimous support from the members of the Board of Directors, who collectively decided to reduce their attendance fees by 20% to the benefit of the "ALL Heartist Fund". Additionally, Sebastien Bazin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Accor, will forego 25% of his compensation during the crisis. The equivalent amount will be donated to the Fund. Upcoming events in 2020 June 30, 2020: Annual Shareholders' Meeting July 27, 2020: First-half 2020 results (after market close) First-Quarter 2020 Revenue of 768 Million Down 15.8% Like-For-Like Accor Nghiem Xuan Huy, Director of Institute for Education Quality Assurance, a member of Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) talks about the benefits of online education and how it's here to stay. A student from Phuong Mai Primary School in Hanois Dong Da District learns a lesson on Hanoi Television while her school is closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Online education has become common due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What does online education mean to you? We need to clarify two ways of delivering online education. Firstly, it is the usage of online video conferencing tools, such as Google Meet or Zoom, for delivering teaching lessons in real-time, which can be referred to as Real-time Online Teaching (ROT). Secondly, courses, teaching and learning activities are also conducted online via learning management systems (LMS) such as Moodle, Blackboard, Microsoft Teams or Massive Online Open Courses (MOOCs) such as edX or Coursera. We can call it Online Delivery Courses (ODC). It's necessary to differentiate between ROT and ODC. The latter is a platform for running an entire course or a part of a course, while ROT is an online channel for delivering lessons of a course. ROT can be used as one of the methods for transmitting teaching contents on ODC. In my opinion, ODC will be a key method of online education in the near future when the COVID-19 pandemic ends in Vietnam. Being used in tandem or collaboratively with traditional teaching, ODC will help form a blended learning method, which can improve the quality of teaching. Why do you think ODC will become so important? Indeed, without the COVID-19 pandemic, it would be difficult for ROT to dominate as it is today because it cannot completely replace traditional face-to-face teaching. Learners may feel ready and interested if they use ROT for one or two subjects per semester. But it would not be really comfortable for them if they have to be online at the right time, right place, sitting right in front of the computer for listening to 5-7 lectures a week (given their number of courses was up to seven per a semester). It is more difficult for students to exchange ideas with their teachers as well as interact with their friends compared to when they are in physical classrooms. In addition, ROT also requires learners to arrange their own work and time to join the others on the same schedule as the whole class. For teachers, the biggest challenge is that they cant easily use eye-contact with their students to see how they are participating in class or whether or not they understand the lessons. Also, security issues or unexpected harassment which might occur when using ROT is also a problem. ODC can be used in different modes, such as delivering a whole study course (100 per cent content of the course is delivered online); being as a part of a traditional course (part of the course is taught online by ODC); or, being used as a channel to supplement and reinforce traditional courses. As such, it is possible to combine two methods online and traditional teaching into one which is popularly called blended learning. In this way, initially, teachers will record their lessons on video then upload or sharing those video lessons and learning materials on LMS or MOOCs. When all those are already available in online classrooms, learners will access and work on those resources in advance. In ODC mode, ROT-type lessons can be organised in different ways, such as inviting experts in a relevant subject to talk or exchange ideas with learners, running Q&A sessions or conducting seminars in groups among learners. With those activities done online, the work done in the physical classroom will focus on discussion, clarifying the contents or expanding lessons, doing experiments or practices, applying what students learnt into reality, and evaluating learners. What benefits do teachers, students and schools get from the ODC model? Much has been talked about the benefit of blended learning. I can summarise several main points as follows. For teachers, although they have to spend a lot of time on video lessons, those videos can be used for different classes or courses. They have more time to interact with learners, retaining the emotion during the teaching process and inspiring the learners. For learners, it is possible to actively learn at anytime, anywhere as long as it fits with their living and working conditions. They can interact with each other and teachers more often. The habit of studying is also maintained. For schools, it is easy for them to develop a diverse digital learning platform from video lectures and other digital resources contributed by lecturers. They can fulfil assessment requirements and reduce pressure on lecture halls while saving running and operating costs due to the reduction of physical classes. To promote this method, schools should help teachers produce video lectures and operate LMS or MOOCs effectively by offering training or investing in digital learning materials suitable for all courses and programmes. How will online education be practised after the COVID-19 pandemic ends? I think the ROT should not and cant be the prevailing teaching method when everything returns to normal. It should be noted that online video conferencing is set up to serve conferences remotely when delegates cant attend an event at a specific time. ROT works in this particular context (social distancing), especially when many schools and teachers are not ready for ODC. After the pandemic ends, ODC should be used as a solution parallelly implemented with traditional teaching methods, which can form a blended learning approach in this educational context, a trend that is quite prevalent in the world. Because learners and teachers have a lot of experience and skills in online teaching and learning in response to the pandemic, it is convenient for ODC to be deployed. Educational administrators will calculate the appropriate ratio of online and offline teaching activities for each course or training programme. VNS/Dantri Hanoi extends online and television-based teaching during COVID-19 The Hanoi Department of Education and Training has issued guidelines for schools and vocational education centres to extend online and television-based teaching amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The online lecture halls during the COVID-19 pandemic Prof Dr Ngo Thi Phuong never thought that she would become a teacher for online courses. COLONIE -- A fire broke out at the Colonie Landfill Wednesday afternoon, but was contained and extinguished in two hours. Landfill employees called the fire department after they saw the compost pile was on fire, Boght Fire Chief Jake Oreshan III said. The fire department was dispatched at 12:24 p.m. Saudi Arabia has the capacity to deal with the coronavirus crisis and its impact on the economy, Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan has asserted. The minister said the kingdom has gone through many crises and has managed to overcome by diversifying the economy, a Saudi Press Agency report said. He added that the journey is still continuing, starting with a journey of financial control to control of the deficit and raising the efficiency of spending. All these factors help the government to face these shocks, but in the end the resources in any country remain limited and the government must work to use these resources to achieve the best possible result, he said. The minister said the Kingdom has a clear strategy for managing its public debt and pointed out that debt issuance for this year may reach SR220 billion ($58.5 billion), SR100 billion more than the SR120 billion previously announced. It would draw down a maximum of $32 billion from reserves to help bridge the budget gap, he said. On the measures to reduce spending in the public sector or development projects, the minister referred to the announcement by the government several weeks ago on measures to redistribute government spending to ensure that it is spent on the most necessary needs, especially in light of this crisis, and in a manner that ensures achieving the greatest benefit of the citizens. The Minister of Finance said the government is currently considering any additional measures to reduce government expenditures in accordance with existing precautionary measures. The minister said the Saudi economy is currently facing a set of challenges, which include the Coronavirus pandemic and its huge effects on the economy; the decline in revenues as a result of this pandemic related to government non-oil revenues; and oil sector downturn. He said these challenges and emerging ones require verifying the way of spending in a way that can overcome these challenges, while the government remains committed to providing all the resources necessary to protect citizens and ensure their health. The minister said government is committed to provide real support to the private sector and its institutions, especially the most affected ones. The 50th was by far the quietest, and maybe the most memorable. Isolated pick-up projects and an online art show by Climate Smart Missoula were among the few activities around town Wednesday on the golden anniversary of Earth Day. Even as Montana Gov. Steve Bullock rolled out plans for the gradual relaxation of stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 crisis, the need to avoid traditional community cleanups, lectures and other be-kind-to-Mother-Earth activities remained keen. The bizarre scene begged comparison to April 22, 1970, when Earth Day was born in Montana and around the country. It was, news outlets explained, a project of Environmental Action, a national student group formed to coordinate a date of protests against pollution of the environment." Gov. Forrest Anderson set the stage as the day approached. There is a lack of public awareness of the impending environmental crisis," he said. "People must be awakened to the need for pollution control and reclamation of the natural environment." In Missoula, Earth Day 1970 was marked by formal teach-ins at the university, anti-litter drives around schools and a special cleanup on Tremont Street near Sacajawea Park. There, GASP (Gals Against Smog and Pollution) filled more than 12 ash cans with dirt to demonstrate one form of air pollution and urge better street sweeping. The UM School of Forestry and a group of students, faculty and townspeople calling themselves The Environmentalists conducted an opinion poll to gauge attitudes on the subjects of population, forestry practices, garbage and air pollution. Missoula residents were urged to walk or ride bikes to work and school that day and to wear gas masks to show disdain for the valley's air particulate levels. The event invited widespread scrutiny of the best-known polluters. In Montana in those days, the Anaconda Co. topped the list, though the companys lone aquatic biologist sought to change that perception. "As a representative of industry, I'm expected to justify water pollution by the Anaconda Company. I hope to disappoint you," John Spindler said at an Earth Day symposium at Carroll College in Helena. The company had learned from past mistakes, he assured. "Five years ago we didn't have a department dedicated to the proposition that great industry can exist with good environment." Meanwhile, Anacondas forest products division toppled the smaller of two tepee burners at its lumber mill in Bonner. Harley Hetticks photo of the tipping burner led the front page of the Missoulian the next day. The burner leaned neatly into a headline over a national AP story: Nation Bends Over to Cleanse Earth. The larger tepee burner will be retained for wood waste storage, a local story explained, but as of May 23 the wastes will be burned in a new boiler in compliance with pollution control regulations. Another Missoula County polluter was the Hoerner Waldorf pulp mill west of town, but manager Roy Countryman offered optimism at a panel discussion in the University Center ballroom. His company was spending $2.5 million to build a 13-story structure to house an effluent clarifier as part of a long-term program to reduce air pollution. Anderson came to Missoula that night to speak to an Earth Day audience of 1,000 at the University of Montana (now Dennison) Theater. The crowd, made up largely of students, was energetic and vocal, interrupting the talk with frequent applause and laughter and occasional shouts, wrote Missoulian staff writer Dennis Curran. It kept the governor on his toes, especially during a brief question period, Curran added, later characterizing it as a somewhat stormy" session. The Democratic governors message wasnt exactly what they wanted to hear. We must look in two directions. We must protect the natural beauty of the environment of Montana, and we must protect the interests of the people of Montana, Anderson said. Existing economic and social problems should not be ignored for the protection of the environment, he said. He urged his young audience to take up the new cause while continuing to fight for the old cause. Anderson proposed a 10-point program aimed at doing both, and later attempted to justify his pro-Anaconda Co. stance at a recent Land Board hearing on the companys request for an easement in Lincoln. I sounded like the devils advocate. I sounded like I was on Anacondas first ball club for a reason to tell you there were two sides to the issue, the governor said. Dont go overboard in pushing the environment cause, he advised students. Youll lose support that way. I was impatient at your age I still am, the 57-year-old governor joked. If I had 30 days to operate by edict, I could really make that store run. 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. President of the National House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV has appealed to the government to pay attention to the outbreak of cerebrospinal meningitis in the regions of the north which has killed over 40. He said while efforts at fighting COVID-19 in Ghana are commendable, similar efforts should be made towards tackling cerebrospinal meningitis. Speaking during an engagement at the Jubilee House, Togbe Afede urged the government to give equal attention and investment to the CSM outbreak. The CSM epidemic is wreaking havoc in our five regions of the north. While we are dealing with COVID pandemic, we need to invest more and pay more attention to the CSM epidemic that has claimed hundreds of lives in the past five years and 40 so far this year, he said. The disease has so far claimed some 40 lives and infected over 200 people in the Upper West Region. Government working to deal with CSM outbreak The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman Manu last week said the government is working to tackle the outbreak of CSM in the five regions of the north. He said public education has been intensified in the affected areas while stakeholders are being engaged to help curb the disease. As of the 15th April 2020, a total of 258 cases have been reported in Upper West out of the 409 cases reported in the 5 regions of the north, resulting in 40 deaths. The Ghana Health Service says that even though there is no vaccine for this strain causing the outbreak, there is an effective treatment upon early reporting and initiation of the said treatment. This can significantly improve outcome and improve survival rate. ----citinewsroom NEW ORLEANS - The man convicted of killing former New Orleans Saints star Will Smith has asked for a new trial because the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that split verdicts are unconstitutional in state criminal cases. Appeal attorney Eric Santana filed a request Wednesday asking for a new trial for Cardell Hayes based on the 6-3 decision handed down Monday, news outlets reported. Jurors split 10-2 when they found Hayes guilty in 2017 of manslaughter and attempted manslaughter in a shooting that also injured Smiths wife, Raquel Smith, after a traffic accident a year earlier. Smith was on the Saints team that lifted the citys spirits after Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005 and won the 2010 Super Bowl. Hayes, a former semi-pro lineman who owned a tow-truck company, said he shot in self-defence, after Smith shot at him. A state appeals court rejected that argument. But on Monday, the Supreme Court ruled that criminal state court verdicts must be unanimous and that such cases that are still under direct appeal are eligible for a new trial. Santana wrote that because Hayes case is in the pipeline, he is eligible for relief, WWL-TV reported. District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro said Hayes appeals ran out when the Louisiana Supreme Court refused without comment on March 9 to hear the case, The Times-Picayune / The New Orleans Advocate reported. The request for a new trial said Hayes is well within the 90 days allowed to ask for a U.S. Supreme Court hearing after the states high court rules. Hayes was 29 when he was sentenced in April 2017 to 25 years in prison for Will Smiths death and 15 for wounding Raquel Smith, to run at the same time. Surveillance video from the night of the shooting showed Smiths Mercedes SUV possibly bumping Hayes Hummer, then driving off. Hayes followed them and rammed his vehicle into Smiths. Both then got out and argued in the street. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-24 01:04:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Kenya and the UN on Thursday have resolved to mobilize 310 million shillings (about 3.1 million U.S. dollars) towards mitigating coronavirus in the country. Walid Badawi, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Resident Representative in Kenya, said that the funds will help increase capacity of the healthcare system, build resilience of vulnerable populations, social protection, and advocate for the rights of women. "We are adapting this devolution support program to better assist Kenyans in the fight against COVID-19," Badawi said in a statement issued in Nairobi. The UN official said that partners have agreed to use existing funds that had initially been committed to devolution projects. The UN official said that in consideration of the fast-moving nature of the crisis, partners have agreed to an initial six-month work plan to strengthen Kenya's response to COVID-19 at both national and county-levels. He said that in this new plan, UNDP will lead in the development and dissemination of Kenya and World Health Organization (WHO) guidance-based messaging through radio, television, bulk short message service and social media. "The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) will sensitize target populations on best practices around water, sanitation and hygiene while UN Women will undertake advocacy work to prevent an increase in Gender Based Violence (GBV) and marginalization of women during the COVID-19 period," Badawi added. He said that this support will also facilitate business continuity at the county level for county assemblies and county executives. Badawi added that the UN Women will support the supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) and provision of psychosocial to frontline health workers while UNICEF will distribute WASH supplies at the sub-county level, and to rollout cash transfers to 214 vulnerable urban households in each of 14 target counties for six months. He said that UNDP will further facilitate the immediate deployment of over 50 UN Volunteers (UNVs) with relevant medical experience to support healthcare facilities. "Provision of technical support to address implications related to gender, water, sanitation and hygiene, micro and small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), socioeconomic impact and medical waste management will also be undertaken," he said. Enditem Cass County officials said 47 people in the county have tested positive for the virus, with some of those traced back to Tyson employees. Testing of all remaining plant workers will start Thursday, said Cass County Health Department Administrator Serenity Alter. She said officials are hopeful that the test results back within several days so the plant can resume production. The alleged odors emanating from a waste water treatment plant in The Woodlands has annoyed some local residents who are asking for changes to eliminate the smells completely. The complaints, which were made public on April 16 by several residents who called into the townships online board meeting, continued on Wednesday when officials from the San Jacincto River Authority and Woodlands Water were questioned by one township director who resides one mile from the facility. Odor task force Although no action was taken by the board Wednesday, officials from the San Jacinto River Authority promised they would create an internal task force and do engineering studies to explore the smells, where the odors originate from and when it is most rank. They will then develop a strategic plan with numerous options and costs to deal with the smell as best possible. No improvements can be made to the facility without the approval of each of the 11 individual municipal utility districts board of directors agreeing to the changes and funding them. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Woodlands residents complain about SJRA waste water plant odors The odors have been an issue for years, residents first told The Woodlands Township Board of Directors on April 16, asking for help with the issue despite the fact that the township has no role nor authority in managing the plant. Waste Water Treatment Facility No. 1 is located near the intersection of Sawdust Road and South Millbend Drive, a mile or so from a plush neighborhood of houses and townhomes located on the shores of Harrison Lake in the neighborhood of Lakeside Cove. Following the complaints on April 16, township Director Shelley Sekula-Gibbs who resides in the Lakeside Cove community filed her own complaints about the odors and has coordinated residents to ramp up their criticism and demands for the odors to be stopped. On Tuesday, Sekula-Gibbs organized a large group of people to tour the facility, including several of her neighbors in Lakeside Cove, township Director Ann Snyder, state Rep. Steve Toth of The Woodlands and John Powers, the assistant general manager for community services for The Woodlands. Asking for assistance On Wednesday, during public comment of the board meeting, four residents called to complain about the odors, some of whom claimed the smells have gone on decades since the plant was first built in 1975. They asked for assistance from the township although, several acknowledged, The Woodlands has no role in any manner with funding nor management of the facility. Sekula-Gibbs admitted the township has no authority over the plant, but said she wants the smell to be stopped and suggested a range of solutions from installing a series of perimeter sensors that were somehow connected to the internet and could alert SJRA officials when odors were being emitted. She also advocated that SJRA officials hire a Boston, Massachussetts firm to do waste water analysis to see if COVID-19 can be detected in waste water. I realize, as do many of the people complaining, that the township has no power over SJRA, Sekula-Gibbs said on Wednesday, noting that she still has an obligation to her consitituents to protect the quality of life in the township even when something may not fall under township authority. She cited recent efforts to combat feral hogs that have plagued the community in the past six months as well as other issues township officials have become involved in. Following the complaints in public comment, Jace Houston the general manager of the SJRA and Jim Stinson, the general manager of Woodlands Water, which oversees drinking water and waste water for the 11 MUDs, both spoke to directors and answered questions. After being pressed by Sekula-Gibbs for more action and attention to the issue, township Chairman Gordy Bunch intervened and advised Sekula-Gibbs, who is one of the two newest board members, that it would take several months for the SJRA to do the studies she was asking for and hence having officials return for monthly updates was not optimal. Normal emissions The emissions from the facility are normal, Houston explained in is short presentation. The plant, like all waste water treatment plants, does emit odors due to the normal operations of the facilitys machinery and processes. Sometimes, depending on the temperature and wind direction, smells can waft to nearby homes. The plant was built in 1975, making it the oldest of the three in The Woodlands, when there was less residential development near it. Now, a moderate sized neighborhood is within 800 yards of the facilitys perimeter. Heather Ramsey Cook, a spokesperson for the SJRA, said the plant is operating as expected and has passed with flying colors each of its most recent inspections from officials with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. She also said Sekula-Gibbs had asked to tour the facility and brought a larger group than expected for the tour on April 21. Neil Gaynor, another resident who has called the township twice and made two public comments on April 16 and April 22, said he was enlisted by Sekula-Gibbs to help confront the SJRA about the odors. The agenda item on the April 22 meeting was specifically requested by Sekula-Gibbs. Gaynor also made a lengthy, eight-page white paper with suggested solutions to the smell. Houston said the increase in complaints about the plant has been somewhat of a surprise to him and other SJRA staff since the plant has existed at the location for more than 40 years. He also said to totally eliminate all releases of odors at the facility as residents have demanded occur by December of 2021, the cost would range in the tens of millions of dollars. The timeline for the engineering studies and report to be completed is not known, but SJRA officials said it could be done within six to 10 months. jeff.forward@chron.com Wyomings top public health official will soon begin releasing modified versions of the coronavirus-related closure orders that have changed large portions of daily life in the state, the governors office announced Thursday. This will be a balanced approach that will be driven by two guiding principles public safety and helping more people get back to work, Gov. Mark Gordon said in an announcement. We are going to relax some of the restrictions, while also detailing what data we will monitor to make sure we stay on the right path. Gordon said at a Thursday press conference that restrictions on barber shops, cosmetologists and gyms would likely be the orders amended next week, with those new restrictions extending through May 15. That would still leave restrictions on schools, bars, restaurants, gatherings of 10 or more people, and other public-facing businesses. Those mandates are set to expire April 30. Gordon again reiterated that the transition back to pre-coronavirus Wyoming would not happen overnight. Ive said before this will not be a light switch, he said. We are building a plane as we are flying it, and with your help and I stress this, with your help well keep it in the air. Gordon praised the state and his response for relying on the people to socially distance adequately without the need for a shelter in place order. But he said the state would likely be dealing with impacts from the pandemic for a year to 18 months. He alluded to restrictions put into place 100 years ago, during the Spanish flu in 1918. He described social distancing measures there being lifted too soon and the disease roaring back. Dr. Alexia Harrist, the state health officer who spoke after Gordon on Thursday, reiterated that concern: that to open things too quickly and without safeguards around them would lead to a second wave. Dr. David Wheeler, the president of the Wyoming Medical Society and a physician whos advocated a shelter-in-place order, said it was difficult to react without seeing the new orders. Globally, I think we are still seeing significant case growth, are still at risk of overburdening our hospitals and staff and risk significant loss of life if people do not maintain physical distancing, he said. I am worried that relaxing orders, even if they are logical and data driven, will be perceived as giving permission to folks to conduct themselves in ways that will encourage viral spread. But he added that he was pleased the governor is taking a health data-driven approach and (hopes) that our citizens will conduct themselves in strict compliance with the directions of their health and policy leaders. Gordons announcement indicates that Harrist, who has the ultimate statutory authority over the orders, will allow for county health officers to submit requests for countywide variances from those orders if the public health conditions in the county warrant the change. Those county-level changes can either be more or less restrictive, the governor wrote, depending on counties situations. Encouraging mask use In Natrona County, those discussions have already begun, including preliminary discussions about an order related to face coverings and masks. Among many other ideas the subject of putting some sort of order in place that would highly encouraging (sic) the public to wear a face covering when inside establishments or encouraging establishments to ask their customers to wear face coverings was discussed as a way to begin to reopen businesses, Hailey Rodgers, spokeswoman for the Casper-Natrona County Health Department, told the Star-Tribune in a statement. Ultimately, the idea of encouraging the public to wear face coverings while inside establishments or encouraging establishments to ask their customers to wear face coverings is still being discussed among local officials and health experts, nothing official, such as a legal order, is in place at this time, she added. Both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the state Health Department have encouraged anyone moving about in public settings like grocery stores to wear face coverings, though theres been no order requiring it. Dr. Mark Dowell, Natrona Countys health officer, expressed disappointment last week about how few people he had seen wearing masks out in public. Limiting the spread Testing has confirmed 332 cases of the coronavirus in Wyoming as of Thursday afternoon. Health officials have also reported 121 probable cases patients who have not been tested but are both showing symptoms of COVID-19 and were in close contact with a confirmed case. Two-hundred and seventy-nine people of the 433 confirmed or probable cases have recovered. All seven of Wyomings coronavirus deaths have been confirmed over the past 10 days, with five reported this week. The latest, announced late Wednesday, was a Teton County man who died at an out-of-state hospital. To limit the virus spread, Gordon and Harrist ordered last month the closure of schools and many businesses where people congregate, including bars, gym and hair salons. Restaurant dining rooms were also closed, but takeout and delivery are still permitted. The orders and the economic hardship theyve caused have prompted some protests, though not on the scale seen in other states. The state itself released a dashboard with six health metrics that will be utilized for making decisions about easing restrictions. Those metrics are new cases; percent of cases attributed to community spread; percent of all tests that are positive; total COVID-19-related hospital admissions; hospital bed availability; and ICU bed availability. On Thursday the percent of cases attributed to community spread and the number of COVID-19 hospital admissions were both rated red for concerning. The other four were rated by the state as yellow, meaning stabilizing. None were yet rated green for improving. Gordon has said repeatedly that any loosening of orders here will happen alongside similar moves in neighboring states. Indeed, Wyomings fellow Mountain West states have begun to slowly open up locked down parts of the state. Montana, for instance, will open retail businesses in a limited capacity beginning Friday. Other businesses gyms, theaters, bowling alleys will remain closed. Montana, which has about 400,000 more people than Wyoming, has 439 cases as of Wednesday with 14 deaths. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. How does former Georgian president Mikheil Saakashvili live in Ukraine? - GeorgianJournal Accusing the Congress leadership and the administration of adopting pick and choose policy while distribution of ration in the city, the councillors of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) were mulling to stage a protest outside the residence of deputy commissioner (DC) Pradeep Agrawal on Monday. Led by the leader of opposition in general house, Harbhajan Singh Dang, the councillors assembled at Zone D of the MC on Thursday to make the announcement. Dang said they will demonstrate outside the DCs house on Monday if the administration fails to streamline the distribution. The councillors alleged that the administration is working in connivance with the congress leadership, which is providing ration through only their leaders . They said the Congress leaders were being selective and providing ration only to their friends and family, while the general populace of the district is facing shortage of food and is busy making the rounds of councillors office. They also claimed that the helpline number -1905- is also not working properly. Harbhajan Dang, BJP councillors leader Sunita Rani and SAD councillor Jaspal Giaspura claimed that in their meeting with mayor Balkar Sandhu on Monday, the mayor had assured that ration would be delivered to the councillors by Wednesday. However, nothing has been provided and the mayor is now asking the councillors and the residents to dial 1905 for ration. LIP leader Swarandeep Chahal said that the Congress leaders are asking for voter cards before distributing ration and are providing it only to those who voted for the party. SAD councillor from ward number 2, Gurmail Singh Jajji, had also staged a protest against the alleged pick and choose policy in his ward last week. Punjab food, civil supplies and consumer affairs minister and MLA (Ludhiana west), Bharat Bhushan Ashu, refuted the allegations. Ashu said that DC Agrawal is monitoring the distribution of ration in the district and it is being supplied through block level officers and other staff members. He said that if residents are facing any problem, they can contact the elected representatives, administration or give a call at 1905. A juror who helped convict a former Oklahoma zookeeper during his murder-for-hire trial has slammed the Netflix series Tiger King for making him out to be 'almost a victim'. Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as Joe Exotic, was sentenced to 22 years in prison in April 2019 for trying to arrange the killing of Carole Baskin, a Florida animal sanctuary founder who criticized his treatment of animals. The former zookeeper, who maintains his innocence, was also sentenced for killing five tigers, selling tiger cubs and falsifying wildlife records. Maldonado-Passage is prominently featured in the recently released Netflix documentary, Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, a series that juror, Kristin, believes didn't capture the whole story. 'They made him out to be almost a victim,' Kristin told Fox Nation host Nancy Grace for the new series, A Tiger King Investigation with Nancy Grace. Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as Joe Exotic, is featured in the Netflix documentary, Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness, a series that juror, Kristin (right), believes didn't capture the whole story. She said he was portrayed as a 'lovable' guy She claimed the series portrayed Maldonado-Passage as 'lovable' and a 'good guy'. Kristin, who wanted to keep her last name private, said: 'It just wasn't even the same story. It did a huge injustice to the jury because now people think that we convicted him based on absolutely nothing.' Grace then asked Kristin what was the strongest evidence requiring the hitman counts. Kristin told the host about a long recording about Maldonado-Passage meeting with an apparent hitman. 'We could have convicted on both murder for hire counts based on one sentence that Joe said, which was "the first guy that I hired to kill her ran away with my $3,000. Now we're going to try this again,"' Kristin said. Last week Maldonado-Passage was granted an extra month to argue why his lawsuit challenging the convictions shouldn't be dismissed. Joseph Maldonado-Passage, also known as Joe Exotic, was sentenced to 22 years in prison in April 2019 He was convicted for trying to arrange the killing of Carole Baskin (pictured) a Florida animal sanctuary founder who criticized his treatment of animals Maldonado-Passage filed a federal lawsuit in March against the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the US Department of the Interior, and the assistant US attorney who prosecuted him and several witnesses. He's seeking nearly $94million in damages, claiming that he was convicted based on false and perjured testimony. A federal judge decided to recommend dismissing his lawsuit and provided an April 28 deadline for objection filing. Tiger King held the No. 1 spot on Netflix's top 10 most streamed list for 25 days. Maldonado-Passage is pictured On Thursday, US District Judge Scott Palk extended that deadline to May 28 after Maldonado-Passage provided a handwritten letter requesting at least 30 days to respond. In the letter, Maldonado-Passage wrote that he is being isolated at the Federal Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas, with '(no access to a computer, phone, email or library)'. On April 8, President Donald Trump told a New York Post reporter he'd 'look into' possibly pardoning Maldonado-Passage, who ran for President in 2016 and Oklahoma Governor in 2018. Tiger King held the No. 1 spot on Netflix's top 10 most streamed list for 25 days straight. The series became a pop culture phenomenon in the age of COVID-19 quarantine, with a reported 34.3 million people streaming the eight-part documentary in the first 10 days of its release. That topped season 2 of Netflix's Stranger Things, which had 31.2 million unique viewers in its first 10 days. The Lagos State Government has approved an increment in the hazard allowance of all health workers in the state from the current N5,000 to N25,000 as from April. This is due to the efforts of health workers and their roles as frontline officers fighting the coronavirus pandemic in the state. Announcing the increment, Hakeem Muri-Okunola, the Head of Service for the state said the state governor approved a 400 per cent (N20, 000) increment in the hazard allowance. Mr Muri-Okunola said the increase in allowance is an appreciation of health workers in the fight against COVID-19, as well as their daily exposure to hazardous situations. Lagos State is the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, with 504 confirmed cases out of the 873 cases nationwide. Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the state, health workers have been leading the fight against the infection, while some of them are exposed to the infection. PREMIUM TIMES reported how Nigerian health workers expressed unhappiness over their dismal welfare packages and lack of personal protective equipment. Meanwhile, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, said during his last press briefing that some health workers have tested positive to COVID-19 infection and have been isolated and undergoing treatment. As of Thursday, Lagos had 504 confirmed cases of coronavirus, 107 discharged cases, and 16 deaths. Mr Muri-Okunola said that the health workers are expected to reciprocate the gesture of the state government with more doggedness and enthusiasm towards their duties. The so-called Normandy format meeting will be held via video link. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said April 22 he would hold talks next week with his Russian, Ukrainian, and French counterparts to revive efforts to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Maas said he had held talks with his counterparts in recent days, Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported. The leaders of the four countries met at a summit in Paris in December 2019 to revive a peace process and for Kyiv and Russia-backed separatists in the east of the country to exchange prisoners. But lingering issues over a timeline for local elections and control over borders in the separatist-controlled regions remain. Read alsoZelensky positive to put end to war in Donbas within his cadence "We have come to the conclusion, and no one has disputed this, that key parts of the agreements from the summit in Paris have not yet been implemented," Maas said. "Thats why it is important to give a new impetus to the decisions and the implementation of the decisions," he said. The so-called Normandy format meeting will be held via video link. The Ukrainian government and Russia-controlled "Donetsk People's Republic" and "Luhansk People's Republic" have conducted two prisoner exchanges since the Paris summit. Last week the two sides exchanged 34 prisoners ahead of Orthodox Easter celebrations on April 19. Separately on April 22, Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke by phone about the conflict in Ukraine and welcomed the latest prisoner exchange, the Kremlin said in a statement. Germany and France have mediated between Ukraine and Russia since a peace agreement was signed in Minsk in 2015, but efforts at implementation have faltered. BETHESDA, Maryland -- Army doctors working at hospitals within the Defense Health Agency have prototyped an isolation chamber that can be placed over the head and chest of patients diagnosed with COVID-19. The Agency has asked the FDA for an emergency use authorization, paving the way for rapid implementation to help protect health care providers on the front lines of the pandemic. The "COVID-19 Airway Management Isolation Chamber" is a barrier device constructed by draping clear plastic sheeting over a box-like frame made of common PVC piping. The chamber captures and removes viral particles emitted from a patient's nose and mouth using a flow of air or oxygen, which comes in through holes in the piping on one side, and is sucked out by a vacuum on the other. Vacuum lines are common features in hospitals, but even if one is not available, a vacuum pump and HEPA filter can be easily connected to the device. The chamber was invented to supplement standard personal protective equipment used by doctors and nurses by creating a safer environment for performing airway management from examination to intubation. Intermediary airway management represents those options a healthcare provider might use prior to intubation. In making these intermediary options safer and more available, the use of the CAMIC may allow patients to avoid the need for intubation altogether. Among the inventors, are Maj. Steven Hong, Cpt. Timothy Blood, and Cpt. Jonathan Perkins at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center; Maj. Douglas Ruhl, at Madigan Army Medical Center; Mr. Nathan Fisher at the Army's Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center; Maj. Charles Riley at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital; and 2nd Lt. Joseph Krivda at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. "Clinicians at both hospitals spent many sleepless nights and weekends toying with designs and testing models," Dr. Ruhl said. "The device can also contain infective particles during other airway treatments, like high-flow oxygen, a nebulizer, or a CPAP, and hopefully decrease the need for ventilators." The device was modeled and tested at Walter Reed and Madigan with computer modeling at TATRC. To measure the effectiveness of the invention, smoke was used as a proxy for airborne viral particles and a particle counter was used to measure distribution within and around the prototype. The study was submitted for publication in the New England Journal of Medicine. In addition to the emergency FDA authorization, the Army has filed two provisional patent applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. "It was impressive to see several DOD departments understand the importance of this concept and make it a priority to help expedite reviews and approvals," Dr. Ruhl said. TechLink, the Department of Defense's national partnership intermediary for technology transfer, is seeking U.S. companies and entrepreneurs to review and license the invention for manufacturing from the U.S. Army. Quinton King, senior technology manager at TechLink, is facilitating the licensing process in direct support of the Army. An emergency use license will be offered to expedite the use of this technology against COVID-19. "This invention allows intermediary airway management prior to intubation and hopefully avoiding intubation while keeping medical personnel safe," King said. "Because this device can be produced relatively cheap and fast, we're hoping this technology can be quickly delivered to those battling COVID-19 at medical facilities around the country and around the world. This technology could help save the lives of patients, and the doctors and nurses treating them." ### Licensing inquiries can be sent to Quinton King at quinton.king@montana.edu British holidaymakers are facing a summer-long ban from the Balearic Islands due to the UK's 'delayed' lockdown - despite plans to reopen the islands to other nations from August. Officials in Ibiza, Majorca, Menorca and Fromentera say they are not expecting to allow tourists in May, June of July but after that hope to see a gradual reintroduction of overseas visitors. However, Balearics tourism minister Iago Negueruela has hinted that Britons will not be among those returning to the islands this summer because the UK 'took too long to adopt containment measures' in the fight against coronavirus. Mr Negueruela told local media: 'There are countries like the United Kingdom that have taken too long to adopt containment measures. That also puts us in a different situation with respect to them.' However, he did not elaborate on how the islands would enforce a system whereby only tourists from certain nations would be allowed to return for holidays. Balearics tourism minister Iago Negueruela has hinted that Britons will not be among those returning to the islands this summer because the UK 'took too long to adopt containment measures' in the fight against coronavirus. Pictured: A deserted beach on Ibiza earlier this month British holidaymakers are facing a summer-long ban from the Balearic Islands due to the UK's 'delayed' lockdown - despite plans to reopen the islands to other nations from August. A member of Balearic local cleaning team cleans the streets of Mahon, Menorca, Balearics Islands The islands, which form an archipelago off the east of Spain, have said they do not expect to welcome any tourists until August due to the Covid-19 pandemic. All commercial passenger flights are currently banned. Tourism minister Iago Negueruela said holidays on the four islands could start 'minimally' in August, but with only 25 per cent of the usual visitor numbers. He said this figure could gradually increase to 50 per cent over the following months. However, he hinted that certain countries, including the UK, which took longer to take measures to restrict the spread of the coronavirus, will face a Balearics ban for longer. Officials in Ibiza, Majorca, Menorca and Fromentera say they are not expecting to allow tourists in May, June of July but after that hope to see a gradual reintroduction of overseas visitors. Balearic local cleaning team uses tractors to clean the streets of Mahon, Menorca Cancelling most of the tourist season is expected to cost the Balearics around 9.2 billion (8.3 billion) and GDP is expected to fall by 31.6 per cent according to the islands' Department of Labour. Almost 150,000 jobs are expected to be lost on the four islands, with ministers admitting that Ibiza and Formentera, which rely most heavily on tourism, are likely to be hardest hit. The Balearics attracted 13.6 million tourists last year, almost a third of which were from Britain, its largest overseas market, just slightly ahead of Germany. Yesterday it was revealed that the world's biggest and most famous tomato fight in has been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic, in yet another blow to the country's tourism industry. La Tomatina, in which 20,000 revellers pelt each other with ripe tomatoes, is held each summer in the town of Bunol, Valencia. It attracts competitors and spectators from all over the globe and is considered one of the biggest street fiestas in Spain. This year's Tomatina fiesta was meant to have been held in August for its 75th anniversary but Bunol council yesterday confirmed it has been cancelled. That news came just a day after the famous Pamplona bull run was called off because of the pandemic. Hotels and attractions have already been thrown into turmoil by the shutdown in one of the world's top tourist destinations. The San Fermin celebration is centuries old and typically attended by hundreds of thousands of people. By some models, Texas has passed its peak in deaths from coronavirus infections. But before people can get back to work, public health experts are issuing a stark warning. Multiple waves of infection are coming, they say. As officials begin to discuss how to ease restrictions here, they must also focus on minimizing the next peak to prevent another sharp rise in infections and deaths from COVID-19, the disease caused by the highly contagious virus. The only way to accomplish this is to contain the epidemic through widespread testing, extensive contact tracing and centralized isolation, according to the Population Health Advisory Committee, or PHAC, a volunteer group of local physicians and public health professionals that came together to offer science-based advice to city officials. As it exists now, the public health system is ill-suited to that task, said Dr. Vince Fonseca, a member of PHAC who served as the states chief epidemiologist during the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic, which spread near San Antonio. READ: Population Health Advisory Committee's summary of strategies Almost for sure, (the coronavirus) is going to come back in the fall, Fonseca said. We as a community need to acknowledge we have not resourced our health department, just like every city, county in the state hasnt. Metro Health Director Dawn Emerick said that officials here are scrambling not only to find enough testing kits and supplies, but also even to assess the testing capacity of other health providers in the county. We just dont know, Emerick said. And we have to call everyone manually. Thats just how bad it is in terms of infrastructure. This is what happens when you dont invest in public health. When you have cuts, infrastructure goes away. After years of federal cuts, local and state health departments across the country have lost nearly a quarter of their workforce since 2008, according to the National Association of County and City Health Officials. A $484 billion coronavirus relief package approved this week by the Senate would provide $25 billion for testing, but researchers say thats a fraction of whats needed to reopen safely by the summer. Were all really trying to figure out how do we scale up testing, Emerick said. Thats an issue across the country. Theres a reason why everyone is struggling with testing. Mayor Ron Nirenberg said the ability to test, trace and isolate enough patients is critical to restarting economic activity. Our primary goal in reopening carefully is to ensure we dont end up in the same or worse situation than were in now, Nirenberg said, avoiding a second wave of the infection that would force additional closures and further stunt the economy. Since stay-at-home orders were issued last month, at least 71,000 people have filed for unemployment in Bexar County, and 1.38 million people have filed claims in Texas. Last week set another record for one-week jobless claims in Texas, with 325,000 new unemployment claims. Nirenberg wants to see a 14-day decline in new infections before lifting economic restrictions designed to stop the spread of the virus. But the number of new cases here continues to climb. Bexar County has recorded a total of 1,126 cases since the outbreak began up 46 from Tuesday to Wednesday. Thirty-nine people have died since the first local case was reported March 13. Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff have named Emerick and others to a panel of medical experts who will advise them next week on when its safe to begin easing stay-at-home restrictions. The COVID-19 Health Transition Team, which is separate from PHAC, is led by Dr. Barbara Taylor, an infectious disease specialist at UT Health San Antonio. The team will work with a separate panel convened by Nirenberg and Wolff, dubbed the COVID-19 Economic Transition Team. That committee must put together a plan by May 1. We were called upon as health experts to deliver guidance based on data and our knowledge of the community, but that is really the beginning of the process, Taylor said. The health transition team will strive to forestall a second wave of infections. But it would be a mistake, Taylor said, to believe that sacrificing the economy is the only way to save lives. I actually think these things are incredibly intertwined, Taylor said. Severe economic hardship obviously undermines the health of our community. By realizing these things are intersectional rather than opposed, we can come up with plans that help promote both. Thats the aim, at least. But reopening will be a delicate task, experts say, one fraught with risk in the face of a virus that is both poorly understood and highly contagious. Even the continuation of social distancing as ruinous as it is to the economy isnt enough to stop the spread. If we shelter in place without testing people with mild or no symptoms or without identifying likely positives through tracing, the emergency declaration will have limited impacts on suppressing this virus, a recently revised PHAC document warned. Instead, we merely shift the peak. Labs hammered Without adequate testing, public health officials are blindfolded to the disease, unable to locate infections and stamp out clusters before they spark larger outbreaks. To contain the virus, experts say communities should test nearly everyone with mild or severe symptoms, as well as an average of 10 people who were in contact with each person who tests positive. An average of 565 tests are conducted every day in Bexar County by both public and private labs, according to Metro Health. And local officials are in talks with Texas MedClinic and the Texas Military Department to expand drive-thru testing sites. Yet testing here continues to be hampered by a scarcity of resources not only nasal swabs, but also necessary collection tubes. You can swab all you want, said Emerick, the metro health director. Its the transport media thats a problem. Labs are overwhelmed, she said, and some are having trouble acquiring the chemicals required to run the tests. Some of the larger labs, theyre just getting hammered, Emerick said. We need more labs online. People can pressure us, You need to test more, test more, test more. Hold the phone. I cant collect specimens if I cant run the tests. Fonseca said state officials should clamor for the federal government to send more tests that deliver results within minutes. They just cant make enough, he said. Right now we havent heard a loud enough voice in Texas as a whole so we can get in front of the line for more of these rapid tests. Some are pinning hopes on a separate blood test that could identify those who have developed antibodies to COVID-19 and allow them to return safely to work. The Food and Drug Administration has allowed about 90 companies to sell antibody tests that have not yet been vetted by the government. Health officials have since warned that some are making false claims about flawed products. Many of the tests have found antibodies in people who actually have none, and researchers are not yet certain that those who have recovered from COVID-19 are even immune. In Laredo, health officials obtained about 20,000 antibody tests before finding them to have a reliability of only about 20 percent. The company selling those tests had advertised an accuracy rate of 93 to 97 percent, said Rafael Benavides, a spokesman for that city. I think its concerning, Taylor said. Any test that we dont know the parameters how many false positives and how many false negatives and also fundamentally we need to understand what the antibodies mean. We can think about it as something that could make a difference in the future. Emerick also was wary. I could show you the number of solicitations that we get, where its just email after email after email about antibody testing, she said. None of those antibody test results are required to come to the health department. Whos going to regulate this? Now Playing: Out of respect for HIPPA laws and privacy, the City of San Antonio provided this demonstration of the COVID-19 drive thru testing station recently opened in the city. Video: San Antonio Express-News Contact tracers wanted Testing is critical, but the trail of the disease doesnt end there. To suppress the virus, health officials must also identify the recent contacts of those who test positive and then test and isolate those contacts as well, experts say. Some Asian countries have used digital surveillance to track patients and alert contacts. But privacy concerns in the United States limit this approach. Councilwoman Ana Sandoval, council liaison to the health transition team, suggested looking to Massachusetts. That state has budgeted $44 million to hire 1,000 people to trace the contacts of its COVID-19 patients. Thats not out of the realm of possibility for a place like San Antonio to do, said Sandoval, who earned a masters degree in public health from the Harvard School of Public Health. That could definitely happen here. Metro Health has about 30 people engaged in contact tracing at any given time, but more are needed between 250 and 300 in all, Emerick said. The job would require communicating with the contacts of anyone who tests positive to warn them of their potential exposure, connect them with public health resources, and then monitor their symptoms until they either test negative or are beyond the two-week incubation period for the disease. The skills needed can be taught, no public health experience is necessary, and a high school education suffices, the PHAC document said. Case investigators and contact tracers receive training on the basics of disease transmission, how case isolation works and quarantine of contacts. Cherise Rohr-Allegrini, an infectious disease epidemiologist and a member of the health transition team, said shes heard from people who want to help. Ive had probably 40 students contact me asking to volunteer to do contact tracing, she said. And theres more out there. Its not that hard to learn how to do it. Leave home? Stay home has become an urgent command in the coronavirus era. But lessons learned from Wuhan, China, where the outbreak was first reported, suggest that a twist on the adage might be required to defeat a virus that tends to cluster in families. If you lock down and restrict people to their homes, well, most people dont live by themselves, Fonseca said. As a result, authorities in China placed patients with even mild symptoms in temporary isolation facilities. People who had come into contact with anyone who was infected were sent to hotels for quarantine. About 800 hotel rooms in Bexar County are available for people who want to isolate away from their families, and the city will provide transportation. This week, though, just four people were using the service. Unlike in China, authorities here wont force people from their homes, so health officials must make isolation services more attractive, Fonseca said. He suspected that patients might be reluctant to leave their families. In order for me to do something different, my social role has to be completely taken over by someone else, Fonseca said. So we probably have to figure out, what are the barriers, and lower the barriers. But local health officials might be running out of time to enhance containment measures. On Wednesday, Gov. Greg Abbott said in a series of interviews that he could make an announcement as soon as Friday about reopening some Texas businesses, including restaurants, hair salons and retail outlets. He said the re-openings would go into effect a week after his announcement. This could preempt deliberations by the health and economic transition teams appointed by Nirenberg and Wolff. Their purpose is to set the terms of engagement, Nirenberg said before news broke about the governors plans. Lay out the field on which we have to play ...the conditions and circumstances that they say need to be in place for us to safely reopen. Reopening too soon could prove catastrophic, the mayor added. You dont cut your parachute off because you slowed your descent. Staff Writer Diego Mendoza-Moyers contributed to this report. bchasnoff@express-news.net While celebrities have a huge fan following, there are some people on social media who troll celebrities for cheap thrills. From writing nasty comments to posting vulgar remarks, they do it all to grab attention. Indiatelugu.com Esha Gupta, who is best known for her role in Akshay Kumar starrer Rustom, posted a gorgeous photo of her on Instagram recently. It was close up look highlighting her eyes. "Looking at you looking at me", she wrote in the caption. While a lot of her the fans of 34-year-old former Miss India praised her, one person wrote a rather vulgar comment. Esha Gupta didn't ignore the remark. "Tumko ****** ka mann kr rha h.. Kya kru btao", he wrote. She rather gave him back with a befitting response. @ravisharma9033 kuch mat karo, corona nahi marega tumhe toh koi aur mar dega.. Instagram In a recent interview with Hindustan Times, Esha Gupta had said she was mentally prepared for the lockdown and that it is a war-like situation. "My boyfriend, who is in Spain, has been in isolation and has been taking all kinds of precautions. He has been telling me about the virus and somehow I was mentally prepared for this lockdown to happen. I'm taking to him every day and video calling to keep a check on his health. Honestly, he's the one who is calming for the otherwise hyper person that I am. He has this relaxing effect on me." Ontario schools have been closed since March 23 and will stay shut well into May, if not longer. The entire province is under a state of emergency until May 12 and even that, were told may get extended. At this point, plenty of students (and their depressed parents) are assuming they wont be returning to classrooms at all this term. But on Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford suggested the government isnt ready to concede the school year, which is scheduled to run until June 25. It would be great if students could get back to classes in school buildings, face-to-face with their classmates and teachers, even if everyone has to stay two metres apart. But, whether that happens this school year or not, more attention needs to be put on the education that students are receiving now. Or, more to the point, not receiving. The Toronto District School Board has already told graduating students theyll receive their final marks next week for the purposes of college and university applications. And all students have been told their grades wont drop from what they were prior to March break. Thats fair given these unprecedented times. But that shouldnt mean students arent given the opportunity to learn more of the curriculum so their next school year wont be such a shock. Ontario, like other jurisdictions all around the world, was forced to move very quickly to put in place a home schooling plan. It was always going to be a rocky transition, especially with the need to ensure the existing inequities in the school system arent made even worse through virtual learning. Ontario began with a learn at home online portal that was voluntary and not meant to replace school. Then it moved to the plan thats in place now, teacher-led learning of the curriculum primarily provided through a range of online means. Given the uncertainty around how much longer this may continue, its time for teachers, school boards and the education ministry to ramp up this phase. Its too limited in ambition for the long haul. Providing just five hours a week for students in kindergarten to grade 6, and 10 hours for those in grades 7 and 8, is not enough to cover the curriculum that used to take a full week of school to provide. At this rate, the gaps in learning will be enormous at the start of the next term and even more educational time will be lost making up for that before starting on new content. High school students are supposed to be getting 1.5 hours per course per week (three hours for semestered students), which is well below normal. Some schools say they arent managing to provide even that much. The education ministry and school boards have now had more than a month to provide training for teachers in how to educate students at a distance and get laptops, tablets and internet access to students who dont normally have access at home. Certainly teachers and school administrators must take care to ensure that students who need extra help whether thats with technology or more traditional educational supports arent left behind. But they also cant let the challenges of doing that become an excuse to provide so little schooling that all students are left behind. Its understandable if teachers are reluctant to fully embrace e-learning, given that the Ford government tried to foist four mandatory courses on high school students in its bid to reduce teacher positions. But parents and students have already successfully pushed back on that and made it clear that they want a teacher at the head of the class in normal times. These are not normal times. COVID-19 has forced governments and businesses of all kinds to deliver what matters in new, albeit less than ideal, ways. Ontarios students deserve no less. Read more about: Haiti - News : Zapping... FLASH : Return flight to the USA Spirit Airlines was authorized to operate a flight from Port-au-Prince to Fort Lauderdale, Florida (FLL) on Monday, April 27, 2020. Full information on schedules, prices and booking details is available at. www.spirit.com. American citizens who wish to return to the United States should plan to do it so immediately. A contaminated patient flees from an isolation center At the start of the week, one of the 3 Haitian nationals deported by the United States and tested positive for Covid-19 hhttps://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-30583-haiti-politic-usa-will-repatriate-129-haitians-in-full-pandemic.html contesting his test, fled from the isolation center. Dr. Laure Adrien, Director General of the Ministry of National Education assures that everything is done to find this infected patient so that he is taken back to isolation. Covid-19 : Towards better assistance for Haitians... For a better coordination of assistance to compatriots living in difficult situations in the Dominican Republic or wishing to return to Haiti from the border, Claude Joseph held an important working meeting, Wednesday morning by videoconference, with the heads of the Organization International for Migration (IOM), the International Labor Organization (ILO), the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization and (WHO / PAHO), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP-Haiti) and the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (UNINH). OAS : two resolutions adopted Under the chairmanship of Haiti, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) approved two resolutions; the first entitled "Virtual sessions of the Permanent Council because of the Covid-19 pandemic" and the second entitled "OAS response to the Covid-19 pandemic". Both resolutions were approved by acclamation. USAID : Project against deforestation Deforestation threatens the well-being of people around the world. The American Agency for International Development (USAID-Haiti) works with communities to manage and conserve the forests and trees of Haiti. USAIDs reforestation project in Haiti has helped more than 700 farmers apply sustainable practices and establish tree plantations for fuel, of agroforestry systems, mixed orchards and forest stands. HL/ HaitiLibre STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The coronavirus could be responsible for strokes in adults in their 30s and 40s, according to alarming media reports. The strokes, mostly among people with no pre-existing conditions, might result from blood clots fueled by COVID-19, according to reports on CNN.com and other media outlets. Younger patients with seemingly mild symptoms might not seek medical care for various reasons until they suddenly suffer strokes, according to the reports. Dr. Thomas Oxley, a neurosurgeon at Mount Sinai Health System in Manhattan, described how five people all under the age of 50 either had mild or no symptoms of COVID-19 before their strokes, according to CNN. The virus seems to be causing increased clotting in the large arteries, leading to severe stroke, Oxley told CNN. Our report shows a seven-fold increase in incidence of sudden stroke in young patients during the past two weeks." The United States Census Bureau is undertaking its once-in-a-decade count of the U.S. population, and fewer than half of Alabama households have participated. Its a trend that can be seen across the South - especially the Deep South - and it could have big consequences here. Alabama is one of a handful of states that could lose a congressional seat following the 2020 Census. The Census also determines how much federal funding states get for certain programs - and the most important thing a state can do to increase that number is make sure every person living there is counted. Throughout the South, thats not happening. So far, roughly 51 percent of American households have responded to the Census. In the South, the numbers are typically lower. In Alabama, only 49.7 percent have responded as of April 21st. Thats 28th in the Country. Gov. Kay Ivey said last August that she hopes the state reaches 80 percent. Many other Southern states are doing worse - in West Virginia, fewer than 40 percent of households have responded. But of all the Southern states, Alabama may have the most on the line. It is the only one projected to lose a seat in the House of Representatives after the Census. Alabama is one of 24 states and the District of Columbia with lower than 50 percent response so far | graphic by Ramsey Archibald The South isnt the only region with low response so far. Much of New England also has below 50 percent response, and Montana and Wyoming are among the states with the lowest response rates in the country. In Alabama, along with much of the rural South, many citizens live in hard to count areas, which can help contribute to low participation. Roughly 18 percent of Alabamians live in hard to count areas, according to data from the Census Bureau and the Associated Press. AL.com reported last year on the Alabama counties that would likely be the hardest to count. Many of those counties have lived up to that billing, and are among the counties with the lowest response rates so far. Most counties are below 50 percent in Alabama, with a handful - mostly in North Alabama - having higher response rates. Do you have an idea for a data story about Alabama? Email Ramsey Archibald at rarchibald@al.com, and follow him on Twitter @RamseyArchibald. Read more Alabama data stories here. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, while answering a question from a reporter on Israel's new coalition government that has promised to begin annexing parts of the West Bank on the 1st of July, said that it up to the Israelis to make those decisions. Pompeo in a press conference on April 22 said, "Those are thats an Israeli decision, and we will work closely with them to share with them our views of this in a private setting." A new power-sharing government between Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz has been formed in Israel following three consecutive elections that ended inconclusively with no party winning a majority in the Knesset. Read: Israel: Lawmaker Proposes Six-month 'political Freeze' As Coronavirus Battle Worsens Pompeo praised the power-sharing deal between Prime Minister Netanyahu and former military chief Gantz as he said, "Were happy with the a new governments formed. A fourth election, we think, wouldnt have been in Israels best interest, but well leave that to them. We think its not in the worlds best interest. Were glad that there is a now fully formed government in Israel." President Donald Trump had earlier this year unveiled a Middle East plan that opened doors for the Israeli establishment to annex parts of West Bank that the United Nations say is illegally occupied by Jerusalem. Read: Thousands Of Israelis Brave COVID-19 Health Risks To Protest Against Benjamin Netanyahu Israel election and deal Benny Gantz, the leader of Israel's Blue and White party won 15 seats in the recently concluded election of 120 seats strong Knesset. Gantz signed the historic unity government deal with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose Likud party won 36 seats. The three-year deal to form an emergency government was signed on April 20 and would see Netanyahu as prime minister for one and a half years with Gantz assuming the role for the remaining second half period. Gantz is currently the speaker of the unicameral national legislature of Israel. Read: Iran Blames Israel's Spy Agency Of Running 'clandestine Operations' & 'nabbing' Test Kits Read: Embassy Of India In Israel Salutes Indian Students For Helping Israel In COVID-19 Battle (Image Credit: AP) AXA Green Crescent Insurance Company (GCIC) has launched a new fully digitalised life insurance solution, Life Protect, aimed at encouraging customers to protect themselves and their loved ones from financial hardships that they might face in the event of death or illness. The launch is also seen as an attempt by one of the regions largest insurers to help the UAE bridge the protection gap, where individuals are currently facing significant financial exposure to risks in an uncertain market environment. AXA GCICs goal is to make life insurance less expensive and more accessible. In the unfortunate event of your death or if you become disabled, life insurance can make up for your lost income, ensure that your children get the proper education, sustain the support to an elderly family member, settle your outstanding personal debts and generally maintain your familys lifestyle. With no physical application form, Life Protects fully digitalised customer journey is available across all devices and takes less than two minutes to complete. Documents can be uploaded via a mobile phone or desktop and customers receive their policy documents directly to their registered email addresses. The policy can be cancelled at any time and without any financial penalty. Commenting on the launch, Mohamed Seghir, Chief Executive Officer of AXA GCIC, said; The UAE has a protection gap with only 0.7 per cent of GDP being spent on life insurance. This is incredibly low when compared to major economies such as the United States, Japan and most Western European countries, or even Malaysia, which has a penetration rate of 3.5 per cent of GDP and highlights that individuals are putting themselves and their families at risk of financial hardships. Life insurance is frequently perceived as a luxury as opposed to a necessity. To challenge this perception, we have developed a simple-to-understand, easily accessible and affordable life insurance product that takes less than two minutes to be purchased. A typical 35-year-old Life Protect customer will pay around 75 dirhams a month for a 1million-dirham worth cover over 10 years. Everything is written in simple language, there are no hidden fees or complex sign-up processes, and we anticipate that the majority of customers will not require medical examinations. As its all done online, the cost of cover is significantly low to ensure customers pay a fair premium. Life insurance should be considered by everyone and AXA GCICs Life Protect provides financial support directly to customers and their designated beneficiaries; offering coverage up to $50 million and it can be used to cover loved ones, pay a financial liability like a mortgage, or to cover business costs. Life Protect offers a long-term cover against death and provides a pre-payment of 50 per cent of the sum assured in the event a customer suffers from a terminal illness. It also includes the option to add coverage against permanent and total disability. All AXA GCICs life insurance products are fully validated by the Insurance Authority and are in line with the new life insurance regulations due to be introduced in 2020.-- Tradearabia News Service By Express News Service MUMBAI: Amidst the blues, here comes some good news. Maharashtra, the worst-hit state by COVID-19 pandemic in India, has witnessed a fall in the growth of coronavirus cases and the number of hotspots in there has reduced from earlier 14 to five. Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope said that the doubling rate of positive cases in Maharashtra has now fallen to nine days. "Our doubling rate has now reached 7.01 today. This means that the present figures will double after 7 days. But we will not allow that to happen and will bring it further down," Tope said in his online media address. The doubling rates of coronavirus positive patients are slowing down. Earlier, it was 3 days period, later five days and now it takes nine days. Every day 13 per cent of people are getting cured. While only one per cent patients are in critical condition, 83 per cent did not have strong symptoms and 17 per cent have soft symptoms, said Tope, adding that the mortality rate has also come down from seven per cent to five per cent. Tope further said, The growth in the number of coronavirus patients is also coming down. Now there are only five coronavirus hotspots Mumbai city, Mumbai metropolitan region (that includes Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan, Dombivali, Panvel etc), Pune, Nagpur and Malegaon. We want to bring down these hotspots to zero in coming days, said Tope. Mumbai has the most coronavirus cases and are confined to the slum pockets of Worli, Dharavi, Kurla, Andheri East and Andheri West. In areas such as Dharavi, home quarantine is of no use. So the administration will be using larger spaces like schools for institutional quarantine. The state will also arrange for oxygen stations there, the minister said. Total coronavirus positive cases in Maharashtra have now touched 6427. In Mumbai alone the number has crossed 4000-mark. Will the pandemic turn off bookshops lights for good, or will it help the industry thrive? In 2015, it was Greeces financial crisis keeping customers away from the Free Thinking Zone Bookstore & Cafe. At the time, the shops shelves were full, but its common areas were empty; pages were not being turned, coffees were not being served, and the overall situation looked bleak. I first interviewed the shops owner, Areti Georgilis, in July of that year. At that time, Areti was extremely worried her small Athens business might not make it. Despite all the obstacles, though, her concept store, one she calls an activism bookshop, survived. Now, nearly five years on, it is a far worse crisis the coronavirus pandemic threatening to turn the shops lights off for good. Its been very hard, Georgilis told me this week as we reconnected over Skype. The biggest problem right now is the lockdown of the stores, said Georgilis. And the lockdown will lead us eventually to problems with liquidity. Small and medium businesses in Greece, I guess all over the world, they are facing such problems. Like many other booksellers, Georgilis has developed a delivery service in order to continue to serve her customers. Still, she is finding it hard to compete with the largest chains. Marianne Reiner owns and operates the Run For Cover Bookstore in San Diego, California. The shops future is uncertain, but loyal customers continue to order titles from her. People need books more than ever. Books are escapes. Books are a wonderful medium right now, Reiner said on Skype. But it actually has been really hard for the whole business, book business world to get our hands on books, because everyone has had to change overnight the way they do business. Adjusting Reiner explained how demand on distributors and publishers has been overwhelming, further complicating the situation. They also had to deal with, you know, employees being sick or not being able to get to work because of, you know, safety for them and their family. And so the process has been slow at first. I think right now Im seeing, you know, better delivery time and all because everybodys been adjusting. She fulfilled a lifelong dream by opening her store a year and a half ago. Like many other independent bookstore owners, she has increasingly turned to social media to keep book buyers engaged; alerting them to works that have come in and orders that have gone out. She has even started initiatives like Digital Mother-Daughter Storytime sessions. Still, she says nothing will ever replace face-to-face interactions with fellow book lovers. Having the connections with the readers has really been the greatest gift of my bookstore, explained Marianne. And not being able to do this in person right now is obviously very, very hard. But it is not just booksellers and bookstores getting more creative while trying to engage readers in the era of COVID-19. Writers are too. Author and journalist Sanam Maher saw the publicity tour for her book, A Woman Like Her: The Story Behind the Honor Killing of a Social Media Star, cut short by the pandemic. Soon after, she began thinking about what kind of effect the coronavirus would have on writers and their work. I wonder what its like for people who just have their first book coming out, or theyre a smaller name, or they havent had as much marketing or hype behind their work, explained Maher. And how they really, really rely on festivals and events and events in bookshops, and being able to do that sort of networking. And suddenly losing out on that entirely. What does that mean? So, while working from home in Karachi, Pakistan, she started the Stay Home, Stay Reading series with friend and fellow author Fatima Bhutto. The videos, posted on social media platforms like Instagram, showcase writers, poets, and the art of storytelling. I wanted to create something that allowed those authors to put their work forward in as public a space as possible. To allow, just readers from all over the world to access their work, to just check it out, see if theyre interested, to be able to read from their work, and also really to have a moment when they could share it and celebrate it. In the videos, writers read selections of their works and works they admire; offering stories as a way to escape even if just for a few moments the seemingly constant barrage of bad news. INVESTIGATION ALERT: The Schall Law Firm Announces it is Investigating Claims Against The Walt Disney Company and Encourages Investors with Losses to Contact the Firm The Schall Law Firm, a national shareholder rights litigation firm, announces that it is investigating claims on behalf of investors of The Walt Disney (News - Alert) Company ("Walt Disney" or "the Company") (NYSE: DIS) for violations of securities laws. If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall of the Schall Law Firm, 1880 Century Park East, Suite 404, Los Angeles, CA (News - Alert) 90067, at 424-303-1964, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected]. The class in this case has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member. The Schall Law Firm represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005920/en/ President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects the local poverty alleviation work in Jinping community of Laoxian township, Pingli county of the city of Ankang, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, April 21, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua] Despite the influence of the novel coronavirus pandemic on the country's economy, President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that he was confident of achieving the goal of eliminating poverty in China by the end of this year. While visiting a community in the town of Laoxian in Shaanxi province's Pingli county, Xi instructed local officials to make substantial efforts to promote employment so that the people will have a stable life. "I am confident of largely achieving the goal of poverty eradication this year. What concerns me more is whether the situation can be stabilized after this year, or whether there is a long-term mechanism," Xi said. Xi's trip to the region started on Monday with ecological preservation and poverty alleviation on top of the agenda. Only through stable employment can locals live a prosperous life, Xi told the family of Wang Xianping. Wang's family is among 1,346 households in the community that have been relocated from hilly areas prone to geological disasters or poverty-stricken areas. President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects the local poverty alleviation work in Jinping community of Laoxian township, Pingli county of the city of Ankang, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, April 21, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua] Xi stressed down-to-earth efforts facilitating employment, warning against any practice of formalism. "The Chinese Communists are truth-seeking and pragmatic, and they make sure that the people can obtain real benefits," said Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. The places Xi visited are located in the Qinling-Bashan mountainous region, one of China's 14 contiguous areas of extreme poverty, which are the "hardest nut to crack" in the final rush for poverty relief. Across China, more than 9.6 million poor people have been relocated to more habitable areas over the past few years as part of the country's poverty alleviation efforts. According to the agenda set by Xi, China will lift all rural residents living below the current poverty line out of poverty by the end of this year. While presiding over a symposium on securing the decisive victory in poverty alleviation last month, Xi instructed the country's officials to work hard to overcome the influences of the pandemic and strive for the fulfillment of the poverty elimination goal. While visiting a tea plantation in Pingli county, Xi told the farmers that tea is the way for them to achieve prosperity and they should "do well in the industry". He also went to a primary school in the county, where he told the students to become psychologically and physically strong. Pentagon Races to Build Guam Hospital for Infected Aircraft Carrier's Crew Sputnik News 01:03 GMT 22.04.2020(updated 01:04 GMT 22.04.2020) The US Naval Hospital Guam's Expeditionary Medical Support System (EMEDS) facility is expected to expand treatment for sailors of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt who are infected with the COVID-19 novel coronavirus. The US Air Force revealed in a Sunday news release that the 36th Wing, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Hickam Air Force Base were working together to construct an EMEDS facility with 11 medical units and six warehouse units on the western Pacific island. "This project will directly support military efforts to get the crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt healthy and back out to sea, but will also give US Naval Hospital Guam capability to further support the Government of Guam's medical capacity in the island-wide fight against COVID-19," the service's release read. Last week, the US Navy announced that 94% of the Roosevelt's more than 4,000-strong crew had been tested, and at least 710 of them were infected with the novel coronavirus as of Tuesday. A Navy official told The Hill on Tuesday that some sailors have still been testing positive for the novel coronavirus after a 14-day quarantine period. "Results of out-testing portions of the TR crew following 14 days of quarantine leads us to reevaluate our assessment of how the virus can remain active in an asymptomatic host," read a memo to the ship's sailors, reported Politico. Crew members who have tested negative are being housed on shore in hotels, houses and facilities at the naval base. In addition to 25 more beds for COVID-19 patients, a staff of 77 Air Force personnel will assist in related operations at the naval hospital. "It really is a culminated effort of many different units from multiple bases to pull off the logistics of getting all the supplies here for this operation," Lt. Col. David Johnson, troop commander for the operation, said in the release. "This is a huge operation that took a lot of work to complete, but in this instance, it was incredibly smooth." A target date for the EMEDS facility's completion was not provided by the Air Force, but Business Insider reported Monday that its construction "started a couple days ago and is nearly complete." Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A six-year-old girl was allegedly raped in Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh by an unidentified person, who also damaged her eyes, a police official said on Thursday. The incident took place at a village in Jabera tehsil on Wednesday evening when the minor was playing outside her house with other children, police said. "At that time, an unidentified person took the girl to an isolated place and raped here there," District Superintendent of Police, Hemant Chauhan, told PTI over phone. The victim was found this morning in an abandoned room located near her house, around 55 kms from the district headquarters, he said. "We found that her eyes were damaged by the accused, who also inflicted injuries on her face. We rushed the victim to a hospital in Jabera tehsil in a critical condition. From there she was taken to a hospital in Jabalpur, where doctors are operating on her eyes," Chauhan said. Asked whether her eyes were completely damaged in the incident, Chauhan said that according to a local doctor the minor's eyes were swollen so much that he could not check the retinas. The police have launched a hunt to nab the accused, who is suspected to be a local resident, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SpaceX has launched a brand new addition to the fleet of Starlink satellites at approximately 3:30 p.m. ET on April 22. The space company has been increasing its endeavors amid the coronavirus outbreak, where several other parts of the economy are stagnant. The venture is set to create a multi-billion dollar telecom business once it has been fully developed. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket contained the 60 Starlink satellites that were to be the newest members of the constellation that orbits the Earth. The satellites are currently hovering in low orbit and will eventually rise to their operational altitude at about 340 miles above the surface. The recent launch brings the current total of Starlink satellites operational at a staggering 400. Earth's constellation The cluster of spacecraft will allow the distribution of an internet service directly to the users' terminals that are to be set up in their homes or offices. Elon Musk plans the release and full operational capabilities for the US and Canada this year. Musk looks to launch and have more than 40,000 satellites around the globe to provide cheap and reliable internet. The success of the Starlink mission relies on Musk, proving several different factors, such as how reliable and consistent the service would be, along with the affordability of the price. OneWeb, one of SpaceX's many competitors in the field, filed for bankruptcy last month. It placed far behind SpaceX in a struggle for a similar endeavor far before the coronavirus pandemic. The federal government has dubbed SpaceX along with the broader US space industry as 'critical infrastructure,' which enables the company to continue operations despite the strict lockdown and closure of many major businesses/establishments. SpaceX kept quiet about its services during the quarantine, however. Read Also: Amazon Sees Highest Profits in History with a Whopping $11,000 Every Second Amid Coronavirus: How Do Employees Benefit? Last month, the company was forced to postpone a Starlink launch for Argentina's space agency due to recent travel guidelines upheld. This comes along with the US Space and Missile Systems Center delaying the launch of next-generation GPS satellites this month amid the COVID-19 crisis. Military assistance An arm of the US military, the 45th Space Wing, heads missions from the Florida space hub plans to launch as many rockets as they could to avoid having a backlog of launches stockpiled. Commander of the department, Brigadier General Doug Schiess, said they are still discussing the state of the launches one at a time to ensure the safety of all workers involved that are required to be on-site for their services. Approximately 200 government employees were required to maintain the Starlink mission, said Schiess, which is significantly less than what other missions needed. The decrease in personnel is mostly due to the Falcon 9's abort system that immediately destroys the rocket itself if it fails to follow the programmed course. This mechanic takes over the position of manual monitoring and control of the system. SpaceX's crewed mission will also be aided by the 45th Space Wing, which will mark a historic time in science as NASA's first time sending its astronauts to space from US soil since the decommissioned space shuttle program from 2011. Read Also: NASA: Another Asteroid Larger than the Leaning Tower of Pisa will Pass Closely To Earth On Monday Along With Several Others on the Watchlist: Here's How to Take a View Greenwich celebrated the 50th anniversary of Earth Day with a synchronized ringing of bells at local places of worship. Organized by the Greenwich Conservation Commission, many places chimed their bells at noon sharp as part of the one minute of bells initiative to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Watching horror movies is not everyone's cup of tea. Turns out, filming them is not easy either. With a history of creepy incidents that have stained the production of sets, it's interesting to see how they mirror the actual real-life incidents that once happened to people. Here are 10 creepy yet horrific incidents that took place on the sets of scary movies. 1. Rosemarys Baby (1968) Before filming, the producer received an anonymous letter that predicted his death from a painful ailment Twitter/Scary Movies Archive The producer received an anonymous letter stating he was going to die from a long and painful ailment. Later whilst filming, the producer collapsed and was in need of medical aid. But, unfortunately, died after a nasty fall, suffering a hematoma of the brain. 2. The Exorcist (1973) One set burnt down and three people died Twitter/Scary Movies Archive The Exorcist follows the exorcism of a 12-year-old girl, Regan. Like all scary films, this one can easily give you goosebumps. Reportedly, paranormal occurrences were a regular affair on the set. In fact, one of the two sets even burnt down completely. The two sets were close to each other, and the one that went up in ashes was the MacNeil home. The only room that could be saved as Regans bedroom. Fortunately, no one was injured in the fire. However, a few days after actor Jack MacGowran finished filming, he passed away, unexpectedly. After his death, a security guard and FX worker also died. These three deaths have always been associated with the film in an eerie way 3. The Omen (1976) Crew members died in an airplane crash. Twitter/Scary Movies Archive Whilst shooting the film, the lead actor found out that his son had committed suicide. A crew member almost lost his life in a car accident while driving to the set. Even the scriptwriter, almost died in an airplane crash, when it was hit by lightning. Later in the year, an airplane crash killed several members of the crew. Maybe the film was the omen for them. 4. Twilight Zone: The Movie (1983) Vic Morrow, the lead actor was killed on the sets. Twitter/Scary Movies Archive Amidst the production, Vic Morrow, one of the lead actors was killed on the sets. Eerily enough, a year before the shooting, Morrow had warned his family and friends, that something bad that was going to happen to him in an upcoming movie. Two child actors who were hired illegally by the producers were also killed during the production of this film. 5. Poltergeist (1982) The lead actor died very suddenly. Her unfortunate death was followed by more bad news. Twitter/Scary Movies Archive Poltergeist franchise is popular for its creepy plot narrative, but is also considered a revered classic. The original films second installment witnessed multiple deaths. Heather ORourke, the star kid of the film died at the age of twelve of cardiac arrest whilst working on the sets of the sequel. The actor playing her elder sister, Dominique Dunne, also died. She was reportedly murdered by an ex-boyfriend just one day after the movie premiered. Before the premiere, Like ORourke, the producer died as well. 6. The Crow (1994) Brandon Lee, Bruce Lee's son was killed on the sets after a prop gun malfunction. Twitter/Scary Movies Archive While shooting a scene, Brandon Lee, son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee was killed after a prop gun malfunctioned. Besides that, on the first day of shooting, a crew member was burnt severely and a construction worker accidentally impaled his hand on a screwdriver. 7. The Amityville Horror (2005) The cast would suddenly wake up at 3:15 am, the time real-life mass murderer Ronald DeFeo Jr. killed six members of his family Twitter/Scary Movies Archive Both, The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson (1979) and this version starring Ryan Reynolds, Melissa George, and Philip Baker Hall were equally spooky. The latter with Ryan Reynolds documents the experiences of the Lutz family after they move into a house located at 112 Ocean Avenue, Long Island. It belonged to real-life mass murderer Ronald DeFeo Jr. In 1974, he killed six members of his family in this house. According to reports, they were all killed at 3:15 am. The movie also follows this timeline and while on set, the cast and crew, including Reynolds, would suddenly wake up at 3:15 am. Clearly, the house did have some effect on them! 8. The Innkeepers (2011) Lights and TVs would flicker all the time while shooting at a real-life haunted hotel Twitter/Scary Movies Archive The Innkeepers was shot at a supposed real-life haunted hotel, The Yankee Pedlar Inn in Connecticut, USA. Apparently, during filming, the lights and TVs would flicker at random intervals. Reportedly, crew members werent comfortable staying at the hotel and would get nightmares at night. 9. Return to Babylon (2013) While editing the film, the faces of the actors became distorted and unidentified figures appeared. Twitter/Scary Movies Archive While editing the footage, the faces of the actors became eerily distorted and unidentified figures appeared in the shots. Filmmakers are still clueless as to why this happened. 10. Anabelle (2014) Mysterious scratches appeared on the window and a sudden death scared the entire crew Twitter/Scary Movies Archive Amid filming in 2014, the director found eerie scratch marks on one of the windows of their set. This incident was then followed by eerie instances that shared a direct link to the film. In a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, Peter Safran, producer of Annabelle and The Conjuring said, the first day that the demon was shooting in full makeup, we brought the demon up in the elevator. He walks out and walks around to the green room to where were holding the talent, and just as he walks under a giant glass light fixture, all of a sudden the entire glass light fixture falls down on the janitors head. And in the script, the demon kills the janitor in that hallway. It was totally freaky. NC city sued for arresting David Benham, pro-life demonstrators outside of abortion clinic Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment David Benham and other pro-life demonstrators have filed a lawsuit against a North Carolina city after they were arrested or cited while outside an abortion clinic. Benham, Cities4Life, and Global Impact Ministries, also known as Love Life, filed suit against the City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County last Saturday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, Charlotte Division. According to the complaint, police punished the pro-life demonstrators outside A Preferred Womens Health of Charlotte, even though they were following social distancing practices. The plaintiffs argued that the police were selective in their enforcement of the stay-at-order, noting that while they were being cited, the abortion clinic began filling up with clients and numerous people roamed the parks and sidewalks for recreation and exercise. Cities4Life and Love Life were praying on the sidewalk, maintaining a safe distance from one-another and others, and helping women interested in the important charitable services they offered, argued the complaint. Despite the health and safety motivations underlying the COVID-19 restrictions, government officials cannot and should not selectively enforce those regulations. Nor should they prohibit constitutionally protected activities that do not endanger public health or safety. The pro-life activists are being represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative law firm that has argued religious liberty cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. ADF Senior Counsel Kevin Theriot said in a statement Saturday that he believed the arrests and citations were about the government silencing people because it doesnt like their point of view. We support the efforts of public officials to prioritize health and safety, but if other people are free to talk on sidewalks, people of faith should be, too. They cant be singled out for their religious beliefs or because their form of speech is prayer or pro-life counseling, said Theriot. And if abortion businesses can stay open during the coronavirus crisis, non-profit organizations that provide social services to women should be allowed outside particularly when they are abiding by health and safety guidelines, as Mr. Benham and the others were. One of the twin brothers dropped from an HGTV home-flipping show in 2014 after LGBT activists pressured the network over their beliefs on marriage and sexuality, Benham was arrested on April 4 while engaging in pro-life sidewalk counseling. Benham posted a video on social media of police officers arresting him for engaging in sidewalk counseling outside of the abortion clinic, which was labeled a non-essential activity. We support taking every precaution during COVID-19. This is why we maintained our social distance and stayed under 10 in number, he stated at the time. We were not belligerent We simply stood our ground. MLK once said, A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. Last week, a trio of pro-life activists successfully sued to be guaranteed the right to protest outside of abortion clinics in Michigan despite a state stay-at-home order. Andrew Belanger, who was ticketed for demonstrating outside an abortion clinic, and pro-life activists Justin Phillips and Cal Zastrow filed the suit against the City of Detroit and the governor. U.S. District Court Judge Janet Neff issued an order last week, noting that both parties had reached an agreement that allows for pro-life demonstrations during the lockdown period. Defendants agree that Executive Order 2020-21 does not prohibit the conduct of Plaintiffs that is alleged in the Complaint, noted the order. The City of Detroit shall dismiss the criminal citation issued to Plaintiff Andrew Belanger and any related criminal charges or proceedings that might arise from this citation and the incident related to it. A small number of cars and trucks drive on the usually very crowded main highway around Frankfurt. Germanys measures to counter the coronavirus have won widespread praise (Michael Probst/AP) Derided by many economists for insisting on a balanced budget, and criticised for a health care system seen as bloated and overly expensive, Germany has found itself well equipped now to weather the coronavirus pandemic. Already applauded for early actions such as social-distancing regulations and aggressive testing seen as helping keep the death toll comparatively low, Europes largest economy has had the financial flexibility to launch a massive rescue plan to help businesses and keep workers paid. As the country moves to relax some restrictions this week, Chancellor Angela Merkel is pointing to the example of South Korea, which relied on its experience fighting a different coronavirus five years ago to combat Covid-19, as the way forward. Expand Close German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the weekly cabinet meeting in Berlin on Wednesday (Hannibal Hanschke/pool via AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the weekly cabinet meeting in Berlin on Wednesday (Hannibal Hanschke/pool via AP) Meanwhile, in the US, some protesters have taken to the streets supported by President Donald Trumps tweets to demand an end to virus-related shutdowns to help the faltering economy, even if it could lead to an increase in deaths as the health care system struggles. This is a crisis which, on the one hand, has probably hit the US where it is most vulnerable, namely health care, said Carsten Brzeski, ING banks chief Eurozone economist. While at the same time it has hit the German economy where its the strongest. Mr Brzeski was among those who argued for Germany to spend more to stimulate the economy as growth ground toward stagnation, but concedes now the country is in a fortunate position. For years, balanced budget proponents argued it was prudent during good economic times to bring Germanys house in order to be prepared for a crisis. So in announcing a 1 trillion euro (880 billion) rescue plan for the countrys 83 million people last month, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz was able to assure there was more money available, if needed. And while Italy and Spain were faced at the height of the crisis with the choice of allocating precious ICU beds to elderly patients or younger patients with better chances of survival, Germany has never had a shortage, and has even taken in patients from other European countries. They had the means, but then they also had the political will, and also the very good analytical insights to use the means, Mr Brzeski said, noting Mrs Merkel was a scientist before entering politics. I cant imagine any government better than Angela Merkels to deal with this. The best path is one that is careful, and not taken light-heartedly Angela Merkel Germany is now taking cautious steps to ease restrictions, allowing smaller shops to reopen this week while sticking to strict social-distancing guidelines and requiring face masks on public transport and in stores. The effect will be analysed after two weeks to see whether infections have again started to significantly climb. We must not overwhelm our health care system, Mrs Merkel said, warning restrictions could be snapped back. The best path is one that is careful, and not taken light-heartedly. The far-right Alternative for Germany party has criticised Mrs Merkels go-slow approach as ruining our country, but the chancellors popularity has been steadily rising and Germans overwhelmingly see her governments crisis management positively. As restrictions are eased, Mrs Merkel has pointed to South Korea as an example of how Germany will have to improve measures to get ahead of the pandemic with more testing and tracking of cases to slow the infection rate. Experts say one reason South Korea has managed to avoid lockdowns or business bans was because of its aggressive testing and contact-tracing program that draws from its experience of fighting a different coronavirus MERS or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in 2015. Following that outbreak, which killed 36 people and sickened around 200, South Korea rewrote its infectious disease law to allow health authorities quick access to a broad range of personal information to fight infectious diseases. Amid criticism from privacy advocates, authorities have fully exercised such powers during the COVID-19 pandemic, aggressively tracing virus carriers contacts with tools such as smartphone GPS tracking, credit card records and surveillance video. Peoples movements before they were diagnosed are published on websites and relayed via smartphone alerts to inform others whether they have crossed paths with a carrier. The approach has meant South Korea has managed to slow the spread of the virus without imposing massive lockdowns or banning nonessential businesses, so there has never been any debate over reopening its economy. The High-Level Peoples Court in Hanoi on April 23 began a four-day appeal trial for the case involving the MobiFone Telecommunications Corporations purchase of 95 percent of shares in the Audio Visual Global JSC (AVG). Nguyen Bac Son, former Minister of Information and Communications Nine defendants face the jury, comprising Nguyen Bac Son (former Minister of Information and Communications), Le Nam Tra (former Chairman of Mobifone's Member Council), Hoang Duy Quang (staff member of the AMAX investment consultancy and valuation company), Pham Thi Hoa Mai (former member of Mobifone's Member Council), and five former Deputy General Directors of MobiFone - Ho Tuan, Nguyen Manh Hung, Nguyen Bao Long, Nguyen Dang Nguyen and Pham Thi Phuong Anh. Earlier, Son asked for suspension of the trial due to health reasons, but his request was rejected by the court. The trial had been initially scheduled for April 13-16. However, it was suspended due to the complex developments of the COVID-19 pandemic. Following the first-instance court that took place from December 16-28, 2019, 11 of the 14 defendants filed appeals, asking for clemency and reduced sentences. Later, former General Director of MobiFone Cao Duy Hai and former Director of the AMAX investment consultancy and valuation company Vo Van Manh withdrew their appeal requests. Three defendants did not appeal, namely Truong Minh Tuan, former Minister of Information and Communications; Pham Dinh Trong, head of the Ministry of Information and Communications Department of Enterprise Management; and Pham Nhat Vu, former Chairman of the AVG Board of Directors. During the first-instance court, Truong Minh Tuan was sentenced to eight years in prison for taking bribes and another six years for violating regulations on the management and use of public investment capital, causing serious consequences. The total sentence for him is 14 years behind bars. Trong received a five-year term for violating regulations on the management and use of public investment capital, causing serious consequences. Meanwhile, Vu has to spend three years in jail for giving bribes. Son was given life imprisonment for taking bribes and 16 years in prison for violating regulations on the management and use of public investment capital, causing serious consequences. The total sentence is life imprisonment. Ho Tuan and Hung received a prison sentence of two and a half years each for violating regulations on the management and use of public investment capital, causing serious consequences, according to the first-instance trials verdict. It was found that in 2015, MobiFone, run by the Ministry of Information and Communications, bought 95 percent of AVGs shares for 8.9 trillion VND (375 million USD), much higher than their actual value. The deal caused a loss of over 6.59 trillion VND (277 million USD) to the State./. VNA Eleven defendants in AVG case file appeals The Hanoi Peoples Court said it has received appeals filed by 11 out of 14 defendants in the first instance trial of the MobiFones purchase of 95 percent of shares of the Audio Visual Global JSC (AVG). New Delhi, April 23 : A plea has been moved in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the orders issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Maharashtra government ordering payment of salaries to the workers during the nationwide lockdown to contain the coronavirus outbreak. The MHA on March 29 issued an order mandating payment of salaries to industry workers with deduction, for the lockdown period. On March 31, the Maharashtra government issued various directions to all private establishments not to terminate any workman, including temporary/contract workmen and pay wages for the period of lockdown even if any workman has not performed/attended work. "The losses of the petitioner will be multiplied and if the petitioner has to observe the said orders, March 29 and March 31, in its entirety, then the business itself' will become unsustainable and will have more far reaching consequences, affecting the livelihood of more people", said Mumbai-based textile company Nagreeka Exports Limited, which moved the apex court challenging the constitutionality of these order. The petitioner contended that these directions have caused consternation to a large number of employers in the country, despite their best intentions for and efforts towards, supporting their employees during this period of crisis. The petitioner submitted that due to stoppage of operations since the lockdown, the firm has suffered losses to the tune of Rs 1.50 core, and complying with these orders, the petitioner had to disburse full salaries to all its employees on its payroll, which amounts to approximately Rs 1.75 crore. The petitioner has urged the top court to set aside both orders to the extent that payment of full salaries was mandated. The plea claims the orders passed by the MHA and the Maharashtra government is illegal, unconstitutional and violates Articles 14 and 19 of the Constitution. The petitioner contended that the Disaster Management Act does not provide for continued payment of wages by employers to their workers/employees during any disaster. "National Disaster Management Authority and National Executive Committee constituted under the Act have no power under section 7 and 10, respectively, to direct the employers to make payment to their workers, without any deduction, during the period of lockdown. These government orders are passed beyond the legislative competence of the respondents and therefore, ultra vires the Disaster Management Act, 2005", said the plea. The plea further urges during the pendency of the matter, the petitioner be allowed to pay only 50 per cent of the salaries to its workers. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text The federal government has expressed shocked and disappointment over racial discrimination against Nigerians and other Africans living in China. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, expressed Nigerian governments disappointment on Thursday, while fielding questions from journalists at the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 daily briefing in Abuja. Mr Onyeama said the federal government would pursue any case of discrimination made against any Nigerian in China to its logical end. He said the Nigerian government was disappointed with China that such racial discrimination could happen at this time. We are deeply wounded by what is happening to Nigerians and other Africans living in China, it is something we never expected and we will pursue it, he said. Mr Onyeama said irrespective of the economic ties and cooperation with China, Nigeria would not accept any racial discrimination against Nigeria and other blacks in China. He said Nigeria had been engaging with China Consular and the countrys Ambassador in Beijing. READ ALSO: He said that every step would be taken to address the matter. The minister said Nigeria had made it known to China that on no account would she accept racial discrimination against its citizenry living in China. He said Nigeria was working with other African countries for a definite measure to take against China in such racial discrimination case. Mr Onyeama also said Nigerians abroad who sought to return to the country would soon be brought back and taken to isolation centres. He said the isolation centres had been prepared in Lagos and Abuja for Nigerians expected from abroad. (NAN) A 100-year-old World War II veteran has died from coronavirus a century after his twin brother was killed in the 1918-19 Spanish flu pandemic. Philip Kahn, the oldest WWII veteran in New York's Nassau County, passed away on April 17 and was later revealed to have contracted COVID-19. His grandson, Warren Zysman, said Kahn had been worried about another pandemic coming along in his lifetime after his twin brother, Samuel, died from the Spanish flu weeks after they were born in December 1919. 'It was something he brought up quite frequently,' Zysman told CNN. 'I would have conversations with him, he would say to me: 'I told you history repeats itself, 100 years is not that long of a period of time.'' Zysman said Kahn kept up to date on the news surrounding America's coronavirus pandemic - and knew he may be infected with the strain when he began experiencing a cough days before his death. 'He talked about his brother a lot in the last few days,' Zysman said. Philip Kahn, 100, (pictured) died of COVID-19 in Long Island, New York, on April 17. A century earlier, Kahn's twin brother Samuel died of the Spanish flu weeks after they were born in December 1919 Kahn's family held a small military ceremony at his funeral at New Montefiore Cemetery in West Babylon, Long Island, on Monday (pictured) Zysman said Khan spoke about his brother on many occasions over the years, keen to keep his memory alive. 'Pretty much every holiday, every event, he would also bring up his brother Samuel,' Zysman said. 'It clearly made a hole in his heart that he never got to meet his twin, and that his twin died a few weeks after birth. The Spanish flu pandemic remains the deadliest in modern history, infecting an estimated 500 million people around the world and killing around 50 million. As of Thursday, more than 2.5 million people worldwide have tested positive for COVID-19 and more than 174,300 have died. In the US alone, there are more than 856,500 infections and at least 48,035 deaths. Kahn enlisted in the US Army Air Corps pilot training program in 1940 and went on to fight at the Battle of Iwo Jima and helped with aerial surveys after atomic bombings of Japan Kahn is seen next to a fighter plane he co-piloted during WWII After the war, Khan worked as an electrical foreman to help build the World Trade Center Kahn was tested for COVID-19 in his final days, but the family didn't receive the results until after he died. He was buried at New Montefiore Cemetery in West Babylon, Long Island, on Monday. 'He had always wanted a large military funeral, but we weren't able to provide that to him,' Zysman said. The cemetery arranged for two people in the armed forces to perform a military ceremony, while a man whose father was a Marine during WWII played the bugle from a safe distance. 'He volunteered because the Air Force protected the Marines by providing cover for them and he felt it was a honor to do this for my grandpa,' Zysman said. Sampson Lester Friedman, Khan's friend who served with him in the Army Air Force during WWII offered a tribute to the veteran during the funeral. '[There was] something about him that was very very special,' Friedman said in a video of the tribute provided to CNN. 'On our airplane, he was an engineer, and he was the hardest working guy aboard that airplane.' Kahn is seen celebrating his 100th birthday with family last December An American flag marks the spot where Khan was buried at New Montefiore Cemetery Kahn enlisted in the US Army Air Corps pilot training program in 1940. After the United States entered the war he served in the Pacific - at the Battle of Iwo Jima and later in the firebombing raids over Japan - earning two bronze stars in the process. 'War is terrible,' Khan told Newsday on his 98th birthday in 2017. 'Soldiers get killed, but the civilians suffer, too, and the women and children suffer the worst.' After the war, Khan worked as an electrical foreman to help build the World Trade Center, Zysman said. He later retired to Long Island, where he lived on his own and kept healthy by walking one to two miles each day, his grandson said. Kahn is not the only person to die from the new coronavirus after losing a sibling to the Spanish flu. A 96-year-old woman who died in San Antonio, Texas on April 14 lost an older sister to the pandemic, News4SA reported, although she never knew her sibling. American high school student Jamie Margolin had not expected to be in her bedroom right now. Before the coronavirus arrived in her hometown of Seattle, Washington, she had made plans to keep herself very busy. Margolin was planning to take part in the traditions of her final year of high school, including the student dance known as prom and graduation. She was also preparing to travel across the United States as part of a campaign with other climate activists. She planned to hold a series of events to support the release of a new book she wrote. And she was going to attend one of the huge protests planned this week to mark the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. The continuing coronavirus crisis brought all those plans to a halt. But still so much to do, Margolin told an Associated Press reporter in a video interview from her bedroom. Like many other young activists who have helped create an international climate movement, she is not letting a spreading virus stop her. The activists are now organizing in place, from the U.S. to Ecuador, Uganda, India and elsewhere. Some fear the pandemic has harmed their progress. But they are determined to keep pushing - and for now - are making use of technology to get their message out. Unable to gather in large groups as they had planned this Earth Day, these young activists are planning special online events. They hope such events will keep the issue of climate change alive during the U.S. presidential race, as well as across the world. One event, Earth Day Live, is being organized by a group of youth-led climate groups, including Zero Hour. Margolin is a leader of the group. In some countries, online organizing is more difficult. In Uganda, activist Mulindwa Moses says only about a third of the population has wireless internet. Also under stay-at-home orders, the 23-year-old graduate student is waiting for his chance to return to planting trees and speaking to his nations youth in person. Like many activists, Moses first became interested in local issues that led him to see the connections to worldwide climate change. While traveling in eastern Uganda, he met with families who had lost their homes in mudslides caused by very heavy rainfall. So, last year, he began a campaign to urge citizens to plant two trees a week and regrow their forests. The effort is aimed at fighting the destruction of forests and protecting against increasing mudslides caused by intense weather events. In Ecuador, 18-year-old Helena Gualinga also has had to suspend her world travels. Gualinga is from Ecuadors indigenous Kichwa-speaking Sarayaku community home to about 1,200 people in the Amazon. She says she learned from the example of her parents and community how to speak up for the rights of her people. Their fight has been against a government that they believe has given their land too freely to mining and oil companies. Gualinga told the Associated Press that she still remembers important lessons she learned by attending community meetings with her parents when she was small. The energy I remember from my elders growing up was that my community was always very worried, she said. Now, she says, I know I have a voice. Mulindwa Moses plans to run for his countrys parliament next year. I want to fight to change the system from the inside, he said. Tia Nelson is the daughter of the late Senator Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin, who established Earth Day. She said her father would be pleased with the determination of this generation, just as he was with young people who made the first Earth Day in 1970 a great success. The climate youth movement today is having a significant and important impact in doing exactly what my father had hoped on the first Earth Day that he would get a public demonstration to shake the political establishment, Nelson said. She added, The youth movement 50 years ago did that. The youth movement today around climate change is doing the same thing. Im Pete Musto. Martha Irvine and Christina Larson reported on this story for the Associated Press. Pete Musto adapted it for VOA Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story interview n. a meeting at which people talk to each other in order to ask questions and get information graduation n. the act of receiving a diploma or degree from a school, college, or university pandemic n. an occurrence in which a disease spreads very quickly and affects a large number of people over a wide area or throughout the world determined adj. having a strong feeling that you are going to do something and that you will not allow anyone or anything to stop you indigenous adj. produced, living, or existing naturally in a particular region or environment elder(s) n. a person who is older significant adj. large enough to be noticed or have an effect impact n. a powerful or major influence or effect About 33,000 women and children are served at 100 sites across the state. Nebraskans can sign up for the food and medical support, even temporarily, at the website signupwic.com. A state corn detassling task force is being organized by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to help the industry comply with social distancing standards when the states 7,000 detasslers go into seed corn fields this summer. Ricketts said the fact that the state is planning so far ahead is not an indication that the coronavirus peak will hit Nebraska later than had been projected the end of April or middle of May. He said that when the peak hits is not important, but whats vital is ensuring that the states health care system is not overwhelmed. And thats been the case so far, the governor said. The Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska reported its first coronavirus case on Thursday. It was suspected to be a community spread case, a tribal health official said, but information about the age and gender of the person infected was not released. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has constructed a permanent bridge on river Ravi, which connects Kasowal enclave in Punjab to the rest of the country. The defence ministry said the bridge was completed and opened to farmers much ahead of its schedule. The 484-meter bridge was built by 141 Drain Maintenance Coy of 49 Border Roads Task Force (BRTF) of Project Chetak. The bridge cost 17.89 crore, excluding the approaches. It consists of 16 cells of 30.25-metre length each, a defence ministry release said on Wednesday. According to the release, the BRO had planned to open the Kasowal Bridge in time for Vaisakhi so that farmers could transport their harvest to the market comfortably. All available resources were diverted and approach work of far bank was completed in a short time. On the first Monday after Vaisakhi, the bridge was opened to farmers, who transported their harvest on tractors, the ministry said. Director general border roads (DGBR) Lt Gen Harpal Singh said the BRO teams did the work while taking precautions against Covid-19. As per the release, the enclave of around 35 square kilometers, had been connected via pontoon bridge of limited load capacity. The pontoon bridge used to be dismantled every year prior to the monsoon so that it wouldnt wash away in the strong currents of the river. This meant thousands of acres of fertile land across the river could not be tilled by farmers during the monsoon. The locals and the army required a Class-70 permanent bridge to give all-weather connectivity to the enclave. The bridge was planned by the Border Roads Organisation, the defence ministry said. Sixty thousand San Franciscans have filed for unemployment in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak in San Francisco, Mayor London Breed announced in a press conference Wednesday. The city expects an additional 40,000 people to file for unemployment in the coming weeks as the shelter-in-place continues, Breed added. Following the citys stay-at-home mandate, issued in mid-March, companies across industries laid off thousands of workers. Restaurants and bars have released entire staffs as they attempt to adapt to a change in business model; local media publications have furloughed journalists; and tech giants have cut double-digit percentages of workers. It's worse than during the 2008-2009 recession, when 45,000 San Franciscans filed for unemployment. The picture is bleak across the state. A total of 3.4 million Californians have filed for unemployment, according to statistics released by the state on Thursday. Half of L.A. alone some 1.3 million people is reportedly out of work. While the state tries to meet growing demand for unemployment resources (to the frustration of many), San Francisco is attempting to prepare for what comes next. We want to make sure we are thinking about what happens after we start to get back to our daily lives, Breed said Wednesday. What happens with our restaurants, what happens with our conventions and tourism? What happens with our hospitals and hotels? What happens with job opportunities that may no longer be available, and what industries will become increasingly available as a result of this pandemic? How do we repurpose our educational institutes and other resources we have available to fit the needs of what is our new normal? MORE: CA Self-employed, independent contractors can collect unemployment starting April 28 The city is now in the process of allocating money from its initial $10.5 million fund to non-profits and small businesses, but it wont be enough to sustain employment for the duration of the pandemic. This is just the first round of funding, and well keep working to get additional support into the hands of those who need it most, Breed said. Next is a task force, focused on recovering local businesses and employment, made up of Board of Supervisors President Norman Yee, Assessor-Recorder Carmen Chu, Treasurer Jose Cisneros, Rodney Fong, President and CEO of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, and Rudy Gonzalez, Executive Director of the San Francisco Labor Council, a press release said. The plans for the task force include a six-pronged approach for supporting small and medium-sized businesses and arts and culture organizations, and for connecting unemployed residents to job opportunities in the short-term. The public health crisis is far from over but we already know the economic toll has been devastating, said Chu. Ive seen our city recover through the Dot Com bust and the Great Recession but this is at a scale most of us havent seen before. Its frightening. Thats why we all need to roll up our sleeves now to help our workers and our families get back up on their feet. MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Sign up for 'The Daily' newsletter for the latest on coronavirus here. Alyssa Pereira is an SFGate digital editor. Email: alyssa.pereira@sfgate.com | Twitter: @alyspereira Abu Dhabi Ports today (April 23) announced major initiatives to address concerns of its customers across its industrial and economic zone subsidiaries in these uncertain times. The relief package includes several measures for existing customers, including a three-month rent deferment for Q2, a freeze on late payment penalties and an exemption from Tawtheeq fees, said a statement from Abu Dhabi Ports. The relief package also includes measures for new investors, including a waiving of applications fees, a 25 per cent reduction in land lease rates for the first year, an exemption on Tawtheeq fees and a relinquishing of land fixing fees, it stated. The measures are part of Abu Dhabi Ports relief effort for investors and customers in response to the global economic slowdown brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, it added. Group CEO Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi said: "In line with the Governments effort to extend relief to businesses during these exceptional economic circumstances, Abu Dhabi Ports is taking necessary steps to help our industrial and economic zone customers overcome the current challenges brought on by the spread of coronavirus." "Supporting customers in maintaining their competitive advantage is at the core of Abu Dhabi Ports decision making," he stated. "The steps we have announced today reflect our commitment to enhancing the growth and stability of our customers and tenants in line with the government directives," said Al Shamisi. We remain united and resolute in facing our difficulties together, confident in the belief that we will emerge from this crisis better and stronger, he added. The relief measures come on the heels of a 25% waiver on rentals for new customers at Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad). Not everyone thinks we need to aim quite that high. Caitlin Rivers, an author of a recent American Enterprise Institute report on reopening the nation and an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said: While Singapore is adding in some community mitigation measures, theyve been able to successfully keep levels of infection under control for months, and theyre still only seeing 100 to 200 infections a day, which is far fewer than we are. A case-based approach is still the best way to move forward, and while its possible that some areas may have to revert to staying home, I dont think thats inevitable. Of course, we should still prepare for that with economic aid that can quickly snap into place if that needs to happen so that theres much less disruption than this time. Almost-finished Volkswagen ID.3 electric cars are seen at the end of the assembly line in Zwickau, Germany, after production restarted on Thursday, April 23. / Getty Images Here's where some automakers stand on restarting factories that have been closed for at least a month due to fears of spreading the coronavirus. Mercedes plans to reopen in Alabama on Monday, April 27. Toyota says its restart will begin gradually the week of May 4 in the U.S. and Canada. The company is still waiting for word from the Mexican government on when it can restart there. The company says it plans to give workers masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, and face shields where needed. It will install dividers to keep employees six feet or more apart, and it will take their temperatures before they enter plants. Toyota has large assembly operations in Kentucky, Texas, Indiana and Mississippi as well as engine and transmission factories in other states. Volkswagen announced it will restart its Tennessee plant May 3. It restarted production on Thursday at its plant in Zwickau, Germany, where its crucial mass-market electric vehicle is being made ahead of its launch later this year. Fiat Chrysler has a May 4 restart date, with Ford and General Motors expected around the same time. Though all three are negotiating with the United Auto Workers union. Detroit automakers employ about 150,000 factory workers in the U.S., while international manufacturers have about 85,000. Were confident, were ready to go with the proper safety protocols in place, Gerald Johnson, GMs executive vice president of global manufacturing, told Bloomberg on Thursday. We surveyed our supply base. They are as committed as we are. Theyre as ready to start as we are. Two dozen union workers at Ford, GM and Fiat Chrysler have died of Covid-19 complications. We strongly suggest to our companies in all sectors that an early May date is too soon and too risky to our members, their families and their communities., Rory Gamble, the unions president, said in statement Thursday. Story continues Hyundai will restart in Alabama May 4. BMW also plans to restart its South Carolina plant on May 4. Tesla is reportedly also looking to reopen its Nevada Gigafactory battery plant and its Fremont, Calif., vehicle plant on May 4. It has already reopened its assembly plant in Shanghai. Aston Martin Lagonda will resume production at the St. Athan plant in south Wales, which employs about 300 people, on May 5. A second Aston Martin factory at Gaydon will reopen at an unspecified date. Honda is adding a week to its shutdown. The company says it will continue to keep its automobile plants closed through May 8. Subaru will restart on May 11. Nissan plans a mid-May reopening. Jaguar Land Rover is planning to resume production at some facilities on May 18. Muslims across the world began marking the holy month of Ramadan under unprecedented coronavirus lockdowns on Friday as the US added another half a trillion dollars to its already-massive support package to help its pandemic-ravaged economy. The virus has upended life around the planet as nations try to stop the spread of the disease that has so far claimed nearly 190,000 lives, infected close to 2.7 million people and hammered the global economy. Ramadan spirits have been dampened by movement restrictions in Muslim communities from Southeast Asia to the Middle East and Africa, with bans on prayer in mosques and large gatherings of families and friends to break the daily fast -- a centrepiece of the month. But despite the coronavirus threat, clerics and conservatives in many countries including Bangladesh, Pakistan and Indonesia -- the world?s largest Muslim-majority nation -- have pushed back against social distancing rules, refusing to stop prayer gatherings in mosques. Several thousand people attended evening prayers on Thursday at the biggest mosque in the capital of Indonesia?s conservative Aceh province, and there were similar scenes at many sites in Pakistan. The World Health Organization has called for a stop to some Ramadan activities to lower the risk of infections, and authorities in several countries have explicitly warned of the threat from large religious gatherings. There have already been explosions of coronavirus cases from three separate Islamic congregations in Malaysia, Pakistan and India since the virus first emerged late last year in China. Distancing measures and the severe economic impact of the pandemic has also meant many charitable activities during Ramadan, especially food distribution and other donations, have been hit hard. Salah Jibril, an unemployed Palestinian man who lives with his wife and six children in a cramped two-bedroom apartment in the Gaza Strip, said he was not sure how his family would cope without Ramadan donations. "The markets and mosques are closed. The good people who give us money or aid each Ramadan are facing a tough situation," he said. "This is the hardest Ramadan we have faced. We don't know how we will cope." - Massive economic stimulus - The economic devastation wreaked by lockdowns that have half the planet indoors is huge, with the world facing its worst downturn since the Great Depression. US lawmakers covered their faces with masks and voted in small groups to approve a $483 billion stimulus plan, on top of the $2.2 trillion package already enacted. The money will back small businesses on the brink of bankruptcy, and hard-pressed hospitals, as the American economy reels with more than 26 million people losing their jobs since the pandemic hit. The United States is now the worst-affected nation in the world, with about 50,000 coronavirus deaths. In Europe, leaders haggled by video conference over their own package that could top one trillion euros, as the European Central Bank chief warned of the risk of "acting too little, too late". The 27-nation European Union agreed to ask the bloc's executive arm to come up with a rescue plan by May 6, sources told AFP. The fight has reopened the wounds of the 2009 economic crisis in debt-laden European southern states such as Spain and Italy, both badly hit by the pandemic, demanding help to get back on their feet. Richer northern countries like Germany and the Netherlands say they are ready to help for now, but insist they will not pool debt with Mediterranean governments they accuse of profligacy. - Race for vaccine - While the disease appears to be peaking in Europe and the United States, other nations are still in the early stages of the fight. The World Health Organization has warned that strict measures should remain until there is a viable treatment or vaccine. The race is on around the world to develop one, with Oxford University launching a human trial of a potential vaccine on Thursday. Germany announced similar trials will start by next week. In a briefing at the White House, scientists said they had found that the virus was quickly destroyed by sunlight, raising hopes that the pandemic could ease as the northern hemisphere summer approaches. "Our most striking observation to date is the powerful effect that solar light appears to have on killing the virus, both surfaces and in the air," said William Bryan, science and technology adviser to the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Their findings, however, have not yet been released and therefore not reviewed by independent experts. The rapid pace of development efforts is in part down to the vast numbers of patients that have overwhelmed healthcare systems in the developed world and in poorer countries. In Brazil, where intensive care units at hospitals have been slammed, Dr Fernanda Gulinelli said this "is a new chapter in medicine that we are having to write on the go, and we don?t know what the next sentence will be". burs-qan/hg Images of health workers are projected on the roof of the Omar Ibn Al-Khattab mosque in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil Firefighters spray disinfectant along a street in Yangon People have a drink and watch the sunset after a warm spring day in Munich, Germany A patient sits waiting to be helped inside the Pikine Hospital in Dakar as COVID-19 coronavirus cases slowly increase in Senegal NHS staff members and a bagpiper take part in a national "clap for carers" to show thanks for the work of Britain's National Health Service in Glasgow Muslim devotees offer prayers on the first night of Ramadan, in Aceh province, Indonesia Crosses mark the graves of some 60 unclaimed victims of coronavirus in a cemetery near Milan Participants in a "People's Motorcade" stop at the Trump International Hotel to deliver fake body bags during a protest against the administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Washington, DC A health official uses a swab to collect a sample from a man for COVID-19 testing at a mobile testing van near Ahmedabad, India Healthcare workers pet a NYPD horse as people cheer and applaud to show their gratitude to essential workers outside NYU Langone Health hospital in New York City A nurse works in the COVID-19 area of the Eugenie Hospital in Ajaccio, on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica Morocco braces for a meagre crop this year as a result of drought which cut output 42% to 30 million quintals, the agriculture ministry said. Moroccos reserves of wheat is enough to meet the needs of domestic consumption for 4.5 months said the ministry reassuring the availability of flour, the basic staple, during Ramadan and beyond. The expected cereals harvest comes at breakdown of 16.5 million quintals of soft wheat, 7.5 million quintals of hard wheat and 5 million quintals of barley, it said. To help farmers mitigate the impact of drought on their livestock, the agriculture ministry has started since last month distributing subsidized barley feed. However, other farm output performed well limiting the impact of cereals on overall agricultural GDP at -5% this year at 105 billion dirhams, the ministry said. At a time where most European countries brace for a rarity of fresh produce due to coronavirus, Moroccan agricultural sector is faring well with an abundant supply of the domestic market and exports of fruits and vegetables up 3% to 876,000 tons by mid-April compared with a year earlier, according to the ministry. Ukraine is starting clinical trials of a drug that, according to the preliminary findings of scientists and manufacturers, can be very effective in the fight against coronavirus, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. "I have always said that our main treasure is our people. We have many talented scientists and researchers. From the first days of the fight against coronavirus, they have been working to find drugs that can help humanity. Trials of four different drugs are currently being conducted. And these days Ukraine is beginning clinical trials of a drug to combat coronavirus. There are preliminary findings from our scientists and manufacturers that this drug can be very effective," Zelensky said in a video address posted on the Facebook page of the President's Office. According to him, scientists and researchers "have every reason to believe that it can significantly reduce or even completely neutralize the risk of death from those complications that coronavirus infection causes to the human body." Zelensky stressed that this is especially true for people from the risk group who have cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. "We hope that the drug will be effective not only for the treatment but also for the prevention of the disease. Of course, we have to wait for official results, clinical trials, but together with the whole country, we believe in our scientists and keep our fingers crossed," the president said. op Showcasing their dedication towards their duty, the Delhi police helped reunite a person of Yemen nationality with his family even amidst the chaos and the lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic. As per a press release, a Haryana government ambulance on April 18 had received a call about a person lying unconscious on a road in Gurugram who then taken to the Civil Hospital in the city. It was found that the person had recently undergone major neurosurgical surgery. Read: Covid Lockdown Pass Given To Goons To Attack Arnab Goswami & Samyabrata Ray Goswami? Read: News Broadcasters Federation Condemns Attack On Arnab Goswami & Samyabrata Ray Goswami Thereafter, a Haryana doctor named Dr. Yogender Singh tried to speak to the patient but he had difficulty in communicating due to the language barrier after which the patient was treated as a psychiatric case. However, on April 21, the patient wrote something in the Arabic language and after consultation with Urdu speaking people and with the help of Google Translate, the doctor was able to identify the man as Yusuf from Yemen. Following this, efforts were made by the dedicated doctor to locate the embassy who finally managed to come in contact with the SHO of Greater Kailash in Delhi. Accordingly, Constable Hawa Singh of Greater Kailash Police Station searched for the Embassy of the Republic of Yemen and reached the area in Vasant Vihar. Read: How Alka Lamba Celebrated Youth Congress After Arnab Goswami's Attackers' Confession Although the embassy was found to closed, the SHO traced and traced down the new location of the embassy all the way in Anand Niketan, where he managed to contact an official there. The embassy official was contacted by the SHO and another staff member of the embassy was traced. Finally, the family of the admitted person was located. As per the release, the family and the embassy officials appreciated the efforts of the doctor and Delhi Police. (With ANI Inputs) Read: 'An Attack On A Woman Journalist Too': ANI's Smita Prakash On Attack On Arnab & Samyabrata Read: Coronavirus Live Updates: 'India Has Flattened The Curve' Says ICMR, Case Tally At 21393 The COVID-19 pandemic and an ensuing recession will lead to 111,000 fewer UK and 121,000 international first-year students attending the British universities this year, resulting in a 2.5-billion pound funding black hole, a report from a leading university staff union warned on Thursday. According to London Economics consultancy's analysis for the University and College Union (UCU), the largest decline in income is the expected loss of 1.51 billion pound from students outside the European Union (EU), with Chinese and Indian students making up a majority of this international group of students who pay significantly higher tuition fees. The report finds that universities hit hardest by the falls in fee and grant income are those that cater for significant numbers of international students, with their difficulties having severe knock-on effects for the rest of the sector. It concludes that without government intervention, an estimated 30,000 university jobs are at risk, with a further 32,000 jobs under threat throughout the wider economy. "This alarming report shows that university staff and students are now staring over the edge of a cliff and desperately need the government to step in and protect the sector," said UCU general secretary Jo Grady. "Our world-renowned universities are doing crucial work now as we hunt for a vaccine and will be vital engines for our recovery both nationally and in towns and cities across the UK. It is vital that the government underwrites funding lost from the fall in student numbers. These are unprecedented times and without urgent guarantees, our universities will be greatly damaged at just the time they are needed most," she said. According to the report, the coronavirus pandemic and an ensuing recession will lead to 111,000 fewer UK and 121,000 international first-year students attending the British universities this year, resulting in a 2.5-billion pounds funding black hole. The total economic cost to the country from the reduced direct and indirect economic activity generated by universities due to the loss in income is estimated at more than 6 billion pounds. According to London Economics, all universities would suffer substantial falls in income, with 91 institutions - almost three-quarters - left in a critical financial position where income only just covers expenditure. "Many institutions have a very considerable exposure to international students, and the pandemic will result in a very substantial loss in enrolments and income. Government support of universities is crucial to protect students in the short term and institutional research and teaching capacity in the longer term," said Dr Gavan Conlon, partner at London Economics. Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK representative group which had tabled a proposal for state support recently, said the government must take "urgent action" to financially support institutions. "Some institutions will be particularly impacted by any combined reduction in international student numbers and increased deferrals," said Jarvis. The government's approach so far has been to encourage universities to access the financial measures already put in place to tackle the fallout of the pandemic. These include a furlough or forced leave scheme for staff who are paid 80 per cent of their wages by the government as well as continuity loan schemes, unveiled by UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak last month. But the Opposition Labour Party has stressed that universities cannot be treated like any other business. "UK universities must be valued as part of the frontline response to the coronavirus pandemic, supplying students to the NHS [National Health Service] and conducting world-class research into the virus. "Labour is calling on the government to underwrite all Higher institutions to secure their future and their role in our economic recovery and acknowledge their contribution to the national effort to fight this pandemic," said Rebecca Long-Bailey, Labour Shadow Secretary. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Countdown host Rachel Riley has won the first round in her legal battle against one of Jeremy Corbyn's closest aides, who said she was 'as dangerous as she is stupid'. A High Court judge ruled that the comments posted online by Laura Murray, head of complaints for the Labour party, against the TV star showed a 'defamatory tendency'. Mr Justice Nicklin also said the description of Riley was defamatory within common law. The legal action followed a Twitter row between Riley, 33, and Murray, after former Labour leader Corbyn had an egg thrown at him outside a mosque in Finsbury Park, London on March 4 last year. Murray said a post retweeted by Riley compared Corbyn to a Nazi and inferred he deserved to be attacked. Laura Murray, head of complaints for the Labour party and an aide of Jeremy Corbyn, claimed a post retweeted by Rachel Riley compared Corbyn to a Nazi and inferred he deserved to be attacked In a tweet that has since been removed, Murray wrote: 'Today Jeremy Corbyn went to his local mosque for visit my mosque day, and was attacked by a Brexiteer. 'Rachel Riley tweets that Corbyn deserves to be violently attacked because he is a Nazi. 'This woman is as dangerous as she is stupid. Nobody should engage with her. Ever.' In response, Riley launched legal action against Murray. Legal papers lodged at the High Court alleged that the TV star's reputation has been 'seriously damaged' and she has been caused 'substantial anxiety, humiliation, upset and distress' because of Murray's tweet. Losing the opening round of their legal battle means Murray now potentially faces having to prove that Riley would support violent action against Corbyn to defend the 50,000 libel case. Riley launched her legal action a year ago as the anti-Semitism row raged within the Labour Party. The dispute originally began hours after a protester threw an egg at Corbyn outside the mosque last year. Riley, who is Jewish, took to Twitter, having used the social media platform to attack the then-Labour leader over anti-Semitism within his party Legal papers lodged at the High Court alleged that the Rachel Riley's reputation has been 'seriously damaged' and she has been caused 'substantial anxiety, humiliation, upset and distress' because of Murray's tweet She re-tweeted a comment made by left wing commentator Owen Jones two months earlier when a neo-Nazi had an egg thrown at him. The columnist for the Guardian newspaper wrote at the time: 'I think sound life advice is, if you don't want eggs thrown at you, don't be a Nazi. Seems fair to me. Riley re-tweeted the comment as a reference to Corbyn being hit by an egg and described it as 'good advice'. Murray, daughter of trade union leader Andrew Murray, used her own Twitter account to mount what Riley's lawyer said was an 'appalling distortion of the truth'. In his preliminary ruling, Mr Justice Nicklin rejected legal submissions from Murray's lawyers that her tweet was a stating an opinion and not defamatory. He said the tweet posted by Murray represented a 'statement of fact.' The judge said in an assessment of the 'natural and ordinary meaning of the tweet' Murray's claim that anti-Corbyn campaigner Riley was 'as dangerous as she is stupid' and that 'Nobody should engage with her. Ever' was indeed opinion - but it was also 'defamatory at common law'. In his written judgement, Mr Justice Nicklin broke down the Murray tweet sentence by sentence to show what he said was defamatory and what in his opinion was a statement of fact. He said the allegation that Riley was a dangerous and stupid person who people should not engage with was defamatory as was the claim by Murray that Riley had said Corbyn deserved to be violently attacked. In his preliminary ruling, Mr Justice Nicklin rejected legal submissions from Murray's lawyers that her tweet was a stating an opinion and not defamatory He said the allegation that Riley was a dangerous and stupid person who people should not engage with was defamatory as was the claim by Murray that Riley had said Corbyn deserved to be violently attacked The judge rejected the submission by Murrays QC Anthony Hudson that she was simply stating an opinion when she said Riley had called for Corbyn to be violently attacked. He also ruled that the tweet by Riley did not have to be taken in context with any other material and pointed out the exchange took place over less than six hours. In the submission he added: Twitter is perhaps one of the most inhospitable terrains for any argument based on the context in which any particular Tweet appeared in a reader's timeline. Owen Jones, who had posted the original comment about a Nazi, weighed in on the row at the time and savaged Riley. He accused her of 'having no moral compass' for comparing an attack on a neo-Nazi to one on Corbyn. Owen also said she was 'in the absolute gutter' over her tweet. Owen wrote: 'A Brexiteer protester threw an egg at Jeremy Corbyn outside the same mosque which was attacked in 2017 by a far-right terrorist, whose main motive was murdering Corbyn himself. 'The tweet you're quoting refers to Nick Griffin, *an actual Nazi*. You're in the absolute gutter.' In another tweet, he wrote: 'If @RachelRileyRR thinks it's acceptable to compare refusing to condemn an anti-fascist egging a Nazi with a rightwing protester egging Corbyn - who she is de facto calling a Nazi - outside a mosque targeted by a far-right terrorist who wanted him dead, she has no moral compass.' Riley had to be given extra protection on the Channel 4 game show after a torrent online abuse from her stand against anti-Semitism Riley had to be given extra protection on the Channel 4 game show after a torrent online abuse from her stand against anti-Semitism. She revealed online trolls had targeted her for speaking out and described the level of abuse as 'shocking.' Murray was appointed as a political advisor to the Shadow Cabinet in 2016 and later head of complaints. An avowed socialist she once posed for a photo in the House of Commons with a necklace that spelled out the slogan: F*** the Tories. Her father is chief of staff of the Unite Union and a former member of the Communist Party. SEOUL China has committed $30 million to the World Health Organization one week after President Trump halted U.S. funding to the United Nations agency that has emerged as a battleground for influence between the two powers. Trump last week announced his intention to freeze U.S. contributions after slamming the global body as having "failed in its basic duty" to respond quickly to the coronavirus outbreak because of deference to Beijing. In announcing the donation Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang defended the WHO and said the agency under the leadership of Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has been "actively fulfilling its duties and upholding an objective, scientific and impartial stance." With the gift, Geng said, China was "defending the ideals and principle of multilateralism and upholding the status and authority of the United Nations." U.N. officials, including Tedros, have asked Trump to reconsider last week's decision, which could be reversed after 60 to 90 days, for the sake of global public health in the middle of an unprecedented pandemic and "to save lives." But a reversal appears distant after administration officials doubled down on their public criticism of the organization this week. National security adviser Robert O'Brien called the WHO "a bit of a propaganda tool" for Beijing, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declined in a Fox News interview to rule out the possibility of the United States seeking Tedros's removal as a condition for resuming funding. The barrage of U.S. criticism and China's support highlighted the bitter lines that have been drawn across the WHO, a body that has not been at the center of such intense political controversy in recent memory. Pressure could further mount on the organization at its May member meeting, when Australia is expected to push for an international investigation into the pandemic's origins, a probe that China has fiercely opposed. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has appealed for support from France, Germany and the United States to press for an inquiry, and he could seek to expand the WHO's remit so its inspectors have the power to immediately enter a country in the event of an outbreak, Reuters reported Thursday. "If you are going to be a member of a club like the World Health Organization, there should be obligations and responsibilities attached," Morrison told reporters. Geng, the Chinese spokesman, said the proposal to form a WHO inquiry amounted to "political manipulation and interference in the international collaboration" to counter the pandemic. "Since the outbreak of the epidemic, China has always maintained an open, transparent and responsible attitude, disclosed information and cooperated with the outside world," he said. Central to the U.S. criticism of the WHO has been its handling of the outbreak in the early weeks of January, when it echoed Chinese statements that COVID-19 showed limited human-to-human transmission. WHO experts, who did not enter China until mid-February, later praised China's medical response and avoided addressing the performance of Taiwan, which has been shut out of the body at the behest of China, further compounding the accusations of its pro-Beijing bias. But U.S. allegations that the WHO withheld information during the most crucial period in January have been undercut by the presence of American researchers at WHO headquarters in Geneva. They were reporting real-time developments in China back to the United States, The Washington Post reported this week. China's $30 million donation its second such contribution in as many months is relatively small in the context of the organization's roughly $5 billion biennial budget, which consists of membership dues plus a much larger category of voluntary gifts. During 2019, the United States contributed about $450 million to the WHO, according to U.S. officials, and China gave about $45 million. In 2020, China will pay about $29 million in dues, plus its voluntary donations, an amount not yet known but that could total more than $50 million, including the latest donation. Despite its status as the world's No. 2 economic power, China has historically contributed far less than donors such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the United Kingdom and Germany. In early March, China announced a $20 million donation to the WHO to fight COVID-19 as it unfurled a worldwide diplomatic and propaganda push to cast itself as leader in the worldwide recovery by sharing medical equipment and expertise. Amid the self-promotion, Chinese diplomats have rejected questions about their culpability in their handling of the outbreak when it emerged in Wuhan and instead questioned whether the pathogen in fact came from the United States. That charge, part of a coordinated disinformation campaign, provoked a furious response from Washington. In recent weeks, Chinese officials have sharply dialed back the fringe narrative that pinned the virus on the United States, while U.S. officials have been more openly floating the possibility, without firm evidence, that the pathogen may have escaped from a biological laboratory in Wuhan. In a major piece on Thursday, the ruling Communist Party's mouthpiece, the People's Daily, cited the WHO spokesperson as saying the coronavirus was not lab-manufactured. The new pneumonia outbreak is a natural disaster, a sudden attack by unknown viruses on humans, the editorial said. The fallacies and conspiracy theories that accompany the global epidemic are not only not helpful for countries to fight the epidemic, but also breed mistrust, and eventually dissolve global joint epidemic efforts and disrupt the overall world solidarity. SK Vietnam presenting the SARS-CoV2 diagnosis test kits to Hanoi authorities The donated test kits were produced by Seegene Inc., a leading manufacturer of SARS-CoV2 test kits in Korea, and have been confirmed by the Vietnam National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology to be highly sensitive and accurate, and is allowed to be used for testing for SARS-CoV2 virus in Vietnam. Speaking at the hand-over ceremony, Tran Thi Nhi Ha, deputy director of the Hanoi Department of Health said, We highly appreciate the donation which demonstrates SKs social responsibility in Hanoi and Vietnam. This is an extremely valuable and practical support that helps us conduct more tests in the community. We would like to express our gratitude to SK Group and hope that the company will continue to accompany Hanoi in the efforts to prevent and control the COVID-19 epidemic as well as other activities. In response, Koh Jong Hwan, Hanoi representative of SK Vietnam, said, We highly appreciate the effective efforts and timely actions of the Vietnamese government and the Hanoi administration in controlling the COVID-19 epidemic in the past months. As a corporate citizen of Hanoi, we are glad to make a small contribution to these efforts. SK Vietnam commits to accompanying the Vietnamese government and Hanoi in the activities to control the epidemic for the sustainable development and prosperity of Hanoi as well as Vietnam. SK Group operates in the fields of oil and gas, telecommunications, semi-conductors, pharmaceuticals, and other industries. It has a presence in more than 40 countries and territories. In 2019 SK Group invested $1 billion to buy 6.1 per cent of Vingroup. Earlier in 2018, the group spent $470 million to acquire 9.5 per cent equity of Masan Group Corporation and became the largest foreign shareholder of this company. In addition, SK Group recently granted a non-refundable fund of $30 million to support the development of the National Innovation Center (NIC) in Vietnam. The holy month of Ramadan is usually a time to stand shoulder to shoulder with neighbors in prayer. But after the coronavirus pandemic hit in March, mosques across the state and country had to close their doors to prevent the spread of the virus. Now, at a time of year when people traditionally come together in places of worship and linger with friends and family, Muslims are preparing to spend the month entirely at home. Ramadan starts Thursday night, and while the next few weeks will certainly play out differently than previous years, Imam Hamad Chebli says the observant will adapt. Islam does not focus on buildings or walls or carpet or chandeliers, Chebli tells NJ Advance Media. God said to his prophet Muhammad, I made the entire Earth a mosque for you." Chebli serves as imam at the Islamic Society of Central Jersey in South Brunswick. Since the mosque closed, he has been giving regular lectures through the ISCJ YouTube channel as people pray at home. Ramadan, which runs from April 23 to May 23, is traditionally a time for community, but social distancing does not mean ritual will be weakened, he says. The prayer in congregation is not obligatory," Chebli says. The prayer in congregation is a way of life. When you are gathered together, you have to fulfill the requirement of the congregation. In contrast to earlier years, Ramadan will be an exclusively in-home affair. Eid al-Fitr may be as well. Islamic Society of Central Jersey When home is community Erum Farid and her family normally go to the New Brunswick Islamic Center during Ramadan. This year, the mosques theme for observance is community begins at home. If youre inside somewhere, you can still pray, but its not going to be as hearing the imam," Farid tells NJ Advance Media. Thats what were going to miss. At home, its just not going to feel the same. Daily fasting during Ramadan or sawm is one of the five pillars of Islam. No food or drink is allowed from dawn to sundown. People gather at mosques and at each others homes to break the fast each night in non-pandemic conditions. But the fasting component of Ramadan is otherwise unchanged by social distancing. Farid, 42, of Franklin Park, points out one upside of fasting in 2020: less grocery shopping. She enjoys gathering with friends and family for the daily feast after sundown, or iftar, which is usually one of the major social events of Ramadan. Inshallah the first day of fasting will be on Friday, April 24th (first evening will be Thursday night). NBIC will be... Posted by New Brunswick Islamic Center on Monday, April 20, 2020 Well miss all that, obviously, but the main thing is the fasting," Farid says. Anyone who is sick with the coronavirus disease or otherwise ill is not obligated to fast. Sometimes a few hundred come in and break the fast," says Ahmed Shedeed, 64, president of the Islamic Center of Jersey City. This year were not going to be able to do that. As of Wednesday, leaders at the mosque were still debating whether to have the imam livestream prayer from home or from the mosque. Taraweeh, or nighttime prayers, are also conducted in mosques during Ramadan. Since homes are the center of worship in 2020, Farid is decorating hers to help create a festive mood for her four children, ages 6, 10, 18 and 20. The mosque is a big part of it, spiritually and for meeting people," she says. Its going to be totally different ... Seeing all those faces, friends, family, well miss that." The mosque at the Islamic Society of Central New Jersey closed in mid-March. Its sad for every one of us that we have to go through this without those congregation prayers that we do in the mosque," says Muhammad Ashraf, president of the board of trustees. This month is the most sacred month in the Islamic calendar. People wait for the whole year for this month to come. However, rather than focus on whats lacking, Ashraf suggests using the situation to take stock of whats important. A Ramadan gathering last year at the Islamic Society of Central Jersey in South Brunswick.Islamic Society of Central Jersey This is the quality time that you can spend with your family," he says, a time that can be used to strengthen bonds with children and loved ones. Its a lesson for all of us that life has to go on but not the way we want it. Eid and virtual prayer In addition to fasting and prayer during Ramadan, Muslims are focused on charity, or zakat, another of the five pillars of Islam. This year, the need can be especially great. Those who are able give more than 2% of their income to charity. Mosques are also soliciting donations during the pandemic. More people give money this month than any other month of the year," says Ashraf, 82. At the close of Ramadan, ISCNJs Eid al-Fitr celebration marking the end of the fasting period usually draws thousands of people to Rowland Park. Erum Farid is planning a family gift exchange in lieu of the traditional Eid gathering of up to 90 people, which would customarily include her husbands family and her family. Her sister-in-law, who had been visiting Pakistan, had to stay there after the countrys borders closed because of the pandemic. I dont know how long theyre going to be stuck there," she says. In Jersey City, Ahmed Shedeed remains hopeful that social distancing measures can be eased by the time Eid arrives on May 23. But in South Brunswick, the emphasis is on tempering expectations for a return to such large gatherings. https://conta.cc/3auSUfh Islamic Society of Central Jersey Ramadan is Almost Here - Why haven't you Subscribed to ISCJ... Posted by Islamic Society of Central Jersey on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 We are saying go home, stay home, and you pray there," Ashraf says. Though ISCJ streams lectures and students at affiliated schools participate in virtual learning, prayer should be limited to an in-person experience, Ashraf says. According to the Quranic teachings, the remote prayers are not acceptable," he says. We cannot do the virtual prayer. Thats not done. You can watch somebody pray but you cannot pray with somebody who is not with you." When it comes to an intimate prayer setting, meditation is the goal, Ashraf says, and a screen can often defeat the purpose. I think if you want to pray in your house you have more calmness, you have more attention, which is needed in prayers," he says. It gives you a kind of patience. Being physically close is key when worshipping together, says Martin Nguyen, director of Islamic studies at Fairfield University in Connecticut. The problem with the online attempts to stream prayer is youre miles away from the person leading prayer," he says, though people will still gather online for fellowship. Its pushing the community to be creative," Nguyen says. Ultimately I think the communities will grow as a result, for the better. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. NEWPORT, R.I., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Fizzics Group Inc., the technology company revolutionizing the way people drink beer, announced today that the company emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection by successfully completing a debt restructuring and implementing the reorganization plan confirmed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for District of Delaware on March 26, 2020. "Our ability to successfully emerge from bankruptcy is a testament to our brand, the hard work of many people, and an unwavering commitment to our customers," said Fizzics President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas Steckbeck. "We achieved all of the key objectives we set for ourselves at the beginning of this process. Most importantly, we've implemented a more sustainable business model, which will allow us to better monetize our IP and capitalize on the growth opportunities ahead." As a result of completing the bankruptcy process, the company restructured its debt and will issue new equity, which is subject to dilution in connection with future stock issuances, including issuances to potential new equity investors and option grants to key personnel and strategic partners. The reorganization will allow the company to accelerate new product development, increase marketing, better serve its customers, and expand into new markets. Upon closing, Mr. David McDonald, co-founder and CTO, stepped down from the day-to-day operation of the company and has been retained by the company as a technical consultant. Mr. Steckbeck, who previously served as Fizzics' Chief Commerce Officer and had been serving as President and Chief Executive Officer, shall continue in that role as well as serve on the Company's new Board of Directors. Mr. Steckbeck managed the orderly closeout of the now-discontinued Waytap product, guided the company through the reorganization, and successfully launched the new DraftPour product line. Questions regarding the Company's reorganization plan may be directed to [email protected]. ABOUT FIZZICS Fizzics Group Inc is a Rhode Island-based technology company which manufactures, markets, and sells products under the Fizzics brand name. The company was founded on the belief that beer lovers deserve that fresh-from-the-tap-taste even when they can't make it to their favorite bar or brewery. Fizzics' patented Micro-Foam technology uses sound compression and fluid dynamics to convert cans, bottles, and growlers of beer into nitro-style draft. With an unparalleled focus on discovery, and tasting every beer we can find, Fizzics is committed to improving the aroma, flavor, and mouthfeel of all beer styles. Fizzics was featured on the Season 8 Premier of ABC's hit show Shark Tank. DraftPour, the company's third-generation of consumer-facing products, is available at www.fizzics.com and retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, and Target, as well as Fizzics distribution partners around the world. SOURCE Fizzics Group Related Links http://www.fizzics.com/ Impeached U.S. president Donald Trump says his administration plans to soon reopen the country's national parks and other public lands, with details to be announced on specific sites in coming days. "We will begin to open our national parks and public lands for the American people to enjoy," Trump announced at an Earth Day event at the White House, offering no further information. Some national parks have actually remained open throughout the whole COVID-19 pandemic, but many have been closed. Here is the White House announcement. We're committed to conserving the wonders of God's creation by protecting our national parks and public lands! pic.twitter.com/0gGl245a7S The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 22, 2020 Gotta get some God in there. Here is a statement from Trump's acting secretary of the Interior. President @realDonaldTrump, @VP and I are committed to working with governors and local public health officials to gradually reopen our National Parks in a safe manner for the American people to once again enjoy. #NationalParkWeek pic.twitter.com/MaUObBJtRK Secretary David Bernhardt (@SecBernhardt) April 22, 2020 From Reuters: Representatives for the White House referred questions to the Department of Interior, which oversees public lands, including federal parks. "More details will be provided in the coming days on plans for the reopening of specific parks following guidance from OMB (Office of Management and Budget) and the President's plan for Opening Up America Again," representatives for the department said in a statement. Trump's comment comes as some U.S. states move forward with plans to restart economic activity as soon as this week despite concern from public health officials and others about the potential for a spike in coronavirus cases. More news via Twitter below. President Trump announced that national parks and public lands will be reopening following coronavirus-related closures, but it's not clear when the administration will implement the openings across states with varying levels of public health restrictions https://t.co/PgxQfzVCp0 CNN (@CNN) April 22, 2020 i've seen people suggesting that opening national parks will be an easy way to let people distract themselves.have these people ever been to a national park Anne Helen Petersen (@annehelen) April 22, 2020 At a tree-planting ceremony for Earth Day at the White House, President Trump announced national parks and public lands would start to be reopened. While some parks had either closed entirely or closed some facilities, many have actually stayed open. Ben Gittleson (@bgittleson) April 22, 2020 University students across the country have been left thousands of pounds out of pocket after being told they must still pay for their accommodation, despite not living there during lockdown. Some 74 per cent of students are still being charged rent despite the majority no longer being able to live in their university halls or student accommodation, according to a study by Student Hut. It added that one in 10 students are refusing to pay and three in 10 have asked for a refund. Many students have left to stay at their parents homes during the coronavirus lockdown and could find themselves in financial hardship, after losing their part-time jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic. Some students in the UK are still paying rent despite the fact they are not able to live there A number of frustrated students have got in touch with This is Money to say that they are still being charged hundreds of pounds each month, even though their universities have cancelled all lessons and know that most have returned to their parents homes. One reader, Amanda Sharpe, said her son Harry, who is studying at the University of Arts London, was told that 2,190 in rent would be taken at the beginning of April despite the fact he would not be living in halls. She contacted the management company for his student accommodation in Wembley, complaining that he wouldn't be living there and therefore, shouldn't pay. She argued that he was also missing out on at least a term of teaching for which he had already paid tuition fees. A couple of weeks later, after the firm spoke to the landlord of the accommodation, she was told that the term payment would be waived. Amanda said: 'I would recommend parents and their children try to seek a reduction or refund given the current situation it was certainly worth me asking in this case.' 'I'm paying 607 a month': Student living at home still paying for rent Kate said she is still having to pay hundreds a month despite the lockdown The issue of paying rent doesn't just apply to university run accommodation, however. One student at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Kate Batcheler, said that at her university there is only the option of having private accommodation, with no student halls available as an option. Therefore, all students must privately rent a house and many are being told they still have to pay the full price even though they are not currently living at the property. Kate said: 'We still have to pay full price for everything even though we are students and won't be there for most of it.' Currently, Kate and her housemates are still paying 607 a month, despite not living there at the present time and being unlikely to live there for the foreseeable future. She said: 'I understand that it's private accommodation so there's not much that can be done but its still money being spent for no reason.' Simon Thompson, managing director of Accommodation for Students, a website that helps students find homes, said: 'This is a particularly stressful time for students. 'My room is being rented to key workers' Another reader, Grace, has had to pay for a room she is not currently staying in. Grace, who is currently studying at the University of Brighton, said: 'Students have been told to clear out their rooms, which will then be rented to key workers.' Grace has paid for a room she is no longer able to use, thanks to the coronavirus However, she has already paid 2,123 for the term, including ten meals a week, which started on January 5 and ended on April 3 the last few weeks of which she was not in the room. She added those who live abroad are allowed to stay but those who have gone back to their parents will have their belongings cleared and stored. 'For health and safety reasons most have vacated their term time accommodation and, in many cases, there has been a big financial impact as parental incomes have been affected, not to mention the thousands of part time jobs that students rely upon to support their living costs. 'There is a big question mark over whether students should have to pay full fees for the last term. 'Multiple universities have given concessions on accommodation as have multiple private hall providers for those departing their accommodation early. 'It has been confirmed that students will get finance next year if they have to repeat or extend study.' Despite some universities still charging, there are a number of universities who are waiving the cost of student accommodation with providers across the UK relinquishing up to 773million of rental income due to the coronavirus, according to new data from Cushman & Wakefield, a commercial estate agent. Many university and private sector accommodation providers have offered to release students from their third term rent obligations following the suspension of on-campus teaching on 17 March due to the escalating crisis. Universities UK, the representative organizstion for the UK's universities, announced that institutions would suffer an estimated 790million in lost revenue in the 2019/20 academic year. If parents and students contact universities, they may be able to waive the fees for next term David Feeney, p[artner in Cushman & Wakefield's student accommodation advisory team, said: 'Whilst the financial implications of releasing students from accommodation contracts are significant, these steps highlight the important role played by purpose-built student accommodation providers in supporting the wellbeing of over 1.1million students studying away from home.' Currently nine key private sector accommodation providers are offering to release students from contracts or provide some kind of rebate across 150,000 beds which totals just under half of all private sector provision in the UK. Unite Students and iQ Student Accommodation, the UK's two largest operators, are also both offering no further charges from mid-April for students who choose to cancel their contracts. The National Union of Students has put together a list of demands for student renters including the rule that all landlords must offer students a no-penalty early release from tenancy contracts for the current and next academic year and that all rent increases must be suspended for the next 12 months. Eva Crossan Jory, the NUS Vice President, said: 'Many private developers of student accommodation make enormous profits from their properties and have a moral duty to do their utmost to support their tenants. 'With just under half of students still in their accommodation at this time, NUS is working hard to ensure there are protections for all student tenants in place during this crisis. 'We want to see the government step-in and ensure student accommodation providers and private rented sector landlords offer student tenants the option of a no-penalty early release from their contracts. 'For those that remain in their term-time residence, landlords must follow government guidance on public health and put in place welfare support, ensure there are absolutely no evictions and waive rents for students who cannot afford to pay their rent.' What should you do if you're still paying rent? If you're a student who is still paying rent for your accommodation, despite not living there, speak to the property manager to see if you can waive the next terms' fee. It is unlikely you will get refunded for the last terms' rent, as most students were there for at least half of the term, but it made decide to be lenient with the next terms' costs. If you find that you are getting no response, or are being told you still have to pay, try contacting student services at your university directly, or your student union, to raise the issue. It may be that even if you can't waive fees, you may be able to organise an affordable payment plan to spread out the cost. Medical workers take in patients at a special coronavirus intake area at Maimonides Medical Center on April 06 in New York City. Spencer Platt/Getty Images Black Americans are disproportionately suffering from both the health crisis and the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. They are also overwhelmingly supportive of social distancing. One in 10 black Americans say they personally know someone who's died from COVID-19, according to a new poll by Morning Consult. Almost 20% of black Americans say someone in their household has lost their job amid the crisis. Despite the devastating job losses, 70% of black Americans support strict social distancing for anyone who's not an essential worker, the poll found. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, has said the pandemic is "shining a bright light" on racial health disparities and "some of the real weaknesses and foibles in our society." Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Black Americans are suffering disproportionately from both the public health crisis and the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic and are overwhelmingly supportive of efforts to contain the virus. One in 10 black Americans say they personally know someone who's died from COVID-19, according to a new poll released by Morning Consult. Almost 20% of black Americans say someone in their household has lost their job amid the crisis. Despite the devastating job losses, 70% of black Americans support strict social distancing for anyone who's not an essential worker, the poll found. Black Americans' share of both deaths and job losses exceed the national average. Overall, 8% of American adults say they know someone who's died of COVID-19 and 15% have faced a job loss in their household, the poll found. Black Americans have been infected by the virus at almost twice the national rate, according to data released earlier this month. Data released by New York City earlier this month found that the coronavirus is killing black and Latino city residents at twice the rate it's killing white residents. Story continues At the same time, people of color disproportionately make up the ranks of essential frontline workers in hot spots like New York City, while just one in five black Americans nationally have jobs that allow them to work remotely. The virus is again exposing the dramatic racial disparities in access to healthcare, job security, and underlying health status. And poverty and inequality are major risk factors when it comes to many diseases, including an infectious disease like COVID-19. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, discussed earlier this month how black Americans are being hit particularly hard by the virus. Fauci said the pandemic is "shining a bright light" on racial health disparities and "some of the real weaknesses and foibles in our society." "Health disparities have always existed for the African American community," he said, adding that black Americans are disproportionately affected by the "underlying medical conditions the diabetes, the hypertension, the obesity, the asthma" that make people particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus. Black Americans are also more likely to live in denser communities and multi-family households, factors the federal government has cited in accounting for the virus' disparate impact. But the Trump administration hasn't spent much time publicly discussing racial disparities amid the outbreak. And when they have, their messaging has faced blowback. Surgeon General Jerome Adams, who is black, was widely accused of stereotyping black people when he specifically urged people of color to stay away from drugs and alcohol during the public health crisis. "Avoid alcohol, tobacco and drugs," Adams said during an April 10 news conference. "We need you to do this, if not for yourself, then for your abuela. Do it for your granddaddy. Do it for your Big Mama. Do it for your Pop-Pop." Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters of California, accused Adams of using "his five minutes of fame to do Trump's dirty work and insult African Americans and other communities of color." Adams also spoke about his own personal struggle with asthma, which disproportionately impacts black people. Since then, he hasn't appeared at a White House press briefing and has made significantly fewer TV appearances. Read the original article on Business Insider Greek army officers set up tents outside a hotel used as a shelter for refugees and migrants, after authorities found several cases of the novel coronavirus and put the area under quarantine, following the outbreak of Covid 19, in Kranidi, Greece. Photo: REUTERS/Costas Baltas There are over 70 million people worldwide who have been driven from their homes by war and unrest, up to 10 million are packed into refugee camps and informal settlements, and almost none have been tested for the coronavirus. While the relative isolation of many camps may have slowed the virus's spread, none is hermetically sealed. Without testing, as the world has seen repeatedly, the virus can spread unchecked until people start showing symptoms. That could have catastrophic results among the world's refugees: there will be few if any intensive care beds or ventilators for them, never mind gloves or masks. "Testing is in short supply even in New York and Norway, but it is non-existent in most of the countries in the (global) south for the people we try to help," Jan Egeland, the head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, told the Associated Press. His group recently conducted a review of all 30 countries where it operates and found virtually no testing before people became sick. Refugees have already tested positive in Italy, Germany, Iran, Australia and Greece, where authorities said on Tuesday that 150 people living in a quarantined hotel for asylum-seekers had contracted the coronavirus, and none displayed symptoms of Covid-19. In Syria's war-ravaged Idlib province, only one tiny health facility is equipped to receive suspected coronavirus cases. In the world's largest refugee camp, in Bangladesh, aid workers are racing to build isolation facilities. In two sprawling camps in Kenya, Somalis who survived decades of famine and war fear the worst is yet to come. "If it's killing people daily in America, then what do you think will happen to us?" asked Mariam Abdi, a vegetable vendor in Kenya's Dadaab camp, where 217,000 people live in endless rows of tents. "We will all perish." Western countries, which by then may have contained their own outbreaks, will have to reckon with the fact that if the virus finds refuge among the world's most vulnerable, it could return anytime. In many refugee camps, cramped conditions and poor infrastructure can make it impossible to practise social distancing and frequent hand-washing. There are no official figures for the number of refugees who live in camps, but Mr Egeland estimates they make up 10pc to 15pc of all refugees and displaced people. New York City will freeze the bodies of Covid-19 victims instead of burying them on Hart Island, the citys designated burial ground for unclaimed bodies. The temporary initiative was put in place to ease the strain on hospitals and funeral homes, both of which have seen an increase in bodies due to the number of deaths from the novel virus. The New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner made the announcement as the number of coronavirus cases in the city tipped 142,000 and the death toll reached 10,977. Opting to freeze the bodies for the time being instead of doing temporary burials on Hart Island would allow the families of the victims to take time to make funeral arrangements amid the pandemic. Due to an ordinance forbidding large gatherings, families have opted for intimate services or decided to hold off on funerals. The bodies currently in temporary morgues and refrigerated trucks outside hospitals would be transferred to freezer trucks in Brooklyn, according to the citys Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. The Air Force Mortuary Affairs would assist in moving the bodies. This decision comes after the city sparked a backlash when pictures and videos surfaced of a large trench being dug on Hart Island. People expressed concern the trench was for mass burials of Covid-19 victims. The pictures of our fellow New Yorkers being buried on Hart Island are devastating for all of us. I want to make sure everyone knows what theyre seeing and what is actually happening on Hart Island, Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement at the time. Remember, these are human beings. These are neighbours weve lost. The mayor went on to state there were no plans for any mass burial on Hart Island to account for people who have died during the pandemic. Instead, anyone buried there would be treated with dignity. We do not anticipate temporary burials on Hart Island except for the unclaimed, he added. New York City has since confirmed bodies would be frozen over any temporary burials. But the Covid-19 victims who are not claimed by loved ones would still be buried on Hart Island. The island, located at the western end of Long Island Sound, has been used by the city for the last 150 years as a public cemetery and is managed by the department of corrections. Individuals buried on the island are because their identity is unknown at the time of their death and a next of kin could not be located to arrange for burial services, because the individuals family could not afford burial costs, or because the individuals family preferred that their loved one be buried on Hart Island, according to the governments website. Sinduja Jane By Express News Service CHENNAI: Doctors have been advised to monitor the oxygen levels of all COVID-19 patients, including those who do not exhibit symptoms, to prevent deaths. The recommendation was given by the 19-member State Level Technical Committee, after auditing the 15 COVID-19 deaths in Tamil Nadu. Further, all positive patients with comorbid conditions are being kept in dedicated ICU wards, the panel added. In almost all cases, death was sudden, said a committee member, referring to the 15 cases. We noticed subclinical hypoxia, a condition wherein the body is deprived of oxygen though the patient may show no complication. The oxygen levels do not improve even when the patient is put on a ventilator. Within two hours, they collapse and die. The panel also found the virus was crippling the lungs to such an extent that pumping oxygen into them was no more an option. So, we have advised use of pulse oximetres on all patients to monitor the levels, even on asymptomatic and stable patients, said the panel member. If the level dips below 97, immediate intervention is needed. Deaths were occurring among people who had white patches in the lungs during X-Ray, indicating the onset of pneumonia. They collapse after about a week. So now, we have advised doctors and officials to take X-Ray, CT scan and ECG tests immediately after the patient gets admitted. We are keeping patients with comorbid conditions inwards that have an ICU set up. We found deaths happening in this group. Having an ICU will make it easier for doctors to attend to emergencies and stabilise the patient. So persons with comorbid conditions are kept in dedicated wards right from day one. The expert committee member added that as part of additions to the protocol prescribed by the ICMR, the State has added supplementary treatment using steroids, antivirals, haemoglobin, and high-pressure nasal oxygen. Anybody diagnosed with white patches in the lungs will be given oxygen supply, antiviral, HCQ, and azithromycin. A poll found that Lloyds (run by Antonio Horta-Osorio) and Barclays were the least helpful banks Some of Britain's biggest banks are refusing to disclose how they are helping firms stricken by the Covid-19 pandemic prompting critics to ask what they have to hide. Santander, Barclays and Lloyds have ignored requests from MPs and business leaders to publish daily lending figures under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). This means Government officials have little idea of whether the billions of pounds of aid promised to smaller firms is reaching those who need it. HSBC and RBS are the only major lenders to have revealed their lending. A recent poll by the Forum of Private Business of its members found that Lloyds Bank (run by Antonio Horta-Osorio) and Barclays neither of which will disclose CBILS data were the two least helpful banks. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said on Monday that some 12,000 loans worth just under 2billion had been made by the banks through CBILS, which allows companies with turnover of up to 45million to access loans of up to 5million, with the Government taking on 80 per cent of any losses suffered by the banks. But many businesses say lenders are asking for detailed forecasts which they cannot provide, or are turning them away. Almost half the loans made by the start of this week 5,600, worth 936million were by Natwest owner RBS. The Treasury Committee and the all-party parliamentary group (APPG) on fair business banking have written to the British Business Bank, which administers CBILS, asking it to push lenders into revealing figures. But Lloyds, Barclays and Santander have yet to comply. Ian Cass, of the Forum of Private Business, said: 'Banks obviously have something to hide. The message, loud and clear from members, is that despite years of banking with them their banks are not interested in helping small businesses, and Lloyds is by far the worst, followed by Barclays.' Nic Conner, at business finance adviser Rangewell, said: 'Real-time data on CBILS will promote successes, encouraging businesses to apply, as well as highlighting pinch points allowing the Government to take action.' Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative co-chair of the APPG, added: 'I can't understand what the banks have got to hide. Banks should be proud to publish the numbers.' Vernon Hill, the founder of Metro Bank, said: 'Losses on bad loans will be dwarfed by the far bigger loss to the economy if firms go under.' Santander and Barclays said that they would be happy to provide further information to the APPG and Treasury Committee. Included in the latest subpoena request by Sandi's lawyers are Hall; Division Street Bath House owner Joseph Colluci Jr.; Jackson Sr.; Beverly Hills-based Jackson Jr. campaign donor Nickie Lum Shapira; Club O strip club co-owner Debbie Diaz; East Oakland Youth Development Center boss Regina Jackson; Alana Ford and Frank Watkins of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition; Change Hamilton-Hayyim, who worked for both Jacksons; Chicagoan Victor Matos: Oak Park resident and broadcaster Dorris Davenport; and Giovana Huidobro, a former model and hostess who Jackson Jr. memorably described as a "social acquaintance" after it was revealed that she had traveled to Chicago on a campaign donor's dime. CHP Barrington OB/GYN Adds Certified Nurse-Midwife Gretchen Chase-Rey GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. CHP Barrington OB/GYN has welcomed a new certified nurse-midwife to the Great Barrington women's health care practice. Gretchen Chase-Rey has worked since 2015 as a certified nurse-midwife, practicing at a federally qualified health center in Flint, Mich., and at a hospital-based medical practice in that area. Prior to becoming a certified nurse-midwife, she worked as a registered nurse at a Michigan hospital, focused on labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum care. She also worked for many years as a licensed practical nurse in various health care settings. In an earlier career, she worked as an exercise physiologist in a Kentucky-based Toyota plant's wellness center. Chase-Rey earned her master's degree in nursing in 2014 from Frontier Nursing University in Kentucky and her bachelor's in nursing from Indiana State University in 2009. She also holds a bachelor of science in education from Ferris State University in Michigan and a practical nursing diploma from Central Lakes College in Minnesota. She is certified in electronic fetal monitoring, neonatal resuscitation and advanced cardiac life support. Reported cases of the coronavirus have crossed 2.64 million globally and 184,910 people have died, according to a Reuters tally as of 1400 GMT on Thursday. Deaths And Infections Americas * US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said a fundamental reform of the World Health Organization was needed following its handling of the pandemic and that the United States, the WHO's biggest donor, may never restore funding to the UN body. * The US House of Representatives returned to Washington on Thursday to pass a $484 billion coronavirus relief bill, funding small businesses and hospitals. * Former Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren's oldest brother, Donald Reed Herring, died on Tuesday night after contracting the novel coronavirus. * Gilead Sciences Inc's experimental coronavirus drug failed its first randomized clinical trial, the Financial Times reported, but the drugmaker said the results from the study in China were inconclusive as it was terminated early. * Peru's reported coronavirus cases rapidly increased this week and topped 20,000 on Thursday, doubling in nine days, as President Martin Vizcarra extended a national quarantine in the world's No. 2 copper producer. * Canada pledged new money to develop and eventually mass-produce vaccines in its fight against the coronavirus. Europe * France has expanded its list of drugs that face export restrictions through the coronavirus crisis despite repeated calls from the European Union to lift curbs that could cause shortages in other countries, documents show. * German Chancellor Angela Merkel signalled she was open to offering major financial support for a coronavirus recovery package worth as much as 2 trillion euros, but wanted to see how it would be used before committing. * Spain's daily increase in fatalities further steadied at around 2% on Thursday, as the government apologised for confusion over lockdown rules for children. * Greece extended its general lockdown by a week to May 4, saying any relaxation would be staggered over May and June. * Two British doctors who have been exposed to COVID-19 patients have launched a legal challenge against the government over what they say is a lack of protective kits and unclear guidance on when and how it should be used. Asia - Pacific * South Asia's infections have crossed 37,000, with more than half in India, complicating the task of governments looking to ease lockdowns. * Around $1 trillion of debt owed by developing countries would be cancelled under a global deal proposed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. * Indonesia will temporarily ban domestic air and sea travel starting Friday, barring a few exceptions. * Malaysia will extend travel and other curbs by two weeks to May 12, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said, but more sectors may be allowed to resume operations. * Spooked by a sharp increase in cases in the navy, Taiwan is debating whether to consider a broad lockdown. Middle East And Africa * African nations that lack ventilators will receive some from a donation of 300 supplied by the Jack Ma Foundation. * The governors of Nigeria's 36 states agreed to ban interstate movement for two weeks. * Botswana's president and lawmakers were released from two weeks in quarantine after testing negative. * Egypt will keep a night-time curfew for the holy Muslim month of Ramadan to combat the coronavirus spread but make it one hour shorter. Economic Fallout * World stock markets climbed as investors weighed a rebound in oil prices and prospects for further government stimulus against stark economic data showing the toll of the pandemic. * Global economic activity all but ground to a halt this month as government-imposed lockdowns took a particularly heavy toll on the world's service industry, surveys showed. * A record 26 million Americans likely sought unemployment benefits over the last five weeks, meaning all the jobs created during the longest employment boom in US history were wiped out in about a month. * Japan offered its bleakest assessment of the economy in over a decade as the pandemic threatens to tip the world's third-largest economy into a deep recession. * South Korea's ruling party and the government agreed to provide cash handouts to every household, not just to families below the top 30 percentile of income as previously announced. * Italy will target a budget deficit of around 10% of national output in 2020, and the gap will remain above 3% in 2021, as it readies a new stimulus package to soften the economic hit from the virus. * German consumer morale was driven to a record low heading into May, a survey showed, with the pandemic having a far more severe impact on household spending intentions than forecasters had estimated. Search Keywords: Short link: Mayor Garcetti Gives State of City Address, Delivers Fiscal Budget for 2020-2021 On April 19, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti presented the 2020 State of the City Address at City Hall. On April 20, the release of Mayor Garcettis proposed budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, further outlined more of what can be expected, which starts July 1. While the mayors address was underlined with hope, it was also a sobering reality of the citys current and coming conditions. Despite tough times, he believes much lies in what we do after COVID-19. All of us remember the 2008 recession, said Mayor Garcetti. Until now, it was the biggest economic blow of our lifetime, and it hurt. But theres no way to sugarcoat this. This is bigger, and it will hurt more. ADVERTISEMENT He continued, Our city revenues have plummeted. Hotel reservations have collapsed. After 9/11, our airport closed for two and a half days, passenger traffic fell by as much as a third that month, and it took 10 years to claw our way back. Today, airport passenger traffic is down 95%. From a fiscal perspective, this is the worst its ever been. Mayor Garcetti addressed that funding for certain departments will definitely feel the affects of the citys shutdown, but he intends to keep local services intact. Soon, many departments will have to operate at sharply reduced strength, said Mayor Garcetti. Cherished programs will lose funding, while recreational and community services will see significant changes. Well have less to spend on removing graffiti and caring for our urban forest. We face sharp limits right now, but I draw a red line around the foundation of our common good those back to basics investments that keep our neighborhoods safe, our streets clean, our families housed, and our children and seniors fed. In his address, Mayor Garcetti addressed four questions to Angelenos during this unprecedented time: ADVERTISEMENT 1. How will we make it through? It may be months before we safely gather in large groups, said Mayor Garcetti. It may be a year or more before a vaccine or medicine frees us from periodically returning to safer at home, but Im so proud of what we have done as a city to stanch the bleeding. Emergency protections like our eviction moratoriums and our rent freeze are helping. Our manufacturers have retooled their assembly lines to produce face coverings and essential equipment and keep people at work. Our labs and universities have lent their expertise on testing, tracing, and economic revitalization. And our philanthropic community has stood up to ensure that no one gets left behind. With donations large and small, the Mayors Fund for Los Angeles has put food on the table and grocery cards in peoples hands; provided childcare for our healthcare workers, meals for our seniors, and beds and safe havens for victims of domestic violence. Right now, were in the first battle of this fight. Without a vaccine, we will almost certainly see a second wave of this novel coronavirus. But let me be clear: we cannot stay indoors for six or seven months without risking an even greater economic catastrophe. 2. When can we begin to leave our homes? Last week, I laid out the key elements of our return. One, testing both for the virus and for its antibodies. Two, real-time dynamic monitoring to see where cases are, followed by three, an immediate tracking and tracing response to quarantine people so that the virus cant spread to others. Four, we need to build and maintain our hospital capacity, both the human talent of nurses, techs and doctors, and the equipment and supplies so they can safely treat the worst cases. And five, we need ongoing research & development into treatments and a vaccine for this disease. To lead this effort and rebuild our economy, I have proposed the formation of a CARES Corps a coalition of local governments and health agencies, medical professionals and businesses, backed by federal funding and built to combat COVID-19 and to accelerate our economic recovery. In the short term, the CARES corps would helm contact tracing efforts, deliver food to vulnerable populations, support testing sites, build and staff shelters, and assist small businesses. In the long term, it will address systemic disparities in access to medical services, incentivize careers in high-need fields, train corps members in disaster response, and cross-train individuals from the public, non-profit, corporate, and independent sectors to support essential services during emergencies. It will take advantage of the skills of public workers and put to work unemployed Angelenos. 3. When we do go back, what damage will have been done? At the height of the great recession, our citys unemployment rate hit 13.4 percent. Today its higher. Preliminary numbers for the top of this month show nearly 300,000 Angelenos unemployed. That number will rise. Behind those numbers are neighbors, behind those statistics, stories, and it hasnt fallen upon us equally. Fewer Latinos, Asian Americans, and African Americans have the option of working from home. Many working-class Angelenos of color who could keep working, have had to risk their health by doing so. So, we were among the first cities to protect vulnerable workers by requiring face coverings and hand sanitizer at essential businesses. Theres good reason to believe that your actions have flattened this curve, but to be clear, the numbers are still going up. Yesterday, we lost 81 Angelenos. Until our numbers start to shrink, we still have work to do. 4. When we do return, who do we want to be? You see, outside of our homes there is a great city waiting for us. The things we love about L.A. Will persist: our weather, our music, our food and culture, our drive to transform and innovate, our freedom, and what we believe in the idea that we all belong to a block, a neighborhood, to this entire place, and to one another. And while we set the pace for the nation in so many ways, in innovation, in freedom, in belonging, we must ask of our city and our nation, at this time, is normal really what we want to come back to? As a city, we havent been waiting to take action. Weve been digging deep, passing record investments like Prop HHH and Measure H to deliver housing, healing, and hope to the unsheltered. But in this crisis, we have a new county-wide plan to find thousands of hotel and motel rooms to prevent the spread of the virus among people experiencing homelessness. And once those fellow Angelenos come inside, they must not return to the streets. We passed a moratorium on evictions. But, let us guarantee that the loss of a job need not mean the loss of your home. Lets back with federal funds a suspension of rent and mortgages during this crisis. Lets use a massive expansion of Section 8 to create the affordable and the social housing that will end our housing crisis for good. Here, we made our College Promise the largest now in the country our commitment to making community college free for every LAUSD graduate. Lets build on that nationwide with a promise to make college free for everyone who wants it. Give millions more the opportunity to pursue education as part of our recovery, to attend four-year universities as well as trade schools and community colleges as a way to get ahead, just as the GI Bill after World War II democratized education and wealth. Some of the Mayors proposed budget focuses on key areas such as: *COVID-19 response plan *homelessness *city safety *city maintenance *economic and youth development *technology Strengthening city services, common sense reforms and a culture of problem-solvingthese were the keys to building up our economy, said Mayor Garcetti. That same solid foundation will help us build it again. After the last recession, we recovered faster than the state, and the state faster than the nation. Los Angeles was a sprinter. And that same solid foundation and that same speed can help us do it again. Mayor Garcetti didnt hold back on addressing the reality and results of our current situation, but he didnt hold back on the real possibility of creating a better tomorrow. He is calling on those in government to help get people working again. He is also proud how Angelenos have stood up to the challenges of COVID-19 and stated that spirit is what will ultimately pull everyone through, not just in L.A., but the country. To our friends in Washington, D.C., do what it takes to keep us building, said Mayor Garcetti. Pass a national infrastructure bill now, so we can put people back to work, and well show the country how to get it done. You see, when Los Angeles takes action, we inspire the nation and the world. Weve led the way by staying home and by raising the wage. Weve led the way by wearing face coverings and by protecting the undocumented. Those Angeleno cards were followed by Californias $125 million fund to support immigrant familieslets follow that by opening every part of our recovery to every immigrant no matter their status. The soul of our recovery will shape the contours of Los Angeles future. Weve been addressing our biggest problems head-on: homelessness, traffic. So, lets not just try to recapture the past when we have the blueprint of the city of the future. The proposal will be subject to City Council review and approval, which will take place in the coming weeks before a final budget is adopted. For more on the State of City Address, please visit www.lamayor.org For more on the budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year, please visit http://cao.lacity.org Nigerian Christian student killed, 2 villagers abducted by suspected Fulani radicals Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Christian college student was reportedly shot and killed by radical Fulani herdsmen during a raid on a village in the Nigerian state of Kaduna last Thursday, about a week after a pastor was stabbed to death in his church in southern Nigeria. Residents of the Gbagyi Villa of the north-central state of Kaduna told the nonprofit persecution media outlet Morning Star News that Federal Polytechnic student Sebastine Stephen was shot and killed around 11:30 p.m. last Thursday. According to residents, Stephen was visiting his home village in the Chikun local government area because classes at his college in Zamfara state have been suspended due to the global coronavirus outbreak. Stephen was reportedly outside at around when suspected Fulani herdsmen raided the village. Stephen raised alarm, warning residents about the invasion of our community as he was still outside at the time the herdsmen came to attack the community, resident Hosea Yusuf told Morning Star News.The herdsmen instantly shot him and then proceeded to enter one of the houses close to them, where they kidnapped a couple. The gunfire that killed Stephen further alerted other residents to flee. They were shooting randomly at residents while retreating because the alarm raised by Sebastine had attracted the attention of the other residents, who in turn alerted security agencies, area resident Sunday Musa told the news outlet. Another resident, Chris Obodumu, said that the attackers were armed with sophisticated weapons. After killing Stephen, the attackers were said to have broken into the house of Jack Nweke. Nweke and his wife, who have three children, were abducted. Community leader Martins Emmanuel said that night, Fulani militants also attacked the nearby area of Mararaban Rido. Stephens killing comes as thousands of people from predominantly Christian farming villages throughout Nigeria have been killed in recent years by attacks carried out by groups of nomadic Fulani radicals. On April 10, two suspected Fulani radicals reportedly killed Pastor Stephen Akpor of the Celestial Church of Christ in the Aniocha North local government area of the southern Delta state. According to the Nigerian daily newspaper Vanguard, the attack occurred around 8:30 p.m. while the pastor was counseling five members of his congregation. Sources told the newspaper that Akpor leaves behind a wife and five children. He [was] gunned him down through the window, one witness told Vanguard. Before the police got here and took him to the General Hospital, Ibusa, he gave up the ghost. A doctor who spoke with Vanguard confirmed to the news outlet that the deceased pastor was also stabbed after he was shot and that he died as a result of the stab wounds. Onome Onovwakpoyeya, a local police spokesperson, told Vanguard that an investigation has begun into Akpors death. Nigeria ranks as the 12th worst country in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors USAs 2020 World Watch List. The International Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law estimates that at least 400 Christians have been killed in 2020 alone by Fulani herdsmen. So far in April, several Christians have reportedly been killed by suspected Fulani radicals. Intersociety estimates that at least 11,500 Christians have been killed since 2015 by Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram militants, and highway bandits. The nongovernmental organization reported in March that at least 20 clergymen have been killed and no less than 50 religious leaders have been kidnapped during that time. Last Friday, an Anglican pastor along with his wife and kids in the Delta state was reportedly kidnapped by suspected Fulani herdsmen. A local source that spoke to Vanguard explained that the wife and children were released with the order to get money to pay ransom for Rev. Anthony Oyi. Nigeria is also listed on the U.S. State Departments special watch list for countries that engage in or tolerate severe violations of religious freedom. The U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback told reporters last December that Nigeria was placed on the list for the first time because of the increasing violence and communal activity and the lack of effective government response and the lack of judicial cases being brought forward in that country. Because of attacks on predominantly Christian farming communities by predominantly Muslim Fulani herdsmen throughout Nigeria, thousands have been displaced from their homes and farms in the last five-plus years in Middle Belt states like Plateau, Benue, Taraba, and Kaduna. While the violence in the middle belt between predominantly Muslim Fulani herdsmen and predominantly Christian farming communities has largely been described as farmer-herder clashes, advocates for displaced Christian communities argue that such terminology is not quite accurate. Initially, it was termed communal [farmer-herder] clash, and little or nothing was known about it. People [of the village] would always come out, form a vigilante group and help defend themselves, Elizabeth Duile of Agatu Resource and Innovation Center in the Benue state told CP recently. So it would just end up [seeming] like there was an ethnic clash and all of that. And for a long time, it was termed as so until 2016, when 10 of Agatus 17 villages were overrun at the same time. That was when hundreds of people were killed. And there was a need to let the world hear what was happening. If we keep calling them herdsmen, that [just feeds the narrative] of a communal clash, she continued. It's more wanting to take over the community, not just herders coming to feed their cattle. So It became more of a full-blown war and not just coming to feed, or graze. International human rights groups Jubilee Campaign and Christian Solidarity International have both indicated that the level of violence against Christians in Nigeria has risen to the level of genocide. My preliminary trawl of media reports over the period from March 19 to April 20 revealed that stand downs have been put in place by businesses across the economy, particularly in: aviation, tourism, resources, hospitality, sport, gaming, retail, the arts, entertainment, leisure, media, healthcare, local government and secondary education. Stand downs requiring employees not to attend or perform work for a period of time, and not paying them have been a widespread business response to the crisis. Government restrictions to contain COVID-19 have had a devastating economic impact, leading to widespread business closures and changes to operations. Employers have been faced with very difficult decisions about what happens to their staff. These media reports indicated that a total of 136,585 employees and a much larger unspecified number had been stood down. The true figure is hard to pin down, but it is likely to be in the hundreds of thousands. A recent Australian Bureau of Statistics survey showed that 9 per cent of businesses had stood down staff or put them on unpaid leave by early April. And the Grattan Institute has forecast that between 1.9 and 3.43 million could be forced out of work in the period ahead (with stood down workers forming part of that number). There is no question that many of these stand downs have been part of a necessary business response to the pandemic. But in some cases, stand downs may not have met the requirements of the Fair Work Act: that employees cannot be usefully employed because of a stoppage of work for which the employer cannot reasonably be held responsible. This test will clearly have been met, for example where a restaurant or cafe has had to close indefinitely in accordance with stage three restrictions. On the other hand, what about an IT or engineering firm that has lost contracts, but still has work available for some staff on other projects? Or regional newspapers that have stood down staff after axing their print editions, but are still producing an online publication? Loading Very few stand downs are being contested. However, through dispute proceedings in the Fair Work Commission, the Independent Education Union has obtained a back-down from a college on a proposed stand down of teachers. The IEUs argument is that there is other valuable work these employees could be doing, and some employers are opportunistically using the crisis to balance their books through unnecessary stand downs. A statue of Mahatma Gandhi, the spiritual leader of India and a prominent politician in world history as well as a philosopher, is set to be erected at a park in Yerevan. The respective draft decision is on the agenda of the April 28 sitting of the Yerevan Council of Elders. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia has sent a letter to the Mayor of Yerevan, proposing to place a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Yerevan on the occasion of his 150th birthday, thus strengthening and deepening the friendly relations between Armenia and India. The letter also states that the statue will be provided by the Indian side, which will also cover the expenses related to the transfer of this statue to Yerevan, as well as the construction of its pedestal and the installation. Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday spoke with Home Minister Amit Shah and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on the plight of nearly 5,000 Andhra Pradesh fishermen stranded at Veraval and two other places in Gujarat, official sources said. The chief minister told Naidu thatthe Andhra Pradesh government has agreed to arrange for their travel to the state by boats, the sources said. The fishermen have been stranded in Gujaratsince the lockdown was announced on March 24, they said. The vice president expressed satisfaction that both the Centre and the two state governments haveevolved a feasible solution to ensure the return of the fishermen to Andhra Pradesh by boats. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In the wake of coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, the West Bengal government on Thursday ordered the state-run private hospitals to provide free treatment for COVID-19 patients, adding that the entire cost will be borne by the state government. The Mamata Banerjee government also announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1000 monthly for daily wages labourers. It decided to keep the fair prices shops (ration shops) open from 8 am to 12 noon and 2 pm to 8 pm from April 24 to May 31. The step has been taken for the benefit of those who are facing hard times. A huge political confrontation between the state and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) since the last few days over sending interministerial central teams (IMCT) to conduct field visits of COVID-19 hotspots in Kolkata and Jalpaiguri districts. The state government has now decided to step back and work for the benefit and welfare for the people of West Bengal and provide essential requirements. As per the approved rates and package offered by the state government, the private hospitals can't reject the patient as referred by the state government to those hospitals having COVID- 19 centre and providing healthcare for the patients. All private hospitals will have to display a notice, reading, The treatment to the patients is free & entire cost is being borne by the Government of West Bengal. Similarly, the government inducted new schemes as Prachesta to provide ex- gratia payment. Any permanent resident of West Bengal working as a labourer, daily wager and worker, those who are extremely distress and have lost their employment, are eligible. They need to furnish the details through application form submitted to the District Magistrate, District Commissioner and KMC for Kolkata Municipal corporation areas. The application needs to be submitted personally, with the government clearly mentioning that no bulk application will be accepted. The District Magistrate needs to make proper arrangements and process through BDO and SDO in rural and urban areas, whereas the KMC commissioner will make arrangements and process in KMC areas. The schemes will come into effect from April 15 till May 15. The money will be directly transferred in the bank accounts through IFSC. As per the latest data, there are 334 active cases and 15 deaths in the state. Nine districts are under the green zone, eleven districts under orange zones and four districts (Kolkata, Howrah, East Midnapore, and North 24 Parganas) in Red Zone. (With inputs from Sutapa Sen) MEMOIR THE STATE OF DISBELIEF by Juliet Rosenfeld (Short Books 12.99, 192 pp) Forty-eight hours after Juliet Rosenfelds husband died of lung cancer, she lay back on her psychoanalysts couch and attempted to process her loss. As a practising psychoanalyst herself, she had attended five personal therapy sessions per week for eight years and was committed to probing her subconscious for ways to release and understand her emotions. Five years later, she knows that seeking this form of therapy at this time was a mistake. Sideswiped by anger and helplessness, Rosenfeld felt rinsed of any capacity to think or reflect . . . I wanted comfort and numbing, not to have my face rubbed in my suffering. Juliet Rosenfeld reflects on the loss of her husband and the loss of faith in the power of psychoanalysis in a memoir. Pictured: Juliet with her husband Andrew, who died in 2015 Yet she persevered in her attempts to move forward for another two years before walking away from her analyst and finding her own way through the unpredictable emotional landscape of bereavement. Her memoir is a tale of two losses: the loss of a partner and the loss of faith in the power of psychoanalysis to make soothing sense of trauma. Readers will find her account of that first loss extremely painful. Andrew Rosenfeld was an exceptionally fit, clean-living, rich and powerful British businessman when he noticed a lump in his neck in the winter of 2013. He had first-rate private health insurance and chartered planes to the worlds best hospitals, refusing to acknowledge that his condition was terminal right up until his death, aged 52, in February 2015. Juliet his second wife had colluded in that denial. At his request she had not told friends and colleagues about his diagnosis. She had listened to him charm and bluff his way onto a clinical trial at Yale University by downplaying his symptoms. She had agreed with him that, although nobody has ever been cured of Stage 4 lung cancer, he would beat the odds by sheer force of will. Readers will note that both Rosenfelds felt, to some degree, insulated from the mortality afflicting the rest of us. Him by his wealth and optimism, her by what she assumed was a deeper understanding of the human heart. She is laudably frank about her failure to manage her grief as she had anticipated. Juliet found herself unable to read after Andrew's death. Pictured: Juliet with her husband Andrew, who died in 2015 Indeed she thinks she went mad with grief, which stormed in like a rampaging terrorist high on amphetamines and armed, lawless, violating boundaries, destroying my history, my future with a hysterical disregard for time and place. In the months directly following Andrews death, she experienced short circuits during which her mind went AWOL. She found herself unable to read, her brain equally resistant to the content of good novels and trashy magazines. She rose early and sat in her husbands wardrobe, inhaling the smell of his shirts. One night she crawled into the bed of her seven-year-old son and when he woke, confused to find her there, she pretended there was a wasp in her room. More frighteningly, she once had to stop driving because she could not remember which pedal was the accelerator and which was the brake, thinking that he was gone, so nothing mattered any more, and neither did I. Another time she found herself on the wrong side of the road and could not remember which was the right side. Who knew that grief could interfere with your motor skills, quite literally in this case? THE STATE OF DISBELIEF by Juliet Rosenfeld (Short Books 12.99, 192 pp) Actually, I wanted to tell Rosenfeld, lots of us know that. I havent lost a partner myself, but I have listened to friends who have. I have heard them tell me of their own short circuits: the dialling of unanswerable phones, the handbags inexplicably put away in freezers, the work clothes slipped into, unthinking, on Sunday mornings. Something similar happened to her hero, Sigmund Freud. He wrote his book, Mourning And Melancholia in 1918. A few years later, his daughter Sophie died, aged 28, of Spanish flu and soon after that her four-year-old son succumbed to tuberculosis. The great thinker, who had found a meaning in everything, wrote: I find the loss very hard to bear. I dont think I have experienced such grief . . . I work out of sheer necessity; fundamentally everything has lost its meaning to me. By 1929, Freud accepted that the acute sorrow we feel after such a loss will run its course, but also we will remain inconsolable, and will never find a substitute . . . and that is how it should be. It is the only way of perpetuating a love that we do not want to abandon. It is lovely to hear Rosenfeld describe learning to laugh again at the end of her book. I hope she doesnt adhere to Andrews instructions that she remain single forever. Im a big fan of therapy, but only the kind that allows people to find their own truths at their own supported pace. I am glad that Rosenfeld will now be telling her own clients that, when it comes to grief, there are no stages and there is no plan. There is only you and your loss. And time. President Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday banning some legal immigration for 60 days due to the novel coronavirus, beginning Thursday at 11:59 p.m. EST. What's happening: The order will prevent foreigners from obtaining green cards to enter the country if they are outside the U.S. and do not already have valid visas or other travel documents although there are exceptions. What he's saying: "In order to protect our great American workers, I've just signed an executive order temporarily suspending immigration into the United States," Trump said during a press briefing on Wednesday. "This will ensure unemployed Americans of all backgrounds will be first in line for jobs as our economy reopens." The order will not apply to: Immigrants applying for temporary visas. Legal permanent residents already in the U.S. Certain health care workers and health care researchers working to combat COVID-19, as well as their spouses and children. Applicants for the EB-5 investor visa. Spouses and children of citizens. Adoptees. Immigrants who are determined to be important for law enforcement objectives or for other reasons considered to be in the national interest. Members of the armed forces and their spouses and children. Special Immigrant visa applicants. Between the lines: The order is yet another attempt by the Trump administration to drastically lower the number of people coming into the U.S. during the coronavirus pandemic. It follows years of the administration making it harder for legal immigrants and illegal border crossers hoping to enter the country. The order would impact around 316,000 foreigners annually if kept in place, according to Migration Policy Institutes Sarah Pierce. "None of these people can apply for immigrant visas now anyway because of the public health crisis," Pierce said. Because the administration has justified the order by the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus, "we expect that this administration is trying to make more long term changes," she added. But some immigration hawks were disappointed, hoping the order would have a broader impact, given Trump's tweet Monday night. What to watch: Trump has asked administration officials to also look into temporary work visa programs "to assess whether additional measures should be taken to protect American workers," according to a White House press release. Go deeper: With the recent high demand for oxygen and ventilating equipment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, SMP received an emergency request to deliver 1000 units this month. Because the factory maintains and manufactures to the strict standards and controls required for medical applications, SMP employees were able to swiftly turn around the needed units and expedite them to California. The SMP heat exchangers play a key role in controlling the oxygen temperature and concentration in complete ventilator system operation. Commenting on this initiative, Mike Carney, Vice President Temperature Control Division, SMP noted, "I couldn't be prouder of our employees who were able to quickly convert our heat exchanger production line in these extreme times. By efficiently producing these critical components, we're able to support potential life-saving efforts". SMP has committed to using its engineering and manufacturing expertise to provide support to the healthcare community during this exceptional time. In addition to supplying this critical ventilator component, SMP has designed and produced protective face covers for healthcare workers. Using 3D printing along with traditional assembly, SMP's Poland facility will continue to manufacture and distribute these PPE's to local hospitals. About SMP With over 100 years in business, Standard Motor Products, Inc. is a leading independent manufacturer and distributor of premium automotive replacement parts. SMP supplies independent professional technicians and do-it-yourselfers with high quality replacement parts for engine management, ignition, emissions, fuel and safety-related systems, as well as temperature control products for domestic and import cars and light trucks. SMP products are sold worldwide through both traditional and non-traditional distribution channels. For more information, download the SMP Parts App or visit www.smpcorp.com. SOURCE Standard Motor Products, Inc. Related Links https://www.smpcorp.com First Lady Savita Kovind on Wednesday stitched face masks at Shakti Haat in the Presidents Estate as part of the fight against Covid-19. These masks will be distributed at various shelter homes of Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board. The First Lady was seen covering her face with a red colour cloth mask. Also read| Covid-19: What you need to know today By stitching masks, the First Lady has given a message that everyone can fight the Covid-19 pandemic together. Health experts have recommended that people should maintain social distancing and other preventive measures in addition to wearing face coverings. Click here for complete coronavirus coverage The masks, which are commonly in use since to contain corona spread, are cloth masks, three-layered surgical masks and N95 respirator. A growing number of Australian reality stars and Instagram models are selling raunchy content online for big bucks. Using the subscription-based website OnlyFans, Z-listers like The Bachelorette's Paddy Colliar and Love Island's Vanessa Sierra charge users a monthly fee for explicit photos and videos. Content can range from something as innocent as a suggestive selfie all the way to hardcore pornography. Shake your money maker! A growing number of Australian reality stars and Instagram models are making thousands selling raunchy content on the subscription website OnlyFans. Pictured: Love Island Australia's Vanessa Sierra, who makes pornography for OnlyFans Rhyce Power, who shot to fame as Jessika Power's 'hot brother' on Married At First Sight last year, is currently one of the top creators on OnlyFans. The former carpenter, 28, recently shared his earnings from the site on Instagram, revealing he had made more than $50,000 in just one month. Australian Instagram model Jem Wolfie is currently the biggest star on OnlyFans, raking in millions of dollars since joining the platform in 2018. Wealthy: Rhyce Power, who shot to fame as Jessika Power's 'hot brother' on Married At First Sight last year, is currently one of the top creators on OnlyFans Big bucks! The former carpenter, 28, recently shared his earnings from the site on Instagram, revealing he had made more than $50,000 in just one month The Perth native, 28, can earn up to $30,000 per day by sharing exclusive photos that aren't much different to the content on her Instagram page. 'People complain and say, "Where's the nudity?" But where are you going to go from there - you'll be in full-blown porn before you know it,' she told Perth Now last year. While Jem's photos are quite tame, she does upsell her subscribers racier content, including topless selfies, if the price is right. Expensive: Australian Instagram model Jem Wolfie is currently the biggest star on OnlyFans, raking in millions of dollars since joining the platform in 2018 Former Love Island Australia star Vanessa Sierra is another creator who uses the upsell method. For $20 a month, her subscribers can access the kind of sexy bikini photos that fill her Instagram page, but Vanessa will then send private messages to her fans offering more risque content for cash. 'Tip for titties,' she wrote in one message, which offered users the chance to pay another $20 to unlock an extra photo. Worth it? The Perth native, 28, can earn up to $30,000 per day by sharing exclusive photos that aren't much different to the content on her Instagram page The content on the OnlyFans page she shares with her YouTube star boyfriend Luke Erwin is far more explicit, and features the couple engaging in sex acts. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia about their controversial career move, the frisky pair said they were simply ahead of the curve by joining OnlyFans. 'I'm not scared to make moves and always jump on social media platforms before the crowd,' Vanessa explained. X-rated: Love Island's Vanessa Sierra and her YouTube star boyfriend Luke Erwin sell explicit content on their joint OnlyFans page 'Everyone seems so shocked yet in a couple of years it will be the norm to have an OnlyFans account,' she added. 'The same people who made a joke of us when we were on TikTok are now the ones obsessed with the app. This will be no different. 'We are just doing what makes us happy and creating content that isn't restricted by Instagram guidelines. We are in the top 0.02 per cent of OnlyFans creators for a reason!' Exposed: Gina Stewart, who became an online sensation after being dubbed 'The World's Hottest Grandma', is also one of the more popular creators on the platform Gina Stewart, who became an online sensation after being dubbed 'The World's Hottest Grandma', is also one of the more popular creators on the platform. Thanks to OnlyFans, the Gold Coast grandmother is now earning thousands of dollars per month and was able to move out of her Sunshine Coast apartment and into a lavish four-bedroom waterfront home with a pool and Jacuzzi. 'OnlyFans is way better than Instagram because I can post whatever I want and interact with my fans on a much more intimate level,' the 49-year-old told Daily Mail Australia last year. If you've got it, flaunt it! The 49-year-old was able to purchase a Mercedes last year thanks to her success on OnlyFans 'I've been able to afford a $1.3million home for myself and my daughter': Gina was able to move out of her Sunshine Coast apartment and into a lavish four-bedroom waterfront home with a pool and Jacuzzi (pictured) 'Now I live a great lifestyle thanks to my beautiful fans who support me. I've been able to afford a $1.3million home for myself and my daughter, I drive a Mercedes and I own two jet skis.' She added: 'I keep my content glamorous and sexy, unlike other models who bare what they had for breakfast. It's all in the tease.' Paddy Colliar, who starred on The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise, recently turned to OnlyFans after losing his job due to the coronavirus pandemic. Hard times: Paddy Colliar, who starred on The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise, recently turned to OnlyFans after losing his job due to the coronavirus pandemic The Irish hunk used to work as a personal trainer, but after the government ordered gyms across Australia to close, Paddy turned to OnlyFans. Baring all isn't too difficult for the 28-year-old, who was employed as a part-time male stripper before appearing on reality TV. Outside of Australia, other popular celebrities on OnlyFans include Courtney Stodden, Aaron Carter, Chad Johnson and Trisha Paytas. Dublin, April 22, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Taiwan Telecoms Report - 2020-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Globally, the telecommunications sector is proving to be a core and essential infrastructure service to national economies, with data infrastructure becoming critical in a connected world and will likely increasingly attract a new class of investors such as large infrastructure funds. The publisher expects the Taiwanese telecommunications industry to remain steady thanks to the defensiveness nature of the industry, amid the political uncertainties and an uncertain economic outlook due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This report provides analyses of revenue and market forecasts as well as statistics of the Taiwan telecoms industry including market sizing, 5-year forecasts, market insights, key telecom trends, 5G and also features the following: Overall Telecommunications Market by Major Operators Telco Operators Profile, Revenue and EBITDA Mix Mobile Subscribers & Revenue Market Overview and Forecasts Spectrum Holdings IoT Market Overview Broadband Subscribers & Revenue Market Overview and Forecasts National Broadband Network Detailed Market Overview and Forecasts Thematics / Opportunities relating to 5G, M&A and e-Commerce Telecoms Infrastructure Review Telco M&A Transaction Database Why you should buy Benefit from the latest market opportunities Understand the threats to your operations and investments and protect your company against future risks Gain insights on emerging trends supporting, enhancing or disrupting your activities in the market Get a full view of the competitive landscape to assess your market position. Forecasts as a key input for successful budgeting and strategic business planning in the telecoms market Target business opportunities and risks in the telecoms sector through our reviews of latest industry trends, regulatory changes and major deals, projects and investments Assess the activities, strategy and market position of your competitors, partners and clients via our Operators Profiles Story continues With already a saturated mobile phone penetration and fixed broadband take-up among households, future growth is likely to remain subdued with a declining working population and an aging population over the long term. The publisher forecasts that mobile subscriptions will continue to grow in the 2019-25 period and fixed broadband subscribers will also continue to grow but lower its household penetration over the same period due to fixed-wireless substitution. The ratio of the telecommunications sector revenue to GDP is declining from a peak in 2015, sliding down every year since then. Following the market contraction over the last 5 years, the publisher forecasts flat revenue growth to 2025, as long as data pricing stays rational amid the diminishing impact of declining legacy voice and SMS revenue. Mobile subscriptions ares growing faster than mobile service revenue leading to ARPU decline after 3 years of intense competition with the market transitioned completely transitioned to 4G after shutting down 2G and 3G networks in 2017 and 2019 respectively. The publisher expects the overall telecoms market to remain flat through to 2025 after a marked decline from 2016 due to mobile service revenue pressure partially offset by fixed broadband and enterprise data growth. Capex Investments The Capex to GDP ratio peaked in 2014 and has been sliding since, to its lowest in 2019. Capex investments will increase again from 2020 through to 2025, as mobile operators invest in 5G, bolster their 4G coverage and increase capacity to fulfil strong data demand, increasing again Capex to Sales Ratio. Operator Profiles Most operators maintained EBITDA margins at the expense of revenue growth with Chunghwa losing the most share while Far EasTone and Taiwan Mobile also losing mobile service revenue share in the 2014-2019 period at the expense of Asia Pacific Telecom and Taiwan Star. Mobile Subscribers and Revenue As the rate of growth of net additions in mobile subscriptions slows, telecommunications providers are channelling their efforts into reducing their cost base and stabilising ARPU through new value-added services using mobile data and bundling fixed and mobile services. The proportion of postpaid subscriptions remained stable at about 80% between 2014 and 2019 while the postpaid segment is growing in popularity with SIM-only offerings and reducing the number of people holding multiples SIMs. According to our benchmark study of mobile data pricing, India has the lowest rate per GB at just a few cents per GB, while Australia and China had the biggest cost reduction per GB mostly due to increased data allowance in plans while Singapore remains expensive. Taiwan mobile users pay for competitively priced data as mobile users recorded the largest monthly download in the Asia Pacific region. Broadband Subscribers - FTTH Push and Fixed Wireless The fixed broadband market is experiencing a subdued growth with Chunghwa Telecom losing share to HFC cable operators such as KBro, Taiwan Mobile, TBC and CNS. Chunghwa Telecom invested early in the 2010s in FTTx technologies while migrating its DSL subscribers to its HiNet network. Competing cable operators also invested in upgrading their cable networks bundling mobile, IPTV and e-Commerce services but falling short of upgrading to full-fibre networks limiting opportunities for gigabit speeds. Fixed broadband penetration is forecasted to decline as fixed-wireless substitution is increasing supporting a rising number of lone-occupancy households. Thematics - Telecoms Infrastructure / 5G / M&A / Infrastructure Infrastructure funds, pension funds and government funds are assigning high valuation multiples to telecommunications infrastructure assets such as mobile towers, data centres, submarine cable and fibre infrastructure. Investment funds are assigning high valuation multiples to telecommunications infrastructure assets such as mobile towers, data centres, submarine cable and fibre infrastructure. This report outlines some real market examples of how investors view and value these investments with real industry examples and EV/EBITDA comparatives and benchmarks. However, in the medium term, the telco sector is likely to experience some corporate activity. Subdued growth due to ARPU pressure compounded by low population growth is pushing telcos to look for outside opportunities to increase scale. The publisher expects a wave of consolidation in Taiwan in both the mobile and fixed broadband market, after some failed merger of cable operators. The arrival of 4G moved the Internet off our desktops into our palms and pockets, 5G could transform the network from something we carry around to something taking us around either virtually (augmented reality or virtual reality) or in reality (autonomous vehicles), the 5G outcome and benefits beyond fast connectivity remain largely unknown in terms of business models, investments required and timeline. Key Topics Covered: 1 Key Statistics 1.1 Taiwan Population 1.2 Taiwan Households 1.3 Taiwan's GDP 2 Overall Telecommunications Market, 2014-2025 2.1 Market Overview 2.2 Historical Telecommunications Market Revenue, 2014-2019 2.3 Overall Telecommunications Market Forecast, 2018-2025 2.4 Telecommunications Market Capital Expenditure, 2014-2025 2.4.1 Historical Telecommunications Capex Spend, 2014-2019 2.4.2 Capex to Revenue Country Benchmark 2.4.3 Capex to GDP Benchmark 2.4.4 Telecommunications Capex Spend Forecast, 2018-2025 3 Telecommunications Operators Profile 3.1 Chunghwa Telecom Profile 3.1.1 Chunghwa Telecom Revenue and EBITDA Mix 3.2 Far EasTone Profile 3.2.1 Far EasTone Revenue and EBITDA Mix 3.1 Taiwan Mobile Profile 3.1.1 Taiwan Mobile Revenue and EBITDA Mix 3.2 Asia Pacific Telecom Profile 3.2.1 Asia Pacific Telecom Revenue and EBITDA Mix 3.3 OTher Operators Profile 3.3.1 Taiwan Star 3.3.2 KBro 3.3.3 China Network Systems (CNS) 3.3.4 Taiwan Broadband Communications (TBC) 4 Mobile Market 4.1 Mobile Subscribers Historical and Forecast, 2014-2025 4.1.1 Mobile Subscribers Historical, 2014-2019 4.1.2 Mobile Subscribers Market Share, 2014-2019 4.1.3 Taiwan Smartphone Share, 2019 4.1.4 Taiwan Mobile Subscribers Forecast, 2019-2025 4.2 Mobile Revenue Historical and Forecast, 2014-2025 4.2.1 Historical Taiwan Mobile Service Revenue, 2014-2019 4.2.2 Mobile Service Revenue Forecast, 2018-2025 4.2.3 Mobile Subscribers ARPU, 2014-2019 4.3 Spectrum Holdings 4.3.1 Existing Spectrum Holdings 4.3.2 5G Trials and 5G Auctions Results 4.3.3 Mobile Frequencies Portfolios Analysis 4.3.1 Spectrum Depth Benchmark by Country 4.4 Mobile Download Data and Pricing Trends 4.5 Mobile Speed Tests 4.5.1 Ookla Mobile Speed Tests 4.6 Internet of Things (IoT) 5 Broadband Market 5.1 Fixed Broadband Subscribers Historical, 2014-2019 5.2 Fixed Broadband Subscribers Forecast, 2018-2025 6 Telecommunications Infrastructure Investments 6.1 Fixed Infrastructure 6.1.1 Government Plans and Policies 6.1.2 Submarine Cables 6.2 Mobile Tower Infrastructure Landscape 6.2.1 Getting Ready for 5G 6.3 Telco Infrastructure Comparative 7 Thematics / Opportunities 7.1 Going for Scale 7.2 Going for Scope 7.2.1 e-Commerce 7.2.2 Digital Payments 7.3 New Telecoms Operating Model 7.3.1 The Attraction of Infrastructure Multiples 7.4 5G versus Fixed 7.4.1 5G Overview 7.4.2 5G: Relative Capex Investments and Frequency Range 7.4.3 Fixed Broadband Networks Doing the Heavy Lifting Long Term 8 Telco M&A Transaction Database 9 Methodology 10 Copyright Notice Companies Mentioned Asia Pacific Telecom (APT) China Network Systems (CNS) Chunghwa Telecom Far EasTone Kbro National Communications Commission (NCC) Taiwan Mobile Taiwan Broadband Communications (TBC) Taiwan Star (T Star) For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/p2i6vq Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 WASHINGTON Isaac, a 17-year-old Guatemalan, crossed the U.S. border nearly eight months ago and was detained as a minor by the U.S. Office of Refugee Resettlement, long before the novel coronavirus existed. As his 18th birthday approached last month, it appeared he would be released to a Texas shelter where the director promised that the teenager would be provided counseling and referred for any medical assistance he may require for high blood pressure, severe anxiety and, if necessary, Covid-19, should the virus reach the shelter. Instead, on the day he became an adult in the eyes of the U.S. government, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement swooped in and shipped him to the Otero County Processing Center in El Paso, where he says he sleeps arms distance away from dozens of other immigrants. I have no doctor. I have medication but it is one given to me in the previous shelter, when I was a minor, said Isaac, who asked to be identified only by his middle name for fear of retaliation. In Vietnam, Samsung has been making a great contribution to the countrys GDP over the last many years. A ministry report to the Prime Minister about the possible impact that Covid-19 may have on key industries shows that electronics manufacturing will bear serious impact in the following quarters of the year because of decline in demand from the American and European markets. The ministry said Samsungs global revenue and output is predicted to decrease by $5.8 billion to $45.5 billion this year. In Vietnam, Samsung has been making a great contribution to the countrys GDP over the last many years. Of the GDP value of $220 billion in 2017, $60 billion came from Samsung. Nguyen Van Nam, former director of the Trade Research Institute, said the decrease is foreseeable, and not only Samsung but the whole economy will be affected by Covid-19. A ministry report to the Prime Minister about the possible impact that Covid-19 may have on key industries shows that electronics manufacturing will bear serious impact in the following quarters of the year because of decline in demand from the American and European markets. In the most optimistic scenario, Vietnams GDP will grow by 4.8 percent in 2020, far below the target of 6.8 percent. Asked what Vietnam should do now to minimize the adverse impact, Nam said state agencies need to identify products that have haf the sharpest decrease in production output and exports, and thr reasons behind the decreases (lack of input materials, lack of capital, or low demand). The analyses will help the government understand which products Vietnam should focus on to obtain the highest possible growth rate. Rice, for instance, is one of a few products which still can sell well. Some other countries have cut export volumes for their food security policy. Rice production is a great advantage of Vietnam, which hasnt had severe impacts from the epidemic. Vietnam can gather strength on producing and exporting rice to offset the decreases in other sectors. Vietnam, which has gained initial encouraging results in the fight against Covid-19, can provide products needed all over the world. Textile and garment companies, for example, can shift to make face masks that meet international standards. Nam emphasisef the cooperation between the state and enterprises. The state, in addition to support in capital, tax reduction and debt rescheduling, also needs to help businesses survey markets. Samsung Vietnams decision to lower the targeted export turnover in 2020 will affect Vietnams export targets and GDP growth. Nam stressed the task of easing reliance on foreign invested enterprises. However, he said this is a long-term strategy and cannot be obtained overnight. Thoi Bao Kinh Te Sai Gon reported that Vietnams foreign trade in the first two months of the year picked up by 2.4 percent year-on-year to reach $74 billion. Kim Chi Over 300 Samsung experts quarantined after landing in Vietnam Asiana Airlines flight OZ7737 landed at Vietnams Van Don International Airport in Quang Ninh province on April 17, bringing 308 experts from the Republic of Korea to Vietnam. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing America's largest egg producer, accusing it of illegally inflating prices during the coronavirus pandemic. In a lawsuit announced Thursday, the attorney general said Cal-Maine Foods had driven up prices on generic eggs by 300 percent, despite not having been hindered by the outbreak. Cal-Maine is a vertically integrated company, meaning it controls everything from the chicken to the store shelf. FIREARM PRICE-GOUGING?: Texas gun seller Cheaper Than Dirt racks up 123 price gouging complaints "It is simply charging more because it can," Paxton wrote in the lawsuit, "or, more specifically, because the pandemic caused market demand to jump." After Gov. Greg Abbott declared a state of emergency in early March, Texans rushed to stock up on groceries and supplies. Eggs and other staples were in such high demand that many stores began imposing caps on how many each customer could buy. RUSH ON SCRATCH-OFF LOTTERY TICKETS: Fulfilling warnings, Texas Lottery sales surged as COVID stimulus money arrived The price of Cal-Maine's eggs increased from about $1 per dozen to as high as $3.44, according to the lawsuit. That might seem a relatively small increase on its own, but for a company that controls nearly 20 percent of egg sales nationwide, it created a huge profit potential, the lawsuit says. The state is seeking over $100,000 in damages. Cal-Maine strongly disputed the allegations, and said they base their pricing off of independent market quotes. We have been consistent in our pricing practices whether we sell at a profit or at a loss, a spokesman said in an email. We will vigorously defend ourselves from this government overreach into agriculture, and look forward to speaking more in the future. Last month the attorney general sued a Houston-based company for price gouging on high demand medical supplies including masks and hand soap. The penalty for price gouging in Texas is a fine of up to $10,000 per violation with an additional penalty of up to $250,000 if the affected consumers are elderly. Texans who believe they have encountered price gouging can call the Attorney Generals toll-free complaint line at 800-621-0508 or file a complaint online. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's plan to push back the May 5 municipal elections to Nov. 3 was presented as an amendment to the state budget. The Senate passed the plan by for the day, effectively killing it. Sen. Chap Petersen, D-Fairfax City, led the effort, saying moving the elections to November would void local charters. We cannot make decisions based on hysteria, he said. Petersen is asking for a special session of the General Assembly to consider legislation that would require the Department of Elections to establish coronavirus-related voting guidance and to push the local elections to June 16. In Danville, seats on City Council and the Danville School Board are up for grabs in the May election. Northam could still push the elections back two weeks. The governor said in a statement late Wednesday that he will review the General Assemblys actions on scheduling local elections and announce next steps soon. Northams amendment also called for absentee ballots already cast to be discarded, which lawmakers opposed. It would be a horrible precedent to turn away ballots that have already been cast, said Sen. David Suetterlein, R-Roanoke County. Similar sentiments were shared in the House, where the proposal passed narrowly. Del. Bobby Orrock, R-Caroline, said the move could disenfranchise voters who have already cast the absentee ballots. The House ultimately backed the measure with some Democrats arguing that the delay is the only viable option to conduct the elections safely. Lets not emulate those places where poll workers and citizens have contracted COVID-19, said Del. Marcus Simon, D-Fairfax. There is a poll worker in Illinois who died of the virus, several people sick in Wisconsin. There is too much at stake. Rising sea levels are a global reality. According to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, ice sheets around the world are melting at an alarming pace. Greenlands ice sheet alone could potentially raise levels around the globe by twenty feet, as the fastest melting large chunk of ice on the planet. For its part, the Antarctic ice sheet has tripled its mass loss between 2007 and 2016, when compared with the ten years before this. How will the US be affected in the future? It is hard to accurately predict exactly how much the seas will rise. Some research indicates that sea levels are rising by about 12 inches (30 cm) per century right now, compared with the past, when they only rose by about 6-8 inches (16-21 cm) every one hundred years. One thing is for certain, of all the places now at risk in the US, Florida is taking the hardest hit. Here are the top ten cities in the US that were predicted to be the most vulnerable to coastal flooding by 2050, by ClimateCentral.org, in 2017. 10. New York According to New Yorks Department of Environmental Conservation, the sea level in the state of New York has risen at least a foot since 1900. It is predicted to rise as much as 75 more inches by 2100. This could cause increased erosion of beaches and bluffs, cause saltwater to get into surface waters and aquifers, and compromise many networks including sewage, wastewater, transportation, communication, and energy infrastructure and systems. 9. Hialeah, Fla. Palm Avenue in Hialeah. Image credit: Ivan Curra/Wikimedia.org If sea levels rise as they are predicted to, about 70% of Hialeah will be underwater, according to Xavier Cortada, an artist-in-residence at FIU, whose work focuses largely on environmental science. Hialeah is a city in Miami Dade county, with a population of well over 200,000 people. 8. Miami Aerial view of South Pointe Park. Miami Beach. Florida. USA. Image credit: Mia2you/Shutterstock.com Miami is expected to see sea levels go up by 14 to 26 inches in 2060, compared with 1992. 7. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Aerial photo of Fort Lauderdale. Image credit: Yanjipy/Wikimedia.org According to the Miami Herald, Fort Lauderdale is expected to see more than two feet of sea rise by the year 2060. 6. Pembroke Pines, Fla. Much of South Florida is built on drained swampland, and Pembroke Pines is no exception. This location stands on former Everglades marshes and is expected to see a substantial rise in water levels, even though it is inland from the coast. 5. Coral Springs, Fla. Coral Springs, Florida. Image credit: www.maac.com Coral Springs is another inland city expected to suffer from rising sea levels. According to Sun-sentinel.com, if green house gas emissions continue at their current levels through the year 2040, the high-tide line will encompass about a quarter of this city's population in the far future. 4. Miramar, Fla. The oceanfront at Miramar Beach. Image credit: Skye Marthaler/Wikimedia.org This location, like Pembroke Pines, is inland and also sits on former Everglades marshes. It, too, is expected to see water levels rise in the future. 3. St. Petersburg, Fla. St. Petersburg, Florida. Image credit :EaglesFanInTampa/Wikimedia.org According to the Tampa Bay Times, St. Petersburg is less than five feet above sea level, leaving 27,425 homes vulnerable to future rising sea waters. It is predicted that water levels in the area could rise by well over 30 feet by the year 2200. 2. Davie, Fla. Some predictions say that mostly all of Davie, Florida, located in Broward County, could be underwater by 2100. 1. Miami Beach, Fla. A portion of the southern part of the South Beach skyline as seen from Biscayne Bay. Image credit: Marc Averette/Wikimedia.org Compared with just over twenty years ago, the Miami area is now said to experience nuisance flooding 320% more often each year. PHILIPSBURG:--- Members of the Sint Maarten Police Force KPSM arrested a man with the initials S.L. on Wednesday, 22 April 2020 at approximately 1.00 pm at the border in Belvedere in connection with failure to comply with a given order. The suspect and his father who are both residents of French St. Martin were informed that they needed a signed waiver from the Dutch authorities before crossing the border, regardless of being residents in French Quarter. S.L. who was told various times that he could not cross the border began reacting very aggressively towards the French and Dutch officers at the location. He was asked several times to stop the aggressive behavior and to leave the location, which he refused. To avoid that the situation would escalate further the officers on location decide to arrest S.L The suspect resisted his arrest and was later put in handcuffs. During the arrest, S.L. nor his father were injured at any moment. S.L. was taken to the Philipsburg police station. After giving a statement, the suspect was given a summons to appear in court and released. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio elections officials say delays with the United States Postal Service could cause some voters to not get their ballots on time send them in for next Tuesdays vote-by-mail primary election. Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said Thursday his office has received wide reports of first-class mail, which normally takes 1-3 days, taking as long as a week or more. That could mean delays in delivery of voters ballot applications, which are due Saturday, as well as in the return of ballots, which must be postmarked by Monday, or physically delivered to county boards of elections by 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday in order to count. As you can imagine, these delays mean it is very possible that many Ohioans who have requested a ballot may not receive it in time, LaRose said in a Thursday letter to members of Ohios congressional delegation. (Scroll down to read the entire letter.) The Secretary of States Office doesnt know exactly how many ballots may be affected. LaRose spokesman Jon Keeling said: We know this is an issue in northwest Ohio, but anecdotally we are hearing reports from all around the state. UPDATE: LaRose tweeted late Thursday that the postal service has agreed to re-route mail in Toledo to try to reduce delays. On the phone w/ Sen @senrobportman & Reps @mlfudge and @bobgibbs about this today. They are encouraging the @USPS to process elections mail quickly. Im told NW Ohio elections mail will be sorted in-state rather than Detroit through Tuesday. On behalf of @OAEOorg: Thank you! https://t.co/j96zxPKq93 Frank LaRose (@FrankLaRose) April 24, 2020 So what if you requested your ballot, but dont receive it in time to vote? A little-advertised option is to vote provisionally, in-person at your county elections board next Tuesday. In-person voting is available for the disabled and homeless. But guidance LaRose issued last week to county boards of elections directs them let these people vote. If you properly requested an absentee ballot by the April 25, 2020, deadline and you did not receive your ballot from the board of elections prior to today, you may enter the polling place for assistance, a sign LaRoses office distributed to county boards of elections reads in part. Mike Brickner, Ohio director for All Voting is Local, a voting-rights group, said hes heard reports from around the state of delayed ballots, including from comments on an ad the group bought on Facebook that explains the voting process. You can see theres a very long thread of people throughout Ohio saying over and over again, I requested my absentee ballot two weeks ago, three weeks ago, and I still have not received it, he said. In his Thursday letter, LaRose asked members of Congress to intervene, seeing if the USPS can increase staffing in Ohio offices, including on Sunday, or perform a search to find undelivered ballots. While we certainly understand and respect the adversity that mail carriers are facing right now, something must be done to deliver elections mail promptly so Ohioans may have their voice heard in this primary election," LaRose said in the letter. A message was left seeking comment with a USPS spokesperson. Due to the cancelation of in-person voting on March 17 over the coronavirus pandemic, and the relatively tight timetable set by the state legislature for a make-up vote-by-mail period that runs through April 28, county boards of elections have been inundated by ballot requests and ballots in the last couple of weeks. The extended period is to make up for the lack of in-person voting on March 17. Those who previously voted early dont need to vote again. This year, it appears overall turnout will be down from the 3.3 million overall votes cast in the 2016 primary election. But because the current primary is vote-by-mail, county elections offices are processing many, many more mail-in ballot applications in a short amount of time. Theyre going gangbusters, said Aaron Ockerman, executive director of the Ohio Elections Officials Association. "Theyre breaking every record for what theyre receiving and processing on a daily basis As of Tuesday, nearly 1.7 million Ohioans have requested a vote-by-mail ballot for the Ohio primary election and 975,158 voters had cast their ballot. That compares to the 2016 primary, when only 185,000 votes were cast by mail. For the November 2016 general election, 5.6 million Ohioans voted, of which 1.2 million were by mail. Meanwhile, Brickner said the coronavirus pandemic, which has led generally to a drop in mail volume and a loss of revenue, is straining the postal services financial resources. In addition, just like any other business, theyre having to do social distancing, and they may have to have staggered staff, he said. "Thats affecting the speed of delivery. So thats making a system that was already going slow go even slower. Tony Perlatti, director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, said he wasnt aware of issues with mail delivery in Cuyahoga County. But, he said elections officials continue to receive thousands of ballot applications each day, which is unusual this close before election day. Read recent related coverage from cleveland.com: Time is running short to vote in Ohios extended primary election Dont want your Ohio primary ballot request to be rejected? Here are some common mistakes to avoid. Planning to vote in Ohios vote-by-mail primary? Youll probably need a stamp for your ballot application. Should Ohio plan for a vote-by-mail election in November, just in case? Ohio Secretary of State preparing to mail vote-by-mail instructions for states delayed primary If youve been dinged with late fees on your Comcast bill, youre not alone. But you dont have to pay them. In mid-March, the company announced it would not impose penalties for late payments, as a response to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. So why are the fees showing up on peoples bills? Utilities and others are supposed to waive late fees during the pandemic, a reader wrote to the Inquirer through our Curious Philly portal. Why is Comcast/Xfinity still charging late fees even though they signed an FCC pledge to waive them? How can I get the fee removed from my bill? You can have the fees waived, a Comcast spokesperson confirmed, but you have to ask. Our care teams will be available to offer flexible payment options during this period, Comcast said in a statement. Typically, the companys spokesperson said, late fees are assessed 30 to 45 days past a bills invoice date, and amount to about $10. That fee can be waived by contacting a Comcast customer service representative via the companys website or My Account app, or by phone at 1-800-XFINITY. ASK US: Do you have a question about the coronavirus and how it affects your health, work and life? Ask our reporters Any late fees assessed during this period will be waived if a customer contacts us, the spokesperson said. Meaning that if you already have been charged a late fee, you likely can still get the charged removed from your account. And, the spokesperson added, you dont have to provide evidence of financial hardship to get the charges removed. The companys late fee policy, the spokesperson said, applies to all services, not just internet. What Comcast agreed to Last month, the company announced that it would temporarily give customers unlimited data, make Xfinity WiFi hot spots free for all, and promised not to disconnect service for nonpayment, among other concessions to help people affected by the coronavirus shutdown. Late fees, Comcast said in a release, would not be imposed if customers contact us and let us know that they cant pay their bills. READ MORE: Coronavirus put a stop to Sixers, Phillies, and Flyers games. So why do people still have to pay sports fees on their cable bill? Comcasts announcement last month came after Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pais launched the Keep Americans Connected Pledge, which called on broadband and telephone companies to promote connectivity for Americans whose lives have been disrupted because of the coronavirus pandemic . The pledge included agreeing not to cut off customers from services, waiving late fees, and opening WiFi hotspots for two months. To date, more than 700 companies and associations have signed the pledge, according to the FCC, including Comcast competitors such as Verizon and RCN. During this extraordinary time, it is vital that as many Americans as possible stay connected to the internet for education, work, and personal health reasons, Dave Watson, CEO OF Comcasts cable unit, said in a statement. Many Philadelphians do not have access to the internet. Among the 25 largest cities in the U.S., Philly is the second-lowest for internet access, according to Census data. In 2017, 83.5 percent of households across the country had broadband access. But in Philly, that number is only 71.6 percent. 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 body of the Indian migrant who died from coronavirus far from home was kept inside the ambulance in front of the crematorium in case a friend came by for a last goodbye. But nearly an hour later no one had appeared, and the workers in protective suits had to carry out their grim task. In silence, the four men carefully moved the body, wrapped in a white plastic bag, to a furnace where it was reduced to ashes that were placed in a silver box. Millions of foreigners work in the United Arab Emirates and across the other wealthy Gulf nations, providing the backbone of the workforce in hospitals and banks, as well as on construction sites and in factories. Many have spent decades toiling to provide for their families, with the hope of returning one day to open a business or build a house. But a death from coronavirus means that the body cannot be sent home, and that it has to be cremated or buried in the country where the person dies. "The whole world is changing. Nobody comes anymore, nobody touches, nobody says goodbye," said Ishwar Kumar, a manager of the Hindu Cremation Ground located in a desert area south of Dubai. Before coronavirus "people would come here, around 200 to 250, to grieve and bring flowers. Now they die alone," he told AFP. The majority of the 166 deaths and 26,600 registered cases in Gulf countries so far have been foreigners, according to health ministries, most of them from Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and the Philippines. - One thing in common - A few hours before the cremation of the Indian man -- aged in his 50s and a partner at a tourist company in Dubai -- the body of another victim, a 40-year-old Filipino beautician, was also cremated at the facility. Both had one thing in common on their death certificates -- "covid pneumonia" as the cause of death. The silver boxes, bought from a hypermarket, are handed over to the next of kin if they are in Dubai, or to the embassy. "They work as labourers so most of them don't have family members. Sometimes their work colleagues come," said Suresh Galani, another manager at the facility. Despite halting commercial flights to stop the spread of the pandemic, governments in the region have been trying to lay on repatriation flights for foreign workers who are now out of a job as the economy grinds to a halt. But dealing with victims' bodies is another challenge, as the presence of the contagious disease means that burial or cremation has to take place immediately. - 'Part of heaven' - In Saudi Arabia, according to a source in the health ministry who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, "until now all the families are asking to bury the bodies inside Saudi because they prefer so." Among them was Wazir Moahmed Saleh, a 57-year-old Afghan who worked and lived in the Muslim holy city of Medina since the 1980s after he fled his country during the war with the former Soviet Union. The stationery shop owner died of coronavirus last week. He had family in the holy city where the prophet's grave is located but had to be buried with only four people in attendance -- all his sons. His nephew Amed Khan, a sales agent born in the kingdom, could only look at photos and videos of his uncle's burial on a smartphone. "His dream was to be buried in Medina, and his dream came true," he told AFP. "There isn't a person who dies in Medina and would want to be buried elsewhere. This land is known to be part of heaven." At the Hindu cremation facility in Dubai, not all coronavirus-related deaths have the name of the virus on their certificates. Vijay, an Indian national, said his 45-year-old brother Ram died of a heart attack after he sank into a severe depression during a 14-day quarantine following a direct contact with someone who had the virus. Standing near the body in the cremation room, under a white ceiling fan, four of his colleagues spread flowers on the body before it was reduced to ashes. "Ram tested negative after he stayed in a room for two weeks. He was mentally hurt and he got depressed because he stayed alone," Vijay explained. The laundry worker and father of three died in an ambulance while he was being taken to hospital after suffering severe chest pain. "We are going back tomorrow to collect the ashes. We will send them home once the flights are back," his brother said. With the coronavirus pandemic melting down South Floridas economy, the Rotary Club this week planned to give away over 1,000 bags of groceries to the most impoverished neighborhood of Opa-locka. A local church, Mount Tabor Ministries, also happens to do a weekly food giveaway. But what started out as a cooperative effort between the two charitable groups ended, police say, when a 70-year-old Opa-locka pastor punched a Rotary Club president during a row over delivery of the food that was supposed to feed residents in one of Miami-Dades poorest cities. Pastor Burnice Mikell was jailed and charged with aggravated battery on an elderly person. Hes out of jail now on bond, and is also awaiting trial on an earlier domestic-violence case. He is claiming self-defense. The victim, Felipe Madrigal, 70, the president of the Rotary Club of Doral, said he was knocked out cold. This guy is an a--hole. Ive been doing this for many, many years and Ive never found somebody that came to perform aggression when Im giving stuff to needy people, Madrigal said. The food giveaway still happened but Opa-locka city officials helped move the event to nearby Sherbondy Park. More than 1,200 bags of groceries were given away to residents who pulled up in their cars, the goods placed in their trunks. The Rotary Club of Doral, along with the Little Haiti chapter, had initially called a Mount Tabor deacon, Robert Green, to arrange the giveaway at the church, located at 1981 Lincoln Ave. Volunteers with the Rotary Club at a food giveaway in Opa-locka on April 22, 2020. Felipe Madrigal, the president of the Rotary Club in Doral, is in the yellow shirt. On Wednesday morning, a rented truck delivered 12 pallets of everything from vegetables to milk to bread. Volunteers began unpacking the goods and putting them in bags. Later in the day, Mikell showed up. He came out in a rage or whatever, said deacon Green, who had helped arrange the event with Doral Rotary. I dont know what was wrong with him. It makes no sense. Madrigal said Mikell began yelling at him, and was also angry because his car was on church property. Madrigal said he believed Mikell wanted to take control of the food. Story continues Reached by phone, Mikell said he believed the food was a donation for the churchs own giveaway, which wasnt until the following day. Tensions flared when he told the Rotary Club to put the food inside the church for storage for the next day, he said. Mikell also claimed the Rotary Club volunteers werent wearing proper masks and gloves. I didnt know who he was and he ran in my face and I hit him, Mikell said. I thought he was fixing to hit me. I was defending myself on my property. He added that hes been running a food giveaway in Opa-locka for 30 years. Theyre trying to make it look bad, as if Im the villain, he said when reached by phone Thursday. Opa-locka Police Chief James Dobson, however, said witnesses told a different story. He said the victim put his hands up and this man hits him, knocks him out. Madrigal said he woke up Wednesday and plans to visit a hospital emergency room. The pain starts at the top of my head and goes down to my neck, he said. I cannot move it to the right. By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States believes an Iranian military satellite launch this week was overseen by a high-ranking commander involved in past attacks on American targets, a senior administration official said on Thursday. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a declassified assessment of the launch determined that it was overseen by Amir Ali Hajizadeh, the head of the Revolutionary Guards Aerospace Force, at a site in eastern Iran. Hajizadeh was behind the downing of a U.S. military drone in the Gulf last June, a missile attack on U.S. service members in Iraq in January, and the downing of a Ukrainian Airlines flight near Tehran the same month, the official said. No U.S. troops were killed in the attacks in Iraq but more than 100 were later diagnosed with traumatic brain injury. Both Iranian and U.S. officials have said the shooting down of the Ukrainian civilian plane was an error. Iranian state TV reported that the Revolutionary Guards launched Iran's first military satellite on Tuesday. It said the satellite named "Noor" had reached orbit. The space shot was from "a rapid deployment, mobile launch system, which is inconsistent with any civilian application," the administration official said. "This was a space launch conducted by the Iranian military for military purposes," the official said. With tensions running high between the two countries, Trump said on Wednesday he had instructed the U.S. Navy to fire on any Iranian ships that harass it at sea. (Reporting By Steve Holland; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Alistair Bell) Denying older coronavirus patients treatment in favour of the young could be viewed as a 'cull on the elderly', according to a leading scientist. A debate organised by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) saw researchers argue for and against the 'moral decision to treat a patient on the grounds of age alone'. It comes as services become overburdened and healthcare professionals are having to decide who should receive treatment in the global pandemic. One expert said using age to make the decision is no better than 'flipping a coin', adding that it can't be that an 18-year-old is preferred to a 19-year-old on age alone. While another argued if the goal is to save the most lives with scarce resources, then age may matter if there is a diminishing chance of survival with increased age. Younger people with coronavirus symptoms shouldn't be given priority over older patients for life saving treatment just because of their age, scientists say In the debate, experts discussed whether it is wrong to prioritise younger patients with COVID-19 for lifesaving treatment such as access to a ventilator. Dave Archard, Emeritus Professor at Queen's University in Belfast, said that there were three reasons why age should not be used to decide who should and should not receive potentially life-saving treatment. He said that a simple 'younger than' criteria was unsatisfactory because it could see teenagers just a year apart in age treated differently. This would be not much better morally than tossing a coin, or a crude 'first come, first served' principle using the time of arrival at a hospital to determine whether care is given, he added. Professor Archard said that while the 'fair innings' argument - that everyone should have an opportunity to lead a life of a certain duration - had intuitive appeal, there was no agreement of what a fair innings amounted to. He added: 'Someone who has had her fair innings may yet have much to give the world than another, who has not, may be unable to offer.' To discriminate between patients in the provision of care on the grounds of age is to send a message about the value of old people, he said. Professor Archard said that such discrimination publicly expresses the view that older people are of lesser worth or importance than young people. 'It would be hard not to think - even if it was not intended - that a cull of elderly people was what was being aimed at,' he added. While experts agreed that it would be discriminatory to simply call on age to exclude those in need of help, some say it should be taken into account. Professor Arthur Caplan argued that age is a valid criterion for making decisions over limited medical resources - when supported by data. The US bioethics professor from the VYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York pointed out that age has played a role for many decades in limiting access to care when rationing life saving treatments. While experts agreed that it would be discriminatory to simply call on age to exclude those in need of help, Professor Arthur Caplan argued that age is a valid criterion when supported by data He said everything from access to renal dialysis to organ transplants have taken the age of the patient into account when making priority lists. 'That said, even in conditions of extreme scarcity it would be discriminatory to simply invoke age to exclude those in need from services,' Caplan added. He argued the key ethical question is whether age by itself is ever a morally relevant factor in deciding who gets care when rationing is unavoidable. Caplan also referred to the notion of fair innings but said this commitment to equal opportunities has nothing to do with the relative contributions of old people versus young people. 'If the goal is to save the most lives with scarce resources then age may matter if there is a diminishing chance of survival with increased age,' he said. 'Indeed, the relevance of old age as a predictive factor of efficacy, combined with the powerful principle of healthcare affording equality of opportunity to enjoy a life, makes age an important factor in making the terrible choice of who will receive scarce resources in a pandemic. 'Ageism has no place in rationing, but age may.' Advertisement Heart-stopping footage shows the moment a tornado ripped through a city on Wednesday as at least seven people are killed by twisters in Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana. In the video, the tornado is seen carrying debris as it barreled toward an Atwoods supply store. The tornado touched down near Oklahoma's border with Texas on Wednesday evening. Polk County, where Onalaska, Texas, is located, issued a declaration of disaster on Wednesday night after the tornado hit. Three people died and at least 20 were injured when the twister hit Onalaska, emergency officials said. 'On April 22, a tornado struck the city of Onalaska and other portions of Polk and San Jacinto counties, and possibly even far eastern Walker County,' Houston's National Weather Service (NWS) said in a statement. Two people were also killed in Oklahoma where nine suspected tornadoes touched down, (NWS) meteorologist Alex Zwink said. Scroll down for video At least seven people were killed after storms and tornadoes swept through Oklahoma, Texas and Louisiana on Wednesday as forecasters warn nearly 40 million people to brace for even more severe weather on Thursday. A large tree is uprooted in front of a destroyed home on Thursday in Onalaska, Texas David Maynard sifts through the rubble searching for his wallet on Thursday, after a tornado destroyed his home in Onalaska, Texas Part of the roof of a home is seen destroyed on Thursday after a tornado tore through the Onalaska, Texas, area on Wednesday evening Major damage is seen at a home in the aftermath of Wednesday's tornado as residents sift through rubble on Thursday in Onalaska, Texas A dog walks past trailers that were overturned during Wednesday's severe storm in Onalaska, Texas Utility poles were knocked off their foundation after the tornado struck the Onalaska, Texas, area Wednesday evening A factory worker was killed when a suspected twister hit just as the workforce was leaving Oklahoma's J&I Manufacturing on Wednesday, Marshall County Emergency Management Director Robert Chaney said. The worker's body was found about a fourth of a mile away from the factory, Chaney said. That apparent tornado also caused widespread damage in Madill, near the Red River, said Donny Raley, the city's emergency manager. A second person died in Madill when the tornado blew his vehicle off a highway. The body of Chad L. Weyant, 46, was found in the median and his vehicle in a nearby field, according to an Oklahoma Highway Patrol report. An NWS team will be dispatched to survey damage and to confirm whether the storms were tornadoes. A Louisiana man was found dead after a witness saw him try to retrieve a trash can from water near a drainage ditch. David Maynard is seen walking by his damaged piano while searching for his wallet in the rubble after a tornado destroyed his home in Onalaska, Texas The deadly storms blew over a vehicle and uprooted a tree outside a home in Onalaska, Texas, on Wednesday A fallen tree is seen near a home in Onalaska, Texas, just a day after tornadoes swept through the area Fallen trees are seen blocking a roadway in Onalaska, Texas, after a tornado tore through the area on Wednesday A pair of Wicked Witch of the East legs are perched on the back of a chair of a destroyed home after a tornado ripped through Onalaska, Texas A man and his dog walk among the debris of their destroyed home in Woodworth, Louisiana, after a tornado tore through the area Homes are seen destroyed after Wednesday's tornado struck the Mansfield, Louisiana, area He lost his footing and was swept away by floodwaters, DeSoto Parish Sheriff Jayson Richardson said. 'There was some pretty extreme flooding here in Mansfield. Water like I've not seen in many, many years, if ever,' the sheriff said. 'Basically the water rose really fast and we had to rescue some people out of homes. I think we had about 20 or so homes that people were flooded in.' A woman was killed on a bridge in Woodworth, Louisiana, 15 miles south of Alexandria, due to the severe weather, the Rapides Parish's Office said. The sheriff's office did not provide detail on how she died. The storm also caused severe damage to homes and other structures in Seven Oaks, said Carrie Miller, a spokeswoman for Polk County Judge Sydney Murphy. Charles Stephens of Onalaska told the Houston Chronicle that he and his wife were holed up in their bathroom when a large pine tree fell through their roof during the storms Wednesday night. The roof of a Sonic Drive-In was damaged after severe weather passed through the area in Brookhaven, Mississippi Two people were killed Wednesday when an apparent tornado that damaged at least two businesses tore through Marshall County in southern Oklahoma A damaged home is seen after a tornado touched down Wednesday evening in Onalaska, Texas 'It took me 45 minutes to climb through the roof to get out,' Stephens said, adding that he had to use a hatchet to get his wife out of the debris. The Alexandria campus of Louisiana State University also saw some damage from the storm. The university tweeted: 'All resident students safe. There is damage to DeWitt Livestock building and a camper flipped over.' The campus was also left without power. More than 150,000 customers from Texas to Georgia were without power Thursday morning as the severe weather blew eastward, according to poweroutage.us. Forecasters warned that nearly 40 million people across the South could see more severe storms on Thursday. According to the Storm Prediction Center (SPC), major cities like Birmingham, Atlanta, New Orleans, Charlotte and Jacksonville, Florida, are all at risk. Nearly 40 million people across the South could see more severe storms on Thursday. According to the Storm Prediction Center (SPC), major cities like Birmingham, Atlanta, New Orleans, Charlotte and Jacksonville, Florida, are all at risk Storms moved toward parts of Alabama and Florida Thursday morning. Several counties were issued tornado watches through Thursday afternoon Forecasters said there will be excessive rainfall through Thursday night in several southern states There is also severe weather forecast for parts of Florida, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee on Friday The storm hit Madill, Oklahoma, near the Red River, about 4.30pm on Wednesday, causing widespread damage to the town, including its residential neighborhoods There were at least 26 tornadoes reported across Texas and Oklahoma by 10.30pm Wednesday night Tornado warnings sent residents taking cover in southern Mississippi and Alabama. Trees and power lines were toppled in parts of west Alabama. No injuries or major damage were reported immediately. Storms will continue to batter parts of Alabama through Thursday afternoon. The SPC said Thursday's storms will be 'accompanied by the potential for damaging winds, along with large hail and a few tornadoes'. 'The greatest potential for severe thunderstorms today is from parts of southern Alabama eastward across parts of southern Georgia and the Florida Panhandle/north Florida. Tornadoes and severe wind will be the main concerns,' the center said. According to the SPC, the greatest potential for severe thunderstorms is from parts of southern Alabama eastward across parts of southern Georgia and the Florida Panhandle. 'Tornadoes and severe wind will be the main concerns.' The first airing Tuesday arrived on the fourth anniversary of Princes death -- but as timing goes, an even more important factor may have been how ready viewers were to see some full produced live music after a months worth of mostly seeing stars turning in acoustic performances from their living rooms. The show was filmed at the L.A. Convention Center in late January just after the Grammy Awards, with Ken Ehrlich as the executive producer of both shows. Whats with those U.S. protesters? The ones out to end the lockdown so they can return to work and get fatally infected. Crazy? Thats not very empathetic. The best explanation Ive heard is, theyre people whove been lied to by experts for 40 years about whats good for them, like free trade or privatization (as in senior-care), and it was all dishonest verbal garbage that destroyed jobs and communities. The lingo sounds similar: this may hurt at first, but once we ship that dirty factory work to Mexico/Asia/Mars, itll be replaced by rich, clean, hi-tech jobs where you play ping pong on breaks. They arent multitudes. The protests are smallish, theres far more support for strict measures. But many of them represent despairing blue collar workers in the Midwest who gave Trump his victory although he lost the popular vote. Theyve had it with being talked down to by Clinton, Bush, Obama and their really smart advisers, as Obama liked saying. Fire Fauci, they chant back. Nothing hurts like being played for an idiot, as they were on economics. The truth eventually broke through undeniably as they saw their lives crumble but it took decades. That happens when youve invested your trust. Trump saw it, with his feral smarts, and used it. Eventually, perhaps after more decades, the self-serving purpose behind his own lies will emerge too. Its not just truth that matters, its motive. Bernie Sanders wouldve been a far better bet for them to make, and they mightve, with the chance. Hes denounced those deals all his life, not opportunistically, like Trump. Not much has exposed the free trade mythology, for instance, like those two Canadian planes that flew to China this week to pick up crucial medical gear and returned empty. Whats the solution? Make that crucial stuff yourself. In 1988s free trade election, Liberal leader John Turner was ridiculed for criticizing the agricultural parts of the deal. A self-respecting country protects its food supply, he insisted, on the way to losing. Now its PPE and swabs and food. Free traders like Justin Trudeau are sudden Turnerites; words like reshoring and stockpiling spring up like flowers. Unlimited global free trade would be fine IF there were a global government responsive to humans everywhere who could rein them in when theyre corrupt or inept. In this life though, its nation-states that can be at least somewhat held to account. The snafu with the planes wasnt basically a supply problem; it was a philosophy-of-your-economy problem. Its the neo-liberalism, stupid. Trumps biggest lead over Biden is among whites without college degrees (two to one). Those people, Im guessing, have already been made to feel not smart, then they feel totally conned by the expertise they bought into on matters like trade. Its not crazy, its painful. Who wouldnt feel infuriated? The race for a vaccine. This too is about neo-liberalism, speaking of plagues. Under the orthodoxy of the last 40 years, competition benefits everyone. So last month the U.S. tried buying exclusive rights to research by a German firm. A German minister said, Germany is not for sale. How any of this speeds up actual vaccine research, nobody even tries to explain. Big Pharma wants billions in public money or they say they wont be able to develop vaccines, on which theyll then make obscene profits without sharing with the governments that made them possible. This is the charitable model on which Apple acquired all the innovations that created the iPhone. Meanwhile, the UN wanly calls for equitable, efficient and timely access to any vaccines developed, knowing exactly how these things get distributed and in what order. Wheres Jonas Salk when you need him? Shaking his head in the afterlife? He insisted his vaccine for polio not be patented, so it would be available to all. Slivers of light. With daily briefings by prime and subprime ministers, journalists have taken to starting questions with a Canadian, Prime minister or Minister, versus the U.S.s Mr. President. Is this too part of the revival of national self-respect? A Bloomberg reporter sounded off-key with, Mr. Prime Minister. I was hoping the others would egg her but she was on the phone. Rick Salutin is a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. He is based in Toronto. Reach him on email: is a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. He is based in Toronto. Reach him on email: ricksalutin@ca.inter.net Read more about: UK Urged to Stop Cotton Imports Made in Chinese Prison Camps Major brands are turning a blind eye to forced labor on a scale not seen since World War II, lawyers and campaigners said on April 23 as they urged Britain to halt imports of cotton goods originating from Chinas Xinjiang region. They named H&M, IKEA, Uniqlo, and Muji among companies selling merchandise made with cotton from Xinjiang where the United Nations estimates at least a million ethnic Uyghurs and other Muslims have been detained in massive camps. H&M and IKEA said the organization through which their suppliers source cotton had recently announced it would no longer be approving cotton from Xinjiang. Uniqlo and Muji, which has touted the Xinjiang origin of its cotton as a selling point on its website, did not respond to requests for comment. Shoppers walk past a branch of clothing retailer H&M on Oxford Street in central London, UK, on Aug. 13, 2016. ( Niklas Hallen/AFP via Getty Images) In a letter to the British government, the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) and the Global Legal Action Network (GLAN) said there was overwhelming evidence that Uyghurs were being used for forced labor in Chinas cotton industry. They urged Britain to carry out an investigation and suspend imports made with cotton from the region unless companies could prove they were not produced with forced labor. Customs should also consider seizing imports already in the country, they said. These supply chains and the import of this cotton must be halted, said Gearoid O Cuinn, director of GLAN, a network of lawyers, academics, and investigative journalists. Its production is reliant on the largest systematic incarceration of an ethnic group since the Holocaust, he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. China, which says the camps are designed to stamp out terrorism and provide vocational skills, has denied using Uyghurs for forced labor. The Chinese embassy in London did not immediately respond to the allegations in the letter. An IKEA store is pictured after nationwide all IKEA stores were closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic in Berlin, Germany, on March 17, 2020. (Fabrizio Bensch/File Photo/Reuters) More than 80 percent of Chinas cotton comes from Xinjiang, a large region in the northwest, which is home to about eleven million Uyghurs. In its letter to Britains customs authority (HMRC), GLAN and the Uyghur rights group said imports of cotton sourced in Xinjiang violated British laws, including legislation prohibiting the importation of prison-made goods. They outlined evidence they said demonstrated Chinas widespread use of forced labor by Uyghurs in its cotton industryboth in processing raw cotton and in turning it into clothing and other goods. H&M said it prohibited forced labor in its supply chain, and had never worked with garment factories in Xinjiang. It said it sourced all of its cotton from China through the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), a global non-profit committed to improving working conditions in the sector. The BCI said in March it would no longer license so-called Better Cotton from Xinjiang for the 2020-21 cotton season and had contracted an outside expert to review the situation. IKEA said it supported the BCI review. Under no circumstances do we accept any form of forced labour in the IKEA supply chain, a spokesman added. Britain has been hailed as a leader in the global drive to end modern-day slavery, and has joined other countries in urging China to halt the mass detentions. GLAN said it would consider legal action if the government did not act. In the United States, lawmakers have proposed legislation aimed at preventing the importation of goods made using forced labor in Xinjiang. By Emma Batha Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, who are the most admired people in America? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Though many countries across Europe are trying to gradually reopen for business, the path in Italy is particularly perilous. There is uncertainty, even now, about how widely the novel coronavirus has spread among the population. And while some nations averted the worst-case scenario, in Italy the virus arrived with the force of a historic crisis, leaving the country to contend not just with economic pain but also with a sharp sense of loss, mourning and fear. An aerial view shows Italian cruise ship Costa Atlantica, which has crew members confirmed with cases of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection, in Nagasaki, southern Japan on April 23, 2020. (Kyodo/Reuters) Italian Cruise Ship in Japan Has 48 CCP Virus Cases TOKYONearly 50 crew members on an Italian cruise ship docked for repairs in Japans Nagasaki have tested positive for the new CCP virus, raising concern about the strain on the citys hospitals if conditions worsen for those infected. Results on Thursday showed 14 more aboard, all either cooks or those serving food, were infected with the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, an official in Nagasaki prefecture said. One patient who had been taken to hospital previously was now in serious condition and on a ventilator, he told a live-streamed news conference. The Costa Atlantica infections come after the cases on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Yokohama two months ago, where more than 700 passengers and crew were found to be infected, although this time only crew members were on board. The Italian cruise ship Costa Atlantica, which had confirmed 33 cases of the COVID-19 disease in Nagasaki, southern Japan on April 21, 2020. (Kyodo/Reuters/File) The Costa Cruises-operated ship was taken into a shipyard in Nagasaki in western Japan in late February by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries after the COVID-19 pandemic had scuttled plans for scheduled repairs in China. The latest cases have raised concern about the potential impact on Nagasaki residents after revelations some crew had left the restricted area despite assurances from the ship operator that they would stay within the wharf, according to Nagasaki officials. Details on their movements were still being sought, officials said. Authorities are also concerned about the potential rise in patients who require hospitalization, as an increase in domestic COVID-19 cases strain medical services around the country. Japan has seen more than 11,500 infections and close to 300 deaths from the new coronavirus, excluding figures from the Diamond Princess. To make room at hospitals for severely ill patients, some local governments have begun monitoring those with milder symptoms in hotels or at their homesa move that proved fatal for one man in his 50s in Saitama prefecture who died at home this week while waiting for a hospital bed. Asked about the mans death, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on Thursday the health ministry was working to find out how many COVID-19 patients were being monitored at home, and how many had died outside hospitals. On the Costa Atlantica, 48 positive cases have been found out of 127 people tested, for an infection rate of 38 percent. Those showing mild or no symptoms remain on board, and officials said they hoped to complete testing of all 623 crew this week. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has declared a nationwide state of emergency at least through May 6, asking schools and non-essential businesses to close for the duration. New cluster-like infections continue to be reported, including at hospitals. On Thursday, Toyama city determined that the infections of four children and a schoolteacher originated in the same classroom when the school briefly opened in early April, according to a Kyodo news report. Japans education ministry said there have been no clusters at schools so far, Kyodo said. By Kaori Kaneko and Chang-Ran Kim Web staff contributed to this report A slight chance of showers continues in the metro area through about noon Thursday, but Portland can expect partly sunny skies by afternoon. Rain could fall in the form of showers or drizzle depending on the location. Areas north of the Columbia River and in the Cascades will see more widespread showers through the day. Portlands high is expected to be 64 under partly sunny skies. A weak system approaching the coast Thursday evening could leave Portland with more drizzle or light rain early Friday, according to the National Weather Service. This disorganized system will keep the end of the week cloudy but a few degrees warmer, with the high expected to reach 67 under mostly cloudy skies. The "Allow Me" statue, also known as Umbrella Man, in downtown Portland's Pioneer Square wears a face mask on Tuesday, April 21, 2020. The Oregonian Central and eastern Oregon will see gusty winds Thursday. A stronger front moves into the metro area Saturday bringing back widespread rain. Chances for precipitation are 100%, but amounts shouldnt reach Wednesdays totals. Portland will have rain most of the day and a high near 63. Skies early Sunday will be cloudy but mostly dry, with the high expected in the mid60s. Another wet system is likely to move through Portland late Sunday night into Monday. The Jharkhand High Court has set aside a lower court order granting conditional bail to a person on payment of fine, saying a fine is a punitive measure that is imposed only when the guilt of an accused is proved and he is convicted of the charges framed against him. The bench of Justice Ananda Sen said that the lower courts order that the petitioner should pay a fine of Rs 60,000 as a condition for securing bail was not in accordance with law and liable to be set aside. The judge said, "Unless the guilt is proved and accused is convicted no punishment can be imposed, and fine, which is in fact sentence, cannot be awarded". The observation was made by Justice Sen while hearing a petition against the order, passed by the Judicial Commissioner, Ranchi, in which the petitioner was asked to deposit the fine in favour of the Excise department as a condition for grant of bail. Appearing for the petitioner, advocate Rahul Pandey had prayed to set aside part of the January 14 2020 order, pertaining to imposition of fine, for grant of bail in a 2019 case. The petitioner was accused of storing 106.2 litres of country-made and foreign liquor in his shop during raids by the department and was taken into custody. The petitioner had moved for regular bail before the Judicial Commissioner, Ranchi, which granted the bail with a condition that he should deposit the sum as fine in favour of the Excise department through e-challan. Aggrieved by the conditional bail, the petitioner approached the High Court, praying to set aside the condition. The petitioner submitted that the condition, which has been imposed, "is erroneous and fine cannot be imposed as a condition of bail...such conditions 'dehors' the provisions of law" and cited various sections of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Additional Public Prosecutor, Suraj Verma, submitted in detail that the court is well within its jurisdiction to impose any condition in lieu of grant of bail, contending that the court has the power to impose any condition for grant of bail and has not used its discretionary power in an arbitrary manner. Setting aside the conditional bail, Justice Sen in his order on Monday, said that a fine is a punitive measure that is imposed only when the guilt of the accused is proved and he is convicted of the charges framed against him. The judge also referred to the rulings of the Supreme Court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Azernews By Akbar Mammadov Armenia disrupts the negotiation process around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, presidential aide, head of the Presidential Administrations foreign policy department Hikmet Hajiyev, told Azertag on April 22. Hajiyev made the remarks while commenting on Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyans statement during the video conference with Elmar Mamamdyarov on April 21 that Yerevan will not withdraw troops from Azerbaijans occupied territories surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh as part of the phased resolution of the conflict. The Armenian Foreign Ministers statement nullifies the negotiation process to resolve the conflict under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group. Such destructive statements from Yerevan inflict a serious blow on the negotiation process and violate the negotiations. This is also a manifestation of disrespect for the co-chairs, Hajiyev said. Hajiyev stressed the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict must be resolved in stages on the basis of the Helsinki Final Act and resolutions of the UN Security Council. As part of the phased process, at the first stage, Armenian troops must be withdrawn from the occupied regions of Azerbaijan around Nagorno-Karabakh. Hajiyev noted that on the eve of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also spoke about a phased settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict. If Armenia wants to get out of the negotiation process with such statements, then it must openly recognize its position. Co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, in turn, must respond to Armenias statement, he emphasized. Hajiyev added that Bakus position on resolving the conflict does not change. The President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has repeatedly stated this. The conflict must be resolved within the framework of the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and on the basis of international law," he stressed. Lured by thriving tourism in his hometown Chongqing in Southwestern China, Li Yi last year used a big chunk of his savings to start a bed-and-breakfast business. But two weeks after his venture kicked off, Li's BnB overlooking the Yangtze River was hit by the coronavirus outbreak, which has killed nearly 4,700 people in China and infected tens of thousands more. After no income for two straight months, Li was more than excited to reopen his business in April -- but he soon realized another challenge lies ahead. "I knew the demand could be bad, but I didn't expect it to be this bad," Li said. In the first two weeks of this month only two out of 11 rooms were occupied, even with Li offering a 70% discount. The rooms were fully booked before the coronavirus crisis. "People in China are still afraid of going out," lamented the 38-year-old, who has let go of one cleaner and more than halved another's salary to the minimum 1,350 yuan ($190). "I think we will see a comeback in tourism next year in the best-case scenario." Li is hardly alone. Even though life is returning to normal in most Chinese cities, the suffering for hotels, restaurants, factories and many others is far from over, with many already going out of business. Owners like Li have tried to hang on by cutting salaries and laying off workers, but economists worry those self-rescue measures will create a vicious circle: As Chinese workers get paid less, they will spend less, weighing on the prospects for retailers, hoteliers, and other industries. At stake is Beijing's hopes of reviving the economy through domestic demand -- which had started to become more important as the government attempted to rebalance the economy. Consumption contributed to nearly 60% of China's growth last year as traditional engines such as investment and exports lost steam. Data on Friday revealed that in the first quarter of this year, China's economic output slid 6.8% compared with the same period of last year -- the first negative growth in nearly three decades. Chinese leaders blamed a monthslong lockdown as the country scrambled to curb the spread of the virus, and say a rebound is on the horizon. But the weeks of suspended economic activity, together with additional expenditures required to restart production, has already killed off many cash-strapped companies. The resulting job losses, income cuts and worries over a dim economic outlook are creating weak spots in China's demand for goods and services, leaving many fearing a longer-lasting downturn. "China now relies more heavily on domestic demand and household consumption -- the new pillars of its economy that have been hit hard amid the COVID-19 pandemic," said Bruce Pang, head of macro and strategy research at China Renaissance Securities in Hong Kong. Natixis in Hong Kong said: "The worst of the coronavirus contagion might have already passed in China, but the economy will still be under pressure as regards how to resume consumption demand, for which positive growth in disposable income will be needed." Jay Chan, a dentist in the southern Chinese city of Dongguan, knows this better than most. Patient numbers have been down more than 70% since his clinic was allowed to reopen in April. "Customers are reluctant to come unless it is something urgent. We are burning money every day," Chan said. The slower-than-expected recovery has forced him to trim three out of eight nurses' jobs. "We will have to let go more people if things do not improve in the next few months," said Chan, who is also tightening his belt. The father of three used to take his family on an overseas vacation twice a year, but this year he has no travel plans in mind even if the pandemic ends. "It is a very tough time and we are struggling," he said. Ye Zhenqing, a factory owner in Wenzhou in eastern China who exports sunglasses to Europe and the U.S., has also felt the pinch as nearly two-thirds of his orders were canceled amid the pandemic. Ye asked all 100 or so employees to take a 30% pay cut and work only half days, and paid compensation to 10 who agreed to quit. "I will keep the factory running until July. If the situation is not improved by then, I'll have to close the factory for three months," Ye said. Zhou Dewen, the chairman of the Small and Medium Business Development Association in Wenzhou, estimates that one out of five export-oriented factories in the city has gone bankrupt or frozen production. "The business closure could be worse than that during the global financial crisis in 2008," Zhou said. He expects many companies that have suspended operations may never come back. All this has taken a toll on China's job market. In March, the China Statistics Bureau reported an unemployment rate of 5.9%, an improvement from last month but still the second-worst since the monthly survey started in 2018. Compared with the annual unemployment rate, it is the second-worst since 1994. Even many lucky enough to keep their jobs have taken a hit from the coronavirus crisis. Xiao Yu, a businessman with four restaurants in Chongqing, did not fire any of his 80 employees but asked all to take a pay cut of as much as 50%. "We have no choice," Xiao said. "Even though we managed to reopen our restaurants earlier this month, fewer diners came in. The transaction volume is only half of what it used to be and we still cannot make ends meet." With many Chinese companies, big and small, taking similar measures, economists are painting a gloomy picture for the months ahead. "China's household debt has already climbed in recent years. With an uncertain future ahead, consumers could be more restrained in their spending, which is a problem for Chinese companies," said Pang at China Renaissance Securities. Mark Williams, chief Asia economist at market intelligence firm Capital Economics in London, said China's economic recovery was already showing signs of stalling because of low demand from consumers and companies. "Conditions won't necessarily get better just because people are returning to work. A lot of people have lost their jobs, or their employers have stopped paying them because their revenues have collapsed. If people are not spending, many more firms will go out of business over the next few weeks," he warned. "Depressed demand is going to be the key factor holding back the recovery over the next few months." To reboot domestic demand, government authorities in cities from Changchun in the north to Guangzhou in the south have offered five billion yuan ($704 million) in vouchers to encourage shopping, dining and traveling. In March, China's retail sales fell nearly 16% from a year ago, with merchant sales down 12% and revenue from restaurants almost halved. Pang remains cautious about the impact of these vouchers. "It will help boost consumption, but it may not be sufficient to turn the tide," he said. "After all, many people still do not feel safe to go out. Saving money or saving your life, which one is more important?" Li, the BnB owner in Chongqing, is equally worried. He already missed out on the Chinese Lunar New Year holiday, which traditionally accounts for one-quarter of annual revenue in the hospitality sector. With a sluggish recovery likely, Li said he has begun trimming his own spending, cutting out weekly restaurant and cinema trips. "I can't afford it anymore," he said. "Some believe we will see pent-up demand in the post-coronavirus era, but I think that is impossible. Everybody is struggling now. Who has the money to spend?" Nikkei Two cats in New York are first pets in US to test positive for COVID19. (Photo- FreePix) New York: Two cats in New York State have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, marking the first confirmed case of the COVID-19 infection in pets in the US, according to health authorities. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) said on Wednesday that the two cats, who live in separate areas of New York state, have become the first pets in the country to test positive for coronavirus. "These are the first pets in the United States to test positive," the two agencies said in a joint statement. The agencies said that both pets had mild respiratory illness and are expected to make a full recovery. COVID19 infections have been reported in very few animals worldwide and mostly in those that had close contact with a person with COVID-19. Even as public health officials are still learning about the virus, there is no evidence that pets play a role in spreading coronavirus to humans in the United States. Therefore, there is no justification in taking measures against companion animals that may compromise their welfare. Further studies are needed to understand if and how different animals, including pets, could be affected, the statement said. Routine testing of animals is not recommended at this time, it said, adding that if other animals are confirmed positive for coronavirus in the country, the USDA will post the findings. State animal health and public health officials will take the lead in making determinations about whether animals should be tested for SARS-CoV-2, the agencies said, using the virus's official name severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2'. The two agencies said that in the New York cases, a veterinarian had tested the first cat after it showed mild respiratory signs even though no individuals in the household were confirmed to be ill with COVID-19. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) considers coronavirus an emerging disease, and therefore USDA must report confirmed US animal infections to the OIE. According to estimates by Johns Hopkins University, more than 842,000 people in the US are infected with the virus and over 46,000 people have died in the country due to COVID19. New York, April 23 : Researchers have found that nearly all coronavirus (COVID-19) hospitalised patients placed on mechanical ventilators in New York's largest health system have died. For the findings, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the researchers examined the electronic health records of 5,700 patients hospitalised at Northwell Health, New York State's largest health system. Final outcomes were known for 2,634 patients. They found that about 20 per cent of COVID-19 patients treated at Northwell Health died, and 88 per cent of those placed on ventilators lost their lives. "To our knowledge, this study represents the first large case series of sequentially hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 in the US," study authors. This report describes the demographics, baseline comorbidities, presenting clinical tests, and outcomes of the first sequentially hospitalised patients with COVID-19 from an academic health care system in New York. In the study, the research team revealed that the most common comorbidities were hypertension (56.6 per cent), obesity (41.7 per cent), and diabetes (33.8 per cent). During hospitalisation, 373 patients (14.2 per cent) were treated in the intensive care unit care, 320 (12.2 per cent) received invasive mechanical ventilation, 81 (3.2 per cent) were treated with kidney replacement therapy, and 553 (21 per cent) died. Mortality for those requiring mechanical ventilation was 88.1, the researchers revealed. The median postdischarge follow-up time was 4.4 days and a total of 45 patients (2.2 per cent) were readmitted during the study period. "This study has several limitations. First, the study population only included patients within the New York metropolitan area. Second, the data were collected from the electronic health record database," the researchers noted. The US continues to be the worst affected, with 841,556 cases and 46,688 deaths, the highest tallies in the world. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 23, 2020 / Compare-autoinsurance.org (https://compare-autoinsurance.org/) is a top auto insurance brokerage website, providing car insurance quotes online from trustworthy agencies all over the United States. This website has recently launched a series of blog posts that provide more info about saving car insurance money during the pandemic. To find out more on this topic, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/coronavirus-car-insurance-tips-how-to-save-money-during-these-difficult-times Although many insurers are already offering refunds during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are other ways that can help drivers pay lower premiums. Drivers are still required to carry car insurance in 48 out of 50 states, even though millions of US drivers have cut down on driving and are following orders to stay home. As auto insurance claims decline along with traffic in a time of social distancing, drivers should contact their insurers regarding potential refunds in the coming months. Major car insurance companies such as Allstate, Geico, Nationwide, Progressive, and others have already committed to offering premium refunds. Although canceling the policy might be tempting during this crisis, drivers are advised to not do that to avoid paying a penalty. Instead, they can follow the next steps to lower their premiums: Drivers who drive less than usual should contact their insurers . One of the factors insurance companies use when calculating monthly premiums is the estimated annual mileage. If their policy is up for renewal, drivers should update their insurers about their lower mileage estimates. However, insurance companies have different methods of evaluating this factor and there is no guarantee that the premiums will be lowered. Especially during this time, when staying at home is enforced by authorities and laws. Drop unnecessary coverage. Drivers who own older cars with little value should avoid paying for unnecessary coverage like collision and comprehensive insurance. In this time of crisis, drivers should avoid paying more than the state's minim required insurance. Drivers who choose to suspend or totally cancel coverage must not drive the car while uninsured, otherwise, they risk hefty fines and a future premium increase. Exclude certain drivers from the policy. It is recommended to exclude teen drivers from a family plan while the national emergency is enforced. The schools and universities are closed and there are very few reasons why a teen will have to drive. Removing these drivers will significantly lower the premiums. Ask for financial assistance or flexible payment options. Some insurers will allow clients to partially pay their premiums, skip one or two payments or pay a sum of money they can afford. Story continues 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. "During this time of crisis, the insurance companies are helping their customers by offering refunds. However, drivers who are looking to save more money on their insurance can do that after making some wise decisions", said Russell R, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing Company Person for contact: Gurgu C Phone Number: (818) 359-3898 Email: cgurgu@internetmarketingcompany.biz Website: https://compare-autoinsurance.org/ SOURCE: Internet Marketing Company View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/586582/Auto-Insurance-During-Coronavirus-How-To-Save-Money Timberlane factory in Montgomeryville normally makes shutters but has hired 250 mostly parttime workers to add a line of plastic shields to combat coronavirus. Read more While factory and other shutdowns have thrown more than a million Pennsylvanians out of work, a Montgomeryville maker of architectural shutters has boosted hiring to serve its new business: clear-plastic shields for hospital workers, emergency responders and coronavirus patients. Timberlane has switched most of its 70 full-time workers, from joining wood and aluminum shutters to assembling the plastic shields at its 78,000-square-foot plant. The full face shield lists at $198.50 for 50 on the companys website. Founder Rick Skidmore has added a second shift, and hired 250 new workers, mostly part-timers, many of them people furloughed or laid off from other Montgomery County and Lehigh Valley employers. The company is advertising a wage of $15 an hour. Buyers include Main Line Health, Abington Hospital-Jefferson Health, and the Atlantic and Hackensack hospital systems in New Jersey, among others. At a time when tariffs, coronavirus shutdowns, and wrenching changes in supply patterns have made imports a challenge, Timberlane has been able to source its plastic to manufacturers in Maryland and Missouri, said Alyssa Puketza, the companys marketing director. A bigger challenge is finding enough workers to handle demand, she said. We are shipping all across the U.S.A. We are starting at 7 a.m., and we may add a third shift if they can find workers. Timberlane has been approved as an essential Pennsylvania manufacturer, a designation that has eluded some Pennsylvania woodworking firms. Skidmore says his people are making 175,000 shields a week, which he hopes to more than double. In a statement, he added that he doesnt expect to turn a profit on the shields, but is glad to keep workers employed and to make useful goods: We are trying to do our part in this crisis and were proud to contribute. Accel leads Guru funding Center City-based Guru Technologies, which makes information-management software to help customers such as Square and Spotify simplify the systems that keep businesses running across long distances, has raised $30 million from Silicon Valley venture capital investor Accel, an early Facebook backer, and a major funder of Philadelphias GoPuff and other tech companies that go national. Guru, cofounded by Rick Nucci and Mitch Stewart, employs about 150, up from 100 a year ago, and is still hiring. The firm raised a previous $25 million from a group led by the Kushner familys Thrive Capital in late 2018 and $9 million from FirstMark and Michael Dells MSD in 2017. MSD backed Nuccis earlier company Boomi before Dells firm bought it in 2010. Prior investors Thrive, MSD, FirstMark and Emergence Capital joined Accel in the new funding. Ballard Spahr partner Gregory L. Seltzer led the legal team that helped get the deal done. Accel managers Miles Clements and Ben Fletcher praised Nucci and Stewart in a blog post for "the character of [the Guru] team. We are in uncertain times, and Rick begins each of our conversations with, how are you, and hows your family? before going into painstaking business detail. He then sings karaoke with a new hire in Fishtown until 1 a.m. ... Guru is building the next big thing in collaboration software, and were excited to be a part of the journey. Sabre wins Navy deal Sabre Systems Inc. of Warrington says it has landed a $78 million, five-year NAVAIR (Naval Air Systems Command) Digital Department contract to provide technology acceleration and integration, information technology, information management and cyber security support services. Sabres job is to help Navy and Marine Corps pilots install and run automation, analysis and security software. CEO Glen Ives, who reports to founder and chairman Phil Jaurigue, called the contract a sign of the militarys continued confidence. Sabre is also adding workers to its staff of 425. The federal government will ban police and intelligence agents from accessing personal data collected by a new coronavirus tracing app, as it tries to persuade Australians to sign up. The app, due to be rolled out next week, will record the Bluetooth connections a phone makes with others to identify someone's contacts if they catch the virus. Huge privacy concerns have been raised, including the idea that police could use the app the work out where a suspect has been and who they have been near. Police confront a beachgoer on Sydney's Balmoral beach on 17 April Attorney General Christian Porter today confirmed the government will ban police from accessing the app's data. Pictured: Police at Bondi Beach But Attorney General Christian Porter today confirmed the government will ban police from accessing the app's data. This could be done by amending national security legislation to exclude the app from data access laws designed to help police catch terrorists and paedophiles. In a statement provided to Daily Mail Australia, Mr Porter said: 'Law enforcement agencies will not be provided access to information collected via the app. 'Specific regulatory action will be taken to prevent such access for law enforcement agencies at both the Commonwealth and state/territory level. 'Further details of this aspect of the app will provided when it is officially launched. However, the government has already made the decision not to make any information collected by the app available for other purposes, including law enforcement investigations. The federal government will ban police and intelligence agencies from accessing information on the new coronavirus contact tracing app. Pictured: Police at the Ruby Princess ship Singapore is using the TraceTogether app (pictured) to help track the spread of the disease. Australia has been given the code to develop the surveillance software 'This action is being taken to assure Australians that the app will only be used for the purpose intended to help keep Australians safe. It will be a vital tool in identifying close contacts of people who contract the coronavirus and so help limit the spread of the virus.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison today confirmed that Commonwealth government will not have access to the data. He said: 'The information that is collected from that app goes into a national data store that is fully encrypted and the Commonwealth government has no access whatsoever to the information into that data store. None. Zero. Zip. Nothing.' Earlier this week government Services Minister Stuart Robert said the app will not collect data on a person's location. He said: 'All it will tell me is that you and I were in, for 15 minutes or more, 1.5 metres in proximity to each other. 'It won't tell us where, because that's irrelevant, or what you're doing. We don't care where you are or what you're doing.' Mr Robert explained that the data would stay on someone's phone and would only be sent to health officials if they tested positive for coronavirus. Users of the TraceTogether app (pictured), which is now being developed in Australia, uses Bluetooth technology to track people The app, due to be rolled out next week, will record the Bluetooth connections a phone makes with others to identify someone's contacts if they catch the virus. Pictured: Mock-up photo The Attorney general's announcement came after campaigners told Daily Mail Australia that privacy concerns must be addressed. The Australian Council for Civil Liberties President Terry O'Gorman said: 'The only way that people are going to be prepared to take up the app is if there is 100 per cent, legislated guarantee that no one, other than the health agencies for the purposes of tracing, can get access to that material under any circumstances whatsoever.' The government has also commissioned an independent privacy assessment in a bid to soothe concerns. 'We are going to have protections for the privacy and security information like nothing that there has ever been,' Mr Porter said. The app, modelled on the TraceTogether being used in Singapore, promises to speed up tracing to defeat the pandemic faster and lift restrictions. For the scheme to be efficient, Australian health authorities estimate it would need to be used by 40 per cent of the population. In Singapore, only 20 per cent of the population has adopted TraceTogether. SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of - With North Korea saying nothing so far about outside media reports that leader Kim Jong Un may be unwell, theres renewed worry about whos next in line to run a nuclear-armed country thats been ruled by the same family for seven decades. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 22/4/2020 (630 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. FILE - In this undated file photo provided by the North Korean government on April 12, 2020, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects inspects an air defense unit in western area, North Korea. The South Korean government is looking into reports that North Korean leader Kim is in fragile condition after surgery. Officials from South Koreas Unification Ministry and National Intelligence Service couldnt immediately confirm the reports citing an anonymous U.S. official who said Kim was in grave danger. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of - With North Korea saying nothing so far about outside media reports that leader Kim Jong Un may be unwell, theres renewed worry about whos next in line to run a nuclear-armed country thats been ruled by the same family for seven decades. Questions about Kims health flared after he skipped an April 15 commemoration of the 108th birthday of his grandfather, North Korea founder Kim Il Sung. Its North Koreas most important event, and Kim, 36, hadnt missed it since inheriting power from his father in late 2011. North Koreas state media on Wednesday said Kim sent a message thanking Syria's president for conveying greetings on his grandfather's birthday, but didnt report any other activities, while rival South Korea repeated that no unusual developments had been detected in the North. Kim has been out of the public eye for extended periods in the past, and North Koreas secretive nature allows few outsiders to assert confidently whether he might be unwell, let alone incapacitated. Still, questions about the Norths political future are likely to grow if he fails to attend upcoming public events. FILE - In this June 12, 2018, file photo, North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, center left, and U.S. President Donald Trump, center right, prepare to sign a document at the Capella resort on Sentosa Island in Singapore. At the last minute, Kim's sister, Kim Yo-jong, far left, provided a pen of her own for his use. Kim Jong Un's disappearance from the public eye is raising speculation about not only his health but also about who's next in line to run North Korea if anything happens to the leader. Some experts say his sister and close associate Kim Yo Jong is most likely since North Korea has been ruled by the Kim family for seven decades. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) Kim is the third generation of his family to rule North Korea, and a strong personality cult has been built around him, his father and grandfather. The familys mythical "Paektu" bloodline, named after the highest peak on the Korean Peninsula, is said to give only direct family members the right to rule the nation. That makes Kims younger sister, senior ruling party official Kim Yo Jong, the most likely candidate to step in if her brother is gravely ill, incapacitated or dies. But some experts say a collective leadership, which could end the familys dynastic rule, could also be possible. "Among the Norths power elite, Kim Yo Jong has the highest chance to inherit power, and I think that possibility is more than 90%," said analyst Cheong Seong-Chang at the private Sejong Institute in South Korea. "North Korea is like a dynasty, and we can view the Paektu descent as royal blood so its unlikely for anyone to raise any issue over Kim Yo Jong taking power." Believed to be in her early 30s, Kim Yo Jong is in charge of North Koreas propaganda affairs, and earlier this month was made an alternate member of the powerful Politburo. She has frequently appeared with her brother at public activities, standing out among elderly male officials. She accompanied Kim Jong Un on his high-stakes summits with President Donald Trump and other world leaders. Her proximity to him during those summits led many outsiders to believe shes essentially North Koreas No. 2 official. "I think the basic assumption would be that maybe it would be someone in the family" to replace Kim Jong Un, U.S. national security adviser Robert OBrien told reporters Tuesday. "But again, its too early to talk about that because we just dont know, you know, what condition Chairman Kim is in and well have to see how it plays out." 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 fact that North Korea is an extremely patriarchal society has led some to wonder if Kim Yo Jong would only serve as a temporary figurehead and then be replaced by a collective leadership similar to ones established after the deaths of other Communist dictators. "North Korean politics and the three hereditary power transfers have been male-centred. I wonder whether she can really overcome bloody socialist power struggles and exercise her power," said Nam Sung-wook, a professor at Korea University in South Korea. A collective leadership would likely be headed by Choe Ryong Hae, North Koreas ceremonial head of state who officially ranks No. 2 in the countrys current power hierarchy, Nam said. But Choe is still not a Kim family member, and that could raise questions about his legitimacy and put North Korea into deeper political chaos, according to other observers. Other Kim family members who might take over include Kim Pyong Il, the 65-year-old half-brother of Kim Jong Il who reportedly returned home in November after decades in Europe as a diplomat. Kim Pyong Ils age "could make him a reasonable front man for collective leadership by the State Affairs Commission and regent for the preferred next generation successor," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. "However, elite power dynamics and danger of instability might make this an unlikely option." By Douglas Busvine and Andreas Rinke BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany has chosen a home-grown technology for smartphone-based tracing of coronavirus infections, putting it at odds with Apple which has refused on privacy grounds to support the necessary short-range communication on iPhones. The government has told lawmakers it has chosen a design developed for the Robert Koch Institute - the agency leading Germany's coronavirus health response - that would hold personal data on a central server. Countries around the world are rushing to launch digital contact tracing apps to identify who an infected person has had contact with as part of efforts to slow the spread of the pandemic. In Europe, governments want to use Bluetooth 'handshakes' between devices as a way to measure the risk of infection, but approaches differ as to whether such contacts should be logged on devices or on a central server. Germany, lawmakers told Reuters, has backed the centralised platform developed by the Pan-European Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing (PEPP-PT) consortium and an app built by one of its members, the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute. "This solution requires the central storage of anonymised data, but represents a workable approach in terms of data protection and security," said Tankred Schipanski, digital affairs spokesman of Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives. Apple has, however, refused to allow such apps to monitor Bluetooth while running in the background. Apple and Alphabet's Google have proposed tweaks that would best support device-based, decentralised apps. "The chancellery is in talks with Apple but so far no solution is in sight," opposition lawmaker Anke Domscheit-Berg said after parliament's digital affairs committee was briefed by a government representative on Wednesday. EUROPEAN SCHISM Ideally, such national contact tracing apps would be interoperable, enabling them to 'talk' to each other across borders and making it possible to lift restrictions on travel that have crushed economic activity. Story continues But Europe has split into two camps with Germany, France, Italy and Britain backing centralised solutions. France has clashed with Apple over Bluetooth tracking while Thierry Breton, the European Union's industry chief, has told Apple CEO Tim Cook that apps being developed by governments should work on its devices. Leaders of the expert community have, meanwhile, come out strongly against a centralised approach, with 300 scientists signing an open letter this week that said it "would allow unprecedented surveillance of society at large". An alternative, decentralised protocol developed called Decentralised Privacy-Preserving Proximity Tracing (DP-3T https://github.com/DP-3T/documents/blob/master/DP3T%20White%20Paper.pdf) will be used for a Swiss app and may be adopted by Austria, whose Stopp Corona app has been downloaded 400,000 times. (Editing by Timothy Heritage) Two alleged former Syrian intelligence officers went on trial in Germany on Thursday accused of crimes against humanity in the first court case worldwide over state-sponsored torture by Bashar al-Assads regime. Prime suspect Anwar Raslan, an alleged former colonel in Syrian state security, stands accused of carrying out crimes against humanity while in charge of the Al-Khatib detention centre in Damascus. The 57-year-old, who appeared in the dock wearing glasses and a moustache, is charged with overseeing the murder of 58 people and the torture of 4,000 others at the prison between April 29, 2011 and September 7, 2012. Raslan remained expressionless as prosecutors listed the gruesome details of the torture he allegedly oversaw, which included electric shocks, beatings with fists, wires and whips and sleep deprivation. Fellow defendant Eyad al-Gharib, 43, is accused of being an accomplice to crimes against humanity, having helped to arrest protesters and deliver them to Al-Khatib in the autumn of 2011. He appeared before the court in a hoodie, his face partially covered by a mask. Like hundreds of thousands of other Syrians, the two men fled their country and applied for asylum in Germany, where they were arrested in February 2019. They both declined to speak before the court, although Raslans lawyer said he would give a written statement shortly. Stark warning This trial is the first occasion on which (victims) are speaking out not only in public, but before a court about what happened to them and what is still happening in Syria, said Wolfgang Kaleck, founder of the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR), a Berlin-based legal group supporting the plaintiffs. Raslan and Gharib are being tried on the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows a foreign country to prosecute crimes against humanity. This is the only way to bring the perpetrators of Syrian state crimes to justice, as the International Criminal Court is hamstrung by vetoes from Russia and China, the ECCHR claimed. The case in Koblenz should serve as a stark warning to those who are currently committing abuses in Syria that no one is beyond the reach of justice, Human Rights Watch said in a statement. Inhumane During the trial, held under high security and due to last until at least August, the court is expected to hear testimony from victims who survived imprisonment at Al-Khatib, before later escaping to Europe. On Thursday, the court heard an account of the appalling horrors suffered by 24 former Al-Khatib inmates, many of whom were arrested for taking part in pro-democracy demonstrations during the Arab Spring in 2011. Speaking from behind a sheet of plexiglass due to the coronavirus pandemic, public prosecutor Jasper Klinge said Raslan knew the extent of the torture which took place in order to extract confessions and information about the (Syrian) opposition. He said prisoners were murdered under (Raslans) direction and responsibility and described inhumane conditions, with 140 people crammed into cells of just 50 square metres in incredible heat. The prosecutor also referred to a woman who was subjected to electric shocks and raped during interrogation after her arrest in Damascus in May 2011. Several co-plaintiffs in the trial expressed their hope of finally seeing justice for such crimes. Its the first time I have experienced a fair trial. We want to reveal the truth about torture in Syria, which is still going on today, said former Al-Khatib prisoner Hussein Ghrer. This trial is also important for those who are still in prison or who have died, in order to restore their dignity, added fellow victim Wassim Mukdad. Some have suggested that Raslan, who faces life imprisonment if convicted, was not just a pawn of the regime, noting that he reportedly defected to the opposition in 2012 before arriving in Germany two years later. Yet ECCHRs Kaleck insists that he was not any old prison guard, but rather someone who, according to prosecutors, had a position of authority in the apparatus of the Syrian state. According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group, at least 60,000 people have been killed under torture or as a result of the terrible conditions in Assads detention centres. An irate Ohio man ranted that the COVID-19 lockdown is a government conspiracy, but he contracted the coronavirus and passed away from it. In his rants, he called the coronavirus as a political ploy. He said that the ruling officials cannot close down, and that they did not have the authority to do so. With protests going on everyone, it is apparent that the lockdowns displeased many Americans. Tragically, John W. McDaniel tested positive as he got the virus in late March. He passed away in the Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus last Wednesday. Just to show how the virus has affected everyone. According to him on one of his rants, the virus was a means that officials have an excuse to declare policies that were not pro-public. In a post dated March 13, he said: "Does anybody have the guts to say this COVID19 is a political ploy? Asking for a friend. Prove me wrong." In a later post, he added, "Governors did not have the authority to shut down bars and that anyone who was worried about becoming sick should just not go out." Few information is known aobut McDaniel with regards to his condition health-wise. Whether some condition was overlooked that led to getting deceased, it is not know as of this writing. One obituary mentioned that he survived cancer in the '80s. His death left his wife widowed with two sons, but no reports were filed if any of his family were afflicted by the COVID-19. McDaniel was the CEO of his company that specialized in industrial manufacture and could have been affected negatively by the pandemic. He is just one of many deaths in America, as the administration is at odds with the public who are unravelling from the pressure of lockdowns. Also read: America Reopening Next Month But Dr. Fauci Said Possible Rebound in 'Coronavirus Outbreaks' Expected Some states with fewer cases are more inclined to kickstart the opening of their areas. But New York is the center of the COVID-19 pandemic with more deaths than other states. More aspects need to be considered before New York can open again and raise lockdown measures. Health official were sympathetic to the loss of McDaniel's family and sent their condolences to them. Compared to Washington state and NYC, Ohio is more fortunate that it only has 12,516 cases and 491 deaths reported. Compared to other stricken states, those in Ohio feel that getting their local economies rolling is a greater need than the current pandemic. It should be noted that the majority of the cases were in the prison's convict population. Stay at home orders were met by protesting citizens who wanted none of it. McDaniel is the first death from COVID-19 in his county. Later, Marion Public Health Commissioner Traci Kinsler said in an official release, last Wednesday," On behalf of the entire Marion County community, we express our deepest sympathies to his family and friends." An official announcement by Governor DeWine stated that all schools in Ohio state will be closed for the whole year and classes will be online. He appealed to protesters to keep social distancing and expressed respect for the predicament existing now. In a tweet, DeWine wrote last Monday,"We've won a battle, we've done well, but #COVID19 is still out there and most Ohioans are still susceptible to it. The spread concern is still as strong today as it was a month ago." Related article: COVID-19 Has 'Stabilized,' CDC Director Says U.S. May Soon Be Ready to Reopen the Country @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Natural News) The coronavirus (COVID-19) may have currently infected over 830,000 Americans and caused 45,638 deaths, but that wont stop corporations from making sure they come out on top even if it means taking money meant for smaller businesses. Case in point: Big restaurant chains like Shake Shack, Potbelly and Ruths Chris Steak House walk away with tens of millions of dollars, while mom-and-pop places and other smaller restaurants are left with nothing, thanks to a single paragraph in the recently passed Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. With these establishments left out of the new law, ironically dubbed the CARES Act, theyre left with a slim chance of surviving the economic onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey by the James Beard Foundation and the Independent Restaurant Coalition revealed that over 80 percent of independent restaurant owners who participated said that the CARES Act and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which provides loans to small businesses to cover eight weeks of salaries, cant save them. The move has caused widespread outrage among independent owners. Many small and vibrant restaurants will collapse in the wake of the pandemic, leaving big chains behind and employees from over 60 percent of local restaurants unemployed, according to a survey by the National Restaurant Association. The big guys get bailed out, and the little guys dont, said Danny Abrams. He just recently laid off all 310 of his employees across six restaurants he owns in New York. Listen below as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about how the COVID-19 pandemic could signal the start of an economic collapse. Gaming the system Shake Shack a publicly traded company with 189 outlets and over 8,000 employees in the country announced on Sunday that it would return the $10 million loan it got from the federal coronavirus aid program, saying the PPP had been carried out unevenly. Still, the companys move might have come too late, with the program running out of funds last week, leaving many restaurants and small businesses grasping for a lifeline. This was the case for John DiBella, owner of the watering hole PJ Carneys, as he applied for funding the same day that the program began accepting applications but got nothing. Shake Shack got the money; they just opted to return it, he said. I would like to have that option. The restaurant industry is among the hardest-hit industries by the pandemic, reporting $30 billion in losses in March. Many in the industry are steeling for even bigger figures, with a projected $50 billion in losses in April and a whopping $240 billion loss by the end of the year. With small business owners taking the brunt of the losses, many are concerned that a fine print in the newly enacted law has ended up helping large chains. Buried deep in the nearly 900-page stimulus package is a section that lists which businesses qualify for the loan. In particular, businesses with less than 500 people are eligible for the loan, provided they do not lay off workers or, if they decide to furlough them, rehire them by June 30. That provision looks great, except for a crafty subsection that says restaurant and hotel chains with no more than 500 employees per physical location are also eligible for the loan a provision lobbied by restaurant and hotel trade associations. This meant that Potbelly, a chain of 400 restaurants, was able to get $10 million from the coronavirus relief program. The parent company of Ruths Chris Steak House, Ruths Hospitality, a company that employs more than 5,000 workers in over 150 locations in the country, nabbed $20 million by seeking loans for two separate subsidiaries. Its worth noting that the company made $24 million in profit on $468 million in revenue last year and that it has furloughed a significant number of field and home office team members. To add to their trouble, fast-food companies have also given their franchisees a leg up, employing franchisee liquidity teams to walk owners through the loan application process. (Related: Massive fraud alert: Coronavirus recovery bill gives Fed control over $450 billion in SECRET whos going to get this money?) The CARES Act is several hundred pages. These are complicated, technical regulations, explained Jose Cil, CEO of Restaurant Brands International, which owns Burger King and Popeyes. So our teams are quickly becoming expert at that. For Abrams, the scenario feels eerily similar to what he experienced during the 2008 financial crisis, when the federal government stepped in and bailed out big banks and left small businesses languishing. It felt a little bit like deja vu, he said. Learn more about the latest about the economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak at NewsTarget.com. Sources include: Coronavirus.JHU.edu NYTimes.com MarketWatch.com WSJ.com CNBC.com Assets.DocumentCloud.org GQ.com Extraction Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Randeep Hooda, Rudraksh Jaiswal, Priyanshu Painyuli, Pankaj Tripathi Director: Sam Hargrave A couple of big names from the Marvel Cinematic Universe were involved with Extraction, earlier called Dhaka, and thus it was likely to be high on action. However, imaginatively choreographed action scenes have come with an old caveat that it takes a white Australian mercenary to pull a poor South East Asian kid out of a death trap. You know whats funnier? That there is an equally capable and trigger-happy Indian guy, whose character is almost as cynical as the white saviour, playing second fiddle despite knowing the terrains better than our Western friend. Anyway, more about it later. First the basic storyline. Ovi (Rudhraksh Jaiswal), the teenage son of an Indian drug lord, played by Pankaj Tripathi, is kidnapped and kept in Dhaka on the orders of Bangladeshs own Pablo Escobar Asif (Priyanshu Painyuli). Saju (Randeep Hooda), under pressure from Ovis father, decides to seek help from a foreign mercenary Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth), but the rescue mission is tougher than what he imagined initially. With a customary welcome to Dhaka dialogue, director Sam Hargrave makes us visit the illegal drug trafficking scene in Bangladesh a la City of God, but the scenes get a lift only after Painyuli arrives. The contrast between his calmness and menacing actions works in his favour, but by then Hemsworth has already killed half of the most crowded street of Dhaka. Read: Maska Movie Review Read: Money Heist Season 4 Review Truth be told, his only mission seems to be playing PUBG, only with real people. If he threatened Painyuli of dire consequences by gunning down only half a dozen guards, he would have happily released the kid. Why mess with such an irrational guy! After a while, it seems we are trapped in between two sides whose only motive is to kill more people. There are choppers crossing international borders and waters without any hesitation and qualms. The security forces are openly facilitating the criminals without worrying much about the international relations. On second thoughts, Extraction is a template kind-hearted mercenary film. All the typical tropes of such films are there. Hemsworth has a predictable backstory that he would cry over during his hideout interaction with the kidnapped boy. He is, of course, doing it to avoid the ghosts of his past and not money. And to top it all, there is another white friend from his past at the centre of action. Everybody needs help after all. We have seen similar films, both in Hollywood and Hindi. The only point at which Extraction, which has screenplay by Joe Russo, could have redeemed itself was in hand to hand combat scenes. Thankfully, those scenes work. The emotional quotient of the film definitely needs a hike. Most of the primary actors appear to be working in isolation. For example, Randeep Hoodas character required a lot more depth but it has been compromised in order to kill more people during a sad bridge battle focusing on Hemsworths hot headedness. Rudhraksh Jaiswals innocence is perceptible, but everything from his name to the heavy-duty dialogues given to him screams of detached writing. Had the little boy not been a good actor, it could have been a disaster in making. Coming back to Painyuli, for the sincerely charming actor of Bhavesh Joshi Superhero and Upstarts, its a chance that he grabbed with both hands. For every faltering Hargrave move, he turns out to be a cushion in the know-how of the proceedings. Sam Hargrave, stunt coordinator of Captain America-Civil War and Avengers-Endgame, faces the dilemma of choosing between hardcore action and emotional support till Hemsworth decides to go all out with his bazookas and rocket launchers. For a 117-minute film, there are too many distractions in Extraction that forces the audience to look away and not appreciate Hemworths world famous handsomeness. Rating: 2/5 Interaction with Rohit Vats at Twitter/@nawabjha Detroit Nets $23 Million Digital Inclusion Investment FBI Warns of Online Scams Amid Crisis As discussion about when and how to essentially re-open society in America continues, states have started to build apps to track the spread of COVID-19. Utah, North Dakota and South Dakota are three such states.Utah has contracted with Twenty , a mobile app developer, to launch the Healthy Together app . Currently in beta, the way the Healthy Together app works is that it both disseminates information about illness and also tracks the movements of those who use it. The second part is so that if an individual later gets sick, health-care workers can see where theyve crossed paths with other users, potentially identifying the spread of the virus.Users must elect whether to share data with the app and health-care workers, and the data that they do share is only visible to health-care workers, rather than users of the app or other agencies. As the information page for the app notes, users own their data on this app and they can elect to erase it at any time. Both location data as well as any symptom data that users share is automatically deleted after 30 days.North Dakota, meanwhile, has created a similar app called Care19 . To do so, North Dakota worked in partnership with ProudCrowd, which also created the states Bison Track app. The way that Care19 works is that users download it, and they get a random ID number so that the app can anonymously cache their location data throughout a given day. Users are at the same time encouraged to categorize where theyre going into groups like work, school or groceries. The app only stores that location data for 10 minutes.If an app user later tests positive for COVID-19, they can then voluntarily share their data with North Dakotas Department of Health in order to do the contact tracing that public health experts say is key to stopping the spread of the virus.In addition, South Dakota has also adapted use of the Care19 app.This kind of tracking app construction has become a major area of focus during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, with prominent entities from the private sector and academia, such as Apple, Google, and MIT, trying to build the best solution. Earlier this week, a researcher at MIT who is working on one such product told Government Technology that his team is in discussion with 15 cities in the U.S. as well as 20 international governments.Experts involved with the work have also toldthat successfully accomplishing contact tracing is likely to be a team effort, one that combines private-sector tech expertise with governments ability to legitimize and disseminate emergency response solutions to its constituents.Detroit has announced a new $23 million digital inclusion investment aimed primarily at helping more students access technology and the Internet with the donation coming from a coalition of the citys leading businesses and philanthropic groups.Detroit announced the massive digital equity windfall Thursday, with the donation coming as part of a new program called Connected Futures. The end goal of this work and this donation is to get a tablet with high-speed Internet connectivity as well as technical support for every public school student in the city by the summer. Of the money, $17 million is slated to go toward tablets with educational programs already installed, while $6 million will go toward free access to the Internet.In a press release , city officials described todays donation as the first step in addressing digital inequity within the City of Detroit. Getting the citys students connected became an urgent priority after COVID-19 forced schools to close and children to stay home. Like other school districts across the country, Detroit looked to transition to digital learning. A problem for the city, however, was that its school district estimated that as much as 90 percent of students dont have access to a device or the Internet at home.This new program will get students devices, along with six months of Internet connectivity, fully paid for, before the program looks to transition to low-cost, hard-wired connections for students on a long-term basis. The companies and groups that worked together to make all this possible include DTE Energy, Skillman Foundation, Quicken Loans, the Detroit Public Schools Community District and the city. Roughly 51,000 students will be affected.Like most digital equity programs for students, this one stands to benefit the community beyond the youth as well. Having Internet at home with devices and the support to use them will enable parents to potentially apply for jobs online, take advantage of digital public services, and access much of the rest of our increasingly digital society.What makes this effort especially noteworthy is the timeline in which it was completed a timeline that extends back roughly three weeks with leadership at the involved organizations moving quickly after determining the importance of getting students connected. Work had long been underway in Detroit as well as in the rest of the country to bridge the digital divide for students and adults by getting access to the Internet in public spaces such as libraries or schools. The crisis, however, made tangible reasons why connectivity is so crucial at home.In fact, in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, digital equity advocates and government officials that work in the broadband and digital inclusion space said a reinvigorated interest in supporting their work had taken hold across sectors. What happened today in Detroit is the first major effort to grow from that interest, and city officials there are hopeful that it will be a lasting turning point in digital inclusion for the community. Indeed, plans are already underway by the same group to potentially execute a similar program on behalf of the citys 36,000 charter school students as well.The organizations and agencies that came together to make all this happen have also created a committee to oversee the work in the long term, noting in the announcement that it will continue to track key data points and address any problem areas that arise for the new program.When we look back to this time in 10 years, we will see that this moment changed the trajectory of education in our city, said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan in a press release. We have risen to the challenge of this pandemic and found a way to forge something positive for our children. This will be a defining moment of pride in Detroit for many, many years.The FBI is warning of online scams related to the COVID-19 crisis.In a tweet , the FBI noted that scammers are using COVID-19 to steal money. Anyone looking to donate money to causes related to the pandemic is encouraged to do your homework on related charity and crowdfunding sites, and, if possible, only donate to known and trusted charities that arent using any intermediaries. The FBI also noted that donations via cash, gift card purchase or wire transfer are all discouraged.If individuals believe they have been scammed, they can report it via filing a report at http://ic3.gov The world inched toward a new phase in the coronavirus crisis on Thursday, as some countries like Vietnam and New Zealand with few new cases moved toward ending their pandemic shutdowns while others like Singapore and Japan were doubling down on measures to prevent a surge in infections. Like the US, many countries are moving from crisis mode to figuring out how to live with the virus by modifying pre-pandemic routines with precautions, more testing and containment of flare-ups, mindful of the potential for future waves of the virus. Authorities in the capital of Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim majority nation, extended to May 22 strict disease-fighting restrictions with the approach of the month-long Ramzan fasting season, which begins with the new moon this week. With traditional, communal meals for the poor, large fast-breaking dinners with family and friends and cultural events after sunset cancelled, the world's 1.8 billion Muslims find themselves cut off from much of what makes the month special as authorities fight the pandemic. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Muslims to "focus on our common enemy the virus", and repeated an earlier appeal for an immediate cease-fire for all conflicts. In a separate message, he urged countries to provide equitable help to all, saying the pandemic was "a human crisis that is fast becoming a human rights crisis". Some leaders are using the crisis as a pretext for repressive measures, Guterres said. "The message is clear: People and their rights must be front and centre," he said. The United Nations has warned that tens of millions of people risk starvation as the coronavirus pandemic, a plague of locusts in Africa and other disruptions prevent food from reaching the world's most vulnerable populations in places like Yemen and South Sudan. A report released on Wednesday estimated that at least 135 million people are at acute risk of starvation due to conflicts and other factors. The report was compiled before shutdowns, border closures and freezes on transport activities began disrupting food supplies. In response, the EU pledged 20 billion euros (USD 22 billion) for helping bridge such disruptions to provide help to vulnerable communities in Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East, parts of Asia and Latin America. While some parts of the world are just beginning to grapple with the pandemic, in China authorities reported no new deaths and just 10 new cases on Thursday. The number of people hospitalised dropped to 959, with 63 considered serious cases. As new cases drop close to zero, China has re-opened many businesses. Middle and high school seniors preparing for exams are returning to classes. But a ban on foreign arrivals and strict quarantine measures remain in place to prevent an influx of new cases from abroad or fresh infections among those thought to have recovered or who had no symptoms but could still be spreading the virus. Neighbouring Vietnam, which moved quickly to close its borders and trace coronavirus cases, has reported no new cases in the past three days and is preparing to loosen restrictions. New Zealand, which announced just three new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday, remained on strict lockdown, with 1,451 confirmed cases and 16 deaths, but was preparing to ease limits next month. But the virus continues to pop up unexpectedly. Singapore has been reporting hundreds of new cases each day, many traced to crowded migrant worker dormitories. Japanese officials on Thursday said 14 more crew members on an Italian-operated cruise ship docked in southern Japan tested positive for the coronavirus, raising the breakout on board to 48. The Costa Atlantica has been docked in Nagasaki with 623 crew members and no passengers since late January for repairs and maintenance. One crew member is hospitalized and on a ventilator, Nagasaki officials said. Other infected crew members are quarantined in single rooms, and officials planned to test all by Friday. Officials are investigating how the virus could have got on board after discovering the first known case in a crew member who tested positive after developing a cough and fever. An earlier outbreak aboard the US-operated Diamond Princess cruise ship, which was quarantined offshore of Yokohama for weeks, resulted in more than 700 cases among its 3,700 passengers and crew. Separately, Japan has about 12,000 cases, with 300 deaths. The global outbreak of coronavirus has infected more than 2.6 million people and killed about 183,000, including more than 45,000 in the United States, according to a tally compiled by John Hopkins University from official government figures. The true numbers are believed to be far higher, and most people infected suffer from only mild or moderate symptoms and survive. But the crushing death toll of the pandemic has left many people understandably cautious and it will likely take weeks, even months, for people to regain confidence and resume normal activities. Future waves of outbreaks could reverse any gains in the interim, Dr Robert Blendon, a Harvard professor of health policy and political analysis said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The President had given his assent for promulgation of the ordinance on Wednesday hours after the Union Cabinet approved it New Delhi: An ordinance that makes acts of violence against healthcare personnel or damage to property during an epidemic a cognizable and non-bailable offence has come into effect. The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 amends the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and provides for compensation for injury to healthcare service personnel or for causing damage or loss to property. The President had given his assent for promulgation of the ordinance on Wednesday hours after the Union Cabinet approved it. The ordinance was issued on Wednesday night and came into force "at once". According to the ordinance, commission or abetment of such acts of violence is punishable with an imprisonment for a term of three months to five years, and with fine of Rs 50,000 to Rs 2,00,000. In case of causing grievous hurt, imprisonment shall be for a term six months to seven years and with fine of Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 5,00,000. In addition, the offender will also be liable to pay compensation to the victim and twice the fair market value for damage of property as determined by the court. The ordinance is intended to ensure that during any situation akin to the current pandemic, there is zero tolerance to any form of violence against healthcare service personnel and damage to property, the Health Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.. "... some incidents of violence have taken place which has demoralized the medical fraternity. It is felt that separate and most stringent provisions for emergent times are needed to act as effective deterrents to any such incidents of violence," the ministry had said. Violence as defined in the ordinance includes harassment impacting the living or working conditions of such healthcare service personnel and preventing them from discharging duties. It also includes harm, injury, hurt, intimidation or danger to the life of such healthcare personnel either within the premises of a clinical establishment or otherwise and damage to any property or documents. The penal provisions can be invoked in instances of damage to property including a clinical establishment, any facility identified for quarantine and isolation of patients, mobile medical units and any other property in which the healthcare service personnel have direct interest in relation to the epidemic. Offences will be investigated by an officer of the rank of inspector within a period of 30 days, and trial has to be completed in one year, unless extended by the court for reasons to be recorded in writing. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been instances of the most critical service providers being targeted and attacked by miscreants, thereby obstructing them from doing their duties. "This has led to cases of their stigmatization and ostracization and sometimes worse, acts of unwarranted violence and harassment. Such a situation tends to hamper the medical community from performing their duties to their optimum best and maintaining their morale, which is a critical need in this hour of national health crisis. "While healthcare service personnel are duty bound to serve without discrimination, the cooperation and sup Worried over the continuing violent attacks on doctors and other frontline healthcare workers across the country, the Centre approved an ordinance making such incidents cognisable and non-bailable offences, with those found guilty facing up to seven years in prison. The Union Cabinet approved the promulgation of an ordinance to amend the Epidemic Diseases Act 1897 making such acts of violence cognisable and non-bailable offences, and to provide compensation for injury to healthcare service personnel or for causing damage or loss to property. After reports of several incidents where nurses and doctors on Covid-19 duty were discriminated against or physically attacked, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) had put a lot of pressure on the government to act to protect medical practitioners. The President had given his assent for promulgation of the ordinance on Wednesday hours after the Union Cabinet approved it. The ordinance was issued on Wednesday night and came into force "at once". What does the ordinance state and which offence invites what punishment? Read on to know... Violence as defined in the ordinance includes harassment impacting the living or working conditions of such healthcare service personnel and preventing them from discharging duties. It also includes harm, injury, hurt, intimidation or danger to the life of such healthcare personnel either within the premises of a clinical establishment or otherwise and damage to any property or documents. The penal provisions can be invoked in instances of damage to property including a clinical establishment, any facility identified for quarantine and isolation of patients, mobile medical units and any other property in which the healthcare service personnel have direct interest in relation to the epidemic. Who will investigate the matter? Offences will be investigated by an officer of the rank of inspector within a period of 30 days, and trial has to be completed in one year, unless extended by the court for reasons to be recorded in writing. According to the ordinance, commission or abetment of such acts of violence is punishable with an imprisonment for a term of three months to five years, and with fine of Rs 50,000 to Rs 2,00,000. In case of causing grievous hurt, imprisonment shall be for a term six months to seven years and with fine of Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 5,00,000. In addition, the offender will also be liable to pay compensation to the victim and twice the fair market value for damage of property as determined by the court. After a meeting through video link with Union home minister Amit Shah earlier in the day, the IMA called off its proposed white alert and black day protests planned for Wednesday and Thursday. In two successive tweets, Mr Shah said the safety and dignity of our doctors at their workplace is non-negotiable. During his meeting with the doctors, Mr Shah along with Union health minister Harsh Vardhan assured them of full support, saying the Prime Minister was personally monitoring all issues related to doctors. Mr Shah also strongly condemned attacks on doctors. Mr Shah also appreciated the role of doctors, more so in the fight against the coronavirus, and said he was confident that doctors would work dedicatedly in this battle as they have been doing so far. The home minister also assured the IMA that the Centre would leave no stone unturned in ensuring their well- being and security. He strongly condemned the recent attacks on health professionals, and urged the doctors not to do even a symbolic protest as they had proposed, as it is not in national or global interest. The Union home secretary and health secretary, as well as senior doctors and Niti Aayog representatives were present at the meeting. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, meanwhile, said on Wednesday there can be no compromise on the safety of healthcare professionals, and said the ordinance approved by the Cabinet shows the governments commitment. There can be no compromise on their safety! Mr Modi tweeted, adding that the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 manifested the governments commitment to protect each and every healthcare worker who is bravely battling Covid-19 on the frontline. The ordinance will protect the entire healthcare fraternity, including doctors, nurses and Asha workers, an official release said. port from society is a fundamental need for them to perform their duties with confidence," the ministry had said. Several states have enacted special laws to offer protection to doctors and other medical personnel in the past. "However, COVID-19 outbreak has posed a unique situation where harassment of the healthcare workforce and others working to contain the spread of the disease has been taking place at all fronts, in various places including even cremation grounds," the ministry had said. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guides artillery fire competition in this image released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on March 20, 2020. (KCNA via Reuters) Experts: Kim Jong Uns Death Would Require Massive Military Response After unverified reports claimed that North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un is in grave condition following surgery, military experts said that if Kim died or was incapacitated, it could potentially destabilize the region. Kims health has been the subject of much speculation after he missed an April 15 commemoration for his grandfathers 108th birthday, considered a major holiday in the isolated, communist country. Reports from several news outlets said he underwent heart surgery. South Korean officials pushed back against reports that Kim is in grave condition, while a top U.S. general told reporters on Wednesday that Kim is likely in full control of North Korea. Should Kims demise be confirmed, experts said his exit would create region-wide problems. Without a designated heir to succeed him, there will be even more chaos, human suffering, and instability, retired South Korean Lt. Gen. Chun In-Bum, who was the head of the countrys special operations, told the Military Times this week. Its bad news for everyone. David Maxwell, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank, agreed and said a lack of clear succession would bring about a chaotic situation inside the country, leading to fighting between various factions. Kim Jong Un and wife Ri Sol Ju in a file photo (KCNA) It is unknown whether Kim Jong-un has designated a successor, said Maxwell. We can speculate that perhaps his sister Kim Yo-jong has been designated as his successor based on her recent promotion and the fact she has begun making official statements in her name beginning last month. But Maxwell argued that the ensuing power vacuum could lead to a collapse of the regime. As a result, the United States and South Korea must be prepared. A humanitarian disaster will unfold in North Korea, Maxwell told the news outlet. South Korea, China, and Japan (via boat) are going to have to deal with potential large scale refugee flows, he said. Units of the North Korean Peoples Army are going to compete for resources and survival. This will lead to internal conflict among units and could escalate to widespread civil war. At the same time, North Koreas large military would still be prepared to defend the nation. Since North Korea is a Guerrilla Dynasty built on the myth of anti-Japanese partisan warfare, we can expect large numbers of the military (1.2 million active duty and 6 million reserves) to resist any and all outside foreign intervention including from South Korea, Maxwell said, adding that it would be complicated by Pyongyangs nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. Chun said that a U.S.-South Korean-led invasion would be unlikely. What are we going to do? March in there? Let the Chinese do it, Chun told the paper, adding that anyone going in there, including the Chinese, would be crazy. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) Senator Sonny Angara said Thursday he favors a further extension of the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon as he believes that it is now too late to lift the lockdown a week before it expires. In a virtual press conference, Angara said that quarantine policy changes should be made at least two weeks before they are implemented. I would support the extension to May 10 or May 15 because I feel its too late really to announce that there will be a lifting because I dont think theres enough time to prepare on the ground, Angara said. The senator said based on what happened in the last five weeks, there has to be some gestation time for policies to be processed. While the national government may be ready to implement the changes, Angara argued it takes more time to enforce policies at the local level. These local governments need to be prepared and empowered beforehand. Like those local governments where these markets are located. They have to cordon off some areas because if youve seen a Philippine market, theres thousands of points of entry and exit, and thats just unacceptable in this age of COVID, Angara explained. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante Jr. urged the government to continue implementing the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila, but implement a modified quarantine in areas with low cases of COVID-19. Given the high rate of transmission in some parts of Metro Manila, we need to extend the ECQ in NCR and strictly implement it so no one comes in and goes out, Abante said. Abante, however, said that some business establishments in areas within Metro Manila with minimal cases should be allowed to open at least three days a week. The minority leader also urged the government to lift the quarantine in provinces with zero COVID-19 cases. Abante said measures to isolate these areas should be undertaken. One of our priorities should be to ensure that we prevent the disease from spreading there, Abante said. To date, the country has recorded 6,981 cases of COVID-19, 462 deaths and 722 recoveries. Slate is making its coronavirus coverage free for all readers. Subscribe to support our journalism. Start your free trial. On Thursday morning, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the preliminary results of antibody testing efforts in New York state. Of 3,000 people, recruited as they shopped in stores in 19 counties, nearly 14 percent tested positive for antibodies, suggesting they have had and recovered from the novel coronavirus. Among those tested in New York City, that number was 20 percent. That puts total infections in the state at 2.6 million, and the death rate at 0.5 percent. Advertisement It is hard to sit in Brooklyn, read those numbers, and not feel hopeful, like there is some significant chance that I or my loved ones have already been quietly infected and spared. But what do those numbers actually mean? How much should we trust them at all? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fundamentally, its simply hard to tell. A politician on television is not the ideal way for scientific data to make its way into the world; at the very least, there should have been a methods section ready in the wings. Sorry, Governor, but that is BS, tweeted Florian Krammer, a virologist at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City. Which test is this based on? Antibody tests produce false positives and false negativesfor example, by picking up signs that a coronavirus has been in someones body, perhaps one that causes the common cold, and mistaking them for the coronavirus, as in the one that is wrecking everything right now. Without more information on which test was (or tests were) used, its hard to know what the error bars on the estimates should be. We dont have that much information at all on the study, which was, again, briefly summarized on TV. It would be helpful (for scientists, essential) to have the details on methods in order to evaluate a study, including the sampling plan and the test characteristics, Stephen Morse, an epidemiologist at Columbia, wrote me in an email. Advertisement Advertisement There was one clear shortcoming in the methodology, which Cuomo acknowledged in the press conference: The sample isnt an exact representation of the population. People who are out shopping are not likely to be those who are stringently isolating and therefore less likely to catch the virus. They definitely arent people who are incarcerated or in retirement homes, where infections rates can be high. Advertisement The study did succeed at capturing data from many places in the state, which requires some ingenuity. Natalie Dean, a biostatistician at the University of Florida, is one of the experts who participated in a phone call to help a New York state task force design the study. We were trying to suggest cheap and easy strategies, she says. The stores idea was raised on the call by Bethany Hedt-Gauthier at Harvard. While Dean notes that it could select for people who were eager to participate because, say, theyd had a nasty cold and wanted to check whether it was the coronavirus, stopping people is much better at eliminating this bias than recruiting subjects via Facebook, as an antibody survey in Santa Clara county did. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Morse and Dean said that the numbers from the study and estimates for statewide infection made sense to them, even though they might feel high to the average person. (They do to me.) Based on data from other countries, and the fact that many people have not been tested and are riding out the virus at home, its clear that the numbers are much higher than the number of cases that were seeing in hospitals and in official coronavirus counts. Ive generally used as a rule of thumb that the confirmed cases would be perhaps 1015 percent of the actual number infected, wrote Morse. By that rule, with about 260,000 cases confirmed in New York State, 2.6 million infections statewide, as the testing suggests, makes sense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And theres one important point that the data Cuomo shared bears out: The virus is disproportionately affecting people of color. Nine percent of white people tested had antibodies, while just over 22 percent of black and Latino people had them. This reflects more the regional breakdown, Cuomo said Thursday, pointing out that there are more white people upstate, where infection rates are lower. Still, the survey should underscore that everyone is not suffering equally from the virus; among other things, being rich enough to flee an area with a lot of infections helps. Aside from feeling mad, and maybe hopeful, what we should individually do with this information is nothing. An infection rate of even 20 percent, the estimate from this survey for New York City, is still a ways from herd immunity, noted Dean. Roughly 70 percent of us would have to have been infected and have immunity before enough people have had the virus that it stops reliably spreading around the community. Even if the survey data were not preliminary (which it is), and even if we knew enough about coronavirus immunity to say for sure that you can catch it once and not again (which we do not), we would still basically stuck inside. For now, all we can do is watch the slow crawl of science play out on television. [April 23, 2020] Mobivity Works with SONIC Drive-In to Create Record-Setting Response with Rich Communications Services (RCS) Mobile Messaging PHOENIX, April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mobivity Holdings Corp. (OTCQB: MFON) a global provider of personalized customer engagement solutions that drive customer frequency and spend, today announced the results of SONIC Drive-Ins pilot campaign using Googles RCS Business Messaging. Using Mobivitys Mobile Messaging, the SONIC pilot broadcasted interactive and engaging messaging through RCS about its restaurant app, targeting customers across more than 3,500 locations. The record-setting results with RCS did not leverage offers, discounts or other incentives and: Resulted in five times as many app downloads versus previous MMS mobile messaging; Demonstrated a three times higher app registration rate versus typical downloads from MMS recipients; and Showed a 50 percent purchase rate from people who registered on the app. Our initial results with Mobivitys program were impressive, especially since we were using a new technology and no offers or incentives, said Kim Lewis, Vice President of Digital Strategies at SONIC Drive-In. We look forward to expanding this digital approach with Mobivity to further drive customer engagement and frequency within our digital channels. As the next generation of SMS, providing rich media features found in apps, Googles RCS Business Messaging delivers the simplicity of messaging while allowing customers to find the nearest restaurant, get special offers, order and pay via mobile. Mobivity joined Googles Early Access Program in 2017 and works with QSRs to implement RCS programs that deliver richer customer experiences. SONICs success proves the power and effectiveness of RCS in driving customer engagement and tangible results, said Dennis Becker, Chairman and CEO at Mobivity. The pilots results are really remarkable considering none of the offers or incentives typically used within the QSR category were used. With RCS integrated into our Recurrency platform, were looking forward to new opportunities with SONIC. To learn more about how Mobivity can put the power of RCS to work for multi-unit franchise brands, visit mobivity.com /RCS or call (877) 282-7660. About Sonic Drive-In SONIC, founded in 1953, is the largest drive-in restaurant brand in the United States with more than 3,500 restaurants in 46 states. Served by SONICs iconic Carhops, the restaurants expansive, award-winning menu offers unique, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack and drink options for the whole family. SONIC is part of the Inspire Brands family of restaurants. For more information, visit SonicDriveIn.com and InspireBrands.com . About Mobivity Brick and mortar stores struggle to manage customer connections in a digital world. Mobivity provides a platform to connect national restaurants, retailers, personal care brands, and their partners with customers to increase retention, visits, and spend. Mobivitys Recurrency platform increases customer engagement and frequency by capturing detailed POS transaction data, analyzing customer habits, and motivating customers and employees through data-driven messaging applications and rewards. For more information about Mobivity, visit mobivity.com or call (877) 282-7660. Media Contacts Jennifer Handshew Marketing Communications, Mobivity [email protected] (917) 359-8838 Investor Relations Contacts Lynn Tiscareno Chief Financial Officer, Mobivity (877) 282-7660 Brett Maas Managing Partner, Hayden IR [email protected] (646) 536-7331 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Bonin, seen here in May 2015, argued in favor of a broader ban on evictions. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) The Los Angeles City Council balked Wednesday at imposing a ban on evictions that goes farther than the restrictions it has already passed, voting 7 to 6 against a stricter moratorium during the COVID-19 pandemic. The broader ban proposed by Councilmen Mike Bonin and David Ryu would have prohibited landlords from evicting tenants "except to protect the health and safety of other occupants of the property" during the coronavirus crisis. The proposal spurred a lengthy and impassioned debate about the legal limits of what the city could do to protect tenants, with some council members publicly disputing concerns raised by the city attorney's office. Council members have already barred landlords from evicting people who have been affected by the novel coronavirus, but critics complain that the rules dont go far enough to help renters, especially those who have little paperwork to later prove that their financial woes are related to the pandemic. Eviction notices have continued to be issued to some tenants, troubling tenant advocates who argue that an across-the-board ban is needed to prevent disruption for renters. "It is a common-sense step which will simply help Angelenos understand clearly without misleading contradictions from their landlord that they cannot be put out of their home during this pandemic," West L.A. renter Peter Horton wrote. The proposal from Bonin and Ryu was similar to an earlier push for a blanket ban on evictions, which fell one vote short of council approval last month. The city attorney's office warned, in a confidential memo to the council obtained by The Times, that such a sweeping ban would interfere with private contractual rights and was not likely to survive in court. Any eviction protections "must be reasonably tied to the pandemic," the report from Chief Asst. City Atty. David Michaelson stated, and "a broad eviction prohibition that bears no relationship with the emergency would likely not withstand legal challenge." The report also said that the eviction ban was preempted by state law. Story continues Michaelson said their office had great sympathy for tenants, "but we're just calling balls and strikes." Bonin instead touted advice from attorneys with the Eviction Defense Network, Public Counsel and other legal advocacy groups, who countered those arguments and said the existing law fails to "discourage the initiation of the eviction process, which sows doubt and confusion leading to renters being harassed and intimidated into leaving their homes." The groups contended that L.A. has the legal basis to pursue the broader ban and was not preempted by the state. Bonin said "it is absolutely something, despite the guidance of our city attorney, that we are empowered to do and should do." Michaelson argued that the analysis from the outside groups had left out important details. Councilman Mitch O'Farrell said that Public Counsel had committed "sins of omission" in its legal analysis and "should be ashamed of themselves." (A Public Counsel attorney said "some confusion" had been caused by the fact that only a small part of its letter was read into the record and reiterated its position that "the city can still go further to protect tenants.") "Let's all get real here and talk about what we can and should do in terms of real policy," O'Farrell said, calling that proposal and others touted by Bonin and Ryu "pretend measures that we could not ever enforce." Many council members, including O'Farrell and Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, said they were concerned that Angelenos were being offered "false hope" about what the city could legally do to help tenants. Bonin countered that I don't think that its false hope to try to go big and use our emergency powers." "I think its false hope to say that we have an eviction moratorium that really isnt one," Bonin said. Seven council members voted against drafting the proposal: Bob Blumenfield, Joe Buscaino, Gil Cedillo, John Lee, Nury Martinez, Monica Rodriguez and O'Farrell. The plan was backed by Bonin and Ryu, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Jose Huizar, Paul Koretz, and Herb Wesson. Council members Paul Krekorian and Curren Price recused themselves from the vote. Landlords had voiced alarm about the idea: One landlord who phoned into the Wednesday meeting, who identified herself only as Miss Foster, said she is not eligible for any mortgage relief that now exists. "You are asking us to house people for free, without a safety net for ourselves," she said. Some protesters, in turn, want the council to go much farther. Tenant activists who have staged drive-by protests outside the homes of Council President Nury Martinez, Mayor Eric Garcetti and Councilmen Bob Blumenfield, John Lee, Mitch O'Farrell and Paul Krekorian are pressing not only for a blanket ban on evictions, but total suspension of rents. The city attorney's office wrote in its memo that eliminating all rents would violate the law and require the city to compensate landlords, which "could exceed one billion dollars." The council voted Wednesday to back a resolution urging the state and federal government to take action to relieve people from having to pay rent or mortgages during the coronavirus emergency, including a recent bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.). Councilman Paul Krekorian said, "there is simply no way that we can provide the kind of meaningful relief that will make a difference ... without robust, significant investment by the federal government." Bonin and Ryu also pushed Wednesday to halt rent increases in all apartments and other residential rentals in the city. Mayor Eric Garcetti already moved last month to freeze rent hikes for apartments that fall under L.A.'s Rent Stabilization Ordinance a law that limits annual increases and generally covers buildings built on or before October 1978 but the move did not affect newer apartments or single-family homes that are rented out to tenants. City attorneys warned that unless a California law known as Costa-Hawkins was suspended, the city couldn't stop rent increases in apartments that aren't covered by the Rent Stabilization Ordinance. If the city pushed forward anyway, Michaelson's memo said the move would "likely be enjoined by a court through a temporary restraining order." The council rejected that move in a 7-to-6 vote, but council members did vote in favor of extending the freeze on rent hikes in rent stabilized units, ensuring that it lasted for nearly a year after L.A.'s emergency order was lifted. The council also turned down a move to prevent landlords from evicting tenants in the future if they fail to eventually pay back rent that goes unpaid during the COVID-19 emergency something they have a year to do under the current rules. Landlords would instead have to turn to other means to recoup the money they are owed, such as small claims court. One member of the Los Angeles Tenants Union who phoned in to the Wednesday meeting argued that many people would struggle to catch up on unpaid rent after the crisis ends. "How are people supposed to go back to work making the same money that they were before if they're lucky and be paying that back?" Kevin Varzandeh asked. In its report to the council, the city attorney's office said that the city was legally preempted from trying to alter the eviction process. Landlords also pushed against the move: Joel Levine argued in a letter to the council that "we provided our tenants with a service at a price that the tenants agreed to in a lease. It is only fair that we be paid for our work." Council members did vote Wednesday to press forward with an emergency rent relief program to assist tenants and to use more than $1 million from discretionary funds controlled by Council President Nury Martinez and Councilman Herb Wesson to start funding the program. Many landlords who opposed the measures proposed by Bonin and Ryu had argued that such a program was a better way to assist struggling renters. Times staff writers Liam Dillon and Dakota Smith contributed to this report. The authorities in Himachal Pradesh's Kangra district have started home delivery of medicines in the Palampur subdivision, an official said on Thursday. For the doorstep delivery of medicines amid COVID-19 lockdown, the administration has launched a helpline number, he said. Due to curfew, people are in their homes and to ensure they get the things they need various helpline numbers have been launched and all precautions are being taken during home delivery, said Palampur SDM Dharmesh Ramotra. He said volunteers like social workers of Palampur Savoir Sansthan are also assisting the administration to provide medicines to the needy. We are receiving around 50 calls daily. The administration and volunteers are working day and night to deliver the medicines, the sub-divisional magistrate said. Among the many beneficiaries of the home delivery service is Mast Ram Bhuria. He is a senior citizen living in Panchrukhi. I received my medicine at home twice. I am so impressed with this service that I have decided to donate Rs 2,100 per month to the state's COVID-19 fund, Bhuria said. Those residents of the district who are currently staying abroad are also calling on the helpline number to get medicines delivered to their families here, the SDM said. In one such instance, we even got a call from a man in the UK for delivery of medicines to his father living in Thakurdwara locality, the officer added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Furniture retailer La-Z-Boy Inc said on Wednesday it would partially resume production at several US-based plants next week after temporarily shutting them down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In March, Monroe, Michigan-based La-Z-Boy also temporarily closed its stores and furloughed 6,800 employees or 70 per cent of its workforce. The company, which last week opened several retail locations across the United States on a reduced schedule, said on Wednesday it expects to open more stores in the coming weeks. The La-Z-Boy stock, which closed at $19.73 on Wednesday, has fallen 37.3 per cent this year La-Z-Boy is known for its brand of recliner chairs and other residential furniture. A La-Z-Boy factory in Neosho, Missouri, is seen in the above undated file photo. The factory is one of several company facilities that will be operating at partial capacity beginning next week, the company announced La-Z-Boy is known for its signature brand of residential furniture (like the chair pictured above) La-Z-Boy's stock price has fallen more than 37 per cent this year due to the pandemic It will resume plant operations at a partial capacity at its locations in Dayton, Tennessee; Neosho, Missouri; Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and Newton, Mississippi. Last month, La-Z-Boy put 6,800 employees on furlough, cutting workers pay, scrapping its June dividend and ending its share repurchase plan indefinitely to conserve cash as it deals with the fallout from the coronavirus. The furniture maker, which said the furlough affected 70 per cent of its workers, added that it was cutting senior management pay by 50 per cent and dropping salaried workers pay by 25 per cent until further notice. La-Z-Boy, which says it has $200 million of cash and equivalents on hand, said it would close 130 of 155 stores. The board of directors announced last month that it would also forgo the cash portion of its pay until further notice and the company said it was freezing its 401(k) retirement account matches. Kurt Darrow, the chairman, president, and CEO of the company, said La-Z-Boy's chief concern was the health of its workforce and its customers. 'We are monitoring the COVID-19 situation daily, with the health, safety and well-being of our employees, customers and communities our highest priority,' Darrow said in a statement. 'We are reviewing data from across the country, as well as the applicable federal, state and local requirements and guidelines where we do business. 'Initially, we will open several La-Z-Boy branded manufacturing facilities at partial production capacity. 'The products produced will serve to address the backlog we had when we closed our plants at the end of March and to satisfy orders that we expect to see as many states begin to allow our retail customers to reopen on a limited basis over the next several weeks.' Virus pushes US unemployment toward highest since Depression Unemployment in the US is swelling to levels last seen during the Great Depression of the 1930s, with 1 in 6 American workers thrown out of a job by the coronavirus. More than 4.4 million laid-off workers applied for unemployment benefits last week, the government said Thursday. In all, roughly 26 million people - the population of the 10 biggest US cities combined - have now filed for jobless aid in five weeks, an epic collapse that has raised the stakes in the debate over how and when to lift the state-ordered stay-at-home restrictions that have closed factories and other businesses from coast to coast. In the hardest-hit corner of the US, evidence emerged that perhaps more than 2 million New Yorkers have been infected by the virus - several times higher than the number confirmed by lab tests. A small, preliminary statewide survey of around 3,000 people found that 13.9% had antibodies suggesting they had been exposed, Governor Andrew Cuomo said. Just in New York City, with a population of 8.6 million, Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot said as many as 1 million may have been exposed. Huge lines have formed at food banks from El Paso, Texas, to the Paris suburbs, and food shortages are hitting Africa especially hard. The European Union has pledged $22 billion to help vulnerable communities globally. EU leaders scheduled a virtual summit Thursday to take stock of the damage the crisis has inflicted on the bloc's own citizens and to work out an economic rescue plan. The coronavirus has killed over 184,000 people worldwide, including about 47,000 in the United States, according to a tally compiled by John Hopkins University from official government figures. The true numbers are almost certainly far higher. In the US, the economic consequences of the shutdowns have sparked angry rallies in state capitals by protesters demanding that businesses reopen, and President Donald Trump has expressed impatience over the restrictions. Some governors have begun easing up despite warnings from health authorities that it may be too soon to do so without sparking new infections. In Georgia, gyms, hair salons and bowling alleys can reopen Friday. Texas has reopened its state parks. Few experts foresee a downturn as severe as the Depression, when unemployment remained above 14 per cent from 1931 to 1940, peaking at 25 per cent. But unemployment is considered likely to remain elevated well into next year and probably beyond, and will surely top the 10 per cent peak of the 2008-09 recession. Corey Williams, 31, was laid off from his warehouse job in Michigan a month ago and saw his rent, insurance and other bills pile up while he anxiously awaited his unemployment benefits. That finally happened on Wednesday, and he quickly paid $1,700 in bills. 'It was getting pretty tight, pretty tight,' he said. 'It was definitely stressful for the last few days.' With more than 490 finance startups now calling Singapore home, nestled in the fintech capital of the world, the market could be forgiven for thinking a changing of the banking guard is underway. In addition to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) accepting 21 applications for new digital bank licences, spiking the interest of outsiders such as Grab and Vertex in the process, the liberalisation of the finance sector should in theory threaten the existence of the more established operators. In the case of DBS Bank, established more than 50 years ago, the opposite is true. Born in Singapore but renowned globally for digital advancements, the largest bank in the city-state operates as a benchmark for innovation and excellence within the finance sector. DBSs strategy for digital dominance While no secret formula to success exists, an insatiable appetite for transformation can be cited as a foundational reason for such digital dominance. In 2020, we will be diving even deeper into technology, scaling the use of data, artificial intelligence [AI] and machine learning while experimenting with emerging technologies, said Jimmy Ng, group CIO of DBS. We will also look at enhancing our digital and data infrastructure and continue to drive efficiencies in the way we build and operate our technology. Our nimble response to the COVID-19 crisis has been a good barometer of the efforts we have put in place so far and an affirmation that we are on the right track. We will continue to keep our eyes on the future and be ready when it comes knocking. At the centrepiece is a commitment to elevate technology infrastructure capabilities to capitalise on the next wave of digital transformation, building on more than six years of internal modernisation momentum. The approach will result in the iconic bank shifting from a virtual private cloud to a hybrid multi-cloud model, in a move designed to combine the best of private and public cloud platforms. We will adopt a containerisation strategy to improve portability and scalability while enabling faster deployment and productivity, which includes raising the bar on site reliability engineering, outlined Ng, recently recognised in the inaugural CIO50 ASEAN awards. Another area of focus is capitalising on the native services of the public cloud. In parallel, security across all layers spanning cloud, data, applications and infrastructure will also take priority, endorsed by the adoption of privacy by design as a guiding principle to safeguard user data. We are also pushing the needle on big data, said Ng, who was appointed to the role in August 2019. To optimise value from data, we intend to enable the organisation to generate greater insights from data that will improve customer experience, create new products and services, and change the way we work. Building a data-driven culture is key to this, along with developing clear guardrails on data governance and having a centralised enterprise data platform to make data more accessible. To stay ahead of the market, Ng said DBS is also exploring emerging technologies such as 5G, the internet of things (IoT), blockchain and quantum computing. This is in addition to augmented reality and virtual reality to help improve business outcomes while enhancing the customer journey. In recognition of digital advancements, DBS became the worlds first bank to hold three global best bank honours at the same time. In 2019, the business was named the Worlds Best Bank by Euromoney, following Global Bank of the Year from The Banker, and Best Bank in the World from Global Finance, both in 2018. Customer science powers a digital bank In a crowded Singapore and Southeast Asia market, DBS bank attempts to differentiate through a Live more, bank less tagline. Granted, the tagline is the product of an opening rebrand investment of S$30 million, but underneath the campaign lies a truth DBS is a digital bank. Leveraging the most advanced technology continues to be the way that we deliver on our brand promise, Ng explained. As we align to the new digital advances, we recognise that a complete digital customer experience should encompass the end-to-end process from acquisition, transaction to engagement. It is hence imperative to pivot towards a future servicing approach for a personalised customer experience through customer science. According to Ng, customer science connects customer behaviour with application and system data to understand the impact of behaviour on systems and vice versa. This aids in predicting and preventing problems before they occur, helping DBS understand customer demands through journey management, application health monitoring and workforce management. The next level of customer science is proactive and pre-emptive service management, he added. We aim to combine and connect customer behavioural data and system data to build real-time analytical models. This empowers us to have insights into individual customer issues and enables us to provide targeted resolutions. As we continue to build our real-time analytical capabilities, we strive to take it a notch up by hyper-personalising our services to our customers needs. Bottom-up, top-down technology strategy for innovation Aligned to the belief that business and technology outcomes are intertwined, DBSs approach to internal unification could be considered as gold standard, through dovetailing roadmap agendas to ensure strategic alignment. Underpinned by joint oversight and accountability, Ng said the approach has transformed the way in which the bank operates through a healthy combination of bottom-up and top-down initiatives. The beautiful thing about DBS is that we have many innovations driven bottom-up by our staff and sometimes it is almost impossible to track them, outlined Ng, referencing how the organisation carries out workplace planning through a virtual employee, leveraging QIRA (quantum image recognition application) technology. QIRA automates routine tasks such as monitoring call queue, service levels and load balance resources in real-time. The QIRA team being avid gamers drew inspiration from the gaming world (where bots were used to level up characters) and took up coding to develop QIRA the bot. More recently, the DBS team used network graph and analytics in contact tracing for COVID-19 cases. These were all initiated by staff themselves, from analysing the problem statement to creatively using the technology and tools at their disposal, and collaboratively working with different stakeholders to solve their pain points, Ng added. This speaks volumes of the innovative culture and nimbleness that we have developed within the bank. Meanwhile, top-down initiatives are also commonplace, evident through Paradigm Shift, a global innovation hackathon covering over 70 markets including Brazil, Chile, Germany and the US. Participants were tasked with creating a customer-centric approach to developing new cutting-edge services for todays digitally savvy users. More than 300 teams were formed with more than 170 concepts submitted, resulting in five teams walking away with top honours. Another example of boardroom leadership is through DBSs co-creation program, which leverages the banks innovation methodology to craft digital solutions with industry partners. From mapping pain points to improving customer journeys, the program brought fresh innovation perspectives and tools to help clients reinvent themselves while supporting Singapores Smart Nation agenda, Ng said. We engaged 65 industry partners, such as those in the finance, healthcare, retail and automobile sectors, with 24 industry discovery workshops conducted to strengthen the digital ecosystem. In assessing the business benefits of digitalisation, Ng said all efforts are inherently tied to the banks financial bottom line. While technology costs are inevitable due to growth and new developments, since 2015, DBSs technology spend has remained flat. We see cost efficiencies through the optimisation in the operate space, which lowers the cost of running our systems and platforms every year, Ng added. As we virtualised 99 per cent of our applications, we are also reducing the real estate of our data centres while creating 10X capacity. With the cost savings, we are able to reinvest, spend more on increasing efficiency through automation and harness digital innovation to reap the benefits. Are you dressed like Carrie Bradshaw - wearing a plaid shirt or a printed tee teamed with shorts - lovering with fashion magazines or like Audrey in Breakfast at Tiffanys clad in a white oversized shirt and blue eye mask tucked in your hair like a headband? Well, whatever you wear, the fashionista inside you will never sleep. So, if you want to read more and more about fashion during the lockdown, take that kindle out and try these books recommended by ace Indian designers. Designer Shruti Sancheti recommends, Fashion Babylon by Imogen Edward Jones While Sancheti was studying fashion, a few books left an impact on her mind and she went back to them for references and information. One such book is Costumes and Textiles of Royal India by Ritu Kumar and Christian Dior s The Little Dictionary of Fashion. However she says her favourite read is Fashion Babylon by Imogen Edward Jones. I read the book while I was teaching fashion and was yet to launch my label. Somehow surprisingly this book prepared me a lot for my retail and runway debut. It is a documentary written in the form of a novel, where it traces the reader through six months into a designers life, it explains how a collection is put together - from the objects of inspiration to the catwalk, into the shops and onto the cover of a magazine. It examines who goes to the shows and where they sit. Narrated from the point of view of an anonymous A-list British fashion designer looking to break out across the pond and structured around three most important annual industry events in London, Paris and New York. This book gives a detailed insight into the cut throat world of high fashion business and marketing in a very entertaining manner, adds Sancheti. Designer Anand Bhushan recommends, A Thousand Days of Magic: Dressing Jacqueline Kennedy for the White House by Oleg Cassini The Delhi-based designer stumbled upon the book in London when he was there for a holiday. I randomly discovered it at Barnes and Noble in London one day. I obviously was obsessed with Jackys persona. So the cover with her picture in a blue off-shoulder gown by Cassini, drew my attention immediately. It is a pictorial book with back stories that made fashions biggest moments....and that also in just 1000 days, he confesses. Designer Sonaakshi Raaj recommends, Girl Boss by Sophia Amoruso The book is a biography of a successful business woman who starts her brand from scratch. The book has insightful tips for those who want to follow a similar path. It aims to teach you the trick of the trade, to learn from not only yours but also others mistakes and how not to quit. I stumbled upon this book this quarantine and must admit I thoroughly enjoyed reading it because somewhere her story resonates with mine. I highly recommend it to all the young fashion enthusiasts, because it is inspirational, motivating and makes you want to go out and accomplish something youve always wanted. Which is the feeling we all must derive especially post the quarantine, says Raaj. Urvashi Kaur recommends, Fashion Designers Sketchbooks by Hywell Davies Several years ago my brother gifted me a beautiful hardbound book called Fashion Designers Sketchbooks by Hywell Davies. Ever since then, this book has been my go to for all things inspirational and helped me out of creative blocks multiple times, reminisces Kaur. The book is a scrapbook with compilation of rich visual material alongside write ups, that document the design philosophies and process of various leading fashion designers across the world. Everything from images of fittings to mood boards to illustrations are packed into this book. Its a fascinating thing to flip through its pages, gleaning through the inspiration that it holds. Each time I feel like Im up against a creative wall, I turn to this creative book and immerse myself in it. The significance of this book is that it captures the approach of different minds and their viewpoints towards art and design, she adds. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Richa Sharma By Express News Service NEW DELHI: India is expected to witness a steep rise in COVID-19 deaths by mid-May, with a scientific model projecting painting a grim picture. In the worst-case scenario, mortality is projected to increase to 38,220 from present 652, while the number of positive patients is predicted to touch nearly 30 lakh and over 76,000 ICU beds in hospitals will be required to handle the projected load. The projections are based on a statistical model COVID-19 Med Inventory an academic initiative by Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Indian Institute of Science-Bangalore, IIT-Bombay and Armed Forces Medical College-Pune. It has been facilitated by K Vijayaraghavan, Principal Scientific Advisor (PSA) to the Government of India. The researchers said that the projections of infections and deaths in Italy and New York State, based on this model, closely match the actual outcomes. Based on current data, the model projects worst-case estimate to be around 38,000 COVID-19 related deaths by May 19. It may change as the actual data comes in. Our estimates tend to be on the higher side, as the purpose is to alert the system about upper side need for healthcare loads such as ICU and other related infrastructure, JNCASR Associate Professor Santosh Ansumali told this newspaper. The four-week mortality projection shows 1,012 deaths by week 1 (April 28); 3,258 during week 2 (May 5); 10,924 by week 3 (May 12) and 38,220 by week 4 (May 19). The projections are adaptive, continuously correcting, based on the currently available data. Ansumali says that the model has taken into account the end of the lockdown on May 3 and that is reflected in a spike in death rates post lockdown; the rate would remain low if the lockdown is extended, it estimates. The model uses deceased count, which is more reliable than the reported confirmed positive cases, to project the district-level requirement of doctors, medical staff, PPEs, ventilators, oxygen, masks etc. This should be helpful in planning for infrastructure, arranging essential human resources and procurement of materials. This granular information can play a significant role in the improvement of health infrastructure, noted the PSA. The projections provided are only indicative, based on a statistical model, says the disclaimer by the team. When Nouphone Chindavong saw in the news that nurses did not have enough masks, she knew she wanted to help out. She and her cousin Orasa Ken decided to make fabric face masks with a pocket for filters to donate to healthcare workers using the materials from her shop. Chindavong, a seamstress who owns Tremont Tailoring & Alteration in Upper Arlington, Ohio, had closed her shop a week before Ohio Governor Mike DeWine mandated a stay-at-home order on March 23. She spends 12 hours each day with Ken and others in the back room cutting, pasting, sewing, and ironing the masks. She says they can make around 80 masks a day. They have donated almost 400 masks so far to her husbands workplace at Nationwide Childrens Hospital, to local nursing homes, and doctors offices. Chindavong, originally from a southern city in Laos, came to America through the sponsorship of her uncle in 2003 in hopes of achieving the American dream. For the first three years, she took English as a second language class while working as a seamstress. When you come here, you have to learn a lot [about the American culture and language], Chindavong said. While learning the language, Chindavong said she was touched by the kindness shown to her. They like to help people who cannot speak English, Chindavong said. When you go to work, the American people, they like to help people. Thats what Im happy about. Dream Business Put on Hold It had been Kens dream to open her own nail salon after working as an esthetician for many years at other salons. In January of this year, she and her business partner opened AXO Nails & Skin in Hillard. But as business was beginning to pick up, the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic put a halt to everything. Ken closed her salon on March 15 and had to lay off employees. She was glad to be able to help Chindavong with the masks. I dont know how to sew, but Im cutting the fabric and all that, said Ken. We have an assembly line going. Nouphone Chindavong and Orasa Ken sew face masks with a pocket for filters to donate to healthcare workers in Ohio on April 21, 2020. (Courtesy of Orasa Ken) Although the 12 hour shifts are long, Ken says, I feel when someone needs something, whether its little things that we do, youre helping, youre contributing something. There have been times when I needed help and I was able to find it, theres always somebody out there. And I feel like, if you can help, then help. Thats my philosophy. Ken is also from the same city in Laos as Chindavong. She and her family escaped the country after the communist Pathet Lao took over in 1975. Kens father was a government employee of the Royal Lao government and had to flee the country to avoid being arrested and possibly persecuted. I remember some neighbor coming to tell us, we were having dinner, and they were telling my dad that he had to leave, some soldiers were looking for him, Ken said. We didnt see him again until a long, long time. Ken, her mother, and her three siblings did not attempt to escape Laos until a couple of weeks after her mother had given birth to her younger sister. I remember having to get dressed at dawn and they were layering us up, Ken said. Just traveling in the woods at night. Ken said she still remembers the experience even though she was only 5 years old at the time. When you go through something like that, you dont forget it, Ken said. Its always in your head. In the jungle, they could only eat berries, bugs, and any other fruits they could find. Ken says she remembers drinking water from the leaf, [from] the raindrops. Kens mother had to use the little money she had to bribe people to help them get to Thailand after failing the first time. It would be months before they would reunite with her father, but somehow God reunited us again, Ken said. Ken and her family were sponsored by a church in Pennsylvania in 1978, and moved to Ohio in 1981. Ken says her parents have instilled in her compassion and faith. Im grateful every day no matter what the situation is, she said. I always look at the positive side of things. Free Meals for All Children Having grown up on free school lunches, Lauren Le told her husband, Dat Le, that they had to do something after learning about schools closing a week before the shelter-in-place order was signed by Governor Tim Walz on March 27. Lauren and Dat are owners of a Vietnamese restaurant, Que Viet, in Minneapolis. The restaurant has been part of the community for 40 years, when Dats grandfather bought it in 1980. Lauren and Dat Le of Que Viet is helping to feed children during the stay at home mandate in Minneapolis, MN on April 20, 2020. (Meiling Lee/The Epoch Times) Lauren said they decided to offer a large container of chicken or pork fried rice to any student who stopped by the restaurant. Lauren said they have given out about an average of 55 containers of fried rice a day. Lauren noticed that some of the parents felt uneasy asking for the fried rice. To help resolve that, she told parents they just need to say they were there for an order for Kylsea (pronounced Kelsea) and the staff would know what to do. Lauren said if they ever had a daughter, they would have named her Kelsey. Thats kind of my go-to, she said. Everything that I like, I say its Kelsey. Both of her college sons are home and helping at the restaurant as they have had to let go of half of their staff. We always tell them to help out, but I dont think theyve ever had to experience it the way they are now, Lauren said. I think it helps them feel like they can help out just a little bit. For Lauren, seeing parents come in with their children and knowing they have food to eat has helped her overcome her concerns of getting the virus in keeping the restaurant open during the pandemic. When this first happened, I was crying every day, Lauren said. It has actually helped me. Something good was coming out of it. Giving back and working hard are two important qualities for the Les. For Lauren, her mother is her inspiration. Even in her 70s, Lauren says her mother is making, 100 face masks a day and giving them to Laurens brothers clinic, to nursing homes, and anyone who needs it. Shes always like you have to be grateful and you always have to give back, Lauren said. No matter what I do, Im always thinking of what I can do to help out here or there. Dat and Lauren left Vietnam after the fall of Saigon in 1975 to flee oppression and hardship. Dats father was a pilot, and right when Saigon fell to the communist Viet Cong, they were already at the airport waiting to fly out. Lauren and her family were not as fortunate. They had to take a small boat with three other families to flee Vietnam toward the end of the 70s. We were supposed to go somewhere else, but my dad said we ended up in Malaysia, Lauren said. Many Vietnamese people who escaped on a boat were either killed or taken by pirates. The boat Laurens family was on got robbed at least three times by pirates, but we miraculously all survived, Lauren said. Dat came to Minnesota in 1978, and Lauren in 1981. Both families were sponsored by churches in Minneapolis. Dat and Lauren have been overwhelmed by the communitys support. Many people have called to help by donating money or giving $100 tips after hearing they were offering free meals to children. I just believe that if you do good to yourself and try to help others as much as you can, hopefully good things will happen to you, Lauren said. The Christian Post wins 2 awards at EPA 2020 Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Christian Post won two awards, including the Award of Excellence in the category of newspaper-online news, at the Evangelical Press Associations annual contest. Due to the new coronavirus that led to the cancellation of events worldwide, the 2020 awards presentation was hosted online by EPA President Carol Pipes, EPA contest coordinator Danny Conn, and EPA Executive Director Lamar Keener from Nashville, Tennessee. The annual convention was originally scheduled to be held in Colorado Springs, Colorado, before the in-person event was canceled. The judges commended CP, saying the news outlet offers readers quite a lot in the digital space. It gives readers strong content and some multimedia ways of engaging that content. CP also won second place for Article Series for its eight-part series on leaving Christianity that explored reasons why people left the faith and how ministers are responding to this segment of Americans. (Links to the entire series can be found here.) The EPA, which CP is a member of, describes itself as the worlds largest professional organization for the evangelical periodical publishing industry. Each year, it hosts two contests the Awards of Excellence contest (for publications as a whole) and the Higher Goals contest (for individual pieces). The organizations received 1,143 entries in 80 categories for its 2020 contest. Equity benchmark Sensex opened over 250 points higher on Thursday tracking gains in banking, energy and IT stocks amid positive cues from global markets. After hitting a high of 31,646.45, the 30-share index was trading 123.31 points or 0.39 per cent higher at 31,502.86. Similarly, the NSE Nifty advanced 30.40 points, or 0.33 per cent, to 9,217.70. ONGC was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, surging up to 3 per cent, followed by Tata Steel, ICICI Bank, Kotak Bank, TCS and L&T. On the other hand, Titan, M&M, Maruti, PowerGrid, Tech Mahindra and HDFC Bank were among the laggards. In the previous session, the BSE barometer ended 742.84 points or 2.42 per cent higher at 31,379.55, while the Nifty surged 205.85 points, or 2.29 per cent, to finish at 9,187.30. Foreign portfolio investors were net sellers in the capital market on Wednesday, as they offloaded equity shares worth Rs 1,326.09 crore, according to provisional exchange data. Domestic market opened on a positive note as global stocks rose amid recovery in crude prices, traders said. Bourses in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul were trading with gains in early deals, while those in Shanghai slipped in the red. On Wall Street, key indices recovered up to 2 per cent in overnight session. Global oil benchmark Brent crude futures advanced 3.16 per cent to USD 21.02 per barrel. However, traders said concerns over COVID-19 pandemic kept investors cautious. The death toll due to the pandemic rose to 681, while the number of cases in the country climbed to 21,393. Global tally of the infections has crossed 26 lakh, with over 1.83 lakh deaths. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A retired fire captain, who was cleared of wrongdoing after he ran over and killed a passed-out UConn student in 2016 was critically injured in a head-on collision Tuesday night. Dana Barrow Jr., 63, of Scotland, remains in critical condition at Hartford Hospital. The driver who police said caused the crash, Melissa M. Carducci-Brooks, 40, of Coventry, was released with minor injuries. Carducci-Brooks was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to maintain proper lane and failure to have minimum insurance on a motor vehicle after the Tuesday night crash The crash happened around 7:45 p.m. Tuesday as Carducci-Brooks was headed west on Route 14 in Scotland. State Police said Barrow was traveling east in a 2007 Chevy Impala when his vehicle was struck head-on by 2012 Honda Pilot driven by Carducci-Brooks. Both drivers had to be extricated. A day earlier it was learned that a lawsuit was settled in the death of the UConn student. On Oct. 16, 2016, Barrow struck and killed UConn sophomore Jeffny Pally with an SUV, while on his way to what he thought was a dorm fire. Jeffny Pally, a 19-year-old sophomore from West Hartford, fell asleep in front of a fire department garage door after drinking alcohol at an off-campus party, authorities said. A department SUV accidentally ran over her while responding to what turned out to be a false alarm. Barrow was not criminally charged. Police said Barrow believed he drove over a piece of equipment and was focused on responding to a reported dormitory fire. He thought he would check on the equipment when he got back to the firehouse, authorities said. He retired in 2017. Pally's parents, Abraham and Shinymol Chemmarappally, sued the state, the fire department driver and the Kappa Sigma fraternity, which the lawsuit alleged hosted the party where Pally drank alcohol, for negligence, recklessness and other claims. The civil allegations against the driver, Dana Barrow, were dismissed by a judge. A probate court official told The Associated Press on Monday that the case was settled for just over $1 million, after legal fees and other costs were subtracted. Details of the settlement were filed with the probate court late last month and the lawsuit was withdrawn on April 9. Reporting by the Associated Press was used in this report. Aslan Bzhania, the winner of an election for the de facto presidency in Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region, has been sworn in for a five-year term. At an inauguration ceremony in the regional capital, Sukhumi, on April 23, Bzhania pledged to work on closer cooperation with Russia. Moscow recognized Abkhazia and Georgia's other breakaway region, South Ossetia, as independent states after Russia and Georgia fought a brief war in August 2008. Only a handful of other countries, however, have followed the lead of the Kremlin, which has kept Russian forces in both regions since. "With regard to our agreements, we will work more intensively with brotherly Russia on all aspects of bilateral, equal, and mutually beneficial cooperation," Bzhania said. Bzhania won a March 22 runoff vote that Georgia's foreign minister called "illegal and fully contradicts international law." The vote was the latest effort to sort out the Black Sea region's government, which has been in flux since a January Supreme Court ruling annulled the election of Raul Khajimba three months earlier. The ruling sparked violent protests, but Khajimba ultimately stepped down. Abkhazia declared independence from Georgia in 1992, a move which led to all-out war with Tbilisi. This is what we know for sure about Wilson: When he speaks, a lot of black folks listen. Every politician knows that from aldermen to the mayor to the governor. Yet, politicians dont seem to take him seriously until they need him to rally the black community. Famous Melbourne landmarks have turned blue in honour of the four hero police officers who were killed in a horror truck smash on Wednesday night. Flinders Street Station, the National Gallery of Victoria, the Police Association headquarters, Crown Towers and Crown Riverwalk all lit up in blue as the nation mourns the death of the fallen officers. Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Constable Glen Humphris, Senior Constable Kevin King, and Constable Josh Prestney were all killed. Their tragic deaths is the greatest loss of police lives in a single incident in Victoria's history. Richard Pusey 41, was pulled over by police for travelling at 140km/h on the Eastern Freeway in Melbourne around 4.50pm on Wednesday. At 5.40pm, a refrigeration truck ploughed into the group of police standing at the roadside, killing four officers, before Pusey allegedly took photos of the grisly scene and fled on foot. The truck driver is currently in hospital under police guard after suffering a medical episode. Crown Towers and Crown Riverwalk illuminated blue for the Victorian Police Flinders Street Station lit up in blue to the four police officers who lost their lives on Wednesday The Town Hall in blue colour in tribute to four police officers that died after being hit by a truck on Melbourne's Eastern Freeway as they dealt with a speeding Porsche driver, in Melbourne The Arts Centre is lit up in blue colour in tribute to four police officers that died after being hit by a truck on Melbourne's Eastern Freeway Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said she wanted to honour the officers for their bravery as the nation mourns their deaths. 'It's a way we can show our admiration and appreciation for the way the police protect us and really to mark this incredibly devastating time,' she told 3AW. 'So we responded quickly to that and we're definitely lighting up Town Hall. Everyone is looking for ways for our capital cities to look as blue as possible to show our appreciation. 'It'll be in blue. It'll look resplendent. And it's hopefully a big signal to everyone in our police force all of their families as well, to say that we care about them.' Homes around the state have paid tribute to the fallen officers by leaving a blue ribbon on mailboxes, chalking the footpath, or laying down flowers at police stations. Victoria Police headquarters also lit up in blue in tribute to their fallen colleagues Two of the police officers who were tragically killed on Wednesday evening after stopping a man speeding in his Porsche Senior constable Kevin King was described as 'an older head with a lot of life experience who always made good judgement calls and decisions' Crown Towers and Crown Riverwalk illuminated blue for the Victorian Police Crown Towers and Crown Riverwalk illuminated blue for the Victorian Police Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews asked members of the community to come together to remember the officers. 'Today I ask all Victorians to pause and honour every single member of Victoria Police for the work that they do, for the service that they offer,' he said. 'To live a life in the service of others is a deeply impressive thing. To lose your life in the service and protection of others is a tragedy 'We honour those we've lost, we send our best wishes to their families, we send our best wishes and support to those worked alongside them, and hopefully all of us can come together and spend just a moment thinking of every member of Victoria Police. 'And through that moment of quiet reflection, hopefully send our best wishes to every member of Victoria Police. 'They do an amazing job and we have just been tragically reminded just how dangerous it could be.' Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews asked members of the community to come together to remember the officers Prime Minister Scott Morrison also paid tribute to the police officers following their tragic death on Wednesday evening. 'Awful, heart-breaking news that four police officers have been killed while on duty in Melbourne tonight. My deepest sympathies go out to their families, fellow officers and friends at this terrible time,' Prime Minister Scott Morrison tweeted. Opposition leader Anthony Albanese added: 'Heartbreaking news out of Victoria. These officers were killed while doing their jobs a terrible reminder of the risks taken by police and emergency workers every single day. 'My deepest condolences to their families, friends and everyone at Victoria Police.' Hyundai Kona EV Celebrated By Top Gear Awards See Also: Hyundai Kona News Archive See Also Also: Hyundai Kona EV Technical Specs Kona Electric named Best Small Family Car in magazines first Electric Awards European road trip covers 1,600 kilometers and 9 countries in under 24 hours busting the myth that you cannot travel far in an electric car SEOUL/OFFENBACH/LONDON, 22 April 2020 Kona Electric has been acknowledged as the Best Small Family Car in the inaugural TopGear Electric Awards, after it completed a 1,600-kilometers road trip across 9 European countries. Hyundai Motors fully electric SUV was not only commended for its efficiency and long-distance capability but also for its smooth and effortless performance. The 24-hour-long drive took place in December 2019, with BBC TopGear magazines Editor-in-Chief Charlie Turner using the European rapid charger network to supply the Kona Electric with 316kWh of electricity, choosing to only charge to 80% capacity in order to maximise driving time. In total 9 countries were visited with the trip starting in the Czech Republic and the 1,600-kilometre drive taking in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Holland. Charlie Turner said: Whilst we find ourselves in lockdown, having the freedom to travel through as many countries as you want is the stuff of distant dreams. Its reassuring, however, to know that as electrification becomes an ever growing part of our vehicular future, cars like Kona Electric can already deliver and whilst most wont cover the miles in the way we did, weve proved that range anxiety shouldnt play a part in long-distance travel. Andreas-Christoph Hofmann, Vice Marketing and Product at Hyundai Motor Europe, said: Following its launch in 2018, Kona Electric has continued to prove itself as an affordable zero-emission all-rounder, combining practicality with range and performance. The most recent updates have brought enhanced connectivity and a three-phase on-board charger, making the overall package even more compelling. We are delighted that TopGear has acknowledged the strengths of Kona Electric, adding to the many previous awards for this remarkable car. The full story of the Kona Electrics epic drive through Europe is published in the current UK edition of TopGear magazine. Michael Richard Pompeo is becoming almost as hypnotic as Donald Trump. What he lacks in lunacy, he makes up for in wilful ignorance or just good old plain hypocrisy. You might blame Trump for mental incapacity when he hands over the Middle East to his dumbo son-in-law; Pompeo, however, knows what hes doing. So there he was again this week, suggesting the Iranians were breaking a solemn UN resolution by launching a ballistic missile while himself ignoring a far more historic but equally solemn UN resolution which calls for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from occupied Palestinian territory. Watching his dry-as-dust performance as chancer-in-chief, you knew Pompeo would get away with it. Not a single journalist gave the slightest indication that there might be a little double standard in the US secretary of states sudden concern for adherence to UN rules within hours of blithely declaring that its an Israeli decision if it wants to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank. Besides, UN Resolution 2231, calling upon Iran to refrain for up to eight years from work on ballistic missiles designed to deliver nuclear weapons, is only five years old. UN resolution 242, passed immediately after the 1967 Middle East war in which Israel captured east Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza, the Golan Heights and the Sinai peninsula is well over half a century old. Dust. Cobwebs. Its not that Pompeo doesnt understand the implications of all this. The worthless deal of the century concocted by the Trump administration permits Israel to annexe the Jordan Valley 30 per cent of the West Bank and accepts Israeli sovereignty over all illegal Israeli colonies built on Arab land in return for a bundle of cash for the Palestinians. It allows further land thefts after four years and accepts Israeli sovereignty over all of Jerusalem, vouchsafed by the moving of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem two years ago. The squalid new Israeli coalition in which Benny Gantz betrayed his own supporters and voters by agreeing to a musical chairs premiership with Benjamin Netanyahu merely provides the mechanism through which the Israeli leadership can enact the ultimate execution of the Palestinian-Israeli two-state solution. In July, both men will be permitted to lay claim to vast areas of the Arab territory intended for the Palestinian state. The backbone of the Palestinian aspiration for statehood is to be finally snapped. Always supposing such a backbone still existed when its sick and geriatric leader is 84-year-old Mahmoud Abbas, whose continued and illegal presidency should have expired 11 years ago, and whose response to this territorial outrage is that he will take appropriate measures if the annexation goes ahead. His pitiful response, his appearance at his wooden presidential desk in Ramallah with a suitably dismal translator, provided a time-warp capsule of every Arab dictator pretending to be King Lear. But even the decrepit old Shakespearian monarchs threat of revenges what they are, yet I know not, but they shall bethe terrors of the earth is more eloquent than Abbass appropriate response, which will certainly have them shaking in their shoes in Jerusalem and Washington. Gantz, more Faustus than Lear, has repeatedly said that future land-grabs must have international consent now reduced to international discussions and we all know what that means. Goodbye to UN Resolution 242. Goodbye to the Oslo Agreement. Goodbye to the two-state solution, to road maps and EU initiatives, to all the peace plans of Tony Blair remember him? and especially goodbye to decades of US presidential appeals to Israel for restraint. When even Hanan Ashrawi, a brilliant literature graduate of the American University of Beirut as well as the one surviving and doggedly inspiring representative of her people, talks only of the unswerving determination of Palestinians to confront the Israeli-American agenda for annexation, you know that Netanyahu and Gantz and Trump and Kushner and, yes, Pompeo of course are going to get away with it. I loved the bit of Pompeo discretion, when he talked about the private setting [sic] in which we will work closely with them [the Israelis] to share with them our views on this [the annexation]. What he meant was that the Israeli political twins will some day soon turn up in Washington with a set of maps of their continuing colonial project in the West Bank and the most powerful nation in the world will humbly give its approval. For that is exactly what Pompeo said in words never hitherto uttered by a US president, let alone a secretary of state; bland, mischievous, boring words which will forever go down in history as Americas final abrogation of all responsibility for peace in the Middle East. As for the annexation of the West Bank, the Israelis ultimately make those decisions, so thats an Israeli decision. Thats what Pompeo said. And the key word was ultimately. The Israelis will always have the last say. They always have, of course. But now we know they always will. Forget the Israeli coalition and Israeli elections or non-elections now and forget Bibis little legal problems. Forget even, for once, coronavirus. This isnt even the proverbial nail in the coffin of Israeli-Palestinian peace. Appropriately for our times, the whole Palestinian aspiration for dignity, freedom and statehood has been sealed in a bag like a bacillus and swiftly interred. Henceforth, it can never be opened. There will be no resurrection. For health and safety reasons, the very mention of a two-state solution is buried forever. No mourners at the graveside, please. And amid all this, we are supposed to worry about Trumps tweeted threats against Iranian gunboats and take seriously Pompeos imperial diktat whereby Irans launching of a missile to put a satellite yes, Im sure it was a military satellite into space is a probable violation of UN Resolution 2231. But this resolution ran in parallel, did it not, with a nuclear agreement which Trump personally reneged upon. And did not UN resolution 242 after the 1967 Middle East conflict specifically emphasise the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war and the need to work for a just and lasting peace in which every state in the area can live in security? Well sure it did. But in 1967 there was no state called Palestine. And there still isnt. There are people called Palestinians, of course. But their land? 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Read more It was a typical start to his 2018 summer vacation when 8-year-old Dominick Pecora decided to buzz around his quiet Chester County neighborhood on his shiny, green bicycle. With his babysitter and older brother Christopher sitting on the front porch, he peddled fast and furiously in an out of their cul de sac. He rode up the street as fast as his legs could carry him, sped around a corner then flew over his handlebars and head-on into an approaching car. His mother, Karen Nudy Pecora, who works in family services for Calvary Cemetery in Conshohocken, was sitting at her desk just before lunch when a number she didnt recognize came up on her cell phone. It was a call that would later send her on a mission. I live in your neighborhood, and I just hit your son with my car, a distraught man told her. The next few moments were a blur. In 2018, 859 cyclists in the U.S. were killed in road traffic crashes, up 6.3% in a year, according to research from the U.S. Department of Transportations National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Between 2014 and 2017, 80,000 cyclists suffered head injuries in crashes with motor vehicles, but wearing a helmet reduced the likelihood of serious injury by 60%, according to National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) data. How do you have my phone number? Nudy Pecora asked the man who called her, looking for a clue as to how bad the news might be. If he got her number from the babysitter, she knew it would be serious. Instead, it was Dominick who gave the driver his mothers number. I was going so fast I couldnt register what was really going on, said Dominick, now 11, and an aspiring actor and model. I thought I hit a curb, but I saw a big black car. I sort of just collided and fell off. Save for some cuts and bruises, Dominick got up unscathed, thanks in part to the brand-new, skateboarder-type helmet he was wearing. The driver, who just moved into the Chesterbrook neighborhood, walked him back to his house. Dominicks shiny bicycle was mangled. His helmet was cracked. By the time Nudy Pecora got home, there was some slight swelling on her sons forehead along the helmet line. He was not showing any signs of a concussion or serious injury, but she didnt want to take a chance, so off they went to Paoli Hospitals ER. Dominick was promptly examined by doctors who ordered an X-ray and CT scan. All were negative. The doctor could tell from the location of the swelling on his forehead that Dominick was wearing a full-coverage helmet. Thats why he didnt have a serious head injury, Nudy Pecora was told. In Pennsylvania, all children under 12 must have a helmet when riding a bike. In New Jersey, it is all those under 17. She and her son left the hospital with a prescription to use ice as needed and headed off to Ritas Italian Ice for a treat she promised him earlier. Dominicks experience dovetails with the research the National Transportation Safety Board concluded; helmets help prevent head injuries. But, the agency discovered that even though wearing a helmet is the most effective way to reduce head injuries, less than half of cyclists use them. Adults are not required to wear bicycle helmets when riding, and only 21 states and the District of Columbia have any requirements for younger cyclists, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. I believed it happened so I can be this advocate, Nudy Pecora said. Ever since the accident, just as those first spring flowers begin to bloom and before kids hit the streets, Nudy Pecora will go crazy posting her story on social media, sending hundreds of texts and talking to every parent and teen she can find about bike helmets. She has even been known to hang out her second-story window to yell at a parent or kid who isnt wearing one. Spring is the time to make sure last years helmet is not cracked... fits tight.. and the straps are tight! Please do this today! Xoxo, she recently posted on the Main Line Parent Community page that was liked by more than 500 readers, many who told stories of similar accidents. She admits when she bought her boys helmets there wasnt a lot of thought put into the decision. Since her kids were also into scooters and skateboards at the time, they got a multipurpose one that would protect them for all of their activities. READ MORE: Safest bicycle lanes are those with physical barriers Dont chose a cute helmet, chose the safest helmet and decorate it with stickers. And check the fit every spring, Nudy Pecora advises parents. I think when I see kids without helmets or kids not strapping helmets on, no one has realized that it no longer fits properly, she said. Nudy Pecora didnt call the police or try to sue the driver, who was expecting his first child. Quite the opposite, they kept in touch, and she and her son frequent his local business. My son wasnt doing anything wrong, and [the driver] wasnt doing anything wrong, said Nudy Pecora. He wasnt driving erratically, he wasnt on his phone, it was truly a freak accident. It just happened in a split second; it was more a matter of a blind spot. It was a learning opportunity for everyone and a time to come together, she said. The driver immediately replaced Dominicks broken bike. Dominick hasnt skipped a beat since the accident. Hes moved on to BMX racing he and his friends practice jumping with their bicycles in the woods near their house. He recently came home with mud on top of his helmet, Nudy Pecora said. While Dominick was jumping he flew over his handlebars, landed on a fallen tree. He had the wind knocked out of him but nothing more. Always wear your helmet, and when you crash, check to see if your helmet is good and not cracked, he said. The helmet wasnt cracked, and we laughed about it, Nudy Pecora said about her sons recent mishap. Thats what you do when you have two boys who dont sit around and watch TV. And, you pray a lot. Beyonce Knowles-Carter, serving (the community, that is). Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images f Amid the various celebrity telecasts and efforts to lift spirits and offer support to charities during the coronavirus crisis, there has been one constant: Beyonce. She appeared on the Disney Family Singalong to offer her support to Feeding America and health-care workers. She wore a fun hat on the Global Citizen broadcast and used her platform to speak about how black Americans are disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic, both in health outcomes and through essential service positions. Even Blue Ivy is making PSAs. On now on April 23, Beyonces BeyGOOD initiative announced that it is pledging $6 million in funding to support organizations that tackle an often-overlooked element of the coronavirus pandemic: the mental-health toll on communities and essential workers, in particular. In a statement, the organization announced that it is partnering with UCLA and Twitter CEO Jack Dorseys #startsmall efforts to provide this $6 million to organizations providing mental wellness services. BeyGOOD also will also partner with the National Alliance on Mental Illness to provide local support in Houston, New York, New Orleans, and Detroit. In a statement from BeyGOOD on Beyonces website, the organization explains its reasoning for supporting mental-health and personal-wellness efforts, in particular: Beyonces BeyGOOD recognizes the immense mental and personal health burdens being placed on essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. In our major cities, African-Americans comprise a disproportionate number of workers in these indispensable occupations, and they will need mental health support and personal wellness care, including testing and medical services, food supplies and food deliveries, both during and after the crisis. On April 7, Dorsey tweeted that he will pledge $1 billion of his equity in Square to #startsmall LLC to fund global COVID-19 relief. So it looks like relying on the goodwill of the ultrawealthy and famous to support coronavirus efforts while the government is reportedly blocking intercepting PPE access and bungling its public health management is where we are. However, if this is the particular dystopian lot weve been dealt, were grateful Beyonces the one at the helm. Update, 11:20 PM, Thursday, April 23: Beyonce posted a video on her Instagram encouraging her followers to donate to those affected by the coronavirus pandemic. The impact of this pandemic is far reaching, and its going to take each and everyone of us to help make a difference, Beyonce wrote in a caption. If one of the organizations we are supporting speaks to your heart, you can join us and contribute by clicking the link in my bio. Justin Trudeaus heart may have been in the right place when he admonished news media in the hours after the slaughter of 22 people in Nova Scotia last weekend not to name or publish photos of the 51-year-old killer. But the prime minister is best advised to leave such decisions to those paid to make them. Trudeau specifically asked Canadian media not to focus on the perpetrator Do not give him the gift of infamy but on those whose lives were stolen over a hellish 12 hours of carnage across the central part of the province. Media outlets hardly needed to be told. They are as aware as the prime minister of research suggesting many mass killers are motivated by a desire for notoriety. And that acts of extreme violence can be contagious, used as instruction and inspiration by other roiling psyches. Nova Scotia media were particularly sensitive to these facts. The Halifax Chronicle-Herald posted an informative profile of the murderer along with this editors note: Some readers have expressed opposition to this story, not wishing to read about a mass murderers background. We respect their position. We dont ever want to glorify, but we must contextualize to begin to find the answers we all desperately want who, why and how. Providing personal history is crucial to this. This was responsible and appropriate. The Star, too, which along with other major news organizations like the Globe and Mail and CBC News, has named the killer while in no way glorifying the acts, has policies to guide how the naming question should be handled. Editor Irene Gentle reminded Star journalists this week that there is no iron rule. Our default is we name, she wrote. But there are a lot of nuances as to where, when, why and how. If a subject is still at large, doing so may keep people safe, she said. Naming helps avoid misinformation, can encourage those with information to come forward. Media also serve as a crucial historical record, bearing witness to important events publicly and transparently. Figuring out what happened, the motives and patterns, might help identify systemic failures and point the way to solutions, Gentle said. So, bottom line is we aim to serve journalistic mission and public service, to inform and expose, not to glamourize or glorify. It is plain that if the question as so many in grief-stricken Nova Scotia are asking is how and why did this happen? the answer must include some investigation into who was Gabriel Wortman? The first impulse to consign perpetrators as Trudeau urged to a nameless, faceless category of others, inhuman demon seeds, is understandable. Its the easiest way to absorb the horrific. Its the easiest way to report it. But such a response is as unhelpful as it is simplistic. Mass murder is a recurring human event, occurring in diverse times, places and cultures around the globe. Mass killers are part of humanitys psychological jigsaw puzzle of us, in part formed by us, and often living respectably among us until the day everything changes. Such nightmarish explosions are seldom due to one factor. As with most human behaviour, there are usually multiple ingredients biological, psychological and social. We need to be open to the possibility that the cause is all of the above: mental health, guns, rhetoric, culture and who knows what other specific circumstances in the life of the shooter, psychologist Daniel Stalder wrote last year on Psychology Today Canada. The case can be made that examination and discussion of a perpetrators life usually in the form of a psychological post-mortem because they are, usually by intent, killed in the act is exactly what must happen if we hope to find ways of preventing or reducing similar future events. Criminologists have found commonalities among perpetrators. There is no established link between mass murder and serious mental illness, though there is usually profound psychological and emotional turmoil. Mass shooters usually have long-nurtured grievance at what they perceive as an uncaring, unjust world, a sense of rejection, deep resentment and ceaseless rumination on past humiliations, wounds or abandonments that must be avenged. Most are male, between 20 and 50. The vast majority experienced early childhood trauma. Almost all had an identifiable crisis point in the weeks or months leading up to the shootings. Most had plans, often elaborate, along with access to weapons. Most shooters are suicidal and their crises are often known to others before the shooting occurs. Most signal their plans ahead of time. Everyone should be trained to recognize the signs of a crisis, American criminologists Jillian Peterson and James Densley wrote last year in the Los Angeles Times. It could be that getting to know Gabriel Wortman is the necessary means to a desired end. Averting our gaze, insisting that perpetrators are of a species not our own, inhuman, non-persons, is to ensure they will forever recur. Read more about: As the coronavirus spreads through Syria, there are fears for the prisoners languishing in Syrian regime prisons and calls for them to be released writes Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. Fears are growing for the tens of thousands of detainees languishing in Syrian regime prisons as the coronavirus spreads through the war-torn country, with poor conditions and a history of mistreatment exacerbating concerns. Syrias intelligence infrastructure currently holds around 130,000 detainees, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights (SNHR), with most arrested since the beginning of the popular democratic uprising against Bashar al-Assad in March 2011. At least 14,000 people are thought to have been tortured to death in regime jails, with mounting warnings that the spread of coronavirus could have devastating consequences for those currently imprisoned. In response to the coronavirus, Syrian regime authorities have announced a partial curfew and closed educational institutions and government departments. There are officially 39 confirmed cases of the virus and six deaths, although the regime is widely believed to be underreporting the true number of cases. We urge the authorities to cooperate with relevant humanitarian organisations wherever possible to plan and take the necessary precautions to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in prisons, and to ensure that prison conditions meet international standards, Rosie Dyas, the spokesperson for the British Government in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA), told The New Arab. The safety of detainees in Syrian prisons is the responsibility of the authorities responsible for those detention centres, and with the assistance of relevant humanitarian organisations, where possible, to support the efforts of the authorities to prevent the spread of Covid-19, she added. Prisoner conditions A lack of water, food, and medical care are common torture methods employed in Syrian prisons and detention centres, a reality of which 33-year-old Bashir al-Abdo from Idlib province is all too aware, having spent eight continuous years in regime jails. Water is barely drinkable, and always scarce, so it cannot be used to clean places of detention, wash clothes, or even wash hands, al-Abdo, who lives in Turkey, told The New Arab. I was held with two people in solitary confinement in an area of three meters. In the middle was a toilet whose water is cut off for one day and comes back the next. After 60 days, al-Abdo was transferred from Branch 291 to Branch 248, which is also run by military intelligence, where he was crammed into solitary confinement with five people without water or toilets. I could barely take a piece of bread with some rice or vegetables on it and eat it due severe beatings with sticks, and insults, al-Abdo said, adding that the toilet was the only source of drinking water. After 30 days of solitary confinement in military intelligence, al-Abdo was transferred to Sednaya prison near Damascus, a secret jail run by the intelligence services where large-scale executions were carried out, according to Amnesty International. We used to fill water in worn-out plastic bottles, because the water was sometimes cut off for four days. Some detainees die of thirst in solitary confinement, he said. Thousands detained The Syrian regimes intelligence services are divided into four areas; military intelligence, state security, political security, and air force intelligence. Its headquarters are in the capital, Damascus, and it has branches in all provinces and control points in cities and villages across the country. The four services actively pursue opposition activists inside and outside the country, and are linked with the National Security Bureau, which has been affiliated with the ruling party since 1963. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad directly oversees the management of the intelligence services, although each has an actual head. Al-Abdo was arrested in 2011 months after the revolution, which later evolved into a brutal, and ongoing, war. He was studying at the University of Latakia province and working as an activist, capturing the scenes of protests. Under torture, he was forced to make false confessions to state media. SNHR estimates that some 1.2 million people have been arrested in Syria since 2011. Because of overcrowding, I felt that half of the countrys population was being held. Lucky are those who can sleep sitting, al-Abdo said. Most detention centres are underground so the humidity was high, and the ventilation was always lacking, which causes shortness of breath, he said [There were] bleeding wounds resulting from torture everywhere. It is impossible to maintain cleanliness due to the lack of water, if any new prisoner enters with any disease such as a cold, everyone will be infected, he added. Human rights groups have lamented the conditions for prisoners in Syria, urging authorities to take action to prevent the spread of Covid-19. In Syrian prisons and detention centres, COVID-19 could spread quickly due to poor sanitation, lack of access to clean water and severe overcrowding, said Lynn Maalouf, Amnesty Internationals Middle East Research Director. US-based rights group Human Rights Watch (HRW) has also expressed concern that detainees are vulnerable to the spread of coronavirus. Syrias prisons hold tens of thousands of detainees. Many have been arbitrarily detained for their participation in peaceful protests or for expressing dissenting political opinion, the group said. Lack of medical care In Syrian jails, the lack of medical care is often a death sentence, with detainees scared to even ask for treatment for fear of reprisals and beatings. The vast majority die due to lack of medical care, diseases caused by lack of hygiene, nutrition, water, and weak body immunity, Fadel Abdul Ghany Chairman and founder of SNHR told The New Arab. Sometimes injured prisoners are treated in hospitals in Damascus run by intelligence services, namely Al-Mazzeh Military Hospital 601, Tishreen Military Hospital 607, and Harasta Military Hospital. But only detainees whose wounds have become severely infected and may need amputation are treated, and they spend the entire duration of their treatment in handcuffs. We have been informed by some of the detainees that they have been subjected to severe torture in hospitals. The Syrian regime does not have the capacity to provide respirators or treat detainees if corona[virus] spreads among them, Abdel Ghani said. The scale of torture in Syrian regime military jails was illuminated in 2014 by a Syrian military defector known as Caesar, who leaked photos of some 7,000 dead detainees. The photographed prisoners showed skeletal and mutilated corpses with burn marks, fractures and multiple wounds. As a result, the US passed the Caesar Act last year, which will target Syrian regime officials involved in murder and torture. It is expected to take effect in June. The US has confirmed that the sanctions will not affect the delivery of food or humanitarian goods, including medicines and medical supplies into Syria to help fight the coronavirus. Access to jails In light of the dire situation in Assads jails, HRW has called on humanitarian organizations and United Nations agencies to urgently press for access to formal and informal detention facilities to provide detainees with life-saving assistance. Nour al-Khatib, the official responsible for prisoners in the SNHR, recommends that specialized international committees should enter detention facilities without conditions or pre-scheduled dates, in order to improve conditions and prepare detainees for their release. The inspection committees are an urgent first emergency step to relieve the torture of detainees and spare them the corona[virus] epidemic until a political solution begins, she told The New Arab. Despite the calls, arrests are continuing. According to SNHR, the intelligence services arrested 156 people in March, and at least 36 people so far in April. The regimes non response does not mean that the pressure will stop, we will continue our demands until arbitrary arrests are stopped and all detainees are released, Al-Khatib said. 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 reproductive rate of Covid-19 has fallen further to between 0.5 and one, the Health Minister has said. The reproductive rate, known as R0 or R naught, fell to between 0.7 and one last week. Health Minister Simon Harris told the Dail the reproductive rate of Covid-19 has fallen again, meaning the virus is becoming suppressed within the community. Having fallen between 0.7 and one last week, it now stands at between 0.5 to one. This means each ten patients will likely infect another five or ten people. The virus will slowly be suppressed. Some good news: The reproductive rate has fallen even further to between 0.5 and 1. At beginning of April, 100 people a day were being admitted to hospital with #COVID19. That is now reduced to 40. The next 12 days matter and what you do matters. Stay the course and #StayAtHome Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) April 23, 2020 Mr Harris has said the lockdown will not be loosened in Ireland on a regional basis. It came as Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster said the region could emerge from restrictions at a different pace than other parts of the UK. That is something that is always under consideration but due to the size of the country that has not been practical in terms of the transmission of the virus. That is always kept under review. He said despite this we are by no means in a safe place and urged the public to stick with the restrictions. If we had to decide on lifting measures today for tomorrow, the chief medical officer advises me we would not make any changes. But we are working on a roadmap, which we will finalise over the next week. One which must acknowledge increased movement carries increased risk. We know there is a thin line between where we could have been, where we are and where we may yet be. Earlier, a professor of immunology raised concerns that Irelands scale of testing for Covid-19 is picking up only one in 10 cases. Paul Moynagh said officials need to ramp up the level of testing before considering lifting any of the current restrictions. He told RTEs Morning Ireland: In terms of community testing, if were picking up very few cases, the primary role theyre testing at the moment is for disease surveillance rather than being actively used to identify and suppress transmission. I think we need to address that and in fact, if you look at the WHO (World Health Organisation), they have indicated six conditions that a country must meet before considering lifting restrictions. At the top of them very much related to testing, and being able to test and trace every positive case and identify every contact. I dont think we are anywhere near that situation. Then being able to control the hotspots of infections, such as nursing homes, and obviously thats a key challenge at the moment. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) Prof Moynagh said the Department of Health needs to increase the amount and speed of testing. He added: We tend to be quite reactive because weve moved to a situation of testing nursing homes, which I think is absolutely the right thing to do, but that needs to be done at a scale where all residents and all workers can be tested. That probably needs to be done on a regular basis. That will essentially soak up most of the testing capacity, and then we reduce the level of testing we can do at community level. That is a concern of mine. I think we really need to look at testing in a very serious way, and begin to come up with a strategy, a road map and action plan in terms of where were going with testing. If were only picking up one in 10 cases, if were going to use testing as an active way to suppress transmission, then we definitely need that in order to lift restrictions. The best defence we have against limiting transmission of this virus is isolation, and as we move, inevitably, to lifting some of the restrictions, we need something there to help us in terms of suppressing that transmission. On Wednesday, the Department of Health confirmed a further 49 Covid-19-related deaths, taking the total since the outbreak began to 769. An additional 113 deaths are suspected to have links to coronavirus, the Department of Health has said. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) A senior civil servant said flexible working arrangements will be put in place for the partners of healthcare workers to help with childcare. At a Government press briefing on Thursday, Liz Canavan confirmed that two measures have been agreed by the Government in relation to childcare for health workers. The first measure relates to circumstances where one parent, guardian or partner is an essential healthcare worker, she said. In this case the other parent, guardian or partner will be supported by their public sector employer to remain at home to care for their children, so as to ensure the essential healthcare worker is able to go to work. In the first instance, flexible working arrangements will be put in place for the other parent or guardian, such as working from home or working adjusted hours or shifts. Though not anticipated, in the event that flexible arrangements do not allow the essential healthcare worker to attend work, it will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. NPHET (National Public Health Emergency Team) has indicated theres no public health rationale to suggest this measure cannot be implemented as soon as practicable. The second measure relates to the provision of childcare in workers homes. NPHET has indicated that this will be part of its consideration of a phased reduction of social distancing guidance, which are already in place. Two of Nigerias leading terminal operators, APM Terminals, Apapa, and the West Africa Container Terminal (WACT), Onne, have jointly committed over N300million to the battle against the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country, the companies have said. While APM Terminals has contributed N150 million into the Federal Governments COVID-19 Relief Fund Account created by the Central Bank of Nigeria, the WACT has contributed N50million into the same account. In addition, APM Terminals said it had donated 1,000 units of nose masks; 500 disposable protective coveralls; 400 litres of hand sanitizers; protective goggles, and hand gloves to the Lagos Port Complex of the Nigerian Ports Authority towards curtailing the pandemic. This is one battle we must join hands together to fight, and with the strong leadership being provided by the Federal Government, Nigeria will overcome this difficult times, said Martin Jacob, the Managing Director of APM Terminals. The company said its donation into the COVID-19 Relief Fund Account and the donation of safety items are coming barely two weeks after donating $200,000 (over N75 million) into the United Nations in Nigeria Basket Fund for the fight against COVID-19 in Nigeria and committed another N25 million on community awareness through radio, social media, as well as flyers to sensitize the Apapa community on how to curb the spread of the pandemic. Mr Jacob said the items donated by the company were aimed at preventing the spread of the virus at the port, since there is currently no vaccine to prevent it. The only option available to us all at this trying time is prevention, he said. The responsibility lies on all of us to protect ourselves and render all possible assistance within available resources. The basic precautionary measures to take such as not touching our eyes, nose, or mouth; regular washing of hands with soap and water or alcohol-based sanitizer; maintaining social distance and avoiding large gatherings must be respected by all including at the port where we provide essential services. The General Manager, External Relations of APM Terminals Apapa, Daniel Odibe, who handed over the nose masks and other items to the Port Manager of Lagos Port Complex, Apapa, Funmilayo Olotu, said all hands must be on deck to curtail the spread of the deadly virus. As a responsible corporate citizen of Nigeria, APM Terminals Apapa has complied with the directive of the Federal Government and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to maintain continuity in port operation, Mr Odibe said. In line with the directive, our terminal is in full operation. We have also adopted stringent safety measures in line with the guidelines of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Port Health Services to ensure that the supply chain remains uninterrupted and availability of essential supplies is maintained in the face of the pandemic. "The city of Monticello is excited to learn of the sale and new ownership of Indiana Beach. We look forward to working with Gene Staples and his family," Monticello Mayor Cathy Gross said. "We were so encouraged this week when we saw that Indiana Beach had turned on the blue lights at the Ferris wheel in support of Light Monticello Blue for essential workers. We hope and believe this is just the beginning of a great relationship and want to thank everyone that has made this possible. What is good for White County and our lake guests and residents is good for Monticello, and what is good for Monticello is good for them. This is truly good news and we welcome them to our community family." Copyright 2020 Albuquerque Journal Tests to see whether people have antibodies to the coronavirus and are possibly immune will be available in New Mexico in a week or so, health officials said Wednesday. The viral testing being done in the state determines whether people currently have COVID-19. An antibody, or serological, test shows whether someone has developed antibodies to the virus, which indicates theyve already been exposed to it. It is believed that most people exposed to the coronavirus dont show symptoms, so such a test could give insight into how the virus has spread among those who didnt know it, said Dr. Richard Larson, executive vice chancellor of the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. Larson predicted antibody testing will show that the virus is more widespread than current health department statistics indicate. Studies from elsewhere in the country indicate its possible that more than 50 times as many people have antibodies to the virus compared with those who tested positive after developing symptoms, health officials said. I think were going to have a few hundred thousand people, if that holds up, who are immune in New Mexico, Larson said. A large-scale study based on antibody testing in Los Angeles County in California indicated between 221,000 and 442,000 adults had antibodies to the virus at a time when there were only 8,000 positive tests, according to the Los Angeles Times. Larson discussed antibody testing at a virtual Albuquerque Economic Forum on Wednesday morning. And Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and other state officials talked about the test at a briefing in the afternoon. The (antibody testing) is critical in knowing everything we can about the prevalence of the virus, immunity to the virus and being able to assure consumers that, as we look at economic recovery, are you safe to go in to a grocery store or a business? Lujan Grisham said during the briefing. TriCore Reference Laboratories is working to get antibody testing validated and it could be up and running in seven to 10 days, Larson said. Lab officials didnt return calls for comment Wednesday. Dr. David Scrase, cabinet secretary for the Health and Human Services Department, cautioned against drawing too many conclusions from serology test results. For example, he said, it isnt known whether people who have antibodies are immune from the coronavirus, or how long that immunity would last. The antibody tests helps us understand our population better. And it will allow us to make better decisions, Scrase said. The test could prove beneficial to hospitals, Larson said, if officials knew which of its workers were likely immune to the virus and could then care for patients. He cautioned against allowing the worried well those who really need no medical treatment but are seeking assurance to be given immediate access to the tests and use limited resources once the tests are unveiled. Both Scrase and Larson suggested tests not be used as a magic bullet for lifting stay-at-home instructions and opening up the economy. I think you cant rely on it, Larson said. It will be useful, but its not going to be something where you are going to say, Just the people who get a positive (antibody) test go back (to work) and then those who dont, dont. LEAD | The Sanford Underground Research Facilitys 2020 Davis-Bahcall Scholars program joined a host of educational programs nationwide that have been postponed due to COVID-19-related precautions. Deb Wolf, director of Education and Outreach at Sanford Lab, said the students who were selected for the 2020 program will be invited back next year. The Davis-Bahcall Scholars program is an amazing opportunity for our South Dakota students, Wolf said. While our current situation prevents us from offering the program this summer, we are committed to providing this deserving group of students the chance to explore research and career pathways next summer. The Davis-Bahcall Scholars Program accepts eight South Dakota students who are entering science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields and who have demonstrated leadership in their communities. The program helps rising freshmen and sophomores understand just where their passions for STEM could take them. Students spend time at Sanford Lab learning from experts in dark matter, neutrino and biological studies. Then, they travel to two national laboratories in Chicago and to universities in Minnesota and Wisconsin before flying to Italy to spend time at Gran Sasso National Laboratory. The program, a joint effort between Sanford Lab and Black Hills State University, has served 129 students since 2009. It is funded through a grant from the South Dakota Space Grant Consortium and a donation from First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard, which has supported the program since 2016. Dana Dykhouse, chief executive officer at First PREMIER Bank, said the company "enthusiastically support the program and the experiences it provides to South Dakota students." The opportunity encourages young peoples exploration of the research and discovery being led by Sanford Lab scientists and provides a window to our future, Dykhouse said. Next years scholars are currently focused on completing their spring semesters as their high schools and universities transition online to promote nationwide social distancing protocols; however, the students took a moment to share their enthusiasm for next years programming. Lillian Gibson, a freshman at Grinnell College from Rapid City, said she is excited to experience an environment in which important scientific investigation is happening, while meeting the brilliant minds at work in the field she is passionate about. I like to understand things at a most fundamental level, which is why I find research into particle physics so compelling, Gibson said. Eric Lefevre said he has always wanted to understand the reason why things happen the way they do. Now a senior at Rapid City Stevens High School, he views scientific inquiry as a natural continuation of that childhood curiosity. While his future major is undecided, he hopes to find a rich supply of inspiration through this program. I applied to get a taste of the scientific community and their research efforts. This program offers an opportunity to collaborate with peers and explore the real science being carried out by professionals, Lefevre said. Victoria Deitschman, a freshman at the University of Minnesota, is from Sioux Falls. Deitschman is fascinated by the study of biodiversity, specifically ecosystem diversity. Her interest in the natural world stems from annual adventures with her family to various national parks across the United States. Deitschman applied to the program because it exposes students to various areas of research. I also wanted the chance to spend multiple weeks with people who share my passion for science, talk with and learn from professionals, travel and visit esteemed laboratories, Deitschman said. Sedonah Franzen said she read the textbook for her first physical science class from cover to cover and has been enthralled by science ever since. Now a freshman at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, Franzen is most interested in the fields of astrophysics and nuclear physics: I can't think of a better way to spend my future career than constantly learning more about the scientific laws governing our world. Through the program, I am hoping to learn more about different careers a degree in science can lead to, Franzen said. Also, I would like to learn more about the daily work of scientists. Twin brothers Harry and Henry Heiberger are both seniors at Brandon Valley High School in Brandon. Harry Heiberger said his interest in class experiments cascaded into a passion for science. He finds the interdisciplinary nature of biochemical engineering most compelling, as it provides insights into medicines and machinery that directly benefit human society. As someone going into research, I thought the opportunities this program presented were one-of-a-kind, Harry Heiberger said. From visiting innovative science facilities to meeting with world-renowned researchers, the Davis-Bahcall Program would truly engulf me in the world of science. Henry Heiberger hopes to gain a deeper understanding of physics and increase his knowledge about the current state of scientific research through the program. He is most interested in machine learning and robotics. This relatively new field has incredible potential to change lives, Henry Heiberger said. The thought of contributing to its advancement fills me with massive excitementthere is simply no other field like it. A freshman at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, Emily Orme considers science a universal field in which ideas and innovations are shared with people from all walks of life. She is interested in chemical research and aims to, one day, have a chemical process named after her. I applied to the Davis-Bahcall Scholars Program because I wanted to learn about the inner workings of scientific research, Orme said. I want to uncover my true passions for committing to research as my potential lifelong career. Mark Petraskos interest in science was first piqued when he visited his fathers cardiology office and saw an echocardiogram. Petrasko, a senior at OGorman High School in Sioux Falls, is fascinated by biologys ability to improve healthcare treatments and positively impact other people. When I read about the program, I couldn't believe that it was possible to explore that many different aspects of science in just one summer! I realized that it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and to not apply for it would be a mistake, Petrasko said. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Dev has directed officials to take strict action against landlords asking migrants workers and students to pay rent amid the coronavirus-induced lockdown. In the order issued on April 22, Dev said all district magistrates will run awareness campaign in their respective areas, advising "affected persons" to lodge police complaints against such errant landlords. It stated that the Delhi government had issued an order on March 29, according to which landlords have been asked not to demand rent for a period of one month from workers and migrants. The March 29 order had also stated that if any landlord is forcing labourers and students to vacate their premises, they would be liable for action under the Disaster Management Act. In the new order, the chief secretary said instances of landlords forcing students for payment of rent or else threatening them of eviction have been brought to the knowledge of the government. "The district magistrates shall undertake awareness campaign on the issue, particularly in areas having higher density of workers and students, to advice affected persons to lodgecomplaints to police control room by calling '100'..." Dev said in the order. He said deputy commissioners of police will forward weekly reports about such complaints. Earlier, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has requested landlords to not ask for rent from any person who is not able to pay in the wake of the ongoing lockdown. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had also issued an order on March 29 which stops landlords from demanding rent from students, workers and migrant labourers for a month. Those landlords who force people to vacate their houses will face action, the MHA statement warns. On Wednesday, the total number of coronavirus cases in the national capital rose to 2,248, with 92 new cases and one more death being reported in a day. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The UK government must include foreign-born allied health professionals in the scheme to automatically extend workers' right to live and work in the UK, says the SDLPs economy spokesperson Sinead McLaughlin. She was backing a call from the Royal College of Occupational Therapists. We owe a massive debt of gratitude to our health professionals and other essential workers, said Sinead McLaughlin. The UK government must now honour that debt by giving them the right to continue to live and work in the UK. That is the right thing to do, it is also a necessary thing to do to protect our health service. That principle should extend across our economy. Essential workers in the health sector, social care and also in agriculture and other core industries are needed, now and into the future as we emerge from the twin nightmares of Covid-19 and Brexit. I also make a plea to the health minister, Robin Swann, to commit to increasing the training of health workers, including by giving immediate approval for the Graduate Entry Medical School in Derry, to increase the supply of doctors in Northern Ireland. This is needed more than ever. Karin Orman, Assistant Director of Professional Practic, says: Occupational therapists are a key part of the UKs response to the COVID-19 crisis, supporting people as they are discharged from hospitals as well as supporting those 1.5m people that are having to self-isolate in their homes. The pressures on occupational therapists on the frontline have grown rapidly and we need to prioritise the future of the workforce, particularly in the next 12-18 months as the demands on rehabilitation in communities will grow. As part of this, we need to retain our overseas workforce, which accounts for around 3,000 occupational therapists in the UK. We are therefore calling on the UK government to extend the visa extension scheme to include occupational therapists working in the NHS and in social care. Even as the Indian Council of Medical Research has allowed plasma therapy for COVID-19 patients in Mumbai on an experimental basis, the challenge is to convince people to donate blood for it, officials said on Thursday. Also, extracting plasma from blood, its testing and then administering it to a patient is a complicated procedure and not as simple as it may appear on paper, they said. "The therapy involves extraction of plasma from the blood of recovered COVID-19 patients. These people are expected to have good amount of anti-bodies, which, by way of plasma, will be administered to COVID-19 patients," a senior epidemiologist from the Maharashtra health department said. The dose of plasma along with the ongoing medication will help the patient to build immunity as well as recover faster from the infection, he said. However, a Mumbai civic official said till Tuesday, only a couple of persons came forward to donate blood for the therapy, even as nearly 500 people have so far been discharged in the city after recovering from the disease. "We need to convince them to come forward and help others. After recovering, people have to remain in 14-day mandatory home quarantine from the date of discharge. Hence, it is difficult to collect their blood sample," he said, adding that medically also it is not advisable. The official said plasma therapy is a complicated procedure and not as simple as it may appear on paper. "The extraction of plasma, and its testing is crucial before treating others. It should also have sufficient anti- bodies," he said. Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope on Wednesday said the state has received permission from the Indian Council of Medical Research to carry out plasma therapy on COVID-19 patients in Mumbai on an experimental basis. "The plasma of those who have recovered from coronavirus infection has some antibodies. If these people's plasma is used with utmost precaution, it has proven to be useful," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A coalition of Civil Society Groups and some Nigerian individuals under the aegis of Civil Society Alliance Against COVID-19 (CSAA COVID-19) have called on the government to be sensitive to the plight of Nigerians as its plans to extend the lockdown measures across the country. The groups, numbering 71, made the call barely hours after state governors agreed to restrict movement across the country as a measure of combating the COVID-19 outbreak ravaging the country. In a statement jointly signed and issued on Tuesday, the coalition expressed its worries over the tremendous hardship placed upon Nigerians by the current lockdowns across the country. President Muhammadu Buhari had issued a lockdown in three states, Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory, and most states across the country had followed suit, restricting movement and closing their state borders. This had increased the hardship on many Nigerians as over 80 per cent work in the informal sector and rely on daily earnings for survival, the group said. With the number of COVID-19 infections rising daily across the country, the federal and state government have agreed to impose restrictions on movements, in order to halt the spread of the virus. As of the time of reporting, Nigeria has recorded 873 confirmed cases in 24 states and the FCT. Of the confirmed cases, 197 infected people have recovered and have been discharged while 28 deaths have been reported, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari. The groups advised the government that if it will be extending the lockdown, it should design and communicate a clear strategy for the management of the pandemic and the provision of safety nets in the final week of this current lockdown in our commercial and political capitals. Safety nets required include access to basic needs as food, water, sanitation and security which are the legitimate entitlement of every citizen. Any plans for a prolonged lockdown without efficiently and transparently administering these safety nets could create a cure that is as bad as the illness, it said. In another statement, Anap Foundation COVID-19 Think Tank, founded in March to help Nigeria overcome the COVID-19 pandemic threat, agreed with the other groups and called on the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, the Nigerian Governors Forum and other stakeholders to evaluate the effectiveness of compulsory lockdowns as well as the unintended consequences which they continue to generate. The groups complained about the killing of Nigerians by the security agencies in their bid to enforce various compulsory lockdown measures. Anap, composed of 18 members across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and the diaspora (USA & Germany), in a statement signed by its chairman, Atedo Peterside, said while 28 people have so far died from the virus, the security agencies have killed 25 persons across the country in a bid to enforce various compulsory lockdown measures. A situation where Nigerians are being killed daily by law enforcement agencies at almost the same pace as the Coronavirus kills them is totally unacceptable, he said. All the groups called for the government to review the strategy, as it is clear that Compulsory Lockdowns (as implemented by our own security agencies) are not working. Food has become a lot more expensive in various urban centres, as transportation costs have soared due to rising security obstacles, arbitrary closure of inter-state borders and other supply chain disruptions. The group agreed that restricted market days and curfews often result in needless overcrowding thereby negating adherence to social distancing. They also lamented the increasing rate of insecurity in the country as a result of the lockdown. The groups said the longer the compulsory lockdown, the higher the risk of a breakdown of law and order. It said the governments effort at distributing food and money has not been sufficient as only a fraction of those who need it gets it. We believe there is a need to change direction from a compulsory lockdown to an intelligent lockdown which largely thrives on voluntary actions by an informed populace. Instead of enforcing the lockdown, they advised the government to embark on public enlightenment and awareness campaigns to educate the populace whilst also helping to popularise self-quarantine. These awareness campaigns and self-quarantine measures have helped and they should continue. What Nigeria needs now is movement towards an Intelligent and Sustainable Lockdown which is based largely around voluntary compliance. The more Nigerians understand, the more they can self-regulate, they said. Advertisements Hong Kong reshuffles cabinet to revive economy hit by pandemic Iran Press TV Wednesday, 22 April 2020 8:00 AM Hong Kong has appointed five new principal officials as part of one of its biggest cabinet reshuffles in years in a declared attempt to revive its economy hit by the new coronavirus pandemic. The reshuffle, announced on Wednesday, was approved by China's State Council earlier in the day. Based on the new appointments, Director of Immigration Eric Tsang will replace Patrick Nip as head of the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau. Nip has been reassigned as the head of the city's civil service, replacing Joshua Law. The shake-up came two days after Nip apologized for conflicting statements from Hong Kong's government about the role of Beijing's Liaison Office in the city. Beijing's top representative office in the city had said it was not bound by a law that restricted interference by other mainland Chinese agencies in Hong Kong. The remarks prompted conflicting statements from the Hong Kong government regarding the legal status of the Liaison Office, and Nip apologized for that confusion. Hong Kong's secretary for financial services and the treasury, secretary for innovation and technology, and secretary for home affairs will also be replaced under the new reshuffle plan. Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam said the replacement of the ministers was aimed at reviving the economy of the Asian financial hub, which has been hit by the coronavirus outbreak. "I have started to map out the strategies for rebooting Hong Kong after the pandemic," Lam said at a news conference. "A major goal of this reshuffle is to help Hong Kong to get out of this difficult situation as soon as possible." Lam also said that the new appointments had nothing to do with the episode involving Beijing's Liaison Office. The novel coronavirus, which causes a respiratory disease known as COVID-19, emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in Hubei Province late last year, incrementally affecting the rest of the world. The virus has afflicted some 2.56 million people around the world and killed nearly 177,500 others, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University. Hong Kong has so far reported 1,030 confirmed cases and four deaths. The city had been rocked by turbulent protests since June last year, when the government of the semi-autonomous territory proposed a bill that would have reformed the city's extradition law. The bill was later withdrawn, but protests continued and took on violent forms. The pandemic then ended the protests. Hong Kong has been governed under a "one-country, two-system" model since the city a former British colony was returned to China in 1997. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Director Martin Scorsese's 2013 feature "The Wolf of Wall Street" might belong to Leonardo DiCaprio but it wouldn't be as perfect as it was without Matthew McConaughey's chest-thumping scene. The movie was based on the true story of New York City stock broker Jordan Belfort, played by DiCaprio, chronicling his rise and fall in the 90s. McConaughey played the role of Mark Hanna, the boss of Belfort at his earlier company L.F. Rothschild. In one of the key scenes from the movie, McConaughey's Hanna is explaining the rules of the stockbroking game to Belfort at a high-end restaurant when he starts thumping his chest with his fist in a musical rhythm accompanied with synchronised chants. The 50-year-old actor decided to decode the scene during his new Twitter series "McConaughey Takes". "They had this one line that was written, and I call it a launchpad line. I had one in 'Dazed and Confused' and I had one in Magic Mike.' Sometimes you get a line in a script and the imagination just soars. If you can unpack that line, if this character means that, then there's an encyclopedia on this character. "That line with Mark Hanna is, he's explaining the secret of his business to Leonardo's character and he says, 'The secret is cocaine and hookers'. I just read that and said, If this guy really believes that, then who the hell is this guy?'" McConaughey said. He said the chant was not written in the script and it was actually a technique for relaxation that he used to do before every scene in every movie. "The actual chant, that is something I'll do not only in this film but before scenes in a lot of films. I'll come up with a different tune and it's a relaxation tool for me. "It's musical, so it gets me out of my head because I don't want to be thinking as an actor, I want to be doing. I was doing it before every take and then on action,' I'd go to do the scene. It keeps my voice low and my instrument loose," the actor added. But DiCaprio observed McConaughey's habit and asked the director to include it in the scene. "We did five takes and we have the scene, Martin is ready to move on and I'm good. As we're packing up to go onto another scene, Leonardo goes, What's that thing you're doing before the scene? What if we put that in the scene?' "We rolled and I did it in the beginning and then into my sales pitch. And I didn't know if I was going to do it again. I got to the end and I said, 'You know what, musically it'd be great to book in this scene with that. Because I start off with the beat and then I give them a rap on what it is to be a broker in this business," the actor said, adding that the scene was shot in just one take. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) LUDLOW - Investigators have determined a fire late Tuesday that killed the resident of a Rood Street apartment was the result of careless disposal of smoking materials on a second-floor porch, according to officials. Compounding the fire was that the apartment in the multifamily home at 196 Rood St. had no working smoke detectors, and the only exit was a door leading to the burning rear porch, according to a joint statement issued by the Ludlow Fire and Police departments, the state Fire Marshal, and the Hampden District Attorneys Office. The woman resident was trapped inside and unable to get out until firefighters arrived. She was found inside and carried out by firefighters through a bedroom window. She died later at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. Her name was not yet being disclosed to the press. Firefighters were were called to the scene just before 11 p.m. for a reported fire. The woman told dispatchers the apartment was on fire, and she could not get outside. The dwelling sustained an estimated $100,000. According to Ludlow records, the property is owned by Pedro D. Fernandes and Luciana L. Rodamilans, and has a total assessed value of $614,000. The property is described as an 1800s mansion that was converted into a multi-unit apartment building. The town has launched a code-compliance investigation after finding no working smoke detectors and only one means of entrance or exit. Chief Ryan Pease said landlords are required to have functioning smoke detectors that are less than 10 years old in every apartment and common hallways. If you rent and there are no working smoke alarms, please contact the Ludlow Fire Prevention Bureau and we will work with your landlord to improve your fire safety, he said. "We are happy to work with you to make sure your property is in compliance and your tenants are safe. Fire Marshal Peter Ostroskey said this is the second fire death in Massachusetts in less than a week blamed on smoking materials. No matter where you smoke, please be responsible, he said. "Use a deep sturdy ashtray or a can with sand or water and put it out. All the way. Every time. The fire marshalls office has information on smoking fire safety on its web page: www.mass.gov/smokingfiresafety. Have you been spending hours on social media? Admittedly, there are times when you don't know what to do anymore, especially if you've already commented to all the posts that caught your attention, liked all the trending photos and videos, and chatted all your contacts on messenger. The good news is that there's one more thing to do that won't make you feel bored-read! If you don't have any idea yet on what good stories would make your eyes glued on your phone, tablet, or computer screen, these five Latin American books can help you get started. His novel, "Pedro Paramo" brought Rulfo to global popularity. However, his short stories are, in the same way, are worthy of spending time. Specifically, "The Llano in Flames," from what's described as a homonymous book, ideally embodies this author's trademark: "economy of prose, sensorial images," that, in their responsiveness to nature considerably captures the heart of rural Mexico. Besides, the characters Rulfo used in this story seem to have existed beyond both life and death. More popular with his famous novel, "One Hundred Years of Solitude," This Colombian author was the same author of most outstanding short stories of his time. In this story, a wealthy couple, on their way to their honeymoon in Europe, goes through a theatrical, Kafkaesque ordeal, leading the reader to a suffocating expedition. According to legend, Borges said that half-a-century would have served for "One Hundred Years of Solitude," although not a single word is said to be "a word too many" in this splendid story. This novel is nothing short of phenomenal that all of the short fiction of Lispector is available in English. Selecting one story of one of the most excellent writers of Latin America can be a painful thing to do. However, an important entry point to her novels is "The Fifth Story," from her "the Foreign Legion" book. Relatively, all of Lispector's characteristics include particular linguistic oddness, the treason of domestic space, the meta-fictional bent, and everyday life's sadistic brutality that that would all detonate in her later works. Unlawfully underpublished in the English language, this writer is one of the most singular voices of Chile. Mestizo, gay, communist, and working-class, it would be quite a challenge to look for a more doubtful survivor of the years of Pinochet. In this story from his other story, "La Esquina es mi corazon," Lemebel expresses a tale of violent homophobia, class, and desire. Additionally, Lemebel does so honestly, charmingly, and with typical dark humor. As a so-called "transvestite flaneur," this author is described as an ideal guide to the Latin American city. In "Towards Happy Civilisation," from the minimalist, "Mouthful of Birds," readers follow a city dweller's misadventures as he gets stuck at a train station in the province, trying to go back to the capital. The seemingly simple act of lodging a train is somewhat complicated to an absurd extent. One of the main features of this story is the criticism of the state of the railways in Argentina. Also evident are some commentaries on civilization versus barbarism binary behind the identity of an Argentinian. In general, this is a story that amuses and, at the same time, unsettles equal measure. Check these out! 5 Legendary Kids' Films Starring Latino Actors, Before 'Coco' Became a Favorite 'Money Heist': A Must-Watch Series While on Lockdown A Journey Through Decades of National Honduran Cinema LIVINGSTON COUNTY, MI - Livingston County saw four additional cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, the sixth single-digit increase in the span of a week. The county now has 312 cases of the novel coronavirus, per the statewide update at 3 p.m. April 23. There were no newly reported fatalities, leaving the death toll at 11, according to the county health department database. The deceased patients include seven elderly women and four elderly men, all but one of whom suffered from underlying health conditions, said health department spokeswoman Natasha Radke. Livingston Countys confirmed coronavirus patients are dying at a rate just more than 3%, according to the county health database. The rate takes into account the COVID-19 deaths divided by the number of confirmed cases but keep in mind, the actual number of COVID-19 cases is likely much higher than the number that has been confirmed. 7 more coronavirus cases in Livingston County, no new deaths There have been 65 county residents hospitalized with COVID-19. Women make up 56% of the countys cases and men make up about 44%. Patients age 50 to 59 account for about 24% of the countys cases. There are 37 cases in people 29-years-old or younger. There have been 153 recoveries from COVID-19, according to the health department. Recovered patients have to be fever-free for 72 hours, have improved respiratory symptoms and have at least a week since symptoms first appeared. Livingston County has activated its Emergency Operations Center to ensure community members are informed and provided resources daily, according to a news release. For more information, visit the county site at LCHD.org or the countys emergency management or health pages on Facebook. Statewide novel coronavirus cases surpassed 35,000, and deaths nearly reached 3,000. For more updates from April 23, click here. Sorry, but your browser does not support frames. Sorry, but your browser does not support frames. Read all of MLives coverage on the coronavirus at mlive.com/coronavirus. Additional information is available at Michigan.gov/Coronavirus and CDC.gov/Coronavirus. The last week of coronavirus in Livingston County: Coronavirus cases surpass 300 in Livingston County 5th straight day of single-digit increase in coronavirus cases in Livingston County 1 new coronavirus death reported in Livingston County, 3 new confirmed cases 1 new coronavirus death reported in Livingston County, 5 more hospitalized 6 more coronavirus cases confirmed in Livingston County, no new deaths for first time this week PORTLAND, Ore. Oregon public health officials have identified 57 new cases of the new coronavirus in the state as of 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 22. Earlier this week, the state also released its first estimate for the number of recovered cases. The Oregon Health Authority said that there are now a total of 2,059 people in the state who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through a positive test. At present, 78 deaths have been attributed to the virus. We want to keep you informed about #COVID19 in #Oregon. Data are provisional and change frequently. For more information, visit https://t.co/HOiXqGkygF pic.twitter.com/0dFMWdgNvC OR Health Authority (@OHAOregon) April 22, 2020 RELATED: Jackson County reports 33 recoveries on sixth day of no new COVID-19 cases OHA reported new cases in the following counties: Clackamas (10), Coos (1), Deschutes (2), Jefferson (1), Linn (1), Marion (7), Multnomah (24), Washington (10) and Yamhill (1). In a weekly report released on Tuesday, the Oregon Health Authority said that at least 595 of state's surviving cases were considered recovered from the virus. At the time the report was compiled, there were 1,853 total surviving cases. 682 were considered not yet recovered, while 576 were still pending. "Recovery Oregon is assessing recovery of COVID-19 cases by calling each case to determine if they have recovered and the date of recovery," OHA said. "A person is considered recovered once they are free of fever (without the use of fever-reducing medication), cough, and shortness of breath for 72 hours. If they are not yet recovered, public health staff will call back weekly until the person is recovered. COVID-19 cases without symptoms are considered recovered 7 days after the last positive test." The median recovery time for all cases with symptoms was 14 days, while the median recovery time for hospitalized cases was 16 days. OHA has a partial, but incomplete count of how many people in the state have been hospitalized from the virus. According to that data, at least 488 Oregonians have been hospitalized since the outbreak began, about 24 percent of the total cases. State numbers still vary widely. While the state lists only 124 COVID-19 patients currently hospitalized, that number rises to 302 when suspected COVID-19 patients are included indicating that many still have not received results from a completed test. Of the confirmed patients, 24 are on ventilators. SPECIAL SECTION: Coronavirus Watch OHA: Modeling report shows 'physical distancing measures are working' On Friday, OHA released an update to its epidemic modeling report, intended to help Oregons leaders understand the progression and the projections for the COVID-19 outbreak. "Todays modeling update tells us that statewide mitigation efforts are keeping the caseload and hospitalizations well below the numbers we would have seen absent our efforts as a state," said state epidemiologist Dean Sidelinger, MD. "We are encouraged by the continued success of our mitigation efforts, which are allowing us to begin planning for suppression strategies for when the statewide measure can begin to be lifted." OnTheClock is offering a helping hand to small businesses during this crisis. "We are hopeful that OnTheClock can help ease this challenging time by providing the tools necessary to ensure employee hours are recorded accurately for payroll without the extra financial burden." OnTheClock, a company that helps businesses effectively track employee time, is doing its part to help employers who are transitioning in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. Effective immediately, OnTheClock will provide new clients free access to its time tracking system through June 30, 2020. "As part of our commitment to philanthropy, and understanding the financial and logistical impact COVID-19 is having on businesses worldwide, we've decided to be part of the solution to this pandemic," said Chief Executive Officer Dean Mathews. "Having access to an effective time tracking system, without any additional financing, will be of tremendous help to employers." OnTheClock allows employees to easily clock in and out on any device. It also includes administrative features that allow supervisors to see who's currently working and where they are, add missed clock-ins or clock-outs, run payroll reports, approve time off and more. Free time tracking from OnTheClock is available to any organization affected by COVID-19. OnTheClock is asking only for a good faith promise of a commitment that your company is affected from the current crisis. To take advantage of the offer, visit ontheclock.com, click on the try free button, and enter your information. You can then easily import your employee information. "We are hopeful that OnTheClock can help ease this challenging time by providing the tools necessary to ensure employee hours are recorded accurately for payroll without the extra financial burden," said Mathews. "Our system is easy-to-use and can be accessed through a Web browser, Android or Apple tablet or mobile application." Mathews, a software developer and Romeo, Mich. resident, founded OnTheClock in 2004 in response to a growing need for an effective Web-based time clock and payroll system. After developing and rolling out the program as a side job, he partnered with his brother Mark, also a software developer, and grew the company to include 12 employees, now serving 10,000 customers worldwide. OnTheClock started as Mathews' passion project and continues as such. Even though the work "pays the bills," the Mathews brothers' ultimate goal is to help small businesses effectively track time more easily, accurately and efficiently, independent of profit. This unique company philosophy creates an environment of trust and transparency for all stakeholders. OnTheClock is dedicated to helping small businesses easily, accurately and efficiently track employee time. Founded in 2004 and based in Clinton Township, Mich., the company now serves 10,000 small businesses and their employees around the world with a dedicated team that includes product developers, graphic designers, marketers, billing staff, leadership and customer support staff. Learn more at ontheclock.com. Pandemic causes uncertainties for chip maker in 2Q By Baek Byung-yeul SK hynix is facing unprecedented uncertainty with its memory chip business as the COVID-19 pandemic is causing market volatility, SK Group said Thursday. In the first quarter, the world's No. 2 memory chip maker offset falling demand from mobile device manufacturers with increased demand from server and data center operators, as well as a rise in semiconductor prices. But the company said it was difficult to plan for the future as the coronavirus crisis may continue to disrupt production and increase market volatility. In a regulatory filing to the Korea Exchange (KRX), the country's bourse operator, SK hynix said it logged 7.2 trillion won ($5.8 billion) in sales and 800 billion won ($648 million) in operating profit during the first three months of 2020. These were up a respective 4 percent and 239 percent quarter-on-quarter due to a surge in the sales of chips for servers, improved yield rates and cost reductions, the firm said. The company mainly sells DRAM and NAND flash memory chips and saw strong demand for DRAMs from server clients, offsetting weak demand from smartphone manufacturers, which declined both from seasonal demand slowdown and the COVID-19 impact. "As a result, our bit shipments declined by only 4 percent quarter-on-quarter while the average selling price for DRAMs increased by 3 percent quarter-on-quarter," it said. The bit shipment of NAND flash memory chips and the average selling price also increased by 12 percent and 7 percent, respectively, thanks to favorable demand from operator of servers with solid-state drives (SSDs). In response to the market uncertainty, SK Hynix plans to decrease investment compared to last year and work towards completing its new M16 semiconductor fabrication plant. "SK hynix will maintain its previously announced investment plan which has notably decreased year-on-year. The company will fully commit itself to technology migration and the preparation of its M16 FAB's clean room planned for the end of the year," the company said. SK hynix is currently constructing the M16 plant at its headquarters in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province. To meet the growing demand for CMOS image sensors, which are mainly used in smartphones, the company will continue converting some of its DRAM production lines to image sensor ones. It will also continue to transfer its existing NAND flash memory chip production capacity to 3D NAND flash memory chips, which offer increased storage density. Speaking of concerns about disruptions in chip production due to the pandemic, the company said it is operating its facilities normally by following the guidelines of the respective quarantine authorities where its production bases are located, and operating a taskforce to react quickly to any change in the situation. "We were able to ensure our global production sites operated normally while adhering to each country and local government's advice and regulations. We also established a COVID-19 taskforce when the pandemic erupted in the middle of January, which also contributed to the normal operation of our production sites," the company said. "SK hynix will minimize potential risks caused by COVID-19, and set up future technology innovation and infrastructure to timely react to 5G and server-based growth momentum," Cha Jin-seok, vice president and head of finance at SK hynix, said. Listen carefully to the progressive Left and you may discover that when they say democratic values, they mean I get to tell you what to think. Its nothing new to argue that the people must be forced to conform to the preferences of the cultural elites. It takes a certain mental flexibility to do this in the name of democracy. I refer to the Harvard Law professor Elizabeth Bartholets stated case for why it should be illegal for you to homeschool your children in her something must be done cry in Harvard Magazine. Bartholet wants the state to ride in on horseback and break up all those sinister gatherings in which families go through the multiplication tables together. Or discuss the Constitution. Or sharp intake of breath even study the Bible. Bartholet makes some half-hearted noises about opposing homeschooling because it supposedly leads to child abuse, or because homeschool parents are unlettered troglodytes who dont know which end of the pencil the ink comes out of. (People can homeschool whove never gone to school themselves, who dont read or write themselves, she claims.) These are just warmup arguments, though (dismantled here and here). Even Bartholet doesnt really seem to believe them. The crux of her case against homeschoolers is that they might grow up thinking thoughts Bartholet does not agree with. Thats the risk of homeschooling. Its important, Bartholet tells us, that children grow up exposed to community values, social values, democratic values, ideas about nondiscrimination and tolerance of other peoples viewpoints. Democratic values? Democratic means ruled by the common people, or, less literally, people making their own choices rather than being directed from the top down. What could be more bottom-up, more infused with the spirit of the demos, than individual families making their own individual curricula without a lot of state intrusion? If Bartholet desires to see the flourishing of ideas about nondiscrimination and tolerance of other peoples viewpoints, discriminating against people because she is intolerant of their viewpoints is a funny way to show it. Story continues Intolerance, even disgust, for other peoples viewpoints is all over the paper in the Arizona Law Review article that inspired the Harvard Magazine piece. Professor Bartholet is vibrating at about 50,000 megahertz with righteous panic about the cultural education of homeschooled children. Among the points she makes or quotes approvingly: As time went on, the conservative Christian wing became the clear majority of all homeschoolers. Many homeschoolers dislike exposing their children to ideas such as secularism, atheism, feminism, and value relativism. Homeschoolers consider even basic literacy to have little importance compared to unflinching acceptance of religious doctrine and reactionary political views. Some homeschooling parents are extreme religious ideologues who live in near-total isolation and hold views in serious conflict with those generally deemed central in our society. Homeschoolers were more likely than public schoolers to feel that the dominant U.S. culture was hostile to their moral values and more likely to support a gendered division of labor within the home. Bartholet knows that home schools arent dens of abuse. Shes afraid they might be dens of conservatism. For heavens sake, homeschoolers may even grow up thinking that Mommy should do the cooking and Daddy should do the oil changes. Never mind that even most liberals actually live their lives with a heavily gendered division of labor within the home, and if you dont believe me I can refer you to about 6,000 irate columns by seething liberal women whose liberal husbands arent doing enough child care. Bartholet frets that homeschoolers might grow up not even minding the gendered nature of household labor enough to shriek about it in a letter to Dear Prudence. Bartholets argument arrives at an important moment for an increasingly robust movement: Millions of Americans are involuntarily homeschooling their children owing to coronavirus lockdowns, and some of them will decide to carry on with it. Even before the virus, there were already more American children in home schools (around 2 million) than in Catholic schools. Bartholet is right to think the movement constitutes a pedagogic rival to an educational establishment that, certainly in the public schools and increasingly even in the private ones, has succeeded in imposing an almost across-the-board progressive orthodoxy on American kids, whether their parents like it or not. Fred Bauer writes that Bartholets idea of outlawing home schools a la Germany and Sweden, whose examples she slaveringly cites, makes her an enemy of pluralism, and so she is. It takes chutzpah to do this in the name of diversity. Bartholet writes in a footnote to her academic article, Homeschooling denies children a proper civic education, and fails to expose them to constitutional norms like tolerance and diversity, which impacts the fabric of democracy. Diversity generally means a superficial notion of looking around the table and seeing a gorgeous mosaic of people different races, ethnicities, nationalities, and at least several of the 71 genders who all think exactly the same way. But to the extent diversity is a constitutional norm, it means ideological pluralism respect for different ideas, especially religious ones. Bartholet may hate that that religion often plays a major part in the decision to homeschool, but religion, too is a matter of democracy. That American families may make their own decisions on matters of worship, rather than accepting the official state religion, is deeply consonant with democratic values. Intellectuals, judges, and professors seem to think citing how other countries, especially European ones, operate constitutes a robust riposte, a.k.a., a sick burn. But Americans have always done things differently from Europeans owing to our more expansive, more demos-driven notions of individualism and liberty. Religious democracy interlocks with religious liberty to form the very origins of the United States of America. In other words, our democratic values differ from Europes. Look it up: Thats kind of the whole point of America. More from National Review The UK government has been urged to keep trade with Africa flowing in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that experts say is threatening to destroy 20 years of economic progress on the continent. The call comes from Erastus Mwencha, the former Secretary-General of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and Tony Pengelly, the Director of the Secretariat for the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group for Trade Out of Poverty. Writing in The Daily Telegraph newspaper this week, they said: Trade has been the heartbeat of Africas success, with the UK alone importing 12.7 billion in goods and services from Africa in 2016, much of which from the agriculture sector. But this vital economic activity, and the millions of livelihoods it sustains, is under threat. We must act now to keep trade with Africa flowing. The writers noted that trade in the Eastern African Community had fallen by 25 per cent since the beginning of this year and warned of the danger of protectionist policies that were being advocated in the UK. Policymakers must understand the full consequences if stringent new production standards are imposed on imports, as some in the UK are calling for. Exports from much of Africa would be effectively locked out from the UK and their other major markets around the world, leading to countless jobs being lost on the continent, where unemployment rates are already as high as 70 per cent. At the same time, British consumers would be denied goods such as Kenyan tea and green beans, or Ghanaian cocoa and fruit. There are no winners in this situation, write Mr Mwencha, who is also a former Deputy Chairman of the African Union Commission, and Mr Pengelly. The writers urged the UK government to leverage its world-class aid infrastructure and long-standing partnership with African countries to rapidly put in place schemes to ensure African supply chains are safe and kept open. Ten years ago, the UK established TradeMark East Africa (TMEA), which is now a major player in the areas of trade and development. It has just launched a 16 million Safe Trade Emergency Facility, which is providing short- and medium-term financing that is assisting trade during the COVID-19 pandemic. But Mr Mwencha and Mr Pengelly called on the UK to intensify its dialogue with Africa to plan for returning to a prosperous, more resilient future. They added: This can be done by establishing a UK-Africa Prosperity Commission to chart out the future direction for a new economic partnership covering safe trade, green investment and technology, and aid for trade. Bringing together UK government ministers with African governments and the African Union, as well as those at the forefront of existing initiatives working to boost economic activity on the continent, the Commission would examine how the UK and Africa can build-back-better after the COVID-19 epidemic. 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 Rep. Maxine Waters said Thursday that her sister is dying of the coronavirus in a St. Louis hospital. Ahead of a vote on a package worth more than $480 billion in pandemic response, she dedicated the legislation to her sister: I am going to take a moment to dedicate this legislation to my dear sister who is dying in a hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, right now infected by the coronavirus. The California Democrat and chair of the House Financial Services Committee was wearing a face mask, which she lowered to address the room about the Paycheck Protection Program, which already passed, and the pending Health Care Enhancement Act. Her announcement came the same day Sen. Elizabeth Warren announced that her brother died of the virus earlier this week. Waters, a frequent critic of President Donald Trump, has been rebuking him for his handling of the crisis in recent weeks. Sunday, she asked her social media followers to use the power and influence of Twitter to demand testing, testing, testing! and told the president to stop politicking. After video of Waters touching tribute was posted on Twitter, condolences came in from the political world, including from Sen. Bernie Sanders former press secretary Briahna Joy Gray and The Young Turks' Emma Vigeland. Rep. Maxine Waters: "I am going to take a moment to dedicate this legislation to my dear sister who is dying in a hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, right now infected by the Coronavirus." pic.twitter.com/sX58UK1A3L The Hill (@thehill) April 23, 2020 Read original story Rep. Maxine Waters Says Her Sister Is Dying of Coronavirus (Video) At TheWrap IMAGINE what it would be like to get a short back and sides, your roots done or fringe chopped. Well people across Ireland were reminded what that forbidden experience was like on TV on Monday night. Abbeyfeale has more hairdressers and barbers per head of population than any other town in Ireland. A new documentary cleverly titled Abbeyfealegood explored the full spectrum of human experience - from the tragic to the magic - through the 16 barbers and hairdressers in the town. It aired on RTE One on Monday evening and is now available on RTE Player. Locals come to get their hair cut or coloured but they also come to talk. There is a unique and intimate bond between customers and hairdressers and some of them have known each other for decades. It featured many great characters like Florrie OConnell. The barber is so popular he doesnt even need a sign over his door. Poignantly, one of the longest serving priests in the Limerick Diocese, the Very Reverend Canon James Neville, was in Florries chair just two days before he died. The show delved a lot deeper than, Any holidays planned? There were many light-hearted moments but also stories of grief and loss. Alisha Scannell OConnor, of Trendy Locks Hairdressers, shared the deeply personal and tragic story of her eight-year-old daughter, Zoes death. I had finished up here on the Saturday. I was taking a weeks holidays and myself and my daughter were going up to Rosscarbery in Cork for the week. So we left, I pulled her out of school early. Great night that night around the beech and stuff. Thursday was a miserable, wet day so we were going to go and find somewhere to do something indoors. So, on our journey to find somewhere, a car came across the road and ended up crashing into us. Two guys came along and had to pull me out of the car and I remember handing Zoe over - I remember her being beside me and I lifted her up, and as I lifted her up, she fell through my legs. I assumed she had fainted. So I handed her to the guy who was outside the door of the car and another fella had to lift me out of the car, but it turned out that she actually died, she died instantly that day, said Alisha She said that when you lose someone in the way she lost Zoe your mind plays so many tricks on you. You know, anytime you feel happy you feel guilty, anything that makes you smile, it makes you think, Oh, I shouldnt be smiling. But the biggest thing is that I did hit rock bottom. I took an overdose and I wanted to die, like I wanted to die and I didnt. And I just cant believe the amount I took that I didnt. I wanted to be with her. Suicide side of things is an awful thing to do but nobody understands the persons mind when theyre doing it. You think youre doing people a favour, you know, its like, Yeah, theyll be sad for a bit but at least they can move on, thats whats going through your head, which doesn't make sense, said Alisha. The hairdresser always believed there was a reason Zoe was put on the earth. She wasn't here forever because she was such a strong spirit. Theres so many signs she always leaves me. I remember going on my first holiday after she died and I felt awful going on holidays, like I shouldnt be doing this - about two years after she died - I cant be going on holidays. They convinced me to go and I remember getting my boarding sheet. And my seat number was 20E but written down it looked like ZOE. It was just bonkers like. I remember saying, Youre okay with this, I can go on the holidays, that was another little message, thats what she does. I always feel like she guides me on the right way. For a lot of the time, Alisha was saying, I wish I died and she didnt. So if I had died and she survived, shed be going through what I am going through now. So you think, Why did God do this? But in my opinion, the way I think of things is: that day the devil comes and does his work and Gods way of righting things is like with Zoe dying, he takes her to a heavenly home and gives her the most amazing world whereas its not God that does the nasty thing, its the devil. ITS a pity that all barbers and hairdressers are closed as the 16 ones in Abbeyfeale would have been buzzing this week. All the talk would have been about the documentary they starred in - Abbeyfealegood. The documentary made the country laugh and cry in equal measure. The fact that we cant even go into one made us all appreciate what we once took for granted. Abbeyfeale has more hairdressers and barbers per head of population than any other town in Ireland. The programme focused on the barbers, hairdressers and their customers. Locals come to get their hair cut and coloured but they also come to talk. There is a unique and intimate bond between customers and hairdressers and some of them have known each other for decades. It explored the full spectrum of human experience - from the tragic to the magic. One of the undoubted stars was Florrie OConnell, pictured. In one scene he just listened as his customer described the grief he felt from the death of his daughter. Florries sensitivity and tenderness in not interrupting was one of the stand-out moments. The reaction on social media to the programme was overwhelmingly positive. One said: This is exactly what the country needs right now. While another added to the legend that Florrie has become by saying, He used to charge 3 for a haircut but always gave you back 20p so you could get sweets in Ann Lyons shop across the road. TROY Three downtown churches will ring their bells 19 times Thursday evening as residents come out on their stoops to make noise and celebrate a sense of community during the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. Buddies Carl Erickson, 78, and J.R. Pattison, 89, came up with an initial Pottery District event for neighbors on April 16 to greet each other outside and get a break from the states stay-at-home order. The notion was they wanted to come out together. It was about community, Erickson said. The inspiration for that event, Erickson said was the Italian people who were locked in their homes in the high rises coming out on their balconies during the pandemic to greet each other. Now, Erickson and Pattison have expanded to honor doctors, nurses, EMTs and essential workers while hoping to bring out more residents. Theyve lined up First United Presbyterian Church, St. Pauls Episcopal Church and St. Johns Episcopal Church to toll their bells 19 times at 7 p.m., or 19:00 military time, Thursday to honor people dealing with COVID-19. Its very important. Its the bells of Troy. The bells were made in Troy, Pattison said. Troy was once the center for the casting of bells that rang out not only locally, but nationally and around the world. The Hudson Mohawk Industrial Gateway at the Burden Iron Works Museum in South Troy maintains records on the bells manufactured in Troy and Watervliet, many of which still ring today. Special Investigation 147 NY dams are 'unsound,' potentially dangerous Thousands of dams have not been inspected in over 20 years. Pattison and Erickson worked together with Rev. Michael Gorsuch, rector of St. Pauls, to install a new clapper mechanism on the church's 19th century bell. Pattisons great-great-grandfather Elias Pattison was a member of the church vestry when the bell was installed - the same one that will toll Thursday. The friends look forward to seeing the Pottery District effort expand and build on the April 16 coming together when the neighbors rang bells and clanged pots and pans. The response showed me that my neighbors shared my need to participate as a community and made me aware that at this point in the crisis the notion of community becomes all the more important to all us, Erickson said, that as an urban community frightened for our lives that standing out together is the right thing to do. . The U.S. is not the only country that has realized the folly of having so much of its vital production concentrated in China. Add Japan to the list. In early March, Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe proposed at a conference of Japan's leading businessmen that Japan must become less dependent on China so as to better avoid supply chain disruption. Abe went on to say, "Of the products that rely heavily on a single country for manufacturing, we should try to relocate high added value items to Japan. As for everything else, we should diversify to countries like those in ASEAN." According to the Nikkei Asian Review, Abe's words were quickly followed by action. In its emergency economic package adopted on April 7, the Japanese government called for the re-establishment of supply chairs that have been hit by the [Chinese] virus's proliferation. It earmarked more than 240 billion yen (about $2.2 billion) in its supplementary budget plan for fiscal 2020 to assist domestic companies to move production back home or to diversify their production bases into Southeast Asia. This has the Chinese extremely worried. The very next day, China's Politburo Standing Committee, the top decision-making body of the Chinese Communist Party, met in Beijing. There, the committee heard Chinese president Xi say the country must get ready for a protracted battle. That is an understatement. The United State and Japan, the world's biggest and third largest economies, are not just talking about moving production out of China. They have actually started the process. This can only throw the Chinese worldview upside-down and ultimately undermine the control the CCP has over China. President Xi knows this. Another sober analysis is presented by Cary Huang of the South China Morning Post. In a column entitled "The world is waking up to the risks of relying on China for its critical medical supply," he writes: The pandemic has served to convince policymakers in the West not only of the economic risk of their over-reliance on a single country for critical supplies, but also the geopolitical risk of relying on a nation they call a "strategic rival." Covid-19 will undoubtedly hasten the efforts of Western nations to not only diversify their supply sources to reduce economic risks, but also to diversify away from China to reduce national security and geopolitical hazards. Up until now, China has had the best of all worlds. Large companies in advanced countries recklessly dumped much of their manufacturing into this communist country and allowed their technology to be stolen. This was all in the name of higher profits. This allowed China to grow at a phenomenal rate and to create monopolies in many areas. This is now unwinding, and it is hard to see how the CCP can stop it. Putting on a "happy panda face" won't change the dynamics as it has in the past. Adding to China's angst is a superstition held by many of its intellectuals. According to the Chinese astrological chart, 2020 is the year of the rat and not just the year of the rat, but the year of the "metal rat." The year of the metal rat cycles every 60 years. Many Chinese feel that it is associated with a big history-shaking incident taking place. Katsuji Nakazawa writing in the Nikkei Asian Review, outlines the history of the year of the metal rat for the last 180 years. He found that in 1840, the Opium War broke out, leading to China's stagnation and its Century of Humiliation. Then, in 1900, the Boxer Rebellion started, resulting in another Chinese defeat and further humiliation. The metal rat next returned in 1960. This coincided with the famine caused by Mao's "Great Leap Forward," resulting in between 18 and 45 million deaths. Now we're at 2020, and the metal rat is seeming to say the stars are not lining up in China's favor. Other mortals believe the same thing. The question is not if China is going to fall from its current lofty perch, but how far down it will go. Stacy Hammond believes Bishop DeAndre Salter of Impact Church in South Plainfield whenever he says that God will guide her on the path of righteousness and fulfillment both in her personal life and professional endeavors as a small business owner. The U.S. government? Uncle Sam has a tendency to work at a different pace and often with a little more red tape along the process. Hammond is yet to hear any news about the CARES Act supplement she applied for on behalf of her business (TruBeauty Hair Studio & Hair Loss Center in Springfield) shortly after she and all other non-essential business owners were forced to suspend operation March 19 in compliance with Gov. Phil Murphys lockdown order in this battle against the coronavirus. Appeals to other funding programs proved just as frustrating. But shortly after submitting an application for a stimulus grant from the Impact Christian Business Fellowship (ICBF) Impact Churchs missional business association Hammond received a check for $1,000. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage That may not represent a classic windfall, but it has provided some peace of mind for Hammond. And that right now is priceless. Im able to pay some of my rent and utility bills, so Im ready to open when the time comes, Hammond said. And my landlord has been very nice; he owns his own business, as well. So, Im paid up for the whole month of April and maybe for half of next month because of this. Thats been a blessing. It has been for quite a few other local small business owners, as $8,000 already has been dispersed by the ICBF stimulus fund, and another $7,000 has been approved and is being sent out Wednesday and Thursday (April 22 and 23). The average award is between $500 and $1,000. Small business owners are sending thank you emails saying things like, Hey, this allows me to keep my utilities going, my internet up so I can now move my business online. Its the little things that you dont think about in running a small business, Salter said. Every dollar counts at this point. The goal for ICBF is to raise $100,000 for these stimulus grants, which currently leaves Salter $85,000 shy of that ultimate target. Those interested in making a donation can visit this link and then select the Mission/Outreach category. Were looking for those philanthropists and corporate partners that really, really want to find a great opportunity to do something meaningful with no red tape, no overhead, Salter said. One hundred percent of the money given to this cause will get in the hands of small business owners who are qualified to receive them. This is going to hit those who right now have no funding, he said. So, we really want those to move quickly to help this be a big win for New Jersey. Salter is a well-regarded man of God, but he also has long been a respected figure in a world where the almighty dollar holds some authority. He began his business career as an insurance underwriter for Chubb Insurance in Murray Hill after his graduation from Drew University in Madison. Salter was born and raised in Newark and attended Seton Hall Prep on a special scholarship for inner-city students. He has been giving back since. Eighteen years ago, Salter founded (and still owns) Professional Risk Solutions, a wholesale insurance broker headquartered in Warren, but with markets also in Florida, Maryland, London and Bermuda. Salter also has investments in other businesses such as Curves (a womens health and fitness center) and several cleaning franchises. Impact Church in South Plainfield has launched a $100,000 stimulus grant program through its Impact Christian Business Fellowship.Courtesy Impact Church Were very proud to be the largest minority-owned insurance brokerage, he said. That has allowed me the freedom in business to really focus in on ministry, on developing leaders and building atmosphere and community. Ive been able to do so without necessarily having to rely upon the financial capabilities of the church. Theres nothing wrong with that, but I havent had to do so. Salters financial guidance may not be the kind of message many of us are accustomed to hearing on Friday evening, Sunday morning or during daily Sabat, but its one that hundreds of Impact Churchs friends (Impact Church shies from the more traditional terms as parishioners or even members) have come to expect and appreciate since the churchs relaunch in 2016. One of Salters typical weekly services will attract thousands of followers online. We have membership, but our term friends represents that wider community, Salter said. We have people who visit us every week who never have officially, quote/unquote, joined the church. They just come and they support and they volunteer and they even sewits really great. The Impact Church website shows very clearly its dual mission is to provide both everlasting nourishment for ones soul as well as long-term stability on ones portfolio. Bishop Salter is very knowledgeable about business, period, Hammond said. Anytime he has some sort of webinar, Im there because he has that business experience. I definitely follow his leadership when it comes to his being a businessman and a man of faith, too. What we believe in Biblically, as well as what we do in business, he blends that very well, she said. Its faith, family and finance. Those are our three tenets, Salter said. For us, strong faith is whats needed to build strong families, and ultimately theres a lot of concern for how we provide for our families. The first story in the Bible, what do you have? A family and a guy trying to provide for it," he said. "Lets not make it too complicated. We have God, we have a guy and some work to provide. Thats fundamental to the narrative of both the Bible and in the Gospel in particular. Jesus says, Who builds a house without planning for it? Its about budgeting. Thats a Biblical principle taught by Christ our Lord. Jesus says build and budget. Build, make a plan, live your life with a plan. It speaks of stewardship." Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Mike Kinney may be reached at mkinney@njadvancemedia.com. Originally, Washbnb planned to provide laundry service to Airbnb hosts. One of the companys founders, Daniel Cruz, is a host himself, and he hatched the idea because he was always buried in laundry and, worse, fitted sheets at the end of each week. His four Airbnb properties created too much laundry for his residential machines but too little for a lot of commercial laundry facilities. When he discovered that others had the same problem, he started planning to build his own facility. Advertisement Every essential worker and their family will be eligible for free coronavirus tests from today after the Government finally announced a three-step 'test, track and trace' battle plan to ease the UK out of lockdown. Health Secretary Matt Hancock dramatically announced swab tests will be available for up to seven million Brits who show symptoms of the deadly disease and will no longer be restricted to health workers and hospital patients. The scheme marks a long-awaited turning point in the Government's policy and mirrors the rigorous regime used in South Korea, which bucked the trend by opting against lockdown and squashing its outbreak within weeks. Authorities will push forward with more testing to keep track of who is currently infected with the virus and who has had it already. The true scale of Britain's outbreak is currently a mystery because of Number 10's controversial decision to abandon widespread testing more than a month ago. Downing Street will also train an 'army' of 18,000 civil servants to trace contacts of infected patients to try and prevent future outbreaks, which the World Health Organization says is the 'backbone' to curbing any epidemic. The same key workers whose children have been allowed to remain at school since the lockdown was imposed 31 days ago on March 23 will now be able to order COVID-19 tests - if they feel ill - online or through their employers. These include teachers and social workers, supermarket staff, lorry drivers, public transport staff, bankers, postal workers, bin collectors and utility workers. Members of their families will also be eligible for the tests. Britain has 7.1million of these essential workers, according to an estimate by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, and 42 per cent of them have at least one child under the age of 16. Mr Hancock said tonight 'I want to make it as easy as possible for people to get a test' and said there are 31 places around the UK that offer them. People will be able to book the swabs online and will receive results by text. Officials insist the UK is on track to meet its target of 100,000 tests per day by the end of April, as Mr Hancock had promised, but statistics show that Britain is still only using half of its testing capacity. Just 23,560 tests were done on 14,629 people yesterday even though there is capacity to do 51,000 tests per day, meaning the UK is only a fifth of the way to reaching the pledge with only a week left. Drive-through testing centres have been seen deserted and scores of unwell NHS medics have spoken of having to travel hours to get tests, only to be told to come back another day when they have an appointment. In tonight's Downing Street press conference, Mr Hancock was asked if ministers needed a scaled-up testing and tracing regime to be up-and-running before the strict lockdown can be eased. But he dodged the question, instead saying there was 'no automatic link' between the two schemes and adding that he 'wouldn't put a deadline' on when the three-step plan will be ready. Department of Health figures show 22,000 tests were carried out in the UK on Tuesday, despite the Government having capacity to do more than 51,000 In other developments to Britain's coronavirus crisis today: Britons ignored lockdown rules to flock to parks and beaches as temperatures hit 75F (23C) - despite government pleas and warnings of fines; Huge queues built up outside B&Q stores and Five Guys burger restaurants as parts of Britain showed signs that they were getting back to work; Officials announced 616 more coronavirus victims - 37 per cent fewer than the 980 announced on April 10, the UK's darkest day of the crisis; Mr Hancock refused to bow to growing political pressure to set out how the British government will ease the lockdown, which was imposed 31 days ago on March 23; Nicola Sturgeon published a blueprint for how to lift restrictions in Scotland amid growing anger over ministers continuing to keep their strategy secret; British holidaymakers are facing a summer-long ban from Ibiza and Majorca due to the UK's delayed lockdown - despite the islands' plans to reopen to other nations in August; Two thirds of the public think the media is failing to hold ministers to account at the daily press conferences; Fury was sparked after a minister failed to apologise for a lack of PPE provided for NHS staff fighting to save lives from coronavirus; A new mother died from coronavirus in hospital without being able to cuddle her son who she had given birth to just days before. The Government's plans for moving forward have emerged piecemeal today with announcements about population testing, an 'army' of contact tracing staff and offering swabs to key workers. The 'test, track, trace' pledge breaks down into three key parts: TEST: Test millions of essential workers and their families for current infection Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced plans to open up testing to more members of the public at this afternoon's coronavirus briefing in Downing Street Swab tests will be offered to all key workers and members of their family, if they have symptoms of COVID-19, from tomorrow, Hancock announced in today's briefing. These tests will involve swabbing the inside of the person's nose and will tell someone if they are currently infected with the coronavirus. It will not tell if they have already had it. People will be able to order the tests online on the Government's website, or through their employer if they don't have internet access. After applying, people will receive an email or a text message that same day inviting them to book an appointment. The tests will be done in one of five places: At one of 31 drive-through testing centres around the country, which have been positioned to try and make sure nobody is more than a 45 minute drive away from one At home - home testing kits will be available for some people NHS hospital - these are most likely to be reserved for NHS staff, because the health service will want to avoid encouraging people who might be infected but don't need emergency help to enter hospitals 'Satellite' testing - packages of testing kits are being sent to care homes so they can test residents without having to take them out of the home or send other people in Mobile testing units that have been developed by the Army may be sent out to high-demand locations such as care homes, police stations and prisons WHO ARE THE KEY WORKERS? All NHS and social care staff, including volunteers and support workers Producers and distributors of drugs and PPE Workers in prisons, probation, courts, tribunals Religious staff, such as vicars, imams, rabbis and pastors Charities and workers delivering critical frontline services Workers managing the deceased, such as undertakers Journalists and broadcasters covering the coronavirus outbreak Media workers providing public service broadcasting Police officers and support staff, such as PCSOs Armed forces personnel, Ministry of Defence civilians and contractors Fire and rescue service employees, including support staff National Crime Agency staff, border security, and national security staff Workers looking after air, water, road and rail transport still operating Staff maintaining transport systems through which supply chains pass Education and childcare workers, including support and teaching staff Social workers and specialist education professionals Workers producing and distributing food, drink and essential goods Staff who sell and deliver food, drink and essential goods Medical supply chain and distribution workers, including vets Workers critical to the continuity of essential movement of goods Critical local and national government staff Public and environmental health staff, including in government agencies Local authority staff, including those working with vulnerable children and adults, with victims of domestic abuse, and with the homeless and rough sleepers Staff needed for financial services provision, such as bank workers Workers in the oil, gas, electricity and water sectors IT and data infrastructure sector workers Essential staff working in the civil nuclear, chemicals and telecomms Postal workers and staff working in delivery The exact wording of who classes as an essential worker can be found here. Advertisement Test results, which must be returned from a laboratory, will be sent by text message within 48 hours or within 72 hours of a home test being collected. Swabs will be run through Government testing labs which, officials say, have the capacity to process 51,000 every day. Mr Hancock said today: 'From today, employers of essential workers will be able to go on gov.uk to get a test for any of their staff who need a test. 'And from tomorrow, any essential workers who need a test will be able to book an appointment on gov.uk themselves directly. 'This all applies for people in essential workers households who need a test too. Its all part of getting Britain back on her feet.' The aim of the scaled up testing is to reduce the number of people who have to self-isolate from work if they fear they, or someone they live with, has symptoms of COVID-19. If the person experiencing the symptoms tests negative the employee should be able to return to work. On the list of essential workers, alongside NHS and social care staff and volunteers, are prison and court workers, religious leaders, funeral directors, journalists, police and support staff, military personnel and office staff and fire service employees. Crime agency and border workers will also be included, along with utility workers, transport staff and maintenance workers, childcare workers and teaching staff, social workers, people who produce, sell or deliver food and drink, medical supply chain staff and veterinarians. Local government and environmental workers will also receive tests, as well as postal staff and financial workers such as bankers. The Government has so far put in a lacklustre performance on the testing front, not yet managing to rise above 24,000 tests in a day despite a pledge to hit 100,000 per day by next Thursday, April 30. Capacity has been expanded with the opening of three government-run 'Lighthouse Labs' in Milton Keynes, Cheshire and Glasgow, and widening the criteria for who can get tested will push authorities much closer to this figure. According to the Insitute for Fiscal Studies there are 7.1million people in the UK - 22 per cent of the entire workforce - who fit the Government's description of a key worker. And their families will be included in the new testing scheme, too. Almost half of those key workers (42 per cent) have at least one child of school age, the IFS data shows, and 46 per cent of them have partners who are in 'non-key' work. The Government has now said that key workers who are self-isolating can now apply for their households to get tested. The process is explained online (above) at gov.uk/coronavirus There are 31 testing centres around the country which will be used to swab essential workers and their family members. They have the capacity to more than 51,000 tests per day, the Government says TRACK: Random population testing for past and present infection to track the spread of the virus The Department of Health announced today that it will start a widespread public testing scheme, split into two parts. Thousands of people forming a representative sample of the population will be enrolled into either regular swab testing or antibody testing which will help authorities track where the coronavirus is spreading and where it has been already. Between 25,000 and 300,000 people will take part in the swab testing scheme which will continue over the next year. Everyone involved will complete a swab test every month to spot signs of current infection. This is intended to pick up on local outbreaks and see how the virus is circulating as the current crisis comes to an end. WHAT ARE THE TWO TYPES OF TEST THAT WILL BE USED? SWAB TEST Swab tests, technically known as PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests, pick up on active viral infection. A PCR test works by a sample of someone's genetic material - their RNA - being taken to lab and worked up in a full map of their DNA as it looked at the time of the test. This DNA can then be scanned to find evidence of the virus, which will be embroiled with the patient's genetic material if they are infected at the time. The PCR test is extremely reliable but can take a day or more to carry out. A positive result indicates that someone is currently infected with COVID-19. This type of test cannot tell whether someone has had the disease in the past, nor when they caught it. 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. 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. A positive result indicates somebody has definitely had the COVID-19 infection at some point. They have likely recovered if they're not ill at the time, but people may also test antibody positive while they are still ill. Advertisement Picking up on these cases may be able to alert authorities to outbreaks in certain areas or to detect when large numbers of people are starting to test positive again and another outbreak is happening. In a second branch of the tracking project, people in 1,000 households across the country will submit to monthly blood testing to see if they have immunity to the coronavirus. These tests, called antibody tests or 'have you had it' tests, show whether someone has been infected with COVID-19 in the past and recovered. They are most accurate around three weeks or more after someone becomes infected. Tracking the number of people who have developed immunity can give scientists a clear picture of how widely the virus has spread already, which may affect its ability to spread in the future. The more people who test positive for antibodies, the fewer people there are who could get infected in a second outbreak. This is called herd immunity. Antibody testing, which has been picked up on much larger scale in other countries, forms a vital part of the Government's 'five-pillar' testing strategy - but officials have so far only managed 4,900 tests and just 51 were done yesterday. The hope for this scheme is that, when rolled out more widely, it will give a clearer, more permanent picture of the size of the country's outbreak and the extent to which the nation has developed herd immunity. Currently, the numbers of people in hospital are the most accurate day-by-day measure but represent only a small proportion of all people infected. The data can also be out of date because it may take a week or more for someone to become ill enough to need a hospital bed, and then up to three weeks, or longer, to recover. Professor Ian Jones, a virus expert at the University of Reading, said today: 'The newly announced tests should at last address the level of virus circulation in the community and, to a lesser extent, the level of past infections. 'Together they will give important data on how prevalent the infection is and has been. Where this has been done elsewhere the level of infection has been 20 to 50 times higher than the known positives and we must wait to see if this is also the case in the UK.' How much immunity people actually develop to the coronavirus after having it remains unclear. Top scientists have admitted it is still possible that people are only protected for a short period of time and then become capable of spreading it or developing symptoms again. The Health Secretary said improving understanding of immunity levels is 'vital'. Of the antibody testing scheme, Mr Hancock said: 'This survey will help to track the current extent of transmission and infection in the UK, while also answering crucial questions about immunity as we continue to build up our understanding of this new virus. 'Together, these results will help us better understand the spread of the virus to date, predict the future trajectory and inform future action we take.' TRACE: Trace contacts of infected patients and warn them they have been exposed to the virus The Government will launch a widespread contact tracing scheme to track down people who have been in touch with infected patients An army of 18,000 contact tracers will be trained in the coming weeks to help Britain recover from its lockdown. The job of these people will be to quiz anyone who tests positive for the coronavirus about who they have been in contact with and where they have been around the time they become ill and the days before it. The tracers will make a list of people considered to have been put at risk by the patient, and those people will be notified that they might have the coronavirus. If contacted by tracers, people will be asked to self-isolate and to be vigilant about changes in their health and about social distancing. If they become ill they will be tested. If a contact becomes infected the same process begins for them and their social network. The idea is to keep track of how the virus moves through social circles and to try to stay a step ahead of it and prevent wider spread. Experts expect to be able to track at least 80 per cent of the people a coronavirus patient has come into contact with within 24 hours of diagnosis. Council staff and civil servants are expected to be at the frontline of this effort. Chief executive of the NHS Confederation, a body that represents healthcare organisations, Niall Dickson, said: 'This is an important moment as we see real commitment and details of how we will develop contract tracing to help us track and control the virus when the current restrictions are relaxed. The recruitment of an army of 18,000 tracers will be critical, though any strategy will need to be linked into local organisations.' HOW WOULD AN NHS CONTACT-TRACING APP WORK? According to researchers, the app being developed by NHSX would likely work as follows: Users install the app on their smartphones. The app logs every time the device comes into close proximity of another app user's phone. Users exhibiting coronavirus symptoms self-report on the app. The app tells these users to self-isolate, along with their household. It also notifies any other users logged as having recently come into contact with them/ These users also isolate, along with their households, and so on. Advertisement One key aspect of the Government's contact tracing plan is believed to be its NHS app which is still in the development phase. NHSX, the health service's technological arm, is believed to have been working on software which uses bluetooth technology, alongside Google and Apple, who run the two main smartphone operating systems. Mr Hancock explained: 'If you become unwell with the symptoms of coronavirus you can securely tell this new NHS app and the app will then send an alert anonymously to other app users that you've been in significant contact with over the past few days, even before (they) have symptoms so that they know and can act accordingly.' The app is currently being tested at a Royal Air Force base in North Yorkshire and Mr Hancock said the trials 'are going well,' the BBC reported. Similar approaches have been used with success in Singapore and South Korea but there are concerns about privacy and that not enough people will sign up to use it. Researchers at the University of Oxford warned it would only work effectively if 80 per cent of the population downloaded it and used it, but surveys had found this level of engagement would be unlikely in practice. Nevertheless, lower levels of uptake coupled with social distancing efforts would still help to slow the spread of COVID-19 and put off a second lockdown period. In fact, the Oxford team predicted that, regardless of overall uptake, a contact-tracing app could 'prevent approximately one infection for every one or two users of the app.' In America, campaigners have raised concerns about the way apps such as these could breach people's privacy. It would have to share location data to be able to work, they said. The American Civil Liberties Union said: 'The systems must be widely adopted, but that will not happen if people do not trust them. For there to be trust, the tool must protect privacy, be voluntary, and store data on an individuals device rather than in a centralized repository.' UK's testing farce: One drive-thru centre is only swabbing 'four people a day' as ministers bring in the Army and Amazon to ramp up capacity Britain's coronavirus testing farce was laid bare again today with claims that a drive-through centre is only swabbing a handful of people every day - with a week to go to meet the Government's pledge of swabbing 100,000 people a day. The make-shift facility, in the car park of Port Glasgow Health Centre, Inverclyde, was set up on April 9 with ambitions of testing 100 people a week - who are either NHS workers or family members of medics. A resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: 'It has been very quiet so far. It looks like they are testing about four people a day. We overlook it and have barely noticed anyone using the centre. It is empty most of the time.' The Army and Amazon have both been drafted in to help Number 10 scale up its testing response, with soldiers helping to ferry mobile testing units across the UK and the retail giant is delivering swabs to people's homes. Damning official figures show Britain is still miles away from reaching its pledge of carrying out 100,000 swabs each day, with Department of Health statistics showing only 22,000 were conducted yesterday. Downing Street today claimed that Britain has the capacity to carry out 48,000 tests each day - but admitted less than half of that is being used and that there is still a 'great deal more to do' to close the gap. The UK lags behind many other comparable nations in testing, with an analysis showing it has swabbed just six people out of every 1,000 - half the rate of the US and four times lower than Italy. Health Secretary Matt Hancock's target was yesterday savaged by MPs as 'arbitrary' and 'stupid', after pictures of near-empty testing centres in London, Coventry and Brighton laid bare the true scale of the UK's swabbing shambles. Ministers yesterday announced they were expanding the number of drive-through testing sites from 26 to 50. Other key workers will also now be eligible for tests, including transport workers and supermarket staff. The move came after numerous horror stories of self-isolating and potentially very unwell workers having to travel for multiple hours to get tests only for some of them to be told to come back another day. A drive-through testing centre in Cardiff is pictured empty this morning (left) while a soldier collected coronavirus testing samples at a centre in Southport (right) A spokesman NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: 'At present the centre is seeing more patients on a daily basis and has the capacity to meet demand. 'The Port Glasgow drive-through testing centre opened on Thursday April 9 and tests both symptomatic household members and symptomatic staff as per the current NHS GGC policy. 'Across NHS GGC we are able to test health and social care staff who are self-isolating as they are symptomatic, or, those with a symptomatic household contact.' The drive-through test centre runs on an appointment-only basis and it operates Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm. During testing the person remains in the car and provides a swab. All staff at the centre wear PPE and a pathway has been put in place to control the flow of traffic and ensure the safety of the public and staff. Downing Street today said 22,814 coronavirus tests were carried out on 13,522 people up to 9am on Wednesday in England, Scotland and Wales. But it admitted that capacity is now at 48,273 - meaning Britain is only using up 47 per cent of its supply. No10 acknowledged there is still a 'great deal more to do' to close the gap between capacity and the actual number of tests carried out. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The number of people we've tested has increased in the most recent 24 hours we've got figures for. 'And the gap between the number of people tested and the number of people we've tested has closed slightly. 'But that doesn't distract from the fact that there's a great deal more to do if we're to be able to say we're making the full use of the capacity we have. 'Mobile units will visit the care homes and test any residents and staff and separately we're using Amazon to deliver tests to people's homes.' The spokesperson added that around 50 drive-through sites will be ready by end of the month with 28 already open. Other flagship NHS testing sites have stood empty this week, with pictures showing few people arriving to give any samples. Both Twickenham rugby stadium and Chessington World of Adventures in west London did not appear to have many patients arriving on Monday. Coronavirus testing was taking place yesterday in the car park of Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey, pictured left, and at Twickenham stadium (right) Empty coronavirus testing centres for NHS staff and registered care workers are pictured in Coventry (left) and Plymouth (right) MPS BLAST THE 100,000 TESTS A DAY TARGET AS 'STUPID' There is rising Tory fury over Matt Hancock's decision to set such a high bar, with senior figures concerned about the backlash which could follow if he fails to deliver on his promise. Some Conservative MPs believe Mr Hancock will have to 'carry the can' if he falls short of the target as they said he should have climbed down on the issue more than a week ago. One senior Tory MP told MailOnline the target is 'stupid' and added: 'Matt was extremely unwise to come up with such a high and round figure and to make a dogmatic commitment rather than an aspiration. 'He was under pressure at the time. If he wanted to reverse out of it he should have started reversing a week ago. It is pretty clear that he is not going to hit the target and he ought to be levelling with people.' A Number 10 insider echoed a similar sentiment, telling The Telegraph: 'The problem is with this arbitrary target. There is a faint irrationality behind it, just because there was a clamour for mass testing. 'Hancock's 100,000 target was a response to a criticism in the media and he decided to crank out tests regardless. 'He's not had a good crisis. The Prime Minister will say he has confidence in him but it doesn't feel like that.' Advertisement Yesterday it was revealed that trucks will ferry mobile testing units nationwide to screen NHS and social care workers. It came amid claims potentially thousands of NHS staff have been unable to get swabbed at the drive-through centres. The scheme - backed by the military - will transport testing teams to hospitals and care homes across Britain, The Sun reports. General Sir Nick Carter, chief of the defence staff, said: 'We think the innovative idea of pop-ups, rather like mobile libraries, would be a very useful way of going.' Last week it was revealed coronavirus swab kits would start to be delivered to homes by Amazon in a pilot scheme. The retail giant is sending send swabs to people's homes and telling them to take a sample from their throats an hour before they are picked up again. The results of the test will then be sent by text message. It is understood the pilot scheme - for 5,000 self-test kits - will begin with key workers. But the Daily Mail reported earlier this week that only 200 of the kits have been sent out so far because of a hold-up by officials. It comes after it was revealed last night that only one in four care home staff who fear they have coronavirus have been tested. Managers say their staff face having to make four-hour round trips to test centres which are only accessible by car when many dont even drive. It means workers are being left stuck at home self-isolating unnecessarily but unable to return to the frontline where they are desperately needed. MPs and trade union bosses last night branded the desperately low levels of testing in the care sector appalling. Last week Mr Hancock said everyone working in social care who needed a test would be able to get one immediately. But care workers showing symptoms of COVID-19 must be referred by their employer and then travel to one of the drive-through centres and wait two days for the results. It means care workers already feeling unwell can face round trips of more than 200 miles to be tested. ONLY ONE IN FOUR CARE HOME STAFF ARE BEING TESTED FOR COVID-19 Only one in four care home staff who fear they have coronavirus have been tested, it was revealed last night. Managers say their staff face having to make four-hour round trips to test centres which are only accessible by car when many dont even drive. It means workers are being left stuck at home self-isolating unnecessarily but unable to return to the frontline where they are desperately needed. MPs and trade union bosses last night branded the desperately low levels of testing in the care sector appalling. Last week Mr Hancock said everyone working in social care who needed a test would be able to get one immediately. But care workers showing symptoms of COVID-19 must be referred by their employer and then travel to one of the drive-through centres and wait two days for the results. It means care workers already feeling unwell can face round trips of more than 200 miles to be tested. They have also been told they are not allowed to take public transport or taxis to the appointment - leaving those without a car no way of receiving the vital tests. Advertisement They have also been told they are not allowed to take public transport or taxis to the appointment - leaving those without a car no way of receiving the vital tests. Data collected by the National Care Forum (NCF), which represents nonprofit providers, suggests just 25 per cent of care home staff needing tests have had them. The NCF collected data from 21 members which together employ almost 16,000 care staff. Of the 632 residential care staff needing tests only 164 had been tested, while just 19 of the 281 home carers had received a coronavirus test. Four Seasons Health Care, one of Britains biggest private care providers, said many of its employees cant get to test centres as they dont drive. Yesterday the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said three new testing laboratories are now complete. The Lighthouse Labs in Milton Keynes, Glasgow and Alderley Park in Cheshire will be able to test tens of thousands of samples each day. Liz Kendall, Shadow Minister for Social Care, last night described the lack of testing system as madness. There are desperately low levels of testing when we know its essential to save the lives of the most vulnerable, she said. Weve heard of appalling cases where care workers in Norfolk have been told to go to Sheffield and those in Peterborough to Stansted Airport.' Prime Minister Boris Johnson had earlier set a much more ambitious testing target of 250,000 tests-a-day during a briefing on Mach 19. But he did not attach a date to when that would be achieved. Official documents by the Department of Health say the target is 25,000 per day. Britain, with 130,000 confirmed cases of the disease, is testing 6.11 people per 1,000 - 0.5 per cent of its population - according to the latest figures. The UK sits well below nations with similar rates of infection, such as Italy, Germany and Spain. All of Britain's European neighbours are testing more than 20 people per thousand, according to statistics compiled by Oxford-led researchers. Early testing for COVID-19 is seen by the World Health Organization (WHO) as crucial to bringing the pandemic under control. Smoke-Free Support Study 2.0 is testing video counseling to help cancer patients who smoke to quit in Alaska, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, and Wisconsin A research study by the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN) is evaluating the use of video counseling nationwide to help cancer patients who smoke to quit and stay smoke-free. Up to 30% of cancer patients are smoking tobacco at the time of diagnosis, and the majority continue to smoke. Counseling to help patients stop smoking is not part of standard care for cancer. This is a particular concern in community-based hospitals and clinics, which care for 80% of all cancer patients in the US. In the outbreak of the new coronavirus disease, COVID-19, cancer patients are at high risk of severe respiratory illness from infection because cancer and its treatments weaken their immune systems. The World Health Organization cautions that smokers are likely to be more vulnerable to COVID-19 as smoking behavior means that fingers (and possibly contaminated cigarettes) are in contact with lips, which increases the possibility of transmission of the virus from hand to mouth. Smokers may also already have lung disease or reduced lung capacity, which would significantly increase the risk of developing a respiratory illness. "It can be challenging to stop smoking, but if patients continue to smoke through cancer treatment, they are at risk for having complications, which can affect their quality of life," said lead investigator Elyse R. Park, PhD, MPH, a psychologist researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital. "This trial offers sustained counseling delivered remotely, and nicotine replacement medicine, which is what we have found will help cancer patients quit smoking tobacco," said Dr. Park. In this trial, called the Smoke-Free Support Study 2.0, about 308 current smokers (with any type of cancer) will be randomly assigned (by a computer) into one of two study groups. One study group will receive 11 video counseling sessions with a tobacco treatment counselor from the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Patients will have the option to receive up to 12 weeks of standard nicotine replacement therapy (patches and lozenges) at no cost. The other study group will receive stop-smoking advice and referral to the national smokers' quitting resource, smokefree.gov. Colleagues from Massachusetts General Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK) Cancer Center in New York City collaborated to develop the program. The primary endpoint of this trial is abstinence at six months. "If the group that receives video counseling has a higher abstinence rate at six months than the usual care group, this trial will meet its primary endpoint," said Dr. Park. "If positive, this trial will help provide the evidence needed to make tobacco treatment a standard of high-quality care in community cancer centers." In addition, "this trial is collecting data from participating oncology care providers, which will help us identify barriers and facilitators of implementing tobacco treatment in community oncology settings," said Jamie S. Ostroff, PhD, a behavioral scientist at MSK. Dr. Ostroff is a co-investigator for the trial. The National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is funding the study. The hospitals participating in this trial are all members of the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP). NCORP is a network of community hospitals throughout the US. More hospitals are joining the trial on a rolling basis. "We expect to be able to generalize the findings from the Smoke-Free Support Study 2.0 to the broader population of adults with cancer," said Lynne I. Wagner, PhD, of Wake Forest University, who is Deputy Chair of ECOG-ACRIN's Cancer Control and Outcomes Research Program. "In doing so, we advance ECOG-ACRIN's mission to reduce the burden of cancer and improve the quality of life and survival in patients with cancer." ### The full trial name is Implementing a Virtual Tobacco Treatment for Cancer Patients in Community Oncology Practices: "Smoke-Free Support Study 2.0". The trial ID is EAQ171CD. For more information, visit https://ecog-acrin.org/clinical-trials/eaq171cd-educational-materials. About the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group The ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN) is a membership-based scientific organization that designs and conducts cancer research involving adults who have or are at risk of developing cancer. ECOG-ACRIN comprises nearly 1100 member institutions in the United States and around the world. Approximately 12,000 physicians, translational scientists, and associated research professionals from the member institutions are involved in Group research, which is organized into three scientific programs: Cancer Control and Outcomes, Therapeutic Studies, and Biomarker Sciences. ECOG-ACRIN is supported primarily through National Cancer Institute research grant funding, but also receives funding from private sector organizations through philanthropy and collaborations. Its headquarters are in Philadelphia, Pa. For more information, visit http://www.ecog-acrin.org, follow us on Twitter @eaonc, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or call 215.789.3631. A Wuhan resident reacts as a medical assistance team from Yunnan province depart after helping with the COVID-19 coronavirus recovery effort in Wuhan, China, on March 18, 2020. (AFP via Getty Images) Chinese City Helped Beijing Avoid Scrutiny By Asking Australian Partner for COVID-19 PPE, Councillor Says An Australian regional city councillor has accused a local government in China of helping Beijing avoid international scrutiny for the COVID-19 outbreak after its officials asked his city for help purchasing personal protective equipment (PPE) to send to China in January. Speaking at the Wagga Wagga extraordinary council meeting (pdf) in regional Australia on April 22, councillor Paul Funnell said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) bypassed the proper channels and tried to get a local government to help out on the quiet when it sought help to purchase face masks and related items from Australia. This is because [the CCP] did not want to alert our federal government to the gravity of the [CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus], Funnell said. They never warned us of the real threat of COVID-19. The meeting was called after pushback from councillors on a motion by Funnell to cut Wagga Waggas ties with its sister city, Kunming in China. That motionpassed on April 14 when the mayor was absent from voting due to illnesswas overturned 6-1 in the meeting after two councillors changed their minds and two councillors abstained from the vote, citing a conflict of interest. The sister city relationship with Kunming in Chinas Yunnan province, with a population of 7.2 million, formally started in 1988. The relationship aims to promote cross-cultural, educational, and commercial exchanges between both cities. However, according to Charles Sturt ethics professor Clive Hamilton, there are concerns that the CCP used the relationships to export its political and strategic goals. Behind the sister city banner, the CPAFFC advances the Chinese Communist Partys political and strategic goals. Op ed in todays Telegraph by Mareike Ohlberg and me on Wagga and CCP weaponisation of sister cities. pic.twitter.com/gfQSBhuk86 Clive Hamilton (@CliveCHamilton) April 21, 2020 Wagga Wagga Mayor Greg Conkey told The Epoch Times on April 22 that he supported the sister relationship with Kunming because to him, it is a people-to-people relationship that has nothing to do with politics or the central government of China. The people of Kunming cannot be held responsible for the actions of their central government, just as the people of Wagga cannot be held responsible for the policies of the federal government, or the actions of our federal government, said Conkey. In communist China, all levels of government are overseen by the CCP. Australian Councillor Vanessa Keenan said at the meeting that Kunmings call for help was actually a request for assistance to purchase. She said that, in her view, Funnell had mischaracterised the request as a government by stealth trying to get our PPE gear, which contributed to the successful motion that she voted to rescind. Another Chinese city, Shenyang, was reported to have successfully received PPE donations from one of its international sister cities at the very beginning of the pandemic, according to the Belfast Telegraph. The donations came from a local Chinese Welfare Association in the Northern Irish capital. Correspondence With Kunming Not Tabled In Committee Minutes The purchase request to Wagga Wagga was made by Kunming officials on Jan. 29 in response to the CCP virus outbreak. Conkey told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement on April 23 that Kunming Municipality had sent letters to all of its sister cities, including Wagga Wagga, requesting assistance with purchasing PPE. Funnell told The Epoch Times on April 18 that he had to request the councils Sister City Community Committee release any and all correspondence with Kunming officials, as no documents regarding the plea for PPE were tabled in the committees minutes. In total, Funnell obtained three documents dated Jan. 29, Feb. 8, March 9. He received the first two documents on April 10 and the final one on April 16. In the letter dated Jan. 29, the foreign affairs office of Kunming Municipality said: We hope to get help from your city to purchase medical masks (N95) and medical protective clothing or to provide a way for us to purchase them, so that we can quickly add to the medical treatment and prevention of pneumonia. On Feb. 8, the Mayor of Kunming Municipality sent another letter to Wagga Wagga City Council to say that he had received a positive response from his counterpart. Kunmings mayor then invited a delegation to visit his city after Chinas victory over the epidemic and show a healthy, prosperous, and vibrant Kunming. The March 9 document then showed Conkey replying to say that after the request for PPE was referred to the appropriate levels of government, Wagga Wagga City was unable to assist with the request due to PPE shortages in Australia. But Funnell said that a Feb. 8 letter made him question whether Wagga Wagga representatives had responded before March 9. Someones not being open and transparent, he said. We had a direct request, and we said nothing. Acknowledgment Email When The Epoch Times asked to clarify if there had been any communications with Kunming before March 8, Conkey said that a general acknowledgment email had been sent to Kunming on Jan. 30 in response to the first letter. Conkey shared the contents of the email, although the original has not been viewed by The Epoch Times: Thank you for your letter of request for assistance from Wagga Wagga City Council. We will make immediate enquiries on your behalf of how we are able to assist in Australia as a means for you to purchase the suggested supplies. Once I have further information available to me I will email you with the relevant details. Conkey refuted Funnells accusation, saying that he took offence at any suggestion correspondence was kept secret. The correspondence was immediately provided upon request and it was also verbally discussed with members of councils Sister City Community Committee in February, he told The Epoch Times. Funnell told The Epoch Times that theres nothing wrong with Kunming asking for help with purchasing PPE. However, he said that the Kunming Municipality should have approached Canberra, not Wagga Wagga. It shows that theyre not truly in connection with what we do. We were amidst the bushfires. There was no: Hello, how are you? How are you coping? Funnell said. He added on Facebook that in his eyes, the Kunming Municipal Peoples Government was not the good people of Kunming. According to internal documents obtained by The Epoch Times, Chinese officials worked to cover-up the true nature of the CCP virus for months before it spread around the world, becoming a pandemic. Epoch Times reporter Caden Pearson contributed to this article. Popular Tamil actor Vijayakanth has come forward to donate a piece of land he owns to bury or cremate bodies of Covid-19 victims in the wake of opposition from people to bury bodies of those affected by coronavirus. In a statement, Vijayakanth said he is allotting a piece of land near Shri Andal Alagar College of Engineering located near Chennai. He also requested the state government to educate people that coronavirus does not spread through corpses, and asked his political party workers to do the same. Vijayakanths statement comes a couple of days after 55-year-old neurosurgeon Dr Simon Hercules succumbed to Covid-19 at a private hospital in Chennai. When his body was brought to a cemetery in Anna Nagar (Chennai), local residents protested and attacked. The ambulance too was damaged. Actor Vijaykanths statement in Tamil. Even since the lockdown, several southern actors have contributed towards the welfare of their respective film industry and daily wage workers. From Ajith to Raghava Lawrencce, Prabhas and Mahesh Babu, the top stars have donated generously. In Telugu industry, Chiranjeevi has been leading from the front to help daily wage employees via Corona Crisis Charity, a committee set up to attend to the needs of daily laborers. Also read: When Karan Johar revealed Farah Khan was interested in him, landed up at his hotel room at midnight I discussed with a few people from the industry and they were ready to help. When I announced the Corona Crisis Charity, many actors, producers and others responded immediately and donated. Since we couldnt go out, we took the help of people in the software industry to track the workers through their Aadhaar cards, he said in an interview to Deccan Chronicle. Telugu industry employs nearly 12000 people. According to Chiranjeevi, Each day we serve nearly 600 people and I am confident everyone will get the help they need. Rice, oil and dal (pulses) are being handed over to a family of four for 10 days. About 25 volunteers deliver the supplies to the doorsteps of beneficiaries. Talking about the losses being incurred by Telugu filmdom, Chiranjeevi said: We cant estimate the losses right now. But I feel that it will run into hundreds of crores. I dont know when the theatres will reopen, and when we can start shooting again. But I am confident that the cinema industry will bounce back once normality is restored. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop 'They are doing a good surveillance job.' 'It is not easy to undertake this task on such a huge scale given the risks.' 'But home quarantine is not effective.' 'Only institutional quarantine can bring good results.' IMAGE: An aerial view of Dr Baliga Nagar at Dharavi, north central Mumbai. Dr Baliga Nagar was declared a containment area after coronavirus positive were detected there. Photograph: PTI Photo Contrary to media reports that the inter ministerial central team (IMCT) the Union government assigned to assess Maharashtra's preparedness to contain the spread of coronavirus has suggested specific recommendations to improve its health infrastructure, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope says the IMCT is likely to finalise its recommendations, if any, by Thursday evening and submit it to the Centre and state administrations. An IMCT member confirms to Rediff.com's Prasanna D Zore that the five-member team headed by Additional Secretary Manoj Joshi has not yet made any recommendations. IMCT members will meeting later in the day to finalise their report which will be submitted to the central government. "The IMCT may not have anything to recommend because we have been doing a good job in the state," Tope tells Prasanna. "They may not suggest any recommendations." "They are satisfied with the state government's preparedness. They have to be satisfied," he said. Tope says the IMCT team suggested that the number of people under institutional quarantine be tripled in Dharavi, Mumbai's largest slum colony with an estimated population of 750,000 people. "I was with them (IMCT) in Dharavi yesterday (April 22) and they suggested we increase the number of institutional quarantine. I think that is a valid suggestion and we are doing that," the minister tells Rediff.com. "I immediately rang up BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) Commissioner Pravin Pardeshi and asked him to arrange for more schools where people can be moved from home quarantine to institutional quarantine," reveals Tope. "The home quarantine procedure adopted by the BMC is wrong. At least for Dharavi that is wrong." Tope has asked the BMC to increase as many institutional quarantine facilities as possible even by constructing sheds on playgrounds of schools in Dharavi. "I have asked the BMC commissioner to increase the number of institutional quarantine beds to 2,000 from the existing 650," Tope says. "Home quarantine cannot be a solution to contain the spread of COVID-19 especially in a densely populated locality like Dharavi where 10 to 15 people live in one room." "How is social distancing possible with so many people in a 100 square feet tenement?" the minister asks. "I have spoken with the chief secretary (Ajoy Mehta) yesterday night and I am sure in the next few days the situation in Dharavi will improve to a large extent." Praising the BMC and its health workers who are in the midst of screening almost the entire population of Dharavi since last week, Tope says "They are doing a good surveillance job. It is not easy to undertake this task on such a huge scale given the risks. But home quarantine is not effective. Only institutional quarantine can bring good results." "Barring Mumbai, which has its own complexities and challenges, we are satisfied that we have been successful in lowering the mortality rate and increasing the number of days in which COVID-19 positive patients are doubling." The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed scam-accused DHFL promoter Kapil Wadhawan to file an affidavit in reply to the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) plea seeking cancellation of his bail Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed scam-accused DHFL promoter Kapil Wadhawan to file an affidavit in reply to the Enforcement Directorate's (ED) plea seeking cancellation of his bail. On 15 April, the ED moved the HC seeking that his bail be canceled for violation of bail conditions after it came to light that he and his family members had traveled to Mahabaleshwar during lockdown imposed due to COVID-19 pandemic. ED lawyer advocate Purnima Kantharia urged the court to take note of his behavior and cancel his bail. Justice A S Gadkari directed Wadhawan -- who and his family were put under quarantine after their escape to the hill station came to light -- to file a reply by 28 April, and adjourned the hearing to 30 April. Wadhawan was arrested in January this year by ED for dubious dealings with gangster Iqbal Mirchi, who died in 2013, and was booked under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. On 21 February this year, a special PMLA court had granted Wadhawan bail in the case. ED lawyer Kantharia told the court that Wadhawan had been directed to appear regularly before the agency to ensure that he did not leave the city, but he traveled outside Mumbai during lockdown. As per the ED, a sum of Rs 12,773 crore was siphoned from DHFL on the pretext of providing loans to one lakh fictitious customers. A part of this amount was used to make payments to Mirchi, it claimed. As per its claim, Mirchi's Mumbai properties were sold to Sunblink Real Estate Pvt Ltd, a company linked to Kapil Wadhawan and his brother Dheeraj Wadhawan. Earlier this month, the ED had issued orders for the seizure of five luxury vehicles in which Kapil Wadhawan, Dheeraj Wadhawan and other family members traveled to their farmhouse at Mahabaleshwar. Premier Doug Ford criticized management at Anson Place Care Centre for turning down the provinces offer of help from a SWAT team of hospital workers while grappling with one of Ontarios deadliest COVID-19 outbreaks. The Hagersville long-term care centre has seen 26 residents die in less than a month, with 44 residents and 31 staff members still fighting the disease. The cause of another recent death at the 101-bed facility is still under investigation. Trish Nelson, communications director with Ontario Health West, said Anson Place executive director Lisa Roth wrote to the province on Friday declining the offer to have a COVID-19 SWAT team come in. According to Nelson, Roth said management at Anson Place, a private facility owned by Rykka Care Centres, was comfortable that we are currently able to meet the care needs of our residents and do not require additional LHIN-funded services currently. Nelson said Roth told the ministry that Anson Place would continue to monitor this closely and assess the care needs against our staffing compliment and reach out to the LHIN if additional services are required. To date, Nelson said the ministry has received no requests from Anson Place for increased support or assistance. Anyone who makes that judgment call, I wonder why they are even in charge over at that home, Ford said in response to a question about Anson Place at a press conference on Wednesday. Sometimes pride gets in the way. Well to that person Id say, Swallow your pride and start asking for help. When you have those many deaths and those many positive cases of COVID-19, why wouldnt you? We need to bring people in. On Friday, the same day she is alleged to have refused the offer of the SWAT team, Roth put out a call for new staff to help with residents daily needs, such as meals, laundry services, exercise and personal hygiene. In an email Wednesday evening, Roth claimed that her memo to the ministry on Friday referred only to the retirement floor at Anson Place and not the long-term care floor. To be clear, at the moment we are able to meet the care needs of our retirement residence with our current staff, Roth said. We are however in need of additional staff in our long-term care residence. We are meeting the care needs of our residents, but additional staff would help us shore up our care and services in these challenging times. Roth said Fridays call for new employees had to do with meeting the need in long-term care, adding that she updated Ontario Health West to that effect on Wednesday. To date, 23 residents in long-term care have died, along with four from the retirement residence. SEIU Healthcare president Sharleen Stewart said she was dismayed but not shocked by the news that Anson Place had rejected outside help. Thats the kind of management thats going on at these places. I cant explain that, she said. That just solidifies our argument that this government has got to take over these homes. Merrilee Fullerton, the minister in charge of long-term care, rejected the unions recent call for the government to take charge of three privately run care homes in crisis, including Anson Place. Fullerton told reporters last week that the province does not run long-term care facilities. Ford announced Wednesday that the province will formally ask the Public Health Agency of Canada and Canadian Forces to send medical personnel and other support staff into five priority homes to bolster staffing ranks. The army has been similarly deployed in Quebec to help contain the pandemic at long-term care homes in that province. Ford didnt name the facilities included in the provinces request, but Stewart hopes Anson Place is on the list. If thats the governments way of taking over and supplying support, then good, she said. But how longs it going to take, and why did it take him so long to ask for it? Understaffed homes like Anson Place are in desperate need of reinforcements, Stewart added. Absolutely, we need more staff, she said. But right now, because (the government) has waited so long to take care of this, people are afraid to go in these homes. She said workers at Anson Place and elsewhere are pushed to the brink, logging extra hours to fill in for infected colleagues and struggling to cope with the emotional toll of managing the pandemic. Theyre afraid, terrified, exhausted now. The majority of them have lost confidence in their employers and the government, Stewart said. They keep going in there to protect the people they love, which are the residents. (But) the workload now is becoming unbearable. These people are going to collapse soon. In a statement, Responsive Group Inc., the management company that oversees Rykka Care Centres, pledged to better support its employees working in long-term care. It is difficult to hear that some of our staff feel that we have not done everything possible to protect them throughout this crisis. We need to do better, the statement read. There have been no new COVID-19 cases at Anson Place since Saturday, when Roth reported the 71st resident to become infected. Dr. Shanker Nesathurai, Haldimand-Norfolks chief medical officer of health, said on Monday that he expected to see more deaths at Anson Place as residents who were infected up to two weeks ago started to show symptoms of the respiratory disease. But he cited the slowdown in new cases as a hopeful sign that containment measures put in place at the facility are working. Read more about: Russian rights advocates push for more releases on parole during pandemic flickr.com/ meesh 14:34 23/04/2020 MOSCOW, April 23 (RAPSI) Members of the Presidential Council for Human Rights plan to turn to the Supreme Court of Russia with the request to recommend courts to extend the practice of releases on parole during the coronavirus pandemic, the advisory bodys press service reports Thursday. Earlier, the bodys standing commission on NGO Assisting, penitentiary system reforming and crime prevention held a meeting as part of which the Sverdlovsk Region ombudsman and the human rights councils member Tatiana Merzlyakova reported measures taken in the region to prevent the spread of coronavirus in penitentiary facilities. Thus, according to the regional ombudsman, the procedure of release of seriously ill convivts was accelerated. Moreover, courts supported by prosecutors applied release on parole more often than earlier, she said. In turn the Councils member Andrey Babushkin stated that the Council earlier voiced its opinion that courts need to resume hearings on paroles, mitigating of punishments and transfers to corrective labor in order to bar riots in detention facilities. Among the measures members of the Council proposed to prevent further riots are those ensuring convicts could have access to video and telephone communications, extending a special mail system to some regional penitentiary establishments, and permitting those serving terms in penal settlements to reside in residential areas of the locations such settlements are situated in. The Council also insisted the penitentiary establishments were to be obliged to publish data on actual numbers of convicts, available places and the limits on their respective capacities; on salaries, among those paid from the state budget, as well as information on the number and types of incentives and penalties given to convicts. Historian Kieran McCarthy looks at how one of Cork's most iconic streets got its name One hundred years ago today, King Street was renamed MacCurtain Street in honour of Corks slain lord mayor. Then mayor Terence MacSwiney at the weekly corporation meeting proposed in a short motion: That the name of King Street be changed to MacCurtain Street. He did not wish to add anything to the motion except to say that it was their duty to do honour to their immortal dead but did propose that the plaque for the thoroughfare be solely in the Irish language. The Cork Examiner recorded there were 36 of the 56 council members present with the majority on the night being Sinn Fein members. Commercial public representative Sir John Scott moved as an amendment that the renaming proposal be deferred to the next meeting so those with vested interests in the street could come to address the council and so it could hear public objections. In 1920, King Street was a busy thoroughfare bustling with a variety of trades and services. It boasted some of Corks most beautiful architectural creations from the latter half of the 19th century. All provided much employment such as Messrs Dobbin, Ogilvie and Company general provision buildings (1877) the Baptist Church (1892), the elaborate 12-bay five-storey structure building (erected about 1890), which hosted Thompsons Bakery, The Cork Palace of Varieties (1897), the Metropole Hotel (1897), and the Coliseum cinema (1913). Smaller businesses also thrived such as vintners, tobacconists, provision merchants, bootmakers, dentists, drapers, dress-makers, florists, fishmongers, fruiterers, newsagents, photographers, victuallers as well as three smaller hotels and a RIC Barracks. John Scott, himself, was a member of an old Cork family who founded Scott Harley and Company in the early 19th century and who pursued a business in the shipping and shipbuilding industry on Harley Street and Patricks Quay. Nevertheless, at the April 23, 1920 meeting there was no seconder to Scotts amendment to seek public consultation and without any more debate, the motion was carried. It is unrecorded how traders felt whether they were for or against the name change. Terence MacSwiney John Scott did give a historic reference within his speech pointing out King Streets much earlier 19th-century history. The street had been called after an old family whose members had been prominently identified with the commerce and politics of Cork. Robert King (1796-1867) was of the Kingston family of Mitchelstown Castle. He was a member of the British army, who stayed in France after Napoleons fall. He was returned to parliament for County Cork a Whig politician - from 1826 to 1832. In 1836 he was High Sheriff of County Cork. At the time, it was common practice at the time to name streets after prominent regional members of parliament of which many of Corks street names are. Figuring out which street is named after whom in Cork is a historical puzzle which is often complex but once figured out one can see the deeply embedded British imperial connection, memory, stories, and culture. During Robert Kings time in politics in the 1820s and 1830s, comparisons between old maps of Cork City show the rapid development and re-alignment of a street called Strand Street, which was renamed King Street to provide for the rise of middle class Roman Catholic investment post-Catholic Emancipation. Present day Patricks Hill, Wellington Road, Summerhill North and St Patricks Quay were widened and witnessed more housing development. In April 1920, the renaming of King Street to MacCurtain Street was one of three acts of remembrance to be put into place to consolidate the public solidarity against the murder of Tomas MacCurtain. The other acts the inquest and a public memorial fund also caught the public imagination. Tomas MacCurtain On March 30, 1920, a public meeting was held in the City Hall to inaugurate a memorial fund for MacCurtains widow and family. Bishop Daniel Cohalan chaired the meeting. The Cork Examiner records that he very much regretted the sad and tragic event that brought them together. His first duty and the duty of the whole body of citizens was to express and convey to Mrs MacCurtain, the Lady Mayoress, their sincere sympathy on the great bereavement that had befallen her. He knew the Lord Mayor since 1916, and in his death, he deemed that the citizens of Cork had lost an intelligent, man, an upright man, and a very unselfish man. He appealed to the citizens, irrespective of creed or class, to support the fund noting: it is not an appeal for a private individual; it is an appeal for a man who was the civic head of the municipality, the first citizen of Cork. The speeches from those present politicians and commercial figures contained many accolades given to MacCurtain. Alderman Liam de Roistes intervention is noteworthy. He rose and in Irish proposed the MacCurtain Memorial Fund. He appealed to the citizens of Cork and to the people of Ireland, in general, to make this fund a success. Tomas MacCurtain was struck down by the hand of an assassin. Had he been spared those associated with his work he felt confident that his energy, his initiative, his love of country, and his desire for the citys welfare would have been valuable assets to the whole community, and would have been meant much for the progress and welfare of all sections and classes in the city. "It was a terrible commentary upon the present situation m their country that a man of that character should have been stricken down in such a manner. That meeting was not the place nor probably the time to refer to these conditions, but he believed that he was only speaking the mind of the people when he said that the people of the city and of the land generally were a people who loved order, desired order, loved justice and who hated injustice and tyranny." Between April and October 1920, donations were listed regularly as subscription lists over 25 listings at least within the Cork Examiner. By early October 1920, the public had subscribed over 14,600 in donations and over 2,300 has been given to the MacCurtain family. For the most part, donations came in small monetary numbers a pound and few shillings but despite this every donor was publicly named and thanked. It is clear from analysing the subscriptions lists, every parish in the city and wider region donated large sums of money. On April 26, 1920, a letter (catalogued in Cork City and County Archives) to Lord Mayor Terence MacSwiney from Michael Collins enclosed his contribution to the Lord Mayor's Memorial Fund. The letter noted the national significance and great importance of the fund. However, one of the largest donations was from Terence MacSwiney himself who gave two donations from his Lord Mayors salary two 125 donations one at the start of the memorial fund and the other in early October 1920 during his hunger strike Brixton Prison where he gave 125 of his Lord Mayors salary. Dr Kieran McCarthy is a geographer, Cork local historian and an independent member of Cork City Council. His historical work and publications can be viewed at www.corkheritage.ie. He is the co-author with John OMahony of Witness to Murder, The Inquest of Tomas MacCurtain (2020, Irish Examiner). Sudbury, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 23, 2020) - Rockcliff Metals Corporation (CSE: RCLF) (FSE: RO0) (WKN: A2H60G) ("Rockcliff" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of a successful winter drill program on its 100% owned Tower Property. Drilling has intersected high-grade copper extensions along strike to the south and at depth outside of the current limits of the high-grade Tower Deposit. The Tower Deposit mineralization strike length is now over 900 metres ("m") and has been intersected to depths of over 600 m. It remains open along strike to the south and at depth. Rockcliff's President and CEO Alistair Ross commented: "We are extremely pleased to report that our 2020 winter drill program has exceeded expectations. The Tower Deposit is presently one of the highest grade unmined deposits in the prolific Flin Flon-Snow Lake greenstone belt and our 2020 drilling to-date has confirmed the exceptional potential to extend the known mineralization of the deposit. The drill program intersected high-grade copper mineralization south of the known Tower Deposit limits where hole TP20-080 intersected 4.88% CuEq across a down hole width of 13.53 m including 12.42% CuEq across 2.66 m. The deposit remains open to the south and appears to be following the flanks of a geophysical conductive anomaly which has an additional strike length of over one kilometre. Additional mineralization was also identified at depth where several holes (TP20-065, 068 and 069) intersected high-grade copper mineralization associated with extensive geophysical conductive anomalies below the existing Tower Deposit. We look forward to this spring and summer when we will recommence drilling at Tower with a view of expanding the known mineralization." Twenty four drill holes totalling 10,176 m were completed in the 2020 winter drill program. Please refer to Figure 1 for drill hole pierce point locations within the Tower Deposit longitudinal projection. All assays have been returned and significant down the hole mineralized intervals are summarized in the table below: Hole # From(m) To(m) Length(m) Cu% Zn% Au gpt Ag gpt CuEq% Comment TP20-064 549.20 552.19 2.99 3.00 1.55 1.56 15.50 4.80 inside deposit TP20-065 587.48 591.77 4.29 1.25 0.12 0.30 5.17 1.55 outside deposit And 597.00 597.66 0.66 1.66 0.84 0.21 6.80 2.18 TP20-066 509.45 511.54 2.09 1.12 0.32 0.12 3.82 1.37 inside deposit Includes 509.45 510.59 1.14 1.88 0.54 0.21 6.78 2.29 TP20-067 365.20 366.85 1.65 1.23 0.18 0.27 8.58 1.57 outside deposit Includes 366.24 366.85 0.61 2.10 0.29 0.48 12.05 2.65 TP20-068 668.60 669.77 1.17 1.71 0.92 0.09 6.92 2.20 outside deposit And 708.34 711.43 3.09 1.31 4.30 0.14 7.32 3.12 TP20-069 708.34 709.46 1.12 3.07 6.34 0.29 17.57 5.87 outside deposit TP20-70 549.39 551.71 2.32 1.83 1.06 0.17 7.48 2.43 inside deposit Includes 549.39 550.3 0.91 3.63 2.56 0.18 14.50 4.87 TP20-072 174.70 175.97 1.27 1.52 0.75 0.35 6.40 2.11 inside deposit TP20-073 239.63 241.40 1.77 1.13 0.25 0.20 5.09 1.40 inside deposit Includes 239.63 240.30 0.67 2.64 0.61 0.50 12.30 3.33 TP20-074 255.66 256.66 1.00 5.11 1.81 1.63 23.27 7.14 inside deposit TP20-075 344.40 347.74 3.34 8.19 1.93 1.16 35.03 10.06 inside deposit Includes 344.80 347.14 2.34 11.07 2.68 1.53 47.23 13.60 TP20-076 150.72 153.79 3.07 1.77 0.41 0.49 8.09 2.34 inside deposit TP20-077 151.28 155.63 4.35 2.72 0.03 0.30 6.98 3.00 inside deposit TP20-078 436.35 437.85 1.10 3.46 0.39 0.13 27.42 4.08 outside deposit TP20-080 210.70 224.23 13.53 3.96 0.84 0.50 26.45 4.88 outside deposit Includes 220.41 223.07 2.66 10.35 2.27 0.89 61.96 12.42 TP20-083 145.00 146.65 1.65 2.67 0.09 0.62 1.37 3.14 outside deposit TP20-084 290.35 293.12 2.77 2.27 0.60 0.87 10.10 3.19 inside deposit TP20-087 139.30 139.78 0.48 2.58 0.09 0.50 17.15 3.12 outside deposit m =metres represent down hole widths as true widths are not currently known, gpt = grams per tonne, CuEq = copper equivalent values used: US$3.00 copper, US$1.15 zinc, US$1400 ($45.02/gram) gold, US$20.00 ($0.64/gram) silver. 100% metal recoveries were applied. CuEq = Cu grade % + (Zn grade % X Zn price per lb / Cu price per pound) + (Au grade g/t X Au price per gram / Cu price per tonne) X 100 + (Ag grade g/t X Ag price per gram / Cu price per tonne) X 100. TP20-071, TP20-079, TP20-081 and TP20-082, TP20-085 and TP20-086 failed to intersect significant mineralization and fell outside the high-grade Tower Deposit envelope. The numbers may not add up due to rounding. Figure 1: Tower Deposit Longitudinal Projection, 2020 Drill Pierce Point Locations and 2019 P&E Resource Update Outline. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3071/54816_af3063c8b45fd9a1_001full.jpg Tower Deposit Mineralization, Resource Expansion, Tower South Anomaly and Property Potential The high-grade Tower Deposit is defined as a remobilized, single, steeply dipping, high-grade, Volcanogenic Massive Sulphide (VMS) lens that is located immediately below an approximate 100m thick layer of Paleozoic limestone cover. The Tower Deposit consists of stringers and massive sulphide lenses of chalcopyrite, pyrite, pyrrhotite and sphalerite. Drilling has intersected the VMS mineralization over a strike length exceeding 900 m and to a vertical depth of over 600 m. The Tower Deposit remains open at depth where high-grade minerlization is associatedwith extensive conductive targets and to the south where recent drilling outside of the Tower Deposit envelope has intersected thick, high-grade copper mineralization with significant credits of zinc, gold and silver (TP20-080). Additional geophysical surveys have identified the newly identified Tower South Anomaly (TSA) approximately 750m south of the Tower Deposit. Two exploratory drill holes have been completed and assays are presently pending. Within the property limits, the Tower Deposit and the TSA are associated within a 12 kilometre long arcuate trending magnetic horizon hosting several additional untested geophysical conductive targets considered by the Company to be worthy of follow-up exploration. The depositional environment of the Tower Property is like that of present and past producing VMS deposits and mines associated with bi-model volcanism (felsic to mafic volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks) in the Flin Flon - Snow Lake greenstone belt. A recent NI 43-101 Technical Report prepared by P&E Mining Consultants Inc. (P&E) with an effective date of March 2, 2020 and filed on SEDAR on April 16, 2020 is summarized below. The 2020 winter drill holes were not included in the current resource. Tower Property Updated Mineral Resource Estimate at 1.5% CuEq cut-off(1-10) Classification Tonnes (k) Cu (%) Zn (%) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) CuEq (%) Cu (Mlbs) Zn (Mlbs) Au (koz) Ag (koz) CuEq (Mlbs) Indicated 1,026 4.69 1.32 0.85 23.7 5.74 106.0 29.8 28.1 783 129.8 Inferred 367 3.53 1.05 0.57 18.0 4.29 28.6 8.5 6.8 212 34.7 1) Mineral Resources which are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimate of Mineral Resources may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, marketing, or other relevant issues. 2) Mineral Resources were estimated using the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM), CIM Standards on Mineral Resources and Reserves, Definitions and Guidelines prepared by the CIM Standing Committee on Reserve Definitions and adopted by CIM Council. (3) The Inferred Mineral Resource in this estimate has a lower level of confidence than that applied to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to a Mineral Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of the Inferred Mineral Resource could be upgraded to an Indicated Mineral Resource with continued exploration. (4) Approximate Jan 31/20 two year trailing average US$ metal prices used were $3/lb Cu, $1.10/lb Zn, $1,350/oz Au and $16.50/oz Ag. The US$: CDN$ exchange rate used was 0.77. (5) Respective process recoveries for Cu, Zn, Au, Ag were 95%, 80%, 80%, 80% (6) Respective smelter payables for Cu, Zn, Au, Ag were 96.5%, 85%, 90%, 90%. (7) Respective USD Cu and Zn smelter treatment charges used were $80 and $250/tonne with concentrate freight of CDN$65/tonne. (8) CuEq% was calculated as follows: Cu% + (Zn % x 0.220) + (Au g/t x 0.673) + (Ag g/t x 0.008). (9) The 1.5% CuEq cut-off is approximately equivalent to a C$100/tonne project operating cost. (10) Contained metal totals may differ due to rounding. Neither Rockcliff's Qualified Person, Ken Lapierre, P.Geo., nor P&E's Qualified Person, Eugene Puritch, P.Eng., nor management of Rockcliff are aware of any known environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing or other relevant issues that may materially affect the estimate of the Mineral Resource. Additional drill hole information is highlighted in the table below. Hole# UTM-E UTM-N Dip Azimuth Length metres TP20-064 486563 5981091 -57 293 578 TP20-065 486048 5981193 -69 103 629 TP20-066 486673 5981232 -54.5 278 590 TP20-067 486074 5980631 -52 305 389 TP20-068 486656 5981091 -61 293 692 TP20-069 486048 5981193 -71 103 746 TP20-070 486673 5981232 -58.5 278 614 TP20-071 486119 5980593 -53 305 508 TP20-072 486433 5981238 -55 302 197 TP20-073 486433 5981238 -65 302 263 TP20-074 486463 5981279 -67 302 278 TP20-075 486479 5981240 -66 287 371 TP20-076 486459 5981335 -62 290 198 TP20-077 486433 5981235 -49 130 200 TP20-078 485766 5980942 -57 130 515 TP20-079 485712 5980920 -45 130 425 TP20-080 485745 5980825 -49 130 326 TP20-081 485745 5980825 -61 130 320 TP20-082 485781 5980793 -49 130 326 TP20-083 458712 5980786 -49 130 350 TP20-084 486569 5981335 -55 281 326 TP20-085 486612 5981418 -52 270 335 TP20-086 486693 5981355 -56 285 470 TP20-087 486693 5981355 -61 285 530 Quality Control and Quality Assurance Samples of half core were packaged and shipped directly from Rockcliff's core facility in Snow Lake to TSL Laboratories (TSL) in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. TSL is a Canadian assay laboratory and is accredited under ISO/IEC 17025. Each bagged core sample was dried, crushed to 70% passing 10 mesh and a 250g pulp was pulverized to 95% passing 150 mesh for assaying. A 0.5g cut is taken from each pulp for base metal analyses and leached in a multi-acid (total) digestion and then analyzed for copper, lead, zinc and silver by atomic absorption. Gold concentrations were determined by fire assay using a 30g charge followed by an atomic absorption finish. Samples greater than the upper detection limit (3,000 ppb) were reanalyzed using fire assay gravimetric using a 1 Assay Ton charge. Rockcliff inserted certified blanks and standards in the sample stream to ensure lab integrity. Rockcliff has no relationship with TSL other than TSL being a service provider to the Company. Ken Lapierre P.Geo., VP Exploration of Rockcliff, a Qualified Person in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements as set out in NI 43-101, has read and approved the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for the disclosure contained in this press release. Visit Rockcliff's YouTube channel with a message from President and CEO, Alistair Ross. To access the video, please visit: https://youtu.be/2C68viQ2PfM. Cannot view this video? Visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C68viQ2PfM About Rockcliff Metals Corporation Rockcliff is a well-funded Canadian resource development and exploration company, with a fully functional +1,000 tpd leased processing and tailings facility as well as several advance-staged, high-grade copper and zinc dominant VMS deposits in the Snow Lake area of central Manitoba. The Company is a major landholder in the Flin Flon-Snow Lake greenstone belt which is home to the largest Paleoproterozoic VMS district in the world, hosting mines and deposits containing copper, zinc, gold and silver. The Company's extensive portfolio of properties totals over 4,500 square kilometres and includes eight of the highest grade, undeveloped VMS deposits in the belt. For more information, please visit http://rockcliffmetals.com Youtube: Rockcliff Metals Corporation Twitter: @RockcliffMetals Linkedin: Rockcliff Metals Corp Instagram: Rockcliff_Metals For further information, please contact: Rockcliff Metals Corporation Alistair Ross President & CEO Cell: (249) 805-9020 contact@rockcliffmetals.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This news release includes forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause the actual results of the Company to be materially different from the historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All statements contained in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward-looking. Although Rockcliff believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not a guarantee of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/54816 As part of her efforts to support the vulnerable in the Ablekuma West Constituency during the fight against Covid-19, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the Member of Parliament for Ablekuma West has for the third time toured the Ablekuma West Constituency to donate assorted food items to the constituents. This time, she presented the food items to various traditional authorities and the fishing community in the constituency. She visited the Gbegbe, Gbegbeyise, Mpoase, Mamponse, Opetekwei and Glefe palaces on her tour. At each Palace she visited, the Member of Parliament presented bags of rice, cooking oil and other essentials to the traditional authorities. Mrs Owusu-Ekuful had earlier visited the Tunga and Nasrawa chiefs where she made similar donations. The chiefs expressed gratitude to Mrs Owusu-Ekuful for the special care she has shown the people in this very difficult period. They assured her that the items will be distributed to the underprivileged in their communities and entreated her to stay in constant touch with the people in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic. Source: Daily Graphic Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Its taken for granted these days that Rachael Rays Nutrish pet food line is part of the domestic pet food landscape. It wasnt always the case. Rachael Ray and her dog, Isaboo | Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for NYCWFF After her whirlwind success as a celebrity cook, Ray decided to dip her toe into the pet food waters, against the advice of many. The Rachael Ray 50 author went with her instincts, and doesnt regret it one bit. Rachael Ray has no formal culinary training but still made it big The 51-year-old got her big break from Oprah Winfrey, who as Ray in 2019 told Howard Stern, invited the 30 Minute Meals star on her talk show in 2005, where Winfrey proclaimed Ray a superstar, as she leaned in and told me, Youve got it. Ray told Stern, [Oprah] is delightful and has changed the course of my life and my familys life. From the start, Ray has been grabbing the attention of those around her. A go-getter in every sense of the word, she was noticed by a local New York station while she was demonstrating how to cook in an upscale food store in upstate New York. The station created a cooking segment for her and even helped her publish her first cookbook. She began appearing on NBCs Today show with occasional visits in 2001. After that, Food Network brought her on board first with one program, and then built up to four: 30-Minute Meals, $40 a Day, Tasty Travels, and Inside Dish. And then Oprah Winfrey took note of the dynamic and petite cook, entrusted her with her own daytime talk show in 2006, and the rest is history. Rachael Ray has a soft spot for animals Ray loves her animals, and in fact, all animals. She has become a spokesperson for the welfare of animals and during the recent pandemic donated $2 million to benefit animal shelters that may be losing donations during this crisis. Ray also created Rachaels Rescue organization, which her website notes was created for all of the forgotten petsthe ones who might not have someone who loves them as much as they deserve. A portion of proceeds from each sale of Nutrish is donated to The Rachael Ray Foundation, which helps animals in need through Rachaels Rescue. How Nutrish was born Nutrish hit major supermarkets in 2008. The natural pet food contains no artificial preservatives, flavors, or poultry by-product meal, with formulas influenced by Rays own recipes from her kitchen containing fresh ingredients such as slow-roasted chicken, carrots, field peas, potatoes and apples. She told The New York Times in 2018 that she had no regrets about going forward with her pet food idea, despite what many were telling her was a very bad idea. People were like, you cant put your head on dog food. Thats insane, she said. I was like, Who cares? Its not like I have a stellar reputation as one of the worlds great chefs. . . . My gut is what got us here. I am not going to change what I do or make my decisions any differently. Nutrishs sales exceeded $200 million in annual sales in 2016, and two years later, Smucker bought the pet food line for nearly $2 billion. Smucker said at the time of their purchase, Rachael Ray Nutrish brand adds another high-growth, on-trend brand to our pet food portfolio. Their team has done a tremendous job growing this business, building Nutrish into one of the most recognizable premium pet food brands in the United States. Read more: How Did Rachael Ray Meet Her Husband, John Cusimano? Over the past two days, broker members of MCX, Indias largest exchange for commodity derivatives, are up in arms against the manner in which the April crude oil contract was settled by the bourse. They have valid reasons to present their side of the story against an exchange that has used its financial muscle to have its way. What is the core issue? MCX crude oil is the most liquid contract and generates the highest volumes on the exchange. The contract was launched 15 years ago and was based on US shale oil price indicator WTI (West Rexas intermediate), which is traded on ... CHICAGO, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- JBT Corporation (NYSE: JBT) will report first quarter 2020 financial results after the market closes on Wednesday, April 29, 2020. A conference call is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, April 30, 2020. Participants may access the conference call using the following numbers: U.S. and Canada: (833) 238-7952 International: +1 (647) 689-4200 Conference ID #: 4293219 The call will be simultaneously webcast on JBT Corporation's Investor Relations website, which can be accessed at www.jbtc.com/investors. To participate on the webcast, please log on to the website at least ten minutes before the call to register. An online audio replay of the conference call will be available on JBT Corporation's Investor Relations website at approximately 1:30 p.m. ET on April 30, 2020. JBT Corporation (NYSE: JBT) is a leading global technology solutions provider to high-value segments of the food & beverage industry with focus on proteins, liquid foods and automated system solutions. JBT designs, produces and services sophisticated products and systems for multi-national and regional customers through its FoodTech segment. JBT also sells critical equipment and services to domestic and international air transportation customers through its AeroTech segment. JBT Corporation employs approximately 6,400 people worldwide and maintains sales, service, manufacturing and sourcing operations in more than 25 countries. For more information, please visit www.jbtc.com. Investors & Media: Megan Rattigan +1-312-861-6048 SOURCE JBT Corporation Related Links http://www.jbtc.com Over 1,000 elderly people of Kolkata and five districts of south Bengal have received pension at their doorstep during the last fortnight of the lockdown, thanks to the efforts of the India Post. Payments to the tune of more than Rs 90 lakh have been made to these people of North and South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad and Birbhum, besides the city, said Postmaster General of Kolkata Region, Niraj Kumar. "We are not charging anything for this service. Our objective is to help people especially the elderly and the needy, when they are unable to come out of their homes due to the lockdown," Kumar told PTI on Thursday. Apart from bringing pension, employees of the postal department have disbursed Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) payments to around 10,000 beneficiaries, including women and BPL family members, of various government schemes during the past two weeks, he said. "Some of the beneficiaries do not have accounts in post offices. But postmen and Gramin Dak Sevaks are handing over cash to them with the help of technology available with the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB)," Kumar said. These payments are being made by accessing their accounts in other banks through the Aadhaar Enabled Payment System at the doorstep of the beneficiaries by using Micro ATM devices of the IPPB. "These beneficiaries are located mainly in Kolkata and predominantly in the rural areas of North and South 24 Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad and Birbhum districts," the postmaster general added. During the last fortnight, the department has also delivered a large number of parcels containing medicines, testing kits and other medical equipment to hospitals and individuals in these areas by making special arrangements via its mail motor vehicles, Kumar said. The India Post has also entered into a tie-up with the Newtown Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) for delivering medicines to senior citizens and sick people at their doorsteps free of cost, he said. Under this initiative, services were started in areas under East Kolkata Division like New Town, Salt Lake and Rajarhat from April 20, Kumar said. The East Kolkata Division has also opened a facility of receiving medical supply requisition for senior citizens and sick people of these areas over Whatsapp (6292132450). India Post is mulling the option of extending this service to other areas he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A longtime Chester County attorney who admitted having a sexual relationship with a female client and engaging in improper financial dealings with her during his representation has been disbarred. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court announced its decision regarding attorney Jonathan F. Altman in a press release on Wednesday. The release was accompanied by a 19-page opinion and order written by Justice Sallie Updyke Mundy and joined by the other six members of the high court. Altmans disbarment, which means he is prohibited from representing clients in legal matters, is effective on May 22. In her opinion, Mundy acknowledge that Altman, who has offices in West Chester and is known in the courthouse for his Edwardian beard and wing-tipped shirt collars, had an otherwise blemish free record as an attorney, but said that his conduct in the matter rose above the level of a simple mistake. Altmans lack of disciplinary history as well as testimony regarding his character and reputation are properly considered, she wrote. We conclude that such evidence cannot overcome Altmans lack of genuine remorse and failure to appreciate the seriousness of his conflict of interest by engaging in sexual relations with his client and continuing to represent her. Mundys decision that Altman was unfit to practice law was not based solely on his sexual relationship with (the client), she added. Our conclusion is further impacted by Altmans failure to ensure that (the womans) interests were properly protected in the course of their business dealings, and his abuse of the legal system to pursue her for expenses he could not properly document and for fees to which he was not entitled. Thus, it is the totality of the circumstances involving repeated instances of sexual contact, prohibited financial dealings and the filing of meritless civil actions that compels our decision to accept the previous recommendation of the state Disciplinary Board that he be disbarred. Altmans attorney, Sam Stretton of West Chester, expressed dismay at the courts decision, but cautioned that it signaled that future transgressions by attorneys involving sexual relationships with client would be met with serious consequences. I was very disappointed with the courts decision, Stretton said in a a telephone interview Thursday. The court seemed to change how discipline if handed out, to attorneys who engage in such conduct. They seemed to ignore his 40 years with no disciplinary problems and his good work as a lawyer. Stretton also implied that the court had failed to take precedential cases he presented into account in making its decision. But it is a strong message, he said. It shows that lawyers who do this sort of thing will face very, very serious consequences. Altman, in admitting having the intimate relationship with his former client, said that it was consensual and did not affect his representation of her. He has asked for a private reprimand, the least of all possible punishments for those attorneys found guilty of misconduct, instead of being disbarred. In proceedings in 2018 concerning the allegations, Altman testified on his own behalf, stating that the woman whose name is being withheld by MediaNews Group initiated the sexual relationship and that he was in a weakened state and not strong enough to resist. As a result of this experience, he said he had learned that, I cant put myself in a position where Im alone with a female. He further acknowledged that his misconduct in having a sexual relationship with a client was a big mistake, but testified that he agreed to pay for home repairs and landscaping at her house because he has a big heart, and I help people. Theres no question in my mind that (the client) trusted me as a lawyer, and I did very well by her in everything I did for her. She got exceptional results, he testified before the Disciplinary Boards hearing tribunal. He has been an attorney in Pennsylvania since 1977. To contact staff writer Michael P. Rellahan call 610-696-1544. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, studies have shown that Americans have been giving into their vices more than ever lately, and we get it. Amid weeks spent inside in social isolation, millions of jobs lost and a very depressing 24-hour news cycle, it would be unusual if you werent experiencing some form of anxiety, or at the very least, cabin fever. While the importance of keeping good habits has been advocated by many mental health experts, the drastic uptick in sales of anything vice-related from sex toys to alcohol shows that were all in search of a little distraction. In fact, data from market research firm Nielsen suggests that U.S. alcohol sales spiked 55 percent in the week ending March 21, with online sales up an astounding 243 percent. In a survey by Alcohol.org, 1 in 3 respondents reported that they are likely to increase alcohol consumption in isolation. Replacing sports-bar meetups with Zoom happy hours might offer some much-needed on-the-spot relief, but turning to booze in times of stress has major downsides, too. Downing too much alcohol can reduce your immune systems ability to fight off infectious diseases, and besides that, its a depressant temporarily boosting serotonin levels only to lower them in the long run, and causing or exacerbating depression as a result. The bottom line is that an ounce or two on the rocks is fine, but increased alcohol use over days or weeks might suppress immune responses or lead to a greater susceptibility to pneumonia. Enter stage left: cannabis, a demonstrably safer alternative, with some added benefits. While alcohol acts as a downer, weed has been shown to help ease anxiety, insomnia and physical aches and pain. While those who typically enjoy the stuff have gotten a bad rap as being lazy, giggly and insatiably hungry, cannabis is often medically prescribed to help manage nausea and weight loss, and can be used to treat glaucoma. However, recent headlines have warned about the dangers of smoking cigarettes and weed as coronavirus attacks the respiratory system, and their habit can increase the risk of suffering more severe complications in the case that they contract the virus. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to indulge that require zero inhalation, from taking edibles to using medical-strength CBD oil. So far, edibles dont seem to do anything to the airways, Albert Rizzo, MD, chief medical officer for the American Lung Association told Refinery29. They give you some of the same psychoactive effects as smoking, but they dont put you at any increased risk if you get COVID-19. I would prefer all my patients use edibles instead of smoking. For those of you who have used some of the extra time at home to get experimental in the kitchen, heres your cue. Use your newfound skills to whip up some quick cannabutter and crack open some new recipes, like this one for weed-infused ribeye with chimichurri. Dont get too ahead of yourself though: first you have to know your strains. For combating anxiety For those with specific ailments, we encourage you to give a licensed dispensary a call, as they will be able to give you the best recommendation. What we can say is that those experiencing an uptick in daily anxiety might want to check out some indica or indica hybrids (a mix of strains that are dominantly indica). Built for relaxation, indica is perfect for both mental and muscle relaxation. Not only are indica strains perfect for decompressing after a long day, they also have your back (literally) when it comes to muscle soreness, whether caused by a hard workout or sitting in the same chair all day long. Indica delivers a body high that gives you a heavy, relaxed feeling while increasing your dopamine levels. Local dispensary Herbal Alternatives recommends strains like Pinchers Creek, which they describe as a sweet strain with great, long-lasting effects and say helps with mood elevation, giving bursts of energy throughout the day to help battle anxiety and depression. For evening use, they recommend a strain called Humble Pain. Perfect for fighting depression, it gives you an almost euphoric and uplifting feeling. Catching some quality Zzzs Need another reason to choose edibles above smoking? They actually take effect much more slowly, considering they first need to be digested and processed through the liver. This slow burn makes them effective at helping you stay asleep through the night. According to the experts at HelloMD, one of the best strains to put you to sleep is called Harlequin, which is actually a sativa-dominant hybrid. Harlequin is high in CBD and is known for its ability to relieve pain, stress, anxiety and depression. Though its sativa-dominant, Harlequin is known to be a calming strain that helps people fall and stay asleep. Its particularly good for people who have anxiety-driven insomnia, because it has very little to no psychoactivity. Other sleep-inducing favorites of theirs include Cookie Jar, a hybrid known for helping with headaches and providing full body relaxation effects, as well as the insomnia-countering White Widow, a balanced hybrid praised for its cerebral, relaxing qualities. When theres work to get done Trying to get out of bed on the weekend for an at-home workout? Suffering from the dreaded midday slump? This is where sativa, known for its energizing power, shines. While everyone experiences the effects of cannabis differently, sativa is best used for revving up creativity, and can even sharpen focus, making it perfect for putting you in the positive mindset needed to slog through a few dozen more emails. This happens because sativa provides a boost in serotonin, the feel-good chemical that helps to regulate learning, mood, sleep, anxiety and appetite. One of the best strains for mental clarity carried by Herbal Alternatives is Classic Jack, a sativa-dominant strain thats known for providing a high that keeps you feeling blissful, clear-headed and creative. Where to buy While states like California and Colorado have given the green light to recreational cannabis sales, DC has been trapped in somewhat of a grey area. Back in 2014, when Initiative 71 was passed, possession of up to two ounces of marijuana became legal for anyone over 21, as well as the transference of up to one ounce to another person as long as no money is exchanged. Those wanting to go the official route can apply for a medical card and then visit one of DCs seven medical marijuana dispensaries, which are still open, since they are deemed essential services. Metropolitan Wellness Center, Capital City Care and the National Holistic Healing Center are all options. Got your card already? As of last week, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Department of Health also announced an emergency rule that now allows registered patients to order cannabis directly to their homes from dispensaries. If applying for a card seems too tedious, another option is the many delivery services in DC that offer weed as a gift with the purchase in order to comply with local laws, such as High Speed or Joint Delivery. Sure, you may not need any stickers, tie-dye pencils or even inspirational quotes spoken aloud to you, but that is technically what youll be paying for when they come to deliver your bud or edibles And lets be real, it definitely cant hurt to hear the motivational words of John Lennon or Maya Angelou during these hard times, especially when theyre accompanied by some very special Rice Krispies treats. The post A Beginner's Guide to Curbing Coronavirus Anxiety With Cannabis appeared first on InsideHook. Pakistan's Sindh government has challenged in the Supreme Court the provincial high court's verdict that acquitted British-born top al-Qaeda leader Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh and three others in the abduction and murder of US journalist Daniel Pearl here in 2002. Pearl, the 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, was abducted and beheaded while he was in Pakistan investigating a story in 2002 on the alleged links between the country's powerful spy agency ISI and al-Qaeda. The government of southern province of Sindh on Wednesday filed the challenge before the Supreme Court against the April 2 order of the Sindh High Court, according to Dawn. The high court exonerated the conviction of Sheikh for killing Pearl. It acquitted three other accused namely Fahad Naseem, Sheikh Adil and Salman Saqib, who had been earlier sentenced to life imprisonment by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) of Karachi. A graphic video showing Pearl's decapitation was delivered to the US consulate a month later. Subsequently Omar Sheikh was arrested in 2002 and sentenced to death by the trial court. Sindh Prosecutor General Fiaz Shah moved the appeal before the top court on the grounds that the 'last seen evidence', 'impersonation' and identification parade' was proved against the accused persons and maintained concurrently by the trial court. Moreover, the appeal pointed out that the video showing the committing of murder of the WSJ reporter has been verified by a public official (an expert from PTV) and was never challenged. The collective proof along with the clear and categorical confessional statements of the accused and the co-accused (Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh), the acquittal and modification of sentence by the high court was not sustainable and was liable to be set aside, the appeal urged the Supreme Court. Similarly, the evidence of natural and independent witnesses confirmed the demand of ransom made by the accused a fact also stood proven through documentary evidence. As such the acquittal of the accused as well as the modification of sentence to the extent of co-accused is illegal and unlawful. The accused persons acted to achieve nefarious designs and committed the offences that fall under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 and this factum was also accepted and admitted by the high court in its judgement, the petition highlighted. But the high court took a glaring contradictory view, while acquitting the accused and modifying the sentence of the co-accused a decision which could not be sustained in the eye of law and thus caused serious miscarriage of justice, it stated. Moreover, the appeal said, the accused persons failed to produce any material to create a doubt against the evidence produced by the prosecution. Rather the co-accused during remand categorically admitted his guilt before the trial judge that he committed the offences in league with other accused who also voluntarily confessed their involvement before the trial court. Hence the offences were proven that all accused in connivance with each other committed the crime and they were vicariously liable for committal of all offences, including the murder of Pearl, the appeal contended. According to the appeal, the high court neither referred to nor considered the established impersonation of the co-accused Ahmed Omer Saeed Sheikh alias/Aka Bashir, corroborated through identification parade. The voluntary judicial confessions made by the accused Salman Saqib and Fahad Nasim before the competent court were retracted on flimsy premises, yet the high court while giving undue weightage to such retraction did not consider the principles settled by the apex court. The SHC did not appreciate that there was overwhelming incriminating evidence on record against the accused connecting them to the offences with which they were charged, it said, adding that they had committed offences they were charged for in league with each other with their common intention and object and were liable to be punished accordingly. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The room is dark. The little light there is comes from a crack in the blinds. The doctor, looking a bit like an astronaut in a special suit and plastic visor protecting her entire face, sits on the corner of the bed and holds the patients hands. She notices that his eyes are beginning to water. Cry, she tells him. It will do you good. The patient, a 37-year-old nurse, lets the tears fall. Two weeks ago, he had a fever and cough, the two most telling symptoms of Covid-19. He went into quarantine alone in his apartment in the Madrid municipality of Alcorcon and received medical assistance by phone. During this time in isolation, his grandmother died. He wasnt able to say goodbye to her or attend the funeral. This morning, he woke up with vision problems and felt that the entire left side of his body was paralyzed. He couldnt move his left hand either. He became scared and asked his ex-partner to call Madrids Emergency Services (SUMMA). The moment they receive the call, the team from SUMMAs No. 24 intensive care ambulance jumps into action. Miguel Carvajal takes the wheel; Andres, the technician, reviews the monitor on the defibrillator; while the doctor, Marta Calvo, and nurse Vanesa Jimenez are ready to go in their personal protective equipment (PPE). (l-r) Technician Andres, doctor Marta Calvo and nurse Vanesa Jimenez on their way to attend to an emergency. Jaime Villanueva Sanchez With the sirens blazing, the ambulance arrives at a 12-story building and the team quickly jumps out of the vehicle. The neighbors watch the scene with disinterest. The average Spaniard is harder to shock now given what theyve seen during the coronavirus crisis. Luckily, the nurse does not need to be hospitalized. He is suffering from a migraine. The doctor asks his ex-partner to stay with him for a while. It would do him good to have someone by his side for a few hours, she says. On the way back to the base in Leganes, the doctor takes off the PPE. Its boiling inside. We are seeing the consequences of all the anguish inside people. Its starting to come out, says Vanesa Jimenez, the nurse of the crew. This was their second emergency of the day. The first was a 90-year-old man who said he couldnt breathe. His daughter, who had come to visit him, called emergency services and in no time the crew was at his door. Luckily, the patient had the right blood oxygen levels. Perhaps youre a little nervous? Calvo, the doctor, asked him. Yes, he replied. Because I dont know if I have it or not. The 90-year-old could not even say the name of the virus. The doctor gave him a prescription for Valium, but was worried he may have been suffering from another illness. Call again if you feel bad. Thats what were here for, she told him. Andres disinfects the nurse Vanesa Jimenez after visiting a coronavirus patient. Jaime Villanueva Sanchez SUMMA health workers work in 24-hour shifts, then rest for five days. That is unless they accept extra shifts, which has been common during the crisis. When they began to find bodies in homes, in particular elderly patients who had died within hours, they realized the gravity of the situation. The crew of Ambulance 24 waits for the next emergency in a resting space back at the base in Leganes. The doctor does crochet. The nurse looks at photos of her children on her cellphone. The driver watches the television. At 6pm, they come together and have coffee at the table. As a crew, they have experienced some touching moments. Like the time they visited an elderly couple who lived alone, and the woman, indisposed on the bed, complained that she had left lentils on the stove and clothes in the washing machine. Andres hung up the wet clothes and left the lentils ready to eat. Or the time that they responded to a call from a Moroccan woman who had just given birth to twins. In a photo, the doctor and nurse can be seen feeding the newborns, with one in each of their arms. These moments, from just a few months back, feel like a lifetime ago, when the coronavirus outbreak had not yet dominated every part of daily life. Spains health workers have been hit especially hard by the crisis. Doctor Marta Calvo says she has discovered hidden parts of herself. I am not by any means a squeamish person. But this has made me afraid. For the first time, I thought that perhaps I will die. Truthfully, that would not be good for me. I have children, there are many things I am yet to do. Its not my time, she says, as she crochets. She has reason to be nervous: 215 health workers of the 2,100-strong staff have tested positive for Covid-19. Calvo herself fell sick and was put on leave for two weeks. Before that happened, the doctor was sent to help an 80-year-old woman. This was during the time that Spain was seeing a record-high number of coronavirus fatalities. Hospitals were overwhelmed, and there were not enough workers to bury all the bodies. The woman was unconscious but her condition improved after she was given oxygen. According to Calvo, when they took the patient to hospital, they were told: How old is she? Eighty? Dont give it more thought. If she is older than 65, she is not a candidate for the intensive care unit. The doctor still has the number of the patients daughter in her cellphone. Sometimes she thinks about ringing her, but then stops. She wouldnt know what to say. In other circumstances, we would have been able to save [the 80-year-old patient]. In the end she died alone in hospital, without her family, says Calvo. A month ago we put a pacemaker in an 85-year-old man because he had a good quality of life. And now we let people go who are 70. The system has failed, she adds. Vanesa Jimenez, the nurse, listens to the story attentively. It brings up her own traumas. A few weeks ago, she went to the home of a man named Juan, which is also her fathers name. He was also around the same age. Just like her father, he lived alone and was independent. Whats more the two lived just a few houses apart. In a matter of hours, Juans condition deteriorated, but they couldnt do anything for him. The hospital told the crew not to intubate Juan because they did not have any respirators available. The man died shortly after. Jimenez cried as though he were her own father. The rest area of Ambulance 24. Jaime Villanueva Sanchez The talk of past experiences is interrupted by the sound of a walkie talkie: Woman with convulsions. History of heart disease. The crew jump in the ambulance and rush to the scene. They find Monica Rosario, 49, lying down on the bed. Her children had started fighting and then she began to feel chest pains. Calvo quickly realizes it isnt serious, just a panic attack. What you have today is not a heart problem. Its a problem of nerves, dear. These boys are already very grown up. Throw them out onto the street if you need to, let them fight with the coronavirus, she tells the woman. The patient makes an effort to sit up. Not even the coronavirus is going to want them, she says. English version by Melissa Kitson. Demand shocks are nothing new to the worlds top airline companies. However, the magnitude of COVID-19s impact on the travel industry will leave deep scars for decades to come. Air Canada (TSX:AC), for example, is struggling to stay alive and reliving the nightmare of 2003. The company might seek court protection under Canadas Companies Creditors Arrangement Act. The said act is similar to Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the United States. On April 1, 2003, the countrys flag carrier filed for emergency bankruptcy protection. Uneventful recourse The war in Iraq was the principal reason why panicky passengers cut back on travel trips in 2003. Air Canada was losing nearly $2 million daily as a result. American counterpart United Airlines filed for Chapter 11. Air Canada made the move to get a reprieve from creditors and buy time to reorganize the business. The company also negotiated with the union and government. Unlike today, flights were not banned, although the number of flights has been reduced. In the past decade, Air Canada has experienced four consecutive years of losses. The most dominant airline company in Canada reported a total loss of $428 million in year-end 2002. Its accumulated losses in 2008 were more than $1 billion, and the stock price tanked to $0.78 in 2009. Decades winner The period from 2010 to 2019 was a decade of transformation for Air Canada. Its comeback from the ground up was the decades greatest story. Its evolution was a marvel in the global aviation industry. After overcoming inevitable difficulties, the stock came out a winner at the decades end. Air Canadas total return for the period was 2,085.14%. The feat is now in the investment record books. Had you invested $50,000 then, your money would have grown to $1,092,570 on year-end 2019. But with the coronavirus outbreak, earning the same shipload of cash is next to impossible. Deadly outbreak The outlook for the airline industry is getting gloomier every day. A further spread of COVID-19 will reduce global industry revenues in 2020 by 55% (US$314 billion) versus the 2019 figures. The scale of the crisis will also translate to about 25 million aviation-related job losses worldwide. Story continues Based on data from the International Air Transport Association, the novel coronavirus has cost the industry a 95% loss in international passenger traffic. The U.S. government will be pumping in US$25 billion to bail out the beleaguered airline companies. Not an air pocket The latest news from Air Canada is that the company is plotting a relaunch after these turbulent times. However, the effect of COVID-19 isnt a simple air pocket. The business disruption is so massive that it would take a federal bailout for Air Canada to flap its wings again. For now, Air Canada will be applying for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy program to retain or bring back affected employees. As an investment option, Air Canada is a risky proposition. Air Canada is looking at bankruptcy. The company is beginning to realize the 2020 pandemic is more terrifying than the nightmare of 2003. The post Is Bankruptcy Next for Air Canada (TSX:AC)? appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. More reading Fool contributor Christopher Liew has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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 ANN ARBOR, Mich., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Domino's Pizza, Inc. (NYSE: DPZ), the largest pizza company in the world based on global retail sales, announced results for the first quarter. Global retail sales increased 4.4% in the first quarter, or 5.9% excluding foreign currency impact. U.S. same store sales grew 1.6% during the quarter versus the year-ago period, continuing the positive sales momentum in the Company's U.S. stores business. The international business also posted positive results, with same store sales growth of 1.5% during the quarter. The first quarter marked the 105th consecutive quarter of international same store sales growth and the 36th consecutive quarter of U.S. same store sales growth. During the quarter, the Company opened 178 gross new stores and 69 net new stores, comprised of 30 net new U.S. stores and 39 net new international stores. The Company's net store growth includes the closure of its South Africa market, unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic, comprising 71 stores in total. First quarter diluted EPS was $3.07, up 39.5% over the prior year quarter. On April 21, 2020, the Company's Board of Directors declared a $0.78 per share quarterly dividend for shareholders of record as of June 15, 2020 to be paid on June 30, 2020. "In a time of unprecedented change in our industry, I am pleased to report that Domino's is in a very strong financial position, both at the brand and franchisee levels," said Ritch Allison, Domino's Chief Executive Officer. "We can't predict the full impact of COVID-19 on the broader economy and we don't know how consumer behavior and restaurant purchasing patterns may evolve coming out of this crisis. What I do know is that our franchisees and teams in the U.S. and across the globe will remain focused on safely serving our customers and our communities in this time of need. I have great confidence in our people and our ability to manage through this crisis, and I remain optimistic about the long-term potential of the Domino's brand." First Quarter Highlights (Unaudited): (dollars in millions, except per share data) First Quarter of 2020 First Quarter of 2019 Net income $ 121.6 $ 92.7 Weighted average diluted shares 39,633,404 42,202,429 Diluted EPS $ 3.07 $ 2.20 Revenues increased $37.1 million , or 4.4%, in the first quarter of 2020. This increase was primarily due to an increase in global store counts during the trailing four quarters as well as U.S. and international same store sales growth, resulting in higher supply chain and U.S. and international franchise revenues. The increases in revenues were partially offset by lower U.S. Company-owned store revenues resulting from the previously disclosed sale of 59 U.S. Company-owned stores to certain of the Company's existing U.S. franchisees during the second quarter of 2019. increased , or 4.4%, in the first quarter of 2020. This increase was primarily due to an increase in global store counts during the trailing four quarters as well as U.S. and international same store sales growth, resulting in higher supply chain and U.S. and international franchise revenues. The increases in revenues were partially offset by lower U.S. Company-owned store revenues resulting from the previously disclosed sale of 59 U.S. Company-owned stores to certain of the Company's existing U.S. franchisees during the second quarter of 2019. Net Income increased $29.0 million , or 31.2%, in the first quarter of 2020. This increase was primarily driven by a lower effective tax rate as compared to the prior year quarter as a result of higher tax benefits from equity-based compensation. Higher royalty revenues from U.S. and international franchised stores and higher supply chain volumes also benefited net income. The increase in net income was partially offset by higher net interest expense as a result of a higher average debt balance. increased , or 31.2%, in the first quarter of 2020. This increase was primarily driven by a lower effective tax rate as compared to the prior year quarter as a result of higher tax benefits from equity-based compensation. Higher royalty revenues from U.S. and international franchised stores and higher supply chain volumes also benefited net income. The increase in net income was partially offset by higher net interest expense as a result of a higher average debt balance. Diluted EPS was $3.07 for the first quarter versus $2.20 in the prior year quarter. This represents a $0.87 , or 39.5%, increase over the prior year quarter. The increase in diluted EPS was driven by higher net income, as well as lower diluted share count, primarily resulting from the Company's share repurchases during the trailing four quarters. The table below outlines certain statistical measures utilized by the Company to analyze its performance (unaudited). Refer to the Comments on Regulation G section on page four for additional details. First Quarter of 2020 First Quarter of 2019 Same store sales growth: (versus prior year period) U.S. Company-owned stores + 3.9 % + 2.1 % U.S. franchise stores + 1.5 % + 4.1 % U.S. stores + 1.6 % + 3.9 % International stores (excluding foreign currency impact) + 1.5 % + 1.8 % Global retail sales growth: (versus prior year period) U.S. stores + 4.9 % +7.9 % International stores + 3.9 % +1.5 % Total + 4.4 % +4.6 % Global retail sales growth: (versus prior year period, excluding foreign currency impact) U.S. stores + 4.9 % +7.9 % International stores + 6.8 % +9.1 % Total + 5.9 % +8.5 % U.S. Company- owned Stores U.S. Franchise Stores Total U.S. Stores International Stores Total Store counts: Store count at December 29, 2019 342 5,784 6,126 10,894 17,020 Openings 4 31 35 143 178 Closings (1) (2) (1) (4) (5) (104) (109) Store count at March 22, 2020 345 5,811 6,156 10,933 17,089 First quarter 2020 net store growth 3 27 30 39 69 Trailing four quarters net store growth (3) 12 241 253 722 975 (1) Temporary store closures due to COVID-19 are not treated as store closures and affected stores are included in the March 22, 2020 store count. (2) Unrelated to COVID-19, the South Africa market, comprising 71 stores in total, closed in the first quarter. (3) Trailing four quarters net store growth does not include the effect of transfers. In the second quarter of 2019, the Company sold a total of 59 U.S. Company-owned stores to certain of its existing U.S. franchisees. Conference Call Information The Company will file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q this morning. As previously announced, Domino's Pizza, Inc. will hold a conference call today at 10 a.m. (Eastern) to review its first quarter 2020 financial results. The call can be accessed by dialing (866) 470-5929 (U.S./Canada) or (409) 217-8311 (International). Ask for the Domino's Pizza conference call, ID 3263126. The call will also be webcast, and will be archived for one year, on biz.dominos.com. Company Withdraws Two- to Three-Year Outlook Due to the current uncertainty surrounding the global economy and the Company's business operations considering COVID-19, the Company is withdrawing its two-to three-year outlook for global retail sales growth, U.S. same store sales growth, international same store sales growth and global net unit growth. Share Repurchases During the first week of the first quarter of 2020, the Company repurchased and retired 271,064 shares of its common stock in open market repurchases under its Board of Directors-approved share repurchase program for approximately $79.6 million. As of March 22, 2020, the Company's total remaining authorized amount for share repurchases under such program was approximately $326.6 million. Liquidity As of March 22, 2020, the Company had approximately: $200.8 million of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents; of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents; $4.10 billion in total debt; and in total debt; and $158.6 million of available borrowings under its $200.0 million variable funding note facility, net of letters of credit issued of $41.4 million . As previously disclosed, subsequent to the first quarter, the Company borrowed $158.0 million under its variable funding note facility. Net cash provided by operating activities was $95.4 million during the first quarter of 2020. The Company invested $17.5 million in capital expenditures during the first quarter of 2020. Free cash flow, as reconciled below to net cash provided by operating activities, as determined under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), was approximately $77.9 million during the first quarter of 2020 (refer to the Comments on Regulation G section on page four for additional details). (in thousands) First Quarter of 2020 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 95,358 Capital expenditures (17,467) Free cash flow $ 77,891 Preliminary Estimated Business Update for the Available Periods of the Second Quarter of 2020 (Unaudited) Given the unprecedented impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's business and the restaurant industry, the Company has included the below preliminary estimates of retail sales growth and same store sales growth for the first four weeks of the second quarter of 2020 for its U.S. business. Weeks One - Four Second Quarter 2020 (March 23, 2020 to April 19, 2020) Same store sales growth: (versus prior year period) U.S. Company-owned stores +10.6% U.S. franchise stores +6.9% U.S. stores +7.1% Retail sales growth: (versus prior year period) U.S. stores +10.7% The Company has included the below preliminary estimates of retail sales growth and same store sales growth for the first three weeks of the second quarter of 2020 for its international business. Weeks One - Three Second Quarter 2020 (March 23, 2020 to April 12, 2020) Same store sales growth: (versus prior year period) International stores (excluding foreign currency impact) (3.2)% Retail sales growth: (versus prior year period) International stores (18.9)% Retail sales growth: (versus prior year period, excluding foreign currency impact) International stores (13.2)% As of April 21, 2020, nearly all of the Company's U.S. stores remain open, with dining rooms closed and stores deploying contactless delivery and carryout solutions. Based on information reported to the Company by its master franchisees, the Company estimates that as of April 21, 2020, there are approximately 1,750 international stores that are temporarily closed. Comments on Regulation G In addition to the GAAP financial measures set forth in this press release, the Company has included non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G, including free cash flow metrics. The Company has also included metrics such as global retail sales, global retail sales growth, global retail sales growth, excluding foreign currency impact and same store sales growth, which are commonly used statistical measures in the quick-service restaurant industry that are important to understanding Company performance. The Company uses "Global retail sales" and "Retail sales" to refer to total retail sales at Company-owned and franchise stores. The Company believes retail sales information is useful in analyzing revenues because franchisees pay royalties and advertising fees that are based on a percentage of franchise retail sales. The Company reviews comparable industry retail sales information to assess business trends and to track the growth of the Domino's Pizza brand. In addition, supply chain revenues are directly impacted by changes in franchise retail sales. Retail sales for franchise stores are reported to the Company by its franchisees and are not included in Company revenues. "Global retail sales growth" and "Retail sales growth" are calculated as the change of U.S. Dollar retail sales against the comparable period of the prior year. "Global retail sales growth, excluding foreign currency impact" and "Retail sales growth, excluding foreign currency impact" are calculated as the change of international local currency retail sales against the comparable period of the prior year. The Company uses "Same store sales growth," which is calculated for a given period by including only sales from stores that had sales in the comparable weeks of both years. International same store sales growth is calculated similarly to U.S. same store sales growth. Changes in international same store sales are reported excluding foreign currency impacts, which reflect changes in international local currency sales. The Company uses "Free cash flow," which is calculated as net cash provided by operating activities, less capital expenditures, both as reported under GAAP. The Company believes that the free cash flow measure is important to investors and other interested persons, and that such persons benefit from having a measure which communicates how much cash flow is available for working capital needs or to be used for repurchasing debt, making acquisitions, repurchasing common stock or paying dividends. 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 first quarter of 2020, Domino's had global retail sales of over $3.4 billion, with over $1.7 billion in the U.S. and over $1.7 billion internationally. Its system is comprised of independent franchise owners who accounted for 98% of Domino's stores as of the end of the first quarter of 2020. 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, earnings releases, investor presentations and conference webcasts. SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995: This press release contains various forward-looking statements about the Company within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act") that are based on current management expectations that involve substantial risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. The following cautionary statements are being made pursuant to the provisions of the Act and with the intention of obtaining the benefits of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Act. You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "anticipates," "believes," "could," "should," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "predicts," "projects," "seeks," "approximately," "potential," "outlook" and similar terms and phrases that concern our strategy, plans or intentions, including references to assumptions. These forward-looking statements address various matters including information concerning future results of operations and business strategy, our anticipated profitability, estimates in same store sales growth, the growth of our U.S. and international business, ability to service our indebtedness, our future cash flows, our operating performance, trends in our business and other descriptions of future events reflect the Company's expectations based upon currently available information and data. While we believe these expectations and projections are based on reasonable assumptions, such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations are more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including under the section headed "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2019 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 22, 2020. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including but not limited to: our substantial increased indebtedness as a result of our recapitalization transactions and our ability to incur additional indebtedness or refinance or renegotiate key terms of that indebtedness in the future; the impact a downgrade in our credit rating may have on our business, financial condition and results of operations; our future financial performance and our ability to pay principal and interest on our indebtedness; the effectiveness of our advertising, operations and promotional initiatives; the strength of our brand, including our ability to compete in the U.S. and internationally in our intensely competitive industry, including the food service and food delivery markets; our ability to manage difficulties associated with or related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the effects of COVID-19 on our business and supply chain; the impact of social media and other consumer-oriented technologies on our business, brand and reputation; new product, digital ordering and concept developments by us, and other food-industry competitors; the impact of new or improved technologies and alternative methods of delivery on consumer behavior; our ability to maintain good relationships with and attract new franchisees, and franchisees' ability to profitably manage their operations without negatively impacting our brand's reputation; our ability to successfully implement cost-saving strategies; our ability and that of our franchisees to successfully operate in the current and future credit environment; changes in the level of consumer spending given general economic conditions, including interest rates, energy prices and consumer confidence; our ability and that of our franchisees to open new restaurants and keep existing restaurants in operation; changes in operating expenses resulting from changes in prices of food (particularly cheese), fuel and other commodity costs, labor, utilities, insurance, employee benefits and other operating costs; the impact that widespread illness, health epidemics or general health concerns, severe weather conditions and natural disasters may have on our business and the economies of the countries where we operate; changes in foreign currency exchange rates; our ability to retain or replace our executive officers and other key members of management and our ability to adequately staff our stores and supply chain centers with qualified personnel; our ability to find and/or retain suitable real estate for our stores and supply chain centers; changes in government legislation and regulations, including changes in laws and regulations regarding information privacy, payment methods consumer protection and social media; adverse legal judgments or settlements; food-borne illness or contamination of products; data breaches, power loss, technological failures, user error or other cyber risks threatening us or our franchisees; the effect of war, terrorism, catastrophic events or climate change; our ability to pay dividends and repurchase shares; changes in consumer preferences, spending and traffic patterns and demographic trends; actions by activist investors; changes in accounting policies; and adequacy of our insurance coverage. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release might not occur. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and should be evaluated with an understanding of their inherent uncertainty. Except as required under federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or other applicable law, we will not undertake, and specifically disclaim, any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date of this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements included in this press release or that may be made elsewhere from time to time by, or on behalf of, us. All forward-looking statements attributable to us are expressly qualified by these cautionary statements. TABLES TO FOLLOW Domino's Pizza, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) Fiscal Quarter Ended March 22, 2020 % of Total Revenues March 24, 2019 % of Total Revenues (In thousands, except per share data) Revenues: U.S. Company-owned stores $ 102,326 $ 123,450 U.S. franchise royalties and fees 104,746 96,708 Supply chain 512,700 472,100 International franchise royalties and fees 57,496 54,584 U.S. franchise advertising 95,834 89,121 Total revenues 873,102 100.0 % 835,963 100.0 % Cost of sales: U.S. Company-owned stores 79,388 95,540 Supply chain 453,557 418,134 Total cost of sales 532,945 61.0 % 513,674 61.4 % Operating margin 340,157 39.0 % 322,289 38.6 % General and administrative 88,489 10.2 % 89,664 10.7 % U.S. franchise advertising 95,834 11.0 % 89,121 10.7 % Income from operations 155,834 17.8 % 143,504 17.2 % Interest expense, net (38,538) (4.4) % (34,361) (4.1) % Income before (benefit) provision for income taxes 117,296 13.4 % 109,143 13.1 % (Benefit) provision for income taxes (4,306) (0.5) % 16,493 2.0 % Net income $ 121,602 13.9 % $ 92,650 11.1 % Earnings per share: Common stock diluted $ 3.07 $ 2.20 Domino's Pizza, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) March 22, 2020 December 29, 2019 (In thousands) Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 200,801 $ 190,615 Restricted cash and cash equivalents 189,370 209,269 Accounts receivable, net 219,199 210,260 Inventories 49,010 52,955 Prepaid expenses and other 26,025 19,129 Advertising fund assets, restricted 109,969 105,389 Total current assets 794,374 787,617 Property, plant and equipment, net 240,717 242,881 Operating lease right-of-use assets 228,940 228,785 Other assets 125,845 122,809 Total assets $ 1,389,876 $ 1,382,092 Liabilities and stockholders' deficit Current liabilities: Current portion of long-term debt $ 43,390 $ 43,394 Accounts payable 94,502 111,101 Operating lease liabilities 36,914 33,318 Advertising fund liabilities 106,832 101,921 Other accrued liabilities 170,531 164,097 Total current liabilities 452,169 453,831 Long-term liabilities: Long-term debt, less current portion 4,061,198 4,071,055 Operating lease liabilities 199,304 202,731 Other accrued liabilities 69,395 70,234 Total long-term liabilities 4,329,897 4,344,020 Total stockholders' deficit (3,392,190) (3,415,759) Total liabilities and stockholders' deficit $ 1,389,876 $ 1,382,092 Domino's Pizza, Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) Fiscal Quarter Ended March 22, 2020 March 24, 2019 (In thousands) Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $ 121,602 $ 92,650 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 14,032 13,790 Loss on sale/disposal of assets 306 149 Amortization of debt issuance costs 1,291 1,101 Provision for deferred income taxes 702 1,467 Non-cash compensation expense 4,914 4,608 Excess tax benefits from equity-based compensation (30,449) (8,663) Provision for losses and accounts and notes receivable 1,589 94 Changes in operating assets and liabilities (23,119) 1,974 Changes in advertising fund assets and liabilities, restricted 4,490 (10,172) Net cash provided by operating activities 95,358 96,998 Cash flows from investing activities: Capital expenditures (17,467) (12,222) Other (426) 262 Net cash used in investing activities (17,893) (11,960) Cash flows from financing activities: Repayments of long-term debt and finance lease obligations (10,849) (48,968) Proceeds from exercise of stock options 10,105 4,537 Purchases of common stock (79,590) (8,144) Tax payments for restricted stock upon vesting (1,796) (2,467) Other 72 (90) Net cash used in financing activities (82,058) (55,132) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (961) 124 Change in cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents (5,554) 30,030 Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 190,615 25,438 Restricted cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 209,269 166,993 Cash and cash equivalents included in advertising fund assets, restricted, beginning of period 84,040 44,988 Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents and cash and cash equivalents included in advertising fund assets, restricted, beginning of period 483,924 237,419 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period 200,801 83,114 Restricted cash and cash equivalents, end of period 189,370 150,055 Cash and cash equivalents included in advertising fund assets, restricted, end of period 88,199 34,280 Cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents and cash and cash equivalents included in advertising fund assets, restricted, end of period $ 478,370 $ 267,449 SOURCE Domino's Pizza, Inc. Related Links https://www.dominos.com MUNICH (dpa-AFX) - Wirecard AG (WRCDF.PK) said auditing firm KPMG did not find any manipulation in its audit of the company's operations in India, Singapore, Third Party Partner Business, Merchant Cash Advance and Digital Lending divisions. KPMG will present the results of the ongoing special audit on April 27, 2020. In the remaining days, data inventories still received are to be processed and taken into account, Wirecard said in a statement. The company said KPMG didn't find any manipulation in all four areas of the audit that would have led to a need for correction of the annual financial statements for the 2016, 2017 and 2018 period. No evidence was found for the publicly raised allegations of balance sheet manipulation. Wirecard said it will make the audit report to be published available on its homepage in the 'Transparency' section. The company said it will publish the annual financial statements on April 30, as previously announced. Since October 2019, KPMG has been conducting a special investigation on behalf of the Supervisory Board of Wirecard in order to clarify the accusations of balance sheet manipulation made against the company by media. The accusations made against the business activities of Wirecard AG on Indian territory (EMIF1A / Hermes i-Tickets Private Ltd), in the city-state of Singapore as well as the business segments of pre-financing of receivables (Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) / Digital Lending) and third-party partner business (3rd Party Acquiring / TPA) were being investigated. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de [April 23, 2020] Digital Colony Launches Scala, a Latin American Hyperscale Data Center Platform Digital Colony Management, LLC ("Digital Colony" or the "Firm"), the digital infrastructure investment platform of Colony Capital, Inc. (NYSE: CLNY), today announced that Digital Colony has established Scala Data Centers S/A ("Scala"), a hyperscale data center platform headquartered in Sao Paulo, Brazil through the acquisition of assets from UOL Diveo. Upon closing of the acquisition, Marcos Peigo, currently an Operating Partner at Digital Colony, will also become the Chief Executive Officer of Scala. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Upon closing of the transaction, Scala will be one of the largest data center platforms in Brazil, and poised to scale efficiently through organic development and acquisitions. As the ninth largest economy in the world, and the largest in Latin America, Brazil is an attractive and underserved market for outsourced data centers. Moreover, demand is projected to continue to accelerate, which is driven by cloud growth, IT outsourcing and the adoption of new technologies, including 5G. Through further accretive investment opportunities, Digital Colony sees a multibillion dollar data center and digital infrastructure opportunity in the region. Despite current market conditions, Digital Colony remains committed to identifying compelling investment opportunities, backing strong management teams and building premier businesses that are positioned for long-term growth in the digital economy. This transaction follows the recent $14.3 billion acquisition of Zayo Group (News - Alert) Holdings, Inc., which closed in March 2020 as well as the European expansion of Vantage Data Centers through its acquisition of Next Generation Data. Scala is Digital Colony's second investment in Brazil and fourth in Latin America, after acquiring Highline do Brasil in 2019, Andean Telecom Partners in 2017 and Mexico Towers Partners in 2013 through its affiliate Digital Bridge. With more than 20 years of experience leading technology and infrastructure focused firms, Mr. Peigo provides critical insight into the Latin American market. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Value Creation for IBM (News - Alert) Latin America, where he led the company's industry solutions, business development, architecture and innovation practices in the region. Before joining IBM, Mr. Peigo was Executive Director at UOL Diveo, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Lemniscata Ventures, a Brazilian privately held investment company focused on ventures that have intensive use of IT at its core ad Chief Executive Officer of Solvo S/A, a managed services company focused on mission-critical infrastructure. In 2017, he was named the IT Executive of the Year, by Korn Ferry / IT Midia. "We are thrilled to welcome Marcos to Digital Colony and expand our presence in Latin America. With his proven track record, digital infrastructure expertise and strong network throughout the region, Marcos is the ideal person to lead Scala and oversee the growth strategy in Latin America," said Jon Mauck, Managing Director of Digital Colony. "Hyperscale data centers are more in need than ever, and we are confident that Scala, with its high-quality facilities, significant expansion capacity and seasoned management team will provide a superior hyperscale solution. The business is ideally positioned to support the growth of cloud and IT outsourcing across Latin America and meet the demands of our global customers." "I have long admired Digital Colony for its global digital infrastructure investment platform, operational excellence, innovative technology and relationships with blue-chip customers around the globe. I look forward to partnering with their team to lead Scala, which will be supported by Digital Colony's industry leading capabilities and strong management team," said Mr. Peigo. "Scala's Latin American investment strategy is highly compelling, and its quality data centers will enable the next generation of mobile and internet connectivity throughout the region." "UOL Diveo is excited to partner with Scala to support our long-term data center infrastructure requirements," said Gil Torquato, Chief Executive Officer of UOL Diveo. "We are confident that Scala, with its premier facilities and track record of performance, together with its seasoned management team and partnership with Digital Colony, will be the ideal partner for our business as we continue to scale our infrastructure requirements." About Digital Colony Digital Colony Management, LLC ("Digital Colony") is the global digital infrastructure investment platform of Colony Capital, Inc. (NYSE: CLNY) and a leading investor, owner and operator of companies enabling the next generation of mobile and internet connectivity. Digital Colony was launched in 2018 by Digital Bridge Holdings, LLC and Colony Capital to bring together Digital Bridge's industry, operational and investment expertise in the telecommunications sector with Colony Capital's global scale, operating platform and capital markets access. The inaugural fund, Digital Colony Partners, closed in May 2019, with $4.05 billion in commitments, making it the first fund dedicated solely to investing in digital infrastructure. For more information, please visit www.digitalcolony.com. About Scala Data Centers S/A Scala Data Centers S/A is a Latin American hyperscale data center platform headquartered in Brazil and established by Digital Colony Management, LLC, the digital infrastructure investment platform of Colony Capital, Inc. (NYSE: CLNY). Designed to meet and exceed the ever-increasing demand for more computing power in the region, Scala leverages Digital Colony's deep sector expertise, strong operating team and global scale of communication infrastructure assets to deliver world-class data center services to hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. For more information, please visit www.scaladatacenters.com. About UOL Diveo UOL DIVEO is a Brazilian company which offers datacenter infrastructure and Internet access. With more than 20 years of experience in the Brazilian market, UOL DIVEO provides colocation services for critical mission business in the retail market and wholesale (very often used by cloud services providers). Selling this business, UOL Diveo will continue to provide infrastructure services through Scala as well as its Managed Services, Multicloud, Security, Software Development and Digital Solution through its services company Compasso UOL. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005398/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Jaselskis addressed the court by telling Alefantis how so, so sorry he was. I am taking full responsibility for my actions, he said. It has never been in my nature to harm anyone or engage in violence. . . . It breaks my heart that I acted in such a manner that goes completely against my upbringing and values. "The Local Risk Index highlights hot spots where the virus is accelerating in a dramatic way." Today, hc1 announced a powerful Local Risk Index (LRI) now available within cv19dashboard.org that delivers at-a-glance analysis of accelerating or decelerating COVID-19 infection rates by county and Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA). Healthcare planners will be alerted to where and when action must occur, said Peter Plantes, M.D., hc1 Physician Executive. Based on the known average clinical course of COVID-19 (from incubation to potential ICU-transfer and ventilation), timely, local data visualization enables users to predict 5 to 21 days in advance an acceleration of patient volumes with symptomatic COVID-19, and the associated increase in local demand for COVID-19 care resources like ER visits, hospitalizations, and ICU transfers. A clinical advisory team of epidemiological and healthcare experts advised hc1 in developing the LRI. The Local Risk Index highlights hot spots where the virus is accelerating in a dramatic way. And if the LRI is falling then the virus spread is decelerating within the selected population area. Public health officials and hospitals can respond accordingly to these realtime objective measurements from the community, said Richard Olds, MD, MCAP, International Expert - Infectious Diseases, Former U.S. Medical School Dean. Think of it like a pollen count. If your local county has a high pollen score, then you're more likely to develop active allergy symptoms. Anonymized trending data from a coalition of more than 20,000 lab testing locations supports the COVID-19 Lab Testing Dashboards Local Risk Index, as well as visualizations of COVID-19 testing rates, positive and negative test results, and key demographic filters like age and gender down to the county and sub-county (Public Use Microdata Area) level. Approximately 40 percent of the national COVID-19 lab testing results are reflected in the dashboards insights. Partners across the country have told us health systems and public health officials need more timely and granular insight to better plan for and address the needs of the CV-19 pandemic, said Brad Bostic, hc1 CEO. hc1's core business focuses on transforming lab data into personalized healthcare insights. Given our unique assets and capabilities, we mobilized our team and lab coalition partners to quickly deliver a critical component of national surveillance infrastructure that addresses these challenges. The CV19 Lab Testing Dashboard powered by hc1 is a free public health service for individuals directly involved with implementing policies and delivering care to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Included are public health officials, government agencies, and healthcare providers. Qualified individuals need only request access at cv19dashboard.org. All trends in the dashboard are based on de-identified, aggregated data in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy requirements. Accredited COVID-19 testing labs are encouraged to learn more and support this important public health initiative by visiting cv19dashboard.org/join.html. About hc1 Founded to improve lives with high-value care, hc1 has emerged as the leader in bioinformatics for precision testing and prescribing. The cloud-based hc1 High-Value Care Platform organizes volumes of live data, including lab results, genomics, and medications, to deliver solutions that ensure that the right patient gets the right test and the right prescription. Today, the hc1 Platform powers solutions that optimize diagnostic testing and prescribing for millions of patients nationally. To learn more about hc1's proven approach to personalizing care while eliminating waste for thousands of health systems, diagnostic laboratories, and health plans, visit http://www.hc1.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 04:01:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, April 22 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations is working with the government of Yemen to assess the needs of 14,700 internally displaced people reportedly caught in floods in Aden, a UN spokesman said on Wednesday. Heavy rains hit Yemen earlier this week causing flooding in northern governorates and Aden on Tuesday, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The government has declared the southern port city a disaster zone. "Our humanitarian colleagues have received reports that more than 14,700 people have been displaced across 21 sites for internally displaced people in Aden," Dujarric said. "The UN agencies and our humanitarian partners are working with government officials to assess needs and will provide relief based on these assessments." Heavy rains were also reported in Raymah, Taizz and Ibb provinces over the past 24 hours, and UN agencies worked with local authorities to assess the needs in these areas, he said. Heavy rains and flooding across the northern governorates of Yemen, including Marib in mid-April, have led to casualties and damaged property and sites for internally displaced people, the spokesman reported on Tuesday. By April 18, across Marib Governorate, nearly 6,290 families had been affected by the torrential rains and flooding that started on April 15. Some local non-governmental organizations provided urgent assistance in the north, including food assistance, and more than 500 families were accommodated in hotels in Marib City itself, Dujarric said. Enditem Two chain restaurants have joined Shake Shack in agreeing to return federal small business loans after outrage from small business advocates and policymakers over national restaurant and hotel companies obtaining millions in funds from the program before it ran dry last week. The Kura Sushi USA restaurant chain canceled a $5.98 million federal small business loan. In a statement the company posted on its website, the company's president and chief executive, Jimmy Uba, said that Kura Sushi USA played by the rules set out by lawmakers but had no idea how intense the competition for funding would be. In a filing Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the company said it was returning the money. "This was a difficult decision because our employees are extremely important to us, but it's impossible to ignore the fact that our finances allow us to weather financial hardship for a longer period than independent restaurant owners," Uba said. "We hope that these funds will be shared equitably among deserving candidates." The founders of fast-salad chain Sweetgreen also decided to return funds to the program, saying that it had been approved for $10 million at the end of last week but found out at the same time that the program had run out of funds. "Knowing that, we quickly made the decision to return the loan," wrote founders Nicolas Jammet, Nathaniel Ru and Jonathan Neman. Sweetgreen has been valued at well over $1 billion by Wall Street investors. Unlike loans to publicly traded firms, the Sweetgreen money had not been disclosed because the company does not have publicly traded shares. Executives at Shake Shack similarly decided earlier this week to cancel a $10 million loan, saying when it was announced that funding had been exhausted, "businesses across the country were understandably up in arms" and they were thankful to have access to private-sector financing. Based in Irvine, California, Kura Sushi USA serves popular Japanese cuisine on a rotating conveyor belt. The company, with more than 400 locations in the United States as well as in Japan and Taiwan, closed all of its restaurants March 18 and has not been able to offer takeout or delivery. By most definitions, however, Kura Sushi USA is not a small business. It is worth $88 million and is the U.S. subsidiary of a Japan-based conglomerate that has more than 400 restaurants and 35 years of brand history, according to the company's public filings. Yet because of rules baked into the Cares Act economic stimulus legislation, Kura Sushi USA subsidiaries were allowed to apply independently for small-business funds despite having the same corporate parent. As a result, more than 80 publicly traded companies received money from the Paycheck Protection Program, meant for companies with fewer than 500 employees. Uba said in his statement that he applied for the funds because policymakers had clearly allowed such an exemption for the restaurant industry, which has been one of the hardest hit of any in the country. More than 8 million restaurant and food workers have lost their jobs since the pandemic began, according to a survey released Monday by the National Restaurant Association, which is pushing Congress to provide the industry with greater financial relief. Restaurant spending declined nationally by 26% from February to March and has dropped by 90% in New York, one of the epicenters of the virus. When the small-business relief measure passed, "we were genuinely excited for all restaurants - more restaurant jobs were lost than in any other industry, and this was great news for everyone in our industry," Uba wrote. Once the money ran out last week, details emerged about large chains - including Ruth's Chris Steak House, Potbelly Sandwich Shops and big hotel owners - receiving millions of dollars in funds before the money was exhausted. The blowback from the public, small-business advocates and lawmakers in both parties was fierce. The Cares Act contains no requirement that information about which companies receive small-business loans be made public, though details have trickled out about some recipients. The SBA has previously released such information about loan recipients and says it intends to release additional information in the future. Uba said he initially thought the program would allow employees at all of the country's restaurants to be paid. When he learned that wasn't the case, Uba said, he decided to cancel the loan. "With the Paycheck Protection Program, we assumed all restaurant employees would be able to continue being paid, regardless of where they worked, and that the funds would be enough for everyone," he said. "This was a wrong assumption." Money that is returned to the government from the program is made available to other companies that are waiting, according to the Small Business Administration. "Canceled loan approval dollars get put back into the PPP program and can be reused once the PPP program receives funding," said agency spokesman Jim Billimoria. Officials from both parties have agreed to bar larger companies with multiple affiliates from receiving the funds as they ready to approve another enormous round of economics relief. On Tuesday, the Senate passed a $484 billion deal to replenish the program, and the House is expected to approve the measure Thursday. Asked about bigger companies getting the funds, President Trump said Tuesday that "if somebody got something that we think is inappropriate, we'll get it back." Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said "the intent of this money was not for big public companies" and larger firms would be blocked from getting funds from the program. Kameleon007 / Getty Images Tips From the Justice Department to Protect Yourself Against Cybercriminals Independently verify the identity of any company, charity or individual that contacts you regarding COVID-19. Check the websites and email addresses offering information, products or services related to COVID-19. Be aware that scammers often use addresses that differ slightly from those belonging to the entities they are impersonating. For example, they might use cdc.com or cdc.org instead of the actual site for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is cdc.gov. Be wary of unsolicited emails offering information, supplies or treatment for COVID-19, or requesting your personal information for medical purposes. Legitimate health authorities do not contact the public this way. Do not click on links or open email attachments from unknown or unverified sources. Doing so could download a virus onto your computer or device. Make sure the anti-malware and antivirus software on your computer is operating and up to date. Keep your operating system up to date as well. Ignore offers for a COVID-19 vaccine, cure or treatment. None now exists, and if a vaccine becomes available, you will not hear that first in an email, online ad or unsolicited sales pitch. Check online reviews of any firm offering COVID-19 products or supplies. Avoid firms whose customers have complained about not receiving items. Research charities or crowdfunding sites soliciting donations in connection with COVID-19 before giving money. Remember, an organization may not be legitimate even if it uses words like CDC or government in its name or features reputable-looking logos. For online resources on donating wisely, visit the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) website. Be wary of a business, charity or individual requesting payments or donations in cash, by wire transfer, gift card or through the mail. Do not send money through any of these channels. Advertisement Several lawmakers disregarded new recommendations and did not wear face marks during Thursday's debate on the House floor - disregarding guidelines meant to stop any spread of the coronavirus in the U.S. Capitol. Many lawmakers opened the day's session in accordance: Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern of Massachusetts wore a New England Patriots mask when he spoke on the House floor. Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor of Florida opened the day's legislative session and Father Patrick Conroy wore a yellow mask when he offered the day's prayer. 'Give us all patience, especially with one another, he prayed of this difficult time. 'These are days of great economic, social and political stress in our nation.' But others flouted the guidelines: Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, a close ally of President Donald Trump, was seen on the House floor without a mask during a debate on the creation of special committee to oversee the trillions of dollars allocated for coronavirus relief. Rep. Jim Jordan, seated on the House floor as Rep. Michael Burgess spoke, was spotted sneezing into his wrist repeatedly Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, a close ally of President Donald Trump, flaunted new recommendations and did not wear a mark on the House floor. Most who spoke took masks off but Jordan never wore won in the first place Precautions: Nancy Pelosi left the chamber after speaking at the start of debate on passing the bailout bill Speaker Nancy Pelosi enters the U.S. Capitol building, escorted by her security team, who wore masks and kept socially distant Masked Speaker: Nancy Pelosi enters Congress where masks and gloves are being made available to all members of the House present for a vote New era: Nancy Pelosi, her aides and security detail all covered their faces to make their way through the Capitol Keeping distance: Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared to observe the rule of keeping six feet from other people at all times Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern, wearing a Patriots mask, rebuked the rebels for not following new guidelines meant to protect lawmakers from coronavirus infection Speaker Nancy Pelosi wore a face scarf in the Capitol but she removed it to speak on the House floor Lawmakers practiced safe social distancing on the House floor, seats were marked with signs where they should not sit in order After Jordan spoke, McGovern, who is managing the floor debate for Democrats, reminded lawmakers of the new recommendations. 'While face coverings are not mandatory, there are certainly recommended. And the Office of the Attending Physician has also advised that a face covering will produce a minimum reduction in sound when using a microphone. The face covering is likely to be most useful in preventing a viral spread when a person is speaking. So people can do whatever they want to do,' he said. 'I would say that while we are all trying to show how fearless we are, we should be mindful of the people surrounding us,' McGovern noted of the rebels. Many members of Congress are on the elderly side, which is an age group at higher risk if they get infected with the coronavirus. Some wore masks and others, like Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert, another Trump ally, did not. Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not wear a mask when she addressed lawmakers from the House floor. Although she wore one when she entered the Capitol and when she walked from her office to the House floor. Republican Rep. Tom Cole of Oklahoma said he would follow Pelosi's example and not wear a mask while he managed the floor debate for the GOP. 'I'm going to follow her example. I think we should keep our mask on when we're doing our normal business but take them off when we're speaking and thank you for setting that example, Madam Speaker,' he said. Outside the House chamber a table was set up with face masks and gloves for lawmakers to take for their use. The debate came ahead of a vote on a fourth coronavirus rescue package. Democratic Rep. Ben McAdams of Utah, who was diagnosed with the coronavirus, was in Washington D.C. to vote after getting the all clear from his doctors. The House took two votes on Thursday. The first on the creation of a bipartisan commission to oversee the trillions of dollars Congress allocated to combat the coronavirus. That passed on a largely partly-line vote as Republicans called it a political ploy by Democrats against President Trump. The second was the coronavirus relief package. These were the last votes in Congress for the foreseeable future. Lawmakers are not scheduled to return to Washington D.C. until early May. Speaker Pelosi, wearing a face scarf, walks past of the bust of President Abraham Lincoln in the Capitol building Rep. Ben McAdams, who had the coronavirus, returned to the Capitol to vote Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert speaks on the House floor without a mask while Democratic Rep. Mike Thompson wears one during his speech Democratic Rep. Kathy Castor wore a mask when she opened the House and Father Patrick Conroy, in the yellow mask, wore one during his opening prayer Signs were posted in the Capitol to help lawmakers obey social distancing guidelines House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, wearing a white scarf as a face mask, arrives in the Capitol Thursday morning ahead of the day's vote Speaker Pelosi's staff maintained socially distant from her as they walk through the Capitol House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer wears a mask as he heads to the House floor; reporters maintain their distance as they question him Lawmakers were advised of new guidelines ahead of the vote, including being encouraged to quarantine themselves in their offices unless they are voting. Seats were marked with signs were lawmakers could sit in order to spread them out on the House floor. Outside the House chamber, signs were set up for members to line up six feet apart - in accordance with social distancing guidelines - as they waited to enter the House floor. The vote was set up so a House member entered the chamber from the side, one by one. They voted by an electronic card reader just inside the entrance and then walked down the House floor to exit through the Speaker's Lobby. Lawmakers were asked to take the stairs to the House chamber, which sits on the second floor of the Capitol, instead of using the elevators, which typically get crowded with lawmakers as they rush to the floor to vote. Not all members of Congress will make the trip to Washington D.C. There were 35 House members absent, a remarkably low number given the pandemic conditions. Any lawmaker showing any symptoms are being asked to stay away. 'Members who are ill with respiratory symptoms or fever are strongly discouraged from attending the session,' House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving and House Attending Physician Brian P. Monahan wrote in a three-page memo on the new safety rules sent to lawmakers Wednesday night. In order to cut down on congestion during the vote with 435 members of Congress the House floor gets packed during votes, making social distancing impossible the voting time will be held open for up to two hours, with lawmakers assigned shifts to vote based on their last name. That will put about 60 lawmakers voting during each 10-minute time block. They are being encouraged to vote and leave instead of staying to chat with one another as is normal procedure in the House. Hand sanitizers have been placed around the entrances to the House floor and lawmakers are asked to use them before coming into the chamber and when they leave. Additionally, there will be a 30 minute break between votes so the House chamber can be cleaned. Staff from Irving and Monahan's offices will be watching the House floor to make sure lawmakers are in line with the new rules. 'Please note that throughout voting, we will monitor the number of Members on the Floor to ensure we maintain safe social distancing,' they wrote in their memo. Lawmakers are voting Thursday on a fourth coronavirus relief package after the Senate passed it on Tuesday. President Donald Trump is expected to sign the $484 billion measure designed to give more relief to small businesses. Several lawmakers took to Twitter to document their return to the Capitol. Rep. Rashida Tlaib posted a video of fellow Michigan Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell at the airport wearing a mask and gloves while showing off her supply of hand sanitizer. Democratic Rep. Don Beyer presided over the House last week while wearing a mask During the last House vote at the end of March, lawmakers spread out on the House floor and sat in the galleries above the chamber to keep to social distancing guidelines Missing from Thursday's floor action will be a proposal to allow proxy voting in the House and virtual committee hearings. Democrats had proposed the new rules - to allow Congress to stay in business during the coronavirus pandemic - but Speaker Nancy Pelosi pulled the measure after objections from House Republicans. On Wednesday, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi asking her to come up with a plan to reopen the House for business. He also questioned her for details about the proposed proxy voting measure. 'It has been reported that Chairman McGovern is recommending a House rules change to allow for 'voting by proxy' during this period. What are the details of this proposal, how will it avoid potential abuses of power, and when do you expect this proposal to be made public for the necessary scrutiny and member input that changing 200 years of House precedent would merit?,' McCarthy wrote to her. In response, Pelosi and McCarthy have agreed to form a bipartisan group of lawmakers to examine ways lawmakers could work remotely and reopen the House. Pelosi has indicated she wants bipartisan support for whatever measure is ultimately voted on given it affects all members of the House. Additionally, lawmakers will also vote Thursday to establish a select coronavirus oversight committee, which Pelosi said will be chaired by Democratic Congressman Jim Clyburn of South Carolina. Republicans are expected to vote against the commission, which they say is being used as a political weapon against the president. It is expected to be approved, however, given Democratic control of the House. The House last met at the end of March, where lawmakers approved a a $2 trillion coronavirus rescue package that resulted in individual checks being sent to Americans, loans going to small businesses and aid for industries hard hit by the disease. That vote saw lawmakers adhere to social distancing guidelines. While police in Lakewood cited dozens of offenders for violating coronavirus lockdown rules during the first couple of weeks that Gov. Phil Murphys executive orders were in effect, things have been quieter in Ocean Countys largest town of late. That changed Tuesday when the FBI reportedly raided a business at a Lakewood industrial complex. Agents were seen carrying boxes labeled respirators," according to the Asbury Park Press. Lakewood police also shut down a wedding after finding a photographer in a backyard taking pictures of a family of six, authorities said. Nine adults were cited. And nine people received summonses after police found a group of young men in a private religious school. They had been given permission to study there by the head of the school, a 47-year-old Lakewood man. At least 1,387 people in Lakewood have tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began last month, officials said Wednesday. There have been 56 deaths in the township of about 104,000, the highest total in the county. Statewide, officials say there have been at least 5,063 deaths related to the coronavirus and 95,865 cases since the first was announced in early March. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage Heres a roundup of coronavirus news: Trump signs immigration order with numerous exemptions amid coronavirus pandemic: President Donald Trump claimed Wednesday that he had signed an executive order temporarily suspending immigration into the United States. But experts say the order will merely delay the issuance of green cards for a minority of immigrants. The order includes a long list of exemptions, including for those who are currently in the country and those seeking entry to work as physicians and nurses, as well as the spouses and minor children of American citizens. The 60-day pause also leaves untouched the hundreds of thousands of temporary work visas the country issues each year. N.J. professor accused of trying to torch cathedral dies by suicide after hes among coronavirus jail releases: The Bergen County man accused of bringing gasoline cans and lighters into St. Patricks Cathedral in New York a year ago killed himself last week after he was released from jail due to coronavirus concerns. Marc Lamporello, 38, of Hasbrouck Heights, was released March 20 from Rikers Island in New York amid the public health crisis, his family told the New York Post. Lamporello was arrested in April 2019 after police said he brought two canisters of gasoline, two bottles of lighter fluid and lighters into St. Patricks Cathedral. N.J. wants coronavirus testing sites to be open for people without symptoms, but needs a waiver first: Testing sites in Bergen and Monmouth counties briefly opened up to conduct testing on any New Jersey resident, regardless of whether they are exhibiting signs of COVID-19, according to officials. Murphy said the sites have jumped the gun and would need permission from the federal Department of Health and Human Services. Boss, Bon Jovi headlined charity concert from home: Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi headlined the list of New Jersey stars who performed from their homes during Wednesdays virtual Jersey 4 Jersey concert to raise money for the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund. The show aired on several local television and radio stations. The fund announced last week it had raised more $18 million in its first three weeks. Details announced for 2 coronavirus testing sites in Atlantic City, one a former casino: More details were announced Wednesday for two coronavirus testing sites in Atlantic City. They will be open to residents of the city, officials said. The city is partnering with Reliance Medical Group to conduct the testing. The Bader Field location will be open Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., while the Showboat facility will be for walk-in patients on Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. for 2 p.m. It will be located on the vacant parking lot between Pacific, Atlantic, Maryland and Delaware avenues. Worldwide coronavirus cases: About 184,000 of the 2.6 million to test positive have died as of 7 a.m. Thursday, according to the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University. About 716,000 have recovered. The coronavirus is in 185 countries. U.S. cases: Almost 47,000 of the nearly 843,000 to be infected have been killed as of early Thursday, the center says. More than 76,000 have recovered. The Associated Press and NJ Advance Media staff writers Anthony G. Attrino, Chris Franklin, Chris Sheldon, Amy Kuperinsky and Noah Cohen contributed to this report. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. There's edge-of-the-seat action and a memorable car chase sequence but what really attracted Chris Hemsworth to Extraction was the beautiful heart of the story set in Bangladesh and India. The Australian actor, best known as Thor from the Avenger movies, plays a black market mercenary who takes on the dangerous mission of rescuing the child of an Indian drug lord from his ruthless rival in Dhaka. Being on the set of the film felt like a different experience altogether, said the actor about the Netflix film that drops on Friday. Hemworth has also co-produced Extraction, written by Endgame director Joe Russo. The film marks the directorial debut of Sam Hargrave who worked as a second unit director and stunt coordinator on Avengers films. "I read the script right before we were doing Avengers'. Joe sort of pitched it to me. It was pretty heavily dominated by action but as I started talking to him more about it, I noticed that there is this beautiful heart throughout the movie. There is tragedy and a bond between my character (Tyler Rake) and Ovy (played by Indian child actor Rudhraksh Jaiswal), which is the heart and soul of the movie, Hemsworth told a group of international journalists on the Bangkok set of the movie. He said he had done plenty of action as Thor on the Marvel films but there is quite a big break "between different sequences and lot of green screen and air conditioned stage". This is damn dirty and rotten. It's crazy but I'm incredibly proud of what we have attempted, which in the industry terms is sort of a continuous type of sequences, longer than what has been attempted before, Hemsworth said. Having worked with Hargrave on Avengers, Hemsworth said he knew what the director was capable of. Hargrave, he believed, had not only directed stunning action pieces in the film, but also let him explore himself in the quieter moments. He's such a sensitive soul. He has this wonderful emotional intelligence that he embodies, which then has a sort of ripple effect throughout his filmmaking.Lot of the dramatic scenes in this and quiet, intimate moments I've gone to places that I hadn't really explored before, Hemsworth said. Hargrave is also confident that people will get to see a different side of Hemsworth in the movie. This film has given him the opportunity to just flex his acting muscles that maybe he hasn't before I have followed his career, but I haven't seen a performance like what we have got. I think he identified with the material, the director said. Hargrave read the script of Extraction six years ago while working with Russo and wanted to be involved in some way. Turning director with the film felt like a natural progression. It's more responsibility. But I always, even as a second unit director or stunt coordinator, took on as much responsibility as I could. And it always felt like I was in part directing the movie because I felt responsible and very involved in the action and even the writing of those scenes. It's a lot more, but it feels like a natural progression. The film was shot on location in India, Australia and Thailand. Hargrave is proud of the shooting he did in India, including the famous car chase sequence that appears in the trailer. We shot it in India, which is an amazing feat. To my knowledge, no action movie or action scene of that scale has been done there before, especially in Ahmedabad, which was very satisfying to see, he said. There were challenges in shooting the film in Ahmedabad and Mumbai. It meant dealing with crowds and issues related to permissions. Finally, the team moved the production to Thailand. Production designer Philip Ivey said he had to quickly reassess the situation and found the perfect place in the Thailand capital to locate' Dhaka. He sourced autorickshaws, painted them with Bengali signs. "We started with the production plan of shooting a good chunk in India and then going to Australia for the studio stuff but it kind of fell apart early on, he said. He spent a few days in Dhaka to soak up the city and then in Mumbai but realised it will be easier to navigate a smaller city in India and shifted to Ahmedabad, which was a bit more achievable and had fantastic set of architecture and a lot of hidden gems. India hasn't shot a lot of these big action films and that became a problem early on just because of the levels of bureaucracy there. Films like Lion' have used India pretty well in terms of found footage, like show up with hidden camera but it was a bit different for us as we had a six foot four blonde guy with a machine gun. We needed that level of control, which they were not used to, he said In designing the sets in Bangkok, the idea was to create a sense of anarchy and organized chaos that a busy marketplace in Dhaka would resemble, Ivey said. He added that he'd rather seek crowded places like Dharavi in Mumbai or the biggest landfill in Mexico than working on a period drama. I like cinema that you can see and smellIt is more interesting than middle class people sitting on the couch Countries like India and Bangladesh allow you to play with really strong colours, he said. For cinematographer Newton Thomas Sigel, who has previously worked on Hollywood movies such as Drive and The Usual Suspects, it was fun to shoot in India. We started in India and it was my first shoot in India and you cannot go wrong. Anywhere you point the camera, the colours explode. The challenge was doing the place justice and get every bit out of it that you can get, the colours, look and architecture. You can almost smell the images, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Derided by many economists for years for insisting on a balanced budget and criticised for a health care system seen as bloated and overly expensive, Germany has found itself well equipped now to weather the coronavirus pandemic. Already applauded for early actions such as social-distancing regulations and aggressive testing seen as helping keep the death toll comparatively low, Europe's largest economy has had the financial flexibility to launch a massive rescue plan to help businesses and keep workers paid. As the country moves to relax some restrictions this week, Chancellor Angela Merkel is pointing to the example of South Korea, which relied on its experience fighting a different coronavirus five years ago to combat COVID-19, as the way forward. Meantime in the U.S., some protesters have taken to the streets supported by President Donald Trump's tweets to demand an end to virus-related shutdowns to help the faltering economy, which has caused tens of millions to lose their jobs, even if it could lead to an increase in deaths as the health care system struggles. This is a crisis which, on the one hand, has probably hit the U.S. where it is most vulnerable, namely health care, said Carsten Brzeski, ING bank's chief Eurozone economist. While at the same time it has hit the German economy where it's the strongest. Brzeski was among those who argued for Germany to spend more to stimulate the economy as growth ground toward stagnation, but concedes now the country is in a fortunate position. For years, balanced budget proponents argued it was prudent during good economic times to bring Germany's house in order to be prepared for a crisis. So in announcing a 1 trillion euro ($1.1 trillion) rescue plan for the country's 83 million people last month, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz was able to assure there was more money available, if needed. And while Italy and Spain were faced at the height of the crisis with having to decide whether to allocate precious ICU beds to elderly patients with the most urgent need or to younger patients with the greatest chance of survival, Germany has never had a shortage and has even taken in patients from other European countries. They had the means, but then they also had the political will, and also the very good analytical insights to use the means, Brzeski, said, noting Merkel was a scientist before entering politics. I can't imagine any government better than Angela Merkel's to deal with this. Germany is now taking baby steps to ease restrictions, allowing smaller shops to reopen this week while sticking to strict social-distancing guidelines and requiring face masks on public transport and in stores. The effect will be analyzed after two weeks to see whether infections have again started to significantly climb. We must not overwhelm our health care system, Merkel said, warning restrictions could be snapped back. The best path is one that is careful, and not taken light-heartedly. The far-right Alternative for Germany party has criticized Merkel's go-slow approach as ruining our country, but the chancellor's popularity has been steadily rising and Germans overwhelmingly see her government's crisis management positively. Opening her Berlin toy store Wednesday for the first time in over a month, Galina Hooge said she had already received government aid and the process was surprisingly quick and uncomplicated. She said it only covered the store's rent and bills, but she felt relatively secure thanks to Germany's universal health insurance and strong social safety net. The main thing is that everyone stays healthy and the situation doesn't become like America, she said, referring to the large number of cases and deaths in the United States. Besides help for small businesses, Germany's aid package is designed to keep the unemployment rate down and allow workers to return quickly when possible. While Washington is sending out one-time stimulus checks to Americans, the German government plan pays at least 60% of the salary of employees who are on reduced or no hours. As restrictions are eased, Merkel has pointed to South Korea as an example of how Germany will have to improve measures to get ahead of the pandemic with more testing and tracking of cases to slow the infection rate. Experts say one reason South Korea has managed to avoid lockdowns or business bans was because of its aggressive testing and contact-tracing program that draws from its experience of fighting a different coronavirus MERS or Middle East Respiratory Syndrome -- in 2015. Following that outbreak, which killed 36 people and sickened around 200, South Korea rewrote its infectious disease law to allow health authorities quick access to a broad range of personal information to fight infectious diseases. Amid criticism from privacy advocates, authorities have fully exercised such powers during the COVID-19 pandemic, aggressively tracing virus carriers' contacts with tools such as smartphone GPS tracking, credit card records and surveillance video. People's movements before they were diagnosed are published on websites and relayed via smartphone alerts to inform others whether they have crossed paths with a carrier. The government is also using smartphone tracking apps to monitor the tens of thousands of people placed under self-quarantine at home and plans to use electronic wristbands on people who defy quarantine orders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Motor America announced the expansion of its support for COVID-19 drive-thru testing to 22 hospitals nationwide with $4 million in grants through its Hyundai Hope On Wheels program. These grants are designed to combat the coronavirus by providing increased access to testing throughout the nation. The company has partnered with Congressman Cedric Richmond, Louisiana State University Health, and the Mayor's Office of New Orleans to support areas that are hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. "We thank our friends at Hyundai Hope On Wheels for this donation. This health pandemic has placed a disproportionate burden on communities of color," said Congressman Cedrick Richmond. "Their foresighted contribution of $100,000 and in-kind donation of 10,000 tests are vital in helping Louisiana State University Health by serving as the first line of defense. Besides taking care of our community in which we live, it's our duty to support the medical first responders and other emergency service professionals that are working around the clock to protect us during these unprecedented times." The COVID-19 pandemic has created a particular threat to children with cancer, many of whom have compromised immune systems. Each center is following CDC guidelines for testing eligibility: patients with a doctor order must have clinical factors of at-risk populations (like children with cancer), or work as health/child care professionals. Each is a certified test center for the state. "I am extremely grateful for the tremendous generosity of Hyundai in donating 10,000 tests to LSU and the city of New Orleans. During this time of crisis, it is inspiring to see Hyundai offering help where help is critically needed," said Dr. Rebekah E. Gee Gee, CEO Louisiana State University Health. "Because of this donation, New Orleans will be able to offer testing in previously underserved areas. Increased testing will help put us one step closer to finally eradicating COVID-19 in our area by making the invisiblevisible and giving us a better footprint of the spread of this disease." Hyundai and its over 825 dealers have also provided support to local institutions with financial assistance, food donations, face mask headband production and loaned vehicles. Additional support has been provided to Hyundai owners and first responders through the company's Hyundai Assurance program. To learn more about Hyundai Hope On Wheels COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing Centers and view the most updated list of partnering hospitals, please visit www.hyundaihopeonwheels.org or visit https://www.hyundainews.com/en-us/releases/3026 to read the national release. HYUNDAI HOPE ON WHEELS Hyundai Hope On Wheels is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to finding a cure for childhood cancer. Launched in 1998, HHOW provides grants to eligible institutions nationwide that are pursuing life-saving research and innovative treatments for the disease. Hyundai Hope On Wheels is one of the largest non-profit funders of pediatric cancer research in the country, and primary funding for Hyundai Hope On Wheels comes from Hyundai Motor America and its more than 825 U.S. dealers. Since its inception, Hyundai Hope On Wheels has awarded more than $170 million toward childhood cancer research in pursuit of a cure. Please visit our website at www.HyundaiHopeOnWheels.org . HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA At Hyundai Motor America, we believe everyone deserves better. From the way we design and build our cars to the way we treat the people who drive them, making things better is at the heart of everything we do. Hyundai's technology-rich product lineup of cars, SUVs and alternative-powered electric and fuel cell vehicles is backed by Hyundai Assuranceour promise to create a better experience for customers. Hyundai vehicles are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide and nearly half of those sold in the U.S. are built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. Hyundai Motor America is headquartered in Fountain Valley, California, and is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Please visit our media website at www.hyundainews.com . SOURCE Hyundai Hope On Wheels Related Links https://hyundaihopeonwheels.org/ Today, April 23, Russian-backed forces have attacked the positions of Ukrainian Joint Forces near the villages of Orikhove, Novoselivka Druha, Avdiivka and Pavlopil in Donbas. Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Maksym Prauta said this at a briefing on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "As of 12:00 on April 23, the armed formations of the Russian Federation violated ceasefire in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) area four times using 82mm mortars, grenade launchers of different systems, heavy machine guns, and small arms. According to available information, no casualties among the Ukrainian military were reported, the spokesman said. The Ukrainian military gave an adequate response to the enemy attacks using mounted antitank grenade launcher and firearms. Prauta also said that there were no confirmed cases of coronavirus among the personnel of the Joint Forces. As of 7:00 on April 23, 46 coronavirus COVID-19 cases, including six recoveries and two deaths, were registered in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Some 341 people were placed in isolation (including self-isolation). For 80 servicepersons, isolation will end within the next three days. Over the past day, three new cases were reported. ish Big companies like Ruth Chris, Potbelly and Shake Shack that are receiving large coronavirus-related Small Business Administration loans have caused an uproar. But far less attention has been paid to who the SBA excluded from relief: People who work in the sex industry. While those who are self-employed or independent contractors have the option to apply for SBA small business loans, legal businesses that provide "live or recorded performances" or "receive more than 5 percent of [their] gross revenue" from the sale of products with any depictions of a "prurient nature" are ineligible for help. Owners of clubs and other small businesses may file lawsuits over their exclusion, but it is the women carrying the industry who will suffer. Though strippers, porn actors, sex therapists and erotic novelists can still file for aid through unemployment and possibly receive the $1200 stimulus checks given to millions of Americans, they are ineligible for these far larger loans and are therefore much more economically vulnerable. The SBA decision highlights how perceptions of morality and access to living wages have long been yoked for employees of businesses related to sex. When the government excludes the sex industry from economic help, it is because it considers this work immoral, a judgment that devalues women's labor and sex work more broadly. Treating the sex industry as illicit reinforces flawed moral judgments and makes workers in this industry, especially women, particularly vulnerable. In the early 20th century, American communities addressed the sex industry with ambivalence, simultaneously criminalizing women who performed this work, and finding ways to raise revenue from it. While prostitution was technically illegal, in many cases local governments allowed women to provide such services, often sanctioning red light districts that provided money to the city coffers. For example, a 1908 Texas law criminalized and charged women suspected of prostitution as "vagrants." In that same legislative session, however, state officials allowed city governments to rewrite their charters and create red light districts. Many of the red light districts were moved out of the central business districts to neighborhoods with predominantly African American populations. "The Reservation" and "Frogtown" in Houston and Dallas are examples of this legal paradox. But legislatures also tried using economic policies to coerce women to conform to specific models of morality. In 1913, the Illinois legislature led a national movement to pay women a living wage in jobs that would keep them out of the sex industry, specifically prostitution. Legislators zeroed in on a small paragraph in a 1911 Chicago Vice Commission Report that connected the low wages women were paid in "legitimate businesses" with forcing women into prostitution to survive. The reformers argued that economic insecurity and not personal immorality was to blame for women taking up prostitution. Many poor women, including some who worked as prostitutes, acknowledged as much while testifying in front of government commissions to ask for living wages. But legislators' motives were far more paternalistic than benevolent. Progressive legislators and reformers wanted to safeguard women not as people in their own right but solely as mothers. They worried that prostitution would damage women's moral capacity for serving this role. Reform measures targeted white women in the hope that by contributing more money to the family wage it would provide a better home life for white children. The paternalism of such measures was clear in the way the minimum wage also aimed to help women "adrift" - usually young white women who moved into cities searching for employment, illustrating the moral concerns driving legislators. Women "adrift" were defined as those who moved away from the moral protection of their fathers but had not yet married - transferring the protection of their morality to the husband. Progressive legislators and reformers argued that these poor white women, usually from rural areas, were worthy of the economic protection to keep them from immoral behavior - thereby protecting their virtues for motherhood. Opponents of the minimum wage for women worried about the effect paying women more money would have on industries that employed them. In 1913 industry leaders like Julius and Lessing Rosenwald of Sears and Roebuck argued that offering women more money would cut down on businesses' ability to compete. C.R. Miller of Miller Manufacturing in Dallas in 1919 insisted that a minimum wage would drive industry from Texas costing women their jobs. Despite women earning only $4 to $6 per week at a time when the cost of living averaged $15, these men also asserted that poor women wanted more money to spend on frivolous extravagance rather than be content with what they had. To these opponents of the minimum wage for women, immorality was a state of mind and not an economic condition. Only inherently immoral women would take up prostitution, they argued. But the arguments connecting morality and economic access overwhelmed these concerns. Legislators were determined to preserve women's virtue for motherhood, and when they couldn't, to keep such women from reproduction. State legislators approved eugenics laws to sterilize women who did not meet the acceptable white American standard of womanhood. Several states also established feebleminded farms and girls reformatories. Both addressed the problem of young, poor white girls who society feared would damage the superiority of the middle and upper white economic classes if they reproduced. Similarly, beginning in Massachusetts in 1912 and along the West Coast in 1913, state governments also enacted legislation to pay women in legitimate jobs a minimum wage. Legislators defined a minimum wage as enough to provide women with a comfortable living. Because white, wealthy Christians crafted this legislation, it embedded their very specific conception of women's worth. Those in sex industries were, of course, excluded from such wages. But in 1919, Texas state legislators also excluded domestic workers and farm labor from access to the minimum wage for women. African American women and Mexican American women mostly filled these occupations. Business executives argued that black and brown women were not as efficient in their work and shouldn't be paid the higher wages. But the discrepancy in wages also reflected legislators' priorities; they were less worried about the virtue of black and brown women, who they saw as inherently inferior. Protecting them from prostitution would've been beside the point. In 1923, however, in Adkins v. Children's Hospital, the Supreme Court ruled that the state laws mandating living wages for women were unconstitutional. The protective economic laws created to keep poor white women out of the sex industry between 1913 and 1923 slowly fell away. The reformist spirit that saw a connection between economic insecurity and immoral behavior and drove this legislation also faded. Through the twists and turns of women's status in America - with marriage and motherhood dominating the popular imagination in the 1950s, and then as the women's movement arose in the 1960s and 1970s before being challenged by a backlash from the rising Christian Right - the sex industry persisted. New forms of legal sex work allowed women to commodify their bodies to earn a living. Stripping is a billion dollar industry and webcamming uses technology to reach a wide audience. The porn industry also remains a way for many women to earn more money than they otherwise might. But laws that criminalize poor women for vagrancy, view women in sex work as inherently immoral and connect access to a living wage to moral worth still persist as well. While some argue that women in the sex industry have power, the current stimulus package shows that it is not enough to legitimize their work. A century later, policymakers still see women engaged in the sex business as being fundamentally guilty of poor and immoral choices, thereby rendering them unworthy of government help. Yet, this conception ignores the fact that for many women, the sex business offers the only hope of a living wage. Even worse, by passing them over for aid in a moment of crisis, the government simply reduces their choices and further devalues their labor. Government needs to back off making moral value judgments shaped by Christian values when it comes to women's work, and instead to focus on the harsh economic reality facing millions of women. How one chooses to labor is an individual choice, and every job ought to provide a living wage. Only once we treat all workers with dignity can we level the playing field economically. - - - LaGrone is a PhD candidate the Texas Christian University. European Union leaders are set to weigh Thursday the damage the coronavirus has inflicted on health care systems and the lives of around half a billion citizens across the bloc as they struggle to devise a more robust plan to resuscitate their ravaged economies. As businesses cautiously open their doors in some European countries and citizens begin to venture out, the 27 leaders will endorse a series of urgent spending measures and debate a massive recovery plan they hope to introduce in coming weeks. The summit their fourth video-conference since the outbreak struck northern Italy two months ago comes at an extremely delicate time, with more than 100,000 Europeans known to have died, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Trust between member states has eroded, with hard-hit Italy and Spain notably lacking confidence that relatively wealthier northern EU partners like Austria, the Netherlands or Germany who have suffered less from the virus are willing to take swift, sweeping measures backed by real economic firepower. Speaking to the German parliament ahead of the meeting, Chancellor Angela Merkel said her government stands ready to help partners in trouble and is already contributing to a 540-billion-euro ($587 billion) rescue package expected to be endorsed later Thursday. The aim is to have that so-called safety net to help pay lost wages, keep companies afloat and fund health care systems in place by June 1. But Merkel balked at the use of shared debt, dubbed coronabonds, saying that parliaments would have to endorse such a move anyway, meaning it could take too long for such funds to reach nations in trouble. One thing is clear: We should be prepared, in the spirit of solidarity, to make significantly higher contributions to the European budget for a period of time, she told the lawmakers. Drawing up a recovery plan that can be endorsed by all will be more challenging. The consensus is that it should total at least 1-1.5 trillion euros and target the economic sectors and European regions hit hardest by the coronavirus. Ahead of Thursday's summit, officials said that no major breakthroughs are expected. No joint communique will be published, probably just a statement from European Council President Charles Michel, who is chairing the meeting. The EU's executive arm, the European Commission, will be tasked with drawing up a recovery plan, which could be incorporated into the bloc's next seven-year budget, if differences over that spending package can be overcome. Big contributors to the budget, like Germany and the Netherlands, are reluctant to fill the estimated 75-billion-euro spending gap left by Britain's departure from the EU. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) is a Card game developed by uBeeJoy. BlueStacks app player is the best platform (emulator) to play this Android game on your PC or Mac for an immersive gaming experience. answers the question you never knew you wanted to ask: What would my favorite foods look like if they were people? Well, get ready to fall in love because transforms nearly 100 unique Chinese foods into handsome men that embody the spirit of their dish. Bet you never thought youd fall head over heels for a Sichuan style hot pot, did you? The magical village of Kongsang has fallen under a grave curse. The arrival of a mysterious visitor shatters the protective Food Word seal that has kept Kongsang safe from evil forces, damaging its ancient temple and releasing Food Spirits into the world. As a descendant of the God of Food, you must meet with these Food Spirits and bring peace and tranquility back to a traumatized Kongsang. Play on PC and manage your farm and cultivate ingredients for delicious meals to feed diners from the Three Realms. Each Food Spirit is completely unique with their own strengths, weaknesses, and lovingly crafted Live2D animations and performances complete with full voice over, too! Meet dozens of memorable Soul Eaters representing local dishes from all over China, Singapore, and even Malaysia. Internet access in Grayson County, Virginia, was so lacking that residents described their connectivity as advanced dial-up. In March 2019, the states governor signed legislation that will bring high-speed internet to the rural county. The delegate who advocated for the service declared, Were way past the point where broadband is a simple luxury. Its as much a necessity these days as electricity. A community-created internet carrier could help Project MILES in Larimer County, Wyoming. MILES is an acronym for Mobility, Inclusiveness, Locations, Everywhere, Simple. The idea is that people should be able to find appropriate transportation services with one click or one call. The larger goal is to use data and local resources to build systemic solutions rather than short-term programs. As noted after the projects test pilot, however, solutions cant be delivered by smart software alone. All software services with real time driver information transfer will require internet and/or satellite service, states the pilot summary. A One-Click/One-Call service will need to have processes in place to address the needs of riders who reside in and drivers traveling to rural areas with limited connectivity. BANGALORE, India, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The global digital health market size is expected to reach USD 385.8 Billion by 2025 from an estimated market size of USD 103.1 Billion in 2019, at a CAGR of 24.6 % during the forecast period. Digital health is the integration of emerging technology with wellness, education, living and community to increase the quality of healthcare delivery and make medicine more personal and accurate. The digital health market report offers a comprehensive overview of market leaders and offers details on the competencies and strengths of these businesses. The study also includes data on the competitive environment of the industry and offers information on the products provided by different companies. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-0A163/digital-health-market TRENDS INFLUENCING THE DIGITAL HEALTH MARKET SIZE: The growing demand for remote monitoring services due to the rising occurrence of chronic diseases worldwide is one of the major factors driving the growth of digital health market size. Growing advances in healthcare IT, along with favourable government legislation, have increasingly promoted the adoption of various healthcare IT solutions, such as electronic medical records, e-prescribing systems, remote patient tracking, and wearable medical devices. These factors would fuel the growth of the global economy. The digital health market size is driven by the increase in penetration of smartphones and other mobile applications among healthcare professionals and physicians to monitor and access medical information. Get Free Sample: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Othe-0A163/global_digital_health_market REGION WISE DIGITAL HEALTH MARKET ANALYSIS North America accounted for the largest digital health market share of the in 2017. This is mainly due to growing policy funding for improving healthcare delivery systems in the country, growing geriatric population, and increasing knowledge of various digital health technologies through various workshops and conferences, primarily in the U.S. Asia Pacific is projected to see a lucrative growth over the forecast period due to the growing penetration of smartphones and smart wearable devices and the growing adoption of mHealth services. Medical device companies are continually partnering with software developers to create different monitoring and diagnostic tools, making it easier for patients to connect with healthcare professionals. Emerging economies like Malaysia and Thailand are also promoting the production of low-cost mobile technology. Digital Health Market Segment By Regions/countries, This Report Covers United States Europe China Japan Southeast Asia India Inquire for Regional Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/QYRE-Othe-0A163/global_digital_health_market Digital Health Market Segment By Type: Hospital information system (HIS) Clinical information system (CIS) Other GP or specialty systems Integrated health information exchange networks (HIE/EHR) Telemedicine Secondary-usage non-clinical systems (care analytics, public health and research). Digital Health Market Segment By Application, Split Into Wireless health Mobile health HER Telehealth. This Report Focuses On The Global Top Players, Covered Cerner General Electric IBM Koninklijke Philips Siemens Others. Buy Now @ https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Othe-0A163 VIEW SIMILAR REPORTS ?mHealth Market Report The mHealth market size was estimated at USD 46.048 Billion in 2019 and is forecast to hit USD 230.419 Billion by 2027, with a CAGR of 22.3 percent from 2020 to 2027. mHealth - also known as mobile health - refers to the practice of medicine and public health assisted by electronic devices such as cell phones, laptops, personal digital assistants and wireless networks. All the patient data from these devices are collected and is stored on a remote cloud. This collected data is used by healthcare professionals to evaluate parameters specific to the medical condition. Significant factors that lead to the growth of the mHealth market include a rise in the prevalence of lifestyle disorders, the convergence of wireless technology with portable healthcare devices, technological advances and favourable policy initiatives. Moreover, the affordability of smartphones and the increase in the adoption of mHealth among medical professionals are boosting the mobile health market development. View Full Report: http://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/ALLI-Manu-3D18/mobile-health-market ?Digital Healthcare Market Report In 2019, the global Digital Healthcare market size amounted to USD 175.760 Billion and is expected to hit USD 277.970 Billion by the end of 2026, with a CAGR of 6.7% by 2021-2026. Digital health involves the advancement of integrated health systems to expand the use of computing technology, mobile devices, predictive research methods and digital platforms to help health practitioners and their clients handle diseases and safety threats, as well as to encourage wellness and well-being. This report focuses on the global f Digital Healthcare market prospects, growth opportunities, key markets and key players. The objectives of the study are to present the advancement of digital health care in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and ROW. View Full Report: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-35Z967/global-digital-healthcare-market ?Digital Health Service Market Report This study focuses on the global Digital Health service market future projections, growth prospects, key markets and key players. View Full Report: http://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-1G285/digital-health-service-market ?E-Health Services Market Report E-Health is a developing field in the intersection of medical informatics, public health and business. Propelling factors for the growth of the e-health market include growth in IoT and technological advances, growing preference for mobile technology and the Internet, and rising demand for public health management. Furthermore, growing awareness among people about e-health and rising acceptance among healthcare professionals, coupled with proof of the efficiency of the use of e-health technology, are expected to result in significant growth in the e-Health Service market. View Full Report: http://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Othe-2B286/e-health-services-market ABOUT US: Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs. Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. With our customization in place, you can request for any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs. Valuates is curating premium Market Research Reports from the leading publishers around the globe. We will help you map your information needs to our report repository of Market research reports and guide you through your purchasing decision. We are based out of Silicon Valley of India (Bengaluru) and provide 24/6 online and offline support to all our customers and just a phone call away. CONTACT US: Valuates Reports sales@valuates.com For U.S. Toll Free Call +1-(315)-215-3225 For IST Call +91-8040957137 WhatsApp: +91 9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Linkedin - https://in.linkedin.com/company/valuatesreports Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/valuatesreports/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg Medhat Atalla died after he was treated for COVID-19. (PA) A consultant who cared for elderly patients across three continents has become the latest NHS worker to die from coronavirus. Medhat Atalla died following treatment at Doncaster Royal Infirmary (DRI), where he worked as a consultant geriatrician, the hospital said on Thursday. Dr Atalla moved to Britain from Egypt about 20 years ago and his colleagues described him as a very special human being and a real NHS hero. In a statement, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals medical director Tim Noble and chief executive Richard Parker said: "A hugely popular and respected colleague, Dr Atalla was a very special human being who practised medicine across three continents throughout his career, affecting the lives of so many in such a positive way. Medhat Atalla died following treatment at Doncaster Royal Infirmary. (Wikipedia) "He was a truly gentle gentleman and he will be hugely missed by us all. The trust said Dr Atalla joined the hospital trust in 2014 and was a consultant geriatrician on DRI's Gresley Unit. 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 The statement said: "We were fortunate to have worked with him for many years prior to this, since his arrival in the United Kingdom in the early 2000s, where he cared for many elderly patients in hospitals throughout the North of England. "We would also like to take a moment to thank colleagues who cared for Medhat during his illness, and who did all they could to care for and support him as he bravely battled COVID-19. "As a trust, we share our deepest sympathies with Dr Atalla's brother and sister, and loved ones in Egypt, and we ask that the media respect their wishes during this extremely challenging time. Tributes poured in for Dr Atalla on social media. One member of staff said on the trust's Facebook page: "RIP you wonderful man. "Your ward rounds were absolute gold, so much time spent listening to patients & giving them a reassuring squeeze when so many of us felt too rushed for time. Story continues "You made them smile so much and your empathy did not go unnoticed. An enormous loss to geriatrics. Another said: "God bless him, he was a real NHS hero. "I for one will never forget him. My heartfelt sympathy and condolences to his family and colleagues. I know everyone will be devastated. Dr Atalla is the second member of staff at DRI to die after contracting coronavirus, after plaster technician Kevin Smith. Coronavirus: what happened today Click here to sign up to the latest news, advice and information with our daily Catch-up newsletter Robot maker Boston Dynamics is lending the service of its robotic dog Spot during the coronavirus pandemic. The four-legged machine is helping healthcare workers at Brigham and Women's Hospital of Harvard University treat coronavirus patients remotely to limit the risk of contracting the virus themselves. A custom mount and attachment for a notepad has been added to its design, allowing doctors and other healthcare workers to video conference with patients in testing tents outside of the hospital. The process usually needs up to five employees, but with Spot, the Massachusetts hospital is able to reduce their staff's exposure to the coronavirus and conserve personal protective equipment (PPE). This project has opened up a new world of telemedicine for Boston Dynamics, as it is now exploring ways to use Spot robots in collecting vitals needed to fight the pandemic. Scroll down for videos Spot is helping healthcare workers at Brigham and Women's Hospital of Harvard University treat coronavirus patients remotely to limit the risk of contracting the virus themselves Brigham and Women's Hospital of Harvard University, located in Boston, has been using Spot for the last week as a 'mobile telemedicine platform' to assist in treating people with the illness. 'Starting in early March, Boston Dynamics started receiving inquiries from hospitals asking if our robots could help minimize their staff's exposure to COVID-19,' Boston Dynamics shared in a blog post. 'One of the hospitals that we spoke to shared that, within a week, a sixth of their staff had contracted COVID-19 and that they were looking into using robots to take more of their staff out of range of the novel virus.' Telemedicine has seen a spike in a demand as this method can reduce the spread of the coronavirus between healthcare workers and those infected with the disease. The process allows facilities to keep staff safe and gives them the ability to continue their work, as well as conserving necessary medical supplies such as face masks and shields. This project has opened up a new world of telemedicine for Boston Dynamics, as it is now exploring ways to use Spot robots in collecting vitals needed to fight the pandemic And that is why Boston Dynamics is lending the hospital Spot. The robotic dog is fitted with an iPad and two-way radio, allowing it to transmit a live feed of the doctor to patients in real-time. 'With current protocols at local hospitals, patients suspected to have COVID-19 are asked to line up in tents outside to answer questions and get initial assessments for temperature. This process requires up to five medical staff, placing those individuals at high risk of contracting the virus,' Boston Dynamics explains. 'With the use of a mobile robot, hospitals are able to reduce the number of necessary medical staff at the scene and conserve their limited PPE supply.' To better assist other healthcare workers and those companies in the position to provide robotic or telemedicine support, Boston Dynamics is releasing all the files that make its current Spot setup function. 'With the deployment of our first healthcare-focused robot, we're open-sourcing all of our work to empower any mobile robotics platform to leverage the same hardware and software stack that we've developed to help frontline healthcare workers,' the company says. A custom mount and attachment for an notepad has been added to its design, allowing doctors and other healthcare workers to video conference with patients in testing tents outside of the hospital. Spot has also been used in oil and gas environments, as it is able to reach places human workers cannot 'None of the services... are reliant on Boston Dynamics hardware or software. In many instances, we imagine wheeled or tracked robots may be a better solution for these applications.' This project has opened up a new world of telemedicine for Boston Dynamics, as it is now exploring ways of how its Spot robots can assist with collected vitals needed to fight the pandemic. This includes fitting the robots with technology for checking temperature, pulse rate,respiratory rate calculations and more. 'We've also applied externally-developed logic to externally-mounted RGB cameras to capture change sin blood vessel contraction to measure pulse rate,' the company says. 'We are evaluating methods for measuring oxygen saturation. The robot maker is also looking at ways to kill virus particles and disinfect surfaces by attaching a UV-C light to Spot's back. 'We are still in the early stages of developing this solution but also see a number of existing mobile robotics providers who have implemented this technology specifically for hospitals.' BRIDGEPORT Social-distancing rules precluded the annual gathering to remember the 28 people killed in the 1987 construction accident. Instead, sisters Patti Charette and Paula Gill, whose father Richard McGill was one of workers who died, placed a wreath at the LAmbiance Plaza memorial in Bridgeport Thursday. The 16-story luxury apartment complex was under construction on Washington Avenue on April 23, 1987, when a concrete slab slipped, triggering the domino-like collapse. The accident left 28 people dead. It's considered the worst construction accident in Connecticut history. Holding the CCP Accountable for Crimes Against Humanity Building Under Lockdown After One Virus Carrier Identified A tenant in a residential building in Harbin was confirmed to have contracted the Chinese Communist Party, CCP virus. After identifying the infected tenant, local authorities decided to lock down the entire building. These are the measures used in Wuhan by authorities under the Chinese regime, and now theyre using the same tactics in Harbin, which has become the new epicenter of the virus. Internal Documents Reveal Huge Cover-Up of Epidemic in Harbin The Chinese regime has been covering up and underreporting the amount of infected cases of the CCP virus in Harbin, and theres evidence to show for it. Harbin has been hit hard with the virus, and according to models, its estimated that the real number of confirmed virus cases might be up to 200 times higher than the number officially published by the regime. Man Lost Mother to CCP Virus Wants to Sue the CCP In Huanggang, a man pained for losing his mother to the CCP virus pandemic wants to sue the Chinese regime for its lack of transparency and for misleading the public about the severity of the virus. He feels that people in China have been fooled by the regime and now he wants to hold the regime accountable for its lies and negligence. Canadas Former AG, Irwin Cotler, Suggests Holding CCP Accountable for Crimes Against Humanity Canadas former Minister of Justice, Irwin Cotler, stated that the CCP should be held accountable for the pandemic. He suggested targeting the people responsible for the disappearances of whistleblower doctors who tried to warn of the severity of the emerging CCP virus. Britain, France, and Australia Demand Answer on Virus Origin Several international government leaders in Britain, France, and Australia are demanding answers about the origin of the CCP virus. The pandemic has already caused great economic hardship and pain to people worldwide. In just two months, the situation has forced countries to re-evaluate their relationships with China and seek to hold the Chinese regime accountable for how it mishandled the outbreak. Trumps Live speech Ventilator Problem Solved. USA Getting Ready to Reopen During yesterdays press briefing with the Coronavirus Task Force, President Trump began his speech updating the press about progress in declining and flattening the curve for the CCP virus cases around the country. He also mentioned that Americans are starting to get ready to safely reopen the country. He went on to say that hundreds of thousands of ventilators are being produced in the U.S. The President spoke to leaders from other countries and they found it incredible that Trump and the Coronavirus Task Force solved the ventilator problem. To the Editor: More than 22,000 Connecticut residents live in nursing homes. Since this population is more susceptible to coronavirus, the Connecticut Department of Public Health has appropriately prohibited visitation at nursing homes except in special circumstances, however these restrictions are upsetting for residents, their loved ones, and employees. These restrictions are upsetting for residents, their loved ones and employees. To keep nursing home residents safe during this emergency, there are additional steps the state and nursing homes could take to help residents stay connected to their loved ones during this time of separation. The governors office and the Department of Public Health could require nursing homes to offer and facilitate reasonable alternative means of communication for individuals who can no longer visit their loved ones in person. Nursing home residents are currently unable to install video cameras in their rooms. This is a huge barrier for caregivers and loved ones who want to monitor a residents condition, particularly true when a resident is non-verbal, has dementia, or is unable to communicate by phone or email. Social isolation and loneliness have negative consequences for peoples mental and physical health; to those who live in nursing homes as well as their loved ones living alone in the community. Allowing installation of cameras and other communication devices will maintain relationships that benefit everyone involved. These connections are critical during this national emergency. As a Resident Advocate (volunteer) with the Connecticut State Ombudsman office, I understand this real need. I urge the Governor and other policymakers to take action soon to help nursing home residents stay connected to their loved ones. Kathy L. Null AARP Advocacy Volunteer Police officers are recalling the graphic scenes they encountered at a remote desert retreat where three people died in a 'sweat-lodge ceremony' gone wrong. Detective Ross Diskin and Deputy Craig Bollen were called to the 'Spiritual Warrior' camp outside of Sedona, Arizona on October 8, 2009, responding to reports of death and mass injury. The case is now at the center of a new episode of Deadly Cults, set to air on Oxygen this coming Sunday night, which includes interviews with the two officers. The pair say that, more than a decade on, they are still shocked by what they saw. 'I remember as I was driving down there I could see this large dome covered in tarps, and I begin noticing women with their heads shaved walking around almost in a daze,' Detective Diskin states in a preview clip for the upcoming episode. 'I thought "This has got to be some kind of cult"'. Meanwhile, Deputy Craig Bollen has described the scene as 'utter chaos'. 'In my mind I was thinking it was a mass suicide, because I've never had a call with that many people needing assistance.' Detective Ross Diskin and Deputy Craig Bollen (pictured) were called to the 'Spiritual Warrior' camp outside of Sedona, Arizona on October 8, 2009, responding to reports of death and mass injury Bollen says that after he arrived, he saw 50 or 60 people, many of whom were lying on the ground waiting for medical assistance. 'There was so many people, my walls came down, I didn't know what to do,' he emotionally tells Oxygen in the new episode of Deadly Cults. Three people died and 18 others were injured inside the 'sweat lodge' - which came at the end of a five-day spiritual retreat conducted by self-help guru James Arthur Ray. Participants paid more than $9,000 each to attend Ray's 'Spiritual Warrior' event with the sweat lodge planned as the highlight. Detective Ross Diskin (left) and Deputy Craig Bollen (right) spoke about the tragic incident in Oxygen's new episode of Deadly Cults, set to air this coming Sunday During the five-day retreat the participants endured fasting, mind-altering breathing exercises and sleep-deprivation before the sweat ceremony even began. The sweat lodge was touted as a hot structure in which participants could have powerful emotional breakthroughs. It was a created with tarps and included hot rocks set up in the center which would be watered in order to release steam. Camp leader James Arthur Ray was eventually convicted to two years in prison for negligent homicide convictions Ray apparently told guests it would become 'hellacious hot' but assured them that even though they might vomit, enter into altered states of mind and feel like they were dying, they would not die. Many participants have said Ray ignored pleas for help once they were inside and chided them for wanting to leave, even as people were vomiting, getting burned by hot rocks in the center and lying unconscious on the ground. When it was over, 38-year-old Kirby Brown of Westtown, New York, and 40-year-old James Shore of Milwaukee were dead and 18 others injured. Liz Neuman, 49, of Prior Lake, Minnesota, slipped into a coma and died after more than a week in the hospital. Ray was eventually convicted to two years in prison for negligent homicide convictions. He was freed from a state prison in Buckeye, near Phoenix, in July 2013 after serving 85 per cent of his sentence. None of the victim's families believe the 20 month sentence was long enough. James Shore, 40, and Liz Neuman, 49, both died after enduring the 'sweat-lodge' 38-year-old Kirby Brown of Westtown, New York was among the three who died in the tragedy 'Ideally, we don't want [Ray] doing anything in the industry anymore,' Puckett said. 'I don't think he has the right to work with people, ' one stated. 'If he does move forward with that, I hope people become aware of what he did and he changes the way that he handles his seminars and his teachings.' Ray has unsuccessfully attempted to relaunch his career as a motivational speaker. The full episode of Deadly Cults airs Sunday at 7PM ET/PT on Oxygen. Businesses face a surge in cyber crime from fraudsters trying to exploit coronavirus, Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd warned (David Young/PA) Businesses face a surge in cyber crime from fraudsters trying to exploit coronavirus, a senior police officer has warned. Scammers are trying to take advantage of staff confusion over multiple official grants available to help struggling firms, PSNI assistant chief constable Alan Todd said. He urged managers to update IT security systems and double-check unusual requests when they return to work following the easing of lockdown restrictions. Mr Todd said: It is very clear that from a strategic level through the National Crime Agency, through the global level, there is a real surge in attempts, at all levels, from individual members of the public right through to business ransomware. Looking to take a simple step towards securing your email or social media account? Why not use the free 2 factor authentication (2FA) offered by your provider.https://t.co/mVxGbRYVlU #KeepingPeopleSafe pic.twitter.com/Rmg3BW7UDD Police Belfast City Centre (@PSNIBelfast) April 23, 2020 All of the usual methods of attack have been ramped up at this time and therefore the risk arising out of this for businesses and indeed householders is higher than it was. It was predicted before the start of this and we are certainly seeing evidence of that. He addressed an online seminar of Northern Irish business leaders organised by the Institute of Directors. The officer in charge of the forces coronavirus response said a lot of cyber crime was low-level but could target high volumes. Given that businesses are furloughed or closed and will at one stage go back into operation he said it was essential computer systems were updated. #coronavirus has caused immense challenges across the business community. We have created two simple guides summarising the key government supports for businesses impacted by #COVID19 on the island. North and South guides available here: https://t.co/u4rcafl8ba pic.twitter.com/kDxFuKC3yJ InterTradeIreland (@Inter_Trade) April 21, 2020 He added: Your staff may be involved in transactions and conversations around schemes that they have no familiarity with. Of course, when you put staff into that position the potential for that to be exploited by fraudsters and others in the cyber crime world is even higher. He warned business owners to refresh staff guidance around cyber security and double-check unusual requests. He said: It certainly is at a higher level. Most economic life in Northern Ireland has shut down since social distancing restrictions to hamper the spread of the virus were introduced last month. Mr Todd said officers had stepped up patrols near business premises which may be closed and see much lower footfall than normal. The UK government on Thursday laid out a series of measures to be put in place to ramp up testing for the novel coronavirus as the daily COVID-19 hospital death toll spiked by 616 to hit a total of 18,738. UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that though the daily rise in the toll was lower than previous days, it was important not to forget any one of the victims of the deadly virus and continue to strictly follow the social distancing norms in place to control its spread. They will not be forgotten. We must retain our resolve and follow social distancing rules they are working. To lift the measures too soon and to risk a second peak will be a mistake and undo all the hard work that has been done," Hancock said during the daily Downing Street briefing on Thursday. The minister, who has set a 100,000 coronavirus tests to be carried out daily by the end of this month, said that testing capacity has increased to 51,000 a day as he laid out a test, track and trace formula to be applied as the lockdown measures are gradually eased across the country. "From tomorrow (Friday), any essential workers who need a test will be able to book an appointment on Gov.uk themselves, directly. This also applies for people in essential workers' households too who need a test. It's all part of getting Britain back on her feet, said Hancock. Results of these tests will be sent out by text, with people who cannot go online able to apply for the free of cost tests through their employer. There will be more than 30 test sites across the UK, with home tests kits also being introduced as well as 48 mobile testing sites for the more vulnerable such as care homes with the help of the Armed Forces. Hancock said the government is putting the infrastructure in place to be prepared to roll out contact tracing, or someone's exposure to the virus, on a large scale when it is time and a new National Health Service (NHS) contact tracing smartphone app is also being tested for that purpose. "If you become unwell, you'll be able to tell the NHS with this app and then this will send an alert to other users," said Hancock. Professor John Newton, Director of Health Improvement at Public Health England, joined the Cabinet minister to explain the kinds of tests that are being put in place. He said there are mainly two types of test the swab test to assess someone for the novel coronavirus and the treatment they might require if they are positive, and an antibody blood test, which determines if someone has already had the virus and may be immune to it. Newton said the current focus is on the swab test to try and control the spread of the virus until a proven antibody test is found. "Testing capacity has been increased exponentially, said Newton, who is the UK's national coronavirus testing coordinator. Meanwhile, Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK's Chief Scientific Adviser, said at the briefing that it is clear that transmission rates are down and social distancing measures are having a "very big" effect. "I would just urge as we enter the phase where the plateau has been reached, slight decrease we can see, we continue to make sure that we enrol patients in clinical trials so we get the answers to the critical questions about which medicines may work," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) HHS Doctor Claims He Was Demoted Over Stance on Hydroxychloroquine A doctor who was recently demoted from directing an agency inside of the Department of Health of Human Services (HHS) says the move was made because of his stance on hydroxychloroquine, a drug being tested against COVID-19. Dr. Rick Bright was head of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), an agency involved in the development of a COVID-19 vaccine and analyzing existing and experimental treatments against the new disease. He was removed from his role in recent days and shifted to a position at the National Institutes of Health. In a statement released through his attorneys Wednesday night, Bright claimed the transfer was in response to my insistence that the government invest the billions of dollars allocated by Congress to address the COVID-19 pandemic into safe and scientifically vetted solutions, and not in drugs, vaccines, and other technologies that lack scientific merit. Bright said he resisted efforts to fund potentially dangerous drugs promoted by those with political connections, singling out hydroxychloroquine, a decades-old drug thats approved for treating malaria, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis. Hydroxychloroquine has shown promise in some small studies and is being prescribed by doctors in multiple countries, including the United States. Large clinical trials are underway in America and elsewhere. It is working on some groups of veterans, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie said on Wednesday. Researchers at the Microbiology Research Facility work with CCP virus samples as a trial begins to see whether malaria treatment hydroxychloroquine can prevent or reduce the severity of COVID-19, at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on March 19, 2020. (Craig Lassig/Reuters) Perception of the drug became tainted for some when President Donald Trump touted it as a possible COVID-19 treatment last month. Specifically, and contrary to misguided directives, I limited the broad use of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, promoted by the administration as a panacea, but which clearly lack scientific merit, Bright said in his statement. The former BARDA director said he was prepared to examine all options and think outside the box for effective treatments against COVID-19, but described hydroxychloroquine as an unproven treatment that shouldnt be given on demand to the American public. I insisted that these drugs be provided only to hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 while under the supervision of a physician, he said, noting that several recent studies highlighted the side effects of hydroxychloroquine and the closely related chloroquine. Brights past experience includes working at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the biotechnology industry, and as an adviser to the World Health Organization. An arrangement of hydroxychloroquine pills in Las Vegas on April 6, 2020. (John Locher/AP Photo) Bright himself requested the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grant an emergency use authorization for chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, FDA Chief Scientist Denise Hinton said in a letter (pdf) in response to the request in March. The agency authorized emergency use of the drugs for treatment of COVID-19 when clinical trials are not available or participation in the trials isnt feasible. Based on the totality of scientific evidence available to FDA, it is reasonable to believe that chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulfate may be effective in treating COVID-19, Hinton wrote. She added: When used under the conditions described in this authorization, the known and potential benefits of chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulfate when used to treat COVID-19 outweigh the known and potential risks of such products. A day later, HHS announced it had accepted the donation of 30 million hydroxychloroquine doses for the Strategic National Stockpile. Distribution of the doses began earlier this month. HHS spokeswoman Caitlin Oakley told The Epoch Times in an email that Bright requested emergency use authorization for donations of chloroquine that companies made to the stockpile. The authorization is what made the donated product available for use in combating COVID-19, she said. COVID-19 is a new disease caused by the the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, a novel coronavirus that emerged in China last year. President Donald Trump speaks during the daily briefing on the CCP virus, which causes COVID-19, in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington on April 22, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Bright is requesting the inspector general of HHS probe the Trump administrations treatment of BARDA and scientists. He is being represented by Debra Katz and Lisa Banks, two lawyers with Democratic political connections who in 2018 represented Christine Blasey Ford, a woman whose sexual misconduct allegation against Judge Brett Kavanaugh threatened to derail his nomination to the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh was narrowly confirmed after Ford changed her story multiple times and the three people she named as possible witnesses all said they didnt recall the situation she described. Katz later said that Ford was motivated by a desire to protect Roe v. Wade. The lawyers in a statement described Brights removal as BARDAs director as retaliation, calling it part of a pattern of the administrations refusal to listen to the experts. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, with lawyer Debra Katz (L), answers questions at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington in September 2018. (Melina Mara-Pool/Getty Images) The White House referred The Epoch Times to HHS for comment. Oakley said Bright was moving to NIH to work on development and deployment of testing platforms. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House on Wednesday: I never heard of him. The guy says he was pushed out of a job, maybe he was, maybe he wasnt. Youd have to hear the other side. Following Brights statement, Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) called for a probe into the matter. Dr. Brights abrupt reassignment raises serious questions whether the Trump administration retaliated against him for advocating for science and against Trumps misinformation, Markey said in a statement. Our governments response to the coronavirus crisis must be based on science and data, especially when it comes to recommendations of treatments during a pandemic. Doctors are reporting a disturbing pattern of coronavirus patients dying of mysterious blood clots emerging in US hospitals. Between 20 and 40 percent of COVID-19 patients at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, have developed blood clots - even after being put on anticoagulants, Dr Craig Coopersmith told The Hour. It comes amid broader reports that the respiratory virus is affecting not only the lungs but the heart, intestines, liver, kidneys and even the brain. A Brooklyn heart surgeon told DailyMail.com that clots are probably responsible for a 'large amount' of the coronavirus deaths his hospital is seeing too, and said they may even be responsible for patients dying after apparent recovery and release from hospitals. Emerging evidence suggests that coronavirus may attack blood vessels and cause blood clots that trigger heart attack or pulmonary embolisms in patients - despite treatment with blood thinners (file) 'One of the things that is being learned about COVID is how much it produces coagulation problems - i.e. thrombosis (blood clots) found in both large vessels as well as the microvasculature,' Dr Paul Saunders, a physician at Maimonides Medical Center, told DailyMail.com via Twitter direct message. 'That's been found in multiple sites in the body - for example, blood clots in the legs small clots all over the the lungs, as well as large pulmonary emboli.' COVID-19 has a unique weapon that allows it to attack the heart. 'With COVID specifically, what you see that you don't with the flu, is because under a microscope, coronavirus has all these spikes coming out of it, and those spikes are little proteins that are looking for receptors on the cells that they attach onto,' Dr Robert Bonow, a professor of cardiology at Northwestern University told DailyMail.com in a recent interview. 'It's specifically looking for receptors in the lungs, but those same receptors sit on blood vessels, so it can attach on the lungs but also on blood vessels.' Once they dock onto these blood vessel cells, the viral particles can trigger damage to these as well as to heart muscle, Dr Bonow says. They can trigger 'hypercoagual states,' causing blood clots that lead to heart attacks. The first evidence that the virus may be dangerous to the cardiovascular system came out of China, which, as the origin of coronavirus, has been the bellwether for the disease's patterns. Nearly 20 percent of 416 hospitalized coronavirus patients in one study conducted there showed signs of heart damage. As the coronavirus death toll continues to climb in the US, doctors are closely monitoring patients for signs of blood clots they suspect may be the cause of death for many And Dr Saunders says that, in his patients in New York City, it's often blood clots that are responsible for heart attacks. 'Heart attacks are happening from different mechanisms,' he said. 'Instead of the traditional plaque rupture that we see commonly, [heart attacks] are occurring due to pure thrombosis of the blood vessel. 'A large amount of the mortality we're seeing is probably related to thrombosis issues, on top of the obvious respiratory problems.' In light of this, Maimonides - and most medical centers, Dr Saunders said - are now putting patients on blood thinners while they're hospitalized and even sending them home on the drugs. But the problem persists, sometimes killing patients both in and outside of hospitals. '[One] issue with patients that are discharged is whether they are dying from acute pulmonary emboli,' Dr Saunders says. 'Many patients develop deep vein thromboses and pulmonary embolisms (PE's) have been seen frequently. Dr Saunders and physicians across the US are keeping a close eye on patients' levels of D-dimers. D-dimers are protein fragments that are the result of the breakdown of blood clots. In someone healthy, only trace amounts of these protein pieces show up in blood work. High levels of D-dimers signal that someone may have one ore more blood clots. Levels are 'very abnormal in lots of patients' fighting coronavirus, Dr Saunders said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi talked to his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong and exchanged views on the evolving situation of coronavirus pandemic. Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said that he thanked Hsien Loong over the phone call for the support extended by Singapore to Indian citizens during the health crisis. Underlining the strategic partnership between India and Singapore, Prime Minister said that both countries can contribute towards the stability in the post-COVID-19 world. Exchanged views on the COVID-19 pandemic with PM @leehsienloong, and thanked him for the support and care being extended to Indian citizens in Singapore. The India-Singapore strategic partnership can contribute to stability and prosperity in the post-COVID world. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 23, 2020 Read: PM Modi Assures Irish PM Varadkar: 'Will Jointly Address COVID-19 Challenges' Conversation with world leaders PM Modi has been holding a series of discussion with world leaders over phone calls to exchange views over the ongoing crisis and way to tackle the situation. Bill Gates, the principal founder of Microsoft Corporation, has commended PM Modis leadership and measures taken by the government to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Read: Bill Gates Writes To PM Modi, Lauds His Leadership In Dealing With COVID-19 In a letter to Prime Minister Modi, Gates highlighted the measures like nationwide lockdown, expansion of testing and identifying hotspots for isolation, quarantine and care. He has also lauded the Modi government for significantly increasing health expenditures to strengthen the COVID-19 response. Read: PM Modi Rings Up 106-year-old Former MLA; Seeks His Blessing To Tide Over Difficult Times Read: PM Modi Says 'India-Nepal Relationship Is Special' As KP Oli Thanks India For Its Support A worker produces protective suits in a clothing factory in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province, on April 7, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua] By Zhou Wenhua and Kuang Xiaowen BEIJING, April 23 -- A new-style one-piece medical protective gear developed by the Quartermaster Engineering Technology Institute under the PLA Academy of Military Science has won recognition from experts recently. The institute conducted a demand survey of 286 clinicians fighting on the anti-pandemic frontline in Wuhan city earlier to analyze the problems in the functional design, manufacturing materials and duration of existing medical protective outfits. The new gear developed on this basis was later sent to the Fifth Medical Center of the Chinese PLA General Hospital (302 Hospital) for trial and improvement. It is learnt that relevant quality tests of the new gears samples have been completed, with all indicators reaching Chinas national technical standards for disposable medical protective gears. Current medical protective gear has too many supporting equipment and has therefore been very hard to put on and take off. Compared with it, the newly-developed one is easy to dress, which will effectively reduce the infection risk of medical staff in the putting on and taking off process. Besides, the new one makes use of various new materials, which not only makes it more comfortable to wear, but also effectively reduces the facial pressure damage and prevents the medical protective goggles from fogging. In addition to these, a practical function module is designed for the gear to improve clinical practicality and convenience. Currently, the trial at the 302 Hospital has yielded good results. Next, larger-scale trial and batch production will be carried out in turn, in order to put it into clinical application at an early date. Howrah: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses during a meeting over COVID-19 pandemic at Nabanna in Howrah during the extended nationwide lockdown imposed to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, on Apr 17, 2020. (Photo: IANS) Image Source: IANS News Kolkata, April 23 : West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday engaged in a letter war as she accused him of repeatedly interfering in the administration of the ministries, and crossing the limits of constitutional dharma and elementary norms of constitutional behaviour. Dhankhar, in his reply, described Banerjee's missive as "Outrageously factually wrong and constitutionally infirm". In her hard-hitting seven-page letter, Banerjee reminded Dhankhar that she was an "elected" Chief Minister and he a "nominated governor" and charged him with ignoring advice of her council of ministers. "You appear to have forgotten that I am an elected Chief Minister of a proud Indian state. You also seem to have forgotten that you are a nominated Governor. You may continue to ignore all advice and inputs given by me and my council of ministers (as you appear to have taken upon yourself to do since the day of your appointment). But at least you should not ignore the wise words of Babasaheb Ambedkar," she said. Quoting Ambedkar, she said: "Powers of the governor are so limited that very few would come forward to stand for election." Banerjee asked Dhankhar to judge for himself whether his dirct attacks on her, the council of ministers and officers, "your tone, tenor and language, which, in the mildest words of extreme moderation, deserve to be characterised as unparliamentary". She said Dhankhar's holding of press conferences against the state government, his "repeated and constant interference in the administration of my ministries and departments, make it clear as to who has flagrantly transgressed constitutional dharma and even basic norms of decency between constitutional functionaries". Banerjee, in the letter, gave verbatim a communication she had sent to the Governor, and an SMS as also a letter Dhankhar had written to her. "Your expostulation leaves me with no option but to release these letters in the public domain to leave it to the people of this state and of this nation to judge for themselves as to who has done what and who is in breach of the elementary norms of constitutional behaviour," she said. Responding, Dhankhar alleged that Banerjee's constant refrain of Governor being "nominated" is "lamentable" and can be ascribed only to "elementary ignorance" of the Constitution. "I need to indicate firmly that there has been total failure at your end all through as regards compliance of constitutional prescriptions qua the constitutional head," he said charging Banerjee with having "black holed" all his communications thereby negating Articles 166 and 167 of the constitution. "You will gather from this that there has been an outrageous, flagrant violation of constitutional prescriptions and rules of business at your end and that of your officials," he said. Refering to Banerjee's brief letter to him on April 21, Dhankhar said: "You have indicated that interaction with me cannot take place as requested by me in my communication because 'the entire state machinery is now engaged' to fight against Covid 19 pandemic." Calling Banerjee's approach "outrageous", he said it was a "misleading" view of the Indian constitution. "If I go by your response, I should be in sleep mode, totally non-fucntional, confined to the Raj Bhavan and await the end of Covid 19 pandemic, so that you may spare time for interaction with the constitutional head," he said, adding it goes against the "essence, letter and spirit of the constitution". On Banerjee's allegation that he has ignored all advice and inputs given by her and her council of ministers, Dhankhar said: "I never had any benefit of any advice or input to me either by you or your ministers." He also alleged that the state ministers have been like "loose cannons" using "demeaning" language for the Governor. Dhankhar threatened to make on Friday full disclosure of details and documentation "that will startle all" about Banerjee's stance. "I never wanted to take recourse to thisA but in view of your factually untenable stand and your going public, this has become a compulsive need," he added. By West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 23, 2020 | 04:08 PM | PADUCAH Paducah Police officers were called to the Walmart on Irvin Cobb Drive after a report of a suspicious green car that had been circling the parking lot. Officers located the car and attempted to stop it. The driver reportedly refused to stop, and a computer check reportedly showed that the car had been reported stolen on March 29. Officers say the car was involved in a minor collision as they attempted to pull the driver over. Officers were able to perform a traffic stop a short time later, and everyone inside was detained. After searching the vehicle, officers reportedly found a glass pipe with suspected methamphetamine residue in it, as well as a bottle that contained 26 suspected Xanax pills. The driver, 36-year-old Star Foster, was then arrested. She is being charged with first-degree fleeing or evading, receiving stolen property, first-degree possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine), and illegal possession of a legend drug. She was lodged in the McCracken County Jail. A passenger in the vehicle, Ha Kim Bowles, was reportedly in possession of three Xanax bars. He was taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries and cited on a charge of illegal possession of a legend drug. Two people are facing numerous charges after a traffic stop in Paducah. BOSTON, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In a heating transformation study presented to Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, economists at The Brattle Group examine potential solutions that can transform Rhode Island's heating sector as part of the state's commitment to economy-wide decarbonization. While it is not yet clear which specific pathway will best provide decarbonized heat, substantial progress can be made in the next decade to replace the fossil fuels natural gas, heating oil, and propane that the state currently uses for heating. Annualized Cost of Space Heating in 2050, Representative Single-Family Home, Bookend Scenarios, 2018$ Prepared for the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers and the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources, the study examines the relative economic attractiveness of several solutions for decarbonizing the heating sector. These solutions fall into three broad categories: improving building energy efficiency, replacing current fossil heating fuels with carbon-neutral renewable gas or oil, or replacing existing fossil-fueled boilers and furnaces with electric ground source or air source heat pumps (GSHP, ASHP) powered by carbon-free electricity. The report finds that cost-effective energy efficiency retrofits will reduce both emissions and costs to consumers, but cannot eliminate the need for heat in hundreds of thousands of existing buildings in the state. Thus, some combination of the decarbonized heat alternatives electrification with heat pumps or decarbonized fuels will also need to be adopted in virtually all of Rhode Island's buildings. Based on the projected range of average annual heating costs in 2050 for a representative single-family home in Rhode Island, the study provides the following conclusions: From today's perspective, no single solution is clearly more cost-effective than the others. This is due to the high uncertainty about how the costs of all the decarbonized heating solutions will evolve over the coming decades. Building- and location-specific conditions, as well as consumer preferences, suggest that a mix of solutions is likely though it is not yet clear what that mix will be. For typical natural gas customers (the majority of heating customers in the state), most of the decarbonized heating solutions are likely to result in some increase in overall heating costs. Some customer groups may be more affected by decarbonizing heating than others, and policy must focus on avoiding undue burdens or unintended consequences, particularly for vulnerable customers. The study's findings indicate that policymakers will need to address each decarbonization solution's unique adoption and implementation challenges to enable broad adoption over time. "Policy support will be vital to ensuring that the transition to decarbonized heating happens fast enough to meet mid-century decarbonization targets," noted Jurgen Weiss, a Brattle principal and study coauthor. "Over the next 10 years, policy to support the transformation of the heating sector should focus on ramping up and getting ready, all in the context of ensuring progress regardless of which mix of solutions customers choose." The Brattle study also provides a framework to guide early policy recommendations for decarbonizing the state's heating sector. Rhode Island can promote this transformation through a range of policy options that focus on learning and informing to help address inherent uncertainties and by taking steps to enable and plan for the transformation. These steps will include creating incentives for customers to decarbonize, and coordinating the many organizations and consumers who will be involved in the transformation, while ensuring that the state protects vulnerable populations and avoids unintended consequences. "Heating Sector Transformation in Rhode Island: Pathways to Decarbonization by 2050," is authored by Brattle Principals Dean Murphy and Jurgen Weiss. About Brattle The Brattle Group analyzes complex economic, finance, and regulatory questions for corporations, law firms, and governments around the world. We are distinguished by the clarity of our insights and the credibility of our experts, which include leading international academics and industry specialists. Brattle has over 350 talented professionals across three continents. For more information, please visit brattle.com. SOURCE The Brattle Group Related Links http://www.brattle.com The Ruby Princess cruise ship is on its way out of Australia after leaving the dock at Port Kembla where it was moored for more than a fortnight following a COVID-19 outbreak. The boat, so far linked to 21 coronavirus deaths and up to 600 infections across the country, was led out of the Wollongong, NSW, port shortly before 5pm on Thursday. Marine Traffic data indicated the Ruby Princess was bound for Manila in the Philippines. Earlier on Thursday, NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys told reporters about 500 crew members remained on board. People were seen waving the cruise ship goodbye on Thursday. Source: AAP On Thursday, 368 Filipino nationals disembarked the cruise ship in an operation coordinated by the Marine Area Command, Transport for NSW, NSW Health and the Australian Defence Force. Eleven of those crew members, who tested positive to COVID-19, were taken to NSW Health-managed hotels to enter quarantine. The remainder were taken to Sydney Airport ahead of their return to the Philippines on Thursday evening. In the last three days, 542 crew were escorted from the ship to be repatriated to their home countries, including Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand and the Philippines. Crew were also sent back to Poland, the Republic of Ireland, the Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Ruby Princess cruise ship departing Port Kembla in Wollongong. Source: AAP A total of 33 crew members were taken to NSW Health-managed hotels to be cared for in isolation until they could be medically cleared and sent home. Once these crew members have recovered and subject to a medical clearance by NSW Health they will be transported to Sydney Airport to fly back to their countries of origin. The ship is now in a position to set sail, NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant told reporters on Thursday morning. Cruise operator Carnival Australia said the priority had been to ensure the health of the crew on board was stable before the ship departed. With AAP Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. Jellyfish swimming in clear canals in Venice, a bullied boy gets an A-list level surprise and tennis players on lockdown find a unique way to play their sport. There are the videos you don't want to miss this week. Just floating around The national lockdown in Italy has reduced traffic in the Venice canals so much that the water is clear enough for the first time in years to observe marine life. 'You've got a friend in me' An 8-year-old Australian boy named Corona sent actor Tom Hanks a letter after being bullied for his name. Hanks responded with a surprise gift in return. A nerve-wracking phenomenon Homeowners on Lake Mille Lacs in Minnesota have been dealing with 30-foot ice walls, known as 'ice shoves,' pushing toward their homes. 'I want to be where the people are' After weeks of fighting off coronavirus, CNN anchor Chris Cuomo was cleared by the CDC to end his self-quarantine -- and emerge from his basement. Game, set, match Two tennis players found a creative way to play a match even while living under quarantine in Italy. President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday gave assent to an ordinance brought in by the Narendra Modi government to make attacks on health care professionals a cognisable and non-bailable offence, turning it into a law. The new law will also provides for expediting investigation, imprisoning those convicted to up to seven years, and imposing stringent penalties on vandalism and damage to property. Follow latest updates on coronavirus here Underlining its importance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had tweeted on Wednesday, The Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 manifests our commitment to protect each and every healthcare worker who is bravely battling COVID-19 on the frontline. It will ensure safety of our professionals. He also underlined that there could be no compromise on their safety. The governments decision, following a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, came in the wake of assurances of safety given by home minister Amit Shah and health minister Harsh Vardhan to representatives of the Indian Medical Association (IMA). The IMA subsequently cancelled protests scheduled on Wednesday and Thursday. Later on Thursday, the home ministry also sent an advisory to all state governments to ensure adequate security to all health care workers, and take strict action against any individual obstructing their functioning of, and the performance of the last rites of these workers. Click here for complete coronavirus coverage The new law has amended the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, and comes after a spate of incidents in which doctors and paramedical workers, engaged in testing suspected Covid-19 cases for confirmation, or treating patients, were assaulted and their vehicles damaged by people who feared catching the infection or stigmatised and ostracised health care workers for their proximity to confirmed or suspected cases. The government, Opposition, and civil society have repeatedly called for honouring these professionals workers. New law penalises broadcast of fake news that seeks to undermine public security, state security and national unity. Algerian members of parliament have passed a law criminalising the broadcast of fake news that is deemed harmful to public order and state security. The law, opposed by protesters and rights activists, is part of reforms to the penal code. It was put before parliament, debated and then approved in a morning session on Wednesday, according to state TV. The chamber was nearly empty due to the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing measures. A second bill penalising discrimination and hate speech was passed in the same sitting after a short debate, state TV reported. The move comes after Algerias anti-establishment protest movement suspended its street rallies last month in a voluntary bid to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. It also comes amid increasing repression of opposition and media in the country during recent months. Protesters began staging weekly demonstrations in February 2019 after the ruling National Liberation Front announced that Abdelaziz Bouteflika, Algerias longest-serving president, would seek a fifth term in the office. The demonstrations quickly forced Bouteflika, a wheelchair-bound 82-year-old rarely seen in public since he suffered a stroke in 2013, to step down, but people continued to gather every Friday for months after his fall in a bid to force major institutional reform. Oregons elementary and middle school students will move up a grade regardless of their academic performance near the end of this school year, the state Department of Education said. The mandate extends to placements for advanced classes come fall, officials wrote in guidance for elementary and middle school students released Wednesday. As an example, officials wrote that if a child was earning a passing grade in an advanced math class the last week traditional classes were held in Oregon, that student must be granted the right to advance to the next course in September. Because distance learning introduces a litany of variables in students ability to access and understand available educational material, officials said, districts may not bar children from advancing to whatever grade they were expected to in the fall. They also cannot be given Fs, failing marks or the equivalent. Challenges associated with measurement of essential learning and grading in our distance learning context may result in highly variable, subjective, and potentially unfair grading practices, the department wrote. Although schools will be required to provide families with report cards at the end of the academic year, schools wont track or report attendance. The guidelines hew largely to similar provisions the state laid out for high school students last week. Kindergarteners through eighth graders across Oregon will receive either a pass or incomplete for the quarters or semesters affected by Gov. Kate Browns March 12 order to shutter the states public schools. Grades like satisfactory or check-plus for elementary students become a pass while needs improvement or a check-minus become incompletes. Middle school students will earn a pass if their overall class grade at the time schools closed was a D or higher or they raise their performance to a passing level in the meantime. State officials also laid out guidelines to introduce students to new academic environments. Elementary schools are advised to reach out to individual families and community organizations to introduce incoming kindergarteners to their future teachers and counselors. Middle schools and high schools are likewise encouraged to facilitate meetings between students current and future teachers to discuss social emotional supports and learning targets. Likewise, middle and high schools are asked to have current students serve as mentors or guides for incoming sixth-graders and freshmen. State officials, much as they did in their guidelines for high schools, stressed that their latest guidance prioritizes students mental health and well-being over their academic progress, writing that they are making every effort to ensure that students are insulated from the impacts of extended school closures in terms of promotion opportunities. Teachers should be communicating with families about resources available to aid a students academic progress, officials wrote. Educators are also asked to focus on one or two core learning objectives they would have covered in the classroom. Do not try to cover the same breadth of standards that were expected prior to Distance Learning for All, officials wrote. The education department also laid out what a school must do if its assigning an incomplete to a student with an individualized special education plan. District officials will need to prove they reviewed the students plan and document their educators attempts to stick to it. Theyll also have to explain what accommodations educators made for the student and that a parent or guardian was afforded the opportunity to meaningfully participate, particularly in meetings during which the students progress was reviewed. Districts will also need to communicate with families in their native language if their student is enrolled in an English language learner sequence. And students in talented and gifted programs should be offered options in academic acceleration and curriculum compacting, state officials wrote. --Eder Campuzano | 503-221-4344 | @edercampuzano Do you have a tip about Portland Public Schools? Email Eder at ecampuzano@oregonian.com. Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Oregons education reporters are looking for parents who would like to speak with a journalist about the effects coronavirus is having on families across the state. Would you like to chat with one of us? Fill out this form. [April 23, 2020] PROS Industry Luminary Mike Slone Leads Conversation to Help Airlines Reboot Digital Retailing PROS (NYSE: PRO), a provider of AI-powered solutions that optimize selling in the digital economy, announced today PROS customer experience veteran and IATA AIR Think Tank member Mike Slone together with Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Diggintravel Iztok Franko held a COVID-19 Special Edition webinar, "Rebooting Airline Digital Retailing." More than 775 professionals across the airline industry registered for the webinar to discuss post-pandemic recovery strategies, including next models of digital retailing, that will ultimately redefine and shape the future of travel. The webinar is the result of an informal and evolving survey Slone launched in March 2020 on social channels LinkedIn and Medium, designed to crowdsource new revenue models to help airlines sustain operations through COVID-19. More than 400 survey respondents have completed the survey, which has expanded to include ideas about the future of airline retailing. "Travelers have long desired more personalized, 'concierge-like' service from airlines, and will continue to demand much more after the disruption of COVID-19," said Slone. "Airlines have been working to introduce new revenue and digital retail models to improve the shopping and booking experience for quite some time, but legacy technology and other hurdles have made it difficult to keep up with customer demands. It's clear from the survey results that now, more than ever before, is a critical time for airlines introduce these new strategies." With more than 30 years of expertise in building AI-based software tools, PROS has helped customers through historic economic downturns, including in the wake of the SARS outbreak, the 9/11 attacks and the 2010 volcano eruption in Iceland. During these critical events, a major driving force behind uncovering strategies to drive agility to meet challenging market dynamics is the collaborative discussions with industry bodies and thought leaders. "The airline industry collectively has never faced this magnitude of disruption, and innovation will be the key to drive recovery," said Franko. "The path forward must include gaining a deeper knowledge of the customer, generating new digital retailing ideas and using experimentation as the tool to bring them to life. As industry leaders, we want to be part of the solution that defines and shapes a new era of travel. Working with Mike Slone and other collaborators around the industry, we are offering perspectives and views to put forward new strategies that not only help airlines work through the extreme challenges caused by COVID-19, but solutions that will also address headwinds that may arise in the future." About PROS PROS Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: PRO) provides AI-powered solutions that optimize selling in the digital economy. PROS solutions make it possible for companies to price, configure and sell their products and services in an omnichannel environment with speed, precision and consistency. Our customers, who are leaders in their markets, benefit from decades of data science expertise infused into our industry solutions. Forward-looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about the functionality and benefits of AI-powered solutions to organizations generally as well as the functionality and benefits of PROS software products. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based upon PROS historical experience with AI-powered solutions and its current expectations of the benefits of AI-powered solutions for organizations that implement and utilize such software. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described herein include the addressability of an organization's AI-powered solution needs, the risks associated with PROS developing and enhancing products with the functionality necessary to deliver the stated results and the risks associated with the complex implementation and maintenance of AI-powered solutions such as PROS software products. Additional information relating to the uncertainty affecting the PROS business is contained in PROS filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent PROS expectations as of the date of this press release. Subsequent events may cause these expectations to change, and PROS disclaims any obligations to update or alter these forward-looking statements in the future whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005806/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Ukraine's representative to the EU Mykola Tochytsky has said that the macro-financial assistance (MFA) of the European Commission to Ukraine in the amount of EUR 1.2 billion will be provided in two tranches: first EUR 600 million will be provided at once after the approval of the decision by the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union unconditionally, and the second tranche of EUR 600 million will be provided under conditions, the negotiations on which will take place soon. Tochytsky gave this information to Interfax-Ukraine in Brussels on Wednesday, commenting on the decision of the European Commission to provide EUR 1.2 billion of MFA to Ukraine, to overcome the economic consequences of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Speaking about what these conditions may be, the representative of Ukraine to the EU said that concrete negotiations on this issue have not yet begun. However, he referred to the already existing practice of such criteria, which previously appeared in other agreements concluded between Kyiv and Brussels regarding the allocation of MFA. In particular, it can be steps in the field of public finance management, anti-corruption, taxation, labor and social security, business conditions, customs and so on. "In addition to the EU, there is no other union of states that would provide similar assistance not only to their members, but also to other partners. We are grateful to our European partners for extremely timely and substantial support to our economy, business and population," Tochytsky said. The diplomat drew attention to the fact that, as for the procedure for the provision of this MFA in the amount of EUR 1.2 billion, the decision adopted by the European Commission is "only the beginning", as it should be further approved by the European Parliament and by the Council of the European Union. "Synchronously, negotiations will be held regarding the signing of a memorandum between Ukraine and the EU, which after signing should be ratified by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. That is, this is a lengthy process," he said. At the same time, Tochytsky said that MFA is provided by the European Union only to those partner states that successfully cooperate with the International Monetary Fund. "This is a general condition. Therefore, the payment of the last, fourth tranche of the MFA IV program, which was approved in September 2018, as well as the second tranche of today's MFA depends on the adoption of the so-called "banking" bill as amended, as agreed with the IMF by the parliament," the representative of Ukraine to the EU said. In this regard, the Ukrainian diplomat expressed the hope that the fourth tranche of EUR 500 million will be provided in the first half of the year, and EUR 600 million of "emergency" assistance in the second half of the year. In addition, Tochytsky also recalled that on April 8, the EU decided to provide a package of assistance in the amount of EUR 190 million to Ukraine. "These funds, in particular, will be used to help the population living in areas affected by Russian aggression in the east of the country. EUR 30 million of it is the so-called "technical assistance" to Ukraine's healthcare, not only for the purchase of necessary equipment and materials, but also to improve skills and promote the normative work of the Ministry of Health," he said, disclosing the details. In addition, according to him, EUR 45 million will be earmarked to the support program for small and medium-sized enterprises and to support existing programs, and will also be issued in the form of cheap loans, including in hryvnia. In addition, this assistance provides for the payment of EUR 10 million as part of a government support program. Also, part of the funds will be channeled to public organizations to support the non-governmental sector. Tochytsky said that another example of financial support from the EU to Ukraine was that on April 16, the European Commission announced the provision of EUR 13 million of humanitarian aid. "This tranche will be aimed not only at combating COVID-19, but also at other needs, such as, for example, restoring water supply," the diplomat said. - Renowned lawyer PLO Lumumba sat down with Jalang'o to speak about several issues including coronavirus - Lumumba told Jalang'o he personally does not have social media accounts and those that he knows of are under his foundation - The former director of Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, now called EACC, also said the government was responsible for those who escaped quarantine You have probably come along unreadable social media posts with the user name PLO Lumumba who is known to use big vocabularies in his speeches. However, the famous lawyer has warned that he actually does not have a personal social media presence and has no time for it. READ ALSO: Narrow Bee fly or Nairobi fly?: Kenyans divided on which name to refer to latest Kenyan headache PLO Lumumba has been impersonated by many characters on social media Photo: The China Africa Project Source: UGC READ ALSO: Diamond takes new WCB signee Zuchu out for shopping in Tanasha Donna's ride The renowned lawyer sat down with comedian Jalang'o for a session where they spoke extensively on coronavirus and his presence on social media. The talk shared on Jalang'os' Youtube channel revealed a lot about Lumumba who disclosed he personally did not have social media accounts. "I am not on Twitter, the only Twitter I know that uses my name is my foundation but the rest are just silly people, guys from different regions trying to play around with language," he revealed. READ ALSO: Monkeys take over hotel and become tourists, swim all day amid coronavirus lockdown READ ALSO: Ken Walibora alitofautiana vikali na mchapishaji wake kabla ya kifo chake, DCI yafichua Lumumba said he did not understand some of the things the accounts talk about adding he does not have time for that. "I do not speak about people, I only do serious arguments. These guys have a lot of time and the scary thing is that they take people's names and use their identity which is scary because there are people who believe it is me," he added. He said God was watching and these kind of people would receive a hard lesson from him. The lawyer also spoke extensively about COVID-19, urging Kenyans to follow the strict guidelines to ensure we save a country. Lumumba said it was going to be difficult to stop coronavirus entirely and what would happen is the world finding medication to reduce the severe damage. He added what Kenya needed was a systematic plan that everyone should follow, without many issues, to ensure the fight against the virus is by all and not one. The lawyer speaking on the individuals that escaped from quarantine centre at KMTC ought to have been stopped by the authorities given the mandate to do so. Lumumba said the lot could not make a whole nation suffer under threats just because they defied orders. He asked that if the government was to call for a lockdown then it should be due to a scientific reason to not arms rule. 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. Kenya hits 300 mark for positive COVID-19 cases | Tuko TV Source: TUKO.co.ke [April 22, 2020] ASAM's OpenSCENARIO 2.0 Concepts Demonstrated Using Foretellix M-SDL TEL AVIV, Israel, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Foretellix, an Israeli based start-up with a mission to enable measurable safety of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) & autonomous vehicles (AVs), today announced that its Open M-SDL language concepts are included in the recently published ASAM OpenSCENARIO 2.0 Concept Document published by the Association for Standardization of Automation and Measuring Systems (ASAM, www.asam.net). ASAM membership consists of around 300 member organizations worldwide. These member organizations include automotive OEMs, suppliers, tool vendors, engineering service providers and research institutes. Foretellix had previously opened M-SDL (Measurable Scenario Description Language) and contributed its concepts to the ASAM OpenSCENARIO concept working group. M-SDL is the first open language that addresses multiple shortcomings of today's formats, languages, methods and metrics used to verify and validate ADAS and AVs, and address the industry mandate for 'measurable safety'. Over 500 engineers from 250 different entities have already downloaded the M-SDL specification. The ASAM OpenSCENARIO 2.0 standard is meant to support the definition of tests and scenarios for the full development process of autonomous vehicles, and the full complexity of real-world scenarios, including complex inner-city traffic. Required use cases span from pure software-based simulation, through SIL, HIL, VIL hybrid testing models, up to test tracks and street driving. It will also ensure a migration path from ASAM OpenSCENARIO 1.x, with execution compatibility. The ASAM OpenSCENARIO 2.0 concept document has beenpublished and is available on ASAM's website here. The concept document uses M-SDL for all examples of a declarative domain specific Scenario Description Language. The document includes the description "The foundational concept of OpenSCENARIO 2.0 is to establish a domain specific language of a declarative nature. A declarative language describes what should happen on scenario execution (including the required parameterization/variation), rather than how to do it. A declarative language can also have a dual interpretation, i.e. provide a single scenario description which can be used to describe both how to make it and how to monitor that it indeed happened....In cases where examples are supplied, they are supplied using the foundation of the M-SDL language". "Foretellix is proud that M-SDL is used in this document as an example for a domain specific scenario description language," said Gil Amid, Co-founder of Foretellix and project leader for the ASAM OpenSCENARIO 2.0 concept project. "Foretellix is committed to open standards and is looking forward to expand its contributions to the ASAM OpenSCENARIO 2.0 standards development phase now being started within ASAM." "ASAM is pleased to deliver a powerful concept for ASAM OpenSCENARIO 2.0 that meets the industry's critical requirements for scenario based testing, verification and validation and the full simulation domain", said Klaus Estenfeld, Managing Director for ASAM. "We are also thankful for all the contributions from Foretellix and all other project members in crystallizing these concepts with tangible examples. We expect the ASAM OpenSCENARIO 2.0 standard to build on these concepts with additional contributions from many companies and DSL developers around the world." Foretellix will be hosting a webinar on April 30th, 2020, that describes the M-SDL language and it's contribution to ASAM OpenSCENARIO 2.0 concepts. Registration for the webinar is available at the following link. About Foretellix Foretellix's mission is to enable 'measurable safety' of advanced driver assistance systems & autonomous vehicles, enabled by a transition from 'quantity of miles' to 'quality of coverage'. Foretellix was founded by a team of pioneers in measurable verification and validation, with a highly automated and proven coverage driven methodology broadly adopted in the semiconductor industry. They have adapted and tailored their approach for the safety verification and validation of automated driving systems. Foretellix's Foretify Technology includes an open, high level Measurable Scenario Description Language (M-SDL), intelligent and scalable automation, analytics and metrics. This includes the functional coverage metrics required to make a compelling 'safety case' to consumers, developers, insurance companies and regulators. Copyright 2020 Foretellix Media Contacts : Israel Moshe Mendelson +972 508993284 [email protected] North America Scott Fosgard +1 734 272 7440 [email protected] Europe Mike Stainton +44 7739 891040 [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/772600/Foretellix_Logo.jpg SOURCE Foretellix [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Coronavirus hotline calls remain high The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Southeast Texas continued to creep up on Wednesday, and it likely will be at least one more day before the region begins to receive results of individuals tested since screening restrictions were relaxed. Read more here. SE Texas tops 100 'recovered' coronavirus cases Click through the slideshow to see a by-the-numbers look at coronavirus in Southeast Texas. See more here. TASCHINGER: Some states reopen slower than others As states start to reopen, some are more flexible while some are still mostly locked down. Texas is somewhere in the middle but clearly on the flexible end of the spectrum. Read more here. Excluded from aid program, Damon West voices support for small business owners with criminal history. The Small Business Administration, which oversees the program, did not respond to questions about why the exclusions had been added. But ineligible would-be applicants and their advocates say the restrictions are a slap in the face for those who have served their time, especially from an administration that has trumpeted second chances. Read more here. Texas easing restrictions Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has eased some restrictions designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus, but said Tuesday that it's not yet time to fully reopen the state's economy. Read more here. New Delhi, April 23 : The Union Rural Development Ministry has written to the state governments to provide proof whether social distancing norms are followed at places where MGNREGA work is going on in their states. The ministry has asked the state governments to upload pictures to show that the social distancing norms are being followed. The Centre had given its go ahead for people to take up jobs under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) from 20 April, albeit with some precautions to ensure that the novel coronavirus disease doesn't spread in rural areas. Secretary to the rural development ministry Rajesh Bhushan on April 17 had reviewed the work under MGNREGA and had given a series of instructions to keep coronavirus at bay. He had asked for geo-tagged pictures to be uploaded as a proof whether social distancing rules are followed or not. The central government on April 15 had allowed work in rural areas under different schemes including MGNREGA, with a set of guidelines, which mandated availability of soaps, masks etc at work sites. A rural development ministry official told IANS that the state governments were told to follow the guidelines issued by the ministry of home affairs strictly so that coronavirus does not spread to rural areas. Delhi High Court The Delhi High Court has ordered convicts whose jail terms are being put on hold to mark their attendance via video calls on WhatsApp, and share their location using Google Maps. The innovative bail conditions set by the court come at a time when convicts across the city are either being granted bail or their sentences being furloughed in order to decongest jails in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Track this blog for LIVE updates on the COVID-19 pandemic Justice Anup J Bhambhani, who has granted an interim suspension of sentences of three convicts in separate orders, has directed them to make a weekly video call to the investigating officer (IO) in their cases. In the event that the IO is not available due to any reason, the convicts have been directed to send their location and make a video call to the respective station house officer (SHO). The judge asked them to use the 'drop-a-pin' feature on Google Maps so that the officer can verify the prisoner's presence and location and track them. COVID-19 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions View more How does a vaccine work? A vaccine works by mimicking a natural infection. A vaccine not only induces immune response to protect people from any future COVID-19 infection, but also helps quickly build herd immunity to put an end to the pandemic. Herd immunity occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. The good news is that SARS-CoV-2 virus has been fairly stable, which increases the viability of a vaccine. How many types of vaccines are there? There are broadly four types of vaccine one, a vaccine based on the whole virus (this could be either inactivated, or an attenuated [weakened] virus vaccine); two, a non-replicating viral vector vaccine that uses a benign virus as vector that carries the antigen of SARS-CoV; three, nucleic-acid vaccines that have genetic material like DNA and RNA of antigens like spike protein given to a person, helping human cells decode genetic material and produce the vaccine; and four, protein subunit vaccine wherein the recombinant proteins of SARS-COV-2 along with an adjuvant (booster) is given as a vaccine. What does it take to develop a vaccine of this kind? Vaccine development is a long, complex process. Unlike drugs that are given to people with a diseased, vaccines are given to healthy people and also vulnerable sections such as children, pregnant women and the elderly. So rigorous tests are compulsory. History says that the fastest time it took to develop a vaccine is five years, but it usually takes double or sometimes triple that time. View more Show A 73-year-old retired school teacher, a 21-year-old man and an ATM van driver serving sentences in cases of a minor's rape, rash and negligent driving and defalcation of Rs 51 lakh cash respectively are the three convicts whose terms have been put on hold. The three have also been asked to submit their mobile number with the jail superintendent and ensure that the number is kept active and switched on at all times. The court directed the three convicts not to indulge in any activity that would prejudice the proceedings in the appeal and asked them to surrender before the concerned jail superintendent on expiry of the period of interim suspension of sentence. Follow our full coverage on the COVID-19 pandemic here A black California man who killed three white people in Fresno in 2017 was convicted of murder Wednesday in the racially motivated rampage. Kori Ali Muhammad, 42, was found guilty on three counts of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree murder in the April 18, 2017, slayings as well as a previous killing of a security guard outside a motel, NBC affiliate KSEE of Fresno reported. The trial will move to the sanity phase Monday, and the outcome of that will determine whether Muhammad is hospitalized or sentenced to prison, the station reported. Muhammad surrendered to police after he fired 17 shots in less than a minute at four Fresno locations in an area near the city's office of Catholic Charities, authorities have said. The Fresno police chief said at the time that Muhammed is a racist who planned "to kill as many white males as possible," and who advocated for the creation of a separate country for all of the United States' non-white residents. Zackary David Randalls, 34, of Clovis, and Mark James Gassett, 37, and David Martin Jackson, 58, both of Fresno, were killed in the attack. At the time, Muhammad was wanted in connection with the shooting death of Carl Williams, 25, a security guard at a Motel 6, a week prior. The convictions handed down Wednesday relate to all four killings. Muhammad in March testified that he killed all four people and that in the downtown Fresno shootings, he had planned to kill white men. Muhammad's attorney, Richard Beshwate, said the jury was conscientious but he would have liked all of the convictions to be second-degree murder "based upon his mental-health issues," according to video from The Fresno Bee newspaper. "We'll see where we're at in the next phase," Beshwate said. If the jury finds Muhammad was not sane at the time of the killings, he would spend the rest of his life in a state hospital, according to the newspaper. If they decide he was sane, he could face the death penalty or life in prison. A method to detect COVID-19 which will significantly reduce the cost of testing, making it affordable for a large population in the country, developed by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi has got the approval from ICMR, officials said on Thursday. IIT Delhi is the first academic institute to have obtained ICMR approval for a real-time PCR-based diagnostic assay. "The test method has been approved by ICMR. The assay has been validated at ICMR with a sensitivity and specificity of 100 percent. This makes IITD the first academic institute to have obtained ICMR approval for a real-time PCR-based diagnostic assay," a senior official told PTI. Using comparative sequence analyses, the IITD team identified unique regions (short stretches of RNA sequences) in the COVID-19 and SARS COV-2 genome. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Trump administration is barring most international students and all students who entered the U.S. illegally from receiving emergency college grants approved by Congress as part of nearly $2 trillion coronavirus rescue package. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos issued the restriction in new guidelines released Tuesday telling colleges how to distribute more than $6 billion in grants meant to help students cover unexpected costs triggered by the pandemic. Earlier guidance from the Education Department suggested universities would have wide flexibility in distributing the grants, but the new guidelines said that only students who qualify for other federal student aid can receive the aid. More than 400,000 students are estimated to have entered the U.S. illegally. More than 1 million international students are enrolled at U.S. colleges. University leaders and immigration groups blasted the change, saying DeVos is imposing new limits that were not included in Congress' legislation. The rescue package did not specify which students are eligible for grants, and many colleges had planned to distribute emergency grants to needy students regardless of their citizenship status. Some prestigious universities cited the new policy in decisions to reject the funding. Princeton University announced Wednesday that it would refuse its $2.4 million share of coronavirus relief over the policy. Harvard University also cited the change in its decision to reject $8.7 million in aid. The Education Department said its guidance is aligned with other federal laws. The agency cited the Higher Education Act, a sweeping law that says only U.S. citizens and a narrow set of "eligible noncitizens" are eligible for federal student aid. Angela Morabito, a department spokeswoman, said the rescue package legislation "makes clear that this taxpayer funded relief fund should be targeted to U.S. citizens, which is consistently echoed throughout the law." But some higher education advocates challenged that claim. The American Council on Education, an association of college presidents, said the rescue package placed no limits on student eligibility. "The statute says almost nothing about who is eligible to receive a grant. The Department of Education owns this decision. Period," said Terry Hartle, the group's senior vice president. He added that the group is disappointed by DeVos' policy. "We strongly believed many of these students needed help." The guidelines have created confusion about exactly which students can receive the grants, Hartle said. It's clear that the department is excluding immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally and international students, he said, but it's unclear how schools should determine eligibility. Most colleges don't ask students if they're U.S. citizens, he said, and officials have no easy way to check. A college could give an emergency grant to a Dreamer without realizing the person is a Dreamer, he said, referring to immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally but allowed to stay under the under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA. At the University of California, Riverside, officials had been planning to award grants to some of the campus' estimated 600 DACA recipients. Now, officials will turn to fundraising or other revenue sources to help students excluded by the Education Department. Chancellor Kim Wilcox said he's grateful for the federal relief but was disheartened by DeVos' policy. "I was disappointed for students here at UCR, for students across California, and I was disappointed for the nation," Wilcox said. "This is a huge economic hit and there are pressing needs everywhere." Student advocates see DeVos' update as a reversal from her previous guidance. When DeVos made the funding available in early April, she said colleges would be given flexibility in deciding how to award grants. She told colleges to focus on helping the neediest students. And in paperwork that colleges sign to receive the funding, the agency says the relief isn't considered federal financial aid. That earlier guidance led some schools to believe the grants were exempt from citizenship requirements. Sara Goldrick-Rab, a professor of higher education policy and sociology at Temple University, said the new requirements are cruel to students who were counting on the grants to cover food, housing and other costs, and to colleges that now have to scramble to revise plans for distributing the funding. Losing access to the grants will likely force some students to drop out, she said, especially those whose families are dealing with unemployment amid the pandemic. "They're not going to have the money that they need to stay connected to their college. And people who drop out of college often do not come back," said Goldrick-Rab, who founded the nonprofit Hope Center for College, Community and Justice. Critics say the policy is particularly unjust because the same students now barred from receiving grants were counted in the formula used to allocate money for schools. The rescue package provided $14 billion for the nation's colleges, offering them varying sums based on their student enrollment and the percentage of students they teach from poorer backgrounds. By COLLIN BINKLEY, AP Education Writer More: Relief fund set up to help Pa. hospitality workers who have lost jobs Actor Sonu Sood, like many in Bollywood, has been doing his bit to ease the pain of some the most unfortunate citizens in India through the coronavirus lockdown. A report in Mumbai Mirror says that he is now providing food to 25,000 migrant workers in addition to the 45,000 he has already been providing for. Quoting a source, the report said, Someone reached out to Sonu explaining the plight of these migrant workers who hail from states like Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal and are currently stuck in Bhiwadi. Hes set up a few kitchens in the suburb to make and deliver meals to those keeping roza. The actor was quoted as saying, Ive assured them that their requirements for the holy month will be taken care of. In these difficult times, it is important for each one of us to stand up for the other. Through this initiative, we will provide special meal kits so they dont stay hungry after fasting all day. The actor has a target of providing 1.5 lakh meals in all, the report added. Also read: Arjun Rampal stuck in Karjat during lockdown with girlfriend Garbriella, son Arik: This will be a story to tell him It may be recalled that Sonu had early offered his hotel in Mumbai to medical professionals to be used as residence in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Speaking to Times of India, he had said: Its my honour to be able to do my bit for the doctors, nurses and para-medical staff of our country, who have been working day and night to save peoples lives. They hail from different parts of Mumbai and need a place to rest. We have already approached municipal and private hospitals and informed them about the facility. In addition to this, the actor has tied up with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and has been providing meals to 45,000 Mumbaikars every day in Andheri, Jogeshwari, Juhu and Bandra. Speaking to Mid Day, the actor had said, Some of us are blessed to have food and shelter in these tough times, but there are many who have not had meals in days. To help them, Ive started a special food and ration drive, Shakti Annadanam, which is named after my father. I hope I am able to help as many people as possible. Follow @htshowbiz for more Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 16:39:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NEW YORK, April 23 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed and more than a dozen injured Wednesday as severe weather hit the U.S. states of Oklahoma and Texas, according to officials. A tornado touched down in Marshall County, Oklahoma around 5 p.m. local time (2200 GMT), leaving two people dead and another person in critical condition at a hospital, local media reported, quoting Robert Chaney, the county's emergency management director. Several vehicles were thrown into trees and the tornado caused damage to two steel manufacturing companies, Chaney was quoted as saying. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said the tornado had damaged at least 12 homes, businesses and power lines in Marshall County. In Polk County, Texas, at least three people were killed and 20 to 30 people injured after storms ripped through multiple neighborhoods in the area around dinnertime, according to the Polk County Office of Emergency Management. "A tornado warning went into effect at approximately 5:45pm (2245 GMT). At 6:11, we began receiving reports of storm-related damage," it said, adding that search and rescue is ongoing. "The state has already deployed response teams and medical resources to help Texans in need and to provide assistance to these communities," Texas Governor Greg Abbott said in a statement. "Our hearts are with our fellow Texans tonight and the state will continue to do everything it can to support those affected by this severe weather," he added. Enditem The country's largest two wheeler maker Hero MotoCorp has come up with a financial package to support its dealers who have been facing liquidity crunch due to nationwide lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic. The package, announced by Hero MotoCorp Chairman Pawan Munjal at a digital Town Hall over video conference earlier this week, includes a revised pricing structure on new products, financial support towards the interest on dealer stocks and financing options from Hero FinCorp, the company's retail finance arm. We have revised the pricing structure that will enhance your profitability, and the new structure will be applicable on all dispatches post the lockdown. Additionally, I am also happy to announce financial support towards the interest on the dealer stock for the complete lockdown period of 41 days, Munjal said at the Town Hall. The event was attended by the company's dealers, sales and after sales staff and its senior leadership team. To support the dealers with liquidity for operating expenditure (OPEX), the two wheeler major has come up with a solution with Hero FinCorp, which would disburse an amount in line with the respective dealer's wage and rental liabilities at a subsidised rate of interest. Several company dealers confirmed the steps announced by the company to improve their liquidity position. Munjal has now addressed the company's dealers twice over video conference in less than a month since the lockdown was announced. In his first town hall held on March 28 Munjal had announced the company's support measures for the dealers to help them in liquidating the BS-IV stock and for manpower up-skilling at dealerships. Hero MotoCorp' sales network includes over 6,000 touch points, comprising around 1000 dealers, service centres etc, across the country. Auto dealers of various companies are staring at huge losses as the lockdown has hampered retail sales and they are saddled with the large BS-IV inventory. Already, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) has come up with a slew of measures, including buyback of unsold BS-IV stock, in order to support its sales partners. The company has also released payments of around Rs 1,700 crore to its suppliers, dealers and service providers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More dugongs have been sighted in southern Thailand (Thailand Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation via AP) Conservationists in Thailand have reported more sightings of a threatened sea mammal as the coronavirus pandemic has left tourist areas deserted. Drone video footage released by the Department of National Parks shows a 30-strong herd of dugongs in shallow waters off Libong island in Trang province. They were feeding on sea grass and occasionally surfaced to breathe. Naturalists report other marine animals are also taking advantage of the tourism slump that is leaving coastal regions tranquil and undisturbed. Human intrusion and marine pollution have made dugong sightings in southern Thailand rare in recent years. Expand Close Six dugongs can be swimming together, part of a larger group videoed by drones (Thailand Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Six dugongs can be swimming together, part of a larger group videoed by drones (Thailand Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation via AP) "Its quite unusual," marine scientist Thon Thamrongnawasawat said on Thursday when asked about the dugongs. "This species of mammal is very sensitive to speed boats and people. When they are gone, they feel free to gather in a large group and come close to shore." Dugongs closely related to the manatee or sea cow are officially classified as vulnerable. They can grow up to 11ft in length. Thailands population is put at around 250. Last year a record number of dead dugongs were found in Thai waters. Their fate captured attention last June after images circulated of Thai vets cuddling an ailing baby dugong and hand-feeding her with milk and sea grass. Despite the care, she died two months later. A post-mortem found a large amount of plastic waste in her intestines that had caused gastritis and blood infection. Mr Thon said there were also reports this week of large schools of sharks coming unusually close to shore in several places in southern Thailand, and a sighting of a pod of false killer whales. Video from park rangers on Phi Phi island shows 70-100 blacktip sharks in the shallow waters of the Maya Bay, made famous in the Leonardo DiCaprio movie The Beach. The bay was closed to tourists in June 2018 for ecological recovery, and the islands entire national park has been shut since March to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Park rangers also counted 10-15 false killer whales, another protected species, near the popular tourist island of Koh Lanta, the first time they have been seen in that area. The Supreme Court on Wednesday quashed the January 2000 order of the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh which provided 100 per cent reservation to the Scheduled Tribe candidates for the post of teachers in schools in the scheduled areas, saying it was arbitrary and not permissible under the Constitution. A five-judge Constitution bench, headed by Justice Arun Mishra noted that providing 100 per cent reservation would be unfair and unreasonable and no law mandates that only tribal teachers can teach in the scheduled areas. Referring to the 1992 Indra Sawhney judgement, popularly called the Mandal Commission verdict, the apex court said it was emphasised that the founding fathers never envisaged reservation of all seats and 50 per cent quota shall be the rule. It noted that as per the 1992 verdict, extreme caution has to be exercised and special case has to be made out for exceeding 50 per cent reservation limit. There were no such extraordinary circumstances to provide a 100 per cent reservation in scheduled areas. It is an obnoxious idea that tribals only should teach the tribals. When there are other local residents, why they cannot teach is not understandable, said the bench, also comprising Justices Indira Banerjee, Vineet Saran, M R Shah and Aniruddha Bose. The action defies logic and is arbitrary. Merit cannot be denied in toto by providing reservations, the bench said, adding that the order providing 100 per cent reservation is arbitrary, illegal, impermissible, and unconstitutional. In its 152-page verdict, the top court said it is apparent that despite more than 72 years of attaining independence, we are not able to provide benefits to the bottom line, i.e., downtrodden and oppressed classes. Benefits meant to such classes are not reaching them. It said that those belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes were making a struggle for freedom, various rights in the country and they have also suffered discrimination and remained an unequal and vulnerable section of the society. It said the basis for providing them reservation was to provide them upliftment and to eradicate their sufferings. We have not been able to eradicate untouchability in the real sense so far and to provide safety and security to downtrodden class and to ensure that their rights are preserved and protected, and they equally enjoy frugal comforts of life, it said. The bench, while emphasising on the need to improve the system and ensure implementation of beneficial measures, observed that the right to information system has to be strengthened at the village level and people must know how money meant for development has been utilised. Transparency of administration is vital for the removal of corruption, the bench said. Dealing with the issue of quota, the top court said that rights of tribals, who are not residents of scheduled areas, shall be adversely affected if 100 per cent reservation is provided in such areas. It also dealt with the issue related to validity of action of the Governor in issuing the notification providing 100 per cent reservation and said that, Every action of the legislature, whether it is Parliament or State, has to conform with the rights guaranteed in Part III of Constitution. There is no power to the legislature or to the Governor to act contrary to the constitutional provisions, and they cannot enact a law in derogation to the provision contained in Part III of the Constitution, it said. Referring to the Presidential Order issued under Article 371-D of the Constitution, which deals with special provisions with respect to the states of Andhra Pradesh or Telangana, the bench said it intends that the candidates have to apply within the district. The candidates of local areas or other candidates except for Scheduled Tribes have been deprived of the opportunity of seeking public employment because of the order issued by the Governor, and they cannot apply outside the local area in view of the Presidential notification, it said, adding, The Governor could not have issued the order in derogation to the Presidential Order. The bench also noted in its verdict that a similar order was issued by the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh in 1986 and the same was quashed by the state administrative tribunal. It said that against the quashing of order, an appeal was preferred in the apex court but it was dismissed as withdrawn in the year 1998. After withdrawal of the appeal from this Court, it was expected of the erstwhile State of Andhra Pradesh not to resort to such illegality of providing 100 per cent reservation once again, the bench said. In the peculiar circumstance, we save the appointments conditionally that the reorganised states i.e. the States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana not to attempt a similar exercise in the future. If they do so and exceed the limit of reservation, there shall not be any saving of the appointments made, w.e.f. 1986 till date, it said, adding, The cost of appeal is quantified at Rupees Five Lakhs and to be shared equally by the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. 22.04.2020 LISTEN It's with strong indignation that we call on Akufo-Addo's government to rectify the deliberate injustice meted out to the bereaved families whose dead bodies have been caught up in the Covid-19 pandemic containment measures announced recently. The families are being forced to pony up huge sums of accrued mortuary fees, albeit unwillingly. This is causing discomfort to the affected families because the partial lockdown has adversely affected their sources of livelihood. President Akufo-Addo, announced in his 7th address to the nation on Sunday, 19th of April, 2020 entreated Ghanaians go ahead and bury their dead but to respect the measures in place by organizing private burials with not more than 25 persons in attendance. It was the expectation of the anxious bereaved families that the government was going to absorb the accrued mortuary fees as a result of the Covid-19 containment ban. Authorities of KorleBu and Okomfo Anokye hospitals are urging families to claim their bodies for burial as their mortuaries are filling up. The dragging of feet by the affected families is as a result of their inability to raise funds among themselves and financial institutions are not willing to finance such uncertain projects without timelines to recoup their investments. 3GM aligns itself with the grieving families and call on President Akufo-Addo to consider their predicament and absorb the accrued mortuary fees in the name of equity and justice. The affected families have been forced to this situation unwillingly! We want to believe that this blatant neglect by the President might not have been a deliberate attempt to punish the already impoverished populace reeling under the adverse effects of the pandemic but has happened inadvertently. While we commend the government in its effort to mitigate the effects of Covid-19 on Ghanaians by absorbing the Water and Electricity bills for April to June, we can't sit or look on unconcerned while a section of our people are going through this most awkward predicament. We should be our brother's keeper. 3GM believes the Government should not leave the affected families in limbo. CARL EBO MORGAN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR INDEPENDENT PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANT President Donald Trump on April 22 asked Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to take steps to resolve his country's ongoing dispute with neighboring Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, which implemented an economic and diplomatic blockade against the tiny emirate in 2017. The president and the [emir] discussed the coronavirus response in the United States and Qatar, White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement. The president encouraged the emir to take steps toward resolving the Gulf rift in order to work together to defeat the virus, minimize its economic impact and focus on critical regional issues. Trump also thanked Sheikh Tamim for his ongoing efforts to achieve peace in Afghanistan. In addition, during a separate telephone conversation today, the president called on UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed to take steps toward resolving the Gulf rift while also urging de-escalation in Libya and a sustained cessation of hostilities in Syria. Why it matters: Saudi Arabia has pointed to Qatars diplomatic ties to Iran and its regional support for the Muslim Brotherhood as justifications for the blockade. Trump initially sided with Saudi Arabia and its allies after they introduced the blockade, creating a conspicuous rift with his own State Department, which criticized the move. Shortly thereafter, following a phone call with Sheikh Tamim, the president toned down his rhetoric toward Qatar, which hosts US troops and forward headquarters at the Al-Udeid Air Base. Since then, Trump has relied on Qatar as an intermediary for Afghanistan peace talks, which culminated in the Taliban signing a peace agreement in Doha earlier this year. Whats next: Qatar had been in talks to resolve the dispute with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE as recently as January, but the negotiations faltered. In the meantime, the United States continues to coordinate on the COVID-19 response with all its Gulf partners. Know more: Like the United States, Iran is also looking to coordinate with the Gulf states on COVID-19. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani held calls this week with his counterparts in Qatar and the two other less-hawkish Gulf states of Kuwait and Oman. The HSE objected to the Department of Justices decision to open a direct provision centre for 150 people in Caherciveen, Co Kerry, when health services are stretched to their limit due to the pandemic. At least four of the 105 people who were moved to the centre last month have this week tested positive for Covid-19. The department has refused to say whether those 105 were among a delegation moved from a hotel in Dublin at the same time last month after it also experienced an outbreak of the virus. What it has said is that it always moves people in consultation with the HSE as it is leading the public health response to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, written communication has emerged between local councillor Michael Cahill and Ger Reaney, a senior officer with Cork Community Healthcare. Mr Reaney said the HSE had little involvement in the opening of the Skellig Star facility in Caherciveen and that the decision to open during a pandemic had been made entirely by the Department of Justice. He said: The decision to open a direct provision centre, the location of the centre, and the decision to transfer people into that centre at a time of a pandemic was entirely a decision of the Department of Justice. "The HSE received limited notice in regard to the opening of the centre and voiced its concern at the time in regard to the timing of the move and the access of the centres residents to health services at a time when all of our healthcare services are being stretched to their limit. Mr Cahill described the situation as a shambles. He said: Information is leaking out only because of the diligence of journalists in investigating this scandal. Feelings are running very high all over south Kerry and indeed throughout the county as a whole, with people wondering who is in charge of this shambles. Locals are concerned as to the levels of isolation and social distancing for the centres residents, not least as they are still entering shops and moving around Cahersiveen. Earlier this week, Paul Collins of Remcoll Capital, the company running the 56- bedroom Skellig Star, said he had been requested by locals to lock down the building, but he cannot do so. I cant lock down the centre. I just cant do that under law, he said. Many residents and organizations are stepping up in creative and thoughtful ways to help others during the coronavirus crisis. Beloved Darien artist Nobu Miki is no exception. In partnership with The Darien Times, Miki has put up 20 of her paintings for online auction to benefit seniors and food insecure families in Darien. All of the proceeds will go toward the provision of healthy, restaurant-prepared meals via The Darien Foundation and Corbin Cares. I watch TV every day and see healthcare providers battling the coronavirus. I felt so helpless and wondered if there was anything I could do. Around then, Darien Times Editor Susan Shultz asked me if I might consider painting something to help the community, Miki said. Miki explained that Shultzs idea prompted her to paint the centerpiece of her collection, entitled Hope. She was so inspired by this initiative that she decided to donate 100 percent of the proceeds for that painting, as well as nearly her entire collection, for the cause. I thought, this is a moment I could give back to community and decided to donate 20 paintings, which are all I have at my studio right now, she said. Artists cant save lives, but we can inspire people through art. Sarah Woodberry, executive director of the Darien Foundation, said, We were awestruck by the profound generosity displayed by Nobu. This time has brought out so much caring, creativity and compassion in our community. We are thankful to Nobu, and we know that her painting will bring so much joy to the winning bidders. David Genovese of Baywater Properties praised her generosity. We have known Nobu for many years and worked with her in creating Art on the Plaza, the annual art show featuring local artists on Grove Street Plaza. Her art so beautifully reflects the community of Darien, both physically and spiritually. We are grateful for Nobus contributions to the cause of Corbin Cares, said Genovese. Residents can bid on any of Mikis modern folk-art paintings through 11 p.m. Sunday, April 26. All winning bids and donations are tax-deductible and will come with a tax-acknowledgment receipt. The Corbin Cares initiative launched on Monday, March 30, and provides about 40 healthy, ready-to-eat lunches prepared by local restaurants each day for seniors, as well as substantial dinners for 75 families suffering from food insecurity due to economic impact of the coronavirus outbreak. To visit the online auction, see and bid on paintings, visit: bit.ly/CCAuctionNobu Originally from Tokyo, self-taught artist Nobu Miki also teaches classes at the senior center. Mikis signature modern folk-art style is characterized by a primitive style and bright colors. For more information on Nobu Miki, visit: www.artbynobu.com/about The Darien Foundation is an independent, community-based, 501(c)(3) public charity. Since 1998, it has funded $4.5 million in grants for technology and capital initiatives, which create opportunity for Dariens youth, support the towns safety and security services, and enhance the overall quality of life in Darien. For more information about The Darien Foundation, visit darienfoundation.org Corbin Cares, with the support of the community, will work with The Darien Foundation, The Community Fund of Darien, The Darien Lions Club, Food Rescue US and several local restaurants to have healthy, ready-to-eat meals delivered to those in the community who are food insecure and to our hospital and healthcare workers during this battle with Covid-19. So far, Corbin Cares has provided 788 meals within Darien. Next week, the total will be over 1,000 meals. For more info, visit www.thecorbindistrict.com/corbin-cares/ UAB Ignitis Grupe, (hereinafter the Company) identification code 301844044, registered office placed at Zveju str. 14, Vilnius, Republic of Lithuania. The total nominal value of issued bonds 600 000 000 EUR; ISIN codes XS1646530565; XS1853999313. The Company informs that on 22 April 2020 the official tender offers for the shares of the subsidiaries Energijos skirstymo operatorius, AB (hereinafter ESO) and Ignitis Gamyba, AB (hereinafter GEN) have ended. The Company plans to initiate the mandatory repurchase of shares of the subsidiaries and apply to the Supervision Service of the Bank of Lithuania with a request to coordinate the prices of mandatory share repurchase. The Company plans to provide the same prices for required share buy-out as those which were paid during the tender offers. It is planned to offer EUR 0.880 for one share of ESO share and EUR 0.640 for one share of GEN. During Ordinary General Meetings of Shareholders of ESO and GEN on 30 April 2020 a decision will be made on the payment of dividends of EUR 0.076 and EUR 0.056, respectively. If the payment of dividends is approved, investors who have sold shares during the official tender offer will receive a dividend-equivalent premium to the tender offer price. Meanwhile, investors who have sold the shares during the mandatory buy-out after the rights accounting day will receive dividends in accordance with law. Thus, both groups of investors will receive the same financial benefits. Shareholders who sold the shares during the official tender offers also acquired a pre-emptive right to acquire the shares of Ignitis Grupe during initial public offering. Ignitis Grupe plans to implement retail offering. Thus, minority shareholders of ESO and GEN who will sell shares during the mandatory offer will have the opportunity to acquire shares of Ignitis Grupe on equal terms with other market participants. Information, related to mandatory share buy-out, will be communicated publicly, and each shareholder will be informed by a registered letter. Story continues Relevant information on share buy-out is published at https://www.ignitisgrupe.lt/en/delisting Arturas Ketlerius, Head of public relations, arturas.ketlerius@ignitis.lt Rick Bright, deputy assistant secretary for preparedness and response for Health and Human Services (HHS), listens during a House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing in Washington, D.C., March 8, 2018. "In our filing we will make clear that Dr. Bright was sidelined for one reason only because he resisted efforts to provide unfettered access to potentially dangerous drugs, including chloroquine, a drug promoted by the Administration as a panacea, but which is untested and possibly deadly when used improperly," the lawyers said. The complaints will detail "the retaliatory treatment to which he was subjected by HHS political leadership after raising appropriate science-based concerns about White House pressure on treatment and vaccines related to the COVID-19 pandemic," the lawyers said in a prepared statement. The lawyers, Debra Katz and Lisa Banks, said that they would file formal complaints with both the federal Office of Special Counsel and the inspector general of the Health and Human Services Department over Bright's forced transfer from BARDA. HHS oversees BARDA. Rick Bright's attorney's also accused the Trump administration of making "demonstrably false statements" about Bright to deflect attention from the reason for his removal earlier this week as director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority. A federal vaccine scientist who was ousted from leading an agency dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak will soon file a whistleblower complaint alleging retaliation for his resistance to promoting a coronavirus drug treatment touted by President Donald Trump , his lawyers said Thursday. "The facts and concerns raised by Dr. Bright are compelling and well-documented and soon they will be public." After Bright was removed from his post leading BARDA, he was given a job with fewer responsibilities at the National Institutes of Health, according to HHS. The White House has declined to comment on Bright. HHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment on his lawyers' statement Thursday. An HHS spokeswoman, Caitlin Oakley, later sent CNBC an email containing the department's prior statements from Tuesday and Wednesday explaining Bright's exit from BARDA. The first statement noted that last week, NIH announced a new public-private partnership "to accelerate the development of COVID-19 vaccine and treatment options." "Given the simultaneous importance of accelerating the development of diagnostic tests for COVID-19, Dr. Rick Bright will transfer the skills he has applied as Director of [BARDA to NIH] as part of a bold plan to accelerate the development and deployment of novel point-of-care testing platforms." "Dr. Bright brings extensive experience and expertise in facilitating powerful public-private partnerships that advance the health and well-being of the American people," the statement said. But Bright, in an explosive statement Wednesday, tied his removal to his pushing back against widespread adoption of chloroquine and other anti-malarial drugs, which Trump has touted as potential lifesavers for coronavirus patients Bright also said that he believed he was removed from his post because he insisted that "the billions of dollars allocated by Congress to address the Covid-19 pandemic" be invested "into safe and scientifically vetted solutions, and not in drugs, vaccines and other technologies that lack scientific merit." "I am speaking out because to combat this deadly virus, science not politics or cronyism has to lead the way," Bright said in a statement. Hours after his statement was released, HHS said on Wednesday night, "It was Dr. Bright who requested an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for donations of chloroquine that Bayer and Sandoz recently made to the Strategic National Stockpile for use on COVID-19 patients." "The EUA is what made the donated product available for use in combating COVID-19," said HHS spokeswoman Caitlin Oakley. But Bright's lawyers on Thursday said, "The administration is now making demonstrably false statements about Dr. Bright, one of the nation's leading vaccine, drug and diagnostic experts, to deflect attention from its retaliatory removal of him as the Director of" BARDA. A source familiar with Bright's situation told NBC News that the Trump administration had pushed for expanded access to the anti-malarial drugs nationwide for Covid-19 patients, with limited physician oversight. The source told NBC News that, "Dr. Bright and his team were insisting upon a randomized controlled clinical study because there was insufficient information on the benefit and the potential harms of the drug to patients with COVID-19." "Dr. Bright and FDA colleagues were also concerned about the quality of chloroquine supplies produced and shipped in from facilities in India and Pakistan that were not approved by the FDA," the source said. The source added that implementing the emergency use authorization for the donated medications was a compromise between the two positions, and that Bright did so at the direction of the political leadership of HHS. Earlier Thursday, a source close to Bright told NBC News that he was instructed to develop a national program geared to expanding access to the drug hydroxychloroquine after Larry Ellison, the billionaire chairman and co-founder of software giant Oracle, spoke with Trump about using the drug to treat Covid-19 patients. Ellison has raised campaign funds for Trump. Bright's lawyers, in their statement Thursday, called him "an exemplary public servant as demonstrated by the multiple excellent performance reviews he has received to date." "It remains Dr. Bright's sincerest hope that once he makes these facts known he will be reinstated to his role as Director of BARDA and that he will be able to focus his efforts on stopping the pandemic without further political pressure or distractions." An analysis earlier this week found no benefit in using hydroxychloroquine to treat the coronavirus, and that there were more deaths among Covid-19 patients in veterans hospitals who received hydroxychloroquine compared with those who were given standard care. On March 21, Trump had tweeted that "HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE & AZITHROMYCIN, taken together, have a real chance to be one of the biggest game changers in the history of medicine." Azithromycin is an antibiotic. But on Tuesday, a panel of experts convened by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases recommended that doctors not use a combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin in treating Covid-19 "because of the potential for toxicities." The panel said the drugs should only be used in combination in clinical trials. Coronavirus India: Actor Deepika Padukone has announced that her talk session with WHO Director General Dr Tedros on mental health during the coronavirus pandemic has been put on hold until further notice. Days after announcing her collaboration with WHO for a talk session on the issue of prioritisation of mental health during coronavirus pandemic, actor Deepika Padukone on Wednesday night said that the talk has been put on hold currently. The actor took to Instagram and revealed about the delay of the talk session that was scheduled to take place through Instagram Live on April 23. I regret to inform you that due to unforeseen and highly unavoidable circumstances, the conversation Prioritising mental health during the pandemic and beyond between Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO and I, scheduled for 23rd Apri1,2020 has been put on hold until further notice, Padukone said. She further ended the note by highlighting the importance of mental health and asked all her fans to prioritise their mental health during the ongoing testing times of the coronavirus pandemic. Having said that, mental health is a very real and valid aspect of this pandemic; one that I hope we prioritise and nurture through these unusual times and beyond. Much Love, Deepika, the founder of the Live Laugh Love foundation ended. The 34-year-old actor had earlier on Sunday announced her team up with Dr Tedros, director-general of World Health Organization (WHO) for an Instagram live to discuss the importance of mental health during the coronavirus crisis. Also Read: Bigg Boss 14: Heres what Karan Kundra has to say on participating in the controversial reality show Also Read: Shama Sikander opens up about her battle against mental illness, says meditation helped her in depression Earlier this year, the actor was also awarded the Crystal Award at the World Economic Forum in Davos for spreading awareness about the importance of mental health. Padukone started voicing her opinion on the importance of mental health through her foundation The Live Love Laugh Foundation (TLLLF) in June 2015. Through the program, the actor launched nationwide awareness as well as destigmatisation campaigns. The foundation raises awareness about mental health disorders and organises training sessions, research and lecture series that feature some of the most known thinkers and achievers. Also Read: Coronavirus lockdown: Hina Khan shares glamorous photos from pre-corona days, says woh bhi kya din the For all the latest Entertainment News, download NewsX App Books play a very essential role in our development as individuals and as a country. They form a basis of transforming society into a knowledgeable community through the provision of information, knowledge, wisdom and pleasure. There is a significant call to review locally produced books due to concerns registered regarding the quality of some books produced in the country. Locally produced books, as with other locally produced commodities are at times questioned, with respect to quality and standard. Nonetheless, there are some issues pertaining to our locally produced books that need to be addressed. Book production is an industry on its own, where numerous key players come together. The main key industry players in the book industry are: authors/writers, publishers, editors, book designers/illustrators, printers, booksellers and librarians. Undeniably, these local industry players are doing their best amidst the challenges they face with regards to book production in the country. The book production process is not as easy as one may think. Production of quality books require time, money and qualified resource persons. The process begins with the author (creator), who writes the manuscript. The publisher, plays a pivotal role in the production process, where he or she accepts manuscript from the author, and employs the services of the editor to make vigorous assessment of the manuscript to conform with grammar and standards. The publisher also employs the service of a book designer/illustrator to make the page layout, design and illustration that will bring the manuscript to a good state suitable for the targeted readers. The printer facilitates the multiple production of the manuscript after proof-reading. The printer produces the book in a format or package that is presentable and appealing to readers. The bookseller comes in to help sell and distribute the books to the public. The libraries also help to reach readers with the books as part of promoting reading among the public. As we commemorate World Book and Copyright Day on this day, 23 April, it is very expedient to remind ourselves that books are very important and fundamental in developing the nation. Making our indigenous books competitive on the global market demands the production of books which meet international standards. This calls for all players in the book chain to adhere to acceptable standards of book production and usage. A good book, whether in print or in electronic form, must conform with internationally accepted standards and guidelines. Creative-writing is not an easy task; it calls for a lot of effort and research by the writer. The book publisher must ensure the dissemination of the right information to the reader. The editor must thoroughly check the presentation, spelling, grammar and facts. The designer must consider the necessary margins, kerning or tracking, leading, typeface or font style, font size, illustrations and colour display suitable to the readers. The printer must ensure the use of quality paper and ink for printing. The printer must also adhere to industry standards regarding collation, through to binding and packaging of the printed book. The bookseller is one of the primary channels through which books reach the readers. The bookseller must, therefore, be a gatekeeper to ensure that no sub-standard book gets to the reading public. The reading public is to respect the copyright authors and publishers by refraining from acts that infringe on copyright, such as unauthorized copying, translation, distribution or use of books under copyright. Apart from the fact that actions that infringe on copyright are illegal and punishable under the Copyright Act, 2005 (Act 690), such infringing acts harm the growth of the book industry in the country. As we celebrate World Book and Copyright Day, all players in the book industry are urged to ensure the production of standard quality books in the country. All Ghanaians are also encouraged to cultivate the habit of reading to support the growth of the book industry. #StayAtHome #ReadAbookADay. Kofi Asante Twumasi Production Services Manager Ghana Book Development Council (GBDC) Twitter is banning posts which encourage conspiracy theorists to attack 5G masts. The move from the social network comes as part of a wider effort to cut down on the amount of misinformation and 'unverified claims' about 5G circulating on the site. Posts will be taken down if the public to engage in harmful activity, encourage vandalism of 5G infrastructure or lead to 'widespread panic'. Scroll down for video The move from the social network comes as part of a wider effort to cut down on the amount of misinformation and 'unverified claims' about 5G circulating on the site It comes amid a spate of mast vandalism attacks across the country, driven by unproven conspiracy theories linking 5G to coronavirus shared on social media. Over the Easter weekend, 20 incidents were recorded. Pictured, a burned down mast in London on 15 April Twitter is making a concerted effort to clamp down on the 5G-related claims and it is also looking to curb the spread of all coronavirus-related misinformation. However, it has said it will not remove every tweet that 'contains incomplete or disputed information' about coronavirus. It comes amid a spate of mast vandalism attacks across the country, driven by baseless conspiracy theories linking 5G to coronavirus shared on social media. Over the Easter weekend, 20 incidents were recorded, including a suspected arson attack on a mast in east London as well as one serving Birmingham's Nightingale Hospital. Fake news is helping to spread COVID-19, study suggests Researchers found that people who reject coronavirus conspiracy theories are more likely to stick to social distancing rules. Scientists found analytical thinkers are more likely to reject such theories and in turn comply with government social distancing rules. Professor Viren Swami, from Anglia Ruskin University in Cambridge, said: 'Ensuring the largest possible number of people are complying with social distancing is essential to minimise the threat to life caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Our results suggest that individuals who think more analytically, characterised by deliberative demanding and slow thinking styles, tend to be more compliant with social distancing rules. 'In addition, individuals who think more analytically are also more likely to reject conspiracy theories about the pandemic which in turn is associated with greater compliance. 'Finding ways to nudge citizens towards thinking analytically and questioning, and ultimately rejecting, conspiracy theories, and those who promote them, may be vital at this time.' Advertisement Twitter said it would also address other claims which could lead to widespread panic, giving one example as: 'The National Guard just announced that no more shipments of food will be arriving for two months run to the grocery store ASAP and buy everything.' The firm said: 'We have broadened our guidance on unverified claims that incite people to engage in harmful activity, could lead to the destruction or damage of critical 5G infrastructure, or could lead to widespread panic, social unrest, or large-scale disorder.' It announced the reform on Twitter and, in a follow up tweet, said it had removed 2,230 tweets 'containing misleading and potentially harmful content' since it updated its policies on March 18. Mobile UK, the trade body representing network operators in the UK, welcomed the move, saying: 'Mobile operators are dedicated to keeping the UK connected during this challenging time, and careless talk could cause untold damage. 'Attacks on mobile infrastructure risks lives, and the UK's critical sectors must be able to focus all their efforts fighting this pandemic. 'We welcome the work of social media companies to halt the spread of baseless theories that can lead to harmful and dangerous activity, including damage to critical mobile infrastructure.' Pictured: Charred remains of a Vodafone 4G communications mast in Chelmsley Wood, Solihull after conspiracy theorists confused it with a 5G mast Social media firms are trying to help spread the spread of coronavirus misinformation, with WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and Twitter all making changes to eradicate lies and place legitimate information in prime spots. Twitter last month also decided to remove tweets that promote fake coronavirus treatments like 'drinking bleach', conspiracy theories that claim it's 'propaganda for soap companies' and posts that deny scientific facts. Tweets that deny 'established scientific facts' and expert guidance regarding the virus will be marked as harmful and removed, the site said in a blog post. The company is also automatically deleting tweets that try to promote third parties, manipulate people into certain behaviour, or incite panic. Parody accounts of respected authorities that suggest quarantine periods are over or suggest potentially dangerous treatments to cure COVID-19 will also be nixed. The site, which has millions of active users, said it is increasing its use of machine learning to take actions against 'abusive and manipulative' posts. By Amanda Fries, Times Union (Albany) Albany, N.Y. The 15-day waiting period for a public employees retirement to take effect was waived recently to ensure benefits can be accessed by families who may lose a relative to the coronavirus. New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli on Wednesday applauded Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo for signing an executive order waiving the statutory waiting period for an employees service retirement to take effect. Many government workers are on the front lines battling the coronavirus in their communities every day, DiNapoli said in a news release. God forbid something should happen to them before their retirement becomes effective. Waiving the waiting period after filing for service retirement benefits ensures their families will get the benefits that were intended for them. DiNapoli had requested the governor sign the executive order last week to protect employees, including many who have contracted the illness while working in essential jobs. Under existing law, members of the state and local Employees Retirement System must wait 15 days for their retirement date to take effect, which allows a member to change their mind about their retirement date since the decision is irrevocable. But if a member dies before the period is over, their service retirement would not be effective and their beneficiary would potentially lose the benefits, according to the comptrollers office. The executive order signed by Cuomo authorizes a retroactive waiver of the 15-day waiting period to March 7, the date the state emergency was declared, for members who have died of COVID-19, the infectious disease caused by the coronavirus. Beneficiaries of police and firefighters already have the ability to choose service retirement benefits if the member dies before the effective retirement date. The executive order rescinds the wait period through May 16. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources He has watched coronavirus victims gasp for breath: Its like theyve been hit by a train Reopening NYS schools this academic year will be very difficult due to coronavirus, Cuomo says As coronavirus spread, a Fayetteville retirement community became a hotbed Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com A crafter and cancer survivor, Beckman said she was well prepared to handle the task of making masks for others to protect themselves. But, as demand grew, Beckman decided to talk with her Northwest Indiana NOW members to spread the word about how to make masks and to ask other people who can sew to help, she said. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The global laboratory information management system (LIMS) market size is likely to reach USD 2.22 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., rising at a CAGR of 9.1% during the forecast period. Burgeoning trend of laboratory automation is estimated to stoke the growth of the market. Increasing investments in R&D activities by pharma and biotechnological organizations are providing a significant push to the market. Growing focus on improving efficiency of laboratories is also expected to help the market gain tremendous momentum over the coming years. Rising emphasis on complying with stringent regulations is also encouraging the deployment of laboratory information management systems, as they comply with GDP, GCP, and GMP. Laboratory information management systems help in ensuring effective management and tracking of data quality, security, end-user billing, patient demographics, and security. being increasingly implemented for bio banking. They also enable improved data sampling and research information integration. As a result, their demand is high in bio-sampling applications. However, limited availability of skilled professional to manage advanced technologies is projected to hamper growth prospects. Further key findings from the report suggest : The services component segment accounted for the largest revenue share in 2017, owing to rising lab automation, which requires implementation, maintenance, and support. The CRO segment is poised to experience a lucrative CAGR of 9.8% during the forecast period, due to increasing demand for outsourcing LIMS solutions to curb operating cost. North America was the leading revenue contributor in the market in 2017, due to favorable government initiatives, soaring demand for genomic studies, and growing investments in R&D activities by governments Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness remarkable growth during the forecast period due to rising demand for outsourcing and increasing expenditure in the R&D sector. Japan is projected to be a sight of high growth rate in the region Some of the key companies present in the market are Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc .; Siemens Group SA; LabWare; Abbott Laboratories; and Autoscribe Informatics. Grand View Research has segmented the global laboratory information management system market on the basis of product, component, end-use, and region: Laboratory Information Management System Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) On Premise Web hosted Cloud based Laboratory Information Management System Component Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Software Services Laboratory Information Management System End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Life Sciences CROs Petrochemical Refineries & Oil and Gas Industry Chemical Industry Food and Beverage and Agriculture Industries Environmental Testing Laboratories Other Industries (Forensics and Metal & Mining Laboratories) Laboratory Information Management System Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) North America US Canada europe UK germany Asia Pacific japan china India Latin America brazil mexico Middle East & Africa South Africa Access full research report on global laboratory information management system market: www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/laboratory-information-management-system-lims-market Never Remote: Libraries Continue to Connect Community with Resources April 22, 2020 Working on her dissertation in Mexico City, Sofia Bosch Gomez, a doctoral student in Carnegie Mellon University's School of Design, needed access to the book, "Historia del diseno en America Latina y el Caribe," a central resource for her Ph.D. research in transition design. But, there was a problem. Due to COVID-19, she had returned to her hometown 2,300 miles from Hunt Library and couldn't find a digital version. Gomez reached out to Design Librarian Jill Chisnell to request assistance finding the ebook title. Chisnell assisted Gomez using a new process the University Libraries recently introduced to support requests for print-only materials. Under the process, when librarians receive a request for an item that is only available in print, they log the requester's contact information in a secure spreadsheet and order a book from an approved book vendor to ship directly to the user. The user is then responsible for bringing their item to a CMU library location when it reopens so that the resource can be added to the collection. The initiative is one of many new activities rolled out by the Libraries since the transition to remote instruction to ensure that the university community has uninterrupted access to necessary resources for the rest of the semester. Music Librarian Kristin Heath recently provided real-time instruction to musicology students. "The move online due to COVID-19 not only affected classes but the way we obtain items for research as well," wrote Kim Dolan, interim head of Acquisitions in a blog post. "With the library closed and no one here to receive items, we asked ourselves, 'What can we do to accommodate our faculty and get them the resources they need as quickly as possible?'" Pivoting quickly to scan print materials, move office hours online, and consult on copyright issues among many other tasks the Libraries' responsive actions minimized disruptions to the teaching, learning and research mission of the university during this rapidly changing time. In recognition that users would not be able to return items while locations are closed, due dates for all 4,133 checked out items were extended. The Libraries also curated a list of free and expanded resources from publishers and have scanned 1,535 print pages in response to requests from the newly created Textbook Help mailing list (lib-textbookhelp@lists.andrew.cmu.edu), created to provide digital course reserve and textbook alternates for students who were unable to retrieve materials from their dorm rooms. Subject specialists have shifted their activities to Zoom to continue to connect faculty, staff and student users with resources in the virtual space. Business and Economics Librarian Ryan Splenda held a Zoom workshop entitled "Company & Industry/Market Research Strategies and Resources" for members of University Advancement and Music Librarian Kristin Heath provided real-time instruction to musicology students. Although the Libraries' copy remains locked in the Fine and Rare Book Room of Hunt Library, Curator of Special Collections Sam Lemley taught Shakespeare's First Folio to Professor of English Christopher Warren's Shakespeare class using digitized images from the Folger Shakespeare Library. "This forced experiment in looking at old books on a scattered network of screens is an example of the kind of collections-focused instruction that remains possible, even during mass quarantine," Lemley wrote in a blog post. "While it's impossible to simulate the heft and presence of the First Folio, a high-resolution digital surrogate offers unique opportunities and affordances; this is a book that rewards close looking." These efforts and more are captured in a series of blog posts on the Libraries website collected under the motto, "Online but Never Remote." The phrase was coined by the staff and faculty of the Carnegie Mellon Qatar Library as an acknowledgment that even though the employees who make up the Libraries' workforce are distributed, they are not inaccessible. The series, which is regularly updated, provides snapshots of the many Libraries activities that continue support Carnegie Mellon during social distancing. "As we've moved from our physical spaces to provide uninterrupted support for our community in the digital space, we've done so with the benefit of a strong digital infrastructure and an increased investment in online resources" said Dean of Libraries and Director of Emerging and Integrative Media Initiatives Keith Webster. "By connecting our faculty, staff and students with the solutions they need during this time, we hope to do our part to reduce stress for our community." As for Sofia Gomez, her print book reached her in 10 days, allowing her to continue to draft her dissertation. "This is one of the kindest and most caring actions I have experienced in my academic years, more so in these difficult and tumultuous times," Gomez said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) United Nations, United States Thu, April 23, 2020 09:20 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3b033d 2 World UN,UN-Security-Council,UN-resolution,coronavirus,COVID-19,pandemic,health Free The UN Security Council began work Wednesday on a draft resolution co-authored by Tunisia and France urging "enhanced coordination" and a general cessation of hostilities in conflicts on its agenda, in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. The three-page draft, obtained by AFP, was delivered to the 15 members of the Security Council. The draft "emphasizes the urgent need for enhanced coordination among all countries" and "demands a general and immediate cessation of hostilities in all countries on its agenda." It also calls for "all parties to armed conflicts to engage immediately in a durable humanitarian pause for at least 30 consecutive days." But it exempts military operations against the Islamic State, Al-Qaeda and Al-Nusra groups, and all "terrorist" entities listed by the Security Council. Discussions will begin soon after the members have given their first comments on the text, diplomats said on condition of anonymity. "There will be no negotiations as such," said one diplomat, adding that a vote could take place early next week. A decisive push for the text could come at a videoconference of the leaders of the five permanent members that may be held on Friday, according to Russian media. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a global ceasefire last month as the world fights the pandemic which has forced more than half of humanity behind closed doors. Western nations have buckled under the strain, with hospitals struggling to cope and the world facing unprecedented economic fallout. The once-in-a-century crisis has fuelled fears for millions of people living in conflict zones such as Yemen and Afghanistan, developing countries whose healthcare systems have already been made dysfunctional by violence and poverty. Any break in the fighting could prove pivotal as they struggle to cope with outbreaks, allowing vital aid to reach those in need. However, the Security Council has remained reticent since the start of the pandemic, silenced by strong divisions between its permanent members -- notably, the United States, China and Russia. It did not hold its first meeting devoted exclusively to the pandemic until April 9, after a push by Germany; and it did not adopt any strong stance then. The current draft is the result of weeks-long negotiations between one side, consisting of the ten non-permanent members of the Council, led by Tunisia; and the permanent members, led by France. "It's very important that the Security Council speak with one voice on the current crisis that is gripping the whole world," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric reiterated on Wednesday at his daily press conference. "We would greatly appreciate a strong voice from the Security Council," he insisted. A paragraph in the draft relating to the World Health Organization has been left blank and will be decided at the end of the negotiations. The WHO has been taking fire for a fortnight from the United States, which has suspended its funding for the UN agency in protest at what Washington says is its mishandling of the pandemic. A shrimp boat captain was arrested off Stock Island after police said he tried to fight Coast Guard officers who boarded his vessel after he ran aground and smashed into a channel marker sign. Ron Ray Anderson, 39, of Merritt Island, ignored officers commands and charged at them with a fist, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissions arrest report. The officers said they had to spray him with Mace to take him into custody. FWC officers said they arrived at about 2 p.m. Wednesday to find a large shrimping vessel aground near the green channel marker No. 5 near the Safe Harbor Marina Channel. The vessel was listing to its port side about 100 yards outside the marked channel. At the entrance to the channel, the green metal marker No. 3 was bent over and broken facing the shrimp boat. Ron Ray Anderson The Coast Guard officers were already onboard and wildlife agency found Anderson complaining his eyes were burning. Anderson was arrested on a felony charge of resisting arrest with violence and misdemeanor charges of reckless operation of a vessel and leaving the scene of an accident He was also arrested on misdemeanor charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug equipment including a hypodermic needle, a grinder and a glass smoking pipe, and a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. Anderson had three Tramadol pills, a painkiller that requires a prescription that he didnt have, alongwith tourniquets and a small scale, police said. Officers entered the captains cabin, where they found a spoon with a crystalized substance cooked onto it, police said. Anderson didnt give a clear answer when officers asked what was on the spoon, Fish and Wildlife said, but when asked about the marijuana, he said he did smoke it. On Thursday, Anderson was locked up at the Stock Island Detention Center without bond. He has a court appearance set for May 13. From a host of medical emergencies like the requirement of cancer and arthritis-related medicines to neighbours alerting the authorities about quarantined patients violating guidelines, the Covid-19 crisis has citizen helplines ringing off the hook, for both the government as well as the social sector. Caremongers, a crowd-sourced initiative that started off as a conversation between school friends on March 20 has received over 50,000 requests for help from across and outside the country. Sample this. Dr. Priya Khanna, who lives in New York, was in urgent need of a plasma donor. Infected by Covid-19, she was lodged at Clara Mass Medical Center on April 10. It was with the help of Caremongers that Priya was able to find a donor within less than a week. We have been receiving several requests for all kinds of issues, said Mahita Nagraj, a digital marketing professional and founder of the Caremongers. We try and connect people across the world so that help can provided as soon as possible. The group now comprises of over 36,500 volunteers attempting their bit to help in ease the woes of the coronavirus outbreak. They have delivered groceries, medicines and connected others in need of assistance for obtaining a particular blood type. In Mumbai, a large part of the problems are facing are medical issues, said Keith Menon, a volunteer and architect based in Mumbai. From cancer medication to hydroxychloroquine to help ease rheumatoid arthritis to people needing to reach hospitals, we are working overtime. We are also helping the vulnerable groups living in chawls (slums) and migrants obtain ration, he added. The government, which launched a combined Covid-19 public grievance portal under the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, has received a total of 51,989 complaints as of Wednesday. Of these, nearly 25,000 complaints across ministries have been disposed off in a period of 1.57 days. There have been many supply related complaints, a government source familiar with the matter. Chemists and medicine stores not being open and stores inflating prices of essential goods have come to our notice. Among the quarantine-related incidents, there have been neighbours who have complained that those under home-quarantine are violating the terms of their isolation. Then, of course, theres police harassment and families not knowing where the officials took their relatives because they suspected that they were Covid-19 positive. There have also been many cases of husbands trying to reach their pregnant wives who had just delivered a child. There have also been a host of migrant labour related issues (3457), salary and employment related issues (3427) and evacuation related issues (3033) that have been reported to the government. A family from Chandigarh is stranded in Dubai as they would visit the city often, said the above mentioned source. They have asked to be evacuated. Las Vegas mayor offers city as coronavirus control group Nevada, where Las Vegas is located, has registered around 4,000 cases and over 160 deaths. The death toll in the US from coronavirus is past the 46,000 mark, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. New York is the worst-hit state by far with 19,118 deaths and more than 258,500 cases, followed by New Jersey with 4,753 deaths and nearly 92,400 cases. A CONTROL GROUP WITHOUT SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES The mayor of Las Vegas has offered the city as a social distancing control group to see if the measures really work against coronavirus, a controversial move slammed by many residents of Nevada state's economic powerhouse. Mayor Carolyn Goodman told Anderson Cooper of CNN during an interview Wednesday that she would accept the city becoming a control group without social distancing measures to compare against other regions with strict coronavirus guidelines. Goodman said she wanted all businesses in Las Vegas to be up and running again, mentioning that the city had only seen 150 coronavirus deaths so far, out of a total population of 2.3 million. Cooper then asked her if the low death rate might have been due to people committing to the guidelines. Epidemiologists have pointed to social distancing as a method proven multiple times worldwide as a measure that slows the spread of viruses. In troubled times we often find some great book, or work of art, or film that helps put everything in context. And Im a little worried that right now for Donald Trump its Mutiny on the Bounty. Tell the Democrat Governors that Mutiny On The Bounty was one of my all time favorite movies, Trump tweeted recently. A good old fashioned mutiny every now and then is an exciting and invigorating thing to watch, especially when the mutineers need so much from the Captain. Too easy! The Democratic governors sin appeared to be their attempt to work together on a de-escalation of our coronavirus stay-at-home rules. Everybody is obsessing about getting back to some semblance of normal. Most people who have been studying the situation think that would require a ton of testing and an elaborate system to isolate the infected. However, one person mulled over the situation and thought of Mutiny on the Bounty. Now Mutiny is the story of sailors who rise up against a cruel, greedy and possibly crazy Captain Bligh, setting him adrift on a rowboat. A little weird that our commander in chief would be so enraptured. But so very Trumpian that he appeared to have no clue Bligh was the villain. From Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County Thousands of people in hundreds of cars cruised The Drag in Rock Springs and Green River on Friday night, raising $15,386 for the Memorial Hospital Foundation COVID-19 Response Fund. What a fabulous evening, said Charlie Van Over, Memorial Hospital Foundation President. It was so great to see the smiles and laughter during this time of uncertainty. It was just a magical evening. Sweetwater County always comes through in a time of need, and they sure did last night. I was overwhelmed with the support and generosity of the community. I... A Dunmanway man who verbally abused gardai as pigs and crashed his car into the front door of his local garda station while on a major drinking bender over a period of days, has been given a two-year prison sentence. However, Judge Sean O Donnabhain took into account the six months the accused had spent remanded in custody and he suspended the balance of the sentence yesterday. John Murray, 40, of Derragh, Dunmanway, County Cork, had the sentence of two years backdated to October 24 2019 when he went into custody and the remainder of the two years was suspended for two years on condition that he would comply with the directions of the probation service. Murray was also banned from driving for two years. Paula McCarthy defence barrister said the accused went drinking heavily following the death of his father and behaved in this manner. She said that while he was abusive and threatening during the incidents he did not become physically confrontational. Ms McCarthy BL said that he was a hardworking man and his family supported him in behaving properly. Judge Sean O Donnabhain said he could understand a lot of the background but added, I cannot understand why he centred his madness on the guards. That connection escapes me. To make matters worse there was the one day and then he came back the next day. Whatever was going on in his head was unhealthy and it was fuelled by drink. The Dunmanway man first crashed his car into the front door of the local garda station and the next day he carried a bottle of brandy into the building where he insulted gardai as pigs and threatened to kill one officer. John Murray pleaded guilty to damaging the station, threatening to kill Garda Heather Chandler, and dangerous driving. Detective Sergeant Kevin Long testified that Garda Chandler was on duty on October 2 last year when she heard a loud bang outside the station. A Volkswagen car had been driven into the front door. On examination of CCTV, the driver was seen getting out of the car and throwing the keys at the garda station before leaving. The following afternoon, John Murray returned and kicked in a door of the public office. He caused damage to the office phone and CCTV camera in the public office. Det. Sgt. Long said, He had a bottle of Hennessy brandy in his hand. He came towards (Garda Chandler) and said, you f***ing pig guard. She retreated through the corridors of the station and he followed her saying, You f***ing pig guard, I will kill you pig guards. She shouted at him to leave the station and he did so. Shortly afterwards in the Square in Dunmanway, Murray approached Garda Martin Hanley and made more comments about pig guards. Murray was carrying a bottle of brandy. Garda Hanley wrestled it from him and arrested him, Det. Sgt. Long said. Det. Sgt. Long said there had been no animosity from the defendant towards gardai in the background to this incident. Insurance giant Hiscox could be hit with a 142million bill from pandemic claims but faces legal action after some firms said they were unfairly treated. It expects to pay out to businesses forced to shut their doors or cancel events and rival Beazley expects losses of 138million. However Hiscox has come under fire from small businesses for refusing to pay claims made under its business interruption policies. Hiscox expects to pay out to businesses forced to shut their doors or cancel events and rival Beazley expects losses of 138m The Hiscox Action Group, representing more than 180 firms says the insurer has issued 'blanket' rejections, knocking back thousands of legitimate claims. Many shut when lockdown measures were put in place and are seeking to recoup losses. But Hiscox claims their policies do not cover the pandemic, despite documents promising protection from an 'occurrence of any human infectious or human contagion disease'. Action group spokesman Daniel Duckett, who runs a patisserie in Belfast, said: 'We need this extra support. That is the reason I have been paying Hiscox for the past two years it has the ability to help us and it should do the right thing.' Hiscox said its small commercial package policies do not provide cover for measures taken in response to a pandemic. It said: 'A number of UK policyholders have disputed the application of their policy. Hiscox is determined to help provide greater certainty for customers. As a priority it will work with the UK insurance industry, its regulators and its customers to seek means of expediting resolution through the range of independent mechanisms available.' One of the first Britons to sign up for the coronavirus vaccination scheme has spoken about the symptoms he's expecting as the trial starts today. Simeon Courtie, speaking to Good Morning Britain from Oxfordshire, said he was expecting to catch a fever 'at worse' as he stepped forward to help find a cure to the killer disease. He said: 'The trials start today but my first vaccination is next Wednesday. They think it will be something along the lines of having the flu. You might just get very mild side effects, but at worst maybe a fever for a couple of days and some aches and pains. 'It shouldn't be too disruptive to my life.' Mr Courtie explained he was one of hundreds of volunteers taking part in a trial to see if the University of Oxford's trial was safe. After that has been confirmed it could be used to try and cure patients with COVID-19. Screening for around 500 people took place at the Jenner Institute near Oxford's Churchill Hospital. As well as the vaccination trial in Oxford, there is another being carried out by Imperial College London set to begin later this year. Mr Courtie described himself as 'just a very small part of this thing'. He added: 'We are the safety part of this process and then after my trial there will be an efficacy trial out in the community to see if it works and that will involve thousands of people. 'I go on Wednesday to the Jenner Institute and then I've got a second vaccination a month after that and then one or two more depending on which group I'm in, because there are different groups in the trial.' The trial has been split into two groups, those who are being given the vaccine and those who are not. However, participants do not know which group they're in. Mr Courtie explained: 'It's a blind trial you don't know which group you're in. 'There's no placebo group where you're given something like sugar water. You're either given the new vaccine which they're developing or a vaccine that's already licensed, it's actually the vaccine they give teenagers to protect them against meningits. 'The side effects of that vaccine are very similar to the side effects of the new vaccine so you don't know which you're on.' Piers Morgan described Mr Courtie's decision to take part as 'gutsy,' adding: 'Thank you for what you're doing, it's greatly appreciated.' The Oxford vaccine, known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 will be trialled on up to 510 people out of a group of 1,112, all of whom will be aged 18 to 55. Project manager John Jukes, 36, of Witney, Oxfordshire, is another Oxford volunteeer. He said: I dont see what I am doing as being heroic at all. Im in a position to possibly be helpful to lots of people thats an opportunity to grab. Nobody is escaping this virus and what it has done to the way we live. If everybody shied away from helping to find a vaccine, then one might not be found. He heard about the trial through his partner Rachel White, who is a nurse researching infectious diseases. Volunteers receive no payment apart from compensation for their time and travel costs ranging from 190 to 625. Mr Jukes said: The trial isnt free from risk but, then again, anything worthwhile has risk. He will get his injection on Monday and says he will go straight back to work. He stressed: The people involved in the trial are the very best. It is so important as it might be the best chance we have of getting back to some kind of normal life, so I really want to help. Source: dailymail.co.uk 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 Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Disposable toothbrush is usually smaller in size, cheaper, and used only once before it is discarded. Usually, it comes in pre-pasted form with the toothpaste already on the toothbrush in smaller quantities. All one need is water to activate the paste and start using it. This type of toothbrush is perfect for traveling, camping, military, airlines, and hospitality. The disposable toothbrush is also good for those who have braces. Choosing disposable toothbrush is bit complex as one needs to determine their priority like someone wants it in small size which is easy to carry or some want to use it twice without pre-pasted. Consumers are showing increase in interest to spend on oral hygienic which presents manufacturers with an option to introduce premium products that attribute to concerns relating to the complete oral care, whitening, sensitivity, and gum health. Increasing importance of oral hygiene attributed to the hike in the market for a disposable toothbrush. Get Sample Copy Of This Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/16609 Market Segmentation The disposable toothbrush is segmented by its type, category, distribution channel, and region. Disposable toothbrush segmented by its type as electric and manual. The electric toothbrush has rechargeable battery that needs to charge on a regular basis. Some electric toothbrush has built-in timer system that beeps when one finishes up brushing for three minutes. By category, it is segmented, for kids and for adult. The adult toothbrush comes in the form of non-slip grip and rounded bristles of polished soft nylon. Kid size toothbrush is the child size version of gentle bristles disposable. It comes in five assorted colors of translucent polystyrene, and the brush head has 25 tufts of quality nylon bristles. The disposable toothbrush market further segmented by distribution channel used by manufacturers to supply disposable toothbrush to end-users. By distribution channel, the disposable toothbrush market segmented into Supermarket/Hypermarket, Convenience/Departmental Stores, and Others (includes retail chains). Supermarket/Hypermarket segment is expected to represent the highest growth in revenue earnings due to its capability to offer a wide variety of disposable toothbrush products, and also provide attractive offers and discounts. Disposable toothbrushes segmented by region such as North America, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa. In North America, USA market is predicted to get stagnant over the forecast period due to its overall high penetration in this category. In Europe, UK has the highest consumption of disposable toothbrush due to high demand from consumers for hygienic solutions. Asia Pacific region is expected to grow to a considerable fraction during the forecast period. Drivers The growing trend towards natural and organic products in oral care is likely to influence the disposable toothbrush market over the forecast period. Improvement in the level of hygiene is a major factor which increases the demand of a disposable toothbrush. Moreover, effective marketing campaigns by manufacturers resulted in greater awareness about disposable toothbrush among consumers. Effective retail penetration and wider promotional activities offered by producers are also expected to fuel the growth of disposable toothbrush market. The increase in traveling among people is a major trend for disposable toothbrush market. Growing trend for spending on oral hygiene is driving the demand for a disposable toothbrush. The ongoing health and wellness trend is increasing the importance of oral care to many consumers. Consumers are looking for more whitening and less sensitivity toothbrush, which fuels the demand for disposable toothbrush market. Request For TOC @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/16609 Key global market players manufacturing different type of disposable toothbrush products include: President Donald Trump is eager to hit the road. As his own health officials continue to warn against nonessential travel, Trump has privately urged aides over the past week to start adding official events back to his schedule, including photo ops and site visits that would allow him to ditch Washington for a few hours. The day trips would be similar to those Vice President Mike Pence has made visiting businesses during the viral pandemic, according to three people familiar with the planning. Speaking at a coronavirus task force briefing this week, Trump noted he hasnt left the White House in months, except to send off the USNS Comfort from a Virginia naval base and visit the Federal Emergency Management Agencys headquarters in March. The president has otherwise stayed within the executive complex for six weeks, an extraordinary stretch of confinement for a president who even while stuck in Washington loves to golf and visit his businesses. Trump's last big trip outside the Beltway to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta ended with a three-day fundraising swing in Florida, during which he stayed at his Mar-a-Lago beach club and golfed at a nearby course he owns. His itch to get away from Washington comes as his administration pressures governors to begin loosening restrictions on interstate travel, business operations and public gatherings part of a three-phase plan the federal government released last week to reopen the U.S. economy after a near-total shutdown due to Covid-19. The road map has been criticized by some state officials who say they lack the testing capacity needed to safely reopen communities in accordance with the presidents timeline. Trump officials insist enough testing is already available to handle the first phase of reopening. The first step of the administrations Opening Up America Again strategy maintains restrictions on small gatherings if physical distancing measures cannot be adhered to and discourages Americans from pursuing non-essential travel, setting Trump on a potential collision course with swing-state governors who are reluctant to host him or presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden for official or political events in the near future. Story continues If were listening to our best medical minds in this country, political events are going to be some of the last activities that are phased in as we reboot our economy, said Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat who has sparred with Trump over his response to the health crisis and his administration's ability to provide test kits, ventilators and other critical supplies to her state. I think its going to be a long time before anyone thinks its safe to have big gatherings, Whitmer said in an interview. Its important that were all very mindful, and that goes for campaign rallies on both sides of the aisle. Other officials from 2020 battleground states said they would hesitate to permit events that do not comply with the federal governments guidelines. Trump is almost always accompanied by an entourage of advisers and U.S. Secret Service personnel during official and political trips, making it difficult to practice social distancing guidelines in line with the administration's current recommendations. During his trip last month to the Naval Station in Norfolk, Va., he spoke to an empty parking lot and traveled with a limited group of aides and reporters on Air Force One. Still, the combined presence of security, staff and media on the ground exceeded the size limits his administration placed on group gatherings in mid-March. If there was a situation where the president was trying to violate his own guidelines, we would certainly have a conversation about that, said an aide to Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers. A Trump campaign official said the presidents 2020 operation will remain in the digital sphere for the time being and does not currently have any Keep America Great rallies a hallmark of Trumps reelection strategy or physical fundraisers planned for the remainder of April or May. But the same official said the White House is in charge of the presidents schedule and could add events at any given moment. On Friday, Trump abruptly announced his plans to deliver this years commencement address at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. His June 13 appearance will occur on the academys campus 50 miles north of New York City, which has seen more than 10,000 coronavirus-related deaths since March 1. The White House declined a request for additional details about the president's schedule. I understand theyll have distancing. Theyll have some big distance, and so itll be very different than it ever looked, Trump said at a White House briefing. Pence delivered a commencement address at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs on Saturday. Nearly 1,000 cadets sat eight feet apart on the schools parade field during the event, offering an eerie glimpse into what Trumps own appearance at West Point could look like if strict social distancing measures remain in place through mid-June. Cadets are seated to match social distancing norms due to the coronavirus outbreak during the graduation ceremony for the Class of 2020 at the U.S. Air Force Academy, Saturday, April 18, 2020, at Air Force Academy, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) Pence also recently traveled to a Walmart distribution center in Virginia and told reporters aboard Air Force Two on Tuesday, during a trip to a Wisconsin factory, that he will visit a General Motors plant in his home state of Indiana next week. The vice president has used these visits to highlight the role of the private sector in manufacturing and distributing vital equipment and supplies for healthcare facilities across the country. In some cases, state officials said White House aides have provided limited notice prior to a visit from the president or vice president. According to the Evers aide, Pences team notified the Wisconsin governors office of the vice presidents visit to the Madison-based GE Healthcare plant only after they had already finalized the trip. We got a notice after it was already planned, like, by the way, well be in town, recounted the aide. Its not a good idea to bring a bunch of people into a facility right now and they did not coordinate with us at all. A White House official disputed this account and said Pence's team first contacted Evers' chief of staff on April 12 to alert them of Pence's upcoming visit to Wisconsin and to offer an in-person meeting between the governor and vice president. The two men ended up speaking by phone Tuesday morning, hours before Pence arrived in Madison. The Office of the Vice President reached out to the governors office multiple times, both last week and early this week, as we began forming our plans. The governors office did not indicate that they would like an in-person meeting while the vice president was in Wisconsin, said Pence spokeswoman Katie Miller. Other states that will determine the outcome of the November election dont yet appear to have even considered guidelines related to campaign events or presidential visits in the coronavirus era. Asked about the permittance of political activities in the coming months, a spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf referred POLITICO to the Pennsylvania Department of State, which said the states Department of Health was best equipped to respond. The Department of State does not in any way permit or prohibit or even offer guidance regarding political rallies, communications director Wanda Murren wrote in an email. In lieu of the high-energy campaign rallies he normally holds, lately Trump has turned the James S. Brady briefing room into his own political roadshow hijacking briefings by his own coronavirus task force to single out political opponents and battle with members of the media. According to data compiled by the C-SPAN Video Library, Trump has made 41 appearances at the daily briefings as of Tuesday evening, more than any member of the Covid-19 task force, including its leader Mike Pence. A Republican who speaks to the president regularly said Trump has been in good spirits throughout the public health crisis, but like many Americans is eager to get out of his house. This person said Trump is expected to soon follow Pences lead and begin traveling again, but only for official trips and not political events. The Trump campaign has canceled in-person events and fundraisers because of the pandemic, and has instead held virtual weeknight gatherings with supporters and prospective voters. I hope we can do rallies. Its great for the county. Its great spirit. For me, its a tremendous way of getting the word out. We win where we have rallies, Trump said at a task force briefing last Friday. A White House spokesperson declined to say if the president has additional events on his schedule besides his appearance at West Point in June. But Trumps recent focus on field hospitals built by the Army Corps of Engineers combined with his penchant for patriotic settings could mean he could lean into military options as he did with the Norfolk visit. In what was perhaps a tell-tale sign of his own feelings as he entered another weekend holed up in the White House residence, Trump broke from top U.S. health officials at a White House briefing on Friday to lend support to demonstrators who gathered in state capitals to protest stay-at-home orders. They seem to be very responsible people to me, he said with a shrug. Anita Kumar contributed reporting. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Department and the FBI have renewed a search for the remains of Kristin Smart at sites on the Cal Poly campus in San Luis Obispo, Calif., on Sept. 6, 2016. (Joe Johnston/The Tribune (of San Luis Obispo) via AP) Search Warrant Issued in 1996 Disappearance of Kristin Smart A search warrant was issued in the disappearance of Kristin Smart, a California college student who disappeared 23 years ago, according to authorities. Police searched the Los Angeles County home of Paul Flores after authorities said he was the last one to see Smart alive in 1996, according to a news release from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriffs Office. The office was assisted by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Office. In February, the Sheriffs Office served search warrants at four locations in California and Washington State. Todays search warrant only involved the home of Paul Flores, the news release stated. Tony Cipolla, a spokesperson for the sheriffs office, told CNN that they found items of interest related to her case. We are following up on leads, tips, and good investigative work, he added. A search warrant was served Wednesday at the Los Angeles home related to the 1996 disappearance of California college student Kristin Smart, authorities said. (FBI file photo) Cipolla said Flores was detained at his San Pedro, California, home before he was released. As with the search warrants in February, this current search warrant is sealed by the court. As a result, we are precluded by law from disclosing any further details about them including items sought or recovered during the process, the news release stated. Police have alleged that Flores, a classmate of Smarts, volunteered to walk her home from a party in May 1996 while she was intoxicated, reported People magazine. Flores home was also searched in February, according to the report. In January, Smarts mother was told by a former FBI agent that she should be prepared for a new development and said she needs to find a spokesperson, reported the Stockton Record. This continues to be an active and on-going investigation, officials said in the release. APPLICATIONS by 4,000 Irish students to British universities could be hit by a delay in the Leaving Cert results being issued. The Leaving Cert has been deferred until July 29 due to the coronavirus crisis. Education Minister Joe McHugh said it was a "major issue" and he has spoken to his UK counterpart Gavin Williamson about the problem. The issue was raised in the Dail by Sinn Fein TD Donnchadh O Laoghaire. He was contacted by the parents of a student who has had conditional offers from UK universities but has been told the would be lost if the Leaving Cert results aren't issued by August 31. Mr McHugh said he didn't have an answer on the issue today but it is "something we need to find a solution to". Earlier Fianna Fail education spokesman Thomas Byrne criticised what he said was the "lethal" uncertainty for school students which he claimed had been caused by remarks by Toaiseach Leo Varadkar and others. He said "the one thing that students need is clarity". But he told the Dail that Mr Varadkar spoke on Instagram about postponing the Leaving Cert "before anybody knew about it" and Health Minister Simon Harris suggested in a Sunday Independent interview that schools could return one day-a-week. He said the "goal posts keep changing" and "this uncertainty has to end". Mr Byrne asked Mr McHugh if he can say the Leaving Cert is happening and if there's a Plan B. Mr McHugh insisted he provided clarity by saying the exams would not go ahead in June and would be postponed until late July/early August. He said it's still his intention for students to be in classes for a minimum of two weeks before the exams."That was to give that clarity to students because students were asking could it go ahead in June," he said. "But at the heart of all these decisions is going to be the public health advice... The health and well-being of our students will be at the heart of any decision I make," he said. Solidarity TD Mick Barry argued that the Leaving Cert should be cancelled due to the anxiety the coronavirus is causing young people, the saftey risks and because some students will have lost family members to coronavirus. Meanwhile, parents will get a refund on school transport costs for the period of the shutdown of the education system, Mr McHugh said. And local school bus operators will continue to receive a 50pc payment, in place since March 30, for as long as schools remain closed. The matter was among the issue raised with Mr McHugh in the Dail today. Schools have been closed since March 12 and will remain shut until further notice. Up to 120,000 school pupils use the school bus service and while some families are exempt from paying, the annual charge is 100 per child, up to a maximum of 220 for families with primary children only and 350 per post primary child, with an overall family maximum of 650. Mr McHugh also said that the 116 fee for the Leaving Cert was under discussion with his officials. The minister has announced an extension of the deadline for payment until after the exams. The issue of replacing traditional exams with a system of predictive grades for Leaving Cert students was also raised, and Mr McHugh reiterated that we are looking at all contingencies. He said we do not anticipate things to be normal any time soon, we dont think we will be more or less informed this time next week, so we have a moral obligation and duty to work on all contingencies. The minister said ultimately the decision on holding the Leaving Cert exams would be based on public health advice and he said he had been talking to Dr Mike Ryan Executive Director of the World Health Organisation's Health Emergencies Programme today. Pressed on the question of predictive grades several times, he did not rule out such a system, but implied it was very much a last resort as he pointed to the challenges inherent in ensuring fairness and posed a question about what recourse students would have if they were a few points short of a college place. The minister also told deputies that the secretary general of the Department of Education was in touch with the University of Limerick about its decision not to refund to students who have left campus accommodation early due to the Covid-19 outbreak, It is the only university not to have done do. I would ask them again publicly to reconsider their approach, I feet it is something that should be done, the minister said. Coronavirus India: Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi has said that unemployment is likely to rise in India. About 12 crore people have lost their jobs already. To help every family tide over this crisis, the government should provide them at least Rs 7,500. Asserting that 12 crore people have lost their jobs in the first phase of the lockdown, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said that it is imperative for the government to provide them with immediate financial assistance to each family to tide over this crisis and reiterated that the unemployment is likely to increase further as economic activity remains at a standstill. Entitlement of food grains under the National Food Security Act has not yet reached the beneficiaries. 11 crore people who are in need of subsidised food grains, remain outside of the Public Distribution System. It should be our commitment to provide 10 kgs of food grains, 1 kg of pulses and half a Kg of sugar to each person of the family every month, in this hour of crisis, Gandhi at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting today. 12 crore jobs have been lost in the first phase of the lockdown. Unemployment is likely to increase further as economic activity remains at a standstill. It is imperative to provide at least Rs.7,500 to each family to tide over this crisis. Migrant labourers are still stranded, jobless and desperate to return home. They have been hit the hardest. They must be provided with food security and a financial safety net in order to survive this period of crisis, she said. Also Read: Coronavirus update: Total cases in India reach 21,393 with toll at 681, President approves ordinance to punish attacks on health workers The Congress chief said that a special package should be announced urgently for the survival of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). MSMEs employ close to 11 crore personnel today. They make up for one third of the GDP. If they are to be protected from economic ruin, it is imperative that a special package be announced urgently for their survival, she said. The Congress chief claimed that the Central Government does not appear to have a clear idea on how the situation will be managed after May 3, when the ongoing lockdown will end. A lockdown of the present nature after that date would be even more devastating, she said. Gandhi said that the Congress has repeatedly urged the Prime Minister that there is no alternative to testing, trace and quarantine programme. Unfortunately, testing still remains low and testing kits are still in short supply and of poor quality. PPE kits are being provided to our doctors and healthcare workers but the number and quality is poor, she said. The Congress chief said that farmers are facing serious difficulties. The issues of weak and unclear procurement policies and disrupted supply chains need to be addressed without delay. Necessary facilities must be made available to the farmers for the next round of Kharif crops which will begin in the coming 2 months, she said. Also Read: Mukesh Ambani becomes Asias richest after Reliance Jio-Facebook deal The doctors, nurses, paramedics, health workers, sanitation workers and essential service providers, NGOs and the lakhs of citizens providing relief to the most needy all over India, their dedication and determination truly inspire us all: Congress President Sonia Gandhi https://t.co/J9J9x4UB1d ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 BJP is spreading the virus of hatred and communal bias at the time when everyone together should fight coronavirus: Congress Interim President Sonia Gandhi during CWC meeting in Delhi (file pic) pic.twitter.com/TrE0QMCxbG ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 In a veiled attack against the Centre, Gandhi said: The states and local governments are the frontline of the battle against COVID-19. Funds legitimately owed to our states have been held back. She accused the BJP of spreading the virus of communal prejudice and hatred amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Let me also share with you something that should worry each and every one us Indians. When we should be tackling the coronavirus unitedly, the BJP continues to spread the virus of communal prejudice and hatred. Grave damage is being done to our social harmony. Our party, we will have to work hard to repair that damage, she said. The Congress chief applauded doctors, nurses, paramedics, health workers, sanitation workers and all other essential service providers, NGO and the lakhs of citizens providing relief to the most needy all over India. Gandhi said that she had written several times to Prime Minister Narendra Modi after lockdown came into force. I offered our constructive cooperation and also made a number of suggestions to alleviate the suffering of both rural and urban families. These suggestions had been formulated on the basis of feedback we have been receiving from different sources, including our Chief Ministers. Unfortunately, they have been acted upon only partially and in a miserly way. The compassion, large-heartedness and alacrity that should be forthcoming from the Central Government is conspicuous by its absence, she said. The Congress leader asserted that the focus must continue to be on successfully engaging with health, food security and livelihood issues. The lockdown continues and all sections of our society continue to face acute hardship and distressparticularly our kisans and khet mazdoors, migrant labour, construction workers and workers in the unorganised sector. Trade, commerce and industry have come to a virtual halt and crores of livelihoods have been destroyed, she said. Also Read: NASA says lockdown has brought air pollution down For all the latest National News, download NewsX App HOUSTON - (April 23, 2020) - Rice University researchers plan to reconfigure their "trap and zap" wastewater-treatment technology to capture and deactivate the virus that causes COVID-19. Rice civil and environmental engineer Pedro Alvarez and bioscientist Yizhi Jane Tao have won a National Science Foundation (NSF) RAPID grant to develop a "novel approach for selective adsorption and photocatalytic disinfection" of SARS-CoV-2. Their chemical-free nanotechnology, introduced earlier this year as a way to kill bacterial "superbugs" and degrade their antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater, would employ graphitic carbon nitride customized at the molecular level to selectively absorb viruses and then disable them by activating nearby catalysts with light. Alvarez said the team aims to develop a system that is fast, efficient and reliable "under realistic scenarios." "COVID-19 might be a dress rehearsal for even more lethal infectious diseases that are very difficult to control," said Alvarez, director of the Rice-based, NSF-backed Nanosystems Engineering Research Center for Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment (NEWT). "We need to enhance the capacity and resiliency of multimedia treatment processes -- especially air filtration and wastewater disinfection -- to protect public health. "SARS-CoV-2 has been found in air ducts, suggesting it could spread through a building's air conditioning system, and in stool, even from patients who have tested negative for COVID-19," he said. "That suggests it could reach wastewater treatment plants, where it could survive for days." While the researchers will test their work in the lab on similar but less-virulent strains, they expect their trap-and-zap treatment approach will recognize coronaviruses that cause not only COVID-19 but also MERS and SARS, according to the project abstract. Alvarez is the George R. Brown Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and a professor of chemistry and of chemical and biomolecular engineering. Tao is a professor of biosciences. ### Read the abstract at https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2029339&HistoricalAwards=false. This news release can be found online at https://news.rice.edu/2020/04/23/rice-researchers-look-to-trap-and-zap-coronavirus/ Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews. Related materials: New nano strategy for superbugs: http://news.rice.edu/2020/03/12/new-nano-strategy-fights-superbugs-2/ Pedro Alvarez: https://alvarez.rice.edu Tao Lab: https://biosciences.rice.edu/people/yizhi-tao Images for download: https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/04/0427_TRAP-2-WEB.jpg CAPTION: Yizhi Jane Tao. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University) https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/04/0427_TRAP-3-WEB.jpg CAPTION: Pedro Alvarez. (Credit: Tommy LaVergne/Rice University) Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,962 undergraduates and 3,027 graduate students, Rice's undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 4 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. Jeff Falk 713-348-6775 jfalk@rice.edu Mike Williams 713-348-6728 mikewilliams@rice.edu Farmers should remain vigilant and not delay machinery inspections during the coronavirus pandemic, an agricultural engineering expert has said. There is confusion within the farming community over what constitutes an essential and non-essential inspection during the Covid-19 lockdown. Although emergency extensions have been granted during the pandemic, such as MOTs and first aid certificates, the law for Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER) requirements remains in place. Keith Short, machinery inspection engineer at Farmers and Mercantile Insurance Brokers (FMIB), said farmers need to remember how much they rely on machinery to carry out crucial work. "Ensuring machinery is in safe, working order is not only key to keeping operations going during the pandemic but it is imperative for the survival of farmers, their workers, the business and its reputation. Engineering certificates demonstrate that the farmer maintained the machine, that it is in good, safe working order, and is suitable for further use," he said. During lockdown period, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has said farmers must be able to demonstrate that they have made attempts to have the thorough examination and testing (TE&T) carried out within the required timescales. However, if equipment is to continue in use without TE&T, then farmers should assess the increased risk and take appropriate action to manage it. Mr Short said: Farmers and their workers face potentially fatal risks on a daily basis, and that is only magnified during times of upheaval, such as this. "Now is certainly not the time for complacency and protecting personal and employee health should remain top priority. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER) and LOLER regulations require equipment used at work to be suitable and safe for use, correctly installed, maintained and used, and to have suitable health and safety controls and markings. PUWER applies to all machinery, whilst LOLER only applies to lifting equipment, including tractor foreloaders, fork-lift trucks and telescopic handlers to hoists, cranes on machines, and lifting attachments. With LOLER, some extra requirements apply. By having PUWER and LOLER inspections on farm machinery and equipment, farmers are complying with HSE Regulations, which are legal requirements. If through an inspection or incident investigation HSE finds that the regulations were breached or there was negligence, farmers face prosecution or significant fines. PUWER and LOLER inspections should be undertaken by an inspector with the relevant engineering experience and knowledge. Agriculture is the most dangerous industry to work in, with a fatality rate that significantly outstrips other sectors. Thirty-nine people were killed in agriculture in 2018/19 and the highest number of deaths were vehicle-related, with eight deaths involving telehandlers or excavator buckets. Mr Short added: As well as ensuring they are legally covered in an incident, engineering inspections offer farmers peace of mind that they are doing everything in their power to ensure the safety of themselves, their staff and the people around them. Identifying faults in equipment before they fail can also prolong the life of the equipment and reduce future capital expenditure which can pay dividends as the industry heads towards uncertain economic times." The Seattle volunteers who got shots in the first trial of a possible coronavirus vaccine are now getting the second shot an indicator the early trial is progressing well. While the doctors at Kaiser Permanente's Vaccine Treatment and Evaluation Unit in Seattle dont know the results of the first round of tests, the fact that it has continued and that the second round of injections are now being given is good news, said Lisa Jackson, who is leading the study. The trial hasnt been stopped. We know from the study protocol that if adverse events had happened, the protocol would have required that, she said. Therefore we presume those things havent happened. The volunteers are taking part in the first investigational vaccine study to fight coronavirus. The study launched on March 16. The vaccine, called mRNA-1273, was developed by scientists at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and at the Cambridge, Mass.-based biotechnology company Moderna, Inc.. It is being given in two doses because the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes COVID-19, is new and no one had been exposed to it before it appeared in December, said Jackson. Humans are a "naive" population when it comes to the virus. The first shot is a primer to set the immune system up, giving it a first look at the virus, Jackson said. The second shot, administered 28 days later, builds on that protection so the body can more rapidly produce antibodies if it is later exposed to the virus. After the first set of volunteers was enrolled in Seattle, the trial was expanded on March 27 to include volunteers at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. The initial group included 28 in Seattle and 17 at Emory. The volunteers will be followed for 13 months to ensure they have no side effects or other reactions to the vaccine. Jennifer Haller, left, smiles as the needle is withdrawn after she was given the first-stage safety study clinical trial of the potential vaccine. The experimental Moderna vaccine uses messenger RNA to get the bodys own cells to produce a protein found on the spikes on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus it uses to infect human cells. Story continues The hope is that the body will respond to those proteins by mounting a robust immune response to the virus. The National Institutes of health is now expanding the trial to include 60 adults over the age of 56, Jackson said. Some will be tested in Seattle, some in Atlanta at some at the NIH in Bethesda, Maryland. The test is part of Phase I trial of the possible vaccine. The goal is to test the safety of various doses and whether these doses produce an immune response. Phase I trials dont study whether the vaccine is effective in preventing COVID-19 infection. That comes in Phase II. There are no vaccines or treatments that have yet been approved for COVID-19. The Moderna vaccine was the first of more than 70 candidate vaccines currently being tested worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. In terms of treatment, thus far the most promising but still not yet approved as it's in the testing phase may be Remdesivir, an antiviral drug from Gilead Sciences. Leaked data from a test at the University of Chicago appeared to indicate it might help those infected. The company has cautioned that until all data is analysized, it's impossible to draw any conclusions from the trial. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Second round of shots for first coronavirus vaccine test start The month was March 1946 and the rest of the world was still picking its way through the rubble and misery of World War II. However, in Hollywood, the first post-war Oscars awards sought to recapture the glitz, glamour and shameless egotism that had been mothballed as America pulled together to win the war. Oscar statuettes that had been plaster were now solid bronze plated with gold. Joan Crawford stayed away from the ceremony, blaming pneumonia, but everyone in town knew she just couldn't face watching Ingrid Bergman win Best Actress. Studio secrets: Samara Weaving and Laura Harrier in the new show Sure enough, as soon as it emerged that Crawford had won (for her starring role in Mildred Pierce), she put her face on and invited the Press into her bedroom as she accepted the statuette. She did, at least, make sure there was no one in bed with her. Along with her bitter rival, Bette Davis, Crawford was notorious for aggressively sleeping her way to the top. But when it came to scandal in the post-war years, her enthusiastic embrace of the casting couch paled in comparison to the rampant drug-taking, gay prostitution, orgies and sexual assault that were also going on behind the scenes in the outwardly wholesome movie industry. The colourful canvas provided by this last gasp of Hollywood's so-called 'Golden Age' provides the setting for Hollywood, a lavish new mini-series on Netflix from May 1. Made by Ryan Murphy, best known as the creator of the hit high-school musical series Glee, the seven-part drama promises to put a very 21st-century gloss on post-war Hollywood. Murphy has described it as a 'revisionist' look and a 'love letter to the Golden Age of Tinseltown'. His executive producer Janet Mock calls it an 'aspirational tale of what ifs' which include a studio director who's a woman, a male screenwriter and lead actress who are both black and a matinee idol star who is openly gay. Murphy is gay while Mock is a black transgender activist who paid for her sex change at 16 by working as a prostitute. The drama mixes up fictional and historical characters, the latter including Rock Hudson, Hollywood's most famous closeted star, and his more flamboyantly gay agent Henry Wilson; Hattie McDaniel (the first black actress to win an Oscar, as Mammy in Gone With The Wind, who was forced to sit at a segregated table at the ceremony); and Anna May Wong, Hollywood's first Chinese-American star. Murphy's fictional characters include a pimp who runs an escort business, out of a petrol station, for gay or married stars. He's clearly based on the outrageous Scotty Bowers, a former U.S. Marine who ran just such an operation from 1946, and who claimed half of Hollywood used his services. Marilyn Monroe. Hollywood, which Marilyn Monroe described as an 'overcrowded brothel', was still ruled by the major studios (whose usually predatory executives treated actors like chattels). Washington effectively ended their rule by stopping them owning cinemas in 1948 It sounds tailor-made for the Instagram generation which lapped up Glee, as the main characters 'battle stereotypes, biases and abusive industry power players'. But they'll have their work cut out, because the real post-war Tinseltown wasn't remotely 'woke'. Hollywood was unashamedly white, heterosexual (at least in public) and chauvinist. Racial segregation and prejudice was deeply entrenched, and even Jews, who pretty much ran the business, were excluded from wider U.S. society. Laws banning mixed-race sexual relations remained in place in California until 1948. Hollywood, which Marilyn Monroe described as an 'overcrowded brothel', was still ruled by the major studios (whose usually predatory executives treated actors like chattels). Washington effectively ended their rule by stopping them owning cinemas in 1948. Financially, the post-war years were boom time for the industry as the shattered world sought distraction at the 'flicks'. Rock Hudson. The list also took in Tennessee Williams, Charles Laughton, Vincent Price, Rita Hayworth, Noel Coward, Mae West, James Dean, Rock Hudson and Edith Piaf. Oh yes, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor On screen, a strict decency code still limited what could be shown, but studios were no longer pressured to make uplifting, propagandistic movies to help the war effort. Although some actors including Henry Fonda and Jimmy Stewart had gone off to fight many of the stars who dominated screens in the immediate post-war years were the same ones as during the war. In the years immediately after 1945, Bette Davis and British actresses Olivia de Havilland and Greer Garson still topped the bill along-side male stars such as Laurence Olivier and Humphrey Bogart. The British ex-pat male contingent, nicknamed the 'Hollywood Raj', boasted the likes of David Niven, Rex Harrison and Ronald Colman. Hitler may have been defeated but tyrannical studio bosses continued to run Hollywood with an iron fist, binding actors in exclusive deals in which the moguls not only got a say in the films they made but the private lives they led. Numerous young stars such as Judy Garland and Lana Turner were pressured to have abortions. Some became pregnant frequently, effectively using termination as birth control. 'These newly wealthy men and women didn't know how to control their bodies, or their lives, spending, cavorting and revelling in excess,' says Hollywood historian Anne Helen Petersen. Garland, so sweet in The Wizard Of Oz, had a particularly grim time. Studios forced actors to work long hours, keeping them going with drugs from compliant doctors. No dispensation was made for children. MGM, to which Garland had signed aged 13, hooked her on amphetamines to keep her slim and energetic through a relentless filming schedule. She'd then be given sleeping pills and allowed to rest for four hours, before being woken up with more amphetamines she said it meant she could work 72 hours almost continuously. 'Half the time we were hanging from the ceiling but it was a way of life for us,' Garland recalled. Hollywood actress Lana Turner Telling her she was a 'fat little pig', MGM executives also kept her hungry and encouraged her to smoke heavily to suppress her appetite. She was left with a lifelong, insecurity about her weight and a drug addiction that killed her at 47. Debbie Reynolds said she almost met the same fate when MGM tried to foist pills on her, but was saved from a 'life on stimulants' after her doctor insisted she rested. Young actors weren't safe from sexual abuse either. Garland was repeatedly propositioned by MGM executives from the age of 16. Studio chief Louis Mayer liked to show that he thought she sang from the heart by putting his hand on the teenager's left breast. Fellow child star Shirley Temple recalled how on her first visit to a powerful film producer's office, he unzipped his trousers and exposed his genitals to her. When she giggled, he threw her out. If women were victims of a deeply misogynistic culture, black actors of either sex were at the bottom of the Hollywood heap. The relatively well-connected African-American actress Lena Horne thought she'd scored a victory by insisting studios never cast her as a maid. Instead, she never got a lead role in anything. Her appearances were limited to standalone scenes that could easily be cut from films in U.S. cities where cinemas refused to show movies with black performers. The studios' obsessive need to control their stars ran to covert surveillance. 'Love goddess' Rita Hayworth was one of Hollywood's highest-paid actresses by the late 1940s, earning more than $375,000 a year. That didn't stop her studio, Columbia Pictures, from bugging her, she claimed. Her one-time husband, Orson Welles, said the studio chief, Harry Cohn, did the same to him and on the assumption that someone was always eavesdropping Welles would say 'Hello Harry' when he came into his director's office each morning. Studios employed 'fixers' to sort out problems such as abortions. If stars had car accidents, they would depute lesser actors on the studio books to take the blame. If an actress was a lesbian, fixers would leak stories to the Press about her latest boyfriend or even force them into a studio-arranged marriage. But there were some scandals the fixers couldn't keep secret. The Swedish superstar Ingrid Bergman caused a huge ruckus in 1949 when she became pregnant while still married to her first husband, Swedish surgeon Petter Lindstrom by Italian film director Roberto Rossellini as they filmed the drama Stromboli. American fans who had warmed to the Casablanca star's virtuous image felt betrayed. Hollywood effectively blacklisted her, and in Congress where her behaviour inspired a bill to ban from cinema screens all actors 'guilty of immorality and lewdness' she was denounced as a 'powerful influence for evil'. Thankfully for her, no one had picked up on her earlier brief affair with Gregory Peck while making the 1945 Hitchcock film Spellbound. Alfred Hitchcock's notorious mistreatment of his leading ladies wouldn't be properly exposed until The Birds star Tippi Hedren revealed his aggressive sexual obsession with her decades later. But he was clearly at it in the 1940s slapping Joan Fontaine to make her cry while filming Rebecca and making fellow British actress Ann Todd uncomfortable during work on the 1947 thriller The Paradine Case with his 'schoolboy's obsession with sex'. Whether they'd served in the Forces or not, some of the most notorious womanisers, such as Errol Flynn and Clark Gable, returned after the war to re-start their acting careers and their sexual exploits. An MGM executive memorably observed: 'Clark was the least selective lover in the hemisphere. He'd screw anything. A girl didn't have to be pretty or even clean.' Officially, homosexuality didn't exist in Hollywood. Unofficially, it was rampant at least according to Scotty Bowers. The veteran hustler said that, from 1946, he set up and sometimes took part in sexual liaisons involving Laurence Olivier, Katharine Hepburn, Vivien Leigh, Spencer Tracy and Errol Flynn. The list also took in Tennessee Williams, Charles Laughton, Vincent Price, Rita Hayworth, Noel Coward, Mae West, James Dean, Rock Hudson and Edith Piaf. Oh yes, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. He said he arranged orgies for Cole Porter and had threesomes with actresses Lana Turner and Ava Gardner, and separately with Cary Grant and Randolph Scott. Some have accused the late Bowers of exaggeration but a fair number of the names sound plausible. Quite how they avoided exposure by Hollywood's famously omniscient gossip columnist Hedda Hopper remains a mystery. Perhaps she considered it unprintable. Hollywood's so-called Golden Age may have produced many classic films but the glitter hid many layers of ugliness. A coalition of voter advocacy groups wants Gov. Andrew Cuomo to hold off from ordering a halt to in-person voting for New Yorks upcoming June 23 primary election, warning such a move could disenfranchise voters. The groups are concerned Cuomo will issue an executive order closing polling sites because of the coronavirus pandemic, forcing New Yorkers to vote by mail. A switch to a mail-only election would require counties to print and mail millions of ballots to voters, with only two months remaining before Election Day, said Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York, one of the groups pushing back against the idea. Jumping to an entire vote-by-mail system in New York state is setting up our elections for failure, Lerner said. Were hopeful that in a few years well be able to transition to a vote-by-mail model, but right now in the middle of a pandemic New Yorkers do not need to be experimenting with a complete overhaul of our elections against the advice of all experts, Lerner said. Common Cause, a disabled rights group and a Chinese-American group in New York said a 100% vote-by-mail system would take away accessible options for people with disabilities, including those who require ballots in large print or braille, or voters who need language assistance. New York also fails to meet the criteria for a vote-by-mail system, Lerner said, because the state has not proven that it has accurate voter rolls. She said thousands of registered New York voters were moved to inactive status by mistake, an issue that still hasnt been cleared up with the state. The groups spoke after a report from NY1 said that Cuomo plans to issue an executive order requiring a vote-by-mail election on June 23. The report cited unnamed sources. A senior adviser to Cuomo, asked about the report Wednesday, said the governor never stated he would issue such an order. The aide did not answer questions about whether the governor is considering a vote-by-mail plan. Cuomo issued an executive order earlier this month allowing all New York voters, for the first time, to vote by absentee ballot regardless of whether theyre able to appear in person at a polling place. Voters can apply for absentee ballots for the June 23 election by mail or email under Cuomos order. READ MORE: How to apply for an absentee ballot for New Yorks June primary election The governor also moved New Yorks Democratic presidential primary election from April 28 to June 23, the same date for the states congressional primaries and some state Senate and Assembly primary elections. In Central New York, June 23 is also the date for the postponed special election in the states 50th Senate District to fill the seat vacated by Sen. Bob Antonacci, R-Onondaga, in January. Cuomo ordered the expansion of absentee voting because he wanted to avoid the long lines and chaos that occurred April 7 in Wisconsin when the state held its presidential primary and state Supreme Court elections in the middle of the pandemic. Lerner, of Common Cause, said New York should allow in-person voting in a safer way by doubling the number of days New Yorkers can vote early from nine to 18 before the June 23 election. She argues such a move would prevent crowding in polling places. Separately, the New York Republican Party this week threatened a lawsuit if Cuomo switches to an election by mail. Ballots would be automatically mailed to registered voters. State GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy said such a move would be illegal and unconstitutional. He warned that "automatically mailing ballots without proper security measures in place most certainly invites fraud. Security problems have been reported in other states with mail-in voting, Langworthy said. Those issues include ballot harvesting, ballots arriving late, ballots going to the wrong or old address, and bins of ballots that were never delivered. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources Reopening NYS schools this academic year will be very difficult due to coronavirus, Cuomo says As coronavirus spread, a Fayetteville retirement community became a hotbed McMahon: No more shelter-in-place, but urges people to travel even less; hospitals can reopen Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 London, United Kingdom A large number of people who have contracted the coronavirus in the United Kingdom have ancestry in other regions, and according to research, many who have died since the start of the epidemic were from ethnic minority backgrounds. While a nationwide campaign about the benefits of social distancing and proper hand-washing attempts to inform people how to limit the spread of the coronavirus, much of this information has been in English, meaning large sections of British society are unable to access important messaging and even services. To get the message out, activists have been targeting communities and raising awareness. The Roma Support group is among the organisations creating specific content, in Romanes. Mihai, who works with the group, said its videos are a continuation of its post-Brexit work, advising members of the Roma minority on how to apply to the European Union settlement scheme. We've just updated one of our COVID 19 videos, available in Romanes. Have a look and help us get the message out to people! Thanks! Anyone looking to download? Please DM. pic.twitter.com/gl0tP9VE4c Roma Support Group (@RomaSupport) April 6, 2020 We started delivering information in a way that is accessible for people so information is delivered in a language that people understand and in a format that people, despite literacy skills, can access, he told Al Jazeera. While government resources exist in a few languages, Romanes is not one of them. Mihai said several charities have approached the group to share its clips. The message is more effective when it comes from someone in your community, he said. Roma volunteers host shows in the Romanes language to share information about the coronavirus epidemic [Courtesy: Roma Support Group] The British Somali Medical Association (BSMA), a voluntary non-profit organisation, was created for and by medics for mentoring and improving healthcare access to the Somali community. As the Somali diaspora has been particularly badly affected by the virus, all hands went on deck to share information on preventative techniques. The impetus behind the groups videos and webinars was to create resources in Somali due to the clear lack of sufficient healthcare-related resources for the UK Somali community, a BSMA spokesperson told Al Jazeera. Although written information has its place, ours is an oral tradition and audio or video information is still the most effective way of informing the community. Community action has become stronger during the UK lockdown, the spokesperson said. A local Somali mosque in Leicester, for example, has come together to deliver food parcels to those in need. Meanwhile, some groups are pushing resources outward and fostering internationalist relationships. The British Somali Medical Association (BSMA) supports the diaspora community and other groups and individuals in need of support during the coronavirus epidemic in the UK [Courtesy BSMA] The Apoyo Comunitario Sur de Londres collective supports Latin Americans in London and looks beyond the UK. It provides translation services and connects individuals to mutual aid groups. We [have] started translating information about the virus, said Rosa dos Ventos, a member of the group. The group provides interpreting services over the phone for people struggling to communicate with their GPs. It has also extended its translation services to help the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), which supports Latin Americans in precarious jobs who have been made redundant or are being furloughed. As migrant workers rely on public funds, some of which are harder to access in the current crisis, the collective has launched a hardship fund. We came across families that could not pay for food and didnt have access to public funds, or did but they were taking too long, said Rosa. To raise money for communities in the Global South too, the collective is planning to host Zoom parties with paid tickets. Its a global pandemic so the response has to be global, she said. Some info on #Coronavirus & an appeal from me to #StayHomeSaveLives Spoken in #Punjabi so please share with friends & family Please take care of & protect yourselves & others pic.twitter.com/ZB23CJU5aT Saima Mohsin (@SaimaMohsin) March 25, 2020 While the community-led groups involve a number of people, British Pakistani Saima Mohsin decided to create her own resources in Punjabi and post them on her Twitter feed, followed by more than 225,000 people. Its not just about whether people understand English, but about truly getting the message across and acknowledging the diversity of our world, she told Al Jazeera. One of her videos is about the highly contagious nature of the coronavirus and who is most vulnerable, another is on prevention techniques such as hand-washing and social distancing in multi-generational households. While her videos have been shared widely, Mohsin acknowledged that social media excludes people without internet access or those who do not use online tools. Theres a need to think outside the box. When calling my aunt in Pakistan instead of the ringtone I heard a PSA [public service announcement] about coronavirus. What a brilliant idea and so simple to get the message out. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- With the help of a South Florida based meal delivery company, Gunther Motor Company presented meals to local hospitals and first responders from Hollywood, Florida to Delray Beach, Florida. Throughout the week, they were able to prepare and deliver 1,500 meals to individuals on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19. Sharon Truske, Director of Major Gifts at Joe DiMaggio Hospital and a recipient of 300 meals, said "It's heartwarming to get a call from a Joe DiMaggio donor who wants to do even more by providing our health-care heroes with a healthy delicious meal! We couldn't survive this time without the type of community involvement being done by Gunther Motor Company." Gunther Motor Company Gunther Motor Company and the Gunther family have had a strong philanthropic presence in the South Florida community. Since opening in 1970, they've supported local organizations including, Holy Cross Hospital, the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Food for the Poor, and Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, among others. Joe Gunther IV, Vice President of Gunther Motors, described the importance of community involvement for both his family and the company. "As this great country battles this unrelenting disease, almost every American has been affected in some way. We're happy to help show our appreciation, and thank the brave people that take care of and protect our communities," said Gunther. In order to make these deliveries possible, Gunther Motors worked with Farm to Fork Meals, a meal delivery service started by South Florida native Michael Panza. "We feel blessed that we can express our gratitude by preparing and delivering healthy meals to front-line health care workers and first responders in South Florida," said Panza, Founder and CEO of Farm to Fork Meals. "What they are doing is really unbelievable. They're our heroes and we're extremely grateful for everything they are doing." By the end of the week, 1,500 meals will be delivered to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, Holy Cross Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Weston, Broward Health North, Coconut Creek Police Department, and Delray Beach Police Department. About Gunther Motor Company Gunther Motor Company is owned and operated by the Gunther Family and has been selling and servicing cars in South Florida since the 1970s. The company has Volkswagen, Volvo, Mazda, KIA, Mitsubishi, and used car dealerships located throughout South Florida. The dealership is now in their third generation of family members working for the organization. About Farm to Fork Meals Founded by Michael Panza, a gourmet chef with more than 10 years of culinary experience, Farm to Fork Meals delivers customizable meals to individuals. Farm to Fork meals was a long time dream of Panza's and is now a reality as he serves healthy and all-natural food throughout South Florida. MEDIA CONTACT: Taylor Gunther Healey, (954) 464-4728, [email protected] Related Images image1.jpg Related Links Gunther Motor Company COVID-19 Response SOURCE Gunther Motor Company Related Links https://www.gunthermotorcompany.com/ Cash and cash equivalents of 5.6 million as of March 31, 2020 Limited impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the Company's operations to date No anticipated delay to the end-of-phase-2 meeting with the FDA Launch of Phase 2 IPF trial still expected in 2020 despite the COVID-19 situation Regulatory News: Genkyotex (Euronext Paris Brussels: FR0013399474 GKTX), a biopharmaceutical company and the leader in NOX therapies, today reported cash and cash equivalents of 5.6 million as of March 31, 2020. This amount does not include the French research tax credit of 0.9 million which was received by the Company in April 2020. The existing cash and cash equivalents provide cash runway to end of February 2021. COVID-19 update In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company is following applicable guidelines and recommendations in order to protect its employees and contractors. The Company has also implemented strategies to mitigate the impact of the global shutdown on its business and operations. The Company has asked its employees in France and Switzerland to work from home and to organize meetings and events virtually as much as possible. To date, the Company is only anticipating a limited impact on its operations, including the planned discussions with regulatory authorities, the conducting of clinical trials as well as interactions with the scientific community and other stakeholders. The Company will continue to monitor the possible impact of COVID-19 on the conducting of clinical trials and discussions with health authorities and, depending on the evolution of the pandemics and of its material impact on such trials and discussions, will report to the markets on any such material impact. The Company has made progress in its key activities, in particular the end-of-phase-2 discussions with regulators with a view to a phase 3 study in Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), and the conducting of the phase 1 study with setanaxib as described in the clinical highlights section below. The launch of the phase 2 trial in IPF is still expected in 2020 and could occur in the first semester despite the COVID-19 situation. Clinical highlights End-of-phase-2 discussions with regulators for PBC: an end-of-phase-2 meeting with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is planned in April, as previously indicated. In line with FDA's remote work guidelines, the meeting will take place via conference call. The Company also plans to submit its final briefing document to the European Medicine Agency (EMA) in Q2 2020, as expected. an end-of-phase-2 meeting with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is planned in April, as previously indicated. In line with FDA's remote work guidelines, the meeting will take place via conference call. The Company also plans to submit its final briefing document to the European Medicine Agency (EMA) in Q2 2020, as expected. IPF phase 2 trial: as previously reported, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the relevant Institutional Review Board (IRB) have approved the protocol of the Phase 2 IPF trial, allowing the initiation of patient enrollment. The launch of the study is still expected in 2020 and could occur in the first semester despite the COVID-19 situation. This trial is fully funded by an $8.9 million grant awarded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). The study is being led by Professor Victor Thannickal at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and includes a consortium of five investigational centers of excellence in the United States. The study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of setanaxib in 60 IPF patients receiving standard of care therapy (pirfenidone or nintedanib). Enrolled patients will be treated with setanaxib or a matching placebo for 24 weeks. Efficacy endpoints include changes in plasma o,o'-dityrosine, a biomarker based on the mechanism of action of setanaxib, as well as standard clinical outcomes that include the 6-minute walk test and forced vital capacity (FVC). Plasma levels of collagen fragments will also be assessed. The safety and tolerability of setanaxib will also be evaluated. The trial size, design, and endpoints are adequate to support the initiation of a phase 3 program should there be a positive outcome. as previously reported, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the relevant Institutional Review Board (IRB) have approved the protocol of the Phase 2 IPF trial, allowing the initiation of patient enrollment. The launch of the study is still expected in 2020 and could occur in the first semester despite the COVID-19 situation. This trial is fully funded by an $8.9 million grant awarded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). The study is being led by Professor Victor Thannickal at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and includes a consortium of five investigational centers of excellence in the United States. The study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of setanaxib in 60 IPF patients receiving standard of care therapy (pirfenidone or nintedanib). Enrolled patients will be treated with setanaxib or a matching placebo for 24 weeks. Efficacy endpoints include changes in plasma o,o'-dityrosine, a biomarker based on the mechanism of action of setanaxib, as well as standard clinical outcomes that include the 6-minute walk test and forced vital capacity (FVC). Plasma levels of collagen fragments will also be assessed. The safety and tolerability of setanaxib will also be evaluated. The trial size, design, and endpoints are adequate to support the initiation of a phase 3 program should there be a positive outcome. DKD phase 2 trial: following the positive efficacy and safety results of the Company's Phase 2 trial of setanaxib in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), the DKD trial protocol was amended to increase the dose to 400 mg BID. To date, 23 patients have already completed the full 48-week treatment and no safety signals have been identified. The DKD trial is being conducted primarily in Australia, with work ongoing to activate centers in New Zealand, Denmark, and Germany. In the context of COVID-19 pandemic, investigators have taken steps to minimize patient visits to investigation centers, in accordance with applicable rules and recommendations. Adequate drug supplies have been made available to the participating centers and patients. Despite the relatively low rate of SARS-Cov-2 infection in Australia, investigators cannot exclude a possible slowdown in new patient enrollment in the study. following the positive efficacy and safety results of the Company's Phase 2 trial of setanaxib in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), the DKD trial protocol was amended to increase the dose to 400 mg BID. To date, 23 patients have already completed the full 48-week treatment and no safety signals have been identified. The DKD trial is being conducted primarily in Australia, with work ongoing to activate centers in New Zealand, Denmark, and Germany. In the context of COVID-19 pandemic, investigators have taken steps to minimize patient visits to investigation centers, in accordance with applicable rules and recommendations. Adequate drug supplies have been made available to the participating centers and patients. Despite the relatively low rate of SARS-Cov-2 infection in Australia, investigators cannot exclude a possible slowdown in new patient enrollment in the study. Phase 1 study with setanaxib at high doses: the Company plans to conduct an additional phase 1 study to investigate the pharmacokinetics, potential for drug interactions, and safety profile of setanaxib at doses up to 1,600mg. The study protocol was submitted to local and national regulators and the study is still expected to start in H1 2020. Financial highlights On March 31, 2020, Genkyotex's cash and cash equivalents totaled 5.6 million vs. 2.4 million on December 31, 2019. This includes the 4.9 million rights issue completed in February 2020, but does not include the French research tax credit of 0.9 million which was received by the Company in April. Despite the COVID-19 situation, the Company still expects its current resources to support anticipated operations until the end of February 2021, taking into account the facts and assumptions detailed in note 2.1 "going concern" of the December 31, 2019 consolidated financial statements. The Company will continue to inform the market of the possible impacts of COVID-19 on its operations. Shareholders' meeting In order to protect the health and safety of its employees and shareholders, and in accordance with the measures adopted by the French Government, in particular pursuant to Ordonnance No. 2020-321 of March 25, 2020, the Company has decided to hold its combined shareholders' meeting expected to occur on June 10, 2020, without shareholders and other persons eligible to attend being present (behind closed doors). In this context, any shareholder, whatever the number of shares he owns, has the right to vote at the general meeting in two ways: either by voting by post, or by giving a proxy to the Chairman of the general meeting. Shareholders are also entitled to ask written questions prior to the meeting. The technical terms allowing shareholders to exercise all of these rights will be detailed on the Company's website, as well as in the notice of meeting to be published by the Company in the BALO (Bulletin des annonces legales obligatoires) prior to the shareholders' meeting planned on June 10, 2020. Next financial press release: Q2 2020 business update and cash position: July 23, 2020 (after market) About Genkyotex Genkyotex is the leading biopharmaceutical company in NOX therapies, listed on the Euronext Paris and Euronext Brussels markets. Its unique platform enables the identification of orally available small-molecules which selectively inhibit specific NOX enzymes that amplify multiple disease processes such as fibrosis, inflammation, pain processing, cancer development, and neurodegeneration. Genkyotex is developing a pipeline of first-in-class product candidates targeting one or multiple NOX enzymes. The lead product candidate, setanaxib (GKT831), a NOX1 and NOX4 inhibitor has shown evidence of anti-fibrotic activity in a Phase II clinical trial in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC, a fibrotic orphan disease). Based on its positive Phase II results, a phase 3 trial with setanaxib in PBC is being planned. Setanaxib is also being evaluated in an investigator-initiated Phase II clinical trial in Type 1 Diabetes and Kidney Disease (DKD). A grant from the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) of $8.9 million was awarded to Professor Victor Thannickal at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to fund a multi-year research program evaluating the role of NOX enzymes in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a chronic lung disease that results in fibrosis of the lungs. The core component of this program is a Phase 2 trial with setanaxib in patients with IPF scheduled to recruit patients in the course of 2020. This product candidate may also be active in other fibrotic indications. Genkyotex also has a versatile platform well-suited to the development of various immunotherapies (Vaxiclase). A partnership covering the use of Vaxiclase as an antigen per se (GTL003) has been established with Serum Institute of India Private Ltd (Serum Institute), the world's largest producer of vaccine doses, for the development by Serum Institute of cellular multivalent combination vaccines against a variety of infectious diseases. For further information, please go to www.genkyotex.com Disclaimer This press release may contain forward-looking statements by the company with respect to its objectives. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs, estimates and expectations of Genkyotex's management and are subject to risks and uncertainties such as the company's ability to implement its chosen strategy, customer market trends, changes in technologies and in the company's competitive environment, changes in regulations, clinical or industrial risks and all risks linked to the company's growth. These factors as well as other risks and uncertainties may prevent the company from achieving the objectives outlined in the press release and actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, due to various factors. Without being exhaustive, such factors include uncertainties involved in the development of Genkyotex's products, which may not succeed, or in the delivery of Genkyotex's products marketing authorizations by the relevant regulatory authorities and, in general, any factor that could affects Genkyotex's capacity to commercialize the products it develops. No guarantee is given on forward-looking statements which are subject to a number of risks, notably those described in the universal registration document filed with the AMF on January 16, 2020 under number 20-0012, and those linked to changes in economic conditions, the financial markets, or the markets on which Genkyotex is present. Genkyotex products are currently used for clinical trials only and are not otherwise available for distribution or sale View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005674/en/ Contacts: GENKYOTEX Alexandre Grassin CFO Tel.: +33 (0)5 61 28 70 60 investors@genkyotex.com NewCap Dusan Oresansky Tel.: +33 1 44 71 94 92 genkyotex@newcap.eu One of the first Britons to sign up for the coronavirus vaccination scheme has spoken about the symptoms he's expecting as the trial starts today. Simeon Courtie, speaking to Good Morning Britain from Oxfordshire, said he was expecting to catch a fever 'at worse' as he stepped forward to help find a cure to the killer disease. He is one of 500 people taking part in a trial of a vaccine developed by Oxford University, while a second vaccine from Imperial College London is also hoped to face human trials in June. He said: 'The trials start today but my first vaccination is next Wednesday. They think it will be something along the lines of having the flu. You might just get very mild side effects, but at worst maybe a fever for a couple of days and some aches and pains. Simeon Courtie spoke to Good Morning Britain viewers from Oxfordshire on Thursday as Britain's coronavirus vaccine gets underway 'It shouldn't be too disruptive to my life.' Mr Courtie explained he was one of hundreds of volunteers taking part in a trial to see if the University of Oxford's trial was safe. After that has been confirmed it could be used to try and cure patients with Covid-19. Screening for around 500 people took place at the Jenner Institute near Oxford's Churchill Hospital. Mr Courtie described himself as 'just a very small part of this thing'. He added: 'We are the safety part of this process and then after my trial there will be an efficacy trial out in the community to see if it works and that will involve thousands of people. 'I go on Wednesday to the Jenner Institute and then I've got a second vaccination a month after that and then one or two more depending on which group I'm in, because there are different groups in the trial.' The trial has been split into two groups, those who are being given the vaccine and those who are not. However participants do not know which group they're in. Piers Morgan told Mr Courtie it was a 'gutsy' decision to take part in the vaccination scheme being trialled by the University of Oxford Mr Courtie explained: 'It's a blind trial you don't know which group you're in. 'There's no placebo group where you're given something like sugar water. You're either given the new vaccine which they're developing or a vaccine that's already licenses, it's actually the vaccine they give teenagers to protect them against meningits. 'The side effects of that vaccine are very similar to the side effects of the new vaccine so you don't know which you're on.' Piers Morgan described Mr Courtie's decision to take part as 'gutsy,' adding: 'Thank you for what you're doing, it's greatly appreciated.' The Oxford vaccine, known as ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 will be trialled on up to 510 people out of a group of 1,112, all of whom will be aged 18 to 55. This incubator is full of hyperflasks that were used in the development of creating Oxford's potential coronavirus vaccination Project manager John Jukes, 36, of Witney, Oxfordshire, is another Oxford volunteeer. He said: I dont see what I am doing as being heroic at all. Im in a position to possibly be helpful to lots of people thats an opportunity to grab. Nobody is escaping this virus and what it has done to the way we live. If everybody shied away from helping to find a vaccine, then one might not be found. He heard about the trial through his partner Rachel White, who is a nurse researching infectious diseases. Volunteers receive no payment apart from compensation for their time and travel costs ranging from 190 to 625. Mr Jukes said: The trial isnt free from risk but, then again, anything worthwhile has risk. Project manager John Jukes, (left) of Witney, Oxfordshire, denied he was being brave by taking part, while Andrew Limes (right) made a similar case for his reasons for taking part in the trial He will get his injection on Monday and says he will go straight back to work. He stressed: The people involved in the trial are the very best. It is so important as it might be the best chance we have of getting back to some kind of normal life, so I really want to help. Speaking on BBC News at 1pm, psychotherapist Lydia Guthrie said: 'This virus is effecting everybody in society, its effecting my parents. 'I benefit too, it's not a selfless act I'm part of the community and if we find a vaccine then we all benefit. So it's a small, well managed, well regulated risk that I feel able to take.' Andrew Limes added: 'Everybody is feeling some worry and anxiety at the moment. 'I don't think the risks of the trial are significantly greater or more alarming than any of the other realities that all of us face.' WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VACCINES CREATED BY OXFORD AND IMPERIAL COLLEGE? The science behind both vaccine attempts hinges on recreating the 'spike' proteins that are found all over the outside of the COVID-19 viruses. Both will attempt to recreate or mimic these spikes inside the body. The difference between the two is how they achieve this effect. Imperial College London will try to deliver genetic material (RNA) from the coronavirus which programs cells inside the patient's body to recreate the spike proteins. It will transport the RNA inside liquid droplets injected into the bloodstream. The team at the University of Oxford, on the other hand, will genetically engineer a virus to look like the coronavirus - to have the same spike proteins on the outside - but be unable to cause any infection inside a person. This virus, weakened by genetic engineering, is a type of virus called an adenovirus, the same as those which cause common colds, that has been taken from chimpanzees. If the vaccines can successfully mimic the spikes inside a person's bloodstream, and stimulate the immune system to create special antibodies to attack it, this could train the body to destroy the real coronavirus if they get infected with it in future. The same process is thought to happen in people who catch COVID-19 for real, but this is far more dangerous - a vaccine will have the same end-point but without causing illness in the process. Advertisement He explained: 'We are the safety part of this process to see if it's safe, and after my trial there will be an efficacy trial in the community to see if it works on thousands of people.' Oxford's effort is the first British-made vaccine to go into real-world trials and carries with it huge hopes that it will provide a key to getting out of lockdown and banishing COVID-19. Scientists developing the second coronavirus vaccine will soon start recruiting volunteers for clinical trials to begin in June. A lab at Imperial College London was yesterday pledged 22.5million by Health Secretary Matt Hancock for its efforts to make a jab to protect against COVID-19. It plans to begin human experiments in around six weeks' time and will follow in the footsteps of a University of Oxford project which starts testing tomorrow. While the Oxford vaccine will try to stimulate the immune system using a common cold virus taken from chimps, the researchers at Imperial are using droplets of liquid to carry the genetic material they need to get into the bloodstream. Both will then work, in theory, by recreating parts of the coronavirus inside the patient and forcing their immune system to learn how to fight it. Mr Hancock said developing vaccines is an 'uncertain science' which usually takes years but that manufacturing capacity will be ramped up in case the jab is a success and is suitable to roll out to the public. Oxford University's trial will take six months and is limited to a small number of people so scientists can assess whether it is safe and effective without using huge amounts of resources - each patient must return for between four and 11 visits after the jab - and without the risk of large numbers of people being affected if something goes wrong. Speaking at Monday's coronavirus briefing at Downing Street, the Health Secretary said: 'In the long run the best way to defeat coronavirus is through a vaccine. 'After all, this is a new disease. This is uncertain science, but I am certain that we will throw everything we've got at developing a vaccine. 'The UK is at the forefront of a global effort. We've put more money than any other country into the global search for a vaccine and, for all the efforts around the world, two of the leading vaccine developments are taking place here at home at Oxford and Imperial [College London]. 'Both of these promising projects are making rapid progress and I've told the scientists leading them that we'll do everything in our power to support.' He pledged a total of 44.5million to the projects in Oxford and London to enable scientists to go ahead with trials and getting the vaccine used in people. NEW YORK, April 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Photonic Crystals market worldwide is projected to grow by US$16 Billion, driven by a compounded growth of 12.3%. LEDs, one of the segments analyzed and sized in this study, displays the potential to grow at over 11.8%. The shifting dynamics supporting this growth makes it critical for businesses in this space to keep abreast of the changing pulse of the market. Poised to reach over US$8.8 Billion by the year 2025, LEDs will bring in healthy gains adding significant momentum to global growth. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03646044/?utm_source=PRN - Representing the developed world, the United States will maintain a 13.1% growth momentum. Within Europe, which continues to remain an important element in the world economy, Germany will add over US$644.3 Million to the region's size and clout in the next 5 to 6 years. Over US$762.5 Million worth of projected demand in the region will come from Rest of Europe markets. In Japan, LEDs will reach a market size of US$791.5 Million by the close of the analysis period. As the world's second largest economy and the new game changer in global markets, China exhibits the potential to grow at 12.2% over the next couple of years and add approximately US$2.9 Billion in terms of addressable opportunity for the picking by aspiring businesses and their astute leaders. Presented in visually rich graphics are these and many more need-to-know quantitative data important in ensuring quality of strategy decisions, be it entry into new markets or allocation of resources within a portfolio. Several macroeconomic factors and internal market forces will shape growth and development of demand patterns in emerging countries in Asia-Pacific. All research viewpoints presented are based on validated engagements from influencers in the market, whose opinions supersede all other research methodologies. - Competitors identified in this market include, among others, Corning Incorporated FLIR Systems Inc. Furukawa Co. Ltd. GLOphotonics SAS Gooch & Housego PLC Lumentum Holdings Inc. MicroContinuum Inc. NKT Photonics A/S Opalux Inc. Photonic Lattice Inc. Teledyne Scientific & Imaging Zecotek Photonics Inc. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03646044/?utm_source=PRN I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & REPORT SCOPE II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. MARKET OVERVIEW Photonic Crystals: Breakthrough Innovation in the Physics of Light Creating a New Paradigm in Electronic Interconnects Recent Market Activity Steady Growth Projected over the Coming Years for Photonic Crystals Market Asia-Pacific Evolves into Most Important Regional Consumer of Photonic Crystals China: The Driving Force Behind Asia-Pacific's Dominant Role Developed Regions Continue to Extend Opportunities Stable Economic Scenario to Underpin Market Expansion Global Competitor Market Shares Photonic Crystals Competitor Market Share Scenario Worldwide (in %): 2020 & 2029 2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS Corning Incorporated (USA) FLIR Systems, Inc. (USA) Furukawa Co., Ltd. (Japan) GLOphotonics SAS (France) Gooch & Housego PLC (UK) Lumentum Holdings, Inc. (USA) MicroContinuum Inc. (USA) NKT Photonics A/S (Denmark) Opalux, Inc. (Canada) Photonic Lattice, Inc. (Japan) Teledyne Scientific & Imaging (USA) Zecotek Photonics, Inc. (Canada) 3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS Photonic Crystals Assume Critical Importance in Industrial Applications Robust Opportunities Prevail in Aerospace & Defense Sector Market Set to Make Gains in Life Sciences & Healthcare Domain 1- & 2-D Photonic Crystals: The Current Standard, 3-D Crystals Show Promise for the Long Run 3D Photonic Crystals Witness New Milestones in Development LEDs: The Major Application Market for Photonic Crystals Improved Cell Efficiency Drives Use of Photonic Crystals in Solar & PV Cells Growing Demand for Higher Data Rates Drives Market for Photonic Crystals-based Optical Fibers Factors Driving Demand for Data in a Nutshell Photonic Crystals Fuel Transformation in Display Technologies Use of Photonic Crystal Fibers as Sensors Expands its Functionality Photonic Crystals Gain Significant Attention in Enhancing Performance of Sensing Applications Growing Popularity of Photonic Crystals-based Integrated Sensors Sizing and Locating Bandgap - A Focus on Methods for Computational Modeling Lack of Sound Fabrication Methodologies - A Key Hurdle to Market Growth Key Issues in Fabrication of Photonic Crystals with Higher Dimensions Key Research Advancements Announced in the Recent Past Combination of Quantum Dots and Photonic Crystals - A New Research Endeavor for Efficient Lighting Research Shows Photonic Crystals Enhance Light Output Cost Effectively in InGaN LEDs Osmotic Pressure-Based Microcapsulate Photonic Crystals Photonic Crystal-based Nanolaser Biosensor for Disease Detection 4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE Table 1: Photonic Crystals Global Market Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 2: Photonic Crystals Global Retrospective Market Scenario in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017 Table 3: Photonic Crystals Market Share Shift across Key Geographies Worldwide: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 4: LEDs (Application) Global Opportunity Assessment in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 5: LEDs (Application) Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017 Table 6: LEDs (Application) Percentage Share Breakdown of Global Sales by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 7: Optical Fibers (Application) Worldwide Sales in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 8: Optical Fibers (Application) Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017 Table 9: Optical Fibers (Application) Market Share Shift across Key Geographies: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 10: Displays (Application) Global Market Estimates & Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 11: Displays (Application) Retrospective Demand Analysis in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017 Table 12: Displays (Application) Market Share Breakdown by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 13: Solar & PV Cells (Application) Demand Potential Worldwide in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 14: Solar & PV Cells (Application) Historic Sales Analysis in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017 Table 15: Solar & PV Cells (Application) Share Breakdown Review by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 16: Other Applications (Application) Worldwide Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 17: Other Applications (Application) Global Historic Analysis in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2009-2017 Table 18: Other Applications (Application) Distribution of Global Sales by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 III. MARKET ANALYSIS GEOGRAPHIC MARKET ANALYSIS UNITED STATES Market Facts & Figures US Photonic Crystals Market Share (in %) by Company: 2020 & 2025 Market Analytics Table 19: United States Photonic Crystals Latent Demand Forecasts in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 20: Photonic Crystals Historic Demand Patterns in the United States by Application in US$ Million for 2009-2017 Table 21: Photonic Crystals Market Share Breakdown in the United States by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 CANADA Table 22: Canadian Photonic Crystals Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 23: Photonic Crystals Market in Canada: Summarization of Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Million by Application for 2009-2017 Table 24: Canadian Photonic Crystals Market Share Analysis by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 JAPAN Table 25: Japanese Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Photonic Crystals in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 26: Japanese Photonic Crystals Market in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 27: Photonic Crystals Market Share Shift in Japan by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 CHINA Table 28: Chinese Demand for Photonic Crystals in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 29: Photonic Crystals Market Review in China in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 30: Chinese Photonic Crystals Market Share Breakdown by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 EUROPE Market Facts & Figures European Photonic Crystals Market: Competitor Market Share Scenario (in %) for 2020 & 2025 Market Analytics Table 31: European Photonic Crystals Market Demand Scenario in US$ Million by Region/Country: 2018-2025 Table 32: Photonic Crystals Market in Europe: A Historic Market Perspective in US$ Million by Region/Country for the Period 2009-2017 Table 33: European Photonic Crystals Market Share Shift by Region/Country: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 Table 34: European Photonic Crystals Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025 Table 35: Photonic Crystals Market in Europe: Summarization of Historic Demand in US$ Million by Application for the Period 2009-2017 Table 36: European Photonic Crystals Market Share Analysis by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 FRANCE Table 37: Photonic Crystals Quantitative Demand Analysis in France in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025 Table 38: French Photonic Crystals Historic Market Review in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 39: French Photonic Crystals Market Share Analysis: A 17-Year Perspective by Application for 2009, 2019, and 2025 GERMANY Table 40: Photonic Crystals Market in Germany: Annual Sales Estimates and Forecasts in US$ Million by Application for the Period 2018-2025 Table 41: German Photonic Crystals Market in Retrospect in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 42: Photonic Crystals Market Share Distribution in Germany by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 ITALY Table 43: Italian Demand for Photonic Crystals in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 44: Photonic Crystals Market Review in Italy in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 45: Italian Photonic Crystals Market Share Breakdown by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 UNITED KINGDOM Table 46: United Kingdom Demand Estimates and Forecasts for Photonic Crystals in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 47: United Kingdom Photonic Crystals Market in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 48: Photonic Crystals Market Share Shift in the United Kingdom by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 REST OF EUROPE Table 49: Rest of Europe Photonic Crystals Addressable Market Opportunity in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025 Table 50: Photonic Crystals Market in Rest of Europe: Summarization of Historic Demand in US$ Million by Application for the Period 2009-2017 Table 51: Rest of Europe Photonic Crystals Market Share Analysis by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 ASIA-PACIFIC Table 52: Photonic Crystals Quantitative Demand Analysis in Asia-Pacific in US$ Million by Application: 2018-2025 Table 53: Asia-Pacific Photonic Crystals Historic Market Review in US$ Million by Application: 2009-2017 Table 54: Asia-Pacific Photonic Crystals Market Share Analysis: A 17-Year Perspective by Application for 2009, 2019, and 2025 REST OF WORLD Table 55: Rest of World Photonic Crystals Market Quantitative Demand Analysis in US$ Million by Application: 2018 to 2025 Table 56: Photonic Crystals Market in Rest of World: Summarization of Historic Demand Patterns in US$ Million by Application for 2009-2017 Table 57: Rest of World Photonic Crystals Market Share Analysis by Application: 2009 VS 2019 VS 2025 IV. COMPETITION Total Companies Profiled: 15 Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p03646044/?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 The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) says tens of thousands of Canadian businesses will be forced into bankruptcy despite aid measures from the federal government in Ottawa. The CFIB says many Canadian businesses will shut permanently because they wont be able to weather the current lockdown and social distancing measures. The government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took too long to roll out emergency support programs, and, as a result, many companies wont survive, says CFIB. A survey of CFIB members shows 80% of small and medium firms are closed or operating at reduced capacity because of the pandemic, meaning only 20% are fully operational. The federal government has stepped up aid to businesses, introducing measures such as a 75% wage subsidy and $40,000 loans, and a rent relief program is expected soon. But the measures werent announced immediately after the closure of non-essential businesses, and the rent and wage subsidy programs arent yet putting money in the bank. Read: Almost seven million Canadians, or about a third of the labour force, have applied for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, which provides those who have lost work from COVID-19 with $2,000 a month. If businesses do re-open in the near future, CFIB said some CERB recipients may opt to continue receiving federal money instead of returning to work. Authorities say a fast-moving fire at a large egg farm in Ohio destroyed one large building and also killed hens in other buildings. The blaze reported shortly before 3:30 a.m. at the Trillium Farms facility in Croton sent flames shooting high into the sky. Chief Mike Richardson of the Hartford Volunteer Fire Department told the Newark Advocate that the flames destroyed one building that was about 300 feet long and damaged another. He said all chickens were lost in one building and some chickens were lost in two other buildings due to exposure. No injuries were reported to employees or firefighters. Company spokeswoman Hinda Mitchell said the full scale of the loss at the Licking County location wasnt clear Tuesday morning but called it a terrible situation and said the company was devastated by the loss of our hens. Richardson said the cause remains undetermined but is believed to have been electrical. WBNS reported 30 fire department responding, and 47 fire trucks were at the scene at one point. In 2018, a fire less than two miles (three kilometers) away destroyed a pullet barn at the facility. Pullets are young hens not yet producing eggs. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Agribusiness Ohio Home and Away star Sarah Roberts has shared her heartache six months after her brother Karl De Abrew's death from brain cancer. The 35-year-old actress posted a tribute to Karl on Instagram and said she still missed his laugh and 'quirky sense of humour'. 'I miss your laugh, your voice, your quick-witted, quirky sense of humour and "bro jokes", our never-ending photo shoots in front of these silly poles,' she wrote. 'I miss your voice': Home and Away star Sarah Roberts (left) has shared her heartache six months after her brother Karl De Abrew (right) died from brain cancer She went on to celebrate the memories they shared, before saying she would love and remember her brother forever. 'I even miss you waking me up at 6am to go to the gym... "Move it or lose it, soldier!"' she added. 'Six months of missing you today. Love you forever, Big Squirt.' Sarah's Home and Away colleague Penny McNamee offered her support, writing: 'Thinking of you today, Sar. Lots of love.' Gone, but not forgotten: The 35-year-old actress posted a tribute to Karl (pictured) on Instagram and said she still missed his laugh and 'quirky sense of humour' Fellow actress Sam Frost also wrote: 'So much love to you, beautiful.' Karl, who lived in Clontarf, a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, died in October after a 'brave' 15-year battle with brain cancer. Three months before his death, Karl had walked Sarah down the aisle at her wedding to co-star James Stewart at Luttrellstown Castle on the outskirts of Dublin. Siblings: Karl, who lived in Clontarf, a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, died in October after a 'brave' 15-year battle with brain cancer Sarah announced his death on Instagram, writing: 'Three months ago today he walked me down the aisle and now he is walking with the angels. 'I'm left with a hole in my heart and 34 years of beautiful memories, growing up together as children into adults. 'You fought the bravest battle, Big Squirt, to the very end and I promise to always live by your standards [and] to remember what you taught me, "It's all about the journey, not the destination" and "Have no regrets". Bittersweet: Three months before his death, Karl had walked Sarah down the aisle at her wedding to James Stewart at Luttrellstown Castle on the outskirts of Dublin 'I love you, I cherish you, I salute you. You can rest now, we know you're dancing up there in the heavens, always watching down on us. Forever all my love, Medium Squirt.' Sarah and James decided to marry in Ireland so that Karl, who was too sick to travel overseas, could attend the ceremony. She told WHO magazine in August: 'My brother lives [there]. He's not able to fly at the moment because of health reasons.' Health battle: In several Twitter posts from last year, Karl referenced undergoing 'chemo' and radiation to treat a '15-year-old brain tumour'. Pictured with his mother, Sharma In several Twitter posts from last year, Karl referenced undergoing 'chemo' and radiation to treat a '15-year-old brain tumour'. Karl was a successful businessman who worked in the PDF software space, and is perhaps best known as the founder and former CEO of Nitro. Founded in Melbourne in 2005, Nitro now has 135 employees and is headquartered in San Francisco. Treatment: In September 2019, Karl tweeted: 'Boom! That's two rounds of chemo. Four to go' The company also has offices in Dublin and London. In addition, he co-founded another PDF company, Debenu, which was acquired by Foxit Software in March 2016. Karl described himself on his Twitter bio as 'a seasoned speaker, moderator, industry commentator, software developer, entrepreneur and a driving force in the early days of the PDF industry. WORCESTER Greater Springfield organized crime figure Ralph Santaniello wanted out of prison sooner rather than later. But a federal judge this week rejected Santaniellos recent bid for early release amid the coronavirus pandemic, so hell get out later rather than sooner. Not that the ruling will make a marked difference, as he is due to enter prerelease on May 12 less than three weeks from now. Santaniello, 52, of Longmeadow, is nearing the end of a five-year prison sentence for extortion. He was sentenced in 2018 by U.S. District Judge Timothy Hillman but had been held behind bars since his arrest in 2016. Factoring in good time calculated by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, it is standard for inmates who have been on their best behavior to be released to step-down programs within several months of their official release dates. In Santaniellos case, that will be the prerelease program at the Hampden County House of Correction in Ludlow. Santaniellos official release date is Nov. 6. Legions of inmates in federal and state prisons across the country have filed motions for early release, home confinement or to skirt prerelease programs and go straight home for fear of contracting the coronavirus while incarcerated. In Santaniellos case, he argued he fears his critically ill, bed-ridden daughter may die of infection before he is able to see her again. The young woman has had a rare disease from birth, according to court records. There was no suggestion she contracted the virus in recent arguments before Hillman. On Wednesday, the judge denied Santaniellos motion for early release. The Defendants Motion for Compassionate Release is denied without prejudice to renew upon a change in conditions at his place of confinement; or upon a change in the health situation of his daughter or himself, a brief entry on the case docket reads. Santaniello is finishing up his sentence at the Loretto Federal Correctional Institute in western Pennsylvania. There have been no recorded cases of COVID-19 there to date, according to the Bureau of Prisons. Obviously we are disappointed with the ruling, but the fact remains that Mr. Santaniello is headed home on May 12, his defense attorney, Daniel D. Kelly said. We thought it prudent to inquire of the court nonetheless. Santaniello was the ringleader of a 2013 scheme to shake town a city tow company operator who had historically paid street taxes to the mob. Santaniello presented himself as the leader of a new regime, punched the company owner, then threatened to cut his head off and bury him on his own land. Click here to read the full article. Wolverine World Wide Inc. has posted a mixed first quarter as the coronavirus pandemic weighed on its business. The Rockford, Mich.-based company logged adjusted diluted earnings per share of 28 cents, down from last years 49 cents but better than analysts bets of 17 cents a share. Revenues, on the other hand, dropped 16.1% to $439.3 million, below market watchers forecasts of $455.2 million. At the quarters end of March 28, Wolverine had $472.6 million cash on hand. While prioritizing the health and wellbeing of our global team, we have quickly initiated a comprehensive set of measures over the last 30 days to proactively strengthen the companys financial position, liquidity and balance sheet in the face of the ongoing pandemic, chairman, president and CEO Blake Krueger said in a statement. Over the past few weeks, the Merrell and Sperry parent has taken steps to address its liquidity amid the COVID-19 crisis: It has drawn down the remainder of its revolving credit line of $367 million, as well as reduced planned inventory receipts by roughly $300 million, which led to a decline in year-end inventory compared with the prior year. It has also postponed $25 million of capital expenditures the funds it uses to make improvements to its fixed assets, including buildings and stores and reduced planned operating expenses by about $100 million through furloughs, changes in its organizational structure and compensation for its management team. (Overall, the company expects to generate $150 million to $200 million of operating cash flow this year.) Based on all of our proactive measures, we expect to be well within the requirements of our current financial covenants throughout the year, SVP and CFO Mike Stornant said. Just a few days ago, Wolverine announced a major shakeup to its leadership suite. It expanded the roles of three executives Chris Hufnagel, Joelle Grunberg and Tom Kennedy who will now head up multiple brands within the companys portfolio. In addition, Todd Spaletto has departed his post as president of Wolverines Michigan Group. Story continues We believe our agile business model, which includes our well-established global distribution network and fast-growing digital channels, is well-suited for the future consumer landscape, Krueger added. Many of our brands are resonating with consumers faced with shelter-in-place restrictions, and our e-commerce business has accelerated following the close of the first quarter. We believe the company is strong, well positioned to navigate the current challenges and will emerge even stronger. More from Footwear News Zdenek Hak and Marek Holecek on the summit of Chamlang after having climbed the NW Face. 'We have agreed that this is the hardest climb we have done together in the mountains, ABO in other words.' Photo by archive Marek Holecek The huge North Face of Chamlang (7321m) in Nepal and the planned line of ascent taken by Marek Holecek e Zdenek Hak Photo by Marek Holecek Chamlang UFO / Marek Holecek, Zdenek Hak premiere today at 20 23.04.2020 by by Planetmountain Today at 20:00 CET the premiere of UFO Life, the film documenting the first ascent of UFO up the NW Face of Chamlang in the Nepalese Himalaya, carried out in 2019 over 6 days alpine style by Czech mountaineers Marek Holecek and Zdenek Hak. "The UFO route on Chamlang is a very intelligent route. A beautiful line, a difficult wall. How they found the line, is a piece of art." Reinhold Messner is in no doubt that the route climbed in May 2019 by Czech mountaineers Marek Holecek and Zdenek Hak up the virgin NW Face of Chamlang is an important addition to the Nepalese Himalaya. The two required 6 bivies in total, 4 during the ascent and 2 during the descent, to climb UFO before describing it as 'the hardest climb we have done together in the mountains." The documentary of the ascent includes comments by both Messner and Doug Scott and goes live this evening at 20:00 CET, and both Holecek and film maker Jan Simanek will answer questions after the premiere Link: FB Marek Holecek, Mammut Manitoba researchers seeking participants for various clinical trials set to get underway in the province say speed is a top concern as the world gathers information about COVID-19. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/4/2020 (628 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Manitoba researchers seeking participants for various clinical trials set to get underway in the province say speed is a top concern as the world gathers information about COVID-19. "Clinical trials are very, very important, especially with COVID-19, because we dont have any treatments right now that are shown to be effective," said Dylan Mackay, a clinical trialist at the George and Fay Yee Centre for Healthcare Innovation in Winnipeg. "Because you cant have trials without participants and getting the participants is often the rate-limiting step in many trials," Mackay said, adding many clinical trials fail because there arent enough participants and as a consequence, there isnt enough data to draw any conclusions. In normal circumstances, there is no single, easy, streamlined way researchers track down the people theyre looking for, but in the novel coronavirus pandemic, there is the added constraint of health-care providers being overtaxed and thus not a great resource for connecting COVID-19 patients to research teams. Manitoba-based researchers were already looking at this issue when they connected with experts in Montreal via the online business communication platform Slack. A pan-Canadian COVID-19 researchers channel was set up, and thus an idea emerged: all of the clinical trials being approved by Health Canada could seek registrants in one place, on one website. "This idea was born out of a need we are experiencing firsthand," said Dr. Ramy Saleh, a physician with the McGill University Health Centre and founder of CovidTrials.ca. "We know there are patients out there who are interested in accessing this treatment and who want to do what they can to support the research." While the idea might seem simple, Mackay said he's never seen a collaborative effort like this one to locate trial participants. Four clinical trials operating in Manitoba have already been posted to the new website, along with more than a dozen other trials from across the country. The first local trial expected to get up and running is a joint effort with researchers in Alberta and Quebec which will examine the impact of hydroxychloroquine treatments on those who have been exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. 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. Mackay wants to assure the public no one is being infected with the virus, but this means they are looking for participants who either have already contracted COVID-19 or had known exposure or who currently has the virus. Anyone seeking to sign up can visit the website (CovidTrials.ca) and register, and after filling out their personal information, a person would potentially be matched with any ongoing trial with which they fit the needed criteria. "The faster the recruitment goes, the faster we can finish the trials," Mackay said. "The sooner we have information about whether these treatments are effective or not." sarah.lawrynuik@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @SarahLawrynuik I think if we had had widespread testing earlier and if we had been able to document the level of transmission in the county, if we had understood then that people were already dying, we probably would have acted earlier than we did, Cody said. She said officials had been hearing about a lot of people who were ill but did not meet the criteria for testing. She has been documenting her time in quarantine on social media. And Nicole Scherzinger was again treating fans to a glimpse inside her lockdown, this time with a saucy video showing off her stunning figure. The songstress, 41, showed off her incredible figure in a racy post as she danced to the Pussycat Dolls' 2005 hit Buttons. Oh my! Nicole Scherzinger was again treating fans to a glimpse inside her lockdown, this time with a saucy video showing off her stunning figure Nicole was getting in on the Tik Tok trend as she danced to the song while posing in a top adorned with the band's logo. The Pussycat Dolls were due to hit the stage for their reunion tour, before their plans were thwarted by the global COVID-19 pandemic. Not letting her spirits be dampened, the stunner gave fans a treat as she dusted off her dance moves for the sizzling video. Her incredible abs took centre stage as she smouldered in the clip while flicking her hair from side to side and showing off her hard-worked frame. Woah mama! The songstress, 41, showed off her incredible figure in a racy post as she danced to the Pussycat Dolls' 2005 hit Buttons Oh my: Nicole was getting in on the Tik Tok trend as she danced to the song while posing in a top adorned with the band's logo Not only was her figure on show but also her various accolades with the band as she posed in front of a vast array of plaques. Nicole and British boyfriend Thom Evans left the UK from Gatwick Airport in March, shortly after Britain entered government mandated lockdown. Their decision to leave London came despite a recommendation from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to avoid all 'non-essential' travel abroad. Tough times: The Pussycat Dolls were due to hit the stage for their reunion tour, before their plans were thwarted by the global COVID-19 pandemic A vision: Not letting her spirits be dampened, the stunner gave fans a treat as she dusted off her dance moves for the sizzling video The couple, who confirmed their relationship in 2019 after meeting on The X Factor: Celebrity, divide their time between Nicole's Los Angeles home and the English capital. Before leaving the health conscious couple advised fans to 'stay safe' while sharing their intense home workouts on social media. Since departing they have celebrated Thom's birthday, with Nicole sharing a video of herself serenading the former rugby player after he turned 35 on April 2nd. The Government of West Bengal has banned the use of mobile phones in hospitals that are handling COVID-19 cases by both doctors and patients. The state Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha said, "One of the most infectious devices is the mobile we are using. Go to any sophisticated hospital these days and they will say mobile phones carry more germs than even shoes. We cannot take that risk. We have arranged for landlines and mobile phones should be kept outside the CCUs and ICUs. This is applicable to doctors, patients and everybody. Amazon Smartphones tend to carry most germs as it is probably the most-used thing in your household. We tend to carry phones to locations that arent necessarily clean and become a home for germs, bacteria and grime that most users tend to ignore. Smartphones also tend to attract germs if users dont clean their hands often. Coronavirus can survive on surfaces for up to 24 hours which can be deadly if the COVID-19 virus can somehow be transferred to a phones surface from any of the hospitals. In recent studies, it has been found that Coronavirus can survive longer on steel and plastic which happens to be the most common materials used on phones. Reuters There are various ways you can take to keep your smartphone clean during these tough times and weve listed four different ways you can clean your phone. If you step out for grocery shopping or for other essentials, we advise you to follow this guide on how to sanitise your phone after each trip. About a thousand mourners and sympathisers flouted Angolan president Joao Lourencos directive banning large gatherings as a measure to curtail the spread of coronavirus to pay their last respects to Francisco Tchikuteny Sabalo, the man who fathered 281 children from 47 wives at Mungongo Island in Angola on April 19. According to the Voice of America (VOA), Sabalo, who was also known as Pai Grande, or Big Dad, was a popular polygamist. However, 125 of the children predeceased him, leaving him with 156 surviving children and 250 grandchildren. Pai Grande, who died at the age of 73 after battling prostate cancer for over a year, was initially taken to the countrys capital city of Luanda as well as other places for treatment, but was returned home when his condition worsened to ensure that if God called him, at least he would die beside the children and their mothers, one of his sons said. A dedicated family man and respected personality in his community, Pai Grande was described as a complete human being who was an advocate for education. Speaking to VOA in 2015, Sabalo, who said it was his wish for some of his children to take up careers in science and technology, revealed he spent over $1,500 on school supplies annually. Three of his daughters currently are studying medical sciences and two sons are learning computer science, all at the high school level. Tributes from other family and community members also poured in during the funeral, with his first wife vowing to do everything she can to keep the family together as per her husbands wish. I will do anything to keep his children fed and OK, she told VOA. Pai Grandes family live on subsistence farming, growing crops and rearing livestock. They also generate revenue from their sales. He was a complete human being who prized family and championed education, one speaker said during the service, held beneath sun-screening canopies on arid Giraul do Meio, known locally as Mungongo Island, near the southern port city of Namibe. WASHINGTON, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Students participating in NASA internships will have an opportunity next week to talk with a NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station. The Earth-to-space call will air live at 12:05 p.m. EDT Tuesday, April 28, on NASA television and the agency's website. NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy will respond to recorded questions selected from the 520 NASA interns currently teleworking across the agency. The interns are assigned projects that align with their college majors and have the opportunity through their internships to contribute directly to NASA's missions. The broadcast also will include recorded messages from Mike Kincaid and Kris Brown, associate administrator and deputy associate administrator, respectively, for NASA's Office of STEM Engagement. Linking students directly to astronauts aboard the space station provides unique, authentic experiences designed to enhance student learning, performance and interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Astronauts living in space on the orbiting laboratory communicate with NASA's Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through the Space Network's Tracking and Data Relay Satellites (TDRS). Through NASA's Artemis program, the agency will send astronauts to land on the Moon in 2024, with eventual human exploration of Mars. The next generation of explorers the Artemis Generation ensures America will continue to lead in space exploration and discovery. Students can get involved in the agency's newest program by joining one of the Artemis Student Challenges that will test and strengthen their skills for future mission planning and crewed space missions to other worlds. To learn more about how students can get involved in Artemis, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/stem/artemis.html Follow NASA astronauts on social media at: https://www.twitter.com/NASA_astronauts To learn more about NASA internships, visit: https://intern.nasa.gov SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov (Newser) Police in Victoria, Australia, are in mourning after what the state's police chief says is the biggest loss of life in the state's history. Four officers were killed on a freeway in Melbourne Wednesday when a refrigerated poultry truck slammed into them while they were impounding a Porsche 911 that had been stopped for speeding, the BBC reports. Police say the Porsche driver, apparently uninjured, fled the scene on foot after the officers were killed and posted graphic images of the crash on social media after fleeing. He was located by police and questioned Thursday morning. The truck driver was hospitalized after having a medical episode at the scene and will be tested for drugs and alcohol, reports the AP. story continues below Police say the Porsche driver, identified as 41-year-old Richard Pusey, tested positive for an illicit drug after being pulled over; the crash happened soon after two officers arrived to help impound his car. The three men and one woman killed in the crash included a recent police academy graduate who had started working with highway police a day earlier, the Guardian reports. Victoria Police Commissioner Graham Ashton said Pusey's alleged actions were disgusting, reports the Brisbane Times. "Today, when I'm spending time with the family members of those deceased officers, I can tell you it will absolutely disgust them. To leave the scene is a very, very low act in my view," he said, "If I wasn't wearing this uniform as Chief Commissioner I'd be giving you far more colorful language on that." (Read more Australia stories.) For nearly two months, Express-News reporters have covered the COVID-19 pandemic in San Antonio from the front lines. They have met with city officials and health experts, interviewed evacuees quarantined at Lackland Air Force Base and witnessed first hand the largest distribution in the history of the San Antonio Food Bank. A duck and ducklings at the Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge in Medford, Burlington County. Read more For nearly seven decades, the Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge has cared for injured and orphaned animals from squirrels to owls at its South Jersey compound, and has returned many to their natural habitats. But the coronavirus pandemic has forced a sharp downturn in visitors, cutting off $100,000 in revenue. And now the sprawling refuge in Medford, Burlington County, which takes in 5,100 animals annually, may have to cease most operations. The nonprofit has closed its nature center, eliminated three positions, laid off 22 part-time employees, and reduced its $720,000 annual budget, according to its executive director, Dennis Miranda. With recent donations of about $80,000, it can remain open for about three months, he said. Medford Township denied a request for a $100,000 donation from its $3.4 million Open Space, Recreation, Farmland and Historic Preservation Trust Fund, Miranda said. The refuge has launched an online fundraising campaign and asked supporters to lobby township officials to reconsider. Mayor Chuck Watson said the townships solicitor determined that the refuge is ineligible for money from the fund, which is targeted toward acquiring, preserving, or maintaining open land. About $731,000 is collected annually through a tax levy, and the township has plans for that money, he said. Its a great facility thats been around for a long time, and we certainly appreciate what they do, Watson said. We certainly wish them well. Miranda said the refuge largely relies on donations from members, corporations, and foundations, and fees from public visits and school trips, which were halted with the shutdown of schools. We cant keep living paycheck to paycheck, Miranda said. We are fighting for our survival. The refuge was founded in 1951 by John and Elizabeth Woodford, who purchased the 171 acres for $5,000, said their daughter, Jeanne Woodford, a retired Moorestown special education teacher. In 1998, she donated most of the wooded acres off Sawmill Road for the refuge, and the state paid $900,000 to preserve the land under the Green Acres program. People told my parents, Youre crazy to live out there in the sticks, she said. Today, the refuge is among the oldest conservation groups in the 1.1-million-acre Pinelands National Reserve. Its wildlife hospital, the largest in the state, treats animals native to New Jersey. Cedar Run, surrounded by a seven-acre lake, is a popular field trip site that attracts about 20,000 schoolchildren annually. The Refuge on Wheels Program takes animals and artifacts to schools. When the refuge had hard times in the past, Woodford said, her parents would put up funds to keep it running. Both died in the 1990s, she said. Its very disappointing, what is happening now, said Woodford. Miranda said the hospital remains open round the clock to accept injured and orphaned animals. In order to practice safe social distancing, the staff no longer meets with finders. A drop-off area with linens and heating pads has been set up in front of the hospital, he said. The public can still take self-guided tours of hiking trails and visit the nature center, which houses nearly 60 animals unable to be returned to the wild. They include a great horned owl, named Bubba by the refuge; a red-tailed hawk named Aldora; and a new arrival, a striped skunk named Phoebe. Without more funding, Miranda said, the refuge may have no other option but to consider the unthinkable euthanizing the animals who live at the refuge. This isnt a petting zoo, he said. No one is going to take in an injured bald eagle. People who wish to drop off injured animals may call 856-983-3329, Ext. 107 or visit www.cedarrun.org. ASK US: Do you have a question about the coronavirus and how it affects your health, work and life? Ask our reporters. With the holy month of Ramadan around the corner, Muslims all across the globe are all set to observe the month-long fasting. This year, the holiest month in the Islamic tradition falls at the time when the world is plagued by the coronavirus epidemic. The outbreak has brought some of the biggest economies to a grinding halt and shut down more than half of the planet. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, this years Ramadan will be very different in many ways, heres taking a look. Deserted mosques, prayers at home Ramadan is likely to begin in India from April 25, depending on the sighting of the new moon or the crescent. In the view of the coronavirus pandemic, Islamic committees and leaders across the globe have urged the community to offer their prayers at home and avoid congregating or venturing out of their homes. The Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem and holy sites like Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia will remain closed this Ramadan. Saudi Arabia has allowed holding of Taraweeh (night) prayers at the two holy mosques without public attendance. Mosques will remain closed and I request people to offer prayers at their homes. I would like to appeal everyone to follow lockdown & maintain social distancing: Syed Mohammad Ahmad Kazmi, Muslim Cleric in Dehradun, Uttarakhand #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/aPJGuV0gnO ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2020 Virtual Iftars With people locked inside their houses during the coronavirus outbreak, get-togethers and evening Iftar parties will take on a virtual avatar. In its guidelines, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has advised people of the community to host and attend virtual iftars and tune in to their local mosques live streamed services, news agency PTI reported. Digital Ramadan Many mosques across the UK have been ramping up their online presence, already offering daily sermons or prayers sessions, with Imams working to continue to engage with their communities and help keep up morale during these trying times, PTI reported. The message for this Ramzan is clear: fast and pray at home and share Ramzan digitally. This is the way to help save lives, said MCB Secretary General Harun Khan. Very different Ramadan UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his Ramadan message to the global Muslim community on Wednesday said the Islamic tradition of hospitality and generosity is a remarkable lesson at a time when people in conflict zones and vulnerable populations face dire consequences. This will, of course, be a very different Ramzan. Many community activities will naturally be affected by measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Guterres said. During Ramadan, the month-long fasting or Sawm (one of the five pillars of Islam) is observed by Muslims across the world to inculcate a sense of self-restraint and patience. Ramadan is a period of devotion, forgiveness, repentance and self-reflection. The day starts with partaking a meal at the crack of dawn (Suhoor or Sehri) and ends by breaking the fast after sunset (Iftar) and saying the evening prayer (Magrib). The month-long phase of fasting culminates into the day of feasting after the moon is sighted and Eid is celebrated to round off the holy month of Ramadan. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong assured his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on Thursday that his government will care for Indian migrant workers amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The two leaders discussed the Covid-19 situation in their countries and agreed to work together on the challenges posed by the pandemic, keep supply chains intact, and keep essential supplies flowing, according to a statement posted by Lee on Facebook. As of Thursday, Singapore has recorded more than 11,000 Covid-19 cases, with a majority of them linked to work permit holders living in foreign worker dormitories, Channel News Asia reported. A total of 21 of these dormitories have been designated as isolation areas as the Coronavirus was continuing to affect migrant workers. I thanked PM Modi for Indias help when we brought home some Singaporeans from India recently. I assured him that we will care for Indian migrant workers here, just as we care for Singaporeans, Lee wrote in the Facebook post. The migrant workers made personal sacrifices to come to work here. They have made many contributions to Singapore, so we have a responsibility for them, he added. Lee also said he appreciated Modis affirmation of our efforts in looking after the migrant workers, and his assurance that they will not forget this. Modi tweeted that he had exchanged views on the Covid-19 pandemic with Lee and thanked him for the support and care being extended to Indian citizens in Singapore. The India-Singapore strategic partnership can contribute to stability and prosperity in the post-Covid world, he added. Lee noted that Singapore was in the midst of a circuit breaker while India had implemented a nationwide lockdown since late March, not a simple decision in a huge country of 1.3 billion people. Meanwhile, external affairs minister S Jaishankar discussed the Covid-19 crisis and ways to overcome the pandemic during phone conversations with his counterparts from the US, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Brazil on Thursday. The changing world of #corona era diplomacy. Strong friendships thrive even virtually. A busy day talking to Foreign Ministers of Russia, Brazil, United States, Saudi Arabia and Oman, Jaishankar tweeted. He said he and US secretary of state Mike Pompeo had discussed the Covid-19 responses of the two countries and the importance of international cooperation and working closely on the implications and consequences of the pandemic. They also exchanged views on the Afghanistan situation, he said. State department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said Pompeo and Jaishankar discussed bilateral and international cooperation to contain and mitigate Covid-19, including ensuring the availability of pharmaceutical and medical supplies. Jaishankar tweeted that he and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the forthcoming BRICS (Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa) foreign ministers meeting and reviewed recent developments pertaining to Afghanistan. Our cooperation on #coronavirus reflects our special friendship, he said. During his conversation with Omans foreign minister Yusuf bin Alawi, Jaishankar expressed his appreciation for Oman taking care of Indian expatriates and assured him of Indias support in the collective fight against the Coronavirus. The conversation also assumed significance as an Omani princess clarified on Wednesday she had no connection to a fake tweet posted by a person impersonating her. Jaishankar thanked Saudi Arabian foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan al Saud for taking care of the Indian community in the kingdom and discussed our shared interest in ensuring health and food security. In his phone conversation with Brazils foreign minister Ernesto Araujo, Jaishankar reviewed the follow up of President Jair Bolsonaros visit to India in January and exchanged notes on global issues, including the pandemic. Dozens killed this week as attacks threaten to derail peace process, with Taliban rejecting governments call for truce. US President Donald Trump and Qatari leader Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani have agreed in a phone call on the importance of reduction in violence in Afghanistan, the White House said, as clashes between government forces and Taliban fighters kill dozens nationwide this week. The attacks are threatening to derail a fragile peace process, with the Taliban rejecting the Afghan governments repeated calls for a ceasefire as the country also attempts to deal with a growing coronavirus outbreak and prisoner exchanges to take place with an eye to formal peace talks. After a week-long reduction in the violence leading up to the signing of a troop withdrawal agreement with the United States in February, the Taliban launched a number of attacks on Afghan forces, though it has held back on attacking foreign forces. Eight Afghan security personnel were killed in a Taliban attack on a checkpoint at the Mes Aynak Copper Mine in eastern Logar province on Tuesday evening, Abdul Qadeer Mufti, a spokesman for Afghanistans Mine and Petroleum Ministry, said in a tweet. The group also attacked several checkpoints in northern Sar-e-Pul province, provincial governor spokesman Zabihullah Amani said, killing 11 Afghan security force members, wounding 19 and resulting in one being captured by the Taliban. The Afghan Ministry of Interior said in a tweet that a clearance operation in Logar had resulted in 20 Taliban fighters being killed. In southern Kandahar province, clashes in three districts killed four Afghan security personnel and 31 Taliban fighters, according to a provincial police statement. A roadside blast also killed at least four civilians in central Ghazni province late on Tuesday night, the Interior Ministry said in a statement, accusing the Taliban of planting a bomb. A Taliban spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment. The group has not made any public claim of responsibility for Tuesdays attacks. US, Qatar leaders talk Meanwhile, the US and other foreign powers have called for the Taliban to reduce its attacks, with the commander of US forces this month meeting the groups leadership in Qatar over the issue. In their telephone conversation on Wednesday, Trump and the Qatari leader also agreed on the importance of continuing discussions on prisoner releases in Afghanistan, the White House said in a statement. The Qatar News Agency said the two leaders discussed the strategic relations between the two countries and reviewed the latest developments in the regional and international arenas. No further details of their conversation were made public. The US-Taliban deal in February called for the government to release up to 5,000 Taliban prisoners and the Taliban to free about 1,000 detainees by March 10, when they were to open talks to end years of strife. The Taliban demanded Afghan President Ashraf Ghanis government, which was not a party to that deal, to release all 5,000 prisoners at once before negotiations. To apply more pressure on the government, they also stepped up attacks on Afghan security forces. Ghani rejected the demand and has begun a phased release of 1,500 prisoners, while the Taliban has freed 40 detainees so far. Already afflicted by a growing COVID-19 pandemic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has seen three new Ebola cases including two deaths in recent weeks, marking a resurgence of the Ebola epidemic. A catastrophe threatens millions not only in the DRC but across central Africa. In the city of Beni in eastern DRC, one of the epicenters of the Ebola epidemic that broke out on August 1, 2018 and that has claimed 2,276 victims, a child died of hemorrhagic fever on April 10. Two days later, a 26-year-old man died of the same causes. According to a communique on the Multi-region Committee on Fighting the Ebola Virus, it was a co-patient of the case confirmed on April 10. The number of people sickened with Ebola could rise rapidly and threaten to relaunch the epidemic, as health authorities have already identified 28 contacts of the new Ebola patient, including 26 co-patients and two health service providers, one of whom is vaccinated. Health authorities also reported the World Health Organization (WHO) was preparing Monday to officially announce the end of this 10th Ebola epidemic in the DRC. There had been no new cases of Ebola in the last 52 days. (Image Credit: World Health Organization/S. Hawkey) Along with the renewed threat from Ebola, Africa is being overtaken by the COVID-19 pandemic. The DRC now has 359 cases and 25 deaths, primarily in the capital, Kinshasa. Inside the ruling elite, associates of President Felix Tshisekedi have tested positive and others have died, including one task officer of the presidency, Jacques Ilunga. On April 15, Bishop Gerard Mulumba, the paternal uncle of Tshisekedi and head of his civilian cabinet, also died of COVID-19. According to the state committee on fighting COVID-19, the COVID-19 pandemic is entering into an exponential growth phase in the city-region of Kinshasa. The high point of this growth will be reached between the first and second weeks of the month of May. In this period, we must expect rapid arrivals of patients in health authorities that will likely be overrun. If the current preparation efforts are not finalized in time, we must expect the worst. In the capital, a city of 12 million inhabitants, the La Gombe neighborhoodthe epicenter of the pandemic within the DRChas been on lockdown since April 6. However, in neighboring districts like Lingwala, Bandalungwa, Kintambo and Ngaliema, no measures have been taken. The committee fighting COVID-19 reported that it noted that social distancing measures are totally disrespected and fears that there will be intense human-to-human transmission of the virus in the critical period that is opening in the coming weeks. It recommended obligatory wearing of masks by everyone in all public spaces, and especially in mass transit and marketplaces, as well as extending confinement measures to districts located next to La Gombe. However, masks remain difficult to obtain in DRC, as in neighboring countries. In Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, wearing masks is mandatory; however, aware that Gabonese citizens cannot obtain medical masks, the government has recommended that they instead wear alternative masks. Many tailor shops in Gabon and elsewhere have begun making cloth masks, which are less effective but which nonetheless slow the spread of the coronavirus. On Monday, the government of Chad had also decreed the mandatory wearing of masks on its territory, before rescinding its order the next day since masks are not available in Chad. Cameroon, one of the worst-hit African countries, with 1,163 cases and 43 deaths, had already adopted this measure last Thursday. The explosion of COVID-19 cases and the recurring danger of Ebola, a highly contagious and lethal virus, underscore the enormous health dangers facing this region and the necessity of international coordination to ensure that necessary resources and treatments are available. This intervention will require the political mobilization of the working class in struggle, including to oppose renewed armed conflict and the maneuvers of the imperialist powers. For a quarter century, the DRC has been torn apart by wars in which some 200 armed groups are fighting each other. It is currently the country that has seen the bloodiest war since World War II, with over 5 million dead. The DRC was the center of a regional war that lasted from 1996-1997 and again from 1998 to 2003, when various local and ethnic conflicts were poisoned by interimperialist rivalry between Washington and Parisconflicts whose consequences still last today. In 1994, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), a primarily Tutsi force linked to US interests, invaded Rwanda, which was then dominated by a genocidal, ethnic-Hutu regime backed by Paris. The French armed forces carried out Operation Turquoise, which protected the flight of Hutu units west into the DRC, including Interahamwe militias responsible for mass ethnic killings of Tutsis. These ethnic conflicts of the Rwandan war, bound up with US-French rivalries amid the collapse of the Mobutu dictatorship in the DRC, ultimately provoked all-out war across the Congo and the region. Various regional powersincluding Rwanda, Uganda, Angola and Zimbabweintervened into the conflict, which had moved from Rwanda to the DRC, creating their own militias. This prolonged the conflict and allowed multinational corporations to pillage Congos mineral riches by developing links with the various local militias. This conflict led to a stalemate, in which militias and armies financed themselves by plundering local resources and terrorizing local populations. Now, rivalries between Washington, the European imperialist powers, and Chinaa major economic power targeted by the imperialist powers with propaganda and military threatsagain pose a grave danger in Africa. Beyond armed conflict, the DRC has undergone intense social and political tensions in recent years, starting with the two-year delay of presidential elections by President Joseph Kabila, who had begun moving closer to China. The elections were ultimately held in December 2018. Last year, amid growing rivalries with Beijing, Washington ordered some of its troops to deploy to Gabon, using the DRC situation to justify the deployment. Felix Tshisekedi, who won the presidential election, was denounced by his opponents and by France, who petitioned to the UN Security Council. Protests broke out, and four people were killed. Against epidemics, the population of DRC and neighboring regions cannot simply rely on existing health infrastructure, which is insufficient or even nonexistent. Workers and the oppressed rural masses are again facing the bankruptcy of capitalism in Africa. Whereas countries there, and above all the DRC, have vast national wealth, the ruling elites actin the final analysisin close collaboration with the imperialist powers, who use armed militias to pillage Congos natural wealth and make enormous profits. Without international coordination to fight COVID-19 and Ebola based on a scientific appraisal of Africas health needs, a major health catastrophe is looming. The decisive question is the international political mobilization of the working class. As anger is mounting in the imperialist countries against governments that impose back-to-work orders with contempt for human life, it is essential to mobilize hundreds of billions of euros in health and industrial resources for Africa and to prevent a relapse into a generalized internal war as in the past in the Congo. President Akufo-Addo has asked ECOWAS leaders to adopt a specific strategy in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Interacting with West African Heads of States at the virtual ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit on the Coronavirus pandemic via Zoom, the President asked his colleagues to desist from copying strategies devised by other countries to contain the virus. I think it's very, very important that we tailor a specific Ghanaian, African response to the handling of this pandemic, and not necessarily copy blindly the methods that are being adopted by countries to the north of us and elsewhere. The President during the interaction also gave an outline of Ghanas response programme to the Coronavirus pandemic which is based on four principles, including the mobilization of the social forces of the country, among others to deal with the threat of the pandemic. He also mentioned that there has been an aggressive process of tracing and testing, with over 85,000 Ghanaians being tested for the virus. So far, over 85,000 Ghanaians have been tested. We are looking to test as much as 100,000. This has enabled us to get a hang of the geographic footprint of the virus, of identifying the epicentres of our country, and also better understanding the dynamics of the virus, while we are treating and isolating infected cases. In trying to stop community spread, President Nana Akufo-Addo indicated that some protocols including the wearing of face masks had been introduced. We are encouraging the hygiene protocols the washing of hands, the social distancing and also wearing face masks. Happily for us, under the present circumstances, our infection rate continues to be 1.5% of the screened population, and it has remained at this figure for some time. We are encouraged that, hopefully, we will see to its reduction. To limit the impact of the virus on the economic and social life of Ghanaians, the President indicated that specific measures had been taken to provide relief for all Ghanaians, stressing that we have relief programs to provide free water, subsidize electricity in order to deal with the impact on especially vulnerable segments of our society. The onset of the pandemic, President Akufo-Addo said, has also given us an opportunity to scale up domestic production for medical material, protective equipment as well as medicines, sanitizers and the rest. We believe that with their sufficient support and inspiration from government, domestic manufacturers and local enterprises are capable of rising to the challenge to find us the opportunity to meet our needs from Ghana. COVID-19 cases in Ghana currently stand at 1,154 with the Greater Accra Region alone recording over 900. As part of measures to prevent a spread of COVID-19, government the wearing of face masks in public places has been made mandatory within the Greater Accra Region. ---citinewsroom YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan visited on April 22 the combat positions of the Armenian military situated in the south-western direction of the Armenia-Azerbaijan state border. He was briefed on the tactical-strategic situation on the border, the implemented and current engineering and reinforcements works and re-equipment logistical issues. Tonoyan talked with the troops and assured that the authorities are always focused on the continuous improvement of the social-household conditions of the military personnel. The Defense Minister awarded encouragement rewards to the troops serving in the high-altitude mountainous terrain and thanked them for their excellent service. The commanders of the military bases also delivered their briefings. Editing and translating by Stepan Kocharyan [April 23, 2020] AgilePoint Enables The Salvation Army to Scale COVID-19 Response Operations MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- AgilePoint, Inc., today announced that its Digital Transformation Platform enabled The Salvation Army, USA Western Territory, to prepare and respond to the COVID-19 crisis. In less than 48 hours, Salvation Army citizen developers deployed a process automation solution with no-code/low-code. It streamlines the request, approval and provisioning of remote work technology to meet the 'stay-at-home' mandate for geographically dispersed offices and staff. "When the discussion of self-isolation and the first 'stay-at-home' order started to hit our geographical region, we knew our top priority needed to be pivoting to remote work strategy and efforts and we had to move as quickly as possible. We needed a quick effective online solution for employees to request what they needed to begin working from home in 48 hours or less. Without a second thought, we went to our AgilePoint NX e-Form, Workflow, no-code app building solution," said David Brown, Director of Applications, The Salvation Army. "AgilePoint digitally transformed how The Salvation Army works, allowing us to scale and respond quickly in a time of crisis," added David Brown. COVID-19 has imposed unprecedented challenges on business operations. One of the common challenges is to quickly implement telecommuting infrastructure to enable employees to work from home. But the way companies do work is changing end-to-end automation connecting people, systems and data into manageable processes plays a key role. Organization's ability to develop, deploy, manage, and govern end-to-end Digital Process Automation will directly reflect on business agility, i.e. the ability to respond to external and internal changes rapidly and efficiently. "We are honored to partner with The Salvation Army and accelerate its digital transformation enabling a new breed of Citizen Developers, to respond to COVID-19 crisis," said Jesse Shiah, CEO and Co-Founder of AgilePoint. "AgilePoint is designed with intelligent automation and process improvement in mind and keep work on track as priorities change. Let AgilePoint connect the dots and do the tedious work, so you can focus on what is important to the business," added Jesse Shiah. COVID-19 Response Management portal created by the AgilePoint is available to the new and existing customers at no charge. Existing customers can enable the portal through the AppStore. New customers can subscribe to the free Community edition of AgilePoint to configure the portal. The COVID-19 Response Management portal is customizable to meet current goals and address priorities. In times of uncertainty AgilePoint focuses on inspiring innovation. Together, we can create and share solutions to get through the crisis and become more resilient. About AgilePoint, Inc. AgilePoint combines advanced, future-proof digital transformation platform with no-code/low-code ease-of-use designed to promote wide adoption. This combination delivers a perfect balance of simplicity, scalability, and BPMS robustness in one Enterprise Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS). AgilePoint's build-once, use-anywhere capability enables a sustainable digital transformation by virtually eliminating maintenance and refactoring. Achieve end-to-end intelligent automation and orchestration of data, people and process using a single platform. AgilePoint has delivered its services to the top brands around the world ranging from Fortune 50 to Global 5000 companies. For more information visit www.agilepoint.com. Contact: Alex Rubin 650-316-8808 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/agilepoint-enables-the-salvation-army-to-scale-covid-19-response-operations-301045882.html SOURCE AgilePoint, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Adam Glanzman/Bloomberg/Getty Joe Biden says he is months away from selecting his running mate. But that hasnt stopped a growing chorus of Democrats from signaling to the former vice president that selecting a black woman to round off the partys ticket is the right choice for November. The movement, which has escalated publicly in recent weeks among activists and pundits on screen, has been growing privately behind the scenes among members of Congress and within the highest ranks of Bidens campaign. Inside Bidens vast orbit, one leader in particular, former Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams, who narrowly lost the 2018 race for governor, has caught the attention of two top lieutenants. On an afternoon in mid-March, The Daily Beast overheard a top adviser to Biden, a prominent Democrat, speaking candidly about the campaigns vice-presidential process to another individual at a restaurant in the Washington, D.C., neighborhood of Adams Morgan. The conversation took place inside and in public, near the front of the building, shortly before the district implemented lockdown orders for COVID-19. In the one-on-one conversation, the senior adviser said Steve Ricchetti, the campaign chairman and a top Biden aide, and Anita Dunn, another longtime high-ranking Biden adviser, both liked Abrams for that role. The adviser, who has worked with Biden spanning many years, said some officials within the campaign would like to see the Georgia Democrat appear more frequently on television and to show that she is a skilled debater, according to notes The Daily Beast typed on a cellphone as the conversation took place. Reached on Wednesday night, the adviser said that they were not aware what Ricchetti or Dunn are thinking now, but acknowledged they both liked Abrams. The Biden campaign and a spokesperson for Abrams declined to comment. But as the party continues to coalesce around Biden, and Abrams approach to the process (recently telling Elle she is prepared and excited to serve if selected) becomes more explicit, the overheard conversation from last month becomes even more relevant. Speaking remotely from Atlanta in an appearance on the ABCs The View on Wednesday, she was just as direct. Story continues I try to be straightforward, she said, pointing to her 25 years in service and appearing to deliberately use the word soulpart of Bidens campaign slogan, battle for the soul of the nationin her answer. I think I would be very effective in helping us restore the dignity and the soul of not only America, but helping those who have been left behind for so long finally see themselves as part of the solution, she said. Some members of Bidens inner circle are said to have favored Stacey Abrams as his running mate. Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty When asked by host Sunny Hostin specifically about whether she feels Biden should make a commitment to nominating a black woman as his running mate, Abrams was just as explicit in her answer, saying the Democratic Party needs a ticket that reflects the diversity of America. Women of color, particularly black women, are the strongest part of the Democratic Party, the most loyal, she said. That loyalty isnt simply how we vote, its how we work. And if we want to signal that that work will continue, that were going to reach not just to certain segments of our community, but to the entire country, then we need a ticket that reflects the diversity of America. Abrams comments reflect sentiments that have intensified in private, and spilled out into the public, among black Democratic elected officials, activists, and media figures following Bidens pledge in March to choose a female running mate. With his campaign taking a 180 degree turn from electoral life support to presumptive nominee status after the South Carolina primary and Super Tuesday surge, leaders are making the push more direct, and with more urgency, as chatter about his prospective choices picks up. At some point, when do you reward your good soldiers?, Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH), the former chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, told The Daily Beast. It was black people who turned Joe Bidens campaign around. Stacey Abrams Is the Only Vice Presidential Pick for Joe Biden. Heres Why. In the 2008 presidential cycle, 69 percent of black women voted, representing the highest voter-turnout rate in the election, while in 2012 and 2016, that number was about 64 percent, several percentage points higher than men. In 2018, the first election during the Trump administration, black womens turnout increased 16 percentage points from previous midterms, from 41 percent to 57 percent. Fudge, who, before Biden, previously endorsed Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), another possible top vice-presidential contender, said she hears from voters and fellow Democratic members of Congress nearly every day about their desire for Biden to elevate a black woman to the position of running mate. Those conversations frequently center around the need to increase turnout among the partys base, predominantly black voters, to defeat Trump in the general election. Her home state of Ohio is a top battleground in November. Almost 50 percent of the people who vote in the Democratic Party are black and brown. So why would you wait until they normally do, two weeks before, and say how do we get the black vote out, how do we get brown out? You get those votes out by having somebody representative of their demographics on the ticket, she said. In recent weeks, other congressional heavyweights spanning the ideological spectrum of the party have indicated their preference for Biden to select a woman of color. Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC), whose endorsement was a top reason for Bidens success in that state, told NPR last month he is pushing for an African-American female to go on the ticket, while civil-rights leader Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) told reporters following his endorsement of Biden that it would be good to have a woman of color. Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), the current head of the CBC, said she is certainly hoping for that outcome, while Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) recently acknowledged it would be a significant milestone, while expressing her preference for a progressive woman. When asked if she believes Bidens campaign is aware of increased calls from leaders and rank-and-file Democrats on that front, Fudge said: No question about it. He and his people know the clamor thats going on on the ground and in other areas, she said. Its up to him to make his choice. But it wont be for lack of knowing whats going on. Periodically, Biden has given supporters a glimpse into what he wants in a running mate. In a recent edition of his campaigns new newsletter, one of several efforts to connect with voters remotely during the coronavirus pandemic, he indicated experience is a top criterion. Someone who is ready to be president at a moments notice, Biden wrote, in addition to the woman being simpatico to him and a partner in progress. Biden approximated that it will take until sometime in July to narrow down his hypothetical shortlist, while announcing in an appearance on the Late Late Show With James Corden that he hopes to have a task force up and running to vet possible options by May 1. The former vice president has previously said hes listening closely to direction from his old boss, former President Barack Obama, who endorsed his bid in an appeal for unity last week. In addition to Obama, some leaders are hoping Biden listens to the most loyal constituency in the party, black women, for cues. If youre asking Greg Meeks whether he would like a black woman, absolutely, said Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus PAC, which endorsed Biden on Monday. I think that having a black woman is the right thing to do. Black women, in and of themselves, are inspiration. If we followed the lead of black women in the 2016 election, wed have a different president, he said. Fear of repeating mistakes from the past presidential election, when Trump won over Hillary Clinton due, in part, to lower Democratic turnout, is high on the minds of some leaders looking to energize the existing base in record numbers in 2020. Since falling short of the governorship two years ago, Abrams has worked on a variety of anti-voter suppression and engagement efforts that aim to bridge those gaps. Among Democrats interviewed, nearly every one said having a black woman on the partys ticket as a counterweight to Biden would help motivate more voters to show up at the polls. According to a poll conducted for BlackPAC, a progressive voter advocacy organization, this month, 38 percent of voters who said they planned to vote for Biden said they would be more enthusiastic about it when asked if he were to choose a black woman as his running mate. Twenty-seven percent of voters who already plan to vote for Biden said it does not change things much, while 17 percent said it would make them more likely to vote for him in the fall. The survey, conducted by the Democratic polling firm Normington, Petts and Associates, polled 800 black voters in eight key battlegrounds: Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The choice of a black woman would have some impact in terms of motivation for people to be more excited to turn out to vote, and that includes people who did not show up in 2016, Adrianne Shropshire, executive director of BlackPAC, told The Daily Beast. But Shropshire noted that there may not be set deal breakers for black voters when evaluating Bidens running mate, and that beating Trump is still the top priority. It matters who it is, Shropshire said. I think that [Sen.] Elizabeth Warren is different than [Sen. Amy] Klobuchar or [Michigan Gov. Gretchen] Whitmer. Part of Bidens argument for making his case was that he could bring back these white working-class voters. It doesnt make sense to me that you would have to add an additional layer. Warren, who said she would accept the position if offered, is viewed among some Democrats as a figure that could excite progressives, while Midwesterners Klobuchar and Whitmer are eyed for their theoretical ability to woo back Trump voters in the Rust Belt. Still, the very mention of Klobuchar and Whitmer has caused some black commentators and activists to wonder about the thought process behind considering them at all. You have foreign election interference already documented, you have GOP-led voter suppression, and you have COVID-19, and that unholy trinity can significantly depress turnout. You want people who can energize, said Tiffany Cross, author of Say It Louder! Black Voters, White Narratives, & Saving Our Democracy. I just dont know what an Amy Klobuchar or a Gretchen Whitmer would bring to that landscape for Joe Biden. The discussion itself feels incredibly disrespectful to the people who shifted this landscape for him. Cross went on to say that in her estimation, the reason why some in the landscape are pressing Biden to choose a black woman running mate is because black people literally saved his campaign. Yes there are some people who are excited about a President Joe Biden and who genuinely like him. But it would be a mistake to assume that black voters across this country are so excited to elect Joe Biden, she said. The notion that a 77-year-old white man, who will turn 78 less than three weeks after Election Day, may not be considered a widely inspirational figure in the Democratic Party was regularly referenced in tandem with his VP pick. Democrats said its that reality, his age, gender, and race, that make it even more crucial to select someone who can give the ticket something that he lacks. And nearly all said Bidens campaign should prioritize that thinking when strategizing about their shortlist. I have no hesitancy in saying that Joe Biden is a lackluster candidate, said Debbie Hines, a former Baltimore prosecutor who has been outspoken about issues disproportionately impacting black women. It will be difficult for him to win if he picks someone who is a white woman Midwesterner. That is not going to motivate progressives, it is not not going to bring aboard any of the Bernie Sanders supporters, and it is not going to motivate African-Americans that overwhelmingly know that they gave him the position that he is in right now as the presumptive nominee, she said. I want him to deliver. 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. C oronavirus death rates could be between 50 and 80 per cent higher in rural communities, according to scientists. A study from the University of St Andrews has predicted significantly higher levels of Covid-19 fatalities in rural locations due to larger ageing populations. The analysis found that death rates could be up to 80 per cent higher if the outbreak reaches people in these more remote areas. It is feared this could have long-term socio-cultural impacts on certain communities, particularly on areas which are strongholds for minority languages. Professor Hill Kulu, who co-authored the study with his colleague Peter Dorey, said: "If the pandemic is to last long and the virus is to spread to all areas of the UK, remote small towns and rural communities are projected to have 50 per cent to 80 per cent higher death rates than the main cities because of their old population composition. "Remote location may offer a protection from Covid-19 to some areas but if the virus is to spread to these communities the effects will be devastating." Europe takes it's first steps out of Coronavirus lockdown 1 /25 Europe takes it's first steps out of Coronavirus lockdown People queue at a hardware store during a partial reopening after the Austrian government eased lockdown restrictions Reuters A worker checks the temperature of a customer at the entrance of a supermarket in Itay Reuters Customers hold flowers in front of a DIY store in Graz, Austria, after it re-opened on April 14, 2020, following a "shutdown" in a measure to limit the spread of the new coronavirus APA/AFP via Getty Images People wearing protective face masks and gloves walk in the streets as the Italian government allows the reopening of some shops while a nationwide lockdown continues following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Venice, Italy, Reuters People queue to enter a hardware store during a partial reopening after the Austrian government eased restrictions following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Eisenstadt, Austria Reuters Camilla Cocchi wears a face mask and gloves as she sorts out clothing in her children's clothes shop after it was allowed to reopen following lockdown measures to contain the spread of Covid-19, in Rome AP A man wearing a face mask shops in a hardware store during a partial reopening after the Austrian government eased restrictions following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Eisenstadt, Austria Reuters "Respect the 2 meters distance" banner is seen at a fish stand as the Italian government allows the reopening of some shops while a nationwide lockdown continues following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Venice, Italy, Reuters Customers wearing face masks push shopping carts in front of a DIY store in Vienna, Austria, after it re-opened on April 14, 2020, following a "shutdown" in a measure to limit the spread of the new coronavirus APA/AFP via Getty Images A worker checks the temperature of a customer at the entrance of a supermarket, as the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues, in Turin, Italy Reuters Customers line up in front of a DIY store in Graz, Austria APA/AFP via Getty Images Gianfranco Mandas wears a face mask as he sorts out clothing in his children's clothes shop after it was allowed to opens following restriction measures to contain the spread of Covid-19, in Rome AP Customers wearing face masks push shopping carts in front of a DIY store in Vienna, Austria, after it re-opened on April 14, 2020, following a "shutdown" in a measure to limit the spread of the new coronavirus APA/AFP via Getty Images Customers queue at the Trastevere market, as new restrictions for open-air markets are implemented to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Rome, Italy, Reuters Customers wearing face masks push shopping carts in front of a DIY store in Vienna, Austria, after it re-opened on April 14, 2020, following a "shutdown" in a measure to limit the spread of the new coronavirus APA/AFP via Getty Images A man wears a protective face mask and gloves at the newsstand as the Italian government allows the reopening of some shops while a nationwide lockdown continues following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Venice, Italy Reuters People wearing face masks work in a hardware store during a partial reopening after the Austrian government eased restrictions following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Eisenstadt, Austria Reuters Customers queue at the Trastevere market, as new restrictions for open-air markets are implemented to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Rome, Italy Reuters A general view of the parking area of a hardware store during the partial reopening of shops after the Austrian government loosens its lockdown restrictions during the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Vienna Reuters The study investigates the contribution of population age structure to mortality from Covid-19 in the UK by geography. Its analysis projects death rates by applying data on age-specific fatality rates to the area's population by age and sex. High-risk and vulnerable communities are concentrated in large areas of south-west England, coastal communities of east and south-east England, north Wales, northern England, southern Scotland and the north-west Highlands. Mr Dorey said: "Within urban regions there are also pockets of high projected death rates. A cyclist passes through The Meadows in lockdown Edinburgh at dawn / PA "Overall, the areas with high and low fatality rates tend to cluster because of the high residential separation of different population age groups in the UK." The research also reveals Welsh, Gaelic and Cornish-speaking communities with relatively old populations are likely to experience heavy population losses if the virus spreads. Prof Kulu added: "The Covid-19 pandemic may also have long-term socio-cultural effects. Loading.... "The Welsh, Gaelic and Cornish-speaking communities with relatively old populations are likely to experience heavy population losses if the virus spreads widely across the UK." Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP Jamie Stone said: "These projections are devastating and re-emphasise how important it is we protect vulnerable people wherever they are. "One of the key ways to do that is to clamp down on people heading to rural areas for respite or escape." He added: "Communities across the Highlands have watched in horror as people flooded out of Scotland's cities to second homes or holiday sites. "We must ensure that when we do start to ease restrictions and come out of lockdown this exodus is not repeated. "Each and every one of us has a duty not to spread this disease." YEREVAN, APRIL 23, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute is presenting a new online exhibition titled Self-Defense in Cilicia during the Armenian Genocide, the Museum-Institute told Armenpress. The exhibition is dedicated to the centennial of self-defense battles of Marash, Hadjin and Aintab. 2020 marks the 100th anniversary of Marash, Hadjin and Aintab self-defense battles and the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute together with the Catholicosate of Cilicia have planned an international conference and a temporary exhibition to be held on April 16-17. However, due to the current situation with the pandemic, the conference was postponed while the exhibition will be presented to the public in an online format on the official website and the Facebook platform of the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute. The temporary exhibition Self-Defense in Cilicia during the Armenian Genocide is bilingual (Armenian and English) and is composed of eleven panels. Various episodes of the history of the Armenian Genocide related to the Cilician Armenians are presented starting from their status, occupation and contribution in the Ottoman Empire before the Armenian Genocide till their deportation and massacres, international diplomacy and the emptying of Cilicia of Armenians. Special emphasis has been put on the self-defense battles fought by the Armenians of Cilicia, first against the genocidal policy of the Young Turk regime (self-defense of Fendejag, Musa Ler, Amanos in 1915), and then against the Kemalists (self-defense of Marash, Hadjin, Aintab in 1920). These self-defense battles were heroic battles fought for family, life, dignity and faith in extremely unequal conditions. The exhibition highlights the exceptional role of Armenian women in this struggle. In almost every place where the self-defense battles took place, women actively participated not only in preparatory and organizational works such as digging trenches, building barricades, but also in the actual fighting together with their husbands. The statistical table presents the number of Armenians in Cilicia on the eve of the Armenian Genocide and as of April 1. Unique exhibits from the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute and the History Museum of the Cilician Armenians (Nor Hachn) with their relevant stories will also presented revealing human destinies, horrors and heroic episodes of the Armenian Genocide, the statement of the Museum-Institute says. The Kem Kem beds in Morocco are famous for the spectacular fossils found there, including at least four large-bodied non-avian theropods, several large-bodied pterosaurs and crocodilians. Now, in a new geology and paleontology monograph, that reveals much more about the famous Kem Kem beds in Morocco, Dr. Nizar Ibrahim from the University of Detroit Mercy, Prof. Paul Sereno from the University of Chicago, and a team of international scholars from the United States, Europe and Morocco, have put together a comprehensive story that is published in the open-access journal ZooKeys. The aim of the new research is to provide the international community with an in-depth review of the rocks and fossils of the region. It reviews the geology and paleontology of this famous but surprisingly understudied area, describing and formally naming the strata and summarizing all of the preserved life forms, from fragile plants and insects to massive dinosaurs. The monograph also paints a picture of life as it once was some 95 million years ago by describing the paleoenvironments of the region, and the unusual predator-dominated fauna. In 1996 Prof. Sereno and colleagues introduced the informal term "Kem Kem beds" for this fossil-rich escarpment. In this monograph, the authors review the original tri-level proposal for the region by French geologist Choubert (his informal "trilogie mesocretacee") and propose the Kem Kem Group for the entire package of rock with two new names for the dinosaur-bearing layers based on the richest fossil sites, the Gara Sbaa and Douira formations. The region is famous for the prodigious fossils found in all of these units, many derived from commercial fossil collecting, which obscures the precise location and level of the specimens. The monograph is the first work to pinpoint where many of the most important finds were made. Over the last 25 years in particular, paleontologists have brought to light a diverse array of new vertebrate fossils including at least four large-bodied non-avian theropods, several large-bodied pterosaurs, crocodilians, turtles and an array of sharks and bony fish. To put a comprehensive story together on the Kem Kem, the authors of the monograph visited collections of Kem Kem fossils around the world and led many expeditions to the region. Fossil and geological data reviewed in the monograph is derived from a number of different sources. A University of Chicago-led major expedition in 1995 generated a wealth of geological and paleontological data, as did later expeditions involving teams from the University College Dublin, the University of Portsmouth, the Faculte des Sciences Ain Chock, the Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, the University Cadi Ayyad, the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale (Milan), and the University of Detroit Mercy. One of the key features of the Kem Kem assemblage is the presence of several large-bodied theropods, a group of dinosaurs that includes all of the meat-eaters. Most famous among these from the Kem Kem include the sail-backed Spinosaurus and the sabre-toothed Carcharodontosaurus. Most fossils in the Kem Kem region are discovered as isolated fragmentary pieces weathered from sandstones. Only four partial dinosaur skeletons or skulls have been recovered, which include the long-necked sauropod Rebbachisaurus garasbae and the theropods Deltadromeus agilis, Carcharodontosaurus saharicus and Spinosaurus aegyptiacus. These Kem Kem theropods are among the largest known dinosaurian predators on record reaching adult body lengths in excess of 12 meters. "Given the continued input of new specimens and the continuing expansion of paleontological research, we predict that diversity in the Kem Kem Group will increase substantially in the coming decades. Based on our review of existing collections, this increase will include scores of taxa from the pond locality Oum Tkout including nonvertebrates, such as plants, insects, and ostracods, as well as an array of actinopterygian fish. We also anticipate a continuing trickle of new terrestrial vertebrates that will be named on better-preserved specimens that are diagnostic at present only at the familial level, including turtles and various kinds of archosaurs. As nearly half of the reptilian families listed are indeterminate, better-preserved specimens will offer future opportunities to recognize new reptilian genera", share the authors. "In summary, the Kem Kem assemblage of non-vertebrates and vertebrates is likely to continue to show dramatic increase in diversity in the coming decades. Nonetheless, the array of taxa currently known, which extends from plants across a range of aquatic and terrestrial vertebrates, is sufficiently mature to allow a summary of the vertebrate assemblage and a discussion of its paleoecological context", conclude the researchers. In his earlier research, a famous paleontologist from the University of Chicago Prof. Paul Sereno has described many outstanding dinosaur discoveries, including new Cretaceous crocodilians from the Sahara and two new fanged vegetarian dinosaur dwarfs (called heterodontosaurids). ### Original source: Ibrahim N, Sereno PC, Varricchio DJ, Martill DM, Dutheil DB, Unwin DM, Baidder L, Larsson HCE, Zouhri S, Kaoukaya A (2020) Geology and paleontology of the Upper Cretaceous Kem Kem Group of eastern Morocco. ZooKeys 928: 1-216. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.928.47517 Contacts: Prof. Paul Sereno Email: dinosaur@uchicago.edu Dr. Nizar Ibrahim Email: ibrahini@udmercy.edu People in Binh Dinh Province have handed in two endangered animals to local authorities. Javan Pangolin Le Duc Sau, vice head of the Binh Dinh Province Department of Forest Protection, said on April 22 that they had transferred a Javan pangolin and a Phayre's langur to the rescue team of Save Vietnam's Wildlife (SVW). The Javan pangolin is currently considered to be critically endangered. It weighs 0.5kg and hasn't matured. Huynh Nhat Trinh from Nam Tuong 1 Village, An Nhon Commune, voluntarily gave the pangolin to the department on April 20. However, the department doesn't have the equipment and infrastructure to keep the pangolin so they transferred it to the SVW. Phayre's langur On the same day, the Department of Forest Protection in Van Canh District also received a Phayre's langur from Le Van Chuan, a local from Suoi Da Village, Canh Hiep Commune. The langur is also a critically endangered species. It also hasn't matured and only needs milk. It weighs 0.7kg. Chuan said a minority ethnic man caught it while working on the field. He asked the man to give him the langur and then brought it to the authorities. The rescue team of SVW has given advice on how to take care of the animals as they quickly arrived in Binh Dinh. The pangolin will be brought to and raised at the SVW in Cuc Phuong National Park before being released to the wild. The langur will be transferred to the Endangered Primate Rescue Centre at Cuc Phuong National Park. Dtinews Three captive bears in Nam Dinh rescued and taken to Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre Three captive bears that were kept on a farm in the northern province of Nam Dinh were taken to the Vietnam Bear Rescue Centre in Tam Dao National Park, Vinh Phuc Province on Tuesday. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 18:48 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3e789a 1 Lifestyle The-World-of-the-Married,Han-So-hee,K-Drama,South-Korean-Cinema,South-Korea,Instagram Free South Korean actor Han So-hee has gained great recognition among Indonesian netizens, particularly for her role in the 2020 drama series The World of Married. The drama follows the story of married couple Ji Sun-woo (Kim Hee-ae) and Lee Tae-oh (Park Hae-joon) who are seemingly perfect on the surface but Lee is having an affair with Yeo Da-kyung (Han). Playing the other woman in the drama, Han often receives negative comments on her Instagram account, especially from Indonesian netizens who seem to be unable to distinguish between fantasy and reality. They even go so far as to label her pelakor (perebut lelaki orang, one who steals anothers boyfriend or husband). User @yadi_cahyo98, for instance, commented, Youre pelakor! Im disgusted. Youre beautiful but youre pelakor. You should be ashamed of yourself. User @diarisastutik wrote, "Pelakor, just wait for God's punishment." The seemingly outraged user took the time to add a longer comment on the post, You have no shame. Are there no other men? Pelakor. If you continue living this way, I hope God's punishment is coming your way. It hurts when your husband has an affair with another woman. Don't you have feelings? If you were in Indonesia, Id definitely come to your house. Read also: How World of Married escaped being cliche love affair story Comments from Indonesian netizens about Han So-hee's role in 'The World of Married' drama. (instagram.com/xeesoxee/File) Alongside the negative comments, other Indonesian netizens have made the effort to praise Han for her acting skills. User @r.g.widagdo commented, The way you drive Indonesians crazy means that your acting is awesome! And yes, youre gorgeous! User @ipuyc wrote, If it gets on your nerves, then just stop watching. Its not that hard. Its only a drama. User @putrihndyny commented, Why do these people hate you? All thanks to your acting skill. Hopefully you read my comment and realize that youve succeeded as an actor. I apologize for the comments from my fellow citizens, dont mind them and keep moving forward. User @_nawangsarii put a humorous touch to her comment, If ever you stole my boyfriend, Id admit my defeat and surrender. In an interview with South Korean broadcasting company JTBC Han talked about the impact of the role on her life. Ive been receiving malicious comments [for my role]. Even my friends parents also criticize me, Han said, as quoted in kstarlive.com. (wir/wng) Guwahati, April 23 : Five hardcore militants of anti-talks faction of ULFA (Independent) have been arrested and a huge cache of arms and ammunition were seized from their possession in eastern Assam, police said on Thursday. In a separate development, a Defence spokesman said that the troops of Indian Army in a joint operation with Assam police busted a recruitment racket of ULFA (I) and rescued seven minors, nabbed four militants and six 'over ground' workers from six districts of eastern Assam on April 21-22. According to an official of Assam police, based on secret information, led by Charaideo District Superintendent of Police Anand Mishra, a joint Operation was launched by Police and an Army unit from Sapekhati on Wednesday evening. Five hardcore cadres of ULFA (I) have been apprehended from the house of one Bhuvan Gogoi, police said. The police said that before the arrest of the terrorists, the police and the Army troopers had cordoned the Tairai village along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh-Nagaland border areas. The owner of the house, where the militants had taken shelter, was also arrested. The five militants were unarmed when apprehended, but following their lead the security forces recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition dumped near the house of Gogoi on Thursday morning. The arms and ammunition include three assault rifles along with eight magazines and 323 rounds of ammunition, a Russian-made 7.65 mm pistol with one magazine and two bullets, a 0.22 mm pistol with one magazine and two bullets, two kg of a "gelatin-like" explosives material, seven pieces of cordtex wire (detonating cord) and 16 pieces of detonators. The arrests of the ULFA (I) guerillas come ahead of Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal's scheduled visit to the district on Thursday. The arrested rebels include militants Apurba Gogoi alias Arohan Asom, Simanta Gogoi alias Maina Biraj Asom alias Yogen Gogoi, all are self-styled major and were wanted in connection with cases of killing, kidnapping and extortion, police said. The police said all the six arrested persons, including houseowner Bhuvan Gogoi would be tested for COVID-19. The ULFA (Independent) is currently led by its 'Chairman' Abhijit Barman and Paresh Baruah, who is the 'vice-chairman' and also 'commander-in-chief'. According to intelligence officials, the ULFA (Independent) continues to maintain linkages with most other militant outfits of the northeastern region with which the undivided ULFA had established its relations. Meanwhile, a Defence statement said that in a major breakthrough, the troops of Indian Army in a joint operation with Assam police busted a recruitment racket of ULFA (Independent) and rescued seven minors from six districts of Upper Assam on April 21-22. The release said that acting on a specific intelligence input, the joint teams launched a well-coordinated and intensive operation spread over Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of eastern Assam and apprehended four cadres and six over ground workers belonging to the proscribed group. "The apprehended persons are actively involved in the recruitment racket. The rescued youths belonging to well-to-do families were influenced and lured into joining the insurgent group through social media and online propaganda videos," the Defence release said. After the detention, the rescued minor recruits were counselled and reunited with their parents. Jefferson Waterman International is working a $360K one-year political consulting contract with Qatar to help it woo influencers and movers & shakers in Washington. Representing the public diplomacy office in Qatar's DC embassy, JWI is to meet and then introduce influential and knowledgeable persons to Qatar officials while identifying and analyzing issues of importance. JWI is the firm of Charles Waterman, a veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency. He served as vice-chairman of the National Intelligence Council and National Intelligence Officer for the Middle East, where he was posted in Kuwait, Cairo, Beirut, Amman and Jeddah. Since 2017, Qatar has faced an economic and political blockade from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt and Jordan for its alleged cozy ties with Iran and support for terrorist groups. JWI's contract precludes it from advising, representing and receiving compensation from any sovereign state in the Middle East/Northern Africa region for a year after wrapping up its business with Qatar. A Houston restaurant owner has decided to defy Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgos order that closed many businesses, including restaurants and bars, until April 30. Owner-operator Matt Brice on Friday will reopen the Hedwig Village location of Federal Grill, which first opened its doors on Feb. 24, at 8731 Katy Freeway, for in-dining service I disagree with Hidalgos order. The government does not have the right to pick the winners and losers of this situation, said Brice. Until now, weve followed it 100 percent to make sure the city is safe. But the numbers are decreasing and it is time to get people back to work. Hidalgo in March ordered all bars and clubs in Harris County to close for the next 15 days, a move intended to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. The order also limits restaurants to pickup, delivery and drive-thru orders. The restrictions apply to venues in Houston and throughout the rest of the county. ON HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Hidalgo orders Harris County residents to wear masks in public, draws fire from police unions, GOP Brice has put together a list of safety measures that will hang in the restaurant. Safety comes first. We plan to be more stringent than required, he said. That includes temperature checks for all employees before they begin their shift. They will also be required to wear a face mask and gloves, which they will change out regularly. An attendant will be placed in the entryway to the restroom area, allowing only one person to enter at a time. As well, the restaurant will operate with a reservation-only policy and several tables will be left empty in between parties for social distancing. We are only taking up to 30 percent of the restaurants capacity, said Brice. When it comes to paying the bill, patrons will have the option to pay hands-free via Paypal and Venmo. I feel confident that we will have our ducks in a row and systems in place. You will feel confident about having dinner here, said Brice. I ask that someone from the health department or government come in and be my guest. They can see first hand the practices we are putting in place to ensure the safety of people. Brice stands firm in his decision. I am not trying to ruffle feathers. But we are getting crushed and I cant afford to keep paying my staff, he said. I cant take it anymore. We have to survive. Federal Grill will open for dinner service from 5 to 8 p.m. Curbside and delivery service still will be offered. As of now, Brice does not have plans to open the restaurants Washington Corridor location at 510 Shepherd. @marcydeluna Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 08:29 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3a9144 3 Editorial COVID-19,coronavirus,COVID-19-in-Indonesia,mudik,mudik-ban,Jokowi,ramadan-in-indonesia,ramadan,pulang-kampung,pulang-kampung-bukan-mudik Free What is concerning about COVID-19 is that we may not know how widespread it truly is. The National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) and the University of Indonesia estimated that the number of infections in Indonesia would reach a chilling 2.5 million by the end of April in the absence of strong intervention. It is of great relief, therefore, that President Joko Jokowi Widodo announced a ban on the annual mudik (exodus) starting Friday, when the Ramadan fasting month is expected to start. The threat of the virus has finally resulted in a decision that prioritizes health and safety over business. However, prior to the ban, thousands of people began traveling home, mostly from Greater Jakarta, the nations epicenter of the pandemic. They only comprise an estimated 7 percent of the people who usually return home for mudik, according to a survey by the Transportation Ministry that Jokowi cited. Earlier, the governors of West and Central Java pointed to a spike in local cases traced to arrivals from elsewhere. In the absence of a government policy, they had pleaded for people not to return home if you really love your parents. Yet, urban workers who had lost income continued to exit the capital. Thus, the presidential order is better late than never. Last year, 20 million joined the exodus, including 15 million from Greater Jakarta. Read also: 'I need to protect my family': Jakartans nix homecoming trips following COVID-19 'mudik' ban Violators of the mudik ban may face a maximum sentence of one year in prison and a Rp 100 million (US$6,472) fine may await, in accordance with Law No. 6/2018 on health quarantine. Details of the sanctions are being drafted and will be ready soon, but it is better to prevent any violations from happening in the first place by accelerating the delivery of social assistance to those in need. President Jokowi had earlier resisted calls to ban mudik, prompting businesses, local authorities and religious organizations to simply discourage travel. Only civil servants, military and police personnel and employees of state-owned companies were explicitly prohibited from traveling home. In Indonesia, the worlds biggest predominantly Muslim country, the annual mudik is a strong tradition that, as in other nations, makes urbanites lives away from their families more bearable. As with Christmas or Chinese New Year, going home, even if it requires a long and grueling and costly journey, is part of the identity of those who strive to maintain their roots. After a month of mandatory fasting, the Idul Fitri homecoming celebrations are also part of traditions to ask for forgiveness from parents and elders. This is why not going home goes against instinct. The message from one of the countrys biggest Islamic organizations, Muhammadiyah, that forgoing mudik is part of a humanitarian jihad in the test of faith that is the pandemic will take some getting used to, and much persuasion. Technology will help a little to save the day, however painful the process is. Kangen, vidcall, reads a banner in front of a residential area in Yogyakarta. Its translation? When missing your family, video call. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. During Alert Level 3, as in Alert Level 4, medical centres and hospitals are still open. You can access all the treatments, vaccinations and medicines that you need to stay well, whether or not you have COVID-19. If you are concerned about any aspect of your health, call your GP. Your doctor may offer you a consultation by text, email, phone or video. This is to stop person-to-person contact. If, however, your doctor feels you need a consultation in person, this will be organised for you. You are allowed out during Alert Levels 3 and 4 to access medical support. You can drive to a medical centre or hospital. Just call first so you know what to do when you get there. For example, you may be asked to use a particular entrance, or to wait outside in your car until you are called. Find the latest health information Are you or your whanau unwell? The best ways to get support are to: call your family doctor for advice or information on all aspects of your health. If you think youve been exposed to COVID-19 through contact with someone who has it, its important to let your family doctor know. call the dedicated COVID-19 Healthline number with any COVID-19 health-related concerns on 0800 358 5453 64 9 358 5453 you can also call the general Healthline number on 0800 611 116 call Plunketline if you have questions about your child or babys health or wellbeing on 0800 933 922 contact your midwife for support and advice during pregnancy and postnatally. for support with grief, anxiety, distress or mental wellbeing, you can call or text 1737 - free anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to talk with a trained counsellor. In an emergency, always call 111 If youre not sure what assistance may be available, or you dont know who to contact for help, call the Government Helpline on 0800 779 997, 8am to 10pm, 7 days a week. COVID-19 Assessment Centres All patients with the following symptoms are eligible to be seen at the drive-thru community-based assessment centres: Cough Shortness of Breath Sore Throat Runny Nose All symptoms can be with or without fever. If you have your NHI number, please bring this with you. If you are unsure if you meet the eligibility, please call your General Practice or Healthline 0800 358 5433 for advice. For the coming week, the operating times for the established static sites in the Eastern Bay of Plenty are as follows: Tauranga (Trustpower Baypark Stadium, Truman Lane, Mt Maunganui, Tauranga) Monday-Friday 9am-4pm Saturday and Sunday 9am-2pm Whakatane (at Whakatane War Memorial Hall) From Monday 27 April, the times at the Whakatane assessment centre are changing. The news times are: From, and including Monday 27 April Monday-Friday 9am-12.30pm Saturday 10-4pm Sunday Closed Opotiki (at Opotiki Senior Citizens Hall) Tuesdays 10am-2pm Kawerau (at the Ron Hardie Recreation Centre Car Park) Tuesdays 10am-2pm Pop-up drive-through COVID assessment centres are continuing throughout the Eastern Bay of Plenty. The clinics ensure anyone with COVID-19 symptoms can access services without travel barriers. With future clinic times subject to change in response to the healthcare needs of the community, ongoing dates for all COVID-19 assessment clinic services will be kept up-to-date at www.tpoom.co.nz -Sponsored content. Ventes Avenues has strengthened its senior management with the appointment of two senior executives across its different verticals of branding, performance & programmatic. Sneha Gupta joins as the AVP for its Domestic Performance & Programmatic business. This comes at a time when the company is at an interesting juncture; with the of launch its own Programmatic Platform. Sneha comes with more than a decades experience in digital marketing, media planning and digital publisher sales. She understands the power of audience data and usage of analytical tools. I'm very excited to join the Ventes Avenues family and embark upon my new role. With the advent of programmatic at Ventes, I look forward to stronger alliances within the digital ecosystem. Having said this, our core focus will be on advertiser needs bundled with audience, data, and analytics, leading to building long term sustainable growth for the company, says Sneha In the West, Pooja Bhate has been hired as Deputy Head Sales & Business Development. A digital native with over twelve years of experience in digital marketing and media sales, Pooja will be responsible for revenue generation from clients and agency partners based in West India for all the new publishers mandate Ventes has recently signed up. This appointment comes at the advent of Ventes Avenues partnering with VidMate and Bigo. In this digital era, there are many platforms with variety of curated content being served to a consumer today; what stands apart is that Ventes has a distinct way of connecting with the right target audience for brands, paving the way to create a new chapter in mobile advertising. Im thrilled with this opportunity to make brands leverage a disruptive model of reaching out to their target audience better than ever, Says Pooja. Quoting on these appointments, Niloufer Dundh, CEO & Founder- Ventes Avenues said, Ventes is honouring its promise to new recruits, and has gone ahead and onboarded Sneha & Pooja. With our evolution into an Adtech company, Snehas joining is timed perfectly and I look forward to learning from her experience and to working closely with her on our programmatic foray. Keeping in mind our new branding publisher partners and our commitments to them we have Pooja who will lead a separate pod for the same in the West to ensure business commitments are met. I look forward to growing our brandings sales revenue with Pooja; especially since our new publishers have created a unique opportunity for us to seek better extraction from FMCG, OTT & BFSI clients. 2020 will be a special year for us, with the right talent in place and the right intent I am sure our young leadership team will shine. Theres no way that me doing personal shopping appointments is going to make up for the traffic and business that three stores would generate, but its at least keeping us in peoples minds and bringing in some level of income that pays a few bills here and there, she said. Also, it gives me a sense of purpose. WASHINGTON After two weeks of acrimonious wrangling, the Senate on Tuesday approved a $484 billion coronavirus bill that would increase money for a small business loan program and provide the nations hospitals with an additional $75 billion to help them through the pandemic. The bill, however, did not contain more money for a new program called the Coronavirus Relief Fund that has distributed billions of dollars to states, most of whom are struggling to pay for the unexpected costs of the pandemic. Democrats, and the nations governors, including Ned Lamont, pressed for more money for the relief fund, but Republicans refused. Democrats, however, did win on their request for more money for hospitals. Some have pushed back on the Democrats position. Why not just say yes to the [small business loan] money now and fund hospitals and states later? This is a fair question, said Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, The answer is that hospitals and health centers are getting absolutely crushed right now, with many at risk of going insolvent, and Democrats believe this may be the only chance to save them. In other words, there may not be a later. Democrats also prevailed in their request for $25 billion for a new coronavirus testing program. There was a last-minute fight, however, over design of the program. Democrats wanted a national approach, while Republicans sought more flexibility for states. Connecticut is stepping up to increase testing under Governor Lamonts leadership, said Sen. Richard Blumenthal. Without leadership from the administration, there is no national strategy and still abjectly inadequate testing nationwide. A compromise was finally reached. It would require plans from states and local governments on how they would spend testing funds, and also require a strategic federal plan on providing assistance to states for increasing testing and testing capacity. The bill requires the Trump administration to come up with a testing plan within 30 days. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District, who chairs a House appropriations panel with jurisdiction over health spending, said she will be monitoring closely the development of the testing plan. Rep. John Larson, D-1st District, said the interim relief package that I will be voting on this week is much-needed, but its only a small step forward. Our small businesses and hospitals will need more help as they continue to combat this pandemic, Larson added. Additionally, I am deeply disappointed that funding for state and local governments was left out of this agreement, even though their revenues and budgets have been decimated. The nearly half-trillion dollar bill was approved through the unanimous consent of all senators, most of whom, including Blumenthal and Sen. Chris Murphy, were in their home states. He stands down Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who has suffered from COVID-19, said on the Senate floor Tuesday that he opposed spending more federal money on the pandemic. Congress has already approved about $2.5 trillion fighting the virus. Even more alarming than the money is the idea that one senator can stand of the floor and pass legislation spending half a trillion dollars and have no recorded vote and no debate, Paul said. But he did not block approval of the bill. I understand the hardships of senators returning from around the country, so I have not invoked Senate rules to demand a recorded vote, Paul said. The U.S. House plans to vote on the package Thursday. But unlike the senators, House members are expected to be required to return to Washington D.C. to cast their votes. They are also expected to try to vote on a rules change that would allow them vote from a remote location for the remainder of the pandemic. There is urgency to approve the bill because the Paycheck Protection Program, funded with $349 billion in the last stimulus bill, has run out of money. The PPP is a Small Business Administration loan program that allows companies with fewer than 500 employees to obtain from SBA-approved banks loans that would mostly cover payroll costs. If the firms retain employees and meet other requirements, the loans will be forgiven, paid off by taxpayers. The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act would provide an additional $310 billion for the small business loan program. Following reports that hotel and restaurant chains received loans - the owner of the Ruths Chris Steak Houses chain got $20 millionDemocrats managed to include provisions requiring participation by lending institutions serving minority or under-served areas. Those include Community Financial Development Institutions and Minority Depository Institutions that have not been sanctioned by the SBA to offer the small business loans. The package was negotiated among Republican and Democratic congressional leaders and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he had wrested a commitment from the White House that the nations governors have been lobbying for - flexibility so states could use $150 billion allocated in the earlier $2.2 trillion CARES Act to offset some of the lost revenue in their budgets. That money was initially limited to paying for the direct costs of the coronavirus, such as purchasing tests and supplies and establishing temporary hospitals. Connecticuts allocation is about $1.4 billion. Yet another spending bill The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act is only a stopgap measure. As soon as it finishes this bill, Congress intends to begin negotiations on another coronavirus package, which Democrats hope will include more money for cities and states, and for social programs like food stamps, officially known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Congress needs to fund additional relief for our states and local governments who are carrying the financial burden of fighting COVID-19, implement a national plan to coordinate food distribution and increase funding for SNAP to ensure people do not go hungry, expand paid sick days and paid leave and other worker protections, DeLauro said. She also said she wants to increase the Child Tax Credit. Our federal agenda must put working people first, DeLauro said. The nations governors, including Lamont, say they hope the next stimulus package contains $500 billion for state and local governments. Dr. OConnell noted that some shelters outside of the study have reported very high rates of positive test results with little prior indication of infection. He said that 49 residents out of 114 (43 percent) tested positive at a shelter in Worcester, Mass., and very few of them had noticeable symptoms beforehand. That was before they had a cluster, he said. What we really need to be doing is testing early and often in shelters. The C.D.C. study said that approximately 1.4 million people nationally use homeless shelters each year. It added that infection-control practices at shelters are especially important, but they can be challenging because of overcrowding, the older age and underlying health conditions of many homeless people, a lack of hand sanitizers and the difficulty of keeping guests sheltering in place. Dr. Georgina Peacock, a leader of the C.D.C.s Covid-19 Response At Risk Task Force, noted that many of the studys findings also apply to the population at large: Early and regular testing, followed by isolation, is vital to controlling the spread of the disease. But she said these issues are magnified at shelters because of the conditions found at many of them. This is a vulnerable population, she said, and it is difficult in homeless shelters to do some of the things that we know are important to contain spread. In all, officials tested 1,192 residents and 313 staff members. Five of the 19 shelters had clusters of two or more people known to have contracted the virus before the testing was done. Those were the ones with high rates of infection. The police chief in Stow, who put himself on indefinite administrative leave following claims he attempted to solicit a teenager, has been charged with enticing a child younger than 16, according to court documents and news reports. Information on the Massachusetts trial court website indicates Ralph Marino was charged in Leominster District Court on Tuesday. WHDH News, citing a criminal complaint filed in court, reported that Marino allegedly exchanged explicit messages with a person who represented themselves as a 14-year-old boy between April 11 and 17 on a social media app. While talking with the individual, Marino planned for the two to meet and engage in sexual activity on April 17, reported WHDH. Leominster police on April 17 were monitoring a live-streamed video online and saw a man in a black Ford Explorer with Massachusetts plates. Police checked the registration and learned the SUV was registered to the Stow Police Department, the television station reported. Marino, who is known as Rusty," placed himself on indefinite administrative leave after meeting with officials from Massachusetts State Police on Saturday, the Stow Police Department said Monday in a statement. A video posted to YouTube by Predator Poachers Massachusetts, a group that claims to catch sexual predators on online dating sites, prompted the meeting between state police and Marino. In the video, a man is shown confronting someone the group claims is Marino. The man tells the other individual that he is an activist who poses as young boys online to catch predators. Sources told MassLive that investigators believe it was Marino in the video. Predator Poachers Massachusetts is not affiliated with law enforcement. The members of the Stow Police Department are deeply disturbed, shocked and disgusted after hearing of the alleged actions of Chief Marino, the statement from Stow police said. "We fully understand that these alleged actions, if true, may serve to undermine the trust that the Stow Police Department has worked hard to create within the Stow community. These alleged actions are outrageous in any civilized society but amplified in a small community such as Stow. The trial court website did not list an attorney for Marino. Stow Police Sgt. Darren Thraen has been named as acting chief. Related Content: The director of Israel's foreign intelligence agency, Mossad, said in a briefing to health care officials on Thursday that Iran and its regional allies are intentionally underreporting cases and deaths from the coronavirus, officials who attended the event tell Axios. What he's saying: According to officials who attended the briefing, Mossad Director Yossi Cohen said the situation in Iraq, Lebanon, Syria and Iran is much worse than the governments of those countries publicly acknowledge. "There [has] been widespread infection and they are lying about it. The numbers the Iranians are reporting about are not true. The numbers of infected and dead I know about are much higher." Yossi Cohen Background: Cohen has been one of the primary officials dealing with the coronavirus crisis after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked his agency to source medical equipment like ventilators and test kits from around the world. Go deeper: The Centre on Thursday held back a revision of the dearness allowance paid to all Union government employees for 18 months and proposed a similar move by state governments to collectively save about 1.20 lakh crore to fund the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, two officials with direct knowledge of the matter said. The department of expenditure, an arm of the finance ministry, on Thursday issued an order freezing dearness allowance (DA) payments to central government employees and dearness relief (DR) to pensioners until July 2021, citing the crisis arising out of Covid-19. However, Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief at current rates will continue to be paid, the order said. DA and DR will be restored prospectively after June 30, 2021, but no arrears for the period from January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 shall be paid,the order said. Thursdays decision will save 37,530 crore, the officials mentioned above said, requesting anonymity. To fund the increasing expenditure on Covid-19 testing and treatment, and social spending, amid a decline in revenue caused by the lockdown enforced to stop the viruss spread, the central government has put in place several austerity measures including a 30% cut in the salaries of ministers and MPs, and suspension of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS). President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu had opted for pay cuts soon after.State governments have also ordered pay cuts to trim spending. The Union government is separately working on a similar proposal for the state government employees that would save about 82,566 crore. Normally state governments follow the Central governments order on DA and DR at a time when a major increase on health and welfare expenditure is anticipated, one of the officials cited above said. A senior official in Bihar government said requesting anonymity, Cash-strapped states have no option but to follow the directive of the Centre. But, some states may give DA to their staff if they have surplus funds. Normally, states follow the Centres template on this matter. The Union cabinet had last month decided to raise the dearness allowance (DA) by 4 percentage points, from the existing 17% to 21% of basic pay or pension of employees to compensate for a price rise. But formal orders on the DA increase werent issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered the national lockdown within a fortnight of the cabinets decision. The Centre is also considering cutting one days salary of its staff every month for 12 months The government announced a 1.7 lakh crore welfare package on March 26 to provide immediate relief to the poor because of the lockdown. While the government will continue to provide required help to farmers, daily wagers, and micro and small industries, it will also take some regulatory and fiscal measures to boost the economy and that would require a vast amount of money, the two officials mentioned above said. According to industry estimates, a 16 lakh crore economic stimulus package, inclusive of the 1.7 lakh crore already announced, is needed to boost the economy so that millions of jobs and livelihoods are protected. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Photo: The Canadian Press The coronavirus pandemic is cutting off the worlds 1.8 billion Muslims from their cherished Ramadan traditions as health officials battle to ward off new infections during Islams holiest month, haunted by multiple outbreaks traced to previous religious gatherings. Ramadan, a month of daytime fasting, overnight festivity and communal prayer and giving, begins with the new moon this week, and comes amid worldwide debate over when and how to lift virus restrictions. Keeping the faithful healthy during the entire month poses a whole new challenge. The virus has already disrupted Christianitys Holy Week, Passover, the Muslim hajj pilgrimage and other major religious events. Ramadan is coming, and people have nothing to eat, said Afghan daily labourer Hamayoon, who goes by only one name. The government must have some mercy on us and allow people to work at least half a day to be able to feed themselves. U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing for a swift nationwide reopening, Vietnam and New Zealand moved Thursday to end their lockdowns and European leaders were gathering via video Thursday to try to reinvigorate their virus-crippled economie s. The coronavirus crisis is far from over, however, and the threat of new outbreaks looms large. The question is not whether there will be a second wave, Dr. Hans Kluge, the head of the World Health Organizations Europe office, said Thursday. The question is whether we will take into account the biggest lessons so far. German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticized some German states Thursday for moving too briskly in trying to reopen their economies. Germany has been praised for its proactive approach to the pandemic and has a much lower reported death toll than other large European nations. Were not living in the final phase of the pandemic, but still at the beginning, Merkel warned. Let us not squander what we have achieved and risk a setback. It would be a shame if premature hope ultimately punishes us all. Governments are bearing that risk in mind as Muslim leaders announce the official start of Ramadan, trying to balance health protection with traditions. Many have closed mosques or banned collective evening prayers. In addition to Ramadans sunrise-to-sunset fast, families and friends gather for large festive meals at dusk, worshippers go to mosques for hours of evening prayers and communal meals are held for the poor. Authorities in the capital of Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim majority nation, on Thursday extended to May 22 its strict disease-fighting restrictions covering the whole holy month. Turkey banned communal eating during the holiday, and Albanian Muslim leaders urged the faithful to spend more time teaching their children about Islam. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan bowed to the countrys religious clerics, refusing to close the mosques despite a warning from the Pakistan Medical Association that such gatherings are like a petri dish to spread the virus in a country that has a fragile health care system. Egypts Grand Mufti Shawki Allam said healthy Muslims have a religious obligation to fast despite the global pandemic but added that coronavirus patients would be most eligible for an exemption. CHICAGO, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Cars.com Inc. (NYSE: CARS) ("CARS" or the "Company"), a leading digital marketplace and solutions provider for the automotive industry, today announced that due to the ongoing public health impact of the coronavirus pandemic and to support the health and well-being of stockholders, employees, directors, and communities, the CARS 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") will be held in a virtual meeting format only, via live audio webcast at its previously announced date and time of May 14, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Central time. Stockholders will not be able to attend the Annual Meeting in person. However, stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 16, 2020 will be able to vote and ask questions during the meeting through the online platform. Stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 16, 2020, are still encouraged to vote their shares in advance of the Annual Meeting through one of the below methods, which were described in the proxy materials previously distributed. To vote prior to the meeting, stockholders must take one of the following actions prior to 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on May 13, 2020: Sign, date and promptly mail the proxy card or voting instruction form received with the Proxy Statement; Vote via the Internet (at www.proxyvote.com); or Vote by telephone at 1-800-690-6903. PARTICIPATING IN THE ANNUAL MEETING For stockholders of record (i.e., shares held through the Company's transfer agent, EQ Shareowner Services) as of the close of business on March 16, 2020, to participate in the virtual Annual Meeting, follow the instructions below: Between 10 and 15 minutes before the 9:00 a.m. Central time start on May 14 th visit https://web.lumiagm.com/265352344; start on visit https://web.lumiagm.com/265352344; Click on 'I have a control number' and enter the first 13 digits of the control number received on the notice or proxy card; Enter Meeting Code: CARS.COM2020 (case sensitive); and Follow the instructions on the website to cast a vote. For shares held through an intermediary (i.e., shares held through a bank or broker or other nominee), to participate in the virtual Annual Meeting, follow the instructions below: Stockholders must contact their bank, broker or other nominee. To vote at the meeting, stockholders will need to ask their bank, broker or other nominee to furnish them with a legal proxy. In order to ensure that the bank, broker, or other nominee will be able to provide the legal proxy in a timely fashion, stockholders are advised to submit the request to their bank, broker, or other nominee no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on May 1, 2020 . Stockholders will need a new control number in order to register for and attend the virtual Annual Meeting. Once you have your new control number, which will be included with your legal proxy sent from your bank, broker or other nominee, to participate in the Annual Meeting, please follow the steps set forth above for stockholders of record. Stockholders will be required to send a copy of the legal proxy when voting during the virtual Annual Meeting. The website for the meeting will provide the necessary information on how to submit the legal proxy when voting online. Additional information regarding the ability of stockholders to ask questions during the 2020 Annual Meeting, related rules of conduct and other materials for the 2020 Annual Meeting will be available at https://web.lumiagm.com/265352344. Technical support will be available beginning at 9:00 a.m. Central time on May 14, 2020 through the conclusion of the Annual Meeting by contacting EQ Shareowner Services at 1-800-468-9716. Except as specifically revised by the information contained herein, this Press Release does not revise or update any of the other information set forth in the Proxy Statement. This Press Release does not alter in any manner either the record date for the Annual Meeting or the date and time of the Annual Meeting. This Press Release should be read in conjunction with the Proxy Statement. From and after the date of this Press Release, any references to the "Proxy Statement" are to the proxy statement as supplemented by materials filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at investors.cars.com. About CARS CARS is a leading digital marketplace and solutions provider for the automotive industry that connects car shoppers with sellers. Launched in 1998 with the flagship marketplace site Cars.com and headquartered in Chicago, the Company empowers shoppers with the data, resources and digital tools needed to make informed buying decisions and seamlessly connect with automotive retailers. In a rapidly changing market, CARS enables dealerships and OEMs with innovative technical solutions and data-driven intelligence to better reach and influence ready-to-buy shoppers, increase inventory turn and gain market share. In 2018, CARS acquired Dealer Inspire, an innovative technology company building solutions that future-proof dealerships with more efficient operations, a faster and easier car buying process, and connected digital experiences that sell and service more vehicles. CARS properties include Cars.com, DealerRater, Dealer Inspire, Auto.com, PickupTrucks.com and NewCars.com. For more information, visit www.Cars.com . SOURCE Cars.com Inc. Related Links https://www.cars.com At the time when they initially called for that first donation, they were one of the first to reach out to us, said Hilde Sager, executive director of Covenant Living of Northbrook. We were very, very appreciative. Masks are one of the things that really help prevent the spread of the virus. (Photo : Image by 995645 from Pixabay ) Advertisement Image by 995645 from Pixabay Like Us on Facebook Advertisement France entered into a political battle against China and claimed that Beijing is imposing aggressive diplomacy across the globe. The French ministry of foreign affairs summoned the Chinese ambassador for articles published on the Chinese embassy's website and expressed his deep disapproval for the sentiments shared on those posts. According to the Economic Times, France entered into a political battle with China and shared its disapproval of Beijing's aggressive diplomacy. The issue started when a series of posts on the Chinese embassy's official website in Paris said that residents of retirement homes in the country were made to sign certificates of 'waiver of emergency care.' The post was written by a Chinese diplomat who also shared that nursing staff on the Ehpad abandoned their workplace overnight, deserted collectively, and rendered the residents susceptible to disease and hunger. There were also public statements by Chinese representatives of the Chinese embassy in France that did not conform to the quality of the bilateral relationship between the nations, the French foreign ministry noted. On the other hand, the editor-in-chief of the newspaper Bild in Germany criticized the Chinese Communist Party leader and China's President Xi Jinping for allegedly failing in containing the pandemic. In his letter to the Chinese president, the editor said that the Chinese embassy in Berlin addressed him in an open letter for questioning the accountability of China for economic damage caused by the pandemic globally. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Berline Tao Lil then published the open letter to Bild on the embassy's official website. He wrote that the article ignored essential facts and that China should not be made accountable for a pandemic that affected the entire world, including its own. Similarly, Chinese ambassador to Cyprus Huang Xingyuan also expressed his distaste for local newspaper Volkskrant when a content expressed how the world was embarrassed on how quickly China recovered from the pandemic and resorted to blame-shifting and lies. The ambassador wrote on a separate post that the country was saddened when Boris Johnson tested positive and that the UK cases surpassed the 100,000 thresholds. He also noted that he hoped the incident was not a cause of herd immunity policy. China also received several backlashes in social media disputes in Europe, Khazakstan, Singapore, and Iran. Regardless, China argued with some of the scrutinizers, including Brazilian education minister who claimed that Beijing planned for world domination. In Sri Lanka, the Chinese embassy's official Twitter account was restored after it was shut down for being inflammatory. According to The German Marshall Fund, Twitter accounts linked to Chinese embassies, consulates, and ambassadors garnered more than 250 percent increases in audience volume since March 2019. He also noted that since the last quarter of 2019, China's diplomatic corps even created more than 40 new accounts to contain the negative backlash and share the country's sentiments about the issues. Advertisement TagsFrance, china, Global Aggressive Diplomacy Legal Issues 8 Steps for Developing a Robust Plan for Distance Learning Make sure your district is covering the legal basics as you develop your remote instruction efforts. While plenty of school districts have had to hit the ground running to implement their distance learning regimens, make sure you're covering the basics in your plan so you're not blindsided when life returns to normal. Recently, Gretchen Shipley, partner at California-based law firm Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost LLP (F3 Law), provided guidance on how to develop a robust plan that will stand up legally while also sustaining educators and staff as they transition to delivering instruction to students remotely. The talk was part of a presentation on "Classrooms in the Cloud," hosted online by CITE, California IT in Education. Step 1: Assess Your Resources That includes hardware, software and anything else needed to serve your student population, Shipley explained, including economically-disadvantaged students, students with disabilities and English language learners. If your goal is delivering distance education, then that could encompass "a whole spectrum of options," she said. "On one end, the most focused and direct delivery method may be online instruction live. On the other end of the spectrum, it could be giving paper packets to take home." Step 2: Inquire about Accessibility Find out from your families what they have at home. Do they have devices? Do they have connectivity to the internet? As Shipley noted, in the state of California, like many states, schools are "obligated to provide our students with a free education." That means districts can't "compel our families to purchase internet or devices." As a result, your district can expect to spend its own funding to make sure there is that connectivity in your students' homes if that is needed. However, in providing equal access to students, it doesn't necessarily mean it has to be delivered through the same medium, she added. "As long as you're providing similar curriculum on paper as online, in most states that should still meet your goals and your requirements for equal access to all students." Step 3: Procure What's Needed Typically, as you go out to purchase the resources needed to provide equal access to all of your students, "you have to go through a fair and competitive process," said Shipley. However, there's also usually an emergency exception that allows districts to get around that requirement. "Many if not all school districts are in the process of declaring an emergency, if they have not already, and part of that emergency declaration can be the need to purchase emergency resources," she explained. Even so, she recommended, have the district business team review contracts being used to make those purchase, "for things like data privacy, term length, termination [and] insurance." Another aspect to consider as is to turn to your E-rate expert or consultant to find out whether the federal funding program would cover those purchases. Step 4: Expect a Ramp Up The longer your district delivers distance learning, the greater the expectations for filling in the gaps. One biggie here, according to Shipley, is delivery of internet access for homes that don't already have it. Two ideas worth considering: putting hotspots on school buses and parking them in neighborhoods where access is scant; and providing a web page and other communications to families about the organizations in your area that are helping to deploy free Wi-Fi. If there's equipment needed to make that work, be ready to jump in and provide it. Another biggie: Check in with families to see how they're managing and whether your distance learning plan needs to address new problems. Access may not be as all-encompassing as you thought; and families with students who have special needs may not be communicating their challenges. Step 5: Identify Curriculum Identify the curriculum you intend to use to deploy distance learning. While teachers are working with the curriculum and instruction teams, principals should focus on reviewing the contracts of the software companies providing the materials. "We need to make sure the content meets standards and is safe by having all the correct data privacy tools in place," Shipley explained. Also, down the road, individual states may request some kind of statement spelling out the learning resources used in a given school and the instructional time involved. For that reason, she suggested districts come up with some form of record-keeping to retain that information, even if the state doesn't "expressly" require it. Step 6: Provide Training and Communicate As user-friendly as software and devices can be these days, districts will still need to provide training to their staff, families and students on how to use them, said Shipley. As part of training staff especially, she advised keeping in mind that there could be "collective bargaining implications." She suggested bringing in "human resources or labor employment administrators to navigate that process." Also, make sure all along that you communicate your distance learning plans with your community--as well as your expectations. Step 7: Put Process and Policies in Place Run your hardware resource deployment by the book. "First and foremost, work with your county health department to determine what safety measures are needed and expected--gloves, masks, Clorox wipes," said Shipley. The process may also involve recording the condition of the devices going out and their serial numbers so that you can track them as they're returned to the school later on. Many districts are requiring families to sign an agreement that covers expectations of use, notices about recording and FERPA compliance. Also, she added, "Don't forget to evaluate your insurance coverage in case devices go missing or [get] stolen." Step 8: Maintain IT Support Make sure your "essential service" workers encompass the IT team, to continue providing support for staff and students. As Shipley pointed out, cyberattacks are on the rise. "Make sure your IT team is aware of that and can continue to provide a safe learning environment for your students." Springer Nature and UNESCO have signed an agreement to publish open access books on a range of issues cutting across major research areas such as education, culture, the natural sciences, the human and social sciences and communication and information Springer Nature and UNESCO are delighted to announce the signing of a framework agreement encompassing the publication of open access books focusing on UNESCO's main pillars, notably education, the natural and social human sciences, culture, and communication and information areas. Written by experts affiliated to UNESCO, these books will publish under two of Springer Nature's key imprints, namely Palgrave Macmillan and Springer, and will offer up-to-date and qualified research on a range of critical issues pertaining to UNESCO's areas of expertise. Open access publication will enable readers around the world to access the books free of charge on Springer Nature's content platform SpringerLink as well as on UNESCO's open access repository (UNESDOC); readers will be able to share and re-use the works, further increasing their impact and reach. The first book to be published under this agreement, The Future of the Buddha Bamiyan Statues: Heritage Reconstruction in Theory and Practice, will address the destruction of the Buddha statues located in the Bamiyan Valley, Afghanistan, and the subsequent mobilization of the international community to safeguard the remains of this outstanding feature of Afghan Cultural Heritage. Written by the Culture Sector specialists at the UNESCO Office in Kabul, this open access book will significantly contribute to the available literature on post-conflict conservation ethics and provide an essential historical record of the possible reconstruction of the Bamiyan Buddha statues for future scholars. Commenting on the agreement, Ros Pyne, Director, Open Access Books and Book Policies at Springer Nature, said: "The joint effort of this partnership between Springer Nature, a leading academic publisher and pioneer in open access, and UNESCO will further increase the impact of UNESCO's critical and timely research. We're delighted that by publishing UNESCO's work open access books, we can widen their readership and help bring them to relevant research communities worldwide". Mr. Ian Denison, Chief of Publishing at UNESCO said: "UNESCO, an international leader in the field of open access, is proud to join forces today with a key global player in the dissemination of high-quality knowledge and expertise. This framework agreement with Springer Nature allows us to expand the reach of our open access publishing programme to bring UNESCO's unique scientific research and expertise to a broader audience, including in the global south". ### Ambazonia Governing Council: Response to the Government of Camerouns Report on Ngarbuh Massacre :: CAMEROON On April 21, 2020, the government of the Republic of Cameroun released its report on the Ngarbuh massacre of Ambazonian children by the Cameroun military and its civilian militias in the night of February 13 to 14, 2020. We take cognizant of the following: 1. The Cameroun governments investigation of the Ngarbuh massacre is a political charade in which the same government that continues to commit war crimes in Ambazonia after the Ngarbuh massacre is expected to investigate and penalize itself. This is impossible! A true and transparent process warrants International Criminal Court neutral third-party investigation to ensure justice and accountability iin this massacre and many others such as the Bali massacre in which Cameroun soldiers slaughtered over fifty Ambazonians and the Pinyin massacre in which the Cameroun military killed over forty Ambazonian civilians. 2. These massacres of the Ambazonian people by the Cameroun government justify the necessity and right of the Ambazonian people to bear arms to the full extent in quantity and caliber to defend themselves from the Cameroun government. 3. These massacres underline the urgency of the international community to invoke the Responsibility to Protect the Ambazonian people from the increasing genocide being committed by the Cameroun government against the Ambazonian people; else there will be many more massacres by the Yaounde regime. The Ambazonian people stand ready to work with the United Nations Office on the Prevention of Genocide and the Responsibility to Protect to in the invocation and implementation of this principle. 4. In this report, the government of the Republic of Cameroun itself admits to using civilian militias to brutalize, kill and burn down the houses of the Ambazonian people. This ascertains the assertion we have made for two years that the Cameroun government has created multiple civilian militias in Ambazonia territory who are wrongfully considered to be "Ambaboys" fighting for the independence of Ambazonia and who have committed many of the atrocities including kidnapping and ransom taking, and the torture of civilians. Most of these opportunistic militias collaborating with Cameroun work with infiltrators such as Ikome Samuel Sako and Chris Anu in the Ambazonia liberation struggle to create divisions and rifts between local populations and the true forces fighting for the liberation of Ambazonia all in an attempt to weaken the resolve of the Ambazonian people to prosecute their cause to self-determination. 5. The claim by the Cameroun government that it will compensate the families of the Ngarbuh massacre for the killing of women and children there falls short of the reparations that Cameroun owes to the Ambazonian people for decades of massacres, looting of our resources and the burning down of the houses of the Ambazonian people in over 400 towns and villages. It does not fulfill the fundamental aspiration and right of the people of Ambazonia to the independence and sovereignty of their country, Ambazonia, and to address the root cause of the conflict. 6. While these massacres continue, any reconstruction attempts by the Cameroun government in Ambazonia will be met by the full force of opposition by the Ambazonian people. Cameroun should stop these massacres, withdraw its troop that are committing these crimes weekly in Ambazonia, and the government of a sovereign Ambazonia shall rebuild its town and villages itself. 7. The Republic of Camerouns decision to establish a military camp in Ngarbuh in a show of strength is an act of aggression and provocation against the Ambazonian people in their territory, which Cameroun holds no justifiable claim to under international law. This provocation is an incitement of further bloodshed, and we, the Ambazonian people, shall reserve the right to defend ourselves and our territorial integrity against these continuous acts of invasion of our homeland. 8. The disgust expressed by the world against the Ngarbuh massacre, one among scores of others, reflects the necessity for the Republic of Cameroun to respect its territorial borders as they were at its independence from France on January 1, 1960 and to respect the right of the Ambazonian people to self-determination in an independent and sovereign country of their own. Only these respects, pursuant to the provisions of the United Nations Charter on the right to self-determination, the international law principle of uti possedetis uris and the African Union principle of the freezing of borders at independence, can guarantee peace and stability in the Gulf of Guinea, and put an end to these massacres once and for all. 9. Lastly, the government of Cameroun should apologize to the Ambazonian people for the Ngarbuh massacre, the killing of over thirteen thousand other Ambazonians in the last three years, and for oppressing the Ambazonian people for over sixty years. Obadiah Mua Secretary General Ambazonia Governing Council [April 23, 2020] ARAWC Applauds Gov. Abbott and Leaders' Effort to Get Texas Back in Business Today the Association for Responsible Alternatives to Workers' Compensation (ARAWC, or "A-Rock") announced its support for Gov. Abbott and the Texas Strike Force members for their commitment to re-open the economy and get Texans back to work. "Governor Abbott has shown real leadership in assembling some of the best Texas experts to join his strike force," says Ryan Brannan, former Texas Commissioner of Workers' Compensation, and adviser to ARAWC. "We are equally appreciative of these Texans volunteering their time in this important endeavor." ARAWC consists of major Texas employers in a broad spectrum of industries, including many that remain open to provide critical infrastructure and essential services support to their workforce, their customers and the Texas ecoomy. "As Texas begins to re-open it is imperative that we make sure the heroes that have remained open and gone to work, and the ones that are struggling to return, are protected from frivolous lawsuits," says Brannan. "We applaud the Texans for Lawsuit Reform and other groups that have already made statements to this effect." To learn more about ARAWC, click here. About ARAWC: The Association for Responsible Alternatives to Workers' Compensation (ARAWC) is an organization dedicated to better medical outcomes and improved benefits for injured workers and cost savings for employers. ARAWC is comprised of leading national, regional and state employers, third party administrators, insurers, brokers, law firms and other workers' compensation experts dedicated to delivering improved outcomes for injured employees and their families. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005433/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Embassy of Lebanon in cooperation with its Lebanese community in Abuja has initiated a voluntary fund to donate food items and consumable products to the FCT Task Force on COVID-19. HE Mr. Houssam Diab, the Ambassador of Lebanon to Nigeria together with a group of representatives of the Lebanese community in the FCT handed over the donations to the Honorable Minister Mallam Muhammed Musa Bello, on Wednesday 22, April 2020. The donation consist of the following items: Rice 6000 bags 5kg Flour 600 bags 50kg Spaghetti 500 cartons Tomato paste 800 cartons Soya oil 3000 pieces / 250 cartons Palm oil 1875 pieces / 150 cartons Indomie 3900 cartons Soap 455 cartons Water 2000 cartons This initiative by the Lebanese community towards their fellow Nigerian sisters and brothers residing in the FCT, is meant to alleviate the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the livelihood of the most vulnerable amongst the Nigerian FCT population, and to further consolidate the palliative measures taken by the Honorable FCT Minister and his task force in this respect. Furthermore, this move complements similar donation initiatives that have been taken by the Lebanese community in Nigeria at large and in Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt in particular, as a token of loyalty and appreciation from the Lebanese community to their second country Nigeria and to the great people of Nigeria who have embraced them as their own. Members of the Lebanese community during the donation The Embassy of Lebanon in Abuja together with the Lebanese community take this opportunity to thank His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari , the Federal Government , the Honorable Minister Mallam Muhammed Bello and the FCT team for their exceptional efforts confronting the Corona Virus pandemic while keeping the FCT and Nigeria safe. Authorities in Sweden are to close down the last Confucius classroom run by a branch of the ruling Chinese Communist Party in Beijing, making the country the first in Europe to shut down a key area of China's soft power, according to media reports. Sweden's Radio Kaliber reported that the Confucius classroom at Falkenberg's high school will shut after eight years teaching Mandarin and Chinese culture to students. The school has said it won't be renewing the agreement when it expires at the end of the current semester. The move follows the closure of all Confucius Institutes -- which are staffed, funded and have curricula designed by Beijing -- at Swedish universities. Hanban -- which reports to China's cabinet, the State Council -- ran 548 Confucius institutes and 1,193 Confucius classrooms around the world at the end of 2018. Stockholm University was the first to open a Confucius Institute in 2005, but closed it a decade later citing Chinese insistence on greater control over the running of the institute. Sweden's Lulea University of Technology terminated its agreement with Hanban at the end of last year. London's Times newspaper quoted Bjorn Jerden, chairman of the Asia Program at the Foreign Policy Institute, as saying that attitudes towards China are changing in Sweden as bilateral ties have been soured by the jailing of Swedish national Gui Minhai after he published books from Hong Kong that were banned by Beijing. Tougher view of China Finland-based democracy activist Li Fang said there was still scant awareness in Finland about the institutes, which they described as tools for Chinese Communist Party's global outreach, but that the local media has taken interest in the story. "[A recent TV] report gave examples of teaching materials used [by Confucius Institutes and classrooms] in other countries, which were imbued with the Chinese Communist Party's ideological outreach [campaign]," Li said. "They also spoke to Sinologists in Finland who said Confucius Institutes are vehicles through which China deploys its ideology and influence; they are tools of its soft power." U.S. political risk management consultant Ross Feingold said the closure of the Confucius classroom was the result of a gradual change in Sweden's China policy. Sweden is taking a much tougher view of China as a result of that process, Feingold told RFA. He said the jailing of Gui Minhai for 10 years had clearly had an effect on that process. China's pugnacious ambassador in Stockholm also hurt Beijing's cause with a series of angry and rude comments on his embassy's website and in interviews with Swedish media. We treat our friends with fine wine, but for our enemies we got shotguns, Gui Congyou told Swedish public radio in late 2019. Concerns are growing globally over the ruling Chinese Communist Party's bid to limit academic freedom, far beyond China's borders on the campuses of overseas universities. China is putting financial, political and diplomatic pressure on British universities to comply with Beijing's political agenda, both directly and indirectly, the U.K. parliament warned in a report. Wariness in UK, US The report said China was trying to use its influence to shape what is studied at U.K. universities by adding to conditions to existing research and educational funding agreements. Funding and investment agreements could, for example, include "explicit or implicit limits" on what subjects could be discussed, while institutions had also been pressured not to invite certain speakers, or not to disseminate certain papers, the report found. And the New York-based group Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned that the Chinese government "has stepped up surveillance of diaspora communities, including through controls on students and scholars from China." In , authorities in Belgium declined to renew the visa of a Renmin University professor who had headed the Confucius Institute in Brussels for three years. Song Xinning said he had been told that he had "supported Chinese intelligence agencies spying and interference activities in Belgium." Beijing responded by saying that the reports that Song had been engaged in spying were "false" and distorted. A U.S. Senate subcommittee warned last March that Confucius Institutes could affect academic freedom, as the cultural and study centers' funding usually came with strings attached. The United States Senate permanent subcommittee on investigations said in a recent report that the Chinese Communist Party has poured more than U.S.$158 million into U.S. universities to fund Confucius Institutes since 2006, but that the funding came with strings attached that could compromise academic freedom. Contracts signed with universities typically contain provisions that state both Chinese and the host nation's law apply, limit public disclosure of the contract and terminate the contract if the host institution takes actions that the Confucius Institute doesn't like. This means effectively that all teachers, events and speakers at Confucius Institutes are approved by Beijing, even on foreign soil. Teachers at the institutes are recruited and selected by the Hanban, and sign contracts promising not to damage China's national interests while overseas. They are also banned from taking part in activities or organizations proscribed by China. China has denied that Confucius Institutes interfere with academic freedom, and said that the centers will remain a key government policy. Reported by Gao Feng for RFA's Mandarin and Cantonese Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. A pop-up book, a painting of a swimming pig and a bottle of gin were among the official gifts given to the Queen last year. Records released by Buckingham Palace showed the monarch received 72 official presents in 2019. President Borut Pahor of Slovenia tuned into the Queens love of horses and presented her with a 24-carat gold-plated horse comb. The pop-up book was sent through the post by Chinese President Xi Jinping and its subject was the 70th anniversary of the Peoples Republic of China. The Queen with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a state visit in 2015 (Dominic Lipinski/PA) The governor-general of The Bahamas presented the monarch with a painting of a swimming pig, while the Regiment de la Chaudiere of Canada gave her a boxed bottle of gin and two glasses. Swimming pigs live on Big Major Cay, an uninhabited island in the Bahamas, and learnt how to paddle out to passing boats to receive food. The Queen also received three wood carvings of pygmy hippos from the ambassador of Liberia, a woven raffia hat from the high commissioner for Lesotho, and a decorative felt rug from the Kyrgyz Republics ambassador. The Queen with the governor-general of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, Dame Marguerite Pindling (Steve Parsons/PA) GCHQ gave the monarch a small pin badge marking its centenary, presented in a 3D printed box with a cypher code on the perspex lid, etched with Thank you, Maam in Hex code, following the Queens visit to Watergate House in February last year. US President Donald Trumps presents during his state visit to the UK were announced at the time of his stay, and included a Tiffany poppy brooch for the Queen and a personalised Air Force One jacket for the Duke of Edinburgh. Official gifts can be worn and used, but are not considered the royals personal property. The royals do not pay tax on them. They can eat any food they are given and perishable official gifts with a value less than 150 can be given to charity or staff. Gifts cannot be sold or exchanged and eventually become part of the Royal Collection, which is held in trust by the Queen for her successors and the nation. The rules on official presents were tightened following the Peat inquiry in 2003 into the sale of royal gifts and the running of St Jamess Palace. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 11:10:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SEOUL, April 23 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in's approval rating soared to 64.3 percent this week after Moon's ruling party won a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections last week, a weekly poll showed on Thursday. According to the Realmeter survey, support for Moon advanced 6.0 percentage points over the week to 64.3 percent this week, marking the highest since September 2018. Moon took office in May 2017. The negative assessment on Moon's conduct of state affairs declined 5.6 percentage points to 32.0 percent. It followed the governing Democratic Party's sweeping victory in last week's parliamentary polls, in which the ruling party and its sister party secured 163 directly-contested constituency seats and 17 proportional representation (PR) slots each out of the 300 seats of the National Assembly. Support for the Democratic Party picked up 5.3 percentage points over the week to 52.1 percent this week. The main conservative opposition United Future Party won 27.9 percent of support this week, down 0.5 percentage points from the previous week. It was followed by the minor progressive Justice Party with 4.9 percent, the center-left Open Democratic Party with 3.3 percent and the centrist People's Party with 2.8 percent each. The results were based on a poll of 1,509 voters conducted from Monday to Wednesday. It had plus and minus 2.5 percentage points in margin of error with a 95-percent confidence level. Enditem Nicola Sturgeon has set out a blueprint for how Scotland will begin to ease the coronavirus lockdown, in a move that will ramp up pressure on Westminster to lay out its exit strategy. The first minister said she wanted to have a grown-up conversation with the public about lifting strict restrictions on daily life as she published a document setting out Scotlands path out of the lockdown. Ms Sturgeon said it was misguided to see lifting lockdown as a flick-of-the-switch moment, rather it wouild be an incremental return to normal life and warned that social distancing could be a fact of life until 2021. Bans on social gatherings in pubs or at large events are likely to continue for some time to come, while hand-washing and cough hygiene must become a part of daily life, the document says. Some pupils may not be able to go back to school immediately if classrooms need to be reconfigured for social distancing. Outdoor activities could also be allowed sooner than indoor pursuits. Scottish ministers will also consider if restrictions can be lifted earlier such as the remote areas of the Highlands and Islands although Ms Sturgeon indicated that is not their preferred approach. Ms Sturgeon said it was impossible to rule out reapplying restrictions if cases continue to rise but insisted the Scottish government would be frank with the public throughout. Speaking at a briefing in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon said: What we are publishing at this stage is by necessity a first cut. Im seeking today really to start a grown-up conversation with you, the public. She said the lockdown was saving lives but it was also hitting living standards, mental health and childrens outcomes, adding: We must find a better balance than the one we have right now. Social distancing measures will be a fact of life for some time, Ms Sturgeon said, even if restrictions are lifted to prevent a second spike in cases, as well as continued shielding for the vulnerable. Ms Sturgeon said: That means, possibly for the rest of this year and maybe even beyond. Thats why talking about lifting lockdown as if its a flick-of-the-switch moment, is misguided. Our steps, when we take them, will need to be careful, gradual, incremental and probably quite small to start with. We will need to assess them in advance and monitor them in action sometimes, as I said a moment ago, we may even need to reverse things. High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Show all 18 1 /18 High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Najaf, Iraq A man holds a pocket watch at noon, at an almost empty market near the Imam Ali shrine Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Bangkok, Thailand Wat Phra Si Rattana Satsadaram (The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, part of The Grand Palace) Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Prague, Czech Republic An empty street leading to the historic Old Town Square Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Washington DC, US Lawn stretching towards the Capitol, home of Congress Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Jerusalem's Old City A watch showing the time in front of Damascus Gate Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world London, UK The Houses of Parliament seen from Westminster Bridge Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Wuhan, China Empty lanes in the city that saw the first outbreak of disease Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Havana, Cuba The Malecon road and esplanade winds along the city's seafront Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Cairo, Egypt A little busier than elsewhere: midday traffic in Tahrir Square Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Berlin, Germany The Brandenburg Gate, the only surviving city gate in the capital Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Caracas, Venezuela Bolivar Avenue, opened in 1949 and the site of many demonstrations and rallies Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Moscow, Russia Spasskaya Tower (left) on the eastern wall of the Kremlin, and St Basil's Cathedral Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Istanbul,Turkey The harbourside Eminonu district is usually buzzing with activity Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world New Delhi, India Rajpath, a ceremonial boulevard that runs through the capital Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Amman, Jordan The Roman amphitheatre that dates back to the 2nd century AD Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world New York City, US The main concourse of Grand Central station in Manhattan Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Kiev, Ukraine Maidan Nezalezhnosti, the site of many political protests since the end of the Soviet era Reuters High noon in a coronavirus-stricken world Accra, Ghana The odd walker out in the midday sun on Ring Road Central Reuters The move is at odds with the approach in Westminster, where ministers have refused to set out their plans for easing the lockdown amid fears it could confuse the message to the public to stay at home. The cabinet is also divided over the best approach, with more hawkish ministers such as the chancellor Rishi Sunak deeply concerned about the economic devastation caused by a lengthy lockdown. Boris Johnson, who is recuperating from coronavirus at Chequers, is said to have softened his stance and remains deeply concerned about the risks to public health of easing restrictions. The first known instances of pets contracting the COVID-19 coronavirus in the United States have been confirmed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Agriculture's National Veterinary Services Laboratories said on Wednesday that two pet cats in separate areas of New York tested positive for the coronavirus, Axios reports. In the case of the first cat, no one in the household had tested positive for COVID-19, although in the second case, the owner did test positive. Both cats are expected to recover after having mild respiratory illnesses, a statement said. The USDA said "these are the first pets in the United States to test positive" for the coronavirus. In the case of the first pet, the "virus may have been transmitted to this cat by mildly ill or asymptomatic household members or through contact with an infected person outside its home," officials said. The Associated Press notes this "adds to a small number of confirmed cases of the virus in animals worldwide" after seven tigers and lions at the Bronx Zoo previously tested positive. The CDC's Dr. Casey Barton Behravesh, though, noted to the AP that "there's no evidence that pets are playing a role in spreading this disease to people" and that "we don't want people to panic" or "be afraid of pets." Those who become sick with COVID-19 are, however, recommended to limit contact with pets, and the CDC suggests keeping cats indoors. More stories from theweek.com Cuomo rips McConnell's 'blue state bailout' by noting 'your state is living on the money that we generate' Trump adviser suggests reopening economy by putting 'everybody in a space outfit' Parks and Recreation is returning with scripted reunion special to raise money for Feeding America Yes, its beginning to look a lot like Christmaswhich, for many of us, feels like a rush into chaos. Celebrating Advent during this season slows us down and helps our hearts and minds be reoriented around the coming of Christ.Yes, its beginning to look a lot like Christmaswhich, for many of us, feels like a rush into chaos. Celebrating Advent during this season slows us down and helps our hearts and minds be reoriented around the coming of Christ. (Photo : TOM BRENNER on Reuters ) Coronavirus Update: US-Approved Abbott Testing Kit Admits 15% False Negative Results May Happen (Photo : BAZ RATNER on Reuters ) Coronavirus Update: US-Approved Abbott Testing Kit Admits 15% False Negative Results May Happen Coronavirus has now spread to the United States, thus, causing over 850,000 confirmed cases and less than 50,000 deaths. Unfortunately, the U.S.-approved Abbott COVID-19 testing kit does not add to the solution against the virus. It turns out that the device shows inaccurate results as high as 15%. Abbott Labs admits this mistake and even said that the federal government should not use their device anymore. Abbott COVID-19 testing kit may not be as accurate as you think it is Abbott Coronavirus testing kit is one of the praised and high-quality COVID-19 testing devices available in the United States. The federal government and U.S. President Donald Trump even use this device from before to test all of the officials that possibly got the virus. Abbott Labs boasts their device to get results as fast as within five minutes. This was the reason why the government insists on this testing kit to be used in all states. However, here's unfortunate news. CNN recently reported that Abbott Laboratories admitted that their device shall now be removed as an official Coronavirus testing kit in the country. The company officially warns the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and all the users of the testing kit to follow a certain protocol-- if they still wanted to use the device. 15% of the time Abbott testing kit shows false-negative results ALSO READ: Breaking News! COVID-19 Lasts Up To 18 Days From Infected Hosts; More Coronavirus News You Should Know All Based on Studies CNN's senior correspondent Drew Griffin reported that Abbott Labs wants all hospitals to be warned on using the device. It turns out that 15 percent of the time, the test won't work or may produce false-negative or false-positive results. As explained, if the Abbott testing kit will not be used properly, the results may change instantly. As advised, hospitals must get the swab of the patient and directly put it in the device-- meaning that transporting the swab samples from hospitals to hospitals will not result accurately. Tech Times recently reported that researchers from the Cleveland Clinic first found out about the 15 percent inaccuracy of the Abbott testing kit. The study's lead author, Dr. Gary Procop of the Department of Laboratory Medicine of Cleveland Clinic, said that test kits should be 95 percent accurate most of the time. In conclusion, Abbott's testing kit does not qualify for the standard requirement of a virus testing kit. However, their study was immediately debunked by Abbott Labs themselves and said that their device is safe and accurate. "When the direct swab method is used, the test is performing as expected, and we are confident in its performance," the Illinois-based company told Daily Mail in a previous report. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) The Department of Health on Thursday confirmed 271 new coronavirus disease cases, bringing the country total to 6,981. This is the biggest spike this week following the slower increase in new infections reported on Wednesday 111 new cases. The last time a higher number of new cases was recorded was on April 14 291 new infections. The country continues to see a rise in the number of recoveries which hit 722. The DOH said 29 more people have survived the viral illness. Meanwhile, 16 more patients have died from COVID-19, raising the death toll to 462. Flattening the curve? Health Spokesperson Maria Rosario Vergeire in an online briefing said "there are indications" the country is flattening the curve of new coronavirus infections, but noted it is too early to declare it now. She said the country has improved its case doubling time from three days to five days. It also takes a longer time for the number of deaths to double, from three days to seven days. "Bumabagal na ang pagdami ng kaso pero hindi ibig sabihin ay magiging complacent tayo at bibitaw na tayo," Vergeire said. [Translation: There has been a slower increase in cases but this does not mean we will be complacent and let go.] To contain the virus, the government has placed Luzon under enhanced community quarantine, suspending most work, classes, and mass transportation so people would stay home. Earlier, the Luzon-wide quarantine was extended until April 30 amid daily spikes in new infections, the highest was 538 on March 31. Other local government units across the country enforced their own lockdowns. More recoveries There have been more recoveries than deaths for more than a week now as the DOH included in its report those who have gotten well while under home quarantine. Previously, its count only included those confined in hospitals. The DOH explained it takes around 13 days up to more than a month for patients to recover, depending on the severity of their symptoms. To contain the spread of the virus, the government has placed Luzon under enhanced community quarantine, suspending most work, classes, and mass transportation so people would stay home. Earlier, the Luzon-wide quarantine was extended until April 30 amid daily spikes in new infections, the highest was 538 on March 31. Other local government units across the country enforced their own lockdowns. Worldwide, COVID-19 has infected more than 2.6 million and killed over 183,000 since the outbreak began in Wuhan, China in December 2019, according to the Johns Hopkins University's COVID-19 global tracker. The Philippines reported its first case late January. The sexism might be seen as a social norm. (Getty Images) Five-year-old children have inherent sexism that wears off as they grow up, a new study has found. The research found that the negative views children hold about women do disappear as children get older, but the type of well-meaning sexism only diminishes for girls. Boys, however, can hold onto seemingly positive sexist views for longer, which can still be noticed aged 11. The study from New York University found that young boys who think theyre being chivalrous may view women as helpless - which is a type of behaviour that can last into adulthood. Read more: Cynthia Nixon praised for powerful video about womens struggles The study looks at two types of sexism; hostile sexism and benevolent sexism. The latter is described as inoffensive but still enforces the narrative that women are deemed as less able in comparison to men. Although most people - including parents - will notice signs of hostile sexism and stop them in their tracks, benevolent sexism is a little harder to detect. As a result, it can often go undetected, leaving girls and women feeling patronised. The lead author, Dr Andrei Cimpian explains: It might seem cute when a boy acts in chivalrous ways toward girls, or when a girl pretends to be a princess who's waiting for a prince to rescue her. Many times, this is just play, with no deeper meaning. But other times, these behaviours even though they may seem inoffensive might signal that children view women in a negative light, as weak, incompetent and unable to survive or thrive without a man's help. Read more: Barack Obamas comments about women cause debate People who hold primarily hostile views can still hold benevolent views, too. Its not one or the other. To find out more about this behaviour, researchers studied more than 200 children aged five to 11 in New York City and Urbana-Champaign in Illinois, US. The children were asked to answer statements. The statements were clear indicators of different types of sexism. Story continues These statements include things like men need to protect women from danger which indicate a benevolent type of sexism. Women get more upset than men about small things is seen as a hostile statement. While these hostile behaviours do fade away, the benevolent ones of the boys do not. Dr Cimpian believes this is because children are surrounded with this type of behaviour as a social norm from an early age. Boys may be less likely to recognise that their benevolent attitudes toward women are, in fact, patronising. 'For instance, they may hold on to the belief that men ought to protect women because this view is in line with social norms and may be reinforced throughout their upbringing. Dr Cimpian suggests that now - during the coronavirus lockdown - provides parents with a perfect opportunity to subtly teach them the harmful nature of benevolent sexism. China's foreign ministry said on Thursday that Australia's call for an independent probe into the coronavirus epidemic was political maneuvering and said the country should end its ideological bias. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang also told reporters during a briefing that China has no wildlife wet markets, responding to a question about U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo's comments calling for China to close all wildlife wet markets in the country. Search Keywords: Short link: When he was diagnosed with COVID-19, Andre Bergmann knew exactly where he wanted to be treated: the Bethanien hospital lung clinic in Moers, near his home in northwestern Germany. The clinic is known for its reluctance to put patients with breathing difficulties on mechanical ventilators - the kind that involve tubes down the throat. The 48-year-old physician, father of two and aspiring triathlete worried that an invasive ventilator would be harmful. But soon after entering the clinic, Bergmann said, he struggled to breathe even with an oxygen mask, and felt so sick the ventilator seemed inevitable. Even so, his doctors never put him on a machine that would breathe for him. A week later, he was well enough to go home. Bergmann's case illustrates a shift on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, as doctors rethink when and how to use mechanical ventilators to treat severe sufferers of the disease - and in some cases whether to use them at all. While initially doctors packed intensive care units with intubated patients, now many are exploring other options. 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 Machines to help people breathe have become the major weapon for medics fighting COVID-19, which has so far killed more than 183,000 people. Within weeks of the disease's global emergence in February, governments around the world raced to build or buy ventilators as most hospitals said they were in critically short supply. Germany has ordered 10,000 of them. Engineers from Britain to Uruguay are developing versions based on autos, vacuum cleaners or even windshield-wiper motors. US President Donald Trump's administration is spending $2.9 billion for nearly 190,000 ventilators. The US government has contracted with automakers such as General Motors Co and Ford Motor Co as well as medical device manufacturers, and full delivery is expected by the end of the year. Trump declared this week that the US was now "the king of ventilators." However, as doctors get a better understanding of what COVID-19 does to the body, many say they have become more sparing with the equipment. Reuters interviewed 30 doctors and medical professionals in countries including China, Italy, Spain, Germany and the United States, who have experience of dealing with COVID-19 patients. Nearly all agreed that ventilators are vitally important and have helped save lives. At the same time, many highlighted the risks from using the most invasive types of them - mechanical ventilators - too early or too frequently, or from non-specialists using them without proper training in overwhelmed hospitals. Medical procedures have evolved in the pandemic as doctors better understand the disease, including the types of drugs used in treatments. The shift around ventilators has potentially far-reaching implications as countries and companies ramp up production of the devices. "BETTER RESULTS" Many forms of ventilation use masks to help get oxygen into the lungs. Doctors' main concern is around mechanical ventilation, which involves putting tubes into patients' airways to pump air in, a process known as intubation. Patients are heavily sedated, to stop their respiratory muscles from fighting the machine. Those with severe oxygen shortages, or hypoxia, have generally been intubated and hooked up to a ventilator for up to two to three weeks, with at best a fifty-fifty chance of surviving, according to doctors interviewed by Reuters and recent medical research. The picture is partial and evolving, but it suggests people with COVID-19 who have been intubated have had, at least in the early stages of the pandemic, a higher rate of death than other patients on ventilators who have conditions such as bacterial pneumonia or collapsed lungs. This is not proof that ventilators have hastened death: The link between intubation and death rates needs further study, doctors say. In China, 86 percent of 22 COVID-19 patients didn't survive invasive ventilation at an intensive care unit in Wuhan, the city where the pandemic began, according to a study published in The Lancet in February. Normally, the paper said, patients with severe breathing problems have a 50 percent chance of survival. A recent British study found two-thirds of COVID-19 patients put on mechanical ventilators ended up dying anyway, and a New York study found 88 percent of 320 mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients had died. More recently, none of the eight patients who went on ventilators at the Abu Dhabi hospital had died as of April 9, a doctor there told Reuters. And one ICU doctor at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta said he had had a "good" week when almost half the COVID-19 patients were successfully taken off the ventilator, when he had expected more to die. The experiences can vary dramatically. The average time a COVID-19 patient spent on a ventilator at Scripps Health's five hospitals in California's San Diego County was just over a week, compared with two weeks at the Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem and three at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, medics at the hospitals said. In Germany, as patient Bergmann struggled to breathe, he said he was getting too desperate to care. "There came a moment when it simply no longer mattered," he told Reuters. "At one point I was so exhausted that I asked my doctor if I was going to get better. I was saying, if I had no children or partner then it would be easier just to be left in peace." Instead of putting Bergmann on a mechanical ventilator, the clinic gave him morphine and kept him on the oxygen mask. He's since tested free of the infection, but not fully recovered. The head of the clinic, Thomas Voshaar, a German pulmonologist, has argued strongly against early intubation of COVID-19 patients. Doctors including Voshaar worry about the risk that ventilators will damage patients' lungs. The doctors interviewed by Reuters agreed that mechanical ventilators are crucial life-saving devices, especially in severe cases when patients suddenly deteriorate. This happens to some when their immune systems go into overdrive in what is known as a "cytokine storm" of inflammation that can cause dangerously high blood pressure, lung damage and eventual organ failure. The new coronavirus and COVID-19, the disease the virus causes, have been compared to the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-19, which killed 50 million people worldwide. Now as then, the disease is novel, severe and spreading rapidly, pushing the limits of the public health and medical knowledge required to tackle it. When coronavirus cases started surging in Louisiana, doctors at the state's largest hospital system, Ochsner Health, saw an influx of people with signs of acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS. Patients with ARDS have inflammation in the lungs which can cause them to struggle to breathe and take rapid short breaths. "Initially we were intubating fairly quickly on these patients as they began to have more respiratory distress," said Robert Hart, the hospital system's chief medical officer. "Over time what we learned is trying not to do that." Instead, Hart's hospital tried other forms of ventilation using masks or thin nasal tubes, as Voshaar did with his German patient. "We seem to be seeing better results," Hart said. CHANGED LUNGS Other doctors painted a similar picture. In Wuhan, where the novel coronavirus emerged, doctors at Tongji Hospital at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology said they initially turned quickly to intubation. Li Shusheng, head of the hospital's intensive care department, said a number of patients did not improve after ventilator treatment. "The disease," he explained, "had changed their lungs beyond our imagination." His colleague Xu Shuyun, a doctor of respiratory medicine, said the hospital adapted by cutting back on intubation. Luciano Gattinoni, a guest professor at the Department of Anaesthesiology, Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Gottingen in Germany, and a renowned expert in ventilators, was one of the first to raise questions about how they should be used to treat COVID-19. "I realised as soon as I saw the first CT scan ... that this had nothing to do with what we had seen and done for the past 40 years," he told Reuters. In a paper published by the American Thoracic Society on March 30, Gattinoni and other Italian doctors wrote that COVID-19 does not lead to "typical" respiratory problems. Patients' lungs were working better than they would expect for ARDS, they wrote - they were more elastic. So, he said, mechanical ventilation should be given "with a lower pressure than the one we are used to." Ventilating some COVID-19 sufferers as if they were standard patients with ARDS is not appropriate, he told Reuters. "It's like using a Ferrari to go to the shop next door, you press on the accelerator and you smash the window." The Italians were swiftly followed by Cameron Kyle-Sidell, a New York physician who put out a talk on YouTube saying that by preparing to put patients on ventilators, hospitals in America were treating "the wrong disease." Ventilation, he feared, would lead to "a tremendous amount of harm to a great number of people in a very short time." This remains his view, he told Reuters this week. When Spain's outbreak erupted in mid-March, many patients went straight onto ventilators because lung X-rays and other test results "scared us," said Delia Torres, a physician at the Hospital General Universitario de Alicante. They now focus more on breathing and a patient's overall condition than just X-rays and tests. And they intubate less. "If the patient can get better without it, then there's no need," she said. In Germany, lung specialist Voshaar was also concerned. A mechanical ventilator itself can damage the lungs, he says. This means patients stay in intensive care longer, blocking specialist beds and creating a vicious circle in which ever more ventilators are needed. Of the 36 acute COVID-19 patients on his ward in mid-April, Voshaar said, one had been intubated - a man with a serious neuro-muscular disorder - and he was the only patient to die. Another 31 had recovered. "IRON LUNGS" Some doctors cautioned that the impression that the rush to ventilate is harmful may be partly due to the sheer numbers of patients in today's pandemic. People working in intensive care units know that the mortality rate of ARDS patients who are intubated is around 40 percent, said Thierry Fumeaux, head of an ICU in Nyon, Switzerland, and president of the Swiss Intensive Care Medicine Society. That is high, but may be acceptable in normal times, when there are three or four patients in a unit and one of them doesn't make it. "When you have 20 patients or more, this becomes very evident," said Fumeaux. "So you have this feeling - and I've heard this a lot - that ventilation kills the patient." That's not the case, he said. "No, it's not the ventilation that kills the patient, it's the lung disease." Mario Riccio, head of anaesthesiology and resuscitation at the Oglio Po hospital near Cremona in Lombardy, Italy's worst-hit region, says the machines are the only treatment to save a COVID-19 patient in serious condition. "The fact that people who were placed under mechanical ventilation in some cases die does not undermine this statement." Originally nicknamed "iron lungs" when introduced in the 1920s and 1930s, mechanical ventilators are sometimes also called respirators. They use pressure to blow air - or a mixture of gases such as oxygen and air - into the lungs. They can be set to exhale it, too, effectively taking over a patient's entire breathing process when their lungs fail. The aim is to give the body enough time to fight off an infection to be able to breathe independently and recover. Some patients need them because they're losing the strength to breathe, said Yoram Weiss, director of Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem. "It is very important to ventilate them before they collapse." At his hospital, 24 of 223 people with COVID-19 had been put on ventilators by April 13. Of those, four had died and three had come off the machines. AEROSOLS Simpler forms of ventilation - face masks for example - are easier to administer. But respirator masks can release micro-droplets known as aerosols which may spread infection. Some doctors said they avoided the masks, at least at first, because of that risk. While mechanical ventilators do not produce aerosols, they carry other risks. Intubation requires patients to be heavily sedated so their respiratory muscles fully surrender. The recovery can be lengthy, with a risk of permanent lung damage. Now that the initial wave of COVID-19 cases has peaked in many countries, doctors have time to examine other ways of managing the disease and are fine-tuning their approach. Voshaar, the German lung specialist, said some doctors were approaching COVID-19 lung problems as they would other forms of pneumonia. In a healthy patient, oxygen saturation - a measure of how much oxygen the haemoglobin in the blood contains - is around 96 percent of the maximum amount the blood can hold. When doctors check patients and see lower levels, indicating hypoxia, Voshaar said, they can overreact and race to intubate. "We lung doctors see this all the time," Voshaar told Reuters. "We see 80 percent and still do nothing and let them breathe spontaneously. The patient doesn't feel great, but he can eat and drink and sit on the side of his bed." He and other doctors think other tests can help before intubation. Voshaar looks at a combination of measures including how fast the patient is breathing and their heart rate. His team are also guided by lung scans. "HAPPY HYPOXICS" Several doctors in New York said they too had started to consider how to treat patients, known as "happy hypoxics," who can talk and laugh with no signs of mental cloudiness even though their oxygen might be critically low. Rather than rushing to intubate, doctors say they now look for other ways to boost the patients' oxygen. One method, known as "proning," is telling or helping patients to roll over and lie on their fronts, said Scott Weingart, head of emergency critical care at Stony Brook University Medical Center on Long Island. "If patients are left in one position in bed, they tend to desaturate, they lose the oxygen in their blood," Weingart said. Lying on the front shifts any fluid in the lungs to the front and frees up the back of the lungs to expand better. "The position changes have radically impressive effects on the patient's oxygen saturations." Weingart does recommend intubating a communicative patient with low oxygen levels if they start to lose mental clarity, if they experience a cytokine storm or if they start to really struggle to breathe. He feels there are enough ventilators for such patients at his hospital. But for happy hypoxics, "I still don't want these patients on ventilators, because I think it's hurting them, not helping them." QUALITY, SKILL As governments in the United States and elsewhere are scrambling to raise output of ventilators, some doctors worry the fast-built machines may not be up to snuff. Doctors in Spain wrote to their local government to complain that ventilators it had bought were designed for use in ambulances, not intensive care units, and some were of poor quality. In the UK, the government has cancelled an order for thousands of units of a simple model because more sophisticated devices are needed. More important, many doctors say, is that the additional machines will need highly trained and experienced operators. "It's not just about running out of ventilators, it's running out of expertise," said David Hill, a pulmonology and critical care physician in Waterbury, Connecticut, who attends at Waterbury Hospital. Long-term ventilation management is complex, but Hill said some U.S. hospitals were trying to bring non-critical care physicians up to speed fast with webinars or even tip sheets. "That is a recipe for bad outcomes." "We intensivists don't ventilate by protocol," said Hill. "We may choose initial settings," he said, "but we adjust those settings. It's complicated." Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here Desperate firms scrambling for emergency grants to survive the pandemic face a 'postcode lottery', with some councils paying as few as one in ten companies eligible for the lifeline. Latest figures show councils have handed out 6.1billion, almost half the 12.3billion they received from Government this month. Grants of up to 25,000 have been received by 491,725 small businesses, including shops, pubs, restaurants and cafes. Under the small business grants fund, firms qualify for cash payments of 10,000. Emergency grants: Latest figures show councils have handed out 6.1bn, almost half the 12.3bn they received from Government this month Under the retail, hospitality and leisure business grants fund, small companies can get up to 25,000. But some town halls have been far quicker than others at paying companies. Birmingham City Council has handed grants to just 2,041 of the 19,146 firms owed the money or just over one in ten of the eligible companies. Of the 231.6million it received from central government on April 1, just 36.7million has landed in local companies' bank accounts. Tunbridge Wells council in Kent, South Oxfordshire council, and the local authorities in Slough and Luton have paid roughly one in ten firms earmarked for grants. In stark contrast, Winchester council has paid all 1,443 eligible firms, while Redcar & Cleveland has paid 2,328 or 98 per cent of 2,376 grants owed. Many councils have paid well over half of firms entitled to the money. But 473,354 firms across the country are still owed 6.2billion, compounding fears that huge numbers could collapse. Councils say they are short-staffed and that it has been difficult to obtain the necessary information from firms. But business groups have hit out at delays. Ian Cass, at the Forum of Private Business, said: 'For the Government to rely on these authorities to distribute grants and expect consistent delivery was always wishful thinking. What they have done is created a postcode lottery for small and micro businesses, where geography decides if you have received the much needed funds or if you are still waiting.' Mike Cherry, at the Federation of Small Businesses, said: '[Councils] must act now if they want to see small businesses survive on their local high streets when we reach the other side of this crisis.' Councillor Richard Watts, of the Local Government Association's resources board, said: 'Councils have worked hard to distribute more than 6billion to small businesses. Many have set up teams and redeployed staff to run the scheme and ensure the risk of fraud is minimised. It has been a big task but councils will continue to work at pace to ensure eligible businesses receive this vital funding as quickly as possible.' Yesterday, Birmingham council said: 'The council is processing millions of pounds of grants. 'Our teams are working around the clock, including weekends, to make sure submissions are checked and details are correct before we process payments. 'A further 35million of grants will be processed today with significant numbers to follow tomorrow [Thursday] and Friday.' Business Secretary Alok Sharma said: `I am very grateful to local authorities who have been working flat out to ensure these vital funds get to hard-pressed small business owners. `Government is doing everything we can to support individual councils and help ensure that these grants reach local firms as soon as possible. I urge everyone to keep working at pace to get the money where it is needed quickly.' A 'well-respected' and highly valued' social worker who made a 'valuable contribution to support children in care' has become the latest health worker to die of coronavirus. Muhammad Islam, who worked with young people leaving care at Birmingham Children's Trust, died on Thursday, the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) announced. Following the Mr Islam's death, the BASW said it would continue to lobby for all social workers on the front line to get 'vital' personal protective equipment. BASW chief executive Ruth Allen said: 'Social workers form a tight-knit community and this tragic news has hugely affected us. Social worker Muhammad Islam, who worked with young people leaving care at Birmingham Children's Trust, died on Thursday. (Stock image) 'We send our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Muhammad. 'Dreadfully, we don't know how many others there are, or how many social workers are suffering from the virus right now. 'What we do know is that social workers continue to work tirelessly, knocking on doors, delivering vital services out in communities, and thus, like their health colleagues, are at greater personal risk.' Paying tribute to Mr Islam, the chief executive of Birmingham Children's Trust, Andy Couldrick, said: 'We are deeply saddened by the passing of Muhammad after a battle with Covid-19 over the past few weeks. 'Muhammad was a well-respected, well-liked and highly valued member of our care leavers' team who supported many young people in Birmingham. 'Muhammad was passionate about providing the best care for young people and he will be sorely missed by his colleagues and the young people he supported, and our thoughts are with his family and friends.' Kate Booth, cabinet member for children's wellbeing, said: 'On behalf of Birmingham City Council I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to Muhammad's family, friends and work colleagues for their sad loss. 'Muhammad had worked for many years making a valuable contribution to support children in care and care leavers in Birmingham and will be very much missed.' A JustGiving page has now been set up in the social worker's memory to support children's charities chosen by his family and has already raised 817. Following Mr Islam's death, a JustGiving page has been set up in the his memory and has already raised 817 In 2005, Mr Islam, who grew up in the 1960s in Gateshead, told The Guardian how at the age of 16 he joined the British National Party along with his friend as it was seen as a 'cool thing to do' during the 60s. However by the time he was 19 he drew away from the party and in 1989, while walking past a secondhand book stall by the Royal Festival Hall, bought a book which he described had the 'most beautiful picture', only to find out when he got home he it was the Qur'an. From this point onwards, the social worker began to draw closer to the religion and would regularly go and debate with Muslims at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park. Mr Islam's death comes just weeks after the BASW announced the death of another social worker who worked for Southwark Council. A statement from BASW read: 'The employee is reported to have worked for Southwark Council, who have stated losing a second colleague to the deadly virus too. 'Currently, we are not fully aware of all the details including whether the employee was likely to have contracted Covid-19 due to their job role, but will be following developments closely. 'We would like to send our heartfelt condolences to the families of the two people who have lost their lives in these awful circumstances.' Yesterday it was announced that paramedic Charlie Goodwin, 61, who had worked for First 4 Care for more than 20 years, was rushed to the intensive care unit at King's Mill Hospital, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, on April 8 after presenting with the symptoms of Covid-19. However the father-of-three, who was described by his wife Julie as 'kind' and 'dedicated' passed away on April 20. Yesterday it was announced that Charlie Goodwin, 61, who worked for First 4 Care, was rushed to the intensive care unit at King's Mill Hospital, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, on April 8 had died Dr Yusuf Patel, who was a GP partner and founder of the Woodgrange NHS Medical Practice in Forest Gate, East London, has also died from Covid-19 Following Mr Goodwin's death, his wife Julie, who had been married to the health worker for 26 years, told Nottinghamshire Live: 'He was very kind and had an extra special relationship with his son because he supported Manchester City and his son supported Manchester United, which led to some interesting moments in the house. 'He was totally dedicated to his job. He loved the job and he wanted to get straight out there (during the pandemic). She continued: 'It's a horrible virus. He went in with breathing difficulties, he could not talk or stand up. The next thing I know he is on a ventilator. 'We could not go to hospital and I could not go with him to hospital and we cannot even go and see him in the chapel of rest. We can only have 15 people at his funeral. 'It has been really hard. It's terrible. But I've got a really good family and good friends. I just want to tell people to stay in and stop being stupid.' This week Dr Yusuf Patel, who was a GP partner and founder of the Woodgrange NHS Medical Practice in Forest Gate, East London, also died from Covid-19. The doctor, who graduated from Sheffield Medical School in 1984, was being treated at Whipps Cross Hospital. Following his death a spokesperson for Woodgrange NHS Medical Practice in Forest Gate said: 'It is with a very heavy heart that we have to inform you of the sad loss of Dr Yusuf Ismail Patel, GP principal and founder of Woodgrange NHS Medical Practice. 'After a valiant struggle with Covid, Dr Patel finally succumbed to his illness on Monday 20 April. Healthcare workers have been paying tribute to NHS mental health counsellor Ann Shepherd, 80, from Leicester, who died earlier this week 'This is a tragic loss to all his family, friends, colleagues and patients. The pain is immeasurable. He has touched and enriched many lives and we miss him dearly.' Today, healthcare workers paid tribute to NHS mental health counsellor Ann Shepherd, 80, from Leicester, who died earlier this week. Described as a 'phenomenal character, full of colour and sparkle', Ms Shepherd, had worked at the Moir Medical Centre in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, for 26 years. Following the tragic announcement, Ifti Majid, chief executive of the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, said: 'Ann was a wonderful colleague, held in very high esteem by all she worked with. She was truly devoted to her work and her patients and was inspirational in her field. 'She was also a phenomenal character, full of colour and sparkle. 'Ann always made time for members of her team. I understand that even after her provisional diagnosis of Covid-19, Ann would call to check if colleagues were OK and if they need any support. 'Ann was a true professional, who touched the lives of many. She made a tremendous difference to a lot of people's lives and she was highly respected by patients and colleagues alike. 'Ann is a very sad loss to the trust and those she worked alongside at Moir Medical Centre. My thoughts are with Ann's family, her many friends and colleagues at this very sad time.' Ms Shepherd's colleagues have also paid tribute to her, saying: 'The team at Moir Medical Centre are deeply saddened by the loss of Ann. 'Based at the Moir Medical Centre for over 26 years, Ann was an integral and highly regarded member of our team. 'Ann was more than a work colleague. Her support for other members of the practice team and her contribution to life within the practice was outstanding. 'She could always be relied upon for honest and compassionate advice for patients and staff. 'She had a huge impact on her patients, who would speak favourably of their treatment with her for years afterwards. Her enthusiasm for her work was an inspiration to all. She will be sincerely missed.' Meanwhile paramedic Ian Reynolds, who worked at New Addington, near Croydon, south London, has also died after contracting coronavirus. The father-of-two, who was also a UNISON union rep, worked for the service for 32 years and was still as active as ever until falling ill with Covid 19 last month. A Unison statement said: 'Ian embodied all the values of the union - a wise, experienced and popular man who had time for everybody and could relate to his colleagues, members and patients alike - regardless of their background or identity - with an ease that endeared him to everyone he came across 'In addition to his tireless union and frontline work, Ian was the principle liaison between the LAS and all the Croydon care homes, using his easy charm and wit to build bridges, as he did everywhere he went. 'He was a passionate union man, a devoted Crystal Palace fan and an unapologetic mod. 'He loved his music, consuming live gigs like he did craft ales. 'Ian was the mate who always had time for a curry and a chat, who knew what you were going through and would be there for you with wise words and irreverent jokes in equal measure. 'They don't make them like Ian any more. He will be deeply missed by his union comrades, his Croydon ambulance family, his boys Jack and Ben (of whom he was immeasurably proud) and his wife Sian, who he loved with all his heart.' The tragic deaths come as the coronavirus crisis continues to claim the lives of brave doctors, nurses and support staff helping fight the pandemic on the frontline. The coronavirus has put folks out of work, tightened budgets and, apparently, opened the door for predatory landlords to move in. According to a recent NBC News report, landlords are preying on cash-strapped tenants during the shutdown in attempts to solicit sex for rent. The NBC News report cites Khara Jabola-Carolus, the executive director of the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, as saying her office has seen an increase in reports of landlords sexually harassing tenants since the shutdowns began around the pandemic. Among the complaints were landlords offering to move in with tenants and sending sexually explicit photos. Landlord coercion has always been a reality, but weve never seen anything like this, she told NBC News. And, the report says, advocates expect cases to rise around the country the longer the shutdown goes on. So, what can tenants do? "Under the federal Fair Housing Act, sexual harassment by landlords is illegal," Sandra Park, senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberty Union's Women's Rights Project, told NBC News. "Many states also have laws that ban sexual harassment and discrimination." Tenants facing such a situation can file a report with the Justice Department. DOJ is aware of these allegations and is working through its Civil Rights Division to investigate and bring to justice those landlords and other housing providers who engage in sexual harassment of tenants, a spokesperson for the DOJ emailed NBC News. And Park even created a guide for women facing such situations. MORE ON CORONAVIRUS How do you make your own mask to protect against COVID-19? Beer distributor guide: Whats open, whats closed, and whats offering pickup or delivery? From fishing brown bears to Old Faithful: Tour the national parks from your couch Why have Pennsylvania lottery sales at physical locations continued during the coronavirus pandemic? Outdoor etiquette guide for coronavirus released by Pennsylvania Recreation and Park Society and Get Outdoors PA What must happen for life to get back to normal during the coronavirus pandemic? An expert weighs in Heres why your gym cant charge monthly fees during the coronavirus shutdown How are grocery workers in Pennsylvania handling the coronavirus pandemic? Video highlights workers in Cumberland County store My paycheck or my health? Warehouse workers see themselves as reluctant heroes of pandemic Pa. school districts jump into remote learning: This is not a normal situation for anybody The Amish present unique challenges amid coronavirus El presidente @MartinVizcarraC informa sobre la situacion del Estado de Emergencia en el #Dia39 y las acciones que realiza el Gobierno para contener la propagacion del COVID-19. En vivo: https://t.co/lMjhAXt3Ha https://t.co/5JknxdtH8O Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ruslan Sangadji and Dian Septiari (The Jakarta Post) Palu/Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 19:24 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3e8b95 1 World COVID-19-in-Indonesia,diplomacy,politics,health,labor,China-Indonesia,public-opinion Free Local governments have shown a lack of trust in Chinese workers employed in numerous projects throughout the country, potentially signaling a flashpoint in Indonesia-China relations and dampening milestone diplomatic celebrations this year. Recently, Central Sulawesi Governor Longki Djanggola ordered 10 Chinese workers to return to their camp in Kendari, in neighboring Southeast Sulawesi, after they were stopped on their way to a work site in North Morowali regency. The workers were expecting to repair smelters belonging to PT Gunbuster Nickel Industries (GNI), a subsidiary of PT Virtue Dragon Nickel Industry, the Chinese-backed mining company that employs them. They were reportedly the only people with the expertise to make the repairs. Read also: Activists, politicians urge protection of Chinese mistreated over coronavirus The workers were briefly detained last week at a COVID-19 monitoring post at the border between the provinces of Southeast and Central Sulawesi, despite having lived in Kendari for a long time. Longki said it was important to tighten surveillance of foreigners to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the region. The governor argued that there was a legal basis for preventing the Chinese nationals from entering his province founded on a Manpower Ministry circular on foreign workers and other efforts to curb the spread of the disease. Longki said that companies had to provide the necessary paperwork and inform local authorities before sending foreign workers on work-related trips. In the meantime, he said, the 10 workers would be monitored by local agencies from the immigration, health and manpower sectors. "You cannot just bring in foreign workers without coordination, so I asked that they immediately be returned to Kendari, he told The Jakarta Post on Friday. The presence, activities and health of foreign workers had to be supervised by the government, the governor said, even if the workers were carrying out activities on behalf of their firms. The COVID-19 epidemic has elicited increased suspicion of foreign workers in Indonesia, particularly those from China, where the virus that causes the disease is believed to have originated although some studies cast doubt on this assumption. Read also: How to communicate COVID-19 risk without fuelling anti-Chinese sentiment in Indonesia As of Thursday, there were 7,775 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country, 37 of which were reported in Southeast Sulawesi and 29 of which were reported in Central Sulawesi. Three people have died in Central Sulawesi, including the late North Morowali regent Aptripel Tumimomor, who tested positive for the disease posthumously earlier this month. First responders: Officials respond to a helicopter crash inside an industrial park in Morowali, Central Sulawesi, on Friday. The helicopter was carrying six Chinese nationals. (Courtesy of/The National Disaster and Mitigation Agency ) Other regions have also shown a tendency to discriminate against Chinese workers. Late last month, 39 Chinese workers arriving in Bintan in the Riau Islands province were refused entry. Authorities argued that the workers employer, the aluminum producer PT Bintan Alumina Indonesia based in the Galang Batang special economic zone (KEK), did not have a permit to employ foreign workers, kompas.com reported. A Chinese worker was refused entry to West Kalimantan despite having obtained a medical certificate. He was deported just days after his arrival, which sparked public protest amid COVID-19 fears. Asmuni, a spokesman for the Pontianak Imigration Agency, said he was under strict orders from the regional administration head to deport the person in question. While he did produce a medical certificate, we still dont know the actual conditions in his home country. It is better to be sent home than to be allowed in and end up making a fuss, he told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. The Pontianak administration rejected the worker on March 27, well before the central government announced it would temporarily ban foreigners from entering Indonesia. The ban, which was formalized under Law and Human Rights Ministry Regulation No. 11/2020, came into effect on April 3. Based on our observations since the ban, there is no foreign traffic to or from West Kalimantan at this time," Asmuni said. Throughout Indonesia, 239 foreigners have been denied entry between Feb. 6 and April 19, according to data from the Law and Human Rights Ministrys Directorate for Immigration. From the official records, 89 of those denied entry were from China, 15 from Malaysia and 12 from Russia. The Chinese Embassy in Jakarta was not immediately available for comment. Anti-Chinese sentiment has been a growing problem in Southeast Asia even before the COVID-19 outbreak as Beijings influence and presence in the region has increased. Foreign direct investment from China, Indonesias second-largest foreign investor, almost doubled last year to US$4.7 billion from $2.4 billion in 2018, according to data from the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM). Meanwhile, many Indonesians of Chinese descent still have deep-seated fears of a mass reprisal against their minority group, owing to the countrys history of anti-communist violence, which was often directed at racial minorities. Read also: Chinese-Indonesians feel like outsiders amid persisting racist sentiment The recently growing sentiment has aggravated underlying grievances caused by the fear that Chinese investments will further marginalize local communities, said Dewi Fortuna Anwar from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI). The general perception of China in Indonesia is very mixed, the international relations research professor said. Theres always distrust based on history, politics and the social makeup of the two countries, as well as ethnicity. Its complex, and the issue of Chinese workers has been here for a few years following increased investment [from] China. The Morowali Industrial Park in Central Sulawesi, which turned Indonesia into the worlds second-largest exporter of stainless steel in just five years, has been mired in rumors of an influx in foreign workers. The rumors have exacerbated anti-Chinese sentiment, but the government has brushed them aside as an exaggeration. Unlike projects from Europe or Japan that employ a few foreign experts and arrange transfers of technology, Dewi said that Chinese investment was mostly bundled with workers from China. This has resulted in resentment at the local level because [of the lack of] added value to the local economy, she said. There are existing concerns that foreign workers will take opportunities away from locals, and they are often exclusive in nature, which prompts racist responses. But all of that should go away with the significantly reduced mobility everywhere, not just among Chinese people, she noted. Indonesia and China will celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations this year. Severianus Endi contributed to this story from Pontianak, West Kalimantan. Editor's note: The main photo for this article has been replaced to better reflect the story's content. Fox News host Sean Hannity said that Americans are "dying to get back to work" on both his talk radio and television shows on Wednesday, despite evidence pointing to the contrary. The comment was made while Mr Hannity was discussing pockets of anti-lockdown protests organised by far-right Facebook groups. During his comments on his radio show, Mr Hannity said that in Georgia, the governor has said he would reopen gyms and salons, noting that going to a salon would put people in close proximity to one another, and said that while he would do it, people should talk to "their own doctors" before visiting those businesses. Later, on his television show, Mr Hannity - who once said Democrats were using the virus "hoax" as a bludgeon to attack Donald Trump - accused Democrats of politicizing the pandemic, and again said that "Americans are dying to get back to work." Despite Mr Hannity's claims, an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll released on Sunday found that 58 per cent of registered voters said they were concerned about loosening lockdown restrictions, while only 32 per cent were worried restrictions would stay in place for too long. Mr Hannity's rhetoric and the part it has played in worsening the pandemic recently became the subject of academic study. Earlier this week, a group of scholars from the University of Chicago released a study suggesting that Mr Hannity's initial downplaying of the dangers of the virus may have led to greater numbers of infection in areas where he had significant viewership. The study found that areas where Fox News viewers more often tuned into Mr Hannity's show than to Tucker Carlson's show - coronavirus cases were more widespread. According to the study, Mr Carlson reported on the virus more frequently and treated it as a more serious threat than Mr Hannity. Mr Hannity's tune on the protests may be changing soon, however, if Fox News executives have anything to say about the matter. NPR reported that on Monday, Fox News President Jay Wallace sent a directive to Fox anchors to remind them to practice social distancing. The same day Mr Wallace's guidance went out, Fox News host Harris Faulkner interrupted a guest who insisted that protesters were not violating safety guidelines. Mr Faulkner pointed out that the network was airing footage at that moment that showed protesters well within six feet of each other and many who were not wearing masks. The Facebook groups and websites fuelling the protests - often containing the words "against excessive quarantine" - have largely been linked to a single group of brothers, the Dorrs. The brothers are behind many anti-gun control sites and, according to a 2019 story from Cleveland.com on the men, seek "to stir the pot and make as much animosity as they can, and then raise money off that animosity Snow in April weather surprises Georgians once again - GeorgianJournal A new research project has been launched to explore the effects of social distancing and isolation on people aged over 70 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research, conducted by Birmingham City University's Professor Joanne Brooke and Dr Maria Clarke, will examine the challenges older people are facing in social isolation, including loneliness, organising the delivery of essential items and separation from friends and family. The project comes as governments and health authorities across the globe advise older people to adhere to strict social isolation measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a series of telephone interviews with people aged over 70, the researchers hope to gain a greater understanding of the lived experience of the people during the COVID-19 pandemic. Those participating in the research will be interviewed every two weeks between April and July, to understand the impact of self-isolation over time and this will continue until government recommendations to social distance are lifted. Researchers will evaluate the needs of individuals during this time and how well they are met, with participants including both people who live alone and those who live with someone - usually a spouse. Professor Brooke, Director of Birmingham City University's Centre for Social Care, Health and Related Research explained: Social isolation impacts negatively on both the physical and mental health of this age group. Therefore, it is important to understand these risks, and how we can address them during the current pandemic, to support older people to maintain their health beyond the coronavirus. We aim to develop recommendations and guidelines to support older people during isolation, which will be relevant for this pandemic and to understand the significance of social distancing for older people following this pandemic." To date, 18 people living in the Midlands, North of England and Republic of Ireland have signed up to take part in the study. The findings hope to contribute to a set of practical guidance measures to help over 70s cope with social isolation, as well as developing resources for families, carers and health workers. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown on Wednesday shared her "Reopening Oregon" framework with about 1,000 people during an online presentation organized by the Portland Business Alliance and other business groups. Gillian Flaccus Don't Edit Details of the plan, originally published by The Oregonian/OregonLive on Monday, outline how the state can eventually reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic. We will be living with this virus in our communities, until there is immunity, which is many, many months off," Nik Blosser, Brown's chief of staff, said. "So going back to business as usual, or business as normal, pre-COVID, is not something thats going to happen right away. I think most of you know that. But I think its just a very sobering fact that we all have to live with. Don't Edit Reopening Oregon is predicated first on public health factors. Second, state officials want to ensure communities are prepared for outbreaks. The third component involves gradually lifting restrictions in three phases. "Even Phase Three is not back to business as usual," Blosser said. Don't Edit Don't Edit On the public health front, the state wants to see a drop in coronavirus illness cases and wants to know that hospitals are able to care for patients with proper protective gear. "We're feeling pretty good about being able to meet these gating criteria, generally speaking," Blosser said. Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit Blosser said the state this week is building out a "robust" testing and contact tracing plan. The details of those are unclear -- The Oregonian/OregonLive requested drafts of the documents on Monday but has not yet received them from Brown's office or the Oregon Health Authority. "I'm not going to go into all of the detail here, but suffice it to say, we're creating a very detailed testing plan that is statewide," Blosser said. Rural counties with zero cases and the ability to test and perform contact tracing could begin Phase One of lesser restrictions sooner than urban counties, he said. Don't Edit Don't Edit State officials are working on plans and guidelines for different types of businesses to reopen. "Under what conditions can restaurants, and child care, and personal services like salons, reopen?" Blosser said. "As well as additional guidelines, potentially, for riders and employees of mass transit." Don't Edit During the phased approach, Oregonians would still need to keep their distance, wash their hands often and cover their faces in public as a best practice. Don't Edit Don't Edit "If all that, those prerequisites are met, the governor can give the green light and Phase One lifting of restrictions can begin," Blosser said. Don't Edit Phase One would still call for all vulnerable people to stay home, minimize non-essential travel and encourage working from home. The draft proposal discourages social gatherings of more than 10 people. Don't Edit The proposal indicates that not all eight types of businesses would open in Phase One. For instance, large venues are likely to remain closed during the initial phase, and visitors would be prohibited from going to hospitals and care facilities, according to the draft. While schools remain closed, as in under the federal framework (center column), Oregon would look to open some child care facilities. Officials are trying to figure out how certain industries could reopen with strong social distancing and sanitation measures in place. "We're trying to do all the work now of defining what that means, in particular for restaurants," Blosser said. Don't Edit Rural parts of Oregon with fewer COVID-19 cases might be able to reopen parts of the economy sooner. Baker, Gilliam, Harney, Lake and Wheeler counties have not reported any identified coronavirus cases. Four other counties -- Crook, Grant, Sherman and Wallowa -- have reported only one identified infection. Don't Edit After lifting some restrictions in Phase One, state officials would look at whether there is a re-emergence of coronavirus illness over 14 days. "If there's not, we can move to Phase Two, which is a further lifting of restrictions," Blosser said. "All the details of what's in Phase Two and Three are still being worked on," he added. Don't Edit Don't Edit The governor's office has been reaching out to affected industries and sectors. Wednesday, Brown and Blosser presented the plan to the Portland Business Alliance, the Oregon Business Council and Oregon Business & Industry. Don't Edit State officials are also discussing reopening efforts with six specific sectors. "Our goal is next week to release some drafts of these for people to look at and comment on," Blosser said. "We're moving as quickly as we can on these sectors." Don't Edit State officials hope to be able to release by the week of May 4 complete details on the testing and tracing plan and details of each reopening phase, Blosser said. Don't Edit The state has a to-do list before specific plans are released. Don't Edit Officials have not yet released draft documents for testing, contact tracing or isolation strategies, despite a public records request from The Oregonian/OregonLive. Don't Edit Don't Edit Some county leaders are eagerly awaiting the completion of the state's plan so they can request reopening. Don't Edit On Thursday, Brown announced the restart of some medical procedures that had been put on hold for the coronavirus outbreak. Don't Edit See all the data, charts and maps collected by The Oregonian/OregonLive here. Don't Edit As of April 23, cases continue to rise in Oregon. Don't Edit The state this week began releasing information about those Oregonians who have recovered from COVID-19. Don't Edit Iran Claims It 'Successfully' Launched Military Satellite April 22, 2020 Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on April 22 that it launched a military satellite into orbit, after months of failed attempts. State television and the Tasnim news agency, which is affiliated with the IRGC, reported the launch on April 22, calling it "successful." There was no immediate independent confirmation of the launch of the satellite but analysts said it raised concerns about whether the technology used could help Iran develop intercontinental ballistic missiles. "Iran's first military satellite, Noor (light), was launched this morning from central Iran in two stages. The launch was successful and the satellite reached orbit," state TV said. The IRGC on its official website said the satellite reached an orbit of 425 kilometers above the Earth's surface. The multistage satellite launch used a Ghased, or "messenger," satellite carrier to put the device into space -- a previously unheard-of system, according to the paramilitary group. Tasnim added that the operation was carried from a launchpad in Dasht-e Kavir, a large desert in central Iran. Iran has suffered several failed satellite launches in recent months. The U.S. State Department and the Pentagon have said that such launches advance Iran's ballistic missile program. The launch comes amid increased tensions between Iran and the United States over the latter's withdrawal from a landmark nuclear deal and after a U.S. drone strike killed top IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani in January. It also may signal that Iran is more willing to take chances during the current global coronavirus crisis, which has slashed oil prices to historic lows and forced many countries into an economic recession. "This is big," said Fabian Hinz, a researcher at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California. "Big question now is what tech the first stage used. Solid propellant? Liquid using old Shahab 3 tech? Liquid using more sophisticated motors/fuels? This is key to establishing how worrisome the launch is from a security perspective," he added. Based on reporting by AP, Reuters, and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-says-it -successfully-launched-military- satellite/30569530.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 In this March 27, 2020, file photo the Capitol is seen as House lawmakers prepare to debate emergency coronavirus response legislation on Capitol Hill in Washington. Read more In this time of pandemic, days matter for Pennsylvania small businesses, over 60% of which are in danger of closing permanently in the next few months. Thats why the actions of Congress, and particularly congressional Democrats who stalled the replenishment of the COVID-related Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) fund for almost two weeks were so disheartening to witness, both as a business owner and a consultant for businesses and nonprofits who are struggling to stay afloat. Weeks ago, it was clear that funds were running low for Congresss $349 billion PPP fund, which had received far more applications than it could support highlighting its appeal in offering emergency loans to businesses with under 500 employees (which would be turned into grants for payroll-related expenses). Senate Republicans proposed that the Senate do the simplest thing: replenish the funds quickly by unanimous consent, to get the emergency program topped off, without adding any changes or uncertainty for pending loan applicants. After all, Congress had already approved of and passed the program. Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, balked, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, showcasing a freezer full of boutique ice creams, followed suit, demanding money for expanded welfare programs and state and local finances over an easy resolution to refund the PPP. The money dried up, applications stalled, and businesses scrambled to secure any remaining funds. This week, after nearly two weeks of deadlock, Congress finally moved, with the two sides meeting in the middle and the Senate passing a $320 billion extension for the PPP program. And where was Pennsylvanias senior senator, Bob Casey, during all this? Posting selfies, tweeting vague statements (it didnt have to be this way thanks, senator), and blasting Trumps response to the coronavirus but not bothering to publicly tell Schumer to break the deadlock on funding the PPP program. HELP US REPORT: Are you a health-care worker, medical provider, government worker, patient, frontline worker, or other expert? We want to hear from you. Who knows how many Pennsylvania jobs have been lost or sacrificed in the weeks of delay caused by Senate Democrats. The most important thing that the Senate could do is prevent total economic collapse in the face of this pandemic and on this, and so many other issues, Pennsylvania voters should be concerned that Casey seems to be asleep at the wheel. Pennsylvania House Democrats were no better. Susan Wild, who replaced moderate Republican Charlie Dent in the Lehigh Valley, fumed over Trumps name going on the stimulus checks but had no time to publicly tell Pelosi to get the business funds approved. Chrissy Houlahan, a member of the Problem Solvers Caucus from Chester County, inched toward doing that, telling House and Senate Leadership that our communitys small businesses need access to capital, and they need it now, but not naming the culprits in her official letter on the issue. One maverick senator did take it upon herself to distance herself from her partys stonewalling: Arizonas Kyrsten Sinema, who sided with her GOP colleagues in supporting the quickest path toward refunding the PPP, through unanimous consent. Arizonans, and particularly small-business owners in Arizona, are lucky to have her. It is an interesting and divergent trend in our era that, as partisanship and tribalism grow, more Americans are shedding their party affiliations than ever. We deserve political leaders who are willing to step out of line, show backbone, and break with their parties at times. Contrast Casey with his junior counterpart, Republican Pat Toomey, who has been picked to help lead the national task force to reopen the economy, and who has stuck out his neck more than any other Republican while trying to pass gun legislation to mandate universal background checks. This has been a profile in courage, and he has taken plenty of arrows from the right for his work on gun laws. What does Casey have to compare with that? He is in his third term serving Pennsylvania in the Senate and is moving at approximately zero miles per hour. U.S. businesses will face many perils over the coming months. Next time its his turn to act, lets hope Sen. Casey rouses himself to speak up, even if it means inconveniencing Democratic Party leadership. A leading Russian microbiologist has claimed the coronavirus is the result of Wuhan scientists doing 'absolutely crazy things' in their laboratory. World renowned expert Professor Petr Chumakov claimed their aim was to study the pathogenicity of the virus and not 'with malicious intent' to deliberately create a manmade killer. Professor Chumakov, chief researcher at the Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology in Moscow, said: 'In China, scientists at the Wuhan Laboratory have been actively involved in the development of various coronavirus variants for over ten years. 'Moreover, they did this, supposedly not with the aim of creating pathogenic variants, but to study their pathogenicity. World renowned expert Professor Petr Chumakov (pictured) claimed their aim was to study the pathogenicity of the virus and not 'with malicious intent' to deliberately create a manmade killer 'They did absolutely crazy things, in my opinion. 'For example, inserts in the genome, which gave the virus the ability to infect human cells. 'Now all this has been analysed. 'The picture of the possible creation of the current coronavirus is slowly emerging.' He told Moskovsky Komsomolets newspaper: 'There are several inserts, that is, substitutions of the natural sequence of the genome, which gave it special properties. 'It is interesting that the Chinese and Americans who worked with them published all their works in the open (scientific) press. Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov (left) warned this week against allegations that coronavirus was manmade 'I even wonder why this background comes to people very slowly. 'I think that an investigation will nevertheless be initiated, as a result of which new rules will be developed that regulate the work with the genomes of such dangerous viruses. 'It's too early to blame anyone.' He said the Chinese scientists created 'variants of the virus without malicious intent' possibly aiming for an HIV vaccine. Professor Chumakov is also connected to Russia's Federal Research Centre for Research and Development of Immunobiological Preparations. Vladimir Putin's spokesman warned this week against allegations that coronavirus was manmade. 'In the situation where there is not enough information that has been supported and checked by science ... we think it is unacceptable, impossible, to groundlessly accuse anyone,' said Dmitry Peskov. Veronika Skvortsova (pictured), head of Russia's Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA) has said a 'very thorough' study is needed to determine if the virus is manmade Earlier Veronika Skvortsova, head of Russia's Federal Medical-Biological Agency (FMBA) and Putin's ex-health minister, was asked if the pandemic virus could be manmade. 'This question is not that easy. It demands a very thorough study,' she said on Russia's Channel One. 'None of the versions can be ruled out.' She said: 'We can see that a fairly large number of fragments distinguishes this virus from its very close relative, SARS. 'They are approximately 94 per cent similar, the rest is different 'I think that we must conduct a very serious research.' Egyptian lawyer Mohamed Talaat is seeking $10 trillion in compensation from the Chinese government for damages sustained by Egypt as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Earlier this month, Talaat sent the Chinese Embassy in Cairo a formal notice of the lawsuit he intends to file against the Chinese authorities for the harm caused to Egypt by what he called the "Chinese virus." Announcing his plan to take China to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Talaat said, "The coronavirus is a biological weapon that was developed in a Chinese lab." "The US has filed a legal complaint against China over the coronavirus outbreak, so why can't Egypt do the same?" he asked, in reference to a $20 trillion lawsuit filed by American right-wing lawyer Larry Klayman and his advocacy group Freedom Watch March 19. Klayman also claims that the novel coronavirus was "designed by China" to "kill US citizens and other persons and entities in nations perceived to be enemies of China." Researchers have since discredited the conspiracy theory, with studies suggesting that the virus originated in bats and jumped to humans via an intermediary species such as the pangolin. Not surprisingly, Talaat's legal claim was met with cynicism from other lawyers. "The Bar Association has made light of my initiative," he complained in comments published in al-Naba newspaper. Furthermore, the International Court of Justice only entertains cases submitted by states, not individuals. And legal complaints can only be communicated through the applicant state's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not embassies. The Chinese ambassador to Egypt, Liao Liqiang, slammed the calls for compensation on Twitter April 10. "Such calls by attention-seekers demanding that China pay compensation can only provoke sarcasm and mockery; they will not affect the traditional deep friendship between China and Egypt," he tweeted in Arabic. "Any attempts to tarnish China's image and harm its interests will not succeed; China's cordial ties with Egypt are deep-rooted and historical. The governments and peoples of the two countries are diligently working together to defeat the novel coronavirus," he wrote in another tweet. In a gesture of solidarity and support, China sent medical aid to Egypt April 16 to help contain the spread of the coronavirus. Liqiang said in a virtual press conference that the shipment of 20,000 N95 masks, 10,000 protective suits and 10,000 COVID-19 detection kits was the first of three batches, with a second shipment planned for April 21. The medical aid from China comes in response to a similar goodwill gesture from Egypt. In early February, the Egyptian government sent 10 tons of medical supplies to China. Health Minister Hala Zayed flew to Beijing in early March to express solidarity with China in its fight against the coronavirus and to learn best practices from China. Zayed praised China's efforts to contain the spread of the virus because they helped avert a wider crisis. Yet members of Egypt's Chinese community are reporting a surge in anti-China sentiment since the outbreak of the coronavirus. A video posted to social media in early March shows citizens harassing a Chinese man on a busy Cairo highway. "Corona, corona," someone shouts at the bewildered man, who, minutes earlier, had been stranded by his driver. The driver appears at the start of the video, covering his nose and mouth with tissues for fear of being infected by his passenger. The driver was arrested March 11 for harassment, in what Ambassador Liqiang called "an isolated incident." Cabinet spokesman Nader Saad also downplayed the incident. "This is by no means a phenomenon; such harassment of Chinese tourists is a rarity in Egypt. The driver has been jailed over the malpractice, and civil society members and youths have apologized to the Chinese man for the unfortunate mishap," he told Al-Monitor. Commenting on the $10 trillion lawsuit against China, Saad said, "Egyptian law gives citizens the right to file legal complaints against any individual or entity. The government is not responsible for such actions nor can it interfere to prevent the lawyer from pursuing legal channels even if it does not see eye to eye with him on the matter." But Chinese employees at a healing center in Cairo's upper-class residential district of Maadi complain they are targets for harassment. "Before the outbreak of the pandemic, I felt at home in Cairo. People were friendly and welcoming," a masseuse told Al-Monitor. "Now, many here associate Asians with the coronavirus and are afraid we [the Chinese] may infect them. I can see the resentment, sometimes fear even, in people's eyes." The healing center, which offers acupuncture and cupping and a range of other therapeutic services, has been closed since mid-March to prevent the spread of the virus. Mr. Chong, the owner of a Chinese restaurant in Maadi, told Al-Monitor that the pandemic hit his 16-year business hard. "Restaurants across Egypt are suffering under the partial lockdown, but Chinese restaurants are by far the worst hit," he said. Since mid-March, he has offered takeout and delivery services. Yet a rumor spread on social media that the Health Ministry was conducting checks on Chinese restaurants. This has only "exacerbated the already dire situation for Chinese restaurant owners," Chong said. "Even though it is untrue, customers have stayed away and my business has suffered significantly as a result." Driving away Chinese investors and tourists is the last thing Egypt needs during this time of economic duress. Before the outbreak of the coronavirus, Egypt had hoped to attract 500,000 Chinese tourists in 2020, up from 300,000 Chinese tourists last year, but prospects have dimmed since the suspension of international flights in March. Cairo has doubled its efforts in recent years to woo foreign investors, adopting new industrial licensing and investment laws that reduce red tape and offer investors protective measures and incentives. Chinese investments in Egypt are worth nearly $7 billion and are set to double and trade volume between the two countries reached nearly $14 billion in 2019. It is little wonder that Cairo is cozying up to its biggest trading partner. The strong economic and trade ties are a win-win for both countries. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi perceives China as a political and security superpower and believes that having China as an ally will boost his status internationally. China, meanwhile, sees Egypt as a gateway to the untapped markets of the Middle East and Africa. The bulk of the Chinese investments are in energy and infrastructure projects, but Egypt is also relying on Chinese companies to build the Suez Canal Economic Zone, promoted on the project's official website as "a world class free zone and trade hub" along the banks of the strategic waterway. China's State Construction Engineering Corporation is also working with Egyptian contractors to build 20 skyscrapers, including Africa's tallest tower in the country's new administrative capital, set to be completed by mid-2022. There is, however, a bone of contention in the otherwise trouble-free partnership between the two countries: China's meddling in the Nile River Basin. Chinese firms are not only helping build Ethiopia's Renaissance Dam, which Egypt fears will cut into its water supply, but China has also partially funded the dam's construction (contributing $1.8 billion out of the total $4.8 billion funds needed for the project). Cairo is hoping that diplomacy and goodwill gestures may help it win China's backing in its dispute with Ethiopia over Nile waters. It is perhaps to this end that the Egyptian authorities have detained dozens of Uighur Muslim students and deported them to China, where they have been arrested and charged with "spreading extremism." Since relations between the two countries were elevated to a "comprehensive strategic partnership" in December 2014, Sisi has visited China no fewer than six times. His outreach to China is seen by analysts as a move toward diversifying foreign policy, but Sisi is also seeking to replicate China's transformation from a developing country to an economic powerhouse. And it appears that nothing not even lawsuits against China or harassment of Chinese tourists can undermine Chinese-Egyptian relations. A Southside Bethlehem hotel will become a temporary home for some of the citys homeless population thanks to an innovative collaboration. The city is teaming up with New Bethany Ministries and Comfort Suites Bethlehem, 120 W. Third St., to offer transitional housing to homeless individuals and families during the COVID-19 pandemic. The city is using new state funding to pay for 10 rooms at the hotel for eight weeks with the flexibility to add more rooms if theres demand, explained Marc Rittle, executive director of New Bethany -- a homeless service provider based on Southside. It is during trying times like these that we will be judged by how we care for the most vulnerable among us, Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez said. Helping individuals and families with transitional housing is a priority to ensuring this virus doesnt spread throughout our most vulnerable populations. The coronavirus outbreak poses a slew of challenges for nonprofits like New Bethany that serve some of the people most at-risk for the new virus. Without reliable housing, it can be hard for someone to frequently wash hands or practice social distancing. And many of the homeless have existing health conditions that make them more susceptible to the novel virus. At the same time, the resulting economic crisis is driving up demand for services as New Bethany is trying to also promote social distancing in its four transitional housing facilities, at its food pantry and its hot lunch distribution site. Demand for the meal center has more than doubled since the start of the crisis from about 40 hot meals a day to 100, Rittle said. With the majority of Lehigh Valleys shelters no longer accepting new residents or having closed early, New Bethany expects it can quickly fill the 10 rooms at the Comfort Suites, Rittle said. But New Bethany doesnt just want to provide temporary housing for eight weeks. A key goal of the program is providing a more stable housing solution for families and individuals post-pandemic, he said. We dont want to take 100 cases and have to put everybody else back on the street when this is over, Rittle said. We want to help with the public health crisis and we want to help with the housing crisis as well. New Bethany has stopped taking in new residents at its living facilities to promote social distancing and to hopefully keep COVID-19 out. All of New Bethanys housing features shared bathrooms, kitchens and living spaces, which makes things tricky. If you have it at capacity, it is honestly too many people, Rittle said of the housing. The city, Comfort Suites and New Bethany hatched the plan together. It allows the nonprofit to house more people -- folks who typically could find room in its existing facilities -- while filling hotel rooms. The Comfort Suites Bethlehem has always been a strong supporter of the community and we are glad to be able to offer our assistance during this crisis, said Dave Urban, the hotels general manager. New Bethany can do a client intake at its office and then just walk the person, who will get a case manager, over to the Comfort Suites. The nonprofit will provide the same supports to those staying at the hotel as it does to people in other New Bethany transitional housing. Weve been extremely nimble and well probably have to adjust programming to meet community needs, Rittle said. No New Bethany clients have tested positive for COVID-19 to Rittles knowledge. They have referred clients to the health networks hotlines and screen hot lunch recipients. Lunch looks a lot different these days with people lining up six-feet apart and meals served to-go from an office window. There are now hand sanitizer dispensers installed into the wall outside the food pantry and the front office door. And the meal center has a portable hand-washing station, like youd see at Musikfest. Bethlehem has placed washing stations around the city for use by the homeless, said Kristen Wenrich, Bethlehems health director. GET HELP Bethlehems homeless population in need of housing help can contact New Bethany Ministries at 610-691-5602, ext. 205, for evaluation and referral. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting lehighvalleylive.com with a voluntary subscription. 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. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. A driver who crashed into a tree in the middle of the night was found to have been shot in the face. The incident occurred just before 2.15am on Thursday in Waterloo Corner, on Adelaide's northern rural fringe. SA Police said a 43-year-old man from Wall Flat was 'found with facial injuries consistent with being shot'. A driver crashed a car into a tree in Waterloo Corner, on Adelaide's northern rural fringe. He was taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital (pictured) with a suspected gunshot wound to the face Officers went to a house on Dunn Road where two occupants of the home were removed. They are currently searching for the suspect, however it is believed both the victim and the suspect are known to each other. The victim is in Royal Adelaide Hospital being treated for non-life threatening injuries. Union Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Thursday said he has allotted foodgrains to an additional 7.4 lakh people in Bihar for free of cost distribution under the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY). Under this PMGKAY scheme, the Centre is providing 5 kg of foodgrains per person free of cost for three months. This is over and above 5 kg per person per month foodgrains distributed under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) to over 80 crore people in the country for Rs 2-3 per kg. Only 8.57 crore beneficiaries have been brought so far under the NFSA in Bihar, as against 8.71 crore people who are eligible, Paswan said in a tweet. The minister said he had already communicated this gap of 14 lakh to the state government on April 17. The Bihar government, Paswan said, has sent a beneficiary list of an additional 7.4 lakh people and requested to allott free foodgrains under the PMGKAY scheme. The minister said he immediately sanctioned allotment of foodgrains for these 7.4 lakh people. Paswan also requested Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to include the 14 lakh people who still do not feature in the beneficiary list of the NFSA, so that they can get the subsidised foodgrains. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has eased some restrictions designed to slow the spread of the coronavirus, but said Tuesday that it's not yet time to fully reopen the state's economy. Starting this week, hospitals can resume elective surgeries and nonessential retailers can reopen, with restrictions. State parks will also be open to visitors. READ MORE: The latest news and features about coronavirus in San Antonio Abbott noted the number of Texans testing positive for the virus is "leveling off." On April 9, the state had more than 1,000 people test positive, but hasn't hit that number in 12 straight days. On ExpressNews.com: Gov. Greg Abbott says hes ready to reopen massive amounts of businesses "Its not because COVID-19 is suddenly dispersed from the geography of the state of Texas," Abbott said. "The reason why it is leveling off is because our fellow Texans have done such a great job of reducing their interactions with others." The governor has assembled a panel of business executives and lobbyists charged with charting a course to reopen the state's economy. He plans to issue another executive order Monday outlining the next steps in the plan. On Wednesday, Abbott told a radio program that the order will reopen "massive amounts of businesses" including movie theaters, hair salons, and dine-in restaurants. When he makes the announcement, Abbott said he will give businesses a week to do what they need to get ready to reopen. Here's what you need to know about Abbott's plan to reopen the economy: - Retailers can reopen on Friday, but customers cannot enter the premises. The Department of State Health Services said all employees must be trained on disinfection and hygiene, then screened for symptoms shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, fever, close contact with person confirmed to have COVID-19 before entering the business. Customers can purchase items for pickup, delivery by mail, or delivery to the customer's doorstep. Payments should be done over the phone or online if possible. Contact should be minimized if remote payment is not available. Employees should put purchases in the trunks of customer vehicles when possible. Workers must wear face coverings and maintain at least 6 feet of separation from one another. - Non-emergency medical procedures can resume as long as those surgeries don't deplete medical resources. The restrictions on elective surgeries were intended to conserve supplies and free up bed space. To resume surgeries, hospitals need to submit a letter to the states Health and Human Services Commission promising to reserve at least 25 percent of its capacity for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. Also, facilities that resume elective surgeries cant request personal protective equipment, such as masks, from local, state or national stockpiles for the duration of the outbreak. - State parks re-opened Monday, two weeks after Abbott ordered them closed in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Some parks, including Mustang Island State Park near Corpus Christi, remained closed. Park visitors are required to purchase permits and reservations online before travelling to a park. At the park, they must follow social-distancing rules of 6 feet or more and wear masks over their faces. - Texas schools are closed through the end of the 2019-20 school year. Teachers are encouraged to work remotely if possible, but may return to schools to conduct video instructions or carry out administrative tasks. - Abbott named a panel of business executives and lobbyists to advise him on restarting the economy. San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff put together their own team to make recommendations for getting the local economy back up to speed. Mark Dunphy is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | mark.dunphy@express-news.net | @m_b_dunphy MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE: Even Hollywood's hottest celebrities can't escape the stress that comes with homeschooling their children during the coronavirus pandemic. On Thursday, Australian actor Chris Hemsworth, 36, revealed he's struggling to get his daughter India, seven, and twin sons Sasha and Tristan, five, to concentrate on their studies at home. 'Home schooling them is an absolute challenge. It's three hours of negotiation and maybe 20 minutes of actual work,' he said on Thursday in a promotional video for Netflix. The star, who is self-isolating with his wife Elsa Pataky and children in their $20million Byron Bay mansion, added: '[My children] just crave interaction with other kids so much, obviously, and that's a challenge.' Despite his struggles, Chris said he was ultimately thankful to be spending quality time with his brood at home Down Under. 'We're just enjoying being together. We've been dragged all over the world for so many different reasons over the last few years,' he lamented. Tried and tested: Australian actor Chris Hemsworth, 36, revealed on Thursday he's struggling to get his daughter India, seven, and twin sons Sasha and Tristan, five, to concentrate on their studies at home. Pictured with his children and wife Elsa Pataky, 43 Frustrations '[My children] just crave interaction with other kids so much, obviously, and that's a challenge', Chris said in the Netflix promotional video 'We're just enjoying being together': Despite his struggles, Chris said he was ultimately thankful to be spending quality time with his brood at home Down Under. Pictured with his twin sons It comes after Chris launched a guided meditation and visualisation exercises for children via his fitness app Centr. Speaking to fans on Instagram recently, Chris admitted he started using these methods on his children to get then to focus while being homeschooled. 'I thought this is not going to work, my kids are allergic to sitting down, but to my surprise, it actually worked and it did calm them down', he said. Lockdown in luxury! The star is self-isolating with his wife Elsa Pataky and children in their $20million Byron Bay mansion. Pictured with his three children 'Kids are feeling anxiety and stress like us': It comes after Chris launched a guided meditation and visualisation exercises for children via his fitness app Centr 'Kids are feeling anxiety and stress like us, and probably more so because they don't understand it and it's difficult for us to explain it to them. These guided meditations have been really beneficial.' Aimed at children aged four to nine, the meditations have been developed by a team of psychologists and meditation teachers, and are narrated by Chris and his Thor Ragnarok director Taika Waititi. The Centr app also boasts meal plans, daily workouts, meditations and access to a '24/7 community offering support, extra tips and exclusive behind-the-scenes extras'. (Photo : Nuro Facebook page) Nuro's self-driving vehicle Robots have found a new purpose during the coronavirus crisis: to deliver medical supplies to two California stadiums that have become COVID-19 treatment facilities. The autonomous vehicle startup company Nuro, has temporarily shut down its operations in California because of the ban on nonessential transportation. However, Nuro realized it could still deliver goods for healthcare workers using its R2 prototype vehicles. Dave Ferguson, CEO of Nuro, said these lightweight electric vehicles are completely driverless and can also provide contactless delivery. California uses delivery robots for health workers fighting COVID-19 In an interview with The Verge, Ferguson said that "robots are not solving this crisis." However, by providing "contactless delivery of goods," Nuro helps transport essential supplies to frontline healthcare workers while reducing the possibility of contagion. Aside from food, Nuro's robots deliver personal protective equipment (PPE), clean linens, and other supplies to workers at the Event Center in San Mateo and the Sleep Train Arena, which is the home to the Sacramento Kings. Both facilities have been converted into field hospitals to manage the surge in COVID-19 patients. The process of transport is easy. Humans load and unload the vehicles at both ends of the route. While these robots usually require the recipient to enter a code on a touchscreen to open the doors, manufacturers tweaked the program to make it truly contactless. Now, it only requires a thumbs-up to the vehicle's camera, and then a Nuro operator will open the doors remotely. Ferguson prides that what they are doing has reduced the amount of work that is usually done by healthcare staff. "This is where all the COVID patients are, so this is effectively a very high-risk exposure area," he said. The vehicles assigned at both locations are on fixed programmed routes via private roads, which lessen chances to encounter complications. The R2 vehicles are capable of traveling up to 25 mph. But while on duty, they will be limited to 5 mph outdoors and 2.5 mph indoors. Nuro's shift of operations Nuro is the first autonomous vehicle operator to receive a federal exemption to mass-produce driverless vehicles without traditional controls like steering wheels or side-view mirrors. Also, the company is the second one to receive a permit to test its driverless delivery robots on public roads in California. Nuro's typical operations involve grocery and food delivery in Arizona and Texas where it uses its fleet of retrofitted Toyota Priuses with two safety drivers. However, due to social distancing rules, the company is only using one safety driver on its operations in these two states. Following the COVID-19 pandemic and shelter-in-place rules, the market-testing in California has been temporarily stopped. The pandemic has made self-driving car companies unstable, especially those with not enough funding to sustain their operations through an extended shutdown. Fortunately, Nuro has avoided layoffs by developing tools that allow its operations team to "contribute remotely from their homes," as well as investing in a simulation that allows it to continue running its vehicle tests in a virtual world. "We're feeling pretty good about this being within our control . . . and it's sort of up to us to execute and make it happen," Ferguson said. Perhaps, the nearly $1billion Softbank investment they received has also helped keep the company's confidence afloat during these trying times. Read also: How to See Your Friends and Family Again When the Coronavirus Quarantine Ends 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. MEDFORD, Ore. -- Local public health officials began announcing new confirmed cases of the coronavirus in southern Oregon and northern California as of Thursday, April 23. Numbers from each individual county will be updated below as soon as NewsWatch 12 receives their latest figures. JACKSON: On Thursday, Jackson County Public Health said that it had received no new positive test results for COVID-19, leaving the countywide total at 48 cases. The last confirmed case was announced last Thursday. For the first time, the County reported the number of cases that have fully recovered as of this week. Of the 48 cases in the area, 33 have recovered while 15 are still being monitored by public health staff. "The Oregon Health Authority and Jackson County Public Health began assessing the recovery of COVID-19 cases by calling each case to determine if they have recovered and the date of recovery," the County said in a statement. "A person is considered to be recovered once they are free of fever (without the use of fever-reducing medications), cough, and shortness of breath for 72 hours. COVID-19 cases without symptoms are considered recovered seven days after the last positive test." Health officials' demographic data shows that seven of the County's 48 cases had been hospitalized from the virus. Though some cases were found in people as young as 0-19, the vast majority occurred in people age 40 or older. "Staying home as much as possible during this time and practicing physical distancing remains an important strategy. It is also important to continue washing your hands frequently, use hand sanitizer if you do not have access to soap and water, stay home if you are sick, and wear an alternative mask when in public and accessing essential services," Jackson County said on Tuesday. KLAMATH: Klamath County Public Health reported three new confirmed cases in the county on Thursday, bringing the countywide total number of confirmed cases to 36. Importantly, County officials also reported that 23 of those cases have recovered and are no longer active. "It is important that community members continue to stay home, practice social or physical distancing of six feet, disinfect surfaces, and frequently wash their hands," the agency said. "Now that COVID-19 is in the community, these actions are urgent to prevent further spread." Klamath County Public Health says that at this time 1,506 tests have returned negative for COVID-19 in the county. Based on the County's demographic data, 22 of the confirmed cases are women, and 14 are men. Five of the 36 cases have been hospitalized for the virus. Six cases have been between the ages of 20-29, nine in the 30-39 age group, five in 40-49, nine 50-59, six 60-69, and one 70-79. JOSEPHINE: Josephine County Public Health officials last announced two new cases of coronavirus in the county on April 12, bringing the countywide total number of cases to 19, and has not seen a new case since. The county marked the first death attributed to the virus in southern Oregon on April 11, an 81-year-old man. According to Josephine County officials last weekend, at least four of the area's cases have completely recovered. At least one person has been hospitalized. As of Friday morning, a total of 989 COVID-19 tests from Josephine County have returned negative results which the County says was calculated using "internal data" and will likely appear higher than the Oregon Health Authority's records. The County's demographic data shows four cases in the 20-29 age range, three cases in 30-39, four cases 40-49, three cases 50-59, one case 60-69, two cases 70-79, and two cases 80 or older. Eight cases were in men and 11 in women. CURRY: On Saturday, Curry County announced its fourth confirmed cases of COVID-19. 114 tests for the virus have returned negative. The new case was confirmed at a hospital lab in Coos Bay, similar to several of the earlier cases. "Curry County Public Health has reached out to the individual who tested positive and is now working on contact investigation and tracing for those who possibly have been in prolonged close contact with the individual," the agency said. "The three previous cases reported in Curry County have all been under monitoring and self-isolating and will be considered recovered from the virus as of Monday April 20, 2020." SISKIYOU: As Wednesday morning, Siskiyou County officials say that there remain five confirmed COVID-19 cases in the county. All five of those people have since recovered from the illness. There have been a total of 221 negative test results, and two tests remain pending. Total number of confirmed cases by county for the southern Oregon and Siskiyou County region: Jackson: 48 Klamath: 36 Josephine: 19 Lake: 0 Curry: 4 Siskiyou: 5 Tune into NewsWatch 12 at 5:00 and 6:00 p.m. tonight for the most up to date Coronavirus numbers and information. Boutique shopkeepers put protective masks on mannequins before they open their store on Wednesday for the first time since March in Berlin, Germany. (Maja Hitij/Getty Images) Germanys 16 federal states have made it mandatory for people to wear face masks when they enter shops or board public transport from next Monday. It was up to each state to decide whether it would insist on mouth-and-nose covering in public, and several of them already mandated masks last week. There are no set rules about what kind of masks they should be home-made cotton ones are also acceptable as protection. Johns Hopkins University data shows that as of Wednesday, Germany has 148,704 confirmed coronavirus cases, and 5,100 recorded deaths. Authorities have stressed that wearing a face mask does not mean people should not stick to social distancing rules the masks can only help prevent asymptomatic carriers of coronavirus from infecting others. Read more: Merkel warns 'we mustnt think for one second that we are safe' as Germany eases restrictions The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said in a recent report that masks may prevent people spreading respiratory droplets by coughing or sneezing. While many EU countries strongly recommend that people should use some form of mask, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Austria all made mask-wearing compulsory. In the UK, the government is reportedly set to require people to wear masks in public soon. Germany took the first steps towards easing the country-wide lockdown this week, with small shops of up to 800m floor-space allowed to reopen; including car dealerships. Some classes in primary and secondary schools are allowed to begin from 4 May. Read more: Germany approves first human trials of a coronavirus vaccine Strict lockdowns still apply to public movement only in groups of two, apart from members of one family and the 1.5m social distance rules will be in place until further notice. Chancellor Angela Merkel warned this week that Germany is still at the beginning of the pandemic, urging people to follow rules as it would be a crying shame if we had a relapse with our eyes open. Samsung BioLogics' plant No. 3 in Incheon / Courtesy of Samsung BioLogics By Nam Hyun-woo Samsung Biologics' first contract development client, ImmuneOncia Therapeutics, has won U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Phase 1 clinical study on its cancer immunotherapy drug. On April 10, the FDA granted Investigational New Drug (IND) approval for ImmuneOncia's IMC-002, just a month after the two sides applied for it, according to Samsung BioLogics, Thursday. IND approval requires a wide range of documentation and in-depth information on the subject drug, and the approval process often takes some time. Approval is a major step for drug makers toward releasing a new drug on the market. Leveraging its contract development capabilities, the IND of IMC-002 was approved by the FDA without significant difficulties, Samsung BioLogics said. It provided ImmuneOncia with in cell line and process development, and non-clinical and clinical material production. The two companies have had a development and manufacturing agreement since 2018. "We are excited to join in ImmuneOncia's success," Samsung BioLogics CEO Kim Tae-han said. "This IND approval is a product of the strong collaboration between Samsung BioLogics and ImmuneOncia. As a world-leading contract manufacturing, development and research partner, we will continue to support ImmuneOncia and ensure client satisfaction through Samsung's competitive advantages." "We are very impressed with the outstanding service Samsung BioLogics provided in the full development scope from cell line development, process development, preclinical and clinical manufacturing, and IND filing support," ImmuneOncia CEO Song Yun-jeong said. "The two companies collaborated exceptionally well together during the whole development process including the IND evaluation period, allowing us to enter Phase 1 clinical trials for IMC-002 much quicker." IMC-002 is an immune checkpoint inhibitor antibody, which can help macrophages in the human body fight off cancer cells. According to ImmuneOncia, IMC-002 is expected to help patients with metastatic, locally advanced solid tumors and relapsed or refractory lymphomas. Samsung BioLogics is currently providing support in 51 contract development projects, helping clients receive IND approval. "Samsung's role as a contract developer in the global biopharma market has seen rapid growth, and we plan to expand geographically to support even more clients globally and domestically," a Samsung BioLogics official said. ImmuneOncia was established in 2016 as a joint venture between Yuhan and Sorrento Therapeutics of the U.S. Also on Thursday, Samsung BioLogics said it had renewed a separate contract manufacturing deal with Immunomedics of the U.S. on an FDA approval for the commercial launch of the latter's drug, with the value of the deal growing five times. According to a regulatory filing, the value of its deal with Immunomedics grew to $164 million from $30 million. This is the first time that Samsung BioLogics has seen a price increase in a contract manufacturing deal after getting FDA approval. Many maintain that the best way to control spread is through handwashing But advised against wearing synthetic materials like polyester due to fibres Experts revealed how scarfs made of merino and cashmere may be best to wear They 'will ask Britons to wear masks or DIY face coverings when in public' Britons are to be advised to wear DIY face coverings or scarves when venturing out in public. But as the public are being encouraged to cover their faces while travelling, shopping or at work, experts have revealed which scarves may provide the best, and worst, protection from coronavirus. Dr Shan Soe-Lin, lecturer at Yale Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, and Dr Scott Segal, chair of anesthesiology at Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem, told FEMAIL that people would find high grade cotton scarves most effective and advised that wearers would be better protected if they wrap scarves tightly around their face to create layers of material. Meanwhile Paddy Robertson, Global Head of Smart Air, has revealed online how thick scarves made from natural fibre, such as merino and cashmere may work best to prevent the spread of the virus due to their coarse nature. He also said people should avoid scarves made from synthetic materials like polyester because their fibres tend to be smooth and uniform allowing the virus to pass though them more easily. Experts told FEMAIL that those wearing scarves should opt for cotton material with a thick weave, knit or thread count to be most protected from coronavirus, and wrap the scarf tightly and securely in several layers over their nose and mouth WHAT MATERIALS ARE BEST? Dr Shan Soe-Lin, lecturer at Yale Jackson Institute for Global Affairs, said: 'In terms of materials studies have shown that a double layer of thickly woven quilters cotton, 180-count, is the best material. 'The best materials are those that are still breathable but have tightly woven fibres for filtration.' Paddy, who is Global head of Smart Air, a social enterprise that promotes cost-effective air filters, also revealed how natural materials tend to be a better option than synthetic ones. He tested over 30 different materials which could be used as a face mask including merino wool, ramie and cashmere scarves as well as cotton. Each item was tested for it's effectiveness in filtering coronavirus-sized microparticles, as well as it's breathability. The three scarves tested made of merino wool, cashmere and lightweight ramie (similar to linen) filtered fewer than 10 per cent of smallpox-sized particles. The experts also told how the people should avoid flimsy material or bandanas while out in public, as these could provide less effective protection The merino wool filtered 8 per cent, while the cashmere caught a total of 6 per cent of the virus. The scarf test If unsure what material a scarf is made from, there is a test which Dr Soe-Lin and Dr Segal advise to see how effective a scarf might be. Hold the scarf up to the light. Materials that let a lot of light through are not ideal. Opt for scarves which are made from thicker and coarser materials. Those which let little light through will be likely more effective against virus particles. Advertisement Meanwhile, Dr Segal also argued that high-quality material had to be used to block out the virus. He said: 'The best performing masks were made from two layers of cotton fabric that sewing people call "quilting cotton": higher grade material with a tighter weave and higher thread count than typical printed cotton fabrics one might find at a discount fabric store.' WHAT MATERIALS ARE THE WORST? Dr Soe-Lin said the public should avoid 'thin, flimsy materials or knits.' When trying to find a scarf to wear outside, she explained people should conduct a simple test. She revealed: 'Hold the scarf up to the light - materials that let a lot of light through are not ideal. Same with knits. 'Bandanas are too thin - if you only have bandanas, you should wear two and tuck the bottom into your shirt collar so it's not flapping open.' Passengers on the Jubilee line wear face masks. Britons are set to be told it is not compulsory to wear masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus Meanwhile during his investigation, Paddy found the worst scarf material, 100 per cent ramie, filtered just 2.8 per cent of the small particles. However scarves made from natural fibre may still be better at protecting against the virus than those created from synthetic fibres like polyester. He argued synthetic fibres tend to be smooth and uniform, allowing virus particles to pass through them, whereas natural fibres are rougher and more irregular. People are pictured wearing facemasks and scarves to cover their nose and mouth in south London yesterday HOW SHOULD THE SCARF BE WORN? Dr Soe-Lin revealed: 'With a long scarf it's difficult to keep track of which side was clean or dirty upon re-use, and you definitely would not want to rewrap the scarf with the dirty side against your face.' When wearing the scarf, she said people should 'double-layer' if possible, revealing: 'Keep track of clean and dirty sides, wrap tightly, and most importantly, keep your scarf up the whole time you're outside.' She advised against creating a 'scarf nest', which she described as people 'ducking their faces into' before 'popping back out.' How to make your own coronavirus mask: Scientists are encouraging people to make their own facemasks from T-shirts, sanitary towels or vacuum cleaner bags - with methods shown here Dr Segal also revealed how any scarf acting as a facemask should be secured tightly around the face, covering the entire nose and mouth, and advised people look to doctors and nurses as a guide. He said: 'Ive unfortunately seen people at stores wearing it below the nose, covering just the mouth, or in other partial covering ways. 'Medical personnel wear masks that extend from the bridge of the nose to below the chin. One should probably try to recapitulate that as best as possible.' HOW SHOULD THE SCARF BE KEPT HYGENIC? Dr Segal said scarves should be left to dry out if worn outside. THE TRUTH ABOUT FACE MASKS: WHAT STUDIES HAVE SHOWN Research on how well various types of masks and face coverings varies but, recently, and in light of the pandemic of COVID-19, experts are increasingly leaning toward the notion that something is better than nothing. A review of scientific literature by the University of East Anglia found the masks have a 'small protective effect' that could shield elderly and vulnerable people from contracting the virus in crowded places. The researchers advise they people wear one on public transport, at the supermarket or in hospitals. But they say the evidence is not strong enough to recommend widespread use of masks in the general population. A University of Oxford study published on March 30 concluded that surgical masks are just as effective at preventing respiratory infections as N95 masks for doctors, nurses and other health care workers. It's too early for their to be reliable data on how well they prevent infection with COVID-19, but the study found the thinner, cheaper masks do work in flu outbreaks. The difference between surgical or face masks and N95 masks lies in the size of particles that can - and more importantly, can't - get though the materials. N95 respirators are made of thick, tightly woven and molded material that fits tightly over the face and can stop 95 percent of all airborne particles, while surgical masks are thinner, fit more loosely, and more porous. This makes surgical masks much more comfortable to breathe and work in, but less effective at stopping small particles from entering your mouth and nose. Droplets of saliva and mucous from coughs and sneezes are very small, and viral particles themselves are particularly tiny - in fact, they're about 20-times smaller than bacteria. For this reason, a JAMA study published this month still contended that people without symptoms should not wear surgical masks, because there is not proof the gear will protect them from infection - although they may keep people who are coughing and sneezing from infecting others. But the Oxford analysis of past studies- which has not yet been peer reviewed - found that surgical masks were worth wearing and didn't provide statistically less protection than N95 for health care workers around flu patients. However, any face mask is only as good as other health and hygiene practices. Experts universally agree that there's simply no replacement for thorough, frequent hand-washing for preventing disease transmission. Some think the masks may also help to 'train' people not to touch their faces, while others argue that the unfamiliar garment will just make people do it more, actually raising infection risks. If the CDC does instruct Americans to wear masks, it could create a second issue: Hospitals already face shortages of masks and other PPE. Advertisement He said: 'Make sure they have an opportunity to dry. 'Moisture from ones breath gets trapped in the material of any mask (including hospital grade masks) and likely degrades their effectiveness. 'In medical settings, we store them between uses (because we have to reuse them now to conserve supplies) in paper bags, not plastic.' Meanwhile Dr Soe-Ling added that scarves should be washed every use 'in the hottest water you have available, and then dried in the dryer.' WHY ARE WE WEARING SCARVES? This comes as the news emerged that Britons are set to be told it is not compulsory to wear masks to prevent the spread of coronavirus - but will be advised to wear DIY face coverings at work, in shops and on public transport. The government's top scientific experts have been reviewing key evidence and are will report back to ministers today, with new guidance issued to the public at the weekend. SAGE (Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies) are believed to be backing advice on wearing a cloth face mask, such as a homemade mask or scarf if socially distancing is not possible. This will mean asking people to cover their nose and mouth when they go to the shops and travel on trains, but won't apply to being in parks and quiet, residential streets. But the experts are set to say it should not be compulsory, rather left up to the public on when they should wear them. They will also warn against the use of medical masks, because it will mean there could be less for NHS. Experts on all sides have repeatedly stressed that surgical facemasks should be reserved for frontline staff so health service supplies are not compromised. SAGE will also be guided by the World Health Organisation, who have held off saying masks should be worn to prevent the spread. Other evidence suggests a person wearing a mask could feel like they are sufficiently protected, so will tend to ignore social distancing rules. The next review of lockdown measures will take place on May 7, when Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty warned ministers face 'difficult trade offs'. The new guidance may apply to those allowed to go back to work if measures are eased in the next few weeks, according to the newspaper. At yesterday's Downing Street press conference, Professor Whitty warned social distancing measures would likely be in place for the rest of 2020. Professor Whitty was very clear that the only real exit from the lockdown - to allow a full return to normal life - would involve a medical breakthrough. Yesterday primary healthcare expert Professor Trish Greenhalgh told a Royal Scoeity of medicine briefing that coronavirus could be 'wiped out' in the UK if '80 to 90 per cent' of the population wear some kind of facemask. She said that she wasn't in favour of the compulsory use of masks but said that she thought many people would be supportive of the use of homemade ones for a temporary measure. Meanwhile, a new initiative was launched to encourage the public to make their own face masks. The campaign, www.Maskedheroes.uk , also aims to connect people who make masks to individuals and organisations in their community who need them. A separate initiative - Masks for Heroes - is encouraging businesses which use personal protective equipment (PPE) to check whether they have any supplies which can be donated to frontline services while their businesses are not up and running. Banks, on both a local and a national scale, are trying to help alleviate the strain small business owners are facing as a result of the coronavirus outbreak by getting their clients relief through the Paycheck Protection Program. The Paycheck Protection Program is meant to help small businesses dealing with the economic struggles of the coronavirus, designed to help them pay salaries as well as other expenses. The forgivable loans, part of the federal CARES Act, have spending guidelines of 75 percent on payroll costs, with the remaining 25 percent for rent, mortgage and utility costs over an eight-week period. A forgivable loan can have a portion or the entirety forgiven or deferred it certain conditions are met. New Jersey received $9.5 billion of the initial $349 billion in the first wave of allocated funds but it wasnt enough. Many New Jersey business owners have complained that the funds ran out before they could complete the hundreds of pages needed for applications. An estimated $340 billion appears to be on the way in a second wave of financial help, pending approval this week. These small businesses really arent equipped to be disrupted for this period of time," said Chris Giamo, head of commercial bank for TD Bank. "These PPP loans helped bridge the gap where they can at least keep their employees on payroll and really prepare them to reopen whenever the state starts to reopen. Thats the real critical part this program plays and I think its hit the mark there as it was intended for these family-owned, entrepreneurial businesses. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage Theres no silver bullet that solves all the problems This is just one important tool that businesses need. I think the real intent of the program was to keep people on payroll. I think many landlords have been encouraged to offer deferrals on rent, and banks are also offering assistance to our customers. Where we have loans to individuals or businesses that own real estate, were offering assistance to them as well with deferrals on mortgage payments. For the foreseeable future, Unity Bank President & CEO James Hughes said it is about keeping everyone on a level playing field. The Clinton-based bank has deferred several payments to small business owners and landlords who have also deferred to their tenants. Yet that strategy cannot hold up if the shutdowns continue to impact the economy. The reality of it is that the government cant continue to pay peoples debt, rent and payroll," Hughes said. "The government cant afford to go another five trillion dollars in debt. Unity Bank has already serviced approximately 450 PPP loan applications between the two weeks the program was announced and when the first wave of allocated $349 billion ran out on April 16. Hughes said there are another 300 applications waiting for when the second wave of relief hits. But when it comes to receiving money Hughes believes there is a disconnect, or at least a strange prioritization, when it comes to the spending guidelines. The focus is to keep people employed, and the timing is a little off with that," Hughes said. In terms of a typical retail business, the government is giving them money to rehire (its employees). But if the business isnt open, it doesnt make a lot of sense. Peapack-Gladstone Bank in Bedminster was able to process 900 applications for a total of $300 million with about 500 more waiting for a second wave of funding. That total funding in the initial wave was able to help save approximately 30,000 jobs, President & CEO Douglas Kennedy said, with most if not all of the businesses helped out not running into the 75-25 split issues regarding rent. Banks will talk about cents and dollars but, at the end of each day, the question is how many jobs did we save today?' And thats really whats motivating us," Kennedy said. For us to process 900 (applications) was an incredible feat. David Mendez, owner of Law Coffee in Newark, received his loan from TD Bank and is in the process of rehiring staff who were laid off or voluntarily left due to fear of the coronavirus. The eight-week loan has certainly been appreciated by Mendez and those who could receive it in the first wave, but, especially in the restaurant and hospitality field, the lingering concern is Will it be enough? I think its generous what the federal government was able to put together, Mendez said. "This is a historic moment in United States history. Im just fortunate to get anything. As I look at the PPP money, which is great and the intention was to get through the short term, the problem is going to far exceed the eight weeks the money is designed for. The impact of this is going to be a lot longer than other industries might face. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has approved recommendations of its deans of schools and chairpersons of special centres on conducting examinations in view of the coronavirus lockdown. The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has approved recommendations of its deans of schools and chairpersons of special centres on conducting examinations in view of the coronavirus lockdown. The Academic Council (AC) of the University on 20 April had endorsed a resolution through online circulation, supporting the holding of classes providing research guidance to students. The AC authorised the vice chancellor to approve any additional suggestions or requests from schools and special centres with regard to the current academic session and the new session. The last date for submission of M.Phil dissertation and PhD theses will remain in line with relevant University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines. Offline exams could be conducted only after the lockdown is lifted, but schools and special centres could hold online examination if a consensus is reached, reported agency news PTI quoting officials. The teachers body put forward the recommendations on April 19 and the AC members were asked to give their approval by 20 April. The JNU in December last year decided to hold exams through WhatsApp and email. The decision was taken following the protests by students over the fee hike. Students had also boycotted end semester examination. The University said it would send question papers to students MPhil and MA programme. Students were asked to submit answer sheets by 21 December. "In the past, many West Australians, because of where they are located particularly in regional WA, they haven't been able to attend a dawn service or a mid-morning service and parade," he said. "This way of commemorating allows everyone, every family, every individual to take part in the commemorations." Mr Aspinall said he would like driveway vigils to remain a part of Anzac Day celebrations in the future, in addition to the parades, dawn services and gunfire breakfasts. Elaine and Lloyd Blake will be standing on their driveway in Mount Hawthorn before dawn with homemade candles and signs. They have invited their neighbours to partake in the event and have baked a batch of Anzac biscuits to share. "We just feel it's still Anzac Day and we've still gotta do something," Ms Blake said. "I'm sure people from up and down the street have been going to dawn services for years as well but this year they'll just be doing it a little differently." Loading Both Mrs and Mr Blake come from a legacy of servicemen stretching back three generations. Their grandfathers fought in North Africa and Europe in World War I and their fathers heeded the call of duty during World War II, defending Australia in the Pacific. Mr Blake enrolled in the navy at the ripe age of 18 and later became a successful submariner, travelling to the North Pole and down the west coast of Africa in the guts of a submarine. Ms Blake also joined the navy in 1968 from her native Tasmania and was stationed in New South Wales until 1971, when she was discharged from the navy for marrying Mr Blake. Used to attending a Dawn Service and marching down Fremantle's streets, the pair said they were excited to honour their comrades from their Mouth Hawthorn home. "I think that this idea of the driveway service is amazing," Ms Blake said. "These people who would have gotten up very early and gone off to attend Dawn Services at different places they now do it at their driveway and it's a community thing. "It's different but what's important is that we don't forget that it's Anzac Day, an opportunity to be grateful for what we've got." Mr Aspinall said the theme of this year's celebrations - mateship - highlighted how important the sense of community was during the lockdown and the efforts of the Australian community to support one another in times of crisis, whether in isolation or at war. Four Australian police officers were killed in the line of duty when a speeding Indian-origin driver ploughed his truck into them here after he apparently suffered a "medical episode," police said. The truck driver Mohinder Singh Bajwa from Cranbourne suburb, on Wednesday veered into the emergency lane from one of the freeway lanes and travelled a short distance at around 100 km per hour where the four police officers were standing, said the police chief for the state of Victoria. Victorian Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said two of the officers had pulled a speeding Porsche car over in the emergency stopping lane when they decided to impound the vehicle and had called for two more officers to assist them. The four police officers were out of their cars when the truck drove into the officers and the Porsche. The truck slammed into the back of one the two police cars and hit the other police car and the Porsche before coming to a stop. The Porsche was driven by a 41-year-old driver Richard Pusey who later fled the scene on foot and has been accused of taking pictures of the crash and posting them on social media. Pusey was currently in police custody after he was arrested on Thursday. Flags are flying at half-mast across the state in honour of one female officer, and three male officers, one of whom only started work on Tuesday. ''As a chief commissioner, to have four officers killed last night - someone who has clearly been driving erratically on the freeway with an extensive criminal history, it disgusts me," Ashton said, adding "And then to leave the scene is a very, very low act in my view." The truck driver was in the police guard in a local hospital while police raided his residence and were yet to reveal what they had found. Ashton said that police have yet to interview Bajwa who was not known to the police and did not have an extensive criminal history. Bajwa suffered a medical episode, which seemed to involve him blacking out, Ashton said adding it was unclear whether he experienced the episode before or after the accident or exactly what unfolded. "We don't know at this stage what has caused him to drive that truck into our police members," he said. Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Constable Glen Humphris, Senior Constable Kevin King and Constable Josh Prestney were identified as four officers who died. Ashton said that the deaths of the four officers was the biggest loss of life in a single incident in Victorian Police history. Political leaders have expressed their condolences to the fallen officers. Prime Minister Scott Morrison tweeted, "Terrible, heartbreaking that four police officers have died while on duty in Melbourne tonight. My deepest condolences to their families, fellow officers and friends in this terrible time. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) No oral part to the maturita exam, increase in the number of Bojnice hospital employees infected with the coronavirus. Read the overview of news from April 23. Education Minister Branislav Grohling announced the traditional oral part of the maturita exam will not take place this year. (Source: TASR) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled This is your overview of news from April 23. For all news about the coronavirus in Slovakia click here. Read more about the measures currently in place in Slovakia. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Coronavirus in Slovakia (statistics) - The number of people testing positively with the coronavirus rose to 1,325. While four people recovered from the illness, one more person died of the infection. At the same time, laboratories have carried out a record number of tests. Check out the detailed statistics here. - All employees and clients of nursing homes in Slovakia will be tested with rapid tests. This concerns 42,149 clients of these facilities and 36,680 employees, plus another 790 employees of day care centres. Moreover, a representative of nursing homes should become a member of the central crisis staff, Labour Minister Milan Krajniak (Sme Rodina) said. (TASR) - The Bojnice hospital records 16 employees infected with the coronavirus. The hospital claims that they did not have any COVID-19 symptoms, but they underwent testing since they were in touch with a patient from the neurology department who tested positive for the coronavirus. - The town of Pezinok opened a mobile site to take samples for coronavirus testing, situated at the premises of the primary school on Fandlyho Street. Coronavirus measures in Slovakia - There will be no traditional oral part of the secondary school leaving exams (maturita in Slovak). Instead, grades will be averaged, said Education Minister Branislav Grohling (SaS). - Health-care providers in Slovakia are seeing their expenses related to protective equipment rise during the coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, they are performing fewer interventions, resulting in a drop in their revenues. Outpatient departments, laboratories, small x-ray workplaces, day nursing care agencies and rehabilitation facilities report about 20 percent of their last years revenues after one month. They have thus asked the state for additional finances to the health sector, otherwise they warn of a collapse in the following days. - The town of Nitra has established a quarantine site for homeless people, situated close to the amphitheatre. Homeless people have nowhere to go, said Martin Horak, chief of Nitras municipal authority, adding they belong to the most endangered groups during the pandemic. By protecting this minority group, we also protect the other inhabitants of Nitra and the public health services from the infection being spread in the town. - Ombudswoman Maria Patakyova has criticized the recent measures of the Public Health Authority that concern the across-the-board ban of shopping for seniors outside the hours set by the crisis staff. She thus asked the government for changes. (SITA) Coronavirus in business - Nitra-based carmaker Jaguar Land Rover plans to resume its production on May 18. It was suspended on March 20. - The coronavirus pandemic has already impacted job offers. Employers now mention a home office more often, and the coronavirus pandemic may even broaden this benefit, the analysis of the Profesia.sk and Platy.sk websites suggests. - Labour offices will start sending the first money to the accounts of people who have asked for assistance. They have already paid more than 2.5 million to 4,636 applicants. (SITA) - Also single-person limited liability companies and the self-employed without income can now ask for the state assistance. The application forms have been published on the Labour Ministry website. - More banks have signed an agreement over providing advantageous loans to small and medium-sized enterprises with the state-run Slovak Investment Holding. Slovenska Sporitelna was joined by VUB and the Slovak branch of the Austrian BKS Bank. - There will be moratorium on paying rent valid from April 1 to June 30, 2020. This means that people who cannot pay their rent during this period may pay it from July until the end of the year, Labour Minister Milan Krajniak (Sme Rodina) explained on Facebook. Other news from Slovakia - The Institute for Financial Policy (IFP), running under the Finance Ministry, has revised its prognosis for the collection of taxes and payroll levies for this year. It expects it to drop by 6.9 percent, or 3.1 billion. - The Specialised Criminal Court has accepted custody for Kajetan Kicura, ex-head of the state-run Administration of State Material Reserves. He has been charged with accepting bribes and legalising incomes from criminal activities. - The National Criminal Agency laid charges of corruption against the former head of the Agricultural Payment Agency Juraj Kozuch and financier Martin Kvietik. The bribes have reportedly amounted to nearly 1 million. - Marian Kocner who has been charged, among other things, with the interference with the independence of courts, has been interrogated at the National Criminal Agency (NAKA) office in Nitra on April 23 for several hours. The hearing pertained to the case where several judges and lawyers suspected of corruption-related crimes were detained during the Burka (Storm) operation. - New top Interior Ministry official might take a lie detector test. Anna Bilecova faces suspicions of involvement in a carousel VAT fraud in eastern Slovakia. The interior minister nominated by OLaNO and his deputy stand behind her. - MPs have elected three new members of the Judicial Council. Andrej Majernik received 93 votes, Jan Mazak 92, and Alena Svetlovska 83. - Five former MPs will lose half of their April salaries for blocking the speakers desk. This concerns Martin Poliacik, Jozef Mihal, Simona Petrik, Viera Dubacova and Alan Suchanek. The decision was made by Speaker of Parliament Boris Kollar (Sme Rodina). - Trams will stop traversing Bratislavas Dubravka borough again. The reason is the launch of construction works on the third phase of the reconstruction of the track between Dubravka and Karlova Ves. The works are expected to start on May 2 and finished in September. (TASR) - The departures of reporters from the Trend weekly continue. This includes long-time reporter and Deputy Editor-in-Chief Igor Matlon and reporter Tomas Zemko. Originally, Luboslav Kacalka was said to have come to the weekly to work as the deputy editor-in-chief, but he eventually decided to stay at the Hospodarske Noviny daily. (Omediach.com) More from Spectator.sk today: Related article Related article Marketplaces and small shops open, seniors face more restrictions Read more Related article Related article Government wants to make Slovakia a tiger again Read more Related article Related article Red Stone Castle houses a replica of Michelangelos Madonna of Bruges Read more Related article Vancouver reports at least nine anti-Asian hate crimes in first four months of 2020 mirroring similar trends elsewhere. Police in Vancouver are trying to identify the attacker of an elderly man of Asian ethnicity, who was physically assaulted because of his race and yelled at using slurs that included references to the coronavirus. The attack in the city on Canadas west coast, which was caught on surveillance camera, took place outside a convenience store in mid-March but was made public by the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) on Wednesday. Everything about this assault and the behaviour of the suspect is despicable, Constable Tania Visintin, a VPD spokeswoman, said in a videotaped statement posted on its website. As a police department, we do not tolerate incidents motivated by bias, prejudice, or hate. Its even more disturbing considering the victims age. The police said it is investigating the incident as a hate crime. The assault was one of the latest incidents of physical and racial abuse targeting people of Asian origin in several countries. More than 2.6 million people have now been diagnosed with coronavirus worldwide, and nearly 184,000 have died, including at least 45,000 in the United States and almost 2,000 in Canada as of Wednesday. Increase in hate crimes The first cases of the disease, known as COVID-19, were reported in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late December. Since then, the infectious disease has spread throughout the world igniting hostilities not only against people of Chinese origin, but also of Asian descent in general. On the specific incident in Vancouver on March 13, police said the 92-year-old victim, who suffers from severe dementia, had wandered into a convenience store in the citys downtown area. The suspect, who is in his 50s with a heavy build, then began yelling racist remarks at the victim that included comments about COVID-19. Outside the store, the suspect then shoved the elderly man, causing him to fall to the ground and hit his head. The suspect left the store before police arrived. In recent weeks, Vancouver police reported an increase in anti-Asian hate-motivated incidents and criminal behaviour. Police said at least 11 hate crimes were reported in March. Five of those reports had an anti-Asian element. So far in 2020, there have been a total of nine anti-Asian hate crimes reported to the police. In comparison, there were 12 in all of 2019. We know that hate crimes and hate-motivated incidents are generally underreported. We believe the increase in March is indicative of a larger issue, Visintin, the VPD spokeswoman, said. We are making a plea to victims or people who witness hate crimes to please come forward and report the incidents to police so they can be investigated. In the US, the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council reported that since mid-March, it has received more than 1,100 reports of coronavirus-related discrimination from Asian Americans across the country. Its disheartening to see such a high number of incidents, especially when we consider that much of the nation is sheltered-in-place, said Manjusha Kulkarni, executive director of the organisation, which advocates for the Asian-American community. However, it is not just people of Asia-Pacific descent who have been targeted due to the coronavirus outbreak. In China, there have been several reports of African workers and students being discriminated against by their Chinese hosts, including being barred entry from restaurants and department stores, as well as being evicted from their apartments. The incidents have prompted several African countries to demand that China help stop discrimination. An environmental group has lost its Supreme Court appeal over An Bord Pleanala's refusal to decide whether peat extraction works on some 410 acres in Co Westmeath require planning permission. The Board refused to accept FIE's referral concerning the status of the works on the basis of difficulties identifying the exact owners/occupiers of the lands and precisely who was engaged in peat extraction. After the High Court upheld the refusal, Friends of the Irish Environment (FIE) secured a "leapfrog" appeal direct to the Supreme Court on the basis it raised an issue of general public importance related to the steps required to be taken to identify the owners/occupiers. In a judgment delivered electronically today, the five judge court unanimously dismissed the appeal. Noting the protection of peatlands has been given a high value, it stressed FIE is not precluded making a further referral if the identities of the owners/occupiers are established. Giving the judgment, Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne said FIE's referral was made in August 2010 under section 5 of the Planning and Development Act 2000. FIE referred certain peat extraction works on lands of some 410 acres in the townlands of Lickny/Newcastle, Doon and Carlanstown in Co Westmeath to Westmeath County Council to seek a determination from the Board whether such peat extraction activities were or were not exempted development. After the Board sought additional information concerning owners and occupiers, the Council provided thirteen Land Registry folios indicating some nine parties were involved in ownership of the lands plus maps showing the lands contained numerous sub-divisions. The Board wrote to the nine parties but the responses did not advance its knowledge of the relevant owners/occupiers and, in some cases, there was no response. Following an inspector's report, the Board dismissed the referral. It said, having regard to the different parcels of land identified which appeared to be in multiple ownership in varying size of individual holdings, with "numerous" parties involved, and the absence of certainty in regard to ownership or individual circumstances of the plots, the question referred was not detailed enough to enable the Board carry out its obligations. Ms Justice Dunne said section 5 requires a referring party to provide "any information necessary" to enable a planning authority decide on a reference and the Board clearly took the view it did not have sufficient information to deal with this matter. The problem was the Board was asked to consider a referral in respect of three separate areas of land, the ownership of which was not clear and where it was not certain how many parties might be in occupation. It "goes without saying" the Board could not make a declaration under section 5 in respect of the land which would have an adverse impact on owners/occupiers without those being given an opportunity to be heard, she said. To do so would risk infringing their property rights. She disagreed with FIE's argument the High Court conclusions amounted to the court affording curial deference to the Board. There was no basis for impugning the High Court judgment on the basis "undue" curial deference was shown to the Board decision, she held. She also rejected arguments the Board was obliged, under the EC Environmental Impact Directive, to exercise powers under section 250 of the 2000 Act to either affix notices on the lands or dispense with requirements for notice. She could not see "what possible interpretation" of section 250 could give rise to a different outcome in this case. The fundamental problem was identification of the owners/occupiers engaged in peat extraction on the relevant land and it would not have been reasonable for the Board to have affixed notices to the "multiplicity of subdivisions", she said. Nor did she accept the Board should have used power under section 250 to dispense with giving notice to those who might be affected by a referral under section 5. The interpretation of section 250 is a matter of national law and there was no basis for a reference to the Court of Justice of the EU, she further held. Rugby Australia lurches from one disaster to another. And thats just its relationship with News Corporation. Former Wallaby captain Nick Farr-Jones. Credit:Illustration: Matt Golding Then theres the hamfisted airing of anger directed toward Raelene Castle, who on Thursday night resigned as the code's chief executive. When Rugby Australia's chairman Paul McLean said earlier this week her position had not been under review - but declined to rule it out in future - the meaning was clear. Meanwhile, ex-NSW Rugby chairman Nick Farr-Jones seems to have led the putsch against Castle, delivering an extraordinary vote of no confidence to the board earlier this week. And far from cooling the relationship between Farr-Jones and McLean, the letter seemed to do the opposite. The pair were back in touch on Thursday. So does Farr-Jones have designs on the top job? I would like the challenge, but I really like what Im doing at the moment, the Wallabies great told CBD on Thursday. SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. and WAKE-CHO, Japan, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Teams from Swift Tactical Systems, in partnership with its Japanese counterpart, Swift-Xi, both subsidiaries of Swift Engineering, completed personnel search and rescue and animal identification missions as part of a contract with Okayama Prefecture in Japan. The proof of concept program validates Swift's unmanned aerial systems and capabilities under unique scenarios. First, the team's ability to perform advanced search and rescue missions in dense forests, and second, the system's ability to quickly detect, identify, and track the nighttime movements of animals that are destructive to the region. Teams from Swift Tactical Systems and Swift-Xi prepare to perform advanced search and rescue missions in dense forests within the Okayama Prefecture in Japan. The joint Swift teams flew integrated unmanned vehicle systems including, Swift air vehicles with mounted NightHawk2 cameras streaming live video to ground control. The joint Swift teams successfully found all of their targets, including three 'lost' hikers who were located in different regions of a 550-acre area. The team accomplished its mission in less than 35 minutes. The joint Swift teams flew integrated unmanned vehicle systems including, Swift air vehicles with mounted NightHawk2 cameras streaming live video to ground control. The operations teams demonstrated superior workflow capabilities during the day and nighttime missions. They exceeded performance expectations by identifying half a dozen animals during one-night flight and finding three separated, lost hikers in a heavily wooded area during another mission. "Our teams proved that our combined military expertise and advanced UAS technology with real-time intelligence and data gathering capabilities are a powerful force in the industry. We were able to cover a 550-acre area and find all of our targets in less than 35 minutes," says Alex Echeverria, Vice President of Swift Tactical Systems. While this is the first time Wake-Cho is testing unmanned systems and technologies to perform tasks commonly addressed by humans on foot, it is not the first time Swift teams have provided real-time intelligence to government officials in Japan. Swift Tactical Systems and Swift-Xi recently completed multiple contracts for Kobe City. Government officials there are using Swift's unmanned aerial systems and teams to track environmental changes such as landslide monitoring, seawall shifts, algae blooms, and invasive species, all of which pose risks to its aging population. "As Japan's population rate steadily declines and its aging workforce continues to rise, government officials and the private sector are looking for ways to manage critical tasks that are traditionally performed by people on the ground. We are proud to support government officials and private sector visionaries who are looking ahead to ensure the safety of Japan's population and its future," says Rick Heise, President and CEO of Swift Engineering. About Swift Tactical Systems Swift Tactical Systems provides unmatched capabilities utilizing disruptive unmanned systems technologies and operational expertise for military and government applications. Headquartered in San Clemente, California, the company delivers fully integrated unmanned systems solutions for collecting, processing, and providing real-time intelligence and data, enabling governments and organizations to make informed decisions. Swift Tactical Systems is a subsidiary of Swift Engineering, Inc. Also headquartered in San Clemente, Swift Engineering is an innovation company with a 35-year history of design, engineering and build heritage in intelligent systems and advanced vehicles, including autonomous systems, helicopters, submarines, spacecraft, ground vehicles, robotics, and advanced composites. About Swift-Xi Swift-Xi Inc. () is a Japanese joint venture between Swift Engineering Inc. and the Kobe Institute of Computing, located in the city of Kobe in Hyogo prefecture. Swift-Xi is focused on accelerating social innovation by cultivating and developing disruptive technologies and innovation for autonomous systems, robotics & AI, urban mobility, and power management. Media Inquiries: Samantha McDermott Swift Engineering [email protected] Phone: 760.671.0071 SOURCE Swift Engineering Related Links https://swiftengineering.com Asia India Suspends Coronavirus Antibody Tests Amid Questions Over Reliability A man draws a mural promoting the wearing of face masks amid the spread of COVID-19 in Ahmedabad, India on April 21, 2020. / REUTERS NEW DELHIIndia has ordered a pause in testing for antibodies to the coronavirus because of concerns over the accuracy of the tests, health officials said on Wednesday, complicating the fight against the epidemic as its tally of cases nears 20,000. India trails many countries in conducting the standard swab tests to determine the presence of the novel coronavirus because of limited testing equipment and protective gear for medical workers. Early this month, health authorities approved blood tests for coronavirus antibodies as a faster way to bolster the screening effort and ordered more than a half billion testing kits from China. But the chief of epidemiology at the Indian Council of Medical Research, Dr. R.R. Gangakhedkar, said he had asked health authorities to temporarily stop the tests for antibodies because of conflicting results. This is a first-generation test developed in just three-and-a-half months and needs refinement, the variations cannot be ignored, he said. Federal health experts have been sent to help authorities in states validate the equipment. Some European countries, including Spain, have also complained about the quality of the Chinese-supplied kits. A Chinese Embassy spokeswoman in New Delhi said she had seen reports about the tests and that they in were touch with Indian authorities to provide assistance. China attaches great importance to the quality of exported medical products, Ji Rong said in a tweet. India has detected 19,983 cases of the coronavirus, after an increase of nearly 1,000 cases in one day, according to government data. There have been 640 deaths, still a small number compared with tolls in many other countries, but officials say the infections could rise once a nearly six-week lockdown is lifted on May 3. Conflicting results The antibody tests do not always pick up early-stage infections but show whether a person had the virus in the past, even if the person had no symptoms of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. In comparison, the swab test determines whether a person has the virus at that moment by looking for it in nose or throat secretions. The health minister of the western Indian state of Rajasthan said the two tests were in some cases producing conflicting results, raising doubts about reliability. The kits were used for testing of patients who have already tested positive for coronavirus, the state minister, Raghu Sharma, said. But the rapid test kits found them negative, which raised questions about the credibility of these kits. The health minister in the northern Indian state of Haryana, Anil Vij, said he had canceled orders given to China and instead asked South Korea to supply them. Both tests are seen as critical in the coronavirus fight, but antibody tests are a relatively cheap, fast means to sort populations into risk groups and measure the spread of the virus. Assaults on doctors The federal government also announced on Wednesday that a new decree would be issued soon under which anyone attacking health workers could face up to seven years prison and hefty fines. The move came after a spate of attacks on health workers around the country from people worried they were carrying the virus into the community. This week, a mob attacked an ambulance carrying the corpse of a doctor who succumbed to the coronavirus in the southern city of Chennai, believing it to be unsafe for the neighborhood. Health workers who are trying to save the country from this epidemic are unfortunately facing attacks. No incident of violence or harassment, against them will be tolerated, said Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar. Here are official government figures on the spread of the coronavirus in South Asia: * India has reported 19,983 cases, including 640 deaths. * Pakistan has reported 9,747 cases, including 209 deaths. * Afghanistan has reported 1,176 cases, including 40 deaths. * Sri Lanka has reported 322 cases, including seven deaths. * Bangladesh has reported 2,948 cases, including 101 deaths. * Maldives has reported 34 cases and no deaths. * Nepal has reported 45 cases and no deaths. * Bhutan has reported six cases and no deaths. You may also like these stories: India Struggles with Coronavirus Shutdown; Pakistan Cases Top 1,000 Vietnam to Ease Nationwide Coronavirus Lockdown Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 23:53:14|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, April 23 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called for debt relief in addition to a moratorium on debt service payments in the context of COVID-19. The pandemic is significantly amplifying existing debt risks, Guterres told a virtual forum of the UN Economic and Social Council on financing sustainable development. The time-bound Group of 20 initiative to suspend debt service payments for the poorest countries is a critical first step. The moratorium must be extended to all developing countries that request forbearance, including middle-income countries that lose access to financial markets, he said. Beyond an initial debt moratorium, targeted debt relief will be needed, he said. This should be followed by efforts to strengthen debt sustainability, including debt swaps, and a mechanism to address sovereign debt restructuring in a coordinated and comprehensive manner, that takes account of the need for countries to step up their efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, said Guterres. "We must also address structural issues in the international debt architecture, to prevent defaults leading to prolonged financial and economic crises." He also asked for efforts to support the poor and the most vulnerable and called for contributions to his 2-billion-U.S.-dollar global humanitarian response plan. Refugees and displaced people are especially at risk, and women and girls will face particularly devastating impacts of the economic instability that comes with the pandemic, he said. "We must adopt a large-scale and comprehensive response to tackle the devastating socio-economic consequences, with a focus on the most vulnerable countries and people. We must use all the fiscal and monetary measures at our disposal." He also asked for greater resources for the International Monetary Fund, including through the issuance of new Special Drawing Rights, and enhanced support for the World Bank Group and other international financial institutions and bilateral mechanisms. He repeated his call for a global stimulus package that is a double-digit percentage of global GDP. "COVID-19 is an unprecedented and devastating crisis that is affecting everyone, everywhere. No region or country is spared. This is a defining moment in human history, and we will only succeed through unity and leadership," he said. "This is not only a health crisis but a human crisis, a jobs crisis, a humanitarian crisis, and a development crisis. And it is not just about the most vulnerable. This pandemic shows that we are all at risk, because we are only as strong as the weakest health system." Enditem A new qualitative study by researchers at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found that the majority of women living with HIV would endorse a monthly long acting injectable (LAI) antiretroviral therapy over current daily pills. LAI HIV therapy has completed Phase III trials and is awaiting Food and Drug Administration approval. Study participants were recruited from the Women's Interagency HIV Study - the largest national study of women living with and at risk for HIV infection. Over half of the 59 women interviewed (56 percent) would choose LAI HIV therapy over daily pills for reasons of convenience, privacy, and perceived effectiveness: in contrast, 34 percent would prefer daily oral pills and 10 percent would prefer neither. This study is the first to exclusively explore women's interest in LAI HIV therapy, and one of the first among a non-clinical trial sample, who more accurately represents the population that will be using LAI HIV therapy. The findings are published in JAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy is imperative for viral suppression and reducing HIV transmission, but many people living with HIV report difficultly sustaining long-term adherence over the lifespan. We found that long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy was a compelling option among the women we interviewed." Morgan Philbin, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociomedical sciences at Columbia Mailman School The researchers conducted 59 in-depth interviews with women living with HIV in six Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) sites: New York, Chicago, Washington DC, Atlanta, Chapel Hill, and San Francisco from November 2017 - October 2018. The women received care at university settings that will be among the first to administer LAI antiretroviral therapy once it is approved; none of these women were enrolled in clinical trials for LAI HIV therapy. Nearly one-quarter of people living with HIV in the United States are women. Of these, 89 percent know their diagnosis, 65 percent receive care, and 51 percent are virally suppressed. Women living with HIV have historically been underrepresented in HIV treatment research, including trials for LAI HIV therapy. "It is therefore imperative to understand their interest in this new technology, since it has the potential to transform HIV treatment," said Philbin. The mostly male participants in ATLAS and FLAIR LAI ART trials reported a high preference (97 percent in FLAIR, 91 percent in ATLAS) for LAI over daily oral pills and said the side effects -- including fatigue, fever, headache and nausea -- rarely led to trial discontinuation. While the majority of women in the Columbia University-led WIHS study would also prefer LAI HIV therapy over daily pills, they also raised significant challenges. This includes more frequent doctors' visits (every month versus ever 3 or 4 months) and related transportation barriers, a distrust of new and perceived untested technologies and frustration that LAI would relieve some--but not all--of their current pill burden, noted the researchers. "Our study demonstrated that women living with HIV are open to long-acting injectable antiretroviral therapy, and many believe it will provide distinct benefits over daily pills," noted Philbin. "However, women also described challenges unique to them as women that would need to be addressed in order to ensure that they fully benefit from these new technologies, including the role of children and childbearing, caregiving responsibilities and long histories of medical mistrust. As a result, we want to highlight the need to incorporate women into the process of LAI ART roll out to ensure their inclusion." HONOLULU, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Daily Wellness Company launched FlattenToZero.org, a public service campaign to help end the COVID-19 pandemic decisively. The call-to-action is for each person is to act rather than wait for someone else to solve the problem: https://flattentozero.org This is an urgently needed approach that doesn't force us to choose between saving lives or the economy and yields the best outcome from the sacrifices we've made thus far. Key elements of this approach include: Enhancing current efforts to end the spread decisively instead of just slowing it down How this can be done while maintaining essential services and public freedom Building public awareness, education and support necessary for success The plan exploits the key weakness that virologists and medical experts know with certainty about the virus. This virus is non-persistent, meaning that once an infected person fully recovers they are no longer carriers of the virus. This is the same principle behind "flatten the curve," the objective Dr. Anthony Fauci and public health experts are trying to achieve with our current lockdown. The Flatten To Zero website explains the challenges managing the pandemic, the science behind the virus and its weakness, and specific details on how to enhance our current measures to eliminate the virus from existence in thirty days. It includes innovative solutions such as "cluster housing" to maintain essential services and business operations while denying opportunity for the virus to spread. The site is meant to be a focal point for education and end misconceptions about the virus as well as facilitate a much needed national conversation about a better approach to save lives and the economy. Experts in medicine and life science agree that Flatten to Zero is the best solution. Their doubt is whether the public will comply. Government leaders would prefer this, but also doubt that they can get public support. In short, the biggest deterrent lies in the fact that the public isn't convinced that compliance will help. This project is designed to overcome this problem. By creating a groundswell of knowledge, hope, unity, mutual support and peer pressure we can end the pandemic and the fear embedded in all of us. Our nation is already witnessing a social shift as people change their behavior in ways unimaginable a few months ago. We need to take it a few steps further to end the pandemic decisively. Support from government leaders, business executives, and the general public can make that happen. It needs to happen immediately as both our economy and patience for drawn-out measures are rapidly waning. The current approach to pandemic management has put us at a difficult crossroad. We've been asked to stay at home and put our economy on life support in order to save lives. If we don't restart our economy soon, it will collapse. If we restart too soon, a second wave of cases will also lead to collapse. Furthermore, preventing a second wave is a gamble because it relies on testing and tracing that is months away from being widely available or reliable. Uncertainty of drug therapy, and a vaccine are over a year away. There are numerous additional perils. Restarting the economy with the virus lurking means that apprehension and uncertainty will continue to cripple the economy and restrict our day-to-day lives. The existence of the virus in the human population also opens the door for a deadlier mutation to occur; an unlikely, but very possible scenario. The only solution available today that can resolve the pandemic decisively is a Flatten To Zero approach. The Daily Wellness Company has been active in the medical research community for the past twenty years. In the validation of its proprietary formulas, it has sponsored clinical studies at Stanford University, Yale University, and Wake Forest University. Denny W. Kwock, President & CEO of the Daily Wellness Company, was a retrovirus researcher in the 1980's during the AIDS pandemic. His published research was instrumental in developing screening methodologies that culminated in FDA trials on testing to prevent infection from donated blood. Learn more at www.DailyWellness.com 2020 All rights reserved. Daily Wellness Company is a registered trademark of Daily Wellness Company, Inc. Media Contact: Daily Wellness Company Paula Page [email protected] +1.650.279.3881 http://paulapagepr.com/ SOURCE Daily Wellness Company Related Links https://www.dailywellness.com Prince Harry reportedly had one final secret meeting with former flame Chelsy Davy in London. Thirty-five-year-old Prince Harry was believed to have remained in the U.K. a few days following the Commonwealth Day proceedings. The Duke of Sussex ran into Davy, who he dated for 7 years from 2004-2011 while getting together with old friends. He had the secret meeting with Davy prior to his return to Canada to be with Meghan Markle and baby Archie. The prince knew it would be unlikely to meet up with all his pals individually, so a few of them organized a gathering before he flew back to Canada. Davy reportedly met the duke when he visited South Africa on a gap year. After they started dating, the former girlfriend became a member of the "Glosse Posse," a group of socialite twenty-somethings with regal ties. Many royal watchers anticipated that the two would eventually get married. According to sources, Prince Harry thought Davy was his future wife, but those plans allegedly were not realized when the Queen made it apparent that she did not approve of the union. Aya brand-owner Davy, 34, has gushed in March that she was "quite taken" by a new special someone without revealing the identity. Prince Harry's former partner shared, "Yes, there is someone, and I am quite taken by this one, but it's very new and I don't want to say too much." Also Read: Meghan Markle Envies Kate Middleton? Survey Says People Prefer the Duchess of Cambridge Davy was in attendance at Prince William and Kate Middleton's royal wedding and was one of the guests at the union between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The Zimbabwean solicitor-turned-jewelry designer had an on-and-off relationship with the duke. She described herself as a "normal kid" when she was involved with Prince Harry. According to the source, "Harry was beaming when he walked into the room and everyone was there waiting for him. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Chelsy. He gave her the biggest hug. He was thrilled she was there." Being committed to his wife did not stop Prince Harry from reportedly turning off his phone during the occasion. After the Commonwealth Day Service, Prince Harry flew back to Canada immediately after the reunion. Onlookers felt quite serious chemistry between the former couple, but with Prince Harry now married to Markle and Davy dating a new man, the sources doubt for them to reunite. A royal biographer claimed he had one last fling with former sweetheart Davy before his current wife. They split for good at a point when pressures of being linked with a royal became too much for Davy. Aside from Megxit, the former royal has also moved his life around in the past for the sake of a partner. Royal commentator Katie Nicholl said that Prince Harry was given the keys to his then-girlfriend Davy's 1.5million London apartment back then. Related Article: Meghan Markle's Dark Side: Rumored Clash With Royal Staff Linked to Celebrity Status @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Piers Morgan lashed out at Brandon Lewis today over the government's testing 'shambles' as just seven days remain to reach the 100,000-a-day pledge. The Tory minister admitted 100,000 tests were to be 'done' per day after attempting to claim the government had only pledged to increase the 'capacity' of tests to 100,000 a day by the end of April. Mr Lewis also said he 'does not personally know' how many individual people were tested yesterday, to which Piers said: 'Shall I tell you? 13,000.' The Tory minister replied 'as I say, 20,000 tests were done', to which the Good Morning Britain presenter remarked: 'It matters that you dont know that difference. Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis pictured above during his appearance on Good Morning Britain today. The Tory MP was grilled over the government's testing capacity 'I have the capacity for three cars, I have one and two bikes, do you see difference? Youre only testing 13,000, I find it deeply worrying. No wonder testing is a shambles.' Mr Lewis responded: 'The focus is making sure the people who need the tests can get access to them, we want to increase the people who have access to it.' Piers later tweeted about the exchange, saying it was 'staggering' to discover government ministers 'don't know' the difference between the number of tests being carried out and the number of people being tested, which vary from one another due to some people being counted twice. The TV host also grilled Mr Lewis over claims the government has capacity for 40,000 tests but are only managing to do 22,000 a day. Piers then questioned Mr Lewis over only one in four care home workers who fear they have coronavirus being tested. The presenter asked: 'Heres the reality capacity for 40,000, doing 22,000, as of yesterday. 'One in four care home workers have been tested, it is an absolute disgrace, and for you to keep talking about capacity when we've got three quarters of our care workers who think they are infected unable to get a test is a national disgrace, isn't it?' The Conservative MP replied: 'Well that's why we're so determined and actually what I've been focused on about talking to you Piers is how we increase the number of people who can access those tests, and that's why I'm making the point. Piers also questioned the Northern Ireland Secretary over only one in four care home workers who fear they have coronavirus being tested (both pictured on the show this morning) 'We want to make sure that we build on that 18,500 care workers get more than the ability to access it by having more test centres, not having to go through their employer to get that test in the first place.' Piers interjected: 'But how do you feel on a human level that care workers cant get tests? 'People are desperate for a test, Im sure you do care that people arent being tested. People will die because you cant get them.' Mr Lewis responded: 'Im agreeing with you, its dreadful we cant get more people tested. We need to upscale the ability for people to get the tests. 'We are determined to deal with this. The health department have done an amazing job, across private and health service it has been phenomenal.' He added: 'Youre right we need to give more people access to the tests.' Piers said: 'These promises arent cutting it.' The Good Morning Britain presenter later posted about the exchange on Twitter, saying it is 'important we hold them to the original pledge' The presenter posted afterwards: 'After Govt minister Brandon Lewis spent the morning trying to reposition the Govt's 100,000-tests-a-day-by-end-of-April pledge as "capacity", we finally got him to admit on @GMB the pledge was in fact 100,000 tests to be DONE per day. 'Big difference, important clarification.' Matt Hancock has just seven days left to reach his goal of six figure daily testing but recent figures show fewer than 20,000 tests were actually carried out on Monday despite capacity being at just shy of 40,000. Ministers announced that they were expanding the number of drive-through testing sites from 26 to 50 in an apparent admission that staff in some parts of the country have faced an uphill battle to get tested. Other key workers will also now be eligible for tests, including transport workers and supermarket staff. Ministers continue to struggle to explain why there is such a large discrepancy between the number of tests being carried out and available capacity. Asked about the gap, the Prime Minister's Official Spokesman previously said: 'Ministers have been very clear that any spare capacity should be used to test NHS and social care staff and their families. 'As a result of the increased capacity which we have available, other critical care workers can now also get tests so that they can continue their vital work on the frontline.' On the UK Government's website, the Health and Social Care Department states: 'The UK will carry out 100,000 tests for coronavirus every day by the end of this month.' It explains the pledge will be made as part of a 'five-pillar plan' which includes 'building a mass-testing capacity for the UK at a completely new scale.' (Bloomberg) -- Indonesia opted for less punishing social-distancing measures than its neighbors to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Now analysts are warning its economy will take much longer to recover than others in Southeast Asia. With the pandemics peak expected in late May, President Joko Widodo is recalibrating his strategy of large-scale social distancing rules and calling for a ramp-up of testing to contain the impact of the virus in Indonesia, which has suffered the highest death toll in Asia after China and India. While additional cities are opting for partial lockdowns, more than two-thirds of the countrys 270 million people remain under only voluntary isolation, and infections have spread to more than 260 cities across the archipelago. The presidents approach to the crisis stands in sharp contrast to the nationwide lockdowns in countries like India and Malaysia, which are now set to relax some curbs even after extending their initial closures. Indonesian officials estimate the disease will infect about 95,000 people before it eases. Jokowi, as Widodo is known, may need to add to the $28 billion in economic stimulus the government has promised. The Indonesian governments response to Covid-19 has been slow, unclear and fractured, Fitch Solutions said in a report. Given the late containment efforts in Indonesia, we believe that the Covid-19 outbreak will likely last longer compared to other countries in the region. As such, containment measures and border closures will also remain in place for longer. Jokowi has rejected calls for a complete lockdown, citing the impact on jobs and businesses. But hes pushing for stricter social distancing and this week banned an annual ritual of millions of Muslims traveling to hometowns and villages ahead of the Eid al-Fitr festival. He held back on the ban until the government rolled out billions of dollars in food and social assistance programs to shield millions left jobless. Story continues Jokowi has denied charges of being slow to respond to the pandemic, saying his administration started preparing as early as January but was hamstrung by brutal competition among nations to secure the supply of test kits and other medical equipments. Testing Failure A failure to conduct mass testing early enough means as many as 60,000 people may need treatment by the end of May, according to Pandu Riono, an epidemiologist at the University of Indonesia. Fridays tally of 436 new confirmed cases, the largest in a single day despite a month of social-distancing steps, brought the countrys total to more than 8,200 infected and 689 dead. Our estimate right now is that 86% of the infections out there are asymptomatic, Riono said. By adopting a stricter social-distancing policy nationally, the government can contain the number of people needing medical attention to about 12,000 at the outbreaks peak, he said. Concerns are mounting about the cost of protecting the economy. While countries like South Korea and Taiwan have managed to rein in the pandemic while minimizing disruptions to mobility, others like Japan and Singapore that initially shunned strict social-distancing rules have had to tighten measures. Singapore, a country experienced in handling epidemics, showed its possible to be wrong-footed by the virus. It now has Southeast Asias largest recorded outbreak and is racing to regain control, with most new cases centered in crowded dormitories that house more than 200,000 foreign workers. Indonesian authorities extended the partial lockdown in Jakarta for another month, saying the measures havent yet had the desired effect. Governor Anies Baswedan threatened Wednesday to slap hefty penalties on violators after authorities filed cases against more than 30 companies for failing to comply with work-from-home orders. The government imposed a nationwide ban on airlines and chartered or private passenger planes starting Friday, and is restricting land and sea transport to take people to and from infected areas at the beginning of the month-long Muslim festival, when millions of people normally travel to celebrate the Eid al-Fitr. Indonesia Bans Air Travel Through June 1 to Limit Viruss Spread The lax enforcement of mobility rules, which bans gatherings of more than five people but allows travel, may point to a longer recovery trajectory for Indonesia, according to Jeffrosenberg Tan, head of investment strategy at PT Sinarmas Sekuritas in Jakarta. Looking how things are going under the stricter social-distancing measures, theres a risk that Indonesia may not reach the peak of the outbreak by May. It could be beyond June, Tan said. It could potentially prolong the lockdown, and that would be very destructive for the economy and business conditions. Weakening Outlook Already, the outbreak is weakening the outlook for Southeast Asias only $1 trillion economy. The government may need to expand fiscal stimulus to 1,600 trillion rupiah ($104 billion), or about 10% of gross domestic product, to cushion the economic shock, the nations top business lobby group said. Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has warned the economy could contract 0.4% in a worst-case scenario, and the government has suspended a budget-deficit cap to allow itself to boost spending. The budget risks last week prompted S&P Global Ratings to downgrade Indonesias outlook to negative from stable. While the government and the central bank have made aggressive moves to stimulate the economy, we believe that these efforts will not be enough to offset the devastating effects the Covid-19 pandemic will have on employment and public health in Indonesia, Fitch Solutions said. (Updates with latest data on cases in paragraph 7.) 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. Former Jharkhand minister Anosh Ekka was on Thursday sentenced to seven years' rigorous imprisonment and slapped with a fine of Rs 2 crore by a special court in Ranchi in a money laundering offence, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) said. The quantum of sentence was pronounced via a video conference by special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) judge Anil Kumar Mishra. Ekka, 45, is currently lodged in Ranchi's Birsa Munda jail in connection with another criminal case. He was being probed by the ED in the money laundering case registered against former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda and others. The former minister was convicted on March 21 by the same court in the Jharkhand capital and the sentencing was stipulated for a later date. "Ekka is sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment (RI) for seven years for the offence under section 4 of the PMLA and to pay a fine of Rs 2 crore. In default of fine, he will undergo RI for an additional year," the federal probe agency said in a statement. It added that assets worth Rs 22.38 crore of Ekka and his family members have been ordered to be "confiscated" by the court under the anti-money laundering law. The attached assets are in the form of movable and immovable assets like residential properties, lands, fixed deposits, balances in bank accounts, national savings certificates, Kisan Vikas Patras, vehicles, rifles and pistols among others. "These confiscated assets were held in the name of the accused (Ekka), his family members and companies owned by him and his family," the agency said. Ekka, who was a minister in the Madu Koda cabinet from 2006-2008, was earlier held guilty by the court "of offences of money laundering to the tune of Rs 20,31,77,852 as defined under Section 3 of the PMLA and punishable under Section 4 of the PMLA," the ED had said in a statement after his conviction. The ED had booked the former rural development minister under the PMLA following a Jharkhand vigilance bureau criminal complaint. The CBI had earlier accused Ekka, his wife and others of possessing disproportionate wealth of Rs 17 crore, allegedly acquired during his ministerial term in the Koda dispensation. Ekka has represented the Kolebira constituency in the Jharkhand assembly. The seat falls under the Khunti parliamentary constituency. He then represented the Jharkhand Party. This is the second PMLA conviction in the Koda case as in 2017, former Jharkhand minister Hari Narayan Rai was sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 5 lakh. Overall, this is the 11th conviction under the law enacted in 2002 and implemented from 2005. The ED has filed multiple charge sheets under PMLA in this case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- ScholarRx today announced a new partnership with SOMA, the Student Osteopathic Medical Association, which represents the largest network of osteopathic medical students in the United States. As a part of this partnership, SOMA becomes a charter member of ScholarRx's Global Medical Student Alliance, which is designed to empower student organizations with the tools and expertise to build medical education content that is often missing from the curriculum. This partnership will focus on developing curriculum on policy platforms that are critical to SOMA, including but not limited to: Social justice Osteopathic principles and practice Diversity/inclusion Health equity Global health Along with helping to drive and develop this curriculum, SOMA members will be granted access to these materials through the Rx Bricks digital learning system developed by ScholarRx. SOMA's President, Clara Hofman, stated, "SOMA recognizes part of what makes a well-rounded student means engaging in experiences outside the medical school curriculum. Through our partnership with ScholarRx, we hope to conceptualize important topics surrounding healthcare advocacy and equip students in these areas to positively impact the future of our profession." Dr. Tao Le, founder and CEO of ScholarRx, comments, "Through the Global Medical Student Alliance, we are excited to partner with SOMA to address deep education needs at a global and societal level and help medical students define, build, and learn the key content that may be missing from the standard curriculum." About ScholarRx: ScholarRx is a mission-driven organization currently serving over 150,000 medical students and physician learners annually. ScholarRx has developed a revolutionary componentized, multi-competency curricular platform that will empower medical schools and medical student organizations to rapidly develop high-quality education experiences, even in resource-constrained environments. About SOMA: Since its inception in March of 1970, SOMA has represented the voice of osteopathic medical students. We are an organization committed to advocacy within the medical profession and support of osteopathic medical students through the challenges of medical school. We know that medical school comes with a unique set of challenges, so we leverage our connections and resources to make the journey just a little bit easier. SOURCE ScholarRx Related Links http://www.scholarrx.com Police have frozen 1.6million from a 'complex web' of 25 bank accounts linked to mafia cash after a probe into Italian crime gang money-laundering firms in London. Investigators from the Met Police Economic Crime Unit found that dozens of front companies were opened in the UK. Each had been set up or was partly managed by a third party in an attempt to hide the real movement of money. Investigators from the Met Police Economic Crime Unit found that dozens of front companies were opened in the UK (file photo of New Scotland Yard, central London) The investigation, which began in 2018, also revealed gangsters used fake identities. One was taken from a dead man while another was a victim of identity theft. These were used to set up business accounts with banks where money launderers could move millions of euros from Europe to the UK accounts, before paying back to Italian accounts - a criminal technique known as 'layering.' The seizure was made with an Account Freezing order (AFO) - new legislation brought in in 2017, which was granted at Westminster Magistrates' Court. Detective Superintendent Nick Stevens, from the Met's Economic Crime Command, said: 'This was a painstaking investigation into a complex web of shell companies based in the UK which we were able to demonstrate to the court were set up to launder a large amount of money from overseas, likely obtained through criminality. 'We worked with Italian authorities to build what became a compelling case. This case shows that our officers have the capability, knowledge and ability to identify and disrupt sophisticated money laundering operations. The seizure was made with an Account Freezing order (AFO) - new legislation brought in in 2017, which was granted at Westminster Magistrates' Court (pictured) 'It also shows that the Met will use all the investigative and legislative tools available to us to seize ill-gotten gains, and stop proceeds of crime becoming sources of income and wealth.' A Met police spokesperson added: 'A two-year investigation into suspected money laundering has led to the Met's largest ever cash forfeiture using an Account Freezing Order. What is an Account Freezing Order? The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) can apply for a freezing order to preserve suspected ill-gotten money. This stops people from using the account in questions, holding the money until a civil recovery order is made. The CPS can also apply to appoint an Interim Receiver where the assets for civil recovery need to be investigated. The Interim Receiver has power to preserve the assets whilst he investigates them. Source: CPS Advertisement 'Twenty five bank accounts holding more than Euro 1.9million were frozen following an AFO application, under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, which was granted at Westminster Magistrates Court last week. 'The complex investigation, led by officers from the Met's Economic Crime Unit, started in 2018 and centred around members of an organised crime network based in Italy. 'The investigation found that dozens of front companies were opened in the UK using company service providers, with the intention of hiding the true origin and destination of the funds. 'False identities were used, gathered from amongst others a dead man and a victim of identity theft, to obtain business banking facilities with a major bank. 'These accounts were then used to perform transactions where millions of Euros were laundered from Europe to the UK accounts, and then paid back to Italian accounts. 'This process of executing a series of transactions across multiple accounts to disguise and obscure the original source of funds is called 'layering'. 'The investigation, led by Detective Sergeant Geoff Donoghue, involved extensive telephone and document analysis in order to evidence the scale of the laundering conspiracy.' Private equity firm Sycamore Partners is looking to end its deal to buy a stake in L Brands, Inc. (NYSE: LB) lingerie brand Victorias Secret. L Brands said in a Wednesday statement that Sycamore Partners delivered a notice purporting to terminate the Feb. 20, 2020 transaction agreement relating to the sale of a 55% interest in Victoria's Secret Lingerie, Victoria's Secret Beauty and PINK. Sycamore has filed a lawsuit in Delaware seeking a declaratory judgment in favor of the termination of the deal, according to L Brands. The retailer views the attempted termination as invalid and said it plans to defend the lawsuit and pursue legal remedies. "L Brands intends to continue working towards closing the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Agreement," the company said. Sycamore said that L Brands' decisions to close American stores in march, furlough most workers and skip rent payments in April violated the terms of the proposed deal, The Wall Street Journal reported. L Brands shares were trading lower by 15.51% at $10.19 at the close Wednesday. The stock has a 52-week high of $28.02 and a 52-week low of $8. Related Link: L Brands Reports Q4 Earnings Beat Photo by Samantha Marx via Wikimedia. See more from Benzinga 2020 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. The Senior Correctional Centre of the Ghana Prisons Service has appealed to the President to grant amnesty to a number of juvenile offenders to enable them observe the social distancing protocol in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Assistant Chief Officer Mr Francis Agbomadzi, the Greater Accra Public Relations Officer, said the facility has a total of 266 juvenile offenders in custody and the number has made it difficult for them to observe the preventive measures. Mr Agbomadzi said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra. He said the country is not in ordinary times and since some of these juvenile offenders have learnt their lessons from their past experience it would be appropriate if the President could pardon them to create enough space. Some of them have learnt lessons from their past experience due to the number of mechanisms being put in place and this has informed them on the need to avoid crime but to realize their potentials and focus on the future, he added. He said with the benevolent donation of some groups and individuals, the Centre now has sanitizers, tissue towels, liquid soaps, Veronica buckets among others to ensure they practice the other precautionary measures but need social distancing also to give them a wholesome approach in the fight against the disease. Mr Agbomadzi again appealed to government to increase the GHC 1.80 pesewas feeding per head to enable them feed the inmates properly. He advised parents of juvenile offenders not to neglect them when they come into conflict with the law but rather show them love and support. He said that is important as the Juvenile Act 658 states that the parent or sibling had to accompany the offender from the court to the centers to help have effective communication with relatives to curtail criminal activities. He appealed to philanthropist, corporate institutions and other well-meaning Ghanaians to come into their aid and provide the inmate with food items to boost their immune system to be able to fight the COVID -19 and also control the spread. 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 A new study suggests American food consumption may be three times more wasteful than past research had showed. The study was conducted by Zach Conrad of the Department of Health Sciences at William & Mary University, who found the average American consumes only 59 percent of the food they pay for on any given day, with the rest going to waste. This waste amounts to around one pound per person each day, with an estimated daily cost of $3.62, more than three times the $1.07 figure a 2008 study of American food waste reached. The average American spends $3.62 each day on wasted food, throwing out more than a pound a day of edible goods Over the course of a year, food waste costs the average American more than $1,300, more than they pay for gas, new clothes, heating and electricity, or property taxes. The study was based on food intake data for 39,758 American adults over the age of 20, taken from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2001 to 2016. Conrad combined this data with a variety of other publicly available information on food waste and food prices to create his model for average consumption. Eighty percent of the sample were non-Hispanic white Americans, and 65 percent had an income-to-poverty ratio of at least 2.00, meaning they earned at least twice what their threshold of being considered 'poor' would be. The study also showed that while the average American was paying more for food they didn't eat, they were also getting less nutritional benefit from the foods they were eating. Only one in 10 Americans consumed the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables and between 60 and 70 percent of Americans exceeding the daily recommended servings for sugar and saturated fat. The average American spends more than $1,300 each year on food that goes to waste, more than they spend on gas for transportation, heating and electricity, new clothes, or property taxes This culture of simultaneous excess and inadequacy has consequences not just for the average American but for the entire economy. 'Food waste also represents massive amounts of wasted agricultural inputs like pesticides, fertilizers, irrigation water and energy, and contributes to environmental problems like greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, soil erosion and biodiversity loss,' Conrad writes in Nutrition Journal. Food waste has become especially visible during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many farmers choosing to throw out produce they can't ship to grocery stores or processing facilities that have been operating at reduced capacity. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many farmers have had to dump their crops, including potatoes, eggs, milk, and more, as national and global food supply chains have slowed down A recent report from the International Dairy Foods Association showed American Dairy farmers were dumping more than 3.7 million gallons of fresh milk a day for fear of spoilage. Individual chicken farms are destroying as many as 750,000 fresh eggs per week that can no longer be shipped to stores. In Idaho, some potato farmers have had to dump as much as 500,000 potatoes they've been unable to move into the supply chain. 'A lot of people that are coming here haven't been coming for themselves,' Ryan Cranney , a potato farmer in Oakley, Idaho, told the AP. 'They're grabbing them for people in need.' Michael Caputo, the GOP media operative hired last week as a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has an unusually clean and boring twitter feed for a Trump crony. This is because he deleted his Twitter archives after observers noted the long history of hysterical attacks and conspiracy theorizing there, including a racist rant about the Chinese posted last month. In one recent conversation he described Trump critics as "the enemy of the people" and "carrying water for the Chinese Communist Party", suggested a criticism of Trump "rhymes with sedition", described the Covid-19 outbreak as a "national pandemic tragedy for the Democrats to win", and said that "millions of Chinese suck the blood of rabid bats as an appetizer and eat the ass out of anteaters but some foriegner snuck in a bottle of the good stuff." Not content with his remarks about the Chinese, Caputo accused George Soros of "requiring" a pandemic for his "political agenda" and posted the hashtag "#ChineseVirus" twenty times in a row, as many as Twitter would permit. Caputo, a prolific user who often tweeted insults and profanity, recently erased nearly his entire Twitter history from before April 12. CNN's KFile used the Internet Archive's Way Back Machine to review more than 1300 deleted tweets and retweets from late February to early April many, of which were regarding the rapidly spreading coronavirus. Caputo's ascent is another reminder there is no bottom. CNN collects all his conspiracy theory stuff from March in one item. Kaia Gerber has been striving to remain 'healthy on the inside' during the coronavirus pandemic. The 18-year-old model - who is the daughter of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber - has revealed she's focused on her personal well-being during the current lockdown. 'I've just really been taking the time to make sure I'm healthy on the inside,' said the Malibu native. Health first: Kaia Gerber has been striving to remain 'healthy on the inside' during the coronavirus pandemic. The 18-year-old model - who is the daughter of Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber - has revealed she's focused on her personal well-being during the current lockdown 'In our minds, we keep going and going, and you don't really have time to reflect on how your body is feeling and check back in. I've been very fortunate to use this time to check in with myself internally and that's just been a really big part of my routine.' Kaia - who is currently at home in Los Angeles amid the coronavirus lockdown - also revealed that her new campaign for Marc Jacobs Daisy has taken on a new meaning amid the pandemic. In a campaign video for the brand, Kaia is seen laughing and joking in a field alongside other models. She told Allure magazine: 'Rewatching it now and seeing the field and open air makes you think about the things you take for granted. Comfortable at home in Malibu: The teen star has fostered a dog during her time indoors 'We're holding hands and running through a field - right now that seems so crazy and completely out of the question. It's just made me feel grateful and really reminded me of that time.' Meanwhile, Kaia previously insisted he doesn't want to be labelled as a model. She explained: 'I always like to say, I model - but I am not a model. Because once you put 'a' or 'an' ahead of a title, it staples that to you ... So, my advice to others who want to navigate new territories would be to not hesitate and just do what would make you proud. Never box yourself in.' Gerber has also said TikTok makes her feel 'old'. A good swim: And she has been using the pool for workouts and to beat the heat She has yet to create a TikTok account - unlike many of her showbiz pals - to keep herself entertained during the lockdown. She joked: 'I haven't personally gotten into TikTok yet because it makes me feel old. 'Which is crazy, but I still don't know how to use it [and] the dances are so hard. I have so much respect for the people that take the time to learn them - it's a true art form.' Kaia is also currently in the midst of a 'pretty big break' from her make-up and skin-care regimen. Family business: Kaia and her brother Presley followed their mother and father into modeling; the family are pictured in 2016 However, the model continues to wear her favourite fragrance, even though she's got nowhere to go. She told Allure magazine: 'I've been wearing [the fragrance] since I was 12 or 13. 'I put it on - even though I'm not leaving the house - because it keeps me sane and makes me feel like I haven't [strayed] too far away from my normal routine.' Meanwhile, Kaia previously revealed she was 'worried' when she was named Model of the Year. Basics: The looker has also been taking care of this puppy that she bonded with The catwalk star admitted the title left her panicking about what else she could still achieve, even though she's still in her teens. Kaia thought, 'Oh my God, what do I do now?'' Kaia was just 10 years old when she made her modelling debut and didn't even realize it was work. She explained: 'It was for Versace Kids and I loved it but I had no idea what I was doing. 'I didn't even realize it was a job. I was like, 'This is work?'' Gerber has been fostering puppies at her Malibu residence as she self-isolated during the coronavirus pandemic. And on Thursday the teen showed her social media fans how she feeds the little fuzzy white puppy that she is currently taking care of. 'Morning bottle,' the star said as she was seen out on a lush green lawn. Her little joy: Kaia has been fostering puppies at her Malibu residence as she self-isolated during the coronavirus pandemic. And on Thursday she showed her social media fans how she feeds the little fuzzy white puppy. 'Morning bottle,' the star said as she was seen out on a lush green lawn 'My three week old baby Angel,' she said in another photo caption as she credited the LaBelle Foundation. The model also posed with the little pooch when in a bikini and said they were 'best friends.' 'Thelabellefoundation helped me foster this little girl,' she captioned a quick video that she shared on her Insta-Story. In it, Gerber lounged back on a couch in an animal print bikini as the little pup took a nap just above her shoulders. Before COVID-19 lockdown: In London in February with Iris Law Gerber has been fostering dogs through The Labelle Foundation and posting pictures and information on her social media platforms since the COVID-19 outbreak reached a fever pitch in March. The Labelle Foundation is a Los Angeles foster based animal rescue devoted to rescuing, rehabilitating, advocating for dogs, according to the organizations website, labellefoundation.org. Their goal is to help the animals they assist find perfect forever families. The organization also specializes in neonatal orphans and sick or special need medical puppies. Jones and her boyfriend then took the toddler to the hospital where she was pronounced dead two minutes later. A doctor at the hospital reported the child was "stiff, freezing cold, not breathing and appeared to have been deceased for several hours," according to police. Elliana was pronounced dead at 9:21 a.m. Sunday, and an autopsy by the medical examiner's office found that she died of multiple injuries. Prosecutors said Elliana suffered a perforated intestine, and fecal matter had collected in her abdominal cavity. She also suffered bruises to her head, face, back and arms. She had healing burns on her foot, various healed scars and two rib fractures from earlier incidents, prosecutors said. By Silvia Aloisi, Deena Beasley, Gabriella Borter, Thomas Escritt and Kate Kelland BERLIN (Reuters) - When he was diagnosed with COVID-19, Andre Bergmann knew exactly where he wanted to be treated: the Bethanien hospital lung clinic in Moers, near his home in northwestern Germany. The clinic is known for its reluctance to put patients with breathing difficulties on mechanical ventilators - the kind that involve tubes down the throat. The 48-year-old physician, father of two and aspiring triathlete worried that an invasive ventilator would be harmful. But soon after entering the clinic, Bergmann said, he struggled to breathe even with an oxygen mask, and felt so sick the ventilator seemed inevitable. Even so, his doctors never put him on a machine that would breathe for him. A week later, he was well enough to go home. Bergmann's case illustrates a shift on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, as doctors rethink when and how to use mechanical ventilators to treat severe sufferers of the disease - and in some cases whether to use them at all. While initially doctors packed intensive care units with intubated patients, now many are exploring other options. Machines to help people breathe have become the major weapon for medics fighting COVID-19, which has so far killed more than 183,000 people. Within weeks of the disease's global emergence in February, governments around the world raced to build or buy ventilators as most hospitals said they were in critically short supply. Germany has ordered 10,000 of them. Engineers from Britain to Uruguay are developing versions based on autos, vacuum cleaners or even windshield-wiper motors. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is spending $2.9 billion for nearly 190,000 ventilators. The U.S. government has contracted with automakers such as General Motors Co and Ford Motor Co as well as medical device manufacturers, and full delivery is expected by the end of the year. Trump declared this week that the U.S. was now "the king of ventilators." Story continues However, as doctors get a better understanding of what COVID-19 does to the body, many say they have become more sparing with the equipment. Reuters interviewed 30 doctors and medical professionals in countries including China, Italy, Spain, Germany and the United States, who have experience of dealing with COVID-19 patients. Nearly all agreed that ventilators are vitally important and have helped save lives. At the same time, many highlighted the risks from using the most invasive types of them - mechanical ventilators - too early or too frequently, or from non-specialists using them without proper training in overwhelmed hospitals. Medical procedures have evolved in the pandemic as doctors better understand the disease, including the types of drugs used in treatments. The shift around ventilators has potentially far-reaching implications as countries and companies ramp up production of the devices. "BETTER RESULTS" Many forms of ventilation use masks to help get oxygen into the lungs. Doctors' main concern is around mechanical ventilation, which involves putting tubes into patients' airways to pump air in, a process known as intubation. Patients are heavily sedated, to stop their respiratory muscles from fighting the machine. Those with severe oxygen shortages, or hypoxia, have generally been intubated and hooked up to a ventilator for up to two to three weeks, with at best a fifty-fifty chance of surviving, according to doctors interviewed by Reuters and recent medical research. The picture is partial and evolving, but it suggests people with COVID-19 who have been intubated have had, at least in the early stages of the pandemic, a higher rate of death than other patients on ventilators who have conditions such as bacterial pneumonia or collapsed lungs. This is not proof that ventilators have hastened death: The link between intubation and death rates needs further study, doctors say. In China, 86% of 22 COVID-19 patients didn't survive invasive ventilation at an intensive care unit in Wuhan, the city where the pandemic began, according to a study published in The Lancet in February. Normally, the paper said, patients with severe breathing problems have a 50% chance of survival. A recent British study found two-thirds of COVID-19 patients put on mechanical ventilators ended up dying anyway, and a New York study found 88% of 320 mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients had died. More recently, none of the eight patients who went on ventilators at the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi hospital had died as of April 9, a doctor there told Reuters. And one ICU doctor at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta said he had had a "good" week when almost half the COVID-19 patients were successfully taken off the ventilator, when he had expected more to die. The experiences can vary dramatically. The average time a COVID-19 patient spent on a ventilator at Scripps Health's five hospitals in California's San Diego County was just over a week, compared with two weeks at the Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem and three at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, medics at the hospitals said. In Germany, as patient Bergmann struggled to breathe, he said he was getting too desperate to care. "There came a moment when it simply no longer mattered," he told Reuters. "At one point I was so exhausted that I asked my doctor if I was going to get better. I was saying, if I had no children or partner then it would be easier just to be left in peace." Instead of putting Bergmann on a mechanical ventilator, the clinic gave him morphine and kept him on the oxygen mask. He's since tested free of the infection, but not fully recovered. The head of the clinic, Thomas Voshaar, a German pulmonologist, has argued strongly against early intubation of COVID-19 patients. Doctors including Voshaar worry about the risk that ventilators will damage patients' lungs. The doctors interviewed by Reuters agreed that mechanical ventilators are crucial life-saving devices, especially in severe cases when patients suddenly deteriorate. This happens to some when their immune systems go into overdrive in what is known as a "cytokine storm" of inflammation that can cause dangerously high blood pressure, lung damage and eventual organ failure. The new coronavirus and COVID-19, the disease the virus causes, have been compared to the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918-19, which killed 50 million people worldwide. Now as then, the disease is novel, severe and spreading rapidly, pushing the limits of the public health and medical knowledge required to tackle it. When coronavirus cases started surging in Louisiana, doctors at the state's largest hospital system, Ochsner Health, saw an influx of people with signs of acute respiratory distress syndrome, or ARDS. Patients with ARDS have inflammation in the lungs which can cause them to struggle to breathe and take rapid short breaths. "Initially we were intubating fairly quickly on these patients as they began to have more respiratory distress," said Robert Hart, the hospital system's chief medical officer. "Over time what we learned is trying not to do that." Instead, Hart's hospital tried other forms of ventilation using masks or thin nasal tubes, as Voshaar did with his German patient. "We seem to be seeing better results," Hart said. CHANGED LUNGS Other doctors painted a similar picture. In Wuhan, where the novel coronavirus emerged, doctors at Tongji Hospital at the Huazhong University of Science and Technology said they initially turned quickly to intubation. Li Shusheng, head of the hospital's intensive care department, said a number of patients did not improve after ventilator treatment. "The disease," he explained, "had changed their lungs beyond our imagination." His colleague Xu Shuyun, a doctor of respiratory medicine, said the hospital adapted by cutting back on intubation. Luciano Gattinoni, a guest professor at the Department of Anaesthesiology, Emergency and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Gottingen in Germany, and a renowned expert in ventilators, was one of the first to raise questions about how they should be used to treat COVID-19. "I realised as soon as I saw the first CT scan ... that this had nothing to do with what we had seen and done for the past 40 years," he told Reuters. In a paper published by the American Thoracic Society on March 30, Gattinoni and other Italian doctors wrote that COVID-19 does not lead to "typical" respiratory problems. Patients' lungs were working better than they would expect for ARDS, they wrote - they were more elastic. So, he said, mechanical ventilation should be given "with a lower pressure than the one we are used to." Ventilating some COVID-19 sufferers as if they were standard patients with ARDS is not appropriate, he told Reuters. "It's like using a Ferrari to go to the shop next door, you press on the accelerator and you smash the window." The Italians were swiftly followed by Cameron Kyle-Sidell, a New York physician who put out a talk on YouTube saying that by preparing to put patients on ventilators, hospitals in America were treating "the wrong disease." Ventilation, he feared, would lead to "a tremendous amount of harm to a great number of people in a very short time." This remains his view, he told Reuters this week. When Spain's outbreak erupted in mid-March, many patients went straight onto ventilators because lung X-rays and other test results "scared us," said Delia Torres, a physician at the Hospital General Universitario de Alicante. They now focus more on breathing and a patient's overall condition than just X-rays and tests. And they intubate less. "If the patient can get better without it, then there's no need," she said. In Germany, lung specialist Voshaar was also concerned. A mechanical ventilator itself can damage the lungs, he says. This means patients stay in intensive care longer, blocking specialist beds and creating a vicious circle in which ever more ventilators are needed. Of the 36 acute COVID-19 patients on his ward in mid-April, Voshaar said, one had been intubated - a man with a serious neuro-muscular disorder - and he was the only patient to die. Another 31 had recovered. "IRON LUNGS" Some doctors cautioned that the impression that the rush to ventilate is harmful may be partly due to the sheer numbers of patients in today's pandemic. People working in intensive care units know that the mortality rate of ARDS patients who are intubated is around 40%, said Thierry Fumeaux, head of an ICU in Nyon, Switzerland, and president of the Swiss Intensive Care Medicine Society. That is high, but may be acceptable in normal times, when there are three or four patients in a unit and one of them doesn't make it. "When you have 20 patients or more, this becomes very evident," said Fumeaux. "So you have this feeling - and I've heard this a lot - that ventilation kills the patient." That's not the case, he said. "No, it's not the ventilation that kills the patient, it's the lung disease." Mario Riccio, head of anaesthesiology and resuscitation at the Oglio Po hospital near Cremona in Lombardy, Italy's worst-hit region, says the machines are the only treatment to save a COVID-19 patient in serious condition. "The fact that people who were placed under mechanical ventilation in some cases die does not undermine this statement." Originally nicknamed "iron lungs" when introduced in the 1920s and 1930s, mechanical ventilators are sometimes also called respirators. They use pressure to blow air - or a mixture of gases such as oxygen and air - into the lungs. They can be set to exhale it, too, effectively taking over a patient's entire breathing process when their lungs fail. The aim is to give the body enough time to fight off an infection to be able to breathe independently and recover. Some patients need them because they're losing the strength to breathe, said Yoram Weiss, director of Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem. "It is very important to ventilate them before they collapse." At his hospital, 24 of 223 people with COVID-19 had been put on ventilators by April 13. Of those, four had died and three had come off the machines. AEROSOLS Simpler forms of ventilation - face masks for example - are easier to administer. But respirator masks can release micro-droplets known as aerosols which may spread infection. Some doctors said they avoided the masks, at least at first, because of that risk. While mechanical ventilators do not produce aerosols, they carry other risks. Intubation requires patients to be heavily sedated so their respiratory muscles fully surrender. The recovery can be lengthy, with a risk of permanent lung damage. Now that the initial wave of COVID-19 cases has peaked in many countries, doctors have time to examine other ways of managing the disease and are fine-tuning their approach. Voshaar, the German lung specialist, said some doctors were approaching COVID-19 lung problems as they would other forms of pneumonia. In a healthy patient, oxygen saturation - a measure of how much oxygen the haemoglobin in the blood contains - is around 96% of the maximum amount the blood can hold. When doctors check patients and see lower levels, indicating hypoxia, Voshaar said, they can overreact and race to intubate. "We lung doctors see this all the time," Voshaar told Reuters. "We see 80% and still do nothing and let them breathe spontaneously. The patient doesn't feel great, but he can eat and drink and sit on the side of his bed." He and other doctors think other tests can help before intubation. Voshaar looks at a combination of measures including how fast the patient is breathing and their heart rate. His team are also guided by lung scans. "HAPPY HYPOXICS" Several doctors in New York said they too had started to consider how to treat patients, known as "happy hypoxics," who can talk and laugh with no signs of mental cloudiness even though their oxygen might be critically low. Rather than rushing to intubate, doctors say they now look for other ways to boost the patients' oxygen. One method, known as "proning," is telling or helping patients to roll over and lie on their fronts, said Scott Weingart, head of emergency critical care at Stony Brook University Medical Center on Long Island. "If patients are left in one position in bed, they tend to desaturate, they lose the oxygen in their blood," Weingart said. Lying on the front shifts any fluid in the lungs to the front and frees up the back of the lungs to expand better. "The position changes have radically impressive effects on the patient's oxygen saturations." Weingart does recommend intubating a communicative patient with low oxygen levels if they start to lose mental clarity, if they experience a cytokine storm or if they start to really struggle to breathe. He feels there are enough ventilators for such patients at his hospital. But for happy hypoxics, "I still don't want these patients on ventilators, because I think it's hurting them, not helping them." QUALITY, SKILL As governments in the United States and elsewhere are scrambling to raise output of ventilators, some doctors worry the fast-built machines may not be up to snuff. Doctors in Spain wrote to their local government to complain that ventilators it had bought were designed for use in ambulances, not intensive care units, and some were of poor quality. In the UK, the government has cancelled an order for thousands of units of a simple model because more sophisticated devices are needed. More important, many doctors say, is that the additional machines will need highly trained and experienced operators. "It's not just about running out of ventilators, it's running out of expertise," said David Hill, a pulmonology and critical care physician in Waterbury, Connecticut, who attends at Waterbury Hospital. Long-term ventilation management is complex, but Hill said some U.S. hospitals were trying to bring non-critical care physicians up to speed fast with webinars or even tip sheets. "That is a recipe for bad outcomes." "We intensivists don't ventilate by protocol," said Hill. "We may choose initial settings," he said, "but we adjust those settings. It's complicated." (This story corrects link to graphic; adds dropped name of hospital in section two) (Escritt reported from Berlin, Aloisi from Milan, Beasley from Los Angeles, Borter from New York and Kelland from London. Additional reporting: Alexander Cornwell in Abu Dhabi, Panu Wongcha-um in Bangkok, Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem, A. Ananthalakshmi and Rozanna Latif in Kuala Lumpur, Kristina Cooke in Los Angeles, Sonya Dowsett in Madrid, Jonathan Allen and Nicholas Brown in New York, John Mair in Sydney, Costas Pitas in London, David Shepardson in Washington DC, Brenda Goh in Wuhan and John Miller in; Zurich. Writing by Andrew RC Marshall and Kate Kelland; Edited by Sara Ledwith and Jason Szep) The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV- 2) that causes COVID-19 disease has infected millions across the world since it was declared a pandemic on the 11th of March 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO). The virus has brought the world to its knees by halting economies around the globe as nations enforce social distancing laws to keep people at home. The highly infectious virus is spread via aerosols (droplets of saliva or nasal discharge spread by coughing or sneezing by the infected person with the mouth uncovered). New speculation reveals that it could spread via fecal matter and even via farts or flatulence. Researchers believe that there is some truth to this speculation. Silent but deadly! Image Credit: CGN089 / Shutterstock Expert take on this matter In a podcast from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Dr. Norman Swan, who was hosting it, said that farts could indeed spread the infection. He is also the producer of the podcast called the Coronacast. He warned, "No, bare-bottom farting"! Swan said, "Luckily, we wear a mask, which covers our farts all the time," he said, referring to the protective garments of underwear, pants, dresses, shorts, and others. "I think that what we should do in terms of social distancing and being safe is that you don't fart close to other people, and that you don't fart with your bottom bare." Australian emergency physician Dr. Andy Tagg, asked on Twitter, "So, can the bottom-based emissions of someone with coronavirus be silent and deadly?" He said that farting could be an "aerosol-generating procedure." So, can the bottom-based emissions of someone with coronavirus be silent and deadly? That is the question I set out to answer. As you may imagine there is not a great deal of research in this area. Andy Tagg (@andrewjtagg) April 6, 2020 Studies to support the theory In a recently published study from the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, the fecal spread of the infection was speculated. The study showed that post flushing, the aerosolized "toilet plume," could contain fecal particles as well as the virus. This toilet plume could be spreading the infection, they found. Purdue University mechanical engineering professor Dr. Qingyan Chen, on the study, said in a statement, "Close the lid and then flush." He explained that just closing the lid before flushing could stop 80 percent of the fecal particles from being aerosolized and thus stop the spread of the infection. Chen advised, "it's all about shutting the lid before you flush, and washing your hands after dealing with the number twos." Dr. Aaron E. Glatt, a Mount Sinai South Nassau epidemiologist and professor of medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, said in his statement, "Studies have clearly shown that a significant percentage of COVID-19 patients do have GI [gastrointestinal] symptoms (alone, or in combination with respiratory or other general symptoms) at the time of illness presentation." He added, "However, there are no published data on whether flatulence alone presents any risk of transmission, although, in a clothed person, it would be unlikely to be a significant route of transmission." Not all experts agree Dr. Sam Hay, in a statement to website body+soul said that he did not believe in this theory of fecal aerosols spreading COVID-19. He said, "Personally, I think this is a load of crap - pun intended. I think it's sensationalist to spread the fear that a simple fart could underlie the great COVID-19 pandemic of 2020." He said that the risk of getting the infection from farts is "infinitely low". Dr. Hay said, "Drawing a link to farts - which may or may not carry tiny poo particles - and the spread of COVID-19, is a little far-fetched. Sure, it may be theoretically possible, but the risk is going to be infinitely low. And there's absolutely zero evidence for it at all." He added, however, "There's increasing evidence that gastrointestinal symptoms form part of the clinical picture for COVID-19, and that includes diarrhea. There's also good evidence that the virus is found in feces. Therefore the fecal-oral route of transmission needs attention." Conclusions and Recommendations The Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) also says that infections are capable of spreading via different portals in the body such as mouth (orally via food and water contaminated with feces), eyes, nose, respiratory tract, broken skin or wounds and genitals (sexual contact). Caution is warranted the organization says to prevent such spread. Handwashing frequently remains one of the major recommendations. Washing hands for 20 seconds after using the toilet should be practiced. The Oregon and New York health officials have warned against oral contact with feces during sex, especially if a partner is suspected to be positive for COVID-19 infection. Dr. Andy Tagg tweeted, saying, "Perhaps SARS-CoV-2 can be spread [through] the power of parping we need more evidence. So remember to wear appropriate PPE at all times and stay safe!" Medical professionals have warned against taking this information at face value and are recommending more studies and evidence to accept this as a fact. They, however, recommend good bathroom hygiene to all to prevent the spread of the infection. Coronavirus can linger in the eyes for weeks on end, according to a newly-published case report. Researchers at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases in Italy found that virus persisted in the eyes of one 65-year-old woman for 21 days after she first developed symptoms. Reports have emerged of people getting pink eye with coronavirus across the globe - but the number of patient affected by the symptom remains quite low. Although coronavirus primarily spreads from person-to-person via droplets of saliva and mucus from coughing and sneezing (and possibly talking and breathing), the new study underscores why avoiding touching your face and eyes is crucial to stopping the spread of the disease. Pink eye may be an early warning sign of coronavirus - and the tears and eye mucus of infected people may transmit the virus for weeks after symptoms develop, suggests a new case study of a woman in Italy (file) Pink eye, or conjunctivitis, can be caused by many bacteria and viruses, though the latter is more common. And it often comes with respiratory infections. In the US, pink eye first became a coronavirus concern after a nurse at the Life Care Center care home in Kirkland, Washington - where a devastating outbreak sickened more than 80 residents and 34 staff members and killed 35 people - revealed that almost every COVID-19 patient she treated there had red eyes. Perhaps most worryingly, she said that many of those patients showed no other signs of illness, but were eventually confirmed to have coronavirus. 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 Red eyes are still not listed by the CDC as a symptom of coronavirus, but its a phenomenon that's been noted by health authorities in many nations. Studies have found that the eyes are one of the parts of the body that can be attacked by the virus. However, it seems to be a relatively uncommon occurrence. In a study of more than 1,000 Chinese coronavirus patients, just nine developed eye infections (accounting for less than one percent of the group), according to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Only one out of 30 patients in another study developed conjunctivitis. It may not be common, but the eye symptom certainly can be persistent, according to the new case report on that one patient out of 30, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. That patient had travelled from Wuhan, China, where the pandemic began in December, to Italy on January 23. Five days after arriving in Italy, and just one day after her symptoms began, the woman was sick enough to be admitted to the hospital. In addition to red, infected eyes, the woman had a dry cough, sore throat and nasal congestion, but didn't develop a fever until several days after. On the third day after she was admitted to the hospital, the woman's eyes were still red, so the team there started swabbing the woman's eyes. The health care workers continued to sample her eye fluid almost every day after that. Every sample revealed RNA - genetic material - from SARS-CoV-2 - the virus that causes COVID-19. Finally, on the 21st day after she came to the hospital, the virus disappeared from the woman's eye fluid - only to reappear again five days later. Coronavirus was still lingering in her eyes even days after her nasal swabs were clear of its genetic material. Staff at LifeCare Center, a nursing home in Kirkland, Washington (pictured) noted that many of the seniors that contracted the virus there developed red eyes That suggested to the researchers that the virus was continuing to make more copies of itself within the woman's eye fluid. Not only does that pose a concern for the woman's ability to clear the virus, but means that mucus and even tears from her eyes might be capable of infecting others, a phenomenon seen with SARS patients. 'A related implication is the importance of appropriate use of personal protective equipment for ophthalmologists during clinical examination, because ocular mucosa may be not only a site of virus entry but also a source of contagion,' the study authors wrote. Perhaps even more importantly, they warned that pink eye may be an early warning sign of coronavirus, considering that the symptom appeared days before fever in the patient. A teacher cleans and disinfects chairs and tables at the the Phoenix Gymnasium secondary school in Dortmund, Germany, amid the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: AFP via Getty Images Independent.ie's live blog is here to keep you informed of what's going on in Ireland and across the world during the coronavirus pandemic. 20:15 Leaving Cert exams set for July 29 The Leaving Cert has been deferred until July 29 due to the coronavirus crisis. Mr McHugh told the Dail that he still intends students to be in classes for a minimum of two weeks before the exams. "At the heart of all these decisions is going to be the public health advice. "The health and well-being of our students will be at the heart of any decision I make," he said. Read More 19:44 More traffic and people on the move - Tony Holohan warns of complacency and doesn't guarantee easing of restrictions Chief medical officer Tony Holohan has said that if today was May 5 there could be no easing of the restrictive measures. It is still not safe to lift any of the measures, Dr Holohan warned, adding that people should not automatically assume there will be changes on May 5. Dr Holohan said the there is hard evidence to support anecdotal reports that a sense of complacency has crept into peoples behaviour. As the Taoiseach said complacency is the new enemy. Dr Holohan said it would 'very little' to undo the good work of recent weeks. Dr Holohan showed evidence from the Irish National Seismic Network showing a rise in vehicle traffic in recent days. There is more population movement, he added. Read More 19:21 Golf courses hoping to reopen after May 5 if lockdown measures are eased Golf is hoping to be one of the first sports to get the nod to resume on May 5 if the government opt to lessen lockdown restrictions. There has been a halt on all Irish sport for well over a month as the country gets to grips with the coronavirus pandemic, with the latest government restrictions set to remain in place until after the May Bank Holiday weekend. However, Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan said in a press conference that the resumption of certain sporting activities is among the broad range of measures being considered in the medium-term, provided social distancing measures can still be adhered to. Read More 18:00 Ireland is 'in no means a safe place' despite reproductive rate of Covid-19 falling, Health Minister warns Health Minister Simon Harris has warned that despite the Covid-19 reproduction rate falling we are "in no means in a safe place" and social distancing must be maintained. Earlier he revealed that the reproduction rate of the virus has now fallen further to between 0.5 and 1 - meaning every person who contracts the disease is infecting less than one other person. However, speaking in the Dail today, Mr Harris said: If we had to decide on lifting measures today for tomorrow, the Chief Medical Officer advises me we would not make any changes. But we are working on a roadmap, which we will finalise over the next week. One which must acknowledge increased movement carries increased risk. 17:38 28 more people die of Covid-19 The Department of Health has been notified of 28 further deaths and 936 additional cases. Data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, as of midnight, Tuesday April 21 (16,439 cases), shows: 56 pc are female and 43 pc are male The median age of confirmed cases is 48 years 2,424 cases (15 pc) have been hospitalised Of those hospitalised, 331 cases have been admitted to ICU 4,545 cases are associated with healthcare workers Dublin has the highest number of cases at 8,216 (50 pc of all cases) followed by Cork with 1,087 cases (7 pc) Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 52 pc, close contact accounts for 44 pc, travel abroad accounts for 4 pc Of those for whom transmission status is known: community transmission accounts for 52 pc, close contact accounts for 44 pc, travel abroad accounts for 4 pc 17:15 Reproductive rate of Covid-19 has fallen again, Health Minister says The reproductive rate of Covid-19 has fallen further to between 0.5 and one, the Health Minister has said. The reproductive rate, known as R0 or R naught, fell to between 0.7 and one last week. Health Minister Simon Harris told the Dail the reproductive rate of Covid-19 has fallen again, meaning the virus is becoming suppressed within the community. Having fallen between 0.7 and one last week, it now stands at between 0.5 to one. This means each ten patients will likely infect another five or ten people. The virus will slowly be suppressed. 16:35 Varadkar suggests coronavirus testing to be ramped up next week TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar has suggested that coronavirus testing will be ramped up next week with the criteria for getting a test set to be broadened. But he also warned it could result in a new backlog. It came after the Dail was told that there is capacity to do 10,000 tests a day but just half this number are being carried out. One of the key factors in determining who coronavirus restrictions can be eased is a target of being able to do 15,000 tests-a-day. The issued was raised by Aontu TD Peadar Toibin who claimed that testing remains "in crisis". He said that Health Minister Simon Harris promised a month ago that the 15,000 target would be reached within days but this hasn't happened. Visit our Covid-19 vaccine dashboard for updates on the roll out of the vaccination program and the rate of Coronavirus cases Ireland Read More 15:00 Virus warnings for Ramadan as some countries ease pandemic shutdowns The world is inching towards a new phase in the coronavirus crisis as some countries like Vietnam and New Zealand with few new cases move to end their shutdowns while others like Singapore and Japan are tightening measures to prevent a surge in infections. Many countries are moving from crisis mode to figuring out how to live with the virus by modifying pre-pandemic routines with precautions, more testing and containment of flare-ups, mindful of the potential for future waves of the virus. Authorities in the capital of Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim majority nation, extended to May 22 strict disease-fighting restrictions with the approach of Ramadan, which begins with the new moon this week. With traditional, communal meals for the poor, large fast-breaking dinners with family and friends and cultural events after sunset cancelled, the worlds 1.8 billion Muslims find themselves cut off from much of what makes the month special. 14:40 Micheal Martin seeks clarity on whether face masks should be worn to help fight virus spread Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin has sought clarity on whether members of the public should wear face masks as part of measures to halt the spread of coronavirus. His remarks came as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said that everything must be done to avoid a "deadly second wave" of Covid-19 as restrictions are eased. He said that "extreme vigilance" is required to limit the increase of new cases and prevent more deaths. Mr Martin raised the issue of face masks for the public - which has not yet been recommended by health authorities here - during a Dail debate on the crisis. He said "more clarity" is needed on the issue as some experts elsewhere have advised that they could help slow the spread of the virus. Mr Martin said that use of masks should not take supply away from the health service but the issue should be reviewed. He also criticised the situation in nursing homes which have seen a high proportion of the coronavirus deaths. He said the new supports announced for the homes are "too bureaucratic" and asked what proportion of resident have been tested. 14:20 UN chief warns that pandemic is becoming a human rights crisis UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres has said the coronavirus pandemic is "a human crisis that is fast becoming a human rights crisis". The UN chief issued a video message warning there is discrimination in the delivery of public services to tackle Covid-19 and there are "structural inequalities that impede access to them". He said the pandemic has also seen "disproportionate effects on certain communities, the rise of hate speech, the targeting of vulnerable groups, and the risks of heavy-handed security responses undermining the health response". He warned that with "rising ethno-nationalism, populism, authoritarianism and a push back against human rights in some countries, the crisis can provide a pretext to adopt repressive measures for purposes unrelated to the pandemic". 14:00 Maynooth University to open student apartments for frontline health care workers to self-isolate Maynooth University (MU) is opening its student apartments to allow returning frontline health care workers to self-isolate for 14 days when they come back from abroad to help tackle the Covid-19 crisis. MU is partnering with the Answer Irelands Call initiative to provide 20 rooms free of charge, with security, cleaning and other costs funded by private donations and Maynooth alumni. Irelands Call was started by businessman Neil Sands, a former MU student, who graduated with a BA in Maths and Statistics, History in 2003, and the university is the first . MU President Professor Philip Nolan is also playing a leading roll in the national effort against the coronavirus, as chair of the National Public Health Emergency (Team (Nphet) mathematical modelling group. 13:00 Covid-19 vaccine unlikely to be available this year despite UK trials starting A coronavirus vaccine is unlikely to be available before the year is out despite tens of millions of pounds being poured into UK trials that start imminently. Health Secretary Matt Hancock confirmed 41 million of additional investment this week for vaccine research taking place at Oxford University and Imperial College London, with Oxford given the green light to start human trials on Thursday. But Professor Chris Whitty, Englands chief medical officer, poured cold water on hopes that an impending vaccine could be the way out of the UK Covid-19 lockdown. He told reporters at the daily Downing Street press briefing that some social distancing measures would need to stay in place until there was a vaccine or drug which reduced the severity of Covid-19. 12:40 Travel firm says airlines offering vouchers instead of refunds is bad idea for everyone The boss of a major online travel agency has condemned rival firms and airlines for offering vouchers instead of cash refunds for cancelled holidays. Simon Cooper, founder and chief executive of On The Beach, said the issuing of vouchers is a travesty as consumers face being ripped off when they re-book once the coronavirus pandemic is over. A number of travel companies and airlines are offering vouchers which can be exchanged for an alternative booking at a later date. Mr Cooper described this as a bad idea for everyone concerned. 12:20 23/04/2020 Lewis Capaldi donates to Instagram auction for emergency services Celebrities including Lewis Capaldi, Loyle Carner and Arsenals Bernd Leno have all donated items to be sold off in a unique Instagram Auction. Called 19 Days against Covid-19, each day the account will post an item and have people bid in the comments section. All the money raised will to the National Emergencies Trust, originally set up to help those effected by the Grenfell disaster, it will now go towards supporting the coronavirus response. The auction begins Thursday April 23, instagram account @19daysvscovid19. Molly Manning Walker. Co-Founder, 19 Days against Covid-19. 12:00 Question mark over reinfection means 'immunity passport' plan may be flawed An 'immunity passport' plan, which would allow employees who recover from the coronavirus to go back to work after undergoing a blood test, may not be entirely reliable according to a new report. However, the antibody test could play a role in hastening the lifting of lockdown measures by giving public health doctors vital information on what is happening in the wider population by sampling a lot of people. A proposal is in place to conduct an all-Ireland sampling using this kind of test. Hiqa, the health watchdog, assessed the proposal to take blood tests from people who may have had the virus and were unaware of it by finding out if they developed antibodies which might prevent them being reinfected. It has been suggested in other countries that these people could be given so-called immunity passports as they were likely to have built up immunity and would not be reinfected. However, Hiqa said the coronavirus is new and "little is known regarding the adequacy of the immune response or the duration of immunity". Therefore, it is not known if reinfection can occur. 11:40 New Covid-19 measures to decrease number of people per room in direct provision will extend beyond the crisis The Government announced today that in response to the Covid-19 outbreak, measures are being put in place to decrease the occupancy density in direct provision centres. These measures, they say, will last beyond the crisis. At a briefing this morning, Government officials said: "The Ombudsman has welcomed sustained improvements in the direct provision system in response to COVID-19. "The department of justice and equality has reduced the numbers of persons and rooms across the entire direct provision system to ensure that there are now no more than three single persons in any room. "They intend to continue this policy when the crisis is over. Also, as part of the response to the current crisis new accommodation has been opened and over 600 residents have been relocated to support social distancing and cocooning measures for the most vulnerable. "The department of justice and equality has acknowledged there is more to do, including a reduction in the number of residents in emergency accommodation and the length of time that residents spend there. "They're working with the local authorities and the city and county managers association to assist residents with that transition to mainstream accommodation complaints from residents are taken seriously." 11:20 Coronavirus highlights unsustainability of Direct Provision accommodation - Ombudsman Coronavirus has highlighted the unsustainability of having three or more people living in the same room in Direct Provision, a report has found. Ombudsman Peter Tyndall raised concerns over accommodation in the Direct Provision system in his annual report. Mr Tyndall said the contagious nature of Covid-19 has highlighted how unsustainable it is to have three or more people, who are not from the same family, living in the same room for a significant amount of time. Many people in Direct Provision centres share bedrooms with multiple people, particularly among the increasing numbers in emergency accommodation. In his report, Mr Tyndall said the number of people in the Direct Provision system increased by 30pc during 2018, and by 16pc by early 2020. He said the McMahon report the recognised benchmark for Direct Provision services had criticised the Department of Justice and Equalitys use of a definition from the 1966 Housing Act as the minimum space required for a bedroom. 11:00 23/04/2020 Older people to be allowed out for limited daily exercise as hardware stores could reopen Older people are expected to be allowed time to exercise outdoors every day when the Government begins to ease Covid-19 restrictions next month. Under plans being developed, the over-70s will still be asked to cocoon but they will not be forced to stay in their homes 24 hours a day. Designating specific times for older people to use parks and local amenities is one measure under consideration. It is expected the ban on non-essential travel will also be eased to allow people to travel more than 2km from their home. However, a new limit is likely to be set. Plans are also being drafted to allow hardware shops and garden centres to officially reopen as long as social-distancing measures are adhered to. Read More 10:40 24/04/2020 Leading professor of immunology criticises Covid-19 testing - says only one in 10 Irish cases being picked up A professor of immunology has raised concerns that Irelands scale of testing for Covid-19 is picking up only one in 10 cases. Paul Moynagh said officials need to ramp up the level of testing before considering lifting any of the current restrictions. He told RTEs Morning Ireland: In terms of community testing, if were picking up very few cases, the primary role theyre testing at the moment is for disease surveillance rather than being actively used to identify and suppress transmission. I think we need to address that and in fact, if you look at the WHO (World Health Organisation), they have indicated six conditions that a country must meet before considering lifting restrictions. At the top of them very much related to testing, and being able to test and trace every positive case and identify every contact. I dont think we are anywhere near that situation. Then being able to control the hotspots of infections, such as nursing homes and obviously thats a key challenge at the moment. 09:10 'Beloved' nursing home worker (31) dies after catching coronavirus A 31-year-old staff member in a north Dublin nursing home has become the latest healthcare worker to die from Covid-19. The woman, who worked night shifts in one of the units at the Tara Winthrop Private Clinic in Swords, is believed to have died in the past number of days. It is understood that at least 10 residents in the long-term care facility, which accommodates up to 140, have passed away since an outbreak of Covd-19 took hold there. Staff at the nursing home, which has a long-standing reputation of exceptional care, are said to be deeply saddened by the deaths. Read More 07:50 Drug discovered by a Donegal scientist and now found on farms could be used to fight coronavirus A wonder drug which a Donegal scientist was instrumental in developing will undergo a clinical trial to see how effective it is in the battle against Covid-19. Ivermectin is commonly used by farmers to treat roundworm in cattle and sheep, but it is also used in the treatment of parasitic infections in humans, such as in the treatment of head lice. Professor William Campbell (89), originally from Ramelton, in county Donegal, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine and Physiology in 2015 for his work in the development of the drug. It has had a massive impact on world health, saving millions of people from diseases caused by parasites in developing countries, such as river blindness. The drug will be at the centre of a new trial by French researchers to ascertain if it could be used in the fight against coronavirus, after promising results were recorded in an Australian lab. Read More 07:45 WHO defends decision to not declare coronavirus pandemic a global emergency sooner Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of the World Health Organisation has defended the decision to declare an international emergency on January 30. During a virtual press conference, the director general gave an update on the global picture with cases in Western Europe declining but African countries seeing a rise. 07:05 Publicans ready for legal fight if insurers won't pay Publicans are preparing to take legal action against insurers over their refusal to pay out on business interruption claims. As the battle between the hospitality and insurance sectors rumbles on, insurers have been accused of "behaving immorally" during the Covid-19 crisis. The owners of a rural Co Wexford pub, whose policy stated an infectious disease is grounds for a business interruption claim, say they are "completely broken" after their insurer refused to pay out. Some publicans are also still paying high rents despite being closed and are growing increasingly frustrated by insurance companies refusing to pay out. The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA), which represents pubs in the greater Dublin area, said insurers were "hiding behind 60-page contracts to avoid paying out". Donall O'Keeffe, CEO of the LVA, said: "The insurance industry is setting up its stall and they are going to fight it all the way, they are grinding people down, testing people's stamina, and they have no intention of paying out." Read More 07:00 23/04/2020 Minister set to let schools hold their own exams for Junior Cycle Education Minister Joe McHugh is set to give his blessing to schools to go ahead with their own Junior Cycle exams in the coming weeks, rather than obliging students to wait until the autumn. But his officials are working on guidance to ensure a certain level of uniformity among schools that opt for this approach, including ensuring they have agreed assessment policies. The Junior Cycle exams issue was among the matters discussed at a meeting yesterday between the Department of Education and education stakeholders, including school managers, teacher unions and parent representatives. Afterwards, Mr McHugh said: "The best way to address this issue is to allow the group have further discussions, in a spirit of partnership in the best interests of this year's Junior Cycle students. "I would urge schools to await the conclusion of these discussions with the education partners before taking any decisions regarding assessment arrangements for their Junior Cycle students." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation announced on Thursday it will cover the approximately 7 million hospital bill of the late former Sen. Heherson Alvarez and his wife, theater pillar and artist Cecile Guidote-Alvarez. PhilHealth Vice President for Corporate Affairs Dr. Shirley Domingo said the couples hospitalization, which began when they were admitted at the Manila Doctors Hospital on March 24, is covered by the companys policy of full payment of the patients hospital bills. In this case ay full payment talaga ang babayaran natin sa mga hospital bills nila ex-Senator Alvarez, said Domingo in the daily Department of Health press briefing. [Translation: In this case, we will apply full payment in the hospital bills of ex-Senator Alvarez and his wife.] The 80-year old Alvarez, who served as senator from 1987 to 1998, lost his battle with COVID-19 on April 20. His 76-year old widow, who is the founder of the Philippine Educational Theater Association, was discharged from the hospital on April 15. Under the agencys full payment policy, if a patient positive for COVID-19 was confined from February 1 to April 14, PhilHealth will pay in full all costs incurred in the hospitalization. If a patient was admitted from April 15 onwards, there are already case rates implemented for hospitalization. PhilHealth will cover 43,997 for patients with mild pneumonia; 143,267 for those with moderate pneumonia; 333,519 for those with severe pneumonia; and 786,384 for those with critical pneumonia. The Alvarez couple has two children, Hexilon and Xilca. As of the latest Department of Health tally published Thursday afternoon, the country has 6,981 COVID-19 cases, with 462 deaths and 722 recoveries. As many as 431 companies in Aurangabad district will start their operations soon with the available workforce amid the lockdown, an official said on Thursday. These companies have completed all the necessary formalities, an official of Aurangabad MIDC told PTI. "A committee has been constituted by the District Collector to process the requests online," he said. "The companies have to file the applications in two parts- the first one is self declaration and the other one about the details of the workforce," he added. "As many as 431 companies have completed the formalities. The process to allot vehicle passes to the staff of these companies is on. They are willing to operate with the available workforce. They will have to utilise their rural workforce for taking production," he said. The state government has earlier announced that it would allow the industries from green and orange zones to start production and processing activities in a restricted manner from April 20. The green zones are those which have not reported any coronavirus case, while orange zones are the ones where only a few cases have been reported. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Just two years after a blue wave slammed Republican House candidates in New Jersey, the states five most competitive House districts were a tossup between the Democratic and GOP candidates, according to a poll released Thursday. The poll also called U.S. Sen. Cory Booker a strong favorite for re-election, and said Joe Biden was far ahead of President Donald Trump. Four of the five districts were held by Republicans until Democratic candidates Jeff Van Drew (2nd), Andy Kim (3rd), Tom Malinowski (7th) and Mikie Sherrill (11th) turned them blue in 2018. The fifth flipped two years earlier when Rep. Josh Gottheimer became the first Democrat to represent North Jerseys 5th District in 84 years. Van Drew then switched to the GOP after voting against impeaching President Donald Trump. In those five districts, the Republicans held a statistically insignificant 46% to 45% lead, according to the Monmouth University Poll. Two years ago at this time, however, Democrats held a 7-point advantage in those districts, 49% to 42%. Democratic incumbents in New Jerseys blue wave districts face a tough challenge heading into November," said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. "The terrain does not look quite as friendly as it did two years ago even with a strong performance by their party at the top of the ticket this year. All the matchups will be decided on July 7, when Democrats and Republicans will hold their primaries. The date was moved from June 2 because of the coronavirus crisis. All four Democratic incumbents and Van Drew held huge fundraising advantages over their challengers, many of whom first have to win their party primaries. All but Van Drew banked at least $2 million through March 31, according to the most recent Federal Election Commission reports. Only one challenger, state Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr., R-Union, had more than $1 million cash on hand. Even so, his $1.1 million was less than half of the $2.7 million balance reported by Malinowski in the 7th District. More typical was the 11th District, where Sherrill had $2.8 million in the bank, more than 10 times the amount of Republican challenger Rosemary Becchi, who had $252,910. In the 3rd District, Kim had $2.7 million in the bank. Republican businessman David Richter had $462,496 cash on hand and his primary opponent, union official Kate Gibbs, had $112,271. And in the 5th District, Gottheimer had $7.9 million to spend, more than any other congressional candidate in the state. He faces a primary challenge from Glen Rock Council member Arati Kreibich, who had $133,385. Republican John McCann, the general counsel for the New Jersey Sheriffs Association who lost to Gottheimer in 2018, former investment banker Frank Pallotta and ophthalmologist Hector Castillo combined had less than $600,000 in the bank. In New Jerseys hottest congressional race, Van Drew reported $1.3 million in the bank. His last remaining GOP primary challenger, Bob Patterson, a former acting associate commissioner of the Social Security Administration under President Donald Trump, had $83,948 after paying back $6,900 in personal loans left over from his 2016 campaign. On the Democratic side, educator Amy Kennedy, the wife of former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., received $19,100 from members of the Kennedy family, including brother-in-law Ted Kennedy Jr. and former television personality Maria Shriver. Montclair University Political Science Professor Brigid Callahan Harrison got $5,000 apiece from the PACs of the American Federation of Teachers and Unite Here, which represents Atlantic Citys casino workers. The GOP candidates will receive financial support from the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super political action committee with ties to House Republican leaders. The group has reserved $1.5 million in television ads against Malinowski this fall and $6.5 million in the Philadelphia market, some of which could be used to target Kim and support Van Drew. The two Washington-based publications that track congressional races, the Cook Political Report and Inside Elections, rated Gottheimer and Sherrill as strong bets for re-election and the other three incumbents as being in very competitive races. In the Senate race, Booker led two potential Republican candidates by more than 20 percentage points. He was ahead of pharmacist Rik Mehta, 55% to 32%, and engineer Hirsh Singh, 58% to 33%. Booker raised $2 million in the first three months since abandoning his run for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. That included $217,756 from donors who originally earmarked that money for his fall White House campaign. He had $1.9 million in the bank. A big fan of Star Trek, Booker received $5,600 from Susan Nimoy, the widow of Leonard Nimoy, who played Mr. Spock. He first faces a primary from community activist Lawrence Hamm, who ran Bernie Sanders New Jersey presidential campaign. Hamm raised just $40,559 and had $26,961 cash on hand. Mehta had $181,164 in the bank through March 31. Singh, who lost primaries for governor in 2017 and U.S. House in 2018, had $27,582 cash on hand. The magnitude of the Democratic lead is not unusual when we dont even have a Republican nominee yet," Murray said. The race could tighten once voters start paying attention, but that wont happen until the fall. Still, the fact that a clear majority support Bookers reelection regardless of the opponent is good news for the incumbent. In the presidential race, Biden, the former vice president, holds a 54% to 38% advantage over Trump. The poll of 635 New Jersey registered voters was conducted April 16-19 and had a margin of error of 3.9 percentage points. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-22 23:14:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BERLIN, April 22 (Xinhua) -- Bremen became the last German federal state on Wednesday to require people to wear face masks in public for coronavirus prevention. Five others German states including the most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia, made the wearing of masks mandatory earlier on Wednesday. Accordingly, as of Wednesday, all federal states in Germany require citizens to wear a face mask when riding public transportation. However, there are no uniform rules in Germany as some states still allow shopping without a mask, while most states have made a face mask or equivalent mouth-and-nose cover mandatory. "The return to a responsible normality remains closely linked to a consistently pursued protection of health. We need regulations as similar as possible in all German states," said North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister President Armin Laschet on Wednesday. The most important thing, however, is to keep distance from other people and to strictly observe hygiene rules, stressed Laschet. Everything must be done "that helps to find the way back to a life in normality." Saxony, Thuringia, Bavaria and Mecklenburg Western Pomerania were among the first states to announce the obligation to wear a face mask. Last week, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the minister presidents of the federal states had refrained from issuing a nationwide regulation but merely "strongly recommended" the wearing of face masks on buses and trains as well as in retail stores. Enditem DALLAS, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The 2020 edition of Chambers USA recognizes Thompson & Knight as a leading law firm in 16 practice categories and recognizes 33 attorneys. The Firm is ranked nationwide in the Oil & Gas Litigation category and, for the seventh consecutive year, in the Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional) category. Thompson & Knight is also listed as a Band 1 Texas firm in the categories Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity) and Real Estate. In addition, the Firm is listed among Texas' top firms in Antitrust, Banking & Finance, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Corporate/M&A, Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity), Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Oil & Gas), Environment, Healthcare, Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment, Litigation: General Commercial, Real Estate, and Tax as well as among the top firms in Dallas, Fort Worth, and surrounding areas in Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation. The Firm also congratulates its 33 attorneys who are recognized in the 2020 directory for their accomplishments and expertise in specific practice areas. The following is the full list of ranked Firm attorneys: Austin Katherine L. Coleman, Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity) Benjamin B. Hallmark, Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity) James C. Morriss III, Environment Phillip G. Oldham, Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity) Ashley T. K. Phillips, Environment Rex D. VanMiddlesworth, Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity) Dallas David M. Bennett, Bankruptcy/Restructuring Gregory D. Binns, Oil & Gas Litigation J. Patrick Bredehoft, Healthcare Anthony J. Campiti, Labor & Employment Max Ciccarelli, Intellectual Property Andrew B. Derman, Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional) Sharon M. Fountain, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Herbert J. Hammond, Intellectual Property James B. Harris, Environment Craig A. Haynes, Litigation: Energy & Natural Resources; Oil & Gas Litigation Andrew A. Ingrum, Real Estate Wilson G. Jones, Healthcare William M. Katz, Jr., Antitrust James W. McKellar, Banking & Finance Mary A. McNulty, Tax: Litigation; Tax: Controversy Emily A. Parker, Tax: Litigation; Tax: Controversy Phillip B. Philbin, Intellectual Property Richard B. Roper, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations Mark M. Sloan, Real Estate Bruce S. Sostek, Intellectual Property Shad E. Sumrow, Banking & Finance Robert Vartabedian, Oil & Gas Litigation Mark Weibel, Real Estate Houston Roger D. Aksamit, Tax Andrew P. Flint, Banking & Finance Bruce W. Merwin, Construction Cassandra G. Mott, Banking & Finance Chambers USA exclusively lists attorneys who are strongly recommended from in-depth interviews with peers and clients. Rankings in the U.S. directory are assessed on specific criteria, including technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial awareness/astuteness, diligence, and commitment. The online version of Chambers USA can be found at www.chambersandpartners.com/usa. About Thompson & Knight Established in 1887, Thompson & Knight is a full-service law firm with more than 300 attorneys. The Firm provides legal solutions to clients and communities around the world. For 10 consecutive years, Thompson & Knight has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America among the most highly recognized law firms in the United States. For more information, visit www.tklaw.com. For additional information: Britney Henry Marketing Manager 713-951-5805 | [email protected] SOURCE Thompson & Knight LLP LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Residential developer Taylor Wimpey Plc. (TW.L) reported Thursday that its total Group completions, including joint ventures, in the 16 weeks to April 19 were 2,271 homes, down from 2,644 homes last year, reflecting the impact of site closures due to Covid-19. The company said its sales centres and show homes have remained closed, while throughout the period of the lockdown it has continued to sell homes, support existing customers and progress purchases on a remote basis. Since closing sites and sales offices, cancellations have represented only 0.8 percent of the total order book. As a result of new digital reservation process, order book has continued to increase and at week ending April 19, its total value stood at approximately 2.677 billion pounds, up from 2.40 billion pounds a year ago. This represents 10,880 homes, up from 10,291 homes last year. The company said it is now confident to have clear plans and processes in place to safely start back on site in a phased way beginning on May 4. Remobilisation will start on 4 May with a phased process based on detailed new site operating protocols developed in compliance with strict social distancing requirements, on the majority of sites in England and Wales Sales centres, show homes and regional offices to remain closed. At this stage, the company does not expect to start work in Scotland, until a return to construction receives the Scottish Government's support. 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. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 15:28:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close by Xinhua writer Jiang Li BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Few expected Washington to face up squarely to the apparent deficiencies in the U.S. federal response to COVID-19, but fewer imagined that it would be so desperate in scapegoating others. Within just months' time, some U.S. politicians, particularly the likes of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, White House trade advisor Peter Navarro and U.S. Senator Tom Cotton, have set up a busy workshop to fabricate all kinds of fallacies to create a alt-reality so that they can evade responsibility. It seems that Washington has truly made some headway in creating new manufacturing jobs, except that they do not produce smart phones or steel, but lies and excuses. They blame China for lacking transparency, as if the regular sharing of information and experience China has been conducting with the international community, including the United States, since early January had never happened. They blame the World Health Organization (WHO) for covering up the epidemic, although many U.S. researchers and medical experts have been working closely with the WHO at its Geneva headquarters and sending back real-time data to Washington since the early days of the outbreak. They blame previous administrations for undermining the United States' epidemic response capacity, pretending to forget that the sitting one has been in power for more than three years. To them, Europe is also culpable, and the list can go on. It seems that the Pompeos and Navarros are leaving no stone unturned to search for scapegoats and make sure that the blame will not be pinned on the incumbent administration. Of course, those thick-skinned politicians are no fools. There are a string of reasons why they lie so hard this time. The immediate one is that they have dropped the ball so hard on containing the outbreak in the first place. As a result, the United States has become the world's epicenter of the pandemic and its economy risks returning to a deep recession on their watch. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, once admitted during an interview with CNN that the United States "obviously" could have saved lives if social distancing measures and other mitigation strategies had been implemented sooner. Meanwhile, with the election day less than seven months away, the pandemic has been turned into an arena of vehement political rivalry aimed at keeping or taking the White House. Moreover, in the eyes of those hawkish Washington zero-summers, the outbreak offers them a chance to make more trouble for China, a country they have tagged as America's "strategic rival" and a threat to its hegemony. The all-out disinformation and defamation campaign against China and other scapegoats has once again revealed the ugly souls of those Washington politicians. It has also indicated that no excuse or lie will be big enough to cover up their own failures. Rather than wasting time searching for scapegoats, the United States should join hands with other countries and international organizations to search for effective ways to beat the deadly pathogen. Cooperation is the only way out in the face of the cunning coronavirus. Only when the world is safe, can America be truly safe. China Dismisses Missouri Lawsuit as 'Absurd' By VOA News April 22, 2020 China's Foreign Ministry Wednesday rejected a lawsuit filed by the U.S. state of Missouri claiming the nation is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. Missouri's attorney general, Eric Schmitt, announced the lawsuit Tuesday, alleging Chinese officials are responsible for the pandemic that has sickened around 2.5 million people worldwide, thrown tens of millions out of work and devastated local economies, including in China. Schmitt said the Chinese government lied about the dangers of the virus and didn't do enough to slow its spread. At a news briefing Wednesday in Beijing, China Foreign Ministry Spokesman Geng Shuang said the "so-called" lawsuit was "malicious" and "without factual or legal basis." He maintained that China has been transparent throughout the crisis and informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about the coronavirus situation in a timely fashion. Shuang also said Chinese officials had been in regular contact with the U.S. government regarding the coronavirus since January 3. Missouri's action is likely to be largely symbolic since lawsuits against other countries typically are dismissed because U.S. law generally prohibits them. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address For four months in 2018, Danielle Edwards drove past the brownstone on the corner of 6th Avenue and St. Marks in Brooklyn. There was a For Rent sign in the window of the second-floor storefront, which caught her eye because the whole facade is enclosed by vintage curved glass. I call it the fishbowl, she says. I fell in love with it when I first saw it. But I thought, Im not going to be able to afford that. Edwards was looking for a new location for her boutique gym, The New Body Project, which claims the distinction of being the only all-womens boot camp in Brooklyn. Edwards, 35, started The New Body Project in 2017, after the local womens gym she worked for shuttered suddenly. For the members many of them women of color the gym had been a kind of neighborhood home, and its closure was devastating. Literally, a lot of the women had breakdowns, Edwards recalls. I just felt like a ton of bricks was falling on me, so I said, I've gotta do something. She decided to start her own gym and went to a number of banks to try to get a loan. It did not go well. Even though my credit is good, she says, if you havent been open for a year, no one wants to look at you let alone looking at you [if] you're black and a woman. So she launched a Kickstarter campaign, and her community rallied to raise $3,000. Still, the location they landed in wasnt ideal. (We were doing burpees and there was mold dripping from the ceiling.) So one day after driving past the fishbowl, she finally called. Just to see. His original asking price was astronomical, but my community came together, she says. We wrote a letter to the landlord and expressed to him how we're going to build this community, and he dropped the price significantly. Even so, it was a stretch. To lock down the space, Edwards had to sell her house that shed bought in her 20s, when she worked at a bank on Wall Street before getting laid off in the market crash. I went to the SBA. I was denied. I went to TD bank. I was denied. I went to Capital One. I was denied, she says. So I was like, you know what? I have this place in Jersey. I hardly ever go back. Ill sell that and use the money to secure a new location. She did, and for a year, it was wonderful. The New Body Project grew from 12 to 62 dedicated members, and Edwards hired four trainers. Her clients were not the Lululemon-y ladies at boutique studios up the block. They were all shapes and shades, from all different backgrounds, at all different stages in their fitness journeys. From early morning to evening, they could be found barefoot on the big squishy mat in the sunny fishbowl, swinging kettlebells and doing tire squats. Then COVID-19 hit New York City. Monday, we were open and doing business as usual, Tuesday I was closing my doors, and Wednesday I was remote teaching a third grader and a sixth grader, Edwards says. I was like, wait, what just happened? For nearly a week and a half I just went into the bathroom and cried. I couldnt process that everything I sacrificed, everything I worked so hard for, could be gone. Danielle Edwards instructing at The New Body Project. Image Credit: Sideline.com A legacy of prejudice, compounded Minority-owned small businesses stand to be hit the hardest by the pandemics economic fallout. Early reports suggest that upwards of 90 percent of minority and women-owned businesses are not getting the relief loans promised from the government. In the best of times, entrepreneurs of color face a multitude of unique obstacles, many of which are embodied in Edwards experience. Taking straightforward racism out of the equation of which there is plenty its always difficult to get a loan without already having significant capital behind you. The facts are that the average white family in America has 10 times the wealth of the average black family, and eight times that of the average Hispanic family. In 2019 the SBA found that 49 percent of loans from banks go to white-owned businesses, 23 percent go to Asian-owned businesses, 17 percent undetermined, 7 percent to Hispanic-owned business, 3 percent to black-owned businesses and 1 percent to American Indian-owned businesses. Because its hard to get loans much less attention and strategic advice from banks and investors, many minority owners also have more difficulty growing their businesses. In New York City, the viruss long-standing epicenter, only 2 percent of all small businesses are black-owned, and only 3 percent have employees (compared to 7 percent of businesses that are Hispanic-owned, 21 percent that are Asian-owned, and 22 percent of white-owned businesses). Many businesses started by entrepreneurs of color also operate in lower income areas, and on narrower margins. In immigrant communities, there are language impediments. Now those obstacles are compounding at an alarming rate. In the chaotic scramble to disperse the first $350 billion of relief loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA), banks prioritized clients who already have loans with them, as well as small businesses that are, in reality, anything but. (See this weeks Shake Shack fiasco.) The SBA had been essentially offering two types of loans: Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL), of up to $2 million (with advances of up to $10,000, dispersed to businesses within three days of applying, but those advances have yet to materialize) and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which offers small businesses loans of up to $10 million to help businesses cover their payroll. Initial PPP funds ran out on April 17, and on the night of April 21 the Senate passed a new stimulus package that replenished the PPP with another $320 billion including $60 billion for community banks, credit unions and even smaller lenders like Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs). This last specification is absolutely key in the effort to reach minority small businesses, the vast majority of which have been left out in the cold so far. CDFIs are some of the only lenders firmly rooted in communities of color, and their inclusion in the PPP is something that Gregg Bishop, New York Citys Commissioner of Small Business Services, has been pushing for. The overwhelming needs of New York City's small business community can only be met by the resources of the federal government, he says. We fought for more support in the next stimulus and won an additional $60 billion for our CDFIs and local banks. Our smallest businesses who rely on their community partners for support and service now have a greater chance at accessing the capital they need to remain open. Hopefully, that money will make it to those who need it most, fast. But in the past three weeks as banks overlooked small businesses with no safety net many minority small businesses have already plummeted too far into the red to make it out. Related: 3 Ways to Support Minority-Owned Businesses The less youre asking for, the less likely you are to get it Back when the first round of SBA stimulus loans were announced in early April, many entrepreneurs were optimistic. James Heyward, a CPA in Durham, North Carolina, certainly was. Heyward is a black business owner, and the majority of his accounting firms clients are minority business owners. He spent two days studying the bill and applied for PPP through his bank, Wells Fargo. He didnt need much to cover his payroll; he was only asking for $5,000. But as the days passed, he just received more emails from Wells Fargo telling him that, in his words, I was still in the queue, but because of their lending cap, I might need to go apply somewhere else. For many entrepreneurs of color, their first obstacle in accessing stimulus funds is that they dont have loans or a line of credit with a bank. But Heyward is an exception to that rule. He actually has a fairly extensive relationship with Wells Fargo. He has two business accounts, a line of credit, a business credit card, his personal account, his mortgage and a certificate of deposit. So when he wasnt getting that little check for $5,000, he started thinking something was off. Banks are for-profit businesses, right? Heyward says. Theyre only making 1 percent interest on these loans. They dont have the infrastructure for small loans, so their underwriting process for my $5,000 is the same for somebody requesting $500,000. So which one do you think theyll spend the manpower on? If I was a bank, I would say yeah, okay, I could just give you this money. But it's better for us to give larger amounts to sure bets than smaller amounts to a whole bunch of risky borrowers. Especially if your business isn't really open right now. Not to be doom and gloom, but this may cripple you forever, and the bank will be left holding the bag. Because I don't get the sense that they necessarily believe that the government will get the SBA money to them in a timely fashion. Heyward isnt alone in this conclusion. Benjamin Burke is a senior tax consultant at Snappy Tax, in Ocala, Florida. In an email he said, I have been told off the record that banks are prioritizing the [PPP] loans first for people that have pre-existing loans with them. Then the bigger clients. Then everyone else. Additionally, some banks will not even touch PPP loans under $30,000. If a business owner did not have reserves, it wont be long before they have to close for good. We are already seeing clients in this position. One of Burkes clients is Brooke McGee, a Latina business owner based in Ocala. A 33-year-old single mom with six kids one of whom is disabled and severely immunocompromised McGee worked for a trucking company for 13 years until she got laid off in 2019. So last October she founded her own company, First Watch Dispatch, a carrier, shipping and dispatch service. She started out running the business from home, but that quickly proved impractical since, as she puts it, I don't have a big house in a nice neighborhood, and having 20 semi trucks pull up to my driveway was not conducive. She tried to secure a loan for an office space but couldnt. So in January," she says, "I took my life savings and leased a building. This February, after maxing out her credit card and having the lights turned off in her home, McGee was finally able to pay herself for the first time. Then, the pandemic started to spread, and McGee had no choice but to shut down. Even though her company plays an important role in the supply chain, a big part of McGee's job is handling truckers paperwork, which has been through literally thousands of hands, at stops from New York all the way to Florida. The risk to her daughters life is simply too great. Im trying to work from home, she says, but I cant have the truckers come to my house. Plus I have six kids in six different grades and only two computers. As of our conversation, McGee had tried for weeks to get through on the government site to file for unemployment. Burke, her tax consultant, has helped her apply for the EIDL and PPP loans through her bank, the Florida Credit Union, but she hasnt heard back about either. Because McGees truckers are all private contractors, her PPP request covers only her salary, and Burke worries the request wont be worth her banks time. My fear is that these smaller sized loans are being overlooked, he says plainly. Now, McGees landlord is threatening to evict her. Brooke McGee and her six children. Image Credit: Brooke McGee Beware predatory practices amidst of information chaos While reporting this story, I talked to many minority small-business owners who assumed that theyd have an easier time getting approved because the amount they were asking for was so negligible. But as time went on and stimulus funds dwindled, some owners inevitably turned to outside parties for help, leaving them exposed to an entirely different threat. The New Body Project has five employees including Edwards, and she requested $12,500 to cover payroll. As soon as the SBA loans were announced, she called TD bank, where she had her business checking and savings accounts, to ask about next steps. She waited on hold for over an hour to be told that they don't know because they have not been guided by the government yet. As she waited for help from TD Bank, and panic-researched online, Edwards got an email from Groupon saying that she could apply for the PPP through their partnership with Fundera. Fundera is an online loan broker, similar to Kabbage or Lendio, which connects businesses to lenders for a finders fee from the bank. Edwards was dubious, but figured it was worth a shot and applied, and got a response that shed made it to the next step with one of Funderas lending partners, Cross River Bank. Edwards had never heard of Cross River Bank, so she was hesitant. But she decided to move forward with the application because she still hadnt heard anything from TD Bank, and knew the loans were first-come, first-serve. Then the PPP money ran out. While its not always a bad idea for business owners of color who are being underserved by their banks to look for funding through legitimate brokers like Fundera, attorney, stimulus analyst and Entrepreneur contributor Mat Sorensen points out that borrowers should be aware that the SBA-approved lenders these brokers will connect you with are still likely to put their established clients first. Of greater concern is the lack of information and reliable advice available to desperate business owners, particularly immigrant entrepreneurs for whom English is their second language. The Renaissance Economic Development Corporation is a CDFI, and affiliate of Asian Americans for Equality. Theyve been lending to minority business owners in New York City since 1997, and their managing director, Jessie Lee, says shes seen a surge in predatory practices. A lot of our borrowers are getting secondary information from their ethnic media, she says. Its so confusing that a lot of them have turned to brokers and accountants for guidance, and some of these brokers are predatory. I just found out that one of our clients went to a loan broker who said that they do the PPP program, when they don't, and then took $2,000 from my business owner. Her advice for dealing with third parties? Always verify are you an agent of an SBA lender? Do you have an SBA lenders agreement? Related: These City Programs Are Giving Minority- and Women-Owned ... The case for giving CDFIs capital Renaissance is one of roughly 2,500 nonprofit Treasury-certified CDFIs across the country. CDFIs have long played a critical role in dispatching federal and state funds to the businesses in underserved communities that need them most. And in past crises like 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy, CDFIs dispersed substantial public relief funds (they gave out $12 million in emergency funds after 9/11, and $6 million after Sandy). But as the COVID-19 crisis has played out, Lee says that Renaissance has had to rely on private funds, like part of a recent $1 million commitment from Chase to minority-owned NYC businesses. It hasnt been nearly enough. When we spoke a week ago, Lee told me that, Over a thousand businesses have submitted interest forms, and were only going to be able to help maybe 200 of them. Bishop, the Commissioner of NYCs Small Business Services, says giving CDFIs nationwide the capital they need to lend in their communities would be a game-changer for minority-owned small businesses. CDFIs and small community banks are really the only lenders operating in communities of color, he says, They look beyond the credit score. They're very flexible." Until this point, however, most CDFIs haven't been able to offer PPP loans. "Weve been advocating for them to be allowed to participate, but its really about liquidity, Bishop explains. Its a catch-22: Because CDFI borrowers are often small businesses in communities of color, many operate with very narrow margins and are now struggling to pay their rent, much less their business loans. Consequently the CDFIs are too low on cash to offer PPP. Now, thankfully, the Senates latest stimulus bill which should move through the House quickly has allocated $30 billion of the new $320 billion PPP funds specifically to community banks and credit unions, and another $30 billion to even smaller lenders like CDFIs (a total of $60 billion intended to reach minority and women-owned businesses). Lee is cautiously optimistic. We believe this legislation is a step in the right direction because it gives smaller businesses a fighting chance at securing funding and enables CDFIs to help minority-owned business owners in our communities, she says. That being said, $30 billion will go quickly and will not come close to meeting the needs of millions of distressed businesses. In the weeks ahead, we will need more financial resources to stabilize our neighborhood mom-and-pop businesses. One thing Lee is sure of is that, The eight week time period for PPP is unrealistic in New York. We believe businesses will need more funding over a longer period of time, given the city and state timelines for reopening the economy. And payroll assistance helps but businesses still must figure out how to pay their rent. This is a big issue theyre having to confront even after securing a PPP loan. Businesses need flexible capital to address their unique needs. Still, while the money is there, any minority small business that hasnt yet submitted an SBA application with another lender should reach out to a community bank, or find a CDFI near them (you shouldnt apply for the SBA loans with more than one lender). Heyward, the Durham-based CPA, thinks that moving forward, CDFIs and community banks should play a bigger role. But he also thinks this should happen in tandem with the SBA creating more permanent classifications of small businesses, so that truly small businesses with no capital arent competing for loans with companies 20 times their size. You can call them microbusinesses, or main street businesses, but people with gross revenues under 2 million or something like that, he says. Because when anyone in Washington gets on TV and says, Were doing something for the small businesses, Im looking at the qualifications for a small business and thinking, So what am I, a blip? And maybe that could be the domain of the community banks and CDFIs, because the commercial banks could care less about those loans anyway. The systemic prejudice in this situation, in the beginning it's not racial, Heyward continues. But we all know it's not right. I don't have to go beat the drum on that." To the bigger banks, his message is, "I'm just saying that you have to be honest. You have a lot of business owners who are truly expecting to get this money. Their margins were so small to begin with. For minority-owned businesses, this is crushing. Edwards is still waiting to see if her PPP application gets approved at Cross River Bank. But in the meantime, after working through the initial shock, she's been characteristically resilient. In a matter of days, she designed an entire online fitness program for The New Body Project, complete with a weekly family karaoke session. I wont throw in the towel, she says. I believe this will make us better when we come out of it. Its never easy to get help when you need it, so Im blessed my business is something that can be continued online. Its actually given me the opportunity to tweak my business model. Im really proud of what I created. Related: How to Submit Your SBA PPP Loan Application and Calculate the ... Related: "I'm Having a Hard Time, But Others Have It Worse. Can I Complain?" Amazon Loses Appeal to Deliver Non-Essential Items in France During Pandemic Decentralization Can Be Your Friend Copyright 2020 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved US president says he disagreed strongly with Governor Kemps decision to reopen salons, gyms and other businesses. US President Donald Trump has said he strongly disagreed with Georgia states aggressive push to reopen its economy in the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic, saying it was just too soon to lift restrictions. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican and Trump ally, is allowing businesses such as beauty salons, tattoo parlours and bowling alleys to reopen as soon as Friday. Trump said Georgia is not adhering to federal guidelines for states to restart their economies. Its just too soon. I think its too soon, Trump said on Wednesday. They can wait a little bit longer, just a little bit not much. Because safety has to predominate. We have to have that. Georgia has had more than 20,000 cases of COVID-19 and has seen more than 800 deaths. But Trump at his daily briefing on the pandemic largely projected optimism in the nations battle against the virus. He said he was encouraged to see other states begin to open up their economies and ease restrictions. Trumps top adviser on the pandemic, Dr Anthony Fauci, said mitigation strategies were working, setting the stage for some states to reopen. He urged Kemp to proceed with caution. If I were advising the governor, I would tell him, be careful. I would tell him not to just turn the switch on and go, Fauci said, adding that Georgia could see a rebound of the virus, further damaging the states economy. In response, Kemp on Twitter praised Trumps leadership but said the state would move forward as planned. Our next measured step is driven by data and guided by state public health officials. We will continue with this approach to protect the lives and livelihoods of all Georgians, he said. Given the favorable data trends, enhanced testing through @AUG_University, & advice of state healthcare leaders, we are taking another measured step forward. We remain focused on protecting lives and livelihoods in every part of Georgia. https://t.co/tWih2eRCcl #gapol Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) April 21, 2020 Trumps reopening guidelines recommend 14 days of declining new infections before moving to the reopening phase that Kemp has called for. That means testing healthcare workers and people who show any symptoms, as well as the screening of asymptomatic people. The number of tests administered in Georgia had plateaued between 3,500 to 4,000 a day. However, on Wednesday, the state reported almost 6,000 tests over 24 hours, with Kemp saying on a conference call with Republican US Senator Kelly Loeffler that Georgia was really ramping up its capacity. However, despite these measures, many businesses and workers are holding back for fear of illness. Dewond Brown, 42, was laid off in March from an Atlanta-area restaurant as a line cook, making him worried about his high blood pressure. He told The Associated Press news agency he would not go back if his employer reopened. I understand everybody wants to get back to normal, but you hear the medical people say everyday its not time yet. The New York Times, April 22, 2020 Afghanistans Next War So they came back to what was left of home: villages sometimes ripped apart by fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security forces, or simply impoverished because of a lack of government services Photo Essay by Kiana Hayeri Text by Mujib Mashal One Wednesday in March, 11,627 people crossed the Iranian border into the Afghan province of Herat. A sea of young men formed outside an immigration center that could accommodate only 300 people at a time. Some carried backpacks, others large sacks overstuffed with their belongings. One carried a childs bicycle, another a string instrument. One had just two blankets folded under his arm, another a canary in a cage. As the line slowly moved forward, some put down shawls to pray; others found rocks to rest on. Most of the men were Afghans in their 20s. Their search for a better life in Iran had been abruptly thwarted by the coronavirus, returning them to a border that once took them days to cross in the other direction squeezed into the beds of pickup trucks by smugglers who sped them through deserts at night, leaving some with bruises and others with broken body parts. The least fortunate were left in the desert to rot. Amid the coronavirus outbreak in Iran, thousands of people have crossed the border into Afghanistan, a country they once fled. (Photo: Kiana Hayeri/The New York Times) All Photos Amid the coronavirus outbreak in Iran, thousands of people have crossed the border into Afghanistan, a country they once fled. (Photo: Kiana Hayeri/The New York Times) Now, as the men waited to be processed back into a war zone they had tried to escape, health care workers shouting through a megaphone instructed them in how to wash their hands. By the afternoon, the crowd grew impatient and started pushing and shoving to get into the offices where each person would be registered. The police, overwhelmed, responded with force, beating the returnees back into a line that wrapped around the building, zigzagged a couple of times and ended in a sprawling crowd. Afghanistan shares more than 500 miles of border with Iran, much of it in western Herat Province, now the center of the countrys coronavirus outbreak. For years, activity along the border has been a barometer of sorts, reflecting the state of Afghanistan as a whole. When the country gradually devolved into a narco state after the American-led coalition toppled the Taliban in 2001, eventually producing much of the worlds opium, drug shipments were smuggled across the western border. Even low-level officials and commanders would return to Kabul after brief postings in border towns to build so-called poppy palaces in the city. Later, as the war reached a hopeless stalemate and the United States began drawing down its troops after a decade of fighting, a new desperation gripped the Afghan people. The stability and prosperity that was promised with the American invasion evaporated. Hundreds of thousands of people rushed to leave. Many settled in Iran as illegal laborers, making barely enough money to survive and living under the constant threat of arrest but at least safe from bombs. Others continued onward as far as Europe. In February, however, the cross-border current reversed direction. A surge of suspected coronavirus infections in Iran started sparking fears of a major outbreak. Soon, the number of returnees arriving at the Herat immigration center doubled, then tripled its typical average of about 2,500. From Jan. 1 to April 11, nearly 243,000 people crossed back into Afghanistan from Iran, according to the International Organization for Migration. Amid the economic crisis, the demand for Afghan day laborers, who work for lower wages than Iranians, dried up. Even under normal circumstances, they couldnt access health care without discrimination. Now they were hearing that the hospitals were overwhelmed. There were also rumors that the Iranian authorities were killing Afghans suspected of being infected with coronavirus. So they came back to what was left of home: villages sometimes ripped apart by fighting between the Taliban and Afghan security forces, or simply impoverished because of a lack of government services bringing the virus with them. The countrys first few cases were detected in people who crossed the border. But quickly, these were outnumbered by others who had never left Afghanistan. Some of the Sayedkhili children were born in Iran, and they are struggling to adjust to their new surroundings. They dont understand that they may never return to the place they call home. (Photo: Kiana Hayeri/The New York Times) All Photos Some of the Sayedkhili children were born in Iran, and they are struggling to adjust to their new surroundings. They dont understand that they may never return to the place they call home. (Photo: Kiana Hayeri/The New York Times) People dont even want to say hello to us from 50 or 100 meters, said Khaled Sayedkhili, who returned to his village in Parwan Province in March with 14 members of his family. Yesterday, a relative ran from me as if I was a suicide bomber. Eight weeks after Afghanistan recorded its first Covid-19 case in Herat, the virus has spread to at least 30 of the countrys 34 provinces and killed 30 people, according to official government numbers. But these figures almost certainly understate the viruss reach: Afghanistan does not have the capacity to conduct widespread testing, and it has averaged about 100 tests a day. (The Ministry of Health in Poland, a country with a similar population, said it is conducting 16,000 tests a day.) Although the government has recorded less than 1,000 cases across the country, local officials in most places are working under the assumption that the virus is deeply embedded in their constituencies. In late March, Ferozuddin Feroz, Afghanistans health minister, warned that unless stricter social-distancing measures were enforced, 16 million Afghans could be infected and 110,000 could die. Provincial officials and health care workers, particularly in Herat Province, are preparing, with what little equipment and resources they have, not only for a situation when the death toll starts rising drastically but also for the economic ramifications of shuttered shops and closed government offices outcomes that may tip a country already deeply impoverished, unstable and mired in conflict into a spiral from which it will not recover. The war has been an economic blow, said Abdul Qayum Rahimi, who was governor of Herat Province from January 2019 until the first week of April, but trade continues despite fighting. The factories continue; life continues. The virus, it stops everything. Afghanistan isnt the only country in conflict made vulnerable by conditions that preceded the pandemic. In northwestern Syria, where a million people have sought refuge from the countrys nine-year civil war, limited access to clean water for hand-washing means the virus has most likely swept through many displacement camps. Supplies are slow to arrive, and doctors estimate that more than 100,000 people could die. In Iraq, which borders Iran to the west, the government-imposed lockdown has ravaged the fragile economy already depleted by plummeting oil prices and the countrys three-year battle against the Islamic State. In many ways, the Afghan experience is a microcosm of the viruss reach into the most precarious parts of the developing world, where climate change, food shortages, violence and territorial disputes have created circumstances dangerously ideal for the rapid and uncontrollable spread of a disease. And in what could perhaps be an unprecedented moment in modern history, there may be no superpower left untouched that can afford to offer help. The virus arrived in Afghanistan at a precarious moment, even by the standards of the countrys turbulent history. The government is negotiating the terms of a peace deal with the Taliban that has already begun the departure of the remaining American troops, even as the insurgent group continues to attack Afghan forces. Over two weeks in late March and early April, the Taliban carried out more than 500 attacks across nine provinces, which were also among the worst hit by the infection. Adding to the chaos is a disputed presidential election. In February, Afghanistans election commission declared the incumbent, Ashraf Ghani, the winner of last Septembers vote, but his victory was challenged by Abdullah Abdullah, Ghanis longtime political rival. On the same day as Ghanis inauguration, Abdullah also took the presidential oath of office. Last month, the men failed to come to a compromise, so the U.S. State Department announced that it would cut $1 billion in aid to the government, which relies on foreign funding for 75 percent of its annual budget. They didnt have any N95 masks. An X-ray technician making the rounds of the positive patients wards wore a simple surgical gown. (Photo: Kiana Hayeri/The New York Times) All Photos They didnt have any N95 masks. An X-ray technician making the rounds of the positive patients wards wore a simple surgical gown. (Photo: Kiana Hayeri/The New York Times) The virus now serves as a test of the Afghan governments competence without the United States as its benefactor, which Ghani has recognized as an opportunity to demonstrate his administrations ability to govern. But with a bureaucracy bogged down by political infighting, many of his efforts have come across as hollow and contradictory. (While his administration was calling off small gatherings to slow the spread of the virus, both he and Abdullah invited thousands of guests to their swearing-in ceremonies in tightly packed venues, more than two weeks after the first confirmed case.) Ingrained long ago into the psyche of Afghanistans leaders was an overreliance on the United States and its allies. The mission in the country has never had clear definitions of success or failure; the abundance of avoidable deaths among civilians and soldiers rarely brought consequences. Corrupt, complacent and dependent, that system now finds itself contending with a swift-moving infection at a time when its most relied-upon patrons are overwhelmed by the same pandemic and are finally growing weary of the mess they have perpetuated for nearly two decades. Officials in Herat follow the news from the rest of the world; they can recite the latest death tolls in Italy, in Britain, in New York. The degree to which the coronavirus brought rich, technologically equipped Western powers to their knees left many of them in shock a shock that has since been replaced by a fear of what the devastation will look like in a vastly less-prepared place like Afghanistan. By the time Herat Province confirmed its first case of coronavirus on Feb. 22, thousands of people were entering the country at the border. Iranian officials were still claiming that the coronavirus would not be a problem for the country, and they were slow to contain the outbreak. Within two weeks, Irans hospitals were overwhelmed with sick patients. Less than 100 miles south of Tehran, satellite imaging showed mass graves newly dug for coronavirus victims. Home to roughly 80 million people, Iran became one of the worlds earliest and worst outbreaks. Ghanis administration, humiliated by the American aid cut, was eager to demonstrate Afghanistans ability to prevent the viruss spread. I dont need W.H.O. to come show my nation how to wash their hands, Amrullah Saleh, one of the countrys two vice presidents, said in a local-television interview. His sentiment echoed that of Ghani, who has long described the United Nations agencies as inefficient. Despite the Public Health Ministrys dependence on nongovernmental organizations for even the most basic services, Ghani asked the U.N. to take a back seat on coronavirus efforts. Saleh went on to call Afghanistans response to the virus the role model of management in the third world. But during a recent visit to the city of Herat, the capital of the province of the same name, which is home to 1.5 million people, local officials appeared to be managing very little. Many businesses were closed, but the streets were still jammed with people and cars. As one senior provincial official said, We disrupted the economy but not the virus. The official estimated that there were 150,000 day laborers in the city who werent working because of the lockdown and had no way to feed themselves or their families. People donated generously in the early days, but those donations slowed as the long-term economic impact on businesses became apparent. A displacement camp surrounds Shaidahe Hospital. Many residents are believed to be Taliban members who have tried to attack the facility. (Photo: Kiana Hayeri/The New York Times) All Photos A displacement camp surrounds Shaidahe Hospital. Many residents are believed to be Taliban members who have tried to attack the facility. (Photo: Kiana Hayeri/The New York Times) Outside the main provincial hospital, which is situated in the center of the city, was a small clinic, where in early April doctors dressed in hazmat suits were seeing as many as 400 people a day who were trying to be tested. A loudspeaker repeated a simple message: Coronavirus is dangerous; wash your hands; keep your distance. Most people were turned away and told to come back later. I was in contact with someone who turned out positive about two weeks ago, said 27-year-old Faiz Mohamad. He was among the three dozen people gathered at the clinic in the first hour it opened on a recent Saturday. He said he had a headache that wouldnt go away, and he was also coughing. I have come here three times, he said, and they have told me there are no kits and I should check back. The doctor in charge of collecting samples for the tests, Mohamad Shah Alokozai, kept apologizing. He said the clinic already had a backlog of 360 swabs. Testing had stopped for 48 hours, and Alokozai said that while the W.H.O. sent a small batch of kits on a United Nations flight, they would sustain the lab for only a few days. There are no kits, he told those showing up every day. If I take your sample now, I would be misleading you. Misinformation has added another layer of complexity to the citys coronavirus response. Early on, unproved remedies spread online; one claimed that drinking two cups of black tea would make you immune to the virus. Later, a widely circulated rumor held that if you died of the virus, the government would refuse to hand over your body to your family or worse, would burn the corpse. People who were hospitalized started fleeing from health facilities. Shaidahe Hospital, a facility on the outskirts of the city dedicated to treating Covid-19 patients, brought in a police combat unit to guard the building after 38 people escaped in the first days it was open. In early April, one patient there broke a window, climbed over the compound wall, clambered onto a waiting motorcycle and roared off into the warren of tents in a displacement camp across the street from the facility. A woman rushed out of the hospital to alert the small group of police guards. Commander, sir, corona escaped! she shouted. Eventually, the patient was returned after three officers chased him in an armored vehicle and a fourth officer on a motorcycle trailed him through the displacement camp and into a shop, where he tried to hide. They tackled him and took turns holding him down as they looked for handcuffs. The government announced that if doctors die, their families would be compensated like the families of security forces. We dont want death payments, one doctor said. What we want is N95 masks and protective gear. (Photo: Kiana Hayeri/The New York Times) All Photos The government announced that if doctors die, their families would be compensated like the families of security forces. We dont want death payments, one doctor said. What we want is N95 masks and protective gear. (Photo: Kiana Hayeri/The New York Times) Inside the Shaidahe treatment center, which was a childrens hospital before the outbreak, many of the rooms walls were still covered in posters of newborn babies. The facility has 100 beds, with dozens more in reserve. Of the 68 patients at the center in early April, only 35 had tested positive. The rest, suspected of having the disease, sat around waiting some as long as eight days for their results. In the womens ward, female patients were confined four to six to a room, a mix of confirmed cases and those who still didnt have test results. They sipped tea and chatted from their beds, which were spaced about three feet apart. Dr. Asif Rahmani, a hospital manager, said the women were put together at the request of their families, so they wouldnt be lonely. Though Ghani sent more than $5 million to Herat by mid-March for equipment and supplies, the provincial administration couldnt tap into it because the procurement process required extensive documentation and approval from the central government bureaucratic measures that took weeks to relax. Beds, protective gear, ventilators and medications are among the supplies that have now been ordered, but its unclear when hospitals will actually receive them. A person might walk big, but we will only know their true strength when they face a challenge, said Rafiq Shaheer, a university lecturer and civil-society activist in Herat who is helping with the coronavirus response. We faced the test, and the system didnt work. As for a newly erected hospital that the government had rushed to complete in 18 days, it was impressive, from the tile floors to the slick automated doors. It even had V.I.P. rooms. But a week after Ghanis office declared that it was officially delivered for use, the rooms had neither equipment nor patients. Local officials said they were unaware of a plan for how to staff the hospital with doctors and nurses. The Taliban, who have refused a cease-fire that could help the government redirect resources toward coronavirus efforts, were quick to seize the opportunity offered by these official failures. In Nangarhar Province in eastern Afghanistan, local Taliban leaders gathered journalists, doctors and residents in a packed room of a clinic, with little space between those seated. There were some masks and gloves on the table. For the cameras, a medical worker, wearing a full protective suit, raised what looked like a thermometer gun to measure a persons temperature. On closer examination, it was simply a prop, made of plastic and wood, wrapped in white tape. In early April, Ghani removed Herats governor, Rahimi, without a clear reason and replaced him with his 33-year-old deputy national security adviser, Sayed Abdul Wahid Qatali. A former mayor, Qatali knew the city well. But when he arrived in Herat, he found a place ill equipped to handle any kind of widespread outbreak that health officials were predicting. In news conferences, his tone was desperate and his message clear: Herat lacked the resources to feed hundreds of thousands who faced hunger and poverty; the population wasnt taking the threat of the virus seriously. He had no qualms about warning of what was most likely coming. I am telling you, clearly, he said. I am busy digging graves. Kiana Hayeri is an Iranian-Canadian photographer and a senior TED fellow. She is a regular contributor to The New York Times from Afghanistan, where she has been based since 2014. Mujib Mashal is a senior correspondent for The New York Times in Afghanistan. This is his first article for the magazine. Reporting was contributed by Asadullah Timory, Najim Rahim, Zabihullah Ghazi, Fatima Faizi and Fahim Abed. Your tax-deductible gift today powers our reporters and keeps us independent. We rely on you, our reader, not paywalls to stay funded because we believe important news and information should be freely accessible to all. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now. Research shows that the majority of Angelenos (95%) support the city's stay-at-home policy if it means slowing the spread of coronavirus. But today in downtown L.A. a vocal group of anti-lockdown protesters gathered near City Hall. About 50 cars lined up to honk and hold up signs with messages like "lock up the sick, not the free" and "the science is clear, re-open California." The protest was organized by a Facebook group called Operation Gridlock, which has made some waves across the country, even as its origins have come under scrutiny. Only about 10 individuals protested on the street, outside of their cars. Happening now: Protesters gather Wednesday in their cars around Los Angeles City Hall in downtown, demanding California lift stay-at-home orders and reopen businesses despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. : @chavatweets1 pic.twitter.com/0rugfA0A49 LAist (@LAist) April 22, 2020 The local version of the event was noticeably smaller than a similar protest Friday that drew a crowd of over 200 in Huntington Beach. (Including a man who was arrested after allegedly threatening a Fox 11 photographer with a knife.) Many of those protestors were not social distancing or wearing masks. The L.A. Facebook page for protestors appears to have been taken down by Facebook, who according to the Wall Street Journal, is banning posts that encourage members to violate government health guidelines. NPR reported that Fox News personalities have been showing heavy support for these protests on the air, despite calls from a top executive at the network to encourage protestors to abide by social distancing standards. NPR's media correspondent David Folkenflik wrote: "The liberal watchdog group Media Matters found that Fox News had devoted more than six hours over the past week to the protests, despite the fact that they have drawn relatively small crowds." A shaggy haired man holds a sign reading "who do I have to screw 4a haircut" out of his cars sunroof. (Chava Sanchez/LAist) LAist photographer Chava Sanchez documented the event in L.A. to capture the tone of those protesting the safer-at-home orders. A protestor dressed up in American flag apparel holds a sign reading "here is my permission slip" with a drawing of the Constitution. (Chava Sanchez/LAist) Alisha, who declined to provide her last name, said she drove to City Hall today from San Diego to participate in the rally because she doesn't believe the economy should shut down for this long. (Chava Sanchez/LAist) A flag waving protestor drives in front of city hall. Signs on the car read "the science is clear, re-open California." (Chava Sanchez/Laist) A passenger in a car at a protest to re open the state in downtown Los Angeles holds a sign reading: "Killing the economy does not save lives." (Chava Sanchez/Laist) Passengers in a car protest in downtown L.A. to end the state's stay at home orders hold signs reading "Unlock Cali" and "Let me re-hire." (Chava Sanchez/LAist) Protestors hold an American flag and a sign reading "All Jobs are Essential" out of a car window. (Chava Sanchez/LAist) A car drives in front of city hall in protest. "Civil rights are essential," and "Trust God not Vaccines #saynotobillgates" is painted on the windows in red white and blue. (Chava Sanchez/LAist) Protestors hold signs reading: "My freedom doesn't end where your fear begins" and "every job that puts food on the table is essential, reopen California," out their car window. (Chava Sanchez/LAist) A protestor holds a sign reading "stop the lockdown" out of a car in front of city hall in downtown Los Angeles. (Chava Sanchez/ LAist) A woman dressed in red white and blue holds a sign reading "the Constitution has no #virus clause!" (Chava Sanchez/LAist) Louie Flores from West Covina feels the lockdown is hurting more people than it is helping. (Chava Sanchez) The annual ranking recognizes companies striving to maximize employee growth and organizational development throughout the workplace. To determine this year's list, Great Place to Work analyzed survey feedback from more than 357,000 employees working in the consulting and professional service industries nationwide. Survey respondents were asked to evaluate more than 60 elements of their workplace culture, including daily experiences of innovation, belief in company values and trust in executive leadership. "Throughout our firm's 120-year history, we've stood by our clients and communities in the good times and the bad, dedicated to providing world-class client service," says Ray Kowalik, chairman and CEO of Burns & McDonnell. "Today, our firm's promise to stand with our clients and communities, to continue delivering innovative, sustainable projects and to provide the help and support needed to keep moving forward is stronger than ever." Burns & McDonnell recently announced its commitment to providing additional resources and services to communities, clients and employee-owners nationwide to help address the significant challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. With more than 7,600 professionals around the world, the firm has heightened safety measures, deployed the latest technology and enhanced communication to keep employee-owners safe, connected and supported. "COVID-19 creates very unpredictable and rapidly changing markets for Consulting & Professional Services companies," said Michael Bush, CEO of Great Place to Work. "Companies on this list stand out for the high level of trust they have built with their entire workforce. High-trust, 'For All' cultures enable these organizations today to quickly adjust to remote work arrangements and to successfully navigate through uncertain times." In addition to being one of only 25 companies recognized on the 2020 Best Workplaces in Consulting & Professional Services list, Burns & McDonnell was also named one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For by Fortune for the 10th year. The firm consistently earns best place to work accolades from more than 30 local publications and organizations across the country. Best Workplaces in Consulting and Professional Services is one of a series of rankings by Great Place to Work based on employee feedback from Great Place to Work-Certified organizations. For photos and support materials, please visit our MEDIA KIT. About Burns & McDonnell Burns & McDonnell is a family of companies bringing together an unmatched team of 7,600 engineers, construction professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists to design and build our critical infrastructure. With an integrated construction and design mindset, we offer full-service capabilities with more than 55 offices, globally. Founded in 1898, Burns & McDonnell is a 100% employee-owned company and proud to be on Fortune's 2020 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For. Learn how we are on call through it all. About the Best Workplaces in Consulting & Professional Services Great Place to Work based its ranking on a data-driven methodology applied to anonymous Trust Index survey responses representing more than 357,000 employees working at Great Place to Work-Certified organizations in the consulting or professional services industry in the Unites States. This ranking was finalized prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and does not reflect companies' roles or responses to their people or communities in addressing the impact of the coronavirus. To learn more about Great Place to Work Certification and recognition on Best Workplaces lists, visit Greatplacetowork.com. About Great Place to Work Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture. They help organizations quantify their culture and produce better business results by creating a high-trust work experience for all employees. Emprising, their culture management platform, empowers leaders with the surveys, real-time reporting, and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. They recognize Great Place to Work-Certified companies and the Best Workplaces in the US and more than 60 countries, including the 100 Best Companies to Work For list published annually in Fortune. Contact: Kristi Widmar, Burns & McDonnell 816-448-7379 [email protected] SOURCE Burns & McDonnell Related Links http://www.burnsmcd.com March quarter is likely to see a decline in the earnings growth for most of the sector amid COVID-19 outbreak, and the tremors are likely to be felt in the forthcoming quarters as well, fear experts. Kotak Institutional Equities expects high double-digit YoY decline in net income for several sectors: (1) automobiles (steep decline in volumes), (2) construction materials (sharp volume decline in March 2020), (3) metals & mining (sharp decline in realizations, profitability, and volumes) and (4) oil, gas & consumable fuels (lower realization for upstream companies and inventory loss for downstream companies). On the other hand, banks may lower provisions due to high provision coverage ratio and higher treasury income, and pharmaceuticals led by domestic formulations might report healthy earnings growth. The domestic brokerage firm expects the net profits for the BSE-30 Index to increase 12 percent YoY and that of the Nifty-50 Index to decline 16 percent YoY. The big clue for the upcoming quarters will come from management commentary. Investors are advised to watch out for guidance and commentary for the upcoming quarters is likely to guide stock performance. The March ending quarter wouldn't show much of an impact for businesses because we really entered the lockdown at the end of the quarter. Most manufacturing businesses would have inventory & operations wouldn't have been disrupted until the quarter ended, Raunak Onkar, Fund Manager, PPFAS Mutual Fund told Moneycontrol. However, the commentary is what you'd expect, owing to the uncertainty, most have refrained from giving any revenue or profit guidance for the year. Being cautious and focused on keeping the employees safe and business running seem to be on the top of everyone's mind, he said. We have collated a list of 10 stocks that are likely to see more than 50 percent year-on-year (YoY) fall in the net profit for the March quarter: Brokerage Firm: Motilal Oswal Bharat Forge: PAT likely to fall by 69% YoY Motilal Oswal sees the net profit of Bharat Forge to decline by 69 percent on a year-on-year basis for the quarter ended March, it said in a note. The fall in the bottom line could be due to a weak outlook for CV, as well as Shale Oil amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The adverse mix and operational deleverage are likely to hurt margins. Going forward, the PV segment and light-weighting vehicles are likely to drive growth. Mahindra & Mahindra: PAT likely to fall by 60% YoY Motilal Oswal sees the net profit of Mahindra & Mahindra to decline by 60 percent on a year-on-year basis for the quarter ended March, it said in a note. The domestic UV & PV market share continues to erode and that could impact revenue growth. Fall in volume is likely to adversely affect margins. EPS downgrade is to account for COVID-19 impact, but the tractor segment could be get least impacted by the outbreak. Motherson Sumi: PAT likely to fall by 60% YoY Motilal Oswal sees the net profit of Motherson Sumi to decline by 60 percent on a year-on-year basis for the quarter ended March, it said in a note as exposure to developed markets is to hurt performance. The EU business was operational up to 20th March only. High operating leverage is likely to hurt, resulting in an EPS cut. IndusInd Bank: PAT likely to fall by 82% YoY Motilal Oswal sees the net profit of IndusInd Bank to decline by over 80 percent on a year-on-year basis for the quarter ended March, it said in a note. The loan growth is likely to moderates sharply led by overall slowdown while deposits could also witness reduction on QoQ basis. The brokerage firm estimates a contraction in margins to 4 percent, and the asset quality is also likely to deteriorate led by higher slippages and strain on MFI and auto business. RBL Bank: PAT likely to fall by 88% YoY Motilal Oswal sees the net profit of RBL Bank to decline by over 80 percent on a year-on-year basis for the quarter ended March, it said in a note as the loan growth is likely to moderate led by the weak environment. The asset quality is likely to deteriorate due to exposure toward MFI/credit cards and few other stressed accounts. As the bank witnessed the withdrawal of deposits, liquidity positioning would be a key monitorable, said the note. Brokerage Firm: Kotak Institutional Equities TVS Motor Company: PAT likely to fall by 59% YoY Kotak Institutional Equities sees the net profit of TVS Motor Company to decline by nearly 60 percent on a year-on-year basis for the quarter ended March, it said in a note. Volumes are likely to decline by 25 percent on a YoY basis, due to a 30 percent decline in domestic markets and a 2 percent YoY decline in the export markets. We expect revenues to decline by 28% YoY in 4QFY20 largely led by 30% YoY decline in volumes offset by a 3% decline in ASPs YoY, said the note. Dalmia Bharat: PAT likely to fall by 97% YoY Kotak Institutional Equities sees the net profit of Dalmia Bharat to decline by over 90 percent on a year-on-year basis for the quarter ended March, it said in a note. The domestic brokerage firm expects a 10 percent YoY volume decline in 4QFY20, factoring the COVID-19-led countrywide lockdown in the last week of the quarter, which is typically the peak sales period for the sector. We expect blended realizations to increase by 2.8% QoQ led by improved pricing in East and South markets, the note said. Grasim Industries: PAT likely to fall by 72% YoY Kotak Institutional Equities sees the net profit of Grasim Industries to decline by over 70 percent on a year-on-year basis for the quarter ended March, it said in a note. We model volumes to decline in VSF operations by 10% YoY to 135,000 tons and witness a 10% YoY decline in chemical operations at 235,000 tons factoring the countrywide lockdown with the outbreak of COVID-19, added the note. Orient Cement: PAT likely to fall by over 70% YoY Despite local emergency orders against evictions and restrictions included the CARES Act enacted last month, many unemployed workers in New Orleans, Louisiana and many other states are receiving eviction notices from landlords and being thrown out on the street in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Thousands of workers in New Orleans have lost their jobs, many of them working in the citys vibrant service industry, and are now dependent upon slow and more often than not insufficient state and federal aid in order to pay rent and buy food and medicine and other essentials. In the face of massive layoffs and economic uncertainty facing nearly half the New Orleans workforce following a mandatory lockdown to slow the spread of COVID-19 in a city that has been hit particularly hard by the highly contagious virus, Mayor LaToya Cantrell ordered a ban on evictions beginning in mid-March. However, this week she had to issue a reminder in the face of a recent rash of eviction notices and threatening actions by multiple landlords across the city. One out-of-work restaurant worker, Johnquil Kelley, told WWLTV last week about her experience with her landlord Joshua Bruno, who rents her an Algier area apartment. Having lost her job in mid-March, when the city finally issued stay at home orders and shut down many restaurants and virtually every bar in the interest of public safety, Kelley was hoping to work with Bruno on Aprils rent and was faced with a eviction notice for her trouble. Instead she received a note on her door which read, Three Day Notice To Pay Or Vacate. Demand for possession is hereby made. You are hereby given notice to PAY or vacate the dwelling on or before midnight of the 2nd day of this notice. The note from Bruno demanded the full amount of rent plus late fees. Kelley was reportedly trying to get some leeway on the rent by attempting to reason with her landlord, I'm still waiting on a stimulus check, and I'm still waiting on my unemploymentanything, somethingso I can pay him his rent, Kelley explained to reporters. But he still put the notice on the door. Receiving a bright red notice to vacate in three days is an intimidation tactic that is going to cause some tenant to move when they really don't have to right now, Hannah Adams, an attorney who works for a local legal service for those who cant afford lawyers, told WWLTV in response to Kelleys eviction notice. Moving right now means you are exposing yourself to potential infection with the coronavirus. Bruno reportedly sent out several other eviction notices and had been the subject of several tenant complaints in regards to neglecting appliances and maintaining his units. While the CARES Act also prohibits evictions by property owners such as Bruno who receive federal subsidies through the end of July, there have been multiple instances in New Orleans and around the country of landlords sending eviction notices as a bullying tactic to force out or squeeze rent payments from of poor and unemployed workers. Another New Orleans man, Robert Stephenson, was actually evicted from his home, along with his girlfriend, when their service industry incomes both disappeared immediately following the lockdown. Stephenson, who is diabetic and a veteran, was still in the process of applying for disability benefits when the owners of the guesthouse that he and his girlfriend were living in told them to vacate immediately. Fearing a clash with police if they resisted, they left the house and Stephenson was left homeless, sleeping under the Claiborne Avenue bridge that very same day. Southeastern Legal Services, the same attorneys who represented Kelley in her claim against her landlord, are now assisting Stephenson in getting his medications and in pursuing punitive damages against his landlord for their illegal eviction. According to the National Multifamily Housing Council only 69 percent of those living in apartments had made their rent payments by April 5. Across the country, housing attorneys have seen a massive increase in landlords seeking to carry out illegal evictions ever since the COVID-19 related economic collapse hit last month. Since courts across the country have closed, including the Orleans Parish Civil District Court which closed on March 16, most evictions and notices are illegal, whether that includes threatening notes or changing of locks or in some cases removing doors from hinges, because the landlords have not gone through the proper legal proceedings. According to attorneys with the Public Interest Law Center in Philadelphia, landlords have taken it upon themselves to illegally enforce eviction measures that are normally enforced by the local sheriffs departments. Most states have issued moratoriums on all evictions as well as utility shutoffs, however, according to law professor Emily Benfer there are some states that still allow landlords to send eviction notices even if a lawful eviction is prohibited. Landlords often use these notices as a threatening tactic, counting on the tenants to move out on their own. The CARES Act provision blocking evictions only applies to the about one-in-four rental properties which are backed by federal mortgage securities. For the other renters, they are forced to rely on state and city bans for protection from eviction, which are, for the most part, inconsistently and sporadically enforced as only twenty states are temporarily banning law enforcement from carrying out the final stage of the eviction process, the forcible removal of the tenant. Many states have banned the court stage of the eviction and some are banning the initial stage, the eviction notice, but only a few states have actually implemented on every stage of the eviction, leaving many out-of-work renters vulnerable during this disastrous economic downturn. With more than 22 million currently out of work, this leaves many at risk of being made homeless. Despite these various bans, for thousands of workers across the country who are already in tenuous living situations such as temporary housing or hotel residencies, the prospect of filling up homeless shelters during a pandemic is especially dangerous. Situations such as these only exacerbate the damage the outbreak will have, and each eviction is a social crime. Calgary-based Bellatrix Exploration Ltd. says it has struck a deal to exit Companies Creditors Arrangement Act court protection after six months through a sale of its assets to Return Energy Inc. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Bellatrix Exploration Ltd. logo is shown in a handout. Calgary-based Bellatrix Exploration Ltd. says it has struck a deal to exit Companies Creditors Arrangement Act court protection after six months through a sale to Return Energy Inc. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO Calgary-based Bellatrix Exploration Ltd. says it has struck a deal to exit Companies Creditors Arrangement Act court protection after six months through a sale of its assets to Return Energy Inc. Return would pay $87.4 million in cash under the agreement and assume liabilities it estimated to be worth about $14.8 million. 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. Upon closing the deal, it says it would be renamed Spartan Delta Corp. and undergo a one-for-100 share consolidation. The proposed transaction is subject to the approval of the Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta and other conditions. CCAA gives an insolvent corporation protection from creditors while it restructures its business and financial affairs. Bellatrix says the agreement was negotiated after an extensive review of potential transactions and alternatives with a view to maximizing value for stakeholders. Return says the acquisition is "transformational" and will create an oil and gas producer with output of more than 25,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day from a strong land base in west central Alberta. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 23, 2020. Companies in this story: (TSXV:RTN) Drugmaker Eli Lilly & Co. said it expects to begin human testing as soon as next month for an experimental COVID-19 treatment that uses antibodies derived from the blood of people who have recovered from the viral disease. The testing could yield results by late summer and, if successful, potential emergency authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration by early fall, Lilly Chief Executive David Ricks said in an interview Thursday. The treatment has the potential to dramatically reduce viral load in people either about to get sick, or who are sick or even hospitalized, Mr. Ricks said. That could be available, if were expecting a fall surge, to help really knock down the disease in the fall. Lilly is among a number of drug companies racing to find treatments for COVID-19 patients or vaccines to prevent infections. In this case, its experimental drug is composed of antibodies, which are proteins in human blood that can neutralize pathogens such as the coronavirus. The big drugmaker is codeveloping the antibodies with AbCellera Biologics Inc., of Vancouver, British Columbia, under an agreement announced in March. The companies are sharing initial development costs, after which Lilly will be responsible for further development, manufacturing and distribution. An antibody drug could provide a bridging approach to battling the virus until a vaccine is developed, Mr. Ricks said. Lilly expects to ask the FDA in May for permission to begin human testing of the antibody drug, with testing to start soon thereafter if the agency allows it. Were making great progress here, he said. Its the single fastest drug-discovery effort Ive ever been associated with. Lilly is studying other possible COVID-19 treatments. Its rheumatoid arthritis drug Olumiant will be tested in a National Institutes of Health trial that is also testing Gilead Sciences Inc.s remdesivir. An experimental Lilly drug originally intended as a cancer treatment will be tested as well. The drug research is among several of Lillys efforts to address the coronavirus pandemic. It has also been operating a drive-through diagnostic testing centre at its Indianapolis headquarters, and is processing specimens sent by hospitals. Since opening in mid-March, Lilly has handled roughly 40 per cent of the testing volume for all of Indiana, Mr. Ricks said. Most of the roughly 150 employees who still come to work at Lillys corporate offices are workers who are involved in the testing effort. The employee head count there is down from 8,000 before the pandemic triggered stay-at-home restrictions, Mr. Ricks said. Lilly will continue to offer testing, he said, but expects to increasingly become a backstop as the state government and others handle a greater share of it. Mr. Ricks said the state would need to quintuple its testing capacity to safely reopen from current stay-at-home measures. Lilly also will test its own staff for the virus as the drugmaker manages the transition back to office work for some employees. Mr. Ricks spoke after Lilly reported higher-than-expected revenue and earnings for the first quarter, helped by changes generated by the pandemic. Lilly posted net income of $1.46 billion (U.S.), or $1.60 a share, compared with $4.24 billion, or $4.31 a share, in the comparable quarter last year. Lilly said it booked a $3.68 billion gain related to the disposition of its animal-drug business Elanco last year. Adjusted earnings, excluding certain items, were $1.75 a share, beating the $1.48 a share analysts polled by FactSet had expected. Sales rose 15 per cent to $5.86 billion, ahead of the $5.49 billion analysts had expected. The company said it had strong demand for key products such as Trulicity, Taltz and Emgality, as well as an additional $250 million due to buying patterns and prescription trends amid the pandemic. The company has said it was delaying most new study starts and paused enrolment in most ongoing study starts, in an effort to reduce the burden on health-care facilities and allow physicians to focus on the coronavirus crisis. Lilly executives said deteriorating economic conditions and pandemic-related downturns in patient visits to doctors offices could hurt its results later in the year. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 02:02:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RAMALLAH, April 22 (Xinhua) -- A senior Palestinian official said on Wednesday that the United States has no right to decide the fate of the Palestinian lands and doesn't provide legitimacy to any Israeli plan to seize it. Nabil Abu Rudeineh condemned in a press statement the remarks of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that "the decision of annexing the West Bank is Israel's decision," according to WAFA news agency report. "The Palestinians are only who can decide the fate of their lands, on which they will establish their independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital," Abu Rudeineh stated. He added that "there will be no security and stability without giving the Palestinian people their rights which were approved by the international legitimacy." Abu Rudeineh said that Pompeo's remarks "affirm that the United States can never be a mediator in any peace process between us and the Israelis." "These remarks are a green light for Israel to carry on with its settlement and annexation actions, a violation of all the international conventions and laws and never achieves peace by all means," he added. Enditem Married At First Sight star Mishel Karen has clapped back at trolls after she inundated with hateful messages when she posted her visit to a hair salon for a colour and cut on Instagram, this week. Hair salons are NOT on the list of non-essential services which have been forced to shut down during the coronavirus pandemic, but are subject to health and safety restrictions. Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the Brisbane-based teacher, 48, defended herself, and said she had her hair done for a boost of self-confidence while self-isolating and wanted to support a local business. 'I was smashed with hate': Married At First Sight star Mishel Karen has clapped back at trolls after she inundated with hateful messages when she posted her visit to a hair salon for a colour and cut on Instagram, this week 'My intention was to feel better about iso, [while] also supporting small local businesses that are really struggling,' Mishel explained on Wednesday. 'I think it is important to support small and local businesses in any way we can so they can support their families.' She went on to add: 'I started getting questioned on my post for going to the hairdresser. Then I got smashed in with hate in my inbox.' ''My intention was to feel better about iso': Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the Brisbane-based teacher, 48, defended herself, and said she had her hair done for a boost of self-confidence while self-isolating and wanted to support a local business While it is unclear what kind of 'hate' Mishel received via private message, many comments under the post expressed confusion as to how 'reality stars' like Mishel appeared to be going out for what fans deemed to be 'non-essential' activities. 'Thought you guys are in isolation! Our Prime Minister isn't opening hair salons over the next three weeks,' one international fan wrote. A Victoria-based Instagram user added: 'How do you get go to the hairdresser when nobody else can?' 'How do you get to go to the hairdresser?' While it is unclear what kind of 'hate' Mishel received via private message, many comments under the post expressed confusion as to how 'reality stars' like Mishel appeared to be going out for what fans deemed to be 'non-essential' activities 'Absolutely beautiful,' a third complimented, before adding: 'Are MAFS folks immune to COVID-19? Seems everyone is out trying to sell something and ignoring spreading this.' Mishel is not the first Married At First Sight alum to visit a hair salon, with stars like KC Osborne and Jessika Power also recently getting touch-ups at the hairdressers. Mishel was adamant she and the salon followed coronavirus-related guidelines. She didn't do anything wrong! Hair salons are NOT on the list of non-essential services which have been forced to shut down during the coronavirus pandemic, but are subject to health and safety restrictions 'I really followed our rules and restrictions but is this a thing that people are hating [on] at the moment?' Mishel asked. She added: 'It is strange times and it is hard to know who or what to support without breaking rules.' While Mishel did not break any lockdown rules, the Federal government has urged Australians to stay at home whenever possible. Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 17:57:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping visits a commercial street to learn about the reopening of business in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, April 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) XI'AN, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged efforts to overcome the negative impact of the COVID-19 epidemic to ensure the country reaches its goals in poverty alleviation and the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during an inspection tour in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. A fake Pakistani Twitter account posing as the handle of an Omani princess was caught spreading misinformation and anti-India content on Twitter. Tweets made by the account went viral amid a wave of controversy following concerns raised by the Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which is made up of 57 nations, raised concerns regarding growing Islamophobia in India. The 'tweet' On April 22, a Twitter handle with the name "H.H. Mona bint Fahd al Said", the Omani princess, tweeted the following, "Oman stands with its Muslim brothers and sisters in India. If the Indian government doesn't stop the persecution of Muslims, then one million (Indian) workers working in Oman may be expelled. I will definitely take up this issue with the Sultan of Oman." The tweet further tagged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Oman stands with its Muslim brothers and sisters in India. If the Indian Govt doesn't stop the persecution of Muslims, then 1million workers living in Oman may be expelled. I will definitely take up this issue with the Sultan of Oman. @narendramodi H.H. Mona bint Fahd al Said (@SayyidaMona) April 21, 2020 The tweet instantly went viral and was shared by the handles of several social media users as well as the official handles of the Pakistani government. Many in India outraged against the tweet and called for a boycott of Omani royalty within India. The discovery comes amid a trend in Pakistani social media sphere of Twitter account holders changing their names and impersonating Saudi royalty following IOC's statement. A 'parody' account The tweet was made by the account named @SayyidaMona. Many, however, noted that though the account had thousands of followers, it was not a verified handle. Further investigation revealed that the account that posted the tweet was not Princess's Mona's at all but a "parody" account. The same was written in the account's bio, perhaps in an attempt to protect it from being taken down by Twitter as a fake account. (Twitter permits parody accounts to function on the microblogging site). A fact check conducted by IB Times revealed that the account had originally been called "@pak_Fauj", linking it to the Pakistani army. Searching for @pak_Fauj on Twitter led users to the @SayyidaMona account, proving that both accounts were one and the same. Visiting the account and scrolling down to past tweets (that had not been deleted) that bore the earlier credentials. Princess's clarification In wake of the viral fake tweet, the Omani princess herself put out a statement, clarifying that the tweet threatening to expel l Indian workers from Oman was not made by her or her official handles. "Friends, First of all, I thank you for your concern to verify the offensive post published through an account impersonating me, which you are sure that I have no connection with it. With full trust in all of you in strengthening awareness among all regarding such activities, which are not acceptable to the Omani society, I confirm again that my presence in social media is restricted on the following accounts: @hhmonaalsaid and @MonaFahad 13." Prince Mona clarified. The clarification was lauded by Indan envoy to Oman Munu Mahawar who took to Twitter to thank the princess for her candor. "I thank HH @MonaFahad13 for clarification on fake social media posts attributed to her" and India values its "friendly relations with Oman and will continue working closely with the Government and people of Oman to further strengthen our special relationship." The controversy follows UAE Princess Hend Al Qassimi's vocal criticism of right-wing trolls and growing Islamophobia as well as communal hate-speech in India. The Pakistan connection The tweet has come after controversy in India following the IOC statement with many in Indian calling for a boycott of India's diplomatic relations in the Gulf country. In the past few days, several such modified or fake Pakistani accounts have changed their handles to Arabic-sounding names in order to spread anti-India propaganda. As per reports in WION as well as Zee News, many of these accounts including "Pak_fauj" aka "SayyidaMona", could be traced back to ISPR. Crawling to a number of older, now deleted tweets from the parody account link the tweets to ISPR. Furthermore, the fake tweet by the parody account was shared by a number of Pakistani journalists and even politicians. Indian PM @narendramodi creating problems for his countrymen working in other countries statement from Princess @SayyidaMona is reflection of growing anger against Modi policies his hatred against Muslims may force friends of India in Middle East to reconsider their policies https://t.co/pJkujm1Akz Hamid Mir (@HamidMirPAK) April 22, 2020 In fact, Pakistan's Foreign Minister SM Qureshi also mentioned Oman's alleged decision to expel Indians in one of his addresses to the Indian diaspora in Gulf. "Highlighting the huge Indian diaspora in Gulf, he said, "Gulf..for example, Oman has said Indians working in the country should leave," he allegedly said. No such claims have been made by the government or royalty of Oman. Many on Twitter felt that the fake tweets were attempts made by Pakistan to create tensions between India-s relations with Gulf nations like Saudi and Oman. Chinese Citizen Journalist Resurfaces After Going Missing in Wuhan A Chinese citizen journalist who posted videos about the CCP virus situation in the city of Wuhan has resurfaced after going missing for almost two months, saying in a YouTube video that he had been forcibly quarantined. Li Zehua, 25, was one of three citizen journalists who went missing in Wuhan. A video he published on Feb. 20 showed temporary porters being hired to transport corpses of people who apparently died of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. It was viewed 850,000 times on YouTube, which is blocked in China. They are chasing me now. They must be trying to isolate me. I am asking you all for help! Chinese YouTuber Kcriss Li sent an SOS message while allegedly being chased by national security officers. He was chased after driving to the #Wuhan #P4 lab amid the #coronavirus outbreak. pic.twitter.com/LjE6ES1zQP China in Focus NTD (@ChinaInFocusNTD) February 26, 2020 Days later, he posted live video of the police coming to his home. He was then not heard of until his new video was posted April 22. The other two citizen journalists, Chen Qiushi and Fang Bin, who according to media reports posted footage of overwhelmed hospitals and corpses piled in a minibus, havent resurfaced publicly. Beijing lawyer Chen Qiushi as seen in videos he took from Hong Kong demonstrations that he attended, from Aug. 17 to Aug. 20, 2019. (Screenshot via WeChat) Chens mother said earlier he was missing, while Fang also posted a video of the police knocking on his door. Chinese authorities made no public comment about any of the three. On March 31, U.S. Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) called on the U.S. State Department to urge China to investigate the disappearance of the three. Li, in his new video posted April 22, said police took him from his apartment in Wuhan on Feb. 26 and questioned him at a local facility on suspicion of disrupting public order. Fang Bin in a video posted on Feb. 4, 2020. (Screenshot/YouTube) He said that after nearly 24 hours, the police station chief told him he wouldnt be charged but would need to be quarantined because he had been to high-risk areas, such as a crematorium. Li said he was quarantined in a hotel until March 14, and then escorted to his hometown, where he was quarantined for another 14 days. He said police had required that he give his electronic devices to a friend while he was in quarantine. It isnt clear why Li chose to post the new video recounting his experience, which he said was made on April 16, three weeks after his last quarantine ended. Li didnt immediately respond to a request for comment and Wuhan police couldnt immediately be reached for comment on April 23. In the YouTube video recorded in late February, moments before Li opened the door to police, the former state television employee spoke about his ambition to speak up on behalf of the people. He also lamented what he said was a dearth of idealism among young people and used a euphemism to refer to student protests that led to a crackdown in Beijings Tiananmen Square in 1989, a taboo subject for Chinas ruling Communist Party. By Yew Lun Tian. Epoch Times staff contributed to this report. PHILADELPHIA, April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Imvax, Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company, today announced that Mark Exley, PhD, has been appointed as Chief Scientific Officer (CSO). Dr. Exley was previously Vice President, Cellular Immunology for AgenTus. Reporting to Imvax Chief Executive Officer (CEO) John Furey, Dr. Exley joins the company as it is developing Imvax's lead product candidate, IGV-001, for the treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). "Mark brings a wealth of experience to Imvax in the regulation of the immune system to treat cancer and other diseases," said Mr. Furey. "He will provide our team with invaluable insights and leadership as we continue to build on the current promise of our early clinical trial work with IGV-001 and execute on the future clinical development of this asset." Dr. Exley's areas of research have included natural and vaccine-supported immunity to cancers, immune responses to acute and chronic viral infections, suppression of graft-versus-host disease (a rare complication of bone marrow and stem cell transplants), obesity-associated diseases and other inflammations. Dr. Exley has published over 120 articles in scientific journals and has received numerous research awards and grants. Prior to joining Imvax, Dr. Exley was on faculty at Harvard Medical School and at the University of Manchester, UK, where he retains honorary appointments, and was a scientist at Immulogic, Inc. He received his BS from Imperial College, London and his Ph.D. from the Institute of Cancer Research, London. He completed his post-doctoral fellowship at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. "Imvax has assembled a remarkable team to create and develop therapies that will help make a difference in the lives of cancer patients," said Dr. Exley. "I look forward to working with my colleagues as well as the oncology community to advance these lifesaving treatments." About IGV-001 IGV-001 is an autologous tumor cell vaccine that delivers a multi-pronged response against tumor cells by leveraging the patient's immune system as a defense mechanism. Imvax, Inc. has an exclusive license agreement with Thomas Jefferson University granting it the right to develop and market this medical technology. About Imvax, Inc. Imvax is a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on the development of patient-specific vaccines and immunomodulatory strategies (therapies that utilize the body's immune system) for the treatment of malignant gliomas (a specific type of brain tumor) and other cancers with unmet medical needs. Imvax is based in Philadelphia, PA. For additional information, please visit www.Imvax.com. SOURCE Imvax Related Links https://www.imvax.com The Trade Union of Croatian Journalists (TUCJ) and the Croatian Journalists Association (CJA) urged the government to save journalism by taking financial compensation measures for the media sector. If nothing is done, mass layoffs will occur and several media will shutdown, the union warned. The International and European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joined their affiliate in urgently requesting a media recovery plan. The government didnt include the media sector in its financial relief packages to relief the economic impact on companies and workers caused by the pandemic and the earthquake. Job losses and pay cuts have already begun. They could eventually lead to a decline in professional media coverage, and in a years time Croatia could have a media problem that will be recognized at EU level, such as media systems across the Balkans today. Unfortunately, even the third package of Government measures did not cover journalists and the media as a whole; journalism is completely ignored, denounced MajaSever and Hrvoje Zovko, President of TUCJ and CJA. TUCJ and CJA proposed a series of measures to be taken as soon as possible, including: Financial relief for media companies providing that no layoffs or salaries cut will occur Increase in public funding through a Journalism Crisis Fund Financial compensation for journalists and freelancers Tax breaks for citizens who donate or subscribe to media registered in Croatia Support media cooperatives to reduce long-term dependence of the media sector on state aid and market volatility In order to raise awareness about the importance of journalism, TUCJ and CJA have launched a social network campaign. It features media workers photos showing their everyday life at work during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their message is clear: journalists are our ears and eyes while citizens are required to stay home. Journalists throughout Europe are invited to join the campaign using the #StayAtHome hashtag on social media. Around 40 shipyard workers in Norfolk, Virginia held a six-day wildcat strike last week against defense contractor General Dynamics and BAE Systems after an engineer died from COVID-19 on April 9. Andrew Revell, an employee of General Dynamics and a senior electrician, led a walkout that lasted from April 14 to 19, demanding that the company provide masks, gloves and hand sanitizer as part of a comprehensive coronavirus safety plan. Revell, who supervises a work crew of 25 workers who repair US Navy ships at the site, started asking the company for personal protection equipment and a safety plan in mid-March. Management took 11 days to reply to his emails and still refused to provide protective gear or even a plan as the pandemic rapidly unfolded. By March 26, shipyard worker Robert Fentress fell ill with COVID-19. He would later succumb to the disease. To prevent further illness and death, Revell walked out and started distributing leaflets encouraging coworkers to join him. A total of five workers at BAE Systems shipyard have tested positive for the highly contagious respiratory disease. Revell told the Virginian-Pilot newspaper that workers at the shipyard work 2-3 feet apart from one another for hours at a time repairing the guided missile ships USS Bulkeley and USS Gettysburg. A General Dynamics spokeswoman told the newspaper that the company has made masks, gloves and hand sanitizer available to every employee, which Revell and fellow striker Kim Sumner said was not true. Bull, the 53-year-old metalworker replied. I just dont want to bring stuff home that will kill my family. Were risking our lives. He added that his wife has asthma and his son has an immune deficiency. Shipyard workers at General Dynamics NASSCO-Norfolk shipyard (U.S. Navy photo by Jerry Sekerak/Released) On March 24, at another facility owned by General Dynamics in Maine, Bath Ironworks (BIW), less than half of its scheduled employees reported for work during the morning shift following the companys first reported case of COVID-19. The action was initiated by rank-and-file workers, independently of the International Association of Machinists. Workers were also not intimidated by management, which released a memo saying that the US Navy had confirmed that the Bath shipyard, was critical infrastructure under White House guidance that directed defense contractors to continue to operate normally in the interest of national security. Revell told the World Socialist Web Site that little has changed at the BAE Systems shipyard in Norfolk since the strike. The shipyard started requiring face coverings (they seem to accept any kind) on April 10. However, the requirement is very poorly enforced. Yesterday [April 20], I estimated about a third of the workers were wearing them correctly, a third were not covering the noses, and a third were not wearing any mask at all. Even among those wearing coverings, bandanas and loose fabrics that provide almost no protection are common. Temperature checks at the gates started April 15. It's a good step but based on my research it's possible to contract and spread the virus with no fever, and those with significantly high temperatures would likely not feel well and stay home, anyway. Our employer started putting together a web page describing steps the company is taking to improve safety, but it reads more like a mostly-empty attempt at reassuring us that the company is doing something, rather than the kind of practical, comprehensive list of safety steps and information we need, Revell said. Another issue is the need for information on those positive cases or symptomatic individuals we may have been exposed to at work. There have now been a total of five confirmed cases in the yard, and many more symptomatic but untested or awaiting results. I made it clear to our management that reporting and action needs to be primarily symptom-based, not test-based, due to the extreme shortage of tests in our area and long wait times for results. The company has resisted this approach, likely because there would be far more absences if employees are informed that they were in contact with a symptomatic individual and told to self-quarantine, than if employees were only informed and told to self-quarantine if they were in contact with someone who tests positive, he added. A few miles north of the BAE Systems shipyard, some 29 workers at Newport News Shipbuilding have contracted COVID-19, prompting the companythe state of Virginias largest industrial employerto announce a reduction in shifts from three to two starting May 4. Newport News Shipbuilding is the only shipyard that builds nuclear-powered aircraft carriers for the US Navy, and one of two that makes and designs submarines. The facility employs 24,700 workers. According to the Virginia Department of Health, the city of Newport News has 101 cases of COVID-19 while neighboring Hampton has 92; Norfolk has 118; Portsmouth, 82; Chesapeake, 176; Suffolk 111 and Virginia Beach 288, for a total in the Hampton Roads region around 1,000, when smaller cities in the area are included. As in other parts of Virginia and the United States, the official numbers almost certainly underestimate because of limited testing. Virginia has nearly 10,000 coronavirus cases in total, with a high concentration in the suburbs of Washington, DCFairfax county has 2077; Prince William county, 867; Arlington, 625 and Alexandria, 462. More than half of cases reported in the state come from long-term care facilities serving the elderly. Under Virginias stay-at-home order non-essential businesses have been asked to stay closed through May 8. BAE Systems and Newport News Shipbuilding operate as essential businesses because they produce major components of American naval power. While the coronavirus pandemic has drastically altered so much of social life, US military funding and provocations continue at full steam. The Trump administration continues to stage freedom of navigation exercises in the South China Sea. Venezuela remains in the crosshairs, as does Iran. In fact, the need to maintain combat readiness was behind the recent firing of Brett Crozier, captain of the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, for asking his superiors to permit docking to address an outbreak of COVID-19 on the ship. The Pentagon has also raised concerns about aircraft components and other supplies for the defense industry sourced from Mexican factories, where workers have launched a wave of wildcat strikes following the deaths of workers. The job actions by BAE Systems workers are part of an international resistance by workers to the dictates of finance capital and its political servants who are demanding the reopening of economies in Europe and the United States even though this will only accelerate the spread of the deadly disease. This working class resistance includes recent walkouts by factory workers in northern Mexico, the actions by Amazon workers in Italy and the United States, health care and meatpacking workers in the US as well as last months walkout by US autoworkers. Dear Readers, This is not a time to celebrate. When a deadly virus is wreaking havoc across the world, taking lives and destroying livelihoods, the only celebrations in these desperate times should be of victories against the virus and the heroism of frontline workers fighting the pandemic. And yet, we believe that Moneycontrol Pro is all the more necessary for investors now. It is now, more than ever, that investors need credible and timely information that will allow them to take decisions in the midst of this extraordinary uncertainty. As the dramatist and poet Bertolt Brecht wrote: In the dark timesWill there also be singing?Yes, there will also be singing About the dark times. That is why we mark our first anniversary, to shine a light in the dark, to reaffirm to our readers our commitment to provide you reliable information and insightful analyses, based on the values and principles that have guided us in our journey over the past year. And what a ride it has been! It featured the Sino-US trade war, general elections in India, market euphoria, Brexit, a faltering Indian economy, a crisis in the non-banking financial sector, a bank collapse and rescue, a U-turn by the US Fed and the virus attack, a meltdown in the markets and a lockdown. We have been beside the investor at every step of the journey, guiding her, whispering words of advice, cautioning her and dancing with her till the music stopped. We have since been calming her, listening to her worries, holding her hand, picking up diamonds in the dust and preparing her for the next dance. If I were to single out one value that we prize above all else, it is, simply put, an unflinching commitment to the unvarnished truth. We have always called a spade a spade, often preferring to call it a bloody shovel. There are numerous examples --- we had, for instance, consistently raised red flags about the bubble that had formed in the equity markets before the virus hit, a bubble that was in search of a pin. We had at an early date pointed out the weakness in the Indian economy and how the equity markets were increasingly divorced from fundamentals. And we were one of the first to warn that the virus could lead to a financial crisis. In short, we call it as we see it. And the reason we can do that is because we are completely independent. Our team of research professionals is not in the business of selling stocks and our opinion writers have no political axe to grind. That is why we havent just recommended stocks, we have also told you which stocks and sectors and asset classes you should avoid. We have criticised the powers that be when they goof up, but we have also praised them for a job well done. We have, right from the start, tried to ensure quality at Moneycontrol Pro. That is why we decided to completely avoid hot tips. Instead, we bring you deeply researched stock picks after crunching the numbers, after weighing all the pros and cons. In our Learn series we have laid bare investment principles, styles and financial ratios that will help you form an opinion about companies and stocks by yourself. Our opinion pieces analyse the economic environment and policy actions, to enable you to get a clear idea of the broader context in which businesses operate. Our technical analysts identify the short-term trades you may want to put through. GuruSpeak brings to you the distilled wisdom of successful professionals in the markets. Our Personal Finance section has tried to answer the questions investors have about mutual funds and asset allocations. In this age when capital knows no borders, limiting ourselves to analysing domestic economic conditions is not enough. That is why we have spared no effort in bringing you the gist of reports brought out by international agencies and analysed the policies of central banks in the developed countries that have an impact on fund flows to India and emerging markets. To take one important instance, we have always pointed out the role central banks in the developed world have played in boosting the asset markets. And finally, we have endeavoured to say all these things in simple, sharp, direct, jargon-free language, for your reading pleasure. We are passing through a painful time, but it is also a historic one. There is great uncertainty. Which businesses will thrive after the virus passes, which will go under? Will there be a wave of bankruptcies? Will globalisation, already under threat before the virus reared its ugly head, go into reverse? What will be the impact of the tsunami of debt and liquidity that central banks and governments have unleashed? Will it create an even bigger asset bubble? If central banks in the developed nations were riding the tiger of ultra-loose monetary policy before the virus came, they are riding a Godzilla now. We hope you will continue to accompany us on this fascinating journey. P.S.: On the occasion of Moneycontrol Pros 1st Anniversary, as a token of gratitude to its readers, Pro has introduced a range of exciting exclusive benefits worth Rs. 20,000 for existing users. Potential users who subscribe by May 7 too can avail these benefits. Cheers, Manas Chakravarty Like many in Northeast Ohio, I find myself waking up every day more grateful than I was the day before. Im grateful for my health and that of my family, but Im especially grateful for the people working day-in and day-out to save those fighting for their lives against this invisible enemy. A crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic is extremely disrupting. It has brought hardship and tragedy. But it has also unveiled the heroes living among us in our communities. Videos of nurses and other health care workers on the front line of this public health crisis being applauded as they walk to work are everywhere on social media and the news, and rightfully so. As the proud husband of a hardworking nurse, I have known for a long time that these unsung heroes are the lifeline of our nations health care system. But the unfortunate truth is that there has been a dire need for nurses all across the country long before COVID-19 came along. The demand for nurses varies by state but its estimated that the national need for nurses will increase by 28% over the next decade. If this pandemic has taught us anything, its that we cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the needs of our health care professionals. Thats why I have consistently fought for federal programs that support the recruitment and retention of nurses, known as Title VIII programs. Title VIII programs are the largest source of federal funding for nursing education and directly invest in our nations health by addressing specific needs within the nursing workforce and Americas patient population. Importantly, these programs also provide targeted support for institutions that educate nurses for practice in rural and medically underserved communities, bolstering nursing education at all levels, from entry-level to graduate study. While my bill to reauthorize Title VIII programs had passed the House at the end of last year with unanimous, bipartisan support, the process scheduling it for a vote in the Senate stalled when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. Thats why I fought to ensure this critical bill was included in the CARES Act, Congress most recent COVID-19 relief package. The CARES Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020, and my Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act along with it, ensuring that those interested in pursuing a career in nursing have access to the education and training opportunities necessary to do so. However, equal to our nations long-term need for nurses is the immediate need to provide health care workers with the supplies they so desperately need during this pandemic. The harsh reality is that hospitals and health care systems across the country are facing staffing difficulties, an ever-increasing demand for testing, an influx of critically ill COVID-19 patients and an ever-challenging level of demand for medical equipment needed to care for these patients. It is absolutely critical that we safeguard and provide for those who put their lives on the line treating patients suffering from this deadly virus. Thats why I joined my Democratic colleague Representative Quigley in leading the bipartisan call to provide significant, immediate funding for hospitals and health systems. Together, we compiled a bipartisan coalition of Members and urged House Speaker Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader McConnell, House Minority Leader McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Schumer to include this much-needed aid in future COVID-19 relief legislation. Per our request, the CARES Act included over $100 billion for hospitals and health systems, which is currently providing our medical professionals the supplies they so desperately need, like gloves, additional beds, face masks, and gowns, as well as life-saving equipment like ventilators and respirators. As we gain ground in our battle against COVID-19, and long after we have defeated it, I will continue fighting to provide our health care professionals with the supplies and training needed to properly care for the American people. For years I have watched my wifes limitless dedication to caring for her patients and can personally attest to the unmatched commitment nurses have when it comes to providing life-saving care. I am proud to be a Co-Chair of the Congressional Nursing Caucus and work across the aisle to lead the bipartisan effort to ensure these unsung heroes have the support they need to continue to be the foundation of our health care system. Congressman Dave Joyce is a Republican representing Ohios 14th District. He lives in Bainbridge Township. The News-Herald welcomes opinion column submissions so all sides of an issue may be aired. Angie Bullman plans to reopen her suburban Atlanta hair salon on Friday after closing a month ago to comply with state orders. She and her co-owner husband, also a stylist, are already fully booked for the weekend. Salon de la Vie's five other stylists, massage therapist and esthetician will come back to work on May 1, when the state's stay-at-home order will lift. "We got to get back to work," Bullman said. "I am just not all that freaked out about it." Georgia is among a handful of states that will allow more businesses to reopen beginning this week and next. The state's Republican governor, Brian Kemp, gave the green light to gyms, hair salons, bowling alleys, tattoo and massage parlors to restart on Friday, followed by movie theaters and restaurants next week. It is not clear how quickly businesses will jump at the chance to reopen. 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 White House guidelines say states should wait until new cases are on the decline before reopening. The virus has killed more than 45,000 people in the United States, more than any other country. But Kemp and other governors are keen to get their economies rolling again, which would bring in income and sales taxes, the main revenue sources for most states. The lockdown has decimated state budgets, and the latest federal government coronavirus aid bill, set to be passed this week, does not include new money for state and local governments in part because Trump administration officials and some Republicans were concerned it could deter them from reopening. Georgia has fewer coronavirus cases and deaths per capita than the national average, but one of the lowest rates of testing. Even so, cases have been on the rise, with 1,242 new infections detected over the prior 24 hours, the highest single-day tally in two weeks. Bullman is unruffled and said while she will wear a mask, she will not require her customers to do so. She said her salon is housed in a 4,000-square-foot building with tall ceilings and plenty of ventilation, and can easily space customers out. "I just don't think our environment is high risk," she said, of both her salon and community. TOO MUCH, TOO SOON Just because governors want their economies to restart does not mean they will switch on like a light. Some business owners are fearful, and customers may be too, about their health or about spending during the steepest economic downturn in 90 years. Shonda King runsA Gifted Creations hair salon in Midway, near Georgia's Atlantic coast, with her daughter. Before the crisis, they were fully booked with a largely African-American clientele. The salon has been closed since late March and King has been living off savings. Even so, King will not be reopening on Friday. "The governor is saying, You can go back to work. But at the risk of losing your life? People are walking around with Covid and they don't even know it," she said, referring to the respiratory disease caused by the virus. "Why should we put our lives on the line to go out and style hair?" King said it would be impossible for her to comply with social distancing requirements. "There is no way you can stay six feet apart a my arms aren't even six feet long!" King said. She hopes to reopen in May, but only once the number of cases in her area are falling. Steve Pitts, 53, general manager of Manuel's Tavern, a popular fixture just east of midtown Atlanta for more than six decades, is in the same camp as King. "It's still too dangerous," Pitts said. "Even with protection, you'd still be breathing the same air for hours. We need to listen to the scientists and epidemiologists and not the politicians." Pitts said as soon as Kemp announced plans to reopen restaurants for dine-in service starting Monday, his phone started "blowing up." "I started fielding concerns from the staff, some have been here for 25 years, one since '78. They're in their 50s and 60s. Our concern is for them and for our customers." MIDDLE GROUND In South Carolina, the state's Republican governor, Henry McMaster, began to ease restrictions on Monday, just two weeks after imposing a stay-at-home order. Businesses that may reopen are limited mostly to department stores, and furniture, clothing, shoe and jewelry stores. There are strict limits on the number of customers allowed in each store. Chuck Dawson is relieved to be back in business. In the two weeks his six furniture and mattress stores, J&K Home Furnishings, located along the state's coastal Grand Strand, were essentially closed, revenue was down 90 percent. "I don't think he's done it too early. He's not opened bowling alleys or gyms," Dawson said of the governor's actions. "We are definitely seeing customers. It's a nice start and an appropriate one." For now he is limiting how many of his 56 employees are on site. On Tuesday, he had five employees in his largest store, compared with the usual 15 to 18. All those whose jobs may be done from home can do so, he said. He has masks and wipes for customers. South Carolina has more than 4,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and rising. Dawson does not think business will be booming any time soon. He hopes to be up to 50 percent of normal revenue for the month of May, but does not see returning to pre-crisis levels until at least October. "People are scared and pulling back. They're scared to come out," he said. Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here US Secretary of State calls for WHO overhaul while US Democrats slam Trump administration for scapegoating the agency. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that a fundamental reform of the World Health Organization (WHO) was needed following its handling of the coronavirus pandemic and that the United States, the WHOs biggest donor, may never restore funding to the United Nations body. Weve got to take a real hard look at the WHO and what we do coming out of this, Pompeo said. We need a structural fix for the WHO. Pompeo told Fox News late on Wednesday that there need to be reforms of the WHO to correct its shortcomings. Asked if he was not ruling out a change in leadership of the WHO, Pompeo replied: Even more than that, it may be the case that the United States can never return to underwriting, having US taxpayer dollars go to the WHO. Democrats in the US House of Representatives responded to Pompeos fresh attack on the WHO in a letter accusing the Trump administration of trying to scapegoat the WHO to distract from its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. In a letter to Trump, they called for the immediate restoration of US funding, which Trump suspended last week, accusing the WHO of being China-centric and of promoting Chinas disinformation about the outbreak. The organisation is not perfect, and we should thoroughly review its early handling of this crisis, particularly its engagement with Chinese authorities, the lawmakers wrote. But lets be clear: mistakes made by the WHO do not justify your halt in funding. The WHO has denied the Trump administrations charges, and China insists it has been transparent and open. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said earlier this month that it was not the time to be reducing funds to the WHO or any other organisation fighting the pandemic. Now is the time for unity and for the international community to work together in solidarity to stop this virus and its shattering consequences, Guterres said in a statement. The US has been the biggest overall donor to the WHO, contributing over $400m in 2019, roughly 15 percent of its budget. Senior US officials last week told Reuters news agency that Washington could redirect these funds to other aid groups. War of words Earlier on Wednesday, Pompeo said the US strongly believed Beijing had failed to report the outbreak in a timely manner, in breach of WHO rules, and that WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus did not use his ability to go public when a member state failed to follow those rules. Pompeo said the WHO had an obligation to ensure safety standards were observed in virology labs in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the outbreak began, and its director-general had enormous authority with respect to nations that do not comply. Chinas ambassador to the United Kingdom pushed back against Pompeos criticism. I hear quite a lot of this speculation, this disinformation about China covering up, about China hiding something this is not true, Liu Xiaoming said in London on Thursday. The Chinese government was transparent and very quick to share data. The WHO has said the virus likely came from animals and theres no evidence it was manipulated or produced in a laboratory. The acting head of the US Agency for International Development said on Wednesday that the US would assess whether the WHO was being run properly and look for alternative partners outside the body. The possibility of the US ceasing its funding definitively to the global body is contingent upon Trump succeeding in his bid for re-election in the November presidential vote, against the presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden. The US Congress controls federal spending, and could pass legislation to guarantee funding for the WHO. However, to become law, it would need Trumps signature or enough support, including from Republicans, to pass override a potential veto. The coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 180,000 people worldwide, including nearly 48,000 in the US, making it the worst-hit country by official statistics, according to a Reuters news agency tally. The leader of Irans Revolutionary Guard has ordered his forces to potentially target the US Navy after President Donald Trumps tweet a day earlier threatening to sink Iranian vessels. Iran separately summoned the Swiss ambassador, who looks out for Americas interests in the country, to complain about Mr Trumps threat after months of escalating attacks between the two countries. While the coronavirus pandemic temporarily paused those tensions, Iran has since begun pushing back against the Trump administrations maximum pressure policy both militarily and diplomatically. The Guard also launched Irans first military satellite on Wednesday, unveiling a previously secret space programme. I have instructed the United States Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 22, 2020 Speaking to state television on Thursday, Guard General Hossein Salami warned his forces will answer any action by a decisive, effective and quick counteraction. We have ordered our naval units at sea that if any warships or military units from the naval force of Americas terrorist army wants to jeopardise our commercial vessels or our combat vessels, they must target those (American) warships or naval units, Mr Salami said. The latest dispute comes after the US Navy said last week that 11 Guard naval gunboats had carried out dangerous and harassing approaches to American Navy and Coast Guard vessels in the Persian Gulf. Last Wednesday, the US Navy said Iranian Revolutionary Guard vessels sailed close to US military ships in the Persian Gulf (US Navy via AP) The Americans said they used a variety of non-lethal means to warn off the Iranian boats, and they eventually left. Iran accused the US of sparking the incident, without offering evidence. Iran has had tense encounters at sea for years with the US Navy in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of all oil passes. The US has patrolled the area to protect global shipping for decades, something Iran describes as akin to it patrolling the Gulf of Mexico. Story continues Mr Trump, facing a collapsing global energy market and the pandemic at home amid his re-election campaign, tweeted out a warning to Iran that he ordered the Navy to shoot down and destroy any and all Iranian gunboats if they harass our ships at sea. We dont want their gunboats surrounding our boats, and travelling around our boats and having a good time, Mr Trump told reporters on Wednesday evening at the White House. Were not going to stand for it. Theyll shoot them out of the water. The International Crisis Group, noting the tensions, urged both countries to create a de-confliction hotline to avoid a possible military confrontation. In the absence of a major diplomatic breakthrough, an indirect military communications channel could go some way toward ensuring, at least, that a single incident will not spark a wider conflagration, it said in a report on Thursday. Iran in the past has rejected the idea of a hotline. Donald Trump speaks with reporters on Wednesday at the White House (Alex Brandon/AP) Meanwhile, the Guard surprised analysts by sending a satellite into space on Wednesday from a previously unused launch pad and with a new system. While Iran stresses its programme is peaceful, Western nations fear it will help Iran build intercontinental ballistic missiles. State television on Thursday said Iran received signals from the satellite, without elaborating. While American officials have not acknowledged the satellite reached orbit, open-source data from the US military suggested the Noor, or Light, satellite now orbited the Earth. Uzi Rubin, fellow at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security and the founder of Israels missile defence programme, said the launch showed the Guards further gain in wresting for power and in building its own state within a state. The very act of launching a military satellite in the midst of the coronavirus crisis that is affecting Iran too is a statement of self confidence and perseverance by the ayatollahs to the West but mainly to its own population, Mr Rubin said. The coronavirus pandemic has caused a historic number of job losses, with 26 million people now unemployed in the United States in the five weeks since the outbreak began. In Illinois, more than 737,000 people have filed unemployment claims, leaving many struggling to find work. And thats still where I am right now, he said, unable to talk to somebody to find out what the issue is. If he had not received a $1,200 stimulus check from the federal government, he said, he would not have been able to make his mortgage payment. Last weeks tally of new claims was lower than each of the previous three weeks. But millions of additional claims are still expected to stream in from around the country over the next month, while hiring remains piddling. States are frantically trying to catch up. California, which has processed 2.7 million claims over the last four weeks, opened a second call center on Monday. New York, which has deployed 3,100 people to answer the telephone, said this week that it had reduced the backlog that accumulated by April 8 to 4,305 from 275,000. Florida had the largest increase in initial claims last week, although the state figures, unlike the national total, are not seasonally adjusted. That increase could be a sign that jobless workers finally got access to the system after delays, but it is impossible to assess how many potential applicants have still failed to get in. The 10 states that have started making Pandemic Unemployment Assistance payments to workers who would not normally qualify under state guidelines are Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas and Utah. Pain is everywhere, but it is most widespread among the most vulnerable. In a survey that the Pew Research Center released on Tuesday, 52 percent of low-income households below $37,500 a year for a family of three said someone in the household had lost a job because of the coronavirus, compared with 32 percent of upper-income ones (with earnings over $112,600). Forty-two percent of families in the middle have been affected as well. Those without a college education have taken a disproportionate hit, as have Hispanics and African-Americans, the survey found. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 5) The country's hosting of the 17th Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) and the International Fleet Review (IFR) has been postponed indefinitely amid the continuing fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. "The rapid increase of cases worldwide, which also affects 21 member countries and 8 observer states compelled the PN (Philippine Navy) to defer the historic convergence of navy chiefs and warships," the Philippine Navy stated in a press release Sunday. The Philippine Navy will instead focus on helping frontliners contain the spread of the viral disease, as well as maximizing its capabilities to "mitigate the devastating effects of COVID-19." The highly awaited events were set to happen mid next month, which would have coincided with the founding anniversary of the Philippine Navy on May 20. The naval symposium is a biennial meeting of navies bordering the Western Pacific region. The Philippines now has 3,246 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 152 deaths and 64 recoveries. MIAMI, April 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- As COVID-19 ravages the nation, the demand for personal protection equipment such as masks for the brave men and women first responders on the front lines at hospitals and urgent care centers has far outstripped supply. This is why Globaltex Fine Linens USA is rising up to meet community need for masks and supporting the ongoing efforts for maintaining a safe environment. The company has transitioned into making masks in order to assist the people who need it the most. On April 25, 2020, Globaltex Fine Linens USA will begin production in order to provide those who need it with equipment as soon as possible. Globaltex Fine Linens USA will provide: Around 3.5 million masks a month, making the company one of the highest-producing companies in Florida Both wholesale and retail options Easy online ordering By switching its main focus to producing masks, Globaltex Fine Linens USA will be generating more jobs for people in need. Not only has the company kept all employees on payroll, but it has added an additional 15 employees to its staff. Globaltex Fine Linens USA has already donated many masks to the places where they are most desperately needed - hospitals, urgent care centers, and first responders. The masks Globaltex Fine Linens USA produces are: Machine-washable and reusable 100% cotton sateen with a 300 thread count Made in the USA Retail orders: There is a retail limit of 12 per order, with three retail options available to buyers. Retail pricing starts at $10 /unit and goes up to $72 /12 units. /unit and goes up to /12 units. Wholesale pricing can be available accordingly, based on upcoming production. Based in Miami, Globaltex Fine Linens USA is a business that provides wholesale linens and towels to hotels and the hospitality business. +1 305-751-2343 www.globaltexusa.com Related Images image1.jpeg SOURCE Globaltex Fine Linens USA Related Links https://globaltexusa.com SONGDO, South Korea, April 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Samsung Biologics (207940.KS) and ImmuneOncia Therapeutics Inc. announced the successful FDA IND approval of IMC-002 under a development and manufacturing agreement with Samsung Biologics since 2018. As a result, ImmuneOncia will begin Phase 1 clinical trials of the pipeline product. IMC-002 is an immune checkpoint inhibitor antibody, which blocks CD47-SIRP- interaction between tumor cells and macrophages. According to ImmuneOncia, IMC-002 is expected to help patients with metastatic or locally advanced solid tumors and relapsed or refractory lymphomas. Leveraging Samsung Biologics' global CDO capabilities, IMC-002 IND was approved by the FDA without significant comments. Samsung Biologics provided ImmuneOncia with services in cell line development, process development, non-clinical and clinical material production. Samsung Biologics is currently providing support to 51 CDO development projects and is distinctly able to help clients achieve the most optimal path to IND approval by providing Faster & Better services. Samsung's presence as a CDO in the global biopharma market has demonstrated rapid growth, and the company has announced plans to expand geographically to support even more clients globally and domestically. "We are very impressed with the outstanding service Samsung Biologics provided in the full development scope - from cell line development, process development, preclinical and clinical manufacturing, and IND filing support," said Yun Jeong Song, CEO of ImmuneOncia. "The two companies collaborated exceptionally well together during the whole development process including the IND evaluation period, allowing us to enter phase I clinical trials for IMC-002 much quicker." "We are excited to join in ImmuneOncia's success," said Dr. Tae Han Kim, CEO of Samsung Biologics. "This IND approval is the product of the strong collaboration between Samsung Biologics and ImmuneOncia. As a world-leading CMO, CDO and CRO partner, we will continue to support ImmuneOncia and ensure client satisfaction through Samsung's competitive advantages: faster timeline, excellent quality, and outstanding capability." About IMC-002 IMC-002 is a fully human IgG4 monoclonal antibody designed to block the CD47SIRP interaction in order to promote the phagocytosis of cancer cells by macrophages. It binds to human CD47 with an optimal affinity that maximizes efficacy without binding to RBCs or causing anemia which is often seen in other CD47 blocking agents under development. For more information about the upcoming Phase 1 clinical trial, visit clinicaltrials.gov, identifier number NCT04306224. About Samsung Biologics Co., Ltd. Samsung Biologics (KRX: 207940.KS) is a fully integrated CDMO offering state-of-the-art contract development, manufacturing, and laboratory testing services. With a flawless regulatory approvals record, the largest capacity, and the fastest throughput, Samsung Biologics is an award-winning partner of choice and is uniquely able to support the development and manufacturing of biologics products at every stage of the process while meeting the evolving needs of biopharmaceutical companies worldwide. For more information, visit www.samsungbiologics.com. About ImmuneOncia Therapeutics, Inc. ImmuneOncia is an immuno-oncology-centric biopharmaceutical company. Established in 2016 as a joint venture company between Yuhan and Sorrento, ImmuneOncia leverages both companies' expertise in drug development and antibody engineering. The company's mission is to bring safe, effective, and novel immunotherapies to oncology patients world-wide, and its portfolio includes diverse immune checkpoint antibodies. ImmuneOncia has successfully completed a Phase I study of IMC-001, its leading candidate anti-PDL1 antibody, and a multi-regional Phase II study is planned for 1H2020. For more information, visit www.immuneoncia.com. For Media Enquiries: Claire Kim [email protected] SOURCE Samsung Biologics Related Links http://www.samsungbiologics.com An international team of researchers has put together a new image of Neanderthals based on the genes Neanderthals left in the DNA of modern humans when they had children with them about 50,000 years ago An international team of researchers has put together a new image of Neanderthals based on the genes Neanderthals left in the DNA of modern humans when they had children with them about 50,000 years ago. The researchers found the new pieces of the puzzle by trawling the genomes of more than 27,000 Icelanders. Among other things, they discovered that Neanderthal women gave birth when they were older than the Homo-Sapien women at that time, and Neanderthal men became fathers when they were younger. It is well-known that a group of our ancestors left Africa and, about 50,000 years ago, met Neanderthals in Europe, and then had children with them. Now, a new analysis shows that the Neanderthals may have had children with another extinct species of human (Denisovans), before they met Homo Sapiens, and that these children have been fertile and transferred genes from both species further on to modern people. The analysis also shows that the Neanderthal women living 100,000 - 500,000 years ago on average became mothers at a later age than the contemporary Homo-Sapien women living in Africa. On the other hand, Neanderthal men fathered at a younger age than their Homo-Sapien cousins in Africa. How can an analysis show all that? Neanderthals may well be extinct, but small pieces of their DNA live on in us. All living people outside Africa have up to two per cent Neanderthal genes in their DNA. However, this two per cent is scattered as small fragments in our genomes, and not all individuals have inherited the same fragments. The fragments are like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, and if they are put together correctly, they will show a picture of the genome in the Neanderthal population that the modern Homo Sapiens had children with. New method to find the pieces First, of course, we have to find these pieces. And this is precisely what the group of researchers from Denmark, Iceland and Germany did to produce their results, published today in the scientific journal Nature. One of them, Laurits Skov, postdoc from the Bioinformatics Research Centre (BiRC) at Aarhus University, has developed a method for tracing Neanderthal fragments in our DNA. Laurits and PhD student Moises Coll Macia took the method to Iceland, where the genetics firm deCODE has amassed genetic data and health information for more than half of the Icelandic population. "We spent several months at deCODE in Reykjavik on what can be called field studies for a computational biologist. By combining my method with deCODE's data and expertise, we have analysed 27,566 genomes, and this makes our study 10-times larger than previous studies of Neanderthal genes in human DNA," says Laurits Skov. Together, the many fragments account for approximately half of a complete Neanderthal genome. Denisovan genes gone astray? However, the researchers also found significant fragments of genetic material from another archaic species of human, Denisovans, in the DNA of the Icelanders, and this was something of a surprise. Up to now, Denisovan genes have primarily been found in Australian Aborigines, East Asians and people in Papua New Guinea. So how did these genes end up in Islanders' DNA? And when? Based on the distribution of genes and mutations, the researchers came up with two possible explanations. Either Neanderthals had children with Denisovans before they met the Homo Sapiens. This would mean that the Neanderthals with whom Homo Sapiens had children were already hybrids, who transferred both Neanderthal and Denisovan genes to the children. "Up to now, we believed that the Neanderthals modern people have had children with were "pure" Neanderthals. It's true that researchers have found the remnants of a hybrid between Denisovans and Neanderthals in a cave in East Asia, but we have not known whether there were more of these hybrids and whether, thousands of years later, they had children with modern humans," explains Professor Mikkel Heide Schierup from BiRC. Or Homo Sapiens met Denisovans long before they met Neanderthals. So far, it has been thought that modern humans met Neanderthals and had children with them first, and not until tens of thousands of years later did they have children with Denisovans. "Both explanations are equally likely, and both explanations will be scientific news," says Mikkel Heide Schierup. Neandertal genes of little importance The study also shows that the Neanderthal DNA has no great importance for modern humans. "We have previously thought that many of the Neanderthal variants previously been found in modern human DNA were associated with an increased risk of diseases. However, our study shows that the human gene variants located directly beside the Neanderthal genes are better explanations for the risk. We have also found something that can only be explained by Neanderthal genes, but this doesn't mean that much," says Mikkel Heide Schierup. The properties and risks of diseases that can be linked to Neanderthal DNA are: slightly lower risk of prostate cancer, lower levels of haemoglobin, lower body length (one millimetre) and slightly faster blood plasma clotting. ### By Azernews By Akbar Mammadov Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Leyla Abdullayeva has slammed Armenian foreign ministers statement that Yerevan will not return any of Azerbaijans occupied territories that is required for the phased settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The Foreign Minister of the aggressor country, that is, Armenia, obnoxiously declares the problems of security and free expression of will. What kind of security can be talked about under the conditions of military occupation? The very fact that one state occupies the territory of another state is a constant source of a security threat. It is impossible to talk about the security and free will of the population of Karabakh when its third part is forcibly expelled from their places of permanent residence and for about 30 years deprived of the opportunity to return to their homes and participate in a free expression of the will concerning the future of their region, Abdullayeva said. Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan during a video-conferecne with his Azerbaijani counterpart on April 21, said that Armenia would not liberate any territories around Nagorno-Karabakh, citing security reasons. Mnatsakanyan was commenting on Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrovs statement about phased settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Lavrov had said that the first stage of the phased settlement requires the solution of the most pressing problems the liberation of a number of areas around Nagorno-Karabakh and the unblocking of transport, economic and other communications. Abdullayeva said that Lavrovs suggestion about the step-by-step approach is confirmed and has been repeatedly and consistently voiced by all co-chairing countries of the OSCE Minsk Group in all stages of the conflict resolution process. Abdullayeva reminded that both Azerbaijan and Armenia are full-fledged participants in the documents of UN Charter of 1945, the Helsinki Final Act of 1975 and the Paris Charter of 1990. We recall once again that participating states must refrain in their actions from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. We also emphasize once again that, with regard to the principle of self-determination, member states must act in accordance with the goals and principles of the UN Charter and relevant norms of international law, including those that relate to the territorial integrity of states, as set out in the above-mentioned Helsinki Final Act and then reaffirmed by the Paris Charter, she added. The spokesperson reminded that Armenias occupation is temporary. The sooner Armenia realizes this and stops engaging in self-deception, deceiving its own population and trying to mislead the world community, the more chances the country will have to avoid further bloodshed and aggravation of its already depressing situation. Forty-six people tested positive for the novel coronavirus in North Delhi's Jahangirpuri on Thursday, a few days after 31 members of an extended family were found to be infected with COVID-19 in the area, officials said. They said the cases were detected in the three streets of H-block which was sealed by the district administration on April 14 after the family members had tested positive recently. "Total 46 people living in H-block of Jahangirpuri tested positive for COVID-19. This area was already sealed after detailed screening was carried out and samples taken," North Delhi District Magistrate Deepak Shinde said. Earlier this week, thirty-one members of an extended family, including children, residing in Jahangirpuri area tested positive for the dreaded virus. On Thursday, the number of containment zones rose to 92 in the national capital. Delhi has so far reported 2,376 cases of coronavirus, with 128 cases being reported in a single day since Wednesday evening. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 3 1 of 3 Michael Cummo / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 3 of 3 STAMFORDMayor David Martin will be holding a press conference at noon Thursday to announce a new testing program for workers in Stamfords five nursing homes. The program is designed to increase testing for healthcare workers with no symptoms of the coronavirus. Studies indicate that a sizable population of those with the coronavirus show few if any symptoms yet at the same time they are shedding virus microbes that lead to more infections. Many happy returns to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's youngest son Prince Louis, who turns two today. To mark the day, the Duke and Duchess have shared new pictures of Louis making his very own rainbow handprint, a nod to the emblem which has become a symbol of hope and support during the pandemic. Clarence House also released a throwback picture of Louis hugging his grandfather, Prince Charles. With the nation still on lockdown, any big party plans to celebrate the tiny prince's entry into the terrible twos will have to be shelved for the time being, though it's likely Louis will still get to enjoy a nice piece of homemade cake with his parents and older siblings, Prince George (6) and Princess Charlotte (4), at the Cambridge country residence of Anmer Hall in Norfolk. The Duchess of Cambridge prides herself on her ambitious cake-making skills, telling Mary Berry on her Christmas special last year that she "loves making the cake" for her kids' birthdays. Its become a bit of a tradition that I sort of stay up until midnight with ridiculous amounts of cake mix and icing, I make far too much, but I love it," she said. Kate also recently revealed Louis' favourite song is 'Happy Birthday' so he'll be pleased to hear his favourite tune. Matt Porteous via PA It's also likely that the day will feature a video call with his grandparents. The Duchess of Cambridge's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, are believed to be isolating at their home in Berkshire, while William's father Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, are at Birkhall Cottage in Balmoral. Prince Charles was diagnosed with coronavirus last month but has recovered. The birthday call might be a brief one, as according to his father, Louis enjoys hanging up early. For some reason, he sees the red button and he always wants to press the red button," William told the BBC. Matt Porteous via PA An heir, a spare... and then along came Louis Louis Arthur Charles came into the world on 23rd April, 2018. Like his older siblings, he was born at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, before being presented on the steps for photographs with his parents. Other than his christening at the Chapel Royal at St James's Palace (where William's cousin Princess Beatrice had planned to hold her now-postponed wedding next month), Louis has appeared with his parents at a small collection of public events thus far, including the Trooping The Colour ceremony in June last year, where he stole the show with his tiny scowl, and at the King Power Royal Charity Polo Day, where he joined his siblings in a back-of-the-car picnic. Prince Louis, Prince George, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge / Getty Images Louis has six godparents, including Kate's cousin Lucy Middleton and Hannah Carter, a schoolfriend of the Duchess. Like many families who have lost someone during the novel coronavirus pandemic, the family of John W. McDaniel, 60, who died April 15 in Ohio after testing positive for the virus, planned to live-stream the funeral . But his widow, Lisa McDaniel, told friends and family in a letter published by the Snyder Funeral Home in Marion, Ohio, that his Wednesday funeral would instead be privately recorded after her family endured a deluge of angry and even mocking messages from strangers upset that he had described the coronavirus outbreak as a "political ploy." "During this time of mourning, John's story, along with early assumptions that he stated on Twitter and Facebook have turned into national news," Lisa McDaniel wrote. "This news has opened the flood gates for people to share their own misguided anger and unfounded assumptions about a man they don't know." The story of McDaniel's death went viral after his obituary was published April 16 in the Marion Star. People shared the news with harsh criticism, in some cases essentially blaming him for his own death, for comments he allegedly made on social media before he got sick. His family says those strangers don't know the full story. "Sadly, he is not with us and we will forever have to live and cope with how his life ended far too soon," his widow wrote Wednesday. "Further, we will never be able to erase from our hearts and minds the negative posts that have been made and shared about John this past week." In late March, McDaniel struggled for five days in his hometown hospital before being transferred to a hospital in Columbus, about 50 miles south, to be placed on a ventilator, his sister said in a Facebook post. He had voiced skepticism about the pandemic in posts to Twitter and Facebook, which have since been deleted, in mid-March as Ohio shut down restaurants, bars and other businesses. His social media posts suggested aggressive social distancing measures were politically motivated, called the new restrictions "paranoid" and criticized Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, R, for closing bars and restaurants in the state. McDaniel's posts date to the early days of the U.S. outbreak, at a time when Ohio had no deaths and many states were still open for business. As of Thursday morning, Ohio has had 14,117 cases and 610 deaths. After his death, strangers shared his obituary and images of his old posts on social media, venting frustration over people who have not taken social distancing seriously in recent weeks. Lisa McDaniel said her husband would have changed his tune if he hadn't fallen ill himself. "Many, like John, made statements early on not fully aware of the severity of COVID-19," she wrote. "Many have retracted their statements knowing now the effects of this pandemic. We know if John was still here with us he would acknowledge the national crisis we are in, abide by the stay-at-home order, and encourage family and friends to do the same." In fact, she said, her husband, who was the president of an industrial manufacturing provider called O & M Company, told his employees on March 16 to work from home because of the virus. As soon as he learned he had been in contact with someone who tested positive, she said, he isolated himself so that he wouldn't infect anyone else. "As each day passes, we all are learning more about this 'invisible enemy,' " Lisa McDaniel wrote. "We have all learned that the early actions taken by our National and State government were indeed the right action to take. Quarantine and social distancing have been effective in flattening the curve." John McDaniel graduated from Ohio State University in 1981 and was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing and boating, according to his obituary. People described him as a storyteller. He joined his father at O & M, the family business they ran together. Those who know the McDaniels have shared kind words both in the comments of their Facebook posts and on his obituary page. "I will always remember the amazing person he was," one woman shared on the obituary's online message board. "He was always open for a hug. Always laughing and telling stories." Ohio reported its first case of covid-19 on March 9. The first death followed on March 19. One of the first states to implement restrictions on businesses to encourage social distancing, Ohio plans to roll back those measures beginning May 1. The number of new coronavirus cases reported in the state has consistently decreased since its peak on Sunday, but the state recorded its highest number of deaths, 53 in a single day, on Wednesday. Despite the overall dip in new cases, a hot spot has recently emerged inside the state prison in the McDaniel's hometown. At the Marion Correctional Institution, more than two-thirds of the inmates - 2,011 people as of Wednesday - have tested positive for coronavirus and more than 150 staff members have also been infected. With the pandemic already killing more than 47,200 people in the U.S., few families have been able to honor loved ones lost to the virus at traditional funerals. Instead, many have turned to live-streaming very restricted services on Facebook so that friends and family can grieve together without breaking social distancing guidelines. But Lisa McDaniel and her two sons decided against a live stream after the hurtful messages that pervaded social media in the week since her husband's death. "Wanting to protect my family and John's legacy, we have decided not to live-stream his the funeral via Facebook today," she wrote in the letter shared by the funeral home. "For those who were tuning in to share in our grief for your loss, we sincerely apologize." Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Thursday said the Centre doesnt appear to have a clear idea on how the situation will be managed after May 3, when the nationwide lockdown to contain the Covid-19 pandemic is expected to end. A lockdown of the present nature after that date would be even more devastating, she said in her opening remarks at a meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) held through video conference. Prime Minister Narendra Modi initially announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown from March 25, and later extended it till May 3. A decision on lifting the lockdown is expected to be made after Modis meeting with chief ministers on April 27. Follow latest updates on coronavirus here Sonia Gandhi said states and local governments are the in frontline of the battle against Covid-19 and alleged that funds legitimately owed to Congress-ruled states were held back. Let me also share with you something that should worry each and every one us Indians. When we should be tackling the coronavirus unitedly, the BJP continues to spread the virus of communal prejudice and hatred. Grave damage is being done to our social harmony. Our party, we will have to work hard to repair that damage, she said. There are a few success stories and we should applaud them. Most of all we should salute every single Indian leading the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in spite of the absence of adequate PPE doctors, nurses, paramedics, health workers, sanitation workers and all other essential service providers, NGOs and the lakhs of citizens providing relief to the most needy all over India. Their dedication and determination truly inspire us all, she added. Sonia Gandhi reiterated her partys commitment to extending constructive support to the government in dealing with the crisis due to the Covid-19 outbreak, but she said the situation had worsened since the CWCs last meet. Since our meeting three weeks ago, the pandemic has increased disturbingly both in spread and speed, she said. She said the focus must continue to be on successfully engaging with health, food security and livelihood issues. We have repeatedly urged the prime minister that there is no alternative to the testing, trace and quarantine programme. Unfortunately, testing still remains low and testing kits are still in short supply and of poor quality. PPE (personal protective equipment) kits are being provided to our doctors and healthcare workers but the number and quality is poor, she said. According to the health ministry, India has reported over 21,300 infections and 681 deaths as of Thursday morning. Sonia Gandhi, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and other senior leaders have repeatedly demanded scaling up of testing, calling it the biggest weapon against the Coronavirus. If we dont ramp up testing and go for aggressive testing, we will be forced to again go into lockdown, Rahul Gandhi told a news conference last week. At the CWCs meeting on April 2, the partys highest decision-making body pledged to continue its unstinted support to the Centre and state governments in dealing with the situation. However, it criticised the Centre for not giving any thought to the deteriorating economic situation following the pandemic, and demanded a task force consisting of world renowned economists to suggest measures to deal with the crisis. With the lockdown being extended, Sonia Gandhi said all sections of society, particularly farmers, farm workers, migrant labour, construction workers and workers in the unorganised sector, continue to face acute hardship and distress. Click here for complete coronavirus coverage She said trade, commerce and industry had come to a halt and crores of livelihoods had been destroyed. She said since the lockdown began on March 25, she had written several times to the Prime Minister and offered her constructive cooperation and also made several suggestions to alleviate the suffering of rural and urban families. Sonia Gandhi has so far written six letters to Modi, mentioning the problems faced by construction and rural workers and migrant labour, and demanded financial packages for them. She also sought the suspension of the Rs 20,000-crore central vista project and transferring all funds from the PM CARES Fund to the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund (PM-NRF) to fight the pandemic. Sonia Gandhi told the CWC these suggestions had been framed using feedback received from different sources, including Congress chief ministers. Unfortunately, they have been acted upon only partially and in a miserly way. The compassion, large-heartedness and alacrity that should be forthcoming from the Central government is conspicuous by its absence, she said. Sonia Gandhi said the entitlement of food grains under the National Food Security Act have not yet reached beneficiaries, contending that 11 crore people in need of subsidised food grains continue to be outside the public distribution system. It should be our commitment to provide 10 kg of food grains, 1 kg of pulses and half a kg of sugar to each person of the family every month, in this hour of crisis, she added. She also contended that 12 crore jobs were lost in the first phase of the lockdown and insisted that unemployment is likely to increase further as economic activity remains at a standstill. It is imperative to provide at least Rs 7,500 to each family to tide over this crisis, she said. Referring to migrant workers, she said they are still stranded, jobless and desperate to return home. They have been hit the hardest and must be provided with food security and a financial safety net in order to survive this period of crisis. Farmers are facing serious difficulties too, Sonia Gandhi said, adding the weak and unclear procurement policies and disrupted supply chains need to be addressed without delay. Necessary facilities must be made available to the farmers for the next round of kharif crops, which will begin in the coming two months, she said. She said micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) employ nearly 11 crore personnel and make up a third of the GDP. If they are to be protected from economic ruin, it is imperative that a special package be announced urgently for their survival, she added. Sonia Gandhi has constituted an 11-member consultative group, headed by former prime minister Manmohan Singh, to deliberate on matters related to the Covid-19 outbreak, and frame the partys views on various issues. Rahul Gandhi is a member of the panel. At its first meeting on Monday, the group discussed the revival of the MSME sector, smooth crop procurement and the issue of stranded migrant workers. The panel on Wednesday sought public suggestions for an economic stimulus package for MSMEs. The Congress has reiterated its demand for immediate direct cash transfer of Rs 7,500 in all Jan Dhan, pension and PM-Kisan scheme bank accounts to enable the poor to sustain themselves during the lockdown. In a video message issued last week, the Congress chief praised doctors, police, health and sanitation workers who are at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19 despite the shortage of PPE, calling them corona warriors. She regretted reports of harassment of doctors in some parts of the country and urged people to adhere to the lockdown guidelines and social distancing norms. This fight will weaken without your support, and we should not allow this to happen. At some places, I hear reports about ill-treatment meted out to doctors. This is wrong. Our culture and tradition does not allow this and we should support them, Sonia Gandhi had said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Brotherhood Crusade is actively raising funds via its COVID-19 Community Rapid Response Fund, which was developed to quickly mobilize funds and provisions for the most at risk and under-served communities that are being adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of provisions during the Safer at Home mandate in the City of Los Angeles. In response to the call, community partner and donor, Westfield will be providing a generous donation for food vouchers. This gift will help Los Angeles community youth, young adults and families during this critical time to assist them with basic living, academic and household needs and assist students while they are away from their schools and the Brotherhood Crusade YouthSource Center. Marcus Reese, EVP of Public Affairs said, There is nothing we cannot overcome if we join together and support each other. Thats why we are proud to work with the Brotherhood Crusade as it continues to advocate for equity and equality in the South Los Angeles community and provide for those that, during this pandemic, need its services more than ever. Bremond Weaver said, We are deeply grateful to Westfield for rapidly responding to the need in our community during these unprecedented times. Adhering to the Safer at Home mandate translates to unemployment, food shortages and a lack of access to schools and the Brotherhood Crusades YouthSource Center that many students heavily rely. We thank Westfield for answering the call and lending a helping hand for the vulnerable people of our community who deserve a chance to make it through this pandemic safely. The COVID-19 pandemic is a global emergency that is unprecedented in modern history. The Safer at Home mandate issued by the City of Los Angeles was effective Thursday, March 19, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. and resulted in school closings and mandatory virtual learning via home schooling. The order will be in place through the end of the school year. VANCOUVERVancouver Police have identified a suspect after appealing for the publics help Tuesday about a racially motivated assault on an elderly Asian man with dementia. Vancouver Police investigators have received numerous tips from the community on the racially motivated assault at the convenience store in East Vancouver, the department said in a statement on Wednesday. Police would like to thank the community and partners for their overwhelming support on such a serious, intolerable incident. The suspected hate crime happened on the afternoon of March 13 at a convenience store in East Vancouver, police said. According to an earlier police statement, the male suspect began yelling racist insults at the 92-year-old victim, including comments about COVID-19. Outside the store near Nanaimo Street and East 1st Avenue, police said the suspect shoved the man, which caused him to fall to the ground and hit his head. An update on the victims condition was not available, with police saying only that he was at home with his family. When asked on Tuesday why police waited more than a month to release information about the attack to the public, the spokesperson said: Investigators have been working diligently on identifying the suspect since this happened. We take these types of crimes very seriously ... There are many different avenues to investigate a file. One aspect of an investigation is calling on the public for help. On Tuesday, Vancouver Police released numbers showing that in recent weeks, there has been an increase in reports of anti-Asian hate-motivated and criminal behaviour. Out of eleven hate crimes reported to police in March, five of those reports (45 per cent) had an anti-Asian element. So far in 2020, there have been a total of nine anti-Asian hate crimes reported to police, in comparison to 12 cases in all of 2019. Since the coronavirus first appeared in Wuhan, a city in central China, waves of xenophobic and racist attacks have happened all over the globe. Anyone who has information to share about this crime or other hate crimes are asked to call investigators at 604-717-2763 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Investigators will be supplementing the file with tips and information from the public. They will reach out to specific people if they require more information, police said. Joanna Chiu is a Vancouver-based reporter covering both Canada-China relations and current affairs on the West Coast for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @joannachiu Read more about: EDITORS NOTE: Caring Health Center responded after the publication of this story to say it is not expanding testing, despite comments from Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders that they were. The state had been working with Caring Health Center to increase testing until the list was narrowed to 12 centers. SPRINGFIELD City councilors said Thursday they believe the city and Western Massachusetts are being shortchanged when it comes to coronavirus testing and materials from the state. The concerns were raised during a council meeting online with several city officials including Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen-R. Caulton Harris. The meeting was conducted by remote connection using Zoom. On Wednesday, Gov. Charlie Baker announced that 12 community health centers will receive COVID-19 test kits from the state to expand testing in historically underserved communities. None of the sites was in Western Mass. My frustration is I always feel like and Ive heard the commissioner say that Western Mass. is not getting their fair share of resources as it pertains to COVID-19, said Council President Justin Hurst. The comments from councilors, however, occurred prior to news that state health officials are working with Caring Health Center in Springfield to expand coronavirus testing. Mayor Domenic Sarno confirmed that the expanded testing is expected. In addition to the health centers, Hurst said he has often heard concerns raised by the mayor on the issue of the city getting its fair share. For example, the city was initially unable to get masks for its police and firefighters from the state, and was also having difficulty getting coronavirus test kits for the homeless. Hurst said he was perplexed on Wednesday as he heard the list of 12 health center sites all in central and eastern Massachusetts. The state, in announcing the 12 sites, said it also sent test kits to nursing homes and other facilities across the state so clinical staff could test their own residents as part of the mobile testing initiative. Hurst said he questions why does Western Mass. continue to get left out and what can we do to help advocate on behalf of Western Mass? Cauton-Harris said that the geographical disparity continues to be an issue for us, and that is my opinion and it appears to be factual. Chief of staff Thomas Ashe said Sarno, working with local legislators, does lobby for the resources that the city should receive. After an initial delay, Sarnos appeal for COVID-19 masks did trigger results, both from the private sector and from the state, Ashe said. Keeping the pressure on that is one way to do it, Ashe said, welcoming the councilors to provide their input to local legislators. Councilor Timothy Allen said that simple math provides the answer to Springfield needing to receive its fair share of state resources. The population of the region is estimated at 814,000 people, as compared to 6.3 million people statewide, meaning the region should be getting more than 12% of the resources, he said. Ashe suggested it has probably been an argument for 200 years that the western portion of the state is not getting its fair share. Councilor Jesse Lederman said its not only a matter of the city getting its fair share, but also that it has a population at high risk, including residents suffering from long-term exposure to air pollution. There are historical inequities and health inequities, Lederman said. With shelter home orders in place across Michigan, the annual Give Local Midland day will be hosted online this year on May 5. Give Local Midland is a 24-hour giving event for non-profit organizations with endowed funds at the Midland Area Community Foundation (MACF). The focus of the event is to build long-term sustainability through growing nonprofit endowment funds by raising money and garnering donations from the community. On Tuesday, May 5, 73 local nonprofits will engage in the 24-hour giving day: raising money, promoting engagement, and elevating awareness of the incredible and inspiring work of nonprofits in the Midland area. The nonprofits will encourage support of their organizations while competing for $3,000 in additional prizes. Competitions for prizes vary in criteria and evaluation, some of which are based around time, creativity, and number of donors. For example, the organization that raises the most money between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. will receive an extra $300. In years past, all the donations went into the nonprofits "endowment fund, which refers to money that is invested in the stock market to grow and be used in the future. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year, the organizations will be permitted to raise money for the spendable portion of their endowment funds, rather than contributions being allotted toward long-term investment. The motto of the Midland Area Community Foundation is For good. For ever. In this uncertain time, you can add, For now, as well, said President and CEO of the Midland Area Community Foundation, Sharon Mortensen. We want Give Local Midland to be reflective of the current needs of local nonprofits, and we believe allowing nonprofits to quickly access donated funds will help provide relief from impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although Give Local Midland always takes place on the first Tuesday in May, this year it also falls on a global giving day. Giving Tuesday is a global movement and organization that inspires millions to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. Giving Tuesday traditionally takes place in December; however, the Giving Tuesday organization has established an additional giving day due to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19. Giving Tuesdays messaging is #GivingTuesdayNow, said Mortensen. We believe this aligns perfectly with our philosophy around Give Local Midland 2020. In addition to pledged contributions and prize winnings, Give Local participants will be splitting a percentage-based match pool. Over $70,000 in match dollars have been pledged by the Midland Area Community Foundation Board of Trustees and participating Donor Advised Fundholders. Their match pool makes Give Local Midland the perfect time to give to area nonprofits by maximizing community contributions, according to the MACF. Community members interested in giving can visit givelocalmidland.org. All participating organizations will be listed on the site, and the minimum contribution amount is $5, cementing the idea that anyone can be a philanthropist. Additionally, due to the federal CARES Act, if you donate up to $300 in cash to a qualified organization, your adjusted gross income will be reduced by up to $300, and you can still claim the standard deduction on your 2020 taxes. The mission of the Midland Area Community Foundation is, To provide philanthropic leadership to strengthen our community by fostering collaboration and giving today and in the future. To learn more about Give Local Midland, or other operations of the MACF, visit midlandfoundation.org or call 989-839-9661. Local foundations collaborate to provide extended COVID-19 relief In addition to the upcoming giving day, the MACF recently announced additional donations from the Strosacker Foundation and Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation to aid in COVID-19 relief efforts. The Strosacker Foundations Board of Trustees opted to support the COVID-19 Individual Relief Fund, where over $500,000 in $500 prepaid debit cards have been awarded to individuals in Midland County who have had their livelihood directly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to the Strosacker Foundations contribution, all currently approved grant requests can be fulfilled. Grant requests were funneled through Salvation Army of Midland and distributed at Greater Midland Community Center. Our trustees are happy to provide relief to our community in these ever-changing times, said Kimberlee Baczewski, executive vice president of the Strosacker Foundation. Thank you to all who are collaborating with these important efforts and thank you to MACF for all you do for our community. We are so grateful for the generosity of our community in responding to the needs of those impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. We want to thank the Strosacker Foundation for their kind gift to the COVID-19 efforts, Mortensen said. In addition, we extend our thanks to the Gerstacker Foundation for providing an additional $50,000 to match gifts from individuals in our community. In addition to Strosacker Foundations support, the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation has provided $50,000 in matching funds to contributions to the COVID-19 Relief Fund. The Relief Fund originated with $250,000 in matching funds, but thanks to community contributions, donations have since eclipsed that mark. This contribution from the Rollin M. Gerstacker Foundation will allow for continued amplification of community gifts. So far, over $1 million in COVID-19 relief has been pledged and distributed by MACF, community partners, and community members through three separate COVID-19 oriented funds. The funds are designed to assist individuals, small businesses, and nonprofits through the guidance of the Midland County COVID-19 Coalition. Led by the MACF and United Way of Midland County, the Coalition has launched a COVID-19 online resource hub for Midland County with guidance on how to get involved in the fight against the impacts of COVID-19, as well as community resources. Visit midlandrelief.org for more information. The mission of the MACF is, To provide philanthropic leadership to strengthen our community by fostering collaboration and giving today and in the future. To give to the aforementioned funds, visit midlandfoundation.org or call 989-839-9661. Ukraine at TCG meeting again categorically rejects possibility of granting special status to its occupied territories in Constitution president's office The Ukrainian side in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) for the settlement of the conflict in Donbas has once again refused to provide the temporarily occupied territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions with a special status in the Constitution of Ukraine. "The Ukrainian side once again categorically rejected a possibility of granting a special status to certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the Constitution of Ukraine," the press service of the Ukrainian president's office said following a video conference of the TCG on Wednesday. A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court on Thursday seeking direction to the Centre, all state governments and Union Territories (UTs) for setting up of pan-India temporary community kitchens at the Block-level during the COVID-19 pandemic to check starvation deaths. The application has been filed in the already pending plea filed by social activists Anun Dhawan, Ishann Dhawan and Kunjana Singh, in which they have sought setting up of community kitchen across the country to check starvation and malnutrition. The fresh plea filed through advocates Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi and Ashima Mandla referred to the state-funded community kitchens being run in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Odisha, Jharkhand and Delhi that serve meals at subsidised rates in hygienic conditions. It said that the personnel employed in these community kitchens provide employment, which is an added advantage in this economy where even joblessness is rampantly on the rise, adding to the cycle of hunger and malnutrition. The present application has been moved by the applicants with the objective to seek the intervention of this Court by directing pan-India establishment of temporary' community kitchens as an effort to contain the parallel extraordinary food crises due to economic shutdown. It is imperative to imbibe the magnitude and extent of the present food crises as being unprecedented, extraordinary and indefinite and thereby impinging upon the fundamental right of Right to Food under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, the plea said. It added that the present pandemic has proved to be fatal for a percentage of persons contracting the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and the unprecedented economic disruptions as a consequence of the pandemic may result increased food insecurity and rise in the number of hunger-related crises and deaths. That nearly 19 crore persons in our country are forced to sleep on an empty stomach even in what we may refer as the normal times' and now with the lockdown to contain COVID-19, hunger threatens even a larger population of persons for whom buying food is outside their budgetary capacity. To an extent, the fear of lack of food for basic sustenance drove the migrant workers to risk their lives and potentially that of others, in an attempt to travel to their hometowns, the plea said. The petition said that it was reported that as of April 13, an estimated 195 human lives were lost due to the ongoing lockdown in the country, of which a reported 53 deaths owed to exhaustion, hunger, denial of medical care, or suicides due to lack of food or livelihood. During the hearing of main PIL, the top court had on February 17, had imposed additional costs of Rupees five lakhs on six states for repeatedly failing to file their reply on setting up of community kitchens within their respect.ive jurisdictions. These states include Maharashtra, Odisha, Goa, Sikkim, Delhi and Union Territory of Ladakh. It had rejected the request of States and UTs for waiving of costs imposed on them except for Kerala. The top court had on February 10 said that five states -- Punjab, Nagaland, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Jharkhand -- and UTs of Andaman and Nicobar and Jammu and Kashmir, who have filed their responses on the PIL will not pay any fine. The apex court had on October 18, last year favoured setting up of community kitchens, saying the country needs this kind of system to tackle the problem of hunger. It had issued notices to the Centre and all states seeking their responses on a PIL seeking directions to all the states and UTs to formulate a scheme for community kitchens to combat hunger and malnutrition. The plea had claimed that many children under the age of five die every day due to hunger and malnutrition and this condition was violative of various fundamental rights, including the right to food and life of citizens. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sustainable investing goes by many names, but it isnt a passing fad or a new trendit dates back decades and has ascended quickly in the past 10 years. What started as a rush by certain investors away from sin stocks in the name of religious beliefs has evolved to a place where, more broadly, companies are seeing the risk of not tending to environmental, social, and governance issues. JESS LIU, data journalist at Morningstar, traces the history of sustainable investing globally. Investing in the times What we now refer to as sustainable investing began with religious groups such as Muslims, Quakers, and Methodists who set ethical parameters on their investment portfolios. Muslims used this method to develop investments that comply with Islamic law, or Shariah, which includes various prohibitions such as weapons. The Methodists and Quakers were responsible for the launch of the first ethical unit trusts in the United States and United Kingdom; they built investment vehicles using negative screening, avoiding businesses that dealt in alcohol, tobacco, and gambling. Ethical codes and religious beliefs shaped the earliest instances of sustainable investing; the desire to invest consistently with personal values guides what sustainable investing would eventually become. The innovators of socially responsible investing, 1970s activism increases around U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War, particularly over the use of chemical weapons. Shareholders organize letters and resolutions against the production of napalm and Agent Orange. The anti-war movement further propels practices of sustainable investing, referred to as socially responsible investing and still built on exclusionary principles. Public sentiment leads to the establishment of the first sustainable mutual funds. Strong voices for responsible corporate practices speak up and begin to influence the global discourse. 1971 Pax World launches the first sustainable mutual fund. Its still an investable fund today. Two United Methodist ministersLuther Tyson and Jack Corbettlooking to avoid investing church dollars in companies contributing to the Vietnam War, founded the ground breaking Pax World fund. They want to align their investments with their values and urge companies to adhere to a standard of social and environmental responsibility. 1972 Journalist Milton Moskowitz constructs a list of socially responsible stocks, published in Business & Society, to track performance against broad market indexes, including the first sustainable funds. 1977 The Rev. Leon Sullivan, a clergyman and civil rights leader, develops a code of conduct for companies, dubbed the Sullivan Principles. These principles aim to promote corporate social responsibility and to apply economic pressure in South Africa in response to the apartheid system of racial segregation. A quarter century later, the United Nations adopts an updated version of Sullivans corporate code of conduct for companies as part of the United Nations Global Compact. Legislating corporate responsibility, 1980s The anti-apartheid movement advocating for divestment from South Africa gains critical mass. Shareholder activism pressures corporate involvement, and the push reaches the U.S. government, translating to public policy. Environmental concerns continue to propel growth for sustainable investing. The establishment of forums and key proclamations in the 1980s help to formalize the process, but the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska puts the U.S. at a crossroads with fossil fuel companies. 1984 U.S. Sustainable Investing Forum is founded. 1986 The U.S. Congress passes the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act, banning new investment in South Africa. According to Calvert Investments, it becomes the first investment firm to sponsor a shareholder resolution tied to a social issue. 1988 In response to growing concerns over the burning of fossil fuels and the rise of global temperatures, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is jointly established with the World Meteorological Organization and United Nations Environment Programme. 1989 In the face of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, activists efforts lead to the founding of the Coalition of Environmentally Responsible Economies, or Ceres. It brings together investors, business leaders, and public-interest groups to speed the adoption of sustainable business practices and the transition to a low-carbon economy. A global call to action, 1990s Awareness of a warming planet continues to grow globally with the signing of the Kyoto Protocol, an agreement among nations to reduce carbon emissions. But sustainable-investment options are growing modestly; the selection of funds is limited. They employ a mix of negative-screening and positive-screening practice also known as best in class, which stems from growing notions of corporate responsibility, prompting consideration of a companys governance practices relative to its industry peers. 1990 The Domini 400 Social Index launches. Now named MSCI KLD 400 Social Index, the Domini Index is the first capitalization-weighted index built to track sustainable investments. 1992 The United Nations holds the Conference on Environment and Development, a global summit to discuss the intersection of economic development and environmental protection. 1994 26 sustainable funds are available to investors, with assets roughly around $1.9 billion. 1997 The Kyoto Protocol convenes world leaders to set goals on addressing global warming. The education of ESG, 2000s Sustainable investing continues to grow globally, propelled by international organizations like the United Nations. Kofi Annan, then U.N. secretary general, launches the Global Compact, built on the Sullivan Principles, to encourage integration of environmental, social, and corporate governance into capital markets. The initiative coins the term ESG investing. Later, the intention of sustainable investing would shift againthis time toward focused investments that are aimed at gaining influence or having impact on issues that investors care about. 2000 Annan launches the Global Compact initiativewhich is a voluntary, corporate-citizenship effort thats based on a set of human rights, labor, environmental, and anticorruption principles. The Global Reporting Initiative launches and provides companies with international, independent standards on how to communicate their impact on issues such as climate change, human rights, and corruption. 2004 The Global Compact produces the landmark report Who Cares Wins, providing recommendations on how to incorporate ESG issues into analysis, asset management, and securities brokerage. Today, more than 12,000 companies are Global Compact signatories. 2006 The United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment is launched, an effort focused on encouraging further development of sustainable investing. PRI has at present gained more than 2,900 signatories from asset managers and institutional investors. 60 sustainable funds are available to investors. 2009 The Global Impact Investing Network is launched. Born out of a Rockefeller Foundation meeting, the network spurs the idea of impact investing. This adds an influential element to investing, in addition to personal values as purpose. These focused investments aim to create an impact on society that wouldnt otherwise happen without the investment. Putting ESG into action, 2010s As issues like climate change, labor practices, and environment degradation come to light, consumers are making purchasing decisions on these sustainability issues. It all adds up to great expectations for public companies to be good stewards of the environment, to attend to the well-being of all their stakeholders, and to govern themselves in an ethical and transparent way. ESG investments proliferate. But, as a developing practice, many methods are labeled sustainable, and attempts to further regulate and construct standards continue. 2011 The Sustainability Accounting Standards Board forms with a mission to establish industry-specific standards for corporate reporting on ESG issues, aiming to help companies understand how to report these metrics. California, Washington, and New York state governments require disclosures on climate risk by insurers operating there. 2015 Paris Agreement is written and formed during the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, as world leaders come to consensus in combating climate change and adapting to its impacts. The U.S. Department of Labor rules that pensions and plan sponsors can invest in socially responsible investments, so long as the investment is appropriate for the plan and economically and financially equivalent with respect to the plans objectives, return, risk, and other financial attributes as competing investment choices. 2016 CalPERS, the largest public pension fund in the U.S., adopts a five-year plan to incorporate ESG principles into its investment process. The Paris Agreement officially goes into force when 55 nations representing at least 55% of global emissions formally join. At present, more than 187 countries have ratified the Paris Agreement. 2018 BlackRock founder and CEO Larry Fink publishes his annual letter to CEOs urging companies to position the long-term profitability of their businesses by keeping their focus on the role of the corporation in society. Companies focused on minimizing negative environmental and social impacts and accentuating positive ones will be rewarded by increasingly aware customers, will protect their brand, and will attract top talent, enabling them to better navigate the transition to an increasingly low-carbon and digital economy, Fink writes. The European Commission presents its sustainable finance action plan; it includes proposals for regulation of disclosures on sustainable investment and sustainability risks. 2019 Flows into U.S. sustainable funds top $20 billion as of December. Thats more than quadruple the previous annual record for net flows for sustainable funds set in 2018. With over thirty years of lectures and teachings spanning diverse topics of faith, self-growth and leadership, World Teacher and Founder of Happy Science, Ryuho Okawa, presents the profound Eastern wisdom that he has cultivated in his approach to life. The Royal Road of Life teaches a lifestyle to master the mind through developing character, chiseled by dignity, wisdom and morality, while keeping a perspective of spirituality. To explore inner peace, in a manner that we can gain a sense of peace-inducing mystical union with the divine, Okawa condemns worrying and extends discourse on how to further peace of mind. Included are techniques for: allocating time for silence, refraining from anger through mindfulness of thoughts and actions, cultivating a tolerant heart, allowing time to resolve problems, and the courage to apologize when one has wronged another. Okawa explains how embodied virtues can carry on into the afterlife, giving credence to the Buddhist concept of abandoning attachments as a precursor to happiness. By exploring qualities of both successful and unhappy people, Okawa strongly asserts that resentment must be cast away if one is to be successful in this world. Okawa explains, at depth, that success exists in perseverance and humility, and unhappy people tend to retreat before success has a chance to flourish. An often overlooked, but profoundly important concept is time management, which is cleverly presented in this text. Okawa denotes that a 24-hour day can be perceived in the context of density, area and volume, and demonstrates that an abundance of activities can be performed within 24 hours, provided that essential matters are addressed first. This concept is explained in accordance with the 80:20 ratio, first developed by Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto, which posits that when 100% must be accomplished, concentrating on 20% of essentials will yield a success rate of 80%. In other words, what presents as 10 hours of work can be accomplished in 2 hours, if only crucial tasks are performed. Furthermore, this implies that 5x the amount of work can be accomplished in a 10-hour span, a valuable motif for entrepreneurs and proponents of workplace optimization. Okawa introduces subconscious guidance as inherently benevolent and inspiring. Unlike a secular perspective, Okawa perceives the subconscious in a spiritual sense, as an influence that constantly steers towards something greater. Despite difficulties and hardships, our mind benefits from diverse experiences. Those who recognize this dynamic often become exceptional mentors, and Okawa seeks to nurture benevolent leaders by introducing the preeminent values of respect, wisdom, belief, righteousness and courage as Five Conditions and Virtues of a True Leader. Okawa reinforces the importance of thinking and acting strategically, taking care to preserve ones mental and physical health. As global norms shift, due to the unprecedented events of this year, allay thoughts of distress and melancholy by channeling mindful exploration. Through spiritual progress, Okawa teaches to guard from extreme mental states and invokes timeless wisdom to inspire modern-day happiness influencers. On this path towards perfection, we will experience lasting and meaningful joy through self-development, says Okawa. The Royal Road of Life illuminates a path to become a person of virtue, whose character and depth will move and inspire others towards the same meaningful destination. The Royal Road of Life is available at all major bookstores nationwide, including Barnes & Noble and Amazon. IRH Press USA Bismah Malik By Express News Service BENGALURU: The landmark $5.7 billion Facebook- Reliance Jio deal could give rise to Indias largest offline-to-online commerce which in the near possibility would help digitise millions of the countrys old-fashioned neighbourhood kirana stores. The deal envisages to leverage Facebook-owned Whatsapps 400 million user base and connectivity to build Reliances New Commerce platform, JioMart in partnership with millions of small merchants and kirana stores. The companies will work closely to ensure that consumers are able to access the nearest kiranas who can provide products and services to their homes by transacting seamlessly with JioMart using WhatsApp, Reliance Industries said in a statement. Our focus will be Indias 60 million micro, small and medium businesses, 120 million farmers, 30 million small merchants and millions of small and medium enterprises in the informal sector, in addition to empowering people seeking various digital services, the company added. Analysts indicate that the partnership assumes greater significance especially when COVID-19 pandemic has outlined the role these mom and pop stores play in our everyday lives and also laid bare the long road which the e-commerce companies have to travel in India. In fact, the unorganised retail, mostly the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) account for 80 per cent of the total industry and hence their digitisation will throw open massive opportunities for business as well as employment. RIL chairman Mukesh Ambani had earlier made it clear that his next big bet will be to tap the unorganised retail market in India and that he is keen on investing nearly $700 billion in New Commerce which will fasten the delivery process of the local neighbourhood stores as well as widen their outreach. JioMart and WhatsApp will empower nearly 30 million small Indian kirana shops to digitally transact with every customer in their neighborhood, Ambani said in a video message. Media stocks, led by ZEEL, gain considerably A multi-billion-dollar deal between two of the biggest corporate houses of the US and India has lifted up the depressed mood on Dalal Street. In fact, most of the media stocks were in huge demand with Zee Entertainment (ZEEL) leading the pack due to the Reliance Jio-Facebook deal. Shares of ZEEL settled at 20 per cent, followed by Reliance Groups TV18 Broadcast and Network18 which jumped 19.83 per cent and 9.79 per cent, respectively. DEN Networks Ltd was also up 4.99 per cent. The Nifty Media index gained 6.65 per cent. Experts say the sharp rise was because expectations are there could be consolidation of smaller players due to the Covid-19. Due to Covid-19, ad revenue has collapsed and survival of smaller and unlisted companies has become tough, said Abneesh Roy, senior VP of Edelweiss Securities. LOS ANGELES They survived the Great Depression, when tickets cost a dime. Neither earthquake nor greedy developer has been able to topple them. Over the decades, they have endured the rise of the VCR and the indignity of showing Cats. But the coronavirus pandemic so far has outmatched the remaining movie palaces of Los Angeles, at least one of which, the 93-year-old Chinese Theater, with its towering red columns and swashbuckling copper pagoda, stands as a global symbol of Hollywood. All have been closed for more than a month, along with every other movie theater in the United States: 5,548 cinemas sitting eerily vacant, with only guesses (June? July? August?) as to when projectors might flicker back to life. The Prestea Huni Valley Health Directorate has taken delivery of some Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which will help the frontline health workers in the fight against COVID-19 in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality in the Western Region. The PPE donated by Gold Fields Ghana Limited Damang Mine, Tuesday, April 21, 2020, were part of the support the mining firm was extending to health workers and members in the companys host communities. Gold Fields Ghana Limited, as part of their priorities, to see to it that, no case is recorded in their catchment areas and even if recorded, it can be contained, has set aside an amount of $400, 000 to battle the disease. The items received by the directorate were 21,420 pairs of hand gloves, 15,670 pieces of pocket-sized alcohol-based hand sanitizers, 754 large bottles of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, 5,408 pieces of surgical masks, 5,832 pieces of N95 masks, 1,080 pieces of protective gowns and 50 pairs of surgical boots. The other items of the package included 652 flog pieces of sample collection kits, 90 pairs of surgical wellington boots, 30 pieces of veronica buckets, 25 pieces of Macintosh aprons and 41 handheld non contact infrared thermometers. - All were at a cost of $108,000. Addressing the short ceremony on behalf of the Relieving General Manager of Damang Mine Charles Kofi Nti in Bogoso, the Human Resources Manager for Damang Mine Mr William Empeh stated that, it was always good to stay ahead of the virus, hence the company would not relent on its effort to help fight the disease which had already swept many to the grave. He also revealed that Gold Fields Damang mine in the coming weeks will commence the fumigation of critical areas such as market centres, principal streets, car stations among others in its host communities, to compliment the mass spraying exercise embarked by the government. Mr Empeh said the Damang Mine has already distributed preventive items such as bottles of antiseptic liquid soaps, hand washing facilities, gallons of hand sanitizers, sanitizer dispensers and pieces of nose masks to its host communities and some health centres at a cost of Ghc60,000. These, he believes, could serve as enough preparations to stay alive in the midst of the deadly COVID-19, Receiving the items, the Prestea Huni Valley Health Director Mr Emmanuel Kofi Tamakloe, thanked the mining firm for supporting them. We are very grateful to Gold Fields Management for donating these items to us. In fact, I am very happy they said again that, more are on the way coming so we will be expecting them. He said. Mr Tamakloe later promised to distribute the items accordingly, to help all health workers deal with the disease in his jurisdiction. On his part, the Prestea Huni Valley Municipal Coordinator Mr Peter Wilson said, he was impressed with the kind of donation Gold Fields made but asked for more relief as the municipality fights COVID-19. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dyaning Pangestika (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 23, 2020 18:00 629 fc6853813033f564188675f8bd3e3d72 1 National defense-ministry,zoom,COVID-19,security,masalah-keamanan,virus-korona-indonesia,work-from-home,#work-from-home,stay-at-home,#stayhome Free The Defense Ministry recently issued a circular forbidding the usage of teleconference platform Zoom among its staff due to security concerns. The circular, which was signed by Defense Ministry secretary-general Vice Adm. Agus Setiadji, stated that all working unit and subunit heads were required to disburse the information to their subordinates. We urge all working unit and subunit heads to refrain from using Zoom for teleconferences, the circular stated. Zoom has become a popular teleconferencing platform, as many companies implement work-from-home policies during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia. Nevertheless, the application has security holes, leading companies and institutions alike to look for alternatives. Read also: Work from home: Security risks lurk in virtual meetings A report from The Washington Post on April 3 explained that Zoom users face privacy risks, with up to 15,000 personal Zoom videos left viewable on the internet. According to The Washington Post, videos recorded on Zoom could be stored on other platforms without the participants consent. Such security concerns have led other countries, such as India, to ban Zoom usage for remote government meetings. The Defense Ministry also learned that Zoom had reported traffic duplication to servers in other countries, opening up the possibility for conversations via the platform to be monitored by a third party. Defense Ministry employees are required to coordinate with the ministrys Data and Information Center [Pusdatin] before conducting a teleconference session, Agus stated in the circular. The ministry has requested Pusdatin head Dominggus Pakel to find a safe alternative for teleconferencing that could be used Defense Ministry staff. The director of the National Theatre has warned the industry faces devastation from the coronavirus pandemic as he signed up Dame Helen Mirren to help it through the crisis. The Oscar-winning actress, 74, will appear as a quizmaster in a virtual quiz, part of plans to raise money for the theatre and buy time against an uncertain future. The theatre also announced that Danny Boyles production of Frankenstein, starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller alternating in the roles of Frankenstein and his creation, will air next on its YouTube channel. Expand Close Frankenstein with Benedict Cumberbatch as The Creature and Jonny Lee Miller as Victor Frankenstein (Catherine Ashmore) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Frankenstein with Benedict Cumberbatch as The Creature and Jonny Lee Miller as Victor Frankenstein (Catherine Ashmore) While the National Theatre (NT) has raised more than 100,000 in donations so far after streaming live recordings of its productions, its director Rufus Norris told the PA news agency it was haemorrhaging money. He said the arts face an uncertain future. Its a massive part of being human and our national culture and it is very much under threat at the moment, he said of the arts. What most theatres and arts organisations are up against at the moment is a ticking clock and anything that buys us more time is incredibly welcome, he said of donations. Expand Close Antony And Cleopatra starring Sophie Okonedo and Ralph Fiennes will be shown as part of the National Theatres digital programme (Jason Bell/National Theatre) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Antony And Cleopatra starring Sophie Okonedo and Ralph Fiennes will be shown as part of the National Theatres digital programme (Jason Bell/National Theatre) But he said Government support would be needed. Video of the Day The term devastation is a big term but, if were not careful and we dont get supported through it (by the Government), its (the pandemic) likely to be devastating for this industry and consequently for the arts in the UK. The NT is looking at all eventualities once restrictions are lifted, including audience members having to keep their distance from each other. Theres no saying what people are going to be feeling like whenever it is when we can go back, he said. We are considering everything. And he added: If we could all go back to our theatres tomorrow I think almost all of us would get through it, albeit in a depleted way. But we are not going back tomorrow and we dont know when we are. Expand Close The National Theatres director Rufus Norris (Paul Plews) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The National Theatres director Rufus Norris (Paul Plews) Mr Norris told PA that the arts has a huge role to play in terms of giving people some respite, some relief, some balm from their stresses and for making sense of the world. Frankenstein is being screened after the move to put productions on YouTube was a huge success. One Man, Two Guvnors, starring James Corden, notched up 2.6 million views overall. Both versions of Frankenstein, filmed at the theatre in 2011, will air on April 30 and May 1, so fans can choose whether they want to see Cumberbatch or Lee Miller play the monster. The sell-out production of Antony And Cleopatra, with Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo playing the leads, will be streamed on May 7. And on the final Monday of each month, fans will be able join a virtual quiz from their homes. Oscar-winner Dame Helen has signed up as quizmaster for the first event on April 27, alongside Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Lenny Henry and Lesley Manville. The stars will ask pre-recorded questions on history, sport, nature and on the National Theatre itself, with people able to take part from home. Norris said he is receiving calls from big-name stars who want to help in the crisis. He said of the National Theatre At Home quiz: I love actors and of course most of them are unemployed at the moment. But it doesnt matter how famous they get, they just are up for it. Of Dame Helen as quizmaster, he added: I imagine shes quite strict! Frankenstein and Antony And Cleopatra will be free and screened live at 7pm on their air dates and then available on demand for seven days. The virtual quiz takes place on the final Monday of each month, with people able to join via the NTs YouTube channel and Facebook page live at 7pm. Information is at www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/at-home Close Donald Trump says accusation he would try to move the general election is 'propaganda' Donald Trump declared, without evidence, that the US is doing sooo much better than any other country in the world in testing for coronavirus after pledging at the White House that America would soon have the capacity to test 5m people per day. But on Wednesday, less than 24 hours later, he falsely claimed that he never said the US would be testing at that rate. The presidents optimism came despite the country passing 1m cases of Covid-19 and 60,000 deaths, a grim marker that officials initially said the US wouldn't reach until August. Within four months of the outbreak, the nation's death toll has surpassed the total deaths from conflicts leading up to and during the Vietnam War over two decades. Mr Trump has meanwhile invoked the Defense Production Act to keep American meatpacking plants open, despite declining to do so for the sake of ventilators or personal protective equipment, as his vice president Mike Pence finds himself in hot water for refusing to wear a mask during an official visit to the Mayo Clinic medical facility in Minnesota on Tuesday. For the third day in a row, the president met with business leaders to discuss the coronavirus response and reopening plans as states begin to preparations to "reopen" against the warnings of health officials and epidemiologists. He also claimed that coronavirus is "going to leave" despite, even without a vaccine. "It's gonna be eradicated," he said. "It might take longer, it might be in smaller sections. It won't be what we had." Follow live coverage as it happened Please allow a moment for our live blog to load by John Dotson Communist Party leaders fear incidents similar to those that broke out on the border between Hubei and Jiangxi. While fighting the pandemic, law enforcement agencies must be loyal to the regime. The cases in Inner Mongolia, Henan and Sichuan. "Social stability" is the fundamental concern for the CCP. Hong Kong (AsiaNews) - When citizens of Hubei, the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, clashed with the inhabitants of neighboring Jiangxi, the police from the two provinces joined the fight. Chinese leaders fear that these incidents may recur, threatening social stability in the country, their main concern. To avoid new unrest, Beijing has launched a political indoctrination campaign for police, seen as the frontline of defense against possible riots related to the pandemic crisis. The analysis by John Dotson, journalist and editor in chief of China Brief. Courtesy of the Jamestown Foundation. Introduction: A Riot on the Border of Epidemic-Wracked Hubei Province The central Chinese city of Wuhan, in Hubei Province, was the original epicenter from which the COVID-19 viral outbreak first emerged in November-December 2019. Hubei Province was placed under a strict lockdown in mid-January that lasted for over two months (China Brief, January 29). On March 25, authorities in the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) announced the lifting of most travel restrictions for residents of Hubei Province, with the exception of Wuhan City itself (Xinhua, March 25). (Restrictions for residents of Wuhan were later eased on April 8). However, the lifting of these restrictions has not proceeded entirely smoothly. On March 27, a major social disturbance occurred on the bridge over the Yangzi River that connects the town of Xiaochi in far eastern Hubei with the town of Jiujiang in northern Jiangxi Province. On that Friday, Hubei residents attempted to cross the bridge, but were blocked by police from the Jiangxi side. A tense stand-off escalated into a riot that reportedly involved not only citizens and police, but also clashes between police from the two bordering provinces (Radio Free Asia, March 27). Regional tensions were revealed in video of the incident, in which angry citizens could clearly be heard to chant Lets go, Hubei when marching to confront barricades set up by Jiangxi police (HK Free Press, March 27). The police barricades were presumably ordered by Jiangxi officialsacting in apparent contravention of official national policywho were fearful that an influx of people from Hubei could once more spread COVID-19 infections. This likely revealed skepticism on the part of regional officials towards the central governments message that the epidemic has been contained in Hubei. It also revealed issues of fear and discrimination against Hubei persons on the part of Chinese from other provinces, a problem acknowledged in official PRC press outlets (China Daily, March 30). The March 27 incident provided a dramatic example of the sort of social unrest that Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officials have clearly feared could materialize in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths inside China and across the globe. [1] Hubei citizens have been subject to harsh conditions under government quarantines, resulting in a steady build-up of popular anger (China Brief, April 1). This incident may not be the last of its type to emerge as a result of the pandemic, and the CCP has taken active steps over the past two months to reinforce political indoctrination for local police agenciesthereby attempting to ensure that police officers will remain loyal to the ruling party in the event of any major incidents that might threaten social order and stability in the country. Intensified Propaganda and Political Loyalty Indoctrination Directed at Chinese Police Since at least early February, PRC local government and state media outlets have emphasized consistent themes that, amid the ongoing pandemic crisis, Chinese police must maintain a high-level sense of political responsibility thinly coded language for loyalty to the ruling CCP. Police have been further advised to keep a steadfast political position [and] maintain a high level of uniformity with the Party center. These exhortations also frequently involve the message Dont Forget [Our] Original Purpose, Keep Firmly in Mind the Historical Mission, a slogan closely associated with CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping since it was unveiled last year (China Brief, July 31, 2019). Specific illustrations of this trend, drawn from media coverage of the Public Security Bureaus in three different regions of the country, are provided in the examples below. The themes (and often, specific use of phrasing) are broadly consistent among these examples, suggesting higher-level direction for a propaganda campaign intended to reinforce police loyalty to the CCP. These examples also extend to regions far beyond the pandemics epicenter in Hubei, indicating that CCP authorities are concerned for bolstering the political indoctrination of police agencies nationwide. Xinghe County, Inner Mongolia Reporting on the Public Security Bureau in Xinghe County (Inner Mongolia) indicates that in epidemic prevention work the first matter is the political mission, keeping to ones post, combating the epidemic, preventing dangers [and] ensuring public security and promoting stability. Both the regular Peoples Police and the Auxiliary Police were praised for maintaining a high sense of political responsibility [and] sense of the historical mission. Per this account, the Xinghe police were so dedicated in their loyalty to the CCP that, alongside their other responsibilities, they especially talked politics while manning security checkpoints established for the purpose of epidemic control (Peng Pai News, February 2). Zhumadian City, Henan Province A press account from Henan Province provides a heroic account of Guo Yuanzhe, a political instructor with the Public Security Bureau in Zhumadian City, Henan Province. Guo is praised as a model police official and Party member, who is both tireless in his work on behalf of the public, and absolutely loyal to the central CCP leadership. Per this account, once the epidemic broke out, Guo energetically answered the call to raise high the Partys flag on the front line of the epidemic prevention battle. To this end, Guo helped to organize Party member shock troop teams to disinfect suspected contaminated areas. Guo also worked to inspire fellow CCP members among the police by organizing lectures to emphasize that his colleagues must resolutely bring into play the party organization fortress combat functions, and set forth party members as a model vanguard amid counter-epidemic operations (Henan Xinyu Wang, March 30). Qingyang District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province Another account is provided by the civil government of Qingyang District in the city of Chengdu. In addition to the standard calls for police to display a high-level sense of political responsibility and to strengthen political consciousness, police are advised that Party leadership must run through epidemic control work from beginning to end. Both the practical and ideological work of the police should be merged, in order to combine together the deployment of political thought work with prevention and control duties. Per this reference, police should also view the epidemic crisis as an opportunity to strengthen both Party organizations and wartime political thought work. The police should build the combat fortress of party organizations on the front line of epidemic control work, while party cadres should serve as examples to the public. The epidemic also provides an opportunity to build the CCPs image: propaganda follows in the footsteps of the police, [and] propaganda follows the circumstances of the battlefield (Qingyang District Government, February 19). Conclusion Even in the most settled of circumstances, social stability is a cornerstone concern for the CCP. Aside from its human toll, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted normal life across vast regions of China, severely damaged the economy, and created a crisis of governance for the CCP central leadership centered around Xi Jinping. As the CCPs first line of defense against social unrest (with the heavier paramilitary Peoples Armed Police in reserve behind them), local police agencies are naturally a focus of attention for the CCP authorities at a time when the prospects for social unrest are greater than ever. As both Chinese citizens and CCP officials seek to cope with the fallout of the pandemic, the Party is likely to grow ever-more insistent in its calls for police to maintain the proper political position. Nevada Sued Over Ridiculous, Illegal Ban on COVID-19 Drugs Touted by Trump Osteopathic physicians are suing Nevadas governor and the states pharmacy board over their decision to ban the use outside of hospitals of two relatively safe, well-established anti-malarial drugs to treat COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus. Reno attorney Joey Gilbert, who filed the lawsuit April 21 in state court in Washoe County, Nevada, said his clients believe that the doctor and patient relationship is sacred and that the private practitioner is in a better position to know how to treat a patient than an emergency room physician who is seeing the patient for the first time. The ban is illegal, Gilbert told The Epoch Times in an interview. Under federal law, the pharmacy board isnt allowed to practice medicine, and thats what theyre doing by taking tools off the tables for doctors. There are just thousands of lives saved across the United States now between New York, Michigan, Los Angeles, Florida, and here in Nevada, because of this hydroxychloroquine, on top of the fact that Ive had two parents that are survivors, and they used it. Is Nevada the dummy state, he asked rhetorically, adding that the other 49 states dont restrict the use of the two drugs for COVID-19 patients. Were the only one that you have to be in-patient on a chart order and then you can leave the hospital outpatient, but you have to come in and be sick enough for the doctor to say, Yes you need it, and if youre that state, guess what? Youre probably too [expletive] far gone. So, its ridiculous what theyre doing, Gilbert said. Its unconscionable. And I say its criminal and its going to carry liability, because if they have those meds in that hospital, when that person showed up with those progressed symptoms and they didnt give them to them and they sent them home and told them to sweat it out, I think you have a big [expletive] problem on your hands, he said. Im really upset about the people that dont have health care, dont have a primary care doctorthey really are going to be told to wait till theyre so bad, and thats whats going to happen in these nursing homes, theyre going to get decimated. Its going to be a bloodbath. Gov. Steve Sisolak, a Democrat, declared a public health emergency on March 12. With the governors blessing, the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy on March 23 adopted emergency regulations restricting the prescribing and dispensing of chloroquine phosphate and hydroxychloroquine sulfate for patients outside of a hospital setting. Hydroxychloroquine is marketed as Plaquenil. The board raised the alarm, claiming the oral prescription drugs, which are also used to treat malaria, lupus, porphyria, and arthritis, were being hoarded, which led to a resulting shortage of supplies of these drugs for legitimate medical purposes, according to the legal complaint filed in the case that is cited as Nevada Osteopathic Medical Association v. Sisolak. Gilbert disputes that claim. Theres not an ounce, not a scintilla of evidence that there was an emergency, that there was a run on the meds, that there was a shortage, but because of this governors ban, its created the shortage, he said. Suppliers took meds elsewhere. It slowed things down so pharmacies couldnt re-up before other people put in big orders. Critics of Nevadas policy say the drugs are safe and effective at ordinary doses and that opposition to their use is purely political, a knee-jerk reaction against President Donald Trumps qualified endorsement of them. At a March 19 press briefing, referring to the antiviral drug Remdesivir and chloroquine, Trump said, And I think its going to be very exciting. I think it could be a game-changer. And maybe not. A panel of experts convened by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) found April 21 that there wasnt enough clinical data to recommend either for or against the use of hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine alone to treat COVID-19. While both drugs can lead to heart problems, that side effect is rare, according to Science magazine. There are medical doctors in California, Massachusetts, and Texas who have reported using hydroxychloroquine successfully against the disease, and 37 percent of respondents in an international poll of more than 2,000 physicians agreed the drug was the most effective therapy against COVID-19, The New York Post reported April 2. The Lancet reports that chloroquine, a derivative of quinine, an ingredient in tonic water made from the bark of Cinchona plants, has historically been successful in treating malaria, and has been effective against the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, or SARS-CoV, in in-vitro studies. The CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, is also known as SARS-CoV-2. On March 28, Rear Adm. Denise Hinton, chief scientist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, authorized the use of the two drugs by health care providers to treat COVID-19, saying they met the necessary legal requirements for safety and potential effectiveness. Gilbert said scientists arent sure exactly how hydroxychloroquine works. They just know hydroxychloroquine breaches the cell barrier to help get zinc in, and zinc stops the multiplication or growth process of the virus, he said. The Epoch Times reached out to the offices of Sisolak and the Nevada State Board of Pharmacy for comment; neither responded immediately. RESTON, Va., April 23, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lightbridge Corporation (Lightbridge, or the Company) (LTBR), an advanced nuclear fuel technology company, commented today on the Nuclear Fuel Working Groups (NFWG) Report: Restoring Americas Competitive Nuclear Advantage: A Strategy to Assure U.S. National Security . The NFWG was established by President Trump in July 2019 after a meeting held in the White House in February 2019 with nuclear industry leaders that included Lightbridge CEO Seth Grae. The original goal of the NFWG was to develop recommendations for reviving and expanding domestic nuclear fuel production, and the recommendations in the report issued today are more far-reaching. Commitments towards funding research and development for advanced fuels and high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) are major initiatives covered in the report, which are necessary to meet industry and defense needs in the coming decade. Most next-generation reactors and advanced fuels, including Lightbridge Fuel, require HALEU. HALEU production for Lightbridge Fuel could lead to HALEU production that will be necessary for advanced reactor designs that follow. In December, Lightbridge was awarded a Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) program voucher, showing U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) support for our technology, providing a strategic advantage upon which to build. Seth Grae, President and CEO of Lightbridge Corporation said: This report from the Nuclear Fuel Working Group represents a breakthrough moment for the U.S. nuclear industry. Not in at least a generation has there been a document with such potential to restore Americas leadership in nuclear energy. I was proud to be one of 10 industry leaders who met with President Trump last year and participated in the discussion that helped lead to forming the NFWG. Its not a coincidence that our technology can enable many of the policies outlined in the report. Lightbridge and the NFWG have many of the same goals. Over the years, America has gradually ceded its leadership position in nuclear energy to Russia and China, which threatens American competitiveness and national security. The policies outlined in the report will reverse this trend, invigorating U.S. innovation to propel America back into global leadership in nuclear energy. Story continues U.S. nuclear companies bring American nonproliferation standards, as Lightbridge has done in our work in the United Arab Emirates and as Lightbridge Fuel will convey nonproliferation advantages because of its design. Lightbridge Fuel is designed to improve the safety and economics of the current large reactors as well as advanced small modular reactors (SMRs). Our most recent investor presentation contains a slide that shows just how large the market can be for new nuclear, and how SMRs with our fuel present a big opportunity for Lightbridge. We look forward to commencing on our important work under the GAIN voucher at Idaho National Laboratory in the coming days and toward the enactment of the policies in the NFWG report. The timing couldnt be better for Lightbridge to leverage its technology to advance these historic federal government initiatives, concluded Mr. Grae. About Lightbridge Corporation Lightbridge (LTBR) is an advanced nuclear fuel technology development company based in Reston, Virginia, USA. The Company develops proprietary next generation nuclear fuel technologies for current and future reactors, which significantly enhances the economics and safety of nuclear power, operating about 1000 C cooler than standard fuel. Lightbridge invented, patented and has independently validated the technology. The Company has assembled a world class development team including veterans of leading global fuel manufacturers. Four large electric utilities that generate about half the nuclear power in the US advise Lightbridge on fuel development and deployment. The Company plans to operate under a licensing and royalty model, independently validated and based on the increased power generated by Lightbridge-designed fuel and high ROI for operators of existing and new reactors. For more information please visit: www.ltbridge.com . To receive Lightbridge Corporation updates via e-mail, subscribe at https://www.ltbridge.com/investors/news-events/email-alerts Lightbridge is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @LightbridgeCorp at http://twitter.com/lightbridgecorp . Forward Looking Statements With the exception of historical matters, the matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the timing and outcome of research and development activities, other steps to commercialize Lightbridge Fuel and future governmental support for nuclear energy. These statements are based on current expectations on the date of this news release and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ significantly from such estimates. The risks include, but are not limited to: the Companys ability to commercialize its nuclear fuel technology; the degree of market adoption of the Company's product and service offerings; market competition; dependence on strategic partners; demand for fuel for nuclear reactors; the Company's ability to manage its business effectively in a rapidly evolving market; changes in the political environment; risks associated with the further spread of COVID-19, including the ultimate impact of COVID-19 on people, economies, and the Companys ability to access capital markets. A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Lightbridges Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned Risk Factors and Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results, as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at http://www.sec.gov/ and www.ltbridge.com . Investor Relations Contact: The Indian Newspaper Society, an apex body of Print Media Industry, strongly condemns the dastardly attack on Senior Journalist Arnab Goswami and his wife Samyabrata Ray in Mumbai. This act shows how goons belonging to political parties have scant respect for the freedom of expression. The INS urges the Maharashtra government to take strict action against the offenders while ensuring safety and security of journalists. Such assaults are indefensible and need to be universally condemned. INS is also of the view that frequent attacks on Journalists, and the Media, through abuse of power is a grave threat to the freedom of the Press and also an attack on right to think, express and speak freely in our democratic country. Britain's coronavirus testing farce was laid bare again today with claims that a drive-through centre is only swabbing a handful of people every day - with a week to go to meet the Government's pledge of swabbing 100,000 people a day. The make-shift facility, in the car park of Port Glasgow Health Centre, Inverclyde, was set up on April 9 with ambitions of testing 100 people a week - who are either NHS workers or family members of medics. A resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: 'It has been very quiet so far. It looks like they are testing about four people a day. We overlook it and have barely noticed anyone using the centre. It is empty most of the time.' The Army and Amazon have both been drafted in to help Number 10 scale up its testing response, with soldiers helping to ferry mobile testing units across the UK and the retail giant is delivering swabs to people's homes. Damning official figures show Britain is still miles away from reaching its pledge of carrying out 100,000 swabs each day, with Department of Health statistics showing only 22,000 were conducted yesterday. Downing Street today claimed that Britain has the capacity to carry out 48,000 tests each day - but admitted less than half of that is being used and that there is still a 'great deal more to do' to close the gap. The UK lags behind many other comparable nations in testing, with an analysis showing it has swabbed just six people out of every 1,000 - half the rate of the US and four times lower than Italy. Health Secretary Matt Hancock's target was yesterday savaged by MPs as 'arbitrary' and 'stupid', after pictures of near-empty testing centres in London, Coventry and Brighton laid bare the true scale of the UK's swabbing shambles. Ministers yesterday announced they were expanding the number of drive-through testing sites from 26 to 50. Other key workers will also now be eligible for tests, including transport workers and supermarket staff. The move came after numerous horror stories of self-isolating and potentially very unwell workers having to travel for multiple hours to get tests only for some of them to be told to come back another day. Department of Health figures show 22,000 tests were carried out in the UK on Tuesday A drive-through testing centre in Cardiff is pictured empty this morning A soldier collects coronavirus testing samples at a centre in Southport this morning Neighbours of one drive-through testing centre in Inverclyde, Scotland claimed they only swab around 'four people a day' A spokesman NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: 'At present the centre is seeing more patients on a daily basis and has the capacity to meet demand. 'The Port Glasgow drive-through testing centre opened on Thursday April 9 and tests both symptomatic household members and symptomatic staff as per the current NHS GGC policy. 'Across NHS GGC we are able to test health and social care staff who are self-isolating as they are symptomatic, or, those with a symptomatic household contact.' The drive-through test centre runs on an appointment-only basis and it operates Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm. During testing the person remains in the car and provides a swab. All staff at the centre wear PPE and a pathway has been put in place to control the flow of traffic and ensure the safety of the public and staff. Downing Street today said 22,814 coronavirus tests were carried out on 13,522 people up to 9am on Wednesday in England, Scotland and Wales. But it admitted that capacity is now at 48,273 - meaning Britain is only using up 47 per cent of its supply. No10 acknowledged there is still a 'great deal more to do' to close the gap between capacity and the actual number of tests carried out. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'The number of people we've tested has increased in the most recent 24 hours we've got figures for. 'And the gap between the number of people tested and the number of people we've tested has closed slightly. 'But that doesn't distract from the fact that there's a great deal more to do if we're to be able to say we're making the full use of the capacity we have. 'Mobile units will visit the care homes and test any residents and staff and separately we're using Amazon to deliver tests to people's homes.' The spokesperson added that around 50 drive-through sites will be ready by end of the month with 28 already open. Other flagship NHS testing sites have stood empty this week, with pictures showing few people arriving to give any samples. Both Twickenham rugby stadium and Chessington World of Adventures in west London did not appear to have many patients arriving on Monday. Coronavirus testing was taking place yesterday in the car park of Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey, pictured The test centre at Twickenham rugby stadium in West London yesterday appeared to be lying empty The empty coronavirus testing centre for NHS staff and registered care workers at the Ricoh Arena yesterday The NHS Covid-19 testing centre in Plymouth, Devon, yesterday is empty when photographed yesterday An empty drive-through Covid-19 test centre for NHS workers at Brighton and Hove Albion FC's Amex Stadium yesterday MPS BLAST THE 100,000 TESTS A DAY TARGET AS 'STUPID' There is rising Tory fury over Matt Hancock's decision to set such a high bar, with senior figures concerned about the backlash which could follow if he fails to deliver on his promise. Some Conservative MPs believe Mr Hancock will have to 'carry the can' if he falls short of the target as they said he should have climbed down on the issue more than a week ago. One senior Tory MP told MailOnline the target is 'stupid' and added: 'Matt was extremely unwise to come up with such a high and round figure and to make a dogmatic commitment rather than an aspiration. 'He was under pressure at the time. If he wanted to reverse out of it he should have started reversing a week ago. It is pretty clear that he is not going to hit the target and he ought to be levelling with people.' A Number 10 insider echoed a similar sentiment, telling The Telegraph: 'The problem is with this arbitrary target. There is a faint irrationality behind it, just because there was a clamour for mass testing. 'Hancock's 100,000 target was a response to a criticism in the media and he decided to crank out tests regardless. 'He's not had a good crisis. The Prime Minister will say he has confidence in him but it doesn't feel like that.' Advertisement Yesterday it was revealed that trucks will ferry mobile testing units nationwide to screen NHS and social care workers. It came amid claims potentially thousands of NHS staff have been unable to get swabbed at the drive-through centres. The scheme - backed by the military - will transport testing teams to hospitals and care homes across Britain, The Sun reports. General Sir Nick Carter, chief of the defence staff, said: 'We think the innovative idea of pop-ups, rather like mobile libraries, would be a very useful way of going.' Last week it was revealed coronavirus swab kits would start to be delivered to homes by Amazon in a pilot scheme. The retail giant is sending send swabs to people's homes and telling them to take a sample from their throats an hour before they are picked up again. The results of the test will then be sent by text message. It is understood the pilot scheme - for 5,000 self-test kits - will begin with key workers. But the Daily Mail reported earlier this week that only 200 of the kits have been sent out so far because of a hold-up by officials. It comes after it was revealed last night that only one in four care home staff who fear they have coronavirus have been tested. Managers say their staff face having to make four-hour round trips to test centres which are only accessible by car when many dont even drive. It means workers are being left stuck at home self-isolating unnecessarily but unable to return to the frontline where they are desperately needed. ONLY ONE IN FOUR CARE HOME STAFF ARE BEING TESTED FOR COVID-19 Only one in four care home staff who fear they have coronavirus have been tested, it was revealed last night. Managers say their staff face having to make four-hour round trips to test centres which are only accessible by car when many dont even drive. It means workers are being left stuck at home self-isolating unnecessarily but unable to return to the frontline where they are desperately needed. MPs and trade union bosses last night branded the desperately low levels of testing in the care sector appalling. Last week Mr Hancock said everyone working in social care who needed a test would be able to get one immediately. But care workers showing symptoms of COVID-19 must be referred by their employer and then travel to one of the drive-through centres and wait two days for the results. It means care workers already feeling unwell can face round trips of more than 200 miles to be tested. They have also been told they are not allowed to take public transport or taxis to the appointment - leaving those without a car no way of receiving the vital tests. Advertisement MPs and trade union bosses last night branded the desperately low levels of testing in the care sector appalling. Last week Mr Hancock said everyone working in social care who needed a test would be able to get one immediately. But care workers showing symptoms of COVID-19 must be referred by their employer and then travel to one of the drive-through centres and wait two days for the results. It means care workers already feeling unwell can face round trips of more than 200 miles to be tested. They have also been told they are not allowed to take public transport or taxis to the appointment - leaving those without a car no way of receiving the vital tests. Data collected by the National Care Forum (NCF), which represents nonprofit providers, suggests just 25 per cent of care home staff needing tests have had them. The NCF collected data from 21 members which together employ almost 16,000 care staff. Of the 632 residential care staff needing tests only 164 had been tested, while just 19 of the 281 home carers had received a coronavirus test. Four Seasons Health Care, one of Britains biggest private care providers, said many of its employees cant get to test centres as they dont drive. Yesterday the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said three new testing laboratories are now complete. The Lighthouse Labs in Milton Keynes, Glasgow and Alderley Park in Cheshire will be able to test tens of thousands of samples each day. Liz Kendall, Shadow Minister for Social Care, last night described the lack of testing system as madness. There are desperately low levels of testing when we know its essential to save the lives of the most vulnerable, she said. Weve heard of appalling cases where care workers in Norfolk have been told to go to Sheffield and those in Peterborough to Stansted Airport.' Prime Minister Boris Johnson had earlier set a much more ambitious testing target of 250,000 tests-a-day during a briefing on Mach 19. But he did not attach a date to when that would be achieved. Official documents by the Department of Health say the target is 25,000 per day. Britain, with 130,000 confirmed cases of the disease, is testing 6.11 people per 1,000 - 0.5 per cent of its population - according to the latest figures. The UK sits well below nations with similar rates of infection, such as Italy, Germany and Spain. All of Britain's European neighbours are testing more than 20 people per thousand, according to statistics compiled by Oxford-led researchers. Early testing for COVID-19 is seen by the World Health Organization (WHO) as crucial to bringing the pandemic under control. (Credit: Getty | PeopleImages) When the government launched a web tool on April 15 so that eligible Americans could find out the status of their coronavirus stimulus payments, Jake Koepke was eager to log on. But the central Wisconsin resident, 34, was disappointed to find himself shut out after three failed attempts to get onto the site. Koepke has returned to the website daily, only to discover the same results. It wasn't until this week that his attempts to enter his personal information including Social Security number, address and date of birth finally worked. More from Personal Finance: Beware of scammers as paper stimulus checks hit the mail Timeline shows when all coronavirus stimulus payments should arrive How experts say this millennial should spend her stimulus check But what he now saw was a message stating, "Payment status not available." The U.S. government has sent out millions of stimulus payments of up to $1,200 for individuals and $2,400 for married couples, as well as $500 for children under age 17. That included direct deposits made last week and continues with the beginning of mailed paper checks this week. If you are eligible but haven't yet received a payment, the money could still be coming. Many are eager to get the funds, or at the very least find out when exactly the money will arrive. Others want to put in their bank account information to expedite the process. That was the goal of the Get My Payment web app: letting Americans check on the status of their stimulus money and get their direct deposit information to the government, if it didn't have that data already. However, many are having difficulty getting information from the web tool, and terms like "Payment status not available" are now trending on web search engines and on social media. "They are trying to anticipate people's problems with Get My Payment, but it's still very hard to figure out what you can do and what you can get from that tool," said Janet Holtzblatt, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. Up in record time Given how quickly the federal web tool was put together and released, it's no surprise that there are glitches, Holtzblatt said. "The IRS got this up and running in record time," Holtzblatt said. "They didn't have much time to develop and test all of these tools before they were up and running." For people like Koepke, every day that goes by without a payment and without an indication as to when it will come adds to the uncertainty his family faces. Altogether, Koepke said he is expecting a $2,900 stimulus payment, including money for his wife and 2-year-old daughter. Meanwhile, his wife has been laid off from her job and has yet to receive an unemployment check. Every day, she calls to find out her status, but cannot get anyone on the phone. The family has waited five weeks so far for those checks to come in, Koepke said. Koepke said he feels fortunate he is still working, at his own pest-control business and on a job with the local highway department. Still, this is a slow time of year for pest control. Meanwhile, his wife has no income coming in. "This check was supposed to offset that stuff," Koepke said. Questions abound Others who are counting on the money are also left wondering what is happening with their stimulus payments. That includes Nancy Shapiro, 73, a Connecticut resident who was recently laid off from her job in development fundraising for a non-profit organization. Shapiro said she keeps getting the same message from the Get My Payment site "Unable to determine eligibility." "It was a very vague answer that I received," Shapiro said. Her big question is whether she is eligible for payment based on her 2018 or 2019 tax returns. At his factory just off the Delaware River, Joe Boyce clocked in on March 23 for the longest shift of his life. In his office, an air mattress replaced his desk chair. He brought a toothbrush and shaving kit, moving into the Braskem petrochemical plant in Marcus Hook, Delaware County, as if it were a makeshift college dormitory. The casual office kitchen became a mess hall for him and his 42 coworkers-turned-roommates. The factorys emergency operations center became their new lounge room. For 28 days, they did not leave sleeping and working all in one place. In what they called a "live-in" at the factory, the undertaking was just one example of the endless ways that Americans in every industry have uniquely contributed to fighting coronavirus. The 43 men went home Sunday after each working 12-hour shifts all day and night for a month straight, producing tens of millions of pounds of the raw materials that will end up in face masks and surgical gowns worn on the front lines of the pandemic. No one told them they had to do it, Braskem America CEO Mark Nikolich said. All of the workers volunteered, hunkering down at the plant to ensure no one caught the virus outside as they sought to meet the rocketing demand for their key product, polypropylene, which is needed to make various medical and hygienic items. Braskems plant in Neal, West Virginia, is doing a second live-in now. We were just happy to be able to help, Boyce, an operations shift supervisor and a 27-year veteran at Braskem America, said. Weve been getting messages on social media from nurses, doctors, EMS workers, saying thank you for what were doing. But we want to thank them for what they did and are continuing to do. Thats what made the time we were in there go by quickly, just being able to support them. For countless face masks in America, their journey from a blob of chemicals into the hands of first responders and grocery-store clerks likely began at a plant just like Braskem's. The company, which touts itself as the largest petrochemical producer in the Americas, is one of the earliest links in the supply chain, providing a key ingredient for the personal protective equipment that millions of people worldwide now need each day. Nikolich said the company has shifted its production lines to focus on making that key ingredient, polypropylene, given the high demand due to COVID-19. The company then sells the product to clients that turn it into a nonwoven fabric, which medical manufacturers ultimately use to make face masks, medical gowns and even disinfectant wipes, among other items. Nikolich estimated that the Braskem plants in Pennsylvania and West Virginia have produced 40 million pounds of polypropylene over the past month enough to hypothetically make either 500 million N95 masks or 1.5 billion surgical masks, if the material were only used for that purpose. (It will also be used for other PPE such as the gowns, Nikolich stressed.) "It just makes you immensely proud to be associated with a team like that," Nikolich said. "They're operating in a strange environment 24/7, 365." Nikolich said the plants decided to launch the live-ins so employees could avoid having to worry about catching the virus while constantly traveling to and from work, and so the staff at the factory could be closed off to nonessential personnel. "We tried to make them as comfortable as possible," Nikolich said. Boyce said some guys brought their Xbox consoles and TVs, and even a cornhole set, to stay entertained. They stayed active at the on-site gym, which "has never been used so much before," Boyce said, and stayed extra busy in the kitchen. A skilled cook, Boyce and others asked corporate for more pots and pans and a stove, whipping up creamed corn, barbecue and even filet mignon dinners for more than 40 people a night. Before long, they fell into a routine like they were all in one enormous household, he said. "We had to kind of adapt. We came up with a chart for housekeeping chores so we could all clean the bathrooms and clean up after meals," Boyce said. "It wasn't long before we're all sitting in the same spots at dinner." But being separated from family got harder as time went on, said Boyce, a father of two teenagers. Some guys counted down the days. One missed the birth of his first grandchild. Visitors weren't allowed. So on Day 14, the families organized a "drive-by visit," Boyce said. It was their hump day, celebrating not only being halfway done but also free of any signs of the virus, as no one during that 14-day period developed even a sniffle. With a police escort, more than two dozen families paraded past the plant bearing signs and cheering from the windows too far away for a conversation but just close enough "to give a boost to all the guys," Boyce said. "It was something to see," he said. "Just a shout and wave was pretty much what we got, but it was enough." They went back to work. The days blended between factory floor and conference-room bedrooms, until finally, on Sunday, it was time to clock out. We wanted to walk out as a team, Boyce said. Everybody felt that way. It really hit me when my car got a little ways down from the plant Im finally going to see my family. Representative Image - Odishas two-pronged approach in disaster management has come in handy to tackle the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This involves physical infrastructure created to assist people during disasters and intellectual infrastructure referring to the governments institutional setups evolved to tackle disasters in a swift and efficient way.- As COVID-19 impacts unfold in India, the state is gearing up to tackle a fresh set of challenges including water scarcity during the summer season and the return of its migrant population.- Experts have emphasised on tweaking standard operating procedures for cyclone and flood shelters to combat dual challenges of climate-related disasters and COVID-19. ------------------------------------------------- Nearly a year ago, on May 3, 2019, Odisha was hit by the rarest of the rare summer cyclone Fani, which claimed 64 lives and caused damages worth over Rs 24,176 crore. The World Meteorological Organisation said Fani was among 2019s high impact events. Home to 46 million people, Odisha, along the Bay of Bengal, is often referred to as the disaster capital of the country, for the cocktail of floods, cyclones, and droughts that regularly ravages it. The states long-term, lauded expertise in handling disasters and the infrastructure created to mitigate it, fronted by the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority, has stood it in good stead as it copes with the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Odisha reported its maiden COVID 19 case on March 15 when a student who returned from Italy tested positive for the disease. Till April 21, 2020, in Odisha, 79 people have tested positive for COVID-19 of which one person has died. To track all live updates from the coronavirus pandemic, click here 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 states COVID-19 positivity rate (proportion of positive cases among the total number of tests conducted) is lowest in the country at 1.08 percent in persons with symptoms and risk categories as compared to the national average of 5 percent, said officials as on April 15. At the cusp of the cyclone season and heatwave, Odisha is also handling the dual challenges of disaster preparedness and the pandemic impacts and responses simultaneously, including the nationwide lockdown to enable social distancing to curb the spread of the disease. But the pandemic has also thrown up a fresh set of challenges for the disaster management and health authorities, particularly as migrant workers desperately seek avenues to return home. Sanjay Singh, Secretary, Odisha Information and Public Relations Department said the state had a two-dimensional advantage. One was related to the physical infrastructure created to assist people during disasters and the other was the intellectual infrastructure which was the governments institutional setups evolved to tackle disasters in a swift and efficient way. From our past experience, we knew the utility of government buildings like cyclone shelter, schools, panchayat offices, and how to manage a disaster besides knowing the hurdles that come in between. We used many of these centres either as quarantine centres or relief centres to host stranded migrant workers and the destitute to serve them food and provide shelter during the lockdown, Singh told Mongabay India. Following the disaster relief operations pattern, the state swung into action soon after realising the threat of the global pandemic and used the intellectual infrastructure it had evolved from the learnings of their past disaster management. In many states, you can see the health department which has been entrusted with the task of managing the health affairs are also engaged in media briefings. We have designated spokespersons to brief the media while the health department was given the task of focusing on their health management works, a bureaucrat from the state government said. Like relief operations undertaken during management of cyclone Fani, in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic too, different committees to look specifically into particular sectors were formed under the leadership of qualified officials to resolve hurdles. Adopting the earlier pattern of administration for disaster management, the state government formed an Empowered Group of Ministers and also constituted special committees comprising senior bureaucrats on the evolving COVID-19 scenario in the state. The Group of Ministers has now proposed setting up a health disaster training institute to create more trained health professionals to handle the pandemic and other health hazards. The government formed special committees have been formed to ensure smooth movement of goods vehicles into the state to keep up the supply chain in the market of essential commodities. At the district level, district administrations too roped in the services of the grassroots workers who often take in relief operations and disaster preparedness. For example-the Ganjam district administration tapped into its vast network of Self Help Groups (SHG) to act as service providers in COVID-19 management. Ganjam is one of the hotspots of outward migration from where most of the organised migrations are to textile factories of Gujarat especially Surat. Amid the pandemic, the state also has its attention to preparedness for heatwave. Pradeep Jena, the Special Relief Commissioner and Managing Director of the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority, has urged district administrations to put in place standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the heat action plan 2020 stressing that otherwise this natural hazard may unnecessarily compound our challenge in containing COVID-19. The authority has also alerted district collectors, panchayati raj and the housing department to take steps to prevent possible outbreaks of waterborne diseases in the pre-monsoon and summer period, as per past experience. Observing the problems faced by countries like Italy, where the disease spread early, Odisha planned for exclusive COVID-19 healthcare setups early on. We have learned from the mistakes of other countries. In Italy, they treated COVID-19 and non-COVID patients in the same health setups. We have set up special COVID hospitals to exclusively tackle the cases of the disease in separate health setups, state health secretary Nikunja Dhal said. As per the latest statistics accessed by this correspondent, Odisha till April 22 had 31 operational hospitals specifically for testing and treating COVID-19 cases, spread in 19 districts with 5,176 beds. The government also claims that all the health workers have been equipped with adequate personal protection equipment (PPE) sets, sanitisers, and other safety gear. While the state government portrays effective COVID-19 management so far, the coming days are likely to be tougher for the state due to several factors such as the flow of more migrants into the state post lockdown and water shortage. Several parts of the state every year reports water scarcity forcing people in rural areas to walk several km at a stretch to fetch water. In many parts of the state, the maximum temperature has already crossed 40 degree Celsius. Many parts of the state suffer from water scarcity while majority of the rural areas are not linked with piped water supply. Under such circumstances, washing of hands regularly, social distancing and compliance of lockdown orders are likely to be impacted, said Ranjan Panda, Odisha-based expert on water issues and climate change. Officials estimate five lakh people living outside Odisha are expected to come back to the state after lockdown. The state government said it will plan accordingly for their return including an online portal where those wanting to return will have to enrol. But they cannot go home directly. The gram panchayat will take them to their local quarantine centre where they will be sheltered-in-place for 14 days besides being provided medical attention. Migration experts emphasise that migration dynamics will see a transformation in Odisha. Loknath Mishra, project director of NGO ARUNA and a migration expert from Ganjam district underscored that the pandemic coincides with the summer months when the Odia migrant population in other states return to their native villages for wedding festivities and crop harvest. This is the time when close to 60 percent of migrants are at their native places due to marriage ceremonies and harvesting. However, most of the migrants are now outside the state due to the unprecedented lockdown who are desperate to come back, said Mishra. He also said that as soon as the lockdown curbs are off most of the migrants will come back. Most of them from Ganjam district work in textile factories in cities like Surat in Gujarat while unorganised migrants are stranded in Maharashtra and Kerala, he added. Earlier in April, in Surat, the textile workers, largely from Ganjam district in Odisha, staged a massive protest demanding arrangements for their travel home. According to a UNDP report, the large-scale economic migration from Odisha to Gujarat is triggered by both pull and push factors. The single-cropping pattern in most rural economies in Odisha, small land-holdings, poor irrigation facilities, restricted industrial infrastructure, and a history of migration outside the state for generations especially true in districts such as Ganjam and Nayagarh have all played their part. The principal pull factor is obviously the availability of jobs in a more industrially developed state. The textile, shipwrecking, and, to some extent, diamond cutting industries in Gujarat are hugely dependent on migrant labour. Migrant workers from Odisha are known to undertake some of the most hazardous jobs; hence there is a huge demand for them in Gujarats big business cities such as Surat, the report states. The government has taken the civil society into confidence. It has instructed all the collectors to form a panel and appoint nodal officers to look into the issues of migrants besides their redressal, said Ghasiram Panda, Project Director, ActionAid, Bhuabneswar. Panda is now working in Subranapur district. The 2018 World Disaster Report Leaving no one behind proposed five different reasons that affected people may not receive the assistance they need: they are out of sight, out of reach, out of the loop, out of money, and out of scope. The bedrock of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-30, a non-binding agreement adopted by UN member states, is to ensure that no one is left behind, including migrant communities, indigenous people, women, and the elderly. In a webinar hosted by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Indias National Disaster Management Authority member Kamal Kishore spelt out the measures that need to be put in place ahead of the heatwave, cyclone and flood season in India. Apart from working doubly-hard to minimise the heatwave-associated health burden on hospitals, Kishore underscored that in reviving the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for management of cyclone shelters ahead of the cyclone season, elements of social distancing will have to be brought in and the capacity of cyclone shelters will have to be augmented. Cyclone shelters in India are community-managed so now we have to start a whole new process of community-based disaster risk management where we bring in the elements of social distancing in how these cyclone shelters are managed, Kishore said in the webinar. Kishore also stressed on availability of personal protective equipment for those engaged in facilitating cyclone and flood-related evacuations and a whole range of psychosocial support for emergency responders because they have never been in greater stress than they are right now so it is important that they themselves feel supported and well looked after because the COVID-19 crisis will take months to dissipate. He also underlined special protection of elderly people and said that hospitals and healthcare setups in flood-prone and cyclone-prone areas must be much better prepared because they have to continue to deal with COVID-19 and must begin to take steps so that the effects of cyclones and floods are minimised. Animesh Kumar, Deputy Chief, Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) said even countries with very strong disaster management structures have seen high impacts of COVID-19. Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here However, it is clear that existing disaster risk governance mechanisms, including legal and policy instruments and institutional arrangements, have helped address the pandemic better, Kumar said. What can be said with confidence is that the current crisis does point to the need for a more systemic management of risk we cannot look at hazard-by-hazard risk management as there is strong interconnectedness among them (including natural, biological and technological hazards), both in terms of cause and effect, Kumar told Mongabay-India. by Teresa Xiao During the pandemic, the faithful encountered many difficulties, but also experienced spiritual growth. The liturgies on Wechat were followed by hundreds of thousands of faithful. An important time for families and for the religious education of their children at home. Biblical readings, songs, homilies in abundance; the void left by the absence of the Eucharist. Shanghai (AsiaNews) - "Christ is risen! He truly is risen! ": This proclamation from the Easter liturgy perfectly expresses the enthusiasm we feel after having spent a long Lent not of 40, but of 80 days in isolation due to the pandemic. Throughout this period the faithful faced many difficulties, but they also experienced spiritual growth. For weeks, most of the priests had to celebrate mass on their own. But on Sundays and holidays they tried to transmit the liturgy on Wechat [the Chinese whatsapp] and the virtual participants were tens, hundreds and even thousands or hundreds of thousands! This happened in many dioceses: Ningbo, Zhengding, Shanghai, Ningde, Beijing, Shantou, Liaoning, ... The faithful tried to "participate" in the mass broadcast live not only from China, but also from other places: Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, the Philippines, Malaysia. Above all, they were able to attend the Mass and liturgies of the Easter Triduum celebrated by Pope Francis and broadcast by the Vatican. During the pandemic period, which started for China on January 23 and continued until April, the villages and neighborhoods were all blocked. But the priests did not stop their pastoral activity. They all had their own Wechat group and thanks to this, thousands of people were able to receive videos and written material: masses, homilies, biblical readings, prayers, articles, videos. This time was also important for families and for the religious education of their children [1]. In the absence of the weekly liturgy, families found ways to pray more often together, also having celebrations of the liturgy of the Word in which every Sunday in turn, the Gospel was explained, people sang, read. Several times, families have organized continuous Bible readings. Apparently among the books that the Chinese like most are the Book of Wisdom and the four Gospels. Several families say they are enthusiastic because the children study and form their faith directly from the Bible and from the liturgy. Even husbands, who often do not have time in normal life, have now found a taste for family prayer and reading sacred books. Before, they said the Rosary quickly, went to Mass, paid no attention to the readings, but now the Word of God is given to them in abundance. But of course, since they cannot approach the Eucharist, they feel a void. During Holy Week, the quarantine was lightened, and so priests and nuns were able to go to visit the sick, to hear confessions (by reservation and at a safe distance and with a mask!), to pray for the deceased of the pandemic. Before Easter Sunday, the priests blessed the Easter eggs and thanks to the catechists they were able to distribute them by bringing them to the faithful at home. With Easter, we have seen hope reappear all over the world, even if still marked by the pandemic. Now we wait for the strength of the Holy Spirit: The Church grows more vibrant after every trial. [1] In China, after the 2018 New Regulations on Religious Activities, the religious education of young people under the age of 18 is prohibited. The pandemic crisis and the use of social networks has allowed us to get around this rule. Part of the Russian military's methodology as it seeks to establish belts of influence in Syria is the creation and support of loyalist militia units. But despite superficial efforts to centralize Syrian armed structures, Russia is actually contributing to their disintegration. Iran, for its part, is trying to integrate the militias into the permanent military structures of the Syrian army. The Turkish government-run Anadolu news agency previously reported that the United States sabotaged Russias plans to form an ethnic Kurdish militia in Hasakah. The report suggested that Americans had persuaded locals to refuse to join a pro-Russian structure and warned them that Russia was going to use the members of this structure as mercenaries in Libya. While some notable experts dismissed the Turkish report, there also was speculation that the Kurdish administration was to coordinate this very recruitment process with the United States in order to stop the spread of Turkish influence. Whatever the case, the recruitment attempt by the Russian military is not denied. The Russian proposal's first stage would reportedly require several hundred young people mostly Kurds to be trained by Kurdish YPG instructors under Russian supervision. Later they would have to either join the units that guard the Russian military facilities in Amuda and Tal Tamr or to escort Russian military patrols. The long-term goal of this recruitment campaign was to expand Russian influence in northeastern Syria and to create a precedent of integration of Kurdish groups not with the Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forces but with pro-Russian militias. To date, however, attempts that started in late 2019 to set up militia units that would provide safety for Russian military facilities in northern Syria have not yet yielded results. This is but one example of how the Russian experience of recruiting Syrians and forming belts of influence has been a mixed bag. Since the beginning of the Syrian campaign, Russia has faced a double challenge: It had to upgrade the professional and fragmented armed forces of the Syrian Arab Republic and at the same time regularize numerous local militia units created by Iranians and Hezbollah that acted as a de facto parallel army. Attempts to centralize management of the units initially led to the formation of the 4th Assault Corps a local division carrying out operations around the Syrian coast that was supposed to limit Iranian influence. However, the Russians failed to create a fully functioning influence belt around the Khmeimim base. The security of the facility continues to be mainly provided by a well-supervised exclusion zone around its perimeter and a system of Russian checkpoints and roadblocks. The pro-government squads play a negligible role in this. At the same time, these units have been suspected of attempting to cover up attacks on the Khmeimim base that some speculate were made by pro-Iranian groups. Moreover, the Russian military failed to create the 4th Corps from the newly formed 2nd and 6th divisions as a result of an inability to fully grasp the local realities: Most militias were reluctant to lose their autonomy, abide by the personnel and organizational rules of the Syrian army and be integrated into it, with the militants to be granted the status of official servicemen. The next stage included creating the 5th Assault Corps, an all-Syrian formation, and merging it with various paramilitary squads such as the Desert Hawks Brigade. Currently, the 5th Corps continues to expand. In Russia, this structure is considered a successful instance of building a combat-suitable armed force from scratch and a prototype of a brand-new, upgraded Syrian army able to integrate with both pro-Assad groups and former rebels, as took place in southwestern Syria. At the same time, this integration became possible only after 2018 as a result of agreements between Russia, the United States, Jordan and Israel, with the United Arab Emirates participating covertly. The recruiting attempts Russians had made in the Suwayda region a year before the reconciliation between the regime and the opposition were met with distrust by local communities, even though the financial support for the recruits was quite substantial by Syrian standards. Moreover, both the 4th and 5th Corps, being basically militias, turned out not to be fully loyal to Russia. As Fatih Hassoun, leader of Harakat Tahrir Watan, pointed out in his interview with the Russian newspaper Kommersant, in fact the 4th Corps is controlled by Iran; also, the Hezbollah movement, which had taken part in the creation of the 5th Corps, allegedly acted as a conductor of Iranian interests in the 4th Corps. In early 2019, attempts to remove pro-Iranian forces of the National Defense Forces and the 4th Division under the command of President Bashar al-Assad brother Maher Assad from the front line in Idlib did not work; ultimately, these structures were allowed not only to maintain their positions, but also to become a fully acknowledged part of the separation zone together with other Shiite groups. Russias efforts to centralize numerous militias under the flag of the 5th Corps created the narrative according to which Iran is trying to fragment armed structures with its militant groups, while Russia, on the contrary, is regularizing and uniting them under a single command center. This perception, however, is erroneous. It seems that Russian military advisers took the failures of the 4th Corps into account and used a nonstandard numbering system to label brigades and regiments within the 5th Corps, avoiding hints of the groups' regular nature and affiliation with the Syrian Arab Army. It is noteworthy that various formations such as the Sunni Palestinian Quds Brigade, known as Liwa al-Quds, and the Islamic State Hunters are trained by Russian military advisers, both regular and private ones, and act under the 5th Corps' command, while at the same time without being formally integrated into it. An in-depth look into the Syrian armed groups shows that Russia was interested in formations initially having a problematic, poorly regulated status, and mostly focused its work on them while avoiding their centralization. In particular, this refers to the umbrella system, including the Tiger Forces, which was an air force intelligence structure of Suheil al-Hassan guided by Russian special forces, and tribal militias of Sheikhs Turki Abu Hamad, Ghazi Ibrahim al-Dair and Suleiman al-Shwakh. At the same time, as Al-Monitors contributor Kirill Semenov pointed out, Iran is the only actor able to effectively unite militias with the structures of the regular army and to create obstacles to prevent the "separation of its proxy structures from the government's army." Later, probably also with Iranian influence, the Tiger Forces became the 25th Special Forces Division and were placed under the Syrian Arab Army. The tribal militias, in turn, started to be clearly referred to as pro-Iranian local defense forces with serviceman status. Considering all this, it is hardly surprising that the latest reports show that Russians are interested in creating loyal militias in eastern Aleppo based on the local defense forces. Moreover, they recruit locals in eastern Ghouta and Quneitra in order to send them to serve in Libya as soldiers of self-proclaimed field marshal Khalifa Hifter. All of this suggests that it would be a gross exaggeration to say that Moscows influence on the Syrian military and security system is strong and that attempts to replace pro-Iranian commanders with pro-Russian ones are actually successful. Moreover, many personnel transformations can be explained by Russias search for a suitable distribution of influence in Syria between itself and Iran and by the mere reshuffling of assets among Syrians. Amoeba Music co-owner Jim Henderson acknowledged that their GoFundMe page was "a very uncomfortable position for us. But pride and preference are taking a backseat right now to necessity and survival." (Robert Lachman / Los Angeles Times) Earlier this week, indie retailing powerhouse Amoeba Music announced the creation of a GoFundMe page as a way to offset costs associated with the COVID-19 shutdown. Like most businesses, the record store, which opened its massive Hollywood location in 2001 and has two locations in the San Francisco area, is still paying rent, bills and health insurance for some of its 400 employees. Setting a goal of $400,000, the company wrote, in part: "We have weathered many storms 911, recessions, the Internet, downloading and streaming. But we dont know that we can weather the COVID-19 storm." Their stores have been closed since mid-March, founders Marc Weinstein and Dave Prinz continued in the note, and with no "no way to generate income, our savings are running out." They stressed that Amoeba is exploring "every possible means of support, including federal and local grants and loans. But these funds are not guaranteed to come in, and they wont meet the needs of our short-term future. So, we most humbly ask for your help." The funding plea has since gone viral. Within 48 hours, Amoeba had raised more than one-third of its goal. Speaking on Wednesday, Amoeba Music co-owner Jim Henderson acknowledged that Ameoba's fundraising ask "is a very unnatural and, frankly, uncomfortable position for us. But, you know, pride and preference are taking a backseat right now to necessity and survival." In Amoeba's case, the pandemic arrived as its Hollywood location was in transition. In 2015, the company sold its 24,000-square-foot building at Sunset and Cahuenga to developer GPI Companies for a reported $34 million. Since then, Amoeba has been paying rent on Sunset as it scouted a new location. Last year, the company announced that it had found one to lease a few blocks east at Hollywood and Argyle and received its building permits last month. That means that the company is paying rent on two big spaces, neither of them generating money, in the heart of Hollywood. Story continues "We really feel like once we can get into the new space, we're going to have room to breathe and do all the things that we've been otherwise encumbered due to lack of finance," Henderson said. Construction on the new spot will begin "within the next week or so," he added, saying that he remains cautiously optimistic that the location will celebrate its grand opening in the fall. Asked if he'd spoken to city officials about that hope, Henderson said that he had but that no one has been willing to guarantee a citywide retail reopening date or even offered a possible range. Most pressing, Henderson said, was ensuring that customers understood the plight of Amoeba's staff. He called the GoFundMe campaign "an opportunity to help keep our staff whole with health benefits being covered, and to help bridge the gap." Amoeba continues to pay its salaried employees' health insurance, and has applied for loans under the CARES Act, Henderson says, but has yet to receive a response. Still, that $34-million sale price suggests Amoeba might have a cushion. Asked whether the real estate transaction gave Amoeba's ownership some wiggle room, Henderson said no. Calling the reported sale price "a bit of a thorn in our side," he noted that the number has "always come without any context. It is a nice number for people to throw out there and to put in print that paints a picture of eternal wealth." But, Henderson continued, "the reality of it is, we got a great deal for the building, but we needed a great deal to pay off past debts. When the recession came along, we were impacted by the fallout from a traumatic national financial catastrophe. That went hand-in-hand with the emergence of streaming services. So we got double sucker-punched." He added that Amoeba's rent on the Sunset location is "above market rate," though he declined to offer details. In a practical sense, the obligations and timetable puts into question whether it even makes financial sense for Amoeba to reopen at the 6400 Sunset Blvd. location or focus its energy toward a reawakening at Argyle and Hollywood. Will customers be able to shop in the old location one last time? Will there be a closing party? "We hope so, but we just don't know," Henderson says. Its customer base would likely show up for a send-off. Since Amoeba's Hollywood grand opening, the store has hosted hundreds of in-store concerts and album-signing events. Among those who have graced the stage: Paul McCartney, Lana Del Rey, Gary Numan, Best Coast, Charles Bradley and the Lonely Island. As well, the Sunset store has documented the shopping sprees of the famous with its popular "What's in My Bag" series. The YouTube clips, which show famous people such as Lena Dunham, Childish Gambino, Ice Cube, Bob Odenkirk and Sky Ferreira buying records with an Amoeba gift certificate, have generated millions of views. Henderson explained that "everybody is hoping that sometime this summer we'll re-open, to some degree." But, he stressed, "as a high-traffic, high-volume retailer, we have to look at what that's going to look like for us." He predicts that "there will be social distancing practices still in place, limitations to how many people can come into the building at any given time. No gathering for shows, and a staff of nearly 200 people who are going to have varying degrees of health concerns and safety concerns." While the future is uncertain, he concluded, "We're still on track and moving forward with the Argyle plan. And I'm looking forward to a fall opening." For the record: 11:11 AM, Apr. 23, 2020: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated Amoeba employees health insurance status. The company continues to pay its salaried workers benefits. On the same day the city of Laredo reached a new milestone number with its positive totals of local COVID-19 cases, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott discussed his intentions to reopen the state. Abbott has made clear that he intends to restart Texas economy imminently, promising to order that businesses such as restaurants, retailers and hair salons can open after being closed for weeks during this initial, sweeping wave of COVID-19. This would override any local emergency orders such as Laredos and Webb Countys, where salons have been forced to close and restaurants may only offer takeout, drive-thru or delivery. Abbott told a Dallas radio host on Wednesday that this will be carried out with safe standards in place so people can go out to eat, for instance, without spreading the coronavirus. However, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told the Washington Post on Tuesday that as governors begin to lift these stay-at-home orders, local officials need to be ready to ramp up testing and contact tracing, while citizens need to continue practicing social distancing. This is because the CDC predicts the second wave of the virus will in fact be much worse than the first, since it will coincide with the beginning of flu season. Theres a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through, CDC Director Robert Redfield told the Post. And when Ive said this to others, they kind of put their head back, they dont understand what I mean. Laredo Health Director Dr. Hector Gonzalez told reporters Wednesday that they must prepare for an uptick in both viruses in the fall, and undertake a major effort to get the community vaccinated against the flu. There were two children and 25 adults in Laredo who died from the flu during the 2019-20 season, which has more or less ended, Gonzalez said. We always do a great citywide effort to vaccinate, were going to do it again this year even more so, he said. We dont want persons to get both flu and COVID. COVID by itself can be very serious. As of noon Wednesday, 12 people in Laredo have died from the novel coronavirus and 302 people have tested positive. The city announced seven new positive cases Wednesday, one day after its most recent death. Health Authority Dr. Victor Trevino said if someone has a respiratory infection caused by one agent and they get another infection by a second agent, it will complicate things. It stands to reason to know that if you get COVID and you get influenza simultaneously, the prognosis is much worse, Trevino said. Along these lines, we stress that flu vaccination be actively given and stressfully emphasized. A vaccine will not be ready for COVID-19 until 2021, the health authority noted. This virus will not disappear, it will linger on, Trevino said. Additionally, the City of Laredo issued an update on the drive-thru testing clinic which opened last Thursday. The clinic, which was originally located at the El Metro Park and Ride on Hillside, has been moved to the City of Laredo Health Department at 2006 Cedar. Hours have changed for the clinic, which is open from 9-11 a.m. from Monday through Friday. The admission procedure remains the same for the clinic. Those looking to get tested at the city clinic must have a prescription from their physician and call a city hotline at (956) 795-4932 to get an appointment before traveling to the clinic. Those without a doctor can call the same hotline in order to get screened for the virus and set up an appointment should city officials deem it necessary. As of the city's update, 1,759 have been tested for the novel coronavirus, with 224 of the tests performed at the drive-thru clinic. A total of 1,137 Laredoans have tested negative while 320 are still pending results. Eighty-eight patients have passed their mandatory quarantine period and are considered recovered by the city health department. They have been cleared by the health department to return to the general public. Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com Vaccines are a tricky business. Trickier, say those trying to develop and manufacture them to meet the current global COVID-19 pandemic, than tests or even medicines. All three -- along with physical distancing and other social measures -- are vital to tracking, treating, and stamping out the current outbreak. But the greatest challenges to widespread testing are materials and availability. And drug treatments are sensitive but also fueled by trial and error within narrow, infected populations. Vaccine work takes those potential stumbling blocks and heaps them with complex questions about efficacy, long- and short-term immunity, overreaction, and potentially deadly reactions in otherwise healthy people, to name a few. Not to mention the feat of eventually providing billions of people with the vaccinations against a pathogen like the new coronavirus, which has infected 2.5 million people worldwide, killing more than 180,000, since emerging in central China five months ago. "Vaccine development is always more cumbersome and longer, because you have to vaccinate large numbers of people -- therefore safety is very important and volume is very important," Paul Stoffels, chief scientific officer at pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson, told a COVID-19 event organized by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) on April 20. Most experts suggest the world shouldnt expect widespread administration of a COVID-19 vaccine before early 2021 despite unprecedented levels of cooperation and sharing between academics and the pharmaceutical industry, regulatory shortcuts, and a leap into testing on humans that includes previously untested technologies. Multiple Paths Dozens of companies, laboratories, or individual researchers claim to be working on one or more potential COVID-19 vaccines. But even the most advanced are still in their early stages. Vaccine development has historically taken around 10-15 years. Virologists note that there is still no licensed vaccine against HIV, the retrovirus identified in the early 1980s as the cause of AIDS. But outbreaks of coronaviruses like Ebola, SARS, MERS, and Zika in the intervening decades have helped speed the development of antivirus vaccine development. A group of top virologists wrote in the New England Journal Of Medicine on March 30 that the need to "rapidly develop a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 comes at a time of explosion in basic scientific understanding." They said that includes areas such as "genomics and structural biology." RFE/RL's Coronavirus Coverage Features and analysis, videos, and infographics explore how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the countries in our region. In that environment, it is essential that candidate vaccines try to harness everything from vector- and protein-based vaccines to innovative ways to spark an immune system into action with simulated snippets of genetic material from a target virus. As one pharmaceutical executive put it, "we don't know yet which one will get the best immunity." Most vaccines use a dead or otherwise deactivated form of the virus -- like the smallpox vaccine that was introduced more than 200 years ago -- or insert the target virus's genetic material into a harmless virus to cue the body to produce antibodies. Another approach could be to repurpose existing vaccines to reduce, even briefly, the chances of infection. But there is little evidence so far that deploying something like the oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) could ward off SARS-CoV-2. Competitive Science Still, many researchers hope for rapid progress on COVID-19 in a new form of vaccine, known as mRNA, in which a bit of messenger genome that codes for a virus is used to spark an immune response. No mRNA vaccine has ever been approved for widespread use on humans. But they're now being tested in the current crisis, on animals and people. "Basic science is best when it's competitive," Seth Berkley, chief executive of the global vaccine alliance GAVI, told The Economist's Babbage podcast recently. Berkley said development of 140 to 150 vaccines is now "moving forward." "That's great, but we can't take 150 vaccines into large-scale clinical testing and manufacturing. So...those need to be downregulated based upon appropriate science, based upon the appropriate animal models, the target product profile." Testing On People So-called preclinical testing on animals began within weeks of the publication of the SARS-CoV-2 genome in January, and usually include "challenging" animals like ferrets, monkeys, and mice with the related, pneumonia-like disease. Sarah Gilbert, a professor of vaccinology at Oxford University, surprised many last week when she said her team hoped to start clinical trials on humans of a candidate vaccine -- testing a very small number of healthy people for dangerous effects -- by the end of this month. But while testing on human subjects is a landmark, it is important to distinguish between small-sample testing -- such tests on patients are already under way in the United States, Germany, and China, for instance -- and the battery of further tests for would-be vaccines to ensure safety and assess effectiveness. About one in three experimental drugs never make it through this so-called Phase I testing, clinical trials monitor CenterWatch says. Another third of experimental drugs are usually winnowed out in Phase II studies. Those can last from months to years and include hundreds of patients. Once a vaccine advances to Phase III studies, it might be administered to thousands of patients. But such research frequently takes several years. The top U.S. infectious diseases expert, Anthony Fauci, said in March that the first phase of trials on humans started there at "record speed" and that a COVID-19 vaccine is "an urgent public health priority." But Fauci remains guarded about the timeline for a best-case scenario, saying it won't be "in the immediate future." "You've got to make sure you have something that's safe and that works," Fauci told the Journal Of The American Medical Association about two months after the vaccine race began in earnest with the publication of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. "It's going to take a year to a year-and-a-half to find out if [any potential vaccine] even works," he said. The World Health Organization (WHO) has organized a group of "scientists, physicians, funders, and manufacturers" from around the world who are urgently seeking a COVID-19 vaccine. They convene regularly to encourage a continuation of "efforts to strengthen the unprecedented worldwide collaboration, cooperation and sharing of data already underway." Caterpillar CAT can be viewed as a bellwether for the global economy, with the construction and mining equipment giants sales often growing during times of broad economic prosperity. Therefore, Wall Street will be closely monitoring its upcoming Q1 fiscal 2020 earnings results, which are due out on Tuesday, April 28, for more clarity on the coronavirus economy. CAT & the Coronavirus Caterpillar faced tough times during the U.S.-China trade war. The companys sales fell roughly 8% in Q4 and around 2% in fiscal 2019. And now things look set to get much worse. The reason that CAT is likely in trouble is relatively straight forward: companies are unlikely to commit to spending, especially on big purchases, amid the global economic uncertainty brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. For instance, a Bank of America BAC analyst recently downgraded CAT stock from neutral to underperform. The analyst pointed to a huge downturn in spending from the energy and mining industries, which are two key markets for Caterpillar. Last quarter, Energy & Transportation accounted for roughly 45% of CATs sales. Plus, our overall near-term outlook for those industries looks brutal. Our current Zacks estimates call for Energy industry companies in the S&P 500 to see their Q1 earnings fall 55%, with Transportation projected to tumble over 61%. Things look even worse in the second quarter, with Energy earnings expected to plummet 115% and Transportation projected to fall 111% (also read: Making Sense of the Earnings Picture During the Coronavirus). Caterpillar in a March 26 statement announced that it was withdrawing its financial outlook for 2020 amid the unprecedented halt to the global economy. At this time, Caterpillar is continuing to run the majority of its U.S. domestic operations and plans to continue operations in other parts of the world, as permitted by local authorities, the company wrote in a statement. Story continues However, due to uncertain economic conditions resulting in weaker demand, potential supply constraints and the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and related government actions, Caterpillar is temporarily suspending operations at certain facilities. The company will continue to monitor the situation and may suspend operations at additional facilities as the situation warrants. Q1 Outlook & Beyond Looking ahead, our Zacks estimates call for CATs adjusted Q1 earnings to fall -40% to $1.77 a share, on the back of 17.3% lower sales. Peeking further ahead to the second quarter, which will account for much more of the stay-at-home push, Caterpillars revenue is projected to sink 30.6%. And the companys adjusted Q2 EPS figure is expected to plummet over 61%. Overall, CATs fiscal 2020 revenue is projected to fall 20%, with its earnings expected to tank 41.3%. The nearby graphic also shows how quickly the companys earnings outlook has deteriorated. Bottom Line Caterpillars negative earnings revision activity helps it hold a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) at the moment, alongside its F grade for Momentum in our Style Scores system. Shares of CAT have fallen roughly 25% in 2020, including an 11% decline since April 8. Therefore, investors might want to stay away from CAT stock, as things could get worse before they get better. This becomes even more prudent when we consider that the broader earnings outlook has continued to fall over the last month. 5 Stocks Set to Double Each was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth. Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor. Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >> 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 Bank of America Corporation (BAC) : Free Stock Analysis Report Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Suzanne Walters had been ill for more than a week when she went to a Grand Rapids emergency department on March 19 feeling like she couldnt breathe. A classic case of COVID-19, said her doctor, who put the 57-year-old Sparta resident in a unit with other coronavirus patients. Walters, who said she doesnt have any pre-existing conditions and has never before been seriously ill, spent five days at Spectrum Butterworth Hospital. Walters said her lung function was so bad that she was asked whether she wanted to sign a do-not-resuscitate order. But when Walters was tested for COVID-19, the test came back negative. Her doctor shrugged it off, saying coronavirus tests were unreliable -- especially at that early stage of the outbreak. She said, 'I believe you tested as a false negative. Were treating you aggressively for COVID-19, Walters said. Its not an uncommon story in the coronavirus outbreak. Coronavirus tests have roughly a 70% accuracy rate, with about 30% of the tests producing a false-negative result, say experts such as Dr. Jana Broadhurst, a doctor and microbiologist for the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Its a really tough thing, Dr. Dennis Cunningham, a Flint infectious disease specialist for McLaren Health Care, said about the rate of false-negatives. Ive been telling physicians at McLaren if it looks like it might be COVID, assume and treat like its COVID" even if the patients tests negative. False-positives arent generally problem because the tests are looking for viral RNA, experts say. But the tests can result in a false negative if the test is administered too early in the illness before theres enough viral RNA to be detected or if a bad test sample is submitted. People typically are tested for coronavirus with a nasal swab. But with the big push for mass testing, oftentimes those samples are being collected by people who may lack experience in nasal swabs and/or collecting the specimen in a less-than-optimal settings, such as swabbing a patient through a car window. When the nasal swab isnt done properly, it compromises the lab results, Broadhurst said. We have a mantra in our lab: Garbage in, garbage out. In addition, there are variations in the quality of the test kits themselves, which are being produced by about 30 manufacturers, and the labs processing the samples. Part of the challenge in testing right now is that because its an all-hands-on-deck situation, the (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) just kind of said, OK, go for it " in terms of test manufacturers and labs processing the tests, said Dr. Matt Longjohn, a Kalamazoo doctor who works as a public-health consultant. We havent done the validation studies on each of these labs and each of these tests. Even when the tests are high-quality, there can be issues. One of the most popular tests now is one produced by Abbott Laboratories that can give results in 15 minutes. But it turns out that storing samples in a special solution known as viral transport media can invalidate the Abbott results. Cunningham and Dr. Matthew Sims, an infectious disease specialist for Beaumont Health in metro Detroit, both said they think the accuracy of the coronavirus tests has improved in recent weeks. Theres no such thing as a perfect test, regardless of what it is for, Sims said. Every single test has false positive and false negatives; theyre just going to happen. The issue with the (coronavirus) tests is there were some tests they tried and didnt work at all or didnt work well. But the tests being used right now are good tests. At this point, Sims said, the issue is the sampling, which may be problematic. You have to do this nasal pharyngeal swab and you have to get it right. But even if you do it right, there are times when we think the virus actually descends more in the lung than the upper respiratory area and maybe (a swab) wont find it at that point. Yet another issue, is making sure the test is conducted at the right time, Sims said. The maximal shedding of virus seems to be from a couple of days before youre symptomatic to a couple of days after youre symptomatic. The importance of getting a good sample is why Cunningham is cautious about a new at-home coronavirus test called Pixel being sold by LabCorp. Patients can collect their own samples using a special nose swab provided in the kit and then send it in to the companys labs for analysis. The ability of the test to detect the virus really depends on the quality of the specimen, Cunningham said. A light touch of the swab to the nostrils may not be adequate. The virus is at its highest concentration in the nasopharyngeal space, where the throat meets the nasal cavity. I worry people with symptoms may test negative, he said about the at-home test. This may give false reassurance that there is no infection. Im supportive of increased testing, but Im not sure this is the right way to proceed. Even with the issues involving coronavirus test accuracy, theres a widespread push to increase testing, which is seen as necessary to get a better handle on the COVID-19 outbreak. We want to get more people tested," Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said during her April 17 press briefing. We need to get people tested in Michigan. The state is ramping up the number of sites to obtain coronavirus tests, and Walmart, Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid are all opening or have opened rapid testing sites to increase testing capacity. To locate testing sites near you, visit Michigan.gov/CoronavirusTest. Most sites ask that individuals contact them first to schedule an appointment. Meanwhile, Walters is still struggling to recover. Four weeks after her release from the hospital, she said she is still struggling to catch her breathe and her doctor says its possible shes experienced permanent lung damage. One downside of the negative coronavirus test, Walters said, is that she doesnt qualify for the waiver of insurance co-pays and deductibles being granted to COVID patients. The test result also means that shes not counted in the states coronavirus statistics. My doctor said, You wouldnt be counted as a COVID death. Youre not going to counted as a COVID survivor, Walters said. Im not one of the coronavirus numbers, even through I was in a hospital for five days, near death. 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 Michigan is ramping up coronavirus testing. Thats easier said than done. Coronavirus antibody tests offer big promise, but they deliver? How to treat COVID-19? Michigan doctors say protocols change day by day, week by week Partisan politics infect Michigan coronavirus response Which surfaces does the coronavirus stay on longest? 18 expert disinfecting tips Throughout March, as the pandemic gained momentum in the United States, much of the preparations focused on the breathing machines that were supposed to save everyone's lives. New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo and President Donald Trump sparred over how manyventilators the state was short. DIYers brainstormed modifications to treat more patients. And ethicists agonized over how to allocate them fairly if we run out. Now five weeks into crisis, a paper published in the journal JAMA about New York State's largest health system suggests a reality that confounds early expectations like so much else about the novel coronavirus. Researchers found that 20 percent of all those hospitalized died - a finding that's similar to the percentage who perish in normal times among those who are admitted for respiratory distress. But the numbers diverge more for the critically ill put on ventilators. Eighty-eight percent of the 320 covid-19 patients on ventilators who were tracked in the study died. That compares with the roughly 80 percent of patients who died on ventilators before the pandemic, according to previous studies - and with the roughly 50 percent death rate some critical care doctors had optimistically hoped when the first cases were diagnosed. "For those who have a severe enough course to require hospitalization through the emergency department it is a sad number," said Karina Davidson, the study's lead author and a professor at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research at Northwell. The analysis is the largest and most comprehensive look at outcomes in the United States to be published so far. Researchers looked at the electronic medical records of 5,700 patients infected with covid-19 between Mar. 1 and Apr. 4 who were treated at Northwell Health's 12 hospitals located in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County - all epicenters of the outbreak. Sixty percent were male, 40 percent female and the average age was 63. "It's important to look to American data as we have different resources in our health care system and different demographics in our populations," Davidson said. The paper also found that of those who died, 57 percent had hypertension, 41 percent were obese and 34 percent had diabetes which is consistent with risk factors listed by the Centers for Disease for Control and Prevention. Noticeably absent from the top of the list was asthma. As doctors and researchers have learned more about covid-19, the less it seems that asthma plays a dominant role in outcomes. In fact there only nine patients with asthma hospitalized at Northwell for the virus. One other surprising finding from the study was that 30 percent of the patients sick enough to be admitted to the hospital did not have a fever. Fever is currently listed as the top symptom of covid-19 by the CDC, and for weeks, many testing centers for the virus turned away patients if they did not have one. Davidson said that as a result of that findings, Northwell is encouraging people with underlying health conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes, who are potentially exposed to the virus and who might not have a fever to consult with a doctor sooner rather than later. Capstone Mining Corp. ("Capstone" or the "Company") (TSX:CS) announces additional high grade copper and silver results from five infill and 22 stepout drill holes at its Cozamin Mine, further to the update of January 16, 2020. The drilling program, aiming to double the current reserve base, is three months ahead of schedule with 177 holes of the 200 hole program completed. The results continue to demonstrate greater widths and higher grades than current Mineral Reserves, as well as the potential for an expanded high grade resource. An updated Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimates will be completed in late 2020. Cozamin is expected to achieve a 50% increase to annual copper and silver production of 50 to 55 million pounds and 1.5 million ounces, respectively, by 2021. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005263/en/ Figure 1 Select High Grade Step-out and Infill Holes at Cozamin Mine: April 2020 Drill Results. For full details, see Capstone's news release of April 23, 2020. (Graphic: Business Wire) "These drill results, as well as the set released in January, are amongst the best ever drilled at Cozamin. Despite the temporary ramp down of operations at Cozamin, due to COVID-19 restrictions in Mexico, we are well ahead of schedule and still expect to deliver an updated Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve estimate and Technical Report by the end of this year," said Brad Mercer, SVP Exploration and Operations. Darren Pylot, Capstone's President and CEO said, "Challenging times highlight the importance of having a safe, high grade, low cost and efficiently managed mining operation within your portfolio. These results support our belief that Cozamin will remain a crown jewel asset for this decade and longer." Highlighted drill results are summarized in Table 1 and full results for all previously unreleased holes since the January 16, 2020 news release are in Table 2. Table 1 Selected MNFWZ Drilling Completed Since the January 16, 2020 News Release Section ID # Drill hole ID Type In Resource From (m) To (m) Width (m) True Width* (m) Cu (%) Zn (%) Pb (%) Ag (g/t) 25 CG-20-S471 step-out no 567.5 574.1 6.6 5.1 7.58 0.26 0.01 113.1 including 567.5 572.3 4.8 3.7 9.61 0.32 0.01 140.8 16 CG-20-S473 step-out no 629.9 635.8 5.9 5.2 5.16 0.15 0.00 92.2 including 629.9 633.8 3.9 3.4 7.38 0.21 0.01 130.8 21 CG-20-S466 step-out no 614.7 625.1 10.4 7.3 3.70 0.12 0.01 64.1 including 620.9 625.1 4.2 2.9 6.16 0.19 0.01 105.3 23 CG-20-S476 step-out no 603.2 607.4 4.2 3.2 5.94 0.18 0.01 100.7 3 CG-20-S470 infill no 552.5 572.5 20.0 16.7 4.87 0.23 0.02 131.0 including 563.8 572.5 8.7 7.2 6.95 0.40 0.04 213.3 *estimated true width of vein intercept for inclined drill holes Figure 1 Select High Grade Step-out and Infill Holes at Cozamin Mine: April 2020 Drill Results The best grade*thickness intercepts lie outside of the current Mineral Reserve. There is a strong correlation between copper and silver grades. Figure 2 Long-section of the Mala Noche Footwall Zone Showing Copper * Estimated True Width (m) Figure 3 Image of Drill Core from Hole CG-20-S471 (7.58% Cu; 113.1 g/t Ag, TW 5.1m) For drill hole location and context please view the long-section of the MNFWZ at https://capstonemining.com/files/images/maps/April-23-PR-Long-Section-Full.pdf. Table 2 All MNFWZ Drilling Completed Since the January 16, 2020 News Release Section ID # Drill hole ID Type In Resource From (m) To (m) Width (m) True Width* (m) Cu (%) Zn (%) Pb (%) Ag (g/t) 1 CG-20-S475 step-out no 431.0 441.7 10.7 8.6 1.55 0.16 0.05 65.7 including 432.3 438.5 6.2 5.0 2.30 0.25 0.08 95.4 2 CG-20-S479 step-out no 534.4 535.1 0.7 0.7 3.94 0.29 0.02 102.0 3 CG-20-S470 infill no 552.5 572.5 20.0 16.7 4.87 0.23 0.02 131.0 including 563.8 572.5 8.7 7.2 6.95 0.40 0.04 213.3 4 CG-20-S458 infill no 548.1 578.0 29.9 21.3 2.06 0.20 0.01 52.7 including 562.5 567.1 4.6 3.3 7.11 0.43 0.02 217.2 5 CG-20-S465 infill no 551.8 569.8 18.0 15.5 1.34 0.05 0.01 24.3 including 552.3 566.7 14.4 12.4 1.59 0.05 0.01 28.5 6 CG-20-S461 step-out no 480.9 484.8 3.9 3.7 3.45 0.16 0.02 67.6 including 481.8 484.3 2.5 2.3 5.06 0.23 0.02 92.0 7 CG-20-S472 step-out no 402.5 403.3 0.8 0.7 1.09 0.03 0.01 27.2 8 CG-20-S468 step-out no 378.9 384.5 5.6 4.9 0.88 0.11 0.01 40.6 including 378.9 380.8 1.9 1.6 1.92 0.26 0.02 97.6 9 CG-20-S464 step-out no 468.8 473.1 4.3 4.1 2.80 0.39 0.02 58.1 including 469.9 471.5 1.6 1.5 6.86 0.68 0.02 122.4 10 CG-20-S469 step-out no 457.8 466.8 9.0 8.3 1.78 0.06 0.01 38.4 including 458.4 460.4 2.0 1.8 6.29 0.16 0.01 123.7 11 CG-20-S480 step-out no 399.0 403.0 4.0 3.6 2.76 0.10 0.01 58.4 including 399.0 401.2 2.2 2.0 4.17 0.15 0.01 78.4 12 CG-20-S463 step-out no 381.5 384.0 2.5 2.3 0.67 0.07 0.01 22.0 including 381.5 383.2 1.7 1.6 0.89 0.08 0.01 28.7 13 CG-20-S459 step-out no 393.7 394.4 0.7 0.6 0.88 0.06 0.07 44.5 14 CG-20-S474 step-out no 459.2 461.9 2.7 2.5 8.28 0.22 0.02 157.0 15 CG-20-S478 step-out no 439.5 452.5 13.0 12.3 2.33 0.08 0.01 51.6 16 CG-20-S473 step-out no 629.9 635.8 5.9 5.2 5.16 0.15 0.00 92.2 including 629.9 633.8 3.9 3.4 7.38 0.21 0.01 130.8 17 CG-20-U507 infill no 522.1 522.8 0.7 0.6 2.36 0.11 0.01 40.0 18 CG-20-U508 infill no 496.5 501.9 5.4 5.1 0.94 0.04 0.01 16.6 including 500.8 501.9 1.1 1.0 2.93 0.09 0.01 53.0 19 CG-20-U509 step-out no no significant intercepts 20 CG-20-U510 step-out no no significant intercepts 21 CG-20-S466 step-out no 614.7 625.1 10.4 7.3 3.70 0.12 0.01 64.1 including 620.9 625.1 4.2 2.9 6.16 0.19 0.01 105.3 22 CG-20-S460 step-out no 552.2 552.8 0.6 0.5 0.53 0.47 0.04 18.7 23 CG-20-S476 step-out no 603.2 607.4 4.2 3.2 5.94 0.18 0.01 100.7 24 CG-20-S462 step-out no 549.4 552.4 3.0 2.9 0.36 0.01 0.00 10.4 25 CG-20-S471 step-out no 567.5 574.1 6.6 5.1 7.58 0.26 0.01 113.1 including 567.5 572.3 4.8 3.7 9.61 0.32 0.01 140.8 26 CG-20-S467 step-out no 521.8 522.8 1.0 0.9 2.24 0.66 0.01 41.2 27 CG-20-S477 step-out no 528.5 531.8 3.3 2.7 2.58 0.17 0.01 43.7 including 530.9 531.8 0.9 0.7 7.39 0.27 0.01 125.0 *estimated true width of vein intercept for inclined drill holes Following are the select high grade step-out and infill holes from the January 2020 drill results, shown in the same format as April's results for reference. For full details, refer to the Company's news release of January 16, 2020. Figure 4 Select High Grade Step-out and Infill holes at Cozamin: January 2020 Drill Results METHODOLOGY All samples were submitted for preparation by ALS at its facilities in Zacatecas, Mexico, followed by analysis at the ALS Laboratory in North Vancouver, Canada. The entire sample is crushed to a minimum of 70% passing 2 millimetres. A 250g subsample of the crushed material is then pulverized to 85% passing 75 microns. Copper, zinc, lead and silver are determined by ICP analysis after 4 acid digestion of a 0.25 to 0.4g subsample of pulverized material. QAQC samples in each batch of 20 samples include a blank, a certified reference material and a duplicate (one of a field, coarse reject or pulp reject). ABOUT CAPSTONE MINING CORP. Capstone Mining Corp. is a Canadian base metals mining company, focused on copper. Our two producing mines are the Pinto Valley copper mine located in Arizona, US and the Cozamin copper-silver mine in Zacatecas State, Mexico. In addition, Capstone has the large scale 70% owned copper-iron Santo Domingo development project in Region III, Chile, in partnership with Korea Resources Corporation, as well as a portfolio of exploration properties. Capstone's strategy is to focus on the optimization of operations and assets in politically stable, mining-friendly regions, centred in the Americas. We are committed to the responsible development of our assets and the environments in which we operate. Our headquarters are in Vancouver, Canada and we are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). Further information is available at www.capstonemining.com. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This news release, and the documents incorporated by reference herein, may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this document and Capstone Mining Corp. ("Capstone" or the "Company") does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required under applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect our expectations or beliefs regarding future events. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the continuing success of mineral exploration, Capstone's ability to fund future exploration activities, the estimation of mineral resources and mineral reserves, the realization of mineral reserve estimates, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production and capital expenditures, the success of our mining operations, the estimations for potential quantities and grade of inferred resources and exploration targets, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses and title disputes. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "aiming", "approximately", "guidance", "scheduled", "target", "estimates", "forecasts", "extends", "convert", "potential", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would", "will", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" or the negative of these terms or comparable terminology. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, amongst others, risks related to inherent hazards associated with mining operations and closure of mining projects, the inherent uncertainty of mineral exploration and estimations of exploration targets, potential delays in exploration due to COVID-19 or governmental action, future prices of copper and other metals, compliance with financial covenants, surety bonding, our ability to raise capital or fund explorations, Capstone's ability to acquire properties for growth, counterparty risks associated with sales of our metals, foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, changes in general economic conditions, accuracy of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates, operating in foreign jurisdictions with risk of changes to governmental regulation, compliance with governmental regulations, compliance with environmental laws and regulations, reliance on approvals, licences and permits from governmental authorities, impact of climatic conditions on our operations, aboriginal title claims and rights to consultation and accommodation, land reclamation and mine closure obligations, uncertainties and risks related to the potential development of the Cozamin project, increased operating and capital costs, challenges to title to our mineral properties, maintaining ongoing social license to operate, dependence on key management personnel, potential conflicts of interest involving our directors and officers, corruption and bribery, limitations inherent in our insurance coverage, labour relations, increasing energy prices, competition in the mining industry, risks associated with joint venture partners, our ability to integrate new acquisitions into our operations, cybersecurity threats, legal proceedings, and other risks of the mining industry as well as those factors detailed from time to time in the Company's interim and annual financial statements and MD&A of those statements, all of which are filed and available for review under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those described in our forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause our results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that our forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. NATIONAL INSTRUMENT 43-101 COMPLIANCE Unless otherwise indicated, Capstone has prepared the technical information in this news release ("Technical Information") based on information contained in the technical reports, news releases and MD&A's (collectively the "Disclosure Documents") available under Capstone Mining Corp.'s company profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Each Disclosure Document was prepared by, or under the supervision of, a qualified person (a "Qualified Person") as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators ("NI 43-101"). Readers are encouraged to review the full text of the Disclosure Documents which qualifies the Technical Information. Readers are advised that mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The Disclosure Documents are each intended to be read as a whole, and sections should not be read or relied upon out of context. The Technical Information is subject to the assumptions and qualifications contained in the Disclosure Documents. The Technical Information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and reviewed and approved by Brad Mercer, P. Geol., Capstone's Senior Vice President, Operations and Exploration, a Qualified Person and the person who oversees exploration activities on the Cozamin Mine property. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200423005263/en/ Contacts: Jerrold Annett, VP, Strategy and Capital Markets 416-572-2272 jannett@capstonemining.com Virginia Morgan, Manager, IR and Communications 604-674-2268 vmorgan@capstonemining.com Source: Xinhua| 2020-04-23 12:18:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- China will launch an online shopping festival to prop up consumption after its economic growth contracted 6.8 percent year on year in the first quarter. The festival, the second of its kind, marks the latest step taken by the world's second-largest economy to expand domestic consumption and blunt the impacts of the novel coronavirus epidemic on its economy, according to a statement on the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) website. Over 100 e-commerce companies will take part in the festival, selling a great variety of quality goods ranging from agricultural products to electronic devices. Consumers are expected to enjoy steeper discounts and better services, according to the statement. China is pinning more hopes on domestic consumption to revive its economy as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic worldwide depressed external demand. The country's retail sales of consumer goods, a major indicator of consumption growth, declined 19 percent year on year in the first quarter. The festival, which will run from April 28 to May 10, is jointly launched by the MOC, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the State Post Bureau and the China Consumers Association. Enditem At his factory just off the Delaware River, in the far southeastern corner of Pennsylvania, Joe Boyce clocked in on March 23 for the longest shift of his life. In his office, an air mattress replaced his desk chair. He brought a toothbrush and shaving kit, moving into the Braskem petrochemical plant in Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, as if it were a makeshift college dormitory. The casual office kitchen became a mess hall for him and his 42 coworkers-turned-roommates. The factory's emergency operations center became their new lounge room. For 28 days, they did not leave - sleeping and working all in one place. In what they called a "live-in" at the factory, the undertaking was just one example of the endless ways that Americans in every industry have uniquely contributed to fighting coronavirus. The 43 men went home Sunday after each working 12-hour shifts all day and night for a month straight, producing tens of millions of pounds of the raw materials that will end up in face masks and surgical gowns worn on the front lines of the pandemic. No one told them they had to do it, Braskem America CEO Mark Nikolich said. All of the workers volunteered, hunkering down at the plant to ensure no one caught the virus outside as they sought to meet the rocketing demand for their key product, polypropylene, which is needed to make various medical and hygienic items. Braskem's plant in Neal, West Virginia, is doing a second live-in now. The story was earlier reported in Philadelphia's WPVI. "We were just happy to be able to help," Boyce, an operations shift supervisor and a 27-year veteran at Braskem America, told The Washington Post. "We've been getting messages on social media from nurses, doctors, EMS workers, saying thank you for what we're doing. But we want to thank them for what they did and are continuing to do. That's what made the time we were in there go by quickly, just being able to support them." For countless face masks in America, their journey from a blob of chemicals into the hands of first responders and grocery-store clerks likely began at a plant just like Braskem's. The company, which touts itself as the largest petrochemical producer in the Americas, is one of the earliest links in the supply chain, providing a key ingredient for the personal protective equipment that millions of people worldwide now need each day. Nikolich said the company has shifted its production lines to focus on making that key ingredient, polypropylene, given the high demand due to covid-19. The company then sells the product to clients that turn it into a nonwoven fabric, which medical manufacturers ultimately use to make face masks, medical gowns and even disinfectant wipes, among other items. Nikolich estimated that the Braskem plants in Pennsylvania and West Virginia have produced 40 million pounds of polypropylene over the past month - enough to hypothetically make either 500 million N95 masks or 1.5 billion surgical masks, if the material were only used for that purpose. (It will also be used for other PPE such as the gowns, Nikolich stressed.) "It just makes you immensely proud to be associated with a team like that," Nikolich said. "They're operating in a strange environment 24/7, 365." Nikolich said the plants decided to launch the live-ins so employees could avoid having to worry about catching the virus while constantly traveling to and from work, and so the staff at the factory could be closed off to nonessential personnel. They were paid for all 24 hours each day, with a built-in wage increase for both working hours and off time, the company said. It did not disclose the specific percentages. "We tried to make them as comfortable as possible," Nikolich said. Boyce said some guys brought their Xbox consoles and TVs, and even a cornhole set, to stay entertained. They stayed active at the on-site gym, which "has never been used so much before," Boyce said, and stayed extra busy in the kitchen. A skilled cook, Boyce and others asked corporate for more pots and pans and a stove, whipping up creamed corn, barbecue and even filet mignon dinners for more than 40 people a night. Before long, they fell into a routine like they were all in one enormous household, he said. "We had to kind of adapt. We came up with a chart for housekeeping chores so we could all clean the bathrooms and clean up after meals," Boyce said. "It wasn't long before we're all sitting in the same spots at dinner." But being separated from family got harder as time went on, said Boyce, a father of two teenagers. Some guys counted down the days. One missed the birth of his first grandchild. Visitors weren't allowed. So on Day 14, the families organized a "drive-by visit," Boyce said. It was their hump day, celebrating not only being halfway done but also free of any signs of the virus, as no one during that 14-day period developed even a sniffle. With a police escort, more than two dozen families paraded past the plant bearing signs and cheering from the windows - too far away for a conversation but just close enough "to give a boost to all the guys," Boyce said. "It was something to see," he said. "Just a shout and wave was pretty much what we got, but it was enough." They went back to work. The days blended between factory floor and conference-room bedrooms, until finally, on Sunday, it was time to clock out. "We wanted to walk out as a team," Boyce said. "Everybody felt that way. It really hit me when my car got a little ways down from the plant - I'm finally going to see my family." AKU, Azerbaijan, Apr. 23 Trend: The recent appeals of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, as well as the "representative" of the illegal regime created by this country in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, again showed the true essence of Armenia, Head of the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan Tural Ganjaliyev said, Trend reports. Armenia again demonstrated to the world an attempt to conceal its aggressive policies under the false appearance of a peaceful negotiator, trying to delay the time on resolving the conflict and systematically strengthen the existing status quo based on occupation, Ganjaliyev said. The refusal of Armenia to focus on phased solution of the conflict, which is supported by the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, undermines the negotiation process, he added. The Prime Minister of Armenia stated that there are no Madrid principles for Armenia. This is an open disregard for the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group. The Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan calls on the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group to express a decisive position in connection with the latest actions of Armenia, which contradict the fundamental principles of the negotiation process, the head of the community noted. The head of the community also brought to the attention the following position of the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan: The parties to the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict are Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Armenian and Azerbaijani communities of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan are equally interested parties of the conflict, as enshrined in 1992 by the Helsinki Act of the OSCE Ministerial Council. This is once again confirmed by the meetings and statements of the OSCE Minsk Group during a visit to the region in 2019, Ganjaliyev stressed. Changing the format of negotiations adopted by all parties is impossible, and this attempt is a provocation and undermines the negotiation process, he said. Touching upon the security issue touched upon by Armenia, Ganjaliyev noted that the biggest security threat is actually the presence of the Armenian armed forces in the occupied Azerbaijani territories. Attempts to justify the occupation of the internationally recognized territories of Azerbaijan by the "right" of self-determination are futile, they're are simply self-deception. The Armenian armed forces must leave Azerbaijani territories and the Azerbaijani population expelled from there must return to their lands, as required by the international community, international organizations, first of all, UN Security Council resolutions, the head of the community, the head of the community said. The illegal regime on the occupied lands of Azerbaijan was created by Armenia to cover up the occupation. Attitude to the latest so-called "elections" in occupied Karabakh has shown that the international community does not recognize this illegal regime. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, Non-Aligned Movement, EU, NATO, individual countries have openly expressed their positions, he noted. Armenia, using for the sake of its purposes, the situation that arose as a result of aggression and ethnic cleansing, refutes the existence of the Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan and leaves the communitys calls for peaceful coexistence unanswered. Thus, Armenia destroys the prospect of resolving the conflict through negotiations. It is impossible to talk about security in the face of the impossibility of returning the Azerbaijani community to their homes, which is one third of the population of Nagorno-Karabakh. Therefore, one of the important security conditions is the return of the Azerbaijani community to their native lands, Ganjaliyev said. The blackmail of Azerbaijan by Armenia and the illegal regime is nothing more than a simple illusion. This is proved by the counter-offensive measures carried out by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces to ensure the safety of, first of all, the civilian population living on the contact line in response to similar provocations of Armenia in April 2016, the head of the community added. Continuation of the occupation by Armenia does not strengthen its security and the region, it is quite the opposite. Only Armenia is responsible for all this, he said. The Azerbaijani community of the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan reiterates its readiness for peaceful coexistence with the Armenian community within the internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan, Ganjaliyev concluded. 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 the withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno Karabakh and the surrounding districts. After 96 people tested positive for the coronavirus at San Franciscos largest shelter this month, alarmed Alameda County officials hurried to empty out shelters and move people into hotel rooms to prevent a similar outbreak. Since the San Francisco outbreak on April 10, Alameda County transferred at least 346 homeless people from shelters into two Oakland hotels. But before the outbreak across the bay, the county had moved only 70 people into the hotels since mid-March, prompting criticism from homeless advocates that Alameda County acted too slowly to protect vulnerable people from the coronavirus. The state leases the two hotels for more than $1 million a month about $186 a room per day at the Comfort Inn and the Radisson. The county acted with the urgency and competence that this crisis calls for, Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley said in a statement Wednesday, adding that rapidly housing the homeless is a monumental task. Homeless advocates say the threat of the coronavirus in Alameda County shelters and tent encampments underscores the urgency to move people into hotel rooms that are empty during the pandemic. They add that the focus should go beyond those living in shelters and include people in encampments, RVs and other vehicles. Alameda County has 8,022 homeless people 2,172 of whom live in tents, 1,431 in cars, 1,386 in RVs and 1,239 on the streets, according to a one-night street count released last summer. Social distancing is not possible in an encampment where youre sharing a bathroom and youre sharing a space, said Angela Shannon, a registered nurse and homeless advocate who lives in Oakland. Is it a fraction better than all sleeping in one room? Maybe. You cant stay in your tent 24/7. Everybody is at risk. In San Francisco, advocates and homeless people have called on officials to open hotel rooms for the citys homeless. Since the outbreak two weeks ago at Multi-Service Center South, San Franciscos largest shelter, nearly 900 people have moved into hotel rooms. More than 100, however, were first responders who work nearby. Michael Short / Special to The Chronicle At a time when California is under a shelter-in-place order, homeless people throughout the state are uniquely vulnerable to the coronavirus because self-quarantining is generally not an option for people who dont have a roof over their heads. Meanwhile, the pandemic and its economic devastation are also making it harder for cities to address chronic homelessness. San Francisco is projecting a $1.7 billion deficit due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Alameda County staff say they are working on budget projections and anticipate a deficit in the tens of millions of dollars, said county Supervisor Wilma Chan. One person has tested positive for the coronavirus at Berkeleys navigation center, Pathways STAIR Center. No other shelters have reported positive cases, but health care officials say the threat of an outbreak at an encampment is particularly concerning. I am so worried, said Michael Stacey, the chief medical officer with LifeLong Medical Care, a clinic that is testing homeless people in the county. Not only is social distancing extremely difficult, if not impossible, those individuals also have underlying medical problems and theyre already sicker than the general population. The county says it has fewer than 10 positive coronavirus cases among homeless people in encampments, and 11 people who tested positive who have no address. Chan acknowledged that the process has been slow and that it is difficult to transfer people, particularly those who were coronavirus positive. Infected people each need to be transferred one by one so they dont put others at risk in a vehicle. Of course, we always want to do things faster, but I think weve done a pretty adequate job given the order has only been in place for five weeks, Chan said. Chan said the county is working on identifying three more hotels one in Berkeley and two in Oakland to make 2,000 more hotel rooms available for the homeless. A study released Wednesday by UC Berkeley contends that the best way to protect homeless people from the coronavirus is to place all who are willing to go into hotel rooms or other types of single-occupancy units such as apartments, regardless of whether they show symptoms of the disease. The study, conducted at the universitys School of Public Health, supports the view of many doctors and homeless experts that its impossible to safely distance people from one another when theyre outside or in crowded shelters. It also suggests more vigorous testing of homeless people to pinpoint clusters before they spread. Talya Husbands-Hankin On March 16, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced 393 hotel rooms were available in Oakland to take a portion of the countys 8,022 homeless people. The rooms at the Comfort Inn and the Radisson were added as part of the states Project Roomkey initiative to house homeless people, including those who test positive for the coronavirus or show symptoms. 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. Rooms at the Radisson, called Operation Safer Ground, are reserved for people over age 65 with an underlying medical condition. At the Comfort Inn, or Operation Comfort, rooms are set aside for people who show symptoms of the virus or test positive. Another barrier for homeless people seeking rooms is the lack of testing available. Over a one-month period, the LifeLong clinic administered 300 tests. But since boosting its supply this month, the clinic can conduct 100 tests per day a significant increase, Stacey said. Advocates argue that the county should provide even more hotel rooms to help keep the homeless safe. They should just have enough rooms for anyone who wants and needs one, said Vera Sloan, a street outreach worker with Love and Justice in the Streets, a volunteer organization in Oakland. The disease moves quickly. The county moves like molasses, and that is just putting people in danger. As the county continues to address the homeless crisis amid a pandemic, tensions have soared among homeless people who fear getting sick. Delbra Taylor, 68, of Oakland lives in her vehicle and said she hasnt been able to get a hotel room. Gaining access to restrooms and handwashing stations is difficult, she said. We are out here, and everybody is ignoring us. Its not fair, Taylor said. There is nothing to protect me. How can we be protected if we are being left out? Chronicle staff writer Kevin Fagan contributed to this report. Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani China ride-hailing giant Didi Chuxing is upbeat that business overseas has turned a corner after dropping to a mid-March low amid the coronavirus pandemic, a senior executive said and is already looking into new markets and payment firm acquisitions. Though bullish over future prospects, Tony Qiu, chief operating officer of Didi's international operation, conceded that business sees a "double-digit" percentage hit in the short term, echoing gloom across an industry squeezed by travel restrictions in many countries to contain the virus. "[Overseas] business has recovered a little since reaching a low in mid-March," Qiu told Reuters in an interview. "In the short term it will impact our business by double-digit, but we hope by doing what we do during the epidemic, we will overcome the virus." Last week Uber Technologies warned of an up-to-$102 million revenue hit in the first half of this year, while Singapore-based Grab said its ride volumes have gone down by a double-digit percentage in some countries. Uber withdrew its 2020 forecast for gross bookings and earnings, while Grab said it would cap costs. Uber owned 15% of Didi at least as of September 2018 after selling its Chinese operations to its one-time rival in 2016. Now easily the biggest ride-hailing firm in China, Didi has also been backed by Japan's SoftBank Group to the tune of nearly $12 billion and was valued at $56 billion in a 2017 financing round. Qiu declined to be more specific on the financial detail of the coronavirus impact on operations. He said his business unit saw daily rides hit a peak of 5 million before the outbreak. On average daily overseas rides account for about 20% of Didi's entire ride-hailing operation. Underlining the company's bullish approach, Didi's Chief Executive Officer Cheng Wei said last week the firm aims to have 800 million monthly active users globally and complete 100 million orders a day by 2022, including ride-sharing, bike and food delivery orders. Demand for Didi in China itself has been recovering quickly since the easing of coronavirus city lockdowns, the company said. One of the company's main products, Any car, with which passengers can hire ride-hailing cars or taxis, saw March orders more than triple compared with February. Qiu declined to say how much his business unit might invest in new acquisitions. "Acquiring and working with payment companies which have the banking licence, payment or financial technologies would bring advantages to Didi's global business," Qiu said, adding there are no clear plans yet for any deals. Beyond China, Didi operates in eight countries across Latin America, Australia and Japan. New markets being studied could be in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, he said. But Qiu said Didi has no clear plan to enter Southeast Asia and the United States for now, as those markets have already become fierce battlegrounds for the likes of Uber, Lyft, Grab and Indonesia's Gojek. Other expansions being considered would be food delivery services and payments operations in markets where it is already present. Didi already delivers food in Japan, Brazil and Mexico and is rolling out on-demand delivery and courier services in Australia and Latin America. Qiu said Didi is also exporting practices developed in China to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. In Mexico, for example, it is offering instructions to drivers on how to install protective plastic sheets in their cars, while it's helping to disinfect cars in Brazil. It's also looking into how it can better use technology to trace infected people, Qiu said. Catch our entire coverage on the Facebook-Jio deal here. Online booking allows easier contact tracing than conventional taxis, he said, and technologies used by Didi's platform helped the Chinese health authorities quickly track down infected cases, as well as those who had close contacts with them.Also read: Coronavirus News India LIVE Updates Algiers, Algeria When the well-known Algerian journalist Khaled Drareni was arrested by the police in late March there were no demonstrations on the streets of the North African country. In an initial attempt to contain the coronavirus outbreak in Algeria, which has reported 2910 total cases and 402 deaths as of Thursday, the government on March 17 announced a series of measures, including a ban on marches and public gatherings. Drareni, who has widely reported on Algerias protest movement that erupted in February 2019, had previously been arrested on March 7 but he was provisionally released after an outcry and protests outside the courthouse. Rights groups and media watchdogs condemned the rearrest of Drareni, a correspondent for the global media freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF) who has worked for several international media outlets. At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the importance of accurate reporting, Algerian authorities have instead opted to clamp down on the free flow of information, said the Committee to Protect Journalists in a statement after the arrest. Algerian authorities must release Khaled Drareni from this ludicrous prison sentence and drop all charges against him. Khaled Drareni has reported on Algerias protest movement in depth. [File: Ryad Kramdi/AFP] The protest movement, also known as the Hirak, emerged after longtime ruler Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced he would run for a fifth term in office. While the mass demonstrations eventually helped force the president to step down in April 2019, the protesters continued to gather each week in an attempt to press for widespread reform of the countrys political system. The movement suspended its gatherings last month, citing the coronavirus outbreak. The case of Drareni is one in a series of incidents in the country in recent weeks that activists say amount to a campaign against the critical voices and opposition in the country. Dozens of people including activists and students have been summoned since the novel coronavirus pandemic broke out, according to the National Committee for the Liberation of Detainees (CNLD), a prisoners rights group. It has accused the authorities of cracking down on their opponents at a time when mass protests are not permitted. The authorities are taking advantage of this period of confinement because they know that people will not go out to protest on the street, said CNLD coordinator Kaci Tansaout. On Wednesday, Algerias Parliament passed a draft law criminalising fake news deemed harmful to public order and state security. RSF condemned the bill, describing it in a statement as vaguely worded and draconian legislation which is designed to tighten the gag on press freedom. Sudden trial In another high-profile case, the imprisoned opposition figure Karim Tabbou was suddenly brought to trial on March 24, two days before he was due to be released. A former parliamentarian and prominent activist in the anti-government protest movement, Tabbou was sentenced to an additional six months in prison on charges of affronting national unity and affronting the morale of the army. Nassima Rezazgui, a member of the Collective for the Defence of Prisoners of Opinion, which represents Tabbou legally, told Al Jazeera that the process violated constitutional laws and procedures. We were not notified that the trial was taking place. We went to the courthouse the day before to check if his case was programmed and found nothing. That means it was programmed in the morning and processed on the same day, she said. On the morning of his trial, Tabbou reportedly fainted when he learned that his lawyers would not be present and was taken to the infirmary. He was sentenced in absentia. The conditions of a trial were not fulfilled. Under law, the presence of the defendant during judgement is necessary. Karim was not even in the room, Rezazgui said. Tabbou was sentenced in absentia to an additional six months in prison. [Pierre Andrieu/AFP] The next day the prosecutor generals office issued a statement defending the trial. Karim Tabbous judgement was in conformity with article 347, paragraph 2 of the procedural criminal code, which considers the defendant present if he refuses to answer, the statement said. On the same day as the first coronavirus measures were announced, the ministry of justice suspended all hearings and appeals in criminal and correctional courts a measure that has since been extended until the end of April. The CNLD said at least 50 people have been summoned by the judicial police since March 17, including students and activists, some of whom were interrogated and provisionally released while others faced an immediate trial. There have been a lot of summons, arrest warrants issued and even arrests this week, Tansaout said. Most accusations are related to Facebook publications. The CNLD said the most recent summons were ordered on April 15. Rezazgui said that while the courts had suspended most of their activities, they continued to process cases against anti-government activists. On April 15, two young men in Bou Saada were placed on remand two days after being arrested because of Facebook posts. Their trial has been postponed until May 6. They are not judging anyone except those active in the Hirak. Those that use their constitutional rights of freedom of expression or peaceful demonstration find themselves in prison, Rezazgui said. No amnesty for political prisoners On April 1, Tebboune announced a presidential amnesty which authorised the release of some 5,000 prisoners. The announcement made no mention of any link to the coronavirus outbreak in the country, but a number of countries have released prisoners in an attempt to protect them from potential outbreaks in prisons, where conditions are not conducive to physical distancing. Opposition activists and politicians were among the groups of prisoners who were excluded from the amnesty, despite calls from lawyers, families and activists for their release. Said Salhi, of the Algerian League of Human Rights (LADDH) said in a statement: This really is an escalation of incomprehensible repression at a time when we need to empty prisons confronting the contagion of the coronavirus. Local media in early April reported two positive cases of the novel coronavirus in prisons, including one death. Actor John Cho has expressed concerned over the racial hatred against the Asian-American community in America, saying coronavirus pandemic has made the community realise that their "belonging is conditional" in the US. In the essay published in the Los Angeles Times, the 47-year-old actor highlighted how the community finds itself at the receiving end of hate due to COVID-19. "I called my parents a few nights ago to tell them to be cautious when stepping out of the house, because they might be targets of verbal or even physical abuse. It felt so strange. Our roles had flipped," Cho wrote. "The fact that the coronavirus seems to have originated in China has spawneda slew of anti-Asian hate crimes. Across the country, Asian American parents and children are making versions of the call I made. Friends are sharing first-hand accounts of abuse on text chains and circulating articles on Facebook, always ending with the suddenly ominous stay safe," he added. Cho, whocame to the US from South Korea when he was six and was naturalised in 1990, said his parents would always tell him to "act like the natives", hoping that "race would not disadvantage us." "In some ways, I began to lead a life devoid of race. But I've learned that a moment always comes along to remind you that your race defines you above all else," he added. The actor, who became a star after featuring in "Harold and Kumar" series with Kal Penn, recalled how things became difficult for his co-star post 9/11 attacks. Cho said that Penn was unfairly treated at airports and subjected to "random checks" by security personnel, while others were allowed to pass through without any hassle. "Asian Americans are experiencing such a moment right now. The pandemic is reminding us that our belonging is conditional. One moment we are Americans, the next we are all foreigners, who 'brought' the virus here," he added. The actor further said most Asian stereotypes tend to be complimentary and people believe it is "somehow less serious, that it's racism lite". But it also allows them to "dismiss the current wave of Asian hate crimes as trivial, isolated and unimportant. Consider the comedians who mock Asians, but restrain themselves when it comes to other groups." "If the coronavirus has taught us anything, it's that the solution to a widespread problem cannot be patchwork. Never has our interconnectedness and our reliance on each other been plainer. "You can't stand up for some and not for others. And like the virus, unchecked aggression has the potential to spread wildly. Please don't minimise the hate or assume it's somewhere far away. It's happening close to you. If you see it on the street, say something. If you hear it at work, say something. If you sense it in your family, say something. Stand up for your fellow Americans," Cho concluded. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) INDIANAPOLIS (WLFI) Some local governments are getting a share of COVID-19 grant funds from the state. Indiana Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch says the Office of Community and Rural Affairs launched the program to ease the burden on smaller communities. Thirteen rural Hoosier communities will receive more than $1.96 million in federal grant funding. Funds will be re-directed from pre-existing programs. "After setting up weekly calls with our local elected officials and Main Street organizations, I was able to hear how quickly we needed to provide funding to assist with rising medical needs and to save jobs and small businesses, said Crouch. "Our rural communities are truly the next economic frontier and we have to do all we can to ensure they survive this crisis. Tippecanoe County is getting $100,000 to provide distribution services for essential supplies to quarantined or isolated people. Logansport is getting $100,000 to deliver supplies and meals to LMI residents with United Way. Cass County and Logansport Memorial Hospital will get $150,000 for COVID-19 testing. The City of Delphi is getting nearly $200,000 to create funds for local business capital. I'm incredibly grateful to Lt. Gov. Crouch for her collaborative leadership and her commitment to Hoosiers," said State Sen. Ron Alting (R-Lafayette). "This funding will greatly help families and individuals in our community who are in need of food and other supplies." Motorists wait at a traffic-light in Hanoi, Vietnam, as the country eased its nationwide social distancing effort Thursday. (Manan Vatsyayana / AFP/Getty Images) Offering a rare and surprising bright spot in the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam began easing its nationwide lockdown Thursday following an aggressive containment campaign that has meant few infections and no deaths in an Asian nation initially believed to be at great risk from the coronavirus. The communist-ruled country has sealed its borders, quarantined masses of people, used soldiers and police to track down potential infections and fined social media users for spreading misinformation. After deploying the full arsenal of a single-party state, the sprawling nation of 95 million people has now gone a full week without recording a new infection. But despite their effectiveness, Vietnam's measures are not easily replicable. Its intolerance of dissent and ability to mobilize an entire security and political apparatus steps more common in China meant its campaign met little of the pushback seen in Western liberal democracies. And experts caution that the fight isn't over. Starting Thursday, Vietnam allowed residents across the country to resume small gatherings and restarted buses, taxis and regular domestic flights for the first time in three weeks. But with much of Southeast Asia still under lockdown, people must continue wearing masks in public, gatherings of more than 20 remain off-limits, schools will stay closed for several more weeks and international flights are still grounded, officials said. "Many parts of the world are still infected, so the risk is not over for us, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said this week. Since the government imposed a partial nationwide lockdown April 1, Vietnam saw only a modest increase in coronavirus cases to 268, with all but 44 recovered and no fatalities. A poster in Hanoi reads "Fighting COVID-19," in Vietnamese. Many business activities resumed Thursday as Vietnam lifted a nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19. (Hau Dinh / Associated Press) The numbers are stunningly low considering that Vietnam which shares a border with China was among the first countries where the virus spread and lacks the resources of governments more celebrated for their containment strategies, such as South Koreas widespread testing and Taiwans aggressive digital surveillance. Story continues Its results stand out even more as other Southeast Asian countries struggle. Wealthy Singapore, once regarded as a model, has seen infections skyrocket among migrant workers living in overcrowded dormitories. Indonesia, the largest country in the region, initially ignored the threat and now has the most COVID-19 deaths in Asia after China. Its pretty amazing, said Huong Le Thu, a senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. Im cautious of calling Vietnam a success story. Its too early to be out of the woods. But the measures have been quite effective so far. Experts credit Vietnams early, decisive steps: swiftly banning nearly all travel from China, suspending schools in mid-January even before recording any infections, quarantining tens of thousands of people and employing the extensive Communist Party apparatus to communicate distancing measures and trace the contacts of COVID-19 patients. The response was made possible by a Leninist one-party system that is often criticized for maintaining secrecy, silencing dissent and trampling on individual rights but that has proven adept at tackling health crises since it was the first nation to stamp out the SARS epidemic nearly two decades ago. Only a few countries can control and mobilize resources on this scale, said Le Hong Hiep, a Vietnam analyst at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore. In Vietnam they can do it, and partly because of a political system thats designed to respond to such situations. Its not always good, but in a crisis it helps. The sweeping measures often led to large numbers of people being isolated over just a handful of infections. In February, when a group of Vietnamese workers tested positive for the virus after returning from Wuhan, the Chinese city that was the source of the outbreak, authorities locked down their entire commune of 10,000 people for three weeks the first mass quarantine outside China. Last month, more than 300 medical staff, police, soldiers and civilians were deployed to track down the contacts of a British pilot believed to be the origin of a coronavirus cluster at a bar in Ho Chi Minh City. Authorities sealed off several businesses and quarantined thousands of people in their apartments. In recent weeks, as imported infections surged across Asia, Vietnam placed tens of thousands of incoming travelers whether they showed COVID-19 symptoms or not in quarantine at army barracks, university dorms and other public facilities. As precautionary steps, they were aggressive, perhaps overly so. But they kept pressure off of Vietnams hospitals and allowed contact tracers to focus on a relatively small number of clusters. What we know now is this virus spreads from pre-symptomatic people, and if youre only monitoring people when they get symptoms its too late, said Todd Pollack, a Harvard Medical School infectious disease specialist who leads a health initiative in the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi. Shoppers practice social distancing at a market in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Sunday. (Manan Vatsyayana / AFP/Getty Images) American officials have been struck by Vietnams low infection rate. Experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Vietnam who have provided assistance in testing, data analysis and contact tracing say they dont have any indication that those numbers are false, Dr. John MacArthur, the centers director in Thailand, said on a conference call with reporters last week. This week, state media reported that tests of more than 1,000 shoppers in Hanoi markets and more than 19,000 travelers at airports and train stations in Ho Chi Minh City found no infections, bolstering the belief that the outbreak has been contained. Its success has allowed Vietnam to begin playing the role of benefactor a subtle challenge to its sometime rival China donating hundreds of thousands of masks to Europe and its Southeast Asian neighbors. This month Hanoi expedited the shipment to the U.S. of nearly half a million protective medical suits manufactured at a DuPont factory in Vietnam, earning a thank-you tweet from President Trump. This morning, 450,000 protective suits landed in Dallas, Texas. This was made possible because of the partnership of two great American companiesDuPont and FedExand our friends in Vietnam. Thank you! @DuPont_News @FedEx pic.twitter.com/8yhG6tYnQW Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2020 Analysts say Vietnams turbulent relationship with China influenced its response to the outbreak. Days after China reported the first death from the virus Jan. 11 and before any cases had surfaced in Vietnam the health ministry held a high-level meeting with U.S. and World Health Organization officials to lay out a containment plan. At the core of Vietnams concern was the suspicion that the scale of the outbreak was much higher than what is officially reported by China, Le said. That skepticism turned out to be well founded as China was accused of suppressing initial reports about how fast the virus was spreading. This week, the U.S. cybersecurity company FireEye reported that hackers linked to the Vietnamese government had attempted to break into the email accounts of Chinese emergency management officials and authorities in Wuhan beginning in January ostensibly to learn more about the outbreak. Vietnam understands China better than some other countries, Le said. Because of the similar political systems, they know how China works, and they know the risks and downsides of such systems. They know there may be problems in Chinas data. So in dealing with China, Vietnam is very cautious. (UPDATE: Police received an anonymous tip Thursday morning, April 23, leading them to the location of the truck and the identities of the three individuals, a 16 year old and two 15 year old boys.) MOSCOW TWP., MI Police are searching for three young men suspected of breaking into and damaging a Moscow Township home in Hillsdale County nearly a week ago. Troopers are investigating a break-in and malicious destruction of property that occurred April 18 at a residence in the 8000 block of Mosherville Road, according to Michigan State Police. A witness photographed three suspects, who all appear to be young males, arriving at the residence in a newer model red pickup, entering the property and then fleeing after causing damage to the property, police said. A red truck was seen driving past the residence on two different days prior to the incident, police said. Anyone with information about the break-in, or can help identify the suspects, is asked to call the Michigan State Police Jackson Post at 517-780-4580. More from The Jackson Citizen Patriot: A void that just wont be filled, lifelong friend says of West Texas BBQ owners death Man shot in Jackson neighborhood, wound not life threatening Former state rep returning as Jackson County commissioner Jackson County wont tell businesses to reopen early, but formally blasts Whitmers stay-at-home order 23.04.2020 LISTEN The Ghana Police Service has announced that Vincent Adjei, the alleged ring leader in the murder of Mr Mawutor Adzahli, the Assembly Member for the Sogakope South Electoral Area has been remanded into prison custody by the Dabala District Court. Adjei, 34, is to reappear in Court on May 26. "Four other persons, namely: Bright Awuya 33, Franklin Tetteh 22; Ansong Steven 26; and Amos Agbaklah 25, were also remanded by the Court on the same facts," a Police statement said. "The suspects were arrested from different locations across the country". It would be recalled that on March 1, 2020, Mr Mawutor Adzahli was murdered in his house by unknown assailants. ---graphic.com.gh [April 23, 2020] Mohave Electric Cooperative Moves Forward To Build Fiber Optic Network In Partnership With TWN Communications BULLHEAD CITY, Ariz. and OLDSMAR, Fla., April 23, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Mohave Electric Cooperative (MEC) announced they have received approval from the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), in a unanimous 5-0 vote, to proceed with a planned broadband network deployment project. This initiative is designed to provide fiber optic-based internet access for the 40,000+ residential and commercial members MEC serves. The decision by the ACC will set a new precedent for electric cooperatives in Arizona, to be able to secure financing, above a previously set theshold, for the purpose of providing access to broadband internet service for cooperative members. "The onset of COVID-19 has made it clearer than ever that residents in rural America still lack reliable broadband service. The impact of this project for our residential members, as well as anchor institutions such as education and healthcare organizations will be tremendous. MEC is excited to help our members receive the access to high speed internet they've been needing for so long," said Tyler Carlson, CEO for Mohave Electric Cooperative. MEC, in partnership with TWN Communications, will begin construction of the network infrastructure soon and anticipate service will begin to be available to some cooperative members later this year. The entire network is currently scheduled to be completed within 5 years of the start of construction. Colin Wood, CEO for TWN Communications says, "This is an exciting time for Arizona. The ability for electric cooperatives to work with companies such as ours will help bridge the rural digital divide even faster. We are proud to work alongside an organization like Mohave Electric, and are excited to get started on construction to bring broadband service to members as quickly as possible." TWN already provides MEC members with fixed wireless internet service in many areas, however, this new project will bring faster, fiber optic service to all these members, as well as those that are currently unserved. MEC members will have access to plans of 1 Gbps or more when service becomes available in their community. About TWN TWN partners with America's rural electric cooperatives to deploy residential and commercial broadband services to co-op member-owners. The unique partnership approach TWN offers to electric cooperatives mitigates financial risk to the co-op while still allowing the cooperative to deliver broadband services to even the most underserved rural areas. TWN works hand in hand with the cooperative to provide broadband feasibility studies, network design, engineering, construction and ongoing daily network operations and support. About MEC Mohave Electric Cooperative is a locally based, not-for-profit distribution cooperative providing electricity to more than 40,000 meters with over 1500 miles of line in the communities of Bullhead City, Fort Mohave, Wikieup, Hackberry and Peach Springs. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mohave-electric-cooperative-moves-forward-to-build-fiber-optic-network-in-partnership-with-twn-communications-301046199.html SOURCE TWN Communications [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] PepsiCo South Africa has announced a R12m initiative to provide meals to vulnerable South Africans during the Covid-19 crisis. This initiative, led locally by PepsiCo companies Pioneer Foods and Simba, will serve more than 11 million meals to communities most impacted by the socio-economic crisis caused by the pandemic. Credit: PepsiCo Addressing food insecurity Global relief The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown has worsened the existing food insecurity situation in South Africa and in response to this unfolding global social and economic crisis, PepsiCo has stated its commitment to supporting hard-to-reach communities to alleviate the impact of Covid-19.The #GiveMealsGiveHope initiative will be rolled out in partnership with FoodForward SA and The South African Red Cross Society, both outreach experts able to access existing food networks to serve meals to those in need.Tertius Carstens, CEO of Pioneer Foods said, Giving meals is giving hope, and we believe we can play an important role in providing essential food items to those affected by the pandemic.Carstens added that this initiative is in keeping with the existing Pioneer Foods school breakfast nutrition programme. As a leading food and beverage company in South Africa, we believe it is our responsibility to focus our social investment in those areas where it has the biggest impact in alleviating the hunger of our countrys people, on a sustainable basis.John Stevenson, senior vice president and general manager of Simba Pty Ltd, a PepsiCo company, explained that, Food is at the heart of what PepsiCo does, and we believe the best way we can support communities during this difficult time is by working with partners, to bring food to our communities and those who need it most.South African Red Cross will use the grant from PepsiCo to cook and provide hot meals or food parcels on a daily basis to beneficiaries housed in temporary shelters as well as those based in vulnerable communities. Many citizens cannot afford to purchase basic groceries during this period, and almost ten million children who normally rely on school feeding programmes, now find themselves without a daily meal," said South African Red Cross ccting CEO, Mabel Koketso.FoodForward SA is looking beyond the lockdown when it believes food insecurity will be the biggest threat facing South Africa for several months to come. Andy Du Plessis, MD of FoodForward SA, said that the organisation has been inundated with requests for food support. The grant from PepsiCo will enable us to distribute over eight million meals to our most vulnerable beneficiaries which will include, but are not limited to community feeding programmes, school/after-school care and early child development centres.Recognising that PepsiCo employees around the world also want to help their communities in this time of crisis, The PepsiCo Foundation is offering a two-to-one match for all employee charitable contributions to a group of nonprofit organisations providing Covid-19 relief globally.The #GiveMealsGiveHope relief initiative is part of a $45m global initiative launched by PepsiCo and its philanthropic arm, The PepsiCo Foundation, focused on helping people and communities most affected by the virus. The company is funding vital support including protective gear for healthcare workers, testing and screening services, and is in the process of distributing more than 50 million meals to at-risk populations by supporting food banks and other partners around the world. According to Colliers International, the German industrial and logistics market posted over 1.9bn in the first three months of the year, almost double that of the previous year. Q1 2020s results exceeded the previous Q1 record set in 2017 by 3%, making this the strongest Q1 in recent years. It [] OTTAWA - While the arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine in the near future would be ideal, other solutions to the pandemic it has caused might appear first, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in announcing more than $1 billion for medical research and testing to battle the virus. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 23/4/2020 (629 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses Canadians on the COVID-19 pandemic from Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Thursday, April 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick OTTAWA - While the arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine in the near future would be ideal, other solutions to the pandemic it has caused might appear first, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in announcing more than $1 billion for medical research and testing to battle the virus. The federal government also created a task force Thursday to oversee blood-test surveys to see how widely the virus has spread in Canada and provide reliable estimates of immunity and vulnerabilities among Canadians. The new cash builds on $275 million in research funding the Liberals announced in March at the outset of the pandemic. Most of the new money is aimed at funding vaccine development and clinical trials, including $600 million over two years through a federal innovation fund. Smaller amounts will support scientific efforts to prevent the rapid spread of COVID-19 and a project led by Genome Canada to track the virus, its different strains and how it makes people ill in different ways. "A vaccine, obviously, arriving soon would be the best solution," Trudeau told a news briefing outside his Ottawa residence. But he said it may be a long while before a vaccine emerges, and there are discussions about treatments for COVID-19 that might also be effective. "I mean, we've been waiting for and looking for and searching for a vaccine for AIDS for decades now and it still hasn't come. But there are treatments that mean quality of life for people with HIV have been massively improved," Trudeau said. "There are different ways of moving through. We will take the best ways we possibly can as we move forward." The new COVID-19 immunity task force will operate under the direction of a group that includes Theresa Tam, the country's chief medical officer, and Mona Nemer, the chief federal science adviser. "They'll be looking at key questions like how many people beyond those we've already tested have had COVID-19, whether you're immune once you've had it and, if so, how long that lasts," Trudeau said. The government expects at least one million Canadians will be tested over two years as part of the study. The current standard testing checks for the presence of the virus now, but immunity testing identifies antibodies that reveal who has been exposed to the virus previously, Nemer told a briefing Thursday. Together, the two will provide a better picture of the overall number of people who have been infected. Data will help with everything from rollouts of a potential vaccine to determining which public health measures are most effective. "The better we understand this virus, its spread and its impact on different people, the better we can fight it and eventually defeat it," Trudeau said. About 20,000 Canadians are being tested daily to see if they have COVID-19, almost double the number earlier this month. But testing must accelerate even further before Canadians can begin resuming their usual activities, the prime minister 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. The various initiatives outlined Thursday are about empowering scientists and researchers and giving them tools they need, said Innovation, Science and Industry Minister Navdeep Bains. "Science is a fundamental component to beating COVID-19 and in order for us to move ahead we need to search for and develop therapeutics and vaccines and we need to have the capacity to manufacture them in Canada as well," he said in an interview. "This made-in-Canada solution and this mobilization effort is very much focused on the health crisis, but also going to benefit Canada in the medium and long-term as well." This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 23, 2020. With files from Jordan Press Follow @JimBronskill on Twitter Al Gore has endorsed Joe Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination, telling voters that the decision "is not complicated" in the face of the glowing climate threat. During an Earth Day town hall, the former candidate said: "If you care about the climate crisis, if you want to start solving the climate crisis, this is not rocket science." Mr Gore served as vice president under Bill Clinton and later ran against George W Bush before a narrow loss in 2000. He later emerged as one of the most prominent figures ringing the alarm for the climate crisis following his unsuccessful bid for the White House with the 2006 film An Inconvenient Truth. "We need policy changes, and that means we need to change some of the policymakers, particularly the one in the White House", Mr Gore said on Wednesday. "This is the most consequential choice in a presidential election that we've ever had in American history. Donald Trump is the face of climate denial globally." Mr Biden, now the likely nominee to face the incumbent in the November general election, also received the endorsement of former Democratic challenger Jay Inslee, the governor of Washington state who had also steered a climate-focused campaign. But the former vice president has faced several challenges on the campaign trail from critics pushing for stronger environmental protections and the adoption of a Green New Deal like the one promoted by his chief rival Bernie Sanders. He has set a target date of 2050 to curb carbon emissions, though critics say that's too conservative, and the candidate has not supported an outright ban on fracking. Mr Biden has promoted the creation of "green jobs" to lift the US from the climate change's "existential threat to our economy" and has pledged for trillions of dollars to support green infrastructure projects. West African bloc recognises former PM as president but also calls for constitutional reform to be put to a referendum. A regional bloc of West African countries has recognised Umaro Sissoco Embalo as the winner of Guinea-Bissaus presidential election, after months of dispute over the results. The countrys electoral authority has repeatedly said Embalo, a former army general and prime minister, won a runoff presidential vote on December 29. But losing candidate Domingos Simoes Pereira, from the long-ruling PAIGC party, called the election fraudulent and took the case to the Supreme Court, which has not yet ruled. On Thursday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) bloc said in a statement that they recognised Embalo as president but also called for constitutional reform to be put to a referendum within six months. Embalo had declared himself president in February without waiting for the court, creating a political impasse. At the time, ECOWAS said his inauguration had taken place outside legal and constitutional frameworks. In its statement on Thursday, the regional bloc noted the standoff had not yet been resolved and provided no explanation for why it now saw Embalos presidency as legitimate. In the face of the persistence of this blockage and after an in-depth analysis of the countrys political situation, the ECOWAS heads of state and government decided to recognise the victory of Mr. Umaro Sissoco Emablo, the statement said. The post-election controversy dashed hopes that the vote would end years of institutional chaos. Former President Jose Mario Vaz, who was eliminated in the first round of voting last November, cycled through seven prime ministers in five years amid a dispute with Pereiras party, which controls the most seats in parliament. Pereira has accused Embalo of illegally seizing power with the backing of the countrys military, which has been involved in nine coups or attempted coups since independence from Portugal in 1974. The Supreme Court has said it cannot rule on Pereiras challenge in the absence of its chief judge, who fled the country for Portugal after the election, saying he feared for his safety. Congress president Sonia Gandhi had said that the suggestions she gave to the government on tackling Covid-19 crisis, were only acted upon partially. At a meeting of partys highest decision-making body, the Congress Working Committee, Gandhi said that large-heartedness and alacrity from the Central Government is conspicuous by its absence. Since our meeting three weeks ago, the pandemic has increased disturbingly - both in spread and speed, the Congress president said in her opening remarks. Follow latest updates on coronavirus here I offered our constructive cooperation and suggestions. Unfortunately, they have been acted upon only partially and in a miserly way. The compassion, large-heartedness and alacrity from the central government is conspicuous by its absence, she added. She also said that certain sections of the society, like farm labourers, migrant labourers, construction workers and those in unorganised sector, are facing acute hardships. Trade, commerce and industry have come to a virtual halt and crores of livelihoods have been destroyed. We have repeatedly urged the Prime Minister that there is no alternative to testing, trace and quarantine. Unfortunately, testing still remains low and testing kits are still in short supply and of poor quality. PPE kits number and quality is poor, she said. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, who was also a part of the meeting, said, Success of lockdown is to be judged finally on our ability to tackle Covid-19. Cooperation between the Centre and states is key to the success of our fight against Covid-19. The Congress president has written a series of letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on different issues related to the coronavirus pandemic since March 23. Click here for complete coronavirus coverage In her letters, she has welcomed PM Modis decision to provide free 5 kg ration to a person in addition to the entitlements under the National Food Security Act from April to June, and offered suggestions to help counter the adverse impact of the lockdown on the livelihoods of the people. She has also formed a consultative group of the Congress party, headed by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to deliberate on current matters related to the coronavirus outbreak and formulate the partys views on various issues. Brakuji is the curse of the Kurds. The Kurdish word for fratricide is also used by Kurds to define the Iraqi-Kurdish civil war in the 1990s. The yearslong conflict between three major Kurdish actors in Iraqi Kurdistan is a black stain in Kurdish history. Today, escalating tensions among those actors over a small northern Iraqi town have revived memories of the civil war, calling to mind the oath of the Kurdistan Democratic Partys leader, Massoud Barzani: I will never allow another Brakuji. In-house tensions are mounting over the town of Zini Werte, west of Mount Qandil, which is home to the headquarters of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The tensions are playing into the hands of Turkey, which continues its military push against PKK positions in the region. The PKK has waged for decades an armed insurgency in Turkey, and is considered a terrorist organization by Ankara and much of the international community. The conflict began when Masrour Barzani, the prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), dispatched peshmerga troops to Zini Werte in the town of Rawanduz, some 40 miles (61 kilometers) northeast of Erbil. Zini Werte has served as a buffer zone between the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) and the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) for over 20 years, since the 1998 deal that ended the civil war. The move has escalated tensions between the KDP and PUK, as Zini Werte is considered the PUK's turf, home to many PUK supporters. Irked by the move, the PUK countered by deploying its own peshmerga forces to Zini Werte. The PKK then intervened, accusing both parties of invading the PKK's turf. The outlawed group sent a delegation of three to the area and demanded the parties withdraw in 72 hours. When the PUK and KDP dragged their feet, the PKK set up its own military post in the area April 8. The dispute took a deadly turn on April 15 when Turkish forces bombed the PKK post and killed three PKK fighters. PKK sources accused the KDP of sharing the post's location with Turkey. However, according to an independent source based in Erbil, the Turkish army doesnt need third-party intel to locate the post. Given their nonstop drone activities, its not difficult for them to locate the PKK post, the source told Al-Monitor. Why has this small village become such a hotspot? According to the KDP, Zini Werte is used as a smugglers' route into northern Iraq from the Iranian border, and its deployment aims to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. The KDP also said that the peshmerga it dispatched to the area are active under the Peshmerga Ministry and not affiliated with the KDP. The PUK, in turn, argued that the move effectively expanded territorial control of the KDP. It questioned why the ministry selected troops outside the PUK's control for deployment, as opposed to the PUK-controlled 6th Peshmerga Brigade in Ranya. Nevertheless, the motive behind the KDPs deployment allows the two parties to find a compromise. Indeed, KRG President Nechirvan Barzani stepped in at the request of the PUK and said the deployment would be temporary. They will surely be withdrawn once they are no longer needed, he told the local press April 20, paving the way for a reconciliatory meeting between PUK and KDP officials April 22. Barzani also slammed the PKK, saying its presence in the area is unlawful. The PKKs defiance, meanwhile, changes the tone of the conflict. The PKK believes the KDP coordinated its deployment with Turkey, as the presence of the peshmerga endangers the PKK's movements between Mount Qandil, Dola Shawle and Dola Akoyan. One PKK leader even claimed the area as PKK turf. Zini Werte is a zone totally under control of the guerrilla. It is neither the KDPs nor the PUK's, wrote Mustafa Karasu, a senior PKK leader, in an article widely circulated in the pro-Kurdish media. According to Karasu, the move has been backed by Turkey which aims to eliminate the PKK. Turkey wants to collaborate with the KDP to achieve its plans to invade Qandil, he wrote. Karasu warned that the unfolding situation also threatens the PUK, as it will allow Turkey to put pressure on Sulaimaniyah, the PUKs stronghold. The PKK is not convinced the move is aimed at containing the coronavirus. This zone is some 40-50 kilometers air-distance from the Iranian border. But that terrain isnt suitable for civilian passage. The area where the KDP has deployed cannot be used by civilian vehicles. There is no point to set up a post there as KDP checkpoints are only 5-6 kilometers away, Karasu wrote. Another source based in Erbil also agreed that the move poses risks for the PUK: The party might lose its regional base if the KDP's clout grows. The source stated that the area has become a Turkish target due to the PKK presence. The PUK is concerned that these operations [by Turkey] can extend to other areas where the PUK is powerful, the source said. According to the source, the tension between the two parties stems from their political rivalry. After the death of PUK leader Jalal Talabani, the party exerted efforts to regain its influence in Iraqi Kurdistan. This tension drives both sides to show off, and hence lies the political background of the crisis, the source said. Yet what importance does the area bear? This area has both social and military importance," the source said. "Zini Werte is a high-altitude [mountainous area] facing Mount Qandil. It links Qandil to Karux. Whoever controls the area extends their room for maneuver. He suggested that the PKK will lose its room to maneuver in the region if the area falls to the Turkish army or any force that supports Turkeys agenda Turkey has extended the scope of its military operations against the PKK after PKK-affiliated Kurdish groups increased their clout in Syria and throughout Iraq during the fight against the Islamic State. In addition to Kirkuk, Makhmour and Jalawla, the Turkish army has also targeted the Makhmour refugee camp, where families of deceased PKK fighters live, some 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Erbil. Recent Turkish airstrikes on the camp claimed the lives of three women. Along the border region, Turkey has waged military campaigns for years against the PKK camps in Qandil, Hakurk, Zap, Avasin, Metina, Haftanin and Gara. However, over the past few years it has developed a new strategy to cut off Iraqs Sinjar from the northeastern Syrian territories controlled by Syrian Kurdish groups. Accordingly, Ankara erected 20 military posts in northeast Syria and began nonstop drone monitoring on the Iraqi side of the border. In addition to this strategy, Turkish forces and intelligence officers have carried out assassinations of PKK leaders. The cross-border operations Claw-1, Claw-2 and Claw-3, which started in May 2019, have crippled the PKKs operational capability. Talk of a possible collaboration between the KDP and Turkey in Zini Werte stems from the timing of the KDP deployment in the middle of Operation Claw-3. Trump praises border wall before banning immigration into US Iran Press TV Wednesday, 22 April 2020 12:43 PM US President Donald Trump is praising his border wall before banning immigration into the United States on the pretext of tackling the coronavirus crisis. Trump cited the wall and the Mexican soldiers he claims are protecting it, reiterating in a tweet on Wednesday that his executive order would ban immigration into the country. "I will be signing my Executive Order prohibiting immigration into our Country today," he said. "In the meantime, even without this order, our Southern Border, aided substantially by the 170 miles of new Border Wall & 27,000 Mexican soldiers, is very tight - including for human trafficking!" Trump initially made the announcement on Monday , which faced backlash from his Democratic nemeses. "It would be wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced with new immigrant labor flown in from abroad," Trump told reporters on Tuesday. "We must first take care of the American worker." Covid-19 has so far claimed over 40,000 lives amid the Trump administration's highly criticized response to the fast-growing pandemic. The comment came amid reports that the first death in the United States took place earlier than thought. The nation's first two deaths from the virus happened on February 6 and February 17, the Santa Clara County, California, public health department confirmed in a statement on Tuesday. It was previously thought that the first death was recorded on February 29 in Washington state. "Testing criteria set by the CDC at the time restricted testing to only individuals with a known travel history and who sought medical care for specific symptoms," it added. "As the Medical Examiner-Coroner continues to carefully investigate deaths throughout the county, we anticipate additional deaths from Covid-19 will be identified." Dr. Jeffrey Smith, who serves as county executive for Santa Clara County, said the first case had been mistaken with flu, which was quite common at the time. "This wasn't recognized because we were having a severe flu season," Smith said. "Symptoms are very much like the flu. If you got a mild case of covid, you didn't really notice You didn't even go to the doctor. The doctor maybe didn't even do it because they presumed it was the flu." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 578 people have got infected with COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. This is the new anti-record for the entire pandemic in the country. It was stated by Ukraines Healthcare Minister Maksym Stepanov during a briefing that was broadcasted by 112 Ukraine TV channel. "We believe that this was due, in particular, to quarantine violations during Palm Sunday and Easter," he explained. Stepanov also specified that 7170 coronavirus cases had already been observed in Ukraine. An overall number of deaths has reached 187 people. As we reported earlier, the clinical trials of the indigenous medicinal preparation for its capacity to reduce mortality from COVID-19 coronavirus have started in Ukraine. In Ukraine, the clinical trials of the indigenous medicine, which, according to the preliminary conclusions of the Ukrainian scientists and producers may significantly decrease or completely neutralize the threat of death from the complications caused in the human body by coronavirus infection, the message said. New Delhi, April 23 : A six-member Crime Branch team of Delhi Police on Thursday raided a suspected farmhouse linked to Tablighi Jamaat head Maulana Saad at Kandhala, Shamli district of Uttar Pradesh. The Crime Branch team was in the farmhouse till reports last came in. Shamli Superintendent of Police Vinit Jaiswal confirmed the raid to IANS. "A Delhi Police team consisting of five officers and a driver arrived in Kandhala in a vehicle around 10 a.m. The Crime Branch team registered its presence in the police diary," Singh said. Sources in Crime Branch in Delhi too acknowledged that its team was at Saad's farmhouse. According to Kandhala police, the six-member Crime Branch team asked for additional staff from the police station, which was given. "We are not aware of the investigation or whom the Crime Branch team has met in the farmhouse," Jaiswal said. The Crime Branch had on March 31 registered a criminal case against Maulana Saad and six of his aides. The FIR was registered on the basis of a statement by Nizamuddin police station SHO Mukesh Walia. The Crime Branch later added in the FIR sections of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against Maulana Saad and others. Since March 31, there has not been any face-to-face interaction between the Maulana and Crime Branch officials. Delhi Police officials are tight-lipped even since facing severe flak for allowing a gathering of hundreds of Maulana's followers at his Jamaat headquarters in Nizamuddin, many of whom were later found to be coronavirus-positive and carriers of the virus across the country. Sources said the police are awaiting "something solid" against the accused before making any statement. (Sanjeev Kumar Singh Chauhan can be contacted at sanjeev.c@ians.in) Two armed robbers were, on Thursday, 23 April 2020 shot dead by the police at Tema after a fire exchange. The criminals had succeeded in robbing a Lebanese businessman of some GHS100,000 he withdrew from a Zenith Bank branch but a hot chase by the police resulted in an exchange of gunshots which led to their demise. Narrating the incident to journalists, the Tema Regional Police Commander, ACP Kissi Frimpong, said: There was this businessman who had gone to the Zenith Bank Community One [branch] to withdraw over GHS100,000. As he left the bank, two robbers on a motorbike shot at his tyres and succeeded in taking the money away. An alarm was raised and information got to the police and our patrol team pursued them and eventually killed the two of them through the exchange of fire. The money also scattered on the street; people scrambled for the money and the person had only GHS2,500 out of the over GHS100,000 he withdrew from the bank. ACP Frimpong said the bodies of the robbers have been sent to the police hospital morgue for further action. 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 policy explicitly provides for loss due to a virus through an endorsement: We will pay for loss or damage by fungi, wet rot, dry rot, bacteria and virus, the lawsuit outlined. Twin Citys refusal of coverage breached its obligation and responsibility to provide coverage available through the policy to Guajillo due to its covered loss of business income because its premises are unusable and uninhabitable and have lost all function, which constitutes a direct physical loss under the policy. Guajillos policy also defined a period of restoration, which begins with the date of direct physical loss or physical damage caused by or resulting from a covered cause of loss at the scheduled premises, the lawsuit added. Guajillo has been in Arlington for about 20 years, and is family owned. They paid for insurance, including business interruption insurance, and expected to get coverage when their business was interrupted, Scott Rome, an attorney with Veritas Law Firm, told ARLnow. The restaurant continues to operate, but only for deliveries and takeout, ARLnow reported. Rolando Juarez can be found in his kitchen every day, he is trying to keep all of his staff employed, the attorney commented. This pandemic has devastated his business. The insurance coverage that he paid for could help this neighborhood family-owned business survive. Muir sees an odd paradox in the importance of being a steady presence for his audience in this moment. His popularity with viewers, hes convinced, has been built up over years in part by taking them along as he globe-trots to Iraq for reporting on the Islamic State or to Auschwitz, the site of the former concentration camp in then-occupied Poland, to talk with survivors 75 years after their liberation. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday that the coronavirus pandemic is a human crisis that is fast becoming a human rights crisis. The U.N. chief said in a video message that there is discrimination in the delivery of public services to tackle COVID-19 and there are structural inequalities that impede access to them. Guterres said the pandemic has also seen disproportionate effects on certain communities, the rise of hate speech, the targeting of vulnerable groups, and the risks of heavy-handed security responses undermining the health response. He warned that with rising ethno-nationalism, populism, authoritarianism and a push back against human rights in some countries, the crisis can provide a pretext to adopt repressive measures for purposes unrelated to the pandemic. In February, Guterres issued a call to action to countries, businesses and people to help renew and revive human rights across the globe, laying out a seven-point plan amid concerns about climate change, conflict and repression. 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 As I said then, human rights cannot be an afterthought in times of crisis and we now face the biggest international crisis in generations," he said. The secretary-general said he was releasing a report Thursday on how human rights must guide the response to the virus and recovery from the pandemic. Neither he nor the report name any countries or parties responsible for human rights violations. Guterres said governments must be transparent, responsive and accountable, and stressed that press freedom, civil society organizations, the private sector and civic space are essential. The report said governments also need to take action to mitigate the worst impacts of COVID-19 on jobs, livelihoods, access to basic services and family life. Guterres said any emergency measures including states of emergency must be legal, proportionate, necessary and non-discriminatory, have a specific focus and duration, and take the least intrusive approach possible to protect public health. Emergency powers may be needed but broad executive powers, swiftly granted with minimal oversight, carry risks, the report warned. Heavy-handed security responses undermine the health response and can exacerbate existing threats to peace and security or create new ones. The report said the best response is proportionate to the immediate threat and protects human rights. The message is clear: People and their rights must be front and center, Guterres said. Police have arrested a professor at Christ Church Oxford for allegedly stealing and selling some 120 ancient pieces of papyrus, including a piece of the Gospel of Mark. According to Christianity Today, Dirk Obbink, professor of papyrology and Greek literature at Christ Church Oxford, is suspected of stealing the papyrus fragments from the Egypt Exploration Societys collection at Oxfords Sackler Library. The collection houses some 500,000 artifacts from the ancient city of Oxyrhynchus. Obbink has denied that he stole the ancient documents, claiming that the evidence was fabricated in a malicious attempt to harm my reputation and career. Obbink first came to Oxford in the late 1990s and served as director of a project to digitize ancient pieces of papyrus. Obbink was one of three editors overseeing the publishing of the collection. In 2001, he was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship for his work in rescuing and interpreting the papers. In 2011, Obbink claimed that he found a fragment of Marks Gospel among the collection. He said the manuscript dated to the late first century and referred to Jesus baptism where John the Baptist says, I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. Obbink says the book may have been copied within 30 years of the original bible manuscript, making it a rare discovery. Scholars and experts have since questioned the veracity of Obbinks claim. During this time, Obbink reportedly stole 13 bits of papyrus and sold them to Steve Green, the president of Hobby Lobby. Green was buying thousands of artifacts to put in his Museum of the Bible, which opened in 2017. Green later learned that many of his artifacts were forgeries or stolen. He returned those items. In 2013, Obbink then allegedly sold Hobby Lobby four more pieces from the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, including the rare fragment from the book of Mark. A police investigation is ongoing. Obbink lost his position in 2016 and in 2019, he was barred from even accessing the collection and then suspended from Oxford. Photo courtesy: Getty Images/Black Quetzal, this is a stock image. 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. Mumbai, April 23 : For the second time in three days, Maharashtra urged the Centre to start trains from Mumbai and Pune with advance planning for lakhs of stranded migrants in the state, after the lockdown is lifted. In a letter to Railway Minister Piyush Goytal, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that after the lockdown ends on May 3, thousands of migrants from other states will make a beeline to catch trains back home. "As Maharashtra is a leading industrial state and having highest construction activities, a large number of informal labourers particularly migrated from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other northern states are working in these sectors," Pawar informed Goyal. Owing to the Covid-19 lockdown, around 650,000 migrants are living in camps in Maharashtra where the state is providing them with daily food and health services to them. Besides another similar number of migrants are being fed and cared for by various NGOs or social organisations as all these labourers are now rendered jobless and keen to return to their home states. Pawar' letter to Goyal came two days after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray urged an Inter-Ministerial Central Team -- which came here to assess the Covid-19 status and lockdown management -- for similar relief for the migrants who want to return to their native states. "The Bandra railway station gathering (April 14) in Mumbai is an example of restlessness of such labourers," Pawar pointed out grimly to Goyal. After the lockdown is lifted on May 3 or any other date decided by the Centre, there will again be a huge rush of these labourers at all railway stations, the Deputy Chief Minister cautioned. In view of this, he urged Goyal to make necessary arrangements in advance, including running special trains from Mumbai and Pune to all major destinations around the country to accommodate all the migrants to ensure there are no law and order problems at any railway stations in the state. Pawar's letter to Goyal came two days after Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray urged an Inter-Ministerial Central Team -- which came here to assess the Covid-19 status and lockdown management -- for similar relief for the migrants who want to return to their native states. An earthquake rattled Croatias capital, a month after a stronger tremor left Zagreb in need of $6 billion for renovation, adding to a growing list of costs as the European Union battles the coronavirus. The 3.5-magnitude temblor on Thursday was smaller than the March 22 quake, the worst to hit the city in 140 years. Last months tremor damaged buildings throughout the historic center, leaving officials wondering how theyll pay for rebuilding the city of 1 million people. More than 20,000 buildings remain in need of repair, including the Finance Ministry and one of the central banks venues. Zagrebs iconic neo-Gothic cathedral, whose decades-long renovation was close to completion, lost its twin spires. Most damage took place inside structures, complicating rebuilding efforts. Most of the center was built after a devastating earthquake in 1880, with the materials that were then in use, and periodically renovated by owners, sometimes without much thought about the issues of statics, said Zvonko Makovic, whos part of group of historians, urban planners and architects seeking to advise the government on future renovation. What we have today is a city center shaken to the core. A heated public debate is raging over how to approach reconstruction and funding, with many damaged residences owned privately by people without earthquake insurance and in buildings protected by historic heritage rules. We should renovate everything thats possible to renovate, rather than knocking it down, said Makovic. Anything else would change the identity of Zagreb. Some have said the city should seek financial help from the EU. Zagreb has the right to seek help from appropriate EU funds, said Ines Sabalic, representative of the City of Zagreb in Brussels. The additional misfortune is that it happened in the middle of the coronavirus crisis, amid ghostly empty offices of the European Commission which is now focused on saving the blocs economy. Photograph: Wearing face masks for protection against the coronavirus, these people watch preparations for the removal of a spire on Zagrebs Cathedral, in Zagreb, Croatia, on Friday, April 17, 2020. The cathedral suffered significant damage during an earthquake in March. Photo credit: AP Photo/Darko Bandic. Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Europe Earthquake Pound Sterling (GBP), Canadian dollar (CAD), Norwegian Krone (NOK), Russian Rouble (RUB) and Mexican Peso (MXN) exchange rates under pressure - Inventory surge limits crude oil rally, Gulf dollar pegs under threat After the carnage on Monday, oil prices have remained very volatile and weak. The June WTI contract collapsed to lows near $6.0 p/b on Tuesday with Brent at 20-year lows near $15.0 p/b before a correction. There has been a rally on Wednesday but volatility remains intense with a $6 range during the day. Inventory data emphasises excess supply Latest EIA inventory data recorded an increase in US crude oil inventories of 15.0mn barrels after a 19.2mn increase the previous month. This later increase was slightly below consensus forecasts while gasoline forecast also rose less than expected. Crude inventories, however, are 12.5% higher than last year after an increase of 63mn barrels over the past 4 weeks. There is little chance of near-term relief with refinery runs continuing to decline. Image: US inventories WTI traded around $14.50 p/b after the data and Brent around $21.00 p/b with markets still extremely uneasy over market conditions amid very volatile trading. Marshall Gittler, Head of Investment Research at BDSwiss Group examines the case of whether there was a unique problem with the May WTI contract or a wider problem. The June Brent contract, which is cash settled (theres no option to take delivery, so no storage problems) plunged $8.60 or 34%. So its clear that while the US market is particularly troubled, the oil glut is pushing down prices all over the world. The pressure from the overwhelming imbalance between supply and demand seems inescapable, thats likely to weigh on CAD and NOK. TD Securities noted; While the plunge into deeply negative territory and a $60 p/b difference between May and June was a 20-sigma event and may not necessarily repeat itself in the June contract we are not out of the woods by any means. The risk of hitting tank tops in the key US delivery points such as Cushing remains a key concern and may continue to weigh on prompt prices and keep contangos elevated. Given this market structure of steep discounts for near-term contracts, there will be the repeat next month at the June expiry. In Danske Banks view this is the negative WTI price in a nutshell; there are no takers of oil in Cushing, Oklahoma, as storage is used up. The lack of storage creates nonlinearities that foster price jumps into negative, usually only witnessed in electricity markets, where inventory options are minimal/non-existent. In the North Sea, the inventory issue is less acute and flexibility in terms of delivery is greater, which after all reduces the downward pressure on Brent somewhat. Rebalancing pressures will intensify OPEC+ has so far failed to agree on a way forward, but pressure will continue to escalate. Danske expects stabilisation to come from fundamental market dynamics ahead. In our view, the current levels of oil prices will force producers to (continue to) cut back production but as demand recovers (at least partially) when lockdowns are eased, the inventory build should ease. Danske sees Brent averaging USD35/p/b this year, rising to USD44/p/b on average in 2021, but downside risks prevail in the short term. JP Morgan expects WTI to trade at $35 p/b on a 12-month view. According to RBC; We think OPEC+ may make more headway by sharpening its compliance messaging, particularly around perennial underperformers, most notably Russia and Saudi Arabia may be amenable to dropping production even further. None of these measures will arrest the immediate demand destruction and storage saturation problems but could potentially help ensure a better back half of the year if the COVID-19 crisis is contained. Goldman Sachs also expects downward pressure on prices in the short term due to the risk of retail investors closing positions and the unresolved market surplus. The bank, however, expects essential market rebalancing to take place over a shorter period as storage becomes saturated and price volatility continues; With a finite amount of storage left to fill, production will soon need to fall sizeably to bring the market into balance, finally setting the stage for higher prices once demand gradual recovers. This inflection will play out in a matter of weeks, not months, with the market likely forced to balance before June. Image: Brent oil Gulf states US dollar pegs under pressure The slide in oil prices will put notable pressure on oil-linked currencies. Countries with floating currencies have all seen notable losses with the Canadian dollar, Norwegian krone, Russian rouble and Mexican peso all seeing notable depreciation. The pound Sterling has also lost ground. There will also be a focus on the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) currencies which are pegged to the US dollar. The GCC countries - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE - have been running currency pegs or managed FX regimes against the USD since the early 1970s. In INGs view, the pegs have been seen as an essential anchor for policy credibility (out-sourcing monetary policy to the Federal Reserve) and that has served the region well. The slide in oil prices will, however, lead to substantial downward pressure and trigger fresh speculation over devaluation. According to ING, the case for GCC voluntary currency devaluation appears weak due a major loss of credibility and difficulties in strengthening non-oil exports. ING summarises, although Oman and Bahrain can stay under pressure through the Spring, based on strong support within the GCC bloc and what should be a second-half recovery in Brent crude to the $35/45 (according to our team), we see GCC pegs intact and implied yields on the FX forwards dropping back to levels seen through 2018/2019 as the summer progresses. LANSING, MI -- Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says things are looking better for the state in terms of being able to begin reopening the economy, but sent a warning Wednesday that a version of the stay-at-home order could be in play for a long time as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. During her press briefing, Whitmer said a short-term extension of the order is likely, but did not give any specifics on what that could mean or for how long. Whitmer was also grilled at the briefing about a state contract that was erroneously awarded to a company that had ties to the Democratic Party and why she had to cancel the contract after the affiliation was discovered. She also touched on a decision to lay off 2,900 state employees. Below is a look at the most recent developments related to the crisis. Michigan reports 999 more cases as total nears 34,000 Michigan continues to report an upswing in COVID-19 cases as 999 more cases were announced Wednesday. State officials say there are now 33,966 confirmed cases in Michigan. Another 113 deaths were also reported , bringing the state total to 2,813. Kent County had its largest spike in cases yet Wednesday, with 131 new confirmed cases. There were 76 new cases Tuesday and 47 new cases Monday both of which were new daily highs at the time they were first reported. Sorry, but your browser does not support frames. Whitmer says short-term extension of stay-at-home order likely Gov. Whitmer did not share any details, but warned residents that an extension of the stay-at-home order will likely be necessary. During her press briefing Wednesday, the governor also said some form of the stay-at-home order will be in place for a long time. Whitmer has said she will unveil more of her plan at a scheduled briefing Friday, but did not say what that might include. She did hint at some restrictions being rolled back when the current order expires May 1 but, again, no details were given. State cancels contract with tracing firm over process issue Gov. Whitmer admitted Wednesday that the proper process was not followed when the state sought companies to do contact tracing for the state. The effort seeks to track those in Michigan who have had COVID-19 and any points of contact to better analyze the outbreak. The contract was originally given to Great Lakes Community Engagement, a firm that specializes in outreach campaigns to engage citizens. The organization identifies itself as having helped major Democratic campaigns across the country. Whitmer said the proper process was not followed, as the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services handled the contract. The contracting process should have gone through the State Emergency Operations Center, the governor said. The department thought that that vendor was the best one, for some reason. I dont know what that reason was, Whitmer said. But I do know the (MDHHS) does not have a political bone in their theoretical body. Michigan lays off at least 2,900 employees due to budget concerns More than 2,900 state employees spread out over several departments of state government will be laid off as the state faces budget issues due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The employees will be laid off for a total of 10 work days, during which time they will continue to receive health care and other benefits. Among the layoffs are more than 900 Michigan Department of State employees, or 60% of total staff, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced Wednesday. Another protest planned at Michigan Capitol next week Protestors say they plan to be at the Michigan Capitol again next week on the day the current stay-at-home order is set to expire. Protestors plan to be in downtown Lansing from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. for the rally on Thursday, April 30. The message is this: Were asking Republicans in the Senate to vote not to extend the state of emergency order, said Jason Howland, one of the organizers. CDC chief says second COVID-19 outbreak could be worse Medical experts are already preparing for another wave of the COVID-19 virus to hit later this year. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is worried about the virus pairing up with the annual flu season. But not because the flu would enhance COVID-19, but because of the strain it will put on the health care system. Theres a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through, Redfield said. Nurse who spoke out fired by Mercy Health A nurse who spoke out about the lack of PPE and other issues facing nurses at a Muskegon hospital says he believes he was fired for doing so. Justin Howe says the hospital told him he was fired for violating patient privacy. Howe said he was given few details and adamantly denies the accusation. Ten days prior to being fired, Howe spoke with MLive about equipment restrictions at Mercy Healths Hackley Campus in Muskegon. The Michigan Nurses Association has protested Howes firing. Whitmer slams Trumps messaging, calls it inconsistent Gov. Whitmer bashed President Donald Trump in an interview with the Associated Press Tuesday, saying the presidents daily briefings may be making things worse during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also criticized his latest immigration plan saying its not what we should be worrying about during the pandemic. I think that the nightly briefing has yielded a lot of inconsistent messages to the public messages that put people in greater danger, Whitmer said. UAW tells GM workers to get ready to go back to work Leadership in the UAW is telling local union leaders to begin preparing to go back to work as the state prepares to lift restrictions from the stay-at-home order. UAW GM Department Vice President and Director Terry Dittes sent a letter to local leaders letting them know to begin discussion as soon as possible. We are also encouraging you to start discussions based on your local agreements starting with how will our members be recalled, Dittes wrote. Discussions should be taking place now regarding safety protocols and the best way to protect our members and their families to stop the spread of (COVID-19) to others in our community when we return to work. Jackson County wont tell businesses to reopen, but blasts Whitmers order The Jackson County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday passed a resolution recommending the state allow businesses like landscaping, excavating and boating services to reopen, if they can do so safely. The resolution was passed instead of a alternate proposed resolution that could be viewed as giving some Jackson County businesses permission to violate the order and reopen despite the governors stay-at-home order. Lawyers warned the board that doing so could open the county up to lawsuits if a business got in trouble with the state for violating the order. Still, some commissioners said a message needed to be sent regarding the order. This pandemic hasnt caused anything to shut down," Commissioner Tony Bair said. "The executive order shut things down. Im not going to blame the virus, when the governor did it. If you lock up the sick, thats quarantine. If you lock up the healthy, thats tyranny. Why isnt more COVID-19 data available in my ZIP code? As the COVID-19 virus continues to spread, residents in some counties are asking why they arent able to see data on cases in their ZIP code. Luckily for them, more and more communities are now turning to more specific data to better understand the virus and how it impacted certain communities. However, there are challenges ahead both logistically and legally as more counties and communities explore their options. 10 COVID-19 patients recover at Ann Arbor senior home Ten residents at the Glacier Hills senior living home in Ann Arbor have recovered from the COVID-19 virus after an outbreak at the facility earlier this month. The facility reported 11 cases of the virus this month, and said one of those people died as a result of COVID-19. No other residents have tested positive for the virus, but four employees did. Three of those employees remain in quarantine, but all four have recovered from the virus. Can antibody tests deliver as promised? Health leaders, politicians and other officials have all weighed in on the possible importance of antibodies from COVID-19 survivors in the ongoing fight against the virus. But can they be the miracle cure that everyone is looking for? Read about the process of collecting antibodies, how theyre used for research and what it could mean for future treatments or vaccines. Black people are dying from COVID-19 at a disproportionate rate, but not in Saginaw Although black people make up 14% of Michigans population, 45% of deaths in the state related to the COVID-19 virus are black people. The disparity prompted Gov. Whitmer to create a task force to investigate how and why its happening. However, in Saginaw County, blacks represent more than 19% of the population but have accounted for less than 17% of deaths. 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 Michigan awarded federal funding for mental health services during coronavirus pandemic Grand Rapids rehabilitation center opens special unit to treat coronavirus survivors Michigan health care system launches study testing for coronavirus antibodies Mobile COVID-19 testing coming to Flint neighborhoods Gov. Whitmers exercise of emergency powers challenged in lawsuit filed by Saginaw-area attorneys Michigan healthcare system lays off 2,475 due to dire financial effects of coronavirus